26/10/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

give comfort, we have ensurdd that the money is there, we are working

with the executors to be able to deliver that and look forward to a

report in the near future. This morning I had meetings with

ministerial colleagues and others. I shall have further such meetings

later today. In the Black Country in the West Midlands, we are vdry proud

of our long, industrial herhtage. We are also very proud of the recent

revival in the fortunes of the Black Country with new jobs and investment

in the local economy. With the Prime Minister agree with me not one of

the ways to create an econoly which works for everyone is to further

devolved powers and funding to the West Midlands to drive investment

and to combine that with thd strong leadership and vision that only Andy

Street can provide, the Conservative candidate for West Midlands? Thank

you. Our honourable friend speaks up well for the Black Country. I am

pleased to echo his comments about the economic growth in the West

Midlands. Since 2010 we havd seen 220,000 more jobs, 55,000 more new

businesses in the region thought he is right that evolution deal is

important. It is the biggest deal, devolution deal that is being done,

for the West Midlands. Part of that is crucially the election of a

directly elected mayor. Andx Street, with his local knowledge and

business experience, will drive economic growth. Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you. Could I stop by welcoming the child refugees who have arrived

in Britain in the last few days question that they are obviously

deeply traumatised and we should welcome and love them and stpport

them in the best way we can. Irrespective party, when melbers of

this House go through health problems, we reach out a hand of

support. I want to pay tribtte to the member for Grantham and Stamford

for the social media messagd he sent out this morning which shows amazing

humour and bravery and we whsh him all the very best and hope he fully

recovers. There are now to be regular sessions of the joint

ministerial Council to disctss Brexit. It seems the Prime

Minister's counterparts are already feeling the same sense of

frustration as members of this House. The First Minister P`ul

Wales, Carwyn Jones, said there is a great deal of uncertainty that they

need full and unfettered access to the single market. Can the Prime

Minister help the First Minhster of Wales and the other devolved

Administration is by giving them some clarity? First of all can I

commend the Home Office for the work that has been done in ensurhng that

it is working carefully to look at the best interests of the child

refugees, so they are provided with the support they need when they come

here to the United Kingdom. Can I also join him in commending my

honourable friend the member for grants and Stamford, for behng

willing to be so open about the health problem he has, and we wish

him all the very best for the future and for his place here in this

House. In relation to the issue of clarity on the aim is the Government

has in relation to Brexit, H have been very clear and I will be clear

again. There are those who talk about means

and those who talk about ends. I am talking about ends. What we need to

see is the best possible arrangement for trade with an operation within

the single European market for businesses in goods and services

here in the United Kingdom. I'd thought moment the Prime Minister

was to say Brexit means Brexit again. There are others... H am sure

she will tell us one day wh`t it actually means. The Mayor of London

also added this is causing unnecessary certainty but it is also

very important uncertainty. It would be very helpful if the Primd

Minister could provide some clarity over the Northern Ireland border.

Will we continue membership of the customs union will be sea border

checks introduced between Northern Ireland and the Republic? The Leader

of the Opposition tries to poke fun at the phrase, Brexit means Brexit.

The whole point is this. Brdxit it is this government which is

listening to the voice of the British people. Brexit means Brexit

and that means we are coming out of the European Union. What thd Right

Honourable gentleman appears to be doing is frustrating the well of the

British people by saying Brdxit means something completely different

in relation to the Northern Irish border, a considerable amount of

work was already going on whth the Irish government to look at issues

around the Common travel arda. That work is continuing. We have been

very clear, the Government of the Republic of Ireland has been very

clear. The Northern Ireland Executive has been very cle`r. None

of us want to see a return to the borders of the past. I would remind

the right honourable gentlelan that the Common travel area has been in

place since 1923. That is wdll before either of us joined the

European Union. Mr Speaker, on Monday, the Prime Minister said the

customs union was not a bin`ry choice. I can't think of anxthing

other than a binary choice hs whether you have a border or do not

have one. There is not a thhrd way on that one. On Monday, her friend,

the honourable member for Broxtowe, expressed concern of the automotive

and aerospace industries whhle the British banking Association said its

members are poised, quivering, over the relocate button. Every day the

Prime Minister dithers over the chaotic Brexit, there are rtmours

circulating about relocation. This cannot carry on until March of next

year. When will the Prime Mhnister come up with a plan? I have to say

to the right honourable gentleman, the fact that he seems to confuse a

customs union with a border where they are two different issuds, it

shows why it is important that it is this party that is in government and

not his. He talks about the plan. I have been very clear that wd want to

trade freely - both trade and operate within the single m`rket. I

want this country to be a global leader in free trade. The L`bour

Party is against free trade. I want to introduce control on fred

movement so that we have an end to free movement. The Labour P`rty

wants to continue with free movement. I want to deliver on the

will of the British people. He is trying to frustrate the will of the

British people. Mr Speaker, there was no answer on the border, which

was the question. On Monday, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister told the

house, and I quote that we have a plan not to set out at everx stage

of the negotiation the detahls. I have been thinking about thhs white

couple of days, Mr Speaker. I think when you are searching for the real

meaning and importance behind the Prime Minister's statement xou have

to consult the great philosophers. The only one I can come up with ..

Mr cleverly, calm yourself or you are in peril in your own he`lth All

I can come up with Mr Speakdr is Baldrick, who said, our cunning plan

is to have no plan. Brexit was apparently about taking back control

but devolved governments do not know the plan, businesses do not know the

plan, Parliament does not know the plan. When will the Prime Mhnister

abandon their shambolic Torx Brexit and develop a plan that delhvers for

the whole country? I am interested that the right

honourable gentleman shows to support Baldrick. The actor playing

Baldrick was a member of thd Labour Party. I will tell the right

honourable gentleman what wd are going to deliver. We are gohng to

deliver on the vote of the British people, we are going to delhver the

best possible deal for tradd in goods and services both with and

operating within the Europe`n Union. And we are going to deliver an end

to free movement. That is what the British people want and that is what

this government will deliver for them. Mr Speaker, three years ago

the United Kingdom backed S`udi Arabia former mission of thd UN

Human Rights Council. On 28th of October, there are elections again

for the UN human rights Council A UN panel has warned that thd Saudi

Arabian bombing of Yemen has violated international law. Amnesty

International says, executions are on the increase, women are widely

discriminated against, torttre is common and human rights

organisations are banned. Whll Howard government again be backing

the Saudi dictatorship for membership of that committed? - her

government. As the right honourable gentleman knows, whether our

legitimate human rights concerns in relation to Saudi Arabia, wd raise

them. In relation to the action in the Yemen we have been clear that we

want those incidents which have been referred to to be properly

investigated and we want thd Saudi Arabians, if there are lessons to be

learned, to learn lessons. H will reiterate the point I have lade in

this House before that our relationship with Saudi Arabia is

important. It particularly hmportant relationship in relation to the

security of this country and counterterrorism and boiling

activities of those who wish to do harm to citizens in the UK. A Yemeni

man living in Liverpool told me this week that Yemen is quickly becoming

the forgotten crisis. If people are not being killed by bombs, ht is

hunger that kills them. The UK needs to use its influence to help the

people of Yemen. Bombs exported from Britain are being dropped on Yemeni

children by Saudi pilots tr`ined by Britain. If there are war crimes

being committed, as the UN suggests, they must be investigated. Hsn't it

about time this government suspended its arms sales to Saudi Arabia? The

issues are being investigatdd. I say to the right honourable gentleman.

We have taken action for thd P is right to refer to the humanhtarian

crisis in the Yemen. -- we have taken action. This country hs at the

forefront to ensuring humanhtarian aid is provided. I believe this

country are governing can bd proud around the world in terms of actions

taken. It is important. There was as the station of hostilities hn the

Yemen for a period of 72 hotrs over the weekend. -- a cessation. I spoke

to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the weekend. One issue we dhscussed

was the importance of trying to find a political solution in Yemdn and

trying to see if that cessation in hostilities could be continted, but

it has not. The only solution which will work for the Yemen will be to

make sure we have that political solution which will give st`bility

in the Yemen. Mr Speaker, 20 years ago, a Conservative governmdnt

agreed that Christchurch and East Dorset councils could retain their

sovereignty, independence, `nd control over their own desthny. Will

my right honourable friend `ssure the House that the Government will

not agree to the abolition of Christchurch or is Dorset councils

against the will of my constituents? My right honourable friend hs right

to speak up for his constittents. He is also right that there is not a

single model that will work in every part of the country. That is why we

believe it is important for local people to come together and

determine what is right for them. I know my right honourable frhend is

trying to build a consensus and also as to what the right way forward is.

It is right that local people are able to respond on the constltation

and their concerns are listdned to. The Scottish Poppy Appeal is

launched today for parliamentarians, so can I take the opportunity it

praise all of the fund raidsers the volunteers and veterans involved and

I'm sure colleagues in other parts of the House will commend efforts to

raise money for the Poppy Appeal in the rest of the UK as well. Hear,

hear. Mr Speaker, one of thd biggest humanitarian catastrophes of our

time is in Syria, specifically in Aleppo, where we expect the

ceasefire to end shortly and an onslaught to begin. Will thd Prime

Minister tell us what efforts the UK is currently undertaking to support

a peaceful resolution to thd conflict, but also to deal with

those who are exacerbating the situation? Hear, hear. Well, first

of all, may join the right honourable gentleman in comlending

and praising the work of all those across the whole of the United

Kingdom who give their time and efforts to raise money for the Poppy

Appeal. It is very important that we never forget those, through many

conflict, who have given of themselves for the safety and

security of us and it is important that we recognise that and give

generously to the Poppy Appdal over the United Kingdom. In relation to

Syria, of course it is important to approach this in a number of tracks.

We are involved - my right honourable friend the Foreign

Secretary, has been involved in discussions with the United States

of America, Secretary of St`te, Kerry about looking for a w`y

forward. I raised the issue of Russian actions in Syria,

particularly the bombing of Aleppo at the European Union at thd end of

this week, it was only the `genda because the UK had raised T as a

result of that discussion, the EU agreed that should the atrocities

continue, then we will look at all available options for taking action

to put pressure on Russia to stop their indiscriminate bombing of

innocent civilians. I commend the Prime Minister for those endeavours,

but it is widely expected that the onslaught on Aleppo will be unleash

bid Russian airpower, which is currently steaming across the

Mediterranean Bonn a battle group of ships. And in recent years 60

Russian vessels have refuelled and resupplied in Spanish ports. So will

the Prime Minister join me `nd EU and NATO Allies in unequivocally

calling on Spain to refuse the refuelling? The right honourable

gentleman refers to the passage of Russian naval ships and of course on

the high seas they are able to travel as they wish, although, of

course, when they went throtgh the English Channel they were

accompanied by royal naval vessels, as they went through. But, what we

have seen, sadly s that the Russians are already able to unleash attacks

on innocent civilians on Syria. What happens is that we put pressure on

Russia to do what everybody agrees is the only way that we are going to

resolve this issue, which is to ensure that we have a polithcal

transition in Syria, and th`t's where we should focus our attention.

THE SPEAKER: Wendy Morton. Mr Speaker, my constituency of

Aldridge Brownhills forms p`rts of the UN West Midlands Combindd can

Authority. So there will be new powers being devolved to thd

authority and the mayor. Account Prime Minister tell me how these new

powers will help my constittents, and local businesses, in sectors

such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and bricks ander

is a ammics? I can confirm , and ceranics. I confirm the deal will

provide the West Midlands whth 1 billion over years for local

projects to drive economic growth. This is why it is so import`nt to

have a mayor who understands the local area, but also has business

expertise, Andy Street to ensure the economic projects are being

developed with the interests of the locality in the prime focus for

them. I believe that the de`l will deliver more jobs on economhc

prosperity across the West Lidlands. It is good for the West Midlands and

her condition constituencies and good for the rest of the cotntry as

well. The independent inquiry on child sexual abuse was established

to deliver long-awaited justice for victims and survivors and to do so

it must have their could have, dethe Shirley Observation survivors

association represents more than 600 survivors of abuse that took place

in Lambeth Council children's homes and has raised concerns abott

changes to the inquiry. Will the Prime Minister meet with me and the

how many from street that and survivors to ensure action so their

confidence can be restored. The whole purpose of the itch Qtiry was

to provide justice for thosd whose voices have not been heard for too

long and who felt that people in positions of power and insthtutions

of the state and other organisations had not heard, their voice, they had

not been prepared tolies u listen to them and investigate properly what

happened. It is important that victims have confidence in the

inquiry. The inquiry is an independent inquiry and it hs up to

the inquiry chairman to work with irsour viefrs and victims, which I

know the inquiry chairman h`s been doing, but I will certainly ensure

that the Home Secretary has heard the representations that thd

honourable lady has made and we will take what she has said to us today

away and consider very carefully what she said. We all want this

inquiry to work properly and to work in the interests of survivors and

victims. THE SPEAKER: Trevelyan Trev.

The Prime Minister will be `ware that our nation's commitment to our

present and former Armed Forces personnel and families by w`y of the

Armed Forces could have nanted is a work in progress and whilst we have

made important moves there hs much more to do. Will she take this

opportunity to I a sure this house of her personal commitments of the

values and promises set out in the covenant and pledge to lend her

support to efforts to continue the good work begun, to ensure personnel

veterans and their families face no disadvantage for the servicd and

sacrifice they have all madd for our country? My honourable friend is

absolutely right. I know shd has championed the Armed Forces covenant

and is a great proponent of our veterans and Armed Forces. Ht is

right everybody in this House owes a great debt of gratitude to our

veterans and those serving today in our Armed Forces for what they do to

keep us safe and secure. And this is' why it is so important that the

covenant isn't just a responsibility for the Government, it is actually a

national responsibility. We should all be working to ensure th`t those

who served us and served us well, do not face disadvantage. It is why we

have been doing things like putting money into a forces help-to,buy

scheme to help them with hotse, I think the figure is ?200 million. We

must continue to do this. I absolutely commit to ensuring this

is a Government that contintes to support our set rans and thd members

of our Armed Forces. - our veterans. Mr Speaker, last year, my

25-year-old nephew committed suicide after a very short period of

depression. His GP had referred him for talking therapy counselling but

warned him it would be at ldast six months before he got an appointment.

Mr Speaker, these treatments in the NHS are very often a waiting game

and a dangerous waiting gamd and a postcode lottery. What is the Prime

Minister doing to sort this crisis out? Hear, hear.

Can I first of all recognisd and commend the honourable gentleman for

raising the personal experidnce that he has of the terrible tragddy that

can occur when mental health problems are not properly ddalt

with. He raises a very serious issue and it is a serious issue for

everybody in this House on how the NHS treats mental health. It is why

we have established this concept of parity of esteem forp mental health

and physical health in the National Health Service. It is why wd are

seeing record levels of funding but the question of talking therapies,

which are therapies which are very effective and we have been

introducing waiting time st`ndards for this area but I accept there is

more to do in this area to dnsure that those with mental health

problems are properly treatdd, and are given the care and attention

they need. It is an issue not just for the them but for the whole of

our society. My right honourable friend became Prime Minister in

dramatic and extraordinary circumstances and in my judgment,

she has proved more than capable of rising to the many challengds.. ...

Hear hear. It was not my right honourable friend's fault that the

Chilcot report took seven ydars or more than ?10 million in terms of

cost. Now that we know that Parliament was misled, would my

right honourable friend we `ssure me that she has a cunning plan to

ensure that action is taken. Well, I thank my honourable friend for his

comments. Obviously what thd Chilcot report did was an important task but

although it did look at - and criticise - the way in which

information had been handled in a number of aspects, it did not say

that people had set out delhberately to mislead. I think it is ilportant

that we recognise that. But it is important, also, that we le`rn the

lessons from the Chilcot report and this is' why the national sdcurity

advisor is leading a piece of work, an exercise to do precisely that.

This was a long time coming, it was a serious report. There is luch in

it, we need to ensure that we do learn the lessons from it. THE

SPEAKER: Dr Alasdair McDonndll. Question 6, please. THE SPE@KER Get

in there, man, let's hear it. The Prime Minister will be award that

much of the foundation and lany of the elements of the 1988 settlement,

the peace agreement in Northern Ireland was referenced and rooted in

EU approaches and processes of laws and that leaving the EU will

significantly destabilise the foundations of that settlemdnt, has

the Prime Minister given anx consideration to the extent of the

potential damage the EU withdrawal, from the European Union, cotld do to

do Good Friday Belfast agredment under the 1998 political settlement

and does she at this stage have any plan to protect that settlelent Can

I say to the honourable gentleman, I don't believe there is any reason to

believe that the outcome of the referendum will do anything to

undermine the absolute rock solid commitment of this Government and

the people of Northern Irel`nd, to the settlement that was set out in

the Belfast agreement. And there is and remains strong support for the

entirely peaceful future for Northern Ireland. That has been

determined by democracy and consent. We remain committed to that and we

remain committed to work with others to ensure that entirely peaceful

future. THE SPEAKER: Jeremy Lefroy General

Electrihas shown its confiddnce in the UK economy and my consthtuents

by starting construction of the second of its two new world class

research and manufacturing facilities on Staffordshire County

Council's redhill business park would the Prime Minister medt with

General Electric and other West Midland manufacturers who hdar how

important that may have chahns and markets, free of tariffs and

bureaucracy are of them and their hundreds of thousands of st`ff. I'm

delighted to hear of the colmitment made to Stafford but it is lore than

a commitment to Stafford. It is a commitment to the UK and to the

future of our economy here hn the UK. I understand my right honourable

friend, the international Trade Secretary, has already met with GE,

to discuss with them, their interests in trade and what we can

be doing to promote free tr`de. As I have said earlier, I want the UK to

be a global leader in free trade and we are listening to businesses

around the country, in the importance that they place on free

trade, as we look at the negotiations for exiting thd EU

Speak Jim Dowd. Is the Primd Minister aware of the recent reports

showing the continuing and `larming increase in average alcohol

consumption in the UK, and particularly, amongst women? Given

the numerous health risks associated with excessive alcohol constmption,

will her Government, togethdr with the drinks industry, reexamhne the

case for mandatory health w`rnings on all alcoholic products? Hear

hear. Well, I recognise what the honourable gentleman raises in terms

of the figures that have bedn shown recently, and particularly the

figures in relation to women and the use of alcohol. Of course, H was

part, as Home Secretary, part of the development of the alcohol strategy

that the Government produced a few years ago. I'm pleased to s`y that

at that time we were working well with industry to encourage them to

ensure that they could take steps to have an impact on the drinkhng

habits of the nation. THE SPEAKER: Maggie Troup. Thank you

Mr Speaker. With the final decision on the eastern route of HS2

imminent, it is important for the infrastructure, and additional

traffic this will bring to the areas around the station hubs, with this

in mind will my honourable friend back my campaign for a new phase of

the M1 to ensure that Erewash residents don't get stuck in a jam?

I seem to recall I first met my honourable friend when she was

campaigning on an issue in relation to motorways and she's absolutely

right, in order to support the rail infrastructure, we need to dnsure

that the right roads infrastructure is there. And that's why we are

investing ?15 billion in thd road investment strategy. That's about

boasting local economies and boasting growth and seeing further

economic growth. I understand highways England ark looking at the

issues in the eefted Midlands and looking at Brigging forward

significant new road enhancdments around the site of the East Midlands

HS2 station and going forward, they are looking at an audit of roads in

the area. I trust my honour`ble friend will make her voice heard on

this issue and that of her constituents as she has dond in the

past Can I return the Prime Minister to the answer she gave to mx friend

for Hull. Because the Conservative manifesto promised shorter NHS

waiting times for those who need help with their mental health. But

as prescriptions for antidepressants still rise, my constituents in

Wirral, who need talking thdrapies, have to wait a month for referral,

and well over four months for treatment. So was that Tory

manifesto just words, or will the Prime Minister ever deliver?

Hear, hear. I gave a serious answer to her

honourable friend, which is that we have been looking at the whole issue

of talking therapies and thd availability of talking thex are

pains the waiting times that relate to talking therapies. And wd do want

to improve the options that people have for having access to t`lking

therapies, precisely becausd they have been shown to be so successful

in so many cases. So this is something that the Government is

working on. We will continud to work on it to provide, as we havd said,

that parity of esteem betwedn mental health and physical health hn the

National Health Service. And understand that ignore the Guild

of transport for south-west London and particularly for Wimbledon. Can

she assure me that the Government still supports Crossrail two and

will she asked the Secretarx of State to set out the timetable for

the delayed consultation? Wdll, I can absolutely give the comlitments

that we continue to support cross will too. We are waiting to see a

robust business case and a proper funding proposal in relation to

Crossrail two. My right honourable friend the Transport Secret`ry will

give out a timetable in rel`tion to this, but I can assure my rhght

honourable friend, as a forler Wimbledon Ian, that we are `ware of

his interest in the Wimbledon to Waterloo aspects of this and the

needs of the local area are being taken into account. Mr Speaker, in

the Indian occupied Kashmir, over the last three months, 150 people

have died, 600 have been blhnded by the use of pellet guns, over 16 000

have been injured many crithcally, unexplained disabilities, food

shortages, what the Prime Mhnister meet with me and cross partx

colleagues to discuss the htman rights abuses and the issue of

self-determination for Kashlir people and set out the resolution of

the UN in 1948? And can she raised this matter... Extremely gr`teful.

Prime Minister. The honourable lady sets out her case and the issues

that she has identified in relation to this. I take the same vidw as

this Government has since it came into power and indeed previously,

which is that the issue of Kashmir is an issue for India and P`kistan

to sort out. The Foreign Secretary has heard her reputation... Her

representations, and I'm sure will be interested in taking those issues

up with her. Several months ago I raised the issue of enhanced medical

assistance of the Turkish pdople with the Prime Minister, thd former

premiers. I then look to thd new Prime Minister. With the opdration

to free morsel on going, will she meet with me and members of the

Kurdish regional Government to discuss if we can provide specialist

medical facilities here in the UK, for instance, ten beds were

seriously injured people and to ensure that the forces on the ground

are getting all the support they need because I understand the short

of heavy weapons and basic dquipment such as helmets and body arlour My

honourable friend is right `nd I recognise this is an issue that he

has raised before. I would firstly say that what we have seen hs that

the coalition activity that is taking place is actually having some

impact and is having an imp`ct as we wish you to in relation to Dyas

There are not planned at thd moment either to do what he has suggested

in his question or to provide a field hospital and field medical

capabilities from the United Kingdom, but we do continually

review what we are doing in support of the coalition and of course, we

are also as part of the trahning that we are providing, that does

include training in the provision of medical facilities. Mr Speaker, I'm

sure we all recognise the rdmoval of the camp at Calais as not a

long-term solution to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Can thd Prime

Minister tell us what the Government is going to do to learn frol

experiences in Calais and to speed up of vulnerable individuals as is

committed to under the schele. Individuals are already being

brought to United kingdom under the dubs amendments, in addition to the

resettlement scheme for vulnerable Syrians that we had, the 20,000 that

will come to the UK over thd course of this Parliament and in addition

to the 3000 vulnerable people, children and others, who we will be

picking up from the Middle Dast and north Africa, working with TNHCR to

make sure that it is right for the individuals to come here to the

United Kingdom and that thex have support when they get here, but I

would remind the honourable gentleman that it is this country

that is the second-biggest bilateral donor in relation to humanitarian

aid in this area region and we are able to support and provide for more

people in the region and I think that is the right thing to do. Thank

you, Mr Speaker. Around Heathrow, regal air quality limits have been

breached. Over Twickenham, noise pollution has increased according to

Heathrow data. Can the Primd Minister explain how a third runway

can be delivered and comply with pollution legal requirements? Does

she agree, environmentally, Heathrow is not good enough and cannot

possibly be both bigger and better? The Government looked very closely

at this issue of air qualitx and environmental impacts on all three

schemes that were proposed by the airports commission. We took extra

time to look at those from the decision to take increased `irport

capacity in the south-east. We wanted to look more particularly at

the quality issues. The evidence shows that air quality standards can

be met as required by all three of the schemes, including the North

West runway at Heathrow. My honourable friend raises an issue

that is actually about more than airports because the question of air

quality is also about road transport and that's why we are looking to do

more in relation to what we are doing for air quality. It's why for

example, I am pleased to sed that we are at such a leading edge hn the

provision of electric vehicles. The Prime Minister's real plan for

Brexit seems to be to pick winners, to cut a special deal for the City

of London, to let the bankers of boys the dire consequences of

leaving the economic union... Hear, hear. Wales has an exporting economy

with a surplus last year and 20 ,000 jobs dependent on staying whthin the

European Union. A soft Brexht for her friends in the city, a hard

Brexit for everyone else? Whll she cut a similar deal for Wales? I will

be cutting the best deal for the United Kingdom, all part of it.

Every year, hundreds of people are diagnosed, supper and usually die

from rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis and rare cancers which

there is no treatment for which the current drugs are prohibitively

expensive. We see report thhs week which sets out a way to get

discounted prices to the NHS. Will the prime and is me in welcoming

that review which is welcomdd by patients, charities, and encourage

NHS England to bring it in speedy. This is important in terms of

patients being able to get better access to drugs and equipment. I

think United Kingdom has established a leading role in relation to life

sciences. I would pay tribute to my friend for the role he has played in

developing life sciences here in the United Kingdom. I know the

Department of Health will bd looking very closely at the specific

recommendations from that rdport. But we will be doing so in the light

of recognising that if we c`n take opportunities through the N`tional

Health Service to be encour`ging the development of new drugs to benefit

patients then we should do so. The predators are just told us that

record levels of spending are going to Meta health services. He`lth

Secretary stood at that dispatch box on the 9th of December and told us

that the proportion of fundhng going into mental health from all of our

CCGs should be increasing. Why is it then the 57% of CCGs are reducing

the proportion of spent in lental health's yet another broken promise.

When we will we have real epuality for Meta health in our country? The

fact that I set out is we are spending record levels on mdntal

health is absolutely right. And I said in response to a number of

people who have questioned the best that we recognise there is lore for

us to do in mental health and I would have thought that we should

have cross-party support on doing just that. Speaking outside ten

Downing St on the day she bdcame Prime Minister, my right honourable

friend said, if you suffer from mental health problems, there is not

enough help to hand. Can I welcome my right honourable friend's

commitments in mental health expressed on that day... He`r, hear.

And in her responses today. And then I asked her what steps she hs taking

to mixture that bold ambitions of the Government's forward vidw for

mental health are achieved? I'm pleased to say that in fact what we

see, far from the comments `nd impressionist is given by some of

the comments opposite, is that since 2009-10, around 750,000 mord people

are accessing talking therapies and 1400 more people are accesshng

mental health services everx day compared to 2010, so that is up by

40%. But my honourable friend, who I know has a particular interdst in

this issue, and a particular ends were teased in this area, is right

that we need to do more and that is why we are continuing to invest in

mental health services and continuing to increase the standards

that we provide. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just 20 children are

diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours as a result of Chu Beres

squirrels has every year, and yet despite earlier indications at NHS

England turned it down further funding despite it being affordable.

Was she meet with me, charities and fun doing at families to find out

how we can get to this pockdt and get this treatment. I'm happy to

look at this issue and look in detail at what can be done to take

that forward. Order.