Speeches by Grady.

“My hon. Friend’s intervention typifies his many thoughtful contributions; he makes an important point. I think all of us who live in cities—townies, like me—have a great yearning for the countryside. In my constituency, we have Tollcross Park, which is a wonderful park; I recommend that everyone visit it. There is a ci…”

“The National Wealth Fund, which the Government are focusing on—building, to be fair, on work done by the previous Administration—has a real focus on helping local authorities to make sensible investments. Does my hon. Friend agree that given the various sagas that we have seen—Thurrock and solar, for example, or intere…”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that the UK Government’s focus, under the Secretary of State for Scotland, on working closely with the Scottish Government—where possible, to be pragmatic—is important? It has secured an amendment to the Bill that will be of benefit to the voters in Baillieston in my constituency, who go to th…”

“My hon. Friend—who recently had her birthday—is quite right to emphasise the importance of good working between the Scottish Government and the Westminster Government to ensure that the voting rules are harmonised. Will she outline how that benefits voters at Eastbank primary school and Eastbank academy in Shettleston …”

“My hon. Friend is the Member of Parliament for the wonderful place of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Does he agree that the purpose of the Bill is to bring some much-needed consistency to voting arrangements across our family of nations? Voters in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle upon Tyne or the wonderful Newcastleton in Scotti…”

“I am obliged to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Tracy Gilbert) for introducing this important piece of legislation. For hon. Members who do not know Edinburgh North and Leith, the word “and” is very important in the name of that constituency: Leith is quite separate from Edinburgh—it is a separ…”

“My hon. Friend mentions the lack of enthusiasm for voting among some young people. That is a real problem in Scotland. Does she agree that one potential explanation is the catastrophic decline of education standards, the insolvency of universities in Scotland and so forth? That may be contributing to a decline in voter…”

“Does the hon. Member agree that it is most appropriate that Madam Deputy Speaker, who is Member of Parliament for Bradford, is in the Chair for this Bill’s Third Reading? David Hockney, one of Bradford’s most famous sons, is a wonderful painter of dogs.”

“I will keep my remarks short. I thank all Members for their support today, on Second Reading and in Committee. I also thank the Department for Transport civil servants who assisted me. The Clerk of Private Members’ Bills puts in a lot of work to help us all with our Private Members’ Bills, and I give thanks to them as …”

“Will you focus on space, which is important for Glasgow and various other places?”

“Presumably, it would have to reach a certain kind of technology readiness level to be investable and be more for you, as opposed to one of the other institutions.”

“What about more frontier technologies such as nuclear fusion?”

“Presumably, it would have to reach a certain kind of technology readiness level to be investable and be more for you, as opposed to one of the other institutions.”

“Looking at your statement of intent, you mentioned various wider sectors: life sciences, creative industries, water, waste and the circular economy and natural capital. The National Wealth Fund has limited funds and limits on its sector expertise, which is why you see investment funds and trusts focusing on sectors, an…”

“Someone might say on the other side that the particular problem may come from a politician saying something is a particular problem. We are a small trading nation off the north coast of Europe, so we are better off focusing on a few priority areas and getting growth in those areas. What would you say to that counterarg…”

“On the strategic priorities, the sectors are clean energy, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and transport. We are in a very different world now. Would there have been benefits to defence being one of the strategic priorities?”

“Given the changing world that we are in, is it likely that defence will be included as a separate sector over the next two years, or at least kept under review? Time is marching on, so we need short answers.”

“Will the National Wealth Fund have a focus on space, which is important for the Scottish economy?”

“What about frontier technologies such as nuclear fusion? Is there a point at which you think a technology needs to be ready before for the National Wealth Fund can invest in it?”

“The National Wealth Fund has increased funding, but it is still limited. You will probably get more bang for your buck by focusing on a smaller number of sectors and getting those sectors right. In addition to the core sectors, the National Wealth Fund is focusing on or having a role in life sciences, the creative indu…”