PMQs

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Inequality today is lower than in 2010, and 1.7 million fewer people are in poverty now compared to 2010, including many in Scotland. We have put in place record support for families dealing with the cost of living, particularly with energy bills, showing the power of the United Kingdom Government.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Government remains committed to ending new HIV transmissions by 2030. Provisional data shows success of opt-out testing programme. The Department is evaluating impact with a view to expansion. Ministers will update the House on progress.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Justice Secretary has launched an internal investigation into how this could happen and an independent inquiry is also underway to learn lessons and prevent future occurrences.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Over the last few years, 4,000 new prison officers have been recruited. Staffing levels at Wandsworth are up by 25% in six years, and £100 million is being invested to improve security with measures like X-ray body scanners.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Chinese Foreign Minister, including raising significant concerns. The Government's approach to China protects our country and values, aligns with allies, and engages where it makes sense.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Prime Minister dismissed the ISC report and instead highlighted new measures such as the National Security Protective Authority staffed by MI5, supporting businesses against cyber risks from China.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Government announced reforms for over 100,000 homes but criticises Labour's inconsistency on house building and union paymasters.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Government is delivering for the country, such as attracting £600 million in new investment and rising wages. Criticises Labour's promises to union paymasters.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Government invests £3 billion annually in dentistry, there are no geographical restrictions on dental practice choice, and ICBs should work with NHS England to reallocate funding.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Conservative party introduced and delivered a £3,000 increase in the state pension since 2010; there are 200,000 fewer pensioners in poverty today.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Thanks to the actions of this Government, pensioners in Scotland are receiving record increases in their state pension—£870 this year—and extra support with the cost of living this winter. This is the Government who introduced and remain committed to the triple lock, but the hon. Gentleman raises a good point. Pensioners in Scotland should know that the reason they can rely on the state pension, not just today but for years to come, is the strength of our Union and the strength of our United Kingdom Government.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Government have a mission to make the UK the most innovative economy in the world and the growth of our tech industry is one of the key ways we will achieve that. I am delighted to join my hon. Friend in thanking and paying tribute to Chalk Eastbourne for its terrific organisation of DigiFest. This is a great example of how, in local areas, we can bring together people to create jobs and opportunity, and ultimately drive the growth that our country wants to see.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

It is absolutely right that we do everything we can to speed up cancer diagnosis. The pandemic has had a significant impact on cancer recovery: as the right hon. Gentleman will know, before the pandemic there were about 200,000 cancer referrals a month, but during the pandemic the figure dropped to about 80,000, and now, as those referrals come through, that is having an impact. However, we are ensuring that there are hundreds more oncologists and radiologists working this year than last year, and rolling out more than 160 community diagnostic centres. As the right hon. Gentleman says, early diagnosis is key, which is why, although there is work to do, cancer treatment today is at record levels. We are making progress, and the 62-day backlog is now falling. Recently the NHS wrote to all trusts, streamlining our targets, clinically advised, and now all the focus is on meeting them as quickly as possible.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am delighted with the improvements that have been made by Greater Manchester police; the Home Secretary met the chief constable recently. They have made significant improvements in, for example, answering 999 calls, and have seen almost a 50% year on year increase in the number of charges recorded. I very much welcome the force's focus on getting the basics on crime and antisocial behaviour right. It is a model for police forces across the country.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

This Government are committed to the triple lock; it was this Government who introduced the triple lock. The hon. Lady might want to have a word with her own deputy leader, who did not provide much clarity on the matter. What we all remember, when it came to pensions, is Gordon Brown's 75p a week increase.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the incredible power of AI to transform not just businesses and our productivity, but public services such as health and education. However, we do need guardrails to allow us to make the most of the opportunities of AI, and to address risks. We have a responsible, proportionate regulatory approach that balances risk with innovation, and I look forward to working with international partners at our upcoming AI safety summit on how we do that at a global level.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

No; but I would say that my approach to reaching net zero is not one that requires people to give up doing the things that they want to do and enjoy, such as flying. The right thing to be doing is as we are doing: investing in and funding new technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuel, because that is how we will decarbonise aviation during the transition to net zero, rather than forcing people to give everything up.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I thank my right hon. Friend for all of his work and attention in this area; it was good to work with him on Project Adder in particular. He is right to highlight the fact that drugs destroy lives and families, hitting the most vulnerable in our society the hardest. The 10-year drug strategy, which he helped put in place, is ambitious and backed with a record £3 billion of funding. As he highlighted, we have consulted on a new drug possession offences framework, and I assure him that Ministers will keep him and this House updated on future plans.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Of course I am sorry for the disruption at schools as we work hard to identify those affected, but the DFE is fully funding the inspection process, ensuring that we are now rapidly inspecting and surveying all potentially affected schools and paying for that work. Also, with the increase of up to 80 dedicated caseworkers, St James's Primary School, like others, should have a dedicated point of contact to work through those issues. I will ensure that the Secretary of State and the Department are in touch with the school and the hon. Member for an update.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I start by thanking my hon. Friend for his work in this important area. Regulators are working closely with industry to evaluate new dementia medicines, because of course we want patients to benefit from rapid access to safe and effective treatments. We are also strongly committed to funding dementia research, including doubling the amount allocated to £160 million a year by next year, and last year we launched the Dame Barbara Windsor dementia mission, backed up with new funding, which will work with industry to develop biomarkers and data and digital science innovations and to strengthen our trials in dementia. I look forward to hearing more suggestions from my hon. Friend on that.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Of course, the number on waiting lists has been impacted significantly by the pandemic, but that is why we have put record funding in place to help to address that, including innovations such as surgical hubs, same-day emergency care, virtual wards and such like. I would gently point out to the hon. Gentleman that, in England, part of the reason that waiting lists are not coming down as fast we would like is the strike action by doctors—something that is supported by him and his colleagues, who have stood on the picket lines ensuring that patients cannot get access to care. It is also him and his party who are saying that they will repeal the laws we have put in place that will guarantee patients safe access to medical treatment in the event of industrial action. If he wants to make this issue emotional, he should tell people why he believes that patients should be deprived of access to lifesaving care because of industrial action.