Statement on the publication of the fifth report of the Scottish Affairs Committee, The work of the Committee in 2024–25, and Industrial transition in Scotland, (HC 1651).

Statement on the publication of the fifth report of the Scottish Affairs Committee, The work of the Committee in 2024–25, and Industrial transition in Scotland, (HC 1651).

It is a privilege to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker, and a pleasure to speak on behalf of the Scottish Affairs Committee. I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for granting time for this statement on our fifth report of the Session.

Over the past year, the Committee has...

It is a privilege to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker, and a pleasure to speak on behalf of the Scottish Affairs Committee. I am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for granting time for this statement on our fifth report of the Session.

Over the past year, the Committee has...

I thank the Committee for its work on this issue. The hon. Member rightly raised the point about skills. Will she tell us about the impact of the energy profits levy on some of the businesses that upskill, not least in the area that I represent in the north-east of...

I thank the Committee for its work on this issue. The hon. Member rightly raised the point about skills. Will she tell us about the impact of the energy profits levy on some of the businesses that upskill, not least in the area that I represent in the north-east of...

In all our inquiries, skills have been high on the agenda—in fact, the loss of skills is really high on the agenda. In my area of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, 800 young people did not get into college—for engineering and IT skills—due to a lack of funding. Our young people...

In all our inquiries, skills have been high on the agenda—in fact, the loss of skills is really high on the agenda. In my area of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, 800 young people did not get into college—for engineering and IT skills—due to a lack of funding. Our young people...

My hon. Friend has given a good explanation of some of the Committee’s work. Does she agree that one of the most impressive things that we have seen this year has been the commitment of the apprentices at BAE Systems and elsewhere, such as at Babock International? They are young...

My hon. Friend has given a good explanation of some of the Committee’s work. Does she agree that one of the most impressive things that we have seen this year has been the commitment of the apprentices at BAE Systems and elsewhere, such as at Babock International? They are young...

Yes, it was absolutely fantastic to see the young people at Babcock and BAE Systems. It was great to see their enthusiasm and how they are looking forward in their lives. I asked questions such as, “What have you done since you became an apprentice?” They said, “I’ve bought a...

Yes, it was absolutely fantastic to see the young people at Babcock and BAE Systems. It was great to see their enthusiasm and how they are looking forward in their lives. I asked questions such as, “What have you done since you became an apprentice?” They said, “I’ve bought a...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. As a Committee member, I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Elaine Stewart) for this statement. My constituency of Bathgate and Linlithgow has a proud industrial tradition, from mining and manufacturing to electronics. However,...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Barker. As a Committee member, I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Elaine Stewart) for this statement. My constituency of Bathgate and Linlithgow has a proud industrial tradition, from mining and manufacturing to electronics. However,...

My constituency has problems similar to those in my hon. Friend’s. When mines, textile factories and companies close, it leaves a terrible legacy for our young people. We are now into a fourth generation of unemployed young people who have no skills, no jobs and no opportunities. That rips the...

My constituency has problems similar to those in my hon. Friend’s. When mines, textile factories and companies close, it leaves a terrible legacy for our young people. We are now into a fourth generation of unemployed young people who have no skills, no jobs and no opportunities. That rips the...

A debate on depopulation in rural areas will take place in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 11 September 2024. Torcuil Crichton, MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, will open the debate.

A debate on depopulation in rural areas will take place in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 11 September 2024. Torcuil Crichton, MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, will open the debate.

I. Impact of economic downturn and migration. 37 p. II. International migration and rural economies. 76 p. III. Measuring internal and international migration from the national pupil database. 91 p. IV. Economic rationale for spatial policies or ‘Why Place Matters’. 9 p. V. Addressing the problem of worklessness: the role of regeneration. 24 p. VI. Regeneration – what are the problems and what can we achieve in addressing them? Neighbourhood level perspectives from the NDC Programme. 23 p. VII. Regeneration - what are the problems and what can we achieve in addressing them? 24 p. VIII. Regeneration - how should the problem be addressed? 16 p. IX. Modelling and forecasting with county court data: regional mortgage possession claims and orders in England and Wales. 14 p. X. Housing supply revisited. 77 p.

I. Impact of economic downturn and migration. 37 p. II. International migration and rural economies. 76 p. III. Measuring internal and international migration from the national pupil database. 91 p. IV. Economic rationale for spatial policies or ‘Why Place Matters’. 9 p. V. Addressing the problem of worklessness: the role...

Enforcement has improved, but issues still remain. We intend to carry out a review of the building regulations to make sure that we have a proper system in place. It has been 20 years since there was major reform to the regulation of social housing. Giving tenants a bigger say...

Enforcement has improved, but issues still remain. We intend to carry out a review of the building regulations to make sure that we have a proper system in place. It has been 20 years since there was major reform to the regulation of social housing. Giving tenants a bigger say...

Yes, indeed. In fact, we want to go further on that agenda and to make sure that we do not have rigid rules, but that we are flexible and can absolutely ensure that we get renewable energy into our homes as part of our move towards zero-carbon.

Yes, indeed. In fact, we want to go further on that agenda and to make sure that we do not have rigid rules, but that we are flexible and can absolutely ensure that we get renewable energy into our homes as part of our move towards zero-carbon.

On the subject of green homes, will the Secretary of State confirm that the Merton rule will be preserved that allows local authorities to introduce tougher environmental standards?

On the subject of green homes, will the Secretary of State confirm that the Merton rule will be preserved that allows local authorities to introduce tougher environmental standards?

I am grateful to the right hon. Lady as I should like her to correct the impression she may have just given the House with an inaccurate or partial quote from something that I may have said three years ago. I have repeatedly maintained that we need more affordable housing;...

I am grateful to the right hon. Lady as I should like her to correct the impression she may have just given the House with an inaccurate or partial quote from something that I may have said three years ago. I have repeatedly maintained that we need more affordable housing;...

Does the hon. Gentleman support the building of 3 million new homes by 2020?

Does the hon. Gentleman support the building of 3 million new homes by 2020?

When building these new homes, can we bear in mind the standards to which they are built? Will the new agency contribute to the Government's ambition of carbon-neutral homes by 2016?

When building these new homes, can we bear in mind the standards to which they are built? Will the new agency contribute to the Government's ambition of carbon-neutral homes by 2016?

Absolutely. My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Quality as well as quantity is fundamental, and that brings me to my next point. I am talking about not the one-size-fits-all monolithic estates of the past, but mixed communities, supported by excellent schools, transport and hospitals; decent design, which helps...

Absolutely. My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Quality as well as quantity is fundamental, and that brings me to my next point. I am talking about not the one-size-fits-all monolithic estates of the past, but mixed communities, supported by excellent schools, transport and hospitals; decent design, which helps...

The key issue is where the homes are to be built and what homes are to be built. I should be interested in the right hon. Lady giving a precise definition of what she means by an ““eco-home””.

The key issue is where the homes are to be built and what homes are to be built. I should be interested in the right hon. Lady giving a precise definition of what she means by an ““eco-home””.