0:00:40 > 0:00:43Morning folks, welcome to the Daily Politics.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Ministers hold an emergency meeting to discuss the suspected poisoning
0:00:46 > 0:00:48of a Russian double agent.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51The government says it will respond "robustly" if it's proved
0:00:51 > 0:00:54the Russian state was involved.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57We'll have the latest.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59The Chancellor says financial services must be included
0:00:59 > 0:01:01in our post-Brexit trading deal.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04EU top brass says, "Not on your nelly."
0:01:04 > 0:01:10Battle lines are drawn so will a comprehensive deal be reached?
0:01:10 > 0:01:12He's leading a huge reform programme in Saudi Arabia.
0:01:12 > 0:01:18But, amid continued controversy about human rights, should Britain
0:01:18 > 0:01:25be rolling out the red carpet for the young Saudi crown prince?
0:01:25 > 0:01:27A busy day here in Westminster, so plenty for Theresa May
0:01:27 > 0:01:30and Jeremy Corbyn to discuss at PMQs.
0:01:30 > 0:01:37All the action coming up at midday.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42All that in the next 90 minutes and with me for the duration,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Treasury Minister Mel Stride and the Shadow Work and Pensions
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Secretary Debbie Abrahams.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Welcome to the show.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54The Government's emergency committee Cobra is meeting this morning to get
0:01:54 > 0:01:56the latest on the suspected poisoning of a former
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Russian double agent.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, have spent a third night
0:02:03 > 0:02:06in a critical condition in hospital after being found unconscious
0:02:06 > 0:02:10in Salisbury on Sunday.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Our reporter Andy Moore is outside the Cabinet Office where that
0:02:13 > 0:02:21emergency meeting is taking place.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27Any new developments yet? Do we know what has been decided?No, this
0:02:27 > 0:02:35meeting started about 45 minutes ago. These emergency meetings at
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Cobra are held after a terrorist attack, so it gives you an
0:02:39 > 0:02:43indication of the seriousness with which the government is taking this
0:02:43 > 0:02:49incident. This will be a meeting chaired by Amber arrived, the Home
0:02:49 > 0:02:54Secretary, and it is attended by senior Cabinet ministers, senior
0:02:54 > 0:02:58police officers, maybe military officials as well. We have seen a
0:02:58 > 0:03:01number of people going into the meeting, none of them commented on
0:03:01 > 0:03:09the way in. We saw Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, the Attorney
0:03:09 > 0:03:13General Jeremy Wright, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, so we are not
0:03:13 > 0:03:18absolutely sure if he is attending this meeting, it might be another
0:03:18 > 0:03:21meeting. Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, we believe went into the
0:03:21 > 0:03:28office behind me via Downing Street. We are expecting the meeting to last
0:03:28 > 0:03:33an hour or so. We might get a read out from Amber Rudd, the Home
0:03:33 > 0:03:38Secretary, in the next half an hour or so. Whether it is the meeting to
0:03:38 > 0:03:43decide what to do or a meeting just to hear about information in the
0:03:43 > 0:03:47case, it is probably the latter. It is probably an update from the
0:03:47 > 0:03:51police on what is happening with the investigation. We heard Boris
0:03:51 > 0:03:57Johnson talking about action will be taken if a link is proven with the
0:03:57 > 0:04:03Russians, but I suspect we are not quite that far down the line yet.
0:04:03 > 0:04:09Thank you for that update. The Cobra committee meeting is still going on.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13They like to call it a Cobra meeting because it gives a sense of action,
0:04:13 > 0:04:18whether they decide to do anything or not is something else. The
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Foreign Secretary has described Russia as a malign and disruptive
0:04:22 > 0:04:27force. Should the Russian state be implicated in this poisoning, what
0:04:27 > 0:04:30should the response be?The Foreign Secretary made clear in his
0:04:30 > 0:04:36statement yesterday there will be an appropriate and robust response. You
0:04:36 > 0:04:39will be aware with the Alexander Litvinenko case that we took
0:04:39 > 0:04:42measures there when it was established Russia was complicit in
0:04:42 > 0:04:48that.What did you do?In that case there was an expulsion of diplomats
0:04:48 > 0:04:53and we tightened up the Visa regime and we froze various assets.You
0:04:53 > 0:04:59froze the assets of the two suspects and you summoned the Russian
0:04:59 > 0:05:06ambassador to the Foreign Office. That is about it. That must have had
0:05:06 > 0:05:11the Kremlin checking in its boots! On the broader point of sanctions,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14you will be aware there are other sanctions in place with Russia and
0:05:14 > 0:05:19we have been at the forefront of supporting them. The economy in
0:05:19 > 0:05:25Russia was in recession in 2015 in 2016 and most people will say it was
0:05:25 > 0:05:32down to the sanctions.There is not a recession any more. A lot of these
0:05:32 > 0:05:37sanctions were introduced because of the Ukraine and the Crimea. Not
0:05:37 > 0:05:42because of the Alexander Litvinenko case. I am still trying to work out
0:05:42 > 0:05:50giving your past record, why would the Russians fear anything?The
0:05:50 > 0:05:53sanctions are renewed periodically and the United Nations and the UK is
0:05:53 > 0:05:57in the room arguing whether they should be continued or not. In the
0:05:57 > 0:06:00event we find the state has been involved in this, that will inform
0:06:00 > 0:06:08the action we take. The sanctions regime...It is British policy to
0:06:08 > 0:06:13renew sanctions regardless of what happened in Salisbury.We are
0:06:13 > 0:06:16working on the assumption that Russia was involved and we do not
0:06:16 > 0:06:20know that, which is why we have had Cobra, the National Security
0:06:20 > 0:06:26Council...My point is the sanctions are British policy for other regions
0:06:26 > 0:06:30rather than what has been happening in the streets of Salisbury. What
0:06:30 > 0:06:34would Labour do if it turns out the Russian regime was complicit?You
0:06:34 > 0:06:44raise an important point. There have been 14 other suspicious deaths of
0:06:44 > 0:06:47supporters or people complaining against Vladimir Putin since 2012.
0:06:47 > 0:06:53It is not just Alexander Litvinenko. What with the Labour government do?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56In the urgent question that was held in the Commons on Monday three
0:06:56 > 0:07:03points were raised. There was an ongoing investigation...My question
0:07:03 > 0:07:06was predicated on if it turns out the Russian regime was complicit,
0:07:06 > 0:07:11what would Labour do?We need to use all the leverage we have with our
0:07:11 > 0:07:18partners.What would you do?The second question was about
0:07:18 > 0:07:21money-laundering which the government was providing a lot of
0:07:21 > 0:07:27obstacles against the amendments and that would have put pressure...A
0:07:27 > 0:07:29lot of the money-laundering is being done by the enemies of Vladimir
0:07:29 > 0:07:34Putin. They are getting their money out. How would that hurt the
0:07:34 > 0:07:40Kremlin?It shows an intent in terms of how we intend to put pressure on
0:07:40 > 0:07:45the foreign powers and also individuals who may be doing this.I
0:07:45 > 0:07:48am struggling with the government to find out what they are doing, we do
0:07:48 > 0:07:54not know yet if Russia is implicit, I emphasise that, but if we did, and
0:07:54 > 0:07:59given the past track record, it is reasonable to speculate. Let me try
0:07:59 > 0:08:04one more time, what would Labour do if you were in power?My third point
0:08:04 > 0:08:09as was raised at the urgent question on Monday was in terms of again
0:08:09 > 0:08:16putting pressure on other areas. So, for example, Vladimir Putin's
0:08:16 > 0:08:21announcement that he is going to increase the restoration of nuclear
0:08:21 > 0:08:28weapons is completely against the international agreement.How will a
0:08:28 > 0:08:33Labour government stop that? We will put pressure on him. How do you put
0:08:33 > 0:08:37pressure on Vladimir Putin not to increase his nuclear arsenal?We
0:08:37 > 0:08:46work with our allies.That is fantasyland. Why should he listen to
0:08:46 > 0:08:54you?Why should he not?You
0:08:56 > 0:09:02you?Why should he not?You have no influence.We have a non-nuclear
0:09:02 > 0:09:09proliferation agreement.That goes back to the 60s. If Vladimir Putin
0:09:09 > 0:09:13is watching this morning, I am sure he has not turned white in fear from
0:09:13 > 0:09:19any thing either of you have had to say. The Crown Prince of Saudi
0:09:19 > 0:09:24Arabia is arriving in London today, it is an official visit. He is
0:09:24 > 0:09:27getting the full red-carpet treatment, he is having lunch with
0:09:27 > 0:09:31the Queen, dinner with Prince Charles, a trip to Chequers to see
0:09:31 > 0:09:36the Prime Minister. He is an interesting figure, he is only 32,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39he has painted himself as a modernising reformer and has been
0:09:39 > 0:09:45designated as heir to the throne, which does not often happen in Saudi
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Arabia, but his critics are not convince. Our security correspondent
0:09:49 > 0:09:55can tell us more. Good to see you. He seems to be a quixotic character.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00He is known as something of a domestic reformer, but the number of
0:10:00 > 0:10:04beheadings since he was named Eric Parrott have doubled in Saudi
0:10:04 > 0:10:10Arabia. He is known to be a moderniser, but he is also involved
0:10:10 > 0:10:14in an aggressive and horrendous war in the Yemen. Tell us more about
0:10:14 > 0:10:22him.I met Tim four years ago when he was nobody. Nobody had even heard
0:10:22 > 0:10:27of him, so he has risen to power very quickly. He is a moderniser and
0:10:27 > 0:10:33a reformer, but let's not be starry eyed about him. He is no democrat.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Saudi Arabia still has a very poor human rights record and as you say
0:10:37 > 0:10:42it is involved in the damaging war in Yemen. He has a vision for Saudi
0:10:42 > 0:10:49Arabia. Diplomats have said this is the guy that is needed to shake up
0:10:49 > 0:10:53the sclerotic Saudi system. It could not go on the way it was. Oil prices
0:10:53 > 0:10:59are declining in real terms. The youth population is bolding, 70% of
0:10:59 > 0:11:04the Saudis are under the age of 30 and a lot of them have not got jobs.
0:11:04 > 0:11:12Without democracy, sooner or later something had to give. He is saying,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16it is absurd that in 2018 half the adult population are not allowed to
0:11:16 > 0:11:21drive, so that will happen from June. He is reintroducing cinemas
0:11:21 > 0:11:27and is allowing women to run their own businesses and travel abroad,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30things the hard line extremist clerics previously had not allowed
0:11:30 > 0:11:33them to do. He is pushing back the power of the clerics, in that sense
0:11:33 > 0:11:39he is a moderniser. But he is no democrat, he has locked up 200
0:11:39 > 0:11:46people and taken away their assets, and accused them of corruption. He
0:11:46 > 0:11:51himself has a £450 million yacht that he bought a few years ago and
0:11:51 > 0:11:55the most expensive property in the world, a large chateaux in France.
0:11:55 > 0:12:02But he is very popular with young Saudis. When it comes to Yemen he as
0:12:02 > 0:12:05defence Minister brought Saudi Arabia into a war that was already
0:12:05 > 0:12:11under way. The Saudis did not start this war, the received rebels did,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14but six months later he led an air campaign thinking he could bomb them
0:12:14 > 0:12:19back to the negotiating table and they would sue for peace. That has
0:12:19 > 0:12:24not happened, they have held on and Yemen has suffered as a result.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Should the British be right in wanting to get close to him? We do
0:12:28 > 0:12:32not know where his domestic reform programme will lead. He is bogged
0:12:32 > 0:12:37down in the Yemen, a war very much with his name stamped on it. The
0:12:37 > 0:12:42Saudis have lost massive influence in the Lebanon. They have lost out
0:12:42 > 0:12:46to the Iranian backed forces in Syria and they have not been able to
0:12:46 > 0:12:52cow little Tatar. Is he going to succeed? Is he someone you want to
0:12:52 > 0:12:59be alongside?You have to ask what is the alternative? I will not say
0:12:59 > 0:13:06yes or no, we should be friends. There is no disputing, and even his
0:13:06 > 0:13:10opponents would not dispute that Saudi Arabia as a country is
0:13:10 > 0:13:15important. It is the birthplace of Islam, it is home to the two holiest
0:13:15 > 0:13:20shrines of Islam, it is the site of one of the biggest pilgrimages in
0:13:20 > 0:13:24the year and it is the world's biggest oil producer. But its
0:13:24 > 0:13:29policies definitely need to go under the microscope. If Britain were to
0:13:29 > 0:13:34cut ties, we would lose what little influence we do have over them.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37There is some influence. When it comes to Yemen for example, RAF
0:13:37 > 0:13:43officers and others have been restraining the Saudis, have been
0:13:43 > 0:13:48lecturing them, to not hit civilian targets. I can hear people scoffing
0:13:48 > 0:13:52at that as I would if somebody said it to me because they have caused
0:13:52 > 0:13:57enormous damage in that country. But it would be even worse. The Saudis
0:13:57 > 0:14:02feel they are surrounded by an advancing, aggressive, Iranian
0:14:02 > 0:14:07expansionism. After 2003 Iran expanded its militias into Iraq,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Syria and Lebanon and now they are feeling they are surrounded by Yemen
0:14:10 > 0:14:15as well and they are trying to push back.Frank, as always a pleasure to
0:14:15 > 0:14:22talk to you. 10,000 killed in the Yemen so far. Half a million
0:14:22 > 0:14:27suffering from cholera, 20 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Are you happy that all this is happening with the force of British
0:14:31 > 0:14:36arms?The situation in the Yemen is clearly very tragic indeed and we
0:14:36 > 0:14:41have a situation that we have to deal with. As one of the largest
0:14:41 > 0:14:44humanitarian donors to those in the area we are working using our
0:14:44 > 0:14:48influence on the inside to make sure they open up humanitarian and
0:14:48 > 0:14:54commercial routes and the ports that have been blockaded.But we have not
0:14:54 > 0:14:59managed it.We have made progress, but more needs to be done. But the
0:14:59 > 0:15:02most important point is we use our influence to move toward a peace
0:15:02 > 0:15:07process and to reopen dialogue. White in 18 months if we have not
0:15:07 > 0:15:13even manage to draft a resolution for a ceasefire with the UN? We keep
0:15:13 > 0:15:22pushing. We have not, we have not drafted a resolution.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26# The alternative, I would suggest, is you draft a resolution for the UN
0:15:26 > 0:15:28security council which would concentrate minds and we haven't
0:15:28 > 0:15:33managed to do that. Security Council resolution to go
0:15:33 > 0:15:37through on a unanimous basis, and we are working with the UN and working
0:15:37 > 0:15:42with the Saudis...But 18 months, we haven't even had that.We're using
0:15:42 > 0:15:45our influence. The whole crux of the discussion is whether we should
0:15:45 > 0:15:49engage with Saudi Arabia say we're going to cut ties with them and I
0:15:49 > 0:15:53think as Frank was suggesting, you would then lose influence if you to
0:15:53 > 0:15:59do that. It's far better to engage and work and push for progress than
0:15:59 > 0:16:03step aside.Before we move on, can you give me one example of where
0:16:03 > 0:16:08there has been progress?There is in the case of Yemen, yes, getting
0:16:08 > 0:16:12humanitarian supplies through.There have been periods of... There are
0:16:12 > 0:16:16still massive blockades going on, there are still bombing of
0:16:16 > 0:16:20civilians. It's the biggest, according to some NGOs, the biggest
0:16:20 > 0:16:23humanitarian crisis in the Globe and by goodness, there are plenty of
0:16:23 > 0:16:28candidates for that.It is far from satisfactory but the critical
0:16:28 > 0:16:34question is as I say, do you engage, don't make the imperfect the enemy
0:16:34 > 0:16:40of the good. Better to engage and get change that way than stepping
0:16:40 > 0:16:46aside and washing our hands on it. Deborah Abrahams.It's Debbie, and
0:16:46 > 0:16:52only Deborah when I'm naughty.I will stick with heavy for the moment
0:16:52 > 0:16:57but I might change! Your shadow front -- Foreign Secretary said that
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Labour would stop the War in the man, how?I wouldn't disagree about
0:17:01 > 0:17:06maintaining the Englishman but it's the different -- engagement but it
0:17:06 > 0:17:09is the difference between engaging and running up the red carpet.How
0:17:09 > 0:17:13would you stop the war in Yemen? Minitab engagement but not the terms
0:17:13 > 0:17:17like having -- we need to have engagement but not sound like having
0:17:17 > 0:17:26a 's royal state visit.But how would you stop the War?You make
0:17:26 > 0:17:30sure you engage with them...You would stop any arms sales.We have
0:17:30 > 0:17:34said that we need to make sure that we have proper regulations around
0:17:34 > 0:17:40this.I think your policy is to say, no more arms. Why would the Crown
0:17:40 > 0:17:48Prince listen to you at all? They see your lead -- leader as
0:17:48 > 0:17:52sympathetic to Iran, he has appeared on Press TV, why would they give you
0:17:52 > 0:17:59the time of day in the SaudiArabia? We would be the government of the
0:17:59 > 0:18:06time.But synthetic to Iran, why would they listen to you?The most
0:18:06 > 0:18:10important thing is that you do not have trade at any cost. So you need
0:18:10 > 0:18:13to make sure the trade deals we have fulfilled some principles. My key
0:18:13 > 0:18:17issue today with the state visit is it's totally inappropriate. What
0:18:17 > 0:18:22Saudi Arabia have been doing in terms of disproportionate and...So
0:18:22 > 0:18:28you would not have them here at all? We wouldn't have a state visit but
0:18:28 > 0:18:32we would...It's not all about trade, it also about security. Isn't
0:18:32 > 0:18:41it? We have a security relationship with them. We had an attack
0:18:41 > 0:18:42it? We have a security relationship with them. We had an -- we would
0:18:42 > 0:18:46have had an attack on the Olympics...We have to move on.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48The Chancellor Philip Hammond is making a big Brexit
0:18:48 > 0:18:49speech later today.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51He's not exactly known for his oratorical prowess
0:18:51 > 0:18:54but it is being billed as a strongly worded challenge to the EU
0:18:54 > 0:18:57and so-called "sceptics" who think Britain can't get an ambitious
0:18:57 > 0:18:58free trade deal.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00He will argue that Britain's financial services sector will have
0:19:00 > 0:19:02to be included in any deal.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04The Chancellor points out that "every trade deal the EU has ever
0:19:04 > 0:19:07done has been unique" and given it was willing to offer some
0:19:07 > 0:19:10provision on financial services on previous deals with the US
0:19:10 > 0:19:12and Canada, it's "very much in our mutual interest" to organise
0:19:12 > 0:19:16a deal going even further with the UK - the EU's "closest
0:19:16 > 0:19:20financial services partner by far".
0:19:20 > 0:19:24But the mood music from Brussels hasn't been
0:19:24 > 0:19:26pleasant to British ears - Chief Brexit negotiator
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Michel Barnier has repeatedly claimed a free trade agreement
0:19:28 > 0:19:36on financial services "doesn't exist".
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Could we agreed to a deal that didn't include financial services?
0:19:38 > 0:19:44Where eating for a unique deal -- we're looking for a unique deal and
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I have no doubt that we will get a deal.I know you think there will be
0:19:47 > 0:19:51a deal but my question was, would we agreed to a deal that did not
0:19:51 > 0:19:57include extensive coverage of financial services?We will get a
0:19:57 > 0:20:01deal on financial services.Would we agree to one if we didn't?I saying
0:20:01 > 0:20:05that we would get a deal, we will exclude the possibly do that we
0:20:05 > 0:20:12didn't.You don't know for sure. Mr Barnier's negotiating position, I
0:20:12 > 0:20:17don't think it's the end game. I understand that. But if in the end,
0:20:17 > 0:20:23he says, no on financial services, would we still do a deal?I have
0:20:23 > 0:20:28said that I am absolutely certain that there will be the also I'm
0:20:28 > 0:20:36excluding the positivity that there would be a deal. Firstly because in
0:20:36 > 0:20:41previous deals, financial services have been an element.Quite a small
0:20:41 > 0:20:45one, though.The City of London is not Canada, it's a major financial
0:20:45 > 0:20:50provider to the whole of Europe. It provides competitive finance that
0:20:50 > 0:20:53supports European businesses and consumers. And the European Union
0:20:53 > 0:20:58will be as concerned as we are that that continues. So I don't think
0:20:58 > 0:21:01they will be going down the road of trying to fragment that business
0:21:01 > 0:21:06because it will only benefit ultimately, not Paris and Frankfurt,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08but Hong Kong, New York and Singapore and financial centres like
0:21:08 > 0:21:13that. So we will be the same side of the table, more so than some of
0:21:13 > 0:21:17these opening salvos.Do you accept that even a good deal, even if we
0:21:17 > 0:21:21get a good deal that includes financial services, will still mean
0:21:21 > 0:21:25less access for financial services than now?It depends where the deal
0:21:25 > 0:21:29lands. I'm confident that what we will not go for passport thing
0:21:29 > 0:21:33because that would see us within the single market...That would mean
0:21:33 > 0:21:39less access.We will come to a bespoke arrangement with the
0:21:39 > 0:21:42European Union that will see the health of the city continue, and
0:21:42 > 0:21:50that's important to us. My question was this. Whatever the deal, even if
0:21:50 > 0:21:53it's a good deal, it will mean less access for financial services than
0:21:53 > 0:21:57now, correct? You will have to see that deal with
0:21:57 > 0:22:01the European Union in the context of our future as a globally facing
0:22:01 > 0:22:08trading union. It will free us up in all sorts of ways.It will mean less
0:22:08 > 0:22:14access, that's my point.We will do more...It will mean less access to
0:22:14 > 0:22:19Europe. If it didn't, why did the Prime Minister says say, our access
0:22:19 > 0:22:24to the European market will be less than it is now? If that wasn't a
0:22:24 > 0:22:27reference to financial services, what was?It's a sensible and
0:22:27 > 0:22:34pragmatic point, it applies to all areas. The City of London is 11% of
0:22:34 > 0:22:38our economy, it pays 17 billion in tax, it's hugely important to us and
0:22:38 > 0:22:42it will be very high up our list of priorities which is why the
0:22:42 > 0:22:48Chancellor is taking today to make a speech. It's right at the centre of
0:22:48 > 0:22:50the negotiations from our point of view and I've no doubt that we will
0:22:50 > 0:22:55get a good and injuring sensible deal.Mr Corbyn was to take on the
0:22:55 > 0:22:59power of Finance, that was his phrase last week. He wants to
0:22:59 > 0:23:04rebalance the distorted economy away from finance. Does it matter to Mr
0:23:04 > 0:23:09or Labour -- Corbyn or Labour that we have less access?It important
0:23:09 > 0:23:13that we have a deal and I think that has been taken out of context. We
0:23:13 > 0:23:20would seek to have a UK, EU customs agreement which would include
0:23:20 > 0:23:26financial services.How does the customs union asset financial
0:23:26 > 0:23:30services?The arrangement that we would come to with the EU would
0:23:30 > 0:23:34ensure that we have an arrangement and ran financial services as well.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39But the financial services are covered by the single market, not
0:23:39 > 0:23:43the customs union.You're talking about the customs union, we're
0:23:43 > 0:23:49talking about a new customs union. Is there anyone in the world that
0:23:49 > 0:23:51involves financial services?That happened in terms of the
0:23:51 > 0:23:58arrangements being looked at.Where? I'm not aware of a customs union
0:23:58 > 0:24:06being involved in customs -- financial services at all.We're
0:24:06 > 0:24:09breaking the mould here, Andrew.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11financial services at all.We're breaking the mould here,There are
0:24:11 > 0:24:19no tariffs on financial services, what is it have to do with the
0:24:19 > 0:24:22customs union?That is why we are negotiating a new arrangement with
0:24:22 > 0:24:29the UN this will be part of it. It's so important because we have never
0:24:29 > 0:24:33had any impact on pensions.That's important but we haven't got time to
0:24:33 > 0:24:42go there. The one way of securing the access we have the financial
0:24:42 > 0:24:49services would be to stay in the single market, not the customs
0:24:49 > 0:24:54union. Why doesn't Labour commits to that?We are fully committed to
0:24:54 > 0:24:59accessing the single market without being a member of it. These are
0:24:59 > 0:25:02subtle differences.They are systemic if you are Mr Barnier.They
0:25:02 > 0:25:08are often be presented wrongly in language.What it David Davis mean
0:25:08 > 0:25:12when he said that Parliament cannot block Brexit even with a meaningful
0:25:12 > 0:25:18vote? The vote will have no impact on our departure, what did he mean
0:25:18 > 0:25:22by that?I can't speak for him but there will be a vote at the end...I
0:25:22 > 0:25:31know but he says it will not effect, it cannot block Brexit. He says,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Vote People have no impact on our departure, what does that mean?What
0:25:34 > 0:25:40the vote on the final deal means is that Parliament will decide whether
0:25:40 > 0:25:44it is accepted.He seems to imply that even if Parliament voted
0:25:44 > 0:25:48against the deal, it would not affect departure, he said we are
0:25:48 > 0:25:50leaving at the end of March 2019 even with a meaningful vote. What's
0:25:50 > 0:25:55the point of the vote, then?The position is very clear, there will
0:25:55 > 0:26:01be a final vote on the final deal and Parliament...What's the point
0:26:01 > 0:26:05if it would affect anything?I don't know in what context he said that,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07when he said or what but the position is very clear, it's very
0:26:07 > 0:26:16clear.So the vote could stop us leaving the EU? Vote against?It
0:26:16 > 0:26:19could mean that Parliament would say that the deal is not acceptable and
0:26:19 > 0:26:25that could stop us leaving? I don't want to speculative on what that
0:26:25 > 0:26:28could lead to but we have been clear as to what the vote means and we
0:26:28 > 0:26:32have not changed our position on that.Perhaps David Davis could
0:26:32 > 0:26:34clarify if he's watching.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Now, the snow has thawed but there is still one big question
0:26:37 > 0:26:40that remains unanswered from when the Beast from the East
0:26:40 > 0:26:41swept through Westminster.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss posted this photo last week
0:26:44 > 0:26:46of flowers in a snowy Treasury garden saying "had to compete
0:26:46 > 0:26:48with loads of officials to get this shot".
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Nothing wrong with that, you might think.
0:26:50 > 0:26:51But hang on a moment.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Let's look at this tweet from our guest of the day Mel Stride
0:26:54 > 0:26:57who works with Liz in the Treasury Department.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00No officials in sight.
0:27:00 > 0:27:07So, is the government spreading #fakenews?
0:27:07 > 0:27:10I don't know, I have a confession, Andrew. You're the first to know
0:27:10 > 0:27:15this. I know it's just the two of us having this conversation. It wasn't
0:27:15 > 0:27:19me that took the photo. So it came to my office by a security guard.So
0:27:19 > 0:27:24is fake news!It could have been photo shop, she may never have been
0:27:24 > 0:27:27met!
0:27:27 > 0:27:29But, wait a minute, hold your horses.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Eagle-eyed Daily Politics viewers will have spotted that Liz Truss
0:27:31 > 0:27:32wasn't photographing the snow at all.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35If you look closer, you can see clearly she is actually taking
0:27:35 > 0:27:38a photo of a rare species, hardly ever seen in the wild.
0:27:38 > 0:27:45To win one, just tell us when this happened.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51# I get knocked down but I get up again
0:27:51 > 0:27:53# You're never going to keep me down
0:27:53 > 0:27:55# I get knocked down, but I get up again
0:27:55 > 0:27:57# You're never going to keep me down
0:27:57 > 0:28:00# I get knocked down but I get up again
0:28:00 > 0:28:03# You're never going to keep me down...
0:28:03 > 0:28:05# Slam it to the left if you're having a good time
0:28:05 > 0:28:09# Shake it to the right if you know that you feel fine
0:28:09 > 0:28:11# Shake it to the front, ha, ha
0:28:11 > 0:28:12# Go round
0:28:12 > 0:28:14# Slam it to the left if you're having a good time
0:28:14 > 0:28:18# Shake it to the right if you know that you feel fine
0:28:18 > 0:28:19# Shake it to the front, ha, ha
0:28:19 > 0:28:21# High-see-yah, hold tight...
0:28:21 > 0:28:23# I believe I can fly
0:28:23 > 0:28:27# I believe I can touch the sky
0:28:27 > 0:28:31# I think about it every night and day
0:28:31 > 0:28:35# Spread my wings and fly away...
0:28:35 > 0:28:36# Don't speak
0:28:36 > 0:28:39# I know just what you're saying
0:28:39 > 0:28:42# So please stop explaining
0:28:42 > 0:28:45# Don't tell me cos it hurts...
0:28:45 > 0:28:53# It's time to make the final break
0:28:53 > 0:29:00# But the memory will linger forever
0:29:00 > 0:29:04# If I never see you again
0:29:04 > 0:29:08# And think of me now and then
0:29:08 > 0:29:15# Though it hurts so sweetly...
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Clearly not a year for great music, whatever the year was!
0:29:26 > 0:29:29To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32send your answer to our special quiz email address -
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Full terms and conditions are on the website.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43It's coming up to midday here - just take a look at Big Ben -
0:29:43 > 0:29:48and that can mean only one thing.
0:29:48 > 0:29:53You can just see his face among the scaffolding and the gloom.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55Yes, Prime Minister's Questions is on its way.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58And that's not all - Laura Kuenssberg is here.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02I would guess, but you will know better than me, that with the Crown
0:30:02 > 0:30:07Prince, mind you, it doesn't put you in an elite category!Setting the
0:30:07 > 0:30:14bar low!The Crown Prince is in town, Mr Corbyn likes foreign policy
0:30:14 > 0:30:18issues like this, clear-cut. Sort of thing he would be protesting about
0:30:18 > 0:30:22if he wasn't leader of the Labour Party. He would be on the streets.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26He goes with that.I would be very surprised if he doesn't for
0:30:26 > 0:30:29precisely those reasons. As a backbencher, Jeremy Corbyn care very
0:30:29 > 0:30:34deeply about these issues, he has made foreign policy and his protest
0:30:34 > 0:30:38against many regimes around the world a central point of his
0:30:38 > 0:30:41political career and for many Labour activists, that something they care
0:30:41 > 0:30:47deeply about so I expect him to go on the visit of the Crown Prince to
0:30:47 > 0:30:50London at prime ministers questions today and I think he will try to
0:30:50 > 0:30:55push Theresa May on some of the ethical issues that surround the
0:30:55 > 0:31:00kind of welcome that he's being given. And also, as other MPs have
0:31:00 > 0:31:05raised previously in prime ministers questions, how the British
0:31:05 > 0:31:07government is approaching the situation in Yemen with that
0:31:07 > 0:31:11dreadful conflict and the extent or not Saudi involvement. Perhaps may
0:31:11 > 0:31:17also raise the extent or not of British involvement in that conflict
0:31:17 > 0:31:24in terms of military hardware, advisers and how we are involved on
0:31:24 > 0:31:29the ground.It will be a bit more of ships passing in the night, the
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Prime Minister will have come on with all of the stuff about the
0:31:32 > 0:31:37importance of Saudi Arabia to Britain, for our geopolitical
0:31:37 > 0:31:44position.Yes, and whenever Saudi Arabia, I'm afraid to say, it
0:31:44 > 0:31:47always...
0:31:53 > 0:31:57I would like to begin by updating the House on the government's
0:31:57 > 0:32:00response to the incident that occurred in Salisbury on Sunday and
0:32:00 > 0:32:04pay tribute to the work of all the emergency services who responded at
0:32:04 > 0:32:09the scene and those who are now caring for the critically injured
0:32:09 > 0:32:16individuals in hospital. The police investigation is ongoing. Yesterday
0:32:16 > 0:32:19afternoon I chaired a meeting with the National Security Council where
0:32:19 > 0:32:24we were updated on that investigation which is now being led
0:32:24 > 0:32:27by counterterrorism police. This morning the Home Secretary chaired a
0:32:27 > 0:32:33meeting of the government's emergency committee, Cobra, and has
0:32:33 > 0:32:40asked for an update later today. In addition to my duties in this as I
0:32:40 > 0:32:45shall have further such meetings later on today.Representing the
0:32:45 > 0:32:48south-west constituency can I align my remarks with those of my right
0:32:48 > 0:32:51honourable friend, the incident in Salisbury has caused concern across
0:32:51 > 0:32:57the south-west and the country. North Dorset cancels and I share the
0:32:57 > 0:33:02Prime Minister's commitment to delivering new housing, such as
0:33:02 > 0:33:07creating 1800 new homes in Gillingham in my constituency. We
0:33:07 > 0:33:11understand how housing transforms and supports local economic growth.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14Can I welcome this week's announcement from the Prime
0:33:14 > 0:33:19Minister. Let's get Britain building and deliver those quality homes of
0:33:19 > 0:33:25all ten years that our constituents now need.My honourable friend is
0:33:25 > 0:33:28absolutely right about the importance of housing and earlier
0:33:28 > 0:33:32this week I confirmed the government is rewriting the rules on planning
0:33:32 > 0:33:36to help restore that dream of home ownership. We want to see planning
0:33:36 > 0:33:40permission going to people who will build houses, not just sit on land
0:33:40 > 0:33:46and watch its value rise. New rules will also make sure the right
0:33:46 > 0:33:49infrastructure is in place to support housing development and
0:33:49 > 0:33:53planning changes will allow more affordable homes to be prioritised
0:33:53 > 0:33:57for key workers. The government has made it a priority to build the
0:33:57 > 0:34:00homes people need so everyone can afford a safe and decent place to
0:34:00 > 0:34:07live.Jeremy Corbyn. I thank the Prime Minister for the short
0:34:07 > 0:34:11statement she made concerning the incident in Salisbury and I think we
0:34:11 > 0:34:15all thank the emergency and security services for their response and we
0:34:15 > 0:34:19await updates on the progress of investigations into the cause of
0:34:19 > 0:34:23that incident. Mr Speaker, tomorrow is International Women's Day, a
0:34:23 > 0:34:27chance to celebrate how far we have come on equality for women, but also
0:34:27 > 0:34:33to reflect on how far we have to go, not just in this country, but around
0:34:33 > 0:34:41the world. Later today, the Prime Minister is
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Minister is due to meet Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, the ruler of
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Saudi Arabia. Despite much talk of reform there has been a sharp
0:34:47 > 0:34:51increase in the arrest and detention of dissidents, torture of prisoners
0:34:51 > 0:34:59is common, human rights defenders are sent to prison, unfair trials
0:34:59 > 0:35:02and executions are widespread as Amnesty International confirms. As
0:35:02 > 0:35:07she makes her arms sales pitch was she also called on the crown prince
0:35:07 > 0:35:13to hold the shocking abuse of human rights in Saudi Arabia?First of
0:35:13 > 0:35:17all, can I thank the right honourable gentleman for telling me
0:35:17 > 0:35:24that it is International Women's Day tomorrow! I think that is what is
0:35:24 > 0:35:34called man's planing!
0:35:34 > 0:35:38called man's planing! I look forward to welcoming Crown Prince Mohamed
0:35:38 > 0:35:45bin Salman from Saudi Arabia... Labour backbenchers from sedentary
0:35:45 > 0:35:49positions are shouting shame. Can I say to those backbenchers that the
0:35:49 > 0:35:55link we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one and
0:35:55 > 0:35:59it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in
0:35:59 > 0:36:04this country.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07this country. And can I say that actually the fact that it is an
0:36:07 > 0:36:12important link is not just the view that I hold, the Shadow Foreign
0:36:12 > 0:36:16Secretary this morning said, our relationship with Saudi Arabia is an
0:36:16 > 0:36:23important one. She also went on to say that does not mean we should not
0:36:23 > 0:36:27be pulling power punches and I agree, which is why I will be
0:36:27 > 0:36:30raising concerns about human rights with the Crown Prince when I meet
0:36:30 > 0:36:34him. As the right honourable gentleman started on the issue of
0:36:34 > 0:36:38International Women's Day, I welcome the fact that Crown Prince will be
0:36:38 > 0:36:46sitting down with and as the guest of a female Prime Minister!
0:36:46 > 0:36:50of a female Prime Minister!Mr Speaker, it is a year on and the
0:36:50 > 0:36:54government is of course still suppressing a report into the
0:36:54 > 0:36:57funding of extremism which allegedly found evidence of Saudi funding
0:36:57 > 0:37:03going to terrorist groups here in the UK, so threatening our security.
0:37:03 > 0:37:09When will that report come out? Mr Speaker, a humanitarian disaster is
0:37:09 > 0:37:15now taking place in Yemen. Millions face starvation. 600,000 children
0:37:15 > 0:37:21have cholera because of the Saudi led bombing campaign and the
0:37:21 > 0:37:27blockade. 600,000 children with cholera is something I think
0:37:27 > 0:37:32everyone in this house should take seriously. Germany has suspended
0:37:32 > 0:37:38arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but British arms sales have sharply
0:37:38 > 0:37:42increased and British military advisers are directing the war. It
0:37:42 > 0:37:49cannot be right that her government, Mr Speaker, it cannot be right that
0:37:49 > 0:37:53her government is colluding in what the United Nations says is evidence
0:37:53 > 0:37:57of war crimes. Will the Prime Minister use her meeting today with
0:37:57 > 0:38:04the Crown Prince to halt the arms supplies and demand an immediate
0:38:04 > 0:38:10ceasefire in Yemen?Mr Speaker, the right honourable gentleman raised
0:38:10 > 0:38:15two questions. On the first point he made about the Home Office's
0:38:15 > 0:38:19internal review, this government is committed to stamping out extremism
0:38:19 > 0:38:24in all its forms. I launched the counter extremism strategy. The
0:38:24 > 0:38:28current Home Secretary has appointed a counter extremism commissioner.
0:38:28 > 0:38:33The review we had gave us the best picture of how extremists operating
0:38:33 > 0:38:37in the UK sustain their activities and it improved our understanding of
0:38:37 > 0:38:42that and it's most important finding is that contrary to popular
0:38:42 > 0:38:46perception, Islamist extremists draw most of their financial support from
0:38:46 > 0:38:50domestic rather than overseas sources. I understand that for
0:38:50 > 0:38:54reasons of some of the personal content in the report this has not
0:38:54 > 0:38:59been published, however privy Councillors have been invited to the
0:38:59 > 0:39:04Home Office to read this report. That invitation was extended to the
0:39:04 > 0:39:08Shadow Home Secretary and so she and other Privy Council colleagues on
0:39:08 > 0:39:11the Labour front bench are free to go and read that report. The second
0:39:11 > 0:39:15issue that the right honourable gentleman raised was the question of
0:39:15 > 0:39:20the humanitarian situation in Yemen. We are all concerned about the
0:39:20 > 0:39:24appalling situation in Yemen and the effect it is having on people,
0:39:24 > 0:39:28particularly the effect on women and children. We have increased our
0:39:28 > 0:39:34funding for Yemen. Last year we increased it to over £200 million
0:39:34 > 0:39:39and we are the third largest humanitarian donor to the Yemen. We
0:39:39 > 0:39:44are delivering life-saving aid that will provide nutrition support for
0:39:44 > 0:39:491.7 million people, clean water for 1.2 million people. I was pleased
0:39:49 > 0:39:53when I went to Saudi Arabia in December, I met with the Crown
0:39:53 > 0:39:59Prince, I raised with him then the need to open the border to
0:39:59 > 0:40:03humanitarian and commercial supplies and Saudi Arabia then did just that.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08This vindicates the engagement we have with Saudi Arabia, to be able
0:40:08 > 0:40:12to sit down with them. Their involvement in Yemen came at the
0:40:12 > 0:40:16request of the legitimate government in the Yemen and is backed by the UN
0:40:16 > 0:40:20Security Council and we supported. On the humanitarian issue I would
0:40:20 > 0:40:25say it is for all parties in the conflict to ensure they allow
0:40:25 > 0:40:32humanitarian aid to get through to those who need it.Of course we all
0:40:32 > 0:40:36want all possible humanitarian aid to go to Yemen and help the people
0:40:36 > 0:40:41who are suffering, but I refer her to the remarks made by the former
0:40:41 > 0:40:44International Development Secretary, I quote, we must not be afraid to
0:40:44 > 0:40:49condemn the nightly attacks on Yemen by the Saudi air force which have
0:40:49 > 0:40:53killed and maimed innocent men, women and children. A ceasefire has
0:40:53 > 0:40:59got to be urgent in order to save lives in the Yemen. Mr Speaker, why
0:40:59 > 0:41:03does the Prime Minister thinks that rough speaking felt under Labour but
0:41:03 > 0:41:09was doubled under the Conservatives? First of all to respond to the first
0:41:09 > 0:41:16question that he raised in relation to the Yemen and the conflict that
0:41:16 > 0:41:20is taking place there in the Yemen, we have encouraged the Saudi Arabian
0:41:20 > 0:41:24government to ensure that when there are allegations that activity has
0:41:24 > 0:41:28taken place which is not in line with international humanitarian law
0:41:28 > 0:41:33that they investigate that and learn the lessons from it. 55 reports have
0:41:33 > 0:41:38already been published as a result of that. But on the issue of arms
0:41:38 > 0:41:44exports to Saudi Arabia, can I also say that he seems to be at odds with
0:41:44 > 0:41:47his Shadow Foreign Secretary once again who this morning said, the
0:41:47 > 0:41:51arms industry is not something I am seeking to undermine as long as it
0:41:51 > 0:41:55is within international law. She went on to say that she thought the
0:41:55 > 0:41:59UK can sell arms to any country as long as they are used within the
0:41:59 > 0:42:05law. We agree, we have a very tight arms export regime in this country
0:42:05 > 0:42:10and when there are allegations of arms not been used within the law,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13we expect that to be investigated and lessons to be learned on that.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17On the issue of rough sleeping, I say to the right honourable
0:42:17 > 0:42:22gentleman that nobody in this house wants to see anybody having to sleep
0:42:22 > 0:42:28rough on the streets of this country. That is why this is a
0:42:28 > 0:42:31government that is putting millions of pounds extra into dealing with
0:42:31 > 0:42:35rough sleeping. It is why we are piloting the housing first approach
0:42:35 > 0:42:42in three of our major cities because what we want to do is to ensure not
0:42:42 > 0:42:46just that we deal with the situation where somebody is found sleeping
0:42:46 > 0:42:50rough, but actually that we prevent people from sleeping rough in the
0:42:50 > 0:42:56first place.Mr Speaker, in November the Chancellor of the extra
0:42:56 > 0:43:00announced a rough sleeping task force and £28 million for three
0:43:00 > 0:43:04pilot schemes to tackle homelessness. I understand four
0:43:04 > 0:43:09months on the task force has not yet met, not a penny has been spent on
0:43:09 > 0:43:13that programme. There is a homelessness crisis in this country.
0:43:13 > 0:43:19Rough sleeping has doubled since 2010. Doesn't the Prime Minister
0:43:19 > 0:43:24think it is a little unambitious to say we will tackle rough sleeping by
0:43:24 > 0:43:312027?Can I say we are going to eliminate it, that is our aim by
0:43:31 > 0:43:392027. Let me just perhaps... Perhaps it would be helpful if I was to
0:43:39 > 0:43:42update the right honourable gentleman because the task force he
0:43:42 > 0:43:52referred to has in fact met. It met today!
0:43:52 > 0:43:55today! But more importantly because the right honourable gentleman has
0:43:55 > 0:43:59asked me this previously, more importantly this is not the only
0:43:59 > 0:44:03group of people we bring together to look at rough sleeping. We have an
0:44:03 > 0:44:08expert advisory group that has been meeting over recent months and whose
0:44:08 > 0:44:12reports and information and expertise is being input into the
0:44:12 > 0:44:15task force. He talks about homelessness, statutory homelessness
0:44:15 > 0:44:21is less than half its peak in 2003, but we recognise there is more to do
0:44:21 > 0:44:28and that is why we want to see more homes
0:44:35 > 0:44:38being built. On rough sleeping it is not just a question, of course we
0:44:38 > 0:44:42want people to have a roof over their head, but we see half of rough
0:44:42 > 0:44:43sleepers with a mental health problem and that is why we are
0:44:43 > 0:44:47putting more money into mental health. That is why it is not just a
0:44:47 > 0:44:48question of improving figures, it is a question of changing people's
0:44:48 > 0:44:52lives around. If he really cares, he will look at the complexity of this
0:44:52 > 0:44:54issue and realise it is more than giving people a roof over their
0:44:54 > 0:44:57heads, it is about dealing with the underlying problems in the first
0:44:57 > 0:45:02place.I am glad the government showed such urgency in setting up
0:45:02 > 0:45:07this task force that it took four months to have the meeting and it
0:45:07 > 0:45:11still has not actually achieved anything. Many people in this
0:45:11 > 0:45:14country are very upset and very embarrassed about the levels of
0:45:14 > 0:45:19rough sleeping in this country. I got a letter this week from Barry, I
0:45:19 > 0:45:23volunteer in my hometown of Southampton to feed the homelessness
0:45:23 > 0:45:27because of the lack of care and help for these individuals, it is a
0:45:27 > 0:45:32disgrace. He points out the number of unoccupied buildings in his town
0:45:32 > 0:45:39and many others. Does the Prime Minister believes that haircutting,
0:45:39 > 0:45:45government cutting homelessness services by 45% since 2010 has had
0:45:45 > 0:45:51some effect on the numbers of people that are rough sleeping?
0:45:51 > 0:45:54I would say to the right Honourable gentleman that if you think that the
0:45:54 > 0:45:58only way you sold issue is that by bringing people together in a
0:45:58 > 0:46:06meeting, I have to tell him, that is not the way to solve issues. The way
0:46:06 > 0:46:09to deal with these issues is actually to get out there on the
0:46:09 > 0:46:14ground doing something about it. That's why, that's why we are
0:46:14 > 0:46:20finding 48 projects to help roughly put into urgency accommodation and
0:46:20 > 0:46:24to overcome the issues like a mental ill health and substance. It is why
0:46:24 > 0:46:28there have been councils around the country that had been taking that
0:46:28 > 0:46:32severe, during the severe weather, insuring they are providing
0:46:32 > 0:46:36accommodation for people who are sleeping on the streets but also
0:46:36 > 0:46:39dealing with the underlying issues that lead to somebody sleeping on
0:46:39 > 0:46:45the streets. It's why, it's why we are ensuring that we are
0:46:45 > 0:46:48implementing housing first in a number of regions to put in trench
0:46:48 > 0:46:52to roughly split to accommodation as a first step to rebuilding their
0:46:52 > 0:47:00lives. This is not about figures, it about people. It's about ensuring
0:47:00 > 0:47:05that we aren't taking the action necessary -- we are taking reaction
0:47:05 > 0:47:11necessary to deal with the problems that people face which leads to
0:47:11 > 0:47:17rough sleeping. It's also about ensuring we build enough homes to
0:47:17 > 0:47:27ensure that people are holding houses when they are having planning
0:47:27 > 0:47:31permission -- building houses, which should please him.I don't that
0:47:31 > 0:47:35would come as much comfort for the roughly put that I meet who are
0:47:35 > 0:47:40begging every day to find enough money to get into the night shelter.
0:47:40 > 0:47:45Lord Porter has warned councils are now beyond the point where council
0:47:45 > 0:47:49tax can plug the gap, as a result of the government slashing council
0:47:49 > 0:47:55budgets and passing the buck. After this deathly cold winter, we have
0:47:55 > 0:47:59more than twice as many people sleeping rough on our streets. Just
0:47:59 > 0:48:06one step away from that fate are 60,000, 60,000 homeless households
0:48:06 > 0:48:09in temporary accommodation. We are the fifth richest country in the
0:48:09 > 0:48:15world. The growing number of people on our streets is a mark of national
0:48:15 > 0:48:18shame. With fewer social homes being built, less support for the
0:48:18 > 0:48:25homeless, the task force that's barely met, just how does the Prime
0:48:25 > 0:48:30Minister really propose to tackle the homelessness crisis?We propose
0:48:30 > 0:48:34to deal with the issue of homelessness and to deal with the
0:48:34 > 0:48:38issues of those people who are not homeless but want to be able to have
0:48:38 > 0:48:41a home of their own, by building more homes in this country. We
0:48:41 > 0:48:45propose to deal with it, as I said earlier this week, by ensuring that
0:48:45 > 0:48:50tenants get a fairer deal when they rent the country. But I have to say
0:48:50 > 0:48:54there are more council houses built under this conservative government
0:48:54 > 0:48:59that were built under 13 years of labour. We have seen more social
0:48:59 > 0:49:03housing being built in the last seven years than in the last seven
0:49:03 > 0:49:06years under the Labour government. If he wants to look at the issue of
0:49:06 > 0:49:12a record in relation to housing, he should look at the record of the
0:49:12 > 0:49:17last Labour government. And of course it was the record of the last
0:49:17 > 0:49:23Labour government that was described as bringing... That was described,
0:49:23 > 0:49:32the record of the last Labour government was described...
0:49:32 > 0:49:34government was described...Order, Mr Perkins, I know you're asking
0:49:34 > 0:49:38about tennis at earlier but you appear to be attempting some sort of
0:49:38 > 0:49:41imitation of crochet and you should not be making these curious to 60
0:49:41 > 0:49:48nations, they make you look even odder than... -- curious
0:49:48 > 0:49:52gesticulations. They make you look odder than... I thought your
0:49:52 > 0:49:56behaviour was a tad odd and I'm concerned about your well-being! I
0:49:56 > 0:50:01think the members from Wirral and Hull will look after you.The record
0:50:01 > 0:50:05of the last Labour government on housing was described as in crisis
0:50:05 > 0:50:10and bringing misery and despair. Who said the last Labour government's
0:50:10 > 0:50:18government was bringing misery and despair? The leader of the position.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22-- opposition. He said Labour didn't have a good record on housing, I
0:50:22 > 0:50:26agree, it is the conservatives who are delivering the homes the country
0:50:26 > 0:50:33needs.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Over the last three years, more than 2000
0:50:33 > 0:50:37new homes have been built in North West Leicestershire including a
0:50:37 > 0:50:41record 731 in the last 12 months. Additionally my local authority
0:50:41 > 0:50:45building new council houses for the first time in decades. All in
0:50:45 > 0:50:50contrast with just 227 houses completed in the year to 2010, the
0:50:50 > 0:50:57last time Labour way in government. Will my right honourable friend use
0:50:57 > 0:51:04this as an example to other local garment, we have an unemployed
0:51:04 > 0:51:12Madrid 1% and no rust eaters -- rough sleepers.We are very happy to
0:51:12 > 0:51:15join him in a good knowledge in the example being set by North West
0:51:15 > 0:51:21Leicestershire. It is not just those figures that he had quoted which
0:51:21 > 0:51:32have led to and contributed to last year's 217,000 new homes being
0:51:32 > 0:51:41built, which is the best year bar one. But we are taking measures in
0:51:41 > 0:51:44the budget to ensure money is available, so we are helping people
0:51:44 > 0:51:52onto the housing ladder through help to buy. As he has referred to it, it
0:51:52 > 0:51:54is the Conservative government which are delivering the homes that people
0:51:54 > 0:52:00need.On the 6th of February, the Royal Bank of Scotland announced
0:52:00 > 0:52:03that ten branches that were earmarked for closure were going to
0:52:03 > 0:52:07be given a reprieve. Subject to review at the end of the year. Will
0:52:07 > 0:52:11the Prime Minister join with me on calling on the Royal Bank of
0:52:11 > 0:52:13Scotland to do what they can to encourage people to open accounts to
0:52:13 > 0:52:21make sure these branches are sustainable?Can I say to the right
0:52:21 > 0:52:24honourable gentleman, as he knows full well, it is the opening and
0:52:24 > 0:52:30closing branches, which is a commercial matter for the Royal Bank
0:52:30 > 0:52:32of Scotland. We says to call on people to open accounts and use
0:52:32 > 0:52:36those branches, of course, one of the reasons why bank branches are
0:52:36 > 0:52:40closing is because more people are choosing not to physically go into
0:52:40 > 0:52:44the bank branches but bank on the Internet. It is the customer to
0:52:44 > 0:52:48decide the customer banking arrangements that suits them.I
0:52:48 > 0:52:52should remind the Prime Minister that we own the Royal Bank of
0:52:52 > 0:52:54Scotland and the Prime Minister ought to be holding the country to
0:52:54 > 0:53:01account. I had a phone call from constituent of mine who found the
0:53:01 > 0:53:05Royal Bank of Scotland yesterday and wanted to open a number of accounts
0:53:05 > 0:53:09for him and his family. Rather than opening them in the local branch
0:53:09 > 0:53:14which is one which is earmarked for a reprieve, he was told he should be
0:53:14 > 0:53:19approaching a branch of swear. Mr Speaker, that is outrageous. That
0:53:19 > 0:53:23the Royal -- elsewhere. That is outrageous, that the Royal Bank of
0:53:23 > 0:53:27Scotland are undermining the ability of these branches to stay open. Will
0:53:27 > 0:53:29she caught in the chief executive and tell him that this behaviour
0:53:29 > 0:53:35must end?To the right honourable gentleman, he has raised these
0:53:35 > 0:53:38questions before, and I say to him that I would have thought that with
0:53:38 > 0:53:42his background he would understand that decisions are taken by
0:53:42 > 0:53:47commercial organisations, by this commercial organisations, that it is
0:53:47 > 0:53:50not for the government to tell people what sort of accounts they
0:53:50 > 0:53:54have going to have or which branch that should be opening those
0:53:54 > 0:54:00accounts in. We take steps to make sure that where there are branch
0:54:00 > 0:54:03closures, that access to facilities are available, which is why we have
0:54:03 > 0:54:07the agreement with the post offers to provide additional ability for
0:54:07 > 0:54:13people to use the services through the post-office. I have to say that
0:54:13 > 0:54:15it is not right for him to suggest that the government should be
0:54:15 > 0:54:19telling people where they have their bank accounts and how they should
0:54:19 > 0:54:24hold but bank account. That is a commercial decision for the bank and
0:54:24 > 0:54:28a decision for individual customers as to their own banking
0:54:28 > 0:54:31arrangements.We are now on to backbenchers, I'm pleased to say.
0:54:31 > 0:54:39But I want to hear lots of bank bench members.-- backbench numbers.
0:54:39 > 0:54:46Thanks to income tax hikes by the SNP government, thousands of UK
0:54:46 > 0:54:49Armed Forces personnel who are situated in Scotland will pay more
0:54:49 > 0:54:52tax than their counterparts south of the border. Can my right honourable
0:54:52 > 0:54:58friend confirm that this Conservative government is reviewing
0:54:58 > 0:55:04steps that it can take to clean up the SNP's mess and mitigate the tax
0:55:04 > 0:55:08rise for our brave servicemen and women?This is a very important
0:55:08 > 0:55:13point that she has raised. We do see as a result of decisions taken by
0:55:13 > 0:55:15the Scottish Nationalists in government in Scotland that there
0:55:15 > 0:55:22will be many people in Scotland paying higher taxes. Somebody
0:55:22 > 0:55:26earning over £26,000 pay higher taxes in Scotland than the rest of
0:55:26 > 0:55:30the UK. I was in the chamber for the end of defence questions the other
0:55:30 > 0:55:34day when my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary said that the
0:55:34 > 0:55:44point that she has raised is being looked into.Labour listed 1 million
0:55:44 > 0:55:48children out of poverty. -- Labour lifted 1 million children out of
0:55:48 > 0:55:52poverty, this government is on course to plunge a record 37% of
0:55:52 > 0:55:58children into poverty. And vulnerable people are denied social
0:55:58 > 0:56:02care because of government cuts to local authority. Is this really a
0:56:02 > 0:56:07society working for everyone?What we see under this government is the
0:56:07 > 0:56:10number of people in absolute poverty has fallen under this conservative
0:56:10 > 0:56:16government. We do want to insure that families are supported in
0:56:16 > 0:56:20supporting themselves, that is why we have done things like increasing
0:56:20 > 0:56:27the national living wage, increasing the personal wage allowance so
0:56:27 > 0:56:32people pay less tax and revising the unfit to systems are more people can
0:56:32 > 0:56:37get into the workplace.-- the benefit systems. I'm sure my right
0:56:37 > 0:56:43honourable friend will agree with me that air quality will improve the
0:56:43 > 0:56:46lives of everyone in this country and their children and
0:56:46 > 0:56:49grandchildren. We are forming a joint committee and working across
0:56:49 > 0:56:57government is important cross department, will be Prime Minister
0:56:57 > 0:56:59put in a Cabinet minister to make sure that our children and
0:56:59 > 0:57:03grandchildren have good air quality? This is an important issue and we
0:57:03 > 0:57:08are committed to being the first generation leading the environment
0:57:08 > 0:57:11in a better state than the which we inherited it, and we're taking
0:57:11 > 0:57:18action to address abolition. Emissions of toxic much junk -- to
0:57:18 > 0:57:22address air pollution. Emissions have fallen to them is more to do
0:57:22 > 0:57:28which is why we have put in place a plan to tackle air quality and
0:57:28 > 0:57:36clean-up air transport which we will be setting up this year. Both the
0:57:36 > 0:57:39Secretary of State for business, whose department covers the issues
0:57:39 > 0:57:44around energy and air quality, and indeed the Minister for energy who
0:57:44 > 0:57:48attends Cabinet, are very well versed in putting together the
0:57:48 > 0:57:57arguments were better air quality. As the Sandeep -- Saudi Crown Prince
0:57:57 > 0:58:05Street across Westminster, will she adjust the case of the writer who
0:58:05 > 0:58:14has been in jail for six years because he wrote something that the
0:58:14 > 0:58:18government didn't
0:58:18 > 0:58:20because he wrote something that the government like? Will she stand at
0:58:20 > 0:58:26that dispatch box and say that he is no criminal and be set free?I will
0:58:26 > 0:58:30be raising a number of cases with the Crown prince when I see him as
0:58:30 > 0:58:37the next couple of days. The case he has specifically referred to is not
0:58:37 > 0:58:43a thing that has waited for this visit to raise, we monitor the
0:58:43 > 0:58:46situation and raise the question of the Saudi government and we will
0:58:46 > 0:58:54continue to do so.Will the Prime Minister support the work the oil
0:58:54 > 0:58:58and gas authority are doing to help facilitate the production of £1
0:58:58 > 0:59:04trillion of oil and gas revenue from the continental shelf, supporting
0:59:04 > 0:59:07300,000 jobs? Will she join me in paying tribute to the men and women
0:59:07 > 0:59:15working offshore insuring our homes stay warm?I'm happy to join my
0:59:15 > 0:59:18honourable friend in pain could be to those who work in our offshore
0:59:18 > 0:59:27oil and gas -- in paying tribute to those who work in the offshore oil
0:59:27 > 0:59:29and gas industry. We remain committed to support the district,
0:59:29 > 0:59:35building on the package announced in recent budgets, and the Secretary of
0:59:35 > 0:59:39State for business and the sector recently committed to working
0:59:39 > 0:59:43together to insure the UK continues to enjoy the benefits of what is a
0:59:43 > 0:59:49world leading offshore oil and gas industry.Nothing needs to find an
0:59:49 > 0:59:54extra £12 million this year to care for elderly and disabled people. --
0:59:54 > 0:59:58Nottingham needs to find the money. Her government's answer, adding 3%
0:59:58 > 1:00:04to council tax bills, raises just over three, leaving a huge gap to be
1:00:04 > 1:00:08filled. No wonder Lord Porter, Conservative chair of the LGA,
1:00:08 > 1:00:17warned that some councils will be pushed parallel perilously close to
1:00:17 > 1:00:24the edge. Was she -- will she wake up to the social care crisis and
1:00:24 > 1:00:27give the local government the funding it needs in the spring
1:00:27 > 1:00:31statement?We have recognised the pressure that social care is under
1:00:31 > 1:00:37which is why in successful fiscal events, the Chancellor has given
1:00:37 > 1:00:40extra money to local authority and the social care statement. Next
1:00:40 > 1:00:44week's statement is not a budget but we have ensured that more money is
1:00:44 > 1:00:48going into local councils, not just through the presets that they are
1:00:48 > 1:00:56able to raise but 2 million extra has been put into social care.By
1:00:56 > 1:01:03far the most important market for UK goods post Brexit and today is the
1:01:03 > 1:01:09internal market. Does she agree that the people and businesses of my
1:01:09 > 1:01:13constituency and across Wales are best served by the four nations of
1:01:13 > 1:01:18the United Kingdom working together positively and constructively to
1:01:18 > 1:01:22make Brexit success?I absolutely agree. The four nations working
1:01:22 > 1:01:26together to make a success of Brexit but also this government is
1:01:26 > 1:01:30committed to strengthening our precious union in England, Scotland,
1:01:30 > 1:01:34Wales and Northern Ireland. This is about providing continuity and
1:01:34 > 1:01:37certainty for people and businesses. It's about making sure we don't
1:01:37 > 1:01:41create a new barriers to doing business, as my honourable friend
1:01:41 > 1:01:50has said, in the internal market.Mr Speaker, York's housing crisis is
1:01:50 > 1:01:57out of control. Whole families crammed into tiny box bedrooms,
1:01:57 > 1:02:02hundreds of damp and mouldy council homes and Street homelessness at 15
1:02:02 > 1:02:08fold since 2010. My constituents do not want platitudes, they just want
1:02:08 > 1:02:13warm homes. When can they have the social housing they so desperately
1:02:13 > 1:02:17need, and York's Tory Lib Dem council have failed to deliver, as
1:02:17 > 1:02:23has her strategy?As she will have heard earlier, this commitment is
1:02:23 > 1:02:28making changes to ensure that we are building more homes in this country.
1:02:28 > 1:02:32I also say to the honourable lady, one of the issues we have had to
1:02:32 > 1:02:36look at is making sure that local councils are producing local plans.
1:02:36 > 1:02:40I believe that York has not had a local plan for 15 years. I suggest
1:02:40 > 1:02:43she speaks to her council about it stop.
1:02:48 > 1:02:52On Sunday evening, it was not Meryl Streep winning an Oscar, but my
1:02:52 > 1:02:59constituent Maisie, aged just six years old. And born profoundly deaf
1:02:59 > 1:03:07for her amazing performance in the film The Silent Child. All she paid
1:03:07 > 1:03:10tribute to the inspirational Maisie and her school red Oaks primary
1:03:10 > 1:03:16which has helped fill her potential? I think everybody was captivated by
1:03:16 > 1:03:21Maisie's example and by the film that won the Oscar and I'm very
1:03:21 > 1:03:25happy to join my honourable friend in paying tribute to Maisie for her
1:03:25 > 1:03:29in capital achievement. This is important in highlighting the issue
1:03:29 > 1:03:36of disabled people particularly deaf children and this has captured the
1:03:36 > 1:03:39imagination of many across the world.On Friday of next week, the
1:03:39 > 1:03:45House will debate the private members bill on refugee family
1:03:45 > 1:03:49reunification being brought forward. It's a very simple bill which will
1:03:49 > 1:03:54allow families that have been torn apart by conflicts to rebuild their
1:03:54 > 1:03:58lives here together. It's supported by a coalition of organisations
1:03:58 > 1:04:05including the Red Cross, Amnesty international and the refugee
1:04:05 > 1:04:07Council.For the government added their support of this very important
1:04:07 > 1:04:14Bill? -- will the government added their support? We do have a good
1:04:14 > 1:04:19record in this country of providing places to refugees and helping those
1:04:19 > 1:04:22who are particularly vulnerable. But I understand as he will know that we
1:04:22 > 1:04:27are listening to the point that we hear in a mission to this bill. We
1:04:27 > 1:04:33recognise the concern about family reunification, there are rules
1:04:33 > 1:04:40impose already but we will look carefully at this.
1:04:40 > 1:04:43carefully at this.This week, its national friendship week and as an
1:04:43 > 1:04:47apprentice myself, I can highly -- National apprenticeship week. I can
1:04:47 > 1:04:53highly commended this route. Levels of apprenticeship are up from last
1:04:53 > 1:04:58year but can I ask the Prime Minister to insure that all schools
1:04:58 > 1:05:05are promoting apprenticeships, particularly degree level, as a
1:05:05 > 1:05:08first-class choice, debt free, and not a second-class option?I think
1:05:08 > 1:05:13it is very important that we do promote apprenticeships not as a
1:05:13 > 1:05:18second-class option but as an equally valid route through training
1:05:18 > 1:05:22for young people. It about getting the right education for every young
1:05:22 > 1:05:28person. We should in courage of schools to talk about
1:05:28 > 1:05:33apprenticeships at the first stage. When I visited the school, one of
1:05:33 > 1:05:39the points the sixth formers made is that they had heard about universe
1:05:39 > 1:05:42-- University throughout schooling but only heard about apprenticeships
1:05:42 > 1:05:49at the sixth form. Can the Prime Minister explain why last year,
1:05:49 > 1:05:55there was a 60% drop in apprenticeships?We have seen, we
1:05:55 > 1:05:58have introduced the apprenticeship levy and we are looking at the
1:05:58 > 1:06:04application of that levy. And we are ensuring, we have a commitment
1:06:04 > 1:06:11through a period of years for a project, we will increase them to 3
1:06:11 > 1:06:16million over this Parliament. We will look very carefully at the
1:06:16 > 1:06:18apprenticeship levy and the impact it has.
1:06:23 > 1:06:26On International Women's Day tomorrow, we will be celebrating
1:06:26 > 1:06:29record numbers of women in work including our second female Prime
1:06:29 > 1:06:34Minister.
1:06:35 > 1:06:39Minister. Yet attitudes toward pregnancy mean that more than 50,000
1:06:39 > 1:06:42women a year are forced out of their jobs just for having a baby. When
1:06:42 > 1:06:48will the government be taking forward its review for existing
1:06:48 > 1:06:55protections for pregnant women which were suggested following an inquiry
1:06:55 > 1:06:59into this issue?She is right to raise the issue. We have very clear
1:06:59 > 1:07:02laws in this country that dissemination in the workplace is on
1:07:02 > 1:07:10lawful. There are clear regulations in place which employ as --
1:07:10 > 1:07:13employers must follow. -- discrimination in the workplace is
1:07:13 > 1:07:18unlawful. We will review the legislation relating to redundancy
1:07:18 > 1:07:23in the next 12 months.The Prime Minister continues to sing the
1:07:23 > 1:07:26praises of Universal Credit, wilfully ignoring the devastation it
1:07:26 > 1:07:31still causing. How do she square her position with the fact that her Tory
1:07:31 > 1:07:36colleagues in Stirling Council have called for over half £1 million of
1:07:36 > 1:07:41funding to mitigate the enormous human suffering caused by Universal
1:07:41 > 1:07:47Credit?Universal Credit was introduced as a more simple benefit
1:07:47 > 1:07:51which is a benefit which enables and encourages people to get into the
1:07:51 > 1:07:57workplace. We have made a number of changes in the way that Universal
1:07:57 > 1:08:00Credit is operated, changes have come into place and that includes
1:08:00 > 1:08:05insuring that it's now possible for someone to get a 100% advance of
1:08:05 > 1:08:10their Universal Credit in very quick time at the start of the application
1:08:10 > 1:08:15where that is appropriate. Universal Credit is a benefit that helps
1:08:15 > 1:08:18people get into the workplace and work is the best route out of
1:08:18 > 1:08:26poverty.Storm has left a trail of destruction along the south coast of
1:08:26 > 1:08:33Devon including washing away large stretches of the A370 nine. Please
1:08:33 > 1:08:36can the Prime Minister insure my constituents that they will not be
1:08:36 > 1:08:40left isolated and their community separated, and can she pledge the
1:08:40 > 1:08:45funds to help rebuild this vital link and join me in thanking the
1:08:45 > 1:08:49emergency services both in my constituency and around the United
1:08:49 > 1:08:51Kingdom for the extraordinary work in desperately difficult
1:08:51 > 1:08:56circumstances?I'm happy and I'm sure everyone is happy to join my
1:08:56 > 1:08:59honourable friend in praising the emergency services for the tireless
1:08:59 > 1:09:05work they did to help people over the severe winter weather. She is
1:09:05 > 1:09:14right to raise concerns about the A379 on the half of her constituents
1:09:14 > 1:09:17and the Transport Secretary will confirm that we will provide
1:09:17 > 1:09:23financial assistance to insure that this road is repaired as soon as
1:09:23 > 1:09:27possible.Battersea Power Station is a £9 billion development pushed
1:09:27 > 1:09:33through by Tory Wandsworth Council with only 9% of so-called affordable
1:09:33 > 1:09:37homes. 85% of these homes have been snapped up by foreign investors.
1:09:37 > 1:09:41This is an insult to the thousands of people on the Wandsworth housing
1:09:41 > 1:09:46waiting list. If the Prime Minister in Paris that a Tory council is
1:09:46 > 1:09:52siding with developers' -- embarrassed that a Tory council is
1:09:52 > 1:09:59siding with developers' profit over the Wandsworth people?This is a
1:09:59 > 1:10:04site that was derelict for over 40 years.Order, order. It's very
1:10:04 > 1:10:10discourteous, far too much noise in the chamber. The question was heard
1:10:10 > 1:10:13and very forcefully delivered by the Prime Minister's answer must also be
1:10:13 > 1:10:19heard.This is a site that was derelict for 40 years. It is now a
1:10:19 > 1:10:22site that will be providing homes and jobs. I would have thought that
1:10:22 > 1:10:32is something to welcome.Thank you, Mr Speaker.
1:10:32 > 1:10:34Mr Speaker. March is brain tumour research awareness month, dedicating
1:10:34 > 1:10:38to supporting people affected by brain tumours and raising funds and
1:10:38 > 1:10:42awareness. They remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults
1:10:42 > 1:10:46under 40, a fact that has to change. There has been great progress over
1:10:46 > 1:10:49the last month that the government turning its attention to this
1:10:49 > 1:10:52underfunded disease but so much more candid and. Will the Prime Minister
1:10:52 > 1:10:57join me in commending -- so much more can be done. Will the Prime
1:10:57 > 1:11:00Minister join me in commend all of those raising funds this month and
1:11:00 > 1:11:05recognise the many thousands of people fighting this disease and
1:11:05 > 1:11:07make a statement about how the government will see the job through
1:11:07 > 1:11:13it until we have the research, care and cure that many people need?I
1:11:13 > 1:11:18would join my honourable friend in commending all those who are raising
1:11:18 > 1:11:22awareness of brain cancer and working hard and tirelessly in
1:11:22 > 1:11:26research and also raise funding in this. It's a devastating disease. I
1:11:26 > 1:11:33was right pleased to meet Barry Strauss to hear her experience of
1:11:33 > 1:11:42the NHS and is -- meet Baroness Tessa Jowell and she has had a round
1:11:42 > 1:11:45table on brain cancer. 20 million will be invested over the next five
1:11:45 > 1:11:50years helping to fund essential brain Cancer Research and in
1:11:50 > 1:11:56addition, Cancer Research UK will be investing 25 million over the same
1:11:56 > 1:12:07period.The increase in provision of health care within NHS England by
1:12:07 > 1:12:09private providers continues to cause fragmentation and undermining of
1:12:09 > 1:12:18patient services. The Prime Minister has thus far refused to exclude such
1:12:18 > 1:12:21services from a US trade deal. Can she tell us how the Scottish
1:12:21 > 1:12:26Government will be included in such negotiations so they can protect our
1:12:26 > 1:12:32Scottish NHS from being bartered away to get a deal?She is a little
1:12:32 > 1:12:36late because I was asked a question about a US trade deal and the
1:12:36 > 1:12:39National Health Service either member for token on Monday in this
1:12:39 > 1:12:45house and I -- by the member for Twickenham on Monday and I maintain
1:12:45 > 1:12:48that week maintain the principles of the National Health Service and we
1:12:48 > 1:12:55will not allow it to be undermined. Later today, representatives from
1:12:55 > 1:13:00the greater Grimsby transport board will be meeting the Business
1:13:00 > 1:13:03Minister to discuss the next stage of their town deal. The proposals
1:13:03 > 1:13:09would be a great boost for the economy of Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
1:13:09 > 1:13:11Could she reaffirm her support for the proposals and similar
1:13:11 > 1:13:19initiative?He has raised this issue with me before and I do welcome the
1:13:19 > 1:13:22strong public private sector approach which is being pursued by
1:13:22 > 1:13:28the Great Grimsby Project board. I know he is playing an active role in
1:13:28 > 1:13:33that. There have been a number of positive meetings of the Ministry of
1:13:33 > 1:13:35Housing, communities and local government and I would in courage
1:13:35 > 1:13:42the board to in gauge -- in gauge with officials continually so we can
1:13:42 > 1:13:48see the developments taking place to in the local area.IMO is concerned
1:13:48 > 1:13:54with protecting the -- I am always concerned with protecting the rights
1:13:54 > 1:14:00of smaller parties, so Nigel..I am grateful for your protection. Would
1:14:00 > 1:14:07she acknowledge and praise the success of the EU negotiator Michel
1:14:07 > 1:14:15Barnier in bringing a measure of progress in the negotiations in that
1:14:15 > 1:14:22he has managed to unite the opposition and the government in
1:14:22 > 1:14:26utter defiance of the legal sexy has brought forward and would she agree
1:14:26 > 1:14:34that the EU need to get on and get on and -- the legal text he has
1:14:34 > 1:14:41brought forward. It is time that the EU went on to the negotiations.He
1:14:41 > 1:14:48is absolutely right. It is now time for the negotiators to get on with
1:14:48 > 1:14:51the job of discussing the trade and economic partnership for the future
1:14:51 > 1:14:55and also within that, I'm pleased that we will be able to discuss with
1:14:55 > 1:14:58the Irish government and the commission the practical details of
1:14:58 > 1:15:03delivering on the solution for the border between Northern Ireland and
1:15:03 > 1:15:07Ireland so we continue to have the free flow of trade between Northern
1:15:07 > 1:15:14Ireland and Ireland and the rest of the UK.
1:15:14 > 1:15:18the UK.Last month it was announced that a proposed merger between the
1:15:18 > 1:15:21British Transport Police and police got them was put on hold in the wake
1:15:21 > 1:15:25of widespread criticism from a number of different parties. What
1:15:25 > 1:15:28discussions has she been able to have with devolved ministers and
1:15:28 > 1:15:39what steps has been taken? Will to scrap this all fated proposal?
1:15:40 > 1:15:46I recognise the concerns that have been expressed. We were committed to
1:15:46 > 1:15:49delivering on the Smith commission proposals and as part of that we
1:15:49 > 1:15:53will be delivering housing proposals to the Scottish Government. Priority
1:15:53 > 1:15:57must remain the safety of the British public and we are committed
1:15:57 > 1:16:01to working with the Scottish Government to ensure a smooth
1:16:01 > 1:16:05transfer of the function should that be their decision. It is for the
1:16:05 > 1:16:08Scottish Government to decide. I would urge them to ensure that as
1:16:08 > 1:16:11they are taking those decisions they are putting the safety of the
1:16:11 > 1:16:18security of the public first.Is it the policy of the government that
1:16:18 > 1:16:22England should pull out of the World Cup and if not what on earth was the
1:16:22 > 1:16:26Foreign Secretary on about yesterday?The point the Foreign
1:16:26 > 1:16:31Secretary was making yesterday was that depending on what comes out in
1:16:31 > 1:16:34relation to the investigation into the attack on the two individuals
1:16:34 > 1:16:38that took place in Salisbury that it might be appropriate for the
1:16:38 > 1:16:41government to look at whether ministers and other dignitaries
1:16:41 > 1:16:47should attend the World Cup in Russia.In advance of the Prime
1:16:47 > 1:16:50Minister's meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia today, would
1:16:50 > 1:16:55she agree with me that in fact the kingdom is a force for a tremendous
1:16:55 > 1:16:59stability and a troubled region? Would she offer reassurance to the
1:16:59 > 1:17:03Crown prince that this country will stand with him in his efforts to
1:17:03 > 1:17:07bring modernity, development and reform to our Middle Eastern ally?I
1:17:07 > 1:17:11agree with my honourable friend, we have had a long-standing and
1:17:11 > 1:17:15historic relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that
1:17:15 > 1:17:19will continue. It has been important in our security and defence and it
1:17:19 > 1:17:24is important for the stability of the region. We also see a Saudi
1:17:24 > 1:17:28Arabia that is reforming and changing and is giving greater
1:17:28 > 1:17:32rights to women. We should encourage that and stand alongside Saudi
1:17:32 > 1:17:35Arabia and work with them to help the Crown Prince delivered on his
1:17:35 > 1:17:41vision.Today the Department for International Development launches
1:17:41 > 1:17:46the Joe Cox Memorial grants that will empower women in some of the
1:17:46 > 1:17:51most difficult parts of our world. Will the Prime Minister join with me
1:17:51 > 1:17:57in thanking wholeheartedly everyone who made this happen? And also to
1:17:57 > 1:18:02agree that when it comes to preventing conflict her legacy must
1:18:02 > 1:18:07teach us that women's voices must be heard?Can I say to the honourable
1:18:07 > 1:18:12lady and thank her for raising this issue and I am happy to welcome the
1:18:12 > 1:18:16UK aid contribution that my right honourable friend the International
1:18:16 > 1:18:19Development Secretary has announced today to the Joe Cox Memorial
1:18:19 > 1:18:24grants. That is £10 million being allocated to help grass-roots
1:18:24 > 1:18:29organisations deliver on two causes close to Joe Cox's Park, protecting
1:18:29 > 1:18:35against identity -based Byland and also boosting the social and
1:18:35 > 1:18:38political development of girls and helping to protect against identity
1:18:38 > 1:18:45-based violence. The honourable lady is absolutely right. She fought for
1:18:45 > 1:18:48gender equality at home and in developing countries and it is right
1:18:48 > 1:18:53that we as a government and as a country encourage women's' voices to
1:18:53 > 1:18:54be heard wherever they are.
1:19:02 > 1:19:08It began by Jeremy Corbyn pointing out that tomorrow was International
1:19:08 > 1:19:16Women's Day. Theresa May thank him for pointing that out exhibition
1:19:16 > 1:19:24Mike as we anticipated, Jeremy Corbyn Rose issues of human rights
1:19:24 > 1:19:28in Saudi Arabia because of the Crown Prince's visit to London today and
1:19:28 > 1:19:33tomorrow. The Prime Minister said she did raise human rights issues
1:19:33 > 1:19:37with Saudi Arabia, and it is better to engage with them rather than to
1:19:37 > 1:19:42walk away. The Leader of the Opposition moved the war in Yemen
1:19:42 > 1:19:48and some of the terrible things happening there. The Prime Minister
1:19:48 > 1:19:53replied Britain was the third largest humanitarian donor in Yemen.
1:19:53 > 1:20:00But also Britain is such a big arms exporter to Saudi Arabia. Then
1:20:00 > 1:20:05Jeremy Corbyn pivoted and moved from Saudi Arabia to homelessness and
1:20:05 > 1:20:08finished up with three or four questions on the rise in rough
1:20:08 > 1:20:10sleeping.
1:20:10 > 1:20:12questions on the rise in rough sleeping.
1:20:12 > 1:20:14Well, still with me are Mel Stride, Financial Secretary to the Treasury,
1:20:14 > 1:20:17Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Debbie Abrahams and our political
1:20:17 > 1:20:21editor Laura Kuenssberg.
1:20:21 > 1:20:26What did you make of that?It was as we expected, a predictable exchange
1:20:26 > 1:20:29were neither of them really engaged with each other on the substance of
1:20:29 > 1:20:35what either of them was saying. Jeremy Corbyn's had very strong
1:20:35 > 1:20:38accusations about the British involvement in Yemen. He's actually
1:20:38 > 1:20:44said we were colluding with war crimes.He said more than that. He
1:20:44 > 1:20:49said British military advisers are directing the war.I would not be
1:20:49 > 1:20:52surprised if there was some push back through the day to those
1:20:52 > 1:20:56remarks, very strong claims being put to Theresa May. She did not
1:20:56 > 1:21:01directly engage and take it on at all. Instead she highlighted bit's
1:21:01 > 1:21:05humanitarian effort and try to mitigate the effects of that
1:21:05 > 1:21:10terrible conflict and in another question as well she made a defence
1:21:10 > 1:21:16of our links and had a real slap down for Jeremy Corbyn which are
1:21:16 > 1:21:19backbenchers loved. She claimed our alliance with Saudi Arabia was one
1:21:19 > 1:21:23of the things that has helped protect British citizens from
1:21:23 > 1:21:27potential acts of terrorism. The twain shall never meet on that
1:21:27 > 1:21:31issue, but it was a strongly worded exchange but nothing really new. In
1:21:31 > 1:21:37broader terms you could tell from watching Theresa May today that she
1:21:37 > 1:21:41had a relatively successful outing as far as her party is concerned in
1:21:41 > 1:21:45terms of the Mansion house speech at the end of last week. The Prime
1:21:45 > 1:21:49Minister has had a very difficult start to this year. There was huge
1:21:49 > 1:21:53anticipation and division in the Tory party as we have talked about
1:21:53 > 1:21:57week after week and I thought you could tell from her today that she
1:21:57 > 1:22:00looked much more confident and comfortable than she has for some
1:22:00 > 1:22:05time. At the end the Tory backbenchers were shouting more,
1:22:05 > 1:22:09more, can it last? That is a different question, but in terms of
1:22:09 > 1:22:14which side feels like they are on a roll right now, it feels to me like
1:22:14 > 1:22:19it is the government, whereas Labour today is still dealing with some of
1:22:19 > 1:22:25its internal issues.We have not said that she has had a strong
1:22:25 > 1:22:33performance for quite some time. Can you shed any light on Jeremy
1:22:33 > 1:22:35Corbyn's claimed that British military advisers are directing the
1:22:35 > 1:22:44war?No.We don't know what he means. There is some British
1:22:44 > 1:22:53involvement in terms of some of the equipment and sums of the targeting.
1:22:53 > 1:22:57But directing the war is quite a strong accusation. Jeremy Corbyn
1:22:57 > 1:23:03also accused the government and said since 2010 rough sleeping had
1:23:03 > 1:23:11doubled to stop but he was wrong. It has almost tripled. Why?Successive
1:23:11 > 1:23:17governments have struggled with rough sleeping.No, it came down
1:23:17 > 1:23:23under the last government. It was a clear trend, it came down.We
1:23:23 > 1:23:29recognise the issue and we have a firm commitment to eliminating it in
1:23:29 > 1:23:392027.Say that date again? 2027?By halving it by 2022.Why can't you do
1:23:39 > 1:23:43that now?There are a number of reasons why people end up on the
1:23:43 > 1:23:51street and we have invested £1 billion in this area. We recognise
1:23:51 > 1:23:54helping people off the street into an immediate accommodation means we
1:23:54 > 1:24:00can then start to address those issues.It is a complicated issue
1:24:00 > 1:24:06and it involves substance abuse, mental issues can be involved, I
1:24:06 > 1:24:11understand it is not just an issue of a roof over somebody's head, but
1:24:11 > 1:24:15for it almost two treble oh for you to tell our viewers that the target
1:24:15 > 1:24:21is to eliminate it by 2027 when Theresa May will certainly not be in
1:24:21 > 1:24:30power and you might not be in power either, why 2027? Why nine years?It
1:24:30 > 1:24:36is very easy for politicians to say they have one bound solutions to
1:24:36 > 1:24:43things like this. This is one of those complex problems.But why a
1:24:43 > 1:24:48decade?There are all sorts of reasons why we are saying we will
1:24:48 > 1:24:52eliminate it by 2027 and half it by 2022. The other part of this
1:24:52 > 1:24:58equation is housing. We have all sorts of firm commitments and plans
1:24:58 > 1:25:02and investments to get the level of house building up where our record
1:25:02 > 1:25:10is very good compared to the last Labour government.You have not yet
1:25:10 > 1:25:15met Labour's best years, but we have not got time to go there. Anyway,
1:25:15 > 1:25:17Donald task, remember him?
1:25:17 > 1:25:18Anyway, Donald task, remember him?
1:25:18 > 1:25:20Donald Tusk, who is president of the European Council
1:25:20 > 1:25:23which represents the EU Member States, has in the last
1:25:23 > 1:25:29hour unveiled the EU's draft negotiating guidelines.
1:25:29 > 1:25:33It is for the kind of relationship that Britain and the EU will have
1:25:33 > 1:25:34posed Brexit.
1:25:34 > 1:25:35posed Brexit.
1:25:35 > 1:25:36He's been speaking at a press
1:25:36 > 1:25:39conference in Luxembourg.
1:25:39 > 1:25:45During my talks in London last Thursday and in her speech last
1:25:45 > 1:25:49Friday, Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that the UK will leave the
1:25:49 > 1:25:53single market, leave the customs union and leave the jurisdiction of
1:25:53 > 1:26:02the ECJ. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the only
1:26:02 > 1:26:08remaining possible model is a free trade agreement. I hope that it will
1:26:08 > 1:26:12be ambitious and advanced and we will do our best, as we did with
1:26:12 > 1:26:20other partners such as Canada recently, but anyway it will only be
1:26:20 > 1:26:29a trade agreement.He is right. If you look out the single market and a
1:26:29 > 1:26:33customs union and the role of the ECJ, you are left with a free trade
1:26:33 > 1:26:40agreement. He calls it an ambitious free trade agreement. David Davis,
1:26:40 > 1:26:45the Brexit minister, has called it Canada, plus, plus, plus. That is
1:26:45 > 1:26:51what is left, isn't it?What we are very clear that...My heart sinks
1:26:51 > 1:26:55when you say that. I can see rivers of mud coming towards me estimation
1:26:55 > 1:27:07mark we will seek a bespoke deal, as a unique country with an alliance
1:27:07 > 1:27:12with a very important economic partner. It is an ambitious trade
1:27:12 > 1:27:16deal?The Prime Minister set out last Friday the parameters around
1:27:16 > 1:27:20that and that is what we will work to and it will be within the
1:27:20 > 1:27:24European Union's interests to meet us and there will be compromises on
1:27:24 > 1:27:30both sides. They have every single deal out there that the EU has done
1:27:30 > 1:27:35and it has been a unique arrangement.It is a free trade deal
1:27:35 > 1:27:40whether it is unique or not. If you rule out the single market and the
1:27:40 > 1:27:45customs union, it is a free trade deal. It might be bespoke and
1:27:45 > 1:27:49ambitious and plus, plus, plus, but it is a free trade deal.What is
1:27:49 > 1:27:56your question?If you look all that out, my question is that Donald task
1:27:56 > 1:28:02is right, you are left with a free trade deal?I understand exactly
1:28:02 > 1:28:10what is being put to ask, but what I would like to put on the behalf of
1:28:10 > 1:28:14the Labour Party is an alternative and I would again be urging the
1:28:14 > 1:28:23government to take up our position that we should be negotiating the UK
1:28:23 > 1:28:27having EU deal.I am going to call you Deborah because that is not what
1:28:27 > 1:28:27I asked.
1:28:27 > 1:28:30I asked.
1:28:30 > 1:28:33There's just time to put you out of your misery and give
1:28:33 > 1:28:37you the answer to Guess The Year.
1:28:37 > 1:28:46The year was 1997. Now, Deborah, press that red button, please.
1:28:49 > 1:28:51Now, Deborah, press that red button, please.
1:28:51 > 1:28:52That's all for today.
1:28:52 > 1:28:54Thanks to our guests.
1:28:54 > 1:29:02The one o'clock news is starting over on BBC One now.