Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Karl Turner Excerpts
Wednesday 24th May 2023

(11 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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As my right hon. Friend knows, I am deeply worried about the Betsi Cadwaladr hospital trust in Labour-run north Wales. It has been in special measures for six of the last eight years and, as he remarked, the official audit said that there was worrying dysfunctionality. I hope that this issue is investigated properly, and I believe that my right hon. Friend is in contact with the Secretary of State for Wales to take it further.

Karl Turner Portrait Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab)
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Working people are barred from receiving legal aid if they earn £12,750 a year, so why is the Prime Minister forcing the British public to foot the bill—which I think is currently £250,000-plus—for the inquiry into the alleged lying of the right hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson)? Why can the Prime Minister not stand up for the British people? Is it because he is too weak?

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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It is actually a long-established process across multiple Administrations that former Ministers are supported with legal representation after they have left office to deal with matters that relate to their time in office. That has been the practice for many years, as I say, across multiple political Administrations, both Labour and Conservative.