speaker hoyle: before we start today's hearing i'd like to remind members of the service which is being held today at 1:00 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of the falklands war. i hope as many members as possible will be to attend. i also like to point out that c-span3 just a minute. i'd like to point out the same language is available on live tv. now we start with questions. prime minister johnson: mr. speaker this morning i had , meetings in addition to my duties in this house. i still have further such meetings. >> government support for

household is greatly appreciated but energy costs are also causing massive problems for districts and particularly energy manufacturing. will the prime minister support the black country initiative backed by the left to reduce reliance on fossil fuel and will you be with me to look at how the black country can be a pilot project d carbonized reduce costs and prevent the regions manufacturing jobs. p.m. johnson: i cite he's a -- i cite my honorable friend. he's a great champion for the black country and in addition to the 1200 pounds and most -- vulnerable households where providing 400 pounds tell everybody with the cost of energy. we're supporting the black country energy infrastructure as the region has already received 1.5 to develop a plan for decarbonization. >> now, the leader of the opposition, keir starmer

keir starmer: thank you mister speaker. can i pay tribute to all those who served in the fall glands. my uncle was among them. serving on the hms consulate when it went down. thankfully he made it back. but too many serving in the war didn't. we remember them all. mister speaker, is set for lower growth in every major economy accept russia, why? >> prime minister? p.m. johnson: i'll tell you mister speaker. actually going to have a party to the imf and oecd last year we are going to have the second-fastest this year. and we will return to the top of the table but the reason other countries -- because we came out of the pandemic faster than

others. and that is why right now we have the highest number of people on payroll employment on record. >> mr. speaker, he always likes to blame global forces but global forces are just that, global. everybody faces that. britain is facing economic sanctions -- -- like russia. no wonder he does not want to answer the question, why is the u.k. [indiscernible] then every other economy? prime minister johnson: mr. speaker i think everybody can , spring to life after the question. once again he's guilty of what's my legal friends call ignoracio electi. what --

what will be useful is if members of the labour party ended their sphinx like silence. will he now break with his shadow? >> just to remind the prime minister, he's in government. he can do something to stop the strike. but he hasn't lifted a finger. i don't want the strike to go ahead but he does. he wants the country to grind to a halt so he can feed off the division. as for his boasting about the

economy, he thinks he can perform jedi mind tricks on the country. no rules were broken. the economy is booming. but the problem is, the force is just not with him anymore. he thinks he is obi-wan kenobi. the truth is, he is jabba the hutt. he boasted last week that we will continue to grow the economy but this week it turns out the economy shrank for the second month in a row. how does it help to have an ostrich prime minister with its head in the sand? there he goes again running the country down. we have the highest payroll employment -- >> i want to hear the questions

and the answers. i generally believe the public also want to get involved. prime minister johnson: mr. speaker, we've got no unemployment. we've got the highest payroll adjusted and the country and has added more again you might like to know this country has attracted -- he does not like the european comparisons but we are three times as much as germany and twice as much as france. he should be talking this country up and not running it down. keir starmer: there is the ostrich. he is not just denying how bad things are, he's actively making things worse. his taxes are

probably growth and the direction of the cpi is so fed up. mr. speaker, we know what the prime minister said about british business and private. but when did screwing business turn from a flipping comment into economic policy? prime minister johnson: i just remind you of what's happening in techweek in this country. the massive investments that's coming in by the way by this 130 -- 130% super deduction for business. never forget, mr. speaker, but under labor taxes go up on , businesses and on people. and we are not only putting money into people's pockets, where -- we are adding a tax cut for

everyone on average that pays insurance. no wonder no labour government has ever left office -- >> mister speaker, 16 taxpayers and we're stacked with the highest tax burden since russia. he said the economy is booming when it's shrinking. he's game playing so much. he thinks he is on love violent. -- love i lynch. sland. he has also lost control of inflation. he was warned about this last september and what did he do?

he dismissed it. he did not act. he sat on his hands. now, prices are through the roof and we are set to have the highest inflation in the g7. when will he accept that he is badly wrong when he claims the worries about inflation were unfounded? >> mr. speaker, we are helping people what the cost of living. money will be going into people's think accounts. how can we do that? we have the fiscal firepower to do that because the -- is in robust shape. that is thanks to the steps that we two that he continuously opposed. he has the chance to clear it up. he can oppose the labor strike right now.

i will give him that opportunity. let him disagree with the union that would add to people's costs in the coming weeks. >> mr. speaker, i don't want the strike to go ahead. he wants to so he can feed on the division. >> mr. speaker there may be a , lot of noise here but i have got a long list here of what the mp's really think of him. dragging everyone down -- who said that? hands up. can't win back trust. anyone owning up? hands? mr. speaker, my personal favorite is this -- this is a

document circulated by his backbench in which they call him the conservative corbyn. prime minister, i don't think that was intended as a compliment. week after week, week after week, he stands there and spouts the same nonsense. the economy is booming. everything is going swimmingly. the people should be grateful. but will stay he is telling britain that we have never had it so good, millions of working people and businesses know the reality. growth will be slower than -- and our inflation higher. he is totally deluded. >> i think we need another question. i will remind you that i will

hear the end of the question in silence. anymore noise, there will be an early cup of tea. >> a prime minister that stands totally deluded, failing the economy and failing to tackle inflation and back business and failing to help people through the crisis. and, mr. speaker, his big idea goes back to --. now, [indiscernible] when will he face reality that under him written's economy is going backwards -- britain's economy is going backwards? >> let's hear the prime minister. prime minister johnson: first of all, he tried repeatedly to get

elected prime minister. secondly, speaking from experience, he is relatively dynamic i comparison to the right honorable gentlemen. >> i still cannot hear because of the noise on both sides -- it would be easier for both of us. prime minister johnson: they are blatantly on the side of the union bearing. -- baron. we are on the side of the traveling public. they are on the side of the people traffickers that would risk people's lives. and we are on the side of people

that come here safely and legally. safely and legally. no matter how much -- it is always on the left foot. >> many areas like mine have already had massive new housing developments with no commensurate increase with general practice capacity --

many areas like mine have already had massive new housing development with no commensurate increase in general practice capacity. in one of my surgeries with double the recommended number of patients per gdp, a cancer diagnosis of a 51-year-old father of four was missed and is now terminal. getting this right is a life and death situation. will the prime minister make sure that the part of the country that have already had massive new housing growth get the commensurate increase and general practice capacity that is fair? prime minister johnson: we have increased the numbers of doctors by 6000 and gps. we must make sure that areas

where new development is going in that there is the infrastructure, particularly medical services, that they need. the nhs has a statutory duty to know the population. i will take it up personally to make sure we get a proper approach to this important issue. ian blackford: can i join you and others like my colleague in particular, our thoughts are with those that made the ultimate sacrifice. mr. speaker, yesterday, our first minister started a national conversation -- when we look at nations like iceland, ireland, norway and

denmark -- they deliver lower poverty rates, higher productivity. mr. speaker, the list goes on and on. the evidence is overwhelming. scotland is being held back. prime minister, all of those countries can use the power of independence to create wealth. why not scotland? prime minister johnson: i don't doubt my right honorable friend -- they include what we are doing to come through covid with the strongest growth of any european economy. more people across the whole of the u.k. -- and on the subject's

investment into scotland and all of the u.k. standing strong together on the international stage and sticking up for the ukrainians. it is something that the country is also talking about. >> [indiscernible] mr. speaker, the prime minister -- his own little britain. the cost of living crisis is worse in the u.k. than any other g7 country and the inflation rate is double that of france. and now, the treed war with our european friends triggered by

our lawbreaking prime minister. our nation is big enough, rich enough and smart enough. scotland simply cannot afford [indiscernible] scotland wants to get on. prime minister johnson: the u.k. has record numbers of people in payroll employment. that is astounding when you consider where we were during the pandemic and that is because the u.k. worked well together with the vaccine rollout and the testing whether scotland and the rest of the country cooperating brilliantly. he talks about a trade war. he talks about a trade war. what could be more foolish than a project that has trade barriers?

that is what we are trying to break down. >> the jubilee celebration -- an inspiration provided lifesaving support to women such as oaths that have been tragically a victim of domestic abuse or sexual violence. as a result of the pandemic, the need for these services has only grown. will the prime minister joined us to think -- to thank those organizations. prime minister johnson: i am thankful to beverly and everyone for doing what they are doing. i want to extend my thanks to everybody for what they are doing and the extra support we

are getting with 140 billion for victim services. edward davey: thank you, can i join the prime minister in sending thanks and gratitude to the veterans of the war and their families. millions are suffering because of the cost of living. and people in rural areas are especially hurting bearing the brunt of record fuel price hikes. some rural counties are not eligible. like cumbria, and like devon.

the conservative party will hear ideas to help those people and i think the people of devon will know it. there are families and pensioners across rural counties who are missing out on this support. so mr. speaker, as petrol prices soar, will the prime minister help people in rural counties and expand rural duty relief? prime minister johnson: we have cut the duty for everyone across the country. he talks about pensioners. we are giving 850 pounds more to every pensioner across the country. he talked about the cost of energy. everyone will get another 400 pounds to help them with a cost of energy. they are able to go around the country bamboo sling the rural

composed -rural comm unities. not revealing they would like to go back straightaway to the common agricultural policies with all of the bureaucracy and costs that that entails. they don't say that on the doorstep, mr. speaker. >> there are proposals for up to 10,000 housing units on greenfield sites to the west of my constituency that would also represent in total pressure on local services. can i have an assurance that as we update planning legislation, we will enshrine -- to new developments and save our environment? prime minister johnson: my old friend is completely right. we encourage the use of suitable

brownfield. >> the prime minister will know from my recent correspondence that my constituent [indiscernible] and has been sentenced to 15 years. the judge did not believe they had any criminal intent and this has significant implications for him and his loved ones. i would ask the prime minister if he would be willing to meet with me and other entities that have constituents in the family to discuss the case to resolve this? prime minister johnson: i have a great deal of sympathy with him. i will make sure he gets a relevant -- a meeting with the

relevant minister. >> one of my youngest constituents, little nelly is two years old and has been diagnosed with an illness. her parents megan and tom are supporting a campaign to see mld to the newborn blood spot test. had that been included in the test, nelly's condition could be treated. now, the family are preparing for palliative care and are planning to make every day count. will the prime minister give his support to add mld to this test so families in the future can be spared this same heartbreak? prime minister johnson: i think her very much and i know the

thoughts of every run will be with nelly and her parents during this difficult time. what i can tell her is the national screening committee has received a request to look again at the conditions for doing a mld test and that is currently being reviewed right now but i will make sure she gets a meeting as soon as possible with the relevant minister. >> ms. twist? liz twist: mr. speaker, and five days, packages across the u.k. and the northeast will be facing huge disruption. [cheering] but on the eve of of the biggest -- in a generation, ministers have not held any talks whatsoever -- mr. speaker, i

asked the prime minister has he met with trade unions and employers in the industry to attempt to bring this dispute to an end? prime minister johnson: mr. speaker, i noticed one union barrister said -- i don't negotiate with the government. that is what they said, mr. speaker. we all know how much money -- we know why they are sitting on their hands. they should come out and condemn this. tom randall: thank you, mr. speaker, today is tension credit awareness day. well my right honorable friends

join me to check their eligibility so we can get more money into the pockets of pensioners? prime minister johnson: this is a very worthwhile campaign that too many pensioners failed to take up. half the more we can do to make pensioners aware of it, the better. anna mcmorrin: why is it the worst people often rise to the highest office and stay there? not my words about the prime minister but those of his newest appointment. communities are crippled with skyrocketingfamilies unable to n the most basic necessities all agree with him, saying this prime minister has to go. if his own czar doesn't even

have faith in him, tell me why those struggling should. p.m. johnson: mr. speaker, she's asked that question repeatedly. let me remind her this as the government gets on and delivers on our promises to the people, in particular getting brexit done. i read the other day, mr. speaker, that she wants to go back into the single market -- i -- that's the real policy of the labour party, mr. speaker, going back into the eu. why won't the leader of the opposition admit it? >> when our family adopted my two brothers in the 1980's, support for adopters was minimal. by the time i became a family law barrister in the late-19 90's, it wasn't much better. since 2015, the situation has improved. there is much more we can do.

to that end, would my right honorable friend look at making some adopters edible -- el igible so they can have a better and fairer start to family life? p.m. johnson: i think my friend. he is a great champion for doctors and all those who help give children a loving and stable home. we have so far focused on supporting employed parents, but local authorities do have the power to provide discretionary payments to self-employed adopters as well. >> thank you, mr. speaker. we know there are suicide rates that are likely to rise. it is worth doing more to support people during a cost-of-living crisis. will the prime minister do more to help campaigns like calm and

implement labour's pledge not anybody who should be in need of it-- that anybody who should be in need of it can access mental healthcare within a month? p.m. johnson: she is right. we are putting another 2.3 billion pounds into supporting mental health, such as suicide prevention and many wonderful charities that help people with their conditions, mr. speaker. it would be a good thing if, across the floor of this house, we had support for the spending we are putting in. >> david jones. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the conflict in ukraine and the constant disruption of the supply chain and weight has -- in wheat demands we become more self-sufficient. this bill will help create the conditions to enable english farmers to produce more food of

high-quality but does my right honorable friend agreed that the drive to self-sufficiency requires that u.k.-wide effort and will he or -- urge the administrations to adopt the bill so that farmers across britain can produce the food the country needs? p.m. johnson: my honorable friend is completely right . in a loving and sharing way, we are going to work with the administration for the whole of the u.k. to enjoy the benefit. >> mental health support is vital. when she reported her childhood abuse to the police, they told her not to go for counseling, as it could be used against her in court. your attorney general is challenging the rule, so it's

even easier for defense teams to access victims' counseling notes, having an immediate, chilling effect. survivors shouldn't be forced to choose between the mental health and justice. with the prime minister please stop this -- would the prime minister please stop this? p.m. johnson: i will look at the evidence that she has. these are very sensitive and very difficult issues, particularly as regards the defense cases. but if she looks that's what's happening -- at what's happening, we are starting to see gradually and improvement in the prosecution rates. that's because governments -- departments across whitehall are working to take in victims' needs. we are seeing progress. >> my right honorable friend may be aware that the hospital trust has recently submitted a revised

outline business case in support of its 312,000,000 pound capital allocation made by the department of health four years ago. does he agree that, in order to make progress in complete the ambitious hospital building program, the nhs decision-making process not only need to be leveled up, they need to be sped up? p.m. johnson: crime -- mr. speaker, i thank the right honorable gentlemen for speaking for many in this house and wanting faster decisions on planning in the nhs. we are pushing through 40 hospitals by the -- 40 hospitals, we are building, mr. speaker. what that means -- needs is funding. the opposition is bellowing away. they voted against. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker.

my constituent's identity has been stolen. his records are being misused, but he's been advised there is nothing the health secretary can do. crimes are being committed in his name. the home secretary department's assured him this would not affect his immigration status, yet recently he, his wife, and children were detained by u.k. border police. can the prime minister explain who in his government is responsible for this chaotic incompetence? p.m. johnson: i would be only too happy to look at the experience of mr. singh and his family. i will look at the case. i will make sure that she gets a proper answer from the home office and the consideration department. >> theresa may. >> thank you, mr. speaker. my constituent is the niece of john phillips, the british

journalist missing in brazil, alongside the indigenous expert. will my right honorable friend ensure that the government makes its case a diplomatic priority and that it works to do everything it can to ensure that the brazilian authorities put the resources necessary to uncover the truth and find out what has happened to them? p.m. johnson: eye -- i thank my right honorable friend very much, and i can tell her, representing the needs of john phillips, and like everybody else in this house, we are deeply concerned about what may have happened to him. officials are working closely with the brazilian authorities, following his disappearance on june 5. the minister responsible has raised the issue repeatedly. the search and rescue efforts, with brazil's justice and public security minister. what we told the brazilians, mr.

speaker, is we stand ready to provide all the democracy.

>> next justice jen ford takes part in a conversation about what it is like to