0:00:38 > 0:00:42Morning folks - welcome to the Daily Politics.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Unemployment in the UK has fallen again this morning,
0:00:45 > 0:00:49it's good news for Theresa May - and she probably needs it
0:00:49 > 0:00:52after a bout of cabinet infighting over whether to spend more public
0:00:52 > 0:00:58money on the NHS.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Brexit secretary David Davis has been talking to MPs this morning,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04where it's been claimed the UK will remain a 'vassal state'
0:01:04 > 0:01:09of the EU for a further two years, or longer.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12The use of public funds to pay private sector companies
0:01:12 > 0:01:14like Carillion is still exercising Labour, it says the party
0:01:14 > 0:01:17is over for outsourcing - we'll look at what that really
0:01:17 > 0:01:18means.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21All of which and more could come up when the two party leaders face off
0:01:21 > 0:01:23at Prime Minister's Questions, we'll bring you all
0:01:23 > 0:01:30the action live from noon.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37All that still to come in the next 90 minutes of public sector
0:01:37 > 0:01:39broadcasting that is so important to the proper functioning
0:01:39 > 0:01:42of the nation that we expect all of our viewers to observe
0:01:42 > 0:01:46the strictest cabinet confidentiality.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49By which of course I mean you should tell everyone about it
0:01:49 > 0:01:51at every opportunity.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55And joining me for all of it, two MPs who haven't
0:01:55 > 0:01:58yet made the cabinet - and so should feel free to keep
0:01:58 > 0:01:59absolutely nothing secret.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01It's the Brexit minister Robin Walker and the shadow Treasury
0:02:01 > 0:02:03minister Anneliese Dodds.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Welcome.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Theresa May is preparing for Prime Minister's Questions
0:02:07 > 0:02:10in about half-an-hour's time, and after that she'll fly
0:02:10 > 0:02:13to the Swiss resort of Davos for the annual gathering
0:02:13 > 0:02:15of the global business and political elite -
0:02:15 > 0:02:19including this year well-known establishment types
0:02:19 > 0:02:22like Donald Trump and shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
0:02:22 > 0:02:30The theme is finding a 'shared future in a fractured world',
0:02:32 > 0:02:37I have no idea what that means either.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39So perhaps she's hoping for tips on dealing with her cabinet,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42which yesterday became the latest example of a challenge
0:02:42 > 0:02:44to her authority thanks to her foreign secretary Boris Johnson.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Lizzie is here to tell us about the obstacles facing the PM.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Thanks Andrew and who knows, Theresa May might even get a little
0:02:50 > 0:02:52'down time' to have some fun on the slopes.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55After all she does have some good news,
0:02:55 > 0:03:00figures out this morning show a fall in unemployment.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02However, there are quite a few tricky issues that the PM needs
0:03:02 > 0:03:07to navigate if she's to avoid a 'wipe out'.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10We're now into the second phase of the Brexit negotiations
0:03:10 > 0:03:13and Mrs May will soon have to show her hand and outline her
0:03:13 > 0:03:16vision of the transition, before we finally leave the EU.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Then of course there's the final deal, will we mirror the EU's rules
0:03:19 > 0:03:23and regulations to get full access to their single market?
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Or break away so we can negotiate our own trade deals?
0:03:28 > 0:03:31The Prime Minister has a tough course to navigate.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36Away from Brexit, Mrs May is also facing criticism from
0:03:36 > 0:03:39a number of senior back benchers with the likes of Nick Boles,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Grant Shapps and Nicholas Soames all publicly bemoaning
0:03:41 > 0:03:43what they see as a
0:03:43 > 0:03:47lack of ideas and direction emanating from the government.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52Then there's the financial pressures on
0:03:52 > 0:03:54the NHS with a constant stream of reports of hospitals struggling
0:03:54 > 0:03:56to cope over the winter period.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58One man who claims to have an answer is
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Boris Johnson, who was planning to demand spending an extra
0:04:02 > 0:04:06£100 million a week on health after we leave the EU.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The Foreign Secretary was slapped down for going 'off piste'
0:04:09 > 0:04:12in yesterday's cabinet meeting, but there are rumours that
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Mr Johnson may be on manoeuvres.
0:04:16 > 0:04:23We're not sure whether that's down hill or not.
0:04:23 > 0:04:29Thank you for that. Let's now have a look, before we go through some of
0:04:29 > 0:04:35these things, at what the Brexit secretary David Davis, he is Robin
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Walker's boss, had to say in an exchange with Jacob Reese-Mogg at
0:04:39 > 0:04:46the Brexit select committee hearing a little earlier.Transition is
0:04:46 > 0:04:50different because transition means we are de facto inside the European
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Union for that period. We are only out at the end of the transition.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58That's a big shift in government policy and a big move away from the
0:04:58 > 0:05:03vote in June.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06vote in June.We don't have representation on the council and
0:05:06 > 0:05:14the court and so on, we will debate how we manage that. But I do not
0:05:14 > 0:05:21accept your description.Will we accept EU rules?That is an area of
0:05:21 > 0:05:26some interest. The time it takes to put a rule into effect, regulation
0:05:26 > 0:05:33into effect in the European Union, the average is 22 months. The
0:05:33 > 0:05:38proposal we are having is we leave in 21 months.Lets start on Europe
0:05:38 > 0:05:42Robin Walker, it is your department, before we come onto some of the
0:05:42 > 0:05:50other matters raised. If we leave in March 2019 there is going to be a
0:05:50 > 0:05:55transition period of perhaps up to two years. Throughout that two years
0:05:55 > 0:05:57we will remain subject to the rulings of the European Court of
0:05:57 > 0:06:03Justice?What we said clearly is we want to have access to the European
0:06:03 > 0:06:07market on the same terms which we think is in the mutual interest...I
0:06:07 > 0:06:11will come onto the single market, I am asking about the European Court
0:06:11 > 0:06:19of Justice.It will remain the Supreme Court over that and where it
0:06:19 > 0:06:24rules on the rules of that market we will have to take account of that.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27We take account of the rulings of the Supreme Court in the United
0:06:27 > 0:06:33States but we do not follow them unless we want to. So let me
0:06:33 > 0:06:38clarify, we will remain subject to the jurisdiction of the European
0:06:38 > 0:06:44Court until 2021?The implementation period we would seek to agree would
0:06:44 > 0:06:47say and the same rules, under the same basis as our current membership
0:06:47 > 0:06:54so yes. But we would be out of our membership of the European Union, we
0:06:54 > 0:06:59would be doing that for an agreed time on it.You say we would be out
0:06:59 > 0:07:03of it but for most people it would still feel like in. We would still
0:07:03 > 0:07:07remain a member of the customs union.We would continue to access
0:07:07 > 0:07:12the customs union on the same basis, you have to be careful with your
0:07:12 > 0:07:17definitions. If you talk to the EU we have left...We would still be
0:07:17 > 0:07:23subject to the external tariffs of the customs union for two years.The
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Prime Minister has been clear that's the case.And we would remain a
0:07:27 > 0:07:32member of the single market for another two years?We would maintain
0:07:32 > 0:07:37our access under the same rules and regulations.So we would have all
0:07:37 > 0:07:43the obligations of being in the single market, the customs union,
0:07:43 > 0:07:48and the ECJ for another two years without any representation on the
0:07:48 > 0:07:55bodies which run these institutions? We want to make sure we exit with
0:07:55 > 0:07:59certainty and stability of how things stand, that businesses and
0:07:59 > 0:08:03government have time to prepare. That is what the Prime Minister sent
0:08:03 > 0:08:08out to achieve.Its continuity, nothing really changes. You're in
0:08:08 > 0:08:16the single market, customs union, do we continue with the free movement
0:08:16 > 0:08:19of people?People will be able to come here to live and work and
0:08:19 > 0:08:25contribute.Robber still be free movement?We will want to introduce
0:08:25 > 0:08:31a registration process...Wilber still be free movement?People will
0:08:31 > 0:08:36be able to come here but they will need to register to prepare for our
0:08:36 > 0:08:42new immigration system.If Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron
0:08:42 > 0:08:46get-together and introduce a transactions tax on financial
0:08:46 > 0:08:50dealings, something Emanuel Macron is very keen on, say that is
0:08:50 > 0:08:56introduced in the summer of 2019, do we have to introduce it?I don't
0:08:56 > 0:08:58think it's possible to get something that significant through the
0:08:58 > 0:09:04European system, I don't think realistically...If they could would
0:09:04 > 0:09:10we have to implement it?We have to be clear that the UK has played a
0:09:10 > 0:09:13role and will continue to play a role in making these decisions right
0:09:13 > 0:09:19up until our exit.If they introduce something like a transactions tax
0:09:19 > 0:09:24during the transition period do we have to implement it?I don't
0:09:24 > 0:09:30believe that is likely to be the case, it's a theoretical.Two years
0:09:30 > 0:09:35is a long while, they could do lots of things. Labour agrees, want to
0:09:35 > 0:09:40stay in the customs union and single market and you like the ECJ.What we
0:09:40 > 0:09:43find frustrating is that Labour has been saying for a long time that
0:09:43 > 0:09:48until the government gets its act together we would have two as a
0:09:48 > 0:09:50country accept the reality of needing a transition period because
0:09:50 > 0:09:55we're not going to be ready. Finally the government has caught up with it
0:09:55 > 0:09:58but we still have all this conclusion.The government is now
0:09:58 > 0:10:05doing what you wanted to do.Yes but it is still confused.We are all
0:10:05 > 0:10:12confused! Do you want to stay in the customs union after the transition?
0:10:12 > 0:10:16We don't want the government to rule out options like staying in...Do
0:10:16 > 0:10:23you think we should stay?We want the benefits we currently have
0:10:23 > 0:10:26because we recognise if we were in the driving seat for negotiations we
0:10:26 > 0:10:30would have to be talking to the other 27 countries. There are a lot
0:10:30 > 0:10:34of benefits of that union. Relating to the comment about how the
0:10:34 > 0:10:38government is trying to keep things on an even keel during this process,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41I have been in the customs bill committee hearing from businesses
0:10:41 > 0:10:45about how the government is not taking on the union customs code
0:10:45 > 0:10:48which is not something people mentioned to me when I was
0:10:48 > 0:10:51campaigning in the referendum. It is adopting a different process making
0:10:51 > 0:10:55huge disruption for business when it should have said we will continue
0:10:55 > 0:11:00with the current system.We have just passed EU withdrawal bill to
0:11:00 > 0:11:06provide continuity which Labour proposed.Because of the power grab.
0:11:06 > 0:11:12Let's come onto the issue which dominated Cabinet yesterday. We were
0:11:12 > 0:11:15promised by the Leave side there would be more money for the NHS
0:11:15 > 0:11:23after breakfast, Brexit! After breakfast as well! We know the NHS
0:11:23 > 0:11:31is currently under severe financial pressure, so why not make it down
0:11:31 > 0:11:37payment? Why not put more money into the NHS now?I fully support
0:11:37 > 0:11:41increasing funding and the NHS and we are delivering on that. What we
0:11:41 > 0:11:46have seen in 2010 is an increase of about 12 and a half billion. We saw
0:11:46 > 0:11:50extra money for winter pressures last year which was vital. I have
0:11:50 > 0:11:53seen the biggest investment in my hospital since it was built in the
0:11:53 > 0:12:0090s. I think we need to keep up with investment.If you are keen on
0:12:00 > 0:12:04investment the last Labour government run 1987-2010 on average
0:12:04 > 0:12:12in real terms increased NHS spending by £5 billion a year over that
0:12:12 > 0:12:16period. On average how much have you increased NHS spending?We have
0:12:16 > 0:12:22increased it every year.By how much?Billions more going on. About
0:12:22 > 0:12:302 billion per year.So you put into billion per year since 2010 the last
0:12:30 > 0:12:36Labour government put in 5 billion a year.That was in the context of the
0:12:36 > 0:12:41government losing control of the country's debts and running a huge
0:12:41 > 0:12:46deficit...We had a financial crisis and you took support of the measures
0:12:46 > 0:12:51we took.Do you not see the hard of a problem that under the last Labour
0:12:51 > 0:12:55government spending rose by 5 billion per year on average. Under
0:12:55 > 0:13:01you, just under 2 billion per year which is the problem because the
0:13:01 > 0:13:06demands on the NHS are ever rising but the rises in cash you are giving
0:13:06 > 0:13:10it are falling.I think it's also about how we invest the money and
0:13:10 > 0:13:13make sure it makes the most difference, increasing spending on
0:13:13 > 0:13:17mental health which is at the highest it has ever been can save
0:13:17 > 0:13:22money elsewhere in the system.It is clear your 2 billion per year is not
0:13:22 > 0:13:27enough, just look at the NHS, there might be other things you have to
0:13:27 > 0:13:32do, I'm not saying it's on money, but it's clear your 2 billion per
0:13:32 > 0:13:37year which is only 40% of what Labour was putting in terms of the
0:13:37 > 0:13:43increase not enough.I stood on a manifesto last election offering a
0:13:43 > 0:13:47more substantial increase to the NHS, meeting the terms the NHS had
0:13:47 > 0:13:55asked for.You have not matched the Labour Party's record. We are in a
0:13:55 > 0:13:58different context.We had to pick up the pieces after the financial
0:13:58 > 0:14:06price. We have made the NHS a top priority.Except you are still going
0:14:06 > 0:14:12to increase its only by about 2 billion per year.I do not recognise
0:14:12 > 0:14:17that. What we are seeing will take us up to about 16 billion...Let's
0:14:17 > 0:14:24go to 2018-19, on real terms you will be 126 billion which is 14
0:14:24 > 0:14:31billion more than 2010-11 when he came to power, that, divided by six
0:14:31 > 0:14:38is less than 2 billion per year. So you're not increasing it in real
0:14:38 > 0:14:43terms by much at all.We are every year and we are taking steps to
0:14:43 > 0:14:47increase the number of front line staff in the NHS, to make sure we
0:14:47 > 0:14:53have less dependence on the very expensive agency workers.10% of
0:14:53 > 0:14:58nursing posts are unfilled. Nurses are leaving the NHS at a higher rate
0:14:58 > 0:15:03than ever.We had the biggest increase in medical training going
0:15:03 > 0:15:08on...Even in young nurses are leaving.I'm sorry, in my local
0:15:08 > 0:15:13trust the number of vacancies is declining.That is very unusual.I
0:15:13 > 0:15:18am sure it is Shangri-La at your local trust but across the country,
0:15:18 > 0:15:23is this what Nick Boles meant about your inability to rise to the
0:15:23 > 0:15:27challenge when he called the government tenet and lacking in
0:15:27 > 0:15:33ambition and what Nicholas Soames called dull, dull, dull, one Cabinet
0:15:33 > 0:15:36minister said we are governed by visionless mediocrity that is what
0:15:36 > 0:15:43your government has come to. Visionless mediocrity.
0:15:43 > 0:15:51I don't think there is anything visionless. Meeting the demands of
0:15:51 > 0:15:55the NHS, 10 billion more funding in this government, raising the
0:15:55 > 0:16:03priority on mental health.Why are you timid and lacking ambition,
0:16:03 > 0:16:12dull, dull, dull and visionless.We had to make sure people see an
0:16:12 > 0:16:16increase in their wages through a significant increase in the national
0:16:16 > 0:16:23living wage, which we will see this April.This is not meeting its,
0:16:23 > 0:16:29these are Conservatives saying it. It is always good for the
0:16:29 > 0:16:32backbenchers to challenge the government to do more. We are seeing
0:16:32 > 0:16:38fairer funding for our schools.What have you done for the just about
0:16:38 > 0:16:44managing?We have increased the national living wage.That was done
0:16:44 > 0:16:53by George Osborne, what has Theresa May done?
0:16:53 > 0:16:57May done?Continuing to drive this, focusing on productivity, which
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Labour said for many years we couldn't turn around...That is one
0:17:01 > 0:17:07quarter's figures.It is beginning to show real improvement and that
0:17:07 > 0:17:11means higher wages. We want to combine that with the lowest paid
0:17:11 > 0:17:17paying less tax.The figures this morning show wages are lacking
0:17:17 > 0:17:21behind prices and in real terms, wages are still falling.
0:17:21 > 0:17:30Productivity is the key...You said wages were rising.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32wages were rising. Would Labour increase NHS spending by £5 billion
0:17:32 > 0:17:39a year?Yes we would and we set out how we would do it at the general
0:17:39 > 0:17:45election. We would also
0:17:45 > 0:17:50election. We would also lift the PEI cap, which is having an impact on
0:17:50 > 0:17:56recruitment.What was the main source of the 5 billion a year?It
0:17:56 > 0:18:02is all set out, for example, reversing some of the changes to the
0:18:02 > 0:18:07top rate of tax the government said it wanted to prioritise.It could
0:18:07 > 0:18:22cost you money?It could, but we had many different funding sources. My
0:18:22 > 0:18:26trust is struggling because we cannot get enough people in and the
0:18:26 > 0:18:29number one reason they cannot work in my city is because the wages
0:18:29 > 0:18:35cannot keep track of costs.Let's move on.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38This time last week we were talking about the impact of the collapse
0:18:38 > 0:18:41of the construction firm Carillion and today Labour is trying to force
0:18:41 > 0:18:44a binding vote in the Commons which would make ministers hand
0:18:44 > 0:18:46over their risk assessments for the company before it went bust,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49hoping to prove they knew it was in trouble before
0:18:49 > 0:18:50handing over big contracts.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Well we know Labour believes this is a watershed moment in the way
0:18:53 > 0:18:55the public views the use of private companies to provide public
0:18:55 > 0:18:58services, and this week they set out more of their thinking.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Shadow cabinet minister Jon Trickett said on Monday Labour would change
0:19:01 > 0:19:03the way procurement works "within hours" of taking office.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05He said on Twitter: "Let me be clear to the outsourcing
0:19:05 > 0:19:07firms: the party is over.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08A Corbyn Government will reverse the presumption
0:19:08 > 0:19:13in favour of outsourcing."
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Under a Labour government, firms will only be be able to bid
0:19:16 > 0:19:18for a public contract if it meets rules including:
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Giving full union recognition for their workforce and comply
0:19:20 > 0:19:23with collective bargaining agreements.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Move towards a pay ratio of 20-1, meaning the highest paid employee
0:19:26 > 0:19:29could earn no more than 20 times the lowest.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33And firms would have to agree to maintain high environmental
0:19:33 > 0:19:41standards and adopt best practices in equal opportunities.
0:19:41 > 0:19:47Let's have a look at this. Can you name any FTSE company where the boss
0:19:47 > 0:19:53is paid only 20 times the lowest paid?I cannot say to you I know
0:19:53 > 0:19:58exactly what the ratio is for every FTSE company, but I can say it is a
0:19:58 > 0:20:06mainstream opinion. I saw in the recent submission, that the
0:20:06 > 0:20:09government hasn't fulfilled its promise...Let's look at how it
0:20:09 > 0:20:14would work. You wouldn't get a government contract unless the
0:20:14 > 0:20:20average pay of the boss was no more than 20-1. Lockheed and British
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Aerospace are building our new fighters for the aircraft carriers.
0:20:24 > 0:20:31Neither meets the 20-1 criteria, who would build our fighters?We think
0:20:31 > 0:20:34this could change behaviour in the private sector. When you look at
0:20:34 > 0:20:39other countries who have adopted similar, that is what happened.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44Really? You are telling me the boss of Lockheed would take a massive pay
0:20:44 > 0:20:49cut in order to continue to supply 30 firefighters?We don't think
0:20:49 > 0:20:52essentially government should be paying for these massive pay
0:20:52 > 0:21:02packets.If the boss of Lockheed and Bae, it is bigger in America than
0:21:02 > 0:21:09here now, if these two company say sorry, we're not cutting executive
0:21:09 > 0:21:13pay. It wouldn't just be the boss it would be all executives, but they
0:21:13 > 0:21:18wouldn't do it, who would supply the fighters?We would have to change
0:21:18 > 0:21:23that business behaviour.If they don't change, who would supply them.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28Who is going to innovate new F35 fighter which has been 15 years in
0:21:28 > 0:21:33development and still not ready for our carriers?We need to look at
0:21:33 > 0:21:39this system from start to end, because we're not talking about pay
0:21:39 > 0:21:45issues, but also export credit guarantees...But Bae, it is the one
0:21:45 > 0:21:50that jumps out. The NHS, it is a huge success story of this country,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54we have some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the
0:21:54 > 0:22:01world and they supplied drugs to the NHS. Their executives are paid more
0:22:01 > 0:22:06than 20-1, who would supply our drugs if they didn't change the PEI
0:22:06 > 0:22:12ratio?Labour isn't saying we want every single company in the whole
0:22:12 > 0:22:17country to change.You have said it would be a condition of getting a
0:22:17 > 0:22:24public contract that the pay ratio is 20-1, so who would provide the
0:22:24 > 0:22:30drugs?You are not outsourcing services, you are purchasing the
0:22:30 > 0:22:34drugs from them. The NHS has done that. We're looking at things like
0:22:34 > 0:22:41cleaning and catering.IT, you outsource massively. Hewlett
0:22:41 > 0:22:47Packard, IBM and the French company have been named as part of the top
0:22:47 > 0:22:5020 companies you outsource to. Hewlett Packard is a massive
0:22:50 > 0:22:58American company. Who do you go to if they will not cut their American
0:22:58 > 0:23:02executive pay?We need to look at how we would do with multinational
0:23:02 > 0:23:09companies like that.How would you deal with that?I accept it is
0:23:09 > 0:23:12something the Labour government wasn't always perfect act, but we
0:23:12 > 0:23:17have many problems at the moment and we need more accountability for that
0:23:17 > 0:23:21process. If that means potentially more firms coming in who don't have
0:23:21 > 0:23:28that...What British company could do that Hewlett Packard does for the
0:23:28 > 0:23:32government?We have these contracts going to these huge firms that
0:23:32 > 0:23:37haven't delivered. It might mean smaller portions of these contracts
0:23:37 > 0:23:43going to different firms.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48going to different firms.The French company, is massive, what if they
0:23:48 > 0:23:55say we don't want British contracts any more, where do you go?At this
0:23:55 > 0:24:01point, I cannot say off the top of my head, but the public are fed up
0:24:01 > 0:24:05with the system where taxpayers are supporting very, very high pay
0:24:05 > 0:24:11packets. Through that public purse and that has got to end. Government
0:24:11 > 0:24:14activity can change these issues. Theresa May herself for saying she
0:24:14 > 0:24:20was thinking of looking at this issue of pay ratios, not just for
0:24:20 > 0:24:27outsourcing, but for the whole economy. She hasn't done that.It is
0:24:27 > 0:24:31your policy, the Spanish construction company, key to the
0:24:31 > 0:24:35Crossrail programme going on, could be key to the new Crossrail going
0:24:35 > 0:24:43from north to south. Its boss is paid £3.7 million. Unless he cuts
0:24:43 > 0:24:50his pay on your ratio, to around £400,000, he couldn't bid for these
0:24:50 > 0:24:53contracts?We believe there should be a change in that kind of pay
0:24:53 > 0:25:00system and we have been upfront about that.No major international
0:25:00 > 0:25:05construction company would not be able to bid for a contract?That is
0:25:05 > 0:25:10not the case. We think people would cut their pay, potentially.You
0:25:10 > 0:25:17think they would cut their pay to get a British contract?When we are
0:25:17 > 0:25:21looking at international firms, we need to focus on the national
0:25:21 > 0:25:24leadership and management.So in international company could get a
0:25:24 > 0:25:28construction contract with the boss being paid millions, but a British
0:25:28 > 0:25:34company wouldn't get it unless the boss wasn't paid very much?That is
0:25:34 > 0:25:39not what I said, I said about the leadership within the country so we
0:25:39 > 0:25:46would compare like with like.You haven't thought this idea through,
0:25:46 > 0:25:51have you?We have. The government said itself it would look at these
0:25:51 > 0:25:59pay ratios but it has abandoned that.You name one company that
0:25:59 > 0:26:02would fall in with that. It would be an infrastructure programme that
0:26:02 > 0:26:06would be dead on arrival because nobody would be around to do it
0:26:06 > 0:26:12because they wouldn't have you fixing their executive's pay.Unless
0:26:12 > 0:26:17we grasp this nettle of high pay at the top end as we have seen falling
0:26:17 > 0:26:22wages at the bottom end, we will have continued public anger around
0:26:22 > 0:26:27this problem. Labour is trying to do something about it.I understand
0:26:27 > 0:26:30that and that is why I am questioning you. But I think we have
0:26:30 > 0:26:35gone as far as we can today.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37The United States experienced another government shutdown
0:26:37 > 0:26:39at the weekend, which means many government agencies stopped working
0:26:39 > 0:26:42and thousands of federal employees are placed on temporary unpaid leave
0:26:42 > 0:26:44because of a disagreement over the Budget in Congress.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49The White House released a series of photographs of president
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Donald Trump to show he at least was hard at work
0:26:52 > 0:26:54to end the shutdown.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55Here he is in the Oval Office.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Critics of the president, of which there are many,
0:26:57 > 0:27:03were quick to claim that it looked perhaps a teensy bit staged.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08I don't think so, it is always like that.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Certainly the desk looks a bit empty, although he's previously been
0:27:11 > 0:27:14criticised for having a busy desk so perhaps that just shows
0:27:14 > 0:27:15you can't win them all.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Sadly the White House didn't relate who exactly the president
0:27:17 > 0:27:20was calling although we understand it was a matter of
0:27:20 > 0:27:26national importance.
0:27:26 > 0:27:27PHONE RINGS
0:27:27 > 0:27:28Excuse me.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29Hello?
0:27:29 > 0:27:30Mr President?
0:27:30 > 0:27:31What's that?
0:27:31 > 0:27:33You'd like a Daily Politics mug?
0:27:33 > 0:27:35I'm sorry but you'll just have to enter Guess the Year
0:27:35 > 0:27:39just like everyone else.
0:27:39 > 0:27:46Stop watching Fox and watch the BBC. Then you might have a chance.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Remember to wrap up warm at Davos.
0:27:50 > 0:27:57Goodbye. Try not to bother me again.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59I need to have another word with the BBC switchboard.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02But if you, like the Donald, want to win one of these limited
0:28:02 > 0:28:05edition Daily Politics mugs, all you need to do is tell
0:28:05 > 0:28:06us when this happened.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08# Baby, this is what you came for.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10# Lightning strikes every time she moves #.
0:28:10 > 0:28:16CHANTING:Save our NHS, save our NHS!
0:28:16 > 0:28:22# I'm only human after all.
0:28:22 > 0:28:23# You're only human after all.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25# Don't put the blame on me.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29# Don't put your blame on me #.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34# So far away, but still so near.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37# The lights come up, the music dies.
0:28:37 > 0:28:42# But you don't see me standing here.
0:28:42 > 0:28:48# I just came to say goodbye #.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51# You watch me bleeding till I can't breathe.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56# Shaking, falling onto my knees#.
0:28:56 > 0:29:03# We've got a whole lot of history.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08# We could be the greatest team that the world has ever seen.
0:29:08 > 0:29:13# You and me got a whole lot of history.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15# So don't let it go, we can make some more.
0:29:15 > 0:29:23# We can live for ever #.
0:29:30 > 0:29:36Donald, you have to stop calling, I am working. He won't leave me alone.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41send your answer to our special quiz email address, that's...
0:29:41 > 0:29:49dpquiz@bbc.co.uk.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Entries must arrive by 12.30 today, and you can see the full terms
0:29:53 > 0:30:01bbc.co.uk/dailypolitics.
0:30:01 > 0:30:08And I should point out that you have to be a UK resident to take part,
0:30:08 > 0:30:14although we might make an exception for the leader of the free world.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17It's coming up to midday, just take a look at Big Ben.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19That means Prime Minister's Questions is on its way
0:30:19 > 0:30:27and Laura Kuenssberg is here.
0:30:30 > 0:30:40It is the Elisabeth Tower.I know that. It is for our viewers.Sorry.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44We talked earlier in the programme about David Davis and the European
0:30:44 > 0:30:50Court of Justice continuing to have jurisdiction over us through the
0:30:50 > 0:30:58transition period. How has that gone down?Use a transition period but
0:30:58 > 0:31:05many Brexiteers would rather see implementation phase.The Prime
0:31:05 > 0:31:13Minister has been using that phrase but we know it is transition.It's
0:31:13 > 0:31:17absolutely vital that it is an implementation phase for some loud
0:31:17 > 0:31:22voices on the Tory backbenches. The viewers want to throw their
0:31:22 > 0:31:24dictionary at the TV, the important distinction and white Brexiteers are
0:31:24 > 0:31:31worried about people talking about transition as David Davis did this
0:31:31 > 0:31:34morning is that an implementation phase as set out by the Prime
0:31:34 > 0:31:39Minister, the whole idea is that both sides...I'm going to up to
0:31:39 > 0:31:42stop you, we will come back to this but for the moment I apologise we go
0:31:42 > 0:31:44straight to the House of Commons.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in
0:31:55 > 0:31:58addition to my duties in this house I shall have other such meetings
0:31:58 > 0:32:04later today and later I will travel to Switzerland to attend the World
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Economic Forum and I might even bump into the Shadow Chancellor why I am
0:32:07 > 0:32:12near!
0:32:13 > 0:32:20As you know, last week was the very successful launch of the engineering
0:32:20 > 0:32:23campaign aimed at changing the perception of engineering and
0:32:23 > 0:32:27inspiring the next generation of engineers, I know the Prime Minister
0:32:27 > 0:32:30is personally committed to this campaign so can I invite her to join
0:32:30 > 0:32:35me and 80,000 young people at this year 's Big Bang fair to reinforce
0:32:35 > 0:32:39the message that engineering is a great career and open to anyone
0:32:39 > 0:32:45regardless of background, ethnicity and gender.My honourable friend
0:32:45 > 0:32:50makes an important point, this issue of engineering particularly for more
0:32:50 > 0:32:54women seeing engineering as a career is something I have promoted for
0:32:54 > 0:32:57many years now. Engineers are vital to our economy and that is why we
0:32:57 > 0:33:02want to see everyone and it's not just about gender, it is background
0:33:02 > 0:33:05and ethnicity, everybody whatever their background having the chance
0:33:05 > 0:33:09to build a career in engineering and the year of engineering gives us a
0:33:09 > 0:33:14great opportunity to work with business to do exactly that. If I
0:33:14 > 0:33:18have the opportunity, if my daddy allows, I would be happy to attend
0:33:18 > 0:33:27what he refers to. -- if my diary allies.I join in the Prime Minister
0:33:27 > 0:33:31in commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day, many members will attend the
0:33:31 > 0:33:36events tomorrow, we have to teach all generations that the descent
0:33:36 > 0:33:40into Nazism and the Holocaust must never, ever be repeated. Anywhere on
0:33:40 > 0:33:46this planet. Does the Mr mac agree with the Foreign Secretary that the
0:33:46 > 0:33:53National Health Service needs an extra £5 billion?
0:33:56 > 0:33:59extra £5 billion?I think the right honourable gentleman, as I recall
0:33:59 > 0:34:04was here in the chamber for the autumn budget given by my right
0:34:04 > 0:34:06honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer where he announced we
0:34:06 > 0:34:12would be putting £6 billion more into the National Health Service.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16The only problem with that Mr Speaker is that it was 2.8 billion
0:34:16 > 0:34:21spread like thin gruel over two years. Two weeks ago the Prime
0:34:21 > 0:34:25Minister told the house and I quote it is indeed the case that the NHS
0:34:25 > 0:34:31was better prepared this winter than ever before. 68 senior accident and
0:34:31 > 0:34:35emergency doctors have written to the Prime Minister about what they
0:34:35 > 0:34:40describe as serious concerns for the safety of our patients, they say
0:34:40 > 0:34:43patients are being treated in corridors and they are dying
0:34:43 > 0:34:48prematurely. Who should the public believe, the Prime Minister or the
0:34:48 > 0:34:55doctors?It is right that the NHS was better prepared for this winter
0:34:55 > 0:35:02than it ever has been before. We saw 3000 more beds being brought into
0:35:02 > 0:35:08use over the winter period. We sought the use of the one-on-one
0:35:08 > 0:35:14call system leading to the significant reduction in the number
0:35:14 > 0:35:19of call-outs. We have seen changes made in accident and emergency with
0:35:19 > 0:35:23GP streamlining helping to ensure that people who do not need to go
0:35:23 > 0:35:28into hospital went into hospital. Overall, overall we have seen 2.8
0:35:28 > 0:35:36million more people last year visiting accident and emergency than
0:35:36 > 0:35:41did so in 2010. Our NHS is indeed providing for patients. There are
0:35:41 > 0:35:45winter pressures, we were prepared for those winter pressures and we
0:35:45 > 0:35:50will ensure, as we have done every year under this Conservative
0:35:50 > 0:35:58government that the NHS receives more funding.Mr Speaker since 2010
0:35:58 > 0:36:02we have lost 14,000 NHS beds, the King 's fund, the health foundation
0:36:02 > 0:36:08and Nuffield trust all agreed the NHS and needs another 4 billion. In
0:36:08 > 0:36:13December, the month just gone, NHS England recorded its worst ever
0:36:13 > 0:36:17accident and emergency performances with more patients than ever waiting
0:36:17 > 0:36:21over four hours. Now the UK Statistics Authority say the numbers
0:36:21 > 0:36:26might be worse because the figures have been fiddled. Can the Prime
0:36:26 > 0:36:29Minister tell the house when figures calculated in line with previous
0:36:29 > 0:36:35years will be published?I have to say to the right honourable
0:36:35 > 0:36:38gentleman that the NHS is open and publishing a whole variety of
0:36:38 > 0:36:43figures in relation to the targets it has. We are putting more money
0:36:43 > 0:36:49into the NHS every year and we are continuing to do that. If he wants
0:36:49 > 0:36:54to talk about figures and targets being missed... Yes the latest
0:36:54 > 0:37:00figures show that in England 497 people were waiting more than 12
0:37:00 > 0:37:06hours. But the latest figures also show that under the label government
0:37:06 > 0:37:11in Wales -- under the Labour government in Wales 3471 people were
0:37:11 > 0:37:17waiting...The Prime Minister is responsible for the underfunding of
0:37:17 > 0:37:26the Welsh government. And despite that, despite that, the overall
0:37:26 > 0:37:33Welsh Labour health budget has grown by 5% in 2016-17. It is Labour Wales
0:37:33 > 0:37:37with the problem of underfunding from a Conservative government based
0:37:37 > 0:37:44on Westminster. So far Mr Speaker this winter 100,000 patients have
0:37:44 > 0:37:48been forced to wait more than 30 minutes in the back of an ambulance
0:37:48 > 0:37:53in NHS England for which is she is responsible. Yet still the Prime
0:37:53 > 0:37:59Minister refuses to give the NHS the money it needs. Can she tell us how
0:37:59 > 0:38:02many more patients will face life-threatening weights in the back
0:38:02 > 0:38:08of ambulances this winter?I say to the right honourable gentleman that
0:38:08 > 0:38:12of course we want to ensure that people are not waiting in those
0:38:12 > 0:38:15ambulances. But the only answer he ever comes up with is the question
0:38:15 > 0:38:26of money. No, no, this is... The question... The question is this,
0:38:26 > 0:38:31the question is this, why are there are some hospitals where the
0:38:31 > 0:38:36percentage of patients waiting more than 30 minutes is zero and other
0:38:36 > 0:38:41hospitals where the percentage of patients waiting more than 30
0:38:41 > 0:38:44minutes is considerably higher? If he wants to talk about funding
0:38:44 > 0:38:47perhaps we should look at what the Labour Party promised that the last
0:38:47 > 0:38:51general election last year... It's all very well shadow ministers
0:38:51 > 0:38:58shouting about the comparison of money, the point is that at the last
0:38:58 > 0:39:02election the Institute for Fiscal Studies said this, Labour and the
0:39:02 > 0:39:06Conservatives are pretty much on the same page. There is not much to
0:39:06 > 0:39:12choose between them in terms of the money they will put into the NHS.A
0:39:12 > 0:39:16Labour government would not be underfunding the NHS, a Labour
0:39:16 > 0:39:21government would not be privatising the NHS, a Labour government would
0:39:21 > 0:39:24not be underfunding social care, a Labour government would be committed
0:39:24 > 0:39:30to an NHS free at the point of use as a human right. Mr Speaker,
0:39:30 > 0:39:38according to the whistle-blower, as many as... Hang on, hang on,
0:39:38 > 0:39:42according to a whistle-blower, as many as 80 patients were harmed or
0:39:42 > 0:39:48died following significant ambulance delays over a three-week period this
0:39:48 > 0:39:52winter. This is a very serious situation and the Prime Minister
0:39:52 > 0:39:56must be aware of it. What investigation is the Department of
0:39:56 > 0:40:02Health carrying out into these deeply alarming reports?When we
0:40:02 > 0:40:07hear reports of that sort of course they are very alarming. That is why
0:40:07 > 0:40:11the Department of Health does make sure that investigations take place.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15That might be undertaken by the Department of Health or by the
0:40:15 > 0:40:19particular trust involved, the ambulance trust or the hospital but
0:40:19 > 0:40:21these issues are investigated because we don't want to see that
0:40:21 > 0:40:25happening. We want to see people properly cared for and if there were
0:40:25 > 0:40:30lessons to learn to them they will be learned because we want to do is
0:40:30 > 0:40:35that our support for the NHS is about providing it with the funding,
0:40:35 > 0:40:39doctors and nurses, treatment and capabilities that it needs in order
0:40:39 > 0:40:43to deliver for patients. That is why we are backing the NHS with more
0:40:43 > 0:40:47funding, that is why we ensure they get the best treatments and survival
0:40:47 > 0:40:50rates for cancer are higher than they have ever been before. It is
0:40:50 > 0:40:55why we are ensuring better joined up services across the NHS and social
0:40:55 > 0:41:03care so those people who do not need to go into hospital are able to be
0:41:03 > 0:41:06cared for at home and it is why we are ensuring we are reducing waste
0:41:06 > 0:41:08in the NHS so taxpayers money is spent as effectively as may be on
0:41:08 > 0:41:13patient care. That is a plan for the NHS but it is a plan which put
0:41:13 > 0:41:19patients first.Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister must be aware of
0:41:19 > 0:41:23ambulances backed up in hospital car parks with nurses treating patients
0:41:23 > 0:41:27in the back of ambulances, ambulance drivers and paramedics desperate to
0:41:27 > 0:41:30get on to deal with the next patient cannot leave because the patient
0:41:30 > 0:41:35they are dealing with at that moment cannot get into the accident and
0:41:35 > 0:41:39emergency department. It has been reported a man froze to death
0:41:39 > 0:41:43waiting 16 hours for an ambulance. Last week a gentleman wrote to me
0:41:43 > 0:41:48saying my friends 93-year-old father waited four hours for an ambulance
0:41:48 > 0:41:55after a fall. These are not isolated cases. These are common parlance all
0:41:55 > 0:42:02over the country. It needs money, it needs support and it needs it now.
0:42:02 > 0:42:07The Prime Minister is frankly in denial about the state of the NHS,
0:42:07 > 0:42:11even the absent Foreign Secretary recognises it by the Prime Minister
0:42:11 > 0:42:16is not listening. People using the NHS can see from their own
0:42:16 > 0:42:20experience it is being starved of resources. People are dying
0:42:20 > 0:42:22unnecessarily in the back of ambulances and in hospital
0:42:22 > 0:42:30corridors. GP numbers are down. Nurses are leaving. The NHS is in
0:42:30 > 0:42:39crisis. Mr Speaker, Tory MPs might not like it but I ask this question
0:42:39 > 0:42:44of the Prime Minister, when is she going to face up to the reality and
0:42:44 > 0:42:53take action to save the NHS from death by a thousand cuts?There is
0:42:53 > 0:42:59only one part of the NHS which has been cut, seen a cut in its funding,
0:42:59 > 0:43:07it is the NHS in Wales under a Labour government. This is a
0:43:07 > 0:43:11government, this is a government that is backing the NHS plan, that
0:43:11 > 0:43:16is putting more money into the NHS, that is recruiting more doctors and
0:43:16 > 0:43:19nurses, that is seeing new treatments come on board which
0:43:19 > 0:43:23ensure people are getting the best treatment that they need. This is a
0:43:23 > 0:43:27government that recognises the priorities of the British people.
0:43:27 > 0:43:32Priority is to ensure the NHS remains a world-class health care
0:43:32 > 0:43:36system, indeed the best health care system in the world. Priority is to
0:43:36 > 0:43:41build the homes people need, to make sure our kids are in good schools.
0:43:41 > 0:43:46This is a government which is building a country which works for
0:43:46 > 0:43:51everyone, a country in which... A country in which people can look to
0:43:51 > 0:43:58the future with optimism and hope. Thank you Mr Speaker, the British
0:43:58 > 0:44:03people need to be confident in the integrity of our voting system. So
0:44:03 > 0:44:06what is my right honourable friend doing to follow up on Sir Eric
0:44:06 > 0:44:12Pickles report securing the ballot to minimise voter fraud, whether
0:44:12 > 0:44:17this is for referenda, general elections or local elections?My
0:44:17 > 0:44:22honourable friend raises an important point, can I congratulate
0:44:22 > 0:44:26him for a very good council by-election result, the
0:44:26 > 0:44:31Conservatives taking a seat from the Labour Party. But he raises an
0:44:31 > 0:44:35important issue about strengthening our process and enhancing the
0:44:35 > 0:44:39confidence people have in our democratic processes. We will
0:44:39 > 0:44:46shortly be running pilot screams in five local authorities to identify
0:44:46 > 0:44:49voter ID by nationality, and in Tower Hamlets and slow and
0:44:49 > 0:44:54Peterborough they will pilot measures to improve the proxy and
0:44:54 > 0:44:56postal vote process. Democracy matters but it's important people
0:44:56 > 0:45:04have true faith in it.Can I wish you a happy Burns day for tomorrow
0:45:04 > 0:45:08Mr Speaker and can I associate myself with the remarks of the Prime
0:45:08 > 0:45:12Minister for Holocaust Memorial Day, we should never forget the horrible
0:45:12 > 0:45:15tragedy and the price people had to pay but we should remember a
0:45:15 > 0:45:18genocide happening in many territories since that time as well
0:45:18 > 0:45:25and we must work to eradicate that scourge our society. Mr Speaker,
0:45:25 > 0:45:28earlier this week the Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive officer
0:45:28 > 0:45:36admitted in a leaked memo that closing 22 local branches would be
0:45:36 > 0:45:40painful for customers. 13 towns are to lose their last bank in Scotland.
0:45:40 > 0:45:45Prime Minister I will give you one other opportunity, as the majority
0:45:45 > 0:45:50shareholder will you meet with RBS and make the case to keep the
0:45:50 > 0:45:55branches open?
0:45:56 > 0:45:58The right honourable gentleman has asked me this on a number of
0:45:58 > 0:46:05occasions and I have made the point in every answer, and that will not
0:46:05 > 0:46:10change today. We do have a duty as a government and we look at how the
0:46:10 > 0:46:16market is working. That is why we establish the access to banking
0:46:16 > 0:46:19standard that commits banks to carry out a certain number of steps before
0:46:19 > 0:46:24closing a branch and that is why we welcome the post office but welcome
0:46:24 > 0:46:29customers to use Post Office services. 99% of personal customers
0:46:29 > 0:46:33can carry out their day-to-day banking at a post office as a result
0:46:33 > 0:46:39of a new agreement. People are covered by the services they need.I
0:46:39 > 0:46:44would say to the Prime Minister, we owned RBS and it is time you took
0:46:44 > 0:46:49responsibility. By closing these branches and replacing some with a
0:46:49 > 0:46:54mobile banking vans which do not provide disability access, The Royal
0:46:54 > 0:47:00Bank of Scotland appears to be in breach of the UK a quality act. A
0:47:00 > 0:47:08wheelchair user has described using this as degrading. Does the Prime
0:47:08 > 0:47:13Minister agree RBS has the responsibility to deliver services
0:47:13 > 0:47:19to disabled people and will she be held accountable and this issue.We
0:47:19 > 0:47:24all want to be able to see that all customers are able to access the
0:47:24 > 0:47:28services they need. That is customers who are disabled and
0:47:28 > 0:47:33customers who live in remote areas. As I have said, this is a commercial
0:47:33 > 0:47:39decision taken by The Royal Bank of Scotland. Banks are closing
0:47:39 > 0:47:43branches, other banks are closing branches because what they see is
0:47:43 > 0:47:49less use being made of those branches. As the right honourable
0:47:49 > 0:47:52gentleman has been talking about matters financial, I am sorry he
0:47:52 > 0:47:57wasn't able to welcome the fact the trade figures for Scotland showed
0:47:57 > 0:48:02their biggest export market remains the rest of the United Kingdom.
0:48:02 > 0:48:07Damian Green.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11Damian Green.Thank you. It is easier asking them than answering
0:48:11 > 0:48:16them. It is vital for long-term prosperity the government maintains
0:48:16 > 0:48:23infrastructure investment. With this in mind and especially as proposals
0:48:23 > 0:48:27for new bridges are fashionable, can I ask the Prime Minister to commit
0:48:27 > 0:48:32the government to a practical idea, which is an early start on the lower
0:48:32 > 0:48:36Thames crossing between Kent and Essex which would create 5000 jobs,
0:48:36 > 0:48:40relieve pressure on the motorway network and provide a boost to the
0:48:40 > 0:48:47economy of the whole eastern side of England?Prime Minister.My right
0:48:47 > 0:48:50honourable friend is right in drawing attention to the impact of
0:48:50 > 0:48:55infrastructure when it is developed in various parts of the UK. In terms
0:48:55 > 0:49:01of the Thames crossing it will unlock growth for the region and
0:49:01 > 0:49:07offer new connections and better journeys. It is the best investment
0:49:07 > 0:49:11in the road network in a generation. Highways England have announced the
0:49:11 > 0:49:16preferred route last year. I recognise this has raised concerns
0:49:16 > 0:49:21in effect constituencies, but can I get sure that there will be further
0:49:21 > 0:49:25opportunities for those who both support the proposals and those who
0:49:25 > 0:49:31do not, they can give their views and have their say. But he is right,
0:49:31 > 0:49:35infrastructure developments can make an impact, not just on jobs during
0:49:35 > 0:49:43the infrastructure but on the economy locally and nationally.
0:49:43 > 0:49:48Outside the customs union, many UK businesses would face, complex and
0:49:48 > 0:49:55punitive rules of origin tariffs. Given the Prime Minister's aim of
0:49:55 > 0:49:59frictionless trade post Brexit, can she confirm if it is her intention
0:49:59 > 0:50:04to pursue a customs union with the EU?I have said this on many
0:50:04 > 0:50:09occasions and I am happy to repeat it. Leaving the European Union means
0:50:09 > 0:50:13we will be leaving the single market, we will no longer be members
0:50:13 > 0:50:17of the customs union. We want to sign and implement trade deals with
0:50:17 > 0:50:25other parts of the world as part of an independent trade pussy. But in
0:50:25 > 0:50:28the negotiations we are looking forward to for Abbas but feel, we
0:50:28 > 0:50:34will be looking for a tariff free and frictionless trade agreement as
0:50:34 > 0:50:39possible.
0:50:39 > 0:50:45possible.Many members on both sides of the House, myself included have
0:50:45 > 0:50:53expressed concern over the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of -- this
0:50:53 > 0:51:00government will always take longer to protect this country.My
0:51:00 > 0:51:05honourable friend has raised an important subject. In July the
0:51:05 > 0:51:08government initiated the National security capability review, which
0:51:08 > 0:51:13was in support of the implementation, ongoing
0:51:13 > 0:51:20implementation of the 2015 national security review, to ensure we do
0:51:20 > 0:51:23indeed, have the capabilities, the investment in those capabilities we
0:51:23 > 0:51:28need in our national security and that investment, those capabilities
0:51:28 > 0:51:34are as effective and joined up as possible. I have agreed the
0:51:34 > 0:51:37high-level findings with ministers at the National Security Council and
0:51:37 > 0:51:41have directed the work should be finalised with a view to publishing
0:51:41 > 0:51:45a report on this in late spring. It has been significant and it will
0:51:45 > 0:51:49ensure we have the right capabilities. As part of that we
0:51:49 > 0:51:53realise more work was needed on defence to work on modernising
0:51:53 > 0:51:58defence. We want to ensure the defence budget is being spent
0:51:58 > 0:52:01intelligently and efficiently and we are investing in the capabilities we
0:52:01 > 0:52:06need to keep the nation safe. And the Defence Secretary will update
0:52:06 > 0:52:12the House on this in due course.It is a tragedy that in the past year
0:52:12 > 0:52:18knife crime has risen by 26%. The youth of Ireland's commission is
0:52:18 > 0:52:22conducting the first National youth survey to look at their experiences
0:52:22 > 0:52:27of trauma and violence. Will the Prime Minister meet with me to
0:52:27 > 0:52:33discuss the causes of youth violence and how we can find solutions?Can I
0:52:33 > 0:52:37say to the honourable lady, it is an important issue and we need to look
0:52:37 > 0:52:42at this issue. Although she won the crimes that are traditionally
0:52:42 > 0:52:46measured by the National crime survey have dropped over a third
0:52:46 > 0:52:51since 2010, we need to consider these issues of the root causes of
0:52:51 > 0:52:55violence, among young people and these knife crimes we seek among
0:52:55 > 0:52:59young people. It is important we remain adaptable and resilient and
0:52:59 > 0:53:03we need to understand that. I am sure the Home Secretary will be
0:53:03 > 0:53:11happy to meet her to talk about youth violence and the causes.On
0:53:11 > 0:53:15the 28th of December, the East of England Ambulance Service attended
0:53:15 > 0:53:19and addressed in lower soft in which a man was sadly confirmed of having
0:53:19 > 0:53:24died. It followed on from a call from the previous afternoon from the
0:53:24 > 0:53:34police regarding the same person who was left outside in inhospitable
0:53:34 > 0:53:38conditions. I have spoken to the person who made the initial call and
0:53:38 > 0:53:42I have concerns over how the matter was handled by the case only came to
0:53:42 > 0:53:46light in the last few days. I would ask the Prime Minister to endorse
0:53:46 > 0:53:50the request I have made to the east of England Ambulance Service and
0:53:50 > 0:53:55Suffolk police to immediately instigate an independent enquiry to
0:53:55 > 0:53:58establish exactly what happened and to then put in place measures to
0:53:58 > 0:54:04ensure such a tragic event does not happen again?Can I share his
0:54:04 > 0:54:10concerns about this event, about what happens, the tragedy that
0:54:10 > 0:54:15happened here. We should recognise our Ambulance Services, those
0:54:15 > 0:54:19delivering services, work hard and regularly go above and beyond the
0:54:19 > 0:54:23call of duty to ensure our safety. But there have been concerns raised
0:54:23 > 0:54:27about the service in the East of England ambulance trusts, including
0:54:27 > 0:54:31this very, very worrying and tragic case is my honourable friend has
0:54:31 > 0:54:37raised. As I said in response to the Leader of the Opposition earlier, we
0:54:37 > 0:54:42take these cases very seriously. Any claims patient safety has been put
0:54:42 > 0:54:48at risk are taken seriously and the Department of Health and social care
0:54:48 > 0:54:50has received assurances these reports are being investigated by
0:54:50 > 0:54:56the trust as a serious incident. It is an issue that my honourable
0:54:56 > 0:55:01friend, the Minister of the health has discussed with executives of NHS
0:55:01 > 0:55:08England and NHS improvement.3 million people in this country live
0:55:08 > 0:55:12in homes that are unfit, posing a threat to their health and safety.
0:55:12 > 0:55:18It costs the NHS billions. The House gave the secondaries into my housing
0:55:18 > 0:55:25fitness pill which will give tenants new legal rights to act against the
0:55:25 > 0:55:29worst landlords. I was grateful to have the support of the government
0:55:29 > 0:55:36and the backing of these benches. But time the Private member 's'
0:55:36 > 0:55:40bills are limited and tenants cannot wait. Canty ensure this important
0:55:40 > 0:55:46bill will make rapid progress and become law.The honourable lady
0:55:46 > 0:55:51raises an important point. We have seen, over the last six or seven
0:55:51 > 0:55:56years, a significant number of homes now meeting the decent homes
0:55:56 > 0:55:59standard. The condition in which people are living is important and I
0:55:59 > 0:56:03will ask the Leader of the House to look at the issues she has raised
0:56:03 > 0:56:11about her own bill.Trudy Harrison. Cumbria is internationally
0:56:11 > 0:56:14celebrated for its lakes and mountains and known for nuclear
0:56:14 > 0:56:20excellence. This afternoon Parliament is hosting a taste of
0:56:20 > 0:56:25Cumbria, showcasing our final food and rent. Can I extend a warm
0:56:25 > 0:56:29invitation to yourself and the Prime Minister, to come along and sample
0:56:29 > 0:56:37some of our finest fare?Can I say to my honourable friend, I am afraid
0:56:37 > 0:56:42my diary does not permit me to attend that event this afternoon,
0:56:42 > 0:56:46but if I can drop a hint, I understand there was a taste of
0:56:46 > 0:56:52Lincolnshire offend recently and my honourable friend sent me some
0:56:52 > 0:56:57Lincolnshire products after the event. I am not hinting at anything,
0:56:57 > 0:57:08but...I will come along. Sarah Jones.
0:57:08 > 0:57:11Jones.Mr Speaker, this morning, thousands of us across the country
0:57:11 > 0:57:17heard my friend and former boss, Baroness Tessa jowl talk for the
0:57:17 > 0:57:21first time since she was diagnosed with a high-grade brain tumour. It
0:57:21 > 0:57:26was a joy to hear her relentless positivity and complete commitment
0:57:26 > 0:57:32to changing the world. In a speech in the other place tomorrow, she
0:57:32 > 0:57:37will call for improved cancer diagnosis and treatment. Will the
0:57:37 > 0:57:40Prime Minister and the Health Secretary meet with Tessa, me and
0:57:40 > 0:57:45other health experts to talk about how we improve outcomes, to meet her
0:57:45 > 0:57:52goal and ultimately save lives?I will say to the honourable lady, I
0:57:52 > 0:58:00am sure the whole House was saddened to hear of the diagnosis of the
0:58:00 > 0:58:04noble Baroness, the noble lady baroness Abbott encouraged by the
0:58:04 > 0:58:09approach he is taking. I told the Home Secretary, and her speech this
0:58:09 > 0:58:14morning was very moving in this. I am sure everybody across this House
0:58:14 > 0:58:19of Sand heard the very best wishes at this time. We do want to make
0:58:19 > 0:58:22sure cancer treatment is a priority and we want to make sure the best
0:58:22 > 0:58:28treatments are being provided. We will consider investing in anything
0:58:28 > 0:58:33that improves that and we have accepted 96 recommendations in the
0:58:33 > 0:58:38NHS Cancer strategy. We constantly need to look at this. My right
0:58:38 > 0:58:41honourable friend the Health Secretary will be happy to meet with
0:58:41 > 0:58:49the honourable lady and Tessa Jowell.Tessa Jowell has been an
0:58:49 > 0:58:52outstanding public servant. In my 20 years of this place I have never met
0:58:52 > 0:59:02a more courteous or gracious member of Parliament.
0:59:08 > 0:59:16The Prime Minister will no of the
0:59:16 > 0:59:20devastation caused by fixed odds betting terminals. Far cry from the
0:59:20 > 0:59:30bingo Hall, the pools coupon. Given there is a review, will she meet me
0:59:30 > 0:59:33and others to discuss how the maximum bet on these terminals can
0:59:33 > 0:59:41be reduced. And to plan how a crackdown on the online gambling
0:59:41 > 0:59:47sites which target young children. Mr Speaker, the stakes are too high
0:59:47 > 0:59:54to gamble with our children's futures.We are clear the fixed odds
0:59:54 > 0:59:59betting terminals stakes will be cut to make sure we have a safe and
0:59:59 > 1:00:03sustainable industry were vulnerable people and children are protected.
1:00:03 > 1:00:08As I suspect, he knows the consultation the Department for
1:00:08 > 1:00:10digital culture media and sports has launched on this and a close
1:00:10 > 1:00:14yesterday so a final decision will be made in due course. He will know
1:00:14 > 1:00:20with regard to the specific point on children, there are in place,
1:00:20 > 1:00:23controls to prevent children and young people from accessing online
1:00:23 > 1:00:28gambling and the gambling commission has asked the gambling strategy
1:00:28 > 1:00:30board to examine the wide relationship between children and
1:00:30 > 1:00:35gambling. It is important we recognise the potential threats and
1:00:35 > 1:00:38dangers but ensure we have the best information possible to be able to
1:00:38 > 1:00:44act.
1:00:44 > 1:00:51My 25-year-old constituent lost her battle with cervical cancer and died
1:00:51 > 1:00:57in January last year. She went to her GP around 30 times with symptoms
1:00:57 > 1:01:01and repeatedly asked for a smear test and was refused. She only got
1:01:01 > 1:01:07the test when she paid to have it done privately. Sadly the cancer had
1:01:07 > 1:01:13spread by that point. We'll be Prime Minister support of the family in
1:01:13 > 1:01:15their campaign to introduce Amber's law which would change the
1:01:15 > 1:01:21regulations so that women under 25 can access a smear test on the
1:01:21 > 1:01:27National Health Service when they are symptomatic?I send my
1:01:27 > 1:01:32condolences and I am sure the whole house does to Amber's family for
1:01:32 > 1:01:36this terrible thing which has happened. The smear test is hugely
1:01:36 > 1:01:42important. Sadly what we see even for those who qualify today to have
1:01:42 > 1:01:49the test is that too many women do not take it up. I know it's not a
1:01:49 > 1:01:55comfortable thing to do. Because I have it as other stew. But it's so
1:01:55 > 1:01:58important for women's health. I first of all want to encourage women
1:01:58 > 1:02:03to actually take the smear test. Secondly she has raised an issue
1:02:03 > 1:02:08about the availability of that test and I will ask my right honourable
1:02:08 > 1:02:12friend the Secretary of State for Health to look at this issue. It has
1:02:12 > 1:02:16been raised before for those under the age of 25. Action has been taken
1:02:16 > 1:02:23in terms of the vaccine which has been introduced for teenagers. There
1:02:23 > 1:02:27have been questions about that, I have had people in my constituency
1:02:27 > 1:02:31raising questions about that. We need to address this issue in every
1:02:31 > 1:02:36way possible so we will look at the question of age qualification and my
1:02:36 > 1:02:40overall message is, please, those called for a smear test, go and have
1:02:40 > 1:02:46it.
1:02:46 > 1:02:51it.Would my right honourable friend join me in congratulating Bexley
1:02:51 > 1:02:54rugby club on its 60th anniversary and agree with me that the pursuit
1:02:54 > 1:03:02of sport is good for health and well-being.I can see to my right
1:03:02 > 1:03:05honourable friend that I am very happy to endorse what he has said
1:03:05 > 1:03:10about sport and indeed to enjoy him in congratulating the rugby club on
1:03:10 > 1:03:14a significant anniversary. I am sure over all of those years it has given
1:03:14 > 1:03:18many young people and others an introduction to the joy of sport and
1:03:18 > 1:03:23the way sport can be good for the community and society and also the
1:03:23 > 1:03:29individual. I am happy to endorse that.This week I have been
1:03:29 > 1:03:34approached by a constituent who is a single mother and up until December
1:03:34 > 1:03:39was a teacher. She has been told she will have to wait over six weeks for
1:03:39 > 1:03:43Universal Credit payment and been denied hardship loans. This means
1:03:43 > 1:03:48that she is living on £20 per week child benefit and the charity of
1:03:48 > 1:03:53food banks. Can the Prime Minister tell us that is how Universal Credit
1:03:53 > 1:03:59is supposed to work? And does she regret that my constituent's son now
1:03:59 > 1:04:06joins the nearly 9000 children living in
1:04:06 > 1:04:13living in poverty and Batley and Spen?We made changes to the
1:04:13 > 1:04:15Universal Credit which were announced in the budget including
1:04:15 > 1:04:20changes which mean the availability of advanced payments has increased.
1:04:20 > 1:04:23The size of those advanced payments has increased but if she would like
1:04:23 > 1:04:27to send the details, write in with the particular details we can look
1:04:27 > 1:04:35at it and make sure it is properly considered.The latest figures from
1:04:35 > 1:04:38the Office of National Statistics show the government is making
1:04:38 > 1:04:42further progress in reducing the deficit. Would my right honourable
1:04:42 > 1:04:47friend agree it would be reckless to change course now in terms of a
1:04:47 > 1:04:57policy of Reena as localisation -- of renationalisation?My honourable
1:04:57 > 1:05:01friend raises an important point, it has not been easy to the dues the
1:05:01 > 1:05:06deficit in the way that we have. We had to deal with the biggest deficit
1:05:06 > 1:05:10in our peacetime history left to us by the Labour Party, decisions from
1:05:10 > 1:05:18the government... Yes. Yes.Order! Labour might not like hearing it but
1:05:18 > 1:05:24it is what happened. It is by the hard work of the British people and
1:05:24 > 1:05:28by decisions the government has taken we have been able to produce
1:05:28 > 1:05:34that deficit. But £170 billion extra in order to meet the ideological
1:05:34 > 1:05:38desires of the Leader of the Opposition would saddle people up
1:05:38 > 1:05:41and down this country with higher debt and ordinary people would pay
1:05:41 > 1:05:49the price.Will she instruct the DWP to release the details of benefits
1:05:49 > 1:05:52claimants with disabilities who have taken their own lives after the
1:05:52 > 1:05:56claims were turned down, stop without notice or significantly
1:05:56 > 1:06:07reduced?The DWP does not give details of individuals with whom it
1:06:07 > 1:06:12deals. That is absolutely right. Absolutely right. What it does do is
1:06:12 > 1:06:16ensure we have a welfare system which provides support to those who
1:06:16 > 1:06:21need it and welfare system that increasingly encourages those who
1:06:21 > 1:06:24can to get into the workplace because we continue to believe work
1:06:24 > 1:06:32is the best route out of other day. In her December press release the
1:06:32 > 1:06:35Bank of England described the UK financial system as both a national
1:06:35 > 1:06:41asset and a global public good. Does my right honourable friend think it
1:06:41 > 1:06:44is reasonable that the UK financial services sector which pays billions
1:06:44 > 1:06:50of pounds in taxes wants to hear the government ambitions to ensure the
1:06:50 > 1:06:52City of London remains a global pre-eminent financial settlement in
1:06:52 > 1:06:59the same way it set out ambitions for other sectors in the summer?I
1:06:59 > 1:07:04have said in this chamber we retain that ambition for the City of London
1:07:04 > 1:07:08to remain a global financial centre, I have said it outside this chamber,
1:07:08 > 1:07:14it is indeed what we are working on. I was pleased to welcome a number of
1:07:14 > 1:07:17senior representatives from the financial services sector to number
1:07:17 > 1:07:21ten Downing St only a matter of weeks ago. To sit down and talk to
1:07:21 > 1:07:26them about how we can ensure that we do exactly that. London's place as
1:07:26 > 1:07:30the financial sector for the world is not just to benefit the United
1:07:30 > 1:07:33Kingdom, it's a benefit to the global financial system and the
1:07:33 > 1:07:43European Union.It's absolutely wonderful Mr Speaker that people are
1:07:43 > 1:07:46top thing about building walls but we in Britain are talking about
1:07:46 > 1:07:52building bridges. But let me reassure our American friends that
1:07:52 > 1:07:58the Mexicans and the French will be paying for it because our NHS needs
1:07:58 > 1:08:03to be properly funded first. Can the Prime Minister confirm that rather
1:08:03 > 1:08:08than building 22 mile long bridges over the English Channel or a £50
1:08:08 > 1:08:13billion Boris airport in the Thames estuary, when will be Western rail
1:08:13 > 1:08:20link to Heathrow connect in Wales, the South and the West directly to
1:08:20 > 1:08:25Heathrow, when more that finally be built and will we be subjected to
1:08:25 > 1:08:31further studies and consultations? Can I say to the honourable
1:08:31 > 1:08:34gentleman that I believe there is very strong cross-party support for
1:08:34 > 1:08:38the Western rail link for Heathrow. The honourable gentleman has
1:08:38 > 1:08:42expressed his support and my right honourable friend the member for
1:08:42 > 1:08:45Newbury has been supporting this. It would reduce journey times for
1:08:45 > 1:08:49passengers in the south-west and good support the Thames Valley
1:08:49 > 1:08:53economy. It is something I have looked into as a Thames Valley MP
1:08:53 > 1:08:57previously. Development funding has been committed for the project and
1:08:57 > 1:09:04the Department for Transport will write further detail in due course.
1:09:04 > 1:09:07Can I congratulate the Prime Minister and the parties in Northern
1:09:07 > 1:09:12Ireland for the resumption today of talks at Stormont. What more can be
1:09:12 > 1:09:16done to ensure the executive is restored and the nightmare of direct
1:09:16 > 1:09:23rule avoided?My honourable friend is absolutely right, the people of
1:09:23 > 1:09:26Northern Ireland need strong devolved government and political
1:09:26 > 1:09:29leadership and they cannot continue to have their public services
1:09:29 > 1:09:33suffered by lack of an executive without ministers making key policy
1:09:33 > 1:09:36and budget decisions. We are determined to re-establish a fully
1:09:36 > 1:09:41function inclusive devolved administration which works for
1:09:41 > 1:09:45everyone in Northern Ireland. We believe that the basis for a deal
1:09:45 > 1:09:49exists and that is why as my honourable friend has said today,
1:09:49 > 1:09:54the Northern Ireland Secretary starting a set of political talks to
1:09:54 > 1:09:58restore the executive. I would encourage, strongly encourage all
1:09:58 > 1:10:02parties to come together and focus on the job of restoring devolved
1:10:02 > 1:10:10government in Northern Ireland.Over Christmas Newcastle United football
1:10:10 > 1:10:16fans raised over £50,000 for the Western food bank in my constituency
1:10:16 > 1:10:22which you are soon to visit Mr Speaker, helping to feed people like
1:10:22 > 1:10:27John who despite having COPD, arthritis, dyspepsia, prose that is,
1:10:27 > 1:10:33type two diabetes and anxiety and depression was sanctioned for not
1:10:33 > 1:10:39working hard enough to try to find work. We'll be Prime Minister
1:10:39 > 1:10:44congratulate the people of Newcastle on their generosity and will she
1:10:44 > 1:10:51explain why it was necessary?All I can say to the honourable lady is
1:10:51 > 1:10:58that I applaud all those who give their time voluntarily, raise money
1:10:58 > 1:11:03across the board in terms of the activities, she has raised a
1:11:03 > 1:11:06specific example of the work of people in Newcastle and I commend
1:11:06 > 1:11:15people for when they do raise money for causes. Can I just say to the
1:11:15 > 1:11:19honourable lady, I cannot discuss an individual case across this dispatch
1:11:19 > 1:11:23box as she will knows. I think it's important, it is important that we
1:11:23 > 1:11:28do ensure we have a system which works, does work properly and fairly
1:11:28 > 1:11:33and I am sure if she wants to raise the individual case with the
1:11:33 > 1:11:37Secretary of State for Work and Pensions it will be looked into.The
1:11:37 > 1:11:40Prime Minister will now be very welcome and introduction of the
1:11:40 > 1:11:44national minimum wage has created an as yet unresolved difficulty for the
1:11:44 > 1:11:50care sector. Specifically for 24 hour care for those with significant
1:11:50 > 1:11:56learning difficulties. The issue is commonly referred to as sleeping
1:11:56 > 1:12:01shifts and owed money to the HMRC. Will the Prime Minister meet with me
1:12:01 > 1:12:06and a number of concerned colleagues to discuss the best way forward?My
1:12:06 > 1:12:09honourable friend raises an important issue which is of concern
1:12:09 > 1:12:14to a number of organisations and to others around the house. I am very
1:12:14 > 1:12:18happy to meet her and looked into this particular question. I would
1:12:18 > 1:12:22say to my honourable friend this is a matter the Cabinet Office has been
1:12:22 > 1:12:28looking at and working with the relative Ottoman departments --
1:12:28 > 1:12:31government departments to find a solution which I know has caused
1:12:31 > 1:12:36concern. That is why there have been the measures taken to defer the
1:12:36 > 1:12:39abomination of certain aspects of this but we continue to work on it
1:12:39 > 1:12:46and are happy to look into it. Nobody has been charged with the
1:12:46 > 1:12:52death of Poppi Worthington despite the 13 month -year-old having been
1:12:52 > 1:12:56anally penetrated in the hours before her death at home. She was
1:12:56 > 1:13:01not known to social services despite a staggeringly troubled family
1:13:01 > 1:13:07history so will she agreed to a public enquiry so we can learn the
1:13:07 > 1:13:13lessons from this and the children safer across the country?I think
1:13:13 > 1:13:16this is a case which has shocked and appalled everybody around the
1:13:16 > 1:13:24country when they have seen the horrific abuse which was carried out
1:13:24 > 1:13:30and obviously the tragic circumstances of the death of Poppi
1:13:30 > 1:13:31and obviously the tragic circumstances of the death of Poppi.
1:13:31 > 1:13:35I'm sure everyone will join me in offering my condolences. As I
1:13:35 > 1:13:38understand that the Crown Prosecution Service has announced it
1:13:38 > 1:13:41is considering the coroner 's decision in the lesion with Cumbria
1:13:41 > 1:13:46Constabulary and I think is right we allow that process to continue to
1:13:46 > 1:13:51take place and await the outcome of it before considering any further
1:13:51 > 1:13:55action being needed. I can assert the honourable gentleman that I
1:13:55 > 1:13:59think everyone across this house is well appraised of the significance
1:13:59 > 1:14:05of this issue and how appalling this tragedy was and the need for us to
1:14:05 > 1:14:09ensure there was indeed Justice but also lessons are learned.Order.
1:14:19 > 1:14:25ANDREW: PMQs ending on a sombre note. As expected, Jeremy Corbyn
1:14:25 > 1:14:29went on the NHS. The extra money the government was putting in wasn't
1:14:29 > 1:14:38enough. And he quoted A&E doctors and who should we trust, them or the
1:14:38 > 1:14:44experts. The Prime Minister quoted statistics, showing various areas
1:14:44 > 1:14:49how she thought the NHS was doing well. Inevitably, we may want to
1:14:49 > 1:14:54start betting on this.
1:14:58 > 1:15:02start betting on this. Jeremy Corbyn use some detail, he said 100,000
1:15:02 > 1:15:05patients had to wait more than 30 minutes in an ambulance. He talked
1:15:05 > 1:15:11about the numbers waiting for how the A&E figures, a weight of no more
1:15:11 > 1:15:19than four hours have been regularly breached. He said 80 patients had
1:15:19 > 1:15:24been harmed or died over three weeks while waiting in the ambulances.
1:15:24 > 1:15:28That was the exchange. Whether we got anywhere is another matter but
1:15:28 > 1:15:34the NHS is always a powerful issue. Labour think it is its issue and
1:15:34 > 1:15:38that is why Jeremy Corbyn regularly goes with it. And in the winter
1:15:38 > 1:15:42there is plenty of material he has to put to the government.
1:15:42 > 1:15:45Let's discuss all this with Brexit minister Robin Walker and Shadow
1:15:45 > 1:15:46Treasury Minister Anneliese Dodds.
1:15:46 > 1:15:52Laura Kuenssberg is here too.
1:15:52 > 1:15:58Before I interrupted you, Laura.You did, well, John Bercow bid, by
1:15:58 > 1:16:05starting on time.I am happy to be corrected. And finished early as
1:16:05 > 1:16:10well. We talked about the NHS in the first part of the programme and
1:16:10 > 1:16:15spoke to the Minister about them. Mr David Davis, the Brexit minister was
1:16:15 > 1:16:21in front of a select committee and was being asked questions, maybe it
1:16:21 > 1:16:28was Jacob Rees Mogg that responded, but he seemed to tell us that in
1:16:28 > 1:16:33this transition period of two years after we leave, the European Court
1:16:33 > 1:16:38of Justice will still rule and have jurisdiction in this land.Explain?
1:16:38 > 1:16:42And in her Florence speech, the Prime Minister said the transition
1:16:42 > 1:16:47period will be the status quo and the rules and regulations will stay
1:16:47 > 1:16:53broadly the same and that will mean the oversight of the European Court
1:16:53 > 1:16:57of Justice. The context is, the government is expected to set and
1:16:57 > 1:17:04much more detail about the two years up Brexit day by the end of this
1:17:04 > 1:17:11week. So ears are wagging around Westminster for any clues. The
1:17:11 > 1:17:15second thing is, for the Tory party, this debate around what the
1:17:15 > 1:17:23transition period looks like is one of the central issues of dispute
1:17:23 > 1:17:26between the Brexiteer tendency, of course from top to bottom in the
1:17:26 > 1:17:34party and those who were advocates for Remain. And David Davis, who was
1:17:34 > 1:17:39a Brexiteer but now had to make the thing work. We were saying before
1:17:39 > 1:17:44PMQs, there is even a row before you get to the actual thing, there is a
1:17:44 > 1:17:49row over what to call it. Is it a transition period or in
1:17:49 > 1:17:52implementation phase, which is what the Prime Minister said last day.
1:17:52 > 1:17:56That matters because implementation is basically meant to be both sides
1:17:56 > 1:18:02getting used to the new arrangements and transition is things preserved
1:18:02 > 1:18:09in aspect. In your view, what is it, implementation or transition? This
1:18:09 > 1:18:16matters to a lot of people.If you look at the joint report, it is
1:18:16 > 1:18:20both, it refers to both terms. But I think it is important to reflect the
1:18:20 > 1:18:27fact that this is not a question of, do we stay in the EU. It is, we are
1:18:27 > 1:18:32leaving the EU but we are taking time to do it in an orderly way.
1:18:32 > 1:18:37There is a period, if you have two years, were both sides of the EU and
1:18:37 > 1:18:39the UK get used to set of new arrangements...Which would be
1:18:39 > 1:18:46agreed.Which would be agreed. Or you have a two-year period which
1:18:46 > 1:18:52would be the status quo and the UK would be expected to abide by any
1:18:52 > 1:18:56new rules. It will be interesting to hear from the minister, people want
1:18:56 > 1:19:03to know if the UK can set its own rules during the two-year period?As
1:19:03 > 1:19:07you said, the Secretary of State will be setting out in more detail,
1:19:07 > 1:19:13the way it will work later in the week. But what I want to point out,
1:19:13 > 1:19:17the UK will be able to start to go out and prepare a new policy,
1:19:17 > 1:19:20prepare new ground for how things will be different in the future. The
1:19:20 > 1:19:26Prime Minister said in her speech, both in her Lancaster House and
1:19:26 > 1:19:32Florence beaches, we need continuity during the process.Will anything be
1:19:32 > 1:19:37different in the transition period? We will no longer be a member of the
1:19:37 > 1:19:45European Union. Anything other than that? That is a significant point.
1:19:45 > 1:19:50How we prepare for trade policy, go out and talk to countries. At the
1:19:50 > 1:19:54moment, we can't.That is not implementation, it is a preparation
1:19:54 > 1:20:02period.It is both.You couldn't implement, under what is being
1:20:02 > 1:20:06proposed, you could not implement or sign in new free trade deal with a
1:20:06 > 1:20:12third party?I think that is something obviously we are entering
1:20:12 > 1:20:15negotiations on this implementation period, but we want to be going out
1:20:15 > 1:20:20and talking to the parties during these arrangements and putting those
1:20:20 > 1:20:24arrangements into place, so they are ready for the point at which really.
1:20:24 > 1:20:29There is agreement from both parties about the benefits of having time to
1:20:29 > 1:20:32prepare. Not just from a business perspective, which we have heard
1:20:32 > 1:20:36loud and clear from businesses in all sectors, but also in respect of
1:20:36 > 1:20:40the government being able to prepare for new arrangements that might be
1:20:40 > 1:20:45in place between us in the future. There is a lot of anxiety about what
1:20:45 > 1:20:49the actual answers to these questions are on Tory backbenchers,
1:20:49 > 1:21:00which was demonstrated by Mr Rhys Marg, because he is the head of the
1:21:00 > 1:21:05reform group, the research group, sorry. They are a powerful grip on
1:21:05 > 1:21:11the Tory backbenches.Quite well informed, they
1:21:12 > 1:21:18informed, they do their research. Will we be able to set out our own
1:21:18 > 1:21:22rules and regulations during the implementation, transition period
1:21:22 > 1:21:27and I think there may be some rumblings on the Tory benches that
1:21:27 > 1:21:33may become more public.You didn't get an answer, and I didn't get an
1:21:33 > 1:21:39answer and that would have been bad. If the transition period goes up to
1:21:39 > 1:21:47December 2020 or even into March of 2021, assuming this parliament runs
1:21:47 > 1:21:51its life, that is quite a big assumption, but assuming it does,
1:21:51 > 1:21:56there is only a year until the next election as well. There isn't a
1:21:56 > 1:22:01period on which to fight an election where people have any sense of being
1:22:01 > 1:22:07able to say, well I am glad we did this, or, it is turning into a
1:22:07 > 1:22:13disaster, because there isn't enough time?I think a lot of viewers will
1:22:13 > 1:22:18be thinking, why are we talking about the interests of a small
1:22:18 > 1:22:21number of Conservative backbenchers and why aren't we talking about the
1:22:21 > 1:22:24interests of this country? The message that has come across to me
1:22:24 > 1:22:29from business, we had it again with the custom-built committee, they
1:22:29 > 1:22:33need to know they will be sticking with existing rules and all of this
1:22:33 > 1:22:36talk about whether we have got a transition period, implementation
1:22:36 > 1:22:46period, half in, half out, whatever it is, it's not helping. We have
1:22:46 > 1:22:49some evidence it is costing jobs. It is holding up investment decisions.
1:22:49 > 1:22:55Not showing up in this morning's unemployment figures, is it?You are
1:22:55 > 1:22:59right, but look at different sectors. Not staying part of the
1:22:59 > 1:23:06EU's trade remedies regime or not having rules are strict is that
1:23:06 > 1:23:11regime, we could be flooded with Chinese imports, potentially.You
1:23:11 > 1:23:17mean unlike now?To be fair we have a number of trade remedies. If we
1:23:17 > 1:23:22didn't have those and if the government is threatening to take
1:23:22 > 1:23:30those away, we need to have that security. Being held to ransom by
1:23:30 > 1:23:35somebody like Jacob Rees Mogg, I have nothing against him personally,
1:23:35 > 1:23:38they are not representing this country and the government should
1:23:38 > 1:23:43not be driven by this.It sounds like the government is closer to you
1:23:43 > 1:23:48on this than it does to Jacob Rees Mogg.The government has finally
1:23:48 > 1:23:53come up with what Lega has argued for, for a long time, we have got to
1:23:53 > 1:24:01accept the reality...What came from Labour was absurd. It was in the
1:24:01 > 1:24:04Florence speech, the Lancaster House speech, we have been clear there
1:24:04 > 1:24:08would need to be a period for the implementation and move to a new
1:24:08 > 1:24:16agreement. That is the policy we are seeing through.You wouldn't accept
1:24:16 > 1:24:19initially there would be any involvement of the ECJ when it was
1:24:19 > 1:24:26obvious it would have to happen.The Prime Minister set that out in her
1:24:26 > 1:24:31Florence speech, it would be under the same rules.She didn't, there
1:24:31 > 1:24:35would be instability and concerned before the government accepted what
1:24:35 > 1:24:41Labour said the whole way.It is true a lot of Eurosceptics had
1:24:41 > 1:24:46argued when we leave, the moment the technically leave, that is when the
1:24:46 > 1:24:50ECJ should no longer... There was a residual thing in Phase one, they
1:24:50 > 1:24:58would have a residual locus on EU citizens.But that was meant to be
1:24:58 > 1:25:04it. It is indeed the case the Eurosceptics in the Tory party has
1:25:04 > 1:25:08moved a bit about what they were willing to accept. There is no
1:25:08 > 1:25:11question about that and some ministers did start off thinking
1:25:11 > 1:25:16there didn't have to be a transition and then they accepted that, as you
1:25:16 > 1:25:20have been suggesting. The broader point, the Tory party is not all
1:25:20 > 1:25:24peace and harmony about the transition period, which is the next
1:25:24 > 1:25:27phase of the huge Brexit challenge we are about to enter into
1:25:27 > 1:25:32negotiations on.So watch this space. We shall watch this space
1:25:32 > 1:25:38indeed. Let me bring you back, Anneliese Dodds, to a more domestic
1:25:38 > 1:25:45issue. Labour's executive committee comic called on Labour councillors
1:25:45 > 1:25:52in Haringey to stop a controversial housing partnership to redevelop a
1:25:52 > 1:25:55large council housing estate. The NEC said they should stop doing
1:25:55 > 1:26:01this. Is it a proper role for the NEC?I believe what they said this
1:26:01 > 1:26:05to have a review after some members referred it to them. It is a
1:26:05 > 1:26:10difficult issue.There is a mediation process and they are
1:26:10 > 1:26:17asking the council to halt it.But it seemed clear, the NEC is against
1:26:17 > 1:26:25it?I am not sitting on the NEC, I don't know what individuals on the
1:26:25 > 1:26:30NEC is.This is a local councillor, he thinks the NEC that Matt Prior
1:26:30 > 1:26:35serve the people of my borough first, not my party. Regardless of
1:26:35 > 1:26:45what the Politburo say.Well, it is funny, I know Joe Goldberg from a
1:26:45 > 1:26:53long time ago. The context for this is a situation where it is very
1:26:53 > 1:26:56difficult for councils to do regeneration because of a lot of the
1:26:56 > 1:27:01rules around viability. There is a discussion about whether this big
1:27:01 > 1:27:07project, whether it is the right way to go...But the elected Labour
1:27:07 > 1:27:13councillors of Haringey, most of them wanted to proceed. Some I read
1:27:13 > 1:27:17in the papers, were quite excited about what this would do for this
1:27:17 > 1:27:22large council estate in terms of regeneration?Do regeneration is
1:27:22 > 1:27:25certainly needed, the question is whether this is the right way to
1:27:25 > 1:27:30achieve it. That is why we will have this review. It is important we have
1:27:30 > 1:27:36it. I hope this will raise more generally, some of the problems we
1:27:36 > 1:27:40have around regeneration. We are in a difficult situation, where
1:27:40 > 1:27:43developers hold the cards and the government has done nothing to
1:27:43 > 1:27:48improve that situation, in fact has done more to make it worse.Who do
1:27:48 > 1:27:53you side with, the Haringey councillors or the NEC?I don't know
1:27:53 > 1:27:57what the opinions of the individual NEC members are. They are holding
1:27:57 > 1:28:05the review, which is a good idea.Do you think the NEC should turn its
1:28:05 > 1:28:12attention to cuts in the council? Nervous laughter.I was laughing
1:28:12 > 1:28:21with you.There is a lot to be seen in Oxford, let me tell you.There is
1:28:21 > 1:28:29the issue of regeneration.Anyway, I need to put our viewers out of their
1:28:29 > 1:28:38misery and give them the answer to Guess the Year.
1:28:38 > 1:28:42Guess the Year. It was 2016, not that long ago. Can you press the
1:28:42 > 1:28:45buzzer. The NEC approved when it is...
1:28:48 > 1:28:50That's all for today.
1:28:50 > 1:28:55The One o'clock News is starting over on BBC One now.
1:28:55 > 1:28:59Sarah Smith at noon tomorrow with another Daily Politics. I hope you
1:28:59 > 1:29:02can join her, goodbye.