Speeches by Rigby.

“In relation to DFT and DESNZ, which are both paying more, and Departments more broadly that have had that top slice to capital budgets, it is for Secretaries of State to work out over the summer period, prior to Budget, exactly where—”

“I am not exactly sure from which point and onwards particular requests were made, but I can see the logic—were this to have been the logic—in waiting until publication of the DIP.”

“Mr Smewing will correct me if the detail is wrong, but the majority of that £2.4 billion comes from risk transfer, which MOD was holding.”

“Specifically on the front-loading of the RDEL to CDEL?”

“I have not been to a Defence Oversight Board since I was appointed to this role, but that is because of the point at which I joined. I should say that the previous Chief Secretary did attend.”

“I am not aware.”

“My right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Andy Burnham) will speak for himself, but I am confident that his view is that growth extends far beyond the area that the hon. Gentleman referred to. Most importantly, this Government’s approach is to ensure that growth can be generated right across the country, rather t…”

“Border communities rely on strong transport links, and my hon. Friend is a strong advocate for the interests of his constituency and those in the surrounding area. The Government are delivering for people in all parts of the UK, including investments that will benefit those on both sides of the English-Welsh border. Th…”

“We have been clear that Heathrow expansion needs to benefit everyone, not just London. The Department for Transport has shown that expansion would deliver UK-wide support for trade, with 40% of the estimated GDP benefits from expansion being outside London and the south-east.”

“Effective transport links are vital to the prosperity and wellbeing of people across the country, including in our border communities. We have been working closely with the Welsh Government to deliver a plan for Welsh rail, and we continue to work with devolved Governments to ensure that border communities stay connect…”

“The Pride in Place programme provides £5.8 billion of support to 284 neighbourhoods right across the country, including five places in my hon. Friend’s constituency, which she does so much to advocate for. We will set out more details of further funding in the Budget.”

“Nothing was snuck out. A third runway at Heathrow means more than 60,000 good local jobs, and more than £40 billion for the British economy. The hon. Lady’s question rather highlights the Lib Dems’ curious approach to growth. When they were in government, they decimated our economy with austerity, and now they oppose a…”

“Let me come back in writing on that precise point, if I may, but I should say that my understanding was that everything was done in the right way. I will come back in writing.”

“I am afraid I am going to have to come back to you in writing as to exactly what was there and what was not.”

“I would not characterise it as a dicey product—I feel I should push back specifically on that. I have talked, and I will not repeat myself, about why I think student finance is a good in and of itself, in the sense that you do not have to pay up front to be able to go to university, education is a public good, and so o…”

“That differs according to cohort and yes, you are absolutely right, some people—a large number of people—can never pay it all back, but I am not sure it is necessarily right to characterise it as a contribution when a sum of money has been loaned with expectation that it would be paid back, if only on certain terms.”

“I have seen that argument being made. Personally, I am not sure I see the value in changing the name to a graduate contribution. Despite me saying that it has those key differences from a commercial loan, it is still a loan—it is something that students are expected to pay back—”

“It is a different sort of product, yes. I mentioned those key characteristics. The other side that is worth emphasising is the fact that, at the point at which most people go to university, they cannot get a commercial loan because they do not have the credit history or the collateral. They certainly would not be able …”

“I think this comes down to what student loans are as a product.”

“I think there is a broader point—I come back to what we talked about at the start. Dame Harriett, you referred to fairness. Because of the nature of the student loan system, which has all the characteristics that we described, the right way to think about fairness is as fairness to taxpayers as a whole. As I said, more…”