Emma Lewell MP: speeches

Speeches

• 13 Jan 2025 · Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence · Hansard source

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  One difficulty was that not all the information that the Sub-Committee wanted was readily available to us, and we still do not have a clear picture of exactly what is happening in the MOD when it comes to artificial intelligence. We recommend more clarity, and that the Department be clearer about the skillsets it needs and the gaps that exist. We should look to implement the recommendations of the Haythornthwaite review, so that those with the knowledge and expertise can zig-zag in and out of the Department.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for his comments and all his help on the Committee. It is a joy to be once again serving on the Defence Committee with him. He is correct to say that AI is moving rapidly, and the MOD needs to harness it quickly, because our adversaries are. We know from open source data that we cannot allow ourselves to be behind the curve on this. SMEs have a particular mindset, as my hon. Friend will know. They are happy to have that “fail first”, experimental mindset that the MOD is often not used to. Our report highlights that significant cultural change and leadership is needed in the MOD to get it to a position where SMEs can work better with it for the benefit of our entire defence AI ecosystem. Bill Presented Rural Crime (Strategy) Bill Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 5 7 ) Ben Maguire presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to establish a task force to produce a strategy for tackling rural crime; to require the Secretary of State to implement the strategy; and for connected purposes. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time Friday 4 July 2025, and to be printed (Bill 158).

• 13 Jan 2025 · Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence · Hansard source

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  I thank the Chair of our Committee for his question, and for his work in getting our report to publication. He is right to highlight the gap between what the MOD wants to do and how it plans to achieve it. That runs through our entire report and is something that the MOD needs to get a handle on. I am sure that he would agree that by implementing our recommendations, the Department can move to a position where AI is threaded through the organisation, as opposed to being a niche add-on, or a novelty.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence · Hansard source

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  The hon. Member is right to raise that point, as we very much took note of the noble Lords’ report, which is referenced in our inquiry’s final report. We urge progress on AI in defence, but on the understanding that the progress is always in line with a strong ethical and accountable framework, and that there is a human in the loop.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence · Hansard source

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  I could not agree with the hon. Member more. A section in our report addresses in detail SMEs and their engagement with the Department, and we should carry forward the work that he did in government, especially on the integrated procurement model.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence · Hansard source

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  The hon. Member asks me for answers that are outside the scope of our report. She also asks questions of the Government; I am speaking on behalf of our Committee, and it is way above my pay grade to answer for our Government. However, she raises an important point about the Lords report. I believe that the previous Government responded to the report from the Lords, but as with everything in defence, what we do will be in line with what our allies and NATO do. We will continue to work with our allies on the global combat air programme and the AUKUS partnership. Everything we do, we do together, not in isolation.

• 13 Jan 2025 · Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence · Hansard source

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  I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. Today’s announcement from the Government has shown that they are taking AI and its potential very seriously. As our report shows, there are steps that they can take when it comes to defence to ensure that the Department is more AI native and has AI running through it.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  In South Shields, not only is our public transport expensive, we have to suffer constant metro delays, tunnel closures and replacement bus breakdowns. This Christmas, our roads were completely cut off. Will my right hon. Friend please meet me to discuss these long-standing ongoing issues?

• 9 Jan 2025 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My right hon. Friend will know that throughout the pandemic, the Conservative Government excluded nearly 4 million self-employed and other workers from financial support. Lives were lost and livelihoods ruined, and many of those workers remain struggling. Will my right hon. Friend please make time for a debate, so that we can yet again look to right the wrongs of the previous Government?

• 8 Jan 2025 · Playgrounds · Hansard source

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  Order. I remind hon. Members that they should bob if they wish to be called to speak. I will call the first Front Bencher at about 5.10 pm.

• 8 Jan 2025 · Playgrounds · Hansard source

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  Order. I must now impose a four-minute limit. I call Leigh Ingham.

• 8 Jan 2025 · Playgrounds · Hansard source

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  Order. I now need to put a three-minute time limit on Back-Bench speeches.

• 8 Jan 2025 · Scotland: Transport Links · Hansard source

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  Order.

• 8 Jan 2025 · Scotland: Transport Links · Hansard source

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  Order. To ensure that all hon. Members get in and we have the Front-Bench contributions, we are going to need to impose a three-minute time limit.

• 8 Jan 2025 · Scotland: Transport Links · Hansard source

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  Before I call the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont) to wind up, I thank all hon. and right hon. Members for their kind words. It is indeed a pleasure to be in the Chair.

• 8 Jan 2025 · Scotland: Transport Links · Hansard source

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  Order. As hon. Members can see, lots of Members want to speak in this debate. Could you please stick to an informal four-minute time limit, so that everybody gets in?

• 19 Dec 2024 · Harland & Wolff · Hansard source

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  Today’s news is welcome. My right hon. Friend knows how vital the FSS ships are to our Royal Navy. RFA Fort Victoria, our only remaining solid store support ship, is due to be decommissioned in 2028, yet even before this rescue deal, new FSS ships were not due to enter service until 2032. Is there any scope at all to accelerate that and close the capability gap?

• 19 Dec 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  Mr Speaker, a merry Christmas to you and all staff. I put on record that my mam is a WASPI woman. My right hon. Friend will know full well the strength of feeling regarding this week’s announcement of no compensation for the WASPI women. The ombudsman was clear that Parliament should make the decision on remedy. Parliament has not. Will my right hon. Friend please find time for a debate so that we can do as the ombudsman has asked us to do?

• 16 Dec 2024 · English Devolution · Hansard source

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  Decisions taken in this place are subject to rigorous scrutiny and accountability, but recent history in several areas shows that that is not always the case with local decision making—not all councillors and mayors are paragons of virtue. As we dissolve more powers, can my hon. Friend explain what levels of scrutiny and accountability will be built into his plans?

• 28 Nov 2024 · People Housebound due to Disability: Church Support · Hansard source

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  Churches Together South Tyneside does amazing work through its Happy at Home hub, providing a range of services to the lonely and the isolated. Will my hon. Friend expand a little more on the Church’s wider pastoral duties towards those in the greatest need?

• 28 Nov 2024 · People Housebound due to Disability: Church Support · Hansard source

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  7. What steps the Church is taking to support people that are housebound due to a disability.

• 28 Nov 2024 · Business of the House · Hansard source

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  My constituent Jo Pyke is a counsellor at a local cancer charity. She has stage 4 mucosal melanoma. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, which is only available in the USA, could save her life. Our community is fundraising to get Jo to America, but Jo and many others need that therapy here in the UK. Will the Leader of the House use her good offices to help Jo fight this awful disease?

• 18 Nov 2024 · Children’s Social Care · Hansard source

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  I welcome my right hon. Friend’s considerate focus. Children in care have died in unregulated accommodation, but that did not stop the last Conservative Government introducing cruel legislation to make it permissible for councils to place children in care aged 16 and above into such accommodation—tents, caravans, bed and breakfasts and houses in multiple occupation, surrounded by adult strangers and with no continuing care at all. Please will she overturn that legislation?

• 18 Nov 2024 · Independent Armed Forces Commissioner · Hansard source

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  6. What progress he has made on establishing an independent armed forces commissioner.

• 18 Nov 2024 · Independent Armed Forces Commissioner · Hansard source

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  I thank the Minister for all he is doing to improve the lives of our armed forces communities. He will be aware of the deeply distressing accounts of rape and sexual assault from the Defence Committee’s report on women in the armed forces. Will he please revisit our recommendations and those of the Lyons review, so that those serious cases can be heard in civilian, not service courts?