PMQs

Question

I am concerned about the difficulties my constituents face in getting face-to-face GP appointments due to the backlog caused by the pandemic. A constituent diagnosed with cancer after being taken to hospital cannot help but wonder if it would have been caught sooner had she seen a doctor in person rather than over the phone. What measures are the Government taking to address this issue?

Question

I offer my commiserations to the Prime Minister for his lack of success in securing a trade deal with the US despite flying there. Does the Deputy Prime Minister still believe that British workers are 'among the worst idlers in the world'?

Question

The Deputy Prime Minister's Government chose to cut the income of a worker on £18,000 by over £1,100. This is similar to an annual energy bill increase. How much will these cuts take from a worker's pocket?

Question

His government cut a worker's income by £1,100. Energy bills are rising. How many days at minimum wage would a worker need to work this year to afford a night at a luxury hotel in Crete?

Question

During a week where universal credit is being cut, working people face soaring energy bills. The Prime Minister has said it is just 'a short-term problem'. Can he guarantee no one will lose their gas or be pushed into fuel poverty this winter?

Question

I notice that we have a shortage of hot air this week, but although the Prime Minister is not here, the Deputy Prime Minister is doing his best to shore up supplies. You know what, Mr Speaker? The Government have axed the green homes grant, scrapped the zero-carbon homes standard and lost the storage facility that held three quarters of our gas. Their failures paved the way for this crisis, which will hit families and businesses, and as usual it will be the British people who will have to pay the price. Will the Deputy Prime Minister guarantee that none of the workers employed by the energy companies will end up unemployed because of his Government's failures?

Question

Maybe the Deputy Prime Minister should go back to his sun lounger and let me take over. The truth is that the Government were warned about the problems and the energy crisis that we face. And there we have it—absolutely nothing to help the people up and down the country who are working themselves to the ground and are still struggling to make ends meet. This is a Conservative party that does not care about working people. Families across the country are worried about heating their homes, while the Deputy Prime Minister is complaining about having to share his 115-room taxpayer-funded mansion with the Foreign Secretary—the truth hurts, doesn't it?—just as his Government are making choices that are making working families' lives harder. A typical family are facing a tough winter this year: universal credit down £1000, rent up £150, gas bills up £150, taxes up and food prices soaring. Working people will have to choose whether to feed their kids or heat their homes. The choice for the Deputy Prime Minister is whether he will make their lives easier or harder—so what will he choose? Will the Government cancel the universal credit cut?

Question

Last week, members of the armed forces parliamentary scheme from across the House attended our excellent Defence Academy. What is striking is the number of service personnel from overseas who come to the UK to benefit from its world-class professional defence and security education. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this is a further illustration that, far from being a fifth wheel on the carriage, the UK is at the heart of ensuring global security, and that the AUKUS pact is one of the best ways to meet emerging threats, particularly in the South China sea?

Question

Across Scotland and the UK, millions of families are seeing their incomes slashed by this Tory Government, with a toxic combination of Tory cuts, tax rises and the growing cost of Brexit. The Prime Minister promised that he would make energy bills more than £60 per household cheaper after Brexit. Instead, they could skyrocket by £550 at the worst possible time. The UK Government are slashing universal credit by £1,040, furlough is ending prematurely and a Tory tax hike will leave the majority of families hundreds of pounds worse off next year. Let us be clear: this is a Tory cost of living crisis, and yet again lower and middle-income families will suffer the most. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that it is time to scrap Tory cuts to universal credit and to introduce an emergency energy payment for lower-income families, so that no one has to choose between heating and eating this winter?

Question

Yesterday I met the Citizens Advice Bureau who warned of a 'cost-of-living tsunami' affecting families. People are choosing between heating their homes or feeding their families due to government policies. Can you explain why the Government refuses to introduce an emergency energy payment?

Question

FirstGroup continues to cut bus and train services in my constituency despite millions of pounds of public funding. Will you intervene or seek a new operator for the Heart of Wessex line?

Question

The Government's green new deal is insufficient to meet carbon reduction targets. Yet, they are considering investing in the Cambo oilfield and other oil wells. How can this be reconciled with pledges to cease funding such companies?

Question

As Warrington grows, its mostly Victorian hospital needs more beds. Will the Deputy Prime Minister speak to the Health Secretary about backing our bid for a new hospital in Warrington?

Question

Ineos has announced a major investment to cut emissions. Can the Government explain their stance on Scottish requirements for real living wages and net zero obligations in green ports?

Question

Today's Subsidy Control Bill will allow UK rules instead of EU ones. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree subsidies need strong controls against misuse by future Labour Governments? Will he ensure more details are published on subsidies?

Question

I have known the right hon. Gentleman for some time and always got on quite well with him. He represents one of the wealthiest constituencies in the country. Will he assure me that he still believes in the redistribution of income in our country? Does he really believe in levelling up? If he does, will he ensure that Channel 4 stays in Leeds and stays in the public sector? It is essential to the growth of our tech economy in the north of England.

Question

The Government say that, to protect the most vulnerable, they are compelling care workers to be vaccinated against covid-19 even though that is expected to force out 40,000 carers who have been on the frontline throughout the pandemic. Will my right hon. Friend set out why the same approach is not being taken to protect the most vulnerable in the national health service?

Question

The increase in employers' national insurance payments will place a huge burden on the public sector from local government to police and fire services. Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell the House what the financial impact of this will be both north and south of the border and if additional funding will be provided to ensure that there are no cuts to our vital public services?

Question

A lot of the reason why I am standing in this Chamber today follows a chain reaction of events following the death of my father from a single-punch assault, but my dad is just one of many victims, which is why this week we are marking One Punch Awareness Week. May I ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will join me in showing his support for One Punch Awareness Week, and can I extend an invitation to him, and indeed to all colleagues right across the House, to join me immediately after PMQs in Westminster Hall to show that support?

Question

Following the ill-informed and partisan comments from President Biden overnight, would the Deputy Prime Minister urge the Prime Minister to point out to those he meets in the US who actually care about political stability in Northern Ireland that, far from defending the Belfast agreement, the Northern Ireland protocol is now the single greatest danger to the political institutions? The situation is now time-critical. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree with me that a solution that restores Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom's internal markets is the only way to avert the collapse of the institutions, and such a solution must be found in weeks rather than months?

Question

The House will know that the River Wye is one of the most beautiful rivers in our country and also a priceless national asset, yet it is being threatened by phosphate pollution. Will my right hon. Friend press colleagues in the Government and in No. 10 to work with us to push the agencies and other interested bodies to a long-term integrated plan to clean up the River Wye?

Question

With fewer than 100 days until Christmas, many of our constituents will be choosing to shop for children's toys online. There have, unfortunately, been incidents of young children swallowing small parts, such as batteries and magnets, that require invasive medical intervention. With rogue traders out there, how can consumers be satisfied that the toys they purchase via online marketplaces are safe, marked as age-appropriate and meet the required safety standards?

Question

After 70 years of neglect by the Labour party, Stoke-on-Trent is now hungry, having received funds like the transforming cities fund and a town deal for Kidsgrove. We also have a £73.5 million levelling-up fund bid. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that Stoke-on-Trent gets its just deserts?

Question

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your kindness during my illness. Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that local councils know better than central Government when it comes to levelling up? I suggest hosting a cross-party summit in Downing Street with local government leaders and Mayors to discuss how they can be empowered to unlock potential.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend congratulate the Nailsworth Climate Action Network on its approach to this issue, provide confidence that the Government are creating more solutions for energy efficient homes, and let us know when there will be more details of that work?

Question

The Government have failed to safeguard jobs, maintain key strategic supply lines and support UK capabilities. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline what No.10 will do to ensure that the UK automotive sector remains competitive globally and skilled jobs are saved?

Question

I am joined by all of Cornwall's MPs in pressing the Home Secretary to renew the seasonal agricultural workers scheme for next year—that is 30,000 people—and also to allow them to pick daffodils. Will the Deputy Prime Minister speak to the Home Secretary about this urgency?

Question

After six years and three manifesto commitments, we are still waiting for the Government to deliver their promised victims Bill. Will he commit here today to delivering that long-overdue victims Bill?