Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 18 December 2024 · 28 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 8 Partly answered 13 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Hinchliff (Labour) asked the Prime Minister to support the campaign of Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis for financial support for parents caring for sick children.
  • Kemi Badenoch (Conservative) asked about the impact of cutting winter fuel payments on pensioners and the NHS, and the Government's response focused on driving take-up of pension credit.
  • Kirith Entwistle (Labour) highlighted the rise in temporary homelessness under the current government and asked for measures to address it; the response included nearly 1 billion in funding to councils to tackle homelessness.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Hinchliff Lab North East Hertfordshire
NHS
Context

Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis tragically lost their son Hugh to a rare form of cancer in 2021 and are campaigning for financial support for parents who must leave work to care for sick children.

Question

May I associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks? In 2021, Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis tragically lost their son Hugh at age six to a rare form of cancer. They are courageously campaigning for financial support for parents who must leave work to care for sick children from day one. Will the Prime Minister meet them and me to discuss implementing Hugh's law?

Answer from Keir Starmer

Can I pay tribute to Ceri and Frances—it is a heartbreaking case—and commend them for their campaign on behalf of other families? We are investing £1.5 billion for new surgical hubs and scanners, and £70 million for new radiotherapy machines.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The meeting request was not addressed, only a tribute to the family and mention of funding investments.

How: Paid Tribute, Investment Details Instead

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Q2 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Since the Chancellor cut winter fuel payments, pensioners have applied for pension credit to compensate.

Question

How many extra people have applied for pension credit since the Chancellor cut winter fuel payments?

Answer from Keir Starmer

The No. 1 job of this Government was to put the finances back in order after the last Government lost control. They left a £22 billion black hole and we had to take tough choices. We made sure that the most vulnerable pensioners do get the winter fuel payment, and we have been encouraging them, driving up eligibility for pension credit and people signing up to their entitlement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Number of extra applicants was not provided.

How: Financial Control, Encouragement Instead

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Q3 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

The government is driving up pension credit sign-ups, but Age UK warns of potential health impacts from winter fuel payment cuts.

Question

Before the election, the Prime Minister's Chief Secretary to the Treasury misled about Labour's plans on winter fuel payments. Does the Prime Minister agree with Age UK that cutting these payments will harm pensioners and the NHS?

Answer from Keir Starmer

We have been driving take-up with the campaign for pension credit. It is important that everyone who is entitled to it claims that pension credit. The Leader of the Opposition should not claim as some great victory that the record of her Government was that people had not signed up.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Agreement with Age UK was not addressed, only criticism of opposition.

How: Take-Up Campaign, Criticism Instead

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Q4 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
NHS Economy
Context

Cuts to winter fuel payments have been criticized as cruel and potentially harmful for pensioners and the NHS.

Question

Did the Chancellor consider the impact on councils and the NHS when cutting winter fuel payments?

Answer from Keir Starmer

The household support fund was set out in the Budget, as the Leader of the Opposition knows. We are pushing up pension credit. She now says that the Conservatives are committed to the triple lock. Her shadow Chancellor says that they are not and that it is “unsustainable”. Perhaps over a sandwich or a steak they could sort it out and come back and tell us what their policy actually is.

Not addressed: Impact on councils and NHS was not addressed, instead the response shifted to questioning opposition's commitment.

How: Budget Fund, Policy Debate

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Q5 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Chancellor's Budget is criticized for negatively impacting family businesses and charities, with Marie Curie warning of £3 million annual cuts.

Question

Did the Chancellor inform the Prime Minister that their jobs tax would hurt charities?

Answer from Keir Starmer

The Leader of the Opposition has asked three questions about winter fuel—[Interruption.] I will come to that. She has changed her mind. She used to say that the payments were a “dead weight”. She said that she had constituents who did not need them.

Not addressed: Impact on charities was not addressed, instead shifted focus to opposition's stance on winter fuel payments.

How: Winter Fuel Payments, Constituency Needs

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Q6 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
NHS Economy
Context

The economy is shrinking, and the government's Budget has caused concern among hospices. Hospices believe that the budget will cost them an additional £30 million.

Question

I do not know what world the Prime Minister is living in. The economy is shrinking, and the Government did not think this jobs tax through or who it would impact. Another area affected is the hospice sector. Hospices believe that the Budget will cost them an extra £30 million. Yesterday, Conservatives voted to exempt social care, nurseries, charities and hospices from Labour's jobs tax. Labour voted that down. Can the Prime Minister at least agree to fund hospices so that they can continue their invaluable work helping people at the end of their lives?

Answer from Keir Starmer

We have put a record amount into the NHS in the Budget to deal with the problem that the Conservatives left. We will set out the funding arrangements for hospices in the new year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific funding for hospices, only promised to set out funding plans later.

How: Same Old, Same Old

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Q7 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
Economy Brexit
Context

The government's Budget is causing economic issues such as shrinking GDP, rising inflation, and job losses. Pensioners are unable to heat their homes due to the government's decisions.

Question

I did not hear a commitment to help hospices, which is a shame. The truth is that this winter people will be suffering because of the Prime Minister's choices. The economy is shrinking, inflation is going up and jobs are being lost because of his Budget. Pensioners will be unable to heat their homes because of his Government's decisions. They raised people's hopes but then smashed them with broken promises. And now we learn that he is about to give away our hard-won Brexit freedoms—[Interruption.] Yes—the truth is that Labour is punching the British people in the face—literally, in the case of one of his MPs. He will pretend this is about the past, but we all know that these are his choices—bad choices. If he is looking for a new year's resolution, why does he not start with telling the truth?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I will do it now. A £22 billion black hole left by the Conservatives, record numbers on the waiting lists—[Interruption.]

Not addressed: Did not address any of the specific issues raised about economic policies and pensioner heating problems.

How: Black Hole

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Q8 Amanda Martin Lab Portsmouth North
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

March 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of James Callaghan, who was a Member of Parliament holding all four great offices of state. He is known as a true Portsmouth great.

Question

I echo the Prime Minister in thanking you, Mr Speaker, and all the staff in this place, alongside our armed forces and emergency services, and wishing them a merry Christmas. March 2025 marks 20 years since the death of the only Member of Parliament to have held all four great offices of state: Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Chancellor and Prime Minister. James Callaghan was a true Portsmouth great who went to the same school as another true Portsmouth great: my dad, Terry Nolan. Does the Prime Minister back my bid for a plaque to be added to his former home in Copnor? Will he come along to Portsmouth next year to unveil it?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Jim Callaghan was a giant of the Labour movement and a great public servant. He left school at 17 and served in our Royal Navy before becoming Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and, of course, finally Prime Minister. I am sure that he, as a proud son of Portsmouth, would be honoured to be remembered in such a way.

Answered
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Q9 Edward Davey Lib Dem Kingston and Surbiton
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
Context

The Bath Philharmonia young carers choir has a member, Caitlyn, who is developing a special new project to spread the joy of music to young people in schools and communities.

Question

I join the Prime Minister in his praise and best wishes for our armed forces and emergency services, and I join others in wishing you, Mr Speaker, a happy Christmas, along with all the staff of the Commons and everyone across the House [Hon. Members: “Sing it!”] I will sing in a minute. I have had the great joy of spending time recently with some amazing young people from the Bath Philharmonia young carers choir. They are a brilliant example of the power of music to make a difference in young people's lives. One member, Caitlyn, has even developed a special new project to spread the joy of music to young people in our schools and communities. Will the Prime Minister meet Caitlyn to hear more about her exciting project, and will he work with us and others to support music in our schools and communities?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's comments. As he will know, today we are introducing the landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to enable all children to succeed, including young carers. We increased pupil premium funding to over £2.9 billion, which can be used to support pupils, including carers, with identified needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to meeting Caitlyn or discussing her project specifically, only mentioned existing initiatives for young carers.

How: Antisocial Behaviour

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Q10 Edward Davey Lib Dem Kingston and Surbiton
Care & Healthcare Workers Children & Families
Context

Young carers need real action to support them with the challenges they face. The Carers Trust's young carers covenant aims to provide additional support across local authorities.

Question

I wish the Prime Minister a happy Christmas. I thank him for allowing the young carers choir to sing outside No. 10, and I hope that he and the staff enjoyed it. Our song is called “Love is Enough”, but the hard truth is that for many young carers and young adult carers, love is not enough. These amazing young people need real action to help them with the challenges that they face. In addition to the measures that the Prime Minister just talked about, will he support the Carers Trust's young carers covenant, to ensure that, across local authorities, we give these young people all the support that they deserve?

Answer from Keir Starmer

We should support these young people, and we continue to work across the sector to ensure that all schools identify, support and record data on young carers. We boosted the carer's allowance in the Budget.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to supporting the Carers Trust's covenant specifically, only mentioned existing initiatives.

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Q11 Kirith Entwistle Lab Bolton North East
Housing Children & Families
Context

Temporary homelessness has more than doubled on the Tories' watch, affecting many families and children.

Question

I associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks and wish everyone a very happy Christmas, but for many of those in temporary accommodation in my constituency and across the country it will not be a happy Christmas. On the Tories' watch, temporary homelessness more than doubled, so what are the Government doing to support families and children living in temporary accommodation, particularly this season?

Answer from Keir Starmer

My hon. Friend is right about the appalling inheritance, which included record numbers sleeping rough and almost 160,000 children living in temporary accommodation. We are delivering nearly £1 billion to councils to tackle homelessness, including increasing funding in Bolton over the next year.

Answered
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Q12 Ben Lake PC Ceredigion Preseli
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Prime Minister supported fair and fast compensation in 2022 but rejected similar calls recently. The issue involves a delay in letters to affected women from 2005-2007, followed by accelerated changes in 2011.

Question

In 2022, the Prime Minister supported fair and fast compensation for 1950s women impacted by pension changes. Yet, yesterday, his Government rejected those calls out of hand. Is that what he meant when he promised a government of change?

Answer from Keir Starmer

This is a serious issue involving delays in letters from 2005-2007 and accelerated changes in 2011. Research shows that 90% of impacted women were aware of the changes, but taxpayers cannot afford tens of billions for compensation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact meaning of 'government of change' was not addressed directly

How: The Taxpayer Simply Cannot Afford

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Q13 John Grady Lab Glasgow East
NHS Scotland
Context

Recent data shows that almost 11,000 Scots have waited over two years for hospital treatment since referral, while the equivalent number in England is around 113. The SNP Government's impact on Scottish NHS is highlighted.

Question

The SNP Government has caused catastrophic damage to the Scottish NHS, evidenced by significantly higher waiting times compared to England. Does the Prime Minister agree?

Answer from Keir Starmer

The SNP is letting down patients in Scotland; waiting list targets are being missed, spending on agency staff is skyrocketing, and delays to patient discharge are hitting record levels.

Answered
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Q14 Blake Stephenson Con Mid Bedfordshire
Transport
Context

Since the summer, commuters using Harlington and Flitwick stations have faced nearly 8% train cancellations in evening peak times, with almost a third of trains more than five minutes late.

Question

These poor performance statistics follow government decisions to pay off union backers without conditions. Is this just coincidence?

Answer from Keir Starmer

The previous Government left trains in a poor state; now we are fixing it.

How: The Trains Were In An Appalling State Under The Previous Government

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Q15 Ian Byrne Lab Liverpool West Derby
Economy Standards & Ethics
Context

The parliamentary ombudsman ruled that injustice was done to 1950s-born women and they are owed compensation, affecting over 5,000 women in the constituency.

Question

The Prime Minister is asked for a vote on whether these women are owed compensation following an injustice.

Answer from Keir Starmer

In current economic circumstances, taxpayers cannot afford tens of billions in compensation. The percentage who knew about changes is mentioned.

Partly answered

How: The Taxpayer Simply Cannot Afford

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Q16 Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon
NHS
Context

Two constituents, Caroline and Savannah, are living with postural tachycardia syndrome and have been unable to access adequate treatment since the retirement of the only consultant available in July.

Question

The Prime Minister is asked to help secure treatment for these patients and agrees to meet the MP and her constituents to discuss this issue further.

Answer from Keir Starmer

The NHS workforce plan will be introduced next summer, investing an additional £22.6 billion in the NHS and ensuring expert workforce is in place. A meeting with relevant Minister will also be arranged.

Answered
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Q17 Jodie Gosling Lab Nuneaton
NHS Children & Families
Context

Foster carers in Nuneaton report not having sufficient support, with more than 17% of children waiting over four years for care; a child had nine home placements before the end of key stage 1.

Question

The Prime Minister is asked to ensure there will be a robust system providing consistent and swift care when needed.

Answer from Keir Starmer

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced today, puts children's interests at the heart of government policy. This bill is expected to be supported across the House.

Answered
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Q18 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Taxation Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers are among the hardest-working people; Peter Douglas from Jedburgh says Labour's inheritance tax increase will prevent him passing on his family farm to his son and daughter.

Question

The Prime Minister is asked if he can trust Labour's promise not to raise taxes on working people, as this policy could prevent farmers from passing their farms onto their children.

Answer from Keir Starmer

A record £5 billion will be put into farming over the next two years in the Budget; just two weeks ago, £350 million was put in to support farmers. The threshold is £3 million for inheritance tax.

Partly answered

How: The Taxpayer Simply Cannot Afford

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Q19 Jo White Lab Bassetlaw
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

An incident in Worksop where a young boy was injured by an off-road biker led to the question. The MP highlighted that this is not unique.

Question

I recently spoke to a man in Worksop whose son's arm was badly broken when he was knocked off his bicycle by an off-road biker speeding on the pavement—dressed in black, no number plate, totally unidentifiable. The young boy no longer goes out to play. His experience is not unique. What action is being taken to smash the bikes, and put police back on our streets?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I am glad my hon. Friend has raised that, because off-road bikes were a complete nuisance under the last Government and got completely out of control. We are introducing new respect orders to crack down on off-road bikes, strengthening police powers in relation to dealing with this big problem that got out of control under the last Government. We will also deliver 13,000 more neighbourhood police to ensure that we keep control of our streets—something that was lost under the last Government.

Answered
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Q20 Jack Rankin Con Windsor
Local Government
Context

The royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead announced plans to hike council tax by an unprecedented 25%.

Question

Last week, the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead announced plans to hike council tax by an unprecedented 25%. That would require the Government's permission. Does the Prime Minister agree that this outrageous request should be rejected, that the borough might be a candidate for accelerated local government reorganisation, and that my constituents should not be footing the bill for the persistent weak financial control and political failure locally?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that issue on behalf of his constituents. We are, as he knows, committed to fixing the foundations of local government and keeping taxes as low as possible for working people. The Budget announced a real-terms increase for local government, with over £4 billion of added funding. We will put that support in place, and he is right to raise that issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked if the borough should be reorganised but the answerer only mentioned supporting working people's taxes and not addressing the council tax hike directly.

How: Committed To

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Q21 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Asylum & Refugees NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP mentioned the contribution of Syrian surgeons in the NHS.

Question

We have in our NHS many brilliant émigré and refugee surgeons from the greatly troubled middle east, and I have been privileged to work alongside some of them from Iran, Iraq and from Syria, which we think especially now. What practical measures can the UK take to help ensure that Syria now has the best chance of becoming an open society and the second functional democracy in the region?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I thank my hon. Friend for drawing attention to the people of Syria and to the health workers of all backgrounds who do vital work in our NHS. The fall of Assad's brutal regime is to be welcomed and should be welcomed, but we must be cautious about what comes next. We have provided £50 million of extra support to vulnerable Syrians and I have spoken to G7 leaders to work towards a Syrian Government that respects international law, universal human rights and protects all citizens across all sectors.

Answered
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Q22 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Economy Scotland
Context

The MP criticized the Prime Minister for broken election promises.

Question

Before the election, this Prime Minister said he would lower energy bills by £300. Since he took office, they have gone up by £149. He said he would protect the winter fuel payment, but now he is in power he has stripped it off our pensioners. And he lined up for many photos with WASPI women, saying he would have their backs, and he has just betrayed them in the most scandalous way possible. This is now the defining characteristic of this one-trick phony Prime Minister who says one thing and does another. In Scotland, the SNP is 16 points ahead in the polls. Does he understand why the people of these islands, especially those of us in Scotland, treat him with such contempt?

Answer from Keir Starmer

Scottish National party Members used to ask those questions from an area that contained a great many MPs not so long ago, but all that changed in July. Now the hon. Gentleman is carping right up there at the back, and we can hardly hear him.

How: Carping

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Q23 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP wished everyone a merry Christmas and asked about the Prime Minister's resolution for a more peaceful world.

Question

Let me first wish you, Mr Speaker, all Members on both sides of the House and especially the House staff a very merry Christmas. Let me also associate myself with those who have thanked our emergency services and armed forces for their service. Christmas is a time for peace and good will. Given that there are more conflicts now than at any time since world war two and that all wars end with a peace, what is the Prime Minister's resolution to work with others for a more peaceful world in 2025?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I am sure that colleagues on both sides of the House support the values of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace—with which I know my hon. Friend is involved—and its work to support human rights across the globe. That, I think, is the sentiment that we take into this festive period.

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Q24 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Ukraine
Context

The MP raised concerns about Putin using a peace deal as cover to rearm.

Question

It was good to hear that the Prime Minister visited British soldiers in Estonia yesterday, before they have to spend Christmas away from their families. We would all like to see a lasting peace emerge for Ukraine in the new year, but Putin may take any deal brokered by Trump as a break in which to re-equip and rearm. What will the Government do to deter Russia from restarting its imperial war of aggression following any peace deal?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his appointment to the Intelligence and Security Committee, and thank him for raising the question of our troops in Estonia, who, as he says, will be there over Christmas without their families. They are right on the frontline, with a very clear sense of purpose, as part of our NATO contingent, and we thank them. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that we must continue to support Ukraine—that was the subject of our discussions in Estonia yesterday—and ensure that it is put in the strongest possible position, whether in negotiations or not. We must also make it absolutely clear that this conflict could be ended straight away if the aggressors, Russia, backed off.

Answered
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Q25 Diane Abbott Lab Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Women & Equalities
Context

The MP highlighted the fight for justice by WASPI women.

Question

The WASPI women fought one of the most sustained and passionate campaigns for justice that I can remember, year in year out, and we did promise them that we would give them justice. I understand the issue of the cost, but does the Prime Minister really understand how let down they feel today?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I do understand the concern; of course I do. I have set out the history, but the research findings make it clear that 90% of those impacted did know about the change. In those circumstances the taxpayer simply cannot afford the burden of tens of billions of pounds of compensation, but, as I have said, I do understand the concern.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for an understanding of how disappointed WASPI women felt and why promises were broken, but the answerer only partially addressed this by acknowledging research findings on knowledge about changes.

How: Cannot Afford

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Q26 Will Forster Lib Dem Woking
Children & Families
Context

Sara Sharif, a constituent of Will Forster, was brutally tortured and murdered by her father and stepmother. Public authorities are under scrutiny for failing to protect her.

Question

I want Sara's legacy to be one in which she is the last vulnerable child to be killed by people who should have looked after her. Will the Prime Minister ensure that an independent inquest and review of Sara's death is held at the start of the new year, so that we can learn why public authorities failed and ensure that it never happens again?

Answer from Keir Starmer

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise that absolutely harrowing case. It is important that all the lessons are learnt. An independent process is taking place, but we must be clear about the need to overhaul children's social care to keep young people safe, and to look again at the framework for home schooling, among other things.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm specific inquest and review dates or details

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Q27 Alan Strickland Lab Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Employment Transport Business & Trade
Context

The Hitachi rail factory in the questioner's constituency was secured with a half-a-billion-pound deal. The workforce feared job losses due to gaps between contracts.

Question

May I thank the Prime Minister for the leadership that he has shown in securing the half-a-billion-pound deal to secure the future of the Hitachi rail factory in my constituency? Does he agree that what we also need is a long-term plan for our proud high-tech rail manufacturing to drag it out of the mire that it was left in by the Tories?

Answer from Keir Starmer

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The workforce were extremely anxious about the situation, because they knew that if their colleagues were laid off, it would be bad for their colleagues and their community. I said then that I would do everything I could to ensure that we filled that gap, and I am very pleased that just the other week we were able to say that we have and that there is a contract.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specifics on long-term plan or address Tory criticism fully

How: Under Review

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Q28 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Context

Chris Middleton wrote a charity song to support Age UK that has already raised £10,000. The song is likely to beat the leader of the Lib Dems' single.

Question

As it is Christmas, will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Chris Middleton, who wrote a charity song to support Age UK that has already raised £10,000? What is even better is that it is likely to beat the leader of the Lib Dems' single to No. 1 this year, proving yet again that the Lib Dems cannot win—something that I hope we can both agree on.

Answer from Keir Starmer

I am not going to adjudicate between the contending singles for the top of the charts, but I end this Question Time by wishing a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year to everyone across the House.

Not addressed: Did not join in congratulating Chris Middleton or acknowledge his song's success

How: Changing Subject

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