Ben Hatton
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media / UK Parliament

Sunak defied expectations at PMQs this week by focusing on China and its continued military activity close to Taiwan.

The big political talking points of recent days have focused on whether the government will raise employers' National Insurance contributions – and if so, whether this would be a manifesto breach – as well as Starmer's controversial acceptance of Taylor Swift tickets.

With UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy travelling to China later this week, Sunak wanted to know if he would use his meetings with leaders there to raise China's "dangerous and escalatory acts".

Image source, PA Media / UK Parliament

Starmer said China's actions are not conducive to peace, and that his government will challenge "where it's needed".

Starmer also denied Sunak's claim that the government is halting the implementation of a new regime designed to prevent foreign-state interference in the UK introduced under the Conservatives.

Continuing with foreign affairs, Starmer also said his government is "looking at" sanctioning two Isareli ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir.

He was responding to a question from Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who described the pair as "extremist" – it follows Tory former foreign secretary David Cameron revelation this week that the last government was considering it, and his recommendation that Labour do the same.

We'll be back for more PMQs next week – thanks for joining us.

How many of the 40 hospitals were new?published at 13:36 British Summer Time 16 October

13:36 BST 16 October

By Gerry Georgieva

Answering a question about rebuilding a hospital in North West Hampshire, Starmer said the previous government’s 40 new hospitals programme is flawed and is being reviewed.

"They weren't all hospitals, they weren't new and they weren't funded" he said.

In 2020, the previous Conservative government announced it would build 40 new hospitals in England by 2030.

As well as entirely new builds, the definition of “new” hospitals included clinical buildings or wings at existing sites and refurbishments.

To date, one project of the 40 has opened – the Dyson Cancer Centre in Bath - with a second due to open in 2025.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said last year that the previous government would not meet its pledge by 2030., external

The new Labour government has committed to delivering the New Hospitals Programme, but it has not said when this will be completed.

Jacqueline Howard
Live reporter

That's it for Prime Minister's Questions for this week. Blinked and missed it? Here's what went down:

• Opposition Leader Rishi Sunak's questions largely focused on the government's approach to China, which Starmer said the UK would stand up to onsecurity and human rights. He also pledged tosanction entities supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, and called for the release of a jailed British campaigner
• Sunak's zinger of the day, however, was the claim that Starmer halted the implementation of an MI5 national security monitoring system, but the PM dismissed this as false
• The Lib Dems' Ed Davey argued to skip to writing off the carers allowance overpayments (no dice from Starmer), and called for sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers (Starmer said it was being looked into)
• Plaid Cymru's Ann Davies suggested a new social energy tariff to help pensioners missing out on the winter fuel payment - Starmer said the cut was necessary to fix the "black hole" left by the Tories (who groaned in response)
• Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsey also asked about health, seeking a commitment on dental contract reform, which Starmer agreed was an important issue to be addressed quickly
• Responding to Labour's Blair McDougall on the US's warning to Israel over a lack of aid reaching northern Gaza, Starmer said the UK agreed with Washington and warned Israel to comply with its obligations

Away from PMQs, the government has announced an independent review into overpayments of Carer’s Allowance. 

Some unpaid carers have been told to repay thousands of pounds after accidentally earning too much money because of the overpayments.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall says ministers are “determined to put this right".

The review will focus on how and why overpayments were made, operational changes to minimise the risk of it happening in the future, and how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can best support those with overpayments

You can read more here.

Is tooth decay the top reason for child hospital admissions?published at 13:11 British Summer Time 16 October

13:11 BST 16 October

By Anthony Reuben

A short while earlier, the prime minister told MPs: “The commonest cause for admissions for six to 10 year olds in our children's hospitals is to have teeth taken out”.

That was correct in 2022, according to official government statistics, external for England.

More recent figures, external for 2023 show tooth decay was the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged between five and nine in England.

Speaking about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Blair McDougall from Labour mentions the US's letter to Israel calling for more aid to be allowed into Gaza, or risk having some of its US military assistance cut off.

McDougall asks whether the government agrees with the US's comments and what representations have been made by the UK.

"Yes, I do agree", says Starmer.

He says there is an urgent need for more aid into Gaza and that Israel "must comply" with its obligations.

A reminder: The US has written to Israel, giving it 30 days to boost humanitarian aid access in Gaza or risk having some US military assistance cut off.

That's the last of our updates from questions asked in the Commons, but stay tuned for more reaction and analysis.

Conservative Kit Malthouse asks about an election promise by Labour to rebuild a hospital in his constituency of North West Hampshire.

Starmer says the previous government's 40 new hospitals programme is being reviewed, but was flawed - because they were not all hospitals, they were not all new and they were not funded.

As promised, we'll keep bringing you the last few questions from the session.

Children's social care is now "in crisis", says Labour's Jake Richards, adding that vulnerable people are regularly placed hundreds of miles from home and often in unsafe accommodation.

He adds that meanwhile private companies are making record profits, calling it a "national scandal" that doesn't get enough attention. He asks whether addressing this is a government priority.

Starmer says the government inherited an "appalling" situation, saying there are "too many vulnerable children in unregulated accommodation".

The government is bringing legislation to put children and their wellbeing at the heart of education and the social care system, he says.

The session is now over and the assisted dying bill has been formally introduced in the Commons - which you can read more about that here - which means the Lib Dems' opposition day debate is under way.

In the meantime, we'll catch you up on some of the outstanding lines from PMQs.

Shaun Davies, Labour MP for Telford asks about suicide rates among young men, and if the PM agrees the party must tackle the issues head on.

Starmer agrees the statistics are truly shocking and reducing deaths from suicide is a "vital part" of the government's mission.

He adds that new health workers specialising in this will be recruited to ease pressure on NHS services.

Sunak focuses on foreign affairs, taking the partisan heat out of exchangespublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 16 October

12:49 BST 16 October

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

Well, I said Rishi Sunak had quite a few options for his questions to the prime minister.

So many, in turns out, that I failed to anticipate what he would press on: China, where David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is expected to visit in the coming days.

It’s not the first time in his brief stint as leader of the opposition that Sunak has chosen a foreign affairs issue at PMQs on which to press Keir Starmer.

By taking some - though not all - of the partisan heat out of the exchanges, it denies Starmer the opportunity to land clear political hits on the Conservatives.

But equally it denies the Conservatives a clear chance to land their arguments about Labour’s actions.

That suits Sunak given his unusual position as a former prime minister serving as leader of the opposition.

You can see, though, why so many Conservative MPs are eager for the leadership campaign to come to an end so they can return to more typical exchanges across the despatch box.

Plaid Cymru's Ann Davies says 86% of pensioners in Wales are in poverty or just above that line, yet many will now miss out on winter fuel payments. She calls for a new social energy tariff to help them pay their fuel bills.

Starmer says the government has inherited a £22bn "black hole". As Tory MPs groan, he adds they should be apologising, not groaning.

He says Labour is committed to the pensions triple lock - which will mean pensioners are £460 better off next year.

As a reminder, after taking power following July’s general election the Labour Party said the previous government left a surprise £22bn “black hole” in the country’s finances, though economist say the books should not have been a complete surprise.

Labour's Cat Smith references the government's plans to abolish hereditary peers in the House of Lords as she draws a parallel with poverty, which she suggests can also be passed down through the generations.

What are the government's plans to break the "cycle of poverty" she asks.

Starmer claims the Conservatives want to get rid of maternity pay but keep hereditary peers - saying "it's the same old Tories".

The Budget will deliver growth, improve the lives of working people and rebuild public services, he adds.

Image source, UK Parliament

Former Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay gets called to ask a question.

Having paid tribute to Alex Salmond and David Amess, he asks when will the government begin "critical negotiations" on dental contract reform.

Will it be by the end of the year, he asks, so people don't have to resort to "pulling out their own teeth"?

Starmer agrees it is a "really important issue" and criticises the previous Tory government who he says left dentistry in a "shocking state".

We will take the "necessary steps" and work as quickly as possible to put this right, he says.

Labour's Katrina Murray asks for reassurance for small businesses that they will gain from the new Employment Rights Bill.

Starmer agrees, saying the bill is pro-worker and pro-growth. You can not build a strong economy on people in insecure work, he says, adding that unlike the Tories, Labour will always "champion workers' rights".

Conservative former minister Simon Hoare asks about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

"For too long, both parties have ducked and dodged taking the difficult but necessary decisions" he says, asking if the PM believes there is merit in formal cross-party working on the issue.

Starmer says he quibbles with the suggestion it was both parties, but agrees with the spirit of cross-party working on the issue and says he will do so.

Image source, UK Parliament

Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts also begins by paying tribute to Alex Salmond and Lily Ebert.

She asks Starmer about NHS waiting lists Wales where one in five people are currently on a waiting list.

We now have a Westminster government that wants to work with the Welsh government, says Starmer.

"We will work together, collaborate and ensure we deliver across Wales," he says.

Image source, UK Parliament

Labour's Mary Glindon asks what the government will do to protect children in care from becoming involved in county lines drugs gangs?

The PM says county lines are a real problem across the country. He pledges a new focus to prevent young people being lured into criminal gangs by creating a new offence of child criminal exploitation.

He also promises a "young futures" network staffed by youth workers, mental health workers and careers advisers helping young people to fulfil their ambitions away from crime.

Image source, UK Parliament

Davey's second question focuses on the Middle East and he asks if the government will sanction two "extremist ministers" in the Israeli government.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said that starving two million people in Gaza may be justified, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said settlers who killed a Palestinian are heroes, the Lib Dem leader tells MPs.

"We are looking at that because they are obviously abhorrent comments," Starmer says, adding there has also been "really concerning activity" in the occupied West Bank and in the wider region.

He adds that Israel must take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties and allow aid into Gaza.

"Along with France, the UK will convene an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address this," he says.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey begins his two questions to the PM by echoing the tributes earlier to Alex Salmond, Sir David Amess and Lily Ebert.

He then turns to the Carer's Allowance payment scandal, and asks if Starmer agrees that the evidence is already established, and whether he will vote for a motion to write off overpayments and look to a fuller review of carer support.

Starmer thanks Davey for raising the issue and says the government has launched an independent review into overpayments of the allowance to see what went wrong and what can be done to put it right.

He doesn't commit to voting for the motion, but says carers must get the support they deserve.