Labour’s Siobhain McDonagh ask about children on free school meals. If the PM is sincere about wanting to level up, will he support a bill to ensure all children on free school meals get internet access.
Johnson says he supports this aim. But the most important thing now is to get pupils back to school. It is disappointing that Labour has not unequivocally backed children going back, he says.
The DUP’s Ian Paisley says it was good to see the PM at a Christians in parliament event yesterday. Will the government invest in hydrogen-powered buses (some of which are made in Northern Ireland).
Johnson says he is a big fan of buses made in Northern Ireland.
Jason McCartney, a Conservative, asks if the government will replenish arts council funds so that the creative sector can be supported.
Johnson says the house is speaking with one voice this morning. But, as we open up, we must be careful. He says the theatres will reopen, but in a Covid secure way.
Labour’s Stephen Doughty asks about job losses in South Wales and elsewhere. Workers do not want slogans. They want to know what the PM will do to protect their jobs in the long term.
Johnson says he recognises that people are worried about their jobs. That is why they have a £600bn investment programme, he says.
Labour’s Bambos Charalambous asks abou Chicken Shed theatre and asks what will be done to support the arts.
Johnson says this is becoming a theme this morning. He is a fan of Chicken Shed, he says. He urges arts organisations not to lay off their staff.
James Daly, a Conservative, asks if the PM will do everything possible to support the creative sector.
Johnson says he will do all he can to get those sectors back. The way to do this is to defeat the virus, he says, accepting that he is repeating himself.
The Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine says 3m self-employed people are not getting help. Will the PM consider a universal basic income?
Johnson says he has looked at this. The best way forward is to get this disease under control, he says.
Johnson says the new security law in Hong Kong is a clear breach of its obligations under the treaty. He says the UK will now create a new route for people in Hong Kong with a British National overseas passport to come to the UK and have a path to citizenship, as he proposed.
Stephen Farry, the Alliance MP, asks if the government will provided clarity on how GB/Northern Ireland trade will work from January by the end of the summer. There is great uncertainty, he says.
Johnson says unfettered trade will continue.
Nickie Aitken, a Conservative, asks if the PM agrees “the show must go on” in theatres in the West End.
Johnson agrees. But to do that, we must defeat the disease, he says.
The SNP’s leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, says Johnson delivered a “self-proclaimed relaunch speech” yesterday. But the PM’s spokesman laughed when asked about new funding, he says.
What are the Barnett consequentials for Scotland as a result of the speech?
Johnson says his spokesman would not have laughed. The full Barnett consequentials will be announced next week, when the chancellor makes a statement, he says. He says Scotland has seen the UK Treasury get funding to all parts of the UK.
Already the Barnett consequentials for Scotland are worth £3.8bn.
Blackford says there was not a single penny for Scotland in the speech yesterday.
On the same day, the benefit sanctions regime was reintroduced, he says. He says that is heartless.
Johnson says he beseeches Blackford to think he may be mistaken. Benefts have been increased by £7bn. There will be plenty of wonderful things that will benefit all the UK, including Scotland, he says.
Starmer says the annoouncement yesterday was worth less than £100 per person. Meanwhile firms are being laid off. There was nothing in the speech for people in hospitality or retail. Will the furlough scheme be extended for those most at risk.
Johnson says overall the package is a £600bn package. He says the opposition should stop equivocating. They should emphatically support ending the lockdown and puttings kids in school. We are the builders, they are the blockers, he says. We are the doers, they are the ditherers, he says.
Starmer says the people not being contacted is a real problem. Johnson cannot just brush it away.
He says in the PM’s speech yesterday he said many of the jobs furloughed were not coming back.
How many jobs will yesterday’s announcement protect?
Johnson says the government has protected 11m jobs. He cannot put a figure on the number of jobs at risk. But the risk is serious. That is why he is promoting a new deal, he says. There is an investment in infrastructure going up to £100bn.
