Speeches by Hobhouse.

“I welcome the Secretary of State to the Dispatch Box, and say happy birthday to the Aviation Minister. Buses in my constituency are not adequate and the situation has been made worse since the £2 fare cap was lifted. Local authorities in Bath want to improve the situation. They want to franchise bus services themselves…”

“I have a small question on the cost to low-income households. We always say that the cheapest energy is the energy we do not use, so it is also about insulation programmes. Isn’t there a piece that could be done around low-income families living in rented accommodation? Isn’t that something the Government should focus …”

“It’s fine. I think we really need to move on. I was going to make a similar point.”

“Will the right hon. Lady give way?”

“Does the hon. Lady worry, like me, that the recent attempt in the debate to reopen an inquiry is less about supporting victims and stamping out sexual violence, and more about inciting racial tensions?”

“Having been a secondary school teacher before I became an MP, I congratulate the Government on bringing forward legislation that once again puts children at the heart of what we in this place want to achieve. The Every Child Matters initiative was introduced nearly two decades ago. My party and I welcome many things in…”

“Many of my constituents are deeply worried about the intolerable suffering of the people in Gaza, but at this moment they are particularly worried about the ban on UNRWA, which will come into force at the end of the month. The Minister’s previous answer on UNRWA was simply not good enough. Where is the urgency to do so…”

“I thank the Minister for his reply. Last year, Bath and North East Somerset council entered into a formal agreement with the city of Oleksandriia, providing medical support as well as strengthening cultural and community ties. In talks with the incoming US Government, will the Minister ensure that they are aware of the…”

“9. What recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on military support for Ukraine.”

“6. What his planned timetable is for the introduction of legislation to ban imports of hunting trophies.”

“It has been 10 years since the senseless killing of Cecil the lion. It is still legal to import hunting trophies into this country. There has for a long time been cross-party support for banning trophy hunting. In 2023, the Labour party asked the then Conservative Government, “What is stopping you bringing in legislati…”

“May I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, your fantastic staff, and colleagues across the House a merry Christmas? Bathford village shop and café, a volunteer-run community enterprise, recently won an award for its fantastic work supporting the elderly, lonely and vulnerable, but there is a risk that it will soon lose its …”

“This week marks the end of Disability History Month, which has given us all a chance to highlight the experiences of disabled people and to support disability rights. In Bath, 30% of all households include at least one person with a disability. I recently visited Carrswood day service to learn more about the incredible…”

“So not in my lifetime.”

“To add to that, are you ultimately worried that the Government or anybody will become lukewarm about further nuclear if you disclose the range of costs up to the possibly highest cost, rather than doing that optimism bias?”

“The question has nearly been answered, but I had a meeting with a company called Nucleo about its nuclear advanced modular reactor. It wanted to know what the strategic rationale is for prioritising the long-term storage rather than exploring reuse. You have just explained that, but are you in conversation with these c…”

“Thank you for coming. I do not have any interests to declare, and I am possibly in a minority, if not the only one, who is a little more sceptical about nuclear power. I also recognise that our overarching aim has to be to get to net zero. I am a liberal; I am always persuadable by good arguments. The cost thing, of co…”

“Thank you. You have already answered one of my questions, which is whether you think new technology will get things done faster and more cheaply. That has already come out in your answers to the previous set of questions. Can you characterise the efficiency and effectiveness of the Sellafield site operation, so we unde…”

“We have already talked about how much of this has been picked up by the taxpayer; I understand most of it, but will there eventually be a point at which it is complete and no more monetary support is required?”

“When it comes to persuading people—let’s say people like me—that this is a safe technology and that we should not worry too much about human health and the risk assessment that we have already talked about, don’t you have anything that could make that a little bit more transparent? Can you say, “What took us this amoun…”