Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Ashley Fox
Wednesday 12th March 2025

(3 weeks, 1 day ago)

Commons Chamber
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Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend is a dedicated campaigner for his constituents. We know who has been standing in the way for the past 14 years: the Conservatives, and they have learned absolutely nothing. The Leader of the Opposition claims that she has never opposed growth or development, but that is not what she is telling her constituents. Only last month, she wrote in her newsletter that she will

“keep working with Conservative colleagues”

to block a vital energy infrastructure project in her own backyard. She is not alone; the shadow Foreign Secretary, the shadow Defence Secretary, the shadow Environment Secretary—they are all at it. What a bunch of blockers!

Ashley Fox Portrait Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)
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Q14. The Employment Rights Bill will grant union equality representatives the right to paid time off work. Will the Prime Minister grant special constables the right to take unpaid leave to perform their duties?

Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising the question of special constables, who play a very important role in our communities in keeping us safe. The number of special constables dropped under the last Government. We support the existing employer-supported policing scheme, and we will support our special constables, but the number dropped under the last Government.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Ashley Fox
Wednesday 4th September 2024

(6 months, 4 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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This is an important issue. I have heard too many people say that antisocial behaviour is some sort of low-level issue, but it really impacts lives across the country and we have to tackle it. That is why we will put more police on the streets, have more effective powers to deal with antisocial behaviour, and introduce Young Futures programmes to divert young people who are getting into trouble.

Ashley Fox Portrait Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)
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Q14. If he will visit Haygrove School in Bridgwater.

Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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The Schools Minister will be happy to visit the hon. Member’s constituency.

Ashley Fox Portrait Sir Ashley Fox
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I thank the Prime Minister for his answer. Haygrove School is one of the top-performing schools in Somerset, but it is unfortunately one of those built by Caledonian Modular and now condemned as unsafe. I am grateful for the meeting with the Schools Minister, but can the Prime Minister give Haygrove and the other schools affected an assurance that they will be rebuilt, and quickly, because those pupils and staff are still working in portacabins?