Speeches by Olney.

“Earlier this year the Minister for roads, the hon. Member for Wakefield and Rothwell (Simon Lightwood), wrote to me to say that Hammersmith bridge in my constituency would be a suitable candidate for the structures fund, but Hammersmith and Fulham council has just decided not to make an application on the basis that th…”

“The Liberal Democrats supported the passage of the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill, but we tabled amendments, in my name and in those of my hon. Friends, to increase the provision of scrutiny and transparency under the Bill. The Government voted those amendments down in this place, but then had a change of heart …”

“T3. Studies show that iodine deficiencies in pregnant women can result in complications for their children, including impaired foetal growth and psychomotor development. Recent studies have shown that iodine levels among women of reproductive age in the UK are only 82 micrograms per litre, with 30% of women recording l…”

“We have a duty to stand by the steel sector, especially as it navigates unprecedented challenges, including President Trump’s unfair steel tariffs, China’s anti-competitive state aid practices, and the transition to environmentally sustainable production methods. If we are going to foster a thriving steel industry, we …”

“We are due to get the business statement for next week any minute now. Presumably we are not expecting to see a restoration and renewal debate next week, which means it will be the first two weeks of September at the very earliest. Can you give us a sense of how that delay might impact costs, perhaps in percentage term…”

“5. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Teddington direct river abstraction proposal on the environment.”

“But those are the critical things that would change the cost estimate.”

“I beg your pardon; the availability of what?”

“Two months ago, Ham and Kingston riverside became the first site in London to gain bathing water status, but Thames Water’s ill-conceived Teddington direct river abstraction proposal will see treated sewage discharged into the Thames above Teddington lock. Thames Water has submitted a report to the Environment Agency o…”

“In the report, we see that some uncertainty remains about both costs and schedules, but that uncertainty is greater with the EMI option. Russ, could you talk us through the key assumptions underpinning your current cost and schedule estimates for the main works? How might those assumptions change as the programme progr…”

“It is MPs’ ability to make a decision, the availability of the alternative accommodation and whether you move forward with two options or three—is that what you are saying?”

“I am terribly sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker, but I did not hear all the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. He said something about unemployment in 2012. That was, of course, very soon after the global banking crash, which had a huge impact. The state of our economy requires bold action: addressing the workforce skills crisis…”

“My hon. Friend is, of course, entirely right. A youth mobility scheme would benefit not just young people who live in this country, but our businesses; it would allow them to recruit from across the EU, and obtain the short-term staff that the hospitality businesses in his constituency so badly need. Businesses across …”

“I am sure that Members on both sides of the House have heard from businesses on their local high streets and throughout their constituencies about the challenges that they face from unaffordably high energy bills, the Government’s increase in national insurance contributions, and recent business rates increases. This i…”

“Mark, would you agree with that assessment, or do you think there is more that the Government still need to be doing?”

“Beth, you were leading me to my next question: do you think that, as a result of the recommendations, the Government are now better prepared and in a better position to manage or minimise fraud losses in future crises?”

“That is very good to hear. Thank you.”

“Are you suggesting that there should not be open-ended ministerial direction? There should be a defined end to a ministerial direction issued in a time of crisis.”

“I also want to ask about recommendation 3(c): the Treasury “should amend Managing Public Money to require Accounting Officers who have sought a Ministerial Direction regarding fraud risk to provide an update…to their minister.” Do you want to say a little more about that?”

“Just quickly, what led to that recommendation? Have you found that there are officials in Government Departments who are continuing to operate under a ministerial direction that should have—”