15/03/2017 Prime Minister's Questions

like to meet and discuss this further I am more than willing to do

that. Questions to the Prime Minister.

I am sure minsters will want to join me in wishing people around the

world a happy St Patrick's Day on Friday. This morning I had

ministerial meetings with my colleagues and will have further

today With my Irish blood can I also wish a happy St Patrick's Day. Mr

Speaker, I welcome the announcement from this Government that we will

abide by the letter of our manifesto and also the spirit. CHEERS AND

JEERS. MR THE Prime Minister AGREE WITH ME, THAT IN BALANCING THE BOOKS

WE MUST SURE THAT WE HAVE A sustainable tax system in place. I

would like to thank my honourable friend for this question. We made a

commitment not to raise tax and we put our commitment into the tax

lock. The measures we put forward in the Budget last week were consistent

with those locks. But, as a number of my parliamentary

colleagues have been pointing out in recent days, there is... THE

SPEAKER: Order. This is intolerable, the answers from the Prime

Minister... SHOUTS AND JEERS

I do take a view on the importance of hearing the questions and the

answers from the Prime Minister As a number of my Parliamently colleagues

have been pointing out the trend towards greater self-employment

creates a structural issue on the tax base on which we will have to

act and we want to ensure that we maintain, as they have said,

fairness in the tax system. So we are going to awhich the the report

from Matthew Taylor on the future of employment, we will consider the

Government's overall approach to employment status and rights to tax

and entitledment. We will bring forward further proposals but we

will not bring forward increases to ni. -- NICs later this this

Parliament Can I wish everyone a very be happy St Patrick's Day for

the 17th in my constituency, in Ireland and around the world. We

have just heard the Prime Minister is about to drop the national

insurance hike announced only a week ago. It seems to me like a

Government in a the bit of chaos here. SHOUTS AND JEERS

A Budget that unravels in seven days, a Conservative manifesto with

a very pensive Prime Minister on the front page saying there would be no

increase, a week ago an increase was announced. If they are to drop this

increase, as they are indicating, then this is a time that she should

thank the Federation of Small Businesses and all those that have

pointed out just how unfair this increase would be. But, also, how

big business evades an awful lot of national insurance through bogus

self-employment. I have to say to the right honourable gentleman, I

don't think he actually listened to the answer I gave to my honourable

friend, the member from Bexhill and Battle. I normally stand at this

despatch box and say I don't take any lectures from the honourable

gentleman, when it comes to lectures on chaos, he'd be the first person I

would turn to. Mr Speaker, I think the Prime Minister should offer an

apology for the chaos that her Government has caused during the

past week and the stresses caused to the 4.8 million self-employed people

in this country. Will she offer that apology? Her friend, the member for

Conway said so a week ago. It's time she joined in and said that as well.

This measure, if carried through, will create a black hole in the

Budget, what is she going to do to fill that black hole? If the right

honourable gentleman is so concern about balancing the books, why is it

Labour Party policy to borrow half a trillion pound and bankrupt Britain?

? Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, coming from a Government that proposes to

borrow more between now and 2020, than the entire borrowing of all

Labour governments put together, we don't need lectures from them on

this. I hope that in his statement later today, the Chancellor will

address the question of injustice of many people forced into bogus

self-employment by unscrupulous companies. Because many of them

force their workers to become self-employed, thus avoiding

employers' national insurance contributions. It is a grossly

unfair system, where those in self-employment pay some national

insurance, employers do not benefit from it. That is a gross injustice

that has to be addressed. The right honourable gentleman obviously

hadn't noticed that one of the first things I did when I became Prime

Minister was to commission Matthew Taylor from the RSA to conduct a

review to look at the employment market, to look at employment rights

and status, precisely because we recognise that the employment market

is changing. He talks about the self-employed. Let's look at what we

have done for the self-employed. Our increase in personal allowance means

they now keep more of their earnings. They will have access to

both tax-free childcare and 30 hours of free childcare, just like

employees and now they have access to the new state pension worth over

?1,800 more a year. But what we know from the Labour Party's policies is

that their policies would bankrupt Britain, they put firms out of

business and people out of jobs. We have a Government U-turn, no apolicy

and we have a Budget that -- apology and we have a Budget that falls most

heavily on those with the least broad shoulders. Cuts to schools,

cuts to social care and cuts to people with disbabilities. That is

the agenda of her Government and everybody knows it. I'm not sure - I

don't think the right honourable gentleman has quite got the hang of

this. He is supposed to ask questions to me when he stands up.

Let's talk... THE SPEAKER: Order. Order. Let's hear the answer, Prime

Minister. He talks about schools. What have we done? We've protected

the core schools budget. We introduced the pupil premium. This

budget delivers money for over 100 new schools, delivering on good

school places for every child this. Budget delivers on skills for young

people. We want them to be equipped for the jobs of the future. The

Budget delivers ?500 million for technical education and on social

care, we recognise the pressure on social care. This Budget delivers ?2

billion more funding for social care. Funding that wouldn't be

available with Labour's economic policies. Mr Speaker, it would be a

very good idea if the Prime Minister listened to headteachers all over

the country, desperately trying to work out how to balance the books in

their schools, losing teachers, losing teaching assistants, losing

support for their children because the schools' budgets are being cut.

She knows that, we all know that, everybody out there knows that. They

also know that according to IFS figures, average working families

will be 1,400 pounds worse as a result of her Budget that was

produced last week. Can she say what she is doing to help the worst-off

and poorest in our society, rather than continuing cutting local

government expenditure, schools expenditure and underfunding social

care? I'll tell the right honourable gentleman what we have delivered for

the low paid. We have frozen VAT and fuel duty and every basic rate

taxpayer have had a tax cut of at worst ?1,000 and we have taken 3

million people out of paying income tax altogether. That's what we have

done for the low paid. On schools we now see 1.8 million children in good

or outstanding schools. I want a good school place for every child.

We have done it with free schools and academies and the changes we

have brought forward in edge education, all opposed to the Labour

Party. Now they want to oppose us giving a good school place for every

child. What do we know about the Labour's policies? Let's see what

the former Shadow Chancellor, the member for Nottingham East said,

"Labour's policies would mean doubling national insurance,

doubling VAT and doubling council tax as well." That wouldn't help the

low paid or ordinary working families.

Mr Speaker, the difference is, we want a good school and a good place

for every child in every school in every community. Selective

education, reintroduction of grammar schools does not achieve that. We

want a staircase for all. Not a ladder for the few which is what the

Conservatives policies actually are. What she hasn't addressed, also, is

the unfairness of a Budget that cuts tax at the top end, continues to

introduce corporation tax, encourages bogus self-employment.

What she has to do is address the issues of injustice and inequality

in our society and a Government that is dedicated towards widening the

gap, not helping the hard-up or those that are working self-employed

to try to make ends meet and not getting access to any benefits at

the same time. Inequality has gone down under this Government. This

Budget shows that the top 1% of earners will actually be

contributing 27% in terms of the income they are providing. But let

me address the issue, also, of schools. You see the problem with

what the right honourable gentleman says is that on every single

education policy that this Government has brought forward, that

has been delivering more good school places for children, the Labour

Party has opposed it and they continue to oppose it. Because the

Labour Party's approach is that parents will take what they are

given, good or bad. We believe in listening to parents. If he looks

ahead to what his policies would produce for this country, half a

trillion pounds of borrowing, 500 billion more borrowing under the

Labour Party. More taxes, more spending, more borrowing, a bankrupt

Britain that wouldn't give money for public services or help ordinary

working families. It's the Conservative Party that is helping

ordinary working families. It is the Labour Party that is failing to

address the needs of the people of this country. Inhe is just sitting

there and going on protest marches. Thank you, Mr Speaker. As the tax

changed, I changed my question. May I congratulate my right honourable

friend on proposing the most radical reform of technical education in a

generation and also delivering fair funding for all our schools but may

I also her, as part of that consultation, to ensure a minimum

level of appropriate funding for all schools?

I thank my honourable friend, because he's raised an important

point. One of the issues with addressed in the budget is to put

more money into skills training, further education and technical

education for young people. I think one of the most important things we

can do is equip young people for the jobs of the future so they can get

on in life. We are investing an extra half ?1 billion a year in

England's technical education system to do this. My honourable friend has

referred to the issue of a minimum funding levels. The Education

Secretary confirmed last month that the DFE have heard representations

on this issue and are considering the issues. But in relation to the

funding formula, it is complex and has needed addressing for some time.

We will look at it carefully. We once had a Prime Minister who

said that the lady's not for turning. My, goodness. Isn't it

welcome that the Prime Minister today has announced that she is

returning with her screeching, embarrassing U-turn? Only days

remain until the Prime Minister is going to invoke Article 50 on

leading the European Union. And last July, she promised to secure a UK

wide approach - an agreement between the devolved administrations between

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the UK Government before

triggering Article 50. So when will be Prime Minister announced the

details of the agreement? As I said to the Right Honourable

gentleman yesterday, and to others asking the questions on the

timetable, we will trigger Article 50 by the end of March. There will

be an opportunity for further discussions with the devolved

administrations over that period. When the right honourable gentleman

looks at the issue of membership of the European Union, and his view of

Scotland not being a member of the United Kingdom, I say this to him.

He is comparing membership of an organisation that we've been a

member of four 40 years with our country. We have been one country

for over 300 years. We have fought together, we've worked together,

we've achieved together. And constitutional gameplaying must not

be allowed to break the deep bonds of our shared history, and our

future together. The Prime Minister can wag her

finger as much as she likes. Last year, she made a promise. She

promised an agreement. I asked her about it yesterday. She didn't

answer. I asked her about it now. She hasn't answered. When will she

reach an agreement? Not discussions, an agreement with the Scottish

Government before triggering Article 50.

HECKLING I recognise the passions. Calm yourself, I'm perfectly capable

of doing that without your assistance. The right honourable

gentleman will be heard, however long it takes. Carry on, Mr

Robertson. The Prime Minister promised an

agreement. There is not an agreement. When will there be an

agreement? Because does she not understand that if she does not

secure an agreement before triggering Article 50, if she is not

prepared to negotiate on behalf of the Scottish Government and secure

membership of the single European market, people in Scotland will have

a referendum, and we will have our...

We have been in discussions with the Scottish Government and other

devolved administrations about the interest that they have. As we

prepare as the United Kingdom government to negotiate a deal on

behalf on the whole United Kingdom. A deal which will be a good deal,

not just for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but for the people

of Scotland as well. And as we go forward in negotiating that deal, I

think the right honourable gentleman should remember this - Scotland will

be leaving the European Union. It will leave the European Union either

as a member of the United Kingdom, or were independent, it's very clear

with the document that it would not be member of the European Union.

What we need now is to unite, to come together as a country and to

ensure that we can get the best deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.

This government is working with councils and other partners to grow

the economy. But despite being in the prosperous south-east, the Isle

of Wight is 339th out of 379 in the UK competitive index. Will my right

honourable friend ensure that more growth funding is targeted at rural

areas, like the islands, with many small and micro businesses, to

deliver a country that works for all?

My honourable friend speaks well on behalf of his constituents, and he's

right to do that. I know that he has consistently put forward the unique

characteristics of the Isle of Wight. We've already been able to

support the island's economy through the local growth deal for the

Solent, and supporting the Isle of Wight rural SME programme. I want to

make sure that we make the best of the diverse strength of Britain's

cities, regions and Islands. I'm sure that on the island, the

business community will work together to create the best possible

conditions. It is our two single market that are

the backbone for our economy. And yet the Prime Minister wants to rip

us away from one, and they want to break up the other. Can she tell me,

is it really a price worth paying, the risky and reckless approach she

is taking to Brexit, to foster the break-up of Britain?

The honourable gentleman is wrong when he uses the term that I want to

rip the United Kingdom away from the single markets. What we wanted

you... No, this is... I'm sorry to say to honourable members on the

Labour benches, this is the same answer that I have given

consistently in this house. We want to ensure that we get a good free

trade agreement which gives us the maximum possible access to the

single market to enable us to trade with the single market and operate

within the single market. Can I welcome the support of

business rates, which is being given by the budget to local high streets,

which also crucially valued in places like my constituency in

Barnet. With the Prime Minister agree that we can give more help to

small businesses if we can secure the international agreement that we

need to ensure that all big businesses pay their taxes?

This is a very important issue. It's one on which I think this government

has a record of which we can be proud. Of course, there's more to

do. We have, since 2010, in the work we've done on tackling tax evasion,

avoidance and noncompliance, we have secured an additional 140 billion in

compliance yields since 2010. Internationally we've driven the

global agenda and we now have several companies signed up to the

global exchange. -- global exchange information. We have pushed for the

G7 nanograms eight. -- G7 and G8. There is more to be done and I want

to see an economy that works for everyone. That means that the

company should be paying their tax as well as everybody.

An answer to my honourable friend from Murray, the Prime Minister

called for respect. But that is a two-way street. The Scottish

Government's compromise proposal has been ignored in these negotiations.

Where is your respect? The proposal has not been ignored.

It has been discussed by ministers. There are many areas within that

proposal on which we agree. As I've said before, such as on ensuring our

securities and maintaining and protecting workers' rights.

Colchester Hospital's A department has excellent staff but suffers from

poor layout and patient flow. Does the Prime Minister agree with me

that the ?100 million set aside for triage in the budget last week will

allow hospitals like mine to address this issue and improve patient

outcomes? My honourable friend is right to

recognise, and we should all recognise, the hard work and

dedication of our excellent staff throughout the NHS. What we're

seeing in the NHS is that A are treating more people than ever

before. We are spending half ?1 trillion on the NHS in England

during this Parliament. The NHS will see that increase in its funding of

?10 billion in real terms. But there is an issue about the consideration

of A, and enabling changes to take place to help the flow, and to help

in dealing with patients as they come in. That's why my right

honourable friend the Chancellor announced last week 425 million in

new capital investment in the NHS, which includes 100 million to help

manage the demand on A services, enabling hospitals to make changes

to ensure that people are treated in the most appropriate way possible.

Over 200 staff at the pension fund in my constituency face an uncertain

future as they have been told they have to relocate to other areas over

the next few years. Does the Prime Minister realise the impact this has

on staff and the local economy? Will she meet me and representatives of

the workforce to see what can be done to save the pension centre?

I recognise the concern raised for staff at that particular pension

office. I recognise this is an issue. I'm sure it is an issue which

the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will look at very closely.

But of course the Government is looking to ensure that we both use

our resources effectively, but also provide the proper and appropriate

service for the recipients of those particular benefits.

Last weekend, thousands of people across Lincolnshire came to the

races in my constituency to enjoy the racing and the delicious local

food - including award-winning Lincolnshire sausages. As the

Government prepares to strike new trade deals, international trade

deals, will my right honourable friend ensure that the high

standards we expect of our food producers and farmers will be met

and maintained in these deals, and will this government continued to

back British farming? I can assure my honourable friend

that we will certainly do that. I remember when I visited her prior to

the general election in 2015, sampling some of the excellent

Lincolnshire sausages that has come from her constituency. But we do

have an opportunity to build a new future for our food and farming

industry when we leave the European Union. We will maintain high

standards of food safety and animal welfare, that will be a priority.

Any trade deals we enter into will need to be right for consumers,

businesses, farmers. They will need to ensure our food safety,

environmental protection and the animal welfare standards I've just

referred to. We recognise the need for certainty for businesses and

have provided guarantees for support for farmers up to 2020. We will

continue to back British farmers. The UK has one of the worst

performing currencies in the world. It has a trade deficit of ?133

billion, and a national debt approaching ?1.7 trillion. Does the

Prime Minister really believe that the UK can afford to be an

independent country? If he wants...

Honourable members on those benchers are very overexcited individuals. I

want to hear the Prime Minister's reply.

If he wants to talk about figures in relation to the UK economy, the UK

economy is the world's sixth-largest economy. The Government has reduced

the deficit by two thirds. If he cares to look at the employment

figures we see today, employment at a record high, and unemployment

which hasn't been lower since 1975. Today is the Ides of March. Yet

again, Brutus opposite missed badly. So can the Prime Minister take the

opportunity to stick the knife into the ridiculous European Court that

ruled yesterday that employers can ban their staff from wearing signs

of religious or political belief, and reiterate that reasonable

freedom and expression should never be snuffed out politically. We have

a strong tradition in this country of freedom of expression. It's the

right of all women to choose how they dress, and we don't intend to

legislate on this issue. He's raised to be broader issue of symbols, but

this case came up in relation to the wearing of the Vale. There will be

times when it's right for Israel to be asked to be removed, perhaps in

border security law courts. Institutions can make their own

policies, but it is not for government to tell women what they

can and cannot wear. We want to continue the tradition of freedom of

expression. Our First Minister was voted with

the largest vote in Scottish parliamentary history on a manifesto

which stated that the Scottish Parliament... THE SPEAKER: The

question will be heard. Thank you, Mr Speaker, I will start again. Our

First Minister was elected with the largest vote in Scottish

parliamentary history, on a manifesto pledge which stated that

the Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold an independence

referendum if there was a significant and material change of

circumstances like Scotland being taken out of the EU guest our will.

My question to the Prime Minister is simple - does she agree that

Government's should stick to their manifesto promises and if so, she

cannot object to the First Minister sticking to hers?

I, of course, recognise that there was a vote that took place in the

Scottish Parliament and the First Minister was returned as the First

Minister of a minority Government. But I would refer the honourable

lady to two other votes that took place. The Scottish people were

given the opportunity to vote to whether or not they wished to remain

in the United Kingdom. They choose that Scotland should remain part of

the United Kingdom. That was described by the right honourable

member for Gordon, as a once in a generation vote. And the other vote

to take note of is that on June 23rd last year, the people of the United

Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, and that is what we are going

to do. Mr Speaker, with 80% of SMEs reluctant to export, does my right

honourable friend agree that the prospect of Brexit gives those firms

a golden opportunity to use the great British entrepreneurial spirit

to go out into the world, particularly those firms in

Scotland, to go out into the world and to sing? My honourable friend is

absolutely right about this. Small businesses and the intren airs are

essential for an economy that is working for everyone. --

entrepreneurs. But the opportunity that comes from Brexit is to see

those firms going out across the world, exporting across the world

and doing the trade deals that will be of benefit to them and their

communities and of benefit to our economy. We divoont to encourage

more businesses to go out there. That's exactly what my right

honourable friend the Secretary of State for International trade is

doing. This is anp important part of building a stronger, fairer Britain

for the future. -- an important part. Thank you, Mr Speaker. HRMC

employed over 1,000 staff in my Livingston constituency. Despite

widespread criticism from the NEO or Public Accounts Committee and the

staff at Livingston being most engaged and productive this Prime

Minister's Government is determined to move jobs from Livingston toad

inborough whose staff don't want to move and rental costs would be

higher. And to compound this, another 400 jobs are to go at

another Livingston site. Will the Prime Minister change her mind on

the is jobs in Livingston and meet with me to make sure that vital

public sector jobs to Livingston will stay there. The HRMC are

relocating 170 outdated offices to 13 large and modern regional

centres. These new centres will be equipped with the digital

infrastructure and facilities needed to build a more highly-skilled and

flexible workforce to enable modernisation of ways of working, to

make tax collection more efficient and effective and it'll bring

significant improvements to HMRC's customer services.

-- HRMC's. People moo my can constituent voted

in favour of Brexit and I was proud to be here in the House on Monday to

vote no sport withdrawal of the EU bill. Can my honourable friend, the

Prime Minister confirm that she shares my commitment that Brexit

should work in the best interests of everyone in our country?

THE SPEAKER: Prime Minister? I think, I have to say be... THE

SPEAKER: Order. I say to the honourable gentleman for pert and

North pertshire. Order, order, the for Perth ander North Perthshire.

The honourable gentleman was shouting from beyond the bar, which

is very disorderly, on top of the fact that a few moments ago he was

gesticulating in a most eccentric manner. I'm becoming concerned about

the honourable gentleman, he must now calm himself. The Prime

Minister. Thank you, Mr Speaker. My honourable

friend is absolutely right. She had, as she said a condition

constituencicy that voted overwhelmingly to leave the European

Union. The point is that the people of the United Kingdom voted by a

majority to leave the European Union. As we do, that we will be

ensuring that the deal we achieve in our negotiations, will be the right

deal for the United Kingdom, the whole of the United Kingdom and for

people across the UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern

Ireland. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister's

just done a ?2 billion Budget U-Turn in the space of a week. Last year

the Government did a ?4 billion U-Turn in the space of five days. Is

that why they want to abolish Spring Budgets? Because they just keep

ripping them up? I welcome the measure that is were

in this Spring Budget, to improve school places for children in this

country, to ensure that we put money... THE SPEAKER: Mr Fabricant

you are another eccentric fellow shouting loudly but you mustn't

shout down your own Prime Minister. Let's hear the Prime Minister. Thank

you, Mr Speaker, I welcome the measures in the Spring Budget to

ensure that we are putting money... LAUGHTER

Money into schools, into skills and into social care and I would've

thought The Right Honourable lady would accept that money into

schools, skills and social care is good for this country.

Thank you Mr Speaker, would the Prime Minister join with me in

welcoming the news today that Sergeant Blackman's murder

conviction has been downgraded to manslaughter, in part, thanks to the

release of previously unheard evidence. This is fantastic news for

his wife Claire, who lives in my constituency and who has complained

so unstintingly on this and my honourable friend the member for

South Dorset who I believe is turning to the chambers provided a

very worthy advocate for this case and I commend his hard work. And

would the Prime Minister agree with me that within the correct legal

framework, those who defend our peace, protect our world from evil,

be treated with fairness and understanding and given the adequate

resources, including for mental health support they deserve. THE

SPEAKER: I'm extremely grateful. Prime Minister. We respect the

court's decision, the Ministry of Defence will be looking closely at

the judgment but I can assure the House that the Ministry of Defence

has cooperated fully at each stage of Sergeant Blackman's case and will

continue to provide support to the family as they have done since the

charges were first brought. What I would just say on a generalp point

is that our Royal Marines have a worldwide reputation as one of the

world's elite fighting forces. They make an incredible contribution to

our country and we should pay tribute to them all for that. The

Disasters Emergency Committee have launched its East Africa crisis

appeal. In the context of that crisis, does the Prime Minister

share my concern that President Trump is considering major cuts to

spending by the United States on aid? Will this Government take every

opportunity to press the Americans to remain fully part of the global

humanitarian system? I can assure the right honourable gentleman we

recognise the severity and urgency of the crisis that is taking place

in the East Africa. More than 20 million people face the risk of

dying from starvation because of war and drought and again it is this

country that is leading the way in delivering life-saving support.

We've announced we'll match pound for pound the first ?5 million

donated by the public to the Disasters Emergency Committee's new

appeal and I can assure him we take every opportunity to ensure that

countries around the world recognise the importance of international aid,

the importance of supporting countries when we see terrible,

terrible disasters like this famine coming to place and it is the UK's

record on what we do on this, that enables us to say to others that

they should do more. Henry Smith? It is my honour to

chair the all parliamentary group on blood cancer and today we launched

an inquiry into greater awareness of the condition can I take assurance

from my honourable friend that the additional ?10 billion going into

the NHS in this Parliament will in some way be spent on ensuring we

tackle this third biggest cancer killer? High honourable friend is

right to raise a subject like that, which is a cancer of which many

people have not heard much and probably are not awhich are of that

as a particular issue. I can assure him that -- aware of that particular

issue. I I can assure him what the NHS is doing. Over recent years we

have seen a significant improvement in cancer survival rates. We have

seen significant improvement in the increase of the number of people who

are being referred on because of potential cases of cancer and the

number of people being treated for cancer