PMQs

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I am concerned about the Prime Minister preaching urgency at COP26 while his actions may damage the economy by not opposing the third runway at Heathrow. Can he outline one immediate action that had an impact during COP26?

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I am seeking to have the Queen Elizabeth Hospital rebuilt as one of eight new schemes. Can you confirm that the hospital's application is under consideration and give a timeline?

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I support the principle that paid lobbying in Parliament is wrong. However, reports suggest a change might occur after a Member was found guilty of it. Will this happen?

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If we change rules after sexual harassment cases but not for paid lobbying, why is this inconsistency happening now?

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The Resolution Foundation found that taxes will be £3,000 more per household since the Prime Minister took office. What is the projected tax increase over the next five years?

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The Resolution Foundation found that taxes will be £3,000 more per household since the Prime Minister took office. How much was the tax cut given to banks?

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According to the Prime Minister's own Budget documents, it was £4 billion in tax cuts to the bankers and £3,000 of tax rises per household. That is good news for the donor who gave his party half a million pounds—his bank got a bonus of nearly £8 million—but not so good news for the rest of us. This month, as the Prime Minister said, we remember and celebrate all those who serve our great country, all those who have lost their lives, leaving behind loved ones, and those who have sustained life-changing injuries and live every day with the consequences of their sacrifice. Yet hidden in the small print of the Budget was a £1 billion cut to day-to-day defence spending. So will our servicemen and women face pay cuts, or will there be fewer of them, with less support?

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This month, as the Prime Minister said, we remember and celebrate all those who serve our great country, all those who have lost their lives, leaving behind loved ones, and those who have sustained life-changing injuries and live every day with the consequences of their sacrifice. Yet hidden in the small print of the Budget was a £1 billion cut to day-to-day defence spending. So will the Prime Minister match our proposal to reinvest the £35 million saved from cancelled Ministry of Defence contracts to support our veterans, who surely deserve it?

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I thank the Prime Minister and the Government for securing our fantastic Stoke-on-Trent levelling-up funding. If we are truly to level up opportunities and access to opportunities in Stoke-on-Trent, we must also improve our poor public transport, so will my right hon. Friend agree to look at the possibility of bus franchising in the Potteries?

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As we look forward to Remembrance Sunday, may I, too, commend those who have served and the military and security services that protect us all for the job that they continue to do? Sir David Attenborough's powerful opening statement to COP26 told us that the journey to net zero means: “We must recapture billions of tons of carbon from the air.” The Climate Change Committee has been clear that carbon capture and storage is a necessity not an option to achieve the planet's net zero targets. This week, Scotland's world-leading climate targets have received widespread praise from, among others, the UN Secretary-General. Scotland is finding partners around the world to tackle the climate emergency, but in Westminster there is not even a willing partner to deliver the long-promised carbon-capture project. Scotland's north-east has now been waiting weeks for a clear reason for exactly why the Scottish cluster bid was rejected. There have been no clear answers, and not even clear excuses, so perhaps the Prime Minister will answer this simple question: does he know exactly how much of the UK's CO2 storage the Scottish cluster could deliver?

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It is bad enough that the Prime Minister rejected the Scottish cluster a week before COP, but what is worse is that he clearly does not even know or understand what his Government were rejecting. Let me tell him: the Scottish cluster bid would have stored 30% of the UK's CO2 emissions and supported the creation of around 20,000 jobs in green industries. It was far and away the best bid. If the decision was based on science alone, it would have been approved on the spot. With days left at the COP summit, will the Prime Minister now reverse his Government's massive own goal in rejecting the Scottish cluster?

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House prices are rising in East Devon, with the dream of home ownership becoming out of reach for too many local people. New-build developments must be affordable, with protections in place to restrict the number of properties becoming second homes. The loophole that allows second-home owners to avoid paying council tax should be closed quickly to help local authorities. Will the Prime Minister meet me and colleagues from across the south-west to discuss this growing crisis across our region?

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In the words of the Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth: “Scotland is vital for the UK's energy needs, both currently and in the future…It is also vital for our future offshore wind capabilities, and other low-carbon and renewable energies.”—[Official Report, 19 October 2021; Vol. 701, c. 615.] As he confirms, it is the rest of the UK that is dependent on Scotland, not the other way round. Does the Prime Minister not realise that his failure to invest in carbon capture and storage at St Fergus in Grangemouth and to feed the potential at Mossmorran in my constituency, is regarded as an act of deliberate economic vandalism, casting himself less as Bond and more as Blofeld the villain, for all the COP26 world to see?

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Darlington station is receiving £105 million thanks to this Government's plans to make it HS2 ready. I want to make sure that Darlington benefits from high-speed rail, so will my right hon. Friend meet with me and regional colleagues to discuss the eastern leg of HS2 and the reopening of the Leamside line to allow the full region to be better connected?

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The Prime Minister says that he is fanatical about buses, but what about trains, and not just in Darlington? I am talking about the Leamside line. Last Wednesday, I was notified that a joint bid to reinstate the mothballed Leamside line had not been successful in attracting the next stage of the feasibility funding from the Government as part of the restoring your railway fund. Will the Prime Minister tell us what specific plans the Government have to invest in the north-east, in places such as Gateshead and south Tyneside in my constituency, and when will he get serious about levelling up in our communities instead of just using the term as a meaningless, populist slogan?

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I want to really thank my right hon. Friend for his support for the early years healthy development review and, in particular, for the half a billion pounds of new money at the spending review last week. He often says that talent is spread equally across our country, but opportunity is not, so does he agree that giving every baby the best start in life is the best possible way to level up across our country?

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I have a constituent whose mother tragically committed suicide after suffering from domestic abuse, and now her abusive husband stands to inherit her entire estate. This has left my constituents deeply affected. Does the Prime Minister agree that convicted domestic abusers should never profit from their victims and will he meet me and my constituent to fix this legal loophole?

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The NHS is currently experiencing significant staffing shortages across many specialties. Will my right hon Friend support an amendment that would mandate regular independent forecasts of required doctor and nurse numbers, backed by 50 NHS organisations?

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I last challenged the Prime Minister over his pledge to deliver justice for the women born in the 1950s who have suffered pension injustices. Will he now confirm any plans to address these issues?

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The disappearance of Katrice Lee occurred on 28 November 1981, during her second birthday celebration. Her family continues to search and the upcoming anniversary will be particularly painful. Will the Prime Minister meet Mr Lee to reassure him that his daughter's case has not been forgotten?

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The Epilepsy Society is researching the impact of climate change on epilepsy through their climate change initiative. Will the Prime Minister endorse this initiative and commit to additional funding for research?

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The Lib Dems' heat network project has been exposed as founded on false premises and will leave constituents to bear the costs. Does this not show they are unfit to govern and that those responsible should resign?

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My constituent Jenni Garratt's building was evacuated due to safety concerns and she faces significant financial burdens like waking watch fees and parking costs. In an ITV interview, the Prime Minister dismissed her worries as unnecessary. Will he meet with her before the Building Safety Bill is finalised?

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I am concerned that the reduction in stops and searches by the new police and crime commissioner will undermine efforts to combat knife crime. Can you confirm that while stops and searches must be proportionate, they remain an important tool in keeping streets safe?

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The planned closure of these critical services at St Helier Hospital will cost £600 million. An alternative exists to rebuild the hospital in an area with higher health needs while saving £200 million. Would you support this option?

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What diplomatic actions will the UK take with its international partners in response to Iran's imminent status as a near-nuclear power, and what contingency plans exist if negotiations fail?

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Deptford First charity has launched a fundraiser to support families affected by the universal credit cut. Will you use your connections to boost their campaign or will you cancel the reduction?

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Louie French, a local candidate, opposes this charge which would negatively impact Orpington residents. Will you support Louie's campaign and prevent implementation of this proposal?

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As we approach the fourth anniversary of Jagtar's arrest with no formal charges, will you declare his detention as arbitrary?

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With the new health centre required to serve 3,000 additional patients, will you support my campaign for its construction?