Speeches by Martin.

“It cannot be denied that we have inherited a very difficult position, and that there has recently been a real increase in the rhetoric on this issue, which is causing serious worry, upset, anger and mistrust in our communities. Many vital measures to tackle this organised crime, such as counter-terror-style powers agai…”

“It is an honour to rise to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day—the day when the guns finally fell silent and the second world war came to its end. Portsmouth has been the beating heart of Britain’s naval power for over 500 years, and it played a crucial role in the Pacific campaign that led to VJ Day. Victory in the Pa…”

“I agree that it is important that we are able to debate immigration and asylum. People across the country know the consequences of the asylum system failing to protect the public, communities and businesses—we have had experience of that in my own city. Does the Minister agree that public safety must come first and tha…”

“Does the hon. Member agree with me that the Homes for Ukraine scheme matters? It is not just an immigration policy; it is about real families who have made a home in our communities. I am particularly thinking of a wonderful couple who came along to my surgery. The woman, who came from Ukraine, is working with a charit…”

“I warmly welcome the statement and the work of the Government. Portsmouth, as an island city, is well aware of the damage done; we see it, we smell it and we feel it in our pockets every day. More than 100 of my constituents have raised their fury and disappointment at the way that the Tories allowed firms to extract b…”

“I thank the Secretary of State for his openness and transparency, and for his apology, and I thank Portsmouth city council for its involvement in Afghan resettlement schemes, which have helped many of those who served alongside my Portsmouth North constituents. I welcome today’s decision. The Government rightly took ti…”

“Just on that social justice point, I was a teacher for 24 years and “social mobility” is not the right phrase; the fact that you are using “social justice” is very welcome.”

“The re-sits.”

“I have an additional question to that. Jill Duffy, the chief executive of OCR, said they are proposing a new short GCSE in maths to be taken by all pupils at the end of year 10 before they go on to the full course at year 11. Have you considered those elements as well?”

“Can I come in on that with a further question? You talked about the importance of oracy. There has been a rumbling debate. How much evidence have you had in terms of requests to look at the balance of practical versus written in GCSE? For example, the speaking and listening element was removed from English GCSE, which …”

“It is year 10. It would be fundamental maths skills like number and data handling, a bit like Darren said, that everyone would need for work and life, that everyone sits it in year 10 and has the option to do the full GCSE in year 11. It is that interim element; if you have passed that and you do not feel able to go on…”

“You have already referred to science with the various elements of the GCSE triple, double or individual. The Royal Society notes that the current curriculum focuses on memorising facts, but it also notes that “Restructuring the science curriculum to provide a single universal and coherent science pathway at GCSE; the u…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Jeremy. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for securing the debate, and for her opening words on Down’s syndrome regression disorder. As we have heard, Down’s syndrome regression disorder is a little known but deeply distressing condition th…”

“Does the Minister agree with me and my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Mr Charters) that we do need to look at alcohol sales, but that we need to do it with all stakeholders in the round—not just throw it in as a gimmick to this Bill, which is about finance and governance?”

“I am proud to speak in this debate as the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North—a seat I did not hold this time last year, but proudly hold today, although technically not for a year until 4.30 tomorrow morning. I want to speak today in strong support of the Bill. It is a vital step forward in our duty to protect a…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow East (John Grady) for bringing the Bill forward. I also thank the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Mark Garnier) for chairing the all-party parliamentary group for space and for his promotion of the sector. As the MP for Portsmouth North, I strongly support this pivotal Bill, w…”

“As the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North, I am proud to speak in support of the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, which is a sensible and necessary reform to support our struggling hospitality sector and, as we have heard, allow communities to come together during moments of national significance. The Bill gives…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Tracy Gilbert) for introducing the Bill and welcome the opportunity to raise issues of fairness and equality in the UK’s democracy. We have seen in England that absent voting, by post or proxy, has empowered thousands of people to make their voices heard,…”

“I have one final thing. As a former teacher, I am aware that often Education takes the heavy weight of this. Are there any plans for these costs to be shared with the Department of Health and Social Care instead of it just falling in Education, because it often comes from the high-needs budget? Are there any plans to s…”

“Thank you for that. The joint commission relies on robust data and information sharing. You have just highlighted that there are some areas in the country that are doing it well and others that are not. Are you taking steps to improve the data that is collected and do you anticipate the introduction of a unique identif…”