Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 5 February 2020 · 21 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 21 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Prime Minister gives assurance to bring jobs and investment to Bridgend post-Brexit.
  • Johnson mocks Labour's climate change approach, claiming it would be disastrous for the UK economy.
  • Prime Minister announces extension of troubled families programme with an additional 165 million.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jamie Hamilton Wallis Lab Conservative
Brexit
Context

The UK has recently left the European Union, and there is concern about economic impacts in regions like Bridgend.

Question

Congratulates PM for delivering Brexit; asks if efforts will be made to bring jobs and investment to Bridgend which feels left behind post-Brexit.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Gives assurance; states that with better education, infrastructure and high technology the UK will unite and level up areas like Bridgend.

Answered
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Q2 Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Labour
Crime & Law Enforcement Climate
Context

There was a terrorist attack in Streatham; the UK has recently left the EU, which raises questions about Britain's future.

Question

Pays tribute to emergency services for handling the Streatham attack; discusses differing views on UK's direction post-Brexit and expresses hope for international cooperation. Questions former Minister Claire O'Neill's statement of a 'huge lack of leadership' in climate change response by current government.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Claims impressive achievements: first major economy to set carbon neutral 2050 target; renewables produced more energy than fossil fuels last year; Conservative policies have installed 99% of solar panels since 2010.

Answered
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Q3 Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Labour
Climate
Context

Former Conservative leaders refused the COP26 job; former Minister Claire O'Neill noted lack of leadership from Government.

Question

Discusses missed carbon budget targets; notes former Conservative leaders refusing COP26 role; questions former Minister's statement on 'clear actions', 'agreed plan' and 'roadmap for the Year of Action'.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Claims cutting CO2 emissions by 42% since 2010 while growing economy by 73%; mocks Labour's unclear approach; states north-east leads in producing turbines for renewables.

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Q4 Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Labour
Climate
Context

Criticises the Government's failure to meet net zero target; questions former Minister Claire O'Neill's advice about promises made by Boris Johnson.

Question

Quotes Claire O'Neill's advice on taking promises in writing and having a lawyer look at them due to lack of leadership from the Prime Minister. Asks what she means when mentioning absence of leadership.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Claims leading in offshore wind production and technology; notes UK was 70% dependent on coal in 1990, now at 3%, down to zero by 2024.

Answered
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Q5 Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Labour
Climate
Context

Questions PM's past as a climate sceptic; criticises his reduction of climate attachés when Foreign Secretary.

Question

References Labour's climate emergency motion; critiques PM's statements on climate change until 2015. Asks if failure in COP26 preparation is a continuation of previous denial.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Claims tackling climate change through economic growth; mocks Labour's approach as a disaster for UK economy, taking away people's cars and foreign holidays.

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Q6 Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Islington North
Climate
Context

Corbyn criticizes Johnson's past statements on climate change, citing a former minister's description of Whitehall preparations as chaotic.

Question

Jeremy Corbyn asks the Prime Minister to address the climate emergency and turn Glasgow into a turning point for pollution and climate change. He highlights government policies that fail to achieve this goal.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

This Government are showing world leadership in tackling climate change, and we are going to have a fantastic summit at Glasgow. Johnson dismisses Corbyn's concerns about media portrayal and claims the government is delivering on manifesto pledges including hospital construction and teacher salaries.

Answered

Not addressed: Corbyn's criticisms of past statements and current preparations were not directly addressed.

How: Changing Topic To Labour'S Media Criticism, Highlighting Achievements

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Q7 Darren George Henry Lab Broxtowe
NHS
Context

Henry praises government funding for hospital redevelopment and questions the Prime Minister's commitment to delivering NHS manifesto pledges.

Question

The MP congratulates the PM on providing seed funding of £5 million to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. He asks if the Government are committed to fulfilling their manifesto pledges for the NHS.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Johnson agrees passionately, congratulating Henry on campaigning for hospital redevelopment and expressing pride in the funding flowing to projects like the Queen's Medical Centre.

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Q8 Ian Blackford SNP Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Policing & Resources Business & Trade
Context

Blackford expresses gratitude for emergency services' reaction to a terrorist incident in Streatham. He criticizes the Prime Minister's actions as imitating Donald Trump.

Question

He thanks police and emergency services for reacting to the terrorist incident in Streatham. Blackford questions if Johnson is trying to impersonate Trump by firing officials, taking an isolationist trade stance, and banning press briefings.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Johnson denies having a nationalist approach, stating his speech was internationalist. He criticizes the SNP's wish to rejoin EU with different currency and border at Berwick.

Answered

How: Redirecting Criticism

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Q9 Ian Blackford SNP Ross, Skye and Lochaber
NHS Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Blackford warns of a Tory-Trump trade deal that could affect NHS funding. He presents an SNP bill to remove the threat of privatisation.

Question

He denounces Johnson's wish for international trade deals, questioning if they support SNP's rejoining EU proposal. Blackford mentions former US ambassador's warning about drug price increases under a Tory-Trump deal and pressures on frontline services. He asks if the Government will commit to supporting their legislation.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Johnson finds it odd that Blackford should denounce international trade deals while proposing rejoining EU with unclear currency and border policies. He dismisses the proposal as harmful to UK's marine wealth and advises focusing on Scotland's welfare.

Answered

How: Changing Topic

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Q10 Michael Tomlinson Con Eddisbury
Children & Families
Context

Tomlinson refers to the manifesto's commitment to champion family hubs to serve vulnerable families. He seeks confirmation on prioritizing these hubs in relation to other programmes.

Question

He asks the Prime Minister to prioritize family hubs, linking them with the early years strategy, troubled families programme and children's services reform.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Johnson confirms extending the troubled families programme this year with an additional £165 million.

Answered
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Q11 Hywel Williams PC Caernarfon
Transport Benefits & Welfare
Context

The personal independence payment assessment centre in the questioner's constituency moved without notice, causing significant travel difficulties for disabled people.

Question

Will the Prime Minister instruct his Minister to address and remedy the issue of moving a disability benefits service to Rhyl from Caernarfon without proper notice?

Answer from The Prime Minister

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this point and we need to improve our bus services across the country. We are investing another £250 million immediately to improve bus services, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has many more such investments in the pipeline.

Answered
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Q12 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Wood Green
Education
Context

A visit to a school in the constituency revealed poor maintenance with leaking roofs, rusty shower rooms and mouldy changing areas.

Question

Will the Government understand that education costs are high but it is worth investing more in schools to ensure every child has access to excellent facilities regardless of their background?

Answer from The Prime Minister

This Government are investing record £14 billion more in education, raising funding for primary schools to £4,000 per head and secondary schools to £5,000 per head because we run a strong market economy.

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Q13 Mohammad Yasin Lab Brent North
NHS Mental Health
Context

The constituency has been promised a new in-patient mental health facility for years, yet patients still have to travel long distances for services.

Question

How does the decision to continue not providing local mental health facilities demonstrate parity of esteem for mental healthcare as promised by his party?

Answer from The Prime Minister

We are putting record investment into the NHS—£33.9 billion—with a total of £12 billion now going into mental healthcare, which is a record sum.

Answered
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Q14 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Torfaen
NHS Wales
Context

There has been a shortage of consultants across the UK under his Government, leading to strain on A&E services.

Question

How will he make sure that overseas consultants are encouraged to apply for NHS visas to work in hospitals after leaving the EU?

Answer from The Prime Minister

We have instituted NHS visas to attract talent from around the world, but I remind the hon. Lady that this is a devolved matter for the Welsh Labour Government.

Answered
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Q15 Lilian Greenwood Lab Stourbridge
Safeguarding & DBS Benefits & Welfare
Context

Errol Graham died from starvation after his benefits were stopped by the Department for Work and Pensions. His case has raised concerns about government safety measures.

Question

The first priority of Government is to keep their citizens safe. How many more vulnerable benefit claimants will have to die before this Government start to value their lives?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

This is a tragic case, and the hon. Lady is right to raise it. We have allocated £36 million to improve safeguarding and decision making in cases like this, including through the creation of a new independent serious case panel.

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Q16 Bernard Jenkin Con Harwich and North Essex
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Streatham attack last week; debate on automatic early release of terrorist offenders.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend join me in extending on behalf of the whole House our sympathy and best wishes to those injured in the Streatham attack last week? Does he agree that Her Majesty's Government now have no option but to legislate as a consequence of this attack?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

My hon. Friend is entirely right. Most people in this country would agree that the system of automatic early release of terrorist offenders has run out of road and that it is time to find a way, as we are doing, to make sure they are properly scrutinised by a parole board or an equivalent.

Answered
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Q17 Ruth Jones Lab Cathedral and Canon Law
NHS
Context

Legalisation of medicinal cannabis thanks to work of Paul Flynn, Tonia Antoniazzi and families of affected children.

Question

Can the Prime Minister answer calls from the families of very sick children who need medical cannabis as to when this medicine will actually be available on the NHS? Will he come to Portcullis House with me after this session to meet these families?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

It was this Government and my right hon. Friend the Health Secretary who legalised medicinal cannabis, and I undertake that he will certainly be happy to meet the hon. Member's constituents this afternoon.

Answered
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Q18 Alexander Stafford Lab Rother Valley
Transport
Context

First Bus often lets down residents of South Yorkshire.

Question

Will the Prime Minister confirm that the Government fully back buses as an essential way not only to connect our villages, town and cities across the north, but to unlock the potential of Rother Valley and South Yorkshire?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

The Government are passionate about buses. I assure my hon. Friend that we will massively improve our bus network, in the Rother Valley above all, and I thank him for his lobbying.

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Q19 Owen Thompson SNP Taunton Deane
Democracy & Elections
Context

Prime Minister's history of ducking democratic scrutiny, receipt of Russian donations.

Question

Will he tell us clearly, without bluff and bluster, when the report will be published, why it has been delayed for so long, and when he will reconvene the Intelligence and Security Committee?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

The report will of course be published—as the hon. Gentleman knows full well—when the Intelligence and Security Committee is reconstituted, and I think that his conspiratorial frame of mind is likely to be thoroughly disappointed by the results.

Answered
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Q20 Dean Russell Lab Watford
Transport
Context

Poor rail services causing commuters in Watford to be late for work and unable to return home on time.

Question

Does the Prime Minister agree that even new rail franchises that do not deliver cannot assume that they will keep their contracts if they do not sort out those issues as soon as possible?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

Absolutely, and that is why we are putting £48 billion into improving our railways as part of the infrastructure revolution. We should never forget that that lot over there would renationalise the railways.

Answered
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Q21 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast North
Justice & Courts Northern Ireland
Context

Death of Paul Quinn in 2007, false statement made by Finance Minister Conor Murphy linking him to criminality.

Question

Does the Prime Minister agree that Conor Murphy should retract that lie, publicly apologise, and give any information that he has about Paul's murder to the Police Service of Northern Ireland?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

I hear the hon. Gentleman, and I think that the whole House will have heard the passion with which he spoke about that injustice. I can tell him that we will implement the Stormont House agreement in such a way as to provide certainty for veterans, and, of course, justice for victims as well.

Answered
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