Speeches by Glen.

“Can I turn to the role that NISTA plays in financing? The Government put forward a Bill to finance the Lower Thames Crossing, but across the portfolio, there will be different profiles. Last month we saw gilt yields hit highs not seen since around 1998. Could you give us a sense of how you manage that exposure to volat…”

“At the point of an election, why do you not put in a mechanism to show the choices that create extra costs or opportunities? The boundaries have changed. The Stonehenge tunnel is not in my constituency anymore, but over £200 million has been spent and just been washed away. The transparency—”

“Mr Vickerstaff, if I could pick up where you left off, last year 80% of the MOD’s major products were rated red or amber for delivery. The NAO made numerous observations about disappointing returns on, for example, the F-35 programme. Given the tension that has played out between the Treasury and the Ministry of Defenc…”

“It was probably a bit nominal before. I am not trying to create a gotcha moment; I am trying to be honest and get answers.”

“The fact remains that a vast majority of admittedly complex procurements and projects are amber and red. People watching this will be thinking, “Who’s getting a grip on that?” I respect what you are saying: I have worked for close to seven years administering civil servants and many of them are capable, but the questio…”

“15. What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of planned changes to the PE and sport premium for primary schools on school budgets.”

“I thank the Minister for that answer, but I visited Woodlands primary school and Matthew Kitley 10 days ago. He has been there for 17 years and works extremely hard to make very limited resources work for the pupils, 60% of whom receive the pupil premium. He tells me that £17,000 has been taken off the budget that he h…”

“The Minister will acknowledge the distinct combined effect of a whole range of Government decisions on the rural pubs sector. While I acknowledge the need for fiscal responsibility, what work has he done to look at the net effect of all Government decisions, and at why a distinct solution is needed for this particular …”

“May I say what a pleasure it is to contribute to this debate under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse? I am reminded of my youth in Bath, where I first attended pubs such as the Assembly Inn—but, since the subject of today’s debate is rural pubs, I shall move quickly to discussing my constituency. I want to refer in my contr…”

“Minister, why did it take over seven months to get to the point of nearly appointing a new OBR chair? While I am sure that the Government want to get the best possible candidate, it is probably true that there are not thousands of people who would be suitable. It seems a long time.”

“Have you used a new head-hunter or something? Seven months seems a very long time to get from commission to finding somebody, to longlist, shortlist, interview, and to this point.”

“We will come on to look at what happened last year in terms of communications, but it is fair to say that, in a situation where the OBR is potentially putting some quite difficult interpretations of macroeconomic data into that discussion in that pre-Budget conversation with the Treasury, it would be only natural for T…”

“There is so much more that I could ask, but I feel I have had my share.”

“The criticisms that we see, implicit at least in what Louise Haigh has said, are a function of frustration with the honesty of the OBR. Is that a fair characterisation?”

“Can I just ask some questions about pensions generally? You have been quoted as previously referring to the triple lock in pensions as “rubbish”. Clearly, you had a previous role. We see this with the new head of the PRA. When she was at Barclays, she probably had a different view on ringfencing than she does now. Now …”

“It is not unfair.”

“A week or two ago, your successor at the Resolution Foundation said that it has been more expensive than had been anticipated and it does not have the effect on the poorest that was envisaged. She is a serious person. You worked with her closely. Was she wrong when she said that?”

“On your reserve powers, I will ignore the politics around it, but, for clarity, can you explain where you see Government acting to use those reserve powers in reality?”

“There have been assertions by many in the City about the direction of travel. You have had many of the reserve powers that you wanted to have trimmed back. They are time limited over the next three or four years. That will essentially render government action on this pretty meaningless.”

“Is it the most effective way to deal with the poorest? If your objective, which I would have thought most Governments would have, was to increase the income of the poorest deciles, would the triple lock be the best way of achieving that objective, with all its messiness that you describe?”