Speeches by Lowe.

“The Minister will be aware that we have privately crowdfunded a rape gang inquiry, which is ongoing. During the course of the inquiry, we have uncovered vast evil that is happening across the country, as well as systemic state failures. When we release the report, we are intending to pursue private prosecutions against…”

“Will the Minister give me a copper-bottomed guarantee that the transcripts of previous court cases will not be destroyed?”

“Many of us, including myself, spoke in this House against the ill-judged appointment of Peter Mandelson, which flew in the face of logic, given his poor relationship with the US and his history of misfeasance in public office. Will the Chief Secretary undertake to obtain all redacted evidence from the US pertaining to …”

“As the Secretary of State knows, our independent rape gang inquiry hearings are ongoing just a short walk from this Chamber. Last week I sat opposite one woman who was raped by between 600 and 700 men. She estimated that 98% were Pakistani Muslims. The evidence we are collecting is brutal. We have been told again and a…”

“T2. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.”

“Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. I have declared these payments in the register, and I apologise if I should have declared them to the House. They are public, they are not hidden and they have no relevance to what I discussed earlier.”

“I very much enjoyed the history lesson about a man who has a history of misfeasance in public office. I have spoken in this House about my surprise at his appointment as ambassador to the US, which is an incredibly important relationship for this country. Listening to the debate makes me reflect on the importance of pa…”

“And now you are talking about diversity in the countryside, as I saw this morning in The Daily Telegraph. I think you have got better things to concentrate on, frankly.”

“It is not always evident, I have to say. I do not think that the farmers would agree with you.”

“How, then, can we be assured? As a farmer, we fill in countless forms. We are asked for data all the time, which we still have to fill in, I guess because once Governments have a Department that asks the questions, it churns out the same questions every year, even though you already have arable area aid claims and load…”

“This is a question for Philip and Marian. Given my somewhat hackneyed view of DEFRA, and my experience of it over my 40 years of farming, the question is this: what do you need from DEFRA to work more effectively together? What do you need, Philip, and what do you need, Marian? Tell the Committee what you need that you…”

“We do need to make sure that we look after that.”

“The question was about food production, though. Are we prioritising it enough?”

“Can you reassure me that that is the case?”

“Very quickly, may I underline what the Chairman says? I am very concerned. You say that you put food production at the top of your agenda. I do not agree; I do not think that you do put food production at the top of your agenda. I watch in horror as farms are rewilded. I watch grade 1 land being given over to beaver re…”

“Thank you.”

“I think the headmaster would say, “Could do better.””

“It was in 2006.”

“That took five years, yes.”

“It took you five years.”