PMQs 2022-05-18

2022-05-18

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Context
A report reveals that 9,000 people over 60 died last year due to their homes being too cold. This statistic highlights the serious issue of winter mortality.
The latest “State of Ageing” report reveals that last year in this country, 9,000 people over the age of 60 died because their homes were too cold. Will the Prime Minister give a guarantee that that figure will be lower, not higher, this time next year?
I think everybody has every sympathy with people who are facing difficulties with the cost of heating. That is why the Government have stepped up with an extra £9.1 billion in addition to what we are doing with the cold weather payments and the warm home allowance, and we will continue to support people throughout the aftershocks of covid, just as we did throughout the pandemic.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a direct commitment to reduce winter deaths below last year's level
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
Department for Education figures show that Lib Dem-run Sutton Council rejected nearly half of children applying for education, health, and care assessments last year, compared to the national average of 23%.
Figures released from the Department for Education show that last year, once again, Lib Dem-run Sutton Council became the highest rejecter of children applying for education, health and care assessments in the country. Nearly half the children were rejected, compared with the national average of just 23%. Can the Prime Minister outline how the special educational needs and disability review will help children with special educational needs and their families to get access to the education that they deserve?
Yes, indeed. I thank my hon. Friend very much for his campaign, and he is completely right. That is why we have a SEND review, and we will ensure that SEND children and young people can get access to the right support at the right place and at the right time across the country.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific measures or timeline for the review
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The Prime Minister was previously asked about a windfall tax but did not provide a clear stance. The Chancellor has not committed to it either.
A one-off tax on huge oil and gas profits would raise billions of pounds and cut energy bills across the country. The Chancellor rightly says there are two camps on this: you are either for it or you are against it. But in which camp does the Chancellor put himself? He says neither. Well, I am in favour of it. This is the question for the Prime Minister: is he for it, is he against it or is he sitting on the fence like his Chancellor?
I remind the House that the right hon. and learned Gentleman struggled to define what a woman is. If he cannot make up his mind on that point, heaven help us. This Government are not, in principle, in favour of higher taxation; of course not. Labour loves it. They love putting up taxes. Dogs bark, cats miaow and Labour puts up taxes. What we want to do is take a sensible approach, governed by the impact on investment and jobs. That is the test of a strong economy, and it is by having a strong economy that we will be able to look after people, as we did during covid and as we will in the aftershocks of covid. I am proud to say it was revealed this week that unemployment has come down to the lowest level since 1974.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a stance on windfall tax, focused on criticising Labour instead
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The Prime Minister and Chancellor have given conflicting statements about a windfall tax, causing confusion among the public.
Hang on; last week the Prime Minister said he will have a look at the idea, and yesterday he voted against it. Anyone picking up the papers today would think the Government are for it, and now he says he is against it again. Clear as mud. To be fair, it is not like the rest of the Cabinet know what they think, either. On the same day, the Chancellor said it was something he is looking at and the Justice Secretary said it would be “disastrous.” The Business Secretary called it a “bad idea,” but he also said he would consider a Spanish-style windfall tax. One minute they are ruling it in, and the next they are ruling it out. When will the Prime Minister stop the hokey-cokey and just back Labour's plan for a windfall tax to cut household bills?
Labour's plan, always and everywhere, is to raise taxes on business. I remember the right hon. and learned Gentleman campaigning in 2019 on the biggest taxes for business that this country has ever seen. That is their instinct. This country and the world face problems with the cost of energy, driven partly by covid and partly by Putin's war of choice in Ukraine.
Assessment & feedback
Did not address the question about government stance on windfall tax
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
North sea oil and gas companies are making substantial profits, while British households face increasing energy bills. The government is criticised for delaying a decision on a windfall tax.
He just doesn't get it, does he? He doesn't actually understand what working families are going through in this country. They are struggling with how they are going to pay their bills. While he dithers, British households are slapped with an extra £53 million on their energy bills every single day. Meanwhile, every single day, North sea oil and gas giants rake in £32 million in unexpected profits. Does he not see that, every single day he delays his inevitable U-turn—he is going to do it—he is choosing to let people struggle when they do not need to?
The right hon. and learned Gentleman says that this Government have no sympathy for people who are struggling and working. Let me tell him what we are already doing. We are already spending £22 billion. We are already helping people with the cost of living in any way that we can, but the reason why we can do that is because we took the tough decisions to get this country through covid, to make sure that we came out of lockdown in the way that was necessary, and to have a strong economy with robust employment growth.
Assessment & feedback
Did not acknowledge the impact of delaying windfall tax on families
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The UK faces an economic crisis with high inflation, prompting criticism of the government's inaction despite previous commitments to help.
Working people cannot afford to wait for the Prime Minister to make up his mind. The economy is in a crisis with inflation at 9%, and there has been no substantial action from the government since May despite promises made by the Chancellor.
We have helped 300,000 more people get off welfare and into work through our Way to Work programme, improving their financial situation by £6,000 a year. Labour's proposed tax increases would increase pressure on interest rates and mortgages.
Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked when the Prime Minister will take decisive action on the economic crisis; instead of providing a specific timeline or plan, he defended his current actions and criticized Labour's policies.
Deflecting To Criticize Labour'S Proposed Tax Increases
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Multiple high-profile figures support implementing a windfall tax to address the cost of living crisis, while some conservative figures oppose it.
Prominent business leaders and committee chairs support a windfall tax. The current boss of BP says it would not discourage investment. When will the Prime Minister finally take action?
The oil companies are taxed at 40% and are investing about £70 billion into our economy over the next few years. Labour previously cancelled nuclear power investment, leading to high energy prices today.
Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked when a windfall tax will be implemented; instead of providing a specific commitment or timeline, the PM defended against it by highlighting past Labour failures and potential economic impacts.
Deflecting To Discuss Past Labour Policies
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
A constituent, Phoenix Halliwell, faces significant financial strain due to his medical condition requiring daily dialysis treatment while also supporting his daughter. This case reflects widespread hardship among disabled and elderly individuals.
Phoenix Halliwell's dialysis costs and living expenses have doubled despite his wife working extra shifts in the NHS. People are facing bills they cannot afford, and action is urgently needed to alleviate their suffering.
I will send details of Phoenix's case. The NHS covers dialysis costs; however, Labour previously voted against vital NHS investment. Our strong economy is essential for further NHS funding and job creation.
Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked about immediate steps to address high energy prices affecting vulnerable populations; instead of providing specific measures, the PM responded with general economic justifications and past Labour criticism.
Deflecting By Referencing Previous Nhs Funding Debates
Response accuracy
Q9 Direct Answer
Context
In Leyland, there is concern about crime and antisocial behaviour. The area currently relies on police assistance from Preston or Chorley.
I thank the Prime Minister for visiting us in Leyland a couple of weeks ago. As he knows, when we knock on doors, we find that crime and antisocial behaviour is a big issue for people locally, and part of the problem is that when the local police are required to respond to calls, they have to come in from Preston or lovely Chorley. Now that Lancashire has 314 more police officers—thanks to this Government—does the Prime Minister agree that we need to use some of them to get Leyland police response open? Will he work with me, the fabulous local police and the police and crime commissioner to make that happen?
My hon. Friend is a fantastic campaigner for her constituency, as I discovered just the other day. We are recruiting more police officers: 300 more in Lancashire and 13,576 more across the whole of the country. I would of course be happy to arrange the relevant meeting so that we can continue to drive neighbourhood crime—which is already down 33%—down even further.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Context
The UK is experiencing the highest inflation in 40 years. Families struggle with food and energy costs.
I am sure the whole House will want to join me in wishing Glasgow Rangers Football Club all the best in the final tonight. It is always a joy to see Scottish clubs get to the finals of European competitions.
People did not need to see this morning's official statistics to know that we are experiencing the highest inflation in 40 years. They know it because they are living with it. Families cannot afford food; they cannot pay their bills—and we are only at the beginning. As always, under the Tories, the poorest are punished the most. For months, people have been crying out for support, but, month after month, a distracted Downing Street has failed to lift a finger to help. Does the Prime Minister still support his Chancellor's insulting statement that acting now in this cost of living emergency would just be “silly”?
I support the Chancellor's work in lifting the living wage by a record amount, in making sure that people on universal credit pay £1,000 less in tax, in putting another £22 billion into supporting people with the cost of living, and in giving £9.1 billion already to help with the cost of energy.
Assessment & feedback
The specific question about whether acting now would be silly was not directly addressed
Under Review Supporting Measures
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Context
The Prime Minister confirmed that he still supports his Chancellor's statement about acting now being 'silly'. The cost of living crisis is severe.
My goodness, talk about an Aesop's fable! Every day that this Prime Minister remains out of touch, people remain out of pocket. By the way, Prime Minister, £20 a week was taken out of people's universal credit.
The Prime Minister has just confirmed that he does think it would be “silly” to intervene. The Tories' only response to this cost of living crisis has been insults and inaction. We have the Tory Back Bencher who thinks that poor people just need cooking lessons, the Tory Minister who thinks that people should just get a “better paid job”, and the Chancellor who thinks it would be “silly” to act now. This is the cost of living crisis from Westminster. For weeks, the Prime Minister has been briefing that it is the Treasury that is to blame for blocking financial support for struggling families. Well, Prime Minister, it is time to stop sniping from the sidelines. If this Chancellor will not deliver an emergency budget, it is time for the Prime Minister to sack the Treasury, to sack the Chancellor, and to put somebody else in office who will act.
The right hon. Gentleman needs to understand. To get back to the crucial point, we have been through covid, and we are facing a spike in global energy prices which has been greatly exacerbated by what Putin is doing in Ukraine. To deal with that, we are putting billions and billions—already £9.1 billion—into supporting people with the cost of energy, cutting fuel duty by record sums, and helping elderly people in all sorts of ways, not least through local councils, with another £1 billion.
Assessment & feedback
The specific question about firing the Chancellor was not directly addressed
Global Context Economic Foundation
Response accuracy
Q12 Direct Answer
Luke Evans Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Context
There is a campaign to have digitally altered images labelled. Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week, with many people suffering from eating disorders and using steroids.
The Prime Minister will be aware of my campaign to have digitally altered images carry a label. Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week. There are 1.25 million people with eating disorders and 1 million people using steroids. Eighty-four Members of this House from seven parties signed my open letter to companies asking them to pledge not to alter their images in their adverts. Will the Prime Minister support that pledge? For those who do not take that pledge, will he vow to make sure that we consider labelling digitally altered images where body proportions are affected?
I thank my hon. Friend for his fantastic campaign. He and I have talked about it at length. Clearly, there is a risk to mental health as young people are given unrealistic expectations about how they should look because of the stuff that they see. His kitemark suggestion is extremely useful, and I will make sure that we follow it up as part of our mental health plan.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q13 Direct Answer
Edward Davey Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Context
British farmers are struggling with input costs such as animal feed and fertiliser, which have increased significantly. Support payments to farmers are being slashed.
May I join other new fans of Rangers and wish them good luck in Seville tonight?
British farmers are the best in the world. They could play a big part in the answer to how families and pensioners can put food on the table during the cost of living emergency. But from Caithness to Cumbria, from Shropshire to Devon, farmers' input costs are spiralling upwards: animal feed is up 60% and fertiliser prices have more than doubled. Yet instead of helping Britain's own food producers the Government are slashing the support payments that farmers rely on, sometimes for up to 50% of their income, even before a new scheme is in place. Will the Prime Minister meet me and farming leaders to understand the extreme challenges they are facing, so that our farmers can do their bit to help families and pensioners to afford to put food on the table during this economic crisis?
I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that I do recognise the challenges that farmers are facing with the cost of their inputs in fuel and fertiliser. That is why we are working so hard to abate those costs—not just cutting duty, but doing everything else we can to ensure that we fix the energy crisis. What we are also doing is championing UK food and farming, which has fantastic export markets around the world and now has 73 trade deals to exploit in a world avid, as he rightly says, for delicious, wholesome and nutritious UK food and drink. I would be very happy to organise the relevant meeting with him.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Context
The MP thanked constituents for helping Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. She inquired about closer cooperation with allies to secure long-term stability.
Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking my Hertford and Stortford constituents who are offering help and refuge to Ukrainians suffering from and fleeing the Russian invasion? Will he also set out how his visit to Sweden and Finland ensured closer co-operation with our allies to secure the long-term stability and security of Europe, as my constituents are rightly concerned about ongoing Russian aggression?
I thank my hon. Friend's constituents very much for what they are doing to help Ukrainians fleeing war and aggression. Yes, it is true that the UK signed historic declarations the other day with Sweden and Finland to reinforce our mutual security and to fortify Europe's defences.
Assessment & feedback
The response did not provide details on how the visit ensured closer cooperation or specific plans for long-term stability.
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Context
The MP highlighted the long delays in responding to letters and applications from constituents regarding immigration cases.
The Home Office, the Department of Health and Social Care and others now regularly take six months to respond to letters to Ministers. People with immigration cases wait years to hear anything at all. However, instead of putting resources into fixing this unacceptable problem, the Prime Minister is choosing to fire thousands of civil servants, and his Minister is wandering around Whitehall putting Post-it notes on desks that he thinks look too empty. Will the Prime Minister personally look into this issue and instruct his Ministers and civil servants to give our constituents the attention they deserve?
I must respectfully disagree with the implication for the civil service that working from home is everywhere as productive as being in the office. I simply do not accept that. I think we will become more productive and more efficient if, on the whole, we find ways to get back to our desks.
Assessment & feedback
The response did not address the issue of slow correspondence or provide instructions for improvement.
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Richard Holden Con
Basildon and Billericay
Context
The MP mentioned his campaign which led to grants being awarded to local schools in North West Durham. He expressed support for more good jobs locally.
Following my campaign, Witton-le-Wear Primary School is now being granted 350 grand for improvement works by Durham County Council—the only time this has happened, after Labour lost control of the council for the first time in over 100 years last year. Villa Real School, Leadgate Primary School and Consett Junior School in North West Durham are also going to be applying for the condition improvement fund. Can I urge my right hon. Friend to ensure that those cases are taken as seriously as possible? Does he, more broadly, agree that education is a cornerstone of levelling up, as is ensuring that more good jobs are available locally in County Durham too, so that it is more than just a place to bring friends for a social evening of beer and takeaway curry, and an even better place to live, work and bring up a family?
I thank my hon. Friend, who is a massive champion for his constituency of North West Durham. I am delighted that he has been a supporter of County Durham's city of culture bid—culture in its widest interpretation. I support him in everything he does.
Assessment & feedback
The response did not address the specific ask about ensuring cases are taken seriously or discuss education and jobs.
Response accuracy
Q17 Partial Answer
Ruth Jones Lab
Newport West and Islwyn
Context
The MP noted that Dementia Action Week was ongoing. The Tory manifesto promised to double funding for dementia research, but this has not yet been delivered.
I am sure the Prime Minister knows that this is Dementia Action Week, and I am proud that the UK Dementia Research Institute now calls Wales home. In 2019, the Tory manifesto promised to double funding for dementia research, but the researchers are still waiting for this money. So can the Prime Minister tell me, in Dementia Action Week, when the dementia moonshot will be delivered?
We intend fully to deliver the dementia moonshot, but never forget that Labour was the party that voted against £13 billion a year extra for the NHS.
Assessment & feedback
The response did not provide a timeline or commitment on when funding would be delivered and instead criticized the opposition.
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Context
The MP highlighted issues faced by constituents due to delays in passport and driving licence renewals.
I know that I am not alone in dealing with many constituents facing delays to renewing their passports and driving licences. In Gedling, there have been cases of family reunions in jeopardy and drivers nearly having job offers withdrawn because of delays to renewals. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that everything possible is being done in Government to address this problem so that we can get the good folk of Gedling back on the road and away for their holidays?
I am told that driving licences are now being issued faster than they were. I am also told that there are no delays in successful online driving licence applications and that customers should receive their licence within a few days. If I am misinformed about that, I trust that my hon. Friend will let me know.
Assessment & feedback
The response did not provide specific steps or actions being taken to address passport delays.
Response accuracy
Q19 Partial Answer
Context
The MP highlighted rising living costs and low wages, stating that constituents were struggling to afford daily expenses.
Prime Minister, food prices are going up, rents are going up and energy costs are going up. Every day, I have more and more constituents coming to me to say they thought the day would never come—things just cost too much. At the same time, people are anchored to the minimum wage, working two, three, four or five jobs on low wages with in-work benefits. They just cannot afford it. At the same time, we have a Minister, the hon. Member for Redditch (Rachel Maclean), saying that to survive they should take on more hours or get a better job. Does the Prime Minister agree with his Minister, or does he agree with me that we should have an emergency Budget?
I accept that of course there are economic pressures on our country now caused by the factors that we have mentioned, but that is why we have already increased the minimum wage by £1,000 per year for those who are on it, already increased universal credit by £1,000 a year, and all the other measures—billions and billions of tax that we are putting into supporting incomes. The reason we can do that is that we have strong economic fundamentals, with unemployment—I do not know when the hon. Gentleman was born—at the lowest it has been since 1974.
Assessment & feedback
The response did not directly address the need for an emergency budget and instead cited current measures.
Response accuracy
Q20 Partial Answer
Robbie Moore Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Context
The MP noted that Airedale General Hospital has submitted a bid for new hospital funding due to structural risks and age.
Airedale General Hospital recently submitted its bid to be one of the Government's new hospitals. This is because the Airedale has an extremely high structural risk profile, with 83% of the building being constructed from aerated concrete. Several wards are closed due to structural risk. The hospital is now over 20 years beyond its original life expectancy. So can the Prime Minister personally assure me that we will be able to deliver a new Airedale hospital that is fit for the future?
There is a lot of pressure on me to dish out yet another hospital from this Dispatch Box. But I can tell my hon. Friend that we are reviewing all applications for the next eight hospitals in our new hospital programme, which is the biggest in a generation. That is only possible because we have a strong economy. My hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner for his constituents. We will make a final decision later this year.
Assessment & feedback
The response did not provide personal assurance and instead referred to the hospital programme in general.
Response accuracy
Q21 Partial Answer
Context
A private charter flight to Moscow was allowed to take off from Inverness airport despite a UK ban on such flights that had come into effect the previous night. The question arises due to air traffic control transcripts revealing no attempt by authorities to prevent the plane's departure.
On 26 February, a private charter flight to Moscow was allowed to take off from Inverness airport in an apparent breach of UK sanctions. Will the Prime Minister commit to informing the House at the earliest opportunity who was travelling on that flight? Why, despite being informed in advance of the flight, was no attempt made by the UK Government to prevent the plane from taking off?
I do not know the answer to the hon. Member's question, but as soon as we can get some information about that, I will make sure that the House is properly informed.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to informing the House of specific individuals or reasons for inaction.
Response accuracy
Q22 Partial Answer
Context
The Planning Inspectorate approved a massive logistics hub plan for south Warrington, despite over 1,000 letters of objection and the development being contrary to national planning policies. The question seeks clarification on how the government will uphold local community voices and protect the green belt.
Does the Prime Minister agree that listening to local communities and protecting our precious green belt must be at the heart of planning policy? Will he meet me to see how local residents can have their voices heard?
Local residents could have no more powerful voice than that of my hon. Friend. The House will have heard him loud and clear. I know that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will have heard him loud and clear and will make sure that he gets the relevant meeting.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific actions beyond acknowledging the importance of local voices and promising a meeting.
Response accuracy
Q23 Partial Answer
Context
The Prime Minister previously outlined principles in the ministerial code regarding no bullying, harassment, misuse of taxpayer money, and conflicts of interest. The question seeks a self-assessment from the PM on adhering to these principles.
Can the Prime Minister tell me, on a scale of one to 10, how he is doing on keeping to those principles?
It is 10 out of 10, because we believe in this Government in adhering to the principles of the ministerial code. By the way, and this is an important point, because there are a lot of attacks on MPs and on what goes on in this place, it is always worth stressing that the vast majority of people who work in the House of Commons—Members of Parliament—are doing a very good job and working very hard and are not misbehaving.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a numerical rating or specifics on adherence, instead discussed general behavior.
Response accuracy
Q24 Partial Answer
Kevin Hollinrake Con
Thirsk and Malton
Context
The Government announced that up to 1,500 non-detained young, single male asylum seekers will be accommodated in a small rural village of 600 residents. This raises concerns about the impact on community safety and property values.
Thirsk and Malton has welcomed asylum seekers from all parts of the world, but starting from 31 May, up to 1,500 non-detained young, single males will be kept on a base at the centre of a small rural village. This will devastate the community and house prices. Will my right hon. Friend please stop these plans?
I thank my hon. Friend very much, and I know that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is engaging with him and others locally about the use of the site. I hear loud and clear what he has had to say. Indeed, I am the recipient of many of his intercessions on this matter, and I understand the strength of feeling in his constituency.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to stopping the plans but acknowledged concerns and ongoing engagement.
Response accuracy