Speeches by Darling.

“I thank the hon. Member. I reflect on the savage cuts made to public health spending. I would particularly mention the number of people who sleep rough on our streets. I campaigned on the issue as a young Liberal, more than 30 years ago. Sadly, those rough sleepers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the c…”

“It is important that the House, first of all, reflects on where the Conservatives left our community when they left power. We should reflect on the fact that the number of people who are economically inactive has gone up from 2.1 million in 2019 to 2.8 million. The fact that the bill for incapacity benefits has gone up…”

“I congratulate the Minister on making real progress on this matter, after many years of delays. I recently met Jean Hill and her daughters. She has been campaigning on this issue for 30 years. Sadly, her husband died in 2004 at the age of 48; his brother died at 25; and a nephew died in more recent years. What assuranc…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Didcot and Wantage (Olly Glover) on obtaining this debate. I myself applied for a debate on this subject, so I am pleased to be here today. Torquay boys’ grammar school in my constituency has discharged the pleasu…”

“The Minister has already acknowledged that it is olive harvest season in the west bank—a harvest that supports approximately 100,000 farming Palestinians—yet we have seen more than 150 attacks by settlers against those farmers. How are the Government holding the Israeli Government to account to stop those settlers acti…”

“My two sons both went to Torquay boys’ grammar school. One undertook the international baccalaureate. The other went down the A-level route and got three A*s. Universities do not like students taking more than three A-levels. We often joke with him that perhaps he should have stretched himself and undertaken the intern…”

“Putin’s patsy!”

“In Torbay, in Devon, we have the third highest prevalence of strokes in the United Kingdom, and yet, within the last 12 months, we have seen cuts to support for the local stroke association. That has left people who are suffering from strokes feeling isolated and abandoned. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need to see…”

“I note that last year the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said that it is open to debate as to whether the two-child limit is harmful. I note also that this policy has been the most impactful in driving children—more than 730,000 of them—into poverty. Will the Minister acknowledge that the two-child limit …”

“The Government have made a promise that those transferring from legacy benefits to universal credit will find themselves no worse off, yet Liberal Democrat colleagues from all over the country are finding that people are worse off. Will the Minister share evidence of how the Government are supporting the most vulnerabl…”

“T10. I have recently been contacted by International House Torquay, a language school, which has welcomed the opportunity for German foreign students to use ID cards to travel as a group. Can the Minister advise what further opportunities there will be for other European countries such as Switzerland, Italy and Spain t…”

“Brixham has the highest-value catch in England, yet it is in Torbay, which is the most deprived local authority in the south-west of England. How will local levels of deprivation colour the allocation of funding for England?”

“Looking at the ombudsman process, are there any particular wicked issues within that that you feel we need to be alive to and it would be useful to cast some light on?”

“Mr Robinson, do you see that members have effective mechanisms to challenge where discretionary payments are not being made? Where would you see opportunities to improve if you do not believe that they are effective, if I could put a slight word in your mouth?”

“Thank you. I would welcome from across the panel some reflections in respect of the ombudsman and the courts, and where you are aware that people may have felt let down by them. Do you have any reflections on how that could be tackled? There has already been comments about expectations and outcomes. Are there any ways …”

“That is abhorrent. Thank you.”

“What is the general atmosphere? Is there an adversarial relationship between trustees and employers because there is this refusal, or does it rarely happen because trustees are not pushing at that door?”

“In your view, is the idea—I don’t know if you were here earlier—of enhancing the number of beneficiary employees a false panacea, or would it be helpful anyway?”

“Are any members of the panel aware of any successful complaints in these systems one way or another or is it fairly barren?”

“I would be grateful if the panel could reflect on the relationship between employees, employers and trustees regarding releasing additional payments and how that may have changed over time.”