PMQs

Question

When the Prime Minister got the job on his first day, he promised 'integrity, professionalism and accountability'. The questioner assumes the Deputy Prime Minister agrees with this promise. Therefore, does he agree that the Prime Minister should ensure no Minister who has a complaint of bullying upheld against them continues to serve in the Government?

Question

Many constituents were celebrating the Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, an important figure for equality and selfless service. The Midland Langar Seva Society and the Guru Har Rai Gurdwara are among organisations contributing positively to communities. Will my right hon. Friend thank the community for their ongoing contributions?

Question

Russia is launching missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure while leaders are meeting. The Government have requested establishing the facts to avoid speculation regarding an incident in Poland last night. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that Putin's actions show contempt for international order?

Question

While international allies are tackling the use of tax havens by multinationals, this Government are dragging their feet. The upcoming Budget will impact families across Britain. Does the Deputy Prime Minister accept that every pound hidden in tax havens is a pound lost from working families' pockets?

Question

Non-dom status has not been abolished. The Conservatives would have us believe economic problems are out of their control, but working people pay the price for protecting corporate profits over household incomes. Where does the UK rank in the OECD's growth league table?

Question

After days of dodging, the Deputy Prime Minister finally acknowledged formal bullying complaints. It's Anti-Bullying Week. Will he apologise?

Question

The Deputy Prime Minister knows that his behaviour was unacceptable, so what is he still doing here? When will the Government appoint an independent ethics adviser?

Question

The Deputy Prime Minister knows that civil servants are liars, suggesting no ethics or integrity. When will the Government appoint an independent ethics adviser?

Question

Please will the Deputy Prime Minister log on to Hope House Children's Hospice's Big Night In this Sunday? If he wins a pair of tickets to the Telford polar express, I shall be delighted to go with him.

Question

Yesterday, the Prime Minister was asked six different times to apologise for the disaster of the Tory mini-Budget and the financial crisis it caused. Will the Deputy Prime Minister stand up today and do what his boss would not? Will he say sorry?

Question

If the Government cannot even say sorry for the mess that they have made, what hope do we have of them fixing it? Will the right hon. Gentleman's Government join the fight against child poverty tomorrow and follow the lead of the Scottish Government by matching the Scottish child payment?

Question

Belper Mills in my Mid Derbyshire constituency are in a state of disrepair. The community is hugely worried about their future. It matters not just for my constituents but for the whole country, because the mills are part of a UNESCO world heritage site. If appropriate redevelopment is not agreed soon, the site risks losing its world heritage status. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government will pay close attention to this case to ensure that we do not lose our world heritage status? Will he come with me to visit the mills and discuss potential solutions with local people?

Question

I am sure that the Deputy Prime Minister will join me in welcoming the comments made yesterday by the Foreign Secretary to the European Scrutiny Committee—that securing Northern Ireland's place within the Union will be the priority of the Government in the negotiations with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol. One of the benefits of the Union is the support that the Government of the United Kingdom are providing to households and businesses across the entire country to tackle the cost of living crisis. Will the Deputy Prime Minister assure me that the £400 energy support payment that is due to be made to households in Northern Ireland will be announced as soon as possible?

Question

Even if an illegal migrant is stopped on a French beach, he will simply come back the next day as no one is ever arrested. Will the Deputy Prime Minister ensure that we remove all pull factors for illegal migration by using his new Bill of Rights so that we have the legal power to arrest, detain and deport illegal migrants, and, for instance, have a review about a national identity card so that people do not just vanish and never get deported?

Question

Our small rural schools in Wyre face particular difficulties. The headteacher at Scorton and Calder Vale St John Church of England Primary Schools told me that: “Budgets in schools like ours are stretched as we have to pay for lots of additional services which larger schools can provide in-house.” She has to hire the village hall for PE because the schools have no hall, and she has to hire taxis to bring in school meals because they have no kitchens. Given the school budget cuts, what does the Deputy Prime Minister advise this headteacher to cut from our local children?

Question

The Deputy Prime Minister will be aware of the opportunities but also the challenges that face Torbay's tourism and hospitality sector, including increased energy costs and the impact of business rates. What consideration is he giving to the situation of Torbay's iconic industry and further measures to support it?

Question

Private rents in my constituency are completely out of control, and since the Government broke the economy and broke the mortgage market, the hope of earning a home is quickly receding. With the cost of living skyrocketing, Tory tax rises through the roof, and an extra 1 million people in the private rented sector since 2010, will the Government get a grip and tackle housing in my constituency and across the country?

Question

My constituent Mikey Akers said he is ashamed of those who judge him without knowledge or understanding. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Dyspraxia Foundation reported that 5% of children have speech and communication needs, suggesting more awareness raising is needed. Will you convene a meeting with the Prime Minister to raise awareness about verbal dyspraxia?

Question

Can you tell me if you have ever entered into a non-disclosure agreement connected to a complaint against you?

Question

Will the Deputy Prime Minister, as a former Foreign Secretary and Development Minister, commit to backing the work of Education Cannot Wait which delivers education in refugee camps?

Question

Does the Deputy Prime Minister's comeback signal that the ban on no-fault evictions is back on and will it be put on the statute book?

Question

I wonder whether my right hon. Friend has noticed that those currently criticizing him have a record of bullying. Does he think this criticism is hypercritical?

Question

Will the Deputy Prime Minister investigate and inform me of the legal rights of veterans who participated in nuclear weapons tests to obtain their medical records?

Question

Will the Deputy Prime Minister and our new Prime Minister recognise these brave servicemen not only by doing what the hon. Lady has asked but also by giving them the service medal that they so richly deserve?

Question

Seven years ago, a Conservative Prime Minister told me to stop griping about rail investment plans. A few weeks ago, the new Secretary of State said there wasn't really much point in going ahead with Northern Powerhouse Rail. Will the Deputy Prime Minister now put on the record whether he supports Transport for the North's preferred option for NPR, with a stop in Bradford?

Question

If migrants who crossed the channel from France illegally were immediately returned to France, it would stop illegal migration to this country, break the economic model of the people smugglers and, perhaps more importantly, stop thousands of people descending on northern French cities, which would benefit the French. When the Prime Minister spoke to the French President, was a returns policy discussed? If so, what was the President's response?

Question

It is not trade unions that have run public services to the ground—it is the Tories. It is not asylum seekers fleeing war and famine who are inflaming tensions—it is the Tories. It is not those in low-paid jobs who are trashing the economy—again, it is the Tories. Can the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House when the Tory Government will finally accept responsibility for their economic, social and political mismanagement, rather than blaming everyone else?

Question

Now then. We have a brilliant Home Secretary but the Deputy Prime Minister will be aware of the wicked and vicious bullying campaign led by the Opposition over the last four weeks or so to get her sacked. Can he reassure me and the people of Ashfield that the Home Secretary will be given all the tools that she needs to solve the migrant crisis and keep the bully boys out of No. 10?

Question

In 1936, people from my constituency marched to Parliament demanding jobs. They were living in poverty and were hungry. Some 86 years later, 39% of kids in Jarrow are still hungry. Will the Deputy Prime Minister and the Government end that scandal and commit to providing free school meals to all 800,000 children—40,000 of whom are in the north-east—from households in receipt of universal credit?

Question

Given that we have the highest burden of taxation in living memory, it is clear that the Government's financial difficulties are caused by overspending, not due to under-taxing. Does the Deputy Prime Minister therefore agree that if the Government have enough money to proceed with HS2 at any cost, then they have sufficient money not to increase taxes; but if they have so little money that they have to increase taxes—the last thing for a Conservative Government to do—then they do not have sufficient money for HS2? So can I gently urge the Deputy Prime Minister not to ask Conservative MPs to support any tax rises unless and until this unnecessary vanity project is scrapped, because I for one will not support them?

Question

In my Caerphilly constituency, we have five food banks. One of those food banks is run by the Trussell Trust, and it has issued over 2,000 food parcels during the last six months. There is a question from the users of that food bank, which is: will the Government give a firm commitment to ensuring that benefits will always be enough to purchase essentials?

Question

My right hon. Friend is also the Justice Secretary, and everybody in this House, irrespective of party, will know that for the reputation of this House standards are important. He has said that from the Dispatch Box this afternoon. However, in response to some of the points raised by Opposition Members, am I naive to still believe in that good British tradition that one is innocent until proven guilty?