Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
North Devon district hospital is the most remote in mainland England, with outdated facilities.
North Devon's intensive care unit has only six beds and serves 165,000 people. Can you assure that the hospital will receive urgent funding under the new programme?
We are reviewing the NHS programme to ensure sustainability and support trusts in developing schemes. The Health Secretary will provide more details soon.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm funding for North Devon district hospital specifically
Reviewing The Programme
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Welcomes government's international cooperation to tackle smuggling.
Welcomes the deal struck with Iraq last week. Does the Prime Minister agree that international co-operation is key to ending smuggling?
Agrees that international cooperation, including the £150 million Border Security Command, is effective. 9,400 people have been returned under new measures.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Questions about the appointment of a convicted fraudster as Transport Secretary.
The PM appointed a convicted fraudster to be his Transport Secretary. What was he thinking?
Further information came to light, and the Transport Secretary resigned. The PM criticises the previous government's record on immigration.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify what further information led to resignation
Record Levels Of Immigration
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Continues questioning about resignation.
What was the further information that led to the Transport Secretary's resignation?
Not disclosing private conversations. The PM criticises government focus on immigration and economy under previous administration.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide any new information about resignation
Private Conversations
Fixing The Mess
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Continues questioning about Cabinet appointments.
Did the PM appoint a convicted fraudster to the Cabinet, who then gave trade union friends hundreds of millions in pay rises?
Denies the accusation and criticises past Labour leaders' actions.
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Convictions Of Predecessors
Past Records
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Questions about the Budget's pledge on tax and borrowing.
The PM failed to repeat his own pledge of no more borrowing and taxes. Does he stand by this promise?
Criticises previous government's economic policies, cites OECD report upgrading growth predictions.
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Oecd Report
Economic Upgrade
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Questions about the Budget's failure to pledge no more taxes.
The PM failed to repeat his pledge on taxes. Can he explain why?
Criticises previous government's trade deals and immigration policies, disputes her stance on national insurance.
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Previous Government'S Policies
Trade Deals
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister has abandoned several key promises from his Labour leadership, such as the five missions he said would define his Government and the pledge to make Britain the fastest-growing economy in the G7. Business leaders have criticized the impact of recent policies on the economy.
The fact is that the Prime Minister has discarded his own Labour leadership promises: he has dropped the five missions he said would define his Government; he has ditched his pledge to make Britain the fastest-growing economy in the G7—we left office with the UK as the fastest-growing economy in the G7—and business is saying he has damaged the economy with his Budget. Tomorrow he is going to have an emergency reset, just five months into his premiership, but why should anyone believe a word he says?
The only relaunch on the Conservative Benches is the leadership bids of the right hon. Lady's rivals. She obviously has not read the OECD report published this morning: the fastest growth in the next two years of any major economy in Europe—we are proud of that. Opposition Members should never be allowed to forget the damage they did to our country. They used Britain like some sort of mad scientist's experiment: open borders, unfunded tax cuts, a neglected health service. And now all the madness is still coming out, but they say they should be back in office. They have not listened, they have not learned, and they certainly have not changed. There is only one party that is driving this country forward, and that is this Labour Government.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about the Prime Minister's credibility was ignored in favour of attacking the opposition.
Response accuracy
Q9
Direct Answer
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Context
The hon. Member for Neath and Swansea East is launching a Christmas single to promote her “Everyone Deserves” hamper campaign, which will deliver festive food to 1,500 homes across five constituencies in south Wales.
Today it is Question 7 but, who knows, next week I could be No. 1 in the charts, as the first MP this year to bring out a Christmas single. Will the Prime Minister join me in thanking my musical collaborator, the hugely talented Mal Pope, and everyone involved with this year's “Everyone Deserves” hamper campaign, which will deliver festive food to 1,500 homes across five constituencies in south Wales? Like our song says, “There's a reason for the season and everyone deserves a Christmas.”
I thank my hon. Friend for her Christmas single; there is obviously going to be some rivalry in the race for No. 1 by Christmas—I will not be joining that particular race. I thank her and Mal Pope for their campaigning. I remember joining her a few summers ago in the work involving the hampers, which are much needed by her constituents. I know how much it means to them. Christmas is a time to think of others, and I pay tribute to her and all those supporting those in need. This Government will always support the most vulnerable in our society.
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Q10
Partial Answer
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The right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton is advocating for the need to restore public trust in British politics through electoral system reforms, citing a Bill for electoral reform put forward by his colleague.
I, for one, will be downloading the song by the hon. Member for Neath and Swansea East (Carolyn Harris), and I join the Prime Minister in his delight about it. I also join him in support for Mandy Damari, and our joint hope that we will see Emily and other hostages released as soon as possible. The Prime Minister has rightly spoken about the need to restore and rebuild the public's trust in British politics. We believe a crucial part of that is reforming our electoral system to make it fairer and more proportional, and so do a majority of the British public. This House voted yesterday in favour of a Bill for electoral reform put forward by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney). Will the Prime Minister make Government time available so we can consider that Bill about electoral reform and restore the public's trust in our politics?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for referencing Emily. It is important that we all remember her and the awful torture that her mother is going through, as is the case for all the other hostages. It is hard to imagine what it must be like for anybody with friends or family who are still being held hostage after all this time. Proportional representation is not our policy and we will not be making time for it. I will just gently say to the right hon. Gentleman that he did not do too badly under the system as it is.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about electoral reform was ignored in favour of a personal remark and a deflection back to the current electoral system.
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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More than 3 million people are stuck on NHS waiting lists for more than 18 weeks, a significant issue stemming from the previous Conservative Government's record on the NHS.
I am disappointed in that reply and hope that the Prime Minister will reflect on Labour's policy. Moving on to another pressing subject, more than 3 million people have been stuck on NHS waiting lists for more than 18 weeks. That is probably the worst, most appalling legacy of the last Conservative Government and it needs to be fixed. Does the Prime Minister accept that we will only get waiting lists down, and keep them down, if it is easier for everyone to see a GP when they need it? When he publishes his milestones tomorrow, will he include a guarantee with a timetable so that people will be able to see a GP within at least seven days, or 24 hours if it is urgent?
The right hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to the record of the last Government on the NHS: record waiting lists and record low confidence in the NHS. In addition to the economy and immigration, they had better not be talking about that for the last five years either. We will be driving that down. We have already begun that work to make sure that we get those waiting lists down, and yes, of course, that includes making sure there is better access to GPs and other measures that need to be taken. That is a central driving mission of this Government.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about specific milestones was not answered directly; instead, the answer referred broadly to work being done without specifying timelines or guarantees.
Response accuracy
Q12
Direct Answer
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A significant number of Members in the House are women who have faced issues related to age, harassment, or inappropriate behaviour.
Given that a significant number of Members of this place are, regardless of class, women of a certain age, does the Prime Minister agree that when a woman of a certain age—or indeed any woman, of any age and from any background—says that they have experienced sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour, they should be listened to and supported and the perpetrator dealt with?
I certainly agree with that, and I think everybody across the House would. My hon. Friend is right, because one of the greatest barriers that women face when coming forward to report unacceptable behaviour in the workplace is having confidence that they will be taken seriously. That requires all of us to put in place mechanisms and arrangements to make that possible. Everybody should be treated with dignity and respect, and I am proud of the fact that our Employment Rights Bill will strengthen protections from sexual harassment at work.
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Q13
Partial Answer
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The EU's general product safety regulation is set to apply in Northern Ireland on Friday, potentially creating additional costs and bureaucracy for UK companies trading with Northern Ireland.
Friday the 13th is a date associated with bad things happening. Next Friday, the European Union's general product safety regulation will apply in Northern Ireland, creating more costs and bureaucracy for English, Scottish and Welsh companies that want to do business in Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland consumers buying from them. Many businesses have already stopped supplying Northern Ireland. Haulage companies are unsure of what is required of them. Online sales platforms are divided on the advice they give. A previous Prime Minister promised Northern Ireland businesses that if they were asked to complete additional paperwork, they should phone him and he would “direct them to throw that form in the bin.” What direct, tangible advice can the Prime Minister give to those businesses that want to continue supplying Northern Ireland?
That is a serious issue and the Government are working closely with businesses to ensure that they are ready for the changes that the hon. Gentleman has identified. We published more guidance yesterday, as he knows, to support them further. We will be keeping a close eye on the issue to help businesses trade freely across the whole of the United Kingdom.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide specific advice or clear instructions requested by Robin Swann, focusing instead on general support and ongoing monitoring.
Working Closely With Businesses
Published More Guidance
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Q14
Direct Answer
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Many historic buildings in Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove are underutilised, affecting local communities.
In Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove we are proud of our beautiful historic buildings. However, many of them lie dormant and blight our proud towns. Will the Prime Minister outline what steps the Government are taking to bring historic buildings back into use, and will he make time to visit my constituency to see for himself our untapped potential?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue and I will certainly consider his kind invitation. We will invest in heritage buildings, restoring pride and ensuring that they serve the needs of local communities. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded Stoke-on-Trent £250,000 to help preserve the city's heritage. Historic England is also funding emergency repairs at the iconic Wedgewood Institute and supporting Re-form Heritage—whose office, I think, is based in my hon. Friend's constituency—to employ staff dedicated to delivering heritage projects.
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Q15
Partial Answer
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The Scottish Government has reintroduced the winter fuel payment, which was previously removed from UK pensioners by a previous Prime Minister.
Today is the Scottish Budget, which contains provisions to reinstate the winter fuel payment for all Scottish pensioners—something that the Prime Minister famously took away from nearly all UK pensioners, supported by Scottish Labour Members of Parliament. But apparently Scottish Labour is now in favour of the winter fuel payment, so what is his advice to Labour MSPs? Is it to vote for the Budget, to ensure that Scottish pensioners get that single fuel payment, or is to stick with his view and vote that Budget down?
My advice to my team is to ensure that the SNP is absolutely clear that we have given the biggest settlement to Scotland this year in our Budget. The Scottish Government now have the powers and the resources. They have no more excuses for their failure to deliver.
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Assessment & feedback
The response did not address the specific advice requested regarding voting on the budget, instead focusing on general criticism of the SNP's record.
Ensuring That The Snp Is Absolutely Clear
Failure To Deliver
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Q16
Direct Answer
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The Government have set aside £11.8 billion for a compensation scheme following the contaminated blood scandal, but concerns remain over its pace and fairness.
A year ago today, this House defeated the then Government over the contaminated blood scandal compensation scheme. It is welcome that the present Government have set aside £11.8 billion for that compensation scheme, but as victims die every week, there is concern about the pace of payments, and the fact that rules are being changed behind closed doors in Whitehall without explanation, contradicting some of Sir Brian Langstaff's recommendations. Does my right hon. Friend agree that next week's meeting scheduled with the campaign groups representing the victims must represent the start of those infected and affected being involved in a process that they fought so hard for, and for so long, and that too many died and failed to see?
We are committed to acting on the findings of the infected blood inquiry, and ensuring swift resolution and compensating in full. That is why we announced £11.8 billion to compensate those who waited far too long for justice. I will happily make sure that my hon. Friend gets a meeting with the Paymaster General to discuss the issues that he has raised.
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Q17
Partial Answer
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Pensioners in Leicester South are concerned about the loss of their winter fuel payments and struggling to keep warm during colder months.
Every day, pensioners in my Leicester South constituency are emailing me with one word: “frightened.” Susan, who has pulmonary fibrosis, wrote: “During winter I rarely go out as it's too cold for my lungs. I need to keep warm and the heating on. The winter fuel payment was really helpful. I want MPs to know not all pensioners are millionaires (or receive gifts from millionaires), nor do we all get the higher rate of pension”. Susan is frightened that she will not be able to keep her house warm this winter, and she is not alone. Does the Prime Minister realise how frightening it is for the 8,100 pensioners in my constituency who have lost their winter fuel payment? As the winter months start to bite, will he come to Leicester to explain to Susan why he thinks this policy is not frightening?
As the hon. Member knows, the No. 1 job of this Government was to get our finances back in order after the mess that the last Government made, including leaving a £22 billion black hole. We had to make tough choices. The Opposition say that they want the benefits, but cannot say how they are going to pay for them. We want to make sure that the most vulnerable pensioners get the pension credit that they are entitled to. We are driving that up, and because we are stabilising the economy we can commit to the triple lock. That means a £460 uplift in the pension next year, so every pensioner will be better off under a Labour Government.
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Assessment & feedback
The response did not address the specific question about visiting Leicester but focused on general economic policies and benefits for pensioners.
The No. 1 Job Of This Government
Making Tough Choices
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Q18
Partial Answer
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The Middlewich eastern bypass is expected to support significant new housing, job creation and employment land in the area.
The Middlewich eastern bypass will support the delivery of nearly 2,000 new homes, 6,500 jobs and 1.5 million square feet of employment land. The previous Government, having first promised to fund it, dragged their feet, putting jobs and investment at risk. We are approaching the season of good will, so can the Prime Minister give my constituents an early Christmas present and offer some certainty about this vital infrastructure project?
We are committed to supporting drivers across the country, including by freezing fuel duty and investing £1.6 billion to maintain our roads. That is £500 million more than in the previous year. I know that my hon. Friend's constituents have waited years for certainty on this scheme. The project is currently going through a Government assessment process, and I will make sure that he gets a meeting with the roads Minister to discuss it.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide immediate certainty or commitment regarding the bypass project but focused on general road support measures.
Going Through A Government Assessment Process
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Q19
Partial Answer
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Major GP practice groups in Newton Abbot have warned of precarious finances, considering redundancies and bankruptcy. They have stopped recruiting GPs, resulting in fewer patient appointments.
The major GP practice groups in my constituency have written to me, detailing their precarious finances. They are considering their options as they plan for the year ahead, including redundancies, handing back their contracts or bankruptcy, and they have stopped recruiting GPs, resulting in fewer patient appointments. The Health Secretary has promised an increased funding allocation but has yet to say when we will know how much it will be. Will the Prime Minister release the funding information and meet me and the GPs to hear at first hand about the pressures they are facing?
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise this. The Darzi report, which we commissioned, made it clear that the NHS was broken by the previous Government, and that is why we provided £22 billion of additional funding in the Budget this year to start the work of fixing our NHS. We do obviously value the vital work of GPs and, as he knows, we consult every year with the sector about the services they provide and the money they are entitled to in return, and we will set that out in the usual way.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not commit to releasing funding information or meeting the questioner and GPs.
Did Not Address Specific Ask
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Q20
Direct Answer
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Hollie Gazzard was murdered by her boyfriend outside her workplace in Gloucester a decade ago. Her family established the Hollie Gazzard Trust, which educates young people on domestic abuse and stalking.
Hollie Gazzard was murdered by her boyfriend outside her workplace in Gloucester 10 years ago. Since then, her family have established the Hollie Gazzard Trust, which educates young people on domestic abuse and stalking, and keeps women safe with its Hollie Guard app. Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to Hollie's family and the work of the Hollie Gazzard Trust, and will he update the House on the steps the Government are taking to tackle violence against women and girls?
A decade on, I am sure the thoughts of the whole House remain with Hollie's family and friends. I join my hon. Friend in commending the vital work of the Hollie Gazzard Trust. In relation to the steps we are taking, we have a mission to halve the levels of violence against women and girls within a decade. That is really tough to do—nobody has ever committed to that before. I invite everybody across the House in join us in that. That will include, among the steps we are taking, placing domestic abuse experts in 999 control rooms, to ensure that abuse is picked up early; launching a pilot of new domestic abuse protection orders; developing a national framework to track and target high-harm offenders; and strengthening stalking prevention orders. We will take other measures to make good on that commitment.
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Q21
Partial Answer
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A WASPI woman dies every 13 minutes. Since the Prime Minister took office, more than 17,000 WASPI women have died without receiving financial redress and justice.
A WASPI—Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign—woman dies every 13 minutes. That is two women since the Prime Minister took to the Dispatch Box today, and it is 111 women every day, and nearly 17,000 since he took office. How many more WASPI women have to die before the Government take action to give them the financial redress and justice that they are due?
We are moving at pace on all relevant issues. We passed the Budget to provide the baseline for what we need, and we will continue to do so.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not give a specific timeline or commitment regarding WASPI women.
Did Not Address Specific Ask
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Q22
Direct Answer
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Local councils in Earley and Woodley face significant financial pressures on special educational needs provision. Wokingham borough has an incidence of SEND twice the national average, yet historically the level of funding has not met the level of need.
Local councils in my constituency are facing significant financial pressures on special educational needs and disabilities provision. In Wokingham borough, for example, the SEND incidence is twice the national average, yet historically the level of funding has not met the level of need, and that has left families and children waiting too long for help. The previous Government's safety valve programme was only a sticking plaster, so I welcome this Government's announcement today of additional SEND funding in mainstream schools. What more can the Government do to make SEND funding sustainable?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this—I think this is the fifth or sixth time that SEND has been raised at Prime Minister's questions. We inherited a system neglected to the point of crisis by the last Government, and so we will deliver the change that is desperately needed. That means increasing funding to the core schools budget by £2.3 billion, which includes almost £1 billion more on high needs budgets. Today we are announcing investment of £740 million to create SEN units in mainstream schools which deliver specialist support, and I am very pleased to take that forward.
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Q23
Partial Answer
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The Post Office is considering closing more than 100 branches across communities, including Bexhill post office where a petition opposes the closure.
Members across this House are deeply concerned that the Post Office is considering closing more than 100 branches across our communities. More than 3,000 people have signed a petition opposing the closure of Bexhill post office. Does the Prime Minister agree that the Government must ensure that we protect vital post office services for all our constituents?
I recognise the campaigning of many, including the hon. Gentleman, on local services that their constituents rely on. The Post Office is required to maintain a network of 11,500 branches and to ensure that 99% of the UK population lives within 3 miles of a post office. Decisions about individual branches are for the Post Office to take, following consultation with local communities, but I am happy to ensure that he gets a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss his particular case.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not explicitly commit to protecting post office services.
Did Not Address Specific Ask
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Q24
Direct Answer
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In Darlington, the town is preparing for a nine-month festival in 2025 to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of the railways. Many in the area have concerns about the future of the rail industry.
In my constituency it is full steam ahead to 2025, when our town celebrates the 200-year anniversary of the railways with a nine-month festival. We are proud of our industrial contribution, but many in my area have concerns about the future of our rail industry. What assurances can the PM offer that he will get our railways back on track?
We are delivering on our commitment to bring railways back under public ownership, putting passengers first. Today, we have announced that South Western Railway services will be the first to transfer into public ownership next year, so that we can turn the page on decades of delay, fragmentation and failure.
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Q25
Partial Answer
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Veteran Anne Puckridge is in the Gallery, and she has a frozen pension. Scottish Labour MPs are reportedly upset about their leader's decision to support winter fuel payments.
Veteran Anne Puckridge is in the Gallery, and I urge the Prime Minister to meet her to talk about her frozen pension. Yesterday, it was reported that Scottish Labour MPs are very “upset”. Apparently, that upset is caused by their Scottish leader's diktat that they now have to support the very winter fuel payment that they voted against in this place. As the Prime Minister comforts his upset MPs, will he remind them that the only people with the right to be upset are the 900,000 Scottish pensioners who were left in the cold by Labour's cuts?
I work very closely with Scottish Labour in a harmonious way. We ran a fantastic campaign earlier this year, which is why the hon. Lady is sitting on the Benches at the back, not the Benches at the front.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not commit to meeting Anne Puckridge or discussing her frozen pension.
Changed Subject
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Q26
Partial Answer
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International Day of Persons with Disabilities highlighted the issue. Blue badge theft has quadrupled in a decade, impacting disabled individuals' independence.
I am concerned about blue badge theft which has more than quadrupled in the past 10 years. Will the Prime Minister support my campaign to tackle this and ensure that millions of disabled people can live independently?
I thank my hon Friend for his work on this issue. We are working with local authorities to tackle fraud and misuse, and I will arrange a meeting between him and the relevant Minister to explore further actions.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to backing the campaign directly
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Q27
Partial Answer
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Anne Puckridge, a war veteran flying from Canada to meet the PM, is campaigning against frozen pensions. She represents half a million Brits who face pension denial.
World War Two veteran Anne Puckridge has flown 5,000 miles to discuss frozen pensions which deny pension increases for expatriate Brits. Will the Prime Minister reconsider his decision and meet her?
I am grateful to the hon Gentleman but our position is a continuation of the previous Government's approach.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the request for reconsideration or meeting Anne
Continuation Of Previous Government'S Stance
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Q28
Direct Answer
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Audit Scotland found no clear plan for the NHS in Scotland. Long waiting times persist despite additional funding.
Does the Prime Minister agree with Audit Scotland that there is no clear NHS strategy in Scotland? Will SNP Ministers improve services given more funds?
I am grateful to my hon Friend. Waiting lists are appalling and the Scottish Government have no excuses now they have funding.
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