"With these selective statistics, the Secretary of State would clearly make a good cherry-picker, while clutching at straws at the same time. The reality is that we still have a cost of living crisis, and I would welcome her to my constituency to tell people there how rosy things apparently …..." Alan Brown - View Speech
"Currently, 1.1 million civilians are at risk of starvation due to the Israeli aid blockade. That is clearly a breach of humanitarian law and the interim ICJ ruling. The UK Government tacitly recognise the breaches, because they are trying to bypass the Israeli blockade using the Royal Navy. The UK …..." Alan Brown - View Speech
"Over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including 14,000 children. Some 76,000 civilians have been injured or maimed and 700 healthcare and aid workers have been killed. There is an ongoing famine, and the UK Government under the Prime Minister’s watch are now trying to find ways around the …..." Alan Brown - View Speech
"17. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Spring Budget 2024 on levels of block grant funding for Scotland...." Alan Brown - View Speech
"Obviously, the Minister does not understand what “real terms” means after all. Analysis by the Institution of Civil Engineers shows a multiplier effect: every £1 spent in the construction industry brings in an additional £2 of spend. That means that the real-terms cut to the Scottish Government’s block grant for …..." Alan Brown - View Speech
"Children in Gaza are dying at the fastest rate the world has ever seen, according to the IPC report. Instead of calling out Israel for its culpability, the Government still refuse to sign UN resolutions and they still sell arms to Israel. Their great wheeze is to try to find …..." Alan Brown - View Speech
"I refer the Minister to the 16th report of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, which was published earlier this month on 7 March. It details the fact that there was consultation with Scottish and Welsh Ministers, as the Minister said. However, additional information provided by her Department makes it clear …..." Alan Brown - View Speech
"Can the Minister give us a timescale for when NESO will be operational as an independent body, in the way envisaged by the Government?..." Alan Brown - View Speech
"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Rees. The hon. Member for Bolsover has encouraged me to be brief, and I will see what I can do. There is such a good turnout on the Government Benches that I think they would want a proper debate on …..." Alan Brown - View Speech