Speeches by Kohler.

“You have made no attempt to stop using ODA money. You have stopped fighting, apparently.”

“Minister, you described the use of ODA money as a legacy issue, but you do accept you were not bound by that decision. This Government have decided to continue using ODA money.”

“Thank you.”

“There is even confusion—”

“That is not my question. My question was why the profit clause was not changed when the whole basis of the contract was different because so much more of it was hotel accommodation, which had a higher base cost and therefore percentage profits would make a lot more money for these providers? Why was the profit clause n…”

“I would like to know why that clause was not changed. We have had many contractual changes. Given that the whole basis of the contract changed because lots of it was hotel accommodation and far more expensive, why did you not change the profit share clause? Mr Ridley, any thoughts?”

“Is it a percentage or an actual amount? The National Audit Office says it is profit divided by cost. It is important, because the cost of dispersal accommodation is £20 per person and the cost of hotel accommodation is £160 per person. You set those contracts assuming most of it would be dispersal. Much of it was and s…”

“I am not asking for figures.”

“Not divided by cost? It is not a percentage? According to the National Audit Office it is profit divided by cost, and that is important. You are saying it is profit minus cost. Are we talking about cash profits that trigger it, or percentages of profit over cost?”

“It is based on profit over cost. That is the calculation, is it?”

“Are these profit share clauses still based on mark-up exceeding a percentage? Profit divided by cost; is that how they are—”

“You were not there, though, when these invoices were paid. Mr Ridley, do you know why the Home Office processes were not working?”

“Given you were not there at the time—”

“I will come back to Stay Belvedere.”

“I am going to ask about Stay Belvedere later.”

“No; I am addressing that to the Home Office. My last question involves Clearsprings. Before I ask it I want to declare an interest, as I have done previously. I refer participants to my register of interests as one of my donors, Safwan Adam, has an interest in Stay Belvedere Hotels, which is of course a subcontractor o…”

“That is true, although benchmarking still could have been done, in my view, but I have heard your answer—”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Furniss. I congratulate the hon. Member for Birmingham Erdington (Paulette Hamilton) on securing the debate and on her excellent speech. I once lived in Erdington, and her constituents have a wonderful advocate in her. I hope I can call her a friend. As all hon. Member…”

“I will simply say that I agree with my hon. Friend. Hon. Members have spoken about rural areas suffering. From 2015 to 2023, Shropshire lost 63% of its bus miles, the largest decline in any part of England. No doubt that was one reason among many that Shropshire voters decided that they had had enough of the Conservati…”

“I am happy to join my hon. Friend in congratulating the community on its success, and I agree that we need funding for these critical services. The placing of socially necessary services on a statutory footing is a beneficial change to the enhanced partnership model, as it ensures that local authorities assess the impa…”