Speeches by Stephenson.

“I suspect you are familiar with the Committee’s 2025 progress report. Could you walk us through your thoughts on the Government’s response to that report, please?”

“Q7. Government plans for English devolution and NHS reform suggest that integrated care boards should align with new strategic authorities. The Government’s plan for Bedfordshire will not currently achieve that, so what assurances can the Prime Minister provide that local NHS reorganisation will be good value for money…”

“I am sympathetic to the point, but I will get on to how unjust and unfair it is to expect other families to pay for those situations, and the fiscal stability and security we need as a country.”

“I absolutely agree. It is important that we get people into work so that they can look after their families and make the right decisions for them. Shifting the financial responsibility of children on to the state risks not only entrenching inequality, but opening the floodgates to unsustainable dependency, encouraging …”

“We must have a fair welfare system—one that provides vital support to those who need it but does not create a barrier to finding work. We need a financially sustainable system that delivers fairness for the taxpayer and does not entrench dependency. The Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bi…”

“I certainly accept that there are many ways to raise taxes, but my constituents and businesses in my constituency are paying far too much tax as it is. We cannot continue to squeeze corporations, businesses and hard-working people further to achieve the hon. Gentleman’s aims. The Government have lost control of public …”

“T7. The latest central estimate from the Office for Budget Responsibility puts the cost of achieving net zero by 2050 at £803 billion, with half that cost attributed to lost fuel duties. Does the Secretary of State accept that the Government will need to increase duties elsewhere, including on renewables, which could p…”

“I will happily give way—the hon. Lady has been trying for some time.”

“The NAO Report found that people with more complex needs may struggle to access Government services that are designed with the “average” user in mind. What work is being done to make sure that people with more complex needs can still easily access good Government services?”

“Many of us were astonished to learn that there were 290,000 civil servants in this category of public servants. With increasing pressure on resources, how is this capability going to help Departments deliver good services into the future?”

“My initial questions are scene-setting, really, Sir Peter. First of all, could you please explain why operational delivery capability is so important for Government?”

“That was very helpful, in that you have answered some of the questions about impact that I was going to ask, but my question was why the estate is in the state that it is in.”

“No, it was still helpful.”

“I have one final question. I was going to quote from the 2010 and 2025 reports and ask why there has been so little progress, but I will change the question slightly. What assurance can you provide the Committee that we will not have exactly the same conversation in 15 years?”

“Thank you. It sounds like you are trying to fix these things and that it is a passion of yours, Sir Oliver, but how has the Department operated for so long without a coherent strategy and without the data, with such a large estate? The answer might be that it has not, and that is why it is in the state that it is in. H…”

“I think you have answered my first question in part by describing the funding model for upgrading or maintaining the estate. Could you expand a little on why the FCDO’s overseas estate is in such a poor condition?”

“That is why we are here.”

“I totally understand. This is my final question, Chair. I know we are under pressure for time. You talked about negotiating conditions in applications. One of the concerns, certainly that my residents have, is that conditions in planning applications are often not followed up. Do you see that there is a role for the En…”

“I have a few questions on planning and flood risk. In Mid Bedfordshire, houses in the village of Malden have been reclassified as being on floodplain following significant development upslope from them. I think that is something that people have experienced across the country. Does the Environment Agency believe the cu…”

“I have a few questions on planning and flood risk. In Mid Bedfordshire, houses in the village of Malden have been reclassified as being on floodplain following significant development upslope from them. I think that is something that people have experienced across the country. Does the Environment Agency believe the cu…”