Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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The Conservative government's focus on phonics has resulted in English primary school children being ranked the best readers in Europe, contrary to Labour's election promise to abolish certain education policies.
At the election, the Labour party committed to abolishing standard assessment tests, academy schools and Ofsted. Yet, thanks to this Government's focus on phonics, English primary school children have just been ranked the best readers in Europe. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is another example of how, on the Conservative side, we have policy to meet the needs of children, rather than the demands of trade unionists?
It will not surprise my hon. Friend to hear that I absolutely agree with him. Driving up literacy rates is central to our plan to grow the economy, so I am delighted at those latest figures showing that children in England are the best readers in the western world. Why is that? Because, since 2010, we have raised the number of schools rated good or outstanding by nearly 30%. The verdict is clear: only the Conservatives can be trusted with our children's future.
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Q2
Partial Answer
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The Government promised to end the abuse of judicial reviews but has faced criticism for blocking information from being released to the independent covid inquiry.
Speaking of the last election, the Tory manifesto promised to end the abuse of the judicial review. How is it going?
I welcome the much shorter question from the right hon. Lady. Let me remind her of a few facts about the covid inquiry. We set it up, we have provided it with more than 55,000 documents so far, and we have given it all the financial resources it needs so that we can learn the lessons from the pandemic.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner was also asking about Labour's handling of inquiries in Wales but the answer focused only on the government's actions regarding the inquiry.
Changing Subject
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Q3
Partial Answer
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The Government has faced criticism for taking the covid inquiry to court, incurring significant costs, while other countries have established similar inquiries without such issues.
The Deputy Prime Minister pretends that it is complicated, but it is simple: the Government set up the inquiry to get to the truth, then blocked that inquiry from getting the information that it asked for, and now they are taking it to court. I know that he considers himself a man of the people, so using his vast knowledge of working-class Britain, does he think that working people will thank him for spending hundreds of thousands of pounds of their money on loophole lawyers so that the Government can obstruct the covid inquiry?
We will provide the inquiry with each and every document related to covid, including all internal discussions in any form, as requested, while, crucially, protecting what is wholly and unambiguously irrelevant. Essentially, the right hon. Lady is calling for years' worth of documents and messages between named individuals to be in scope.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner also asked about the cost of legal bills but the answer did not address this directly.
Changing Subject
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Q4
Partial Answer
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The Government has been criticised for taking the covid inquiry to court, incurring significant costs.
All we are asking for is what the covid inquiry has asked for. Across the world, covid inquiries are well under way, while this Government hide information and shell out public money on legal bills for the Uxbridge One—the former Prime Minister is now demanding another £1 million to pay for his new lawyers. I know that the Deputy Prime Minister and his former boss have fallen out, and maybe he wants to patch things up, but can he seriously say that that is a good use of taxpayers' money?
If we want to talk about relationships between different people, I do not think that we need to search the right hon. Lady's WhatsApp messages to know that there is no communication between her and the leader of her party. I will happily stand up for our record on covid.
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Changing Subject
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Q5
Partial Answer
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The number of children missing from school has nearly doubled since before the pandemic, raising concerns about support for pupils.
I know that for the last couple of years the Deputy Prime Minister has been trying to prep Prime Ministers for PMQs, but these punchlines are dire—he really needs to go back to school himself. Speaking of school, thousands of children are missing from school; absence has nearly doubled since before the pandemic. The Prime Minister says that he has maxed out on his support for school pupils, but why did the Government abandon their plans for a register of missing children?
On the specifics of the right hon. Lady's question, that is not the case: we continue to keep the policy under review. I am very proud of this Government's record on funding and support for schools: £4 billion more this year, £4 billion next year.
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Changing Subject
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Q6
Partial Answer
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The Public Accounts Committee revealed that Government fraud has increased fourfold, with Ministers overseeing the loss of £21 billion of taxpayers' money in the last two years.
There we have it: thousands of children missing; policy “under review” still. Let me ask the Deputy Prime Minister about something else that has gone missing. The Public Accounts Committee this week revealed that Government fraud has increased fourfold, with Ministers overseeing the loss of £21 billion of taxpayers' money in the last two years. Can he tell us how much of our money they expect to recover?
We are working tirelessly to recover those funds, and we have made huge progress already. The Labour party talks about good use of taxpayers' money, but what do we have from it? Plans for an unfunded, £28 billion spending spree.
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Changing Subject
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Q7
Partial Answer
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The question addresses concerns about government inefficiency in recovering taxpayer money lost to fraud.
Britain cannot afford any more of the Conservatives. Only a quarter of billions of pounds of taxpayers' money lost to fraud is expected to be clawed back. If the Government cannot get that public money back, they cannot be trusted with anything else. The Public Accounts Committee warned this could happen again because Ministers are in denial. How can lessons be learned if truth isn't admitted?
We are putting more resources into tackling fraud and error, making real progress. While working to drive down inflation and energy bills, the Labour party is adopting policies that force us to import foreign oil and gas. The GMB union said these policies have a lack of intellectual rigour.
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Assessment & feedback
Details on how government will learn from past fraud recovery mistakes were not provided
Changed Subject
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Q8
Partial Answer
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The question focuses on the lack of a solid railway link for Aylesbury and its potential benefits.
The latest route update for East West Rail shows no connection to Aylesbury. I have raised this issue multiple times, citing economic stimulus, reduced congestion, and air pollution reduction. With stakeholders' help, costs have been significantly reduced. Can my right hon Friend solidify the dotted line into a railway for Aylesbury?
The Department for Transport is working with Network Rail and East West Rail on feasibility of lower-cost railway links on the Aylesbury spur. My hon Friend will continue making this case.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment to change dotted line into solid line was made
Hedging
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns are raised about UK interest rates and mortgage rates under current government policies.
When the Prime Minister took office, he promised to put economic stability first. Now, UK interest rates are high in G20, mortgage rates are rising back to pre-crash levels due to previous government's actions. Is this not the case that the current Government is ruining the economy a bit slower than their predecessor?
The OECD upgraded our growth forecasts. The hon Member described the recent pomp, pageantry and pride moment as a pantomime; however, the real pantomime is in Scotland.
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Assessment & feedback
No response to question about economic impact was provided
Personal Attack
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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The question criticizes the government for cutting taxes and imprisoning refugees while losing billions to fraud.
This Government plans to cut taxes for the richest, spend £6 billion imprisoning refugees, and lost £21 billion to fraud during the pandemic. Is their skewed view of priorities correct during a cost-of-living crisis?
I take no lectures on profligacy from SNP. This Government has provided record personal allowance increases, reducing tax for full-time minimum wage workers by £1,000.
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Assessment & feedback
No acknowledgment of skewed priorities was made
Personal Attack
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Q11
Partial Answer
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The question addresses investment needs for reinvigorating the town centre and connecting it to seafront.
Fylde has vibrant small shops but its layout is tired, needing investment. What steps are being taken by my right hon Friend to deliver levelling-up mission in towns such as St Annes?
The levelling-up fund has £3.6 billion within the towns fund to invest in high streets across the country, with third round of submissions to outline.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific steps mentioned for St Annes town centre
Hedging
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Q12
Partial Answer
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The question highlights the unrecognized value of family carers who save over NHS budget amounts.
Yesterday, I met Karen, a carer for her husband with Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia. She feels undervalued and has considered giving up but knows she must carry on. Remarkable carers like Karen save more than the entire NHS budget; will the Government finally recognize their value by providing them financial and practical support?
Of course, I join in paying tribute to Karen and unpaid carers. We have provided £2.3 billion for social care, with an additional £25 million committed to the People at the Heart of Care White Paper and £327 million to the better care fund.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment to recognize carers' value beyond tributes was made
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Q13
Partial Answer
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Local constituents are concerned about the environmental and infrastructure impacts of a proposed national rail freight interchange.
My constituents are deeply concerned about the proposals for the Hinckley national rail freight interchange, particularly its impact on the environment and local infrastructure like Narborough railway station. Can you give an assurance that their voices will be heard in the planning application?
I know from the vigorous campaigning of my hon. Friend that his constituents' voice has been, and will be, heard. As he knows, I cannot comment on individual cases. What I can say is that I have experience of this in my own constituency, and I know what a blight can be created by those rail freight projects.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific assurance not provided, only general sympathy expressed.
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
Similar basic income pilots are being planned across the UK due to gig economy and AI developments.
With plans for universal basic income pilots in England, will this Government instruct both the Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC to engage with these pilots so we can assess their pros and cons?
The Government are not convinced by the case for a universal basic income. We believe creating more jobs and cutting taxes is better, as this has been done under our government's rule.
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Assessment & feedback
Direct question about UBI pilots not addressed; provided opinion instead.
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Q15
Direct Answer
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Revitalising Oldway and regenerating town centres are key to levelling up in Torbay.
What expectations does the Deputy Prime Minister have of the new levelling-up partnership for focusing Government effort and resources on revitalisation efforts?
Levelling-up partnerships are committed to work hand in hand with 20 places across England, backed by £400 million of investment. My hon. Friend will make a robust case for funding.
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Q16
Partial Answer
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Basic services in sheltered housing schemes are missing post-pandemic, raising concerns about social care.
After 13 years of broken promises to repair social care, will the Government take urgent action now or leave it to Labour?
For the NHS, record additional funding has been provided. Since 2010, funding is up £70 billion. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor also provided £2.3 billion of support to social care.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific action not mentioned; general funding statement given instead.
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Q17
Direct Answer
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Roll-out of electronic patient records presents an opportunity to digitise the red book for better family health care.
Can my right hon. Friend confirm that the roll-out of digital patient records will include a transformational version of the digital red book?
I totally agree and confirm that the digital red book will be rolled out over the next two years, building on my right hon. Friend's tireless campaigning on this issue.
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Q18
Partial Answer
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Questioning the Deputy Prime Minister's stance on cost of living issues compared to his earnings.
In light of the Tory cost of living crisis, does Mr Normal really think he is worth 65 times a band 2 nurse given his earnings and additional business work?
I am not quite sure what the question was aiming at, but I can say that this Government has provided more than £3,000 of support to help people with the cost of living due to our strong economy and Union. In contrast, SNP in Scotland is raising taxes on working people.
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Specific question about moral standing not addressed; instead criticized the Scottish Government.
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Q19
Partial Answer
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Concern about the number of children not on school registers and the need for a register to ensure their safety and education.
With 81,000 children home-educated but off the school register, how can we ensure every child is safe and suitably educated? Can my right hon. Friend expedite the ten-minute rule Bill to place a duty on local authorities for such registers?
We want all children to be safe and have access to excellent education. Local authorities must seek to identify missing children, but the Department is continuing work on this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific legislative support not mentioned; general commitment provided instead.
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Q20
Partial Answer
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The number of undetermined initial asylum claims has risen from 160,000 to over 170,000 since December. Caseworker numbers have decreased, and returns are also down.
Despite the Government's claim that they are addressing the issue, the backlog of undetermined initial asylum claims continues to grow. My constituents are concerned about the Home Secretary's plans to use Stradey Park hotel in Furnace village for accommodation purposes. Will you agree to meet me to discuss how we can speed up clearing the backlog and return people to safe countries?
The Government will take necessary actions to clear the asylum backlog and prevent small boat arrivals. Small boat arrivals are down 20% this year, our French deal has prevented 33,000 illegal crossings this year, Albanian arrivals have dropped by 90%, and 1,800 Albanians have been removed.
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Assessment & feedback
Meeting request not addressed
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Q21
Direct Answer
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Semina Halliwell, a 12-year-old girl from Southport, suffered an ordeal that led to her death. Sefton Council still has an inadequate rating for children's social care.
In memory of Semina Halliwell, who tragically took her own life after being let down by the system, will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss further measures to better protect children in Southport and the wider council area?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on raising this heartbreaking case and I am happy to meet him, along with Health Department Ministers, to discuss further measures to protect children.
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Q22
Partial Answer
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Huntington's disease affects the ability to walk, talk, eat and make decisions. It has a 50% chance of being inherited by children.
Will the Government support the call from the Huntington's disease community for better access to mental health services, care co-ordinators in every area and specific National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance?
We have significantly increased investment in mental health. I am happy to arrange meetings with Department of Health Ministers to discuss this matter further.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific request for care co-ordinators and NICE guidance not addressed
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Q23
Direct Answer
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Johns' Boys Male Chorus from Rhos in Clwyd South performed well on “Britain's Got Talent”, moving judges to tears.
Would the Deputy Prime Minister join me in congratulating Johns' Boys Male Chorus, and other community choirs across the UK for bringing such joy to their communities?
I would argue that choral music is one of our greatest contributions globally. I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Johns' Boys Male Chorus on reaching the semi-final and wish them continued success.
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Q24
Partial Answer
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The Government post of anti-corruption champion has been vacant for over a year.
Does the vacancy increase or decrease the risk of corruption in Government?
I am working closely with my right hon. Friend to ensure transparency and crack down on fraud and waste. We will be filling that vacancy shortly.
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Risk assessment not addressed
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Q25
Partial Answer
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The Government do not have their own money and spend taxpayers' funds, including supporting the economy during the pandemic.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be disgraceful for a political party to accept huge donations from companies claiming public support through furlough?
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. The Labour Party is taking £1.5 million from Just Stop Oil backers and adopting their policy to block new oil and gas, which is job-destroying recklessness.
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Attacking The Opposition
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Q26
Partial Answer
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A Public Accounts Committee report finds that DfE is failing to take fast and effective recovery action, estimating it will take a decade to close the attainment gap.
When will the Government stop blaming others and take responsibility for failing to close the education attainment gap in schools?
Before covid, the attainment gap narrowed under the government. We have provided almost £5 billion for education recovery and I call on education unions to end their damaging strikes.
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Taking responsibility not addressed
Changing Subject
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Q27
Partial Answer
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Residents of Maltby are concerned about the financial viability of their local recreation ground, which is currently facing challenges due to restrictions on opening a full bar. The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation manages this facility but has limitations in allowing such developments.
Maltby Town Council and Maltby Main FC face difficulties ensuring that the Maltby Miners recreation ground remains financially sustainable and open, as the organisation managing it does not permit opening a full bar despite its potential benefits. This is crucial for preserving mining heritage sites. Can my right hon. Friend assist in securing this necessary capital investment?
I support my hon. Friend's efforts but question the extent of my powers in intervening on this specific issue, although I will investigate further.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not commit to any action or timeline regarding the bar opening and financial sustainability.
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Q28
Partial Answer
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The proposed East West Rail scheme will affect at least 66 properties in Bedford, including the demolition of 37 homes. Residents are concerned about the lack of engagement and potential loss of their homes.
East West Rail plans to demolish 37 homes and impact a total of 66 properties in Bedford despite strong local opposition. Why have residents' concerns been ignored? Will the government commit not to approve the plan if most residents are against it?
We will engage with local communities, but find it odd that Labour opposes such development despite advocating for more infrastructure and housing.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not commit to any action regarding the residents' concerns or statutory consultation results.
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Q29
Partial Answer
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A Spanish election could impact the progress of a UK-EU treaty concerning Gibraltar's future, which is crucial for security and prosperity.
The Deputy Prime Minister should know that an early election in Spain may delay the UK-EU treaty regarding Gibraltar. Will he confirm His Majesty's Government's commitment to prioritising this treaty after the Spanish elections and ensure necessary support for Gibraltar?
The UK remains committed to supporting Gibraltar and aims to conclude the UK-EU treaty as soon as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide a specific timeline or mechanism for prioritising and concluding the treaty.
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Q30
Partial Answer
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The OECD warned that UK inflation is set to be higher than most G20 countries, impacting households across the country. Labour argues for a proper windfall tax on oil and gas profits.
Today's OECD report states that UK inflation will surpass almost all other G20 nations. Families in Putney are worried about this situation. Will the Government commit to introducing a comprehensive windfall tax on oil and gas giants to alleviate pressure on struggling households?
We introduced a 75% windfall tax last winter, covering half of people's energy bills. The hon. Member missed the OECD's positive growth forecast for UK.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not commit to introducing any further windfall taxes as requested.
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