Speeches by Kirkham.

“The first question is: how effective is the Veterinary Medicines Directorate at delivering its statutory obligations, whether that be on regulation, authorisation or monitoring of medicines? Do you think it is doing a good job? How do you get on with the directorate?”

“It is not that. If they are owned by a bigger company who have shareholders, they will want dividends on top of the people who work in the practices. I suppose it is that extra layer that I am thinking about.”

“I want to quickly return to corporate ownership, because that is quite striking. I used to be a lawyer, and in law and other professions that has not happened to the same extent. I want to ask you a bit more about that, because obviously that would introduce another layer—a kind of profit motive—that was not there befo…”

“Yes. That kind of thing, and the labelling and everything else, would need to change too. Thank you very much.”

“Do you think people are receptive to that? It has become something that is quite ingrained that you go and get your flea treatment and treat your animal. Would it affect your business?”

“It is changing fast.”

“It is just because the VMD road map is quite slow. What you seem to be saying is that you could look now, because the evidence is there, to move to some of the different ways and even prescribing.”

“In its communication with you, the way that it deals with vets and the cultural way that it does things, would you say that it is working well?”

“I have had a lot of contact from constituents—and I think other MPs have as well—about watercourses and waterways and the impact of flea and tick treatments on them, particularly those that we regularly use on pets. The VMD has come up with a road map, which has short term, medium term and long term aims, but it is qui…”

“That is good. I will move on then.”

“So you all feel the same?”

“It is really good to see the Government prioritising people in distress in rural and coastal areas. My question is slightly separate. It is about listed buildings and conservation area properties, and how those people struggle to insulate their homes because of planning rules. Does the Department have any plans to do s…”

“The Office for National Statistics has confirmed that it is considering taking the veterans question off the census for 2031. Witnesses before the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill clearly thought that question provided important data about where our veterans are. Will the Secretary of State engage with the ONS…”

“Soul Farm, which delivers organic and sustainable food, is an example of a co-operative business in my constituency that benefits its community. I also have the “Save the Stag” campaign in Ponsanooth, which is trying to take over and run the local pub, as has already been done at the Ship Inn at Portloe. Setting up or …”

“T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.”

“That is actually different from what would happen in a civil court—we are debating those today in the main Chamber—in which a victim would not have any say at all over where or how the case was heard. But they would under this system. That is quite interesting.”

“And that is the difference.”

“In your written evidence you quote statistics that the conviction rate in 2024 for rape-flagged offences in service courts was 29%, compared with 23.1% in civilian courts. That is quite interesting because it is a bit higher than in the civilian courts, but obviously still low.”

“Do you have any thoughts on the decision not to take forward the Lyons review recommendation to make serious offences fall solely under civilian jurisdiction?”

“Do you think there is anything in the Bill that will help with that low conviction rate?”