Speeches by Baker.

“HOLAC is charged with collecting citations, and the guidance says they will be published on the Government’s website, gov.uk, but there is no clear place on your website where these citations can be found. Should there be?”

“That is true; I accept that.”

“You say longer the better. It is up to 150 words; is that really adequate in terms of the length of a citation? It seems extraordinarily short for a citation for someone to become a member of the upper House.”

“The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered her Budget in the most challenging global economic circumstances; there is sluggish growth across the international economy, and we have an economic inheritance from the Conservative party of high public debt and low investment. Despite that, she delivered a Budget that will ta…”

“This summer, thousands of music fans in Scotland were dismayed at having to pay hugely inflated prices to see their favourite bands, including Oasis, so my right hon. Friend’s announcement on capping the resale price of tickets will be welcome news for all those fans. Will she consider what further measures can be take…”

“8. What assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a cap on the resale of concert tickets.”

“The recruitment of 14 new apprentices at the Methil yard in my constituency, which was saved from bankruptcy by this Labour Government protecting 200 skilled apprenticeships, is in stark contrast to the failure of the SNP on apprenticeships in the defence sector. That means that many companies struggle to recruit skill…”

“6. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support skills and training in the defence sector in Scotland.”

“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating not only the famous and heroic Scottish football team on its qualification for the world cup this week, but the charity Fife Gingerbread in my constituency? It was also successful this week, as it was a finalist in the Centre for Socia…”

“rose—”

“In September I had the privilege of meeting, in Kyiv, Raisa Kravchenko and Yulia Klepets of the All-Ukrainian NGO Coalition for People with Intellectual Disabilities. They told me of the devastating impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on disabled people. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is particularly distressing …”

“This decision by ExxonMobil, and the manner in which it has been taken and announced, is a very poor way to treat workers who have given so much to the company and their communities. Given that only last year the company was announcing four-year apprenticeships at Mossmorran, including for some of my constituents, will…”

“It is a very powerful point, Sir Peter. Chair, I wonder, given the assessment by Lord Evans of slow progress in implementing recommendations of the 2021 report, whether the Committee might wish to revisit that with Ministers. On wider reforms to the range of standards bodies, in a still quite cluttered standards landsc…”

“You made a very practical point, Sir Peter, about the need to prioritise ethics at the very start of Government and ensure that people have all the awareness and information that they need to do so. Obviously, as you say, Lord Evans, there are issues about personal responsibility and behaviours there that are absolutel…”

“Good morning, Sir Peter and Lord Evans. The Government have made a commitment to restore confidence in Government and ensure Ministers are held to the highest standards. I am conscious that you talked earlier, Sir Peter, about managing expectations about what will be achieved through these reforms. Do you think that th…”

“I congratulate my good friend the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Jamie Stone) on securing this debate, which he led with the same erudition and success with which he led the victorious Scottish Parliament “University Challenge” team against our dear colleagues in the Welsh Parliament. Madam Depu…”

“My hon. Friend has mentioned Reform UK, which is apparently a recent convert to devolution. Does it tell us all we need to know about how much it values devolution, Scotland and its future that there is not one Member from that party in the Chamber this afternoon?”

“I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those kind words. I am renowned for my modesty, as he knows. Equally modest are my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton) and Labour Ministers, who did much work on these key issues for our local community. In May, Scotland will have the chance of a bright…”

“I am very much enjoying the hon. Gentleman’s speech reflecting on the many experiences of devolution that have inspired us, but on the point around employment and disabled people, will join me in saying that it is regrettable that the Scottish Government decided to cut employability funding for disability schemes in 20…”

“Two neighbourhoods in Fife are benefiting from £40 million of Pride in Place funding, showing the Government once again delivering for the people of the kingdom of Fife. Given the centralisation of power in Scotland under the SNP, how does the Minister believe those funds can support local decision making in Scottish c…”