Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Rosena Allin-Khan

Wednesday 4th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

This Labour Government are changing the planning regulations so that we can get on and build the homes we need across our country. The Conservatives’ failure was the failure to do so. But I must applaud the hon. Gentleman, because at least he has had the decency to accept some of the failures of the last Government. On special educational needs and disabilities, he said:

“my Government didn’t do enough on this.”

and, “it’s awful.”

He said his party

“should hang our heads in shame”.

He is absolutely right about that.

[Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) (Lab)]

Q7.  The suitability and financing of temporary accommodation needs addressing urgently. Children arriving on my shifts in A&E with breathing problems due to mouldy rooms in their temporary accommodation has become a grim reality. Since 2019, 74 homeless children have died due to the conditions of their temporary accommodation. Meanwhile, councils face a huge funding black hole of £4 billion if the Government subsidy remains frozen. Every death is a tragedy, so does the Prime Minister agree that an urgent review is necessary to investigate the financial shortfall and to help guarantee safe homes for every child in the country who is in temporary accommodation?

[The Prime Minister]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. We inherited an appalling situation, with a record number of households in temporary accommodation. Every child deserves a safe and secure home. We are investing £950 million in the local authority housing fund to increase the supply of quality accommodation. We are banning section 21 no-fault evictions, introducing a new stronger decent homes standard and investing £39 billion to deliver the homes that families need.

Ukraine

Debate between Keir Starmer and Rosena Allin-Khan

Monday 3rd March 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his unity, because that is really important. I think I speak for the whole House in saying that we are very proud of our armed forces in everything that they do. They are at the leading edge. They are playing a key part in Ukraine, and they will continue to play a key part in the security and defence of Europe.

[Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) (Lab)]

I congratulate the Prime Minister on bringing European leaders together at the weekend and on setting the record straight with J. D. Vance on the issue of free speech. President Zelensky is resilient and brave, just like the nation that he represents. In the second week of the war, when I went to Ukraine with my medical team, we could see at first hand that there is absolutely nothing that the Russians will not do. Will the Prime Minister promise that our support will not waver, and that he will continue working closely with our European allies to make sure that we bring about peace in Ukraine?

[The Prime Minister]

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. We will not waver. We will work with our allies.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Rosena Allin-Khan

Wednesday 26th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) (Lab)]

Q6.  We have heard extraordinary rhetoric coming out of Washington in recent days and we have seen fascist salutes on our screens. We have witnessed wild statements about Palestinians being expelled from Gaza, and we have seen our allies labelled “dictators”. Britain’s interests are best served by standing with Ukraine, working closely with our European allies, upholding international law and remaining a strong part of NATO. Will the Prime Minister assure us that this will form a central part of his message when he meets world leaders this week?

[The Prime Minister]

We certainly stand with Ukraine—I think I speak for the whole House when I say that. As I set out yesterday, NATO is the bedrock of our security. It has been our most important alliance for many, many years, and it is as important today as it has ever been. We build that alliance by working with the US. We have a special and deep relationship with the US—that is not just words, but to do with security, defence, and intelligence capability, which are vitally important for both sides—but we also work with our European allies. It is that ability to work with the US and our European partners that has held the peace for so many years, and needs to hold the peace for many years to come.