>> a senate health subcommittee meets to look at ways to recruit and retain health care workers. you can watch at c-span.org or c-span now our free video app. >> british prime minister boris johnson answered questions from the house of commons about a new photo showing the prime minister attending a holiday party during the covid-19 lockdown. members ask the prime minister if he would consider resigning over the scandal. other topics include online scams perpetrated over the pandemic, rising cost of living,

and the shortest health care workers and nurses. >> before we come to the prime ministers questions, i would like to point out the british sign language interpretation proceedings are able to watch on tv. >> number one, mr. speaker. mr. speaker i can tell the house , today that it is my intention to return after the half term recess to present our strategy for living with covid. provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions encrypting -- this morning, i had meetings and i will have more meetings later today. >> mr. speaker, the northern

ireland protocol is frustrated with business. he is researching the free movement of goods and people within the dedication -- united kingdom. what action will the minister for the union now take to pulled interest of all residents including those living in , northern ireland? >> my honorable friend is quite right. the protocol does not require that all foods and medicines and all plans be systematically checked in the way that they are, mr. speaker, and we must fix it and with goodwill and common sense, i believe we can fix it. if our friends don't show the requisite common sense, of course we will -- >> the opposition -- >> thank you, mr. speaker.

was the business secretary right to say that fraud is not something people expense in their day-to-day lives? >> mr. speaker, of course this government and country despises those who defraud people and that is why we crackdown on these sources. we have pushed for an economic crime bill, but we also attach huge importance on neighborhood crime, and i'm very pleased that those crimes are down 17%. >> the prime minister's answer has a big hole in it. we have had lockdown for the last two years. two crimes that people could commit work on my fraud and third parties -- towing parties. the numbers for both of those have gone through the roof. [laughter] i was asking about the 14,000 cases a day.

many older people duped out of hard-earned savings. the business secretary casually suggest on tv, "worry, it is not real crime." nicking cars and shipping them around the world, also next i covered loans from the taxpayer. what is the chance of response? right off --write off 4 billion pounds and losses. his cabinet turning a blind eye to scammers. is it any wonder that the antifraud minister realized no one in government seemed to care and threw in the towel? >> what we are doing is tackling crime across the board. that is why we are investing more into taxing fraud, but we are also tackling the neighborhood crime that has done

such psychological damage to people in this country. tackling live crime, tackling burglary, tackling crimes of foreign industry. with tougher sentences. putting more police out on the street, mr. speaker. the reason we are able to afford it is because we have a strong economy and we are coming back strongly from covid. that is thanks to the things the government got right. >> mr. speaker, his antifraud minister quit saying the failure , of government was so egregious that he had to, in this is his words, "smash some crockery" to make people take notice. it seems the prime minister has not noticed the broken plates are the shattered glass all around him. it is almost as if he is being completely distracted for weeks. talking of scams, households will have to fork out an extra 19 billion pounds on their

energy bills. the government is insulting people's intelligence by pretending it is giving them a discount, but it is not. it is a con. a buy now, pay later scheme. a loan, not a proper plan. mr. speaker, he shakes his head. so, that may put this in language you might understand. when donors give him cash to fund his lifestyle and tell him he has to pay back later are , they giving him a loan or a discount? >> mr. speaker, our plan to tackle the cost of living is faster, more efficient, and more generous than anything else. we have lifted the oven by record amounts. we have cut the effective tax for universal credit and we are now sending out a fantastic

round to help people with the cost of energy. it is more generous and more effective than anything labor has set out. the only reason we can do it -- it is $9.1 billion -- 9.1 billion pounds, mr. speaker. huge sums that we are using to help people across the country, and the only reason we can afford it is because we have a strong economy, the fastest growing in the g7. not just lester, this year as well. >> mr. speaker, the premise are clearly has not got the first clue what he has been up to. his plan is to have billions of pounds of taxpayers cash to energy companies and then enforce families to pay it off in installments for years to come. if it sounds like he is forcing people to take out a loan, and it looks like he is forcing

people to take out a loan, isn't it just forcing people to take out a loan? >> we are giving people tax valuations across the country that is 27 million homes that we are giving the equivalent of a 150 pound rebate. their offer is for 89 pounds. ours is faster, more generous, more effective. what they would do is, this is a global problem. what they would do is clobber the oil and gas companies right now with a tax that would deter investment in gas just when his country needs gas as we transition to green fuel. it would be totally ridiculous and it would raise prices for consumers.

>> mr. speaker, i was always worried that the prime minister was not want to read terms and -- was not one to read terms and conditions. he has just confirmed my worst fears. there is an alternative. >> order. if you want to carry on, carry on outside. i'm not having this perpetual noise. i am certainly not quite a put up with it anymore. >> mr. speaker, there is an alternative. he could stand up to his chancellor and tell him to support families, rather than loading them with debt. tell him to look at those amp up profits of oils and gas giants. shall -- shells profit is up 15 billion pounds. mr. speaker, every second of the day they have made 750 pounds , extra profit from rising

prices. at the same time, households are paying an extra 700 pounds a year on their bills. why on earth is this government forcing loans on british families when they should be asking those with an unexpected windfall to pay a little more to keep household bills down? >> mr. speaker, the labor plan would be an improvement toward nationalizing. maybe he has dropped that one now. i can't tell whether he has dropped about one or not. mr. speaker, what he would be doing is hitting the energy companies at precisely the moment when we need to encourage them to go for more gas, so if we need to transition to cleaner fuels, and what this government is providing is 9.1 billion pounds worth of support. it is more generous than anything labor is offering. i want to repeat my point. the only reason we can do it is

because we have kept our economy moving in these hard times. we came out of lockdown in july, when he opposed it last year. they opposed it. that is why we have the greatest economy in the g7, not just last year, but this year as well. >> he can block a bluff all he likes. the reality is this. on top of the tory tax rises, on top of the soaring prices, the loan shark chancellor and his unwitting sidekick have now kicked up a buy now, pay later scheme. it leads taxpayers in debt. oil and gas company say they have more money than they know what to do with. it is the same old story with this government. get in a mess protect their , mates, and ask working people to pick up the bill. if they worry that everyone can

now see that with this prime minister or chancellor, it is all one big scam of people for -- people across the country paying the price. mr. speaker, what they can see is a government that is absolutely committed to doing the right thing for the people of the country. taking the past decisions when labor is asking for us to be the easy way out and spend more taxpayer money. it was this government decided to keep going and july when he wanted to stay in lockdown. we kept going over christmas by the way, mr. speaker, it occurred to me that we were also able to use those exit freedoms to deliver the fastest vaccine route. 48 times to go back into the eu. he also voted in staying in the european agency.

our plan for jobs is working, mr. speaker. we have a record low youth unemployment. they have parents working. they have no plan at all, mr. speaker. our plan for the country is working. we have a great visit -- vision to unite and level up our country. they have no plan whatever. i say to him, plan beats no plan. we have a great plan for our country, they play politics. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the government 9 billion pounds support, but will the prime minister assure the people that it is full steam ahead for nuclear and that this government is moving at pace of the future nuclear enabling fund so the u.k. has energy security, jobs, and investments. right here on these shores. >> yes mr. speaker, i think it

was just last week i was congratulate in her on her spectacular advocacy for nuclear. don't forget, mr. speaker, they were allowed nuclear and decline. we want to get back up there and that is why there will be at least one big nuclear project , at least and our nuclear one, financing bill will support that objective. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i am sure you and the entire house will want to join me in welcoming those that launched the yearly events in parliament last night. we all must continue to strive for ongoing peace. mr. speaker, the flooding of changing and downing street over the last few days, it is amazing how much energy this prime minister can sum up when it comes to saving his own skin.

while he is been busy rearranging the deck chairs, in the real world, people continue to be punted -- punished by this crisis. yesterday, open democracy found that as a direct result of the chancellor's national assurance site, homeowners will take a 100,000 pound year pay cut. that is at the same time that bills have shot up 1000 pounds in the space of a year. it is something the rest of the public symbol cannot afford. rather than the prime minister and chancellor scrapping over the tory leadership, will they do something useful and scrap their hike of the insurance? >> it is interesting that the opposition did not mention that. i am thinking everybody can see how vital this is. we have to clear our covid backlogs. we have 6 million people already

on their way. i am afraid that will go up. we need to be recruiting the staff now. that is why we are recruiting 50,000 more. there are 11,000 more this year than last year. to his we have increased the point, starting salary by 12.8%. we value our nurses, we love them, and we are paying for it. >> actions speak louder than words, mr. speaker. they are the very backbone of the national health service. the very people he is hitting with these pay cuts in i should april. not have to remind the prime minister that at the same time those nurses were going into work every day to fight the pandemic, 16 different parties were happening in his government. the public know what was sacrificed during the pandemic and they know exactly what this rule breaking prime minister and his government were up to.

the prime minister and his chancellor need to tell those nurses but the reward for seeing them through pandemic is a 270,000 pound wage cut. >> mr. speaker, what we are telling the people of this country is we backed all the way. what they want is more nurses and that is why there are record numbers in training. that is why we have 11,000 more in the nhs now this year than there were last year. those, i think are fantastic investments in our country and our society. i think it is peculiar that the scottish nationalist party has approached health care to cut off the bottom of doors in schools in scotland in order to improve ventilation. >> jen stevenson. >> i am thrilled that we are front and center.

we are giving people of all ages to give the skills that they need to get into work. some colleges already doing this at their brainy facility. will the prime minister join me in congratulating the college and also will he meet with me , and my honorable neighbors and friends, preferably out behind the college, so we can discuss how more jobseekers can get access to skills and potentially for the city learning quarter and the funding that we need? >> i congratulate my honorable friend. she is complete right. they worked hard with the first industrial revolution and they are the hurt -- they are the heart of the current 21st century green revolution. we have seen 125,000 start to

working academies, programs, partly things to her lobbying. wild horses will not keep me away. >> 74-year-old janet had 25,000 pounds stolen by fraudsters. she told the bbc the money was my mom and dads. i felt i had let them down. for janet and for the 4 million people who fell victim to forces of online scammers last year, fraud is a crime. does the prime minister understand the hurt he and his ministers caused fraud victims like janet when they write them out of the crime figures and say -- dismissed fraud is something people don't expense in their day-to-day lives? mr. speaker, while the prime minister correct the number on crime figures and apologize? >> i have already said to my

friend, he knows very well that this government hates fraud and hates online fraud. we are tackling the scammers by helping people to come forward when they get an email, when they get duped. we are helping them in any way that we can, but we are also touching the crimes that affect people up and down the country, neighborhood crime, dealing with the gangs. that is something i think you should port -- should support as well and i am proud of those numbers have come down by 17%. >> thank you mr. speaker. it is wonderful news of the first and person commonwealth head of government for four years will take place during her majesty's platinum jubilee. can the prime minister ensure that the global learning crisis is high on their agenda and will he ask his amazing diplomats to ensure that every leader in the commonwealth

is up to the decoration of education? prime min. johnson: everything she does to support education for the girls 12 years of college education is the single most transformative thing we could do to improve the world and i remember working with my friend on the declaration, and we will certainly ensure that everybody of the commonwealth signs up for it. >> mr. speaker, at the height of the lockdown resections, my constituents who has worked for the nhs for over 30 years was dying those with a tumor on her spine. while under it best in the hospital undergoing painful surgery, they did not visit her. in the last two minutes, a photo emerged of the prime minister and downing street on the 15th of december 2020 surrounded by alcohol, food, and people wearing tinsel. it looks a lot

like one of the christmas parties he told us never happened. for the sake of my constituents and the secular best sacrifice she made, will be prime min. johnson: first of all, i am very sorry about the constituent and the difficulty she has been through. i understand very well her feelings. and what he has to say, i am afraid he is completely an error. >> 2020, the prime minister joined me on a building site and doubly on what is now the new institute of technology delivering future jobs and creating opportunities across the black country. while he joined me in congratulating the delivery team for people like

thomas dudley and doubly college and will he join me in person and doing so at the nearest opportunity? prime min. johnson: mr. speaker, i help -- thank my friend did he is a great champion for doubly in the back country. i am delighted to hear the institute technology is now open i will take -- keep his kind invitation in mind. >> we fall in the immortal words if you're not listening, you probably do not understand. if you don't understand us, you probably are not listening. the fact of the matter is the protocol has zero supports from unionist. the fact of the matter is and i hope the prime minister's list -- listening to this, the solution that attracts the support of only one sect of our community will very well never stop. will the prime minister therefore take the

opportunity to speak for the irish government who is demanding -- running around washington demanding further implementation of the protocol on the basis that will bring further tax. the minister except that he now has a response ability to bring home that spring forward a solution that unites northern ireland and bring forward a solution that pays being in that has been undermined back. prime min. johnson: i agree with him completely that there must be a solution that commands trust, communion, and support. at the moment, there is no doubt that the balance of the good friday agreement is being upset by the waiver. i meaning to fix it mr. speaker and that is what we will do. if our friends won't agree, early on we will implement, >> would my honorable friend take

an alternative to summon an alternative meeting with an oil company with the agreement to bring more onto the market to reduce gas prices to help hard-pressed people deal with the cost-of-living problem? prime min. johnson: i think my friend very much for that suggestion because i think it is an interesting one and an ingenious one, the oil and gas companies create hundreds of thousands of jobs and it is important to our economy, i will do what i can to fix the meeting with him. 12 years in a row saving for -- people team pounds.

thank you mr. speaker, i understand that he has been heard listening i will survive. i would suggest that he would be her off -- condemned to an extended prison sentence in iran because of the kill of the prime minister. in 2022, this week, my friend believe the opposition was hounded by folks undermined because of the -- will the prime minister do the same thing and reconsider his word repent and rebound. prime min. johnson: i do not think that she should either let the thugs who bullied and harassed the gentleman off of the hook, anymore than she should let the iranian government --

>> since 2017, the mental health has gone up 5 -- eating disorders has gone up 400% since lockdown. we know that social media companies play a huge part in this. given that social media platforms like tiktok are providing stuff for kids in terms of adult content, and addictive alcoholism, when we consider implementing a 2% levy on social media companies which have raised hundreds of millions of funds for programs for children. prime min. johnson: mr. speaker, i know he has issued best campaign on the issue and he is quite right but the psychological damage that social media can do, and i heard what he has to say recently

about what he has to say about tiktok, >> the 10th largest city economy with a gdp of 11.6 billion, now it comes out that the analysis of the long-term economic analysis proves that it was carried out. rob -- when is the prime minister going to match action to rhetoric and give bradford the investment in need? prime min. johnson: mr. speaker, i am afraid she is wrong and what she said because we are not going to leave it medically in yorkshire through police in

yorkshire, but she is misunderstood about the 96 billion integrated rail plan. what we are saying is that we will look at ways in which we can ensure that we retract the eastern lego high-speed rails from north of birmingham to bradford. what we are not doing is coming up with a scheme of deciding exactly what to do and how to fund it. >> i serve my country with pride in the royal green jacket. i wrecked -- welcome the veteran strategy the prime ministers just brought out, but i asked the prime minister if they will always be at the heart of the government's strategy and everything can be done to see they always get what they need and are on it. prime min. johnson: yes mr. speaker, that is why we set up an office for veterans, that is why we have

insured veterans get preferential treatment on public transport. one of the first things i did when i became prime minister. it is why we make sure the veterans receive particular support and courage meant -- encouragement and employment. >> in the downing street shuffle at the weekend, the prime minister pointed to a man who recently lobbied the government on behalf of technology, to exclude entirely from our network. given the number and direct communication passed by definition, access to some of

the sensitive government information, can the prime minister telus whether his present role acquires enhanced testing and whether he has gone through the necessary checks to provide for that level of clearance before he took up in post? prime min. johnson: a curious question that succumbed from -- from the chinese government. mr. speaker, what i can tell him is that this government took a brave and necessary step in making sure we excluded him from our critical national infrastructure and that mr. speaker was the right thing to do, and whatever he said. mr. speaker, can i ask the prime minister question about the report? i am merely asking this question because last up prime minister last week and i did not get a straight answer. it is important because it is about those who make the laws obeying the laws. the prime minister wants to be judged on the facts and that is right, so can i ask him to commit that upon the

conclusion of the metropolitan police investigation, will he ensure that sue gray's final report is published immediately and in full? prime min. johnson: i do believe i answered that last time, but i will repeat for the benefit of the house as soon as inquiries are down, i will immediately publish whatever sucre gives me. -- sue gray is me. i understand that the reigning government finds an agreement with ukrainian government that would've resulted in the payment of 400 million pounds that we earlier on, that agreement fell through and has still not been paid. mr. speaker, this personally needs the prime ministers attention and personal intervention. can i ask the

prime minister when he asked will he meet personally with me personally to find out why the agreement fell through. prime min. johnson: thank you very much. i think you for all the hard work she does on behalf -- we remain committed to securing the release and all of the very difficult complications that we have in iran. she knows it is difficult to settle into square away for all sorts of reasons to do with sanctions, but we will continue to work on it and i will certainly make sure that we have another meeting with richard let radcliffe in due course. >> i understand that the reigning government finds an

agreement with ukrainian government that would've resulted in the payment of 400 million pounds that we earlier on, that agreement fell through and has still not been paid. mr. speaker, this personally needs the prime ministers attention and personal intervention. can i ask the prime minister when he asked will he meet personally with me personally to find out why the agreement fell through. prime min. johnson: thank you very much. i think you for all the hard work she does on behalf -- we remain committed to securing the release and all of the very difficult complications that we have in iran. she knows it is difficult to settle into square away for all sorts of reasons to do with sanctions, but we will continue to work on it and i will certainly make sure that we have another meeting with richard let radcliffe in due course. blown up on social media. everyone can see it in the photo. prime min. johnson: prime

min. it already has been. that event has already been submitted for investigation. >> let him leave. >> the senate subcommittee investigation looks to retain health care workers. watch tonight at 9 p.m. eastern on c-span. online at c-span.org, or sees been. our video. >> american history tv. saturday on c-span2. explain the people and events. telling an american spray. at 2 p.m. eastern on the presidency. abraham lincoln scholars michael

burlingham and noah feldman vanish up talk about this beaches. and he talks about the constitution. at three p.m. eastern, the annual lincoln forum in gettysburg pennsylvania. a discussion neighborhood lincoln and the civil war. author of lincoln and the american founding. historians with the experience of carolyn janie, deaths of war. exploring the american story. watch american history tv saturday on c-span2. to find the full schedule online, anytime, as he spent over watch history. >> and new mobile video up on c-span. c-span now. demo today. -- download today. >> this chief of staff is joining the heritage foundation on modernizing the force,

including improving trpe