Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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The SNP-led Renfrewshire council is criticised for its lack of action regarding the development of the Paisley Centre, despite planning permission being granted several years ago.
In Paisley and Renfrewshire South, the SNP-led Renfrewshire council has sat on its hands while the owners of the Paisley Centre seek support to transform the town centre. Does the Prime Minister agree that it is only the SNP’s lack of ambition and failure of leadership that is letting Paisley down, and will he work with me to restore pride in Paisley town centre?
My hon. Friend is a superb champion for Paisley. Her constituents deserve a Scottish Government who match her dedication. For our part, we have delivered a record funding settlement. We are investing £280 million in Pride in Place across 14 Scottish communities. We have secured shipbuilding on the Clyde for over a decade and have just announced an AI growth zone in Lanarkshire.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not directly commit to working with the MP or provide specifics about restoring pride in Paisley town centre.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The revelation of Peter Mandelson’s close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has raised questions about the Prime Minister's judgment in appointing him.
Mrs Kemi Badenoch asked whether the Prime Minister was aware that Peter Mandelson had continued his friendship even after Epstein’s conviction for child prostitution when he appointed him as Britain’s ambassador to Washington. She further pressed if the official security vetting mentioned Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein.
As the House would expect, we went through a process. There was a due diligence exercise, and then there was security vetting by the security services. What was not known was the sheer depth and the extent of the relationship. Mandelson lied about that to everyone for years. New information was published in September, showing that the relationship was materially different from what we had been led to believe.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not directly answer whether he knew about Mandelson's continued friendship with Epstein before making the appointment and only provided a general explanation of the vetting process.
Went Through A Process
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Cumbria’s police, fire and crime commissioner along with 28 other UK police commissioners are backing the Bill proposed by Ms Julie Minns to ban the sale of illegal e-bikes.
Every month, people across our constituencies are injured by illegal e-bikes being ridden at 15 to 50 mph through town centres and parks. For every bike seized and crushed, another 10 hit our streets because they are too freely available to buy. Will the Prime Minister set out what action the Government will take to protect the public and ban the sale of these dangerous bikes?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend Julie Minns for her tireless campaign against antisocial and dangerous bikes terrorising communities. Our Crime and Policing Bill will enable police to seize bikes without issuing a warning, allowing them to destroy the seized items. Product safety law already gives authorities the power to intervene and stop the sale of unsafe e-bikes.
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Assessment & feedback
Does not specify any action beyond existing laws and does not commit to banning sales explicitly.
Working With Existing Legislation
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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The question follows concerns over the involvement of Peter Mandelson, a member of the British establishment, in dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.
I think the victims of Jeffrey Epstein deserve far better than that; they deserve Peter Mandelson not being appointed in the first place. We do not even know the full extent of the British establishment’s involvement in Epstein’s appalling crimes, or how many British girls and young women were trafficked by him, so we need a full public inquiry, both to get justice for the victims and to protect our national security. The Polish Government think Epstein may have been spying for Vladimir Putin. Is the Prime Minister concerned that Peter Mandelson may have been leaking state secrets not just to a paedophile American financier, but also a Russian agent?
The right hon. Gentleman talks of a public inquiry. Obviously, the focus now has to be on the criminal investigation, which has started. As he knows, that investigation will go wherever the evidence leads it. I have made it absolutely clear that the Government will co-operate, as he would expect, with that criminal investigation, wherever it goes.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not address the specific concern about leaking state secrets to a Russian agent.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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The MP is discussing the effectiveness of free breakfast clubs in schools, which aim to support students and identify issues at home.
I welcome the news that Bristol East will be getting another three breakfast clubs. As I have seen, these clubs are not just about making sure that no child starts the school day hungry, but about giving staff extra time with children to spot whether there might be trouble at home. On that note, may I urge the Prime Minister to work with schools on our manifesto commitment to identify children with parents in prison, to make sure that those children get all the support that they need?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue, and confirm that we are looking at how we can strengthen the support in place for these children, so that no child falls between the cracks. Free breakfast clubs mean that every child is fed and ready to learn. I am delighted to see that there are three more in her constituency, as she says. I also want to mention Rushbrook primary academy, Oasis Academy Aspinal, Longsight community primary and St Bernard’s Roman Catholic primary school, Manchester. All will soon be operating free breakfast clubs in Gorton and Denton.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not provide specifics about the support for children of incarcerated parents beyond indicating a review was ongoing.
Looking At This
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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The question refers to the controversial lawyer Phil Shiner, who was struck off for repeatedly inventing vexatious cases against British troops in Iraq.
I will give the Prime Minister some brief respite from Peter Mandelson. However, he will also be familiar with the name Phil Shiner, the disgraced lawyer who was struck off and convicted for repeatedly inventing vexatious cases against British troops in Iraq. It is something of a surprise that the Prime Minister authored a chapter in Mr Shiner’s book about pursuing our veterans via the European Court of Human Rights. Can I ask him specifically: was he ever instructed by Mr Shiner’s law firm, Public Interest Lawyers, to act in any legal case?
Let me be absolutely clear about this: as soon as there were any allegations of wrongdoing by Phil Shiner, I had absolutely nothing to do with him.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q7
Partial Answer
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The MP is raising concerns about the impact of Brexit on food prices and defence industry.
This year in Aldershot and Farnborough, we are looking forward to hosting the national celebrations for Armed Forces Day in the home of the British Army. Businesses in my community welcome this Government’s record investment in defence in the years ahead, but our banks still struggle to lend to defence companies because of international regulations. Will the Prime Minister ensure that the UK works with Canada and our other allies to found the multilateral defence security and resilience bank, so that we can get money moving to our defence industries, get our armed forces what they need, and stand firm against our adversaries?
I am delighted that Aldershot will be hosting Armed Forces Day; it has a hard-working Labour MP and Labour council. Our historic defence spending uplift must be an engine for growth and jobs in the United Kingdom, which is why we have committed to spending an extra £2.5 billion with small and medium-sized enterprises. I agree with my hon. Friend that it is vital that we work in lockstep with our allies, particularly in Europe, to enhance and align our defence capabilities, and we are therefore working at pace to identify the most effective mechanisms for greater multilateral co-operation.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not provide specifics about founding a new bank but acknowledged working with allies on enhancing capabilities.
Working On
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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The MP is discussing ongoing issues with the Bell hotel being used as an asylum hotel, including concerns over safety and local community protests.
For months, our communities in Epping have been deeply distressed by the Bell hotel reopening as an asylum hotel. My thoughts remain with the victims of the sexual assaults, including the 14-year-old Epping schoolgirl whose trauma was compounded by the mistaken release of the offender from prison. Weekly protests continue, some of which have become violent, with injuries to 10 brave police officers. I am grateful to the Minister for Border Security and Asylum for meeting me recently about this untenable situation, but will the Prime Minister listen and act now, close the Bell hotel once and for all, and help restore our town of Epping?
As the hon. Gentleman knows, we are committed to ending the use of all asylum hotels; there are now just under 200, compared with the 400 under the previous Government. Where military sites are used, the safety and security of local communities is our priority.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not commit to closing the Bell hotel but acknowledged a broader commitment to reducing asylum hotels.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Hartlepool has the third highest number of children in care, with an increasing financial burden due to southern councils relocating families there. The local Labour council has reduced the budget deficit but faces further cuts.
I am concerned about Hartlepool having the third highest number of children in care in England, fueled by southern councils shipping families here. This is causing a £6 million funding shortfall. Percentage increases in funding mean less for Hartlepool than elsewhere, yet costs remain unchanged. The fair funding settlement announced in December is insufficient. I am fighting non-stop for a better deal for my town to avoid higher taxes or austerity. We need support. Will the PM commit his Ministers to working across Government to fix this for Hartlepool?
It is due to strong local Labour MPs like my hon. Friend that towns like Hartlepool, which were treated as an afterthought by the Conservatives, are now having their future restored. We are making billions more available so councils can properly fund social care and we are driving down the cost of living for parents and children in his constituency, including with three free breakfast clubs and more than 3,000 children no longer impacted by the two-child limit.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to work across government to fix funding issues for Hartlepool was not explicitly made.
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Child poverty is exacerbated by living in overcrowded temporary accommodation without proper facilities like a bed or study space. The local government finance settlement next week will impact funding.
I am proud that Labour MPs voted yesterday to remove the two-child limit and lift 400,000 children out of poverty, but child poverty cannot be eradicated while children are living in overcrowded temporary accommodation without their own bed or anywhere to do homework. Will the Prime Minister commit to urgent and persistent action to drive down the use of temporary accommodation, ensuring that our councils, including my councils of Lambeth and Southwark, have the funding they need in the final local government finance settlement next week?
I join my hon. Friend in her pride in the vote to lift half a million children out of poverty after hundreds of thousands were plunged into poverty by the Conservative party when they were in government. On her point about temporary accommodation, she is right that every child deserves a safe, warm and secure home. We are investing a record £3.5 billion in homelessness services and £950 million in local authority housing funds to deliver better quality temporary accommodation.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment for funding to reduce the use of temporary accommodation was not explicitly made.
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Peter Mandelson is being investigated regarding his association with a paedophile who trafficked women. This has significant implications for many women, particularly those in the UK.
I associate myself with the comments of my party leader about Lord Wallace, but conversations are taking place today and up and down the country about Peter Mandelson’s involvement with the paedophile who trafficked women. Given that millions of women, especially here in this country, will be triggered by this news and given the establishment’s proximity to what happened, will the Prime Minister assure us that helplines will be set up and that we will support direct victims as well as those indirectly triggered?
The hon. Member is right to raise that. Obviously, we will support the police with their investigation but we will also press on with our work to halve violence against women and girls which is very much about putting in place the support that is needed for all victims of violence. That is a crucial part of our work and I hope that we can work across the House in support of that.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to set up helplines was not explicitly made.
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Caroline Johnson has been campaigning for a Lincoln dental school for several years. Professor Juster, Professor Read, and Susie MacPherson have made significant progress.
I am pleased to tell the House that Lincoln medical school is in a position to take on its first cohort from 2027. Will the Prime Minister provide the necessary funding for this cohort of students to start to help improve the oral health of people right across Lincolnshire?
I am pleased to hear about the progress on the dental school in the hon. Member’s constituency. We have put in further funding for dentistry and are fixing dental deserts across many parts of the country.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not commit to providing specific funding for the first cohort of students at Lincoln medical school's dental program.
Response accuracy
Q13
Direct Answer
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Today is World Cancer Day. Gemma Reeves, a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother hospital, campaigns for breast cancer screening for all women over 40.
As outlined in our cancer plan, early detection and diagnosis is vital. Will the Prime Minister agree to consider the campaign by my constituent Gemma Reeves to ensure that breast cancer screening is available for all women over the age of 40, and will he meet her to discuss how such a change would save lives?
I absolutely support that, and I will make sure that my hon. Friend gets a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss it. Early diagnosis is so important for all cancers, and we must do everything we can to ensure early diagnosis is the norm by default.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q14
Partial Answer
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Elizabeth, a survivor of the Rotherham rape gangs scandal, was allegedly abused by police officers. She feels betrayed and failed by South Yorkshire Police.
While her first rapist was convicted and sentenced, she was subsequently allegedly abused by police officers serving in South Yorkshire police. One of those officers remains on active service today. Elizabeth made complaints through Operation Linden, but none of them was followed up. She rightly feels betrayed and failed by the very institution designed to protect her. Will the Prime Minister meet Elizabeth, rape gang survivors and me to commit that those who committed and covered up these abhorrent offences are put behind bars, where they belong?
I am deeply concerned about the facts that the right hon. Lady has outlined. If she could give us all the details, I will make sure that there is a follow-up meeting in relation to her concerns.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not commit to putting behind bars those who committed and covered up these offences.
Response accuracy