Speeches by Darling.

“Thank you for the audio description! There is much to be welcomed in the Bill, and the way that we rattled through it in Committee demonstrated that there is lots of good within it. However, as a constructive Opposition and a critical friend, I will spend most of my time reflecting on where there could be improvement. …”

“For people who are lucky in the lottery of life, their pension can be one of their biggest assets, but, sadly, we know that 12 million people across the United Kingdom are not saving enough. That is around the population of Belgium. Talking more broadly, there is much about the legislation to be welcomed. I am sure the…”

“Perhaps the most important commodity for a Chancellor is not finance but trust. We saw how the Conservatives wrecked the country’s trust in them with partygate and the scandal of the fast track to personal protective equipment contracts for those who were in the know. I am afraid to say that what we have seen with the …”

“David, do come in, sorry. That is me being visually impaired.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I congratulate the hon. Member for Amber Valley (Linsey Farnsworth) on securing this debate on such an auspicious day: it gives the Minister a chance to truly unpack what the Chancellor has been able to share with us—and consequently amaze us. We are here agha…”

“Any reflections from colleagues?”

“Thank you very much for giving up your time today to share your wisdom with us. I want to unpick how risk factors tend to layer around and compound those who are NEET. We have already started to unpick this. One area that I am quite concerned about, which has been strengthening since the pandemic, is home education and…”

“When you say quite a lot, what does that usually mean?”

“The other bit I wanted to talk about, which you have touched on, was about neurodiversity, but equally I am concerned that that is beginning to overshadow learning disability. Quite often the educational system is gearing up for the neurodiverse and expecting the moderately learning disabled to be taught in mainstream.…”

“My last question is to Neil, and it actually builds on a conversation I recently had with a chief executive of a local authority. She was talking about how they were trying to create opportunities for some care-experienced youngsters to do some apprenticeships and things like that, or work experience. They were having …”

“Does anybody know the number of those with learning disability within this cohort, and whether it has increased or whether it is a continuing segment?”

“It is worth exploring.”

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. A significant statement in respect of carer’s allowance was briefed out by Ministers overnight. This affects thousands of people up and down the United Kingdom, yet no oral statement has been given by a Minister. Do you agree that the Minister should come here and face questio…”

“The Prime Minister talks of having extensive discussions about limiting the export of oil and gas from Russia—the engine driving the Russian war machine. Danish waters could offer the key to killing the shadow fleet. An international convention regulating shipping going through those straits would stop the shadow fleet…”

“The right hon. Gentleman makes a powerful point. One can go back to the significant crash of 2008. I suggest, and I am sure many people would agree, that that has left a scarring on the system and a fear of risk. For many of us who know about the system, risk is a good thing, because it can result in growth. If we do n…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Salisbury (John Glen) on obtaining the debate, which has been quite enlightening; his liberal views on the way forward for pensions are very welcome. The Liberal Democrats are keen to see investment in our British e…”

“I believe it has gone on for some time.”

“I hear that argument, but I suggest that there have been significant increases in fuel costs for residential care homes as well. They have faced their own challenges, and that support through the winter fuel allowance would be helpful. Is that something that you would explore, or is it not really on the table?”

“We had the pleasure of meeting yesterday and we talked about stopping having a siloed approach to tackling some of the issues that DWP is there to tackle. Is there a greater opportunity to work with HMRC or others to try to draw more pensioners into receiving pension credit?”

“Fair enough. Last winter there was very much a focus on those who received pension credit getting the winter fuel payment, and a drive to get more people on pension credit, which is really important and was successful. I note that about 200 local authorities engaged positively with the Government on that. I have two an…”