Speeches by Jardine.

“Professor Martins Da Silva, could you explain how egg donation differs in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK and the reasons for this difference?”

“I thank everyone who has taken part in the debate and spoken so movingly and powerfully about their own experiences and the experiences of those they have spoken to. I also thank the Minister for laying out the steps that the Government are already taking to move towards the better understanding and support that we hav…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered Government support for bereaved children. First, I thank the Backbench Business Committee and all those who supported my application for the debate, not just on my behalf because we have the opportunity to discuss this issue, but for many thousands of children and young peo…”

“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?”

“Many of my constituents work in the Leonardo factory, which the Secretary of State mentioned. They contribute hugely to this economy, but they are concerned about the contradiction between what the UK Government say and what the Scottish Government say about defence spending. Can he detail exactly how the Government wi…”

“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?”

“You have already partly answered this: the Government said they do not rule out intervention in future if the level of venture capital investment in female entrepreneurs shows no sign of improvement. What should those interventions look like? Are we at a point where we need them now?”

“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?”

“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?”

“Tara, there was criticism last year of Innovate UK, which then brought forward a number of commitments to improve support for female founders. Are you happy with those changes? Is there anything else you would like to see Innovate UK do?”

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

“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 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…”

“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 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…”

“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 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…”