PMQs

Question

The Prime Minister will be aware of considerable public concern about significant political donations helping acquire a peerage. The hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar will publish a Bill later today prohibiting large party donors from being nominated to the other place for five years. Will the Prime Minister offer full Government support to my hon. Friend's efforts?

Question

During a recent visit to Barnet Hospital, I was told that A&E there routinely sees twice the number of people for which it was designed. Thanks to hard work and big funding increases, the NHS is seeing more patients and delivering more tests, treatments, and operations than ever before. What are the Government doing to urgently assist the NHS tackle spiralling demand for healthcare and a tough winter ahead?

Question

Trust matters, and after last fortnight, the Prime Minister has got a lot of work to do. A central plank in this Government's promise to the north of England is a Crossrail of the north with at least an entirely new high-speed rail line between Manchester and Leeds. The whole of HS2—that is what was promised. Will the Prime Minister stick by that promise, yes or no?

Question

That was a lot of words, but it was not a yes, so that is one important promise to the north that he will not stand by. Let us look at another. In February this year, the Prime Minister told this House: “I can certainly confirm that we are going to develop the eastern leg as well as the whole of the HS2.”—[Official Report, 10 February 2021; Vol. 689, c. 325.] The whole of HS2—that is a new high-speed line, running continuously, no gaps, between Birmingham and Leeds. Will the Prime Minister confirm that he stands by that promise?

Question

Again, a lot of words, but not a yes. So that is two important promises to the north that the Prime Minister will not stand by. No wonder trust in the Prime Minister is at an all-time low. Across the country, and belatedly across this House, there is now agreement that Owen Paterson broke the rules and that the Government should not have tried to let him off the hook. Many Government Members have apologised—the Business Secretary has apologised for his part, and the Leader of the House has apologised for his part—but they were following the Prime Minister's lead. Will he do the decent thing and just say sorry for trying to give the green light to corruption?

Question

That is not an apology. Everybody else has apologised for the Prime Minister, but he will not apologise for himself—a coward, not a leader. Weeks defending corruption and yesterday a screeching last-minute U-turn to avoid defeat on Labour's plan to ban MPs from dodgy second contracts. Waving one white flag will not be enough to restore trust. There are plenty of Opposition days to come, and we will not let the Prime Minister water down the proposals or pretend it is job done. There still are cases that stain this House. Two simple steps to sorting it out: proper independence and powers for the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, and banning these job swaps. Will the Prime Minister take those steps?

Question

That new-found commitment to upholding standards did not last long. Here is the difference: when somebody in my party misbehaves, I kick them out. When somebody—[Interruption.]

Question

I think the Prime Minister just said he is happy to publish all the Randox papers in relation to these contracts, so we will take that and we will pursue it. I remind the Prime Minister that when I was Director of Public Prosecutions, I prosecuted MPs who broke the rules. He has been investigated by every organisation he has ever been elected to. That is the difference.

Question

The people of Leigh have never accepted our forced merger with the rival town—friendly rivals—of Wigan back in 1973. Will the Prime Minister tell me how we can escape the big government of big Wigan by getting our own council back?

Question

This Tory sleaze scandal has now been hitting the headlines for the past 14 days, yet it is pretty obvious that the Prime Minister spent less than 10 minutes coming up with yesterday's half-hearted, half-baked, and already half-botched proposals. These so-called reforms do not even scratch the surface.

Question

This is about Tory sleaze and Tory corruption, and the Prime Minister has basically admitted that not one of this Government's sleaze scandals would have been stopped by his so-called plan. Perhaps we should not be surprised, considering that the Prime Minister has been at the rotten core of all these scandals.

Question

Will the Prime Minister join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary this year of the formation of the 177-mile path for walkers along Offa's Dyke, which runs through Clwyd South, and give his support to the recently launched Offa's Dyke rescue fund to repair and preserve this monument and nature reserve for future generations?

Question

Why has the government closed ambulance stations in parts of England? Why is the West Midlands ambulance service closing up to 10 community stations, including Rugby, Oswestry and Craven Arms? With this health crisis for our ambulance services and A&Es, injured, sick and elderly people are being hit. When will the Prime Minister deal with this health crisis?

Question

Now that we are building more homes than ever, can the Government build on the success of COP26? What progress is being made on the standards for new-build homes to ensure they are fit for the future?

Question

Will the Prime Minister apologise for this broken promise to GPs and their staff, who are under increasing pressure with depleted staffing resources?

Question

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that maximising carbon capture and storage capacity across the whole United Kingdom is a priority for the Government? Will he also confirm that the Acorn carbon capture and storage and hydrogen project in my constituency has a key role to play in this country's future carbon capture and storage capacity targets to meet net zero?

Question

Will the Prime Minister commit his Government to work with us to realise the full potential of our great river, given that local authorities have set up a new Tyne taskforce?

Question

In light of Crawley's recovery and its platinum jubilee city-status bid, will my right hon. Friend please look favourably on this?

Question

Will the Prime Minister bring forward a standalone Bill to legislate for neonatal leave and pay so that parents do not have to choose between spending time in hospital or unpaid leave from work?

Question

Further education colleges like Hopwood Hall College in my constituency will play an essential part in building back better. The team at Hopwood have supported over 8,000 learners on courses as diverse as small business management and animal management, as well as six new T-level courses. May I invite my right hon. Friend to come and visit the inspirational team and the students at Hopwood Hall?

Question

My constituent Laura told me that Remembrance Sunday hurts. It hurts because there have been no medals for her grandad's service and the thousands of men involved in nuclear weapons tests overseas between 1952 and 1991. It hurts because studies of such veterans have shown increased miscarriages, increased birth defects and the same rate of genetic damage as clean-up workers at Chernobyl. And it hurts because the UK is the only nuclear power on earth that has denied recognition. So I ask the Prime Minister: will he recognise nuclear testing veterans today and agree to meet them? The Leader of the Opposition has.

Question

When I was in Greece with Save the Children, I learned that change at any border was quickly communicated down the line. If migrants and asylum seekers knew that they would be directly returned to France or taken to a third country pending application, would they risk a dangerous and illegal crossing and make their way to France in the first place? I ask my right hon. Friend: what further measures are being considered? This is an issue of great concern in Eastbourne, along the coast and across the country, and I am anxious to be able to reassure my constituents that there are plans ahead.

Question

In May, part of Northwich station in my constituency collapsed. I have asked the Transport Secretary to intervene and build back better and fairer to allow access for people with disabilities. He has declined my kind offer, so I ask the Prime Minister to intervene: no bluster, substance, build back better and fairer Northwich station—it is in the north of England.

Question

Over 4,200 servicewomen and veterans used a democratic process to contribute to the Defence Committee's inquiry into women in the armed forces. A formal response is still awaited from the Ministry of Defence. While the majority of women enjoy a fulfilling career in the military, shocking issues were raised around sexual assault, bullying and harassment. I know that the Prime Minister agrees that our armed forces are the best in the world. Would he also agree that we need to make sure that the British Army is the best place to serve as a woman?

Question

It has cost businesses in Northern Ireland £850 million to date to operate the failed and suffocating protocol. Lord Frost is today in Belfast. When will the Prime Minister fix this by legitimately activating article 16?

Question

I recently visited Humphrey Perkins School in beautiful Barrow upon Soar. The students asked me, “What are the Government doing to engage children and students from all backgrounds to encourage them to aspire to become an MP, or even Prime Minister?”

Question

In my constituency of Edinburgh West, numerous people come to us with delays from the Department for Work and Pensions with pensions and benefits. Can the Prime Minister tell us who—among the many jobs being done at the moment—is making sure that the Departments of Government are running smoothly and quickly?

Question

In July 2019, I was in Manchester when the Prime Minister committed to building a new line, Northern Powerhouse Rail, between Manchester and Leeds. That commitment was reaffirmed in our manifesto in November 2019, and last month it was reaffirmed in the Prime Minister's conference speech in Manchester. Were the voters of the north right to take the Prime Minister at his word?