PMQs 2020-11-25

2020-11-25

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
UK approaching EU transition period end date.
Can the Prime Minister guarantee that in any agreement that he reaches with the European Union, British sovereignty will be protected for the whole United Kingdom and that the UK will exit the transition period on 31 December as a whole?
Yes, indeed; I can make that guarantee. Our position on fish has not changed. We will only be able to make progress if the EU accepts the reality that we must be able to control access to our waters. It is very important at this stage to emphasise that.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls. Statistics on domestic abuse.
Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls. On average, a woman is killed by a man every three days in this country. It is a shocking statistic; and, sadly, the pandemic has seen a significant increase in domestic abuse. I will join those marking this day, and I am sure that the whole House would agree that we need to do far more to end domestic violence. The Prime Minister may remember that in August last year, he wrote the foreword to the ministerial code. It says: There must be no bullying…no harassment; no leaking… No misuse of taxpayer money…no actual or perceived conflicts of interest. That is five promises in two sentences. How many of those promises does the Prime Minister think his Ministers have kept?
I believe that the Ministers of this Government are working hard and overall doing an outstanding job in delivering the people's priorities, and that is what we will continue to do. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman waits a little bit longer today, he will hear some of the ways in which this Government are going to take this country forward, with one of the most ambitious programmes of investment in infrastructure, schools and hospitals for generations.
Assessment & feedback
Number of promises kept
Working Hard Delivering Priorities
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Former independent adviser on ministerial standards concluded Home Secretary's behaviour was in breach of the Ministerial Code.
I did not really hear an answer there, so why don't we go through these commitments in turn, starting with bullying and harassment? The now former independent adviser on ministerial standards concluded that the Home Secretary's behaviour was, in his words: “in breach of the Ministerial Code”, and, he said: “can be described as bullying” which means: “intimidating or insulting behaviour that makes an individual feel uncomfortable, frightened, less respected or put down.” What message does the Prime Minister think it sends that the independent adviser on standards has resigned but the Home Secretary is still in post?
Sir Alex's decisions are entirely a matter for him, but the Home Secretary has apologised for any way in which her conduct fell short. Frankly, I make no apology for sticking up for and standing by a Home Secretary who, as I said just now, is getting on with delivering on the people's priorities: putting, already, 6,000 of the 20,000 more police out on the streets to fight crime and instituting, in the teeth of very considerable resistance, a new Australian-style points-based immigration system.
Assessment & feedback
Message about independent adviser resignation
Apologised Delivering Priorities
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Repetitive leaks about area restrictions, national lockdown leaks.
The reality is that any other Prime Minister would have fired the Home Secretary and any other Home Secretary would have resigned, so I think we will chalk that up as one broken promise. On to the next: no leaking. Over the summer, we saw repeated leaks about which areas would go into restrictions. The Prime Minister's plans to go into a second national lockdown were leaked all over the national papers, resulting in a truly chaotic press conference, and we have seen more leaking in the past 24 hours. This serial leaking is causing huge anxiety to millions of people about what is going to happen next. I know there is supposed to be an inquiry under way, but can the Prime Minister tell us, is he any closer to working out who in his Government is leaking this vital information?
I have already told you, Mr Speaker, that as soon as we have any information about anybody leaking, we will bring it to the House. But I may say that I think the right hon. and learned Gentleman is really concentrating on trivia when what the people of this country want is to see his support, and the support of politicians across the House, for the tough measures that we are putting in to defeat coronavirus.
Assessment & feedback
Identifying leaking individuals
Concentrating On Trivia Support For Measures
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Concerns about contracts not delivering, PPE procurement issues.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The difference, of course, is that I am tackling the issues in my party and the Prime Minister is running away from the issues in his. I take it from his answer that he has no idea who is leaking from his Government, so I think we will put that as another one in the “no” column. Moving on, to perhaps the most serious of the promises under the code: no misuse of taxpayers' money. For weeks, I have raised concerns about the Government's spraying taxpayers' money on contracts that do not deliver. The problem is even worse than we thought. This week, a Cabinet Office response suggests that the Government purchased not 50 million unusable items of protective equipment but 180 million, and a new report this morning by the National Audit Office identifies a further set of orders totalling £240 million for face masks for the NHS that it cannot use. So will the Prime Minister come clean: how many hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been wasted on equipment that cannot be used?
Actually, to answer the right hon. and learned Gentleman's question directly, 99.5% of the 32 billion items of personal protective equipment that this country secured conformed entirely to our clinical needs, once we had checked it. Of all the pathetic lines of attack that we have heard so far, this is the feeblest, because if you remember, Mr Speaker, we were faced with a national pandemic on a scale that we had not seen before and the Government were being attacked by the Labour party for not moving fast enough to secure PPE.
Assessment & feedback
Amount of money wasted
National Pandemic Moving Fast
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
Suppliers with political connections were found to be ten times more likely to receive government contracts, and the Health Secretary appointed a close friend to an advisory role who also has a significant shareholding in a lobbying firm.
Last week we learned that suppliers with political connections were 10 times more likely to get Government contracts. This week The Sunday Times reports that the Health Secretary appointed one of his closest friends to a key advisory role, where this friend is a major shareholder in a company specializing in government lobbying for clients securing millions in pandemic contracts. Was the Prime Minister aware of this apparent conflict of interest?
In so far as there are any conflicts of interest, they will be evident from the publication of all details of contracts. The right hon. and learned Gentleman just seems to be attacking the Government for shifting heaven and earth to get medicines, PPE, equipment and treatments during the pandemic.
Assessment & feedback
Conflict of interest was not directly addressed; instead, the PM defended his government's actions with general statements about private sector collaboration without addressing specific claims of conflict.
Attacking质疑对方 Changing Subject
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Keir Starmer Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Context
The government is accused of wasting public money through preferential treatment to private sector contractors over frontline workers, who have not received adequate pay raises despite their critical contributions during the pandemic.
If you have a hotline to Ministers, you get a blank cheque, but if you are on the frontline tackling covid, you are picking up the bill. Will the Prime Minister finally get his priorities right, stop wasting taxpayers' money and give police officers, firefighters, care workers and other key workers the pay rise they so obviously deserve?
It is this party who have given key workers and public sector workers above-inflation pay rises, as he knows. The Government prioritise the poorest and neediest in the country with a £200 billion coronavirus package of support.
Assessment & feedback
The PM mentioned pay rises but did not directly address whether they are adequate or if priorities will shift to favour key workers over contractors.
Deflecting By Highlighting Achievements
Response accuracy
Q8 Direct Answer
Laura Trott Con
Sevenoaks
Context
Additional education funding is promised but some schools were unable to apply for recent rounds of repair funds and need urgent attention.
Can I ask the Prime Minister that some of the promised increase in education funding be spent on repairing voluntary controlled and multi-academy trusts such as Orchards Academy and West Kingsdown in my constituency? Those types of school were unable to apply for recent funding rounds and are urgently in need.
Indeed, an additional £560 million has been allocated this year for essential maintenance and upgrades in school estate, including £20 million to Kent local authority and nearly £6 million to Kemnal Academies Trust. I encourage my hon. Friend's excellent campaign.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Context
The UK committed to spending 0.7% of national income on foreign aid, a target that was previously reaffirmed by senior Government Ministers.
Protecting the foreign aid budget has long been a source of unity and agreement across this House and across the four nations of the United Kingdom. At the last general election, every major party recommitted to that moral mission of helping the world's poorest and most vulnerable. Does the Prime Minister agree with his senior Government Minister who said it 'paved the way for Britain to meet the UN target of spending 0.7% of national income on aid…'?
Mr Speaker, this country is incredibly proud of what we have delivered for the poorest and neediest people in the world. This continues with massive increases in spending on our collective overseas commitments.
Assessment & feedback
The PM acknowledged achievements but did not directly confirm adherence to the 0.7% commitment made by a senior Government Minister.
Deflecting
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Context
The UK's international aid commitment of 0.7% of GNI is under review due to the economic impact of the pandemic.
I am glad that the Prime Minister seemed to agree with the quote, because the words I quoted were his—it is exactly what he told the House of Commons less than six months ago. The World Bank estimates that the pandemic will push 88 million to 150 million people into extreme poverty. In the world's poorest countries, hunger and cases of malaria are rising, and the UN projects that as many as 11 million girls may never return to education after school closures.
Of course I agree that the UK should be playing a leading role in eradicating covid-19 around the world. That is why one of the wonderful features of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, if it is approved, is that it will be sold at cost to partners around the world. We are putting £800 million from the UK into supporting COVAX.
Assessment & feedback
The specific 0.7% commitment was not directly addressed or confirmed
Response accuracy
Q11 Direct Answer
Context
The UK Government pledged to plant 30,000 hectares of trees annually by 2025.
I welcome the Prime Minister's pledge in the 10-point plan to plant 30,000 hectares of trees a year by 2025. Farmers will play a crucial role in meeting this target. What financial incentives will be available to encourage them to make this long-term commitment?
My hon. Friend is dead right. The nature for climate fund will put £640 million into helping to support the planting of 30,000 hectares of trees by 2025—every year by 2025.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Edward Davey Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Context
Liberal Democrats are campaigning for an increase of £20 a week in carer's allowance.
Three weeks ago, I asked the Prime Minister to support unpaid carers by raising carer's allowance by £20 a week. It is very disappointing that Ministers have not found that money for carers, but have found hundreds of millions for contracts handed out to Conservative party cronies. Can I ask the Prime Minister again: will he raise carer's allowance by £20 a week?
I would be happy to look at that specific grant again, but I have to say that if the right hon. Gentleman looks at what we have done so far with supporting universal credit and the substantial increases in the living wage, we are doing our best to support families who are the neediest across the whole of the UK.
Assessment & feedback
The specific increase was not committed to, only that it would be looked at again
Response accuracy
Q13 Direct Answer
Context
The UK is facing intense discussions on balancing the nation's finances due to the pandemic.
I am sure that, like me, the Prime Minister welcomes the incredibly valuable contribution of our essential workers in keeping our supplies actually moving, our economy turning and keeping us safe. However, we know many constituents are facing challenges through covid. Does the Prime Minister agree with me and many colleagues that now is not the time for an MPs' pay rise?
Yes, I do agree with that, and that is why we have frozen ministerial salaries this year, as indeed they have been frozen by successive Conservative Governments since 2010.
Assessment & feedback
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Q14 Partial Answer
Context
Northern Ireland business community is concerned about implementing the protocol from January 1, requesting an adjustment or grace period.
The Northern Ireland business community is extremely concerned that it is now impossible to be ready to fully implement the protocol from 1 January. Its top priority is to ask the EU for an adjustment or grace period. Will the Prime Minister give his support to this ask?
Of course we are not going to extend the transition period, but we want to make practical arrangements to help businesses in Northern Ireland. We have agreed a one-year adjustment period so there is no disruption to the flow of medicines and launched a £200 million trader support service.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for an extension was not directly addressed, only that practical arrangements will be made
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Greg Smith Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Context
A case in Ickford highlights concerns about flood risk from new development.
Flood risk from new development is a key concern for many of my constituents, as highlighted by a case in Ickford, where developers promised that flood risk would be a once-in-100-year eventuality, yet the village has flooded three times this year alone. Will my right hon. Friend commit to seriously beefing up the way flood risk is assessed and treated as part of the planning process?
I have deep sympathy for Ickford in my hon. Friend's constituency and the flooding it has suffered; I know Ickford. It is very important that local authorities follow the rules in making their planning decisions, as I am sure he would agree, and we are making a huge investment—£5.2 billion—in flood defences to protect the 300,000 homes at risk across the country.
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to enhancing assessment was not made directly
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Navendu Mishra Lab
Stockport
Context
The Greater Manchester Metrolink tram system cuts carbon emissions and improves air quality. Stockport needs an extension to support businesses and communities.
The Greater Manchester Metrolink tram system cuts carbon emissions, improves air quality and reduces congestion on our roads. As part of the post-covid recovery plan, will the Prime Minister commit funding to extend the tram network from East Didsbury to Stockport town centre in order to improve access and give much-needed support to businesses and communities in my constituency?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I will study the plan he proposes with care, although I should tell him that a massive infrastructure programme is already under way, as the Chancellor will shortly announce, and it may be that in due time the scheme the hon. Gentleman proposes could benefit from those investments.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit funding to the specific tram extension requested.
Under Way May Be That
Response accuracy
Q17 Direct Answer
Andrew Rosindell Reform
Conservative
Context
The London area may enter stricter lockdown measures, causing significant economic and social harm. The Prime Minister needs to assess the full impact before introducing such measures.
With the London area potentially entering stricter tier 3 or tier 2 lockdown measures and the devastating consequences that will have on jobs, livelihoods and businesses, and indeed the effects on physical and mental health, as the Prime Minister is committed to following the evidence, will he agree to a full public cost-benefit analysis of the impact on our economy and public health before he introduces anything that will lead to years of economic harm that could end up being worse for people's lives than the virus itself?
I have high regard for my hon. Friend, and he is right to call attention to the dangers and damage that lockdowns can do. Of course, they have to be weighed against the damage to health caused by a wave of coronavirus that drives out all other patients from our hospitals and affects the health of non-covid patients as well so very badly. We will of course be setting out an analysis of the health, economic and social impacts of the tiered approach and the data that supports the tiering decisions, as we have done in the past.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Ellie Reeves Lab
Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Context
Food bank use in the constituency is increasing as working families, including key workers like teaching assistants and nursing auxiliaries, struggle to make ends meet. Median pay for these roles is insufficient.
Food bank use in my constituency has been increasing steadily as working families, including public sector key workers, struggle to make ends meet. Can the Prime Minister therefore tell us whether he thinks the median pay of teaching assistants of just under £14,000, and of nursing auxiliaries of £18,000, is enough to live on? I will ask him again: instead of delivering a public sector pay freeze later today, will he give those key workers a well-deserved pay rise?
The hon. Lady is right to value key workers and the amazing job that they do—particularly teachers and teaching assistants, who have done fantastic work in getting our kids back into school over the last few months and continue to do an amazing job. I am proud not just of the work we have done to increase public sector pay, with an inflation-busting package in July for the third year running, but of what we are doing to support the record increases in the living wage—delivered by a Conservative Government, invented by a Conservative Government.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to giving key workers a pay rise instead of implementing a pay freeze.
Increase Public Sector Pay Record Increases In The Living Wage
Response accuracy
Q19 Direct Answer
Gareth Davies Con
Grantham and Bourne
Context
Lincolnshire has a high population of veterans. The Prime Minister supports funding for the armed forces.
Lincolnshire has one of the highest populations of veterans in our country; as such, I warmly welcome the recent announcement to boost funding for our armed forces. Does the Prime Minister agree that one of the best ways we can help our veterans is to encourage employers to hire a hero?
Absolutely. I thank my hon. Friend for the campaigns that he is running to support veterans. We support schemes such as that run by Gerry Hill and his team at Hire a Hero, and we are encouraging businesses to hire veterans with a new national insurance tax break for businesses that do so and, of course, making it easier for veterans to join the civil service.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q20 Partial Answer
Context
BioYorkshire will cut carbon, create jobs and return billions to the Treasury. Unemployment in York is high.
BioYorkshire will place York at the heart of the global bioscience economy. It will cut carbon by 2,800 kilotons, create 4,000 green-collar jobs, upskill 25,000 workers and return £5 billion to the Treasury. The Government are supportive but are delaying investment until at least the devolution deal. Unemployment in York is soaring. We need this investment now. Will the Prime Minister start the recovery by investing in BioYorkshire?
As the hon. Lady knows, the Government are committed to the 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, which will generate 250,000 jobs across the country just in the immediate term. I hope very much that BioYorkshire will be among the beneficiaries, and I cannot see any reason why it should not be.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to immediate investment in BioYorkshire.
10-Point Plan Cannot See Any Reason
Response accuracy
Q21 Partial Answer
Context
The Prime Minister supports improving and investing in St Helier Hospital, despite opposition from local Labour politicians.
The news of the covid vaccine is great for both my constituents in Wimbledon and people across the country, but I believe that when my constituents get sick, they should have the right to access the highest-quality healthcare. The plans to improve and invest in St Helier Hospital would do just that. Will the Prime Minister work with me to ensure that those plans are brought forward as quickly as possible, despite the opposition from local Labour politicians?
Yes, indeed. How typical of Labour politicians locally to oppose what they call for nationally. I am proud that we are going ahead with a brand new state-of-the-art hospital to be built in Sutton, with most services staying put in modernised buildings at Epsom and St Helier. The new hospital will come as part of the Government's commitment, as I say, to build 48 hospitals by 2030 in the biggest hospital building programme of a generation.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to supporting plans for St Helier Hospital specifically.
Oppose What They Call For Nationally Commitment To Build 48 Hospitals
Response accuracy
Q22 Partial Answer
Context
Key workers will face a real-terms cut in wages due to the Chancellor's pay freeze, despite public support for key workers.
In the summer, we stood on our doorsteps and clapped for all our key workers; today, they will be hit once again with a real-terms cut to their wages by the Chancellor's pay freeze. I really do wonder, does the Prime Minister actually realise that claps do not pay the bills?
The hon. Lady will recognise, at a time when the private sector—when the UK economy—has been so badly hit, and when private sector workers have seen falls in their income, that it is right that we should be responsible in our approach to public finances, and that is what we are going to be. She should be in no doubt that the commitments we have made have been outstanding so far: above-inflation increases for public sector workers just in July; a 12.6% increase for nurses over the past three years; the biggest ever increase in the living wage—and more to come in just a minute if she will contain herself.
Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address whether he understands the financial impact of the pay freeze on key workers.
Responsible Approach Outstanding Commitments
Response accuracy
Q23 Partial Answer
Richard Fuller Con
North Bedfordshire
Context
Year 6 students at Edward Peake Church of England Middle School wrote to the MP about their ideas for promoting a healthier planet, which include reducing waste and pollution, planting trees, building electric cars, and creating more nature reserves.
Last month, year 6 students at the Edward Peake Church of England Middle School in Biggleswade wrote to me about the impact of lockdown and their ideas for promoting a healthier planet, which include encouraging people not to put waste into the sea; planting more trees; building more electric cars; making more nature reserves; cleaning up the waterways; encouraging more local electricity production, and reducing air pollution so children can see the stars. Will the Prime Minister join me in thanking the students and their teacher, Miss Twitchett, and tell the House whether their ideas can play a part in his green plan?
It is quite uncanny; it is as though Miss Twitchett and her class were standing over my shoulder as I wrote the 10-point plan, and I thank them for their telepathic inspiration. I passionately agree that that is the right way forward for our country. It will mobilise about £12 billion of Government investment and possibly three times more from the private sector, and create 250,000 to 300,000 jobs.
Assessment & feedback
The Prime Minister did not explicitly state if the specific ideas mentioned by the students would be included in his green plan.
Response accuracy
Q24 Direct Answer
Context
Many pubs and bars have invested heavily in becoming covid-secure but are now facing restrictions that limit their ability to operate during the Christmas season.
I am aware that there are obviously no perfect options at the moment, but may I raise with the Prime Minister the issue of pubs and bars that will be affected by the tier 2 restrictions? Many, such as Yorkshire Ales in Snaith in my constituency, have invested considerable amounts of money in being covid-secure, and are now to be denied access to their valuable pre-Christmas trade. Will the Prime Minister look again at those tier 2 restrictions, and if not, look at what other financial support can be offered to those bars and pubs that cannot provide a substantial food offering during this period?
My hon. Friend is completely right about the need to support local business, particularly in the hospitality sector. He should know that, in addition to the £3,000 grant for businesses that are forced to close, we have another grant of £2,100 a month for businesses that are in the hospitality and accommodation sector. That is on top of the support that we have given via furlough, obviously, and via business rates and the cuts in VAT, which were intended to support the hospitality sector as well.
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy