Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care previously stated that mandatory vaccinations would be subject to a consultation.
On Monday, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said mandatory vaccinations would be subject to a consultation. Can the Prime Minister make it unequivocally clear—no ifs, no buts, no qualifications—that mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff will be abandoned? Will he also make it clear that that is also true for care workers, many of whom have already lost their jobs? What support will the Government be giving to get those care workers back into the care sector, and will those who have lost their jobs get compensation?
I thank my right hon. Friend for her thoughtful work on this. I want to stress that vaccines remain our best line of defence, and I think that NHS staff and all those who work in the care sector have a professional responsibility to get vaccinated. However, as my right hon. Friend the Health Secretary told the House on Monday, given the difference between omicron and delta, it is right—my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Esther McVey) is right—that we revisit the balance of risks and opportunities. The Health Secretary has said we will launch a consultation and, subject to the responses and the will of this House, the Government will revoke the regulations.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not confirm or deny abandoning mandatory vaccinations for care workers or provide specific support and compensation details.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government has announced a range of measures to tackle the cost of living, including tax changes.
Following your opening remarks, Mr Speaker, I want to say to Government Members that theirs is the party of Winston Churchill. Our parties stood together as we defeated fascism in Europe. Now their leader stands in the House of Commons parroting the conspiracy theories of violent fascists to try to score cheap political points. He knows exactly what he is doing. It is time to restore some dignity. One of the most absurd claims made on behalf of Operation Save Big Dog is the Prime Minister and the Chancellor writing in The Sunday Times that they are the “tax-cutting Conservatives.” Why do these alleged tax cutters keep raising taxes on working people?
On the right hon. and learned Gentleman's first point, I do not want to make heavy weather of this, but I am informed that in 2013 he apologised and took full responsibility for what had happened on his watch, and I think that was the right thing to do. On what we are doing to tackle the cost of living and taxation, our covid recovery plan is vital in helping people with the cost of living: lifting up universal credit payments by cutting the tax that people effectively pay, lifting the living wage, and helping councils with another half a billion pounds for those who are facing particular hardship. What we are also doing, and this is absolutely vital, is increasing the number of high-wage, high-skill jobs in this country.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address the question about tax increases and instead talked about past actions by the Labour Party.
Changing Subject
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government has announced various tax measures, including an increase in national insurance contributions.
It is not just the national insurance rise. Thresholds for income tax frozen—a stealth tax on working people. The threshold for tuition fees frozen—a stealth tax on working people. Local authorities forced to increase council tax—a stealth tax on working people. You can be as stealthy as you like, but you cannot hide reality. We have the highest tax burden for 70 years in the middle of an inflation crisis. I ask the Prime Minister again: why do he and the Chancellor keep raising taxes on working people?
What we are doing is helping people with the cost of living, cutting taxes for those on universal credit, as I have said, and helping people with the cost of their fuel, with the cold weather payments and the warm home payment—doing all the things that this country would expect. We are lifting the living wage, which this party introduced. This Government have increased that by a record amount. Above all, the most important thing we are doing is helping people into work, with 500,000 people off welfare and into work under our way to work scheme. There are more people in work now than before the pandemic began, and that is the record of this Government.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address why taxes were being raised on working people but instead focused on measures to help with cost of living and job creation.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government has faced criticism for raising taxes during an inflation crisis.
Lots of words, lots of bluster, but no answers. A word of warning, Prime Minister: that will not work with the police. I will tell the Prime Minister why the Government are putting taxes up: low growth. In the decade of Tory Government before the pandemic, growth slumped. It was much, much weaker than under the last Labour Government. If the Tories matched our record on growth, we would have £30 billion more to spend on public services without having to raise a single tax. Surely even this Prime Minister does not need someone else to tell him that he and the Chancellor are having to raise taxes because the Tories failed to grow the economy over a decade.
No, I think everybody in this country can see that we have been through the biggest pandemic for 100 years and that we have looked after the people of this country to the tune of £400 billion, which we put into furlough and all the other schemes, with 11.7 million people protected. Everybody knows the cost of that. At the same time, despite all the difficulties we have faced, we have now got the fastest growth in the G7. That is absolutely true. We have youth unemployment at a record low. We have got three times as much tech investment coming into this country as France, and twice as much as Germany.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address why taxes were being raised given low economic growth but instead talked about pandemic recovery efforts and current economic performance.
Changing Subject
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Q5
Partial Answer
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The UK has faced significant economic challenges, including fraud and waste. The government is accused of writing off £8.7 billion on personal protective equipment.
Why did this Government block the National Crime Agency from investigating all the billions they lost to fraud?
Of course we despise fraud and those who steal from the taxpayer, which is why we have already recovered £743 million in lost furlough money and £2.2 billion that was stolen in bounce back loans. We secured record quantities of PPE in record time.
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Assessment & feedback
Blocking the National Crime Agency from investigating fraud cases
Captain Hindsight
Attacking The Opposition
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister is accused of protecting oil companies and bank profits while increasing taxes on working people.
Why are the Chancellor and the Prime Minister protecting oil companies and bank profits while putting taxes up on working people?
This Government has invested £408 billion in an unprecedented economic crisis. We are investing now in 45,000 more NHS workers this year than there were last year: 10,900 more nurses; about 5,000 more doctors.
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Assessment & feedback
Protecting oil companies and bank profits while increasing taxes on working people
Shift To Nhs Investments
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Q7
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister is accused of misleading the public about cutting taxes at a time when taxes are actually increasing.
Isn't it the case that he and his Chancellor are the Tory Thelma and Louise, hand in hand as they drive the country off the cliff, and into the abyss of low growth and high tax?
We are getting on with coming out of covid, and we are the second fastest, or the fastest economic recovery in the G7. We are fixing the NHS and social care when the Opposition voted against it, and they have no plan. We opened freeports across the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Leading the country to economic ruin
Shift To Economic Recovery
Attacking Opposition
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Sophie Fairall, aged 10, died due to a tumour missed by her GP and only discovered at A&E. Cancer is the leading cause of death for children under 14.
Sophie's GP failed to diagnose her cancer despite it being the biggest killer of children under 14. I would like to ask the Prime Minister to advocate for more and better training for general practice to identify childhood cancers as part of World Cancer Day on Friday.
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I am very sorry to hear about Sophie's case and my thoughts are with her family and friends. She is right that research is crucial, but it is also vital that we do tests early enough, so not only has NICE updated its guidance on referring childhood cancers in February last year, but we are investing in 100 new diagnostic centres.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly commit to advocating for more training for GPs to identify cancer in children
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
The Telegraph revealed that the Prime Minister attended a party in his flat on 13 November 2020, which contradicts his previous statement to the House. The police are now investigating this incident.
I respect the authority of Mr Speaker but I have a duty to represent public anger with the PM for attending a party that he previously denied happened. Can the Prime Minister update the House on where he was on 13 November?
The right hon. Gentleman asked exactly the same questions a few days ago and knows that the process must go on. We have been delivering the fastest vaccine roll-out anywhere in Europe, getting people back to work, and helping to defy unacceptable threats against Ukraine.
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Assessment & feedback
Changed subject entirely without addressing the specific question of his whereabouts
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Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister has been previously questioned about attending a party that he denied happened. The Chair of the Select Committee on Defence submitted a letter of no confidence.
The PM cannot even tell us where he was, and his colleagues' expressions show they agree. He thinks everything is owed to him but never thinks what he owes the public. What does it mean for the PM that the Chair of the Defence Committee has submitted a letter of no confidence?
It is more vital than ever to deliver our covid recovery plan, and we are doing that. That is what matters now.
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Assessment & feedback
Changed subject entirely without addressing the specific question of the no confidence letter
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister visited the constituency where he saw plans for a new nuclear power plant at Wylfa. The questioner believes nuclear must play a role in meeting carbon and net-zero goals.
Nuclear power must be part of our carbon-neutral future, levelling up, and combating high energy prices. Does my right hon. Friend agree the rapid deployment of nuclear technology is crucial? If so, will he commit to financing Wylfa Newydd in this Parliament?
It was a great joy to visit my hon. Friend's constituency, where she informed me of her plans for Wylfa. It is a fantastic vision and site, and it remains a very interesting and attractive prospect for new nuclear power.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to financing the project in this Parliament
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Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
Universal credit has been cut, national insurance raised, and energy bills skyrocketed. The PM often claims 'we are all in this together', but working families feel left behind.
While the Prime Minister was partying, working families lost £1,000 from universal credit, faced higher national insurance, and sky-high energy bills. Isn't it true that the PM only cares about himself and his rich mates?
I am in it to serve my country and the entire United Kingdom, proud of our biggest investment in Northern Ireland since devolution began, and cutting taxation on universal credit.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the negative impacts mentioned by the MP
Response accuracy
Q13
Direct Answer
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South Western Railway has cut off Dorset, Somerset, most of Wiltshire and Devon from direct rail services to London and slashed service in half.
South Western Railway's actions have isolated these regions and halved the service. Will my right hon. Friend support me and neighbouring colleagues in restoring direct services to West Dorset and having a timetable fit for our region?
I thank my hon. Friend very much for his question; he knows whereof he speaks. He is an expert and has effectively lobbied for his constituents, reflecting their frustrations. The timetable is expected to return to December 2021 levels from Saturday 19 February.
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Q14
Partial Answer
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A constituent faces significant fuel bill increases while another criticizes the government's lack of a plan for cost-of-living support.
I was out speaking to constituents who have seen their bills increase from £100 to £170 per month due to poor insulation and higher costs. The Government failed to insulate homes and control fuel prices. My constituent called the Prime Minister despicable for having no plan to help families struggling with living costs.
The Government has delivered economic support worth £12 billion this year. We have a jobs-led recovery, which includes the fastest G7 growth.
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Assessment & feedback
Cutting VAT on energy and getting oil/gas companies to contribute more was not addressed.
Redirected To Brexit
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Q15
Partial Answer
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A proposed clean air zone in Greater Manchester is seen as economically devastating with daily charges of £60 per lorry driver, affecting taxis, vans, and buses.
The proposed Greater Manchester clean air zone scheme will charge £60 per day for lorries and impact taxis, van drivers, and even buses. Will the PM intervene to stop Mayor Burnham from imposing this unworkable Labour scheme?
The proposed scheme by Greater Manchester's Labour Mayor is unworkable and will harm local businesses. An alternative that does not punish residents must be found.
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Assessment & feedback
No intervention or prevention plan was specified.
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Q16
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister is under scrutiny for potential lockdown rule violations, as constituents question his accountability.
If the PM receives a fixed penalty notice for attending or hosting a party during lockdown, will he inform the House and resign?
I will comply with the law once the process is concluded.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment to informing the House or resignation was given.
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Q17
Partial Answer
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Increased road congestion due to economic growth in Blyth Valley necessitates urgent infrastructure improvements.
The green revolution in Blyth Valley is causing increased traffic and the need for better roads. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss this problem?
My hon. Friend is championing Blyth Valley well. We are securing a Britishvolt gigafactory and working with the council on a bid for the Blyth relief road.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment to meeting or specific actions were outlined.
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Q18
Partial Answer
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The cost-of-living crisis in York, including high rent prices and food, energy, and tax increases, is pushing constituents into poverty.
While the PM enjoys himself, my constituents face rising costs, with York among the top 10 places for a living crisis. When will he stop protecting himself and start helping them?
We have increased local housing allowance, the living wage twice by record amounts, and improved universal credit. Our jobs-led recovery is driving growth.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific plan or timeline for addressing cost-of-living issues was provided.
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Q19
Partial Answer
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The Prime Minister's visit to Ukraine highlights the current tension and the need for Western support against potential Russian aggression.
Will the PM brief us on his visit to Ukraine, where Russian troops are massing on the borders?
The mission was to stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression. We will lead in economic sanctions and support the Ukrainian army.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific briefing or detailed plan for engagement was outlined.
Response accuracy
Q20
Partial Answer
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After the publication of the Russia report, concerns were raised about the government's failure to prioritise legislation against illicit financial flows from Russia.
Why has the Prime Minister not prioritised an Economic Crime Act despite warnings that dirty money from Russia poses a national security issue?
This Government have come down very hard on dirty money from Russia and everywhere else, bringing in unexplained wealth orders. We have sanctions on Russia following Crimea in 2014 and Magnitsky sanctions on those involved in the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. The economic crime Bill will be voted on in the third Session of this Parliament.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to legislating for an Economic Crime Act was not specifically addressed
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Q21
Partial Answer
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The Government delivered on the Brexit decision despite a global pandemic, signing over 70 free trade agreements.
Will the Prime Minister commit to appointing a Minister responsible for realising the freedoms and benefits of Brexit?
It is largely thanks to Brexit that we had the fastest vaccine roll-out in Europe, delivered freeports, and 60 or 70 free trade deals. I will not anticipate decisions about Government roles but think it would be a good idea to have a Minister driving the post-Brexit agenda.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to appointing a specific Minister was not explicitly made
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Q22
Partial Answer
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Multiple statements were issued regarding Downing Street parties during the pandemic, culminating in Allegra Stratton resigning.
Why did Allegra Stratton have to resign if previous statements about partygate were true?
No one wanted Allegra to resign, and I was very sad that she did.
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Assessment & feedback
Circumstances leading to her resignation were not explained
Response accuracy
Q23
Partial Answer
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A constituent campaign seeks a dedicated menopause clinic due to current travel distance issues.
What steps are being taken to improve access to menopause services for women in Devon and the south-west?
We are committed to improving menopause care so that all women can have access. Menopause will be a priority in our women's health strategy, and we aim to establish a UK-wide taskforce.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions for Devon and the south-west were not detailed
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Q24
Partial Answer
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Questions arose about the Prime Minister's credibility regarding Downing Street parties and the need for an inquiry.
Given the need for a Metropolitan police inquiry to determine if the PM attended a Downing Street party, how can he be fit to control the nuclear deterrent?
I hesitate to remind the hon. Lady that she campaigned actively for a Prime Minister who wanted to get rid of our nuclear deterrent altogether.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address fitness to control the nuclear deterrent
Attacking Opposition
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Q25
Direct Answer
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Recognition of NHS workers, volunteers, and pharmacists for their role in the successful vaccine distribution.
Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking NHS staff and volunteers for making the vaccine roll-out a success in Dewsbury, Mirfield, Kirkburton, and Denby Dale?
I thank my hon. Friend for his representation of his communities and all involved in the roll-out in Dewsbury, Mirfield, Kirkburton and Denby Dale. It was an extraordinary national effort with pride seen in every vaccine centre.
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Assessment & feedback
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