Speeches by Caliskan.

“I just wanted to discuss a little more about the cross-working between the Department of Education and local government, because, according to London Councils—I am a Member of Parliament in London, and it is not dissimilar elsewhere—40% of homelessness for women in London is due to domestic violence. The epidemic that …”

“Is it your view that the housing crisis is just such a crisis that the reality is that women who are homeless and find themselves in domestic violence situations are just going to have to accept that it is really difficult because there is a housing crisis? I do not want to put words in your mouth, but there is a pictu…”

“Finally, there is a real sense that the long-term approach to tackling violence against women and girls is intricately linked to the trust and confidence in institutions in this country. That of course includes Government Departments. It includes important touchpoints such as the NHS, so medical professionals. Cruciall…”

“Can I just thank the panellists and also the members of the pre-panel? It was incredibly helpful. Panellists will recognise that the Home Office has found it challenging to get buy-in from other Government Departments. The oversight group that was established did not meet until a year after the 2021 VAWG strategy was l…”

“You would expect me to say this. I am in favour of the mission, but the mission in itself does not create a change of working within Government Departments. It is very clear from both the National Audit Office report and, indeed, some of the publications from the Home Office itself that the cross-departmental working c…”

“I wanted to give an example of working between the Home Office, the police and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government but, Richard, if you would like to go first, that is fine.”

“I am, on behalf of the Committee, looking for confidence that the spirit and commitment will translate into cross-departmental working. If I may, Chair, with your permission: every week, like most Members of Parliament, I hold an advice surgery, and more often than not, I have a constituent come to see me with a domest…”

“I just wanted to give panellists the opportunity to talk about those two things.”

“Ms Payne, is it your understanding that that is what is routinely happening? I promise you it is not.”

“I will stop there, but I will just finish by saying that I hope you take good note of what the Local Government Association has said in this space. The duties that you outline are not happening across the country. Local government does not have the capacity to do that. The examples that I have given are in no way unusu…”

“That is very helpful. Having the areas of focus on record is really useful, because it allows agencies throughout Government but also local authority partners to reference what senior officials regard as the key aspects and levers that they can utilise to support women and girls with domestic violence. Finally, I just …”

“May I ask some questions around staffing numbers? It is true, is it not, that, in recent years, the Department of Health and Social Care, and indeed NHS England, has seen a significant growth in terms of staffing? If you take, for instance, the Department, there are tens of new recruits every month. The very fact that …”

“Can I thank the panel members too for their contributions so far? I want to build a little bit more on Mr Betts’ points around place‑based. As an ex-council leader of six years, I absolutely concur with what other panel members have said around the importance of footprints aligning—that is more of a technical point—but…”

“Yes, in terms of the savings needed.”

“There are mitigations for each of those risks, I am assuming, and this is regularly monitored.”

“My final question is a broader one. What are your views on the potential for digital systems now and in the future to address cost pressures?”

“Sure, but I am looking for reassurance that the people spend is on knowledge and delivering digital infrastructure and not on strategies and ideas.”

“Sir Jim, if you have to take a day off work to be on hold to HMRC, that is a financial burden as an individual. Equally, if you are a micro or small business that is having to pick up the phone yourself as opposed to using an accountant to do that for you, that is a financial cost too, but I think that you would acknow…”

“Can I thank Sir Jim and his colleagues for joining the Committee today? I would like to go back to talking about the overall cost increase for HMRC, with a specific focus on staffing. I know, Sir Jim, you have already touched on some of that, but if I could just go back and probe a bit more, the overall cost has increa…”

“I will ask you about grading mix in a moment compared to other Government Departments. In terms of compliance and the more senior members of staff dealing with more complicated cases, as you put it, is there a focus on the upstream or the downstream? I am trying to get a sense on behalf of the Committee as to whether t…”