House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Chris Ruane says that since 2010 the number of rough sleepers has risen, with homeless charities believing that one of the main reasons for "this huge increase" is the "botched introduction of universal credit and a general hostile environment to the poor".

He asks why the number of rough sleepers has "shot up" by 268% on "her watch"?

The prime minister says the government recognises the need to act on rough sleeping, with a commitment to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and end rough sleeping by 2027.

"We have put initial funding of £100m into this."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Fiona Bruce says she welcomes the acquittal of the Christian woman Asia Bibi in Pakistan on blasphemy charges.

She says she was originally convicted because she drank from a communal fountain. Ms Bruce asks what the government is doing to promote religious freedom.

Mrs May says this news is "very welcome" to the Ms Bibi's family. The UK calls for the abolition of the death penalty globally.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Chris Matheson says "women under 25 are dying" without access to cervical tests and asks for the age restriction on cervical screening tests to be abolished.

Theresa May says "it is important that we take clinical guidance on this matter, and the NHS are considering this as part of their plan for the long term."

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell welcomes the call from the United States for an end to the Saudi bombing in Yemen.

He asks for the PM to press for a new UN security council resolution, demanding an end to the "worst and most terrifying humanitarian catastrophe on the planet".

Theresa May says the UK backs the call for deescalation, adding that calling for a ceasefire "remains our position". But she adds that this will only have affect on the ground "if there is a political solution".

She says the UK has pushed for this in the past, and will continue to encourage a deescalation and a political solution.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour's Lilian Greenwood says John Mann has told her of the testimony received by the Nottinghamshire investigation into child sexual abuse.

She says a small amount of money for survivors would encourage others to come forward and provide support for those affected. She asks for guaranteed resources for the inquiry.

Mrs May says people are shocked to learn the extent to which children were being abused in this country in many different environments. The government will look at the recommendations of the inquiry when it completes "very seriously". She says it is important that the independent inquiry gets to the truth.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Teresa Pearce says in 2014 she wrote to the government to ask how much tax was unpaid on letting income from private landlords.

She says "their answer was £500m which was enough to build 7000 social homes," and asks how much the tax gap is now.

The prime minister says "in overall terms we have been closing the tax gap over the years".

"Since 2010 we have protected £185bn of revenue for the government."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Peter Bone says the Chancellor this week announced a Brexit dividend Budget if the UK leaves with no-deal, to which the Philip Hammond frowns. He says the Chancellor can cut taxes and reduce debt in the event of no deal.

He asks if the Chancellor could be the King of Brexit, if Theresa May is the Queen?

Mrs May says she is pleased to see the support he is offering to the Chancellor.

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Parliament

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SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asks if the prime minister can guarantee the supply of medicines if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Theresa May says the government is working for a good deal, but all departments are making contingency arrangements as a sensible government should.

Mr Blackford says she gave no answer to the question as to whether she can "guarantee" the supply of medicines. He says the government has "quietly" began a tender process to try and stockpile medicines at the cost of tens of millions of pounds. He says this money could have been spent on front line services.

"Isn't it the truth that the government is in a blind panic trying to cover up for a blind Brexit?" he asks.

"No," the prime minister replies, adding that last year the chancellor "made clear that there was money for no deal planning" and departments are making sensible contingency arrangements.

She repeats that she is working for a good deal for the whole of the UK, including Scotland.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Robert Halforn says CLIC Sargent data has found that families in Harlow make a 54 mile trip to the nearest cancer treatment centres which costs an average of £161 per month.

He says that given the announcement of a £20.5bn investment in the NHS over the next five years in the Budget, he wants to ask for a cancer travel fund.

Theresa May says "we do continue to look at what can be done to help these families at difficult times."

"We already have a health care travel cost scheme which allows patients to receive reimbursement if they qualify and are on low incomes, but I would like to discuss this with the charity further," she says.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

That was a noticeably more confident Theresa May having fun with Labour’s position on the tax cuts announced on Monday.

For once she was able to bask in the full-throated support of her own troops.

House of Commons
Parliament

Jeremy Corbyn says the PM once claimed "to be concerned by burning injustices", a concern which he says has "fizzled out".

He says that the Chancellor has failed to deliver on Mrs May's promise that austerity will come to an end.

"Only Labour can be trusted to end austerity," he states. He asks her to apologise for her "broken promise that she was going to end austerity".

Mrs May says she introduced the Modern Slavery Act, she introduced the Race Disparity audit. She adds that the government is taking a "balanced approach" to the economy, meaning that unemployment has gone down, while support for public services and wages are up.

"The hard work of the British people is paying off," she finishes.

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says the benefit freeze takes £1.5bn from 10 million lower and middle income households, making them £200 worse off.

"Labour would have ended the benefit freeze, and Labour policy is to raise taxes for the top 5% and the biggest cooperations in the country," he says.

Jeremy Corbyn asks the prime minister to confirm there is still another £5bn of cuts to social security to come by the government if it lasts until 2022.

The prime minister says Jeremy Corbyn "fails to mention that 2.4 million people will benefit from an extra £630 per year under Universal Credit."

"We're helping people on low incomes by freezing fuel duties and by cutting income tax, both of which the Labour party oppose," the prime minister says.

"If he wants to take care of working people and put money in people's pockets he should vote for the Budget on Thursday."

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Jeremy Corbyn says many schools have had to resort to asking parents for funds. He says the Budget did nothing to resolve this.

He asks why the prime minister "chose not to end the benefit freeze, but instead bring forward a tax cut for higher earners".

Theresa May says "we have put extra money into universal credit in the Budget", which she says is a welfare reform that "encourages people to get into the work place".

She says that on Monday, Mr Corbyn said that "cutting taxes for 32 million people was frittering money away", but yesterday the shadow chancellor said Labour would support the tax cuts. She says this is because the cuts were for middle earners.

"Will he back the tax cuts and vote for the Budget?" she asks in return.