We're now going to start Prime Minister's questions and I start with Chris Green.

Question number one, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, today I'm proudly wearing purple to celebrate International Day for Disabled People, which is of course tomorrow.

Next year we will publish our national strategy for disabled people, which will be the most ambitious

intervention in this area for a generation, putting fairness at the heart of the government's

work and leveling up so that everybody has the opportunity to fully participate in the life

of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the whole House will want to join me in welcoming the fantastic news that

the MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19.

The vaccine will begin to be made available across the UK from next week.

I would like to pay tribute to and to thank all those who have made this possible.

It is the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get

our economy moving again. Mr. Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues

and others in addition to my duties in this House. I shall have further such meetings later today. Chris Green. Thank you, Speaker. I'd like to share the congratulations

with the Prime Minister on the creation of this new vaccine and the speed with which it's

got out, and to give that congratulations, especially to the engineers, technicians and scientists

who have delivered it. Now, I believe that we should support the widest distribution and take-up of safe and effective medicines.

But does my right of friend agree with me that it should always be taken on a wholly voluntary basis by individuals and families?

Prime Minister?

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker.

I strongly urge people to take up the vaccine, but it is no part of our culture or our

ambition in this country to make vaccines mandatory. That's not how we do things.

...