0:00:36 > 0:00:39Morning folks - welcome to the Daily Politics.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45It was rejected by Ulster's Democratic Unionists,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48but was the deal the Prime Minister was about to do with the EU
0:00:48 > 0:00:51on Monday also toxic for many of Theresa May's Tory
0:00:51 > 0:00:52colleagues?
0:00:52 > 0:00:55The Irish Republic says they got what it wanted
0:00:55 > 0:00:57from the Prime Minister on the Irish border.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59But will a commitment on business regulations extend
0:00:59 > 0:01:04across the Irish Sea to the rest of the UK?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Labour want to borrow billions more which they say they'll
0:01:07 > 0:01:09spend on infrastructure, but will the extra borrowing
0:01:09 > 0:01:12really pay for itself?
0:01:12 > 0:01:15As if there wasn't enough on Theresa May's agenda,
0:01:15 > 0:01:16she faces a packed Commons at 12 o'clock.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21We'll bring you Prime Minister's Questions - live.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31All that in the next 90 minutes, and they were looking for a couple
0:01:31 > 0:01:34of C list celebrities to turn on the lights on the Downing Street
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Christmas tree today but they didn't get the gig,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38so they've decided to be with us instead -
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Shadow Transport Secretary, Andy MacDonald and International
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Trade Minister, Greg Hands.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49Welcome to you both.Good morning, Andrew.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51First today, remember those Brexit Impact assessments
0:01:51 > 0:01:53that the Brexit department were supposed to be working up -
0:01:53 > 0:01:5557, or was it 58, of them?
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Well, it turns out they don't exist after all.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Here's what the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, had to say
0:02:00 > 0:02:03to MPs on the select committee this morning.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10Just to be clear, has the Government undertaken any impact assessments
0:02:10 > 0:02:13on the implications of leaving the EU for different sectors...
0:02:13 > 0:02:14Not in sectors.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Of the economy.
0:02:18 > 0:02:25What we do have, not do have, the Treasury, of course,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27have an OBR forecast, which has an implication,
0:02:27 > 0:02:28although even that's pretty crude.
0:02:28 > 0:02:29That's done from the...
0:02:29 > 0:02:32From the...
0:02:32 > 0:02:34The average, I think, of all the external forecast impacts
0:02:34 > 0:02:37on the economy and so on.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40So there's nothing, there's no sort of system I think,
0:02:40 > 0:02:41impact assessment...
0:02:41 > 0:02:43So the answer to the question is no.
0:02:43 > 0:02:49No.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54The answer to the question is no, Greg Hands, yet last December David
0:02:54 > 0:03:00Davis said we've carried or are in the midst of carrying out 57 sets of
0:03:00 > 0:03:06analysis.Andrew, we've done what Parliament asked us to do, which was
0:03:06 > 0:03:10to publish what we had, subject to retaining any information that might
0:03:10 > 0:03:18be damaging.Do they exist? To the UK's negotiating position strap I
0:03:18 > 0:03:24did exist?What exists is what has been published.Other 57? I haven't
0:03:24 > 0:03:29seen a number counted the number... He said there aren't any.We have
0:03:29 > 0:03:33published what Parliament asked us to publish.The important thing is
0:03:33 > 0:03:38ministers tell the truth. In December he said he was carrying out
0:03:38 > 0:03:4157 Central analyses and today he says there aren't any. Both
0:03:41 > 0:03:47statements cannot be right.I think the difference is what one defines
0:03:47 > 0:03:52as being a sector. The point is, what Parliament asked us to publish,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55these analyses have been published now. The difference is whether they
0:03:55 > 0:04:00relate specifically to a set of sectors or not. But that is like a
0:04:00 > 0:04:04degree of undergrowth that I think... The important thing is the
0:04:04 > 0:04:08government is getting on with the negotiation.Really, that's going
0:04:08 > 0:04:13really well, isn't it? We will come onto that in a minute. I want to
0:04:13 > 0:04:17clarify once and for all. He said they had done sector analysis this
0:04:17 > 0:04:23morning. In December, last December he said they had. What is it?Both
0:04:23 > 0:04:28statements cannot be true. It depends what you mean by a sector
0:04:28 > 0:04:32and a sectoral analysis.We're talking about 57.We have published
0:04:32 > 0:04:40what is out there.Have you published 57?Difficult to say
0:04:40 > 0:04:45precisely what a sector is, in terms of the analysis today when he said
0:04:45 > 0:04:48appearing before the select committee.He knew enough about them
0:04:48 > 0:04:53two weeks ago to say they contained cruciate in detail.Some aspects is
0:04:53 > 0:04:58quite detailed, and some details which might be damaging to the UK in
0:04:58 > 0:05:02the negotiations, really important, no one would want UK to be damaged
0:05:02 > 0:05:05in the negotiation.I'm not asking whether they should be published or
0:05:05 > 0:05:09not, that is another issue and we've debated on this programme. I'm
0:05:09 > 0:05:13trying to get from you, Minister of the Crown, a member of the Cabinet,
0:05:13 > 0:05:18if they exist or not.I'm not a member of the Cabinet but what I can
0:05:18 > 0:05:25say is what Parliament asked us to publish has been published, whether
0:05:25 > 0:05:28they are 5758 specific sectors is a matter of different interpretation.
0:05:28 > 0:05:36Why did he tell the select committee sectoral analysis, they don't exist.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Looking at sector by sector analysis in a very closed and compartmental
0:05:40 > 0:05:46way, that does not exist.But he said they did only a few weeks ago.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49He said analysis existed but not necessarily in the way you have
0:05:49 > 0:05:54described it all the way Hilary Benn...This is incredible, no
0:05:54 > 0:05:59wonder politicians get a bad name, if you can't even answer a question
0:05:59 > 0:06:03like are their 57 central analysis or not?There is a set of analyses
0:06:03 > 0:06:09which have been published, redacted where necessary to protect the UK's
0:06:09 > 0:06:14negotiating position. That is the important thing.I don't think I
0:06:14 > 0:06:17need to come to you on this, I will come to you later on.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Now, Leavers promised that the UK would be able to free
0:06:20 > 0:06:22itself of burdensome EU regulation after Brexit.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24You heard that during the referendum campaign.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27But have Theresa May and David Davis allowed resolving issues over
0:06:27 > 0:06:29the Irish border to put pay to those hopes?
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Here's Elizabeth to explain.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Thank you, Andrew Foster
0:06:35 > 0:06:38At the heart of the issue is the UK's border
0:06:38 > 0:06:39with the Republic of Ireland.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Currently people and goods move freely across as many as 275
0:06:42 > 0:06:43crossing points along the 310 mile border.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46There are no customs controls or border posts because the rules
0:06:46 > 0:06:48of the EU's single market mean goods can move freely.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Both countries adhere to broadly the same rules and regulations
0:06:52 > 0:06:54which are set by the EU.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58But after Brexit, the UK could diverge from those
0:06:58 > 0:07:00rules and regulations - so EU law would require the Republic
0:07:00 > 0:07:04of Ireland to check goods as they cross the border.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Now, Dublin fears that any physical Border could undermine
0:07:08 > 0:07:10the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland
0:07:10 > 0:07:12after years of conflict.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17Many in the north are also very concerned.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19The Irish government has made preventing a so called
0:07:19 > 0:07:22"hard border" a red line in the Brexit negotiations.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25On Monday, the two sides seemed near agreement with the promise
0:07:25 > 0:07:28of "regulatory alignment" after Brexit, in the absence
0:07:28 > 0:07:29of any other agreement.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34That would mean the same rules and regulations applying on both
0:07:34 > 0:07:38sides of the border, with no need for customs controls.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41But, as we know, the DUP - who Theresa May relies on to prop
0:07:41 > 0:07:43up her minority government - has rejected any solution
0:07:43 > 0:07:47which treats Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Yesterday, the Brexit Secretary told the Commons that "regulatory
0:07:50 > 0:07:54alignment" would actually apply right across the UK .
0:07:54 > 0:07:56But that prospect has enraged many Leave supporters who believe
0:07:56 > 0:07:58tackling what they see as "burdensome regulation"
0:07:58 > 0:08:05is the key to making a success of Brexit.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14thank you for that. Greg Hands, let me come to you again, before we get
0:08:14 > 0:08:19onto the substance of this. Let me ask, did nobody in the government
0:08:19 > 0:08:25think to run this agreement passed the DUP?I don't know the ins and
0:08:25 > 0:08:30outs of that conversation. We speak to the DUP on a regular basis. What
0:08:30 > 0:08:34I would say, the objective here is everyone has the same objective,
0:08:34 > 0:08:40between both the Irish government, ourselves...I will come onto that.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45The DUP keeps you in power. You've done a deal with them, you are a
0:08:45 > 0:08:49minority government and you need DUP votes to stay in power. Here is a
0:08:49 > 0:08:54crucial part of the Brexit negotiations, directly affecting the
0:08:54 > 0:08:59DUP, which the DUP have strong views on. Did nobody Ramis agreement
0:08:59 > 0:09:04passed the DUP before the Minister agreed to sign it?I'm not going to
0:09:04 > 0:09:07comment on the individual workings of how the government discussions
0:09:07 > 0:09:13with other parties in parliament work.Why?That is something to do
0:09:13 > 0:09:17with the internal workings of government...It clearly didn't, the
0:09:17 > 0:09:22DUP said they didn't see it until the last minute, that's why Theresa
0:09:22 > 0:09:26May had to leave her lunch with Jean-Claude Juncker. You didn't show
0:09:26 > 0:09:31them, why?There's been a lot of misunderstanding about what is meant
0:09:31 > 0:09:35by alignment.I will come onto alignment. Will you just finish, can
0:09:35 > 0:09:39we agree that you didn't run it past the DUP, not you personally, the
0:09:39 > 0:09:43government didn't do and that is why it is in the mess it is today?I
0:09:43 > 0:09:47won't comment on the internal workings of the government with DUP.
0:09:47 > 0:09:53On regulatory alignment, in the agreement, does that refer only to
0:09:53 > 0:09:59Northern Ireland or to the UK?What the word alignment refers to is the
0:09:59 > 0:10:02North-South aspects of cooperation in the Belfast agreement, the Good
0:10:02 > 0:10:07Friday Agreement. It does not refer to the customs union or to the
0:10:07 > 0:10:12single market. That is where the misunderstanding has occurred.But
0:10:12 > 0:10:19does the agreement, still can it -- and maybe UK to regulatory alignment
0:10:19 > 0:10:26only for Northern Ireland or for all of the UK?That is something that is
0:10:26 > 0:10:28part of those talks with the European Union at the moment.You
0:10:28 > 0:10:34don't know?The important thing on the alignment, it doesn't refer to
0:10:34 > 0:10:38the customs union single market, it refers to the north-south areas of
0:10:38 > 0:10:44cooperation in the Belfast agreement.Sitting here today, after
0:10:44 > 0:10:47the Prime Minister has been unable to sign this agreement, but it does
0:10:47 > 0:10:51exist, you cannot tell our viewers is regulatory alignment refers to
0:10:51 > 0:10:57the whole of the UK?No, I'm saying the phrase alignment on Monday and
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Tuesday referred to the north-south aspects of the Belfast agreement.So
0:11:01 > 0:11:06why did David Davis say in the Commons, then, that everything we
0:11:06 > 0:11:10talked about referred to the whole of the UK?That was not in reference
0:11:10 > 0:11:14to the alignment but the UK's future, the customs union and single
0:11:14 > 0:11:23market.Not that people are clear what it means... But let me ask you
0:11:23 > 0:11:27a more specific question. If the deal refers to Northern Ireland to
0:11:27 > 0:11:32staying aligned of the EU on those matters in the Good Friday
0:11:32 > 0:11:38Agreement, like energy and agriculture, are those elements in
0:11:38 > 0:11:41the Good Friday Agreement, does it apply to the rest of the UK?There
0:11:41 > 0:11:46will be nothing that endangers the territorial integrity of the United
0:11:46 > 0:11:52Kingdom.I didn't ask that.But a lot of this is still flowing, still
0:11:52 > 0:11:55being discussed and still being debated. I am confident we will get
0:11:55 > 0:12:01to a good position.You may be but you cannot answer a simple question.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06I'm talking about the alignment aspect.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09This is about the single market, about the customs union, because
0:12:09 > 0:12:13this government has decided it is going to leave membership of both.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18It is having to come up with arrangements to Saint Northern
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Ireland or to accommodate Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Though they are quite fundamental things. And Labour's position, when
0:12:25 > 0:12:29John McDonnell says we must leave the single market, and Keir Starmer
0:12:29 > 0:12:34says we should stay in the single market, who speaks for Labour?Well,
0:12:34 > 0:12:40the whole point is that David Davis offered us the exact self same
0:12:40 > 0:12:46benefits of the European Union. So we are into this situation now where
0:12:46 > 0:12:51the government have asked their principled partner in this
0:12:51 > 0:12:55government about the arrangements... I understand that. I asked you not
0:12:55 > 0:12:58about the government but Labour. I will ask you again, when John
0:12:58 > 0:13:02McDonnell says we must leave the single market and Keir Starmer says
0:13:02 > 0:13:06we should stay in the single market, who speaks for Labour?It is
0:13:06 > 0:13:09self-evident when you leave the European Union you are leaving the
0:13:09 > 0:13:15single market and the customs union. That is de facto. It's getting to a
0:13:15 > 0:13:19possession which is near as dammit it which gives us as benefits, and
0:13:19 > 0:13:27what Keir setup very clearly is we should not be removing those
0:13:27 > 0:13:30options. If you just take them off the table, you just remove the
0:13:30 > 0:13:32opportunity to have that discussion. Keir Starmer says we should stay in
0:13:32 > 0:13:37the single market.That remains a possibility, but we de facto come
0:13:37 > 0:13:40out of the European Union on the day. If we can have a transition
0:13:40 > 0:13:46period that keeps us in the single market and the customs union for the
0:13:46 > 0:13:49duration of the transitional period, that makes eminent sense to me, to
0:13:49 > 0:13:54allow us to negotiate something that will accommodate our ambitions, much
0:13:54 > 0:13:59aligned with David Davis' comments. When Derek Gardner says staying in
0:13:59 > 0:14:02the customs union would be a disaster, and Keir Starmer says we
0:14:02 > 0:14:08should stay in the customs union, who is right?We are saying that the
0:14:08 > 0:14:12option of staying in the union shouldn't be removed at this stage.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17Gardner says it will be a disaster? I'm not sure, I don't know where
0:14:17 > 0:14:21that has come from.His mouth. CHUCKLES
0:14:21 > 0:14:25There may have been words that led up to that, you are giving them to
0:14:25 > 0:14:29me in isolation. What I am saying to you is the transitional period we
0:14:29 > 0:14:35have promoted keeps that available. Can I just point out, with these two
0:14:35 > 0:14:39issues coming up in the Commons, Jeremy Corbyn whipped Labour MPs to
0:14:39 > 0:14:43vote against the single market and against the customs union. He
0:14:43 > 0:14:48whipped them. And those that defy the whip, the rebels, were fired. To
0:14:48 > 0:14:52give them he did that and now we're being told we can stay in the single
0:14:52 > 0:14:57market, what on earth is Labour's policy?Simply as I have set out,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00that we should have a transitional period, where the environment, the
0:15:00 > 0:15:06regulatory environment is exactly the same as it is now, define that
0:15:06 > 0:15:11time to negotiate a settlement that the United Kingdom.Why vote against
0:15:11 > 0:15:17it if you are now in favour of it? There was a vote two weeks ago.Why
0:15:17 > 0:15:19were people sacked for voting for membership of the single market when
0:15:19 > 0:15:26you and I -- are now saying its Labour policy?To lay it down at
0:15:26 > 0:15:31that stage of the redline. I think government is calling the Labour
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Party in chaos given the nonsense in their last 48 hours is quite
0:15:35 > 0:15:43frankly... The kettle black.Let me try one time, if you are so much in
0:15:43 > 0:15:47favour of the single, membership of the single market, why were MPs who
0:15:47 > 0:15:53voted in favour of it fired by Jeremy Corbyn?
0:15:53 > 0:15:57That was the only option available to us at that time, was deemed to be
0:15:57 > 0:16:03the wrong decision for us. At the time. So, perfectly proper for us to
0:16:03 > 0:16:07hold that position...Can you give any example of a country that is a
0:16:07 > 0:16:14member of the single market, but doesn't have free movement?Well,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17people - Norway have their own arrangements. Sglt they have free
0:16:17 > 0:16:23movement. We have to, we are a different economy. We are...There
0:16:23 > 0:16:27is no example. The price of membership is free movement. Isn't
0:16:27 > 0:16:35it?Free movement - it goes, it's for us to write our immigration
0:16:35 > 0:16:40policy as we see fits our economy, rather than just simply draw -
0:16:40 > 0:16:44pulling up the drawer bridge and damming the economy.What's the
0:16:44 > 0:16:47difference between regulatory alignment and regulatory
0:16:47 > 0:16:52harmonisation?The difference is whether you mutually recognise each
0:16:52 > 0:16:55other's regulations or whether you actually make those regulations
0:16:55 > 0:17:00broadly the same.But wouldn't we have to recognise their regulations
0:17:00 > 0:17:04under the deal that your Prime Minister is going to sign?Different
0:17:04 > 0:17:07free trade agreements operate in different ways. You can agree
0:17:07 > 0:17:11mutually to recognise each other's regulations without necessarily
0:17:11 > 0:17:16having the same regulations.If we wanted to cut our corporation tax to
0:17:16 > 0:17:1910% would that fall within alignment or be outside alignment?At the
0:17:19 > 0:17:24moment we could if we wanted to cut our corporation tax to 10% as full
0:17:24 > 0:17:28members of the European Union.Under this agreement would it be?There is
0:17:28 > 0:17:32no way that the agreement is going to prevent us doing an activity that
0:17:32 > 0:17:34we could do at the moment whilst we are in the European Union, Andrew.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39OK. We will leave it there. No doubt we will come back to it, because all
0:17:39 > 0:17:43this is still unresolved. No sign of the Prime Minister going back to
0:17:43 > 0:17:49Brussels tomorrow, yet. She's got until the weekend.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Over the last few weeks, John McDonnell has been
0:17:51 > 0:17:53using his post-budget interviews to set out Labour's
0:17:53 > 0:17:54economic strategy - borrowing hundreds of billions
0:17:54 > 0:17:58of pounds for infrastructure spending, nationalising key
0:17:58 > 0:18:02industries like rail and water and also buying back PFI contracts.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04But the Shadow Chancellor has repeatedly refused to put a number
0:18:04 > 0:18:09on what all that would cost and exactly how much more it
0:18:09 > 0:18:10would cost in debt repayments.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Let's take a look.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14How much is that going to cost?
0:18:14 > 0:18:21Right, what we've said, and this is very clear-cut,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23and I said it before, when you take them over...
0:18:23 > 0:18:25I'm looking for a number, John.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26OK, well, you don't need a number.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30By how much does the economy need to grow for your plans to work?
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Let me just go through them, because people need to understand
0:18:32 > 0:18:35what we're saying, because a lot of figures being bandied around.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36I'm just looking for one.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38OK, I'll give you a figure.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41What we're saying if we invest £250 billion over a 10-year programme,
0:18:41 > 0:18:42so about 25 billion a year.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45How much do we now spend on paying the interest of our national debt?
0:18:45 > 0:18:46A lot, a lot.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48How much?
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Well I'll give you the figure, I'll send you a note on the figure.
0:18:51 > 0:18:52You don't know?
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Well, I know the figure, but I haven't got it in front of me.
0:18:55 > 0:18:56How much?
0:18:56 > 0:18:57I'll send it.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58You tell me now.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01If you were elected today, how much above 48 billion would we pay
0:19:01 > 0:19:03to service our debt next year?
0:19:03 > 0:19:05It's absolutely minimum because it would be returned rapidly to you,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07and that's about investment...
0:19:07 > 0:19:08What's the figure?
0:19:08 > 0:19:10I'm telling you, it pays for itself.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Have you got a number for us now, roughly
0:19:12 > 0:19:15of what the interest bill would be?
0:19:15 > 0:19:18No, let me explain to you, Robert, if I can.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23The point I'm trying to get at, is that we do not want figures
0:19:23 > 0:19:25bandied around about future investment, interest
0:19:25 > 0:19:30rates at a later date, that will then be used to frighten
0:19:30 > 0:19:32people off from properly supporting investment.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35We all understand that the figure will shift, depending on the share
0:19:35 > 0:19:38price and other factors, but why don't you just tell us how
0:19:38 > 0:19:40much it would cost right now?
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Because the debate is about whether or not it is cost-effective.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48All I'm asking for is how much would it cost today,
0:19:48 > 0:19:49to do what you're proposing?
0:19:49 > 0:19:55It would be cost free because it pays for itself.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Well, you are the Shadow Transport Secretary, and I assume that a lot
0:19:59 > 0:20:04of the infrastructure spending that your Shadow Chancellor talked about
0:20:04 > 0:20:07would fall into your area, a better transport infrastructure, but we
0:20:07 > 0:20:12also need to know how much more we are going to borrow. You are going
0:20:12 > 0:20:16to borrow £250 billion over a period of time for infrastructure. You are
0:20:16 > 0:20:19going to borrow to nationalise, that could be another couple of hundred
0:20:19 > 0:20:23billion. You are going to take the PFI contracts back under state
0:20:23 > 0:20:26control, that's another couple of 100 billion. Roughly how much a year
0:20:26 > 0:20:32extra would you have to borrow to do all of this?Well, in transport, we
0:20:32 > 0:20:35will bring the railway back into public ownership and that will cost
0:20:35 > 0:20:40us zero, Andrew.Because you will wait for the leases to expire?Yeah,
0:20:40 > 0:20:46and we will stop giving £2 billion bail outs to stagecoach and virgin
0:20:46 > 0:20:51like they did last week.You won't be able to do that with water
0:20:51 > 0:20:55because it's assets you are buying there. You won't be able to do that
0:20:55 > 0:21:00with energy. So when you add it together how much extra borrowing
0:21:00 > 0:21:03will you need to do?It's impossible to say. Can you tell me what the
0:21:03 > 0:21:07cost of the water companies will be in 2022?I can tell you what the
0:21:07 > 0:21:11cost is now, they've a market cap and there could be an election next
0:21:11 > 0:21:16year. You are on election footing, you could be implementing this next
0:21:16 > 0:21:19year, you must have a ball park figure to know you are going to have
0:21:19 > 0:21:22to go to the bond markets to borrow all of this, we are already
0:21:22 > 0:21:26borrowing a ton of money. We have 1. 8 trillion of national debt. How
0:21:26 > 0:21:29much more would you borrow?You can't put a figure on that at the
0:21:29 > 0:21:35moment. It's not possible to do it. It's a menu without prices?The
0:21:35 > 0:21:39point being you are acquiring an asset and you have that, it's a
0:21:39 > 0:21:42neutral transaction and you are getting income from that asset.
0:21:42 > 0:21:50People are sick and tired of getting ripped off by energy companies. They
0:21:50 > 0:21:54want gas coming into the cooker, they want to switch the light on.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58You may be acquiring the asset but you are borrowing to acquire that
0:21:58 > 0:22:02asset and I am asking how much will you have to borrow to do so?You
0:22:02 > 0:22:06can't say. John's given a clear answer.He's not given an answer at
0:22:06 > 0:22:10all.He has addressed it fundamentally. It's the principles
0:22:10 > 0:22:15of acquiring the asset. It will cost what it costs, it's a question of
0:22:15 > 0:22:19negotiation at the relevant time. We are not in Government, Andrew.You
0:22:19 > 0:22:23could well be in Government within the next six months.Yes.That's why
0:22:23 > 0:22:26your party is on an election footing. At the very least you are
0:22:26 > 0:22:31going to borrow £25 billion a year for infrastructure spending, could
0:22:31 > 0:22:34be another 20, 25 billion for...You get a return, if you are investing
0:22:34 > 0:22:39in infrastructure, you know that you get a benefit cost ratio that grows
0:22:39 > 0:22:43our economy, grows our tax...Grows the economy, you don't get that
0:22:43 > 0:22:49money back.Of course...You don't get the money back into the
0:22:49 > 0:22:54Government coffers. All the economic growth? ?People employed, being
0:22:54 > 0:23:00more product yut.How do you know it will cost, you still have to cover
0:23:00 > 0:23:05the cost of borrowing.You do, you also have an income stream from the
0:23:05 > 0:23:11assets you have acquired. It works through.With that income stream on
0:23:11 > 0:23:15all these industries you said to nationalise, you said the consumer
0:23:15 > 0:23:18is being ripped off, so you are going to cut prices, that will
0:23:18 > 0:23:25reduce the income stream. For a start. Hold on.Don't you think...
0:23:25 > 0:23:28You cannot slash prices, increase investment, and pay the interest on
0:23:28 > 0:23:32the debt. How could you do that? Lifting people out of inequality and
0:23:32 > 0:23:36poverty.Answer the question.That's the fundamental. When people are
0:23:36 > 0:23:39getting ripped off...You are falling back on rhetoric. I am
0:23:39 > 0:23:43asking you...It's more than rhetoric.It is, because everybody
0:23:43 > 0:23:47will be poorer if you can't finance this debt. And you can't get the
0:23:47 > 0:23:53bonds away. So I ask again, how can you slash prices as you promised to
0:23:53 > 0:23:57do, increase investment and generate the revenue that is will finance and
0:23:57 > 0:24:02service the debt? How can you do that?If you don't have shareholders
0:24:02 > 0:24:07to owe way and -- obey and serve, you have an asset in that hand. You
0:24:07 > 0:24:10have the borrowing to acquire the asset and the revenue stream comes
0:24:10 > 0:24:14in. It's not difficult.You have bond holders. You will have bond
0:24:14 > 0:24:20holders whose debt you will have to service.Yes.And if you cannot do
0:24:20 > 0:24:25that well, or you issue too many, the bond prices will collapse and
0:24:25 > 0:24:28they will dump the bonds. So you have to service the debt.You have
0:24:28 > 0:24:32to get it right. You have to get the price of it right.Really.We can't
0:24:32 > 0:24:34get that discussion here and now about what the precision of this is
0:24:34 > 0:24:39going to be. It's impossible. But the basic principle is utterly
0:24:39 > 0:24:41sound. It's one that we will follow in Government.Our viewers will
0:24:41 > 0:24:45decide.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Now, we know Her Majesty's had an tiring week,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50just scrolling to the bottom of Meghan Markle's Instagram must
0:24:50 > 0:24:51have taken at least four days.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54But we also know there's nothing that'll relax her like a gin
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and dubonnet in front of the TV watching Daily Politics
0:24:57 > 0:25:01and Prime Minister's Questions.
0:25:01 > 0:25:10We know she does that, God bless you, maam.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11And she's not the only famous viewer who can't get enough of Britain's
0:25:12 > 0:25:15he really liked PMQs - in particular the verbose
0:25:15 > 0:25:18rebukes provided by Commons Speaker John Bercow.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Here's Liam revelling in in the debate.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27All we can say is that if a Rock and Roll Star can Roll With It
0:25:27 > 0:25:30and enjoy Mr Bercow's lengthy soliloquies, and even endure
0:25:30 > 0:25:33the latest Masterplan from both frontbenches,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36he deserves some Cigarettes and Alcohol - or maybe even
0:25:36 > 0:25:40a Champagne Supernova.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43So, if you're looking to mimic this rock god but can't manage the parka,
0:25:43 > 0:25:45the Mancunian accent, or the history of violent sibling
0:25:45 > 0:25:49rivalry, perhaps you'd like to sit back at 12pm
0:25:49 > 0:25:51with a Daily Politics mug.
0:25:51 > 0:26:01To win one, just tell us when this happened...
0:26:03 > 0:26:09# Memories ore all I have To cling to (cling to)
0:26:09 > 0:26:11# And heartaches are the Friends I'm talking to
0:26:11 > 0:26:15# When I'm not thinking of just How much I loved you
0:26:15 > 0:26:18# Well, I'm thinking About the things we used to do...
0:26:21 > 0:26:23# Don't stop, come On and get the rhythm
0:26:23 > 0:26:25# Don't stop, come On and move it rhythm
0:26:25 > 0:26:27# Don't stop, come On we're really living
0:26:27 > 0:26:30# Kick, twist, everbody move it...
0:26:32 > 0:26:35# Everybody's doin' A brand new dance now
0:26:35 > 0:26:37# Come on baby do the locomotion...
0:26:39 > 0:26:41President Kennedy made it clear that the blockade on Cuba was
0:26:41 > 0:26:44only a first step.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47# Come on baby do the locomotion #.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52Eric Reginald Lubbock, 22,000...
0:26:52 > 0:26:55CHEERING
0:27:27 > 0:27:30To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32send your answer to our special quiz email address -
0:27:32 > 0:27:33that's dpquiz@bbc.co.uk.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Entries must arrive by 12.30 today, and you can see the full terms
0:27:36 > 0:27:38and conditions for Guess The Year on our website.
0:27:38 > 0:27:47That's bbc.co.uk/dailypolitics.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50It's coming up to midday here, just take a look at Big Ben,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52and that can mean only one thing...
0:27:52 > 0:27:58Yes, Prime Minister's Questions is on its way.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02It will be interesting given what's happening. Here to set the scene is
0:28:02 > 0:28:07Laura Kuenssberg. I understand the Prime Minister has spoken to Arlene
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Foster of the DUP in Belfast, I assume she was?They have, they have
0:28:11 > 0:28:14finally had the promised phone call, there has not as I understand it
0:28:14 > 0:28:17been much progress. I don't think the phone call has changed the
0:28:17 > 0:28:21situation. It is still possible there could be progress by the
0:28:21 > 0:28:25weekend. It is still also possible that there will not. As one DUP
0:28:25 > 0:28:29source said to me yesterday, our approach to deadlines is always they
0:28:29 > 0:28:32are there to be broken. Which of course is not the approach that the
0:28:32 > 0:28:36Government has taken or the EU has taken in all of this. As I
0:28:36 > 0:28:41understand it, there is still some distance between the two sides. By
0:28:41 > 0:28:45having had the conversation it will at least save the Prime Minister
0:28:45 > 0:28:51have the embarrassment of being asked have you spoken, even spoken
0:28:51 > 0:28:56to your ally Arlene Foster and having to say no, which would have
0:28:56 > 0:29:00been a humiliating moment.Let's hope Corbyn's people are on the
0:29:00 > 0:29:04ball. He can't avoid this now, can he? It would be strange if he
0:29:04 > 0:29:07didn't. Historically, we have often been surprised that he hasn't chosen
0:29:07 > 0:29:13to talk about Brexit. Of course Labour's own divisions confusions
0:29:13 > 0:29:16their critics would say on the departure of the European Union are
0:29:16 > 0:29:21often what have held him back from this subject. Last week he did go on
0:29:21 > 0:29:25it and if he doesn't today given the scale of the events of the last 72
0:29:25 > 0:29:30hours that would be strange. It's not like he hasn't got any material.
0:29:30 > 0:29:36Have you got to the bottom yet of why the Government, number 10
0:29:36 > 0:29:40Downing Street, did not run this draft agreement past the DUP before
0:29:40 > 0:29:47preparing to sign it?There are a variety of reasons here. I am told
0:29:47 > 0:29:50that the Chief Whip on Monday morning had told Theresa May that he
0:29:50 > 0:29:54believed the DUP was squared off. That's something that hasn't been
0:29:54 > 0:29:58officially confirmed but I am told that conversation took place. I am
0:29:58 > 0:30:02also told that they believed and the DUP had believed also that the level
0:30:02 > 0:30:06of communication between the two sides was quite good, certainly at
0:30:06 > 0:30:11the end of last week they felt that they had been in the loop, they were
0:30:11 > 0:30:15feeling that things were kept from them, but over the sort of frantic
0:30:15 > 0:30:21course of the weekend of the officialdom doing it, somehow they
0:30:21 > 0:30:25seem to have slipped out of the loop. Now people close to David
0:30:25 > 0:30:30Davis would say he was frozen out of the process, it was being done by
0:30:30 > 0:30:33officials, by Number 10. But clearly there was not that level of
0:30:33 > 0:30:35political oversight because again it is suggested that he would have seen
0:30:35 > 0:30:41it would have been a problem for the DUP. Classically in this kind of
0:30:41 > 0:30:43situation he is responsible for the department that's meant to be
0:30:43 > 0:30:46delivering Brexit and Theresa May is the one directing the officials in
0:30:46 > 0:30:51Number 10. So ultimately there was...Also the one that did the
0:30:51 > 0:30:56deal with the DUP. She put this coalition together. Does she know
0:30:56 > 0:31:00what you stands for in DUP? This was almost certain to be like a red rag
0:31:00 > 0:31:06to a bull to the DUP.The curious thing about it is how, from the
0:31:06 > 0:31:10DUP's side, their belief is the whole premise of the final text was
0:31:10 > 0:31:13wrong-headed, it comes at it from saying Northern Ireland and the EU
0:31:13 > 0:31:16will have a different relationship. It's a broad understanding of the
0:31:16 > 0:31:21document to the rest of the UK. To them that's always going to be an
0:31:21 > 0:31:25anathema. Anything that appears to pull them closer to Dublin away from
0:31:25 > 0:31:31Westminster and the rest of the UK, that's not on. Seems like a real
0:31:31 > 0:31:38oversight.What bit of politics in GCSE did Downing Street not get?
0:31:38 > 0:31:41There is an interesting dilemma here and a few Tory MPs I have spoken to
0:31:41 > 0:31:46the last couple of days have been making that point. The new and
0:31:46 > 0:31:51improved number ten sten is more efficient than at the start of this
0:31:51 > 0:31:54session but are missing a very important element of political
0:31:54 > 0:31:58oversight and it may well they were so franticly focussing on trying to
0:31:58 > 0:32:02get the deal done this week because it's hugely important to them, that
0:32:02 > 0:32:05they miscalculated but I have been told conversation is happening with
0:32:05 > 0:32:09senior MPs and Number 10 at the start of this week and on Monday
0:32:09 > 0:32:13through the day when it became clear this was unravelling being told this
0:32:13 > 0:32:17is not going to fly and Number 10 sources saying to those MPs it will
0:32:17 > 0:32:25be fine, we think we can sell it. They couldn't even sell it their
0:32:25 > 0:32:29their own allies.It's such a fly in the ointment. I have read this
0:32:29 > 0:32:3315-page agreement now. On the money she could sell that to the
0:32:33 > 0:32:38Brexiteers. There is no upfront lump sum. It is spread out over a number
0:32:38 > 0:32:44of years.And this is the key thing, through Cabinet.On the EU
0:32:44 > 0:32:47citizenship it is that the British courts can consult with the ECJ,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51take into account some of the rulings. It's not a mandate that the
0:32:51 > 0:32:58ECJ has to be involved. On this final one in which the DUP was more
0:32:58 > 0:33:02interested than anything else, for the reasons you have given for the
0:33:02 > 0:33:06status, she doesn't do it. It's amazing. Let's see what Jeremy
0:33:06 > 0:33:10Corbyn can find out about it.
0:33:17 > 0:33:23The question tabled by the honourable member for Lichfield,
0:33:23 > 0:33:27relating to economic performance and public services in the West
0:33:27 > 0:33:36Midlands, question five, has in Eire been omitted from the printed copies
0:33:36 > 0:33:54of the order paper. -- has been in error. A corrigendum has been made
0:33:54 > 0:34:04available in the vote office, and copies are on the table. Order,
0:34:04 > 0:34:09questions to the Prime Minister. Ruth George.Thank you, question
0:34:09 > 0:34:13number one.The Prime Minister.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22Mr Speaker, I'm sure the whole house will wish to join me in offering
0:34:22 > 0:34:26condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of police constable
0:34:26 > 0:34:30James Dixon from Thames Valley Police, who was killed while on
0:34:30 > 0:34:36motorcycle duty yesterday, and also to the family and friends of the
0:34:36 > 0:34:39passenger car involved in the collision. I'm sure the House would
0:34:39 > 0:34:43like to join me in offering condolences to family and friends of
0:34:43 > 0:34:49the former member of this house who was a former miner and strong voice
0:34:49 > 0:34:53of Lanarkshire in this place for nearly 30 years. This morning I had
0:34:53 > 0:34:58meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and I shall have further
0:34:58 > 0:35:03such meetings later today.Ruth George.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07My constituent Kate has run a successful nursery for over 14
0:35:07 > 0:35:11years, but after two months on the Government's funding for three and
0:35:11 > 0:35:14four-year-old she says she can't make it work, she's having to sell
0:35:14 > 0:35:19her home to pay her staff redundancies. Over 1000 nurseries
0:35:19 > 0:35:25have already closed and 58% say they cannot continue. If nurseries close,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28parents can't work. Please will the Prime Minister meet with me and
0:35:28 > 0:35:35nursery owners to discuss such widespread and critical problems?
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Well, I can say to the honourable lady that I have indeed recently met
0:35:39 > 0:35:42with some nursery owners looking at this issue, and they've given a very
0:35:42 > 0:35:46clear message that actually there are parts of the country where Local
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Authorities are operating the system very efficiently are very well and
0:35:49 > 0:35:52there are parts of the country where that is not happening. Of course,
0:35:52 > 0:35:56what underpins this is the decision taken by this government to improve
0:35:56 > 0:36:01the childcare offer for parents, so that they actually have a better
0:36:01 > 0:36:04opportunity and ensure their children get the childcare they
0:36:04 > 0:36:11need. Will the Prime Minister give a quick
0:36:11 > 0:36:14update on the Brexit negotiations and does she agree with me that post
0:36:14 > 0:36:20Brexit...LAUGHTER It's crucial that we enhance skills
0:36:20 > 0:36:22and apprenticeships in the construction housing sector and does
0:36:22 > 0:36:27she agree that now is not the time for the construction training board
0:36:27 > 0:36:33to be proposing to close their site in West Norfolk, putting at risk 600
0:36:33 > 0:36:36jobs in a rural area? Will she make me to discuss this and will she help
0:36:36 > 0:36:42me in my campaign? Can I say to my honourable friend
0:36:42 > 0:36:45that he is a great champion for his constituency. He's been a great
0:36:45 > 0:36:53supporter of the CI TB at Birch. I'm happy to support his campaign, I
0:36:53 > 0:36:57wish him well and I'm happy to meet him. He asked about Brexit and, of
0:36:57 > 0:37:01course, what we're doing in the Brexit negotiations is ensuring we
0:37:01 > 0:37:04can indeed build those houses and build that country for the future
0:37:04 > 0:37:11that we to seek, and the principles we are working to our that the text
0:37:11 > 0:37:15that is currently being discussed is a report on the progress of
0:37:15 > 0:37:18negotiations, on which basis the European Commission will decide
0:37:18 > 0:37:22whether sufficient progress has been made and we can move onto the next
0:37:22 > 0:37:27stage of talks. It is for those future talks to agree precisely how
0:37:27 > 0:37:31we ensure cross-border trade, while maintaining constitutional integrity
0:37:31 > 0:37:35of the United Kingdom. We are leaving the European Union, the
0:37:35 > 0:37:44singles market on the customs union. But we will do, we will do what is
0:37:44 > 0:37:49right in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom, and nothing
0:37:49 > 0:37:54is agreed until everything is agreed.Jeremy Corbyn.
0:37:54 > 0:38:02Thank you, Mr Speaker. I joined the Prime Minister in offering
0:38:02 > 0:38:06condolences to the police officer and passenger who lost their lives
0:38:06 > 0:38:12yesterday and in paying tribute to Jimmy Hood, he was a good friend of
0:38:12 > 0:38:15all of us, and he was a great fighter for the coal industry and
0:38:15 > 0:38:18the mine workers union during the strike and after that, during his
0:38:18 > 0:38:25time here. We thank Jimmy for his work in the labour movement.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29Mr Speaker, in July, the international trade Secretary said
0:38:29 > 0:38:34Brexit negotiations would be the easiest in human history. Does the
0:38:34 > 0:38:38Prime Minister still agree with that assessment?LAUGHTER
0:38:38 > 0:38:44I am very pleased to report to the right gentleman, as I've just said,
0:38:44 > 0:38:53negotiations are in progress and very good progress has been made.
0:38:53 > 0:39:05But... What my right honourable friend has been focusing on is the
0:39:05 > 0:39:09trade negotiations for the future, and indeed, because we are already a
0:39:09 > 0:39:13member of the European Union, when we leave we will not be at the same
0:39:13 > 0:39:19basis, like Canada was in negotiating a trade agreement, and
0:39:19 > 0:39:22we do expect that be will get a deal that is right for the whole of the
0:39:22 > 0:39:26United Kingdom. What we need to do to be able to do that is to move on
0:39:26 > 0:39:31to phase two, and if he is so concerned about easing negotiations,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34why did his MPs vote against us being able to do that?
0:39:34 > 0:39:40Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister can always look behind herself. Mr
0:39:40 > 0:39:46Speaker, she hasn't, she hasn't succeeded in convincing many people
0:39:46 > 0:39:53and yesterday on Tory donor told the papers and I quote, "Yesterday
0:39:53 > 0:39:56proved beyond doubt that the Prime Minister is not only weak but it's
0:39:56 > 0:40:02her incompetence that is hobbling the UK." And he wasn't very kind
0:40:02 > 0:40:08about the rest of her from bench either, describing them as a bunch
0:40:08 > 0:40:13of jellyfish masquerading as a cabinet.
0:40:13 > 0:40:19Mr Speaker, this is... This is truly a coalition, this is truly a
0:40:19 > 0:40:22coalition of chaos. At the start of the week, it all seemed to be going
0:40:22 > 0:40:27so well. The Prime Minister had scheduled a lunch with Jean-Claude
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Juncker followed by a press conference and then to triumphantly
0:40:30 > 0:40:35returned to the House to present her deal.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39Order, order. Let me make it clear for the umpteenth time, no, order. I
0:40:39 > 0:40:46know what's going on, I can look after these matters. No one in this
0:40:46 > 0:40:51chamber is going to be shouted down. It will not happen, and if people
0:40:51 > 0:40:57think they can sit where I can't see them and make a raucous noise
0:40:57 > 0:41:00they're very foolish. I know where they are and I know what they're up
0:41:00 > 0:41:06to, and it's not going to work. End of subject.Jeremy Corbyn.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Thank you, Mr Speaker. On her way back to Britain, someone forgot to
0:41:10 > 0:41:18share the details of the Irish border deal with the DUP. Surely
0:41:18 > 0:41:24there are 1.5 billion reasons why the Prime Minister really shouldn't,
0:41:24 > 0:41:34shouldn't have forgotten to do that. I think it was a little difficult to
0:41:34 > 0:41:42detect the question is that interruption. Let me say to the
0:41:42 > 0:41:43right honourable gentleman, as President Jean-Claude Juncker said
0:41:43 > 0:41:47Monday, there are still a few things we are negotiating on... LAUGHTER
0:41:47 > 0:41:54And he is confident, he is confident that we will be able to achieve
0:41:54 > 0:41:58sufficient progress. But if he wants to wonder about plans for
0:41:58 > 0:42:05negotiations, perhaps he should look at his own front bench! The Shadow
0:42:05 > 0:42:09Chancellor used to say staying in the single market was not respecting
0:42:09 > 0:42:19the referendum. Now he says it's on the table. The shade -- shadow trade
0:42:19 > 0:42:23secretary used to say staying in the customs union was very unattractive,
0:42:23 > 0:42:28now he says it is not off the table. We now know from the Shadow
0:42:28 > 0:42:32Chancellor what their approach really is, it's not having a plan at
0:42:32 > 0:42:37all, because when asked what the Labour Party plan was, the Shadow
0:42:37 > 0:42:42Chancellor said, well, that's difficult for us. As we all know,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45the only thing the Labour Party is planning for is a runner on the
0:42:45 > 0:42:53pound.Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister was
0:42:53 > 0:42:56unable to support her Brexit secretary when he tried to explain a
0:42:56 > 0:43:00deal was supposed to be done in October but still hasn't been done
0:43:00 > 0:43:04by December. The leader of the DUP told Irish television she only got
0:43:04 > 0:43:10sight of the deal on Monday morning, five weeks after she first asked for
0:43:10 > 0:43:14it. Two months after the original deadline for the first phase of
0:43:14 > 0:43:20talks and after Monday's shambles, is the Prime Minister now, now able
0:43:20 > 0:43:24to end the confusion and clearly outlined what the Government was my
0:43:24 > 0:43:29position is now, with regard to the Irish border?
0:43:29 > 0:43:32I'm very happy to outline the position that I've taken on the
0:43:32 > 0:43:38Irish border with Northern Ireland. It is exactly the same position that
0:43:38 > 0:43:43I took in the Lancaster House speech, that I took in the Florence
0:43:43 > 0:43:48speech, that we have taken consistently in the negotiations,
0:43:48 > 0:43:51which is that we will ensure there is no hard border between Northern
0:43:51 > 0:43:58Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We will do that while we respect the
0:43:58 > 0:44:05constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom. And while we respect
0:44:05 > 0:44:08the internal market and protect the internal market of the United
0:44:08 > 0:44:17Kingdom. Those Labour members who shout "How?", that's the whole point
0:44:17 > 0:44:23of the second phase of the negotiations... Because we will
0:44:23 > 0:44:29deliver this, we aim to deliver this is part of our overall trade deal
0:44:29 > 0:44:35between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and we can only talk
0:44:35 > 0:44:41about that when we get into phase two. We have a plan, he has none.
0:44:41 > 0:44:46Jeremy Corbyn. 18 months after the referendum, the
0:44:46 > 0:44:53Prime Minister is unable to answer the question. And on Monday, and on
0:44:53 > 0:44:57Monday, as she thought she was coming here to make a statement, it
0:44:57 > 0:45:05was vetoed by the leader of the DUP, the tale really is wagging the dog
0:45:05 > 0:45:15here. Mr Speaker, the Brexit secretary told the BBC's Andrew Marr
0:45:15 > 0:45:19programme in June, "In my job I don't think out loud and I don't
0:45:19 > 0:45:25make guesses. I try and make decisions. You make those based on
0:45:25 > 0:45:34data, the data is being gathered, we have 50, nearly 60 sector analyses
0:45:34 > 0:45:38done." The House voted to see the analyses but today the Brexit
0:45:38 > 0:45:41secretary told the select committee they don't exist. Can the Prime
0:45:41 > 0:45:45Minister put us out of our misery, do they exist or don't they, have
0:45:45 > 0:45:49they done the work or haven't they? That is surely one question she can
0:45:49 > 0:45:56answer after 18 months. Can I make a gentle suggestion to
0:45:56 > 0:46:03the Leader of the Opposition? He asked me a question on the Northern
0:46:03 > 0:46:08Irish border, I answered the question. He then stood up and said
0:46:08 > 0:46:11I had answered the question. Perhaps he should listen to the answers that
0:46:11 > 0:46:22I give. The House requested, as I understand it, 58 sectoral impact
0:46:22 > 0:46:28assessments. There were no 58 sectoral impact assessment. There
0:46:28 > 0:46:33was sectoral analysis, over 800 pages of sectoral analysis has been
0:46:33 > 0:46:37published and made available to the select committee and arrangements
0:46:37 > 0:46:42have been made available for members of this house to see it. We are very
0:46:42 > 0:46:46clear that we will not give a running commentary on negotiations,
0:46:46 > 0:46:54but what we will do, what we will do is work for what this country wants.
0:46:54 > 0:47:00We will ensure we leave the European Union in March 2019. We will leave
0:47:00 > 0:47:04the internal market, we will leave the customs union at the same time,
0:47:04 > 0:47:08and we will ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and
0:47:08 > 0:47:09the Republic of Ireland when we do it.
0:47:09 > 0:47:14Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Speaker, this really is a
0:47:14 > 0:47:22shambles. All they've done... All they've done is offered a heavily
0:47:22 > 0:47:29redacted abbreviated version that has not been widely shared, and the
0:47:29 > 0:47:35Brexit secretary said in September, Mr Speaker, that 50 billion divorce
0:47:35 > 0:47:38payment was complete nonsense. The Foreign Secretary rejected any
0:47:38 > 0:47:44payment and said the EU could go whistle, so can the Prime Minister
0:47:44 > 0:47:49put before the House a fully itemised account that could be
0:47:49 > 0:47:53independently audited by the Office for Budget Responsibility and the
0:47:53 > 0:47:55National Audit Office on any proposed payment?
0:47:59 > 0:48:03We are at the point of progressing to the next stage. Snog agreed until
0:48:03 > 0:48:06everything is agreed. So the final settlement won't be agreed until we
0:48:06 > 0:48:11have actually got the whole of the deal agreed. But I have to say to
0:48:11 > 0:48:14the right honourable gentleman, he's asked me questions earlier about
0:48:14 > 0:48:17hard borders, half the Labour Party wants to stay in the single market,
0:48:17 > 0:48:20half the Labour Party wants to leave the single market. The only hard
0:48:20 > 0:48:29border around is right down the middle of the Labour Party.
0:48:29 > 0:48:3518 months since the referendum, no answers to the questions. Today,
0:48:35 > 0:48:40they haven't yet concluded phase one. No answers to the questions.
0:48:40 > 0:48:48And the DUP appear to be ruling the roost and telling her what to do.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51Whether it's Brexit, the National Health Service, social care, our
0:48:51 > 0:48:56rip-off railways, rising child poverty, growing pensioner poverty,
0:48:56 > 0:49:01or universe credit, this Government, this Government is unable to solve
0:49:01 > 0:49:04important issues facing this country. In fact, it's making them
0:49:04 > 0:49:11worse. The economy is slowing. More people in poverty. Brexit
0:49:11 > 0:49:15negotiations in a shambles. This Government is clearly not fit for
0:49:15 > 0:49:20the future. If they can't negotiate a good deal, wouldn't it be better
0:49:20 > 0:49:29if they just got out of the way?Can I say to the right honourable
0:49:29 > 0:49:35gentleman, week in and week out, he comes to this House making promises
0:49:35 > 0:49:39that he knows he can't deliver. And they keep doing it. At the election
0:49:39 > 0:49:44he told students they would write off their student debt. Then he said
0:49:44 > 0:49:49I did not commit to write off the debt. What are the Labour Party
0:49:49 > 0:49:56doing? They're putting around leaflets which say Labour will
0:49:56 > 0:50:01cancel xooising student debt. -- existing. It's time the right
0:50:01 > 0:50:06honourable gentleman apologises for grossly misleading Labour leaflets.
0:50:06 > 0:50:18Order. Order! Closed question, MrMichael Fabricant.Question five.
0:50:18 > 0:50:24Prime Minister.I am pleased to say that employment in the West Midlands
0:50:24 > 0:50:29has risen by 198,000 since the 2010 election. And in the budget my right
0:50:29 > 0:50:32honourable friend the Chancellor confirmed people living and working
0:50:32 > 0:50:39in the West Midlands will benefit from second devolution deal and a
0:50:39 > 0:50:45£250 million allocation for regional transport projects.The devolution
0:50:45 > 0:50:51deal, the budget, and now the establishment of the national
0:50:51 > 0:50:55battery R and D centre in the West Midlands puts the whole region at
0:50:55 > 0:50:59the very heart of European autonomous drive and electric drive
0:50:59 > 0:51:05cars. So will my right honourable friend commit to continue to support
0:51:05 > 0:51:11this important industry and will she make a very important promise to me?
0:51:11 > 0:51:23Yes. Will she get rid of that gas guzzler Jagielka of hers -- Jaquar
0:51:23 > 0:51:28and get a modern one from the West Midlands, because we are the party
0:51:28 > 0:51:39of the future, not the old Labour Party danosaurs opposite.Perhaps I
0:51:39 > 0:51:43could just... Perhaps I could just let my
0:51:43 > 0:51:48honourable friend know that, sadly, the Jaguar Number 10 Downing Street
0:51:48 > 0:51:52is not mine. But my honourable friend is absolutely right, that the
0:51:52 > 0:51:55West Midlands is at the heart of this important industry. We are
0:51:55 > 0:52:00investing £31 million in the West Midlands for the development of
0:52:00 > 0:52:03testing infrastructure for connected and autonomous vehicles and we will
0:52:03 > 0:52:07also build on the West Midlands expertise and self driving cars as
0:52:07 > 0:52:12we invest a further £5 million in an initial test bed and I certainly
0:52:12 > 0:52:18look forward to seeing this technology developing further.Can I
0:52:18 > 0:52:22associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister regarding the
0:52:22 > 0:52:25late Jimmy Hood and pass on condolences to his family and
0:52:25 > 0:52:29friends. I am sure the House will want to join me in welcoming Billy
0:52:29 > 0:52:34Irvine, one of the Chennai six who has arrived back in Scotland this
0:52:34 > 0:52:39morning. Now we know that the deal that was done with the DUP to keep
0:52:39 > 0:52:45the Prime Minister in office gave the DUP a veto over Brexit. It is
0:52:45 > 0:52:49embarrassing that it was being briefed on Monday morning that the
0:52:49 > 0:52:53Prime Minister had a deal, only to take this off the table after a call
0:52:53 > 0:53:00with the DUP. Is this the Prime Minister who is in office but not in
0:53:00 > 0:53:07power?What we are doing is working for a deal that will work for the
0:53:07 > 0:53:10whole of the United Kingdom. There are particular circumstances for
0:53:10 > 0:53:13Northern Ireland because it is the one part of the United Kingdom that
0:53:13 > 0:53:16shares a land border with a country that will be remaining in the
0:53:16 > 0:53:21European Union. But as we look ahead and during the negotiations as the
0:53:21 > 0:53:24honourable gentleman will know, we are consulting and talking with all
0:53:24 > 0:53:27parts of the United Kingdom, with the Welsh Government and the
0:53:27 > 0:53:31Scottish Government, and we want to ensure that we get the right deal
0:53:31 > 0:53:35for the UK and that's the deal that I have set out, we will be leaving
0:53:35 > 0:53:38the European Union, we will be leaving the single market, leaving
0:53:38 > 0:53:43the customs union, but we will ensure that we get that good trade
0:53:43 > 0:53:48deal for the future.The clock is ticking. We need a deal that keeps
0:53:48 > 0:53:53us in the single market and the customs union. To do otherwise will
0:53:53 > 0:53:56devastate our economy and cost jobs. Will the Prime Minister recognise
0:53:56 > 0:54:01that such a deal will resolve the Irish border question and protect
0:54:01 > 0:54:04jobs throughout the UK, anything less will be a failure of
0:54:04 > 0:54:08leadership.I have to say to the right honourable gentleman that he
0:54:08 > 0:54:11continues to washing up -- bark up the wrong tree. We are leaving the
0:54:11 > 0:54:16European Union, that means we will be leaving the single market and the
0:54:16 > 0:54:20customs union. We will take back and we will ensure that we can go trade
0:54:20 > 0:54:23deals around the rest of the world and that will be important for us
0:54:23 > 0:54:27and it's important, he references jobs, it will be important in
0:54:27 > 0:54:31ensuring jobs in this country. We will get a good deal on trade and
0:54:31 > 0:54:34security because this isn't just about trade for our future
0:54:34 > 0:54:38relationship. I set out in my Florence speech the deep and special
0:54:38 > 0:54:41partnership we want to continue to have with the European Union. That
0:54:41 > 0:54:45is about a trade deal that ensures jobs and prosperity across the whole
0:54:45 > 0:54:51of the United Kingdom.I politely observe that the front bench
0:54:51 > 0:54:52exchanges have absorbed a disproportionately large share of
0:54:52 > 0:54:59time. I am determined to accommodate backbenchers who are waiting to ask
0:54:59 > 0:55:06questions.Thank you. The bottleneck on the A417 continues to cause
0:55:06 > 0:55:08dreadful accidents and traffic misery in Gloucestershire. Now
0:55:08 > 0:55:11following the leadership of the Transport Secretary and the support
0:55:11 > 0:55:14of Gloucestershire honourable members the vital consultation stage
0:55:14 > 0:55:17of the short listed improvement proposals will begin shortly. Does
0:55:17 > 0:55:21my right honourable friend back the scheme and does she agree by
0:55:21 > 0:55:25committing hundreds of millions of pounds for this crucial project that
0:55:25 > 0:55:28Government is backing the Gloucestershire economy?Thank you.
0:55:28 > 0:55:32I know my honourable friend has been working tirelessly on this
0:55:32 > 0:55:35particular issue and I understand concerns and frustrations that
0:55:35 > 0:55:39drivers in his constituency and elsewhere have about this vital
0:55:39 > 0:55:41strategic road for, not just Gloucestershire but the wider region
0:55:41 > 0:55:48as well. I am happy to assure him we are backing the development of the
0:55:48 > 0:55:52multimillion pound roundabout scheme announced in 2014. A consultation
0:55:52 > 0:55:56will begin shortly. So we can develop the right solution to tackle
0:55:56 > 0:56:02this pinch point and continue this support which as he says is good for
0:56:02 > 0:56:05the whole of Gloucestershire's economy.The Prime Minister has been
0:56:05 > 0:56:10unable to provide us with a single plausible Brexit scenario that will
0:56:10 > 0:56:14meet her red lines, and be acceptable to the Cabinet, Ireland
0:56:14 > 0:56:18and the DUP. Isn't it therefore time that she either dropped her red
0:56:18 > 0:56:24lines, the DUP, or the pretence she can govern this country.I have to
0:56:24 > 0:56:27say to the honourable lady she's completely wrong, this Government
0:56:27 > 0:56:30has published a number of documents which set out various option that is
0:56:30 > 0:56:35can be taken forward in relation to the trade relation for the future,
0:56:35 > 0:56:39that address the question of the customs relationship in relation to
0:56:39 > 0:56:42customs, address the issue of the Northern Ireland border. We have
0:56:42 > 0:56:45already published those proposals. They're not part in detail - those
0:56:45 > 0:56:47details are not part of the negotiations at the moment. They
0:56:47 > 0:56:57will become part of the negotiations when we move on to phase two.When
0:56:57 > 0:57:01the British people voted to leave the European superstate they voted
0:57:01 > 0:57:05to end the free movement of people, they voted to stop sending billions
0:57:05 > 0:57:12of pounds to the EU each and every year. They voted to make our laws in
0:57:12 > 0:57:17our own country judged by our own judges. Prime Minister, are we on
0:57:17 > 0:57:21course still to deliver that? If we have a problem, would it help if I
0:57:21 > 0:57:34came over to Brussels with you to sort them out?
0:57:35 > 0:57:39Well, I say to my honourable friend I am always happy to spend time in
0:57:39 > 0:57:45his company and I hope his petition on chicken farms went down well the
0:57:45 > 0:57:48other evening. The answer is yes, we are on course to deliver what the
0:57:48 > 0:57:52people of this country voted for when they voted to leave the
0:57:52 > 0:57:58European Union.Will the Prime Minister support new transpen nine
0:57:58 > 0:58:02rail links, namely high speed three, but also the restoration of the
0:58:02 > 0:58:06Skipton coal link which as well as providing an economic boast to pen
0:58:06 > 0:58:12nine towns has the additional merit of starting in the Government Chief
0:58:12 > 0:58:17Whip's constituency.Can I say to the honourable gentleman that we are
0:58:17 > 0:58:20of course looking very seriously and have been supporting with this
0:58:20 > 0:58:24concept of the railway. We are waiting as I understand it for
0:58:24 > 0:58:29specific proposals to be brought forward and we will look at those
0:58:29 > 0:58:34proposals seriously.I am sure the whole House is aware that 40 years
0:58:34 > 0:58:40ago today this House came together and voted for a new charity,
0:58:40 > 0:58:42mobility charity which has transformed the lives of disabled
0:58:42 > 0:58:49people and their families. Would the Prime Minister agree that - it
0:58:49 > 0:58:53should be carried forward and gives a golden opportunity for disabled
0:58:53 > 0:58:57people to get into the workplace and enjoy things everybody else does in
0:58:57 > 0:59:02this country.I am grateful to my right honourable friend for marking
0:59:02 > 0:59:06the whoth anniversary of mobility in this way and I am happy to join him
0:59:06 > 0:59:09in marking that and I am looking forward to becoming a senior patron,
0:59:09 > 0:59:13they do excellent work for people in enabling them to stay mobile and
0:59:13 > 0:59:19active and there are more people with a mobility car today than there
0:59:19 > 0:59:23were in 2010. Can I also wish my right honourable friend well as I
0:59:23 > 0:59:28understand he will be going to the Palace tomorrow to receive his
0:59:28 > 0:59:34knighthood.Thank you. Prime Minister, in light of the news today
0:59:34 > 0:59:38and the reported terrorist threat on the Prime Minister and others, can I
0:59:38 > 0:59:41assure her of our prayers for her and Her Majesty's Government on this
0:59:41 > 0:59:45side of the House and thank the security forces for their sterling
0:59:45 > 0:59:49efforts. Prime Minister, can you give us specific commitment that
0:59:49 > 0:59:56nothing will be done that creates any barrier, constitutionally,
0:59:56 > 0:59:57politically, economically, or regulatory between Northern Ireland
0:59:57 > 1:00:02and the rest of the United Kingdom? Can I thank the honourable gentleman
1:00:02 > 1:00:06for the remarks that he made. Can I say to him the simple answer to his
1:00:06 > 1:00:10question is yes. He will know as other members of this House will,
1:00:10 > 1:00:14that there are already areas where there are specific arrangements
1:00:14 > 1:00:18between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, for example,
1:00:18 > 1:00:22the single energy market that exists between the Republic of Ireland and
1:00:22 > 1:00:25Northern Ireland. But we want to ensure that there is no hard border,
1:00:25 > 1:00:30that is exactly what we are working for. We are also working to respect
1:00:30 > 1:00:35the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom and protect the
1:00:35 > 1:00:39internal market of the United Kingdom and I think we share those
1:00:39 > 1:00:46aims.The Prime Minister will be aware of citizens advice Scotland
1:00:46 > 1:00:51report issued yesterday that said in Scotland up to a million consumers
1:00:51 > 1:00:56pay on average 30% more to have parcels delivered than the rest of
1:00:56 > 1:00:59the country: In my constitute at this time there is a huge issue
1:00:59 > 1:01:03where ridiculous prices are put on to deliver. In some cases companies
1:01:03 > 1:01:07refuse to deliver at all. Can my right honourable friend tell me what
1:01:07 > 1:01:12the UK Government can do with myself to ensure we right this wrong once
1:01:12 > 1:01:16and for you will.My honourable friend is right to raise this issue
1:01:16 > 1:01:23and speak up on behalf of his constituents. I am sure he knows
1:01:23 > 1:01:26rail mail does provide a service that includes parcel service at a
1:01:26 > 1:01:30uniform price throughout the UK but there are commercial issues at play
1:01:30 > 1:01:34outside this service. But I am sure that my right hon friend the
1:01:34 > 1:01:42Business Secretary will be happy to meet and discuss this issue.The
1:01:42 > 1:01:46recognition by Donald Trump of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
1:01:46 > 1:01:50will do grave damage to the prospects for a just and lasting
1:01:50 > 1:01:54peace settlement with the Israelis and Palestinians which has been
1:01:54 > 1:01:59British and indeed American foreign policy for decades. Was she
1:01:59 > 1:02:04consulted about this announcement and if so what did she say? Will she
1:02:04 > 1:02:09hear and -- here and now clearly condemn it?
1:02:09 > 1:02:15Well, I say to the right honourable gentleman that I am intending to
1:02:15 > 1:02:22speak to President Trump about this matter. But our position has not
1:02:22 > 1:02:26changed. He says it's been a long-standing position and it's also
1:02:26 > 1:02:30a very clear one, that the status of Jerusalem should be determined as a
1:02:30 > 1:02:35- in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians
1:02:35 > 1:02:40and Jerusalem should ultimately form a shared capital between the Israeli
1:02:40 > 1:02:44and Palestinian states. We continue to support a two-state solution. We
1:02:44 > 1:02:48recognise the importance of Jerusalem and our position on that
1:02:48 > 1:03:01has not changed.Today GlaxoSmithKline and many other
1:03:01 > 1:03:05companies invested in genetics, does my honourable friend agree
1:03:05 > 1:03:09investment in science and research underpins jobs and revolution in
1:03:09 > 1:03:13medical treatment that will save lives and give hope to many patients
1:03:13 > 1:03:17for new treatments.Well, I absolutely agree with my honourable
1:03:17 > 1:03:21friend and what she has highlighted is a sector which is important for
1:03:21 > 1:03:24the United Kingdom and I welcome the investment that she has referred to.
1:03:24 > 1:03:30That is why this is one of the sectors that has been given
1:03:30 > 1:03:32significance in the industrial strategy that my right honourable
1:03:32 > 1:03:36friend the Business Secretary has delivered, has published, because
1:03:36 > 1:03:42this is exactly an area where we see there are Ben bsh -- benefits here,
1:03:42 > 1:03:46jobs, but also improving the treatments available to patients and
1:03:46 > 1:03:54improving their lives.When the Prime Minister rings Donald Trump to
1:03:54 > 1:04:00express our concern about his moves concerning Jerusalem and the US
1:04:00 > 1:04:05Embassy, will she also be informing President Trump that we will be
1:04:05 > 1:04:11proceeding to recognise the state of Palestine as a central part of
1:04:11 > 1:04:16keeping the two-state process under way?We want to see a negotiated
1:04:16 > 1:04:19settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, we believe that
1:04:19 > 1:04:24should be based on a two-state solution, that should be a Sovereign
1:04:24 > 1:04:28and viable Palestinian state but also a secure and safe Israel. That
1:04:28 > 1:04:36should be a matter for negotiation between the parties.The whole House
1:04:36 > 1:04:40will support what the Prime Minister said last week in the Middle East on
1:04:40 > 1:04:45her visit about the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen.
1:04:45 > 1:04:50Will she continue to provide the maximum amount of pressure to lift
1:04:50 > 1:04:54both the humanitarian and the commercial blockade and use
1:04:54 > 1:04:58Britain's good offices at the United Nations to secure a resumption of
1:04:58 > 1:05:02some sort of political peace process which is inclusive and which does
1:05:02 > 1:05:06not have any preconditions?Well, my right honourable friend has raised
1:05:06 > 1:05:10an important issue and I am sure everybody across this House is
1:05:10 > 1:05:13deeply concerned at the humanitarian crisis and the spiralling crisis
1:05:13 > 1:05:17that we have seen in the Yemen and the lingering threat of famine
1:05:17 > 1:05:21there. I did indeed as he said raise my concerns when I visited Saudi
1:05:21 > 1:05:27Arabia last week. I made it clear that the UK's view is that we want
1:05:27 > 1:05:30to see not just a border open for humanitarian aid to get in but it
1:05:30 > 1:05:35should be open for commercial vessels as well. This is absolutely
1:05:35 > 1:05:39crucial and important and he revenss the need for peace talks, that is
1:05:39 > 1:05:43our top priority. The best way to bring a long-term solution and
1:05:43 > 1:05:47long-term stability is to have a political solution and we will
1:05:47 > 1:05:50continue to support the efforts of the UN special envoy and play a
1:05:50 > 1:05:53leading role as he says in diplomatic efforts to ensure a
1:05:53 > 1:06:03political solution can be reached. Due to the one billion deal that the
1:06:03 > 1:06:10DUP MPs - each one is worth more than Ronaldo. We need to consider
1:06:10 > 1:06:18the cut to Scotland's budget, £600 million rail shortfall, the £200
1:06:18 > 1:06:28million... And £140 million VAT refund. Each one of the Scottish
1:06:28 > 1:06:34Tories cost Scotland £265 million. Can we transfer them?I have to say
1:06:34 > 1:06:38it's time that when he stood up for questions he actually looked at the
1:06:38 > 1:06:45facts. It's my Scottish Conservative colleagues who have ensured that in
1:06:45 > 1:06:50the budget we were able to take steps in relation to the VAT status
1:06:50 > 1:06:54of police Scotland and the fire services in Scotland and he
1:06:54 > 1:07:01obviously hadn't noticed but I am happy to repeat as a result of this
1:07:01 > 1:07:09budget £2 billion extra will come to Scotland.In 2010 the
1:07:09 > 1:07:13Conservative-led Government set out to reform the school curriculum to
1:07:13 > 1:07:17give children skills they need to succeed. Does the Prime Minister
1:07:17 > 1:07:20agree yesterday's reading standard results are a vindication of our
1:07:20 > 1:07:23reforms and amazing teachers' efforts which will allow our
1:07:23 > 1:07:30children to forge a truly global Britain.Well, I thank my honourable
1:07:30 > 1:07:33friend, she has raised an important issue and I am happy to agree with
1:07:33 > 1:07:40her. Yesterday we learned how the UK's revolution in phonetics has
1:07:40 > 1:07:45dramatically improved school standards. I would like to pay
1:07:45 > 1:07:50particular tribute to my honourable friend the Minister for schools
1:07:50 > 1:07:53standards who has worked tirelessly to this end through his time here in
1:07:53 > 1:07:57this House but also pay tribute to the hard work of teachers up and
1:07:57 > 1:08:04down the country. We have, just for the figures, in 201258% of
1:08:04 > 1:08:10six-year-olds passed reading checks, this year it's 81%. We are indeed
1:08:10 > 1:08:14building a Britain fit for the future.In October the Prime
1:08:14 > 1:08:18Minister wrote an open letter saying EU citizens living lawfully in the
1:08:18 > 1:08:25UK today will be able to stay. But this week my constituent was told by
1:08:25 > 1:08:29UK she had to wait until Brexit was done and take her chances. Can the
1:08:29 > 1:08:38Prime Minister tell us are the EU citizens living here just pawns in
1:08:38 > 1:08:43the Brexit negotiations or will she change UK operating systems to
1:08:43 > 1:08:47ensure EU citizens can stay?The position on EU citizens that I set
1:08:47 > 1:08:51out in the open letter that I sent is the position of the United
1:08:51 > 1:08:56Kingdom Government and I suggest to the honourable lady if she has a
1:08:56 > 1:09:00complaint about something said she sends that information to the
1:09:00 > 1:09:06immigration Minister.Yesterday the all-party group on cancer held its
1:09:06 > 1:09:09annual Britain against cancer conference, the largest one-day
1:09:09 > 1:09:13gathering of the capser community in the UK to launch a report on the
1:09:13 > 1:09:16cancer strategy. We heard from the Government and NHS England many good
1:09:16 > 1:09:20things that were happening, there was one issue causing real concern
1:09:20 > 1:09:25to frontline services, and that is the delay in the release of the
1:09:25 > 1:09:28transformation funding to those frontline services, with additional
1:09:28 > 1:09:32requirement applied to the funding after the bidding process closed.
1:09:32 > 1:09:37Having discussed the issue with the Secretary of State who was a jolly
1:09:37 > 1:09:41chap, would the Prime Minister meet with me to discuss this matter
1:09:41 > 1:09:49further.Well, I say to my honourable friend of course this is
1:09:49 > 1:09:53an important issue and we have as he said seen great progress being made
1:09:53 > 1:09:56in relation to this issue of providing higher standards of cancer
1:09:56 > 1:10:00care for all patients. Survival records are now at a record high.
1:10:00 > 1:10:05Around 7,000 more people are surviving cancer after successful
1:10:05 > 1:10:09NHS treatment compared to three years ago. Of course we want to do
1:10:09 > 1:10:14more in relation to this issue. He has raised a very specific point and
1:10:14 > 1:10:18I understand that the Department of Health are adopting a phased
1:10:18 > 1:10:20approach to investment as the national cancer programme does run
1:10:20 > 1:10:25for a further three years but I would be happy to meet to discuss
1:10:25 > 1:10:32this.Contrary to her previous answer on the subject, only the
1:10:32 > 1:10:35Prime Minister's Government can remove barriers to universe credit
1:10:35 > 1:10:39for ter minutally ill people in Scotland, England, Wales and
1:10:39 > 1:10:44Northern Ireland. Will she answer this question again this time, will
1:10:44 > 1:10:49she end the cruel requirement for people across the UK who don't want
1:10:49 > 1:10:55to know they're dying to self-certify on universal credit?
1:10:55 > 1:10:59Can I say to the honourable gentleman that I suggest that this
1:10:59 > 1:11:02is an issue I will ask the Secretary of State for work and pensions to
1:11:02 > 1:11:07look at. We do want to ensure that as knows we are working on how
1:11:07 > 1:11:11universal credit is rolled out and how that is dealt with in relation
1:11:11 > 1:11:17to individuals. I am sure he will understand that if there are
1:11:17 > 1:11:20particular things that apply to people and particular circumstances
1:11:20 > 1:11:24then they can only apply if - if the universe credit and Jobcentres are
1:11:24 > 1:11:29aware of those circumstances but I will ask the Department for Work and
1:11:29 > 1:11:36Pensions to look at this.Before my right honourable friend next goes to
1:11:36 > 1:11:41Brussels, will she apply a new code of paint to her red lines because I
1:11:41 > 1:11:48fear on Monday they were beginning to look a little bit pink?No, I can
1:11:48 > 1:11:52say, happy say to my honourable friend that the principles on which
1:11:52 > 1:11:57this Government is negotiating were set out in the Lancaster House
1:11:57 > 1:12:03speech and the Florence speech and those principles remain.This
1:12:03 > 1:12:08morning London MPs were briefed by the Metropolitan Police service on
1:12:08 > 1:12:11the grave challenge of serious youth violence and violent crime,
1:12:11 > 1:12:16including the scourge of scooter assisted crime. With robbers up 30%
1:12:16 > 1:12:20in London, the Police Service in London faces a £400 million squeeze
1:12:20 > 1:12:24which will drive police numbers down to the lowest in 20 years and my own
1:12:24 > 1:12:28Borough has already lost is 98 police officers. Does the Prime
1:12:28 > 1:12:35Minister still think we have the police resources we need -- 198.I
1:12:35 > 1:12:39would say we are not reducing the police budget, we are protecting
1:12:39 > 1:12:43police budgets. They were protected in the 2015 spending review. I
1:12:43 > 1:12:47repeat as I said in this House before, there is more money and
1:12:47 > 1:12:49officers or each Londoner than anywhere else in the country. Of
1:12:49 > 1:12:54course it is up to the Mayor of London to decide how that budget is
1:12:54 > 1:12:59spent. But she also raised the important issue of scooter or moped
1:12:59 > 1:13:02crime and I am pleased to say the Home Secretary has held a round
1:13:02 > 1:13:07table with police and others in the Home Office to look at how this can
1:13:07 > 1:13:13be better addressed.The industrial strategy identifies that the world
1:13:13 > 1:13:18will need 60% more food by 2050. As we leave the EU will the Prime
1:13:18 > 1:13:24Minister commit to supporting our farmers?I am very happy to commit
1:13:24 > 1:13:27to supporting our farmers. And in fact markets for British food are
1:13:27 > 1:13:31growing around the world and we want to see those Margetts grow even
1:13:31 > 1:13:36further. Leaving the EU means we will have an opportunity to design a
1:13:36 > 1:13:39new approach to agricultural policy, one that supports our farmers to
1:13:39 > 1:13:44grow more, to sell more and to export more of their world-class
1:13:44 > 1:13:48proproducts. What we will be doing is ensuring we have an agriculture
1:13:48 > 1:13:57policy that meets the needs of the United Kingdom.This week motor
1:13:57 > 1:14:05manufacturers announced a year on year drop in car sales of over 11%.
1:14:05 > 1:14:10They blame confusion caused by the Government's incoherent policy on
1:14:10 > 1:14:15clean air and diesels, budget measures and uncertainty caused by
1:14:15 > 1:14:20Brexit. This industry is vital for both the national economy and jobs
1:14:20 > 1:14:24in the West Midlands. What is the Government going to do to turn this
1:14:24 > 1:14:28around?I have to say to the honourable gentleman that if he had
1:14:28 > 1:14:33listened to the answer I gave and the questions from my honourable
1:14:33 > 1:14:38friend earlier he would have heard how we are supporting the automotive
1:14:38 > 1:14:42industry, supporting the future of the industry. We recognise its
1:14:42 > 1:14:44importance for the West Midlands and importance for the United Kingdom
1:14:44 > 1:14:47and that's why it's one of those sectors that we are clear in our
1:14:47 > 1:14:52industrial strategy that we will be supporting so we can support those
1:14:52 > 1:14:57jobs and prosperity for the future. Would my right honourable friend
1:14:57 > 1:15:01confirm she is aware of the strong enthusiasm for free trade deals with
1:15:01 > 1:15:10the UK from countries like Canada, Japan, United States, Australia, and
1:15:10 > 1:15:14even for participation in - UK participation in the
1:15:14 > 1:15:18transpartnership. None of these opportunities will come our way if
1:15:18 > 1:15:23we are shackled to regulation after we have left the EU.Well, I am
1:15:23 > 1:15:28happy to say to my honourable friend that I do recognise the enthusiasm
1:15:28 > 1:15:31there is out there around the rest of the world for to us do trade
1:15:31 > 1:15:35deals with other countries. I am happy to say that my right
1:15:35 > 1:15:38honourable friend the trade Secretary was in Australia recently
1:15:38 > 1:15:42discussing these opportunities. When I go around the world I also hear
1:15:42 > 1:15:45the same message from a whole variety of countries, they want to
1:15:45 > 1:15:49do trade deals for us in the future. What we want to do is to ensure we
1:15:49 > 1:15:52get a good trade deal with the European Union and the freedom to
1:15:52 > 1:15:59negotiate these trade deals around the rest of the world.
1:15:59 > 1:16:04On Monday evening during the opening speeches of the EU withdrawal bill
1:16:04 > 1:16:10the Government bench showed its true colours. Revealed were the imperial
1:16:10 > 1:16:14British Government's intentions spelled out in red, white and blue.
1:16:14 > 1:16:19Would the Prime Minister care to echo the chair of the Welsh affairs
1:16:19 > 1:16:24Select Committee and I quote, it is a power grab, and what a wonderful
1:16:24 > 1:16:29power grab it is too or would she admit that the scrabble to
1:16:29 > 1:16:35repatriate powers from Brussels provides a grubby excuse to deny our
1:16:35 > 1:16:41democratic rights in Wales.The honourable lady knows full well what
1:16:41 > 1:16:45my honourable friend was saying was that what we will be doing when we
1:16:45 > 1:16:51leave the European Union is grabbing powers back from Brussels to the
1:16:51 > 1:16:55United Kingdom. That's exactly right. Following that we will expect
1:16:55 > 1:16:59to see a significant increase in the decision-making power of devolved
1:16:59 > 1:17:04administrations. As a result of that. That is absolutely right. If
1:17:04 > 1:17:08Plaid Cymru are saying they want to see powers rest in Brussels, we take
1:17:08 > 1:17:11a different view. We want those powers to be here in the United
1:17:11 > 1:17:20Kingdom.
1:17:23 > 1:17:29Will the Prime Minister join me in wishing them every success in their
1:17:29 > 1:17:35bid to see Stoke become the next capital of culture for Britain?I
1:17:35 > 1:17:39have been very happy to visit Stoke on Trent on a number of occasions
1:17:39 > 1:17:43and my honourable friend is a valiant champion for Stoke. I wish
1:17:43 > 1:17:48them all the best. I have to say as I have been asked about a number of
1:17:48 > 1:17:52other bids from cities around the United Kingdom I am sure all of
1:17:52 > 1:17:57those cities bidding have good cases to be recognised.
1:17:57 > 1:18:02Thank you. Order.
1:18:08 > 1:18:14The Prime Minister appeared in PMQs today with her back to the wall it
1:18:14 > 1:18:17given her failure to come to a deal in Brussels on the uncertainty of
1:18:17 > 1:18:22what she does next, given the DUP's stumbling block, so it was a time
1:18:22 > 1:18:28for some forensic questioning, to try and ascertain what was going on
1:18:28 > 1:18:34in what is somewhat of a crisis for the British government. But we got a
1:18:34 > 1:18:37series of short speeches rather than questions, a couple of which didn't
1:18:37 > 1:18:43end in any kind of question at all, and in a way the Prime Minister
1:18:43 > 1:18:47probably got off the hook as a result. We didn't learn anything new
1:18:47 > 1:18:53about where we go from here, did we? Not really. As you said, this was a
1:18:53 > 1:18:55huge opportunity, Theresa May has had a very difficult few days but
1:18:55 > 1:18:59there was more heat than light for both of them. It wasn't either of
1:18:59 > 1:19:03the finest hours there were lots of opportunities for Jeremy Corbyn to
1:19:03 > 1:19:08ask exactly who had known what about the deal at exactly what point, what
1:19:08 > 1:19:18precisely her
1:19:27 > 1:19:29plans for the Irish border, what exactly had she said to Arlene
1:19:29 > 1:19:32Foster on the phone when that phone call happened finally this morning
1:19:32 > 1:19:34but we didn't get any of those places. For me, what was harder for
1:19:34 > 1:19:37the Prime Minister in a way is what is a coordinated effort from some of
1:19:37 > 1:19:40the Brexit is in the Tory party. Jacob Rees-Mogg and Peter Bone
1:19:40 > 1:19:42asking pointed questions of her after Iain Duncan Smith turned up
1:19:42 > 1:19:45the ante on her promises last night. I think she would have been more
1:19:45 > 1:19:47worried about that than what she was getting from the Labour Party today.
1:19:47 > 1:19:50What did you learn that you didn't know?I think the Prime Minister did
1:19:50 > 1:19:53extremely well. You are right, it's been a difficult couple of days but
1:19:53 > 1:19:55she performed really well, was clearly on top of the brief, got out
1:19:55 > 1:19:57some key things on government announcements, on things like
1:19:57 > 1:20:09phonics and so on, which is an important issue.
1:20:18 > 1:20:20I'm talking about the big issue of our times, the Brexit negotiations,
1:20:20 > 1:20:23what did we learn that you didn't know?That we are confident of
1:20:23 > 1:20:26getting a good deal next week and moving on to the next phase of the
1:20:26 > 1:20:29negotiations. That is what I think we have learned.How will that be
1:20:29 > 1:20:31done?It's still being talked about at the moment, but I think we will
1:20:31 > 1:20:34get there because it strongly on both sides addressed are there to be
1:20:34 > 1:20:37a deal.The problem isn't on the European side, they were ready to
1:20:37 > 1:20:39sign, the problem is your side.Is ongoing process. I think that we
1:20:39 > 1:20:41will get there and the Prime Minister today defended her position
1:20:41 > 1:20:45well.What is the Prime Minister's position? On this situation of
1:20:45 > 1:20:50Northern Ireland?That they're not be a border with physical
1:20:50 > 1:20:53infrastructure, that is what she laid at Lancaster House.What price
1:20:53 > 1:20:58will she for that? Room at the price she is going to pay for that? The
1:20:58 > 1:21:04overall agreement, that will beone of the three things in the first
1:21:04 > 1:21:06phase of the talks, getting island rights, citizens rights and the
1:21:06 > 1:21:11money right before but itwhat price as she prepared to pay? We know what
1:21:11 > 1:21:15price the Irish government and the rest of the EU is prepared to pay.
1:21:15 > 1:21:19At one stage it looked like Mrs May was prepared to pay that, until the
1:21:19 > 1:21:23DUP stopped her. If she can't do that, what other prices she prepared
1:21:23 > 1:21:28to pay? That's what stopping her moving on to face two.We will see
1:21:28 > 1:21:33how we get onto two. I'm confident there is time available and we will
1:21:33 > 1:21:36get there and look forward to those trade talks.
1:21:39 > 1:21:42This is one of the answered questions, the EU has been trying
1:21:42 > 1:21:46hard to get this done before the summit because the EU next week at
1:21:46 > 1:21:50the summit wants to talk about things like Xi Jinping and's reform
1:21:50 > 1:21:55programme, they don't want the summit next week to be all about the
1:21:55 > 1:22:02UK. -- talk about things like President Macron's reform programme.
1:22:02 > 1:22:05It will be a huge pressure on Theresa May if they can't get it
1:22:05 > 1:22:08done before Christmas, but that doesn't mean somehow it is all over.
1:22:08 > 1:22:14In theory, they could move on and carry all this on until March again,
1:22:14 > 1:22:18but she will come under enormous pressure from Brexiteers to walk
1:22:18 > 1:22:21away if it's not achieved next week. There is pressure from all sides on
1:22:21 > 1:22:28her.What did you make of it?The Brexit and Northern Irish issue was
1:22:28 > 1:22:33a shambles and 11 o'clock it still is. I'd be curious to know if Arlene
1:22:33 > 1:22:37Foster picked up the phone or if it was an answer service.She did pick
1:22:37 > 1:22:41up the phone, we are told.What we don't know is what happened stopped
1:22:41 > 1:22:45and I know, and Jeremy Corbyn didn't ask what she said to her so we don't
1:22:45 > 1:22:50know that.Interesting questions on the Jerusalem issue, I'd thought
1:22:50 > 1:22:53that was good it was raised and it was good to get that out in the
1:22:53 > 1:22:57Commons. Interesting to see what the Prime Minister had to say about that
1:22:57 > 1:23:01and that will develop quite clearly and quite rightly so.
1:23:01 > 1:23:05Back to Central Lobby in the Commons. A former Brexit
1:23:05 > 1:23:07administered David Jones joins us. Thank you for coming out of the
1:23:07 > 1:23:13chamber to speak to us. Jacob Rees-Mogg said he thought the Prime
1:23:13 > 1:23:17Minister's red lines were looking a bit pink, what do you say?I think
1:23:17 > 1:23:20she actually made them a lot clearer during this particular session. I
1:23:20 > 1:23:24think that the most important question on that front was the
1:23:24 > 1:23:29question from the DUP's Jim Shannon, who asked for all sorts of
1:23:29 > 1:23:33reassurances about maintaining the constitutional and economic
1:23:33 > 1:23:36integrity of the UK and she was unequivocal in her answer and gave
1:23:36 > 1:23:40him total reassurance.Are you saying then that contrary to the
1:23:40 > 1:23:44deal she was about to sign earlier this week, that there won't be a
1:23:44 > 1:23:50separate regulatory alignment for Northern Ireland? In any deal?I
1:23:50 > 1:23:54think that was what Jim was trying to get out. I think he's seemed
1:23:54 > 1:23:58reassured. I looked at him as she was answering his question. But, of
1:23:58 > 1:24:02course, we know there have been discussions today with Arlene
1:24:02 > 1:24:06Foster. I hope we will get a lot more clarity in the course of the
1:24:06 > 1:24:08next few hours.I think what the Prime Minister says is more
1:24:08 > 1:24:15important than how DUP MP looks. So did the Prime Minister, in your
1:24:15 > 1:24:20view, say the idea of the separate regulatory arrangement for Northern
1:24:20 > 1:24:24Ireland is a dead duck, is that your view?That was the impression that I
1:24:24 > 1:24:27got. The impression I did not get is there might not be regulatory
1:24:27 > 1:24:32alignment for the whole of the UK. With the European Union. That is
1:24:32 > 1:24:35what people on my side of the House are going to be looking for before
1:24:35 > 1:24:39she goes back to Brussels.What if the Government was to take the
1:24:39 > 1:24:46position that where ever regulatory alignment is agreed for Northern
1:24:46 > 1:24:50Ireland would be applied to all of the UK, what would you say to that?
1:24:50 > 1:24:53As I said, that is the concern. I think what we need to do is to make
1:24:53 > 1:24:57sure that we can strike free trade agreements around the world after we
1:24:57 > 1:25:03have left the EU. And being tied to an EU regulatory system would cause
1:25:03 > 1:25:07problems. So that is I think where we need the clarity.Why do you
1:25:07 > 1:25:12think the Prime Minister got herself in a position when she was willing
1:25:12 > 1:25:17to sign an agreement that involved regulatory alignment?I can only
1:25:17 > 1:25:21imagine that was advice she had received. I think once she had the
1:25:21 > 1:25:25telephone call with Arlene Foster, she clearly thought it was necessary
1:25:25 > 1:25:30to review about advice.Is it not remarkable, given the importance of
1:25:30 > 1:25:35the DUP to this minority government's survival, that she
1:25:35 > 1:25:39hadn't squared the DUP in the first place before going down this route?
1:25:39 > 1:25:43I think it is important in deep to keep in close touch with the DUP,
1:25:43 > 1:25:45particularly when we're talking about arrangements for Northern
1:25:45 > 1:25:49Ireland.Which clearly didn't happen otherwise she wouldn't have had to
1:25:49 > 1:25:54come out of the lunch?Clearly not sufficient clarity was imparted to
1:25:54 > 1:25:59the DUP.Why would your government do that? Why would you get into such
1:25:59 > 1:26:03a pickle?That is a very good question, but afraid and it is above
1:26:03 > 1:26:09my pay grade to answer that one.But it is. -- it does not engender
1:26:09 > 1:26:12confidence in this government's competence to handle these
1:26:12 > 1:26:15negotiations if they get something so fundamental wrong. People saying
1:26:15 > 1:26:20we can solve this to the DUP, we can do this, it tells up -- turns out
1:26:20 > 1:26:23you couldn't sell it and today we don't know where we stand on this
1:26:23 > 1:26:27issue.I think it's clearly been a difficult couple of days for the
1:26:27 > 1:26:30Prime Minister and those advising her, but nevertheless it is clear
1:26:30 > 1:26:34that she has now started further conversations with Arlene Foster and
1:26:34 > 1:26:37we have to hope they are going to be good, positive discussions that will
1:26:37 > 1:26:41take this on to the next stage. David Jones, thank you for joining
1:26:41 > 1:26:47us, live from the Central Lobby. Is there any joy in narrowing down
1:26:47 > 1:26:53the regulatory alignment to things that are important things,
1:26:53 > 1:26:55specifically covered in the Good Friday Agreement, like energy,
1:26:55 > 1:27:01there's an energy market in the island of Ireland, and agriculture,
1:27:01 > 1:27:04because things can go back and forward across the North-South
1:27:04 > 1:27:09border which is more difficult if you sent agricultural produce from
1:27:09 > 1:27:14Belfast to Stranraer, it's a tougher block to do that.That's right. The
1:27:14 > 1:27:17difficulty is the DUP is now looking for something bigger than that. They
1:27:17 > 1:27:20are not just looking for the odd specific word but a different kind
1:27:20 > 1:27:24of approach. As far as they say, and everyone is managing expectations
1:27:24 > 1:27:28and spinning on both sides, but as far as they say, they believe the
1:27:28 > 1:27:32draft document was just put together basically upside down, because it
1:27:32 > 1:27:35was saying, as we were saying to start with, Northern Ireland and
1:27:35 > 1:27:41Dublin can get closer and closer and somehow separate to the UK. What
1:27:41 > 1:27:44they want is something that presents the whole of the UK with here are a
1:27:44 > 1:27:48few exceptions.Never saw this with Scotland and Wales as well?This is
1:27:48 > 1:27:54one of the things. As we saw Monday, as soon as they lifted the left of
1:27:54 > 1:27:58Pandora's box, suddenly all of these problems spewing out of it. The hope
1:27:58 > 1:28:02for the Government was this is sorted in phase two. The
1:28:02 > 1:28:05Government's answer was budget now and worry about it later but they
1:28:05 > 1:28:09have been found out on that.Unless something happens, you would need to
1:28:09 > 1:28:15get the Eurostar!Who knows...You will properly get an annual pass
1:28:15 > 1:28:18now, you have to go back so often!
1:28:18 > 1:28:21There's just time to put you out of your misery and give
1:28:21 > 1:28:23you the answer to Guess The Year.
1:28:23 > 1:28:24The year was 1962.
1:28:24 > 1:28:27The button is there, give it a bash. There we go.
1:28:27 > 1:28:28And the winner is...
1:28:28 > 1:28:32Frank Sheppard from Wisbech.
1:28:32 > 1:28:39The monkeys yours. -- the mug is yours.
1:28:39 > 1:28:42That's all for today.
1:28:42 > 1:28:44No answers from PMQs.
1:28:44 > 1:28:46The One O'Clock News is starting over on BBC One now.
1:28:46 > 1:28:49Jo will be here at noon tomorrow with all the big political stories
1:28:49 > 1:28:52of the day - do join us if you can.
1:28:52 > 1:28:53Bye-bye.