Labour accused of 'taking £10,000 from Just Stop Oil protesters'
Dowden says real progress is being made in tackling fraud with extra resources.
While we are driving down inflation and energy bills, he continues, Labour is taking £10,000 from Just Stop Oil protesters, adopting their policies, blocking new production which would force the importation of more foreign oil and gas.
For once, says Dowden, he's in agreement with the GMB union - that Labour's energy policies are naive, lack intellectual rigour, and could decimate communities.
Working people paying the price for a Tory government - Rayner
Rayner tells MPs that only a quarter of taxpayers' money lost through fraud will be clawed back.
Working people are paying the price for a Conservative government, she adds.
We're working to recover lost money, says Dowden
We are working tirelessly to recover money, deputy PM Dowden responds.
He then takes aim at Labour and accuses them of having plans for an "unfunded £28bn spending spree", which he claims would add "£1,000 to everyone's mortgage".
Rayner asks next about fraud
Rayner launches into the next issue.
"Let me ask about something else that's gone missing," she says, before referring to the Public Accounts Committee finding that fraudulent behaviour has risen "fourfold" in the UK.
Can he tell us how much of our money he expects to be recovered? Rayner swiftly asks.
Deputy PM proud of government's record on schools
Dowden says that's not the case and the policy remains under review. He adds he's very proud of this government's record on funding schools - £4bn more this year and the same next year.
This has resulted in the highest reading standards in the western world, he says, in contrast to Labour's record on this in government.
Rayner asks about children missing from schools during Covid
These punchlines are dire, says Rayner.
She now turns to the issue of children who are missing from school following the Covid pandemic.
Why did the government abandon its plans for a register of missing children, she asks.
Dowden happy to stand up for government's record on pandemic
Dowden says he doesn't think we need to search Rayner's WhatsApp messages to know "that there's no communication between her" and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Dowden continues saying he will "happily" stand up for the government's record on Covid.
"While she and her party were carping from sidelines, calling for longer lockdowns", he was protecting theatres and museums as culture secretary, Dowden says.
Rayner presses on use of taxpayers' money
Rayner's back on her feet, with colleagues behind her shaking their heads at Dowden.
She says Labour is only asking for what the Covid inquiry is asking for.
Around the world, inquires are under way while the former PM Boris Johnson is asking for more money for new lawyers to fight the inquiry.
Is this really a good use of taxpayers' money? she asks.
Government has provided all relevant documents for inquiry - Dowden
Dowden responds by saying the government has provided every document related to the Covid inquiry, all internal discussions as requested, while protecting those that are "wholly and unambiguously irrelevant".
Private material including civil servants' personal medical details should not be disclosed, he says.
Dowden adds that he finds it "extraordinary that she should lecture us on value for money for the taxpayer" when he understands she has now purchased two pairs of noise cancelling headphones on expenses.
To be fair to Rayner, he quips, if I had to attend shadow cabinet meetings, I think I'd want to tune them out.
Tories accused of blocking Covid inquiry
Rayner then accuses the Conservatives of blocking the Covid inquiry.
Does Dowden think working people will thank him for spending taxpayers' money on "loophole lawyers" to obstruct the inquiry, she asks.
Dowden turns focus to Covid inquiry
Oliver Dowden responds by saying he welcomes the much shorter question from Rayner but says he wants to remind her about some "facts" to do with the Covid inquiry.
He says the government have given it "all the financial resources it needs" so that "we can learn the lessons from the pandemic".
Dowden then takes aim at the Labour-run authorities in Wales, saying there has been "no independent inquiry in Wales".
Rayner begins with question about Tory manifesto
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner begins her line of questioning by saying the Tory manifesto, at the last election, promised to end the abuse of judicial review.
"How's it going?" she asks, to cheers from her benches.
Deputy PM delivers opening remarks
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden begins by telling MPs Rishi Sunak is in Washington where he will be discussing global trade, Ukraine and AI with US President Joe Biden.
He also pays tributes to carers as it is National Carers Week.
Dowden at the despatch box
Oliver Dowden is up at the despatch box, which can only mean one thing: Prime Minister's Questions is under way.
Stay tuned for live updates, as well as analysis from our political correspondent Leila Nathoo.
A brief look at the Covid inquiry
The Covid inquiry is an investigation into the coronavirus pandemic - specifically how the UK government handled the health crisis.
It's being led by Baroness Heather Hallett, a member of the House of Lords, who, when she launched the inquiry, put out a statement saying it was "time for facts, not opinions" and promised to be "resolute" in her "quest for the truth".
Since then, she has largely been embroiled in a public battle with the government over WhatsApp messages belonging to the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other officials, which the Cabinet Office had argued weren't relevant to the investigation. Johnson has now bypassed the government and sent the messages requested.
The investigation's first public hearings are due to start next week.
Round two of Rayner vs Dowden
Leila Nathoo
Political correspondent
It’s fair to say that Westminster has not been clamouring for round two of Angela Rayner vs Oliver Dowden at PMQs after their first encounter at the despatch box last month, but that’s what we’re in for today with Rishi Sunak away.
I’d be surprised if there weren’t questions for the government about why they are taking the official Covid inquiry to court.
Oliver Dowden is the UK's Deputy Prime Minister and has stood in for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at PMQs on one previous occasion.
Dowden has had the role since April, when he replaced outgoing deputy PM Dominic Raab. Raab resigned after an investigation upheld some bullying allegations against him.
Beforehand, Dowden already played a key role at the heart of the prime minister's administration, as cabinet office secretary.
He was first elected to Parliament in 2015 and is a long-term ally of the prime minister. However, unlike the PM, Dowden voted remain in the EU in the Brexit referendum.
For the past two weeks, the government has been
embroiled in a stand-off with the Covid inquiry it set up, over WhatsApp and
other messages exchanged between Boris Johnson, other ministers and officials.
Inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett has insisted they should
all be handed over unredacted, but the Cabinet Office is challenging that in
the High Court, arguing that “unambiguously irrelevant” or private material
should be excluded.
Hallett says it’s for the inquiry to
decide what is and isn’t relevant.
With Rishi Sunak in Washington, Deputy Prime
Minister Oliver Dowden is standing in – and one of his roles is that he heads
the Cabinet Office.
So with opposition parties accusing the government
of hampering the inquiry and asking what ministers are trying to hide, it would
be no surprise if deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner – standing in for Sir Keir
Starmer – focused chiefly on this issue.
A small but growing number of Conservative
backbenchers have publicly called for the government to comply with the
inquiry’s demands.
Dowden and Rayner to appear at this week's PMQs
Marita Moloney
Live reporter
Hello and thanks for joining us as we get ready for this week's instalment of Prime Minister's Questions, or PMQs.
It's the first one in two weeks after a brief House of Commons recess, and will be conducted by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner. PM Rishi Sunak is currently in the US meeting President Biden.
We're hearing that questions about the Covid inquiry may come up, after various government departments were criticised for submitting inadequate evidence.
It comes after former PM Boris Johnson bypassed the Cabinet Office to hand over unredacted WhatsApp messages of his, after the government refused to.
I'm here at the BBC's political offices in Millbank along with my colleagues Sam Hancock, Chas Geiger and Kate Whannel. Stay with us as we bring you the latest news lines and analysis from the Commons.
Live Reporting
Edited by Marita Moloney
All times stated are UK
Labour accused of 'taking £10,000 from Just Stop Oil protesters'
Dowden says real progress is being made in tackling fraud with extra resources.
While we are driving down inflation and energy bills, he continues, Labour is taking £10,000 from Just Stop Oil protesters, adopting their policies, blocking new production which would force the importation of more foreign oil and gas.
For once, says Dowden, he's in agreement with the GMB union - that Labour's energy policies are naive, lack intellectual rigour, and could decimate communities.
Working people paying the price for a Tory government - Rayner
Rayner tells MPs that only a quarter of taxpayers' money lost through fraud will be clawed back.
Working people are paying the price for a Conservative government, she adds.
We're working to recover lost money, says Dowden
We are working tirelessly to recover money, deputy PM Dowden responds.
He then takes aim at Labour and accuses them of having plans for an "unfunded £28bn spending spree", which he claims would add "£1,000 to everyone's mortgage".
Rayner asks next about fraud
Rayner launches into the next issue.
"Let me ask about something else that's gone missing," she says, before referring to the Public Accounts Committee finding that fraudulent behaviour has risen "fourfold" in the UK.
Can he tell us how much of our money he expects to be recovered? Rayner swiftly asks.
Deputy PM proud of government's record on schools
Dowden says that's not the case and the policy remains under review. He adds he's very proud of this government's record on funding schools - £4bn more this year and the same next year.
This has resulted in the highest reading standards in the western world, he says, in contrast to Labour's record on this in government.
Rayner asks about children missing from schools during Covid
These punchlines are dire, says Rayner.
She now turns to the issue of children who are missing from school following the Covid pandemic.
Why did the government abandon its plans for a register of missing children, she asks.
Dowden happy to stand up for government's record on pandemic
Dowden says he doesn't think we need to search Rayner's WhatsApp messages to know "that there's no communication between her" and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Dowden continues saying he will "happily" stand up for the government's record on Covid.
"While she and her party were carping from sidelines, calling for longer lockdowns", he was protecting theatres and museums as culture secretary, Dowden says.
Rayner presses on use of taxpayers' money
Rayner's back on her feet, with colleagues behind her shaking their heads at Dowden.
She says Labour is only asking for what the Covid inquiry is asking for.
Around the world, inquires are under way while the former PM Boris Johnson is asking for more money for new lawyers to fight the inquiry.
Is this really a good use of taxpayers' money? she asks.
Government has provided all relevant documents for inquiry - Dowden
Dowden responds by saying the government has provided every document related to the Covid inquiry, all internal discussions as requested, while protecting those that are "wholly and unambiguously irrelevant".
Private material including civil servants' personal medical details should not be disclosed, he says.
Dowden adds that he finds it "extraordinary that she should lecture us on value for money for the taxpayer" when he understands she has now purchased two pairs of noise cancelling headphones on expenses.
To be fair to Rayner, he quips, if I had to attend shadow cabinet meetings, I think I'd want to tune them out.
Tories accused of blocking Covid inquiry
Rayner then accuses the Conservatives of blocking the Covid inquiry.
Does Dowden think working people will thank him for spending taxpayers' money on "loophole lawyers" to obstruct the inquiry, she asks.
Dowden turns focus to Covid inquiry
Oliver Dowden responds by saying he welcomes the much shorter question from Rayner but says he wants to remind her about some "facts" to do with the Covid inquiry.
He says the government have given it "all the financial resources it needs" so that "we can learn the lessons from the pandemic".
Dowden then takes aim at the Labour-run authorities in Wales, saying there has been "no independent inquiry in Wales".
Rayner begins with question about Tory manifesto
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner begins her line of questioning by saying the Tory manifesto, at the last election, promised to end the abuse of judicial review.
"How's it going?" she asks, to cheers from her benches.
Deputy PM delivers opening remarks
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden begins by telling MPs Rishi Sunak is in Washington where he will be discussing global trade, Ukraine and AI with US President Joe Biden.
He also pays tributes to carers as it is National Carers Week.
Dowden at the despatch box
Oliver Dowden is up at the despatch box, which can only mean one thing: Prime Minister's Questions is under way.
Stay tuned for live updates, as well as analysis from our political correspondent Leila Nathoo.
A brief look at the Covid inquiry
The Covid inquiry is an investigation into the coronavirus pandemic - specifically how the UK government handled the health crisis.
It's being led by Baroness Heather Hallett, a member of the House of Lords, who, when she launched the inquiry, put out a statement saying it was "time for facts, not opinions" and promised to be "resolute" in her "quest for the truth".
Since then, she has largely been embroiled in a public battle with the government over WhatsApp messages belonging to the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other officials, which the Cabinet Office had argued weren't relevant to the investigation. Johnson has now bypassed the government and sent the messages requested.
The investigation's first public hearings are due to start next week.
Round two of Rayner vs Dowden
Leila Nathoo
Political correspondent
It’s fair to say that Westminster has not been clamouring for round two of Angela Rayner vs Oliver Dowden at PMQs after their first encounter at the despatch box last month, but that’s what we’re in for today with Rishi Sunak away.
I’d be surprised if there weren’t questions for the government about why they are taking the official Covid inquiry to court.
Who is Oliver Dowden?
Oliver Dowden is the UK's Deputy Prime Minister and has stood in for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at PMQs on one previous occasion.
Dowden has had the role since April, when he replaced outgoing deputy PM Dominic Raab. Raab resigned after an investigation upheld some bullying allegations against him.
Beforehand, Dowden already played a key role at the heart of the prime minister's administration, as cabinet office secretary.
He was first elected to Parliament in 2015 and is a long-term ally of the prime minister. However, unlike the PM, Dowden voted remain in the EU in the Brexit referendum.
What we can expect from today
Chas Geiger
BBC News
For the past two weeks, the government has been embroiled in a stand-off with the Covid inquiry it set up, over WhatsApp and other messages exchanged between Boris Johnson, other ministers and officials.
Inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett has insisted they should all be handed over unredacted, but the Cabinet Office is challenging that in the High Court, arguing that “unambiguously irrelevant” or private material should be excluded.
Hallett says it’s for the inquiry to decide what is and isn’t relevant.
With Rishi Sunak in Washington, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is standing in – and one of his roles is that he heads the Cabinet Office.
So with opposition parties accusing the government of hampering the inquiry and asking what ministers are trying to hide, it would be no surprise if deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner – standing in for Sir Keir Starmer – focused chiefly on this issue.
A small but growing number of Conservative backbenchers have publicly called for the government to comply with the inquiry’s demands.
Dowden and Rayner to appear at this week's PMQs
Marita Moloney
Live reporter
Hello and thanks for joining us as we get ready for this week's instalment of Prime Minister's Questions, or PMQs.
It's the first one in two weeks after a brief House of Commons recess, and will be conducted by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner. PM Rishi Sunak is currently in the US meeting President Biden.
We're hearing that questions about the Covid inquiry may come up, after various government departments were criticised for submitting inadequate evidence.
It comes after former PM Boris Johnson bypassed the Cabinet Office to hand over unredacted WhatsApp messages of his, after the government refused to.
I'm here at the BBC's political offices in Millbank along with my colleagues Sam Hancock, Chas Geiger and Kate Whannel. Stay with us as we bring you the latest news lines and analysis from the Commons.