Image source, HoC

The Labour chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Yvette Cooper, sticks with what lessons if any have been learned from the handling of the pandemic. Will the PM now admit it was a mistake not to close the UK's borders with France last March, she asks

Boris Johnson says the UK has "very tough measures against people bringing the virus in to the country". But Ms Cooper says he is not answering the questions about the situation last year at the start of the pandemic.

She asks why doesn't the PM now put France on the "red list", external given the spread of new variants of the virus in the country.

Mr Johnson says cases of the new variants are not rising in France. The numbers are "low and stable" he argues.

He explains that putting a country on the "red list" has consequences for the supply of medicines and foods to the UK but says "we will have to look at tougher measures" if the circumstances change.

Image source, HoC

Next, Ms Hilier asks if £37bn on test and trace is good value for money once vaccines have been rolled out.

Mr Johnson says this is the figure for the whole budget of the programme, and it is right to spend it to stop the disease from spreading where it is prevalent. Every morning he chairs a meeting on where the virus is, he says, and every week it continues to get better, he states.

Ms Hillier asks if he regrets not locking down more quickly at Christmas.

Mr Johnson says that decision was made following the discovery of the new variant, which was made possible thanks to test and trace.

Ms Hillier again asks if he regrets his announcement at Christmas, which caused crowded trains to leave London.

Mr Johnson says he regrets the affects of lockdown, the loss of business and the loss of earnings. He says no one would have made the decisions he's made without regretting it, but it was the "right thing to do in the light of the evidence that we had".

Sir Bernard Jenkin says he "appreciates" the remarks made by Boris Johnson earlier on the effectiveness of test and trace, and how it might have been more effective if it had been run locally.

Mr Johnson says he isn't sure it would have been sensible to rely on just local officials to handle test and trace.

Image source, HoC

Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Labour MP Meg Hillier asks Boris Johnson what his biggest regret is over the past year.

Mr Johnson says there are "all sorts of things" which he looks back on and wonders if he could have done differently. He says the situation in care homes is something previously mentioned, and he does want a "proper inquiry in due course" when time can be focused on it.

Ms Hillier asks if test and trace is something he is "content" with having committed £37bn to it.

Mr Johnson says test and trace has been "an extraordinary achievement".

Ms Hillier asks if it is value for money.

Mr Johnson says 80% of the money for test and trace goes on labs and testing which is "desperately needed". It has given us "the tools to fight" the virus, he states.

Ms Hiller says Dido Harding, the chair of Test and Trace has said it still remains a "challenge" to get people to isolate.

Mr Johnson says Test and Trace gives people support if they need it. Councils have been given "tens of millions of pounds extra" to give people help to isolate, who "otherwise would have been in the transmission chain".

Image source, HoC

Reality Check

The PM was asked about the row about vaccine exports from the EU.

But what is it all about?

The European Union (EU) has said it could block exports of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab to the UK, amid claims current arrangements are slowing down its own vaccine rollout.

The EU has been criticised for the pace of its vaccination programme - only 14% of its population have received the jab, compared with 45% in the UK.

Read more here

Turning to social care, he says there was "vulnerability" in the care sector which allowed for excess deaths in that area. He says the PM previously promised to fix the social care problem "once and for all," he asks what progress there is there, as the NHS got £6.6bn last week, but social care got no such boost.

Mr Johnson says that, when Hunt was Health Secretary, it was the "right thing" to turn the Department for Health into the Department for Health and Social Care. He says there is a long-term, ten year plan required to fix social care, there will be proposals brought forward on that in the coming year, he states.

Mr Hunt asks if social care will get a mention in the forthcoming Queen's Speech.

Mr Johnson says it is "highly likely" but he doesn't want to say what will be in "the gracious speech".

Image source, HoC

Chair of the Health Committee Conservative Jeremy Hunt asks if British lives were at risk, would the UK do a "careful and proportionate retaliation" to make sure British people get vaccines.

Mr Johnson says the co-operation the UK has with the EU is "very important" and he says he doesn't believe blockades "are sensible". There's long-term damage done by blockades, he states, which can be "very considerable". Anyone considering a blockade may want to think about how companies would view a country where such things are imposed.

Mr Hunt asks if nothing will be "taken off the table" to make sure the UK gets vaccines.

Mr Johnson says "we will do everything that is necessary" to make sure that people get their vaccines.

Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson then have a light conversation about both getting their coronavirus vaccines - Hunt says he got the virus three days after he had his jab.

Image source, HoC

Mr Crabb moves on to ask about the PM's relationship with the leaders of the devolved administrations.

He notes that Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, has described his relationship with Mr Johnson as "remote". How much time does the PM think he should spend building and sustaining these relationships he asks?

Mr Johnson says he is sorry to hear this is Mr Drakeford's view. He says he has "very good conversations" with him, as does Michael Gove.

He says he is the leader of the "whole of the UK" and it would be wrong to turn deliberations with the devolved nations in to "mini EU".

Would he spend more time with a new First Minister of Scotland if Nicola Sturgeon is not re-elected in May ask Mr Crabb.

Mr Johnson says he has and wants a good relationship with leaders of all parts of the UK and they talk many times.

Image source, HoC

The Conservative chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, Stephen Crabb asks, apart from the vaccination programme, why has so much of the pandemic response been fragmented and disjointed?

The PM says he does not accept that. Clearly the devolved administrations had competencies for certain things and messaging needed to be as local as possible, he adds.

Mr Johnson said he worked very closely with the devolved administrations and it has "been incredible" to see how scientists around the UK are working together.

Mr Crabb asks if it was a "mistake" not to deploy central civil contingency measures.

Mr Johnson says some people would agree with that assessment and the "time will come to look back". It is one of the things the public inquiry in to the pandemic will look at, he says.

Mr MacNeil asks next about trade and damage to GDP after leaving the EU.

He asks if any deal has been signed to make up for it, or if membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP) in Asia would cover it?

Johnson says: "The overall benefits of trade deals are weather tested and ambition of this country is to continue to secure them."

He says he "humbly accepts" there are issues with fishing, though he says "in some ways it was regrettable some of our continental friends didn't make life as easy as they could have".

But the PM says the government is "doing what we can to redress the matter".

Image source, HoC

Moving onto the matter of democracy, the SNP member says he knows the prime minister isn't in favour of another referendum on Scottish independence.

But he asks: "If Scottish or Welsh people were to say at the ballot box [they wanted a referendum], would you respect the ballot box and that decision?"

Boris Johnson says he is "very keen to respect the vote" that has already taken place on Scottish independence.

He adds: "When you ask people to vote on a controversial and highly divisive issue... that breaks up family relationships, that is extremely toxic and divisive, and you tell them it is once in a generation, it should be."

Mr MacNeil says what would be toxic is "stifling democracy", adding: "I hope you wouldn't make fast and loose with it as in Russia, Belarus and China."

Mr Johnson concludes that he "respects the ballot box".

Image source, HoC

Next up by video link is the SNP chair of the International Trade Committee Angus Brendan McNeil, - he starts with asking about the clocks going forward.

He asks the PM whether the UK will be following suit when next year, the EU cancels the change of the clocks, adding: "Will you be the prime minister who kills British Summer Time?"

Mr Johnson says: "The roadmap for taking this country on the path of freedom goes up to 21 June - we haven't looked forward to what is happening next spring."

With a laugh, he adds: "But it seems unlikely to me!"

Ms Champion then goes on to say that girls' education is of high priority to the government, but she says cutting funding to the global planned parenthood charity will increase unwanted pregnancy and increase gender-based violence. She asks what it feels like when ambition and reality "are so far apart".

Mr Johnson says no-one wants to "make these changes and these cuts now," but there are "particular difficulties that we face right now," and he says the UK will continue to spend 0.7% of GDP on aid when the circumstances allow. "There are plenty of things that we are going to continue to do," and the UK intends to spend money to give twelve years of good education to every girl in the world.

Ms Champion asks if this means money is being ringfenced for women's education and against violence and women and girls.

Mr Johnson says the government's aims remain "unchanged" and they are spending money to give the education girls need.

Liaison Committee Chair Bernard Jenkin asks what is the government's position on the Horizon science project.

Mr Johnson says Horizon is a "wonderful pan-European project" which is "extremely costly". But the government wants to "make sure" that scientists do not have "discontinuity" as the UK leaves the EU.

Image source, HoC

Chair of the International Development Committee Sarah Champion says that on Monday the government committed to spending £188bn for defence, she asks why this is possible when aid spending is being cut.

Mr Johnson says she has previously asked about this matter, the UK has been a "great aid donor" he states, but he says he wants to "reassure" her that £10bn "is a huge sum" for aid overseas.

"Times are very tight," he adds, stating that the UK has had to spend £407bn to help the country through Covid-19.

Ms Champion says in a review, poverty and conflict are all projected to increase in sub-Saharan Africa. She asks why development funding is being cut in that region.

"We are still one of the biggest aid donors in Africa in the world," replies Boris Johnson, and the UK is one of the biggest donors to the global vaccine alliance, he states.

Ellwood moves on to veterans next and asks why the budget for the Office of Veterans Affairs is being cut from £5m to £3m.

Mr Johnson says no decision has been taken.

He says £10m has been given to mental health charities that look after veterans and that alongside national insurance rebates and free transport, ministers are doing all they can to look after veterans.

Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent

There was an interesting moment earlier on the matter of Greensill – a company that the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, was an adviser for.

Labour has called for an investigation following reports that Mr Cameron lobbied HM Treasury on behalf of Greensill Capital, which recently collapsed.

The Bank of England has confirmed it was contacted by Greensill, including approaches from David Cameron, to unsuccessfully request access to a covid scheme.

And just now a new claim from the Labour MP, Darren Jones – which we have no further details on – that David Cameron also contacted a special adviser in Downing Street to try and secure public funds for the company.

Boris Johnson said that it was “news” to him and that any such contacts will be registered in the “proper way”.

Image source, HoC

Before moving onto the next MP, the committee chair, Bernard Jenkin, asks the PM about raising the cap on the number of nuclear warheads in the defence review, saying it "came as something of a surprise".

The overall cap on the number of warheads will now increase to 260, having been due to drop to 180 under previous plans from 2010.

The Tory MP asks what measures the government will take to build a "political consensus" on raising the number, as there had been around the previous stockpile.

Mr Johnson says it is "crucial to stress" the new number is "a ceiling, not a target", adding: "We remain as a government committed to the minimum credible deterrent".

Mr Jenkin calls for "open discussion across the party divide" about it going forward - which the PM agrees to.

Image source, HoC

The chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood is up next.

He asks if the prime minister agrees with the picture set out in the Integrated Review of the threats facing Britain.

Does the PM think democracy is in decline, threats from countries like Russia and China are increasing and cyber crime and climate change pose real risks?

Boris Johnson says yes he thinks the vision and the analysis set out in the review was "very sensible".

Mr Ellwood asks why then, if the threats are more complex and dangerous has a 2.2% "peace time budget" been awarded to the armed forces rather than the 4% in the cold war era. Isn't this exposing the UK to threats? Surely defence spending should be raised to 3% he says.

Mr Johnson says the 2.2% is a increase and represents the "biggest investment of £24bn since the cold war.

It's a "full spectrum" of investment says Mr Johnson, covering everything from tanks to cyber crime.

Mr Jones carries on his questioning asking about the £400m bailout of the OneWeb satellite company, asking who signed the cheque in government.

Mr Johnson says it is important for the UK to be part of the space race, but while saying the "deal was done by the government", he does not reveal who made the final call.

The PM is also asked about reports that one of his predecessors, David Cameron, personally lobbied the government for a bailout for a firm he represented called Greensill.

Asked if he took any calls or those in No 10, Mr Johnson says: "It is news to me".

He adds: "Any such contacts or whatever will of course be registered in the proper way."

"I simply have no knowledge of that".

Roger Harrabin
BBC environment analyst

Image source, West Cumbria Mining Company

The government has been pressured into calling a public inquiry into a proposed new coal mine in Cumbria.

The county council at first approved the colliery, and the government decided not to challenge the decision.

After an outcry from environmentalists, the council decided to review its decision.

But now ministers have taken over the process, following weeks of angry criticism from climate experts and campaigners.

Read Roger's guide here of six questions about the Cumbria coal controversy.

Image source, HoC

The committee's chair, Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, begins by outlining the three topics they are going to discuss - the UK's place in the world, coronavirus, and the economy.

Labour MP Darren Jones then presses the PM on what the UK will do to encourage others to reach net-zero targets as part of the COP26 meeting later this year.

The PM says the event is "one of the single biggest priorities that any government could have".

But he sings the praises of the UK, naming numerous countries that have followed suit since our "wildly ambitious" net zero targets were set.

Asked if others will take us seriously with pledges for cheaper flights and new coal mines in the UK, the PM says the country has an "incredible record".

"In 1970 when I was six and I don't think you were even born, 90% came from coal," he says. "That is down to much less than 1% now".