Speeches by Jardine.

“So it is not just the amount of money but how it is decided?”

“Tara, did you want to add anything?”

“Thank you very much. Jenny and Tara, did you want to add anything to that?”

“It sounds very much as if there are not many signs of improvement. We suggested a new tax incentive and increased transparency that might help shift the dial on venture capital. The Government rejected that recommendation. Should they reconsider?”

“I am from Edinburgh West. First, a key concern outlined to the Committee in its inquiry last year was the lack of venture capital funding going to female founders and the systemic sexism in the sector. Are there any signs of improvement?”

“I thought you were going to say, “It’s now or never.””

“Somebody mentioned the British Business Bank a few minutes ago. As we have said, the Investor Pathways Capital initiative aims to direct £200 million to females. What impact is that initiative having? How does the programme differ from the funding provided by the Invest in Women Taskforce?”

“The hon. Gentleman makes a good point in this important debate. Does he agree that there is an overwhelming level of concern among constituents across the country about the restrictions on international aid organisations such as Christian Aid? There is a genuine concern that after the war, people will still suffer beca…”

“I tire sometimes of the hon. Member’s party in Scotland making this fuss about us not wanting to rejoin. If he looks back, he will see that the Liberal Democrats were the ones who desperately wanted not to leave. We campaigned for a second referendum. We want to create a new customs union. We desperately want to be clo…”

“If the hon. Member can explain the contradiction between wanting to join one union and give up sovereignty and wanting to leave another.”

“The hon. Gentleman is making a very important point. What concerns me deeply in this matter is the fact that my constituents and members of the public are increasingly concerned that what they see is the tendrils—as the hon. Gentleman referred to—reaching into government through this debate. In the handling of these pa…”

“I am a former journalist and member of the NUJ, and I cannot sufficiently express my anger at hearing that a member of my former profession was investigated in this way in an attempt to intimidate them. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has made great play of the fact that it was not the Government but Labour T…”

“This is the second statement or urgent question in a row that we have had about ethics, and where the tentacles of various organisations or individuals go within Government. Does the Minister accept that we need a statutory inquiry that looks closely at the links and interference of outside bodies in Government, and in…”

“I thank the Minister for his assurances today that these reports and publications will come forward as soon as possible. As I am sure he can pick up from the tenor of the House, many of us are concerned about public confidence in this place—in us—being undermined. Every day that we do not have the reports, there is mor…”

“I thank the Minister for the measures she has outlined. In Edinburgh West this is a significant problem, and it seems to be a problem across the city. Young people, some of them graduates, cannot access driving tests, and then they cannot get jobs because they do not have a driving licence. They are facing long wait ti…”

“indicated assent.”

“Before I move to the Front Benches, does anyone else wish to speak?”

“Order. I remind hon. Members that if they wish to speak, they should bob. Informally, speeches should be kept to around five minutes.”

“We begin with a Select Committee statement. Mr Alistair Carmichael will speak on the publication of the fifth report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, HC 1661, “UK-EU agritrade: making an SPS agreement work”, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. At the conclusion of his …”

“Briefly, going back to the first bit, do you think this is an area where we need more research and need to find out more? Why are younger women coming forward?”