Speeches by Mohamed.

“I have not applied. I have not learnt the process yet. I mentioned earlier about the inductions to the key elements of an MP’s role and the processes that we can participate in to apply for debates and speaking opportunities or to raise issues. I will learn it and when I am ready, I will submit. One of our colleagues g…”

“I have relied mostly on being in the Chamber and bobbing, and I have been quite successful in getting called to be able to put a relevant question. I get questions and information from constituents in real time on an evening the day before or on a morning and, coincidentally, they know which Minister will be at the Dis…”

“We do not get a place on any Select Committees. It is not even an option. We cannot lobby for it; we cannot apply for it; we cannot express interest in it. We have quite a wide breadth of experience across the alliance. I have my specialist knowledge, and I would absolutely want to contribute the maximum I can as an MP…”

“I spoke on the Data (Use and Access) Bill before recess, where the Minister proposed or encouraged people—not just me, but other speakers who had suggestions for improvements—to put their names forward to participate in the Bill Committee. Until that point—maybe that is on me—I was not aware that I could volunteer or e…”

“I was not aware.”

“I would definitely have stood, knowing what I know now. Nothing changes that fact.”

“I was not aware of either of those things.”

“There are two parts. One is to know that you can put yourself forward to provide evidence to an inquiry, but the other part is: what is the process for suggesting areas of inquiry to a Select Committee? There is an EDM form, there is a questions form, but I did not find anything that says, “Do you have something that y…”

“As a single person, I am an independent MP. That is what my constituents elected me as and that does not change until or unless they want that to change. It was finding, thankfully, four other independents who overlapped and aligned on pretty much the majority of issues, challenges, policy areas, principles and our int…”

“I did benefit from the expertise of the different Members’ officers and staff, and we could co-ordinate around EDMs and questions and other things. Out of Chamber, out of Committee Room co-ordination helped me a lot but—similar to what Shockat said—I do not have any evidence to know if it would have been different had …”

“The people who put us here put us here as independents. As I said earlier, if that changes that will change based on what my constituents want me to do. I have not investigated or looked into and never considered even until now the organisation and the elements to bring a party structure together. My constituents elect…”

“Primary for me was the impact in this place, so being one alone versus one of five, and having that coverage. If I am not there, I am not around. If there is an important topic, I know somebody is there. They will be speaking, and they will probably be saying what I would want to say. Participation in the questions and…”

“To build on what Shockat said, I was elected as an independent to put in all my resources, intellect, time, energy and some finances that I was able to use for serving my community. I would like the opportunity to be able to do that to the maximum in this place. On Short money—thanks for the summary—there are two views…”

“I do not see any disadvantages of being formally recognised as a technical group. The challenges of a party—I have never been in one, and I have never tried to start one—would be many and would probably distract us at the moment from the work we have been elected to do.”

“The people who put us here put us here as independents. As I said earlier, if that changes that will change based on what my constituents want me to do. I have not investigated or looked into and never considered even until now the organisation and the elements to bring a party structure together. My constituents elect…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Christopher, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Chichester (Jess Brown-Fuller) on securing this important debate. We are here today because maternity services are not at the level that they need to be at. There are many, many fantastic services across the country,…”

“I am grateful to the Secretary of State for her statement. As a child brought up on free milk and free school meals, I very much welcome and support the Government’s plans to set up universal breakfast clubs in all primary schools. However, concerns are reported among headteachers, unions and charities that the plans w…”

“What measures is the Minister taking to address the record backlog of court cases in the UK, which, as the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office has warned, is on target to hit 100,000? In particular, can she comment on the call for changes to be made to the way that court cases are …”

“I welcome the limited protections in the Bill, but I know from experience that many applications for benefits—especially disability benefits and personal independence payments—that are processed through automated systems are refused, and the applicants have to go through a complicated and laborious appeals process in o…”

“I stand in support of the objectives and aims of the Bill. Having worked with data and technology for more than 30 years, I wholeheartedly support the ethical, responsible and equitable use of technology and data to benefit and make easier the lives of the people of the UK, and to increase the efficiency of service del…”