Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q2. What steps he is talking to help increase the number of education and training opportunities for young people through the Erasmus+ programme. (907396)

Matt Rodda question number two, please, Mr. Speaker. >> I'm delighted, Mr. Speaker, that this government has negotiated associate membership of the associate membership of the Erasmus+ programme from 2027. This could open up opportunities for over 100,000 young people from all backgrounds to learn, train, study or volunteer abroad. It's good news for colleges, good news for universities and businesses. And universities and businesses. And it's just one example of how this government is building a strong new relationship with the EU that's in our national interest.

our national interest.

09:41

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Matt Rodda thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could I thank the Minister for his answer and also warmly welcome the government's new commitment to this scheme. This is hugely important to my residents in reading, both for families and young people, but also for employers, for science, for technology. Could he say a little technology. Could he say a little bit more about how this wonderful scheme will help employers and growth in the Thames Valley, and also how it will help our local also how it will help our local university, Reading University and the European Medium Range Weather Forecasting Centre?

09:42

Matt Rodda MP (Reading Central, Labour)

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Minister.

09:42

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Can I thank him for that question? And I know it's been welcomed in in many universities and in reading, and I know he's and in reading, and I know he's campaigned on this for a long time. Of course, in my constituency, Sussex University was home to the first Erasmus student, and when I first Erasmus student, and when I visited last week, they were delighted. They will have more soon. I do want to point out, though, that this isn't just about universities. This is also about apprenticeships.

It's about Fe colleges. It's about youth workers, sports professionals. And it's huge opportunities for 100,000 people. Quite why the party opposite and reform oppose that is beyond me.

09:42

Mr Gregory Campbell MP (East Londonderry, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Jim Shannon. Sorry, Greg. Thank you. Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The the Minister has mentioned apprenticeships. Would he agree with me that there may well be and should be opportunities, for should be opportunities, for example, for the future town funds that the government have announced? Coleraine and Londonderry in my in my area should show opportunities to young people to take advantage of the programmes in order to ensure that local employers offer more training and apprenticeship opportunities in the local area.

Yeah, yeah. Thank you Minister.

09:43

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Yeah. I mean, as I just said, >> Yeah. I mean, as I just said, certainly this is about apprenticeships as well as universities, and he should write to me and the Minister for the to me and the Minister for the Cabinet Office about how we can roll this out. Of course it is a UK wide programme as well. It will benefit all parts of the United Kingdom, and the Minister for the Cabinet Office met with the devolved governments yesterday to discuss this and other matters.

09:43

Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, Conservative)

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Minister Mike Wood you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> In his statement last month, the Paymaster General promised us that he had secured a great deal for the first year of the Erasmus programme. first year of the Erasmus programme. There is a technique that will be familiar with both mobile phone and satellite TV customers around the country. So can the Minister tell us what the Paymaster General couldn't in that statement and tell us what will it cost in the second and subsequent years?

09:44

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Yeah, Minister. knows, and it's a 30% discount. We've negotiated. That is a good deal. It will be reviewed after ten months, as he knows. But look at the heart of this. This is about opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, youth workers, sports professionals, universities, sports professionals, universities, etc. and the Conservative Party really wants to fight the next election, promising to take that

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away and to narrow opportunities. I'm afraid they're making a big mistake on this as so much else. Mike Wood know, I think the

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Mike Wood know, I think the Minister has given the game away. He's just said it would be wrong to walk away from that, whereas of walk away from that, whereas of course he will know, and the whole House knows that in any negotiation, you will only be successful if you you will only be successful if you know and more importantly, your negotiating partners know that you

09:44

Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, Conservative)

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have an alternative to a negotiated agreement. So can the Minister assure this House that if the European Union is not able to offer a similar terms, similar cost for second and subsequent years, that he would be prepared to walk away from those negotiations?

09:45

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Minister. hon. Gentleman to talk about unsuccessful negotiations. I mean, they had years of this, and they left. They left a Brexit deal that narrowed opportunities, harmed our economy, harmed businesses and made it tougher for young people. We're it tougher for young people. We're very confident this is a great deal for the British people. It will be reviewed after ten months. And as I say, as I say, the hon. Member wants to put himself in a position of narrowing opportunities for young people.

He's making a big mistake here.

09:45

Q3. What steps he is taking to improve relations with the EU. (907398)

Yuan Yang. >> Minister, with. >> Permission, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to answer questions three, six, 12 and 20 together. The government 12 and 20 together. The government agreed a new strategic partnership with the EU in May of last year, delivering for UK jobs, easing the burden on bill payers and strengthening our borders was we are making significant progress. It are making significant progress. It seems the Conservative Party and Reform would rip it up. But with regard to reform, given that they've just recruited that well they've just recruited that well known Remainer, the hon.

Member for Newark, who knows what the latest position is?

09:46

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Yuan Yang.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The inflation figures out yesterday show that despite this government's good progress on energy prices, good progress on energy prices, food inflation remains stubbornly high. Even the price of a Tesco meal deal is stuck at £4.25. The government needs to make food and life more affordable. So can the

09:46

Yuan Yang MP (Earley and Woodley, Labour)

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life more affordable. So can the Minister update us on his negotiations over agrifood trade with the EU? >> Mr.

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Mr. Yes. Mr. speaker, the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement removes export health certificates and routine border checks, slashing costs and red tape for agri food trade. Businesses will save £200, for example, up to £200 saving per for example, up to £200 saving per shipment, making trade cheaper and easier. And the party opposite want to put those costs back.

09:47

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Alabama.

09:47

Callum Anderson MP (Buckingham and Bletchley, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Are closely linked by cross-border capital flows, which support jobs on both sides of the channel, while regulatory channel, while regulatory cooperation is beneficial for financial stability, our ability to also diverge from some some of those regulations could also support our competitiveness. So can the can the Minister set out a bit more about how he's working with the Treasury to ensure that the UK is engaging with the on financial issues, balances our strategic sovereignty and autonomy with our economic prosperity?

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Minister. That is precisely. Why, Mr. Speaker, the government takes a pragmatic approach. We takes a pragmatic approach. We choose to align in areas where it makes sense to do so, where of course, it makes sense to diverge.

09:47

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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course, it makes sense to diverge. We will also continue to do so. We are always driven by our national interest. >> Victoria Collins.

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Victoria Collins. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the strength of power shown by the EU to the US, not only is the strategic importance of the relationship with Europe more important than ever, but this matters to the £90 billion black hole to our economy and families like Hazel from Tring, whose family business of medical devices has business of medical devices has been cut, has been cut by costs and bureaucracy since Brexit. So when will the government finally start will the government finally start taking seriously negotiations of a new EU UK customs deal?

09:48

Victoria Collins MP (Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, with regard to her first point, Mr. Speaker, we already agreed the new Strategic Security and Defence Partnership in May of last year with the European Union, which is absolutely crucial. But in regard to the point she is making around the food and drink agreement, we agreed just before Christmas that that will be completed by the time of the next summit.

09:48

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Alison Bennett. and strong relationship with our European partners is vital to our interests. Mid Sussex is home to high tech life sciences companies like CSL Behring and Roche Diagnostics. The regulatory and trade barriers put up after Brexit have made business harder for them. So with a mercurial administration So with a mercurial administration in the White House as evidenced this week, surely it's time for the Minister to get behind. Liberal Minister to get behind. Liberal Democrat calls for a bespoke customs union with the EU.

09:49

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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Well.

09:49

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Mr. Speaker, our democratic mandate from the last general election is clear. We will not rejoin. The single market customs rejoin. The single market customs union will go back to freedom of movement. But what we do and what I do every single week is negotiate do every single week is negotiate that closer UK EU relationship, which is in our national interest. And she and her colleagues should support that. Tom Hayes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

09:49

Tom Hayes MP (Bournemouth East, Labour)

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This week the Prime Minister hit the phones again to protect our the phones again to protect our interests. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition risked undermining these efforts, acting almost like a these efforts, acting almost like a Trojan horse in this chamber. Diplomacy is paying off, tariff threats are receding and Greenland threats are receding and Greenland solutions may be emerging. Does the Minister agree with me that we must always put country before party? We must work with the UK and our European allies, and that our efforts should command cross-party support.

09:50

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Yeah. >> My my hon. Friend is absolutely right. Yesterday was a moment when the Leader of the Opposition should have risen to the occasion at a profound national moment. She chose profound national moment. She chose not to do so.

09:50

Rt Hon Gavin Robinson MP (Belfast East, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Right. Gavin Robinson. And can I firstly thank the Minister for travelling to Belfast later today for the East West Council. He knows the East West Council was created to strengthen ties within the United Kingdom, and he knows that one of the impediments to those economic ties is the Windsor framework. So does he envisage knowing that there are punitive measures still to be implemented, including customs required on parcels moving from one part of our country to another for ordinary consumers? Does he recognise that in building a better relationship with the European Union, it requires more pragmatism when it comes to Northern Ireland?

09:51

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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I look forward, Mr. Speaker. and he's absolutely right that the East West Council is a very important part of the safeguarding, the union arrangements that we have the union arrangements that we have with regard to the Windsor framework. I certainly do take a pragmatic and proportionate approach, and that is one of the reasons why I'm so keen to get the food and drink agreement with the EU implemented as soon as possible, because, as he knows, that will mean that we can reduce the checks, the level of checks that exist on the Irish Sea.

09:51

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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So, Secretary Alex Burghart, yes, >> So, Secretary Alex Burghart, yes, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, since the Paymaster General was last in the Commons, the Health last in the Commons, the Health Secretary has said Britain should rejoin the customs union. The Deputy Prime Minister has said the government should join a customs government should join a customs union. 13 Labour MPs have voted with the Democrats against the party whip in favour of a customs union. 80% of Labour voters the last election have said they want to rejoin the customs union, and the Business and Trade secretary has said it would be crazy not to join the customs union.

It would seem the only people opposite opposed to the customs union are the Prime Minister and the Paymaster General. The right hon. Gentleman will be pleased to hear that in this one regard. I do not think he is crazy at all. I think he's doing the right thing. But please, will he tell the house why he thinks all the other members of the Labour Party are so wrong?

09:52

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Well, Mr. Speaker, there is a >> Well, Mr. Speaker, there is a real issue of democracy here in the sense that we won a general election with a mandate to negotiate a closer UK EU relationship. It is in our national relationship. It is in our national interest to do so, and we set out the red lines within which those negotiations are taking place. But if I am listening, listening here to what the shadow Chancellor of the Duchy is saying, and he suddenly pivoted to supporting my approach, how welcome that would be.

09:53

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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Alex Burghart certainly support him in telling the rest of the Labour Party that they are wrong Labour Party that they are wrong and but but, you know, given the Labour backbenchers success in forcing U-turns on the Prime Minister recently, I wonder how Minister recently, I wonder how long this position will hold. Earlier this month, the Prime Earlier this month, the Prime Minister said on the BBC that he wants closer alignment with the single market. Now, Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious development for policy for which we've currently had no statement in the Commons, and I hope that that will be addressed very soon.

Closer alignment will, of course, mean dynamic alignment, which will mean Britain following rules over which we have had no say. And on this side of the House, we will respectfully oppose such a move. In November, Downing Street sources told journalists that it was accepted that the UK would have to pay billions of pounds for closer alignment and market access. Will

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the Paymaster General confirm that that is his understanding to this House? Mr.

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Mr. Just to say quite clearly, Mr. Speaker, there are no access fees either in regard to the emissions either in regard to the emissions trading system linkage, nor in regard to the food and drink agreement that are being negotiated. That is absolutely clear in terms That is absolutely clear in terms of moving forward. We take pragmatic decisions in the national interest on other sectors. That is

09:54

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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interest on other sectors. That is why openly before Christmas, we open negotiations on electricity trading. And I think what the right hon. Gentleman has done is really crystallised the choice that there is going to be at the next general election. This government is actually negotiating a deal that will bear down on food and energy bills, that will give law enforcement more tools to keep our country safe. Those are things that this will do. It will also create jobs.

The party opposite, for ideological reasons, is setting its face against those things. I would welcome that debate with them.

09:54

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Lisa Smart Liberal. Speaker. We expect an EU reset bill in the coming months to update the arrangements around our relationship with our European relationship with our European neighbours following the terrible Brexit deal delivered by the Conservatives and cheered on by the Member for Clacton, which trashed our economy and our international standing, this reset is absolutely essential and we welcome it. Does the Minister agree that Parliament should have the ability to fully scrutinise this legislation, to ensure that government delivers the change we need, and can hold Ministers feet to the fire, setting up new structures or committees as needed? And to that end, will you assure the House that the bill we expect will contain enough detail to allow meaningful democratic accountability, rather than kicking the specifics into secondary legislation?

09:55

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Well, on the basis of my exchange with the Shadow Chancellor exchange with the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy, I thoroughly look forward to bringing the Bill forward to the Commons and debating it very, very fully. And I can assure the hon. Lady that what we will be debating here is why the will be debating here is why the government's approach is good for jobs, why it is the government's approach will be bearing down on bills for consumers. And don't just believe what I say.

See what the supermarket said about the deal that was struck last year. I will also welcome debating how we are going to reduce trade barriers and going to reduce costs for businesses. It's the party opposite that wants to put that red tape and those costs back on businesses.

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Good luck to them with that argument. Susan Murray. Oh, sorry.

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Oh, sorry. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Trade Secretary was the latest senior government figure to break ranks by saying it would to break ranks by saying it would be crazy not to look at a customs union with the EU. This is a position already supported by the position already supported by the Prime Minister's economic adviser, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Health Secretary since leaving the Health Secretary since leaving the EU. Many businesses, including in my own Hazel Grove constituency, have found it harder to trade with our neighbours having an obvious impact on the economy.

The government has changed their minds on many things since the time of the last election, having said they definitely weren't going to. So does the Minister accept that it would save us all a lot of time? It would be the single biggest lever the government could pull to generate growth and give those on his own benches something they are crying out for. If he just agrees to crack on and start negotiations to crack on and start negotiations for a bespoke customs union with the EU.

09:57

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Let us know. Mr. speaker, and could I just say in relation to this, it is not as she has described and the work that this government is doing building that closer EU, UK relationship, it is closer EU, UK relationship, it is absolutely crucial and we can do it alongside trade deal with India, an economic deal with the United economic deal with the United States that is saving jobs, a Jaguar Land Rover. The government's position is in the national position is in the national interest.

We will continue to pursue it.

09:57

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Susan Murray question for.

09:57

Q4. What recent steps he has taken to establish a digital identity system. (907400)

Minister. I'd like to answer a question. For seven and. 18 together. A new seven and. 18 together. A new digital ID is a vital part of the infrastructure that the UK needs to transform public services and

09:57

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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accelerate digital government. As my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Secretary to the Prime Minister said this week, our goal is simple to make government work better for people joining up public services people joining up public services so people don't have to fight to get the support that they need. It get the support that they need. It will be inclusive, secure and useful, giving people more control

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over their data and public services than they have now. Susan Murray Mr. speaker, I welcome the government's U-turn on digital identity cards, but they must go further. We are now looking at a largely redundant system expected to cost nearly £2 billion. Will the Minister therefore explain why this is the best use of public why this is the best use of public money, and whether they agree with me that these resources would be better directed to tackling better directed to tackling organised crime, rather than building a system that primarily monitors compliant citizens.

09:58

Susan Murray MP (Mid Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat)

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Mr. digital ID system is the infrastructure that we need for the foundation of the British state and better public services in years to come. I am proud that we, as a government, are investing the time and resources to make sure that we improve government, to make it work better for people, to make sure it better for people, to make sure it is easier to access public services so that we do the hard work that government should do, rather than government should do, rather than expecting people to do it for them.

And I hope that hon. Members opposite will come to see the force opposite will come to see the force of that argument for their constituents.

09:59

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. At the beginning of the year, I made a visit to Estonia to see how their digital ID system works, where 100% of public services are now delivered via their digital ID systems, safely, securely and, as the Minister said, with better

09:59

Graeme Downie MP (Dunfermline and Dollar, Labour)

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access for citizens over control of their data. Who sees what, when and where and indeed, who by? Indeed, where and indeed, who by? Indeed, it also saves them about 2% of GDP, which has allowed them to re-energise their system and continue to evolve for the future. continue to evolve for the future. Can the Minister please reassure me that despite the news last week, we will be continuing to press forward strongly with the digital ID system in the UK and showing the people of the UK that it can be beneficial to their lives and make things much

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their lives and make things much better for them. Mr. Absolutely. By the end of this Parliament, every UK citizen who wants a digital ID will be able to

10:00

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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get one free of charge. To deliver this, we will launch a huge digital inclusion drive across the UK and I inclusion drive across the UK and I look forward to working with hon. Members across the House on this, including the hon. Member for Dunfermline and Dollar. I should also say that like Estonia, we will build the UK system to earn build the UK system to earn citizens trust. Adhering to principles of data minimisation,

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decentralisation with strong safeguards in place, and we will consult imminently on how best to design this system. Thank you Lee Anderson.

10:00

Dame Meg Hillier MP (Hackney South and Shoreditch, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. >> The Public Accounts Committee. >> Mr. speaker. >> Sorry. Apologies, Mr. Speaker.

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Sorry. Apologies, Mr. Speaker. Havant just voted. Mr. speaker, I had the privilege of chairing the Public Accounts Committee for nearly a decade. And in that role, nearly a decade. And in that role, I saw the challenges of how poor data is often across government. In one hearing, we learned that government departments have 13 different ways of recording an individual's address, for example. There are many other issues around data. Is the Minister alert to these issues, and how is he going to tackle that? To make sure that this system is watertight?

10:01

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Mr. she's absolutely right. The reason digital ID is so vital to the future of our public services and future of our public services and government is all about data, and this will become ever more important in the future age of AI. When I worked in AI, we had a When I worked in AI, we had a saying garbage in, garbage out. Bad data management produces bad public services. And that's why my colleagues in the Department for science, Innovation and Technology have a massive programme across government to upgrade and secure citizens.

10:02

Mr Andrew Snowden MP (Fylde, Conservative)

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Andrew Snowden thank you. >> Andrew Snowden thank you. Speaker. With the 101 eight deportation scheme having the same impact as one of the many resets, the Prime Minister has, compulsory the Prime Minister has, compulsory digital ID was billed as the next magical answer to illegal migration.

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No, that's been U-turned on. What's plan C? Minister?

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Minister? It hasn't. The digital ID, the digital ID, digitising right to digital ID, digitising right to work checks is a vital part of how we toughen up our illegal labour we toughen up our illegal labour market enforcement regime. It will mean that this government is cracking down on illegal working, reducing the pull factors and delivering on one of this government's key commitments, which is to crack down on illegal migration.

10:02

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Ian Lavery question number five, sir. Minister.

10:02

Q5. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve transparency in Government decision-making. (907401)

The Prime Minister giving the independent ethics adviser independence to initiate his own independence to initiate his own investigations is just one of the measures this government has taken to improve transparency and standards. The high standard, the standards. The high standard, the standards the Prime Minister expects of all of us who have the privilege of serving in high office, is set out in the ministerial code.

10:03

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Ian Lavery you, Mr. Speaker, with public trust in politics at an all time low, I'm grateful that the government are implementing the Hillsborough Law, and clearly the duty of candour should be extended

10:03

Ian Lavery MP (Blyth and Ashington, Labour)

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to all public servants. Truth to power is central to our democracy, power is central to our democracy, to global democracy. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that when the Friend agree with me that when the so-called leader of the free world regularly stands up in public, regularly stands up in public, every opportunity he gets and lies with impunity about our great country and our allies? That is, in any law, that is, in any legislation which will ever restore

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public trust. Sir. Mr. speaker, with regard to the

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Mr. speaker, with regard to the first point, I met the families of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and the Hillsborough families. Only last week. It is families. Only last week. It is absolutely critical that we get it right. That balance between the essential work of secrecy our essential work of secrecy our intelligence services need to do on proper oversight. And that's exactly the work the government

10:04

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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exactly the work the government will engage in. With regard to the wider point, the Prime Minister made absolutely clear yesterday that he would not yield on the question of Greenland sovereignty. And whilst he and I was proud to see our Prime Minister taking that position, what a shame it was the Leader of the Opposition couldn't rise to the moment.

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To Brendan O'Hara, Mr. speaker, in the interests of improving. Government transparency, will this Government transparency, will this Department. Of publish the details of how his government reached the decision which allowed Lord Mandelson, the man who described the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as his best pal and who Epstein as his best pal and who then urged him to fight for his release following his conviction, not just to retain his place in the

10:04

Brendan O'Hara MP (Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, Scottish National Party)

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not just to retain his place in the House of Lords, but keep the Labour whip and also his Labour Party

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membership card. Mr. Well, Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister made his position clear Minister made his position clear with regard to Lord Mandelson's position when that additional information came to light with regard to the House of Lords, Lord regard to the House of Lords, Lord Mandelson is currently on a leave of absence from the House of Lords. The revocation of a title requires The revocation of a title requires a bespoke piece of primary legislation, and is separate from the rules related to suspension and

10:05

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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10:05

Q8. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle cyber crime. (907404)

The met APPGs. Mr. speaker. >> Mr. speaker, the government is absolutely committed to using all available tools to disrupt cyber threats and to keep the public safe. threats and to keep the public safe. Our new National Cyber Action Plan will address the evolving cyber threat and technological opportunities. We are also working with partners across government and law enforcement to deliver real world impact against cyber criminals. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we will introduce measures to empower police to measures to empower police to suspend IP addresses and domains being used for serious criminality.

Nick Smith. Nick Smith.

10:05

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, can I thank the Minister for his answer? There has been a tendency to offshore much cyber support, but we are producing excellent cyber security talent at Ebbw Vale College to protect our digital infrastructure. So will the Minister please outline what's being done to develop our home-grown workforce and security home-grown workforce and security resilience to help reduce the risks from cyber attacks in the future? from cyber attacks in the future?

10:06

Nick Smith MP (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, the hon. Gentleman is right and I'm very interested to hear about the course that his local college skills are the foundation of the UK's cyber security, and the government is investing 187 million into the Tech First programme. This initiative will bring digital skills and AI learning into classrooms and communities, and aims to reach 1 communities, and aims to reach 1 million students by. 2026 and provide 1000 annual scholarships. These skill projects will help bridge the gap in our cyber bridge the gap in our cyber resilience.

Jim Shannon.

10:07

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answers are always very helpful. Cyber crime and fraud are now the most common crime in the UK, accounting for some 50% of all offences and costing the economy billions of pounds per year. So will the Minister discuss with Cabinet colleagues additional funding to ensure that our universities and our colleges can provide high level training in cyber security? To ensure, I don't mind me saying that Belfast title of the cyber security Minister.

10:07

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Well, I'm very grateful, Mr. Speaker, to him, as I always am, for the important points that he raises. And I think he knows how seriously we take these issues. He's right to raise the point about skills and education. Let me just say very briefly how seriously we take these matters. We're doing a lot of work to support the victims of cyber crime. We're providing free guidance tools and incident response advice through the National. The NCS, alongside targeted awareness campaigns, are targeted awareness campaigns, are given assurance of the seriousness with which we take these matters.

10:07

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Brian Mathew question.

10:08

Q9. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Government's insourcing policies. (907405)

Minister. delivering the largest wave of insourcing in a generation. As part of that, we have consulted on plans to introduce a public interest test. to introduce a public interest test. Before any further services are outsourced. We will publish results soon, but let me be clear this government will end the decade long drive to outsource our public services, and we will do so to deliver better value for money for deliver better value for money for taxpayers and better services.

10:08

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Graham Leadbitter Mr. speaker, the Minister repeated the promise that was made nearly 18 months ago when the Labour Party came into power, and we are not seeing a massive amount of insourcing at the moment. I have constituents in Moray, West and Strathspey who work on three different military bases, who are who are contractors and many of whom used to be civil many of whom used to be civil servants and have lost considerable pension benefits as a result of that outsourcing.

There are many others in DWP offices, in the others in DWP offices, in the Cabinet Office itself, and in other government offices throughout the country. When those workers expect country. When those workers expect to see some fairness in their contractual arrangements here.

10:08

Graham Leadbitter MP (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, Scottish National Party)

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Minister. question? I know he's raised this point previously about workers in his constituency. So we are taking we are making progress. The Employment Rights Act, which comes in, will make some some progress in this, particularly around the two tier code and reinstating that. We have consulted on measures on a public interest test. I will bring forward our conclusions and proposals on that very soon. But as I say, the central point of this government is we will reverse the government is we will reverse the decade long drive to outsource and we will bring more, more powers, resources in-house to deliver better value for taxpayers.

10:09

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Personnel. finally bring these in-sourcing process to its fruition, there will be lots more purchasing power for the government in terms of the services that it buys and the goods that it procures. So can the Minister give a categorical assurance to this House that every penny of British taxpayers money with these new powers will be spent with British companies and British with British companies and British industries, so that we are supporting our own British economy?

10:09

Gareth Snell MP (Stoke-on-Trent Central, Labour )

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Yes. look, that is one of the goals this government has. And I think it was. Prime Minister Carney said that he thought Canada should be Canada's best customer. I think Britain should be Britain's best customer and that we. Thank you. Mr. And that we should work towards that. I'd say we'll publish these reports, these proposals very soon and I quickly.

10:10

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Martin Wrigley thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've been trying to get records of a meeting held between Peter Thiel of Palantir, Boris Johnson, the then Prime Minister, and Dominic Cummings on August 28th of 2019 from the Cabinet Office. I'm getting conflicting data back from the Cabinet Office. Is it in the public interest that this is being outsourced? Management of this information to Palantir? Minister.

10:10

Martin Wrigley MP (Newton Abbot, Liberal Democrat)

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Can I thank you for that? My understanding is that has been dealt with by way of a written question that we've already replied to and put in the public domain.

10:10

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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And a backdoor. >> The Minister will be aware that too many retired. >> Civil servants are. Waiting too long to be paid their pension and long to be paid their pension and lump sums. 70,000 are still caught up waiting for past discrimination to be addressed under the McLeod remedy, and there are already concerns about Capita's management

10:11

Andy McDonald MP (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, Labour)

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very early in its new contract period. So does the Minister share my concern that this is completely unacceptable, that urgent action is called for by the PCs trade union called for by the PCs trade union is urgently required, and can he provide the House with a full statement on Capita's performance? Administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme at the earliest opportunity. Minister.

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opportunity. Minister. Can I thank you for that question and I know this is affecting a lot of constituents and a lot of former civil servants. I've had lots of letters on it. I'm sure everyone else has as well. The Minister for the Cabinet Office met with PCs about this recently. He's met with, I believe, also the chief executive of capita. We are committed to holding them to committed to holding them to account. We will do so. And if it's OK with you, the Minister for Cabinet Office will write back to you with a fuller statement.

you with a fuller statement.

10:12

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Tristan Osborne. putting power, opportunity and resources in the hands of local communities and local businesses. Just last week, this House approved measures to reserve around £1 billion a year of contracts for billion a year of contracts for local businesses in the UK. That will make a big difference to businesses in my constituency and his and we are consulting, as I say, his and we are consulting, as I say, on further steps and we will bring them forward soon. Tristan Osborne.

thank the Minister for that answer? Under the last government, under austerity, social enterprises were decimated by cuts to their budgets. We have many good social enterprises such as MCHLG and Medway, voluntary MVA in my constituency. What more can be done to support social enterprises? After 14 years of austerity. After 14 years of austerity.

10:12

Tristan Osborne MP (Chatham and Aylesford, Labour)

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Minister. communities. I pay tribute to the one he raises. I know there are some in my constituency as well, and I agree we do need to do more to open up procurement and support social enterprises and wider SMEs and voluntary sector. We did publish a procurement statement on it last year to try and help address that, but we are going to go further and we will go further on it very soon.

10:13

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Josh Babarinde thank you, Mr. Speaker. East Sussex County Council has launched a scheme to fine East Sussex highways where its roadworks overrun and caused disruption to local businesses. A clear case is that of Victoria Place, where businesses like John Hayes, Wallasey great and many more were disrupted by overrunning works for the pedestrianisation of that the pedestrianisation of that street. Does the Minister agree that that fund should be used to help compensate those businesses for the disruption? And can the Cabinet Office support East Sussex County Council to do just that?

10:13

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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Minister. half, half of it is in Sussex. I'm always happy to support East Sussex County Council. I think we're slightly off beam with the broad thrust of the topic, but I get his point about the frustration constituents, including mine, have with these with overrunning works. We'll follow up with him if there's anything further the Cabinet Office can do on that.

10:14

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Jeff Smith. >> Jeff Smith. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question 11 Minister. >> Mr. speaker, the consultation on

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Mr. speaker, the consultation on the compensation scheme closes today. I am grateful to all who have shared their views. The government will consider it government will consider it carefully and respond within 12 weeks. I should also say I'm pleased to tell the House that, as promised, the first payments to affected people were made by the end of 2025 and as of the 13th of January, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme authority has made over £2.4 billion in made over £2.4 billion in compensation offers.

10:14

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Jeff Smith. affected by the infected blood scandal, and justice for them and for the other victims is long overdue. So I'm pleased that the government is making progress on this, on this issue and in relation to the estates of the people who sadly passed away. Can I ask how many of the interim £100,000 payments have been made to date?

10:14

Jeff Smith MP (Manchester Withington, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, I'm more than happy to write to him with the very up to date, precise figure on that point about interim payments. But I should also say as well, that as was raised in the House to me on a number of occasions in the autumn, there was also the issue of inheritance tax. Now inheritance tax actually bit on secondary beneficiaries. That was an issue I was pleased this government dealt with at the Budget.

10:15

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Florence Eshalomi question number 13. Mr. speaker, welcome.

10:15

Q13. What recent progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues on improving the use of technology to implement Government priorities. (907411)

Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm here to earn my earn Speaker. I'm here to earn my earn my salary. I thank my hon. Friend for her question. The government will be taking a digital first approach to modernising public services. On Tuesday, I highlighted how we are expanding the number ten Innovation Fellows program to bring in more specialist digital skills into government, from justice to health. They'll be working on building in-house digital solutions to create more efficient and value for money.

Public services.

10:15

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Florence Eshalomi. sure he's earning his key. And it's really important. I work on the written statement from the Minister on the plan to boost AI to use productivity improvement services. It's right. We look at all avenues. But one area I'm concerned about is the gender and racial bias that many studies have shown in AI,

10:16

Florence Eshalomi MP (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Labour )

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particularly when you look at health outcomes. The Minister may be aware of a King's College study be aware of a King's College study looking at heart scans and a study showing racial bias on eyes on heart scans. And we know the data heart scans. And we know the data shows that BME people have worse health outcomes, but actually we want them to engage in these want them to engage in these programmes so that we can make sure they're not left behind. What steps does the Minister using to help identify and most importantly, resolve some of these biases? So we make sure that our public services and are working step by step to make sure no community is left behind.

10:16

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Secretary. >> Can I thank my hon. Friend for raising that extremely important question. These AI solutions are only as good as the way in which only as good as the way in which they serve the public fairly, and with a quality built in at the start. That's why the AI Safety Institute and officials at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology work across government to make sure that those values and ethics are built into programmes as they're being built by the government.

10:17

Q14. What steps his Department is taking to provide households with information on emergency preparedness. (907412)

Caroline Voaden question number. >> 14. Please, Minister. >> Mr. speaker, the government's Prepare website provides emergency preparedness advice to the public, including information about signing up for emergency alerts and warnings and preparing their homes for emergencies. By using this for emergencies. By using this advice, like the downloadable household emergency plan, people can improve their emergency preparedness regardless of the cause.

10:17

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Caroline Voaden I thank the Minister for his answer. As he will know, a recent gas outage in my constituency led to thousands of people without power, many for several days, and Cornwall has recently seen huge disruption from Storm Goretti. And these incidents highlight how vulnerable households can be when essential services are

10:17

Caroline Voaden MP (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)

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disrupted. Now, given impending climate breakdown and the increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment in which we now find environment in which we now find ourselves with. The Minister, outline whether the government is considering any kind of personalised, nationwide information campaign to help people prepare for such a crisis. Not everyone is going to look at the everyone is going to look at the Gov.uk website, and the Dutch government has recently done this by sending a 33 page booklet on emergency preparedness to every home in the country, so people will know what they need to do in a crisis.

10:18

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Minister. she raised, and we do look very carefully at what international allies are saying about these matters. I am concerned to hear matters. I am concerned to hear about the situation in her constituency. I can say to her that DESNZ works closely with industry, DESNZ works closely with industry, regulators and other stakeholders to improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure when incidents do occur, as they have in her constituency, even exceptionally disruptive ones. Industry do have tried and tested response plans to minimise disruption to customers as quickly as possible.

That said, I am keen to further increase our resilience. If the hon. Lady would like to write me, I will look very

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closely at what she has to say, sir. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. The advice from the previous government was that households should was that households should stockpile three days worth of non-perishable food and water. And this week, the Guardian newspapers reported that other European reported that other European countries are looking at creating strategic food reserves. Could the Minister tell us a little bit more

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Minister tell us a little bit more about what he's thinking is on these issues? Well, Mr. Speaker, I could and I welcome the hon. Member's interest

10:19

Daniel Zeichner MP (Cambridge, Labour)

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welcome the hon. Member's interest and expertise in this area. The government's Prepare website includes a suggested list of supplies to improve household resilience, including non-perishable food. I do take a close interest in the messaging of our partners in Europe in this area, and I know that the government is committed to ensuring that the whole of society, particularly the most vulnerable, are best prepared Right. Right.

10:19

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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We'll go to topical Sarah Olney. week I gave a speech recognising the public's frustration with our

10:19

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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public services. I did, though, reject the offer of the conservative benches, Mr. Speaker, that of continued cuts and continued decline. And I equally rejected the offer of the populist parties who just want to tear it all down and leave you on your own

10:20

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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all down and leave you on your own in place. Labour will build public services anew, so that services in the future will feel more like when you are doing your online banking or online shopping, and that public services are there when you need them the most. I have also tabled a them the most. I have also tabled a written ministerial statement, Mr. Speaker, about other changes in how we perform our duties in government, including new taskforces, the expansion of the furlough scheme, the new National School of Government and Public Services, and reforms to the recruitment criteria, bonuses and performance management of the civil of the senior civil service, all of which is spelt out in a written ministerial statement, and I'm happy to answer any further questions today.

10:20

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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Sarah Olney thank you, Mr. >> Sarah Olney thank you, Mr. Speaker. In relation to that speech, where the Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office set out his plan the Cabinet Office set out his plan for the future of the civil service, in which he envisioned further sackings in a digital transformation. Last week, we saw the untested and potentially dangerous nature of artificial intelligence. As the chief Constable of West Midlands Police admitted his force had used AI to come to their verdict that Maccabi Tel Aviv should be banned from attending their European game away to Aston Villa, as governmental departments are already using AI to make critical and life changing decisions.

Can the Minister clarify whether he plans to replace diligent civil servants with artificial intelligence?

10:21

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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I thank the hon. Lady for her question. In the first instance, I'm trying to create some computers I'm trying to create some computers that work before we even get to artificial intelligence. Mr. speaker, we need to build some speaker, we need to build some pretty basic services that the public are used to using in the private sector that, because of 14 years of austerity from the members years of austerity from the members opposite, have not been the case in public services. Speaker.

10:21

Alison Hume MP (Scarborough and Whitby, Labour)

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In Scarborough, British electric bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis employs more than 700 people and is vital to our local economy. Tax funded bus procurement should funded bus procurement should support UK industry rather than fund international competitors. However, with the social value requirement in public procurement set at only 10% and price still weighted at 70%, social value has little to no real impact. Will the Minister look at increasing the social value requirement in public

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procurement to support our great British bus? Very important question. Fully

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Very important question. Fully supportive, but we have got to just shorten them up to get others in. reply.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend raises a really important issue that I know affects her constituency. As I said earlier, we constituency. As I said earlier, we need to do more to support great British businesses like Dennis. We are looking at reforming social value. We've done it as part of the

10:22

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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value. We've done it as part of the consultation. I think it needs to go further and to be meaningful social value that really helps local communities.

10:22

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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Secretary Alex Burghart. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. I'd like to ask him a question directly. It's it's it's a boring question, but it's an boring question, but it's an important one. Yeah. My last boring question was the Paymaster General. The the opposition has found that his department is often refusing to release information to hon. Members through parliamentary questions, only then to release the information through freedom of information requests. Does he agree

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that in principle, that's wrong. Yes. I do, and I'm happy to take a look at it.

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Alex Burghart very grateful to him for that reply. I really appreciate it. In his role as the appreciate it. In his role as the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, will he please, in his role as Chancellor of the Duchy of role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster? Will he please write to all other government departments to make sure that the good example

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make sure that the good example that will now be set by the Cabinet Office is set by other government departments? Secretary. Mr. speaker, you will know that I take accountability to Parliament very seriously, as does the whole government. And as I said in my first answer, I'm happy to take a look at it.

10:23

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Douglas McAllister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The SNP government dropped the ball. >> On an. >> £11 million investment led by Rolls-Royce to build a specialist welding centre on the Clyde, a vital opportunity to support the vital opportunity to support the Royal Navy. And it is only thanks to this Labour government providing £2.5 million of support to the programme that it is going ahead. Does the Chief Secretary agree with me that at the time of rising me that at the time of rising global uncertainty, my constituents deserve better than the flaky student union politics of the SNP government?

10:24

Douglas McAllister MP (West Dunbartonshire, Labour)

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I couldn't agree more. Mr. speaker, can I thank my hon. Friend for making such an important case for his constituency as he did do yesterday at Prime Minister's Questions, whether it's on defence, on nuclear energy or indeed on fixing public services, the SNP have failed Scotland for far too long and only with Anas Sarwar as the leader of the Scottish Government. From May will things start to get better.

10:24

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Alison Bennett.

10:24

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I push for a clearer answer, please. To the question put by my hon. To the question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove. Will the Cabinet Office set up a

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European Relations Select Committee? That's a matter for Parliament, not for government. I mean, there not for government. I mean, there certainly is a European Union Relations Secretariat in the Cabinet Office with some absolutely excellent civil servants, and I'm very proud to work with them, leading the negotiations. Mr Speaker Luke Charters.

10:25

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was great to be at. What three words HQ for my right hon. Friend speech about moving fast and fixing things. Three words to describe the last government were total, utter shambles. So does my right hon. Friend agree? We've got to not only deliver public services in terms of value for money, but also quickly with labour values at the very heart of them.

10:25

Mr Luke Charters MP (York Outer, Labour)

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Secretary, I couldn't agree more, Mr. Speaker. And maybe with those, what three words? More Tory MPs can find their way to the benches next time. Gregory Stafford.

10:25

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last last week, the government briefing suggested that the security suggested that the security services were, and I quote, relaxed about the proposed Chinese embassy. Yet this week, we've learned that MI5 has been asked to reroute sensitive financial cables because of it. So can the security Minister explain how both these statements can be true and tell the House, which reflects the government's assessment of the security risk and assessment of the security risk and threat from that embassy? Mr.

10:26

Gregory Stafford MP (Farnham and Bordon, Conservative)

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Well, as I made clear in a lengthy and detailed statement to Parliament earlier this week, we're clearly not going to get into the technical detail of the mitigations. But I was reassured to see the letter from the director general of MI5 and GCHQ, where they pointed out that there are clear security advantages as a consequence of this proposal. I also sought to make the proposal. I also sought to make the point that we have agreed with the Chinese government that there will be a reduction in their current diplomatic footprint from seven sites down to one.

10:26

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Peter Swallow.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While opposition. Parties fight over who can promise the biggest cuts to our vital public services, Labour believes in an active state working alongside British businesses to drive growth. Does my hon. Friend agree? We can do more to ensure British companies are prioritised

10:26

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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in procurement? >> I absolutely do, and as I said previously, Britain should become Britain's biggest customer. We have Britain's biggest customer. We have a £400 billion a year procurement Budget. In my opinion, we do not use that well enough to support British companies. And I'm working with the Chancellor and colleagues across government to make sure we do in future.

10:27

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Harriet Cross thank you, Mr. >> Harriet Cross thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year. >> The government sold out British fishermen in their UK EU trade deal, fishermen in their UK EU trade deal, giving away 12 years of access to our fishing waters. We have seen the form that the government have of using our fishermen as pawns in negotiations. So can the Cabinet Office, any of them please confirm that in any trade negotiation or agreement, there will be no part of our fishing industry returned to our fishing industry returned to the Common Fisheries Policy.

10:27

Harriet Cross MP (Gordon and Buchan, Conservative)

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Not return to the Common Fisheries Policy. And I have to say that the hon. Lady is completely wrong in what she just said. The medium term stability we've delivered for our fishing industry will mean, first of all, £360 million worth of investment to upgrade our fleet and for coastal communities. If she opposes that money going into our fishing money going into our fishing community, she should say. Secondly.

10:27

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Yes. Thank you.

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God. No. Don't worry Jim Dickson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents in Dartford regularly tell me. That they. Want to see every pound of public spending.

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public spending. Used to best effect. So, can the Minister update me on what progress is being made, on cracking down on is being made, on cracking down on fraudsters and making sure that the UK taxpayer gets back the money

10:28

Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)

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that they are owed? >> Minister. >> As in. >> So many things, the last government gave up and accepted fraud as inevitable and stopped tackling it properly. This government, by contrast, is delivering the most significant package of measures to tackle fraud and error in recent history. The office for Budget Responsibility forecasts these measures to deliver £14.6 billion of savings by 2030.

10:28

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Alec Shelbrooke thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I ask the Minister, will you give an update to the delay to the pension payment of civil servants who've left unemployment under the voluntary exit scheme? I've had a number of constituents complaining that they've been left without any income due to the delay by the pension administrator. So can I ask, will he take personal control of the situation? And will he let the will he update the House at some point on contingencies and the new escalation process for people who are affected? Yes.

10:29

Rt Hon Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP (Wetherby and Easingwold, Conservative)

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The hon. Gentleman raises a it, but I've seen the chief executive of capital, I've made clear the standards I expect, and capital should be in no doubt of the contractual tools of Aylesbury I will that I will actually employ to drive performance.

10:29

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Jenny Riddell-Carpenter. >> Of the. >> Labour Rural Research Group, I hear continually about the challenges facing rural communities challenges facing rural communities access to education, transport, infrastructure, etc. Can the Minister set out what specific sets of Cabinet Office taking to ensure that rural voices and rural communities are meaningfully represented throughout government decision making?

10:29

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP (Suffolk Coastal, Labour)

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Hear, hear. Party as a leading voice for rural communities across our country in terms of government action. Our point her to the rural Task Force, which is a cross-departmental grouping looking at how policies taken across government can have a particular positive impact in rural communities, whilst also recognising the unique risks that we want to help to mitigate.

10:30

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Charlie Dewhirst thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Paymaster General has told the House on more than one occasion this morning just how wonderful his new EU deal is going to be for British food and drink manufacturers. So why is he refusing to appear in front of the environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee to discuss the matter in more detail?

10:30

Charlie Dewhirst MP (Bridlington and The Wolds, Conservative)

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To be, to be frank, Mr. Speaker, when we have final negotiation and legal text, I will, of course, be willing to appear before the select Committee at an appropriate moment. I think if you look at the number of select committees I appear before, both here in the Lords, it's a very high number.

10:30

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Euan Stainbank speaker, the ten year bus pipeline is still to be published, and a report in the media regarding the investigation by the ICES and DfT into kill switches suggests 700 plus Chinese buses on British roads have remote disabling technology. Can the Minister confirm if the government are delaying publication of the ten year bus pipeline until the report into Chinese kill switches is concluded?

10:31

Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)

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Secretary. meeting with the Minister from DfT to discuss these matters, but I'd be very happy to discuss it with him further. David Mundell.

10:31

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Thank you. terminally ill Adults Scotland Bill is still under consideration in the Scottish Parliament and has not been passed, contrary to the views been passed, contrary to the views of a number of members of this House this week. A number of measures had to be removed from the

10:31

Rt Hon David Mundell MP (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, Conservative)

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bill because they were not compliant with the powers of the Scottish Parliament, but Scottish Ministers suggested that they were Ministers suggested that they were in an ongoing discussion with the UK government about a future. UK government about a future. Section 104 order. So our Minister is able to update the House on current discussions with the current discussions with the Scottish Government, and do they agree with me that ultimately go.

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Come on. Mr. The government takes a neutral position, as the hon. Gentleman knows, in relation to this Bill. It's also important, both recently and indeed going forward, that we work sensitively with all the devolved administrations as well.

10:32

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Steve Race. >> Out plans. >> To promote the doers across the civil service, establishing the new National School of Government and Public Services. Can you tell the Public Services. Can you tell the House what steps you can take to ensure that Whitehall is focussed on delivering services that actually work really well for my residents in Exeter?

10:32

Steve Race MP (Exeter, Labour)

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I thank you for his question. My assessment is that government conflates policy and delivery. conflates policy and delivery. That's why we're going to be promoting people from the front line into the more senior levels of the senior civil service, to make sure that we understand the customer experience and how citizens expect their services to work more than has been the case in the past.

10:32

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Andrew Snowden thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I questioned the Minister around the U-turn on compulsory digital IDs and much to our confusion, the Minister said there has been no U-turn, so maybe the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster could clear this up. Is digital ID going to be compulsory? Yes or no?

10:33

Mr Andrew Snowden MP (Fylde, Conservative)

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Secretary. member's ask the same question twice, Mr. Speaker, and has had the same answer. But if you'd like me to, I'd write it to him in plain English, and he can read it a third time as well. Amanda Hack.

10:33

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. North >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. North West Leicestershire is home to East Midlands Airport, which carries the highest volume of small parcel air highest volume of small parcel air freight in the UK. In light of the new trading agreements with the EU, can the Minister update me on how we will ensure small businesses can make the most of these additional trading benefits for current and future agreements?

10:33

Amanda Hack MP (North West Leicestershire, Labour)

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The deal we struck in the UK EU summit will cut costs and red tape for businesses who import and export to the EU. This government is committed to removing barriers to trade. It's a shame the party opposite are not.

10:33

Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Torfaen, Labour)

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Amanda Martin. thank the Chief Secretary. >> For meeting me to discuss the £20 million pride in place money awarded to Portsmouth. But, Mr. Speaker, in order to boost and expand these funds in my city and make investment lasting, can the Chief Secretary tell me and my constituents more about his work than the new office for the Impact Economy regards collaborating with social investors and philanthropists so we can boost philanthropists so we can boost funding and create much needed change in local communities.

10:34

Amanda Martin MP (Portsmouth North, Labour)

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Can I thank my friend for her question and the brilliant work she's doing in her constituency with this historic money for pride in place, where local people get to decide how to spend money on their own communities. As she's alluded to, the office for the Impact Economy will be working with social investors, philanthropists and other organisations to match up funding to to be able to increase that money even further, to have a longer lasting impact for their longer lasting impact for their local communities.

10:34

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Matt Rodda thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the government for its work on cutting the cost of living crisis? And could the Minister address this issue and how the Cabinet Office is supporting other government departments to continue this work?

10:34

Matt Rodda MP (Reading Central, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend. As part of the Growth in Living Standards of the Growth in Living Standards Cabinet Committee, the Cabinet Office coordinates Ministers from across government to make sure that we are working as hard as possible to get inflation down, costs down, and make a real difference to living standards to the public across the country.

10:35

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Tom Hayes thank. met Boots in Parliament to hear about what they are doing to tackle shoplifting in London, their work with the Metropolitan Police, where the police plug into boots own reporting system to avoid the need for duplicate reporting. And I'm calling for the same to come to Bournemouth. But plugging all businesses into all police forces will take a lot of work. Would the will take a lot of work. Would the government consider a National Police Act, which is opt in, like the National Health Service Act, where people don't have to go where people don't have to go through the faff of reporting a demographic information and they can just get on with reporting crime faster.

It would help call the store manager of Aldi in Boscombe a lot.

10:35

Tom Hayes MP (Bournemouth East, Labour)

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It's a very good idea, Mr. Speaker, and I've had similar issues in my own constituency. I'll make sure that the ideas passed on to the Home Secretary as part of police reforms. That will be coming to the House shortly.

10:35

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Let the frontbench change over.

10:36

Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House

Right. We now come to business. Questions. Shadow Leader of the House Jesse Norman. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the leader give the House the forthcoming business? Mr. speaker, the business for the week the business for the week commencing the 26th of January will include Monday, the 26th of January Second Reading of the Armed Forces Bill. Tuesday, the 27th of January. Consideration of an allocation of

10:36

Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)

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time motion followed by all stages of the Medical Training Prioritisation Bill. Wednesday, the

10:36

Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)

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Prioritisation Bill. Wednesday, the 28th of January Opposition Day, in the name of the Official Opposition, the subject to be announced the subject to be announced Thursday, the 29th of January. A general debate on Holocaust Memorial Day. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee. Friday the 30th of January, the Friday the 30th of January, the House will not be sitting and the provisional business for the week commencing the 2nd of February includes Monday the 2nd of February, if necessary.

Consideration of Lords messages to the Diego Garcia military base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction Bill, Tuesday, the 3rd of February. Second Reading of the Universal Credit. Removal of two child limit bill Wednesday, the 4th of February, Opposition Day in the name of the official Opposition, the subject to be announced Thursday, the 5th of February. A general debate on road safety, followed by a general debate on obligations to assess the risk of genocide under international law in relation to the occupied Palestinian territories.

The subject for these debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee and Friday, 6th

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of February. The House will not be sitting Jesse Norman. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the leader for that update. The House will know that I am The House will know that I am obsessive about improving education, skills and life opportunities for young people, and I know the leader young people, and I know the leader with his own background shares that passion, so I can't let this week pass without noting that on Tuesday,

10:38

Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP (Hereford and South Herefordshire, Conservative)

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pass without noting that on Tuesday, our new specialist technology and engineering university in Hereford and might formally launched its new autonomous robotics degree sponsored, designed and delivered in collaboration with the British Army. I thank the defence ministerial team and in particular the Minister for Armed Forces, for coming up to Hereford and supporting with that. I believe this is the UK's first undergraduate drones technologies degree starts in September 2026. That's light speed compared to the normal progression of these things in higher education, and it will be of inestimable value not only to young people up and down the country, but to the defence of the realm and in a host of other sectors, including food and agriculture, infrastructure and energy.

But otherwise, Mr. Speaker, what a week this has been. Rising international tensions, heated public disagreement, desperate attempts at diplomatic solutions. And that's just Brooklyn Beckham's And that's just Brooklyn Beckham's

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Instagram account. Talking of. Elites, talking. Of elites, Mr. speaker, we've

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Of elites, Mr. speaker, we've had the amusing spectacle this week of that self-proclaimed friend of the people, the Member for Clacton, the people, the Member for Clacton, hoovering up the free food and glugging down the champagne with the global in Davos. the global in Davos.

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the global in Davos. Oh no no no no. No, I've not even spoken. I'm going to speak first. I want temperate language and I'm sure you'd love to withdraw that little message you have for us.

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Dudley. I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to exercise my

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allowing me to exercise my quadriceps several occasions. Yes, of course I withdraw. Oh, that's. Appalling term. And I

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Appalling term. And I unhesitatingly withdraw it from the record. All this, all this I should record. All this, all this I should say, Mr. Speaker, comes from the hon. Member for Clacton. After a hon. Member for Clacton. After a lifetime spent denouncing Davos as a hub of evil globalist elites, where, in his words, there's no space for the little man. Well, at least we know that's not true anymore. Oh, the irony. Oh, the irony of it all, Mr. speaker, a wildly anti-establishment figure, long time member of the Reform Club, no relation.

Now joining the globalist elites. Can it be long before he aspires to join the Garrick Club, or indeed join the Prime Minister in professing publicly that he prefers Davos to Westminster? But amid all this nonsense, very serious. Other changes are underway. Last week, the government published the results of the latest auction for renewable energy. This set a floor price for renewables of £91 per kilowatt hour. No one disputes no one in this House disputes the importance of green energy or the importance of renewables in the energy mix.

No few sane people dispute the value of green energy, but energy prices are already unfeasibly high for British businesses and despite the government's promises, they are set to go higher still, especially once the cost of new nuclear is added in. The effect of this policy will be to punish taxpayers and, of course, bill payers, but it also is a form of corporate welfare because the only benefits will come to the better off from this policy. Meanwhile, the government has decided to ignore North Sea oil and gas, gravely damage the north east of Scotland, undermine the employment of thousands of skilled workers in disagreement with their own unions, and import gas from overseas at greater cost, with more carbon and more carbon miles.

Mr. speaker, this is a repetition, in its own way, of the PFI scandal of 30 years ago, in which the country paid tens of billions of pounds more than it should have done for public infrastructure. And a lot of wealthy people in the City of London, now resident in overseas countries, made out like bandits. John Maynard Keynes in 1919 wrote a little book called The Economic Consequences of the peace about the disastrous effects of the Treaty of Versailles and the demands it made for payment from the other side in the First World War.

I'm not suggesting for a second there's any comparison between these times and then in Weimar Germany and the rest of it. But I will say that we are facing severe economic constraints coming out of energy prices. And therefore, I ask the leader whether we can have a debate on the economic consequences of the Energy Secretary.

10:43

Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)

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Leader of the House. >> Thank you very much indeed. Mr. Speaker. First of all, say the shadow leader is clearly had his shadow leader is clearly had his Weetabix this morning. Secondly, can I wish through you, Mr. Speaker. Everyone well, well, celebrating Burns night this Sunday coming. And also, Mr. Speaker, this weekend is the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. When the RSPB asked people to observe their gardens for an hour and count the number of birds that they see.

I understand, however, Mr. Speaker, that there was on the official opposition Benches have been warned not to take part by the Leader of the Opposition, who says that she should be spending less time watching the bird table and more time looking at the shadow Cabinet table. There's clearly concern, Mr. Speaker, about more migration from her party to join the lesser spotted to join the lesser spotted member for Clacton. But but, but.

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But. But but but surely, Mr. Speaker.

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But but but surely, Mr. Speaker. But but but surely, Mr. Speaker, there is a limit to the number of cuckoos that will fit into the cuckoos that will fit into the remain reform nest. In terms of other things that have happened this week. Mr. speaker, before I get to the remarks of the hon. Gentleman, we have announced a Gentleman, we have announced a consultation on further measures to keep children safe online. This will consider the options of banning social media for children below a certain age, and raising the digital age of consent.

We are committed to keeping children and young people safe online, and colleagues on both sides of the House will have heard from their constituents on this matter, and the government is listening to those concerns. The government also published the Water White Paper, setting out a new vision for water and transforming the water system for good. The paper sets out clear powers for a new regulator, delivering tougher oversight and stronger accountability for water companies, an issue raised with me consistently at Business Questions.

And we also published the Warm Homes Plan, and we're doubling down on support for home upgrades and have set out our plans to help households and support thousands through more clean energy jobs. In response to the remarks of the shadow Leader of the House, I certainly congratulate his constituency on the developments in higher education. But I have to say, maybe not quite as much this morning. But he is a man who hides his light under a bushel because he has played a huge role.

I know he has played a huge role in these developments in higher education in his constituency, and we should recognise that. In terms of his remarks on renewable energy, when he says no one disputes the importance of green energy, I think that's stretching a point a bit. It's not simply members of reform, but there are still members on his own, in his own party, who dispute the importance of green benefits, jobs. In terms of the benefit to the better off. I would remind him that every household will benefit from £150 cut to energy bills, and the other side of that is not just households who will benefit, but there will be thousands of green jobs, not least in my own constituency and in my own region.

But finally, Mr. Speaker, I welcome his conversion, perhaps belatedly, to Keynesianism. It's perhaps another sign of not fitting in with the mainstream of his own party.

10:46

Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West, Labour)

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Warinder Juss. Chad and Saint Mark's Church in my Wolverhampton West constituency has welcomed Iranian refugees into their congregation who have fled their congregation who have fled the persecution of the oppressive Iranian regime. And last week, we heard both the Foreign Secretary heard both the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister spoke of the total abhorrence of the killings, the violence and the repression that protesters in Iran have recently been subjected to. Mr. speaker, this has mainly been by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, who have also intimidated and harassed dissidents abroad.

So when will this government proscribe and ban the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, as other countries have already done?

10:47

Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)

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Leader. matter. As we've said before, we won't hesitate to use the most effective measures against the Iranian regime and the IRGC. We've already implemented 550 sanctions against Iranian linked individuals against Iranian linked individuals and organisations, and placed Iran on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme. The Foreign Secretary made a statement Mr Speaker this week, and the my hon. Friend may wish to attend Foreign Office questions next week to make the point directly to Ministers.

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spokesperson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I do have to pull the Leader begin, I do have to pull the Leader of the House up because he did not respond to one of the critical points that the conservative leader

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made. And I, for one, would like to hear what the leader has got to say family. Yeah.

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Saint Helier Hospital, Mr. Speaker, is older than the NHS itself, sited in the heart of my

10:48

Bobby Dean MP (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)

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itself, sited in the heart of my constituency and is crumbling. It was placed within the new Hospitals Programme, a program set up by the conservative government, but one which they totally failed to deliver on. And of course, this government put it on a new timetable, stretching out the delivery over the coming decades. Now, last week, the National Audit Office have done an assessment of how the government's performing on that so far. There is some good news for the government. They said that they have put it on a more firm financial footing for the long term, but they do also warn of potential further delays and in particular delays to those hospitals with RAC, with them looking set to miss their deadline in 2030.

Now, I've also heard, Mr. Speaker, that some of the phase one schemes have not kept pace with the programme, not drawn down all the capital that's been allocated to them, and this could present an opportunity to other trusts, perhaps to do smaller projects in the interim, such as the extension of the emergency department that my local NHS trust is asking for, or possibly even to move out of phase two into phase one if they can prove that they are ready to go. Mr.

speaker, it's been about a year since we've had a substantive update from the government on the new hospitals programme. And this National Audit Office report last week presents lots of questions. So I wonder whether the leader House can ask the relevant health Minister to come to the despatch box to answer questions that the Nao report raises?

10:49

Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Tynemouth, Labour)

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Thank you. scheme has been folded into the new hospital programme. As the hon. Gentleman acknowledges, a major government plan to rebuild and government plan to rebuild and refurbish NHS hospitals. This will, we believe, give a greater return on investment, enhance digital technology and improve emergency performance. Patients and staff deserve safe, modern hospitals and an NHS that they can rely on. The reality is, the hon. Gentleman has said, is that plans were announced by the previous government without the money ever being there to pay for them.

I can offer him a meeting with Ministers to raise his constituency matters if that is what he wishes, but also to draw to the attention of Ministers his remarks about the recent report, and I'm sure there will be willing to update the House.

10:50

Connor Naismith MP (Crewe and Nantwich, Labour)

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Connor Naismith. Sam and the rest of the. Team at the Goat Sports Bar in Nantwich have breathed new life into this part of the town. Unfortunately, part of the town. Unfortunately, last month, Johnno's stepdad suffered a cardiac arrest while in

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