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Rayner says staff were afraid to enter Dominic Raab’s office
Rayner says Raab had to call for an inquiry into himself because Rishi Sunak was too weak to get a grip. She says Raab’s behaviour was called demeaning. Staff were afraid to enter his office. And that is without mentioning the flying tomatoes. So why he is still her?
Raab says Rayner has not put a specific point to him. If she does, he will address it, he says.
Key events
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Anum Qaisar (SNP) says it is the Tories that are to blame for the country’s economic and social problems. When will they accept responsiblity?
Raab says the government is working in partnership to address problems. And he says inflation-busting pay rises will lead to inflation staying high for longer, which will hurt the most vulnerable.
Peter Bone (Con) asks if a potential returns policy was discussed when Rishi Sunak spoke to the French president about the small boats deal.
Raab says he cannot say, because he has not seen the readout of the meeting.
Judith Cummins (Lab) asks if the government is committed to including a stop at Bradford in its Northern Powerhouse Rail plans.
Raab says the government’s plans will be set out soon.
Rebecca Long-Bailey (Lab) and Sir John Hayes (Con) both ask about support for veterans of Britain’s nuclear tests.
Raab says officials have been asked to look again at the case for giving them a medal.
Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con) says Labour has a poor record on bullying. He says the party is “hypercritical”, implying it is also being hypocritical (a word deemed unparliamentary when used of opponents).
Raab says Rees-Mogg has made his point in his usual inimitable way. He says everyone should take responsibility for their actions.
Raab confirms he was involved in employment dispute, resolved with confidentiality clause, before he became MP
Bambos Charalambous (Lab) asks if Raab has ever entered a non-disclosure agreement in relation to a complaint against him.
Raab says this is a reference to an employment dispute that he had before he became an MP. It was not an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), but it did include a confidentiality clause, as was standard at the time
Saqib Bhatti (Con) asks about support for people with verbal dyspraxia.
Raab says Bhatti will got a meeting with the relevant minister.
Catherine West (Lab) says rents are out of control in her constituency.
Raab says, as a former housing minister, he knows how important this is. The housing secretary is looking at legislation to help renters, he says.
Kevin Foster (Con) asks about help for the tourism sector.
Raab says the government has a tourism recovery plan.
Cat Smith (Lab) says schools are facing cuts. What services should they cut if they do not get the money they need?
Raab says the UK is the top spender on primary and secondary education in the G7.
Sir Edward Leigh (Con) says the government should consider using ID cards to tackle illegal immigration.
Raab says the deal with France will help. He says the bill of rights his department is introducing will help. On ID cards, he says digital visas already help in this respect.
Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s deputy leader at Westminster, says Rishi Sunak refused six times yesterday to apologise for the mini-budget and the chaos it caused. Now inflation is at its highest rate for 41 years. Will Raab say sorry?
Raab says inflation is clearly a problem. But the government has a plan to grip it, he says.
Oswald says if the government cannot even say sorry for the mess they made, what hope is there that they will fix it? The budget will impose austerity 2.0, she says. Will the government join the fight against child poverty tomorrow, and match the Scottish government’s child payment scheme.
Raab says the UK government will continue to work with the Scottish government to help the most vulnerable.
Lucy Allan (Con) asks about a hospice in her constituency.
Raab says hospices do an amazing job.
Rayner says Raab is implying there was no problem, or does he think civil servants are lying? Who will do the investigation? And when will the government appoint a new ethics adviser?
Raab says a new ethics adviser is being appointed. He says Rayner came her with her usual mix of “bluster and mudslinging” because Labour does not have a plan.
Rayner says staff were afraid to enter Dominic Raab’s office
Rayner says Raab had to call for an inquiry into himself because Rishi Sunak was too weak to get a grip. She says Raab’s behaviour was called demeaning. Staff were afraid to enter his office. And that is without mentioning the flying tomatoes. So why he is still her?
Raab says Rayner has not put a specific point to him. If she does, he will address it, he says.
Rayner says, on growth, the UK is 38th out of 38. If there was a world cup for growth, we would not even qualify.
She says Raab’s letter this morning contained no hint of an apology. Will he apologise?
Raab says under Labour debt and unemployment would go up. He says he is confident that he has behaved professionally throughout. He looks forward to addressing any complaints made transparently.