23/11/2015

:59:13. > :59:18.Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament live coverage of from the House of

:59:19. > :59:22.Commons. The Prime Minister will make a statement on the futtre of

:59:23. > :59:26.the Armed Forces. Including details of an extra ?12 billion of spending

:59:27. > :59:30.on equipment. They're also be two new strike rates by 2025. Statement

:59:31. > :59:33.is also expected to set the scene for David Cameron's tries to

:59:34. > :59:37.persuade the MPs that Britahn should get involved with air strikds and

:59:38. > :59:42.serious. After that the govdrnment will try to put the all stages of

:59:43. > :59:47.the Northern Ireland Welfard Reform Bill. Is the latest all party built

:59:48. > :59:56.to keep the default demonstration up-and-coming. Has support of all,

:59:57. > :00:01.... Member to join me for the round up of the day in both houses at

:00:02. > :00:05.11:00pm. First we have questions to the Defense Secretary Michadl Fallon

:00:06. > :00:10.and his team of ministers. First question is from Labour MP, Nick

:00:11. > :00:17.Smith about what steps he's taken to ensure that defence industrx

:00:18. > :00:24.benefits the UK. The second question -- let's hear the question. Order!

:00:25. > :00:33.Order! Questions of the Secretary of State for Defense. Mr Nick Smith. Mr

:00:34. > :00:38.Speaker that should teach it to friends of security review will very

:00:39. > :00:43.shortly set out the honourable gentleman of the House how we will

:00:44. > :00:47.invest more and bigger and stronger defence for Britain. The Brhtish

:00:48. > :00:52.defence industry plays a vital role in helping to deliver more planes,

:00:53. > :00:57.ships and armour vehicles for our Armed Forces. We are looking at how

:00:58. > :01:02.we can drive greater innovation and how we can maximise the use of SMEs

:01:03. > :01:08.and how we can ensure the ftture decisions contribute to a more

:01:09. > :01:13.dynamic and productive economy. The important armoured vehicle programme

:01:14. > :01:19.for the Army has been in thd pipeline for years. It uses Swedish

:01:20. > :01:30.Nibert is still. We have told our specialist steel makers... When will

:01:31. > :01:33.they ask they can produce this steel? As with all major defence

:01:34. > :01:39.programmes the contractors determine the materials, including sotrcing

:01:40. > :01:45.still on the basis of comparative cost, time and quality. In 2010 no

:01:46. > :01:51.UK steel manufacturers were able to meet the prime contractors

:01:52. > :01:54.requirements so no UK supplhed steel for the programme. I can confirm to

:01:55. > :02:01.the honourable gentleman th`t it takes a great deal of interdst in

:02:02. > :02:07.this because Ajax vehicles will be assembled next his constitudncy

:02:08. > :02:11.some 2700 tonnes around 30% of the still requirement remains open to

:02:12. > :02:15.competition. And our petition is already under way to sufficd as a

:02:16. > :02:24.turning armour which is open for UK firms to apply. And number of

:02:25. > :02:28.colleagues and I visit our new magnificent aircraft carriers last

:02:29. > :02:31.week. There some interest that we learned this morning that apparently

:02:32. > :02:35.the government is intending to order a large number of joint shark

:02:36. > :02:40.fighters took with not only those aircraft carriers but also the world

:02:41. > :02:45.aircraft. I wonder if my honourable friend can confirm the truth in this

:02:46. > :02:54.substantial increase in our fighting capability. --. He's a very

:02:55. > :02:56.experienced member of his house The after this defence questions we have

:02:57. > :03:00.a statement from the Prime Linister who I'm quite sure will be `ble to

:03:01. > :03:12.do that... Address the question he just posed to me? It is excdllent to

:03:13. > :03:17.welcome the Minister again last week and to make another show of the

:03:18. > :03:23.bipartisan support we have for renewing the UK nuclear detdrrent

:03:24. > :03:31.Ada. Is a still a prospect of getting the main boat beford

:03:32. > :03:34.Christmas? -- vote. I am gr`teful for him for reminding the House back

:03:35. > :03:40.on Thursday last week I accompanied him into his constituency to

:03:41. > :03:44.recognise the signature of the contract for the fifth astute

:03:45. > :03:46.measure. It was good to think of many of his constituents who have

:03:47. > :03:53.been involved in the constrtction. With regard to the investment

:03:54. > :04:00.decision, I think again that is a subject that will come up shortly.

:04:01. > :04:08.Of course it is true that the defence industry can no longer

:04:09. > :04:12.sources requirements from the UK steel energy because of a loss of

:04:13. > :04:15.capability. Will he work with colleagues and with the defdnce

:04:16. > :04:21.industry and steel producers to ensure that there is a long,term

:04:22. > :04:24.plan for the future that UK still has developed the capabilithes to

:04:25. > :04:29.work in this industry with light of work in this industry with light of

:04:30. > :04:32.course the Minister of defence is participating in the working group

:04:33. > :04:38.that was established last month am right honourable friend the Business

:04:39. > :04:42.Secretary. I have to say th`t while still is clearly a very significant

:04:43. > :04:47.and important component to latch defence manufacturer, all of our

:04:48. > :04:55.major current programmes in work, the steel is involved it represents

:04:56. > :04:59.less than 1.5% of the total of steel manufactured in this countrx in

:05:00. > :05:03.2013. Relatively speaking, while important, it is a small pitcher

:05:04. > :05:11.Victor to the total steel produced in this country. Can I welcome the

:05:12. > :05:22.newspaper report we will sed shortly that the deal is to reverse his own

:05:23. > :05:28.decision, one of the most vhsible signs in 2010 with the photographs

:05:29. > :05:35.of our materials being cut tp into pieces. Can I get asked the Minister

:05:36. > :05:40.when will the first of thesd interactive service? The honourable

:05:41. > :05:45.lady may recall that the programme she refers to was commissioned under

:05:46. > :05:50.the previous Labour governmdnt, it was over ?1 billion over budget It

:05:51. > :05:58.was reduced in scale under the previous Labour government to

:05:59. > :06:03.over... In the prototype aircraft that was produced had more defects

:06:04. > :06:06.than any other previous aircraft in production. We were not surd that it

:06:07. > :06:10.would ever fly. Was the right decision to take at the timd and I

:06:11. > :06:14.was the right decision, the Prime Minister is about to announce it, to

:06:15. > :06:21.have a replacement capability. We will have to hear one that will be

:06:22. > :06:25.available. Mr Speaker, the TK has been about as vital capabilhty for

:06:26. > :06:30.four years as a result of rhght or wrong, that decision that hd refers

:06:31. > :06:36.to in 2010. Just today we rdad that Britain is have to call on native

:06:37. > :06:39.allies to provide aircraft to search for a Russian submarine offshore is.

:06:40. > :06:47.Can you give us a definite date for which he will again have our own

:06:48. > :06:52.maritime patrol aircraft. I am sorry to support the right honour`ble

:06:53. > :06:56.lady, but here we are 20 minutes to three. She has to be a little bit

:06:57. > :07:02.more patient and see what the Prime Minister announces in his f`vour and

:07:03. > :07:10.little this afternoon. I'm sure she will be there to hear the statement.

:07:11. > :07:17.The UK respects the sovereign responsibilities of the eight Arctic

:07:18. > :07:21.states, while promoting our own interests in the region. We engage

:07:22. > :07:27.with the security of the region through the Arctic security forces

:07:28. > :07:32.round table and of course dhrectly with Arctic nations. We maintain a

:07:33. > :07:34.naval air assets capable of deploying to the region and Arctic

:07:35. > :07:44.trained and equipped forces including elements of re-colmanding

:07:45. > :07:53.grades. I was confirmed that the Russian spy ship had passed through

:07:54. > :08:06.UK warders, this undermines the fact that Scotland... Will the Mhnister

:08:07. > :08:15.confirm when we will see UK enables efficient three days and whdn will

:08:16. > :08:22.we see the re-establishment of that? Place-mac I cannot confirm what he

:08:23. > :08:29.asked for. And he will wait until 3:30pm he should hear some dxcellent

:08:30. > :08:33.news for Scotland. There'll be no questions that they will be

:08:34. > :08:40.treating... That will lead to stress is if we do not have it corrected.

:08:41. > :08:52.The UK has a fantastic offer in terms of those were trained in the

:08:53. > :08:57.region. Secondly submarines, we have not trained our submarines to work

:08:58. > :09:01.under the Arctic ice. I am grateful for his question. He will h`ve to

:09:02. > :09:12.wait until 3:30pm until confirmation on the feature of our capabhlities.

:09:13. > :09:18.I have taken on board his point of under eye submarines. Perhaps I can

:09:19. > :09:25.help the minister with a qudstion that does not involve waiting to

:09:26. > :09:34.3:30pm. My understanding is that a lot of our focus is on Northeast

:09:35. > :09:46.Africa. Would you agree that... That a Russian submarine, it would be

:09:47. > :09:52.naive to trust also take our .. Order! Can I gently implored members

:09:53. > :09:55.to proceed a little but werd quickly. We have a lot to gdt

:09:56. > :10:12.through. Both questions and answers are lengthy. I really agree with the

:10:13. > :10:15.honourable member opposite. Mr Speaker, Ayrton patrol aircraft

:10:16. > :10:19.featured largely in last ye`rs referendum. What my honourable

:10:20. > :10:22.friend agree with me that they are pretty pointless. Manned or unmanned

:10:23. > :10:26.unless there is debate about gathering and analysis technology to

:10:27. > :10:35.do with it. And the wherewithal to respond to many threats that emerge,

:10:36. > :10:41.something the SMP felt to offer last year. -- failed. I entirely agree

:10:42. > :10:49.with my honourable friend indeed. Indeed. Behind bars is becoling one

:10:50. > :10:58.of the world strategic hotspot. With the Minister agree that a n`tion

:10:59. > :11:06.like ours to seek the assistance with friends in Canada and keeping a

:11:07. > :11:09.hostile submarine is embarr`ssing. Can he confirm that this is the

:11:10. > :11:16.fourth time we have had to call on such assistance? The honour`ble

:11:17. > :11:21.member will have to wait until 3:30pm for details. But, I will

:11:22. > :11:26.remind him that the defence Select Committee should the governlents

:11:27. > :11:31.feel that the programme was dying. I am very glad that it will bd

:11:32. > :11:38.possible to give better news later on today. The lack of naval

:11:39. > :11:49.capability in the high North is indeed a worry. Even at 14 lonths

:11:50. > :11:51.ago... With the Secretary of State, or the Minister like to takd this

:11:52. > :11:57.opportunity to make sure th`t the promise that was made to thdm will

:11:58. > :12:09.indeed be kept. Will be agrde with me that if that promises not kept it

:12:10. > :12:14.will be shameful. I cannot give him a detailed answer. But I can't say

:12:15. > :12:19.that the future of Carl Wood even brighter after 3:30 p.m.. Wd have

:12:20. > :12:26.just completed in the last few months of the largest far North

:12:27. > :12:34.exercise in history. -- the future of Scotland. I would like to answer

:12:35. > :12:37.this question with number 17. The United Kingdom is making significant

:12:38. > :12:44.top donor contribution to the international counter Isil programme

:12:45. > :12:48.is. And in helping to train Iraqi forces, in addition to the

:12:49. > :12:52.intelligence cooperation and border security support we have offered to

:12:53. > :12:58.France, the House will wish to know that I have authorised the tse of

:12:59. > :13:04.IRS... As a divergent effort for French aircraft striking in Syria.

:13:05. > :13:08.Many of us on all sides of the awful support the government as they make

:13:09. > :13:12.the intelligent case for extending the air campaign into seriots. We

:13:13. > :13:16.totally reject the accusation that such a movement will be a tdster.

:13:17. > :13:22.Will my right honourable frhend agree that our allies, not ts, our

:13:23. > :13:26.allies will be diminishing Hsil command control, restricting their

:13:27. > :13:32.ability to move en masse and restricting their ability to take

:13:33. > :13:38.control of more ground. Is ht not time to stop subcontracting our

:13:39. > :13:42.security to our friends. -- Syria. I agree we should not lead thd fight

:13:43. > :13:51.to French aircraft, American aircraft or Australian aircraft

:13:52. > :13:53.While we are working to est`blish a inconclusive government in the Civil

:13:54. > :13:58.War and build more security for the Sunni areas of Syria, that should

:13:59. > :14:05.not delay us or deter us from degrading Isil in eastern Sxria

:14:06. > :14:10.from where they are directing their war in their region and dirdctly

:14:11. > :14:14.threatening us. The chief of Defense staff said that not striking Isil in

:14:15. > :14:18.its heartland in Syria a football team trying to win a match without

:14:19. > :14:23.injuring the oppositions half. Is a long overdue that we pitched up the

:14:24. > :14:31.page and started to defend our goal line. -- pushed up the pitch. It

:14:32. > :14:35.moves between both, while the world Air Force can only strike in Iraq.

:14:36. > :14:39.It is a logical for us to bd hitting Isil targets in Iraq while not

:14:40. > :14:48.targeting Isil poor leadership, its lines of communication and ht

:14:49. > :14:56.revenue base, all found in Syria. What steps is he taking to squeeze

:14:57. > :15:00.the supply chain of Isil. They are not just supplied by organisations

:15:01. > :15:02.in the region, you must also be countries in establishment outside

:15:03. > :15:09.of the region supplying Isil with those arms. Yes, we are intdnsifying

:15:10. > :15:14.our efforts to cut off their sources of finance in particular its ability

:15:15. > :15:18.to sell oil on the internathonal market. We are also directlx

:15:19. > :15:29.targeting the supply route between Syria in Iraq,. The Democratic Union

:15:30. > :15:39.party holds political power in all three provinces, of northern Syria.

:15:40. > :15:44.Will the government be undertaking any communication or liaison with

:15:45. > :15:52.the PYP as it continues to dxist in the region. This is a matter

:15:53. > :15:57.discussed recently the Primd Minister and the foreign defence

:15:58. > :16:02.minister of Turkey. We will want to see the pushback from that border

:16:03. > :16:08.and the pocket between the two of the Kurdish areas. Let me elphasise

:16:09. > :16:14.that all parties in Syria, Kurds, Shia, Sunni, Christian and Jews all

:16:15. > :16:17.have to be brought into the process to deliver Syria a more inclusive

:16:18. > :16:25.government backing and this Civil War. History gives us practhcally no

:16:26. > :16:33.examples of undetermined surrendering in response to the

:16:34. > :16:37.conventional air bombardment. What ground forces are credibly `nd

:16:38. > :16:45.seriously fighting Isil, Dadsh in Syria other than some unple`sant

:16:46. > :16:49.Islamist groups, the Kurds hn a limited area and the Syrian

:16:50. > :16:55.government army? There are loderate forces fighting Daesh into serious.

:16:56. > :17:00.But they have also been eng`ged in the Civil War this. The key is to

:17:01. > :17:06.end it as quickly as possible so that we can focus on dealing with

:17:07. > :17:13.Daesh. There are a number of troops already involved in that. -, Syria.

:17:14. > :17:18.We have been hoping -- helphng to train them. He will continud to work

:17:19. > :17:30.with them to ensure that Syria is rid of I aside and Daesh. -,. It

:17:31. > :17:38.talks about the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris. The

:17:39. > :17:42.majority of victims were yotng Muslim women. Will the Secrdtary of

:17:43. > :17:51.State on the cross party consensus in this chamber and follow the

:17:52. > :17:57.example of President Hollande.. Does he not accept that the language

:17:58. > :18:04.we use is important in millhsecond next Muslims and terrorists is

:18:05. > :18:07.dangerous. I agree with almost all of that. I do not have time to read

:18:08. > :18:14.the report and the Independdnt that she refers to. I myself prefer the

:18:15. > :18:22.term Daesh as I think it is more accurate and it does not embrace the

:18:23. > :18:25.word Islam. But Isil has become and Isis have become accepted tdrms it

:18:26. > :18:31.may be too late to make that particular change. Does my right

:18:32. > :18:34.honourable friend agree that there's a direct threat to the UK and we

:18:35. > :18:42.should not consider all necdssary steps to stop it on all fronts. I

:18:43. > :18:47.agree with that. I know my honourable friend will have noted

:18:48. > :18:51.the result though the resolttion passed to that affect. We h`ve to

:18:52. > :18:56.confirm it by all means at our disposal. Not in terms of ddfending

:18:57. > :18:59.our territory here, but strhking searching groups in doing whth the

:19:00. > :19:07.politically, culturally, financially and indeed ideologically. Pdople on

:19:08. > :19:09.all sides of the House will welcome the United Nations Security Council

:19:10. > :19:16.resolution passed on Friday night. Calling on Member States to take all

:19:17. > :19:19.necessary measures against Hsil /Daesh. Can the defence secretary

:19:20. > :19:23.reassured members on the outside of the House that there is any proposed

:19:24. > :19:28.military action in Syria thdre is also a parallel plan for pe`ce to

:19:29. > :19:32.end the reign of terror and to have a timetable for traditional

:19:33. > :19:36.government in Syria and protection for religious and ethnic minorities

:19:37. > :19:45.in the country? I fully accdpt that we have to persuade them. There s a

:19:46. > :19:47.political track as well, thd Prime Minister will be were prying towards

:19:48. > :19:51.the end of this week for thd questions quite legitimatelx posed

:19:52. > :19:55.by the Foreign Affairs Commhttee to deal with exactly that. A

:19:56. > :20:06.traditional government put hnto place -- transitional. And how that

:20:07. > :20:11.will lead to the provision of security particularly in thd Sunni

:20:12. > :20:16.areas in northern Syria. -- not in itself delay us from dealing with

:20:17. > :20:19.this terrorist mass that has already brought slaughter to the streets of

:20:20. > :20:23.Paris and has already resulted in the deaths of our own citizdns on a

:20:24. > :20:35.beach in Tunisia and one of our citizens in Paris itself. It is

:20:36. > :20:37.dangerous to wounded enemy, especially if it is a wild beast are

:20:38. > :20:43.fighting, given that no air campaign alone has ever dislodged a

:20:44. > :20:50.determined enemy. After we bombed Syria, what is the plan, whdre's the

:20:51. > :20:58.strategy? Troops will we produce -- ground troops. The Iraqi forces and

:20:59. > :21:05.Kurdish forces will push Ishs out of Iraq and we have had some stccess.

:21:06. > :21:10.In Syria we will need ground forces that are local, locally supported.

:21:11. > :21:13.When you talk to prime ministers in Baghdad, he does not want British

:21:14. > :21:17.troops or American troops on the ground. That will further

:21:18. > :21:22.radicalised the areas. Parthcularly in the Sunni areas, on the hs a

:21:23. > :21:26.battle that has to be won bx locally supported troops and local forces

:21:27. > :21:31.that have the support of thd local population. -- not the terrorists

:21:32. > :21:36.for making a start in dealing with high school from where it is being

:21:37. > :21:43.directed -- dealing with Ishl from where it is being directed. I will

:21:44. > :21:51.like to answer questions and for together. Is reflective in need of

:21:52. > :21:56.kind does not competitive price UK suppliers have provided significant

:21:57. > :22:00.quantities of steel for programmes whatever they have been abld to meet

:22:01. > :22:05.specified standards. Our new government guidelines published last

:22:06. > :22:12.week will help UK steel suppliers compete effectively with

:22:13. > :22:20.international suppliers. He will be aware that Swedish still Mac was

:22:21. > :22:24.used -- steel. Many in the still communities feel this is betrothed.

:22:25. > :22:33.Is the field that British produced steel should be specified in order

:22:34. > :22:39.to protect the industry. I `m sure you will agree with me that the

:22:40. > :22:43.steel that is specified needs to be the steel that can do the job. Asked

:22:44. > :22:46.who can supply that, we are open-minded about that. We `re

:22:47. > :22:49.adopting the new government guidelines in relation to the

:22:50. > :23:04.offshore patrol vessels Tholas on 20% of the requirement was sourced

:23:05. > :23:11.to UK steel. Other countries support the industries, why not Britain

:23:12. > :23:18.This is why this government has set up a working group, the stedl

:23:19. > :23:22.procurement group. The Ministry of Defense is sitting on that group and

:23:23. > :23:29.making sure that future orddrs are open to UK firms to tender. You can

:23:30. > :23:34.bet your bottom dollar, Mr Speaker, or I should say your bottom euro

:23:35. > :23:40.that European countries will not be abiding by European Union l`w as far

:23:41. > :23:43.as procurement is concerned. Can my honourable friend confirm, H ensure

:23:44. > :23:50.that he can, that we will do all that we can to secure Butte does not

:23:51. > :24:02.British steel is used provided the quality needed. The answer to your

:24:03. > :24:05.question is yes. No one who has listened to the ministers insisted

:24:06. > :24:08.they will have any real confidence that he is going to take anx serious

:24:09. > :24:15.steps to ensure that British steel was used on the purchase of the ..

:24:16. > :24:18.That we expect to hear about shortly. Can the Minister s`y a

:24:19. > :24:23.little bit more about measures he will take to justify the answer he

:24:24. > :24:30.has given to the honourable gentleman. Black B are able

:24:31. > :24:40.gentleman is right to point to the type 26 Booker meant as the next

:24:41. > :24:43.major platform. We are determined as a government that is keen to support

:24:44. > :24:47.our steel industry that contractors will have the industry to source

:24:48. > :24:56.that still from the UK. We will do as much as we can to help them with

:24:57. > :25:00.that. Clinical studies and `udits have been undertaken by my

:25:01. > :25:06.defence... Those reports ard a matter of public record. Thhs is not

:25:07. > :25:11.our first line treatment and it makes up about 1% of our st`rts For

:25:12. > :25:17.some people deployed in certain parts of the world it'll be the best

:25:18. > :25:23.drug to protect them from m`laria. It is becoming that those who have

:25:24. > :25:27.had the drug had not been assessed fully before the usage. My

:25:28. > :25:34.constituents are those who `re suffering most with a high level of

:25:35. > :25:37.potential suicides, increasdd mental concerns and stress level issues,

:25:38. > :25:41.can the Minister confirm th`t they will be doing a thorough review of

:25:42. > :25:43.the use of the drug. And all personnel will be assessed before it

:25:44. > :25:51.is used again? There is an individual risk

:25:52. > :25:54.assessment of the patient, but in addition to that, as soon as the

:25:55. > :25:58.prescription is entered onto the electronic record system, there is a

:25:59. > :26:03.warning that is flagged to dnsure that the prescriber is absolutely

:26:04. > :26:09.sure that the recipient has had no mental health problems. In `ddition

:26:10. > :26:12.to that, that policy is altdred by... I would save to all mdmbers of

:26:13. > :26:17.his house, that they have constituents think care abott - are

:26:18. > :26:25.concerned about, please seek medical help. Thank you Mr Speaker, I and

:26:26. > :26:28.Doris the honourable member for what they said. And I welcome thd

:26:29. > :26:31.Minister's reply having suffered that myself and those consepuences,

:26:32. > :26:40.I would ask her to look at the alternatives as to which thdre are

:26:41. > :26:42.several, less bad side effects. I thank the honourable gentlelan for

:26:43. > :26:49.that and I would reassure hhm that this is not our first line drug I'm

:26:50. > :26:53.afraid that certain parts of the world, and given individuals

:26:54. > :26:57.particular medical history, this is currently the only course of action

:26:58. > :27:06.sometimes. There is a coming online and that will be looked at.

:27:07. > :27:10.Supporting moderates is a kdy part of our help in Syria so thex can

:27:11. > :27:14.take our place in the transhtional government that is needed to defeat

:27:15. > :27:18.Isil and provide security throughout Syria. In the last 12 months, we

:27:19. > :27:25.have helped to train members of the moderate armed opposition and help

:27:26. > :27:27.save lives, bolstered civil society, counter extremism and lay the

:27:28. > :27:33.foundation for a better futtre in Syria. To the government not

:27:34. > :27:38.recognise that it is part of the solution to the Isis issue, we

:27:39. > :27:41.need... To the government not recognise this as a failed policy,

:27:42. > :27:46.by investing in the client hn a proxy in Civil war, all we're doing

:27:47. > :27:50.is escalating that war and perpetuating it with a greater

:27:51. > :27:55.number of deaths? I do not `gree with that. To work we are doing in

:27:56. > :28:03.Iraq to support the democratic government of Iraq, at its request,

:28:04. > :28:10.has stemmed and I on rush of Isil and has started to Bush Isil back,

:28:11. > :28:14.from the Euphrates, and we need to be doing this in Syria, comhng to

:28:15. > :28:20.the aid of moderate forces hn Syria who want to be free both of us odd

:28:21. > :28:25.who is bombing his own civilians and Isil that represents a thre`t to us

:28:26. > :28:32.all. What evidence is there on the ground that the free Syrian army is

:28:33. > :28:37.recalibrating its efforts, increasing it against Isil `nd

:28:38. > :28:43.reducing it against Assad? The picture in northern Syria is

:28:44. > :28:49.particularly confused, it is not a simple conflict with front lines as

:28:50. > :28:54.we would normally understand them. But it is our long-term objdctive

:28:55. > :29:00.that Syria should be free of both Assad and others to work -- we

:29:01. > :29:03.continue to work with others to provide the equipment they need and

:29:04. > :29:12.when we can, provide them whth training outside Syria itself. Any

:29:13. > :29:18.consolidation of Air Force stations is being considered as part of the

:29:19. > :29:22.defence to put strategy. Thd threats we face are growing in scald,

:29:23. > :29:29.diversity, and complexity, therefore we are determined to configtre our

:29:30. > :29:32.support of military capabilhties. I'm grateful to my honourable friend

:29:33. > :29:38.for that answer and he will know that Lincolnshire is the hole of the

:29:39. > :29:42.RAF. Can need give an agreelent that that should remain the case and

:29:43. > :29:46.there are very good reasons for consolidating more personnel and

:29:47. > :29:50.assets into our County? My honourable friend is a champion not

:29:51. > :29:59.only for his constituency btt also for Lincolnshire. I am saying he is

:30:00. > :30:04.right that with the -- I cannot give any further details today, not even

:30:05. > :30:13.half past three, but I hope to have further information in due course.

:30:14. > :30:19.With permission Mr Speaker, I would like to answer questions eight and

:30:20. > :30:23.16 together stopping the government provides a comprehensive programme

:30:24. > :30:26.of support for ex-service pdrsonnel. This includes an excellent

:30:27. > :30:29.resettlement package for those returning to civilian life.

:30:30. > :30:33.High-quality pension and compensation schemes, and mdasures

:30:34. > :30:39.to meet health and welfare needs. The Armed Forces... Ensuring

:30:40. > :30:44.veterans are not disadvantaged as a part of their service in thd armed

:30:45. > :30:51.forces. I thank the Minister for his response. Veterans represent the

:30:52. > :30:54.largest single cohort within the overall prison population. Can the

:30:55. > :31:01.Minister confirm with the ddpartment is doing to address this issue and

:31:02. > :31:03.the importance of charities and it's Radek Phoenix which reintroduce the

:31:04. > :31:07.offended in this important programme? My honourable frhend will

:31:08. > :31:10.understand that veterans in prison are the responsibility of the

:31:11. > :31:15.Minister of Justice, however, the latest figures that I have suggest

:31:16. > :31:22.that the prison population which are veterans is three and a half

:31:23. > :31:28.percent. All prisoners with military history are eligible for services

:31:29. > :31:36.from the service and in addhtion, Armed Forces charities incltding the

:31:37. > :31:42.Royal... Sin caseworkers to support veterans in some prisons. Thank you

:31:43. > :31:45.Mr Speaker, embers of our armed forces put themselves not only great

:31:46. > :31:48.physical danger and also psychological pressures to defend

:31:49. > :31:55.our country and our people. What provisions are being put in place to

:31:56. > :32:00.help veterans of and others struggling with mental health

:32:01. > :32:02.issues? We are determined to ensure veterans with mental health issues

:32:03. > :32:09.are provided with appropriate support. England spends ?1.8 million

:32:10. > :32:15.every year on mental health services for veterans, including vetdran

:32:16. > :32:20.mental health teams. A further 18 million of funding is place to

:32:21. > :32:28.combat posttraumatic stress disorder programme for veterans. A ftrther a

:32:29. > :32:33.4p of government funding will provide -- it will be provided over

:32:34. > :32:36.the next five years. What conversations have taken pl`ce with

:32:37. > :32:41.the chancellor to discuss the impact of tax credit courts on milhtary

:32:42. > :32:46.families including those of military veterans? I'm sure this is `n issue

:32:47. > :32:50.that has been discussed and will be addressed later this week when the

:32:51. > :32:55.Chancellor makes his announcement. What support is the Ministrx of

:32:56. > :32:59.defence able to give local authorities like my own, whhch are

:33:00. > :33:06.very keen in establishing homes for heroes? I recently announce that we

:33:07. > :33:10.are about to undertake a review of this practice and following

:33:11. > :33:13.conversations with the chair of the local Government Association, we

:33:14. > :33:19.intend to do a review to ensure that best practices are now spre`d across

:33:20. > :33:23.local authorities across thd UK The social care crisis is affecting

:33:24. > :33:25.people across the country. Hncluding those who sustained an injury or

:33:26. > :33:33.condition while serving our country. Is injured or heard after the 6th of

:33:34. > :33:35.April, received compensation scheme, and have this payment disregarded by

:33:36. > :33:39.local authorities and being assessed for social care. However those

:33:40. > :33:43.injured before that date ard receiving war pension and don't

:33:44. > :33:48.Will the government addressds in equality? This is primarily a letter

:33:49. > :33:51.for the Department of Health and I've been having a series of

:33:52. > :33:54.negotiations with my counterpart in the Ministry of health and H'm sure

:33:55. > :34:01.we will come back to the Hotse in due course. Number nine Sir. With

:34:02. > :34:05.permission Mr Speaker I would like to answer questions nine and 11

:34:06. > :34:08.together. We expect to see small businesses take an increasing share

:34:09. > :34:12.in our defence budget. Sincd they provide a vital source of innovation

:34:13. > :34:16.and flexibility in meeting defence security requirements. In October,

:34:17. > :34:22.we mentioned a new target to increase the procurement to be spent

:34:23. > :34:26.with small medium enterprisds to 25% by the end of this Parliament. This

:34:27. > :34:33.target is 10% higher than in the last Parliament. I thank thd end of

:34:34. > :34:41.the mine minister for his answer. Can he outlined what role is in P is

:34:42. > :34:46.playing in the programme? Especially in the supply chain? The success of

:34:47. > :34:51.submarine from them it will be the largest project, where we expect 150

:34:52. > :34:55.suppliers across the UK will be involved. They will employ thousands

:34:56. > :34:59.of people in this very high skilled domain, using cutting-edge

:35:00. > :35:04.technology and they will kedp the supply chain for Rose Royce... Where

:35:05. > :35:12.many of them will be as in `nd many of them will be within my honourable

:35:13. > :35:16.friend's constituency. No c`n you clarify how any small busindsses in

:35:17. > :35:23.the defence supply chain can access the ?70 million investment that was

:35:24. > :35:28.announced last month? I would just pay tribute to the workforcd and

:35:29. > :35:33.Lancashire, particular in the work they have an contributing every

:35:34. > :35:39.single one of the F 35, the largest procurement for Graham and the

:35:40. > :35:43.Globe. Mentioned last month by my honourable friend will have its due

:35:44. > :35:50.course, some even possibly hn the next hour. What difference with the

:35:51. > :35:57.renewal of Trident make to the defence supply programme? As I just

:35:58. > :36:03.indicated to my right honourable friend, my honourable friend, the

:36:04. > :36:06.successor submarine programle will be the largest UK procurement of

:36:07. > :36:12.military capability for dec`des to come. That will filter throtgh, I

:36:13. > :36:15.mentioned 150 suppliers, we think will be pertaining, it may be larger

:36:16. > :36:19.than that, it will be an enormous programme that will last for many

:36:20. > :36:25.years and sustained thousands of jobs right across the breadth of

:36:26. > :36:28.this country. With permission Mr Speaker, I should like to answer

:36:29. > :36:35.questions 12 and 18 together. The government came under force -- since

:36:36. > :36:38.then, the government has undertaken a range of actions to build it. Our

:36:39. > :36:41.fourth annual report to Parliament is due to be published next month

:36:42. > :36:44.and that will detail the progress we have made during the year. The

:36:45. > :36:49.government is committed to honour our pledges and encourage the wider

:36:50. > :36:57.society to think about their contributions. How will thehr

:36:58. > :36:59.commitments be measured so that certain councils and others can

:37:00. > :37:04.learn from the best and most proactive and that we can encourage

:37:05. > :37:09.others to up their game? I 2am grateful for this support, hncluding

:37:10. > :37:16.Sussex, who demonstrate our arms forces communities. Many ard

:37:17. > :37:20.extremely proactive. I wish -- to discuss what more we can do to

:37:21. > :37:23.encourage local authorities as they look to support our Armed Forces

:37:24. > :37:27.soup community. I understand the Minister for housing intends to

:37:28. > :37:30.write all local authorities setting out an example the best practice and

:37:31. > :37:37.are mighty that the need to arm them under the covenant. A veter`n in my

:37:38. > :37:41.constituency suffers from mdntal health issues from military service.

:37:42. > :37:46.Is on the local council housing list but is one of two steps awax from

:37:47. > :37:50.priority stages. Tonight urge the Minister to beef up the covdnant and

:37:51. > :37:54.ensure our veterans are givdn priority status for housing as a

:37:55. > :37:57.matter of course? The government is determined to honour the colmitments

:37:58. > :38:00.made by the Armed Forces covenant to ensure fair treatment of veterans

:38:01. > :38:05.and their families in need of social housing. Is why the governmdnt

:38:06. > :38:10.change the laws so that serving personnel and veterans with urgent

:38:11. > :38:13.housing needs must always bd a higher priority for housing. It is

:38:14. > :38:20.up to local authorities howdver to make judgements about rises in their

:38:21. > :38:30.areas, I will of course raise this with my colleagues. -- 10% of our

:38:31. > :38:36.population are veterans, prhson populace and. The honourabld

:38:37. > :38:39.gentleman will be aware of the 40 million which will be invested into

:38:40. > :38:44.the veterans accommodation fund I work with a number of charities to

:38:45. > :38:51.ensure this issue, and he c`n see it for himself the Beacon home if he

:38:52. > :38:57.wishes to visit, or other places, I would encourage them to do so. Thank

:38:58. > :39:02.you Mr Speaker, in the last five years we have seen entitlemdnts of

:39:03. > :39:13.service personnel cut copy ` failure to return the micro group the - we

:39:14. > :39:15.weight the... Does he accept that trading service personnel so

:39:16. > :39:20.shoddily will affect morale and can be seen as a breach of the lilitary

:39:21. > :39:25.government? I was hoping to avoid these words but the honourable Lady

:39:26. > :39:31.will have to wait until 3:30pm. However, I am confident that the

:39:32. > :39:34.renumeration package will rdmain an excellent package for our sdrvice

:39:35. > :39:38.personnel, but she will havd to wait a few more minutes to find out

:39:39. > :39:50.exactly whether or not to bdlieve all of the reports she reads. This

:39:51. > :39:55.government believes we can `nd indeed will succeed in reforming and

:39:56. > :40:01.renegotiating our relationship with the EU. The cornerstone of our

:40:02. > :40:06.security is Nato, but the ET does play an important role in

:40:07. > :40:09.complementing Nato, for exalple imposing sanctions on Russi`

:40:10. > :40:17.recently, defence remains a sovereign issue. The UK togdther

:40:18. > :40:23.with the EU partners has worked hard in areas for example on EU trading

:40:24. > :40:28.missions, which had made a conservation to defence. With the

:40:29. > :40:32.government give close consideration about how these would continue in

:40:33. > :40:40.the future if Britain were to withdraw from the EU? I can only

:40:41. > :40:45.repeat my earlier answer, wd are confident that the renegoti`tion

:40:46. > :40:49.will succeed, yes indeed, the mission he referred to in other

:40:50. > :40:55.missions including the one hn Africa have been a success, he is right on

:40:56. > :41:00.that. Can I say to the Minister just in case the country votes to come

:41:01. > :41:05.out of the EU, wouldn't he welcomed a tremendous advantage of the Armed

:41:06. > :41:09.Forces, because the UK sends ?3 0 million to the EU each week, some of

:41:10. > :41:19.that money could be diverted to the Armed Forces and would not that be a

:41:20. > :41:23.good thing? My honourable friend is not, despite recollecting what might

:41:24. > :41:26.happen after withdrawal, wh`t I will say is that I am delighted to be

:41:27. > :41:33.part of a government that is committed to spending 2% of the GDP

:41:34. > :41:40.on the... I think you will dnjoy the announcement at 3:30pm. I should

:41:41. > :41:46.like to answer this question with number 15, we have seen Isil attacks

:41:47. > :41:55.in many places and around the world, including on premise is

:41:56. > :41:59.citizens in Paris. Isil posds a direct threat to the United Kingdom,

:42:00. > :42:04.which is why we need to work with the international Coalition to

:42:05. > :42:10.degrade and destroy Isil in Iraq and consider what more we can do to deal

:42:11. > :42:16.with its headquarters and hdartland in Syria from where this threat

:42:17. > :42:20.comes. Given that Isil are tsing their base in Syria to plan attacks

:42:21. > :42:24.on the UK, does the Secretary of State agree with me that it is

:42:25. > :42:29.absolutely absurd to restrict the British Armed Forces to onlx act in

:42:30. > :42:36.an Iraq and not in powering them to act to British threats? There is a

:42:37. > :42:44.compelling case for us to do more in Syria, not least because wh`t he

:42:45. > :42:47.says is it is illogical to not only tackle forces in Iraq. As the Prime

:42:48. > :42:53.Minister say, we must tackld the head of the snake and racked up and

:42:54. > :42:57.make our case to the House `nd country starting with my right

:42:58. > :43:04.honourable friend and his rdsponse to the committee report latdr this

:43:05. > :43:08.week. Mr Speaker, while cithes like London are targets for terrorism,

:43:09. > :43:14.with cooperation is the Secretary of State hiding with the home office to

:43:15. > :43:18.do with other areas, shopping areas like my constituency could dasily be

:43:19. > :43:22.just as under threat as central London was white we work closely

:43:23. > :43:26.with the home office, particularly on counterterrorism and providing

:43:27. > :43:31.assistance to back-ups of all capacity. We have 5000 troops

:43:32. > :43:36.trained and ready to support armed police forces, 24 hours nothce, and

:43:37. > :43:40.we will be increasing the ntmber shortly. We can only in the safety

:43:41. > :43:45.guarantee the safety of the United Kingdom by defeating Isil in both

:43:46. > :43:52.Iraq and Syria, and I hope he shares the new confidence of the chairman

:43:53. > :43:57.of this committee and the -, studies committee, conditions can bd met

:43:58. > :44:06.following the attacks in Paris. The sovereign state is unable or

:44:07. > :44:11.unwilling to take action. To what extent does he think that applies to

:44:12. > :44:18.Daesh and the Taliban in Afghanistan when it was supporting IK,

:44:19. > :44:22.Al-Qaeda? There is already ` clear legal basis for military action

:44:23. > :44:27.against Isil in Syria, which does not require a United Nations

:44:28. > :44:33.resolution, but I hope nonetheless that he will welcome Security

:44:34. > :44:37.Council resolution, which provides clear and unanimous politic`l

:44:38. > :44:40.endorsement by the entire international community for the

:44:41. > :44:51.military action already being taken by the counter Isil organis`tion?

:44:52. > :44:55.Why is the government turning a blind eye to Isil selling ohl to

:44:56. > :45:00.these Nato powers? The government is not turning a blind eye, on the

:45:01. > :45:06.contrary we are doing our bdst to interject the supplies of ohl and

:45:07. > :45:11.stop Isil being able to supply it on the international market, something

:45:12. > :45:16.I discussed with Syria up's neighbours, and we also need to stop

:45:17. > :45:27.them from selling to the Syria and regime itself. My immediate

:45:28. > :45:31.priorities are operations against Isil and the strategic defence

:45:32. > :45:35.security review. July's announcement of the defence budget will hncrease

:45:36. > :45:39.every year of this Parliament and that we'll continue to meet the Nato

:45:40. > :45:45.2% target means that we are able to decide very shortly what further

:45:46. > :45:50.capabilities and equipment we need to keep this country safe. H'm

:45:51. > :45:57.delighted to host the Secretary of State on a visit to my constituency.

:45:58. > :46:02.Is it a sign of the national security and economic securhty that

:46:03. > :46:09.they signed a 300 million pounds contract for the latest missiles

:46:10. > :46:15.manufactured out of news sites safeguarding 400 high-tech jobs

:46:16. > :46:23.Yes, I do recall my visit and this is part of our now plan, to provide

:46:24. > :46:27.the very best capabilities for our armed forces. These advanced

:46:28. > :46:34.short-range air to air misshles will equip our jets with battle winning

:46:35. > :46:39.technologies. Helping to protect airspace and defend our Nato allies

:46:40. > :46:54.and sustained highly skilled jobs in the new 30 million pounds plan and

:46:55. > :47:02.also. Mr Speaker, one of thd many things in the telegraph this morning

:47:03. > :47:06.was at the MOD will purchasd five or forgets them planned. Does the

:47:07. > :47:13.Minister share with me a concern that we need enough forgets to

:47:14. > :47:20.protect our carriers in operations. Any reduction to the sleep will

:47:21. > :47:25.impair the carriers? I can't ensure the honourable member and I'm

:47:26. > :47:28.delighted to see display. I can ensure the honourable member that we

:47:29. > :47:31.will have enough forgets to protect the carrier and my right honourable

:47:32. > :47:36.friend the Prime Minister whll be making very clear the forget

:47:37. > :47:45.replacement programmes in jtst a few minutes time. For the Minister

:47:46. > :47:48.advise the House on innovathons to working with the MOD. Will he take

:47:49. > :47:57.the opportunity to spell out the role that he sees for things in

:47:58. > :48:00.strategic defence in the UK? We recognise the importance of

:48:01. > :48:04.innovation and the STL does do vital work within this department. In

:48:05. > :48:08.leading science and technology initiatives to provide capability

:48:09. > :48:13.advances for our Armed Forcds and we expected to sell, through the

:48:14. > :48:22.support he gives to univers`l technical college and places Indians

:48:23. > :48:28.constituency? Mr Speaker, mddicine sent frontier -- Doctors Without

:48:29. > :48:34.Borders reports that Damascts was hit on Thursday. Increasing the

:48:35. > :48:42.numbers of civilian casualthes in Syria. In light of Friday's

:48:43. > :48:46.resolution in Syria, could the Secretary of State detailed the

:48:47. > :48:50.additional measures that will be taken to provide safe passage and

:48:51. > :48:59.resettlement for civilian rdfugees, should the UK vote to participate in

:49:00. > :49:06.air strikes? Prior to that taking place, I have met with a nulber of

:49:07. > :49:09.NGOs about a range of issues that the honourable Lady touches on and I

:49:10. > :49:12.can ensure that this is at the forefront of our minds. Part of the

:49:13. > :49:16.reason for wanting to do more in this place is to prevent innocent

:49:17. > :49:24.civilians from being brutally slaughtered. Given recent mddia

:49:25. > :49:28.coverage about the different views across this house on Trident

:49:29. > :49:33.renewal, could my right honourable friend tell me who is responsible

:49:34. > :49:37.for deciding government polhcy, specifically on the issue of

:49:38. > :49:40.Trident? Flemmi reassure my friend that policy on this side of the

:49:41. > :49:48.House is decided by the Prile Minister, the Cabinet, and hndeed

:49:49. > :49:51.the whole government and thd whole parliamentary parties are united on

:49:52. > :49:59.the commitment that we made to renew the deterrent and I would urge

:50:00. > :50:03.moderate MPs offices to turn out tomorrow and vote to support the

:50:04. > :50:09.deterrent that every previots Labour government has supported since it

:50:10. > :50:14.was introduced. What assesslent is the government making of thd high

:50:15. > :50:21.military capability that Assad has right now? Missile systems `nd where

:50:22. > :50:27.they located and what other high-tech equipment falling into the

:50:28. > :50:34.hands of Isis? We make very clear, we make sure that our own ahrcraft

:50:35. > :50:39.are equipped with the defensive AIDS that are necessary in each

:50:40. > :50:42.particular setting, but what we need to do is bring both of thesd, the

:50:43. > :50:47.Civil War in Syria to an end and Civil War in Syria to an end and

:50:48. > :51:04.then focus on the task at h`nd which is destroying Isil in its hdartland?

:51:05. > :51:09.With the Minister assure me with the evaluation of the defence of state

:51:10. > :51:18.being undertaken, the social economic policy, importance is taken

:51:19. > :51:24.into consideration? Bawled the defensive state is primarilx given

:51:25. > :51:27.to sick to the MOD does support authorities and any impact on

:51:28. > :51:32.changes particularly when it comes to the opportunity for the local

:51:33. > :51:44.resources as part of future campaign banning. Lockheed Martin submitted

:51:45. > :51:54.maritime patrol aircraft contract, this aircraft costs around 40% of

:51:55. > :51:58.Boeing's which is 80%... Can the Minister please anoint the House as

:51:59. > :52:04.to the process undertaken to win this contract ultimately, for the

:52:05. > :52:07.costly alternative which is not supported by British progralmes

:52:08. > :52:12.This is another one of thosd occasions where the honourable Lady

:52:13. > :52:16.will have to wait for a few moments for the Prime Minister. What I can

:52:17. > :52:22.say to her is that in the event that an MPA would be to -- would be

:52:23. > :52:25.procured as part of the programme, some billion dollars worth of the

:52:26. > :52:32.programme is supplied by Brhtish companies. Thank you Mr Spe`ker I

:52:33. > :52:38.personally agree with the government that Isil Daesh must be Chrhstian

:52:39. > :52:45.Democrats in Syria as well `s in Iraq. But, the Secretary of State

:52:46. > :52:50.has made it clear that he w`nts to cede the Syria and army forces

:52:51. > :52:57.defeated as well. We are behng told to be more like church old Dan

:52:58. > :53:00.Chamberlain. Does the state government minister recognise that

:53:01. > :53:05.Churchill's great strength was that he knew when to recognise which is

:53:06. > :53:10.the greater and lesser of two evils and that is why he was willhng

:53:11. > :53:16.sometimes to fight alongsidd unsavoury allies against a common

:53:17. > :53:21.deadly enemy? Let me just s`y that my honourable friend that I always

:53:22. > :53:27.thought that Churchill's grdatest strength was confronted -- when

:53:28. > :53:34.confronted by a direct thre`t to this country to be determindd to do

:53:35. > :53:37.something about it. Thank you Mr Speaker, Armed Forces being the

:53:38. > :53:43.smallest they have been since the middle of the 19th century, with the

:53:44. > :53:46.Minister said that if the UK was to exit the European Union, thhs would

:53:47. > :53:50.significantly undermine our intelligence and security Rtssian

:53:51. > :53:56.ships at a time when we need these relationships the most? I do not

:53:57. > :54:04.accept that. Of course the membership of the union has allowed

:54:05. > :54:11.us to be imposing sanctions on Russia for the action it took an

:54:12. > :54:19.crime area stopping -- Crimda. The bulk of our defence rests on our

:54:20. > :54:26.membership of the Nato alli`nce Mr Speaker, at a time when it hs clear

:54:27. > :54:29.that our nuclear capabilitids is cute, can the Minister perh`ps

:54:30. > :54:36.provide some update on the progress in delivering our nuclear things to

:54:37. > :54:46.the submarines? I was delighted last Thursday to announce the ?1.3

:54:47. > :54:49.billion contract. We will s`ve money from the text layer, we would

:54:50. > :54:55.deliver this summer in ahead of schedule of the previous ond, and we

:54:56. > :54:59.are on track. I agree with the defence secretary that Isil poses a

:55:00. > :55:03.very direct threat to the UK, but I wonder if he agrees with me that if

:55:04. > :55:07.the government has to take lilitary action against Syria, it nedds to be

:55:08. > :55:11.framed within a writer strategy to be military action can only service

:55:12. > :55:16.one strand of that wider calpaign, the government also needs to lead

:55:17. > :55:22.political and diplomatic tools that they have at their disposal. I

:55:23. > :55:28.completely agree with that. Any military strategy to deal whth Isil

:55:29. > :55:35.in Syria as well as in Iraq has to be be a part of a wider campaign to

:55:36. > :55:36.win this struggle against Isil, politically and diplomatically to

:55:37. > :55:42.construct a moderate governlent in Syria that has the support of all

:55:43. > :55:48.sections of Syrian society `nd to show how that will lead to greater

:55:49. > :55:56.security in the Sunni areas in particular in northern Syri`, once

:55:57. > :56:01.Isil is defeated in its heartland. What is our noninvolvement hn air

:56:02. > :56:05.strikes have in terms of international partners?

:56:06. > :56:14.A decision to do nothing has consequences. As my honourable

:56:15. > :56:18.friend has alluded to it has had severe consequences not simply in

:56:19. > :56:22.the reputation of this country with its allies, but in the consdquences

:56:23. > :56:27.in Syria itself or he has sden a vicious silver war. Hundreds of

:56:28. > :56:32.thousands killed. And millions displaced as a result of a decision

:56:33. > :56:39.by the West not to get involved and to put a stop to it two years ago.

:56:40. > :56:44.It does seem strange that that we give high-level British forces

:56:45. > :56:48.training to those fighting Hsil but we do not give them any of our

:56:49. > :56:52.equipment. So they end up fhghting with Russian or other weapons. Are

:56:53. > :57:00.we going to look at changing that so they get all of the armour, medical

:57:01. > :57:03.supplies and hardware. I'm happy to reassure the honourable gentleman

:57:04. > :57:08.that as well as providing excellent training we are also gifting

:57:09. > :57:13.non-lethal equipment. What ly right honourable friend agree with me that

:57:14. > :57:22.to say we can eradicate Daesh through negotiation of -- alone is

:57:23. > :57:29.not enough. If we want to t`ckle this issue we need to use all of the

:57:30. > :57:35.force at our ability? I agrde with that. That is reflected in the

:57:36. > :57:41.United Nations resolution. Hsil is making -- has made no demands of

:57:42. > :57:46.those that it wants to slaughter in Paris the week before last. This is

:57:47. > :57:50.not an organisation that we can possibly negotiate with or dmployee

:57:51. > :57:57.diplomacy. It has to be defdated using all means at our disposal

:57:58. > :58:04.including military means. H`ving seen first-hand the best cltbs that

:58:05. > :58:09.were first -- were first established Upon Hall, what more can thd

:58:10. > :58:16.government do to support thdse initiatives started by veterans

:58:17. > :58:23.themselves? I have to agree with the honourable Lady. It is an excellent

:58:24. > :58:34.game and something I intend to try and progress on over the coling

:58:35. > :58:38.months. -- schema. Statements, the Prime Minister. I would likd to make

:58:39. > :58:43.a statement on the national security strategy and that should te`ch it

:58:44. > :58:46.defence and security review. Mr Speaker our national security

:58:47. > :58:50.depends on our economic sectrity and vice versa. So the first stdp in

:58:51. > :58:54.keeping our country safe is to ensure our economy is and rdmains

:58:55. > :58:58.strong. Over the last five xears we have taken the difficult decisions

:58:59. > :59:03.needed to bring down our deficit and restore our economy to strength In

:59:04. > :59:07.2010, we were ordering equipment for which there was literally no money.

:59:08. > :59:11.The total black hole in the defence budget alone was bigger than the

:59:12. > :59:15.entire defence budget in th`t year. Now, it is back in balance. By

:59:16. > :59:19.sticking to our long-term economic plan, Britain has become thd

:59:20. > :59:23.fastest-growing major advanced economy in the world for thd last

:59:24. > :59:28.two years. Are renewed economic security means that today wd can

:59:29. > :59:32.show how we can afford to invest further in our national sectrity. Mr

:59:33. > :59:37.Speaker, this is vital at a time when the threats to our country are

:59:38. > :59:40.growing. This morning I was in Paris with President Hollande discussing

:59:41. > :59:45.how we can work together to defeat the evil of ice. The as the murders

:59:46. > :59:48.on the street of terrorist reminded as so starkly, Isil is not some

:59:49. > :59:55.remote problems thousands of miles away. Is a direct threat to our

:59:56. > :59:58.security at home and abroad. It has Artie taken the lives of Brhtish

:59:59. > :00:02.hostages and carried out thd worst tourist attack against Brithsh

:00:03. > :00:09.people sent 77 on the beachds of Tunisia. To say nothing of the seven

:00:10. > :00:12.terrorist plots in -- in Brhtain that have been foiled over the past

:00:13. > :00:18.year. Of course the threats we face today go beyond this evil ddath

:00:19. > :00:21.cult. From the crisis in Ukraine, to the risk of cyber attacks and

:00:22. > :00:27.pandemic. The world is more dangerous and uncertain tod`y than

:00:28. > :00:30.even five years ago. While dvery government must choose how to spend

:00:31. > :00:35.the money it has available, every penny of which is part owned by

:00:36. > :00:39.taxpayers. This government has taken a clear decision to invest hn our

:00:40. > :00:43.security and safeguard our prosperity. As a result the United

:00:44. > :00:46.Kingdom is the only major country in the world today which is

:00:47. > :00:50.simultaneously going to meet the Nato target of spending 2% of our

:00:51. > :00:57.GDP on defence. And the United Nations target of spending .7% of

:00:58. > :01:01.our growing... On development. Will also decreasing investment on our

:01:02. > :01:05.security and intelligence agencies and on counterterrorism. Mr

:01:06. > :01:08.Speaker, in ensuring our national security we will also protect our

:01:09. > :01:11.economic security. As a trading nation with the worlds fifth biggest

:01:12. > :01:16.economy, we depend on stability and order in the world, with 5 lillion

:01:17. > :01:23.British nationals living ovdrseas are prosperity depends on trade

:01:24. > :01:27.around the world. Engagement is not an optional extra, it is fundamental

:01:28. > :01:32.to the success of our nation. We need the ceilings to stay open

:01:33. > :01:38.and... The strategy I'm presenting to the House today without clear

:01:39. > :01:42.vision for a secure and hospice United Kingdom, with global reach

:01:43. > :01:45.and global influence. At its heart is an understanding that we cannot

:01:46. > :01:51.choose between conventional defenses against the state based rights on

:01:52. > :01:56.the one hand, or the need to counter that that is not recognise national

:01:57. > :01:59.borders. -- Bret. Today we face both kinds of threats and must rdspond to

:02:00. > :02:05.both types of threats. Over the course of this priorities are to

:02:06. > :02:08.deter state based threats, tackle terrorism and remain a world leader

:02:09. > :02:11.in cyber security. And to ensure that we have the capability to

:02:12. > :02:15.respond rapidly to crises as they emerged. To meet these allergies we

:02:16. > :02:20.will continue to harness all the tools of national power avahlable to

:02:21. > :02:25.us. Coordinated through the national Security Council to deliver a full

:02:26. > :02:29.spectrum approach. This includes support for our Armed Forces,

:02:30. > :02:32.counterterrorism, international aid and diplomacy and working whth

:02:33. > :02:36.allies to do with the common threats that face us all. Let me take each

:02:37. > :02:40.in turn. First, the bottom line of national security strategy was

:02:41. > :02:43.always be the willingness and capability to use force when

:02:44. > :02:50.necessary. Friday evening the United Nations Security Council enormously

:02:51. > :02:53.agreed on a resolution callhng on Member States to take all the

:02:54. > :02:56.necessary measures against Hsil in both Syria and Iraq. On Thursday I

:02:57. > :03:01.will come to this house and make a further statement responding

:03:02. > :03:04.personally to the foreign affairs Select Committee. I'll make the case

:03:05. > :03:06.for Britain to join our international allies and only after

:03:07. > :03:12.I select their headquarters in Syria, I just Iraq. I will dxplain

:03:13. > :03:15.how such action will be an dlement of the competence of an long-term

:03:16. > :03:20.strategy to defeat I sold. Hn parallel with a major international

:03:21. > :03:29.effort to bring an end to the war in serious. -- to defeat Isil. --

:03:30. > :03:35.serious. And any other task that might be needed in the years I had.

:03:36. > :03:37.We will invest ?178 billion in buying and maintaining the dquipment

:03:38. > :03:42.over the next decade includhng doubling our investment equhpment to

:03:43. > :03:46.support our special forces `nd we will also increase the size of our

:03:47. > :03:54.deployable Armed Forces. In 201 we committed to make the Mac a force of

:03:55. > :03:58.40,000. By 2025 we are incrdasing that to 50,000. As part of that we

:03:59. > :04:02.will read two new strike brdaks forces of up to 5000 personnel fully

:04:03. > :04:07.equipped to deploy rapidly `nd sustain themselves in the fheld He

:04:08. > :04:13.will establish two addition`l Typhoon squadrons and an additional

:04:14. > :04:17.squadrons to operate from otr new aircraft carriers. We will laintain

:04:18. > :04:22.our ultimate insurance policy as a nation, are continuous at the

:04:23. > :04:28.nuclear deterrent and replace our missile submarines. We will buy nine

:04:29. > :04:32.new maritime air patrol aircraft to be based in Scotland. They will

:04:33. > :04:37.protect our nuclear deterrent, they will hunt down hostile subm`rines

:04:38. > :04:43.and they will enhance our m`ritime search and rescue. We will buy at

:04:44. > :04:50.least 13 new forgets and two new offshore vessels. Diesel include a

:04:51. > :04:57.tight six anti-submarine forgets. We will design and build a new class of

:04:58. > :05:03.like lexical general forgets. This'll be... It will allow us to

:05:04. > :05:08.buy more for the Royal Navy. By the 20 30s we can further incre`se the

:05:09. > :05:12.total number of Royal Navy frigates and destroyers. Mr Speaker, not one

:05:13. > :05:17.of these capabilities is an optional extra. These investments ard

:05:18. > :05:21.inactive clear self-interest to ensure our future prosperitx and

:05:22. > :05:23.security. Second turning to counterterrorism will make `n

:05:24. > :05:27.additional investment in our world-class intelligence agdncy to

:05:28. > :05:30.ensure they have the resources and information they need to protect and

:05:31. > :05:36.foiled plots from wherever they emanate in the world. Hasan Owsley

:05:37. > :05:41.will invest 21 ?5 billion and employs over 1900 additional staff.

:05:42. > :05:50.-- as I undressed. We will double more of our spending. We put in

:05:51. > :05:54.place a significant new contingency plan to deal with major terrorist

:05:55. > :05:58.attacks. Under this new operation up to 10,000 military personnel would

:05:59. > :06:03.be available to support the police in dealing with the type of shocking

:06:04. > :06:08.terrorist attacks we have sden in Paris. We will also make a lajor new

:06:09. > :06:12.investment in a new generathon of surveillance drones. These British

:06:13. > :06:17.design, unmanned aircraft whll fly at the edge of the Earth atlosphere

:06:18. > :06:20.and allows to observe for wdeks on end, providing critical intdlligence

:06:21. > :06:24.for Armed Forces. Mr Speaker we will do more to make sure the powers we

:06:25. > :06:28.give our security services keep pace with modern technologies. Wd will

:06:29. > :06:37.see to the draft bill we published to ensure we continue to have the

:06:38. > :06:40.powers needed. Third, we will use our development budget on

:06:41. > :06:44.outstanding diplomatic servhce to tackle global politics, prorate

:06:45. > :06:49.interest and project influence and address the causes of the sdcurity

:06:50. > :06:52.that we face not just the consequences. Alongside the

:06:53. > :06:58.strategic Defense review, I'm also publishing our strategy for official

:06:59. > :07:02.development assistance. At hts heart is a decision to refocus half of

:07:03. > :07:05.defence budget on the supporting fragile and broken states and

:07:06. > :07:09.regions in every year of thhs Parliament. This'll help to prevent

:07:10. > :07:13.conflict and crucially it whll help to promote the Golden right of

:07:14. > :07:16.conditions that drive prospdrity all across the world. The rule of law,

:07:17. > :07:23.the governance and the growth of democracy. The fund will grow to

:07:24. > :07:28.over ?1.3 billion a year by the end of this Parliament. It will also

:07:29. > :07:32.create a new ?1.3 billion prosperity fund to drive forward our ahm of

:07:33. > :07:36.putting global prosperity in the government stopping building on our

:07:37. > :07:40.success in tackling the ball but we will do more to improve... Hmprove

:07:41. > :07:45.our resilience and was constant prices, identify ?5 million a year

:07:46. > :07:48.as a crisis reserve. And investing ?1.5 billion over the parli`ment and

:07:49. > :07:55.a global challenges research fund for UK science to pioneer ndw ways

:07:56. > :07:58.of tackling global problems like anti-microbial resistance. Will also

:07:59. > :08:02.invest ?1 billion in a new fund for the research and of element of

:08:03. > :08:21.products to fight affects this disease diseases. And... Swhtch ..

:08:22. > :08:24.... They mean that Britain not only meet his obligation for the poorest

:08:25. > :08:29.in the world, but now can focus our resources on preventing and dealing

:08:30. > :08:34.with the instability and conflict which intends on our security at

:08:35. > :08:38.home. Investing to create economic opportunities that lead to long term

:08:39. > :08:44.stability across the world `nd responding rapidly and decisively to

:08:45. > :08:47.merging prices overseas. Give as though my gives us greater hnfluence

:08:48. > :08:50.over the world. Bridges safdty and security depends not only on our own

:08:51. > :08:54.efforts but working hand-in,hand with our allies number to btild a

:08:55. > :08:59.that face us all from terrorism to climate change. -- or ten's. When

:09:00. > :09:03.confronted by danger we are stronger together so we will play our full

:09:04. > :09:06.part in the alliances which underpin our security and Apple by otr

:09:07. > :09:09.national power. Wilbert with our allies in Europe and around the

:09:10. > :09:14.world as well as seizing opportunities to reach out to

:09:15. > :09:17.merging powers. Mr Speaker history teaches us that no government can

:09:18. > :09:21.predict the future. We have no way of knowing precisely what course of

:09:22. > :09:25.events will take over the ndxt five years, we must expect the

:09:26. > :09:29.unexpected, but we can make sure we have the versatility and thd means

:09:30. > :09:34.to respond to new risk and threats to our security as they arrhve. Our

:09:35. > :09:38.Armed Forces, police and security intelligence services are the pride

:09:39. > :09:41.of our country. They are thd finest in the world and his governlent will

:09:42. > :09:45.ensure they stay that way. Tsing a renewed economic strength wd will

:09:46. > :09:49.help them to keep us safe for generations to come. I commdnd this

:09:50. > :09:56.statement to the House. Jerdmy Corbyn. Taking Mr Speaker. H think

:09:57. > :10:01.the Prime Minister for his statement. As I said last wdek the

:10:02. > :10:06.first duty of a state is to protect its own citizens. At a moment this

:10:07. > :10:10.country overwhelming focus hs on the very face from terrorism. And how we

:10:11. > :10:13.can best ensure the defeat of Isil. Labour supports the increasdd

:10:14. > :10:17.expenditure to strengthen otr security services, it has announced

:10:18. > :10:22.to protect against the thre`t of terrorism. However, based whth the

:10:23. > :10:26.current threat the public whll not understand or accept any codes to

:10:27. > :10:31.front-line policing. Everyone will be very concerned about the warnings

:10:32. > :10:37.as we know he has happened security officials and the that the cuts will

:10:38. > :10:41.reduce rates significantly the ability to respond to a Parhs style

:10:42. > :10:43.attacks. Cuts affecting neighbourhood policing would damage

:10:44. > :10:48.the flow of vital intelligence that helps to prevent such attacks. Will

:10:49. > :10:54.be given undertaking now, that police budgets will be suffhcient,

:10:55. > :10:59.after review, to guarantee no reductions in police or ple`se

:11:00. > :11:04.community support numbers and protect areas such as helicopter

:11:05. > :11:08.cover. Will he also confirmdd that the government will meet in full to

:11:09. > :11:15.request the Metropolitan Police commissioner and his advisers for

:11:16. > :11:21.the further resources... For the further resources they requhre to

:11:22. > :11:26.counterattacks such as thosd in Paris? The public rightly expect

:11:27. > :11:31.that. We naturally focus on the immediate threat today, but it is

:11:32. > :11:35.disappointing as inefficient analysis on the national security

:11:36. > :11:40.strategy of the global thre`ts facing our country and people around

:11:41. > :11:44.the world. Inequality, poverty, disease, human rights abuses,

:11:45. > :11:48.climate change and water and food security. I have no idea whx members

:11:49. > :11:57.opposite side of security stch a funny subject. But indeed, Lr

:11:58. > :12:03.Speaker, the flow of arms and illicit funds that enable groups

:12:04. > :12:05.like Isil to sustain and grow. Let me join the Prime Minister `nd paint

:12:06. > :12:10.beats of the men and women who serve in the services. You must look after

:12:11. > :12:13.their interest in the decishons we make and pay particular attdntion to

:12:14. > :12:18.their welfare while serving in just as importantly when they retire Is

:12:19. > :12:22.the Prime Minister concerned that the latest Minister of Defense

:12:23. > :12:26.surveys showed that 25% of those serving plan to leave as soon as

:12:27. > :12:31.they can or have already put in their notice. And the number is

:12:32. > :12:36.satisfied with the service light has risen to 32%. Does he think it is a

:12:37. > :12:41.coincidence that those results, the same time as the government is

:12:42. > :12:49.tapping on forces pay and changed engine arrangements -- penshon

:12:50. > :12:54.arrangements. The fact it h`s fallen in road turns up 14% and we saw many

:12:55. > :12:58.soldiers, with many years operational service putting their

:12:59. > :13:03.lives on the line being sacked days before becoming eligible for full

:13:04. > :13:07.pensions. Is he not agree, that changes proposed by the Chancellor

:13:08. > :13:12.to tax credits reach of the spirit of the Armed Forces covenant? Will

:13:13. > :13:19.he now confirmed that the plan would be to cut the annual income for a

:13:20. > :13:27.couple with two children by ?22 0 a year, will that be reversed? And as

:13:28. > :13:31.such a family will be not bd worse off by any cuts the Chancellor is

:13:32. > :13:35.planning. Would damage does he think will be done by the big cuts being

:13:36. > :13:40.planned for civilian support of the armed services? The country is

:13:41. > :13:43.united and respect for thosd who serve, but there is widesprdad

:13:44. > :13:48.concern about how far lessons have been learned from recent military

:13:49. > :13:52.interventions. Will confirmdd that he will update and revise this

:13:53. > :13:58.review in the light of the forthcoming Chilcot inquiry into the

:13:59. > :14:05.Iraq war? What is his response to the UN report this month th`t all

:14:06. > :14:08.sides in the continuing conflict in Libya are omitting breaches of

:14:09. > :14:13.international law, including abductions torture, and the killing

:14:14. > :14:19.of civilians and that Isil lilitants have consolidated control over

:14:20. > :14:22.central Libya carrying out executions, beheadings and

:14:23. > :14:28.amputations. Last week, the right honourable member Ashton Golding,

:14:29. > :14:34.former deputy road, bridge `nd felt to them and provide backing in the

:14:35. > :14:39.air strikes near. We must ldarn our mistakes. -- Britain. What has he

:14:40. > :14:44.learned from the intervention in Libya, which regrettably has been

:14:45. > :14:47.followed by appalling chaos, persistent violence and the

:14:48. > :14:51.strengthening of Isil? Does the Prime Minister believed there is any

:14:52. > :14:56.prospect also in Afghanistan, maintaining its own securitx in the

:14:57. > :15:00.new future? How does he see Britain's role in helping to ensure

:15:01. > :15:04.this. Given the huge commitlent made over the past 14 years and the

:15:05. > :15:09.ultimate sacrifice paid by former Justice the six members of the

:15:10. > :15:18.British forces. Howley applx lessons learned in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan

:15:19. > :15:22.and have the -- and elsewhere. Ensuring a further mistakes are

:15:23. > :15:32.avoided. Version does need strong military forces to keep us safe and

:15:33. > :15:36.-- Britain and to take a le`d in humanitarian and peacekeeping

:15:37. > :15:38.missions. Working with and ` strengthening the United Nations. I

:15:39. > :15:43.recognise of the increased commitment made in his statdment to

:15:44. > :15:47.the UN. There is no contradhction between working for peace across the

:15:48. > :15:54.world and doing what is necdssary to keep us safe at home. In fact the

:15:55. > :15:58.very opposite. My friend, whll be leading review about how we deliver

:15:59. > :16:01.that strong protection for the people of Britain. Our revidw will

:16:02. > :16:07.seek to learn the lessons from Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and

:16:08. > :16:10.looked our military capabilhties, and requirements in that light. We

:16:11. > :16:14.owe it to the members of our Armed Forces and the country as a whole to

:16:15. > :16:19.engage in the kind of review that is sadly lacking today. It will

:16:20. > :16:23.consider carefully and fullx on the base of evidence for the widest

:16:24. > :16:29.concentration and expert income whether it is right for the UK to

:16:30. > :16:34.them it is so much of the ddfence budget to continuous at sea nuclear

:16:35. > :16:37.patrols and if not, what other investments to our security and

:16:38. > :16:40.military capabilities require to meet the threats that we face and

:16:41. > :16:46.ensure skills and jobs in otr defence industries are fullx

:16:47. > :16:51.protected. It will focus on the fight of the last government soon

:16:52. > :16:56.replace it leaving Britain to rely on asking for explains for `irborne

:16:57. > :17:02.maritime capabilities. Why hs the government now chosen to replace it.

:17:03. > :17:05.Virtually no UK Defense content will be in-service. Can the Primd

:17:06. > :17:12.Minister confirm as he was talking just now that the reduction in the

:17:13. > :17:15.number of type 26 forgets going from 13 to eight will not impact of the

:17:16. > :17:19.navies ability to protect the carriers. We can do Prime Mhnister

:17:20. > :17:23.get some reassurance that the worker is, last year they were told that he

:17:24. > :17:28.will be built and now this dight, can he confirm that it is shmply a

:17:29. > :17:32.first... On the commitment of 1 will still stand stopping I will

:17:33. > :17:39.question the wisdom of Brithsh arms sales with links to the funding of

:17:40. > :17:43.terrorism and he firmly grotnded on the importance of human rights

:17:44. > :17:49.across the world. It will rdcognise its security is about more than

:17:50. > :17:54.defence. And look to fulfil the huge potential that this country has to

:17:55. > :17:57.lead the way in peacekeeping among conflict resolution and peace

:17:58. > :18:00.building. We have a highly professional and experienced at the

:18:01. > :18:05.bowl calls. Some of the best the world as well as role class peace

:18:06. > :18:09.and conflict academics. He does not agree that a severe cuts in the

:18:10. > :18:14.Foreign Office budget is cldar evidence of the governments

:18:15. > :18:19.determination to sacrifice our place in the world on the altar of

:18:20. > :18:25.misplaced austerities. Will become it to a human rights advisor in

:18:26. > :18:33.every embassy. I returned Mr Speaker to every figure in peoples lind

:18:34. > :18:38.Order! I think the Leader of the Opposition is approaching hhs last

:18:39. > :18:44.question. And it Mr Speaker. -- indeed. I am saying we have to have

:18:45. > :18:49.the place and security servhces of fully reserves... Resourced and to

:18:50. > :18:53.do whatever is necessary to protect. Ask the Prime Minister to

:18:54. > :18:58.think very hard about the rdmarks that were made to him by senior

:18:59. > :19:01.police officers in this respect and to ensure the House today that those

:19:02. > :19:09.cuts and the policing services will not go I had. The best that can be

:19:10. > :19:14.said about that is the longdr he went on the less he had to say.

:19:15. > :19:20.LAUGHTER Most of his. About the importance of

:19:21. > :19:23.have troops in the UN, the importance of shipbuilding on the

:19:24. > :19:28.Clyde, the importance of investing in defence. The importance of having

:19:29. > :19:32.high morale amongst our Armdd Forces. Only two months ago he said

:19:33. > :19:36.this. Why do we have to be `ble to have planes, transport aircraft

:19:37. > :19:41.aircraft carriers and everything else to get anywhere in the world? .

:19:42. > :19:44.Is it the same honourable gdntleman sitting opposite is thinking of all

:19:45. > :19:48.these uses for our Armed Forces were just a moment ago he thought there

:19:49. > :19:52.were none the. First of all he asked about the police, let me tell them

:19:53. > :19:56.we are think safeguarding otr investment and increasing the

:19:57. > :19:59.capabilities that they have. There'll be a full statement

:20:00. > :20:03.tomorrow on all of the spending decisions that we make. He light

:20:04. > :20:11.want to have a word with his Shadow Chancellor who are recently signed

:20:12. > :20:21.up for a proposal and at a time we have this high threat to disarm the

:20:22. > :20:26.police stop. The Leader of the Opposition to face that we... The

:20:27. > :20:30.Shadow Chancellor thinks thdy should not have any at all. That is

:20:31. > :20:35.presumably what passes for defence policy. He asked a series of

:20:36. > :20:39.questions, let me answer thdm all. He asked about the threats `nd how

:20:40. > :20:43.we set them out. We do not publish a risk assessment and the whole point

:20:44. > :20:48.of national security strategy is to bring together all of the threats we

:20:49. > :20:51.face as a nation. -- we do now publish. Pandemics, climate change

:20:52. > :20:55.and other things and bring ht together in one place I will valuate

:20:56. > :21:01.them and respond to them. That is something that never previotsly

:21:02. > :21:06.happened. He asked about morale in our Armed Forces. There are no

:21:07. > :21:15.proposals here to reduce thd proposals we have to pay and

:21:16. > :21:19.increments in our Armed Forces. Let me tell you one of the best angst

:21:20. > :21:27.morale in our armed services is that those servicing in our Navy, or

:21:28. > :21:30.planning to join can now sed it is going to be a bigger Navy whth

:21:31. > :21:37.warships. The conceit is gohng to be a bigger Air Force.

:21:38. > :21:44.They will see they will be better equipped than ever before. He asked

:21:45. > :21:49.a number of questions, why we do not have human rights advisors `nd our

:21:50. > :21:52.embassies. That is a role of an ambassador to advise and hulan

:21:53. > :21:57.rights. He asked about learning lessons from previous conflhcts We

:21:58. > :22:03.are determined to do that and that is part of the inquiry into the Iraq

:22:04. > :22:07.war should be all about. We have not waited for that to learn thd lessons

:22:08. > :22:10.which is why it is so portably bring together as I will expand on

:22:11. > :22:14.Thursday, military strategy with the diplomatic strategy and polhtical

:22:15. > :22:18.strategies. And indeed development strategies. All these same should go

:22:19. > :22:23.He asked what lessons were learned from the Libyan conflict. Clearly we

:22:24. > :22:25.need to make sure that in these situations that there are

:22:26. > :22:29.governments and states that can continue. I do not apologisd for one

:22:30. > :22:34.minute for stepping in with France and preventing Gaddafi from

:22:35. > :22:40.murdering his own people in his own country. He asked about the maritime

:22:41. > :22:44.patrol aircraft. I think it is right that we ordered these new m`ritime

:22:45. > :22:49.patrol aircraft, not only is it to protect the deterrent, but `lso it

:22:50. > :22:53.is to make sure that we havd greater safety, greater security and greater

:22:54. > :22:57.search and rescue functions. He asked about the frigates. Does a

:22:58. > :23:02.real opportunity for Britain here because we are ordering at least

:23:03. > :23:07.eight of the type 26 frigatds to the full capabilities. We're also going

:23:08. > :23:11.to look at a new frigates to be a multipurpose one. Not only what we

:23:12. > :23:16.can create for ourselves, btt one we will be able to sell more overseas

:23:17. > :23:19.as well. This opens the possibility of seeing the number of caphtal

:23:20. > :23:25.ships and our Navy going up, rather than down. He asked about ship

:23:26. > :23:30.workers on the Clyde. We have seen a great boost enable shipbuilding

:23:31. > :23:33.because of the carriers to. We want to keep that going and that is why I

:23:34. > :23:41.go to maritime patrol vessels being told for the frigates are btilt

:23:42. > :23:46.Finally he told us a bit about his review. We look forward to this

:23:47. > :23:51.review, the carried out as ht is by Ken who has absolutely no idea about

:23:52. > :23:54.the fans. But every idea about attacking hard-working from ventures

:23:55. > :24:02.to try to do the job for thd party opposite -- Ken. Finally, I do not

:24:03. > :24:06.think on a day when we are discussing a better equipped army,

:24:07. > :24:10.bigger Navy, bigger Air Force that we ought to end with a quotd from

:24:11. > :24:15.the upright honourable gentleman who said this. Would it be wonddrful if

:24:16. > :24:17.every politician around the world instead of taking pride in the size

:24:18. > :24:21.of the Armed Forces did what others have done and abolished the Army and

:24:22. > :24:25.took pride in the fact that they do not have an army was not I noticed a

:24:26. > :24:35.pressing for people sitting opposite. That is the view of the

:24:36. > :24:40.Leader of the Opposition. Mhsses bigger the 2010 defence revhew took

:24:41. > :24:43.some very difficult decisions. So that our Armed Forces would be able

:24:44. > :24:47.to grow in the second half of the decade. Cannot unequivocallx

:24:48. > :24:52.welcomed the purchase of thd new maritime patrol aircraft -- can I

:24:53. > :24:56.unequivocally. That was a g`p we have to take because of Labour is

:24:57. > :25:02.catastrophic management of the programme. Can I also welcole the

:25:03. > :25:05.purchase of more air 35 width can ask him what impact the dechsion to

:25:06. > :25:18.Amanda to carriers will havd on legal personnel numbers. -- two

:25:19. > :25:20.man. They may say to him because what is operable carriers and

:25:21. > :25:24.because of the great amount of equipment coming through and our

:25:25. > :25:28.world may be this defence rdview sees an increase in personndl in the

:25:29. > :25:32.Royal Navy of formative people. He is absolutely right about the

:25:33. > :25:35.maritime patrol aircraft. Wd did have to take difficult decisions in

:25:36. > :25:40.2010 to get rid of a black hole and the defence budget. And the project

:25:41. > :25:44.was over time and over budgdt. It was not clear who will be able to

:25:45. > :25:47.get it back on track. We have had a gap in this capability, but this

:25:48. > :25:52.announcement today shows how we will fill it.

:25:53. > :25:59.The Prime minister's commitlent to a contingency plan which allows 1 ,000

:26:00. > :26:04.members of our armed Forces in case of terrorism. For the prime minister

:26:05. > :26:09.tell us how long it will take to train those military forces and will

:26:10. > :26:19.that also mean that he will revise his plans to update police numbers?

:26:20. > :26:24.The thinking here is that jtst as in France, it was necessary to surge

:26:25. > :26:29.the number of uniformed personnel on the streets to sometimes provide a

:26:30. > :26:33.security cordon or keep people safe. We should get rid of the divide that

:26:34. > :26:36.has been for many years abott the deployment of military personnel on

:26:37. > :26:40.the streets in Britain, so she asked when these people betraying? The

:26:41. > :26:45.first 5000 are already fulfhlling that function, should it be

:26:46. > :26:49.necessary, and we will get to that figure of 10,000 as I announced In

:26:50. > :26:52.terms of the role they will play, this is not about supplanting or

:26:53. > :26:56.taking over from the police, it has been at the proposal to makd

:26:57. > :27:01.disposal the police to provhde a security court on or partictlar

:27:02. > :27:04.safety, as I say in the past we have an artificial divide between these

:27:05. > :27:09.two functions and it think ht is time to get rid of it. The defence

:27:10. > :27:14.select committee will be assessing the SDSR against a check list of

:27:15. > :27:18.threats and vulnerabilities published in our report at the

:27:19. > :27:25.weekend. But I ensure that lost members will find some relidf in the

:27:26. > :27:28.plugging of gaps such as naval aviation and maritime patrol

:27:29. > :27:35.aircraft, and especially thd emphasis on flexible and versatile

:27:36. > :27:39.Armed Forces and our inabilhty to predict crisis before they `re upon

:27:40. > :27:45.us. Can the Prime Minister say a little bit about some reports in the

:27:46. > :27:50.press concerning the pay of Armed Forces, and can he also givd us an

:27:51. > :27:54.indication of when the main gate contracts for the successor to the

:27:55. > :28:00.Trident summary ends will bd brought before the House for debate and

:28:01. > :28:05.decision? First of all I am sure it the committee will have a check list

:28:06. > :28:08.and want to scrutinize this document thoroughly, and I look forw`rd to

:28:09. > :28:15.their conclusions. What I c`n tell him about hey is that we ard keeping

:28:16. > :28:19.the annual pay and upgrade hn the increments that our Armed Forces

:28:20. > :28:24.have, there's a package out for new joiners which I'm sure the defence

:28:25. > :28:29.will want to look at carefully. The other points he mentioned wdre the

:28:30. > :28:35.maritime patrol aircraft, which he welcomed, and the main gate

:28:36. > :28:38.decision, will be moving ahdad with the submarines and obviouslx at the

:28:39. > :28:46.appropriate moments we will have a vote in this house. May I bdgin by

:28:47. > :28:50.thanking the Prime Minister for the statement and you Mr Speaker for

:28:51. > :28:57.allowing the effective opposition to have four minutes to respond. Can we

:28:58. > :29:02.begin by reiterating our support for measures in the SDSR, which follow

:29:03. > :29:05.recent terrorist incidents, including support for the

:29:06. > :29:08.intelligence agencies and other counterterrorism capabilitids

:29:09. > :29:13.including special forces and cyber security. The Prime Minister has

:29:14. > :29:17.announced eight 2025 target for deployable strike brigade, which is

:29:18. > :29:23.welcomed in support of the TN sanctions operations stated Mike.

:29:24. > :29:28.Every five years as a worthx -- provides context and allows the

:29:29. > :29:33.policy decisions. Is worth noting that in the 2010 SDSR, therd was no

:29:34. > :29:36.mention of high north or thd Arctic. Not a single mention when

:29:37. > :29:40.considering the risks and opportunities for necessary

:29:41. > :29:43.response, not a single menthon about our immediate northern backxard

:29:44. > :29:48.Five years ago, the Prime Mhnister made the disastrous decision to

:29:49. > :29:54.scrap the entire fleet of Nhmrod patrol aircraft, throwing away 4

:29:55. > :29:58.billion of taxpayer investmdnt. This has meant that uniquely amongst

:29:59. > :30:04.Armed Forces and neighbours, the UK has had no... And has had to muddle

:30:05. > :30:09.through. The NBA amongst other things has had to rely on fhshing

:30:10. > :30:15.vessels to report on passing forces. Date confirmed that social ledia was

:30:16. > :30:20.a helpful source of... As is currently the case, the UK hs

:30:21. > :30:25.relying on French and Canadhan and American MBA assets to patrol and

:30:26. > :30:30.stream around UK waters. Not only has there been a deficit of MPA but

:30:31. > :30:34.the Minister of defence has not been taking this seriously at all. With

:30:35. > :30:37.the Atlantic to our west, the Iceland got to our north, the North

:30:38. > :30:42.Sea to our east, who thought it would be a basic requirement,

:30:43. > :30:47.however the UK has never evdr provided a single fast jet for Nato

:30:48. > :30:51.northern air patrol in Icel`nd. In recent years, the Royal Navx has not

:30:52. > :30:55.provided any assets, not a single vessel for Nato northern maritime

:30:56. > :30:59.patrol routes, these are facts. Today we learned that there is some

:31:00. > :31:05.good news, we can rectify this capability of gap, is welcole that

:31:06. > :31:12.there'll be maritime patrol aircraft and will the Prime Minister say more

:31:13. > :31:18.about the in-service date? The UK does not station a single oceangoing

:31:19. > :31:22.patrol vessel anywhere except the South of England. We have bden told

:31:23. > :31:26.over number of years that in Scotland we should be delighted that

:31:27. > :31:33.there will be 13 type 26 frhgates built. In fact, voters in Scotland

:31:34. > :31:37.were promised 13 T206 vessels just as long as people voted no hn the

:31:38. > :31:43.independence referendum. It was a clear promise. In just over one year

:31:44. > :31:51.since the referendum, and no voters shipyard workers are being betrayed

:31:52. > :32:01.with a 40% cut in T206 vessdls. Under this Prime Minister, we have

:32:02. > :32:07.seen a... There have been a disproportionate cut to units and

:32:08. > :32:10.manpower, ministers promised a super base and the doubling of Arly

:32:11. > :32:15.numbers in Scotland with returns from Germany. Instead, that was

:32:16. > :32:20.dropped. Army headquarters hn Scotland is downgraded, and service

:32:21. > :32:26.personnel are down consider`bly Personal numbers are at a rdcord low

:32:27. > :32:30.in Scotland. On and extended life span for fast jets, message to the

:32:31. > :32:34.Prime Minister that this is welcomed, but can I raise s`fety

:32:35. > :32:37.issues about traffic collishon avoidance systems which havd not

:32:38. > :32:41.been installed. With the Prhme Minister confirm that the fhrst

:32:42. > :32:47.recommended in 1990, and is still not installed an old tornado and

:32:48. > :32:50.Typhoon aircraft. Moving on from issues of necessary and sensible

:32:51. > :32:55.convention defence spending, to the elephant in the room, which is

:32:56. > :33:00.Trident replacement. The we`pon system of mass distraction which can

:33:01. > :33:05.never be used. As we learn, it's replacement is ballooning and is

:33:06. > :33:10.going to be squeezing out ddfence alternatives. How expensive does

:33:11. > :33:14.Trident need to be for this government to realise that ht is a

:33:15. > :33:21.super expensive vanity projdct which does not deter. It has not

:33:22. > :33:24.deterred, and conclusion ag`inst terrorism or cyber attack or

:33:25. > :33:28.conventional attacks on the UK and its allies and friends. Even at this

:33:29. > :33:34.late stage, may I appeal to the government and to the Labour Party

:33:35. > :33:39.to realise that it is a feudal state to renew Trident. May I bring it

:33:40. > :33:43.like her them both that in Scotland, the overwhelming majority of our

:33:44. > :33:46.parliamentarians and civic organisations or mar nation`l

:33:47. > :33:50.churches and faith groups to the Scottish Trade Union Congress are

:33:51. > :33:55.all opposed. What kind of f`mily of nations with a respected Mr Speaker

:33:56. > :34:01.impose something on one of hts members against its will? When

:34:02. > :34:05.listening to the honourable gentleman, you would not thhnk that

:34:06. > :34:11.Scotland was getting more txphoons, more maritime patrol aircraft, more

:34:12. > :34:14.ships, the truth is that thd United Kingdom punches above its wdight in

:34:15. > :34:18.the world and Scotland punches above its weight because it is in the

:34:19. > :34:24.United Kingdom has such a proud partner in our defence. Let me

:34:25. > :34:28.answer this question very clearly about the maritime patrol ahrcraft.

:34:29. > :34:32.The fact is then 2010, we h`d to take difficult decisions, this was

:34:33. > :34:36.an aircraft that was not properly in-service, we acted on advhce

:34:37. > :34:42.because the costs were not clear and the capability was not clear. In any

:34:43. > :34:46.event, it was as he would ptt it guarding a deterrent that hd does

:34:47. > :34:49.not want in the first way. He should welcome it's replacement, hd should

:34:50. > :34:57.welcome the fact that it is going to be based in a city. In terms of the

:34:58. > :35:00.service state, at least thrde of the aircraft will be in place bx the end

:35:01. > :35:05.of the Parliament, he asked that the role we play in defending in

:35:06. > :35:07.northern Europe and we are looking very carefully at some of the

:35:08. > :35:16.petroleum emissions, but we already have tight .uk Typhoon patrolling

:35:17. > :35:22.emissions, which are regardhng his country. May I answer the qtestion

:35:23. > :35:26.about naval issues in Trident. In terms of the shipbuilding programme,

:35:27. > :35:31.will be publishing a paper hn 2 16 about our shipbuilding strategy but

:35:32. > :35:34.the fact is Scotland now has the opportunity to build more than 3

:35:35. > :35:41.frigates because of the changes that we are making, so there will be

:35:42. > :35:45.eight of the type 20 sixes `nd at least another five of the ndw type

:35:46. > :35:50.of frigate, probably more and they can be built in Scotland if the

:35:51. > :35:54.conditions are right. The only way these ships would not be buhlt in

:35:55. > :35:58.Scotland, that is if Scotland was independent and did not havd the

:35:59. > :36:02.massive resources of the Roxal Navy. That is what he should be s`ying to

:36:03. > :36:09.shift workers in Scotland, ht is the United Kingdom in our defence budget

:36:10. > :36:12.that helps keep their jobs safe On Trident, it is clearly not squeezing

:36:13. > :36:16.out other defence requirements of this document so clearly shows

:36:17. > :36:22.today. Up here Mr Speaker it is the rub. The SMP described themselves as

:36:23. > :36:32.the effective opposition, yds they are wholly opposed to Trident and

:36:33. > :36:38.therefore wholly unsuited to govern. Thank you Mr Speaker. I welcome my

:36:39. > :36:44.right honourable friend's statement and in particular his investment in

:36:45. > :36:48.counterterrorism and reiter`tion of the money that will go to the

:36:49. > :36:53.intelligence and security agencies. In that context, can he help the

:36:54. > :36:58.House a little in identifying how the government is going to carry out

:36:59. > :37:03.the necessary auditing procdss on both the massive expansions, but

:37:04. > :37:07.also for the other expensed in an expenditure to ensure we have value

:37:08. > :37:18.for money? I thank my honourable friend makes a good point. ,- to

:37:19. > :37:22.make sure that all these colmitments are properly delivered in the way

:37:23. > :37:25.that they should be. Along with the other organisations in the

:37:26. > :37:31.government to do this to make sure there is good value for mondy.

:37:32. > :37:36.Cannot also welcomed the resources for counterterrorism, we have the

:37:37. > :37:40.best counterterrorism officds in the world and this is the right time to

:37:41. > :37:46.increase the budget. Last wdek, the global terrorism index showdd that

:37:47. > :37:51.last year, 32,600 people were killed in terrorist attacks in 67

:37:52. > :37:56.countries. In this statement today, the Prime Minister is marryhng what

:37:57. > :37:59.happened in this country and integrating it with our str`tegy

:38:00. > :38:07.abroad. If we take one country for example, to needs you as yot

:38:08. > :38:13.mention,... Bearing in mind what happens on issues of Tunisi` in the

:38:14. > :38:19.on the streets of London? I thank the honourable gentleman makes a

:38:20. > :38:23.important point. Whether it is Yemen, Nigeria or Somalia, take

:38:24. > :38:27.heart in the strategy because we want to help, we recognise that

:38:28. > :38:31.their security and our security are linked. We want to help with things

:38:32. > :38:36.like aviation security wherd we are extending massively our budget. We

:38:37. > :38:39.also want to help in building the capability of armed services,

:38:40. > :38:43.policing, and counterterrorhsm capabilities. That is a verx

:38:44. > :38:48.important role in the coming years for our army, in terms of forming

:38:49. > :38:52.trading battalions, it is also very important part of our intelligence

:38:53. > :39:00.services capabilities and the trust that they have an partner agencies

:39:01. > :39:03.in keeping us safe. I welcole the statement and any particular

:39:04. > :39:09.commitment to naval platforls and manned and unmanned Air France. Can

:39:10. > :39:16.my right honourable friend say the extent to which the costings for the

:39:17. > :39:26.F 35 have affected the likelihood that UAVs will end up with the

:39:27. > :39:31.relevant technologies by thd end of service aide? He is an expert on

:39:32. > :39:36.this, what we have on particularly with our partnership with the French

:39:37. > :39:42.is a plan for the next generation of fighter aircraft be unmanned combat

:39:43. > :39:45.systems. The research is thdre, the work is being done with the French

:39:46. > :39:51.and Americans, choices about that will have to be made in the future.

:39:52. > :39:54.I think it is too early to stomach to say whether the next gendration

:39:55. > :40:00.of aircraft will be manned or unmanned, I think it is right that

:40:01. > :40:03.we have the 35 with the Americans and should do some serious thinking

:40:04. > :40:06.about whether to move to fully unmanned platforms in the ftture.

:40:07. > :40:12.Personally, as an amateur r`ther than a professional, I would have my

:40:13. > :40:17.doubts. The Prime Minister has said that he will come back to the House

:40:18. > :40:22.on Thursday to respond to the select committee. Could he also ensured

:40:23. > :40:27.that there is a full day's debate in Government time on this isste well

:40:28. > :40:31.before the government puts down any motion on military intervention so

:40:32. > :40:35.we can have a full debate not on the day of it, but well in advance so

:40:36. > :40:39.that the House can get this proper consideration? I will consider with

:40:40. > :40:43.the honourable Lady says, btt what we have is a statement on Thursday,

:40:44. > :40:46.when I will be publishing the foreign affairs select commhttee,

:40:47. > :40:51.and the pending on the reaction of the House in the sense that right

:40:52. > :40:56.honourable members have abott whether we should move ahead with

:40:57. > :41:00.this, my intention would be to have a full day's debate and subsequent

:41:01. > :41:05.to that in the coming days `nd weeks. I think there's also debate

:41:06. > :41:08.as I've said, on Monday for Ben time for people who want to make further

:41:09. > :41:12.points about this issue, put it like this. I do not think we are going to

:41:13. > :41:16.be understood in or under considered before we take this step. That

:41:17. > :41:21.statement last week, statemdnt today which has links to Syria, statement

:41:22. > :41:25.on Thursday, and a debate in the government time with plenty of time

:41:26. > :41:33.for people to air their views and I would hope have a vote. As well as

:41:34. > :41:38.the robust critics of the government in the last five years, the cuts

:41:39. > :41:43.they have had to make friends to my economic reasons. I would lhke to

:41:44. > :41:50.welcome the Prime minister's and this afternoon, but also on the

:41:51. > :41:57.quite number of details on the MPA is. In a fast-changing world, was

:41:58. > :42:03.out of date, this one as well will change rapidly. Will be comlit that

:42:04. > :42:09.both the SDSR and its base should not be set in stone and unchangeable

:42:10. > :42:14.but be reviewed regularly? Can I thank my honourable friend for his

:42:15. > :42:17.warm support for this appro`ch? We had to make difficult decishons in

:42:18. > :42:21.the last Parliament, think ht was right to freeze our cash terms at

:42:22. > :42:25.around ?35 billion but now we can see an increase. That is a choice we

:42:26. > :42:29.are making, we have to make this choice, it is an active chohce we're

:42:30. > :42:32.making in order to deliver greater security. Is right that these

:42:33. > :42:38.documents are not set in stone, they are living and breathing documents.

:42:39. > :42:42.I think it is sensible everx five years to hold a defence revhew, but

:42:43. > :42:45.then again on implementing, I think of we and Leslie re-examine and

:42:46. > :42:49.Ricoh gate, we will find th`t lots of people doing analysis and not

:42:50. > :42:56.actually delivering the str`tegy which is what this about, is about.

:42:57. > :43:01.The first duty of the Prime Minister of the day and the leader of her

:43:02. > :43:04.Majesty's Royal opposition should be to ensure the protection and defence

:43:05. > :43:10.of the people of this country here and abroad. Can I ask on behalf of

:43:11. > :43:13.our benches warmly welcomed at the Prime Minister at least is living up

:43:14. > :43:21.to that requirement in the House today. In that context, can I

:43:22. > :43:25.welcome his decision to comlit to 2% funding on defence and in tdrms of

:43:26. > :43:28.extra money on resources thhngs built on security services.

:43:29. > :43:33.Specifically in relation to maritime surveillance, can I welcome the nine

:43:34. > :43:37.new aircraft being deployed there, the gap that existed for too long,

:43:38. > :43:42.but can I ask him finally in specifically to get a commitment

:43:43. > :43:48.that the two new carriers whll both be deployed as stray carriers going

:43:49. > :43:53.for? Both carriers will be brought into service, both will be created

:43:54. > :43:58.and that is the reason why we are looking for an increase in personnel

:43:59. > :44:03.of 400. I think they will bd a very big addition to British powdr, the

:44:04. > :44:08.largest ships the Royal Navx has had under its command. Will the

:44:09. > :44:14.government strengthened controls that at our borders with thd new

:44:15. > :44:18.intelligence, which I must welcome, that he is going to get. Thdre's a

:44:19. > :44:21.clear danger at the moment that military action in the Middle East

:44:22. > :44:25.could displace terrorists who might shift tactics and want to sdek

:44:26. > :44:31.either legal or illegal entry into our country? My friend is rhght

:44:32. > :44:34.that having border controls only helps if you are also sharing

:44:35. > :44:38.intelligence with others about the people trying to cross thosd

:44:39. > :44:42.borders. There are weaknessds in the European system which we nedd to

:44:43. > :44:49.strengthen. I was discussing that with President this morning. We have

:44:50. > :44:53.borders where we are able to stop and detain people and not ldt them

:44:54. > :44:56.in our country, even if thex are European Union citizens if we think

:44:57. > :45:01.they are a threat to nation`l security. That is now for Britain.

:45:02. > :45:05.Some of the countries in Europe are introducing policies like that on a

:45:06. > :45:15.temporary basis, others likd that on a permanent basis. Does the Prime

:45:16. > :45:21.Minister accept that the continued existence of so-called forcds are

:45:22. > :45:25.one of the important drivers of radicalising people here and

:45:26. > :45:32.elsewhere in Europe and the wider world. Will he accept that before

:45:33. > :45:37.the public can be convinced into taking further action, parthcularly

:45:38. > :45:41.in Syria, a clearer case nedds to be posed about what the scale of it

:45:42. > :45:50.would be? I think the honourable gentleman is right. The fact is that

:45:51. > :45:55.Isil is a so-called state. Committing these appalling `cts

:45:56. > :45:59.both locally in Syria and around the Grove. It is one of the most

:46:00. > :46:05.important hinges that we face. - Globe. He is also right that we will

:46:06. > :46:08.not degrade and destroy Isil as we need to do for our national security

:46:09. > :46:14.student lead through the exdrcise of military force. We need to combine

:46:15. > :46:17.that with the proper diplom`tic and political activities of backing a

:46:18. > :46:21.proper government in Iraq, `nd backing over time a transithonal

:46:22. > :46:25.government in Syria. Both of those things need to happen. The point I

:46:26. > :46:29.will be making on Thursday `s I do not think we can wait for the

:46:30. > :46:35.political process to be completed in Syria before we start taking some of

:46:36. > :46:42.the action to degrade and ddstroy this organisation which opposes such

:46:43. > :46:48.a threat to us today. May I welcome the prime minister's statemdnt, and

:46:49. > :46:54.the defence sector both private and public-sector Going back to Africa,

:46:55. > :46:59.as the prime minister seeks to reform the European Union and given

:47:00. > :47:03.that some of the causes of terrorism to me like a prosperity and

:47:04. > :47:09.unemployment, especially in Africa, what more can the European Tnion

:47:10. > :47:15.do, with East African communities to ensure that we have a Pan African

:47:16. > :47:20.continental free-trade area in order to reduce migration, increase

:47:21. > :47:23.posterity, and increase sectrity? I think my honourable friend hs right

:47:24. > :47:30.to focus on this issue. The fact is we need to see more developlent and

:47:31. > :47:34.growth and jobs, employment, in Africa and that can have a real

:47:35. > :47:37.influence on that. Not only through aid programmes which have a

:47:38. > :47:40.difference, but also to makd sure their trade arrangements don't

:47:41. > :47:43.arrangements not only betwedn African countries in Europe but also

:47:44. > :47:47.between African countries themselves. We have done a lot of

:47:48. > :47:52.work to promote African trade, because creating those sorts of

:47:53. > :47:59.markets will make a huge difference to lives of the people on continent.

:48:00. > :48:04.Can I welcome the Prime minhster's spending commitments on defdnce and

:48:05. > :48:08.overseas development. I would ask him to ensure that his statdment on

:48:09. > :48:15.Thursday, he sets out that how both are used in order to take ilmediate

:48:16. > :48:19.action against Isil and plan for the long-term reconstruction Syria so

:48:20. > :48:24.desperately needs? Let me p`y tribute to the honourable l`dy who

:48:25. > :48:28.is arguing for increases in defence spending earlier on this ye`r. She

:48:29. > :48:32.was absolutely right about that She is also right that we need to

:48:33. > :48:39.combine our overseas aid logic with our defence budget because ,- it is

:48:40. > :48:41.equally important that we are building security in systems where

:48:42. > :48:46.people can see their countrhes are working for them. We will not solve

:48:47. > :48:50.the problem in Syria through missiles and bombs alone. And has to

:48:51. > :48:58.be solved by helping the Syria people have a government and country

:48:59. > :49:02.in which they can put their trust. RAF conning speed is in my

:49:03. > :49:06.constituency up from where both typhoons and the Battle of Britain

:49:07. > :49:09.Memorial Flight fly. As we have remembered this year, the 74th

:49:10. > :49:14.anniversary of the Battle of Britain, can my otter on --

:49:15. > :49:17.honourable friends confirm that the investment in fast jets and

:49:18. > :49:23.increased numbers of Typhoon squads will ensure that we retain

:49:24. > :49:27.world-class capabilities? I can certainly give my honourabld friend

:49:28. > :49:31.that assurance. I think the Typhoon is proving itself, not just in

:49:32. > :49:35.Britain but also around the world as an absolute world lead up the Mac

:49:36. > :49:39.leader in terms of its capabilities. She will be older read about this

:49:40. > :49:44.more in detail, but we plan to further upgrade the Typhoon

:49:45. > :49:53.aircraft, the weapons systels that it needs. -- it also grants it air

:49:54. > :49:56.as well, with the news about Escher typhoons, I think there is `

:49:57. > :50:03.parliament can look forward to a very strong defence in the xears

:50:04. > :50:08.ahead. They give very much Lr Speaker, as we know the UK's bombing

:50:09. > :50:18.Isil in Iraq and Syria. We have asked question, does the government

:50:19. > :50:22.wants a bum Isil left in Ir`q? I think the point I would makd to the

:50:23. > :50:27.honourable gentleman is that the border between Iraq and Syrha does

:50:28. > :50:33.not recognise why Isil. It hs literally a line in the sand and it

:50:34. > :50:38.makes no sense if we want to degrade and destroy Isil to restrict our

:50:39. > :50:41.activities as some of the most professional and dedicated pilots

:50:42. > :50:52.and some of the most efficidnt equipment anywhere in the world to

:50:53. > :51:27.restrict that to Iraq. Thank you so much Mr Speaker.

:51:28. > :51:37.Can do is be delivered with an the constraint of 82,000 regular army

:51:38. > :51:41.personnel and why is it going to take ten years to deliver them? Can

:51:42. > :51:47.my honourable friend expedite the creation of those frigates? In

:51:48. > :51:51.defence of the 2010 review which he was involved in, yes we did have to

:51:52. > :51:55.take difficult decisions, btt I would argue that the moves that we

:51:56. > :51:59.have made reducing the numbdr of battle tanks and focusing on

:52:00. > :52:03.flexible Armed Forces and those things, actually were the rhght

:52:04. > :52:07.judgement. Those were the things we needed more of an now we ard able to

:52:08. > :52:11.supply even more of them. What we are doing in terms of the strike

:52:12. > :52:14.brigades is that as he knows we currently have the capability to

:52:15. > :52:18.deploy a brigade anywhere in the world and sustain it and definitely.

:52:19. > :52:23.What we are seeing with the new armoured vehicles such as the Ajax

:52:24. > :52:28.vehicles is that we will have them with the new way that we ard going

:52:29. > :52:33.to rotate our armed forces personnel, we will have the ability

:52:34. > :52:37.to instead of the way one brigade, we can deploy to with greatdr

:52:38. > :52:42.mobility. The time this will take will depend on how sent the new

:52:43. > :52:47.equipment comes on board, mx commitment is that the strike

:52:48. > :52:53.brigades are as ready as thdy as soon as they can be. The Prhme

:52:54. > :52:57.minister's statement on Isil in Syria on Thursday, can I urge him to

:52:58. > :53:02.listen carefully to those on the side of the House that have an open

:53:03. > :53:06.mind on this question, who want reassurances on specific thhngs

:53:07. > :53:09.specifically the issue of humanitarian protection and making

:53:10. > :53:14.sure that we prevent further displacement and suffering, but also

:53:15. > :53:21.a specific commitment to long-term reconstruction and stabilis`tion

:53:22. > :53:25.once conflict has concluded? I can certainly give the right honourable

:53:26. > :53:29.gentleman that assurance. Mx aim here is to bring together the

:53:30. > :53:33.biggest possible majority of crossed this house, for taking the `ction

:53:34. > :53:37.that I think is necessary and I am not saying that we will solve this

:53:38. > :53:43.problem simply by crossing ` line from our rock Syria, we will solve

:53:44. > :53:47.this problem if we have a political strategy and diplomatic str`tegy, a

:53:48. > :53:51.humanitarian strategy. Brit`in is leading the way on that, not least

:53:52. > :53:54.by having this conference ndxt her with Norway, Germany and Kuwait to

:53:55. > :53:59.raise the funds that are necessary to help Syrian people and the more

:54:00. > :54:04.than that we can keep in Syria the better. Can the Prime Minister

:54:05. > :54:12.confirm that today's statemdnt is good news for RAF Lossiemouth and

:54:13. > :54:17.the future home of planing to, obviously they are playing ` vital

:54:18. > :54:21.role in the campaign against Daesh, but can he agree with me th`t there

:54:22. > :54:25.is an overwhelming case of dxtending the strakes into Syria itself?

:54:26. > :54:31.Certainly I can reassure hil that today's statement is good bdcause it

:54:32. > :54:35.needs more lightning aircraft more quickly and it will be very good for

:54:36. > :54:38.that air base. As for what he says about Iraq and Syria he knows that I

:54:39. > :54:48.agree and we must marshal the argument so we can get together on

:54:49. > :54:51.Thursday. Will minister is due more to reform defence procurement to

:54:52. > :55:00.ensure that our limited defdnce budget is spent in the and just of

:55:01. > :55:02.our Armed Forces and not im`ge defence contractors? I will

:55:03. > :55:05.certainly do everything we can on that basis, it is always difficult

:55:06. > :55:10.this issue because on one h`nd you want to procure speedily and swiftly

:55:11. > :55:17.as possible, but on the othdr hand you do want to have a care to

:55:18. > :55:18.bring's vital defence industry an opportunity to help our allhes with

:55:19. > :55:26.their defence overall making sure that thd

:55:27. > :55:31.procurement is more swift and speedy will be a good thing. I thank my

:55:32. > :55:38.right honourable friend Fritz stating that the British Arly might

:55:39. > :55:41.be placed... And I remind the House that it has actually been operating

:55:42. > :55:50.on the streets of the United Kingdom for over 40 years. I think very much

:55:51. > :55:53.that the public will be verx sympathetic to that idea and will

:55:54. > :55:59.take great comfort in times of peril when they see our wonderful soldiers

:56:00. > :56:02.on the streets protecting them. My honourable friend is absolutely

:56:03. > :56:08.right, during the flooding problems and Olympics, we saw a numbdr of

:56:09. > :56:12.British troops on our street. And the point I'm making is up to now

:56:13. > :56:16.there have been rather arcane and old-fashioned barriers to stop this

:56:17. > :56:20.from happening for all sorts of very good historical reasons. I think we

:56:21. > :56:23.are rather over that now and I think people if there were a terrorist

:56:24. > :56:27.attack and we had a need to surge unit firm personnel to keep people

:56:28. > :56:36.safe I think people will be very happy to see be military perform not

:56:37. > :56:44.world. -- role. What considdration is given to both regiments `nd

:56:45. > :56:48.wells, all three of which are currently based in England? I am

:56:49. > :56:52.very happy to look carefullx at that, obviously what is happening in

:56:53. > :56:55.terms of pacing is we are bringing a number of people home from Germany,

:56:56. > :57:01.so there are more opportunities for basing in the United Kingdol. Cannot

:57:02. > :57:10.I thank the Prime Minister for his statement today, I welcome the

:57:11. > :57:14.government's efforts. Will ly right honourable friend agree with me that

:57:15. > :57:17.in the ever-changing security and defence environment are most

:57:18. > :57:24.critical asset remains the len and women who serve. Looking after men

:57:25. > :57:28.and women both during and after their service is not only a priority

:57:29. > :57:33.for him personally, but for his government? I think my honotrable

:57:34. > :57:36.friend with his considerabld experience is right to say this you

:57:37. > :57:42.can talk about all the equipment in the world but the men and women who

:57:43. > :57:45.are prepared to serve should be looked after. When he looks through

:57:46. > :57:48.this strategic Defense and security review he will see that we `re

:57:49. > :57:52.committed to doing that. And indeed because of what we have dond with

:57:53. > :57:56.the military covenant, putthng it on a legal footing and passing it into

:57:57. > :58:02.law in improving its turns dvery year, we know that means helping

:58:03. > :58:06.people for the rest of their lives. He is obviously right that the armed

:58:07. > :58:11.Forces have but the equipment and the personnel needed to protect our

:58:12. > :58:15.country and our people. But hard power and soft power go togdther.

:58:16. > :58:19.Can I press the prime minister of further on the decision that he will

:58:20. > :58:24.bring before the House about military action in Syria, c`n he

:58:25. > :58:29.ensure that this is not just a decision for the House to s`y yes or

:58:30. > :58:35.no to the use of hard power, but that it is also a decision to use

:58:36. > :58:41.every diplomatic means that we have, not to negotiate with Isis, but to

:58:42. > :58:45.forge a sustainable future for Syria thereafter? I absolutely want to

:58:46. > :58:49.give that assurance. There hs obviously the diplomatic work that

:58:50. > :58:53.is due at the Mac being dond through the Vienna process to bring about a

:58:54. > :58:58.transition in Syria, and a political change in a country. There hs the

:58:59. > :59:02.humanitarian side where Britain is the second largest aid donor in the

:59:03. > :59:06.world on a bilateral basis to help Syrian refugees. We will continue

:59:07. > :59:11.with that work. All of thesd things as part of an overall stratdgy, not

:59:12. > :59:19.simply a plan to extend milhtary action, it is a plan to step up and

:59:20. > :59:24.all of these areas. I warmlx welcomed the statement by mx right

:59:25. > :59:27.honourable friend today, and congratulate him for increasing

:59:28. > :59:33.resources for our Armed Forces. Just one tiny cautionary note, wd were

:59:34. > :59:36.talking about divisions that were talking about brigade. Can he

:59:37. > :59:40.assured me in the future th`t the Army will not be reduced below

:59:41. > :59:44.82,000 so we can do our job effectively around the world? I can

:59:45. > :59:49.absolutely give my honourable friend that assurance. I found redtcing the

:59:50. > :59:54.size of our army to 82,000 was the most painful part of the defence

:59:55. > :59:58.review of the last Parliament and that is why it did not go ahead to

:59:59. > :00:02.begin with. I wanted to find every way to try and avoid it so he can

:00:03. > :00:06.give the insurance that it hs not getting below 82,000. One

:00:07. > :00:11.interesting about this report, the way we are changing the way the Army

:00:12. > :00:17.works, we would have the abhlity if necessary, and I hope it will not be

:00:18. > :00:22.necessary, to deploy an enthre division of armed services hn one

:00:23. > :00:28.go. A higher number of 50,000 rather than 30,000 that was envisioned at

:00:29. > :00:34.the last as DSR. Like many prime ministers before him, he has already

:00:35. > :00:41.talking about a decision th`t he is going to put before house to wage

:00:42. > :00:46.war in Syria, does he have `n exit strategy, no one else has h`d one?

:00:47. > :00:52.The exit strategy is a government in Syria that represents all of its

:00:53. > :00:57.people and in terms of exit strategy I would just make the point that

:00:58. > :01:01.when I became Prime Minister, we were nine years and to Afgh`nistan

:01:02. > :01:06.deployment and I deliver th`t exit strategy by setting a time `nd date

:01:07. > :01:10.by which we should be leaving that country in terms of combat troops in

:01:11. > :01:15.training the Afghan so they can take on. Yes you always have to have an

:01:16. > :01:21.exit strategy and there will be a very clear one for this. Can I take

:01:22. > :01:26.this opportunity to welcome the statement of the Prime Minister

:01:27. > :01:29.today, someone had the privhlege to visit the aircraft carriers last

:01:30. > :01:34.week and will welcome the announcement on those today. Can the

:01:35. > :01:40.Prime Minister give me an assurance that the future of unmanned air

:01:41. > :01:45.combat vehicles will be mord than buying simply off-the-shelf? I can

:01:46. > :01:51.give him that assurance, we set out a separate budget item to work with

:01:52. > :01:57.the French on unarmed combat vehicles for the future. As I said

:01:58. > :02:01.we cannot know exactly what form they will take, but the comlitment

:02:02. > :02:06.and money and research is there I want Britain to stay at the cutting

:02:07. > :02:11.edge of these technologies which is why we invested in Typhoon `nd why

:02:12. > :02:16.we have this programme to. Prime Minister, can I pay tribute to the

:02:17. > :02:26.men and women who put their lives on the line to secure our defence. He

:02:27. > :02:30.has been greatly helped in the last nine years by the specialist health

:02:31. > :02:34.and other treatments and services that have been afforded to them His

:02:35. > :02:40.family are worried that this might and when he is forced to le`ve the

:02:41. > :02:45.Armed Forces. The Prime Minhster has pledged his support, could he

:02:46. > :02:51.secured me a meeting with hhm and his family to secure his future I

:02:52. > :02:55.am very happy to do that for him and the right Honorable Lady. It has

:02:56. > :02:59.been an immense privilege to meet him, he is one of the bravest people

:03:00. > :03:04.I have ever met and always seems to have good humour and optimism about

:03:05. > :03:09.the future despite how much he has suffered. But we have tried to put

:03:10. > :03:12.him place with the military covenant is progressive improvements, year

:03:13. > :03:16.after year, in terms of services that we give to our armed vdrsus

:03:17. > :03:23.personnel and their families. We have to recognise that after 14

:03:24. > :03:27.years of deployment in Afgh`nistan, these young people we have to look

:03:28. > :03:32.after them for the rest of their lives and they do not simplx want

:03:33. > :03:36.tea and sympathy. They want better lives, they want the best hdalth

:03:37. > :03:44.care up and go on and do grdat things and it should be our ambition

:03:45. > :03:49.as a country to do just that. May I thank my right honourable friend for

:03:50. > :03:53.his statement as a very welcome declaration of long-term strategic

:03:54. > :03:57.intent on behalf of our country To remain a global power and ntclear

:03:58. > :04:02.power with Armed Forces with global reach. Can I also remind hil that

:04:03. > :04:07.our defence industries are one of our largest export earners because

:04:08. > :04:11.of what her Majesty's government has invested over the years in research

:04:12. > :04:16.and technology and if we ard to sustain this in the ability of our

:04:17. > :04:20.industry to help in times of emergency to produce the capability

:04:21. > :04:25.we need, we need to continud and increase substantially will be

:04:26. > :04:29.invest in those industries. Can I think my honourable friend for what

:04:30. > :04:32.he said, he has spent a lot of time in this parliament in last

:04:33. > :04:36.Parliament talking about thd importance of clear strategx and for

:04:37. > :04:39.me that is setting the goals that you want to achieve and crucially

:04:40. > :04:43.making the choices that acttally make that happen in this document is

:04:44. > :04:49.all about choices. B is all about choices. Beazer choices, but decided

:04:50. > :04:56.to make to our global reach and power. Out for some reason of

:04:57. > :05:02.national vanity, but for hard-headed, hard-headed national

:05:03. > :05:05.interest. In terms of what xou said about research and developmdnt in

:05:06. > :05:09.British industry, I agree whth that but we have to make sure Brhtish

:05:10. > :05:15.defence industry understands that the Ministry of Defense is not

:05:16. > :05:19.simply a customer to be used for evermore expensive equipment. It

:05:20. > :05:25.should be a core customer to develop the things that are needed hn the

:05:26. > :05:28.future for our Armed Forces and powers as well to make sure that we

:05:29. > :05:35.have export earnings from these platforms that we create ourselves.

:05:36. > :05:46.I hear unconfirmed reports that President Obama has already opened

:05:47. > :05:49.news that in the USA... And particularly felt very hard in

:05:50. > :05:56.Scotland, will the Prime Minister confirm that the UK will inhtially

:05:57. > :06:01.borrow from the USA and also confirm that the capability gap between the

:06:02. > :06:06.sign of carriers and does it apply to both carriers? First of `ll on

:06:07. > :06:11.the maritime patrol aircraft we have said that we will be buying the

:06:12. > :06:16.Boeing version, that is a US aircraft but it is going to have a

:06:17. > :06:21.major British component, soletimes it is right to choose what hs

:06:22. > :06:27.available rather than start all over again from scratch. In terms of what

:06:28. > :06:30.we are saying about the lightning aircraft being available, hd can

:06:31. > :06:39.read about it in the document, we are increasing the number available

:06:40. > :06:42.for our aircraft carriers. Today's announcement represents a commitment

:06:43. > :06:47.to invest in the necessary capabilities to defend our country,

:06:48. > :06:51.and while it is undoubtedly true that simultaneous deployment of

:06:52. > :06:57.budgets in tough power is ddsirable, with the Prime Minister agrde with

:06:58. > :07:03.me that affective defence rdlies on a necessary budget but also an

:07:04. > :07:09.unswerving commitment to deploy those assets when this country's

:07:10. > :07:18.defence requires a? I think my honourable friend is right that our

:07:19. > :07:21.allies and those... Our allhes want to know that when we are threatened

:07:22. > :07:26.and people want to know that we are not just prepared to invest in our

:07:27. > :07:29.defence assets but are prep`red to use them. Our commitments go

:07:30. > :07:38.together because they are both things that help to keep us safe.

:07:39. > :07:41.With support from the Union in northern Ireland going ever

:07:42. > :07:46.stronger, could I assuage those concerts of the right honourable

:07:47. > :07:56.member that we have lots of locks and ports and if the governlent

:07:57. > :08:03.ever... I know that the honourable gentleman and I are united `s one

:08:04. > :08:11.and hoping it never comes to that. It is very important... Does my

:08:12. > :08:16.right honourable friend rem`in commitment to 19 destroyers and pray

:08:17. > :08:22.gets and how many will be lhghter frigates and will they be b`sed in

:08:23. > :08:26.Portsmouth? I think the honourable lady can be secure or that

:08:27. > :08:31.Portsmouth is going to have a very strong future not least with the

:08:32. > :08:36.Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier and going to be based there and I have

:08:37. > :08:41.already seen where it will go and what a magnificent sight and

:08:42. > :08:45.resource it will be. In terls of the frigates and destroyers, wh`t this

:08:46. > :08:49.announcement today in commissioning a new multipurpose frigate does is

:08:50. > :08:54.that it enables us to do increase, over above from the 19 we h`ve

:08:55. > :08:57.already committed to four frigates and destroyers because it whll be a

:08:58. > :09:02.more affordable programme. Having seen all the work are frigates do it

:09:03. > :09:06.is essential that we have that core anti-submarine task, but if you

:09:07. > :09:11.think of all the other work helping off the coast of Libya or other

:09:12. > :09:17.task, I think we would benefit from having a larger Royal Navy fleet

:09:18. > :09:25.with all sorts of frigates for those tasks. The national securitx

:09:26. > :09:30.strategy and as DSR will bolster the UK's ability to participate in the

:09:31. > :09:38.international military Coalhtion for Syria and in sure that UK c`n play a

:09:39. > :09:42.significant role in any post page stabilisation Syria and Irap? I am

:09:43. > :09:48.happy to do that because thdre are some capabilities that we are

:09:49. > :09:53.building that will be useful in the prosecution of the attacks on Isil

:09:54. > :09:58.in Iraq and on Syria, but hd makes a wider point which is becausd we have

:09:59. > :10:02.committed to the aid spending and we are funding our diplomacy, we are

:10:03. > :10:10.able to play a much wider p`rt in making sure that Syria has ` secure

:10:11. > :10:13.future. I very much welcome the Prime minister's statement today and

:10:14. > :10:17.wonder if he agrees with me that there are at least three issues that

:10:18. > :10:23.enable us to defend our country The first, the government a strong

:10:24. > :10:28.government, willing to show and recognise the importance of defence.

:10:29. > :10:32.A strong economy, and thirdly the excellent companies that we have

:10:33. > :10:42.throughout the country who have the experience to deliver the ddfence we

:10:43. > :10:46.need? My honourable friend hs absolutely right and crucial to our

:10:47. > :10:49.defence is having a strong defence and aerospace sector that whll keep

:10:50. > :10:53.us at the cutting edge of capabilities because that is

:10:54. > :10:57.absolutely essential for our future. We are living through a timd of

:10:58. > :11:03.worrying gaps in our capabilities so the announcement made today is very

:11:04. > :11:06.welcome. Is he saying that new joiners will receive an infdrior

:11:07. > :11:12.package and if that is the case then how will that affect more out?

:11:13. > :11:17.What we are doing is trying to design a package for new johners

:11:18. > :11:21.which is attractive for people in the modern workforce. We have to be

:11:22. > :11:25.asking questions about how people want to be house and the fldxibility

:11:26. > :11:30.to work that they want during their lives. The fact that we are seeing

:11:31. > :11:33.so many more women join our our forces and the consequences that is

:11:34. > :11:40.going to have, so the new joiners packages about taking all of things

:11:41. > :11:44.into account. To have an exht strategy is important but for me the

:11:45. > :11:49.entrance strategy became colpelling with what happened on the streets of

:11:50. > :11:55.Paris on November the 13th. It is important that we have the `ffective

:11:56. > :12:00.resources for our Armed Forces and having extra typhoons and strike

:12:01. > :12:09.fighters will be important, but also emphasizes the important of

:12:10. > :12:14.manufacturing skills of the people working? I have been to see these

:12:15. > :12:19.factories and I know the incredible technical expertise that we have. I

:12:20. > :12:22.think we can be proud of thd fact that-is an absolutely first,rate

:12:23. > :12:31.aircraft and I think it has a very strong future. The ministry of

:12:32. > :12:37.defence and placeable service in many tasks including nuclear

:12:38. > :12:42.scientists engineers, and maintenance and artillery. H

:12:43. > :12:45.understand that there is a cut of 12,000 to the MOD civil services,

:12:46. > :12:52.how will the Prime Minister ensure the critical roles and tasks are not

:12:53. > :12:55.lost to ministry defence? The honourable lady makes a important

:12:56. > :12:59.point and there are several roles in the MOD that is very import`nt and

:13:00. > :13:03.she mentioned some of them. What we have done with this budget hs

:13:04. > :13:08.actually say, we are going to need the 2% of defence spending, we have

:13:09. > :13:12.created this joint security fund that can be bid for by our

:13:13. > :13:16.intelligence services and otr defence services. That we s`id to

:13:17. > :13:20.the ministry every penny yot can save your efficiency will go into

:13:21. > :13:24.extra capabilities and that is why am able to stand here today and talk

:13:25. > :13:28.about news quadrants and new members of the RA at an more people joining

:13:29. > :13:31.the Royal Navy. All of this should be done without damaging anx of the

:13:32. > :13:37.vital capabilities civilians provide. Members of Parliamdnt on

:13:38. > :13:42.both sides of the House will have concerns about action in Syria and

:13:43. > :13:45.in that respect we look forward to my right honourable friend's

:13:46. > :13:52.statement on Thursday. Would he agree with me that every dax we

:13:53. > :13:57.delay action in Syria, it not only lets down our allies in the Syrian

:13:58. > :14:04.people, it also has the adddd effect of keeping confidence and boosting

:14:05. > :14:10.the morale of Isil fighters? My honourable friend is obviously right

:14:11. > :14:13.that we do not want to let down our allies and should not allow

:14:14. > :14:16.dangerous terrorist organiz`tions to build their strength by not

:14:17. > :14:21.intervening against them. I want to make very clear that I do not want

:14:22. > :14:25.to bounce a house into a decision about that, so very deliber`tely I

:14:26. > :14:28.spoke about replying to fordign affairs select committee in that

:14:29. > :14:32.report will be issued on Thtrsday. Members of Parliament can t`ke it

:14:33. > :14:36.away and consider it over the weekend and go into having ` full

:14:37. > :14:41.day's debate and proper consideration and a vote. Is a

:14:42. > :14:46.proper process and I do not want to feel like anyone is being bounced

:14:47. > :14:49.into a decision. As he says every day that we spend where we spend

:14:50. > :14:55.where we're not getting to grips with the I Dunn Isil minute. The

:14:56. > :15:01.Prime Minister has announced that 178 billion and procurement over the

:15:02. > :15:04.next ten years will this le`d to an increase in the procurement of

:15:05. > :15:15.equipment that can be used for the clearing up of landmines and other

:15:16. > :15:18.detritus of war which is essential? Obviously the 178 billion that we

:15:19. > :15:23.are talking about is investlent in defence of equipment, and ahrcraft

:15:24. > :15:27.carriers, frigates, destroydrs, new Ajax vehicles over the army in such

:15:28. > :15:33.light. The entrance of removing mines that is something that we can

:15:34. > :15:36.use our aid budget for and we find that Halo trust and other

:15:37. > :15:44.organizations like that and perhaps there are opportunities to do more.

:15:45. > :15:47.May I, as others have done, congratulate the Prime Minister and

:15:48. > :15:50.his defence minister for turning around the economy for the Linistry

:15:51. > :15:56.of Defense and its procuremdnt regime, may I also am thinkhng thank

:15:57. > :16:04.him for that Nato expenditure target. Beyond that may I urge the

:16:05. > :16:09.prime minister to perhaps consider finding the additional two brigades,

:16:10. > :16:15.not from existing troops with new insignia, but by increasing the size

:16:16. > :16:21.of the Army from 82 to 102,000. That was ingenious idea at the end of

:16:22. > :16:26.that question, but I think we are capable of delivering these new

:16:27. > :16:31.strike brigades within the level of 82,000 as I said. We are seding a

:16:32. > :16:36.small increase in the RAF, `nd the Navy. But what is important is that

:16:37. > :16:39.we make sure that we get evdrything out of the resorts is that we put in

:16:40. > :16:44.and that is what this review is about. There are still a large

:16:45. > :16:52.number of honourable members who want to catch my eye, and I will be

:16:53. > :16:56.unable to catch everybody. The Bremen is or has been giving to the

:16:57. > :17:08.answers, and perhaps the other members can follow suit. So too is

:17:09. > :17:20.the taking of all steps necdssary in our homeland to protect the security

:17:21. > :17:24.and safety of British citizdns. . Neighborhood policing as thd eyes

:17:25. > :17:27.and ears of the counterterrorism effort? First of all can I think the

:17:28. > :17:31.honourable gentleman for wh`t he says about Syria, it is abott

:17:32. > :17:35.bringing together the United Nations, aid and development effort

:17:36. > :17:38.that we can bring the polithcal solutions that we want to ptrsue an

:17:39. > :17:41.diplomatic efforts together with the military action that we want to

:17:42. > :17:45.pursue. In terms of the polhce I have said what I said about

:17:46. > :17:49.counterterrorism policing and he will have to wait for the statement

:17:50. > :17:51.only Wednesday to see the overall settlement. In terms of the police I

:17:52. > :17:54.have said what I said about counterterrorism policing and he

:17:55. > :17:59.will have to wait for the statement only Wednesday to see the whth

:18:00. > :18:14.efficiencies that we can get more for less. Mr Speaker, with `n

:18:15. > :18:17.national crisis in our country is under great danger, there is a

:18:18. > :18:21.tradition in this house that the leader of authorisation will come to

:18:22. > :18:27.Downing Street talk to the Prime Minister and support the prhme

:18:28. > :18:31.minister, is the door to Downing Street open to the leader of

:18:32. > :18:37.opposition? My door is alwaxs open to him and he get privy Council

:18:38. > :18:42.meetings on any subject he wants to Andy B wants to have a meethng with

:18:43. > :18:57.me I will always make myself available for that. Extraordinary

:18:58. > :19:06.as the honourable gentleman said there is a close link betwedn our

:19:07. > :19:12.defence and our research and manufacturing capability... The

:19:13. > :19:17.problems in the UK steel industry were losing large towns are

:19:18. > :19:25.manufacturing supply change for .. Can the prime Minister outlhne what

:19:26. > :19:31.how he wanted to evolve for the as DSR and how skills, capabilhty and

:19:32. > :19:36.competitive competitiveness and our supply change to meet the ddfence

:19:37. > :19:42.requirements with British industry? I think he is right to say the

:19:43. > :19:45.partnerships we have formed with the defence industry and aerosp`ce

:19:46. > :19:50.industry are the basis of a long-term plan to work with them and

:19:51. > :19:54.our long-term commitments on defence spending as well, specifically on

:19:55. > :20:01.British still, we want to sde more procured for government expdnditure

:20:02. > :20:04.like this. Of the 82,000 tonnes of involved in the carrier programme,

:20:05. > :20:06.almost all of it was sourced from British steel and I hope it will be

:20:07. > :20:13.the case in future procuremdnts as well. The global challenges research

:20:14. > :20:19.and Ross finds are so pure superb ideas and can we get on with them

:20:20. > :20:23.please? I am grateful for hhs support and I am glad that he thinks

:20:24. > :20:31.he made the right choices. Luch to welcome in the prime prime

:20:32. > :20:36.minister's statement. I havd concerns about whether 82,000 Army

:20:37. > :20:41.personnel will be enough to meet the challenges. Can the prime mhnisters

:20:42. > :20:46.see any circumstance to increase regular prison now to face the

:20:47. > :20:50.challenges out there? 82,000 was always on the basis that we would

:20:51. > :20:53.have that 35,000 reserves, recent figures have shown that we `re

:20:54. > :20:57.getting ahead of the targets that we have set and I pay tribute to the

:20:58. > :21:02.hard ministerial team and m`ke sure that we make sure that we rdach that

:21:03. > :21:06.35,000. What this report shows today and I'm sure you want to look at it

:21:07. > :21:10.in detail, we are changing the way the Army works. Over time wd will be

:21:11. > :21:14.able to deliver to strike brigades instead of one and be able to

:21:15. > :21:17.deliver a force of 50,000 r`ther than 30,000 showing that we can

:21:18. > :21:26.actually get more for the 82000 and we have set out. In his revhew of

:21:27. > :21:31.over cease development strategy will he find resources to promote

:21:32. > :21:35.British values so that a wolan in a country who has to fight for her

:21:36. > :21:43.right to work and those of ` minority they've have the ability to

:21:44. > :21:48.worship their God. Those people with minority ideas be able to express

:21:49. > :21:51.their feelings without reprdssion? I think I honourable friend is

:21:52. > :21:55.absolutely right and that the budget is not about spending money by

:21:56. > :22:03.trying to help build what I call the girl didn't thread of conditions,

:22:04. > :22:07.the rights of minorities and the inclusiveness and development. Ice

:22:08. > :22:12.Benzema Friday but that excdllent Christian charity open doors who

:22:13. > :22:16.promote that type of work and praise what the government is doing and

:22:17. > :22:21.they want us to do more to protect the freedom of worship and H think

:22:22. > :22:24.it is something we should focus on. When we aren't discussing this and

:22:25. > :22:28.listening to the Prime Minister it seems like number ten has bden

:22:29. > :22:32.briefing journalists who ard now reporting that the government

:22:33. > :22:40.intends only having a debatd on Trident main gate and not a vote. Is

:22:41. > :22:43.this true? I am very keen that we should have a vote. I think the

:22:44. > :22:50.honourable gentleman is going to have a vote on Tuesday and hf I am

:22:51. > :22:54.here I... Believe me, I would like a vote on gate, the main gate,

:22:55. > :22:57.predate, you can have as many votes as you like because all of ly

:22:58. > :23:06.honourable friends they know which date to go through. Thank you Mr

:23:07. > :23:13.Speaker, the timely deploymdnt of international aid and armed forces

:23:14. > :23:16.can play a significant part in preventing difficult situathons

:23:17. > :23:20.globally deteriorating, with respect to the appointment on aid and our

:23:21. > :23:23.armed forces, can my right honourable friend of a commhtment

:23:24. > :23:30.that his government will act thoughtfully but decisively? I am

:23:31. > :23:34.sure that is the right approach to take. One should never approach

:23:35. > :23:37.these questions too hastily or it not thinking through the

:23:38. > :23:43.consequences. The question for us is going to be willed the world be

:23:44. > :23:49.safer, will we be safer if we can act faster to degrade Syria and

:23:50. > :23:55.Iraq? And because its headqtarters are in Syria, it seems like the

:23:56. > :24:00.answer to the question is yds. For those of us who have to makd this

:24:01. > :24:03.decision in the near future about British military involvement in

:24:04. > :24:07.Syria, could the prime ministers say something about what lessons he

:24:08. > :24:12.thinks we can draw from the recent and current action in Iraq `nd what

:24:13. > :24:22.that might tell us about wh`t we might be about to see in Syria?

:24:23. > :24:27.Of the dispatch box now. Lilit just take one. At that one of thd

:24:28. > :24:32.mistakes that was made in the rock was the sense that the entire state

:24:33. > :24:36.and establishment had to be dismantled after the invasion of

:24:37. > :24:40.Iraq. That left a vacuum th`t has not been very well-documentdd.

:24:41. > :24:43.Saying that we believe a site cannot play a part of the long-terl

:24:44. > :24:47.government of Syria, we are not saying that because of this month

:24:48. > :24:51.all the institutions of the Syrian state. Indeed quite the opposite. I

:24:52. > :24:56.think it'll be important to have a transitional plan so that Sxria has

:24:57. > :24:58.a state, has institution. They need to be institutions that can

:24:59. > :25:03.represent all of the countrx. It should not be part of our plant to

:25:04. > :25:11.dismantle them and the sort of that mic that will not work. We lust

:25:12. > :25:16.learn to listen from past. @nd the imminent future. Can I ask him as he

:25:17. > :25:20.looks across the benches opposite him, to comment on the importance of

:25:21. > :25:25.allies and friends at times like this. Because what France is looking

:25:26. > :25:28.for now as an ally in the thme of need and what are friends of the

:25:29. > :25:33.Middle East are looking for is our commitment to our allies and run the

:25:34. > :25:39.world. I think makes a very good point. Britain and France h`ve been

:25:40. > :25:45.allies for so long, our milhtaries are so close, our intelligence and

:25:46. > :25:49.so the. I think it would be very disappointing for them and for us if

:25:50. > :25:54.we had to say that we simplx could not join the. And helping about

:25:55. > :26:01.because I pick them out. An attack on Paris is an attack on us. On our

:26:02. > :26:05.way of life and our values. Standing outside the bad the client did it

:26:06. > :26:08.this morning, you do that whth every sense of your being. This w`s an

:26:09. > :26:12.attack on the values that wd hold dear. He is also right that in the

:26:13. > :26:17.region, those countries that look to Britain for defence and support and

:26:18. > :26:22.protection, they will be concerned if we don't go to the aid of our

:26:23. > :26:26.closest neighbour and one of our oldest partners, it would r`ise

:26:27. > :26:30.questions about our liability. Is one of the many considerations that

:26:31. > :26:38.everyone in this house to t`ke into account. Along with the, I'l

:26:39. > :26:47.delighted about the programle is new webmaster to the fleets that have

:26:48. > :26:51.been doing the job. Of the SDSR to meet these priorities, we whll

:26:52. > :26:55.continue to harness all the tools of national power available to us. That

:26:56. > :26:58.the Prime Minister state th`t that there is no in the statement that

:26:59. > :27:05.see say that government's rdlapse and... That the Prime Minister

:27:06. > :27:07.therefore agree with the defence select committee that the ddfence

:27:08. > :27:12.select committee that the structure for the future 2020 is manifestly

:27:13. > :27:18.the rock structure for this new environment? Of us will be from his

:27:19. > :27:25.text, into consideration th`t he might have bought at any tile be in

:27:26. > :27:30.any weight materials. What H would say to the honourable gentldman is

:27:31. > :27:33.that we are very much targeted on getting the 35,000 reserves that we

:27:34. > :27:39.deed. This has been a huge programme in terms of turning the performance

:27:40. > :27:43.of encouraging people to john as to stand up. Is not working well and if

:27:44. > :27:53.we keep going I'm confident we will get to 35,000 stock would -, is

:27:54. > :27:57.working well. With the promhnence to just confirm when it comes to our

:27:58. > :28:01.security, with every shoot to kill or hunting our enemies wherdver they

:28:02. > :28:06.are, but knowing our independent nuclear deterrent, to every member

:28:07. > :28:12.this house can't find safe haven under the leadership of this

:28:13. > :28:15.government. But I would say is - what I would say is as I hope the

:28:16. > :28:20.people would just look at the arguments and look at the ctrrent

:28:21. > :28:25.state -- status that we havdn't Isil and put aside party considerations

:28:26. > :28:29.and other considerations and just try to answer the question `s to

:28:30. > :28:35.where internally. Whether Britain will be safer, with there are people

:28:36. > :28:46.will be safer, and whether the world newspaper if we take more action

:28:47. > :28:49.against Isil. Also I would like to thank him for the investment and

:28:50. > :28:53.securities made last week. But restate, that the intelligence and

:28:54. > :29:00.the front line and responding to an attack is our local police forces.

:29:01. > :29:04.By local police force only has seven armed police officers on duty and

:29:05. > :29:11.calls to neighbouring policd forces for help has gone up 43%. C`n the

:29:12. > :29:14.Minister assured the people up I hold that should add another

:29:15. > :29:21.terrorist attack happened, the local force can hope, can't cope without

:29:22. > :29:28.calling on neighbouring forces. We are looking at the number of armed

:29:29. > :29:34.responses vehicles and armed officers that are available. I think

:29:35. > :29:39.it is possible to see a growth in the pool of armed experts that can

:29:40. > :29:43.be called upon. As for forcds sharing between each other `nd going

:29:44. > :29:50.to aid, that has always been part of the way that bridges policing has

:29:51. > :29:52.worked. -- British policing. The investment and not by my right

:29:53. > :30:03.honourable friend will be wdlcomed in their own along South Co`st, Was

:30:04. > :30:07.already making preparations for the arrival of the two new aircraft

:30:08. > :30:11.carriers at Portsmouth. Does my friend agreed that the SDSR

:30:12. > :30:21.safeguards training for our Navy personnel, which is vital in the

:30:22. > :30:25.years ahead,? I think she is right about how important it is going to

:30:26. > :30:28.be to make sure that we havd sufficient trained personnel to man

:30:29. > :30:32.our carriers and the new generation of the stores and frigates. That is

:30:33. > :30:40.one of the region we are seding an increase of Royal and Navy

:30:41. > :30:43.personnel. Which is where the dab of some of some of the most of its

:30:44. > :30:56.equipment in the most of its equipment and well. Great sdrvice to

:30:57. > :31:00.join. There are additional hssues to be addressed for two new strike per

:31:01. > :31:08.grades. Prime Minister, what new funds are going to be given to the

:31:09. > :31:14.Army... What is being done to.. Left the city is so limited. The

:31:15. > :31:21.point I made to the gentlem`n is that the aim of the new strhke new

:31:22. > :31:24.brigades is to try and make them more maneuverable themselves, so

:31:25. > :31:34.they are less dependent on list from the other services. House R@S today

:31:35. > :31:40.talking to Army person about the new Ajax class of our vehicles. And

:31:41. > :31:44.looking at the new generation word or our vehicles. They have longer

:31:45. > :31:50.reach, more capabilities, f`ster speeds in order to increase not just

:31:51. > :31:59.to the plummet but the flexhbility of our Army brigades. The sdcurity

:32:00. > :32:03.agencies play an absolutely vital role in identifying terrorist and

:32:04. > :32:07.keeping us safe. And this SDSR and straightening the agencies hs very

:32:08. > :32:13.welcome. But can my friend confirmed that he will press on the to ensure

:32:14. > :32:19.that by oversight, they havd the powers as well as the resources they

:32:20. > :32:25.need to protect our country? I can get him -- or is. Heap reprdsents,

:32:26. > :32:31.and to see HQ is amazing national resource that many countries are

:32:32. > :32:36.extremely envious of. Is to be very proud of what they do. We are going

:32:37. > :32:39.to be investing in cyber, doubling the amount of money that wotld

:32:40. > :32:56.prevent decided by the end of this Parliament. In establishing a new

:32:57. > :33:01.cyber command centre. Stop... Of the prominence it agree with thd defence

:33:02. > :33:07.committee's report that camd out over the weekend off and th`t SDSR

:33:08. > :33:10.needs to be flexible response to known and unknown threats, `nd also

:33:11. > :33:21.does he agree with me that ht has to be underpinned by Avenue... I

:33:22. > :33:24.completely agree with him. Wishes should renew our deterrent because

:33:25. > :33:27.in a dangerous world you want to have the ultimate insurance policy.

:33:28. > :33:31.I agree that you cannot predict all the threats that you're going to

:33:32. > :33:34.face over the coming period. That is why the coming period. That is why

:33:35. > :33:36.this report and my statement was so clear that he had to expect the

:33:37. > :33:40.unexpected. You have to be flexible. -- and not be an dxcuse

:33:41. > :33:43.for not drawing together thd breast that you know about and tryhng to

:33:44. > :33:47.make some choices based on those threads. To be turned to page 8 of

:33:48. > :33:55.the document, he will see that we try to set up tier one, tier two

:33:56. > :34:06.threads. At least we are setting out with the choices are. By a key role

:34:07. > :34:08.in the supply chain to the type 26 printed programme, with the type 26

:34:09. > :34:11.printed programme, will be prominence to continue to ensure

:34:12. > :34:17.that UK companies in the supply chain, as well as the shipy`rd, will

:34:18. > :34:21.continue to benefit from today's procurement announcement? I'll do my

:34:22. > :34:26.best to deliver on that reqtest That is what the defence partnership

:34:27. > :34:31.is about. We are trying to say to defence companies these are what our

:34:32. > :34:40.requirements are in the comhc is. Work with us study can be a part of

:34:41. > :34:48.delivering the success. I whll work with anyone to protect jobs. Canada

:34:49. > :34:51.Prime Minister assured that ministers will keep myself `nd my

:34:52. > :34:59.Honorable friend from Glasgow updated one of procurement timetable

:35:00. > :35:03.for the type 26 frigates, ... Any delays might lead to short-term job

:35:04. > :35:11.loss and I'm sure he must avoid that. Having visited the shhpyards

:35:12. > :35:14.in his constituency and sayhng the incredible technical activities of

:35:15. > :35:19.the people working on the c`rriers, of course I want to see that happen.

:35:20. > :35:24.Producing a shipbuilding strategy in 2016, so he can play apart `nd

:35:25. > :35:27.looking at that. But we are doing, because of the time is having to

:35:28. > :35:32.offshore patrol vessels built in the coming period to make sure that

:35:33. > :35:36.there is plenty of work to be done on a useful vessels that have a real

:35:37. > :35:39.purpose. Then there is a type 2 frigates with dramas ready to go.

:35:40. > :35:45.We're going to have the new generation of frigates which will be

:35:46. > :35:50.more cost effective and could potentially lead to the opportunity

:35:51. > :35:54.for Glasgow ship workers to build ships for other countries as well as

:35:55. > :35:59.for the UK. We have not acttally managed to sell many of our warships

:36:00. > :36:04.in recent years. That might be because we have been creating more

:36:05. > :36:07.expressive and more complex warships, rather than also thinking

:36:08. > :36:13.about slightly more flexibld vessels that others, like the Austr`lian

:36:14. > :36:19.Navy for New Zealand, might want to buy. Why the Leader of the

:36:20. > :36:23.Opposition is at the very lonely figure on the opposite side of the

:36:24. > :36:27.House, I can say that my frhend has the full support of the pitches

:36:28. > :36:32.share. I welcome the statemdnt. Welcomed the decision to refocus the

:36:33. > :36:36.budget too fragile and failhng states. Does he agree that this will

:36:37. > :36:40.prevent the conflict in the future, but also provide an important tool

:36:41. > :36:44.in bringing stability to thd Middle East and Africa and put our national

:36:45. > :36:48.interest and much clearer focus I do believe I'd budget is not only

:36:49. > :36:54.the act of a moral nation btt one that cares about insecurity. The

:36:55. > :36:58.broken conflict states, thex tend to produce use problems and issues for

:36:59. > :37:02.us at home as well. So not only with focusing the budget will make sure

:37:03. > :37:07.that we can produce those brisk but also having such a substanthal

:37:08. > :37:12.budget we are able to act and decisively which years of influence

:37:13. > :37:21.on how these problems are solved. The Prime Minister... Does he not

:37:22. > :37:25.agree that the defence and security of our country is an enhancdd and

:37:26. > :37:34.strengthened our membership with the EQ? I do believe that Britahn's

:37:35. > :37:40.membership of a reformed European Union is in our national interest. I

:37:41. > :37:44.think at a time when we facd great dangers and great uncertainty in our

:37:45. > :37:49.world, it is worth looking `t the membership of all the organhzations

:37:50. > :37:55.that we have the G7, G7, G20, the Commonwealth. And recognise that

:37:56. > :38:06.these friendships and partndrships that help to keep us safe. Following

:38:07. > :38:13.on from that question, does he agree that our membership of Nato is more

:38:14. > :38:18.important to our national sdcurity than our membership to the DQ? In my

:38:19. > :38:23.view, Nato is the organizathon that is has kept us safe since the Second

:38:24. > :38:29.World War. Had been a very successful Allied. If we can secure

:38:30. > :38:34.a performer of the European Union, we will not have to choose between

:38:35. > :38:38.Nato and the EQ. Will be able to belong to both. I do see thd

:38:39. > :38:43.advantages of that because increasingly we are going to see, as

:38:44. > :38:47.we are off the coast of Libxa, British ships and bald and tried to

:38:48. > :39:04.deal with potential threats to our country as part of EQ work. Which is

:39:05. > :39:07.also sanctioned by Nato. -- EQ work. The Prime Minister identifids cyber

:39:08. > :39:10.attacks and Irish casualties at the biggest race at the moment. Is it

:39:11. > :39:19.not the case that for each of these activities, tried as neither

:39:20. > :39:25.tyrant... So that the case that Hunter said seven big and lhability,

:39:26. > :39:29.not to tear it? Trident is nice about the beheaded terror and

:39:30. > :39:34.against cyber attacks. Tried is the ultimate insurance policy and an

:39:35. > :39:39.unsafe world that you can ndver be subject to nuclear blackmail. That

:39:40. > :39:43.is why if you look across you look across the UK you can see that

:39:44. > :39:50.people do support having thhs ultimate insurance policy in a

:39:51. > :39:55.dangerous world. Well my frhend adorned with me and paying tribute

:39:56. > :39:57.to the many small firms in the Defense supply chain in my

:39:58. > :40:02.constituency and all over Lancashire. And the Prime Mhnister

:40:03. > :40:09.to the House how this review will harness the idea such small firms?

:40:10. > :40:12.Hudson Swafford by a big part in keeping us safe and providing our

:40:13. > :40:17.defenses. I think what they can see from this is that a long-term

:40:18. > :40:21.commitment that we have had. Another in 2015, and we have repeatddly

:40:22. > :40:26.committed that those key pl`tforms that will keep us safe. Small

:40:27. > :40:32.businesses can work out to be of first of partnerships and bdcome a

:40:33. > :40:36.part of that success. Can the Minister confirm that the government

:40:37. > :40:42.will maintain his commitment and grants to be Aerospace technology

:40:43. > :40:46.Institute? He will have to wait for the outcome of the spending review.

:40:47. > :40:51.He'll have to wait another 48 hours. But the partnership that we

:40:52. > :40:54.put in place for defence industry, aerospace industries have bden

:40:55. > :41:00.successful in generating growth and jobs and intellectual property. By

:41:01. > :41:04.welcome the Prime Minister's statement. Reaffirmed his commitment

:41:05. > :41:10.and our commitment as a country to spending on a. Can I ask debris

:41:11. > :41:14.assure my constituents that the hard-earned cash while he bd spent

:41:15. > :41:19.where it is greatly and our national interest to do so? I can give that

:41:20. > :41:22.assurance. When he breached the overseas development document that

:41:23. > :41:27.we are publishing today, he will see that clear guidelines that we are

:41:28. > :41:31.setting, and of course we w`nt to tackle a string property, that

:41:32. > :41:36.should be at the heart of everything that we do. That is in our national

:41:37. > :41:43.interest to, but particularly the broken fragile conflict states, they

:41:44. > :41:47.should be a greater focus. The balance between appropriate

:41:48. > :41:51.equipment and sufficient av`ilable between personnel must be a

:41:52. > :41:56.priority. If diagrams are to be a successful operation. Of thd prime

:41:57. > :42:03.ministers say that Armed Forces of the pride of our country. Does he

:42:04. > :42:07.understand that his plan of 30. . Will lead to front-line troops doing

:42:08. > :42:09.backroom jobs and reminding our defence capabilities and undermining

:42:10. > :42:15.our commitments the militarx covenant? I don't believe that is

:42:16. > :42:19.the case because we asked otr armed services to go through very

:42:20. > :42:21.carefully to try and find what savings they could in order that we

:42:22. > :42:24.asked our armed services to go through very carefully to try and

:42:25. > :42:26.find what savings they could in order that would as possibld into

:42:27. > :42:29.the military capabilities that we need stopping in the end, that is

:42:30. > :42:34.what our defence is what our defenses for. If you can find

:42:35. > :42:39.back-office savings and put that into the equipment that we need

:42:40. > :42:50.didn't you should do it. Yot should do a. And the good that the RAF is

:42:51. > :42:55.going to enable to defeat dhocese and ice in the skies of Irap. Closer

:42:56. > :42:59.to home, well my friend agrded join with me in congratulating the Sussex

:43:00. > :43:03.Police, Katie Board and offhcers for the work that they are doing and

:43:04. > :43:08.tackling extremism and our communities? I would join hhm in

:43:09. > :43:14.doing that. And is not something that we discussed today, but in the

:43:15. > :43:19.feeding this scourge of extremist violence, we clearly have to do more

:43:20. > :43:26.overseas of to combat the. We had the best in counterterrorisl here.

:43:27. > :43:28.We had the best in is fighthng against the extremist narrative

:43:29. > :43:33.itself. Taking on these extremists and I are giving them and

:43:34. > :43:45.devastating to them that thdre is no relationship to the true religion of

:43:46. > :43:53.Islam. Can I ask the Prime Linister when he said that people increase

:43:54. > :43:58.the full global Armed Forces to 50,000 by 2025, how that consistent

:43:59. > :44:04.with cutting the regular Arly by 20 thousand by 2020? But we have done

:44:05. > :44:09.is move to an army of 82000 and a reserve of party house and for the

:44:10. > :44:14.Army. What we're trying to do is make sure that as much of that is

:44:15. > :44:16.deplorable as possible. That must be in our national interest. The reason

:44:17. > :44:20.for taking money of taxpayers and spending it on defence is to spend

:44:21. > :44:24.that money as effectively as possible. What you want is hs your

:44:25. > :44:28.military to be at the global as possible. Because of the reforms,

:44:29. > :44:35.being able to the blood by force of 50,000 if we ever needed to, I would

:44:36. > :44:44.argue is good progress cash to deploy. In particular carridr strike

:44:45. > :44:47.capability. Yet carriages c`n't be deployed on their own. The Prime

:44:48. > :44:50.Minister reassure me that whth the Royal Navy, we will have thd

:44:51. > :44:54.resources to provide that whth the Royal Navy, we will have thd

:44:55. > :44:58.resources to provide is important that we have the and submarhnes and

:44:59. > :45:12.the other things that are ndcessary to protect our carriers. Thd review

:45:13. > :45:16.has another list of a... Capable of delivering from science to get a

:45:17. > :45:21.phone. What specific steps to the Prime Minister intended to take to

:45:22. > :45:26.make sure firms have the opportunity to bid and be a part of the supply

:45:27. > :45:31.chain? The Defense Secretarx is going to be setting up a target in

:45:32. > :45:34.terms of procurement, but also encouraged firms to take part in the

:45:35. > :45:39.defence growth partnership which is an opportunity to be a good

:45:40. > :45:43.customer. A good customer t`lk to the supply is long in advance of the

:45:44. > :45:51.actual order being made. So they can prepare to bid for the work that

:45:52. > :45:55.they know is coming. The promised there will be aware that melbers of

:45:56. > :45:59.this House rise to support government spending commitmdnt and

:46:00. > :46:06.get off today for more monex and then when it comes to supporting

:46:07. > :46:11.cuts, I hasn't the enthusiastic To the Prime Minister do anymore that

:46:12. > :46:14.all members of this House understand that you can only have national and

:46:15. > :46:21.military security if you have national economic security. The end

:46:22. > :46:24.of this long session, I think he brings us back down to earth. None

:46:25. > :46:33.of these choices are possible if you don't have a strong economy that can

:46:34. > :46:37.support them. Is absolutely crucial. Jesse agreed that the Trident

:46:38. > :46:43.weapons should be a matter of serious consultation to the people

:46:44. > :46:49.of the country. Or diskette or what the result of the consultathon may

:46:50. > :46:54.be. This case to be carefully thought through. We have bedn

:46:55. > :46:58.absolutely clear that this hs necessary and part of the government

:46:59. > :47:03.programme for many decades now. Actually supports many thousands of

:47:04. > :47:11.jobs in Scotland. I believe it helps to keep our country safe it is clear

:47:12. > :47:13.that the interface between the police and the Armed Forces is

:47:14. > :47:19.important when you see events like that impairs happen. How dods my

:47:20. > :47:23.right friend back seat database developing in the years ahe`d. In

:47:24. > :47:30.order to ensure a rapid response in this country where it may bd

:47:31. > :47:35.required. Enables me to comd and clarified that people were `sking

:47:36. > :47:39.earlier. Whatever the outcole of the spending will do with the police,

:47:40. > :47:44.whatever the number of the police that we have available, I think in

:47:45. > :47:49.the dangerous times that we live in with a possibility of mass casualty

:47:50. > :47:53.attacks, and it makes sense to break down the barriers that were

:47:54. > :47:56.previously put in the weight of the military being able to deploy

:47:57. > :48:02.rapidly onto the streets of our country. So we had this plan of 5000

:48:03. > :48:07.trained, soon to be 10,000, that the police can call on those military

:48:08. > :48:12.forces. This does not underline the police, against him and othdr

:48:13. > :48:23.additional power to bring to bed at a time of great need stop ydllow.

:48:24. > :48:26.Investment in the cyber sectrity programme. Hybrid, the industry

:48:27. > :48:30.sector and said there is a skill shortage of staff to work and

:48:31. > :48:35.applied intelligence. What hs he going to do to a and train lore

:48:36. > :48:43.specialist to address this critical skills gap. I think a good point.

:48:44. > :48:48.Obviously, hiring people at DC HQ and maintaining people therd, not

:48:49. > :48:51.losing them to very well-pahd industries is clearly something that

:48:52. > :48:55.can be quite difficult. In the end, we need to make sure that wd are

:48:56. > :49:03.more people in math and scidnce Database sure that girls ard

:49:04. > :49:09.studying the subjects. That is beginning to happen in our country

:49:10. > :49:13.and we need to build on it. In talk of cooperation between our forces

:49:14. > :49:17.and another European countrx sometimes bring our colleagtes out

:49:18. > :49:22.in hives. But with my friend agreed that friends of the country -- as I

:49:23. > :49:26.will do. Has good Armed Forces and the lead assessor House agrdement

:49:27. > :49:34.and something that we reallx have to build on. He is right. Brit`in and

:49:35. > :49:40.France are to European powers that have a similar place in the world, a

:49:41. > :49:42.similar belief of strong defence, and a similar understanding that

:49:43. > :49:46.this is a similar understanding that this is an. That is why it lakes

:49:47. > :49:56.sense to co-operate and work together. The agreement... @s well a

:49:57. > :50:00.straightforward and the pointless. I'm still convinced there's more we

:50:01. > :50:04.can do. I think there should be a great affinity between the British

:50:05. > :50:08.and French military. At the conceit of the successful French calpaign

:50:09. > :50:15.and other where we have dond in countries like Afghanistan `nd

:50:16. > :50:17.Nigeria. There is a lot that we can do, learning from each other, and

:50:18. > :50:25.working together to make thd world safe. Get the defence budget going

:50:26. > :50:29.to be cut in order to fund the increase in the conflict and

:50:30. > :50:32.stability fund. How much of the spending announced today is going to

:50:33. > :50:42.be double counted to the zero to the 0.7% a target? The budget whll go

:50:43. > :50:46.up. If you spend north of .7% of your group gross national income on

:50:47. > :50:51.aid, and have a growing economy then take Einstein to work out that

:50:52. > :50:55.the a budget is going to go of. I think it is right to use th`t a

:50:56. > :51:00.budget to go into the conflhct stability fund, which has allowed

:51:01. > :51:04.under the audibles. Is right that we spent some of our a budget on vital

:51:05. > :51:15.science research, which is `llowed under the rules. That is ex`ctly

:51:16. > :51:20.what we are delivering. Tok islet for hours to the. It has bedn a long

:51:21. > :51:32.time, but these are serious matters. It had been treated very seriously

:51:33. > :51:38.by the House. We come now to, I have been advised of a point of order.

:51:39. > :51:41.Members have been affected by a bout of sedative medicine. It appears

:51:42. > :51:47.there is no subject point of order at this time. To come to thd

:51:48. > :51:54.allocation of time motion. @mendment at a has been selected to move the

:51:55. > :52:01.motion, I called the Secret`ry of State for Northern Ireland. I beg to

:52:02. > :52:05.move the allocation of time motion on the order paper standing in my

:52:06. > :52:09.name. In the course of my brief from Mars, I will also propose to address

:52:10. > :52:15.amendment a. From the outset, let me say that the government extdnds over

:52:16. > :52:19.asking to have to do today hs exceptional. We agreed that taking

:52:20. > :52:23.all stages of bills to the House and a single day is not ideal. H fully

:52:24. > :52:28.understand that a number of right Honorable members will have

:52:29. > :52:34.misgivings about that. I wotld very much preferred not to have take this

:52:35. > :52:38.approach. I note the memo that has been tabled by the STL P, btt I can

:52:39. > :52:45.assure the members who have tabled that amendment and indeed the whole

:52:46. > :52:49.house, that the government hs only embarking on this procedure because

:52:50. > :52:58.we do it to be necessary in this specific case.

:52:59. > :53:08.Reflect on the huge that is on the 5th of September Martin McGtinness

:53:09. > :53:14.made a very big mistake leghslating on this matter and he is now

:53:15. > :53:20.welcoming new legislation on this matter. I now welcome the f`ct that

:53:21. > :53:22.there is a broadly based acknowledgment on the Northdrn

:53:23. > :53:26.Ireland parties that the financial sustainability of the executive is

:53:27. > :53:31.crucial for the accessible devolved power-sharing government and that

:53:32. > :53:38.implies the implementation of welfare reform. I am glad wd got to

:53:39. > :53:43.the right destination in thd and. I believe that it is necessarx to

:53:44. > :53:47.adopt this fast track procedure to make sure that welfare reform is no

:53:48. > :53:52.longer an issue that is unddrmining the political process in Northern

:53:53. > :53:55.Ireland as it has done in the last four years. I think it is ndcessary

:53:56. > :54:01.to take this approach if we are going to implement the agredment

:54:02. > :54:11.that was reached at Stormont last Tuesday and it is necessary to take

:54:12. > :54:15.this approach to underpin the . . Legislation is a fundamental part of

:54:16. > :54:20.the agreement reached last week If we do not get this legislathon onto

:54:21. > :54:24.the statute book and continte with implementation of last week's

:54:25. > :54:29.agreement, there will be a very serious risk that devolution will

:54:30. > :54:34.collapse and leading to a rdturn to direct rule. Direct rule wotld

:54:35. > :54:40.inevitably mean that many items of long and complex legislation will be

:54:41. > :54:44.take through counsel month `fter month, year after year. Not only

:54:45. > :54:47.would this mean denying such legislation and scrutiny and

:54:48. > :54:53.assembly, it would inevitably take up large amounts of parliamdntary

:54:54. > :54:57.time. We are proposed to detain the House for long on this procddural

:54:58. > :55:01.measure but it is important to understand the background of the

:55:02. > :55:04.bill to emphasise its cruci`l significance and importance on

:55:05. > :55:11.getting it onto the statute book as soon as possible. Thank you Mr

:55:12. > :55:17.Speaker, I am grateful to the Secretary of State. She has chosen

:55:18. > :55:21.her words very carefully and deliberately, obviously, and

:55:22. > :55:28.described as exceptional but not ideal, described the welfard reform

:55:29. > :55:34.bill through all all stages. I wonder where she thinks the

:55:35. > :55:41.emergency comes from, who is going to renege on the agreement that we

:55:42. > :55:44.have come to an very welcomd last week, why should it be an elergency

:55:45. > :55:54.procedure today, rushing through all the stages? As I will expand upon in

:55:55. > :55:57.my remarks, I believe that the legislation which this prim`ry

:55:58. > :56:00.legislation opens the way to implement in Northern Ireland has

:56:01. > :56:06.had extensive scrutiny over the last four years. The ordering Cotncil

:56:07. > :56:11.published alongside the bill, reflects the Northern Ireland

:56:12. > :56:15.Assembly's welfare legislathon which fell as a result of a tabling of a

:56:16. > :56:19.petition of concern and that legislation had a first stage,

:56:20. > :56:25.second stage, a committee stage a consideration stage, of further

:56:26. > :56:30.consideration stage, a final stage and a debate, so it is a pidce of

:56:31. > :56:38.legislation that has had extensive scrutiny. Including 21 weeks of

:56:39. > :56:42.cross party talks. A seasondd an ideal way to approach legislation,

:56:43. > :56:49.at its heart it has had extdnsive scrutiny. She has outlined the

:56:50. > :56:53.debate and discussion what should have Artie been on the terms that we

:56:54. > :57:00.are taking today, but which he also accept that the, one of the reasons

:57:01. > :57:05.for the urgency of this is that until this legislation goes through,

:57:06. > :57:10.Northern Ireland is still losing money by the day to the Tre`sury

:57:11. > :57:14.because of the pavements th`t they had to do back due to the

:57:15. > :57:20.differences in the welfare arrangements. In the and Northern

:57:21. > :57:24.Ireland cannot sustain that. The Honorable member makes a very valid

:57:25. > :57:31.point, the difference betwedn the level of benefits in Great Britain

:57:32. > :57:37.and the level of benefits p`id out in northern Ireland amounts to some

:57:38. > :57:40.2 million a week. That is ehght drain on the resources that the

:57:41. > :57:45.executive can ill afford at this difficult time for public fhnances.

:57:46. > :57:50.Successive attempts to resolve this welfare question over the l`st few

:57:51. > :57:56.years have founded, this contributed to large part in a political crisis

:57:57. > :58:01.in Northern Ireland in a crhsis and the executives finances. By early

:58:02. > :58:04.Ottoman looks like the issud would bring down the devolved institutions

:58:05. > :58:09.themselves. As the honourable member points out, this has been costing

:58:10. > :58:11.the executive money, approxhmately ?2 million a week. That is the

:58:12. > :58:18.difference between what the Treasury is prepared to pay for the parity

:58:19. > :58:25.with Great Britain and the cost to run in on reformed welfare system in

:58:26. > :58:31.a in Northern Ireland. Execttive estimates that it will rise to over

:58:32. > :58:34.?200 million in the end of this Parliament to have ?1 billion a year

:58:35. > :58:40.in terms of difference betwden parody and the old system. That Mr

:58:41. > :58:44.Speaker, Mr Deputy Speaker, is unaffordable and those figures do

:58:45. > :58:48.not even take into account the cost of IT. Although welfare is

:58:49. > :58:53.technically a devolved mattdr in Northern Ireland, up to now it has

:58:54. > :58:57.always maintained parity with the rest of United Kingdom and being

:58:58. > :59:01.fully integrated to the you UK system through the WP. Ones Great

:59:02. > :59:07.Britain moves entirely to the new system based around univers`l

:59:08. > :59:14.credit, Northern Ireland will no longer have access to the DWP

:59:15. > :59:20.systems which it excesses and gives people benefit. It will be left with

:59:21. > :59:23.no option to devise, implemdnt and maintain an entirely separate and

:59:24. > :59:29.more expensive system and mdet the massive costs of the IT needed to

:59:30. > :59:37.support it. For a small devolved administration, that cost would be

:59:38. > :59:42.prohibited. I think -- I thhnk back the Secretary of State for giving

:59:43. > :59:45.way. It is not desirable to have legislation go through in all stages

:59:46. > :59:49.in one day, it is more desirable than the collapse of the assembly

:59:50. > :59:56.due to not having a final btdget, and have to come back here. He makes

:59:57. > :59:59.a very fair point, we have to get a move on with implementation, we do

:00:00. > :00:04.not want the fresh start agreement to suffer the same agreement as a

:00:05. > :00:09.Stormont House Agreement were implementation became toward at a

:00:10. > :00:13.red lit civilly or the Mac darly stages. We must do all we c`n to

:00:14. > :00:21.move ahead with implementathon. Incident of fact that the government

:00:22. > :00:26.made an massive climb-down over this and... Against the nasty welfare

:00:27. > :00:34.reforms, and shouldn't the government now be funded in a system

:00:35. > :00:37.in the mainland in the same way that it will fund them through h`lf 1

:00:38. > :00:44.billion bond that they have given Northern Ireland in the samd way you

:00:45. > :00:52.getting half a million bond from the government in new Belfast and.. I

:00:53. > :00:56.think I would describe the cross party negotiations as a sensible

:00:57. > :01:00.compromise, the welfare reforms that we have introduced in Great Britain,

:01:01. > :01:03.which we think is a better system will be implemented in Northern

:01:04. > :01:09.Ireland but from there own resources. The Northern Ireland

:01:10. > :01:15.Executive have made the reasonable and... To go back to the prdvious

:01:16. > :01:18.remarks, the cost of the colputer system would be massive and budgets

:01:19. > :01:24.for other departments would have to be cut very significantly to pay for

:01:25. > :01:29.a more extensive welfare system within an evitable impact on front

:01:30. > :01:32.line services and capital standing for crucial infrastructure such as

:01:33. > :01:36.road improvements, almost all of which would probably be swallowed up

:01:37. > :01:39.by the need to build a new computer system. In that scenario wotld

:01:40. > :01:44.really undermine the credibhlity of the devolved institutions, but

:01:45. > :01:47.almost more importantly, it would do irreparable damage to the political

:01:48. > :01:53.relationships which are essdntial to making power-sharing devolution work

:01:54. > :01:58.in practice. Last December hn the Stormont House Agreement, p`rt wider

:01:59. > :02:01.package of ledgers, the Northern Ireland parties agree to take

:02:02. > :02:06.forward welfare reform and by March this year it is well-known that

:02:07. > :02:10.progress began to flounder when the two nationalist parties withdrew

:02:11. > :02:13.their support for the assembly legislation on welfare reform. On

:02:14. > :02:18.the 26th of May, the legisl`tion passed its final stage with the

:02:19. > :02:22.backing of three of the fivd main parties, then in the executhve. It

:02:23. > :02:26.was blocked by the other two parties using a petition of concern, meaning

:02:27. > :02:32.that the legislation did not have the net to necessary cross community

:02:33. > :02:37.support. By June we were once again facing almost complete deadlock the

:02:38. > :02:39.executive didn't pass a budget based on the assumption that welf`re

:02:40. > :02:50.reform would ultimately be adopted... Northern Ireland House

:02:51. > :02:57.achieved a better deal here in terms of welfare pavements and cotld they

:02:58. > :03:02.have achieved it a year ago at parties produce opposition of

:03:03. > :03:05.concern and supported... Now we have people on the mainland complaining

:03:06. > :03:10.that we have a better deal, but that is because we did negotiate that and

:03:11. > :03:14.it could have been operational the year ago and it is Sinn Fein who

:03:15. > :03:18.have done that you turn herd and no one else? I think he is right to say

:03:19. > :03:23.that this arrangement could've been reached sometime ago. I think the

:03:24. > :03:27.important thing is that we have got to a sensible compromise terms of

:03:28. > :03:32.this being a good deal for Northern Ireland, I agree that the combined

:03:33. > :03:36.financial package of 2 billhon on the Stormont House Agreement and a

:03:37. > :03:42.further approximately have ` billion or so, related to this agredment,

:03:43. > :03:46.will be a good deal for Northern Ireland, but they are aimed

:03:47. > :03:52.specifically at those challdnges which are unique to Northern Ireland

:03:53. > :03:59.such as dealing with Pyrah lilitary related crimes and terrorist threat.

:04:00. > :04:05.I am most grateful to the secretary, I wonder could the

:04:06. > :04:10.Secretary of State just a Mhna house... What exactly persu`ded Sinn

:04:11. > :04:17.Fein after all of this time after all of these weeks of arguing, and

:04:18. > :04:23.opposing the welfare reform, what cause them to do the deal l`st week,

:04:24. > :04:30.what was the turning point? I'm afraid the honourable lady... Order!

:04:31. > :04:33.We have secondary discussions to come so might be helpful if we can

:04:34. > :04:37.try to stick to this point before we move onto the next, Secretary of

:04:38. > :04:41.State. I promise to speed to the remainder of the remarks, she may

:04:42. > :04:45.wish to direct that to Sinn Fein, but at the heart of it I thhnk they,

:04:46. > :04:50.like the other parties in the executive wanted to make devolution

:04:51. > :04:53.work and they realised that without compromise on these welfare

:04:54. > :04:56.questions, the executive did not have a sustainable budget and that

:04:57. > :05:03.would mean pretty soon therd was no effective devolution at all. Last

:05:04. > :05:07.year we made it clear that hf the welfare issue was not resolved, we

:05:08. > :05:11.would have to legislate herd to deliver welfare reform in Northern

:05:12. > :05:15.Ireland, even without the consent of the assembly. We did acknowledge

:05:16. > :05:21.that was a last resort and we made it a key goal of the talks just

:05:22. > :05:27.getting under way. As the House is aware, they began on the 8th of

:05:28. > :05:31.September and eight concluddd last Tuesday, with eight new agrdement

:05:32. > :05:37.called fresh start, which h`s been endorsed by the Northern Irdland

:05:38. > :05:42.Executive. In the agreement, they made a commitment passing alleges

:05:43. > :05:47.that the consent motion askhng Westminster to legislate on its to

:05:48. > :05:55.be welfare reform and that was debated and passed last Wednesday

:05:56. > :05:59.with the majority of 7222. ,- 70-22. Because it was backed by

:06:00. > :06:05.their respective parties, and had the Nash and to necessary cross

:06:06. > :06:09.community support to succeed and therefore it represents the clearly

:06:10. > :06:11.expressed will of the Northdrn Ireland Assembly that we here in

:06:12. > :06:20.Westminster deliver this legislation. The assembly h`s moved

:06:21. > :06:24.quickly and decisively to m`ke it -- to deliver on its side of the fresh

:06:25. > :06:28.start agreement. It is the responsibility of the government to

:06:29. > :06:32.deliver on our side of that deal, and we need to remain the momentum

:06:33. > :06:35.in this house. We cannot have another stalled implementathon

:06:36. > :06:39.process of the kind that occurred earlier this year. As both sides of

:06:40. > :06:43.the House and knowledge in ly statement last week, if that were to

:06:44. > :06:49.happen, it is very likely that early assembly elections would result

:06:50. > :06:53.filed to followed by a risk of suspension. After all that has been

:06:54. > :06:58.achieved in Northern Ireland in the last two years, that would be a

:06:59. > :07:01.severe setback and take Avrhl years to reestablish devolution. So, I

:07:02. > :07:06.urge the House to support this motion and did build that they will

:07:07. > :07:10.be debating shortly. And thhs allocation of time motion, the

:07:11. > :07:14.government has agreed for shx hours on the floor of his house in

:07:15. > :07:18.consideration of what is a very short bill. I believe I will give us

:07:19. > :07:25.opportunity to look at all new amendments and clauses tabldd and

:07:26. > :07:31.with that in mind I... If Honorable members wish to press it to a vote I

:07:32. > :07:35.must ask my colleagues to oppose it. The motion as drafted reflects the

:07:36. > :07:40.long-standing practice of the House, expedited legislation for

:07:41. > :07:45.Northern Ireland is by no mdans unusual. Lost Northern Irel`nd bill

:07:46. > :07:49.was very unusual in that it did not involve an expedited timetable. And

:07:50. > :07:54.withdrawing the motion, the amendment to the motion on time

:07:55. > :07:58.would allow us more time for debate on crucial amendments and ndw

:07:59. > :08:03.clauses as the debate continues this evening. I would also highlhght that

:08:04. > :08:08.the six hours of today's debate is just one part of a much longer

:08:09. > :08:12.process. At the bill passes and will be followed by debate in both houses

:08:13. > :08:16.to improve the ordering counsel to be made under the powers contained

:08:17. > :08:21.in the bill. It is also the case that the welfare legislation that

:08:22. > :08:24.will enable, that it will enable us to introduce, has been conshdered in

:08:25. > :08:28.depth in the context of its application in Great Britain and

:08:29. > :08:32.debated in this house on many occasions. The order published

:08:33. > :08:36.alongside the bill will reflect good driver legislation for Northern

:08:37. > :08:39.Ireland which was debated at very great length in the assemblx,

:08:40. > :08:44.through as I said earlier, no less than six stages of stroke to

:08:45. > :08:51.scrutiny, stretching over three years plus the recent debatd on the

:08:52. > :08:55.LCM. These measures have bedn very carefully... And being a major focus

:08:56. > :09:00.of being two sets of cross party talks lasting for a total of 21

:09:01. > :09:04.weeks this year and last. Note of the contents will come as a

:09:05. > :09:10.surprise, it is a crucial p`rt of an agreement that is vital to the

:09:11. > :09:14.stability and survival of the ball government in Northern Irel`nd and

:09:15. > :09:17.offers a fresh start in Northern Ireland and it is vital that we

:09:18. > :09:21.implemented as a matter of trgency. That is why am asking the House to

:09:22. > :09:26.adopt this emergency procedtre today and I commend this motion to the

:09:27. > :09:35.House. The questions on the order paper. Thank you very much Lr Deputy

:09:36. > :09:48.Speaker and I am glad that we move this amendment to the timet`ble The

:09:49. > :09:54.Secretary of State has tried to explain the circumstances in which

:09:55. > :09:58.we face this programme and lotion. This amendment does not acttally

:09:59. > :10:01.offer time that will be takdn by this house today in relation to the

:10:02. > :10:06.programme motion, I wish th`t would, we would have liked to have

:10:07. > :10:10.more time, just as our colldagues in this assembly when a debate arose

:10:11. > :10:18.there last week wanted to t`ke more time stopping not just membdrs of

:10:19. > :10:26.the as DMP, but other party, so the original boat in the assembly, was

:10:27. > :10:31.up to 33 of whether this... To give the parties of the assembly time to

:10:32. > :10:40.digest it. That would have been meant that the legislation that the

:10:41. > :10:47.lit -- that the legislation would come here following out. Mr Deputy

:10:48. > :10:51.Speaker, it does not follow standard practice, or in so far as the Brett

:10:52. > :10:57.to provisions of paragraph six of the timetable motion are concerned.

:10:58. > :11:01.What is clear under paragraph six is that at the conclusion of the

:11:02. > :11:07.committee stage, no amendment or New Clause table will be made other than

:11:08. > :11:12.the government will be put to a division so the rights of this house

:11:13. > :11:20.to properly vote on and deb`te on an and are completely... As it stands.

:11:21. > :11:24.We actually had the Secretary of State as she was concluding her

:11:25. > :11:27.remarks that at the timetable amendment was withdrawn, it would

:11:28. > :11:34.allow more time for debate on crucial amendments and new clauses.

:11:35. > :11:39.The government are making stre that with only two hours for comlittee

:11:40. > :11:43.stage, and reading, it is not going to be very significant time for

:11:44. > :11:47.debating any amendments to new clauses and the insureds in

:11:48. > :11:51.paragraph six, that no New Clause could be voted upon in no alendment

:11:52. > :11:58.under the government amendmdnt to be voted upon. And this is a vdry

:11:59. > :12:08.unusual procedure. Members of this house should not tolerate at risk of

:12:09. > :12:15.something that will regret. Can use a set that the legislative put

:12:16. > :12:20.legislation back to this hotse for this house to pass on the h`lf of

:12:21. > :12:25.the Northern Ireland Assembly. Is he saying that he would prefer this

:12:26. > :12:31.house to override the wishes of the people who are elected in Northern

:12:32. > :12:34.Ireland, because that is wh`t his argument was. That isn't not what my

:12:35. > :12:42.argument amounts to, if the assembly are saying by the legislative

:12:43. > :12:46.consent motion that the Sinn Fein and DUP put through that thhs

:12:47. > :12:49.legislation should come herd, we should do our legislative btsiness

:12:50. > :12:52.in proper order. But the Honorable member is suggesting that there

:12:53. > :12:57.should not be any debate at all We are lucky that we even got the right

:12:58. > :13:02.to table amendments following up Honorable member's argument. Let us

:13:03. > :13:06.look at what the actual leghslative consent motion said because other

:13:07. > :13:12.members of other parties might like to know what they are being asked to

:13:13. > :13:21.support. The legislative consent motion... This assembly consents to

:13:22. > :13:25.be Northern Ireland reform bill be taken forward by the Westminster

:13:26. > :13:31.Parliament, that is this bill here today, approves the welfare clauses

:13:32. > :13:36.as initially produced at Westminster. Many of us in this

:13:37. > :13:41.house did not approve those clauses. In a number of parties voted against

:13:42. > :13:46.aspects of the welfare reform and work. The idea that we are now on

:13:47. > :13:53.but with this legislative consent motion have to turn to oursdlves and

:13:54. > :13:59.members of the Labour Party, SNP, and others at we may have to say oh

:14:00. > :14:05.no, we opposed it when it w`s in here but now we are now no longer of

:14:06. > :14:10.opposing it. We have a position of improving the welfare clausds as

:14:11. > :14:17.initially produced in Westmhnster. My position on those clauses has not

:14:18. > :14:22.changed changed. I would be very surprised if it changed in other

:14:23. > :14:30.members of the party as well. The legislative consent motion goes on

:14:31. > :14:34.to approve the... And executives proposals from the agreement

:14:35. > :14:41.announced on the 17th of November, 2015. People need to take c`re of

:14:42. > :14:45.what is the legislative... @nd they are being asked to contradict their

:14:46. > :14:50.position in relation to the welfare reform and work bill as initially

:14:51. > :14:56.produced here. Some of us are trying to use the committee stage to table

:14:57. > :15:02.do amendments which would bd relevant to the bill before us

:15:03. > :15:05.today, and the Secretary of State again try to confuse things by

:15:06. > :15:10.referring to the amount of scrutiny that went into the bill that has

:15:11. > :15:17.gone through, that was before the assembly and has largely bedn

:15:18. > :15:22.transposed as the draft orddr in Council... What we are being asked

:15:23. > :15:25.to consider today is not th`t drop today but we are being asked to

:15:26. > :15:34.consider the Northern Ireland welfare reform bill. All 58 lines of

:15:35. > :15:41.it, Mr Deputy Speaker. We h`ve 37 lines of a timetable motion. We not

:15:42. > :15:46.through the timetable motion so we do not get the right of being able

:15:47. > :15:52.to seriously table amendments and put them to add division, and if she

:15:53. > :15:55.really meant what she said `bout time for debate on crucial

:15:56. > :16:00.amendments and clauses, she would not be resisting this amendlent two

:16:01. > :16:05.would be taking the amendment so that paragraph six would be amended,

:16:06. > :16:11.so that the chair could put other matters to the bill if that is what

:16:12. > :16:18.members of the House so wish. It is a good parliamentary procedtres Is

:16:19. > :16:22.he saying that he would be happy for it to continue as it was, p`ying

:16:23. > :16:27.massive fines back to the government, surely that is not his

:16:28. > :16:31.argument? Mr Deputy Speaker, I am not sure how far you're takhng some

:16:32. > :16:38.of these arguments as relathng to some of the managers of substance.

:16:39. > :16:42.She went long on those points as did other people, let's be very clear.

:16:43. > :16:45.The Secretary of State, a couple of different arguments have bedn used

:16:46. > :16:50.to the way everybody should pass this through today under urgency.

:16:51. > :16:55.One has been, if we do not get this through and scramble it through

:16:56. > :17:02.fast, the institutions are hn danger of collapse. But speak Hillher, who

:17:03. > :17:09.was bringing the institutions to the brink of collapse. The very people

:17:10. > :17:13.who are being celebrated as heroes, that as DOB never once in any of

:17:14. > :17:17.these issues in the past nulber of years has used the words crhsis or

:17:18. > :17:23.threatened the existence of the institution. We have never said that

:17:24. > :17:26.we would make this make or break issues and the institutions would

:17:27. > :17:33.crash it we did not get our way the Sinn Fein and the DUP have sat at

:17:34. > :17:40.the different times over thd past couple of years... We have `dhered

:17:41. > :17:46.to our position in relation to welfare reform without at any stage

:17:47. > :17:52.burning the institution. So the position of Sinn Fein and DTP..

:17:53. > :17:59.Because who of can or in thd institutions but those two parties,

:18:00. > :18:09.the second argument in relation to the... Is the money. It is the money

:18:10. > :18:15.argument. Let's remember ag`in, the money argument is because the

:18:16. > :18:19.Treasury chose to respond to the assembly's failure to pass the

:18:20. > :18:25.legislation by imposing what it once said fines, penalties under the DUP

:18:26. > :18:29.finance ministers use those words as well. Then we were told that we

:18:30. > :18:34.could not call them fines or penalties, they are saving. It was a

:18:35. > :18:40.Treasury tactic that that unless you pass this legislation, this bill

:18:41. > :18:50.through the assembly on the same terms that we had immense mhnster,

:18:51. > :18:56.we will find... We have to go into these debates, this is quitd right

:18:57. > :19:01.moving the amendment to allocation of time and we are in danger of

:19:02. > :19:07.opening up all of the debatd and I would like to save some deb`te for

:19:08. > :19:14.the next part. I am hardly `nswering points that Secretary of St`te made

:19:15. > :19:17.points on. The vines and prdssure puts under the budget, it w`s the

:19:18. > :19:21.Treasury who chose to put ehght budget stress and hope that the

:19:22. > :19:25.stress would induce the assdmbly to pass the legislation and it became a

:19:26. > :19:28.budget crisis and it in turn contributed to the political crisis

:19:29. > :19:38.which the Secretary of Statd says will be resolved by this bill. I

:19:39. > :19:41.will not stray into the are`s in which we are seeking to amend the

:19:42. > :19:43.bill today with the amendments on the table for later today, hopefully

:19:44. > :19:52.we can discuss those at comlittee page. I want to make the pohnt that

:19:53. > :19:56.members of this house should not be under the illusion that thex have to

:19:57. > :19:59.adopt a procedure where a thmetable motion in relation to this bill that

:20:00. > :20:05.they would not adopt for anxbody else, but that it is safe and OK to

:20:06. > :20:09.do so because it is in the name of taking forward the peace process or

:20:10. > :20:17.the fresh start agreement. There are parties who support parts of the

:20:18. > :20:26.fresh start of the agreement, and don't endorse other parts. Northern

:20:27. > :20:28.Ireland shouldn't say that they have determined their own position on

:20:29. > :20:37.welfare reform under the current bill is going through Westmhnster,

:20:38. > :20:41.the welfare reform and work bill,... Progress and stability in

:20:42. > :20:44.Northern Ireland can easily be supported in the context of this

:20:45. > :20:50.house doing its due procedures and it is not... Almost without

:20:51. > :20:55.President provision that at the committee stage nothing othdr than

:20:56. > :21:02.clauses and government of the to amendments can be voted on, it is

:21:03. > :21:06.wrong that we are being muzzled It is all courtesy of Sinn Fein, to

:21:07. > :21:11.pervade and make sure that we cannot table amendments that capture some

:21:12. > :21:17.of the amendments that we t`bled when the assembly bill came forward

:21:18. > :21:21.earlier this year. There were rejected by a petition of concern

:21:22. > :21:28.tabled by the DUP and rejected by the vote of Sinn Fein and they voted

:21:29. > :21:33.down as DLP amendments the `ssembly bill. They voted down amendlents

:21:34. > :21:36.that were in this same spirht that the Conservatives have voted down in

:21:37. > :21:42.this house to the original welfare reform bill. Bid DUP voted down

:21:43. > :21:46.amendments of the addition of concern against amendments that were

:21:47. > :21:55.in the spirit of amendments that they had supported in the original

:21:56. > :22:01.legislation. What we need not do in this house, as any of us as parties

:22:02. > :22:05.abandon our own positions. We should be able to take amendments hn his

:22:06. > :22:11.house and vote on those amendments. The reason why the government are in

:22:12. > :22:15.a compact with the Sinn Fein and DUP to not be voted on is because they

:22:16. > :22:19.do not want the embarrassment on the Tories on having to bow down the

:22:20. > :22:22.same amendments that Sinn Fdin had to vote down earlier this ydar

:22:23. > :22:29.because the picture of the Sinn Fein, Tori, DUP access would show

:22:30. > :22:35.who voted down which amendmdnt consistently. The Tories of voted

:22:36. > :22:38.them down originally, then Sinn Fein buttoned-down, then Tories voted

:22:39. > :22:42.them down again and it is to avoid that picture. That is why wd have

:22:43. > :22:44.this kangaroo parliamentary procedure that has been you. That is

:22:45. > :22:47.why we have this kangaroo parliamentary procedure that has

:22:48. > :22:50.been used up the Sinn Fein hs a party in the past and they supported

:22:51. > :22:52.kangaroo court and now we h`ve a kangaroo parliamentary procddure and

:22:53. > :22:57.rushed through the assembly the other day and that is the assembly

:22:58. > :23:00.legislative consent motion. Not only are measures but there are on the

:23:01. > :23:05.timetable motion here but the right of tabling amendments to be voted on

:23:06. > :23:09.are being suppressed by this programme motion. Members should

:23:10. > :23:13.resist that by supporting the amendment, the amendment to the

:23:14. > :23:19.programme motion, if passed, will not cost any time or at any delay.

:23:20. > :23:24.It does not relate to any of the concerns that the Secretary of State

:23:25. > :23:28.raise. The programme motion could be passed and there will be no jeopardy

:23:29. > :23:29.to the timetable that the Sdcretary of State has tried to impress upon

:23:30. > :23:46.the House. The question is that the amdndment

:23:47. > :23:56.be made. Thank you. I know that there is an attempt by the SDLP and

:23:57. > :24:03.by others to try and derail what has been agreed bid -- agreed bx parties

:24:04. > :24:11.in the fresh start document. The motion which we have before us today

:24:12. > :24:14.is an attempt to do that and also shows the kind of inconsistdncies

:24:15. > :24:19.which have existed since thhs impasse was reached and the Northern

:24:20. > :24:23.Ireland Assembly. We support the programme motion today becatse we

:24:24. > :24:27.want these issues dealt with the. Dealt with quickly. We want dealt

:24:28. > :24:35.with for three reasons. The first reason is that despite what has been

:24:36. > :24:42.said by the member... There is an urgency in terms of the fin`ncial

:24:43. > :24:47.consequences, which DeLay h`s for Northern Ireland, and it's not just

:24:48. > :24:53.a hemorrhaging of money. To the Treasury, on a daily basis. Because

:24:54. > :24:57.of the differences there ard embedded for race Ireland, `nd

:24:58. > :25:03.benefit rates and other parts of the UK. I have to say that it is not

:25:04. > :25:10.unfair the Treasury even to be asking for this money. The parity

:25:11. > :25:16.principle was always based when there were changes and welf`re and

:25:17. > :25:22.benefits and the rest of thd United Kingdom, although it had bedn

:25:23. > :25:25.defiled in Northern Ireland, provided Northern Ireland rdplicated

:25:26. > :25:29.and reflected the changes that occurred in the rest of the United

:25:30. > :25:34.Kingdom, the payments of ballots were made in full by the Trdasury.

:25:35. > :25:40.Not as part of the block gr`nt, but as part of the annual expenditure.

:25:41. > :25:46.But it was always clear that if Northern Ireland decided it wanted

:25:47. > :25:50.the luxury of having a diffdrent system, and the Secretary of State

:25:51. > :26:00.has indicated, and the diffdrence had to be paid. When the SDLP and

:26:01. > :26:05.others blocked welfare reform changes in Northern Ireland, they do

:26:06. > :26:09.what the penalty was stopping in the penalty was being paid todax. And

:26:10. > :26:13.will be paid tomorrow and every day that there is delayed, and that has

:26:14. > :26:19.impacted on the amount of money for dealing with hospitals, schools

:26:20. > :26:22.roles and all of the press. There is another problem that has arhsen as a

:26:23. > :26:27.result of that. Is not just the money was his hemorrhaging to the

:26:28. > :26:31.Treasury, and is also the f`ct that it is has now been impasse hn the

:26:32. > :26:36.rest of the budget. And so, money which should've been allocated as a

:26:37. > :26:40.result of monetary, but just with cinnamon set, when I look to be said

:26:41. > :26:46.and we were heading for a btdget and overspent. Which would have brought

:26:47. > :26:49.the pollution to a halt, because you can have devolution if you have no

:26:50. > :26:51.money to pay for the polluthon Black Hawk, because you can have

:26:52. > :26:55.devolution if you have no money to pay for departments. And expenses

:26:56. > :26:58.which department incurred. Does he also said that the sooner wd get

:26:59. > :27:01.this done, the sooner we wotld allocation back to the Treasury to

:27:02. > :27:06.proclaim -- repay some of those payments? I don't think a chance of

:27:07. > :27:14.reclaiming some of those. There is unfortunately. That is the first

:27:15. > :27:19.reason. This issue needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency today

:27:20. > :27:25.and we support the government and having the limit. The second one is

:27:26. > :27:33.that we have already had thd debate on this in Northern Ireland. And

:27:34. > :27:41.eight, I had lessened to thd member from Belfast from the party of about

:27:42. > :27:51.60 hours in the Northern Irdland Assembly. Why he went through all

:27:52. > :27:55.his opposition to give us f`ncy ideas on how we can avoid h`ving to

:27:56. > :28:07.implement welfare reform in Northern Ireland. Other members and `ll that

:28:08. > :28:10.is building the best, other members are going icon on the same hssue

:28:11. > :28:19.stopping what I want to be `ble to do is get everybody into thd death

:28:20. > :28:22.of the bill. -- that the relevance -- relevance is this stopping would

:28:23. > :28:32.donate excess of debate herd in this chamber. Without there has been a in

:28:33. > :28:36.Northern Ireland. Here is the irony. Only last week, the B SDLP was

:28:37. > :28:42.arguing that there should not be a legislative consent motion because

:28:43. > :28:49.this was something that ought to be decided in Northern Ireland. Not at

:28:50. > :28:55.the bid had been passed it, the bill has agreed by the parties in

:28:56. > :28:58.Northern Ireland, the SDLP `re wanting members of the chamber to

:28:59. > :29:12.change it. They cannot have it both ways. They can't argue one time that

:29:13. > :29:17.they don't want anybody elsd to have the sticky fingers on welfare

:29:18. > :29:21.reform, and thereby becomes here, they argued that the House of

:29:22. > :29:25.Commons should decide and override the wishes of the Northern Hreland

:29:26. > :29:29.Assembly. For that reason, we support the government having a

:29:30. > :29:33.programme motion which quickly deals with this and indeed does not allow

:29:34. > :29:42.amendments from the floor of the House to change the bill. Whll want

:29:43. > :29:45.the will of the assembly to be reflected. The secretary of state

:29:46. > :29:49.knows what the assembly is hn the bill has come here, reflecthng the

:29:50. > :29:59.views of the majority of people in the assembly, and was to get it done

:30:00. > :30:04.with quickly tonight. Our prize to support the amendment in thd name of

:30:05. > :30:11.my own name, and that of thd Honorable members for foil hn South

:30:12. > :30:18.Belfast. Mr Deputy Speaker, in addressing this particular `mendment

:30:19. > :30:25.I feel that this instrument that has been used by the government under

:30:26. > :30:30.subsection six for the programme motion, subsection C, the qtestion

:30:31. > :30:39.in any amendment moved a motion made by a minister the crown. To me, this

:30:40. > :30:42.is a serious undermining of the principle of democracy. And

:30:43. > :30:49.undermining the principle of parliamentary democracy and those of

:30:50. > :30:56.the questions people and of the Cabinet of the executive and the

:30:57. > :31:03.role of Parliament. And in proposing this, the government is seeking to

:31:04. > :31:08.subjugate the role of Parli`ment and making decisions. As my Honorable

:31:09. > :31:17.friend has stated, this instrument has been used incredibly rarely And

:31:18. > :31:23.serious questions must be asked as why the government to use it on this

:31:24. > :31:31.occasion. Was secret deals took place between the Prime Minhster and

:31:32. > :31:39.the first Deputy Minister. @t their meeting on the 6th of November.

:31:40. > :31:44.Perhaps it is not unsurprishng given the rushed nature of this and if we

:31:45. > :31:49.cast our minds back to Wedndsday of last week in the Northern Ireland

:31:50. > :31:57.Assembly, when ever the leghslative consent motion was discussed, the

:31:58. > :32:03.draft bill that we consider tonight under second rating and unddr all of

:32:04. > :32:07.the stages, and the actual order of counsel was published during that

:32:08. > :32:17.debate, so therefore members right across the assembly had little time

:32:18. > :32:22.to consider that. Could she explain to me why it given a given `gain and

:32:23. > :32:27.single opportunity to put the ball into Sinn Fein for their mishandling

:32:28. > :32:37.of this, he turned us on thd government and everyone elsd? I

:32:38. > :32:46.would like to remind the Honorable member that this is a debatd on the

:32:47. > :32:51.programme motion. And this `ction has been taken by the government

:32:52. > :33:08.with the acquiescence of thd DUP and Sinn Fein. The Lady asked why this

:33:09. > :33:12.procedure was being used. The quick and honest truth is that thhs

:33:13. > :33:18.procedure is being used to get this measure through to help Northern

:33:19. > :33:30.Ireland, to help the assembly, and I can see why there is a problem with

:33:31. > :33:36.that. -- I can't. We are saxing that this of an abuse of parliamdntary

:33:37. > :33:41.democracy and an abuse of this house an abuse of Parliament and relation

:33:42. > :33:46.of Parliament and the Cabindt and should that happen. Because there'll

:33:47. > :33:55.be no diminution of time for the debate on other protective `spects

:33:56. > :34:00.or proceeding. For us, it is a matter of procedural priority. And a

:34:01. > :34:05.matter of procedural propridty. For the accountability of this house

:34:06. > :34:11.than any liberal democracy. That is the issue of accountability, the

:34:12. > :34:18.issue of the role of Parlialent and Cabinet. The should not sink to

:34:19. > :34:23.subjugate Parliament in this issue stopping let me continue thhs

:34:24. > :34:28.point. We believe that therd is serious implications for devolution

:34:29. > :34:35.in Northern Ireland. If that's a difficult and a dangerous precedent

:34:36. > :34:42.for other devolved instituthons in Britain along with Northern Ireland.

:34:43. > :34:49.That the member recall that last week, and a flirt -- flurry of

:34:50. > :34:54.Frederick our own spokesman on this issue in the assembly said how dare

:34:55. > :35:00.anybody take this issue which will be half off for so long to have the

:35:01. > :35:04.devolved to the House of Colmons, so that someone outside of this

:35:05. > :35:07.jurisdiction can actually m`ke decisions about what happens in

:35:08. > :35:10.Northern Ireland? Issued now saying that he was wrong and she w`s just

:35:11. > :35:22.have to make those decisions over and above the Northern Irel`nd

:35:23. > :35:31.Assembly? I think that the lember is turned to direct me down a certain

:35:32. > :35:35.path. I would suggest to thd member that with a particular debate

:35:36. > :35:42.measures on the legislative consent motion and the assembly. Tonight we

:35:43. > :35:50.are debating a particular alendment and the name of the SDLP melbers to

:35:51. > :35:57.the actual programme motion, which the states government progr`mme

:35:58. > :36:01.motion the question of any `mendment moved or motion can only be made by

:36:02. > :36:11.a minister. So that means that we can debate our amendments, but we

:36:12. > :36:17.cannot move them. Is that not unquestioned -- and questionably

:36:18. > :36:26.Democratic in this particul`r house? Therefore, I beg to second `nd to

:36:27. > :36:36.support the amendment and are named. -- in RNA. The motion I've drafted

:36:37. > :36:39.is nine and usual and that hs a broadly based consensus on the need

:36:40. > :36:45.to progress with this legislation quickly. Honorable members will be

:36:46. > :36:48.aware of the selection and H'm sure they'll be keen to debate everything

:36:49. > :36:55.we can and the hours ahead. I welcome the opportunity to debate

:36:56. > :36:59.Honorable members on amendmdnts at committee stage and I'm surd he will

:37:00. > :37:04.be able to have sufficient time to put on record these points `s he so

:37:05. > :37:12.wishes. Yes I consider what time during the discussion to make a

:37:13. > :37:21.number of useful points. I still do wish to move amendment. The question

:37:22. > :37:31.is that the blog amendment be made, of those opinions say ayes. On the

:37:32. > :39:31.contrary, no. Clarity lobby -- cleared the lobby.

:39:32. > :45:36.The question is that the amdndment be bad. -- made.

:45:37. > :49:08.Order! Order! The ayes to the right, seven. The Nos! To the left,

:49:09. > :49:18.276. The ayes to the right, seven. The noes to the left, two under 76.

:49:19. > :49:29.The noes Cavett, noes haven't. - the noes have it. The questhon is on

:49:30. > :49:45.the order paper,. On the contrary, no. The ayes have it!. Cannot read

:49:46. > :49:54.the orders of the day. I called Minister Wallace. A vegetable that

:49:55. > :50:01.the bill now be read a second time. Welfare is a default issue hn

:50:02. > :50:05.Northern Ireland and over the time principle has the welfare policy is

:50:06. > :50:09.administration and Northern Ireland maintained broad parity with that

:50:10. > :50:11.and place of the rest of Grdat Britain. This parity principle has

:50:12. > :50:17.served Northern Ireland will. Immense benefit... Of the s`me race

:50:18. > :50:21.or benefits at those in the rest of the UK. The UK Government h`s been

:50:22. > :50:26.clear in his position that we will not find a more generous welfare

:50:27. > :50:30.system in Northern Ireland `nd elsewhere in the United Kingdom

:50:31. > :50:34.Over the last three years, the assembly have been able to hmplement

:50:35. > :50:38.welfare reform legislation, mirroring that of the government to

:50:39. > :50:44.government 12 West four Reform Act. In the rest of the UK, the... Was

:50:45. > :50:48.introduced in October 2012, but became stalled at committee stage in

:50:49. > :50:51.February of the following ydar. Following a position of concern the

:50:52. > :50:58.build-out of final states in May of this year. The Secretary of State

:50:59. > :51:02.has outlined him a patient of this failure to maintain parity hn the

:51:03. > :51:06.bearish bets that have Protdstant very are today, with mass Mr Havant

:51:07. > :51:10.to work Wrigley for perform in Northern Ireland. Because wdlfare

:51:11. > :51:12.has transferred, Clause one provide the government the government the

:51:13. > :51:20.power to legislate for welf`re in Northern Ireland. What he lhked a

:51:21. > :51:31.spin on this petition of concern. That an abuse of the parlialentary

:51:32. > :51:37.process. The use of a matter for the parties and the Northern Irdland

:51:38. > :51:39.Assembly. All I would urge hs that parties in Northern Ireland

:51:40. > :51:45.recognise that the petition of concern is related to timidhty

:51:46. > :51:58.concern and not to be used for passing by Caravan legislathon. The

:51:59. > :52:03.agenda that government to flexibility to the welfare system.

:52:04. > :52:06.One the 2012 reform measure was introduced, Northern Ireland

:52:07. > :52:10.Department of social development negotiated the stability with the

:52:11. > :52:13.Department for Work and Pensions. These included a slightly dhfferent

:52:14. > :52:18.section was and the ability for welfare payments to be made to

:52:19. > :52:23.client on a fortnight, rathdr than on a monthly basis. As part of

:52:24. > :52:26.commitments made in the last year to house agreement, the parties agreed

:52:27. > :52:30.a break of so-called top of measures. Designed to compensate

:52:31. > :52:35.claimants of losing out as ` result of the reform. The assembly bill

:52:36. > :52:38.reform bill, the one that fdll in May of this year it was amended to

:52:39. > :52:42.reflect the various disabilhties and top of measures. And providhng a

:52:43. > :52:46.broad power, the bill allows the government to implement Northern

:52:47. > :52:50.Ireland disabilities and top of This reinforces the fact th`t the

:52:51. > :52:55.government intent is not to impose the GP welfare system on Northern

:52:56. > :52:59.Ireland. Instead, we are proposing to use the plan provided by the bill

:53:00. > :53:04.to legislate to the Northern Ireland talent welfare system agreed by the

:53:05. > :53:09.Northern Ireland parties. The order and Constable followed this bill had

:53:10. > :53:12.passed and will make this clear The order is largely on the reform bill

:53:13. > :53:16.back to at its final stage hn May. In May. It therefore includds the

:53:17. > :53:24.reforms made in Great Britahn by the 2012 wealth will -- well thdre

:53:25. > :53:28.Reform Act. And Department for Work and Pensions, the members agreed to

:53:29. > :53:31.the passion of the assembly Welfare Reform Bill, and provisions that

:53:32. > :53:36.allow for Northern Ireland Dxecutive funded top of. The second rdading of

:53:37. > :53:40.raw power in is built into `n enables the government to ilplement

:53:41. > :53:43.other potential web for war forms, such as those contained in to

:53:44. > :53:51.welfare reform and board bill currently being considered by the

:53:52. > :53:57.Lord. ... Onto the inabilitx to implement last major welfard reform.

:53:58. > :53:59.It is important that at first I agreement by the project is given

:54:00. > :54:05.time and space to grow in strengthen. Put essentially

:54:06. > :54:10.necessarily to consider the reforms could jeopardise its new fotnded

:54:11. > :54:12.consensus in Northern Ireland. It is necessary for the government to

:54:13. > :54:20.legislate the implementation of these measures. Is important to

:54:21. > :54:25.stress. I think he is explahning the history behind this and not a very

:54:26. > :54:29.pragmatically why the government behaves like it does. Any good

:54:30. > :54:33.indication whether he believes it is desirable in the medium-terl, that

:54:34. > :54:38.the welfare arrangements for another island should mirror that for the

:54:39. > :54:40.rest of the UK and what did he feels that this bill that he is pttting

:54:41. > :54:47.into place today is one that will hold sway in the long-term?

:54:48. > :54:54.Is of course desirable that the welfare package and policy this

:54:55. > :54:57.government has come up with over the last few years if implementdd across

:54:58. > :55:02.the United Kingdom. We think it is a good system in the reform and well

:55:03. > :55:04.needed reform but we also accept within the parameters of thd

:55:05. > :55:08.devolved settlement that thd devolved institutions have the

:55:09. > :55:11.ability to top up or be flexible in that in order to deliver. What will

:55:12. > :55:15.be interesting to see the long-term is which delivers the best results

:55:16. > :55:19.for the people of those countries and whether our welfare reforms

:55:20. > :55:30.produce a better outcome th`n once that Whedbee are adept adopted

:55:31. > :55:36.elsewhere. I think the Minister for giving way. Will he stay very

:55:37. > :55:40.clearly there has been no change to party of flexibilities Northern

:55:41. > :55:43.Ireland has achieved and thdre are a dozen area positive possibilities

:55:44. > :55:45.and about 105,000 hard-workhng low-paid families in Northern

:55:46. > :55:52.Ireland that will benefit as a result of the huge effort that has

:55:53. > :55:54.been put into this bill. It is absolutely the case that those that

:55:55. > :56:00.believe applicability is absolutely the case that those plugs abilities

:56:01. > :56:02.may they may also be funded by Northern Ireland from the Northern

:56:03. > :56:09.Ireland block Grant. BUK government will not find on top of existing UK

:56:10. > :56:12.roll-out has been clearly sdt up by my right honourable friend `nd I

:56:13. > :56:16.think that it's important to get the message across. It is coming out of

:56:17. > :56:21.the Northern Ireland block hn order to push forward with those

:56:22. > :56:24.flexibilities. Whenever thex minister for social developlent

:56:25. > :56:28.introduced this into be a s`dly at the end of last week he would on

:56:29. > :56:32.record that in terms of the financial penalties and the

:56:33. > :56:35.executive will be able to rdclaim some of those penalties which the

:56:36. > :56:42.Treasury has already taken from the block grant is that the casd? The

:56:43. > :56:45.honourable member is right `nd certainly in the negotiations of

:56:46. > :56:49.some of the penalties do or not the woman can be welfare legisl`tion

:56:50. > :56:54.will be returned to Northern Ireland. That amount and ex`ct

:56:55. > :56:58.timing of when it would start to be rebated back I am happy to write to

:56:59. > :57:05.them to make that clear and set out the envisaged the man's. It is

:57:06. > :57:08.important to stress the important considerations. One at that best

:57:09. > :57:12.love does not affect legisl`tive competence of the Northern Hreland

:57:13. > :57:16.Assembly. In other words if he SMB can't agree to do so can continue to

:57:17. > :57:19.pass welfare legislation. The bill therefore creates a situation in

:57:20. > :57:23.which welfare is both devolved meeting BS and we can legislate for

:57:24. > :57:27.it and effectively reserved meeting the government cannot legislate for

:57:28. > :57:31.it as well. This situation lay be unusual but it is not withott

:57:32. > :57:37.precedent. Certainly when it comes to Northern Ireland. For ex`mple

:57:38. > :57:40.there is a similar concurrent incident over the flying of flags in

:57:41. > :57:44.Northern Ireland. Secondly, the legislative approach outlindd in

:57:45. > :57:48.this bill have arisen at repuest of the Northern Ireland parties. Is in

:57:49. > :57:53.the last week granted its content by an overwhelming majority of 70- 2 to

:57:54. > :58:00.dispel. This concern also attached to this bill and if the welfare

:58:01. > :58:03.clauses of the welfare reform and work well as initially introduced

:58:04. > :58:06.into Westminster. Thirdly I can assure the health of the UK

:58:07. > :58:11.government has no intention or desire to legislate on an ongoing

:58:12. > :58:14.basis for welfare in Northern Ireland. Welfare is properlx

:58:15. > :58:17.devolved in Northern Ireland and will remain so. This is why Clause

:58:18. > :58:24.three time limits the power so that in order cannot be made aftdr the

:58:25. > :58:27.31st of December 2016. As already noted, Mr deputies began an order in

:58:28. > :58:31.Council will follow this bill. The order will make provision for

:58:32. > :58:34.welfare reform in Northern Hreland equivalent or 2012 welfare reform

:58:35. > :58:38.and as I pointed out will provide for the various Northern Irdland the

:58:39. > :58:41.civic life abilities and top up Legislating in this way by `n order

:58:42. > :58:47.in council is the mobile convention were strength legislation btt he was

:58:48. > :58:51.an aspect of. Secondly as mx right onto friend, did it is essential

:58:52. > :58:53.that welfare reform is impldmented in Northern Ireland as my rhght onto

:58:54. > :58:55.friend, did it is essential that welfare reform is implementdd in

:58:56. > :58:58.Northern Ireland as soon as possible. Getting beat is crucial am

:58:59. > :59:03.the only way to have the necessary in place in the desired timds daily

:59:04. > :59:06.to dot secondary legislation. Members should however becole parted

:59:07. > :59:12.by the realisation that the content of the order in Council Ardsley

:59:13. > :59:15.there is that of the 2012 where welfare reform debated at ldngth and

:59:16. > :59:19.in great detail in this house and there'll be an opportunity to debate

:59:20. > :59:22.the order next week. I just members will reserve any questions regarding

:59:23. > :59:31.welfare at reform to that ddbate soppy. Given the complexity of the

:59:32. > :59:36.council dealing with welfard reform in any circumstances, and the bill

:59:37. > :59:41.that is being taken through next week here this evening could the

:59:42. > :59:44.Minister please expressed some element of regret that neither

:59:45. > :59:48.Northern Ireland select comlittee nor the work and pensions sdlect

:59:49. > :59:52.committee have an opportunity to scrutinize this and report to the

:59:53. > :59:58.office for this bill came to this house tonight? My right horrible

:59:59. > :00:02.friend the Secretary of State made it clear that nearly all thd

:00:03. > :00:06.provisions in this order have been thoroughly debated in the Northern

:00:07. > :00:12.Ireland Assembly over a verx long period of time. And this hotse has

:00:13. > :00:16.had considerable scrutiny of the 2012 welfare reforms and indeed the

:00:17. > :00:19.ongoing reforms for the 2014 bill. What I am happy to do for the

:00:20. > :00:25.honourable ladies to arrangd for her to meet officials from the

:00:26. > :00:28.Department and the DWP to dhscuss in detail any concern she has `bout the

:00:29. > :00:34.order between now and the ddbate next week if that satisfies there. I

:00:35. > :00:39.think the Minister for giving way. When he touched on the currdnt

:00:40. > :00:43.bill, the 2015 welfare reform work bill is not particularly covered in