PMQs 2020-06-10

2020-06-10

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Keir Starmer discusses the implementation of recommendations from various reports regarding racial inequalities in the UK.
Starmer welcomes PM's commitment to implementing reports but expresses concern over delays, specifically mentioning the Lammy report and the Windrush scandal report. He asks for a clear timeline on full implementation of these reports.
Johnson acknowledges Starmer's points, confirms ongoing work on implementing the Lammy report and Windrush recommendations. He mentions increasing BME representation in the Prison Service, body-worn cameras use increase, and addressing prosecution of young BME people.
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Q2 Direct Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Starmer questions the Government's delayed action following the PHE report highlighting disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on BAME communities.
Starmer asks why guidance and policy have not been adapted based on the findings of the Public Health England report, despite clear recommendations for mitigation.
Johnson confirms action has already been taken based on Professor Fenton's report. He mentions expanding and targeting testing in high-contact professions such as NHS workers.
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Q3 Direct Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Keir Starmer questions the government's reluctance to compare UK's death rates with other nations, suggesting a need for learning from international examples.
It does not wash to say that we can't compare these figures with other countries. We need to see what other countries did more quickly or differently and learn from them to ensure numbers come down. The government's approach has consequences, including long-term effects on families who have lost loved ones due to the pandemic.
We must wait until the epidemic has been through its whole cycle to make relevant international comparisons. The NHS built Nightingale hospitals and people followed social distancing rules, leading to control of the epidemic. On school reopening, 97% of schools are seeing kids come back; we need support from all stakeholders including unions.
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Q4 Direct Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Starmer criticizes the lack of a robust national plan for school reopenings, citing missed opportunities for stakeholder consensus and leadership.
The Prime Minister has failed to set up a robust plan, gain consensus among stakeholders, or provide strong leadership regarding schools reopening. Millions will miss six months of schooling due to current arrangements, worsening inequality. I suggested setting up a national taskforce; will the PM take me up on this?
Last week, Starmer said it was not safe for kids to return; now he says not enough are returning. We follow cautious approach as some EU countries have no primary school kids back in school. Over 37% of year 6 students are back, and teachers want parliamentarians' support.
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Q5 Direct Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Starmer confronts the Prime Minister for his inconsistent messaging regarding schools, questioning whether he believes schools are not safe or if they should be opening faster.
The PM and I have never discussed our letter via phone; my taskforce suggestion has never been a topic of conversation. Many other comparable countries are getting their children back to school safely while we lag behind due to lack of planning and consultation.
Right hon. and learned Gentleman cannot decide if schools are not safe or should be opening faster. We are cautious; 37% of year 6 kids in primary schools are now back, increasing daily. Teachers want support from all parliamentarians to encourage pupils to return safely.
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Q6 Direct Answer
Ian Blackford SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Context
The SNP leader inquires about the Prime Minister's decision to review the 2 metre social distancing guideline.
Mr Speaker, I associate myself with the PM's remarks on Grenfell and the birthdays of both Prince Philip and the PM. The PM told the Liaison Committee that he does not actually read scientific papers. It is no wonder then that it took so long to act on quarantine measures as his advisory group was not even asked for advice. This has been a complete shambles, too little too late. We cannot risk ignoring experts again. Can the PM confirm what scientific papers he has read about the 2 metre social distancing rule?
I disagree. I have read a huge amount about this disease that affects our nation, including many papers on social distancing rules. We will keep the 2 metre rule under review as we reduce virus incidence and follow expert advice which shows different risks at various distances.
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Q7 Direct Answer
Maria Miller Con
Basingstoke
Context
Following events in the US, anti-racism protests occurred across the UK.
Can I commend my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister for recognising the significance of these events? As well as scrutinising the health impact of c-19 on ethnic minority groups, can he look again, using the Race Disparity Audit, for any persistent and systemic racism in all Government Departments—from the treatment of BAME people in the judicial system through to how we teach children about these issues in our education system?
I thank my right hon. Friend. I completely agree with the need for all political leaders to promote these issues—to recognise how important they are in people's hearts. I am very proud of what I did as Mayor to encourage the promotion of young BAME officers in our Metropolitan police; we had a system to move them up. I want to see that kind of activity across the government of this country. It is the right way forward for the UK.
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Q8 Direct Answer
Kirsty Blackman SNP
Peterborough
Context
The US President, Donald Trump, has received criticism for his response to the death of George Floyd.
The response from the US President to the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement has been horrendous. Can the Prime Minister confirm to me if he still believes that Trump has “many, many good qualities”, and if so, what are they?
I renew what I have said many times; it is important for the House to hear it again. Yes, black lives matter, and yes, the death of George Floyd was absolutely appalling. As for the qualities of Mr Trump, let me say that, among many other things, he is President of the United States, which is our most important ally in the world today. Whatever people may say about it—whatever those on the left may say about it—the United States is a bastion of peace and freedom and has been for most of my lifetime.
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Q9 Direct Answer
Peter Bottomley Con
Worthing West
Context
The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, is retiring after serving for 14 years.
Mr Speaker, I hope you will allow me to ask the Prime Minister also to welcome the birthday of the Primate of England—the 2007 Yorkshireman of the year—the Archbishop of York, who is just laying down his crozier after 14 years of service. His great words were that we can share the glories, the struggles, the joys and the pains of this country. We should remember that John Sentamu was tortured in Uganda, served in Tulse Hill, Stepney and Birmingham as well as York, and was a critical adviser to the Stephen Lawrence inquiry. Can I put it to my right hon. Friend that if, in a period of eight years, there are eight interrogations of a bishop, each time John Sentamu, we have got more to learn about making the colour of one's skin as important as the colour of one's eyes and the colour of one's hair—something you may notice but does not tell you any more about them?
I join my hon. Friend warmly in paying tribute to the Archbishop of York as he lays down his crozier. He and I correspond very often and I take his advice very sincerely. I had no idea that today was such a distinguished birthday.
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Q10 Direct Answer
Edward Davey Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Context
Black people are significantly more likely to be stopped and searched under suspicionless stop-and-search powers.
Under suspicionless stop-and-search powers, which this Government are expanding, a black person is 47 times more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person—47 times. On too many occasions, stop-and-search seems to mean that being black is enough to be suspected of being a criminal. So will the Prime Minister abolish suspicionless stop-and-search powers and end the pain and injustice they wreak on so many people in Britain's black and minority communities?
It is very important that stop-and-search is carried out sensitively in accordance with the law. The fact that we now have body-worn cameras has made a great difference to the way it happens. I must say that section 60 powers can be very important in fighting violent crime. I am afraid that what has been happening in London with knife crime has been completely unacceptable, and I do believe that stop-and-search, among many other things, can be a very important utensil for fighting knife crime. It does work. It worked for us when I was running London and it must work now.
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Q11 Direct Answer
Mark Menzies Con
Fylde
Context
Hospitality and tourism businesses on the Fylde coast are concerned about their path to long-term recovery.
Hospitality and tourism businesses on the Fylde coast are concerned about their path to long-term recovery and the infrastructure needed to support that. Central to the issue locally is the M55 link road, a project that was fully funded but had an issue with some funding allocations. Will the Prime Minister put his weight behind this issue and help me to secure the £5.7 million needed to complete this shovel-ready project?
What I can say is that we will unite and level up with infrastructure projects across our country. I congratulate my hon. Friend on his lobbying for that particular scheme and can tell him that last year we put £31 million into the Preston western distributor scheme, which is a new dual carriageway that will reduce congestion in Preston and lead directly to the creation of 3,000 houses and more than 500 jobs. As for further expansion of the M55, my hon. Friend will have to wait, but there will be further announcements in due course.
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Q12 Direct Answer
Stewart McDonald SNP
Glasgow South
Context
Prior to the pandemic, it was clear that statutory sick pay in the UK is inadequate.
Even before the pandemic began it was clear that the UK has one of the most manifestly inadequate systems of statutory sick pay in the world: we are second from the bottom in European terms, and it continues to shun millions of workers who are low earners, work in the gig economy or are self-employed. As we come back from the crisis in economic terms and make the workplace better, will the Prime Minister agree to work with those of us in the Opposition who want to see a system that is fit for the 21st century that can meet people's needs?
Yes, of course, statutory sick pay is an important part of the way we tackle the problems of self-isolation and all the issues faced by people facing coronavirus, but people also receive additional funds. Anybody looking impartially at what we are doing to support the people of this country throughout this epidemic will concede that the UK has done more than virtually any other country on earth to look after the people of this country, whether through the furloughing scheme, the bounce-back loans or anything else.
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Q13 Direct Answer
Mark Logan Con
Wirral South
Context
There has been much disinformation about the R value in Bolton and the north-west.
Prime Minister, we have seen much disinformation about the R value in Bolton and the north-west. Does he agree that having increasingly up-to-date local data will give correspondingly greater confidence to Boltonians in reopening our businesses, schools and places of worship?
Yes, which is why I am encouraged by NHS Test and Trace and the progress that it is making. With the help of the joint biosecurity centre, we are now able to identify hotspots, to do whack-a-mole and to stamp out outbreaks of the epidemic where they occur.
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Q14 Direct Answer
Kenny MacAskill Lab
East Lothian
Context
MacAskill raises concerns about reduced animal welfare and production standards, highlighting the Government's failure to enshrine protections in the Agriculture Bill.
He questions why high standards will be protected, a food standards commission established, and whether chlorinated chicken would enter the UK market post-Brexit.
Johnson confirms protection of animal welfare standards, including banning sow treatment practices legal in EU and live animal shipments. He also notes plans for increased standards post-Brexit and criticizes SNP's position on rejoining the EU.
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Q15 Direct Answer
Robert Largan Con
Glossop
Context
Largan urges for a major infrastructure package to boost the economy, focusing on broadband expansion, rail upgrades, and construction of the Mottram bypass.
He asks if the PM will commit to these projects, specifically mentioning the promise of the bypass to Glossop residents dating back over 50 years.
Johnson confirms commitment to Mottram bypass under Road Investment Strategy, expected to create jobs and improve local connectivity. He invites Largan for the opening ceremony.
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Q16 Direct Answer
Rachel Hopkins Lab
Luton North
Context
Hopkins expresses concern over constituents' loss of trust due to mixed messaging on public health measures, Cummings affair, inadequate support for businesses and local councils, and quarantine policies affecting Luton airport.
She questions the PM's ability to gain constituent confidence regarding easing lockdown when previous actions have fallen short.
Johnson counters by asserting public compliance with NHS Test and Trace, dismissing Opposition propaganda as negative and misleading. He emphasizes the need for collective effort in defeating the virus.
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Q17 Direct Answer
Olivia Blake Lab
Hull North
Context
Blake highlights a significant increase in emergency food parcels due to economic hardship caused by the pandemic, citing figures from Trussell Trust.
She requests PM to meet with Chancellor, charities, and local leaders to discuss boosting funding for local welfare assistance schemes.
Johnson acknowledges hardship but notes £3.2 billion extra support for local government. He announces additional £63 million welfare boost for disadvantaged families, focusing on summer meals. He stresses need to move forward and communicate effectively.
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