PMQs 2023-07-19

2023-07-19

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Context
Every 90 minutes, someone takes their own life in the UK. In Bristol South, this issue affects men under 50 and women under 35 disproportionately.
In the UK, sadly, every 90 minutes someone takes their own life. Indeed, for men under the age of 50 and for women under the age of 35, this is now the biggest killer. When I was the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, I met many brave families and campaigners, and I committed to them that the Government would publish a comprehensive, cross-departmental suicide prevention strategy. That was more than a year ago and still there is no strategy. Will he please commit his Government to publishing the strategy within days of Parliament's return from the summer recess?
When someone takes their own life, the effect on their family and friends is devastating. I know that the loss of my right hon. Friend's own brother was an enormous source of pain for him. I want to reassure him that we are actively addressing suicide rates, through our national suicide prevention strategy, backed by funding, and, in particular, by rolling out 100 suicide prevention voluntary community and social enterprises. I can tell him that we will publish the new updated national suicide prevention strategy later this year.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to publishing the strategy within days of Parliament's return from the summer recess
Later This Year
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
When Keir Starmer was in government, the NHS waiting list had 7.2 million people on it.
When the Prime Minister took office nine months ago, the NHS waiting list had 7.2 million people on it. What is the number today?
The reason that NHS waiting lists are higher today than they were then, after actually being stable for the first few months as we put in place new initiatives, is very simple: because the NHS has been disrupted by industrial action. We have put very clear plans in place to bring down waiting lists in urgent and emergency care, primary care, ambulances, out-patient and elective. Those plans were working and will continue to work, but we do need to end the industrial action.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide current number of people on NHS waiting list
Industrial Action
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The Prime Minister apologised for the LGBT+ armed forces ban.
Mr Speaker—[Interruption.] The Prime Minister talks about his plans, but he does not need to lecture me on that. On the NHS staffing plan, he nicked it from Labour. It is the same old story: they mess up the NHS and look to Labour to fix it.
Mr Speaker, again, I do not think we heard an answer to the question, so— [Interruption.]
Assessment & feedback
No substantive response provided
Procedural Interruption
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The Prime Minister's NHS long-term workforce plan is fully funded.
When the Prime Minister said that the workforce plan was fully costed, I have never seen the Chancellor look more bewildered. It is less than a year since his party crashed the economy with its unfunded spending commitments, and he has not learned a thing. Let me ask this another way: is his uncosted spending coming from more tax rises, more cuts, or is it just the latest promise to fall from the Tories' magic money tree?
As I and the Chancellor set out, the plan is fully funded—the right hon. and learned Gentleman will see that at the autumn statement. I am pleased that he is now interested in fiscal responsibility, because that is very welcome.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify funding sources
Autumn Statement Fiscal Responsibility
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The Prime Minister has committed to a fully costed NHS long-term workforce plan.
When the Prime Minister said that the workforce plan was fully costed, I have never seen the Chancellor look more bewildered. It is less than a year since his party crashed the economy with its unfunded spending commitments, and he has not learned a thing. Let me ask this another way: is his uncosted spending coming from more tax rises, more cuts, or is it just the latest promise to fall from the Tories' magic money tree?
As I and the Chancellor set out, the plan is fully funded—the right hon. and learned Gentleman will see that at the autumn statement. I am pleased that he is now interested in fiscal responsibility, because that is very welcome.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify funding sources
Autumn Statement Fiscal Responsibility
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The Labour party's NHS workforce plan is funded by scrapping non-dom status, a policy the Prime Minister opposes.
In that burst of nonsense, what we did not hear was a single word about how the Prime Minister will pay for it. You know the one—scrapping the non-dom status that he so adores.
That is the same policy that has paid for five different things at this point. Our plan is more comprehensive and impactful, including training, retaining staff, and reforming the NHS.
Assessment & feedback
Specific funding mechanism
Under Review Not Enough
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge faces ward closures, poor working conditions for staff, and risks to patient safety.
If the Prime Minister is so good at maths, he will know that I am 60, not 61. Hillingdon Hospital wards have closed, staff work under terrible conditions, and patient safety is threatened. The National Audit Office found gaps in the Government's hospital programme. Can the PM confirm these issues?
We will deliver on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, with additional upgrades and community diagnostic centres. I want to help people get the care they need, not charge them £12.50 for GP visits.
Assessment & feedback
Specific issues at Hillingdon Hospital
Changed Subject Attack
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Context
Businesses are planning pricing for next January and lack information on the extended producer responsibility programme.
Inflation fell more than expected. Businesses in my constituency struggle with proposed extended producer responsibility, unsure of costs and how it will work. Will the Prime Minister pause and reset this programme to avoid price rises without recycling benefits?
We are committed to protecting the environment but are engaging closely with industry on the design of the scheme. Ministers will keep this House updated.
Assessment & feedback
Specific pause and reset request
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Stephen Flynn SNP
Aberdeen South
Context
The Conservative party's two-child benefit cap has left 250,000 children in poverty.
The two-child benefit cap policy has left 250,000 children in poverty. Does the Prime Minister take comfort knowing that Labour now supports this policy?
I welcome Labour's new-found support, but their leader has a track record of not keeping promises. We focus on creating jobs to reduce child poverty.
Assessment & feedback
Comfort level with Labour's support
Changed Subject Attack
Response accuracy
Q10 Direct Answer
Stephen Flynn SNP
Aberdeen South
Context
Voters expect change from Westminster but see no real hope for children in poverty.
Does this tell us that Westminster offers no real change or hope to children living in poverty in Scotland?
The best route out of poverty is through work, with 200,000 more jobs created since 2010 and fewer children growing up in workless households. We will continue to reduce child poverty across the UK.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q11 Direct Answer
Context
Opposition Members claim young men from safe countries are asylum seekers despite lack of evidence.
If Opposition Members support illegal economic migration, they should say so. They claim young men in their 20s and 30s coming from safe countries are asylum seekers.
The Opposition lacks a plan to tackle illegal migration, voting against our stop the boats Bill over 70 times. Our bill will detain and remove those coming illegally.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Context
A year after UK temperatures hit a record-breaking 40°C, causing 3,000 excess deaths. Businesses and climate advisers have criticised the slow progress on decarbonisation.
It is exactly a year to the day since UK temperatures hit a deadly 40°C for the first time, with 3,000 excess deaths last summer. Yet businesses and the Prime Minister's own climate advisers have said that his climate progress is worryingly slow. He likes to claim that the UK is decarbonising more quickly than the rest of the G7, but since the Paris agreement that is simply not true. He also likes to claim that it is not a top concern for the public, while recent polling shows that that is not true either. Experts, businesses and the public all want bolder climate action, but it is not even one of his top five priorities. Can he tell us why not?
The hon. Lady just makes a completely bizarre point. Because we moved quicker and faster than everyone else, she thinks that somehow that is something we should now not be proud of. It is right that other countries are catching up; it is inevitable that they will have to decarbonise faster now to make up for the fact that over the past two decades they have not followed our example. I am not going to take any lectures from her on this topic, because our track record is a good one.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about why bold climate action should be prioritised was not addressed
I Am Not Going To Take Lectures Our Track Record Is Good
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Context
Bedfordshire businesses have apprentices earning £48,000 annually, outpacing inflation. There's a need to promote these opportunities in schools.
Bedfordshire businesses now have apprentices on the factory floor, earning £48,000 a year on qualification, easily beating cost of living pressures. What more can we do to get schools to promote apprenticeships to pupils and parents, as our colleges and institutes of technology are great poverty-busting institutions?
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. One of the practical steps we are taking is to put all apprenticeships on to the UCAS system this autumn, which will make sure that they have parity of esteem in the classroom and increased information for parents and teachers.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address promoting apprenticeships beyond UCAS inclusion
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Diana R. Johnson Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Context
Sir Brian Langstaff, chair of the infected blood public inquiry, is summoning several key government figures to answer questions on this issue.
Why does the Prime Minister think that Sir Brian Langstaff, who chairs the public inquiry into infected blood, has reopened the hearings and summoned before him the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Leader of the House and the Paymaster General to answer questions next week?
My thoughts remain with all those affected by this appalling tragedy. The infected blood scandal should never have happened, and that is why the public inquiry was set up by one of my predecessors.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address the reason for multiple figures being called to testify
The Inquiry Was Set Up By A Predecessor
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Context
Tata Motors is making the largest-ever car industry investment in the UK, valued at £4 billion.
Some 800,000 people work indirectly or directly in our car industry, which accounts for 10% of our country's exports. I strongly welcome the £4 billion investment by Tata Motors in a battery factory, and the jobs associated with it. Will my right hon. Friend build on that success and pursue a clear plan to get more gigafactories, including in the west midlands, so that we can capitalise on our lead in battery innovation and technology?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the importance of today's announcement. It is one of the largest-ever investments in the UK auto industry in this country's history, with billions of pounds and thousands of jobs.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address attracting additional gigafactory investments beyond Tata Motors
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Context
The NHS in England has experienced its longest-ever junior doctors' strike, followed by consultant strikes. Scotland has not seen such strikes.
The NHS in England has just had its longest-ever junior doctors' strike and consultants go on strike tomorrow for the first time in 50 years, yet so far Scotland has had no NHS strikes. That is not by chance; it is because our Health Secretary and First Minister have kept working with the British Medical Association to try to address the pay erosion faced by doctors since 2008. Workforce shortages are the biggest challenge facing healthcare, and the Prime Minister just mentioned the importance of staff retention. Does he really think that refusing even to talk to health unions will stop doctors leaving the NHS?
We did talk to health unions, but we also respected the independent pay review body process, which is the right way to resolve these issues and means that a typical junior doctor will see a 9% pay rise as a result of this deal.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address engaging with unions beyond the pay review process
Response accuracy
Q17 Partial Answer
Context
A bank holding government shares closed an opposition politician's account, potentially due to political views.
Does my right hon. Friend share my unease that a bank that has the Government as its largest shareholder should close the account of a senior opposition politician? Will he use the Government's shareholding to ensure that there is an inquiry into those circumstances, because the subject data access request makes it clear, or certainly indicates, that it is the political views of the person concerned that led to his cancellation?
It would not be right if financial services were being denied to anyone exercising their right to lawful free speech. Our new Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 puts in place new measures to ensure that politically exposed persons are being treated in an appropriate and proportionate manner, and having consulted on the payments services regulations, we are in the process of cracking down on that practice by tightening the rules around account closures.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to using shares for specific inquiry into account closures based on political views
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Naseem Shah Lab
Bradford West
Context
MP cited personal experience of homelessness and recent mortgage challenges affecting constituents. Noted criticism of government's failure to legislate against rent increases.
I know how it feels to be homeless, squatting from one place to another with your entire belongings in one single black bin liner. Hard-working families, including in Bradford West, are at risk of homelessness because of the Tory mortgage bombshell and the failure to legislate to protect renters. Apart from totally losing grip of the whole situation, what is the Prime Minister doing to stop half a million people becoming homeless?
Actually, rough sleeping levels were about a third lower in 2022 compared with the peak in 2017. Since our landmark Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 came into force, more than 600,000 households have successfully had their homelessness prevented or relieved, and we are investing £2 billion over the next three years to continue to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about preventing half a million people from becoming homeless not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q19 Partial Answer
Mark Francois Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
Context
MP highlighted loss of British personnel in Afghanistan and criticized video posted by Defence Committee Chairman praising Taliban governance without mentioning human rights abuses.
The Prime Minister mentioned our armed forces. May I mention them again? We lost 457 personnel killed in Afghanistan, and several thousand suffered life-changing injuries. So I and some of my colleagues on the Defence Committee were absolutely stunned to see a video posted by our own Chairman lauding the Taliban's governance of Afghanistan but not mentioning that they are still trying to identify and kill Afghan civilians who sided with NATO forces, nor the fact that they do not like girls to go to school. Can I make it plain that that was not in our name, and can I have the Prime Minister's assurance that that silly and naive act was not in his name either?
I join my right hon. Friend in paying tribute to our brave serving personnel and veterans, and I thank them for their service, as we touched on earlier. We have repeatedly called out, and will continue to repeatedly call out, the human rights abuses that we see around the world.
Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about Defence Committee Chairman's actions not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q20 Partial Answer
Pete Wishart SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
Context
MP criticized UK government for adopting policies like the two-child benefit cap, endorsing hard Brexit, increasing tuition fees, and limiting immigration.
It is not just the adoption of the disgusting two-child benefit cap; it is the endorsement of a hard Brexit, the tuition fees, the immigration. Does the Prime Minister not agree that there is now no real difference between the two main UK parties? Is it not time that we perhaps rearranged the furniture in this House, had them all on one big Bench and re-titled them the “This is what you get from the UK party”?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and I will leave him and the Labour party to debate the finer points of policy between them. On the substance, because it is important, the track record demonstrates that we are making a difference and reducing child poverty.
Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about differences not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q21 Partial Answer
Alicia Kearns Con
Rutland and Stamford
Context
MP criticized conversion therapy as a harmful practice and welcomed Minister's promise to ban it with pre-legislative scrutiny completed before the end of parliamentary term.
Conversion therapy is quackery packaged up by bigots seeking to promote their hate and to profit from it. On 19 January, a Minister promised at the Dispatch Box to bring forward a ban against conversion therapy and ensure that pre-legislative scrutiny was completed before the end of this parliamentary term. How does my right hon. Friend plan to continue that? May I also welcome his statement today and thank those LGBT veterans who are with us?
I agree with her that conversion therapy is an abhorrent practice, and we need to do everything we can to stamp it out wherever we see it. The Minister for Women and Equalities, my right hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Kemi Badenoch), will continue to keep my hon. Friend and the House updated on her progress.
Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about following up not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q22 Partial Answer
Context
MP recalled Prime Minister's support for leaving EU seven years ago and referenced criticism from Sir John Major about the decision.
Does the Prime Minister remember seven years ago, when he was a passionate supporter of leaving the European Union, along with his then best friend, Boris Johnson? Is he aware that Sir John Major now says, in every speech he makes, that that decision was catastrophic for the people of this country and living standards, as well as deeply damaging to our role, status and influence in the world?
I would say gently to the hon. Gentleman that he made the central point at the beginning of his question: it was seven years ago, and we need to move forward.
Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about criticism not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q23 Partial Answer
Lee Anderson Reform
Ashfield
Context
MP criticized Leader of the Opposition's new flagship policy, two-child benefit cap.
Just last week the Leader of the Opposition announced his new flagship policy—the two-child benefit cap. It is very popular on this side of the House, but it is not so popular on the other side. Can the Prime Minister tell the House when the Leader of the Opposition will jump off the bandwagon, be honest with the British public and tell them what he stands for?
My hon. Friend is right. I welcome the Leader of the Opposition now supporting the Government's policy, but I do not think anyone actually believes that he believes in what he says.
Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about policy not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q24 Partial Answer
Neil Coyle Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Context
MP questioned Prime Minister about adherence to donation rules before receiving £38,500 of free air travel.
Every single Member of the House is required by law to confirm the true source of a donation before it is accepted or declared. Can the Prime Minister tell us whether he followed all the rules all the time before he took £38,500 of free air travel on 28 April? If so, why does his story keep changing about who paid?
All donations are declared in the normal way. As the hon. Gentleman knows, if there are administrative changes to that they are quickly corrected.
Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about following rules not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q25 Partial Answer
David Davis Con
Goole and Pocklington
Context
Nigel Farage's bank account was closed by Coutts and Nat West for non-commercial reasons, leading to concerns over political discrimination. The questioner seeks information on accounts closed under similar circumstances.
To bring the Prime Minister back to the question asked, rightly, by my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Somerset (Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg), the opposition politician referred to is Nigel Farage, whose bank account was closed not because he was a PEP—a politically exposed person—or for commercial reasons, but because his views did not align with the values of Coutts bank: thinly veiled political discrimination and a vindictive, irresponsible and undemocratic action. In addition, Nat West also disclosed confidential details about Farage's account to the BBC and lied about the commercial viability of his account, actions that should jeopardise its banking licence and should certainly worry Nat West's 19 million other customers. The Prime Minister has told us what he will do in the future, but there are many other people in this circumstance. Will he require every bank with a British banking licence to inform the Treasury of all the accounts that they have shut down for non-commercial reasons in the last decade?
I know that my right hon. Friend has spoken to the Chancellor about this issue, and that he will continue to have those conversations. In the short term, having consulted on the payment service regulations, we intend to crack down on that practice by toughening the rules around account closures. In the meantime, the Financial Ombudsman Service is available for people to make complaints to, but I look forward to continuing the dialogue with my right hon. Friend, as does the Chancellor.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to requiring banks to inform the Treasury about accounts closed for non-commercial reasons
Look Forward To Continuing The Dialogue
Response accuracy
Q26 Partial Answer
Carla Lockhart DUP
Upper Bann
Context
Two children, Adam Watson and Poppy Ogle, aged nine and ten respectively, from the constituency lost their battle with childhood cancer last year. There are 1,600 new diagnoses each year in the UK.
As a father, the Prime Minister will know how precious children are. Adam Watson, aged nine, and Poppy Ogle, aged 10, from my constituency sadly lost their battle with childhood cancer just last year. Their homes are forever broken. Both families want to see a change in financial support for the 1,600 children diagnosed with cancer across the UK each year. Will the Prime Minister commit to meeting these families to listen to their stories, and to reviewing child disability living allowance payments so that they commence immediately on diagnosis of childhood cancer, whether or not the diagnosis is terminal? The three-month wait for support is just too long. Surely this Government can see fit to wrap their arms around these children and their families in their hour of need.
I thank the hon. Lady for raising that issue. I cannot imagine how difficult it is for families whose children are being treated for cancer, with everything that comes along with that. I will happily look into the specific issue that she has mentioned and get back to her in all haste. She should know that she has my total support for helping and supporting families who are going through what will be an unbelievably difficult time.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reviewing child disability living allowance payments or meeting the families immediately
Will Happily Look Into The Specific Issue Get Back To Her In All Haste
Response accuracy