Speeches by Reed.

“I will ask a similar question to the ones I asked the FCDO officials. Development has become quite contentious now in the UK. The issue is that we dive straight into the priorities without outlining the high-level view of why we are doing this in the first place. It is very difficult to then communicate to the UK publi…”

“Linked very closely to that, and one for Corin, what will your priorities be going into the spending review negotiations?”

“If I am being completely honest, I think that this is part of the problem. I completely understand all the arguments you are making, and I agree with many of them, but I am sure that many people on the Committee have had the same problem knocking on doors. Because there is not that short, snappy answer of why we are sp…”

“The key theme set out by hon. Members from across Wales and the south-west is that we are all being kept in the dark. What will the Minister do to engage with MPs from across the region and tell us what plans for mitigation are being put in place in our constituencies for the planned works at Old Oak Common?”

“This is a major issue. We are talking about the sewage network for an entire country. The last Government pushed for storm overflows to be looked at, and I am glad that the Bill, which has been brought forward by this Government, will look at emergency overflows. As we know, the landmark Environment Act 2021 gave regul…”

“I thank the Government for introducing this Bill and the Minister for Water for meeting me last week. This is a vital issue, not least for my constituents in Exmouth and Exeter East. Across my constituency, from Cranbrook to Exmouth, we have felt the full force of South West Water’s neglectful and harmful behaviours. T…”

“I thank the hon. Member for raising those points; this issue has affected our county, and I hope that members of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee raise it as fast as possible, to ensure that South West Water is held accountable and placed in front of them to answer questions about how that outbreak hap…”

“The hon. Gentleman mentioned 2015, so let me return to the point I just made: these problems did not happen overnight. He will know that the Liberal Democrats were in coalition with the Conservatives until 2015. The previous Government took decisive action to hold water companies accountable, linking performance to sha…”

“I seek clarification on one of the points the Minister made about clearances, as I have not heard it in what he has said. Which level of clearance will the Armed Forces Commissioner be required to hold, and will the role be contingent on them holding it? If they cannot maintain clearance, will they lose their job?”

“Would it be possible for the Minister to provide clarification on how sensitive information will be handled? I imagine that, with these extra powers, the new commissioner will be able to take both physical and digital sensitive information. Does that indicate that there will be a need for a new secure physical facility…”

“The mechanics are different from those for a preferred candidate in other Departments, in so far as the candidate will have to go through top-level security clearance and presumably enhanced developed vetting. If they do not pass enhanced developed vetting, will they still be put forward as the preferred candidate? How…”

“I thank my hon. Friend—I will call him that, as he is my neighbour from Exeter—for securing this important debate. I want to take the politics out of all this. I know he is not raising this issue, but Old Oak Common will cause significant disruption to our county of Devon and the wider region. It is imperative that we …”

“Jillian, thank you for being with us and answering our questions today. Given the delays in the recruitment process, having a handover with the previous chief commissioner is not going to be possible, and it is going to be essential to hit the ground running. I am sure that you have lots of experience in this from prev…”

“ICAI’s independence from Government is central to its existence. If, at any point, you saw that independence being eroded in any way, what would you do to bring it back and also protect it, if you were appointed?”

“It does indeed. Thank you very much.”

“Q Would it be beneficial to have that in the Bill? Air Commodore Simon Harper: Yes, it would.”

“Q I echo the thanks for all you do for your single services. This Bill proposes a lot of new powers for an Armed Forces Commissioner. If, down the line, after this commissioner comes in, you take umbrage at how they are conducting themselves, is there a clear line of escalation in the Bill through which you would be ab…”

“I have a close family member who works for one of the charities here today.”

“Q And the process that you have now, do you think it will still be fit for purpose when the commissioner comes in? Abby Dryden: I think it will be a different process, and we will obviously have to consider revising it, but I do not think our viewpoint and our purpose in very many of the issues we deal with will change…”

“Q Flipping Terry’s question on its head, could it actually have negative implications in terms of culture in service life and usher in a new wave of complaining? Lt General Sir Nicholas Pope: What we have to be very careful about, in relation to the commissioner’s role, is ensuring that we do not chase demons unnecessa…”