Speeches by Bool.

“Moving on to the supply chain and skills, about five out of six farmers surveyed by Arla struggle to fill vacancies due to lack of qualifications. We are seeing increasing automation, robotics and digitisation. What are your plans to tackle these inhibitors to growth?”

“They are suggesting that there is a need for stockpiling. I hope you will be looking at that.”

“The UK food security report highlighted that there are numerous different potential points of failure. We are perhaps too reliant on big retailers and distributors, because apparently the top 10 supermarkets account for 96.7% of grocery sales. At this moment one of the big providers is doing a sale of vegetables for 8p…”

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On 12 November, during Prime Minister’s questions, the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) and leader of Reform announced that the “Reform-led West Northamptonshire Council will be issuing foreclosure notices on three migrant hotels”— including one in my constituency— “with…”

“Absolutely. In Prime Minister’s questions earlier, I asked about the fair choices that this Government say they have made. I think those choices are fundamentally unfair. The Government are trying to introduce a digital ID scheme, unfunded by the Government, that could cost at least £1.8 billion, yet most of the public…”

“I agree entirely, and I am devastated to hear that, because that is exactly not what we need for society and for the young generation. Research from the Taxpayers’ Alliance showed that in 2024 the average pub paid almost £100,000 per year in taxes on the sale of alcoholic drinks alone. When we add to that the coming ch…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for making that point. The importance of the construction industry was mentioned earlier, along with the plan to give more construction apprenticeships and jobs to young people, but for those jobs to be offered, we need people to be investing in the first place. Companies are not doing that, beca…”

“At least the hon. Member has acknowledged that we have to repay debt, unlike the Green party, which suddenly believes that repaying debt interest is not a viable or true alternative in this world. The hon. Gentleman denies talk of welfare, but it is a fundamental element. [Interruption.] I am glad to see that he agrees…”

“As always, my right hon. Friend makes a valid point. Andy Williams is getting a lot more airtime today than any of us imagined.”

“My hon. Friend makes a valid and correct point. We have started to see a rise in unemployment in South Northamptonshire among 16 to 25-year-olds exactly because of that. The business owner I spoke to said that the problem is that the business starts paying at a certain level, but that increase pushes up across all wage…”

“Absolutely. We need to encourage that next generation through to the workforce, and I cannot see that they are getting any of those opportunities at the moment. The Government are so proudly trying to promote that, but let us look at the impact and the figures. There can be no denying that they are achieving none of wh…”

“As the late great Andy Williams sang, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” but I am afraid that is not true for farmers, business owners or those in retail, hospitality or leisure. Following the Chancellor’s Budget just two weeks ago, there are only two lines in that song that resonate—“scary ghost stories” cause…”

“Q14. This Government are always talking about the fair choices that they have made, but is it a fair choice to balloon the benefits bill? Is it a fair choice to introduce an unfunded and unwanted digital ID that will cost the public billions of pounds? And is it a fair choice to increase taxes on working people when th…”

“Baroness Hayman, I appreciate that you said that this is not your position; again, we are very disappointed that the Paymaster General is not here because he is the one who can answer these questions. Can I just send an urgent message to the Cabinet Office that there must absolutely be a transition period for the imple…”

“I might suggest a bit stronger still if the Prime Minister has come out and said no transition period.”

“Just to say though a lot of people are coming through because Christmas is coming up.”

“I just want to really stress about the notification on when people are travelling. I ran my own little poll and it certainly was not 90% of constituents who knew what this rule was. Previously you have said you are relying on the goodwill of the travel agents and companies to essentially work with you on this. But give…”

“If time permitted, I would happily take an intervention from any Government Member on where it was in the Labour manifesto that such a measure would be included, or if any member of the Government could actually tell us how much the scheme would cost. But I will save them the trouble, because it was not and they do not…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward. “Why are they needed when we already have secure ways to identify ourselves?” “This is being pushed under the façade of security.” “The cost to the taxpayer would be prohibitive.” “This system would be incredibly vulnerable to hacking.” Those direct quotes …”

“Will the Minister really not give way?”