Speeches by McEvoy.

“Are there any other ways that you think that that could be absorbed? An increase in productivity in the workforce might affect some of the overheads they have factored in before, such as sickness, absenteeism and things like that. In the round of the Budget, if it was only this isolated increase but with the wider pack…”

“Health received £22 billion in day-to-day spending for both this year and next. Do you think that it is possible for the Department of Health and Social Care to be able to find ways to spend this money efficiently?”

“Did anybody else on the panel have anything else they wanted to add on that?”

“To go to my line of questioning, do you not envisage that there is any possibility, in your expert opinions, that these changes could also be offset by some of the investment in getting people back to work, having fewer sickness payments being made by employers and seeing more customers having pounds in their pockets a…”

“Yes, but I am interested in the other parts of the Budget that might impact business’s bottom lines.”

“Well done, Mr King. I feel like you had to do quite a lot there. The other people on the panel were breathing a sigh of relief to see you answering all those questions yourself, so well done. On to national insurance contributions, the OBR has forecast a number of indirect potential impacts from the increase to employe…”

“Just to follow up on that point, you mentioned confidence over time and stability, and said the Government have tried to put the measures in this Budget to make sure that it is aligned for private investment later in the Parliament. Is it fair to say there will be more investment to come as a result of the Budget or no…”

“I thank the Minister for her statement on this damning report on SEND. Last week, the Minister and the Secretary of State visited my constituency. We went to Mount Pleasant Primary, a shining example of inclusive mainstream SEND provision in the state sector. Does the Minister agree with me and the teachers there that …”

“Thank you.”

“My husband works for Shelter, which is giving evidence today.”

“Q It is really interesting to hear your evidence. Thank you for raising Ayesha’s story, because it makes a real difference to us as Committee members. Good landlords and good tenants are welcome in this. What do you see as an opportunity for the people you represent to support the work of the landlord database? What is…”

“Q Do you agree that the fact that renters can challenge rent hikes under this legislation will, as an action, militate against unreasonable rental increases by landlords? Do you agree that the fact that we are going further in this legislation to make sure that renters have more support and that they can challenge any …”

“Q I want to interrogate further what opportunities you see the landlord database providing for private renters and good landlords as a result of the Bill. Your area of expertise is vast and it is a joy to listen to you contribute, so I would like you to elaborate on any positive outcomes you think could come from the B…”

“Q Just for the eradication of any doubt, are you under the impression that the introduction of rent controls has led to an increase in rents? Anna Evans: As I said, I do not think it is possible to absolutely isolate this out, but on advertised rents—new advertised rents—there was an increase post 2022 when that legisl…”

“Q So you cannot say that all average rents have increased because of in-tenancy rents, and you do not have the data on that, but in terms of advertised rents, since the introduction of rent controls, you have seen an increase in Scotland? Anna Evans: Yes.”

“Q Surely the threat of it, for most reasonable landlords, which we know the majority are, just like the majority of tenants are reasonable—that behavioural change will be seen and will be a positive thing. Anny Cullum: The problem with this is that it is going to be judged by the market rates—what the going amount for …”

“I absolutely agree, because people want to work, and they want to work in good-quality jobs that allow them to spend a decent amount of time enjoying the things that matter in life. The Bill will make thousands of my constituents in Darlington better off, safer and more secure at work. More than that, it will benefit b…”

“I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests—I am a proud trade union member. It is with great pride that I rise to speak on the Bill today. I have spent my career championing a better deal for working people at the Living Wage Foundation, the organisation that works tirelessly to champio…”

“T2. Will the Secretaryof State meet me to discuss a cross-departmental pilot in my constituency, bringing together the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care, to tackle some of the immediate pressures that face child and adolescent mental health servi…”

“I rise to speak about this issue on World Mental Health Day. I have championed it many times across my career and I will continue to do so in my time in this place. My constituents—and, I am sure, those of all hon. Members—want something that we used to take for granted: a happy, decent life, with a better future for t…”