Questions & Answers
Q1
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Shelter has exposed that 12,000 people in Blackpool are waiting for council housing. This is a legacy issue from the previous government's tenure.
May I start by congratulating Sir Billy Boston? Billy ended his career playing at Blackpool, and I know this has been a long campaign by the Culture Secretary, the Speaker, my hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Josh Simons) and many in this House—congratulations to Sir Billy. It has been exposed by Shelter that 12,000 people are waiting for council housing in Blackpool. This is a damning indictment of the legacy of the 14 years of the previous Government. Hundreds of families in my constituency are waiting for housing, stuck in a bed and breakfast or, like my constituent Kaci with her two children in tow, are sofa surfing. So will the Prime Minister, alongside the Deputy Prime Minister, commit to a new generation of social housing and council housing in my constituency, and help me build a better Blackpool?
I join my hon. Friend on his comments about Billy Boston, and I think the whole House will, Mr Speaker. We are turning the tide on the housing crisis, with the biggest investment in social and affordable housing in a generation. The Chancellor is investing £39 billion over the next 10 years—almost double what we saw under the last Government—and it is no wonder the National Housing Federation welcomed this as transformative, saying it offers “real hope” to the thousands who need safe, secure and affordable homes.
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Q2
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National Diabetes Week highlights the serious complications of diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be fatal if not caught early. A quarter of children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when in DKA.
It is National Diabetes Week, and as someone living with type 1, as we both are, Mr Speaker, I am more than aware of the serious complications of diabetic ketoacidosis—DKA—which can prove fatal if not caught early enough. A quarter of children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when in DKA, and that could be avoided with early diagnosis. Will the Prime Minister commit to rolling out a national universal screening programme, as seen in Italy, for type 1?
I thank the hon. Member for championing this really important issue. My late mother had diabetes, so I know at first hand just what a struggle it can be and how important this is. Type 1 diabetes is not preventable, as she knows, but the sooner we can reach people, the sooner we can care for them. We have a screening programme in the UK available to families across the country, and over 20,000 children have already taken part. It is really important that we continue to deliver that, but I thank her for continuing to champion this and to raise her voice on this very important issue.[Official Report, 2 July 2025; Vol. 770, c. 3WC.] (Correction)
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Q3
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There is concern about the harmful effects of social media and smartphones on young people, including cyber-bullying, addiction, and exploitation.
It is crystal clear how social media and smartphones are harming our young people, with cyber-bullying, addiction and exploitation rife. Governments elsewhere are taking bold action. I understand that Ministers are considering a two-hour limit, but that is per app rather than per day. I know the Prime Minister takes this seriously, so can he update the House on what he wants to see happen and what action this Government will take to protect our children?
It is important that we take action to protect our children. From July, tough new rules will mean platforms must protect children in the UK from seeing harmful and violent content. We do need to look at what other measures are needed to create safer online experiences for young people and we will not hesitate to take further steps.
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Q4
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The SNP faces criticism following a recent by-election loss to Scottish Labour.
The Prime Minister and Members across the House will have witnessed the spectacular victory for Davy Russell and Scottish Labour at the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. My constituents are sick of SNP failure and they voted for change: change for their NHS, for their schools and for Scotland. Has the Prime Minister seen the calls from within the SNP for John Swinney to resign? Does he agree with me that a leader who has only ever lost elections to the Labour party should stay put?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the role that she and others played in seeing Davy Russell elected. He will be a dedicated champion for his and her constituents. After nearly two decades in power, the SNP got its verdict last Thursday: Scotland wants change. People know that the SNP is completely out of ideas. That is why they want a Labour Government to deliver real change.
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