Speeches by Baxter.

“The consequences of losing control of the country’s finances, as the Conservatives did, caused real pain and a cost of living crisis for my constituents. Does my right hon. Friend agree it is only because of our sound economic management that we have seen wages rise for working people at a faster rate in the first 10 m…”

“As a lifelong trade unionist, I will be proud to stand with my constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South this weekend as we have our annual Sma’ Shot Day, which is our annual celebration of the historic victory of local weavers in their trade dispute with the Paisley mill bosses. This week, our Labour Government a…”

“My hon. Friend talks eloquently about the legacy left by the Tory Government. Does he agree that we need two Labour Governments working together in Scotland because the situation—[Interruption.] Those on the Opposition Benches may not want to hear it, but one in six Scots is languishing on an NHS waiting list as a resu…”

“I welcome today’s long overdue review of parental leave. The UK currently has among the lowest paternity leave in Europe, and that is not just a statistic; it is a real-life struggle for families up and down this country. Can my hon. Friend assure me that the review will look not only at the amount of leave but at the …”

“I thank my right hon. Friend for her statement. I share her concern that although freedom of expression must be protected, this incident raises serious concerns about the editorial standards and judgments exercised. As a long-standing supporter of the BBC, I am deeply disappointed in it. What conversations the Secretar…”

“I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement, the additional £300 million for employment support and that the PIP review will be co-produced with disabled people and their representatives, but many of my constituents are relying on the Scottish Government for employment support and for getting waiting lists down to help …”

“The forced deportation of children is illegal under international law, yet Russia continues to steal Ukraine’s future, one child at a time. Was the issue of Ukraine’s stolen children discussed with our allies? What more is being done to return those children to their homes and families?”

“In the autumn statement, the Chancellor announced the largest devolution settlement in the history of the United Kingdom. It is deeply concerning that despite the Government giving Scotland the funding that it needs to deliver vital public services, the SNP-run East Renfrewshire integration joint board has launched its…”

“It takes time to do that.”

“I appreciate that you have said that you hope that people’s health and care needs would be met and everyone who loses PIP should have those health and care needs met by different parts of the system. Given that the Government inherited an NHS that was on its knees, given the pressures on access to work, how do you thin…”

“What assessment has the DWP made of the potential for the loss of benefit to affect the ability of people who are in work to stay in work—that 17% that you are talking about? A lot of people come to us, as constituency MPs, saying, “I am in work but I only able to stay in work because of the PIP that I receive”.”

“It is obviously quite a challenge to deliver that within a 13-week period, but reflecting on the answer that you have given—and Ministers often talk about the need to help disabled people into work—I appreciate why that is a priority, but can you understand why that might give some people the impression that the Govern…”

“Thank you, Minister, for joining us this morning. Moving to personal independence payments, PIP provisions in the Bill that was published last week provide for a 13-week transitional protection period for those who lose their entitlement at their next award review as a result of not scoring four points in at least one …”

“Yes, so no pressure. Also I make the point that that is the NHS in England. The same can’t be said for the situation in Scotland where the responsibility for the NHS lies with the Government in Holyrood and waiting lists are getting longer rather than shorter. Moving on to my last question, concerns have been expressed…”

“Many people fear losing their benefit if they try to work. The Green Paper says this is mostly because the rules are complex and people do not understand them but recent government research identifies a lack of understanding among claimants but also says that the main problem is a lack of trust in the DWP, which we hav…”

“It does not give us much time to read them.”

“When do the Government plan to legislate for the right to try?”

“Will the Foreign Secretary consider further sanctions on the Russian regime for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children? In recent peace talks, the Russian delegation proposed an exchange of prisoners of war for Ukrainian children who had been stolen from their homes, thereby equating combatants with children, who…”

“It is vital that the UK has robust defences against biological incidents, accidents and attacks. What steps are the Government taking to invest in our biosecurity, and how that will help to protect our country from the range of bio-threats that we face?”

“I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and the doubling of business investment by 2035. I particularly welcome the £4.3 billion of funding for the advanced manufacturing sector, which will directly benefit the AMIDS—advanced manufacturing innovation district Scotland—factory in Renfrewshire, which is in Scotland. C…”