Sunak responds by saying the government has consistently spoken to all the unions about pay disputes.

He says he's glad Starmer has raised the nurses' strike, as they do incredible work.

Sunak also says he wants to "put it on record what we've done for nurses", adding that while other public sector workers got a pay freeze last year, nurses got a 3% rise.

He adds that the government gave every nurse and midwife a £1,000 training budget and a £5,000 grant for bursaries.

Labour leader Keir Starmer starts by addressing the incident in the Channel overnight which has seen at least three people die, and calls for criminal gangs to be brought to justice.

He then addresses the nurse's strike tomorrow, saying all the PM needs to do is hold discussions. Starmer asks: "Why won't he?"

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw says MPs might be wearing a few more layers than usual in today's PMQs due to a lack of heating in parts of Parliament over the last three weeks.

Prime Minister's Questions starts with Rishi Sunak paying tribute to at least three people who lost their lives in the English Channel when their boat got into difficulty.

The PM is making his opening remarks at the despatch box as PMQs gets under way.

Rishi Sunak has arrived at the Commons ahead of PMQs, his last of 2022. It is due to get going in the next couple of minutes.

Sunak will face questions from opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer as well as other MPs as part of his weekly question and answer session.

Stay with us for the latest updates.

Jonathan Blake
BBC political correspondent

The deaths of people attempting to cross the English Channel overnight will set a sombre mood to at least the start of this week's Prime Minister's Questions.

But escalating strike action across the UK provides the main backdrop to the final clash of the year between Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak.

The Labour leader is likely to continue his attacks on the government's response, calling for ministers to negotiate with union leaders to avert industrial action.

But the opposition’s stance on strikes has looked a little unclear at times so the PM may well seek his own answers on exactly what Starmer would offer workers demanding higher pay.

In particular, on the eve of the biggest ever strike by nurses, the already strained situation in the NHS could well be a flashpoint in the Commons too.

Ministers have been holding a Cobra meeting this morning to discuss the ongoing strikes and how to mitigate the affect on the country.

Of course, the precise details of what is discussed in these meetings is always subject to secrecy, but it does show the urgency with which the government is treating the strikes. We got used to hearing about Cobra meetings during the pandemic. Generally, to host a meeting shows a level of importance and seriousness.

Cobra stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman will make a statement in the Commons on the deaths of at least three people after a migrant boat got into difficulties crossing the English Channel in the early hours of this morning.

It will follow PMQs at around 12:30.

The tragedy comes a day after Rishi Sunak set out new measures to curb migrant crossings.

Image source, PA Media

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has left Downing Street and is en route to the House of Commons.

The PM will be taking questions from MPs at 12:00.

We'll be bringing you the latest updates, but you can also watch the debate live by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

This morning's inflation figures showed the headline rate slowing from 11.1% in October to 10.7% last month, but the rise in the cost of living remains close to a 40-year high. And the wave of strikes - as workers squeezed by that cost of living fight for higher pay - is gathering pace.

Rail workers are striking for a second day, while postal workers and driving examiners have also walked out.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer could focus on these closely-linked issues, though some strikes are more uncomfortable than others for his party. Opinion polls suggest nurses preparing to walk out enjoy more public support than rail workers, for example.

A day on from Rishi Sunak's promise of more staff to help clear the backlog of asylum claims, the death of at least three people after a migrant boat ran into difficulties means the small boats issue will remain a prominent one - and it is likely to feature during PMQs.

Meanwhile, new SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will get his second pair of questions to Sunak.

As a two-day rail strike continues, the BBC will hear from Mick Lynch - the leader of the RMT union, which represents rail workers.

He'll be appearing on BBC Two's Politics Live programme after PMQs - you can watch that here. We'll keep you updated with what he says right here.

Zoe Conway
Employment correspondent

Tuesday saw widespread disruption and significantly reduced train services across England, Wales and Scotland - and today is likely to be the same. The RMT union is on strike until 23:59 tonight.

The Transport Secretary Mark Harper says the tide of public opinion is turning against the strike.

Is that true? The latest Savanta Comres poll suggests a small drop in public support since the end of October. Then it showed 50% in support of, and 29% opposed, to strike action. The updated survey, from last weekend, showed 47% in support versus 34% opposed.

On Thursday, timetables will be closer to normal, but early morning services are likely to be disrupted as trains and staff may be in the wrong place.

And then, on Friday, it starts all over again. The RMT is due to walk out for 48 hours until the end of Saturday.The union is also planning further action over Christmas and in the New Year.

Image source, .

Welcome to our live coverage of Prime Minister’s Questions.

As always, the main action kicks off at 12:00 in the House of Commons, which comes amid growing strike action around the UK. It also follows Rishi Sunak’s pledge to cut the asylum claim backlog.

Stick with us and we’ll bring you all the key developments from today.