Live EU Leaders' Summit Statement House of Commons


Live EU Leaders' Summit Statement

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well. Statement, the Prime Minister.

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Thank you Mr Speaker. And Mr Speaker, before I turn to the

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European council, I am sure that the whole house will want to join me in

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sending our congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen as she marks her

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Sapphire jubilee today. It is testament to Her Majesty's devotion

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to the nation she is not marking becoming our first monarch to rein

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with any special celebration but getting on with the job to which she

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has dedicated her life. And on behalf of the whole country I

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am proud to offer Her Majesty our humble than Forbes a life of

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extraordinary service, long may she continue to rein over us all.

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Britain is leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving

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Europe. And a global Britain that stands tall in the world, will be a

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Britain that remains a good friend and ally to all our European

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partners. So at this summit we showed how Britain will continue to

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play a leading role in Europe, long after we have left the EU. In

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particular, through our contribution to the challenge of imagining mass

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migration, through our special relationship with America, and

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through the new and equal partnership we want to build between

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the EU, and an independent global Britain. Let me take each in turn.

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First on migration. The discussion focussed in particular, on the route

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from Libya across the central Med trainian, as I have argued we need a

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comprehensive and co-ordinated approach, and that is what this

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council agreed. This includes working hard, in support of an

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inclusive political settlement to stabilise Libya, which will not only

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help to tackle migration flows but counter-terrorism.

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It means working to reduce the poor factors to encourage people to risk

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their live, building the capacity to the Libyan, to return hieings to

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their own shore, and hem them return home. It means looking beyond Libya

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and moving further up stream, including by urgently implementing

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the EU ex entering investment plan to help create more opportunities in

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migrant's home countries and by helping genuine refugees to claim

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asylum in the first safe country they reach. It means better

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distinguishing between economic migrants and refugee, swiftly

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returning those who have no right to remain, and there by sending a

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deterrence message to others thinking of embarrassing on perilous

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journeys and the council agreed action in all of these areas.

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Britain is already playing a leading role in the region, at this summit I

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announced further step, including support if Libyan coastguard and

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more than ?30 million of aid for the vulnerable refugees.

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Britain is also setting up an 8 million pound protection fund to

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help men, women and children in the Mediterranean region safe from

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trafficking, to help keep men, women and children safe from trafficking

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sexual violence and labour exploitation as part of our

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commitment to tackle modern slavery. The council agrees we should do

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everything possible to deter this horrific crime, including by

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introducing tough penalties for those who trade in human misery, and

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by working together, to secure the necessary evidence for prosecutions,

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that can put these criminals behind bars where they belong.

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Mr Speaker, turning to America, I opened a discussion on engaging the

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new administration, and I was able to relay the conversation I had with

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President Trump at the White House, about the important history o

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cooperation between the United States and the country countries of

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Europe. In particular, I confirms that the

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President declared his commitment to Nato as the cornerstone of our

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security in the west. But I also made clear that every country needs

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to share the burden and play its full part, meeting the Nato target

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of spending 2% on defence, because Mr Speaker, it is only by investing

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properly in our defence we can ensure we are properly equip to keep

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our people safe. I was able to relay my discussion with President Trump

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on the importance of maintaining the sanctions regime in Russia. I very

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much welcome the strong words last week from the new US ambassador to

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the UN in confirming America's continued support for the sanctions.

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Of course, there is some areas we disagree with the new approach and

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we should be clear about that and the values that underpin our

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response to the globe challenges we face.

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But I also argued at this council, that we should encage patiently and

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constructively with America, as a friend and ally, an ally that has

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helped guarantee the longest period of peace Europe has known. We should

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be clear, Mr Speaker narks the am terntive o division and

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confrontation would only embolden those who would do us harm where

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ever they maybe. Finally turning to Brexit. European leaders welcomed

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the clarity of the objectives we have set out for the negotiation

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ahead. They warmly welcomed our ambition to build a new partnership

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between Britain and the European Union, that is in the interests of

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both sides. They also welcomed the recognition

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that we in Britain want to see a strong and successful European

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Union, because that is in our interests and the interests of the

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whole world. On the issue of acquired rights the general view we

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should reach an agreement which applied eequally to the other 27

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member states and the UK, which is why we think a unilateral decision

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from the UK is not the right way forward. But as I have said before,

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EU citizens living in the UK make a vital contribution to our economy

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and society and without them, without them we would be poorer and

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our public services weaker. So we will make securing the

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reciprocal agreement that will guarantee their status a priority as

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soon as the negotiations begin. I want to see this agreed as soon as

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possible because that is is in everyone's interest. Our European

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partners want to get on with the negotiations, so do I. And so does

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this House. Which last week voted by a majority of 384, in support of the

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Government triggering Article 50. There are of course further stages

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for the bill in committee and in the other place. It is right this

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process should be completed properly, the message is clear to

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all. This House has spoken, and now is not the time to obstruct the

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democratically expressed wishes of the British people. It is time to

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get on with leaving the European Union, and building an independent

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self governing global Britain, around I commend this statement to

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the House. Thank you Mr Speaker. I thank the

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Prime Minister for the statement and the advance sight of it and I also

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echo her sentiments towards Her Majesty and wish her well on this

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auspicious time in her life and thank her for her service. The Prime

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Minister has used this rather curiously named inform informal EU

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summit to press the EU Nato members to fulfil their defence expenditure

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requirements. The last Labour Government consistently spend over

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2% on defence, the Tory Government's cuts since 2010 have demoralised our

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Armed Forces, cut spending by 11% in the last Parliament, and reduced the

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size of the army from 82,000, to 77,000. As well as making these

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cuts, they have changed the way in which the 2% spending is actually

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calculated. So while the Prime Minister is lecturing other

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countries, can she tell the House why her Government changed the

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accounting rules to include aspects of expenditure that were not

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previously included? Included? The previously included? Included? The

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Defence Select Committee in 2015, noted the Government is only meeting

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the 2% figure by including other areas, such as... Not been included

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before and goes on to say, this redefinition of defence expenditure,

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undermines to some extent the credibility of the Government's

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assertion that the 2% figure represents an increase.

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Mr Speaker, to add to this disarray, this weekend the Sunday Times The

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Sunday Times newspaper koufrned a series of equipment failure, bungled

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deals including apparently ordering tank that are too big to fit in the

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aircraft that are supposed to be transporting them. This really does

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cast some doubt on the Government's competence in this area, so perhaps

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it is not such a good idea to go lecturing other countries on defence

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spending and procurement. Labour has long been concerned about

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short-sightedness from the MoD, with long delays delivering projects. It

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is worrying, the extent to which the MoD seems to have lost control of

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some of the biggest equipment Roger X and it would be nice to know what

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action the Prime Minister is taking. Mr Speaker, today the Prime Minister

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had a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, did she make it clear to

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him, as this house has often spoken about, that continued opposition by

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the British government to the illegal settlements being built at

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the Palestinian settlements. Labour has been unequivocal that it is

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within this government's gift to guarantee rights of EU citizens to

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remain in this country. No need to wait for negotiations to begin. The

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government could do that now. This is not a question about Brexit, it

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is about human rights, democracy and decency towards people who have

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lived and worked in this country, and many families have got children

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born here. We must guarantee their rights. Many of those people have

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been left in limbo, deeply concerned and stressed. Did the Prime Minister

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discuss this issue with counterparts and provide them with clarity and

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assurances that they need and deserve? We are clear, Mr Speaker,

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that we respect the mandate of the British people to leave the European

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Union but we will not accept this government turning this country into

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our bargain basement tax haven. Finally, Mr Speaker, we welcome the

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additional 30 million that the government has committed to the

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refugee crisis across Europe. Last week that Prime Minister's

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Questions, the Prime Minister said that the United Kingdom had settled

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10,000 refugees from Syria. According to the House of Commons

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library, it has been less than half of that, 4,414. And ongoing and

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grave tragedy has resulted in over 5000 people drowning in the

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Mediterranean last year, 254 already this year at the beginning of the

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jury. We should also, Mr Speaker, note the phenomenal commitment from

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the people of Greece to refugees, and the difficulties they have had

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supporting them. What conversations her she had with her Greek

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counterpart? Even after Brexit, this is an issue that is going to affect

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every country in Europe. It is the biggest crisis that we have ever

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faced and we need to coordinate as a continent to address this issue with

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all of the humanity and resources that our collective values determine

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should be deployed to this issue. Thank you Mr Speaker. The right

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honourable gentleman opened his remarks, referring to the curiously

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named informal council. It is actually the convention that new

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presidency, the presidency has an informal Council, people being able

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to come and talk about a number of issues and looking ahead to the

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formalities of the council. There we are. That is what happens. He also

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referred to the meeting I had with Benjamin Netanyahu. This is not a

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subject for discussion at the European Union Council last week,

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however I have made the UK Government position clear on

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settlements. On the issue of EU nationals, it is absolutely correct

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that we value the contributions that EU citizens have been playing in the

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United Kingdom, to the community, society and public services. But it

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is also correct that we should ensure that the rights of United

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Kingdom citizens are also looked after. The conversations I have had

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with the number of European leaders on this matter makes it clear that

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they see this as a matter that should be dealt with, but also with

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conversations I have had with the Prime Minister of Spain, we want to

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reassure people as early as possible in the negotiations. He talked about

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the issue of refugees, and people drowning in the Mediterranean. The

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continuing loss of life has been terrible, despite the best efforts.

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The Royal navy has been there, to protect and rescue people. That is

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why it is so important that we stop people from meeting that perilous

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journey in the first place. That is why the work that we discussed that

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the European Council was so important. He asked about her

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relationship with Greece, and continue to provide support on the

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ground and Greece, giving people help in dealing with refugees. And I

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committed that this is an area that we want to cooperate with European

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partners on, after we have left the European Union because it is not an

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issue confined to the European Union. And finally, he made a number

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of comments. Devoting a lot of those response to the question of defence.

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He said the fact that we're spending 2% on defence, casts doubt on the

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competence of the United Kingdom government with defence. This was

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the right honourable gentleman who said he wanted to send out nuclear

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submarines with no missles! You could not make that up. Kenneth

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Clarke. Mr Speaker, I think they mean business of this council was

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another attempt to tackle the mass migration problem from the Middle

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East and North Africa, destabilising the politics of every European

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country. Will my right honourable friend conform, that is Prime

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Minister she will take as active part as she was when she was Home

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Secretary, working with other Union countries to tackle this? Otherwise

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we have a continuing problem, he bore attempting to get to this

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country. If we are going to start returning refugees to the north

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coast of Africa, any progress being made after the efforts when she was

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Home Secretary? Finding somewhere on the other side of the Mediterranean

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when Europeans can finance and organise reception centres, refugees

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and applicants can be processed in a civilised way, and only genuine

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asylum allowed? Seekers I can give my right honourable friend those

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assurances. This issue continues to affect all of us. It is not

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justified to the borders of the European Union. We will continue to

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coordinate, when we remain in the European Union and beyond. As he has

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indicated, one of the concerns about returning people to north Africa has

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been the conditions to which they would be returned. We have had

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efforts in Niger, to provide centres so that people do not progress

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through to Libya. But it is also widely referenced, our support for

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the Battalion initiative. They have worked with the government of

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National Accord at Libya. Getting an agreement that they are going to do

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work, for suitable conditions. -- Italian. I want to join the Prime

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Minister and the leader of the Labour Party, extending my wishes

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for the Queen's Sapphire jubilee. We wish her a pleasant day. I want to

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thank the Prime Minister about the statement of the opening European

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Union summit since the white paper was published. And of course, the

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visit to Dublin as well. As we have already established, the Prime

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Minister does not want hard borders, she wants the free movement of

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people on these islands and safeguarding and boosting of trade.

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And we wholeheartedly support these objectives. But given the importance

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that the Prime Minister gives in the White Paper to the union of the

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United Kingdom, what we are told is a partnership of equals, she will

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surely have breached European colleagues when she was in Malta,

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about progress of negotiations with governments across these islands.

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Has she confirmed that she is going to work with the Scotland government

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for continuing membership of the single market? That we value

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European Union citizens in our country, that the presence will be

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guaranteed and she is going to learn lessons from Canada, Australia,

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Switzerland. It is perfectly possible to have different

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immigration priorities and policies within a unitary state. Did the

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Prime Minister remained European colleagues that in Scotland we voted

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by 62% to remain in the European Union, and only one member of

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Parliament representing a Scottish constituency voted for Brexit

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constituency. It is getting to a stage when warm words from the

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government is not enough. We have got to negotiate on all of the

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house. Scotland did not warrant a single mention in the Prime

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Minister's statement. She has the opportunity to tell us what Scottish

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priorities did she raise? Any at all? The right honourable gentleman

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is correct that I have confirmed the commitment to the common travel

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area. That is something I have been discussing, and we will continue

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those discussions. He referenced EU citizens. As I said in response to

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the leader of opposition, we all value the contribution that citizens

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have been making to society, economy, public services. We want to

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be able to give them the real assurance at an early stage as

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possible about the continuation. We have a duty to consider British

:20:57.:21:02.

citizens living in the European Union states. And as I have said, it

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has been clear that we have caught goodwill on all sides. An

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expectation this will be considered and we can look at EU citizens here,

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and British citizens at other states. He also asked a number of

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questions about what I was putting forward to the European leaders of

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the 27. What I was putting forward, the views of the United Kingdom. The

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United Kingdom will be negotiating, we incorporate the views and listen

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to Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, but I am the Prime Minister

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of the United Kingdom. Did the right honourable friend observe that after

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she had spoken to the 27, they were far more realistic, particularly

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with the question to the defence and Nato than they had been before...

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Particularly, Donald Tusk's letter to the 27, sent on the 31st of

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January? My right honourable friend is absolutely correct. We have got a

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growing recognition among the growing states -- member states that

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it is important to meet the 2% commitment for defence. A small

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number of members of European states have already reached that 2%, but

:22:32.:22:37.

those actively moving towards that 2%. Most notably, some of the Baltic

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states. Last spring, pointing out that we export more to Ireland than

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China, and almost twice as much to Belgium and India, the Prime

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Minister said it is not realistic to think that we could just replace

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European trade with these new markets. Can she therefore give the

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house and assurance that in the negotiations she will seek to

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safeguard tariff and barrier free access to European markets for

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British businesses, if necessary, remaining in the customs union if

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that is the only way to ensure this? Nobody is talking about replacing

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European Union trade with trade from around the rest of the word. What we

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are talking about, expanding trade across the world so that we have got

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a good trading relationship but also able to sign up to new trade

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agreements and as the right honourable gentleman knows, a number

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of countries already talking about potential trade agreements. We will

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do what is necessary to ensure we can expand, including across the

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European Union. Is the Prime Minister as shocked as

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am they are unable to offer a, they won't face eviction? Well, I think I

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am more hopeful than my right honourable friend is, in that I have

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every confidence we will be able to address this issue as an early

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discussion in the negotiation, I would have like to have been address

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outside the negotiation, some member states didn't wish do that but I

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think there is the good will there to give the reassurance to EU

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citizens here and UK citizens in Europe.

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Thank you. On the cows Toms union, the Prime Minister has said --

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customs union the Prime Minister has said she will be be outside the

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common external tariff. With we have different tariffs coming in from

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outside how will she guarantee to have barrier free goods passing

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between these different countries?s? A lot of people are saying they

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can't see how to be outside that and have barrier free trade, if it comes

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to that crunch, will she agree to go back in to the customs union and be

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part of the common external tariff in order to have barrier free trade?

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She is approaching this as a binary issue twine the customs union

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membership and having a good trade agreement. I don't see it as such.

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We want to be able to negotiate free trade agreements with other

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countries round the world. That means there are parts of the customs

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union and not just a single in or out, parts of the union which

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currently exist which where we are members of them, prevent us from

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doing the free trade agreement, I am confident we can achieve the sort of

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free trade agreement with European Union that is in our interest and

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the interest of the European Union, that gives us the sort of ability to

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trade across border, that we, that we see and that we want in the

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future. In her statement my right honourable

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friend talked about the new and equal partnership we wish to build

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between the EU and independent self government governing global Britain.

:26:05.:26:08.

She pointed out the importance of cooperation on issues such as

:26:09.:26:12.

migration from Libya, were there any discussion and what contemplation is

:26:13.:26:18.

she given to Britain's de facto involvement in the common foreign

:26:19.:26:23.

security policy after Brexit? I can reassure my right honourable friend

:26:24.:26:26.

that this is one of the issues we are looking at in relation to the

:26:27.:26:29.

future negotiations that are coming up, in the speech I gave in

:26:30.:26:34.

Lancaster House two-and-a-half weeks ago we were clear we recognised the

:26:35.:26:38.

importance of the security cooperation and defence cooperation

:26:39.:26:40.

we have with our European partners and we wanted to continue that in

:26:41.:26:44.

future. Thank you. Can I thank the Prime

:26:45.:26:51.

Minister for her advance sight of the statement and also associate

:26:52.:26:57.

myself and those of my colleagues with her comments congratulating the

:26:58.:27:01.

Queen on the occasion of her Sapphire jubilee. During the Prime

:27:02.:27:04.

Minister's brief walk about with Angela Merkel, during which I assume

:27:05.:27:09.

she offers her a state visit, did she raise the issue, did she raise

:27:10.:27:14.

the issue of unaccompanied child refugees. Did she raise the issue

:27:15.:27:19.

unaccompanied child refugees and will she now confirm that this

:27:20.:27:24.

Government will not make break the promise made by this House nine

:27:25.:27:28.

months ago under the terms of an amendment of the safe feature of the

:27:29.:27:33.

children and this will remain open and in use for the rest of this

:27:34.:27:38.

Parliament to often safe haven to at least 3,000 child refugees. I can

:27:39.:27:42.

reassure the right honourable gentleman that indeed, this

:27:43.:27:46.

Government is putting into practise, the commitment it has given to

:27:47.:27:50.

ensure we are giving support to child refugees from, who have

:27:51.:27:54.

already made it across into Europe and bringing child refugees here

:27:55.:27:59.

into the UK. Many have been brought under that scheme. Given that there

:28:00.:28:09.

can be no security for Europe, without the intimate involvement of

:28:10.:28:16.

the United States, will she please redouble her efforts to persuade our

:28:17.:28:20.

continental friends, and indeed our friends on the opposition benches,

:28:21.:28:26.

that whatever they feel about an individual President's personal

:28:27.:28:31.

qualities, the way to proceed has to be the reach out to rim, to respect

:28:32.:28:38.

his office and -- to him, to respect his office and strengthen the

:28:39.:28:40.

alliance. My right honourable friend is right. It was one of the themes

:28:41.:28:44.

at the informal council, was a recognition of the role that America

:28:45.:28:49.

has played in supporting European defence and security, and the need

:28:50.:28:52.

to engage fully with the European administration, that is what we are

:28:53.:28:55.

doing and it is what I am encouraging others to do.

:28:56.:29:01.

I welcome what the Prime Minister said about the importance of

:29:02.:29:05.

maintaining the sanctions regime on Russia, in response to their actions

:29:06.:29:09.

in Ukraine, once we leave the European Union, can she reassure the

:29:10.:29:14.

House that we will continue to agree with our European partners where

:29:15.:29:18.

necessary, those sorts of sanctions in future? First of all, to reassure

:29:19.:29:22.

her while we are ebb managerses of the European Union we continue to

:29:23.:29:25.

encourage the other member states to maintain those sanction, there are a

:29:26.:29:30.

number of areas of this sort of foreign policy area under the

:29:31.:29:33.

security of Europe where we will, as I say want to co-operate in future

:29:34.:29:37.

with our European Union partner, of course once we are outside the

:29:38.:29:41.

European Union, we won't have a vote round that table in terms of the

:29:42.:29:43.

sanctions regime but we will continue to make our views clear.

:29:44.:29:49.

Contrary to the rather negative comments from the party opposite,

:29:50.:29:54.

was my right honourable friend heartened by Germany yet again, over

:29:55.:30:01.

the weekend, the German Finance Minister said that there is no

:30:02.:30:05.

question of the United Kingdom being punished, for leaving the European

:30:06.:30:10.

Union, and indeed, London remains the heart of the finance industry in

:30:11.:30:15.

the globe. What influence does my right honourable friend think

:30:16.:30:18.

Germany will have over these negotiations? Thank you Mr Speaker,

:30:19.:30:33.

I was aware of the comments that the minister had made, I can't claim I

:30:34.:30:36.

had read the particular publication that my right honourable friend

:30:37.:30:39.

refers to. But it is an important point, and I think this is what we

:30:40.:30:45.

are now seeing, as we move forward to the triggering of the

:30:46.:30:49.

negotiations, a genuine willingness to discuss on both sides the future

:30:50.:30:53.

of European Union, UK relationship, the new partnership that we want,

:30:54.:30:58.

and a recognition of the role that the United Kingdom plays in Europe,

:30:59.:31:01.

an of course Germany is one of the remaining 27 member states but I

:31:02.:31:06.

look forward to having further conversations with my, our German

:31:07.:31:09.

counterparts on the importance they place on the City of London and the

:31:10.:31:13.

UK's trading relationship with Europe.

:31:14.:31:18.

The Prime Minister has guaranteed Parliament vote on the final deal

:31:19.:31:23.

wean the UK and the EU, can she confirm that that commitment applies

:31:24.:31:27.

to both the Article 50 divorce negotiations and the free trade

:31:28.:31:32.

agreement she hopes to negotiate. Could she tell the house what

:31:33.:31:35.

happens if Parliament says no to the terms of either of these deals? What

:31:36.:31:40.

I can say to the right honourable gentleman, is that we see these

:31:41.:31:44.

negotiations not as being separate but as going together, that the

:31:45.:31:49.

arrangement that we aim to negotiate is a deal that will cover the exit

:31:50.:31:53.

arrangement and the future of free trade agreement we will have with

:31:54.:31:55.

the European Union. I have every confidence we will be able to get a

:31:56.:32:00.

good deal agreeded with the European Union, in relation to both of those

:32:01.:32:03.

matter, including our future cooperation not just on trade but on

:32:04.:32:07.

other matters and be able to bring a good deal here for the Parliament to

:32:08.:32:13.

vote on. I have to confess I am still reeling

:32:14.:32:24.

from the novelty of the right hob nab member for Islington North

:32:25.:32:30.

talking about defence. -- honourable. Can I ask my right

:32:31.:32:35.

honourable friend, I think the sooner with can give them that

:32:36.:32:39.

reassurance they seek, the better, can she tell us, which of the, our

:32:40.:32:46.

EU partners are so reluctant to offer reciprocal rights to her

:32:47.:32:50.

majority cease subjects residing in their countries. Could I say to my

:32:51.:32:54.

right honourable friend that I think the whole House was somewhat

:32:55.:32:57.

surprised by the contribution that the Leader of the Opposition made in

:32:58.:32:59.

relation to defence spending but we wait to see, we wait the see whether

:33:00.:33:04.

that is followed up by their commitments that in other debates.

:33:05.:33:09.

On the question of EU nationals I absolute agree with, I absolutely

:33:10.:33:13.

agree with my right honourable friend it is important we give that

:33:14.:33:18.

reassurance at an early stage as possible. It is not the question of

:33:19.:33:23.

offering reciprocal rights. For some states they didn't want to negotiate

:33:24.:33:30.

part of what they saw as the fuller New negotiations until Article 50

:33:31.:33:33.

that has been triggered. It that will enable us to discuss in matter.

:33:34.:33:38.

May I associate my right honourable friends with the Prime Minister's

:33:39.:33:42.

warm words of congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of

:33:43.:33:48.

her Sapphire jubilee, and given this countries enormous contribution to

:33:49.:33:52.

the defence of Europe and indeed the west generally, and given our

:33:53.:33:57.

massive contribution, one of the highest contributors to humanitarian

:33:58.:34:00.

and international aid in the world, can I urge the Prime Minister to use

:34:01.:34:05.

every opportunity in discussions with our European friends and

:34:06.:34:08.

partners to reiterate the need for them also, to step up to the plate

:34:09.:34:12.

on both of these vital issues which are just as important of some of the

:34:13.:34:17.

other issues we are discussing. The right honourable gentleman is right,

:34:18.:34:21.

and I do give that commitment, that we can, I continue to express to my

:34:22.:34:26.

European colleagues the importance of them, actually stepping up to the

:34:27.:34:29.

plate and spending the requisite amount of money on defence. I think

:34:30.:34:33.

it is important that Europe shows that commitment. Can I welcome the

:34:34.:34:38.

Prime Minister's statement on the informal council today, and in

:34:39.:34:43.

particular, can I welcome the 13 million worth of new aid for

:34:44.:34:48.

refugees. With recent reports of children, particularly, returning to

:34:49.:34:54.

the Jungle camp area in Calais, did my right honourable friend have the

:34:55.:34:56.

opportunity to discuss this with her French counterpart? What more could

:34:57.:35:01.

be done to prevent children from returning to this area with the

:35:02.:35:06.

false hope of expecting to come to the UK? My right honourable friend

:35:07.:35:11.

raising an important issue, and I have asked the Home Office, today I

:35:12.:35:15.

have asked the Home Office to look at this particular concern, that

:35:16.:35:18.

people including children are now returning to the camps at Calais,

:35:19.:35:22.

obviously the action that will be taken within France is a matter for

:35:23.:35:27.

the French Government. I think they share the concern about the

:35:28.:35:31.

possibility of migrants returning to the camps at Calais, and obviously

:35:32.:35:35.

they have already acted in relation to that matter. In, we will continue

:35:36.:35:38.

to operate the schemes we have done, working with the French Government

:35:39.:35:41.

in the past, to ensure those who have a right to be in the United

:35:42.:35:44.

Kingdom are indeed able to come to the United Kingdom. Thank you Mr

:35:45.:35:50.

Speaker. What discussion did the Prime Minister have in Malta round

:35:51.:35:53.

trade deals? He will by a wear all member of the European Parliament

:35:54.:35:57.

will be able to vote on the UK Canada trade deal. Her Government

:35:58.:36:01.

has gone back on its promise to bring a debate. Given the prominence

:36:02.:36:07.

given to that deal in her brief Brexit White Paper as an example of

:36:08.:36:10.

what we can expect from future trade deals, why is this Government

:36:11.:36:14.

running scared of Parliamentary scrutiny? This Government is not

:36:15.:36:18.

about taking back control for the people, it is about take back

:36:19.:36:22.

control for itself. The, the deal as I understand it

:36:23.:36:27.

will be discussed today, in European committee B, on which I, on which I

:36:28.:36:31.

understand the honourable member is a member and therefore will be able

:36:32.:36:41.

to contribute to that debate. First the question asked by my right

:36:42.:36:45.

honourable friend for Aldershot, on the issue of acquired rights, which

:36:46.:36:51.

countries are standing out against an immediate deal based on

:36:52.:36:54.

reciprocity before the start of Brexit negotiations, which countries

:36:55.:36:59.

and do they include Germany? As I said to my right honourable friend,

:37:00.:37:03.

the issue is whether or not this should be part of the formal

:37:04.:37:07.

negotiations or not part of the formal negotiations. It has been

:37:08.:37:11.

made clear that there are those who believe it should be part of the

:37:12.:37:15.

negotiations, and therefore we will be able to consider this issue, with

:37:16.:37:20.

our European colleagues, once Article 50 has been triggered.

:37:21.:37:27.

What did she say to her fellow European leaders about her

:37:28.:37:30.

assessment of the trump Putin relationship? And specifically,

:37:31.:37:35.

about Russian interference in western democracies including our

:37:36.:37:39.

own? The concern has been expressed at this council meeting and not only

:37:40.:37:43.

at this council meeting but at others about the role that Russia is

:37:44.:37:48.

playing, in a number of ways in terms of the interference they are

:37:49.:37:56.

taking and the Shadow Foreign Secretary interference in western

:37:57.:37:58.

democracies including our own? The concern has been expressed at this

:37:59.:38:01.

council meeting and not only at this council meeting but at others about

:38:02.:38:03.

the role that Russia is playing, in a number of ways in terms of the

:38:04.:38:06.

interference they are taking and the Shadow Foreign Secretary is shouting

:38:07.:38:08.

at me "By you", yes, by me. But it is a matter of continuing

:38:09.:38:11.

concern and will remain and subject on with I we discuss.

:38:12.:38:15.

-- which. Does my right honourable friend think in her discussion with

:38:16.:38:23.

her 27 EU partners we will be able to negotiate a reciprocal right free

:38:24.:38:29.

for citizens is living here and UK citizens living abroad sooner than

:38:30.:38:33.

Article 50? I think from my honourable friend, do expect that we

:38:34.:38:37.

will be able to ensure that we can get, what I want to see is an

:38:38.:38:42.

agreement about the position of EU citizens and UK citizens at an early

:38:43.:38:48.

part in the negotiations so we can give that reassurance up front so it

:38:49.:38:52.

will not be necessary to keep that agreement with the other 27 member

:38:53.:38:56.

states as part of the final deal. We need to have that up front at an

:38:57.:39:01.

early stage so we can give people the reassurance not just they need,

:39:02.:39:02.

but actually they deserve. On the 15th of July last year, the

:39:03.:39:14.

Prime Minister pledged that she would not trigger article 50, until

:39:15.:39:22.

she had agreed approach, backed by the devolved administrations. Does

:39:23.:39:29.

she intend to keep her word? We have been having a number of engagements

:39:30.:39:35.

with the various devolved administrations, taking issues into

:39:36.:39:40.

accounts, and as we agreed, we are intensifying discussions with the

:39:41.:39:47.

Scottish Government on issues raised within the Scottish White Paper. The

:39:48.:39:52.

decision to trigger article 50 should be taken, this house voted

:39:53.:39:58.

overwhelmingly that that should be the state that we take, on behalf of

:39:59.:40:03.

alienated kingdom. -- United Kingdom.

:40:04.:40:08.

I apologise. The right honourable gentleman was chantering at me! I

:40:09.:40:23.

was about to go to an appointment. The right honourable gentleman now

:40:24.:40:26.

has the opportunity for an appointment with the house.

:40:27.:40:36.

Mr Speaker, I am delighted to have the opportunity to ask if we have

:40:37.:40:43.

had any discussion about the assets of the European Union, to which we

:40:44.:40:52.

may have some claim after 40 years of being a major contributor. I can

:40:53.:40:59.

assure my right honourable friend, that looking at future negotiations,

:41:00.:41:03.

we will be looking at every angle of the relationship. Can I welcome the

:41:04.:41:14.

200 million Euros that have been pledged to the Mediterranean crisis,

:41:15.:41:21.

3800 people have travelled to Libya. But can I ask her to be cheerful,

:41:22.:41:26.

with regards to the Libyan coastguard, strong evidence that be

:41:27.:41:34.

have been working with people smugglers, 11 boats to leave these

:41:35.:41:39.

waters. How much of the 200 million will be used, to counter the work of

:41:40.:41:43.

these criminal gangs? The work that we are doing with the Libyan

:41:44.:41:53.

coastguard, it is about training the coastguard, but separately from that

:41:54.:41:55.

we will be enhancing the ability to work across borders, using joint

:41:56.:42:02.

investigation teams to insure that we are going to catch these criminal

:42:03.:42:06.

gangs. I think we need to put even more effort into this in the future.

:42:07.:42:14.

In welcoming the statement, and my right honourable friend's comments

:42:15.:42:21.

about refugees, which she agreed that the work we're doing through

:42:22.:42:25.

the development budget and Armed Forces to the fragile states of

:42:26.:42:33.

Libya and Jordan, it is vastly more than the rest of Europe? My right

:42:34.:42:38.

honourable friend makes a very important point, we have taken a

:42:39.:42:42.

simple view that actually be to support more people who have fled

:42:43.:42:47.

from Syria by giving been humanitarian aid in the region, than

:42:48.:42:51.

by taking people to the United Kingdom. We will be bringing

:42:52.:42:56.

particularly vulnerable refugees to the United Kingdom but we continue

:42:57.:42:59.

to believe is the second biggest financial donor to the region that

:43:00.:43:10.

is important. I commend in the work of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Given

:43:11.:43:19.

President Trump's talk about renegotiating the Iran nuclear deal,

:43:20.:43:21.

any opportunity to have discussions with French and German counterparts,

:43:22.:43:27.

about how to respond should the President Prosser this? We continue

:43:28.:43:32.

to believe that the Iran nuclear deal was an important step forward,

:43:33.:43:38.

an important contributor to stability in the region. Thank you

:43:39.:43:47.

Mr Speaker. I welcome the Prime Minister's statement today. The

:43:48.:43:52.

status of EU national stars not just affect members of my constituency,

:43:53.:43:58.

but members of my family and friends personally. The Prime Minister has

:43:59.:44:03.

given me, and members of the house, the personal guarantee she's going

:44:04.:44:06.

to seek agreement on this issue. I am putting my entire trust in the

:44:07.:44:10.

Prime Minister to honour this promise. Getting an early agreement

:44:11.:44:17.

will be in my opinion a decisive mark of her negotiating skills and

:44:18.:44:23.

leadership qualities as Prime Minister. Thank you. I thank my

:44:24.:44:28.

right honourable friend for the trust that he has been placing in

:44:29.:44:33.

me. I want to reassure them not only of my good intentions but also of

:44:34.:44:38.

the number of European colleagues who I have spoken to about this

:44:39.:44:43.

issue. They also recognise the importance for United Kingdom

:44:44.:44:49.

citizens living there, but EU citizens living here, as we want to

:44:50.:44:55.

give reassurance at an early stage. The Prime Minister made a big point

:44:56.:44:59.

about how she was communicating with European counterparts about

:45:00.:45:08.

president Trump's negotiations, but one Republican senator has said I do

:45:09.:45:12.

not understand what the President's possession is on Russia. Does she?

:45:13.:45:19.

Has she communicated that? The discussions I have had so far,

:45:20.:45:24.

President Trump fuse the need to engage more with Russia, than has

:45:25.:45:29.

happened in the past. The message IDs, when I spoke in Philadelphia to

:45:30.:45:33.

the Republican party was that I think it is correct to engage,

:45:34.:45:41.

engage but beware. I very much welcomed the statement from the

:45:42.:45:45.

Prime Minister, paragraph four of the conclusions talks about tackling

:45:46.:45:51.

radical extremism and terrorism in Libya. Recent reports have said we

:45:52.:45:57.

have 6000 militants, is that accurate? And how effectively have

:45:58.:46:05.

the organisation 's been working, to defeat IS? We have been doing all

:46:06.:46:20.

that we can, to try to defeat Daesh, and steps have been taken at the

:46:21.:46:24.

parts such as Iraq to have an impact on Daesh. It is important that we

:46:25.:46:33.

come forward in parts of other worlds. But as he said, underlying

:46:34.:46:42.

all of this we have to deal with an ideology. It is about dealing with

:46:43.:46:47.

ideology, and that is when the work to do with radicalisation become so

:46:48.:46:53.

important. Can I ask the Prime Minister to answer that part of the

:46:54.:46:56.

question that my right honourable friend from Wolverhampton pressed

:46:57.:47:03.

on. Parliament must give its consent in advance to whatever the new

:47:04.:47:09.

proposed relationship will be, deal or no deal? I have been very clear

:47:10.:47:15.

that Parliament is going to have a vote on this steel. This is good to

:47:16.:47:19.

be discussed in some detail tomorrow. The Secretary of State for

:47:20.:47:23.

exiting the union will be able to set out in more detail then, rather

:47:24.:47:26.

than in response to one single question. I am sure the Prime

:47:27.:47:37.

Minister shares my can see, about ballistic and missile tests from

:47:38.:47:42.

Iran in January. What discussions has she had with European partners,

:47:43.:47:46.

how we can work with the President Trump administration? My right

:47:47.:47:51.

honourable friend is correct, raising concern about the missing

:47:52.:47:58.

testing taking place. The overwhelming message that we took

:47:59.:48:04.

place from the summit, working with America on a number of issues

:48:05.:48:09.

including Russia, but also around. It is important to engage directly

:48:10.:48:13.

with the American administration on these matters and make clean up the

:48:14.:48:17.

position we have in Europe. -- clear. According to pressure falls,

:48:18.:48:27.

the Prime Minister's masterplan was not well received. Does she really

:48:28.:48:31.

think it is in the interest of the British state to be increasingly

:48:32.:48:36.

isolated from Europe, and with a president who has been taking the

:48:37.:48:39.

united states on a dangerous journey? I think it is important

:48:40.:48:45.

that the United States and Europe work together. Would my right

:48:46.:48:55.

honourable friend not agree while it welcome that this country has been

:48:56.:49:03.

doing the right thing by vulnerable children, it is important that we

:49:04.:49:09.

work together with the French, to target traffickers, and make sure

:49:10.:49:15.

that the Calais jungle does not reappear? Absolutely correct, and

:49:16.:49:22.

with this particular constituency interest, very aware about migrants

:49:23.:49:28.

at the camp, and the pressure that puts on Dover. We will make every

:49:29.:49:31.

effort to work with the French government to say that we do not get

:49:32.:49:35.

ripped on to discounts that we saw last year. -- these camps. The

:49:36.:49:46.

mantra of nothing agreed until everything agreed has been adopted

:49:47.:49:54.

as far as much to -- EU citizens have been agreed. It is not possible

:49:55.:50:01.

to have an informal letter, with the Prime Minister of France, to agree

:50:02.:50:06.

that when it is possible technically after negotiations have started, to

:50:07.:50:13.

get this locality in? It is not the case that people have been saying it

:50:14.:50:19.

can only be agreed of the deal. What they have said, they do not believe

:50:20.:50:21.

her frustrations and discussion should be starting until article 50

:50:22.:50:29.

is triggered. I think it is good to be possible to get an early

:50:30.:50:32.

agreement on this matter, to give people reassurance that they need.

:50:33.:50:39.

Can I thank the Prime Minister on behalf of the safety of my

:50:40.:50:42.

constituents, raising the 2% defence spending issue. If Greeks can do it.

:50:43.:50:52.

Why can't the rest? My right honourable friend is absolutely

:50:53.:50:56.

correct. The United Kingdom, Greece, Poland, Estonia. Some of the rest

:50:57.:51:03.

are making every effort to do this, progressing to the 2% target. I

:51:04.:51:08.

remember as a backbencher, as DCI, the honourable gentleman had one, I

:51:09.:51:15.

said get in there! This is his opportunity. The Prime Minister has

:51:16.:51:23.

referred to her meeting with President Trump, but not

:51:24.:51:35.

with President Erdo an. Has she informed of European members of the

:51:36.:51:41.

discussions with Erdo an, but of the 3000 refugees that Turkey has been

:51:42.:51:48.

made to take, and the support or lack of it? And also discussing the

:51:49.:51:56.

customs union that Turkey is a member of? I was able to make

:51:57.:52:01.

reference, as we were discussing migration. A number of references

:52:02.:52:07.

made to the Turkey deal, the number of migrants moving from Turkey to

:52:08.:52:15.

Greece moving significantly. When I was in Turkey, I commended the

:52:16.:52:17.

government on the support they have given to the 3 million refugees in

:52:18.:52:25.

Turkey. I welcome this government's commitment to come before this

:52:26.:52:28.

house, updating progress on the negotiations. But would my right

:52:29.:52:33.

honourable friend agree with me that the European Council statements are

:52:34.:52:36.

the perfect opportunity to update their house on the Prime Minister's

:52:37.:52:40.

negotiations with European leaders after we trigger article 50? The

:52:41.:52:46.

European Council statements given in response to business done at the

:52:47.:52:50.

European Council. I can assure my right honourable friend we have

:52:51.:52:53.

every opportunity for Parliament to be kept informed as we go through

:52:54.:53:00.

this process. It is the case that we have had 70 debates, statements

:53:01.:53:08.

already on this issue. 30 reviews by different parliamentary committees.

:53:09.:53:11.

Not a single day has gone by since the referendum that this issue has

:53:12.:53:20.

not discussed in this house. One of the primary schools in my

:53:21.:53:26.

constituency is wonderfully diverse, many Scots making Glasgow there

:53:27.:53:35.

home. A lot of children are from Europe, do we have to leave or not?

:53:36.:53:41.

Seeing as soon as possible is not a good enough answer. When will we

:53:42.:53:44.

know that these children can stay in Scotland? I repeat answer that I

:53:45.:53:49.

have given two of us, in relation to those from the European Union living

:53:50.:53:52.

in the United Kingdom, expect to be able to deal with this issue at an

:53:53.:53:58.

early stage and negotiations. And good will on all sides when

:53:59.:54:01.

negotiations have been triggered to address this issue. Everybody

:54:02.:54:04.

understands the concern that people have about the future.

:54:05.:54:06.

Plenary. Might I ask the Prime Minister which

:54:07.:54:14.

is more important, Europeans in Britain, or Brits in the EU? It is

:54:15.:54:21.

not a question of which is more important, what we recognise is that

:54:22.:54:25.

there are people from European Union member states, who have made their

:54:26.:54:28.

life here in the United Kingdom, some of them over a significant

:54:29.:54:32.

period of time. I also recognise that there are UK citizens who have

:54:33.:54:37.

made their life in other member states. I want all of those people

:54:38.:54:42.

to be able to carry on living where they choose to live, and be able to

:54:43.:54:48.

do so, in the security of knowing that their future is determines and

:54:49.:54:51.

the choice is up to them. But I want to make sure that that opportunity

:54:52.:54:56.

and that reassurance is given to all of those people, that is why, and I

:54:57.:55:00.

hope we will be able to do it at an early stage of the negotiations.

:55:01.:55:06.

The Prime Minister said that the other European member states had

:55:07.:55:10.

welcomes the clarity of her objectives, did she have any

:55:11.:55:14.

discussion with them about the realism of completing the

:55:15.:55:19.

negotiations within the substantive negotiations within 18 months? I

:55:20.:55:23.

have every expectation indeed, a number of comments have been made by

:55:24.:55:28.

others around Europe, of the importance of ensuring that we can

:55:29.:55:32.

do this deal, we can complete these negotiations within the timescale

:55:33.:55:38.

set. I can see that the Prime Minister is

:55:39.:55:43.

general which I will disappointed not to be able to assure EU zitsist

:55:44.:55:51.

citizen, but does she think in the light of the rapidly changing

:55:52.:55:57.

landscape, if that deal isn't done with fellow nation, as early as she

:55:58.:56:03.

would like, would she review it again? I recognise the concern my

:56:04.:56:09.

right honourable friend has shown, for some considerable time round the

:56:10.:56:13.

position of EU citizen living here in the United Kingdom, I have every

:56:14.:56:17.

expect takes, given the responses that I have so far had, from other

:56:18.:56:21.

member states that we will indeed be able to get that reassurance at an

:56:22.:56:26.

early stage, I want to be be able to reassure people living here in the

:56:27.:56:30.

UK, from other EU member states, I want to be able, and I intend to be

:56:31.:56:35.

able to give them that reassurance and I have, as say, every

:56:36.:56:38.

expectation we will be able to get that at an early stage of the

:56:39.:56:42.

negotiations. In her Lang cast terse house speech,

:56:43.:56:46.

the Prime Minister put on her wish list a new form of membership of the

:56:47.:56:50.

customs union, an associate membership. Did she raise the idea

:56:51.:56:53.

with the other members of the European council this weekend and

:56:54.:57:00.

what did they make of it? I actually did, in Milan caster house speech

:57:01.:57:03.

was to say that I hadn't come to a firm decision as to whether the

:57:04.:57:07.

future relationship should be an associate membership or some other

:57:08.:57:10.

sort of relationship with the customs union, I was clear about we

:57:11.:57:14.

need to be able to negotiate trade deals with other countries round the

:57:15.:57:18.

world. My constituency contains more EU nationals than any other, and

:57:19.:57:23.

they say to me two things, first they deeply want their right to be

:57:24.:57:28.

reassured in this country, but also, that they understand than it is

:57:29.:57:31.

vital this country is the kind of country that stands up for the

:57:32.:57:35.

interests of our citizens abroad as well. I wonder if the Prime Minister

:57:36.:57:40.

agrees this is a test of national a character and while the politics

:57:41.:57:44.

maybe hard, it is the only option we can reasonably pursue. I think he is

:57:45.:57:47.

right. I think it is right that we should be clear that we have a duty

:57:48.:57:53.

for UK, considering UK citizens, who have chosen to make their life

:57:54.:57:59.

outside the UK, to live in other European member states as well as we

:58:00.:58:03.

have a duty to consider those EU citizens living here, and that is

:58:04.:58:07.

why I expect we will at an early stage be able to give reassurance to

:58:08.:58:11.

both. With how many EU leaders at this

:58:12.:58:17.

council, or earlier council, since the 23rd June did our Prime Minister

:58:18.:58:23.

discuss the UK staying in the single market post-Brexit? What I have been

:58:24.:58:28.

clear about with all the European leaders I have spoken to, what we

:58:29.:58:32.

want when we leaf the European Union is a good free trade arrangement

:58:33.:58:36.

with the member states of the European Union, in the form of the

:58:37.:58:39.

European Union. That is what we want and that is what we will be working

:58:40.:58:47.

for. Mr Speaker, there is something that

:58:48.:58:53.

began with the German Chancellor admonishing the Prime Minister for

:58:54.:58:57.

threatening to undercut our neighbours, the model she talked

:58:58.:59:01.

about. Could she confirm this she is still threatening to cut corporation

:59:02.:59:06.

tax in a race to the bottom. Could she tell us she is worried that the

:59:07.:59:10.

manner of the negotiations is damaging our reputation abroad.

:59:11.:59:16.

What I set out in the speech, was my 12 objectives for the negotiations,

:59:17.:59:21.

within that was a free trade agreement, awe agreement with

:59:22.:59:26.

European Union and a belief we have and have every possibility of

:59:27.:59:29.

getting that, the arrangement we want for the future strength of the

:59:30.:59:33.

UK economy. What I also said, was very clearly, that we would not be

:59:34.:59:37.

wanting to sign up to a bad deal for the UK, and I think the UK public

:59:38.:59:42.

want to hear from their Prime Minister, that we are not willing to

:59:43.:59:46.

sign up to a bad deal, we will make every effort and expect to get the

:59:47.:59:52.

best deal possible for the United Kingdom. Would my right honourable

:59:53.:00:02.

friend confirm that the position of the UK in defence terms in Europe is

:00:03.:00:06.

at the heart and did she get an agreement from partners in the

:00:07.:00:10.

European council, that very much our reliance from countries like den

:00:11.:00:18.

mash and Estonia demonstrates we are more influential in other areas of

:00:19.:00:22.

European policy that is recognised. The role that the UK plays in

:00:23.:00:27.

defence of Europe, as a whole, is something that is reck niced widely,

:00:28.:00:33.

and I have been very clear we want to co-operate on matters like

:00:34.:00:38.

defence once we have left the EU. The Prime Minister indicated she

:00:39.:00:42.

speaks on behalf of the whole United Kingdom, which she will know is a

:00:43.:00:46.

differentiated union with Scotland having its own legal and educational

:00:47.:00:53.

system. What did she raise in relation to Scotland's requirements?

:00:54.:00:58.

I hate to disappoint the honourable gentleman, the answer I give him

:00:59.:01:02.

will give him is the same answer I gave earlier. When I go into the

:01:03.:01:05.

European Union -- European council, the Communications Workers' Union

:01:06.:01:08.

European Union will be negotiating with the UK and the Government will

:01:09.:01:11.

be negotiating on behalf of the whole United Kingdom.

:01:12.:01:17.

The Prime Minister mentioned people trafficking and sexual exploitation

:01:18.:01:23.

in her statement. Did she give any reassurances or get any from the

:01:24.:01:27.

UK's continued membership of the means of exchange of information.

:01:28.:01:33.

That will be a matter of course for the negotiation, but as I said in my

:01:34.:01:38.

speech, one of the objectives we will set up is our cooperation on

:01:39.:01:47.

justice and security matters. It as been -- been reported at the

:01:48.:01:52.

council meeting on Friday Angela Merkel among other leaders were less

:01:53.:01:58.

impressed with the Prime Minister's threat to turn the UK into a tax

:01:59.:02:02.

haven. Can the Prime Minister outline what her EU counterparts

:02:03.:02:06.

said to her regarding this, and also whether she intends on taking this

:02:07.:02:14.

threat off the table? Can I is a to the honourable lady, as I said in

:02:15.:02:17.

response to an earlier deon this hear, what I have done is clearly

:02:18.:02:23.

set out and I think it is right, and then clarity has been welcomed by

:02:24.:02:26.

other European leaders, that we expect to get a good deal in our

:02:27.:02:30.

negotiations with the European Union, that includes a good deal on

:02:31.:02:34.

a free today agreement but we will not be prepared to sign up to a bad

:02:35.:02:37.

deal. -- free trade.

:02:38.:02:44.

Thank you. My constituents came to see me on Saturday about their son,

:02:45.:02:49.

who has a Greek wife, and lives and working in the Middle East. Overseas

:02:50.:02:53.

in the Middle East. After Brexit, they are planning to return to come

:02:54.:02:58.

and live in the UK, will their daughter-in-law have to apply for a

:02:59.:03:03.

settlement visa? I said I couldn't answer that question, I said I would

:03:04.:03:07.

ask someone who could answer it, so could the Prime Minister answer it

:03:08.:03:11.

for me? I take it from the honourable gentleman's questions he

:03:12.:03:15.

is talking about somebody who is living outside the United Kingdom,

:03:16.:03:18.

the arrangement for EU citizens in relation to the movement into the

:03:19.:03:24.

UK, from outside into the UK, from elsewhere, after Brex, of course

:03:25.:03:28.

matters that the Home Office is currently looking at, and will be

:03:29.:03:32.

subject to discussion by Parliament. -- Brexit. I welcome the Prime

:03:33.:03:37.

Minister's statement on the importance of EU nationals, but does

:03:38.:03:42.

she understand the damage that is caused when we continue to use EU

:03:43.:03:47.

nationals, including those working in highly skilled areas and stem

:03:48.:03:53.

businesses, when we continue to use them as bargaining chips in our

:03:54.:03:57.

negotiations. What we want to do is provide

:03:58.:04:01.

reassurance to people who are EU citizens who are living here in the

:04:02.:04:05.

UK, and to provide that reassurance also to UK citizens living elsewhere

:04:06.:04:10.

in Europe. But I would remind the honourable lady that during the

:04:11.:04:16.

Scottish independence referendum, the First Minister told EU nationals

:04:17.:04:26.

they would lose the right to stay here... If the All this finger

:04:27.:04:34.

wagging isn't seemly. It doesn't constitute state man ship of the

:04:35.:04:38.

highest order. The Prime Minister will answer and that answer must be

:04:39.:04:43.

heard with courtesy. Of course, the EU made it very clear

:04:44.:04:47.

that Scotland could not consider they were going to get automatic

:04:48.:04:57.

membership of the European Union. Report of the likely appointment by

:04:58.:05:04.

President Trump of Mr Ted mall lock as his ambassador, would that cause

:05:05.:05:09.

concern for the Prime Minister since he has reportedly likened the

:05:10.:05:13.

European Union to the Soviet Union? I have been very clear that the it

:05:14.:05:18.

is in the interest of the UK, to have a continuing strong European

:05:19.:05:21.

Union, and that is is a point I have made to the American administration.

:05:22.:05:26.

Thank you. My wife's an EU national and unlike

:05:27.:05:33.

the honourable member for South Leicestershire, neither she nor I

:05:34.:05:37.

have any faith in this government unless we see action rather than

:05:38.:05:42.

so-called warm words. If she sees herself as leader why does she not

:05:43.:05:46.

confirm the right of EU nationals and that would send a positive

:05:47.:05:52.

message to UK citizens living in European countries rather than being

:05:53.:05:56.

a bargaining chip. I have been very clear about my intentions in

:05:57.:05:59.

relation to EU nationals living here in the United Kingdom, but it is

:06:00.:06:02.

only right and proper that the United Kingdom Government should

:06:03.:06:05.

have a care for the UK citizens living in the European Union. At the

:06:06.:06:16.

summit the Prime Minister announced support to allow 22,000 people to

:06:17.:06:21.

reunite with family members. Can she say a bit more about how what this

:06:22.:06:25.

means in practise and in particular, if it includes extra efforts towards

:06:26.:06:29.

reuniting refugees with family members in the United Kingdom? We

:06:30.:06:35.

are for those who are obviously in member states of the European Union,

:06:36.:06:41.

the Dublin regulation permit for the reuniting families under certain

:06:42.:06:43.

circumstances, it is something we have been working on, we have

:06:44.:06:48.

actively worked with the French Government to increase the speed at

:06:49.:06:51.

which we are able to reunite children with families here in the

:06:52.:06:54.

United Kingdom, we continue to do so.

:06:55.:07:02.

Thank you. We are constantly told by ministers they maintain close

:07:03.:07:06.

relationships with countries who are dubious human rights records. Can

:07:07.:07:11.

the Prime Minister tell us with that extra special super duper

:07:12.:07:15.

relationship with the US, what particular home truths on Trump's

:07:16.:07:19.

plans should she deliver on our behalf? I was very clear about the

:07:20.:07:24.

UK's position on a whole range of issues, that we wished to discuss

:07:25.:07:28.

with the United States administration, and it was the

:07:29.:07:32.

special relationship that enabled us very quickly to ensure that UK

:07:33.:07:37.

citizens were not covered by the ban and the executive order that

:07:38.:07:39.

President Trump brought in place in relation to the movement of people

:07:40.:07:44.

from seven countries into the US. Thank you Mr Speaker. May I entirely

:07:45.:07:48.

concur with my right honourable friend's comments so far as the

:07:49.:07:52.

company is concerned and add my congratulations to Her Majesty, and

:07:53.:07:56.

I just wonder whether any EU leaders said to her during her meeting how

:07:57.:08:01.

envow they are to have such an wonderful head of state -- envious.

:08:02.:08:07.

I seriously don't, say to my right honourable friend, that I regularly

:08:08.:08:11.

hear comments from other leaders not just in Europe but other parts of

:08:12.:08:16.

the world, about how impressive Her Majesty the Queen is, about her

:08:17.:08:19.

dedication to this country and how lucky we are to have her as our head

:08:20.:08:27.

of state. Point of order, Emily Thornberry. Is it in order for the

:08:28.:08:30.

Prime Minister to refer to a member of this House, not by her own name

:08:31.:08:34.

but by the name of her husband, and secondly, for the record, Mr

:08:35.:08:38.

Speaker, I have never been a lady and it will take a great deal than

:08:39.:08:43.

me being married to a Knight of the Realm in order to make me one.

:08:44.:08:51.

Mr Speaker, I did not attempt to be disorderry in this House and I have

:08:52.:08:56.

to -- disorderly, if the honourable lady is concerned about the

:08:57.:08:59.

reference I made, I will apologise for that, I have to say to her

:09:00.:09:04.

though, to for the last 36 years I have been referred to by my

:09:05.:09:06.

husband's

:09:07.:09:07.

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