Easter Recess: Government Update

Debate between Boris Johnson and David Simmonds

Tuesday 19th April 2022 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I heard what the hon. Member said. I do not agree with it, and nor do I agree with what he said about those on the Front Bench.

[David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) (Con)]

I was lucky, in that on Saturday night I got to hold the hand of my father-in-law as he died of complications from covid, so I understand the anger that many people feel and the challenge that we all face when it comes to the credibility of our Government and the good actions of this Conservative Government, which I support. But I have to ask my right hon. Friend what steps he has in mind to restore the moral authority of this Government.

[The Prime Minister]

I think the best thing the Government can do is to continue to deliver on the promises that we made to the British people, and that is what we are doing.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Boris Johnson and David Simmonds

Wednesday 16th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

Yes, of course. I can give assurances on both counts. I can say that unless we see progress on the implementation of the protocol, which I think is currently totally disproportionate, then we will have to take the necessary steps to do exactly what the right hon. Gentleman says.

[David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) (Con)]

  Does my right hon. Friend agree that the rebuild of Hillingdon Hospital will be of great benefit to his constituents and mine? Will he commit to working with me and other local Members of Parliament, and potential future MPs such as Peter Fleet in Chesham and Amersham, to secure the future of services at Hillingdon’s other site, Mount Vernon Hospital in my constituency, which provides specialist medical treatments to a very wide catchment area?

[The Prime Minister]

My hon. Friend is totally right about Hillingdon Hospital, which has a great future. I look forward to working with him to ensure that the future of services at Mount Vernon is also protected. I know that a full consultation is due to start in September.

Covid-19: Road Map

Debate between Boris Johnson and David Simmonds

Monday 22nd February 2021 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

To the best of my memory, the Labour Opposition were advocating during the early stages of the crisis that we should secure PPE from, I think, a theatrical impresario who specialised in capes and gowns and a football agent who claimed to be able to get hold of masks. We went as fast as we possibly could to get PPE and those who are now denouncing us for going too fast were those who were complaining back them that we were not going fast enough.

[David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) (Con) [V]]

My right hon. Friend and the Government have rightly been unapologetic throughout this pandemic in their determination to safeguard children’s educational opportunities and wellbeing. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, once all schools reopen on 8 March, the Government will be putting in place all the measures necessary to keep them open, working with academy trusts and, crucially, local authorities to avoid any further disruption to our children’s education?

[The Prime Minister]

Yes, indeed. I am grateful to my hon. Friend because that is exactly why we wish to take this cautious but irreversible approach to make sure that we do not have to go back into measures that would keep kids out of school again. He is quite right in what he says.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Boris Johnson and David Simmonds

Wednesday 30th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady. There will of course be plenty of time to go over all the decisions that the Government have made—for which, as I have said repeatedly, I take full responsibility—but she is right to draw attention to the incidence in her constituency of 183 per 100,000. That is a serious increase. The position is not the emergency of March, but it is serious, and that is why I hope she will encourage her right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition to support more actively—or perhaps more consistently; I will put it that way—what the Government are doing. I hope she will also encourage her constituents that the best thing we can all do is to follow the guidance: hands, face, space; get a test if they have symptoms; and where local measures need to be in place, look at the website and follow that advice.

[David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) (Con)]

  My right hon. Friend and I have the privilege of representing areas with an honourable history of supporting refugees. What plans does he have to mark the successful conclusion of the five-year Syrian resettlement scheme, which is regarded as giving the UK the international gold standard for refugee resettlement, providing safe legal routes to the UK and bolstering our efforts to deter human trafficking?

[The Prime Minister]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The UK can be incredibly proud of what we have done to resettle Syrian refugees. We have resettled more than 25,000 through safe and legal routes direct from conflict zones, and we will continue to meet our obligations to those fleeing persecution and war around the world.