Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Nikki's seven-year-old son had 37 seizures a day due to a brain disease, which improved after surgery but continues to struggle. The questioner supports the Acquired Brain Injury Bill for a cross-departmental strategy on acquired brain injuries.
Nikki's seven-year-old son had 37 seizures a day because of a brain disease he suffered from. He has had surgery now, but it is a struggle every day to get him to stay in school. Nikki is supporting the Acquired Brain Injury Bill because she believes that the Government need a cross-departmental strategy for supporting those who have an acquired brain injury, whether that is rugby players with concussion and dementia, women who have been beaten in the head by their partners, children who have suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning, or soldiers who have been in explosions. I really hope that the Government are going to back the Acquired Brain Injury Bill, but above all we need a strategy to help 1.4 million people in this country. Will the Prime Minister give us that?
I thank the hon. Member for raising this vital issue and for his personal commitment to this cause. I can assure him that we are studying his proposed Bill and working to ensure that people do get support for the acquired brain injuries that they have received. What we can certainly pledge at this stage—I hope this will be of some use to him and the many who care about this issue in the way that he does, as I am sure Members do across the House—is that the Department of Health and Social Care will lead on the development of a cross-departmental Government strategy on acquired brain injury and other neurological conditions. I will be very happy to share details with him shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not directly answered, instead providing general assurances without firm commitments or timelines.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
In July, more than 2,000 homes in Kensington were flooded due to a river running down Portobello Road and residents moving into temporary accommodation.
In July this year, my constituency, Kensington, suffered devastating flooding, with more than 2,000 homes flooded, a river running down Portobello Road and a lot of residents having to move into temporary accommodation. Does my right hon. Friend agree that Thames Water needs to come up with short and long-term solutions, and that it needs to make sufficient investment in infrastructure to prevent such events from happening again?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise flooding, and she is right about short and long-term solutions. That is why I am proud, among other things, to have helped to instigate the Thames Tideway Tunnel, with the biggest super-sewer in the history of this country, which will help to deal with what happens in London when the Bazalgette interceptors overflow and to deal with flooding throughout the city.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not directly answered; instead, the PM mentioned a different project without addressing Thames Water's role or future plans.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
At the last election, the Prime Minister promised that nobody would have to sell their home to pay for care. The questioner believes this is another broken promise.
At the last election, the Prime Minister promised that nobody would have to sell their home to pay for care. That is another broken promise, isn't it?
No, because if the right hon. and learned Gentleman looked at what we are proposing and if he supported what we are proposing—it is fixing something that Labour never fixed in all its years in office. We are saying to the people of this country that we will disregard their home as part of their assets if they and their spouse are living in it. No. 2, you can have a deferred payments agreement if you move out and are living in residential care. Most important of all, by putting the huge investment we are making now in health and social care, we are allowing, for the first time, the people of this country to insure themselves against the otherwise potentially catastrophic costs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not directly answered; instead, the PM provided general assurances without addressing the broken promise claim.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister used to say that nobody would have to sell their home to pay for care, but the current policy does not seem to address this promise. The questioner is seeking clarity on whether this commitment has been fulfilled.
I think the Prime Minister just described the broken system he said he was fixing. It is certainly not a straight answer. Let us have another go. He used to say—[Interruption.] I see they've turned up this week, Prime Minister. [Interruption.]
No, it is not complicated, because what we are doing is disregarding your home as part of the assets that we calculate. If you go down to £100,000, that is the beginning of where we will ask you to contribute, but your home is not included in that.
No, it is not complicated, because what we are doing is disregarding your home as part of the assets that we calculate. If you go down to £100,000, that is the beginning of where we will ask you to contribute, but your home is not included in that.
No, because if the right hon. and learned Gentleman looked at what we are proposing and if he supported what we are proposing—it is fixing something that Labour never fixed in all its years in office. We are saying to the people of this country that we will disregard their home as part of their assets if they and their spouse are living in it. No. 2, you can have a deferred payments agreement if you move out and are living in residential care. Most important of all, by putting the huge investment we are making now in health and social care, we are allowing, for the first time, the people of this country to insure themselves against the otherwise potentially catastrophic costs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not directly answered; instead, the PM provided general assurances without addressing the broken promise claim.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister has had two opportunities to stand by his manifesto commitment but did not take them. The questioner is seeking clarity on whether this commitment will be fulfilled under the current policy.
The Prime Minister has had two opportunities to stand by his manifesto commitment and he has not taken them. [Interruption.] He says he just has, so let us test this in the real world. Under the Prime Minister's plans, a person with assets worth about £100,000, most of it tied up in their home, would have to pay £80,000. They would lose almost everything. How on earth does the Prime Minister think that they can get their hands on that kind of money without selling their home?
I am going to have a third go at trying to clear this up in the befuddled mind of the right hon. and learned Gentleman, because it is important. The fact is that the Labour party has totally failed to address this. It has not had the guts to fix this in all its time in office. It is something left over from the Attlee Government and we are fixing it. Let me repeat for the third time: your home is disregarded. No. 2, even if you have a second—if you are in residential care, you have a deferred payments agreement. No. 3, we are allowing you to insure yourself for the first time against catastrophic consequences by capping it at £86,000.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not directly answered; instead, the PM provided general assurances without addressing the broken promise claim.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the government's policy on care home funding, which has been criticized as unfair to middle-income homeowners.
Given that someone with a house worth £120,000 to £140,000 faces an £80,000 cost for care without selling their home, how do they manage this? The policy forces people to sell their homes; why does the Prime Minister refuse to address this?
The right hon. and learned Gentleman raised HS2, a major infrastructure project that runs through my constituency. Despite its challenges, I supported it for the long-term interests of the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Asked about care costs protection for middle-income homeowners; addressed HS2 instead
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The question stems from the disparity between how different asset levels are treated under the Prime Minister's care cost policy, with lower asset homeowners losing more than those with higher assets.
Under the current policy, someone with £100,000 in assets will lose almost everything for care costs, while a person with £1 million retains most of their wealth. The question highlights this lack of fairness and asks how such inequality can be justified.
The Government's policies are delivering for working people, disregarding housing assets while occupied. We have more jobs and higher wages now than before the pandemic.
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Assessment & feedback
Asked about unfairness in care cost protection policy; answered with general employment statistics
General Statement
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The question concerns the government's economic policy, particularly regarding national insurance tax hikes and high costs for working people. It also mentions internal criticism within the government over these policies.
Working people are taxed more now due to national insurance hikes while those with wealth are protected. Upon retirement, they face selling their homes for care costs, unlike the wealthy who do not have to sell their assets. The Prime Minister is accused of focusing on promises rather than policy action. Internal government sources suggest the plan isn't working.
The attacks are not working; we deliver for working people, providing jobs and higher wages now than pre-pandemic levels. We support green jobs and have made strategic investments like HS2.
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Assessment & feedback
Asked about economic policy effectiveness; addressed job creation instead
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q9
Direct Answer
Andrea Leadsom
Con
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Context
The question relates to the UK's presidency of the conference of the parties and its impact on global climate action, focusing on job creation through decarbonisation.
Will the Prime Minister use the UK's COP presidency to urge countries to fulfill their Glasgow pledges? Does he agree that decarbonization can create jobs?
The transition to green jobs supports 440,000 new positions across the UK. The breakthrough agenda from COP26 could support between 20-30 million global jobs by 2030.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q10
Partial Answer
Ian Blackford
SNP
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Context
Recent weeks have seen major scandals, economic challenges due to Brexit, and broken promises on infrastructure projects such as HS2 and carbon capture.
I ask the Prime Minister: with his party falling in the polls and his colleagues briefing against him, has he considered calling it a day before he is pushed out the door?
I think that what the people of this country want to hear is less talk about politics and politicians. They want to know what the Government are doing for Scotland, which includes infrastructure investment through the Union connectivity review.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address the direct question regarding his resignation.
Changed Subject To Government'S Actions
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
Ian Blackford
SNP
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Context
The Prime Minister faces internal party challenges and a loss of public confidence due to economic issues such as the cost-of-living crisis.
Why is he clinging on, when it is clear that he is simply not up to the job?
I might ask the right hon. Gentleman what on earth he thinks he is doing, talking about party political issues when all that the people of Scotland want to hear is what on earth the Scottish national Government are doing.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not address the direct question regarding his continuation in office.
Changed Subject To Criticism Of Snp
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Q12
Partial Answer
Jonathan Lord
Con
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Context
Woking College has received Government investment in a new teaching block. Many colleges find BTECs valuable, enabling student progression to higher education and skilled employment.
Does the Prime Minister agree that we should protect student choice, and keep BTECs as an option for students?
Yes, we will continue to fund some BTECs where there is a clear need for them.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not specify which BTECs or funding amounts would be supported.
Limited Commitment
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
Caroline Lucas
Green
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Context
COP26 showed the potential to end reliance on fossil fuels. However, the Government is pressing ahead with numerous oil and gas developments.
Will he cancel those projects, and does he recognise that if he does not, he will need to ask forgiveness for losing the future of our children?
Not only are we powering past coal towards the ending of fossil fuel reliance in our energy generation by 2024, but what we have also done is stop the financing of overseas hydrocarbons.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not directly address cancelling domestic projects.
Highlighted Different Actions
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
China controls most critical tech minerals, including silicon and lithium, crucial for green industrial revolution.
Now that we are free of the EU, what fiscal incentives can he provide to make advancing our indigenous silicon valley happen at pace?
We will ensure that we support freeports as hubs for the processing of those critical minerals here in the UK.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not specify fiscal incentives or details about tax points raised.
Limited Commitment
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
The B+E test has a high failure rate, and the Government is abolishing it. This decision concerns families who lost loved ones due to unsafe driving.
Why are the Government breaking their promise to grieving families to make towing and our roads safer?
We want to free up B + E licensing time so that we can get more people qualified as HGV drivers, but that cannot compromise road safety. We will review the legislation and its consequences at regular intervals.
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Assessment & feedback
The PM did not specify timeline or specific actions for review.
Limited Commitment
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
Karl McCartney
Con
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Context
The highway maintenance grant for Lincolnshire was reduced by 25% from 2019-20 levels, impacting safety and infrastructure.
From 2 to 5 December, Lincoln will be hosting its world-famous Christmas market in the grounds of the historic Lincoln castle. However, what is less than marvellous for my constituents is the levelling down of Lincolnshire's highway maintenance grant by 25% on 019-20 levels. Can my right hon Friend use his influence to cause the Treasury and the Department for Transport to revisit that unfortunate decision? Restoring the grant to 2019-20 levels is imperative to the safety of my constituents, whether in vehicles, cycling or walking.
I thank my hon Friend very much for his question and I will do my utmost—he has invited everybody, and I hope that a lot of people will be going to Lincoln. I am sure that my right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will have listened carefully to what he had to say.
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Assessment & feedback
Revisiting the highway maintenance grant reduction decision
Invited Everyone To Lincoln
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
Hannah Bardell
SNP
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Context
The Government cancelled a contract with Livingston-based Valneva, affecting UK life sciences, exports and jobs.
'Inexplicable' is how the former vaccine taskforce chair Kate Bingham described this Government's decision to cancel their contract with Livingston-based vaccine developer Valneva—a company that the Prime Minister has himself visited. She also noted how shoddily Valneva had been treated and how damaging his Government's decision had been for UK life sciences, exports and jobs in my Livingston constituency, where a state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing plant now lies unfinished. There has been no apology for the incorrect statements in the House, so will the Prime Minister please meet me and representatives of Valneva, and will he tell me whether his Government have tabled proposals to reach the amicable resolution that was promised from the Dispatch Box? If not, when will they do so?
I was personally very disappointed when we could not get approval for the Valneva vaccine in the way that we had hoped, and I know how disappointing that was to colleagues in Scotland. I will certainly ensure that the hon Member gets the relevant meeting.
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Assessment & feedback
Proposals for amicable resolution
Personally Disappointed
Relevant Meeting
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
Nigel Mills
Con
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Context
A constituent suffered serious side-effects from the covid vaccine, causing pain and loss of eyesight.
We know that serious side-effects from the covid vaccines are very rare, but that was not the case for my constituent Sarah Kyte. She suffered a very serious reaction, leaving her in constant pain and losing most of her eyesight. She now cannot work. The Prime Minister has successfully and quite rightly speeded up all the vaccine processes except one: the vaccine damage payments system. Can we now get on with making those payments to people who have suffered these serious reactions, to give them the financial support that they need?
I want to reassure my hon Friend, and indeed the House and the country, that cases such as the very sad one that he raises are extremely rare. We are putting in more money to gather evidence for claims such as one that he describes.
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Assessment & feedback
Making payments to individuals who suffered reactions
Very Rare Cases
Putting In More Money
Response accuracy
Q19
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government's integrated review concluded that China poses a systemic challenge to national security.
The Government's integrated review has concluded that the Chinese state poses a systemic challenge to our national security, and the Prime Minister has made it clear that when it comes to China, we must remain vigilant about our critical national infrastructure. Can he therefore confirm unequivocally today that plans for China General Nuclear to own and operate its own plant at Bradwell in Essex have been abandoned, and explain to the House precisely how and when his Government intend to remove CGN's interest from the Sizewell C nuclear project?
I thank the hon Gentleman for raising this important issue. Clearly, one of the consequences of our approach on critical national infrastructure in the National Security and Investment Bill is that we do not want to see undue influence by potentially adversarial countries in our critical national infrastructure.
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Assessment & feedback
Confirming abandonment of CGN's plans at Bradwell and Sizewell C
Undue Influence
Approach On Critical Infrastructure
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Q20
Partial Answer
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Context
Modernisation of A&E services has suffered delays, leading to worsening conditions for local patients.
The Prime Minister will be very pleased that Shrewsbury Conservatives are doing everything possible to help Neil Shastri-Hurst, the excellent candidate in North Shropshire. He will also know that the No. 1 issue affecting Salopians at the moment is the £312 million that we have secured for the modernisation of our A&E services. This has suffered terrible delays over the past eight years, leading to a worsening of our A&E services for local patients. Will he do everything possible to help us finally get it across the line so that we can provide safe A&E services for all the people of Shropshire and mid-Wales?
That is one of the reasons why we are now investing £36 billion more in our NHS to help cope with the backlog and the extra winter pressures, particularly on A&E.
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Assessment & feedback
Securing £312 million for A&E modernisation in Shropshire
Investing £36 Billion In Nhs
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Q21
Partial Answer
Alan Brown
SNP
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Context
The UK is at risk of losing manufacturing jobs in tidal stream generation to foreign markets.
The Prime Minister's Government have found billions for nuclear but nothing for the Scottish carbon capture cluster and nothing for pumped-storage hydro. Now the Government are at risk of failing tidal stream generation, a technology in which Scotland is a world leader. The ask is for a £71 million ringfenced marine port in next month's energy auction. The Prime Minister has a choice: provide this money and allow continued scaling up and commercial success, based on a UK supply chain, or see the manufacturing jobs move abroad. What is it going to be?
I am glad the hon Gentleman asks that question, because I can tell him and the right hon Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Ian Blackford) that we will be including support for tidal stream to the value of £20 million in the upcoming contract for difference auction.
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Assessment & feedback
£71 million ringfenced marine port
Including £20 Million Support
Response accuracy
Q22
Partial Answer
David Evennett
Con
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Context
The Conservative candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Louie French, is campaigning on the government's manifesto promises.
I have been out campaigning with our excellent candidate in the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election, Louie French. Will my right hon Friend confirm that he will continue to implement our 2019 manifesto by implementing policies to ensure that we build up better for the whole country, including London?
Yes, I will. We are putting 20,000 more police out on the streets and making sure they get to outer London boroughs, too.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not address all aspects of the manifesto implementation specifically related to London or provide details about other policies
Response accuracy
Q23
Partial Answer
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Context
The Cherwell Larder in Kidlington serves nearly 2,000 vulnerable constituents but is facing shortages due to supply chain issues.
The Cherwell Larder in Kidlington does incredible work to serve nearly 2,000 of my most vulnerable constituents, but there simply is not enough food to go around at the moment. This is a national crisis. The stock of charities such as FareShare is down 30%, in part due to the same supply chain issues that are affecting supermarkets. First, will the Prime Minister help the Cherwell Larder by restoring the funding of FareShare? And what more can he do to incentivise businesses to give away surplus food this winter so that no family need go hungry this Christmas?
We are addressing the supply chains night and day, and we are seeing some of the problems starting to ease. Businesses do an amazing job of contributing to this effort.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not confirm restoring FareShare funding or specific incentives for businesses
Response accuracy
Q24
Partial Answer
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Context
The steel industry in Scunthorpe is facing unfair energy costs compared to overseas competitors.
My right hon Friend the Prime Minister was bang on when he spoke on Monday about ending the unfairness of our high energy-intensive industries paying more than is paid overseas. We know that he is a friend to steel in Scunthorpe, so will he continue to do all he can to ensure that my world-class steelmakers are on a fair footing?
I thank my hon Friend for everything she does for steel and for Scunthorpe. This Government are getting on with making another of the long-term changes we are instituting: we are putting in the nuclear base-load that this country has long been deprived of.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not commit to specific actions for fair energy costs for UK steel industry
Response accuracy
Q25
Direct Answer
John Spellar
Lab
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Context
MP will introduce a Bill to ban importing of hunting trophies, an issue with widespread public support.
In a couple of weeks' time I will be introducing a Bill to ban the importing of hunting trophies. Not only has that had widespread public support and support from Opposition parties, but in the past the principle has been supported by Conservative manifestos, the Queen's Speech and indeed the Prime Minister himself. So on Friday 10 December will the Prime Minister tell his Whips not to block the Bill, but to let it go forward, so that we can work together and end this vile trade as soon as possible?
We are going to introduce legislation in this Parliament to ban the import of hunting trophies and to deliver the change that we promised.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q26
Partial Answer
Mike Penning
Con
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Context
A new hospital was promised for Hemel Hempstead, but local management is blocking the project.
The Prime Minister cheered all of my constituents up when he came to south-west Hertfordshire and said that we were going to have a new hospital. Sadly, even though the money is there, the local management of our trust have blocked it; they are going to refurbish Watford's hospital and not give us a brand-new hospital on a greenfield site, which is what we want. Will the Prime Minister meet me and some of my constituents to unblock this and tell the NHS that it needs to build a new hospital for Hemel Hempstead?
I will be very happy to secure a meeting with my right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who I am sure will be able to unblock things, one way or the other.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not commit to resolving the issue directly or immediately but offered a meeting with another official
Response accuracy
Q27
Partial Answer
John Nicolson
SNP
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Context
The Prime Minister is accused of breaking promises to Scotland regarding transportation infrastructure.
Scots stood slack-jawed with astonishment this week at the news that the Prime Minister has abandoned his DUP bridge to Northern Ireland—perhaps he will offer hot air balloons for the crossing instead, and inflate them himself. We have broken bridge promises to Scotland and broken rail promises to northern England. With buyer's remorse consuming the Tory Back Benchers, who does he think will be defenestrated first, his hapless Tory leader in Scotland or himself?
What we are delivering is the first thoroughgoing review of Union connectivity, so that we look properly at all those roads, the A75, the A77 and the A1—all those vital connections for the people of Scotland that have been neglected by the SNP and that this Government are going to fix.
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Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not acknowledge breaking promises but shifted focus to a review of connectivity
Response accuracy
Q28
Direct Answer
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Context
The Start4Life funding was announced in the Budget, focusing on early years support.
I am absolutely delighted with the half a billion-pounds Start4Life funding that was announced in the Budget. My right hon Friend knows from personal experience how important those early years are, whether we are talking about parenting advice, access to healthcare or age-appropriate theme parks. Does he agree that rolling out family hubs to 75 local authority areas is a great start? Will he confirm that if it is a successful programme, the Government's aim is to roll it out across the whole country?
My hon Friend is right to say that investment in kids' early years is absolutely crucial. That is why this Government have begun Start4Life and, yes, if it works, we will roll it out across the country.
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Assessment & feedback
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