Category: Speeches

  • Rebecca Long-Bailey – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Exposing Military to Nuclear Weapons Testing in 1950s

    Rebecca Long-Bailey – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Exposing Military to Nuclear Weapons Testing in 1950s

    The parliamentary question asked by Rebecca Long-Bailey, the Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2022.

    Rebecca Long-Bailey (Salford and Eccles) (Lab)

    A 1958 instruction from Whitehall ordered medics to take blood samples regularly from exposed veterans during nuclear weapons tests. I have been made aware that many veterans and their families have been reported being unable to obtain the test results, so are denied the ability to make any sense of what they, and in some cases their families, suffered. Will the Deputy Prime Minister investigate and inform me of the legal rights of these men to obtain their medical records? Will he undertake to ask the Prime Minister to order that the medical files be opened to veterans and the UK Health Security Agency immediately?

    The Deputy Prime Minister (Dominic Raab)

    I thank the hon. Lady, who has been a consistent champion on this issue, for which I recognise and pay tribute to her. My understanding is that the information is available to veterans and their families, who may request details of their service and medical records, but if the hon. Lady would like to write to me, I will make sure that she gets an adequate answer on her more specific point.

  • Harriett Baldwin – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Education Cannot Wait

    Harriett Baldwin – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Education Cannot Wait

    The parliamentary question asked by Harriett Baldwin, the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2022.

    Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)

    All our constituents want to see an end to the dangerous and illegal channel crossings. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure that services are delivered in the first safe place to which refugees flee. In that context, will the Deputy Prime Minister, as a former Foreign Secretary and Development Minister, commit to backing the work of Education Cannot Wait, which delivers education in refugee camps?

    The Deputy Prime Minister (Dominic Raab)

    My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the brilliant work that Education Cannot Wait does. She will know the importance of the campaign for girls’ education under both the previous Prime Minister and the current Prime Minister. We will certainly look at what more we can do to support that brilliant work, particularly for children growing up in refugee camps.

  • Ben Wallace – 2022 Comments on the Promotion of Vice Admiral Keith Blount

    Ben Wallace – 2022 Comments on the Promotion of Vice Admiral Keith Blount

    The comments made by Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence, on 18 November 2022.

    I am delighted to congratulate Vice Admiral Keith Blount on his promotion to Admiral and appointment as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

    His appointment demonstrates the United Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to NATO and our leadership in European defence. I pay tribute to the contribution Vice Admiral Blount has made to the Royal Navy and the Alliance in his career to date. He brings extensive leadership experience and has served on operations across the globe alongside our allies and partners. I look forward to continuing to work with him and NATO.

  • Andrew Mitchell – 2022 Statement on the Security Situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Andrew Mitchell – 2022 Statement on the Security Situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

    The statement made by Andrew Mitchell, the UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, on 17 November 2022.

    This morning I spoke to Foreign Minister of Rwanda, Dr Vincent Biruta. We had a constructive conversation about the deteriorating security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) given the advances of M23, and the steps needed to end the conflict. I expressed my concerns about the worrying humanitarian situation and the impact on civilians is unacceptable.

    The UK calls on all countries in the region to do all they can, including through the African-led peace processes, to stop the fighting and bring all parties back to the negotiating table.

  • James Cleverly – 2022 Statement on MH17 Trial Verdict

    James Cleverly – 2022 Statement on MH17 Trial Verdict

    The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 17 November 2022.

    Today’s guilty verdict, convicting 3 individuals of murder in relation to the downing of MH17, is an important step in securing justice for the families of the victims.

    Two hundred and ninety eight lives, including those of 10 British nationals, were tragically lost on 17 July 2014. Thousands more have been devastated in the years since, as family and friends continue to grieve for their loved ones.

    The downing of MH17 was a shocking violation of international norms which keep our societies safe. It serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of Russia’s actions in Ukraine over many years.

    My thoughts remain with the families of all those killed in this heinous attack, including people from the Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Belgium, Germany, the Philippines, New Zealand and Canada.

  • Louise Haigh – 2022 Comments on Northern Powerhouse Rail

    Louise Haigh – 2022 Comments on Northern Powerhouse Rail

    The comments made by Louise Haigh, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, on Twitter on 17 November 2022.

    Rishi Sunak told voters he would deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail IN FULL – now he’s abandoned it.

    A lost decade of broken promises has left us with second-rate infrastructure and held our economy back.

    They crashed the economy, and want Northern communities to pay the price.

  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2022 Comments on Jeremy Hunt’s Financial Statement

    Jeremy Corbyn – 2022 Comments on Jeremy Hunt’s Financial Statement

    The comments made by Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of the Opposition, on Twitter on 17 November 2022.

    Jeremy Hunt’s attempt to justify the last wave of austerity is an insult to all those who lost their lives to 12 years of state-sanctioned cruelty.

    Even more insulting is that he expects us to simply lie down and accept it all over again.

    He’s got another thing coming.

  • Chris Bryant – 2022 Comments on Budget Being Leaked in Advance

    Chris Bryant – 2022 Comments on Budget Being Leaked in Advance

    The comments made by Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for the Rhondda, on Twitter on 17 November 2022.

    This seems a breach of the important purdah rules. Chancellors have had to resign for far lesser breaches.

  • Bambos Charalambous – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Whether Dominic Raab had used a Non-Disclosure Agreement

    Bambos Charalambous – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Whether Dominic Raab had used a Non-Disclosure Agreement

    The parliamentary question asked by Bambos Charalambous, the Labour MP for Enfield Southgate, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2022.

    Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Southgate) (Lab)

    Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell the House if he has ever entered into a non-disclosure agreement connected to a complaint against him?

    The Deputy Prime Minister

    The hon. Gentleman is referring to an employment dispute that was settled before I entered the House. It was not an NDA but it did involve a confidentiality clause, which was standard at the time.

  • Cat Smith – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Education Funding

    Cat Smith – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Education Funding

    The parliamentary question asked by Cat Smith, the Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2022.

    Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)

    Our small rural schools in Wyre face particular difficulties. The headteacher at Scorton and Calder Vale St John Church of England Primary Schools told me that:“Budgets in schools like ours are stretched as we have to pay for lots of additional services which larger schools can provide in-house.”She has to hire the village hall for PE because the schools have no hall, and she has to hire taxis to bring in school meals because they have no kitchens. Given the school budget cuts, what does the Deputy Prime Minister advise this headteacher to cut from our local children?

    The Deputy Prime Minister

    We are very sympathetic to the challenges that all our schools face. More will be said about specific measures tomorrow, but the hon. Lady should stand assured that we are the top spenders as a percentage of GDP on primary and secondary education in the G7, and that standards, which matter to pupils and parents the most, have increased, with the proportion of schools rated good or outstanding up from 68% in 2010 to 87% today.