Tory MP Richard Drax says government plans to place a migrant barge in Portland Port is not in the national interest.

This barge, designed for 222 people, will accommodate 506 illegal migrants, already testing overstretched resources, and it was imposed on them without any consultation, he says.

He says there are many concerns both on the barge and what those men will do going around a seaside resort at the height of summer with little money - and asks, can the government stop this?

Dowden highlights the need to reduce the bill of housing asylum seekers in hotels, and says he's happy to engage with him, along with the home secretary, to find a solution to help his constituents.

Labour's Kim Leadbeater says she returned from a Parkrun to find many emails from her constituents who can't access NHS care, including doctors and dentists appointments.

She says after a decade of underinvestment the NHS is facing decline under the Tories and called for a radical new health strategy under Labour to put it "back on its feet".

Dowden replies by listing record numbers of doctors, nurses, scans and operations under the Tory government.

He says the only record Labour has is in Wales, where he says there is the worst waiting times in the country.

Image source, House of Commons

Scottish National Party MP Angela Crawley says the government has delivered issues including high interest rates, high energy prices, food shortages, strikes, as well as graduates leaving university with mountains of debt.

She asks Dowden if he will urge the prime minister to call a general election.

In response, Dowden says that rather that "focussing on playing politics", the government is focussing on delivering for the British people.

He criticises the SNP's recent record, saying the "people of Scotland deserve better".

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson asks the Deputy PM about lack of funding for the Northern Ireland health service.

He says their monetary allocation falls beneath their health needs and he asks Dowden to ensure the willingness of the government to engage on this and ensure public services get what they need to deliver for the people of NI.

Dowden says he'll give his assurance but highlights that the Department of Health in NI has been allocated £7.3bn, an increase of £20m above 2022-23, but the absence of NI executive is exacerbating challenges the health service is facing.

He says a fully functioning devolved government is necessary for reforms there.

Chris Mason
Political editor

There is a warmth and a waspishness to the exchanges between Oliver Dowden and Mhairi Black of the SNP.

Dowden sought to tease her over her republican views - on the day of Coronation celebrations in Edinburgh.

Black - who has said the ‘"entire concept of monarchy is ridiculous" - shook her head vigorously and smiled when the deputy prime minister suggested she would be enjoying the celebrations in Scotland today.

Black, who has said she is standing down as an MP at the next election responds to Dowden's comment that they joined the house at the same time by joking that perhaps they will be leaving at the same time, which is met by jeers and laughs from across the house.

She says the number one problem with the NHS is its workforce and asks what will it take for him and Labour to admit the damage that Brexit has caused to the health service.

Dowden says the government has announced £2.4bn ground-breaking funding in its NHS workforce plan.

There have been more doctors and nurses employed since his party has been in power, he adds, saying once again that the Tories deliver for the NHS.

SNP MP Mhairi Black thanks all staff in the NHS and reflects on quotes about using the private sector more. The first one says using the private sector is "something we should be very comfortable with". The second quote says "people go as NHS patients to the private sector and we could do more of it".

She asks the deputy PM which quote is from the PM and which is from the leader of the opposition?

Dowden firstly notes the King is receiving the Scottish regalia today.

He says he will take no lecture on the NHS and says "I and my children were born in an NHS hospital... and this government has put record funding into it".

Image source, House of Commons

Chris Mason
Political editor

There are gaps on the benches across the House. The stand-ins don’t help, but there were plenty of gaps last week too.

The forthcoming by-elections are luring some MPs to the campaign trail. Some are pointing out big gaps on the SNP benches.

There aren’t many Lib Dems in the chamber. And there are gaps on the Conservative and Labour benches too.

Dowden ends by saying the government has built more houses than Labour.

He says "it's the same old thing" from Angela Rayner, accusing her of stacking up "endless job titles" and taking union cashm and saying she "constantly talks Britain down".

He says his party will do everything it can to keep Labour out of government.

Rayner says housebuilding is set to collapse to its lowest level since the war.

Rents and mortgages are soaring, and home-ownership is plummeting, she adds.

And over 1m people are waiting for a council house, she says.

She asks: "When will the government stand up for the national interest instead of their own interests and build more houses?"

We have record levels of housing being built, says Dowden, adding that more council houses have been built under this government than when Labour was in office.

He then lists broader achievements of the Tories, including bringing down inflation and and waiting lists - as well as reducing arrivals of Albanian migrants.

Rayner says Dowden didn't answer her question about no-fault evictions and adds that the deputy PM is blaming the opposition for the government's own record.

She says the housing minister yesterday said she wasn't aware of the number of council houses being built.

Rayner asks who is responsible for council housing then?

Oliver Dowden says the government is increasing the national living wage and has "lifted a million people out of poverty".

The deputy prime minister says he is "immensely proud of the record of this government".

Rayner next highlights "homelessness on their watch" - and says Labour will act by banning no-fault evictions. What will the government do?, she asks.

Dowden says the last time that Labour tried to sack the deputy Labour leader she walked out with a promotion.

He continues, saying that his party will continue to support renters, taking no lectures from Labour.

Image source, House of Commons

Rayner saysthe Tories did crash the economy and says no-fault evictions are up by 116% this year.

Rayner asks: "Will he tell us if the PM has a spine to stand up to the vested interests in his own party and finally deliver their promise to ban no fault evictions?"

You can read more about no-fault evictions here.

Dowden responds by saying the government has introduced legislation for the first time to support renters, to give them greater security.

He says, that in this country, we have made a choice to "invest in our economy", saying this has been justified by the UK having the "fastest growing economy" in the G7 for the last two years.

Rayner says after 13 years of Conservative "failures", that's a "pathetic" answer.

She says mortgage payers are counting the soaring cost - and renters too. What is the government doing to give them some security?

Dowden also pays tribute to Lord Bob Kerslake, saying he will be missed on both sides of the house.

Addressing Rayner's comments about the PM not being in attendance, he jokes "some leaders trust their deputies to stand in for them", to jeers in the house.

He continues, saying he supports the Bank of England's decision to take necessary measures to control inflation.

Instead, the deputy prime minister says Labour plans to borrow £28m a year, which he says will push inflation up.

Angela Rayner is up and also begins by thanking the NHS and its staff, as well as paying tribute to Lord Bob Kerslake who died at the weekend.

The Labour deputy leader says she has the pleasure of seeing Dowden at PMQs "two weeks on the trot", taking a swipe at PM Rishi Sunak's absence.

She moves on to say 4,000 families' mortgage deals expire every day and families are sick with worry.

She asks the deputy PM, do the Tories still claim to be the party of home ownership?

Image source, House of Commons