08/02/2016 House of Commons


08/02/2016

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Order order. I wish to repeat what is said to the house last Friday. It

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is with great sadness that I have to report to the house the death from

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the Honorable member from Sheffield and Hillsboro. He was a researcher

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for David Plunkett. And as a representative for the union of mine

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workers. He was also a counsellor on Sheffield City Council for 15 years

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holding important cabinet responsibilities during that time.

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And serving as deputy leader from the Council. He held the executive

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to account on behalf of his constituents. Most recently on the

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Wednesday the 20th of January he asked the Prime Minister what the

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support was providing... I must tell the House that Harry informed me a

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few weeks ago of his circumstances. Noted be recorded that he fought

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bravely his illness and then bore it with stoicism and fortitude.

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Continuing to battle on behalf of his constituents. To the very end.

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Our thoughts are with Harry's wife Jill and his family at this very sad

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time. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities

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and Local Government. Number one please Mr Speaker. Thank you Mr

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Speaker. May associate myself and my colleagues about Harry and we will

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all be missing. With permission I would also answer questions one and

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18 together. The government has always been clear that the most

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vulnerable will be protected. We will work with the sector to ensure

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appropriate protections are in place. May associate with myself

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with the sentiments that have been expressed as well. The review the

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report in spring. Meanwhile the Secretary of State is still pressing

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ahead with the cuts before the review comes out. Kenny minister say

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what is this? I would say to the Honorable Lady that as she may of

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heard on the debates on this recently. We have already been very

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clear that the most vulnerable in our society will be protected. We

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must also make it fair for taxpayers as well. With the Minister

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acknowledged that while his announcement will be delayed. And

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his welcome. He does not go far enough and that the proposals should

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project much-needed stability back into the sector. As I said at the

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debates recently we are working with the sector and the changes coming in

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2018, we have been always very clear that the most horrible in our

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society will be protected. That's vulnerable. I'll be grateful if my

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Honorable friend could confirm that housing associations will be given

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urgent clarity as to whether the local housing... If it is not there

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is a real worry that many will close. And he'll be an unnecessary

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rise and on homelessness. Preventing youth homeless is a priority for

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governments where investing in a ?50 million fair chance fund. This is

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helping 2000 vulnerable you don't homeless people get into

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accommodation in education and training and employment. We are

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working closely to provide a long-term solution for this. Thank

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you Mr Speaker, and I to associate myself and these pitches with big

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comments that you made Mr Speaker. He will be very missed by the Labour

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Party, his constituents, and his families and friends. Research from

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changing lives in Newcastle based specialist housing agency says that

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they and other housing support providers across the country will

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lose a huge sum of money from the Chancellor's crude cuts. Meaning the

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discretionary fund that the government says they must rely on is

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totally inadequate. What is the Minister going to do? It is vital

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for many thousands of people for disabilities and other specialist

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needs remains and is properly funded in the future. We will make sure the

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most vulnerable in our society are protected. To deliver homes to

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specialist for the elderly and those with disabilities. We also provide a

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?3 billion investment in the better care fund. Thank you. Can I

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associate myself with your sentiments about a former colleague.

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This government is committed to increase homeownership. About 30,000

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households have purchased a home through 2012. Major sponsor

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programme in London. In the first seven days, 15,000 people have

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registered. Since April 2010, many homes have been sold. This would

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give 1.3 million more families the opportunity to do this. This is a

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major employer in our constituency. We all know that we more small-scale

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developments in the supply chain to increase the supply of homes. Does

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my right honourable friend agree that franchising so their plots to

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ask an EE developers is one way to get small-scale developers into the

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supply chain? One of the effect of the financial crash... We need to

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get them back involved. We will use public sector land to carve it up a

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new small plots so that small builders can take advantage of it.

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Should have and to excuse his? Busy generation that have no hope of

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owning their own homes. Isn't it about time we have some bold and

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Methodist policies. How many new talents, how many new generations of

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buildings are going on, how many houses are being built, can he

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answer that? I would say to the honourable gentleman that over the

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last five years homeownership and in particular house-building, has been

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revived from the crash. Hear, hear!. He should welcome these. You should

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welcome the introduction of starter homes to give first-time buyers

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afoot on the housing ladder. Should welcome the extension of help to buy

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which is helped so many people achieve their dream of a hell of

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their own. -- home of their own. Does the Secretary of State agree

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that affordable housing in rural areas is absolutely key? In

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providing homes in all communities we need to make sure that we have

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diversity. Especially in rural areas. The idea to any of these

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schemes are affordable isn't Orwellian myth. In my constituency

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do need an income of 70,000 to get into an affordable home. It is going

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to go up to 90,000. Who is that affordable to. ? I think he does a

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good service to his constituents, he should know that under the

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combination of help to buy and shared ownership in London, the

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deposits that a first-time buyer can acquire is as low of ?4800 on the

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average price paid... He would do his constituents a service of

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promoting the schemes to them. I welcome the comments about the

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importance of small and medium sized building sector. One of the most

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damaging things that could happen in the involvement of that sector and

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London would be the provision of a affordable housing target which have

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no viability and would actually drive developers away from breeding

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sites forward. This is not a matter of speculation is the matter of

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facts. Housing in London fell. Want to provide homes for Londoners. The

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mayor has had an exemplary record of providing homes of all type for

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Londoners. The ?400 million that is being invested in the 20 housing

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zones across London. That is a tribute to the tenacity of our

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Honorable friend. I am pleased to say the hundreds of families in my

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constituency of Bath and North East Somerset have been helped by this

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scheme. Don't families are still unable to access it. With victory as

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they agree with me -- agreed to meet with me and other constituents who

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have high-value areas their constituencies... I will certainly

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meet with them. It is vastly essential that we have homes built

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in every area of the community. So that young people and the rising

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generations have the chance to continue to be part of the

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communities in which they were born and raised. Where is the fellow?

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LAUGHTER With permission I want to answer questions four and five

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together. All tenants much have a safe place with which to live. They

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must provide good quality and safe accommodation. According to an

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inquiry, there were many complaints and only 14,000 were subject to

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update the assessments, and they only prosecuted one I broken

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landlord every year. It is irrefutable that local authorities

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lack the resources and in some cases the will to take action against

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rogue landlords. Can he resist a modest change against tenets for

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homes that are not fit for human habitation? Local authorities should

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be using the powers that got. It is already a requirement for properties

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to be fit and proper. She might want to welcome the ?5 million of the

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?6.7 million to help. If she sees the way finds work she will see is

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beyond anything you've ever seen before. I have to say that much of

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what the Minister has said is not what I hear. People that speak to me

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speak of substandard homes. Without any checks. They deal with their

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landlords due to fears of being evicted? Does he now regrets not

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supporting Labour agreements of the housing and planning bill. Hear,

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hear!. I would hope for council tax or duty properly. Which is what will

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enable local authorities to issue several pen as he is up to ?30,000

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and seek repayment orders dropped to 12 months. This gives resources that

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they've never had before. Sounds of some very heavy breathing going on.

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While the Honorable lady is right to point out the difference, very

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offering neighbouring councils with the same resources are enforcing

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these regulations in radically different ways. Can I encourage the

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Minister to promote the best practice enforcement and most

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importantly to challenge those councils are failing to use the

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powers they have. My Honorable friend who has a wealth of

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experience in this field speaks with great common sense and logic. The

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local authorities should be using the powers that got by far. They

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should be using the powers that got to crack down on the rogue landlords

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that all of us including good landlords want to see driven out of

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the system. They commend the government for the toughest action

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possible on rogue landlords. Will he give continue to work a cross party

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basis is necessary on a trust which is that a commitment on both parties

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of years. It's particularly in areas of affordability issues? We are

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working across government and sins of the institutions that may have

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come forward. I can tell the House of the states regeneration panel

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will be meeting tomorrow. 33% of constituents, many of these

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constituents have been victims of addictions and we estimate that 4000

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people were victims of revenge eviction, and 200,000 people across

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the country and a calendar year suffered from rogue landlords. The

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minister has a sticky about how much work the government has been doing.

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That is all supported last year. One impact has that had on a number of

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evictions across the country? Local authorities must use these powers to

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crack down on these rogue landlords to ensure they are providing the

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services. Some of the worst landlords have been prosecuted by

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the Council and the Department of local government has awarded them a

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?74,000 grants to keep about work. When councils are proactive there

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are resources available for them to be more proactive. My honourable

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friend is right. They are well protected and well served. Use the

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extra funding we put in. A new ?30,000 civil fines against local

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authorities will build up of forward.

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On the 20th of January the government were able to announce the

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Aberdeen city deal heads of terms. Idea which in terms includes an

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investment fund which shows the investment going in and Aberdeen

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across the country as a whole. With the treasury having received over

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?300 million from rosy revenue of the last four years and knowing of

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the current low oil price is aggravated by deliberate

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underpricing and coding from our friends in Saudi Arabia, does the

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Minister not think that the UK Government should at least match the

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250 million given by the Scottish Government extended just a 125

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million by the UK Government to help the region from a difficult time? I

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think most people welcomed the deal, a significant investment is going in

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that demonstrates the British Government and the Scottish

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Government to drive forward the economy and Aberdeen to face the

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challenges. It underlines that we are better together. Hear, hear! I

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would first like to offer the condolences of the SNP to the family

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and friends of Harry Harper. The deal and the investment of 2.9

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billion, that is not much. They only stepped up 125 million for the deal.

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We're disappointed and let down by the government. When you agree a

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city deal with ?125 million added to the other money that is going in as

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wanted wanted by local people, and is something I think should be

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welcomed and is a that will drive growth. Other areas would be very

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keen to secure it if they could as well. This government is not

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providing the 50-50 basis for this deal. The Scottish Government is

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intruding 379 million to this deal. Was there but respond to calls from

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the secretary and step up the additional ?200 million the Aberdeen

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clearly needs? I had hoped that when I saw I was an area of questioning

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which which would be dealing today that the questions will focus on the

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great positivity on the announcement that is the characteristic of

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working together that the terms of this deal have been announced. Is

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the deal that is only possible from the contribution from the rich

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government has made a long sigh with the Scottish Government working with

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local partners, I think it is one that should be welcomed on the

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benches. As though Mr Speaker to underline the point that I was

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making other areas like city deals as well. Went to work with them to

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deliver them. To make sure they're properly thought through but we will

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continue had those discussions and deliver something which can make a

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real difference. This city deal was submitted in

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September with further information to be sent knitted with the UK and

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Scottish governments. Local government has received the

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settlements from the UK Government. Despite follow-up we have yet to

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hear anything back. Kenny minister confirm whether a deal will be in

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place prior to the elections? And Deborah and Scott went city deal

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Edinburgh and Scotland city deal. That's a good he opportunities as

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well as the cost. It is no surprise he is keen to seek a deal for his

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area as well. If the right you can be reached is something we will

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deliver on. Government committed ?500 million to the Greater

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Cambridge city deal. Following the news that only 25% of Aberdeen in

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Shire's deal. What percentage of the deal with the Minister be

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committing. Those discussions are ongoing and we will see what

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conclusion they reached. The recognition across the house of the

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city deals can make is a real difference. The value that they can

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bring an aggressive they can generate real continuing his

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discussions and I hope that we can retake Falluja and that will be

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welcomed. The deals to the whole of making a real difference and will

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continue to do so. I will answer questions 89 and together. We have

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committed to fulfilling a commitment of supporting Brownfield land and to

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that end recommending a ?2 billion fund. We are determined to make sure

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that we get 90% of that land by 2020. In my constituency we place

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great importance that the green belt provides for communities. Can he

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tell me what support he is providing for more commercial as well as

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housing development to encompassing green belt. ? We are protecting

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green belt. This ?2 billion fund will make that land more attractive.

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To make sure we do everything we can to give those Brownfield areas.

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Which isn't included in the Derby city councils strategy. The site

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however say will be ready by 2018. Does my honourable friend agree that

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the local authorities should be more to utilising these sites, and making

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ready for development? My honourable friend who is working passionately

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for her local community to make sure that Brownfield land is

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appropriately and properly use, it is true to say that the local

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authorities should be in working with local communities to make sure

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the programme for land are understanding its availability is to

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take advantage of the new ?2 billion fund as well. ... Just days ago the

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head application to build 500 homes in the green belt site, I a shot

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support of localism but how can the government make councils step up to

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the challenge of Brownfield development? My honourable friend

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highlights a very good case. The prison minister she was raped

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counsel -- positive... The local community and pencil take note what

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they think it about luck next time around. Harry Harper will probably

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be the last man alleges House of Commons. Despite a series of this

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illness. He was still here weeks ago passionately arguing for the workers

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in Sheffield. Here is a dedicated service for the people of Sheffield

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including closing of the home was programmed. Can I say to Mr there

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are many sites in Sheffield where more than a thousand homes to be

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built up. The land is subject to flooding. The City Council have

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identified ?40 million to a flood prevention programme. Will he agree

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to those to find out how we can get a joint approach to make sure this

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land can be I think he outlines a really good

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example of where everyone can be working together for the best

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interests of the community to see more housing built, I am happy to

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organise that meeting and I will make sure I have that conversation

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with an local authority with himself and myself. Thank you Mr Speaker,

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York desperately needs family and social housing and get the Council

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are planning on building predominantly high-value units on

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the 72 York Central round field site which will go nowhere in addressing

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our holding prices. Will the Minister meet with me to discuss a

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principal of York first, putting the interest of the city ahead of asset

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housing? Eight I'm sure the honourable lady will appreciate that

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it is absolutely right, the local communities make local decisions

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about what is right, and her local authority has the ability to look at

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their housing meet and make a decision of what is right to debt

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due for them is what we need to do in York. Thank you Mr Speaker, in

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2012 the Secretary of State told the House that the new planning policy

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framework offered clear and unequivocal protection of the green

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belt, green belt approvals have increased fivefold in the last five

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years under this government. The new permission and principle powers

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under Clause 102 will only further undermine the green belt. One will

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be government put urban regeneration first rather than this? I would say

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to the honourable gentleman if you look to the national planning policy

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framework and the guidance that he has come out with a strength of the

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protection and green belt over what has been there before, I would say

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if you look at the new planning commission principle, the new

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requirement for a Brownfield register and the ?2 billion fund,

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they'll be going further than any government before and make sure that

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Brownfield is the first. Thank you Mr Speaker, does the Minister agree

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with me that my Honorable friend for Richmond Park spent to try the

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London land commission to force local authorities to bring forward

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unused lines will secure the homes that Londoners need and also protect

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the environment and give rounded the quality London deserves? I think my

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Honorable friend outlines an approach and a very productive

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approach about the next Mayor of London has outlined to make sure we

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are delivering more housing for London and look forward to working

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with him as the joint chair of the commission on that issue? Does the

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Minister understand the plight of the residents of Port in green and

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urban vintage in my constituency who I have seen under the greater

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Manchester combine the authorities special framework, every piece of

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open green space that is left remaining in that area identified

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for future developments is it about time that we had a planning system

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that works for the people of Port in green? Well, I think the honourable

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gentleman's council has represented on that authority, I hope they would

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have their voice and I am also co-chairing the Manchester

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commission and respect with the Labor interim chair on that panel as

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well. Thank you Mr Speaker, having previously failed to sorry don't

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number ten. It's Monday. LAUGHTER On this occasion I will answer this

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question so low on his own, ?22 million to enable planning for 2015

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to 2018 and provides planning groups with online resources and advice

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services and brands. And technical support in priority areas, the

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housing and planning bill I will say will speed up and simplify the

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planning process further. I think the Minister for that import an

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answer to the question number ten, having previously failed to deliver

:30:15.:30:19.

the first time, the Lib Dem led the Borough Council not consulting on

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its new and somewhat controversial local planet to draft documents. As

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the Minister agree with me the best possible solution for my

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constituents to have a suitable and properly supported local plan and to

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back parishes on their community created neighbourhood plans as there

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are currently none going to referendum in easy. My Honorable

:30:42.:30:46.

friend makes a very good point, I am pleased to be able to say to the

:30:47.:30:50.

House to give her constituents if they go forward with the

:30:51.:30:54.

neighbourhood plan it will have weakened planning law, the local

:30:55.:30:57.

authorities failing to do that duty by locals residents Aaron Weber plan

:30:58.:31:05.

is the best way to do that. A number of neighbourhood plans have failed

:31:06.:31:09.

because of causes including insufficient evidence, unrealistic

:31:10.:31:14.

expectations, and also failing to meet European environmental

:31:15.:31:20.

requirements. How is the department giving those formulating these plans

:31:21.:31:23.

to ensure that they meet the standards set down by the

:31:24.:31:29.

independent examiners? As outlined in my initial answer Mr Speaker, we

:31:30.:31:32.

have not only online resources and services, we have grants of up to

:31:33.:31:40.

?8,000 with a further ?6,000 in particular difficult areas. I will

:31:41.:31:43.

say to the honourable lady we have workshops going out around the

:31:44.:31:47.

country to talk the areas the national Association of local

:31:48.:31:49.

councils also talking to their parish council about how this works.

:31:50.:31:53.

I would say to her that every single neighbour plan has gone to

:31:54.:31:56.

referendum and passed a huge majority. Would it not be a good

:31:57.:32:06.

idea to highlight and example are neighbourhood plan in each shire

:32:07.:32:10.

area which could be specifically rolled out across that Conte to

:32:11.:32:13.

encourage more parish councils in particular to get involved? My

:32:14.:32:18.

Honorable friend, as he often does raises a very good idea, I will be

:32:19.:32:23.

talking to the group who gone out and do this kind of work, sharing

:32:24.:32:27.

best practices around the country, and I think it is a very good idea

:32:28.:32:30.

for local authorities to look at what others have done and will be

:32:31.:32:32.

doing our best to promote that further fullback.... Thank you Mr

:32:33.:32:42.

Speaker, we have provided up to the 5p of funding to meet demographic

:32:43.:32:45.

pressures on social care, this is significantly more than the ?2.9

:32:46.:32:49.

billion the local Government Association estimates it is needed.

:32:50.:32:55.

20 the government going to set that the problems of social care would

:32:56.:32:59.

only be overcome when there is a comprehensive public and provided

:33:00.:33:02.

system of social care free had the point of need, a national care

:33:03.:33:07.

service exactly parallel to and into Brody National Health Service, each

:33:08.:33:09.

with public service free of privatsation? I think the honourable

:33:10.:33:15.

gentleman for his question, what I would say to him is that this

:33:16.:33:18.

government is absolutely committed to full integration of health and

:33:19.:33:25.

social care by 2020, and we will require all areas will have a clear

:33:26.:33:29.

plan for achieving that by 2017. He will also be interested to know that

:33:30.:33:34.

the spending review does include over ?500 million by the end of the

:33:35.:33:37.

decade for the disabled facilities grants which is more than doubling

:33:38.:33:41.

from this year the amount, this will fund around 85,000 home adaptations

:33:42.:33:46.

by that year, this is expected to prevent 8500 people from meeting to

:33:47.:33:55.

go into a care home by 2019, 20 20. Adult social care is going to be one

:33:56.:33:58.

of the biggest challenges we face over the next several decades, with

:33:59.:34:03.

the Minister agree with me that more needs to be done to integrate health

:34:04.:34:06.

and social care, particularly building on the success of the

:34:07.:34:10.

better care funds to encourage local authorities to work with local

:34:11.:34:13.

health providers to provide innovative solutions for adult

:34:14.:34:23.

social care? I thank him for his questions and he's a real campaigner

:34:24.:34:27.

on this particular issue, as he identifies the particular fund is

:34:28.:34:33.

paying dividends and the icing significant work that in many areas

:34:34.:34:38.

is reducing delayed transfers of care from hospitals for example, we

:34:39.:34:40.

are absolutely intent on spreading the best practice from this around

:34:41.:34:45.

all areas of the country, and where areas are the most challenge we have

:34:46.:34:48.

put plans in place to improve those areas. I'm afraid what we have just

:34:49.:34:56.

heard is nonsense, government funding for social care. Assured of

:34:57.:35:00.

what is needed, directors of adult social services tell us that 4.6

:35:01.:35:04.

billion has already been cut and that the gap is growing at ?700

:35:05.:35:08.

million a year. The social care presets will on the ?400 million a

:35:09.:35:13.

year, and the particular fund is the Minister mentioned does not start

:35:14.:35:15.

until next year at 105 million a year. I think we be given what they

:35:16.:35:20.

have got to think about the fact that they are risking the collapse

:35:21.:35:24.

of social care because the funding is too little and too late. Hear,

:35:25.:35:29.

hear! I would say to the honourable lady that the funding that is coming

:35:30.:35:34.

into the particular fund, the one billion is all new money to adult

:35:35.:35:39.

social care and that money is going directly to local authorities. The

:35:40.:35:44.

absolute key here is the integration of health and social care and as I

:35:45.:35:48.

have set out to the colleague in my Honorable friend this government is

:35:49.:35:54.

determined to achieve that integration. Thank you very much Mr

:35:55.:36:01.

Speaker, does the Minister agree with the conserved cons of either

:36:02.:36:08.

through was recently called in the press that inadequate government

:36:09.:36:11.

funding has left his local consuls struggling to provide adult social

:36:12.:36:16.

care services? Hear, hear! Will firstly, I would like to welcome the

:36:17.:36:20.

honourable lady to the dispatch box, I hear what she says about the

:36:21.:36:27.

conservative leader of my local authority, Warwickshire County

:36:28.:36:32.

Council, I speak to my lady that she is referring to at all times. What I

:36:33.:36:39.

would say to her is Warwickshire County Council said a sustainable

:36:40.:36:45.

budget last week and we are able to do that by protecting social care

:36:46.:36:53.

services. Hear, hear! Number 13 Mr Speaker. Resettlement costs for year

:36:54.:37:04.

one half undivided department for developments to the official

:37:05.:37:06.

development assistance budget, I'd be spending review we announced a

:37:07.:37:11.

further ?129 million towards local authorities across years two through

:37:12.:37:16.

five, this was calculated after consulting with the LGA, and also

:37:17.:37:20.

local authorities experiencing to this field as they like because they

:37:21.:37:24.

would incur on being part of our Syrian refugee resettlement

:37:25.:37:31.

programme. I am working up an icon to by refuge of two Syrian families

:37:32.:37:34.

in Redic, with my right honourable friend of relief is the right thing

:37:35.:37:38.

do and reassure people this would not be paid for by local council

:37:39.:37:47.

taxes? The leader of French consul I would like to thank them for their

:37:48.:37:52.

part in the big with the console, as they are aware, we work closely with

:37:53.:37:55.

local authorities to ensure that the capacity is identified as being

:37:56.:38:01.

suitable for that area. I would again like to confirm it to the

:38:02.:38:06.

honourable lady that the funding available to the spending review

:38:07.:38:09.

will go a long way towards funding for the resettlement of the Syrian

:38:10.:38:14.

refugees. Can I come in the Minister for being the first Home Office

:38:15.:38:20.

minister in living memory to have set a target for resettlement and

:38:21.:38:25.

met that targets? However, there are still another 19,000 Syrian refugees

:38:26.:38:28.

to be resettled before the next election. And the number of other

:38:29.:38:33.

asylum-seekers has risen from 9000 to 17,000 people. Where are we going

:38:34.:38:42.

to find this accommodation? This is because, if you would excuse me, but

:38:43.:38:45.

to become permitted by the chairman of the Senate committee does put one

:38:46.:38:50.

off 1's stride. LAUGHTER I would like to remind the right

:38:51.:38:55.

honourable gentleman that the refugee scheme I am responsible for

:38:56.:39:01.

requires very much the good nature of local authorities, that together

:39:02.:39:04.

would be at Saddam programme is very important to us. We work closely

:39:05.:39:07.

with them and I am very pleased to say that we have an equal demand for

:39:08.:39:14.

places for the supply of refugees. I understand the Minister, it is

:39:15.:39:17.

humbling indeed to be praised by someone of the right honourable

:39:18.:39:23.

gentleman exalted status. LAUGHTER 14 Mr Speaker. The average council

:39:24.:39:32.

tax has long been higher in the will areas than urban areas, several

:39:33.:39:38.

consuls and honourable members have pointed out the extra cost of

:39:39.:39:41.

providing services in rural areas, something which I am determined to

:39:42.:39:47.

address. Figures from the rural fair share campaign show that those who

:39:48.:39:51.

live in urban areas received 45% more funding than their rural

:39:52.:39:55.

counterparts. One at the same time those rural residents are paying on

:39:56.:40:00.

average ?81 more in council tax. With the right honourable friend

:40:01.:40:02.

agree with me that my constituents have every right to feel aggrieved

:40:03.:40:06.

in inequality, what steps is the government going to do to address

:40:07.:40:11.

this issue? I been looking very carefully the responses to the

:40:12.:40:16.

consultation on local government finance including that from

:40:17.:40:20.

Leicestershire, which seems to make a perfectly reasonable point that

:40:21.:40:24.

the essential requirement is that the underlying formula should

:40:25.:40:27.

reflect the costs of providing services in different places and if

:40:28.:40:30.

the honourable gentleman is patient and comes back a bit later I will

:40:31.:40:36.

have more to say about that. Isn't it the fact that in practice despite

:40:37.:40:41.

their rhetoric, and the conservative consuls are charging more than they

:40:42.:40:44.

were consuls? That is what the honourable gentleman's question

:40:45.:40:50.

conceals. It is a very long established fact that conservative

:40:51.:40:53.

consuls offer the works council tax the works council tax and Labor

:40:54.:40:57.

consuls is something that is accountable for the success and

:40:58.:41:01.

majority and local government. Could my right honourable friend confirms

:41:02.:41:06.

whether or not to the gap between urban and rural authorities is

:41:07.:41:11.

widening because if it is widening, in favour of urban authorities, will

:41:12.:41:16.

not be council tax payers in rural authorities were going to see their

:41:17.:41:20.

council tax rise considerably over the next two years have to conclude

:41:21.:41:23.

that they are subsidizing higher spending urban authorities? What I

:41:24.:41:28.

will say to my Honorable friend is that they are moving to a world in

:41:29.:41:33.

which consuls are going to be funded by council tax and business rates,

:41:34.:41:36.

it seems to be essential in doing this fact the formula that underpins

:41:37.:41:44.

it is fair to all the types of authority and that has been very

:41:45.:41:46.

clear and representations that he and others have made. The Tory

:41:47.:41:53.

election manifesto promises to keep council tax well, the secretary of

:41:54.:41:58.

state explained to the House why he has just written to town halls up

:41:59.:42:01.

and down the country saying that he expects them to force council tax up

:42:02.:42:05.

by over 20% over the next four years? I have written no such letter

:42:06.:42:11.

letter, what I will remind him is that council tax doubles under the

:42:12.:42:16.

previous government, and that all the forecast we have made it to be

:42:17.:42:19.

lower in real terms than it was at the beginning of the last

:42:20.:42:24.

Parliament. Last but not forgotten. Thank you Mr Speaker, may I

:42:25.:42:28.

associate myself with the comments regarding Harry, he was a dear

:42:29.:42:32.

friend, a decent man, and we will miss him very much indeed. Mr

:42:33.:42:38.

Speaker,... Annexing grateful for what the honourable has said. We are

:42:39.:42:44.

committed to ensure that has she remains at the heart of their

:42:45.:42:48.

community, we have introduced a one billion package of support which

:42:49.:42:53.

includes business rates relief, help for small business, measures to

:42:54.:42:56.

tackle overzealous parking enforcement and practical changes by

:42:57.:43:02.

the planning system. A week before the general election, at the

:43:03.:43:04.

consulate told the report said that within the first 100 days of a Tory

:43:05.:43:08.

government, the comedy added to pride zones in which new businesses

:43:09.:43:12.

with the spirit business rates over the next five years, can he confirm

:43:13.:43:16.

that nine month into a Tory government, there is no enterprise

:43:17.:43:19.

zone in my constituency, local businesses are still painful rates.

:43:20.:43:31.

We offer an apology to the people... I thank the honourable lady for that

:43:32.:43:35.

question, what I would say to her is that we are absolutely committed to

:43:36.:43:39.

supporting high street, the high street bank rates, investment in

:43:40.:43:47.

Heisey property is up by 30%, and where areas are doing the right

:43:48.:43:49.

things, they are seeing a return of people back to their high street,

:43:50.:43:55.

that was seen to the great British high street competition, there are a

:43:56.:43:57.

number of winners from Yorkshire, I am sure those in the constituency

:43:58.:44:02.

will be able to take some of those gives from the people forward so

:44:03.:44:05.

that we can improve their high street. Topical questions Mr Jeffrey

:44:06.:44:23.

Robinson. Topical question number two Mr Speaker. Since the beginning

:44:24.:44:31.

of January, the cities and local government the Venetian bill has

:44:32.:44:38.

been passed its third reading, the right to buy has been launched in

:44:39.:44:41.

five different areas, and direct commissioning of housing has been

:44:42.:44:44.

launched. Mr Speaker can I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the

:44:45.:44:48.

life and work of this is Hazel Pearson who died on Friday at the

:44:49.:44:53.

age of 92, having retired from being a counsellor for the last year at

:44:54.:44:56.

the age of 91. She was a formidable leader of conservatives and achieve

:44:57.:45:01.

much for her town and was greatly respected by all parties and by her

:45:02.:45:05.

community of over 47 years of service, this is because she

:45:06.:45:08.

represented everything that was best in public service. Infield has the

:45:09.:45:16.

fourth highest inflation figure of all London boroughs, and the last

:45:17.:45:19.

census said that we saw a population increase of more than 41% in one

:45:20.:45:26.

decade. This rapid population growth in boroughs is well above the

:45:27.:45:29.

national average and is not reflected in an increased funding

:45:30.:45:34.

settlements, I am grateful to the honourable member who I met with

:45:35.:45:38.

last month on these matters but in the light of that meeting and

:45:39.:45:41.

submissions made, what further measures if the government willing

:45:42.:45:47.

to provide to ensure a more equitable funding mechanism for

:45:48.:45:52.

borrowers in this situation? I understand the point she makes which

:45:53.:45:55.

is a very reasonable point, I think it is important that the funding

:45:56.:45:59.

that local governments receives reflects the very latest information

:46:00.:46:05.

that is available in terms of the population, I have reflected on the

:46:06.:46:10.

presentations that have been made in the consultation and I have more to

:46:11.:46:15.

say about that later. Thank you Mr Speaker, my city of Plymouth local

:46:16.:46:19.

campaign seems to mislead my constituents on the subsidies,

:46:20.:46:24.

something many people see as a fairway of bringing parity between

:46:25.:46:27.

sectors. I commend the government for making funds available for

:46:28.:46:32.

specific cases where it is not appropriate. Could the Minister

:46:33.:46:36.

therefore confirm that Plymouth City Council has chosen to return his

:46:37.:46:39.

housing payment every year to central government and therefore no

:46:40.:46:42.

one should be struggling as a result of this policy. I think my Honorable

:46:43.:46:48.

friend had like a very interesting point that they are sending the

:46:49.:46:50.

subsidy back and claiming that it cannot look after it, that local...

:46:51.:47:01.

Hear, hear! The Secretary of State will know that one of the many proud

:47:02.:47:07.

achievements over the last Labor government was the rise in a number

:47:08.:47:10.

of families able to realise their dream of owning their own home. Up

:47:11.:47:17.

by 1 million over 13 years, can you Secretary of State tell us since

:47:18.:47:21.

conservative ministers took charge since 2010, what has happened to the

:47:22.:47:28.

number of homeowners? I can say to the honourable gentleman, I find it

:47:29.:47:31.

interesting that he raises the question, bearing 90 said he thought

:47:32.:47:35.

a falling homeownership was not a bad thing. I disagree with him on

:47:36.:47:40.

that as I do other things. I think homeownership is something people

:47:41.:47:43.

should aspire to and we should be supporting it. I am proud that a

:47:44.:47:46.

number of first-time buyers has doubled since 2010, and I hope it

:47:47.:47:50.

will take it further and we must go further to support his aspirations.

:47:51.:47:55.

Let me repeat it Mr Speaker, the number of homeowners on their Labor

:47:56.:48:01.

was up by 1 million. Since 20 down -- 2010, it is down by 200,004 young

:48:02.:48:06.

people, it is now in freefall with little or no hope of ever being able

:48:07.:48:11.

to buy their own homes. Never mind if this policy he has no long-term

:48:12.:48:18.

plan for housing in this country. That is why, I have commissioned the

:48:19.:48:22.

independent record review to look at the decline in home ownership. Now,

:48:23.:48:27.

we have welcomed evidence from ministers, will we at least agreed

:48:28.:48:31.

to look at its findings so that five years of failure and homeownership

:48:32.:48:37.

does not turn him -- in two Tanev. Coming from someone who oversaw this

:48:38.:48:45.

since 1923, I saw this interesting is the review is being led by who

:48:46.:48:50.

himself has called for an end to hope to buy, the very product that

:48:51.:48:54.

is helping tens of thousands more people reach homeownership. Maybe

:48:55.:48:57.

he's about to tell us if the Labor partners will and hope to buy. He

:48:58.:49:03.

and his party voted against that and delivered start homes with increased

:49:04.:49:06.

up to buy and extended all of these measures to make sure there are more

:49:07.:49:09.

homes being built for those people working hard, aspiring to own their

:49:10.:49:13.

own homes, being let down by the crush on Labor. What advice does my

:49:14.:49:21.

Honorable friend have for groups like the neighbourhood for room in

:49:22.:49:24.

my constituency, how found himself in the constant fights with the

:49:25.:49:30.

local authority to make progress, it appears to ignore government advice

:49:31.:49:33.

on Brownfield sites without any consequence? I will say to my

:49:34.:49:37.

Honorable friend having met some of these constituents I know he has

:49:38.:49:42.

supported them hard, he should move forward, we are putting funding into

:49:43.:49:46.

support, it does give them that waiting law. It is a really good way

:49:47.:49:48.

of having control. What does the Minister estimates

:49:49.:50:05.

will be the total percentage rise for residents of Birmingham, once

:50:06.:50:14.

the Chancellor's social care tax increase the presets and 1.9%

:50:15.:50:19.

council tax rise are all added together? What I would say to the

:50:20.:50:26.

honourable gentleman is that in due course spending power figures that

:50:27.:50:29.

we released just before Christmas and be have just consulted on, it

:50:30.:50:34.

does not take into account authorities putting their council

:50:35.:50:37.

tax up to the maximum referendum principle, the council tax in

:50:38.:50:41.

Birmingham is a question for Birmingham City Council, my right

:50:42.:50:43.

honourable friend was absolutely right. We should not take any

:50:44.:50:48.

lectures from the party over council tax, they have been in power for 13

:50:49.:50:53.

years and council tax doubled. My Honorable friend confirms to the

:50:54.:50:57.

House that geeky people of Redic want to be a full member of the

:50:58.:51:00.

combined authority, they will be to take part in the direct election of

:51:01.:51:07.

a Mayor? I know she is a passionate advocate for the people of Redic and

:51:08.:51:10.

she is doing a very good and effective job of explaining and

:51:11.:51:16.

whenever I see her why she has a desire to pursue this matter and

:51:17.:51:21.

ensure her constituents will get a say if it is appropriate at an

:51:22.:51:25.

appropriate time. I can confirm that for a to become a full member then

:51:26.:51:29.

yes they would have a vote in back mirrored election. That would only

:51:30.:51:33.

be done by local agreements, as we have pursued throughout devolution

:51:34.:51:36.

in this government, we want to build consensus and work with local people

:51:37.:51:39.

to find deals and structures that meet their ambitions. Aberdeen has

:51:40.:51:47.

supported oil, with our residents having to put up with the bad and

:51:48.:51:50.

good that comes with this, the UK Government has tried to tell

:51:51.:51:54.

Aberdeen that their investments will inspire hundreds of millions of

:51:55.:51:59.

pounds of investments from Aberdeen businesses. Can the government Tommy

:52:00.:52:02.

what they will be doing to encourage business is in Aberdeen who are

:52:03.:52:06.

suffering along with the rest of us to stump up cash. I thank her for

:52:07.:52:12.

her important question, it ties to these questions we will have to be

:52:13.:52:17.

about the Aberdeen to the deal and the significant amount of money

:52:18.:52:20.

going in from the British Government from West minister and going in with

:52:21.:52:23.

partnership with the Scottish Government am I in partnership with

:52:24.:52:26.

local authority leadership and local leadership of business communities

:52:27.:52:29.

in Aberdeen. We intend to ensure that that deal brings real growth

:52:30.:52:33.

and benefit, we recognise the challenges it faces because of the

:52:34.:52:36.

price of web and the other factors which affect its local economy, we

:52:37.:52:41.

will work with local people who understand what is needed to drive

:52:42.:52:44.

change and do everything we can to support the economy. Under Mayor

:52:45.:52:49.

Livingstone, the number of new housing stock in London, did as a

:52:50.:52:52.

direct result of developers walking away from having an affordable site

:52:53.:52:58.

thing to the 50% affordable housing target. What is my Honorable friend

:52:59.:53:04.

think what happened if the new mayor were to introduce a 50% affordable

:53:05.:53:10.

housing target Islamic State in his questions he outlined the evidence

:53:11.:53:14.

that those kinds of targets if they are not appropriate for the local

:53:15.:53:22.

mayor create things, local areas have got to look at what is right

:53:23.:53:25.

for them and make sure it is viable. I would say that it is my fervent

:53:26.:53:34.

hope that my Honorable friend. Undivided unity speaker, can I ask

:53:35.:53:41.

the Minister the city deal from Highland Council is based on the

:53:42.:53:44.

region for young people, they have over many decades to see Adrian of

:53:45.:53:47.

young people and much work has been done to address this including the

:53:48.:53:53.

campus, more needs to be done to retain young people, a plant such as

:53:54.:53:57.

the one put forward can help to assist the rebalance of population,

:53:58.:54:01.

demographics, does the Minister agree that the aims of the plan and

:54:02.:54:04.

the statement of intent are worthy of support? The Honorable member is

:54:05.:54:11.

diligent in raising this issue we have discussed in the chamber

:54:12.:54:15.

before, he recognises as to why Mr Speaker the value that the sort of

:54:16.:54:18.

US can bring, he recognises the difference they can make, I

:54:19.:54:21.

recognise the comments he makes and the importance he attaches to it as

:54:22.:54:25.

a diligent member and local member of Parliament. I cannot pronounce

:54:26.:54:31.

deals, at this dispatch box here today, we would determine to deliver

:54:32.:54:34.

whether the deal is the right one and his effective advocate the is

:54:35.:54:45.

essential in that objective. They have been taken in by other areas

:54:46.:54:48.

under the voluntary dispersal scheme, with more refugee children

:54:49.:54:52.

coming, could my Honorable friend advise how his department will get

:54:53.:54:55.

local authorities across the country to exact their share of the asylum

:54:56.:55:02.

seeking children already here? We hope dispersal arrangements remain

:55:03.:55:05.

voluntary and are working with the Home Office, Department for

:55:06.:55:08.

Education, local Government Association, and the Association of

:55:09.:55:12.

directive children services on a national dispersal scheme for asylum

:55:13.:55:16.

seeking children. Provisions in the Immigration Bill will underpin

:55:17.:55:20.

dispersal arrangements and if necessary enforce them. I know the

:55:21.:55:26.

Minister will understands the extraordinary high cost of hybrid

:55:27.:55:32.

sector housing in London, does he understand the impact that the

:55:33.:55:35.

changes of the local housing alliance are having on residence in

:55:36.:55:41.

my constituency in Brent North and would he ask his department official

:55:42.:55:44.

to provide data on the impact of those changes? I would say to the

:55:45.:55:49.

honourable gentleman if he looks at the answer I gave earlier on, we

:55:50.:55:52.

have already outlined a one-year delay, we are also looking to these

:55:53.:55:56.

implications before the 2018 into the Treo working closely with the

:55:57.:56:04.

secretary at the moment. Maybe Council are currently working on the

:56:05.:56:08.

local plant, could the Minister give an update on the work of the expert

:56:09.:56:13.

panel which was set up in September to help streamline the local plan

:56:14.:56:21.

process? We are determined to make sure the local areas can have a very

:56:22.:56:25.

clear cut, simple system to deliver local plans to get that working to

:56:26.:56:29.

give control to the local community as it should be locally led and am

:56:30.:56:32.

looking forward to seeing the feedback for the panel in the weeks

:56:33.:56:39.

ahead. Ministers hinted in responses to earlier questions from local

:56:40.:56:43.

government benches on the funding allocations to work areas that they

:56:44.:56:47.

think there is some unfairness in the system. Can I encourage

:56:48.:56:51.

ministers to look again because I agree there is a great deal of

:56:52.:56:55.

unfairness. My borough is seeing its funding decimated and cuts are

:56:56.:57:01.

devastating for local economies similar sized town is seeing its

:57:02.:57:07.

spending power increase over the coming years. This is fundamentally

:57:08.:57:14.

unfair, will he look again? Well, I will be responding to the financial

:57:15.:57:20.

system and shortly. All I would say that it is important for every type

:57:21.:57:23.

of authority that its needs and the cost of providing for that is the

:57:24.:57:30.

object of the government has. My right honourable friend is cheating

:57:31.:57:35.

as an eye on building on Brownfield sites, with the closure of

:57:36.:57:39.

coal-fired power stations and the possible closure of one in my

:57:40.:57:43.

constituency, what are we doing to encourage building on Brownfield

:57:44.:57:47.

sites like that but which include contaminated land? The answer is

:57:48.:57:55.

that the Chancellor in the spending review established a fund to

:57:56.:57:58.

decontaminate Brownfield sites so that they can be made available in

:57:59.:58:05.

the way he recommends. Mr Speaker, the local Government Association is

:58:06.:58:11.

predicting that the proposals be to some 50,000 council tenants needing

:58:12.:58:14.

their homes, had the same time they're saying they do not know how

:58:15.:58:17.

much their attendants earned. Can the Minister to consuls how or why

:58:18.:58:22.

they should be asking their tenants how much they own? I would say to

:58:23.:58:27.

the Honorable gentleman, through the process of the planning bill this

:58:28.:58:34.

would be looking at to bring this in. We are working with them, it is

:58:35.:58:38.

absolutely right that we come up with a deal that is also fair to

:58:39.:58:44.

taxpayers to make sure it they do so anyway that always make sure they

:58:45.:58:51.

will always pay to work. I am soon to minister is aware that the patent

:58:52.:58:56.

is due for adoption this spring. But he gives some reassurance to the

:58:57.:58:59.

planning committee of the council that they cannot start to make

:59:00.:59:03.

decisions in line that plan, save any knowledge of the planning

:59:04.:59:06.

expectorant will not overturn those decisions for protecting the country

:59:07.:59:09.

from speculative development. Hear, hear! I think it is good news, my

:59:10.:59:15.

Honorable friend outlines that at this late stage, I can confirm that

:59:16.:59:20.

as a local planning gets to that stage it takes a more weight and

:59:21.:59:23.

therefore the local authorities should be making plans in line with

:59:24.:59:27.

that local plan as it comes forward and that is the right thing to do

:59:28.:59:33.

for local communities. What assessments of ministers made about

:59:34.:59:37.

consuls who do bring forward the preset increase around social care

:59:38.:59:41.

for those consuls who have a very low council tax base and actually

:59:42.:59:44.

this will not bring forward the required funding to ensure that

:59:45.:59:48.

social care continues at the level it should in areas like this? Part

:59:49.:59:54.

of the settlement that was made in the spending review was to include

:59:55.:59:57.

this new council tax preset lawful in addition to the better care funds

:59:58.:00:02.

so that on top of the resources that consuls already invest, we will be

:00:03.:00:10.

able to invest more than the local Government Association requested for

:00:11.:00:12.

social care in advance of the spending review.

:00:13.:00:18.

Urgent question. Thank you Mr Speaker. The Secretary of State for

:00:19.:00:28.

Health to make a statement on the junior doctors contract

:00:29.:00:32.

negotiations. I'd be delighted to get the house. This government was

:00:33.:00:39.

elected on a mandate to provide for the NHS of the resources that asked

:00:40.:00:44.

for and to Mitch hour and a truly seven-day service. Demand better we

:00:45.:00:54.

can support services, a better seven-day social care services to

:00:55.:01:00.

facilitate begins discharging, and better primary care access.

:01:01.:01:06.

Consistent seven-day services also demand reform for staff contracts

:01:07.:01:12.

including those of junior doctors. Anyway the matches patient demand

:01:13.:01:15.

more evenly across every day of the week. Despite a government asking

:01:16.:01:23.

them to return, did not start talking again and to the end of

:01:24.:01:27.

November last year. It talks facilitated. There are December we

:01:28.:01:33.

made very good progress on a wide range of issues. Regrettably we do

:01:34.:01:42.

not come to an agreement. On many issues including we can pay rates.

:01:43.:01:52.

We supported one of our most respected executives to take

:01:53.:01:58.

negotiations on behalf of the NHS. However despite agreeing to

:01:59.:02:04.

negotiate on the issue we can pay rates we have been advised that they

:02:05.:02:11.

have refused to discuss Saturday pay. As letter to Secretary of

:02:12.:02:17.

State, given that we have made much progress of the last few weeks it is

:02:18.:02:23.

very disappointing that they refuse to negotiate on Saturday payment.

:02:24.:02:34.

Both parties agree to debate on this. The government is clear that

:02:35.:02:39.

our door remains open for further discussion and we urge them to

:02:40.:02:47.

return the cable. Or greatly they are striking for a 24-hour period

:02:48.:02:52.

this Wednesday. They're trying to minimise risk for harm to the

:02:53.:02:58.

public, but I regret to inform the House that latest estimates say that

:02:59.:03:05.

more than 2000 operations have been cancelled. Hope that the members

:03:06.:03:11.

from both of the house or will join me in telling them to call off the

:03:12.:03:16.

strike and work with us to offer patients consistent standards of

:03:17.:03:20.

care every day of the week. Hear, hear! Thank you Mr Speaker. There's

:03:21.:03:30.

so much to be said about this abuse it's hard to know where to begin.

:03:31.:03:36.

Let me ask the Minister for questions one, the Health Secretary

:03:37.:03:47.

says his door is open. Kenny Mr envision a new contract where it

:03:48.:03:57.

only applies to Saturday morning. The second question, will the

:03:58.:04:04.

Minister will out imposing a second contract. Can he not see how harmful

:04:05.:04:10.

it would be to patients given its impact on staff row the risk of a

:04:11.:04:15.

projected period of industrial action and the applications of

:04:16.:04:20.

future recruitment and retention. The third question, can he confirm

:04:21.:04:26.

that pay protection to one in four junior doctors mean that those doing

:04:27.:04:29.

the equivalent jobs in the future will be worse off. Shouldn't we

:04:30.:04:34.

value the junior doctors of tomorrow as much as we value those of today?

:04:35.:04:42.

And finally the fourth question, throughout this dispute ministers

:04:43.:04:45.

have repeatedly conflated the need to reform the junior doctor contract

:04:46.:04:50.

with their manifesto commitment to a seven-day NHS. Kenny Messer name a

:04:51.:04:56.

single chief executive who has told him that the junior doctor contract

:04:57.:05:02.

is the barrier to providing high-quality care 24/7. If junior

:05:03.:05:11.

doctors of the staff group have to change their working powders to

:05:12.:05:15.

deliver this, which other groups of NHS staff will need to have the

:05:16.:05:20.

definition of unsocial hours changed in their contracts in this

:05:21.:05:25.

Parliament? Mr Speaker, in the last year the house secretary had implied

:05:26.:05:29.

that the doctors do not work weekends. He has insinuated that

:05:30.:05:33.

juniors are somehow to blame for deaths among patients admitted on

:05:34.:05:38.

Saturdays and Sundays. He has insulted the profession's

:05:39.:05:44.

intelligence that they had been misled by the AMA. If he was here, I

:05:45.:05:49.

would ask him if he regrets how he has handled this dispute. But he has

:05:50.:05:57.

not got the nerve to turn up. No one is saying that the contract is

:05:58.:06:01.

perfect, but speak to anyone in the NHS and they will tell you that this

:06:02.:06:07.

whole episode has been an exercise in using a sledgehammer to crack a

:06:08.:06:11.

nut. It is time for the governments to do what is right the patients,

:06:12.:06:13.

staff, and the NHS. The Honorable Lady asks where to

:06:14.:06:29.

begin. I will say this to her. Where we begin is a promise of the

:06:30.:06:34.

electorate with the seven-day services so we can make care more

:06:35.:06:37.

consistent throughout the week. And bring down the rates of avoidable

:06:38.:06:42.

death. That is the aim of this government. It is one they have

:06:43.:06:48.

pursued previous Coalition guys in this government for some years. The

:06:49.:06:54.

negotiations that have been going on for some years has been framed

:06:55.:06:56.

probably in that respect during that time. She asks a number of questions

:06:57.:07:04.

which I shall answer directly. She asked was the door is open and

:07:05.:07:09.

whether the Secretary of State is whether to see further talks. They

:07:10.:07:15.

remain open throughout this entire process. In the summer when they

:07:16.:07:20.

made a principal point on not returning to talks with asked them

:07:21.:07:24.

to come back to the negotiating table time and time again. I have

:07:25.:07:29.

done so personally. As is the Secretary of State. The door does

:07:30.:07:33.

remain open and hold those contacts will retain you up until the strike.

:07:34.:07:41.

She asks if there is discussion to be had on Saturdays. The secretary

:07:42.:07:47.

has made plain through this aspect that the contract is open to

:07:48.:07:51.

discussion. What is not up for discussion is the ability of

:07:52.:07:56.

hospitals to be able to Roster clinicians on the consistent basis

:07:57.:08:03.

throughout the reek. The people who are big refusing to negotiate is the

:08:04.:08:14.

British medical Association. Despite their assurances, or their promises,

:08:15.:08:18.

that they wish to discuss this issue have now refused to do precisely

:08:19.:08:24.

that. We are left at an impasse where I am it afraid the one item

:08:25.:08:29.

left to discuss which is Saturdays, they refusing point-blank to open.

:08:30.:08:34.

As they call it on an issue of principle. For us, the principal is

:08:35.:08:40.

patient safety. That is why we will not move. The second point she asked

:08:41.:08:44.

about, was around the introduction of a new contract. At some point the

:08:45.:08:49.

government needs to make a decision. We've extended time and time again

:08:50.:08:54.

at the point which will introduce a new contract. So we can give time

:08:55.:08:59.

for talks to proceed. Even though the BMA refused to discuss this for

:09:00.:09:05.

years. Up until this point. At some point we'll have to make the changes

:09:06.:09:09.

which are necessary in order to get the consistency of service. The

:09:10.:09:17.

weekend. We cannot delay this any longer. No secretary or Minister of

:09:18.:09:22.

health could stand in the face of many academic studies which have

:09:23.:09:25.

shown an avoidable week and effect fact is that nothing should happen.

:09:26.:09:30.

Of course it should be done in concert with other contract changes

:09:31.:09:36.

with changing the availability of diagnostics and pharmacy and other

:09:37.:09:41.

services. It has to be done at some point. That point is fast

:09:42.:09:47.

approaching. She asks whether imposition would be harmful to

:09:48.:09:52.

patients. Ask her to consider whether avoiding changing blustering

:09:53.:09:57.

patterns so that we can eliminate the weekend effect would itself be

:09:58.:10:03.

harmful to patients. She asks around pay protection, pay protection which

:10:04.:10:12.

we have urged the members by the beginning of this process to be

:10:13.:10:15.

clear and they willfully misled their members about the payoff that

:10:16.:10:22.

we put on the table. I would ask are therefore to be careful what she

:10:23.:10:26.

says because this cohort of junior doctors, this is a very good deal.

:10:27.:10:31.

For those coming to the service, they could be ensured a quality of

:10:32.:10:36.

contract with the current cohort had not been able to benefit from. A

:10:37.:10:48.

reduction in the massive number of consecutive... A reduction in the

:10:49.:10:52.

consecutive long late shifts down from 12 to five. A reduction in the

:10:53.:10:57.

massive number of hours and a week from 91 to 72. Improvement in the

:10:58.:11:03.

contract which will protect the safety and working practices of

:11:04.:11:04.

future generations of working doctors. I will remind the Honorable

:11:05.:11:10.

Lady when she wrapped up her remarks. Whether she asked whether

:11:11.:11:16.

we has any regrets about the way this is proceeded, we do have

:11:17.:11:21.

regrets. We have regrets that the BMA willfully misled its members.

:11:22.:11:29.

Hear, hear! Making them believe that there would be a cut hours neither

:11:30.:11:34.

of which was true. The BMA refused to talk to us for months on end when

:11:35.:11:44.

many of these issues... The BMA has gone back on its promise to discuss

:11:45.:11:51.

playing time hours. A promises they have reneged upon. Those matters

:11:52.:12:02.

which are most important to doctors to protect patient safety. That is

:12:03.:12:06.

why in the end we will have to come to a decision on this contract for

:12:07.:12:10.

the betterment of patients in the consistency of clinical standards

:12:11.:12:17.

throughout the week. Under the current contract to many junior

:12:18.:12:21.

doctors are being forced to work excessive hours and are

:12:22.:12:23.

overstretched during the hours that they are working. Could the

:12:24.:12:29.

ministers had a setup of those hours will be reduced could ensure that

:12:30.:12:32.

those measures will be put in place to make sure that managers do not

:12:33.:12:35.

let that slip and we do not return the days of worked junior doctors?

:12:36.:12:43.

She is right to say that new measures have been interested in

:12:44.:12:52.

this contract. They will help protect the hours of junior doctors

:12:53.:12:55.

within individual trust. This is been a point of success in terms of

:12:56.:13:01.

negotiation between the BMA and NHS employers. We have a new fine system

:13:02.:13:04.

not currently in place which will penalise trusts and ensure that the

:13:05.:13:10.

monies that are generated by the finds go toward enhancing the

:13:11.:13:12.

general well-being in training in the doctors of the stress. I'm

:13:13.:13:22.

disappointed that is not the Secretary of State we are speaking

:13:23.:13:25.

to today. The minister does refer again to weaken deaths. They gently

:13:26.:13:31.

point out that if the evidence from Fremantle studied there is actually

:13:32.:13:35.

a lower level of deaths at weekends and maybe we could be a bit more

:13:36.:13:40.

precise over talking about people admitted on weekends who died within

:13:41.:13:46.

the next 30 days. I welcome the commitment to increase diagnostics

:13:47.:13:48.

and social care and I think anyone in the NHS will. Junior doctors

:13:49.:13:54.

already worked seven days in seven nights a week. I do not see how

:13:55.:13:59.

junior doctors can actually be the barrier in this case to the safety

:14:00.:14:04.

of patients. I do think that looking back the Secretary of State, and

:14:05.:14:10.

indeed the Minister may regret how this was handled. From last summer

:14:11.:14:14.

and has been so combative. In October one we debated the junior

:14:15.:14:18.

doctors, the Secretary of State was the refusing to go to the table.

:14:19.:14:25.

This cannot all be put on the BMA. Doctors are not stupid and they are

:14:26.:14:29.

capable of reading what is offered. Many of the junior doctors that have

:14:30.:14:32.

written to me have talked about the fear of hours getting out of

:14:33.:14:36.

control. And the fact that when I was a junior doctor are hours

:14:37.:14:43.

ridiculous, it was the automatic financial and to trust to change

:14:44.:14:50.

things. They should be listened to and not patronized. I think that is

:14:51.:14:58.

aggravated things further. Husband dealt with from beginning to end has

:14:59.:15:03.

been very disappointing. We are facing a second day of strike for

:15:04.:15:08.

the first time in 40 years. What is the Minister feel will be brought to

:15:09.:15:11.

the table by the Department of Health in the next few days to try

:15:12.:15:15.

and get out of this, and try and get a different approach? We do not have

:15:16.:15:19.

junior doctors in the streets in Scotland. You have to ask yourself

:15:20.:15:23.

what you have them in the streets here. You rightly point the fact

:15:24.:15:34.

that vulnerable mortality attributed to weekends is different for Beacon

:15:35.:15:38.

mortality. In public statements he has made, it does exist, that gap. A

:15:39.:15:47.

professor has been clear in his statements that there is an

:15:48.:15:50.

avoidable rate of mortality. Because of the weekend effect. He said he

:15:51.:15:57.

could save lives. We as clinicians said should collectively seek to

:15:58.:16:06.

solve. I have to say to her that the way she characterize the discussions

:16:07.:16:09.

in September and October and November are not quite right. We

:16:10.:16:17.

were employing the BMA to come to talk. They refused to do so. It was

:16:18.:16:26.

only when they came and talked to us and we made substantive progress.

:16:27.:16:30.

She is absolutely right to raise many of the issues, and many of them

:16:31.:16:35.

were around protecting for excess hours. We have a counterpart with

:16:36.:16:42.

him to negotiate. Since we have a counterparty revealed to have a

:16:43.:16:48.

really good series of progress and the result is the starting position

:16:49.:16:52.

and one that she welcomed any other place, and the Guardian will be able

:16:53.:16:57.

to levy fines. It is a process which I hope, and I expect to reduce the

:16:58.:17:04.

excess hours with currently are seen. We need to get away from the

:17:05.:17:13.

perverse incentives, which means that unsafe working hours are

:17:14.:17:16.

perpetuated. Of course we all regret that this has taken a bad course. I

:17:17.:17:25.

would taken this course had the BMA taken a responsible position right

:17:26.:17:29.

from the beginning. If you lie to your members, if you say they're

:17:30.:17:33.

going to have a pay cut and I was raised of course doctors are going

:17:34.:17:39.

to be angry it. The fact is that it is never true. The result is that as

:17:40.:17:43.

inflamed the situation we could have had the counterproductive talks that

:17:44.:17:47.

we have had over the last few weeks, we could've had this back in August

:17:48.:17:51.

or September, having not had any mess beforehand because of

:17:52.:17:58.

untruthful statements by the BMA. The level of support among junior

:17:59.:18:06.

doctors among the pay dispute is in part to you the dissatisfaction of

:18:07.:18:08.

the experience being a junior doctor. Could my Honorable friend

:18:09.:18:16.

advised with the government intends to commission the sort of review? I

:18:17.:18:21.

think my Honorable friend I can confirm that we will be looking at

:18:22.:18:30.

Sir David Dalton's recommendation. The 1995 contract is an imperfect

:18:31.:18:40.

one. That contract and its generality has helped contribute to

:18:41.:18:45.

the lessening of morale and the junior doctor workforce. As has the

:18:46.:18:53.

Secretary of State. The training placements are put on a source of

:18:54.:18:59.

problems of the contract. You very long periods of consecutive nights

:19:00.:19:02.

in dates all of which are brought in the contract. Is the Minister aware

:19:03.:19:11.

that it takes two sides to cause a strike. It cannot happen just

:19:12.:19:15.

because one side of the argument what they strike. This minister, the

:19:16.:19:21.

Secretary of State has been looking for a fight with the doctors ever

:19:22.:19:26.

since he got the job. Does he realise that when I came here 45

:19:27.:19:34.

years ago I was getting time at the half for all day Saturday and

:19:35.:19:42.

double-time like other minors for Sunday. The doctors, every time the

:19:43.:19:47.

replaced by nurses is costing the government and the taxpayers a small

:19:48.:19:54.

fortune, get the matter centred and be decent for a change! The

:19:55.:20:02.

Honorable gentleman has long prided himself as being a champion of the

:20:03.:20:06.

working people. The current contract and the proposed contract of the BMA

:20:07.:20:10.

that the Honorable Lady I presume supports, before his junior doctors

:20:11.:20:20.

over other jobs giving a better pay rates, a premium rate that could not

:20:21.:20:26.

be enjoyed by lesser paid workers. Under contract because she do but

:20:27.:20:30.

unions that he supports. The final morphing of the Labour Party into a

:20:31.:20:35.

party that prefers professionals over portals.

:20:36.:20:45.

I support the governments stance on June doctors. That's junior doctors.

:20:46.:21:04.

When he agree that the doctors set the tempo? Via said Ray from the

:21:05.:21:13.

beginning that it is the contract that is going to be critical into

:21:14.:21:18.

delivering seven-day services. It is important to make sure the

:21:19.:21:22.

consultants are providing cover over weekends. Not just for the benefit

:21:23.:21:25.

of patients but for juniors. Is it not at the very least odd Mr

:21:26.:21:40.

Speaker, that the Secretary of State yet again chooses to stay away and

:21:41.:21:44.

not come himself to answer questions on this very important subject? I

:21:45.:21:51.

know is a former health minister at the BMA could be difficult. The

:21:52.:21:56.

Secretary of State has become the main obstacle to this crisis. The

:21:57.:22:02.

honourable gentleman will know the previous Labour government had far

:22:03.:22:07.

more scraps with the BMA to the previous Coalition. This is

:22:08.:22:18.

something that is a mark of how secretaries. He will be here

:22:19.:22:24.

tomorrow, since the honourable gentleman asks. Nobody that came

:22:25.:22:33.

into the chamber after the questions started with expect to be called,

:22:34.:22:38.

that would be quite out of keeping with our parliamentary traditions.

:22:39.:22:49.

This view has nothing to do with pay. It has led to a national strike

:22:50.:23:02.

for the first time in 40 years. What is going on here? That is a question

:23:03.:23:11.

I am increasingly asking of the BMA leadership. They have agreed with

:23:12.:23:17.

Sir David Dalton that the issue is around pay. They're now in the end

:23:18.:23:25.

come clean that is not about pay. That is what we're dealing with.

:23:26.:23:33.

They whisper preferred rates -- which for preferred rates. I would

:23:34.:23:44.

say to administer the junior doctors in my constituency are reluctantly

:23:45.:23:51.

taking action on this, but they are supported by my constituents who

:23:52.:23:55.

think it is a disgrace that they enforce to take industrial action.

:23:56.:24:00.

The government is failing to address the concerns being raised by BMA.

:24:01.:24:07.

The minister says his door is open, but can he say he will actually do

:24:08.:24:15.

anything to settle this dispute. The Honorable lady that junior doctors

:24:16.:24:22.

have legitimate concerns, and every single one of them has been

:24:23.:24:28.

answered. Apart from one, and that is the one that the BMA refuses to

:24:29.:24:34.

open negotiations on. Guess our door remains open but they first have to

:24:35.:24:38.

remain open to talk to us which they are refusing to do so. Junior

:24:39.:24:48.

doctors are some of the most dedicated and hard working peoples

:24:49.:24:53.

and our local community. Some have cited information from the BMA

:24:54.:24:57.

suggesting that the government is proposing a pay cut. Any minister

:24:58.:25:00.

make the position crystal clear is that right? No it is not. Does the

:25:01.:25:10.

Minister ever wonder whether he has chosen the wrong target. He bases

:25:11.:25:14.

his entire argument on safety and rightly so. Chairs and chief

:25:15.:25:23.

executives tell me they have no difficulty staffing the hospitals

:25:24.:25:29.

with junior doctors over weekends, but our GP services are under

:25:30.:25:33.

incredible strain across the country, it is threadbare. That is

:25:34.:25:40.

where the real concern lies. The right honourable gentleman will know

:25:41.:25:43.

that we are looking at contract for GPs and consultants and junior

:25:44.:25:49.

doctors. You cannot see one clinical group in isolation. They were

:25:50.:25:54.

together. He he should know that in concluding discussions with doctors

:25:55.:25:57.

and GPs may need to make sure that we give hospitals and primary care

:25:58.:26:03.

is consistently trumps evidence of week. I met with junior doctor

:26:04.:26:10.

colleagues of the last few weeks and months, many of whom are cautious

:26:11.:26:16.

about the new contracts, but strike action is the last resort and they

:26:17.:26:21.

would rather not take it. The operation is going to be cancelled

:26:22.:26:26.

this week thanks to the strike action, is his door still open at

:26:27.:26:33.

this late hour. Would you not also called the Secretary of State to

:26:34.:26:40.

condemn the strike? My Honorable friend points to an interesting fact

:26:41.:26:47.

that despite his many months of discussion we were never had a clear

:26:48.:26:52.

line from the Secretary of State whether they condemn or support the

:26:53.:26:54.

industrial action. Elisa would know whose side they're on. What are they

:26:55.:27:00.

on the side of patients, whether we are trying to illuminate the weekend

:27:01.:27:04.

effect or whether they ought on the side of the BMA. I find it very

:27:05.:27:15.

unfortunate from the tone from the Minister opposite in regards to

:27:16.:27:18.

these doctors if they don't care and don't want to help their patients, I

:27:19.:27:24.

find that really regrettable. In my time as an official, when I used to

:27:25.:27:31.

represent workers in the health care sector, the BMA was highly known as

:27:32.:27:36.

a militant in that organisation. Can I ask the Minister does he really

:27:37.:27:44.

think that this is all the blame of the BMA and the doctors? Doctors

:27:45.:27:48.

care about their patients, that is why they are in this position! Do

:27:49.:27:54.

you not respect -- accept any responsibility? We have questioned

:27:55.:28:02.

the tactics that the leadership of the BMA, and I also agree with her

:28:03.:28:13.

about her previous employer, we disagree often but we agree on many

:28:14.:28:17.

things and we have a very straightforward relationship. They

:28:18.:28:24.

promised to talk about one thing, but refuse to weeks later. They

:28:25.:28:27.

refuse to cut the negotiation table months. The residents of my

:28:28.:28:42.

constituency tell things, secondly just how disappointed they are that

:28:43.:28:54.

we are not united in this house. Is the Minister as disappointed as my

:28:55.:29:03.

residence? The 2800 people who have had cancellations their operations.

:29:04.:29:11.

I wonder whether they think the opposition supports the cancellation

:29:12.:29:16.

or whether they condemn it? As soon as we have an answer to that

:29:17.:29:20.

question it will be easy to know the official position. Yesterday at the

:29:21.:29:27.

Secretary of State for Health accused the BMA a misleading junior

:29:28.:29:33.

doctors. Today the Minister comes to the house and accuses the BMA

:29:34.:29:39.

applying. If you really asking this house to believe that the most

:29:40.:29:43.

intelligent people in the country, the junior doctors, really cannot

:29:44.:29:46.

see what the government is proposing for themselves. Does he feel that

:29:47.:29:53.

this continued abuse that directed at that junior doctors is hindering

:29:54.:29:58.

any possibility of a settlement of this to be at what is damaging to

:29:59.:30:08.

patients? I'll ask her this, if the trusted body like the BMA tells its

:30:09.:30:13.

members that they will have a pay cut to 30% and an increase in hours

:30:14.:30:19.

and that's statement is incorrect, does it constitute a lie? Is the

:30:20.:30:27.

question I would put to her. A number of colleagues met with the

:30:28.:30:36.

parliaments and we were disappointed that they refused to go to the

:30:37.:30:39.

negotiating table. They eventually did and made progress. My

:30:40.:30:48.

constituents want a safe NHS. Is it time to get back to the tables that

:30:49.:30:51.

provide the services that the patients want. That's why we need to

:30:52.:30:58.

move ahead with this in the and the people that will suffer most from

:30:59.:31:05.

not making reforms will be patients. Any

:31:06.:31:11.

The Shadow Health Secretary at the Minister if he could miss the

:31:12.:31:16.

hospitals which do not have a new junior doctors working over the

:31:17.:31:20.

weekend, here is another chance. Would you name them for us now. In

:31:21.:31:26.

evidence given to the doctors peer review body, it is clear that rough

:31:27.:31:28.

terrain was made more difficult by the current playing time terms

:31:29.:31:33.

within the contract, that is why it has been on the table now for

:31:34.:31:36.

several years, it is why it has formed part of the discussions when

:31:37.:31:41.

we had them with the British medical Association, it is why the latest

:31:42.:31:44.

round of talks led by one of the leading chief executives in the

:31:45.:31:46.

country, search Ada Dalton, he has pressed the BMA to come and talk

:31:47.:31:51.

about it particularly this time in general and he refused to speak

:31:52.:31:56.

about both. Whatever the arguments in this case, I can think of no more

:31:57.:32:00.

honourable decent and honest negotiations than my right

:32:01.:32:02.

honourable friend the Secretary of State. The report is that the

:32:03.:32:07.

graduating medical students applying to the foundation in year one and

:32:08.:32:11.

two junior hospital doctors are seeking work in Northern Ireland,

:32:12.:32:14.

Scotland, and will still avoid the new contract. Is this true and if it

:32:15.:32:19.

is, what can be done to stop this train of our best medical students?

:32:20.:32:24.

We do not see any particular evidence at the moment, the best

:32:25.:32:28.

thing we would like to see Virginia's is he the new contract so

:32:29.:32:32.

that we can see it is going to be but therefore there working

:32:33.:32:36.

practices than the current one. It all of our interests, not just

:32:37.:32:39.

humans but also patients to make sure that juniors are working the

:32:40.:32:42.

hours which is why the new contract has got reductions on long days and

:32:43.:32:46.

it is why we want to reduce and eliminate the excessively long hours

:32:47.:32:52.

of the week. I am sure that the ministers have a very good idea and

:32:53.:32:56.

clear idea of how their proposals would affect working practices. Can

:32:57.:32:59.

I the Minister on how many occasions last year did a junior doctor worked

:33:00.:33:06.

91 hours or more a week? Believe that there are about 500 junior

:33:07.:33:10.

doctors treat the cars of last year operating on the been the payment

:33:11.:33:15.

which equates to the payments above the working Time regulations, it is

:33:16.:33:19.

a regularly small number, it is still significant and for those

:33:20.:33:21.

doctors who are working the excessive hours, it is unsafe. We'll

:33:22.:33:28.

be minister join me in thanking those junior doctors who ignore the

:33:29.:33:32.

call for strike last time during the election, and also agree with me

:33:33.:33:36.

that the lack of condemnation from the opposition means that there are

:33:37.:33:42.

putting their supports in front of my constituents and their health

:33:43.:33:46.

care needs Islamic State I completely agree with my Honorable

:33:47.:33:49.

friend, rather like an arsonist poured petrol on a fired in running

:33:50.:33:53.

for hope to put it out, the opposition has done very little to

:33:54.:33:57.

help you get this contract into a place that it needs to be and stop

:33:58.:34:01.

industrial action. I'm afraid that those patients were going to have

:34:02.:34:06.

council operations this week are to suffer because of the opposition's

:34:07.:34:09.

Philly to take a firm stand on this issue. The Minister will be aware

:34:10.:34:15.

that works in hospital has been enormously improved in the quality

:34:16.:34:18.

of care which it gives to its patients. It has done that with the

:34:19.:34:22.

same stuff, but with a leadership which says to the people working in

:34:23.:34:26.

the hospital, they have confidence in them, they share values, and yet

:34:27.:34:31.

this minister is saying that he's the only person who cares about

:34:32.:34:34.

patient safety and suggesting that doctors do not. What does that do

:34:35.:34:38.

for morale and their ability to improve the quality of care? I am

:34:39.:34:46.

not sure how to enter the Honorable Lady's question seeing as he

:34:47.:34:49.

misconstrued what I said, I never once suggested that it is only the

:34:50.:34:52.

government that cares for patient safety. Almost every doctor out

:34:53.:34:56.

there cares for nothing other than patient safety, and patient care. I

:34:57.:35:00.

have to say to her, that if we are going to get consistent levels of

:35:01.:35:04.

care across the weekend, according to the academy and medical colleges

:35:05.:35:08.

of ten clinical standards, part of that is going to be achieved by

:35:09.:35:14.

staff contracts, one of those is the junior doctors. That is why we must

:35:15.:35:20.

press ahead with it. I would like to start by committing my Honorable

:35:21.:35:23.

friend for all the work he is doing to deliver the chilli seven day a

:35:24.:35:27.

week health service that I know, not just members of my constituency will

:35:28.:35:31.

benefit from but each and every one of us in this chamber. I am a little

:35:32.:35:34.

surprised though that the Honorable lady opposite said no one is saying

:35:35.:35:39.

the existing contract is perfect. Would you agree with me that we

:35:40.:35:41.

should all be working together in the interest of our constituents to

:35:42.:35:47.

bring this situation to a successful conclusion? And that band playing

:35:48.:35:55.

political points with it. I agreed my Honorable friend, I am afraid it

:35:56.:35:58.

is a mark of the week the Labour Party has changed, I suspect had

:35:59.:36:03.

there been a Labour Party of a different era, one that was rather

:36:04.:36:05.

more responsible about the way that it dealt with industrial disputes,

:36:06.:36:08.

that they would have seen on whose side they should be acting at this

:36:09.:36:15.

point. Thank you Mr Speaker, it is a conservative government and to have

:36:16.:36:21.

a strike of this sort on a government's watch it a bit grace

:36:22.:36:27.

and a failure, and really listen to the Minister and I like the Minister

:36:28.:36:31.

actually, but he is only ever played the blame elsewhere, Shorty, a

:36:32.:36:35.

government should be evaluating its own performance and saying we can do

:36:36.:36:38.

better than this, we can make sure that this does not happen even at

:36:39.:36:45.

this 11th hour. The honourable gentleman tempt me with kindness, I

:36:46.:36:49.

repaid the compliment, all I can say to him is that having been involved

:36:50.:36:53.

in this process for some months now, I have found it incredibly

:36:54.:36:58.

frustrating, every time we have asked the BMA to, talked up until

:36:59.:37:01.

the end of November, they have refused, despite personal

:37:02.:37:05.

entreaties. When they did talk, they did find that we have no doubt an

:37:06.:37:08.

agreement only to find it soothing of your fingers the next day in

:37:09.:37:12.

front of the media. It has been a hugely frustrating process for

:37:13.:37:15.

everyone concerned, it is White has been such a difficult process, not

:37:16.:37:19.

just for us but for junior doctors who have been left confounded and

:37:20.:37:26.

confused by the whole thing. Thank you Mr Speaker, with the Minister

:37:27.:37:31.

agree with me that junior doctors most of them if not all exceed their

:37:32.:37:38.

contracted hours? And therefore the 72 hour limit is essential and will

:37:39.:37:44.

he acknowledge even after when I hope these negotiations are

:37:45.:37:50.

complete, there will be many junior doctors exceeding their contracted

:37:51.:37:55.

hours? There are some junior doctors who exceed their hours, the arms

:37:56.:38:00.

across the country is 72 hours, some are exceeding eight to 91 which is

:38:01.:38:03.

the currently permitted limit outside the working Time directive.

:38:04.:38:06.

We wish to stop it altogether and bring it down an absolute maximum 70

:38:07.:38:10.

hours in a week which would equate to a 48 hour average over the period

:38:11.:38:16.

it is looked at, currently six months. The keys to get the number

:38:17.:38:20.

of hours down because when you are working excessive hours it is unsafe

:38:21.:38:28.

for patients and for doctors. The Minister has been keen to establish

:38:29.:38:32.

what he sees as the preferential conditions that junior doctors

:38:33.:38:38.

endure. Yet, sir David Goffin in his interview with the health service

:38:39.:38:40.

Journal said my assessment is that the staff group that will have to

:38:41.:38:44.

contribute the least above that which they are providing at the

:38:45.:38:47.

moment with the outward doctors in training. He says our messaging on

:38:48.:38:52.

this has got muddled, but the Minister agree? Sir David Goffin is

:38:53.:39:00.

clear that we have to reform all contracts, now you can place the

:39:01.:39:02.

balance where you wish, but it is important that we actually perform

:39:03.:39:07.

the juniors and the consultants contracts together so they can fit

:39:08.:39:11.

other pieces within the service. It is wrong for instant to be able to

:39:12.:39:15.

have a junior on duty taking decisions over the weekend, not

:39:16.:39:17.

covered by consultants who are able to supervise and help with that

:39:18.:39:23.

decision and we need to make sure there is consistency through the

:39:24.:39:26.

week and weekend involving both juniors and seniors. Mr Speaker I

:39:27.:39:34.

represent many Junior doctors, I have met them and have tried to

:39:35.:39:36.

represent their views to the government, but I have always taken

:39:37.:39:39.

the view that my primary possibility is to the patient of the NHS, of one

:39:40.:39:45.

of those patients they e-mailed me this weekend to see that one of the

:39:46.:39:48.

consequences of the strike will be the cancellation of his White's

:39:49.:39:53.

biopsied plan for next week with cheap rights without this are the

:39:54.:39:59.

shortened a difficult life will be even shorter. We'll the shadow

:40:00.:40:02.

minister and the whole house join me in condemning the strike, it will

:40:03.:40:06.

achieve nothing, it is a distraction from the negotiations that need to

:40:07.:40:11.

continue, and will put the lives of my constituents and others across

:40:12.:40:17.

the country at risk. Hear, hear! I cannot possibly add to the comment

:40:18.:40:22.

of my Honorable friend, I shall hope the service areas they take note.

:40:23.:40:27.

Strike action is always a last resort, I can say categorically as

:40:28.:40:34.

an ex-NHS worker that no NHS worker wants to go on strike, what we have

:40:35.:40:40.

here is a complete failure of metal Ossetians. The Secretary of State

:40:41.:40:45.

door may be open by the inflammatory and frankly insulting comments he

:40:46.:40:48.

made on the media this weekend do not exactly invite people to cross

:40:49.:40:54.

that threshold and talk to him. Given that he has manifested failed

:40:55.:41:00.

as a negotiator, is it about time he stood by him as he aside, and that a

:41:01.:41:07.

negotiator deal with the BMA and come to an agreement before it is

:41:08.:41:13.

too late? I am not sure the honourable lady has been listening

:41:14.:41:15.

to the statements made in this House and elsewhere. I am not sure she has

:41:16.:41:19.

been missing because she would have heard that the negotiations already

:41:20.:41:24.

have been taken on by beating was she stares from NHS employers and by

:41:25.:41:29.

Sir David Dalton one of the leading executives in the country,

:41:30.:41:34.

significant progress has been made, contrary to what she has thus

:41:35.:41:38.

suggested, negotiations have worked, we have managed to nail down, she

:41:39.:41:42.

shakes her head, but the fact is sir David Dalton has managed to secure

:41:43.:41:48.

on every single point of contention other than the rates for playing

:41:49.:41:52.

time, unsocial hours, and on Saturdays. The kind of results we

:41:53.:41:58.

are going to see across the country on Wednesday would essentially be

:41:59.:42:02.

around the rates on a Saturday for which the BMA wants preferential

:42:03.:42:05.

rates over nurses, porches, cleaners and other workers in the NHS. May I

:42:06.:42:12.

join colleagues in thanking the Minister and the Secretary of State

:42:13.:42:16.

for all their work in negotiating a contract which is obviously quite a

:42:17.:42:21.

tough discussion. On many of my constituents may have sympathized

:42:22.:42:25.

last year with the BMA's case, patients and their families

:42:26.:42:27.

including my own father after a recent heart valve replacement job

:42:28.:42:30.

will be concerned that the BMA is not getting around negotiating

:42:31.:42:35.

negotiating table placing undue stress on the most vulnerable. We

:42:36.:42:38.

agree with me that the BMA should consider those patients as they

:42:39.:42:45.

protect their negotiations? If the BMA were replanting its members they

:42:46.:42:47.

would be thinking about the patient welfare during the strikes, we have

:42:48.:42:52.

heard with great eloquence just now about the effects on individual

:42:53.:42:55.

levels the strikes will cost. The strikes will get us no nearer to a

:42:56.:42:59.

solution. The only way to come to a solution here is by negotiation.

:43:00.:43:05.

This is Speaker, this testament to the progress being made over the

:43:06.:43:08.

course of these negotiations at the BMA has cancelled some strikes and

:43:09.:43:12.

indeed downgraded the one that we are expecting on Wednesday, does my

:43:13.:43:15.

Honorable friend agree with me that one crucial thing that would make

:43:16.:43:19.

the greater difference would be condemnation from the other side of

:43:20.:43:24.

this house? Hear, hear! I think you'd make a significant difference

:43:25.:43:29.

now that the leader for Her Majesty's opposition is sitting on

:43:30.:43:31.

the front bench, he would like to take note. The fact is if you have

:43:32.:43:35.

united response condemning strikes which affect patients and their

:43:36.:43:39.

safety, it helps to bring negotiations to a more profitable

:43:40.:43:47.

and? The infirmary is currently under blackbird, local people have

:43:48.:43:49.

been told not to attend the hospital unless it is a matter of life or

:43:50.:43:56.

death. Can the Minister Tommy how the secretary of state the insults

:43:57.:43:59.

he has been throwing around and insult the Minister has made today

:44:00.:44:01.

about hard-working and dedicated junior doctors, will help people who

:44:02.:44:07.

need a functioning NHS and also improve the morale of those doctors?

:44:08.:44:11.

The honourable lady does dangerous work if she tries to complete the

:44:12.:44:14.

comment that I and others have made about the leadership of the BMA, not

:44:15.:44:19.

of whom I have impugned, the fact is that I recognised the junior doctors

:44:20.:44:22.

worked incredibly hard, they care passionately about their patients,

:44:23.:44:26.

and they have a vocational drive to do the best to the people they care

:44:27.:44:29.

for, it is different from an organisation which refuses to talk,

:44:30.:44:34.

refuses to negotiate, lies to its members, and is very slippery in the

:44:35.:44:38.

statement put out to the press. Hear, hear! The General Hospital is

:44:39.:44:44.

under huge pressure and the Junior doctors at the hospital do a

:44:45.:44:48.

fantastic job, but may I tell the Minister that my constituents would

:44:49.:44:51.

be extremely disturbed to hear him tell the House today that at the

:44:52.:44:56.

talks, the BMA said they would negotiate about that today pay and

:44:57.:45:01.

and are now refusing to do so, and consequence of the strike on

:45:02.:45:04.

Wednesday, my constituents are appalled that 2884 operations have

:45:05.:45:10.

already been cancelled with that number possibly going even higher.

:45:11.:45:15.

The Honorable friend is right, it is one of the number of agreements that

:45:16.:45:19.

we have come to be the BMA over the course of these discussions which

:45:20.:45:22.

have been reneged upon by the organisation. It is why this whole

:45:23.:45:25.

process has been so torturous for everyone involved. Order! The

:45:26.:45:32.

Secretary of State for International Development. Secretary Justine

:45:33.:45:43.

Greening. Thank you Mr Speaker, with permission I should make a statement

:45:44.:45:48.

updating the House on the recent theory a conference which the UK

:45:49.:45:52.

co-hosted with chelate, Norway, Germany, and the United Nations last

:45:53.:45:56.

Thursday. 25 years, the Syrian people have suffered unimaginable

:45:57.:46:01.

horrors at the hands of the Assad regime and more recently Daesh,

:46:02.:46:07.

inside Syria there are 13 and a half million people in desperate need and

:46:08.:46:10.

a further 4.6 million people have become refugees. And indeed as we

:46:11.:46:16.

have seen the past hours alone, the impact of this crisis on the people

:46:17.:46:21.

of the region is terrible and profound. I was in Lebanon last

:46:22.:46:25.

month and Jordan, spoke to refugees, some of whom are now spending their

:46:26.:46:31.

fifth winter under a tent. Their stories are similar. When they left

:46:32.:46:35.

their homes and when they thought that they would be back in weeks or

:46:36.:46:41.

months at most, but for over a the many of them minister not to be

:46:42.:46:46.

years with no end in sight. Syria is now not only the world's biggest and

:46:47.:46:53.

most urgently crisis, a far-reaching consequences are being felt across

:46:54.:46:55.

Europe and touching our lives here in Britain. More than 1 million

:46:56.:47:00.

refugees and migrants risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean

:47:01.:47:03.

last year, and of those around half were fleeing from the bloodbath in

:47:04.:47:08.

Syria. Mr Speaker, since the fighting began. Britain has been at

:47:09.:47:12.

the forefront of the humanitarian response to the Syria conflict. A

:47:13.:47:17.

firm the UK is already helping to provide food for people inside Syria

:47:18.:47:22.

every month, as well as clean water, and sanitation for hundreds of

:47:23.:47:27.

thousands of refugees across the region. Our work on the Syria crisis

:47:28.:47:30.

is people in the region hope for a better future, and is also firmly in

:47:31.:47:35.

Britain's national interest. In fact, without British aid, hundreds

:47:36.:47:40.

of thousands more refugees could feel they have no alternative but to

:47:41.:47:44.

risk their lives by seeking to get to Europe. But more is needed, the

:47:45.:47:50.

UN Syria appeals for the whole of last year ended up only 54% funded.

:47:51.:47:56.

Other countries needed to follow the UK's lead and to step up to the

:47:57.:48:01.

plate. That is why the UK announced that we would co-host an

:48:02.:48:04.

international conference in London on behalf of Syria and the region.

:48:05.:48:08.

This will build on the successful conferences held in chelate in

:48:09.:48:13.

previous years. Mr Speaker, on Thursday last week we brought

:48:14.:48:17.

together over 60 countries and organizations including 33 heads of

:48:18.:48:21.

states and governments. The stage was set for the international

:48:22.:48:24.

community to deliver real and lasting change for the people

:48:25.:48:29.

affected by this crisis. But, in the end it was going to come down to

:48:30.:48:35.

choices. Could we pledge the record-breaking billions needed

:48:36.:48:38.

going much further than previous conferences? Could be commit to

:48:39.:48:45.

going beyond people's basic needs and delivering viable long-term

:48:46.:48:50.

solutions on jobs and education for Syria's refugees but also for the

:48:51.:48:55.

countries supporting them. At the London conference, the world may be

:48:56.:48:57.

right choices to do all of those things, countries, donors, and

:48:58.:49:02.

businesses all stacked up and read new funds for this crisis to the of

:49:03.:49:11.

over $11 billion. This included five for the 2016 and another $5.4

:49:12.:49:17.

billion over the period of 2017 to 2020. This is the largest ever

:49:18.:49:21.

amounts committed in a response to a humanitarian crisis in a single day.

:49:22.:49:27.

He means More ace being raised in the first five weeks of this year

:49:28.:49:30.

for the Syria crisis than in the whole of 2015. The UK once again

:49:31.:49:38.

played a part. We announced he would be doubling our commitment,

:49:39.:49:40.

increasing our total pledged to Syria and the region to over ?2.3

:49:41.:49:46.

billion. Going beyond people's basic needs at the London conference, the

:49:47.:49:50.

world said that there must be no lost generation of Syrian children.

:49:51.:49:55.

Pledging to deliver education to children, inside Syria, and

:49:56.:50:01.

education to at least 1 million refugees and host community children

:50:02.:50:03.

in the region outside Syria who are out of school. This is an essential

:50:04.:50:10.

investment Mr Speaker, not only in these children but in Syria's

:50:11.:50:14.

future. It also gives those countries generously hosting

:50:15.:50:18.

refugees temporarily the investment in their education systems that will

:50:19.:50:22.

benefit them for the longer-term. The London conference also made

:50:23.:50:26.

equivocal choice on supporting jobs for refugees and economic growth in

:50:27.:50:31.

the countries hosting them. We hope that historic commitments for

:50:32.:50:35.

Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan will create at least 1 million jobs in

:50:36.:50:38.

countries neighbouring Syria so that refugees have a livelihood and place

:50:39.:50:44.

to live among this will create jobs for local people and against the

:50:45.:50:48.

legacy this time of economic growth. By making these choices, we are

:50:49.:50:51.

investing in what is overwhelmingly the first choice of Syrian refugees

:50:52.:50:55.

to stay in the region and to stay closer to their home country. And

:50:56.:51:00.

their families that are so often still in it. If we can give Syrians

:51:01.:51:04.

hope for a better future where they are, they are less likely to feel

:51:05.:51:08.

that they have got no other choice left but to make perilous journeys

:51:09.:51:12.

to Europe. Mr Speaker I would like to thank all of those civil servants

:51:13.:51:16.

for my own department from the Cabinet office, from the Foreign

:51:17.:51:21.

Office, and also who worked tirelessly as a team to help us

:51:22.:51:26.

deliver such a successful and vital conference. It is not often that

:51:27.:51:30.

civil servants get the things that I believe they deserve, but in this

:51:31.:51:32.

location I want to put that on record. Mr Speaker, the word has

:51:33.:51:39.

offered by vision of hope affected by those crisis but only piece will

:51:40.:51:42.

give the Syrian people their future back. The establishment of the

:51:43.:51:45.

international serious support group at the end of 2015 was an important

:51:46.:51:50.

step on the path to finding a political settlement to the

:51:51.:51:54.

conflict. The Syrian opposition has come together to form the hired

:51:55.:51:59.

negotiations committee to engage in negotiations on political transition

:52:00.:52:03.

with the regime, and the UN launch proximity talks between the Syrian

:52:04.:52:08.

parties in January. The UN special for Syria to the Division to pause

:52:09.:52:12.

these talks, following an increase in air strikes and violence by the

:52:13.:52:16.

Assad regime, backed by Russia. The UK continued to call on all sides to

:52:17.:52:23.

take steps to create the conditions for peace negotiations to continue.

:52:24.:52:28.

In particular, Russia must use its influence over the regime to put a

:52:29.:52:32.

stop to indiscriminate attacks and the unacceptable violations of

:52:33.:52:38.

international law. Across the area, I thought, and other parties to the

:52:39.:52:42.

conflict are willfully impeding humanitarian access on a day by day

:52:43.:52:47.

basis, it is a brutal, unacceptable, and illegal actions to use

:52:48.:52:53.

starvation as a weapon of war. In London, world leaders demanded an

:52:54.:52:58.

end to these abuses, including the illegal use of siege and abstraction

:52:59.:53:02.

of humanitarian aid. In London conference reviewer sourcing for

:53:03.:53:04.

life-saving humanitarian supports but it was also be allowed to reach

:53:05.:53:11.

those in need as a result of the Syria conflict, irrespective of

:53:12.:53:15.

where they are. I also want to take this opportunity to provide an

:53:16.:53:18.

update on the campaign against Daesh interact and interior. Since my

:53:19.:53:23.

right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary last updated the House in

:53:24.:53:25.

the campaign against Daesh in the area and the rack come at the global

:53:26.:53:30.

Coalition with partner forces has put further pressure on --. Iraqi

:53:31.:53:35.

forces with Coalition support has to be taken large portions of Ramadi,

:53:36.:53:39.

and in Syria, the Coalition has supported the capture of the

:53:40.:53:46.

surrounding villages as well as areas south. The UK is playing our

:53:47.:53:53.

part. As of the 5th of February, arias typhoon, tornado, and aircraft

:53:54.:53:56.

have flown over 2000 combat missions and carried out more than 585

:53:57.:54:03.

successful air strikes. Across Syria and Iraq. We are also leading

:54:04.:54:07.

efforts to sanction those treating with or in the supporting Daesh. My

:54:08.:54:11.

right honourable friend in agreement at the European Council in December

:54:12.:54:15.

on asset freezes and other restrictive measures. Mr Speaker, in

:54:16.:54:20.

conclusion, since the want of this crisis, the UK has led the way in

:54:21.:54:25.

funding and shaping the international response. We have

:54:26.:54:28.

evolved our responses in this incredibly Compex crisis itself has

:54:29.:54:34.

evolved. There will be no end to the suffering on till a political

:54:35.:54:37.

solution can be found. The Syria conference co-hosted by the UK and

:54:38.:54:42.

held here in London was a pivotal moment to at least respond to how

:54:43.:54:45.

this people affected and those countries affected. We see the

:54:46.:54:49.

chance to offer the Syrian people and their children the hope for a

:54:50.:54:56.

better future. The UK will of off course be making that ambition a

:54:57.:55:00.

reality in keeping the international communities promised to the Syrian

:55:01.:55:03.

people, this is the right thing to do on behalf of those suffering and

:55:04.:55:07.

for the mentally it is also the right thing to do for Britain as

:55:08.:55:10.

well. A committee statement to the House.

:55:11.:55:17.

The Syrian crisis is the most pressing humanitarian challenge

:55:18.:55:23.

facing us at this time. The government is to be commended on

:55:24.:55:27.

co-hosting this important conference, which is raised over $10

:55:28.:55:33.

billion, for Siri and refugees. And the government is also to be

:55:34.:55:36.

commended on doubling our own commitments to over ?2.3 billion.

:55:37.:55:43.

The emphasis on education and jobs is entirely correct, and we cannot

:55:44.:55:51.

allow a whole generation of Syrian children to be lost. However, they

:55:52.:55:58.

will build whereby it the concern worldwide, that one third of the

:55:59.:56:04.

funds pledged to Syria during 2015 had not been confirmed by December

:56:05.:56:08.

of that year, so is she able to say whether all of the money pledged in

:56:09.:56:14.

2015 has been confirmed now? And that she appreciate the entire

:56:15.:56:18.

house's ropes, that she will get other countries, not just to match

:56:19.:56:24.

our generosity, but actually to hand the money over? But the highly

:56:25.:56:30.

commendable efforts for Siri and refugees in the region belied the

:56:31.:56:37.

government's will for myopia to pledge over half a million refugees

:56:38.:56:45.

who are here in Europe. It is true that the majority of Syrian refugees

:56:46.:56:52.

in the region, and the Syrian refugees -- situation continues to

:56:53.:56:57.

worsen. They are waiting at the border with Turkey, in response to

:56:58.:57:03.

Assad's bombardment of Aleppo. Can they explain how much longer this

:57:04.:57:07.

country and the EU can expect to keep its border with Syria open,

:57:08.:57:11.

while one in the same time, we want to prevent refugees from transiting

:57:12.:57:18.

towards Western Europe? The front desk conference Marais are vital.

:57:19.:57:24.

But surely it is also vital that this country shows a willingness to

:57:25.:57:31.

take its fair share of refugees, including Syrian refugees, currently

:57:32.:57:36.

the UK has agreed to take over five years, fewer refugees, then Germany

:57:37.:57:42.

has taken in one month. We appreciate on this side that this

:57:43.:57:48.

country is not signed up. But that the Secretary of acknowledged State

:57:49.:57:51.

that the fact that we are not signatures to that, does not remove

:57:52.:57:56.

the moral responsibility that falls on us as part of the European family

:57:57.:58:03.

of nations? And because the Secretary of State accept that very

:58:04.:58:07.

many people are surprised and disappointed that the government has

:58:08.:58:11.

rejected the save the children campaign's which is taken just 3000

:58:12.:58:17.

child refugees? The Secretary of State may well wish that these

:58:18.:58:20.

children had stayed in the region, but the direction in which the

:58:21.:58:25.

children chose to flee does not make them any less vulnerable. These

:58:26.:58:29.

children may not be in the part of the world at the Secretary of State

:58:30.:58:32.

would prefer, but they are still low children at risk of abuse, sex

:58:33.:58:40.

trafficking, and worse. The Secretary of State cannot behave as

:58:41.:58:45.

if there are two classes of child Siri and refugees. Once that he stay

:58:46.:58:49.

in the region, who she is prepared to help, but then another class

:58:50.:58:56.

travel to Europe, on whom she turns her back. The Secretary of State

:58:57.:59:00.

will also have heard reports of the German chancellor's speech in Turkey

:59:01.:59:05.

today. That she agreed with Angela Merkel that the ultimate solution to

:59:06.:59:09.

the current migrant crisis is safe and legal, pathways for refugees?

:59:10.:59:15.

Other political processes, I'm glad to say that on this site, we have

:59:16.:59:22.

very much supported it, to take steps to move forward to sustainable

:59:23.:59:26.

peace negotiations, in particular, Russia must use its influence on the

:59:27.:59:31.

Assad regime, and we entirely agree that it is unacceptable and illegal

:59:32.:59:37.

to use siege, starvation, and the blockage of humanitarian aid as a

:59:38.:59:41.

weapon of war. And we welcome the steps being taken to freeze Daesh

:59:42.:59:48.

assets, and other restrictive measures, such as the opposition

:59:49.:59:53.

have been calling on for some time. In conclusion, let me say this: Of

:59:54.:00:00.

course, most Syrians -- all Syrian refugees, want to return home, and

:00:01.:00:05.

immigrants and refugees, whether they go home or not never lose that

:00:06.:00:11.

hope in their hearts, that they will return to the contrary they were

:00:12.:00:16.

born in. But the fact is, whether the Secretary of State prefers it or

:00:17.:00:21.

not, there are half a million Syrian refugees here draft -- Western

:00:22.:00:27.

Europe. I visited the camp and Calais, and met very many Syrian

:00:28.:00:32.

refugees there. Many of whom would have actually had a legal right to

:00:33.:00:36.

come to this country. But all of whom were living in appalling

:00:37.:00:43.

conditions. When the caravan of these international events have

:00:44.:00:48.

moved on, there are still going to be thousands of Syrians and other

:00:49.:00:52.

refugees including an increasing proportion of women and children,

:00:53.:00:58.

living in appalling conditions in Europe, frightened, terrorised, and

:00:59.:01:02.

at the mercy of people traffickers, and we may all wish... We may all

:01:03.:01:09.

wish that they had not listened to the people traffickers, but this

:01:10.:01:13.

government should be doing more, not just the Syrian refugees in the

:01:14.:01:17.

region, but for the very many suffering Syrian refugees here in

:01:18.:01:23.

Western Europe. Thank you, Mr Speaker. She raises an important

:01:24.:01:27.

point that it is vital that countries came and made promises at

:01:28.:01:32.

last week's conference, and they live up to them, too often at

:01:33.:01:36.

similar meetings in the past countries have wanted to come in and

:01:37.:01:42.

make plans or set out promises that they have not simply lived up to,

:01:43.:01:47.

and the UK will play its role in delivering certain promises that we

:01:48.:01:51.

have in the past, and in the future, but also we will make sure that the

:01:52.:01:55.

transparency there to enable us to ensure that other countries live up

:01:56.:01:59.

to the promises that they made. I think it is wrong of her quite

:02:00.:02:03.

simply to say that we have not played on a roll. Frankly, our

:02:04.:02:10.

strategy has been to tackle the root causes of the crisis that we have

:02:11.:02:15.

seen reaching our own shores, which is actually to make staying close to

:02:16.:02:24.

home, which is overwhelmingly most refugees's first choice, it has been

:02:25.:02:29.

a failure to deliver on those sorts of promises, and those sorts of

:02:30.:02:34.

resources that they need, that has led them over time to steadily give

:02:35.:02:38.

up on that. Indeed, we are absolutely playing a role close to

:02:39.:02:42.

home, here in Europe. It has been the UK that has been working with

:02:43.:02:48.

UNHCR, making sure that newly arrived refugees are effectively

:02:49.:02:52.

registered, although she will understand the challenges of that on

:02:53.:02:56.

occasion, but also making sure that they have the kind of shelter,

:02:57.:03:00.

clothing, blankets, and sustenance that they need, and often making

:03:01.:03:06.

that often fatal journey. She will know that we are resettling 20,000

:03:07.:03:11.

from the region itself directly, that is not only a safer route for

:03:12.:03:17.

people to be able to get to the UK, if that is where being resettled to

:03:18.:03:21.

come and come and actually enables us also to focus on the most

:03:22.:03:24.

vulnerable people, affected by this crisis, you need to be resettled.

:03:25.:03:28.

People who could not otherwise make the kind of journey we have seen

:03:29.:03:33.

with other refugees, making across Europe, and of course, in more

:03:34.:03:36.

recent days, we have set out that we will be doing helpless children. I'm

:03:37.:03:43.

very proud of the work that the UK has done to put children at the

:03:44.:03:48.

centre of our response to the Syrian crisis. It was the United Kingdom...

:03:49.:03:57.

Has been buried UK helped that Unicef has been able to put safe

:03:58.:04:04.

zones in refugee camps to help link up children who have got separated

:04:05.:04:08.

from their families, and it has been the UK that has been helping to make

:04:09.:04:12.

sure that the kind of psychosocial support that children so often need,

:04:13.:04:17.

having been involved in the sort of crisis is, it has been the UK

:04:18.:04:23.

helping to make sure that support is there for those children, and we

:04:24.:04:28.

will continue to do that. More broadly, she has talked about her

:04:29.:04:34.

condemnation of Russia, which again, is correct, and we can debate on how

:04:35.:04:44.

the UK's support affected by this crisis is working, but I think that

:04:45.:04:47.

we should all be able to agree on is that the routine, flagrant,

:04:48.:04:52.

deliberate breaches, day-to-day of international humanitarian law that

:04:53.:04:55.

we see in relation to this crisis, are totally unacceptable, and a

:04:56.:05:01.

country like Russia should be playing its role in pressing the

:05:02.:05:05.

Assad regime, which it is spending so much time and resources in

:05:06.:05:09.

supporting, to allow the aid that is there, in places like Damascus to

:05:10.:05:14.

get down the road to the people who desperately need it, and I believe

:05:15.:05:18.

that in time, as we look back on this crisis, in the years to come,

:05:19.:05:24.

this breach that we see of international humanitarian law will

:05:25.:05:28.

be one of the most telling aspects that people ask themselves, how

:05:29.:05:31.

could this have been allowed to go on? But I commend my right

:05:32.:05:38.

honourable friend for that very calm, and factual statement that she

:05:39.:05:43.

made about the situation for the Syrian refugees, but I suppose to

:05:44.:05:48.

the rather shadow Secretary of State, she is trying to whip up a

:05:49.:05:52.

motion about these things, and which you agree with me that actually we

:05:53.:05:55.

do need peace and the region, and we do need to talk to Russia about what

:05:56.:05:59.

they are doing, and somebody needs to to to -- tackle Assad, and we

:06:00.:06:04.

should be looking at keeping as many people as possible in the area where

:06:05.:06:08.

they have been brought up, with a culture is correct, would they

:06:09.:06:13.

understand the lifestyle, rather than encouraging them, as the party

:06:14.:06:16.

opposite might choose to do, to get them to come to this country where

:06:17.:06:20.

we are putting so much money I'm a taxpayer's money, to helping these

:06:21.:06:29.

people settle elsewhere. These are two related issues, but of course,

:06:30.:06:34.

we are playing a role close to home here in Europe, in helping refugees

:06:35.:06:39.

who have finally arrived on our shores, but she is right to

:06:40.:06:42.

recognise that overwhelmingly refugees basically want to stay

:06:43.:06:48.

close to home. I met a lady in my last trip to Jordan who family's

:06:49.:06:58.

stolen homes, -- still in the homes. -- homes. But she desperately needed

:06:59.:07:05.

there was to be able to work legally, to support herself, while

:07:06.:07:10.

she tried to get on with the light that she suddenly found herself

:07:11.:07:14.

living. A life, as I said at the beginning of this crisis, that

:07:15.:07:18.

overwhelmingly, none of the refugees that they would leave Syria for

:07:19.:07:21.

anything more than a few weeks, or a few months, and we should all think

:07:22.:07:24.

about how we would cope with those sorts of situations. It is incumbent

:07:25.:07:28.

on the industrial community go to make sure that we now go beyond this

:07:29.:07:32.

day-to-day support for people, so they're not just a block, but they

:07:33.:07:37.

are able to have some kind of life. It is in their interest, it is also

:07:38.:07:41.

in the interests of the host communities, who are so generously

:07:42.:07:50.

accommodating them. Thank you. We also welcome the pledges and

:07:51.:07:53.

commitments that have been made at the conference, recognising the

:07:54.:07:57.

chief and the biggest ever pledges in one day, particularly the

:07:58.:08:01.

commitments on child education. I would echo the concerns about the

:08:02.:08:04.

difference between making a pledge, and fulfilling a pledge, and being

:08:05.:08:08.

able to hear what was discussed at the conference and any processes,

:08:09.:08:14.

and implementation of pledges, bear in mind the pledges last year.

:08:15.:08:20.

There's also a feeling in some quarters that civil society was

:08:21.:08:25.

underrepresented. Especially in local and national, and society

:08:26.:08:27.

organization, yet it is those organizations that are on the

:08:28.:08:31.

front-line responders to the crisis, and inside Syria, other

:08:32.:08:37.

international counterparts not. It would be interesting to see what

:08:38.:08:40.

will the Secretary of State sees, or civil society about the terms of

:08:41.:08:44.

decision-making, and implementation. In recognising while the government

:08:45.:08:50.

has played, we would echo the concerns about response to the

:08:51.:08:53.

refugee crisis in Europe, and I would also suggest that rather than

:08:54.:09:01.

20,000 refugees over four years, it should be 24,000 this year alone, so

:09:02.:09:05.

I hope the commitments the UK has made, with those displaced by the

:09:06.:09:10.

conflict, especially those already in Europe. Already, the only viable

:09:11.:09:13.

long-term solution must be negotiated peace. The discussions

:09:14.:09:17.

has she continued to have with the Cabinet colleagues about the impact

:09:18.:09:23.

of UK air strikes? The she believed that it has been helped or hindered?

:09:24.:09:30.

While seeking to improve humanitarian response among time it

:09:31.:09:33.

is not adding to the crisis on the other. The prize may not be one that

:09:34.:09:39.

he craves, probably the longest sentence and the parliament. Thank

:09:40.:09:47.

you. I will try and briefly answer the points that he is raised. They

:09:48.:09:51.

are all important ones, and I said before, we tried to do our best to

:09:52.:09:55.

make sure that the commitments made last Thursday are honoured. He is

:09:56.:09:59.

red to highlight the important role of civil society, in fact we have

:10:00.:10:04.

the day dedicated to that, last Wednesday, and there are actually 17

:10:05.:10:13.

Syrian civil society organizations, and 27 nanograms eighth overall. The

:10:14.:10:16.

role that they have, already played, and continue to play, is delivered

:10:17.:10:21.

on the ground. Many of them put their lives on the line every single

:10:22.:10:25.

day of the week to get into communities who desperately need

:10:26.:10:29.

their help. Secondly, to continue to assess needs. In order to make sure

:10:30.:10:35.

that we target our... And is often vital information that we get from

:10:36.:10:38.

civil society, and finally, I think looking ahead, optimistically,

:10:39.:10:43.

perhaps but nevertheless importantly, when we find that we

:10:44.:10:46.

get to a position where we can see Syria getting back on its feet, and

:10:47.:10:50.

rebuild the role of civil society, not only in understanding needs and

:10:51.:10:56.

priorities of local people, but forming networks that can actually

:10:57.:10:59.

help on the ground to deliver that work will be critical, and I have

:11:00.:11:04.

already sent out that I believe that we are playing our role, not only in

:11:05.:11:10.

the region, but also closer to home, here in the UK. I would like to

:11:11.:11:16.

point out that ?1 spent here in Europe is not did anyone -- anywhere

:11:17.:11:19.

near as far as supporting refugees as a talent that can be delivered

:11:20.:11:23.

closer to home in the region, providing food, water, shelter,

:11:24.:11:27.

getting a child into school, who is currently out of school, so it is

:11:28.:11:30.

incredibly important that we make sure that we do not lose sight of

:11:31.:11:36.

the root causes that underlie the refugees that we have seen coming to

:11:37.:11:40.

Europe over recent months. Finally, I could not disagree even more, on

:11:41.:11:45.

UK air strikes. You will not be surprised to hear that, but one of

:11:46.:11:49.

the key challenges to ever reaching any kind of a peaceful settlement

:11:50.:11:54.

and Syria is of course the presence of the barbaric Daesh. Who,

:11:55.:12:01.

day-to-day, routinely commit -- acts of unspeakable brutality,

:12:02.:12:04.

particularly on women, on people more generally, in the territories

:12:05.:12:09.

that they control. His people are not simply going to get up and go

:12:10.:12:13.

home, that is why we need to take military action against them, to

:12:14.:12:17.

force them, out of those territories, who are already seeing

:12:18.:12:23.

it happening in Iraq, and they are leaving a wasteland behind them, but

:12:24.:12:26.

it is a wasteland that we can start to rebuild. We will do the same and

:12:27.:12:31.

Syria. I wholeheartedly support what the government are doing here. It is

:12:32.:12:36.

a critical part of our strategy, to ensure that the two small nations

:12:37.:12:42.

nearby, in particular Jordan and Lebanon, are able to cope, with the

:12:43.:12:48.

most incredibly difficult number of refugees, to their overall

:12:49.:12:51.

populations. Can the Secretary of State give us some detail as to work

:12:52.:12:54.

they're doing to encourage those two nations, in relation to customs, for

:12:55.:13:02.

the idea of economical operation, perhaps not just for the UK, but

:13:03.:13:06.

within the EU as a whole. To try to ensure that they do their best, but

:13:07.:13:10.

also recognising the fact that many hundreds of thousands of those eerie

:13:11.:13:14.

refugees, are likely to be in Jordan, and Lebanon for many years

:13:15.:13:21.

to come. I am pleased he raises this issue of... I think it is a historic

:13:22.:13:26.

step forward, in terms of getting an agreement to start to create jobs

:13:27.:13:29.

for refugees, for many years, they have not been able to work legally.

:13:30.:13:34.

That has forced many into working illegally to try and support

:13:35.:13:37.

themselves, many of them might have left Syria, with some assets, but

:13:38.:13:41.

with over the weeks months and years, the assets have been

:13:42.:13:44.

depleted, and it is reaching the end of that, as many of them have to

:13:45.:13:48.

decide that they know how alternative to try to find a life

:13:49.:13:51.

somewhere else. This matters, and what we was essentially countries

:13:52.:13:55.

like Jordan and Lebanon taking the decision to now allow work permits

:13:56.:14:01.

so that Syrian refugees with greater numbers can work legally, and those

:14:02.:14:04.

were big decisions for them today, but decisions that I think were

:14:05.:14:09.

right. As they coped, and indeed often struggled to cope with the

:14:10.:14:14.

refugees who are temporarily put in large numbers, within their

:14:15.:14:19.

countries, what are we doing? Well, on the Jordanian and Lebanese side,

:14:20.:14:24.

particularly with Jordan, which have and they just tax rates, some of

:14:25.:14:31.

this will be the Syrian economy and exile, business leaders are

:14:32.:14:36.

establishing their Syrian... That is not just good for Syrians who can

:14:37.:14:39.

get back into work, it is also providing work for local people who

:14:40.:14:44.

are unemployed, and of course that is been complemented by investment

:14:45.:14:47.

coming in from the World Bank, from the European investment Bank, who

:14:48.:14:52.

critically also reformed the European Union level, and making our

:14:53.:14:57.

own trade barriers more flexible, so that actually countries like Jordan

:14:58.:15:00.

can more easily sell their goods into the huge market that is the

:15:01.:15:04.

European market. I think we should be really proud of the work that was

:15:05.:15:09.

achieved at the conference, but with Jordan and Lebanon, it was very calm

:15:10.:15:15.

growing UK, ideas that were put on the table, and international support

:15:16.:15:19.

was there. Most importantly, it gave us the chance to work directly with

:15:20.:15:24.

governments in Jordan and Lebanon to help in the long-term, to provide

:15:25.:15:27.

jobs and growth that will be there hopefully long after their generous

:15:28.:15:34.

hosting of refugees. It cannot be disputed. I will point out that we

:15:35.:15:39.

got the to backbench questions in seven minutes, ask, so we should try

:15:40.:15:46.

it -- drive for productivity improvement. It is immensely

:15:47.:15:56.

important, but she did say that Britain was also helping refugees in

:15:57.:16:01.

Europe. The honest truth is that his timing that is being provided, and

:16:02.:16:05.

she will note that there are refugees in Greece, in the Balkans,

:16:06.:16:11.

closer to home, and Calais, and there I was humanitarian conditions

:16:12.:16:14.

than those in the region, and they are being denied the Board by

:16:15.:16:17.

governments, the UN, and aid agencies, because they are in

:16:18.:16:22.

Europe. Can't you tell us when children are suffering, from

:16:23.:16:24.

scabies, bronchitis, from the cold, how much of the London conference

:16:25.:16:28.

funding will go to helping refugees in Europe, and if the answer is

:16:29.:16:33.

none, but is she doing to have a similar approach in conference to

:16:34.:16:35.

help those refugees who are in Europe as well? Conference was

:16:36.:16:41.

indeed to make sure that we are responding in the region, to Syrian

:16:42.:16:47.

refugees, and indeed host countries who are affected by this crisis. She

:16:48.:16:51.

asked about the responses here in Europe, but we are talking about

:16:52.:16:55.

European countries who have the resources themselves to be able to

:16:56.:16:58.

respond and help refugees who are currently in their own countries,

:16:59.:17:03.

and as far as I have set out, the UK has played its role in helping

:17:04.:17:11.

refugees who arrived. I strongly support the government's approach,

:17:12.:17:14.

giving maximum help to refugees near their homeland. I strongly support

:17:15.:17:20.

the government's participation, and crucial initiatives for political

:17:21.:17:24.

progress and peace. What impact on British Government policy is there

:17:25.:17:31.

from the intensive vocation of Russian supported Assad supported

:17:32.:17:33.

Russian military intervention? The main impact has been the breakdown

:17:34.:17:38.

of peace talk progress. In the short-term, in the end, it is going

:17:39.:17:43.

to be resettlement that gives people the hope and future that they want

:17:44.:17:47.

to be able to be able to go back and rebuild their country. The positive

:17:48.:17:55.

role Artie being played by the RAF in the Coalition campaign to drive

:17:56.:18:01.

Daesh back from territory, but that she agreed that the catastrophe

:18:02.:18:06.

including the humanitarian catastrophe, and refugee Ted

:18:07.:18:09.

Cassidy, will continue as long as Daesh control large areas of Syria,

:18:10.:18:14.

and as long as President Assad supported by Pugin, slaughters his

:18:15.:18:20.

own people? Yes I do, entirely, I have set out the Honorable

:18:21.:18:25.

gentleman, where I think it is critical that we maintain Syria's

:18:26.:18:29.

integrity as a country, and that means regaining the territory that

:18:30.:18:33.

has been lost to Daesh. They can be no peace settlement in a so-called

:18:34.:18:37.

Syria, until we have that territory back under control, and it can form

:18:38.:18:42.

part of the peace talks. I'm grateful to the Secretary of State

:18:43.:18:47.

for coming here. She is always a good commentator. Can GE confirm

:18:48.:18:55.

that we will continue to focus our different work in the camps, and in

:18:56.:18:59.

the region, with ultimately tackling the root cause of this problem, that

:19:00.:19:03.

a political solution is the only long-term solution? I strongly agree

:19:04.:19:11.

with her, and the talks need to get back under way, and of course UN

:19:12.:19:16.

Security Council for this resolution at the end of last year set out a

:19:17.:19:20.

road map for that being able to take place, but there were two key areas

:19:21.:19:25.

that were highlighted. One was for a cease-fire, the second was for free

:19:26.:19:29.

access to humanitarian supplies to get to people, and it is the lack of

:19:30.:19:34.

progress on these that during peaks talks, combined with actually

:19:35.:19:41.

attacks by the Assad forces, and supported by the Russians that is

:19:42.:19:50.

undermining them making progress. Words cannot convey the impotence

:19:51.:19:54.

and the anger that we as politicians of the lack of progress in the peace

:19:55.:20:01.

process. The contribution made by the government, but at the same

:20:02.:20:08.

time, we are seeing humanitarian crisis developed today, at the

:20:09.:20:16.

border with Turkey, and the single Merkel has made it quite clear what

:20:17.:20:22.

she feels about it. She says the Russians are primarily responsible

:20:23.:20:25.

for the bombing. The reason the people are fleeing in droves from

:20:26.:20:31.

Syria, has the foreign office called in Russia on Assad, has the Prime

:20:32.:20:36.

Minister called in the Assad? He should be called in every day until

:20:37.:20:41.

they stop bombing civilians in Syria. She will be pleased to hear

:20:42.:20:48.

that the foreign secretaries part of the international Syrian support

:20:49.:20:51.

group, and I will be meeting in Munich this Thursday, hopefully with

:20:52.:20:54.

the Russians there, and is precisely the sorts of messages that we will

:20:55.:20:57.

be delivering to the Russians, which is that they have a critical part to

:20:58.:21:01.

play in enabling the peace talks to move forward, at the moment, their

:21:02.:21:06.

actions are taking us further away from a peaceful settlement, because

:21:07.:21:10.

they are bombing the very moderate opposition around which a political

:21:11.:21:12.

transition government should be able to form. The Secretary of State has

:21:13.:21:20.

every right to be exceptionally proud of what was achieved at the

:21:21.:21:25.

conference. But, I'm afraid that we need to do more locally in Europe.

:21:26.:21:36.

Shall know that I... I can tell her that the Greeks are not coping. We

:21:37.:21:40.

need, as Britain, to lead, as we have done, and there are children

:21:41.:21:45.

and refugees in Europe who need our help, Greece is on its knees, and

:21:46.:21:50.

will she meet with us to hear our first hand account emotionally, and

:21:51.:21:55.

factually, about what we saw? I'm very happy to meet with her, and I

:21:56.:21:59.

have read about the reports of the visit that she made. I would be that

:22:00.:22:10.

-- are her that we can work with Greece. It has been with the UK that

:22:11.:22:14.

has been working with UNHCR, which has been registering many of the

:22:15.:22:20.

refugees who have been arriving. In the end, we also have to accept that

:22:21.:22:24.

Greece has sovereign control over itself, and will want to ultimately

:22:25.:22:31.

organise how it deals with refugees. Yes, it needs resource and, that is

:22:32.:22:34.

what the European Community is discussing, how it can effectively

:22:35.:22:37.

do that, the UK has been a part of that, but in the meantime, our focus

:22:38.:22:41.

is also on dealing with the root causes as to why those people lost

:22:42.:22:46.

any hope of feeling like there was a future for them in the region that

:22:47.:22:50.

they lived in and had grown up in. That surely has to be the main focus

:22:51.:22:57.

for us as well. The prime minister accepted when the House supported to

:22:58.:23:02.

exempt military campaign against Isis, from Iraq to Syria in

:23:03.:23:07.

December, that is extended, not only our involvement, but the

:23:08.:23:12.

responsibility to. Can I ask her more about the peace process that

:23:13.:23:17.

she has touched on, it would be needy -- easy to lose faith in this.

:23:18.:23:22.

Given the events of recent days. But that she agreed that while the key

:23:23.:23:27.

difference that she is talking about are commendable, the only long-term

:23:28.:23:31.

solution for the people of Syria is not eight, but a country in which

:23:32.:23:35.

they can live, and is there anything more that she can say about how to

:23:36.:23:39.

get this political process back on track? He will know that the key

:23:40.:23:45.

next steps are this Thursday when the international city area support

:23:46.:23:49.

group meets, and then there is building towards hopefully a peace

:23:50.:23:53.

talk, which are having a pause, which was described by the UN, and

:23:54.:24:02.

there are two elements to this. One is the peace talks, and that

:24:03.:24:05.

political dialogue that is under way, the second is in response to

:24:06.:24:11.

what happened earlier. The military action that is needed to eradicate

:24:12.:24:15.

Daesh from that part of the country, that it is currently holding. Making

:24:16.:24:19.

progress on both of those is critical, and the final step will be

:24:20.:24:22.

the chance to put into practice much of the planning that is there

:24:23.:24:27.

already, and unable to be dead on with, which is the rebuilding of

:24:28.:24:34.

Syria. The whole generations of children have grown up in refugee

:24:35.:24:39.

camps, such as in Algeria, and with all of that education and

:24:40.:24:44.

radicalisation, but can be done to prevent something similar happening

:24:45.:24:45.

near Syria? The need to at least be able to read

:24:46.:25:10.

and write and have some sort of an education. There are too many

:25:11.:25:13.

children have lost too many days in school, but after last Thursday we

:25:14.:25:17.

have a much better chance of getting them back into the classroom and

:25:18.:25:21.

that mining. That is precisely what we're hoping to do over the next few

:25:22.:25:28.

weeks and months. Would like a Job with others in, the reminder also

:25:29.:25:35.

with the Yemeni donor conference six years ago is not the pledges that

:25:36.:25:38.

matter but also the pain over the money put back in that case only 10%

:25:39.:25:43.

has been paid over. The key local countries Turkey. The EU has pledged

:25:44.:25:48.

Turkey 3 billion euros in order to do with this crisis. At that money

:25:49.:25:54.

be repaid over at least in part and can she reassure the House that

:25:55.:25:59.

recent elements are not affecting the processing of the 19,000 Syrian

:26:00.:26:04.

refugees that the Prime Minister has pledged for to come in before the

:26:05.:26:12.

next election? Why make that 3 billion was very much reach as part

:26:13.:26:17.

of the conference that we had last Thursday and by Kim Miley very keen

:26:18.:26:20.

to make sure that all the commitments made last Thursday I

:26:21.:26:25.

delivered for us to achieve the results that we set ourselves. To

:26:26.:26:30.

make sure that there are no Syrian refugees out of school by the end of

:26:31.:26:35.

this forthcoming academic year. More broadly, he should be reassured that

:26:36.:26:38.

the UK will continue to play a role in ensuring that we do a lot in our

:26:39.:26:44.

response to this crisis, which we arty have, and have been the second

:26:45.:26:48.

is biggest bilateral donor today. We also continue to shape the response

:26:49.:26:57.

as well. Thank you Mr Speaker once someone ceases to be a displaced

:26:58.:27:02.

person internally, and crosses an international border, in their minds

:27:03.:27:07.

and in reality, they become refugees or economic migrants. It is very

:27:08.:27:12.

difficult for them to go back to their own country. It is much more

:27:13.:27:15.

difficult for them to go back to their own country. It is would be

:27:16.:27:19.

great if the international community, that has built so far to

:27:20.:27:23.

stop the world would come to some kind of agreement to set up safe

:27:24.:27:28.

areas close to other countries on the borders of other countries,

:27:29.:27:32.

which we could reach into and look after people, so that when the time

:27:33.:27:37.

comes and politics works, they can to go home within their own country.

:27:38.:27:43.

I think the hope is that following last Thursday's conference, we will

:27:44.:27:49.

be better able to help those countries that offer for the

:27:50.:27:52.

refugees to flee to on the border with Syria. But they are better able

:27:53.:27:57.

to cope with the refugees who are down there. Mr Speaker, I think we

:27:58.:28:00.

all hope in time that the refugees will be able to go back to their

:28:01.:28:04.

countries. The reality is that the difficult time that someone will

:28:05.:28:08.

spend as a refugee is now 17 years. This is why the work on getting

:28:09.:28:12.

children into school, the work on jobs, is so important. Thank you Mr

:28:13.:28:21.

Speaker. What's concrete -- concrete action does the conference agreed to

:28:22.:28:25.

following the toxic intervention of the Russians and the likelihood that

:28:26.:28:32.

a site will impose a blockade? Was the subject today convoys or

:28:33.:28:33.

airdrops discussed at the conference? This general point that

:28:34.:28:41.

he races all access and making sure that, alongside making sure that the

:28:42.:28:45.

sources for UN agencies and NGOs needed, we also then have the

:28:46.:28:49.

ability to get back resorts into people in need, is a central part of

:28:50.:28:53.

this conference will stop this is why I said out of my state and how

:28:54.:28:56.

important it is for the international community to reiterate

:28:57.:29:00.

his support for freedom and humanitarian access. We should

:29:01.:29:04.

condemn all of those who are stopping come on in day-to-day

:29:05.:29:09.

basis, key supplies for which people often need. The easiest thing in

:29:10.:29:19.

politics is to say to do more. Can I do say how proud I am of the

:29:20.:29:22.

secretaries of state, the Prime Minister and the UK's response to

:29:23.:29:26.

this humanitarian crisis. Can I say that I agree with the members that

:29:27.:29:30.

we must now tackle this issue of indiscriminate bombing by Russian

:29:31.:29:35.

Air forces. And what can be done to get the UN's special envoy back on

:29:36.:29:38.

the table with the Russians and stop the spamming which is making this

:29:39.:29:45.

crisis so much worse? I actually think this UK Palm is playing its

:29:46.:29:48.

own role in highlighting this issue. It is the thing that has led to the

:29:49.:29:54.

current path in the peace talks. It is vital that this Thursday in

:29:55.:29:59.

Munich, that the Russians take a long, hard look at their role in

:30:00.:30:04.

being able to make or break these peace talks. At the moment the

:30:05.:30:07.

actions they are taking is preventing progress. It's as simple

:30:08.:30:16.

as that. On friends, in terms of cease-fire, too in terms of failing

:30:17.:30:19.

to do is persuade the apartheid regime to allow supplies into key

:30:20.:30:21.

areas that they have under control. Mr Speaker into many request the UN

:30:22.:30:28.

agencies have made to the on-site rigging, 10% has been agreed in

:30:29.:30:32.

terms of allowing access to areas. This is a total disgrace. I would

:30:33.:30:37.

help the Russians would raise that with the assigned rigging which they

:30:38.:30:45.

are doing so much to support. Cannot commend the development cycle tour

:30:46.:30:48.

for the resources that have been allocated to educating children and

:30:49.:30:52.

young people from Syria, while being displaced. It is my understanding

:30:53.:30:55.

that this is almost exclusively being channeled through you this but

:30:56.:31:00.

-- Unicef. Can she confirm with a house that British agencies with a

:31:01.:31:05.

lot of experience in these areas, and the door for this is absent, for

:31:06.:31:09.

using then and harnessing their expertise in this matter? The

:31:10.:31:17.

initiative was a up with you this is, who is not a amazing job in

:31:18.:31:21.

allowing us to scale up this work. Of course now is essentially owned

:31:22.:31:26.

by government in Lebanon and Jordan, which I've had a privileged to work

:31:27.:31:30.

alongside in putting together these plans do not enable us to scale up

:31:31.:31:34.

to make sure that all children in those countries can get into school.

:31:35.:31:37.

I think the best thing I would suggest to him is that they NGOs do

:31:38.:31:42.

get in touch with stupid to understand what role they could play

:31:43.:31:48.

those government of Jordan and Lebanon plans, to get children back

:31:49.:31:56.

into school. Thank you Mr Speaker. Indeed I command my right honourable

:31:57.:32:01.

friend and to the government for not only convening the Syrian donor

:32:02.:32:05.

conference, but also for the significant in reaching the

:32:06.:32:09.

mandatory and support, that we are providing. In recent times Saudi

:32:10.:32:16.

Arabia and the UAE and consequent military action in Syria, can you

:32:17.:32:19.

say what those countries and others like countries in the region are

:32:20.:32:23.

doing that with regard to humanitarian aid? I think one of the

:32:24.:32:31.

big sets of this conference was the stepping up of the region itself.

:32:32.:32:36.

Stepping up to provide the resources and humanitarian supplies to get

:32:37.:32:40.

through to people and of course the last three donor conferences have

:32:41.:32:45.

been in the region in Kuwait. We have chose to host the conference

:32:46.:32:49.

this year, but it has substantial and significant risk support from

:32:50.:32:54.

the region. That is one of the reason we were able to reach such a

:32:55.:33:05.

record breaking response. Can't I talk about concerns about the

:33:06.:33:08.

conditions of some of the refugee camps? Not just in Syria in the

:33:09.:33:12.

region, but also in Europe too. What assessment has the Secretary of

:33:13.:33:15.

State's department made of the health risk in particular the public

:33:16.:33:20.

health risk, arising from those squalid conditions. What more can be

:33:21.:33:24.

done to help alleviate the risk -- refugees were living in those

:33:25.:33:30.

conditions Baggio as I said earlier that we have provided key support to

:33:31.:33:34.

refugees arriving in Europe, including most recently we announced

:33:35.:33:38.

?10 million fund that is critically going to enable us to provide

:33:39.:33:42.

practical support refugees who are having to cope with some of those to

:33:43.:33:45.

school conditions that he talked about. Can I commit my right

:33:46.:33:56.

honourable friend was invented that. What are the Turks meant to deliver

:33:57.:34:00.

a return to the 3 billion euros which the EU is getting them,

:34:01.:34:04.

especially with regard to the way to latest wave of refugees from the

:34:05.:34:11.

crisis is why might you be aware that their already substantial

:34:12.:34:14.

numbers of refugees in Turkey. Tooling in total. That plan is

:34:15.:34:18.

really around helping them to continue to provide the kind of food

:34:19.:34:23.

water and shelter and source of education, and some of the job

:34:24.:34:27.

programmes that will enable refugees to cope with the circumstances they

:34:28.:34:35.

now find themselves in. Is serious to have a stable and peaceful

:34:36.:34:39.

future, and women and girls have in part to play in that, I wonder the

:34:40.:34:43.

Secretary of State could say why there is no mention of the role of

:34:44.:34:46.

women in the Syrian stabilisation paper published last week? I fully

:34:47.:34:52.

agree with her that women have a key role to play. Not only in the

:34:53.:34:57.

rebuilding of Syria in time but in the peace talks. We should happen in

:34:58.:35:03.

advance. Shall know that alongside all the work that we have done to

:35:04.:35:07.

protect children affected by this crisis, we have particularly focused

:35:08.:35:11.

on women as well. We know that humanitarian emergencies and women

:35:12.:35:18.

and girls and in particular at adolescent girls are important and

:35:19.:35:21.

we work very hard to make sure that the risk that they face are managed.

:35:22.:35:26.

I will notify her further us on the plans that we have regarding women

:35:27.:35:35.

in regards to the Syrian crisis. The Secretary of State highlights what

:35:36.:35:39.

happens to people upon their arrival to Europe. But that's the question

:35:40.:35:46.

is what happens after that? Those that have already arrived in 2015

:35:47.:35:53.

and who should do it? Of courses is not part of the Schengen area. You

:35:54.:35:59.

keep cat -- UK played our own role in helping Syrian refugees that need

:36:00.:36:01.

to be settled out of the region. That's why the Prime Minister has

:36:02.:36:06.

pledged to have 20,000 Syrians resettled. I like to play tribute to

:36:07.:36:12.

the work of my Honorable friend, who has overseen that process today. We

:36:13.:36:17.

met our first time I'd had getting 1000 Syrian refugees resettled prior

:36:18.:36:19.

to Christmas. I think we should be proud of that. Today up to 70,000

:36:20.:36:32.

refugees and advancing forces from the Russian air strikes had been

:36:33.:36:36.

able to cross to Turkey. Can the Secretary to the House was being

:36:37.:36:40.

done to offer immediate help to these poor people? Element will of

:36:41.:36:47.

course that flow of is happening because of action by the Syrian

:36:48.:36:52.

regime. This is driving them out of their homes. This has been a

:36:53.:36:57.

persistent issue that we have seen of the last few years. We have to

:36:58.:37:01.

direct you with our own partners on the ground to make sure that

:37:02.:37:04.

humanitarian support is getting to those Syrian refugees, affected by

:37:05.:37:10.

this. Of course more broadly as we understand it, Turkish authorities

:37:11.:37:14.

rules are putting in place necessary measures to make sure people are

:37:15.:37:23.

able to cross the border. Statement of the Secretary of State for

:37:24.:37:28.

Communities and Local Government. Secretary Greg Clark. Hear, hear! Mr

:37:29.:37:39.

Speaker I am pleased to report financial information for the next

:37:40.:37:43.

year. To hundred 78 responses for the consultation. My ministers and I

:37:44.:37:46.

have met with local government leaders from all types of authority,

:37:47.:37:50.

from all parts of the country and many college in this house. Hear,

:37:51.:37:56.

hear! . I have listened carefully to each of them. Colleagues that have

:37:57.:37:59.

work with you before, know that I always take the views of the members

:38:00.:38:04.

of this house seriously and I always respond what I can to practical and

:38:05.:38:07.

sensible suggestions. I am grateful to everyone who has taken the

:38:08.:38:12.

trouble to make such suggestions. The provisional settlement contained

:38:13.:38:16.

a number of important innovations. First, although the stats to assess

:38:17.:38:23.

settlement is for 2016 and 17 I set out to allow councils to apply for a

:38:24.:38:27.

four-year budget, extending to the end of the problem. This change of

:38:28.:38:31.

its councils to plan with greater certainty. The offer was widely

:38:32.:38:34.

appreciated in the consultation. This is not surprising since as a

:38:35.:38:38.

sum that local government has been requesting for years. I want to give

:38:39.:38:41.

councils the time to consider this offer. And translate this into

:38:42.:38:47.

efficiency savings. I give councils to the Friday appointee of October

:38:48.:38:54.

to respond. Many have done so positively already. Secondly in the

:38:55.:38:57.

provisional settlement, I responded to the clear call from all tiers of

:38:58.:39:00.

local government and too many colleagues across this house, to

:39:01.:39:04.

recognise the important priorities and growing cost of caring for our

:39:05.:39:08.

elderly population. In advance of the spending review. The local

:39:09.:39:14.

Government Association and the directors of adult social services

:39:15.:39:17.

have written to me requesting additional to .9 billion per year be

:39:18.:39:24.

available by 2019. What a dedicated social care of to percent per year

:39:25.:39:28.

equivalent to ?23 per year, on average. A better care front of 1.5

:39:29.:39:38.

billion per year by 2019 and 2020. These are measures to address these

:39:39.:39:41.

issues I care. The provisional settlement made up to three and half

:39:42.:39:48.

billion available by 2019 thirdly, recognising the council services in

:39:49.:39:53.

rural areas, Faith extra cost. I suppose in the provisional

:39:54.:39:56.

settlement, that the rule services delivery of the increase from 15 and

:39:57.:40:02.

a half billion this year to 20 billion in 2015 and provisionally to

:40:03.:40:07.

65 million by 20 19. Councils and colleagues who represent rural

:40:08.:40:12.

areas, welcome to. But the gap between rural and girls councils, in

:40:13.:40:17.

terms of government funding, should not widen. Fourthly this years

:40:18.:40:25.

provisional settlement, marked the turning point for our over

:40:26.:40:30.

centralised pass. At the start of the 2010, almost 80% of the local

:40:31.:40:35.

councils expenditure was financed by central government funds. Revenue

:40:36.:40:44.

support by day she will account for. By 2019 and 2020 only 5%. Revenues

:40:45.:40:51.

will disappear altogether as we move to 100% retention. Local financing

:40:52.:40:56.

through counsel takes and business rates has been a big objective of

:40:57.:41:00.

councils for decades. However the many authorities and many honourable

:41:01.:41:04.

members, especially from counties like Dorsett, rest assured,

:41:05.:41:11.

Worcestershire and Lancashire and several mind are including Kingston,

:41:12.:41:17.

have argued for transitional help to the first to years, when central

:41:18.:41:21.

government grounds declined sharply. They have argued that other local

:41:22.:41:24.

resources would not have had the time by then to build up fully. So

:41:25.:41:30.

much in the provisions settlement is welcome, the specific points were

:41:31.:41:34.

raised about the sharpest changes in the government grounds in the early

:41:35.:41:38.

years of this part -- Parliament. Concerns about rural areas was also

:41:39.:41:43.

an issue. Another point was made. Many felt that too much time has

:41:44.:41:48.

passed since the last substantial revision of the formula, which

:41:49.:41:52.

assesses the councils needs. Hear, hear! And the cost that can be

:41:53.:41:56.

expected in meeting those needs. These responses to the consultation

:41:57.:42:01.

into me to be reasonable and ought be accommodated. Everyone would

:42:02.:42:05.

appreciate that the need to reduce the budget deficit means that

:42:06.:42:11.

meeting these recommendations is extraordinarily difficult. I'm

:42:12.:42:14.

pleased to be able to meet all of the most significant of them. I can

:42:15.:42:18.

confirm that every council will have for the financial year ahead. The

:42:19.:42:25.

resources allocated. I have agreed to the responses to the

:42:26.:42:29.

consultation, which recommended at ease in the pace of reduction during

:42:30.:42:33.

the most difficult first to years of the settlement. Councils that

:42:34.:42:38.

experienced the sharpest reductions and revenue support. So I will make

:42:39.:42:41.

additional resources available in the form of a transitional front, as

:42:42.:42:46.

proposed in the response to the consultation by colleagues in local

:42:47.:42:52.

government and the ground will be worth 150 million pounds per year

:42:53.:42:55.

paid over the first to years. On the need for myself, it is nearly ten

:42:56.:42:59.

years since the current formula was looked at thoroughly. I think there

:43:00.:43:04.

is good reason to believe that the Democratic -- demographic pressures

:43:05.:43:07.

affecting particular areas, such as the growth of the elderly

:43:08.:43:10.

population, have affected different areas in different ways. As has the

:43:11.:43:18.

costs of providing. I asked that we conduct a thorough review of what

:43:19.:43:20.

the needs assessment formula should be in a world were all local

:43:21.:43:26.

government spending is funded by local resources we will use it to

:43:27.:43:31.

determine the transition to 100% business transition. Fitting that

:43:32.:43:39.

review, including rural parts of the country car wall, and such, I

:43:40.:43:51.

recognise... LAUGHTER I suspect I will have the opportunity rich to

:43:52.:43:59.

respond to colleagues. I propose to increase by more than five votes,

:44:00.:44:03.

the rule service delivery front from 15.5 million this year to 80 .5

:44:04.:44:14.

5,000,020 16. With an extra 30 to 47 available to rule councils to the

:44:15.:44:19.

transitional front that I subscribe. 90 to 43 billion, compared to the

:44:20.:44:22.

provisional settlement is available to rural areas. There is

:44:23.:44:27.

significant, this proposal ensures that there is no deterioration in

:44:28.:44:30.

government funding for rural areas compared to urban areas for the year

:44:31.:44:35.

of the statutory settlement. Hear, hear!. I have also requested that we

:44:36.:44:41.

help the most economic councils by allowing them to without triggering

:44:42.:44:47.

referendum. I will consult on the well performing planning

:44:48.:44:50.

departments, for the possibility of increasing their fees with inflation

:44:51.:44:54.

at the most, providing that the revenue reduces the cost subsidy,

:44:55.:44:57.

that the planning function currently gets to the Council taxpayers. A

:44:58.:45:01.

final point on the consultation, although the figures for future

:45:02.:45:05.

years are indicated. A small number of councils would have to make a

:45:06.:45:13.

contribution to the councils in 2017 and 2018 or 2018 -- 19. I can

:45:14.:45:17.

confirm that no cats will have to make such pages. These are important

:45:18.:45:22.

times for local government. The devolution of power and sources is

:45:23.:45:26.

gathering momentum. I am aware that there is serious work for councils

:45:27.:45:30.

to do to continue to provide excellent service at the lowest cost

:45:31.:45:33.

possible over the years he had. I acknowledge the important role of

:45:34.:45:38.

members of this house, and represent to me the recommendation of councils

:45:39.:45:42.

which delivers the services which all of our constituents depend. I am

:45:43.:45:46.

grateful for all of our contributions. My response to the

:45:47.:45:49.

consultation has responded positively to a sensible

:45:50.:45:53.

recommendation and if there in a fair manner as possible. This holds

:45:54.:45:57.

firm to our commitment to free us from the dangers inherent with the

:45:58.:46:03.

national deficit. Mr Speaker I commend the statement to the House.

:46:04.:46:11.

Thank you very much. And I thank the Honorable gentleman for his courtesy

:46:12.:46:17.

in providing the statement. This afternoon we would welcome

:46:18.:46:21.

announcements and it is clearly a good thing that more money is being

:46:22.:46:25.

provided to rule committed -- communities that are hard hit. Let

:46:26.:46:28.

me explain exactly where the additional funding is coming from.

:46:29.:46:33.

There is just over to hundred million pounds. This is obviously a

:46:34.:46:38.

great shortfall relative to the billions, that requires

:46:39.:46:43.

understanding pressures. Can he tell us nonetheless where the additional

:46:44.:46:51.

spending is coming from? Above all when they come from, all of this is

:46:52.:46:55.

purely transitional. This reminds me of nothing more than someone

:46:56.:46:59.

speeding along the road into a disaster, who then says I will take

:47:00.:47:03.

my foot off the accelerator, without changing the destination. The local

:47:04.:47:11.

government is facing a disaster. His recent provisional announcement, and

:47:12.:47:19.

the House, the other week seems to some unusual recruits. I don't think

:47:20.:47:26.

that he knows the identity of the anonymous MP, who talked

:47:27.:47:31.

conservative home this morning. Essential reading. LAUGHTER. It

:47:32.:47:38.

certainly is true. The MP said as follows "Counsel as he or she said,

:47:39.:47:43.

has done the right thing. They have done it well. They have saved vast

:47:44.:47:47.

amounts of money in the last few years, and now all that that is

:47:48.:47:52.

gone. On the meat is gone and the government wants to knock on the

:47:53.:47:59.

bone. I'm not having local libraries and offices closed down. " Is that

:48:00.:48:05.

you that the secretary of state is known on the Secretary of State is

:48:06.:48:08.

known about? Does he acknowledge that according to what's control,

:48:09.:48:16.

LGA, even in every counsel in England, increase their council tax

:48:17.:48:18.

by the maximum allowed by the government for the next four years,

:48:19.:48:21.

and in every penny of that increase went only on supporting the elderly

:48:22.:48:25.

that they would still be a funding gap of over one billion pounds on

:48:26.:48:35.

social care about? Then the Minister for social care promised that the

:48:36.:48:38.

government would end the infamous 15 minutes fine business. Is that the

:48:39.:48:45.

secretaries policy? House is going to be funded given the shortfall?

:48:46.:48:51.

How we achieve this target? On the subject of how the government

:48:52.:48:56.

disputes funding between counsellors, how does he explain the

:48:57.:49:01.

manifest injustice that the most deprived areas are being cut the

:49:02.:49:06.

most? As things currently stand, the ten most deprived areas in England

:49:07.:49:11.

with the 18 times worse off than the ten least deprived areas. How will

:49:12.:49:17.

he explain to farmers that their services will be cut, at the same

:49:18.:49:22.

time as the engineering Council tax increases, we estimate up to 20%. We

:49:23.:49:27.

estimate this by the end of this promo. The Minister asked study

:49:28.:49:33.

carefully representations made by the rule services network and

:49:34.:49:36.

perhaps by some of these anonymous MPs. Perhaps some of them were not

:49:37.:49:45.

anonymous. LAUGHTER The rule services network conservative right

:49:46.:49:49.

says that his poor original statement, would make life difficult

:49:50.:49:53.

for hundreds of thousands of people, across all areas of rural England.

:49:54.:49:56.

Their lives would be totally insufferable. That is what the rule

:49:57.:50:03.

networks that. Can he guarantee that the relatively small increase

:50:04.:50:06.

therefore, and the rule services delivery group, which was announced

:50:07.:50:13.

today, will have to cut health, and in children's homes, and public

:50:14.:50:16.

transport? If you really recommending to rule districts that

:50:17.:50:21.

the date increase the council tax by at least to percent present or 5%,

:50:22.:50:30.

not which is a half lower, but which is the higher? He wants them to

:50:31.:50:35.

decreased by the higher amount. In a suspended 20 billion has been cut

:50:36.:50:39.

from local governments since 2020. The impact of this cuts were felt

:50:40.:50:46.

more in the more urban London boroughs in the past? It is now

:50:47.:50:50.

laterally spreading far and wide to the whole of the English

:50:51.:50:55.

countryside. But Mr Speaker I represent 20 rule villages. There is

:50:56.:50:59.

no doubt that the provisional settlement which he announced, was

:51:00.:51:04.

devastating for rule England. How did he make such an announcement?

:51:05.:51:10.

Today's announcement -- announcement is far from it adequate. Can he

:51:11.:51:14.

confirm that sent it is transitional, it is his intention,

:51:15.:51:18.

that in this Parliament, all of the cuts which he has announced in the

:51:19.:51:21.

provisional settlement will eventually be proposed on rule

:51:22.:51:27.

areas? In regards to business rates, one will he provide the House with

:51:28.:51:32.

details on ledges which he intends to introduce? Finally does the

:51:33.:51:35.

Minister accept that all of these quotes -- cuts are in essence of

:51:36.:51:41.

political necessity? Should not the government learned lessons from

:51:42.:51:44.

other members of the European Union who are raising hundreds of millions

:51:45.:51:49.

of pounds more than we are getting from Google and other

:51:50.:51:55.

multinationals? That money could then be used to support public

:51:56.:51:59.

services. Isn't it time that the council showed some guts, stand up

:52:00.:52:06.

to the multinationals and? Hear, hear! Thank you very much indeed Mr

:52:07.:52:14.

Speaker. I'm delighted to hear about the reading material of the

:52:15.:52:19.

Honorable gentleman. LAUGHTER This makes a change from the Redbook,

:52:20.:52:25.

that is the preferred choice of the Council. I encourage him in that. If

:52:26.:52:31.

he reads that very good website, there is constant praise for the

:52:32.:52:36.

efficiency of the conservative Council that have a record of

:52:37.:52:42.

economy and good service for the residents. In terms of increasing

:52:43.:52:46.

council tax, will he would know all about that, because the last Labour

:52:47.:52:52.

government doubles Council tax. The council tax at the end of this

:52:53.:52:56.

Parliament and the projections that are made will be less in real terms

:52:57.:53:02.

than they were at the beginning of the last Parliament. We will take no

:53:03.:53:05.

lessons from him in terms of the Council tax. I detected a

:53:06.:53:12.

halfhearted welcome for the transitional funding. This is just

:53:13.:53:16.

as well. There were some Labour leaders that call for precisely

:53:17.:53:19.

that. I think they might have been disappointed if a spokesman opposite

:53:20.:53:24.

was not supporting them. He asked where the money is coming from. I

:53:25.:53:29.

can confirm that it does not come from the local government financial

:53:30.:53:31.

settlements. We have been able to find resources from outside the

:53:32.:53:35.

settlement thanks to the generosity of the chalice but. We are able to

:53:36.:53:41.

add that to the financial settlement. I can confirm that the

:53:42.:53:50.

social care and precepts that have been put in place, again were at the

:53:51.:53:56.

request of local counsel, who recognise and across parties

:53:57.:54:02.

consensus, that as the population grows towards more elderly people,

:54:03.:54:07.

in each council area to look over. It is not a reflection on the

:54:08.:54:13.

efficiency of the Council. It is a Democratic way of life. It is a

:54:14.:54:16.

right that we provide for elderly people in their retirement. He

:54:17.:54:23.

quotes to me that anonymous people and important figures in

:54:24.:54:28.

conservative local government. My experience is that they are not

:54:29.:54:33.

anonymous. My colleagues are shrinking and they can come and talk

:54:34.:54:37.

to me anytime. They will find that I will listen and respond where they

:54:38.:54:47.

make a good case. As for leaders in local government, including leaders

:54:48.:54:49.

of the local government associations, I can't help but

:54:50.:54:54.

noticing the presence, in this House today of the gentleman concerned. He

:54:55.:54:57.

seemed to have a happy smile on his face. I don't know whether that says

:54:58.:54:59.

anything to the Honorable They cannot expect to be called, and

:55:00.:55:11.

our convention on the matter is very clear, and people do need to abide

:55:12.:55:19.

by it. I think it Secretary of State is to be congratulated on having

:55:20.:55:23.

negotiated a very difficult minefield, very considerable skills,

:55:24.:55:26.

and cannot particularly thank him, for the very thoughtful approach,

:55:27.:55:32.

and the time which he gave myself, my fellow MPs, and my Council leader

:55:33.:55:37.

from only? I am welcome that he has picked up the importance of

:55:38.:55:41.

transitional as far as it affects London boroughs, and this is

:55:42.:55:45.

sometimes a risk, and particular circumstances, and they are lost in

:55:46.:55:50.

the equation. Cani a time frame on which the detail of the operation

:55:51.:55:53.

will be set up? Can he also also give us detailed on how we intend to

:55:54.:55:57.

look at the review of the needs, many of us welcome that, and I

:55:58.:56:02.

regret we will not able to do a Coalition, but it will be important

:56:03.:56:05.

for historically efficient authorities to make sure that there

:56:06.:56:10.

are comparing with the unit costs and pick up and setting the baseline

:56:11.:56:15.

for the visits rate going forward? I'm grateful to my Honorable friend,

:56:16.:56:20.

and I recall a evening with his counsel in Bromley, and a more

:56:21.:56:24.

recent meeting there. I think it is right to think of the demographic

:56:25.:56:30.

pressures in outer London boroughs. The case that was put by our London

:56:31.:56:35.

boroughs, and many places across the country is that as the population

:56:36.:56:39.

has aged, more people tend to retire to such places, than they do to

:56:40.:56:44.

others. It has not changed for ten years, and it has not kept up with

:56:45.:56:47.

us. I can confirm that the transitional funding will be

:56:48.:56:51.

available immediately, from the next financial year, so that his counsel

:56:52.:56:55.

and others will be able to apply those extra funds straightaway.

:56:56.:57:05.

Thank you. I think it Secretary of State for the slightly advanced

:57:06.:57:07.

services I had of speech, first of all public to give some background

:57:08.:57:12.

of cuts to local government in England, and I understand over the

:57:13.:57:15.

past year it has been 8% in years coming ahead, and I am glad that at

:57:16.:57:21.

the very least he has given local councils a little bit of time to

:57:22.:57:24.

think about this, and I hope they do get back to us with their views on

:57:25.:57:29.

the settlement. I know that has been said about service delivery, and the

:57:30.:57:35.

pressures on that. I would also like that I am looking at the list of the

:57:36.:57:42.

breakdown of the statement, and it doesn't reflect those areas, and in

:57:43.:57:50.

terms... I know as well that he mentions that 80% of counsel

:57:51.:57:55.

expenditure is coming down to 5%, and I wonder how much of that is

:57:56.:57:58.

actually going to be cut, rather than changes to the expenditure, and

:57:59.:58:04.

it doesn't seem to be within this statement, and of times really for

:58:05.:58:07.

local councils to respond. We talked about two years to respond, but it

:58:08.:58:10.

doesn't quite acknowledge the difficulties that some councils will

:58:11.:58:14.

have an terms of funds from business rates, and some have a relatively...

:58:15.:58:20.

I'm not convinced that two years will be enough transition for them.

:58:21.:58:26.

It also seems to be no recognition in this statement, and there is some

:58:27.:58:30.

talk about demographic pressures, but age is not only the demographic

:58:31.:58:32.

pressure that many communities face. I think there needs to be some

:58:33.:58:39.

greater acknowledgment of that within the plant, because of the

:58:40.:58:42.

demographic pressures to exist, and there are areas of multiple

:58:43.:58:47.

deprivation which require additional support in transition, and other

:58:48.:58:50.

like to see greater recognition of that. Thank you. I'm grateful for

:58:51.:58:56.

the Honorable Lady's contribution, shall never more colleagues and

:58:57.:58:59.

Collins at the local Government financial framework is a delicate

:59:00.:59:03.

matter, and it involves a lot of decisions that affect people in

:59:04.:59:08.

different ways. I hope that you will reflect that I've done this in a

:59:09.:59:11.

fairway. She talked about the transitional relief being over two

:59:12.:59:14.

years, and that is because the shape of the settlement, if I can put it

:59:15.:59:19.

this sees resources increasing towards the end of the period, as a

:59:20.:59:25.

social care precept of the care fund, as it takes effect, but the

:59:26.:59:29.

first two years, colleagues from across the House felt that this was

:59:30.:59:36.

a severe. It is right to vote as the transitional relief on that. She

:59:37.:59:40.

mentions an assessment of needs, and I completely agree with her, and

:59:41.:59:45.

this is the review that I have committed to and set out, it needs

:59:46.:59:50.

to look at all of the needs, including the common not only the

:59:51.:59:54.

demographic pressures, but the cost of delivering services, we need to

:59:55.:59:59.

look at both. And the cost of delivering the services, and I think

:00:00.:00:03.

that is a fair way to present it. Can the Secretary of State give any

:00:04.:00:07.

more detail on how to be very unwelcome transitional relief... In

:00:08.:00:12.

his original plans, are both working? I was grateful to my

:00:13.:00:20.

Honorable friend for his meeting and representations with me. Again, the

:00:21.:00:26.

authorities felt that the early years were the most pressing, so I

:00:27.:00:30.

can confirm that there will be transitional funding for West

:00:31.:00:36.

Berkshire, 1.4 million, and for working him, of 2.1 million. I think

:00:37.:00:43.

that will be welcomed by his authority having varies closely

:00:44.:00:49.

studied the representation. About the ongoing continuing cuts in my

:00:50.:00:55.

barrio, due to the lack of funding, would he be willing to meet with the

:00:56.:01:02.

Tory lead of the Council, in order to discuss what is happening on the

:01:03.:01:06.

ground, and what I have already said, by continuing cuts, which are

:01:07.:01:13.

adversely to -- affecting my constituents? Would he be willing to

:01:14.:01:16.

come to the borough in order to see for himself what is happening, and I

:01:17.:01:19.

am in no way exaggerating the position. I meet regularly with his

:01:20.:01:27.

leader, and the West Midlands is a very important area, where we are

:01:28.:01:31.

negotiating a very important devolution deal at the moment. He

:01:32.:01:39.

will know that the Authority has benefited from the settlement, so

:01:40.:01:42.

that over the course of the four years, the spending power for his

:01:43.:01:48.

local authority will increase by 1.5%, and that is something I note

:01:49.:01:57.

that will be welcomed locally. Thank you. I thank my right honourable

:01:58.:02:01.

friend for the very careful and diligent way in which he is

:02:02.:02:04.

approaching this matter. Will he agree with me that what seems to be

:02:05.:02:08.

said difficult for local government, particularly in rural areas is that

:02:09.:02:16.

counties and... Run their affairs in a very orderly fashion, be more

:02:17.:02:19.

efficient and effective they are, the less money they got. There seems

:02:20.:02:22.

to be a completely idiotic way of proceeding. It is, Mr Speaker, and

:02:23.:02:29.

that is why the transition to business rates, retention, when it

:02:30.:02:33.

is not the representations that councils make to central government

:02:34.:02:37.

for grant, but it is their ability to attract businesses, and to grow

:02:38.:02:40.

those businesses. That will be determined of the resources that

:02:41.:02:43.

they have available. That is in the councils have long wanted, isn't the

:02:44.:02:48.

Conservatives have long wanted, and I am very confident that both his

:02:49.:02:52.

County Council in West Sussex, and his excellent District Council of

:02:53.:02:57.

which I know very well, will respond to the opportunities available.

:02:58.:03:07.

Thank you. The crisis in social care in Liverpool will not be resolved by

:03:08.:03:14.

either the new presets suggested, would the Minister's statements

:03:15.:03:21.

today, it is the result of a 58% cut of funds by central government on

:03:22.:03:25.

the poorest area in the country. Will the Minister take another look

:03:26.:03:29.

at this very critical situation? What I would say to the Honorable

:03:30.:03:34.

Lady is that the introduction of the present, and of the better care

:03:35.:03:38.

fund, will be very important for Liverpool. In fact, at the end of

:03:39.:03:46.

the period, it will deliver around ?30 million a year, to spend on

:03:47.:03:50.

quite appropriately, care of elderly people in Liverpool. I would have

:03:51.:03:53.

thought I would be something that she should welcome, and it was a

:03:54.:03:58.

proposal that was made by conservative leaders in County

:03:59.:04:02.

councils, that there should be a social care precept, but it will

:04:03.:04:04.

benefit her city, as much as they do. Thank you. Can I thank my right

:04:05.:04:12.

honourable friend for the meeting he held with me, and other members from

:04:13.:04:16.

Suffolk to discuss global funding? I know he has worked hard on this, and

:04:17.:04:22.

I constantly welcomed his announcements today, particularly

:04:23.:04:25.

around additional funding to use the pace of production during those

:04:26.:04:29.

first two years. Can he inform the House as to when final figures will

:04:30.:04:34.

be given to councils? I will indeed. I was grateful for the meeting that

:04:35.:04:40.

I had with my Honorable friend. I am looking forward to the discussions

:04:41.:04:45.

of further devolution, to Suffolk, for the East Anglia and powerhouse,

:04:46.:04:52.

and we were calling a description for that very high-performing part

:04:53.:04:57.

of the country. The funds will be available right from the beginning

:04:58.:05:01.

of the next financial year, and at the usual way, they will be

:05:02.:05:04.

confirmed to councils, following the statement. Thank you. Can I get the

:05:05.:05:18.

context, is it that Holton, had a cost of over 50% since 2007, so in

:05:19.:05:26.

that context,... Let me say this poll and 68% of property simpleton

:05:27.:05:32.

are in a and B, the preceptor not raise anywhere near to what it was.

:05:33.:05:36.

Will the Minister look again at this, and will he meet the urgency

:05:37.:05:40.

to talk about this? I'm always very happy to submit the honourable

:05:41.:05:46.

gentleman. He will know that the allocation of the funds did take

:05:47.:05:50.

into account the different resources and different areas that they have,

:05:51.:05:56.

and in fact, Holton is a beneficiary of that, but I'm very happy to help

:05:57.:06:09.

them understand that. Thank you. Can I thank my right honourable friend

:06:10.:06:14.

for the meeting. Particularly, my Honorable friend from

:06:15.:06:19.

Leicestershire. As you know, our county is being one of the worst

:06:20.:06:23.

funded for central government historically. We are hopeful that

:06:24.:06:28.

this new deal will produce benefits, not only for central government, but

:06:29.:06:32.

also for Leicestershire as well. Can he tell the House today when we are

:06:33.:06:36.

likely to get the actual numbers which the County Council can deal

:06:37.:06:39.

with, and what those numbers will be? I certainly will. I am grateful

:06:40.:06:49.

for his advice on this matter. Leicestershire is one of these

:06:50.:06:53.

places that I think will make a particularly strong case for a

:06:54.:07:01.

review of the match between its needs and its resources. And, rather

:07:02.:07:04.

than keep them hanging on, I can tell them that the transitional

:07:05.:07:08.

funding for Leicestershire will be reported ?3 million. Can I just say

:07:09.:07:21.

that I think it is a bit off that the Minister has got the entire

:07:22.:07:25.

figures? These are not going to be released to counsel, and went

:07:26.:07:27.

nowhere scrutinising what he is saying, but can I raise the point

:07:28.:07:32.

raised by my Honorable friend from Holton about the better care fund? I

:07:33.:07:36.

agree with the Minister that this is an issue that affects all councils.

:07:37.:07:44.

County Durham as a low tax base,... The Minister just said that this

:07:45.:07:50.

will be in a formula? Can I ask them to meet with myself to talk about

:07:51.:07:56.

disadvantaged councils, not being able to raise the cash? Usually the

:07:57.:08:04.

complaint is that others are told first, and in this case, I feel that

:08:05.:08:08.

some people are complaining about being told first. I cannot see one

:08:09.:08:16.

of -- what is wrong with being told first. Maybe I misunderstood, but I

:08:17.:08:25.

think I understand. What I will say is that have having conversations

:08:26.:08:28.

with his local authority, they made some very positive comments, and

:08:29.:08:35.

suggestions for the settlement. Of course I'm very pleased to meet with

:08:36.:08:39.

him to discuss the very important devolution is taking place in the

:08:40.:08:42.

northeast of England, which are very proud of. I warmly congratulate the

:08:43.:08:48.

Secretary of State for his announcement today. As you will be

:08:49.:08:51.

aware from the representations that we have made, we were looking at

:08:52.:08:59.

834% reduction, next year, against a uniform reduction of 25%. Any

:09:00.:09:04.

support on this will be much appreciated. Those who share my view

:09:05.:09:09.

that there is danger that low economic activity areas, such as my

:09:10.:09:15.

own county historically, may be penalised by the transition to

:09:16.:09:20.

council tax being supplemented by rural rents, unless there is a

:09:21.:09:25.

transitional fund of some kind that stimulates economic growth? My

:09:26.:09:29.

Honorable friend makes a very good point. I think the potential of

:09:30.:09:35.

Hertfordshire, in terms of attracting businesses is great, and

:09:36.:09:39.

my Honorable friend has been a very doubtful campaign for a university

:09:40.:09:45.

there. But I think he is absolutely right, of course, the transition to

:09:46.:09:53.

a world in which local resources that fund councils has to take

:09:54.:09:58.

account of the needs in each area, and the potential that they have two

:09:59.:10:04.

raises revenues. That is why I have announced those reviews today. I

:10:05.:10:07.

might say that several colleagues from across the chamber of

:10:08.:10:10.

contribution, and have expertise in this matter, and I hope in the

:10:11.:10:15.

spirit of the statement that I am making, that I can contribute to it

:10:16.:10:25.

as well. Thank you. I 2am concerned about the future stability of

:10:26.:10:29.

funding for local services. While Council tax provides a solid base of

:10:30.:10:33.

revenue, moving toward a more reliant on business rates as more

:10:34.:10:39.

unpredictable, in a level of revenue available to local councils. The

:10:40.:10:43.

considerations is the Secretary of State given to the impact on local

:10:44.:10:47.

services, if they fall in revenue from business rates, for example,

:10:48.:10:50.

from a downturn in the economy, which is beyond control of many

:10:51.:10:55.

local councils? The great advantages of the devolution deals that we are

:10:56.:11:00.

striking including with greater Manchester, and she raises her eyes,

:11:01.:11:04.

but in fact, the leaders of greater Manchester, the elected leaders,

:11:05.:11:11.

have proposed a means of taking on the 100% retention business rates,

:11:12.:11:15.

and making sure that they can manage the ups and downs across the years

:11:16.:11:20.

about that. This is one of the proposal they have made so in

:11:21.:11:23.

attracting more businesses, to greater Manchester, the whole of

:11:24.:11:25.

that great city will benefit from it. To my right honourable friend

:11:26.:11:35.

assure me that his final settlement reflects the accurate level of

:11:36.:11:40.

reserves which are truly available to our County Council? What I would

:11:41.:11:43.

say is that I have made no assumption of reserves, and in terms

:11:44.:11:49.

of the spending review, spent -- several commentators made a

:11:50.:11:54.

suggestion that we should require councils and take account of their

:11:55.:11:59.

known reserves. I resisted this, and it seems to me that it is reasonable

:12:00.:12:04.

for councils to have reserves, just as a nation, we are looking to

:12:05.:12:11.

create a surplus as a buffer against the ups and downs of the economy in

:12:12.:12:16.

the years ahead. Something the party opposite failed to do. The great

:12:17.:12:19.

advantage of a four-year settlement is that it gives that certainty to

:12:20.:12:24.

councils, so that part of the reserves they keep against the

:12:25.:12:27.

uncertainties of year-to-year settlement is available to them, but

:12:28.:12:30.

I have made no assumptions that they will. My surgery on Friday, on her

:12:31.:12:40.

own for her serve elite disabled daughter. She was not able to get a

:12:41.:12:46.

decent night's sleep. She used to receive six night scare him up, now

:12:47.:12:49.

she told she will get nothing, and that is the reality of the

:12:50.:12:52.

conservative party of treatment of local government, since 2010. There

:12:53.:12:57.

are no more black office functions demurred, there are no more staff to

:12:58.:13:00.

be made redundant, there simply is not anything left to be cut, except

:13:01.:13:04.

the services for the people who need them most. For them, the outlook

:13:05.:13:11.

bleak. No devolution can compensate for that basic provision. Can I make

:13:12.:13:16.

a suggestion? He goes and has a cuppa tea with the leader of traffic

:13:17.:13:22.

Council next-door. Which runs its services extremely efficiently, and

:13:23.:13:25.

I do not say that the advice that he will be able to give to tame side

:13:26.:13:29.

will be very sensible, if they took it up. Can I think the Minister for

:13:30.:13:41.

revisiting this issue. We represent rural areas and want to see its

:13:42.:13:45.

fairness in the funding system. While Gloucestershire may seem to be

:13:46.:13:50.

a wealthy county, there are areas of deprivation, and we have flooding

:13:51.:13:55.

problems, a higher percentage of poor people. Regardless of where

:13:56.:13:58.

they lived, they still need social care, so can I ask that he enjoys

:13:59.:14:02.

that the final settlement that he comes to guys reflect the problems

:14:03.:14:06.

which exist in rural areas as well as other areas? I completely agree

:14:07.:14:10.

with my Honorable friend, and I was grateful for the representations

:14:11.:14:12.

that colleagues from Gloucestershire have made. He will be grateful and

:14:13.:14:18.

pleased that the pressure on them will ease for these first two years,

:14:19.:14:24.

to the tune of about ?2.5 million, which knowing the pressures on the

:14:25.:14:30.

council, for tech with reasons he says, will be welcomed greatly. Mr

:14:31.:14:37.

Speaker, no counsel has ever suffered the same level of cuts and

:14:38.:14:40.

local government in history of Birmingham, record is ?1 billion. No

:14:41.:14:46.

city has been treated so unfairly. As the Secretary of State begin to

:14:47.:14:49.

understand the dismayed that there will be over todayannouncement? It

:14:50.:14:59.

will threaten dozens of community groups, supporting the most

:15:00.:15:03.

vulnerable in Birmingham. There will be utter dismay in Britain's second

:15:04.:15:08.

city. What I would say to the honourable gentleman is that the

:15:09.:15:13.

figures that I'm publishing today include an extra ?800,000 from the

:15:14.:15:17.

new homes bonus for Birmingham. That was not included in the provisional

:15:18.:15:20.

settlement. I would have thought that would be a cause of -- for some

:15:21.:15:25.

pleasure in Birmingham, rather than the opposite of what he says. Really

:15:26.:15:31.

well done to the Secretary of State. CHEERING

:15:32.:15:37.

Enter the review that he is announced today. Could he say what

:15:38.:15:42.

assumptions you made on the uplifting parish and town council

:15:43.:15:45.

presents and the assertion that he made a few moments ago about the

:15:46.:15:49.

portion of local governments spend, and that would be consumed by the

:15:50.:15:53.

RSG, by the end of the decade, because he will note that those

:15:54.:15:56.

precepts have gone up, as the RSG has gone down, and in many places,

:15:57.:16:01.

the council tax has been frozen? My Honorable friend makes an important

:16:02.:16:05.

point, and there have been representations in the past two to

:16:06.:16:11.

include parish and town councils in the referendum principles. We have

:16:12.:16:16.

not done this, but we keep it under review, so that there is economy in

:16:17.:16:23.

those town and parish councils, which is very important, because

:16:24.:16:28.

council taxpayers are the same that paid the Council tax to his County

:16:29.:16:34.

Council. Who is the 10th most deprived area, and over the next

:16:35.:16:40.

year, it faces spending cuts, which is 50% greater than those in County

:16:41.:16:45.

councils. 20 minutes to explain why County councils are getting

:16:46.:16:49.

additional monies, but not areas like mine? Yes, because County

:16:50.:16:56.

councils and other authorities in the first two years, were

:16:57.:16:59.

experiencing sharper reductions in the revenue support Grant, and the

:17:00.:17:06.

representations that came from across local governments, including

:17:07.:17:09.

labour authorities, was that we should ease the transition there.

:17:10.:17:13.

But I would say to her constituents in Hall, is that that there huge

:17:14.:17:20.

attention being given to that very important city. Through the deals

:17:21.:17:24.

that we have established, the growth deal, investors is potentially in

:17:25.:17:32.

the area. It is very important for further opportunities for that city.

:17:33.:17:37.

I think my right honourable friend for meeting with me, and colleagues,

:17:38.:17:40.

and listening to rural communities, and I warmly welcome this statement.

:17:41.:17:46.

An ageing population is a key joiner of cost, so that I right honourable

:17:47.:17:49.

friend to ensure that future funding formerly, instead of using

:17:50.:17:52.

potentially out-of-date figures, instead keep up with the changing

:17:53.:17:57.

demographics, experienced by areas like North Yorkshire I've? That is

:17:58.:18:01.

one of the point that the honourable gentleman, as well as other

:18:02.:18:03.

colleagues have made, and that is why I have made the response that I

:18:04.:18:07.

have today, that we should look again. At that funding formula. It

:18:08.:18:12.

was also a point that was made by another MP, who knows, and I am

:18:13.:18:17.

pleased that we have been able to meet his request. Did the Secretary

:18:18.:18:26.

of State consider including the Chancellor's social care tax in the

:18:27.:18:30.

calculation of overall Council tax income for the core funding

:18:31.:18:35.

settlement, and surely that would make the changes fairer, and

:18:36.:18:38.

mitigate against the late introduction of the Medicare fund,

:18:39.:18:42.

on the Council tax base authorities, like Birmingham? The combination of

:18:43.:18:49.

the social care preset, which I think has been recognised across all

:18:50.:18:53.

parties in different types of authorities. Even those district

:18:54.:18:58.

councils that do not receive it. Their residents are the same

:18:59.:19:04.

residence of counties as they are in burrows, and it is important that

:19:05.:19:08.

that funding is there. The combination of the precept and the

:19:09.:19:13.

better care fund provide up to the 5p, and I think what I said, the

:19:14.:19:17.

representation that I had before the spending review from the local

:19:18.:19:20.

Government Association, and the director of social services said

:19:21.:19:30.

that nearly ?2.9 billion,. Can I pay my right honourable friend for his

:19:31.:19:36.

patience and courtesy? And how he has dealt with colleagues like

:19:37.:19:43.

myself who are talking about County Council, and can I welcome the heart

:19:44.:19:47.

of the announcement which my right girlfriend has made today? I'm sure

:19:48.:19:52.

rural local governments would be part of a big wet kiss on the cheek

:19:53.:19:56.

of the Secretary of State, but I'm not entirely sure that that is

:19:57.:20:03.

right. If the able at this stage to give further detail about the

:20:04.:20:06.

transitional funding for Dorset, now that he is announced it? The devil

:20:07.:20:12.

always be in detail. Kennedy also set out the timing for this very

:20:13.:20:16.

welcomed review for the assessment of need, because the sooner we can

:20:17.:20:19.

get that sorted out, the better for rural local government. I'm sure

:20:20.:20:24.

scintillating replies to his honourable friend, I take this

:20:25.:20:27.

opportunity to say what a delight it is to see our new sergeant of arms,

:20:28.:20:33.

and the chair. Can I add my welcome to the new Sergeant? Giving him my

:20:34.:20:40.

Honorable friend, as far as the way he is from the dispatch box, but IM

:20:41.:20:46.

grateful for his good wishes. Of course, Dorset is a place that is a

:20:47.:20:53.

very well run County Counsel, and has very important costs that come

:20:54.:20:58.

from being a very beautiful and rural county. The extra funding that

:20:59.:21:04.

he will received from a... Will be a ?4.10 million. Which having spoken

:21:05.:21:12.

to his leader, will make a very big difference in managing the

:21:13.:21:16.

transition that his authority will recommend. Thank you very much. We

:21:17.:21:24.

are the smallest unit authority and the country, and I in response to

:21:25.:21:28.

questions, the Secretary of State announced that fellow authorities

:21:29.:21:35.

broke at 1.4 million pounds in transitional funding, and having a

:21:36.:21:42.

very changing highly needs population, what are we going to

:21:43.:21:49.

get? Daly LAUGHTER , gobbling that want to... I'm

:21:50.:21:56.

surprised she is not welcomed the announcement is made. Thank you. Can

:21:57.:22:04.

I welcome the additional funding to my right girlfriend has made today,

:22:05.:22:07.

to piece the pace of reductions, during the most difficult two years,

:22:08.:22:12.

rich in north London was looking very frightening challenge to

:22:13.:22:15.

achieve? Cut my right honourable friend confirmed that the new North

:22:16.:22:23.

London, which is a high population of elderly people, will now be

:22:24.:22:29.

secure? What I would say to my Honorable friend is that the benefit

:22:30.:22:37.

that the project, first of all, there is the additional funding that

:22:38.:22:42.

comes from the rural services, and the transitional grant that I

:22:43.:22:46.

mentioned. Both very important, and then I will be welcomed by people in

:22:47.:22:53.

Northumberland. But also, a review of the cost of delivering services,

:22:54.:22:56.

and rural areas, and the increasing demands that they have. I notice

:22:57.:23:01.

something that many of her constituents and counsellors were

:23:02.:23:03.

calling for, and I think it is right that we should get on that

:23:04.:23:13.

straightaway. The report recently said that 37,000 elderly people who

:23:14.:23:16.

were dependent on statutory funding and residential care are at risk of

:23:17.:23:20.

losing their places and becoming homeless, because of the rise in

:23:21.:23:24.

minimum wage, and the cost of local council funding, whereas areas like

:23:25.:23:30.

mine, but for the benefit of PPS, went to reasonably, because of a

:23:31.:23:33.

high tax base out of a process, other areas of the country, will

:23:34.:23:37.

have a low tax base, which is in the Northeast, and will suffer very

:23:38.:23:40.

badly, and they have the highest areas of dependency on statutory

:23:41.:23:45.

funding for adult social care? Will be Secretary of State look again at

:23:46.:23:48.

this funding formula, and make sure that the areas of the country that

:23:49.:23:53.

need it most get I just said to the House that I do intend to look at

:23:54.:23:59.

the funding formula to make sure those areas with the highest costs

:24:00.:24:07.

and pressure are funded accordingly. We are facing a rate support grant

:24:08.:24:12.

of 44%, so I will be very grateful that my right honourable friend and

:24:13.:24:15.

his ministerial team have listened to many of us here. Could he do two

:24:16.:24:21.

things for us? Could he give an indication about whether the cost

:24:22.:24:26.

will have a speeding up of the potential business rates, and will

:24:27.:24:28.

this really resolve some many problems for local authority such as

:24:29.:24:32.

part Berkshire, could you also have a word with his colleagues and the

:24:33.:24:36.

Department of Health and told him to pull their finger out in the deal

:24:37.:24:42.

they have agreed to return care act funding, which the promise to do,

:24:43.:24:45.

which they could make a difference in settling this years budget? I'm

:24:46.:24:50.

very grateful to my Honorable friend, and he doesn't have well-run

:24:51.:24:55.

council, and it was representations from them and other colleagues in

:24:56.:25:01.

the Council that led me to be able to make the changes that I have. In

:25:02.:25:05.

terms of the early retention of business rates, I'm glad he gives me

:25:06.:25:10.

the opportunity to say to all members that weave through the

:25:11.:25:13.

devolution deals are very keen to get on with the devolution of

:25:14.:25:18.

business rates. I would encourage all areas to come forward with the

:25:19.:25:22.

proposals that are there. The Chancellor has made a commitment

:25:23.:25:25.

that they should be in place, by 2019, but that is buying rather than

:25:26.:25:32.

the West Berkshire Iraq would be in the West Berkshire Iraq would be in

:25:33.:25:35.

a very good position to but a good case together.

:25:36.:25:41.

this would only be a fair settlement were predicated on every area having

:25:42.:25:49.

an equal council tax base and also equal levels of need and

:25:50.:25:53.

representatives as I do, across borough constituency into the CPS on

:25:54.:26:00.

paying fine and thoughtful,. I know that these too authorities are very

:26:01.:26:03.

different in their abilities to raise income. There is ?16 billion

:26:04.:26:12.

deficit in adult social care. The levy on council tax. The to percent

:26:13.:26:17.

present will raise ?1.4 million only. How does the Secretary of

:26:18.:26:24.

State plan to fill that gap? I have given some advice to his neighbour

:26:25.:26:27.

on this issue and if he would like me to arrange for him to meet with

:26:28.:26:35.

the leader, he will find it a very instructive conversation. In a world

:26:36.:26:39.

of devolution, it could be that traffic would be able to provide

:26:40.:26:44.

some advice and assistance to his borough council on running an

:26:45.:26:51.

efficient set of services. I welcome very much the 3.3 million

:26:52.:26:57.

transitional release, which is at the bottom of the funding pile.

:26:58.:27:03.

Would he say a word about the discussions he has had a funding of

:27:04.:27:07.

adult social care, which very much affects our County? I will indeed.

:27:08.:27:12.

The provisional settlement as I said in my statement, made a particular

:27:13.:27:16.

response to the knowledge pressures on adult social care, across the

:27:17.:27:22.

country. This was from all tiers of local government cited as the

:27:23.:27:27.

important priority. I think the decision to establish a social care

:27:28.:27:33.

precept, was a very important step in recognising what has been

:27:34.:27:37.

building up for many years now. As particular pressures on authorities

:27:38.:27:43.

which must assure, very much runs as it is, fills those pressures. Madam

:27:44.:27:53.

Deputy Speaker, can I congratulate my right honourable friend to listen

:27:54.:27:58.

to all these ministers. We are very grateful for the arrangements. Can

:27:59.:28:04.

he perhaps the little bit further to think about the changes to the new

:28:05.:28:11.

home and business rates, so that fast-growing districts, although

:28:12.:28:14.

they will get more money in the future, are not actually penalizing

:28:15.:28:19.

the short term? Indeed I would say to my Honorable friend of the

:28:20.:28:24.

consultation is open until March. It is important that she and her

:28:25.:28:29.

counsellors contribute to that. So that will be the opportunity to

:28:30.:28:35.

consider there. Of course as a maker today, the very important step of

:28:36.:28:40.

100% business rate retention, by local government, needs to be

:28:41.:28:44.

accompanied by a fundamental look at the methodology. I hope that she

:28:45.:28:47.

will bring her considerable expertise on this matter forth. Can

:28:48.:28:57.

the Secretary of State first for his announcement about transitional

:28:58.:29:00.

relief, which I very much hope the London Borough of pavement will

:29:01.:29:05.

benefit from. Not just because of its ageing population, but the

:29:06.:29:07.

increasing demand for children's services. My right honourable friend

:29:08.:29:12.

will already know I'm sure, that the 12 inner London boroughs have more

:29:13.:29:16.

reserves collectively, than the 20 out of London boroughs. I wonder if

:29:17.:29:21.

he might reflect further on whether that might be taken into

:29:22.:29:28.

consideration? On my right honourable friend suggestion there,

:29:29.:29:33.

the council will benefit from the transitional relief. I think you

:29:34.:29:36.

want to make a good case, in terms of the review of the demographic --

:29:37.:29:40.

demographic pressures that others are facing. She invites me to do

:29:41.:29:44.

what I said I would not do. This is to require councils to dispose of

:29:45.:29:49.

their reserves. If I did that, I would incur the displeasure of some

:29:50.:29:52.

of the colleagues that have spoken earlier. I have not done that. I

:29:53.:29:56.

think it is a matter for local government. By providing a four-year

:29:57.:30:01.

settlement, this does get every counsel the ability to plan ahead

:30:02.:30:04.

and make sure it has the right level of reserves, for the circumstances.

:30:05.:30:20.

Hear, hear! Can I ask him further to the Scottish Nationalists

:30:21.:30:22.

represented, that suggested that rule areas are richer than urban

:30:23.:30:28.

areas. The opposite is true. Council tax is also much higher. As a

:30:29.:30:32.

dentist we continue to allow percentage rises on a much higher

:30:33.:30:37.

base or a much poorer people to go on, we're going to actually

:30:38.:30:39.

reinforce the equities in our system. In a world in which we have

:30:40.:30:44.

business right protection and council tax, what can the Secretary

:30:45.:30:49.

of State do to ensure that our poor older, and harder deserving citizens

:30:50.:30:55.

are not unfairly impacted, while the lower council tax areas offer richer

:30:56.:30:58.

people to pay less and continue to be subsidized by Asquith yellow

:30:59.:31:02.

honourable friend makes a valuable point. I'd like to pay tribute to

:31:03.:31:08.

him in a way that he has conducted a well reasoned, and persuasive

:31:09.:31:13.

argument. I'm grateful for the manner in which he is done that.

:31:14.:31:16.

He's absolutely right of course. It is a false assumption to make.

:31:17.:31:22.

Because the area is rule, it does not mean necessarily that is wealthy

:31:23.:31:28.

and prosperous. Some of the poor circumstances are in the most rural

:31:29.:31:31.

areas. That is why I think it is long overdue, after more than a

:31:32.:31:34.

decade, that we should look at the cost of delivering services in rural

:31:35.:31:38.

areas. We should look at the pressures they face. We should set

:31:39.:31:43.

the retention of business rates accordingly, so that they can be

:31:44.:31:45.

recognised in the way that they have not been in recent years. I normally

:31:46.:31:56.

welcome the Secretary of State statement today. I like to thank him

:31:57.:31:58.

for looking at rule areas. You will know however that the demographic

:31:59.:32:02.

areas and that the precept well committed as it is, could he set out

:32:03.:32:11.

during his review whether he will listen to other proposals to create

:32:12.:32:15.

a sustainable long-term settlement for social care which is being

:32:16.:32:18.

described as unfinished business in the fight here for review? I

:32:19.:32:24.

certainly will. I am grateful for my Honorable friend with words. It is

:32:25.:32:30.

clear that one knows that more people choose to retire to places

:32:31.:32:34.

like Devon then perhaps to other parts of the country. It is

:32:35.:32:39.

important that is recognised in the funds that are available. My

:32:40.:32:43.

Honorable friend shares a very important committee of this house.

:32:44.:32:47.

It is one of the essential task of this government over the years

:32:48.:32:52.

ahead, to make sure that health and social care come together. They are

:32:53.:32:57.

to size of the same coin. There are for looking after the same people,

:32:58.:33:01.

whether by councils or the NHS. One of my absolute things that I am

:33:02.:33:08.

absolutely determined to do is to make sure that we have a much better

:33:09.:33:12.

connection between the NHS and social care. I would be grateful for

:33:13.:33:15.

her advice to our committee on how we do that. The different councils

:33:16.:33:24.

that will be impacted on the settlement will happen in different

:33:25.:33:32.

ways. The lowest County Council tax in the country will be the most

:33:33.:33:37.

laudable. It may be long-term to ensure that proper local service

:33:38.:33:41.

delivery in the county, is a restructuring of government. But

:33:42.:33:44.

will my right honourable friend confirm that he will it give

:33:45.:33:52.

solutions that could involve an answer that ensures that public

:33:53.:33:54.

services are delivered more efficiently. ? It is within all our

:33:55.:34:03.

interest that we have councils that are effective and efficient. I have

:34:04.:34:07.

also weighed said that I do not believe in a top-down organisation

:34:08.:34:10.

of local governments. This has been attempted in the past and has not

:34:11.:34:14.

ended well, if I can put it that way. But of course the commitment

:34:15.:34:20.

that I have to dilution, carries with it the idea that if local

:34:21.:34:23.

people want to do things differently, than they should be

:34:24.:34:26.

able to do that. So what I would say to my right honourable friend is

:34:27.:34:32.

that if there are proposals that enjoy the support of local people,

:34:33.:34:34.

then they should come forward and they should have those discussions.

:34:35.:34:41.

I would like to congratulate my right honourable friend for having

:34:42.:34:44.

approached these issues in a pragmatic way. He rightly points out

:34:45.:34:48.

that demographic pressures affect different areas in different ways. I

:34:49.:34:50.

wonder whether he would say when he wonder whether he would say when he

:34:51.:34:53.

expects to needs review to be completed and what role the figures

:34:54.:35:01.

obtained from that will play in the integration of social care with the

:35:02.:35:07.

NHS? I spoke to my boyfriend and he was of considerable resistance when

:35:08.:35:12.

we consulted on the quality framework. I would like to get to

:35:13.:35:20.

review underway as soon as possible so that it can inform not only the

:35:21.:35:25.

business rates retention but it can reform of the decisions that the

:35:26.:35:28.

government has to take some time to time. Not just about rule areas but

:35:29.:35:32.

about different needs for different areas. The sooner it's done, the

:35:33.:35:36.

better. In the coming weeks I will set out a process for which we will

:35:37.:35:43.

do that. Colleagues across the House will contribute. Thank you. He has

:35:44.:35:54.

been very courteous. ?4 million or more across the County Council. Can

:35:55.:35:59.

he just confirm. I did not quite hear about the tariff adjustment. Is

:36:00.:36:06.

that going to stay or go? In 1920 they will end up paying the

:36:07.:36:14.

government half million pounds. This will take ?123 and Council tax. I

:36:15.:36:17.

don't think that's fair. Will he take this whole issue into I'm very

:36:18.:36:25.

grateful to my boyfriend for his kind words. We'll find both the

:36:26.:36:31.

transitional relief and the role grant important. While I have said

:36:32.:36:37.

on what has been called the negative grant, is that we will remove that

:36:38.:36:45.

entirely. For 2017 and 2018 and the following year we will remove it. By

:36:46.:36:48.

the time we get to the interior of the settlements, that will be when

:36:49.:36:53.

100% business pretending comes into play. Those figures will be

:36:54.:36:55.

influenced by that. You can look forward with confidence to the

:36:56.:37:00.

review to which his counsel, and I my Honorable friend himself. We have

:37:01.:37:09.

a increasingly ageing population. This has been one of the biggest

:37:10.:37:14.

areas of pressure to my local authorities. That think the

:37:15.:37:17.

Secretary of State for listening to Council leaders and for speaking

:37:18.:37:22.

regularly on this matter. Thank you for making sure that there's more

:37:23.:37:26.

money available for better care, to tend to the needs of these

:37:27.:37:30.

particularly important residents. I am very grateful to my right

:37:31.:37:34.

honourable friend. He's absolutely right. He doesn't excellent job not

:37:35.:37:39.

only in leading works of the council, but also in her national

:37:40.:37:41.

response to the local Government Association. She has been very

:37:42.:37:47.

persuasive, and making the case for extra funding recognising the cost

:37:48.:37:53.

of social care. She is of the most influential and respected Council

:37:54.:37:56.

leaders and the country. We're very lucky to have her. Madam Deputy

:37:57.:38:02.

Speaker cannot thank the Secretary State Gazette and indeed for

:38:03.:38:09.

accommodating a meeting with all the Gloucestershire MPs. Will he go a

:38:10.:38:17.

little further and explain what opportunities for North West

:38:18.:38:19.

Leicestershire and Gloucestershire and increase in the rule services

:38:20.:38:23.

deliver grant? I'm grateful to my Honorable friend and grateful for

:38:24.:38:29.

him coming back to consider these matters further. There are

:38:30.:38:33.

opportunities for rest assure and Northwest best assure that they will

:38:34.:38:38.

gain in transitional funding. One of the things that we need to do

:38:39.:38:42.

through the review is to look at areas like North West Leicestershire

:38:43.:38:46.

to see whether the resources that they have are adequately recognised,

:38:47.:38:52.

not just in the business rates retention, but through calculations

:38:53.:38:56.

such as the rule services deliver grant. Both local authorities

:38:57.:39:04.

operating in my constituency have expressed serious concerns about the

:39:05.:39:08.

draft settlement. What assurances can the Secretary of State give

:39:09.:39:13.

regarding his consideration on these concerns? As I said to his

:39:14.:39:17.

honourable friend, we have listened very carefully and the leaders of

:39:18.:39:21.

his authorities have made representations that we have

:39:22.:39:23.

listened to very seriously. I think that they will be pleased with the

:39:24.:39:32.

response that we have made. Secretary of State will be aware

:39:33.:39:37.

that the challenges faced by Nottingham and the former coalfield

:39:38.:39:43.

communities... I wonder if he can outline will be received. So that

:39:44.:39:50.

the county Council can find its own way in generating business rates in

:39:51.:39:55.

the future? Of course attracting businesses that are located in areas

:39:56.:39:59.

is a sure-fire way in to make sure that the resources available to

:40:00.:40:04.

councils continue to grow. I am grateful for his question. I can

:40:05.:40:08.

confirm to him that Nottingham sure will receive transitional grant

:40:09.:40:10.

funding of around to million pounds next year will stop by the something

:40:11.:40:13.

that they will be welcomed across the county up with thank you Madam

:40:14.:40:17.

Deputy Speaker. It was not me that Deputy Speaker. It was not me that

:40:18.:40:23.

had a cosy little chat with the conservative home, if indeed it was

:40:24.:40:27.

a conservative MP this morning, but the idea that some councils having

:40:28.:40:31.

to knock on the bone is absolutely accurate. I prefer to my own family,

:40:32.:40:37.

which has been gnawing on the phone, because of its efficiency and

:40:38.:40:41.

competence in providing services. I am very grateful for the wonderful

:40:42.:40:45.

Secretary of State for coming to visit from link and to the green to

:40:46.:40:49.

transition their rate for Bromley. Can I ask what they are certain?

:40:50.:40:58.

LAUGHTER It is always a pleasure to come to Bromley and I was to do so

:40:59.:41:02.

again in the future. We will make sure that probably benefits from

:41:03.:41:05.

around to million pounds in transitional grants for each of the

:41:06.:41:12.

next three years. That I know from looking at the representations that

:41:13.:41:15.

have been made, by London boroughs. This'll be a big help. This will

:41:16.:41:20.

help them manage through the more difficult first to years the

:41:21.:41:25.

settlement. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. And I thank the Secretary

:41:26.:41:30.

of State for listing to the vocal representations. At those meetings

:41:31.:41:34.

he heard that it is not just morality but also sparsity of

:41:35.:41:40.

population that is important can he confirm that this new revised area

:41:41.:41:48.

that we take into account? Lincolnshire is the County that is

:41:49.:41:54.

particularly ambitious phase of its history. It is looking to negotiate

:41:55.:42:00.

a very substantial devolution deal. It is a very rule and indeed sparse

:42:01.:42:05.

County. As he said it faces particular pressures. The additional

:42:06.:42:09.

funding that Lincolnshire will receive is in the order of ?5

:42:10.:42:12.

million during the year ahead. This something I know will be widely

:42:13.:42:19.

welcomed across county. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker as apparently

:42:20.:42:22.

falls on me to do. I like to say thank you to my right I will friend.

:42:23.:42:33.

Hear, hear! . I thank you very much indeed for listing we're are

:42:34.:42:36.

awaiting the final figures. It might be that he can provide those

:42:37.:42:40.

perished quickly if I speak slowly enough. LAUGHTER. Can he agree with

:42:41.:42:45.

me that what is important is to never again find ourselves, that we

:42:46.:42:50.

never again find ourselves in a position where cool areas face

:42:51.:42:54.

discrepancy and unfairness in the face of urban areas? Hear, hear!

:42:55.:43:04.

Hear, hear! I am very grateful to my right honourable friend. His

:43:05.:43:11.

patience is rewarded. The finding that Devon will receive next year

:43:12.:43:15.

from the government is ?8.4 million. I know this'll selected big

:43:16.:43:20.

difference to the area. North Devon will receive around one quarter of

:43:21.:43:26.

million pounds for its services. I can confirm that the opportunity to

:43:27.:43:32.

take a long hard look at the resources that areas have, the cost

:43:33.:43:37.

that they have, is something that I that they have, is something that I

:43:38.:43:45.

think is long overdue. I know both his county and district will play a

:43:46.:43:52.

full part in that review. We now come to the motion on the draft

:43:53.:43:57.

Social Security benefit up rating order, which will be debated

:43:58.:44:02.

together with the motion on the draft state pension and amendment

:44:03.:44:04.

regulations. I called to minister to move the first motion. Thank you

:44:05.:44:10.

Madam Deputy Speaker. The order relations before us, have been made

:44:11.:44:15.

in the House previously. It is my understanding that there is general

:44:16.:44:18.

agreement on both sides of the House to its contents. I do not therefore

:44:19.:44:23.

propose to detain the House any longer than is necessary. I beg to

:44:24.:44:29.

move formally. Hear, hear! The question is the draft thank you

:44:30.:44:39.

Madam Deputy Speaker. This is the first time I haven't debated at the

:44:40.:44:44.

ministers dispatch box. I would like to welcome the Minister and thank

:44:45.:44:47.

him for his very brief explanation of the draft order is before us

:44:48.:44:52.

today. I do however want to use this opportunity to debate and clarify

:44:53.:44:55.

and scrutinize aspects of these important measures. As the Minister

:44:56.:45:01.

has outlined previously, the government legislated in the

:45:02.:45:05.

pensions act up to thousand 14 to introduce a new single tier state

:45:06.:45:09.

pension, for persons reaching state pension age on our after the 6th of

:45:10.:45:16.

April to thousand 16. A central principle of this legislation has

:45:17.:45:19.

been to maintain the earnings link. This is a link that was restored in

:45:20.:45:24.

the pensions act of 2007, passed by a Labour government. The Coalition

:45:25.:45:28.

Government, committed to increasing the basic state pension, to the

:45:29.:45:35.

triple guarantee at the price of 2-.5% which was highest from a full

:45:36.:45:40.

2011, the triple lock is a policy approach these figures to support. A

:45:41.:45:46.

position that was confirmed in our manifesto at last years general

:45:47.:45:51.

election. Today we are considering to implement key features of that

:45:52.:45:59.

settlement. For existing pensioners on the current state pension scheme,

:46:00.:46:03.

the 2-.9% increase, being proposed today, which matches earnings as the

:46:04.:46:07.

highest rise of the three measures for this year, is a step in the

:46:08.:46:13.

right direction. This means that for the basic state pension will rise to

:46:14.:46:19.

?119 and ?30 per week, an increase of ?3. I'm very grateful to my right

:46:20.:46:30.

honourable friend of course the triple lock is all fine and well. If

:46:31.:46:34.

you are root in receipt of the state pension. Of course she will know

:46:35.:46:38.

that there's a group of women who have deprived -- been deprived of

:46:39.:46:41.

estate agents. These otherwise the women, these are women born in the

:46:42.:46:45.

1950s. Doesn't she think that a triple lock up nothing is still

:46:46.:46:49.

nothing and actually what we need from this government is that there

:46:50.:46:53.

transition arrangements those women. I thank my Honorable friend for that

:46:54.:46:58.

and his contributions. Hopefully I will touch on that during my speech

:46:59.:47:02.

and a half today. I would also like to commend my home -- honourable

:47:03.:47:10.

friend ankles, in campaigning on the issue for these women that feel that

:47:11.:47:14.

they have been let down by this government. The increased starting

:47:15.:47:18.

rate for the new flat rate pension, was introduced in April of this year

:47:19.:47:25.

of ?150 is again broadly welcomed, on these ventures. Of course it is

:47:26.:47:30.

an increase of only ?5 on the previous minimum guarantee of ?155

:47:31.:47:36.

and 60p. What is less welcome is the lack of communication, escalated

:47:37.:47:42.

timescales, pure management, and utter confusion caused by what

:47:43.:48:24.

Potential effect of that they will be getting the correct amounts they

:48:25.:49:52.

were promised and are entitled to. Times are another matter of the

:49:53.:49:57.

leading portals, unlike the common. An individual will no longer at the

:49:58.:50:02.

right entitlement based on national insurance record of the formal

:50:03.:50:06.

spouse or civil partner. Some transitional protection has been

:50:07.:50:08.

provided and the details are not at all clear. I'm sure all members of

:50:09.:50:15.

the side of this house have constituents in rather desperate

:50:16.:50:19.

circumstances trying to milk through the park. I myself have one

:50:20.:50:25.

constituent contact me recently,. Her husband is terminally ill and

:50:26.:50:30.

honest in that daft deathbed. He fears what will happen to his wife

:50:31.:50:33.

when he dies under these transitional arrangements. They have

:50:34.:50:37.

no children. His wife stayed home for many years, Walker has been

:50:38.:50:40.

provided for them both. She called pension help line and they were

:50:41.:50:46.

unable to offer any clarity or reassurance. I've asked this

:50:47.:50:53.

question before, but I have yet to receive a satisfactory answer. Can

:50:54.:50:56.

the Minister confirm that in an extreme scenario, a woman with no

:50:57.:51:02.

entitlement in her own right who is widowed, could end up with no state

:51:03.:51:09.

pension at all. As compared to the expected 190 -- 119 pounds and 95

:51:10.:51:14.

pence that she was receive the current system? What is the

:51:15.:51:19.

government doing to ensure that pensioners do not unfairly without?

:51:20.:51:24.

And that people are given the correct information so they know the

:51:25.:51:28.

position they will be an? When asked how the department was planning to

:51:29.:51:31.

communicate with those affected, the Minister for pension reform, who of

:51:32.:51:38.

course fits in place, and is not here today, said he cannot perceive

:51:39.:51:41.

he was going to become widowed in the future. I think it is fair to

:51:42.:51:49.

say this is not exactly how -- a helpful reply. Perhaps a minister

:51:50.:51:54.

who is with us today can provide some clarity on what action the

:51:55.:51:56.

government is taking to communicate these changes, in particular those

:51:57.:52:02.

with gaps in the record, who are likely to be directly impacted. I

:52:03.:52:11.

thank my Honorable friend and I think she's a making a very

:52:12.:52:16.

important observation about the need to communicate any changes

:52:17.:52:20.

concerning the state pension rules. She will know that is one of the

:52:21.:52:25.

complaints of the Waspy women. They have not been adequately notified

:52:26.:52:28.

are given proper transitional arrangements. Does my Honorable

:52:29.:52:32.

friend think that it gets respect, the government really ought to be

:52:33.:52:34.

doing a lot more to communicate the changes respect of the new state

:52:35.:52:41.

pension arrangements. Because there will be some people who actually

:52:42.:52:46.

will not benefit from the scheme. I thank my Honorable friend for his

:52:47.:52:50.

contribution. He's absolutely right. The government does need to get

:52:51.:52:54.

their act together when it comes to communicating these changes. The

:52:55.:52:58.

general population has nothing left but honesty. They need frank

:52:59.:53:04.

information that the government should be providing for them, so

:53:05.:53:06.

that they can make informed decisions about the future. Can the

:53:07.:53:12.

Minister also gives us a more specific estimate of who will be

:53:13.:53:15.

covered by the transitional protection and how many people will

:53:16.:53:19.

lose out from the changes in the future years? Once again the

:53:20.:53:25.

governments track record on communicating pension changes falls

:53:26.:53:28.

well below the standard that the public would hold and expect. In my

:53:29.:53:36.

meeting with the national pension -- pensioners convention last week,

:53:37.:53:41.

they pointed out that many pensioners are now waking up with

:53:42.:53:43.

the fact that only a minority of these that reach the state pension

:53:44.:53:48.

age, under the new system, will receive the full flattened rates up

:53:49.:53:56.

a per post today. Recent analysis by the ministers Department confirmed

:53:57.:54:03.

that they estimate that only 37%, 37% of people reaching the state

:54:04.:54:07.

pensionable age into thousand 16 in 2007 team will receive the full

:54:08.:54:10.

amount of the new state pension directly from the state. Millions of

:54:11.:54:15.

people receive an significantly lower state pension in the future,

:54:16.:54:21.

in some cases more than ?500 per year. The gloss from spinning the

:54:22.:54:27.

top line for flat rate without the detail is rapidly starting today.

:54:28.:54:33.

Indeed the Minister for pensions reform, has herself admitted that

:54:34.:54:36.

oversold. It is clear that the oversold. It is clear that the

:54:37.:54:41.

government should be doing far more to inform those affected, especially

:54:42.:54:45.

those who are nearing retirement. And therefore they have the least

:54:46.:54:50.

notice or time to consider the impact. In its ageing report on the

:54:51.:54:55.

new state pension, published in January, the pension committee

:54:56.:55:00.

reported that "We heard evidence that let widespread lack of

:55:01.:55:03.

awareness about what people would receive and when, we were concerned

:55:04.:55:11.

that the statement was confusing and lack necessary information." As UK

:55:12.:55:15.

amongst others have called on the government to do far more for people

:55:16.:55:23.

to be affected. They say there are would be WP materials highlighting

:55:24.:55:27.

credit on ways to decrease the state pension. People need to know they

:55:28.:55:30.

may be affected. We believe that they should contact people with gaps

:55:31.:55:36.

in their record individually, to highlight the changes and explain

:55:37.:55:42.

options. So I ask, what is the government doing to properly

:55:43.:55:45.

communicate the impact of these changes?

:55:46.:55:51.

She has been very generous and giving way but we need to have some

:55:52.:55:56.

confidence that the information of the DWP is communicating is correct.

:55:57.:56:01.

She will remember from the debate that we had in Westminster last week

:56:02.:56:04.

that as recently as last week, I have not checked to see if it has

:56:05.:56:13.

been changed, the dwup was clinging to the state pension age for men was

:56:14.:56:21.

60. -- women. They have argued that I have some sympathy. The government

:56:22.:56:26.

is failing to give the adequate information and the information is

:56:27.:56:28.

not readily available when people require it. The Department for work

:56:29.:56:36.

and pensions has produced an analysis that a majority of people

:56:37.:56:40.

years. I ask the Minister what about years. I ask the Minister what about

:56:41.:56:45.

after that? A close look at these figures reveals that for those aged

:56:46.:56:50.

under 43 now like myself and many in this house, the probability is that

:56:51.:56:54.

they will receive thousands of pounds less in a state pension by

:56:55.:56:59.

the time that they retire. We do not hear much about the impact of the

:57:00.:57:03.

new state pension on retirement income of future generations, it is

:57:04.:57:06.

increasingly clear why the government is keen to keep quiet

:57:07.:57:12.

about it. An analysis that my Honorable friend the shadow

:57:13.:57:16.

Secretary of State for state pensions cells that those in their

:57:17.:57:22.

40s now, are likely to be ?30,000 worse off over the course of their

:57:23.:57:27.

retirement. Many in their 30s now are likely to be nearly ?17,000

:57:28.:57:34.

worse off while women will lose over ?18,000. For the generation in their

:57:35.:57:44.

20s now, the loss is to be over ?19,000 for men and 20 and a half

:57:45.:57:50.

thousand pounds for women. The future generations will clearly be

:57:51.:57:59.

worse off. By 2060, when today's 20-year-old car and retirement, the

:58:00.:58:02.

government will be spending 28 billion a year left on state pension

:58:03.:58:11.

provision. That is a huge clock. One that has not been given proper

:58:12.:58:14.

knowledge and by the government and consequently has not been properly

:58:15.:58:16.

scrutinised and debated in this house. I thank the Honorable Lady

:58:17.:58:24.

for giving way, it is interesting to hear her comments. She talks about

:58:25.:58:27.

the cost of state pensions with those of state pensions with those

:58:28.:58:31.

in their 20s require retire, how much of that is based on the act

:58:32.:58:36.

into thousand seven at increased the A's to 68? -- I will bring him back

:58:37.:58:47.

to the proposal when we had a proposal that works for pensioners

:58:48.:58:52.

and a long-term plan and they'd be delivered up without any regard that

:58:53.:58:56.

people would be affected for it. I won't take any lessons of the

:58:57.:59:01.

benches opposite regarding that. As I was saying, the money, the ?28

:59:02.:59:08.

billion a year that will be spent less on state pension provision is a

:59:09.:59:14.

huge cut, one that has not been given proper acknowledgment and I

:59:15.:59:17.

hope we will debate this further in the house. With the Minister confirm

:59:18.:59:22.

to us today that the government so-called long-term economic plan

:59:23.:59:26.

involves cutting 28 billion out of pensions? And what assurances can he

:59:27.:59:32.

give to today's younger generations who faced higher housing costs, the

:59:33.:59:40.

largest fall into rages and greater insecurity and the workplace that

:59:41.:59:43.

they will have sufficient income and retirement. -- wages. We will

:59:44.:59:50.

concede to ask the government to be more transparent about the long-term

:59:51.:59:53.

and up and losers in this new state pension. Withholding this

:59:54.:59:58.

information in the short term may be politically advantageous, but in the

:59:59.:00:01.

long term only serves to undermine public trust in a savings for

:00:02.:00:07.

retirement, all sides of the house agree is the right cause for all of

:00:08.:00:11.

our population and is in the national interest. Madam Deputy

:00:12.:00:16.

Speaker, there was an enormous interest for members across the

:00:17.:00:20.

house in the related debate we had in Westminster Hall last week, which

:00:21.:00:26.

was triggered by over a signatures on the petition by women against the

:00:27.:00:31.

state pension inequality. It was standing room only, I suspect not

:00:32.:00:35.

just because it was my first outing on the front bench, but because of

:00:36.:00:40.

the significance and the importance of the issues to many members. The

:00:41.:00:46.

2.5 million of our female constituents, indeed the Minister

:00:47.:00:50.

might want to know that this includes more than 4000 women in his

:00:51.:00:56.

own constituency. I hope the Minister can now expand on the

:00:57.:00:59.

government considerations of transitional protection for these

:01:00.:01:04.

women, too many of whom were not given proper notification of the

:01:05.:01:06.

exhilaration and their state pension age. There has been a number of

:01:07.:01:13.

proposed the government has failed to respond to include the 1951 and

:01:14.:01:17.

53 cohorts of women, he will not have access to the new state pension

:01:18.:01:21.

as we are agreeing today, for those born between the 6th of October and

:01:22.:01:28.

the 5th of April 1955, the face of the late over a year and the women

:01:29.:01:35.

born later in 1953 who had a double whammy of changes in 1955 and 2000

:01:36.:01:41.

11. Can he tell us what assessment the government has carried out of

:01:42.:01:47.

these options? Alternatively it was suggested 20 passes of the 2011 act

:01:48.:01:53.

which maintain the age for the qualified credit that protect some

:01:54.:01:58.

of the most vulnerable. Has the government reconsiders and sent?

:01:59.:02:04.

another element of regulations, I another element of regulations, I

:02:05.:02:09.

note the proposal to freeze the staving credit of pension credit as

:02:10.:02:10.

amount in the statement. For the 438,000 pension credit

:02:11.:02:25.

recipients who only received the staving credit elements of the

:02:26.:02:28.

pension credit, their losses will not be offset from the rise of the

:02:29.:02:33.

guarantee credit. They will therefore the debits and credits

:02:34.:02:36.

awarded reduced. Unfortunately, the government has so far refused to

:02:37.:02:41.

come clean about the impact this will have on Britain's poorest

:02:42.:02:47.

pensioners. I called in to the ISS analysis and it will mean that one

:02:48.:02:51.

points away recipients of pension credit will lose an average of ?112

:02:52.:02:55.

a hundred told how the next financial year. That figure will be

:02:56.:02:59.

significantly higher for many, including those of the poorest fifth

:03:00.:03:03.

of pensioner households, can the Minister confirm that some of

:03:04.:03:07.

Britain's poorest pensioners will be worse off as a result of this

:03:08.:03:11.

measure, and will he commit to publishing a more detailed impact

:03:12.:03:14.

assessments and has been produced to date? What he tell us

:03:15.:03:27.

exactly how much? Madam Deputy Speaker, knowledge is power! People

:03:28.:03:30.

need empowering with that knowledge when it comes to their retirement. I

:03:31.:03:32.

hope that the Minister will provide some answers to us today because it

:03:33.:03:36.

is the least that this and future generations of consumers deserve. --

:03:37.:03:46.

pensioners my Mac and I start by welcoming the Honorable member to

:03:47.:03:53.

the front bench. I was surprised with the Minister Sosa move these

:03:54.:03:58.

orders formally this afternoon and I'm also surprised that there is so

:03:59.:04:02.

little interest in debating these orders of evening. Not because they

:04:03.:04:09.

are deep-seated fundamental differences on the issues but

:04:10.:04:12.

because I would have thought that given the very significant changes

:04:13.:04:16.

that are about to take effect with the introduction and implementation

:04:17.:04:19.

of a brand-new pension system and as a few weeks' time, I would have

:04:20.:04:22.

thought there would be an appetite in the house to debate the issues

:04:23.:04:26.

surrounding that it indeed to raise awareness with the public, I think

:04:27.:04:30.

they are very much in the dark about the changes and the significance of

:04:31.:04:36.

them for their own lives. However, I am going to try to confine my

:04:37.:04:40.

remarks this evening to the key issues. I want to start addressing

:04:41.:04:47.

the state pension amendment regulations. The state pension will

:04:48.:04:53.

be set at ?155 a week, very few people will actually get that

:04:54.:04:58.

amount. Indeed even though the pension will be hired in the basic

:04:59.:05:02.

state pension, the net amount that people were received may be less

:05:03.:05:05.

than what they would have gotten onto the old system because of the

:05:06.:05:11.

loss of tested benefits. Only 22% of women and 50% of men who are going

:05:12.:05:17.

to reach state pension age in 2016 and 17 will get the new state

:05:18.:05:23.

pension in full. According to the national pensioners convention on

:05:24.:05:26.

the out of ten new women pensioners and nearly half of new mail

:05:27.:05:29.

will get less than the full amount. will get less than the full amount.

:05:30.:05:37.

Will the Honorable member giveaway? I will give way I think she is

:05:38.:05:43.

making a good point. Is it not the case that it is incumbent on the

:05:44.:05:49.

government and on ministers to properly communicate these changes,

:05:50.:05:52.

because don't we also run the risk of repeating some of the mistakes

:05:53.:05:56.

that have impacted on the Waspy women and that those people will be

:05:57.:06:00.

bitterly disappointed when they are not getting the entire money that

:06:01.:06:07.

they were going to get? He makes an important point. I think is worth

:06:08.:06:11.

saying that the governments have failed in becoming adequately up

:06:12.:06:15.

with pensioners. The Honorable gentleman alluded to the Waspy women

:06:16.:06:21.

and I think that is the best example. These women have seen the

:06:22.:06:25.

goalposts shifted. Many of them are not sure what they're going to get

:06:26.:06:31.

and when and have a contradictory information is an increase in times

:06:32.:06:35.

of the government. But to come back to the new state pension, we are, in

:06:36.:06:41.

a single tear pension and giving it a flat rate but in reality there

:06:42.:06:45.

will be many many different trades bidding on an individuals personal

:06:46.:06:50.

circumstances. In other words, it will not be visible. Inevitably, the

:06:51.:06:55.

introduction of the new system means that there will be two systems

:06:56.:06:59.

operating concurrently. The dangers of the state prisons could be seen

:07:00.:07:04.

as a 2-tier system, there are some existing pensioners who would be

:07:05.:07:09.

better off if they were including in the new state pension. They will be

:07:10.:07:13.

inundated with the proposals from constituents want to see the work

:07:14.:07:16.

out that they have been short-changed compared to that

:07:17.:07:21.

friends, relatives and spouses. We all understand that there will be a

:07:22.:07:25.

cliff edge with the introduction of a new system. Someone will lose or

:07:26.:07:37.

gain with the new pension. Given with all these inevitable and

:07:38.:07:40.

anomalies which will cost a huge sense of injustice, I think it is

:07:41.:07:44.

incumbent on the government to introduce a bit of flexibility in

:07:45.:07:48.

the system in terms of an people take more responsibility for whether

:07:49.:07:51.

they are in the old or new system, so at least it is their choice when

:07:52.:07:56.

they take that gamble with their old life expectancy. We also need to

:07:57.:08:02.

acknowledge that over time the new system will be less interest for

:08:03.:08:07.

other people. Those born from 1970 and onwards will be worse off under

:08:08.:08:11.

the new arrangements but others who will be losing out will be those who

:08:12.:08:15.

have contributed for longer. For example those who started work for

:08:16.:08:21.

an early age and those who started early. Those who will receive

:08:22.:08:31.

credit, there will be winners and losers but there'll be born losers

:08:32.:08:35.

over time. The new state pension is pink introduced on a basis. -- on a

:08:36.:08:44.

neutral basis. I think we need to note that the systems have the

:08:45.:08:50.

potential to lead to accusations that the government building and

:08:51.:08:55.

equality into the system. After April 2016, the newspaper has and

:08:56.:09:02.

will be uprooted annually, however my understanding is that an existing

:09:03.:09:05.

post or wrongly have a triple lock on the first ?119, 30 other basic

:09:06.:09:12.

state pension and ACP I blame on any states above that level. The value

:09:13.:09:21.

of the second state pension will fall in real terms and it is likely

:09:22.:09:26.

that that Apple will weigh in overtime. 7 million Christians get

:09:27.:09:32.

some kind of state pension payment. Applying the same for both old and

:09:33.:09:41.

new state pension equally to the pensions cause some pension spending

:09:42.:09:47.

but it would mean that both basic and state pension funds related to

:09:48.:09:53.

the triple lock. It is at to develop in the coming years and helped

:09:54.:09:56.

create a system that is more likely to be perceived as fair. Madam

:09:57.:10:00.

Deputy Speaker, the second issue that I want to address is to express

:10:01.:10:05.

Svendsen of the forms of the government is not upgrading

:10:06.:10:09.

seventieths credit but instead it will follow in April from 1482 to

:10:10.:10:17.

?13 and seven. And that from 1743 to 1745 and it will no longer be

:10:18.:10:22.

available for new pensioners. It was announced in November last year that

:10:23.:10:25.

savings credit would be further reduced for current recipients but

:10:26.:10:29.

that production is not included in today's order. I would be interested

:10:30.:10:33.

to hear from others if they have decided to not reduce this amount of

:10:34.:10:36.

things credit or when they intend to bring forward regulations for the

:10:37.:10:40.

measure. I would say to ministers that they would credit the port

:10:41.:10:45.

pensioners on low incomes who half minutes to save a small amount

:10:46.:10:48.

toward their retirement. The vast majority who receive it are women

:10:49.:10:53.

around 80%. Many of whom would have spent their working lives at very

:10:54.:10:57.

low paying jobs. They have limited opportunities to say but have been

:10:58.:11:04.

so none the less. Abolishing it for new pensioners sent that is exactly

:11:05.:11:06.

the wrong signal to people in low-paying jobs who feel that they

:11:07.:11:09.

should be trying to say but really have very little incentive to do so.

:11:10.:11:15.

Before I conclude I want to devote some attention to the part of these

:11:16.:11:19.

orders related to the operating and nonoperating of state pensions paid

:11:20.:11:23.

to those living and for overseas countries, the issue of so-called

:11:24.:11:28.

frozen pension. The state Pistons are paid to those who spent their

:11:29.:11:32.

working lives in the UK paying contributions to the state pension.

:11:33.:11:36.

But for whatever reason they are spending their retirement am

:11:37.:11:38.

countries who don't have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK

:11:39.:11:46.

the pensions. The domicile pensioners and those living in other

:11:47.:11:52.

parts of the EU and some who do have arrangements of their pensions

:11:53.:11:59.

remain frozen. The value of their pension falls every year. This

:12:00.:12:04.

causes hardship for those affected. According to the memorandum attached

:12:05.:12:09.

to the order, over half a million pensioners and disposition, most of

:12:10.:12:14.

them over 90% are in Commonwealth countries like Austria, Canada, New

:12:15.:12:18.

Zealand, and south Africa, India, Pakistan and parts of the Caribbean

:12:19.:12:22.

and Africa. Countries with deep cultural ties to the UK. Some of the

:12:23.:12:27.

people will have dual citizenship and others will be UK citizens is

:12:28.:12:31.

cool I have retired to be close to family. The British pensioners

:12:32.:12:40.

points out that ethics are now aged 90 class live in Canada or are sure

:12:41.:12:43.

you throughout the retirement will be getting a basic state pension of

:12:44.:12:54.

the system ?43 a week. I don't think that is right. I think we are doing

:12:55.:13:00.

really badly by these people. Those people affected by frozen vendors

:13:01.:13:05.

have no toys of whether to pay contributions. When need to member

:13:06.:13:08.

that many of them are living and working in a rapidly changing and

:13:09.:13:13.

globalising world and the post world were they were not paying attention

:13:14.:13:18.

to small print details. It seems to be very unfair that a pastor who

:13:19.:13:22.

retires in the USA had get a full of credit pension for a pension and the

:13:23.:13:28.

candidate will receive his pension at the original level. I think that

:13:29.:13:34.

the government has to offset that cost against the cost that would be

:13:35.:13:41.

if the individual had remained to in the UK. It is also very hard to mess

:13:42.:13:52.

of the deterrent effect of frozen pensions which at present prevented

:13:53.:13:56.

pensioners who would like to retire closer with her children and

:13:57.:13:59.

grandchildren and other parts of the Commonwealth in doing so because

:14:00.:14:02.

they know that a key component of their retirement income will not

:14:03.:14:03.

keep ace of the cost of living. It would signal that those

:14:04.:14:21.

pensioners are not forgotten. Madam Deputy Speaker, we all won fair and

:14:22.:14:24.

sustainable pensions that provide enough support for our elderly

:14:25.:14:29.

population to enjoy our dignified and the comfortable old age but

:14:30.:14:32.

those originals need to be fair and need to be seen to be fair if we

:14:33.:14:37.

will maintain confidence in the system for future generations. I

:14:38.:14:39.

hope ministers will consider and respond fully to the point that I

:14:40.:14:46.

have raised. Thank you very much, may I take this opportunity to

:14:47.:14:52.

welcome the Honorable Lady to harden their position and I look forward to

:14:53.:14:58.

discussing and debating issues with her. -- new position. I will try to

:14:59.:15:05.

address as many of the questions that have been appraised as

:15:06.:15:09.

possible. Thank you for the admissions that we have had. I'm

:15:10.:15:13.

grateful to the honourable lady for welcoming the triple lock and I

:15:14.:15:17.

grateful to her for the support that her party has given for the

:15:18.:15:22.

initiative. The issue of medication has come up repeatedly and I just

:15:23.:15:25.

want to say that there is an awareness campaign which including

:15:26.:15:31.

and targeted towards those who are 55 and older, and they will receive

:15:32.:15:35.

a letter providing details of their own state pension. The details

:15:36.:15:40.

further additives will be obtained from payroll and benefits. The

:15:41.:15:48.

campaign aims to build awareness for those who are of that but for my

:15:49.:15:53.

particular age group who will be the first to reach pension age after

:15:54.:15:58.

April 20 16th and encouraged them to get a personalised statement,

:15:59.:16:07.

between other dates we have issued other statements. We have facts

:16:08.:16:12.

sheets, videos, type letters, and YouTube videos, toolkits for

:16:13.:16:15.

stakeholders and weekly stakeholder bulletins and of course we will

:16:16.:16:19.

concede to do what ever is necessary and whenever we can to ensure that

:16:20.:16:24.

people are aware of it. I went to where all colleagues on both sides

:16:25.:16:28.

to ensure that they do their bit also. The new state pension it is

:16:29.:16:44.

our intention, and I think it will be the case that it will be a lot

:16:45.:16:48.

simpler and clearer for people then was is situation before, when we had

:16:49.:16:55.

opt out and additional private pencils and so on. The honourable

:16:56.:17:01.

lady -- pension. The other ladies that are not everybody would qualify

:17:02.:17:05.

for the new rate. She's absolutely right. Reason for that is that the

:17:06.:17:15.

national insurance contributions. In recent years, people have not paid

:17:16.:17:19.

for national insurance contributions, to the state because

:17:20.:17:24.

they opted out, they contracted out, by doing so, some of those people

:17:25.:17:29.

contracted out into its second additional pension. That needs to be

:17:30.:17:34.

factored in, alternatively, that national insurance contributions

:17:35.:17:37.

from which to conduct it out was used for an occupational pension, or

:17:38.:17:42.

a private pension. If the two were added together, and in many cases it

:17:43.:17:47.

would actually be more than ?135 and 55 pensions. It cannot be the case

:17:48.:17:55.

that where people have a pension system which is based on national

:17:56.:17:58.

insurance contributions and that if they have not had those

:17:59.:18:01.

contributions they are expected to get the full payment that is due,

:18:02.:18:06.

not withstanding the fact that some of their own national insurance

:18:07.:18:10.

contributions have gone to another pension. I hope that she foot on

:18:11.:18:16.

that. I'm happy to give weight. I gave them a specific example where

:18:17.:18:21.

they have not contracted out because of their second pension. I'm

:18:22.:18:25.

wondering if he is willing to to deliver that point in it. Also the

:18:26.:18:31.

fact that people have not been given adequate responses and noticed. Some

:18:32.:18:38.

people have not been given the information that is what I'm asking

:18:39.:18:41.

for, that they are giving the information so that they can make

:18:42.:18:44.

progress in. And she will appreciate that that I cannot give advice on

:18:45.:18:54.

individual cases, at the dispatch box, a whole lot of measures that we

:18:55.:18:58.

are putting in place to make sure that people are communicated with,

:18:59.:19:01.

if we were not doing our job properly them Goodspeed September 14

:19:02.:19:06.

and October we would not have had half a million plus personal

:19:07.:19:10.

statements being issued. The continued to make sure people are

:19:11.:19:13.

aware. She has a role to play in this as well as other people. I'm

:19:14.:19:17.

sorry that there was a disappointment with the government

:19:18.:19:21.

is in the forthcoming year, spending an additional ?2.1 billion to what

:19:22.:19:29.

it is. Of course, there is also the pensions credit and the standard

:19:30.:19:33.

minimum gallery which would ensure that there is a minimum threshold

:19:34.:19:37.

which must be met and the state is there to assist people. The

:19:38.:19:43.

honourable lady also from the S mentioned frozen pensions. Can I do

:19:44.:19:47.

say to her, it is the policy of successive governments for the past

:19:48.:19:54.

72 or so years to not operate the pensions for everyone. The issue is

:19:55.:19:59.

complex, but she will be aware that there is an upgrade, and some

:20:00.:20:03.

countries, where there is a obligation to do so. In other

:20:04.:20:09.

countries, also be remembered that in some countries, the pensions that

:20:10.:20:13.

people did are based on a tested basis by means. If we did upgrade by

:20:14.:20:20.

everyone and find ourselves in a situation where we are paying people

:20:21.:20:24.

who are from Britain who are now resident in another country, we are

:20:25.:20:28.

paying them an upgraded pension was to be taken into account to buy

:20:29.:20:32.

their new home country, and therefore the new home country would

:20:33.:20:35.

give them less because they are taking into account the

:20:36.:20:40.

contributions being made by us. The honourable gentleman is negatively

:20:41.:20:42.

shaking his head that I can assure him that is the case, and some

:20:43.:20:46.

countries they do at pension payments based on need. Madam Deputy

:20:47.:20:52.

Speaker, this government takes the right of pension is very seriously,

:20:53.:20:57.

and we do all we can to protect them. For a single person, the rate

:20:58.:21:04.

of a basic state pension would be the biggest real-time increase since

:21:05.:21:09.

2001. We will continue to protect the poorest pensioners, the means

:21:10.:21:14.

tested for threshold below which pensioners need not fall, the

:21:15.:21:19.

guarantees will be the biggest real-time increase since its

:21:20.:21:23.

introduction. The full basic state pension will be over ?1100 per year,

:21:24.:21:30.

higher and 17 compared to the start of last Parliament. Madam Deputy

:21:31.:21:35.

Speaker, our triple lock and protect us for the poorest pensioners and

:21:36.:21:39.

our new state pension reforms means that we will be able to provide

:21:40.:21:42.

pensioners the dignity and the security that they deserve a

:21:43.:21:46.

retirement. I commanded the order and regulations of the house. The

:21:47.:21:54.

question is that the motion on the draft on the order paper, as many as

:21:55.:21:59.

of the opinions they Ayes, on the contrary say noes. I think the Ayes

:22:00.:22:04.

have it. Minister to move the motion on the draft state pension amendment

:22:05.:22:08.

regulations formally, the question is that the question on the draft

:22:09.:22:14.

statement be read on the order paper. I think the Ayes have it. We

:22:15.:22:22.

now come to the backbench debate on the future of the roots of the great

:22:23.:22:30.

rest of the rail way. Thank you, it is a pleasure to rise, I beg to move

:22:31.:22:34.

the motion that is in my name on the order paper. Starting, I would also

:22:35.:22:39.

like to thank all the members on both sides of the house that

:22:40.:22:42.

supported the application for this debate at the backbench business

:22:43.:22:47.

committee, and my colleagues on the backbench committee, for agreeing to

:22:48.:22:51.

allocate this plot to it, here in the chamber, not perhaps in

:22:52.:22:54.

Westminster Hall as it might have ended up. I think it is encouraging

:22:55.:23:00.

that we are starting almost bang on time which is encouraging for any

:23:01.:23:05.

discussion that we are having around trains, and roadways. It has to be

:23:06.:23:13.

said that -- railways this is a day to have the debate of windstorm

:23:14.:23:21.

image and has hit. There is a tree on the line. That sort of sums up

:23:22.:23:30.

the issue of resilience. I will give way. I think the Honorable member

:23:31.:23:37.

for giving way, is he aware that there aren't three trees which have

:23:38.:23:45.

come down on the line? I think the Honorable member for sharing with

:23:46.:23:48.

the house his superb knowledge of the vegetation around the Great

:23:49.:23:53.

Western mainline. His point rammed home the masses at a tree falling

:23:54.:23:58.

over, a cow breaking out of a field, a small amount of earth moving our

:23:59.:24:05.

points and could close off the network. It is important that we

:24:06.:24:08.

have this debate tonight around resilience. Another point today is

:24:09.:24:12.

that we have had the cross-country services counsellor at bullish

:24:13.:24:17.

again. Not due to the line but due to be filed with the train

:24:18.:24:22.

themselves. Again, it brings on the vulnerability of some of the key

:24:23.:24:25.

groups and networks that many people depend upon. Yet, I hope today's

:24:26.:24:29.

debate is not going to be about being negative and having a moan.

:24:30.:24:38.

Because then the next hour of sharing our poor stories about being

:24:39.:24:43.

on the trainer, myself and one of the Honorable members were on a

:24:44.:24:50.

train that had a toilet still which was particularly interesting. That

:24:51.:24:50.

will not achieve anything. I am sorry to bring in a

:24:51.:25:06.

disagreeable note into a disagreeable debate. We like to moan

:25:07.:25:11.

and groan, but the fact of the matter having travelled for 20 years

:25:12.:25:15.

twice a week, I actually find it extraordinarily good. There are

:25:16.:25:23.

catering and toilets... There are are the punctuality and service is

:25:24.:25:26.

actually extremely good stop yellow I would like to thank the Honorable

:25:27.:25:32.

member for his intervention. There are many positive stories to be

:25:33.:25:37.

made, and the key one of them is the amazing legacy that we have been led

:25:38.:25:41.

to the benefits of engineering by Victorians. We can look at the

:25:42.:25:47.

Prince Albert Bridge built with innovative techniques, a real feat

:25:48.:25:50.

of engineering at that time. The link between Plymouth and Cornwall

:25:51.:25:55.

that still exist today has been carrying transit it was the micro --

:25:56.:26:03.

Guy it was so innovative at the time that they had to have a station at

:26:04.:26:07.

both ends because some Victorian travellers were rather frightened

:26:08.:26:10.

going through a tunnel said they had to have an option of getting the

:26:11.:26:15.

train and having a carriage ride around it, and knitting back on the

:26:16.:26:21.

Trinity and into the tunnel. I think that is very ungentlemanly. I will

:26:22.:26:28.

give way again. Box tunnel is in my constituency. All sorts of that.

:26:29.:26:37.

That is not true for the division. We believe that it is true. I have

:26:38.:26:42.

seen myself. We are close, we think, to be opening the station. I would

:26:43.:26:47.

hope that my Honorable friend agrees with me that opening stations like

:26:48.:26:50.

that along the route is extremely important. Absolutely. I'd would not

:26:51.:26:58.

want to get involved in a debate around a particular title "Date. I

:26:59.:27:04.

think it is important that communities along the route. One of

:27:05.:27:08.

the reason that the title of this debate is important, but if the

:27:09.:27:13.

chain mind is not running that it actually means he did not have the

:27:14.:27:17.

service you would like. There were many other parts of about her very

:27:18.:27:22.

positive in thinking about the changed again. This is the positive

:27:23.:27:27.

story of a network that stretches from London to Swansea. It

:27:28.:27:34.

revolutionized a whole region that had been fairly isolated until the

:27:35.:27:38.

trains went through. Over the last few years, we have seen a huge

:27:39.:27:42.

growth in real trouble across our region. There are many brand lives

:27:43.:27:46.

and parts of Cornwall sink passenger levels that have not been seen since

:27:47.:27:51.

decades. All being delivered with some of the well-known limitations

:27:52.:27:56.

of the network in that area. Relatively old rolling stocks, but

:27:57.:27:59.

have probably seen better days, and some of the well-known issues that

:28:00.:28:04.

we have at the network in terms of resilience, signalling, things I

:28:05.:28:07.

will point to an imminent. The point to this debate is not to share jokes

:28:08.:28:12.

are the about poor train journeys, it is about that there can be a more

:28:13.:28:16.

positive story in the future hope to have it -- boosting investment. I

:28:17.:28:24.

will happily give way and. My Honorable friend constituency is

:28:25.:28:29.

similar to mine, and he connected with me that the more trains in

:28:30.:28:32.

franchise that we get an place and some of these areas the better that

:28:33.:28:37.

it will be for tourism. Absolutely. As the Honorable gentleman is

:28:38.:28:42.

already aware, looking at some of the early figures coming out showing

:28:43.:28:49.

higher than expected levels of usage. For we have seen the impact

:28:50.:28:55.

particularly where good park services are absolutely crucial to

:28:56.:29:00.

the tourist industry. I think having good trains makes for good tourism.

:29:01.:29:04.

I will give way but then I have to make progress. The honourable

:29:05.:29:08.

gentleman has mentioned park-and-ride, does he agree with me

:29:09.:29:10.

that something we should be looking at in the future in particular

:29:11.:29:22.

places where my constituents is, current... Have another

:29:23.:29:25.

park-and-ride station to the east of that to allow areas that don't have

:29:26.:29:31.

access to a rest station to be able to commute and travel to the city of

:29:32.:29:40.

Plymouth. I thank the Honorable Lady for her intervention. She is

:29:41.:29:44.

absolutely right that park-and-ride can play a huge part in actually

:29:45.:29:49.

allowing rural communities to have access to rail to rail service. In

:29:50.:29:56.

terms of looking at Northwest Devon and North Cornwall, it could be an

:29:57.:29:59.

interesting budget to come around partly station near to 830 as it

:30:00.:30:09.

comes into Devon. It could get a service to that area, but without

:30:10.:30:12.

competing with the South Devon Great Western mainline. It is worth saying

:30:13.:30:19.

in terms of what could investment deliver, even a relatively modest

:30:20.:30:22.

improvement of 15 minutes and journey times between the Southwest

:30:23.:30:27.

peninsula in London, is estimated to be able to deliver 300 million and

:30:28.:30:31.

increase productivity. This is not just about economics, it is about

:30:32.:30:34.

communities on the line and their needs for travel growth. I will not

:30:35.:30:40.

look to play with our region against another, but to stay the same way

:30:41.:30:44.

that investment and crossrail in new rail capacity and the other parts of

:30:45.:30:48.

the UK for those parts of the community and will do over the next

:30:49.:30:51.

two years, so delivering on these issues can and Iris. It is also

:30:52.:30:56.

worth bearing in mind investment anchored bus is... President of

:30:57.:31:03.

Heathrow as the UK's hub that will be supported. I will only be too

:31:04.:31:10.

happy to give way. You share my disappointment about the delays in

:31:11.:31:15.

the western rail act, which has been announced to be put back for a

:31:16.:31:20.

further two years. This is the investment that will bring the

:31:21.:31:25.

biggest inward investment into the UK as well as helping travellers

:31:26.:31:29.

from all over the west of England to be able to get to Heathrow, our

:31:30.:31:36.

premier hub airport. Will he pressed the Minister who is sitting on the

:31:37.:31:44.

bench from him to ensure that as a result of this debate, someone in

:31:45.:31:48.

her department puts their foot on the accelerator at Western rail

:31:49.:31:54.

access to Heathrow. I think the Honorable members at such a

:31:55.:31:57.

passionate intervention. I think she is right. It make sense. To have

:31:58.:32:07.

proper access to Heathrow. And not just supports the economy of our

:32:08.:32:11.

areas, but also the national economy by making it easier to expand and

:32:12.:32:17.

develop. I think -- I hope with the Minister on the bench,. I hope that

:32:18.:32:27.

given the widespread support across this house for that access, but that

:32:28.:32:31.

time could be greatly shortened to allow for us to get on and get the

:32:32.:32:35.

shovels in the ground on a project that makes eminent sense. That could

:32:36.:32:41.

be a long list of improvements needed listed in the speech, which

:32:42.:32:43.

I'm sure several contributors will be about to highlight they see that

:32:44.:32:48.

is vital for their areas. For me there are two key areas of focus

:32:49.:32:52.

that affect the whole network. These are resilience and knowledge of

:32:53.:32:53.

vacation. The tone is collapsed. It is not the only issue. It has to

:32:54.:33:04.

be said that it gives us an opportunity to debate these issues.

:33:05.:33:08.

As the Member for South West Devon, my Honorable friend, said it took a

:33:09.:33:18.

crisis to get here, but this is our chance. It is worth looking at the

:33:19.:33:23.

impact of that prices. My Honorable friend for North Cornwall reminded

:33:24.:33:26.

us of the impact of potential tourism. 70% of tourist, x-ray.

:33:27.:33:38.

There is a 20% drop in bookings. Because of the image that was

:33:39.:33:42.

created. It shows that it is not just a transfer issue. I am

:33:43.:33:46.

certainly happy to give away. Can I say to him in support of the point

:33:47.:33:51.

that he's making, what about the particular and said he was talking

:33:52.:33:55.

about was the most extreme damage to major rail infrastructure. In South

:33:56.:34:02.

Wales, I have travelled because of flooding on the part of the line. We

:34:03.:34:08.

also have regular flooding around the seven, as well. We need to be

:34:09.:34:13.

asked to that we have a resilient well-run structure as well as

:34:14.:34:19.

electrification. I would completely agree. As a constituency that is not

:34:20.:34:25.

currently scheduled to benefit from electrification, we are impacted by

:34:26.:34:29.

flooding, it is vital that we make sure a railway is future proof

:34:30.:34:39.

around issue of whether. We have the flooding there across the rail line

:34:40.:34:45.

in Exeter. It is absolutely vital that we do topple the range of

:34:46.:34:49.

resilience issues, not just the very famous issue on the coast. I know

:34:50.:34:56.

that Network Rail is looking at the cliffs near tennis, and I am sure my

:34:57.:35:01.

Honorable friend will talk more in her contribution, but that is

:35:02.:35:04.

probably one of the aspects of this than needs to be looked at, not just

:35:05.:35:08.

the issue of the Siebel itself. There is also signalling throughout

:35:09.:35:12.

Devon and Cornwall, much of which was installed in the 1960s

:35:13.:35:16.

unfortunately it is the list for control period six with just

:35:17.:35:23.

2019-2024. It is vital the back of the head. It is crucial that we have

:35:24.:35:33.

these journey times. It is crucial that the imminent publication of the

:35:34.:35:37.

fire apart from the peninsula rail task force that will set out the 20

:35:38.:35:42.

year plan for Devon and Cornwall. Brazilians is going to be absolutely

:35:43.:35:45.

at the heart of that, and it is vital that we know that funding for

:35:46.:35:49.

the two reports needed to complete this report is fair and is present.

:35:50.:35:53.

Of course, there have been encouraging noises over the last

:35:54.:35:57.

week or two. I think we might hear a couple more from the Minister and

:35:58.:36:00.

her contribution later, but again one of the reasons for this debate

:36:01.:36:06.

is to secure hub vital it is to be secure the sign. In terms of moving

:36:07.:36:13.

on, electrification, but should vacation -- electrification. It will

:36:14.:36:20.

literally electrify the communities along the route. Blasts suspect

:36:21.:36:23.

colleagues they wish to talk about this a little bit more. -- I

:36:24.:36:36.

suspect. As a public accounts committee member having sat through

:36:37.:36:40.

a discussion on progress so far, not least the estimated cost, I can't

:36:41.:36:44.

imagine the Minister may not be relishing the thought of committing

:36:45.:36:48.

to more such projects. It is right that these are highlighted as an

:36:49.:36:51.

investment must not just the about creating a quarter for electric

:36:52.:36:55.

trains to speed through, but the starting point for an integrated

:36:56.:36:59.

network of electrification across the area by the great Western. I

:37:00.:37:06.

will give way. I am very grateful to the Honorable gentleman for giving

:37:07.:37:16.

way. One of the major reason for... Does he share my concern that the UK

:37:17.:37:21.

government will not publish the level of payments made in a schedule

:37:22.:37:26.

because we are talking about hundreds of millions of pounds of

:37:27.:37:33.

the public money. I think the Honorable member for his

:37:34.:37:35.

intervention. It is interesting to hear. I'm sure the Minister will

:37:36.:37:39.

wish to respond to his detail, but I say that the main issues was around

:37:40.:37:44.

the signalling that have been put in in the 1960s and were piling was

:37:45.:37:48.

being done that cables had not been mapped. That was also one of the

:37:49.:37:55.

issues that might make those lines more suitable for electrification in

:37:56.:37:58.

the future. If we know exactly where the signalling cables are. That was

:37:59.:38:02.

certainly one of the main reasons, but I'm sure the Minister response

:38:03.:38:06.

to his wider points. I'm happy to give way. I hate -- he is talking

:38:07.:38:16.

about electrification. Is it important to a by the group from

:38:17.:38:22.

Paddington and onto Penzance. And welcome the proposal to bring

:38:23.:38:28.

forward trains which are bimodal. In the speeding of the service that

:38:29.:38:32.

would introduce, would he share my concerns that we could be tempted to

:38:33.:38:36.

delete some stops along that route which would, perhaps he is coming

:38:37.:38:40.

onto this point, be a pity since that would mean some of our

:38:41.:38:44.

constituencies would simply be transit corridors. Particularly,

:38:45.:38:48.

would he be agreed with me that was very session, being a vital hub must

:38:49.:38:55.

not be deleted from any plans any forthcoming new franchise. Having

:38:56.:39:01.

changed trains at Westbury myself, I share his concern that if there

:39:02.:39:05.

wasn't too into link with the rest of the region COMMENTATOR: As he

:39:06.:39:09.

touched on this debate is has to be about viewing the railway not as a

:39:10.:39:16.

transport network in aspect. We sort of stand around like train spotters

:39:17.:39:20.

discussing exactly how long that is going to change the Microtek. Is it

:39:21.:39:24.

about where people want to get to, linking economies, and making sure

:39:25.:39:29.

that people can service. I was just concerned, and I am sure it collects

:39:30.:39:34.

in South Devon have concerns and neighbouring constituencies. If the

:39:35.:39:36.

spectrum is that that be sped them up by driving past patch --

:39:37.:39:48.

passengers. I am conscious that time is moving on, and I am searching

:39:49.:39:54.

Madam Deputy Speaker to patients and my opening remarks, so I will try

:39:55.:39:57.

and press on so that other colleagues will wish to speak. The

:39:58.:40:03.

use of bimodal trains do in 2018 as referred to any intervention I had

:40:04.:40:06.

just taken, will make a real difference in open up many

:40:07.:40:10.

opportunities for our region not least the fact that it would allow

:40:11.:40:15.

some potential for partial electrification on sites that would

:40:16.:40:18.

at most enhance the journey time impact rather than in the past when

:40:19.:40:28.

a purely electric train, for obvious reasons, may not have been able to

:40:29.:40:33.

be considered to bring west of Exeter. I think that this gives us

:40:34.:40:36.

real options to develop in the future. And why this import is so

:40:37.:40:47.

important. -- report. Including prospects for new stations in my own

:40:48.:40:53.

patch for the first time in decades. I would think that it is those key

:40:54.:40:56.

for the Minister to command at the end of this debate as he look ahead

:40:57.:40:59.

to the announcement of work that will take place in central period

:41:00.:41:10.

six running in 2019 to 20 24. That this would definitely be provided,

:41:11.:41:14.

and no Network Rail is ready to start work on those immediately once

:41:15.:41:18.

that has been confirmed. The second is that there is a clear commitment

:41:19.:41:22.

to VB signalling work for Devon and Cornwall that is scheduled take

:41:23.:41:28.

place in control period six. But the project secure a Army Minotaur --.

:41:29.:41:39.

That the work to secure the mind against flooding and another key

:41:40.:41:44.

point is touched on will be progressed. The electric --

:41:45.:41:50.

electrification project will be completed with a view to the apart

:41:51.:41:53.

of an electrified network for the great Western region rather than

:41:54.:41:56.

being an electric cable running through the middle of a cell. I

:41:57.:42:02.

believe the benefits are clear as well. They need to make sure that in

:42:03.:42:08.

the 21st Century the vision for the great Western as as great as it was

:42:09.:42:12.

one Victorian engineers were the root on or start imagining what it

:42:13.:42:15.

could be in the future. They could not have imagined then that the type

:42:16.:42:19.

of transit they would have or the type of uses people with the railway

:42:20.:42:22.

to, but they could see that in building a railway they would build

:42:23.:42:26.

a region. I believe we can do the same bow and show a similar vision

:42:27.:42:29.

and that is but recommend this business into the House Hear, hear!

:42:30.:42:34.

The question is as on the order paper. Thank you very much Madam

:42:35.:42:40.

Deputy Speaker. Can I apologised to the Honorable member for arriving a

:42:41.:42:44.

few seconds after he rose to his feet. The previous pitches having

:42:45.:42:53.

finished fast business. Can I thank him for being beginning force behind

:42:54.:42:58.

this. I want to preface my remarks by saying when I get in at the end

:42:59.:43:04.

of the week to carriage a at Paddington, with my bike in the

:43:05.:43:08.

backspace doesn't benefit, carriage eight is the quiet carriage. It is

:43:09.:43:14.

one of the best two hours of my week usually. I give thanks every time

:43:15.:43:21.

I'm on that journey to them and the brilliance of the line that he

:43:22.:43:26.

created back in the Victorian age. We are still benefiting from. I

:43:27.:43:29.

think that it is incredible, given that very little has happened since,

:43:30.:43:34.

that on a good day you can still get from London to Exeter which is quite

:43:35.:43:39.

a long way, as I'm sure Honorable members do their geography known,

:43:40.:43:44.

and must than two hours. I think that there are things down to him,

:43:45.:43:47.

and accrued the Honorable member who was here a little bit earlier. I

:43:48.:43:57.

also think that Great Western for all its frailties is my favourite

:43:58.:44:03.

railway, and I travel a lot across the UK. Certainly better than the

:44:04.:44:09.

new franchise owners on the East Coast, mainline and the pokey little

:44:10.:44:14.

carriages they have on Virgin on the West Coast mainline. Great Western

:44:15.:44:19.

comfortable, bright, the blues don't work, but when they do work they

:44:20.:44:22.

flushed straight onto the tracks. That is something that is completely

:44:23.:44:27.

intolerable. That has to change is a matter of urgency. The ventilation

:44:28.:44:37.

is quite idiosyncratic. You can often find the carriages that are

:44:38.:44:44.

far too hot or cold. The staff are always delightful and very friendly.

:44:45.:44:48.

The service, it is excellent I think. I have one clique, this is to

:44:49.:44:54.

all the rail companies, they should do much more to publicise the

:44:55.:44:58.

passengers right to a full refund if they are delayed by more than an

:44:59.:45:01.

hour. I do think that they are getting away with too much and far

:45:02.:45:04.

too many people don't realise that they are compared to a refund. I

:45:05.:45:12.

think in terms of good customer service, this is something that

:45:13.:45:15.

should be done and announced on the trains as a matter of course. Yes of

:45:16.:45:20.

course I give way. In highlighting the beauty of the mind onto Exeter,

:45:21.:45:25.

Kai incurs my Honorable friend to stay on the train and see how it

:45:26.:45:29.

even more beautiful it gets once you pass the line along the coast. It is

:45:30.:45:33.

not just about the beauty of the mind which I hope everyone will

:45:34.:45:37.

experience, it is about the economic importance of outline the adore lush

:45:38.:45:43.

to the economy of South Devon. Please join me in saying that

:45:44.:45:48.

whatever we do we must respecting line. I know the line there very

:45:49.:45:57.

well. My pages to get a very fast in line all the way down. It is

:45:58.:46:04.

beautiful but vulnerable. Having said all the positive things, I just

:46:05.:46:11.

have set. We do have voting stock that was introduced in the early

:46:12.:46:15.

1970s. As I said travel speeds have not increase very much for decades,

:46:16.:46:19.

if not for a century. I mentioned the bathrooms, and the heating, I

:46:20.:46:23.

think that the Honorable member has Arty touched on electrification. It

:46:24.:46:30.

does seem to me that when Spain and Italy have a full comprehensive

:46:31.:46:33.

network of high-speed electric trains that we still don't have a

:46:34.:46:37.

network of high-speed trains in this country. In the south was, we are

:46:38.:46:41.

said to be probably the only major beaches with big cities that does

:46:42.:46:46.

not have either high-speed trains or electrification. It is absolutely no

:46:47.:46:49.

reason why we should not have electrification already. It happened

:46:50.:46:52.

technical challenges, but having been on trains in the Alps that are

:46:53.:46:57.

electric going of gradients like this, I never quite understood what

:46:58.:47:01.

the barrier is to electrification where you have gradients. As the

:47:02.:47:05.

Honorable members is, we will soon have the technology to overcome

:47:06.:47:10.

that. I give way I think my right honourable friend. But he agreed

:47:11.:47:17.

with me about how long it takes is to deliver some of these

:47:18.:47:21.

infrastructure progress in the UK. The top drafts -- talks around the

:47:22.:47:26.

intervention. In getting them delivered. I agreed but that. We set

:47:27.:47:34.

up the independent infrastructure and his government has gone on to do

:47:35.:47:38.

something quite similar. We need to be much more radical about how we

:47:39.:47:41.

manage these big infrastructures improvements. The idea of giving it

:47:42.:47:47.

over as rail track, and putting with the government to not privatise. And

:47:48.:47:56.

hand over these decision to independent rail commissioned to

:47:57.:48:00.

make these decisions. I think that is defensible sound idea. I hope the

:48:01.:48:04.

government will listen to that because the fragmentation and

:48:05.:48:06.

privatsation of rail could be an absolute disaster. Can I think the

:48:07.:48:12.

honourable gentleman for giving way. It also if you want business to

:48:13.:48:18.

operate using railways, we need to make sure that there is a good level

:48:19.:48:22.

of broadband so that people can actually work at the same time. I

:48:23.:48:28.

forgot to mention that broadband is terrible and standard class. It

:48:29.:48:33.

never works. I just use 3G or 4G, and I have Guy apparently it is fine

:48:34.:48:42.

in first-class, but who travels first-class? MP certainly don't. Not

:48:43.:48:50.

my experience. We are not allowed to. Madam Deputy Speaker, as many

:48:51.:48:54.

Honorable members will remember, two years ago, exactly lastly, we had

:48:55.:49:00.

the catastrophic severing of a mind at your leisure which is the

:49:01.:49:04.

Honorable members that had a huge impact on the regions wider economy.

:49:05.:49:08.

As well as that we had flooding that cut the line on the Somerset levels

:49:09.:49:16.

and flooding between cities this weekend, my train was diverted back

:49:17.:49:21.

from Exeter because of flooding. We have a lot of resilience problems

:49:22.:49:25.

throughout the network. As we all know, with the growing threat from

:49:26.:49:31.

climate change and the increase in extreme weather events, these events

:49:32.:49:33.

are going to happen more and more often. There has been meaningful and

:49:34.:49:38.

substantial investment in the railways, including in the

:49:39.:49:41.

Southwest. Not as much and the other parts of the UK, but following the

:49:42.:49:46.

Hatfield disaster and we had a major programme under the labelled

:49:47.:49:49.

government sorting out things to make it safer. That work is ongoing.

:49:50.:49:54.

We have had other improvements which have made a significant positive

:49:55.:49:58.

difference. To the reliability of the of services. I used to get

:49:59.:50:05.

regularly delayed. There have been improvements, but we still feel in

:50:06.:50:09.

the far southwest, as opposed to the Bristol South bells core door --

:50:10.:50:20.

Wales. We have a lot of very generous, I will use that term

:50:21.:50:24.

rather than grandiose, I think we took them at their word promises

:50:25.:50:28.

made. By the Prime Minister, Chancellor, transport Secretary,

:50:29.:50:36.

after that and then they run to the general secretary.

:50:37.:50:41.

Hear, hear! Promising us more than ?7 billion of braille and other

:50:42.:50:51.

infrastructure investment. And they will be held to those promises. We

:50:52.:50:58.

have a whole -- a lot of conservative MPs elected based on

:50:59.:51:02.

those promises. They're laughing and smiling now, but if those promises

:51:03.:51:06.

don't deliver them the promised at that smile will be on the other side

:51:07.:51:10.

of their base. It is up to them to get their government to deliver. I'm

:51:11.:51:17.

rather embarrassed, I fill sorry for my conservative colleagues. We have

:51:18.:51:21.

regional solidarity, but I felt that the micro-site for them. They had.

:51:22.:51:31.

The group back together after and was run by conservative counsel.

:51:32.:51:38.

They came up with this fantastic document and the Honorable member

:51:39.:51:40.

based most of his speech on it about what needs to happen and the

:51:41.:51:46.

Southwest, and very small initial ask is for ?250,000 for the

:51:47.:51:52.

necessary studies, electrification and misleading studies that the

:51:53.:51:54.

Honorable member has just mentioned. We were promised that these are

:51:55.:52:03.

going to happened, and I hope perhaps the Minister will use the

:52:04.:52:07.

opportunity this evening. It is not a good time to put out such a

:52:08.:52:12.

fantastic news story which our media and the Southwest below. I hope that

:52:13.:52:16.

the way she responds she will come up with a small amount of money. It

:52:17.:52:22.

is ?250,000 for two studies. Yes I give way. With the member offset can

:52:23.:52:30.

see that this money was -- the studies were committed to by Network

:52:31.:52:34.

Rail and so in effect the government has not given money to projects and

:52:35.:52:38.

then taken it away that money has followed through as a result of what

:52:39.:52:42.

Network Rail have done, and we have asked the government to step up and

:52:43.:52:46.

deliver that in its place. He is absolutely right. The government has

:52:47.:52:50.

never come up with the money. I am and the just and that it should. The

:52:51.:52:53.

reason that Network Rail or not able to come up with the monies because

:52:54.:52:57.

of cost overruns and delays on the whole of the rest of the

:52:58.:53:00.

infrastructure investment project. In the huge cost and time amount,

:53:01.:53:07.

but overall investment. Which incidentally the government knew

:53:08.:53:10.

about before the general election before they made grandiose promises.

:53:11.:53:15.

Those are conversations he needs to have with his front bench

:53:16.:53:17.

colleagues. I will lead him to, and I wish in the very best of luck. It

:53:18.:53:21.

is completely obvious to me why this money has not come up. Network Rail

:53:22.:53:26.

has not got it because it is overspent and overrun on all of

:53:27.:53:30.

these other projects, and I do hope that when a minister responds that

:53:31.:53:33.

we can have a little bit more detail about exactly what it is that we can

:53:34.:53:40.

expect in the far southwest and when. If he can't tell us about the

:53:41.:53:44.

feasibility study that perhaps he might be able to tell us let me make

:53:45.:53:49.

be able to hear about that. Let might be able to have some hope

:53:50.:53:53.

about the prospect of electrification beyond Bristol into

:53:54.:53:59.

our part of the region. When we maybe able to have some idea about

:54:00.:54:07.

the timetable an additional alternative. Either the point that

:54:08.:54:12.

the. We do not want to lose the line here, it is beautiful. The people

:54:13.:54:16.

there don't want to lose it either. The fact is that if you talk to any

:54:17.:54:24.

engineer or climate change scientist is not about talking about stars and

:54:25.:54:28.

sea levels, but also the fragility of the cliff. The biggest problem

:54:29.:54:32.

last year was that the cliff kept falling down. It is a multiple

:54:33.:54:37.

problem there. You have a line between easy and quite a soft cliff.

:54:38.:54:42.

As members will know, back in 1939 there was a plan to build an

:54:43.:54:47.

alternative site built -- slightly in land. It did not go ahead because

:54:48.:54:56.

of the Second World War. There are other options and I can understand

:54:57.:54:58.

that people in North Devon and Cornwall like the idea of the OK of

:54:59.:55:02.

mind being ripped open, but let's have look at it and what is going to

:55:03.:55:08.

happen when. The Prime Minister himself said we cannot afford to

:55:09.:55:12.

have the Southwest cut off like that again. Our economy can't afford it,

:55:13.:55:17.

I was on the right side about block so it does not affect me, but for

:55:18.:55:24.

the Plymouth and Cornwall economy were seriously

:55:25.:55:32.

Merit to his shopping list to the Minister might like to reassure

:55:33.:55:39.

those of us where the southwest and south Wales fit in the government

:55:40.:55:44.

priorities, if it appear that we have neither resilience or

:55:45.:55:46.

significant investments in the speed of our attorneys and our networks in

:55:47.:55:50.

the 70s. Certainly beyond Bristol, there is no evidence of that coming

:55:51.:55:55.

soon. But regions with whom I had was much faster high-speed rail

:55:56.:56:00.

within a decade or two. Where do we stand in the priorities? I am in

:56:01.:56:08.

with that. I want to add I would hope that he would at some

:56:09.:56:20.

point welcomed the fact that there would be a new station opened in his

:56:21.:56:26.

constituency next year. We have already had a new station opened up

:56:27.:56:33.

just outside my constituency and an investment programme was put there

:56:34.:56:36.

by the Labour government. I'm very careful that she did not cut it. I'm

:56:37.:56:44.

very grateful for it. I'm not giving away again. Order! One! The

:56:45.:56:52.

ombudsman is now giving way. I'm at grateful. I would say to her, she

:56:53.:56:56.

cut the investment programme in the last six years, the economist of

:56:57.:57:01.

this world think that we should be investing and the infrastructure for

:57:02.:57:05.

the long-term. We have record low long term and interest rates. This

:57:06.:57:10.

is the time we should be investing in infrastructure particularly in

:57:11.:57:15.

Wales. I'm grateful that she did not cut the station and that we will be

:57:16.:57:20.

getting a devastation. Yes of course, I'm grateful for that but

:57:21.:57:23.

I'm going to end with the following suggestions of these MPs who were

:57:24.:57:30.

sent to victory last May on these great promises of a rail revolution.

:57:31.:57:35.

I got into a great deal of trouble with my width in the last

:57:36.:57:39.

Parliament, for refusing to vote for the money for the high-speed up to

:57:40.:57:46.

the north. To give him his credit, one of the conservative MPs who was

:57:47.:57:50.

not in his seat tonight, did the same. We withheld our support for

:57:51.:57:55.

that money, the government only has a majority of 12, I will not give

:57:56.:58:02.

way! She can speak in a minute! There are more than some

:58:03.:58:05.

conservative MPs who can stop the government putting that money

:58:06.:58:07.

through, if they did not get what they were promised by the government

:58:08.:58:12.

in the next five years. I challenged him to do that and stick up for the

:58:13.:58:15.

constituents and the Southwest and just stop taking no for an answer!

:58:16.:58:22.

Thank you very much, I think all the conservatives on the side of the

:58:23.:58:28.

house will be sticking up, for the countrymen. Well we went to see is

:58:29.:58:32.

the growth of this country, we want to see productivity improved and we

:58:33.:58:38.

are having to repair the damage of the previous labor government, who

:58:39.:58:42.

was those and the code so we are now having to make, and is undoubtedly

:58:43.:58:45.

this government and improve his Coalition government would focus on

:58:46.:58:49.

the need to do something about the whole infrastructure. I congratulate

:58:50.:58:56.

my Honorable friend, and my neighbouring constituency for

:58:57.:58:58.

allowing us to have this debate tonight. Undoubtedly, the great rest

:58:59.:59:08.

of the route is absolutely critical. It is absolutely fair to say, and

:59:09.:59:13.

here perhaps that the gentleman might agree, we need to make sure

:59:14.:59:17.

that some priority is given to the infrastructure now in the Southwest,

:59:18.:59:20.

where we would disagree is that I believe that we have the and action

:59:21.:59:26.

and more than just warm words and frankly as the MP representing

:59:27.:59:31.

duelist in other places, I have seen it in spades, we all feel the same,

:59:32.:59:39.

we want to see the commitment, when needed on record. The Low I thank my

:59:40.:59:45.

Honorable friend for giving way, the very fact that the trains that we

:59:46.:59:52.

are seeing run between those cities were first initiated in 1976, just

:59:53.:59:57.

goes to show the lack of investment the Labour government, that the

:59:58.:00:02.

honourable gentleman opposite talks about, initiated, they did nothing

:00:03.:00:07.

for the Southwest, when they were in the government for 12 years. My

:00:08.:00:17.

Honorable friend makes a good point. This government and the Coalition

:00:18.:00:20.

government has begun to look at the Southwest, they recognise that the

:00:21.:00:25.

road infrastructure needs sorting, they recognise their broadband needs

:00:26.:00:29.

sorting, not something that the Labour government did anything

:00:30.:00:32.

about. They also recognise that frankly, I'll throw Ray needs a

:00:33.:00:40.

solution. The our GPA is 72% of the national average. We can really

:00:41.:00:46.

deliver on the opportunity and potential and raise the productivity

:00:47.:00:51.

of our area have as a whole. An reminder, just had to do list as has

:00:52.:00:54.

been mentioned by so many colleagues in the chamber today, it was an

:00:55.:01:01.

extraordinary event, it is in a way as opposed sometimes some of the

:01:02.:01:04.

most disastrous events, some of the best things emerge. It is true that

:01:05.:01:09.

what happened and the list that they didn't shine a light on the

:01:10.:01:13.

challenge, but the government rather than running away from it, actually

:01:14.:01:17.

said this is something that matters and we will send the money. The

:01:18.:01:23.

government does and 35 million at the time, and I'm member position of

:01:24.:01:29.

saying that this cannot be fixed, and it cannot be done, but it can't

:01:30.:01:35.

and it will be and it will be soon. I think it took about six weeks in

:01:36.:01:41.

the and and it was phenomenal. At its expense, they continue to spend

:01:42.:01:45.

another 6 million sorting out some of the individual problems. Clearly,

:01:46.:01:48.

there's more to be done but if you look at what we have 300 engineers

:01:49.:01:55.

who work solidly and around the clock for months sorting out our

:01:56.:02:00.

railway. They were very ingenious despite what they said, they can do

:02:01.:02:05.

with the idea of 19 sea containers for a sea wall. That was an

:02:06.:02:11.

innovative idea. Annie Jones they had, how are they going to remove

:02:12.:02:17.

it? That became more of a child's of putting it in place. 6000 tonnes of

:02:18.:02:22.

concrete letter. Under 50 times and still later and 25,000 tonnes of

:02:23.:02:28.

that clip that has been mentioned we are now in a very good Brazilian

:02:29.:02:34.

position in that part of the railway which is at duelists. We have

:02:35.:02:40.

repaired the wall and the platform and we have several hundred

:02:41.:02:42.

of new track. More work is ongoing of new track. More work is ongoing

:02:43.:02:46.

and the point about for the link is after Leroy Sane right. More repair

:02:47.:03:00.

and restoration is going on, duelists the point has been made

:03:01.:03:03.

that there is some natural climate change problems. Work is already

:03:04.:03:12.

going on there. The point of this debate, other than same is that, as

:03:13.:03:21.

I said earlier, this is flagged to everyone the need to do more. There

:03:22.:03:28.

is a bigger picture, my boyfriend mentioned, that the task force has

:03:29.:03:32.

been one of the key drivers behind this. It was established to look at

:03:33.:03:37.

a 20 year plan, House of support I think of everybody in the area, that

:03:38.:03:42.

is a great credit at to the area and to how strongly we all feel about

:03:43.:03:48.

getting this right. If we can get this right, is that task force is

:03:49.:04:00.

allowed to complete it stop, and the government commits to its investment

:04:01.:04:02.

in the Southwest and the potentially have a GDA uplift 55 20 million and

:04:03.:04:09.

it is fascinating as an area. I think it has come up behind a 26%

:04:10.:04:13.

over the decades compared to a national increase of 61%, tourism,

:04:14.:04:20.

is already well demonstrated. In 214, there was over 1 billion spent

:04:21.:04:32.

-- 2014. In 2013 there was more spread and the Southwest man in

:04:33.:04:39.

London. Those of you who enjoy travelling and have a look, the

:04:40.:04:45.

Southwest is situated of the third best place to visit, I had of Italy

:04:46.:04:51.

and Denmark. So, the potential is there! And there is a win-win, only

:04:52.:04:55.

for the Southwest but for the government because it would get the

:04:56.:04:58.

productivity up and that is what the chance to want to see above

:04:59.:05:01.

everything. The government is already committed 400 million, we

:05:02.:05:07.

have had 11 individual reports to the ghoulish event, looking at

:05:08.:05:11.

friendly and reliability, looking at faster journey times and

:05:12.:05:20.

insufficient -- sufficient. There are some crucial bits that need to

:05:21.:05:26.

be addressed, clearly, the coastal road has to be a priority. I think

:05:27.:05:30.

everybody agrees with that. Unless you have that running as a forever

:05:31.:05:36.

forever resilient line, shoring up the whole of the Peninsula network,

:05:37.:05:40.

then frankly everything else begins to become secondary. I do have an

:05:41.:05:46.

issue with a challenge who seems to feel that at some point we would all

:05:47.:05:51.

get washed away, I say but as look at British sciences they have been

:05:52.:05:54.

incredibly Brazilian over the years, as indeed those passages playback

:05:55.:06:01.

window when the line broke down and got in another carriage. They

:06:02.:06:05.

continue their journey. We are a resilient nation and this plan will

:06:06.:06:10.

survive. I am sure that the government will ensure that that can

:06:11.:06:14.

happen. Nothing is impossible, you just did a bit of an intelligence

:06:15.:06:22.

and imagination. It is crucial but in the spirit because axing all of

:06:23.:06:28.

our interest in looking at the whole area, the Project for resilience is

:06:29.:06:32.

equally important, Bridgewater and Montana are crucial to get sorted as

:06:33.:06:42.

as the other cities. I thank the Honorable Lady for giving way, and I

:06:43.:06:47.

very much agree with what was done and Dawlish it was right to keep the

:06:48.:06:51.

railway going. We have to use the line from Bristol down through to

:06:52.:06:58.

get a new station and have some Metro trains as well. I know the

:06:59.:07:04.

Honorable member who cannot be here today because of ill health is

:07:05.:07:08.

supporting this as well. I think we need to have a rover plans to bring

:07:09.:07:13.

more trains to the existing tracks and have more station and use our

:07:14.:07:17.

tracks more greater effect than we are at the moment stoplight the

:07:18.:07:22.

Honorable member is right, we only have one spine going down the south

:07:23.:07:25.

of the Peninsula, when need another one going down the north of the

:07:26.:07:32.

Peninsula. We also need like a spiders web of a network, the

:07:33.:07:37.

economy is truly being taken advantage of and the productivity

:07:38.:07:42.

levels to grow we need as my boyfriend says, the smaller stations

:07:43.:07:46.

and the point made earlier, that the smaller stations and thoroughly

:07:47.:07:48.

delightful dualist that they should not become secondary and it would be

:07:49.:07:56.

a disaster. This economy is set to grow, we need those two spinal group

:07:57.:08:01.

and then we need to ensure that we have the connectivity, the spider

:08:02.:08:04.

web that ensures all of our communities can be successful. As

:08:05.:08:07.

rural communities, travel is critical. The third crucial piece is

:08:08.:08:21.

bustard Journal journey time. It would be very good in the Minister

:08:22.:08:27.

can tell us a bit about any cast-offs which we may have in our

:08:28.:08:30.

area just to increase the numbers. That would be very helpful. The

:08:31.:08:34.

points made about electrification are very right, the solution seems

:08:35.:08:39.

to be the way for it but you are right as members have said we need

:08:40.:08:43.

to plan, and know that there is a commitment from government to do

:08:44.:08:47.

more than just one piece because the Southwest its use and does not stop

:08:48.:08:52.

as some people have thought it stopped us and Britain. Finally, we

:08:53.:08:59.

must look at capacity and quality, this issue of the additional routes

:09:00.:09:07.

is crucial, I have 40 concept of the spiders web and this is the heart of

:09:08.:09:15.

getting it right. The geotechnical study is due in April of 2016. That

:09:16.:09:20.

is the one that looks specifically at the Dawlish issue and the sea

:09:21.:09:26.

wall and whether or not there is a need for a Boras and out at sea. I

:09:27.:09:32.

think what it has pleased me is that it has gone ahead and has not

:09:33.:09:37.

suffered any cuts at all. I think the key for the government to come

:09:38.:09:40.

into the findings and give us a chance to work and lobby hard to get

:09:41.:09:44.

the right solution and the government will commit to spending

:09:45.:09:50.

the money that we need, to get the resilient sorted once and for all.

:09:51.:09:58.

The second is his 20 year plan from the task force, that is the second

:09:59.:10:03.

key event for those of us, what we need to see is not only that plan

:10:04.:10:07.

coming forward properly funded and has ordered dimension, but we also

:10:08.:10:11.

need to see that there is some preplanning and place, because while

:10:12.:10:19.

there are a number of years until we get to CP six and 2016, it seems to

:10:20.:10:27.

me that we need the government to began to say that we put the plan in

:10:28.:10:31.

place, this is what we can do, so that we are ready to go and that

:10:32.:10:34.

they have invested the money in that planning phase so that the P6 will

:10:35.:10:44.

be done by 2018, but we have to commence the planning and advanced

:10:45.:10:47.

in it and commit to the resolution of the problem. That would be

:10:48.:10:51.

absolutely brilliant! If we invest in the Southwest, our GPA will go up

:10:52.:11:00.

-- GDA, the security will go up, we will unlock the Marina potential of

:11:01.:11:06.

the area, is already worth 410 million, we will also be able to

:11:07.:11:10.

build on the nuclear potential, the nuclear market is worth 50 billion,

:11:11.:11:18.

we will also be able to take advantage of the aerospace and

:11:19.:11:21.

engineering which is already worth 16 billion and are part of the

:11:22.:11:26.

world. And new data analytics which are based primarily in Exeter and

:11:27.:11:33.

the computer there which gives us the 97 million worth of income and

:11:34.:11:37.

the area. You heard enough about me, the lady from Dawlish. I am asking

:11:38.:11:46.

you for your commitment to the Southwest, to find the funding, and

:11:47.:11:50.

to give us the security that we need and help us deliver the productivity

:11:51.:11:53.

that the Chancellor wants, we want and the country needs! And is a

:11:54.:12:03.

pleasure to follow the honourable lady with a very stirring speech. I

:12:04.:12:08.

thoroughly enjoyed it, can I commend the Honorable member for Torbay and

:12:09.:12:19.

securing this debate. The Great Western Railway is of significant

:12:20.:12:23.

importance to me it is where I and other Welsh colleagues regularly use

:12:24.:12:28.

as our mode of transport up and down the row break. I have done it for

:12:29.:12:32.

the last 15 years, if I am fortunate with the help of the electorate, I

:12:33.:12:38.

may be using it shortly to travel back in that direction for the final

:12:39.:12:42.

time as I head down to the Welsh assembly. All of the fence on the

:12:43.:12:49.

electorate. It is important that the members have said, that's as for

:12:50.:12:52.

politicians coming back and forth to work and represent their

:12:53.:12:55.

constituents but also for the economy of the areas as well. As the

:12:56.:13:00.

Honorable Lady just said, the Great Western Railway, gives us great GPA

:13:01.:13:11.

if we get it right. Could I also think Great Western Railways for

:13:12.:13:15.

getting me here on time almost. I apologise for the honourable

:13:16.:13:17.

gentleman I was a couple minutes late. Part of my journey on the

:13:18.:13:23.

roadway today was done by codes. They did have the codes is run and

:13:24.:13:26.

they managed to deal with the weather and things that we had. They

:13:27.:13:33.

got us here nearly on time. It does bring up the issue, regarding the

:13:34.:13:39.

electrification which is to do with run of the mill of resilience. We

:13:40.:13:44.

have too many parts of our existing Rae stock which are fluctuating in

:13:45.:13:53.

the ability to deliver the timetable that we need. Too often they are

:13:54.:13:57.

shut down, even for short periods of two or three hours and then we have

:13:58.:14:01.

trains backed up in the wrong places and the time stable habits to catch

:14:02.:14:05.

up with where the rolling stock it. No doubt as a result of today will

:14:06.:14:13.

find Great Western Railways lobby sold in to try to catch up with the

:14:14.:14:18.

delays that they have had. I will give way. I'm enjoying his speech,

:14:19.:14:24.

we have the issue of the we have the issue of the

:14:25.:14:29.

cross-country voyages which connect parts of South Wales on the route to

:14:30.:14:33.

Birmingham as well and they were not specified to go with a piece of

:14:34.:14:36.

track that may have a way to go over it. He makes a good point. I hope

:14:37.:14:40.

the points that have been made today will be listened to by the Minister

:14:41.:14:46.

but also by those not only train operating companies put

:14:47.:14:48.

infrastructure companies as well so they can act on some of these things

:14:49.:14:52.

to make it work better for our passengers and matures. The point is

:14:53.:14:56.

already being made by several colleagues on different parts of the

:14:57.:15:00.

floor. How important the spine of the network is for all the branches

:15:01.:15:05.

that flow off of it as well. This is nothing to do with high-speed lanes

:15:06.:15:09.

or electrification, it is well floes off of that. When I travel here from

:15:10.:15:18.

my stake where I live with my family, I'm fortunate that we still

:15:19.:15:24.

have a branch related there. -- rail line. It is a very strong minded

:15:25.:15:31.

leadership and labor authority at the time they fought and they would

:15:32.:15:36.

be damned if they had that was a close. They fought and kept it open.

:15:37.:15:40.

It is amid the success these days. That is Rob from my stake down to

:15:41.:15:48.

Bridgend, and all the way up to another place is a popular route. It

:15:49.:15:52.

is ridiculous that on such a popular routes that as we talk about travel

:15:53.:15:57.

to work areas of the people of my constituency, they travelled to work

:15:58.:16:08.

and other places they need a good reliable... We are very fortunate

:16:09.:16:18.

that we were able to fight to introduce on the mainland, the male

:16:19.:16:22.

nine that we are talking about, the Great Western spine to reintroduce a

:16:23.:16:26.

new station, it is very rare you see that happen nowadays. And Planned

:16:27.:16:33.

Parenthood which is between -- and Planned Parenthood.

:16:34.:16:47.

I will give way and a moment, this lasted over 40 years to residues the

:16:48.:16:55.

station, but the benefit of it, as we have seen 2000 new homes built in

:16:56.:17:01.

that area, possibly another 2000, and, that has become an economic

:17:02.:17:04.

boom to the area, people want to come and live there because it is

:17:05.:17:08.

not just the Great Western spine, and now has a station, the point was

:17:09.:17:12.

well made by Honorable member opposite that would need to make

:17:13.:17:15.

sure that would not bypassed entities when we deliver the

:17:16.:17:19.

electrification and deliver the spine of the mainline, we also need

:17:20.:17:23.

to connect these committees as well. I will give way.

:17:24.:17:35.

Jones played a good hand and it and so did Andrew Davis, they had to

:17:36.:17:44.

economic case but not stack up, and economic case but not stack up, and

:17:45.:17:50.

he had to say that it was back up when they see the phones come in and

:17:51.:17:54.

the new school and everything else. When I travel pass them now and I

:17:55.:17:59.

see in the new station, scores of people every hour of the Vegard

:18:00.:18:04.

commuting for shopping and visiting well assumes all working as well, we

:18:05.:18:08.

need to think more about that as well as longside electrification.

:18:09.:18:16.

The other critical aspect of this in terms of use and the spine, is to

:18:17.:18:22.

make sure that it connects to the South Wales Metro. I say that the

:18:23.:18:29.

liberty it has to be a genuinely Southwest Metro. We have another

:18:30.:18:38.

line that was protected all those years ago, we also have two or three

:18:39.:18:42.

valleys that have no connection to rail links whatsoever. They need

:18:43.:18:48.

somehow to be linked into that man first Great Western mind when it is

:18:49.:18:51.

electrified and delivering faster services. The link may be by good

:18:52.:18:57.

coaches and buses that operate according to the right timetable

:18:58.:19:01.

that arrived for the right connections at the right time of the

:19:02.:19:09.

day. Certainly Bridgend County Council are sitting down with the

:19:10.:19:12.

Welsh Government and things right, let's have a look at how do we join

:19:13.:19:16.

with 20s that do not have the rail networks that link to the Great

:19:17.:19:20.

Western spine at the moment. How did they get to make friends and how do

:19:21.:19:25.

the other lead to the opportunities that they can socialise with friends

:19:26.:19:36.

that they have. I will give way. Much obliged to you, I think that

:19:37.:19:41.

the points you are making are very important, which would step from me

:19:42.:19:44.

that the electrification of the line, by the conservative government

:19:45.:19:48.

is going to give a whole new social mobility to the people of the

:19:49.:19:53.

valleys? Yes, I agree entirely but I will come back in my remarks a

:19:54.:19:58.

little bit further on and I hope he would support me in the necessity to

:19:59.:20:02.

have that delivered on time as originally pledged, and hopefully on

:20:03.:20:12.

budget as well, the critic of this for Newton Abbot mentioned earlier

:20:13.:20:15.

that too many people think that the Southwest said that Bristol, to meet

:20:16.:20:22.

people up here think that South Wales in. That is a brilliant city,

:20:23.:20:24.

please go there and visit them. It was third at the top ten short

:20:25.:20:40.

destinations of the pool of Europe recently. It does not stop at

:20:41.:20:48.

Carter, just be on the line there, is presented, just beyond the line

:20:49.:20:52.

of Bridgend is Swansea. Beyond there is West Wales. One of the points I

:20:53.:21:00.

wanted to make today is to say to the Minister, don't short-change us

:21:01.:21:04.

by the delays that we have heard of. When we talk the benefits, and we

:21:05.:21:10.

were told that this would be delivered to Swansea, not to

:21:11.:21:15.

Bristol, not to Cardiff not to Bridgend, but to Swansea, we wanted

:21:16.:21:18.

it to Swansea because if you look at the development happening there at

:21:19.:21:23.

the moment, the integration of the new university campus, out of

:21:24.:21:27.

Britain very, these are tremendous and tools in the economic crowd and

:21:28.:21:32.

Swansea they need to be joined up. Wales, South Wales does not stop

:21:33.:21:36.

there. It goes way beyond, we need to go and deliver. I'd agree with

:21:37.:21:41.

the prime point that we need to get the electrification there and I hope

:21:42.:21:43.

you'll agree with me that we need to get it there promptly and on time.

:21:44.:21:48.

Not that of the labor that we have thoughts about where we have been

:21:49.:21:51.

told, that is going to be put back into the control period of six, and

:21:52.:21:56.

that people don't know what control period six is, does the 13th 2019 in

:21:57.:22:22.

2024, not of it, around 2018. In effect, Christmas comes late, for

:22:23.:22:25.

the honourable gentleman constituents, for my constituents,

:22:26.:22:28.

we are going to have to read for the Christmas present, that is not good

:22:29.:22:30.

and his constituents are not secondary citizens of this nation,

:22:31.:22:33.

not a mind, let's have it on time. I know he agrees with me and I will

:22:34.:22:36.

give way. He has been generous and has important point here. It would

:22:37.:22:38.

be far better if they started in Swansea as opposed to starting

:22:39.:22:42.

somewhere else, it would be an budget at this time in Swansea and

:22:43.:22:48.

not London. I would be reasonably happy with that, I would probably

:22:49.:22:53.

start from present and work upwards and both directions. But Swansea

:22:54.:22:57.

would be a good second option I have to say. Could I also say in terms of

:22:58.:23:02.

the connectivity of the Great Western well line. What we also need

:23:03.:23:12.

is the necessity of delivering now on the Heathrow link. We need that

:23:13.:23:20.

done, people who travel from south Wales to Jews that Heathrow link,

:23:21.:23:29.

the preposterous nature of -- from wealth to people who use that

:23:30.:23:36.

Heathrow link. It is also those commuters, it is myself as well. I

:23:37.:23:41.

fried from Bristol and Heathrow. -- fly. It should be done quickly, it

:23:42.:23:48.

has been sitting on the plants for years and years. -- plan. We do need

:23:49.:24:00.

to have it on time, and the Welsh government has made clear, as have

:24:01.:24:04.

other parties and Wales as well that they are holding the government to

:24:05.:24:06.

its original commitment of delivering it on time and on budget.

:24:07.:24:12.

But when it is done, what I would ask the Minister is to make sure

:24:13.:24:16.

that there is a full discussion with all the communities on the routes

:24:17.:24:22.

about related infrastructure development that would really

:24:23.:24:25.

benefit those communities and I will give you prime example, a well-known

:24:26.:24:31.

infamous example and my own constituency and a place, the court,

:24:32.:24:39.

where it still has a traditional level crossing. But at the centre of

:24:40.:24:42.

the village, right next to the Cenotaph, right next to the shops.

:24:43.:24:47.

When we march they are, on Remembrance Sunday, we have to time

:24:48.:24:53.

our marches, and ordered to take an account of sometimes the 15 minutes

:24:54.:24:58.

that that level crossing will be closed. That is on the march of

:24:59.:25:01.

Remembrance Sunday. This happens every day of the week. If we have

:25:02.:25:06.

this major investment that will require not only putting in the

:25:07.:25:10.

electrical infrastructure but also heightening bridges and changing

:25:11.:25:14.

major structural issues around the community, then I take to the

:25:15.:25:22.

Minister and would love to meet with her with the town Council and how we

:25:23.:25:27.

can all work together to get rid of that crossing to upgrade the bridge

:25:28.:25:33.

that is only a half a mile or less of the world for that we can get two

:25:34.:25:36.

lanes of traffic and solve the problem that it was caused by these

:25:37.:25:40.

level crossing as well as driving electrification on the way down. And

:25:41.:25:44.

maybe the Minister would like to invite me to come and meet with her,

:25:45.:25:49.

with a small delegation because we think we can bring something to the

:25:50.:25:53.

table and the town council can as well as the county bear and become

:25:54.:25:57.

active for the worker, for those communities as we drive

:25:58.:26:00.

electrification through. My final point would be in terms of the

:26:01.:26:04.

electrification and the point made by the honourable gentleman made who

:26:05.:26:08.

represents them of this was at the end of that main spine of the line,

:26:09.:26:13.

it is not finished there, it goes way beyond that up into West Wales,

:26:14.:26:18.

but it is regarded for the purpose of this project as with the

:26:19.:26:21.

government originally said that they would deliver a notification as

:26:22.:26:28.

well. My hybrid not have to use not variations, but on time. Regardless

:26:29.:26:31.

of that, at the moment what we have been told is because of the delay,

:26:32.:26:36.

at the moment we have no clear cost, the costing to my knowledge has not

:26:37.:26:41.

been done. We have no clear started, and in that case, we no certainty,

:26:42.:26:46.

my worry is that this will drift, I would like to hear from the Minister

:26:47.:26:49.

today the more clarity, I would love for her to stay here with and that

:26:50.:26:55.

time it will start. Here is the we will deliver the full cost thinks,

:26:56.:26:59.

so that we have a little bit more certainty that even though it is

:27:00.:27:02.

drifting, it is not drift into the back of beyond. A great project, I

:27:03.:27:06.

was on the members of the Southwest and committee member from North

:27:07.:27:11.

Devon opposite, we always look at each other, both the glorious

:27:12.:27:18.

coastlines across, I wish you all well and your aspirations for your

:27:19.:27:23.

areas, but for my area, when the electrification on time, we needed

:27:24.:27:26.

on button so that we can link up all the other things that we have been

:27:27.:27:31.

talking about into a really cohesive transporting infrastructure for soft

:27:32.:27:32.

Wales and onto West. . Before I called ineffable member

:27:33.:27:42.

then something strange going on, each of the last three people who

:27:43.:27:46.

have spoken in this chamber have used the word, you and a reference

:27:47.:27:51.

to other people. Not just one person, but everyone is doing it. I

:27:52.:27:59.

have been reluctant to intervene, and I try not to, but after three

:28:00.:28:03.

times I have to point it out to the chamber. When the word you is used,

:28:04.:28:10.

it means the chair and if you're asking the Minnesota do something,

:28:11.:28:11.

you ask the I will try very hard to take notice

:28:12.:28:25.

of it and if I do make a mistake, then I hope that you might forgive

:28:26.:28:28.

me. I think you very much for calling me to this debate. May I

:28:29.:28:32.

also congratulate my honourable friend as well who has been able to

:28:33.:28:40.

get this debate as well. He has something more important than I do,

:28:41.:28:43.

because I have been trying for five years to get a debate on the future

:28:44.:28:49.

of the railway. He quite obviously has something which is more of

:28:50.:28:54.

Loring actually delivered. I'd very much hope that during the course of

:28:55.:29:03.

my speech I won't get accused... Last week was the unwelcome second

:29:04.:29:12.

anniversary, as my honourable friend has Artie pointed out, of the

:29:13.:29:19.

Dawlish being swept in to see that was rightly a huge wake-up call to

:29:20.:29:23.

the government into abuzz and the Southwest region. . What is

:29:24.:29:27.

interesting is that we all collectively worked together to make

:29:28.:29:33.

one cause to make sure that the government understands the

:29:34.:29:36.

importance of this issue. That is one thing, if I may say so, is

:29:37.:29:42.

making sure that we have one voice as we have during the course of this

:29:43.:29:47.

evening as well. We all need to look at what happened today would be

:29:48.:29:54.

frail was mind -- rail wave line was delayed due to a appalling weather

:29:55.:30:00.

and trees that fell off. It demonstrates clearly as to how

:30:01.:30:06.

fragile our railway line is as well. As the chairman of the eight PPG for

:30:07.:30:15.

dependents of the rail, I see that members are fighting for better

:30:16.:30:18.

links to our region. That is something that I campaign for in

:30:19.:30:22.

this house over the last 15 years, and that she conservative's

:30:23.:30:29.

candidate. Yes. I think my honourable friend for giving way. It

:30:30.:30:33.

is about resilience into the West country because we do have the Great

:30:34.:30:42.

Western Railway, the rail line, with boots. And bring back the trams. To

:30:43.:30:49.

carry on from Exeter down to Cornwall with the second line. It is

:30:50.:30:54.

right to keep the top -- tautness line. We have got to have that

:30:55.:31:01.

second line so that we have up resilience so that when we do see

:31:02.:31:07.

more bad weather we will get that my block. We will be able to have a

:31:08.:31:11.

second group into Cornwall. My honourable friend is 100% right. We

:31:12.:31:15.

need to make sure that we have the effect of mine. Was it that happens

:31:16.:31:18.

to go through as my personal preference would be to go through --

:31:19.:31:26.

I would be ideal. We need to make sure that there is going to be one

:31:27.:31:32.

that goes through those cities purely because we have got to make

:31:33.:31:36.

sure that there is a decent capacity and me can put straight on that line

:31:37.:31:41.

as well. Two years ago, as my honourable friend says, the line at

:31:42.:31:48.

Dawlish was washed away. For the next six weeks there were no trains

:31:49.:31:58.

to Western Dawlish. Having lost our airport and trends, the only way

:31:59.:32:02.

that anyone from clinic could get to London and the Midlands was via the

:32:03.:32:10.

partially dueled lines which are the only single dual carriage way. I

:32:11.:32:15.

welcome the government's commitment to doing BA 303 the whole there. I

:32:16.:32:22.

think along with my honourable friend would like to see it go

:32:23.:32:29.

through Black hand-helds. That would... The Prime

:32:30.:32:40.

That they are actually going to try and make full use of that. It is not

:32:41.:32:48.

going to be crazy. The Prime Minister is persistence ensures that

:32:49.:32:54.

the Army worked tirelessly to 60 line through 2014 which just the

:32:55.:33:00.

start of the tourist season. At this time last year my right honourable

:33:01.:33:04.

friend, the prime minister, met with my honourable friend and warmly

:33:05.:33:13.

supported the setting up of the rail task force to undertake the rail

:33:14.:33:16.

task force to undertake research into what needs to deliver this

:33:17.:33:21.

resilient railway line. Madam Deputy Speaker, while I understand that

:33:22.:33:27.

progress has been made, I was dismayed to learn that two weeks ago

:33:28.:33:30.

network rather not have the money to deliver for it the research into

:33:31.:33:37.

journey times. I hope that my honourable friend later on this

:33:38.:33:39.

evening will be able to help me as far as that is concerned and make

:33:40.:33:43.

sure that this has happened. Last Monday, nearly all might fellow

:33:44.:33:48.

Devon and Cornwall MPs met with the counsellor were be laid out our

:33:49.:33:54.

concerns. We were -- there was a promise that we could deliver a

:33:55.:33:59.

decent railway line to and from the West country and we can improve

:34:00.:34:04.

transport links as well. I am grateful that my right honourable

:34:05.:34:07.

friend the Chancellor met us with such short notice and we understand

:34:08.:34:12.

what our peninsular needs are. On Tuesday, we went to micromanage our

:34:13.:34:23.

founding rail minister, who was also a Southwest member of Parliament.

:34:24.:34:27.

She told us that she would do everything she could do find that

:34:28.:34:32.

?300,000 for this work. I am delighted that I hope she's going to

:34:33.:34:38.

find that for us. Let me remind my honourable friend when we implement

:34:39.:34:42.

in the far west actually want. She may be bored with hearing this, but

:34:43.:34:47.

I have been hearing this now for the past five years to let me turn on

:34:48.:34:51.

one more time. We want more three-hour train journey from London

:34:52.:34:55.

to plummet and vice versa. We want trains getting into Plymouth from

:34:56.:34:59.

London before nine o'clock in the morning so that businesspeople can

:35:00.:35:03.

get a full days work in Plymouth. We are the largest urgent -- urban

:35:04.:35:13.

economy shed an -- urban. It is important that we are used as an

:35:14.:35:18.

economic motor to deliver that significant level that my right

:35:19.:35:25.

honourable friend talked about. Never again must Plymouth and the

:35:26.:35:29.

far west the cut off from the rest of the United Kingdom. I am

:35:30.:35:41.

delighted that the government... Came down to Plymouth to announce

:35:42.:35:46.

it. The government announced that before the general election we would

:35:47.:35:50.

be getting the new high-speed photography eight T 200 trains and

:35:51.:35:56.

2018. That is a positive piece of news. I am somewhat concerned

:35:57.:36:01.

because of the delay in the electrification, and my honourable

:36:02.:36:11.

friend might be willing to. What we need to make sure behalf is more

:36:12.:36:15.

three-hour train journeys from plummet to London and vice versa,

:36:16.:36:19.

and I said make sure that we have trains getting in before nine

:36:20.:36:27.

o'clock. -- Plymouth. We also need additional mind to the Dawlish so

:36:28.:36:34.

that the Far West will not be cut off again. A significant part in our

:36:35.:36:41.

economy, but only if we have a decent transport system and, a

:36:42.:36:46.

decent skills based as well. That is something that we. My honourable

:36:47.:36:53.

friend the Member for more of you also knows this. We

:36:54.:36:59.

and 2020, an important issue is going to take place in Devon. We

:37:00.:37:09.

will be commemorating the Mayflower and leaving the city in 1622 found

:37:10.:37:17.

the American colonies. To make this, we people need to be able to get to

:37:18.:37:22.

put to see for that great ships built from. Just because the

:37:23.:37:26.

opposition think that they are going to... I would just remind the Labour

:37:27.:37:34.

Party that they have not got a particularly good record in

:37:35.:37:38.

delivering. They announced that they would cancel during the manifesto

:37:39.:37:47.

which would move the bottom to Stonehenge. Finally Madam Deputy

:37:48.:37:57.

Speaker, without the Southwest this conservative government would not

:37:58.:38:01.

have an overall majority. We feel we have done our bit to ensure we have

:38:02.:38:06.

a conservative government which I am delightful to actually support. Can

:38:07.:38:10.

you please help us to help deliver for you? Thank you Madam Deputy

:38:11.:38:26.

Speaker. Can I start also by congratulating the Member for

:38:27.:38:33.

securing this debate. Did I say to the honourable member office said

:38:34.:38:36.

that he mentioned that he might well be departing for pastures new, can I

:38:37.:38:41.

indulge in the House saying a pleasure but it has been to serve

:38:42.:38:45.

under your chairmanship of the environmental audit committee which

:38:46.:38:47.

has been my first experience of a select committee, and it has been

:38:48.:38:55.

actually fruitful. We will miss you. -- missed the honourable gentleman.

:38:56.:39:02.

I think I got away but the! Madam Deputy Speaker, I like many members

:39:03.:39:07.

here on all sides of the House and a regular news search of the Great

:39:08.:39:10.

Western Railway mainline. I travelled up this morning and as

:39:11.:39:17.

other members have said it was a journey with some considerable

:39:18.:39:21.

delays. I would pay tribute to the train staff on GW are who kept us

:39:22.:39:29.

all the time informed and advised as to what was happening. They operate

:39:30.:39:36.

on days like this. Under extremely difficult conditions. It can only be

:39:37.:39:41.

a challenge for them to deal with a lot of passengers who want to know

:39:42.:39:44.

why they aren't and how are they getting in. I have to say that they

:39:45.:39:49.

performed an an exemplary fashion this morning and kept us all advise

:39:50.:39:52.

although we were an hour late getting into Paddington. That was

:39:53.:39:58.

fine. I pick of the points that another honourable member has made

:39:59.:40:03.

that the broadband would be gratefully perceived to be slightly

:40:04.:40:09.

improved in its performance. It is a very valuable time on the train to

:40:10.:40:14.

work. I had an unexpected extra hour to work on the train this morning,

:40:15.:40:20.

and although the broadband works after a fashion, it is slightly

:40:21.:40:26.

tacky. I will make my further comment, I think the Member for

:40:27.:40:29.

Exeter made a point to say when he travels in the quiet carriage. That

:40:30.:40:34.

is the one I choose, but I have to say never has a noun been more

:40:35.:40:38.

misplaced than the quiet carriage occasionally because it is certainly

:40:39.:40:42.

not always quiet. It is a place where we do work. It is a place

:40:43.:40:49.

where we -- that is absolutely vital for people who need to do work on

:40:50.:40:54.

their journey from the Southwest to London and elsewhere. Will he give

:40:55.:41:01.

Wade? This has been Jude suggested before. In my experience if one

:41:02.:41:06.

politely asks someone who is making noise in the quiet carriage to

:41:07.:41:09.

desist or move they do so. It is a great example of the British self

:41:10.:41:14.

policing and I would recommend he try to if he has not already done

:41:15.:41:23.

so. I am a shrunken violent and I would never do such a thing. And I

:41:24.:41:27.

would never do such a thing I take his point. The vital reason for this

:41:28.:41:34.

railing to the Southwest has to be stressed again and again. It is our

:41:35.:41:41.

only major rail artery, and it is extraordinarily important because of

:41:42.:41:43.

one other aspect which has been touched upon by other members. That

:41:44.:41:48.

is that not only is that a fragile rail link to the Southwest, but of

:41:49.:41:53.

course it compliments what is by any definition also a fragile series of

:41:54.:42:00.

road links to the Southwest as well. The M5 or the 8303, you pay your

:42:01.:42:06.

money and take your choice. There are times when they can both be,

:42:07.:42:11.

Franca, not helpful to the travelling public. That is why it is

:42:12.:42:15.

vitally important white meanie to have the resilience on the Southwest

:42:16.:42:20.

rail line which so many members and honourable members on both sides of

:42:21.:42:23.

the House have mentioned is important. Of course I will give

:42:24.:42:30.

Wade. As well as resilience we have to get the network working smarter.

:42:31.:42:34.

For example, there is a great train robbery which takes place every day

:42:35.:42:38.

for my constituents who are robbed the 15 minutes of their lives

:42:39.:42:42.

because the train from London meets the mainline, parks and Gloucester,

:42:43.:42:45.

was the driver gets out from one end of the training, gets in the other

:42:46.:42:49.

end, before the trend and rejoicing in mind and goes to the other and,

:42:50.:42:52.

before the change rejoins the mainline Ngosso Tottenham.

:42:53.:42:55.

My honourable friend makes a good point. I am not aware of the

:42:56.:43:02.

jiggery-pokery that he mentions, but it sounds like an extraordinary

:43:03.:43:07.

choreography that goes on on a regular basis. I was mentioning that

:43:08.:43:15.

the difficulty that we have just put links as a whole. That is what the

:43:16.:43:19.

resilience of the self is related is vitally important. I want to talk

:43:20.:43:25.

also about the fate that has been used by some other colleagues, and

:43:26.:43:29.

that is that of the spider's Web that we need in order to ensure that

:43:30.:43:35.

we have a very good in a widespread and well serviced across the

:43:36.:43:39.

Southwest. It is not just that spine, but the ribs coming off of it

:43:40.:43:43.

to stretch the analogy to its breaking point. I am bound to

:43:44.:43:50.

mention the vital rail link that we have in North Devon. It connects

:43:51.:43:58.

Exeter with Barnstable. It has survived cuts, a great deal of

:43:59.:44:03.

problems over the years including flooding and underused, and it has

:44:04.:44:10.

turned the corner. We are now in a position where the Exeter to

:44:11.:44:16.

Barnstable root is going almost exponential -- exponentially. It

:44:17.:44:23.

used to be the fact that it was primarily used during the summer

:44:24.:44:27.

months, and indeed it is still signposted at some point along the

:44:28.:44:32.

mind with road signs of the Brown to Torres Friday which gives the

:44:33.:44:37.

impression of it being a quaint slime which it is not. It is a vital

:44:38.:44:43.

artery, and if we can improve it we will improve the economic vitality

:44:44.:44:50.

of North Devon. I was delighted when just three weeks ago the chairman of

:44:51.:44:55.

the rail Association, which is a group that does fantastic work to

:44:56.:45:01.

promote that line to operate it in a way which has really driven this

:45:02.:45:08.

advance and use of the line for that I was able to arrange for he and

:45:09.:45:12.

myself to meet the honourable member the rail minister and me had eight

:45:13.:45:16.

extreme and productive meeting at which tree to stop the Mac discussed

:45:17.:45:20.

the importance of the North Devon mainline. I hope my honourable

:45:21.:45:28.

friend might refer to that in her comments at the end. These rigs are

:45:29.:45:32.

the spines are absolutely vital if we are to ensure that we have a rail

:45:33.:45:38.

service which is of use to the maximum number of people and the

:45:39.:45:43.

Southwest. Particularly in North Devon, it is important because of

:45:44.:45:44.

tourism. Will my I does represent a Southwest

:45:45.:46:00.

constituency. I was at Exeter University and I regularly visit

:46:01.:46:03.

North Devon. I concur but the point that he is making about the

:46:04.:46:07.

Barnstable line. One of the key thing that I think that it means is

:46:08.:46:14.

a single carriage train that is woefully inadequate, I hope that he

:46:15.:46:18.

will find the Greek Western franchise comes up in a few years'

:46:19.:46:21.

time that proper consideration will be given to procuring that for that

:46:22.:46:29.

line. -- great Western. My honourable friend makes a good

:46:30.:46:36.

point. The question of the rolling stock is absolutely key. It has, I'm

:46:37.:46:44.

afraid, then the left to decay to the point that not it is only just

:46:45.:46:50.

to fit for purpose. I held a significant number of meeting with

:46:51.:46:55.

the operators of GW are, and with Network Rail, and with the rail

:46:56.:47:00.

Association, and we have discussed at length the importance of getting

:47:01.:47:03.

significant new rolling stock. I am delighted to say that we do appear

:47:04.:47:07.

not to have reached a position where there is going to be a cascade, the

:47:08.:47:12.

word that I use, of rolling stock that. I would rather not use the

:47:13.:47:17.

phrase that was used earlier. I want to be more positive than that! Would

:47:18.:47:22.

have to get a cascade of 21st-century rolling stock. I'd very

:47:23.:47:32.

much welcome that. May I just take this opportunity to the honourable

:47:33.:47:35.

gentleman to stress the importance of access for people with wheelchair

:47:36.:47:41.

disabilities that they are in a wheelchair. Particularly, a friend

:47:42.:47:49.

of mine from the bridge and -- Bridgend. Two people travelling

:47:50.:47:57.

together have to be split, and it would be great to look at the new

:47:58.:48:00.

railing stock and the ability to do different variations. I have

:48:01.:48:07.

travelled on the North Devon line between Barnstable and Exeter quite

:48:08.:48:11.

often there is no room at all for a single person using a wheelchair.

:48:12.:48:17.

That is one reason why we do need to get this new rolling stock cascaded

:48:18.:48:22.

to us as soon as we possibly can. The many reasons. But me turn now

:48:23.:48:26.

that away from the specifics of the Devon line to the great western,

:48:27.:48:33.

mainline. It is a vital artery for the stop us. We have talked a lot

:48:34.:48:37.

about the resilience of that line. This is the key. It is absolutely

:48:38.:48:45.

the case that we rely on that rail, that single rail line, to provide us

:48:46.:48:49.

with a transport artery to the Southwest. One the happy event such

:48:50.:48:56.

as happened at Dawlish the effects are devastating. Even though people

:48:57.:49:00.

are coming to North Devon they would jump off the line before Dawlish,

:49:01.:49:05.

usually at Tiverton Parkway. The fact is that when you have the sort

:49:06.:49:08.

of event that happens at Dawlish, the whole of the Southwest and all

:49:09.:49:13.

of the constituency represented by honourable members here are affected

:49:14.:49:19.

by such an incident. We do need to make sure that we have the

:49:20.:49:24.

resilience of that line so not for the future, not only will that will

:49:25.:49:30.

bet difficulties at Dawlish BC to any member for Exeter. The clips are

:49:31.:49:38.

as much of a problem on that side of the mind as the coastal side. --

:49:39.:49:46.

Cliffs. We need to have that scene too. We also need to consider the

:49:47.:49:53.

thought of this second mind. -- Wine. We'll open up a northern court

:49:54.:50:03.

order and that will be vital. The flooding issue is also obviously of

:50:04.:50:08.

significance. As I came up on the train this morning to the Somerset

:50:09.:50:14.

levels, you can see how close it is to the rail line at some point. We

:50:15.:50:20.

do need to look at that. Then the electrification. I absolutely agree

:50:21.:50:24.

with Matt and Barker are members and honourable members that we need to

:50:25.:50:28.

speed up the process of electrification. I am delighted that

:50:29.:50:33.

it is going through to South Wales or is planned to, we need to ensure

:50:34.:50:37.

that we get that done to the Southwest. My concern is that if we

:50:38.:50:45.

get no significant movement on this until control period six starting in

:50:46.:50:51.

2019, we started to be pushed back to the end of the cue. I am hoping

:50:52.:50:57.

that the Minister can give us some positive news. Providing near sure

:50:58.:51:08.

-- reassurance. Regarding these two vital reports, feasibility studies,

:51:09.:51:14.

which need to be done into the resilience and the electrification

:51:15.:51:18.

of the mine. Without understanding or going into the dues and don'ts

:51:19.:51:23.

and who said what, or where the money was coming from, or whether it

:51:24.:51:28.

was cut from point a or Plan B, the fact is we need a relatively small

:51:29.:51:34.

amount of money to have these points undertaken. We really need those to

:51:35.:51:39.

be done. I would hope that when the Minister gets to her feet at the end

:51:40.:51:43.

of this evening's debate, she will have some positive news. You cannot

:51:44.:51:52.

stress too much how important it is have those studies done. I also want

:51:53.:51:56.

to briefly conclude and mention the Peninsula where all task force. And

:51:57.:52:02.

the excellent work that that organisation has done. I commend

:52:03.:52:07.

them and their 20 year plan is one that bears reading and taking

:52:08.:52:11.

seriously, because it does have a vision for the way that we could in

:52:12.:52:15.

the Southwest have the sort of real mind that we deserve. I conclude by

:52:16.:52:22.

saying this, Madam Deputy Speaker, as is mentioned during the election

:52:23.:52:25.

and the prime minister and the chancellor came down to the

:52:26.:52:28.

Southwest on a number of occasions. They came to my constituency to

:52:29.:52:34.

soften, indicates that the Chancellor, and announcements for

:52:35.:52:43.

weight. -- announcements were made. I feel sure and I am confident that

:52:44.:52:47.

when the rail minister gets to her feet she will be able to give us the

:52:48.:52:51.

reassurance that those promises that were made will be delivered. It is

:52:52.:52:56.

vitally important for all of us in the Southwest for North Devon and

:52:57.:53:00.

the wider Southwest that we have a resilient, fast, and efficient rail

:53:01.:53:10.

service. Thank you. I am sigh that I have to miss part of the debate. I

:53:11.:53:15.

was reversing with the Parliament choir, and I was trying very hard to

:53:16.:53:22.

beat in two places at once. I'd really welcome this debate. I note

:53:23.:53:25.

that because I have reported about the speeches that have happened

:53:26.:53:30.

already that the focus of the debate today has not included the issue of

:53:31.:53:36.

the commuters service which is provided on the great Western

:53:37.:53:40.

Railway. I want to urge the Minister to end her summing up her spot on

:53:41.:53:44.

the issues relating to those who commute using routes of the Great

:53:45.:53:51.

Western Railway. If you look at passengers and excessive capacity on

:53:52.:53:56.

a typical autumn weekday, but operator, the first great western

:53:57.:54:05.

exceeds all other companies and passengers in excess of capacity.

:54:06.:54:11.

That is because not of the long distance services because of the key

:54:12.:54:16.

meeting services that are provided on miserably. They are chronically

:54:17.:54:22.

overcrowded on an average day. There are something like a thousand people

:54:23.:54:29.

in excessive capacity in the three top most overcrowded trains on this

:54:30.:54:36.

rail line. We have 30% of the top ten most overcrowded trains are on

:54:37.:54:40.

the great western mainline. There is a real problem. I am too often been

:54:41.:54:45.

and one of these chains where of my nose pressed into the armpit of

:54:46.:54:49.

someone whose name I don't know. Frankly, I find that offensive! We

:54:50.:54:57.

have standards for carrying animals around on lorries, and we do not

:54:58.:55:02.

have standards for carrying humans around on trains. The Kuwait Western

:55:03.:55:09.

commuter rail service -- great Western, is quite disgusting for

:55:10.:55:13.

passengers. I think we really have got to do more than adopting a few

:55:14.:55:19.

carriages which used to feed people. We have given not up. An order to

:55:20.:55:24.

put a few more seats in. We actually need to do more to actually provide

:55:25.:55:30.

sufficient stock for the commuter service on this railway to serve the

:55:31.:55:39.

people who depend on it. The Thames Valley is the most productive region

:55:40.:55:44.

of our country. It makes more profit per worker than any other part of

:55:45.:55:49.

Britain. We need to make sure that those people can get about. My

:55:50.:55:54.

constituency, and I often say this in his house and I am sure members

:55:55.:55:57.

are bored about it, has more European headquarters of

:55:58.:56:05.

multinational had gas companies than all the other coaches put together.

:56:06.:56:10.

The reason is because Slough is easy to get to. It is very easy to get

:56:11.:56:15.

from Slough to Heathrow to London to the West country, up the a 42

:56:16.:56:27.

Birmingham. It is a very well-connected town. That is why we

:56:28.:56:33.

draw investment into Britain successfully. I am not competing

:56:34.:56:38.

with other towns in England and Wales, and Scotland, and Northern

:56:39.:56:42.

Ireland, Slough tends to be competing with other cities in

:56:43.:56:46.

Europe. When I talk to those companies about what issues impact

:56:47.:56:53.

on their profitability, one of the things that they say back to me is

:56:54.:56:58.

we want to be confident that Heathrow has a secure future and we

:56:59.:57:03.

want to be able to get to it. The best way to do that is actually by

:57:04.:57:15.

rail. I persuaded the predecessor to do some research over ten years ago

:57:16.:57:20.

on what companies and the Thames Valley were spending on taxes to

:57:21.:57:26.

Heathrow. At that .10 years ago, it was ?10 million a year. On taxis to

:57:27.:57:35.

Heathrow. If that money was spent not on taxis to Heathrow on the

:57:36.:57:39.

already excessively congested and four, but was actually being used to

:57:40.:57:46.

use a train service and to Heathrow, those companies would have a more

:57:47.:57:52.

dependable journey not depending on what is happening at the moment

:57:53.:57:58.

around Junction five, six, or seven. Not overcrowded on the M4. I know

:57:59.:58:04.

that we are going to get smart motorways, but it is a hard shoulder

:58:05.:58:08.

running. If there is an accident it takes longer to get around it. We

:58:09.:58:20.

have real problems using this route. I get a feeling about the way that

:58:21.:58:25.

the Department of transport routes that it really can only do one thing

:58:26.:58:30.

at a time. It looks down a little tunnels think this is my project at

:58:31.:58:36.

the moment. Their project at the moment is to create a train part for

:58:37.:58:40.

the Heathrow express which I would rather not have. Actually, it seems

:58:41.:58:44.

to me, and the Minister has been very helpful about some of these

:58:45.:58:49.

issues, but it does seem to me that the failure to put fort -- someone's

:58:50.:58:55.

foot on the accelerator of Western rail axes to Heathrow is truly

:58:56.:59:02.

foolish. It is not visible is in terms of this bit of railway, it is

:59:03.:59:06.

foolish in terms of our national economy. If it had as much energy

:59:07.:59:13.

behind it as some of the other rail projects it would be significant and

:59:14.:59:18.

attracting inward investment to Britain. At the moment, we are

:59:19.:59:22.

failing to attract inward investment. We are failing to create

:59:23.:59:26.

the jobs which would inevitably follow from better connectivity for

:59:27.:59:32.

Heathrow. Because nobody is pushing this forward. I was concerned that

:59:33.:59:35.

we were not going to get by 2018 which was the first time you're out

:59:36.:59:41.

of Western rail access. Then it was pushed back further to 2020, now it

:59:42.:59:47.

looks as though it might be 2023 were 2024. I suspect that this

:59:48.:59:52.

project is not going to be completed until we have got the runway. We

:59:53.:59:56.

needed before we have an additional runway. We know that. I would the

:59:57.:00:04.

Minister to set someone, one of her nice tonal vintage Doctor vision

:00:05.:00:08.

civil servants, to make their tunnel vision Western rail access to

:00:09.:00:13.

Heathrow. I promise that companies in this country are desperate for

:00:14.:00:18.

it. They will back it. If she needs a bit of private investment, I had a

:00:19.:00:23.

meeting some years ago with officials and her department and one

:00:24.:00:26.

of the official said we are spending blah million, I cannot remember how

:00:27.:00:33.

many per month on the airport. I was looking about the companies who came

:00:34.:00:36.

with me who were spending that much per month themselves on their own

:00:37.:00:44.

companies's development. Frankly, the time has come to make sure that

:00:45.:00:48.

Western rail access to Heathrow... Edessa E complement the

:00:49.:00:55.

there are not things that would make it later. This minister who I admire

:00:56.:01:09.

would forever be at my glory box if she would make sure that somebody

:01:10.:01:13.

puts the accelerator under this project. At the moment, her

:01:14.:01:19.

department is frankly failing it. They are letting down the Thames

:01:20.:01:21.

Valley and the whole of the South Eastern economy as it.

:01:22.:01:29.

Is There no need for a time limit in this debate, there is plenty of

:01:30.:01:37.

time, but speeches and interventions tend to expand when we have that

:01:38.:01:40.

amount of time. So I advise that it would be helpful if members were to

:01:41.:01:46.

now take around 12 or 13 minutes, which is a long time.

:01:47.:01:53.

Think you very much. You will be delighted to know that my speech

:01:54.:02:03.

will be very brief. Thank you to my right honourable friend for securing

:02:04.:02:12.

this debate and I think it is important at this stage to say what

:02:13.:02:20.

difference I can add to this debate rather than saying what has already

:02:21.:02:27.

been said. I will disappoint my father, I am no railway engineer. He

:02:28.:02:32.

dragged me around that lost art of Trainspotting when I was a young man

:02:33.:02:39.

and it never really caught on. But I want to talk about why this is

:02:40.:02:43.

important for my city of Clements and why we need to get this right as

:02:44.:02:48.

a government. To deliver for that part of the world. I will echo the

:02:49.:02:53.

comments of my honourable friend and say we need a remarkable service a

:02:54.:03:00.

lot of the time. -- we have a remarkable service. There are a lot

:03:01.:03:04.

of challenges. But when we have instances of severe weather we must

:03:05.:03:07.

rise to that challenge, but not the same time to grade everything we

:03:08.:03:11.

have already done, which I think does a disservice. Almost two years

:03:12.:03:19.

ago, the door and its rail disaster happened and the railway fell into

:03:20.:03:24.

the sea, cutting off my city of Clements. As has been alluded to

:03:25.:03:29.

already. This idea that the government has done nothing since

:03:30.:03:35.

then, I am afraid that is stacked up with the myths that are increasingly

:03:36.:03:39.

piling up in my office from the opposition. ?17 million of money has

:03:40.:03:44.

been invested to keep that railway open and in general resilience to

:03:45.:03:50.

the southwest in the last two years. That has been a significant amount

:03:51.:03:57.

of money. We have that resilience at Dornbusch, it faces challenging

:03:58.:03:59.

weather but I am afraid the weather may be something a little bit too

:04:00.:04:07.

far to try and control. I would also urge the government in its duty of

:04:08.:04:13.

delivering this to not heed the rather divisive words and tones of

:04:14.:04:18.

those who would seek to only further their own personal agenda while

:04:19.:04:22.

leading this rail debate. Many of us in the Southwest do actually feel

:04:23.:04:26.

that we have had that investment to a point, but we now need to go to

:04:27.:04:31.

the next level. I would like to briefly explain why that is

:04:32.:04:38.

important. Like I said, I am no railway engineer but I am and

:04:39.:04:42.

extremely mediocre politician and that gives you the opportunity to

:04:43.:04:47.

knock on people pause back doors and hear what is important to them

:04:48.:04:54.

implement. Often, it is a question of why it is that despite our

:04:55.:04:57.

history in Plymouth, our astonishing spirit that is seen as making the

:04:58.:05:05.

largest contribution to this country's defence in material and

:05:06.:05:11.

men. And reviving ourselves after a devastating blitz after the war, why

:05:12.:05:16.

do we still have in our city the most deprived communities in the

:05:17.:05:19.

United Kingdom? The reasons are many and far too varied for this debate

:05:20.:05:23.

but the answers are part of this debate. We must address the life

:05:24.:05:28.

chances that we give the people appointment. If you were to cross a

:05:29.:05:32.

particular porridge and Plymouth on the way home, your average life

:05:33.:05:37.

expectancy would drop seven and a half years. That is seven and a half

:05:38.:05:43.

years and my city. We must start to fight our way out of the state

:05:44.:05:47.

dependency that has dominated our city since the 1980s when Plymouth

:05:48.:05:55.

citizens worked at the docks. As society changes, we as a city have

:05:56.:05:59.

changed with it. This central economy based around the docks has

:06:00.:06:04.

given way to write and positive city that has become a hub for small

:06:05.:06:09.

businesses and startups, with an astonishing 48% drop in unemployment

:06:10.:06:14.

in the last Parliament. We have two world-class universities but they

:06:15.:06:20.

are furthest from the airport in the entire United Kingdom. One is ranked

:06:21.:06:26.

first in this country or social mobility, something that is really

:06:27.:06:30.

important implement. We as a government must do everything we can

:06:31.:06:34.

to assist their onward development with that. I thank the honourable

:06:35.:06:41.

member for giving way. He is making powerful points that are relevant to

:06:42.:06:50.

my constituency as well. But what makes this debate so important,

:06:51.:06:54.

particularly with the comments from the member from Slough is the need

:06:55.:06:58.

to get Western access, that acts as a selfless ski Airlink. He is

:06:59.:07:07.

absolutely right. At the heart of this is about developing

:07:08.:07:10.

opportunities, about bringing skilled employment Stooke places

:07:11.:07:14.

that are outside of London and our communities that have been deprived

:07:15.:07:20.

for so long. The challenge of modern Britain in a way that only they can

:07:21.:07:27.

with a spirit that makes us so proud to call Plymouth Tower home, but we

:07:28.:07:31.

as a government must do a part in this survival and seek out this

:07:32.:07:37.

issue that will feel us onward towards a better more prosperous and

:07:38.:07:42.

more healthy Plymouth. The most rewarding, effective, highest payoff

:07:43.:07:45.

target that this government can get right in the next five years is this

:07:46.:07:52.

railway. The jobs, opportunities for our young people, the skill

:07:53.:07:54.

manufacturing opportunities, they will only come with a transport link

:07:55.:07:59.

that is resilient, fast, and the fitting of the 21st century Britain.

:08:00.:08:05.

It is the Titanic issue for the Parma in the Southwest. --

:08:06.:08:10.

Parliament. I will conclude by saying in the last election, with

:08:11.:08:15.

moldy and showed their true colours and elected for the first time three

:08:16.:08:18.

conservative members of Parliament in that city. They want aspirations,

:08:19.:08:26.

life chances, we need to do everything we can as a government to

:08:27.:08:30.

enable that and provide the latter and bring my city forward into the

:08:31.:08:36.

potential that all of us know it so clearly has and this rail link is

:08:37.:08:41.

that issued that will feel that to the greatest effect. It is a

:08:42.:08:51.

pleasure to follow my honourable and gallium front. -- Gallant. Thank you

:08:52.:08:57.

for bringing this debate to the front. I would like to talk for a

:08:58.:09:01.

few moments about my experience with Great Western Railway and how

:09:02.:09:05.

beneficial it has been. I have not been a huge user of the railways

:09:06.:09:08.

previously, I have not travelled that much to London, from North,

:09:09.:09:14.

walk, but I use it commonly now. -- Cornwall. The best part of my week

:09:15.:09:23.

as my honourable friend and mentioned earlier on, getting back

:09:24.:09:27.

on the train from Paddington. When I use the sleeper drain I would urge

:09:28.:09:32.

my friend to use it as well, there is nothing better than leaving

:09:33.:09:36.

London at midnight and waking up in God's country in the Southwest at

:09:37.:09:41.

six o'clock to go back to work on Friday morning so yes, I urge them

:09:42.:09:43.

to use that service. It is excellent. I represent a

:09:44.:09:51.

constituency that is barren in terms of its railways. North Cornwall does

:09:52.:09:56.

not have any branch railway links, the Southwest saw a huge reduction

:09:57.:10:06.

under beaching cuts and stations, which originally served the Great

:10:07.:10:09.

Western Railway. I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the

:10:10.:10:15.

rail task force who have worked tirelessly in the Southwest to

:10:16.:10:18.

attempt to deliver a plan for the Southwest and over recent days, we

:10:19.:10:24.

have seen that planned and presented it to the Chancellor and transport

:10:25.:10:28.

secretary and I hope later on we will here some remarks about that

:10:29.:10:37.

survey. We have seen how groups of MPs can't join together for a

:10:38.:10:44.

region. The example today with the securing of the local government

:10:45.:10:47.

funding settlement and the increase for rural areas has been hugely

:10:48.:10:50.

beneficial to residents in Cornwall and I am grateful for that. We do

:10:51.:10:56.

have a rather seamlessly tied of blue in the Southwest and it would

:10:57.:11:01.

be beneficial for us to all work together to try and get the best we

:11:02.:11:06.

can for our region. The great restaurant railway franchise, or

:11:07.:11:11.

great first as it used to be called has had a significant presence in

:11:12.:11:16.

Cornwall. There have been have other operations, but they have come and

:11:17.:11:24.

gone, the trains operate and serve the Cornish people for many years. I

:11:25.:11:29.

would like to thank my honourable friend for his continued support of

:11:30.:11:33.

the train network in the Southwest and more recently agreeing to meet

:11:34.:11:40.

with us. We noticed how resilient Cornwall and Devon can be when we

:11:41.:11:48.

saw the event of 2014 and those events cannot be ignored. It is a

:11:49.:11:52.

fantastic place to pass on the train, one of the best advertisement

:11:53.:11:55.

for the Southwest, if you have not ridden through it on a train, looked

:11:56.:12:00.

over to the left-hand side and you can see the huge amount of seed and

:12:01.:12:04.

swell and that is what the Southwest is about. It is rugged and coastal

:12:05.:12:13.

and people... Thank you. Millions of people from across the world saw

:12:14.:12:19.

those scenes of the railway hanging in the sea and at that time, we were

:12:20.:12:28.

relying on the one arterial Rd that comes into Devon and Cornwall and

:12:29.:12:33.

that was difficult at that time. We saw the orange army working and they

:12:34.:12:37.

did a huge dump for us and I am grateful that they did. I feel we

:12:38.:12:42.

should explore other opportunities and other branch lines that might

:12:43.:12:47.

help us out and I want to talk about the possibility of a counter link

:12:48.:12:52.

and a line to Plymouth and how viable that would be to my

:12:53.:12:55.

constituency and the benefits that would bring to tourism, not just in

:12:56.:13:00.

North Cornwall but also to my friend in North Devon and other areas in

:13:01.:13:06.

the region. I am sure first Great Western will welcome the opportunity

:13:07.:13:10.

to service more stations and facilitate the return of trains to

:13:11.:13:13.

North Devon, it would help thousands of people across North Cornwall and

:13:14.:13:19.

Devon. Many of them have to travel huge distances to access trains. I

:13:20.:13:23.

think it might be the only speaker that does not have a branch running

:13:24.:13:27.

through their services and I would like one. I will make another case

:13:28.:13:35.

and that is for the Central branch line. There are two standard gates.

:13:36.:13:49.

They run and they are fantastic steam railways but the Parkway is

:13:50.:13:52.

located five miles outside of the town centre which is not an easily

:13:53.:13:56.

accessible if there are roadworks and problems. I would like to see a

:13:57.:14:02.

proper dedicated line between various places. Steam trains do a

:14:03.:14:08.

great job in the summer but we need a 365 day link and I would welcome

:14:09.:14:14.

first Great Western, and their consideration to put a link to

:14:15.:14:24.

connect the Parkway. Would he agreed that the point he is making about

:14:25.:14:29.

where trains can be developed can show that these could be in the

:14:30.:14:34.

Southwest region particularly if services were created and not just

:14:35.:14:37.

in terms of the Great Western route but if the old southern route would

:14:38.:14:45.

still exists was extended? I agree. The more branch services we get on,

:14:46.:14:50.

our transport system is not great and Cornwall Devon. We do struggle

:14:51.:14:56.

in order to provide bus services and if we make those investments as my

:14:57.:14:59.

honourable friend said earlier, we will see that driving jobs and the

:15:00.:15:07.

economy in our areas. I want to talk a little bit and thank the Minister

:15:08.:15:11.

for the investment we are already seeing in the Southwest. The

:15:12.:15:17.

investment in the points system, the new taxi trade that we will see by

:15:18.:15:23.

2018, that is a fantastic investment and we are grateful for that. The

:15:24.:15:27.

sleeper trains that we talked about a little earlier on about being

:15:28.:15:32.

rocked to sleep on those sleeper trains, it is a fantastic service.

:15:33.:15:37.

Six and a half hours into Bodmin Parkway, and a general relaxation

:15:38.:15:43.

and sleep is a lovely feeling. I will look forward to the sleeper

:15:44.:15:48.

trains when they do come online. These trains will reach Cornwall

:15:49.:15:51.

faster, the bimodal trains will reach faster and we can do with

:15:52.:15:58.

those. It is imperative for us to look at line speed improvements as

:15:59.:16:02.

well. I know that is not going to happen overnight but I would like

:16:03.:16:05.

you to consider it. The sleep train is an and durable part of the

:16:06.:16:13.

Southwest. -- interval. As being six hours from London, sleeping is

:16:14.:16:17.

important because you can get up and have a restful night's sleep and

:16:18.:16:20.

then get to work first thing on a Friday morning. I want to thank my

:16:21.:16:30.

honourable friend and the other who is no longer with us for raising the

:16:31.:16:35.

Heathrow element of those proposals. For me, Heathrow is not a London

:16:36.:16:41.

issue. It is a countrywide issue and I think that by linking up areas

:16:42.:16:47.

like the Southwest to have faster journey times to Heathrow, it

:16:48.:16:50.

connects us for onward travel and I am great grateful for them. We could

:16:51.:16:58.

be living in a region with direct flights from Heathrow and direct

:16:59.:17:01.

trains from the region to Heathrow. That would mean the people in

:17:02.:17:04.

Cornwall could fly to Heathrow and an hour and people in Devon could

:17:05.:17:12.

hop on a GW our service and BN Heathrow in under three hours. I am

:17:13.:17:19.

enjoying my honourable friend's stories about rocking to sleep.

:17:20.:17:25.

Would he agree with me that what is fundamental to upscaling our part of

:17:26.:17:31.

the world is attracting bigger manufacturing companies to our part

:17:32.:17:35.

of the world to give our young people the skilled opportunities and

:17:36.:17:39.

skilled manufacturing jobs to keep them in the Southwest and that is

:17:40.:17:44.

fundamental if we are going to change the character of our

:17:45.:17:50.

Southwest? My honourable friend is absolutely right. When we see train

:17:51.:17:55.

connections previously it has raised wage base in that area and we have

:17:56.:17:58.

suffered in the Southwest over the years from having a low-wage, high

:17:59.:18:04.

house economy. Many of our young people do struggle to get on in life

:18:05.:18:09.

and if those rail services, on those businesses will invest in the

:18:10.:18:12.

Southwest and that will give our young people every single

:18:13.:18:14.

opportunity to go forward which is great. He is making a fine speech

:18:15.:18:21.

and could I urge when he has some time to look at the development of

:18:22.:18:24.

the Southwest Metro concept because that current others urban and rural

:18:25.:18:32.

areas, and it is a great idea because it relies not only on rail

:18:33.:18:36.

but other modes that work on time affordably. It has a way to go but

:18:37.:18:41.

for the Southwest I think I can see a Southwest Metro concept coming

:18:42.:18:46.

into mind here. I will have a look at those reports that you talked

:18:47.:18:50.

about earlier on with your valleys and branch lines, so I look forward

:18:51.:18:55.

to reading that report. Mr Speaker I will start winding up, in

:18:56.:18:59.

conclusion, the Great Western Railway is a valuable asset to the

:19:00.:19:04.

Southwest which could be improved. Without it the region will crumble

:19:05.:19:09.

and we must make it better, faster, and more resilient. Many of my

:19:10.:19:12.

colleagues have been affected by the severe weather that we have seen in

:19:13.:19:15.

the Southwest as we have heard, there were four trees on the railway

:19:16.:19:23.

service in Bodmin and around the Southwest which has delayed the

:19:24.:19:28.

trains today. It is quite fitting that that should happen on this day

:19:29.:19:33.

of the debate. I am confident the Great Western Railway franchise will

:19:34.:19:37.

serve our region well and link to the capital and that the rail task

:19:38.:19:41.

force and others are working together for our corner of Britain

:19:42.:19:45.

will make it better to live, work, and play. My congratulations to my

:19:46.:19:53.

honourable friend for securing this important debate. It is an important

:19:54.:20:01.

debate for two reasons. Firstly, the rail infrastructure in the Southwest

:20:02.:20:06.

was a central part of the Chancellor's long-term economic plan

:20:07.:20:10.

for our region. As such it is important that we hold the

:20:11.:20:13.

government to account in the delivery of that plan. Secondly, the

:20:14.:20:21.

Southwest is a region that is unfortunately defined by its poor

:20:22.:20:24.

infrastructure in general. We have a poor road network on the M fives, we

:20:25.:20:34.

have a poor broadband access to the national Airport is difficult. We

:20:35.:20:38.

have fantastic growing regional airports but nothing on the scale of

:20:39.:20:43.

those available in other regions. And we have our rail network, which

:20:44.:20:48.

is only one line deep. That line is not too far into the past and was

:20:49.:20:55.

washed into the sea which showed how vulnerable we are. My right

:20:56.:21:02.

honourable friend makes the point that broadband could be better

:21:03.:21:06.

integrated into the rail service, I would exclude broadband from what I

:21:07.:21:12.

say, but our roads, rail, and airports are very poorly integrated,

:21:13.:21:18.

meaning that only are they bad but they do not create a joined up

:21:19.:21:24.

network either. Which adds to our woes as a region. My remarks come

:21:25.:21:30.

under two headings. The interregional and the intraregional.

:21:31.:21:36.

On the interregional, what is important to note, my honourable

:21:37.:21:40.

friend was very noble in resisting the temptation to compete with other

:21:41.:21:45.

regions but I am afraid that I believe the important part of this

:21:46.:21:49.

debate is how the Southwest fares against other regions and therefore

:21:50.:21:54.

where the region should be in the government's priorities. At the

:21:55.:21:58.

moment, it takes one hour and 42 minutes to go from London to Bristol

:21:59.:22:04.

Temple meetings. That is 118 miles. On the West Coast Main line, you can

:22:05.:22:11.

go to London from crew in one hour four minutes. That is 183 miles and

:22:12.:22:15.

on the East Coast Main line you can go from London to York in an hour

:22:16.:22:23.

and 15 minutes. That is 215 miles. So already, right now, our region is

:22:24.:22:29.

at a huge relative disadvantage to other regions because of the speed

:22:30.:22:35.

of access into the Southwest. The new bimodal trains will reduce those

:22:36.:22:40.

journey times to around an hour and 25 minutes which is very welcome,

:22:41.:22:45.

but even then, our line is still slower mile for mile down the lines

:22:46.:22:50.

serving the Midlands and North West and the Northeast. I make three

:22:51.:22:56.

points on that. Firstly, the comparison that I have just given is

:22:57.:23:03.

to Bristol. The northernmost part where the lines are fasters and it

:23:04.:23:07.

would be quickest to access from London. Secondly, in other regions

:23:08.:23:13.

there are huge further improvements to the rail infrastructure that are

:23:14.:23:16.

expected that will accelerate journey times into the ruse of --

:23:17.:23:22.

those regions and those will catch up with the bimodal trains that will

:23:23.:23:26.

get us to Bristol in an hour and 25, they sprint on ahead. This means

:23:27.:23:31.

that we as a region remain in the second division. Thirdly, the

:23:32.:23:35.

marginal effect of the electric vacation, electrifying only to

:23:36.:23:39.

Bristol or only part way down the West country line means that yes,

:23:40.:23:45.

you will reach the end of the electric line relatively quickly,

:23:46.:23:49.

but thereafter your journey becomes relatively slow and so proceeding in

:23:50.:23:53.

your journey beyond Bristol is like jumping off of a cliff back into the

:23:54.:23:58.

slow world of diesel trains when you have left the electric. That, I

:23:59.:24:03.

fear, will accelerate investment into the Thames Valley and the core

:24:04.:24:09.

door but not necessarily investment beyond restoring the Southwest at

:24:10.:24:16.

large. So what do we ask from and interregional perspective? Our

:24:17.:24:21.

connection to London and London Heathrow which has been mentioned is

:24:22.:24:25.

vitally important. It will be cherished not to say that it is the

:24:26.:24:29.

most important and therefore it is absolutely right that it is the key

:24:30.:24:33.

aim of the government's rail plans for the Southwest of England. It is

:24:34.:24:38.

not the only interregional connection that matters to the

:24:39.:24:43.

Southwest. Our visitor economy for example will benefit enormously from

:24:44.:24:46.

improvements to the cross-country network because so many of our

:24:47.:24:50.

visitors and they are welcome indeed, come down from the Midlands,

:24:51.:24:53.

North West and North East to find some sun in the West country.

:24:54.:24:59.

The government currently only has so much cash, so what matters here is

:25:00.:25:04.

that the way that the cash dispense and sequenced. Listening to me that

:25:05.:25:10.

the broadband, when we talk endlessly about whether our

:25:11.:25:14.

responsibilities to deliver superfast broadband to have many

:25:15.:25:18.

people as possible, whether it is just to deliver broadband to those

:25:19.:25:21.

who are left without it altogether. I think the real debate in the

:25:22.:25:24.

southwest of England is very similar. Do you sprint ahead with

:25:25.:25:30.

the development of high-speed rail into the north of England, one in

:25:31.:25:34.

the southwest we are still having to proceed with the bimodal trains

:25:35.:25:38.

because we can only get electric so far down the line and thereafter we

:25:39.:25:42.

had to upgrade to a technology that it had not been deployed elsewhere.

:25:43.:25:47.

I suspect from the dining of the Honorable gentleman, the same

:25:48.:25:49.

applies and Wales once you got behind Carter. I think this is an

:25:50.:25:56.

opportunity for the government to state very clear. -- state clearly

:25:57.:26:03.

where the chocolates sits in his priorities, because those priorities

:26:04.:26:10.

are to shed it very clearly by the way that the government sequences be

:26:11.:26:13.

spending of cash home with rail infrastructure. Its original train

:26:14.:26:18.

networks, the PRF has received praise this evening, but there is a

:26:19.:26:23.

danger about the peninsula rail the Genesis of the task force came about

:26:24.:26:30.

through the difficulties that we have in accessing Devon and Cornwall

:26:31.:26:34.

after the floods a few years ago. A lot of the plan that the PRT TF has

:26:35.:26:39.

come well with the addressing the difficulties. There are some

:26:40.:26:44.

benefits for Somerset and that, because the lines that were affected

:26:45.:26:48.

by flooding need to be made more resilient. But Somerset is an

:26:49.:26:53.

integral part of the Peninsula rail task force in its own right, not

:26:54.:26:58.

just as a territory for the enablement of quicker travel down

:26:59.:27:03.

into Devon and Cornwall. What I would like to put into the

:27:04.:27:07.

Minister's mind is that the PRT at pass responsibility not only to get

:27:08.:27:12.

greater resilience into Devon and Cornwall, not only to look at

:27:13.:27:17.

committed capacity in and around Plymouth in Devon, but also to

:27:18.:27:22.

recognise that within Somerset, the requirement is generating committed

:27:23.:27:28.

capacity and to Bristol and Bath, because so many people in that part

:27:29.:27:35.

of the county actually consider, we talk to them about faster

:27:36.:27:38.

connections, London may or may not be the thing they say first, but it

:27:39.:27:42.

will certainly say about the inability to commute to work and

:27:43.:27:46.

Bristol and Bath by train. We need to make sure that it is addressed,

:27:47.:27:50.

and I've met with the Peninsula task force and they assure me that is

:27:51.:27:54.

part of their thinking. One cannot help notice that there is no real

:27:55.:28:01.

explicit mention of it and are document, and I hope from our

:28:02.:28:08.

meeting so far, and the midst of feeling animated by this, they may

:28:09.:28:14.

be a more explicit mention in the future. -- the Minister. It is

:28:15.:28:19.

important to economic development of our part of the county. When we come

:28:20.:28:24.

to increasing the committed capacity from Somerset up to Bristol, the

:28:25.:28:29.

number of challenges there are. The rubble of the rolling stacks will be

:28:30.:28:34.

welcome, but there are plenty of stations who platforms are not quite

:28:35.:28:37.

long enough to do with that. There are plenty of stations who don't

:28:38.:28:43.

have the car parking to meet the needs of this growth and demand. So

:28:44.:28:48.

need to adjust that. There are many of our stations that have no

:28:49.:28:54.

disabled access whatsoever, and we need to adjust that. We also need to

:28:55.:28:57.

look at that. We also need to the getaway perhaps of timetabling

:28:58.:29:02.

services better, when I in my last job in the military, I was working

:29:03.:29:05.

in the Ministry of Defense. I saw how Southwest trains will have

:29:06.:29:11.

services that come in from Hampshire and Surrey, that was not relatively

:29:12.:29:15.

frequently until somewhere like Surbiton, and then will go straight

:29:16.:29:22.

into London Waterloo. Other. Hardly at all --. Given how people are not

:29:23.:29:29.

willing to travel a bit further to prayer, given that the Bristol and

:29:30.:29:33.

Bath economies are growing very fast, whether or not there is a

:29:34.:29:41.

opportunity to have services at other stations and maybe were out on

:29:42.:29:45.

the outset, but then accelerate through into Bristol to deliver a

:29:46.:29:49.

journey time that really encourages people to live that bit further out.

:29:50.:29:56.

Not just in the creation of jobs that people and Thomas Aiken at

:29:57.:29:59.

access this new transporting, but one of our great problems in the

:30:00.:30:03.

Southwest is that houses are very expensive. House is within the

:30:04.:30:08.

commuter belt equivalently expensive, so by being able to

:30:09.:30:12.

accelerate commuter traffic up from Somerset into Bristol and Bath, you

:30:13.:30:15.

allowed commuters for Bristol and Bath accessories cheaper housing and

:30:16.:30:20.

Somerset with that thing is that when the wind. That's what I think

:30:21.:30:23.

it's a win-win. Hybrid and Brian was the only

:30:24.:30:35.

station I have in my constituency. It is on the no man's land line,

:30:36.:30:43.

between Tom Thumb and Bristol. It may or may not get electrified.

:30:44.:30:50.

There is a real opportunity, given the frustration that so many people

:30:51.:30:54.

have at my part of Somerset, accessing Bristol for the station to

:30:55.:30:58.

be improved. More parking to be delivered, no disabled access

:30:59.:31:02.

whatsoever on the platform at the moment when coming across. Huge

:31:03.:31:12.

opportunities for improvement. But because the station is just an

:31:13.:31:17.

acquired backorder of Somerset, it is too easily forgotten an

:31:18.:31:22.

opportunity that's it there just waiting to be honest for a

:31:23.:31:24.

relatively small amount of money is too often overlooked. On another

:31:25.:31:29.

have placed on record so I will move on. I want to conclude by saying the

:31:30.:31:37.

government has already committed a very welcome amount of investment

:31:38.:31:41.

into the Southwest. When mounted deliver what has been committed to.

:31:42.:31:46.

The government makes some exciting promises and its long-term economic

:31:47.:31:50.

plan for the Southwest for breath and average them, but when I need to

:31:51.:31:54.

deliver that. We need to recognise that in delivering that one the

:31:55.:31:58.

public purse is so stretched, government is going to need to come

:31:59.:32:01.

good on the things that it was saying in the West country during

:32:02.:32:06.

the campaign, and to make clear that the Southwest is a priority for the

:32:07.:32:10.

government. We believe that the government has no majority was made

:32:11.:32:19.

in the Southwest. -- government's. The Southwest benefits enormously

:32:20.:32:26.

from having an almost entirely one conservative representation. We

:32:27.:32:28.

speak as one forced on all sorts of issues. The I were talking about

:32:29.:32:32.

local government funding, the night we had been talking about rails.

:32:33.:32:37.

That's the other night. This one boys get the Southwest and

:32:38.:32:40.

opportunity in this place that has not had before, and we need to hunt

:32:41.:32:43.

that by making sure that the government delivers on its promises

:32:44.:32:47.

and delivers on the things that we are so keen to see happen and I

:32:48.:32:53.

constituency. Our region has poor infrastructure are ready. Road

:32:54.:32:57.

improvements that the government has promised up welcome, proper and

:32:58.:33:01.

improvements is promised -- is welcome. The real improvements that

:33:02.:33:04.

the government has promised are absolutely vital. And I hope the

:33:05.:33:10.

Minister will agree with me that it should be a priority to deliver them

:33:11.:33:14.

into the Southwest, and money many will not allow for things to be done

:33:15.:33:17.

at the same time, it will be the Southwest to be done at the same

:33:18.:33:20.

time, it will be the Southwest that we can catch up with everybody else.

:33:21.:33:28.

May I begin by congratulating the Honorable member for Torbay. As been

:33:29.:33:35.

a important subject and an excellent contribution. I would agree with the

:33:36.:33:41.

Honorable member of the great Western Railway is just a transport

:33:42.:33:45.

system. It is vital to the fortunes of the areas which are served by the

:33:46.:33:49.

route, which aside it is so important that the government

:33:50.:33:52.

delivers on its promises of electrification and improved

:33:53.:33:55.

resilience. It is a matter of urgency. Identified by my honourable

:33:56.:34:04.

friend, the recent flooding in much of the country as for the

:34:05.:34:08.

highlighted the importance of assuring that our railways are

:34:09.:34:12.

resilient to extreme weather conditions, which we are witnessing

:34:13.:34:18.

with an increased frequency. Commuters on the great Western

:34:19.:34:21.

Railway is no they're only too well. The 2014 breach of the doorless

:34:22.:34:25.

2-ball for the close of the line for a total of two months, creating

:34:26.:34:29.

significant disruptions. We did see the braille hanging banner in the

:34:30.:34:37.

air like a brokerage, I too want to apply the heroic efforts of the

:34:38.:34:43.

engineers and workers. -- hanging in the air. A report published on the

:34:44.:34:51.

likely future impact of weather on trains travelling to and from the

:34:52.:34:56.

South predicted that up to one third of rail services could be disrupted

:34:57.:35:00.

over the next 100 years. The report described by an network as key to

:35:01.:35:08.

long-term development. That further underline the importance of

:35:09.:35:12.

improving resilience in the region. We on the side of the house are an

:35:13.:35:15.

agreement with the Prime Minister, when he said that the government

:35:16.:35:21.

needed to find answers because the tallest disaster of 2014 must not

:35:22.:35:26.

have it again. The Prime Minister Pride rhetoric has yet to be matched

:35:27.:35:30.

by action. Despite it being sank money is no object, the Peninsula

:35:31.:35:39.

task force of examining how to improve the Southwest rail network

:35:40.:35:43.

following the storm damage, and currently unable to complete the

:35:44.:35:48.

final four, and that the fun is unavailable. In a letter to the

:35:49.:35:55.

Secretary of State, the Southwest was said to be at a severe

:35:56.:36:00.

disadvantage said no funding these down to complete the studies. If we

:36:01.:36:02.

are to accept what the Prime Minister told the House when he said

:36:03.:36:08.

that money was no object, and that the government is serious about

:36:09.:36:10.

making our railways resilient to extreme weather conditions, the

:36:11.:36:14.

government must ensure that funding is available to complete the report.

:36:15.:36:20.

It is of paramount importance to resilience is improved, and that the

:36:21.:36:23.

government to give its backing to the report so they can get on with

:36:24.:36:27.

the job delivering a railways that needs to be right on, rain or shine.

:36:28.:36:32.

And a number of suggestions have been made for an additional route to

:36:33.:36:41.

doorless. Including, Honorable friend. -- from my. Labor in the

:36:42.:36:53.

Southwest also. The Prime Minister appeared to prejudge and a fair

:36:54.:36:59.

assessment of the options when he backed a new Railway Road as the

:37:00.:37:04.

most resilient alternative to the fundable doorless room. He said the

:37:05.:37:07.

UK was a wealthy country that should be making long-term investments and

:37:08.:37:11.

rail in the euro County line was what they've long hard look. I'm

:37:12.:37:16.

asking whether the Minister will granted today were all options for

:37:17.:37:20.

additional rooms in the Southwest will be assessed on a fair basis and

:37:21.:37:23.

when she reassure the House that both the funding the Prime Minister

:37:24.:37:27.

promised will be made available that has yet been taken on the route that

:37:28.:37:33.

the aborted line would take? So far the government's track record on

:37:34.:37:37.

delivering the mainline is a poor one, electrification will be

:37:38.:37:40.

delivered late, and will cost substantially more than initially

:37:41.:37:48.

estimated. Labor committed to electrification of the great

:37:49.:37:50.

mainline into the other nine, but the estimated cost of doing so has

:37:51.:37:56.

escalated dramatically since the rail made its first assessment and

:37:57.:38:02.

12,000 11. -- 2009. He has criticised his government's track

:38:03.:38:06.

record, would he liked it a lot in the house on his own government's

:38:07.:38:11.

government track record on the investing in the Great Western

:38:12.:38:16.

redlined? I'll happily do so. I will mind the lady of the pieces that we

:38:17.:38:22.

had to pick up and coming into government after the disaster of

:38:23.:38:26.

rail tracks and the death that will cost on the roads of as a result of

:38:27.:38:30.

the privatised nation. We want to want to hear anymore about the

:38:31.:38:34.

investment bank significant. -- we don't want to hear. The chief

:38:35.:38:40.

executive told members of Parliament in October the estimate for the

:38:41.:38:46.

project had been ?874 million in January 2013, at ?1.5 billion and

:38:47.:38:52.

September 20 14. He said because of an aquatic and adequate planning,

:38:53.:38:56.

the cost of electrification can now reach to point ?1 billion. And the

:38:57.:39:01.

upgrades which were expected to be completed by 2018, are behind

:39:02.:39:06.

schedule. When the original plan sentiment complete operating, and

:39:07.:39:12.

Oxford and Bristol were on schedule to be completed this year. Oxford,

:39:13.:39:24.

the fit --... Bristol will not see electrification changed at the 2020,

:39:25.:39:30.

and the East rail link is delayed to be early 2020. Some of these

:39:31.:39:34.

improvements have been delayed by after four years, impacting

:39:35.:39:37.

significantly uncommitted super light on the Great Western as well

:39:38.:39:42.

as the towns and city was the line sirs. Progress on the Great Western

:39:43.:39:47.

electrification has been hampered by this government by them putting

:39:48.:39:51.

electrification on hold at the third 2010 election, and not fully

:39:52.:39:57.

confirming the project in 2012, meaning the essential original plan

:39:58.:40:03.

was to late. Because of a number of enhancements, at a later several

:40:04.:40:10.

important projects were started in 2410 without being fully assessed.

:40:11.:40:16.

At the start of control period five, seven the compounds the ?12 billion

:40:17.:40:21.

and has been spending at not signed off by the regulator. -- 2014. The

:40:22.:40:26.

head of long-term planning and funding has said the high cost

:40:27.:40:32.

pressures across the whole portfolio of enhancement projects, which

:40:33.:40:36.

should not be a surprise to anybody given that we did not have the level

:40:37.:40:39.

of confidence that we might have wished at the start. It is the

:40:40.:40:44.

taxpayer, commuters, and those who would lie on the Great Western who

:40:45.:40:48.

will suffer the consequences of for cost estimation and poor planning.

:40:49.:40:53.

At the Great Western tracks are not electrified according to schedule,

:40:54.:40:56.

but in the department will be liable to pay compensation to the private

:40:57.:41:01.

consortium that is delivering the new generation of electric trains.

:41:02.:41:07.

The Department for Transport is considering converting electric IEP

:41:08.:41:10.

chance so that they can run on diesel, at a unclear cost of the

:41:11.:41:14.

taxpayer. Which may not be unable to reach speeds of 125 mph. Raising

:41:15.:41:20.

fears that some journeys can actually slow down compared to the

:41:21.:41:26.

day to electrification the delay. The government's plant of him

:41:27.:41:30.

replacing uncountable trains on branch lines and Southwest are

:41:31.:41:35.

dependent on the success of electrification programme. At the

:41:36.:41:38.

Great Western electrification Project acid significantly delayed

:41:39.:41:43.

the passengers in the Southwest can endure vehicles for gears that the

:41:44.:41:46.

government has said are unacceptable in the north of England. For

:41:47.:41:52.

planning and the premature announcement of projects as less

:41:53.:41:56.

commuters uncertain of the future of the Great Western. Get the

:41:57.:41:58.

government was repeatedly warned that rising cost could lead to some

:41:59.:42:05.

project being delayed or cancelled. Labor first race problems with the

:42:06.:42:10.

made lines of programme in May 2000 14. Just weeks into the start of the

:42:11.:42:13.

investment period, challenging the government to explain what

:42:14.:42:18.

electrification project will be delayed or cancelled as a

:42:19.:42:22.

consequence of rising costs. -- 2014. These concerns were echoed by

:42:23.:42:26.

the transport select committee, which warned in January 2015 we are

:42:27.:42:33.

concerned that key enhancement projects, such as electrification,

:42:34.:42:39.

have been announced by ministers with out Network Rail having a clear

:42:40.:42:44.

estimate what the projects will cost, leading to uncertainty about

:42:45.:42:47.

whether the project will be delivered on time or at all. And

:42:48.:42:52.

worse still, commuters were kept in the dark while the government to the

:42:53.:42:58.

others very. -- by the government. The chief confirmed that in March

:42:59.:43:02.

2015, Network Rail and formed the Department for Transport that

:43:03.:43:06.

decisions may need to be made in the coming months about the deferral of

:43:07.:43:12.

certain schemes. Get ministers and the Department are still refusing to

:43:13.:43:17.

say whether they will are all forms of the plants of the firm Aegis

:43:18.:43:24.

games before the election. -- the firm Aegis games. It is not clear

:43:25.:43:27.

that the agreed work that I've never been delivered within the agreed

:43:28.:43:33.

budget and time frame. Yet Network Rail, the Department for Transport,

:43:34.:43:38.

the regulators, all signed to the plans anyway. This resulted in a

:43:39.:43:42.

great deal of unnecessary uncertainty and confusion. A

:43:43.:43:48.

passenger in the public up at a price for such failures, and serious

:43:49.:43:51.

questions must be asked of the government how such a sample to

:43:52.:43:56.

place on their watch. It will be a great relief to passengers relying

:43:57.:44:01.

on the Great Western that track upgrades will arrive late, rather

:44:02.:44:06.

than never. We on the side of the house occurs to government to

:44:07.:44:09.

properly examine the adequacy, and the adequacy of Network Rail and

:44:10.:44:12.

budgeting, planning, and delivering such programmes in the future. It is

:44:13.:44:17.

these issues that we should be focused on, so it is a issue of

:44:18.:44:25.

concern, and who the person heading, has said the privatised nation of

:44:26.:44:30.

Network Rail is that option that is on the table. That privatise Asian.

:44:31.:44:33.

The government should be asking how to better deliver major projects,

:44:34.:44:39.

such as relative location in the future, not looking to devote time

:44:40.:44:43.

to managing get further privatise Asian and the fragmentation of our

:44:44.:44:53.

infrastructure. Is he also aware that the Great Western also raise

:44:54.:44:58.

objections to the impossibility of privatise Asian of Network Rail

:44:59.:45:02.

saying it would fragment the system and remove the advantage that

:45:03.:45:07.

Network Rail has been the buying in bulk and therefore cheaply on behalf

:45:08.:45:12.

the taxpayer. Grateful for his intervention. He is right. It is a

:45:13.:45:22.

matter of huge concern. It makes no sense to break of a national network

:45:23.:45:28.

that we all remember the days of the private enterprise adventure into

:45:29.:45:32.

the infrastructure of our rail in this country. And with the

:45:33.:45:36.

consequences that came from that. With that, I would encourage almonds

:45:37.:45:43.

and this have to this most for privatsation of Network Rail.

:45:44.:45:53.

Cannot start by thanking my Honorable friend. -- cannot start.

:45:54.:46:01.

It has been a wide-ranging debate. He like me has had many reports of

:46:02.:46:08.

the damage. I'm hoping for a ride is here and one piece. What I like to

:46:09.:46:12.

think hard about what our constituents have had to do with

:46:13.:46:19.

John today. I want to pay reference to the points that do world race. --

:46:20.:46:26.

that were raised. This is a broad set of issues raised by members for

:46:27.:46:29.

a coffee house, many things I'm tempted to respond on. The places

:46:30.:46:38.

they one of the two -- on whose estate one of the few... I am

:46:39.:46:46.

pleased to hear that he does enjoy his journeys with his bicycle. I'm

:46:47.:46:50.

disappointed that he would accept the information, because he can't to

:46:51.:46:55.

foods produce a slew of tirade information and then have the facts

:46:56.:46:59.

to back him. I mention here that he did rebel against his party on HST,

:47:00.:47:03.

I wonder if he were about or had stern words for his shadow ministers

:47:04.:47:08.

on the issues by the pitiful performance of the labor government

:47:09.:47:13.

electrification. I know he is a revolving door of ministers, but I

:47:14.:47:21.

like to remind him once again, at a time when we had a go-go economy, a

:47:22.:47:26.

light touch regulation system that was pouring money into the

:47:27.:47:32.

treasury's on how many the labor electrified? Lesson ten. -- less

:47:33.:47:39.

than. Do you know why? And nephew, Railway was not something that

:47:40.:47:46.

matter. They could jack up the fares with the place, they could have an

:47:47.:47:50.

inflation busting bears year after year. They did not invest a planning

:47:51.:47:53.

and electrification in the Southwest. That's a penny. They

:47:54.:47:59.

could have actually replaced the Pacers. That's the Pacers that were

:48:00.:48:08.

tanked up of people around. They could never place them in 2003, yet

:48:09.:48:16.

they could. Did they? No. Because they do not get a stuff about

:48:17.:48:20.

transport advancement, it is not something view that it is important

:48:21.:48:25.

and a track record is disgraceful. So frankly, I will take no lessons

:48:26.:48:30.

whatsoever from the party opposite on Broadway. The other thing --

:48:31.:48:36.

railway. I hope the answer words with his party about their plans to

:48:37.:48:43.

abandon the upgrade of the 8358 as set out in his parties's manifesto

:48:44.:48:51.

and not a word of support. Something that is absolutely vital to the

:48:52.:48:54.

economy in the Southwest. If he did not complain about that, I hope he

:48:55.:49:01.

would have complained about the fact that his party, a monetary

:49:02.:49:11.

fantasies, do not have a plan to generate a shot economy because

:49:12.:49:15.

without a strong economy, you cannot invest in transport infrastructure

:49:16.:49:19.

and cannot invest in vital public services. I think the whole house

:49:20.:49:22.

can agree that we will take no lessons whatsoever from the party

:49:23.:49:29.

opposite. I'm not quite sure that that fits in with the route date. I

:49:30.:49:35.

know that you want to do with the railways, your reputation at

:49:36.:49:37.

Railways Minister is what I want you to be tonight. Far for me to

:49:38.:49:45.

criticise you Mr Speaker. We both know that is not a option. The pros

:49:46.:49:52.

and rail investment our product to this region. I think I'll be more

:49:53.:49:59.

help. We know the debate is about, what members are trying to stick to.

:50:00.:50:05.

What I wanted to, on know you have a lot to cover, so I would say

:50:06.:50:08.

concentrate on the railways. That is what -- I know what you want to say.

:50:09.:50:17.

I will follow your advice. She pointed out the value of this

:50:18.:50:20.

investment would does for the region. The honourable gentleman

:50:21.:50:24.

committed very powerful speech about the extension of the line, Becca

:50:25.:50:27.

said that he is leaving us potentially MA. -- potentially in

:50:28.:50:37.

May. He will be much missed by many members on all sides of the house.

:50:38.:50:44.

I'll ask my friend if you agree with him as a matter of urgency to

:50:45.:50:46.

discuss the important infrastructure that he prays. My Honorable friend

:50:47.:50:52.

from Plymouth seven, how the remember to mention freight. The

:50:53.:50:58.

bottled world of freight, that railways actually produced. He has

:50:59.:51:01.

been very clear about what the priorities for the constituency.

:51:02.:51:07.

That's the priorities for his constituency. How disappointed he

:51:08.:51:11.

didn't mention hedgehogs once and it's great. All opened for her

:51:12.:51:17.

Crosson. My Honorable friend for a headshot Crosson. My Honorable

:51:18.:51:19.

friend but not to become who I have enjoyed meeting with multiple times

:51:20.:51:26.

as freight the opportunities. -- four North Devon.

:51:27.:51:34.

And passionate campaign out of realm, cursed his constituency will

:51:35.:51:40.

benefit from direct investment that the government is making,

:51:41.:51:42.

particularly in Crossrail. And I take your point about the Heathrow,

:51:43.:51:48.

but she accused my department of having tunnel vision. Far from it.

:51:49.:51:52.

We are multitasking on a daily basis. We are delivering

:51:53.:51:56.

electrification of the bid them a mind, the Great Western mainline,

:51:57.:52:04.

and multi-bid compound tense with programme, Crossrail, we are

:52:05.:52:08.

delivering ?38 billion of investment on this countries apartment railway

:52:09.:52:14.

system. The biggest investment since Victorian times. Why we are

:52:15.:52:20.

committing money, have to be spent wisely and I'll say more about that

:52:21.:52:24.

and terms of sequencing. She is right to break it, it will be

:52:25.:52:27.

delivered an added question of sequencing it appropriately. Not a

:52:28.:52:35.

translator, but I did make a powerful point for the bridge and

:52:36.:52:39.

the need for transport investment and driving... And made a point of

:52:40.:52:46.

pride that I had to say was received carelessly on the benches opposite,

:52:47.:52:49.

that the private sector growth that drives the best improvement and life

:52:50.:52:56.

chances. A discipline to hit the reaction of Honorable members

:52:57.:53:02.

opposite. -- I was disappointed. The private sector has a good ball to

:53:03.:53:05.

play in developing growth, so she will know that indwells we have the

:53:06.:53:10.

highest levels of satisfaction, cost levels of investment in a wider

:53:11.:53:17.

company. And profit model that returns to the shareholder. That she

:53:18.:53:22.

agreed that the whales consultation lost on my birthday, January 22,

:53:23.:53:27.

into a not for dividend Miles the Wales franchise as a worthwhile

:53:28.:53:33.

consultation to look at a different model to deliver more targeted? --

:53:34.:53:40.

more bag. He'll have a opportunity to duplicate models for the

:53:41.:53:45.

franchise because it is a devolved matter. I hope he will be grateful

:53:46.:53:50.

as I am that this government has indeed committed 125 the compounds

:53:51.:53:57.

above to assure electrification of the West Dallas is delivered. -- 100

:53:58.:54:00.

?25 million. My friend from North Cornwall. As

:54:01.:54:09.

always, speak so passionately from the provincial of his constituency,

:54:10.:54:16.

but makes a point that branch lines, joining of a political connectivity

:54:17.:54:20.

is something that is important to railway. Hold the peninsula task

:54:21.:54:26.

force -- I hope, I working to capture some of this investment. He

:54:27.:54:31.

did make an important point about the sleeper service, something this

:54:32.:54:35.

government has supported with multi-million pound investment. I'm

:54:36.:54:38.

glad it's Friday him to sleep every Thursday night. It is a vital plate

:54:39.:54:42.

the betting that the rhythm and business halfway down to the

:54:43.:54:47.

Southwest. -- building the tour resumes and business tab. I will

:54:48.:54:56.

mention again, but does make the point original investment. I want to

:54:57.:55:01.

assure him that this is not a 0-sum game. This is not a question of

:55:02.:55:07.

pitching the north against the Southwest, because in this

:55:08.:55:12.

government's view, transport investment across the local regional

:55:13.:55:16.

or national economy drives economic growth. Economic growth delivers

:55:17.:55:20.

greater tax revenues, greater skills, and that is about to flood

:55:21.:55:24.

the entire country higher. So we can generate economic growth from

:55:25.:55:28.

transport investment, we all benefit from that. An important question,

:55:29.:55:35.

this one about regional transport, committee and the Bristol, --

:55:36.:55:42.

commuting into. That is something where we will be looking to help

:55:43.:55:49.

organisations to help us understand where is the best money can maximise

:55:50.:56:02.

growth. I also want to mention my friend, who is not her. She raises

:56:03.:56:05.

about issues of connectivity and is working hard on proposals of the

:56:06.:56:10.

floor to the new station investment fund something that the government

:56:11.:56:14.

committed another ?20 million two and the Nato spinnaker boom. What is

:56:15.:56:21.

going on with this line? -- spending review. The judge -- the GW I,

:56:22.:56:31.

called by some as gods wonderful halfway. I meant when they one to

:56:32.:56:38.

five scan to Bristol, it was as if we were no longer cut off. We were

:56:39.:56:42.

finally connected. As many members have pointed out, those same trends

:56:43.:56:48.

are still running. Some of them have been repassed, reprinted, for

:56:49.:56:52.

refreshed and still work. And should be to the design. But they are now

:56:53.:56:58.

old trains. -- a tribute to the. And the last 20 years, passenger numbers

:56:59.:57:02.

have doubled, and passengers journey sent privatsation are at a record

:57:03.:57:06.

high. Numbers across the country have doubled. Too many chains are

:57:07.:57:10.

overcrowded, to meet our full, successive governments all colours

:57:11.:57:18.

have not taken the test decisions on Broadway investment. That's too many

:57:19.:57:25.

trains. Too many decisions were duct -- the duct. But this government,

:57:26.:57:30.

despite the appalling economic chaos that we inherited, picked up the

:57:31.:57:36.

pieces and said he will invest more than 38 dead compounds on half

:57:37.:57:41.

railways. Moreover, will put the road investment on budget. -- 30 ?8

:57:42.:57:49.

billion. So alter for systems can be protected going forward. It is truly

:57:50.:57:55.

the most ambitious upgrade. It is being directed at the southwestern

:57:56.:58:01.

region and I'll explain why. Because this region is a priority for this

:58:02.:58:06.

government. Good transport, reduces the cost of doing businesses. It

:58:07.:58:11.

helps local companies reach new markets and grow. It has local

:58:12.:58:14.

people travelled to new opportunities and students travel to

:58:15.:58:17.

some of the wonderful universities that would have represented. But

:58:18.:58:22.

where transport is poor, act as a drag on growth and a drag on social

:58:23.:58:27.

aspiration. This government gets the importance of row investment in the

:58:28.:58:32.

Southwest. We have heard powerful pieces made tonight about why Winnie

:58:33.:58:36.

to transform the Great Western mainline. Over the four years, the

:58:37.:58:44.

14-year-old wanted pies will be replaced by reliable cutting-edge

:58:45.:58:47.

trends. We have seen them and they are great. They will deliver as well

:58:48.:58:52.

as the electrification of the fully running around the suburbs. At 40%

:58:53.:58:57.

increase and sees coming into Paddington. That is an incredible

:58:58.:59:02.

numbers and stuff to do with the overcrowding problems, also journey

:59:03.:59:05.

times are five to 15 minutes. That again helps to achieve some of the

:59:06.:59:08.

addition of the additions that we have heard about today. 50 stations

:59:09.:59:14.

will be approved, 170 bridges, 200 miles of track, 17 tunnels. All of

:59:15.:59:21.

this work is going on and the honourable gentleman for... I know

:59:22.:59:32.

Bristol much better than well. Ogborn... Made an important point

:59:33.:59:39.

about rectification. I went I went to tell him was the commitment to

:59:40.:59:42.

electrification it absolutely and taken to the plan. I think you must

:59:43.:59:48.

consider that as preliminary work to quantity. It is difficult to get

:59:49.:59:55.

through the tunnel as he knows. The work is going on. We have made the

:59:56.:59:58.

commitment to electrification will continue on to Swansea and the next

:59:59.:00:04.

capital period. But he says what about the new trains? The hybrid

:00:05.:00:08.

track that we have purchased will be absolutely able to bond on those

:00:09.:00:12.

tracks. His constituents will see the journey time improvements, see

:00:13.:00:16.

the capacity improvements, and see the brand-new state-of-the-art

:00:17.:00:18.

chance and I hope he will at least be happy with that.

:00:19.:00:24.

I only went because I can feel the whole population west of Cardiff at

:00:25.:00:31.

the same time as us, the interim measure to get us there. I do

:00:32.:00:38.

understand that. With the right honourable lady, she would be right

:00:39.:00:44.

honourable in my eyes as she can answer this question as to when the

:00:45.:00:48.

date is that we will see the completion to Swansea? I do not have

:00:49.:00:55.

a completion date but as those plans proceed, as the work accelerate the

:00:56.:00:58.

electrification to Cardiff, I am happy to make sure he is one of the

:00:59.:01:03.

first people... I was invited this evening... My job is to serve. Let's

:01:04.:01:11.

talk a bit about the direct investment as well as the line

:01:12.:01:19.

because some people might say,... It is much more than Cardiff if we are

:01:20.:01:23.

talking about Southwest. What is actually happening for the Southwest

:01:24.:01:30.

Peninsula? I think members here tonight a right to say that the

:01:31.:01:33.

Southwest has sought and watched other regions pull ahead and

:01:34.:01:36.

wondered why this was happening. We have prurient ideals. We are

:01:37.:01:41.

effectively cut off and whether it is Cornish that had to prove or

:01:42.:01:46.

other issues and other transfer networks I think Cornish was an

:01:47.:01:50.

absolute wake-up call for so many of us. The work that was done in

:01:51.:01:53.

restoring that line showed that where there was a will and funding

:01:54.:01:56.

there was a way to deliver. That is why in this Parliament the

:01:57.:02:01.

government is investing more than ?400 million directly in the real

:02:02.:02:10.

system for this region. We are providing the class 83 trains,

:02:11.:02:13.

bimodal trains that go there my constituency as well, so it is a

:02:14.:02:16.

great thing for my constituents as well but they will provide those

:02:17.:02:20.

fast reliable journey times to the Southwest. We have opened new

:02:21.:02:23.

stations in new court and another were in at... All happening in the

:02:24.:02:34.

next 18 months. The honourable Desmond did mention Reading station

:02:35.:02:39.

and how it is a ?700 million investment made by this government

:02:40.:02:44.

in untangling freight and passenger lines and adding a key source of the

:02:45.:02:48.

late on that line. We overhauled the night sleeper trains and I am told

:02:49.:02:53.

they will be in place for the vital tourist season of this year. We are

:02:54.:03:00.

expending the long train maintenance site to maintain this trains and of

:03:01.:03:05.

course dollars which we have still ?35 million of the time of the

:03:06.:03:08.

works, and continue money has gone into that project since because it

:03:09.:03:13.

is not just enough to stabilise the track, as we have heard over and

:03:14.:03:17.

over again, the challenge is going to be fridge or proving some of

:03:18.:03:20.

these lines which are the most exposed parts of the railway

:03:21.:03:24.

network. That is why three and a half million pounds has been spent

:03:25.:03:28.

by Network Rail on the geological analysis, the cliff resilience

:03:29.:03:36.

analysis, to make sure that what is proposed actually gonna work. There

:03:37.:03:41.

is an additional ?31 million also being spent at ten sites across the

:03:42.:03:46.

Southwest, including the works at County Bridge, installation of

:03:47.:03:49.

rainfall monitors, ground monitoring, making sure the flooding

:03:50.:03:52.

problems we saw in 2014 do not happen again. We have a plan for the

:03:53.:03:58.

Southwest, we are determined to improve the resilience of the

:03:59.:04:02.

Southwest, we have a plan for Wales, the honourable gentleman may not be

:04:03.:04:05.

entirely happy with it but the government is the one delivering for

:04:06.:04:11.

Wales as well. We are pleased to hear that almost universal series of

:04:12.:04:15.

comments about Great Western Railway today who are of course delivering

:04:16.:04:19.

their highest ever score for overall passenger satisfaction and as we

:04:20.:04:23.

said, time and time again in this debate we have really delivered at a

:04:24.:04:27.

time of tough service disruption. They are delivering 3% year on year

:04:28.:04:33.

in terms of customers and they are determined to do more. The number

:04:34.:04:39.

one question here today is, you have told us this matters, clearly there

:04:40.:04:44.

is a long-term plan, what about the resilience study? I am delighted to

:04:45.:04:49.

assure the House today that we have negotiated a package that will make

:04:50.:04:53.

sure those relatively small but important studies do go ahead to

:04:54.:04:57.

form part of the plan that we are expecting to get from the rail task

:04:58.:05:04.

for us. I wanted to keep you in suspense until the last possible

:05:05.:05:07.

minute. That would mean the great study can go ahead looking at those

:05:08.:05:11.

wind speed improvements between London and Devon and Cornwall. The

:05:12.:05:15.

Spanish link will more can be done did improve track signalling

:05:16.:05:18.

improvements. It is an important part but not the only part. I am

:05:19.:05:25.

excited that the rail task was porting in June this year and will

:05:26.:05:29.

provide efficiency for the next 20 years of what should actually be

:05:30.:05:33.

done. The work will include the resilience questions around the

:05:34.:05:37.

oneness, the journey time improvements that we absolutely need

:05:38.:05:40.

and it is no easy task to do that and I think we should all thank

:05:41.:05:45.

those parties led very ably by the chair of Devon stopped in terms of

:05:46.:05:53.

pulling all that work together. I think what she just said is very

:05:54.:05:59.

well. We negotiated a package is what she said. Can she give us more

:06:00.:06:02.

detail about what the government is putting on table and relation to the

:06:03.:06:07.

others who have put a lot on the table? Quake Western Railways has

:06:08.:06:12.

funded the study. Not a penny. As far as our negotiation with them

:06:13.:06:16.

because there was never any government meant money being put

:06:17.:06:21.

into that study. They stood by to make sure these studies actually

:06:22.:06:25.

happened. They were prepared to backstop any shortfall that Great

:06:26.:06:30.

Western Railway has agreed to fund the very small part of the overall

:06:31.:06:37.

plan and we are talking 2003000 pounds as opposed to the 5 million

:06:38.:06:43.

RD provided. I hope you will crack a smile and welcome something. I think

:06:44.:06:49.

we will move on. Basically the government is committed to the

:06:50.:06:52.

region, these studies will go ahead, this is a vital region and the

:06:53.:06:56.

country as far as economic growth and I am delighted as an MP and

:06:57.:07:02.

Railway Minister to confirm that the studies will go ahead. Thank you Mr

:07:03.:07:10.

Deputy Speaker, it has been a fascinating couple of hours since we

:07:11.:07:13.

started this debate a couple of hours ago and I would like to keep

:07:14.:07:17.

it on track and as I said to the back bench business committee, they

:07:18.:07:19.

built a bit of steam behind these issues. Chairman of the committee

:07:20.:07:28.

will be pleased to... Is leaving aside the funds, given the requests

:07:29.:07:33.

I have just received, it has been very encouraging to hear the news

:07:34.:07:37.

about the studies going ahead and as a key part of starting to identify

:07:38.:07:43.

what needs to be done on our railway to secure it for the future. It is

:07:44.:07:46.

right that we have had the commitment today that -- and the

:07:47.:07:50.

Great Western Railway will be at the heart of the peninsula. I know

:07:51.:07:56.

through to Swansea is at the heart of that area's economy and I hope

:07:57.:08:00.

that people support the motion without the need for intervention on

:08:01.:08:07.

it. -- division. It is not just about a transport system and getting

:08:08.:08:11.

around, it is the heart of a region that could deliver so much more with

:08:12.:08:13.

the investment that we hope will come. The question is as on the

:08:14.:08:20.

order paper. As many of that opinion say iMac. -- eyes. The ayes habit.

:08:21.:08:34.

-- have it. As many of that opinion say I, the contrary know. The ayes

:08:35.:08:47.

habit. -- have it. The ayes have it. Motion number five. The ayes have

:08:48.:09:01.

it. I begged the House do now adjourn. The floods have hit the

:09:02.:09:13.

North England over the Christmas spirit have brought untold misery

:09:14.:09:18.

and suffering to a number of people. In the Cornwall Valley, 2700 homes

:09:19.:09:23.

in 1635 businesses were flooded. In addition to this, four schools were

:09:24.:09:29.

affected with two schools likely remaining close for the for future

:09:30.:09:34.

many bridges were damaged. Infrastructure currents at 32 Main

:09:35.:09:40.

pounds. The government response so far has been welcome. Businesses

:09:41.:09:45.

were made available within days of the flooding to help with the

:09:46.:09:51.

incidental costs. 5.5 million for the rebuilding of the bridge and

:09:52.:09:57.

most recently a repairing fund to include...

:09:58.:10:01.

most recently a repairing fund to As welcome as the response from the

:10:02.:10:04.

government has been up to date, there is far more to do and the

:10:05.:10:08.

communities in my constituency will need a great deal of support over

:10:09.:10:11.

the coming months and indeed years to get back on their feet. The

:10:12.:10:15.

long-awaited flood prevention modelling work forward the Valley is

:10:16.:10:21.

due to be completed in October by the environment agency and while

:10:22.:10:26.

improve defenses cannot guarantee protection for the future, there is

:10:27.:10:29.

an urgent need to move ahead with these projects. In addition to flood

:10:30.:10:33.

prevention work and the cost of are pretty damage to the structure,

:10:34.:10:37.

there is also the need to work with businesses to ensure they are able

:10:38.:10:40.

to recover. An essential part of this is insuring small businesses

:10:41.:10:45.

are able to access flood insurance. In response to a written question on

:10:46.:10:52.

this issue, the Parliamentary Secretary of State for environment

:10:53.:10:56.

and rural affairs noted that once we recognise a difficult challenge that

:10:57.:11:00.

some small businesses could face, the areas of high flood risk, we are

:11:01.:11:05.

not currently I'm aware of any evidence that there is a systemic

:11:06.:11:08.

problem. Therefore we have committed to work with the Association of

:11:09.:11:12.

British insurers, and other interested parties, to monitor the

:11:13.:11:16.

insurance market for small businesses. We are keen to work

:11:17.:11:20.

across government and a range of business interest interests that

:11:21.:11:26.

could expend the problem. I am grateful to the honourable member

:11:27.:11:39.

for giving way. His worries for small and large businesses,

:11:40.:11:42.

certainly you mentioned excesses, excesses of several tens of

:11:43.:11:46.

thousands of pounds in order to secure insurance. He is worried

:11:47.:11:50.

about that. What specific role does my honourable friend think the

:11:51.:11:52.

government has in actually developing some form of flood

:11:53.:11:57.

retyped scheme for businesses, perhaps underwriting money they have

:11:58.:12:06.

for domestic people? I will come onto what I am going to ask the

:12:07.:12:10.

government to do a little later but I will also explain within my speech

:12:11.:12:14.

exactly what currently is taking place. He is absolutely right

:12:15.:12:18.

though, the excesses for small and medium-size businesses phenomenally

:12:19.:12:23.

are unaffordable, as is some of the premiums offered as well. In

:12:24.:12:27.

addition to the written question that I mentioned earlier, the Prime

:12:28.:12:32.

Minister recently stated that he was looking very carefully at this issue

:12:33.:12:38.

and while some small businesses are alerting for concerns, the ABI are

:12:39.:12:43.

stating they will not turn down any small business sports flooding

:12:44.:12:49.

insurance. Flooding has become more regular across the whole of the

:12:50.:12:53.

United Kingdom, mother nature cannot be ignored. But does the honourable

:12:54.:12:57.

member agree with me that we should have been setting up formal

:12:58.:13:02.

structure and permanent support for businesses affected by flooding. As

:13:03.:13:10.

well as insurance? I would like to thank my honourable member for

:13:11.:13:14.

giving an intervention. I do not think is the sole responsible of the

:13:15.:13:19.

government, I think it is a joint approach between the industry and

:13:20.:13:23.

the government but I will come onto that in my speech as well. Having

:13:24.:13:29.

the ABI state they will not turn down any but small businesses for

:13:30.:13:33.

flood insurance, I can tell you from speaking to hundreds of businesses

:13:34.:13:36.

over the past couple of weeks it has become apparent that many businesses

:13:37.:13:43.

are increasingly running into problems. This coupled with the

:13:44.:13:47.

rippling cost that's based some businesses as a cost of the flood is

:13:48.:13:52.

jeopardising their future. As such while I note the Minister's response

:13:53.:13:56.

of the government is not aware of any evidence that there is a stiff

:13:57.:13:59.

them a problem, I will question the basis on which this has been

:14:00.:14:03.

breached. In July of last year, it was a report published. Findings

:14:04.:14:15.

from research with the possesses. -- businesses. A conclude... The survey

:14:16.:14:26.

showed that the vast majority of businesses arrange commercial

:14:27.:14:29.

insurance cover their premises and there is no significant difference

:14:30.:14:32.

between small businesses located in high flood risk areas and those not.

:14:33.:14:38.

However a more detailed consideration of the report and in

:14:39.:14:42.

particular the basis upon which the evidence is collected provides a

:14:43.:14:46.

very different picture. The headline figures from the report actually

:14:47.:14:49.

come from a secondary source, a small business sorbet run by... --

:14:50.:14:57.

survey. This survey data contains a small number of businesses. As such

:14:58.:15:07.

one may legitimately question when considering insurance for business

:15:08.:15:10.

and high risk areas. The main focus of that report was a series of

:15:11.:15:16.

in-depth interviews with businesses and it is this that can the micro

:15:17.:15:22.

forms the base of the report. A majority of whom were not in

:15:23.:15:27.

high-risk areas the overwhelming majority consisted of a small amount

:15:28.:15:31.

of businesses and small businesses employing less than ten people and

:15:32.:15:35.

only one manufacturing business was included. My point is that the

:15:36.:15:41.

evidence based on the report is not credible and as a consequence of

:15:42.:15:44.

this, the report itself is of limited value. In order to

:15:45.:15:51.

appreciate the true extent of this issue, the government and ABI needs

:15:52.:15:55.

to speak to businesses in areas of high risk. Of course. As I recently

:15:56.:16:05.

appointed chair of flooding prevention, we have had some

:16:06.:16:09.

discussions with the right honourable Lady just last week, and

:16:10.:16:14.

it became apparent during that debate of which we had several

:16:15.:16:19.

interventions to come and vote. We were divided on whether there was

:16:20.:16:22.

evidence to show that businesses had been affected so with the honourable

:16:23.:16:28.

gentleman agree with me that we could use the APG to come and visit

:16:29.:16:32.

as a witness and speak to the businesses that have been affected

:16:33.:16:37.

by the flooding issues? I would like to thank the honourable member for

:16:38.:16:43.

the intervention. Of course we would always welcome the APPG into the

:16:44.:16:47.

Cornwall Valley but anybody as well that would want to come up. If it

:16:48.:16:52.

will indeed make any progress in this area and others in the flooding

:16:53.:16:56.

been by all means the whole community is welcome and of course I

:16:57.:16:59.

will organise some businesses to come and talk to you as well. As I

:17:00.:17:04.

was saying, in order to appreciate the true extent of this issue, of

:17:05.:17:08.

the government and ABI, they need to speak to businesses. Especially

:17:09.:17:15.

those in areas of high risk and have experienced a high frequency of

:17:16.:17:18.

flooding in recent times such as we have in the Cornwall Valley. The

:17:19.:17:24.

council say that between 40 and 50% of businesses cannot access flood

:17:25.:17:28.

insurance. In five of my six communities in the Cornwall Valley.

:17:29.:17:33.

A insurance broker in the upper Valley says that 20% of his clients

:17:34.:17:38.

cannot access flood insurance. Ironically, himself included. But

:17:39.:17:43.

true to the spirit of those in the valley, he has a desk and a mobile

:17:44.:17:46.

phone set up in the middle of all the building works that was his

:17:47.:17:51.

office working to ensure that his clients are sorted out. After the

:17:52.:17:54.

last bloods, he along with other brokers from the UK and high flood

:17:55.:18:00.

risk areas were invited to London to take cases to the ABI. The ABI

:18:01.:18:06.

refused to look at cases and said they were not allowed to look at

:18:07.:18:12.

cases because of protection. The ABI say there is no evidence of

:18:13.:18:16.

businesses not being able to access flood insurance and quoted its owner

:18:17.:18:18.

for which I have already highlighted to say there is no evidence. Of

:18:19.:18:26.

course. I thank the honourable him member for giving way. I received at

:18:27.:18:30.

a briefing from the ABI saying they will not look into these issues of

:18:31.:18:35.

businesses and they could shop around for insurance. I know from my

:18:36.:18:40.

constituency that that does not happen and is impossible and now

:18:41.:18:44.

businesses and York Central are turning into their own resources

:18:45.:18:49.

instead of claiming on insurance companies. Is it now crucial that

:18:50.:18:53.

the government move forward with a flood reskinned for small businesses

:18:54.:18:56.

to ensure that businesses are protected in the future? I would

:18:57.:19:03.

like to thank you for your intervention. I am not sure it is

:19:04.:19:08.

entirely the government's responsibility, the ABI have a huge

:19:09.:19:10.

responsibility and that's as well. As a highlight some of the cases

:19:11.:19:16.

here, some of the things done in the Valley as they are no doubt done in

:19:17.:19:20.

York Central as well. Yes it is business but it is also the

:19:21.:19:24.

responsibilities of everybody to have businesses going forward,

:19:25.:19:28.

otherwise we will not have communities going forward. Yes very

:19:29.:19:33.

briefly. I apologise for coming late. He is making a very important

:19:34.:19:40.

point, would he agree that another way to help businesses and

:19:41.:19:44.

communities affected by flooding is for the government to apply to the

:19:45.:19:47.

EU Solidarity fund to ensure there is more support available for those

:19:48.:19:52.

businesses and communities? I would like to thank my honourable member

:19:53.:19:56.

for giving way. As he will know as well as I know that the government

:19:57.:20:00.

have given a commitment to look at that funding going forward to see

:20:01.:20:04.

how it can help. As I say, the Minister will give us an update on

:20:05.:20:08.

that. As many businesses going across the Calder Valley

:20:09.:20:13.

experiencing this, there are many examples coming in daily of some of

:20:14.:20:17.

the concerns that I have just become aware of. I will not name the

:20:18.:20:21.

companies as we do not want their companies to lose faith anymore than

:20:22.:20:26.

they already have first up we have a furniture manufacturer and they are

:20:27.:20:32.

experiencing similar difficulties to others. They are successful in

:20:33.:20:37.

manufacturing so buzz and employ hundreds of people. On Boxing Day

:20:38.:20:44.

they were flooded in... They could only hit insurance for stock but not

:20:45.:20:47.

machinery or anything else related to floods. They are facing a loss of

:20:48.:20:54.

?100 million. The business will survive and continue but however

:20:55.:20:59.

what is of significant concern going forward is the insurance coverage.

:21:00.:21:02.

It was due for a Newell last week and they have been told that they

:21:03.:21:05.

will not be able to access flood cover again. Even for stock. At the

:21:06.:21:12.

other end of the Calder Valley, eight national acclaimed climbing

:21:13.:21:16.

centre which opened in 2011. It now has over 30,000 members. They and a

:21:17.:21:23.

and assistant business employee many people and are central to the

:21:24.:21:28.

regeneration of that wider area. As these businesses are located between

:21:29.:21:31.

the river canal, they have been unable to access any flooding

:21:32.:21:35.

insurance. The business incurred losses when it was flooded in 2012

:21:36.:21:41.

and are now a very substantial bill following the latest bloods. This

:21:42.:21:45.

business now faces a battle to stay in business and once again is in

:21:46.:21:52.

limbo. Last but not least, I will mention a large manufacturing firm

:21:53.:21:55.

who have been flooded on four separate occasions in the last

:21:56.:21:59.

decade. The business have been able to access flood insurance in the

:22:00.:22:02.

past but have been told in no uncertain terms by insurers that

:22:03.:22:04.

would they will not receive flood coverage in the future. They have

:22:05.:22:10.

been unsuccessful on account of the ridiculous terms and conditions that

:22:11.:22:13.

have been quoted. The difficulties in accessing insurance and the

:22:14.:22:19.

losses incurred so regularly I flooding is likely that is business

:22:20.:22:27.

will close along with 40 jobs. Would he agree with me that these business

:22:28.:22:37.

with significant employers, the thought of flooding is just so

:22:38.:22:42.

serious that they are thinking of moving out of the Calder Valley.

:22:43.:22:47.

Those job losses and loss of businesses and the support they are

:22:48.:22:51.

providing to the communities is quite serious. Business insurance is

:22:52.:22:55.

a large part of ensuring that we are attractive. The honourable member is

:22:56.:23:01.

right. As she will know the Calder Valley in particular is one of the

:23:02.:23:08.

few places that the businesses can read located locally. If they move

:23:09.:23:12.

out of the Valley, not only are the jobs lost, but the local communities

:23:13.:23:22.

will die as well. While some encouraged by the words of the

:23:23.:23:25.

Minister and the insurance is that he has looked very closely at this,

:23:26.:23:29.

my experience in this leaves that there are hundreds of businesses

:23:30.:23:34.

within my constituency who are unable to access flooding insurance.

:23:35.:23:36.

The examples I mentioned are the tip of the iceberg and need to

:23:37.:23:42.

illustrate the personal difficulties of some businesses experiencing

:23:43.:23:45.

because of the lack of adequate cover. If the situation is

:23:46.:23:49.

replicated, nationally, they are susceptible to flooding which I

:23:50.:23:52.

would imagine is the case, this means that there are thousands of

:23:53.:23:56.

businesses across the UK who are experiencing difficulties. Every

:23:57.:24:02.

community is susceptible to flooding has its own unique challenges and

:24:03.:24:05.

this is the case in the Calder Valley. All of these constituencies

:24:06.:24:17.

are located to the river of the Valley and next to steep sided

:24:18.:24:24.

valleys. Their small businesses are the lifeblood and beating art of our

:24:25.:24:31.

area. -- heart. The transport links are limited. This means that there

:24:32.:24:35.

is limited land for development as I was saying to my honourable friend

:24:36.:24:41.

from Halifax. Locating to other premises in the area is not a viable

:24:42.:24:44.

option for many businesses. This does undermine the serious challenge

:24:45.:24:51.

that the Calder Valley faces and that these businesses close down or

:24:52.:24:56.

move away from the area, we are in grave danger of losing the best

:24:57.:25:00.

employable skills and expertise built up over the generations. Our

:25:01.:25:03.

local committees are in great danger.

:25:04.:25:10.

The importance of this issue cannot be understated. The government has

:25:11.:25:18.

shown it is possible to work within insurance industry, to create its

:25:19.:25:21.

game that is able to fill the gaps in existing markets. Also know that

:25:22.:25:27.

the government about business and science, or the ABI feel it is a

:25:28.:25:32.

government refunds Will fix while the government feels it is for the

:25:33.:25:36.

market to fix. I suspect the solution is somewhere in the middle.

:25:37.:25:46.

Order! The question is to join. That's a jury. I suspect the

:25:47.:25:59.

solution is in the middle. Thus he agree that a strategy to provide a

:26:00.:26:02.

front support for businesses to protect their property from flooding

:26:03.:26:07.

in the first place would bring down insurance premiums, say the

:26:08.:26:12.

government for fair funding, and save the business lost revenue and

:26:13.:26:21.

give up one. Will flood into me tell than the ballot, the government did

:26:22.:26:24.

the best acquire a lot of money and a lot of people to invest in the

:26:25.:26:32.

homes with blood prevention schemes. One of the problems we had is that

:26:33.:26:37.

while people lived beside the rivers, they don't prepare for those

:26:38.:26:42.

of you. The evidence does not show that if you have Leopard mentioned

:26:43.:26:46.

that has reduced the risk with insurance companies. A as one of the

:26:47.:26:50.

serious issues that needs addressing. Meanwhile, while the big

:26:51.:26:55.

boys talk some more, and ten members, but this is a look at this

:26:56.:27:00.

game where the customers will have a choice to pay the normal price for

:27:01.:27:03.

the watermark price on good. Businesses will have a choice to put

:27:04.:27:09.

into a generic pot as well, the will stay safe and fun. So is deflected

:27:10.:27:13.

again, while they accepted pot will cover all the damages, and will

:27:14.:27:16.

cover all the damages, ill give them a pot with some of the monies. -- if

:27:17.:27:21.

the flood. Something the ABI and its members made to look at perhaps.

:27:22.:27:25.

Thinking out-of-the-box and perhaps assessing some of their moral and

:27:26.:27:32.

social justice conferences. To be fair, some insurers I have seen have

:27:33.:27:40.

done excellent work with their clients and have behaved incredibly

:27:41.:27:44.

well. Companies like people who have placed the SME customers, whose

:27:45.:27:50.

plans were continued to be covered and for those who have expenses over

:27:51.:27:56.

?350 when not and that excesses with an extra new. Unfortunately that is

:27:57.:28:06.

only existing customers. As in the process of creating a scheme for

:28:07.:28:10.

SMEs which will specifically include businesses at risk of blood.

:28:11.:28:13.

People's expectation is that this will to current situation by

:28:14.:28:20.

enabling up to 2000 febrile brokers across the UK du Plessis more

:28:21.:28:27.

difficult risk to the states. My understanding is that that be but

:28:28.:28:33.

are currently in negotiations to sustain Fischer. Having spoken with

:28:34.:28:36.

him, this game only uses products already on market assumes a complex

:28:37.:28:41.

system of protection for the carrier, protection for the

:28:42.:28:43.

properties being in short, and at for the policy to reduce the high

:28:44.:28:49.

excesses. How this game assets but this is what excess of terms and

:28:50.:28:52.

conditions back of the barrier to insurers are pretty and will help to

:28:53.:28:56.

read some of the most regional levels that may cover on affordable

:28:57.:29:04.

in many cases. Cannot request from the government minister is possible

:29:05.:29:08.

that in communities such as the fellow, that the government work

:29:09.:29:11.

alongside small businesses to identify those gaps in the market

:29:12.:29:15.

and to understand what is preventing some businesses from receiving

:29:16.:29:19.

adequate flood and cover and to rely on the report... -- Calder Valley.

:29:20.:29:29.

We need to go and get the evidence. There are masonry same whether

:29:30.:29:31.

they're in this game is the solution that the market requires, but I do

:29:32.:29:36.

know is how desperately businesses in my constituency and honourable

:29:37.:29:41.

members elsewhere who have suffered not quite as bad, but if you are in

:29:42.:29:48.

that position it is pretty grim. They are desperate and relying on a

:29:49.:29:55.

long-term solution and I sincerely hope that the government is able to

:29:56.:29:59.

identify those gaps in the market and to better understand the nature

:30:00.:30:04.

and extent of the problem. And to work with insurance industries to

:30:05.:30:06.

develop a new facility to address the issues. Thank you. If I can

:30:07.:30:15.

first pay tribute to the Honorable member for Calder Valley. A very

:30:16.:30:20.

quiet but forensic speech. Shelby declared that he has for his

:30:21.:30:27.

constituency. I saw directly myself. To the places he describes, how I'd

:30:28.:30:31.

had away the move as furniture factory, wiping out half and making

:30:32.:30:35.

pounds worth of stock, saying how a furniture warehouse was born. That

:30:36.:30:44.

half ?1 million. And the equitable impact that it has on a very

:30:45.:30:49.

precious, beautiful area of our country and historic community. And

:30:50.:30:52.

how intimately the subject of business insurance is connected to

:30:53.:30:56.

the likelihood and longevity of these communities. I'm not going to

:30:57.:31:04.

get into a detailed discussion from that. Not quite as bad as the sand

:31:05.:31:10.

on paper, 2600 businesses were severed, but I absolutely agree that

:31:11.:31:17.

the 25 for and that serving was taken was not enough to be a decent

:31:18.:31:23.

sample and very much encourage Diablo member -- the envelope to get

:31:24.:31:26.

in detailed investigation into what happened. In the round world number

:31:27.:31:35.

four Stockton North that he prays. There are improvements that we can

:31:36.:31:41.

make without looking at schemes,, but the person women to do is make

:31:42.:31:45.

information far more accurate so that businesses are not being

:31:46.:31:49.

punished for being in a flood vulnerable zone when they themselves

:31:50.:31:52.

are not actually flooded. We need to make sure that this government

:31:53.:31:59.

businesses are more resilient to have access to good public

:32:00.:32:02.

information on how businesses can be more restrictive. -- resilient.

:32:03.:32:15.

The government has a part to play in relation to business and investment

:32:16.:32:21.

infrastructure. We need that broadband connections, electricity

:32:22.:32:28.

substations and pros are left open, because that matters not just for

:32:29.:32:32.

communities but for businesses. We also made the knowledge to the

:32:33.:32:37.

insurance industry cannot be the complete answer. As the Honorable

:32:38.:32:41.

member for Aberdeen part out, it is important that there's element of

:32:42.:32:46.

going to come in. That's pointed out. The reason we have put great

:32:47.:32:50.

behind this is my average of ?205 for business, but in some that has

:32:51.:32:55.

been more, because we acknowledge the insurance industry does not

:32:56.:33:02.

produce all the answers. Finally, there is a capital expenditure.

:33:03.:33:05.

Anita put into fledged games in general. The Honorable member for

:33:06.:33:11.

call has focused specifically on whether there should be a flood

:33:12.:33:15.

rescanned. I'm afraid time when I let him attended a simple detail,

:33:16.:33:21.

but here are some points. One of them is of course setting up these

:33:22.:33:28.

scams involves a very considerable cost to the drive. At the moment,

:33:29.:33:35.

Begala so where you're located, you can be relocated effectively on the

:33:36.:33:38.

edge of a river, you could let every three years, would be guaranteed for

:33:39.:33:44.

?250 for Mail, the basic council tax, too undefined access you will

:33:45.:33:49.

be ensured. This would need that businesses would have to cover the

:33:50.:33:54.

cost of providing insurance of some the cases. If a business has indeed

:33:55.:34:05.

flooded twice in four years at a cost its time of ?500,000 to their

:34:06.:34:10.

stock, it will be difficult to provide that insurance without some

:34:11.:34:14.

measure of cross subsidy for businesses that are not in flood

:34:15.:34:19.

affected areas. The second problem is the complexity of flood insurance

:34:20.:34:26.

and businesses. Desolate looking to assure your buildings and your

:34:27.:34:30.

content. On other hand if you are but a business, you have to look at

:34:31.:34:34.

how much cash you have in the bank, therefore you have to look at how

:34:35.:34:39.

much you want to lower your premium, and self-assuredness up against a

:34:40.:34:45.

higher access. You have to look at whether you have hired Dick

:34:46.:34:47.

structure assets, is that something you want to assure? Antenna company,

:34:48.:34:53.

the building you're in, you don't want to its more an insurer. --

:34:54.:35:01.

restaurant upon, that is essential restaurant upon, that is essential

:35:02.:35:04.

to the continuity of your business. If you look at business interruption

:35:05.:35:08.

insurance, it makes a huge difference if you were... Business

:35:09.:35:17.

interruption will be minimal. On the other hand, if you were in Carlisle,

:35:18.:35:22.

your entire biscuit factory has been wiped out by the flood, then the

:35:23.:35:26.

business interruption Croughton Colts of blood are absolutely

:35:27.:35:30.

catastrophic. This is the reason why it is much more difficult to model

:35:31.:35:35.

business insurance and is to model household insurance. There is of

:35:36.:35:38.

course in addition the issue of moral hazard. Do not want to

:35:39.:35:44.

encourage businesses to locate themselves in flood portable zones

:35:45.:35:50.

if they have a high pick shuttle as it cost. You want to keep these

:35:51.:35:53.

communities vibrant, keep them alive, but we also want to do so in

:35:54.:35:59.

a way that makes sense. Something must be done. The member for Halifax

:36:00.:36:06.

is that a good emphasis on the importance of business insurance and

:36:07.:36:10.

retaining these committees for the history, and for the social cost

:36:11.:36:14.

involved. The questions would need to answer therefore, how much

:36:15.:36:19.

subsidy, because had to be at element, do we wish to put into an

:36:20.:36:26.

individual Valley. Secondly, what is the balance between the government

:36:27.:36:29.

element in that subsidy, and the subsidy provided to the insurance

:36:30.:36:34.

industry for businesses and an non-flood affected areas? Thirdly,

:36:35.:36:38.

should we look at a different and insurance model? One of the

:36:39.:36:44.

possibilities it might be to look at the time a model that would take for

:36:45.:36:47.

travel insurance or medical insurance, where you have a fixed

:36:48.:36:52.

number. At the government were to be a ball, and might be reassuring for

:36:53.:36:56.

the government to note that it had fixed numbers of ?50,000 a path to

:36:57.:37:00.

the property, rather than what we have at the moment which is

:37:01.:37:04.

unlimited flood insurance liability. -- attached. That's why I'm

:37:05.:37:08.

delighted that to say that tomorrow say that, I am hosting a roundtable

:37:09.:37:14.

with organisations that Federation for small businesses and a dozen

:37:15.:37:18.

other stakeholders exactly to talk to the details and issues involved

:37:19.:37:22.

in providing serious insurance for businesses. In conclusion,...

:37:23.:37:35.

This'll be an opportunity for him to come and meet us at the PS Met with

:37:36.:37:43.

others. I will be delighted do that. A lot of activity to a speech --

:37:44.:37:53.

I'll will have to pay tribute. A lot of that the other members here for

:37:54.:37:58.

the contributions in this debate, and pay tribute to the insured

:37:59.:38:01.

American amenity in the Calder Valley2. Who I saw for the work that

:38:02.:38:10.

they did and to commit to the Honorable member and to the house

:38:11.:38:15.

that we do the roundtable and was ahead, look relentlessly and

:38:16.:38:21.

vigorously at the cost and the benefits, and full, economic and

:38:22.:38:26.

social, which are involved and failing to provide adequate business

:38:27.:38:32.

insurance. The question is that this have to not do adjourn. -- now do.

:38:33.:38:37.

The ayes habit! Order! Order! I bet she asked a question and my

:38:38.:39:35.

name on the order paper. -- I beg. The government is working with the

:39:36.:39:39.

from conflict areas where it's in from conflict areas where it's in

:39:40.:39:42.

the best interest for the child to do so. The likely to be exceptional

:39:43.:39:48.

cases for most children, than a divestment in the region. Providing

:39:49.:39:49.

additional

:39:50.:39:50.

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