Peter Bone (Con) says he is putting forward a private member’s bill saying asylum seekers coming from a safe country will have to return there. Will the PM back this?
Johnson says the government has its own bill that will ensure people coming to the country illegally are not treated in the same way as people coming to the country legally.
Gareth Thomas (Lab) says newly qualified graduates will face a marginal tax rate of almost 50% under the PM’s new plans. Isn’t this another example of the poor being asked to pay more so the rich pay less?
Johnson disagrees. He says the rich are paying more.
Wendy Chamberlain (Lib Dem) asks what practical support will be provided to EU citizens trying to stay in the UK.
Johnson says the EU settlement scheme has helped 6 million people. That is double the number expected.
Peter Kyle (Lab) asks Johnson if he can say Gavin Williamson is the right person to be education secretary.
Johnson says Williamson has done a heroic job in difficult circumstances. The job of teachers would have been much easier if Labour had said schools were safe.
James Gray (Con) asks the PM to join him in thanking volunteers for St John Ambulance.
Johnson says they do an astonishing job. And he urges people who have not yet had a Covid vaccine to get one now.
Neale Hanvey (Alba) asks what Johnson means when he says people should rise out of poverty through their own efforts.
Johnson says he wants to see a jobs-led recovery. He is proud to see wages rising by the highest rate for years.
Lee Anderson (Con) says migrants crossing the Channel should be sent straight back.
Johnson says human trafficking is a vile trade. The government is trying to stop it, he says.
Emma Lewell-Buck (Lab) says a constituent spent a long time getting through to the helpline for non-British nationals in Afghanistan. When the call was over, and they thought he had hung up, the constituent heard the person on the other end laughing, and saying they were having to lie to people.
Johnson says he will look into it.
Richard Drax (Con) invites the PM to visit Weymouth, so he can see why it needs better infrastructure.
Johnson says he can think of nothing better than a trip to Weymouth.
Johnson says the shortage of HGV drivers is affecting countries all over Europe.
Source: Guardian
