government is investing in now and we are taking the tough decisions necessary. statutory sick pay is worth £3 a week less in real terms compared to at the start of the pandemic and millions of workers are being forced to choose between isolating or putting food on the table. in germany, 100% of workers' salaries are covered by sick pay, whereas in the uk it is a pitiful 19%. so, i asked the prime minister if he thought earning £250,000 from his second job was chickenfeed, how on earth does he expect working people to survive on £96 a week when they get sick? and if he agrees that many lives and livelihoods could be saved by increasing sick pay, will he commit here and now to raising it to the level of the real living wage? mr speaker, i thank the honourable gentleman, of course, as he knows one of the first things we did when covid struck was to make sure that statutory sick pay was payable from day one, so it is up to 75% more generous if you need to self—isolate. and the current statutory sick pay is of course a minimum, more than half of employees actually get contractual sick pay from their employer. but the most important thing we can do, mr speaker, is to ensure that we continue to keep people in work, in jobs, and in higherwage, higher skilled jobs, and that is what we are doing. skilled jobs, and that is what we are doinu. . ~ skilled jobs, and that is what we are doinu. ., ~ ,, , skilled jobs, and that is what we are doinu. . ~' ,, , . are doing. thank you very much indeed, are doing. thank you very much indeed. mr— are doing. thank you very much indeed, mr speaker. _ are doing. thank you very much indeed, mr speaker. later - are doing. thank you very much| indeed, mr speaker. later today are doing. thank you very much l indeed, mr speaker. later today i indeed, mr speaker. latertodayi will be seeking to introduce a bill to extend auto enrolment of pensions to extend auto enrolment of pensions to everyone aged over 18 including part—time workers. that would see trillions of pounds in long—term savings levelling the retirement of workers, especially women, in the towns and villages of north—west durham and across the country. as the prime minister sick pandemic, will he throw his weight behind these important changes that would benefit workers across our united kingdom? benefit workers across our united kin . dom? , . benefit workers across our united kinudom? , ., ., ~ benefit workers across our united kinldom? , ., ,,, ., ~' ., benefit workers across our united kinudom? , . ,,, . ~' ., i“, kingdom? vista speaker, over10 million peeple — kingdom? vista speaker, over10 million people have _ kingdom? vista speaker, over10 million people have been - million people have been automatically enrolled into workplace pensions already. that is another 28.4 billion into pensions, so it is a great success. but, and i assure that my honourable friend the secretary of state for pensions will be listening closely to what he was saying. be listening closely to what he was sa inc. . ~' ,, be listening closely to what he was sa inc. . ~' ~ be listening closely to what he was sa inc. ., ~ ~ . saying. thank you, mr speaker. we know the prime _ saying. thank you, mr speaker. we know the prime minister _ saying. thank you, mr speaker. we know the prime minister is - saying. thank you, mr speaker. we | know the prime minister is happiest at peppa _ know the prime minister is happiest at peppa pig world, but in the real world, _ at peppa pig world, but in the real world, people are facing rising energy— world, people are facing rising energy bills, rising shopping costs and a _ energy bills, rising shopping costs and a new— energy bills, rising shopping costs and a new tory tax, but leaseholders also face _ and a new tory tax, but leaseholders also face huge costs for post—grenfell costs required by his government. 50, will the post—grenfell costs required by his government. 50, willthe prime minisler— government. 50, willthe prime minister try and keepjust one promise — minister try and keepjust one promise in 2022 and protect all leaseholders from those costs and will he _ leaseholders from those costs and will he backed the cross—party campaign to make those works exempt from vat— campaign to make those works exempt from vat to— campaign to make those works exempt from vat to add £1 billion to the building — from vat to add £1 billion to the building safety fund? | from vat to add £1 billion to the building safety fund?— from vat to add £1 billion to the building safety fund? i thank the honourable” — building safety fund? i thank the honourable,, gentlemen. - building safety fund? i thank the l honourable,, gentlemen. actually building safety fund? i thank the i honourable,, gentlemen. actually i honourable,, gentlemen. actuallyl think what most londoners want is protection from high taxing labour councils, in my experience. what they... what they will also get is, we will deliver on our pledge to protect residents from serious fire safety risks, and also to manage the injustice that leaseholders face, mr speaker, and the house can look forward to being updated shortly. tasha, mr speaker. the very best of british science has been on display over the last 18 months, being responsible for the design and manufacturer of many other vaccines that has kept us safe during this pandemic. focused on making the uk the best place to practice life sciences and innovate which is welcome as is their cluster strategy. with that mind would my right honourable friend back over to as being the pioneer place for the cluster strategy to be rolled out, enabling high wage and high—growth jobs to be based in my constituency at barrow in furness? yes. jobs to be based in my constituency at barrow in furness?— at barrow in furness? yes, mr speaker, — at barrow in furness? yes, mr speaker, because _ at barrow in furness? yes, mr speaker, because we - at barrow in furness? yes, mr speaker, because we are - at barrow in furness? yes, mr| speaker, because we are going at barrow in furness? yes, mr. speaker, because we are going to at barrow in furness? yes, mr- speaker, because we are going to get on with ourjob of levelling up across the whole of the uk, making sure that every part of this united kingdom shares in our ambition to be a science superpower, which is what we are and what we will be, mr speaker. galveston has a rich history in the life sciences, and consultation notjust with officials but also with him and with officials in the sector to see what more for further investments in the area. mr speaker, a number of people in my siockport _ speaker, a number of people in my stockport constituency have contacted me about a lack of nhs dentists _ contacted me about a lack of nhs dentists and the prohibitive cost of private _ dentists and the prohibitive cost of private dental treatment. 0ne constituent said, i work full—time as a mental health support worker i am on _ as a mental health support worker i am on minimum wage and can barely afford _ am on minimum wage and can barely afford the _ am on minimum wage and can barely afford the reduced nhs dental costs. in afford the reduced nhs dental costs. in the _ afford the reduced nhs dental costs. in the past— afford the reduced nhs dental costs. in the past three months i have had to go— in the past three months i have had to go to _ in the past three months i have had to go to the — in the past three months i have had to go to the emergency dentistry times— to go to the emergency dentistry times for— to go to the emergency dentistry times for the same tooth with the infection— times for the same tooth with the infection getting so bad i collapsed at work _ infection getting so bad i collapsed at work. the problem is not being dealt _ at work. the problem is not being dealt with— at work. the problem is not being dealt with because you need a second appointment which isn't classed as an emergency and thus needs your beginner— an emergency and thus needs your beginner dentist. does the prime minister— beginner dentist. does the prime minister agree that stories like this amount to nothing less than a national— this amount to nothing less than a national scandal and what steps will he take _ national scandal and what steps will he take to _ national scandal and what steps will he take to reduce the backlog of nhs dental— he take to reduce the backlog of nhs dental appointments and further will he commit to increasing the number of nhs _ he commit to increasing the number of nhs dentists across england? | of nhs dentists across england? i thank of nhs dentists across england? thank him of nhs dentists across england? 1 thank him but it goes to show of nhs dentists across england? i thank him but it goes to show why it's so important to keep this country going, mr speaker, and to keep people going to the dentist because one of the troubles we have had during lockdown is that people haven't been going, 10 million unfilled fillings, i'm told, mr speaker, and that's why we're putting record investment into dentistry, into the nhs, 36 william pounds, for all their caterwauling, mr speaker, they opposed that investment. —— 30 £6 million. flan mr speaker, they opposed that investment. -- 30 £6 million. can we remedy the — investment. -- 30 £6 million. can we remedy the current _ investment. -- 30 £6 million. can we remedy the current flawed _ investment. -- 30 £6 million. can we remedy the current flawed budgetaryl remedy the current flawed budgetary process whereby it is possible to build 14,000 new homes in my constituency without any commensurate increase in general practice capacity? as we house the next generation we must make sure that the infrastructure goes in at the same time.— that the infrastructure goes in at the same time. , ~ .,~ ., the same time. yes, mr speaker, and that is why. — the same time. yes, mr speaker, and that is why. i — the same time. yes, mr speaker, and that is why, i thank _ the same time. yes, mr speaker, and that is why, i thank him _ the same time. yes, mr speaker, and that is why, i thank him and _ the same time. yes, mr speaker, and that is why, i thank him and he - the same time. yes, mr speaker, and that is why, i thank him and he is - that is why, i thank him and he is completely right, you can't build new homes without putting in the infrastructure to go with, mr speaker, and that is why... that is why we have a great programme of infrastructure investment, the biggest for a century. and that's why we are investing not only in more gps, mr speaker, but another £215 into more gp practices and they are cachia noting away as usual, they voted against that spending. millions across the united kingdom are facing _ millions across the united kingdom are facing great difficulty with their— are facing great difficulty with their energy bills. 30% of those bills are — their energy bills. 30% of those bills are actually driven by the government in the form of vat and various— government in the form of vat and various green levies. now that we've left the _ various green levies. now that we've left the eu, — various green levies. now that we've left the eu, prime minister, can we use our— left the eu, prime minister, can we use our brexit freedom to at least review_ use our brexit freedom to at least review the — use our brexit freedom to at least review the vat on those bills, and given— review the vat on those bills, and given that — review the vat on those bills, and given that some of the green levies are spent— given that some of the green levies are spent on madcap ideas such as subsidising — are spent on madcap ideas such as subsidising tracks be power station to the _ subsidising tracks be power station to the tune of £1 billion a year, to bring _ to the tune of £1 billion a year, to bring woodchips from america, when there _ bring woodchips from america, when there is— bring woodchips from america, when there is fuel— bring woodchips from america, when there is fuel down the road, can we have _ there is fuel down the road, can we have a _ there is fuel down the road, can we have a review of the green levy as well so _ have a review of the green levy as well so that— have a review of the green levy as well so that people are not forced with the _ well so that people are not forced with the burden of unsustainable fuel bills? i with the burden of unsustainable fuel bills? ., ~ fuel bills? i thank the right honourable _ fuel bills? i thank the right honourable gentleman - fuel bills? i thank the right honourable gentleman and fuel bills? i thank the right. honourable gentleman and i fuel bills? i thank the right - honourable gentleman and i can tell him that we are addressing the issue of... and don't forget, the cap is still in place, mr speaker. and what we will do... and all the mitigations that i've talked about art there, mr speaker, but we are determined to do what we can to help people through this pandemic, and we will, but what we must do above all is make sure this country has a better supply of cheap and affordable energy, which they hopelessly refused to institute during their 13 wasted years in government. mr during their 13 wasted years in government-— during their 13 wasted years in rovernment. ~ ~ , government. mr speaker, last week my constituent turned _ government. mr speaker, last week my constituent turned 100 _ government. mr speaker, last week my constituent turned 100 years _ government. mr speaker, last week my constituent turned 100 years old, - constituent turned 100 years old, she lived through the second world war and now of course she is living through a pandemic. will my right honourable friend join me in wishing her a belated happy birthday and will he pay tribute to the care workers who are taken care of her notjust in fountain care homes but across my constituency and the rest of the country to go over and above to protect the most honourable in our society?— to protect the most honourable in our society? well, can i thank him very much — our society? well, can i thank him very much and _ our society? well, can i thank him very much and say _ our society? well, can i thank him very much and say that _ our society? well, can i thank him very much and say that i _ our society? well, can i thank him very much and say that i want - very much and say that i want to thank all the staff at fountain care home and everything that they've been doing to look after people throughout the pandemic but in particular i want to join throughout the pandemic but in particular i want tojoin my honourable friend in wishing the centenarian edna a very very happy 100th birthday.— centenarian edna a very very happy 100th birthday. tasha, mr speaker. groundbreaking _ 100th birthday. tasha, mr speaker. groundbreaking research _ 100th birthday. tasha, mr speaker. groundbreaking research published| groundbreaking research published yesterday in the journal of psychopharmacology from king's college — psychopharmacology from king's college london in partnership with compass _ college london in partnership with compass pathways has now established that silos _ compass pathways has now established that silos arriving can be safely administered and may have significant therapeutic benefit in treatment resistant depression and ptsd~ _ treatment resistant depression and ptsd~ as— treatment resistant depression and ptsd. as someone who knows first-hand _ ptsd. as someone who knows first—hand how do debilitating ptsd is as well— first—hand how do debilitating ptsd is as well as hearing from many constituents who have developed the condition _ constituents who have developed the condition as a result of sexual assault— condition as a result of sexual assault or— condition as a result of sexual assault or their experiences serving in our— assault or their experiences serving in our armed forces, can the prime minister— in our armed forces, can the prime minister today commit to a review of the regulatory regime that would allow— the regulatory regime that would allow for— the regulatory regime that would allow for further and more rapid research — allow for further and more rapid research in _ allow for further and more rapid research in this vital area of mentai— research in this vital area of mental health support for which current— mental health support for which current treatment options are currently— current treatment options are currently sorely lacking? | current treatment options are currently sorely lacking? i thank her very much — currently sorely lacking? i thank her very much and _ currently sorely lacking? i thank her very much and i _ currently sorely lacking? i thank her very much and i appreciate l currently sorely lacking? i thank. her very much and i appreciate the personal experience that she has. i am aware of interest in this area, it has been talked about several times, can i propose that she has a meeting as soon as possible with the relevant minister in the department of health. �* , , ., of health. apparently the government is thinkin: of health. apparently the government is thinking of — of health. apparently the government is thinking of relaxing _ of health. apparently the government is thinking of relaxing visa _ is thinking of relaxing visa controls from india in order to get a free trade deal. whilst a free trade deal is valuable in itself, we should not be held to ransom. would he agree with me that our new working class voters who voted brexit did not vote to replace immigration from europe with more immigration from europe with more immigration from europe with more immigration from the rest of the world, any more than when they were told that they would take back control, we would lose control of the channel? so, will he convince us that he is determined to connect to our supporters and control immigration?— our supporters and control immiaration? , ~ .,~ immigration? yes, mr speaker. i don't recognise _ immigration? yes, mr speaker. i don't recognise the _ immigration? yes, mr speaker. i don't recognise the account - immigration? yes, mr speaker. i don't recognise the account he i immigration? yes, mr speaker. i i don't recognise the account he has given at all, we don't do free—trade deals are basis and i can tell him, actually, that net immigration since we took back control has gone down mr speaker, and we will continue to make sure that we take advantage... that is all they want, mr speaker, their answer is, everywhere and always, uncontrolled immigration, thatis always, uncontrolled immigration, that is their approach to the economy. and it's not the right way forward. that's why our borders will currently in the house of lords is so important, mr speaker, because it enables us properly to take back control of our borders and to tackle illegal immigration, mr speaker, and what would be good, mr speaker, is to hear some support from the labour benches. . ~ to hear some support from the labour benches. ., ,, , ., ~ ,,, ., ,, benches. thank you, mr speaker. five ears auo, benches. thank you, mr speaker. five years ago. when _ benches. thank you, mr speaker. five years ago, when the _ benches. thank you, mr speaker. five years ago, when the prime _ benches. thank you, mr speaker. five years ago, when the prime minister. years ago, when the prime minister was foreign secretary, my constituent luke symons was taken captive by the houthi in yemen and unfortunately he has got the former foreign secretary sat next to him and another former foreign secretary behind him, both of whom have served during that period of time, look symons is still in captivity in sanaa. even though other nationalities, including the americans, have managed get their citizens released. will he pledged that his government will do everything it can to get luke released from captivity in the yemen and arrange that the foreign secretary meets with luke ulysse grandfather in order to discuss how to go about doing that. i grandfather in order to discuss how to go about doing that.— to go about doing that. i thank him for raising this _ to go about doing that. i thank him for raising this again _ to go about doing that. i thank him for raising this again and _ to go about doing that. i thank him for raising this again and i - for raising this again and i remember the case and it is a very sad one, mr speaker. i know that our staff in the fco work very hard to try to release people around the world from the positions they find themselves in, luke simmons is no exception to that but i will certainly make sure that he has a meeting with the relevant minister to report on progress we are making. is it relevant to the question we've 'ust is it relevant to the question we've just had? — just had? srumo: | just had? - studioz that just had? — studio: that brings us to the end of the first prime minister's questions of the new year, which was slightly longer than usual. joining me to discuss what's been said, we have got full skull, who is the minister for small businesses, we've got pat mcfadden, who is the shadow chief secretary to the treasury, and still with us, isabel hardman from the spectator and sonia sodha from the observer. we'll go into some depth about the main subject of prime minister's questions which was no question of the cost of living a little later. but the prime minister is shortly going to be on his feet addressing parliament about covid restrictions. so, ijust want to get your thoughts on this first, if i may. paul, the prime minister has effectively said we can ride this out without any more restrictions, is that the right approach? i out without any more restrictions, is that the right approach?- is that the right approach? i think it is, i think _ is that the right approach? i think it is, i think we've _ is that the right approach? i think it is, i think we've taken - is that the right approach? i think it is, i think we've taken our- is that the right approach? i think it is, i think we've taken our time | it is, i think we've taken our time to analyse what's going on with the case levels which are clearly high but there has been a big disconnect between hospitalisations and deaths as a result of the vaccination programme and the booster programme, which continues to do well. so, we've got to take a measured, balanced approach that actually keeps the nhs within the parameters of being able to cope well with this and the economy going as well to keep that money coming in to pay for the nhs and public services. right your support the covenantapproach? we know that omicron is more infectious _ we know that omicron is more infectious but less likely to cause hospitalisation and death. we need more _ hospitalisation and death. we need more improvements in the testing regime, _ more improvements in the testing regime, ease staffing pressures the nhs and _ regime, ease staffing pressures the nhs and other areas are facing, more ventilation— nhs and other areas are facing, more ventilation in schools. we are not calling _ ventilation in schools. we are not calling for— ventilation in schools. we are not calling for more restrictions right now _ calling for more restrictions right now we — calling for more restrictions right now. we are not out of the woods, we have to _ now. we are not out of the woods, we have to keep _ now. we are not out of the woods, we have to keep an eye on the data and an eye _ have to keep an eye on the data and an eye on _ have to keep an eye on the data and an eye on the hospitalisations. the nhs is _ an eye on the hospitalisations. the nhs is under huge pressure. but omicron, — nhs is under huge pressure. but omicron, after six weeks looks like a less— omicron, after six weeks looks like a less serious variant than those that came — a less serious variant than those that came before.— a less serious variant than those that came before. there have been different approaches _ that came before. there have been different approaches taken - that came before. there have been different approaches taken by - different approaches taken by different approaches taken by different parts of the united kingdom. nicola sturgeon has announced a change to the rules around close contacts of those who have tested positive for cove id. that includes contacts who are either under the age of 18 years and four months, who are older than that and fully vaccinated. the first minister said someone would be considered fully vaccinated if they have had three doses.— considered fully vaccinated if they have had three doses. close contacts in these categories _ have had three doses. close contacts in these categories to _ have had three doses. close contacts in these categories to self-isolate . in these categories to self—isolate will end and be replaced by a requirement to take a lateral flow test this is case rates are rising. with the obvious risk this will continue to increase the pressure is on nhs. so increase the pressure is on nhs. so in response to the latest data, the cabinet agreed we should stick with plan b for another three weeks with a further review before the regulations expire on the 26 of january. people in england should carry on working from home whenever they can, wear face coverings on public transport and in most indoor public transport and in most indoor public places and take a test before to high—res venues or meeting the elderly or vulnerable. all of these measures are helping to take the edge of the 0micron wave, slow infection and managing major pressures on nhs and find time for boosters to take effect. those in the rest of the uk should continue to follow the rules where they live. faced with these pressures on nhs, i know some members may ask the question whether we should go even further and move towards a full lockdown. but lockdowns are not cost free, they impose a devastating toll on physical and mental well—being, honour businesses, jobs and livelihoods and on the life chances of our children so this government does not believe we need to shutdown your country again, instead we're taking a approach using the protection of the boosters for plan b measures to reduce the spread of the virus well acting to strengthen nhs, protect national services and keep our supply chains open. we are building on—site nightingale hospital is to increase nhs capacity. we have bought more antiviral than anywhere else in europe and working towards identifying those trusts which will most likely to need military support. from the 10th of january we will provide 100,000 clinical workers in england with three lateral flow tester every working day to keep services running, this includes those who work for critical national infrastructure, transport and food processing. these tests are separate and in addition to those already allocated to public services such as an education where we have delivered 31 million testing kits to schools and colleges. the new term. we have the biggest testing programme in europe, registering twice as many tests as france and four as many as germany. as month alone redistribute a 300 million lateral flow devices enabling millions of people to get tested and keep their loved ones, friends and colleagues if the run—up to —— to christmas. thanks to the size of the 0micron wave we still need to take steps to ensure testing capacity reaches those we need to protect most. from next tuesday in england, if you test positive on a lateral flow device you should just record that result on the government website and begin self isolating. a balanced approach also means where specific measures are no longer serving their purpose, they will be dropped. so when the 0micron period was first identified, we rightly introduced travel restrictions to slow its arrival in a country but now it is so prevalent these measures are having live it —— limited effect on cases welcome posing cost where travel industry so i nines in england from florian on friday we will be scrapping the test which discourages many from travelling overseas and encourages extra expense. we will also lift the requirement to self—isolate on arrival until receipt of a negative pcr, returning to the system we had in october last year when those arriving in england will need to take a lateral flow test no later than the end of day two and a positive, a further pcr test to all these ways mean we can live with covid without letting our guard down and we can do this thanks to the biggest and fastest booster campaign in europe. there are nearly 9 million people eligible who have not had their booster. as many as 90% of those in intensive care with covid have not had their booster and over 60% in intensive care have not had any vaccination at all. there are 2 million slots available in the next week alone. so i urge honourable members on all sides of the house to do everything possible to encourage your constituents to get boosted. now this is the very best way to save lives, reduce pressure on our nhs and keep our country open and i commend this statement to the house. the leader of the opposition... flan the leader of the opposition... can i thank the leader of the opposition... can i thank the — the leader of the opposition... can i thank the prime minister for i thank the prime ministerfor advance sight of his statement and wholeheartedly backed him and asking people to come forward to get their boosterjabs people to come forward to get their booster jabs and jabs. people to come forward to get their boosterjabs and jabs. of course it is right plan b measures must stay in place during this wave of the pandemic. it was the labour party who made sure the government had the votes to pass these measures through this house and if it wasn't for labour�* actions, this house and if it wasn�*t for labour�* actions, the nhs would be facing even greater pressures and the likelihood is we would have needed much harsher restrictions. my message to the prime minister today is despite the people sat behind him and those eyeing up hisjob alongside him, labour will always act in the national interest and put the public health before party politics. now, the prime minister has said we have to ride out this 0micron wave but the nhs isn�*t surfing, it�*s struggling to stay afloat. we have now seen several hospital trusts declare critical incidents, meaning they are unable to provide services for cancer and heart disease patients. in my home of greater manchester, nonurgent surgery is being halted. ithank manchester, nonurgent surgery is being halted. i thank those trusts who have come forward and been upfront about the reality that they are facing and our nhs staff who are going above and beyond once again to get us through this period. isn�*t it time for the prime minister to be straight with people and give a frank assessment of the state of our nhs? he mentions the use of the army but how many trusts have declared a critical incident and what does the prime minister planned to do about it? people in the north—east are being told to call a cab or phone a friend if they are suffering a suspected heart attack or stroke. that is shocking, mr speaker. but even before 0micron hit, thousands of suspected heart attack and stroke victims in england were forced to wait over one hour and 40 minutes for their ambulance. wait over one hour and 40 minutes fortheirambulance. isn�*t the wait over one hour and 40 minutes for their ambulance. isn�*t the truth that our health service went into this wave of infections with the largest waiting list on record, the longest waiting time is on record and major staff shortages? after a decade of tory mismanagement, the nhs wasn�*t prepared for covid and didn�*t have the spare capacity to cope with 0micron. it is notjust that the conservatives didn�*t fix the roof when the sun was shining, they dismantled the roof and removed they dismantled the roof and removed the floorboards. now, mr speaker, getting testing right remains the best way to avoid further restrictions. it�*s welcome that the government is requiring daily testing to protect critical national infrastructure but this won�*t begin until next week and our essential services are buckling under the pressure right now. doctors, nurses, carers, teachers and pupils can�*t get the tests they need now to do two tests a week. emergency workers are reportedly stuck in isolation because they can�*t get their hands on a test. so why did the health secretary claim on the 13th of december that there is no shortage of actual tests? why was a government�*s delivery service allowed to go on holiday over christmas with no contingency plan in place question that the government has been asleep at the wheel and the result is total shambles. i�*m sure the prime minister willjoin me in thanking the welsh labour government for sharing 4 million tests with england. thank goodness they had the foresight to plan ahead and secure enough tests for this period. mr speaker, in april 2020, the government published a strategy to scale up covid—19 testing programmes. they promised to work with the uk�* world leading diagnostic companies, to build a british diagnostics industry at scale. yet two years on, this has never materialised. how much taxpayers money was spent on this programme and why, prime minister, two years into the pandemic are we still reliant on tests from china instead of building the capacity to make the tests here in britain? mr speaker, people... he can shadow away but he will have his opportunity in a minute. people will be returning to work this week but the government is refusing to guarantee all workers sufficient sick pay, leaving working people with the choice of going to work to fill leigh feed their families are staying at home to protect public health. will the prime minister finally raise sick pay so people are no longer faced with an impossible choice of doing the right thing or feeding theirfamily? mr speaker, in some of the poorest countries in the world, lest than 10% of the population are vaccinated. this is shameful. we know we can do more to assist the international vaccine efforts and what is the government doing about this? if we�*re going to break this endless cycle of new variants, we have to vaccinate the world. this is notjust a question of doing the right thing for other, it is in our national interest as well. finally, there are conservative members sat behind the prime minister who have spent recent weeks attacking hard—working public servants. isn�*t it time that the prime minister stood by our experts, professionals and officials that doing all they can to protect public health? if he was happy to protect dominic cummings, the former health secretary and owen paterson, why won�*t he defend those public servants who are actually doing the right thing? mr servants who are actually doing the rihht thin? ~ ,,, ., ~ right thing? mr speaker, when it comes to attacking _ right thing? mr speaker, when itj comes to attacking hard-working comes to attacking hard—working public servants, why does she continue to attack our testing operation, which has done a fantasticjob operation, which has done a fantastic job throughout this pandemic? there were several things in that intervention which were simply completely the inverse of the truth. we are not cutting cancer services that we have invested more in oncologists, 4% more oncologists this year than last year and 5% more radiologists. she asks about ambulances and yes, of course, everybody should get an ambulance it needs one, that is why we have invested 55 million more in the ambulance service. 500 more ambulance staff now, 10,000 more nurses, 5000 more doctors than they were last year and that is because the investment that we are making. £36 billion, every penny which they voted against, mr speaker. to come to testing, it really... it is really extraordinary that they run down this country and its achievements time and time again. look, mr speaker, we are doing 520,000 pcr tests every day. 1.25 million tests every day. we have done 400 million tests in the country. more tests per head in this country. more tests per head in this country than any other european country. she talks about schools. we delivered 31 million tests to schools in the run—up to christmas. she made an incredible point, she said that this country didn�*t have its own diagnostics capabilities. she doesn�*t know what this country is doing. unbelievable! let me tell... let me tell the opposition front bench, we have the largest lateral flow manufacturing company, facility, in this country. in this country! go and visit it! mr speaker, they don�*t know what they are talking about! it is in nottingham, mr speaker, and we buy them all. by the way, she talks about the testing regime. it stands today efficiency that our testing river would seem that the leader of the opposition who we wish well is not currently in his place. it is thanks to the testing regime that she is able to speak from that dispatch box at all. so she might as well... she might as well support it. two final points. they voted continuously against our funding for the nhs that has made this possible. and let�*s be in no doubt, they would have kept this country in the lockdown from july 19. and members of the front bench chorused that we needed tougher restrictions as we came into omicron, and they said we needed a road map for lockdown. that was their approach. what would have