Some of those serious criticisms that have been published this morning. It was really interesting, the emphasis on deregulation and that was the context for much of what had happened . The criticisms of what had happened . The criticisms of of what had happened . The criticisms of the of what had happened . Tue criticisms of the department for local government as it was. T for local government as it was. ,. , was. I am going to interrupt ou, was. I am going to interrupt you. Apologies you, apologies. Mr speaker, Yesterdays Incident in the channel were shocking and deeply tragic. 0ur shocking and deeply tragic. Our thoughts are with all of those who have lost their lives, and theirfamilies. We must have a renewed determination to end this. Mr speaker, the chair of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, he has today published the inquiry� s phase two report, and i know that the whole house will be with the bereaved and the survivors of the Grenfell Tower Tragedy and the residents in the immediate community. I will be making a statement shortly after pmqs today. This morning, i had meetings with material colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later. Can i associate myself with the Prime Ministers remarks about the loss of life in the channel and about Grenfell Tower. The latest Suicide Figures or a sobering reminder of the misery caused by mental ill health. A centre in my constituency has high, medium and low Security Hospitals on the same site. The staff to an amazing Job But Demand has gone through the roof, especially since the pandemic. Does my right honourable friend agree that it is essential that we have the same level of priority for mental Health Care and physical Health Care in this country . Yes, and i thank my honourable friend for raising this critical issue. So many are affected by the tragedy of suicide. I am affected by the tragedy of suicide. Iam pleased affected by the tragedy of suicide. I am pleased to hear about the work he refers to but i about the work he refers to but 1 Million people are not getting the support, the mental Health Support they need and thatis Health Support they need and that is why we will recruit 8,500 Mental Health Workers to treat adults and children and bring forward legislation to modernise the Mental Health act, an act which i think is well overdue for modernisation. The leader of the opposition, rishi the leader of the opposition, rishi sunak. Thank you, Mr Speaker, and rishi sunak. Thank you, Mr Speaker, and Come Ijoin with the Prime Minister in paying tribute to the Grenfell Tower community and we will rightly discuss that important issue shortly after pmos. , alsojoin him in congratulating our record breaking olympians and paralympian is for Everything Pa Ralympian is for everything they paralympian is for everything they have achieved, and lastly could i pay tribute to the hard work, Bravery And Dedication of our police . This summer, in challenging circumstances, they served our Committee Commendably and kept us all say. Government is about Making Choices and the new Prime Minister has made a choice, he has chosen to take the Winter Fuel Allowance away from low income pensioners and give that money to certain unionised workforces in inflation busting Pay Rises. Come i asked the Prime Minister, why did he choose Train Drivers over britains vulnerable pensioners . This government was elected to clear up the mess left by the Party Opposite. And to bring about the change that the country desperately needs. Our Firstjob Country desperately needs. Our first job was country desperately needs. Our firstjob was to audit the books and what we found was a £22 billion Black Hole. It is no good m complaining. Richard hughes, the chair of the obr, was very clear, he described it as one of the largest year over spend is against forecasts outside of the pandemic. His words. We have had to take tough decisions to stabilise the Economy And Repair the damage, including targeting Winter Fuel payments, whilst protecting pensioners. 800,000 pensioners are not taking up pensioners are not taking up Pension Credit. We will align Housing Benefits, something the previous government deferred year after year after year. Because our commitment to the triple lock, pensions were protected to increase by over £1000 in the next five years. The Prime Minister also inherited inflation back target, Interest Rates being cut, unemployment and the fastest growing economy in the g7. But that is not the point because the Prime Minister now has to start taking responsibility for his own decisions. If, as he says, the Public Finance is his priority, it was his decision and his decision alone to award a Train Driver on £65,000 a Pay Rise of almost £10,000. It was also his decision that a Pensioner Living Onjust £13,000 decision that a pensioner living on just £13,000 will have their winterfuel have their Winter Fuel Allowance removed. So can the Prime Minister explain to britains low income pensioners why he has taken money away from them whilst at the same time given more money to highly paid Train Drivers . Paid Train Drivers . Well, we sent paid Train Drivers . Well, we spent the paid Train Drivers . Well, we spent the whole paid Train Drivers . Well, we spent the whole election. Paid Train Drivers . Well, we i spent the whole election with him trying to tell the country that everything was fine and this is the result ive got. A massive mandate on this side to change the country and if it carries on pretending everything is fine, they are going to be therefore very very, very long time. I remind him that we inherited absolute chaos from the Party Opposite. We lost an average of 3 Million working days a year to strikes under his watch and you cannot fix the economy if the trains dont work and you cannot fix the economy if the nhs isnt working. When it comes to Winter Fuel payments, they are having a competition, they will be voting on today. His favourite, she said, i have people in my constituency telling me they dont need Winter Fuel payments. Why do we not have a more sophisticated mechanism for means testing . That is their favourite in the contest they are having. Again, the prime contest they are having. Again, the prime Minister Contest they are having. Again, the Prime Minister talked contest they are having. Again, | the Prime Minister talked about the Prime Minister talked about the Public Finances. The Public Finances are more robust than almost that of any other major advanced economy. He inherited advanced economy. He inherited a lower deficit than france, america, Italy. A lower deficit than france, america, Italy. Order when i oint to america, Italy. Order when i point to you america, Italy. Order when i point to you to america, Italy. Order when i point to you to be america, Italy. Order when i point to you to be quiet, america, Italy. Order when i point to you to be quiet, i point to you to be quiet, i mean point to you to be quiet, i mean it point to you to be quiet, i mean it and i dont need a reaction mean it and i dont need a reaction like that. Reaction like that. The uk currently reaction like that. The uk currently has reaction like that. The uk currently has a reaction like that. The uk currently has a lower reaction like that. The Uk L currently has a lower deficit than france, america, Italy and japan. It has the second lowest debt in the entire g7. And he opposed every difficult decision that we took to deliver that, so i certainly am not going to take any lectures from him on that score. But he talks about protecting ordinary people. Last year under the conservative government, a low Income Pensioner Withjust £13,000 received not only their Winter Fuel payment but also hundreds of pounds of additional cost of living support. Both of which he has now scrapped. Age uk have said cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance is the wrong policy. Only this morning, we have learned that the vast majority of the poorest pensioners, pensioners in poverty, going to see that vital support removed. Can he tell the house very specifically to the pensioners that are watching, how much less support a pensioner on £13,000 will receive this winter . , a £13,000 will receive this winter . ,. , winter . He talks about tough decisions. Winter . He talks about tough decisions, it winter . He talks about tough decisions, it is winter . He talks about tough decisions, it is tough winter . He talks about tough decisions, it is tough to decisions, it is tough to inherit £22 billion Black Hole which the obr did not mean. That is the inheritance, that is what they left. Back when they were in government. They would have walked past it, put it in the long grass. We will not do that because we were elected to change this country for the better and stabilise our economy. No Prime Minister once to do what we have to do in relation to the Winter Fuel Allowance but we have to take the tough decision to stabilise our economy to ensure we can grow it for the future. We are working hard on Pension Credit, where allowing for Housing Benefit. Tough decisions that they adopt. Benefit. Tough decisions that they adopt they adopt. The government doesnt they adopt. The government doesnt have they adopt. The government doesnt have to they adopt. The government doesnt have to choose they adopt. The government doesnt have to choose to i they adopt. The Government L doesnt have to choose to take money of low income pensioners in order to give it to highly paid Train Drivers. That is the choice he has made and it will be clear to any pensioners watching that he simply cannot explain why he has made that choice. Turning to another important issue, the government has suspended 30 of the uks 350 Arms Export licences to israel. It is a decision that the Chief Rabbi says beggars belief. It will encourage our shared enemies. Can the Prime Minister therefore explain how his decision will help to secure the release of the 101 hostages still being held by hamas . Can i start by saying i think the whole house will be shocked by the horrific killing of six hostages over the last few days. I know i speak for the whole house when i say that. The remaining hostages must be released and we need a ceasefire to ensure that that can happen, that aid can get into the region and we can begin the path to a two state solution. He asks how we arrived at this decision, he knows very well because the legal framework is clear. The latest guidance was issued in 2021 under his government. That means that licences have to be kept under review. T means that licences have to be kept under review. Kept under review. I think he ublic kept under review. I think he public knows kept under review. I think he public knows the kept under review. I think he public knows the advice kept under review. I think he public knows the Advice But L kept under review. I think he i public knows the advice but was given to his government. He understands the framework. We have carried out the review in the same way and come to a clear legal conclusion. We share that conclusion, the assessment, with parliament. We will of course continue to stand by israels right for Self Defence but it is important that we are a country committed to the international rule of law. That gives us the strength of argument with our allies on important issues. This is a difficult issue, i recognise that, but it is a legal decision, not a Policy Decision and the Prime Minister knows the framework and they issued the guidance, they know what the test is. That test has been assessed and we have come to a conclusion and put that before the house to consider. T before the house to consider. I appreciate the prime before the house to consider. T appreciate the prime Ministers Answer but he will know the decisions like this also have important and broader geopolitical imprecations. He mentioned allies, it is essential we maintain transatlantic unity in the face of Terrorist Threats and avoid any perception of splits between our two nations so can he therefore update the house what engagement he had with the united states prior to taking this significant decision . T this significant decision . I acknowledge the importance of working with our allies on all issues as we have been doing, as i was able to make very clear at the Nato Summit that i attended in the early summer. Of attended in the early summer. Of course, as he would expect, as the house would expect, we have talked this through with our allies, they understand and have a different legal system, thatis have a different legal system, that is the point they made. This is a serious issue, it requires serious consideration. He knows the legal framework very well. He also knows that applying that framework and arriving at the decision does not permit me to simply then say, i am not permit me to simply then say, iam not not permit me to simply then say, i am not going to implement the legal decision of conclusion that has been reached. I dont think it is for me to do that. Reached. I dont think it is for me to do that. Not only do these decisions for me to do that. Not only do these decisions have these decisions have geopolitical consequences, but they also have emotional ones. The Prime Minister took this action on the very same day as the funerals of is hostages murdered by hamas. Something the Board Of Deputies described as a terrible, terrible message to be sending. I hope the Prime Minister understands the hurt that has been caused and can he take this opportunity to reassure israel and thejewish community that the united kingdom and this house stands behind israel and its right to Self Defence. Let behind israel and its right to selfdefence. Behind israel and its right to selfdefence. Let me be very clear about selfdefence. Let me be very clear about that, selfdefence. Let me be very clear about that, i selfdefence. Let me be very clear about that, i have selfdefence. Let me be very clear about that, i have said l clear about that, i have said it before and i will cite again, we absolute he recognise and support israels right to Self Defence, and have taken action in support of that right of Self Defence and i have made that repeatedly clear in all of my engagements with israel across the region and with all of our allies. I absolutely stand by that. In relation to licences, this is not an israel issue, it is the framework for all licences that have to be kept under review. It is the test for all licences and having applied the law to the facts and come to a legal conclusion, i dont think the Prime Minister is really inviting me to put that to one side. This is a serious issue. We either comply with International Law or we dont but we only have strength in our arguments because we comply with International Law. I appreciate the Party Opposite didnt think International Law mattered and that is why we are here. T mattered and that is why we are here. ,. ,. , here. I welcome at the Home Office was here. I welcome at the Home Office was my here. I welcome at the Home Office was my decision here. I welcome at the Home Office was my decision to here. I welcome at the home i office was my decision to close the bibby Stock Barge in my constituency. We all know this barge is a gimmick. First it arrived late, second it cost the taxpayer a fortune and third, it was laden with Fire And Disease risks and forth, it likely contributed to the death of a 27 year old Asylum Seeker on board. Can the Prime Minister reassure my constituents that is unworkable gimmick and similar unworkable gimmicks will be closed down as we clear up the mess from the Party Opposite. T we clear up the mess from the Party OppositeParty Opposite. I think my honourable Party Opposite. I think my honourable friend Party Opposite. I think my honourable friend for Party Opposite. I think my honourable friend for the | honourable friend for the question. Unlike the Party Opposite, we wont Waste Money on gimmicks and that is white within days, we ended the rwanda scheme, we announced the launch of the Border Security Force and we are preparing legislation to introduce Counterterrorism Powers to tackle gangs. In the first two months, we have removed more than 400 people on planes who had no right to be here. Compare that with the four volunteers sent rwanda that cost £700 million. This is a government of service, not a government of service, not a government of service, not a government of gimmicks. We come to the Leader Government of gimmicks. We come to the leader of government of gimmicks. We come to the leader of the government of gimmicks. We come to the leader of the liberal to the leader of the liberal democrats. To the leader of the liberal democrats. ,. , democrats. Can i echo the Prime Ministers democrats. Can i echo the Prime Ministers words democrats. Can i echo the Prime Ministers words about democrats. Can i echo the Prime Ministers words about the ministers words about the terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower and welcomed the inquiry and we look forward to the statement discussed shortly. For the last 18 years, norman has been a full time carer for his wife who has ms and alzheimers disease. Earlier this year, he was forced to go back to work to earn the extra money for the cost of caring for his wife. As their income isjust a few for his wife. As their income is just a few hundred pounds above the limit for Pension Credit, they are set to lose their Winter Fuel Allowance unless the Prime Minister listens to these benches and changes this plan. So, if he doesnt, what advice does he have took norman and his wife and millions of struggling pensioners as they face rising heating bills this winter . T heating bills this winter . I think the honourable member for think the honourable memberfor raising that important question and i know how much both politically and personally he has championed carers. We have taken a difficult decision and i am not pretending it is not a difficult decision. Of course it is a difficult decision because we have to stabilise the economy. We have to stabilise the economy. We went through an audit on the chancellor found through an audit on the chancellorfound a £22 billion worth of unfunded spending commitments. We cannot walk past that, we cannot pretend it doesnt exist. We have to take tough decisions. We put in all the support we can, talk to the gentleman about this but we have to take the tough decisions in relation to this. They walked away from those decisions that got us into the mess in the first place. You cannot grow your economy or fix your economy unless you stabilise at first. Your economy unless you stabilise at first. Can i say to the prime stabilise at first. Can i say to the Prime Minister, stabilise at first. Can i say to the Prime Minister, wej to the Prime Minister, we recognise the appalling financial problems left to him by the last conservative government but can i say, no one understands the Difficulty Decisions you need to take to balance the books as unpaid Family Carers like norman. So many millions of pensioners have struggled in recent years brings to the last government. The number of pensioners who cannot afford to heat their homes has doubled since 2019. When the prime Minister Support our campaignfor when the prime Minister Support our campaign for more urgent action to invest in insulation and renewables so we can help pensioners and families make it cheaper to heat their homes every winter. T cheaper to heat their homes every winter cheaper to heat their homes every winter. I remind him that there are every winter. I remind him that there are 800,000 every winter. I remind him that there are 800,000 pensioners| there are 800,000 pensioners who are not claiming Pension Credit which then deals with the Winter Payment Allowance and that is why we are taking so much care to ensure we can get them onto Pension Credit. Aligning Housing Benefit with Pension Credit is something they left undone for years. It will make a massive difference and with the triple lock, which over five years, will mean pensions are expected to rise by Up To £1000. Pensions are expected to rise by Up To £1000. Four years ago, the previous by Up To £1000. Four years ago, the previous government by Up To £1000. Four years ago, | the previous government ordered a review into the Home And PregnancyTest Drug and found it had caused avoidable harm. The drug was given to women in 19605 and the 705 and resulted in many babies being born with severe disabilities. For the last 12 years, i have stood in this parliament and pleaded with the last government repeatedly to do the right thing. I asked the Prime Minister today, will he commit to take a fresh approach to this issue and will he meet with me and the campaigner to discuss how we can give closure to the families who have been denied justice for the last 50 years . Denied ustice for the last 50 ears . ,. ~ denied ustice for the last 50 ears . ,. , ~. , years . This i thank her for that question years . This i thank her for that question and years . This i thank her for that question and for years . This i thank her for that question and for her i years . This i thank her for that question and for her work on the appg. I am sympathetic to the families who believe their children suffered from these tests and im committed to reviewing any new evidence which comes to light. At the moment, the Health Department is reviewing a publication and we will follow the results of that review and im happy to ensure that the Health Minister does meet her to this further. Can i thank the Prime Minister for visiting Northern Ireland within the last fortnight and particularly for the time he spent with injured officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He will know of their courage but he will also know of the dog a determination of our Chief Constable in his desire to see adequate resourcing, for his officers who not only stand for Law And Order in Northern Ireland, but stand in the face of racism, violence and of an ongoing national Security Threat from dissident publicans. Can i therefore ask him to earnestly and urgently engage in a discussion about uplifting the national Security Grant afforded to the ps ensuring that the psn i can face the challenges that we need them to Face Head on . T challenges that we need them to Face Head on . Face Head On . I think for that Ruestion Face Head on . I think for that question on Face Head on . I think for that question on it Face Head on . I think for that question on it was Face Head on . I think for that question on it was important| question on it was important for me to go to belfast to meet the injured officers and to say simply, thank you, for what they are doing and of course they are doing and of course the impact it has on their families. I do recognise the difficult financial position the Ps Ni faces in the Chief Constable and i have spoken about this on more than one occasion, as you would expect. Predominately it is for the Justice Minister and executive to set the budget and an operational matterfor to set the budget and an operational matter for the Chief Constable in how he allocates that but i have spoken to him about further support because i do realise just how important it is to him on the Ps Ni and Northern Ireland more generally. Last week, ticket ireland more generally. Last week, Ticket Selling ireland more generally. Last week, Ticket Selling websites like ticketmaster left millions of oasis fans furious. Worse still came minutes later when tickets became relisted online for thousands of pounds. This profiteering is not a one off. The Co Operative Party is campaigning fora the Co Operative Party is campaigning for a new Licensing Body with real teeth to tackle this online touting. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that vance should be at the heart of live music and that urgent action is needed to protect fans against this Horrid Practice . Protect fans against this Horrid Practice . Protect fans against this horrid ractice . ,. ,. , Horrid Practice . Yes, i do and firstl , Horrid Practice . Yes, i do and firstly. It Horrid Practice . Yes, i do and firstly. It is Horrid Practice . Yes, i do and firstly, it is great Horrid Practice . Yes, i do and firstly, it is great that firstly, it is great that voices are back together. From what i have determined, half the country is publicly queueing for tickets over the weekend. Voices. But it is depressing to hear of price hikes. I am committed to putting fans at the heart of Music And End extortionate resales and we are starting a consultation to work out how best we can do this. This consultation to work out how best we can do this. Best we can do this. This Mr Speaker. Best we can do this. This Mr Speaker, offshore best we can do this. This Mr Speaker, Offshore Energy i best we can do this. This mr| speaker, Offshore Energy uk reports that the governments proposed Windfall Tax increases will cost our economy £13 billion, risk 35,000jobs will cost our economy £13 billion, risk 35,000 jobs and see investment in the North East slashed from 14. 1 billion to just 2. 3 by 2029. It also suggests there will be a £12 billion cost in tax revenues. How does this Proposal Chime with the Prime Minister was my goal of economic growth and will he reverse this Tax Increase which Industry Leaders are calling economic suicide for the Oil And Gas sector . We economic suicide for the Oil And Gas sector . And Gas Sector . We are committed and Gas Sector . We are committed to and Gas Sector . We are committed to the i and Gas Sector . We are i committed to the Transition Thatis committed to the transition that is necessary in relation to energy to renewables which will lead to cheaper Energy Dependence and thejobs will lead to cheaper Energy Dependence and the jobs of the future. Let me be clear, Oil And Gas will play a sport for many years to come and that is why i have been really clear about the support we have for Oil And Gas. I am sure she and others will want to celebrate the fact that just this week, contracts for difference secured a record hundred and 31 new clean energy projects enough to power 11 Million homes and that is the jobs of the future. Homes and that is the Obs Of The Munch Homes and that is the obs of the future. ~ , the future. The Prime Minister will remember the future. The Prime Minister will remember visiting the future. The Prime Minister will remember visiting my i will remember visiting my Constituency Injune where we toured if untested development of 600 new homes but because of tory and deny, it took the best part of a decade for that site to get through planning. You can grumble all you want but my families are paying the price for their mistakes. Can the Prime Minister reassured me that this government will speed up that this government will speed up the Planning Process so we can get more homes built and will one of his ministers meet with me to discuss the Housing Crisis in york . With me to discuss the Housing Crisis in york . Yes, i remember that Visitor Crisis in york . Yes, i remember that visitor well crisis in york . Yes, i remember that visitor well but crisis in york . Yes, i remember that visitor well but i crisis in york . Yes, i remember that visitor well but i was i that visitor well but i was struck by the delays in planning because the system was broken by the previous government. We will deliver 1. 5 million new homes, drive economic growth, and fulfilled the dream of home ownership, shattered for 14 years under the former government. That means changing the planning rules, It Decision they were not prepared to make, to grow our economy. Not prepared to make, to grow our economy our economy. Last month, the operators our economy. Last month, the operators of our economy. Last month, the operators of the our economy. Last month, the operators of the new our economy. Last month, the operators of the new Viking I operators of the new Viking Energy Wind farm in shetland were paid £2 million in order not to generate any electricity from it. Is there not something wrong with an Energy Market that pays big corporate is not to produce electricity while the people living amongst the turbines endure some of the highest levels of Fuel Poverty in the country . When the Prime Minister and the government now look seriously at the idea On Islands Terra so that islands communities such as those represented by me see some genuine benefit for the community from hosting Renewable Energy developments such as this . T Renewable Energy developments such as this . Such as this . I think the honourable such as this . I think the honourable gentleman i such as this . I think the l honourable gentleman for raising this issue, which is obviously a considerable concern to him and his constituents. The national grid, as he knows, does balance the grid by occasionally requesting some generators to stop when there is not enough capacity on the network. That is not good enough, it is not acceptable for the reasons set out in his question. It is a problem but was not fixed over the last 14 years but a problem we are determined to fix as we go forward. I will make sure the relevant minister speaks to him about the particular issue in his constituency. 5 him about the particular issue in his constituency. In his constituency. As a surgeon in his constituency. As a surgeon from in his constituency. As a surgeon from east i in his constituency. As a L Surgeon from east anglia, in his constituency. As a I Surgeon from east anglia, i welcome the measures the new government has taken to fulfil its mission to fix the nhs. In my constituency of bury St Edmunds and stowmarket, the West Suffolk Hospital is badly affected by raac. Just like hospital in norfolk where i have worked for nearly 30 years. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that the Raac Hospitals must be prioritised as the new government undertakes its review of the new Hospital Programme . T undertakes its review of the new Hospital Programme . I find him for his new Hospital Programme . I find him for his question new Hospital Programme . I find him for his question and new Hospital Programme . I find him for his question and also, i him for his question and also, he brings huge expertise to this area. We have to reset the new Hospital Programme and put it on a sustainable footing. The last government promised 40 new hospitals. The problem is, they were not 40, they were not new and some are not even hospitals. Hospitals with Raac Will of course, including West Suffolk Hospital, must be a priority so we are reviewing the programme and the Secretary Of State will update parliament as soon as possible. As soon as possible. After 14 miserable as soon as possible. After 14 miserable years as soon as possible. After 14 miserable years of as soon as possible. After 14 miserable years of the i as soon as possible. After 14 miserable years of the worstj miserable years of the worst tory government in modern times, the best this Prime Minister can offer the british people is, things can only get worse. For him, that is public true, but why he has think such and improving his popularity. Is it leaving children in poverty, the Re Emergence of Labour Cronyism or is it because his posterity is even worse than the conservative variety . His his austerity. I remember when they used to sit here, and it is a long way up and there is a very few of them so i dont think we need lectures on popularity. Dont think we need lectures on popularity popularity. Thank you, Mr Speaker popularity. Thank you, Mr Speaker i popularity. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome i popularity. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome this i popularity. Thank you, mr i speaker. I welcome this Weeks News on the changes, the government plans around ofsted, including the removal of single word judgment. This is great news for Head Teachers in West Lancashire who have raised this issue with me along with other issues around ofsted, and for parents, who have more transparency on the performance of schools. How does the Prime Minister see these changes developing a more positive relationship between ofsted, government and schools, and improving standards so all our young people can fried . We are committed young people can fried . We are committed to young people can fried . We are committed to the young people can fried . We are committed to the best young people can fried . We are | committed to the best education for every child, whatever their background and where ever they come from. The current single grade does not