As part of the Growth and Living Standards Cabinet Committee, the Cabinet Office co-ordinates Ministers across Government to ensure that we are working as hard as possible to get inflation and costs down and make a real difference to the living standards of the public across the country.

I know that the scheme has been welcomed at many universities, including Reading. I know that my hon. Friend has campaigned on this for a long time. In my constituency, Sussex University was home to the first Erasmus student. When I visited last week, the university was delighted that it will have more students soon. I want to point out, though, that this is not just about universities; it is also about apprenticeships, FE colleges, youth workers and sports professionals. It is a huge opportunity for 100,000 people, so quite why the Conservatives and Reform oppose it is beyond me.

Like my hon. Friend, I am a big fan of the Elizabeth line, and I commend him for his dogged support of the scheme on his constituents’ behalf. It is a significant addition to the transport network in London and the south-east, and it has had tangible positive impacts on the supply chain around the country, as well as providing faster journeys into and across London from Reading. I was proud to have personally helped deliver this new railway in my previous role in London, and to see that it has now supported around 55,000 full-time jobs, as well as creating over 1,000 apprenticeship opportunities.

Wales has a huge role to play in our clean energy mission, supporting innovative renewable technologies such as tidal stream on Anglesey and floating offshore wind in the Celtic sea which could deliver up to 5,000 new jobs.

We are working at pace to recruit 6,500 new teachers. We have fully funded the 5.5% pay award, removed reductive headline Ofsted judgments, reduced workloads, ensured more flexibility and announced a £233 million package of recruitment incentives.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the excellent practices being undertaken by Reading borough council. That is the kind of innovation that we need to see across the country—not just fixing and repairing potholes, but ensuring that we prevent them and improve the quality and lifespan of our local roads.

The Chancellor launched the landmark pensions review in July, which I am leading. It is looking at measures to drive more UK pension investment into the UK economy, boosting growth but also improving pension savers' outcomes.

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating all those working across all faiths to ensure that there is good, strong community cohesion, and I congratulate the retiring bishop. That is important across constituencies that, like Reading, have diverse communities with diversity in faith.

I commend my hon. Friend for his bravery in recently speaking out about his personal involvement in that tragic crash. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington and Bayswater (Joe Powell) and my officials for attending the commemoration last weekend. I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to the families of the victims and all heroes who responded on the day.