Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Pawsey Excerpts

Wednesday 8th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

The hospital car parks are free for NHS staff for this pandemic—they are free now—and we are going to get on with our manifesto commitment to make them free for patients who need them as well. The House will know that that was never the case under the Labour Government—neither for staff nor for patients. May I respectfully suggest that the right hon. and learned Gentleman takes his latest bandwagon and parks it free somewhere else? One week he is backing us; the next week he is not. One week he is in favour of a tax on wealth and tax on homes; the next week he tries to tiptoe away from it. We know how it works: he takes one brief one week, one brief the next. He is consistent only in his opportunism, whereas we get on with our agenda: build, build, build for jobs, jobs, jobs. The House will hear more about that shortly.

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

My well-known and much loved constituent Alan Young died of cancer last year, having been cared for at Myton Hospice in Warwick. I am sure the Prime Minister will remember the very moving letter that he received from Alan’s brave nine-year-old son Tommy—which Tommy read out on local radio—praising Myton for looking after his dad and asking for the hospice to receive support. The Government are providing £200 million per quarter for hospices during the current emergency, so it is very clear that the Prime Minister appreciates their work. Will he join me, Tommy, his brother Shay and his mum Kelly in thanking Myton and all hospices throughout the country for the invaluable care that they provide to people like Alan?

[The Prime Minister]

I do indeed remember that letter, and I know that the thoughts and sympathies of the whole House will be with Alan and his family. I would like to join Tommy, Shay, Kelly and indeed my hon. Friend in thanking all hospices for the incredible work that they do.