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Prime Minister
20 October 2021
Lead MP
Rachael Maskell
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Justice & CourtsClimateAgriculture & Rural AffairsWomen & Equalities
Other Contributors: 19
At a Glance
Rachael Maskell raised concerns about prime minister in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Asked about the Prime Minister’s engagements for Wednesday 20 October. Highlighted issues surrounding women's safety, citing tragic events and lack of confidence in police responses to violence against women. Called for steps from the Government to ensure women with lived experience can lead on this work.
Expressed concern about parents of prematurely born children and highlighted the Prime Minister's commitment to neonatal leave and pay. Asked the Prime Minister to meet him to discuss how quickly such legislation could be passed.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Paid tribute to Ernie Ross and James Brokenshire, highlighting the need for collaborative action against violent extremism. Criticised the delay in presenting an online safety Bill despite the worsening damage caused by harmful content online. Called on the Prime Minister to commit to bringing forward the Second Reading of the online safety Bill before the end of the year.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Starmer reiterated his demand for stricter action against violent extremism online, urging the Government to work in a collegial manner to tackle this issue comprehensively.
Blunt questioned Johnson about research barriers to psilocybin and similar compounds, highlighting their potential benefits for mental health conditions.
Ian Blackford
SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Blackford criticised the UK Government's decision on carbon capture in Scotland and demanded support for tidal stream energy projects as a renewable source, stressing its economic potential compared to nuclear.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Saville-Roberts proposed devolving powers over the Crown Estate to Wales as a means of decentralising wealth and investment, aiming for net zero emissions.
Clarke-Smith questioned the housing requirement targets set by local councils, emphasising the importance of accurate data in levelling up initiatives.
Kirsten Oswald
SNP
East Dunbartonshire
Called for the Prime Minister to acknowledge and reflect on the Clarkston disaster, which occurred 50 years ago in East Renfrewshire, resulting in 22 deaths and over 100 injuries.
Boris Johnson
Con
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Acknowledged the Clarkston disaster and expressed condolences to those affected. Emphasised the importance of preventing such tragedies from happening again.
Mary Robinson
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Highlighted failures in Greater Manchester Police, including underreporting of crimes, and called for a review of internal culture to address a 'culture of denial and secrecy'.
Boris Johnson
Con
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Supported the call for Greater Manchester Police to urgently review its internal culture and expressed willingness to consider reforming whistleblowing laws.
Virendra Sharma
Lab
Ealing, Southall
Paid tribute to former MPs and raised concerns about rising living costs and the scrapping of the universal credit uplift, urging the Prime Minister to reconsider this decision.
Boris Johnson
Con
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Discussed measures taken by the Government to reduce heating costs, including increasing warm home allowance and providing local councils with additional funding. Emphasised the importance of rising wages.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Called for amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824 in order to assist homeless individuals without criminalising them.
Boris Johnson
Con
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Agreed with the need to reconsider the Vagrancy Act and supported efforts to combat homelessness, highlighting successes during the pandemic.
Colleen Fletcher
Lab
Manchester Central
Condemned attacks on NHS staff at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and called for immediate steps to protect them.
Boris Johnson
Con
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Joined the condemnation of attacks on NHS staff and mentioned toughening sentences for those who assault or harass public servants.
Shailesh Vara
Con
North West Cambridgeshire
Acknowledged the efforts of parliamentary staff dealing with abusive emails, phone calls, and hostile correspondence on behalf of MPs.
Boris Johnson
Con
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Acknowledged the invaluable work done by parliamentary staff who deal with anger, intemperate behaviour, and abuse in their daily lives.
Government Response
Justice & CourtsClimateAgriculture & Rural AffairsWomen & Equalities
Government Response
Acknowledged the importance of women's safety and committed to tackling systemic problems in the criminal justice system. Agreed to meet with Luke Hall to discuss neonatal leave and pay legislation. Committed to bringing forward an online safety Bill before Christmas, including criminal sanctions for directors of platforms failing to crack down on extremism. Johnson responded to each question with a mix of reassurance about government measures and commitment to further action. He emphasised the importance of tackling extremism through cooperation, highlighted investments in renewable energy and carbon capture, and reaffirmed support for the fishing industry.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.