Speeches by Munt.

“I want the Minister to respond to the point about experts who will not or cannot work to legal aid rates and the legal funding that is not granted in time, which causes such a long delay when defence solicitors cannot get the access they need to experts.”

“I thank the hon. Member for allowing me to intervene. My constituent Julie told me about her adult daughter, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, and believes she also has PoTS. After struggling to find a specialist, Julie’s daughter finally got a GP referral to a consultant in Bristol, who said that PoTS was “a T…”

“This Baby Loss Awareness Week, we honour those children who are loved and missed, and we recognise the parents, siblings, families and friends who carry their memories every day. Today, I want to emphasise just how vital it is that we see the quality of bereavement care standardised, and that this standard is mandated …”

“The Environment Agency has issued notice of its permanent withdrawal from main river maintenance to riparian owners in Somerset and North Somerset. The Leader of the House and Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will recall the devastation caused by flooding in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Regul…”

“On exactly that issue, I represent the city of Wells, which has wonderful, beautiful streets, but when delivery vehicles park on the pavements, they break the paving slabs. That makes it an absolute peril for people who have accessibility problems and are less mobile. Does my hon. Friend agree that that has to be dealt…”

“Post maternity, many women suffer female pelvic prolapse, but I am unable to get any answers on the matter of surgical mesh implants. Will the Minister please work with his counterparts at the Department of Health and Social Care to get a realistic update on exactly what has happened as a result of the Hughes report, a…”

“I wish to make it really clear that I am vice-chair of WhistleblowersUK, a non-profit-making organisation set up to protect whistleblowers. Nothing should slow down the promised Bill, and it is essential that those who hold public office are held fully accountable. If we are to prevent the now constant stream of scanda…”

“I do not want to press you too far, but let’s ignore the set-up costs. What do you anticipate you might need in year two, or after you have set up, ish?”

“You have explained a little how you have already supported people through inquests and inquiries. Do you anticipate any difficulty with the lack of public funding? As an MP, I have certainly come across situations in which no publicly funded legal aid or other representation is available to victims and families, partic…”

“I was going to ask you about your ability to challenge authority, but I think I am fine on that; it was a question thought up a long time ago. What I would like to ask you about is the proposed Hillsborough law and the duty of candour for public servants, and how you feel that might assist you in your role. Have you ha…”

“Thank you. I am going to ask one question in which I have a particular interest, which I have declared, and that is whether you are familiar with calls for an office of the whistleblower and whether you see some interaction, because it again relates to people who are raising problems. Have you any thoughts on that?”

“You did; I was not curious enough to ask you at that point. I did not expect to be seeing you here, but it is very nice that I am.”

“Hello, Cindy. I am Tessa Munt, the Member for Wells and Mendip Hills. Everything is per my declaration of interests on the register, but I highlight the fact that I am the vice-chair of WhistleblowersUK, which is a non-profit company.”

“May I ask a quick question? What is your annual budget?”

“Do you know what the annual budget for the role is?”

“May I ask whether you have raised that? I am sure you have.”

“I’m sorry; I do not want to divert from this, but you will probably have an idea of the sort of size of budget that you might want in the first year, and then in future years. Have you elucidated that anywhere? Have you suggested a figure?”

“What do you anticipate?”

“I will not press you any further, because I can see—”

“I want to take you into a scenario in which there are a very large number of victims—maybe people who are deceased, people who are severely injured—and many family members. You have explained a little about how you might approach that, but I just wonder how, in practical terms, you think you would manage a situation in…”