Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The previous day, President Trump made comments about Greenland and the Chagos Islands. The Prime Minister had previously stated that Greenland’s fate should be decided by its people alone.
When the Prime Minister spoke to President Trump on Monday, did the President agree or disagree with his position?
Engaging constructively on international security matters is crucial, particularly in relation to Arctic security. The discussion about Greenland was framed within this context. I have made it clear that the future of Greenland should be decided by its people and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. President Trump's remarks were intended to put pressure on me regarding my principles and values.
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Assessment & feedback
President’S Words Were Meant To Pressurise
Not Providing A Clear Agreement Or Disagreement
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister was previously criticized by President Trump for the Chagos Islands agreement. The Leader of the Opposition is questioning the Prime Minister's position on this issue.
Does he agree that just as those in Greenland should decide their own future, so should the people of Chagos? Why not scrap the deal and redirect the £35 billion to Britain’s armed forces?
President Trump's words about Greenland were part of a broader discussion that included Chagos. The deal was intended to put pressure on me regarding my principles, but I have not yielded. The Leader of the Opposition has shown inconsistency in her stance on this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Leader’S Inconsistent Stances
Not Addressing Deal Cancellation
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The head of the armed forces warned about a £28 billion shortfall in military funding. The questioner is questioning the sufficiency and direction of defence expenditures.
Is the Chief of Defence’s warning accurate that our military faces a £28 billion shortfall?
We are spending more on defence than at any time since the last Labour Government. The strategic defence review has backed the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, amounting to £270 billion this Parliament.
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Details about shortfall
Highlighting Increased Spending
No Mention Of Shortfall Specifics
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted that under Labour's leadership, NHS waiting lists in Birmingham have decreased by almost a quarter. He mentioned over 28,000 people no longer awaiting essential treatments and noted the challenges still faced.
Q2. NHS waiting lists in Birmingham are down by almost a quarter under Labour, and they are still falling. That is more than 28,000 people no longer stuck waiting for essential treatments. Yes, there are challenges still, but they are being addressed and progress is being made. Does the Prime Minister agree that this progress must be sustained, including by reducing ambulance waiting times?
I am pleased to confirm that last week saw the second biggest fall in NHS waiting times for 15 years. Waiting lists are down by more than 300,000, an extra 2,900 GPs have been recruited, and ambulances are arriving nearly 15 minutes faster this winter than they were last year. There is much more to do, which is why we are delivering the biggest upgrade to our ambulance fleet for many years. That progress has been made possible by Labour’s decisions, which are opposed by the opposition parties.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not directly address reducing ambulance waiting times as asked but provided some context about recent improvements in NHS performance.
Redirecting Credit To Labour
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Q5
Direct Answer
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The MP mentioned a tragic incident where his constituent Beryl Barrett fell into an unrepaired pothole on Christmas Day, resulting in her death. He noted the existence of thousands of potholes across Mansfield roads that Nottinghamshire County Council has failed to address.
Sadly, on Christmas day my constituent Beryl Barrett passed away after tragically falling into an unrepaired pothole. I am sure that the whole House will join me in sending my condolences to the family. In my constituency there are literally thousands of potholes in our roads, which Nottinghamshire county council is failing to repair. Does the Prime Minister agree that it is time that the council took action, and will he meet Beryl’s family so that we can work together to ensure that there are no more accidents like that?
I send my deepest sympathies to Beryl’s family, and I will make sure that the Roads Minister meets them at the earliest opportunity. This shows why tackling potholes really matters. We are investing £2 billion in the east midlands to fix the roads and improve local transport. We are also putting in place tough new standards so that councils must prove they are fixing roads properly, and I am pleased that many excellent Labour councils across the country are leading by example.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The water White Paper has been criticized for not addressing agricultural pollution adequately despite its significant contribution to waterway contamination.
For decades, our rivers, lakes and seas have paid the price of a failing system. The water White Paper is a welcome first step in beginning to set things right, but there is a glaring gap: agricultural pollution contributes 40% of the pollution in our waterways but merits only a single page in this White Paper. Can the Prime Minister tell me why on earth this is the case? When will he start working with farmers to support river-friendly farming practices and treat agricultural pollution as seriously as sewage pollution?
We inherited a real mess on water, and we are taking the most effective and far-reaching measures to deal with it. I wonder what the hon. Lady, as someone who stood to lead her party, makes of how her leader is responding to this global uncertainty.
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Assessment & feedback
Explanation for why agricultural pollution merits only a single page in the White Paper and when farmers will be supported with river-friendly farming practices were not addressed.
Changing Subject
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK Labour Government has announced significant investments for West Dunbartonshire, including local growth funding and town centre regeneration funds.
West Dunbartonshire is set to benefit from record UK Labour Government investment: £60 million of local growth funding has just been announced for the Glasgow city region, to add to the £20 million for Dumbarton’s town centre regeneration, the £20 million Pride in Place funding for my home town of Clydebank, and the £1.5 million in impact funding. Does the Prime Minister agree that this is in stark contrast to the SNP, which abandoned our communities, and demonstrates the difference that a Labour Government make to West Dunbartonshire and to Scotland?
I am very pleased that we are backing my hon. Friend’s home town of Clydebank with £20 million of Pride in Place funding. Just this week we hosted a reception to meet people who are working hard to change their neighbourhoods across the United Kingdom. That is Labour delivering on national renewal. As my hon. Friend rightly says, compare that with the SNP, which is more interested in squabbling over independence than using a record settlement to fix Scotland’s public services.
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Assessment & feedback
Agreement on the comparison between UK Labour's investment and the perceived abandonment by the SNP was not directly addressed. The focus shifted towards criticizing the SNP.
Changing Subject
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Up to 11,000 people previously supported by UK shared prosperity funding will see these programmes cut dramatically, compounded by job losses.
Challenging economic inactivity and supporting the vulnerable across the country is something that we all want, so would the Prime Minister be surprised to learn that, in Northern Ireland, around 11,000 people previously supported by UK shared prosperity funding will see those programmes cut dramatically, compounded by 400 job losses? Does he support the cuts to those vital programmes, and will he arrange an urgent meeting for me, and the organisations that have been impacted, with the relevant decision maker in Government so that these changes and challenges can be resolved?
We delivered a record settlement for Northern Ireland in the Budget to strengthen public services and to kick-start growth. The local growth fund, designed in partnership with the Executive, will see £45 million every year to support local growth. I am very happy to make sure that Ministers meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss his particular concerns.
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Assessment & feedback
Whether he supports the cuts was not directly addressed.
Acknowledgment Of Issue, Offered Meeting
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent diagnosed with a terminal illness received a retirement date without notification of pension payment, despite prolonged efforts to contact relevant authorities.
I have a constituent who, although not yet 30 years old, has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. She has been told that she has a very short time to live. Because of her condition, she was given a retirement date—she is a civil servant—which was just last week. She has not received notification of any actual pension payment, and she has spent long hours trying to contact Capita. HM Revenue and Customs has claimed that all outstanding documentation was supplied to Capita in November. I have written to the Chancellor, and contacted the MPs’ hotline and Capita, but the issue remains unresolved. Will the Prime Minister, along with the Chancellor, help to get the issue resolved immediately?
I thank the hon. Member for raising this case, and I am truly sorry to hear about his constituent. If he would not mind following up with the details of the case, I will make sure that it is dealt with urgently on behalf of his constituent.
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Assessment & feedback
The request for immediate resolution was acknowledged but no specific action beyond following up was committed to.
Follow-Up Suggested
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Q10
Direct Answer
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Context
The US President's actions towards the UK have raised concerns about national interests.
The thug in the White House has shown that he does not listen to grovelling or sycophancy, and he will continue to harm British interests no matter how compliant we are. Like all bullies, he will always find the weakest link. Will the Prime Minister close ranks with our European allies and commit to retaliatory tariffs?
I have made our position clear. I have set out my principles, and I am not going to yield on those principles. As I said on Monday, of course we need to protect our national interest, and we will always protect our national interest, but simply hurtling into a trade war at the first opportunity would hurt working people and businesses across the country. That is why I am working hard to ensure that we do not get to that point, and I will continue to act in the national interest.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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A disparity exists between the funding per pupil in Charlie's constituency compared to Camden, despite repeated pledges from the government to address this issue.
The Prime Minister may be aware that my local authority in the East Riding of Yorkshire is the lowest-funded per pupil for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and his local authority in Camden is the highest—an inequality that he has repeatedly pledged to end. Well, the results are in: next year, children in my local area will receive just under £1,000, and children in his local area will receive over £3,800. The gap is getting wider. Will he explain to the House why he thinks that children in my constituency are worth so much less than children in his?
We are applying their formula—the one that you put in place in government—[Interruption.] We are changing it—[Interruption.] Special educational needs are probably raised with me more than any other issue that is raised in the House. We are proposing reforms.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address why there's a disparity between East Riding of Yorkshire and Camden specifically.
Interruption
Response accuracy
Q12
Direct Answer
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Context
Greater Manchester police face exceptional pressures but received the second lowest percentage funding increase under the provisional settlement, leaving it £12 million worse off.
Police officers in Greater Manchester are facing exceptional pressures as they work to keep our communities safe from horrific terror threats, hate crime, organised crime and regular mass protests. Despite that, Greater Manchester police received the second lowest percentage funding increase of any police force under the provisional settlement, leaving it £12 million worse off. I know that the Prime Minister will share my concerns, so will he urgently work with the Greater Manchester Mayor, the deputy mayor, myself and Greater Manchester MPs to ensure that GMP has the funding it truly needs to keep our communities safe?
I was humbled to visit Greater Manchester police after the Heaton Park synagogue attack. The professionalism and bravery that they showed was remarkable. We have boosted total police funding and Greater Manchester will receive up to £902 million, an increase of over £31 million. I reassure my hon. Friend that we will continue to work with her and local leaders to make our streets safe.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
Councils are receiving the support needed after years of Conservative austerity, with examples given from Bolton and Salford under Labour leadership.
After 14 years of Conservative austerity, councils are finally getting the support that they need to deliver for residents. In my constituency of Bolton South and Walkden, under the leadership of Councillor Nick Peel in Bolton and Mayor Paul Dennett in Salford, increased funding has been turned into the restoration of frontline services, investment in town centres and support for families. Does the Prime Minister agree that councils needs serious leadership and long-term funding certainty to deliver, not short-term protest politics that put services at risk? Will he commit to continue that support?
Labour is boosting funding for councils that were chronically underfunded by the Conservatives. I pay tribute to Labour councils delivering results for my hon. Friend’s community, in stark contrast to the division and chaos we have seen from Reform councils, wherever they have been elected.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not commit to long-term funding certainty specifically.
Interruption
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Q14
Direct Answer
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Context
The government made a commitment in its manifesto to change the situation of insecure work for many constituents, raising concerns about workers' security.
For too long, many of my constituents have not had access to good, secure, well-paid jobs. We made a commitment in our manifesto that we would change that. We cannot grow an economy based on insecure work where, from one week to the next, somebody does not know how many hours they will work or how much money they will be paid. Does the Prime Minister agree that all workers should have the hours that they actually work reflected in their contract so that we can give all working people the security to plan their finances and their lives and to build a future for themselves and their family?
I am proud of this Labour Government delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. We are ending exploitative zero-hours contracts and unscrupulous fire and rehire practices, plus we have changes to parental leave and sick pay. Workers will benefit from those rights in April, and they should never forget that Reform and the Tories opposed every single one of them.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q15
Partial Answer
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The question concerns the murder of prison officer Lenny Scott and his lack of compensation after leaving service, affecting his family.
One of the last meetings that I took as shadow Justice Secretary was with the parents of Lenny Scott. Lenny Scott was an exceptionally brave prison officer who uncovered corruption in his prison. He left the service, and years later he was hunted down and brutally murdered. Because he died after leaving active service, there was never any compensation paid to the children he left behind. I know that the Prime Minister would want to right that wrong. I wrote to the Justice Secretary privately after I discovered this—I should say that Lenny Scott’s parents never asked for any support. Will the Prime Minister correct this, ensure that this brave man’s children have the support that they need as they grow up without the father they deserve, and join me in thanking all the brave men and women who serve us in our Prison Service?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising this matter. I will make sure that it is looked into as a matter of urgency, given the circumstances that he has set out.
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Assessment & feedback
Will Look Into
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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The question addresses the government's decision to consult on banning children under 16 from using social media, citing statistics about mental health and smartphone usage among young people.
I strongly welcome the Government’s decision to consult on introducing a social media ban for under-16s. That is something that the Tories did not do in office and did not even support until last week. The average 12-year-old spends 29 hours a week on a smartphone, with more than 500 children a day being referred to mental health services for anxiety. Those stats are not unrelated; parents, teachers and Members across these Benches can see the damage that social media is doing to our young, developing minds every single day. Does the Prime Minister agree that the scale of harm demands swift action and that this consultation must lead to timely decisions?
This is an issue of real concern to parents. As the father of two teenage children, I know just how much of a concern it is. That is why we will have a consultation to look at expert and international evidence to get this right, and we will respond by the summer. That includes looking at the question of the age at which children can access social media and at restrictions on addictive features. I am also concerned, as is the Education Secretary, about the screen time of those under the age of five. We will look at all those issues and make sure that Ofsted checks the enforcement of bans during school.
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Assessment & feedback
Will Have A Consultation
We Will Respond By The Summer
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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The question addresses a significant business rate increase that threatens to close the Bertie Arms, a family pub in Uffington.
The Bertie Arms is a fantastic family pub, but because of the Chancellor’s tax raid on local business, it faces a 2,000% increase in its business rates by 2029. That means that the Treasury will lose £200,000 in tax take and Uffington will lose the heart of its community. The Prime Minister promised not to put up taxes on working people, so how does he justify a 2,000% tax attack on working family businesses like this pub?
We are working with the sector to put in the necessary support. I remind the hon. Lady that 7,000 pubs closed on the Conservatives’ watch, and she did not say a word about it.
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Assessment & feedback
Justification for business rates increase
Working With The Sector
Reminding Of Previous Government
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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The question addresses the need for a dental school in Norfolk to address the shortage of dentists and improve access to dental care.
Norfolk is a dental desert, which is causing real suffering for my constituents. I welcome Government action so far, including 21,000 extra urgent emergency appointments, but we are the only region without a dental school. The University of East Anglia is ready to open one. Can the Prime Minister set out what more we will do as a Government to tackle the dentistry crisis? Will he back our calls for a new dental school in our region?
Since day one, my hon. Friend has fought for her constituents on this issue, and I pay tribute to her for that. I agree that the University of East Anglia would be an excellent candidate for any future additional funded dentistry places available. We are also reforming contracts and making sure that dentists spend more time working in the NHS, delivering thousands of extra appointments to fix the failure we were left with.
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Assessment & feedback
Would Be An Excellent Candidate
Reforming Contracts
Response accuracy