Speeches by Dickson.

“Residents in Dartford, like those across Kent, are experiencing poor service and increased bills—including residents in Ebbsfleet, who have to pay an additional sum for waste water to flow from their community into the Thames. That is charged for by the Port of London Authority; it is called dewatering, and it is incre…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for the excellent speech that he is making on a really important debate. My constituency, similar to his, has a range of small towns with different access to modes of transport. One of them is Swanscombe, home to the collapsed Galley Hill Road, which I have mentioned several times. Its train stat…”

“As a separate question, looking at the international comparisons, it was said earlier that the state makes the smallest contribution of any G7 country, and when compared with similar countries across Europe and elsewhere. Is that because those countries send fewer young people to university, or because they see the sta…”

“A lot of the evidence we have received talks about the heavy psychological burden of the amount of debt. You have stated very large figures that people face early in their careers—a £50,000 debt going up to £70,000 and beyond. Would you favour changing the terminology here? Obviously there are lots of other changes tha…”

“In my constituency, major Government-funded infrastructure projects are providing strong opportunities for young people, including skills training, permanent jobs and careers. Does the Minister agree that as we renew our homes, bridges, crossings, railways and infrastructure, we have to maximise the opportunities for y…”

“So it did not have a positive take-up from the previous Government, but it might be something we can look to take back in our report.”

“On the notion of moving entirely to a tax-based system rather than the present one where clearly terms and conditions have changed and new plans and burdens have been introduced, would it be simpler to have a tax that graduates pay throughout their time as taxpayers?”

“Do you think it is a useful to look at the cost benefits of state investment for the economy and for individuals, in order for us as a country—not necessarily for this inquiry—to think through whether having greater state contribution is worth it in the end?”

“In my constituency, major Government-funded infrastructure projects are providing strong opportunities for young people, including skills training, permanent jobs and careers. Does the Minister agree that as we renew our homes, bridges, crossings, railways and infrastructure, we have to maximise the opportunities for y…”

“Either the graduate tax or Sir Philip Augar’s idea of a graduate contribution system. Would you favour that as a potential element of the sorts of changes that we might recommend?”

“That is helpful. Thank you very much.”

“I have just a couple of quick issues to cover at the end. Sir Philip, you made the suggestion—which seemed to be met with a reasonable degree of agreement—that we should perhaps look to rebadge the system as a student contribution arrangement, rather than as a loan arrangement involving debt and all the psychology that…”

“I warmly welcome the priority and the additional investment in our NHS over the first two years of this Government. In my constituency, we are seeing positive change with our newly opened North Kent community diagnostic centre, which is delivering vital tests and results for residents in a few short days from a great b…”

“Dr Dhingra, there was some suggestion from the Bank’s agents as mentioned in the Monetary Policy Report that we could be looking at food price inflation later in the year of 6% to 7%. Would that be a figure you would be expecting might come through?”

“Mr Bailey, has there been any contact from the Treasury to discuss with you, either for information or on any other basis, any steps that Treasury might be looking to take to intervene around food price inflation at all?”

“Turning to some of the household finance issues that are likely to be a real concern to our constituents, we are already hearing about some of those worries. To Mr Bailey first, how do you think food and other prices, which are obviously very important to household finances, are likely to be impacted, compared, for ins…”

“That is helpful. I have a question about our exposure to the jet fuel market. All the indicators show that the UK is a particularly large importer of jet fuel. Do you think this is likely to have a significant effect on inflation in the UK as compared to other territories?”

“Would any of the panel wish to comment on whether there are any interventions that the Treasury might undertake, particularly around food pricing, which might help to reduce the future level of inflation going forward?”

“I have one final question, Dame Meg, if I may. On the length of time for which we are likely to be experiencing the shock that comes from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, if the closure ends reasonably soon, how long do you, as the MPC, think the effects from the closure are likely to last?”

“It is very good to have you here. Could you start by summarising, each of you, what the OBR has done well over the last 15 years and where it can improve?”