PMQs

Question

Many independent countries, from Switzerland to New Zealand, have bilateral veterinary agreements with the European Union and face lower non-tariff barriers than the UK, despite our very high standards. With the Food and Drink Federation reporting a massive drop in UK food exports—over 90% in some areas—and with sanitary and phytosanitary checks constituting the main challenge for the Northern Ireland protocol, surely the Prime Minister should be making it a priority to negotiate a bespoke UK-EU veterinary agreement?

Question

In Sussex, by the end of this week we will have delivered 1 million covid jabs. Will my right hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to the local vaccine heroes and, in particular, to Adam Doyle and his leadership in Hailsham, to Charlotte Luck in Uckfield, and to Dr Susie Padgham in Crowborough? Does the Prime Minister agree that the UK's success is built on the confidence that people have in the fantastic vaccine technology and that should, and when, our constituents be contacted to have a vaccination, they should definitely take up the first available appointment?

Question

May I start by joining the Prime Minister in his remarks about yesterday's day of reflection for the 126,000 people who lost their lives to covid? That is a shocking number, and behind every one of those numbers is a grieving family. As soon as restrictions lift, there must be a full public inquiry, because that is the only way we can get to the bottom of the many mistakes that were made during the pandemic and find justice for those who have suffered so much.<br/>Why did the Prime Minister promise at the last election that he would not be cutting our armed services in any form?

Question

The Prime Minister is fighting the last war. Is he trying to pretend, hidden in that answer, that the Army stands at over 100,000—the number that the Prime Minister just quoted? When the Secretary of State for Defence made his statement to the House on Monday, he was absolutely clear: 'I have therefore taken the decision to reduce the size of the Army…to 72,500 by 2025.'—[Official Report, 22 March 2021; Vol. 691, c. 638.] Only this Prime Minister could suggest that a reduction from 82,000 to 72,000 is somehow not a cut.<br/>The Prime Minister did not answer my question, which was: why did he make that promise? He said, before the last election—it is all very well him looking up—that 'we will not be cutting our armed services in any form'. What did he do this week? He cut the British Army by 10,000; he cut the number of tanks; he cut the number of planes for our RAF; and he cut the number of ships for the Royal Navy. I say 'he'—the Prime Minister did not have the courage to come to the House himself to say what he was doing. Let me ask the Prime Minister a simple question, going back to that promise before the election: did he ever intend to keep his promise to our armed forces?

Question

Let's try this for up 'em. The Prime Minister might want to avoid the promises he made, but I have found an interview that he gave during the general election campaign. Here is the headline: “No troop cuts—Tories will maintain size of armed forces”. The article then goes on to quote the Prime Minister: 'Boris Johnson has promised that he will not make any new cuts to the armed forces. He also promised'—the Prime Minister might want to listen to this—'to maintain numbers at their current level, including the Army's 82,000.' Now, I know the Prime Minister has form for making up quotes, but can he tell us whether he thinks the newspapers have somehow misquoted him? Or does he now remember making that promise?

Question

I have respect for our reservists but criticise the Prime Minister's promise breaking. The 2015 manifesto promised not to cut armed forces; however, reductions in numbers and recent policies indicate a breach of that pledge. Why does the PM lack the courage to admit this?

Question

What is weaker than breaking a promise to our armed forces before an election and not admitting it? The PM promised the NHS they would have whatever they need but nurses face pay cuts. He promised no tax increases but raised them for families. Why avoid voting on the cut in armed forces?

Question

A Conservative MP acknowledges dramatic cuts to troop numbers and armoured vehicles. Why not put this cut to a vote? I want to address job risks at Liberty Steel, affecting 5,000 jobs and many more in supply chains. The UK steel industry is under pressure due to lack of prioritisation by the Government. Will the PM work with us to change this situation?

Question

Spoke with young people in Aberconwy who are concerned about their futures after a year of lockdowns. They worry about job prospects and moving to new universities. Does the Prime Minister have any message for these young people?

Question

Yesterday, my brilliant colleague... By doing the right thing, he will avoid a dual mandate and a separate by-election that would cost the public £175,000. The Scottish Tory leader in Westminster is also seeking a place in the Scottish Parliament, but he is refusing to step down as an MP. As his boss, will the Prime Minister order the hon. Member for Moray (Douglas Ross) to resign his seat, avoid a dual mandate and save the taxpayer £175,000—or are dual mandates one more Tory policy where they think greed is good?

Question

[Inaudible] simply yet again a Prime Minister failing to answer a question and that charge that “greed is good” in Tory policies. We know that Tory leaders in Scotland have a habit of dodging democracy... Does the Prime Minister really have confidence in a Scottish Tory leader who does not even have the courage to put himself before the voters in a Scottish constituency?

Question

As my right hon. Friend has already said, the steel industry is fundamental to our future in the UK, and we cannot reach our net zero commitments or our infrastructure targets without steel... So what assurances can my right hon. Friend give my constituents that the Government will do what it takes to safeguard jobs and livelihoods and secure the future of steelmaking in the UK?

Question

The Prime Minister talks about restoring freedoms as we emerge from the lockdown, yet he is pushing a Bill that will restrict one of our most fundamental freedoms—the right to peaceful protest and peaceful assembly—and tomorrow he is asking for another blank cheque to restrict everyone's freedoms until September... So will the Prime Minister, for once, match his actions to his words, drop these draconian laws, and instead publish a road map to revive civil liberties and freedoms in our country?

Question

My constituent Tracy Felstead is at the Court of Appeal today... Does the Prime Minister agree that, in order for justice to be truly done, those responsible for this failure and its cover-up must be held to account? Does he agree that heads should roll?

Question

Subject to certain conditions being met, the Northern Ireland Act 1998 allows for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to call a referendum on Irish reunification. Those conditions for a referendum have all been more than met in Scotland since the independence referendum in 2014. Why will the Prime Minister not agree to a section 30 order, enabling the democratic will of the people of Scotland to be measured?

Question

The My Name'5 Doddie Foundation campaigns for £50 million investment over five years to establish a virtual MND research institute. The Health Secretary has discussed this positively with the Government. Will the Prime Minister commit to supporting this initiative?

Question

Over 126,000 people have died due to the pandemic. Grieving families want a full public inquiry into the handling of the crisis as soon as current restrictions are lifted. Will the Prime Minister commit to this?

Question

Wembley is scheduled to host the finals of the FA Vase and FA Trophy on 3 May, but no fans can go. Will the Prime Minister encourage those scheduling matches to move the date so that fans can attend?

Question

On 23 October 2019, I asked the Prime Minister to take up the matter personally. Medical cannabis is now available in the Netherlands and distributed around the UK free of charge. Why are these children discriminated against? Will the Prime Minister make medical cannabis available?

Question

March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Over 100,000 people have signed a petition for matching brain tumour research funding with that for other devastating cancers. Will my friend the Prime Minister meet me when it is safe to do so?

Question

My constituents Ronald and Julia Sheriff's daughter Danielle currently lives in Gran Canaria. Last year, aged just 33, she suffered an aneurysm. Danielle remains deeply unwell and her family are crowdfunding to bring her back home to live. They have been advised that when she does return home, she will not be eligible for the treatment that she needs on the NHS. Please can the Prime Minister support the crowdfund for Dani, and give his personal assurance that she will receive the care that she needs from our NHS?

Question

Forty years on from my predecessor Dame Peggy Fenner's opposition to the closure of Chatham dockyard, with the loss of thousands of jobs, I am now opposing the closure of what today is Chatham docks, with the loss of over 1,000 skilled jobs. Closing this regionally important asset, home to successful maritime and construction businesses—all growing, in spite of covid—to make way for flats represents short-term profit for the landowner at the expense of long-term economic and environmental benefit. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me, local councillors and the “Save Chatham Docks” campaign that coastal infrastructure plays a significant role in the growth of our local economies, creating jobs and clean maritime technology that contributes to our net zero ambition?

Question

Last night, I met again with leaseholders whose lives have been torn apart by the cladding and building safety scandal. The Prime Minister will recall that he told the House on 3 February that 'no leaseholder should have to pay for the unaffordable costs of fixing safety defects that they did not cause and are no fault of their own.'—[Official Report, 3 February 2021; Vol. 688, c. 945.] No ifs, no buts: an unequivocal pledge. The Government's measures so far fall well short of fulfilling it, so could the Prime Minister say now not what has been done, but what he will do to deliver his promise?

Question

Before the Prime Minister became Prime Minister, we had a discussion to do with the prescribed medical use of cannabis, and how it was helping to save really seriously ill children—not hundreds or thousands, but about 150. We changed the law in November 2018 to make it legal for those prescriptions to be written by top consultants. Today, we have three children who have it free on the NHS, and about 150 children whose families have to beg and borrow and remortgage their homes so that they can pay about £2,000 a month. I say to the Prime Minister that this is wrong. As a father, like I am, we would do everything possible for our families, and these families are doing everything possible for their children. Can we have a follow-up meeting to the one in 2018, where I will bring one of the mothers who gets it free—not to stop her getting it free, but to explain to the Prime Minister how wrong it is that children's lives are going to be lost if we have to go through the process that the NHS is proposing?

Question

I personally thank you, Mr Speaker, for your support for Parliament's covid memorial quilt. Prime Minister, after PMQs, I will be presenting my cross-party private Member's Bill, the Coronavirus (No. 2) Bill, to Parliament. It is based on scientific advice, Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies guidance, and lessons learned. Will the Prime Minister please commit to reading this Bill and providing me with a written response, maybe by tomorrow—I know that is a bit of an ask—but, if not, within the next two weeks?

Question

To paraphrase the late, great, much missed Eric Forth, I believe in individual freedoms and individual responsibility. I believe that individuals make better decisions for themselves, their families and their communities than the state makes for them. I loathe the nanny state, and I believe in cutting taxes. Prime Minister, am I still a Conservative?

Question

We learned today—unfortunately, from the media, rather than a Minister—that the Treasury has informed the Office for Veterans' Affairs that its budget is to be cut by 40%, from £5 million to £3 million. This cannot be right, as just yesterday Graeme Dey, the SNP Scottish Government's Veterans Minister, announced a further £1 million to support Scottish veterans alone. These disparate positions are irreconcilable. This is a tale of two Governments, so will the Prime Minister follow the SNP's lead and assure the House today that he will not allow this cut to UK funding for veterans?

Question

The Prime Minister enjoys visiting Andrew Bridgen's constituency. He notes that Leicestershire County Council is the most productive county council in the country, but it also receives the least funding. Can my right hon Friend assure all residents of Leicestershire that their Conservative-controlled county council will benefit from fairer funding and the Government's levelling-up agenda to continue delivering public services?

Question

Despite promises of additional funding for Wales, Bridgend county is not a priority place for the community renewal fund. On 10 February, the Prime Minister invented a world-leading battery plant for Bridgend in response to significant job losses over two years, but has refused to apologise. When will he ensure real investment in Ogmore?