PMQs

Question

In last week's debate on maternity services, the devastating impact of the removal of consultant-led services was highlighted. Under the current government, can I have reassurance that consultant-led maternity and A&E services will remain in Winchester? Will he commit to funding properly the backlog of maintenance issues at our hospital?

Question

Whitby InterActive has provided vital services for 26 years but is now set to close due to a funding shortfall. Does the Prime Minister agree that urgent action on SEND provision is needed and that charities like InterActive deserve support?

Question

Given China's unwarranted and intimidatory military exercises in the Taiwan strait, will the Foreign Secretary use his meetings in Beijing this week to condemn these acts?

Question

The case of Jimmy Lai is a priority. Does the Prime Minister agree that this is a politically motivated prosecution and breach of China's legal obligations to Hong Kong under the Sino-British declaration?

Question

Will the Prime Minister confirm readiness to sanction any Chinese business or individual involved in aiding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including imposing secondary sanctions on financial institutions?

Question

Why is the Prime Minister halting the implementation of a registration and monitoring scheme essential for protecting Britain from foreign state interference?

Question

That is very clearly what the Government have said. Only last week, the Prime Minister said at the Dispatch Box that he would give the security forces “the powers that they need”.—[Official Report, 9 October 2024; Vol. 754, c. 297.] If he is to fulfil that promise, I urge him to get up to speed on this issue and implement the scheme. Furthermore, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee has warned that British universities are increasingly a rich feeding ground for China to exert political influence over us. That is why we passed the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, with new powers to help to defend universities from that threat, but the new Education Secretary has since blocked it. Can the Prime Minister tell us how, without that tool, the Government will prevent Chinese influence over our universities?

Question

The FIR scheme and the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act were new tools—new sets of powers—that the previous Government passed in order to give our universities and security services the powers that they need to tackle a growing threat. The Opposition will of course continue to support the Government in protecting our national security, but we believe that those tools are needed, and we are concerned by reports that the new Government have paused their implementation or indeed scrapped them. Finally, the Chinese Government have sanctioned multiple Members of our Parliament for championing human rights. As a result, they have faced intimidation, abuse and surveillance. I commend you, Mr Speaker, for your defence of the right of every Member of this House to speak out on crucial issues without fear of retaliation from foreign states. I know that the Prime Minister will agree with that too, so this week will the Foreign Secretary in his meetings not just raise the issue but tell the Chinese Government to lift those sanctions on our colleagues?

Question

Two years ago, Thurrock Council was led into effective bankruptcy by the then Conservative Administration, in no small part due to an investment of hundreds of millions of pounds in a solar farm scheme run by a conman. Given the Prime Minister's commitment to integrity in public life, will he support my call, and those of my constituents, for a public inquiry, so that those responsible can finally be held to account?

Question

I echo the Prime Minister's tributes to Alex Salmond, Sir David Amess and Lily Ebert. I welcome the news that Ministers are going to review the carer's allowance repayment scandal, after campaigns by carers organisations, The Guardian and the Liberal Democrats, culminating in our motion on the Order Paper today, but does the Prime Minister agree that the evidence needed for the review is already long established, and many of the decisions self-evident? Will he and his colleagues vote for our motion today, so that we can write off the overpayments, end the crazy cliff edge to the earnings limit now, and have a fuller review of the support that carers deserve?

Question

I thank the Prime Minister for that answer, and ask him that Ministers listen to the voices of carers throughout the review. Let me turn to the middle east. Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich has said that starving 2 million people in Gaza might be “justified and moral”. National Security Minister Ben-Gvir called settlers who killed a 19-year-old on the west bank “heroes”. After my visit to Israel and Palestine last February, having witnessed the damaged that those extremist Ministers in the Netanyahu Government are doing, I called on the last UK Government to sanction them. They refused, but we now learn that the former Foreign Secretary was considering it. Will the Prime Minister now sanction Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich?

Question

It has been an honour to meet my constituent Tom Morton, a young person in care who cares so deeply about politics and communities—he is sat in the Public Gallery today. Young people in care are at disproportionate risk of criminal and cynical exploitation by drug barons through county lines. Will the Prime Minister tell Tom and the House what steps the Government will take to prevent vulnerable children in care from becoming involved in county lines operations?

Question

Plaid Cymru, too, pays tribute to Alex Salmond and Sir David Amess. One in five people in Wales are on an NHS waiting list. The Secretary of State for Wales says that a new cross-border NHS plan would bring down Welsh surgery waiting lists, but the Labour First Minister of Wales contradicts her and denies that it has anything to do with bringing down waiting lists. Are they making it up as they go along?

Question

Will my right hon. and learned Friend the Prime Minister join me in praising our Labour police and crime commissioner for Cleveland, Matt Storey, who is working with me to tackle knife crime, drug crime and antisocial behaviour in Stockton North, and will he assure my constituents that under this Labour Government we will see more police officers in Stockton and Billingham?

Question

As evidenced by some earlier questions, issues surrounding SEND, local government finance and adult social care affect all of our constituents. Let us be honest: for too long, both parties have ducked and dodged taking the difficult but necessary decisions. In order to give certainty to our constituents and confidence to those who provide those vital services, does the Prime Minister share my assessment that there is considerable merit in formal cross-party working on those issues, so that we can share taking those difficult decisions in order to improve outcomes for our constituents?

Question

The Fairways Networking Group is a group of small businesses in my constituency, all of which operate on tight margins. Can my right hon. and learned Friend help me to reassure this group that not only do they have nothing to fear from the Employment Rights Bill, but they have plenty to gain as exemplar employers?

Question

I associate the Green party with the Prime Minister's tributes to Alex Salmond and Sir David Amess. Some 99.7% of new patients in the east of England are unable to find an NHS dentist—it is the worst-affected area in the country. My constituents want urgent action, so when will the Government begin the critical negotiations on dental contract reform so that no one in the 21st century has to pull out their own teeth? Will it be by the end of this year?

Question

Last night we took steps to abolish the hereditary principle in the House. At my meeting, people said that for them, experiencing poverty feels hereditary too. Will the Prime Minister meet me and those with lived experience to find ways to hear their voices and break this cycle?

Question

My constituent Janette has ME and chronic pain. Due to the Welsh winter conditions and loss of winter fuel payments, she faces more muscle soreness and fatigue. With 86% of pensioners in poverty or just above it, will the PM establish a social energy tariff for people like her?

Question

In Britain, the biggest killer for men under 50 is suicide. We have subpar paternity leave and boys are half as likely to get higher education compared to girls. The PM's commitment on reducing suicides is welcome. Can he update us on this work?

Question

Group Captain Lizzy Nicholl had an exemplary career with the RAF until she was forced to resign. Despite inquiries vindicating her, the RAF and MOD failed to offer fair compensation. Will the PM meet Lizzy and help ensure those responsible face consequences?

Question

Vulnerable children are regularly placed far from home, often in unsafe accommodation. Private firms profit from this crisis. I will present my Bill offering modest reforms. Will the PM ensure his Government prioritises fixing social care crises and family courts?

Question

During the campaign, the PM promised to rebuild our local hospital. Can we rely on that commitment?

Question

I welcome the Government's historic investment in carbon capture and storage technology for Teesside and Merseyside. This week I have been at the sector's conference, and the feeling there is that this is a Government who are delivering after years of delay. Will the Prime Minister recognise the unique potential that Teesside has for jobs, prosperity and economic growth into the future?

Question

North Cornwall is an amazing place to live and work, but a top-down approach from Westminster has failed us. Public services are chronically underfunded, with young people forced to move away to pursue careers elsewhere, and affordable housing is a promise that is simply never kept. Will the Prime Minister meet all six Cornish MPs to discuss devolution for Cornwall, with a Cornish assembly that recognises our unique culture, language and national minority status, so that we can finally unleash Cornwall's economic potential?

Question

As the Prime Minister works for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages, he will have the support of Members across the House. He will have noted the comments from the White House calling for urgent action to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and for the Netanyahu Government to increase access to aid and the amount of aid getting through. Does the Prime Minister agree with those comments from the White House, and what representations is he making on that matter?