Speeches by Aquarone.

“While the damage from Storm Darragh was thankfully limited in North Norfolk, a number of properties in my constituency suffered power cuts, which lasted well into Monday. That has once again highlighted the problem caused by poor mobile phone signal in rural parts of North Norfolk. As hon. Members have mentioned, many …”

“The Minister has spoken about many different types of rubbish, but not where it often goes, which is to household waste recycling centres. Not content with the Tory tip tax, cash-strapped Norfolk county council has gone further in trying to encourage fly-tipping by creating a mad booking system for residents who want t…”

“Okay, so it really is that baked into the civil service pay structures.”

“It sounds like the debrief should at least take place back at base rather than when you are sitting next to each other in the car. I am struggling to work out what the big change is that needs to happen. You have talked very eloquently about the tech being okay, the pay banding being okay and retention rates being okay…”

“This may sound like a stupid question. I am extremely sorry to hear of the accounts you have given. Standing back and reflecting on everything that has been said so far, is the test just too cheap? Is that part of the problem? I am conscious that it is extremely expensive to learn to drive, but is there an economic fac…”

“I’m going to make myself wildly unpopular. I am conscious that a lot of my young constituents cannot afford driving lessons, so they are taught by friends or relatives. Is there a danger that some of those initiatives actually make it much harder for those people to access driving tests? Do you have any views on that?”

“There is legislative provision to actually change the price.”

“Primary legislation?”

“Who decides not to increase the price? Is it one of those hilarious things where nobody decides not to do something, and therefore someone has to decide to do it in order to do it?”

“It is not just budget balancing, is it? It is also the behavioural consequences, because it is cheaper to book a test than it is to book another driving lesson in some situations. Loveday, you are nodding. What is your view?”

“Generally, the lucidity of your responses suggests you have tried and are trying everything. At some point, something has to change beyond the things that are available to you at the moment. This is not provocative; it may be a slightly stupid thing to say. Is the test price too low? Would that not change things to som…”

“I feel we ought to give you the opportunity to respond to this. In the written evidence from the DIA there was a suggestion that there were DVSA personnel selling test slots in closed social media groups. We asked them for more details. We are not able to validate their evidence at this stage. I want to put it to you f…”

“Of course, but what are we going to do? It still does not answer how we are going to change the course of the river.”

“Sorry to interrupt you, but when Government prioritise nursing recruitment they say they are going to pay nurses more. Surely, the Government could just say, “We’re going to pay driving test examiners more.””

“Since the changes to national insurance were announced in the Budget, I have been contacted by constituents from a whole load of different sectors who have said how worried they are about the changes. I have had deeply concerned GPs tell me about the impact the changes will have on their already overstretched budgets. …”

“I can only speak for North Norfolk, but a green energy future is exciting for our local economy, especially at Bacton. Just along the coast, villages like Happisburgh are suffering from being part of the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The Secretary of State touched on coastal erosion in answer to my hon. Friend t…”

“What steps is the Minister taking to tackle crime in rural areas?”

“I totally agree. Lots of money is already there, not to mention the stuff that is missing, but we have to use it in a more joined-up and strategic way. I could go on, but I will return to my speech. The projects that need to be undertaken to make a real difference will take time, but they will have a huge payoff. Being…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. In my experience as a county councillor over the past seven years, I have seen changing attitudes in the farming community, with farmers having moved from wanting to get the water off their land and into the river system as soon as possible, to wanting to build attenuation m…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered flood preparedness in Norfolk. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I am delighted to have secured this important debate on flood preparedness in Norfolk, and I am pleased to see colleagues from across the county and across the parties. The ho…”