Retirement of the Clerk of the House

Debate between Nick Smith and Lindsay Hoyle

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney) (Lab)]

Mr Speaker, I would like to add some words of thanks to the retiring Clerk of the House. I find Thomas Goldsmith to be a very sage official sitting at the heart of our organisation. It is my privilege to be a House of Commons Commissioner and Chair of the Administration Committee. I have seen Tom show good judgment, provide wise words, land on the nub of a problem and always suggest a constructive way forward, and he does all of that with good grace.

Tom Goldsmith is a polymath. Like others, I have heard his excellent piano playing. I know that he enjoys books, and we have often talked about our latest good reads. In a sometimes rarefied atmosphere, he is also a modest man from an ordinary background. It has been a pleasure working with him. Good wishes for the future, Tom.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Smith and Lindsay Hoyle

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Leader of the House. No—I call Nick Smith.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am happy to give my right hon. Friend a whiff, as we say in the valleys.

Parliament is taking action to reduce single-use plastics across our estate. This includes removing plastic bottles of water from sale, eliminating about 120,000 of them each year. We have also replaced plastic straws and cutlery with more sustainable alternatives, and increased the use of reusable and recyclable products. Parliament has also introduced a packaging sustainability policy for our procurement, which incentivises suppliers to reduce single-use plastics. We continue to look at further opportunities to reduce plastic consumption across our estate.