Prime Minister's Questions: 5 February 2020

Questions from the Leader of the Opposition

The Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, focused his questions on climate change and COP26 (the UN Climate Change Conference).

Mr Corbyn asked the Prime Minister:

• what the former Conservative Minister and ex-President of COP26, Clare O'Neill, meant when she said there was a "huge lack of leadership and engagement" from the Government.
• why he is "failing so spectacularly" at dealing with the climate crisis, with reports suggesting that the UK Government will take until 2099 to become carbon net-zero instead of its target of 2050.
• why Ms O'Neill said that the Government's promises of money and people to deal with the climate crisis were "not close to being met".
• why there is an "absence of leadership" on climate change.
• why, when he was Foreign Secretary, he cut the number of climate attachés in embassies "by 60 per cent" and if his leadership on climate change is a continuation of the "climate denial statements he was making up until 2016".
• why he said climate change is a "'primitive fear without foundation'" and when he will "take us forward to a sustainable future".  

Questions from the Scottish National Party's Westminster Leader

The SNP's Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford, asked about trade deals with the US and protection for the NHS.

Mr Blackford asked the Prime Minister:

• why he has "sacked an official, taken an isolationist approach to trade and banned the press from a Downing Street briefing" and if he is "intentionally trying to impersonate Donald Trump".
• if he will commit to supporting the SNP's NHS protection legislation, in light of the former US Ambassador's comments that drugs prices "could soar" under a trade deal with the US.

Full list of topics and questioners

• Conservative MP, Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) asked if jobs and investment will come to areas such as his constituency in the wake of Brexit.
• Conservative MP, Darren Henry (Broxtowe) asked if the Government will fulfil its manifesto commitments to the NHS.
• Conservative MP, Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole)  asked if the Prime Minister will prioritise family hubs.
• Labour MP, Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) asked if residents were having to fund increased police numbers through council tax.
• Conservative MP, Damian Green (Ashford) asked for a timescale for when Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G network will stop.
• Plaid Cymru MP, Hywel Williams (Arfon) asked whether the movement of a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) centre to a place inaccessible to many of his constituents would be remedied.
• Conservative MP, Mark Logan (Bolton North East) asked if the Prime Minister agrees that a Metrolink between Manchester and Bolton should be built.
• Labour MP, Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) asked when the Government will invest in dilapidated schools.
• Conservative MP, Edward Timpson (Eddisbury) asked about extending plans to reduce national insurance contributions for employers who recruit care-leavers, ex-convicts, those with disabilities and the long-term unemployed.
• Labour MP, Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East) asked if the Prime Minister will suspend the deportation of 50 people to Jamaica until the report into Windrush has been published.
• Conservative MP, Suella Braverman (Fareham), asked how the Government will ensure that Parliament is the source of law, rather than judicial review.
• Labour MP, Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) asked about the long distances that patients have to travel for in-patient mental health care.
• Conservative MP, David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) asked for an assurance that the UK would lead the Five Eyes (an intelligence alliance) and NATO to create an alternative to Huawei's 5G infrastructure in the next two years.
• Labour MP, Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) asked how the Government will encourage NHS consultants from the EU to apply for UK visas after Brexit.
• Conservative MP, Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) asked for support for two new GP surgeries in her constituency.
• Labour MP, Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) asked about her constituent Errol Graham, who starved to death after the DWP stopped his benefit payments.
• Labour MP, Ruth Jones (Newport West) asked when medical cannabis will be available for children with serious illnesses.
• Conservative MP, Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) asked if the Prime Minister backed increased bus services in his constituency. 
• SNP MP, Owen Thompson (Midlothian) asked when the report into Russian interference will be published and the Intelligence and Security Committee reconvened.
• Conservative MP, Dean Russell (Watford) asked if the Prime Minister agreed that even new rail franchises cannot expect to keep their contracts if they do not deliver.
• Labour MP, Colum Eastwood (Foyle) asked about justice for Paul Quinn, who was murdered by the IRA in 2007.

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Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor