Speeches by Carling.

“To encourage more people to pursue a career in our armed forces, we need to ensure that the whole offer is strong, including accommodation. Concerns have been raised with me about poor performance by managing agents involved in maintaining Ministry of Defence properties in my constituency, often with complex subcontrac…”

“20. What steps he is taking to support jobs in the defence sector.”

“T3. According to Sense, there are over 2,500 people with complex needs in North West Cambridgeshire, many of whom will never be able to work because of their conditions. Does the Minister agree that dignity for severely disabled people needs to be a priority for the welfare system, and can he update the House on progre…”

“Listening to residents in North West Cambridgeshire on the doorstep and at local coffee mornings, there is a clear message: people want local police to have the time and resources to get to know crime in their areas and to tackle it at the root. I know our Labour mayoral candidate is committed to that if she is elected…”

“The 2023 PHSO staff survey demonstrated that 35% of staff do not think that change is managed very well at the organisation. It has been quite an uncertain time at the top of the PHSO, as we know. Do you have any thoughts on how you could work to increase stability at the PHSO if you are appointed as the ombudsman?”

“We mentioned governance, and I was really interested to hear the discussion around data use. I appreciate that this might be quite a detailed question, so do not worry if you are unable to answer it, but do you think the current governance arrangements at the PHSO are appropriate? If not, do you have in mind any partic…”

“That is really useful to hear. How should we measure success in that?”

“Very much a fair answer, I guess. What would you set out to achieve in your first year in the role?”

“Thank you very much for coming in. It is very good of you. The role has a seven-year term in the first instance. Would you serve the full term if appointed?”

“Following on from that, the same survey suggested that there is some dissatisfaction with pay and career development opportunities. In February this year, over 200 employees held a one-day strike, so there has been industrial action recently as well. How would you work to prevent further industrial action from happenin…”

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am looking for guidance on how I can raise a breach of the behaviour code by the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage). He was galivanting around my constituency yesterday, and I thought it a real shame that he did not tell me about his visit in advance, as the behaviour co…”

“indicated assent.”

“rose—”

“I enormously welcome the Government’s decision to introduce 300 new Government-funded school-based nurseries. I am particularly delighted that one of them will be in the Hampton Vale primary academy in my constituency. Does the Secretary of State agree that these new nurseries will make a real difference to families in…”

“In my constituency of North West Cambridgeshire, there are lots of young families seeking to buy their first home. I am pleased that the Government are committed to building 1.5 million new homes, but it is important that people can trust that they are buying a good-quality home. Just down the road, at the Darwin Green…”

“On that note, you mentioned that at the moment the system relies on the beneficiary to check the source of the donation. I am reminded of a case at the last election where the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, via an overseas donor, made small payments to all the major political parties, which overall totalled just o…”

“Minister, just now you were talking about the problem of turnout but also the problem of not enough people being registered to vote. Could you give us a little bit more detail about anything specific the Government are looking at doing to address that? I wonder particularly if you have a view, or the Government have a …”

“Finally, one of the solutions that is sometimes talked about is increasing the level of political education and current affairs discussion going on in schools. I know one of the barriers to that is often cited as being that teachers are reluctant to talk about it for fear that they will appear political themselves. Is …”

“Thank you. To take a slightly different tack, this issue particularly affects young people. What discussions might the Department be having across Government to try to increase engagement in the political system with young people specifically?”

“That is helpful. In terms of automatic voter registration specifically, I put it to you that that has been quite a long-standing recommendation from the Electoral Commission over probably a number of Governments. I just wonder if there is something specific that is needed in the Department to make a decision on whether…”