25/01/2017 House of Commons


25/01/2017

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Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage from the

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House of Commons. In half an hour, Theresa May will face the Labour

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leader Jeremy Corbyn and also other people's questioned a Prime

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Minister's Questions. Also the violins imprisons and the funding

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arrangements for schools in the UK. Kearney at -- join me later. Also we

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will talk to the Welsh Secretary Alun Kearns. But first the Speaker

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will talk about the bill. Although, the clerk will now read the title.

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Faversham Oyster fishery. The question is that the Bill be read a

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second time. Everybody say I know. The iMac has it. Questions from the

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Secretary of State for Wales. This Government recognises that

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delivering world-class infrastructure in the ... I hold

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regular meetings to issues relating to Wales. I think we should bring

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together stakeholders for the better in fermentation for working in

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partnership to improve more for businesses in Wales. The Mr Speaker.

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I notice he fails to mention the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon report. The

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six month independent review could not have been more conclusive.

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Moving ahead with a pathfinder at Swansea Bay as soon as reasonably

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practical is a no regrets policy. There may be much to digester nerve

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review, but there are no grounds to delay that industry. Can he tell is

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when the Government will give the green light to this? Thank you. I'm

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delighted to say that Charles Henry is already in Swansea looking about

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his report. The report was competitive and detailed in terms of

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the issues regarding the tidal lagoon. I'm sure you will agree with

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me that any decision must be good for the taxpayer and for the end

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user as well. The Minister will be aware of the campaign by the daily

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Post newspaper to improve mobile phone not spots. Clay ask what he is

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-- can I ask what is to improve data for phones? I'm grateful for these

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question. I would pay tribute to the daily Post a campaign in northern

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Wales which has highlighted this issue. This is one of the reasons I

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was keen to convene a summit of mobile opponent in the Mac phone

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providers and find out how we can practically more providers. One of

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the key issues for example is the planning regime in Wales which can

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be much more flexible in relation to the money being invested in Wales

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goes much further and deals with those not spots in all parts of

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Wales, either rural city. Thank you. EU structural funding has really

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helped improve key road routes across Wales. Once we have left the

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European Union, can the Minister confirmed the equivalent funding for

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projects like renewing the heads and the valleys road will continue?

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Well, again I thank you for your question. In your constituency,

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there has been clear impact in terms of the EU funding. Investments in

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the road and relative. The metro scheme will be generating ?106

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million in support from European funds. It should be remembered that

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that scheme is also supporting ?500 million from the Government. The

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assurance I can give is that it will put in place a framework to Wales

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which will be fair and sustainable. It is for percent of Conservative

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councillors, a former Conservative energy minister, both worlds energy

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minister sitting opposite and the Conservative Party manifesto also

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bought the Swansea tidal lagoon project. I notice that the Minister

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failed to answer the question. I will give him another opportunity.

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When will you kick-start the tidal lagoon project I'm grateful for the

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question, but I will restate that this decision is a decision which

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will be made across Government. There are other departments will

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have to look at this issue. I'm sure that you will agree that in an age

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where we are seeing industry in Wales worry about the cost of

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energy, it must be good for the Swansea, the lagoon, the taxpayer,

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the energy user in Wales. Last week and whence Mr Hall, -- Westminster

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Hall, bank loans will be supported by guarantee from the Treasury when

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we leave you. Can the Secretary of State or Minister tell the house

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what benefit European investment bank has brought to Wales and how

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much it has invested in Wales over the last ten years? I am sure the

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honourable Lady will join me in highlighting the success of the

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Swansea campus development in the investment bank context. I will sure

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you will also join me to paying tribute to the Treasury and the

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Chancellor of the Exchequer for securing and guaranteeing EU funding

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is up to the point that EU funding -- departure from the union. This

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Government has delivered a degree of protection for funding in Wales.

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There will be further announcements made in relation to further funding.

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With permission, I will answer questions two and five together. The

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UK including Wales remains the same outward looking globally minded

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country we have always been and to further support Wales's

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International business links, I'm pleased to announce I will be

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hosting a Wales business Summit in Cardiff during early March to ensure

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businesses in Wales have full access to UK Government support. The

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Republic of Ireland is of course one of Wales most important trading

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partners with around 360,000 trucks passing through Welsh sports to

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Ireland every year. Can I encourage my honourable friend to really get

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involved in the discussions about future UK, Irish border and custom

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controls to make sure that it upholds the peace process in the

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north and also aids Wales with the lack of checks. You are a true

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champion of the poor in Milford Haven. The benefits it brings to the

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Welsh and the UK economy and it has paid a significant part in

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developing it. As renegotiate our exit from the European Union and the

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special situation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Island,

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the well situation is not ignored every joint ministerial committee

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has recognised -- been recognised not only by the Secretary of State

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but also by the Prime Minister. Given the first-class universities

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in Wales including my own, will my right honourable friend confirmed

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that he will highlight direct butties as part of their assessment

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of international business links? That is an important point. I

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mentioned that the joint ministerial committee involving the devolved

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administrations plays an important part, but that does not mean that

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universities themselves for example will have a part to play with the

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negotiations of exiting European Union. I spoke to the Vice

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Chancellor of Cardiff University last week and I'm happy to maintain

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a close relationship with my honourable friend is to make sure

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that all university to cross the whole of the United Kingdom have

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their say as we negotiate to accept the European union. That response

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was not good enough. We have had the same response of the question for

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some time. We're going to have a common travel area. It is going to

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impact heavily on Welsh ports. Will the Secretary of State but the case

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for Welsh ports and Welsh members of Parliament so we can have a Welsh

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dimension to this important trade? I'm grateful for the honourable

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member for highlighting the issue relating to Holyhead, that has also

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been taken into consideration in the discussions that we have cost about

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half the honourable member and any colleagues he wishes to bring along.

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The issue to Holyhead and Milford Haven is absolutely important to the

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Welsh and the UK economy and it has common issues that relate to

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Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We want to make sure that

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we get a deal that works for all situations. I'm through pleased that

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the Secretary of State mentioned universities it is response about

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international business links. Is he aware of the profound concern that

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most value elite mag vice chancellors including the Wrexham

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had has about the impact of changes of the migration rules are going to

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have of students from within the EU and outside the EU and will he

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discuss this in detail with them? And grateful to the honourable

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member for the question. As well as the universities I have highlighted

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already, I am in close engagements with universities in Wales are

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reputable universities. I'm happy to read any of the Vice chancellors

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about the situation. Many assumptions have been made around

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migration controls, it is in our interests to ensure the universities

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can prosper. Immigration or migration of international students

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are an important part of their model. Controlling immigration does

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not mean stopping immigration. I'm glad there is concentration on

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universities and answers to this. You'll be aware that just after the

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Mac before Christmas the Cardiff School of chemistry was formally

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awarded the title of Regent Professor of chemistry. Recognising

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exceptionally high quality of research done at Cardiff University.

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What is he doing about making sure our institutions and professors get

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these accolades and we can stand alone international stage? My

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honourable friend makes an important point in relation to the success of

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the role of universities. The UK Government has a part of their

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recognising in championing that as well as using UK money. He is also

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right to highlight the new professor Bill was awarded to Cardiff

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University, that underlines how chemistry was successful. We are

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keen to make sure that we play Nicole Lee Mack global stage. -- we

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play on a global stage. Will he not rule out a trade defence mechanism

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for steel if that is what is required for steel worker's jobs? I

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think the honourable member for raising the steel industry. It is an

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important industry for communities in Wales. It is of strategic

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importance in the whole of the United Kingdom. Last week, I met all

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of the unions relating to steal. We discussed the challenges that exist

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and how the company and the pension trustees and the pensioners as well

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as employees of the steelworks need to work their way through and the

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Government stands ready to support the industry. We are determined to

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find a long-term, sustainable future for the steel industry and I

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recognise the importance of the delete Matt Wells and the UK.

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This government has put in place and industrial strategy that will work

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for all people in every corner of the UK. Wales is home to world

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leading sectors. We are committed to building on our strengths to create

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an economy where everyone can share the benefits of our economic

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success. One of the most important themes of the government 's

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industrial strategy is the determination to ensure all nations

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and regions of the UK can benefit from economic prosperity. An

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important aspect is science and research. It offers real potential

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for businesses in Wales to prosper and create jobs. I absolutely agree.

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In terms of the importance of investing in skills and high-tech

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industries in the Welsh context. Our university sector, I know, stand

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ready to support the Welsh economy to ensure we have those skills in

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moving forward. What representations has the Minister made regarding

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placing steel at the heart of its industrial strategy and how will the

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UK Government support the innovative products and projects coming out of

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Swansea University that picture -- future proofed steel-making for many

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generations? I am grateful for the question. As my right honourable

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friend stated previously, he recently met with the trade unions

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in relation to the steel sector. One of my first visits as a minister was

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to the Tata Steel plant in Deeside. We importance the importance of

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steel to Wales. This government has been unyielding in its support of

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the steel industry in Wales. The UK has lacked a strategic approach for

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many years and Wales has suffered as a result. What specific message --

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measures in the government 's industrial strategy will be brought

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in to help Wales? I think it is important to state the industrial

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straight win of the state must be a partnership between the two

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governments that Wales has. Wales will see it self prosper if the two

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governments work together. The two governments are working together to

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ensure the best for Wales in terms of industrial strategy and

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developing new opportunities for the people of Wales. As the Minister has

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said, we have many employed -- important employers on Deeside but

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we also have many important companies in the supply chain who

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are very important and we have got to encourage those and four more to

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come post Brexit. I agree entirely. Deeside is a great success story, in

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terms of the UK economy, not just the Welsh economy but he is

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absolutely right, we need to build on that success by drawing in more

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investment and that is why the Secretary of State and myself will

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be holding a summit in the near future. Will he make sure that this

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is part of an industrial strategy for Wales because we don't have

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enough people in this country to complete the work, we need to get

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every academy in every constituency in the land to have young people to

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work in this building? I will not comment on the issue of the

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refurbishment of this palace. But I agree entirely in terms of the

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importance of getting skills which are relevant to the fabric of

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buildings in Wales, historic buildings especially and that is why

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I pay tribute to the college which is training not just with building

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skills by traditional skills as well.

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We are determined to get the best deal on leaving the European Union

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and we want a world leading food and farming industry and the cleanest

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health environment for generations. Agriculture is a devolved sector.

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you for that. Can he confirm if once the UK

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leaves the European Union that policy and funding aspects of

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agriculture will be devolved to the regions or will that policy remains

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here for the United Kingdom government? It is certainly the case

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that agriculture policy is currently devolved. There will be repatriated

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not powers from Westminster to bash from Brussels to West Mr. There is a

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positive discussion between Westminster and Welsh Government in

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relation to where powers will I. What I am saying quite categorically

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is that partnership is essential for the success of agriculture and that

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partnership must be constructive and objective in terms of what works for

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the farming industry in Wales and the UK. Many of my constituents farm

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cross-border and produce excellent high-quality British agricultural

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produce. What steps has the Minister taken to make sure the widest

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possible market access for that produce post Brexit? Again, I agree

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entirely with my honourable friend who knows the agricultural sector in

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North Wales and Cheshire extremely well and understands the

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cross-border nature of any farming in Wales. I think the key point is

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that we must be aware of the fact that we do have a great product to

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offer the arrest of the world and it is essential that we go out and sell

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the product. That is why we are forging a close relationship with

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the Secretary of State for foreign trade. It is essential that we grow

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the markets rather than be defensive about the issue. Isn't this

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wonderful opportunity to reform agricultural subsidies, to decouple

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Wales from the system in England, not as they are awarded in Wales for

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producing food and shouldn't we end the system of paying millionaires

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and billionaires up to ?1 million each a year while Welsh farmers have

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to struggle with small subsidies? Should we have Welsh policies for

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Welsh farmers? The aim of this government is to ensure that we have

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a farming policy that will be right for the UK and right for Wales. I

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have to say however that the honourable gentleman was much more

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positive about our farming industry in the debate and I agreed with his

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comments at that debate that it is essential that we support the

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farming industry in Wales whilst moving forward following our

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from the European Union. Does the from the European Union. Does the

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Minister agree that Brexit gives us the opportunity to set a new

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agricultural policy in Wales, starting with positive changes to

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cap? I entirely agree with my honourable friend. In view of the

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fact that we have decided to leave the European Union, it is essential

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now that we develop an agricultural system which works for farmers in

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Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom. One of the issues at the

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Common agricultural policy was guilty of was the fossilisation of

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Welsh farming because it was encouraging people not to retire. It

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is essential that we look at some of the problems created by that policy

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whilst we are designing a new system for Wales. As well as the Welsh

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agricultural sector, 68% of Welsh exports go to the European Union, so

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perhaps the Minister can tell is this afternoon how it is that

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leaving the single market and the Customs unit will lead to a better

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deal for Welsh exporters? The honourable gentleman is right in

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terms of the percentage of Welsh exports which go to the European

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Union but I think he should realise that access to the single market is

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what is now crucial. It is very clear we will not be members of the

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single market. That was apparent as a result of the European Union

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leaving decision but we need to negotiate as good an access deal

:20:32.:20:34.

with European Union as possible and I think that will be possible in due

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course. Last Friday I visited a Farmers Union of Wales meeting. Only

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three years from now, Welsh farmers as a sector face a perfect storm.

:20:51.:20:55.

Can the Minister reveal what transitional arrangements have been

:20:56.:20:59.

put in place to safeguard the rural economy? I thank the honourable lady

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for her question and the use of the phrase perfect storm. I would have

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to reassure the honourable lady that the issue should be about access to

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the single market and whilst the Farmers Union of Wales have

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expressed their concern at the decision to leave the single market,

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my meetings with the farming unions in Wales have highlighted access to

:21:24.:21:26.

the single market as being the crucial issue for Welsh farmers.

:21:27.:21:34.

During Welsh questions last April, the Parliamentary undersecretary for

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state for Wales said the... Shows how important that market is. 90% of

:21:42.:21:47.

Welsh agricultural produce is exported to the European Union and

:21:48.:21:51.

we should not risk that. Given those comments could he explain why his

:21:52.:21:54.

government wishes to leave the single market? At risk of repeating

:21:55.:22:01.

myself once again, the honourable member is right, 90% of Welsh

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farming exports go to the European Union. He is correct in saying that.

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This is why I have repeatedly stated that the issue that farmers in Wales

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are concerned about is access to the single market. That is the issue

:22:14.:22:17.

that will make a difference to Welsh farmers and that is what we will be

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working towards. With permission, I will answer

:22:20.:22:36.

questions six, seven and nine together. Since the vote to leave

:22:37.:22:40.

the European Union, we have seen unemployment hit record highs and

:22:41.:22:43.

there are now 4000 fewer people unemployed than six months ago.

:22:44.:22:48.

Trade with European Union is important to Wales but it is clear

:22:49.:22:52.

we need to increase our trade with the fastest growing markets across

:22:53.:22:56.

the world. It is time for Wales like Britain to rediscover its role as a

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great global training nation. -- trading nation.

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Hopefully the whole chamber will celebrate Robert Burns today. This

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week, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government published a white part --

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White paper outlining their concerns on Wales leaving the European Union.

:23:17.:23:19.

What actions will the UK Government take to address the concerns raised

:23:20.:23:24.

by the two largest parties in the Welsh Parliament? The Prime Minister

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was awaiting the document that came from the Welsh Government. It was

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received on Monday. Of course, we will work through the detail and it

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will be subject to a discussion at the joint ministerial committee of

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European negotiations. That is the right place for it to be considered

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and discussed. But much of the access in that language and

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accessing the single market is not incompatible with that mentioned by

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my right honourable friend, the primers. That's Prime Minister.

:23:57.:24:06.

The Scottish parliament will also vote on... Doesn't the Minister

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agree that any spirit of democracy, it is the devolved government the

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best place to determine the future for the people living and working in

:24:19.:24:22.

our nations? We would like to hear the reply. The legislative consent

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motion of course should be a matter for the devolved administrations,

:24:28.:24:34.

where they choose to table when or not. I would say that the approach

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that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and the government as

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a whole is taking is to engage positively with the devolved

:24:43.:24:45.

administrations, with the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland

:24:46.:24:48.

executive, and rightly with the Welsh Government but of course we

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will also want to engage with other stakeholders in the nations as well.

:24:52.:24:58.

North Wales has been designated the central maintenance sector for all

:24:59.:25:07.

European F 35 fighters. Can the Minister assure this house that the

:25:08.:25:10.

aerospace companies in North Wales will be given the same assurances as

:25:11.:25:15.

Nissan that leaving the single market will not result in the loss

:25:16.:25:23.

of access to European skilled work? I am delighted that the honourable

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member highlighted the success of Sealand in winning the F 35

:25:30.:25:31.

contract. It will be the global repair her. I was there just on

:25:32.:25:36.

Monday celebrating and recognising the effects and the impact that

:25:37.:25:40.

employees had therein winning that global contract. The significance

:25:41.:25:44.

should not be understated. It offers positive prospects for the supply

:25:45.:25:47.

chain and for that centre for decades to come. The Prime Minister

:25:48.:25:53.

has talked of a bold new trading relationship with New Zealand. Can I

:25:54.:25:59.

ask the Minister to relate to the Prime Minister the concern of many

:26:00.:26:02.

Welsh farmers, genuinely concerned that they are losing potentially

:26:03.:26:08.

access to the biggest market on the continent in favour of a market on

:26:09.:26:11.

the other side of the world, a direct competitor? Welsh produce,

:26:12.:26:17.

Welsh lamb and beef in particular, is world leading and there are great

:26:18.:26:21.

opportunities as we exit the European Union to explore and

:26:22.:26:28.

exploit new markets. Her beaky Cymru recognises the ?20 million that can

:26:29.:26:30.

be brought to from accessing the North American market. My right

:26:31.:26:37.

honourable friend the Prime Minister will put Britain first in any

:26:38.:26:42.

negotiations. I am not seeking a running commentary or any detail but

:26:43.:26:47.

a special deal was cut for the car industry in the north-east. Did he

:26:48.:26:51.

seek a similar deal for the car industry in Wales? I don't recognise

:26:52.:26:58.

the basis of the question. The automotive sector is exceptionally

:26:59.:27:02.

strong in Wales, partly as a result of the Nissan contract in Sunderland

:27:03.:27:05.

where many of the supplier companies are based in Wales. I would also

:27:06.:27:10.

draw attention to the great success at my right honourable friend the

:27:11.:27:13.

Secretary of State for Defence played in bringing Aston Martin to

:27:14.:27:17.

Wales. It is a fantastic success on that MOD base and something we

:27:18.:27:24.

should recognise and celebrate. Up to 200,000 jobs in Wales depend on

:27:25.:27:26.

our membership of the European Union and the single market and the

:27:27.:27:31.

customs union. I am not going to go through every sector but will he be

:27:32.:27:36.

seeking sectoral deals for important part of the Welsh economy as we

:27:37.:27:40.

leave the European Union? Mr Speaker, it is clear we want to get

:27:41.:27:45.

the best deal for the whole of the United Kingdom, we want to ensure

:27:46.:27:49.

that the market within the United Kingdom works effectively. After

:27:50.:27:52.

all, the most important market to Wales is the market from within the

:27:53.:27:56.

United Kingdom but he can take confidence in that Wales has been

:27:57.:28:00.

the fastest-growing economy outside London since 2010 and that is on the

:28:01.:28:03.

back of this government 's policies and success. We are visited today by

:28:04.:28:15.

the speaker of the Burnie 's parliament and he's

:28:16.:28:22.

I am sure the whole House will wish to join me in welcoming Mr Speaker

:28:23.:28:31.

and his colleagues. Order, questions to the Prime Minister, Helen Jones!

:28:32.:28:36.

Number one, Sir. The Prime Minister. As the response from the whole House

:28:37.:28:42.

showed, we do indeed all welcome the Speaker of the Burmese Parliament

:28:43.:28:45.

and his colleagues to see our deliberations today. I am also sure

:28:46.:28:49.

that the whole house will join me in sending our thoughts to the police

:28:50.:28:54.

officer who was shot in Belfast over the weekend, and to his friends and

:28:55.:28:59.

family. PSNI do a superb job in keeping us set and secure. Mr

:29:00.:29:04.

Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and

:29:05.:29:10.

others. In a addition to my duties in this house, I will further such

:29:11.:29:13.

meetings, and later this week I will travel to the United States for with

:29:14.:29:19.

President Trump. May I join the Prime Minister in sending good

:29:20.:29:22.

wishes to the police officer who was shot in Belfast? They are the best

:29:23.:29:30.

strikers on social mobility, 99% are rated good or outstanding, and 65%

:29:31.:29:36.

of their places are in the most deprived areas of this country. So

:29:37.:29:39.

why is the Prime Minister introducing cuts that threatened the

:29:40.:29:46.

very existence of maintained nursery schools? When it comes to social

:29:47.:29:50.

mobility, her actions speak far louder than her words. I want to

:29:51.:29:56.

ensure, and this Government wants to ensure, that we see good quality

:29:57.:30:00.

education at every age and at every stage for children in this country.

:30:01.:30:06.

That is why we are looking at improving the number of good school

:30:07.:30:09.

places, budget talks about my record, speaking louder than words.

:30:10.:30:13.

Can I just point out to the honourable lady that I was very

:30:14.:30:17.

proud, as chairman of an education authority in London in the 1990s, to

:30:18.:30:21.

introduce nursery school places for every three and four -year-old whose

:30:22.:30:28.

parents wanted one? The Prime Minister laid out a clear and bold

:30:29.:30:34.

plan for Brexit in her speech last week. Honourable... Honourable

:30:35.:30:44.

members... Honourable members, quite rightly, want an opportunity to

:30:45.:30:48.

scrutinise that plan. Does the Prime Minister agree that the best way of

:30:49.:30:53.

facilitating that scrutiny would be a government white paper, laying out

:30:54.:31:00.

the vision for a global Britain, based on free trade, in goods and

:31:01.:31:04.

services, that will be to the benefit of ours and other European

:31:05.:31:10.

countries? Well, my honourable friend raises the question of

:31:11.:31:13.

Parliamentary scrutiny. I have been clear, as have senior ministers,

:31:14.:31:17.

that we will ensure that Parliament has every opportunity to provide

:31:18.:31:21.

that scrutiny on this issue as we go through this process. By directing

:31:22.:31:26.

nice, I set out that bold plan for a global Britain last week, and I

:31:27.:31:30.

recognise there is an opportunity for a white paper. My honourable

:31:31.:31:39.

friend's question, I can confirm to the House that our plan will be set

:31:40.:31:45.

out in a white paper. Jeremy Corbyn! Mr Speaker, I joined the Prime

:31:46.:31:53.

Minister in condolences, in expressing condolences, I am sure,

:31:54.:31:57.

the whole House to the family of the police officer who lost his life

:31:58.:32:01.

over the weekend in Northern Ireland. Mr Speaker, the Prime

:32:02.:32:08.

Minister has wasted 80 days between the time of the original judgment

:32:09.:32:13.

and the appeal, and is now finally admitting today, after pressure from

:32:14.:32:17.

all sides, that there is going to be a date paper. Could we know when

:32:18.:32:22.

this white paper is going to be available to us? And why it has

:32:23.:32:31.

taken so long to get it? LAUGHTER

:32:32.:32:38.

Prime Minister! Can I say to the right honourable gentleman, he asked

:32:39.:32:41.

for debates, I was very clear there will always be debates in this

:32:42.:32:44.

House, and there will continue to be. The asked for votes, the House

:32:45.:32:51.

voted overwhelmingly for the Government to trigger Article 50

:32:52.:32:54.

before the end of March this year. He asked for a plan, I set out, as

:32:55.:32:58.

my honourable friend for Croydon South said, a clear plan for a bold

:32:59.:33:04.

future for Britain. He and others ask for a white paper, I have been

:33:05.:33:07.

clear there will be a white paper. But I am also clear that the right

:33:08.:33:14.

honourable gentleman always ask about process, about the means to

:33:15.:33:19.

the end. I and this government are focusing on the outcomes. We are

:33:20.:33:25.

focusing... We are focusing on a truly global Britain, building a

:33:26.:33:29.

stronger future for this country, the right deal for Britain and

:33:30.:33:35.

Britain out of the European Union. Jeremy Corbyn! Mr Speaker, I

:33:36.:33:38.

question wasn't complicated, it's just asked when the white paper will

:33:39.:33:44.

come out! And will it be published before or at the same time as the

:33:45.:33:49.

bill that is apparently about to be published? Mr Speaker, last week, I

:33:50.:33:54.

asked the Prime Minister repeatedly to clarify whether her government is

:33:55.:33:59.

prepared to pay to secure tariff free access to the single European

:34:00.:34:04.

market. She repeatedly refused to answer the question, so I will ask

:34:05.:34:09.

again. Is there a government ruling out paying a fee for tariff free

:34:10.:34:14.

access to the single market, or the bespoke Customs union that she

:34:15.:34:19.

outlined also in a speech? Than I first of all say to the right

:34:20.:34:23.

honourable gentleman, in his reference to the timing issue, these

:34:24.:34:28.

are two separate issues. The House has overwhelmingly voted that

:34:29.:34:31.

Article 50 should be triggered before the end of March 2017,

:34:32.:34:35.

following the Supreme Court judgment a bill will be provided for this

:34:36.:34:39.

House, and there will be the proper debate in this chamber and another

:34:40.:34:44.

place on that bill. There is then the separate question of publishing

:34:45.:34:47.

the plan that I have set out, a bold vision for Britain for the future. I

:34:48.:34:52.

will do that in a white paper, and the right honourable gentleman knows

:34:53.:34:56.

that one of our objectives is the best possible free trade arrangement

:34:57.:35:03.

with the European Union, and that is what we will be negotiating for.

:35:04.:35:06.

Jeremy Corbyn! Some of this is very worrying too many people in this

:35:07.:35:10.

House, but more importantly it is worrying to many others. For

:35:11.:35:14.

instance, the chief executive of Nissan was given assurances about

:35:15.:35:19.

future trade arrangements with Europe but now says they will have

:35:20.:35:24.

to re-evaluate the situation about their investments in Britain. The

:35:25.:35:30.

Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, is threatening the EU that unless they

:35:31.:35:34.

give in to her demands, she will turn Britain into a bargain basement

:35:35.:35:38.

stacks save and off the coast of Europe. -- bargain basement tax

:35:39.:35:44.

haven. We on this side of the House are very well aware of the

:35:45.:35:47.

consequences that would have, the damage it would do two jobs and

:35:48.:35:51.

living standards and our public services. Is she now going to rule

:35:52.:35:57.

out the bargain basement thread that was in his speech at Lancaster

:35:58.:36:03.

House? Prime Minister! I expect us to get a good deal in trading

:36:04.:36:06.

relationships with the European Union, but I am clear we will not

:36:07.:36:12.

sign up to a bad deal for the United Kingdom, and as to the threats that

:36:13.:36:16.

the right parable gentleman claims about what might happen, and he

:36:17.:36:20.

often talks about this, he uses those phrases, talking about

:36:21.:36:23.

workers' rights, perhaps he should listen to his former colleague, the

:36:24.:36:28.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who has today said, to give credit to the

:36:29.:36:31.

Government, I don't think they want to weaken workers' rights, and he

:36:32.:36:36.

goes on to say, I have Cena evidence from the conversations I have had

:36:37.:36:39.

with senior members of the government that that is their

:36:40.:36:44.

aspiration or their intention or something they want to do. -- I have

:36:45.:36:51.

seen no evidence. As usual with Labour, the right hand is not

:36:52.:36:55.

talking to the far left! Jeremy Corbyn! Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker,

:36:56.:37:04.

the... The evidence of what the Tory party and this government really

:37:05.:37:07.

thinks about workers' rights was there for all to see yesterday. A

:37:08.:37:14.

private member's bill under the ten minute rule by a Tory MP to tear up

:37:15.:37:20.

parts of the international labour organisation Convention, talking

:37:21.:37:24.

down my friend the member for Grimsby's built to protect European

:37:25.:37:28.

workers' rights that have been attained in this country. That is

:37:29.:37:32.

the real agenda of the Tory party! Mr Speaker, what the Prime Minister

:37:33.:37:46.

is doing is petted -- petulantly aiming threats about a bargain

:37:47.:37:50.

basement Britain, is a priority the struggling NHS, those denied social

:37:51.:37:55.

care, children having funding cut, or once again be the cuts in big

:37:56.:38:01.

business taxation to make the rich even better off? Prime Minister! I

:38:02.:38:06.

would simply remind the right honourable gentleman on the issue of

:38:07.:38:09.

workers' rights that I have been very clear that this government will

:38:10.:38:12.

protect workers' rights, indeed we have a review of modern employment

:38:13.:38:15.

law to ensure that legislation is keeping up with the modern labour

:38:16.:38:21.

market. One of the objectives I set out in my plan for our negotiating

:38:22.:38:24.

objectives was to protect workers' rights, but he talks about threats

:38:25.:38:28.

to public services. I will tell him what the threat to public services

:38:29.:38:33.

would be, a Labour government borrowing 500 million extra! That

:38:34.:38:40.

would destroy our economy and mean no funding for our public services.

:38:41.:38:47.

Jeremy Corbyn! The threat to workers' rights, Mr Speaker, is

:38:48.:38:51.

there every day. Six million and in less than the living wage, many

:38:52.:38:55.

people, nearly a million, on zero hours contracts, no protection

:38:56.:39:01.

offered by this government. They are offering, once again, the bargain

:39:02.:39:06.

basement alternative. Will the Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, take this

:39:07.:39:10.

opportunity today to congratulate the 100,000 people who marched in

:39:11.:39:15.

Britain last weekend to highlight women's rights after President

:39:16.:39:18.

Trump's inauguration and express their concerns about his misogyny?

:39:19.:39:25.

Because many have concerns, Mr Speaker, that in her forthcoming

:39:26.:39:28.

meeting with President Trump, she will be prepared to offer up. Five

:39:29.:39:38.

is -- to offer up for sacrifice the opportunity for American companies

:39:39.:39:41.

to take over part of our NHS or our public services. Will she assure the

:39:42.:39:46.

House that in any trade deal none of those things will be offered up as a

:39:47.:39:51.

bargaining chip? Prime Minister! Again, I would point out to the

:39:52.:39:55.

honourable gentleman that this government introduced the national

:39:56.:39:58.

living wage. This government has made changes to 0-hours contracts.

:39:59.:40:04.

But on the issue of my visit to the United States of America, on the

:40:05.:40:08.

issue of my visit, I am pleased that I am able to meet President Trump so

:40:09.:40:14.

early in his administration. That is a sign of the strength of the

:40:15.:40:17.

special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States

:40:18.:40:22.

of America, a special relationship on which he and I intend to build.

:40:23.:40:27.

But can I also say to the Leader of the Opposition, I am not afraid to

:40:28.:40:32.

speak frankly to a President of the United States. I am able to do that

:40:33.:40:36.

because we have that special relationship. A special relationship

:40:37.:40:40.

that he would never have with the United States. Jeremy Corbyn! Mr

:40:41.:40:47.

Speaker, we would never allow Britain to be sold off on the cheap.

:40:48.:40:52.

How confident is she of getting a good deal for global Britain from a

:40:53.:40:57.

president who wants to put America first, by American and build a wall

:40:58.:41:04.

between his country and Mexico? Mr Speaker, Article 50 wasn't about a

:41:05.:41:08.

court judgments against this government, what is signified was

:41:09.:41:13.

the bad judgment of this government, the bad judgment of prioritising

:41:14.:41:18.

corporate tax cuts overinvestment in national health and social care. The

:41:19.:41:22.

bad judgment of threatening European partners whilst offering a blank

:41:23.:41:29.

cheque to President Trump! The bad judgment of wanting to turn Britain

:41:30.:41:35.

into a bargain basement tax haven. So will she offers some clarity and

:41:36.:41:40.

some certainty and withdraw the threats to destroy the social

:41:41.:41:43.

structure of this country by turning us into the bargain basement that

:41:44.:41:45.

she clearly threatens? We will be out around the world with

:41:46.:41:55.

the EU Americans and other countries negotiating good trade deals for

:41:56.:41:58.

this country to bring prosperity. The right honourable gentleman wants

:41:59.:42:01.

to talk about Brexit. I have to say to him, he is the leader of the

:42:02.:42:06.

party, he can not agree with his Shadow Chancellor about Brexit. The

:42:07.:42:10.

Shadow Chancellor can't agree with the shadow Brexit secretary, the

:42:11.:42:13.

shadow Brexit secretary disagrees with the Shadow Home Secretary and

:42:14.:42:15.

the Shadow Home Secretary has to read up the leader and tell him to

:42:16.:42:21.

change his mind. He talks about us standing up for Britain, they can't

:42:22.:42:25.

speak for themselves, they'll never speak for Britain. SHOUTING AND

:42:26.:42:40.

JEERS Thank you Mr Speaker, on 27th

:42:41.:42:44.

December, another young woman lost her life driving through the West

:42:45.:42:49.

Country on the A303. In the past decade more than 1,000 people have

:42:50.:42:54.

been killed or injured on that road. For 40 years governments have

:42:55.:43:01.

promised to dual the lethal parts of the road where they become two and

:43:02.:43:04.

three with no central reservation. The queues on the road are also

:43:05.:43:07.

legendary. I know the Government is comuted to an upgrade but can the

:43:08.:43:12.

Prime Minister assure us that the proposed tunnel at Stonehenge will

:43:13.:43:16.

not hold up essential work elsewhere and we'll soon see cones on the road

:43:17.:43:21.

and spades in the ground? Well my honourable friend raises an

:43:22.:43:23.

important issue. He is absolutely right to do that. I can assure him

:43:24.:43:28.

we are working generally to improve the safety of our roads. He refers

:43:29.:43:33.

specifically to the issue of the A303 and the tragic incident that

:43:34.:43:37.

happened on 27th December. We've committed to creating a dual

:43:38.:43:42.

carriageway on the A303 from the M3 to M5. I understand highways England

:43:43.:43:47.

have launched a a consultation into the route under Stonehenge and my

:43:48.:43:50.

honourable friend will want to look closely at this issue. This is all

:43:51.:43:55.

part of our ?2 billion investment in road improvement that will improve

:43:56.:43:58.

connections in the south-west but I can assure him that we have road

:43:59.:44:03.

safety at the forefront of our mind. I begin by wishing everybody a very

:44:04.:44:09.

happy Burns Day and of course extending congratulations to the

:44:10.:44:16.

Scotsman newspaper which is celebrating its by centenary today.

:44:17.:44:26.

Yesterday ... To Brexit. So, in the spirit of progress for Parliament,

:44:27.:44:30.

in advance of meeting President Trump, will the Prime Minister tell

:44:31.:44:36.

Parliament what she wants to achieve in a UK-US trade deal? Can I join

:44:37.:44:41.

the right honourable gentleman in his good wishes for a happy Burn's

:44:42.:44:47.

Day to everybody and also in recognising the by centenary of the

:44:48.:44:50.

Scotsman. I'm sure everybody in the house would join me in that. What we

:44:51.:44:55.

want to achieve in terms of our arrangements with the United States?

:44:56.:44:59.

It is very simple. We want to achieve an arrangement that ensures

:45:00.:45:03.

the interests of the United Kingdom are put first and that is what I

:45:04.:45:08.

will be doing, and we see a trade arrangement, as we will be looking

:45:09.:45:12.

for, from other parts of the world, to bring prosperity and growth to

:45:13.:45:16.

the UK and my aim for this Government is to ensure that economy

:45:17.:45:19.

works for everybody in every part of the UK. ! The European Union, which

:45:20.:45:24.

we are still part of, has amongst the highest food safety standards

:45:25.:45:28.

anywhere in the world. And we are proud on our continent to have

:45:29.:45:31.

public national health systems. The United States, on the other hand, is

:45:32.:45:34.

keen to have health systems which are fully open to private

:45:35.:45:41.

competition. They want to export genetically modified organisms, beef

:45:42.:45:44.

raised with growth hormones and chicken meat washed with chlorinated

:45:45.:45:48.

water. Will the Prime Minister tell President Trump that she is not

:45:49.:45:51.

prepared to lower our food and safety standards, or to open health

:45:52.:45:56.

systems for privatisation, or does she believe that this is the price

:45:57.:46:02.

worth paying for a UK-US trade deal? We will be looking for a UK-US trade

:46:03.:46:08.

deal Thame proves trade between our two countries that will bring

:46:09.:46:11.

prosperity and growth to this country, that will ensure we can

:46:12.:46:14.

bring jobs to this country as well. I can assure the right honourable

:46:15.:46:18.

gentleman in doing, that we will put UK interests and UK values first.

:46:19.:46:25.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, historic per capita spending in our region,

:46:26.:46:30.

including Yorkshire, when compared to London is up to 40% lower for our

:46:31.:46:35.

local authorities, up to 50% lower for our schools and up to 60% lower

:46:36.:46:39.

for transport prospects. Does the Prime Minister agree that if we want

:46:40.:46:43.

to build a country that works for everyone, we need a fair funding

:46:44.:46:49.

deal that works for everyone? I see the issues my honourable friend has

:46:50.:46:53.

raised. I can assure him our commitment in relation to the

:46:54.:46:57.

northern parts of England, including Yorkshire, is absolutely clear. We

:46:58.:47:01.

want business growth across the north. We are backing the northern

:47:02.:47:06.

powerhouse to help the great cities and towns of the north pool their

:47:07.:47:11.

strength and take on the world. Yorkshire LETs have received an

:47:12.:47:14.

additional ?156 million in Government funding this week and we

:47:15.:47:18.

are spending a record ?15 billion on transport across north. As a result

:47:19.:47:23.

there are more people in Yorkshire in Humber this the work than

:47:24.:47:26.

everybody before and employments rates are at a record high. Good

:47:27.:47:31.

news for the region and for the economy as a whole The European

:47:32.:47:36.

Medicines Agency provides a single drug licencing system for 500

:47:37.:47:41.

million people and results in the UK having drugs licensed six to 127

:47:42.:47:44.

months ahead of countries like Canada and Australia. Yesterday the

:47:45.:47:49.

Health Secretary stated that the UK will not be in the EMA. Can the

:47:50.:47:54.

Prime Minister confirm this and explain how she'll prevent delayed

:47:55.:47:59.

drug access for UK patients? Well, there are a number of organisations

:48:00.:48:03.

that we are part of as members of the European Union and as part of

:48:04.:48:08.

the work that we are doing to look at the United Kingdom in the future

:48:09.:48:11.

when we have left the European Union, we will look at the

:48:12.:48:14.

arrangements we can put in place to relation to those issues. We want to

:48:15.:48:20.

ensure that we continue to have, the pharmaceutical industry in this

:48:21.:48:23.

country is a very important part ever of our economy as are the

:48:24.:48:27.

ability of people to access these new drugs, I can assure the

:48:28.:48:31.

honourable lady we are looking seriously at this and will ensure we

:48:32.:48:36.

have the arrangements we need Too few British intren airs are

:48:37.:48:38.

connecting with the capital they need to start and grow. As part of

:48:39.:48:42.

her industrial sfreedge, which will be looking at access to capital,

:48:43.:48:48.

will the Prime Minister order a view of the enterprise investment scheme

:48:49.:48:52.

and the seed investment scheme in the hope they can be simplified,

:48:53.:48:59.

helping to achieve the pools of buccaneering capital that British

:49:00.:49:02.

industry needs? My honourable friend raises an important issue and he has

:49:03.:49:07.

long been a champion of intren airships in this country. . I can

:49:08.:49:17.

tell him we are committed to providing the best possible... There

:49:18.:49:22.

is a panel that is looking at barriers that exist in long-term

:49:23.:49:26.

investment and we are also increasing investment from venture

:49:27.:49:30.

capital by the British business banks by ?4700 million and that will

:49:31.:49:35.

un-- ?400 million which will unlock new finance. The Treasury will

:49:36.:49:42.

publish a consultation in the spring looking at these issues I'm sure my

:49:43.:49:46.

honourable friend willp wanted to sponchtsd four-and-a-half years ago

:49:47.:49:49.

my constituents were on a family holiday on the Greek island of Zante

:49:50.:49:55.

when their son Jamie was hit answer killed by a speeding motor bike. It

:49:56.:50:00.

was his ninth birthday. The rider was convicted but has appealed

:50:01.:50:04.

against his sentence and to date remains a free man. Will the Prime

:50:05.:50:08.

Minister agree to meet with Chris and Lidya to discuss how they can

:50:09.:50:14.

finally secure justice for Jamie? Can I say to the honourable lady I'm

:50:15.:50:18.

very happy to look at this case. I mean it is a tragic case she has

:50:19.:50:22.

described and our thoughts must be with Chris and Lidya at the terrible

:50:23.:50:28.

loss that they have experienced. To the issues of what is happening in

:50:29.:50:32.

terms of the Greek Criminal Justice System, of course that is a matter

:50:33.:50:36.

for the Greek authorities. But we will, I will look seriously at this

:50:37.:50:39.

case and see if there is anything that the Foreign Office can do in

:50:40.:50:43.

relation to this. President Trump has repeatedly said

:50:44.:50:47.

that he will bring back torture as an instrument of policy. When she

:50:48.:50:52.

sees him on Friday, will the Prime Minister make clear that in no

:50:53.:50:56.

circumstances will she permit Britain to be dragged into

:50:57.:51:00.

facilitating that torture, as we were after September 11th? I can

:51:01.:51:05.

assure my honourable friend that we have a very clear position on

:51:06.:51:08.

torture. We do not sanction torture. We do not get involved with that and

:51:09.:51:11.

that will continue to be our position.

:51:12.:51:17.

Thank you Mr Speaker. 70% of my constituents voted Remain. 15% are

:51:18.:51:23.

citizens of other EU countries and almost all don't trust her

:51:24.:51:27.

Government to negotiate a deal that secures the future prosperity of

:51:28.:51:30.

London and the UK. Will she give this House a veto on the deal she

:51:31.:51:35.

does, or will she put that deal back to a referendum of the British

:51:36.:51:42.

people? I say to the honourable gentleman, people voted differently

:51:43.:51:46.

across the country. Parts voted to Remain and parts voted to Leave.

:51:47.:51:50.

What we now do is unite behind the result of the vote that took place.

:51:51.:51:55.

We come together as a country, we go out there, we make a success of this

:51:56.:51:59.

and we ensure that we build that truly global Britain that will bring

:52:00.:52:03.

jobs to his constituency and his constituents. Mr Speaker, this week

:52:04.:52:09.

Milton Keynes celebrates its 50th birthday. We have been the most

:52:10.:52:15.

successful of new cities and have one of the highest rates of economic

:52:16.:52:18.

growth. Will the Prime Minister agree that Milton Keynes has a great

:52:19.:52:25.

future and will be central to delivering this Government's

:52:26.:52:29.

ambitious plans? Well, can I join my honourable friend, can I join my

:52:30.:52:36.

honourable friend in marking Milton Keynes's 50th birthday and also I

:52:37.:52:40.

understand he has secured a Westminster Hall debate. I

:52:41.:52:42.

congratulate him on having done that. I think Milton Keynes is a

:52:43.:52:46.

great example of what you can achieve with a clear plan and with

:52:47.:52:50.

strong, local leader sh. We are providing, as he knows, additional

:52:51.:52:54.

funding for the East-West rail prospect ject. I know he supported

:52:55.:53:00.

that by chairing the APGG as well as a Oxfordshire express road emschoo.

:53:01.:53:04.

We'll see a country that works for everyone. Milton Keynes has had not

:53:05.:53:09.

just a great 50 years but I'm sure a great future as well. Last week a

:53:10.:53:14.

freight train arrived at barking from China using the Chunnel and

:53:15.:53:19.

demonstrating the massive protension of rail treat, but containtal rail

:53:20.:53:25.

wagons and lorries on trains cannot be accommodated on Britain's railway

:53:26.:53:29.

network. Would the Prime Minister consider giving positive support to

:53:30.:53:33.

the GB gateway scheme which could link all the nations and regions of

:53:34.:53:37.

Britain both to each other and to Europe beyond and would take 5

:53:38.:53:42.

million lorry journeys off Britain's roads per year? The honourable

:53:43.:53:45.

gentleman has raised an issue, a different gauge on the railways here

:53:46.:53:50.

and on the continpent which has been an issue for some considerable time.

:53:51.:53:54.

We want to encourage freight on rails. We have been encouraging that

:53:55.:54:01.

and we'll continue to do so. Thank you, very much, Mr Speaker.

:54:02.:54:07.

The ministry of Cake in my constituency, a ?30 million turnover

:54:08.:54:13.

company has recently been bought by a French company. They trade across

:54:14.:54:20.

Europe and into China. Does this not demonstrate, Prime Minister and

:54:21.:54:25.

would you agree with me that it demonstrates the confidence in our

:54:26.:54:28.

economy as a European company has bought in? It demonstrates that we

:54:29.:54:32.

can unlock global trade and it demonstrates that the south-west is

:54:33.:54:42.

a terrific place to do business? I absolutely agree with high

:54:43.:54:45.

honourable friend. I think the investment that she has referred to

:54:46.:54:50.

of the French company into a company in her constituency shows the

:54:51.:54:53.

confidence that people have in our economy for the future T shows the

:54:54.:54:56.

fundamental strengths of our economy. -- it shows. And it also

:54:57.:55:01.

shows that we can unlock global trade and of course the south-west

:55:02.:55:08.

is a very good place to do business. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Robert Burns

:55:09.:55:12.

said whatever damages society or any least part of it, that is my measure

:55:13.:55:19.

of inequity. Would the Prime Minister agree that that applies to

:55:20.:55:24.

the tax system found to be illegal by British courts under which 10,000

:55:25.:55:29.

asylum seekers were denied a fair trial and some probably unlegally

:55:30.:55:35.

deported to death and torture? I say to the honourable gentleman the

:55:36.:55:40.

issue of the detained fast track system in the asylum system I looked

:55:41.:55:45.

at when I was Home Secretary and we looked at the a number of changes on

:55:46.:55:50.

how we operate it but it was built on a strong principle - which is if

:55:51.:55:54.

there is somebody whose case for asylum is such that they are almost

:55:55.:55:58.

certain to be refused that asylum, then we want to be ensure they can

:55:59.:56:03.

be removed from the country as quickly as possible, hence the

:56:04.:56:06.

detained fast track. I would like to ask my friend the

:56:07.:56:10.

Prime Minister if she would insist in trying to get an enterprise zone

:56:11.:56:14.

in my constituency as part of the industrial strategy. It turns out

:56:15.:56:18.

that the Labour Council and Labour county council, who are talking

:56:19.:56:23.

about an enterprise zonesque project in the area, have not applied for

:56:24.:56:27.

any funding whatsoever. Would my right honourable friend assist me in

:56:28.:56:32.

this endeavour? Well, can I say to my honourable friend I know what a

:56:33.:56:37.

champion for his constituency it is. And I'm sure that the Chancellor and

:56:38.:56:40.

the Business Secretary will look at the issue that he has raised. I also

:56:41.:56:45.

say how sad it is that Labour councils are not willing to put

:56:46.:56:49.

forward proposals to increase the prosperity and economic growth in

:56:50.:56:50.

their area. Closed question. Number 11. I will

:56:51.:57:03.

meet the First Minister and leaders of the devolved administrations at

:57:04.:57:07.

the joint ministerial committee on Monday, but we regularly engage with

:57:08.:57:11.

the Scottish Government on a number of issues. When she meets with the

:57:12.:57:15.

First Minister, will she confirm whether she supports the principle

:57:16.:57:18.

of the Scotland Act that whatever is not reserved is devolved and will

:57:19.:57:23.

she be able to tell what powers will come to the Scottish Parliament in

:57:24.:57:27.

the event of Brexit? Can she confirm the Great Repeal Bill will not be

:57:28.:57:32.

the great power grab? I have been very clear, echoed yesterday by the

:57:33.:57:36.

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, that no powers that

:57:37.:57:41.

are currently devolved will be taken back to the UK Government. What we

:57:42.:57:45.

will be looking at, and what we will be discussing with the devolved

:57:46.:57:48.

administrations, is how we deal with powers which are currently in

:57:49.:57:52.

Brussels when they come back to the United Kingdom, and what we want to

:57:53.:57:55.

ensure, we want to ensure those powers are dealt with so we can

:57:56.:57:59.

maintain the important single market of the United Kingdom. Thank you, Mr

:58:00.:58:06.

Speaker. It is currently hand offence to assault a police officer,

:58:07.:58:11.

an immigration officer way prison officer, but it is not a specific

:58:12.:58:17.

offence to assault an NHS worker, doctor, nurse or paramedic. Does the

:58:18.:58:22.

Prime Minister agree with me that we should consider extending a specific

:58:23.:58:25.

offence to these people to make it absolutely clear that the public

:58:26.:58:29.

will not tolerate violence towards our hard-working members of the NHS?

:58:30.:58:35.

My honourable friend raises an important point, we condemn assaults

:58:36.:58:39.

on anybody and any violence that takes place, but the Secretary of

:58:40.:58:42.

State for Health has heard the KC has put and will be happy to look at

:58:43.:58:50.

that issue. -- has heard the case that he has put. Will be Duke of

:58:51.:58:58.

Westminster still received ?407,000 year, will Duke of Northumberland

:58:59.:59:02.

still receive ?475,000 a year, and will the Earl of either still

:59:03.:59:09.

receive ?915,000 a year from the British taxpayer? The honourable

:59:10.:59:12.

gentleman seems to know a lot about these ducal matters, I will be

:59:13.:59:19.

fascinated by the reply! One of the tasks that we will have, and the

:59:20.:59:22.

honourable gentleman is right, when we leave the European Union, is to

:59:23.:59:28.

decide what support is provided to agriculture as we are outside of the

:59:29.:59:31.

Common Agricultural Policy. We are taking the interest of all parts of

:59:32.:59:34.

the UK into account when we look into what the system should do in

:59:35.:59:40.

the future. A Hampshire Nice, Sir Gerald Howarth! Last weekend, the

:59:41.:59:48.

Secretary of State for Defence made a very welcome visit to Ukraine,

:59:49.:59:54.

where he said that freedom and democracy are not tradable

:59:55.:59:56.

commodities. As we mark the 25th anniversary of relations between our

:59:57.:00:01.

two partners, could I invite my right honourable friend to declare

:00:02.:00:05.

the support of the UK for the maintenance of an independent

:00:06.:00:08.

sovereign state in Ukraine, which has been subjected to the most

:00:09.:00:14.

outrageous annexation of part of its providence by Russia? I am very

:00:15.:00:17.

happy to join my honourable friend in confirming our commitment to the

:00:18.:00:20.

independent sovereign state of Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary has

:00:21.:00:24.

been doing a lot of work with other Foreign Ministers on this particular

:00:25.:00:29.

issue, we provide significant support to Ukraine, and I hope soon

:00:30.:00:33.

to be up to meet the president and talk about the support we provide.

:00:34.:00:40.

Pat McFadden. Last week the Prime Minister said that Parliament would

:00:41.:00:44.

get a vote on the final deal between the UK and the European Union. Kuqi

:00:45.:00:49.

set out what would happen if Parliament said no to the terms of

:00:50.:00:54.

that deal? -- could she set out. Would she negotiate an alternative

:00:55.:00:59.

deal, or would no deal option be falling back on WTO rules, which

:01:00.:01:06.

mean 10% tariffs on cars, 20% on food and trick, and a host of other

:01:07.:01:13.

barriers to trade, investment and prosperity in the UK? Prime

:01:14.:01:16.

Minister. As I also said in my speech, I expect we will be but to

:01:17.:01:21.

negotiate a good deal in terms of trade with the European Union,

:01:22.:01:25.

because it would be in our interests and those of the European Union as

:01:26.:01:29.

well. There will be a vote on the deal for this Parliament, but then,

:01:30.:01:34.

if this Parliament is not willing to accept a deal that has been decided

:01:35.:01:39.

and agreed by the United Kingdom Government with the European Union,

:01:40.:01:43.

I have said that if there is no deal, we will have to fall back on

:01:44.:01:48.

other arrangements. Mr Speaker, a great pleasure to welcome my

:01:49.:01:51.

honourable friend the Prime Minister and her Cabinet to Khazri earlier

:01:52.:01:57.

this week, and I welcome the Government industrial strategy to

:01:58.:02:01.

bring high skill, high wage jobs to close the North-South divide, and

:02:02.:02:07.

the message is that Britain is open for business. I and the whole

:02:08.:02:11.

Cabinet were very pleased to be able to visit, pleased to be able to sit

:02:12.:02:16.

down and meet with small businesses on that particular site to hear the

:02:17.:02:20.

support they have for what the Government is doing in the

:02:21.:02:23.

industrial strategy. Britain is open for business, we will be trading

:02:24.:02:27.

around the world, a global leader in free trade, bringing jobs, economic

:02:28.:02:32.

growth and prosperity to every part of this country. Thank you, Mr

:02:33.:02:39.

Speaker. We are now aware of the hundreds of thousands of women who

:02:40.:02:42.

marched in behalf of women's rights last weekend. In this House, we have

:02:43.:02:48.

been lobbied by members of the women against state pension inequality,

:02:49.:02:52.

and many MPs have lodged petitions asking the Government to act. Can

:02:53.:02:57.

the Prime Minister tell us how many MPs have lodged such petitions? I

:02:58.:03:01.

have to say to the honourable gentleman that I think the number of

:03:02.:03:04.

petitions presented in this Parliament is a matter for the

:03:05.:03:09.

authorities, but the Government has already taken action in relation to

:03:10.:03:12.

the issue of women's pensions to reduce the changes that will be

:03:13.:03:16.

experienced by women and putting extra money into that. Following her

:03:17.:03:21.

excellent EU speech last week, will the Prime Minister consider

:03:22.:03:26.

unilaterally guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens living and working in

:03:27.:03:31.

the UK? This isn't just the decent thing to do, but by taking the moral

:03:32.:03:35.

high ground, it will be a source of strength going forward in the

:03:36.:03:39.

negotiations, and we can always return to the issue of

:03:40.:03:43.

non-reciprocation and necessary later in those negotiations. I

:03:44.:03:47.

recognise the concern that my honourable friend has raised in

:03:48.:03:49.

relation to this issue, but my position remains the same as it

:03:50.:03:53.

always has been. I expect and intend and want to be able to guarantee the

:03:54.:03:58.

rights of EU citizens living in the United Kingdom, but as the British

:03:59.:04:01.

by Minister it is only right that I should give consideration to the

:04:02.:04:07.

rights of UK citizens living in the remaining 27 member states of the

:04:08.:04:11.

EU, and that is why I wanted that reciprocal arrangement. As I said

:04:12.:04:16.

last week, Ira Main open to this being an issue we negotiate at a

:04:17.:04:21.

very early stage. -- I remain open. A number of other European bodies

:04:22.:04:25.

want that, and I'm hoping we will be up to do it at an early stage. Dr

:04:26.:04:32.

Lisa Cameron. Thank you, Mr Speaker. As chair of the all-party

:04:33.:04:37.

Parliamentary group for disability, we recently compiled an important

:04:38.:04:40.

report into the Government's pledge to halve the employment gap.

:04:41.:04:44.

Research shows this pledge will not be met for 50 years. To date, no

:04:45.:04:50.

minister has met with the group to discuss the report. Will the Prime

:04:51.:04:53.

Minister place people with disability at the heart of policy

:04:54.:04:58.

and ensure that her ministers engage with our recommendations? The Prime

:04:59.:05:03.

Minister. The honourable lady raises an important issue about disabled

:05:04.:05:09.

people in the workplace. It is one we are aware of, and as we see the

:05:10.:05:13.

number of people in unemployed and going down, it does change the

:05:14.:05:20.

ratios to select ten. The Secretary of State is looking at how we can

:05:21.:05:26.

ensure that we are seeing more disabled people in the workplace,

:05:27.:05:31.

and I am sure he will have seen that request. Can I welcome the Prime

:05:32.:05:35.

Minister meeting with the president of Turkey on Saturday, when we can

:05:36.:05:40.

show our solidarity in the fight against terrorism, deepen our

:05:41.:05:43.

trading relationship, and the Prime Minister also seek support for a

:05:44.:05:48.

united and independent Cyprus free from Turkish troops? I thank my

:05:49.:05:53.

honourable friend for raising the important issues that I will be

:05:54.:05:56.

discussing with President Erdogan, and with the Prime Minister of

:05:57.:05:59.

Turkey when I meet them on Saturday. He raises the issue of Cyprus. I am

:06:00.:06:04.

hopeful that the talks will be able to continue to come to a solution,

:06:05.:06:08.

closer to a solution than we have been before. I have already spoken

:06:09.:06:12.

to the Prime Minister and the President about the need to ensure

:06:13.:06:17.

that we are creative in thinking and finding a solution for this, and I

:06:18.:06:23.

had a further telephone call over the weekend about this very issue.

:06:24.:06:27.

We stand ready, as a guarantor, to play our part in making sure we see

:06:28.:06:32.

a successful conclusion of these talks, and see the reunification of

:06:33.:06:35.

Cyprus, which people have been working for for some time. Thank

:06:36.:06:42.

you, Mr Speaker. I joined the Prime Minister in wishing a speedy

:06:43.:06:45.

recovery to the police officer who was shot and injured in my

:06:46.:06:50.

constituency in north Belfast on Sunday night. Thankfully, he was not

:06:51.:06:54.

killed, but that was not the intention of the terrorists, of

:06:55.:06:58.

course. It is very clear, Mr Speaker, that the political

:06:59.:07:01.

instability brought about by Sinn Fein's collapse of the assembly is

:07:02.:07:06.

in no-one's interest, and it is also clear that their intention is to

:07:07.:07:09.

rewrite the past. Will she make it very clear that the legal

:07:10.:07:14.

persecution of police officers and soldiers who did so much to bring

:07:15.:07:17.

peace to Northern Ireland will not be allowed to continue? I say to the

:07:18.:07:24.

right honourable gentleman that, as he indicates, the political

:07:25.:07:27.

stability in Northern Ireland has been hard earned over some

:07:28.:07:30.

considerable time, and none of us want to see and thrown away. He

:07:31.:07:34.

raises the issue of the current situation, where a number of

:07:35.:07:38.

investigations by the PSNI into former soldiers and their activities

:07:39.:07:42.

in Northern Ireland, and I think it is right that we recognise that the

:07:43.:07:45.

majority of people who lost their lives did so as a result of

:07:46.:07:49.

terrorist activity, and it is important that the terrorist

:07:50.:07:57.

activity is looked into. That is why one of the issues that my right

:07:58.:07:59.

honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is

:08:00.:08:01.

looking at is the legacy question and how that can take place in

:08:02.:08:08.

future. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Social care provided by Labour led

:08:09.:08:12.

council in my area is failing miserably. Serious errors in process

:08:13.:08:17.

have led to, quite frankly, shameful consequences for some of my most

:08:18.:08:21.

vulnerable constituents. It is clearly not about funding, as they

:08:22.:08:25.

said on reserves of about ?233 million. Will my right honourable

:08:26.:08:30.

friend instigate an urgent review of social care practice at the county

:08:31.:08:35.

council, because the people of Derbyshire deserve better? Prime

:08:36.:08:38.

Minister. My honourable friend has made an important point in relation

:08:39.:08:42.

to this issue, which is that successful social care is not wholly

:08:43.:08:46.

about funding, but the practice on the ground, and that is why we are

:08:47.:08:50.

very clear that it is important to see that integration between social

:08:51.:08:54.

and health care at a local level, and local authorities should be

:08:55.:08:56.

playing their part in delivering that. And this is any stew that we

:08:57.:09:02.

need to see addressed for the longer term as well. -- an issue. Frankly,

:09:03.:09:07.

it has been ducked by governments for too long in this country, and

:09:08.:09:11.

that is why we are determined to bring forward a sustainable

:09:12.:09:14.

programme in the future. Ed Miliband. It brings... The right

:09:15.:09:23.

honourable gentleman never knew he was quite that popular! Ed Miliband!

:09:24.:09:30.

I was going to say, Mr Speaker, it brings back memories, actually! Can

:09:31.:09:34.

I say to the Prime Minister, as the first foreign leader to meet

:09:35.:09:38.

President Trump, she carries a huge responsibility on behalf not just of

:09:39.:09:41.

this country but the whole international community in the town

:09:42.:09:45.

that she sets? Can I ask her to reassure us that she will say to the

:09:46.:09:51.

President that he must abide by and not withdraw from the Paris climate

:09:52.:09:55.

change treaty, and in case it is helpful, can she offer the services

:09:56.:10:00.

of UK scientists to convince the president that climate change is not

:10:01.:10:06.

a hoax invented by the Chinese? Prime Minister! Well, I recognise

:10:07.:10:09.

the role the right honourable gentleman has played in looking at

:10:10.:10:13.

this issue of climate change, and I hope he recognises the commitment

:10:14.:10:16.

this government has shown to be a stew of climate change with the

:10:17.:10:19.

legislation we have put through, and the changes that we have brought

:10:20.:10:23.

about in terms of the energy sector and users of different forms of

:10:24.:10:27.

energy. The Obama administration obviously signed up to the Paris

:10:28.:10:31.

climate change agreement, we have now done that, I would hope that all

:10:32.:10:37.

parties would continue to ensure that the climate change agreement is

:10:38.:10:39.

put into practice. Order...

:10:40.:10:43.

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