Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 2 September 2020 · 16 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 13 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Andrew Bowie asks for assurances that serious questions from constituents will be answered and recommendations implemented to prevent such accidents in the future.
  • Keir Starmer asks when the Prime Minister first knew about problems with the exam grading algorithm.
  • Keir Starmer highlights criticism from Conservative MPs regarding frequent policy changes and U-turns in the Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Transport
Context

Three men died in a railway incident near Stonehaven, and an interim report is being reviewed by the Transport Secretary.

Question

Andrew Bowie asks for assurances that serious questions from constituents will be answered and recommendations implemented to prevent such accidents in the future.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Boris Johnson acknowledges the tragedy, paying tribute to those affected and emphasizing the importance of learning from this incident to ensure safety on Britain's railways.

Answered

Not addressed: When will the Transport Secretary's investigation conclude?

How: Did Not Provide A Specific Timeframe For The Conclusion Of The Investigation

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Q2 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Education
Context

Young people had their A-level grades downgraded, and there was a subsequent U-turn in policy.

Question

Keir Starmer asks when the Prime Minister first knew about problems with the exam grading algorithm.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Boris Johnson states that Ofqual declared the system robust, and criticizes Keir Starmer for undermining confidence in schools during the pandemic. He avoids directly answering when he knew about the issue.

Not addressed: When did the Prime Minister know of the problem?

How: Deflection, Criticizing Keir Starmer'S Stance On Education

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Q3 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Democracy & Elections
Context

The Education Secretary acknowledged issues with the exam algorithm, raising concerns about government reliability.

Question

Keir Starmer highlights criticism from Conservative MPs regarding frequent policy changes and U-turns in the Government.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Boris Johnson criticizes Keir Starmer's policies, including EU support and IRA-condoning statements, rather than addressing concerns about government competence.

Not addressed: Does the Prime Minister agree that there are competency issues within his administration?

How: Deflection, Personal Attack

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Q4 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Education Employment
Context

Keir Starmer raises concerns about the Prime Minister's delay in making decisions regarding the furlough scheme.

Question

Mr Speaker, before I go on, the PM said something about the IRA and Keir requests him to withdraw that comment. The problem is that he governs with hindsight and makes many mistakes. Millions of people's jobs are at risk due to the delay in deciding whether or not to extend the furlough scheme.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

What we are doing in this Government is getting our pupils back to school despite all doubts and we are getting people back to work. We want to move the country forward through our kick-start scheme, not extend the furlough scheme as Labour wants.

Answered
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Q5 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
NHS
Context

Keir Starmer criticises the wasted summer due to Government's inability to prepare for autumn and winter. He mentions 12 U-turns made by the government.

Question

This has been a wasted summer as the Government should have spent it preparing for autumn and winter, but instead they have lurched from crisis to crisis with multiple U-turns. The serial incompetence is holding Britain back. Will the Prime Minister take responsibility and finally get a grip?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

I take full responsibility for everything that has happened under this Government throughout my period in office. Despite negativity from Opposition, we have succeeded in turning the tide of this pandemic by getting people back to school and work.

Answered
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Q6 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

Keir Starmer brings up the PM's promise to meet the bereaved families from Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, but then received a letter saying it is not possible.

Question

Before recess I asked if he would meet the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group. He said of course on Sky News last week, but they got a letter yesterday saying meeting them was now 'regrettably not possible'. May I urge him to reconsider and do the right thing?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Of course I am very happy to meet them once litigation is concluded. It would be better if Labour joined together with the Government and said it was safe for workers of this country to go back to work in a covid-secure way.

Answered
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Q7 Ian Blackford SNP Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Economy Employment
Context

Discusses the Prime Minister's eight U-turns in eight months.

Question

Associated with remarks on tragedy near Stonehaven; mentioned John Hume. Criticized the PM for admitting his government is 'all at sea'. Asked if the PM will extend the job retention scheme beyond October to prevent high levels of unemployment seen under Thatcher.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

Responded that after the end of this month, they will continue with measures to support people in work such as the kick-start scheme for young people and a £160 billion package to support the economy. The PM emphasized that their schemes are more generous than those in France, Germany or Ireland.

Answered
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Q8 James Davies Con Montgomeryshire
Economy
Context

ITV's decision to film 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' in north Wales instead of Australia due to the pandemic.

Question

Does the Prime Minister commend ITV on its choice to film 'I'm a Celebrity' in North Wales, and does he welcome the positive impact this can have on the regional economy?

Answer from Boris Johnson

My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the wonderful attractions of north Wales, which I know very well, as I tried to get elected there many years ago—unsuccessfully. I congratulate him on his success, and may it be long repeated.

Answered
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Q9 Neil Gray SNP Airdrie and Shotts
NHS Employment
Context

The Treasury considering a public sector pay freeze to save money amidst the pandemic, despite sacrifices made by workers.

Question

Given that public sector workers have put their lives on the line during the pandemic, does the Prime Minister commit to fully funding a package to ensure they are remunerated appropriately?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I must say that I listened carefully to what the hon. Gentleman said, but he seems to have ignored the fact that we have just had an inflation-busting public sector pay rise. As part of the package that we agreed in 2018, nurses alone have had a 12.5% pay increase since then.

Answered
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Q10 Angela Richardson Lib Dem Guildford
Employment Climate
Context

Redundancies at Alexander Dennis, a long-standing bus manufacturer in Guildford.

Question

Does the Prime Minister agree that workers' skills are vital for UK's green recovery? Will he work with colleagues to ensure success of UK bus manufacturing?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I thank my hon. Friend for her apposite intervention on behalf of Alexander Dennis. I was a keen customer of Alexander Dennis's fantastic machines. I cannot guarantee this, but I hope that our green recovery and our massive investment in green buses will be of benefit to the workforce of Alexander Dennis.

Answered
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Q11 Geraint Davies Lab Cel-y-Coed
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

Criticism of the sudden removal of furlough support and a concern about a spike in coronavirus cases due to people returning to work.

Question

To minimise further bad decisions, will he restore online Parliament so that all voters can be represented in debates and law making?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I thank the hon. Gentleman. I encourage him to return from New York, Shanghai or wherever he is and join us in this House as fast as he can. Actually, what the people of this country want to see is their representatives back on their seats as fast as possible in the Palace of Westminster.

Answered
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Q12 Andrew Lewer Con South Ribble
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Questioning the sustainability of being forced to pay for BBC services when accessing live TV on various platforms.

Question

Does the Prime Minister believe it is sustainable that people are required to pay for the BBC when using Sky, Amazon Prime or ITV?

Answer from Boris Johnson

My hon. Friend makes a very interesting point, and I am sure that point of view is shared by many people in this country. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will be setting out a roadmap for reform of the BBC shortly and addressing the very issues he mentions.

Answered
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Q13 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Context

Criticism of the Government's record on U-turns, specifically mentioned in a Guardian report.

Question

Given that he takes full responsibility for these decisions, which of the 12 U-turns is the Prime Minister's favourite?

Answer from Boris Johnson

It is a rare privilege to ask a question in the House, so you would have thought, Mr Speaker, that they could have come up with something better than that. This is a global pandemic, which this Government are dealing with extremely effectively at a medical level.

Answered
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Q14 Jeremy Wright Con Kenilworth and Southam
Transport
Context

HS2 has closed a road used by parents to access Burton Green Church of England Academy, impacting the school's operations.

Question

Will he please help me require HS2 to do better for the people of Burton Green and elsewhere along the route?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I heartily endorse, I am afraid, the sentiments that my right hon. and learned Friend has expressed. Anybody who has worked with HS2 over the past few years will know that it does treat local residents with, I am afraid, a high-handed approach—or has done.

Answered
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Q15 Kate Osborne Lab Harrow East
Economy Employment
Context

Concerns about the end of the job retention scheme in October leading to catastrophic consequences for workers, businesses and the economy.

Question

Despite earlier waffle from the Prime Minister, will he commit to extending the job retention scheme or are we expecting further incompetence?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I thank the hon. Lady for her question, and I assure her that our job retention scheme has been an enormous success in protecting millions of jobs across this country.

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Q16 Lee Anderson Reform Conservative
Asylum & Refugees Migrants & Borders
Context

The MP raises concerns about the misuse of the asylum system by criminal gangs, leading to unsafe practices such as crossing in children's paddling pools.

Question

Our nation has a proud history as a safe haven for desperate souls, but now the asylum system has broken and been abused. So the people of Ashfield would like to know: when will the Prime Minister introduce legislation to fix the asylum system, which will save lives by taking back control of our borders?

Answer from Boris Johnson (Prime Minister)

I thank my hon. Friend. I have a great deal of sympathy with those who are so desperate as to put their children in dinghies, or even children's paddling pools, and try to cross the channel, but I have to say that what they are doing is falling prey to criminal gangs and they are breaking the law. They are also undermining the legitimate claims of others who would seek asylum in this country. That is why we will take advantage of leaving the EU by changing the Dublin regulations on returns, and we will address the rigidities in our laws that make this country, I am afraid, a target and a magnet for those who would exploit vulnerable people in this way.

Answered
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