Speeches by Smith.

“With rural communities as well.”

“We talked a little bit indirectly about the role of railway infrastructure and growth. Lord Hendy, I know we talked a bit about this in a previous meeting. How will that strategy look at some of what was being done before, whether it is under the same title or not, such as the restoring Britain’s railways programme, pa…”

“In the previous Parliament, the GBR transition team was preparing a long-term strategy for rail. What became of that, and when do the Government plan to publish the strategy they want GBR to work to?”

“On fares, there is a bit we have not asked about yet. Obviously, there is a market for ticket splitting on current routes, but my understanding is that at the moment you basically don’t get to benefit from those. For example, on CrossCountry, going up the west coast, you can split the fares and get a reasonable discoun…”

“I absolutely welcome the hon. Member’s comments about the success of the Exeter-Okehampton line; the figures speak for themselves. Does he agree that the success of that line highlights why the cost of keeping the Tavistock-Plymouth line going, as set out in its business case, is a really small ask—only 1% of the cost …”

“I welcome what the Minister is saying. On a point of interest, it would perhaps be worth looking at the numbers on a Thursday. In line with most of the country, Thursday is the new Friday, and I am sure that most of my colleagues in the room will testify to the challenge of getting a train out of London on a Thursday, …”

“Recently, Truro Crown court, which serves my constituency of South West Devon, has been forced to shut one day a week due to recent budget cuts and the judicial sitting day reductions. Some cases have already been postponed until late 2025, including lengthy cases that involve victims of violence, and it is prompting t…”

“13. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the backlog of court cases on victims of crime.”

“1. What progress the mission delivery boards have made.”

“How will the Prime Minister’s five mission boards learn from the clear lack of join-up between the Treasury and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs over the family farm tax and the family business tax to ensure that they do not become five mission silos?”

“Yes. Do you have that drilled down as well?”

“Loveday, you addressed the question we asked earlier about regional variations in test availability. You talked about the Wales and Scotland illustration. What we meant was the south-west, south-east, midlands, and so on.”

“Coming back to what you said, Camilla, and what was just discussed in terms of the availability, the age and the challenge for younger people, it struck me that we are the Transport Committee, and we look at other transport challenges. Do you have data looking at regional variation, particularly between urban and rural…”

“It is a pleasure to speak in this debate, which my neighbour, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Torridge and Tavistock (Sir Geoffrey Cox), introduced . Some farms that were once in his constituency are now in mine, so he may well recognise some of the stories that I will tell. He has done me a favour—I am…”

“3. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in employer national insurance contributions on public sector organisations.”

“A major housing association serving not only Plympton, Plymstock and Ivybridge in my constituency but the rest of Plymouth and other parts of Devon and Cornwall will have to shoulder three quarters of a million pounds in increased national insurance contributions. That is money that could have been spent on new homes f…”

“I welcome the Government’s commitment to continue our work to address issues with the current leasehold system. However, where we are building new towns, such as Sherford in my constituency, residents, like others in new builds, face council tax and service charges, with no likelihood of that changing. What plans does …”

“Young Devon provides essential services for young people across Devon, including supported accommodation and mental health provision. When I met Young Devon staff on Friday, they told me the increased employers’ national insurance contributions will cost the charity at least £90,000 just to stand still—that means 100 f…”

“Last Thursday, the Prime Minister implied that the new wind energy project in Hull would result in lower energy bills for my constituents, but he refused to say by when. When can my constituents and others across the country expect to see the £300 reduction in their bills that the Labour party promised?”

“Given the Prime Minister’s optimism on his return from COP29, can he tell the House how the deals that he signed there will uphold his promise to cut energy bills by £300 for constituents such as mine, and when can they expect to see that promise become a reality?”