Israel and Gaza

Debate between Steve McCabe and Rishi Sunak

Monday 23rd October 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank my right hon. Friend for raising an excellent point. It is difficult to ascertain that information precisely, but I give him the reassurance that we are talking extensively to our partners. I had a very constructive conversation with the Emir of Qatar about this issue to put pressure on those holding the hostages to release them unconditionally and to ensure their wellbeing in the meantime.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement. Given that Hizb ut-Tahrir is a fundamentalist organisation that is banned in 40 countries and across most of the Arab world, why are its members allowed to parade on the streets of London and call for the destruction of the state of Israel?

[The Prime Minister]

As I have said, we do of course keep the list of proscribed organisations under review, but we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my earlier comments: hateful extremism of the type that we saw this weekend has no place in our society, and it should be met with the full force of the law.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve McCabe and Rishi Sunak

Wednesday 21st June 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank my right hon. Friend for raising this important topic. We take all allegations of breaches of export control seriously. My understanding is that officials in the Department for Business and Trade are currently investigating the allegations made in the recent press article cited. We will not accept collaborations that compromise our national security. That is why we have made our systems more robust, including expanding the scope of the Academic Technology Approval Scheme to protect UK research from ever-changing global threats, but my right hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight that and he has my assurance that we will keep on it.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

Q12. Could any of the material that the Prime Minister’s Government are trying to avoid giving to the covid inquiry cover his tenure as Chancellor and his eat out to help out policy?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve McCabe and Rishi Sunak

Wednesday 8th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

Although it pains me, I congratulate my hon. Friend and Grimsby Town on their victory over Southampton. I now have a new team to support in the cup, and my hon. Friend will have my full support. I wish Grimsby well in their next match, and I look forward to cheering with my hon. Friend and all her colleagues.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

Q8. I have heard the Prime Minister talk fondly of helping out in his mum’s community pharmacy. How would he feel if 600 pharmacies close this year because of a vicious NHS contract that takes no account of rising costs and is forcing many into bankruptcy?

[The Prime Minister]

I praise the work of our community pharmacies, which are fantastic at delivering primary care on the frontline. As I have said previously, the Government are exploring ways in which we can support them to do even more, because improving access to pharmacies is something that people would welcome, and it would help people to get the care they need faster and more efficiently. We will continue to look at all the proposals we have received.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve McCabe and Rishi Sunak

Tuesday 17th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Rishi Sunak]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I thank him for his support in championing policies that support his hard-working constituents. This Government will always be on the side of people on lower and middle incomes who are working hard to provide a better life for their families, and we will keep delivering for them.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

T7. The Chancellor called the reduction in fuel duty in the spring statement “a tax cut…for hard-working families.”—[Official Report, 23 March 2022; Vol. 711, c. 338.]Why are those families paying more for a litre of petrol today than they were then?

[Rishi Sunak]

Sadly, nothing we can do from this Dispatch Box can change global oil prices, but we can reduce the taxes that we are responsible for. That tax cut, together with the freeze, is worth, this year, about £100 for a typical family driver, £200 or more for a van driver, and almost £1,500 for an HGV driver.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve McCabe and Rishi Sunak

Tuesday 15th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

18. What fiscal steps he plans to take to help reduce the impact on households of the rise in the cost of living.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rishi Sunak)]

The Government, of course, recognise that inflation is rising and are closely monitoring the situation together with the Bank of England. We are also putting in place policies to help families meet the rising cost of living, such as freezing duties, cutting the tax rate in universal credit and increasing the national living wage. Last month I announced to this House a £9 billion package of support to help households with rising energy bills.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rishi Sunak]

With regard to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury has been hard at work with our international partners to put in place the most comprehensive set of economic sanctions that this country has ever had and that Russia has ever experienced. I am very proud of the job we have done.

[Steve McCabe]

If the Chancellor had appreciated last autumn the extent to which energy costs and other household bills would rise, would he still have advocated a national insurance rise?

[Rishi Sunak]

We have reacted to rising energy bills by putting in place £9 billion of support, which will get to households far faster than the proposals put forward by the Opposition, with the £150 reaching four out of five households just this April when the price cap goes up. It is also worth bearing it in mind that, because of the price cap, households will be protected from further increases all the way through to the autumn.

Economic Update

Debate between Steve McCabe and Rishi Sunak

Monday 11th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Rishi Sunak]

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. The funding is indeed discretionary. Obviously, I and the Government do not know the exact economic circumstances in every local area and it is right that local authorities are best placed to make those discretionary decisions. They know their areas and how best to support their businesses, and our guidance gives them the discretion to do so.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab) [V]]

The Chancellor says he is supporting 95% of the self-employed—a claim he knows is disputed—but even if we accept his figures, does that not mean that 250,000 people lose out? Surely writing off a quarter of a million people and their families is not what he means by “whatever it takes”?

[Rishi Sunak]

Those figures are not disputed; they are fact, based on the returns we have. Of the returns we have from people who are majority self-employed, 95% qualify and are eligible for support. The 5% who are not, to whom the hon. Gentleman alludes, are excluded because their income is greater than £50,000. He will have heard me say before that the average income of those people is £200,000, and I think it is right that we target support on those who most need our help.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve McCabe and Rishi Sunak

Monday 10th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rishi Sunak]

I thank the hon. Lady for bringing to my attention that article, which I will be sure to look at later today. I know the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mrs Wheeler), who has responsibility for housing and homelessness, is hard at work tackling this difficult issue, with over £1 billion committed over the next few years. Indeed, I believe Manchester is a pilot for the Housing First schemes as well.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

10. What progress has been made on the voluntary right to buy pilot in the midlands.