20/12/2017

0:00:37 > 0:00:41Morning folks - welcome to the Daily Politics.

0:00:41 > 0:00:43Economic forecasters at the International Monetary Fund

0:00:43 > 0:00:48downgrade UK economic growth - but is it the squeeze on incomes

0:00:48 > 0:00:50and higher inflation that will really make people feel

0:00:50 > 0:01:00the pinch this Christmas?

0:01:04 > 0:01:06UK's chief negotiator says the eventual deal must be along the same

0:01:06 > 0:01:11lines that the UK has already done and any transition deal must be over

0:01:11 > 0:01:14by 2020.

0:01:14 > 0:01:15What does that all mean?

0:01:15 > 0:01:16We'll play Brexit Top Trumps.

0:01:16 > 0:01:19Theresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions

0:01:19 > 0:01:20for the last time this year.

0:01:20 > 0:01:25Will they be full of Christmas cheer or more "bah humbug"?

0:01:25 > 0:01:27And they're often less about Christmas and more

0:01:27 > 0:01:30about the egos of the politicians that send them.

0:01:30 > 0:01:32We'll look at the Christmas cards gracing politicos' mantelpieces

0:01:32 > 0:01:42this Yuletide season.

0:01:44 > 0:01:52All that in the next 90 minutes and helping me to deliver this

0:01:52 > 0:01:54festive political treat for you, the Dasher and Prancer

0:01:54 > 0:02:01of the Westminster reindeer stables.

0:02:01 > 0:02:03Shadow Health Minister, Justin Madders and Industry

0:02:03 > 0:02:04and Climate Change Minister - Claire Perry.

0:02:04 > 0:02:08Welcome to the programme.

0:02:08 > 0:02:12Good morning. Happy Christmas.Thank you.

0:02:12 > 0:02:14First today, the International Monetary Fund predicted that

0:02:14 > 0:02:18a Brexit vote would hit the UK economy.

0:02:18 > 0:02:24Today they came to London to deliver their verdict for 2017,

0:02:24 > 0:02:26and their forecasts for the years ahead, as Britain extricates itself

0:02:26 > 0:02:31from the European Union.

0:02:31 > 0:02:33Here's what the organisation's Managing Director,

0:02:33 > 0:02:35Christine Lagarde, had to say at the Treasury earlier this morning.

0:02:35 > 0:02:38Now in this country, the United Kingdom,

0:02:38 > 0:02:42since the start of this year growth has slowed notably.

0:02:42 > 0:02:45The significant depreciation of sterling that followed

0:02:45 > 0:02:51the referendum has pushed inflation over 3%, squeezing real incomes

0:02:51 > 0:02:55and private consumption.

0:02:55 > 0:03:01Companies are also delaying some investment decisions until they have

0:03:01 > 0:03:07greater clarity about post-Brexit trade rules in particular.

0:03:07 > 0:03:13Our forecast for growth in 2017, this year, is 1.6%,

0:03:13 > 0:03:22down from 1.8% in 2016.

0:03:22 > 0:03:27So, that is the boss of the IMF in London at the Treasury there to

0:03:27 > 0:03:31deliver her verdict on the economy this year, and what might happen

0:03:31 > 0:03:35next year. So, Claire Perry, another major economic forecaster, another

0:03:35 > 0:03:40growth downgrade for the British economy.That is true and I don't

0:03:40 > 0:03:44think anyone is surprised, because we always knew that the headwinds of

0:03:44 > 0:03:48inflation, the adjustment that we have seen, would be a bit of a drag

0:03:48 > 0:03:56on the original forecast, but I am focused on things like the Forbes

0:03:56 > 0:03:59survey which yesterday said Britain was the best place in the world to

0:03:59 > 0:04:02do business. The very first time we have achieved that rank. I have

0:04:02 > 0:04:07looked at the data. Business confidence is still strong. That is

0:04:07 > 0:04:10why we have to get through this period of uncertainty and get a deal

0:04:10 > 0:04:16with Europe as quickly as possible. But why is Britain now in the slow

0:04:16 > 0:04:22lane of growth?We have had concerned and people feeling nervous

0:04:22 > 0:04:28about the future, consumption is slowing down. We have seen inflation

0:04:28 > 0:04:33picking up.Are we in the slow lane because of Brexit?I think growth

0:04:33 > 0:04:37has slowed because of the period of uncertainty around our exit from the

0:04:37 > 0:04:41EU which we thought would happen. But what is striking is if you did

0:04:41 > 0:04:45behind this in terms of the fundamentals, we have a really

0:04:45 > 0:04:49strong economy, we will get through this period of uncertainty and we

0:04:49 > 0:04:56will power ahead.Do you believe the IMF forecast?I believe it more than

0:04:56 > 0:05:01the Chancellor's forecast.The Chancellor does not make forecasts.

0:05:01 > 0:05:11He tries to put a gloss on it.Does the same as the offers the budget

0:05:11 > 0:05:14responsibility forecast.We are all heading in the same direction which

0:05:14 > 0:05:18is downwards. I think the main point is that the IMF has said we need to

0:05:18 > 0:05:23see clarity moving forward to make those businesses feel confident, to

0:05:23 > 0:05:27make the investment decisions which is why we need this transition deal

0:05:27 > 0:05:33as soon as possible.The IMF told us before the referendum in summer

0:05:33 > 0:05:392016, that if we voted to leave, there would be a major slowdown in

0:05:39 > 0:05:44growth, and immediate slowdown in growth of several percentage points.

0:05:44 > 0:05:49It was wrong, wasn't it?Yes, I think that is indisputable.So why

0:05:49 > 0:05:54should it be right about next year when it says we should be in slow

0:05:54 > 0:05:57growth as well?It is the best information we have at the moment.

0:05:57 > 0:06:03You can listen to what businesses are saying. Vauxhall is in my

0:06:03 > 0:06:07constituency, PSA, the group that only say they are not in a position

0:06:07 > 0:06:12to make decisions about investment. What about the Forbes magazine study

0:06:12 > 0:06:16which is a global study saying Britain will be the best place to do

0:06:16 > 0:06:21business in the world next year. That might be next year.We're

0:06:21 > 0:06:27almost there.What happens after that...If we were even sure what

0:06:27 > 0:06:33was happening next year we could take some comfort!Don't think

0:06:33 > 0:06:36anyone can make predictions.I don't believe experts often but I think

0:06:36 > 0:06:39what was good about the post Brexit referendum is we had a major

0:06:39 > 0:06:46investment from the Bank of England who pumped millions into the

0:06:46 > 0:06:50economy. We have the business fundamentals in place next day we

0:06:50 > 0:06:55will have the royal wedding.So the royal wedding will come to aid?That

0:06:55 > 0:07:02is nothing to with politics.Cabins on the same day as the FA Cup,

0:07:02 > 0:07:09people may not notice.That is two good things to celebrate, cheer up.

0:07:09 > 0:07:12We know from talking in our department we have to get the shape

0:07:12 > 0:07:16of the deal, we have to get on with it, and thank goodness we had the

0:07:16 > 0:07:20breakthrough we needed in the last few days from the Prime Minister.

0:07:20 > 0:07:27You said that the fundamentals of the economy were strong.Yes.They

0:07:27 > 0:07:31are not strong if you are poor in this country?I completely disagree

0:07:31 > 0:07:36with you.Have you seen the latest ONS figures on living standards.

0:07:36 > 0:07:42Have you seen them?I have. In terms of the fact wages are below where

0:07:42 > 0:07:46they were.That is not what the latest one says. The latest ones

0:07:46 > 0:07:51tell you that if you are a household in the lowest income bracket, you're

0:07:51 > 0:07:55living standard has suffered more than any other, if you are in the

0:07:55 > 0:08:00lowest. The people that need the most help are actually the ones

0:08:00 > 0:08:04suffering most, because of how you spend your money. You spend more on

0:08:04 > 0:08:09food, you spend more on energy if you're in a poor household, as a

0:08:09 > 0:08:16percentage of your income. You have seen a 36% in prices over the past

0:08:16 > 0:08:20six or seven years.And that is why the relentless focus on helping

0:08:20 > 0:08:27people, the National Living Wage, which I think has been a major

0:08:27 > 0:08:31increase for incomes, freezing fuel duty, delivering free childcare, we

0:08:31 > 0:08:36have to keep making sure that as we move forward...So the more you look

0:08:36 > 0:08:41at them, the poorer you get.The more you create highly paid jobs

0:08:41 > 0:08:45like the ones in the car plants and Justin's constituency, the more you

0:08:45 > 0:08:48get people who have been languishing on incomes which have been too low

0:08:48 > 0:08:54for a long time. You have to fix the fundamentals of the economy.But you

0:08:54 > 0:08:58have been in power since 2010, and the figures show if you're in the

0:08:58 > 0:09:01lowest bracket of income, as a household, you have suffered more

0:09:01 > 0:09:09than anyone other bracket. When will the poorest begin to feel any

0:09:09 > 0:09:16relief? For ten years now, prices of things they buy have been rising

0:09:16 > 0:09:20much more quickly than their incomes, despite the Living Wage,

0:09:20 > 0:09:26despite taking people out of tax. When can they expect relief?Two

0:09:26 > 0:09:30things, first of all, when we came into office in 2010 we were dealing

0:09:30 > 0:09:34with the biggest financial crisis we had seen in peace time. We had a

0:09:34 > 0:09:40deficit which was the biggest in the developed world.Mr Osborne said we

0:09:40 > 0:09:44were all in it together. But it turns out it is the poorest who are

0:09:44 > 0:09:48in it most of all.We have had to pay off that deficit which is now

0:09:48 > 0:09:52down by more than two thirds. We have worked on protecting those on

0:09:52 > 0:09:56the lowest income. We have taken 3 million people out of tax

0:09:56 > 0:10:01completely.But overall they are worse off.And this is why there is

0:10:01 > 0:10:15more to do. This is why the whole industrial strategy is important. We

0:10:15 > 0:10:17have to keep investing in a highly productive industries, creating jobs

0:10:17 > 0:10:20across the UK, not just in London and the south-east.What would

0:10:20 > 0:10:23Labour do to help the plight of the poor?We would raise the minimum

0:10:23 > 0:10:28wage to £10 an hour.It will be about £9 50.We are almost there.We

0:10:28 > 0:10:35are inching their berries slowly at the moment. We would reverse some of

0:10:35 > 0:10:39the benefit cuts.All you can offer is a marginal rise in the Living

0:10:39 > 0:10:44Wage. Some will not even beyond the Living Wage.What we have to look at

0:10:44 > 0:10:49is the overall picture which the government is facing, which is

0:10:49 > 0:10:54another decade of work stagnation. Too much employment at the moment is

0:10:54 > 0:10:57based in insecure low-paid part-time employment which is why so many

0:10:57 > 0:11:01people are struggling. We need to get out of that cycle and create

0:11:01 > 0:11:08high-paid sustainable jobs.Exactly. This is why the industrial strategy,

0:11:08 > 0:11:11the biggest increases in businesses like Justin's for generations, this

0:11:11 > 0:11:15is how you give people long-term route out of low income.Very well,

0:11:15 > 0:11:20I'm sure the poor will be reassured by both of you.

0:11:20 > 0:11:22Yesterday's meeting of the full Cabinet saw 25 ministers weigh

0:11:22 > 0:11:25in on the end state of Britain's relationship with the EU.

0:11:25 > 0:11:29I bet you wish you were there, me too!

0:11:29 > 0:11:32But with a renewed warning this week from the EU Chief Brexit Negotiator

0:11:32 > 0:11:35Michel Barnier that the UK couldn't have a "bespoke deal" after Brexit,

0:11:35 > 0:11:38it hasn't become much clearer how things will look at the end

0:11:38 > 0:11:39of the process.

0:11:39 > 0:11:42Today he said that the EU is aiming for any transition deal to end

0:11:42 > 0:11:48before December 31st, 2020 - less than two years

0:11:48 > 0:11:54after the official day of the UK's departure.

0:11:54 > 0:11:56So what exactly are the current models - and what does

0:11:56 > 0:11:59the British government want?

0:11:59 > 0:12:03Here's Ellie to explain.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05The "hardest" or "cleanest" break would be

0:12:05 > 0:12:07no free trade deal with the EU.

0:12:07 > 0:12:09The UK would trade under World Trade Organisation rules

0:12:09 > 0:12:13and tariffs could be imposed on exports to the EU.

0:12:13 > 0:12:15The UK would be outside the Single Market, outside

0:12:15 > 0:12:19the Customs Union, end freedom of movement, pay no ongoing EU

0:12:19 > 0:12:22contributions and be free to make its own free trade deals

0:12:22 > 0:12:25with other countries.

0:12:25 > 0:12:28A situation similar to Turkey would see the UK outside the Single Market

0:12:28 > 0:12:32but in a Customs Union with the EU in some sectors - although there'd

0:12:32 > 0:12:35be no payments and no free movement.

0:12:35 > 0:12:37Switzerland is outside the Customs Union

0:12:37 > 0:12:41and most of the Single Market - but pays some money into the EU,

0:12:41 > 0:12:43accepts free movement, and accepts EU standards across

0:12:43 > 0:12:47more than 100 bilateral deals.

0:12:47 > 0:12:50The much-talked-about Norway model would see the UK as a member

0:12:50 > 0:12:54of the EEA: accepting all four freedoms of the EU Single Market

0:12:54 > 0:12:58but outside the Customs Union.

0:12:58 > 0:13:00The Canada-EU deal - also known as CETA -

0:13:00 > 0:13:01was long in the making.

0:13:01 > 0:13:05It's considered an example for the UK as it significantly

0:13:05 > 0:13:08reduces tariffs and some non-tariff barriers while not obliging

0:13:08 > 0:13:11Canada to be a member of the Single Market

0:13:11 > 0:13:15or Customs Union, accept free movement, or pay in to the Budget.

0:13:15 > 0:13:18But crucially the Canada deal doesn't make it easy to trade

0:13:18 > 0:13:19in financial services - a major component

0:13:19 > 0:13:22of the British economy.

0:13:22 > 0:13:25That's why the British government has continued to insist

0:13:25 > 0:13:28on a new "deep and special partnership", reflecting the nature

0:13:28 > 0:13:30of the UK's economy and the fact it's starting in alignment

0:13:30 > 0:13:35with EU regulations.

0:13:35 > 0:13:37David Davis labelled such a model "Canada plus plus plus" -

0:13:37 > 0:13:40but the viability of that option won't be clear before

0:13:40 > 0:13:50leaders of the EU27 decide on their opening position in March.

0:13:50 > 0:13:54This morning Michel Barnier has been speaking and he said the red lines

0:13:54 > 0:13:59would take on a roughly familiar shape.TRANSLATION: All of these

0:13:59 > 0:14:02different models strike a balance between benefits and obligations

0:14:02 > 0:14:14will stop and cross checking back with the United Kingdom's own red

0:14:14 > 0:14:18lines, then, logically, for the economic side of our partnership, we

0:14:18 > 0:14:24will be working on the basis of free trade agreement. Along the same

0:14:24 > 0:14:29lines as what we negotiated and signed most recently with Canada,

0:14:29 > 0:14:37also South Korea. And Japan, even more recently.That is Michel

0:14:37 > 0:14:41Barnier. We will hear a lot more from him next year when staged to

0:14:41 > 0:14:46negotiations get going. We are now joined by man we hear from all the

0:14:46 > 0:14:50time these days, we sent him to Brussels that he is never off our

0:14:50 > 0:14:57screens, Adam Fleming! Good to see you there. It would seem what Mr

0:14:57 > 0:15:02Barnier is saying that it is a free trade deal we are looking at. There

0:15:02 > 0:15:06is going to be an argument over what kind of free trade deal but it is a

0:15:06 > 0:15:12free trade deal?

0:15:12 > 0:15:15Yes, Michel Barnier has said this in the last six weeks, he has been

0:15:15 > 0:15:20going on and on about it.If you take the UK's Red Line, his various,

0:15:20 > 0:15:27no membership of the customs union or in the European Court of Justice

0:15:27 > 0:15:30after the transition period, that can add up to the best that the UK

0:15:30 > 0:15:35is given by the EU, along the lines of the FTA, signed with Canada,

0:15:35 > 0:15:40South Korea and Japan. The way that he sums it up, as you heard in the

0:15:40 > 0:15:43clip, is that it is about the balance between obligations and

0:15:43 > 0:15:47benefits. If you do not take the obligation of free movement of

0:15:47 > 0:15:52people it limits the benefits the EU will offer you in return. That's the

0:15:52 > 0:15:56reasoning behind a slide, a PowerPoint slide, that Michel

0:15:56 > 0:15:59Barnier has shown, showing the different models you get, with the

0:15:59 > 0:16:03EU up here, the free trade deal done here. Everything else in the middle,

0:16:03 > 0:16:12and how it means the Red Lines and the UK cannot have that.I did think

0:16:12 > 0:16:16that PowerPoint was confusing. I am more confused as to why Michel

0:16:16 > 0:16:20Barnier continues to repeat himself and lay out this kind of bargaining

0:16:20 > 0:16:27position. Correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is the Council

0:16:27 > 0:16:30of Europe, were representing all heads of state of the other 27,

0:16:30 > 0:16:32hasn't yet

0:16:35 > 0:16:38given him his marching orders?The timing is that the European leaders

0:16:38 > 0:16:45did their second set of guidelines, they issued those last Friday, the

0:16:45 > 0:16:48document Michel Barnier was launching today was the more

0:16:48 > 0:16:51detailed version of the negotiations, that will be approved

0:16:51 > 0:16:56by ministers at the end of January next year, so the detailed

0:16:56 > 0:16:58face-to-face talks with David Davis and his team is in transition, they

0:16:58 > 0:17:03can start at the end of January or the beginning of the brave. What the

0:17:03 > 0:17:06EU wants is Theresa May and Cabinet colleagues to have a discussion and

0:17:06 > 0:17:11set out more detail about the shape of the future relationship after

0:17:11 > 0:17:162019, after the transition period. Only in March will EU leaders, at

0:17:16 > 0:17:20their next big summit, publish another set of guidelines, another

0:17:20 > 0:17:24document, which will be Michel Barnier's more detailed orders for

0:17:24 > 0:17:28negotiating the shape of the relationship. Michel Barnier did say

0:17:28 > 0:17:33about all of that that at the end of this on Brexit day in 2019, there

0:17:33 > 0:17:37will be a big withdrawal agreement, a treaty with a political agreement

0:17:37 > 0:17:41attached which will talk about the shape of the future relationship,

0:17:41 > 0:17:47the framework and the jargon, on trade and economic matters but also

0:17:47 > 0:17:51cooperation, security, defence, foreign policy, aviation and other

0:17:51 > 0:17:54bilateral areas. He was saying that yet again, the final free trade

0:17:54 > 0:17:58agreement, whatever that ends up looking like, when of these

0:17:58 > 0:18:02discussions have been had, that will come at the end of the transition

0:18:02 > 0:18:07period. The best the British government can get with the Article

0:18:07 > 0:18:1152-mac is a Brexit negotiations, is a political declaration about

0:18:11 > 0:18:15roughly what the future will look like.Sounds like there's plenty to

0:18:15 > 0:18:19keep you busy in the New Year! We hope you have a good break over

0:18:19 > 0:18:24Christmas. Adam Fleming joining as there. We hoped to speak to someone

0:18:24 > 0:18:28from the European Parliament to get more they stay on what Michel

0:18:28 > 0:18:31Barnier was saying from their perspective but at the last minute

0:18:31 > 0:18:36we have been let down, not by our two guests. What do you think,

0:18:36 > 0:18:39Claire Perry, of Michel Barnier saying that the British will not get

0:18:39 > 0:18:44a Bairstow trade deal?I think he's doing what the EU team has always

0:18:44 > 0:18:47done, getting out and having highly publicised statements about what

0:18:47 > 0:18:53they think is the right negotiating position to start from. We saw with

0:18:53 > 0:18:56that deal, the shape of the breakthrough arguments and the deals

0:18:56 > 0:19:00we had last week, we end up in a different place and I think Adam's

0:19:00 > 0:19:05point is right. Andrew, you made the point that the power of national

0:19:05 > 0:19:10parliament really begins to bear now. With things like the auto

0:19:10 > 0:19:13industry, there are huge interests in certain countries, in making sure

0:19:13 > 0:19:17we have the closest possible trade alignment. I think the strategy of

0:19:17 > 0:19:23coming together as the position government, this point of maximum

0:19:23 > 0:19:27alignment in 2019, and the control diverging, that is the right one but

0:19:27 > 0:19:31it is all out for negotiation which is why it is going to be an

0:19:31 > 0:19:37interesting new next -- an interesting year next year.Japan

0:19:37 > 0:19:43has a Bairstow trade deal, and Canada has just secured a bespoke

0:19:43 > 0:19:50trade deal. South Korea has a bespoke trade deal. Why won't

0:19:50 > 0:19:54Brussels give their single biggest trading partner a bespoke trade

0:19:54 > 0:20:00deal, with whom it runs a massive service?You have got to hope that

0:20:00 > 0:20:03that is where we will end up but what we are seeing at the moment is

0:20:03 > 0:20:07a sense of frustration from the EU that all we are hearing from the UK

0:20:07 > 0:20:10is what they don't want and not what they do want. To me it is

0:20:10 > 0:20:14astonishing that it was only yesterday six months after the

0:20:14 > 0:20:16election that cabinet sat and discussed for the first time what

0:20:16 > 0:20:20the vision should be for when we leave the EU. We need to get that

0:20:20 > 0:20:26sorted before we move on with these negotiations.When will we get the

0:20:26 > 0:20:31government's position?We have had it all along, we had the Lancaster

0:20:31 > 0:20:35speech, the first shape of the deal, there is a chicken and egg. Until

0:20:35 > 0:20:38you've agreed, all of these conversations have gone on for

0:20:38 > 0:20:41months and I cannot believe the shape of the trade deal has not

0:20:41 > 0:20:46influenced to some conversations, it is a game of moving forward. The EU

0:20:46 > 0:20:51says that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.Sure, but we

0:20:51 > 0:20:55are about to enter this part of the negotiations where we discuss our

0:20:55 > 0:20:59future relationship with the EU and that will include many things. Above

0:20:59 > 0:21:07all, it will include trade. Trade in goods and services. In what way does

0:21:07 > 0:21:14the government want it to death from the existing arrangements for trade

0:21:14 > 0:21:18and services?We want to have the deepest possible relationship while

0:21:18 > 0:21:21not being part of the single market because we cannot sign up to the

0:21:21 > 0:21:28free movement of labour and the jurisdiction of the ECJ. This

0:21:28 > 0:21:33becomes a negotiation.What sort of things?There are sectors, like the

0:21:33 > 0:21:38auto sector and the chemical sector, there is a strong desire from

0:21:38 > 0:21:42industry, from very strong regulatory alignments and other

0:21:42 > 0:21:49sectors...You mentioned diverging, will we diverged from the EU over

0:21:49 > 0:21:56time, or are we going to shadow yet? Again, to me, that's a decision for

0:21:56 > 0:22:01the Cabinet and for negotiations. If we want to do better in agriculture,

0:22:01 > 0:22:05if we want an agricultural support system in the UK that is more for

0:22:05 > 0:22:10the environment, for example, increasing support for family and

0:22:10 > 0:22:15mixed farms, we need to diverged from the EU in order to deliver

0:22:15 > 0:22:21that. It seems to me to be a legitimate point of discussion.But

0:22:21 > 0:22:25is the government position basically that on trade and services, we want

0:22:25 > 0:22:30things to stay as they are?The point is we start from a position of

0:22:30 > 0:22:34convergence, which is great. It is easy to negotiate.And working out

0:22:34 > 0:22:38what it is you will give up to get out of the obligations of free

0:22:38 > 0:22:46movement in the European Court.That is part of the negotiations.What is

0:22:46 > 0:22:50the government position?There are sectors where that is important for

0:22:50 > 0:22:53us to maintain that, because of the importance of the cross-border trade

0:22:53 > 0:22:59and the supply trade that supports Justin's constituency. There are

0:22:59 > 0:23:02other free trade opportunities that are more attractive and the whole

0:23:02 > 0:23:05point of doing this is so that we can preserve as much as possible

0:23:05 > 0:23:09that relationship and still have the freedom to do other trade deals.

0:23:09 > 0:23:16That's the situation that and South Korea and Japan are in.Actually,

0:23:16 > 0:23:22they are all in different positions. They are in this boat positions.

0:23:22 > 0:23:30That was the point I had made -- bespoke positions. If Michel Barnier

0:23:30 > 0:23:38is saying that, what hope does Labour have of keeping members in

0:23:38 > 0:23:42the customs union, I understand that is your policy. He will not agree to

0:23:42 > 0:23:48that. Our vision is everyone having access... But everybody has access,

0:23:48 > 0:23:54even North Korea!It's about unfettered access without barriers.

0:23:54 > 0:23:59You cannot have that unless you meet the conditions of membership.That's

0:23:59 > 0:24:03why we need a bespoke deal and to get on with negotiations. We need to

0:24:03 > 0:24:09give clarity.Party would be great from anybody these days. I would

0:24:09 > 0:24:13like to have that from Labour or the Conservatives.That's not fair, two

0:24:13 > 0:24:17months ago we did not have clarity on the size of the divorce Bill.I

0:24:17 > 0:24:24am not talking about that.We have reached clarity.He will not give me

0:24:24 > 0:24:33clarity.We have been able to.Are there any tariffs? There is no

0:24:33 > 0:24:38clarity. Will services be included in the final deal?Is a massively

0:24:38 > 0:24:45important ask...That is not clarity.I'm not leading the

0:24:45 > 0:24:48negotiating team...Know but we are only a couple of weeks away from the

0:24:48 > 0:24:54New Year when it starts. Can you give any indication of any major

0:24:54 > 0:24:58European figure who is prepared to have us stay as members of the

0:24:58 > 0:25:02single market and as members of the customs union without meeting all of

0:25:02 > 0:25:05the obligations that go with that? Has anybody indicated that they

0:25:05 > 0:25:12would agree?It would be about having access, we want to ensure our

0:25:12 > 0:25:15industries and jobs are protected. So, we need favourable trading

0:25:15 > 0:25:21arrangements.Why don't you vote with us, Justin? We want the same

0:25:21 > 0:25:32thing!Lets not get into the process, we will leave it there for

0:25:32 > 0:25:39now. I don't think I'm going to get any further except!

0:25:39 > 0:25:41And for more reporting and analysis of Brexit,

0:25:41 > 0:25:43check out the BBC News website - that's bbc.co.uk/brexit.

0:25:43 > 0:25:51Particularly if it is a quiet time over Christmas!

0:25:51 > 0:25:53Now - eco-warrior Michael Gove launched another of his

0:25:53 > 0:25:55planet-friendly policies this week, by outlining plans to tackle

0:25:55 > 0:25:58the plastic waste which is polluting our land and sea.

0:25:58 > 0:26:02The Environment Secretary - and modern-day "Swampy" -

0:26:02 > 0:26:05wants to cut use of single-use plastic items, such as straws

0:26:05 > 0:26:11and take-away cups.

0:26:11 > 0:26:14So, imagine our surprise when, just two days after this announcement,

0:26:14 > 0:26:18he was spotted with this.

0:26:18 > 0:26:25Ooh! That is so unfair, it could be reusable. You cannot tell!

0:26:25 > 0:26:28A single-use non-recyclable plastic cup.

0:26:28 > 0:26:32Well, we are all guilty...

0:26:32 > 0:26:35Mr Gove was on his way to the crunch Brexit Cabinet meeting

0:26:35 > 0:26:37when he was caught carrying the offending item.

0:26:37 > 0:26:40Probably for the Chancellor with something in it...

0:26:40 > 0:26:43Well, we have some advice for the Environment Secretary -

0:26:43 > 0:26:45if he keeps his job after this monumental blunder that is.

0:26:45 > 0:26:48Next time, don't be caught out - instead use the planet-saving,

0:26:48 > 0:26:52re-usable, hypocrisy-busting Daily Politics mug.

0:26:52 > 0:26:56But - we don't just give them away - you'll have to win one first -

0:26:56 > 0:26:57to enter just tell us when this happened.

0:27:03 > 0:27:05# One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock rock

0:27:05 > 0:27:07# Five, six, seven o'clock, eight o'clock rock

0:27:07 > 0:27:10# Nine, ten, 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock rock

0:27:10 > 0:27:12# We're going to rock around the clock...#

0:27:12 > 0:27:14I've now left the House of Commons.

0:27:14 > 0:27:19After 33 years, it's rather a break.

0:27:19 > 0:27:28# You are everywhere, everywhere you're there...

0:27:28 > 0:27:35# Night and day you share with me.# everywhere you're there...

0:27:37 > 0:27:40# I know a dark secluded place

0:27:40 > 0:27:44# A place where no one knows your face

0:27:44 > 0:27:48# A glass of wine, a fast embrace

0:27:48 > 0:27:53# It's called Hernando's Hideaway. Ole!#

0:27:53 > 0:28:02# If you believe that there's a heaven,

0:28:02 > 0:28:06# You'll get to heaven there's a heaven,

0:28:06 > 0:28:12# If you believe.#

0:28:12 > 0:28:18# When an irresistible force, such as you

0:28:18 > 0:28:28# Meets an old immovable objects like me

0:28:28 > 0:28:31# You can bet as sure as you live...

0:28:31 > 0:28:33# Something's gotta give, something's gotta give

0:28:33 > 0:28:40# Something's got to give.#

0:28:40 > 0:28:44Some lovely old black and white footage there, including Clem Attlee

0:28:44 > 0:28:48and Winston Churchill. Both as Prime Minister.

0:28:48 > 0:28:51To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug,

0:28:51 > 0:28:54send your answer to our special quiz email address -

0:28:54 > 0:28:55that's dpquiz@bbc.co.uk.

0:28:55 > 0:28:58Entries must arrive by 12.30 today, and you can see the full terms

0:28:58 > 0:29:00and conditions for Guess The Year on our website - that's

0:29:00 > 0:29:01bbc.co.uk/dailypolitics.

0:29:01 > 0:29:09No conferring, you two!Neither of us were born!

0:29:09 > 0:29:10That's dpquiz@bbc.co.uk.

0:29:10 > 0:29:13Entries must arrive by 12.30 today, and you can see the full terms

0:29:13 > 0:29:15and conditions for Guess The Year on our website - that's

0:29:15 > 0:29:17bbc.co.uk/dailypolitics.

0:29:17 > 0:29:24It is coming up to midday, there is Big Ben. It's a gloomy day today.

0:29:24 > 0:29:28Prime Minister's Questions, the last of 2017. You don't want to miss

0:29:28 > 0:29:32that. Laura Kuenssberg is here. Laura, we were told that the Prime

0:29:32 > 0:29:36Minister would be gone by autumn. We were told she would be gone by

0:29:36 > 0:29:43Christmas but here she is, going into PMQs?George Osborne remembered

0:29:43 > 0:29:47that she was a dead woman walking, but she has confounded critics in

0:29:47 > 0:29:52the short-term and Number 10 might be allowing themselves a brief

0:29:52 > 0:29:55moment of some self-congratulation today, or at least relief! They've

0:29:55 > 0:30:00released a nice picture of her leaving Number 10 for the final

0:30:00 > 0:30:03Prime Minister's Questions... In black and white. It's a very

0:30:03 > 0:30:09glamorous picture. Given that they got the deal at the end of last week

0:30:09 > 0:30:12in Brussels, and given that they are getting their bill through two

0:30:12 > 0:30:17tonight, the government have coughed on the amendment of having a date.

0:30:17 > 0:30:24They do have a date that they can change it. It's, OK, we will agree

0:30:24 > 0:30:27that call it something else! The government minister Steve Baker

0:30:27 > 0:30:30added his name to the amendment this morning.There will not be a defeat

0:30:30 > 0:30:35in the Commons tonight, we expect. They are getting to Christmas

0:30:35 > 0:30:43thinking...They might have a cooking sherry!One or two! Not

0:30:43 > 0:30:47Theresa May, maybe her team! The chief of staff might go to Fernando

0:30:47 > 0:30:54's and then he tweets about it! Speaking of dates, what do you make

0:30:54 > 0:31:01of Michel Barnier? The British government had indicated there will

0:31:01 > 0:31:05be a two-year transition period, taking you through to the end of

0:31:05 > 0:31:11March 20 21. Michel Barnier says he wants it done by the end of 2020. I

0:31:11 > 0:31:17guess, in a way, the Brexiteers will be rather chuckled by that.They

0:31:17 > 0:31:23will be delighted, quite tickled and entertained. I spoke to the senior

0:31:23 > 0:31:27Brexiteers this morning and they said, excellent! I suggested the

0:31:27 > 0:31:32Chancellor may be slightly lest please -- slightly less pleased.

0:31:32 > 0:31:36Says go straight to the House of Commons and the final PMQs of 2017.

0:31:49 > 0:31:54I am sure the whole house will want to join me in sending our warmest

0:31:54 > 0:31:58Christmas messages to the Armed Forces who are stationed overseas.

0:31:58 > 0:32:05They make great devices on our behalf. This morning, I had meetings

0:32:05 > 0:32:09with ministerial colleagues and others and I will have further such

0:32:09 > 0:32:15meetings later today. In 2009, the Prime Minister said it

0:32:15 > 0:32:20was a tragedy that the number of children falling into the poverty

0:32:20 > 0:32:24cycle was continuing to rise. Every child deserves to have a roof over

0:32:24 > 0:32:29their head and food on the table. Yet on her watch, in Wandsworth

0:32:29 > 0:32:34alone, the number of families forced to survive on food banks is

0:32:34 > 0:32:41continuing to rise, and 2500 children, yes, children, will

0:32:41 > 0:32:48wake-up homeless on Christmas Day. My question is simple. When will

0:32:48 > 0:32:51this austerity driven government say enough is enough and put an end to

0:32:51 > 0:32:57this tragedy? Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

0:32:57 > 0:33:01honourable lady should note that this government has lifted hundreds

0:33:01 > 0:33:10of thousands of children out of absolute poverty. But I think it is

0:33:10 > 0:33:14important, it is important for all those who have heard her question to

0:33:14 > 0:33:20be aware of this. She talks of 2500 children in Wandsworth waking up

0:33:20 > 0:33:23homeless on Christmas Day. Anybody hearing that will assume that what

0:33:23 > 0:33:31that means is that 2500 children will be sleeping on our streets. It

0:33:31 > 0:33:47does not mean that.Order. Order. Honourable and right honourable

0:33:47 > 0:33:53member 's are accustomed to these exchanges taking somewhat longer. So

0:33:53 > 0:33:57be it. The questions will be heard and the answers from the Prime

0:33:57 > 0:34:06Minister will be heard. I am in no hurry at all. The Prime Minister.

0:34:06 > 0:34:09Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is important that we are clear about

0:34:09 > 0:34:13this for those who hear those questions, because as we all know,

0:34:13 > 0:34:17families with children who are accepted as homeless will be

0:34:17 > 0:34:32provided with accommodation. And I would also point out to honourable

0:34:32 > 0:34:34members opposite that statutory homeless is lower now than it was

0:34:34 > 0:34:45for most of the period of the last Labour government.

0:34:45 > 0:34:50If I could draw my right honourable friend away from Brexit which is

0:34:50 > 0:34:54about to crop up I suspect, I believe it is common knowledge that

0:34:54 > 0:34:59the Conservative party is the party that strives to protect our green

0:34:59 > 0:35:05belt. Therefore, it was a shock to me and my constituents when

0:35:05 > 0:35:09Guildford Council submitted their draft local plan. The Council are

0:35:09 > 0:35:15seeking to build 57% of the houses in their plan on green belt. Would

0:35:15 > 0:35:19my right honourable friend agree that local authorities should focus

0:35:19 > 0:35:21their imaginations on developing buildings of sufficient height,

0:35:21 > 0:35:30density and imagination on Brownfield sites, not green belt?My

0:35:30 > 0:35:35right honourable friend is right to raise this issue on the half of his

0:35:35 > 0:35:40constituents. A local authority may only alter green belt boundary in

0:35:40 > 0:35:43exceptional circumstances. In our highs to Leave Housing White Paper

0:35:43 > 0:35:49this was clear that it is when they have fully examined other options

0:35:49 > 0:35:53for meeting development needs and that includes looking at Brownfield

0:35:53 > 0:35:56sites and building on Brownfield sites. In the case of Guildford, I

0:35:56 > 0:36:00understand the local plan has been submitted for examination earlier

0:36:00 > 0:36:04this month and it will be examined by an independent inspector in due

0:36:04 > 0:36:07course, but I can assure my right honourable friend that he is

0:36:07 > 0:36:13absolutely right, that we want to ensure that green belt is detected.

0:36:13 > 0:36:19Jeremy Corbyn.Thank you Mr Speaker. Could I take this opportunity to

0:36:19 > 0:36:23wish you, Ormond is of the House, all our public servants and all of

0:36:23 > 0:36:28our Armed Forces are very happy Christmas and all the Best wishes

0:36:28 > 0:36:33for 2018. And could I paid tribute to our very hard-working National

0:36:33 > 0:36:40Health Service staff, many of whom, unlike us will not get a break this

0:36:40 > 0:36:44Christmas. Is the prime minister satisfied that the National Health

0:36:44 > 0:36:51Service has the resources it needs this winter?First of all, can I

0:36:51 > 0:36:54join the right honourable gentleman. He refers to those NHS staff who

0:36:54 > 0:36:59will be working very hard this Christmas and will not get a break.

0:36:59 > 0:37:04It is not only our NHS staff who will be working hard this Christmas.

0:37:04 > 0:37:09It is also our emergency services and many others who go to work on

0:37:09 > 0:37:12Christmas Day so others can enjoy their Christmas Day, and we thank

0:37:12 > 0:37:17all of them. He asks about preparations for winter. I can say

0:37:17 > 0:37:21to him, the health service has prepared more extensively for this

0:37:21 > 0:37:26winter than ever before. These plans are helping to ensure safe, timely

0:37:26 > 0:37:31care for patients. As it happens, those are not my words, they are the

0:37:31 > 0:37:38words of the chief Executive of NHS providers.Well, Sir Simon Stevens

0:37:38 > 0:37:43did say the NHS needs £4 billion next year just to stand still, and

0:37:43 > 0:37:49the reality of the Government has given the NHS less than half of what

0:37:49 > 0:37:54he asked for. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister talks about the money the

0:37:54 > 0:38:02NHS needs, but 50,000 people were left waiting on trolleys in hospital

0:38:02 > 0:38:07corridors last month. Last week, more ambulances were diverted to

0:38:07 > 0:38:11other hospitals because of A&E pressures. 12,000 patients were kept

0:38:11 > 0:38:17waiting in the back of an ambulance because there was no room at the

0:38:17 > 0:38:22A&E. I asked the Prime Minister a game, has the NHS got the resources

0:38:22 > 0:38:29it needs this winter to deal with this crisis?

0:38:29 > 0:38:38He knows full well that NHS funding is at record levels. And in the

0:38:38 > 0:38:43autumn budget, we put some extra funding in to the NHS this winter,

0:38:43 > 0:38:49in addition to the £6.3 billion extra which is given to the NHS over

0:38:49 > 0:38:54the coming years. Time after time again, the right honourable

0:38:54 > 0:38:57gentleman will come to this House and complain about what is happening

0:38:57 > 0:39:07in the health service. Can I just say to him? Can I just tell the

0:39:07 > 0:39:16House what is happening in the health service. We see 7 million

0:39:16 > 0:39:20more diagnostic tests than seven years ago. 2.2 million people

0:39:20 > 0:39:26getting operations, and survival rates for cancer at their highest

0:39:26 > 0:39:33ever level. Those are figures, but what does it mean? What it means is

0:39:33 > 0:39:37more people getting the treatment they need. It means more elderly

0:39:37 > 0:39:43people getting their hip operations, and it means that today, there I

0:39:43 > 0:39:47nearly 6500 people alive who would not have been if we had not improved

0:39:47 > 0:39:56our cancer care. In the first three weeks of this

0:39:56 > 0:39:59winter, 30,000 patients were left waiting in the back of an ambulance

0:39:59 > 0:40:07for more than half an hour. These delays risk lives. If the NHS had

0:40:07 > 0:40:15the resources it needs, you would expect it to be meeting its key

0:40:15 > 0:40:19waiting time targets. Can the prime Minister give us a cast-iron pledge

0:40:19 > 0:40:28that all of those targets will be met in 2018?What we are looking to

0:40:28 > 0:40:33do in 2018 is yes, improve the standard of care that we provide in

0:40:33 > 0:40:36our health service and ensure we can improve on those figures that I have

0:40:36 > 0:40:41just given him, that we did see more people being treated in our health

0:40:41 > 0:40:45service, that we do see better survival rates. That is why we have

0:40:45 > 0:40:49been putting the extra money into the National Health Service. But it

0:40:49 > 0:40:53is not just about putting extra money into the National Health

0:40:53 > 0:40:58Service. It is about ensuring that we see the proper integration of

0:40:58 > 0:41:04health and social care at grassroots level, that is what the SDPs are

0:41:04 > 0:41:09about in many areas, opposed by the Labour Party. It is why we have

0:41:09 > 0:41:17lifted the cap so we see more nurse training places opposed by the

0:41:17 > 0:41:22Labour Party. This is about ensuring we have the staff and capability in

0:41:22 > 0:41:27the NHS to deliver a first-class world-class service that our NHS is.

0:41:27 > 0:41:33We should be proud of our NHS. We are and we are going to make it even

0:41:33 > 0:41:39better.A&E waiting time targets have not been met for 2.5 years.

0:41:39 > 0:41:43Cancer treatment targets have not been met for two years. Our A&E

0:41:43 > 0:41:52departments are bursting at the seams, because people cannot get a

0:41:52 > 0:41:57GP appointment when they need one. The Government promised to recruit

0:41:57 > 0:42:05an extra 5000 GPs by 2020. Where are they?We are seeing more GPs, we are

0:42:05 > 0:42:09seeing more training places for our GPs, that he wants to talk that

0:42:09 > 0:42:15targets, if he wants to talk about targets, let's look at what has

0:42:15 > 0:42:26happened in Wales will stop. The standard on A&E in Wales was last

0:42:26 > 0:42:34met in 2008. Let me just think. Which party is in government in

0:42:34 > 0:42:41Wales? Is it the Conservatives? No. It is the Labour Party in government

0:42:41 > 0:42:45in Wales. On cancer care, the standard was last met in June 2008

0:42:45 > 0:42:49in Wales. He should look at what the Labour Party are actually delivering

0:42:49 > 0:42:56before he comes to this House and complains.The Welsh Government

0:42:56 > 0:43:03relies on a Brock grant from England which has been cut by 5% by 2020 --

0:43:03 > 0:43:09a block grant. Despite that, in Wales, 85.5% of cancer patients

0:43:09 > 0:43:13start their treatment within 62 days, higher than is achieved in

0:43:13 > 0:43:19England. Mr Speaker, my question was about GPs. Perhaps the prime

0:43:19 > 0:43:24minister is not aware that there are 1000 less GPs than there were the

0:43:24 > 0:43:30days she became Prime Minister. It is not only the lack of GPs. Another

0:43:30 > 0:43:35issue that is driving people into A&Es are the 6 billion cuts made to

0:43:35 > 0:43:42social care budgets. 2.3 million older people have unmet care needs.

0:43:42 > 0:43:47Does the Prime Minister regret, and the Chancellor is sitting absolutely

0:43:47 > 0:43:56next to her, that he did not put 1p in his budget for social care?We

0:43:56 > 0:44:00have £2 billion extra money into social care. We did that in the

0:44:00 > 0:44:06spring budget. But he started his question by referencing the record

0:44:06 > 0:44:15of the last Labour government on health. Well, you know, the last

0:44:15 > 0:44:19Labour government's record on health, their NHS legacy was

0:44:19 > 0:44:23described as a mess. We are clearing that up. We are putting more money

0:44:23 > 0:44:33into the NHS. But who was it that described, who was it who described

0:44:33 > 0:44:46Labour's NHS legacy as a mess? It was the right honourable gentleman.

0:44:46 > 0:44:51When he is running for leader, he denounces the Labour Party, now he

0:44:51 > 0:45:00is leader of the Labour Party, he is trying praise it.

0:45:00 > 0:45:07Mr Speaker, an idea of some, Mr Speaker, I could quote the prime

0:45:07 > 0:45:11Minister something she may be familiar with. If the Government

0:45:11 > 0:45:14wants to reduce the pressure is on the health service and keep people

0:45:14 > 0:45:17out of hospital in the first place, then he needs to tackle other

0:45:17 > 0:45:21chronic underfunding of care and support service in the community,

0:45:21 > 0:45:27which are tipping point. Who said that? The Conservative leader of

0:45:27 > 0:45:34Warwickshire County Council. Mr Speaker, the question was on social

0:45:34 > 0:45:40care. But the issue is about the NHS as a whole. It is there, Mr Speaker,

0:45:40 > 0:45:46to provide care and dignity to all if they fall ill, but our NHS goes

0:45:46 > 0:45:52into this winter in crisis. Nurses and other workers, no pay rise for

0:45:52 > 0:45:58years. NHS targets not met four years. Staff shortages, GP numbers

0:45:58 > 0:46:02falling. The reality is, mental health budgets have been cut, social

0:46:02 > 0:46:08care budgets have been cut, public health budgets cut. The Prime

0:46:08 > 0:46:14Minister today has shown just how out of touch she is. The truth is,

0:46:14 > 0:46:22Mr Speaker, our NHS is being recklessly, recklessly that at risk

0:46:22 > 0:46:30by her government. That is the truth, Mr Speaker.

0:46:30 > 0:46:33The right honourable gentleman is wrong because NHS funding has gone

0:46:33 > 0:46:39up. He is wrong because social care funding has gone up. But, you know,

0:46:39 > 0:46:43not that long ago, the right honourable gentleman was saying that

0:46:43 > 0:46:56he would be Prime Minister by Christmas... Well... He was wrong. I

0:46:56 > 0:46:57am, and the Conservatives are in government!

0:46:57 > 0:47:06CHEERING Not that long ago, you said we would

0:47:06 > 0:47:10not deliver on phase one on the Brexit negotiations but he was

0:47:10 > 0:47:15wrong, we have made sufficient progress and we are moving on to

0:47:15 > 0:47:20phase two of Brexit negotiations. Not that long ago he predicted that

0:47:20 > 0:47:25the budget would be a failure, in fact the budget was a success and is

0:47:25 > 0:47:31delivering more money for our National Health Service. Labour -

0:47:31 > 0:47:39wrong, wrong, wrong. Conservatives, delivering and Brexit, a budget for

0:47:39 > 0:47:42homes and the health service, delivering a Briton fit for the

0:47:42 > 0:47:55future.Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker, thank you very much. Gloucestershire

0:47:55 > 0:48:00College is building a brand-new campus in my constituency made

0:48:00 > 0:48:04possible by millions of pounds of government support, can I thank the

0:48:04 > 0:48:08Prime Minister for that investment? Doesn't it show that this is a

0:48:08 > 0:48:12government committed to investing in skills necessary to make this an

0:48:12 > 0:48:18economic and country fit for the future? Hull Prime Minister!May I

0:48:18 > 0:48:21say to my right honourable friend that I'm very pleased that that has

0:48:21 > 0:48:25taken place in his constituency and I'm also pleased to agree with him,

0:48:25 > 0:48:30I know he believes very strongly in this, the importance of skills and

0:48:30 > 0:48:32training for the future. That is a good commitment of this government.

0:48:32 > 0:48:36It's more important than ever that people in this country are

0:48:36 > 0:48:40developing the skills they need to get the highly paid jobs of the

0:48:40 > 0:48:47future. As we are doing -- that's what we are doing for the future,

0:48:47 > 0:48:51and the Conservatives play an important part of that.Ian

0:48:51 > 0:48:56Blackford. Thank you, Mr Speaker. May I take this opportunity to wish

0:48:56 > 0:49:01yourself, our members of staff, emergency personnel and Merry

0:49:01 > 0:49:06Christmas and a happy New Year when it comes. Can we wish for a peaceful

0:49:06 > 0:49:11election tomorrow in Catalonia? Mr Speaker, in 2013, the then

0:49:11 > 0:49:15Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, when reflecting on his

0:49:15 > 0:49:18position and representing the majority interest in the Royal Bank

0:49:18 > 0:49:22of Scotland, on the departure of the then chief executive of the Royal

0:49:22 > 0:49:26Bank of Scotland, said of course, my consent and approval was sought. Was

0:49:26 > 0:49:30the government right to intervene in the departure of the chief executive

0:49:30 > 0:49:36of the Royal Bank of Scotland?Prime Minister...I say to the right

0:49:36 > 0:49:40honourable gentleman, that obviously decisions were taken in the past

0:49:40 > 0:49:44relating to RBS, the key decision was taken at the time of the

0:49:44 > 0:49:48financial crisis, in relation to support the government provided to

0:49:48 > 0:49:51the Royal Bank of Scotland. If he's going to raise branch closures like

0:49:51 > 0:49:54you did last week, I'm afraid he will get the same answer as last

0:49:54 > 0:50:00week. The government does ensure that, through the protocol that is

0:50:00 > 0:50:04in place, through the work done with the Post Office to provide extra

0:50:04 > 0:50:09services, that services are available to people.Mr Speaker, it

0:50:09 > 0:50:12is supposed to be Prime Minister's Questions, the Prime Minister is

0:50:12 > 0:50:17supposed to at least try and answer the question. If it was right in

0:50:17 > 0:50:212013 for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to intervene on the

0:50:21 > 0:50:25departure of the Chief Executive Officer, then of course it is quite

0:50:25 > 0:50:29right that the government takes its responsibilities when the last 13

0:50:29 > 0:50:33branches in town are going to be closed in Scotland? Prime Minister,

0:50:33 > 0:50:43show some leadership! Stand up for our communities, bring Ross commune

0:50:43 > 0:50:48in and say that you are going to stand up for national interests and

0:50:48 > 0:50:53stop these bank closures.The decision on individual bank branches

0:50:53 > 0:50:58is operational decisions by the banks themselves. He talks about

0:50:58 > 0:51:02standing up for communities, and standing up for people across

0:51:02 > 0:51:06Scotland but I had to say to him, that's a bit rich coming from an SNP

0:51:06 > 0:51:11and government in Scotland, that's going to increase taxes for 1.2

0:51:11 > 0:51:20million Scots. The Conservative government is reducing tax for 2.4

0:51:20 > 0:51:25million Scots. There is one clear message to people in Scotland, the

0:51:25 > 0:51:32Conservatives back you but the SNP tax you!Order, I wish the

0:51:32 > 0:51:35honourable member for Filton and Bradley Stoke and his honourable

0:51:35 > 0:51:40friend the member for Morley and Outwood all the best for their

0:51:40 > 0:51:55wedding on Friday of this week... I look forward to attending that.

0:51:56 > 0:52:02Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I look forward to seeing you there!

0:52:02 > 0:52:06I'm sure the Prime Minister agrees with me that defence of the RAM and

0:52:06 > 0:52:08protection of our people is the first duty of government but would

0:52:08 > 0:52:11you further agree that any future government which fails to support

0:52:11 > 0:52:18our Armed Forces, which wants to abolish nuclear deterrence, that

0:52:18 > 0:52:21would endanger security as well as placing hundreds of thousands of

0:52:21 > 0:52:25jobs at risk across the country as well as 12,000 in my own

0:52:25 > 0:52:32constituency?Mr Speaker, may I join you in congratulating my honourable

0:52:32 > 0:52:36friend and my honourable friend, the member for Morley and Outwood on

0:52:36 > 0:52:38their forthcoming wedding, unfortunately due to my travels I

0:52:38 > 0:52:44will not be able to attend. I wish them the best. He has raised a very

0:52:44 > 0:52:50important issue, and I absolutely agree that defence is the first

0:52:50 > 0:52:54responsibility of the first duty of government and that is why we are

0:52:54 > 0:52:58committed to our Nato pledge to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence

0:52:58 > 0:53:05every year. We had a £36 billion defence budget which will rise to

0:53:05 > 0:53:11almost £40 million by 2021 and we are spending £178 billion over the

0:53:11 > 0:53:14next ten years on equipment. He is absolutely right, a party like the

0:53:14 > 0:53:18one opposite which wants to get rid of our nuclear deterrence, cut the

0:53:18 > 0:53:24Armed Forces and get out of Nato, that would not strengthen us but we

0:53:24 > 0:53:27can us.The Prime Minister would be aware of the strong affection and

0:53:27 > 0:53:32support for Gibraltar across this house. In light of the guidelines

0:53:32 > 0:53:37published this morning, will she give a commitment not to enter into

0:53:37 > 0:53:43agreement with the EU, that excludes Gibraltar from the transitional or

0:53:43 > 0:53:47implementation no arrangements and periods?Can I say to the honourable

0:53:47 > 0:53:52gentleman that we, in the EU, have been clear that Gibraltar is covered

0:53:52 > 0:53:55by the withdrawal agreement and our Article 50 exit negotiations and to

0:53:55 > 0:54:01confirm what I said on Monday, our negotiations, as we negotiate, are

0:54:01 > 0:54:03being negotiated to ensure relationships are there for

0:54:03 > 0:54:06Gibraltar as well. We will not exclude Gibraltar from negotiations

0:54:06 > 0:54:11for the fermentation period or the future agreement. I can give the

0:54:11 > 0:54:21honourable gentleman that assurance. Thank you, Mr Speaker. As the Prime

0:54:21 > 0:54:24Minister would be aware, Derry is important for growing children as

0:54:24 > 0:54:28part of their healthy diet. The sector is integral to great British

0:54:28 > 0:54:34food and drink -- dairy. Will she support our campaign next year to

0:54:34 > 0:54:37rebrand milk, to ask supermarkets to include it as part of their meal

0:54:37 > 0:54:41deals elections and as part of a healthy diet promotes drinking milk

0:54:41 > 0:54:47in schools? Will she join me this Christmas in raising a glass to our

0:54:47 > 0:54:50fabulous dairy farmers?I'm very happy to join my honourable friend

0:54:50 > 0:54:55in commending the work our dairy farmers do. He talks about the

0:54:55 > 0:54:59importance of dairy. He is a great advocate of oral issues and he is

0:54:59 > 0:55:02right, it is one of the most efficient, innovative and high

0:55:02 > 0:55:07quality dairy industries in the EU. On the point that he has raised, can

0:55:07 > 0:55:12I suggest, the Environment Secretary would be happy to discuss those

0:55:12 > 0:55:16particular points but I do join him in recognising the importance of the

0:55:16 > 0:55:22dairy industry.Ronnie Coward.Thank you very much. I minister, in eight

0:55:22 > 0:55:29European countries and Canada they have drug consumption rooms which

0:55:29 > 0:55:34reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and reduce crime. It's worth

0:55:34 > 0:55:38noting that drug-related deaths in the last 40 years continued increase

0:55:38 > 0:55:43in the UK but there has never been a drug overdose in a supervised drug

0:55:43 > 0:55:47consumption room. In the interest of public health, will be Prime

0:55:47 > 0:55:52Minister introduced these rooms in UK or devolve relevant powers to the

0:55:52 > 0:55:58Scottish parliament so that the Scottish Government can do so.I'm

0:55:58 > 0:56:02sure you are aware that the Home Office recently updated the

0:56:02 > 0:56:05government drug strategy but I had to say that I have a different

0:56:05 > 0:56:09opinion to some members of this house. Some members of the house are

0:56:09 > 0:56:12very liberal in their approach to the way that drugs should be

0:56:12 > 0:56:16treated. I'm very clear that we should recognise the damage that

0:56:16 > 0:56:22drugs do to people's lives. Our aim should be to ensure that people come

0:56:22 > 0:56:26off drugs and do not go on drugs in the first place. Then people keep

0:56:26 > 0:56:34clear of them. That is what we should be focusing on.Thank you, Mr

0:56:34 > 0:56:37Speaker. Can I pay tribute to the Prime Minister for listening so

0:56:37 > 0:56:42carefully to myself around issues for women's health, particularly

0:56:42 > 0:56:50surrounding pregnancy, around mesh implants, or all issues raised by my

0:56:50 > 0:56:52constituents. Like my right honourable friend they feel very

0:56:52 > 0:56:56strongly about tackling female health issues and are very grateful

0:56:56 > 0:57:02to be heard. Can the Prime Minister assure me that she will continue to

0:57:02 > 0:57:05listen so that women do not feel that they are left behind or

0:57:05 > 0:57:11forgotten when it comes to help equality in this country?I was very

0:57:11 > 0:57:14happy to meet my honourable friend to discuss these issues, and indeed

0:57:14 > 0:57:22to meet others to talk about this. These are important issues, they are

0:57:22 > 0:57:27issues that have had a real impact on women's lives. They are issues

0:57:27 > 0:57:31where women want answers as to what has happened in relation to this and

0:57:31 > 0:57:34I can assure my honourable friend that the government and I will

0:57:34 > 0:57:38continue to listen on these issues and we will continue to look to see

0:57:38 > 0:57:42what we can do to ensure that we do not see women suffering in the way

0:57:42 > 0:57:47that we have in the past on issues like this and we will keep that

0:57:47 > 0:57:52clear focus on women's health.Life effort. Poo-mac Mr Speaker...

0:58:00 > 0:58:04Mr Speaker, happy Christmas. Last year the Prime Minister told the

0:58:04 > 0:58:08radio Times that on Christmas Day she likes to prepare and cook her

0:58:08 > 0:58:15own goose... You know what is coming! In the spirit of Christmas

0:58:15 > 0:58:18can I suggest that in order to extract the maximum pleasure from

0:58:18 > 0:58:25the messy job of stuffing her cues that she names it either Michael or

0:58:25 > 0:58:30Boris? -- stuffing her goose. LAUGHTER

0:58:30 > 0:58:40CLAPPING

0:58:44 > 0:58:47Order, I'm sure that the Prime Minister has better taste than that!

0:58:47 > 0:58:52LAUGHTER Can I say to the honourable

0:58:52 > 0:58:58gentleman that I will be having to resist the temptation to call the

0:58:58 > 0:59:08goose Jeremy! Wing Mr Speaker, on Thursday last night, there was an

0:59:08 > 0:59:12important local referendum in Christchurch.The result was, 84% of

0:59:12 > 0:59:19the people of Christchurch want to keep Christchurch as an independent

0:59:19 > 0:59:25sovereign borough and are against the abolition of Christchurch.

0:59:25 > 0:59:32Order! Order! I cannot understand this atmosphere, I want to hear

0:59:32 > 0:59:37about the views of the good burghers of Christchurch!Will my right

0:59:37 > 0:59:42honourable friend ensure that the government respects the views of the

0:59:42 > 0:59:47people of Christchurch and will she also ensure that the government

0:59:47 > 0:59:54gives sufficient time, indeed extra time, for the Council to draw up

0:59:54 > 0:59:57alternative proposals which properly reflect the wishes of the people of

0:59:57 > 1:00:03Christchurch?I thank my honourable friend for his question. As I am

1:00:03 > 1:00:09aware, and as he knows being close to this, this issue has been

1:00:09 > 1:00:13considered by local councils over a significant period of time. This

1:00:13 > 1:00:16issue has been considered by the Department for Communities and Local

1:00:16 > 1:00:22Government. As was said from a sedentary position by my honourable

1:00:22 > 1:00:25friend, it is also the case that other councils in the area that do

1:00:25 > 1:00:32support a change to the government structure, of course DCLG will

1:00:32 > 1:00:35carefully look at the issues of these councils to ensure the best

1:00:35 > 1:00:41result is there for the people of Dorset.Laura Peacock.Thank you

1:00:41 > 1:00:46very much, Mr Speaker. We have some of the best schools in North West

1:00:46 > 1:00:53Durham...It may be moderately good-natured, but nevertheless it is

1:00:53 > 1:00:57disruptive. The honourable lady is entitled to be heard! For as long as

1:00:57 > 1:01:01she is in this house and I am in this chair, the honourable lady will

1:01:01 > 1:01:06be heard! That's the end of it. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. We

1:01:06 > 1:01:11have some of the very best schools in North West Durham but whatever

1:01:11 > 1:01:15the new fund and formula they deal with deficits from years of

1:01:15 > 1:01:19real-time cuts, feeling the corrosive effect of a cad I is

1:01:19 > 1:01:25eight, school staff are working for longer and for less. Please, do not

1:01:25 > 1:01:30tell me there is more money in our schools. The fact is that a

1:01:30 > 1:01:34significant proportion of schools in North West Durham C a reduction in

1:01:34 > 1:01:42their funding. They have run out of ways to make cuts.What do they do

1:01:42 > 1:01:47next?The honourable lady asked me not to stand up and say there is

1:01:47 > 1:01:50more money going into our schools but of course, there is more money

1:01:50 > 1:01:55going into our schools. That's the reality. Funding for our schools

1:01:55 > 1:02:01will rise by over £1.4 billion next year and almost 1.2 billion a year

1:02:01 > 1:02:07after. We have protected the Pupil Premium to support those who need it

1:02:07 > 1:02:13most. And if you listen to the Labour Party, education only seems

1:02:13 > 1:02:18to be about the amount of money put in. What parents are looking for is

1:02:18 > 1:02:21the quality of education provided and I noticed that there is an

1:02:21 > 1:02:28increase of over 12,000 children in the County Down local authority now

1:02:28 > 1:02:31in good or outstanding schools because of this government.Suella

1:02:31 > 1:02:39Fernandes...Thank you, Mr Speaker. 2017 has been an excellent year for

1:02:39 > 1:02:43Fareham College, rated outstanding by Ofsted and short listed by the

1:02:43 > 1:02:46Times educational supplement as College of the year. Successful in

1:02:46 > 1:02:52its bid to deliver civil engineering provision. Will my right honourable

1:02:52 > 1:02:55friend join me in sending a happy Christmas to the principal and his

1:02:55 > 1:02:59staff, congratulating them on supporting our young people into

1:02:59 > 1:03:03work and because it is Christmas, creating a Briton fit for the

1:03:03 > 1:03:11future.Can I say to you, my right honourable friend, I'm very happy to

1:03:11 > 1:03:17send good wishes to the principal but also the staff and students at

1:03:17 > 1:03:20Ferrum College, and congratulate them that because of their hard

1:03:20 > 1:03:24work, they have achieved excellent results and she is absolutely right,

1:03:24 > 1:03:27it's about ensuring young people have the skills, education and

1:03:27 > 1:03:31training for jobs of the future building a Britain fit for the

1:03:31 > 1:03:41future. -- Fareham College.Fourth terminally ill -- the terminally ill

1:03:41 > 1:03:43people this Christmas, this Christmas could be their last

1:03:43 > 1:03:47Christmas. Does the Prime Minister agree that it can never be

1:03:47 > 1:03:51appropriate for terminally ill people to be forced to meet with

1:03:51 > 1:03:55work coaches or fit into an arbitrary six months prognosis in

1:03:55 > 1:04:02order to claim support? Will she finally listen to the experts at

1:04:02 > 1:04:13Macmillan and MND, that these people faced the end of their lives?The

1:04:13 > 1:04:16honourable gentleman is right, we need to ensure that we deal with

1:04:16 > 1:04:21these cases where somebody has a terminal illness with the utmost

1:04:21 > 1:04:26sensitivity, these are issues that have been raised before. The

1:04:26 > 1:04:31conditions apply to terminally ill people claiming Universal Credit are

1:04:31 > 1:04:34the same as those claiming employment and support allowance and

1:04:34 > 1:04:37have remained the same for successive governments. There are a

1:04:37 > 1:04:40number of approaches that can be taken and there were several options

1:04:40 > 1:04:44for how people progress in the system but he is right. We should

1:04:44 > 1:04:48deal with people who are terminally ill with sensitivity. That is what

1:04:48 > 1:04:59the system is and what the system intends to do. This morning I met

1:04:59 > 1:05:02the Alan, young student whose life was put on hold for two years and

1:05:02 > 1:05:07had to endure torture until his case collapsed this week, and another

1:05:07 > 1:05:12case collapsed because of a lack of disclosure.Does the Prime Minister

1:05:12 > 1:05:15agree that where there are these allegations, there should be full

1:05:15 > 1:05:22disclosure given to the CPS and both lawyers.My right honourable friend

1:05:22 > 1:05:26raises an important point, the issue of disclosure is one that has come

1:05:26 > 1:05:31to a focus of concern, as is the case that he has quoted and I

1:05:31 > 1:05:37understand another case in the press today. I can tell him that my right

1:05:37 > 1:05:41honourable friend, the Attorney General, had even before these cases

1:05:41 > 1:05:44came up initiated a review into disclosure. I do think it is

1:05:44 > 1:05:47important that we look at it again to ensure that we are truly

1:05:47 > 1:05:54providing justice.Thank you. According to her own commission,

1:05:54 > 1:05:58social mobility in Britain is stalling and for many it is getting

1:05:58 > 1:06:02worse, not better. Does she agree with her former chief of staff that

1:06:02 > 1:06:07last week's social mobility action plan was disappointing, full of

1:06:07 > 1:06:16jargon, short of meaningful policies and should have been published.The

1:06:16 > 1:06:31social mobility action plan, it's what the Sutton trust have said, so

1:06:31 > 1:06:34that disadvantaged young people get on in life, if she wants other

1:06:34 > 1:06:37quotes, the Association of colleges have said that this plan sets out an

1:06:37 > 1:06:42ambitious agenda to tackle deep seated in the qualities which the

1:06:42 > 1:06:46education system struggles to overcome. It's a good plan and will

1:06:46 > 1:06:56make a big difference to people's lives.Mr Speaker, in the 1980s...

1:06:56 > 1:07:02How very unfair on the honourable gentleman.I was saying, in the

1:07:02 > 1:07:061980s, Mrs Thatcher famously commented that if the alarm was so

1:07:06 > 1:07:11wonderful, why are millions of people in boats to leave it? When my

1:07:11 > 1:07:16right honourable friend goes into the second phase of negotiations, if

1:07:16 > 1:07:19WTO rules are so wonderful, why do so many countries seek trade

1:07:19 > 1:07:26agreements?-- Vietnam. Of course, countries around the world can trade

1:07:26 > 1:07:31but on what terms are they trading? We want to see a free trade

1:07:31 > 1:07:35agreements negotiated with the EU and we also want to see free trade

1:07:35 > 1:07:38agreements negotiated with countries around the rest of the world. The

1:07:38 > 1:07:42reason for that, as we are believers in free trade, the reason is we

1:07:42 > 1:07:49believe that brings growth, prosperity, jobs and a secure future

1:07:49 > 1:07:55for this country.Can I wish the Prime Minister in Merry Christmas.

1:07:55 > 1:08:00As she sits down to her Christmas dinner, will she spare a thought for

1:08:00 > 1:08:02the 1 million youngsters, the Children's Society calculates are

1:08:02 > 1:08:06set to lose their school dinners because of the government's

1:08:06 > 1:08:11Universal Credit plan? It's the season of goodwill, why doesn't she

1:08:11 > 1:08:18offered to fix this?Can I wish the honourable gentleman in Merry

1:08:18 > 1:08:25Christmas and a happy New Year. In fact, the introduction of the

1:08:25 > 1:08:27arrangements for free school meals under Universal Credit that is

1:08:27 > 1:08:30proposed by the government will lead to more children having access to

1:08:30 > 1:08:41free school meals.Geoffrey Clifton Brown!Given Michel Barnier's claim

1:08:41 > 1:08:47that the UK banks will lose their passporting writes her Spectre, as

1:08:47 > 1:08:50opposed to the Bank of England statement that EU banks will

1:08:50 > 1:08:54continue to operate here, does this not vindicate my right honourable

1:08:54 > 1:09:01friend's principled and strong stance in negotiating reciprocity

1:09:01 > 1:09:05for EU and UK citizens?I will say that we value the important role

1:09:05 > 1:09:10that the City of London plays, not just as a financial centre for

1:09:10 > 1:09:16Europe but also for the world. We want to retain that and maintain

1:09:16 > 1:09:19that. Michel Barnier has made a number of comments recently about

1:09:19 > 1:09:26the negotiation position on clear and the Bank of England and the

1:09:26 > 1:09:30Treasury has set out reassurance to ensure that the banks will be able

1:09:30 > 1:09:35to continue to operate and will continue to ensure that the City of

1:09:35 > 1:09:38London retains a global position but of course this will be part of

1:09:38 > 1:09:41negotiations on phase two of Brexit. We are clear on how important this

1:09:41 > 1:09:48is.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr and Mrs Walker from great word in my

1:09:48 > 1:09:54constituency have a son with learning difficulties. Mr Walker was

1:09:54 > 1:09:58knocked down by a driver over the summer who had taken drugs, was

1:09:58 > 1:10:08drunk, and was speeding. He is 69 and now a quadriplegic. He is not

1:10:08 > 1:10:12entitled to PIP, he cannot access mote ability and they are now paying

1:10:12 > 1:10:16£400 per calendar month for a hire car. I wrote to the DWP about this

1:10:16 > 1:10:20case on the 21st of November and haven't had a reply. Isn't it

1:10:20 > 1:10:23shocking that this country and government cannot look after the

1:10:23 > 1:10:26elderly and the disabled and I would ask the Prime Minister looks into

1:10:26 > 1:10:35this case urgently?Can I first of all give my best wishes to Mr Walker

1:10:35 > 1:10:41and his family, and how sorry we are to hear of what has befallen him. He

1:10:41 > 1:10:46references a letter made to the DWP, I will ensure that this case is

1:10:46 > 1:10:51investigated and that he receives a response.Will my right honourable

1:10:51 > 1:11:06friend join me in praising the work of Alice who supported. The separate

1:11:06 > 1:11:10from the supported housing sector, so that refugees can deliver

1:11:10 > 1:11:17specialist support?I thank my honourable friend for raising the

1:11:17 > 1:11:22question of refuges, but I am happy to join him in praising the work of

1:11:22 > 1:11:26four Tallis and services across the country. You mention the reforms put

1:11:26 > 1:11:30in place and that is because at the moment we feel the system is not

1:11:30 > 1:11:33responsive to the needs of vulnerable women in local areas --

1:11:33 > 1:11:37Fort Alice. So we want funding to go to the hands of local authorities

1:11:37 > 1:11:41but bring in new oversight to make sure we deliver the right support

1:11:41 > 1:11:44for the right people, ensuring we focused support on those who need it

1:11:44 > 1:11:52and that this is a system more

1:11:52 > 1:11:55The inappropriate treatment of smaller businesses by the Royal Bank

1:11:55 > 1:12:01Of Scotland destroyed businesses, ripped families apart and saw people

1:12:01 > 1:12:06take their own lives. RBS is owned by the Government. Will the Prime

1:12:06 > 1:12:11Minister set up the full independent enquiry which is needed to deliver

1:12:11 > 1:12:21justice for victims? My understanding is that this issue

1:12:21 > 1:12:28is properly being looked into. I recognise the Kearns did the smack

1:12:28 > 1:12:33-- I recognise the concerns being expressed and will look into this.

1:12:33 > 1:12:37Does the prime Minister share my dismay that the SNP government is

1:12:37 > 1:12:41planning on raising taxes on hard-working Scots, when it could

1:12:41 > 1:12:47raise the same amount, if not more, by just getting its own house in

1:12:47 > 1:12:57order, and improving efficiencies? Can I thank my honourable friend.

1:12:57 > 1:13:02What the Scottish government is proposing is there are 1.2 million

1:13:02 > 1:13:04Scots earning £26,000 will be paying more tax than people in England will

1:13:04 > 1:13:13be paying. But I was interested because I was not aware that the

1:13:13 > 1:13:17fact...Order. Apologies for interrupting the prime Minister. Can

1:13:17 > 1:13:20I just ask the prime Minister to face the House because some of us

1:13:20 > 1:13:24cannot hear fully and I would like to hear fully.

1:13:24 > 1:13:28Mr Speaker, I was making the point that my honourable friend has made

1:13:28 > 1:13:32an important point which is with the SNP got its own house in order it

1:13:32 > 1:13:36could save that amount of money by raising taxes and act surely not

1:13:36 > 1:13:44putting that extra tax burden on people earning over £26,000.

1:13:44 > 1:13:55In light of someone with a very loose and inaccurate language coming

1:13:55 > 1:13:58from politicians who should know better, would she take the

1:13:58 > 1:14:02opportunity to repeat to this House and the public in Northern Ireland,

1:14:02 > 1:14:05both sides of the community, the well established three strand

1:14:05 > 1:14:08approach to Northern Ireland, which makes it clear that the internal

1:14:08 > 1:14:12arrangements and decisions on Northern Ireland are matter of the

1:14:12 > 1:14:18United Kingdom government and the parties in Northern Ireland?

1:14:18 > 1:14:22I'm happy to make that clear to the right honourable gentleman and

1:14:22 > 1:14:26confirm what he says and we are very happy about the decisions that we

1:14:26 > 1:14:31have taken about Northern Ireland. What we do want to see is a Northern

1:14:31 > 1:14:35Ireland Executive restored so we can see those devolve decisions being

1:14:35 > 1:14:37taken by that Northern Ireland Executive. I know the right

1:14:37 > 1:14:42honourable gentleman also wants to see that Executive restored and we

1:14:42 > 1:14:50will continue to work with his party and with other parties.

1:14:50 > 1:14:57As one of the signatories to Amendment 400 to the EU Withdrawal

1:14:57 > 1:15:02Bill, may I seek an assurance from the Prime Minister that its

1:15:02 > 1:15:11provisions to change the date of our leaving the EU will be invoked only

1:15:11 > 1:15:15if at all under extremely exceptional circumstances, and only

1:15:15 > 1:15:24for a very short period?We are very clear we will be leaving the EU on

1:15:24 > 1:15:35the 29th of March at 11pm. The Bill will determine the Article 50

1:15:35 > 1:15:38process and it is a matter of international law and it is

1:15:38 > 1:15:42important that we have the same position legally and that is why we

1:15:42 > 1:15:46have accept it the amendment. But I can assure my honourable friend and

1:15:46 > 1:15:53the House that we will only reassure the House for the shortest possible

1:15:53 > 1:15:59time and an affirmative motion will be brought to the House.

1:15:59 > 1:16:04The Government Department of Justice NHS England and Lancashire care

1:16:04 > 1:16:11foundation trust should be thoroughly ashamed of their part in

1:16:11 > 1:16:15the national disgrace which is HMP Liverpool. Could the Prime Minister

1:16:15 > 1:16:19assure this House, this whole house, that those responsible for the

1:16:19 > 1:16:23deplorable conditions, the lack of care and harm, which led to suicides

1:16:23 > 1:16:30of some prisoners and this harm which has been caused to both staff

1:16:30 > 1:16:34and prisoners, those people will be held to account and proper

1:16:34 > 1:16:38disciplinary action taken and may not be allowed to simply move to

1:16:38 > 1:16:43other jobs. We need accountability for this tragedy.I thank the

1:16:43 > 1:16:48honourable lady and as I understand it, as my right honourable friend

1:16:48 > 1:16:52the Justice Secretary said yesterday, he expects this report on

1:16:52 > 1:16:55HMP Liverpool to be published early in the next year. A number of

1:16:55 > 1:16:59actions have been taken as I understand it, including changes to

1:16:59 > 1:17:02prison management. Overall we are increasing front line staff in

1:17:02 > 1:17:06prisons by putting money into that and we are increasing the support

1:17:06 > 1:17:10available to vulnerable offenders especially during the first 24 hours

1:17:10 > 1:17:13of custody. We have also requested more mental health training from

1:17:13 > 1:17:18prison officers. But the Justice Secretary will look carefully at

1:17:18 > 1:17:30this report when it is published. I'm sorry if I was keeping the

1:17:30 > 1:17:35honourable gentleman waked Ory had some other pressing business -- if I

1:17:35 > 1:17:42was keeping him awake or he had some other pressing business.

1:17:42 > 1:17:53Merry Christmas to you, Mr Speaker. If the powers are used at all, could

1:17:53 > 1:17:59the prime Minister assure the House that this would only be used for the

1:17:59 > 1:18:02maximum of a couple of months and no longer because there is a concern

1:18:02 > 1:18:08that it could be definitely extended when we stay in the EU?

1:18:08 > 1:18:11Could I thank my honourable friend for seeking further clarification on

1:18:11 > 1:18:16this particular point. Could I start by saying, as I did to my honourable

1:18:16 > 1:18:21friend the member for New Forest, that actually, we are going to leave

1:18:21 > 1:18:26on the 29th of March 2019. That is what we are working to. But I do

1:18:26 > 1:18:31want to ensure that we have the same legal position as the EU and that is

1:18:31 > 1:18:35why Amendment 400 tabled by my right honourable friend the member for

1:18:35 > 1:18:38West Dorset has been accepted. I can assure my honourable friend that we

1:18:38 > 1:18:42are talking, if it were the case, that this would be used, that it

1:18:42 > 1:18:46would only be used in extremely exceptional circumstances and it

1:18:46 > 1:18:52would be for the shortest possible time. We are not talking about

1:18:52 > 1:19:00extensions...Order, order. We would hear better if the prime is the face

1:19:00 > 1:19:06of the House but we would also hear better if members did not keep

1:19:06 > 1:19:11wittering from a sedentary position. New Year 's resolution, an end to

1:19:11 > 1:19:14sedentary chuntering, with rain and hollering.

1:19:14 > 1:19:20The Prime Minister.Mr Speaker, I apologise for not facing the

1:19:20 > 1:19:23opposition on this. I was hoping to ensure that my honourable friend

1:19:23 > 1:19:30actually heard the response was giving. We are talking about the

1:19:30 > 1:19:33shortest possible time should it be used, but I am clear that we are

1:19:33 > 1:19:41leaving the EU on 29th of March 2019.

1:19:41 > 1:19:45Last Friday, Jo Cox's sister Kim, the honourable member for South

1:19:45 > 1:19:49Ribble and I published the Jo Cox loneliness manifesto. Would the

1:19:49 > 1:19:53Prime Minister join us in urging everybody over Christmas to look out

1:19:53 > 1:19:56for neighbours, family and friends who are struggling with the pain of

1:19:56 > 1:20:01loneliness, and with the Government play its part by publishing a

1:20:01 > 1:20:05strategy for loneliness and responding fully early in the New

1:20:05 > 1:20:11Year for our recommendations? Can I say to the honourable lady, I

1:20:11 > 1:20:16know she has worked extremely hard on this issue, as well as for the --

1:20:16 > 1:20:19with the member for South Ribble, and I'm sure we're getting more

1:20:19 > 1:20:24awareness about the impact of loneliness on people, and I think

1:20:24 > 1:20:27we'll recognise that social isolation is an issue. It is of

1:20:27 > 1:20:31importance to government and we're looking at a number of things we can

1:20:31 > 1:20:35do in reducing loneliness. But it is not just what government can do, it

1:20:35 > 1:20:38is about what communities can do, what neighbours can do, and I'm

1:20:38 > 1:20:44pleased to say that in my constituency in Maidenhead. The

1:20:44 > 1:20:49churches are my constituency bring together elderly people who would be

1:20:49 > 1:20:54on their own for a community lunch. It is a small example of what we can

1:20:54 > 1:21:04do to overcome the problem of loneliness.It is rare welcome that

1:21:04 > 1:21:07the Prime Minister is taking charge of building homes that this country

1:21:07 > 1:21:13needs for our country. How does the Prime Minister the is doing this at

1:21:13 > 1:21:19the speed and scale that is necessary?My honourable friend is

1:21:19 > 1:21:22right that we do need more homes and we do need to build them scale. Last

1:21:22 > 1:21:29year we saw 217,000 new homes built. We have seen a level of

1:21:29 > 1:21:34house-building that apart from one year I think has not been seen over

1:21:34 > 1:21:40the 30 years. We need to go further. That is why we have proposed a

1:21:40 > 1:21:44number of changes including support for councils and support for people

1:21:44 > 1:21:48hoping to get their foot on the housing ladder, but also working

1:21:48 > 1:21:51with local authorities and a number of ways to assure the land is

1:21:51 > 1:21:57released and we do see builders building out the planning permission

1:21:57 > 1:22:03is that they have. And finally, Tim Farron. That is not

1:22:03 > 1:22:10a very seasonable response from the honourable gentleman from Sefton in

1:22:10 > 1:22:16a sedentary position. I expect better.

1:22:16 > 1:22:21Thank you very much and may I wish Merry Christmas to everybody

1:22:21 > 1:22:24especially the honourable member for Sefton. The prime minister will be

1:22:24 > 1:22:29aware that NHS England have extended the deadline for the consultation on

1:22:29 > 1:22:33radiotherapy services into the New Year. Will she take this opportunity

1:22:33 > 1:22:36to assure that one of the criteria is shortening the travel distances

1:22:36 > 1:22:40that people need to take when they need to take this life-saving

1:22:40 > 1:22:44utterly urgent treatment, knowing that travel time has a massive

1:22:44 > 1:22:48impact on outcomes. The people who live in places like South Cumbria

1:22:48 > 1:22:52need to access this treatment safely and quickly?

1:22:52 > 1:22:56Of course we are all aware of the need to ensure that people are able

1:22:56 > 1:22:59not just to access the treatment that they need, but they are able to

1:22:59 > 1:23:04access that in a way that is appropriate, and recognises some

1:23:04 > 1:23:10rural areas it means further distances to travel in other parts

1:23:10 > 1:23:15of the country. There is a consultation out there, NHS is

1:23:15 > 1:23:19looking closely at these issues and I'm sure he will make

1:23:19 > 1:23:21representations to them.

1:23:28 > 1:23:31Prime Minister's Questions comes to an end, eventually. It ran for 52

1:23:31 > 1:23:38minutes. It ran that long because the Speaker intervened multiple

1:23:38 > 1:23:41times, twice to tell the Prime Minister to speak up. The front

1:23:41 > 1:23:47bench exchanges were a repeat of what we have heard many times at

1:23:47 > 1:23:52PMQs, with Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May exchanging statistics on the

1:23:52 > 1:23:58NHS. Jeremy Corbyn presenting one side that looks pretty bad, Theresa

1:23:58 > 1:24:02May presenting one set that looks better. And so it goes on. You may

1:24:02 > 1:24:07find that eliminating, others may not. That is where it was. We only

1:24:07 > 1:24:10have a few minutes and we want to look at some Christmas cards. Laura,

1:24:10 > 1:24:17where are we? As the political year comes to an end.Number 10 are in a

1:24:17 > 1:24:21much better position than they expected at this stage. They got

1:24:21 > 1:24:24through the budget and the next phase of negotiations. They are in a

1:24:24 > 1:24:27situation where after the conference there were several dozen Tory MPs

1:24:27 > 1:24:33who try to get rid of her. She is managing to not lose to the Labour

1:24:33 > 1:24:38leader during a session about the NHS after several years of cuts. I

1:24:38 > 1:24:42think they are pleased they've got to the end of, politically, the

1:24:42 > 1:24:45Labour Party are feeling much better than they did this time last year

1:24:45 > 1:24:49but there are some people scratching their heads thinking, is there not

1:24:49 > 1:24:54going to be an election soon? What do we do next? There is a lot of

1:24:54 > 1:25:03support.It is hard to keep up momentum. No pun intended! With a

1:25:03 > 1:25:10small M, or a big one? Labour has had a good year, it is nip and tuck

1:25:10 > 1:25:16in the polls, for some it is even. For others it is behind, maybe one?

1:25:16 > 1:25:23If the Prime Minister can struggle on, what do you do?We have to keep

1:25:23 > 1:25:29up the pressure on the opposition, raising issues like the NHS is very

1:25:29 > 1:25:33important. We've been hearing about the number of people waiting in

1:25:33 > 1:25:37ambulances, increasing 27% in the last week. It is scandalous. I've no

1:25:37 > 1:25:42doubt that things will come up next year where Theresa May's position

1:25:42 > 1:25:46will be weakened again.It is already very weak. It is weak and

1:25:46 > 1:25:52stable! Who would have thought of that?It is amazing, isn't it? I

1:25:52 > 1:25:56think she is fudging a lot of the big issues. The discussion yesterday

1:25:56 > 1:25:59highlighted that and it will not take much to upset the apple cart.

1:25:59 > 1:26:03There will be a number of flash points where it goes wrong again.

1:26:03 > 1:26:07The apple cart has been upset a few times in the last six months,

1:26:07 > 1:26:12including with the election results. Is she still there?The Prime

1:26:12 > 1:26:16Minister is tenacious and committed, taking us through some hairy

1:26:16 > 1:26:21negotiations, she keeps the party together. By the way, the NHS...

1:26:21 > 1:26:25Yes, keeping them together. We will see that night.One interesting

1:26:25 > 1:26:30question, when you get to her fierce critics inside of the Tory party,

1:26:30 > 1:26:32they haven't disappeared, but the fundamental question is the same as

1:26:32 > 1:26:37it was on the morning of the 9th of June, the Tory party do not agree on

1:26:37 > 1:26:40who should be next and they do not agree on how they should manage

1:26:40 > 1:26:48their decisions on the EU.But this is possibly the most important thing

1:26:48 > 1:26:51a government has had to do since the end of the war. And the government

1:26:51 > 1:26:56is due to deliver with scrutiny and support a leader who can clearly

1:26:56 > 1:27:01deliver?What has worked is this incremental stage. A couple of

1:27:01 > 1:27:04ministers in that cabinet meeting yesterday said to me that it was a

1:27:04 > 1:27:08conversation about our approach and they were not trained to settle

1:27:08 > 1:27:12disputes about particular policies here and there, but as an approach,

1:27:12 > 1:27:19in terms of, we want to get the best deal, I understand as it was...

1:27:19 > 1:27:23Maybe it wasn't that far away?The show is on the road but it could

1:27:23 > 1:27:28fall off at any moment!That's not going to happen!We were going to

1:27:28 > 1:27:31show you a lot of political Christmas cards but we do not have

1:27:31 > 1:27:35time, blamed the speaker and maybe send him a Christmas card as you do

1:27:35 > 1:27:43so. Do we have Ed Miliband's though? It is a treat!There we go, here he

1:27:43 > 1:27:50is, channelling his inner Fonz, holding a bacon sandwich! He has a

1:27:50 > 1:27:55sense of humour about himself. A great Christmas card. That's the

1:27:55 > 1:27:59only one we have time for, but it is the best one.

1:27:59 > 1:28:02There's just time to put you out of your misery and give

1:28:02 > 1:28:03you the answer to Guess The Year.

1:28:03 > 1:28:05The year was...

1:28:05 > 1:28:111955!We were not born, but we were both wrong!Minister...It's the

1:28:11 > 1:28:20last red button of the year... My Christmas card to you!Thank you

1:28:20 > 1:28:26very much! I've been given cards by our two

1:28:26 > 1:28:31guests, which is very kind of them! Seasons greetings from Minister

1:28:31 > 1:28:37Claire... And this is from Justin... I could

1:28:37 > 1:28:42have saved the envelope! And, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

1:28:42 > 1:28:50That's very kind. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

1:28:50 > 1:28:51That's all for today.

1:28:51 > 1:28:52Thanks to all my guests.

1:28:52 > 1:28:54The one o'clock news is starting over on BBC One now.

1:28:54 > 1:28:57John Pienaar will be here at noon tomorrow with the final

1:28:57 > 1:29:00Daily Politics of 2017 - he'll be joined by a special guest -