PMQs

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I completely sympathise and understand why people suffering from distressing conditions will want to seek the best possible treatment available, and I thank the hon. Lady for raising the issue. We are committed to ensuring that the UK is a world-leading jurisdiction for pharmaceutical, clinical and other medical research, and we have asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review barriers to legitimate medical research involving controlled drugs such as psilocybin. Our response to the council's recommendations will be published as soon as possible.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

As I set out at the NFU conference just a couple of weeks ago, we will always back British farmers for continuing to produce fantastic food. We are accelerating that plan, with the largest package of grants ever. Indeed, one of the new schemes opens just today, supporting farmers with up to £125,000 towards the purchase of new equipment and technology. Our schemes in England are all about more choice, not less. Unlike Labour in Wales, we will never introduce top-down, arbitrary targets that damage farm incomes, damage our food security and take farmers back to square one.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Can I first say that I am sure all Members of the House will have been thinking about Sarah Everard in recent weeks? It was, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman said, an absolutely shocking case, and the abuse of power in particular was appalling. That is why we took action quickly to strengthen police vetting and strengthen the rules for rooting out officers who are not fit to serve, and conducted the largest ever screening of all serving officers and staff. We are now ensuring that any officer who has been charged with a crime will be suspended from duty automatically until their case is concluded, and we will thoroughly consider all the report's recommendations and respond in full.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

It is vital for public confidence that those who are not fit to wear the badge are rooted out of the police and not able to join in the first place. That is why the College of Policing updated its statutory code on vetting, and that happened quickly. In addition, the policing inspectorate carried out a rapid inspection of all forces' progress against the previous findings and, in addition to that, an entire check against the national police database was carried out for all serving officers and staff.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Home Secretary addressed this specifically when he made his statement. Indecent exposure, just like any other kind of sexually motivated crime, is abhorrent and we expect police chiefs to take it extremely seriously. We fully expect police chiefs to suspend an officer charged with any kind of sexually motivated crime. It is worth pointing out that, in addition to the new powers that the Home Secretary outlined about automatic suspension, chief constables have existing powers to suspend any officer in their force when allegations are made, and we fully expect them to use those powers.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

As we acknowledged a couple of years ago, we need to do more to improve rape outcomes in the criminal justice system. The rape review action plan has increased average sentences by a third since Labour was last in office and police referrals have doubled along with charges. Last year there was a 50% increase in rape convictions, and now rapists will serve every day of their sentence.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

We have already implemented the rape review action plan, ending digital strip searches of victims' mobile phones, ensuring better use of pre-recorded cross examination, rolling out Operation Soteria across all police forces, and significantly increasing the number of independent advisers. There is more specialist training in all police forces for these prosecutions.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

It is absolutely right that we ensure our communities are safe for women and girls, which is why we passed the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, set up a new victim support line, quadrupled funding for victim support, and invested in practical things like CCTV and better streetlighting. This Government have a strong track record on ensuring that women across this country feel safe.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend is right to highlight high energy bills; we stepped in with support that paid around half of a typical household bill at its peak. The energy price cap will fall by almost £250 in April, bringing relief to many families. We introduced the energy profits levy on windfall profits and are cutting taxes and putting more money into family bank accounts.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Obviously, I would not comment on the Budget. However, it was clear last week that there has only ever been one party consistently standing up for the North Sea energy industry in Scotland: the Scottish Conservatives.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The government has cut taxes for everyone in Scotland since January, whereas the SNP proposed tax increases. This Conservative Government will continue cutting taxes for hard-working Scots.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Justice is being delivered, with legislation to overturn convictions paving the way for swift payment of compensation. The postal Minister is closely examining issues raised.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Secretary of State has raised specific issues with the Irish Government. I spoke to the Taoiseach about this, hoping for further cooperation on Omagh and other cases involving Irish jurisdiction.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Our cross-Government taskforce supports the armed forces of Ukraine, leading industrial co-operation. We conducted a successful trade mission last year, and will continue collaborating with Ukrainian allies.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Inequality has actually declined under this Government. The north receives some of the highest per capita levelling-up funding, and we are reinvesting HS2 funds into transportation for northern communities.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My right hon. Friend makes an excellent point. He knows, as I know, that if we want fully to stop the boats, we need to have a working deterrent, so if someone comes here illegally, we must be able to remove them to a safe third country alternative. That is why the Rwanda scheme is so important, and why we are determined to see it through. Just in the past week, an independent report was published that talked about the Labour party's policies in this area. It made it crystal clear that Labour does not have a plan to stop the boats. In fact, its idea would see the UK accept hundreds of thousands more migrants.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Saving 10 million jobs in the pandemic with the furlough scheme.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right: sustainable planning must be at the heart of our planning system. That is why we are committed to meeting the needs of communities by building homes in the right places and, as he says, making best use of brownfield land. We have made it clear that that is what the priority should be and we have put extra funding aside to unlock those sites. Our recent changes to the national planning policy framework provide clearer protection for the green belt, making it clear how future housing supply should be assessed.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I do not think that would be proportionate or appropriate. In keeping with long-standing tradition, I voluntarily published my tax returns, as did the Chancellor.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I thank my right hon. Friend for championing this cause, which is absolutely right, and reassure him that we are committed to ensuring that the SAF mandate is in place in 2025. That will require about 10% of jet fuel to be made from sustainable feedstock by 2030. I am pleased to tell him that, to get there, we have provided £135 million to 13 different UK sustainable aviation fuel projects to kickstart our domestic industry and, importantly, as he also knows, we have committed to introducing a revenue certainty mechanism to support SAF production in the UK as soon as practically possible.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I join the hon. Lady in paying tribute to the history of her local community. I am pleased that the city of Chester is benefiting from so much investment from the Conservative Government, so that it can maintain its local infrastructure.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I thank my hon. Friend for the question. I understand the concerns that local drivers have over this ongoing TfL issue. Although, we are doing everything we can to back motorists across the country, it is disappointing that the Labour Mayor and, indeed, Labour-run Wales are hammering drivers at every opportunity, whether that is with temporary speed limits, blanket 20 mph zones, or the ultra low emission zone expansion.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I agree with the hon. Lady that spiking is an appalling, violating crime which seriously undermines public safety, particularly the safety of women and girls, and we want to ensure that the existing laws recognise the threat that spiking poses. That is why at the end of last year we announced a raft of new measures to confront spiking and support victims, including changing the law to make it clear without any doubt that spiking is illegal, as well as other measures such as an online reporting tool, investing in research and rapid testing kits, and training for bar staff. I will ensure that we look into the issue she raises and write back to her.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am pleased that in 2020 we announced that we would double our flood investment to a record £5.2 billion. In Nottinghamshire, since 2010 we have invested over £50 million to protect 15,000 properties. I know that currently there is a programme in Mansfield that is looking at surface water and drainage improvements, but I will ensure that I talk to the Chancellor, and that we have a strong economy to keep investing in local infrastructure in my hon. Friend's area.