Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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The MP received nearly 1,000 handwritten letters from pupils at St Peter's secondary school in Exeter, advocating for better mental health support. The issue is widespread and impacts young people across the country.
I am concerned about the mental health challenges faced by young people as highlighted in over 900 letters I received from students at my local school. These pupils are seeking greater support to build resilience against these issues which affect children nationwide. Can the Prime Minister outline what steps his Government is taking to enhance mental health support for our children?
We will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, recruit an additional 8,500 staff to deal with children’s and adult mental health services, and roll out our Young Futures hubs in every community.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Recent reports indicate potential foot and mouth outbreaks in Germany, raising concerns about the risk of transmission to the UK. This could have severe implications for UK farming.
I wish to highlight the importance of farming in my constituency and across Cumbria. Given recent reports of foot and mouth disease in Germany, I urge the Prime Minister to assure us that all Departments are vigilant in monitoring this situation at points of entry, particularly airports where meat import controls can be lax.
We have acted swiftly by banning imports of cattle, pigs and sheep and their products from Germany. We will restrict imports from additional countries if necessary and keep the situation under close review.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The MP criticises the Prime Minister’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, arguing that it undermines improvements in educational standards made by previous governments. The bill also faces criticism from school leaders.
Between 2009 and 2022, children in England rose up global league tables under Conservative Government action. However, the Prime Minister’s Bill reverses these gains and is criticised by many as an act of vandalism that destroys cross-party consensus on education policy. Why does the PM think so many school leaders are opposing this bill?
Academies have been introduced by Labour in the past to drive up standards, which is why they are here to stay. The Bill also includes important provisions such as stopping abusers from taking children out of school and ensuring that all children’s whereabouts are known.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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The MP argues that the bill will limit teachers’ pay, which could negatively impact educational standards and parental support for academies. The Education Secretary is also criticised for not reading the bill.
The right hon Gentleman did not vote on this Bill but talks about child protection measures. However, it does cut teachers' pay for 20,000 teachers. Did the Prime Minister know that the bill as it stands will cap teacher salaries?
We need flexibility in our schools. The amendment put down this morning achieves that end. The Bill closes gaps for children who have not returned to school since covid and includes vital protections for children, limiting the expense of school uniforms.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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The MP argues that the bill would restrict routes into teaching, including hiring teachers with backgrounds in fields such as medicine or athletics. The headmistress at Michaela Community School has expressed concern over these restrictions.
The amendment you mentioned does not address this issue. Like every parent, I want all children to have the best teachers. However, the Bill implies that doctors are not qualified enough to teach biology and Olympians cannot teach PE. Why is the PM closing down routes into teaching?
Teachers in our schools should be qualified and I want every child to have the best possible education. We had too many examples of secondary schools missing teachers, especially in maths. The Bill aims to ensure all children get the best education.
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Conservative MP Claire Perry questioned the Prime Minister about who benefits from recent changes in education policy, citing concerns raised by schools and teachers. She highlighted the potential negative impact on children's outcomes and criticised the influence of trade unions.
The facts speak for themselves: standards went up under Conservative Governments. What we need to know is who is benefiting. Everyone is asking: who is benefiting from these changes? It is not teachers—their pay is being capped. It is not parents—their choices are being restricted. It is definitely not children—their outcomes will get worse. So who is benefiting? It is the trade unions. The National Education Union sent out a tick list proving that after a decade and a half, it is finally getting its way. Why is the Education Secretary allowing trade unions to run her Department and ruin children’s education?
The Bill benefits the children who need the nourishment of a breakfast club. The Bill benefits the families who cannot afford uniforms. The Bill benefits the children who are currently out of school and nobody knows where they are. The Bill will benefit the children who could be taken out of school by abusers were it not to go through. The Leader of the Opposition should change her mind and support these vital provisions.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not address why trade unions are influencing policy changes detrimental to children's outcomes; instead, he spoke about the benefits of the Bill for children.
Changing Subject
Not Addressing Specific Ask
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Conservative MP Claire Perry questioned the Prime Minister about who benefits from recent changes in education policy, citing concerns raised by schools and teachers. She highlighted the potential negative impact on children's outcomes and criticised the influence of trade unions.
The Prime Minister needs to get out more and speak to schools. I was at the Harris academy just this month, and what is it saying? The Bill reverses two decades of progress. It is imposing Labour’s new curriculum on every school, taxing the education of children with special needs and excluding talented outsiders—the closed shop is back. This is pure educational vandalism. Alongside those attacks, Labour is removing single-word Ofsted judgments so that parents cannot see standards slipping. It is the same old Labour: bad outcomes for all children; excellence for none.
Parents and teachers know that we introduced academies. Parents and teachers know that we are driven by standards. We are committed to standards—they are part of the future—and we will continue to focus on them. Conservative Members know it: they have asked me at Prime Minister’s questions about the appalling situation of special needs under their watch. We are going to fix that mess like we are fixing every other mess.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not address why the government is imposing a new curriculum or removing single-word Ofsted judgments; instead, he spoke about the achievements of his party in education and the need to fix issues related to special needs under previous governments.
Changing Subject
Not Addressing Specific Ask
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Labour MP Chris Bloore raised concerns about the closure of paediatric services at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch since 2016 and asked for support to reinstate these critical services.
Parents should feel confident that when their child is sick, they can take them to their local hospital to be treated as soon as possible. But last year, when my son was having difficulty breathing, like many parents I could not take him to the Alexandra hospital in Redditch, as paediatric services were temporarily closed in 2016 and have never been reinstated. As part of this Government’s record investment in our NHS, will the Prime Minister meet me to explore ways to enable local integrated care boards to reinstate critical services for growing towns like Redditch?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important issue, which I know he has campaigned on for a very long time. We are investing a record £25 billion in the NHS as part of our plan for change. Building an NHS fit for the future means that places like Redditch will see lower waiting lists and services that reflect needs. While responsibility over service rests with the appropriate NHS commissioner, I will ensure that he gets a meeting with the relevant Minister.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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The MP references the Prime Minister's recent visit to Epsom hospital, where he made commitments regarding NHS funding. St Helier hospital faces delays in its redevelopment plans.
Will the Prime Minister apologise to my constituents as they wait years for a new hospital building and will he visit St Helier with me to witness at first hand the dire situation our residents face?
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise the concerns of his constituents; I am not surprised they are frustrated and even angry at the lack of delivery under the previous Government. There was no credible plan—the IPA’s verdict on what we inherited was that there were “major issues” with the definition, schedule, budget, quality and delivery. It was a fiction—always was.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address the specific ask for an apology or to visit St Helier hospital.
Changing Subject
Criticizing Previous Government
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Q10
Partial Answer
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The MP raises concerns about a spinal surgeon's malpractice affecting many across the Greater Manchester region. A review has been conducted, but justice is still being sought.
Will the Prime Minister arrange a meeting with the group and the relevant Minister to help them get the justice they deserve?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this awful case—the stories and accounts are heartbreaking and deeply concerning. I will make sure that she and the group receive a meeting with the relevant Health Minister at the earliest opportunity.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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The MP discusses the underfunding of NHS leading to partial closure of maternity ward at Kettering General Hospital due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Will the Prime Minister visit Kettering general to discuss how we can support services, like the maternity ward, while we await our rebuild?
My hon. Friend has been a determined champion of Kettering general hospital, and rightly so. There is deep anger about the delay to the work because of the Conservative’s failure to have a plan, but while we implement our affordable and deliverable plan to build a new hospital, I can reassure her that the RAAC identified at Kettering general is being mitigated and replaced through the national RAAC programme.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not explicitly agree to visit Kettering General Hospital.
Changing Subject
Criticizing Previous Government
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Q12
Partial Answer
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The MP highlights the innovative approaches taken by Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, such as using AI for scans and partnering with University of Huddersfield's national health and innovation campus.
Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to NHS staff at my local hospital? Will he ensure that the NHS learns from the HRI’s innovative approaches?
I thank my hon. Friend, because the achievements of hard-working staff at Huddersfield royal infirmary prove that we can bring down waiting times through our plans for change. It is important that we are applying that best practice and innovation across the NHS.
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The PM did not explicitly agree to visit Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
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Q13
Partial Answer
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The MP shares his personal experience of being diagnosed with colon cancer and treated at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, noting that after 2015, over 380,000 patients in England were not treated on time.
What assurance can the Prime Minister offer Colne Valley residents that the reforms and extra investment he has announced will address that issue?
We inherited record waiting lists and we are now bringing them down. We have committed to addressing the issues of underfunding and delays in NHS services, especially in critical areas like cancer care.
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Changing Subject
Criticizing Previous Government
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Q14
Partial Answer
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The all-party parliamentary group on eating disorders is publishing a report today detailing how to make services fit for purpose. The hon. Lady raises concerns about the high mortality rate of eating disorder sufferers and the lack of treatment availability.
Eating disorders are the mental health disorder with the highest mortality rate, and we have at least 1.2 million sufferers. Some are being told that they are now too ill to be treated, yet eating disorders are entirely treatable. Today the all-party parliamentary group on eating disorders is publishing its report on how to make eating disorder services fit for purpose. May I ask the Prime Minister to pay very close attention to that report?
Let me start by recognising the hon. Lady’s dedicated work and campaigning on this issue for many years. NHS England is expanding eating disorder treatment services, including crisis care and intensive home treatment, and, as she knows, the Online Safety Act 2023 will prevent children from encountering harmful content that promotes eating disorders to services. Obviously, we will look very carefully at the report and consider its recommendations.
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Will Look Very Carefully
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Q15
Partial Answer
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In the past few days, Luton has suffered two stabbings. In addition, one woman has been murdered and another seriously injured, with a manhunt for the suspect currently under way. This January alone, there have been at least 12 recorded violent offences in Luton. Bedfordshire Police has had to make do with special grants to tackle serious and violent crime.
In the past few days, Luton has suffered two stabbings. In addition, one woman has been murdered and another seriously injured, and a manhunt for the suspect is currently under way. This January alone, there have been at least 12 recorded violent offences in Luton. After decades of being funded as a rural police force, Bedfordshire Police has had to make do with special grants to tackle serious and violent crime. Does the Prime Minister agree that proper police funding is essential to keeping people in Luton North safe, and will he ensure that Bedfordshire Police receives the grants that we need to fight crime on our streets?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this case. She and I have met far too many families who have been devastated by this senseless violence. We are taking urgent action to ban zombie-style knives, and we are regulating the online sale of knives. It is unacceptable that these murder weapons can be bought with two clicks. Technology is there to stop it and we are going to take action. As for resources, we are putting an additional 13,000 police into neighbourhood roles and allocating £85 million to Bedfordshire Police to keep my hon. Friend’s constituents safe.
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We Are Taking Urgent Action
As For Resources
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Q16
Partial Answer
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Since the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect, Israeli forces have placed the whole of the west bank under strict military inspection as part of the Iron Wall operation. The Israel Defence Forces have launched a large-scale offensive operation in the city of Jenin, with numerous drone strikes on infrastructure and a military raid by IDF troops and special forces in the occupied West Bank. At least nine people have been killed by Israeli forces, and 40 injured, including several healthcare workers.
May I associate myself with the Prime Minister’s remarks about the ceasefire and the release of hostages? Let us all pray that the remaining hostages on both sides are released as soon as possible. Since the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect, Israeli forces have placed the whole of the west bank under strict military inspection as part of the Iron Wall operation. The Israel Defence Forces have launched a large-scale offensive operation in the city of Jenin, with numerous drone strikes on the infrastructure and a military raid by IDF troops and special forces in the occupied West Bank. At least nine people have been killed by Israeli forces and 40 have been injured, including several healthcare workers. What urgent steps are the Government taking to protect Palestinians—including healthcare workers—and to prevent atrocities in the west bank, and will the Prime Minister outline the UK’s response to the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on Israel’s unlawful occupation?
I am deeply concerned by what is happening in the west bank. We have raised it a number of times in the various exchanges that we have had, but I am deeply concerned about it, and we are doing everything we can to alleviate the situation.
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We Have Raised It
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