Sarah Jones (Lab) says Rishi Sunak behaved like a “stroppy schoolboy” at the liaison committee yesterday. He has bitten off more than he can chew.
Dowden says that was more of a rant than a question.
And that’s it. PMQs is over
John Baron (Con) says, with employment at a record high, can Dowden explain why the Labour party has such a bad record on unemployment.
Dowden says he remembers the “no money left” note left by Labour in 2010. That should never happen again, he says.
Paul Howell (Con) welcomes Fiona Hill (the former White House Russia expert, not Theresa May’s former co-chief of staff), as chancellor of Durham University. Dowden welcomes the appointment too.
Gerald Jones (Lab) asks about sarcomas. Awareness of these is low. What can the government do to address this?
Dowden says he has a great awareness of this. It is important to raise more awareness, he says.
Henry Smith (Con) says the chief minister of Gibraltar is in the gallery. Will the government protect the right of Gibraltarians to remain British as negotiations with Spain continue?
Dowden says he is happy to give that assurance.
Kim Leadbeater (Lab) says she had the usual stack of emails today from constituents who cannot get proper care. Does Dowden agree that the NHS faces “managed decline” under the Tories. She refers to the letter from three thinktanks.
Dowden says he does not agree. He says under the Tories the NHS has “record funding. record doctors, record nurses, record scans and record operations”.
(Dowden may be right about these “record” numbers, but they are a function of inflation and population growth, not meaningful measures in real terms, or proportionately.)
Aaron Bell (Con) says the government should open new dental schools. There is a place in his constituency that would make a good site for one, he says.
Dowden says the government has an “open mind” on the need for more dental schools.
Holly Mumby-Croft (Con) asks about the steel industry, and urges the government to take further measures to ensure the UK has a long-term, sustainable steel industry.
Dowden says Mumby-Croft is a champion for the industry. Tata and British Steel have had “meaningful offers of support”, he says.
Angela Crawley (SNP) asks if the government will hold an election now.
Dowden attacks the SNP’s record in government.
Maggie Throup (Con) asks about VAT on sunscreen. She says it should be removed, to save lives.
Dowden says, as as fair-headed person with a fair-headed family, he is very aware of the need for sunscreen, and the dangers of melanoma. But this is an issue for the Treasury, he says.
Sir Edward Leigh (Con) asks about a plan to move the grave of Guy Gibson’s dog at RAF Scampton, where migrants are being housed.
Dowden says he is sure that Home Office ministers will have heard this point.
Mhairi Black, the deputy leader of the SNP at Westminster, quotes someone saying we should be comfortable using the private sector more. And another said we should use the private sector more. Which was the PM, and which was the leader of the opposition?
Dowden starts by saying he is sorry Black is standing down. He says he and Black joined the Commons at the same time. And he says he knows Black will want to celebrate King Charles getting his Scottish regalia in Edinburgh today.
It’s a joke. Black is a republican, and she seems to find it funny.
Black says she and Dowden joined the Commons at the same time, “and I’m pretty sure we will be leaving at the same time”. She asks
That’s the best joke of PMQs so far, and it generates a lot of laughter.
She asks Dowden to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the NHS.
Dowden says the NHS is doing well under the Tories.
UPDATE: Here is the clip from the Scotsman’s Alexander Brown.
Rayner says it is obvious what needs to happen. More homes need to be built.
Dowden says she did not listen to what he said. The government is building more homes than Labour, he says. He says Rayner is in the pocket of the unions.
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