Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 12 November 2025 · 18 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 15 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Prime Minister committed to addressing historic wrongs for mining communities and met BCSSS trustees.
  • Prime Minister denied authorising attacks on Cabinet members and expressed full confidence in his team.
  • Prime Minister announced 100 million passed to Hospice UK and over 3 million for palliative care research.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sally Jameson Labour (Co-op)
Economy Employment
Context

The trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme are campaigning to return a £2.3 billion investment reserve back to its members, many of whom are in Doncaster Central.

Question

Will the Prime Minister ensure fairness and justice are delivered to BCSSS members at the upcoming Budget? Will he meet me and other coalfield MPs to discuss this matter further?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

The Prime Minister assures that he is committed to righting historic wrongs for mining communities. Ministers have met BCSSS trustees on several occasions, including a forthcoming meeting scheduled for later today with the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to returning investment reserve or meeting request

How: Ministers Have Met Trustees, Forthcoming Meeting

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Q2 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
Democracy & Elections Standards & Ethics
Context

The Health Secretary made comments on the BBC this morning about a 'toxic culture' in Downing Street that needs to change.

Question

Is the Prime Minister aware of attacks on his Cabinet members and does he have full confidence in Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

The Prime Minister denies authorising attacks on Cabinet members. He claims the team is delivering for the country, highlighting growth figures and private investment. He expresses full confidence in his team.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Full confidence in Morgan McSweeney or addressing toxic culture

How: Denies Authorising Attacks, Highlighting Achievements

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Q3 Sojan Joseph Lab Ashford
Social Care Community Security Local Government
Context

Adult social care services in Sohan Joseph's constituency are in disarray due to dysfunction at Kent county council. A new fire risk has also emerged because there is no fully functioning fire authority.

Question

Despite extra Government funding, adult social care services in my community are in disarray. My constituents also face a new fire risk because we do not have a fully functioning fire authority. This has all been caused by the dysfunction at Kent county council, because so many Reform councillors have been suspended for bad behaviour. Does the Prime Minister share my concern that Reform chaos is a risk to public safety?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

My sympathy is with the people of Kent whose lives are being disrupted by the staggering incompetence of Reform. Kent county council was supposed to be the blueprint for what Reform would deliver across the country. Now we can see what that means: cutting local services, raising council tax and failing to protect the public. That is all Reform has to offer: grievance, division and total incompetence.

Answered
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Q4 Darren Paffey Lab Southampton Itchen
Children & Families
Context

November marks the first ever Care Leavers Month, aimed at supporting young people who have grown up in care. A Reform councillor has made a vile comment about children in care.

Question

This is Care Leavers Month, when we remember the resilience and brilliance of our young people who have grown up in care, and I was delighted to welcome a group of Southampton’s care leavers to share their views with the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven and Workington (Josh MacAlister), recently. But while this Labour Government are taking real action to support care leavers, a Reform councillor has disgracefully described children in care as “downright evil”. Will the Prime Minister and, I hope, the whole House join me in condemning Reform’s vile rhetoric, and will my right hon. Friend reassure us that this Labour Government will continue to support the protections and opportunities for all our care leavers?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

November marks the first ever Care Leavers Month, and this is a time to recognise that every child deserves support to achieve their potential. Through our landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are requiring every local authority to help care leavers find secure accommodation. It saddens me that the Opposition parties voted against it. The comments about children in care being “evil” are utterly appalling, and now that the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) has heard them, I am sure that he will want to condemn them right now.

Answered
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Q5 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Climate Energy
Context

The MP visited the new diagnostic centre at Withington community hospital, where he saw solar panels and heat pumps being designed into the building.

Question

Why has the government's programme failed to recognise the impact on organisations across Bristol South? In the week of COP, what more can we do to ensure that new public buildings have green energy designed into them?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

The UK is leading on tackling climate change, delivering energy security, getting bills down and generating hundreds of jobs across the country. We are investing over £250 million to put rooftop solar on schools, hospitals and military sites across the country, which will deliver £400 million of savings to renew our public services.

Partly answered

How: Under Review, Exploring Options

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Q6 Angus MacDonald Lib Dem Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire
Energy Environment
Context

The MP highlighted the environmental tariffs imposed on customers using UK-produced renewable electricity compared to imported carbon fuel mains gas.

Question

Successive Governments have imposed massive environmental tariffs on customers using UK-produced renewable electricity, but far less on imported carbon fuel mains gas. This is not fair. Will the Prime Minister acknowledge this injustice and commit his Government to addressing this?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I absolutely recognise the need to address the imbalance between electricity and gas prices. We are exploring options to create a fairer system, and I am happy for Ministers to keep the hon. Member updated on what we are looking at.

Partly answered

How: Under Review, Exploring Options

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Q7 Linsey Farnsworth Lab Amber Valley
NHS
Context

The MP secured additional funding and emergency appointments for dental care in Amber Valley, but progress is needed on the contract negotiations with the British Dental Association.

Question

Can the Prime Minister update me on the progress of the contract negotiations with the British Dental Association and the timescale that the Department is working to?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I am determined to rebuild NHS dentistry. I can confirm that discussions are under way with the sector, including the British Dental Association, on fundamental reform of the dental contract.

Partly answered

How: Underway, Fundamental Reform

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Q8 Edward Morello Lib Dem West Dorset
NHS
Context

The MP raised the issue of unfit pharmacy owners, such as Sarbjit Jhooty, who have severely neglected patients and staff in West Dorset.

Question

Jhoots Pharmacy has been responsible for repeated closures, leaving staff unpaid and residents without access to vital medicine. Will the Prime Minister make time in the parliamentary schedule for emergency legislation to give the Government and regulators powers to pay staff, tackle improper pharmacy owners and directors, and ensure that scandals like this can never happen again?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I thank the hon. Member for raising this very serious issue. The Care Minister has convened representatives from across the industry to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Partly answered

How: Convening, Resolving

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Q9 Chris Hinchliff Lab North East Hertfordshire
NHS
Context

The MP highlighted the importance of palliative care provided by hospices, which have been left reliant on donations and charity for far too long.

Question

Will the Prime Minister consider broader reform to put hospice funding on a sustainable footing, and will he ensure that Ministers meet me to explore every option to keep Garden House hospice open?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that £100 million has now been passed to Hospice UK, and we are also investing over £3 million in researching palliative and end-of-life care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Partly answered

How: Passing Funds, Investing

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Q10 Rebecca Paul Con Reigate
Women & Equalities
Context

The MP raised the issue of biological males being housed in women’s prisons and mixing with the women in the daytime without adequate supervision.

Question

Will the Prime Minister ensure that biological males are moved out of women’s prisons immediately?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

The Supreme Court ruling must be implemented in full and at all levels. I will ensure that the particular examples she has raised are looked into and that she gets a proper reply on them.

Partly answered

How: Full Implementation, Looking Into

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Q11 Gill German Lab Clwyd North
Wales
Context

The MP invited the Prime Minister to join her for a stroll on the new promenade in Rhyl, highlighting the investment and revitalisation efforts.

Question

Will the Prime Minister agree that only with two Labour Governments working together can we restore pride in our Welsh seaside towns?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I am proud to be putting power and resources directly back in the hands of local people. That £20 million can be used for revitalising their high street—a cause that I know is crucial to many residents.

Partly answered

How: Revitalisation Efforts, Crucial Cause

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Q12 Max Wilkinson Lib Dem Cheltenham
NHS
Context

The Aveta birth centre at Cheltenham General Hospital was temporarily closed for labour and births in 2022. There will be no decision about reopening until spring next year.

Question

I am concerned that four years is far too long to ask local mums-to-be to wait, and I want to reassure constituents that the temporary downgrade made under the Conservatives will not be made permanent under this Government.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

Our starting point is that we must always ensure that every mother is heard and understood, and gets the quality of care that is needed. The independent national maternity investigation and local health needs assessment are due to report in spring next year, as the hon. Gentleman says. It is right that the recommendations of both are closely considered in any decision for Cheltenham. I will ensure that he is kept updated as that rolls out.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to reassessing or reopening the Aveta birth centre specifically

How: Will Closely Consider Recommendations

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Q13 Kevin Bonavia Lab Stevenage
Veterans
Context

A new veterans group in Stevenage, The Muster Point, was founded by Stuart Mendelson and Steve Black. Last week, a continuous 72-hour vigil was held at the Stevenage war memorial.

Question

I pay tribute to a new veterans group in Stevenage, The Muster Point, which was founded by Stuart Mendelson and Steve Black. Last week, I joined them in a continuous 72-hour vigil at Stevenage war memorial, where veterans shared stories of family and friends lost in war. But veterans deserve more than just our tributes, so will the Prime Minister commit to working with veterans in Stevenage and across the UK in delivering this Government’s new veterans strategy in full?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

One of the greatest honours in this role is meeting and thanking our armed forces for their service, which we have been able to do during the course of this weekend and week. Our ambition is to bring the armed forces covenant fully into law in the next armed forces Bill, and we will do so. We are also renewing the contract with those who served through our veterans strategy, including Homes for Heroes, and a new network of support centres connecting charities and services with veterans.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly commit to working with Stevenage's veterans group in full implementation

How: Will Bring The Armed Forces Covenant Fully Into Law, Renewing The Contract With Those Who Served

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Q14 Rupert Lowe Restore Britain Great Yarmouth
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts

Question

Every week we hear of a brutal murder, rape or stabbing, far too often perpetrated by someone who should not be in our country to begin with. Does the Prime Minister agree that, for cases in which the guilt is so undeniable, the crime so monstrous and the evil so irredeemable, the reintroduction of the death penalty for both foreign and domestic criminals should be put to the British people in a legally binding referendum?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

Any attack is to be condemned. It is absolutely right, and we are determined to ensure, that there is a criminal justice response in relation to attacks, however they are carried out and whoever they are carried out by. But reintroducing the death penalty is not the answer to this. It did not work when it was in place. It led to the death of people who, it turned out, were in fact innocent. What we must do, as we are doing, is improve the criminal justice response in this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not support a referendum on reintroducing the death penalty

How: Improving The Criminal Justice Response

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Q15 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Energy Environment
Context

Four years ago, a private Member’s Bill was introduced to ban the sale of plastic-containing wet wipes. The previous Government did not implement this quickly enough.

Question

I introduce a private Member’s Bill to ban the sale of wet wipes with plastic in them four years ago. The previous Government dragged their feet, but these wet wipes cause fatbergs in our sewers, put millions of pounds on our water bills for all constituents and pollute rivers and seas. This Government promised to bring in the ban, and they are doing so now. Will the Prime Minister join me in celebrating a Labour promise delivered, and share the message that we should always bin wet wipes and other wipes, not flush them?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I commend my hon. Friend who has been a long-standing campaigner on this important issue. The public are right to be furious about how the last Government allowed sewage to pour into our lakes, rivers and seas. Alongside tough new powers to combat pollution, this ban will put an end to plastic wet wipes that litter our beaches, clog up our sewers and harm wildlife.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly celebrate the Labour promise delivered

How: Public Fury Over Sewage, New Powers To Combat Pollution

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Q16 David Chadwick Lib Dem Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Employment
Context

Lloyds bank has closed branches in Brecon, Presteigne, Ystradgynlais, and Pontardawe despite making billions in profits.

Question

Lloyds bank has more than 31,000 customers in my constituency, yet many of them, particularly the elderly and the vulnerable, are struggling to get out their own cash. That is because Lloyds has closed its branches in Brecon, Presteigne, Ystradgynlais, and before the end of this month in Pontardawe, despite making billions in profits and paying its CEO £5 million. Will the Prime Minister write to Lloyds bank and ask it to keep that last branch in Pontardawe open?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I am grateful to the hon. Member for raising that, and I will look at the particular example he has raised. As he will know, we are rolling out hubs. Some of those are already in place and there are more to come, and I will happily update him on where they are likely to be.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly commit to writing to Lloyds Bank

How: Looking At The Example, Rolling Out Hubs

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Q17 Richard Quigley Lab Isle of Wight West
NHS Mental Health
Context

Lilly Cliff, a 19-year-old suffering from anorexia, has been placed on an end-of-life care pathway by Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS foundation trust despite National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines stating eating disorders are not terminal illnesses.

Question

Following the work of the eating disorders all-party group, I was horrified to hear that 19-year-old Lilly Cliff, who suffers from anorexia, has been placed on an end-of-life care pathway after Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS foundation trust obtained a Court of Protection ruling to withdraw her treatment. The decision directly contradicts guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the statement from the Minister for Care in September that eating disorders are not a terminal illness. Will the Prime Minister urgently review that case to ensure Lilly and her family receive the support they need and that Lilly is given every possible chance to recover and live?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

I will look at this specific case and raise it with my team as a matter of urgency to ensure that all relevant guidelines are being followed and to provide the necessary support for Lilly Cliff and her family.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly commit to an urgent review

How: Raising It With My Team

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Q18 The Prime Minister
Mental Health
Context

Keir Starmer expressed concern about a specific case involving Lilly, who is suffering from an eating disorder and has not received adequate care.

Question

My thoughts are with Lilly and her family. The details that my hon. Friend raises are deeply concerning. I know that he has raised this with Health Ministers and I will ensure that he gets a swift response. He is a powerful advocate for change, and I share his determination that everyone with an eating disorder gets the care and support that they need.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)

My thoughts are with Lilly and her family. The details that my hon. Friend raises are deeply concerning. I know that he has raised this with Health Ministers and I will ensure that he gets a swift response. He is a powerful advocate for change, and I share his determination that everyone with an eating disorder gets the care and support that they need.

Answered
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