Derek Twigg: The Minister keeps saying we should not talk down our armed forces, but we are not; the armed forces are doing a splendid, brilliant job. What we are doing is running down what the Government are doing, which is not enough—let us put it that way. We have the greatest threat since the cold war. We have war in Ukraine, the middle east in disarray and China increasing its spending. The real...
Derek Twigg: Order. I remind the Minister that he is supposed to be addressing the subject.
Derek Twigg: Mr Speaker is very clear about that.
Derek Twigg: I put to the Secretary of State a similar question to the one that I put to the Prime Minister on 23 January: of course we want a diplomatic solution—any ramping up of a military solution has its consequences—but for how many more months are the Secretary of State and the Government going to allow this to continue? Do the Government and the allies have a plan B?
Derek Twigg: indicated dissent.
Derek Twigg: Early intervention is key. We need to look at what more can be done at primary school level because, although not entirely, often the signs are already there by the time children get to secondary school. Could the Minister say more on that? The transition from primary to secondary is also key, and we need to look at that.
Derek Twigg: I am sure the Minister is aware that he should leave a minute or two for the right hon. Member for Chelmsford to wind up.
Derek Twigg: Order. The hon. Lady is not giving way.
Derek Twigg: The debate may continue until 5.45 pm.
Derek Twigg: Order. The sitting is suspended for 15 minutes. Sitting suspended for a Division in the House. On resuming—
Derek Twigg: I will call Virginia Crosbie to move the motion, and I will then call the Minister to respond. As is the convention for 30-minute debates, there will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up.
Derek Twigg: Mr Loughton, you do have some time, if you want to wind up.
Derek Twigg: We are tight on time, but it would be helpful if the Minister could leave a minute or so at the end for Mr Loughton to wind up. [Interruption.] He says he is happy not to wind up, so you have a free rein, Minister.
Derek Twigg: Front Benchers will have roughly eight minutes each. I call the SNP spokesperson.
Derek Twigg: I intend to call the Front-Bench spokespeople just before 25 minutes to 4. I call Fiona Bruce.
Derek Twigg: Order. If Members keep their speeches to around seven and a half or eight minutes we will get everybody in.
Derek Twigg: The Prime Minister is right that to do nothing is not an option, but to do something there needs to be a strategy. If the attacks continue and there is continued disruption to maritime trade, does he have a plan B?
Derek Twigg: New British Heart Foundation analysis shows that the number of people dying before the age of 75 in England from heart and circulatory diseases has risen to its highest level in over a decade. The rate of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease has now increased in England for three years back to back. Why are the Government taking such a long time to get to grips with this crisis?
Derek Twigg: Despite the answer the Minister gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Will Quince), the fact remains that this year retention and recruitment into the armed forces is becoming a serious crisis. What is the current difference between intake and outflow for the three services?
Derek Twigg: May I ask the Chancellor how many middle-income taxpayers have been paying the higher rate of tax since 2019?