Speeches by Gilbert.

“It is a privilege to speak in this debate—although in writing my speech ahead of today, I could not help but feel old. We are here to debate LGBT+ History Month, and, as a woman of a certain age, I have had the stark and daunting realisation that I am so old that I am part of history. We are all aware of the stories of…”

“It is my pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Alloa and Grangemouth (Brian Leishman) for securing this important debate. While our closest allies rubbish the international courts, we must not go down that path and I welcome the Government’s statements to that effe…”

“10. What progress his Department has made on developing an industrial strategy.”

“It is essential that the Government’s industrial strategy creates manufacturing jobs across the country, including in my constituency. The RenewableUK offshore wind industrial growth plan shows the UK can be a global technology leader in advanced turbine tech, foundations, electrical systems and cables. Will my hon. Fr…”

“Yes, I do agree. The Gould review and report made it clear that making voting accessible to everyone, particularly young and disabled people, is critical to encouraging as many people as possible to vote. The Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru are both holding their parliamentary elections in May 2026, and it would b…”

“I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Ensuring that electors can vote is fundamental to our democracy. Although most of us choose to vote in person, many people face barriers that prevent them from doing so. In October 2023, the online absent voting application services were launched, giving voters th…”

“With the leave of the House, I thank all right hon. and hon. Members who contributed to the debate, including the many, many interventions. In particular, I thank my hon. Friends the Members for Glasgow West (Patricia Ferguson), for Glasgow North (Martin Rhodes) and for Brentford and Isleworth (Ruth Cadbury). To answer…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) on securing this important debate. I want to begin by talking about the exciting link between the Edinburgh North and Leith constituency, and Orkney and Shetland. Nova Innovation, bas…”

“I am pleased that today’s action plan refers to the expertise and development in AI that already exists in Edinburgh. It is understandable that the Government had to cancel a number of unfunded projects from the last Administration. However, will my right hon. Friend work with stakeholders to ensure that the ambition t…”

“Can I place on the record my thanks to the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips), who I know will ensure that this Government do more to tackle violence against women and girls than any other Government? In doing so, will the Government amend …”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Vaz. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Gregor Poynton) on securing this important debate. Seeing as we are so short of time, I will try to cut my speech down to a minute. An area of the Budget I welcome is the announcement over the recess from th…”

“Does the hon. Member agree that, actually, 200,000 Scots—some of the lowest-paid, poorest families in our communities—will benefit from the new deal for working people?”

“The point about green jobs and giving consent at Berwick Bank was made earlier. I ask the hon. Gentleman: when will that happen, to enable investment to come forward? That is another example of things being held back.”

“May I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, all the staff, and everyone working across the parliamentary estate a very merry Christmas? This year, Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps honour some of the most magnificent cathedrals across the UK, and St Mary’s Episcopal cathedral in the west end of Edinburgh, in my constituency of E…”

“I will: I’ve got my glasses ready.”

“Thank you, Chair—I was just packing up to leave.”

“Absolutely. Our predecessor Committee looked at some numbers around written questions and the time it takes to answer them. The number tabled on a daily basis can vary; it can be very different from Session to Session. Do you think there is adequate time to answer them in a proper and coherent way? What would you need …”

“In terms of the quality of the responses, how do you see your role in supporting Departments and Ministers? There will be a lot of new staff, particularly with the new intake. Is there a training programme or a way we can make sure that the quality is as good within the timescales?”

“My right hon. Friend will share my concern about the increasing number of women being given death sentences by the Iranian authorities. What urgent representations will he make to the Iranian Government to overturn those death sentences and ensure that women receive a fair trial?”

“The ICC found that there is no justification under international humanitarian law for the restriction of aid by the Israeli Government. Indeed, the ICC detailed how doctors have been forced to carry out treatments and amputations without anaesthetic, including on children. The Government’s response must include redoubl…”