Speeches by Smith.

“Committee rose.”

“That the Committee has considered the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I., 2026, No. 457).”

“The former Defence Secretary has blown apart the defence investment plan, revealing that the Treasury was prepared to offer only a pitiful increase in defence spending—just 0.08% by 2030—despite growing threats across the world. At the same time, the Treasury continues to fork out billions for welfare and the net zero …”

“7. What fiscal steps she is taking to support the defence investment plan.”

“I want to press the Secretary of State a little further on looked-after children in particular. At the beginning of his statement, he said that his bottom line is to protect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Given that parental or guardian permission has to be granted for the trial to take place, I…”

“Just specifically on the cost of living impact on fuel costs, let us assume that this happens again and we end up recognising that we are completely beholden to other countries for our petrol and diesel, which if we are not drilling in the North Sea is going to potentially continue. One of the things we have looked at …”

“On Monday my hon. Friend the Member for West Worcestershire (Dame Harriett Baldwin) asked the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, the hon. Member for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard), about the impact of these new steel tariffs on the defence investment plan. His answer was not particularly clear, …”

“I am talking specifically about cars rather than HGVs and things such as that because clearly some progress has been made on that. I am thinking more specifically about cars.”

“What has been the role of the Shadow Great British Railways team? It feels like it is gone very quiet; it did not get a huge amount of mention during the Bill Committee and has not been mentioned here much. Obviously she came before us 12 months ago but since then I have not really heard much.”

“Just pursuing the organisational structure a bit further, it is really clear that this is going to become one of the biggest public sector employers in the country. Even your description that you have just given shows it is very piecemeal; you have a chair, a DFTO, and each of these chief executives. I suppose I am loo…”

“When you appeared before us in November, you said that your focus was going to move on to the design of Great British Railways as an organisation, so please can you update us on your progress?”

“That has not answered my question, but I am getting a bit of a sense of it, so next time you come perhaps we will put this higher up the list.”

“You mentioned this 27% in May as if it was a good thing, but it means that 73% of vehicles sold that month were not EVs. You have also talked about this trajectory between now and 2030 and 2035. We had the Minister in a few weeks ago talking about the EV transition, and there are a huge number of gaps in that implement…”

“When you look at the figures in isolation, it is a great ambition, but if that is not in train with the infrastructure and changes that need to happen, it will not work. It is three years away. Call me a cynic, but the figures are leaning—”

“Of that 46% that are second-hand, do you have any reference on how many of those are new entries to the EV market and how many are just being sold to people who already had one? That is the key point. How many people are entering the market for the first time, whether that is through brand-new cars or second-hand cars,…”

“The Regulating for Growth Bill has been announced in the King’s Speech, obviously looking at tackling the issues around marine autonomy, which is particularly important in my constituency down in Devon. I welcome the news about the sandbox phase for testing. Once enabled by the Bill, how long will that phase last and c…”

“If you have any intel on which Minister at DBT is taking it I would be very grateful.”

“”

“Members of 42 Commando Royal Marines, led by Commanding Officer Tom Quinn, were a key part of the seizure of the Russian shadow fleet vessel yesterday morning. It is clear that our Royal Marines will always deliver for this country. They are world class, and I have had the privilege of seeing them in action at their ho…”

“Thank you very much. I am sure that most of you know the significance of the battle of the Somme. As the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and commemoration, I am here on behalf of everyone involved in that, and the 60 or so Members who have signed this debate applica…”