24/10/2016

:00:00. > :00:00.parts of my constituency but I would be delighted to visit. As wd get

:00:00. > :00:12.towards Christmas, people should try to shop local. Order, order. Will

:00:13. > :00:41.the member wishing to take her seat please come to the table?

:00:42. > :00:52.I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance

:00:53. > :00:59.to Her Majesty Queen Elizabdth, her heirs and successors, according to

:01:00. > :01:22.law, so help me God. You've got me now.

:01:23. > :01:42.Tracey Babin, member for Batley and spend.

:01:43. > :01:49.Order, order. Will the membdr wishing to take his seat pldase come

:01:50. > :02:24.to the table? I swear by Almighty God that I will

:02:25. > :02:28.be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabdth, her

:02:29. > :03:00.heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God.

:03:01. > :03:41.Order. We will come to points of order later but in the usual way,

:03:42. > :03:50.and FLV to attend to a point of order later. Statement, the Prime

:03:51. > :03:56.Minister. With permission, H would like to make a statement on my one

:03:57. > :04:01.be in Council last week. I went to this council with a clear mdssage

:04:02. > :04:06.for my 27 European counterp`rts The UK is leaving the EU but not Europe

:04:07. > :04:12.and we are not turning our backs on our friends and allies. For as long

:04:13. > :04:18.as we are members of the EU we will play a full and active role, and

:04:19. > :04:23.after we leave we will be a confident outward looking country,

:04:24. > :04:28.enthusiastic about trading with our European neighbours and cooperating

:04:29. > :04:31.on shared security interests, including law enforcement and

:04:32. > :04:37.counterterrorism. That is the right approach and it was in the spirit we

:04:38. > :04:42.made a significant contribution at this council to ensure a robust

:04:43. > :04:46.European stance in the face of Russian aggression, addresshng the

:04:47. > :04:53.root causes of mass migration and championing free trade around the

:04:54. > :04:57.world. Let me say a word about each. Russia's indiscriminate bombing of

:04:58. > :05:03.civilians in Aleppo and the atrocities we have seen elsdwhere in

:05:04. > :05:07.Syria are horrific. It is vhtal we keep up the pressure on Russia and

:05:08. > :05:11.the Syrian regime to stop its appalling actions and creatd the

:05:12. > :05:18.space for a genuine politic`l transition in Syria. The UK put this

:05:19. > :05:23.issue on the agenda for the council. The Foreign Secretary made the case

:05:24. > :05:28.for a robust response at thd Foreign Affairs Council last Monday and I

:05:29. > :05:33.spoke personally to Chancellor Merkel and President Donald Tusk

:05:34. > :05:37.ahead of the Council last wdek. The council strongly condemned the

:05:38. > :05:41.attacks, called for a cessation of facilities and demand that those

:05:42. > :05:46.responsible for breaches of humanitarian law be held

:05:47. > :05:51.accountable, and we need to go further, which is why we agreed if

:05:52. > :05:56.current atrocities continue, the EU will consider all available options.

:05:57. > :06:02.The agreed everything should be done to bring in humanitarian aid to

:06:03. > :06:07.civilians. On Friday, the UK secured an extraordinary session of the UN

:06:08. > :06:12.human rights Council to press for a ceasefire to enable humanit`rian

:06:13. > :06:18.access to Aleppo. Millions of civilians are trapped there and

:06:19. > :06:22.across Syria in desperate nded of food, shelter and health care. The

:06:23. > :06:29.UK is already the second largest a lot aerial -- bilateral hum`nitarian

:06:30. > :06:35.donor to this crisis and evdry secure access to these areas, we are

:06:36. > :06:39.ready to accelerate over ?23 million of aid to help the most vulnerable

:06:40. > :06:45.in the hardest to reach parts of Syria. Turning to migration, the

:06:46. > :06:50.Home Secretary will give a statement on Calle shortly. At the European

:06:51. > :06:57.Council I confirmed the UK will provide practical support to Europe,

:06:58. > :07:02.including our naval presencd in the Aegean and Mediterranean, and as

:07:03. > :07:08.part of that effort, HMS echo will take over in the Central military

:07:09. > :07:12.knee and early next year. I reiterated that case I made at the

:07:13. > :07:19.UN for a global approach to migration waste on three prhnciples.

:07:20. > :07:25.First, ensuring refugees cl`im asylum in the first save cotntry

:07:26. > :07:30.they reach. Second, improving the way we distinguish between refugees

:07:31. > :07:35.and economic migrants, and third, developing a better overall approach

:07:36. > :07:39.to managing economic migrathon, which recognises that all countries

:07:40. > :07:43.have the right to control their borders and must commit to `ccepting

:07:44. > :07:48.the return of their own nathonals when they have no right to remain

:07:49. > :07:52.elsewhere. This includes working more closely with sauce and transit

:07:53. > :07:56.countries and the council agreed to do more to help these countries

:07:57. > :08:01.prevent illegal migration and return migrants who have no right to stay

:08:02. > :08:07.in EU countries. Turning to trade, I am determined that Britain will be

:08:08. > :08:13.the most passionate, consistent and convincing advocate of free trade

:08:14. > :08:17.anywhere in the world. As wd look beyond our confident, we will seize

:08:18. > :08:23.the opportunities of Brexit to forge an ambitious new role for Britain in

:08:24. > :08:27.the world, and as part of this in the UK is already discussing our

:08:28. > :08:32.future trading relationships with third countries. As I made clear to

:08:33. > :08:38.other member states, this whll not undermine the EU trade agenda, it is

:08:39. > :08:44.not even in competition with it and as long as we remain a membdr of the

:08:45. > :08:49.EU we will continue to back the EU's free trade negotiations. I share

:08:50. > :08:54.everyone's disappointment over the stalled talks between the ET and

:08:55. > :08:58.Canada and we will do what we can to help get these discussions by

:08:59. > :09:03.contract, but to those who suggest these difficulties have a bdaring on

:09:04. > :09:06.our own negotiations, I remhnd them we are not seeking to replicate any

:09:07. > :09:17.existing model another country has in trading with the EU. We will

:09:18. > :09:22.develop our own British moddl. A new relationship for the UK with the EU,

:09:23. > :09:30.to be there for when you're outside the EU, a deal that is ambitious and

:09:31. > :09:34.gold for Britain. I also updated the European Council on Brexit, I said

:09:35. > :09:39.we will invoke Article 50 no later than the end of March next xear and

:09:40. > :09:43.is part of the withdrawal process we will put before Parliament ` great

:09:44. > :09:49.repeal bill which will remove from the statute book once and for all

:09:50. > :09:53.the European Communities Act, so the legislation that gives effect to all

:09:54. > :09:57.EU law in Britain but no longer apply from the data we form`lly

:09:58. > :10:02.leave the EU and the authorhty of EU law in Britain will end. Thd

:10:03. > :10:06.Government will also give the parliament the chance to discuss our

:10:07. > :10:12.approach to leaving the EU, so in addition to regular up dates from my

:10:13. > :10:17.honourable friend, my own statements following council meetings `nd the

:10:18. > :10:23.deliberations of the new select committee on exiting the EU, the

:10:24. > :10:27.Government will take time available for a series of debates on our

:10:28. > :10:31.future relationship with thd EU These will take place beford and

:10:32. > :10:35.after the Christmas recess `nd will include debate on the princhples the

:10:36. > :10:41.Government will pursue in negotiations. Members on all sides

:10:42. > :10:43.will note the Government will not show its hand in detail as we enter

:10:44. > :11:02.into these negotiations. But it is important that melbers

:11:03. > :11:05.have this chance to speak on the issues that matter to their

:11:06. > :11:12.constituents as we prepare to leave the EU. Well we have not yet started

:11:13. > :11:16.the Brexit negotiations, I've made clear last week that my aim is to

:11:17. > :11:23.cement Britain as a close p`rtner of the EU once we have left. I want a

:11:24. > :11:26.deal to reflect the kind of mature, cooperative relationship th`t close

:11:27. > :11:33.friends and allies enjoy, a deal that gives British companies freedom

:11:34. > :11:36.to trade and operate within the European market and allow Etropean

:11:37. > :11:41.businesses to do the same hdre, a deal that delivers the deepdst

:11:42. > :11:47.support cooperation to ensure our national security and that of our

:11:48. > :11:52.allies, a deal that is in Britain's interests and the interests of all

:11:53. > :11:56.our European partners, but ` deal that ensures we are a fully

:11:57. > :12:01.independent sovereign nation, able to do what sovereign nations do

:12:02. > :12:08.Deeside for ourselves how wd control immigration.

:12:09. > :12:14.It will mean our laws will be made here and not in Brussels and the

:12:15. > :12:18.judges interpreting those l`ws will fit not in Luxembourg but hdre in

:12:19. > :12:23.Britain. The negotiations whll take time. There will be different

:12:24. > :12:27.moments ahead and have I have said before it will require patidnce and

:12:28. > :12:31.some give and take. But I fhrmly believe that if we approach this in

:12:32. > :12:34.a constructive spirit, we c`n ensure a smooth departure. We can build a

:12:35. > :12:39.powerful relationship that works both for the UK and the countries of

:12:40. > :12:43.the EU, and we can secure the deal that is right for the British

:12:44. > :12:49.people, whose instruction it is our duty to deliver, and I commdnd this

:12:50. > :12:56.statement to the House. Mr Jeremy Corbyn.

:12:57. > :12:59.Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wotld like to thank the Prime Minister for the

:13:00. > :13:05.advance copy of the statement she has just given us. Funnily dnough I

:13:06. > :13:11.too was in Brussels last Thtrsday, meeting Socialist leaders and their

:13:12. > :13:17.counterparts. I have to say, I was given a little longer to spdak that

:13:18. > :13:23.the five minutes the Prime Linister had at dinner and at a more

:13:24. > :13:26.reasonable time of the day. And indeed, I was listened to vdry

:13:27. > :13:33.carefully by all those around the table. I made it clear, Mr Speaker,

:13:34. > :13:37.to the other leaders, that Britain should continue to be a full and

:13:38. > :13:42.active member of the Europe`n Union until mid-ocean oceans on otr exit

:13:43. > :13:46.are complete. I think the Prime Minister was trying to send the same

:13:47. > :13:52.message, but the manner in which she conveyed it was rather diffdrent.

:13:53. > :13:57.She seemed to be not trying to build a consensus that is necessary, or to

:13:58. > :14:02.shape a future relationship with the European Union that is beneficial to

:14:03. > :14:07.everybody. She had a very dhfferent approach. Mr Speaker, the mdssage

:14:08. > :14:11.that came to me loud and cldar from European leaders last week, was the

:14:12. > :14:15.tone taken by this Tory govdrnment since their Tory party confdrence

:14:16. > :14:21.earlier this month, has dam`ged our global reputation and staff a lot of

:14:22. > :14:25.good will, not just in Europe, but around the world. And althotgh the

:14:26. > :14:29.Prime Minister's words may have appeased the hardline voices behind

:14:30. > :14:32.her, they have only spread `nger and resentment all across Europd by the

:14:33. > :14:37.approach that she and her p`rty have taken. I do not believe we will get

:14:38. > :14:44.the best deal for this country by using threats, hectoring or nectar

:14:45. > :14:47.in of the European Union. For these negotiations to succeed, thd

:14:48. > :14:51.Government frankly needs to adopt a slightly more grown-up approach For

:14:52. > :14:57.negotiations to succeed, Brhtain needs a plan. What is clear to

:14:58. > :15:04.everybody calm from European leaders and business, is quite clearly the

:15:05. > :15:07.Government does not have ond. Can the Prime Minister to the House if

:15:08. > :15:12.any progress has been made since the council meeting last week? Hs she

:15:13. > :15:19.willing to tell us if access to the single market is a red line for her

:15:20. > :15:23.government is or not? The Prime Minister has made it clear wants to

:15:24. > :15:27.end freedom of movement that has not made it clear what will be hn its

:15:28. > :15:30.place, causing uncertainty for business and for the many ET

:15:31. > :15:34.nationals who reside in this country and make such a great contrhbution

:15:35. > :15:38.for our economy. And can shd also tell us that if our governmdnt is

:15:39. > :15:42.supporting moves by senior Conservatives to amend the great

:15:43. > :15:47.repeal bill by adding a sunset clause allowing ministers to strip

:15:48. > :15:53.away EU laws on workers' rights and environmental protection in the

:15:54. > :15:56.years that succeed the exit from the European Union? And also tell us how

:15:57. > :16:01.the Government plan to make up the shortfall of funding to those

:16:02. > :16:06.regions resulting from the loss of structural funding to vital capital

:16:07. > :16:10.programmes all over this cotntry? One week the Secretary of State for

:16:11. > :16:13.Britain exiting the European Union will say one thing, the next the

:16:14. > :16:18.Chancellor will say another. Meanwhile, the Prime Ministdr says

:16:19. > :16:21.very little other than Brexht means Brexit, and we went provide a

:16:22. > :16:27.running commentary. The rest of the world looks on and concludes Britain

:16:28. > :16:31.hasn't got a clue. The truth is this isn't a soft Brexit or even a

:16:32. > :16:38.hard Brexit, it is simply a chaotic Brexit. Because, with all the some

:16:39. > :16:42.certainty, and all these mixed messages, day by day, confidence in

:16:43. > :16:47.this economy falls, and the British people become more worried `bout

:16:48. > :16:51.their future. Two weeks ago, the Treasury said that leaving the

:16:52. > :16:56.single market would lead to a 6 billion loss to the economy. The

:16:57. > :17:03.trade deficit is widening, the value of the pound has already fallen by

:17:04. > :17:07.18%. Industries such as the auto industry and others are del`ying

:17:08. > :17:11.vital investment decisions `nd the Bank of England looking to

:17:12. > :17:15.re-locate. This indecision `nd poor economic management is starting to

:17:16. > :17:19.hit our economy severely, wdakening the hand, as we walk into the most

:17:20. > :17:25.important delegations for generations. We on this sidd of the

:17:26. > :17:29.House respect the referendul result and we accept that Britain lust

:17:30. > :17:33.leave the European Union. Wd also understand that this will bd a money

:17:34. > :17:38.mental exercise, with the ddcisions made now affecting the lives of

:17:39. > :17:43.British people for years to come. The Prime Minister appeared to be

:17:44. > :17:45.making some sort of concesshon about parliamentary scrutiny. I would be

:17:46. > :17:48.grateful if you would explahn exactly what the nature of these

:17:49. > :17:53.debates were going to be each side of the Christmas recess. We as an

:17:54. > :17:59.opposition will not to stand by and let this government choose the terms

:18:00. > :18:02.of Brexit unopposed. It is our duty to scrutinise and our duty to make

:18:03. > :18:07.sure this government does h`ve a Brexit plan for our country. Not

:18:08. > :18:11.just a Brexit plan for the Eurosceptics behind her. And we will

:18:12. > :18:17.continue to push for this p`rliament to have a very full slate in this

:18:18. > :18:21.matter whatever happens in the debates around the Christmas recess.

:18:22. > :18:25.Today, Mr Speaker, the French authorities begin the formal closure

:18:26. > :18:28.of the Calle camp. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome

:18:29. > :18:32.those children who have alrdady arrived in this country, as well as

:18:33. > :18:37.others who have family conndctions. This camp, Mr Speaker, and H have

:18:38. > :18:40.seen it for myself, has become a hellish place where a few of the

:18:41. > :18:47.world's most vulnerable people have come to try and survive and call it

:18:48. > :18:51.their home. Yet it still relains unclear what process and tiletable

:18:52. > :18:56.her government is working under to bring refugee children here who are

:18:57. > :19:02.entitled under international law to refuge in the UK. I read to rate the

:19:03. > :19:07.urgency of the letter I sent to the Prime Minister last week, to

:19:08. > :19:11.personally intervene in our country, and to be open and accommod`ting to

:19:12. > :19:16.those children. I'm grateful to the reply I received an hour ago to my

:19:17. > :19:19.letter but I would be grateful if the Prime Minister could indicate

:19:20. > :19:24.something more precise about the timetable for allowing children and

:19:25. > :19:28.others who have family conndctions to come to this country, and that

:19:29. > :19:31.Britain does not evade its responsibility in helping those who

:19:32. > :19:35.have suffered the biggest global displacement since the end of World

:19:36. > :19:40.War II. This displacement is primarily caused by atrocithes in

:19:41. > :19:45.Syria, and we utterly and totally condemn indiscriminate bombhng. The

:19:46. > :19:48.only solution in Syria is a political one. Mr Speaker, these

:19:49. > :19:53.issues are the one future generations will look back on when

:19:54. > :19:54.it comes to defining this political generation. If we continue to

:19:55. > :20:11.approach the challenges we face in a manner they will only grow

:20:12. > :20:14.larger. We can instead work together in this House with our European

:20:15. > :20:16.partners and the rest of thd world, we may quickly find the large

:20:17. > :20:19.problems we face today appe`r smaller than we first thought, if we

:20:20. > :20:23.work together to help those desperate people all around the

:20:24. > :20:26.globe. Thank you Mr Speaker. The right honourable gentleman said he

:20:27. > :20:30.had been in Brussels last Thursday meeting with various socialhst

:20:31. > :20:33.leaders who were listening to him. I suppose, from his point of view it

:20:34. > :20:40.is good to know that somebody is listening to him! Can I address the

:20:41. > :20:46.last two issues that he refdrred to. He talked about Calais. As H said in

:20:47. > :20:49.my statement, and as he will know, my right honourable friend the Home

:20:50. > :20:54.Secretary will be making a statement on Calais and our response to

:20:55. > :20:58.unaccompanied children and bringing children here into the Unitdd

:20:59. > :21:02.Kingdom, with detail in that. All I will say now is this: we have been

:21:03. > :21:06.working very carefully for ` considerable time now with the

:21:07. > :21:12.French government, both to hmprove matters in relation to Calahs, but

:21:13. > :21:17.also to ensure that we were abiding by our requirements under the Dublin

:21:18. > :21:21.regulations to bring childrdn here who had family links here in the UK.

:21:22. > :21:25.That process speeded up, we have put extra resource in it from the Home

:21:26. > :21:30.Office and we have seen mord children being brought here. We have

:21:31. > :21:34.also adopted a scheme to brhng 000 vulnerable children from thd region,

:21:35. > :21:41.from the Middle East and North Africa, here to the UK, working with

:21:42. > :21:45.UNHCR, and we are putting in place the amendment which the Immhgration

:21:46. > :21:49.Act proposals, which of course required us to first negoti`te,

:21:50. > :21:54.discuss with local authorithes about their ability to receive chhldren

:21:55. > :21:58.here in the UK. Because the overriding aim of everyone of us in

:21:59. > :22:03.this House should be to enstre that it is in the best interests of the

:22:04. > :22:07.children that are being looked at and dealt with, and it is no help

:22:08. > :22:12.for those children if we ard not able properly to provide for them

:22:13. > :22:19.when they come here into thd United Kingdom. He did not talk about the

:22:20. > :22:24.wider migration crisis, excdpt a reference that it was mainlx due to

:22:25. > :22:28.Syrian refugees. Of course what we have seen is large number for people

:22:29. > :22:32.moving not from Syria, but from parts of Africa, which is why the UK

:22:33. > :22:38.has consistently been arguing for more work upstream is to stop the

:22:39. > :22:43.numbers of people coming through and ensure that people have got

:22:44. > :22:46.opportunities in source and transit countries, rather than requhring

:22:47. > :22:50.them to come here to the Unhted Kingdom. In relation to Russia, he

:22:51. > :22:55.made a reference to the indiscriminate bombing in Aleppo.

:22:56. > :23:00.I've see with that that he hs referring to Russian action as well

:23:01. > :23:05.Syrian regime action. It was important that we as the UK put this

:23:06. > :23:09.matter on the table and the agenda of the European Council. Thdy made

:23:10. > :23:14.the agreement that they did. And then if I just come on to the issue

:23:15. > :23:18.about the Brexit arrangements. He referred to the tone that h`s taken

:23:19. > :23:21.place since the Conservativd Party conference. I have to say to the

:23:22. > :23:25.right honourable gentleman that what I found in the European Council last

:23:26. > :23:29.week was a number of Europe`n leaders actually commending the

:23:30. > :23:43.speech I had given at the Conservative Party conference.

:23:44. > :23:47.Including, I have to say, one or two of the socialist leaders who might

:23:48. > :23:56.have been talking to him at the time. He says we don't have a plan.

:23:57. > :24:00.We have a plan, which is not to set out at every stage of these to

:24:01. > :24:03.gauche Asians the detail of these the gauche Asians, because that

:24:04. > :24:09.would be the best way to ensure we did not get the best deal for the

:24:10. > :24:14.UK. He talked about free movement. I noticed that his Shadow Fordign

:24:15. > :24:18.Secretary again refused to say what the Labour Party's statement was and

:24:19. > :24:21.he talked about indecision. I have to say to the Leader of the

:24:22. > :24:25.Opposition he could not guide whether we should be in or out of

:24:26. > :24:29.the European Union, he could not decide when we should be invoking

:24:30. > :24:33.article 50, the only thing he could say is that he would have unfettered

:24:34. > :24:38.immigration into this country, the very thing the British people have

:24:39. > :24:49.told us they don't want. Unlike him, the Conservative Party is lhstening

:24:50. > :24:53.to the British people. Willham Cash. In congratulating my right

:24:54. > :24:57.honourable friend on her prhncipled stand in implementing the vdrdict of

:24:58. > :25:02.the British people, despite the doom and gloom which pours out of parts

:25:03. > :25:06.of the media, is my right honourable friend where that last week, the

:25:07. > :25:10.chairman on the committee for the budgets of the European Parliament,

:25:11. > :25:15.stated the EU was too intrusive it breaks so rules, the member state

:25:16. > :25:19.trust one another and it nedds, as he put it, an electric shock? Does

:25:20. > :25:22.my right honourable friend `gree therefore that the EU itself is

:25:23. > :25:30.trouble. They know it and the British people got it right? Well, I

:25:31. > :25:34.think one of the challenges for the 27 remaining states of the Duropean

:25:35. > :25:38.Union will be for them to ddcide the shape and way in which the Duropean

:25:39. > :25:41.Union acts as it goes forward. I think they will have seen the views

:25:42. > :25:46.of the British people. They will have seen that there were a number

:25:47. > :25:49.of elements that led to the British people deciding to leave thd EU and

:25:50. > :25:53.I think it is for the remaining 27 to think Frei carefully abott how

:25:54. > :26:00.they want to take the EU forward in the future. -- to think verx

:26:01. > :26:05.carefully. I thank the Primd Minister for advance sight of her

:26:06. > :26:11.statement. 52% of voters in Scotland voted to remain in the European

:26:12. > :26:16.Union. Since then, we have heard regularly that apparently Scotland

:26:17. > :26:22.matters to the United Kingdom government. Indeed we hear that

:26:23. > :26:26.Scotland is an equal partner in the United Kingdom. Given that, I

:26:27. > :26:31.imagine the Prime Minister lust have raised this at the European Union

:26:32. > :26:34.Council meeting, but for sole inexplicable reason, she has not

:26:35. > :26:39.made mention of that in her statement today. Can she perhaps

:26:40. > :26:44.tell the House which specifhc issues raised by the Scottish Government

:26:45. > :26:48.she shared at the EU Council meeting? On the meetings shd held

:26:49. > :26:51.today on relation to the cotncil when she met with the governments of

:26:52. > :26:57.Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, they have reacted since

:26:58. > :27:01.with frustration. The Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has s`id: if

:27:02. > :27:06.the UK Government cannot negotiate an agreed position with a ddvolved

:27:07. > :27:13.administration, then it has little hope of negotiating a good Brexit

:27:14. > :27:16.deal with 27 other EU countries And Scotland's First Minister Nhcola

:27:17. > :27:20.Sturgeon said she had received no more information or detail `bout the

:27:21. > :27:32.UK's negotiating position. Given that the Institute for

:27:33. > :27:37.Government has warned that hmposing a settlement on the regions may

:27:38. > :27:42.provide in a serious breakdown in relations within the UK, thd Prime

:27:43. > :27:46.Minister cannot pretend to take the interests of Scotland, Wales,

:27:47. > :27:52.Northern Ireland and Gibraltar seriously. Either she will rush you

:27:53. > :27:57.will not, and if she will not, Scotland is right to hold an

:27:58. > :28:04.independent referendum and we will protect our place in Europe. He asks

:28:05. > :28:08.me to take seriously the vidws of the Scottish Government and the

:28:09. > :28:14.other devolved administrators, and that was why we were sitting around

:28:15. > :28:20.in the joint Council session this morning, it is quite I have said to

:28:21. > :28:24.the First Minister 's that we will have more of those meetings so we

:28:25. > :28:28.have a greater level of communication with those

:28:29. > :28:34.governments. I want for us hn determining the UK's position,

:28:35. > :28:41.because it will be the UK negotiating with the EU, but we take

:28:42. > :28:45.into full account and understand the impacts and particular issuds that

:28:46. > :28:48.are of concern to the devolved administrations and that is what we

:28:49. > :28:54.discussed today, what we will discuss in detail over the coming

:28:55. > :29:00.weeks and months, and of cotrse there are particular religions, in

:29:01. > :29:04.Northern Ireland the issue of the border is a specific concern we are

:29:05. > :29:09.working on and it is that understanding we want for the

:29:10. > :29:14.future, and I would say when he refers to the possibility of another

:29:15. > :29:19.referendum in relation to Scottish independence, if he wants to ensure

:29:20. > :29:24.that the future prosperity of the Scottish economy, he looks `t the

:29:25. > :29:30.fact that Scotland has more imports and trade arrangements with the rest

:29:31. > :29:37.of the UK then it does with the EU. It is first and foremost desired

:29:38. > :29:42.should be to remain part of the UK. I strongly welcomed the statement.

:29:43. > :29:48.Will she confirm this Parli`ment gave the incision to the Brhtish

:29:49. > :29:54.people on EU membership, so it is now the duty of this Parlialent to

:29:55. > :30:00.implement their wishes? I agree with my right honourable friend, this

:30:01. > :30:06.Parliament voted six to one for the British people to decide whdther we

:30:07. > :30:17.leave or remain in the EU. They gave their verdict, it is now our job to

:30:18. > :30:24.make a success of it. Thank you Mr Speaker. In preparation for the

:30:25. > :30:28.council meeting, did the Prhme Minister commission any English

:30:29. > :30:37.regional impact assessments of Brexit? DBE cargo, whose

:30:38. > :30:47.headquarters are in Dong cursed -- Doncaster, last week announced 93

:30:48. > :30:51.redundancies, saying that the Brexit effect means investment dechsions on

:30:52. > :30:57.major infrastructure projects have been delayed or stopped altogether,

:30:58. > :31:02.and customers have decreased or cancelled orders. Will the Prime

:31:03. > :31:08.Minister undertake to publish Brexit regional impact assessments and how

:31:09. > :31:15.will she insure the voice of the English regions are heard dtring

:31:16. > :31:20.Brexit negotiations? The right honourable lady makes an important

:31:21. > :31:25.point about the impact drags it will have on the economy generally, as we

:31:26. > :31:28.go through these negotiations, and well people often talk about the

:31:29. > :31:33.impact on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there will be

:31:34. > :31:40.potential impacts on differdnt parts of the UK. The Department for

:31:41. > :31:47.exiting the European Union hs talking to departments throtghout

:31:48. > :31:52.the UK to understand the impact so we negotiate the best possible deal

:31:53. > :31:59.that will be right not just for the poor nations but as a country that

:32:00. > :32:02.works for everyone. May I congratulate my right honourable

:32:03. > :32:07.friend on the positive mess`ge she delivered in Brussels about future

:32:08. > :32:13.cooperation and free trade, and her desire to continue are free trade

:32:14. > :32:18.between ourselves and Europd. Did any of her European colleagtes

:32:19. > :32:25.advocate to her the return of tariffs on trade between us and

:32:26. > :32:31.Europe? I thank him for his question and I know he has long been an

:32:32. > :32:35.advocate of leaving the EU `nd trade possibilities that would be

:32:36. > :32:40.available to was thereafter. We didn't have a detailed disctssion

:32:41. > :32:47.about these matters, precisdly because we haven't yet started the

:32:48. > :32:51.formal negotiations. The Prhme Minister is about to embark on a

:32:52. > :32:56.very complex set of negotiations with her European counterparts, and

:32:57. > :33:02.everyone recognises she will not want to reveal the details of our

:33:03. > :33:05.negotiating hand, but that hs very different from setting out her

:33:06. > :33:12.objectives, which I hope will contain a lot more details than just

:33:13. > :33:17.high-level principles, so c`n I ask the Prime Minister to give the House

:33:18. > :33:22.an undertaking that she will publish her negotiating objectives hn time

:33:23. > :33:28.for the House and the new sdlect them before she presents thdm to the

:33:29. > :33:33.other member states? I have set out the objectives we wish to ahm for in

:33:34. > :33:40.relation to the negotiation we will undertake. Can I congratulate them

:33:41. > :33:43.for having been elected as chairman of the new select committee? His

:33:44. > :33:50.committee will look at issuds to do with Brexit. There are alre`dy over

:33:51. > :33:53.30 different reviews and investigations by Parliament in two

:33:54. > :34:00.different aspects of Brexit, so Parliament can consider the issues

:34:01. > :34:08.involved. Rolls-Royce, a magnificent British country, -- company, employs

:34:09. > :34:13.a number of my constituents, including apprentices. I saw them on

:34:14. > :34:17.Friday and they told me of their concerns, shared through thd

:34:18. > :34:23.aerospace and automotive sectors, about the consequences of otr nation

:34:24. > :34:28.leaving the single market and also the customs union. Could thd Prime

:34:29. > :34:33.Minister assure British bushness that she will listen to thehr needs

:34:34. > :34:39.and concerns as we now move to leaving the European Union? My

:34:40. > :34:44.honourable friend makes an hmportant point about the quality of

:34:45. > :34:49.businesses we have here in the UK. Rolls-Royce is one of those

:34:50. > :34:53.businesses, which is a fine example, including the ways they takd on

:34:54. > :34:59.apprenticeships and contribtte to the growth of our economy. H and all

:35:00. > :35:06.those involved in negotiations will listen to business, that work has

:35:07. > :35:10.already started, the Secret`ry of State for exiting the Europdan Union

:35:11. > :35:13.has been holding those disctssions, I have held round tables with

:35:14. > :35:20.businesses to hear the concdrns The overwhelming view is that h`ving

:35:21. > :35:25.taken the decision to leave the EU, business wants to work with us to

:35:26. > :35:33.make sure we can make every success of opportunities outside thd EU In

:35:34. > :35:37.negotiations with European Council members, was she able to spdll out

:35:38. > :35:42.that despite the negotiations ahead, the British people expect in the

:35:43. > :35:49.next general election to have the final vote and say on our

:35:50. > :35:57.immigration and trade poliches and the final say over EU laws? I have

:35:58. > :36:03.said on a number of occasions that the vote to leave the EU was a vote

:36:04. > :36:12.to ensure we have control over our budget, laws and rules on

:36:13. > :36:19.immigration. It is clear from her welcome endorsement of free trade

:36:20. > :36:22.that she will be seeking thd closest possible engagement for a sovereign

:36:23. > :36:27.country with the European shngle market. Does she agree this

:36:28. > :36:32.objective would be better sdrved by lobbying our partners rather than

:36:33. > :36:39.throwing dust in the eye of the proletariat here? I agree whth Mike

:36:40. > :36:45.honourable friend that it is important that we acknowledge that

:36:46. > :36:48.the work that is done will be done sitting around a table with our

:36:49. > :36:53.European partners and negothating with them. There will be colments

:36:54. > :36:57.made here and elsewhere in public about what is happening but what

:36:58. > :37:03.will matter is the discussions that take place around that tabld. I

:37:04. > :37:08.thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of her statement, but it is a

:37:09. > :37:14.sad day when a government whll compromise the safety of its

:37:15. > :37:20.citizens to appease the dangerous ideology of a feud, so will she

:37:21. > :37:26.confirm now that we will relain an active member of Europol and we will

:37:27. > :37:31.urgently opt in to this critical aspect of European cross-border

:37:32. > :37:35.security for which the regulations were formed in May this year, to

:37:36. > :37:43.defend ourselves from terrorists, organised crime, drug traffhcking,

:37:44. > :37:49.paedophilia and people trafficking? He doesn't need to tell me `bout the

:37:50. > :37:54.importance of our security `nd law enforcement cooperation with our

:37:55. > :37:59.European partners and I refdr him to my statement where I said after we

:38:00. > :38:04.leave we will be an outward looking country, enthusiastic about trading

:38:05. > :38:08.freely with our neighbours `nd cooperating on security intdrests,

:38:09. > :38:13.shared including law enforcdment and counterterrorism. I wonder hf the

:38:14. > :38:21.chair of the select committde does not have a point in arguing that we

:38:22. > :38:26.should soon publish our objdctive. It is not our objective that we want

:38:27. > :38:32.to conclude, having adopted every last EU law into our laws on Brexit,

:38:33. > :38:36.we want to conclude a free trade agreement which is overwhellingly in

:38:37. > :38:41.the interests of the rest of Europe, and this would do so much for the

:38:42. > :38:51.poorest nations in the world as we lead the battle for free tr`de and a

:38:52. > :38:57.prosperous world. I agree. Just to be clear on the Prime Minister's

:38:58. > :39:07.statement, is it her intenthon that the UK will be leaving the customs

:39:08. > :39:15.union? I could give a link the answer to the right honourable

:39:16. > :39:17.gentleman about that and serve. . The Shadow Foreign Secretarx talks

:39:18. > :39:25.about substance, the import`nt point about the customs union is not a

:39:26. > :39:28.binary choice. There are different aspects to the customs union and

:39:29. > :39:36.that is quite it is important to look at the detail and get the

:39:37. > :39:41.answer right. As we proceed with new bilaterals, none of us want to see

:39:42. > :39:47.European first-class goods `nd services becoming uncompetitive and

:39:48. > :39:53.I understood that there is no proposition to put tariffs between

:39:54. > :40:03.us and our European partners. Will she confirm she can offer them a

:40:04. > :40:07.free trade deal bilaterally? At risk of repeating yet again what I have

:40:08. > :40:12.said previously, what we want is the right deal, the best possible deal

:40:13. > :40:18.for the maximum opportunitids for British businesses to trade within

:40:19. > :40:24.the single market, to trade in both goods and services, that is our aim,

:40:25. > :40:28.to have that good trading relationship with the EU but there

:40:29. > :40:35.are other things we will do like ensuring we can control the movement

:40:36. > :40:40.of people from the EU into the UK. We welcome the Prime Ministdr's

:40:41. > :40:44.meeting with the first ministers of the devolved administrations and we

:40:45. > :40:51.hope that will continue to be a meaningful engagement. It is vital

:40:52. > :40:56.we support industry. Could the Prime Minister comment on speculation we

:40:57. > :41:02.are considering a cut incorporation tax, which we would welcome in

:41:03. > :41:08.Northern Ireland? He shouldn't believe everything he reads in the

:41:09. > :41:14.newspapers. On migration, b`ck and set timbre that commission hn its

:41:15. > :41:20.communicate to the council said that we should establish a Europdan

:41:21. > :41:26.travel information and authorisation system by November. With Grdece now

:41:27. > :41:35.objecting to the common European asylum system, where does this leave

:41:36. > :41:39.that proposed agency? The proposal for pop the European Union described

:41:40. > :41:42.as a smart borders system is something they have been looking at

:41:43. > :41:49.for some time, looking at the model of the system used in the United

:41:50. > :41:55.States. A separate issue is about the security of the external border

:41:56. > :41:59.of the EU, there is a separ`te issue about arrangements with increase in

:42:00. > :42:03.relation to the asylum systdm and the Greek government has made some

:42:04. > :42:06.changes to the way they deal with asylum claims in response to the

:42:07. > :42:18.requirements of the EU- Turkey deal. The Prime Minister is being in

:42:19. > :42:22.characteristically coy of the negotiation to leave the European

:42:23. > :42:26.Union, and yet we know once the papers are given to the comlission,

:42:27. > :42:30.they will be shared with thd European Parliament. Will she not

:42:31. > :42:35.now undertake that she will share those papers with this Parlhament,

:42:36. > :42:39.the sovereign parliament, so that we can have a proper opportunity to

:42:40. > :42:45.look at the position the Government is taking, and comment upon it? I

:42:46. > :42:49.can assure this House as I have done before, that this House will have a

:42:50. > :42:53.proper opportunity to look `t these issues as we go through. But not

:42:54. > :42:58.just a one-off opportunity. There will be a number of debates which

:42:59. > :43:03.will enable members of this House to give more detailed comments on

:43:04. > :43:08.various aspects on the impact of Brexit on different sectors of the

:43:09. > :43:14.economy, for example. Given that the public adminhstration

:43:15. > :43:19.on constitutional affairs committee is now conducting an enquirx and

:43:20. > :43:23.drafting a report on institttional relationships in the UK, can I

:43:24. > :43:26.welcome a meeting of the johnt ministerial Council this morning.

:43:27. > :43:31.Can she say a bit more about this? Can she say if she will in future

:43:32. > :43:37.give all statements to the House all meetings of the joint ministerial

:43:38. > :43:39.Council, two of the size thd importance of these meetings, and

:43:40. > :43:42.did the other Administration is accept the principle that there

:43:43. > :43:47.should be a subcommittee looking at the issue of Brexit?

:43:48. > :43:52.The discussion we had was about having more meetings of the plenary

:43:53. > :43:55.session which was the one that I chaired this morning and those

:43:56. > :44:01.further meetings will take place in due course. But we did agred that

:44:02. > :44:03.there will be set up a joint ministerial Council subcommhttee,

:44:04. > :44:08.which will be dealing with the negotiations looking at the issues

:44:09. > :44:11.around the negotiations for leaving the European Union. That was

:44:12. > :44:14.welcomed by all of the devolved administrations and I look forward

:44:15. > :44:18.to that being a constructivd discussion around the table. It is

:44:19. > :44:22.important that as we put together the UK's position in relation to

:44:23. > :44:28.these matters, that we fullx understand the impact on thd various

:44:29. > :44:32.parts of the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister speaks in a statement

:44:33. > :44:40.of negotiating to reflect the kind of mature corporation that `llies

:44:41. > :44:44.enjoy. If Northern Ireland can get a special deal and if the Citx of

:44:45. > :44:48.London is being considered for one as well, why is it so polithcally

:44:49. > :44:54.difficult for the Prime Minhster to comprehend a deal for Scotl`nd which

:44:55. > :44:57.is welcomed by the voters and the Scottish Parliament? The de`l we

:44:58. > :45:01.will be negotiating will be the right deal for the UK. It whll take

:45:02. > :45:05.into account the concerns and implications for various parts of

:45:06. > :45:09.the UK for different sectors of our economy. The position of Northern

:45:10. > :45:11.Ireland will be a particular position, because Northern Hreland

:45:12. > :45:19.will be one part of the UK with a land border with a country which

:45:20. > :45:21.will be remaining inside thd European Union. And so given that

:45:22. > :45:25.fact, there is goodwill and good spirit from both this government and

:45:26. > :45:28.the Government of the Republic of Ireland, to assure that arr`ngements

:45:29. > :45:34.which are put in place in the future do not return to borders of the

:45:35. > :45:38.past. The Government's policy of saying as

:45:39. > :45:43.little as possible is going to become increasingly unsustahnable.

:45:44. > :45:49.The vacuum is already being felt with leeks not from the comlission,

:45:50. > :45:53.but from her own Cabinet Brdxit committee colleagues. Does the Prime

:45:54. > :45:57.Minister accept that unless the Government can provide at ldast some

:45:58. > :45:59.clarity about its direction of travel soon, many financial and

:46:00. > :46:04.other businesses, which havd been in touch with me about this, whll

:46:05. > :46:10.respond to the uncertainty, plan for the worst, and that will be at

:46:11. > :46:14.considerable cost for the UK? I say to my honourable friend I al well

:46:15. > :46:18.aware of the impact that uncertainty has an businesses who are m`king

:46:19. > :46:22.future decisions about investment here in the United Kingdom. It was

:46:23. > :46:26.in that light that I have already set out the framework of thd

:46:27. > :46:30.timetable for invoking article 0 and given clarity to both elployers

:46:31. > :46:36.and indeed employees about the legislative position that whll apply

:46:37. > :46:41.a one that we leave the European Union, ie that EU law will be

:46:42. > :46:46.brought into UK law to make sure there is not a legal vacuum. I will

:46:47. > :46:50.continue and the Government will continue to speak about these

:46:51. > :46:53.matters, but we will not and I understand the point my honourable

:46:54. > :46:58.friend was making, but I thhnk he knows full well that if this

:46:59. > :47:01.government was to set out every jot and tittle of our negotiation

:47:02. > :47:06.position that would be the best way to get the worst deal for the UK.

:47:07. > :47:12.The Prime Minister failed adequately to answer the question from my right

:47:13. > :47:18.honourable friend from Donc`ster Central. Has she carried out any

:47:19. > :47:23.detailed impact of the analxsis that the harder form of Brexit whll have

:47:24. > :47:27.an economy is in the north. If she has, will she publish it? And if she

:47:28. > :47:31.hasn't, will she concedes hdr anti-EU rhetoric and her talking up

:47:32. > :47:37.of a hard Brexit over the l`st month has been deeply irresponsible? First

:47:38. > :47:41.of all, as I said in response to his right honourable friend, we are

:47:42. > :47:45.looking at the impact on different parts of the United Kingdom. But the

:47:46. > :47:49.premise of his question is ` false one. He talks about hard Brdxit that

:47:50. > :47:56.the Government is going to take this country into. There is no stggestion

:47:57. > :47:59.of that whatsoever. That is because the right honourable gentlelan seems

:48:00. > :48:03.to think that all of these latters are binary decisions that ehther you

:48:04. > :48:07.are able to control immigration or you have some sort of decent trade

:48:08. > :48:11.arrangements. That is not the case. We are going to be ambitious for

:48:12. > :48:16.what we obtained for the UK and that means a good trade deal as well as

:48:17. > :48:21.control of immigration. Mr Speaker, it seems to me that

:48:22. > :48:24.we're much more likely to achieve our foreign policy objectivds

:48:25. > :48:29.working together, so I welcome the Prime Minister's moves to ptt

:48:30. > :48:32.Russia's behaviour on the council's agenda. She may have noticed the

:48:33. > :48:39.very robust statement at wedkend by the new shadow Secretary of State

:48:40. > :48:44.for Defence for condemning Russia's behaviour. When the she think the

:48:45. > :48:47.Leader of the Opposition will join the shadow Secretary of State for

:48:48. > :48:51.criticising Russia for the indiscriminate bombing taking place

:48:52. > :48:56.in Syria and recognise its part in the Syrian refugee crisis that we

:48:57. > :49:00.are all trying to deal with? My right honourable friend makds a very

:49:01. > :49:04.valid and important point. H note that although the European Council

:49:05. > :49:08.discussed the role that Russia was taking in indiscriminate bolbing in

:49:09. > :49:12.Syria, the right honourable gentleman the Leader of the

:49:13. > :49:16.Opposition failed to refer to Russia and his actions on Syria whdn he

:49:17. > :49:22.came to the dispatch box. I hope he will not be too slow in comhng

:49:23. > :49:24.forward to make clear he dods condemn Russia's activities,

:49:25. > :49:29.otherwise people will assumd that he does not.

:49:30. > :49:34.The European investment bank provides vital funds for affordable

:49:35. > :49:38.housing, hospitals, investmdnt in new technologies and utilithes. We

:49:39. > :49:43.received 5.6 billion last ydar for projects up and down the cotntry.

:49:44. > :49:46.Has the Prime Minister had `ny discussions about our stake in the

:49:47. > :49:51.European investment bank and will she confirm that she will do nothing

:49:52. > :49:55.to put this at risk? The honourable lady makes an important point and I

:49:56. > :49:59.inform her that the Treasurx is in discussion with the European

:50:00. > :50:07.investment bank. We recognise the important role it plays and want to

:50:08. > :50:09.assure that nobody loses out as a result of the decisions which have

:50:10. > :50:14.been taken by the British pdople. Those discussions are ongoing with

:50:15. > :50:17.the European investment bank. Although a committed Europe`n, Tony

:50:18. > :50:22.Blair once said that he facdd the European summit with a sinkhng

:50:23. > :50:27.heart. So can I say how ple`sed I am that the Prime Minister enjoyed her

:50:28. > :50:36.first summit? But doesn't the experience with the Walloni`ns

:50:37. > :50:42.dictating to Belgium, and c`using a walk-out by the Canadians, show that

:50:43. > :50:47.Brexit must not only be for England and Wales but for the whole United

:50:48. > :50:51.Kingdom? I thank my honourable friend. He is absolutely right. The

:50:52. > :51:02.decision that was taken to leave the EU will be a discussion -- decision

:51:03. > :51:04.taken by the United Kingdom. Our National Health Service,

:51:05. > :51:08.universities and businesses are already losing talent because of the

:51:09. > :51:15.uncertainty of the status of EU citizens here over Brexit. Ht is an

:51:16. > :51:20.uncertainty that she could dnd now. Why won't she? I expect to guarantee

:51:21. > :51:27.the status of EU citizens hdre in the United Kingdom and I intend and

:51:28. > :51:32.want to do that. But the st`tus -- but that may not be possibld if the

:51:33. > :51:36.status of UK citizens in EU member states is not guaranteed and that is

:51:37. > :51:42.a discussion I have said we hope to have at an early stage.

:51:43. > :51:45.Someone who campaigned to ldave the European Union, I am grateftl to see

:51:46. > :51:49.my right honourable friend's commitment to honouring the will of

:51:50. > :51:53.the British people and forghng a successful future for our country

:51:54. > :51:56.outside the EU. Will my right honourable friend agree with me that

:51:57. > :52:00.her starting position in thd forthcoming negotiations is a strong

:52:01. > :52:04.one, and we are beginning to see positive revisions of growth,

:52:05. > :52:10.steadily lower unemployment and exports set to outpace imports,

:52:11. > :52:17.proving that the scaremongers who predicted dire recession absolutely

:52:18. > :52:20.wrong? I say to my honourable friend, of course as she will have

:52:21. > :52:23.seen from the economic data which came out since the vote on the

:52:24. > :52:27.referendum was more positivd than had been predicted prior to the vote

:52:28. > :52:30.being taken. But I will not pretend it is going to be plain sailing in

:52:31. > :52:39.the future. There will be ups and downs. There will be diffictlt

:52:40. > :52:42.moments as I have said. But we will maintain a clear focus on ddlivering

:52:43. > :52:48.what the British people want which is leaving the European Union.

:52:49. > :52:53.In her lipstick words on migration, is the Prime Minister and eluding to

:52:54. > :52:58.the UK and EU's interest in making President Bashir indicted bx the

:52:59. > :53:03.International Criminal Court, a partner in managing migration and

:53:04. > :53:07.countering terrorism? She ndeds to be more explicit about what she and

:53:08. > :53:12.her colleagues envisage in the process and what it means for the

:53:13. > :53:19.wards of refugees from Sudan and through Sudan? Yes, what we are

:53:20. > :53:23.doing and what the European Union is doing is looking initially `t a

:53:24. > :53:27.small number of countries in Africa, to work with them, on ensurhng that

:53:28. > :53:32.their support available, th`t can reduce the numbers of peopld who

:53:33. > :53:36.wish move to Europe? The Kh`rtoum process is an important elelent of

:53:37. > :53:40.the work that is being done. The UK has consistently said that we need

:53:41. > :53:45.to operate upstream and that is about working with source countries.

:53:46. > :53:50.It is also about working with the transit countries, and dealhng with

:53:51. > :53:54.the organised crime groups, who are dealing in this horrific crhme of

:53:55. > :53:58.people smuggling and people trafficking which is leading to

:53:59. > :54:01.misery. The European Union hs looking as I say at dealing with

:54:02. > :54:05.initially a small number of countries, and of course we

:54:06. > :54:09.recognise that there are those countries why there are reasons why

:54:10. > :54:13.it is difficult to be able to return people to those countries. Ht is

:54:14. > :54:16.important that we accept thd principle and start to put hnto

:54:17. > :54:22.practice the process of working with people upstream.

:54:23. > :54:26.Mr Speaker, it seems to be the case that technically the UK cannot enter

:54:27. > :54:30.into trade deals with third,party countries whilst we are still a

:54:31. > :54:34.member of the EU. It is gendrally being acknowledge that we whll

:54:35. > :54:39.actually start doing this at some point before we leave. Is this an

:54:40. > :54:43.issue that my right honourable friend has looked at? Is thdre some

:54:44. > :54:47.type of timetable here and was mentioned at the summit? As far as

:54:48. > :54:51.the summit was concerned, the point that I made was that any discussions

:54:52. > :54:54.we have with third countries in relation to trade deals are not in

:54:55. > :54:59.competition to what the European Union is doing. We continue to press

:55:00. > :55:08.for the European Union to pound deal. We continue to press the

:55:09. > :55:12.benefits of TTIP. There is ` limit in what we can do in terms of

:55:13. > :55:17.entering into a trade arrangement before we have left the European

:55:18. > :55:20.Union, but that does not me`n we can scope out negotiations and start to

:55:21. > :55:23.have those discussions and hndeed we are doing so with a number of

:55:24. > :55:26.countries. The prime in Mr gave quite revealing

:55:27. > :55:31.statement today when she sahd she will not be seeking to replhcate any

:55:32. > :55:40.parts of the Canadian Europdan Union trade deal. We know that is stalling

:55:41. > :55:42.guarantees around Labour environmental and consumer

:55:43. > :55:45.protection. We know what shd is ruling out. Can she tell us what

:55:46. > :55:50.she's ruling in? I have to say nice try but I did not say I was ruling

:55:51. > :55:54.out bits of the Canadian de`l? I said we would not be replic`ting the

:55:55. > :55:59.EU Canada deal, just as we're not trying to replicate the Norway model

:56:00. > :56:02.or the Switzerland model. What we are trying to do is deliver for the

:56:03. > :56:07.United Kingdom the deal that is right for the UK.

:56:08. > :56:15.Can I commend my right honotrable friend for the way she improved her

:56:16. > :56:20.first EU summit. 61 people ,- 6 % of people in Kettering voted to leave

:56:21. > :56:24.the EU say we get control over our budget, borders and trade policy.

:56:25. > :56:34.Whilst there might be 500 mdmbers of this House who were remainddrs and

:56:35. > :56:41.are now Remoaners, she is trying to get the best deal for this country.

:56:42. > :56:48.Regardless of which side of the debate members of this Housd work on

:56:49. > :56:55.prior to the 23rd of June, we should all accept the voice of the British

:56:56. > :56:59.people and put that in practice I congratulate the Prime Minister of

:57:00. > :57:03.her handling of her first ET summit. I won't ask if she enjoyed ht but

:57:04. > :57:12.does she accept that millions of people who would have to le`ve,

:57:13. > :57:18.including Labour voters, will only believe we are really believing when

:57:19. > :57:22.we invoked Article 50, so whll she assure the House she will not be

:57:23. > :57:29.taken in by those who want to delay in the hope that somewhere they will

:57:30. > :57:35.get another referendum? There is no question of another referendum.

:57:36. > :57:38.While I felt it was right wd took time to prepare prior to thd start

:57:39. > :57:44.of negotiations through invoking Article 50, it is also right that

:57:45. > :57:49.members of the public will want to see it invoked so they know it will

:57:50. > :57:57.happen. That is why I think saying we will invoked by the end of March

:57:58. > :58:05.is the right one. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The people of Somerset are

:58:06. > :58:09.rejoicing at the Prime Minister s clarity in her approach to leaving

:58:10. > :58:17.the EU, and should each she confirm my understanding that once we leave

:58:18. > :58:21.the EU, the European Court of Justice will have no jurisdhction as

:58:22. > :58:29.the final arbiter of any UK law When we leave the EU UK laws will be

:58:30. > :58:34.determined here in the UK, ht will be British judges who will be

:58:35. > :58:38.opining on the application of those laws and this House will determine

:58:39. > :58:46.the legislation that comes to the British people. Given that our

:58:47. > :58:50.European partners have not xet committed to trade negotiathons

:58:51. > :58:55.alongside negotiations on Article 50, what assurances can she give

:58:56. > :59:05.British business that in March 019 when leave the EU, they will not

:59:06. > :59:09.face WTO rules and tariffs? We are looking to not just negotiated exit

:59:10. > :59:18.from the EU but also a new relationship and it is very... Our

:59:19. > :59:23.ambition in doing that is to ensure we get the best possible de`l in

:59:24. > :59:32.trade with an operation within the European market. That is wh`t the

:59:33. > :59:36.Government is working on. The terrible migration problem we are

:59:37. > :59:41.seeing at the moment is due largely to human trafficking gangs `nd one

:59:42. > :59:45.of the great legacies of thd previous Prime Minister and the

:59:46. > :59:49.previous Home Secretary is we now lead the fight against human

:59:50. > :59:52.trafficking, but with the Prime Minister agreed we have to build

:59:53. > :59:57.relationships not just with the European Union but with all European

:59:58. > :00:04.countries to deal with this evil trade? He is right and he h`s taken

:00:05. > :00:09.an interest in this issue and the excellent work in relation to

:00:10. > :00:14.encouraging activity that rdduce and stops human trafficking. Thdre are

:00:15. > :00:18.countries like Albania wherd it s important for us to be oper`ting and

:00:19. > :00:24.big government has been working with them to reduced trafficking, and it

:00:25. > :00:29.is also important to work whth countries like Nigeria that are

:00:30. > :00:33.often source countries for ` young woman trafficked into sexual

:00:34. > :00:37.exploitation, to make sure we reduced the chances for the criminal

:00:38. > :00:43.gangs to ply their trade. Ftrther to the question from the honourable

:00:44. > :00:48.member for Wellingborough, the situation in Libya is becomhng

:00:49. > :00:55.beyond a crisis. 150,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean, 3000 have

:00:56. > :01:00.died under way. Was there any discussion about sending thd high

:01:01. > :01:05.representative from the EU to Tripoli, perhaps with our Foreign

:01:06. > :01:08.Secretary, to work directly with the Libyan government to deal whth human

:01:09. > :01:14.traffickers but also to stop people setting off in the first pl`ce. The

:01:15. > :01:21.European high representativd has made a number of visits to North

:01:22. > :01:26.Africa, either source countries or transit countries for the mhgration

:01:27. > :01:33.crisis. He is right, there `re many people coming across from Lhbya into

:01:34. > :01:37.Italy. It was the UK that w`s instrumental in getting a UN

:01:38. > :01:42.Security Council resolution to enable action of the Libyan coast,

:01:43. > :01:48.and as well as rescuing thotsands of people, sadly there are still those

:01:49. > :01:52.who die in the Mediterranean, but the Royal Navy has also been

:01:53. > :01:56.involved in bricking up boats used by criminal gangs but this hs an

:01:57. > :02:00.ongoing activity and we need to take every step to stop this trade in

:02:01. > :02:08.human beings that brings so much misery. The University of Portsmouth

:02:09. > :02:15.depends on the interchange of people and ideas with the EU countries and

:02:16. > :02:18.countries around the world. How will the Government assure students and

:02:19. > :02:25.academics that the UK acadelic sector remains open and inclusive?

:02:26. > :02:29.We want to ensure that Brit`in is open to business for those sorts of

:02:30. > :02:35.exchanges and this is what we have done in relation to people coming

:02:36. > :02:39.from outside the EU, but we have also given some reassurance to

:02:40. > :02:43.universities in relation to arrangements they are putting in

:02:44. > :02:49.place with other member states prior to leaving, and we make cle`r that

:02:50. > :02:55.funding arrangements when they meet our priorities will be conthnued

:02:56. > :03:00.beyond the period at which we leave. May I suggest that the country

:03:01. > :03:04.believe she is going to lead this country into Europe and thex do not

:03:05. > :03:11.judge like when she will activate Article 50 if they know what the

:03:12. > :03:16.hell that Article 50 means. Might I suggest, given that as time goes on

:03:17. > :03:22.we have realised the enormity of the task, she will only invoke @rticle

:03:23. > :03:27.50 if it is truly in the interests of this country by March next year?

:03:28. > :03:34.I thank him for the question he has put. I would simply say, as I did in

:03:35. > :03:39.response to his honourable friend earlier, but I think for thd British

:03:40. > :03:45.people they want to see acthon taken to ensure we leave the EU. H believe

:03:46. > :03:51.we are doing the preparatorx work and while I have not set a specific

:03:52. > :04:00.date, I think invoking by the end of March is the right time lind. I too

:04:01. > :04:03.rejoiced that my right honotrable friend's iron resolve that Brexit

:04:04. > :04:09.means Brexit is a clear message to the British people, but I also

:04:10. > :04:13.invite my right honourable friend to remind the country that while it is

:04:14. > :04:20.necessary to discuss with the number of interested parties, not least the

:04:21. > :04:24.devolved assemblies, that in this matter she speaks for 17 million

:04:25. > :04:34.people, Nicola Sturgeon spe`ks for 1.7 million. I thank him, I think

:04:35. > :04:40.the important point is that over 17 million people voted to leave the

:04:41. > :04:45.EU. It was a majority vote hn the UK to leave the EU and it is the UK

:04:46. > :04:54.that will negotiate our rel`tionship with the EU in future. The City of

:04:55. > :05:01.London is determined to rem`in in the single market and it once a

:05:02. > :05:04.bespoke arrangement to do so as far as financial services are concerned.

:05:05. > :05:10.It is understood the Prime Linister has ruled this out. Will shd

:05:11. > :05:14.consider a similar bespoke arrangement for the financi`l sector

:05:15. > :05:20.in Edinburgh, the second largest in the UK? As I have said before,

:05:21. > :05:27.people talk about being in the single market for access to the

:05:28. > :05:31.single market at what matters is relationship with the EU th`t

:05:32. > :05:36.enables the maximum possibility to operate within that European market

:05:37. > :05:42.and we will negotiate on thd half of the financial sector across the

:05:43. > :05:47.whole UK. Being in the European Union has been compared to being in

:05:48. > :05:51.the back of a credit taxi hdading in the wrong direction. Does she agree

:05:52. > :05:56.with me that in the event the European Union, every remain in the

:05:57. > :06:03.single market we will know longer be in the taxi but tied up in the boot?

:06:04. > :06:09.I think it is important that as we look to get the right heel for the

:06:10. > :06:15.UK, we are negotiating a new relationship for the UK with the EU

:06:16. > :06:19.and that ensures our businesses can trade and operate within thd

:06:20. > :06:23.European market and also we put into place other things I believd is

:06:24. > :06:29.required by the British people like control of immigration. Doesn't that

:06:30. > :06:41.referendum decision deserves some respect to the public majorhty to

:06:42. > :06:49.the name Boaty McBoatface that was taken? Does she realised thdre has

:06:50. > :06:53.been a strong move against Brexit gets people realise that promises

:06:54. > :06:59.made by the Brexiteers will not be honoured. There will be an `wful

:07:00. > :07:03.result in Ireland to fixed hard borders that will not be in

:07:04. > :07:10.forcible, that will be hugely expensive. She is ignoring the views

:07:11. > :07:18.of the people of Scotland. Does she think Little may appear will lead to

:07:19. > :07:24.the break-up of the United Kingdom? The United Kingdom voted to leave

:07:25. > :07:28.the EU. This Government is putting that into practice and he and others

:07:29. > :07:35.can try all they like to reverse that decision, to try to delay the

:07:36. > :07:40.implications, to delay the application or weasel around the

:07:41. > :07:45.decision. The British peopld spoke, this Parliament said to the British

:07:46. > :07:53.people, it is your choice. They chose, we will now do it. In the UK

:07:54. > :08:02.than the rest of that you combine and I have spent nine years trying

:08:03. > :08:09.to negotiate an EU deal. Wh`t plans does she have to visit Indi` and an

:08:10. > :08:15.agreement between us which `lmost be made in heaven? She is very

:08:16. > :08:21.perceptive because I will vhsit India in early November and I'm

:08:22. > :08:26.pleased to say I will be taking a trade delegation with me th`t will

:08:27. > :08:30.focus on small and medium-shzed enterprises to boost the

:08:31. > :08:37.relationships between smalldr and medium-sized businesses in the UK

:08:38. > :08:40.with the important Indian m`rket. Russia's behaviour and Syri` has

:08:41. > :08:48.been despicable but it was especially worrying to see the

:08:49. > :08:52.battleship sailing through the endless channel this weekend on its

:08:53. > :08:57.way to smash what is left of Aleppo into smithereens, so I am ddlighted

:08:58. > :09:03.that the Prime Minister wants to have a strong position with European

:09:04. > :09:08.colleagues in relation to Rtssia, but one thing we can do, whhch the

:09:09. > :09:13.Americans have done, so anyone involved in the murder of Sdrgei

:09:14. > :09:19.Mike Netscape or the corruption he unveiled is not welcome in this

:09:20. > :09:23.country, they will not come to this country and I know she is bding

:09:24. > :09:29.advised that others will end up going back to the camera position,

:09:30. > :09:33.but I suggest this is something we could do with make a differdnce

:09:34. > :09:39.This is an issue he has campaigned long and hard on, he asked this

:09:40. > :09:47.question of David Cameron and of me as Home Secretary, he has asked this

:09:48. > :09:52.previous Foreign Secretary. We have our own rules and terms of how we

:09:53. > :09:57.determine who can enter the UK and he talks about the old position of

:09:58. > :10:05.the UK Government and it relains our position. There is much to be said

:10:06. > :10:11.for a bit of repetition, whhch is not a novel thing in the Hotse of

:10:12. > :10:14.Commons. A majority of voters in South Dorset congratulates the Prime

:10:15. > :10:20.Minister on her stance. Richie Gray that voters of EU countries will

:10:21. > :10:25.scrutinise our politicians `s they negotiate are except and will vote

:10:26. > :10:32.accordingly if they perceivd that leaders do anything to endanger jobs

:10:33. > :10:39.and prosperity to endanger ,- to maintain a European project? It s

:10:40. > :10:42.important that leaders of the remaining 27 think about wh`t the

:10:43. > :10:49.nature of the EU going forw`rd should be, but the vote was not an

:10:50. > :10:55.attempt to break up the EU. We have an interest in seeing a strong

:10:56. > :11:01.European Union and we have `n interest in working with th`t, being

:11:02. > :11:05.a dependable partner, but I think other EU leaders should consider the

:11:06. > :11:14.message given by the British people when they voted in June. Thd head of

:11:15. > :11:18.the British Bankers' Associ`tion and a former adviser to the current

:11:19. > :11:25.Foreign Secretary warned th`t Britain's biggest banks are

:11:26. > :11:31.preparing to relocate in early 017. Some 70,000 jobs could be at risk,

:11:32. > :11:34.many of them in my constitudncy Can the Prime Minister say how the

:11:35. > :11:39.Government intends to make sure the UK banking sector remains

:11:40. > :11:47.passporting rights to operate anywhere else within the EU? The

:11:48. > :11:52.importance that we place on being able to trade with and oper`te

:11:53. > :12:00.within the European market, for both goods and services, I am aw`re of

:12:01. > :12:07.the importance the financial services have two the UK, in

:12:08. > :12:11.particular certain that UN says there are other parts of our

:12:12. > :12:17.professional services like legal services were the ability to operate

:12:18. > :12:24.in the EU is important, we `re discussions within the financial

:12:25. > :12:26.sector so we can ensure as part of the negotiations we can get the best

:12:27. > :12:34.deal possible. Would my right honourable friend

:12:35. > :12:38.agree that in a freezer Siddy, there is no obligation on anyone to change

:12:39. > :12:42.their views just because thd majority have voted otherwise. But

:12:43. > :12:45.there is an obligation on all of us, including on those of us who voted

:12:46. > :12:49.to remain to work in the national interest and not to undermine it by

:12:50. > :12:55.tying the hands of the Primd Minister and the Government, in a

:12:56. > :13:03.way you would never do in commerce or private negotiations? I speak

:13:04. > :13:06.with the voice of experiencd on that matter and that is the point. If we

:13:07. > :13:10.are to get the best deal possible for the United Kingdom it is

:13:11. > :13:14.important we are able to enter those negotiations having not set out a

:13:15. > :13:18.whole series of red lines and not set out in detail what our

:13:19. > :13:22.negotiating position is. We need to negotiate the best deal possible for

:13:23. > :13:26.the UK, and tying the Government's hands in doing that would bd the

:13:27. > :13:33.best way of getting the worst deal for the UK. I welcome the f`ct that

:13:34. > :13:37.you met the leaders of the devolved governments this morning, btt

:13:38. > :13:40.uncertainty is what is really giving everyone doubt about Brexit,

:13:41. > :13:43.particularly in Northern Irdland where we have one member of the

:13:44. > :13:48.executive who is four in and one for out. We don't know where we are

:13:49. > :13:51.going. Who do we have on thd ground in Europe making sure we ard

:13:52. > :13:55.gathering the intelligence `nd advice and we are ready to fight the

:13:56. > :14:02.corner to make sure we do gdt the best interests of the whole of the

:14:03. > :14:05.UK together? It is important that we understand the possibilities of the

:14:06. > :14:09.future relationship that we have with the European Union. Th`t is why

:14:10. > :14:13.I thought it was important hn these negotiations which will be lengthy,

:14:14. > :14:18.and I recognise, until we h`ve the deal agreed, of course therd will be

:14:19. > :14:23.an element of uncertainty. That is why I set up a department to do the

:14:24. > :14:29.work, not just of understanding what is important for us here in the UK,

:14:30. > :14:32.but also for understanding what is of importance for the 27 melber

:14:33. > :14:37.states of the European Union. This is not going to be a deal which is

:14:38. > :14:44.just about the UK, it is about a deal which works for both shdes

:14:45. > :14:51.On Syria, paragraph 50 talkdd about the credible political procdss, is

:14:52. > :14:53.it in line with Geneva one `nd two of the peace process to asstre that

:14:54. > :14:58.the opposition get the right insurance is for a fair deal, rather

:14:59. > :15:04.than go to the talks and accept the diktats by the Russians bec`use the

:15:05. > :15:07.upper hand in aggression and killing civilians on the ground? My

:15:08. > :15:12.honourable friend knows we do want to see an ability to return to talks

:15:13. > :15:15.which can lead to a proper political transition in Syria. The UK I think

:15:16. > :15:19.has played an important rold and will continue to play an important

:15:20. > :15:22.role in supporting the opposition. It was a matter of two or three

:15:23. > :15:28.weeks ago when my right honourable friend hosted Syrian opposition

:15:29. > :15:32.parties here in London in which they set out their future aims and future

:15:33. > :15:40.revision for Syria. That was important. The Prime Ministdr has

:15:41. > :15:44.said she wanted the UK to bd the most hash in it, commitment and

:15:45. > :15:48.committed advocate of free trade anywhere in the world. Isn't that

:15:49. > :15:54.best demonstrated by the UK remaining a member of the shngle

:15:55. > :15:58.European market, that market of ?9 trillion which would protect the

:15:59. > :16:02.jobs and incomes of my constituents in Wakefield, and does she `gree

:16:03. > :16:07.that following the process set out by Canada, seven years to ndgotiate

:16:08. > :16:12.a trade deal, only to see it fall at the 11th hour, because it w`s

:16:13. > :16:17.rejected by one of Belgian's seven parliaments, is not something we

:16:18. > :16:22.should aspire to. On the Canadian deal, what I would say to this House

:16:23. > :16:25.is that I understand that while the discussions have stalled, there are

:16:26. > :16:29.still attempts being made to ensure that that deal can go ahead, and we

:16:30. > :16:33.would encourage that deal to go ahead. On the wider point that she

:16:34. > :16:38.makes, and I'm sorry, but I am going to repeat what I said previously,

:16:39. > :16:45.for people who put this purdly in terms of some variation of `ccess

:16:46. > :16:50.market, what matters is what the trading relationship is. If we hide

:16:51. > :16:54.bind ourselves by saying th`t it has to be in this particular form at

:16:55. > :17:00.this stage, then it will not be open to us to negotiate the best possible

:17:01. > :17:04.deal. What matters is if we have the maximum possibility to tradd with

:17:05. > :17:08.and operate within the single European market, and to do that

:17:09. > :17:16.across both goods and services, and that is what we are aiming for. Does

:17:17. > :17:20.the Prime Minister agree th`t when negotiating for Brexit, it hs

:17:21. > :17:24.important not only to negothate collectively with the member states

:17:25. > :17:28.through the European Council, but equally, if not more import`nt, to

:17:29. > :17:33.have conversations individu`lly with each member state, which has been

:17:34. > :17:42.shown by the experience negotiation with the Canadian trade deal. That

:17:43. > :17:47.is why I and other ministers are interacting with European Union in

:17:48. > :17:57.its various forms but are also discussing, I have made a ntmber of

:17:58. > :18:00.trips to meet with European ministers because we want a good

:18:01. > :18:05.relationship with those countries by laterally as well as having a good

:18:06. > :18:09.relationship with the EU -- by laterally.

:18:10. > :18:12.A report highlighted that young people are more internation`list in

:18:13. > :18:17.their outlook and voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.

:18:18. > :18:21.Can I ask the Prime Minister what discussions she had with her

:18:22. > :18:24.European counterparts about protecting the opportunities the EU

:18:25. > :18:28.provides for young people in my constituency and across the whole

:18:29. > :18:33.UK. The negotiations have not formally started with the ET but the

:18:34. > :18:36.sort of deal we are talking about, the sort of deal we want to get

:18:37. > :18:40.which will enhance prosperity and ensure jobs for the future will be

:18:41. > :18:46.of good for all generations here in the UK. Can I ask my right

:18:47. > :18:53.honourable friend if our European partners have realised the new EU UK

:18:54. > :18:58.free trade agreements will be good as a positive sum game for `ll

:18:59. > :19:03.concerned, given that 22 out of 27 of them have a trade surplus with

:19:04. > :19:09.us? Is she detecting that common sense is finally starting to

:19:10. > :19:13.prevail? I say that increashngly member states and the EU ard looking

:19:14. > :19:17.at this in relation to not just what it means for the UK, but wh`t it

:19:18. > :19:22.means for them as well. I h`ve said consistently this is not just about

:19:23. > :19:25.the UK being a supplicant to the remaining 27, it is about

:19:26. > :19:33.negotiating a relationship that works for both sides. Article 5

:19:34. > :19:36.puts any countries seeking to leave the EU at a disadvantage, in that if

:19:37. > :19:43.you have not got the deal you want within two years, you can flip onto

:19:44. > :19:47.trading with them on WTO terms, putting your companies and sectors

:19:48. > :19:51.that huge disadvantage. With that in mind, we need to create a cdrtain

:19:52. > :19:55.amount of goodwill from our European partners, and making them think that

:19:56. > :19:59.European citizens living here is the cause of all our problems is not the

:20:00. > :20:04.way to build goodwill. Can she therefore guaranteed to us, and

:20:05. > :20:08.accept she will want to find reforms to the way immigration works, but

:20:09. > :20:11.can she guarantee that her Cabinet will exercise more care in the

:20:12. > :20:18.language that they use on these matters? The Government and all

:20:19. > :20:21.ministers in the Government exercise every care when they use language in

:20:22. > :20:26.relation to these matters and I have to say to the honourable gentleman

:20:27. > :20:30.the image that he portrays of the impression we have given for EU

:20:31. > :20:36.citizens is quite the wrong one I have been very clear about our

:20:37. > :20:40.expectations and intentions in relation to EU citizens livhng here

:20:41. > :20:44.in the UK, but he must accept, as most other members of this House,

:20:45. > :20:49.that we also have a duty to British citizens living in EU member states,

:20:50. > :20:55.and that is why I want to m`ke sure the status of both is guaranteed.

:20:56. > :21:02.I am very pleased that my rhght honourable friend raised thd matter

:21:03. > :21:06.of the crisis in Syria at the European Council. I am wonddring

:21:07. > :21:14.though whether any spotlight was put on the crisis in Yemen? There,

:21:15. > :21:23.approaching 7000 people havd been killed. When 7000 people were killed

:21:24. > :21:25.in July 1995, at Schlupp nedds, the international community movdd into

:21:26. > :21:32.high gear to sort it out -- Srebrenica. Can I ask my right

:21:33. > :21:37.honourable friend whether the European Union has any plans to try

:21:38. > :21:42.and expedite the appalling crisis, sort out the appalling crishs which

:21:43. > :21:46.is happening in Yemen? My honourable friend is right to draw attdntion to

:21:47. > :21:52.the problems that are being experienced by many people hn Yemen,

:21:53. > :21:57.and what is happening in Yelen. We want to see a political solttion to

:21:58. > :22:01.the Yemen, as we want to sed a political solution in relathon to

:22:02. > :22:04.Syria. That is the only way to get long-lasting peace and stabhlity for

:22:05. > :22:09.the country. I'm pleased to say that has been at least a temporary

:22:10. > :22:15.cessation of hostilities in Yemen. I spoke at the weekend to the Crown

:22:16. > :22:18.prince of Abu Dhabi, and ond of the issues I raised in that conversation

:22:19. > :22:25.was the importance of sustahning the hostilities for all involved.

:22:26. > :22:30.The Prime Minister has had ` lot of questions about the customs union,

:22:31. > :22:35.and that is because, for exporter 's into the EU, having to comply with

:22:36. > :22:41.the rules of origin from thd outside would raise costs by 25%. The Prime

:22:42. > :22:48.Minister knows that Nissan hs one of those exporters. It has an dxtremely

:22:49. > :22:53.important role in the north,east. When they left their meeting with

:22:54. > :22:56.her, they seemed quite a lot happier and satisfied with what the Prime

:22:57. > :23:01.Minister said, so could she share with the House what she said to

:23:02. > :23:05.them? First of all, in relation to the issue with the customs tnion,

:23:06. > :23:09.I'm sure the honourable ladx knows, as I said in answer to an e`rlier

:23:10. > :23:17.question from one of her honourable friend, the customs union is a more

:23:18. > :23:20.complex issue than it first seems when people describe it oftdn in

:23:21. > :23:24.public. I am broke clear and we have been discussing with a numbdr of

:23:25. > :23:27.countries, about the intenthon of this government, to ensure `

:23:28. > :23:32.competitive market and to ensure that people are able to be here in

:23:33. > :23:38.the United Kingdom prospering here in the United Kingdom and adding to

:23:39. > :23:44.our economic growth. Can I thank the Prime Minister for

:23:45. > :23:51.her statement? Can I say th`t I entirely agree with her that until

:23:52. > :23:55.we leave the European Union, we should continue to play our full

:23:56. > :24:01.part in its affairs, not le`st because I expect the EU will want us

:24:02. > :24:04.to keep paying our full contributions until we do ldave

:24:05. > :24:10.Does my right honourable frhend agree that her -- does she think

:24:11. > :24:16.that her fellow EU leaders understand that if we leave the EU

:24:17. > :24:21.and we have to follow WTO t`riffs, according to today's report, EU

:24:22. > :24:26.exporters would be liable to pay nine Ashman ?12.9 billion a year,

:24:27. > :24:29.more than twice the ?5.2 billion a year that UK exporters would be

:24:30. > :24:37.liable to pay, and it is thdrefore very much in the interests of the

:24:38. > :24:41.rest of the EU to agree tarhff tariff free deal with ourselves My

:24:42. > :24:45.honourable friend makes a vdry important point. It is not just

:24:46. > :24:49.about the United Kingdom. It is about the future impact of the

:24:50. > :24:53.economies of the member states of the European Union, and he hs

:24:54. > :24:56.absolutely right that as we go into the negotiations, it will bd for

:24:57. > :25:00.member states to recognise that there are implications for them and

:25:01. > :25:03.those could be negative for their businesses and jobs in their

:25:04. > :25:06.countries, and that is why ht is in the interests of all of us to get

:25:07. > :25:11.the best possible deal in rdlation to trade.

:25:12. > :25:14.The president of the Europe`n Council Donald Tusk recentlx issued

:25:15. > :25:18.a statement in which he said there will be no soft Brexit, there is

:25:19. > :25:24.either a hard Brexit or no Brexit at all. Given that the Prime Mhnister

:25:25. > :25:28.was just in Brussels, did she pick up this hardening political mood

:25:29. > :25:32.music which makes absolutelx clear that the idea of the unfettdred

:25:33. > :25:39.access to the single market that we so desperately need is rapidly

:25:40. > :25:43.becoming a pipe dream? I repeat what I said earlier that we have not

:25:44. > :25:46.started negotiations, but what I found when I talked to other leaders

:25:47. > :25:50.and colleagues in the Europdan Council at the end of last week was

:25:51. > :25:54.a recognition that first of all this is a complex matter we have to

:25:55. > :25:57.negotiate, and secondly, an increasing recognition that we have

:25:58. > :26:05.to ensure the deal would get is a positive deal, both for the European

:26:06. > :26:08.and the United Kingdom. I got the impression and what was being said

:26:09. > :26:10.to me shows we will be able to sit down around the table and gdt the

:26:11. > :26:16.best in macro best possible deal for both sides.

:26:17. > :26:24.During a recent visit to Berlin there was genuine goodwill towards

:26:25. > :26:29.the UK, as well as an understanding there aren't detailed negothations

:26:30. > :26:35.ahead. There are shared intdrests with member states, but there are

:26:36. > :26:38.also common security concerns relating to Russia as well `s

:26:39. > :26:43.counterterrorism issues that will help focus the minds of EU

:26:44. > :26:49.negotiators at arriving at ` positive outcome. That is an

:26:50. > :26:55.excellent point, much discussion focuses on Mark Craig relathonship

:26:56. > :27:00.but there are other areas where we cooperate with the EU, law

:27:01. > :27:12.enforcement and security whdre we want to have a close and enduring

:27:13. > :27:16.partnership once we leave. H'm sure the Prime Minister understands the

:27:17. > :27:20.concerns of the British medhcal research Centre about their

:27:21. > :27:26.continued access to vital Etropean medical networks after Brexht.

:27:27. > :27:30.Without revealing her hand, can she give an assurance she has a plan to

:27:31. > :27:38.protect access for this vit`l research? The assumption behind the

:27:39. > :27:44.question that the only way to access those research networks is to being

:27:45. > :27:50.a member of the EU, there are those here who are members of a ntmber of

:27:51. > :27:55.research networks which operate as effectively but have nothing to do

:27:56. > :27:59.with the EU, but I can assure him this is another aspect of the future

:28:00. > :28:07.implications we are aware of and will consider. There is a d`ngerous

:28:08. > :28:12.political crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has seen 6

:28:13. > :28:19.million people die in the p`st 0 years. There is a crisis in Burundi

:28:20. > :28:23.with extrajudicial killings every week and there is a bloodbath inside

:28:24. > :28:29.Suzanne. All of these are rough concerned to the EU and the UK. Were

:28:30. > :28:38.any of these discussed at the subject is like the summit? No, the

:28:39. > :28:44.subjects were Russia, Syria, migration and trade, so the issue of

:28:45. > :28:48.Congo and South Sudan were not discussed but I am well aware of the

:28:49. > :28:55.concerns he and others have about what has been happening, especially

:28:56. > :29:00.recently, and this is a matter the Foreign Secretary is looking at

:29:01. > :29:07.closely. Earlier the Prime Minister `ssured

:29:08. > :29:10.that she was looking to raise the concerns of UK citizens livhng

:29:11. > :29:16.elsewhere in the EU and EU citizens in the UK. Can she tell us hf she

:29:17. > :29:23.raised those concerns at an early stage last week and if not why not?

:29:24. > :29:28.I have said on a number of occasions that this is an issue I hopd to

:29:29. > :29:34.address at an early stage. H repeat the comments I made earlier in

:29:35. > :29:40.relation to our expectation for EU citizens, but it is for this House,

:29:41. > :29:46.not simply to ignore the interests of British citizens living hn EU

:29:47. > :29:54.member states. We must make sure their rights are guaranteed. I very

:29:55. > :30:01.much commend my right honourable friend's statement to the House

:30:02. > :30:06.Last Friday I held a public meeting for EU nationals concerned `bout the

:30:07. > :30:14.Brexit vote and was heartendd by a majority seeing the opportunities of

:30:15. > :30:19.the UK leaving the EU, posshbly leading to reform for their home

:30:20. > :30:26.countries in future. Given the fact of one lonely and V2 on the Canada

:30:27. > :30:38.EU agreements -- effective one lonely and veto. What discussion was

:30:39. > :30:43.there about reform? It is up to the 27 to discuss among themselves the

:30:44. > :30:46.future shape of the EU. I h`ve raised with other leaders the

:30:47. > :30:53.importance I think of them paying attention to the message given by

:30:54. > :31:01.the UK vote to leave the EU but I leave it to them to discuss the

:31:02. > :31:03.future of the EU without thd UK Last week the Treasury commhttee

:31:04. > :31:10.heard from the Chancellor and we were told the Treasury is modelling

:31:11. > :31:15.the range of options presented to the Government to look at the

:31:16. > :31:19.economic implications. Todax the Prime Minister confirmed shd is

:31:20. > :31:24.looking at the regional imp`cts of those options. Given the colmitment

:31:25. > :31:28.to a series of debates in the House of Commons, she must agree that

:31:29. > :31:33.debate would be better informed if we have the evidence before us, so

:31:34. > :31:40.will she commit to publish those options so this House and the public

:31:41. > :31:45.can have an informed debate? We want to ensure that debates in this House

:31:46. > :31:51.are as informed as possible. There is a wide variety of pieces of work

:31:52. > :31:59.being undertaken, not just by government, about the implications

:32:00. > :32:03.of leaving the EU. My right honourable friend was right to

:32:04. > :32:09.stress that we are not leavhng Europe. Would she confirm that when

:32:10. > :32:14.we leave the EU we will continue to play a full and active part in the

:32:15. > :32:20.Council of Europe, working together on the basis of friendship `nd

:32:21. > :32:25.cooperation, not political tnion? The UK will continue to plax its

:32:26. > :32:30.role within the Council of Durope. I want us to have a good relationship

:32:31. > :32:38.with member states and the DU asked itself, that is in all our

:32:39. > :32:42.interests. Did the Prime Minister find time to emphasise to Etropean

:32:43. > :32:47.colleagues how much we valud things like the prisoner transfer

:32:48. > :32:53.agreement, Europol and the Duropean arrest warrant, and will shd agree

:32:54. > :32:59.that whatever negotiating she does, nothing will water down those

:33:00. > :33:02.commitments? My commitment to our relationship with other member

:33:03. > :33:08.states in relation to justice and home affairs, but I have had a lot

:33:09. > :33:13.of questions about the detahl of discussions I had an Brexit at the

:33:14. > :33:21.European Council. The main topics we discussed were Russia, migr`tion and

:33:22. > :33:26.trade. Negotiations on the detail of our negotiations will be for the

:33:27. > :33:33.future. The people of Skegndss voted more than any other to leavd the EU

:33:34. > :33:38.and no constituency approves more of this approach but will she `gree

:33:39. > :33:44.with me that they deserved this TD triggering of Article 50, speedy

:33:45. > :33:51.commencement of trade negothations and a speedy roll-out of thd

:33:52. > :33:58.controlling migration fund. I note he slipped in at the end of his

:33:59. > :34:03.question. I think it is right, and as I said in response to a couple of

:34:04. > :34:07.questions from the opposition, it is important people see we are

:34:08. > :34:12.committed to Article 50 bec`use I fear there are those who wish to

:34:13. > :34:17.delay the invocation of Arthcle 50 to as a proxy for not leaving the EU

:34:18. > :34:21.but it's important we give people the certainty and that is why we

:34:22. > :34:30.will invoke Article 50 by the end of March. The Prime Minister s`id that

:34:31. > :34:35.topic of trade discussed in the EU Council is a topic for the future,

:34:36. > :34:41.but her cheese of staff seels to note that and's hand very wdll and

:34:42. > :34:45.says we do not have to accept something like Chinese steel and

:34:46. > :34:50.could impose retaliatory tariffs on Chinese steel, but it is thd UK

:34:51. > :34:57.Government's policy to oppose these measures. Isn't it the case that the

:34:58. > :35:03.British Government is tying the hands of British duo workers as we

:35:04. > :35:09.speak? The Government has stpported steel production here, as hd will

:35:10. > :35:15.know in terms of compensation, also in relation to the ability to take

:35:16. > :35:22.social issues into concern when deciding about requirement of steel,

:35:23. > :35:27.a range of measures. In rel`tion to action taken by the EU, we decided

:35:28. > :35:31.last week to modernise the trade defence instruments but we will do

:35:32. > :35:37.that enable balanced way, b`lancing the interests of users and

:35:38. > :35:43.consumers, and the applicathon of lesser duty relief means for certain

:35:44. > :35:52.parts of the UK steel industry, imports from China have dropped by

:35:53. > :35:56.90%. Of all the European laws and regulations she wants to

:35:57. > :36:01.democratically reincorporatd into UK law through the Great Repeal Bill,

:36:02. > :36:10.which of them but she want to abolish or amend first? It will be

:36:11. > :36:14.for this Parliament to decide how we deal with the regulations and laws

:36:15. > :36:21.once brought into UK law, btt two points I would make, it is right to

:36:22. > :36:27.bring that into UK law at the point when we leave the EU to enstre there

:36:28. > :36:33.is no legal gap and everyond has certainty of the legislation they

:36:34. > :36:37.will operate under, and also, once that has happened, it will be for

:36:38. > :36:45.this Parliament to decide and be sovereign in determining those laws.

:36:46. > :36:50.Could the Prime Minister enlighten us further discussions that on the

:36:51. > :36:55.subject of higher education and are there any clues as to whethdr UK

:36:56. > :37:01.universities will retain access to EU research projects after we leave,

:37:02. > :37:07.and also the fee status of DU students in 2010 and beyond? We have

:37:08. > :37:13.heard anecdotal evidence th`t British researchers have bedn turned

:37:14. > :37:21.down for Horizon 2020 funds, and my written questions remain un`nswered.

:37:22. > :37:26.She will get responses to qtestions. A concern has been raised whth me by

:37:27. > :37:30.people that the risk and approach being taken in relation to

:37:31. > :37:36.universities that as we havd decided to leave, we should be treated

:37:37. > :37:39.differently while still in the EU. What is important is that wd

:37:40. > :37:45.emphasise that while we are still members of the EU, we are treated as

:37:46. > :37:54.full members and have access to the projects the honourable ladx is

:37:55. > :38:00.talking about. Here's me, you saved the best for last. The

:38:01. > :38:05.Secretary-General of Nato c`lled the EU an essential partner for Nato and

:38:06. > :38:11.said Nato has every chance to strengthen our unity and pr`ctical

:38:12. > :38:18.cooperation even further, therefore how can he newly confirmed Prince of

:38:19. > :38:28.Prime Minister deliver security without even closer union whth the

:38:29. > :38:32.EU is accepted by our Nato `llies? I think that quote he gave was the

:38:33. > :38:36.secretary-general of Nato t`lking about the energy defence

:38:37. > :38:42.arrangements in the EU, not about the UK being part of some stronger

:38:43. > :38:48.defence in the EU. We will play a leading role in Nato, as we have

:38:49. > :38:54.done, we will continue to h`ve a close relationship and you `nd it

:38:55. > :39:00.will be in all our interests to work together for the collective defence

:39:01. > :39:07.of member states and of Europe. White is the Prime Minister in a

:39:08. > :39:12.position to offer specific assurances to Nissan motors but not

:39:13. > :39:19.to 3.3 million EU citizen 's who make such a vital contributhon to

:39:20. > :39:25.our economy? I will repeat ht again as he didn't appear to hear the

:39:26. > :39:31.answer previously. I expect to be able to and I want to guarantee the

:39:32. > :39:35.status of the uses and is lhving there, but the only circumstances

:39:36. > :39:41.that would not be possible hf the status of criticisms, including

:39:42. > :39:52.people from Scotland, was not guaranteed in return. We cannot

:39:53. > :39:59.abandon British citizens. Statement, the Secretary of State for the Home

:40:00. > :40:04.Department, Secretary Amber Rudd. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wotld like

:40:05. > :40:11.to make a statement on Calahs. The French government to Dave bdgan

:40:12. > :40:17.clearing the migrant camp. This is in the interests of the UK `nd

:40:18. > :40:20.France, the start of a necessary humanitarian operation and `n

:40:21. > :40:25.important step to end the dhfficult situation. Our priorities are to

:40:26. > :40:30.keep our borders secure, tackle the gangs who profit from the vtlnerable

:40:31. > :40:36.and ensure those in need of protection are move to placds of

:40:37. > :40:42.safety. Today's come clear hn support of these objectives. On the

:40:43. > :40:46.10th of October it up out of the House after admitting my Frdnch

:40:47. > :40:51.counterpart. We had discussdd the importance of keeping all children

:40:52. > :40:56.safe during the clearance operation. My officials have been workhng with

:40:57. > :41:00.French authorities to make sure this protection is provided and TK

:41:01. > :41:07.personnel are taking an acthve role on the ground today to move all

:41:08. > :41:10.children to a place of safety and they will continue to do so for as

:41:11. > :41:15.long as necessary. That meeting was one of many in the past few months

:41:16. > :41:18.and we have made good progrdss to speed up the process for

:41:19. > :41:23.transferring children with ` close family link to the UK. More than 80

:41:24. > :41:27.children were transferred from France in the first nine months of

:41:28. > :41:31.this year under the Dublin regulation that I have been pressing

:41:32. > :41:37.to go further in this House will recall that on the 10th of October I

:41:38. > :41:40.stated my commitment to bring to the UK as many children as posshble with

:41:41. > :41:47.close family links before the closure of the camp, and I lade

:41:48. > :41:51.clear my intention to transfer unaccompanied children from Calais

:41:52. > :41:52.who meet the criteria of thd dubs amendment to the immigration act of

:41:53. > :42:01.2016. Since my statement, working in

:42:02. > :42:07.partnership with the French, we have transferred more than 200 children.

:42:08. > :42:12.This includes 60 girls, manx of whom have been identified at high risk of

:42:13. > :42:16.sexual exploitation. I want to make clear to the House, the Govdrnment

:42:17. > :42:19.has sought every opportunitx to expedite the process to transfer

:42:20. > :42:24.children to the UK. My officials were only given access to the camp

:42:25. > :42:27.to interview children in thd last week, and similarly, we havd only

:42:28. > :42:33.recently received agreement from the French government that we could

:42:34. > :42:37.bring dubs cases to the UK. For this, we work closely with the

:42:38. > :42:42.French behind-the-scenes but without their agreement it was not possible

:42:43. > :42:47.to make progress on taking nonfamily cases from Calais. In the l`st seven

:42:48. > :42:52.days, my officials have intdrviewed 800 children in the camp cl`iming to

:42:53. > :42:57.have close family links in the UK, working closely with NGOs and

:42:58. > :43:01.charities. Every child in the last week has been interviewed bx UK

:43:02. > :43:05.staff. Much of this work has been carried out in difficult conditions

:43:06. > :43:10.and on a number of occasions interviews have been paused and UK

:43:11. > :43:17.staff have withdrawn for safety reasons. I would like to th`nk the

:43:18. > :43:21.French staff and put on record the gratitude from my staff or what have

:43:22. > :43:26.been pretty challenging conditions. Until a few months ago, the French

:43:27. > :43:30.government requested we did not transfer children outside the Dublin

:43:31. > :43:34.regulation process. This was due to their concerns it would encourage

:43:35. > :43:40.more children to come to Calais That is why we focused our `greement

:43:41. > :43:44.and the Dubs amendments on children from Greece and Italy. It is only

:43:45. > :43:48.recently this has changed. Looking ahead, we will bring more children

:43:49. > :43:54.from Calais to the UK in thd coming weeks and months. We will continue

:43:55. > :44:00.to transfer unaccompanied rdfugee children from Calais and thd wider

:44:01. > :44:03.criteria of the Dubs Amendmdnt. We will be following three guiding

:44:04. > :44:10.principles in determining who we bring to the UK from Calais. We will

:44:11. > :44:15.are ties those likely to be granted refugee status in the UK. Wd will

:44:16. > :44:19.also prioritise those 12-ye`r-olds and under, and we will conshder

:44:20. > :44:25.those assessed of being at high risk of sexual exploitation. In doing

:44:26. > :44:29.this, we will establish whether it is in each child's best intdrests to

:44:30. > :44:34.come here. But through this process, it is important that we do not

:44:35. > :44:38.encourage more children to head to Calais, risking their lives in the

:44:39. > :44:42.hands of traffickers. That hs why we will only consider those prdsent in

:44:43. > :44:47.the camps before the start of clearance operations today. We will

:44:48. > :44:51.continue to do this quickly but it is essential we carry out the proper

:44:52. > :44:54.safeguarding, age assessment and security checks, working closely

:44:55. > :44:58.with local authorities and social workers here in the UK, to dnsure

:44:59. > :45:02.that the children are eligible and it is in their best interests to

:45:03. > :45:07.come. I'm pleased to say my French counterpart has agreed to stpport

:45:08. > :45:11.minors unsafe facilities in France, during the weeks we now need to

:45:12. > :45:16.carry out these important checks. It is also important that on arrival in

:45:17. > :45:20.the UK these identities of these Trojan are not compromised `nd they

:45:21. > :45:27.are allowed to begin their life here with the support they need ,- the

:45:28. > :45:31.identities of these children. As part of our commitments we have been

:45:32. > :45:35.consulting with local authorities on capacity. It's clear that there is

:45:36. > :45:39.the capacity to support the children we intend to take from Calahs, as

:45:40. > :45:43.well as meeting our other commitments. The key now is to make

:45:44. > :45:49.sure we get these places up and running as soon as possible. I would

:45:50. > :45:53.like to pay tribute to the work and generosity of local authorities so

:45:54. > :45:57.far, in providing both the temporary and permanent support that the

:45:58. > :46:00.children arriving require. However, as more children arrive in the

:46:01. > :46:03.coming weeks, we will need to identify further places, and we will

:46:04. > :46:08.be working with local authorities and the coming days to ensure that

:46:09. > :46:11.that happens. Whilst responsibility for Calais lies with the Frdnch

:46:12. > :46:17.government, the juxtaposed controls are a vital part of the UK's border

:46:18. > :46:21.security and are a vital economic link. That is why the UK Government

:46:22. > :46:25.will be contributing up to ?36 million to maintain the sectrity of

:46:26. > :46:30.these controls, to support the camp clearance, and is sure in the

:46:31. > :46:34.long-term that the camp is kept closed. This funding will also be

:46:35. > :46:38.used to help keep children safe in France. This contribution is not

:46:39. > :46:41.made unconditionally, and wd will continue to work with the French

:46:42. > :46:46.government, to assure that the clearance operation is full and

:46:47. > :46:50.lasting. Work in Calais is important, but the situation there

:46:51. > :46:56.is a symptom of a wider migration crisis. We are clear about our moral

:46:57. > :47:00.responsibility to assist those who are suffering, including by

:47:01. > :47:03.providing support in conflict regions, development work upstream,

:47:04. > :47:07.and by providing protection for those who need it. Mr Speakdr, the

:47:08. > :47:11.French authorities face a htge challenge over the coming d`ys and

:47:12. > :47:17.weeks, to move people out of the camp in Calais. But let me be clear.

:47:18. > :47:20.Neither government is prepared to allow people to continue to live in

:47:21. > :47:24.those conditions, and neithdr government is prepared to allow

:47:25. > :47:29.people smugglers to continud to profit from risking the livds of the

:47:30. > :47:33.people there. We will continue to support the French government in the

:47:34. > :47:37.operation and will continue with our progress in bringing those children,

:47:38. > :47:42.with a right to come to the UK, as quickly and as safely as possible.

:47:43. > :47:47.Clearing the camp is not just about our legal and moral obligathons It

:47:48. > :47:53.is also in our national intdrest. The rise in the number of pdople has

:47:54. > :47:58.led some in France to questhon the agreement. This agreement h`s

:47:59. > :48:02.allowed us to better protect our borders and ensured strong trade

:48:03. > :48:06.links between Britain and France. By clearing the camp, we can hdlp

:48:07. > :48:11.secure the future of the juxtaposed controls, as well as playing our

:48:12. > :48:18.part, to help those most in need in Calais. I commend this statdment to

:48:19. > :48:22.the House. Diane Abbott. Mr Speaker, as we speak, thousands

:48:23. > :48:30.of men and women are being bussed out of Calais, one more leg in a

:48:31. > :48:35.desperate odyssey which has taken some of them halfway around the

:48:36. > :48:42.world. It is worth noting that the situation in Calais represents

:48:43. > :48:47.everything that is wrong about Europe's response to the refugee

:48:48. > :48:49.crisis. There was not enough cooperation. The French clahm that

:48:50. > :48:54.because the migrants said they wanted to go to the UK they were

:48:55. > :48:58.somehow not their responsibhlity, while we refused for far too long to

:48:59. > :49:05.go into the camp and identify those who might have a legal right to come

:49:06. > :49:10.to the UK. The men, women and children in the Calais camp were

:49:11. > :49:15.treated by the French and the UK like pawns, but these are rdal

:49:16. > :49:21.people fleeing war and economic devastation, who were living in

:49:22. > :49:24.appalling conditions, and in the absence of any proactive action by

:49:25. > :49:30.the British or the French, those people were at the mercy of people

:49:31. > :49:34.smugglers and criminal gangs, who were in and out of the camp, as I

:49:35. > :49:40.discovered when I visited the camp in January. It was left to

:49:41. > :49:45.charities, church groups and individual volunteers to go across

:49:46. > :49:49.and provide basic support and services in the Calais camp. So I

:49:50. > :49:54.would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all of those

:49:55. > :49:58.selfless volunteers. I would like to thank the UK staff now workhng in

:49:59. > :50:01.the camp in difficult and d`ngerous conditions and I would like to

:50:02. > :50:06.congratulate the local authorities who are providing temporary and

:50:07. > :50:10.permanent support. I accept that the Home Office has accelerated the

:50:11. > :50:14.processing of child refugees in recent weeks, but the Home Office

:50:15. > :50:19.has known for months that the camp was to close. More should h`ve been

:50:20. > :50:23.done to persuade the French, either to process all the children

:50:24. > :50:29.themselves, or allow thin. The truth is, we should have made it to the

:50:30. > :50:33.French, that the camp should not have been demolished until we had

:50:34. > :50:38.processed all the children. The media is an uproar about thd

:50:39. > :50:43.supposed failings in the processing. And commentators are in a l`ther

:50:44. > :50:49.about whether some of these children are 17 and a half, 18 and a half or

:50:50. > :50:55.god forbid 19 and a half, as if being a year over the legal

:50:56. > :50:58.definition of childhood makd you miraculously imu into illness caused

:50:59. > :51:03.by freezing temperatures and raw sewage in front of your tent, fear

:51:04. > :51:07.caused by violence and the deadly attentions of sex traffickers. If

:51:08. > :51:10.the commentators who are now suggesting that these young people

:51:11. > :51:17.should be treated like cattle and have their teeth tested had made as

:51:18. > :51:20.much noise about the Governlent s slowness in processing thesd child

:51:21. > :51:27.refugees in the first place, we would not be in the situation we are

:51:28. > :51:32.in. We know that the last thme there was an eviction, more than 000

:51:33. > :51:37.children went missing, before that eviction, because that eviction

:51:38. > :51:42.began before their safety w`s guaranteed. If children go lissing

:51:43. > :51:45.this time, the fear must be they will disappear into the hands of

:51:46. > :51:52.people smugglers and sex traffickers. So, can the Hole

:51:53. > :51:57.Secretary give the estimated timings for the processing of what H

:51:58. > :52:01.understand is the remaining 100 children left in the camp? Will she

:52:02. > :52:09.noted that on this side we regret that any new children arrivhng in

:52:10. > :52:13.the Calais camp will not be able to access family reunions? I al glad to

:52:14. > :52:17.hear there is work being done in Greece and Italy because obviously,

:52:18. > :52:22.Calais is not the only refugee camp. I have visited the camps in Lesbos

:52:23. > :52:26.in Greece. I have seen the traumatised men, women and children

:52:27. > :52:31.there. They had already risked their lives crossing the Mediterr`nean.

:52:32. > :52:35.These children will have sedn others, perhaps family membdrs or

:52:36. > :52:39.friends perish at sea. Thesd children should not feel th`t they

:52:40. > :52:43.have no option but to make their way across France and attempt the

:52:44. > :52:48.dangerous journey to the UK. So will the Home Secretary say more about

:52:49. > :52:53.her plans to create similarly expedited family reunions and Dubs

:52:54. > :52:57.transfers in countries like Greece and Italy? And how long does the

:52:58. > :53:02.Home Secretary estimate that the Dublin children will be held in the

:53:03. > :53:05.temporary accommodation centres in the UK, either before being reunited

:53:06. > :53:11.with their families or placdd into the transfer scheme? And will there

:53:12. > :53:17.be funding and support for the local authorities who are stepping up to

:53:18. > :53:26.play their part in helping these traumatised child refugees? This

:53:27. > :53:36.House knows that from 1999 to 2 02, there was a migrant camp ne`r Calais

:53:37. > :53:40.at Sangatte. There were over 20 0 men, women and children livhng in

:53:41. > :53:44.appalling conditions. That camp was closed with great fanfare 14 years

:53:45. > :53:48.ago. But this new encampment that the French are attempting to close

:53:49. > :53:54.had four times as many people and the conditions were even worse. The

:53:55. > :54:00.French may be closing this camp now, but there is an urgent need for more

:54:01. > :54:06.corporation, Europe wide on migration issues, and unless, as the

:54:07. > :54:13.Home Secretary noted, we de`l with the underlying issues of poverty,

:54:14. > :54:19.Civil War and ill-conceived foreign interventions, this will not be the

:54:20. > :54:23.last time this House have to debate encampments of desperate people in

:54:24. > :54:29.appalling conditions in Cal`is. I am glad we are moving to help the child

:54:30. > :54:33.refugees. I think more could have been done earlier despite the Home

:54:34. > :54:40.Secretary's attempts to hidd behind the French, but let us remelber let

:54:41. > :54:47.us remember that all those people in that camp, which I have vishted are

:54:48. > :54:51.human beings. We will do wh`t we can do for the children, but we need a

:54:52. > :55:01.more considered and Europe wide strategy to deal with the tragedy of

:55:02. > :55:04.refugees moving across Europe. Well, the right honourable lady has

:55:05. > :55:07.raised some important points, and I would first of all draw her

:55:08. > :55:11.attention to some of the colments the Prime Minister made abott the

:55:12. > :55:16.important work the European Union is making, some of which we ard leading

:55:17. > :55:20.on, an upstream funding to lake sure this terrible tragedy of refugees

:55:21. > :55:25.moving, quite often from Central and East and west African countries is

:55:26. > :55:28.stopped. We do that by being one of the largest donors, by workhng in

:55:29. > :55:32.partnership arrangements, and I share her view, that if we can stop

:55:33. > :55:35.the scale of movement, then that is dealing with the most important

:55:36. > :55:39.element of why people come over to Europe and then make their way

:55:40. > :55:43.across France. But I do not need reminding by the lady about the

:55:44. > :55:47.scale of misery that is going on in the camp there in Calais. That is

:55:48. > :55:51.why I have made it such a priority to work with my French counterpart

:55:52. > :55:55.to see the end of that camp and I believe to see the end of the misery

:55:56. > :55:58.that is taking place there. Protecting children has alw`ys been

:55:59. > :56:03.at the forefront of what we are doing. She has referred to the scale

:56:04. > :56:06.of the Dubs Amendment and what else we are doing to make sure wd take

:56:07. > :56:10.children according to that, and I can tell her that we are continuing

:56:11. > :56:13.to interview to make sure that over the next three weeks, she asked

:56:14. > :56:18.particularly about the time frame, we continue to take several hundred

:56:19. > :56:22.more children in addition to the 200 we have already taken. And xes, we

:56:23. > :56:25.are continuing to work on the children who will be eligible in

:56:26. > :56:30.Greece and Italy, and we will be bringing some over the from there

:56:31. > :56:34.soon. In terms of funding and support for the local authorities,

:56:35. > :56:38.there is a funding arrangemdnt for local authorities, for each child

:56:39. > :56:43.that is put in place as thex arrive. She referred particularly to

:56:44. > :56:47.Sangatte in 2002. She is right that camp was ended. There were

:56:48. > :56:51.approximately 2000 people that and at that time the UK agreed to take

:56:52. > :56:55.half of the adults. That is not an agreement we have put in pl`ce this

:56:56. > :57:03.time. Instead we are taking some of the most vulnerable which whll be

:57:04. > :57:06.largely children. But there have been lessons learned from the ending

:57:07. > :57:10.of the Sangatte camp. Camps did come in place swiftly afterwards and in

:57:11. > :57:11.particular the Calais camp which is several times larger than S`ngatte

:57:12. > :57:20.ever was. Part of funding commitment to the

:57:21. > :57:26.French is based on securing the camp as it is, ie once it has bedn

:57:27. > :57:30.closed, we want to make surd we work closely with them so that no future

:57:31. > :57:35.camp is erected there. If there is no camp there for people to come, it

:57:36. > :57:38.will stop the dreadful pass`ge of people across France and thd

:57:39. > :57:42.dreadful endeavour is that people put themselves through to throw

:57:43. > :57:49.themselves on lorries, trucks, in order to get to the UK. And I

:57:50. > :57:59.believe it will stop them bding easy prey to the traffickers I note she

:58:00. > :58:02.and I both abhor. What succdss of the authorities had in arresting or

:58:03. > :58:08.stopping the people traffickers and what more can be done to do that and

:58:09. > :58:16.how can we persuade any adult from committing money and child to these

:58:17. > :58:20.dreadful people? The Nation`l crime agency works closely with the French

:58:21. > :58:24.border Forest and the UK border Forest and we have had succdss of

:58:25. > :58:29.arresting traffickers and there is so much more that we can do. It is

:58:30. > :58:33.one of the reasons why we w`nt to protect the agreement which allows

:58:34. > :58:40.us to work closely together to try and intervene and stop thosd

:58:41. > :58:44.traffickers plying their tr`de. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wotld like

:58:45. > :58:47.to welcome the Home Secretary statement and the news that the UK

:58:48. > :58:53.has now brought unaccompanidd children to the UK both unddr the

:58:54. > :58:56.Dublin regulation and the Lord dubs scheme from the cab at Calahs and

:58:57. > :59:01.also welcome her confirmation we will continue do so. I would like to

:59:02. > :59:04.congratulate her on the fact that she has certainly got things moving

:59:05. > :59:08.in the last couple of weeks. There has been delay in the past but

:59:09. > :59:11.credits are due, things are moving now. I would like to thank her for

:59:12. > :59:15.keeping me informed of what she has been doing and I am very gr`teful to

:59:16. > :59:19.her for a personal acknowledgement of the contribution that has been

:59:20. > :59:24.made to preparations that these children's by local authorities in

:59:25. > :59:28.Scotland and the Convention of Scottish local authorities. I would

:59:29. > :59:31.also like to join her in th`nking the staff who were there at the

:59:32. > :59:36.moment doing difficult work and I would like to add to that mx thanks

:59:37. > :59:40.and the thanks of the Scotthsh National party to all the NGOs and

:59:41. > :59:43.British and Irish volunteers working in that camp over the last few years

:59:44. > :59:50.when there were no official staff there. Mr Speaker, and numbdr of

:59:51. > :59:53.concerns do remain. There h`ve been reports today that the Calahs Police

:59:54. > :59:57.Commissioner has told migrants there is not enough buses to transport

:59:58. > :00:01.them to the time. This is worrying and points to a lack of adepuate

:00:02. > :00:04.planning and preparation for the evacuation on the part of the

:00:05. > :00:08.French. It does not bode well for those vulnerable people and children

:00:09. > :00:13.in the camp who are at serious risk of getting lost in the chaos. Can I

:00:14. > :00:18.pressed her to confirm what plans the UK and French governments have

:00:19. > :00:20.made to ensure that these unaccompanied children don't get

:00:21. > :00:23.lost in the chaos and are protected from falling prey to smuggldrs are

:00:24. > :00:28.going missing, as we know h`ppened last time round? Can suppressor to

:00:29. > :00:33.give an estimate of timings through the processing of the remaining

:00:34. > :00:37.children left in the camp is 's and finally, Mr Speaker, moving the camp

:00:38. > :00:40.doesn't remove the need for a long-term solution to the mhgrant

:00:41. > :00:47.and refugee crisis. What pl`ns does the Home Secretary have to create

:00:48. > :00:49.similar expedited family retnion and dubs transfers another year EU

:00:50. > :00:53.countries such as Greece and Italy to stop children feeling forced to

:00:54. > :00:58.make a journey across Europd to try and get to the UK? I thank the

:00:59. > :01:04.honourable lady further questions and I agree that we should be

:01:05. > :01:08.thanking also the NGOs and the volunteers who have been dohng great

:01:09. > :01:11.work there to protect vulnerable children and actually going to be

:01:12. > :01:16.integral to the closure of the camp over the few days and weeks in terms

:01:17. > :01:21.of protecting the children because sometimes there is very much a lack

:01:22. > :01:25.of trust between Government agencies and the refugees are asylum seekers

:01:26. > :01:29.who are there. Their role is critical in order to try and reach a

:01:30. > :01:34.resolution. She mentions reports from Calais, I haven't heard that

:01:35. > :01:38.particular one. In this sort of environment, Dara a lot of reports

:01:39. > :01:41.and counter news going around. We are very clear that we try to keep

:01:42. > :01:45.everybody informed when we `re there about what's going on but I must

:01:46. > :01:50.respectfully point out this is a pretty tricky situation where we are

:01:51. > :01:54.dealing with a lot of volathle people in some cases. A lot of

:01:55. > :01:57.misinformation and our staff are doing the best to make sure

:01:58. > :02:01.everybody is kept informed. In terms of protecting children, I h`ve

:02:02. > :02:06.repeatedly stated to the Frdnch that it is our priority to ensurd that

:02:07. > :02:12.those children are kept safd and we have agreed to transfer all the

:02:13. > :02:15.children as the camp is cle`red into a secure area. It will be lhkely

:02:16. > :02:18.that wanted children are in a secure area, we should be able to dxpedite

:02:19. > :02:21.our intervene process and bd able to make sure that we keep track of the

:02:22. > :02:27.children that we would like to transfer to the UK. Frankly, over

:02:28. > :02:31.the past few days, it has bden difficult to then find them on the

:02:32. > :02:35.day in order to make sure that began on the buses. I hope with the

:02:36. > :02:39.children held securely in this area of the camp but that will ilprove.

:02:40. > :02:43.In terms of other transfers, there has been a lot with light and I hope

:02:44. > :02:51.we can speed up other areas of the world in terms of Italy and Greece.

:02:52. > :02:55.Those relatively few members of those house who have in the past

:02:56. > :02:58.accommodated young asylum sdekers in their own homes are in a position to

:02:59. > :03:03.be able to confirm to my right honourable friend that this is not

:03:04. > :03:07.something that can be taken lightly, proper preparation needs to be made.

:03:08. > :03:12.If this humanitarian exercise is not to end in tears, it is vital that

:03:13. > :03:20.the Home Secretary sticks to her guns. Can she reassure us that this

:03:21. > :03:23.is any -- before any child hs admitted, the family will bd

:03:24. > :03:28.properly screened and in thd interest of national security, every

:03:29. > :03:34.young adult committed to thd United Kingdom is screened before the late

:03:35. > :03:38.into the country? I thank mx honourable friend to that qtestion

:03:39. > :03:43.and I know that he has housdd asylum seekers in the past and I v`lue his

:03:44. > :03:46.experience in this area and I can reassure him that we will always

:03:47. > :03:51.make the correct safeguarding checks and we will always make surd that

:03:52. > :03:54.the families are prepared. We will not take any risks for this country

:03:55. > :04:00.either in terms of national security or on behalf of the children who are

:04:01. > :04:05.moving here. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I also welcome the progress the

:04:06. > :04:08.Home Secretary has made since her last statement and also her

:04:09. > :04:13.commitment to take several hundred more child -- child refugees as well

:04:14. > :04:16.and join the tributes to all those including charities and loc`l

:04:17. > :04:20.councils who are making it possible for Britain to do what it h`s always

:04:21. > :04:24.done and help those who are most vulnerable. She will know mx concern

:04:25. > :04:30.that this is obviously started so late and therefore the risks of

:04:31. > :04:36.trafficking and disappearing of the many of those who are still left,

:04:37. > :04:40.can she confirm that up to 0000 children and teenagers are dxpected

:04:41. > :04:46.to stay in the container calps overnight tonight and that refugees

:04:47. > :04:50.have warned the are concerndd there will be no youth workers or social

:04:51. > :04:53.workers staying with them, could she urgently make representations to the

:04:54. > :04:58.French Government to ensure there is enough support to keep them safe and

:04:59. > :05:01.particularly that there are additional arrangements for the

:05:02. > :05:07.girls and young women who are there in the camp tonight? I thank the

:05:08. > :05:12.right honourable lady for that question and she has done so much to

:05:13. > :05:16.raise this issue. She is right to do so. I can tell her it is thd plan

:05:17. > :05:21.and it's what the French have said they are doing to maintain the 000

:05:22. > :05:25.plus children and miners in the secure area as the camp. We think

:05:26. > :05:30.this will help us process in order to expedite bringing some of them

:05:31. > :05:34.over here over the next few weeks. We expect a three-week period but we

:05:35. > :05:38.will be moving straightaway. Bill Tilden are moving today. In terms of

:05:39. > :05:41.the support offered to the children there, I haven't followed up yet

:05:42. > :05:49.with the French but I will lake sure I do. Colleagues will want to

:05:50. > :05:55.congratulate the lady on thd home of various committee. One of the

:05:56. > :06:00.classic roots of trafficking is to bring young children -- teenage

:06:01. > :06:05.children, particularly young girls into this country, put them into

:06:06. > :06:08.Government care and within weeks, they have disappeared back hnto

:06:09. > :06:12.trafficking. Could the Home Secretary interest on this occasion

:06:13. > :06:17.that every single child that is permitted to this country whll be

:06:18. > :06:21.monitored and can we have a written statement each month to confirm that

:06:22. > :06:27.those children are still behng looked after and have not bden

:06:28. > :06:30.re-trafficked? My honourabld friend raises an important point and it's

:06:31. > :06:34.an area he has done a lot of work in as well. He is absolutely rhght

:06:35. > :06:39.There is always a risk to accepting these young women but it is because

:06:40. > :06:43.they are at risk that we had to be so keen to prioritise them `nd of

:06:44. > :06:47.the nearly 200 that we have taken over this past weekend, nearly one

:06:48. > :06:52.third have been young women in order to protect them from the dangers he

:06:53. > :06:56.sets out. I can reassure hil that we will be making constant safdguarding

:06:57. > :07:02.checks and I will write to him more fully to set exactly what wd are

:07:03. > :07:07.doing. Can I thank the Home Secretary for statement and indeed

:07:08. > :07:13.for her work in recent days in trying to expedite this crisis. Just

:07:14. > :07:19.you referred to some of the comments made this afternoon and this evening

:07:20. > :07:23.that somehow human traffickhng is the cause and source of the crisis

:07:24. > :07:26.we are talking about and to challenge that and to suggest that

:07:27. > :07:34.human traffickers are wicked people who exploit a crisis on a global and

:07:35. > :07:37.European one, I am trying to challenge this. Specific to Calais,

:07:38. > :07:42.many of the vulnerable children brought to the UK will have family

:07:43. > :07:47.somewhere even if the are ctrrently separated. The UK is the only

:07:48. > :07:53.European country I understand that does not allow unaccompanied

:07:54. > :07:56.children with refugee status the right to sponsor immediate family,

:07:57. > :08:03.including parents, to join them Given the importance of keeping

:08:04. > :08:06.families together, will she ensure that unaccompanied refugee children

:08:07. > :08:13.are able to sponsor their p`rents for the purpose of refugee family

:08:14. > :08:16.reunion if and when they ard found? I thank the honourable gentleman for

:08:17. > :08:20.his question and he is right that traffickers are at the heart of the

:08:21. > :08:24.problem, not the whole problem. He and I know as the Woolhouse does

:08:25. > :08:27.there are many reasons why this takes place and it starts whth the

:08:28. > :08:32.upstream problem that we ard trying to address with other countries

:08:33. > :08:37.internationally about supporting African countries from wherd these

:08:38. > :08:44.refugees are coming. In terls of changing to our immigration policy,

:08:45. > :08:48.there are no plans to changd it I would like to give my thanks to the

:08:49. > :08:53.Home Secretary for statement today and he asked in working to transfer

:08:54. > :08:57.these eligible children frol Calais -- Calais to the UK, can my right

:08:58. > :09:02.honourable friend confirm that this has been done through a proper and

:09:03. > :09:05.process with the agreement of the French and that all of the children

:09:06. > :09:13.who are coming over will undergo the appropriate security checks? She is

:09:14. > :09:17.absolutely right. We are only doing this work by making initially proper

:09:18. > :09:21.checks on every individual, every child or minor he was brought

:09:22. > :09:24.across. We have two insure ht the safeguard an interest of thd child

:09:25. > :09:30.is served first before bringing them over to the UK. The checks `re

:09:31. > :09:37.always been done. Can I join with you in congratulating my honourable

:09:38. > :09:41.friend on her election as chair of the home affairs committee `s she

:09:42. > :09:44.will do an excellent job. Does the Home Secretary agree with md that

:09:45. > :09:48.the primary responsibility for the disturbing thing is that we are

:09:49. > :09:51.seeing lies with the French Government? This is France `nd I

:09:52. > :09:54.don't believe that we in thhs country would have allowed the

:09:55. > :10:00.development of the cab in this way. We want this to end as quickly as

:10:01. > :10:03.possible but my concern in welcoming her strong commitments on child

:10:04. > :10:09.protection is that the problem is going to be displaced to Holland and

:10:10. > :10:13.Denmark. That is already evhdence the people traffickers are loving

:10:14. > :10:18.away from Calais into other areas and can she assured the house there

:10:19. > :10:22.are small ports and airports will get the security back-up th`t they

:10:23. > :10:28.need in order to protect thdm from this activity? I thank the right

:10:29. > :10:33.honourable gentleman for his question. He is right that this is

:10:34. > :10:37.taking place in France and this is largely a problem for the French to

:10:38. > :10:41.address but it is so much in the UK's interest that this is `ddressed

:10:42. > :10:44.that the camp is dealt with in this way and that the agreement hs

:10:45. > :10:49.maintained that we are playhng an active role. He is right to point

:10:50. > :10:52.out the danger of displacemdnt and we are talking to French

:10:53. > :10:55.counterparts and with our intelligence services, borddr forces

:10:56. > :11:00.and police forces to make stre we keep an aye on where it might happen

:11:01. > :11:05.and we will support our ports to address it. May I congratul`te the

:11:06. > :11:08.Home Secretary on her department, 800 injuries have taken place so

:11:09. > :11:12.swiftly in difficult circumstances. Can I ask what is being dond to

:11:13. > :11:17.prioritise the most vulnerable children? He is right. We are

:11:18. > :11:22.committed to prioritising the most vulnerable which is the youngest,

:11:23. > :11:26.miners who are risk of sexu`l exploitation and we will always make

:11:27. > :11:29.sure that we do that. We ard putting them at the front of the kex in

:11:30. > :11:33.terms of interviewing MBI are the ones who are most likely to qualify

:11:34. > :11:38.under the Dubs Amendment whdn it comes most clear that they `re

:11:39. > :11:42.better served by being in the UK. Thank you, Mr Speaker. May H

:11:43. > :11:45.associate myself with the comment of the new home affairs select

:11:46. > :11:49.committee chair about the progress being made and pick up on what the

:11:50. > :11:53.Home Secretary said about the reports from the camp today and the

:11:54. > :11:58.chaos that we are seeing as the camp is being closed. I have det`iled

:11:59. > :12:01.with me of 49 children under the age of 13 who today the voluntary

:12:02. > :12:07.agencies say could not register at the warehouse. I am happy to share

:12:08. > :12:10.those with the Home Secretary and her officials directly. Will she

:12:11. > :12:14.give me a personal assurancd that she will investigate the fate of

:12:15. > :12:19.those 49, including three under the age of 11? Was she make an `ssurance

:12:20. > :12:21.that any child brought here under the legal process will not be put in

:12:22. > :12:31.a Rules are surprised to hear the

:12:32. > :12:34.honourable lady talk about ` detention centre.

:12:35. > :12:39.We are making sure all the children who comes here are looked after in a

:12:40. > :12:44.way that we as a proud uncompassionate lesion can call the

:12:45. > :12:49.right way. If she has any additional information she's welcome to give it

:12:50. > :12:55.to me. -- end a proud uncompassionate way. We havd 36

:12:56. > :13:01.staff on the ground to do this and they are engaged with the NGOs.

:13:02. > :13:06.There is no them and others feelings in the camp and I would ask her to

:13:07. > :13:11.bear that in mind, that we want to get the most vulnerable outs and the

:13:12. > :13:16.children out. There is nothhng but good intentions on the side to

:13:17. > :13:21.achieve that. I thank the Home Secretary for her

:13:22. > :13:26.comprehensive statement. It will not have gone unnoticed from media

:13:27. > :13:31.reports the number of the children coming to Europe appear to be young

:13:32. > :13:35.men. Can my honourable friend confirm how many people bec`use of

:13:36. > :13:42.us have rejected on the grotnds of age. -- coming here to Brit`in. He

:13:43. > :13:47.is right and that has been reports about some turning out to the older

:13:48. > :13:55.than 17. We carry out a Starbuck checks as possible in an environment

:13:56. > :14:01.which is -- we do a thorough checks. I was asked if ousted with ts while

:14:02. > :14:06.we deliver the best for the young people there -- bear with us for the

:14:07. > :14:11.children who need to come hdre for safety reasons but we take `ll

:14:12. > :14:13.assessments very seriously `nd will continue to prioritise the lost

:14:14. > :14:23.vulnerable, which will be the youngest.

:14:24. > :14:28.I am grateful for her comments about frustrating misdeeds of crilinal

:14:29. > :14:33.gangs preying on vulnerable but having mentioned this placelent in

:14:34. > :14:37.Belgium or in Denmark are wd not dealing with the consequencds of

:14:38. > :14:43.their actions rather than frustrating them in the first place?

:14:44. > :14:46.So rather than talk of the relationships between this country

:14:47. > :14:50.and France can Home Secretary and get what work has gone on whth

:14:51. > :14:54.Interpol across the Mediterranean to make sure people are frustr`ted from

:14:55. > :14:58.sending people here in the first place rather than dealing whth the

:14:59. > :15:03.consequences? The honourable gentleman is right.

:15:04. > :15:06.More work must be done upstream to stop people coming here in the first

:15:07. > :15:12.place and stop these scenes of people arriving and not getting into

:15:13. > :15:16.the country and stop the drdadful scenes of people around me hn the

:15:17. > :15:22.Mediterranean and the Prime Minister referred earlier to work we are

:15:23. > :15:26.doing with the UN, with HMS enterprise there at the momdnt to

:15:27. > :15:29.make sure we play our bets, our leading role in stopping thd

:15:30. > :15:37.dreadful people smuggling from Libya.

:15:38. > :15:42.I commend the Home Secretarx for her statement. Notwithstanding the

:15:43. > :15:46.obduracy of the French, the situation has not been improved by

:15:47. > :15:51.the catastrophic decision of the German Government to disreg`rd the

:15:52. > :15:56.Dublin protocol in respect of processing refugees. I belidve the

:15:57. > :16:01.decision to close the camp hs right because it will save lives by

:16:02. > :16:04.stymieing the evil work people traffickers. Specifically, what

:16:05. > :16:11.efforts are the Home Office making to assist the 10% of the calp who

:16:12. > :16:15.are vulnerable women? I thank my friend for a support and

:16:16. > :16:20.he is right, the ending of the camp is in the interests of everxbody in

:16:21. > :16:25.this country as well as France. Only 10% of the camp is made up of women,

:16:26. > :16:28.we believe, and we make surd to prioritise them because thex are the

:16:29. > :16:34.most likely to be vulnerabld to sexual exploitation and currently we

:16:35. > :16:39.have about one third of int`ke are women, which is a positive result,

:16:40. > :16:42.compared to only 10% of the camp being young woman.

:16:43. > :16:46.I was pleased to the Home Sdcretary sent a clear message regardhng the

:16:47. > :16:51.recent media practice of photographic migrants coming to this

:16:52. > :16:55.country through Calais, children or young adults, can she said that

:16:56. > :16:59.message loud and clear that this is a reckless behaviour that ptts

:17:00. > :17:03.people at risk and banshee `lso deplore media practices we see today

:17:04. > :17:10.which appear to be identifyhng temporary reception centres. -- that

:17:11. > :17:14.raises both security and safeguarding risks. Can she urged

:17:15. > :17:18.caution and care and how thdse operators are reported? The

:17:19. > :17:22.honourable lady is quite right, it is essential we maintain thd

:17:23. > :17:27.anonymity of the young people over here, coming over here, and one of

:17:28. > :17:31.the reasons pointed out to le is some of them, particularly xoung

:17:32. > :17:36.women, are claimed by peopld smugglers to owe them money and if

:17:37. > :17:40.they see the pictures they lay come after them. By keeping their faces

:17:41. > :17:45.discreet and location secret we keep them safe.

:17:46. > :17:54.When I raised the question of returns with... In May he told me

:17:55. > :17:58.his priority was with his pdople who were taking the fight to thd Caliban

:17:59. > :18:03.and only then could return to the needs of those who had given up on

:18:04. > :18:09.his country and gone away. Those were hard was not will she reflect

:18:10. > :18:14.on them when she attaches priority to the most vulnerable and

:18:15. > :18:18.deserving? My honourable friend is right.

:18:19. > :18:22.Returns are an important part of a strong immigration policy and we are

:18:23. > :18:26.constantly working with othdr countries to make sure we c`n have

:18:27. > :18:30.that consent in place and demonstrate how it is in both of our

:18:31. > :18:37.interest to make sure that hts employees.

:18:38. > :18:41.-- that is in place. Much of what the Home Secretary has said is

:18:42. > :18:45.welcome but can I ask what has she instructed officials to do hf an

:18:46. > :18:50.unaccompanied English-speakhng 12-year-old girl appears in Calais

:18:51. > :18:56.next week, a child who best interests are clear which sdrved by

:18:57. > :18:59.being resettled in the UK? Will officials be permitted to bd

:19:00. > :19:07.flexible with a cup of data in such circumstances?

:19:08. > :19:13.-- cut off date. I would expect her to claim asylum in France btt I hope

:19:14. > :19:19.that you bed never comes to pass. -- hope that event.

:19:20. > :19:25.At the home of the select committee we challenge the Calais mayor and

:19:26. > :19:28.other French officials months ago to deliver plans to clear up the camp

:19:29. > :19:32.and no doubt the minister c`n confirm it is not possible for the

:19:33. > :19:39.British Government to do anxthing in Calais without French agreelent

:19:40. > :19:42.Where we can take the reeds, is in tackling the people traffickers Can

:19:43. > :19:46.my right honourable friend tell me how many criminal gangs havd been

:19:47. > :19:51.stopped thanks to the work of UK security forces?

:19:52. > :19:55.I thank my honourable friend and she is right. We have been urging the

:19:56. > :20:00.French to take action for a while and working closely with thdm but it

:20:01. > :20:04.is, in the past few weeks and days we have been able to really engage

:20:05. > :20:10.and conduct these interviews and a way that is quick and effective and

:20:11. > :20:13.yielded results. She is also right that allows us to make more progress

:20:14. > :20:17.in terms of arresting criminal gangs.

:20:18. > :20:22.The Home Secretary gave asstrances earlier about the importancd of the

:20:23. > :20:29.safety of children and tracking of them in Parliament -- being

:20:30. > :20:34.paramount. I have been made aware of allegations of children going

:20:35. > :20:41.missing. Will she, too investigating such cases of those? Wiltshhre, she,

:20:42. > :20:45.too investigating and trackhng about what happened to those people and if

:20:46. > :20:50.that safety is at risk? The honourable gentleman is welcome

:20:51. > :20:54.to send me information he h`s what I would say we happened situated in

:20:55. > :20:59.the past few days where we have expected children to be avahlable to

:21:00. > :21:02.board the bus to come to thd UK and sometimes NGOs themselves h`ve been

:21:03. > :21:06.surprised that could not find the children. It is not as

:21:07. > :21:10.straightforward as we wished it could be but I cope what thdse

:21:11. > :21:16.changes we will have the chhldren all in one secure area it whll be

:21:17. > :21:21.more straightforward to bring a child to the UK that we havd

:21:22. > :21:25.committed to. Can I thank the Home Secret`ry for

:21:26. > :21:30.her statement and can my right honourable friend tell the house how

:21:31. > :21:38.much the Government has invdsted in reinforcing the border at C`lais?

:21:39. > :21:43.The total package is ?36 million, of which 40 million is for sectrity.

:21:44. > :21:48.That security being in placd in Calais is in our interest to make

:21:49. > :21:51.sure we can predict tourists, truckers, the economy and going

:21:52. > :21:59.about their normal course of business which I hope will be much

:22:00. > :22:03.improved once the camp is cleared. Can the Home Secretary reassure us

:22:04. > :22:09.local authorities will be adequately funded and see how they will be

:22:10. > :22:14.compensated and more import`ntly that adequate accommodation is

:22:15. > :22:17.provided for these children and not institutionalised.

:22:18. > :22:20.The honourable gentleman max be aware the Dubbs Ammendment can only

:22:21. > :22:27.be implemented if local authorities, for what volunteered to takd those

:22:28. > :22:32.children. Subversion local authorities have come forward but we

:22:33. > :22:39.will need more over -- suffhcient local authorities have come forward

:22:40. > :22:46.but we need father places. ,- further places. They are aw`re of

:22:47. > :22:52.the rate weepy and I hope they will consider that adequate compdnsation.

:22:53. > :22:56.-- the rate we pay. I welcome comments on my right

:22:57. > :23:01.honourable friend has made `bout the robustness of the checking process

:23:02. > :23:06.of those eligible to be relocated to the UK because there are legitimate

:23:07. > :23:12.concerns about that. One of the reception centres is in West Sussex

:23:13. > :23:16.and can I have assurances the county council there will indeed gdt back

:23:17. > :23:23.on going support because thdre are already pressures on their budget to

:23:24. > :23:26.ensure this will not, this will be beneficial to those children and not

:23:27. > :23:31.detrimental to others in thd West Sussex.

:23:32. > :23:35.We are always grateful for the generous way in which local

:23:36. > :23:38.authorities come forward and have positively responded to the call we

:23:39. > :23:43.put out. I would particularly like to say thank you to West Sussex

:23:44. > :23:47.fought the good work they h`ve been doing and hosting one of thd

:23:48. > :23:53.dispersal centres and we will work closely with them to ensure that

:23:54. > :23:59.good relationship continues. I have listened closely to the Home

:24:00. > :24:03.Secretary and answers about safeguarding and I ask this question

:24:04. > :24:08.because a social worker got in touch with me to say for the children who

:24:09. > :24:12.have started to enter the country it has been a bureaucratic shalbles.

:24:13. > :24:17.She said social services have been given wrong addresses, wrong,

:24:18. > :24:20.contacts and I would like to ask the Home Secretary how she and her

:24:21. > :24:25.department will urgently ensure the correct provisions are in place to

:24:26. > :24:31.support social services to lake sure that once children are here they do

:24:32. > :24:36.not fall through the cracks. I would just say to her somdtimes we

:24:37. > :24:41.do not have all the information we need. One of the reasons whx the

:24:42. > :24:45.full cohort of nearly 200 Dtblin children has not yet been brought

:24:46. > :24:51.over this because we have not been able to establish where thehr close

:24:52. > :24:55.family members are so it max be on the issue she is drawing attention

:24:56. > :25:01.to the close family members who have been claimed and contacted `re not

:25:02. > :25:08.longer quite as contactable once the local authority is addressing it. I

:25:09. > :25:12.would say to her, this can be a complicated process, it is not

:25:13. > :25:17.always the case the contacts we are given straightforward to follow up

:25:18. > :25:19.on what if she wants to send me a particular example I of course we'll

:25:20. > :25:27.look at that. I thank the Home Secretary `nd the

:25:28. > :25:31.talk of the humanitarian opdration because when I was there in February

:25:32. > :25:37.it was far from humanitarian. Can she confirm again the sheltdr will

:25:38. > :25:46.be sufficient to accommodatd all child refugees if not withott the

:25:47. > :25:49.French authorities accepting... Can the secretary of state trulx

:25:50. > :25:53.safeguard the fact children dispersed across centres across the

:25:54. > :25:55.front they will be accommod`ted and those with whom we have a ldgal duty

:25:56. > :26:04.under Dubbs Ammendment? The only reassurance I can give him

:26:05. > :26:08.is what I've been given by the French. We have asked them that the

:26:09. > :26:14.children are kept in a secure area. It was our request that it should be

:26:15. > :26:19.outside the camp, the tools to do it inside reassuring as they could keep

:26:20. > :26:21.the child and secure. We ard in close contact and we have a large

:26:22. > :26:26.number of Home Office representative there as well as the hundreds of

:26:27. > :26:29.border for staff in the are`. We are hopeful we will be able to lake sure

:26:30. > :26:33.we work closely with them to keep them safe but this is a French

:26:34. > :26:40.responsibility although we `re giving them all the support we can.

:26:41. > :26:43.I welcome very much what thd Home Secretary said today about children

:26:44. > :26:47.but we should remind ourselves it is not only children who require

:26:48. > :26:52.international protection. When I visited Calais at Easter, wd met

:26:53. > :26:57.Afghans and we met Kurds who had been previously granted asylum in

:26:58. > :27:01.the UK before returning homd about to flee a second time and h`d ended

:27:02. > :27:07.up at Calais. While the Homd Office would get that set of keys hn terms

:27:08. > :27:12.of who is appropriate for the UK to take responsibility for? In this

:27:13. > :27:15.case, while the camps are bding demolished, we have made a

:27:16. > :27:19.commitment to take the most vulnerable children and within that

:27:20. > :27:23.cohort of children, the ones who are the youngest and the ones who are

:27:24. > :27:28.vulnerable to sexual exploitation. In terms of other people who may be

:27:29. > :27:31.vulnerable, there may be ond or two who qualify under the Dubs

:27:32. > :27:35.Amendment, but otherwise thdy will need to apply for asylum as a normal

:27:36. > :27:41.case in France. We must stick to the general accepted principle that the

:27:42. > :27:45.apply for asylum in the first country of safety. A number of my

:27:46. > :27:49.constituents have got in totch to express compassion for thosd in the

:27:50. > :27:52.Jungle camp but a number of other people are also worried abott the

:27:53. > :27:56.age of those we are being sden to take. Can the Home Secretarx talk a

:27:57. > :28:00.little bit zero -- more abott the numbers we are projecting on the

:28:01. > :28:05.grounds of age but the comprehensive security package around who we take

:28:06. > :28:10.in the first place? I would like to reassure my honourable friend the

:28:11. > :28:13.best way to assess age is bx using experienced social workers. That is

:28:14. > :28:18.what we are doing in terms of assessing the age on the ground

:28:19. > :28:21.Most of the young people we are talking to, children, miners,

:28:22. > :28:28.whatever you call them, are teenagers. Most of them are

:28:29. > :28:32.teenagers and most of them `re young boys. I still think it's thd right

:28:33. > :28:36.thing to do but I would ask him to be sure his constituents th`t we

:28:37. > :28:41.will always do the proper safeguarding checks to insure they

:28:42. > :28:45.are indeed what they say thdy are. Can I commend the Home Secrdtary and

:28:46. > :28:50.her staff are the efforts she has made in accelerating the process of

:28:51. > :28:53.bringing unaccompanied minors to this country. Can I press on the

:28:54. > :28:59.challenges the local authorhties are pressing? My understanding hs that

:29:00. > :29:03.they... The calling the samd number of limited in time and agencies

:29:04. > :29:08.Does she see a more central role for Government in coordinating the

:29:09. > :29:11.availability of places in the independent sector? He raisds an

:29:12. > :29:15.important point and if that were the case, that would not be a stccessful

:29:16. > :29:18.outcome. A lot of the local authorities are choosing to work

:29:19. > :29:21.together and we have got good examples of good practice where five

:29:22. > :29:27.local authorities are getting together, not competing and making a

:29:28. > :29:31.joint offer. I welcome the Home Secretary's statement. Prior to my

:29:32. > :29:35.election to this place, I rdgularly defended the Home Office in many

:29:36. > :29:39.immigration and asylum cases. It is widely accepted by judges and

:29:40. > :29:42.practitioners that aid assessment of undocumented children is notoriously

:29:43. > :29:45.difficult and not an exact science. The rise in cases in the

:29:46. > :29:50.administrative Court reflect this fact. Will my right honourable

:29:51. > :29:55.friend confirms that dental checks are not the appropriate method for

:29:56. > :30:00.an age assessment and guidance exists in the case law and that the

:30:01. > :30:03.practices of the London boroughs of Croydon which have adopted

:30:04. > :30:09.throughout the country which suggest that listing to the history,

:30:10. > :30:14.observers of behaviour and children getting evidence is a much better

:30:15. > :30:17.indicator rather than physical maturity? I thank my honour`ble

:30:18. > :30:20.friend to that question and I know she has substantial experienced in

:30:21. > :30:24.this field having acted as `n immigration officer are comhng into

:30:25. > :30:29.Parliament. The best way to assess age is by using experienced

:30:30. > :30:33.assessors and we will continue to do that. The British dental Association

:30:34. > :30:38.has said that is not the right way to go, it is not effective,

:30:39. > :30:44.reliable. The best way is to use the type of assessment we are which is

:30:45. > :30:49.based on experience. Wouldn't it be in the best interests of thd asylum

:30:50. > :30:54.seekers and local authoritids if the asylum seekers, especially the

:30:55. > :30:59.children, were located my evenly throughout the country. My local

:31:00. > :31:02.authority copes with 500 each year, the constituencies of the present

:31:03. > :31:07.Prime Minister, the previous Bedminster and the previous

:31:08. > :31:13.Chancellor of the Exchequer take none at all. Obviously, while my

:31:14. > :31:17.local authority is doing very well with this, there are strains on the

:31:18. > :31:24.local services, including the schools and the health servhce. As

:31:25. > :31:29.the new comers and the asyltm seekers will be especially

:31:30. > :31:32.vulnerable and many of them without -- with rice health problems than it

:31:33. > :31:35.can she make sure the money given to local authorities is adequate for

:31:36. > :31:40.the long years for which it will be required? There is a nation`l

:31:41. > :31:43.transfer scheme in order to make sure unaccompanied children are

:31:44. > :31:47.fairly shared around the cotntry. We are urging local authorities to step

:31:48. > :31:51.up and I can say to him that we are getting a very strong response from

:31:52. > :31:55.local authorities. This has gone to the heart of people in the country

:31:56. > :31:58.and local authorities who w`nt to participate and want to help and who

:31:59. > :32:03.believe in this as an endeavour to try and address but we will always

:32:04. > :32:08.need more I will in urge ag`in anyone who think their local

:32:09. > :32:12.authorities can help to urgd them to step forward to do so. The situation

:32:13. > :32:14.is fast-moving but the Home Secretary has said her officials

:32:15. > :32:19.have been hard at work in the last week and have conducted 800

:32:20. > :32:24.interviews. 200 children have been admitted to the UK. For my first

:32:25. > :32:29.question, how many more intdrviews on how many more applications does

:32:30. > :32:33.she expect her staff to process how far through this are away and my

:32:34. > :32:38.second question is, is that ratio of one acceptance to for applications a

:32:39. > :32:47.ratio that we are likely to see continuing? It takes less thme to

:32:48. > :32:53.ask two questions than it took a lot of people to ask one question. I say

:32:54. > :32:58.to my honourable friend that is not quite how it's working out. The 200

:32:59. > :33:02.are largely made up of the Dubs Amendment children for which they

:33:03. > :33:05.have a strong family tie in the UK. About one quarter are made tp of

:33:06. > :33:09.dogs and the balance of the additional children that we will

:33:10. > :33:13.take will be Dubs Amendment children. The 800 who have been

:33:14. > :33:17.interviewed, the not coming to the UK. We are just processing their

:33:18. > :33:21.claims. There will be anothdr 2 0 300 interviews and we hope to beat a

:33:22. > :33:25.figure of a few hundred mord over the next two to three weeks while

:33:26. > :33:28.the camp is being cleared and then we will have done our commitment to

:33:29. > :33:37.the French which we hope will be approximately half the children who

:33:38. > :33:41.were there. A point of order I raised with the greatest reluctance

:33:42. > :33:46.but it is a matter for you Lr Speaker and a matter of somd

:33:47. > :33:52.urgency. You will recall in November 20 15th the Conservative delegates

:33:53. > :33:55.were queried and there was ` debate in this house when this report was

:33:56. > :34:01.made about the selection of delegates. At the time, you rightly

:34:02. > :34:06.said it wasn't your job to hnterfere with the decisions of partids in the

:34:07. > :34:11.whose delegates they say. I believe there is a decision to be m`de a few

:34:12. > :34:14.errors ago and is not only hmproper but possibly illegal. Until the

:34:15. > :34:20.matter can be resolved, I h`ve to send you an e-mail and a letter

:34:21. > :34:23.about what happened. I'm sure it might be a misunderstanding but can

:34:24. > :34:28.I ask you in the meantime to repeat what you did with the Conservative

:34:29. > :34:32.-- Conservative delegates and declined to send the chosen delegate

:34:33. > :34:37.by the Labour Party to the Council of Europe into the matter h`s been

:34:38. > :34:42.resolved? Can I say to the honourable gentleman, I thank him

:34:43. > :34:45.for his point of order. He did come to the chair earlier and sax to me

:34:46. > :34:48.about this matter and I don't dispute that one moment but I have

:34:49. > :34:55.to say to him that I have not yet seen his e-mail and I think it would

:34:56. > :35:00.be prudent for me to study that and to reflect carefully upon the matter

:35:01. > :35:02.and to take advice before pronouncing of course I will

:35:03. > :35:07.remember the sequence of evdnts to which the honourable gentlelan

:35:08. > :35:11.referred if memory serves md, that is principally concerned melbers

:35:12. > :35:15.from the governing party. In this instance, I think the honourable

:35:16. > :35:18.gentleman is concerned about his own party's delegation. I don't

:35:19. > :35:23.interfere in the choice of lembers of the delegation, that is not a

:35:24. > :35:29.matter for me. I do have a responsibility to notify thd

:35:30. > :35:37.Parliamentary assembly of the decision made here. Of course, I

:35:38. > :35:41.wouldn't wish to do anything that was procedurally improper. H will

:35:42. > :35:47.have to satisfy myself that whatever I am being asked or instructed to do

:35:48. > :35:53.is procedurally proper. I whll not be sending any letter until I have

:35:54. > :35:56.so satisfied myself. I hope that is helpful and admitted that dtty, I

:35:57. > :36:01.will study the letter from the honourable gentleman. If thdre are

:36:02. > :36:07.no further point of order, we proceed now to the main bushness,

:36:08. > :36:18.the orders of the day. Health service medical supplies, sdcond

:36:19. > :36:24.reading. I call the Secretary of State for Health, secretary Jeremy

:36:25. > :36:28.Hunt. I beg to move that thd bill is ready second time. This is ` short

:36:29. > :36:34.and focused bill which is vhtally important not only for the NHS but

:36:35. > :36:40.also for patients. NHS spending on medicines is second only to staffing

:36:41. > :36:50.costs. The health and social care information estimated the NHS

:36:51. > :36:55.England spent over... A risd of nearly 20% since 2010. With advances

:36:56. > :36:59.in science and our ageing population, these costs can only

:37:00. > :37:03.continue to grow. Medicines are a vital part of patient care hn the

:37:04. > :37:07.NHS, both in hospitals and community. Thanks to research and

:37:08. > :37:13.development effort of the science industry which can be checkdd -

:37:14. > :37:17.contributes ?56 million to the UK economy every year our understanding

:37:18. > :37:21.diseases and the best way to treat them has improved dramatically over

:37:22. > :37:28.the last 20 years. Who would have thought that UK work pioneering

:37:29. > :37:31.superconducting magnets would result -- result in MRI scanners which

:37:32. > :37:36.would save hundreds of lives each year through the early detection of

:37:37. > :37:39.breast cancer or that the rdmarkable research by our national Institute

:37:40. > :37:43.for health research into translational medicine would lead to

:37:44. > :37:46.scientific breakthroughs in areas such as gene therapy being taken

:37:47. > :37:54.from the lab to the clinic? Any six-year period, this has ldd to

:37:55. > :38:00.340... Generating ?380 millhon. This Government is committed to dnsuring

:38:01. > :38:02.that patients get access to innovative and cost effective

:38:03. > :38:06.medicines as quickly as possible. I want to pay tribute to the work

:38:07. > :38:11.carried out by my honourabld friend, the member from Norfolk, who worked

:38:12. > :38:17.tirelessly to promote this hndustry and to established the access review

:38:18. > :38:21.to provide clear recommendations on how the Government, NHS and industry

:38:22. > :38:25.can work together to ensure patients benefit from transformative new

:38:26. > :38:29.products much more quickly. That review was published today `nd is an

:38:30. > :38:34.excellent document which ch`llenges everyone in the medicine system to

:38:35. > :38:41.up their game. Eric mission is to continue our progress in ensuring

:38:42. > :38:46.patients get rapid... Howevdr, we also need to ensure we are getting

:38:47. > :38:49.the best value for the NHS which is why we bought this -- brought this

:38:50. > :38:55.bill before the house. The purpose of the bill is to clarify modernise

:38:56. > :39:06.provisions to control the cost of health. These provisions will align

:39:07. > :39:09.its statutory and cost control mechanisms currently in existence,

:39:10. > :39:13.although the Government to control the cost of excessively priced on

:39:14. > :39:18.branded generic medicines and ensure we have compared the data whth which

:39:19. > :39:22.to reimburse people who dispense medicines. Taken together, they will

:39:23. > :39:31.enable us to secure better value for money for the NHS and its spend on

:39:32. > :39:37.medicines. I congratulate hhm on this effort. I received a written

:39:38. > :39:43.answer that last year GPs spent ?85 million prescribing paracet`mol 500

:39:44. > :39:46.million grams of personal costs ?19 and asked. I just wonder whdther

:39:47. > :39:52.this bill will enable us to look at those sort of costs and whether that

:39:53. > :39:56.is appropriate? I am very grateful to him of reading that issud because

:39:57. > :39:59.what he is doing, although the measures that he's actually talking

:40:00. > :40:03.about are not directly covered in this bill, he's reminding md how is

:40:04. > :40:08.that the business of getting value for money from our drugs business is

:40:09. > :40:13.everyone's business throughout the NHS. We do know that there hs a huge

:40:14. > :40:17.amount of prescribing of medicines which isn't strictly necess`ry and

:40:18. > :40:23.we had further evidence frol the Cabinet of Royal colleges this

:40:24. > :40:27.morning about that. He makes an extremely important point. This bill

:40:28. > :40:33.is part of the effort to get better value for money from our budget The

:40:34. > :40:39.initiative he talks about are equally important. Further to that

:40:40. > :40:44.question, I can see how the bill will deal with the issue of the

:40:45. > :40:48.branding and that's very welcome but I understand there are thred other

:40:49. > :40:53.areas of concern. The questhon of price delay which I think the

:40:54. > :40:58.competition in markets authority have been looking at and thdn

:40:59. > :41:03.there's this problem of so-called loyalty schemes, all of which are

:41:04. > :41:06.used to artificially inflatd the cost of medicines to the NHS. Will

:41:07. > :41:15.we also deal with those are`s? It will deal with some of the

:41:16. > :41:20.concerns of the honourable gentleman and we will listen to all concerns

:41:21. > :41:27.are raised by members during the progress of the Bill but thd

:41:28. > :41:31.particular issue he raises with Competition and Markets Authority

:41:32. > :41:36.are already doing an investhgation as to the behaviour of

:41:37. > :41:42.pharmaceutical companies in certain situations but what has become clear

:41:43. > :41:47.is that there is a particul`rly unethical and unacceptable practice

:41:48. > :41:54.with respect to drugs companies getting control of generic drugs in

:41:55. > :42:01.which they and a monopoly and raising the prices. There w`s one

:42:02. > :42:06.product whose price increasd 12 000% between two and -- 2008 and 201 and

:42:07. > :42:13.if the price had stayed unchanged the NHS would have spent ?58 million

:42:14. > :42:17.less and the Government's concluded the simplest and quickest w`y to

:42:18. > :42:22.sort this is through legisl`tion. I will happily take as other hssues he

:42:23. > :42:29.raised and look into them. I will happily give way. I welcome

:42:30. > :42:33.the provisions of this bill in terms of closing loopholes and de`ling

:42:34. > :42:38.with these terrible examples were the NHS is essentially being

:42:39. > :42:44.exploited. Could he point to the future with the suggestion that the

:42:45. > :42:47.drugs bill will increase to 20 billion by 2020, a much mord

:42:48. > :42:53.significant increase than projected can afford. What better measures

:42:54. > :42:56.must take place for us to substantively deal with this bigger

:42:57. > :43:06.problem? She is right. We see demand for

:43:07. > :43:10.services including treatments and drugs and that will increasd by a

:43:11. > :43:14.total of around 30 billion over the next five-year period which is a

:43:15. > :43:19.huge amount and more than wd can afford as a country without changing

:43:20. > :43:23.practice and that is why ard implementing a very challenging

:43:24. > :43:29.series of efficiency reforms designed to make sure we can afford

:43:30. > :43:32.to continue current levels of NHS service on its ?10 billion hncrease

:43:33. > :43:38.the Government is putting an end. Part of that is managers like those

:43:39. > :43:44.in this bill to control the drugs bill. -- part of that is me`sures

:43:45. > :43:48.like this. With them that the next 25 years what we are seeing is a

:43:49. > :43:54.bigger issue of the pace of innovation in science acceldrating

:43:55. > :43:57.and that provides great opportunities for the NHS btt

:43:58. > :44:01.potentially great pressures on the budget and we will continue to

:44:02. > :44:09.discuss those issues extenshvely in this house. I will happily give way.

:44:10. > :44:13.What assessment has been made of the impact this bill might have on the

:44:14. > :44:17.parallel trade and pharmacetticals which he will now has both costs and

:44:18. > :44:23.benefits for the NHS and for patient care?

:44:24. > :44:29.I think my honourable friend who obviously knows about these matters

:44:30. > :44:38.in a great deal of detail, should be reassured this bill will stop people

:44:39. > :44:42.who are part of a voluntary scheme parallel importing through Duropean

:44:43. > :44:46.subsidiaries which currentlx under the single market rules we `re not

:44:47. > :44:55.able to stop. That football will be closed. The first element of the

:44:56. > :44:59.bill. -- that loophole. The first element relates to court br`nded

:45:00. > :45:03.medicines. We have had both stature and voluntary with the

:45:04. > :45:11.pharmaceutical companies to limit the cost. Companies can join either

:45:12. > :45:15.scheme. Each voluntary schele lasts around five years before a new

:45:16. > :45:19.scheme is negotiated, the ctrrent voluntary scheme is the 2014

:45:20. > :45:25.pharmaceutical price regulation scheme will stop the objecthves of

:45:26. > :45:29.that agreement include keephng the branded health service medicine bill

:45:30. > :45:34.with an affordable limits while supporting the availability of

:45:35. > :45:40.innovative medicines. For industry this provides companies with the

:45:41. > :45:46.certainty and backing to flourish in the UK and abroad. I will ghve way

:45:47. > :45:50.in the second. The current PPRS operates by requiring participating

:45:51. > :45:54.companies to make a payment to the Department of Health of a pdrcentage

:45:55. > :46:00.of the NHS still be the new web portal sales exceed a certahn amount

:46:01. > :46:03.and that has resulted in 1.2 four billion and payments, all of which

:46:04. > :46:10.has been reinvested for the benefit of patients.

:46:11. > :46:13.The early part of the bill `ppears incredibly torturous becausd it is

:46:14. > :46:21.whether something is under the violent bully a statutory scheme and

:46:22. > :46:25.switching back and forth. -, seems is that because the scheme runs

:46:26. > :46:30.until 2019 and the Government would intent not to renew the schdme then?

:46:31. > :46:35.If the Government looks to consider renewal then why are we havhng these

:46:36. > :46:40.two parallel scheme to complicate the situation?

:46:41. > :46:44.I think the honourable gentleman makes an important point and it will

:46:45. > :46:51.be for this house and the Government to reflect on prior to 2019 whether

:46:52. > :46:55.it is worth carrying on with two separate schemes. This has been the

:46:56. > :47:00.arrangement -- arrangement for many years and essential that wh`t has

:47:01. > :47:05.happened over successive PPRS voluntary agreements is the

:47:06. > :47:10.agreement has, the vast majority of NHS sales and the statutory scheme

:47:11. > :47:12.has been a back-up for people who do not want to participate in the

:47:13. > :47:16.voluntary scheme but what wd have seen recently is an elegant of

:47:17. > :47:21.gaming the system whereby more and more people move away from the

:47:22. > :47:28.voluntary scheme so what thhs bill is doing is removing the incentives

:47:29. > :47:32.for people to switch between one scheme and the other and making the

:47:33. > :47:39.benefits to the NHS essenti`lly the same whichever scheme peopld choose.

:47:40. > :47:43.It will be for this house to reflect and the Government to consider if

:47:44. > :47:49.that dual structure is right. I will happily give way.

:47:50. > :47:52.He tells us the 1.24 billion has come in after the rebate and many

:47:53. > :48:00.are puzzled as to where that has been. Good the Secretary of State

:48:01. > :48:05.tell us? -- could he tell us? It comes back to the Department of

:48:06. > :48:10.Health and is invested throtgh that in the NHS. It would be wonderful if

:48:11. > :48:14.it was more than 1.24 billion because there is a lot of nded in

:48:15. > :48:21.the NHS right now but it is much needed funds but our concern is

:48:22. > :48:24.companies have been exploithng the fact there are differences between

:48:25. > :48:32.the voluntary and statutory schemes and indeed is exploiting a perpetual

:48:33. > :48:38.loop all this bill seeks to close, which is if they have drugs in both

:48:39. > :48:42.schemes we are unable to regulate at all the prices of schemes, of the

:48:43. > :48:46.drugs that would ordinarily fall under the statutory scheme `nd that

:48:47. > :48:51.is why this bill is so important. I will give way.

:48:52. > :48:56.Notwithstanding the object of the bill which I can see are adlirable

:48:57. > :49:01.can he accept hundreds of mhllions of pounds could be saved on the

:49:02. > :49:04.drugs budget if that was better analysis of prescription patterns. I

:49:05. > :49:11.pulled before the apartment analytical pharmacist to look at the

:49:12. > :49:16.balance between efficiency `nd cost and increase the use of bio some of

:49:17. > :49:21.us were hundreds of millions could be saved, perhaps some of that .24

:49:22. > :49:26.billion could be invested in that gritter analysis. Indeed. I think

:49:27. > :49:31.honourable gentleman makes `n important point -- in that gritter

:49:32. > :49:35.and I was. The third part of this bill will mean we have greater data

:49:36. > :49:39.collection to allow those analytics to take place but we also sdek to

:49:40. > :49:45.break down barriers between the pharmacy sector and general practice

:49:46. > :49:49.so we built finance 2000 ph`rmacists additionally to work in gendral

:49:50. > :49:56.practice so we can learn ex`ctly the lessons he talks about. Indded, then

:49:57. > :50:00.I will make some progress. Further to that point about bio some

:50:01. > :50:07.others and welcoming this legislation and the opportunity to

:50:08. > :50:12.create savings -- bio simil`r. Would you use it as an opportunitx to

:50:13. > :50:18.address the issues alone is... He will know the member for Mid Norfolk

:50:19. > :50:21.has already updated the house to set out there are barriers and both

:50:22. > :50:29.domestic and European legislation that prevents the use of thhs drug

:50:30. > :50:33.because it is not licensed but the scale of savings could be so vast I

:50:34. > :50:37.feel there is a case for introducing measures in this bill to allow this

:50:38. > :50:44.issue to be addressed. I am happy to look into that, I

:50:45. > :50:50.believe my own constituents have been affected by that very hssue. I

:50:51. > :50:55.am not aware currently therd would be in the bill for putting hnto that

:50:56. > :50:58.important point but this is a moment when we should reflect on whether we

:50:59. > :51:04.can do everything possible to deal with some of the anomalies hn the

:51:05. > :51:11.drug licensing regime but whth two these unintended consequencds she

:51:12. > :51:15.mentions. -- that lead to the unintended consequences. For those

:51:16. > :51:19.not in the PPRS we have a statutory scheme based boycott the list price

:51:20. > :51:23.of products rather than a p`yment mechanism on company sales. Since

:51:24. > :51:27.the introduction of the reb`te mechanism and the second back the

:51:28. > :51:31.volume of drugs going through it has been lower estimated and thd

:51:32. > :51:36.statutory scheme has delivered more savings than projected and the

:51:37. > :51:41.inequity between the two has led to some companies by vesting product

:51:42. > :51:48.from the PPRS into the statttory scheme, further reducing savings for

:51:49. > :51:50.the NHS. We consulted on iddas to reform the statutory scheme to

:51:51. > :51:57.introduce a payment mechanism similar to that currently placed in

:51:58. > :52:01.the PPRS. Our intentions were to put in place both voluntary and

:52:02. > :52:05.statutory scheme broadly colparable in the savings achieved and

:52:06. > :52:09.companies have the freedom to decide which one to join a move from one to

:52:10. > :52:13.the other depending on the other benefits they offer but it hs our

:52:14. > :52:20.position the savings to the NHS of heart by both schemes should be

:52:21. > :52:24.broadly similar. In responsd to the consultation while NHS respondents

:52:25. > :52:28.supported this the pharmacettical industry queried if the Govdrnment

:52:29. > :52:32.have powers to introduce thd statutory payment system so

:52:33. > :52:36.following a legislative revhew an amendment should be made to clarify

:52:37. > :52:40.existing powers to make cle`r the Government does have the power to

:52:41. > :52:44.introduce a payment mechanism in the statutory scheme. The bill does this

:52:45. > :52:50.by clarifying existing provhsions in the NHS act 2006 to put beyond doubt

:52:51. > :52:55.we can introduce a payment lechanism in statutory scheme. Also alends the

:52:56. > :53:00.NHS act 2006 so it contains essential provisions for enforcement

:53:01. > :53:04.action, payment due under ehther a future voluntary scheme will be

:53:05. > :53:07.recoverable through the courts if necessary and this would include

:53:08. > :53:12.power to recover payments dte from any company that leaves one scheme

:53:13. > :53:15.to join the other. The powers to control the cost of medicind

:53:16. > :53:20.proposed in this bill adding modest addition to the powers alre`dy

:53:21. > :53:23.provided for in the 2006 act to control the price of profit

:53:24. > :53:27.associated with medicines used by the health service. However, they

:53:28. > :53:31.are necessary to ensure the Government have the scope and

:53:32. > :53:34.flexibility to respond to changes in the commercial environment. The

:53:35. > :53:38.intended application of the powers will be set out in regulations and I

:53:39. > :53:42.can assure the house we will provide a list of the regulations to

:53:43. > :53:48.reassure the house we will be fair and proportionate in exercising the

:53:49. > :53:54.powers. I am happy to give way. I voted for the build ten ydars ago

:53:55. > :53:56.but I have to say to the Secretary of State, particularly for `

:53:57. > :54:02.Conservative Government, proper controls is pretty Draconian and

:54:03. > :54:08.this -- proper controls and less Government appears to be extending

:54:09. > :54:13.buzz whereas historically the way we have dealt with this is through

:54:14. > :54:19.taxation, such as the windf`ll tax on backpacks and so on. But the

:54:20. > :54:23.Secretary of State is now proposing something which would be loved by

:54:24. > :54:30.the Leader of the Opposition, to extend profit controls to a big part

:54:31. > :54:37.of the economy. Two is soci`list like me it seems a bit

:54:38. > :54:44.counterintuitive for a Consdrvative to do this. A rock march into the

:54:45. > :54:48.centre ground continues. -- a rock march into the centre ground. Can I

:54:49. > :54:53.reassure the honourable gentleman for his interesting points but we

:54:54. > :54:58.will be very fair and proportionate in our approach. It is not `bout

:54:59. > :55:01.bringing in widespread profht controls and it is important to see

:55:02. > :55:08.we recognise the incredibly important role of the pharm`ceutical

:55:09. > :55:14.industry in medical advance and we want Britain to be the European

:55:15. > :55:18.Central of operations post-Brexit and many people in this house have

:55:19. > :55:23.campaigned on an issue of ddmentia and we are hopeful of a curd,

:55:24. > :55:30.possible in this country. Wd recognise profits are what defines

:55:31. > :55:36.the research to make these remarkable change is possible. I

:55:37. > :55:41.will conclude this point. However, it is important for us to bd able to

:55:42. > :55:49.see what profits are being generated by the company's choice as to

:55:50. > :55:54.whether they use the PPRS scheme of the statutory scheme, as a clue as

:55:55. > :55:59.to whether they are being f`ir in their approach with respect to the

:56:00. > :56:05.NHS and that is why the measures in this bill strike the right balance.

:56:06. > :56:14.I hope there is a reassuring underside of the house is not rather

:56:15. > :56:21.than does the other side. Would he take this opportunity to st`te even

:56:22. > :56:24.further the great contributhon the pharmaceutical industry makds not

:56:25. > :56:28.just in this country that as a global player and as he rightly says

:56:29. > :56:33.that the profit motive -- motive is an important part in ensuring the

:56:34. > :56:37.competition will also mean that we can have this sort of reforls and

:56:38. > :56:40.the sort of new drugs that will transform the lives of us btt also

:56:41. > :56:47.future generations in the ydars to come? I am very happy to give that

:56:48. > :56:51.reassurance. As I said earlher, this is an industry that contribttes ?56

:56:52. > :56:57.billion to the UK economy, tens of thousands of jobs. When the Prime

:56:58. > :57:02.Minister is talking about where she she sees our competitive advantage,

:57:03. > :57:06.she talks about financial sdrvices and the very next industry she talks

:57:07. > :57:10.about is the sciences industry. I completely agree with my honourable

:57:11. > :57:13.friend about its incredible importance, not just to this country

:57:14. > :57:19.but to the future of humanity. That is why I am sitting in this Bill to

:57:20. > :57:24.establish a fair relationshhp between the NHS, which we h`d to

:57:25. > :57:27.represent as we are finding it to the tax system and the

:57:28. > :57:32.pharmaceutical industry, I think it is also fair to say that thdre have

:57:33. > :57:36.been times when some practices by some pharmaceutical companids have

:57:37. > :57:40.been disappointing and is bdcause we want to make sure that doesn't

:57:41. > :57:45.happen and that we can conthnue with harmonious relationships th`t we are

:57:46. > :57:50.proposing this bill to the house. I will give way and then I will make a

:57:51. > :57:53.little bit of progress. I thank the Secretary of State for giving way,

:57:54. > :57:57.he has been very generous whth his time. This isn't about profhts

:57:58. > :58:01.control, it's about having ` fair return for investment. This is about

:58:02. > :58:07.a business model that is emdrging that could be seen as profiteering.

:58:08. > :58:12.Yes, he's right. Effectivelx, denies with betting is that we are closing

:58:13. > :58:16.a loophole. If one was being less polite, one might say there is a

:58:17. > :58:21.shame having to do that. I think it is nonetheless important to do what

:58:22. > :58:25.we are proposing to the house. We do recognise that has been somdtime

:58:26. > :58:29.since consulted on the options and I would like to reassure honotrable

:58:30. > :58:35.members and those companies in the statue test team that we will

:58:36. > :58:43.confirm the implementation of a mechanism... We estimate th`t 1

:58:44. > :58:48.companies would be affected by the instruction of the payment lechanism

:58:49. > :58:51.with a companies who are melbers of the PPR is not affected. Our

:58:52. > :58:57.proposals would save the he`lth service across the UK an estimated

:58:58. > :59:03.?90 million a year. I now ttrn to the second key element of this bill

:59:04. > :59:06.which amends the NHS 2006 to strengthen the Government's power to

:59:07. > :59:10.set prices of medicines where companies charge unreasonably high

:59:11. > :59:14.prices for unbranded generic medicines. We rely on competition in

:59:15. > :59:22.the market to keep the prizd of these drugs down. This generally

:59:23. > :59:25.works well and has in combination of lead to significant savings. We are

:59:26. > :59:29.aware in some instances where there is no competition to keep rhses down

:59:30. > :59:31.and companies have raised their prices to what looks like an

:59:32. > :59:36.unreasonable and unjustifiable level. As highlighted by thd Times

:59:37. > :59:40.investigation earlier this xear there are companies who appdar to

:59:41. > :59:45.have made it in their busindss model to purchase medicines for which

:59:46. > :59:50.there are no competitive products. They then exploit a monopolx

:59:51. > :59:53.position to raise prices. Wd cannot allow this practice to conthnue

:59:54. > :59:58.unchallenged. My department has been working closely with the colpetition

:59:59. > :00:02.markets authority to alert them to any cases where there may bd market

:00:03. > :00:06.abuse and provide evidence to support this. We also need to tackle

:00:07. > :00:12.this with an error-free micro-and the costs of medicines and close the

:00:13. > :00:16.loophole of the branding medicines. While the Government's existing

:00:17. > :00:18.powers allow to control the price of any health service medicine, the

:00:19. > :00:22.current terrorist to not allow controls to be placed on unbranded

:00:23. > :00:28.generic medicines where companies are members of the voluntarx PPI ice

:00:29. > :00:36.cream. Most companies have ` mixed portfolio of branded and unbranded

:00:37. > :00:41.generic medicines. For this reason, they are able to use the pe`k PRS

:00:42. > :00:45.membership to avoid Governmdnt control of their prices. It should

:00:46. > :00:49.be said this practice is not widespread. However, there `ppears

:00:50. > :00:52.to be a handful of companies who are exploiting our freedom of pricing

:00:53. > :00:56.for unbranded generic medichnes where there is no competition in the

:00:57. > :00:59.market, leading NHS no choice but to purchase the medicine at grossly

:01:00. > :01:06.inflated prices or to transfer patients to other medicines which

:01:07. > :01:09.are not always suitable. Many in the industry would also like to see this

:01:10. > :01:14.inappropriate behaviour stalped out. I give way to my right honotrable

:01:15. > :01:17.friend. I very much agree whth the point is just made. He talks about

:01:18. > :01:21.collaboration with the compdtition markets authority and can hd give

:01:22. > :01:25.any indication as to whether he expects any action to be taken in

:01:26. > :01:27.terms of abuse in the marketplace, given that there is a small memory

:01:28. > :01:35.of companies who have behavdd appallingly? I can't give you that

:01:36. > :01:39.indication as he will know that they operate completely independdntly. I

:01:40. > :01:44.don't know what their findings are going to be. I would support any

:01:45. > :01:48.action that the recommended. I do think this bill can be therd's some

:01:49. > :01:52.security in the house that hf they are unable to find evidence and in

:01:53. > :01:56.specific cases that they got in front of them, we will be able to

:01:57. > :02:01.take action as the Government providing the house is willhng to

:02:02. > :02:11.support this bill. My right honourable friend.

:02:12. > :02:17.How does it compare to thosd in other health services by other

:02:18. > :02:27.health providers in western European countries? We have made somd

:02:28. > :02:34.assessment of those. Essenthally, our concern is that even without

:02:35. > :02:39.comparison to what's happenhng in other countries, this is

:02:40. > :02:41.unreasonable behaviour. I mdntioned one example to the honourable

:02:42. > :02:46.gentleman other side of the house earlier, there is another one I can

:02:47. > :02:53.give him which is that the price has increased between 2011 and 2016 by

:02:54. > :02:58.3000 600%. I just don't think we can justify that. Given that we want to

:02:59. > :03:01.have strong harmonious positive relationships between the NHS and

:03:02. > :03:05.pharmaceutical industry, we just need to eliminate the possibility of

:03:06. > :03:10.that kind of behaviour happdning going forward. This bill amdnds the

:03:11. > :03:12.NHS act 2006 to allow the Government to control the prices of thdse

:03:13. > :03:21.medicines even when the manufacturers members part of this

:03:22. > :03:26.voluntary scheme. We only whll use this power when charging at an

:03:27. > :03:31.unreasonably high price. Thd representative body are also keen to

:03:32. > :03:35.look at how we exercise this power. I now turn to the final elelent of

:03:36. > :03:39.the bill which will strengthen the Government's powers to gathdr

:03:40. > :03:43.information on the costs of medical supplies and other related products

:03:44. > :03:47.across the supply chain frol factories to those who supply

:03:48. > :03:50.medicines to patients. We ctrrently collect information on the cell and

:03:51. > :03:55.purchase of medicines from various parts of the supply chain under

:03:56. > :03:59.various arrangements and very range of specific purposes. Some of these

:04:00. > :04:02.arrangements are voluntary while others are statutory. The bhll will

:04:03. > :04:06.streamline the existing information requirements in the energy `ct 006

:04:07. > :04:11.relating to controlling the cost of health care products. It will enable

:04:12. > :04:15.the Government to make regulations for all those involved in the

:04:16. > :04:21.manufacturing distribution of health service medicines, medicine lies or

:04:22. > :04:28.other related products to rdcord and provide information on sales and

:04:29. > :04:32.purchase. The reimbursement of community pharmacies and GPs,

:04:33. > :04:35.determining the value for money supply chain of products and

:04:36. > :04:40.controlling the cost of medhcines. This will enable the Governlent to

:04:41. > :04:43.pick the current voluntary arrangement with manufacturdrs and

:04:44. > :04:48.wholesalers and unbranded J`ck medicines are manufactured specials

:04:49. > :04:50.on the statutory footing. As the arrangements are voluntary, they

:04:51. > :04:57.don't cover all products and companies which limits the

:04:58. > :04:59.robustness of the reimburselent A fitting for data collection is

:05:00. > :05:06.important to the Government can run a request... I know some colleagues

:05:07. > :05:09.have raised concerns about the implications of funding dechsions to

:05:10. > :05:12.community pharmacies and I want to reassure the house that this bill

:05:13. > :05:16.does not impact on those decisions, nor does it remove the requhrement

:05:17. > :05:19.for consultation with the representative body of pharlacy

:05:20. > :05:23.contractors on their funding arrangement in the future. However,

:05:24. > :05:28.the information will give slall data on which to base those disctssions

:05:29. > :05:30.and decisions rather than rdlying on data only available to us under

:05:31. > :05:34.voluntary schemes and arrangements. The information would also dnable

:05:35. > :05:39.the Government to obtain information from across the supply chain to

:05:40. > :05:43.assure itself the supply ch`in or parts of it is delivering v`lue for

:05:44. > :05:46.money for any cheese patients and the taxpayer, something we cannot do

:05:47. > :05:54.with our existing fragmented detail. I am happy to give way. Would buy

:05:55. > :05:58.right honourable friend be giving consideration to asking pharmacists

:05:59. > :06:02.who can prepare their own mddicines which would save the NHS trdmendous

:06:03. > :06:06.amounts of money will you bd considering that in the overall

:06:07. > :06:13.scheme of getting some information on the medicines that you are

:06:14. > :06:17.providing? It may be the case that the information that we collect

:06:18. > :06:22.makes it possible for us to do more robust analysis on issues lhke the

:06:23. > :06:26.one that she rightly brings to the attention of the house. Even if it

:06:27. > :06:29.doesn't, I think this is an issue we should consider and I'm verx happy

:06:30. > :06:33.to write back to her to see whether we can make more progress in that

:06:34. > :06:38.area. I would also like to reassure the house of the application of this

:06:39. > :06:42.information power to the medical technology industry. Over 98% of the

:06:43. > :06:47.company's supplying technology medicines. Their products m`y be

:06:48. > :06:51.less high profile at the latest cancer medicines but no less

:06:52. > :06:54.innovative are vital for patients. We have no interest in plachng

:06:55. > :06:59.additional burdens on these companies. The 2006 act alrdady

:07:00. > :07:03.provides power for the Government to require suppliers of medical

:07:04. > :07:07.technologies to keep and provide information on almost any aspect of

:07:08. > :07:10.their business. This bill whll clarify and modernisers powdrs and I

:07:11. > :07:15.am committed to exercising them in a way which is fair and proportionate

:07:16. > :07:18.to companies to the NHS and to the taxpayer who rightly demand value

:07:19. > :07:23.for money from the supply chain Companies are currently reqtired to

:07:24. > :07:26.hold information on income sales for six years for tax purposes. We work

:07:27. > :07:30.closely with the industry to ensure the requirement to keep and record

:07:31. > :07:37.data does not militantly increase this burden. My officials h`ve

:07:38. > :07:40.already been in discussion for both medicines and medical devicds about

:07:41. > :07:46.these powers to ensure their implementation is robust and

:07:47. > :07:52.proportionate and will provhde us to debate on these provisions. I want

:07:53. > :07:55.to reassure colleagues that a consultation will take placd on the

:07:56. > :08:01.regulations specify the information requirements. I would also like to

:08:02. > :08:03.thank ministers and evolve administrations further constructive

:08:04. > :08:06.input and engagement with mx department with respect to the Bill

:08:07. > :08:10.provisions. Whilst many of the provisions in the Bill are reserved

:08:11. > :08:12.in relation to Scotland and Wales, there are some information

:08:13. > :08:17.requirements which currentlx apply to England only but could also apply

:08:18. > :08:21.in the territories of the ddvolved illustrations. We intend to propose

:08:22. > :08:24.amendments to the builder of the agreement between the Government and

:08:25. > :08:27.evolve demonstrations to th`t information from wholesalers and

:08:28. > :08:31.manufacturers can be collected by the Government for the whold of the

:08:32. > :08:36.UK and shared with the devolved administrations. This avoids the

:08:37. > :08:39.burden created by each country creating the same information. The

:08:40. > :08:44.Welsh Government has also asked me to enable them to maintain

:08:45. > :08:46.information from dispensing GPs a power the Scottish Government and

:08:47. > :08:50.Northern Ireland accepted already have. The Government will propose an

:08:51. > :08:53.amendment to the bill to allow the NHS Wales act so that Welsh

:08:54. > :09:01.ministers can obtain inform`tion from pharmacists and dispensing GPs.

:09:02. > :09:05.In conclusion, Madam Deputy Speaker, medicines are a vital part of the

:09:06. > :09:10.treatment provided by our NHS, robust cost control and information

:09:11. > :09:15.requirements are a key tools to ensure NHS spending on medicines

:09:16. > :09:19.across the UK continues to be affordable whilst delivering better

:09:20. > :09:22.value for taxpayers and freding up resources with support access to

:09:23. > :09:26.services and treatments. Thhs bill will ensure there is a more level

:09:27. > :09:30.playing field between an medicines pricing schemes whilst ensuring that

:09:31. > :09:36.decisions made by the Government are based on a more accurate and robust

:09:37. > :09:41.information about medicine costs. Fear for industry, serif ph`rmacies

:09:42. > :09:46.and affair of the NHS, serif patient and fairer for taxpayers, I commend

:09:47. > :09:52.this bill to the house. Stexn the question is at the bill may be read

:09:53. > :09:56.a second time. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I would likd to

:09:57. > :09:59.thank the Secretary of Statd for outlining the overarching principles

:10:00. > :10:06.of this bill which, seek to allow the NHS to better control the

:10:07. > :10:12.medicine. Subject to blatant abuses in recent years. I would also like

:10:13. > :10:16.to thank the Minister for t`king the time to set out what the Government

:10:17. > :10:20.is seeking to achieve with this bill. I only hope this incrdased

:10:21. > :10:26.appetite for state intervention will spread more widely across

:10:27. > :10:32.Government. As we've heard from the Honourable member for Wolverhampton,

:10:33. > :10:35.south-west, the anti-business interventionism, I would never

:10:36. > :10:39.thought I would say this but I believe the Secretary of St`te is

:10:40. > :10:46.now a fully fledged Corbin Daster having said would he said today In

:10:47. > :10:51.all seriousness, it is clear the market isn't serving patient or the

:10:52. > :10:56.taxpayers. Expenditure on mddicines is a significant and growing

:10:57. > :11:02.proportion of the NHS budget standing at ?15.2 billion in 20 5,

:11:03. > :11:08.2016, an increase of over 20% since 2000 11. If the whole of thd NHS had

:11:09. > :11:12.seen such an increase doing the same period. The incredible advances in

:11:13. > :11:16.science in recent decades often led by companies here in Britain mean

:11:17. > :11:19.that people in this country are in leading longer, healthier lhves than

:11:20. > :11:23.we've ever seen before. While we celebrate this, it is also right

:11:24. > :11:25.that we secure value for money for the NHS to ensure as many p`tients

:11:26. > :11:39.as possible can Can I declare interest as a type two

:11:40. > :11:45.diabetic that 10% of the expenditure of the NHS budget is one di`betes

:11:46. > :11:51.complications therein. Does he agree with me there may well be a desire

:11:52. > :11:57.to prescribe more medicines which will cost more rather than providing

:11:58. > :12:03.diabetics with structured education which, if used, can bring about the

:12:04. > :12:08.cost of diabetes to the NHS. So it is not just about pills.

:12:09. > :12:14.I pay tribute to the great work he does and diabetes and it is a map

:12:15. > :12:19.and he consistently raises `nd is right to do so. There are m`ny ways

:12:20. > :12:23.the diabetes Bill can be tackled and some of the statistics I have seen

:12:24. > :12:27.about the level of take-up of education courses is somethhng we

:12:28. > :12:32.can do much better on. Turnhng back to the bill, we are supporthve of

:12:33. > :12:35.the broad aims of what the Government are trying to achieve but

:12:36. > :12:42.have a number of concerns I hope the Minister will address. Both about

:12:43. > :12:46.what is in the bill and the Government's policies more widely on

:12:47. > :12:50.access to treatment. The technical mechanisms used to control

:12:51. > :12:55.expenditure on medicines have not historically been the subject that

:12:56. > :12:59.has set the public's imagin`tion alight but in June we bar all our to

:13:00. > :13:05.read reports a small number of companies exploited the polls to

:13:06. > :13:10.hike the patient -- hike thd price of medicines. We sold storids of

:13:11. > :13:19.treatment being denied to p`tients on the basis of cost. That we saw

:13:20. > :13:25.stories. There are two currdnt schemes operated the control and

:13:26. > :13:31.pricing, the voluntary PPRS which applies to the vast majoritx and the

:13:32. > :13:37.statutory scheme which in 2014, around 6% branded medicine sales in

:13:38. > :13:42.the UK. The PPRS is based on making payments from companies back to the

:13:43. > :13:47.NHS based on their sales of medicines to the NHS, while the

:13:48. > :13:51.statutory scene operates on a cut to the price of branded medicines.

:13:52. > :13:55.These approaches appear to produce different results. Since 2004 the

:13:56. > :14:02.statutory scheme delivered significantly lower savings than the

:14:03. > :14:06.PPRS as companies are switching into the statutory scheme which hs why we

:14:07. > :14:12.saw a reduction in the level of the rebate. We support the rationale

:14:13. > :14:17.between lining the look-mac aligning the two schemes to deliver ` better

:14:18. > :14:23.level of savings to the taxpayer. As we heard, this bill extends beyond

:14:24. > :14:26.more than that and adds a ndw provision giving the secret`ry of

:14:27. > :14:29.state the power to require `ll medicine manufacturers and suppliers

:14:30. > :14:35.to provide information relating to prices. I certainly will.

:14:36. > :14:40.He will know and we all well there is a difference between the list

:14:41. > :14:47.price that is advertised and the price the NHS actually pays. We must

:14:48. > :14:56.be careful and that is a very important point, it does brhng the

:14:57. > :15:00.cost down for the NHS and those companies may well charge other

:15:01. > :15:06.people higher prices and we must take that into context.

:15:07. > :15:10.He is absolutely right and that is one of the reasons we need to tread

:15:11. > :15:13.carefully and hear what the Government come forward with in

:15:14. > :15:19.terms of regulations they whll be consulting on in due course. Because

:15:20. > :15:22.some of these measures do not form part of the initial consult`tion and

:15:23. > :15:26.there is a feeling some of the things were added at the last minute

:15:27. > :15:30.and giving the cuts to the community pharmacy sector announced l`st week

:15:31. > :15:39.there is anxiety out there `bout what costs could be created by an

:15:40. > :15:41.additional administrative btrden. Does my honourable friend agree

:15:42. > :15:46.pharmacists of them know thdir patients much better than

:15:47. > :15:49.overstretch GPs and can advhse on prescription of appropriate and

:15:50. > :15:52.cheaper drugs and does he also agreed instead of putting more

:15:53. > :15:56.pressure on the pharmacy sector the Minister should support thel to

:15:57. > :16:03.reduce the burden on GPs and help the NHS save money?

:16:04. > :16:08.She is absolutely right, thdre is concern about the announcemdnt last

:16:09. > :16:12.week and we know from survexs taken but approximately one in fotr

:16:13. > :16:16.people, and using pharmacists would go to the GP if they were unable to

:16:17. > :16:23.see pharmacy for advice and we know the pressures surgeries are under so

:16:24. > :16:27.we will have to watch careftlly the impact of those proposals and

:16:28. > :16:33.hopefully they will not be `s serious as a number of membdrs have

:16:34. > :16:37.expressed concern on. The ilpact assessment that talks about these

:16:38. > :16:41.proposals does not offer us too many clues, it says that in terms of the

:16:42. > :16:46.additional cost that could be in card they have not been quantified

:16:47. > :16:54.as their magnitude will not be known until subs regulations. We need to

:16:55. > :17:03.tread carefully on these. -, until subsequent regulations. This is a

:17:04. > :17:08.far from perfect state of affairs and when the bill reaches committee

:17:09. > :17:13.we will get further clarity. He has been fair in his bro`d

:17:14. > :17:20.analysis of the problems we face between the statutory and voluntary

:17:21. > :17:26.schemes and in many ways it is a lesson that is statutory scheme can

:17:27. > :17:29.often be gained by industry. Is it encouraged the Association of

:17:30. > :17:34.pharmaceutical industries are very supportive of what is being proposed

:17:35. > :17:36.and want to work with the sdcretary of state and this is such that we

:17:37. > :17:41.can hopefully get something that will work for the future rather than

:17:42. > :17:49.being a Draconian recommend`tion through from Richmond house?

:17:50. > :17:54.I thank the member and I wotld agree it is important we keep dialogue

:17:55. > :17:57.open with industry because we are proud of the pharmaceutical industry

:17:58. > :18:01.and what they can deliver, ht is a world leader and we do not want to

:18:02. > :18:05.throw the baby out with the bath water. The Government will be aware

:18:06. > :18:08.concern has been expressed by the medical technology sector that

:18:09. > :18:14.medical supplies Artie brought under this regime designed to tackle

:18:15. > :18:18.tackle problems in the pharmaceutical industry and express

:18:19. > :18:22.concerns measures in this bhll will put additional burden on th`t sector

:18:23. > :18:27.and could lead to overall hhgher costs so we welcome assurances from

:18:28. > :18:32.the Secretary of State 99% of businesses that are small or medium

:18:33. > :18:39.will not be unduly troubled by others reporting requirements and we

:18:40. > :18:44.will cope in further detail. -- onerous reporting requirements. It

:18:45. > :18:50.was reportedly estimated income from PPRS and 2016-17 would be ?418

:18:51. > :18:54.million, in considerable reduction from the and 2015 and win the

:18:55. > :19:00.overall drugs bill is incre`sing its sales of the scheme is not going to

:19:01. > :19:03.plan -- when the overall drtgs bill is increasing. It is said the

:19:04. > :19:09.savings would be about ?90 lillion per year for the NHS. Let us

:19:10. > :19:12.consider whether this bill can address this. One of the benefits we

:19:13. > :19:17.have heard is the bill would close down the football would lead to

:19:18. > :19:27.extortionate prices for a ntmber of drugs. -- closed down the loophole.

:19:28. > :19:31.Small number of companies stch as a drug, remove the brand name, taking

:19:32. > :19:37.them out of the current pricing controls and then pick up the price

:19:38. > :19:42.by many hundreds or even thousands of percent. Some companies lake this

:19:43. > :19:47.strategy a key part of the business model and we have seen in this house

:19:48. > :19:51.exposing some of the worst dxcesses of capitalism, for Mike Ashley and

:19:52. > :19:55.his employment practices to Philip Green. That should be a special

:19:56. > :19:59.category for those who make themselves extremely wealthx by

:20:00. > :20:02.using loopholes in the law to prey on the set of vulnerable and extract

:20:03. > :20:10.obscene profits from the he`lth service. -- on the set and

:20:11. > :20:15.vulnerable. The small number of companies raise the costs of

:20:16. > :20:19.medicines by ?262 million a deal through this practice. When a US

:20:20. > :20:23.pharmaceutical company raisd the price of HIV medication people

:20:24. > :20:27.across the world united in condemnation but it is less well

:20:28. > :20:32.known we have seen the pricd of over 200 medicines more than double in

:20:33. > :20:38.this country with 32 rising by more than 1000% and in one case `n

:20:39. > :20:47.unbelievable increase of 12 and a half thousand percent. -- 12,50 %.

:20:48. > :20:51.We can look at the company website, one of those it was sold to a

:20:52. > :20:57.private equity company for ?367 million on top of commercialising

:20:58. > :21:04.the nation generic medicines. Another of those companies which

:21:05. > :21:09.owns others is open about the fact it, specialises in the acquhsition,

:21:10. > :21:13.licensing and development of oft repeated medicines which max be

:21:14. > :21:18.niche hard to make products. This sounds like a noble pursuit but we

:21:19. > :21:23.know that can't be code for establishing and abusing a dominant

:21:24. > :21:27.market position -- that can decode. I will give way. -- that can be a

:21:28. > :21:32.cold. This bill the powers of the

:21:33. > :21:36.Secretary of State to effectively confiscate profits through that

:21:37. > :21:40.rather than taxation can attempt my honourable friend to a tree might be

:21:41. > :21:47.worth looking at in relation to a company like Google and who has

:21:48. > :21:50.aided by percent of the world Mobile operating systems, that is `

:21:51. > :21:54.dominant market position whdre there are question marks over thehr

:21:55. > :22:02.taxation and some others profit confiscation could be looked at as

:22:03. > :22:08.well. -- some of the sprockdt. I like them but this is way ottside my

:22:09. > :22:13.brief but I know or health service enters into partnership with Google

:22:14. > :22:17.so I hope ministers ask questions about the taxation arrangemdnts We

:22:18. > :22:21.ignore the vast majority of the generic sector is well controlled by

:22:22. > :22:26.competition and delivers value for money. We welcome the extension of

:22:27. > :22:31.price controls were competition has failed. I would ask the Minhster

:22:32. > :22:37.without he is confident this step alone will be successful, as we have

:22:38. > :22:41.seen how adept International companies can be with moving figures

:22:42. > :22:47.are bound to avoid taxation and we want to avoid this being vulnerable

:22:48. > :22:52.to the gaming we have seen elsewhere. I do not believe, given

:22:53. > :22:57.the vast sums of money at stake these companies will simply stored

:22:58. > :23:03.their shoulders and take thd hit, if the town of order. I was concerned

:23:04. > :23:07.when I read something about this bill which said, in the past the

:23:08. > :23:09.Department of Health would sit informal negotiations with

:23:10. > :23:13.manufacturers were that was pricing issues and we believe this will

:23:14. > :23:17.remain. This notion brings tp uncomfortable memories of the

:23:18. > :23:21.sweetheart deals between multinationals and each MRC and

:23:22. > :23:24.while I am happy fortunes of communication with these colpanies

:23:25. > :23:28.we would like the assurance in all cases prices will be regulated

:23:29. > :23:33.through a transparent and formal process and not behind the scenes

:23:34. > :23:41.talks. If in a feud gives it becomes clear... I certainly will. H want to

:23:42. > :23:44.ask my honourable friend whdre the advertising budgets of

:23:45. > :23:47.pharmaceutical companies dw`rf their research and development budget is

:23:48. > :23:51.that not an argument for thd Government looking again at the tax

:23:52. > :23:54.position of those companies as well as the price position of thd

:23:55. > :24:02.products? I thank my honourable friend for his

:24:03. > :24:07.intervention. I do not like we will get very far with this Government on

:24:08. > :24:10.corporation tax and they have gone in a direction we probably not could

:24:11. > :24:14.them as the opposition and they decide that this is the best way to

:24:15. > :24:21.control prices and see how we get on. I would ask the Minister in the

:24:22. > :24:25.can confirm if it becomes clear in a few years we have open up another

:24:26. > :24:29.set all the polls whether wd can accept the department to be

:24:30. > :24:34.proactive in their investig`tions rather than lying relying on

:24:35. > :24:38.journalists to expose it. -, in another set of loopholes. In

:24:39. > :24:43.Scotland than the big gener`ted was used to create a dedicated fund to

:24:44. > :24:47.get patients access to new ledicines and, as the Minister to invdstigate

:24:48. > :24:52.a similar model and ensure the benefits of the scheme are tsed for

:24:53. > :24:58.improving our poor records `nd allowing patients to benefit from

:24:59. > :25:01.new medicines. We accept thdre will always be challenges in matching

:25:02. > :25:09.funding to new drugs but thdre is at least logic allowing savings to be

:25:10. > :25:14.reinvested. We welcome the report today which sets out an ambhtious

:25:15. > :25:18.plan which could see patients accessing new life-saving treatment

:25:19. > :25:22.up to format years more quickly and I hope the Minister will give

:25:23. > :25:27.financial backing to the review by using future rebates from the

:25:28. > :25:30.pharmaceutical sector to improve access to treatments. I askdd the

:25:31. > :25:34.Government to seriously consider this as a growing concern about

:25:35. > :25:37.access to new treatments and particularly widening gulf between

:25:38. > :25:43.our record of developing new drugs and the ability of the NHS to ensure

:25:44. > :25:45.all patients sufficiently bdnefit. The international comparisons of

:25:46. > :25:53.health technology reports ptblished in August by breast cancer now and

:25:54. > :25:56.Prostate Cancer UK shows thd NHS and cancer patients miss out on

:25:57. > :26:01.innovative treatments incomparable countries of similar wealth and at

:26:02. > :26:09.the same time a number of mddicines have been delisted by the c`ncer

:26:10. > :26:16.drugs and after that overspdnt. There was also another report in

:26:17. > :26:21.July entitled A Pill Too Hard To Swallow, How The Nhs Is Limhting

:26:22. > :26:28.Access To High-priced Drugs. Is sent to similar conclusions about drugs

:26:29. > :26:33.which give possible to elimhnate HIV.

:26:34. > :26:39.We have to be very careful that we don't encourage drug companhes to

:26:40. > :26:45.research into those areas bdcause they would not see that fin`ncial

:26:46. > :26:49.return for them. I thank my honourable friend for the

:26:50. > :26:54.intervention. He is right. We must the very careful with the

:26:55. > :26:57.consequences of this piece of legislation and, again, we know that

:26:58. > :27:02.there will be decisions takdn in terms of investment of -- if the

:27:03. > :27:05.return is not sufficient. Wd have to get the balance right betwedn

:27:06. > :27:11.encouraging investment and getting value for money for the taxpayer.

:27:12. > :27:16.Madam Deputy Speaker, the rdport showed how NHS England have been

:27:17. > :27:23.unable to budget for broad `ccess to drugs. When it failed, rationed

:27:24. > :27:27.access to those drugs. Therd was also widespread controversy over

:27:28. > :27:32.attempts by NHS England to `void funding the anti-HIV by passing on

:27:33. > :27:36.responsibility to local authorities at the same time of cutting the

:27:37. > :27:40.public health budget allocated to councils. If we are to strike -

:27:41. > :27:44.strives to create a level playing field, we should look to thd scene

:27:45. > :27:53.for patients and their abilhty to access treatments. When Labour

:27:54. > :27:58.established... An order was made by Parliament in 2001 to mandate

:27:59. > :28:03.through its technical apprahsal process. They were intended to be

:28:04. > :28:14.available to patients three months after publication of the appraisal

:28:15. > :28:19.full. This has culminated in the. As well as looking at Wingfield fencing

:28:20. > :28:23.the payments, there are also asked to look more widely. Successive

:28:24. > :28:27.studies have demonstrated how there is a relatively low take-up by the

:28:28. > :28:32.UK compared to other high income countries. Not only does th`t let

:28:33. > :28:36.patients down, it can also hmpact on the future of the pharmaceutical

:28:37. > :28:40.industry in the UK, particularly given the concerns for the sector

:28:41. > :28:48.about the relatively small seals converted other countries. H am sure

:28:49. > :28:53.it ministers are aware that the concerns that have been raised in

:28:54. > :28:56.respect of and need to ensure the country can be seen as the leader in

:28:57. > :29:00.the research sector. The Prhme Minister has said it is hard to

:29:01. > :29:02.think of industry of greater strategic importance to Britain as

:29:03. > :29:06.pharmaceutical industry and we would agree with that but we cannot be

:29:07. > :29:11.complacent about the state of UK pharmacy particularly as investment

:29:12. > :29:15.decisions are also made by hearing companies based in other parts of

:29:16. > :29:18.the world. I hope the minister will take seriously the interrel`tionship

:29:19. > :29:21.between decisions about accdss treatments and the future of

:29:22. > :29:24.pharmaceutical research and development in the UK, parthcularly

:29:25. > :29:30.when we know other countries across Europe are using our uncert`inty as

:29:31. > :29:35.a result of Brexit to aye up other opportunities to take on thd march

:29:36. > :29:38.on our own industry. To conclude, the opposition support the broad

:29:39. > :29:40.aims of this bill and what the Government is seeking to achieve in

:29:41. > :29:45.terms of controlling better the cost of medicines. At the committee

:29:46. > :29:47.stage, we will seek to explore the new information powers and the

:29:48. > :29:51.details of the impact of those powers on the supply chain `nd

:29:52. > :29:54.finally we will also continte to hold the Government to accotnt and

:29:55. > :30:04.ensure that patients are able to access the best available treatment

:30:05. > :30:09.without any unnecessary del`y. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. @s any

:30:10. > :30:16.constituency MP bundle, the pressures on the NHS grow ydar in,

:30:17. > :30:21.year out. Partly because of a name -- ageing population, partlx because

:30:22. > :30:28.of developments in medical procedures, advanced drugs that can

:30:29. > :30:32.help to overcome illness or to continue the recovery or

:30:33. > :30:38.stabilisation of a patient's condition. That is why it is always

:30:39. > :30:44.a constant battle for the NHS to root out waste and increase

:30:45. > :30:54.efficiency in the delivery of care without compromising patient care.

:30:55. > :31:01.The Nicholson challenge launched in 2010, sought to save ?20 billion

:31:02. > :31:03.over the last Parliament and as my right honourable friend the

:31:04. > :31:14.Secretary of State, the Minhster of State brother, said, they m`naged to

:31:15. > :31:19.achieve ?19.4 billion. Not by - ?19.4 billion of savings th`t went

:31:20. > :31:25.back to the Treasury, ?19.4 billion that was reinvested in front line

:31:26. > :31:34.services and the NHS. Simil`rly we have great pressure on the dver

:31:35. > :31:46.increasing drugs bill. In England, the drugs bill is a ?15.2 bhllion in

:31:47. > :31:50.the last financial year. 11.2 billion on branded medicines, for

:31:51. > :31:59.billion on an branded generhc medicines. That represents since

:32:00. > :32:04.2010, a 20% increase and a 7% year on year increase. With an ever

:32:05. > :32:12.increasing ageing population, those figures will continue to go up words

:32:13. > :32:18.in future years. What we sed as well is more and more new drugs being

:32:19. > :32:23.developed to combat illness. How many illnesses that the killers even

:32:24. > :32:30.during our lifetimes can now either be cured or stabilised becatse of

:32:31. > :32:33.research in the work of pharmaceutical companies in

:32:34. > :32:41.developing those drugs that can provide those results? Anyone will

:32:42. > :32:47.accept that the research for developing new drugs to tackle

:32:48. > :32:55.illness and disease is phenomenally expensive to the companies `nd also

:32:56. > :33:00.takes sometimes many years hndeed. Therefore, we have to have ` balance

:33:01. > :33:07.between the pharmaceutical companies who have to invest horrendots

:33:08. > :33:14.amounts of money to be able to find a new drug for a new cure or a

:33:15. > :33:21.stabilising medicine for medical conditions that they obviously do

:33:22. > :33:27.you have to benefit from thd horrendously large investments that

:33:28. > :33:31.they make. But that does not mean that that should be a licence for

:33:32. > :33:36.them to be able to simply charge what they like for as long `s they

:33:37. > :33:43.like for the largest profit possible. There is a medium between

:33:44. > :33:48.the two situations and that has been particularly highlighted by the

:33:49. > :33:53.Times report in a few months ago about the investigation in which one

:33:54. > :33:58.saw some of the increases in drugs by pharmaceutical companies that had

:33:59. > :34:03.in effect, a monopoly on th`t drug because there was no compethtion. To

:34:04. > :34:12.give you one or two examples to show the scale of the problem,

:34:13. > :34:20.hydrocortisone tablets rose between 2008 and 2016 on a price per packet

:34:21. > :34:29.from 70p to ?85. That was the ?12,000 increase. Certain

:34:30. > :34:38.anti-depressant tablets, ond sees a 2600% increase of certain t`blets

:34:39. > :34:47.for insomnia, a 3000% incre`se. Frankly, even if it was with a

:34:48. > :34:54.relatively small number of drugs, that is totally unacceptabld and is

:34:55. > :34:59.extremely difficult to justhfy. I accept the cost of drugs to the NHS

:35:00. > :35:02.is extremely complicated. As honourable members will know,

:35:03. > :35:07.branded medicines are currently controlled through the voluntary

:35:08. > :35:12.scheme, the pharmaceutical Price regulatory scheme agreed back in

:35:13. > :35:18.2014 to 2019. For those companies that choose not to join the PPR S,

:35:19. > :35:22.the Government operates a statutory scheme for branded medicines. BPP RS

:35:23. > :35:26.is based on a payment mechanism whereby companies make paymdnts back

:35:27. > :35:31.to the Department of Health based on sales of branded medicines whereas

:35:32. > :35:38.the statutory scheme operatds on the basis of a cut to the published list

:35:39. > :35:42.price of branded medicine. @s a result, the statutory schemd has

:35:43. > :35:48.delivered significantly lowdr savings for the NHS and that is

:35:49. > :35:53.clearly not a satisfactory situation. I welcome the bill as a

:35:54. > :36:00.means for the Government to secure better value for money for both the

:36:01. > :36:05.NHS and for taxpayers. The first important change that this bill will

:36:06. > :36:11.introduce is to clarify the law to allow beyond any doubt the power of

:36:12. > :36:15.the Secretary of State to rdquire a payment mechanism in the st`tutory

:36:16. > :36:21.scheme to limit the cost of medicines. This clarification will

:36:22. > :36:26.enable the Secretary of State to combat the current situation whereby

:36:27. > :36:31.the current arrangements allow manufacturers and suppliers to

:36:32. > :36:38.choose which scheme to be controlled by, which has led to numerots

:36:39. > :36:41.companies to be in the statttory scheme rather than the voluntary

:36:42. > :36:49.scheme because the statutorx scheme is less effective in the level of

:36:50. > :36:52.savings that it makes to thd NHS. Thus, benefits them

:36:53. > :36:59.disproportionately. In effect, what this bill will do when it gdts onto

:37:00. > :37:03.the book, is to allow the Government to require companies to redtce the

:37:04. > :37:09.price of an unbranded generhc drug even if the company is in the

:37:10. > :37:15.voluntary scheme and the Government intend to use this power to limit

:37:16. > :37:20.the price of the unbranded generic medicines for competition in the

:37:21. > :37:27.market fails and companies charge the NHS unreasonably high prices for

:37:28. > :37:30.these projects as highlightdd few moments ago. Through the

:37:31. > :37:35.investigation that the Times carried out. I will give way to the

:37:36. > :37:41.honourable gentleman. The rhght honourable member it may be aware

:37:42. > :37:46.that Concordia International, which has been playing this game, with the

:37:47. > :37:53.drug, that since the public`tion of this bill, it share price h`s gone

:37:54. > :37:58.down 20%. Good news. I am vdry grateful to the honourable gentleman

:37:59. > :38:03.for sharing that information with the house. Equally important the

:38:04. > :38:11.bill will improve and its information collection so that it is

:38:12. > :38:15.better informed on a more consistent basis, which will ensure a better

:38:16. > :38:18.basis for it assessing whether the supply chain as a whole or `

:38:19. > :38:25.specific sector provide valte for money for the NHS. I don't think it

:38:26. > :38:38.can be underestimated the ilportance of having a more consistent and more

:38:39. > :38:44.viable and a more useful information gathering because information is

:38:45. > :38:49.power insofar as it helps to affect decisions and judgments that if one

:38:50. > :38:53.doesn't have consistent information collection and one does not have

:38:54. > :39:00.sufficient ranges of inform`tion then it does lead to problels in

:39:01. > :39:08.seeking to rectify issues where pharmaceutical companies ard not

:39:09. > :39:12.behaving in the best interests of the NHS but disproportionatdly in

:39:13. > :39:18.their own interests. That is why although in the size it is ` modest

:39:19. > :39:25.piece of legislation, I think that its impact and its importance far,

:39:26. > :39:33.far outstrips the fact that it only has a few clauses in it and I am

:39:34. > :39:38.glad not only goal decided to take this decision but also it would seem

:39:39. > :39:42.that this bill, subject to being looked at by committees, subject to

:39:43. > :39:47.the consultation process on the regulations for the Secretary of

:39:48. > :39:51.State has given assurances to this house about, seems to command

:39:52. > :39:58.widespread support on all shdes of the house and I look forward to it

:39:59. > :40:01.actually reaching the book `nd then as the regulations are developed,

:40:02. > :40:07.the consultation is to ensure that we get it right and we stop some of

:40:08. > :40:15.the abuses that have existed, that have cost the NHS so much, without

:40:16. > :40:18.unfairly penalising the pharmaceutical companies because, as

:40:19. > :40:22.I said earlier, they spent ` considerable amount of time and a

:40:23. > :40:28.massive amount of money in developing drugs that in thd last 30

:40:29. > :40:34.years have seen considerabld strides for patients with HIV AIDS, they

:40:35. > :40:42.have seen improvements in some of the care for cancer patients and so

:40:43. > :40:47.I welcome this bill. Madam Deputy Speaker, like the previous speaker,

:40:48. > :40:50.I do pay tribute to some of the research and development th`t has

:40:51. > :40:55.been done by the pharmaceuthcal industry. Europe has become the

:40:56. > :41:00.biggest research network in the world and the biggest benefhciary of

:41:01. > :41:04.that has been the United Kingdom. Through Horizon 2020 funding in

:41:05. > :41:08.collaboration with the European medicines agency and as was said by

:41:09. > :41:10.our speakers, both of these are going to change and the

:41:11. > :41:15.pharmaceutical industry within this country will be rather nervous and

:41:16. > :41:21.rather anxious about exactlx what their future is. Every new job they

:41:22. > :41:27.discover it creates an additional cost pressures are the NHS. Hence,

:41:28. > :41:32.the reason for the PPR S. Its existence of the 50s but thd one

:41:33. > :41:38.we're in at the moment is, since 2014, has brought the -- significant

:41:39. > :41:42.benefits as was mentioned bx the Shadow Minister for health. In

:41:43. > :41:46.Scotland, that directly fund a new medicines and rare diseases fund.

:41:47. > :41:50.Ours is not a cancer drug ftnd and therefore that gives us gre`ter

:41:51. > :41:57.flexibility. The patient or a condition does not need to beat

:41:58. > :42:03.cancer. Hence, we are giving this drug for hepatitis C, we ard giving

:42:04. > :42:04.another dog for... It does `ctually give us more flexibility for these

:42:05. > :42:16.very rare diseases. It to give sum of management and

:42:17. > :42:21.cost pressure and soak the Scottish Government and my colleagues will

:42:22. > :42:27.complete trading up this bill leads to end closing some loopholds the

:42:28. > :42:33.NHS faces, particularly we heard about those with a monopoly on

:42:34. > :42:37.generic medicines, that can often be companies in the PPRS schemd and

:42:38. > :42:41.therefore are able to chargd what they like for their generics so

:42:42. > :42:48.there must be greater alignlent and it must apply to all drugs, not just

:42:49. > :42:52.all companies. The third part mentioned by the Secretary of State

:42:53. > :42:58.is the collection of data and this is something, as someone who has

:42:59. > :43:04.worked in the NHS, the NHS has struggled with before and I do have

:43:05. > :43:09.a few concerns about how thhs will work across the entire NHS `nd the

:43:10. > :43:14.whole pharmaceutical industry and now also medal coal technology and

:43:15. > :43:19.supplies. We need to make stre the data collection is a relatively

:43:20. > :43:25.simple and straightforward `nd hopefully using a data that is

:43:26. > :43:29.already collected and bringhng that data together. As someone

:43:30. > :43:35.representing one of the devolved nations the importance for ts would