Speeches by Rutland.

“I am interested in what you were saying earlier about the costs, particularly in the south-east, of the available space and the use of warehouses. I have met a gymnastics organisation—I represent a constituency on the south coast—and that was a challenge that it highlighted to me. You have talked about the cost of the …”

“Do you think hiring costs are too high for the end user?”

“Kate, how about cricket?”

“Today, we are taking an extraordinary but necessary step not just to safeguard a single industry, but to defend the long-term interests of our country. On that point of interests, I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Let us be clear: today is about not nostalgia, but national resilience …”

“T7. This month, we marked eight years since the Westminster bridge attack, a cowardly assault on our parliamentary democracy that killed five people, including the late PC Keith Palmer, and injured almost 50 others. As the survivors seek to rebuild their lives, what measures is the Department putting in place to suppor…”

“That leads to my next area of questioning, on how grassroots sports can be made more engaging and accessible to under-represented groups. We have touched on that a little already. Mark and Emily, you have more of an opportunity to contribute here. More support is needed to drive participation in sport and tackle inequa…”

“I am going to ask about facilities. We have received evidence on the challenges facing facilities—the availability, accessibility, quality, loss of fields and rising costs through third-party hire. The LGA has found that almost two thirds of UK leisure stock is ageing and past its replacement date, and facilities that …”

“I guess, Anna and Steph, that participation levels for women and those with disabilities at a local level is still low. What initiative, if there was one, could be introduced to see more individuals taking part in sport?”

“That leads to my next area of questioning, on how grassroots sports can be made more engaging and accessible to under-represented groups. We have touched on that a little already. Mark and Emily, you have more of an opportunity to contribute here. More support is needed to drive participation in sport and tackle inequa…”

“I am going to ask about facilities. We have received evidence on the challenges facing facilities—the availability, accessibility, quality, loss of fields and rising costs through third-party hire. The LGA has found that almost two thirds of UK leisure stock is ageing and past its replacement date, and facilities that …”

“I guess, Anna and Steph, that participation levels for women and those with disabilities at a local level is still low. What initiative, if there was one, could be introduced to see more individuals taking part in sport?”

“This year, the UK is providing Ukraine with more financial aid through military support than at any time since Putin’s illegal invasion. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is crucial to wider European security, and to our own security here in the UK, that we continue to support Ukraine and ramp up the pressure o…”

“Like many, I was horrified to see the resumption of airstrikes in Gaza and the loss of so many innocent lives this week. Civilians in Gaza and the remaining Israeli hostages, who were abducted in the appalling Hamas terror attacks of 7 October, desperately need a ceasefire back in place, and the hostages must be releas…”

“It is a privilege to represent East Worthing and Shoreham, a fabulous stretch of the stunning Sussex coast where the sea meets the shore at our beautiful collection of towns and villages, which then give way to the breathtaking south downs. Too often, coastal towns have been treated as after- thoughts. Once vibrant hub…”

“Like 1% of the population, I suffer from coeliac disease, an autoimmune disease in which the gut attacks itself if the sufferer eats gluten. There is no treatment other than a gluten-free diet. The cheapest loaf of gluten-free bread can cost six times the price of one that contains gluten. Despite that, prescriptions f…”

“We are blessed to be nestled between the beautiful River Adur and the sea in my constituency, but that leaves us prone to flooding. Last year, my constituents in Shoreham found their homes and businesses flooded. I welcome the Government’s £2.65 billion for flood defences and must stress the importance of East Worthing…”

“T8. I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Food wholesale and distribution company Bidfood, which has been awarded public sector contracts and has a site in my constituency, recently unilaterally tore up union recognition agreements that have been in place for more than 30 years. What step…”

“As we have heard, today is World Book Day. Like many in this House, I have fond childhood memories of dressing up as a character from my favourite book, but research from the National Literacy Trust shows that the number of children reading in their spare time has fallen to its lowest in almost two decades. That comes …”

“Is it high enough?”

“You talked about what you are trying to do with co-production. What could the Government do to help the BBC make more high-end British drama?”