Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
In 1946, the British government ordered forced repatriation of Chinese seamen in Liverpool to China, causing emotional trauma for many families.
Liverpool is a welcoming city with the oldest Chinese community in Europe. However, in 1946, thousands of Chinese seamen living in Liverpool with their British families were forcibly returned to China by the government, causing lasting emotional trauma. Many descendants live in my constituency today. Will the Prime Minister take steps to acknowledge these events and provide a formal apology and justice?
I have happy memories of my own visits to Liverpool, and I can tell the hon. Member that we are certainly very grateful across the country to the Chinese community for their amazing contribution.
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Assessment & feedback
Acknowledging historical repatriation events and offering an apology
Changing Subject
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Q2
Partial Answer
John Stevenson
Con
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Context
The Pirelli factory in Carlisle employs around 800 people and contributes significantly to the local economy.
Pirelli factory in Carlisle employs approximately 800 people, contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to the local economy. The location is a result of regional economic policy from 50 years ago. Does the Prime Minister agree that modern-day proactive regional economic policies are necessary for rebalancing and levelling up the country? Will he visit Carlisle to see both old and new aspects in action?
Of course, I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for what he says. He will hear more in just half an hour or so—from the Chancellor about how we intend to make sure we build back better across the whole of this country and unleash the tremendous potential of the whole of the United Kingdom.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment on regional economic policy and visit to Carlisle
Redirecting
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
President Biden suspended arms sales which could be used in the Yemen conflict.
I join the Prime Minister's comments about the Salisbury atrocity. Does he agree with President Biden that selling arms potentially usable in the Yemen war should be halted?
Ever since the tragic conflict in Yemen broke out, this country has scrupulously followed the consolidated guidance of which the right hon. and learned Gentleman will be well aware.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific agreement on suspending arms sales to Saudi Arabia
Reference To Existing Policy
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
UK sold £1.4 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia in three months last year, including weapons potentially usable in Yemen.
While President Biden suspended arms sales that could be used in the war in Yemen, UK has not. We sold £1.4 billion-worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, including bombs and missiles potentially used in Yemen. Given the humanitarian cost of this war, why does he think it is right to sell these weapons?
The UK is part of an international coalition following UN resolutions and we continue scrupulously to follow the humanitarian guidance among the toughest measures anywhere in the world.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific justification for selling arms to Saudi Arabia
Reference To Existing Policy
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
UK lost a court case two years ago in relation to arms sales. UK is increasingly isolated due to selling arms to Saudi Arabia.
The system for approving arms sales cannot be robust since the Government lost a court case on arms sales just two years ago. Given the isolation of UK and human rights issues, what will it take for him to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia?
We condemn the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and continue calling for a full independent investigation. We sanctioned 20 people in Saudi Arabia.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific conditions to suspend arms sales
Reference To Existing Policy
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Government decided to halve international aid to Yemen. UN warned that this would result in a death sentence for people in Yemen.
The Government cut international aid to Yemen by half despite warnings of the worst famine seen in decades and a 'death sentence' from the Secretary-General. How can selling arms to Saudi Arabia and cutting aid be justified?
We have increased aid spending to the highest proportion in history, but current straitened circumstances mean we must temporarily reduce it. We contribute £214 million for this financial year.
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Assessment & feedback
Justification of cutting aid and selling arms to Saudi Arabia
Reference To Existing Policy
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Government halved international aid to Yemen despite criticism from MPs about it being 'unconscionable'.
This week the Government cut our international aid to Yemen. The right hon. Member for Bournemouth East and Sutton Coldfield called this 'unconscionable'. Will he now reconsider cutting aid urgently?
We have given £1 billion since the conflict began, we are in support of UN resolutions, and this year we contribute another £214 million.
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Assessment & feedback
Reconsideration of cutting aid to Yemen
Reference To Existing Policy
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK government is considering cutting the international aid budget to 0.5% of GDP, breaking a manifesto commitment.
I am concerned about the Prime Minister's and Chancellor's determination to cut international aid despite their manifesto promise of 0.7%. Will they put this decision to a vote in the House?
We are going to get on with our agenda, spending more than virtually any other country in the G7 on aid. We will do everything we can to support Yemen despite constraints.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not commit to a vote or address the manifesto break specifically.
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
Liam Fox
Con
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Context
There is turmoil in Scottish politics, and concerns about civil servants feeling pressurized to behave inappropriately.
Given the difficulties in Scotland, will you confirm that any civil servants who feel pressured have a mechanism to seek redress beyond their immediate Ministers?
I thank my right hon. Friend and support all civil servants. Now is the time for our civil service to focus on building back better together.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address the mechanism for seeking redress beyond immediate Ministers.
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Q10
Partial Answer
Ian Blackford
SNP
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Context
The UK government is cutting international aid to Yemen by 50%, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis there.
Given that a UN chief described the cuts as 'a death sentence', and considering previous support, will today's Budget force through these devastating cuts?
This country has given £1 billion to support the people of Yemen. We are providing cash support to 1.5 million households and treating severe malnutrition.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not confirm if today's Budget would force through cuts, only described ongoing efforts.
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
Ian Blackford
SNP
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The Prime Minister made a commitment during his leadership race to stand by 0.7% for aid spending but followed with another U-turn.
Given the previous commitment, why is the Prime Minister breaking it and causing strain on public finances?
The Government have given £280 billion to support people's livelihoods in the UK. We continue supporting Yemen through a massive vaccination programme.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not explain why he was breaking his commitment, only discussed ongoing efforts.
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister is asked to ensure Dudley Council has the powers and resources needed for development on brownfield sites.
Will the PM ensure Dudley Council and Mayor have the powers and resources they need for development on brownfield rather than green spaces?
We will protect our vital green belt. We can build homes, as my hon. Friend suggests—300,000 of them on brownfield sites.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not confirm providing specific powers and resources to Dudley Council.
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The protocol is causing trade disruption between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and damaging political stability.
What action does the Prime Minister intend to take to deliver on his promise to protect Northern Ireland's position within the UK internal market?
The position of Northern Ireland within the UK internal market is rock solid. We are making temporary operational easings in food supplies pending further EU discussions.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not specify actions to ensure unfettered access for goods from Great Britain.
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Q14
Direct Answer
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Sarah Atherton highlighted the successful production of a British vaccine by Wockhardt in Wrexham, underscoring the region's importance.
Our British vaccine, finished in Wockhardt in Wrexham, has shown the globe exactly what the UK can achieve. Does the Prime Minister agree that now is the time for our young people to look at and aspire to careers in STEM and healthcare, and that Wrexham is the hub that can take us forward?
My hon. Friend is completely right. I thank her again, by the way, for her amazing service in the NHS in Wrexham and in returning to the frontline. It was at Wockhardt in Wrexham that I met young female scientists who are helping to make the vaccine that will not only free our country, we hope, from the captivity of covid, but help to liberate the entire world. It was wonderful to see it happening in Wrexham.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
Council tax is seen as an unfair burden on poorer communities and fails to generate the necessary revenues for local services.
I would like to ask about a very important domestic issue. The property tax system in England is broken. Council tax places an unfair burden on people living in the poorest communities without generating the revenues needed to fund local services. Does the Prime Minister agree that a proportional property tax, as proposed by the Fairer Share campaign, would create a transparent property taxation system, generate revenues that local government needs and ease the tax burden on hard-pressed families across the country, including in my constituency of Easington?
With great respect to the hon. Member, what the country needs are councillors who charge you less while delivering better services. If we look across the country, we can see that it is overwhelmingly Conservative-run councils that do that.
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Assessment & feedback
Proposed proportional property tax system
Changed Subject To Council Performance
Response accuracy
Q16
Direct Answer
David Amess
Con
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Context
A constituent, Mr Luke Bellfield, was stabbed to death at age 18, impacting his family and community.
Last Friday, my constituent Mr Luke Bellfield, who was aged just 18, was stabbed to death just a few miles from his family home. This has been horrendous for his family and friends who have been left behind and my heart goes out to them all. What more does my right hon. Friend think that the police, society and Parliament can do to make sure that there never will be such senseless murders again?
I sympathise very much with Luke's family and his friends, and there is nothing I can say that will alleviate their loss. But what we are doing is recruiting many more police officers to fight crime, rolling up the county lines drugs gangs wherever we can and setting out plans to keep serious sexual and violent offenders behind bars for longer.
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Q17
Partial Answer
Patrick Grady
SNP
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The SNP is distributing leaflets suggesting a vote for the Tories in Scotland would prevent an independence referendum.
We know that the Prime Minister is the proud leader of a British nationalist party, and he says that his no to another independence referendum in Scotland is final, so why are his colleagues in Scotland distributing leaflets that say a vote for the Tories is a vote to stop an independence referendum? If a vote for the British nationalist Tories in Scotland must be accepted as a legitimate vote against a referendum, surely a vote for the Scottish National party in May must be respected as a mandate for putting Scotland's future in Scotland's hands.
I was delighted to hear a sort of acceptance there that the hon. Gentleman is running a nationalist party, if that is what he was saying, because I am afraid I agree with that; they are not in respect of the whole of this country.
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Assessment & feedback
SNP mandate for independence referendum
Criticising Snp As Nationalist Party
Response accuracy
Q18
Direct Answer
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Context
The constituency of Accrington was at the heart of the first industrial revolution and is ready for a new green industrial revolution.
May I first say how great it was to welcome my right hon. Friend to Accrington last week? I am sure that he will join me in thanking the staff and pupils at Accrington Academy for making our visit such a welcoming one. As you will know, Mr Speaker, my constituency was at the heart of the first industrial revolution, and we are ready to lead in the new green industrial revolution and level up once and for all. On that note, will my right hon. Friend commit to supporting my campaign to rejuvenate our high streets and town centres across Hyndburn and Haslingden?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on her campaign. It was great to be in Accrington and I hope that she will be hearing even more shortly from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor about what we can do to support the towns fund and other measures to help Accrington and places across the whole country.
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Q19
Direct Answer
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Context
Charities participating in the Erasmus+ programme are losing funding due to Brexit, and specific mention of STAND International is made.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I would like to thank you and Members across the House, including the Prime Minister, for your well wishes during my illness. The Prime Minister previously guaranteed that there was no threat to the Erasmus scheme as a result of Brexit. We now know that charities such as STAND International in my constituency that participate in the programme are set to lose 96% of their funding as a result of the UK Government's decision to pull the plug on Erasmus+. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that charities will receive match funding under the new Turing scheme, and will he agree to meet me and representatives from STAND International to ensure that no young person in East Dunbartonshire gets left behind as a result of Brexit?
I am sure I speak for everybody when I say how much I welcome the hon. Lady back to PMQs—it is great to see her back. I do give her that assurance, and I think the Turing scheme will be better and will deliver exactly what she wants.
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Q20
Partial Answer
Andrea Leadsom
Con
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Harry Dunn's parents, Tim and Charlotte, have been campaigning for justice since their son died in a car accident near the US Air Force base in RAF Croughton. The case highlights diplomatic issues between the UK and the US.
My right hon. Friend has taken a strong personal interest in the tragic story of my constituent, Harry Dunn. So will he please continue to do everything in his power to reassure Tim and Charlotte, Harry's parents, and all their family that he will try to persuade President Biden to deliver justice for Harry?
My right hon. Friend is completely right to continue to raise the case of Harry Dunn, and we sympathise deeply with his family. It is a case that we continue to raise with the highest level, and I know that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has only just raised it with Tony Blinken, the US Secretary of State.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions or commitments regarding persuading President Biden
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Q21
Partial Answer
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Context
Rhondda Cynon Taf has the third highest COVID death rate in the UK. The region struggles with inequality, poverty, and underfunding, exacerbated by 11 years of Tory austerity cuts.
My constituency Rhondda Cynon Taf has the third highest covid death rate due to inequality, poverty, and chronic underfunding. This Government have an appalling record on providing Wales with a fair share of UK spending. What will it take for him to stop ignoring the south Wales valleys?
I am afraid I disagree profoundly with the implication of what the hon. Lady is saying—and indeed with what her constituent Lyndon is, by implication, asking—because this Government continue to give massive support through the Barnett formula and elsewhere. It is £2.4 billion alone through Barnett, and there is now more coming through the levelling-up fund and other means.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions or commitments regarding stopping ignoring south Wales valleys
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Q22
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government committed over £30 million to create a green energy transition zone and a global underwater hub in the north-east of Scotland.
Only this week, the Government demonstrated their commitment with over £30 million for a green energy transition. Will my right hon. Friend further support this vital industry by transitioning it towards net zero with an energy transition deal?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his last-minute lobbying. He has only a few minutes to wait before he may hear something to his advantage.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific ask for an energy transition deal
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Q23
Partial Answer
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Prime Minister previously pledged no checks on goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
In an interview in December 2019, you pledged no checks on goods moving between NI and GB. While this has proven challenging, would you encourage Ministers to do all they can?
Yes, I certainly can do that. As I said in answer to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley, we leave nothing off the table in order to make sure that we get that done.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions or commitments beyond general encouragement
Response accuracy
Q24
Partial Answer
Andrew Percy
Con
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The Humber estuary is the biggest trading estuary in the UK, containing Hull's port and Scunthorpe steelworks.
With the Humber being a vital trading estuary and key sites like Hull and Grimsby involved, may I encourage you to look closely at the Humber free port bid as it contains important regions?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He has mounted an excellent campaign and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor will say more about that shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions or commitments beyond general encouragement
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Q25
Partial Answer
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HS2 is expected to reduce travel times significantly between Manchester airport and London, alongside carbon capture benefits.
With HS2 reducing journey times from Manchester to London by 1 hour 34 minutes and offering environmental benefits, what prevents the Government from starting construction in the north now?
The answer to that is, as anybody who gets a project done on their home or wherever knows, that starting again midway through I am afraid greatly multiplies the cost, but we will go as fast as we possibly can.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific reasons preventing immediate construction start in northern regions
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Q26
Partial Answer
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The UK led the world in financial innovations for public good since the previous G7 summit.
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that social investment tax relief will continue beyond April and use this year's G7 to trumpet its benefits?
My hon. Friend has long been a campaigner for the wonderful benefits of social enterprise. I visited some of his own, and if he just waits a little longer, he will receive an update on social investment tax relief.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific confirmation or timeline for continuation beyond April
Response accuracy