Speeches by Roome.

“In a follow-up to what Mr Twigg was saying, in evidence to Parliament last year, the MoD revealed that the 10-year forecast costs for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise had risen by about £10 billion—I think you just mentioned that figure—to roughly £130 billion. Have there been any further cost increases? Has that had an …”

“You have given no detail, though.”

“At an event this weekend, I was with trade organisations and they told me that some of the smaller SMEs, which this Government are supposed to be supporting, are having to lay people off, because they do not have the DIP. Yes, we can paint a rosy picture and say we are working flat out, but could I ask you what the det…”

“It will be some comfort to you, Rupert, that I asked the Secretary of State just before the Christmas recess and he said to me in the Chamber, in Parliament, that it would be done by the end of the year, which was the end of 2025, but here we are today.”

“That has been pointed out to the Committee in previous evidence, hasn’t it, Chair? Thank you very much.”

“Can I draw your attention to clause 5, “Sexual harm prevention orders and sexual risk orders”, clause 6, “Protection from domestic abuse and stalking”, and clause 7, “Service restraining orders”? In your written evidence, you identified concerns about a legislative gap. Could you explain to the Committee what the gap i…”

“As the DSP, could you explain the earlier evidence that we heard about the flagging system? What are your thoughts on how we are recording that data?”

“It is even more complex if you are serving operationally on a submarine. I don’t know whether you have come across cases like that.”

“T8. Last week, HMS Dragon left Portsmouth bound for Cyprus, having been prepared for deployment inside six days. The Royal Navy says that preparation would normally have taken six weeks. What can the Government do to ensure that more of our surface fleet is available when urgently needed?”

“We are still waiting for the defence investment plan, and according to the strategic defence review, items should be deleted from that plan only on the advice of the national armaments director; service chiefs must advise the Secretary of State if anything is to be removed from the defence to-do list. Has the Secretary…”

“6. What progress his Department has made towards the publication of the defence investment plan.”

“T5. Many small businesses in my constituency are gearing up for the busy tourist season that is just around the corner. What steps are the Government taking to support small businesses in the south-west, to help them make the most of their biggest window of opportunity over the summer?”

“Does the Minister agree that by being asked to focus on parcels over letters, and having overtime hours for deliveries restricted, many hard-working postal workers will feel that public trust in Royal Mail is being undermined?”

“In your experience, have you come across an instance when the commanding officer tried to keep it quiet?”

“Do you have a view on whether this duty is adequate to make sure that commanding officers take their responsibilities seriously? More important, what consequences are there if they do not report an offence?”

“That brings us to the chain of command. We know that commanding officers have the power to investigate and decide on minor disciplinary and criminal offences at summary hearings. I draw your attention to clause 17, which would require commanding officers to report a serious offence to the service police, regardless of …”

“I am getting frustrated about the defence investment plan. Could the Minister, when he sums up, confirm whether it is stuck in the Treasury, and the two Departments are arguing about what it can and cannot include? What is the hold-up between the MOD and the Treasury?”

“I thank the Chair of the Defence Committee for securing this estimates debate on defence. Of all the demands on public finances, none are more serious than paying for this country’s defence. Recent years—even the last few days—have brought that into sharp relief. This time last year, at the spring statement, the Govern…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Bobby Dean) for introducing this important debate. I thank the Minister for visiting North Devon district hospital to see the estate for herself and for listening to the passionate pleas from NHS clinicians serving on the frontline. The hospital is now th…”

“The Chancellor refers to opportunities that young people deserve. However, hundreds of college students in my North Devon constituency have spent weeks unable to travel to college due to flooding and rail closures. Will the Government confirm that they will invest in their life chances by doing more to upgrade our tran…”