PMQs

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Government recognise the strategic importance to the midlands of the A50/A500 corridor. Final decisions on the scheme will be made in the third road investment strategy, which will be fully published next year, but I know my hon. Friend will be contacting Ministers in the relevant Departments to invite them to hear her case.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

It is absolutely right that people can rely on the emergency services when they need them, and that is why we are rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times and, indeed, urgent and emergency care. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman cares about ensuring patients get access to life-saving emergency care when they need it, why will he not support our minimum safety legislation?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Because of the extra funding we are putting in to relieve pressure in urgent and emergency care departments, and the investment we are putting into ambulance call handling, we will improve ambulance times as we are recovering from the pandemic and indeed the pressures of this winter. But I say this to the right hon. and learned Gentleman again, because he makes my case for me: he describes the life-saving care that people desperately need, so why, when they have this in other countries—France, Spain, Italy and others—is he depriving people here of that care?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The specific and practical things we are doing to improve ambulance times are clear: we are investing more in urgent and emergency care to create more bed capacity; we are ensuring that the flow of patients through emergency care is faster than it ever has been; we are discharging people at a record rate out of hospitals, to ease the constraints that they are facing; and we are reducing the call-out rates by moving people out of ambulance stacks, with them being dealt with in the community. Those are all very practical steps that will make a difference in the short term.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Of course Stephanie's case is a tragedy. Of course, people are working as hard as they can to ensure that people get the care that they need. The right hon. and learned Gentleman talks about political games. He is a living example of someone playing political games when it comes to people's healthcare.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The specific and practical things we are doing to improve ambulance times are clear: we are investing more in urgent and emergency care to create more bed capacity; we are ensuring that the flow of patients through emergency care is faster than it ever has been; we are discharging people at a record rate out of hospitals, to ease the constraints that they are facing; and we are reducing the call-out rates by moving people out of ambulance stacks, with them being dealt with in the community. Those are all very practical steps that will make a difference in the short term.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

We will deliver minimum safety levels as soon as we can pass them. The right hon. and learned Gentleman breaks promises left, right and centre. He promised to nationalise public services, have a second referendum on EU migration, now he says something different.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I thank my right hon. Friend for his work on the Net Zero Review. We exceeded expectations in decarbonisation and will respond to the report's requests and recommendations over the coming year.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The decision is centred on reserved matters under the Scotland Act 1998. The Bill would affect UK-wide equalities, so it was right for the Scottish Secretary to act with regret.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

No, it is simply about protecting UK-wide legislation and ensuring safety for women and children; not about the devolution settlement. I urge engagement with the UK Government to find constructive ways forward.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

We provide 15 hours of free childcare for every eligible three and four-year-old. We are consulting on ratios and supporting more people to become childminders to improve cost, choice, and affordability.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

We respect all public sector workers, especially those in the NHS. We backed them with record funding and investment in doctors, nurses, and lifesaving equipment. We want to engage constructively in dialogue.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend rightly points out that transport in London is devolved to the Labour Mayor of London. It is disappointing that the Mayor, backed by the Leader of the Opposition, is choosing not to listen to the public and expanding the zone against the overwhelming views of residents and businesses. I urge the Mayor to reconsider properly and to respond to those serious concerns.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

It was the Labour party that showed its cards this week when it came to backing working people. If he really cares about supporting patients, if he really cares about children getting the education they receive, if he really cares about working people being able to go about their lives free from disruption, he should join in supporting legislation which is prevalent in many other countries to ensure minimum safety levels in critical public services.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend makes an excellent and powerful point, and he is right to highlight that the Labour Mayor is imposing that tax on a public who do not want it. Expanding that zone is not something that communities want. I look forward to working with my hon. Friend to urge the Mayor to consider and respond properly to all views and stop that unfair tax.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The hon. Gentleman raises a very important case, and I am very sorry to hear about the specific families he mentions. We recognise that dog attacks can have horrific consequences, and I want to assure him that we take the issue incredibly seriously. That is why we have established a working group between police, local authorities and other key stakeholders to consider all aspects of tackling irresponsible dog ownership. That working group will make its recommendations later this year, and of course, the Government will respond promptly.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My right hon. Friend has been a stalwart champion for her community and, in particular, for their levelling-up fund bid, which I know will make a massive difference to them. I wish her and her constituents every success when we announce the next round of successful bidders for that fund.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I want to assure the hon. Lady that Ofgem has specific regulations in place regarding the use of prepayment meters and how energy companies should treat those who are struggling with their bills. I am pleased to say that her constituents will receive, at a minimum, around £900 of support with their energy bills this winter as a result of this Government's actions.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point, and I am happy to join him in paying tribute to his constituents at the MOD facility. The work they are doing is making a critical difference in the fight to combat Russian aggression in Ukraine. I know it is extremely appreciated, both by the President of Ukraine and his people. My hon. Friend is also right that it highlights the need for more investment, which is why we are putting £24 billion of investment into our armed forces and increasing the amount of kit that we manufacture here at home.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

First of all, let me say that my thoughts are with the company's employees and families at this time, and we stand ready to support those impacted. Let me just outline to the hon. Gentleman what exactly has happened. We did offer significant support to Britishvolt through the automotive transformation fund—a considerable amount of funding—but entirely reasonably, and this is not something I expect the Labour party to understand, that support was conditional on the company receiving private investment as well, which is a sensible protection for taxpayers. Unfortunately, that did not materialise. It is completely wrong to take from that what else is happening in the north-east. Across the north-east, there is new investment in the new N-Vision and Nissan plant in electric vehicle manufacturing. That is a £1 billion investment in the north-east. Look at what is happening in Teesside on clean energy. This Government are committed to the north-east, and we will deliver more jobs and opportunity under this Conservative Administration.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend is an excellent champion for her constituents, particularly her advanced manufacturing businesses, which I have had the pleasure of visiting with her in the past. It is important that we support those businesses on energy prices, which we are doing through the announcement that the Chancellor recently made, particularly in regard to generous support for energy-intensive industries. Indeed, they can also apply for up to £315 million-worth of capital grant funding to help them make the transition to net zero.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

At the turn of the year, the Government wrote to all unions, including the RCN, to invite them for frank, open, honest, two-way dialogue with the relevant Secretaries of State. I am pleased that those meetings are happening in a range of sectors, and I hope we can find a constructive way through this.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am very sorry to learn that Zigi has passed away, and my thoughts are of course with his family. I know he was a man with wonderful energy and humanity. I pay tribute to him for his work, and indeed to all holocaust survivors who have so bravely shared their testimonies. We must never forget the holocaust. As my hon. Friend rightly said, I know the whole House will join us in echoing Zigi's poignant and accurate message: do not hate.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

This Government are investing record sums in transport infrastructure across the country but especially in the north and midlands, with a £96 billion integrated rail plan that will improve journey times east-west across the north and connectivity across the east midlands. It is a record we are proud of, and now we will get on with delivering it.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I would be happy to organise a meeting for my hon. Friend to discuss how to progress his project. He is right about the importance of primary care. There is more investment going in, but we want to ensure it works for his constituency, so I look forward to arranging a meeting with him and the relevant Minister.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I think the hon. Gentleman's proposal would also increase Bills for many families, so I am not sure it is the right approach. We are providing around £900 of specific support for all families' energy bills this winter and there is further targeted support for those who are most vulnerable. We are consulting on the best thing to do going forward, including options such as a social tariff.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend put that very well. She is right to make the point that what we are proposing is in line with many other countries around the world. We are joining countries across continental Europe in having minimum safety laws, as I think the public would reasonably expect a level of emergency life-saving care.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My right hon. Friend has already addressed the matter in full and there is nothing more that I can add.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I confirm that the Government believe that levelling up should apply equally everywhere across our United Kingdom. Urban and rural communities up and down the country will get the benefit of investment they deserve.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Some 347 Acts have been passed by the Scottish Parliament, which is undeniably one of the most powerful devolved legislatures anywhere in the world. In this exceptional case, it is clear that the Bill has adverse consequences on UK-wide equalities legislation. The Secretary has regretfully taken the decision to block passage of the legislation.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend is right that it is a priority for all our constituents, and he is right to highlight our new deal with France which increases funded patrols on French beaches by 40%. We must go further to solve the problem once and for all, introducing legislation making it clear that if someone enters the UK illegally they should not stay here but be swiftly detained and removed.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The UK Government's position has been clear and long standing. We do not tolerate persecution anywhere, but I disagree with the characterisation put forward by the hon. Gentleman.