Live House of Commons

:00:00. > :00:00.testing of anti-cancer treatments and levering a real benefit to

:00:00. > :00:08.patients including those with rarer cancers and it is one example of how

:00:09. > :00:13.we can work together. Order! I am pleased to be able to announce to

:00:14. > :00:28.the house that following fair and open competition Her Majesty The

:00:29. > :00:34.Queen has graciously accepted my recommendation for the person to be

:00:35. > :00:41.appointed to the post of Sergeant at Arms as of the 1st of February. He

:00:42. > :00:46.has been the head of front of house and VIP relations at the Ministry of

:00:47. > :00:54.Justice since 2000 and he has also held a number of administrative and

:00:55. > :00:59.security roles in the Department of Constitutional affairs and the

:01:00. > :01:10.Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice since 2001. He is trained

:01:11. > :01:18.in the martial arts. He is a recipient of the British Empire

:01:19. > :01:28.Medal. He will be the first person of a BM M E background to hold the

:01:29. > :01:34.post of Serjeant at Arms. Order! Statement: the Prime Minister. With

:01:35. > :01:38.permission I would like to make a statement on the European Council

:01:39. > :01:42.meeting that took place before Christmas. The council focused on

:01:43. > :01:47.three issues migration terrorism and the UK renegotiation and I I will

:01:48. > :01:51.take each in turn. On migration even in winter there are still many

:01:52. > :01:55.migrants coming to Europe with over three arriving via the eastern

:01:56. > :01:59.Mediterranean route each day. Britain is not part of the Schengen

:02:00. > :02:04.open border arrangements and we will not be joining. We have our own

:02:05. > :02:09.border controls and they apply to everyone attempting to enter the UK

:02:10. > :02:16.and every day border controls help to keep us safe. Let me repeat these

:02:17. > :02:22.controls apply to all including EU citizens and we have stopped on 90

:02:23. > :02:26.people at our Borders since 20 including six EU national 's who

:02:27. > :02:32.were not allowed to come in. Schengen countries are trying to put

:02:33. > :02:37.in place a pale imitation of what we already have. What they do is a

:02:38. > :02:40.matter for them but it is in our interest to help our European

:02:41. > :02:44.partners secure their external Borders so we have provided more

:02:45. > :02:49.technical expertise to the European Asylum support office than any other

:02:50. > :02:55.European country. It includes practical support with

:02:56. > :02:59.fingerprinting migrants when they arrive and we have focused on the

:03:00. > :03:03.root causes not just the consequences of the migration

:03:04. > :03:06.crisis. We continue to play a leading role in the efforts of the

:03:07. > :03:10.international serious support group to enter the conflict through a

:03:11. > :03:16.political process and we have backed an agreement recently in Morocco

:03:17. > :03:20.that should pave the way for a new, United National government in Libya.

:03:21. > :03:26.We have HMS Enterprise in the Mediterranean to go after people

:03:27. > :03:35.traffickers. We provided one point in humanitarian assistance. We are

:03:36. > :03:41.second only to America. The donor conference that I am hosting next

:03:42. > :03:46.month will help further in raising significant new funding to help

:03:47. > :03:51.refugees in the region this year. They council focused on implementing

:03:52. > :03:56.the previously agreed measures on refugee resettlement. In Britain we

:03:57. > :04:02.said we would resettle 20 Syrian refugees in this parliament and take

:04:03. > :04:05.them directly from the camps. I can say is that as promised many

:04:06. > :04:10.refugees from camps have been resettled here in time for

:04:11. > :04:13.Christmas. These people are now in homes and their children are

:04:14. > :04:18.starting this new year in our schools and they can look forward to

:04:19. > :04:23.building a new life here in Britain. I know that many in this house have

:04:24. > :04:27.called for us to take many more refugees and take part in the EU

:04:28. > :04:31.relocation and settlement schemes but the reality is we have

:04:32. > :04:37.significantly done more than most of our EU partners in this regard. By

:04:38. > :04:43.the time of the December council only 200 and had been re-united in

:04:44. > :05:04.the UK -- EU. We said what we would do and we said

:05:05. > :05:11.we would get on and do it. Turning to terrorism. The latest appalling

:05:12. > :05:16.video from Daesh is a reminder of their brutality and their barbarism.

:05:17. > :05:20.It is desperate stuff from an organisation that hates us not for

:05:21. > :05:25.what we do but for what we are. We are I democratic and multi-faith

:05:26. > :05:29.nation that is built on tolerance and respect for human rights.

:05:30. > :05:35.Britain will never be cowed by terror. We will stand up and defend

:05:36. > :05:39.our values and our way of life. With patience and persistence we will

:05:40. > :05:42.defeat the extremist and eliminate the organisation. The whole house

:05:43. > :05:46.will want to join with me on paying tribute to the British servicemen

:05:47. > :05:51.and women who spend this Christmas and New Year away from their

:05:52. > :06:03.families. In the last month at RAF aircraft have conducted many strikes

:06:04. > :06:08.in Iraq and. Syria. We made important contributions through S

:06:09. > :06:16.strike is Kurdish forces have repelled major Daesh counter attacks

:06:17. > :06:21.in northern Iraq. There have been attacks against oil structure and

:06:22. > :06:25.terrorists near Raqqa. We continue to fly surveillance and

:06:26. > :06:30.reconnaissance missions and provide support to our coalition partners.

:06:31. > :06:35.We have a clear agreement on rules to share passenger name records. It

:06:36. > :06:39.is a vital breakthrough but we still need to go further. The council

:06:40. > :06:44.agreed to take forward urgent proposals on systematic data sharing

:06:45. > :06:48.stepping up our corporation on aviation security and working

:06:49. > :06:53.together to do even more to staff Daesh of money and resources choking

:06:54. > :06:55.off the oil and clamping down on firearms and explosives and stopping

:06:56. > :07:03.them get into the hands of terrorist 's. We said we would do more across

:07:04. > :07:07.Europe to campaign against terrorist propaganda and clamp down on the

:07:08. > :07:10.root of the terrorism that we face. The Daesh threat is a threat to us

:07:11. > :07:15.all and we stand together to defeat it. Returning to the UK

:07:16. > :07:19.re-negotiation, I have set out the areas where Britain is seeking

:07:20. > :07:24.significant and far reaching forms. Britain must not be part of an ever

:07:25. > :07:29.closer union and we want a greater role for national parliaments.

:07:30. > :07:35.Competitiveness, the EU must add to our competitiveness rather than

:07:36. > :07:39.detract from it by cutting regulation is completing the single

:07:40. > :07:42.market. On fairness for countries in and outside the EU zone where the EU

:07:43. > :07:47.must protect the integrity of the single market and ensure that there

:07:48. > :07:51.is no disadvantage, discrimination or additional costs for a country

:07:52. > :07:56.like Britain that is not in the euro and in my view will never join the

:07:57. > :08:01.euro. On migration we need to tackle abuses to the right of free movement

:08:02. > :08:06.and deliver changes that ensure our welfare system is not an artificial

:08:07. > :08:10.draw for people to come to Britain. This is the first time that a has

:08:11. > :08:20.tried to re-its membership of the EU from a standing start. Many doubted

:08:21. > :08:24.it was even possible. We have had a negotiation for several hours with

:08:25. > :08:27.almost every leader contributing and I will be happy to go into detail

:08:28. > :08:32.but these are the key points. There was strong support for Britain to

:08:33. > :08:35.stay in the EU and European leaders are Gamay remarks by saying that

:08:36. > :08:42.Britain is not better in Europe but that Europe would be better with

:08:43. > :08:48.Britain's staying in it. All are prepared to address the points that

:08:49. > :08:52.we have made and it have been raised about all for areas and the most

:08:53. > :08:56.difficult issues were around three movement and welfare but there was a

:08:57. > :09:00.great deal of good and at the end of the discussion they council agreed

:09:01. > :09:04.and I quote directly from the conclusions that we would work

:09:05. > :09:10.closely together to find mutually satisfactory conditions in all of

:09:11. > :09:16.the four areas. It is significant that the solutions are talked about

:09:17. > :09:20.not compromise and these will be legally binding and irreversible.

:09:21. > :09:24.While these areas will require hard work I believe there is now a

:09:25. > :09:28.pathway to an agreement. Later this week I will continue my efforts to

:09:29. > :09:32.secure that agreement with further discussions in Germany and Hungary

:09:33. > :09:34.and I hope that we can reach full full agreement when the council

:09:35. > :09:39.meets next month. What matters is not getting the substance -- is

:09:40. > :09:45.getting the substance right, not the speed of the deal. If we succeed we

:09:46. > :09:48.will succeed in changing the UK relationship with the EU and

:09:49. > :09:52.addressing the concerns that the British people have over our

:09:53. > :09:56.membership. If we cannot then as I have said before, I will nothing

:09:57. > :10:01.out. My intention is that at the conclusion of the re-negotiation the

:10:02. > :10:06.government should reach a clear recommendation and then an agreement

:10:07. > :10:10.will be held. It is in the nature of the referendum that it is the people

:10:11. > :10:14.are not the politicians that decide and as I indicated before Christmas

:10:15. > :10:17.there will be a clear government position which will be open to

:10:18. > :10:21.individual ministers to take a different personal position while

:10:22. > :10:25.remaining part of the government. Ultimately it will be for the

:10:26. > :10:29.British people to decide this country's future by voting in or out

:10:30. > :10:42.of eight reform European Union. It was something we promised and

:10:43. > :10:49.only something which we could deliver. I would like to thank the

:10:50. > :10:57.Prime Minister for his statement. I received a copy of it as short time

:10:58. > :11:01.ago. I would like to wish the Prime Minister and the hosts are very

:11:02. > :11:05.happy New Year and I hope the Prime Minister will not misinterpret the

:11:06. > :11:18.greeting and take it in the spirit it is meant. Last month I travelled

:11:19. > :11:24.to Brussels to meet European leaders to discuss the issues the Prime

:11:25. > :11:29.Minister has raised today. I went a lot. I went that the Prime Minister

:11:30. > :11:32.has botched his negotiations with European ministers and also learnt

:11:33. > :11:39.that many of our European colleagues have a very intuitive understanding

:11:40. > :11:45.of politics. They know the Prime Minister has asked for help so that

:11:46. > :11:49.he can win the referendum he did not want to hold. Does the Prime

:11:50. > :11:54.Minister no accept that his attempts to bludgeon leaders into accepting

:11:55. > :12:04.his reforms have field and he has come right with very little? And can

:12:05. > :12:11.he be surprised that he has failed to work with his European partners

:12:12. > :12:15.and in the European refugee crisis. To deliver change, you need

:12:16. > :12:25.effective and clever diplomacy and make friends.

:12:26. > :12:38.We all value our friends. But the Prime Minister is not interested in

:12:39. > :12:43.that. He is playing politics rather than putting forward the interests

:12:44. > :12:47.of the people of this country. Can he never explained whether the

:12:48. > :12:54.people will have a clear choice in the referendum and will that be

:12:55. > :13:07.expressed? What has he had to see to Lord Heseltine, leaders across

:13:08. > :13:11.Europe can see that they are able off for Conservative Party politics.

:13:12. > :13:18.Does the Prime Minister accept that his bluff has no been called? He

:13:19. > :13:25.wanted to secure more changes within the European Union. He has achieved

:13:26. > :13:30.nothing on that. Does he believe also what experts have said, the

:13:31. > :13:37.change in migrant benefits, are likely to not only be ineffective

:13:38. > :13:41.but discriminatory and unfair and could be legally challenged? Could

:13:42. > :13:46.he know confirm he is abandoning these plans altogether? Could he

:13:47. > :13:52.also confirmed that he has dropped his disgraceful plans to weaken

:13:53. > :13:57.workers protection in this country, compared to protection offered

:13:58. > :13:59.another European countries? Essentially, the Prime Minister

:14:00. > :14:04.proposals are a distraction. The real issue is about delivering a

:14:05. > :14:09.more cohesive and more democratic and progress of Europe that promote

:14:10. > :14:16.security, protection for workers, delivers investment, produces

:14:17. > :14:24.productive economies and sustained growth. That is why in the upcoming

:14:25. > :14:29.referendum, we will be ensuring to ensure these things are about any

:14:30. > :14:33.progressive European agenda. Kelly as can more about the refugee crisis

:14:34. > :14:39.and what he is doing to help this growing crisis? I want to pick them

:14:40. > :14:42.recognise thanks to the Royal Navy another service personnel working in

:14:43. > :14:46.the Mediterranean trying to save lives, because they have done a

:14:47. > :14:51.great job and seized a large number of people who were desperately

:14:52. > :14:57.trying to cross the Mediterranean to gain a place of safety. Could I ask

:14:58. > :15:04.him what funding he is offering to assist in this collective effort. It

:15:05. > :15:10.is a very serious crisis in many countries and many countries for

:15:11. > :15:15.many in Europe, as well as the situation in France at the present

:15:16. > :15:20.time. On the question of Soviet, could he confirmed that Britain is

:15:21. > :15:25.fully part and signed up for negotiated political process to try

:15:26. > :15:29.and bring about a ceasefire in the Serbian civil war and Izzy in a

:15:30. > :15:44.position to update and anything to do with that quote? -- Syrian. Could

:15:45. > :15:47.he also tell us about the status of all refugees and offer support. The

:15:48. > :15:57.government is not going far enough to help those in need. He has could

:15:58. > :16:05.he commit to 20,000 refugees coming in in the next two years, rather

:16:06. > :16:09.than the next five? Could he also taken unaccompanied children, who

:16:10. > :16:13.are in a desperate position. It is making more difficult for us to work

:16:14. > :16:19.with our European partners when we do not do this. He is putting the

:16:20. > :16:24.politics of as one party across those of the national interest. Will

:16:25. > :16:30.he join me in seeking a more progressive union across Europe. One

:16:31. > :16:36.that delivers on welfare for our workers rather than the agenda he is

:16:37. > :16:45.bidding for work today? Let me wish the right honourable gentleman a

:16:46. > :16:51.very happy New Year. Can I apologise for interrupting the longest

:16:52. > :16:56.reshuffle in her study. I have watched the entire run of Star Wars

:16:57. > :17:01.movies but we do not know who has been taken over to the dark side.

:17:02. > :17:06.There is no sign of a Rebel Alliance emerging either. He had the temerity

:17:07. > :17:10.to see this as a referendum I did not want. This is a referendum

:17:11. > :17:20.likely to the British people in our manifesto. He has got the Foreign

:17:21. > :17:26.Secretary he does not want. He asked a number of questions. Like me and

:17:27. > :17:30.them. Will the government make a clear recommendation? Yes, we roll.

:17:31. > :17:39.He asked whether the national parliaments measures are still in

:17:40. > :17:44.place? Yes, the hour. They had the warm reception from many countries.

:17:45. > :17:49.I said I am very happy to look at other proposals but I will not take

:17:50. > :17:52.mine of the proposal until I see something equally effective come

:17:53. > :17:56.forward. I would note that in the last election, it was Labour policy

:17:57. > :17:59.to ask people coming to this country to live here and worked here for

:18:00. > :18:06.several years before getting benefits. You can all call out about

:18:07. > :18:13.what a great policy was to be abandoned by the new leader. You

:18:14. > :18:30.have all worked out you have an albatross at the head of your party.

:18:31. > :18:35.He asked about refugees. He is right to please the Royal Navy for the

:18:36. > :18:41.work the dead. This is underfunded. We believe the European Union can do

:18:42. > :18:44.more. It has a generous budget to which we are a significant

:18:45. > :18:49.contributor. In all these conversations, we asked the European

:18:50. > :18:53.Union to use its existing budget, knowing that we have already made a

:18:54. > :19:04.huge contribution it with budget. The only other country that was as

:19:05. > :19:11.generous as ours to ease this crisis. We have given ?1.2 billion.

:19:12. > :19:16.We are one of the leading players in the process. More meetings are

:19:17. > :19:22.necessary to bring about the ceasefire and political discussion

:19:23. > :19:28.and talks which are necessary. I will keep the who's updated. He

:19:29. > :19:34.asked about whether we would take more migrants. I think 20,000 is the

:19:35. > :19:39.rate number. I would stress again, we are delivering what we said we

:19:40. > :19:46.would do. This is in stark contrast to many policies of other countries.

:19:47. > :19:53.He mentioned about the 3000 orphans. There are problems. We can look at

:19:54. > :19:58.helping more people. But we are keen not to remove people from their

:19:59. > :20:03.wider family, so it is not just about people who have maybe lost the

:20:04. > :20:08.appearance. He then said we were isolated in Europe with regard to

:20:09. > :20:16.the debate on Syria. We are leading the debate. When other prime

:20:17. > :20:23.ministers and presidents when asked about terrorism or migration or

:20:24. > :20:27.British negotiations, they were all saying, the other question, what on

:20:28. > :20:34.offers happen to the British Labour Party? Will the Prime Minister

:20:35. > :20:46.obtain the full British opt out from the ever closer union, which has

:20:47. > :20:53.been the principal demand of Europe, who saw it as the perceived threat.

:20:54. > :20:59.Note that many people are taking an unaccustomed interest in benefit

:21:00. > :21:05.rules, will he confirm that his benefits -- proposals are

:21:06. > :21:17.stimulating discussions in other countries. They are trying to find a

:21:18. > :21:24.solution which will not prevent people legally coming here in a wave

:21:25. > :21:32.which helps the British economy? The ever closer union does matter. It is

:21:33. > :21:37.not just symbolic. It gets used in European law and has driven

:21:38. > :21:45.something of a ratchet through the European Union. He is right about

:21:46. > :21:49.this. It is a controversial issue in Europe. Many other countries she our

:21:50. > :21:54.concerns. Many of the countries where people are leaving are also

:21:55. > :22:01.concerned, with so many young people leaving. Britain is benefited hugely

:22:02. > :22:06.from migration and we would support it, but it is the extra artificial

:22:07. > :22:15.drop that our benefit system brings which needs to be addressed. It is

:22:16. > :22:21.our first day back in Parliament, so the first day to see our hearts go

:22:22. > :22:29.out to the many people throughout the country who are suffering from

:22:30. > :22:34.the ongoing problems of flooding, with regard to the houses and

:22:35. > :22:39.businesses. We should put our appreciation for the response of the

:22:40. > :22:43.emergency services then incredibly difficult circumstances. The biggest

:22:44. > :22:52.challenge is not negotiations of the Prime Minister and his position with

:22:53. > :22:56.regard to this split which was displayed by the Swedish Prime

:22:57. > :23:01.Minister is bizarre. It is the instability in the Middle East and

:23:02. > :23:09.the threat of terrorism. The European Union member states have

:23:10. > :23:17.opt outs with regard to immigration. Two of these are part of the

:23:18. > :23:19.European refugee programme. Given me overwhelmingly warm welcome and

:23:20. > :23:29.positive humanitarian response in the UK to people affected by Syria

:23:30. > :23:32.the conflict, with the Prime Minister reconsider his position?

:23:33. > :23:40.Would he at least help more refugee children just as they did with

:23:41. > :23:44.Jewish children in the past. With regard to the instability in the

:23:45. > :23:51.Middle East, how is he going to step up support for the Vienna process

:23:52. > :23:55.and look for a ceasefire Syria in and is he worried about the

:23:56. > :24:05.increasing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran? The resume, who

:24:06. > :24:10.shoot and crucify those they disagree with, is it not time for

:24:11. > :24:17.concrete action? On European reform, three of the four Prime Minister 's

:24:18. > :24:24.demands were so limited the work so uncontentious. When UK citizens

:24:25. > :24:27.working with them -- European citizens without working within the

:24:28. > :24:33.United Kingdom, Friday we not hear about the positive contribution they

:24:34. > :24:39.have made in terms of the contribution and via tax

:24:40. > :24:44.contribution to the United Kingdom? It massively agrees any abuses of

:24:45. > :24:51.the system. Will he finally, because he has made many opportunities to do

:24:52. > :25:00.this, if Scotland remains in the European Union, it will stay. The

:25:01. > :25:06.public at home will hear the noise from the Conservative benches. They

:25:07. > :25:13.want to know if they are going to be taking note of the European Union

:25:14. > :25:17.against the will. Taking his last point, Scotland and a referendum on

:25:18. > :25:24.whether to remain part of the United Kingdom. The leader -- the First

:25:25. > :25:27.Minister, knowing member of Parliament, signed with needy and

:25:28. > :25:34.the agreement, which said that both sides would respect the author

:25:35. > :25:40.referendum. That is the only answer he needs. I also paid tribute to the

:25:41. > :25:44.emergency services for the incredible work they have done

:25:45. > :25:49.during the recent flooding. Our hearts go out to those who have

:25:50. > :25:53.homes, businesses and shops flooded. Also pay tribute to the amazing

:25:54. > :25:58.spirit of the British people who have come together at Christmas

:25:59. > :26:00.time, giving up huge sacrifice to help each other. It is remarkable

:26:01. > :26:11.what communities have done. We believe our resettlement

:26:12. > :26:15.programme is better run by ourselves. We have done it better

:26:16. > :26:18.and quickly brought more people into Britain and other countries have

:26:19. > :26:24.been able to resettle out of Syria and we have wrought in our own

:26:25. > :26:29.safeguarding check on those people. The point being made about three of

:26:30. > :26:35.the four things that we are asking for being under is simply not true.

:26:36. > :26:39.I would encourage him take more time to talk to European colleagues about

:26:40. > :26:43.how difficult these things are to achieve. On the issue of the Vienna

:26:44. > :26:47.process, if we have a very clear view that we do not support the

:26:48. > :26:52.death penalty where ever it takes place Saudi Arabia included we have

:26:53. > :26:57.to find a way to get Iran and Saudi Arabia into the room at the same

:26:58. > :27:03.time to negotiate what will happen in terms of a transition. I think we

:27:04. > :27:07.have to be clear that is our greatest priority dealing with the

:27:08. > :27:12.Syrian crisis is the source of so much of the terror that we face and

:27:13. > :27:23.the crisis in Europe has to be top of mind. Does the Prime Minister

:27:24. > :27:28.agree that the success of his re-negotiation and attention from

:27:29. > :27:32.issues of greater substance such as issues for Britain's place in the

:27:33. > :27:37.world whether we stay or leave and the cost of benefits as part of a

:27:38. > :27:41.free EU labour market were introduction of a Living Wage will

:27:42. > :27:47.dwarf the effect of any benefited title manse as a draw for people

:27:48. > :27:51.into the United Kingdom. I would say to my honourable friend that once

:27:52. > :27:53.the negotiation is completed people have to asked the big question of

:27:54. > :27:57.whether Britain is better off inside or outside a reformed European

:27:58. > :28:02.Union. The question of whether we are safer or more prosperous I

:28:03. > :28:09.believe the re-negotiation will make a difference. There is also the

:28:10. > :28:15.issue of migration. People are asking the bigger question about the

:28:16. > :28:19.position of Britain in Europe and I am making sure that the choice that

:28:20. > :28:23.people wait -- faces not between the status quo and leaving altogether

:28:24. > :28:29.between an important amendment to the status quo and it is important

:28:30. > :28:33.that we get it right. Before Christmas I met 11 year and

:28:34. > :28:38.12-year-old to living in the jungle in Calais and they are similar ages

:28:39. > :28:44.to my children and to his children but they are alone and separated

:28:45. > :28:48.from their parents and folder to exploitation as well as the cold and

:28:49. > :28:54.still. The longer he looks at the proposal to help three children the

:28:55. > :28:59.more disappear. Can I urge urge him that this proposal has cross-party

:29:00. > :29:03.support to agree to to work with Save The Children on a plan for

:29:04. > :29:09.Britain to help 3000 and children from across Europe. Just agree to

:29:10. > :29:13.the principle today. We are going to consider this in a very proper way

:29:14. > :29:18.during the Syria debate. There are different views amongst the NGOs

:29:19. > :29:24.about whether this is the right approach to take. In terms of people

:29:25. > :29:30.at Calais we are very clear that we will do everything we can to help

:29:31. > :29:36.the French were border security and at the end of the day people do not

:29:37. > :29:42.have the right to try and break into Britain against our rules and those

:29:43. > :29:50.people in Calais showed the properly processed by the French and dealt

:29:51. > :29:54.with by the French. My right honourable friend has just stated

:29:55. > :30:00.that his package would require changes that are legally binding and

:30:01. > :30:04.irreversible. As there is no treaty change on offer or what grounds can

:30:05. > :30:08.my right honourable friend legitimately and honestly contend

:30:09. > :30:13.that an international agreement registered at the UN would be

:30:14. > :30:18.legally binding and irreversible, and on which voters which is what

:30:19. > :30:26.matters, could absolutely rely when they cast their votes? Will it be a

:30:27. > :30:30.cast-iron guarantee? Before countries have voted a referenda and

:30:31. > :30:35.we have voted in this house on treaty proposals before they are

:30:36. > :30:39.adopted and implemented by every country country and I have said that

:30:40. > :30:44.what we need is changes that are legally binding and irreversible and

:30:45. > :30:48.those are the changes that I seek. The Prime Minister said that he will

:30:49. > :30:55.do nothing out. If he loses this referendum will he resigned? This

:30:56. > :31:00.referendum is the government policy and the country will decide whether

:31:01. > :31:04.we stay in the European Union or leave the European Union. What I am

:31:05. > :31:09.doing is giving the country the very best choice that can be by an

:31:10. > :31:12.amendment are vital amendment to the status quo that we face but in the

:31:13. > :31:19.end it will be the choice of Britain. Will the council discuss

:31:20. > :31:24.how free societies with free media should react to terrorist

:31:25. > :31:30.propaganda. The latest Daesh atrocity video seems to feature a

:31:31. > :31:34.well-known British extremist and a brainwashed child. Does the Prime

:31:35. > :31:39.Minister agree with the that once the broadcast media seem to have

:31:40. > :31:43.handled this material with appropriate restraint some of the

:31:44. > :31:50.press in its big Tory coverage has been playing into the hands of the

:31:51. > :31:54.terrorist propagandists? First of all, in terms of what Britain is

:31:55. > :31:58.doing in the E you to counter terrorist propaganda yes we have

:31:59. > :32:02.taken the expertise we have built up here and we are sharing it with

:32:03. > :32:07.other European countries as we sat up some new organisations. I think

:32:08. > :32:11.it is very important to win this battle of ideas and in some ways it

:32:12. > :32:15.is like a battle of ideas as we faced in the cold War. I am not sure

:32:16. > :32:20.I go all the way with him about what he said about television or

:32:21. > :32:23.newspapers. Television have been responsible but I do not think it

:32:24. > :32:27.would be right to have a blanket ban on showing any parts of these

:32:28. > :32:33.videos. Shoving a part of these videos and how ghastly and brutal

:32:34. > :32:38.the organisation is in the way it is using children reminds everybody not

:32:39. > :32:42.least those who might be tempted by this radical organisation just what

:32:43. > :32:46.are sick organisation it is. On the whole the media have been fairly

:32:47. > :32:49.responsible about it and I think it is much better to have that form of

:32:50. > :32:56.self restraint rather than anything else. The Prime Minister in his

:32:57. > :33:00.statement said that in relation to Europe and non-euro countries he was

:33:01. > :33:04.looking for node disadvantage or discrimination or additional cost.

:33:05. > :33:09.That is a pretty low bar for ambition. Should he not be looking

:33:10. > :33:14.for a quality and parity between euro countries and non-euro

:33:15. > :33:18.countries and non-euro countries? If you have non-discrimination and no

:33:19. > :33:25.disadvantage and no cost ' gives you the comparison that you seek I take

:33:26. > :33:31.people back to the summer away euro zone countries used in Eurozone bond

:33:32. > :33:35.to buy Greece to which we were a contributor. If people think this

:33:36. > :33:40.does not matter it absolutely does matter. We must have these

:33:41. > :33:46.principles clearly written down and implemented. What treaty and other

:33:47. > :33:49.changes does the United Kingdom need so that the Prime Minister can

:33:50. > :33:55.implement is extremely popular policy of cutting migration by more

:33:56. > :34:00.than two what we need to do is address migration from within the

:34:01. > :34:04.European Union and outside the European Union. If we look at the

:34:05. > :34:09.figures it is about half coming from each. My view is that I do not want

:34:10. > :34:13.us to get out of the idea of free movement. British citizens benefit

:34:14. > :34:16.from being able to live and work and retire into other European countries

:34:17. > :34:20.we should be able to do summing about the artificial draw that our

:34:21. > :34:31.benefits system provides that is now widely recognised in Europe Europe.

:34:32. > :34:34.We have to take further steps. The Prime Minister has indicated that

:34:35. > :34:39.the nation must not be part of an ever closer union. At some point

:34:40. > :34:43.shortly we will agree the date for people to vote on this issue. What

:34:44. > :34:47.guarantee can he give that if the people were to accept his promise

:34:48. > :34:54.and a that we would never, ever be part of the closer union in Europe

:34:55. > :34:57.that subsequent to that, if they accepted his promise, that Europe

:34:58. > :35:02.would not undermine that and eventually agree to a closer union

:35:03. > :35:08.that he has promised we would not be part of and that people might accept

:35:09. > :35:11.that is a very good question. I am seeking a legally binding and

:35:12. > :35:16.irreversible change that carbs people out of an ever closer union.

:35:17. > :35:19.The way I explain it to my European colleagues is that we do not all

:35:20. > :35:23.want the same destination. There are some countries in Europe that do see

:35:24. > :35:28.an ever closer union but Britain is not one of them. We want to be there

:35:29. > :35:33.for trade and cooperation. There are a lot of areas where we do share our

:35:34. > :35:41.resources and ideas and even our sovereignty sometimes to get things

:35:42. > :35:44.done that we need we do not want to be part of an ever closer union and

:35:45. > :35:46.that should be clearly set out and legally binding and irreversible. I

:35:47. > :35:54.completely agree with my right honourable friend am at that point.

:35:55. > :36:04.The European Court has reference European Union 50 times since 19.

:36:05. > :36:10.How will we accept this if we are not excluded from judgments clearly

:36:11. > :36:14.if you have a legally binding and irreversible is suggestion that

:36:15. > :36:16.Britain is not part of an ever closer union and the courts cannot

:36:17. > :36:21.use that to provide a ratchet against Britain in terms of future

:36:22. > :36:26.court judgments. It is very important. It is a symbol and I

:36:27. > :36:30.would accept it is a symbol. Symbols matter in politics politics is full

:36:31. > :36:33.of symbols. The symbol of being outside this ever closer union

:36:34. > :36:38.speaks to the British desire that we join the Common market and not a

:36:39. > :36:44.political union. It has a practical application as we have set out.

:36:45. > :36:49.Given that the dire terrorists are up responsible for the latest

:36:50. > :36:58.disgusting video and cold-blooded murders in Syria and they jumped

:36:59. > :37:04.bail in Britain, should we be claiming control? The experts have

:37:05. > :37:08.said our controls are every bit as powerful as those that they

:37:09. > :37:12.replaced. The control orders were increasingly knocked down in court

:37:13. > :37:15.decision after court decision so it is right if you listen to the

:37:16. > :37:22.experts in the security services or the police they are content with the

:37:23. > :37:25.approach that we have. Given that the Prime Minister has

:37:26. > :37:28.optimistically shared with us is hoped that he can reach full

:37:29. > :37:32.agreement when the council meets at the end of the month. With the Prime

:37:33. > :37:36.Minister also like to share with us on his forward planning what states

:37:37. > :37:42.he is considering for the referendum. I think we would all

:37:43. > :37:46.like to know. I would love to fill in my right honourable friend's

:37:47. > :37:49.diary so I know when it is happening. I cannot guarantee we

:37:50. > :37:53.will have an agreement in February and what they council agreed is that

:37:54. > :37:58.we would try to reach agreement in February on all for issues so that

:37:59. > :38:02.is the eighth. If it is possible that I am keen to get on and hold a

:38:03. > :38:06.referendum. We should not do it precipitately and I have looked at

:38:07. > :38:11.previous precedents and I know that when Labour held a referendum in 19

:38:12. > :38:14.there was only one month between the completion of the legislation and

:38:15. > :38:20.the and I do not think think that is enough. When we had the referendum

:38:21. > :38:23.on the alternative vote I think it was less than three months and I do

:38:24. > :38:27.not think that was enough so I think we should be looking for a period

:38:28. > :38:30.longer than that. By the time we get to the end of the referendum

:38:31. > :38:37.campaign I think everyone will have had enough of the subject. The Prime

:38:38. > :38:41.Minister made only one very brief mention of the principle of free

:38:42. > :38:45.movement in the original statement. Has he come abandoned negotiations

:38:46. > :38:51.on free movement or is it still a table table? If it is still on the

:38:52. > :38:59.table what changes is he looking for? People in European countries

:39:00. > :39:03.can travel to different countries and live and work in those countries

:39:04. > :39:09.and retire and that is a principle that I support. Where we have

:39:10. > :39:12.goblins is to areas. One is the abuse of free movement where people

:39:13. > :39:18.have used the free movement legislation to bring criminals to

:39:19. > :39:21.the United Kingdom or take part in immigration practices that are

:39:22. > :39:27.against our rules and those abuses need to be dealt with. Our welfare

:39:28. > :39:32.system has provided an unnatural draw to the UK and we need to

:39:33. > :39:40.further control immigration inside the EU are addressing that problem.

:39:41. > :39:44.Could we just pause a moment to remember that it is only because

:39:45. > :39:48.this Prime Minister is in place and backed by all of us that we have

:39:49. > :39:53.this referendum at all. When my right honourable friend was having

:39:54. > :39:56.discussions with his colleagues, was there any recognition that if any of

:39:57. > :40:00.us turned up in Warsaw we would not be entitled to benefits for years

:40:01. > :40:05.because they had a contributory system and the E was about free

:40:06. > :40:13.movement for workers, not benefit seekers. Is there any thought about

:40:14. > :40:16.us moving to a contributory system? This is a very good point. One of

:40:17. > :40:22.the reasons that this problem arises is because we have a system to which

:40:23. > :40:26.there is immediate access because if you live in some other European

:40:27. > :40:30.countries you would have to pay in and contribute four many years

:40:31. > :40:34.before getting your benefits. I am open to all sorts of suggestions

:40:35. > :40:38.including the one that he made. I think we really do need to achieve

:40:39. > :40:40.something that cuts the draw of migrants to Britain through the

:40:41. > :41:03.welfare changes that I have set out. You feel about terrorism then the

:41:04. > :41:07.Middle East. We forget about the atrocities in Northern Ireland.

:41:08. > :41:10.Today is the 40th anniversary of the massacre in which ten Protestants

:41:11. > :41:20.were massacred because of their religion. Those responsible fled

:41:21. > :41:25.across the border into the Republic of Ireland. He is right to make the

:41:26. > :41:32.point that many victims of terrorism, many families who lost

:41:33. > :41:37.loved ones in Ireland. There are still a terrorist campaign in part

:41:38. > :41:40.of the United Kingdom and we need to pay tribute to the police and

:41:41. > :41:46.security services who work hard to prevent that. It is important that

:41:47. > :41:54.when over our borders are, we can police them effectively to stop

:41:55. > :42:01.criminals and terrorists. The Conservative Party manifesto said we

:42:02. > :42:06.will insist that European Union Reagan to want to claim tax credits

:42:07. > :42:13.and Child benefits must love here for a minimum of four years, while I

:42:14. > :42:18.am clear I will be voting to leave the European Union when the

:42:19. > :42:26.referendum comes, there are many of my constituents waiting to see the

:42:27. > :42:31.outcome of the renegotiation. I would be great for my right

:42:32. > :42:37.honourable friend could tell is that we are still insisting on that or is

:42:38. > :42:41.it simply a basis for negotiation? I very much stand by what we put in

:42:42. > :42:48.the manifesto. The issues we are renewal were cheating are clearly

:42:49. > :42:57.set up. We need to go over in each of these areas. We are quite right

:42:58. > :43:06.to have a free vote, as Harold Wilson did likewise in 1975. This is

:43:07. > :43:10.all about trust. Why should the British people trust anything he

:43:11. > :43:18.brings about dealing with the European union, as they did not have

:43:19. > :43:26.a proper worked out treaty change? I think people can see this is a

:43:27. > :43:30.process in which they can trust. We promised the referendum and promised

:43:31. > :43:35.the renegotiation. That is well on course. We said we would cut the

:43:36. > :43:41.European Union budget. No one believes does, but be dead. We said

:43:42. > :43:44.we would bring back the biggest amount of power since Britain joined

:43:45. > :43:49.the European Union and we did that. We have a track record, but in the

:43:50. > :44:00.end, it will be the British people who make the decision about where

:44:01. > :44:04.our future should live. It is sadly clear that forces which heat our

:44:05. > :44:14.democracy are amassing in a larger number of countries. The ability of

:44:15. > :44:20.democratic countries to take measures on a daily basis to fight

:44:21. > :44:24.against terrorism is a key contribution to helping British

:44:25. > :44:28.citizens remain safe on the street. My honourable friend is absolutely

:44:29. > :44:32.right. And a lot of the debates about Europe we have heard in the

:44:33. > :44:38.last couple of decades, most of them are focused on economic questions.

:44:39. > :44:43.No, a lot is focused rightly on security. While there are many

:44:44. > :44:46.differences in the week border controls and the exchange of

:44:47. > :44:54.information works, there is no doubt we will doubt -- benefit greatly

:44:55. > :44:58.from the new light legislation. It tells you where the passengers

:44:59. > :45:08.bought the ticket, really have the credit card was used, and this is of

:45:09. > :45:12.vital information Bridge. As letting these terrorists get into our

:45:13. > :45:19.country. The security argument is going to be absolutely crucial with

:45:20. > :45:24.regard to our future. Many of those who argued for us to leave the

:45:25. > :45:29.European Union suggest we can be part of the single market in spite

:45:30. > :45:33.of leaving, without having to abide by the negotiations that go with

:45:34. > :45:38.that. Can I ask the Prime Minister whether he knows of any known

:45:39. > :45:41.European Union members who enjoy free trade in a single market but

:45:42. > :45:48.are not part of the free movement that comes with it? The honourable

:45:49. > :45:52.gentleman makes an important part, but my argument is not going to be

:45:53. > :45:57.that Britain cannot succeed out with the European Union. Of course we

:45:58. > :46:01.can. We are the world's fifth largest economy. The argument is

:46:02. > :46:07.going to be how are we more secure and prosperous within the European

:46:08. > :46:13.Union a roadside? To answer the question, and it did when asked, if

:46:14. > :46:17.you look at countries like Iceland and Norway, they have to be all the

:46:18. > :46:21.rules of the single market, including all the free movement

:46:22. > :46:29.rules on people, without having any say on what the rules are. The fewer

:46:30. > :46:35.as democracy by fights because the rules come through from Brussels. It

:46:36. > :46:38.will be from the campaign is responsible to make the arguments

:46:39. > :46:47.about what life would be like oak with the European Union and that is

:46:48. > :46:50.what they will have to answer. Yesterday, grassroots boat was

:46:51. > :46:55.launched and politicians from different parties working together

:46:56. > :47:01.at grassroots level no to come out of the European Union. With the

:47:02. > :47:06.Prime Minister say that ministers are free to campaign? With the Prime

:47:07. > :47:12.Minister still say there are significant difficulties and he may

:47:13. > :47:19.eventually recommend not staying in the European Union, witty considered

:47:20. > :47:28.joining up? I will carefully look at what happens when you pass go. We

:47:29. > :47:35.are getting closer to an agreement on Britain's negotiation and at that

:47:36. > :47:41.point, of course, as I have said, ministers will have a clear

:47:42. > :47:44.recommendation and ministers will be able to campaign on different sides

:47:45. > :47:48.regardless of it clear recommendation but there needs to

:47:49. > :47:53.happen after negotiations take place. Members on all sides of the

:47:54. > :47:59.house, the public and business want to know what the renegotiation

:48:00. > :48:03.tabbing to. We want to go for we bring back, but in the end, it will

:48:04. > :48:13.not be any of us, it will be the people of Britain who decide. It is

:48:14. > :48:24.not only a number of unions who are urging the Minister to give the

:48:25. > :48:31.positive with regard to the unaccompanied refugee children. Some

:48:32. > :48:39.of them already have relatives in the United Kingdom. Would he not be

:48:40. > :48:45.in a stronger position if he has already established that? We have

:48:46. > :48:49.done more than any other country in with the United States with regard

:48:50. > :48:54.to the funding of the refugee crisis. As well as the 20,000

:48:55. > :48:59.pledge, we are in the process of implementing it in very good order.

:49:00. > :49:06.I said we will look very closely at the issue of orphans. There are

:49:07. > :49:11.different views about how best to handle this issue. We want to make

:49:12. > :49:18.sure is genuinely helpful for the people involved. We know the

:49:19. > :49:22.families we are taking note of the refugee camps because we can fit

:49:23. > :49:32.them. We want to help the most vulnerable. Of course, the

:49:33. > :49:34.referendum will revolve around the political and economic strength of

:49:35. > :49:43.the European Union will bring, but in terms of the renegotiation, does

:49:44. > :49:55.he agree that our competitiveness will depend on the free trade

:49:56. > :49:58.opportunities which the European Union represents? If we were not in

:49:59. > :50:09.the single worker we would not be able to argue for the trade deals or

:50:10. > :50:12.the completion of the single market services energy legislation. The

:50:13. > :50:16.calculations people will have to make is, I be better off in the

:50:17. > :50:25.single market making a contribution and a sea on its future, but only

:50:26. > :50:32.better on the outside having no see. That is the argument which needs to

:50:33. > :50:38.take place. The Prime Minister clearly needs to negotiate a good

:50:39. > :50:43.deal with our European Prime Minister and does not want to be the

:50:44. > :50:47.British Prime Minister who takes it out of the European union. I then as

:50:48. > :50:50.he suspended the elected responsibility adviser not possible

:50:51. > :50:56.for him to persuade his one ministers on an issue which is so

:50:57. > :50:59.vital to our national interest? The entire government is signed up to

:51:00. > :51:06.the position of holding a referendum and having it legal renegotiation, a

:51:07. > :51:12.successful one and holding a referendum and everyone backs that.

:51:13. > :51:14.Clearly, there are people who have long-standing views about the

:51:15. > :51:22.European issue and it has never been my intention to stronger people into

:51:23. > :51:27.voting for a position they do not agree with. So, I think this is the

:51:28. > :51:32.right approach. It does not come practice until a deal is done

:51:33. > :51:39.because we do not know what this renegotiation will be I hope it

:51:40. > :51:44.could take considerably longer. When you are negotiating with 27 other

:51:45. > :51:53.countries, anything can happen. But I think talk from the opposite

:51:54. > :52:00.benches about party unity is a bit rich. He has berated us about giving

:52:01. > :52:07.up our rebate and getting nothing in return. Why did he not as thorough

:52:08. > :52:19.rebate to be reinstated? Is it because he does not think we should

:52:20. > :52:23.have the rebate back or is it just that purely that he was worried that

:52:24. > :52:32.it may not give him something to try off about? I would make the point

:52:33. > :52:37.that we negotiated the cut in the budget, but that cut across seven

:52:38. > :52:42.years of what is known as the European Union financial

:52:43. > :52:48.perspective. We also protected our rebate, which is immensely powerful

:52:49. > :52:55.and saves British taxpayers an enormous amount of money. When you

:52:56. > :53:00.are sitting round a table with $27 and see at showing that is not the

:53:01. > :53:21.case. I am not claiming elder statesmanship. I would argue that

:53:22. > :53:24.the NBC gauge is what we have achieved. Hundreds of my

:53:25. > :53:29.constituents had a terrible Christmas because of the terrible

:53:30. > :53:40.flooding in the area. Councils will have to make up the infrastructure

:53:41. > :53:45.costs. It would be unforgivable to boot posturing on Europe ahead of

:53:46. > :53:53.the national interest. When is the dominant going to apply the

:53:54. > :53:57.solidarity here? Firstly, his constituents have my sympathy and we

:53:58. > :54:02.will do everything we can to make sure his council is fully reimbursed

:54:03. > :54:07.for all the emergency measures they have to take. We've also put in the

:54:08. > :54:11.flood prevention measures. Ray thought very carefully at this

:54:12. > :54:17.question of the European Union funding. We were previously at in

:54:18. > :54:21.2013 and it takes a long time to get hold of any money, it is uncertain

:54:22. > :54:26.when you will get and you end up paying for it in many ways, as well.

:54:27. > :54:34.It is quicker and better to give people the help they need from our

:54:35. > :54:47.own resources. Beyond the talks which my right honourable friend is

:54:48. > :54:51.co-hosting next month, what other discussions has government and the

:54:52. > :54:57.other European Union governments having with functioning government

:54:58. > :55:08.around the Mediterranean to inhibit refugees who disguise themselves as

:55:09. > :55:12.tourists from other countries. My right honourable friend is right to

:55:13. > :55:19.raise this issue, which is why there is a defence cooperation being

:55:20. > :55:24.undertaken in the Mediterranean, in which we are playing a leading

:55:25. > :55:29.product, which is to go after the people smugglers and when that is

:55:30. > :55:34.the proper government in Libya, we need a proper agreement that we can

:55:35. > :55:42.stop boats and tumble back really think these people should be

:55:43. > :55:46.properly dealt with in Libya, to try and break this link between getting

:55:47. > :55:51.settlement from getting in a boat in Libya.

:55:52. > :55:57.Can I commend the Prime Minister for demonstrating to the Leader of the

:55:58. > :56:01.Opposition that he is not the only one leading a hopelessly divided

:56:02. > :56:04.Cabinet. Can he tell us that peek thinks the majority of his Cabinet

:56:05. > :56:11.colleagues will join him in the remainder of the Euro campaign? The

:56:12. > :56:15.government is behind the strategy of holding a re-negotiation of having a

:56:16. > :56:20.referendum and we have discussed repeatedly what those issues that

:56:21. > :56:24.need to be renegotiated R. It is interesting that across the other

:56:25. > :56:27.side of the House of Commons, there was not one single thing they want

:56:28. > :56:34.to re-negotiate will stop they do not want welfare changes or ever

:56:35. > :56:36.closer union changes. They are not asking for competitiveness changes

:56:37. > :56:45.but they just wanted a cop at someone who is getting the job done.

:56:46. > :56:50.I welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to end the imposition of

:56:51. > :56:55.ever closer union, if that can be achieved on a binding way for the

:56:56. > :57:00.long-term future but what my constituents want to know is what is

:57:01. > :57:07.being reversed and what is happening to the ever closer union we have

:57:08. > :57:14.been subjected to for the last few years and what power was coming back

:57:15. > :57:19.to this parliament? We have achieved the biggest ever return of powers

:57:20. > :57:22.where a hundred measures came back to Britain and we have seen exactly

:57:23. > :57:27.the same and we will see the same with respect to the euro and we want

:57:28. > :57:29.to be sure we will not suffer any disadvantage and we cannot be

:57:30. > :57:36.involved in bailout schemes and the British position is protected. It is

:57:37. > :57:40.a return of power. If you look at the return of deregulation where we

:57:41. > :57:44.say we need deregulation targets and cuts in regulation that is about

:57:45. > :57:49.powers is coming back to Britain. If you look at the subsidiarity test

:57:50. > :57:55.where every year the council should be asking if these powers are still

:57:56. > :57:58.necessary and can they be returned? Hole aim of the re-negotiation is to

:57:59. > :58:02.say that we are part of the European Union that has reformed and can

:58:03. > :58:06.achieve greater prosperity and security for Britain but we are

:58:07. > :58:07.doing it as a proud nation state with institutions that serve the

:58:08. > :58:24.people who put us here. Elections in Spain have seen parties

:58:25. > :58:30.losing power and is their concern about these developments? We are all

:58:31. > :58:36.democracies so we accept the results in each other's elections. I am

:58:37. > :58:40.happy to say that here a government that took difficult decisions over

:58:41. > :58:44.the economy and the death achieved a higher share of the vote at the

:58:45. > :58:49.election than it did at the previous one and I think there are benefits

:58:50. > :58:54.from spelling bees things out but I am committed to working with the new

:58:55. > :58:57.Portuguese Prime Minister and we will see what happens in Spain I

:58:58. > :59:02.work very closely with their Prime Minister who did a very good job for

:59:03. > :59:05.the country in very difficult circumstances. What the election

:59:06. > :59:08.results show was how we need reform in Europe and we need a

:59:09. > :59:13.competitiveness and the jobs in the ability to compete against the rest

:59:14. > :59:19.of the world so we can create jobs and wealth here. Does the Prime

:59:20. > :59:23.Minister agree that it is neither understand nor I inappropriately

:59:24. > :59:27.discriminatory to place restrictions on those who come here from other

:59:28. > :59:30.member states. It is evidenced by the fact that the original EU treaty

:59:31. > :59:36.granted a right to residents but only to those who came to pursue an

:59:37. > :59:39.economic activity. My honourable friend is absolutely right. One of

:59:40. > :59:44.the problems that had emerged is because of the legal changes that

:59:45. > :59:48.have been made, that have defined free movement in more and more more

:59:49. > :59:55.generous way, used to be the case that it was free movement to take a

:59:56. > :59:59.job for which you had applied but I think I am right in saying that 60

:00:00. > :00:05.of those who have come to Britain are job applicants and they do not

:00:06. > :00:08.have a job when they come. We also need to address the welfare issue

:00:09. > :00:15.because those people will be particularly affect Tidd by the

:00:16. > :00:20.un-natural draw to. We need to make sure that the arrangements reduce

:00:21. > :00:28.the unnatural poll of written as the honourable lady set out. The Prime

:00:29. > :00:32.Minister has said that the EU referendum will reflect the choice

:00:33. > :00:35.of the British people but it the choice of the British people does

:00:36. > :00:40.not reflect the choice of the Prime Minister will he resign the? This is

:00:41. > :00:46.the choice of the British people? Our aim is to set for wood to add --

:00:47. > :00:53.set forward a choice to the British people for the Europe that they

:00:54. > :00:56.want. They can either stay in the European Union or leave the European

:00:57. > :01:02.Union and I will continue to run the government, as I have. I salute the

:01:03. > :01:06.decision to allow ministers to exercise their freedom of choice on

:01:07. > :01:13.this very important matter. This is not a sign of personal weakness but

:01:14. > :01:16.a final personal strength top we in this party can have a sensible

:01:17. > :01:19.debate about a fundamental issue of serious importance to the British

:01:20. > :01:24.people but the Prime Minister has just mentioned that the negotiations

:01:25. > :01:30.may come to fruition in month. If they do when would the premise to

:01:31. > :01:36.envisage the referendum taking place I make it a policy not to answer

:01:37. > :01:39.questions that game with the word if even when they are put quite

:01:40. > :01:43.charmingly. If we can achieve a result of February I do not think we

:01:44. > :01:47.should delay the the referendum, we should get on and hold the

:01:48. > :01:51.referendum and, as I have said it shouldn't be done in any unnatural

:01:52. > :01:54.haste. It needs to have a proper number of months for people to

:01:55. > :02:01.consider all of the arguments and that is exactly what will happen.

:02:02. > :02:09.The common agricultural policy puts the price of food to people in this

:02:10. > :02:12.country and it is an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. Will the

:02:13. > :02:18.primaries to try to renegotiate that if you look at the fact surround it

:02:19. > :02:21.is, the days of wine lakes and butter mountains have by and large

:02:22. > :02:25.gone. I do not think it is possible to argue in the way that it was in

:02:26. > :02:29.the past that it is adding hugely to bills for families and that is not

:02:30. > :02:34.what is happening. There has been significant reform and some fairly

:02:35. > :02:38.significant reform to the common fisheries policy. In all of these

:02:39. > :02:44.areas are deregulation targets in subsidiarity tests would apply.

:02:45. > :02:49.Could I invite my right honourable friend to make a list of the

:02:50. > :02:55.European laws and the European Court rulings he believes depend primarily

:02:56. > :03:01.on the ever closer union phrase in the treaties? I do not have the list

:03:02. > :03:06.on me I do not carry it around to remind me but I think by his and my

:03:07. > :03:13.right honourable friend said it had been sighted in the 50 different

:03:14. > :03:17.actions. He was one of the people who in the past said how important

:03:18. > :03:22.it was to get out of ever closer union and I would say to colleagues

:03:23. > :03:26.who are considering this issue that this has been raised time and again

:03:27. > :03:30.by people like me who were concerned about the ratchet of the European

:03:31. > :03:33.Union and wanted to get this really negotiation right and if we can

:03:34. > :03:43.deliver this then let us all men arms and celebrated. The Prime

:03:44. > :03:48.Minister has heard a call from the Labour Party and then the SNP and

:03:49. > :03:52.the SDLP and now the Liberal Democrats for the government to act

:03:53. > :03:57.on the question of the three unaccompanied children. I hope his

:03:58. > :04:08.colleagues will listen rather than laughing. These sorry if vulnerable

:04:09. > :04:13.children are vulnerable now. At what point will he tell the house if he

:04:14. > :04:19.will finish the consideration because these children are

:04:20. > :04:26.vulnerable now. I cannot give an exact time frame but it will not

:04:27. > :04:32.take ages to consider the issue. I appreciate that while there are very

:04:33. > :04:35.important issues in favour of taking the action forward we have to

:04:36. > :04:39.consider all of the issues including the people who are tragically

:04:40. > :04:48.orphaned that have a order and wider family around them with currently

:04:49. > :04:52.are. As the RAF seeks to destroy Daesh and Syria and Iraq does the

:04:53. > :04:58.Prime Minister agree that our commitment to the two Nato defence

:04:59. > :05:06.budget really helps our ability to strike those who threaten Britain?

:05:07. > :05:11.My honourable friend is absolutely right. This provides the resources

:05:12. > :05:14.we need and also sends a signal about Britain's lace in the world

:05:15. > :05:18.and the intention to play a full role in trying to safeguard our

:05:19. > :05:26.world and it has been recognised by our allies and our enemies. However

:05:27. > :05:31.the Prime Minister wishes to characterise ever closer union is it

:05:32. > :05:34.the case that most people accept that the European Union as it is two

:05:35. > :05:42.is moving in the direction of the union of European state, rather than

:05:43. > :05:47.the United States of Europe? This is an important argument. Forces are

:05:48. > :05:51.going in both directions. On the good side than widening of the

:05:52. > :05:55.European Union to include the Baltic states in the northern countries and

:05:56. > :05:59.the Balkan states I think it has been a great advance for British

:06:00. > :06:02.agenda and we are focusing Europe on doing trade deals with the fastest

:06:03. > :06:06.parts of the world rather than looking inwards and it is a great

:06:07. > :06:11.advance to the agenda but proposal still come forward for more

:06:12. > :06:15.Federalist it approaches and what Rittenhouse done successfully is

:06:16. > :06:20.calve ourselves out of those things so if Europe wants to have a border

:06:21. > :06:23.force to help police is external Borders -- Borders that is something

:06:24. > :06:28.for them and we will not take part in it. With the Eurozone wants to

:06:29. > :06:31.pass a series of laws to have a fiscal union mutual debt obligations

:06:32. > :06:36.then that is a matter for them as long as we are not involved. What I

:06:37. > :06:41.aim to get in this re-negotiation is the best of both worlds for Britain.

:06:42. > :06:44.In Europe where it is for our benefit but not involved in those

:06:45. > :06:52.things that would be the wrong passage of sovereignty to others.

:06:53. > :06:55.The Prime Minister tells us that other EU heads of government say the

:06:56. > :07:00.EU needs Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Doesn't it show the

:07:01. > :07:06.strength of our negotiating position they need our money and our economic

:07:07. > :07:09.strength. Hasn't the time come to screw his courage to the sticking

:07:10. > :07:16.point and to say to Chancellor Merkel when he next sees her that

:07:17. > :07:24.great to be Berlin please we want some more. I will bear that in mind

:07:25. > :07:32.when I go and see her in the snows of Bavaria on Wednesday evening. Of

:07:33. > :07:36.course we have negotiating a and a strong position because we make such

:07:37. > :07:45.a huge contribution to this organisation. What I have set out is

:07:46. > :07:51.the right approach for our country. The recent British /Irish parliament

:07:52. > :07:54.Assembly there were huge concerns expressed by parliamentary

:07:55. > :07:59.colleagues why across the British Isles about the possible exit from

:08:00. > :08:04.the European Union by this country. Can I ask the Prime Minister what,

:08:05. > :08:08.if any, work has been done about the specific impact on Northern Ireland

:08:09. > :08:12.and the Republic and our closest neighbour if this referendum is

:08:13. > :08:16.lost? The right honourable gentleman makes a very important point out one

:08:17. > :08:23.of the strongest voices of support for the British re-negotiation was

:08:24. > :08:29.the Irish leader and a who made a brilliant speech at the European

:08:30. > :08:35.Council. -- Enda Kenny. The Republic of Ireland wants Britain to stay

:08:36. > :08:41.because many issues will arise because of the border and other

:08:42. > :08:45.things it we were outside. Of course the Republic of Ireland sees Britain

:08:46. > :08:50.as a strong voice in Europe for many of the things that it believes in.

:08:51. > :08:57.We have to get this deal right and bring all the arguments to bear on

:08:58. > :09:00.both sides of the case and what those in the Republic and Northern

:09:01. > :09:06.Ireland say will make a very big determination. On the issue of

:09:07. > :09:10.security one of the safeguards for the United Kingdom against terrorism

:09:11. > :09:14.is not foolproof, one of the safeguards is the lack of access to

:09:15. > :09:18.small arms and light weapons and in particular semiautomatic rifles. Can

:09:19. > :09:22.I commend the Prime Minister in his efforts at the council meeting to

:09:23. > :09:25.ensure that we get more work done across Europe working with the

:09:26. > :09:31.Western Balkan countries to stop the smuggling of illegal weapons from

:09:32. > :09:35.the Balkans into Europe? Honourable friend is absolutely right about

:09:36. > :09:39.this issue. I raised the issue personally at the European Council

:09:40. > :09:42.not just about small arms but also semiautomatic weapons and there is

:09:43. > :09:45.more action being taken in Europe and some of the countries

:09:46. > :09:49.particularly the Nordic countries have a particular issue with it

:09:50. > :09:55.because of the way their citizens defence forces are setup. We have to

:09:56. > :09:56.go to all of those problems to do more bust stopping the arms coming

:09:57. > :10:11.from the Balkans is absolutely key. Britain is taking great leadership

:10:12. > :10:18.in a environmental policy in Europe and beyond. Will the Prime Minister

:10:19. > :10:22.use the climate conference to press the EU to ensure the imperatives

:10:23. > :10:28.from climate change from that conference are fully integrated into

:10:29. > :10:33.the US/EU free trade agreement so that countries do not find

:10:34. > :10:40.governments when they pass legislation on emissions targets?

:10:41. > :10:46.I think the honourable gentleman raises an important point. It is

:10:47. > :10:52.important that we implement these things agreed, either within the

:10:53. > :10:56.United Kingdom or the European Union. I do not see the detail

:10:57. > :11:06.providing any particular problems at this moment. European Union migrants

:11:07. > :11:11.who can claim up to 700 pounds per month in tax credits, almost double

:11:12. > :11:14.what they could claim in Germany. Germany is now changing its rules so

:11:15. > :11:22.they could not claim. Does my honourable friend not agree that

:11:23. > :11:28.this sort of reform is possible in this country and what impact would

:11:29. > :11:32.it deliver? My honourable friend is right to reason that. The

:11:33. > :11:38.requirement on these welfare changes has stimulated something of a debate

:11:39. > :11:43.in Europe. Germany, I do not want to speak for the Chancellor, they are

:11:44. > :11:49.trying to deal with this issue as this in time as we do. They have a

:11:50. > :11:54.more contributory system. I am convinced we can come to a good

:11:55. > :12:00.answer and countries across the north of Europe understand how much

:12:01. > :12:04.this needs to be done. Given that the ballot paper for the referendum

:12:05. > :12:13.makes no mention of the renegotiation is, can he answer the

:12:14. > :12:18.simple question, does he believe in principle we should stay in the

:12:19. > :12:22.European Union or leave it. There are a thing to do is to wait for the

:12:23. > :12:30.Renate renegotiate renegotiation to see if we can stay in it when it is

:12:31. > :12:34.be amended. But is all about giving people more choice. I do not want

:12:35. > :12:40.the false choice of staying in a organisation that needs reform or

:12:41. > :12:45.leaving it. I want a better choice than that. That is what is being

:12:46. > :12:52.said in all four countries. That is why we are putting that place. Given

:12:53. > :12:58.the importance of the question of the economic impact on this country

:12:59. > :13:14.on whether we stay or go, can we get an assurance that he will try and

:13:15. > :13:21.push for what a fear situation who get the best of both worlds by being

:13:22. > :13:26.part of the European market but not a member of the single currency. We

:13:27. > :13:34.believe you should not suffer disadvantage if you are not in the

:13:35. > :13:40.single currency. We have been part of helping out and bailing out

:13:41. > :13:45.countries who have been in trouble within the Eurozone. On a number of

:13:46. > :13:53.occasions, the importance of this has been shown. It is central to our

:13:54. > :13:58.renegotiations. Being part of the single European market is obviously

:13:59. > :14:03.very important to 's remaining a vibrant economy. Will he publish a

:14:04. > :14:09.report showing the impact on the British economy of as withdrawing

:14:10. > :14:15.from it? I believe that documents do need to be published. I believe the

:14:16. > :14:21.other place insisted on what documents needed to be published. I

:14:22. > :14:24.think the bowl set over what they renegotiation has accomplished of

:14:25. > :14:30.what the benefits or otherwise are. This is what was decided by the

:14:31. > :14:40.other place and has not been decided by others. My right honourable

:14:41. > :14:45.friend rightly told us about discussions with regard to passenger

:14:46. > :14:50.data sharing. Could he tell us whether they are also discussions on

:14:51. > :14:58.the equally important discussion on people who come to work here, but

:14:59. > :15:05.just back-to-back -- checks on the likes of whether people turned up to

:15:06. > :15:11.work? The aim is to have far more collaboration and cooperation

:15:12. > :15:19.through Europe. One of the situation that the aeroplane attack in cattle

:15:20. > :15:24.showed that while we have good airport security, you need to keep

:15:25. > :15:33.on your toes, wondering how could the terrorists get access to any

:15:34. > :15:38.aeroplane in that way. The Foreign Minister from Paul and saying they

:15:39. > :15:45.will support the Prime Minister on and work benefits if he will back

:15:46. > :15:58.the of the man's folly needle bees. As he had the discussions on this

:15:59. > :16:08.with his counterparts in Poland -- Nato. That has not been discussed

:16:09. > :16:12.but we do believe that more Nato forces should be deployed in eastern

:16:13. > :16:21.European countries, so that we sure that we are standing by our

:16:22. > :16:28.obligations. It is important that when Russia look over the borders,

:16:29. > :16:38.VC soldiers from not just these countries, but from Nato countries,

:16:39. > :16:45.as well. The German Chancellor said it was important that Britain found

:16:46. > :16:53.a solution. The tool is encouraging. The crux note is converting music

:16:54. > :17:00.into substance? There is goodwill towards Britain. Many of the

:17:01. > :17:06.contributions were not just about Britain benefiting from being in

:17:07. > :17:09.Europe, which you not benefiting from Britain being part of the

:17:10. > :17:19.European Union. They do not want us to leave. I wish the Prime Minister

:17:20. > :17:23.well in the renegotiations. I will be campaigning for Britain to stay

:17:24. > :17:33.in the European Union whether he is successful or not. It means a lot to

:17:34. > :17:41.us that we can campaign on the basis of an honest and transparent case,

:17:42. > :17:46.but it is difficult for them seeing the changes are irreversible. A

:17:47. > :17:52.future government of Prime Minister could change the way in which we are

:17:53. > :17:58.going. Could he withdraw the idea that what he is campaigning for will

:17:59. > :18:07.be irreversible. I am campaigning for changes which are legally

:18:08. > :18:10.binding and irreversible. Should the future 28 people represented wish to

:18:11. > :18:15.take the European Union in a different direction, that would be

:18:16. > :18:20.concerning. But we passed through this house the referendum lot 's of

:18:21. > :18:25.any future Labour Prime Minister or anyone else trying to give away

:18:26. > :18:28.powers that we already have or give back, there would be another

:18:29. > :18:38.referendum. I do not think we need to worry about that. In his

:18:39. > :18:50.well-received speech during the debate on Syria, the Shadow Foreign

:18:51. > :18:58.Minister topped to the Kurdish minister and talked about the

:18:59. > :19:06.importance of ear strikes within Syria by the Royal Air Force we are

:19:07. > :19:17.crucially important. If we believe in shrinking and eradicating IS we

:19:18. > :19:26.need to do and both sides of the border. Most of the concentration of

:19:27. > :19:30.us has been concentrated on Iraq. We can no pursue people across the

:19:31. > :19:41.border and take action against the oil wealth that IS has built up is

:19:42. > :19:48.important. In his remarks, the Prime Minister discussed the four pillars

:19:49. > :19:54.as his proposals. He has here and colleagues sating the Conservative

:19:55. > :19:58.manifesto. Can he explain what has been the difference between a

:19:59. > :20:06.four-year proposal on four four-year demand? The United Kingdom has put

:20:07. > :20:15.its proposals on the table on each of the four areas. The only thing,

:20:16. > :20:20.we talked about Child benefit, benefit abuse, criminality and

:20:21. > :20:24.migration rules. I have said that my proposal remains of the table until

:20:25. > :20:31.something equally good is put in his place. I am happy to listen to other

:20:32. > :20:35.suggestions. But people need to know this is absolutely crucial. It is

:20:36. > :20:42.crucial and is getting the right deal. In the event of Switzerland

:20:43. > :20:46.effectively restricting freedom of movement, with migrate an honourable

:20:47. > :20:53.friends position change as a result and would what's good for

:20:54. > :20:59.Switzerland good for the United Kingdom? I am watching for it

:21:00. > :21:03.closely the attempts by Switzerland to renegotiate the position they

:21:04. > :21:10.have asked the referendum that the hilt. I think the difficulty of the

:21:11. > :21:14.position is, of course, the European Union is seen to Switzerland that we

:21:15. > :21:20.are happy to talk to you about free movement of people, but, of course,

:21:21. > :21:23.everything else is up for grabs that is no guarantee of Switzerland

:21:24. > :21:28.having access to any part of the single market unless there can be an

:21:29. > :21:36.agreement on the Celia. I think this is worth thinking about carefully,

:21:37. > :21:39.in terms the relationship between a small country do with the European

:21:40. > :21:49.Union and the rest of the European union. He has asked for other ideas

:21:50. > :21:52.today, with the support my parties call for greater influence for

:21:53. > :22:00.devolved government for decision-making to make more

:22:01. > :22:05.accountability and democracy within the European Union. I think we have

:22:06. > :22:15.made great steps in that regard. We continue to do that. As well as our

:22:16. > :22:20.Armed Forces, will be Prime Minister also paid tribute to the Tisch

:22:21. > :22:30.police officers, such as the Chief Constable of Leicestershire police,

:22:31. > :22:35.who is the lead on the present strategy to prevent radicalisation

:22:36. > :22:39.and two works so hard with other police officers to protect us all

:22:40. > :22:44.from terrorists. It is a good moment to pay tribute to the police. They

:22:45. > :22:53.worked incredibly hard over Christmas, with the hating concern

:22:54. > :23:07.there has been over the Palace italics. -- hated. Paris attacks. I

:23:08. > :23:14.cannot believe the Prime Minister believes that 3000 children who want

:23:15. > :23:23.to come to this country are trying to break in. It is what you said.

:23:24. > :23:26.Can we put the record straight. It is not acceptable to say that

:23:27. > :23:33.because there is some disagreement about how to help the children that

:23:34. > :23:40.it is a argument for doing nothing. I am asking is a commitment to help

:23:41. > :23:45.3000 children. Will he just do that? I did not in anyway mislead the

:23:46. > :23:51.house. The rate honourable lady said she had been to the and seen the

:23:52. > :23:57.state of it. I was making the point that we will do everything we can to

:23:58. > :24:02.help the French deal with people via, but the people in the camp they

:24:03. > :24:07.are, they did not have a right to come to the United Kingdom. They

:24:08. > :24:14.should be, under international rules, claiming asylum in the first

:24:15. > :24:17.safe country the reach. On the issue of unaccompanied children, of course

:24:18. > :24:24.we will look very carefully at this. We are taking people from the camps,

:24:25. > :24:29.that is the 20,000, which includes many vulnerable people. We are

:24:30. > :24:36.looking at the 3000 people in good faith. There are issues which have

:24:37. > :24:43.to be worked through, but I have the opportunity to separate these two

:24:44. > :24:47.issues and they will come that. I commend the statement on the

:24:48. > :24:52.European Union Council. Would he confirmed that United Kingdom

:24:53. > :25:02.personnel will not take part in any sort of area patrols and would he

:25:03. > :25:11.agree that that would go against the principles of moving away? There is

:25:12. > :25:17.no prospect of us being part of a European external border force. Our

:25:18. > :25:26.forces well protected and we need to look up what more we can do. But if

:25:27. > :25:33.other European countries want to do more, should we not help? I do not

:25:34. > :25:37.think so. We want to see a better protected European border system.

:25:38. > :25:41.But the route we would cooperate or help any future force I do not know.

:25:42. > :25:47.That could be looked at in the future. We have got more people

:25:48. > :25:51.working on the European Asylum support office than any other

:25:52. > :25:56.European country. We recognise that protecting our border is in our

:25:57. > :26:03.interest. We have the best of both worlds. Keep our border controls and

:26:04. > :26:06.encourage others to do more. Help Wear it is appropriate and necessary

:26:07. > :26:29.but make sure we maintain our own security.

:26:30. > :26:33.Are people would stay in the European Union and began that if the

:26:34. > :26:39.majority of people in England look to leave. From most of 2040 by Mr

:26:40. > :26:44.told us that being part of the UK was only way to guarantee our

:26:45. > :26:48.membership of the EU. Tell us how it is possible to reconcile those

:26:49. > :26:54.directly contradictory statements? Very easily. If Scotland had voted

:26:55. > :26:58.to leave the UK, which, wisely, the people of Scotland rejected, they

:26:59. > :27:04.would have been a very long queue to get back into the EU. Having met

:27:05. > :27:07.with the Spanish Prime Minister several times, I'm not sure there

:27:08. > :27:11.are many circumstances where the Spanish would ever let an

:27:12. > :27:14.independent Scotland back into the European Union. That is the answer

:27:15. > :27:18.to the first questions. The answer to the second is we had a referendum

:27:19. > :27:24.on whether Scotland should remain part of the UK. Scotland voted to

:27:25. > :27:30.stay in the UK and his party vowed to abide by the decision that was

:27:31. > :27:36.taken. One United Kingdom. Thank you. Does he remain the case that by

:27:37. > :27:41.forcing -- focusing our efforts in the region, by helping in those

:27:42. > :27:45.areas we can help 20 people from one person we would bring to Britain and

:27:46. > :27:48.isn't that the most effective way of the British people helping these

:27:49. > :27:55.people who find themselves in such difficult situations? My friend is

:27:56. > :27:58.right about that. The figures to speak for themselves. They said we

:27:59. > :28:02.will take 20,000 people from the camps and do 1000 by Christmas and

:28:03. > :28:05.get on with it and thanks to the excellent work of my honourable

:28:06. > :28:10.friend from Watford we have fulfilled our pledge. If you look at

:28:11. > :28:14.the resettlement and relocation schemes the EU spend a lot of time

:28:15. > :28:18.discussing, so far they have not amounted to as much as the thousand

:28:19. > :28:23.people we have done. I'm sure they will over time. The point I make is

:28:24. > :28:26.that Britain is a country that prides itself on signing agreements

:28:27. > :28:30.and implementing them and doing the things that is agreements set out.

:28:31. > :28:37.Let us examine what we've done with Syrian refugees. Doesn't that is

:28:38. > :28:40.exactly. As the Prime Minister discussed his renegotiation efforts

:28:41. > :28:44.with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and does he recognise the growing

:28:45. > :28:52.anxiety of Gibraltarians at the prospect of British exit from the

:28:53. > :28:57.EU, not least on the prospect that a currently impartial commission and

:28:58. > :29:01.other member states might take side in future deliberations between

:29:02. > :29:06.Britain and Spain? I have not discussed the issue recently with

:29:07. > :29:13.an very good terms with him. People an very good terms with him. People

:29:14. > :29:17.into bottle will have a vote. In the Gibraltar. In the week before

:29:18. > :29:20.Christmas I was fortunate to meet a Syrian family resettled in this

:29:21. > :29:23.country in my constituency and speaking to the parents it was

:29:24. > :29:28.obvious how grateful they are and what the tears well up in the little

:29:29. > :29:31.girl's eyes, whose game age as my daughter, a reminder of what a

:29:32. > :29:35.1000 by Christmas was the big ask 1000 by Christmas was the big ask

:29:36. > :29:38.but we did it but because the British Red Cross will get these

:29:39. > :29:41.people come caseworker and interrupt it was in an example and reminder

:29:42. > :29:44.that doing it properly and bringing them under the right terms and

:29:45. > :29:49.making sure they had the services they need, we have done this right

:29:50. > :29:52.way around. I'm grateful to my honourable friend. I think it is the

:29:53. > :29:56.right way of doing it. We got keep on and make sure we devil is meant

:29:57. > :29:59.to live on the 20,000 we promised, I want to pay to beat the local

:30:00. > :30:04.authorities who have offered housing and support and the model we have is

:30:05. > :30:08.the right one. -- paid tribute. This afternoon the parameters spoke about

:30:09. > :30:11.the national security being a compelling reason for staying in the

:30:12. > :30:15.year, can the Prime Minister explain to me how it will work if his Home

:30:16. > :30:21.Secretary then decides to campaign to leave the EU? I set at the

:30:22. > :30:25.position that we will make a recommendation following the

:30:26. > :30:28.conclusion of the renegotiation. The Government will have a position and

:30:29. > :30:33.I set out what I want a position to be but I have to conclude

:30:34. > :30:37.successfully my renegotiation first. In that circumstance, a cabinet that

:30:38. > :30:42.has repeatedly discussed this issue and gone through the areas of

:30:43. > :30:46.renegotiation will come to a clear position. Of course, ministers that

:30:47. > :30:50.have long-standing strong views on this who wants to campaign on a

:30:51. > :30:56.personal capacity will be able to do so. That is the sensible and mature

:30:57. > :30:59.and right thing to do and comes into force once we have completed the

:31:00. > :31:08.renegotiation and I look forward to that moment coming. As chair of the

:31:09. > :31:11.Danish party Parliamentary group I noted with interest the Danish

:31:12. > :31:17.people voted against moves to make it opt out on justice and of affairs

:31:18. > :31:20.in the recent referendum. Due in large part to concerns about

:31:21. > :31:25.migration. Can my honourable friend confirm this was was at -- discussed

:31:26. > :31:30.at the council and does he agree that this result further underlines

:31:31. > :31:34.the importance of the EU responding positively to either reform agenda

:31:35. > :31:38.and also to making sure it has better controls over its own

:31:39. > :31:42.borders? I think my honourable friend is right. Europe has to

:31:43. > :31:47.address individual concerns of individual countries. I think that

:31:48. > :31:51.is what it's doing with respect to Britain. The Danish Government to

:31:52. > :31:59.the particular approach of Waddington told this referendum,

:32:00. > :32:01.that is a matter for Denmark. I hope everyone can be creative and helpful

:32:02. > :32:08.in trying to make sure that Denmark can benefit from the security that

:32:09. > :32:12.is available to institutions like Europol, and I'm sure they want to

:32:13. > :32:19.go on cooperating in and working in that and we will have to find a way

:32:20. > :32:23.of week of making that happen. The UK helped to draft the UN refugee

:32:24. > :32:28.conventions after the Second World War when we promised that never

:32:29. > :32:34.again would refugees be left out in the cold and as the first child of

:32:35. > :32:42.2016, their body was washed up on Greek shores this weekend, refugee

:32:43. > :32:46.charities have written to the Prime Minister and said the Colin Tizzard

:32:47. > :32:52.to slow, and too narrow and will he show leadership and shows what

:32:53. > :32:56.refugees in working with EU partners to establish safe and legal ways to

:32:57. > :33:02.reach the EU? -- and said the reaction was too slow. I have just

:33:03. > :33:05.replied to that very powerful letter and made a number of the points we

:33:06. > :33:09.discussed here today, including the point that we made our promise of

:33:10. > :33:12.20,000 and are delivering that stands in contrast to some of these

:33:13. > :33:18.schemes that are not yet up and running in the way that ours is. The

:33:19. > :33:21.one of the key points about the UN rules is people should claim asylum

:33:22. > :33:25.and refugee status in the first safe country they reach. That is

:33:26. > :33:33.important we try and reinforce that in the work we do. I welcome what

:33:34. > :33:36.the Prime Minister has said that the Commissioner's proposal on firearms.

:33:37. > :33:39.Some of the measures are to be welcomed in this but some other of

:33:40. > :33:44.the proposals are causing great concern amongst re-enactment and

:33:45. > :33:47.living history group to prop -- across the UK for the Kenya surely

:33:48. > :33:50.you will look carefully at the details of these proposals to ensure

:33:51. > :33:57.there are not any unintended consequences? I have had some

:33:58. > :34:01.letters as a constituency MP from people who are indeed reactions and

:34:02. > :34:05.we do need to look carefully at this. There has been a problem with

:34:06. > :34:11.replica guns that get converted to be guns that can kill people. We

:34:12. > :34:16.have to be careful, while showing sympathy to those who have replicas

:34:17. > :34:23.or other things like that, we must make sure they are not a genuine

:34:24. > :34:28.danger. Just before Christmas in the media there were reports that some

:34:29. > :34:32.tens of thousands of blank EU passports had been stolen. If that

:34:33. > :34:37.is true it has great consequences for our security at our immigration

:34:38. > :34:45.and everything else. Is it true? And if it is true, what are we doing

:34:46. > :34:47.about it? I am not aware of that report, I will look into it and

:34:48. > :34:55.perhaps write to the honourable gentleman. Does my friend Mark agree

:34:56. > :35:00.with me that the cost to burst -- controversial decisions to grant

:35:01. > :35:04.asylum to Abdul-Rahman in her room, the man who infamously broke into

:35:05. > :35:11.and ran through the Channel Tunnel, sends the wrong signal when -- and

:35:12. > :35:15.risks seriously undermining public in the EU and our border controls?

:35:16. > :35:21.These decisions made independently according to the asylum rules and

:35:22. > :35:24.let's be clear, we should do everything we can to secure the

:35:25. > :35:31.tunnel and making sure that it is not possible for people to access

:35:32. > :35:38.our country by breaking into it. Nato strategy and priorities must

:35:39. > :35:40.not be completed with his EU negotiation so I would like the

:35:41. > :35:45.Prime Minister to give us that categoric assurance that in all the

:35:46. > :35:49.discussions with the Polish Government, giving them a permanent

:35:50. > :35:57.and Poland will not be discussed as part of their support for this

:35:58. > :36:03.agreement? No one has spoken about a base in the way that he puts it. I

:36:04. > :36:07.strongly support as part of the Nato strategy already agreed that we

:36:08. > :36:11.should be contributing to the high readiness forces and we should be

:36:12. > :36:15.taking part in the Baltic air policing mission, for example, and

:36:16. > :36:19.we should be making sure British soldiers exercise on Polish soil, as

:36:20. > :36:27.they do, and of their proposals did more of those things I would welcome

:36:28. > :36:29.them. Does the Prime Minister agree there is nothing progressive or

:36:30. > :36:33.noble about handing over more and more powers to unelected,

:36:34. > :36:37.unaccountable overseas bodies? And does he agree with my constituents

:36:38. > :36:41.that the importance of the principle of ever closer union is there

:36:42. > :36:47.because it sets out a clear direction of intent? My honourable

:36:48. > :36:51.friend is right about that. That is why, as I said, Britain's engagement

:36:52. > :36:55.is about Europe is not half-hearted when it comes to the single market,

:36:56. > :36:58.we are its greatest champions for the point comes to putting sanctions

:36:59. > :37:01.against Putin's Russia because of Ukraine, were the ones in the

:37:02. > :37:04.vanguard and when it comes to wanting to sign deals with the

:37:05. > :37:09.fastest-growing parts of the world were making the argument we never

:37:10. > :37:13.believed in an ever closer union, in a political superstate, that is not

:37:14. > :37:18.what we want and I want to give the British people a clear choice that

:37:19. > :37:24.we can be in Europe for the trade ankle operation and security that we

:37:25. > :37:28.require, but we do not want to be part of a federalising project out

:37:29. > :37:31.of the euro, out of Schengen, not having to be part of these

:37:32. > :37:43.supranational things, I think we will get a good deal. Statement, the

:37:44. > :37:47.Home Secretary. Theresa May. With permission, I would like to make a

:37:48. > :37:51.statement about our work to counter the threat we face from terrorism in

:37:52. > :37:56.light of the latest propaganda video from Daesh. This weekend Daesh

:37:57. > :38:01.released a video depicting the sickening murder of five men who

:38:02. > :38:06.they had accused of spying for Britain. The video also featured a

:38:07. > :38:11.young boy. I would like to echo the Prime Minister's worst that this is

:38:12. > :38:16.a barbaric and appalling video. Daesh seek to intimidate and spread

:38:17. > :38:20.hateful propaganda, but in doing so they only expose their own depravity

:38:21. > :38:27.and the emptiness of their proposition. The house will

:38:28. > :38:30.understand this is an ongoing police investigation and I cannot comment

:38:31. > :38:34.further about that investigation continues. To do so could prejudice

:38:35. > :38:37.the outcome of any future judicial process and for the same reason I

:38:38. > :38:42.cannot comment on the alleged identities of the man or a child in

:38:43. > :38:47.the video. Since the start of the conflict in Syria, more than 800

:38:48. > :38:50.people from the UK who are of national security concern I thought

:38:51. > :38:54.I've travelled to the region and we believe that around half of those

:38:55. > :38:59.have returned. Those who have travelled including young women and

:39:00. > :39:02.families. We have seen deadly Daesh inspired terrorist attacks in Europe

:39:03. > :39:09.and other countries, including the attacks last year in Paris, Lebanon,

:39:10. > :39:13.Turkey, Kuwait, and Tunisia, where 30 British nationals along with

:39:14. > :39:17.others were murdered at a tourist resort. It is imperative the police

:39:18. > :39:23.and security is evidence that the resources and powers they need to

:39:24. > :39:26.keep us safe. Since 20 we have protected the counterterrorism

:39:27. > :39:29.policing budget and we announced in November through strategic defence

:39:30. > :39:34.and Security review we have made new funding available to the security

:39:35. > :39:41.and intelligence agencies. This will provide for an additional 1900

:39:42. > :39:46.officers, an increase of 15% at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. To better respond to

:39:47. > :39:50.the Fayette we face from international terrorism from cyber

:39:51. > :39:55.attacks and other global risks. -- the thread. We've increased the

:39:56. > :39:58.powers available to the police and security and intelligence agencies.

:39:59. > :40:01.In 2013I booted the criteria regarding use of the Royal

:40:02. > :40:04.prerogative that allows the Government to cancel passports of

:40:05. > :40:08.those trapped planning to travel to engage in terrorist rated activity

:40:09. > :40:11.overseas and in doing the 14 I removed 24 passports from people

:40:12. > :40:16.intending to travel for terrorism related activity. Last year the

:40:17. > :40:20.counterterrorism and security act provided new powers to deal

:40:21. > :40:24.specifically with the problem of foreign fighters and prevent

:40:25. > :40:26.radicalisation. This included a new power to temporarily seize the

:40:27. > :40:31.passports of those suspected of intending to leave the UK in

:40:32. > :40:34.connection with terrorism related activity. These powers have been

:40:35. > :40:38.used on more than 20 occasions and in some cases have led to longer

:40:39. > :40:41.term disruptive action such as use of the world prerogative

:40:42. > :40:42.term disruptive action such as use of the world prerogative

:40:43. > :40:46.to permanently cancel a British passport. In November, we published

:40:47. > :40:50.the draft investigatory Powers bill that is currently undergoing

:40:51. > :40:55.pre-legislative scrutiny. Since April last year, exits checks have

:40:56. > :41:00.been in place on all international commercial scheduled air, sea and

:41:01. > :41:03.rail services using the UK. The information is provided supporting

:41:04. > :41:07.our intelligence work, enabling us to make progress interventions. In

:41:08. > :41:13.addition, the UK has joined the European watchlist system, meaning

:41:14. > :41:16.we are now alerted when any individual is stopped at a border

:41:17. > :41:20.checkpoint or by police anywhere in Europe and is checked against the

:41:21. > :41:24.system. Through our prevent and channel programmes, we are working

:41:25. > :41:27.to protect people from being drawn into terrorism in partnership with

:41:28. > :41:32.industry, we are working to secure the removal of extreme videos

:41:33. > :41:36.through the counterterrorism internet referral unit. They are

:41:37. > :41:39.currently securing the removal of around 1000 pieces of unlawful

:41:40. > :41:46.terrorist related content every week.

:41:47. > :41:53.We must not let that happen and we stand with all of those who want to

:41:54. > :41:57.stop them. Time and again we have seen people of all faiths and

:41:58. > :42:02.backgrounds join together and demonstrate their opposition to

:42:03. > :42:05.terror and their stand for democracy and freedom. Britain will not be

:42:06. > :42:13.intimidated by Daesh and together we will defeat them. Andy Burnham.

:42:14. > :42:17.Thank you, Mr Speaker. As the Home Secretary has said, people will have

:42:18. > :42:22.been sickened to see images from the latest Daesh video on their TV

:42:23. > :42:26.screens last night. Even more disturbing is the British voices in

:42:27. > :42:32.the video. And reports that one of them is a UK national who absconded

:42:33. > :42:38.to Syria whilst on police bail for terror related offences. Something

:42:39. > :42:41.has clearly gone seriously wrong, people will rightly want to know how

:42:42. > :42:48.on earth this could happen and reassurance that steps are at hand

:42:49. > :42:52.to prevent that repeating. The Home Secretary has not provided that

:42:53. > :42:57.today. I appreciate there is a limit to what she can say but she is only

:42:58. > :43:02.saying anything at all because we applied for an urgent question. I

:43:03. > :43:07.believe the public are owed more than that and I want to set out

:43:08. > :43:11.today the questions she will need to answer, if not today then over the

:43:12. > :43:15.coming days and weeks on the specifics and the wider implications

:43:16. > :43:20.of this case. First, on the case itself and the reports concerning

:43:21. > :43:25.Siddhartha Dhar, whether or not he is the person in the video doesn't

:43:26. > :43:30.matter. The system has failed because it allowed him to abscond to

:43:31. > :43:34.Syria. It is those failings I want to focus on rather than the

:43:35. > :43:38.identities of people in the video. He was well-known to the authorities

:43:39. > :43:44.having been arrested six times on terror related offences before being

:43:45. > :43:49.placed on police bail in 2014 and requested to surrender his passport.

:43:50. > :43:53.It is when he failed to comply that it emerged he had absconded and it

:43:54. > :44:00.brings me to my first question. Can the Secretary tell the House when

:44:01. > :44:05.she was first made aware that this individual absconded? Did she order

:44:06. > :44:16.an enquiry at that time? And if she did, it can she say what -- can she

:44:17. > :44:21.say what action occurred? And if she didn't can she say why? Was he

:44:22. > :44:28.placed on a watchlist and if so when? If not, why not? At the heart

:44:29. > :44:32.of this case is the system of police bail for people arrested terrorism

:44:33. > :44:36.related activity will stop and whether or not it offers that the

:44:37. > :44:39.ten shall for loopholes. Can the Home Secretary tell the house

:44:40. > :44:43.whether the authorities followed the correct procedures between arrest

:44:44. > :44:48.and the bail hearing? Even if they were followed I have evidence they

:44:49. > :44:52.were far too weak. I have here the letter sent to Siddhartha Dhar

:44:53. > :44:59.setting out his bail conditions after he was bailed on the 26th of

:45:00. > :45:03.September 20 14. It reminds him that he was due to surrender travel

:45:04. > :45:07.documents by the 3rd of October, but the letter was sent over a month

:45:08. > :45:12.later on the 7th of November. Let me quote from it. It has come to our

:45:13. > :45:16.notice that condition number three has not been complied with or so our

:45:17. > :45:20.records suggest. Are there need changes to your circumstances that

:45:21. > :45:23.the police need to be aware of? Could you contact the police on the

:45:24. > :45:29.telephone number listed as a matter of urgency? Does this in any way

:45:30. > :45:33.sound adequate to the seriousness of the charges concerned? It is clear

:45:34. > :45:40.that he had left the country long before this letter was sent.

:45:41. > :45:43.Regardless of the individuals in the video, this individual absconded and

:45:44. > :45:48.the Home Secretary needs to provide and sewers. How many other

:45:49. > :45:52.individuals are currently on bail for terror related offences? Is she

:45:53. > :45:56.satisfied that the bail conditions and monitoring of those individuals

:45:57. > :46:01.is adequate? Is this the only example of an individual absconded

:46:02. > :46:07.whilst on police bail or are there others? On the passport, can the

:46:08. > :46:11.Home Secretary say whether it should be seized immediately rather than

:46:12. > :46:15.being surrendered voluntarily? Can the Home Secretary say whether

:46:16. > :46:18.individuals in terrorism related cases should immediately be placed

:46:19. > :46:24.on the watch list at the point of arrest? There are wider implications

:46:25. > :46:29.about border checks. Anecdotal reports that people continue to be

:46:30. > :46:32.waved through at seaports. The Government committed to check all

:46:33. > :46:37.passports on exit from the UK by the end of the last parliament. Has that

:46:38. > :46:43.been implemented? If it is not currently every passport when will

:46:44. > :46:46.it be 100%? Even if his passport was not checked here, it should have

:46:47. > :46:52.been checked on arrival in the Schengen area. But the time he went

:46:53. > :46:56.through the border the UK was not party to the Schengen information

:46:57. > :47:00.system which allows the sharing of our watchlist across Europe because

:47:01. > :47:03.the Home Secretary delayed our participation. In retrospect that

:47:04. > :47:09.she now except that there was a mistake and it weakened security

:47:10. > :47:15.arrangements? Can she now confirm we are playing our full part? We know

:47:16. > :47:21.the border force has undergone upheaval since 2010, losing staff

:47:22. > :47:26.and is today facing further cuts. Will further cuts leave us exposed?

:47:27. > :47:30.In conclusion, whilst we appreciate that this is an ongoing police

:47:31. > :47:36.investigation, the fact that this individual could abscond when facing

:47:37. > :47:39.major charges raises serious questions about counterterrorism

:47:40. > :47:43.policy. We need a commitment from her today that there will be an

:47:44. > :47:48.enquiry into this episode that will be made available to this House.

:47:49. > :47:53.There has clearly been a major security lapse and the onus is now

:47:54. > :47:58.very firmly on the Home Secretary to demonstrate that she is taking all

:47:59. > :48:06.necessary action to strengthen our systems of monitoring people who

:48:07. > :48:09.pose a risk to our country. Well, obviously the Shadow Home Secretary

:48:10. > :48:14.has asked a number of questions and he is right as I indicated that I

:48:15. > :48:21.won't comment on individual reports that are in the papers in relation

:48:22. > :48:24.to the Daesh video, that is an ongoing investigation. Initial

:48:25. > :48:27.assessment has been made and work continues. On the general points

:48:28. > :48:35.about the whole question of police bail, the conditions for police bail

:48:36. > :48:39.and issues around border checks, first of all, as the Shadow Home

:48:40. > :48:42.Secretary and would issue mad he does note that the decision as to

:48:43. > :48:47.whether someone would be placed on police bail and the conditions

:48:48. > :48:51.relating to that is an operational matter which is undertaken, a

:48:52. > :48:56.decision undertaken by the police. I seem to recall that in the past when

:48:57. > :49:00.terrorism, counterterrorism legislation was going through this

:49:01. > :49:04.house and proposals were made by organisations outside this House

:49:05. > :49:07.that more use should be made of police bail for terrorist offenders

:49:08. > :49:15.the official opposition supported the concept. He asks about the whole

:49:16. > :49:18.question of border checks and whether those procedures have been

:49:19. > :49:23.tightened and as I indicated of course we have introduced the exit

:49:24. > :49:28.checks. They are taking place at the various ports on exit. Those take

:49:29. > :49:32.place in a variety of ways in terms of how the permission about

:49:33. > :49:38.somebody's exit is being held and taken. But we have introduced those

:49:39. > :49:43.checks and as I said in my statement, those checks are now

:49:44. > :49:45.supporting and providing support for intelligence operations. He also

:49:46. > :49:53.talked about the border system that I referred to, suggesting somehow it

:49:54. > :49:58.was this Government that delayed joining the system. Actually it was

:49:59. > :50:01.first proposed when the Labour Party was in Government and actually it

:50:02. > :50:04.was this Government, the Coalition Government followed by this

:50:05. > :50:12.Government that ensured that the UK went into it and are now able to

:50:13. > :50:17.make use of it. We are of course looking across Europe and I talk

:50:18. > :50:23.with my European counterparts about how we can continue to enhance its

:50:24. > :50:27.use because it is an important tool. There are ways we can make use of it

:50:28. > :50:35.and we are discussing those and we will be ringing those into place. We

:50:36. > :50:45.do look for any necessary moves to make in order to deal with these

:50:46. > :50:48.issues. You can see the counterterrorism legislation we have

:50:49. > :50:51.introduced and we are continuing to do that because we recognise our

:50:52. > :50:59.role and responsibility as a Government to keep people safe. May

:51:00. > :51:04.I ask the Home Secretary, it seems to me that the one key issue that

:51:05. > :51:08.arises from this story is whether she is satisfied that at present

:51:09. > :51:13.there is an adequately rapid notification procedure between the

:51:14. > :51:17.time that somebody is granted police bail including the withdrawal of

:51:18. > :51:21.their passport, or for that matter in the event of somebody having

:51:22. > :51:25.their passport requested that they should surrender it if they appear

:51:26. > :51:30.in court. As long as those two things are now happening

:51:31. > :51:33.expeditiously, I would venture to suggest that the problem being

:51:34. > :51:40.talked about today is unlikely to recur through a mechanism of failure

:51:41. > :51:43.of notification. I would simply add, listening to the exaggerating froth

:51:44. > :51:54.coming from the opposition bench this afternoon, that the sink is

:51:55. > :51:58.they -- the sink is big -- the single biggest change are the exit

:51:59. > :52:02.checks. My honourable friend is right and he asks the question of

:52:03. > :52:07.notification in relation to when the surrender of a passport is

:52:08. > :52:11.requested. Of course because there are different powers under which

:52:12. > :52:16.passports will be surrendered and different circumstances, the whole

:52:17. > :52:20.process will be on a case-by-case basis. For example when a royal

:52:21. > :52:24.prerogative is being exercised that will be a different process,

:52:25. > :52:27.potentially, to when a decision on police bail has been undertaken when

:52:28. > :52:34.it is up to the police to determine the speed with which it is necessary

:52:35. > :52:38.to remove that passport. The contents of this video are utterly

:52:39. > :52:43.apparent and we hope appropriate measures are taken to clarify the

:52:44. > :52:51.identity of this individual as quickly and accurately as possible.

:52:52. > :52:55.A reasonable and proportionate response is essential and the SNP

:52:56. > :52:58.are committed to supporting all efforts to counterterrorism and work

:52:59. > :53:05.to safeguard the citizens of this country. I would ask the Home

:53:06. > :53:08.Secretary to tell us, if someone has a passport removed as a condition of

:53:09. > :53:12.their bail, are there are additional options open to a judge in order to

:53:13. > :53:16.prevent that person fleeing the country and what more could have

:53:17. > :53:24.been done or can be done in similar circumstances? I thank the

:53:25. > :53:27.honourable lady for her comments about the video, echoing the remarks

:53:28. > :53:31.I made and the Shadow Home Secretary made about the appalling and

:53:32. > :53:38.barbaric nature not just of the video but the organisation of Daesh.

:53:39. > :53:43.She asks about the issues of Judge bail. Of course they'll ordered by a

:53:44. > :53:46.judge, very often it will be ordered by the police, if somebody has not

:53:47. > :53:52.been charged with an offence than it is the police that will determine

:53:53. > :53:56.somebody's bail and they are to return on a particular date to

:53:57. > :53:59.determine the conditions applied. There are of course as I have

:54:00. > :54:04.indicated a number of processes whereby other measures can be taken,

:54:05. > :54:08.for example if the police determine that under the new powers we have

:54:09. > :54:14.introduced that passport should be temporarily removed it can be, that

:54:15. > :54:17.is for further investigation and can lead to permanent removal through a

:54:18. > :54:25.royal prerogative being exercised or indeed other action being taken. The

:54:26. > :54:29.exercise of terrorism prevention investigatory measure can have

:54:30. > :54:34.measures aimed to prevent an individual from travelling but all

:54:35. > :54:39.of these decisions as to which powers should be exercised are taken

:54:40. > :54:45.on a case-by-case basis. I formed an impression from media coverage which

:54:46. > :54:49.may not be accurate, that a disproportionate number of violent

:54:50. > :54:55.Islamist extremists are converts to the Muslim faith. Is there any basis

:54:56. > :55:01.for this impression and if there is, has any analysis been done about the

:55:02. > :55:08.way in which these people were converted in the first place? Well,

:55:09. > :55:11.I say to my honourable friend that I'm not aware of any figures that

:55:12. > :55:18.show overall what proportion of those who are jihadists have

:55:19. > :55:22.previously been allied to another faith and have converted to Islam.

:55:23. > :55:26.It is certainly the case that there have been reports in the press

:55:27. > :55:30.obviously recently but also previously of individuals who have

:55:31. > :55:36.converted to Islam. On the whole question of how people are triggered

:55:37. > :55:39.into radicalisation and into terrorist activity of course, a lot

:55:40. > :55:44.of work is constantly being done on that and it has been done in the

:55:45. > :55:48.past. And it continues to be done. I would say that I think it's the case

:55:49. > :55:52.that in most cases you will see a number of factors coming together

:55:53. > :55:56.which lead to that individual becoming radicalised and potentially

:55:57. > :56:02.to the point of undertaking violence. Of course what we do with

:56:03. > :56:05.counter radicalisation programmes, prevent and channel particularly, is

:56:06. > :56:12.aimed at stopping people who started down the route to radicalisation.

:56:13. > :56:18.I'm not asking her about the vile video which she has rightly

:56:19. > :56:23.condemned, the Shadow Home Secretary raised factual questions about

:56:24. > :56:28.seductive door. Can she tell the house when she was told he had

:56:29. > :56:32.absconded, whether she asked for an enquiry and also whether the Home

:56:33. > :56:37.Office olds figures on the number of people who had scorned while on

:56:38. > :56:41.police bail for terrorist offences. -- who had scorned. I indicated I

:56:42. > :56:47.was not speaking about the individual named in the press. The

:56:48. > :56:50.question, and I apologise because the Shadow Home Secretary did ask me

:56:51. > :56:55.about the number of people who had absconded on police bail related to

:56:56. > :56:58.terrorism offences, those figures are not collected, figures are

:56:59. > :57:02.collected for the number of people who are convicted of failing to

:57:03. > :57:10.surrender from a bail, but those are not separated into those who have

:57:11. > :57:12.undertaken terrorist offences. My honourable friend has been working

:57:13. > :57:19.closely with her opposite numbers within the EU, ministers of the

:57:20. > :57:25.interior etc, but can she update the house on what further cooperation is

:57:26. > :57:28.now taking place, given the fact that over the last six months there

:57:29. > :57:34.have been a number of incidents in which his obvious -- it is office

:57:35. > :57:41.that intelligence exchange has at times field. My honourable friend

:57:42. > :57:46.has raised an important issue, there has been considerable progress

:57:47. > :57:50.recently in looking at the exchange of information between intelligence

:57:51. > :57:55.services around the EU in a variety of ways. That is looking not just at

:57:56. > :57:59.takes place between intelligence takes place between intelligence

:58:00. > :58:07.services, but also looking at the role of Europol in relation to this

:58:08. > :58:10.and I have been speaking with my opposite number about a better

:58:11. > :58:14.change of information about criminal records including terrorism offence

:58:15. > :58:19.records as well. To further enhance our ability to aid and five people

:58:20. > :58:24.who may pose a threat and to be able to take the appropriate action, as I

:58:25. > :58:29.indicated earlier in response to the Shadow Home Secretary, were also

:58:30. > :58:32.looking at how the system had been -- can be improved to ensure maximum

:58:33. > :58:40.information is available and is dealt with properly. The Home

:58:41. > :58:45.Secretary is aware of the fact Daesh are probably the most media savvy

:58:46. > :58:51.terrorist group that ever existed. It is very welcome that through a

:58:52. > :58:54.combination of the police and their partners in the industry, 1000

:58:55. > :59:02.pieces of content are taken down every week, but for 1000 pieces

:59:03. > :59:08.taken down, they must be put up in the first place. Whiley on sex and

:59:09. > :59:12.undertake to internet providers to monitor content going up more

:59:13. > :59:18.closely so it does not get on there in the first place? -- will the Home

:59:19. > :59:23.Secretary undertake. That is on board project number of initiatives

:59:24. > :59:29.are taking place was that there is a dial in UK with the ISP groups but

:59:30. > :59:34.in December the European Commission brought together European interior

:59:35. > :59:37.ministers with representatives from some of the major internet service

:59:38. > :59:41.providers to discuss these issues about how we can better prevent

:59:42. > :59:45.material from getting onto the internet in the first place and

:59:46. > :59:50.ensuring that material can be taken down. Here in the UK we have had a

:59:51. > :59:54.long-standing view across both the previous Labour Government and this

:59:55. > :59:57.Government of working with internet service providers during courage

:59:58. > :00:01.then to use their terms and conditions as far as possible to

:00:02. > :00:08.remove material so it is not available to promote this

:00:09. > :00:11.propaganda. A key part of our counterterrorism and narrative is

:00:12. > :00:15.that in the UK we respect religious freedom, making it more disturbing

:00:16. > :00:19.increasing reports of a verbal and physical assault on leaders who were

:00:20. > :00:25.a veil or hijab while shopping taking their children to school. Can

:00:26. > :00:27.my honourable friend assured me she will carefully monitor the number of

:00:28. > :00:35.such incidents and the effectiveness of the police's response. That is an

:00:36. > :00:42.important point that I can assure him that do the reports do Tell Mama

:00:43. > :00:46.that we monitor and look at the instances of Islamophobia that take

:00:47. > :00:52.place as well as looking at the instances of anti-Semitic incidents

:00:53. > :00:58.that take place. We are committed to insuring the police will now record

:00:59. > :01:02.hate crime which has an Islamophobic element to it so we can get a better

:01:03. > :01:09.understanding of exactly what is taking place. The Home Secretary is

:01:10. > :01:14.where the terror threat was already severe, meaning the terrorist attack

:01:15. > :01:17.is highly likely. In view of the content of this vile video and the

:01:18. > :01:22.imminence of the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, it's

:01:23. > :01:28.she putting in place better protection for UK media institutions

:01:29. > :01:33.in citizens -- and citizens against an attack in the UK? We constantly

:01:34. > :01:38.look at the measures we need to take here in the UK to protect against an

:01:39. > :01:43.attack following the Charlie Hebdo attack, discussions were held by the

:01:44. > :01:48.police with various media outlets to discuss with them the question of

:01:49. > :01:52.their security. Of course, following the terrible attacks that took place

:01:53. > :01:57.in Paris on the 13th of November last year we have overlooked at the

:01:58. > :02:03.question of protective security. She is right, the current national

:02:04. > :02:08.threat level is that severe, a terrorist attack is highly likely.

:02:09. > :02:16.The decision as to what that threat level should be as for the

:02:17. > :02:25.independent JTAC. In 2014I was grateful to the Home Secretary for

:02:26. > :02:29.increasing prevent funding to Croydon Cigerci. Can she give

:02:30. > :02:34.assurances she will continue those efforts to ensure that young British

:02:35. > :02:39.Muslims are not tempted by the vile and sick propaganda she has rightly

:02:40. > :02:44.condemned of Daesh. I can give my honourable friend that assurance and

:02:45. > :02:48.taken a number of steps both English and to an uplift in prevent funding

:02:49. > :02:53.that is taking place and also an important step we took is putting

:02:54. > :02:57.the Prevent a duty on a statutory basis. Everything I've heard that is

:02:58. > :03:01.already having an impact out there and ensuring that increasingly those

:03:02. > :03:04.in the public sector and come into contact with young people and

:03:05. > :03:10.others, particularly young people, are looking to spot the signs when

:03:11. > :03:12.they can see somebody may be being taken down the route of

:03:13. > :03:21.radicalisation and appropriate action being taken. The house will,

:03:22. > :03:27.of course, understand and accept the Home Secretary's concerns about

:03:28. > :03:30.interfering in what is a live police investigation but she must accept,

:03:31. > :03:35.surely, the information that has already been put in the public

:03:36. > :03:39.domain risks undermining public confidence in the police bail system

:03:40. > :03:41.and some time, either by her or somebody in the bullies serviced

:03:42. > :03:49.today or some other time, they are to give the information to the

:03:50. > :03:56.public. -- in the police service. To ensure them that this is not a

:03:57. > :04:00.result of the police system. The videos are abhorrent and horrific,

:04:01. > :04:05.but they are merely the symptom of the wider disease of radicalisation.

:04:06. > :04:11.It is believed by many people that the radicalisation recess is funded

:04:12. > :04:19.from sources in Saudi Arabia. Will she undertake to investigate whether

:04:20. > :04:25.that is the case and if it is, then undertake to do what is necessary to

:04:26. > :04:29.stop of that source of funding? The honourable gentleman raises an

:04:30. > :04:33.important point about looking at the source of funding for extremism and

:04:34. > :04:39.terrorism here in the UK. There is a civic piece of work which we will be

:04:40. > :04:42.undertaking that makes a civic. The Prime Minister referred to it when

:04:43. > :04:47.he gave his statements to the house in November in relation to Syria. We

:04:48. > :04:50.are going to do a piece of work to the extremism analysis unit that had

:04:51. > :04:58.been set up in the Home Office looking specifically at the question

:04:59. > :05:03.of funding extremism here in the UK. I appreciate the work of the

:05:04. > :05:05.security services and the police in dealing with counterterrorism.

:05:06. > :05:09.Clearly a great deal of our emphasis will be placed on overseas issues

:05:10. > :05:13.and the security within the capital, can Home Secretary confirmed that

:05:14. > :05:17.she is confident enough counterterrorism work is being done

:05:18. > :05:24.to ensure the safety and security of the British people in other cities

:05:25. > :05:30.and towns up and down the country? I hope I can reassure my honourable

:05:31. > :05:34.friend by saying that following the counterterrorism units existing not

:05:35. > :05:40.just in the capital, but in regional unit elsewhere in the UK, and I can

:05:41. > :05:45.assure him that following the Paris attacks in November of last year, a

:05:46. > :05:53.piece of work has been started and we are finessing that in relation to

:05:54. > :05:55.particularly on response -- armed police response across the UK to

:05:56. > :06:02.ensure we have the appropriate numbers of armed and trained

:06:03. > :06:09.officers in the right places. The Home Secretary has formed when it

:06:10. > :06:15.comes to funding, Gucci update has as to the whereabouts of Abraham

:06:16. > :06:20.McGraw who absconded in January 2013? And could she update has is to

:06:21. > :06:25.be whereabouts of Mohammed at Major Mohammed who absconded wearing a

:06:26. > :06:28.burger in November 20 13. Both of whom were on terrorist prevention

:06:29. > :06:40.orders under the instruction of the Home Secretary at the time? --

:06:41. > :06:49.wearing a bra cup. -- a burqa. Under him seven people absconded, or the

:06:50. > :06:56.-- only one of whom has ever been found. There is enhanced funding for

:06:57. > :07:00.these cutie services but I also at the point of my honourable friend

:07:01. > :07:03.that those resources are going into our original towns and cities and

:07:04. > :07:07.armed response unit and not just the capital? The piece of work we are

:07:08. > :07:11.undertaking as I indicated in response to my honourable friend is

:07:12. > :07:15.to look across the country as to what is appropriate in terms of

:07:16. > :07:21.armed response availability and response times in relation to that

:07:22. > :07:27.and there will be enhanced with an uplift in the number of armed

:07:28. > :07:30.response officers within the police. As I say, the exercise is being

:07:31. > :07:33.undertaken to look at precisely how that should be done, where the

:07:34. > :07:39.officers should be, but it is not the case it is only looking at

:07:40. > :07:44.London. Can I thank the Home Secretary for yet again this evening

:07:45. > :07:49.inserting clear blue water between our fellow Muslim countrymen and

:07:50. > :07:54.those who are extremist and involved in terrorism in this country. With

:07:55. > :07:59.that in mind, to reinforce that does the Secretary of State accept it

:08:00. > :08:04.would be better again to pursue counter extremism and terrorism

:08:05. > :08:09.across this country, irrespective of geographic location, race or creed

:08:10. > :08:12.and are there any aspect of the counter extremism that that could be

:08:13. > :08:17.operated in Northern Ireland? I thank the honourable gentleman for

:08:18. > :08:22.the confidence he has shown in the counter extremism strategy we have

:08:23. > :08:26.developed and work towards developing an counter extremism. We

:08:27. > :08:29.have had discussions with devolved administrations as to how the

:08:30. > :08:34.counterterrorism strategy should apply in those parts of the UK,

:08:35. > :08:39.particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland. There is already of course

:08:40. > :08:44.work undertaken in Northern Ireland in a separate strand of action that

:08:45. > :08:49.has been shown to be a valuable work that is being undertaken in Northern

:08:50. > :08:52.Ireland as he will be aware, just at the counter extremism strategy

:08:53. > :08:57.itself being developed is not applying to Northern Ireland.

:08:58. > :09:03.Internet-based propaganda does a huge amount of radicalisation and

:09:04. > :09:06.brainwashing of people living in the UK into planning atrocities or

:09:07. > :09:09.travelling abroad. As my honourable friend agree the additional

:09:10. > :09:15.resources invested into our security services, including GCHQ in my

:09:16. > :09:21.constituency, significantly enhances our ability to hunt this material

:09:22. > :09:26.down and move it? My honourable friend is absolutely right. I think

:09:27. > :09:29.it is important we have enhanced the resources going into our security

:09:30. > :09:34.and intelligence agencies. He has a particular interest in GCHQ given

:09:35. > :09:41.his constituency. The work they do there is very important. Of course,

:09:42. > :09:44.because of not just the issue of information and intelligence that

:09:45. > :09:48.might be helpful in relation to counterterrorism, but of course, the

:09:49. > :09:54.work they do in countering the cyber threat and cyber security threat we

:09:55. > :09:59.face. Many in Waltham Forest are extremely shocked there is a

:10:00. > :10:02.possibility someone who lived in our community could be involved in

:10:03. > :10:08.atrocities and they would want me to make it clear we do not consider

:10:09. > :10:15.he's directing our or Islam and we condemn utterly has ideas of action.

:10:16. > :10:17.-- we do not consider he represents our community for that there's

:10:18. > :10:21.growing kids out of individuals and families unfairly caught up in the

:10:22. > :10:25.necessary activities to keep our country safe. Will she meet with me

:10:26. > :10:28.and other MPs accepting the UK citizens who have been denied the

:10:29. > :10:32.right to travel to discuss there is and how we can reassure them that

:10:33. > :10:34.efforts to tackle terrorism are based on good intelligence and

:10:35. > :10:42.effective partnership, not prejudice? Firstly, can I thank the

:10:43. > :10:46.honourable lady for the remarks she made about her consistency in

:10:47. > :10:51.Waltham Forest and the condemnation of her constituents for the barbaric

:10:52. > :10:55.activities of Daesh and anyone involved in those barbaric

:10:56. > :10:59.activities. She asked me about the question of those who have been

:11:00. > :11:03.denied the opportunity to travel through the exercise of the world

:11:04. > :11:06.prerogative. I'm sure if she has particular cases she wishes to

:11:07. > :11:11.bring, the security minister would be happy to meet with her. I have to

:11:12. > :11:17.say, on the one hand her front bench are encouraging us to exercise

:11:18. > :11:20.greater powers and make greater use of the prevention of people from

:11:21. > :11:21.travelling while she is indicating concern about it. They often get

:11:22. > :11:32.their story straight. One of the chilling aspects of the

:11:33. > :11:36.latest Daesh video is the exploitation of a young child and on

:11:37. > :11:41.the issue of radicalising children, I wonder what progress has been made

:11:42. > :11:45.between the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Education to

:11:46. > :11:49.ensure that madrasahs are registered and even unregistered ones are

:11:50. > :11:56.monitored to safeguard our national way of life. Well, we have been

:11:57. > :12:05.working with the Department Farage in and the Secretary of State has

:12:06. > :12:09.been developing a scheme for registering madrasahs. -- the

:12:10. > :12:13.Department for Education. It is actually underway in relation to

:12:14. > :12:19.that issue. My honourable friend raises an issue which concerns

:12:20. > :12:24.people about children involved in Daesh in Iraq and Syria and those

:12:25. > :12:28.children who may be being taken away by their families and taken abroad

:12:29. > :12:32.to that environment. It is the case that in the last year there have

:12:33. > :12:35.been a significant number of instances where court powers were

:12:36. > :12:40.used to prevent families from going abroad. This is simply a

:12:41. > :12:46.safeguarding issue and local authorities are increasingly looking

:12:47. > :12:53.at the issue and taking action. When was the Home Secretary told that

:12:54. > :12:56.Siddhartha Dhar had reached -- breached his police bail conditions

:12:57. > :13:03.and what actions did she take as a consequence? I have been asked this

:13:04. > :13:07.question before and indicated that I'm not giving any indication in the

:13:08. > :13:15.Chamber today about particular individuals. It is the case that

:13:16. > :13:19.decisions on police bail are taken by the police and they decide the

:13:20. > :13:28.conditions of police bail and that is as it always has been. Many of my

:13:29. > :13:34.constituents tell me that they are not particularly perturbed by

:13:35. > :13:39.extremists leaving the country but very perturbed about them coming

:13:40. > :13:42.into the country and I wonder what the Home Secretary is doing to

:13:43. > :13:48.ensure that they are not allowed back into the country whether they

:13:49. > :13:52.are British citizens or not. We have taken a number of increased powers

:13:53. > :13:58.in relation to people who may be coming in to do us harm. We put the

:13:59. > :14:03.no-fly scheme on a statutory basis in legislation passed early last

:14:04. > :14:08.year. We also introduced in the same legislation the new temporary

:14:09. > :14:10.exclusion orders enabling us to manage the return of individuals of

:14:11. > :14:18.concern where they are British citizens and cannot be rendered

:14:19. > :14:22.stateless. But that is undertaken on a case-by-case basis. We also

:14:23. > :14:29.enhanced the ability of the Government to remove British

:14:30. > :14:34.citizens -- citizenship from those who might be in a position of having

:14:35. > :14:38.alternative citizenship so that we have increased our ability to remove

:14:39. > :14:43.citizenship where there is a concern about the threat they may have do

:14:44. > :14:52.the United Kingdom. Further to the question about the Shadow Home

:14:53. > :14:57.Secretary, can she confirm what increase she has made in border

:14:58. > :15:02.force staff to enable her to carry out full exit controls and when do

:15:03. > :15:05.she planned to have controls for those people that are returning and

:15:06. > :15:11.what implication will it have and how will she look after the issue of

:15:12. > :15:17.biometric passports when people are returning on that basis? If I could

:15:18. > :15:20.perhaps, I hope for the help of the House, the benefit of the House,

:15:21. > :15:25.there are assumptions about exit checks and the way they are

:15:26. > :15:29.undertaken which are inaccurate. It is not the case that every check

:15:30. > :15:32.will be undertaken by a Member of border force staff checking

:15:33. > :15:36.somebody's passport as they go through a point of exit, a lot of

:15:37. > :15:41.the information is gathered electronically and is therefore not

:15:42. > :15:49.necessary for border force staff to be evident to undertake that. -- to

:15:50. > :15:53.be available. As well as online propaganda, much planning takes

:15:54. > :15:57.place on the Internet for modern terrorism. She mentions the

:15:58. > :16:00.investigatory Powers Bill, is she determined to come to a workable

:16:01. > :16:07.arrangement with major Internet companies to ensure there is no safe

:16:08. > :16:13.space online to plot terror? Absolutely, we continue discussions

:16:14. > :16:17.with Internet companies on a variety of aspects, not least the

:16:18. > :16:21.forthcoming investigatory Powers Bill and the elements within that.

:16:22. > :16:26.It is important to work with Internet service providers who have

:16:27. > :16:29.a key role to play in this area, both in relation to propaganda that

:16:30. > :16:33.can appear on their systems, and also of course in relation to the

:16:34. > :16:41.response that they give to voluntary requests from the authorities. The

:16:42. > :16:44.Home Secretary will be aware of my concerns for exit checks following a

:16:45. > :16:49.situation where an individual was able to travel with a passport to

:16:50. > :16:53.Syria from my own constituency. Can she be absolutely clear about exit

:16:54. > :16:57.checks, are all individuals leaving the UK through a port of exit by

:16:58. > :17:02.commercial means being checked electronic we at the point of exit

:17:03. > :17:08.on their passport, yes or no? And if not why is it not considered? As I

:17:09. > :17:14.have indicated, the way in which information is being taken varies

:17:15. > :17:21.from Port of exit Duport of exit depending on how they are

:17:22. > :17:26.travelling, flights information is available to authorities as it has

:17:27. > :17:29.been for some time and they're rather specific swipes passports

:17:30. > :17:35.being taken elsewhere. All of the information is being held

:17:36. > :17:40.electronically. Does my honourable friend agree that it was quite right

:17:41. > :17:45.to conduct a review of the convention before adopting it before

:17:46. > :17:51.Christmas and the she agreed that cases like the one discussed today

:17:52. > :17:58.show that was the right decision? I think my honourable friend is right

:17:59. > :18:03.to point out that it was sensible to look at the proper business case for

:18:04. > :18:09.going in so that we weren't making a decision Macedon no evidence. It was

:18:10. > :18:12.clear that there were advantages. -- based on no evidence. The

:18:13. > :18:20.overwhelming majority of the house supported it and indeed it is right

:18:21. > :18:24.and will be a valuable tool. I'm not asking about the correctness of the

:18:25. > :18:28.decision to bail Siddhartha Dhar but what I would like to know is did the

:18:29. > :18:36.Home Secretary learn from Home Office officials, the police or the

:18:37. > :18:39.media that he absconded? I think there is somehow somewhere at you on

:18:40. > :18:45.the opposition benches that the Home Secretary spends all their time

:18:46. > :18:50.scouring the media or indeed anything else for the looking at

:18:51. > :18:56.individual cases. What I would say to the honourable lady is simply

:18:57. > :18:59.this, as I have said earlier, decisions as to whether somebody

:19:00. > :19:04.should be put on police bail are operational matters for the police.

:19:05. > :19:09.I receive regular security briefings from the police and from the

:19:10. > :19:18.security and intelligence agencies on individuals of concern and an

:19:19. > :19:21.high priority cases. I welcome what the Home Secretary has said about

:19:22. > :19:25.the Government 's work to stop Daesh poisoning the minds of young people

:19:26. > :19:31.with their perverted ideology. Will she join with me in praising

:19:32. > :19:36.community groups across the UK including Building Bridges in Pendle

:19:37. > :19:43.for their great work on interfaith cohesion. Across the UK there are

:19:44. > :19:50.many groups working very carefully and hard within communities to build

:19:51. > :19:56.bridges within their communities and I commend the organisation that he

:19:57. > :20:01.mention. One of the elements of the counter extremism strategy is to

:20:02. > :20:04.find ways in which we can help those community groups to further enhance

:20:05. > :20:13.the work they are doing to increase their voice so that it is a

:20:14. > :20:16.mainstream voice that is heard. I think the House and maybe even the

:20:17. > :20:22.public might be interested to know what interest the Home Secretary

:20:23. > :20:27.thinks she is protecting by refusing to tell us when she was advised that

:20:28. > :20:34.Siddhartha Dhar had absconded and whether not she did anything about

:20:35. > :20:45.it. I am not protecting any interests. Rubbish!! That's

:20:46. > :20:49.outrageous! Daesh represents such a serious threat because of their

:20:50. > :20:54.widespread use of technology and social media to radicalise people in

:20:55. > :20:58.their bedrooms on their smartphones, covertly but compellingly, sadly.

:20:59. > :21:05.Does she agree that security services and police need special

:21:06. > :21:08.powers to collect Internet connection records, bulk

:21:09. > :21:12.communication data, to protect the nation 's security and stay ahead of

:21:13. > :21:19.terrorists in this complex environment. I think my honourable

:21:20. > :21:25.friend has put her point extremely well. She is absolutely right. It is

:21:26. > :21:28.important that we are able to access Internet connection records and we

:21:29. > :21:33.are able to have the powers which of course we are hoping to introduce in

:21:34. > :21:36.the investigatory Powers Bill. It is right for the Government to

:21:37. > :21:40.continually look to see what further measures we need to take to enhance

:21:41. > :21:43.the powers of police and intelligence agencies to keep us a

:21:44. > :21:53.fan that is exactly what we're doing. -- to keep us safe and that

:21:54. > :21:58.is exactly what we are doing. Can the Home Secretary let us know when

:21:59. > :22:01.we will finally have the counter extremism strategy. I'm not able to

:22:02. > :22:06.give an absolute date for the honourable lady, but we hope to be

:22:07. > :22:10.in the position... The counter extremism strategy has actually been

:22:11. > :22:13.published but we are looking at the question of the legislation that we

:22:14. > :22:17.would undertake through that and of course the work of Louise Casey

:22:18. > :22:22.doing specific workaround cohesion in communities. That won't be

:22:23. > :22:25.available for some weeks, potentially months because the work

:22:26. > :22:29.is ongoing. And I would hope to be able to update the house soon in

:22:30. > :22:36.relation to large as that of proposals. Statement the Secretary

:22:37. > :22:51.of State for environment, food and rural affairs. Secretary Liz Truss.

:22:52. > :23:00.Thank you, colleagues. With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like

:23:01. > :23:05.to make a statement about the impact of storm Eva which brought flooding

:23:06. > :23:09.to the north of England between Christmas and the New Year. I want

:23:10. > :23:16.to express my deepest sympathy for all of those affected across the UK.

:23:17. > :23:20.The Prime Minister, ministers and I have visited the affected towns and

:23:21. > :23:23.communities and seen for ourselves the terrible impact that the

:23:24. > :23:27.flooding has had on homes and businesses in Lancashire and

:23:28. > :23:32.Yorkshire. I would like to pay tribute to the tireless work of the

:23:33. > :23:38.emergency services, the military, the Environment Agency, council

:23:39. > :23:43.workers, and other responders and volunteers. Many have not had time

:23:44. > :23:49.with their families over Christmas, and we have seen people come from as

:23:50. > :23:53.far afield as Norfolk and Somerset. The Met office confirmed today that

:23:54. > :23:59.we have had the wettest December in a century. In fact the North West

:24:00. > :24:03.face the wettest December on record. Later in the month rain fell on

:24:04. > :24:08.saturated ground. Meaning that all of the rivers in Lancashire were at

:24:09. > :24:11.record levels and Yorkshire rivers like the River Ayr and River wharf

:24:12. > :24:18.world to a higher they have ever been. This resulted in the flooding

:24:19. > :24:23.of around 9000 properties which together with earlier flooding in

:24:24. > :24:27.Cumbria brings the total to around 16,000 flooded properties in

:24:28. > :24:32.England. Whilst of little consolation to those who have been

:24:33. > :24:37.flooded, it's important to note that flood defences have protected over

:24:38. > :24:43.20,000 properties. In order to deal with the forecast rainfall I

:24:44. > :24:49.convened Cobra Mora on the 23rd of December and on Christmas Day. -- I

:24:50. > :24:53.convened Cobra meetings. The Environment Agency and the army work

:24:54. > :24:59.through the night to employ temporary defences, rescue boats and

:25:00. > :25:04.pumps whilst warning and informing residents. On Boxing Day I chaired a

:25:05. > :25:07.further Cobra meeting to assess the impact and ensure that local

:25:08. > :25:11.responders were receiving all of the support required to deal with the

:25:12. > :25:15.situation on this scale and gravity. That day I travelled to Yorkshire

:25:16. > :25:21.and Lancashire with the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency

:25:22. > :25:27.James Bevan, to ensure that all that could be done was being done. The

:25:28. > :25:31.Prime Minister chaired Cobra on the 27th of December and visited

:25:32. > :25:35.Yorkshire. Around 600 military personnel were deployed in support

:25:36. > :25:42.of the operations with a further 1000 on stand-by.

:25:43. > :25:52.The RAAF played a vital role in preparing the defences and using

:25:53. > :25:56.each in a helicopter. Since birdie past, our focus has been doing

:25:57. > :26:00.everything we can to help Yorkshire and Lancashire get back up and

:26:01. > :26:06.running. The Prime Minister announced that ?40,000 would be

:26:07. > :26:09.spent on repairing defences including ?10 million upgrading the

:26:10. > :26:13.Foss barrier with new pumps to ensure it can cope with higher

:26:14. > :26:20.volumes of water. We are providing ?60 million of help for local

:26:21. > :26:25.residents, businesses, and farmers. This help has been provided in

:26:26. > :26:31.record time. Storm Eva took place on the 26th of December and we make the

:26:32. > :26:35.first payments to local authorities on the 29th of December, so they can

:26:36. > :26:42.help businesses and residents straightaway. The speedy repair of

:26:43. > :26:47.the Tadcaster bridge is a national priority. Once we have identified a

:26:48. > :26:51.solution, the funding needed will be provided promptly. The Transport

:26:52. > :26:57.Minister and flood recovery envoy for Yorkshire is convening a meeting

:26:58. > :26:58.with local authorities, wider local representatives, and highways

:26:59. > :27:02.England experts in the coming days, England experts in the coming days,

:27:03. > :27:06.with the aim of finalising a plan early next week that can be put

:27:07. > :27:10.immediately into action. This will complement the work of the floods

:27:11. > :27:16.minister and floods envoy to Cumbria and Lancashire. Work is already

:27:17. > :27:21.under way on a six-year programme to upgrade flood defences. This

:27:22. > :27:25.investment of ?2.3 billion is a real terms increase on what was spent in

:27:26. > :27:33.the last parliament, which itself is a real terms increase on what was

:27:34. > :27:40.spent between 2005 and 2010. This includes ?280 million in Yorkshire

:27:41. > :27:45.and ?120 million in Lancashire. In January 2015, work commenced on a

:27:46. > :27:51.new ?33 million scheme to protect the centre of Leeds. Projects for

:27:52. > :27:56.the Humber, and Calderdale are in the pipeline. In the light of recent

:27:57. > :28:02.events, we have commenced a national flood resilience review. To ensure

:28:03. > :28:04.the country can deal with increasingly extreme weather events.

:28:05. > :28:10.This review will look at forecasting and modelling, resilience of key

:28:11. > :28:13.infrastructure, and the way we make decisions about flood expenditure.

:28:14. > :28:18.In particular, we will ensure that the needs scheme would cope with the

:28:19. > :28:23.new levels of rainfall we are now seeing. -- the Leeds scheme. The

:28:24. > :28:28.work of the natural committee, to which I have reappointed the chair,

:28:29. > :28:33.will complement this. It will further develop the catchment -based

:28:34. > :28:38.approach we are now using for our environment planning including

:28:39. > :28:41.slowing the flow upstream. Mr Speaker, I am sure that the whole

:28:42. > :28:46.house would join me in expressing our sincere sympathy to those who

:28:47. > :28:51.have been affected by these extreme weather conditions and subsequent

:28:52. > :28:55.flooding. The Government will continue to do what it takes to get

:28:56. > :29:04.these areas and running and prepare for future events. I commend this

:29:05. > :29:10.statement to the house. I thank the Secretary of State for her statement

:29:11. > :29:13.and I join her in paying tribute to the emergency services, the Armed

:29:14. > :29:17.Forces, and of course the efforts of the many staff at the Environment

:29:18. > :29:21.Agency and local authorities who came back from their lead over the

:29:22. > :29:28.festive period and the many, many volunteers that came to help. Last

:29:29. > :29:32.week, I visited the constituencies of York and Halifax. It is difficult

:29:33. > :29:37.to convey the devastation that we see in these communities, but our

:29:38. > :29:40.sympathy is not enough. The urgent priority is to ensure that people

:29:41. > :29:44.have a roof over their heads, can return to their own homes as soon as

:29:45. > :29:48.possible, and businesses, schools and other local services can reopen

:29:49. > :29:50.as soon as possible, and that the infrastructure is repaired and

:29:51. > :29:55.restored, but Mr Speaker, each time this happens, we are issued that the

:29:56. > :29:59.Government will learn the lesson, so I have if you questions for the

:30:00. > :30:01.Secretary of State. Was utilised by the Government choose to ignore

:30:02. > :30:05.warnings from the committee on climate change that it needed a

:30:06. > :30:07.strategy for the increasing number of homes that flood risk and the

:30:08. > :30:11.warning from the Association of local authorities that the cuts had

:30:12. > :30:14.put homes and businesses at risk, what action should did in October

:30:15. > :30:17.after Professor Colin Mellors warned that the authorities in Yorkshire

:30:18. > :30:21.would have to look where to discontinue maintenance because of

:30:22. > :30:25.cuts? Flood hit communities will want to know where the national

:30:26. > :30:29.resilience review was not instigated, and how is the public to

:30:30. > :30:33.have confidence in another Cabinet committee chaired by the Right

:30:34. > :30:36.Honourable member for West Dorset? What happened to his last one, which

:30:37. > :30:40.was set up to the Somerset floods, and then disappeared? Does she agree

:30:41. > :30:46.that it needs to be an independent review to have any credibility? If

:30:47. > :30:50.flood protections are a priority, why did the Coalition Government set

:30:51. > :30:54.up to cut flood spending by 10%? And why is this Government spending less

:30:55. > :31:00.this year than in 2010, when as was warned, year-on-year, real increases

:31:01. > :31:04.are needed to keep up with the growing risk? The Secretary of State

:31:05. > :31:08.has told us repeatedly about the ?3.2 billion capital budget over the

:31:09. > :31:11.next six years. Is she satisfied it takes into account the impact of

:31:12. > :31:15.previous capital comes to such schemes on that it is enough given

:31:16. > :31:18.all that the Government has underestimated the climate change

:31:19. > :31:23.risk and will she finally addressed the revenue budget? We still have no

:31:24. > :31:26.firm commitment on maintenance spending and on protecting an

:31:27. > :31:31.inadequate budget. The Secretary of State is hoping to step over a 2.5

:31:32. > :31:34.billion hole in the maintenance budget. If the Government going to

:31:35. > :31:38.commit to investigate owing pounds per year on the maintenance and

:31:39. > :31:41.strengthening of flood defences the environment has said is required to

:31:42. > :31:47.protect our communities? Every ?1 spent on flood protection saves ?8.

:31:48. > :31:50.The Secretary of State needs to remind the Chancellor of this. I

:31:51. > :31:53.know that the Secretary of State .net in the EU Solidarity fund and

:31:54. > :31:59.that I would be grateful if you would clarify why the Government has

:32:00. > :32:02.not so far applied to this. The natural environment must be central

:32:03. > :32:06.to any efforts to reduce flooding, but I'm yet to be convinced that the

:32:07. > :32:09.Government has undertaken a complete rethink the Environment Agency has

:32:10. > :32:11.said that we need and I would be grateful if she could tell us more

:32:12. > :32:15.about how she will work the land owners and managers for those

:32:16. > :32:19.upstream measures that are so badly needed. Rather than a sticking

:32:20. > :32:23.plaster response every time the floods hit, with vague promises and

:32:24. > :32:27.random numbers that are forgotten by spring, we need a long-term,

:32:28. > :32:30.coordinated approach. Our priority must be making sure the community in

:32:31. > :32:32.flood risk areas across the whole country do not injure another

:32:33. > :32:38.Christmas like this one and that needs leadership from her now. The

:32:39. > :32:42.Secretary of State. First of all, can I say that we have learned

:32:43. > :32:48.lessons from previous flooding incidents. That is why we were

:32:49. > :32:51.holding meetings of COBRA through Christmas. That is why we deploy the

:32:52. > :32:57.army immediately to support people on the ground and that is why we

:32:58. > :33:01.made sure that people's homes and lives where protected. That is why

:33:02. > :33:06.we made sure that 85% of all of the temporary flood assets were deployed

:33:07. > :33:09.in Yorkshire and Lancashire, in the immediate rescue effort. That was

:33:10. > :33:13.extremely important. We have also learned the lessons in terms of

:33:14. > :33:18.supporting communities, supporting those people who've been out of

:33:19. > :33:22.their houses, and I saw for myself the devastation, I saw the Christmas

:33:23. > :33:25.presents by the side of the street, I saw the very difficult

:33:26. > :33:30.circumstances people were in, and that is why, within three days, we

:33:31. > :33:33.had money in the local authority's bank accounts so they could help

:33:34. > :33:39.those communities get back on their feet. The honourable lady talks

:33:40. > :33:43.about long-term. The fact is, under the Labour Government, there was an

:33:44. > :33:51.annual budget process for flood defence spending. They spent ?1.5

:33:52. > :33:54.billion when they were in Government between 2005 and 2010. We are

:33:55. > :33:57.spending ?2 billion over the course of this Parliament and for the first

:33:58. > :34:03.time ever, we have set out a long-term programme of six years so

:34:04. > :34:08.those communities can have the security they need. That is why we

:34:09. > :34:12.are already building new flood defences in Leeds. That is why we

:34:13. > :34:18.are already planting trees right across the country to help slow the

:34:19. > :34:21.flow, but these things do take long-term decision-making, and they

:34:22. > :34:24.also take adequate funding. It is the fact that this Government has a

:34:25. > :34:30.long-term economic plan that we have been able to invest in our flood

:34:31. > :34:33.defences that means we are able to lay out the long-term programme, and

:34:34. > :34:38.the honourable lady asked about maintenance spending will stop we

:34:39. > :34:43.are increasing that in real terms. The Chancellor announced that in the

:34:44. > :34:47.Autumn Statement. It is ?171 million. It will go up in real

:34:48. > :34:51.terms, and what we are also doing is empowering local communities, so we

:34:52. > :34:56.have set up the Somerset Rivers authority, which the community

:34:57. > :35:00.secretary has given shadow presetting powers to. We're working

:35:01. > :35:03.on a Cumbrian partnership as well to make sure the local community are

:35:04. > :35:08.involved, but we are taking a long-term approach to dealing with

:35:09. > :35:13.these problems, rather than short-term point-scoring. The fact

:35:14. > :35:15.is that we have responded to this emergency very rapidly. We have

:35:16. > :35:21.learned the lessons from the past. People are now able to get those

:35:22. > :35:30.funds to repair their homes and get back into their homes and that is

:35:31. > :35:34.what is important. Mr Nigel Adams. I am very grateful to the Secretary of

:35:35. > :35:38.State and indeed the floods minister, the community secretary,

:35:39. > :35:40.and the Prime Minister, or visiting my district following the dreadful

:35:41. > :35:45.floods and offering their help and support. She suffered herself last

:35:46. > :35:49.week the aftermath of the partial collapse of Tadcaster Bridge. I am

:35:50. > :35:54.delighted that she has again reiterated that this replacement and

:35:55. > :35:58.repair is a national priority. I have been in regular contact with

:35:59. > :36:03.North Yorkshire County Council. They had been considering all options for

:36:04. > :36:07.a temporary solution across the river. Will she joined me in urging

:36:08. > :36:11.highways to ensure is solution is put in place as a matter of urgency,

:36:12. > :36:15.and make sure that North Yorkshire County Council and highways have all

:36:16. > :36:19.the necessary funding to do this, and that they also have the funding

:36:20. > :36:23.to start the repair of the collapsed bridge which may apparently take up

:36:24. > :36:29.to a year without delay so that the residents of East and West Tadcaster

:36:30. > :36:32.are reunited? Well, I thank my friend Mike for his question and can

:36:33. > :36:37.I pay tribute to him for all of the work that he has done in supporting

:36:38. > :36:41.his local community in Tadcaster. I visited local businesses with him.

:36:42. > :36:45.We saw the army, who had been there to help out. We saw a massive group

:36:46. > :36:49.of volunteers as well helping out at Tadcaster. I know people in the town

:36:50. > :36:52.are desperate to put the town together again so people can cross

:36:53. > :36:57.over into the other part of the town. It is an absolute priority for

:36:58. > :37:01.the Government. The flood envoys sitting here on the front bench. He

:37:02. > :37:05.is charged with coming up with a plan early next week to make sure

:37:06. > :37:14.that we get the bridge in place as soon as possible. Mr Calum Kerr.

:37:15. > :37:18.Banking, Mr Speaker. First of all, I would like to also paid tribute to

:37:19. > :37:20.the emergency services, volunteers, local authorities, and others who

:37:21. > :37:24.worked tirelessly over the holiday period to protect homes and help

:37:25. > :37:29.families left devastated by the floods. Scotland was, of course,

:37:30. > :37:36.extremely hard hit, although my SNP colleagues, and I truly appreciate,

:37:37. > :37:40.that devastation was caused across the UK and our sympathies are with

:37:41. > :37:43.everyone who was affected. The Scottish Government takes flood

:37:44. > :37:46.prevention very seriously. As we have seen, though, exceptional

:37:47. > :37:51.rainfall still presents huge challenges. The reduced financial

:37:52. > :37:54.award made to Scotland by this Government has forced ministers in

:37:55. > :38:00.Edinburgh to make difficult decisions. As a result of these

:38:01. > :38:03.cutbacks, Grant and aid provided to the Scottish Environmental

:38:04. > :38:07.Protection Agency has been reduced by 6%. However, Scottish ministers

:38:08. > :38:17.have ensured that the flood forecasting service, which is

:38:18. > :38:21.undertaken by CIPA, has had its funding protected in its entirety.

:38:22. > :38:26.It has also made crystal clear that flood prevention is not a CIPA

:38:27. > :38:29.responsibility. North of the border, local authorities have

:38:30. > :38:34.responsibility for this as part of their settlement. Councils have

:38:35. > :38:38.historically received strong support from the Scottish Government. The

:38:39. > :38:44.flood management act was passed by the Scottish parliament in 2009, and

:38:45. > :38:49.a further 42 pretension -- protection schemes are now proposed

:38:50. > :38:51.on top of the current 21. On top of this, and extra foam brilliant

:38:52. > :38:58.pounds has been directed to prevent flooding. -- an extra ?4 million.

:38:59. > :39:01.All in all, this is the competence All in all, this is the competence

:39:02. > :39:09.of response. Now, there are certainly seems to be... As the

:39:10. > :39:13.third party, you are entitled to make a statement, and we have so far

:39:14. > :39:16.heard no mention of Scotland. All in all, it is a copper heads of

:39:17. > :39:22.response, and there certainly seems to be less scepticism about the

:39:23. > :39:26.actions of the agency in Scotland than we have seen in England. At the

:39:27. > :39:31.weekend, I received an e-mail from my cousin Kirsty who lives in

:39:32. > :39:35.Yorkshire. She told me her community felt angry and powerless at what it

:39:36. > :39:41.sees as a completely ineffective response. She said to me that the

:39:42. > :39:46.Tory Government had completely failed them and she believes they

:39:47. > :39:51.will continue to feel her. If it is not in London or the Home Counties,

:39:52. > :39:57.they don't care. That is not the response felt in Scotland. Order,

:39:58. > :40:02.order! Let me try to help the honourable gentleman. Two points. I

:40:03. > :40:05.am being very fair-minded about it. First, representing the third party,

:40:06. > :40:10.the honourable gentleman certainly does has and rightly has longer than

:40:11. > :40:14.backbenchers. That has always been the case and it will always be the

:40:15. > :40:18.case and I will protect his rights and those of his colleagues.

:40:19. > :40:24.Secondly, I know use it as a figure of speech, he does not have a right

:40:25. > :40:27.to make a statement, as he puts it. What he has a right to do a slightly

:40:28. > :40:31.greater length than his colleagues is to mix of opening remarks by way

:40:32. > :40:35.of response to the Secretary of State. But that does need to be

:40:36. > :40:39.followed speedily by a series of questions and all of that needs to

:40:40. > :40:47.take, I think, no more than two minutes. Antique is considerably

:40:48. > :40:52.longer than that. These are very sensitive matters and I have no

:40:53. > :40:57.desire to Spall -- to spoil the honourable gentleman is my

:40:58. > :41:02.responsibility today -- opportunity today, but he does need to get to

:41:03. > :41:11.the point. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the guidance. It is

:41:12. > :41:14.appreciated. Friends of the Earth Scotland is one organisation that

:41:15. > :41:22.agrees that flood prevention is a higher priority north of the border.

:41:23. > :41:29.I would ask if the Secretary of State could reflect on the Scottish

:41:30. > :41:34.experience and the comprehensive approach to flood prevention and if

:41:35. > :41:37.there are lessons learned for her. Will she ensure my cousin Kirsty and

:41:38. > :41:46.communities like hers that this Government really does care. As the

:41:47. > :41:49.House is aware this is a devolved matter and we have been working very

:41:50. > :41:53.closely with the Scottish authorities to make sure that we

:41:54. > :42:00.share information and expertise while this is happening. We are

:42:01. > :42:05.doing all we can to help the people of Yorkshire get back on their feet

:42:06. > :42:08.as soon as the, and that is why the financial support was made available

:42:09. > :42:19.within three days of the flooding taking place. I wonder what the

:42:20. > :42:23.record is in Scotland. In paying tribute to the emergency services,

:42:24. > :42:27.the army and Environment Agency, York City Council and the huge

:42:28. > :42:32.number of volunteers but the speed in which they acted and work

:42:33. > :42:36.together in New York at what was a difficult time to the City. Other

:42:37. > :42:39.utilities were slower to react, such as telecommunications that went down

:42:40. > :42:51.in your and hinder communications across the City. -- down in York.

:42:52. > :42:56.What will she do to ensure that other utilities react speedily? Can

:42:57. > :43:00.I pay tribute to my honourable friend for the work he has done and

:43:01. > :43:12.it was good to meet him at the Environment Agency's headquarters in

:43:13. > :43:14.New -- in York. Such as the Tadcaster Bridge, it carries

:43:15. > :43:20.critical communications infrastructure. DCM S, part of

:43:21. > :43:30.Cobra, and we have expedited getting services backed up and running. My

:43:31. > :43:34.constituency and neighbouring constituencies were devastated by

:43:35. > :43:37.the Boxing Day floods. Would the Secretary of State join me in

:43:38. > :43:41.thanking the army of volunteers that came to help and played an

:43:42. > :43:46.instrumental role in the clear up and also agreed to meet with me and

:43:47. > :43:51.representatives from the council to discuss as we have mentioned those

:43:52. > :43:59.bridges and infrastructure projects that are now essential. I thank the

:44:00. > :44:06.honourable lady and she is right, the valley was badly affected. We do

:44:07. > :44:10.have schemes in the pipeline for Hebden Bridge and I will look to

:44:11. > :44:14.make sure that they are sufficient as part of the review we are

:44:15. > :44:18.conducting. The Transport Secretary is conducting a review of all of the

:44:19. > :44:25.affected infrastructure to make sure we get back on track. The honourable

:44:26. > :44:38.lady can rest assured that Elland is on the list. Hebden Bridge and

:44:39. > :44:42.others are communities hit by floods but in some cases decimated by

:44:43. > :44:48.floods and this is just three and a half years after the last floods.

:44:49. > :44:52.Over 2000 homes have been hit. As my noble friend has said, will the

:44:53. > :44:56.Secretary of State join with us in paying a huge tribute to not just

:44:57. > :45:03.the dozens of volunteers but the hundreds of volunteers who came from

:45:04. > :45:08.all over the UK. In light of the current undertones of Islamophobia

:45:09. > :45:18.in our country pay a special tribute to the small armies of young Asian

:45:19. > :45:22.men and women, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu who came with all sorts and

:45:23. > :45:27.played a huge part in the recovery process. I thank my honourable

:45:28. > :45:34.friend for his question and we talked on Boxing Day because of

:45:35. > :45:38.course it was such a hard-hit area. Making sure that we have the right

:45:39. > :45:42.support in place for those communities was vitally important.

:45:43. > :45:47.He is absolutely right to highlight the community spirit that we saw

:45:48. > :45:51.right across Yorkshire and the colder valley. And all of the people

:45:52. > :46:00.that came from around the country. It has been tremendous and I praise

:46:01. > :46:03.them for their work. I thank the public sector workers and incredible

:46:04. > :46:08.volunteers for the outstanding support they gave residents and

:46:09. > :46:12.businesses in York over Christmas. Successive reports over many years

:46:13. > :46:17.by the Environment Agency and City Council highlighted the risks of the

:46:18. > :46:21.river Foss barrier in York not managing the capacity of water in

:46:22. > :46:26.the River Foss at times such as this. Why weren't barrier pumps

:46:27. > :46:30.upgraded when the concern has been highlighted for years. It could have

:46:31. > :46:35.saved hundreds of homes and businesses from flooding. I thank

:46:36. > :46:39.the honourable lady for her question and I was pleased to meet her also

:46:40. > :46:45.at the Environment Agency offices in York. The Foss barrier was under

:46:46. > :46:49.review at the time of the incident and the Prime Minister has said that

:46:50. > :46:56.he was banned ?10 million of Government money upgrading that

:46:57. > :47:00.barrier. -- he will spend. To make sure it has sufficient pumping

:47:01. > :47:04.capacity to deal with additional volumes. What we are facing with all

:47:05. > :47:08.of the rivers across Lancashire and Yorkshire is higher flows than we

:47:09. > :47:11.have ever seen before so we need to look at defences in light of that

:47:12. > :47:17.and make an initial commitment to upgrade pumps at the Foss barrier

:47:18. > :47:25.and also look more widely to ensure we are sufficiently resilient to

:47:26. > :47:29.deal with new weather challenges. In the review that my right honourable

:47:30. > :47:33.friend is carrying out can I ask her to ignore one piece of work and read

:47:34. > :47:37.two others. The Public Accounts Committee in the last Parliament had

:47:38. > :47:46.a report which more or less trashed the pit to review -- Piatti review.

:47:47. > :47:55.It was a good piece of work. Droughts and floods toward a more

:47:56. > :47:59.holistic approach. A paper has arrived in my inbox today called

:48:00. > :48:06.flood defence, time for a radical rethink. Talking about natural

:48:07. > :48:09.capital and whole catchments and that is fundamental to understanding

:48:10. > :48:15.weather patterns that we now have to cope with. I thank my noble friend

:48:16. > :48:19.for his question and can I pay tribute to the work he did as

:48:20. > :48:26.flooding minister. He is absolutely right. This same paper arrived in my

:48:27. > :48:35.inbox today and I have read it and it makes excellent suggestions and

:48:36. > :48:38.that is why we have appointed him to look at these catchment specific

:48:39. > :48:51.solutions and it is a very important part of how we become more resilient

:48:52. > :48:55.as a country. In 2011 the flood defence scheme, the ?180 million

:48:56. > :48:59.scheme that was planned for Leeds was cut by her predecessor which

:49:00. > :49:07.would have protected businesses. The new scheme planned for Leeds to be

:49:08. > :49:13.completed by 2017 will only protect the City from one in 75 years event

:49:14. > :49:18.and will do nothing the businesses on that road and can she look again

:49:19. > :49:23.to make sure that the scheme is now included as she looks at the

:49:24. > :49:28.resilience review? I thank the honourable lady for her question and

:49:29. > :49:32.I would point out that the proposal of the Labour Party going into the

:49:33. > :49:37.2010 election was to halve the amount that they were going to spend

:49:38. > :49:44.on capital spending. And actually we increased flood defence spending

:49:45. > :49:49.from ?1.5 billion to ?1.7 billion in that period. I have already said I

:49:50. > :49:53.will look at the Leeds scheme to make sure it is sufficiently

:49:54. > :49:57.resilient for the new conditions we are now facing and I'm very happy to

:49:58. > :50:04.meet the honourable lady and her colleagues to discuss it further. I

:50:05. > :50:09.declare an interest living 15 feet from the river air and I spent

:50:10. > :50:13.Boxing Day sandbagged into my house and I thank her for her telephone

:50:14. > :50:17.call and concern for my constituency. We have been one of

:50:18. > :50:21.the most flood prone areas of Britain and this time we were a

:50:22. > :50:24.little better off. Can she assure me that in any review of defence

:50:25. > :50:30.funding that has been announced for the Humber estuary and tribute trees

:50:31. > :50:36.will not be affected and secondly, can we please look at the policy of

:50:37. > :50:40.moving water as quickly as possible from the upper catchment down to

:50:41. > :50:44.people in the lower catchment in my area where we are already below sea

:50:45. > :50:54.level and have two pumped daily and be defended by ten foot banks. --

:50:55. > :50:58.have to pump. I was happy to speak to my honourable friend to make sure

:50:59. > :51:02.he had sufficient sandbags in his area. I agree that we need to look

:51:03. > :51:07.at catchment management and that is what the natural capital committee

:51:08. > :51:11.will be looking at. We have already seen successful pilots, for example

:51:12. > :51:16.the slow the flow project in Pickering in Yorkshire and that was

:51:17. > :51:19.effective. We need to make sure we are putting those measures in the

:51:20. > :51:25.right places and that requires whole catchment management, and analysis

:51:26. > :51:31.and it does take time. I completely agree that it's an important piece

:51:32. > :51:34.of work that we need to get on with. It's a pleasure to welcome back the

:51:35. > :51:40.honourable lady, the Member for Leeds West. Thank you for the

:51:41. > :51:44.welcome. The flood envoy for Yorkshire suggested in the Yorkshire

:51:45. > :51:49.evening Post today that the scheme that would have protected Kirkstall

:51:50. > :51:54.was indeed going to be reinstated, but that is not my understanding.

:51:55. > :51:56.Can the Secretary of State give us some indication about whether the

:51:57. > :52:01.scheme will be resurrected because if it was in place, businesses on

:52:02. > :52:05.that road would not have been devastated by the floods on Boxing

:52:06. > :52:11.Day. We cannot allow this to happen again. What will the Minister do? I

:52:12. > :52:15.thank the honourable lady for her question. As I mentioned in my

:52:16. > :52:21.statement the levels of water on the River air were a metre higher than

:52:22. > :52:25.they have ever been before. We have seen simply unprecedented levels of

:52:26. > :52:30.River. In that light, I am going to be reviewing and we are as a

:52:31. > :52:34.Government going to be reviewing the Leeds scheme to make sure it is

:52:35. > :52:43.sufficient to protect businesses and communities in Leeds. On Boxing Day,

:52:44. > :52:49.my constituency of South Ribble suffered bread flooding with the

:52:50. > :52:54.village of crossed and being the worst affected. -- widespread

:52:55. > :52:58.flooding. I would like to pay tribute to the emergency services,

:52:59. > :53:05.and particularly the arrow flood group who pulled together an amazing

:53:06. > :53:08.effort to protect Croston. -- Yarrow. Can my right honourable

:53:09. > :53:13.friend confirmed that there will be a review of River and water course

:53:14. > :53:18.maintenance across Lancashire including in the constituency of my

:53:19. > :53:26.honourable friend and neighbour for the Ribble Valley, and dredging will

:53:27. > :53:29.be part of the review. I thank my honourable friend for her question

:53:30. > :53:34.and can I pay tribute to the work she did in making sure that we had

:53:35. > :53:41.all of the right information on the ground in Croston and we saw support

:53:42. > :53:48.from the RAF, from the Environment Agency, to keep the village

:53:49. > :53:53.protected. In answer to her question, we are looking at the

:53:54. > :53:58.issue. Specifically in Cumbria. And my honourable friend the floods

:53:59. > :54:08.Minister will be pleased to meet her to extend those efforts into

:54:09. > :54:14.Lancashire. The Environment Secretary is aware that of the 1086

:54:15. > :54:20.projects in the environment development programme almost 519 are

:54:21. > :54:23.waiting for approval subject to securing other funding

:54:24. > :54:28.contributions. At the moment those funding contributions that are

:54:29. > :54:32.lacking amount to ?350 million and yet these programmes are supposed to

:54:33. > :54:40.start in two months. How will the Government ensure that these works

:54:41. > :54:45.go ahead? I thank the honourable gentleman for his question. One of

:54:46. > :54:50.the successes of the flood defence programme is securing additional

:54:51. > :54:55.money through partnership funding. From 2005 to 2010 we saw 13 million

:54:56. > :54:58.under the Labour Government whereas under the last Conservative

:54:59. > :55:04.Government we got 134 million and under this Government we have

:55:05. > :55:14.already secured 250 million and we have plans in place for additional

:55:15. > :55:19.funding. Would my right honourable friend asked the National flood

:55:20. > :55:26.resilience review to look at where we build houses in this country?

:55:27. > :55:30.Increasingly we are building them in flood plains and areas which local

:55:31. > :55:34.people know flood and it seems that we are building a bigger and bigger

:55:35. > :55:37.problem in the future. Would she asked the review to co-ordinated

:55:38. > :55:38.with the Department of local Government to see where we build

:55:39. > :55:50.houses in the future? I thank my honourable friend for his

:55:51. > :55:56.question. The national policy planning framework makes it very

:55:57. > :56:00.clear that inappropriate development on flood plains should be avoided,

:56:01. > :56:04.but ultimately, this is a decision for local people to make, as is the

:56:05. > :56:12.case throughout the planning system. Tim McLaren. I thank the Secretary

:56:13. > :56:14.of State for a advance copy of statement and indeed for her

:56:15. > :56:20.activities and efforts over the Christmas period and those of her

:56:21. > :56:24.ministers. It has not gone unnoticed, and in paying tribute to

:56:25. > :56:27.the emergency services and volunteers across the country,

:56:28. > :56:30.particularly the mountain rescue services, we stand in solidarity

:56:31. > :56:38.with all of those who have suffered this flood. It will be a month today

:56:39. > :56:47.since storm Desmond hit Cumbria. First, the A591 remains closed and

:56:48. > :56:50.destroyed an impassable. Can she make this a national strategic

:56:51. > :56:55.priority and ensure that it is reopened as quickly as is humanly

:56:56. > :56:58.possible? The Costa Cumbria of infrastructure lost will be ?500

:56:59. > :57:02.million. Will this Government commit to fund every penny of that to make

:57:03. > :57:07.sure that we get back on our feet and will she commit to whole system

:57:08. > :57:12.flood prevention measures including the restoration of the River Kent

:57:13. > :57:21.flood defence scheme, which is currently shelved? I thank the jack

:57:22. > :57:26.for his question. On the A591, that is a national priority and highways

:57:27. > :57:30.England are working on that at the moment to get that restored as soon

:57:31. > :57:35.as possible. That is extremely important. The Transport Secretary

:57:36. > :57:39.is with me here today, so I am sure he has taken that on board.

:57:40. > :57:43.Similarly, the other infrastructure we will also be looking at the

:57:44. > :57:46.funding of that. In terms of the wider solutions, that is a priority

:57:47. > :57:51.for the Government. This is something specifically the natural

:57:52. > :57:54.capital committee are looking at and in terms of developing our plans for

:57:55. > :57:59.the environment, we are now developing those on a river basin

:58:00. > :58:06.and catchment bases. That is the way we look at the environment so we are

:58:07. > :58:09.not looking at it in silos or biodiversity or farming. We are

:58:10. > :58:17.looking at it together as a single plan. Mr Martin Vickers. Thank you,

:58:18. > :58:21.Mr Speaker. Fortunately, my constituency was not affected on

:58:22. > :58:25.this occasion, but my honourable friend will remember the tidal surge

:58:26. > :58:28.which caused major problems to residents and businesses

:58:29. > :58:34.particularly on the strategically important port of Immingham. She

:58:35. > :58:38.mentioned that allocations for the Humber. Can she give an assurance

:58:39. > :58:44.they will not slip and when will she be in a position to give more

:58:45. > :58:49.detail? Well, I thank my honourable friend for his question and in

:58:50. > :58:52.response to his and my other honourable friend's question, yes,

:58:53. > :59:00.that scheme is absolutely on track and we are committed to it. The book

:59:01. > :59:03.is, understandably, has to be how to make good the damage to lives and

:59:04. > :59:18.livelihoods that we are currently seeing, but good I asked -- could I

:59:19. > :59:24.ask about birdie. She has said that the status quo is not sustainable.

:59:25. > :59:27.The worst reaction to the current crisis would be more of the same.

:59:28. > :59:34.Will she take on board the lessons that Deeta Helm has put in front of

:59:35. > :59:39.us, particularly the need to look at Rivers and genuine water catchment

:59:40. > :59:41.management, including land use modifications where appropriate. How

:59:42. > :59:47.deep will she go in her thinking about a radical review of her

:59:48. > :59:53.approach? I thank the honourable gentleman for his question. The

:59:54. > :59:56.appointment of Deeta Helm was made in December, so we are currently

:59:57. > :00:01.working on the terms of reference for the committee for the next five

:00:02. > :00:06.years. But combining this with our 25 year plan for the environment,

:00:07. > :00:11.making sure we're looking at things on the basis of river basins and

:00:12. > :00:15.catchment is a great priority, because we need to spend Government

:00:16. > :00:20.money more effectively. We need to understand better the interactions

:00:21. > :00:25.between our environment measures, flood risk, and flood management,

:00:26. > :00:29.and that is very important. What I would say is this is not something

:00:30. > :00:33.that can be achieved overnight. It takes thinking over a number of

:00:34. > :00:38.years, measures like planting trees, putting in upstream measures, takes

:00:39. > :00:42.time and building up blood measures takes time so that is why it is also

:00:43. > :00:46.important that we have a very strong emergency response effort as well.

:00:47. > :00:49.But we are thinking about those things over the long term. That is

:00:50. > :00:52.why we have set up a six-year plan for flood defences for the first

:00:53. > :00:56.time ever. That is why we are working on a 25 year environment

:00:57. > :01:06.than, so we do have that in place for the future. Mr Stewart Andrew.

:01:07. > :01:11.Thank you. I also pay tribute to all those who worked so hard to reopen

:01:12. > :01:15.roads and rail use that many of my constituents use, and I'm sure that

:01:16. > :01:23.all of my colleagues would like to discuss the lead -- the lead scheme,

:01:24. > :01:28.but I am sure that emergency funds could be used to revive the Leeds

:01:29. > :01:34.scheme, and I wonder that would be possible? That is something I would

:01:35. > :01:41.need to look into, but I am extremely happy to include him in a

:01:42. > :01:44.meeting of Leeds MPs. Yvette Cooper. I am very grateful to the emergency

:01:45. > :01:49.services, the army, and the Wakefield Council for turning out at

:01:50. > :01:52.all hours in cattle, in Ferrybridge and other areas when floodwaters

:01:53. > :01:58.threatened. Can I ask her to confirm that a review will cover the entire

:01:59. > :02:01.valley including Leeds and Castleford as well, and does she now

:02:02. > :02:10.accept that her Government was wrong to cancel parts of the Leeds Lodge

:02:11. > :02:14.defence scheme because we would not tolerate, rightly, inadequate

:02:15. > :02:16.defences in our capital city, we shouldn't tolerate inadequate

:02:17. > :02:24.defences in our northern cities and towns as well? I completely agree

:02:25. > :02:27.with her. Protecting cities like Leeds is absolutely vital, which is

:02:28. > :02:32.why have committed to looking at the current scheme and making sure it is

:02:33. > :02:36.adequate, given the new levels of rainfall and river levels that we

:02:37. > :02:39.are seeing. But it is important to note that in Yorkshire and in fact

:02:40. > :02:48.the north and east region, we will be investing ?54 per head over the

:02:49. > :02:53.next six years compared to ?42 per head in the South East region, so we

:02:54. > :02:56.are investing more in the North and East of England and in fact

:02:57. > :03:00.Yorkshire does have many scheme is happening, the Humber has been

:03:01. > :03:08.mentioned, but also the scheme in Leeds. Mr Nigel Evans. I would like

:03:09. > :03:12.to pay tribute as well to the countless numbers of people who gave

:03:13. > :03:17.up the Christmases in an amazing display of selfless humanity in

:03:18. > :03:26.helping during the floods. And when she came to the Valley, she not only

:03:27. > :03:31.saw the devastation, but also she saw many people who do not have the

:03:32. > :03:37.luxury of choice. That is the choice between paying eye watering levels

:03:38. > :03:42.for premiums for insurance with massive excess, or going on holiday.

:03:43. > :03:45.The choices that the either spend the money on living, if they are on

:03:46. > :03:50.low incomes, or on premiums for flood insurance if they can get it.

:03:51. > :03:54.So what I am asking her is to look again, we know the new insurance

:03:55. > :03:57.scheme is coming in April, but that does not help the people who are

:03:58. > :04:01.hurting now. Can she give an assurance that she will look at the

:04:02. > :04:05.levels of people who were not insured during these floods, and

:04:06. > :04:12.that extra financial support will be given to them where necessary? I

:04:13. > :04:18.thank my honourable friend for his question and I was very struck by

:04:19. > :04:22.what he showed me in the village and the way that people have been

:04:23. > :04:30.affected and the fact that the river had diverted and became a torrent

:04:31. > :04:36.down the street and we saw people's homes and possessions that had been

:04:37. > :04:40.decimated and it was truly shocking and we will do all we can to help

:04:41. > :04:44.those people get back on their feet, get back into their homes. That is

:04:45. > :04:49.why we have provided funding to the local authority and those people can

:04:50. > :04:53.apply for that funding, and we have pre-funded it, so it is a much

:04:54. > :04:56.simpler scheme than before. Rather than people having to get receipts,

:04:57. > :05:04.they can apply directly to the Council for that funding. Caroline

:05:05. > :05:07.Lucas. I am very glad to hear the Secretary of State's support for

:05:08. > :05:11.catchment wide approaches and far more natural flood management

:05:12. > :05:15.schemes based on restoration of landscape. She mentioned the

:05:16. > :05:17.Pickering scheme. I would also highlight the Sussex flow

:05:18. > :05:20.initiative. Those schemes work but they often struggle to get funding,

:05:21. > :05:23.so scanty tellers how much money she will commit to natural flood

:05:24. > :05:27.management schemes over the lifetime of this Parliament and will it be in

:05:28. > :05:41.addition to the 3 billion already committed? I thank the honourable

:05:42. > :05:48.lady for her point. Across Defra, we spend money on various things such

:05:49. > :05:51.as countryside stewardship for farmers and on flood defences. My

:05:52. > :05:55.view is that we can get better value for that money by making sure that

:05:56. > :05:59.we are both improving the environment and improving our

:06:00. > :06:03.resilience to flooding, so for me, this is about how we spend our money

:06:04. > :06:13.better and how we plan better for the future. Alex Shell Brooke. I

:06:14. > :06:17.would like to thank the Secretary of State for coming to my constituency,

:06:18. > :06:22.next door. In Collingham, the Avenue was flooded by coming over the top

:06:23. > :06:25.of the flood defences, and I would like to put on record my thanks for

:06:26. > :06:30.the work everyone did in trying to sort that out. In the south of my

:06:31. > :06:34.constituency, the Environment Agency's plan to hold the water in

:06:35. > :06:40.the former's field worked, but the water was lapping at the doorsteps

:06:41. > :06:43.of many houses. Can I urge my honourable friend to be very careful

:06:44. > :06:47.about scheme is being put in place in Leeds which are only designed to

:06:48. > :06:52.go to Woodall scored further upstream because that extra water

:06:53. > :06:55.would have taken out hundreds of homes in my constituency which

:06:56. > :06:57.survive this and therefore can I ask at the earliest opportunity that are

:06:58. > :07:01.honourable friend for Scarborough and Whitby can make an appearance

:07:02. > :07:06.and come along to my constituency so I can show exactly what the effects

:07:07. > :07:12.of schemes for the drop in Leeds could have, devastating effects. I

:07:13. > :07:15.thank my honourable friend crisis point and I think he is again

:07:16. > :07:20.highlighting the need for catchment wide management to make sure it is

:07:21. > :07:24.managed properly right across the catchment as well as meeting my

:07:25. > :07:27.friend the floods envoy, can I also suggest a direct meeting with the

:07:28. > :07:35.Environment Agency would also be helpful. Can I draw the house's

:07:36. > :07:40.attention to my area of interest? In paying tribute to all of those who

:07:41. > :07:45.gave up a lot of time, put their lives at risk, in a lot of hard work

:07:46. > :07:49.in saving people, I was frustrated to see the site of people being

:07:50. > :07:53.hauled into small, inflatable dinghy is, simply because the professionals

:07:54. > :07:57.that we rely on did not have the necessary kit. There are vehicles

:07:58. > :08:05.available that can drive down the street and get people, 15 people at

:08:06. > :08:09.a time, that is out there readily. Will she agree to meet with me and

:08:10. > :08:17.representatives of the professional heavy recovery vehicle industry? I

:08:18. > :08:21.thank the honourable gentleman are his point. It is very important that

:08:22. > :08:24.we deploy the best possible kit. There was a big effort on Christmas

:08:25. > :08:29.Day to make sure that we were deploying that kit into Lancashire

:08:30. > :08:32.and Yorkshire to protect people, and we do have to rely on those in

:08:33. > :08:38.charge of the operations, the local gold command, to make the decisions

:08:39. > :08:40.about how to deploy kit, but my honourable friend the floods

:08:41. > :08:43.minister is very happy to meet with the get smacked to discuss how we

:08:44. > :08:50.might do things better in the future. Can I thank the Secretary of

:08:51. > :08:54.State, the floods minister, and the honourable member for Stockton South

:08:55. > :08:58.for their support during the floods that decimated my constituency, and

:08:59. > :09:01.rapidly to the requests for rapidly to the requests for

:09:02. > :09:05.assistance in terms of getting the army in to help? Can the Secretary

:09:06. > :09:08.of State tell me what additional support can be given to the many

:09:09. > :09:12.businesses and homes trying to get back on their feet again after the

:09:13. > :09:15.floods, particularly as the honourable member for Ribble Valley

:09:16. > :09:21.said, those who were struggling with insurance claims. Can she tell us

:09:22. > :09:24.how much will be put in place to help build the flood defences in the

:09:25. > :09:34.Shipley constituency, and will she join me in paying tribute to the

:09:35. > :09:38.magnificent army of volunteers, who gave up so much of their Christmas

:09:39. > :09:43.to help other people and also their employers who allowed them time off

:09:44. > :09:48.work to help in those communities? Can I thank my honourable friend for

:09:49. > :09:55.all of his work in making sure that his local community had all the

:09:56. > :09:56.support that they needed, but also to the fantastic volunteers who

:09:57. > :10:01.worked tirelessly through the Christmas period and a very

:10:02. > :10:06.difficult time of year who've given up their time and homes and who are

:10:07. > :10:11.also provided food and lodging for other people. I am very happy to

:10:12. > :10:16.have further discussions with the honourable gentleman about what

:10:17. > :10:25.needs to be done to make sure the defences are adequate in his area.

:10:26. > :10:29.Many families businesses and communities in my constituency have

:10:30. > :10:35.been severely affected by flooding caused by Storm Frank. Could I ask

:10:36. > :10:40.the Secretary of State what discussions she has had with local

:10:41. > :10:45.authorities in Scotland about an EU Solidarity fund application to

:10:46. > :10:50.ensure flood victims are assisted in Scotland and the rest of the UK. I

:10:51. > :10:54.thank the honourable gentleman for his question. We have been working

:10:55. > :10:58.closely with Scottish authorities during this incident. We will look

:10:59. > :11:02.at the Solidarity fund as he suggests but it would take seven

:11:03. > :11:09.months to actually receive any funding. We have been able to put in

:11:10. > :11:14.place funding directly to local authorities so that residents and

:11:15. > :11:20.businesses can now claim the funding up to ?5,000 to get their home or

:11:21. > :11:24.business back on its feet. What I care about is making sure that we

:11:25. > :11:31.get the support to those homes and businesses as soon as in. That is

:11:32. > :11:43.the priority of this Government. -- as soon as possible. I would like to

:11:44. > :11:47.give a bit of optimism, from a report fed in from the Somerset

:11:48. > :11:50.levels I can report that the Government protection and prevention

:11:51. > :11:56.programme that was put in place following the devastating floods in

:11:57. > :12:03.Somerset in 2013 /4 team is working. The dredging is proving effective.

:12:04. > :12:09.And river levels fell by two feet and the pumping is in operation.

:12:10. > :12:14.Could I have assurances that the Government will continue to support

:12:15. > :12:16.this prevention work including really important wider catchment

:12:17. > :12:21.environmental work so that we don't regress and go backwards again. I

:12:22. > :12:28.thank my honourable friend for her question. The Somerset Rivers

:12:29. > :12:33.authority is now established and the Communities Secretary has now agreed

:12:34. > :12:37.a shadow precept. The important point is that now decision for local

:12:38. > :12:42.people about where to dredge and when and how to maintain

:12:43. > :12:46.watercourses, and I want to see more of that across the country. We are

:12:47. > :12:49.developing the Cumbrian floods partnership so that local people can

:12:50. > :12:59.make decisions about what is best for their area. The a 590 came close

:13:00. > :13:04.to flooding again over the Christmas storms. Will she besiege the

:13:05. > :13:09.Transport Secretary to her left of the urgent need to improve the

:13:10. > :13:16.anti-flooding measures on that stretch of this crucial byline

:13:17. > :13:22.connecting my constituency to the M6 and if it is the case that there is,

:13:23. > :13:28.as I understand, a particular landowner holding out and needing

:13:29. > :13:35.compulsory purchase, will she besiege the Transport Secretary to

:13:36. > :13:40.step in. My honourable friend the Transport Secretary is happy to look

:13:41. > :13:46.at it. Planning has a crucial role in flood prevention. Will the

:13:47. > :13:50.Secretary of State join me in pleading with Kirklees Council who

:13:51. > :13:58.are currently consulting on their local plan, before they rubber-stamp

:13:59. > :14:02.allocated greenfield sites for house-building, they seriously think

:14:03. > :14:10.about the implications for flood prevention further down the valleys.

:14:11. > :14:21.I thank my honourable friend for his question. The Environment Agency are

:14:22. > :14:25.statutory consul T 's, and it is clear that inappropriate development

:14:26. > :14:32.should be avoided. And ultimately it is a matter for the local authority.

:14:33. > :14:37.In October 2015 the Secretary of In October 2015 the Secretary of

:14:38. > :14:42.State turned down ?1.2 billion Humber tidal defence scheme. In

:14:43. > :14:46.light of what has happened and in light of the torrential rain whether

:14:47. > :14:51.she would consider and review that decision because I think all Members

:14:52. > :14:57.of Parliament from all areas of the Humber recognise that they really

:14:58. > :15:02.needed that scheme. I thank the honourable lady for her question. We

:15:03. > :15:05.are investing ?80 million in defences but the Humber. I know

:15:06. > :15:11.there are further ongoing discussions with local MPs. What we

:15:12. > :15:16.have two insure is through our ?2.3 billion budget we are fair to people

:15:17. > :15:19.across the country, there is a formula that makes determinations

:15:20. > :15:25.and one of the things we will look at in the national resilience review

:15:26. > :15:29.is how the formula works and how we allocate funding. Until then, we

:15:30. > :15:37.have to make sure that we are fair using the existing formula. Can I

:15:38. > :15:41.express my thanks to the Government and ministers for their collective

:15:42. > :15:44.response to the floods. It has been prompt and I firmly believe

:15:45. > :15:49.constructive and helpful to the people of Carlisle and Cumbria.

:15:50. > :15:53.However will she give my constituency assurance that is not

:15:54. > :15:58.next week or next month but in six or 12 months' time, she will ensure

:15:59. > :16:00.that the Government still offers the support and help which flooded

:16:01. > :16:08.communities and businesses may still need. I thank my honourable friend

:16:09. > :16:11.for his question. Of course it is vitally important that we don't just

:16:12. > :16:15.help the recovery efforts now, getting people back into their homes

:16:16. > :16:21.and giving people support but also restore infrastructure and restore

:16:22. > :16:24.great places like the Lake District National Park, to make sure that we

:16:25. > :16:34.have the economic support required for the future. The largest river

:16:35. > :16:38.system in the UK is in my constituency and the biggest flow of

:16:39. > :16:44.water experienced by any community goes through the City of Perth.

:16:45. > :16:48.Large swathes of my constituency are underwater and there is concern

:16:49. > :16:54.about the flood defences failing which would be disastrous given the

:16:55. > :17:01.flow of water down the River Tay. Even the most resilient flood

:17:02. > :17:08.defences will do nothing if we don't tackle climate change. You have to

:17:09. > :17:12.stop the disastrous subsidy for onshore wind so that we can invest

:17:13. > :17:18.in technologies that will protect us in the future. The honourable

:17:19. > :17:25.gentleman will be well aware that my honourable friend the chime climate

:17:26. > :17:31.change Secretary -- the climate change secretary secured a deal in

:17:32. > :17:38.Paris to address that issue. As my right honourable friend considered

:17:39. > :17:46.asking the army and Royal Engineers to intervene since their skill with

:17:47. > :17:52.bridges is legendary and they could easily replace very quickly the

:17:53. > :17:58.bridges lost currently. I thank my right honourable friend for his

:17:59. > :18:01.question. The Royal Engineers are involved and have been involved in

:18:02. > :18:12.Cumbria and Yorkshire looking at possible solutions for those

:18:13. > :18:16.bridges. The Secretary of State in her statement referred to the

:18:17. > :18:21.National resilience review that she has commissioned to ensure that the

:18:22. > :18:26.country can deal with increasingly extreme weather events but she did

:18:27. > :18:29.not respond to a request from the shadow Secretary of State that the

:18:30. > :18:33.review should be independent so Canellas can now to respond to that

:18:34. > :18:36.request because we do need to underpin the integrity of the

:18:37. > :18:44.important review by making sure that it is indeed independent and robust

:18:45. > :18:48.in its recommendations. I thank the honourable lady for her question.

:18:49. > :18:54.What we are doing with the review are involving key bodies like the

:18:55. > :18:59.national capital committee and making sure that all of the findings

:19:00. > :19:03.are open and transparent. One of the key aspects is that we need to look

:19:04. > :19:08.at how Government systems work effectively and we need to share

:19:09. > :19:13.that information more widely with the public. That does not require an

:19:14. > :19:20.independent review. What it requires is openness and transparency which

:19:21. > :19:32.I'm committed to. In my constituency we have the wonderful River Wye and

:19:33. > :19:41.the River team and they cross into Herefordshire is where they usually

:19:42. > :19:45.flood but thank goodness are not flooded on this occasion. Canellas

:19:46. > :19:57.what she is doing relating to Oakland 's management and certainly

:19:58. > :19:59.capture management. In -- can I ask? The Welsh authorities have been

:20:00. > :20:03.involved in the flood response because it is affecting Wales as

:20:04. > :20:09.well. I will seek to engage them in the wider issue.

:20:10. > :20:14.The Government is providing funding for businesses that have suffered

:20:15. > :20:19.from the recent flooding. While I welcome this, local traders in

:20:20. > :20:26.Cockermouth have told me that it can't be used towards resilience

:20:27. > :20:29.measures or any capital expenditure. What businesses need now is help

:20:30. > :20:36.with resilience measures to make sure that the next flood, because

:20:37. > :20:39.there will be one, is survivable. Many insurance companies will not

:20:40. > :20:45.fund extra costs of resilience measures. At a time when affected

:20:46. > :20:48.small businesses in my constituency are haemorrhaging cash, what support

:20:49. > :20:55.can the Minister offer in this respect, and following her earlier

:20:56. > :21:00.offered to Lancashire MPs would she meet with Cumbrian MPs as well to

:21:01. > :21:04.discuss those matters? I thank the honourable lady for her question. My

:21:05. > :21:08.honourable friend the Business Minister visited Cockermouth will

:21:09. > :21:13.stop my understanding is that businesses can apply through the LEP

:21:14. > :21:18.to get investment in those resilience measures. -- visited

:21:19. > :21:24.Cockermouth. I'm sure that my honourable friend would be happy to

:21:25. > :21:27.take that forward. 20% of South Derbyshire is in flood plains. My

:21:28. > :21:34.constituents are very aware and are tuned to when crises might hit us.

:21:35. > :21:39.Is my right honourable friend going to take a review of how the

:21:40. > :21:42.Environment Agency have been putting out information and updating that

:21:43. > :21:49.information? Some of my constituents don't feel it has been timely

:21:50. > :21:54.enough. I thank my honourable friend for that point and I will take that

:21:55. > :21:58.up with the Environment Agency. I do think we have had a lot of hits on

:21:59. > :22:02.the buyer and agency website and there has been up to date

:22:03. > :22:08.but we are always looking for ways but we are always looking for ways

:22:09. > :22:12.to improve that. -- on the Environment Agency website. James

:22:13. > :22:14.Bevan is keen to hear about suggestions for improvement and I

:22:15. > :22:21.will certainly feed that through to him. I would like to pay tribute to

:22:22. > :22:24.the volunteers and all of those emergency services who helped not

:22:25. > :22:28.only in northern England but also in Scotland and Wales. I would like to

:22:29. > :22:35.draw your attention to the jewel carriageway in North Wales which is

:22:36. > :22:39.of great UK and European importance, linking the economies of Ireland and

:22:40. > :22:44.Wales to the UK and wider European markets. Can she confirm that she

:22:45. > :22:47.will put pressure on the Labour First Minister in Wales to

:22:48. > :22:54.guarantees a fish in funding and a starting date for essential work to

:22:55. > :23:02.ensure that the a 55 is kept flood free from now on. -- official

:23:03. > :23:10.funding. That is a matter for the Welsh Government. My constituents

:23:11. > :23:14.know only too well the devastation caused by flooding and wish me to

:23:15. > :23:20.express my sympathy is for all of those affected by flooding over

:23:21. > :23:24.Christmas. The beach replenishment scheme helps to protect Lincolnshire

:23:25. > :23:30.coast line from the threat of tidal surges from the North Sea. As my

:23:31. > :23:35.honourable friend from Cleethorpes has talked about. Since 2010 the

:23:36. > :23:39.Government has invested millions in flood defences across my

:23:40. > :23:46.constituency but of course they must be maintained. Will the Secretary of

:23:47. > :23:51.State meet me and other Lincolnshire colleagues and council leaders as a

:23:52. > :23:55.matter of urgency to discuss the scheme so that we can continue to

:23:56. > :24:01.protect Lincolnshire residence in the following years ahead of us? I

:24:02. > :24:05.thank my honourable friend for her question. We have protective flood

:24:06. > :24:11.maintenance spending in real terms on the current level of 171 million.

:24:12. > :24:14.I'm also a great supporter of internal drainage boards and making

:24:15. > :24:23.sure they are sufficiently empowered to do work. I am sure that my

:24:24. > :24:32.honourable friend will be happy to meet her to discuss this further.

:24:33. > :24:39.Can I ask the Secretary of State to commit to ensuring that the

:24:40. > :24:45.Government makes opening the 8591 before Easter. And regarding the

:24:46. > :24:49.?500 million which the county of Cumbria needs to repair flooding,

:24:50. > :24:53.will she ensure it is linked to the outstanding devolution settlement

:24:54. > :25:00.with the Cumbrian local Government? I thank the honourable gentleman for

:25:01. > :25:04.his question. As I have said, the 8591 is a priority. The first time

:25:05. > :25:07.ever we have highways England working on it to make sure it

:25:08. > :25:17.happens as soon as. -- the a I'm certain that most Members of the

:25:18. > :25:22.Environment Agency did work very hard over the Christmas period, but

:25:23. > :25:26.does the Secretary of State not agree with me that institutionally

:25:27. > :25:33.the Environment Agency is often found lacking when it comes to flood

:25:34. > :25:36.prevention? It seems to lack dynamism and a cohesive approach. It

:25:37. > :25:44.seems to lack the termination to follow through which schemes that

:25:45. > :25:49.people identify. We're well aware the problems identified with

:25:50. > :25:55.flooding and in my area there is a frustration about the operation of

:25:56. > :26:05.the Environment Agency. I thank my honourable friend for his question.

:26:06. > :26:10.What I saw in Yorkshire was a fantastic start from the Environment

:26:11. > :26:16.Agency working around the clock to save people and that is vitally

:26:17. > :26:18.important. Of course the organisation needs to learn and get

:26:19. > :26:54.better at doing things. I went into the Ribble Valley to see

:26:55. > :26:58.the devastation caused. It truly was a tragedy. In the south of my

:26:59. > :27:05.constituency a river burst its banks dramatically. Nothing has been done

:27:06. > :27:09.since 2012. I went to a village where almost all of the house is

:27:10. > :27:19.worth flooding by five or six feet of water. There are people who can't

:27:20. > :27:24.get insurance. ?3000 - ?6,000 for insurance. What is the Government

:27:25. > :27:27.going to do to make sure that these people can access insurance? What

:27:28. > :27:36.will they do about this devastated village? It has been devastated

:27:37. > :27:39.twice. What will she do? We are making funding available so that

:27:40. > :27:42.residents can apply for up to ?5,000.