Speeches by Gemmell.

“Universities in Wales and Scotland are engines of job creation through the crucial role they play in fostering innovation. Will the Minister please update the House on what the UK Government are doing to fuel innovation in Welsh universities?”

“”

“May I put on record my thanks to the Home Secretary and the team for the speed with which they have addressed the major issues in the Bill? I also thank the Home Secretary for making it clear on Second Reading that the Bill’s provisions will not apply to humanitarian organisations.”

“9. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help create new jobs in Wales.”

“My hon. Friend may know that Aeralis, a British aerospace company seeking to develop a replacement for the Red Arrows, has gone into administration, and the company is in part blaming the delays to the defence investment plan for that terrible outcome. I thank my hon. Friend for the time he has taken with me, looking f…”

“This is for you, Lord McConnell, but it is really driven by what Olivia and Dr Ferguson have said about the need for a space in Government, which we may not have, to understand the drivers of conflict, as well as Dr Ferguson’s points about the risk of an ever-increasing gap between advisers and Ministers on this. Is it…”

“Your collective comments about the lack of strategy and politics are stark, as is the thought that we are missing the opportunity to play to our strengths. Lord Evans, I had the privilege of being in Angola with the HALO Trust. It is in my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. It was clear that your or…”

“I thank the Minister for his response. The situation in Cuba is very worrying. Can he set out what the UK Government are doing to ensure that aid reaches those who need it?”

“I congratulate the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) on the debate she has had tonight. I also congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Elaine Stewart) on her new position in the Department. Does the Minister agree that at £600 million—or the cost of 5,000 motorhomes—the se…”

“I thank the Minister for his statement. I am proud to be part of the Labour Government who took the historic decision to recognise the state of Palestine. However, the prospect of a single, unified Palestinian state is now under enormous pressure from the expansion of illegal settlements. Does the Minister agree that a…”

“I put on record my support and recognition of the bold and principled speech by my right hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting) earlier today. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline and Dollar (Graeme Downie) for his support of the Government’s defence agenda. Does he share my deep disappoin…”

“No.”

“But in your cases, you would probably see someone suspended as an investigation took place, or for some there would have been summary dismissal, as we have seen.”

“Thanks for your time, Morgan. I think you said earlier that you thought that the DV process might also pick up untruths or misrepresentations by Peter Mandelson. Do you know if the answers that he gave you on the Epstein follow-up or the due diligence report were sent to the DV system—the officers—to use as evidence to…”

“Just for the record, I attended a dinner at Roger Liddle’s with Peter Mandelson, I believe after he was appointed ambassador.”

“Sir Philip, was the correct process followed in the dismissal of Olly Robbins?”

“Thank you. I want to ask about the due diligence report, but does anyone else want to come in?”

“Nice to see you, too. The issue we are struggling with, in part, is judgment. One of the main problems is that the initial judgment to appoint Peter Mandelson was flawed. Some are trying to say that the FCDO process, the vetting process, could have corrected that flawed initial decision. Is it fair to say, when you loo…”

“Sir Philip, I should put it on record that you and I worked briefly together when you were high commissioner to India and I was Her Majesty’s then trade commissioner, a job for which I had to get DV.”

“In her follow-up to her evidence to the Committee, Cat Little confirmed that there was no Cabinet Office advice ahead of the decision that Morgan McSweeney and Matthew Doyle should follow up questions with Peter Mandelson about Epstein. Have you any views about whether they were the right people to do that? Would someo…”