Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Recent storms have affected two million people in Gaza, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
I join the Prime Minister in expressing my sympathies to all those affected by the recent storms. Two million people just cannot be sustained from 20-odd aid lorries. Utter catastrophe is being unleashed in Gaza. Does the Prime Minister not now see that only a humanitarian ceasefire can bring about the scale of emergency aid that is needed? Of course Israel has a right to defend itself in line with international and humanitarian laws, but we must also speak out when those laws are breached. Surely he agrees that depriving 2 million civilians—a million of them children—of food, water, medicines and fuel is not in accordance with international law. Will he press Israel to restore the supply of these essentials for the sake of innocent civilians and the future of the entire region?
It is important that we do everything we can to get humanitarian aid to those who need it in Gaza, which is why, on Monday, we announced a doubling of our international aid to the region and why the Development Minister is actively engaged with our partners on the ground to ensure that that aid gets to those people as quickly as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
Pressing Israel for humanitarian ceasefire not addressed
Under Review
Actively Engaging
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Colin Pitchfork had another parole review hearing recently, raising concerns about the Parole Board's decision-making process.
Double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork had yet another parole review hearing only a few weeks ago. I thank the Justice Secretary for having listened to me and engaging the reconsideration mechanism rule. I know that the Prime Minister does not have any decision-making role on the independent Parole Board. It is independent of Government, but it is a wing of the Executive; it is not the judiciary. Does the Prime Minister agree that, generally, as a point of principle, men—sexual offenders—who rape and brutally murder young women, as Mr Pitchfork did to Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann in my constituency, should remain in prison for most of their natural lives?
I agree with my hon. Friend that the public should be confident that murderers and rapists will be kept behind bars for as long as is necessary to keep the public safe. That is why we are reforming the parole system. Our Victims and Prisoners Bill will mean that minimising risk and protecting the public are the sole considerations in Parole Board decisions. It will also give the Justice Secretary the power to step in on behalf of the public and take a second look at decisions to release the most serious offenders, including murderers and rapists.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister's candidate in Tamworth made inappropriate comments about struggling families.
So much for being the change candidate! The Prime Minister cannot even distance himself from those appalling comments. I have to ask him, where on earth does he think his candidate got the idea in the first place that throwing expletives at struggling families was his Government's official position?
Let us just look at the record of what this Government are doing to help those people: paying for around half of a typical family's energy bill over the last year, support worth over £1,500; the most vulnerable in our society receiving £900 in direct cost of living support; record increases in the national living wage; record increases in welfare; and this winter, pensioners to receive an extra £200 or £300 alongside their winter fuel payment to help them through what we know is a tough time. All of that significant support, funded by this Government, would be put at risk by Labour's reckless plans to borrow £28 billion a year.
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Assessment & feedback
Prime Minister's candidate behaviour
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister has recently rescinded on a pledge to scrap no-fault evictions.
The Prime Minister keeps boasting about how great things are; the voters keep telling him that he has got it wrong. I can see why the Tamworth candidate thought that he was just following Government lines. Annalisa and her two children lived in their home for eight years. In May, they were kicked out with a no-fault eviction notice. Despite his Government's pledge to scrap no-fault evictions, this week the Prime Minister crumbled to the landlords on his own Back Benches and killed the policy. What message, other than the message delivered by his candidate in Tamworth, could Annalisa possibly take from that?
We have taken significant action to help renters like Annalisa and others. We have capped holding deposits at one week. We have protected tenants from rip-off tenancy fees, delivered almost half a million affordable homes for rent, halved the percentage of substandard homes in the private rented sector, and strengthened local authority enforcement powers, because the Government are delivering for renters.
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Assessment & feedback
Rescinding pledge to scrap no-fault evictions
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister has recently rescinded a pledge to scrap no-fault evictions, impacting Annalisa's family.
Annalisa and her two children lived in their home for eight years. In May, they were kicked out with a no-fault eviction notice. Despite his Government's pledge to scrap no-fault evictions, this week the Prime Minister crumbled to the landlords on his own Back Benches and killed the policy. What message, other than the message delivered by his candidate in Tamworth, could Annalisa possibly take from that?
We are also trying to ensure that the new generation can buy their own home, so perhaps the Leader of the Opposition can explain to Annalisa and millions of others why when we brought forward plans to unlock 100,000 new homes, he stood in the way of that?
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Assessment & feedback
Attacked Opposition
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner references constituents facing financial hardships due to increased mortgage rates.
I am concerned about Annalisa and her children who have been evicted and Emma and her teenage son, whose mortgage went up by more than a quarter, forcing them to choose between buying shoes or heating. The Prime Minister's party is responsible for the economic crash that led to these issues. Can you not see why people might think your party is telling them where to go?
The right hon. and learned Gentleman keeps talking about the mini-Budget, which he supported 95%. Rising interest rates are a global challenge with mortgage rates doubling in America and trebling in Europe. To help mortgage holders, we have agreed to use the mortgage charter for those with £200,000 properties and around £100,000 left on their mortgage, saving them over £350 a month.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific ask about acknowledging responsibility and providing concrete support measures was not directly addressed.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner criticizes the government for scrapping housing targets, leading to a decline in house building.
Emily and Jamie have worked hard but are struggling with rising costs due to high mortgage rates. The Prime Minister scrapped house building targets because of pressure from Back Benchers. House building has fallen off a cliff, shattering the dream of home ownership for many people. Can the Prime Minister see that his candidate in Tamworth was following the party line?
The right hon. and learned Gentleman has moved on to housing targets. The record shows 2.5 million additional homes, housing starts double what was inherited from Labour, supply up 10%, track to deliver a million new homes, and a record number of first-time buyers.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific ask about acknowledging the negative impact on housing was not directly addressed.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner argues that the government has abandoned people facing a cost of living crisis, including renters and mortgage payers.
Across Britain, people are struggling with high costs. The Prime Minister's candidate in Tamworth summed up how the Tories treat the public. Will he call a general election to let the British public respond?
Politicians like him take the easy way out, whereas we are making long-term decisions on net zero, High Speed 2, smoke-free generation, education and energy security. Come that general election, the British people will.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner's specific ask about calling for a general election was not addressed.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q9
Direct Answer
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The questioner raises concerns about providing high-quality services in rural areas.
We need the same quality of services in rural areas as towns and cities. What measures are being taken to ensure this?
The hon. Friend raises an important issue on behalf of his constituents. £95 million is provided through the rural services delivery grant to help rural councils achieve high-quality services. We are reviewing the police funding formula and have ensured that the national funding formula for schools takes account of different characteristics.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner mentions UN warnings about hospitals in Gaza running out of fuel.
Hospitals in Gaza have only 48 hours of fuel left. This is a human responsibility to all people, especially UK citizens who are trapped and suffering. How much worse does the situation need to get before you join us in calling for a humanitarian ceasefire?
From the start, we have supported Israel's right to defend itself under international law. We want British nationals to leave Gaza, hostages released, and aid in. For that to happen, there needs to be a safer environment necessitating pauses as distinct from a ceasefire. We discussed this at the UN yesterday evening.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about calling for a humanitarian ceasefire was not directly addressed.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
Growing calls for a ceasefire amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with over 2,000 fatalities and 5,000 injured children reported by UNICEF since the start of the conflict.
The growing calls for a ceasefire are also about calming the situation in the broader region, especially the west bank. UNICEF has reported over 2,000 fatalities and over 5,000 injured children since the conflict began, due to unrelenting attacks. Can the Prime Minister understand that joining calls for a ceasefire is now the best—and maybe the only—way to stop this conflict escalating beyond all control?
Israel has suffered a shockingly brutal terrorist attack. Hamas are responsible for this conflict, and Israel has the right to protect itself in line with international law. We will continue to urge Israelis to follow international law but also monitor the situation closely. An RAF flight left the UK for Egypt carrying 21 tonnes of aid for Gaza, including medical kits, solar lights, water filters, and warehousing equipment.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address whether joining calls for a ceasefire is necessary to stop the conflict from escalating further.
Hedging Language
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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The Environment Agency has failed to prosecute a rogue operator for permit breaches and its monitoring equipment has been under-recording levels of hydrogen sulphide by a factor of two or three for the past seven years.
In Walleys Quarry, constituents have been let down by the Environment Agency's failure to prosecute a rogue operator for repeated permit breaches. The agency's monitoring equipment has also been grossly under-recording levels of hydrogen sulphide for the past seven years. Given this situation, will the Prime Minister do everything in his power to get a grip on this failing organisation?
The hon. Member is right to raise concerns about his constituents. The EA's criminal investigation is ongoing, but I have been assured that it is working swiftly to understand the scale of the problem with measurement inaccuracies. The Environment Secretary will keep him updated regularly.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to taking specific action against the failing organization.
Hedging Language
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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The Good Friday agreement recognized the need to avoid violence for political aims. Currently, over 1,400 Israelis and almost 6,000 Palestinians have died or been injured.
The world celebrated the Good Friday Agreement as an example of peace. With over 1,400 Israeli and nearly 6,000 Palestinian fatalities, when will the Prime Minister say enough is enough? When will he call for a ceasefire? When will he tell Israel to stop punishing civilians in Gaza?
Israel has the right to defend itself under international law. We support this position, but we also want humanitarian aid to enter Gaza safely. Specific pauses are needed to ensure a safer environment for aid delivery and evacuations. We discussed this at the UN.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to calling for a ceasefire or demanding an end to collective punishment in Gaza.
Hedging Language
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
Bradford Council has failed in various aspects including children's services, investment, and child sexual exploitation reviews. Residents are seeking representation through their own unitary authority.
Residents of Keighley and Ilkley want to leave Bradford Council due to its failures in delivering good services for constituents. Will the Prime Minister meet me to discuss my case for creating a new unitary authority that better represents Keighley and Ilkley?
I will certainly arrange for the relevant Minister to discuss your concerns further. The hon. Member introduced a private Member's Bill earlier this year on this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to arranging a specific meeting with Ministers.
Hedging Language
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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The new Prime Minister promised to unite the country with actions, but many constituencies like Easington see a lack of delivery on health services and investment.
Just a year ago, the new Prime Minister promised to unite our country through action. In my constituency, Arbroath House lacks funding for basic community health services, crime rates are high without sufficient police officers, water companies dump sewage without prosecution, and levelling up investments are blocked. When will the PM call a general election?
Crime is down by over 50% since Labour was last in office, and we have delivered record numbers of police officers. Our antisocial behaviour plan is making a difference.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to calling a general election or address the specific issues raised in Easington.
Hedging Language
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Concerns over the impact of new housing developments on aging drainage systems, particularly noted in Uttoxeter.
I support the Government's plans to build more homes and ease housing shortages. However, I have significant concerns about the impacts of developments on our ageing drainage systems and the potential flooding risk this poses, as we are seeing in places such as the Hazelwalls development in Uttoxeter. What steps will the Government take to ensure that, as more houses are built, existing infrastructure is upgraded and maintained by local authorities to ensure that it is not overwhelmed with additional use and less permeable surfaces?
As my hon. Friend knows, our traditional drainage systems are under increasing pressure, and that compares with the benefits of sustainable drainage systems, which work in a different way. It was already a requirement that sustainable drainage systems should be given priority in any major new development and developments in flood risk areas, but earlier this year we committed to requiring sustainable drainage systems in all new developments, on top of DEFRA's plan for water, which puts a statutory duty on water companies to produce plans to set out how they will improve, maintain and extend our robust and resilient waste water systems.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about upgrading and maintaining existing infrastructure was not directly addressed with concrete steps or timelines.
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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A petition signed by 22,524 people with MS is calling for a full review of PIP for fluctuating conditions.
This morning, I hosted the MS Society and people living with multiple sclerosis to hear about their experiences accessing personal independence payment. Ten years on from its introduction, people with MS and other fluctuating conditions are still too often being denied the support they deserve to manage the extra costs of their condition and to retain their independence for longer. Some 22,524 people with MS have signed a petition calling for a full review of PIP for fluctuating conditions, which is on its way to Downing Street right now. Will the Prime Minister listen to their call?
I am very sorry to hear about the experiences of those suffering with MS that the hon. Lady mentions, and I will ensure that the Work and Pensions Secretary looks at their concerns and writes to her.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for a full review of PIP was not committed to directly; it was instead referred to another department.
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner praises the Prime Minister for taking long-term decisions that benefit the country.
We know that some duck serious questions today, aiming for electoral advantage in the future. May I note that the Prime Minister prefers to take decisions that will benefit the country now and in the longer term, so that we can have more jobs, better education and a shared prosperity?
I thank my hon. Friend for his kind words.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific information or commitment was provided in response to the question about long-term decisions.
Response accuracy
Q19
Partial Answer
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The infected blood inquiry's final report has been postponed until March, and interim compensation recommendations have been made.
While the final report of the infected blood inquiry has been postponed until March, Sir Brian Langstaff, the independent chair, has already published his recommendations on compensation for victims of that scandal. Will the Prime Minister explain why his Government insist on postponing their response until after publication of the final report, kicking it into the long grass and delaying justice, once again, for my constituents Justine, Rachel and Paul, whose fathers died as a result of that scandal, as well as thousands of others across these isles?
As I have said previously from the Dispatch Box, what happened was an appalling tragedy, and my heart goes out to all of those affected and their families. I have given extensive evidence to the inquiry, so my position on this matter is on the record. What I would say is that extensive work has been going on in Government for a long time, co-ordinated by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, as well as interim payments of £100,000 being made to those who were affected.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about postponing the response was not directly addressed with a timeline or explanation.
Response accuracy
Q20
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister has championed transport projects on the Welsh borders, including electrification of north Wales main line and reopening of Corwen station.
The Prime Minister has been a great champion of transport projects on the Welsh borders, including the electrification of the main line in north Wales, the reopening of Corwen station and the Gobowen to Oswestry line, and also substantial levelling-up fund investment in the Llangollen and Montgomery canals. Will the Prime Minister now deliver on the long-awaited Pant-Llanymynech bypass and prioritise the dualling of the A5/A483 in Clwyd South and North Shropshire?
We are making significant improvements to our cross-border rail services across the Union. Thanks to our decision on HS2, we can now provide an unprecedented £1 billion of investment to fund the electrification of the north Wales main line, which will ensure reliable, punctual journeys between north Wales and multiple cities across the north-west of England. We are also continuing to develop the Pant-Llanymynech bypass scheme in our next round of the road investment plans, and a section of the A5 in England will be considered by National Highways as part of the midlands and Gloucestershire to Wales route strategy.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about prioritising dualling was not directly addressed with commitment or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q21
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister has been unable to locate and provide his WhatsApp messages to the covid inquiry.
It is important that the covid inquiry has all the relevant documents; that is what the public, including thousands of bereaved families, expect and deserve. But despite being a self-described tech bro, the Prime Minister has been unable to locate and provide his WhatsApp messages to the inquiry. Does he agree that devices should be handed over to experts to retrieve this information?
Both the Government and I have fully co-operated to provide tens of thousands of documents to the covid inquiry, and I look forward to giving evidence later this year.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about handing devices over was not committed to directly.
Response accuracy
Q22
Partial Answer
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Ongoing crisis in NHS dentistry being raised regularly, with concerns over unspent funds.
With the ongoing national crisis in NHS dentistry being raised here most weeks, can my right hon. Friend advise as to when the dentistry plan produced by the Department of Health and Social Care will be published? Can he ensure that any clawed-back unspent funds are ringfenced for NHS dentistry, so as to deal with emergencies and to help clear the backlog?
We are investing £3 billion in NHS dentistry, and the reformed dental contract is helping to improve NHS access for patients. I am pleased to say that NHS dental activity in the past year increased by almost a quarter compared with the year before, but the forthcoming dental recovery plan, which will be out shortly, will include action to incentivise dentists to deliver even more NHS care.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about unspent funds was not directly addressed with commitment or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q23
Partial Answer
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The question stems from a controversy regarding the Prime Minister's failure to declare that companies linked to his wife benefited significantly from a fund he established as Chancellor.
It is an honour to be elected to this place, and the standards by which we are expected to abide matter. Does the Prime Minister therefore accept that it was ill-judged for him to fail to declare to Parliament that companies linked to his wife had benefited to the tune of £2 billion from a fund he had set up as Chancellor? Will he correct the record now?
It is worth bearing in mind that Labour Front Benchers backed the Future Fund when it was introduced—indeed, they were calling for more funding for it, not less. The House will be aware of my wife's shareholdings in various British start-ups. That is her career. Those are on the record, and I am happy to put that on the record again.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked about correcting a specific declaration regarding benefits from the Future Fund; the answer did not confirm or deny such correction but provided background information on Labour's stance on the fund.
It Is Worth Bearing In Mind That Labour Front Benchers Backed The Future Fund When It Was Introduced
Response accuracy
Q24
Partial Answer
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The UK risks falling behind on HICE technology due to lack of support compared to EU and USA, which recognise them as zero-emission. This is vital for jobs, skills, and manufacturing in the automotive sector.
The UK is at risk of being left behind on hydrogen internal combustion engines. The EU and the USA now recognise hydrogen combustion engines as zero-emission and are supporting those industries, as all viable zero-carbon technologies will be needed—particularly for our HGVs, according to the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance. I am working with BorgWarner, PHINIA and many MPs on HICE, because this issue is crucial for UK jobs, skills and manufacturing. Will my right hon. Friend commit to urgently extending the scope of the automotive transformation fund industrialisation grants to include hydrogen engines, so that we win the HICE race?
The Government are determined to ensure that the UK remains one of the best locations in the world for automotive manufacturing. Hydrogen fuel cells and their upstream supply chains are already in the scope of the ATF, and support for the fund has enabled Johnson Matthey's £60 million investment in Hertfordshire to develop hydrogen technologies. I am told by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade that the Department for Business and Trade is continuing to look at the future possibilities for renewable hydrogen and will consider the fund's eligibility in light of the new developments in this space.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a commitment to extend ATF specifically to include HICE; the answer discussed broader support but did not commit explicitly.
Continuing To Look At Future Possibilities
Response accuracy
Q25
Partial Answer
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A constituent's email describes the dire situation in Gaza, with relentless bombing, destruction of homes, lack of basic necessities like water and electricity. Save the Children reports one child dying every 15 minutes.
There is an email in my inbox from a constituent who has family in Gaza. It reads: 'My heart can't handle this anymore. We are being massacred, relentlessly bombed. Homes destroyed. No water, no food, no electricity.' Save the Children reports that one child is killed every 15 minutes. As I speak, the lives of 130 babies in incubators are in danger if fuel does not reach their hospital in time. This is collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza, for crimes they did not commit. How many more innocent Palestinians must die before the Prime Minister calls for a humanitarian ceasefire?
I welcome the unity across the House on Israel's right to defend itself in the face of an unspeakable act of terror, but it is also clear that we must support the Palestinian people; they are victims of Hamas, too. Hamas use innocent people as human shields, and we mourn the loss of every innocent life of every people, every faith and every nationality.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked for a call to action regarding a humanitarian ceasefire; the answer did not address this but instead focused on the right to defend against terror.
Welcoming Unity Across The House
Response accuracy
Q26
Direct Answer
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Suffolk experienced its worst local floods over 100 years ago, affecting communities and leaving homes and businesses destroyed. The community has shown resilience by rallying together.
Last week, Suffolk experienced its worst local floods for over 100 years, with communities in and around Needham Market, Framlingham, Debenham and Wickham Market particularly badly affected. Homes and businesses have been destroyed. In Suffolk, the community has rallied together, in a very stoic and pragmatic way, to support those in need at this very difficult time. What longer-term support can the Prime Minister offer to the people of Suffolk whose businesses and homes have been affected by these floods, to help them to recover and rebuild?
Flooding is a devastating experience, and I extend my sympathies to all those affected, including those in my hon. Friend's constituency. I am pleased to say that, through the flood recovery framework, we are confirming additional financial support for the most affected households and businesses. This will include a £500 grant for households and council tax discounts and business rates relief of up to 100% for three months.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy