Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
Shailesh Vara
Con
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Context
The MP noted instances of citizens doing extraordinary work to help the elderly and vulnerable in his constituency during the pandemic.
During this pandemic, I have seen a number of instances of ordinary citizens doing extraordinary work helping the elderly and vulnerable. Would my right hon. Friend take this opportunity not only to acknowledge the fantastic work that has been done by so many people, but to give a huge thank you to each and every one of these unsung heroes of our country?
I thoroughly concur with my hon. Friend, and I congratulate all the volunteers for their spirit and the achievements they have delivered for the people of this country. I was delighted that we had a first chance to honour them in the birthday honours list at the weekend.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP referenced the Prime Minister's statement that the Government's covid strategy would be governed entirely by science. He then cited SAGE's clear advice stating a 'package of interventions'—including a circuit breaker—would be needed to prevent an exponential rise in cases.
On 11 May, the Prime Minister said that the Government's covid strategy will be governed entirely by the science. On 21 September, SAGE gave very clear advice. They stated that a 'package of interventions' including a circuit breaker would be needed to prevent an exponential rise in cases. Why did the Prime Minister reject that advice and abandon the science?
We will do whatever it takes to fight this virus and defeat it, but since the right hon. and learned Gentleman quotes the SAGE advice, I might just remind him that on page 1 it states: 'All the interventions considered have associated costs in terms of health and wellbeing… Policy makers will need to consider analysis of economic impacts and the associated harms alongside this epidemiological assessment.'
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address why SAGE's advice was rejected, instead citing a different part of SAGE's report.
Quoted Another Part Of The Same Report To Shift Focus
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP cited statistics showing the R rate, infection rate, hospital admissions, and deaths are all increasing. He referenced SAGE's view on why these numbers are heading in the wrong direction.
Since rejecting SAGE's advice on 21 September, the R rate has gone up, the infection rate has quadrupled, hospital admissions have increased from 275 to 628 a day in England. That is the cost of rejecting the advice. What is the Prime Minister's view on why these numbers are all heading in the wrong direction?
The difference between this stage of the pandemic and March and April, as the House knows very well, is that the disease is appearing much more strongly in some parts of the country than others. In Liverpool, for instance, alas, the figures are now running at 670 cases per 100,000, against 33 cases per 100,000 in Cornwall.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address why numbers were heading in wrong direction but gave reasons for regional approach.
Shifted Focus To Regional Differences
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP cited SAGE's assessment that the track and trace policy is only having a marginal impact on transmission, which will further decline in the future. He questioned why the Prime Minister thinks his track and trace system has gone wrong.
Track and trace was supposed to play a vital part in ensuring we do not have a second spike this winter. Three months later, SAGE concluded that it is only having a marginal impact on transmission and will likely further decline. Why does the Prime Minister think his track and trace system has gone so wrong?
It is thanks to NHS Test and Trace, which is now testing more people than any other country in Europe, that we know where the disease is surging. We know that it is regionally distributed, rather than nationally distributed, at the moment, and that gives us a chance to do the right thing.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address why track and trace system has failed but stated its current effectiveness in testing.
Highlighted Current Effectiveness
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
SAGE has advised on the necessity of a circuit break to reduce R below 1, reset disease incidence, and set back the epidemic by approximately 28 days or more.
I have read and considered SAGE advice. A circuit breaker is in the national interest as it's the failure of the Prime Minister's strategy that means tougher measures are now unavoidable. Labour backs this view. Can the Prime Minister tell us what his alternative plan to get R below 1?
The regional approach supported on Monday will avoid another national lockdown. It aims to keep kids in school, support jobs and livelihoods by delivering a regional solution rather than a headlong rush into a national lockdown.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide an alternative plan to get R below 1
Changed Subject
Criticised Opposition
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The chief medical officer expressed doubt about tier 3 proposals being enough to get R below 1.
Following the advice is now, apparently, opportunistic. The Prime Minister will presumably say the same to Bolton Council's Conservative leader who supports a circuit break. Why is the PM so confident his approach will work when no scientist backs it?
If tier 3 measures are implemented in full with local co-operation, enforcement and testing, they would deliver the necessary reduction in R locally or regionally. The PM claims a national lockdown is unwanted.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not explain why he is confident despite scientist doubts
Changed Subject
Criticised Opposition
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Senior Government sources are quoted as saying the chances of a circuit break in the next two weeks is about 80%. The question suggests it would save lives, fix testing and protect the NHS.
I supported all measures so far but think this measure is wrong. I have read SAGE advice which was rejected by the Government. Is there an 80% chance of a circuit break in two weeks? If yes, why not do it now?
The PM claims Labour has performed U-turns on measures and sees this as a crisis to exploit. He believes the regional approach can drive down the virus if implemented properly.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address chances of circuit break or reasons for delay
Changed Subject
Criticised Opposition
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
Tim Loughton
Con
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Context
During lockdown, health visitor numbers have dwindled and they've been diverted from face-to-face contact with new parents.
One of the great achievements was recruiting 4,200 extra health visitors. Lockdown has made vital baby-to-baby contact difficult. At a time when support is most needed, will the PM urgently look at reversing the decline in health visitors and supporting the parent-infant premium proposal?
Health visiting teams have continued to prioritise vulnerable families throughout this crisis. This will continue through winter and pandemic.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reversing decline in health visitors or supporting the premium proposal
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
Ian Blackford
SNP
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Context
BrewDog warned about a potential surge in unemployment due to the end of the Job Retention Scheme. The organisation cited the highest rate of redundancies since 2009.
Yesterday, BrewDog's founder warned that ending the Job Retention Scheme would lead to mass unemployment. BrewDog and thousands of businesses demand a U-turn on these plans. With just two weeks left before the scheme ends, will the Prime Minister extend it or allow widespread unemployment?
The Chancellor has introduced the job support scheme which will run until next year. Universal credit is also available for those on low incomes, with an additional £1,000 per year uplifted to April 2022.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address extending full furlough scheme
Introduced A New Scheme
Offered Universal Credit
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Q10
Partial Answer
Ian Blackford
SNP
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Context
The Office for National Statistics reported the highest rate of redundancies since 2009. The Labour party is critical of the government's handling.
Universal credit does not cover potential unemployment due to furlough ending. Thousands are already unemployed and ONS data confirms record-high redundancy rates. Does the PM understand the damage he will cause with his plans?
The Government continues to support people across the UK, including £5 billion in Barnett consequentials for Scotland. The SNP supports a tiered approach but Labour does not.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address unemployment or redundancy issues directly
Discussed Snp And Labour Policy Differences
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
Matthew Offord
Con
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Context
The EWS1 form was extended to include buildings below 18 metres, raising concerns about risk prioritisation and support for these properties.
Will the Prime Minister provide specific interim advice on risk prioritisation of buildings under 18 metres and extend the building safety fund to cover them?
We are focusing first on buildings over 18 metres. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is producing a risk matrix for mortgage valuation under 18 metres, and the National Fire Chiefs Council will provide a risk prioritisation tool.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address extending fund to buildings below 18m
Discussed Existing Tools But No Commitment On Extension
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Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
Northern Ireland is entering lockdown, and the new job support scheme provides £227 per week for minimum wage workers.
Under the Chancellor's new furlough scheme, a full-time worker will receive only £227 per week. How does the PM expect people to survive on that amount?
The Government raised the national living wage and introduced universal credit, ensuring nobody gets less than 93% of their current income under the job support scheme.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address low £227 support level directly
Highlighted National Living Wage And Universal Credit
Response accuracy
Q13
Direct Answer
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Context
The constituency of Ynys Môn is home to a potential nuclear site, Wylfa Newydd.
My constituency has the best nuclear site in the UK. Can the PM confirm that he is 100% behind Wylfa Newydd?
Yes, I am indeed fully behind Wylfa Newydd. My hon. Friend's campaigning is commendable and she has a strong supporter in me.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
There are concerns about the independence of the regeneration scheme's approval process due to apparent conflicts of interest.
The Housing Secretary's constituency received £25 million from the regeneration scheme. This was approved by a Minister who later returned the favour. Is this process appropriate?
All approvals were independently conducted, but if there are serious allegations to make against my right hon. Friend then he should have the courage to do so.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address approval process fairness
Suggested Raising Any Serious Allegation
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
Craig Williams
Con
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Context
Farmers are frustrated with the lack of recognition and utilisation of British wool, a sustainable product.
Will the PM help boost the export market or domestic demand for British wool as we rebuild our economy? Wool has potential uses in sustainable housing insulation.
I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy of British wool. The price is low currently, but uses such as insulation should be explored further. I encourage everyone to buy British wool this winter.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific support measures
Encouraged Buying British Wool
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister previously promised support for charities to open safe accommodation for homeless people during the winter. However, a £3 million cut in the cold weather fund was announced despite higher covid-related costs.
Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister told me that he would support charities to be able to open covid-safe accommodation for homeless people this winter, but yesterday the Government announced a £3 million cut in the cold weather fund this year, despite higher covid-related costs. Will the Prime Minister at least guarantee that all Government funds can be used to cover anyone and everyone needing shelter?
Of course, we will make sure that local authorities get the support they need. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have already put in an extra £3.7 billion into helping local authorities and, I think, a total of £28 billion into tackling the local consequences of covid. We will continue to support people throughout the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Guaranteeing that all government funds can be used for shelter needs
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
Gary Streeter
Con
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Context
The Prime Minister has an aspiration to deliver floating offshore wind capacity of 1 GW by 2030, and there is a substantial scheme being worked up in the Celtic sea that would meet a third of this target.
May I strongly support the aspiration of the Prime Minister, set out last week, to deliver floating offshore wind capacity of 1 GW by 2030? Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very substantial scheme being worked up in the Celtic sea that would meet a third of that target, as well as create many jobs in south Wales, Devon and Cornwall? Will he please use his best endeavours to ensure that the Crown Estate looks favourably on that project to help our country to deliver its important climate change commitments?
I am aware of the incredible prospect in the Celtic sea and I am confident that the Crown Estate, as the landlord of the seabed, will respond positively.
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Assessment & feedback
Ensuring a positive view from the Crown Estate
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent with terminal cancer urgently needs to move closer to family support but cannot sell his shared ownership flat due to a lack of EWS1 certification, which could take 10 years.
My constituent, Luke Thomas, has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He urgently needs to move closer to his family for support. Luke has a shared ownership flat in a low-rise building with wooden cladding, but he cannot sell it because mortgage lenders require an EWS1 certificate and Luke's building does not have one. Estimates suggest that it could take 10 years to certify every building affected, but Luke and hundreds of thousands of people like him cannot wait that long. When will the Prime Minister end this scandal?
I direct the hon. Lady to what I said a moment or two ago to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Dr Offord) about trying to provide mortgage backing for those who find themselves in that very difficult position, but we must get on and remove the flammable cladding from buildings of all kinds.
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Assessment & feedback
Addressing the issue with EWS1 certificates directly
Response accuracy
Q19
Partial Answer
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Context
The constituency of Ashfield and Eastwood is seeking investment to secure better jobs, education, training, and a future.
Ashfield and Eastwood has been left behind, ignored and forgotten about after decades of Labour-run councils and Labour MPs. Last December, my friends, family and constituents voted for change. They want to see the glory days return to Ashfield and Eastwood, which was once the beating heart of Nottinghamshire through mining, textiles and engineering. Can my right hon. Friend please reassure me that Ashfield and Eastwood will no longer be the forgotten constituency and that he will do all he can to make sure we get the investment that we need to secure better jobs, better education, better training and a better future?
Yes, indeed. I can tell my hon. Friend, who is a fantastic campaigner for Ashfield, that they are in line for the town deal proposals, as part of the £3.6 billion town deals fund, and the £250 million growth deals announced through to 2021.
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Assessment & feedback
Ensuring investments specifically for Ashfield and Eastwood
Response accuracy
Q20
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister has been asked previously about making the temporary £20 universal credit uplift permanent after April next year and including those currently excluded.
The Prime Minister has been asked this question before by my SNP colleagues and others but they have never received a direct response. I therefore ask the Prime Minister again: will he confirm that the temporary £20 universal credit uplift will be made permanent after April next year and that those who are currently excluded from the uplift will be included?
I know that I have given that answer many times, and that is because the answer remains the same, which is that the uplift will remain in place through to April next year. As I said, when we combine the JSS with UC people get 93% of their income.
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Assessment & feedback
Making the £20 universal credit uplift permanent and inclusive post-April 2022
Response accuracy
Q21
Partial Answer
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Context
The constituency of Wolverhampton is seeking further investment and level-up support.
Will the Prime Minister join me in thanking the great businesses of Wolverhampton, such as Greg at GI's Barbers and Baked in Tettenhall, for continuing to serve the community in difficult times? Will he also reconfirm his commitment to invest and level up Wolverhampton, and when we have come through this stronger, may I invite him to come and see those businesses himself?
I have happy memories of sampling some of the fare in Wolverhampton with my hon. Friend. I can tell him that the Black Country city deal has just seen an investment of £5.8 million and that the West Midlands Combined Authority was just awarded £66 million for projects across the area, including £15 million for the national brownfield institute, which is due to be located in Wolverhampton.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to additional investment in Wolverhampton
Response accuracy
Q22
Partial Answer
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Context
The Northern Ireland Executive has announced new restrictions to combat the virus, excluding hospitality and supply chains from support.
The Prime Minister will be aware that the Northern Ireland Executive have just announced new restrictions to bear down on the virus while still keeping schools open, with the exception of one extra week at Halloween, and keeping most sectors of the economy going, but the sectors that are missing are hospitality, the associated supply chains and the self-employed. What plans does he have to announce something to help these much needed sectors that are in dire need and need assistance urgently?
I thank the hon. Gentleman. I am in continuous contact, as he can imagine, with the leader and the deputy leader in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland, of course, will receive at least £2.4 billion in additional funding as a result of Barnett consequentials, but we will look at further imaginative and creative measures to support jobs and to support livelihoods across the whole of the UK.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific plans for supporting hospitality, supply chains, and self-employed
Response accuracy
Q23
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK observes Anti-Slavery Day to raise awareness about modern slavery. The government has a leadership role in addressing this issue.
This Sunday marks the 11th Anti-Slavery Day for the United Kingdom, an opportunity for all of us to raise awareness of the heinous crime of modern slavery. Will my right hon. Friend use this opportunity to reinforce the UK's global leadership on this issue, and can he confirm that treating victims with dignity and respect will always be at the heart of everything this Government do in response to this crime?
Yes, I certainly can confirm what my right hon. Friend says about treating victims with dignity and respect. Thanks to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced by this Government, we are identifying more victims of modern slavery than ever before: 10,000 potential victims were identified in 2019, a 52% increase.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specifically confirm treating victims with dignity and respect will always be at the heart of government response
Response accuracy
Q24
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a second wave of infections across the UK, and test and trace systems are critical. There is a need for app interoperability between England and Scotland.
I entered Parliament this morning and checked in using the contact tracing app, and when I return to Fife on the train tomorrow I will need to manually switch to the Scottish app, as it does not happen automatically. We are facing a second wave of infections across the UK, so test and trace is even more critical. Given the Prime Minister's support for a four nations approach, what engagement has taken place on app interoper- ability, because that is critical, particularly in border communities?
I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for pointing that out. I will make sure that there is interoperability; I will do what I can to ensure there is interoperability across all four nations.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide details on engagement or timeline for interoperability
Response accuracy
Q25
Partial Answer
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Context
The port of Immingham is the largest by tonnage in the UK. The government has committed to establishing freeports.
I welcome the Government's commitment to establish freeports. The port of Immingham in my constituency is, by tonnage, the largest port in the country. Does the Prime Minister agree that it would be somewhat remiss to not include Immingham in the freeport programme?
I thank my hon. Friend for his campaign for Immingham. It is registered, but my hon. Friend should know that he is one of the most successful campaigners in this House already this year, because the new bridge that he asked for at Suggitts Lane crossing is going to be completed between the summer and the autumn of next year.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address whether Immingham will be included in the freeport programme
Changed Subject
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Q26
Partial Answer
Anne McLaughlin
SNP
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Context
A constituent was mis-sold green deal products by a Government-approved company and is struggling with long-term loan repayments. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's complaints process is slow.
My lovely 88-year-old constituent Mary feels foolish for falling for it. She is talking about being mis-sold green deal products by Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd, a Government-approved company, in 2013. She is talking about being saddled with a 25-year loan that she must live to 106 to pay off. At the speed with which the complaints are being dealt with by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, I will be 106 by the time we get any kind of resolution. Will the Prime Minister please commit to investigating why Mary, who is watching now, and hundreds of others are waiting years to be compensated for something that happened not because they were foolish, but because they were victims of mis-selling?
I am afraid to say that what the hon. Lady raises is incredibly important, and she is right to raise it. We must accelerate the process by which these complaints are upheld and dealt with and compensation is delivered, if only because that is the only way to build public confidence in all the retrofitting, insulation and improvements to our homes that we need to deliver across the whole of the country as part of our green industrial revolution.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to a specific investigation or timeline for resolving complaints
Response accuracy