Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Thames Water pumped sewage into the River Evenlode for over 2,600 hours last year. Thames Water was allowed by Ofwat to withdraw £7 billion in dividends while wanting to increase constituents' bills.
I welcome the Prime Minister to his place and thank him for raising this important issue in relation to water. Customers should not pay the price for mismanagement by water companies. I associate myself with his remarks about the soldier in Kent, and, of course, send my wishes to the British Olympians. At Combe in my constituency, Thames Water pumped sewage into the River Evenlode for over 2,600 hours last year. Thames Water was allowed by Ofwat to withdraw £7 billion in dividends, yet now wants to jack up my constituents' bills. I welcome the water Bill in the King's Speech, but does the Prime Minister agree with my constituents and me that the system is broken, and will he now commit to scrapping Ofwat and replacing it with a tougher regulator that will finally put people and planet ahead of water company profits?
I welcome the hon. Member to his place and thank him for raising this important issue in relation to water. Customers should not pay the price for mismanagement by water companies. We have already announced immediate steps to put water companies under a tougher regime. The Minister responsible for water, the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice (Emma Hardy), will meet the bosses of failing companies to hold them to account for their performance.
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Assessment & feedback
Scrapping Ofwat and replacing it with a tougher regulator
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Many young trans people and their families are concerned about the restrictions on puberty blockers implemented by the last Government.
I welcome the Prime Minister to his place. Many young trans people and their families are extremely concerned about the restrictions on puberty blockers implemented by the last Government. One of my constituents, a parent of a trans child, told me: “I'm so worried about my child. I'm terrified for what this means for them and where Britain is going on these issues.” Will the Prime Minister meet young trans people, their families and organisations supporting them, so he can hear why they feel so strongly that the restrictions must be reversed?
I welcome my hon. Friend back to her place. Our guiding principle must be the wellbeing of children. This is a serious Government, and we will approach that question with care, not with inflammatory dividing lines. The Cass review was clear that there is not enough evidence on the long-term impact of puberty blockers to know whether they are safe. The Health Secretary will consult organisations supporting young people and families, and I will ensure that there is a meeting with my hon. Friend and the relevant Minister as soon as that can be arranged.
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Reversing restrictions on puberty blockers
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK has consistently provided Ukraine with new capabilities, such as long-range weapons used effectively in the Black Sea.
I join the Prime Minister in expressing my shock at the attack on a British soldier. Our thoughts are with him and his family as we wish him a speedy recovery. I also join the Prime Minister in his warm words about our Olympic athletes. I have no doubt that after years of training, focus and dedication they will bring back many gold medals—although, to be honest, I am probably not the first person they want to hear advice from on how to win. [Interruption.] I am glad that in our exchanges so far we have maintained a cross-party consensus on important matters of foreign policy, and in that spirit I wanted to focus our exchange today on Ukraine and national security. The UK has consistently been the first country to provide Ukraine with new capabilities, such as the long-range weapons that have been used so effectively in the Black sea. Those decisions are not easy, and I was grateful to the Prime Minister for his support as I made those decisions in government. In opposition, I offer that same support to him. Will he continue to be responsive to Ukraine's new requests, so that it does not just stand still but can decisively win out against Russian aggression?
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for not only raising the question of Ukraine, but doing so in a way that can maintain the unity across the House that has been so important to the Ukrainian people. I can assure him that we are, of course, talking to Ukraine about how it deals with the Russian aggression that it is facing and has been facing for many, many months.
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Specifically addressing responsiveness to new military requests from Ukraine
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
UK has been providing new military capabilities to Ukraine, such as long-range weapons used effectively in the Black Sea.
I thank the Prime Minister for that response. I also found that one of the United Kingdom's key roles as Ukraine's closest ally was to encourage other countries to follow our lead in providing new military capabilities. In that vein, I am sure that when the Prime Minister saw Chancellor Scholz recently he thanked him for the considerable air defence that the Germans are providing to the Ukrainians, but did he also raise with him the issue of the Germans perhaps providing long-range missiles, just as the UK, America and France have now done?
I had the opportunity in Washington, at the NATO council, to talk to our German counterparts. There was a strong theme there on Ukraine, discussed with all our allies, and part of my message was to urge all our allies to provide further support for the Ukrainian people where they can. That was well received, and there was unity coming out of the NATO council that that is what we must all do.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific mention of Germany providing long-range missiles
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
The UK has been providing military support to Ukraine, including new capabilities such as long-range weapons.
I am glad to hear the Prime Minister raise the NATO summit, because I very much welcome the message that came out loud and clear from that summit, and indeed in the Prime Minister's words from the Dispatch Box on Monday, about Ukraine's irreversible path to NATO membership. Does he agree that fatuous Russian claims on Ukrainian territory must not act as a block to Ukraine's joining the NATO defensive alliance?
I wholeheartedly agree. It is for NATO allies to decide who is a member of NATO—formed 75 years ago, a proud alliance, and probably the most successful alliance that has ever been formed. That is why it was so important that at the summit we were able to say that there is now that irreversible path to membership.
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Following complex legal work by the UK, Canada, and America to establish a sound basis for sanctions against Russia.
Thanks to the complex legal and diplomatic work that the UK has led over the past several months, together with our allies Canada and America, I hope the Prime Minister will now find that there is a sound and established legal basis to go further on sanctions, seize Russian assets and use them to fund Ukrainian reconstruction. That work has taken time, but I hope he is able to take a look at it. Can he confirm to the House that this work is something that he will take forward? If he does, I can assure him that the Opposition will support him in doing so.
Again, I am grateful for this opportunity to say how united we were on the question of sanctions across this House. The use now made of what has been seized and frozen is an important issue on which I think we can move forward, and I know the Chancellor is already beginning to have some discussions about how we can take more effective measures. Again, I will seek to reach out across the House as we do this important work together.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm concrete plans or commitments for seizing Russian assets and using them for Ukrainian reconstruction
Will Seek To Reach Out
United On Sanctions
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Discussions about potential Saudi Arabia's participation in the Tempest fighter jet programme.
I very much welcome the Prime Minister's response. I also welcome both his and the Defence Secretary's recent emphasis on the importance of the Tempest fighter jet programme. It is a crucial sovereign capability, as he mentioned, and important for our alliances with Italy and Japan. Furthermore, however, other countries also wish to participate. In government, we had begun initial productive discussions with our friend and ally Saudi Arabia about its desire potentially to join the programme, so could the Prime Minister confirm that he will continue those initial positive conversations with Saudi Arabia? Again, I can assure him that he will have our support in doing so.
Let me make this absolutely clear: this is a really important programme. Significant progress has already been made, and we want to build on that progress. I have had some initial discussions, not least in Farnborough, where I was just a few days ago.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm concrete plans or commitments for continuing discussions with Saudi Arabia
Some Initial Discussions
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Q8
Direct Answer
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Discussion about the Prime Minister's ability to use his prerogative power in times of national security.
Finally, in the dangerous and uncertain world in which we now sadly live, I know at first hand how important it is that our Prime Minister can use his prerogative power to respond quickly militarily to protect British national security, sometimes without giving this House prior notice. These are perhaps the most difficult decisions that a Prime Minister can take, and I welcomed his support when I made them. I want to take this opportunity to assure him of the Opposition's support if he deems it necessary to take similar action in the future. Does he agree that while the use of the prerogative power is sometimes politically controversial, it is essential to ensure the safety and security of the British people?
I agree that it is essential, and our security is the first duty of government. I was grateful to the Leader of the Opposition for reaching out to me personally when action had to be taken, to ensure that I was briefed on the sensitive issues that lay behind the decisions that he had to take. As I mentioned to him last week, I will endeavour to ensure that we proceed in the same way so that he has access to all the information that he needs to come to a determination, which I hope will be to support the position that this Government take.
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Q9
Direct Answer
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A celebration event involving 83 cyclists travelling from West Yorkshire to London, raising awareness of commonality and unity.
Welcome back, Mr Speaker. May I congratulate the Prime Minister on such as positive start to his premiership, and on resetting the dial on politics as public service and a force for good? Irrespective of our different views and opinions in this Chamber and beyond, it is a very important message. As such, will he join me in wishing the very best of luck to the 83 cyclists who have set off from West Yorkshire this morning on the ninth Jo Cox Way bike ride? They are travelling 280 miles down the country to London and celebrating all that we have in common through the power of cycling—including, sadly for the cyclists, probably quite a lot of sore legs and aching muscles.
Of course I wish them good luck. I admire them; I am not sure I envy them—it is 280 miles—but it is a brilliant cause. The whole House misses our dear friend Jo, and I know that she would have been incredibly proud to have seen this Government in place and would have played a big part it in. I welcome my hon. Friend back to her place, and I know that she will continue in Jo's spirit, with the same dedication and determination. I think I am right in saying that her parents—and, of course, Jo's parents—are in the Gallery today to see this first PMQs.
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Q10
Partial Answer
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An issue involving carers being hit with bills by the Department for Work and Pensions due to earning slightly above the earnings limit.
I welcome the Prime Minister to his place for his first Prime Minister's questions. I associate myself and my party with the comments he made about the appalling attack on the soldier in Kent. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and comrades. I also associate my party with his comments on Team GB—we want them to succeed in Paris.
The Prime Minister has inherited many messes, and one is the scandal of the carer's allowance repayments. An example is my constituent Andrea, who is a full-time carer for her elderly mum. She went back to work part time—mainly for her mental health, she tells me—and was earning less than £7,000 a year. She has been hit by a bill from the Department for Work and Pensions for £4,600. Andrea is just one of the tens of thousands of carers facing these repayments. They are being punished for working and earning just a few pounds more than the earnings limit. Will the Prime Minister agree to meet me and other family carers to try to resolve this matter?
The Prime Minister has inherited many messes, and one is the scandal of the carer's allowance repayments. An example is my constituent Andrea, who is a full-time carer for her elderly mum. She went back to work part time—mainly for her mental health, she tells me—and was earning less than £7,000 a year. She has been hit by a bill from the Department for Work and Pensions for £4,600. Andrea is just one of the tens of thousands of carers facing these repayments. They are being punished for working and earning just a few pounds more than the earnings limit. Will the Prime Minister agree to meet me and other family carers to try to resolve this matter?
I thank the right hon. Member for raising this matter. He of course has been a tireless advocate for carers, and I do not think any of us could have been other than moved when we saw the video of him and his son that was put out during the election campaign. He talks about Team GB. I am glad that he is in a suit today, because we are more used to seeing him in a wetsuit.
In relation to this issue, we have a more severe crisis than we thought as we go through the books of the last 14 years and we must review—[Interruption.] I know the Conservatives don't like it, but there is a reason the electorate rejected them so profoundly. We will review the challenges that we face. We want to work with the sector and, where we can, across the House to create a national care service covering all these aspects, and we will start with a fair pay agreement for carers and those who work in the care sector. I am very happy to work across the House with all the people that care so passionately about this issue.
In relation to this issue, we have a more severe crisis than we thought as we go through the books of the last 14 years and we must review—[Interruption.] I know the Conservatives don't like it, but there is a reason the electorate rejected them so profoundly. We will review the challenges that we face. We want to work with the sector and, where we can, across the House to create a national care service covering all these aspects, and we will start with a fair pay agreement for carers and those who work in the care sector. I am very happy to work across the House with all the people that care so passionately about this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to meeting Edward Davey but promised to review challenges and create a national care service
We Must Review
Work Across The House
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Social care faces a significant crisis, with millions of people affected for decades. The issue is urgent and cross-party support could help address it.
I am concerned about the social care crisis that affects millions of people around the country. After a once-in-a-century election, does the Prime Minister think there is a chance to fix this crisis? I ask him to set up a cross-party commission on social care so we can address this urgent matter.
We will work across the House and endeavour to create a national care service, but it will not be easy. We can begin the first steps and share that across the House where we can.
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Assessment & feedback
Setting up a cross-party commission on social care
We Will Work Across The House
Begin The First Steps
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Q12
Partial Answer
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Jack Taylor and other nuclear veterans have been denied access to their medical records and compensation for decades. The Prime Minister has said these national heroes deserve full accountability and justice.
Will the Prime Minister consider supporting a special tribunal with statutory powers on this 70-year-long scandal?
Nearly 5,000 have received their nuclear test medals and the right to apply for no-fault compensation under the war pension scheme. A meeting on this issue will be arranged for my hon. Friend with the relevant Minister.
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Supporting a special tribunal with statutory powers
5,000 Have Received Their Nuclear Test Medals
Right To Apply For No-Fault Compensation
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Q13
Partial Answer
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During the election campaign, Gordon Brown encouraged voters in Scotland to vote Labour to end child poverty. However, Labour MPs from Scotland were later instructed to retain the two-child cap.
What changed regarding Labour's stance on ending child poverty?
The last Labour Government lifted millions of children out of poverty. We will approach the question with vigour, including introducing breakfast clubs and reviewing the decent homes standard.
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Assessment & feedback
Explain the change in stance on child poverty
Last Labour Government Lifted Millions Of Children Out Of Poverty
Approach The Question With Vigour
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Q14
Partial Answer
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The UK has called for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza, but innocent people are still dying every day.
What further pressure can the Prime Minister apply to bring about an urgent ceasefire?
We have set out the urgent need for a ceasefire and will discuss, negotiate on and fight for change at the highest levels on the world stage. The alternative is protesting on street corners.
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Assessment & feedback
Apply further pressure for an urgent ceasefire
We Have Set Out The Urgent Need
Highest Levels On The World Stage
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Q15
Partial Answer
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The Government has proposed levying VAT on independent school fees, raising concerns about the capacity of state schools in Scotland to accommodate pupils from independent sectors.
How will the Prime Minister ensure that VAT raised from fees can be reinvested in Scotland's education system?
I am determined to have the right teachers in place in our state secondary schools to ensure every child has the same opportunity, regardless of their background.
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Assessment & feedback
Ensure VAT raised from fees is reinvested in Scotland's education
Determined To Have The Right Teachers
Same Opportunity For Every Child
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Q16
Partial Answer
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The Government announced a new publicly owned company, Great British Energy, to ensure energy security and lower bills.
Will the Prime Minister assure communities that they will benefit from job opportunities unlocked by Great British Energy?
Great British Energy will be owned by and for the British people, to invest in energy systems of the future. This means cheaper bills as renewables are cheaper, security against supply issues, and jobs for years to come.
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Assure communities of job benefits from Great British Energy
Owned By And For The British People
Jobs For Years To Come
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Q17
Partial Answer
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The SNP is critical of the Prime Minister's handling of child poverty, noting that it has worsened despite government pledges.
I am concerned about the significant rebellion against child poverty and the suspension of seven MPs. Poverty campaigners are furious with the government. Is his honeymoon over before it has even begun?
I welcome my hon. Friend to her place and repeat that perhaps the SNP needs to account for the 30,000 extra children in poverty in Scotland.
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Did not directly address whether the Prime Minister's honeymoon period is over
Redirecting
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Q18
Direct Answer
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The previous government cut police funding in London by one third, closing two police stations in Chipping Barnet.
I am concerned about the reduction of police funding for London by £1 billion, resulting in the closure of two police stations. Does the Prime Minister agree on the importance of rebuilding local policing?
I welcome my hon. Friend to his place and state our guarantee to put 13,000 extra neighbourhood officers back on Britain's streets, acknowledging that the last government hammered police numbers.
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Q19
Partial Answer
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The MP claims uncontrolled legal and illegal immigration has damaged his community since 1997.
I am concerned about the damage caused to my constituents by uncontrolled legal and illegal immigration. Does the Prime Minister agree that this approach has failed our country?
I disagree with the hon. Member's numbers but acknowledge serious issues at borders, including record crossings; we will set up our border security command to tackle these issues.
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Did not give a direct yes or no answer to whether current policies have failed
Disagreement
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Q20
Direct Answer
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Liverpool city region is a hub for offshore wind, yet some oppose renewable energy projects like the Mersey tidal project.
Can I encourage my right hon. Friend to resist Opposition voices and support the Mersey tidal project as part of clean energy strategy?
We will boost home-grown renewable energy to create new jobs, ensuring energy independence and lower bills; we will look carefully at projects such as the Mersey tidal project.
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Q21
Partial Answer
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The MP asks for assurance that his constituents will have a meaningful say over green belt development.
Can the Prime Minister assure me and my constituents in Broxbourne that we will have a meaningful say over new green belt developments?
We intend to get Britain building, changing planning rules; we will work with communities but take tough decisions that previous governments avoided.
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Did not provide a direct yes or no answer regarding meaningful community say on green belt development
Vague Commitment
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Q22
Direct Answer
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Despite positives in Ipswich, the town centre is struggling and needs help.
Can the Prime Minister set out steps to revive town centres like Ipswich's?
We will replace business rates to level the playing field and address regional inequality through local growth plans; vibrant high streets are needed.
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Q23
Partial Answer
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The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth, raising concerns about food security and public health.
I welcome the Government's commitment to nature recovery. Please could the Prime Minister tell us how he will show leadership personally on this existential issue? In particular, will he attend the 16th biodiversity COP later this year, and will the UK Government be launching a bid to host a future UN nature summit?
We are committed to nature recovery. I would ask the hon. Member to show some leadership, as he opposes clean energy infrastructure in his constituency.
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Assessment & feedback
Specifics of PM's involvement in COP16 and hosting a UN nature summit
Opposing Vital Clean Energy Infrastructure
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Q24
Partial Answer
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15-year-old Rene Graham was shot and killed in north Kensington, causing anxiety among residents.
Can the Prime Minister ensure that north Kensington gets support from the Government at this difficult time? Can he outline what measures the Government will take to tackle gun violence and prevent young lives like Rene's from being taken in the future?
The loss of a teenage boy in west London is shocking. We have an ambition to drive down this sort of violence in our communities, and we are working with all mayors regardless of party.
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Specific measures against gun violence
Supporting All Mayors
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Q25
Partial Answer
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The previous government committed £1 billion to improving transport infrastructure in Teesside, including the iconic transporter bridge and Thornaby train station.
Can the Prime Minister confirm whether we are still getting our £1 billion for transport improvements in Teesside? Is Labour turning its back on Teesside?
The hon. Gentleman talks about Labour turning its back; we will be working with all mayors who are in place, including those who wear a different rosette.
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Specific commitment to £1 billion funding for Teesside transport projects
Working With All Mayors
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Q26
Direct Answer
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The National Police Chiefs' Council declared violence against women and girls a national emergency, with Sky News publishing accounts of sexual harassment and violence against female paramedics.
Can the Prime Minister update the House on progress towards the mission board to tackle violence against women and girls?
We have made a commitment—a mission—to halve violence against women and girls. We are starting work on the delivery board, and I look forward to updating my hon. Friend and the House.
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Q27
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister's planning reforms are being questioned for their compatibility with sustainability, specifically regarding fields that yield wheat for bread.
How are the PM's planning reforms compatible with the desire of his own Secretary of State for Environment to achieve sustainability?
The failure on economic growth over the last 14 years has resulted in prison overcrowding and a housing crisis. The electorate rejected the previous Government profoundly.
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Compatibility of planning reforms with sustainability goals
Failure On Economic Growth
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