Speeches by McAllister.

“Will the Leader of the House join me in again congratulating the Scotland men’s national football team on qualifying for the 2026 world cup? The entire team are heroes, not least John McGinn from my West Dunbartonshire constituency, who is a former pupil of my old school, St Columba’s in Clydebank. Does the Leader of t…”

“T2. In June this year, the average wait time for a driving test in the UK was over 22 weeks. That backlog is holding back learners in my constituency. Can the Secretary of State outline what action she is taking to deliver extra tests and remove those barriers for young people in West Dunbartonshire?”

“Can I ask a supplementary on that announcement please? That announcement was made this morning. Can you give us an idea of how many local, clean jobs it is going to produce for the area and how many homes it will power?”

“For solar panels in our schools and hospitals?”

“The reason why I ask is that my constituency of West Dunbartonshire has areas of high deprivation. Will schools in my areas of deprivation in West Dunbartonshire benefit from this GB Energy investment the way they will in England?”

“Have the Scottish Government given you an indication as to what they are likely to do with that additional funding?”

“To the Scottish Government?”

“How much has been allocated?”

“It was announced on Monday of this week, I believe, that 250 schools are set to benefit from Great British Energy with respect to the solar programme—including specifically areas of deprivation—but not Scotland. You talked about that partnership agreement. Did GB Energy have discussions with the Scottish Government to …”

“Hundreds of my West Dunbartonshire constituents, and thousands more across the country, were served notice of the termination of their family protection funeral plan by CMutual and Maiden Life UK. All are members of credit unions, and they are elderly and vulnerable. They have paid in thousands of pounds over the years…”

“Thank you for that answer. As far as the trade deal and the reduction in tariffs with India is concerned, what are the potential impacts on the whisky industry of that UK-India trade deal?”

“Many of my West Dunbartonshire constituents are employed in the whisky industry and President Trump has expressed his wish for Scotland to do well out of the UK-US trade deal. What are the barriers to securing a removal of or reduction in tariffs on the whisky industry?”

“The Bill provides for parity of representation, and will expand non-means-tested legal aid so that bereaved family members can secure advocacy at inquests where a public authority is an interested person, but it does so, as I understand it, only in England and Wales. Of course, justice is a devolved issue, but can the …”

“It was suggested in our first session this morning that you had failed to respond to the union’s request for collective consultation. Is that accurate?”

“So not live from the studio at 6 o’clock?”

“Live from the studio?”

“Are you hoping to deliver dividends to your shareholders next year?”

“Does that place you under significant pressure?”

“You came into your position in November 2024, obviously tasked with delivering a sustainable, profitable business. The share price collapsing in July had no bearing, then, on what some have described as your kneejerk reaction and lack of consultation in announcing this decision? Profits to shareholders are not one of y…”

“Chair, can I ask a supplementary on that one?”