chris. there, chris. >> chris bryant chris bryant is the department of science and technology at questions, which is immediately before prime minister's questions. of course, as soon as it starts, we go right to you. that was the manifesto commitment, say laboun manifesto commitment, say labour. it was to not increase taxes on working people for the duration of this parliament. >> well, first of all, it said in black and white we will not increase national insurance. it didn't draw a distinction between employers and employees on this ridiculous working people sort of loophole. they're trying to winkle out rachel reeves herself about two years ago, when rishi sunak tried to do the same thing. thankfully, since reversed, she said that this was a tax on working people. so rachel reeves own analysis of this tax rise says that it's a tax on working people. they've really got nowhere to go here. it is a straightforward black and white breach of a manifesto promise, and the public are going to feel like they were lied to during the election campaign. >> they are afraid it is a problem. having a budget so far, 16 weeks after the election means we're talking about it two weeks ahead of the obr happening, and you're being accused of lying already. >> well, i think you've just laid out 16 weeks after an

election is in the grand scheme of things, very, very little. and chris mentions how the pubuc and chris mentions how the public feel, what the public feel is that they're hard up against it, that the economy was crashed by an absolutely reckless mini—budget from the last conservatives when they were in power. we are still fighting that fight to try and get this country back on its feet. there will be some tough decisions of course, in the budget everyone expects that what exactly those will look like. clearly we can't say at this point. well, hang on second. >> we've got inflation to down 2% down to target. the growth in the uk economy is the highest in the uk economy is the highest in the g7 the uk economy is the highest in the 67 this year, and unemployment is half what it was 4%, half what it was under the last labour government. so that is not a terrible economic legacy. and anyone who claims to the contrary is trying to mislead the public. >> we're looking now at chamber over to the chamber now, a monumental figure in scottish and uk politics, he leaves a lasting legacy, and i know that the deepest condolences of the whole house are with moira, his family and his loved ones . family and his loved ones. >> mr speaker, this week we also

remember our colleague and friend sir david amess, whose kindness and commitment to pubuc kindness and commitment to public service continues to inspire us all. and i know how deeply this was felt on the benches opposite, and i am so glad that his plaque is here in the house with us. yes, i also want to acknowledge the extraordinary life of holocaust survivor lily abbott, whose message of hope showed such courage. may her memory be a blessing. mr speaker, we also extend our sympathies to the family of general sir mike jackson. he was an inspirational leader of the british army and served with distinction. mr speaken served with distinction. mr speaker, i know the whole house will join me in wishing the best of luck to the new england manager. thomas tuchel. i won't hold his old job against him, but i wish him well in the new one. mr speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others . in

colleagues and others. in addition to my duties in this house.i addition to my duties in this house. i shall have further such meetings later today. >> not to change. thank you, mr speaken >> not to change. thank you, mr speaker. in last week's maternity services debate, we heard of the devastating impact of the removal of consultant led maternity services from a hospital now under the previous government's unfunded new hospital programme, there were proposals to remove consultant led maternity services from our hospital in winchester. could the prime minister reassure me and my constituents that under the new government that maternity and consultant led maternity and consultant led maternity services and a&e services will remain in winchester, and will he commit to funding properly the backlog of maintenance that has developed in our hospital in winchester .7 winchester? >> well, i thank him for raising this very important issue for and championing the voices of women in his constituency. we are committed to ensuring that all women and babies receive safe, compassionate and

personalised care through pregnancy , birth and critical pregnancy, birth and critical following months . following months. reconfiguration of the services, as he knows, is a matter for the integrated care boards . integrated care boards. important as it allows decisions to be made locally and tailored to be made locally and tailored to local interests, but changes all changes should be based on evidence, clinically led and involve engagement with patients to ensure they will deliver better outcomes. it is a very important issue. >> alison hume. >> alison hume. >> thank you, mr speaker. whitby interactive has provided inclusive play schemes and houday inclusive play schemes and holiday activities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities for 26 years. it has been a lifeline for families continually failed by conservative governments, but interactive is set to close due to a funding shortfall. does the prime minister agree with me that action to tackle the crisis in sven provision is urgently needed and that charities like interactive deserve our support more than ever ?

more than ever? >> yes, i do, and i know this will be a concerning time for families who rely on the brilliant work of whitby interactive and children with special educational needs and disabilities have been failed for too long, and this comes up repeatedly in this house with parents struggling to get their children the support that they need and that they deserve. we must raise the standards for every child so they can succeed in education. we will fix the foundations, mr speaker, and ensure every child can achieve their potential . their potential. >> leader of the opposition rishi sunak . rishi sunak. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> can i join with the prime minister's words of tribute to alex salmond and the holocaust survivor, lily ebert, and thank him for his kind words about sir david amess? we remember him fondly and we will be thinking of all their families at this moment. mr speaker, this week china has carried out unwarranted, aggressive and intimidatory military exercises

intimidatory military exercises in the taiwan strait. our allies are rightly concerned, after worrying reports that the government may have intervened to stop a visit to the uk by the former taiwanese president. can the prime minister confirm that the prime minister confirm that the foreign secretary will use his meetings in beijing this week to condemn china's dangerous escalatory acts in the strait? >> prime minister ? i thank him >> prime minister? i thank him for his question. the continued military activity in the strait is not conducive to peace and stability , and stability in the stability, and stability in the taiwan strait is in all of our interest. on the wider point that he raises, we will cooperate where we can, as permanent members of the un security council. issues like net zero health and trade compete where we have different interests but challenge. the point he makes is absolutely right where it is needed to protect national security, human rights and our values. protect national security, human rights and our values . and we rights and our values. and we will put that challenge in. he

should act. >> well, given what the prime minister said, and i agree, of course we must engage and we should use that engagement for our national interests. i hope that the foreign secretary will unequivocally condemn this military escalation and stand up for democracy in taiwan. now, the whole house will be concerned about the fate of the democracy campaigner jimmy lai. he is a british citizen who has been wrongly imprisoned in hong kong for four years. the previous government pressured china for his release. does the prime minister agree that this is a politically motivated prosecution, and that it is a breach of china's legal obugafions breach of china's legal obligations to hong kong under the sino—british declaration ? the sino—british declaration? >> yes. and this case, as he will understand, is a priority for the government. we do call on the hong kong authorities to release immediately our british nationals. and the foreign secretary raised this case in his first meeting with china's foreign minister, and we will continue to do so .

continue to do so. >> rishi sunak. >> rishi sunak. >> i thank the prime minister for that answer. now china, as he knows, has become a decisive enabler of russias war against ukraine, supplying the vast majority now of russias imported military, microelectronics and components, worsening the suffering of the ukrainian people. so can the prime minister confirm that he is prepared to sanction any chinese business or individual involved in aiding russias invasion of ukraine, including secondary sanctions on financial institutions. >> the prime minister. >> the prime minister. >> yes, and weve called for that in the past. we continue to do so, and i hope this is an issue where we can have unity across the house. >> rishi sunak. >> rishi sunak. >> yes, i can assure the prime minister of his support. it is something that we began. the united states recently have expanded their sanctions , and 1525 0