Oral QuestionDepartment for Work and Pensions

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 5 November 2024Answered: 11 November 2024

Asked by

Michael Payne

LabourGedling

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Answer from Hansard

The Prime Minister (Andy Burnham)

It was good to be back at this Dispatch Box yesterday for the first time in 16 years, and I understand that I broke records on my first day back for the longest statement in modern history. Thanks for your help with that, Mr Speaker. On my engagements, this evening I will join Their Majesties the King and Queen and President Macron at the British Museum to celebrate the arrival of the Bayeux tapestry. The loaning of the tapestry is a great example of French-British co-operation—the same co-operation that has helped us reduce summer small boat crossings to a seven-year low. This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I will have further such meetings later today.