fact that nhs attention to the fact that nhs doctors and nurses are absolutely shattered. he will have seen this week that one in six doctors say they have had near misses or harm to patients because of exhaustion. so, if he doesn't want to accept the select committee's recommendations to address the workforce crisis, what will he do to give hope to our front line staff? he has a great deal of expertise in this matter, i want to thank everybody in the nhs and all staff front line for what they have been doing. he is right and what he says, they are exhausted but they are also working heroically and doing an incrediblejob and it working heroically and doing an incredible job and it is because of the covid cases we have to domain

cautious, we need to remain cautious and continue to recruit for the amazing nhs. a4,000 more health care professionals than there were in 2020, as a result of the recruitment by this government. we 2020, as a result of the recruitment by this government.— by this government. we know the vaccine store _ by this government. we know the vaccine store remains _ by this government. we know the vaccine store remains one - by this government. we know the vaccine store remains one of - by this government. we know the vaccine store remains one of the l vaccine store remains one of the best defence against device but we have seen a slowing and the booster vaccination rate so can the prime minister update the house as to when he expects a completion date for the booster vaccination but also can he set out a plan as to how he is going to encourage take—up of the vaccination amongst certain groups particularly young people. she makes an incredibly — particularly young people. she makes an incredibly important _ particularly young people. she makes an incredibly important point - particularly young people. she makes an incredibly important point and - particularly young people. she makes an incredibly important point and i . an incredibly important point and i am grateful because there is a job for us all to do reaching out to groups who at the moment it is not actually hesitancy more apathy that is the problem because omicron is seen wrongly to be a milder disease

and people are not getting the vaccine and the way they might and we need to break down that after the with those groups. the numbers are rising but what them to rise faster. you think that today of all days opposition benches could be delighted for our great united kingdom, that illegal restrictions have come to an end soon and delighted about the amazing vaccine roll—out and delighted about the strength of our economy. all a superb team effort led by my right honourable friend but can he reassure me that and the work that looks that he will very carefully assess the lockdown impact on people having babies and in particular those who are separated from their partners unable to take part in the birth experience with them which is so vital giving every baby the best out of life. ., ~ ,, ,.,

out of life. thank you, her point about birth _ out of life. thank you, her point about birth partners _ out of life. thank you, her point about birth partners being - out of life. thank you, her point about birth partners being able| out of life. thank you, her point i about birth partners being able to attend as unbelievably important and i glad we were able to address it in spite of some difficulties and her early start for life programme as unbelievably important and i know the secretaries for education and health are working to deliver it. yesterday the prime minister had to accept he was unaware what has own covid rules allowed. with millions of british people seeing he cannot even grasp what has basic rules are he is no longer a credible person to set the rules for others during this public health crisis. isn't it time he accepted the house and the country can longer trust him with the nation's health and the best policy to beat covid would be for him to resign.

he speaks chinese. i don't agree with him, i want to deliver on this government's priorities, we will election with an enormous mandate and that is what people do. i election with an enormous mandate and that is what people do.- and that is what people do. i hope he will forgive _ and that is what people do. i hope he will forgive me _ and that is what people do. i hope he will forgive me for— and that is what people do. i hope he will forgive me for not - and that is what people do. i hope he will forgive me for not being i he will forgive me for not being extraordinary grateful for the measures, i and extraordinary grateful for the measures, iand many extraordinary grateful for the measures, i and many colleagues did not think they were necessary in december but i do nonetheless welcome their removal. can i draw his attention to a policy ethically be helpful if you reconsidered. become plan is to say to our valuable nhs staff that if they refused to be vaccinated they are to

be sacked and they are to commence in a couple of weeks with the compensation. we know the secretary of state is being advised by his own officials due to the lack of protection against transmission that this needs to be rethought. can i urge the prime minister to rethink this policy, we should not reward our nhs staff for their dedication with the sack, we should allow them to continue any valuable work they deliver to the country. i to continue any valuable work they deliver to the country.— deliver to the country. i thank him and respect _ deliver to the country. i thank him and respect the _ deliver to the country. i thank him and respect the point _ deliver to the country. i thank him and respect the point he - deliver to the country. i thank him and respect the point he has - deliver to the country. i thank him and respect the point he has put l deliver to the country. i thank him and respect the point he has put a cross consistently throughout this pandemic and it has been very important that we have had a voice speaking up forfreedom important that we have had a voice speaking up for freedom and the way he has but i have to think also of those who will be at the bedside of elderly and vulnerable people who

are dying of acquired covid and their feelings about failing to get vaccination rates high up within the nhs and it is a very grim problem as i am sure he can understand. nobody wants to have a compulsory vaccination but since the policy was announced rates of vaccination within the nhs have gone up notably and that is a positive thing. we will reflect on the way our heads, we do not want to drive people out of the service but as a professional responsibility for everybody looking after the health of others within our nhs to get vaccinated and i hope he agrees with that. does our nhs to get vaccinated and i hope he agrees with that.— he agrees with that. does he agree with me that _ he agrees with that. does he agree with me that unlike _ he agrees with that. does he agree with me that unlike someone - he agrees with that. does he agree with me that unlike someone who l with me that unlike someone who attended bring your own booze party the welsh first minister marked rick front has behaved with decency and integrity throughout the pandemic.

it has certainly been i think the collaboration across countries has been exemplary and i have enjoyed working with our partners and continue to do. i working with our partners and continue to do.— working with our partners and continue to do. ., , , continue to do. i refer to my entry in the register— continue to do. i refer to my entry in the register and _ continue to do. i refer to my entry in the register and i _ continue to do. i refer to my entry in the register and i thank- continue to do. i refer to my entry in the register and i thank the - in the register and i thank the prime ministerfor his in the register and i thank the prime minister for his statement particularly the decision to remove facemasks from schools. i know many children and staff and pupils and parents will be pleased with that but i know he will also share my concern that in during the pandemic we have seen many thousands of children who have gone off the radar of schools and particularly the most vulnerable this causes serious problems about their exposure to crime and exploitation so well here look again at some of the recommendations in my review of

school exclusion to try and address that's that we contract every pupil who is of school age because we should have is a basic principle every child is in school, where they are and what their future is to be. he is an expert in this and he is spot on and what he says, i don't want to see excluded kids being locked in a cycle of ever—growing deprivation, he is absolutely right, the best place is in school, that is why we work so hard to keep schools open and insist they were safe. i was listening carefully to the statement, i don't think the play minister mentioned long covid once yet overi million people are living with us can do. yesterday the all—party group heard testimony from front line nhs workers who are living with long covid and many of whom cannot return to work because of this condition, will he commit to

formally recognising it as an occupational disease and once a compensation scheme for front line workers unable to work after catching covid on the front line of a pandemic response. i catching covid on the front line of a pandemic response.— catching covid on the front line of a pandemic response. i thank her and really understand _ a pandemic response. i thank her and really understand the _ a pandemic response. i thank her and really understand the concern - a pandemic response. i thank her and really understand the concern of- really understand the concern of people with long covid, everyone knows people who have had an experience have gone on far longer than many others and had a genuinely debilitating time and we are looking at it, the research continues and we will do whatever we can to support people with long covid but that is work still to be done. can i welcome wholeheartedly _ work still to be done. can i welcome wholeheartedly the _ work still to be done. can i welcome wholeheartedly the announcement l wholeheartedly the announcement today and i would ask the prime minister to the view again the need to sack domiciliary workers and nhs workers and examine that evidence that suggests that they pose a risk

to their statements when our belief as they were not any more than unvaccinated.— as they were not any more than unvaccinated. ., ,, , ., , ~ unvaccinated. thank you but i think the evidence _ unvaccinated. thank you but i think the evidence is _ unvaccinated. thank you but i think the evidence is clear _ unvaccinated. thank you but i think the evidence is clear that _ unvaccinated. thank you but i think the evidence is clear that health . the evidence is clear that health care professionals should get vaccinated.— care professionals should get vaccinated. , ., ., vaccinated. the rush to remove the requirement _ vaccinated. the rush to remove the requirement for _ vaccinated. the rush to remove the requirement for masks _ vaccinated. the rush to remove the requirement for masks including i vaccinated. the rush to remove the j requirement for masks including on public transport will cause people to fall ill and die unnecessarily. isn't this all about saving the prime minister's political skin not about protecting public health. what about protecting public health. what a moralfailure and about protecting public health. what a moral failure and what a about protecting public health. what a moralfailure and what a bad about protecting public health. what a moral failure and what a bad way to go. i a moral failure and what a bad way to no. ., . , ., a moral failure and what a bad way toao. .,. ., w to go. i notice he is at variance with his front _ to go. i notice he is at variance with his front bench _ to go. i notice he is at variance with his front bench on - to go. i notice he is at variance with his front bench on that. to go. i notice he is at variance i with his front bench on that point not for the first time, i don't think he is right, i think we should task thejudgment of think he is right, i think we should task the judgment of the british people. i task the “udgment of the british neale, ., ,., ., task the “udgment of the british --eole. ., . ., task the “udgment of the british theole, ., ., ., people. i also want to welcome the statement and _ people. i also want to welcome the statement and review _ people. i also want to welcome the statement and review of _

people. i also want to welcome the statement and review of the - people. i also want to welcome the statement and review of the plan i people. i also want to welcome the statement and review of the plan b measures and my colleagues here on this side of the house i also want to question on behalf of the 100,000 nhs workers the mandatory vaccination given the chief medical officer told mps vaccination had a officer told mps vaccination had a minimal impact on transmission entity case that there is no reason at all for my day—to—day faxes mission for care workers and nhs staff. —— no reason for mandatory vaccination. these people have what tirelessly on the front line and can the primaries that make sure he does not sack them, it is unjustifiable. i understand her point but i much say the nhs fully supports the policy because of out of consideration for patient safety and i would repeat to what i have said, i would repeat to what i have said, i think it is the duty of health care professionals to get vaccinated full stop. the

care professionals to get vaccinated full sto. , ., . care professionals to get vaccinated full sto. , . . ., ., care professionals to get vaccinated fullsto. . ., ., ., full stop. the branch manager of the scottish conservatives _ full stop. the branch manager of the scottish conservatives was _ full stop. the branch manager of the scottish conservatives was referred l scottish conservatives was referred to as a lightweight after calling for the prime minister's resignation. how does the prime minister think he can maintain his position and continue to issue rules and advice on covid but he cannot follow the rules himself. i and advice on covid but he cannot follow the rules himself.— follow the rules himself. i don't arree follow the rules himself. i don't agree with _ follow the rules himself. i don't agree with her _ follow the rules himself. i don't agree with her with _ follow the rules himself. i don't agree with her with a _ follow the rules himself. i don't agree with her with a greatest l agree with her with a greatest respect and she will have to wait to see whenever the enquiry concludes but i think the work on rules and guidance which we have done together with our partners and the scottish administration has been exemplary and helped the country come out of covid faster than any other european country. i covid faster than any other european count . . ., , ., country. i welcome the statement specifically _ country. i welcome the statement specifically about _ country. i welcome the statement specifically about masks - country. i welcome the statement specifically about masks and - country. i welcome the statement specifically about masks and i - country. i welcome the statement. specifically about masks and i hope they never return in our schools.

sadly it many of us concerned about plan b measures there was no learning from the last two years and we have had the impact on business including the wedding sector has been quite serious with fears about the next winter already affecting bookings. will he confirm we are learning from facts and notjust models to give confidence that our response to the next variant which will come will be assessed accordingly. will come will be assessed accordingly-— will come will be assessed accordinul . , ., , ., , ., accordingly. yes, i do she wants to look at other _ accordingly. yes, i do she wants to look at other european _ accordingly. yes, i do she wants to look at other european countries i accordingly. yes, i do she wants to i look at other european countries and i shut her enthusiasm for the wedding industry, it is fantastically important and a massive employer, other european countries have been in a far worse state when it comes to the closure and restrictions imposed and i am thrilled we have been able to open up thrilled we have been able to open up the way we have and get people married in the style they want.

prime minister, there is a group of vulnerable people who are not able to receive the booster, they have been a blockage in the system, three injections but the third one does not count as a bristol and they were told they would get the fourth but cannot access it. please intervene and get people talking to unblock this. i and get people talking to unblock this. ., ~ , . and get people talking to unblock this. . ~ , . ., ., this. i thank very much and we are workin: this. i thank very much and we are working fast _ this. i thank very much and we are working fast to _ this. i thank very much and we are working fast to unblock _ this. i thank very much and we are working fast to unblock it - this. i thank very much and we are working fast to unblock it so - this. i thank very much and we are. working fast to unblock it so people get the fourth jab as fast as possible. cani can i warmly welcome my right honourable friend's statement and can i ask him if he will notjust remove the work from home guidance but actively encourage people to return to the office because it is notjust return to the office because it is not just good for the return to the office because it is notjust good for the economy but important for younger workers who cannot get the skills, experience and networks they need by working

from home? i do and networks they need by working from home?— and networks they need by working from home? ., ., ., ., from home? i do agree with that and i think that actually _ from home? i do agree with that and i think that actually across _ i think that actually across whitehall, we need to show the lead and make sure we get back to work, everybody gets back to work. it is safe to do so provided everybody exercises that you caution that i have said out today. i entirely agree with my honourable friend. we are mercifully in a much better position today than this time a year ago and that is thanks to the heroic efforts of the nhs in the roll—out of vaccinations butjust 9% of people living in africa have been vaccinated against covid—19 to date. does the prime minister agree that the uk's failure to nature and will he commit his government to support intellectual property rights on

vaccines? i intellectual property rights on vaccines? ., ., h, vaccines? i agree with him about the im ortance vaccines? i agree with him about the importance of— vaccines? i agree with him about the importance of vaccinating _ vaccines? i agree with him about the importance of vaccinating the - vaccines? i agree with him about the importance of vaccinating the world. | importance of vaccinating the world. nobody is safe, that is clear. we must get more vaccines to africa in particular. i have talked to colleagues in african governments about what we can do to have a more full and finish in africa. that is the best long—term answer but what we need to do in the meantime is donate our vaccines, which is what we are doing. the uk is donating 100 million byjune but also, to continue the roll—out of the astrazeneca jab which, don't forget, is basically underwritten by the british state in the sense that it is delivered at a cost thanks to the delivery did. that is in addition to the £548 million that we have given

to the investment as well. the uk has a proud record on vaccinating the world but there is clearly much, much more that the world needs to do and i agree with him about that. i hope plan a is irreversible this time in the prime minister knows our young have missed people out on so much and now they face punishment for doing the right thing when it comes to travel. especially our teenagers. they cannot prove that they have had two jobs on the nhs app they have had two jobs on the nhs app if they are under 16 because they cannot access it. even if they can access it with a letter from the nhs, both with one jab and a recent infection, they cannot prove that and that if italy grabs them. half—term is coming, family memories are now and not at some point in the future. please can we urgently find a way that teenagers are treated with fairness and parity with their parents on these important issues so they can get on with their lives with their families.

they can get on with their lives with theirfamilies. mr; they can get on with their lives with their families. my honourable ffiend with their families. my honourable friend makes _ with their families. my honourable friend makes an _ with their families. my honourable friend makes an extremely - with their families. my honourable i friend makes an extremely important point about young people and vaccinations. i do think that people need to appreciate the value of vaccination for ease of travel, particularly boosters, but it should be as simple as possible for young people. i totally agree with that. i know he will make his statement in the next few days about what we propose to do. i the next few days about what we propose to do-— the next few days about what we propose to do. i want to quote the words of my _ propose to do. i want to quote the words of my constituent, - propose to do. i want to quote the words of my constituent, stephen | words of my constituent, stephen booth, who says, i wish to add my name to the angry voices regarding the conduct of politicians who broke the conduct of politicians who broke the rules during lockdown. especially that of the prime minister who demanded we follow the rules, which we did to the letter, whilst completely disregarding the rules themselves. this is one scandal too many. he and other constituents will now have no confidence in the rules of the public health messaging from this prime minister and that is a serious failing. what is the prime

minister's response to my constituent? i minister's response to my constituent?— minister's response to my constituent? ., ., ., , ., constituent? i am grateful to your constituent _ constituent? i am grateful to your constituent for _ constituent? i am grateful to your constituent for his _ constituent? i am grateful to your constituent for his point _ constituent? i am grateful to your constituent for his point of - constituent? i am grateful to your constituent for his point of view i constituent for his point of view but i think, and they understand where he is coming from but if you look at the uk population has been amazing in the way that we have followed the guidance, follow the rules and the results are there to be seen in what i have been able to announce today. flan be seen in what i have been able to announce today.— be seen in what i have been able to announce today. can i warmly welcome the liftin: announce today. can i warmly welcome the lifting of— announce today. can i warmly welcome the lifting of the _ announce today. can i warmly welcome the lifting of the restrictions _ announce today. can i warmly welcome the lifting of the restrictions and i the lifting of the restrictions and congratulate everyone involved in the booster vaccine roll—out. mental—health services in rushcliffe have seen a huge spike in demand following the pandemic. can my right honourable friend reassure me that mental—health services will have their share of the billions of pounds of catch—up funding which this conservative government has awarded to the nhs and which the party opposite voted against? i think my honourable friend and she is totally right. i believe the

number one priority now for the british people is notjust to keep our economy moving forwards in the way that we are, but to make sure that we clear those covid—19 backlogs and you cannot do it without the steps that the government has taken. i thought it was amazing that the party opposite voted against them. can i was amazing that the party opposite voted against them.— voted against them. can i have confirmation _ voted against them. can i have confirmation from _ voted against them. can i have confirmation from the - voted against them. can i have confirmation from the prime i confirmation from the prime minister, izzy getting rid of the covid—19 rules simply because he simply doesn't understand them? mr speaker, we are able to make progress on the covid—19 rules and to get rid of them because of our deep understanding of the pandemic and i thank all our scottish colleagues... we have been able to

move forward more less together so that the differences between us are far, far smaller than the similarities and i am very proud of that. , ., . ., that. this morning i received an e-mail on _ that. this morning i received an e-mail on behalf— that. this morning i received an e-mail on behalf of— that. this morning i received an e-mail on behalf of deaf - that. this morning i received an e-mail on behalf of deaf pupils| that. this morning i received an i e-mail on behalf of deaf pupils who e—mail on behalf of deaf pupils who have been so disadvantaged by mast wearing in schools but this prime minister we would have had more severe lockdown is an restrictions so may i say to him, please, prime minister, remain true to your instincts, please sweep away all these remaining controls like isolation which are keeping the nhs, and may i say to him lastly, to paraphrase leo emery, for gods sake, please keep going. i paraphrase leo emery, for gods sake, please keep going-— please keep going. i have not sat here for quite _ please keep going. i have not sat here for quite long _ please keep going. i have not sat here for quite long enough i please keep going. i have not sat here for quite long enough in i please keep going. i have not sat here for quite long enough in my| here for quite long enough in my view! mr speaker, yes, ithink he here for quite long enough in my view! mr speaker, yes, i think he is quite right about schools and it is very important to keep them going,

but also, masts do erode our ability to educate and learn properly and i am glad they are going.— to educate and learn properly and i am glad they are going. today, the department — am glad they are going. today, the department of _ am glad they are going. today, the department of health _ am glad they are going. today, the department of health and - am glad they are going. today, the department of health and social i am glad they are going. today, the i department of health and social care board the royal of nursing and others have rightly raised concerns regarding what they refer to as the rationality, personality and recklessness of mandatory vaccination for nhs staff. with approximately 100,000 vacancies already, does the prime minister think that over 70,000 staff will increase or decrease the pressure is on our nhs? i increase or decrease the pressure is on our nhs?— on our nhs? i hear her point and many other— on our nhs? i hear her point and many other colleagues _ on our nhs? i hear her point and many other colleagues have i on our nhs? i hear her point and. many other colleagues have made on our nhs? i hear her point and i many other colleagues have made this point today. i am glad that the numbers are going up but actually, the front bench does not agree with her, they agree with the policy. i do repeat that it is the duty of health care professionals to get

vaccinated. i health care professionals to get vaccinated-— vaccinated. i am absolutely delighted — vaccinated. i am absolutely delighted at _ vaccinated. i am absolutely delighted at the _ vaccinated. i am absolutely i delighted at the announcement vaccinated. i am absolutely - delighted at the announcement that children will no longer be required to wear masts in schools and it is a welcome and evidence based return to prioritising the issues of our children who have suffered greatly during the pandemic. my right honourable friend knows that i have not always been a supporter of restrictions but does he agree with me that under a labour government, farfrom being the me that under a labour government, far from being the freest country in europe, we would have had a longer, harder lockdown is and school closures, causing immeasurably more harm to the poorest, youngest and most vulnerable in our society? i see the gentleman on the opposite benches shaking his head. he was cruelly exposed last week for the way he called repeatedly for lockdown is, mr speaker, and that is the reality. the reality is that they would have kept us in lockdown

in july and they would have kept us in lockdown injuly and their response to 0micron was to call for a road map back into lockdown. she is totally right, mr speaker. in back into lockdown. she is totally right, mr speaker. in birmingham, we have been trying _ right, mr speaker. in birmingham, we have been trying to _ right, mr speaker. in birmingham, we have been trying to tackle _ right, mr speaker. in birmingham, we have been trying to tackle areas i right, mr speaker. in birmingham, we have been trying to tackle areas of- have been trying to tackle areas of lower vaccine and take up and it has been difficult to do that. when we go to people now, they are saying, these rules are not good enough the prime minister, if they are not good enough at downing street, and this prime minister couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it, what will i say then to my constituents now to ensure they have that take—up of the vaccine? iirritated that take-up of the vaccine? voted conservative _ that take-up of the vaccine? voted conservative obviously _ that take-up of the vaccine? voted conservative obviously but - that take-up of the vaccine? voted conservative obviously but get i conservative obviously but get busted now is what i would say. can i thank m busted now is what i would say. ce”! i thank my right honourable busted now is what i would say. can i thank my right honourable friend for standing firm before christmas in the face of much pressure from the opposition for further

restrictions and to effectively cancel christmas. it is due to his instincts that we are the freest country in the western world. we are the one leading the way and showing the one leading the way and showing the rest of the world how to live with covid—19. throughout the pandemic, we have had masts in schools in cumbria, even when the guidance did not recommend them. to no effect on case rates when kids started mixing again and in fact, as proven by the leader of the opposition has been struck down by 0pposition has been struck down by covid—19 a number of times despite allegedly wearing his mast, because i allegedly wearing his mast, because i right allegedly wearing his mast, because i right honourable friend confirmed to me that the guidance will go further than notjust requiring but remove the option for masts in schools completely? mr remove the option for masts in schools completely? mr speaker, i thank my honourable _ schools completely? mr speaker, i thank my honourable friend, i schools completely? mr speaker, i thank my honourable friend, he i schools completely? mr speaker, i thank my honourable friend, he is| schools completely? mr speaker, i . thank my honourable friend, he is a fantastic campaigner and he is absurdly right about what he says about masts in education and i am

delighted they are going. we will make sure, we need to work together to make sure we have a way of living with covid—19 that ensures they never ever come back. with covid-19 that ensures they never ever come back.- with covid-19 that ensures they never ever come back. earlier in the pandemic. — never ever come back. earlier in the pandemic. the _ never ever come back. earlier in the pandemic, the government - never ever come back. earlier in the pandemic, the government banged. pandemic, the government banged theirfist on the pandemic, the government banged their fist on the table and demanded their fist on the table and demanded the uk diagnostic sector respond to the uk diagnostic sector respond to the challenge ahead. the industry responded and their reward was to be ignored and sidelined because contracts there came a nun. two weeks ago the uk diagnostics industry looked on in disbelief as the prime minister bragged about government support for manufacturing lateral flow devices. yesterday the secretary of state bragged about buying uk manufactured lateralflow devices. i could ask the prime minster how many uk manufactured tests his government have ordered but i don't need to because the answer is none. why is he trying to hide his government �*s undermining of the uk domestic diagnostic

sector? ., ., ., , ., , sector? the honourable gentleman is comletel sector? the honourable gentleman is completely wrong _ sector? the honourable gentleman is completely wrong and _ sector? the honourable gentleman is completely wrong and he _ sector? the honourable gentleman is completely wrong and he should i sector? the honourable gentleman is completely wrong and he should go l sector? the honourable gentleman is| completely wrong and he should go to nottingham where he will find a factory which makes lateral flow kits and we have bought millions and millions of them. bud kits and we have bought millions and millions of them.— millions of them. and i warmly welcome the _ millions of them. and i warmly welcome the prime _ millions of them. and i warmly welcome the prime minister i millions of them. and i warmly i welcome the prime minister cosmic lifting of the covid—19 restrictions. at the present time, 70% of those in kettering general hospital with covid—19 are unvaccinated and the vast majority of those could have had the vaccine but made the wrong choice in nottingham doing so. can i urge the prime minister when the daily hospitalisation cases are published, to emphasise the fact that the vast majority are unvaccinated, as an incentive to get those boosters done. , ~ .,~ incentive to get those boosters done. , ~ ., ,, done. yes, mr speaker, i thank him and he is right— done. yes, mr speaker, i thank him and he is right in _ done. yes, mr speaker, i thank him and he is right in what _ done. yes, mr speaker, i thank him and he is right in what he _ done. yes, mr speaker, i thank him and he is right in what he says. i i and he is right in what he says. i have tried to draw repeated

attention in what i have been saying to the sad fact that 90% of people in intensive care units have had no booster and i think six is 6% of people have had no, are unvaccinated at all. 0micron is not a mild disease for everyone and it can be particularly nasty if you are not vaccinated. i particularly nasty if you are not vaccinated.— particularly nasty if you are not vaccinated. ., ., . ,, ., vaccinated. i do acknowledge the enormous effort _ vaccinated. i do acknowledge the enormous effort that _ vaccinated. i do acknowledge the enormous effort that the - vaccinated. i do acknowledge the enormous effort that the nhs i vaccinated. i do acknowledge the| enormous effort that the nhs has made that the prime minister referred to the many thousands of people who have been treated but can also point out the cost to 50,000 cancer patients with delayed diagnosis. his colleague sitting alongside him, the health secretary, in this very chamber, has said, it is this government cosmic intention to wage a war on cancer, a statement welcomed, but may i respectfully remind the prime minister that unless this rhetoric is backed up by a plan, buy new resources to address

the workforce crisis, new it networks and equipment, it willjust be seen as empty rhetoric. i networks and equipment, it will “ust be seen as empty rhetoric.i be seen as empty rhetoric. i thank him and i be seen as empty rhetoric. i thank him and i agree — be seen as empty rhetoric. i thank him and i agree with _ be seen as empty rhetoric. i thank him and i agree with him - be seen as empty rhetoric. i thank. him and i agree with him completely. tackling cancer backlog a massive priority for the government. it is notjust priority for the government. it is not just a priority for the government. it is notjust a question of making sure people have access to the right drugs, it is the delays that are caused by diagnostics, scans and screens, as he knows. that is one of the biggest problems we've got and thatis the biggest problems we've got and that is why we have seen, since it over, we have brought over a0 diagnostic hobs and they will be part of a total of 100 going forward. we want to see much more rapid diagnosis to help contract those periods that people are now spending on the waiting lists. i draw attention to my entry in the register. the prime minister made the right call on restrictions before christmas and today. except

in one respect, that is the compulsory vaccination of nhs workers. given that the advice to ministers has said that is neither rational nor proportionate given what we now know about omicron and its behaviour, well he think again before redundancy letters start going out from the 3rd of february. the argument has been well made by colleagues across the house today, i would remind him that this is something supported by the nhs themselves for patient safety, it is a very difficult point when it comes to patients you have contracted covid, people want the medical staff to be vaccinated. i would repeat what i have said throughout the

afternoon, i think it