Speeches by Murray.

“The Committee has visited the spaceport and it is clear that transport links are one of the biggest challenges for the growth of the site, so what can the UK Government do to ensure that Scotland’s transport infrastructure supports the potential growth for all industries in Scotland?”

“We know how vital UK Government support is for Scotland’s launch sector, but public funding is lower in the UK compared with Europe. To what extent does the current level of UK Government support match the scale of the opportunity that is presented?”

“We are aware that Scotland is facing increasing international competition on space launch. To what extent is the UK at risk of losing its first mover advantage? How can the UK Government ensure we excel in leading on this opportunity?”

“Moving on, how do you respond to the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland’s analysis that the average increase of 1.1% per year in the block grant is unlikely to meet Scotland’s ongoing fiscal challenges?”

“The hon. Gentleman is correct. Even in my constituency of Mid Dunbartonshire, we have dark spots where people cannot access wi-fi. That is an important point. A vital local resource, banks allow people to deposit cash and cheques, withdraw their money or check their details, and get help from staff. To allow the closur…”

“I thank the right hon. Member for making a good point for the Minister to consider. The closure of branches and their replacement with only 350 hubs represents nothing more than big banks trying to increase their profits further at the expense of their customers. That is not just a mild inconvenience; it presents a ser…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Desmond. I thank the hon. Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Mohindra) for securing this important debate. I begin by acknowledging that my constituency does not fall within the boundaries of Hertfordshire; it is slightly further north. However, as we have heard,…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers, and I thank the hon. Member for Mid Leicestershire (Mr Bedford) for securing this important debate. Small and medium-sized enterprises are not just crucial to our economy; they are its lifeblood, driving innovation, employment and local growth. In my consti…”

“Given the challenges in the environment that you are talking about, do you think it is possible to deliver the recommendations of the SDR without certainty on defence spending increases? You are talking about developing IT and other skills and your social responsibility, clearly all really benefiting the economy, but p…”

“Would you say that that should or could involve some element of ensuring that the business environment is conducive to them surviving? In some instances, they have become very specialist suppliers, and they are at a size that can be flexible for the volumes that you need, but they have the specialist skills for the qua…”

“How confident are you both in your ability to deliver the capabilities outlined in the review, given the uncertainty on when the 3% defence spending target will be reached?”

“Does that apply to the SMEs in your supply chain as well? They are in a similar situation of needing to fund their operations.”

“If we move to specifically parcel services, to what extent do rural Royal Mail customers value the Royal Mail services compared to competitors?”

“Are you getting any feedback from rural areas near cities and built-up areas in terms of the logistics of delivering and perhaps collecting parcels? If you are driving up a mile track it is different from if you are just going through the built-up area that is nearby. Would your definition of rural areas include rural …”

“What was the effect of Ofcom removing the price cap last year on that? Do you have any information on what effect it had on the rural community’s ability to access parcel services in general?”

“People in Gaza are starving. Those people are children, the sick and the elderly. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is unworkable and its operations are insufficient. Will the Government not just press for but develop an alternative plan for taking aid into the strip through a humanitarian corridor sponsored by the UN?”

“I thank the Minister for his answer. As has been mentioned, we have recently seen attacks against private institutions, with groups such as Marks & Spencer being targeted. I would be very interested to learn about the approach that has been taken by the statutory organisations and those in the military sphere, but …”

“9. What steps he is taking to improve national resilience against cyber-security threats.”

“Thank you very much for making the Government’s position so very clear. I requested indulgence from the Chair earlier, as you know, about asking about the actions that are being taken to prevent the supply. If it is very clear that we are looking at harm reduction through taking steps such as recovery beds and alcohol …”

“With your indulgence, I understand that the session is on the drug consumption room, but a really important aspect of the need for drug consumption rooms is about the supply of illegal drugs in the first place. Do the Scottish Government feel that they have the tools to tackle organised crime effectively?”