14/03/2017 House of Commons

green energy to the construction. My noble friend makes a good point and

through him, can I congratulate the business involved that as my

honourable friend. With the government 's plans, to improve the

energy infrastructure, what positive impact will that have. On small

businesses when it comes to electricity cost. The primary effect

will be to keep the it down for small businesses. There is an

excellent company and a new car is a pride chain that have excellent

vacancies that will be on offer in Mike seventh annual Pendle jobs

that. What more can we do to support the nuclear supply chain. Mr Speaker

one of the things we have done to support the supply chain is to have

a continuing commitment and it will benefit his constituents and through

a network of training colleges, we will make sure that we grow the

nuclear skills. I found the minister was a touch complacent in his

earlier answer on smart meters, given this is going to coursed the

taxpayer 11 billion by the end of the Parliament, what is he going to

do by the fact that it doesn't work when you try to switch supplier. It

will save ?47 billion by the end of that decade. When will the business

rate review commenced an report, in the light that sticking plasters

last week do little for the small businesses in York. The review will

report in due course and in the not too distant future. Thank you Mr

Speaker, the Digital strategy is a key component in the government 's

industrial strategy, can he do better than decent MS and tummy

which countries have committed to working Great Grimsby as part of the

skills partnership. It is about invitation to businesses to come

forward and pose to the government what is required to grow the jobs

and skills there. That is the aim of all skills. They have felled to

declare much more complimentary today, tenants are protesting

outside the office, how long will they keep failing to do their duty

and not facing up to the situation? The honourable gentleman knows that

the Commissioner for Public avoidance stated that the panel did

consider that there were no conflicts of interest in this case

that would preclude Mr Newby from doing his job. We must now remove

on. Statements, the Prime Minister. CHEERING

Thank you Mr Speaker had with permission I would like to make a

statement on last weeks European Council. And the next steps in

preparing to trigger Article 50, and beginning in the process of leaving

the European Union. The summit began by re-electing Donald Tusk as

president of the European Council, I welcomed this because we have a

close working relationships with Donald Tusk and we recognise the

strong contribution he has made in office. In the main business of the

council we discuss the challenge of managing mass migration, the threats

from organised crime and instability in the Western Balkans, and the

measures needed to boost your's growth and competitiveness which

will remain important for us as we build a new relationship between the

EU and a self global Britain. In each case who are able to show once

again how Britain will continue to play a leading role in Europe long

after we have left the European Union. First on migration, I

welcomed the progress and in permitting the action plan which we

had agreed at the informal EU summit in Malta last week. This included

Italy strengthening asylum processes and increasing returns and Greece

implementing to work the EU - Turkey deal where the EU is providing

additional staff to interview Afghan and Iraqi and Eritrea National is. I

argued we must do more to dismantle the vile people smuggling rings who

profit from the migrants mystery and who are subjecting many to

imaginable abuses. With coordinated and committed action, we can make a

difference. Indeed, just last month, in operation between our national

crime agency and the Hellenic Coast Guard to the arrest of 19 members of

organised immigration crime group in Greece. As I have argued before, we

need a managed, controlled and truly global approach and that is exactly

what this council agreed. We need to help ensure refugees claim asylum in

the first safe country that they reach, and help those countries

support the refugee so they don't have too make the Paris journey to

Europe. And we need a better overall approach to managing economic

migration, one which recognises that all countries have the right to

control their borders. Mr Speaker, engaging our African partners in

this global approach will be hosting in London in May. Turning to the

deterrent in situation in the Western Balkans, I have made clear

my concern the risks that this presents to the region and to the

wider collective security. Organised criminals and terrorists are ready

to exploit these vulnerabilities and we are seeing increasingly brazen

interference by Russia and others. In light of the alleged Montenegro

coup plot, I called on the council to do more on destabilising Russian

disinformation campaigns and to raise the disability of the Western

commitment to this region. The UK will lead the way. The Foreign

Secretary will be visiting Russia in the coming weeks, where I expect him

to set out the concerns about the reports of Russian interference in

the affairs of Montenegro. We will provide strategic expertise to the

EU institutions to counter disinformation campaigns in the

region had we will host the 2018 Western Balkans summit, and in a run

at two that summit, we will enhance the security cooperation for the

West Balkans can partners, including on organised crime, anti-corruption

and cyber security. More broadly I also reemphasised, the importance

that the UK places on Nato. As the bedrock of our collective defence.

And I urged other member states to start investing more in line of the

Nato target so that every country plays its full part in sharing the

burden. For it is only by investing properly in our defence that we can

ensure that we are properly equipped to keep our people say. Turning to

growth and competitiveness as I have said, I want us to build a new

relationship with you that will give that accompanies the maximum freedom

to trade with and operating the European market and allow European

businesses to do the same here. So a successful and competitive European

market in the future will remain in our national interest and that this

council, I called for further steps to complete the single market and

the digital single market. LAUGHTER I also... I also welcomed the

completion of the free trade agreement between EU and Canada and

I pressed for an agreement with Japan in the coming months. For

these agreements, just wait for it, these agreements will lay the

foundation for our continued trade relationships in this country as we

leave the EU. CHEERING At the same time you'll also seed

opportunities to forge new trade deals and reach out beyond the

borders of Europe to build relationships with our friends any

allies alike. This weekend we announced a two day conference with

the largest ever trade delegation from Qatar, to build on the ?5

billion of trade that we already do with Qatar every year. We will

always strengthen the unique and proud global relationships that we

forge with a diverse and vibrant alliance of the Commonwealth that we

celebrated on Commonwealth date yesterday. Finally, last night the

bill on Article 50 successfully completed its passage through both

houses unchanged. It will now proceed to Royal assent in the

coming days, so we remain on track with a timetable that I set out six

months ago. And I will return to this house before the end of this

month to notify and I have formally triggered Article 50 and begun the

process through which the United Kingdom will leave the European

Union. This will be a defining moment bra whole country as we begin

to forge a new relationship with Europe and a new role for ourselves

in the world. We will be a strong self-governing global Britain. With

control once again over our borders and our laws. And we will use this

moment of opportunity to build a stronger economy and a fairer

society, so that we secure both the right deal for Britain abroad, and a

better deal for ordinary working people at home. And Mr Speaker, the

new relationship of the EU that we negotiate, will work for the whole

of the United Kingdom. That is why we had been working closely with the

devolved administrations, including, including the Scottish Government.

Listening to their proposals and recognising the many areas of common

ground that we have. Such as protecting workers' rights, and our

security from crime and terrorism. So Mr Speaker, it is not a moment to

play politics will create uncertainty. -- or create

uncertainty. It is a moment to bring our country together. To honour the

will of the British people, and to shape for them a brighter future and

a better Britain and I commend this statement to the house. Jeremy

Corbyn. Thank you Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Prime

Minister Francois is copy of the statement. The passing into law of

the unification of withdrawal, marks an historic step. Later this month,

the triggering of Article 50, a process that will shape this

country's future. There is no doubt, that if the wrong decisions are made

we will pay the price for decades to come. So now more than ever, Britain

needs an inclusive government, that listens and acts accordingly.

However, all of the signs are, that we have a complacent government,

complacent with our economy, complacent with people's rights and

complacent about the future of this country. I urged the Prime Minister

to listen to the collective wisdom of this Parliament. And to give this

house a full opportunity to scrutinise the Article 50 deal with

a meaningful final vote. The people's representatives deserve

better than take it or leave it and if we are to protect jobs and living

standards, and if we are to protect the future prosperity of this

country, the Government needs to secure tariff free access to the

single European market. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister has already made

the threat to our negotiating partners to turn Britain into a

deregulated tax haven. Is that what she means by global Britain? When

the Foreign Secretary says no deal with the new would be perfectly OK,

it simply isn't good enough. -- with the EU. Far from taking back

control, leaving Britain to world Trade Organisation rules would mean

losing control, jobs and losing out. So when the Prime Minister says a

bad deal is better than no deal, let me be clear, no deal is a bad steel.

Such a complacent strategy would punish business, hit jobs and

devastate public services on which people rely. The Prime Minister says

she is seeking to secure a future free trade deal with the EU after

initial negotiations are completed. But if that is the strategy, it is

essential that this government stops being complacent and focuses on

securing a transitional agreement with the EU at the earliest

opportunity. That would at least give the British people and

businesses some short-term clarity in this period. The Prime Minister

said she wanted to provide certainty on EU nationals are as soon as

possible. So, then, why have they voted down every Labour attempt to

bring certainty to EU nationals who make such a national of -- massive

contribution to our society? These people are not bargaining chips.

They are mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, valued members of our

community. The Government could and should have acted months ago. I

agree with the Prime Minister, now is not the time to create

uncertainty or play politics. She should tell that to the EU migrants

in Britain who have no idea what their future holds because of

decisions made by her government. Refugees, is the Prime Minister

saying that she is content for refugees to remain in camps in

Libya? Is that a safe country? Or for Greece, Italy and Malta to

shoulder the entire burden of refugees from North Africa and the

Middle East. Whilst we welcome the conference she is proposing on

Somalia, we need to know what support Britain is offering to all

of those countries. Does the Prime Minister still believe we have a

collective responsibility on the issue of refugees? The Prime

Minister said that she argued about tackling vile smuggling rings and

people being subjected to unimaginable abuse. Does she not

agree that her argument would be so much stronger if her government had

been prepared to accept some of the victims of that unimaginable abuse,

for example the children who should have been accepted through the dubs

amendment? Mr Speaker, as we move towards the triggering of Article

50, there is much uncertainty about Britain's future. A responsible

government would set a positive tone with our negotiating partners and

would move to protect our economy, workers and citizens at the earliest

opportunity. Instead, we have a reckless government playing fast and

loose with the British economy. We will fight for jobs and the economy

using every parliamentary mechanism available and the Government should

welcome mat scrutiny. -- that scrutiny. The right honourable

gentleman mentioned a range of issues. He spoke again about the

issue of EU nationals. As I have said in this House and as has been

said by others from this dispatch box, we do want to ensure that the

issue of the staters of EU nationals living here in the UK is dealt with

at an early stage in the negotiations. -- the status. But we

also have a consideration for the UK nationals who are living in the

European Union. He said that the EU Commission was living here are

individuals who have contributed to our society. Indeed they are but so

the UK nationals living in the member states of the European Union

are also individuals who have contributed to their society and

economy and I want to ensure that their status is also ensured and we

hope and expect that this will be an issue we can address at an early

stage. He talked about the need to come forward and be clear about the

need for a transitional period. I refer him to the speech I gave in

Lancaster house in January and to the White Paper that we published.

The need for implementation periods, so we have a smooth and orderly

process of Brexit, is indeed one of the objectives that was set out in

that speech and in that document. He talked about refugees from North

Africa and the Middle East. What we want to ensure is that people don't

feel the need to make the often dangerous, life-threatening journey

across the central Mediterranean. Many of these people, more than

three quarters of the people who are doing this, are not refugees but

economic migrants. We need to ensure we are providing facilities and

working with countries within Africa, which the European Union is

itself doing and other countries are doing, to ensure that the

circumstances are such that people don't try to make a life-threatening

journey. But we also need internationally to be able to bring

a better distinction between refugees and economic migrants so

that we can give better support to those who are refugees. He taught

about the vile smuggling rings and appeared to suggest that the UK

government was doing absolutely nothing to break the vile smuggling

rings. In my statement, I quoted a very recent example of the work of

the National Crime Agency, which I might say it is a Conservative

government that set up the National Crime Agency, that set of the

organised immigration crime task force and is dealing with these

issues and while he talks about abuses and the movement of people

and the trafficking of people, it is this government that brought in the

Modern Slavery Bill act and I'm very proud that it is this government

that did it. And finally, he referred to what global Britain

needs. I'll tell him. It is about a strong, self-governing Britain, a

Britain that is trading around the world with old friends and new

allies alike but it is about a Britain that is proud to take its

place on the world stage. Thank you, Mr Speaker. My I congratulate my

right honourable friend not only on her statement just now and the way

she dispatched the Leader of the Opposition but also on the passage

of the EU withdrawal bill. Would she accept that now is the time for the

United Kingdom to do all the things that she herself has recommended in

her statement but, in addition to that, to take urgent legal advice in

respect of the legal warnings given by Lord hope of Craighead to be sure

that we don't have any unforeseen further attempts to undo the EU

withdrawal bill in the courts? I can assure my honourable friend that as

we move ahead with this, as we have at every stage, we have, of course,

taken appropriately or advice but, as he will know, we do not discuss

that on the floor of this House. Me I begin by thanking the Prime

Minister for advance notice of her statement and agree with her how

valuable it was in the large -- that the large part of the EU council was

given to jobs, growth and competitiveness and that is really

welcome to the whole of the UK, as across all of the 27 member states.

The single European market really matters to all of us, given it is

the largest single market in the world. The last time the prime

minister came to the dispatch box from an EU council meeting, I asked

what issues you raise a half of the Scottish government and its

priorities and she couldn't give a single example then, so I'm going to

try the same question again. Given that this was the last EU council

since the invoking of Article 50, can she give a single example - just

one, please - of a single issue that was raised on the half of the

Scottish government or its priorities at this council meeting?

Goodness, there is a lot of hubbub from the government benches on this.

Perhaps they are also keen to hear from the Prime Minister, who didn't

make a single mention during her statement of what she raised a half

of the Scottish government. We will all wait with bated breath to hear

the Prime Minister answer that question. While the Prime Minister

was in Brussels, what discussions did she have about her Brexit

timetable? Can she confirmed that the plan is to negotiate a deal and

after that, there needs to be time. Time for ratification, time for

agreement across the European Union and its institutions. Will she

confirm from the dispatch box that that is indeed her plan? The Prime

Minister has decided, for one reason or another - I can't imagine why -

to delay the invoking of Article 50. Last July, we were told by the Prime

Minister herself, and I'm sure she remembers saying these very words,

that she would not trigger Article 50 until she had, and I quote, her

own words, a UK wide approach. Now, she knows that she has no agreement

with the devolved administration, despite months of compromised

suggestions from the Scottish Government. So will the UK

government, even at this very late stage, use the next days to secure a

compromise, UK wide approach? Or does she still planned to plough on

regardless, even though she knows what the consequences of that will

mean? Thank you. He asks what issues that were of relevance of the

Scottish Government and to Scottish people were raised that this

European council. I can answer him - jobs, growth and competitiveness.

Those issues that matter to the Scottish people but also matter to

the people of the whole of the UK. He also talked about whether there

was a discussion of the European council about the timetable for the

discussions on the negotiations of Article 50. As I said very early on

in my statement, in the main business of council, we discuss the

challenge of managing mass migration, the threats from

organised crime, and the measures needed to boost your's growth and

competitiveness. This was a council which focused on those issues and I

was presenting the case for the United Kingdom's concerns on those

issues, including jobs, which is I've just said, matter to the people

of Scotland. Who stalks -- he talks about a single market of the

European Union. I would remind him and his colleagues once again that

the most important single market for Scotland is the single market of the

United Kingdom. Shouldn't friendly democracies with decent values rush

to reassure British citizens that they can stay on the continent, and

isn't it strongly in the economic interests of our partners to accept

our generous offer of continuing with tariff free trade on the same

basis as today? My right honourable friend makes an important point. I

think the issues of EU nationals in the UK -- and UK nationals and the

question of the trading relationship in the future is not a one-sided

argument, it is actually about benefits for the EU as well and I

very much think that is the case in relation to trade. This isn't about

something that just works for the UK. I believe the right trading deal

for the UK, the sort of free and open access my right honourable

friend talks about, will be good for the rest of the EU as well. The

Prime Minister has spoken many times about the importance of achieving a

good deal from the negotiations that the country is about to embark on.

Yet, in recent days, the Foreign Secretary has said that leaving with

no deal would be perfectly OK, while the international trade secretary

has said that not achieving a deal would be bad. Would the Prime

Minister care to adjudicate and tell the House which of those ministers

is speaking for the government? I can say to him, I am optimistic that

we are going to get a good deal for the United Kingdom in trading with

the European Union. No deal may be a bad deal for both the EU 27 and for

the UK but it is very far from the worst deal for the UK if there was

no route to a future free trading arrangement with the European Union.

The deal is not in the gift either of her government, however hard they

are trying to deliver it, or of this Parliament, but of the European

Parliament and our partners, so no deal remains a real possibility. It

seems that her government is now preparing for it. Will that

preparation into the opportunity for individuals and businesses to be

able to make their own dispositions in that possibility? First of all, I

was clear in the Lancaster House speech that no deal was better than

a bad deal. I'm optimistic that we will be able to negotiate a good

deal. He is absolutely right, of course, there are other parties to

this. It is not as what we say. There will be a negotiation about

that trade arrangement and in coming to that trade arrangement and

agreement, I can ensure him that I and others across the Parliament,

the Secretary of State is exiting the EU, the Secretary of State the

business, are talking to businesses across the UK to understand the

issues that are most important of them. The Prime Minister has said

again just now that no deal is better than a bad deal but what

possible deal is worse than no deal and can she described it? I have to

say to the honourable lady, we are about to enter into a negotiation

with the remaining 27 members of the EU. As part of that, we will be

negotiating a trade deal for our future relationship with the EU. I

confidently expect that we will get a good deal and somebody says "You

hope" from a secondary position. It is precisely because of the answer I

gave to the Member for Wokingham. This is not about a one-sided

negotiation, about what is going to sit the UK, it is about what is

right for that relationship for the future of the UK with the EU and a

good trade deal for the UK is a good trade deal for the EU.

Can I welcome the Prime Minister 's announcement that the UK

strengthening its contribution to cyber security at countering

disinformation. Also the Foreign Secretary 's forthcoming visit to

Russia. But with Russia spending every billion dollars on media

outfits and patrol factories, is she satisfied that the EU's East Strat,

organisation account is fake news and misinformation from the Kremlin

is sufficiently resourced and what progress was made on setting up the

further sectors to identify and counteract Russian propaganda that

was mentioned in the pre-briefings to the council. My right honourable

friend raises an important point, Naholo Schrotter jujitsu

indications, this is an area where the UK does have particular

expertise and experience. That is why we will be making that expertise

available to the European Union in order to be able to enhance the work

that they are doing to counter the disinformation campaigns. Can I tell

the Prime Minister that it is not just in Scotland where there is a

fear that the right wing of her party is dictating the terms of this

debate and pushing us towards a Brexit deal that favours London and

the South over the North. Can I ask her to did the no more, establish a

Brexit committee of the regions and nations, to give places like greater

Manchester equal and fair representation in this crucial

debate. As I have said repeatedly in this house, this government is

negotiating a deal, that we will be Wiggo shooting a deal that would be

good for the whole of the United Kingdom. That is why we had been

listing to businesses and others from across the whole of the United

Kingdom, yes the devolved administration but also people from

regions of England and businesses from across the whole of the United

Kingdom to understand the interests and what we need to be taken into

account. As my right honourable friend launches into the

negotiations I wonder if she has had time to consider the excellent House

of Lords report that says we have no legal negation to pay any money

whatsoever to the European Union, and does she share my view, that

this is an excellent basis for beginning the negotiations. I can

assure my honourable friend that I have noted the House of Lords report

on this particular matter, as he will know, when people voted on the

23rd of June last year. I think they were very clear that they did not

want to continue year after year to be paying huge sums of money to the

European Union. Mr Speaker I thank the Prime Minister for advanced site

of a statement. Given that she is interpreting the will of the people

and not enacting it, history will declare, that last night she

demonstrates contempt for this place, and for the British people.

The Brexit deal, the Brexit deal, the Brexit deal is an unwritten,

unknown deal. It is a deal that will be signed off by someone, the only

question days, with be signed off by a handful of politicians or by the

whole of the people? Does she agree with me it should be signed off by

the whole of the people? Can I say to the right honourable gentleman

that I think what he says. Comes a little strange from a party, seen

tremendous there was a time where the Liberal Democrats were going out

there telling everyone that they were going to have an in- out

referendum on the European union, and now we have had it, and are not

willing to accept the result that the British people gave them. That

is why we are putting it into practice, we are delivering the will

of the British people. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister

has been very clear that the United Kingdom is leaving the European

Union, we are not leaving Europe. A strong and prosperous European

Union, can she agree with me, that a strong stable united United Kingdom

is also in the interests of the European Union and that she will

vigorously resist anyone who uses this moment to try and destroy our

precious United Kingdom? I absolutely agree with my honourable

friend, as he has said and I have said before, a strong remain

European Union in 27 will be wanting to see the EU strong. We'll so what

is he a strong United Kingdom playing its role as a global

Britain. It is important that we keep the union of the United Kingdom

together, there is much that binds us and I don't want to see anybody

doing constitutional gameplaying with the future of the United

Kingdom. Can I congratulate the Prime Minister on bringing the

country together? And uniting Scotland behind the First Minister.

She was asked, by my right honourable friend about what was

said last year so let me cite the Tory Bible, the Daily Telegraph on

the 15th of July. Theresa may has indicated that she will not trigger

the formal process of leaving the EU until there is an agreed UK approach

backed by Scotland. Was that misreporting by the Daily Telegraph,

Miss Peake in by the Prime Minister or is she still working on it? As

the right honourable gentleman knows full well, we have been in

discussions with the Scottish Government and the other involved

administrations recognising the issues they have raised. But it lies

in the issues and concerns, but The Right Honourable gentleman, refers

to the views of the Scottish people in relation to the announcement,

either Scottish First Minister, I might remind him that the evidence

in Scotland is that the George the Scottish people do not want a second

independence referendum. Thank you Mr Speaker, can I commend my right

honourable friend's very measured response to the provocation of the

calling of another second independence referendum in Scotland.

That she is not ruling out a referendum in the future, but now is

not the right time. Can she also just point out, that the 2015

Scotland act, reserves all of the single market issues to the United

Kingdom government. These are not matters, these are matters that we

should share with Scotland in the discussion, but they are matters

reserved to the United Kingdom. As I have just said in response to The

Right Honourable gentleman, the previous question, it is the case at

the moment as I have said that the evidence is that the Scottish people

do not want a second independence referendum. As we dish it issues in

relation to access to the single market through the free trade deals

that we will be live to in, we'll be taking into it at the interest of

the whole of the United Kingdom and every part of the United Kingdom and

ensuring that deal works for everybody across the United Kingdom

including the people of Scotland. Following a successful conclusion to

the Article 50 bill last night, there are some who in Northern

Ireland will add to the uncertainty and division by calling for a poll,

they have already traded enough uncertainty and division by

collapsing the uncertainty, will she take this opportunity to tell people

that there has never been more support for the union in Northern

Ireland across all communities, and that in fact such a call, is outside

of the terms of the Belfast agreement, the very point that Sinn

Fein keep harping on about that they want in the meditation of the

agreements. -- in the mentation. The Right Honourable gentleman is right,

there are a set of circumstances which the Secretary of State for

Northern Ireland has looked at this issue, and it is not right to have a

order poll at this stage. What we should all be focusing on is

bringing the parties together to ensure that we continue to see the

devolved administration in Northern Ireland, working as it has done in

the interest of people in Northern Ireland, we want to see that

devolved administration being formed and that is what all of the party

should be looking for at the moment. Mr Speaker isn't it clear from

European negotiations, that a lot of the detail when to be finalised

until the end of this process and therefore the timetable set out

yesterday, by the First Minister, to have a premature second independence

referendum is an excuse, not a reason, and shouldn't we indeed

listen to the right honourable gentleman, the member for Gordon,

when he referred to the last independence referendum as a once in

a generation of opportunity. Well I am grateful to my right honourable

friend, as he rightly points out, of course, we have a timetable for

negotiation which is up to two years. It is possible that the

details of that negotiation will not be finalised until close to the end

of that period. And he is entirely right of course, those in Scotland

to talk about having a second independence referendum should

remember what the right honourable gentleman said, that it was a once

in a generation vote that took place in September 2014, it seems a

generation now is less than three-year 's. Mr Speaker the Prime

Minister has said, that no deal is better than a bad deal. And whilst

we all wish her well in getting the best possible deal, for the UK, will

she now publish what the effects would be of crashing out of the

European Union on WTO rule so that we can have a debate in the country

about her assertion that no deal is better than a bad deal. I say to The

Right Honourable Lady, I'm grateful for the comment that she has made

about being in support of the government in looking ahead and

trying to negotiate the best possible deal for the United

Kingdom. That is precisely what we will be doing.

I welcome the Prime Minister's positive approach to establishing a

new cooperative relationship with Europe, and the sensible mess of

planning contingency planning. Can the Prime Minister tell us how much

that contingency planning will cost? It is important that contingency

planning does take place. We have to look at the variety of scenarios and

a lot of work is being done by the Department and will be done by other

departments as well. I think what is important, is that we ensure that

work is done properly. So that the governance has the best possible of

the nation in which to negotiate our relationship for the future. After

lecturing the other European leaders on how they should complete the

single market, the sheer member that she had already thrown in the towel

on Britain's membership of the single market, and would she admit

what an error it was. For her to have given the Scottish First

Minister exactly the excuse she was looking for, for their opportunistic

second referendum? First of all their was no lecturing that took

place, there was a view around the table, I encouraged that, and others

contributed, that it is important that the European Union continues to

complete the single market, but actually there is work yet to be

done. That continues to work on trade agents that other parts of the

country and the reason why I can ask them to do that is because it would

be good for the United Kingdom in our future relationship with the

European Union. So this is something that will be good for us. I have

always been clear, I have always been clear that we will trigger

Article 50 by the end of March and that is exactly what we will do.

There has been much speculation about the divorce from the European

Union has two how much money would be needed. I'm afraid I'm to

disagree with multiple friend, from North East Somerset. Since we

joined, the EC in 1973, we have paid in 108 ?84 billion -- 184 billion.

That is the net contribution, the actual amount we have paid, after

the money back. Well when you have a divorcee split it into, so that

would be ?92 billion that should be paid back to us, did the Prime

Minister have the chance to bring this up at the conference? LAUGHTER

We want our money back. I'm tempted to say to my honourable friend nice

try by date thing that was application for a job that the

Treasury. -- but I don't think that was an application.

The honourable gentleman seems to be able to contain his misery. Not

everyone shares her it is as for the imminent application of the EU -

Canada agreement, not least, because CETA's new court investors

discipline, still causes problems. Does she regard R as a blueprint

for the trade deals that the government thinks she could so

easily agree. -- CETA as a blueprint. And how will she protect

things if that is the case. There is no blueprint, I have said

consistently of the last seven months or so that we are not looking

to adopt a model for another countries relationships. We will

have a deal that is right for the UK. Did my right on the friends

detect any strong support at the EU Council for a separatist Scotland

remaining in the EU. I can honestly say that I did not

detect any such support in the European Council. Since the country

is almost evenly divided about leaving the EU, how does the Prime

Minister try and resolve this? I've never known this country so divided

since Suez in 1956. Can I say to the honourable gentleman, this House

chose to give a vote to the British people in the referendum on the 23rd

of June. The people of the UK voted in that referendum and the majority

voted for the UK to leave the EU. I actually think that when I talk to

people who voted to leave and people who voted to remain, the

overwhelming message is that they want the government now to get on

with the job of delivering on that vote. My right honourable friend the

Prime Minister has made it clear both from the dispatch box and the

country that she wishes to prioritise the certainty of UK

nationals living in the EU 27 and the EU nationals living here in the

UK but I have it on good authority that the EU negotiators want to

prioritise the so-called divorce settlement. Will she make it clear

to the people to whom she is negotiating that we will not

countenance British and EU citizens being used as bargaining chips in

such a way? My honourable friend is right. What we want to do is ensure

that we do see both EU citizens living here and UK citizens living

in the EU reciprocally protected in terms of their future status and I

want to see that as a discussion that will take place at an early

stage in negotiations. I recognise the point that he has made about

some of the things that have been said and I will simply say this to

him, that in my conversations with other European leaders, I believe

there is also an extent of goodwill there to deal with this issue at an

early stage. The Prime Minister lectures nationalists on the

importance of staying within unions, all the while she advocates leaving

on. She lectures our European partners on the importance of the

single market, all the while she is hell belt on our leaving it. Does

she think that this incoherence in her position might be dealt with and

she might make her own life easier if she thought again about staying

in the single market? I've said this on a number of occasions in this

House and I will repeat it here today - what we want to do is to

negotiate the best possible trading arrangement. My right honourable

friend the Member for Wokingham taught about fraction were -- tariff

free, frictionless, seamless movement of goods and trade in

services. It is wrong to think about the issue of in the single market as

just a single binary issue - either you are in it or you have no access

to its. What we want to do is ensure we have good access to the single

market, the best possible trade deal, which allows that frictionless

and, as far as possible, tariff free access. Could I particularly welcome

my right honourable friend's comments on the Balkans, an area

which has plunged Europe into horror several times over the last few

centuries? Would she confirmed that it is Britain that has insisted that

we keep the mission there going against the opposition of several of

our European partners? Indeed, my right honourable friend is

absolutely right. The UK has been playing a key role in relation to

the Western Balkans. There was a very good discussion at the European

Council, a very clear recognition around the table of the need for us

to continue to be involved in the Western Balkans, and a number of

steps that can be taken in future to ensure that we do stabilise this

region, which is in the interests of not only the countries in the

Western Balkans but the rest of us in Europe. In the spirit of this

so-called UK wide approach to Brexit, can the Prime Minister

confirmed to the House how much advance notice she intends to give

to the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and the leadership in

Northern Ireland of the date upon which she intends to invoke Article

50? We will be invoking Article 50 by the end of March. There will be a

number of processes that will take place in advance that invocation and

I can assure, as I said to this House, I will come and notify this

House when the decision is... When we have notified. At the European

Council, did the Prime Minister have a chance to pick up two issues with

the European commission and the Spanish government - one, their

attitude to the border of Gibraltar, and their attitude to those

separatists that claim that their countries could break away and

rejoin the EU? I can assure that in the discussions I've had with the

Spanish government on this matter, they are very concerned and they are

very clear that it is not possible for a country to break away from a

country that is a member of the European Union and to immediately

rejoin that European Union. This is the Rosso doctrine, which has been

reaffirmed by the European commission, so as far as Scotland is

concerned, independence would not mean membership of the European

Union, it would mean that Scotland would remain outside the European

Union. I'm sure the Prime Minister would be pleased to know that there

are millions of Labour supporters across the country who will be

delighted and share the pleasure that she has at the legal decision

taken through Parliament but did she have any chance in the council

meetings to discuss informally with EU leaders the position of our EU

citizens in... Our British citizens in other countries and are they

sticking up for our citizens there the way we are sticking up for their

citizens here? I've had a number of discussions with European leaders on

this point and that is why I said earlier in response to another

question from an honourable friend that I believe there is goodwill on

both sides to deal with this issue and to recognise the needs of UK

citizens living in other EU member states, as well as recognising the

needs of EU citizens living here in the UK. I think there is goodwill

there but it has been made clear in the past that no discussion on this

and take place until the negotiations have formally been

triggered. I welcome the Prime Minister's statement that politics

is not a game but for those of us who have fought the SNP, to the SNP

it is again. Yesterday's announcement by the first Minister

is the just the first of many we are going to hear in the weeks and

months to come. With the prime minister agree with me that it is

imperative that her government and every member of this House who

believes in Great Britain and Northern Ireland that we must

reaffirm our own constituents outside of Scotland why the United

Kingdom is important to all of us? I absolutely agree. It is important

for us to continue to confirm and reaffirmed the importance of the

United Kingdom. He says to reaffirm the importance of the United Kingdom

for constituencies outside Scotland. I think, as I did when I was in

Glasgow very recently, also we should reaffirm the importance of

the United Kingdom to Scotland and to Scotland's economy. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. I was glad to hear the prime minister say that she had been

working closely with the devolved administrations. Glad but slightly

puzzled because the joint ministerial committee on exiting the

EU is less organised than a community council. Not my words but

those of an actual participant, Mark Drakeford. How is she now ensuring

that the system of devolved governments are effective in the

Article 50 notification? The joint ministerial committee process has

been operating now for some months at various levels. It has been

bringing ministers together from the United Kingdom government, together

with the three devolved administrations, as I say, at

various levels, discussing the issues that have been raised on both

sides, including looking at the paper that the Welsh Government

provided on the particular concerns that Wales has and those are being

taken into account. The premiere of Luxembourg believes, apparently,

that we might yet be persuaded to stay. Are there others like him and

if the emphatic proceedings yesterday as not disabused him, will

she do so in the nicest possible way? I have to say that I think we

can be reassured that the votes that took place in this House and in of

Lords last night and the passing of the European Union withdrawal

notification bill into Royal assent will give a very clear message to

everybody in Europe that we mean business. The practice and

experience in complex negotiations, for example that in Northern

Ireland, is that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Does the

Prime Minister agree that that will be the case here and, if so, given

that she said that no deal is preferable to a bad deal, what hope

can British citizens living in EU countries or European Union citizens

living in the UK believe that there is actually going to be any

resolution of this uncertainty? The honourable gentleman quotes past

experience as the model for what is going to happen in relation to our

negotiations. I don't look at these matters in that way. When we invoke,

we will start those negotiations. We've already been discussing with

other EU leaders the importance of giving reassurance to UK citizens

living in the 27 member states and EU citizens living here about their

status and their future. As I said in answer to a number of questions,

including to his honourable friend the member from Vauxhall, this is an

issue on which I believe there is genuine goodwill on both sides and

that's why I want to see it as part of the early part of the

negotiations. The prime minister has rightly talked about the need to

reassure EU nationals in this country. Does she agree that the

biggest reassurance we can give them is that their rights remain

completely unaltered until this House chooses to change those

rights? My honourable friend has made a very important point and, of

course, until we exit the EU, we are still members of the EU but it is

very clear that any changes that need to take place in terms of our

immigration rules will have to come before this House. The Prime

Minister has said several times today that she is in discussions

with the Scottish government and has confirmed that she wants to trigger

Article 50 by the end of the month so, by my calculations, that means

she has less than two weeks to finish those discussions and to

agree and announced the UK wide approach she promised in July last

year. So when does she expect to finish discussions with the Scottish

government and announce the outcome of those discussions, as she

promised last year? When we trigger Article 50 and go into negotiations,

as she knows, we will be negotiating as the UK government and we have

been in the discussions with the Scottish government and other

devolved up ministrations and the discussions continue but I have

already set out the broad objectives of our negotiations, which does

include the reference to the very sort of trade deal that she and her

colleagues have said they want to see for the UK and Scotland. There

was laughter from the benches opposite on my right honourable

friend spoke of the single market and digital. Would should remind the

House that we wish to continue to trade with that single market, that

we inject 60 billion into that market and when it comes to digital,

the investments of Snap, Facebook and Softbank, this country is a

powerhouse in digital? He is absolutely right about the role this

country plays in the market for digital services. It is important

and is why we have seen our digital strategy being set out by my right

honourable friend, the Culture Secretary. And it is important for

us. He is absolutely right into the derision from the opposite benches

at the suggestion that we should encourage a single market in digital

services in the EE you, which we can then trade with and sell into... I'm

afraid I was rather surprised at that reaction because it seems that

the opposite benches don't want to see us developing that market in a

way that is good for the UK. The Prime Minister said, and repeated a

moment ago without a hint of irony or comedy, that she is encouraging

the European Union to a single market in services because it is in

our national interest it would she explain to the House and the country

how it is not in our national interest to be a part of it? I know

the honourable gentleman has said in the past that he has a different

view about the result of the vote that took place and where we should

be going as a government in relation to membership of the EU. I know he

was asking about the single market and I've answered many questions

about the single market and my response to him is the same as my

response to my honourable friend, which is, of course it is important

for us to encourage that a market that we are going to be working

with, trading with, that we want to see the best possible access with

and ability to operate within four hours services, that we make sure

that is a free market that we are able to work with. Can I thank my

right honourable friend for her statement. As we do not pay to sell

our goods and services to any other country around the world, can my

right honourable friend confirm that we will not accept any deal which

requires us to pay the European Union for access to the single

market? I say to my honourable friend that

obviously, he may have been looking at the same report that he

honourable friend the member for North East Somerset has been doing

in relation to the sums of money but as I say, the vote that was taken on

the 23rd of June last year was about many things, in terms of leading the

European Union one of the things that we were clear about is that we

were not going to every year continue to pay huge sums of money

into the EU. Is it the Prime Minister 's intention that both the

Common travel area and the Good Friday agreement would be

specifically named as features in the framework for future

relationships between the UK and the EU and she agree about the

importance of having the terms specifically reflected in a new UK-

EU treaty to make it clear that the Northern Ireland is part of the UK

that could elect to rejoin the EU without the sets are Article 49

negotiations and the doctrine would not be an impediment. We have been

very clear about the important of maintaining the agreements that have

been made in relation to Northern Ireland. That is an issue that is

very clear to other European states, as well. On the Common travel area.

It existed long before either before the Republic or the United Kingdom

were part of the European Union and one of the objectives that I set out

as we looks to negotiations, is that we will be looking to maintain that

Common travel area. Following the last few months of debate, I am

assured, that they are striving for a zero tariff trade deal as the

enter formal the ghost stations. With my honourable friends, look at

the impact, following the partial European Union on trade deals.

Honourable friend raises an important point, all too often

people look as if we are just the supplicant and anything that is

decided is only going to have an impact on the United Kingdom. Of

course the nature of the trade you will have an impact on companies

within the remaining 27 member states as they want to trade with

and operate in United Kingdom, that is why I am confident that when we

come to negotiations people see the benefit to both sides about getting

a deal that is a good trade deal. The Prime Minister has said that in

the deal she wanted with the European Union, she wanted associate

membership of the customs union, membership that does not as yet

exist. On the sixth of debris, I asked the Prime Minister whether she

had raised that with The European Council parts and she overlooked

that. Can I ask again, as she raised the idea and what was the response

or should we take it as meaning no deal. First of all, to the

honourable lady, she's slightly misinterpreting the speech that I

gave in Lancaster house where I set out there were certain elements of

the customs union that we would not wish to be part of because those

would prevent us from negotiating trade deals on our reign as the

United Kingdom with other countries around the world and I said that the

relationship that we wanted to have in terms of the customs union was to

have a seamless and frictionless border as possible and indicated

that might be something that might be called associate membership. We

need to do that as part of the negotiations. Our relationships the

customs union in the European Union will be part of the negotiations

which will start when we trigger Article 50. I very much welcome the

statement by the Prime Minister, paragraph nine of the conclusions on

security refers to EU working together to fight terrorism. One of

the biggest challenges facing Europe and the UK and the next five to ten

years according to experts is returning terrorist fighters from

Syria and Iraq as Daesh is defeated back to the host countries. Was this

disgust at the European level and is there an agreed strategy across the

country to deal with this. I will say this is not one of the issues

that was discussed within the that was discussed within the

business of The European Council which took place last week and

however it is an issue that we have discussed, with other member states

on a number of occasions in the past, and we are all very well

appraised of the need to make sure that we do have identifying those

who are returning and working in a way and dealing with those

individuals returning in a way that is most appropriate and of course as

far as the icy kingdom is concerned it will be looked at on a day to day

basis. On single market membership, in the 2017 manifesto they made an

unconditional commitment, to safeguard British interests in the

single market. She castigates my honourable friends Horwill south and

Pontypridd, for raising this issue but she herself said on the 26th of

May last year to an audience of Goldman Sachs bankers in relation to

single market membership, "Economic arguments are clear, I think part of

being in the 500 trading block that is significant -- 500 million." So

why is she waving the white flag and started these negotiations that even

trying to keep us as a member of the single market with the reforms that

she seeks, the other second-biggest economy in Europe, the fifth biggest

military power in a while and she's waving the white flag. I'm doing

nothing of the swords and the honourable gentleman, needs to

recognise that there is a difference between access to the single market,

protecting our ability to operate within the single market and

membership of the single market. Membership of the single market

means accepting free movement comic means accepting the jurisdiction of

the European Court of Justice and it means effectively remaining a member

of the opinion. We have voted to leave and that is what we be doing.

My right honourable friend needs no lessons in her fry and read duty

which is to the defence of this great realm, and I welcome the

effort she has made in working together to counter the Russia

threat which is growing sadly. Could she please talk about how this

threat would affect the United Kingdom should parts of R.N. Great

United Kingdom succeed to the European Union and what farmer

abilities that were put to our defence. My honourable friend is

right to say that we are looking very carefully at the impact that

Russia and others can have a crush the European Union in their

activities but it is also right I believe that we are stronger as a

United Kingdom in our collective defence, and that for any part of

the United Kingdom, every part of the nutty kingdom benefits from

being part of the UK in terms of our collective defence in terms of

security and crime and terrorism. The

membership of the customs union gives us tariff free access to every

single market in the world and through the customs union, all trade

deal that any other leading economy outside of those institutions. Why

is she therefore determined to put this outcome is it because she

genuinely believes it is the right thing to do which she didn't a

matter of months ago or is it because she's taken hostage by the

right of her party. Another Conservative Prime Minister putting

the Parthiv Patel interests -- the Parthiv Patel interests ahead of the

interests of the country. On the 23rd of June 2016, the majority of

the people in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.

There are consequences of leaving the European Union. We want to

negotiate, a comprehensive free-trade agreement which gives us

the best possible access to the single market. The the honourable

member shouts that we have the best possible mems should bother single

market and we have that because we are member of the European Union,

that involves. The question has been asked, the Prime Minister shouldn't

have too fight to be heard, the right Honourable Lady must be heard.

That involves accepting certain of the requirements from the European

Union, requirements that people voted not to be part of when they

voted on the 23rd of June. But this is why I have consistently said,

members of this house must stop thinking that there is only an

option in the single market terms, which is about membership or

nothing. There isn't, there is an option which is about a con Brexit

free-trade agreement that gives us the sort of access that we want to

have -- comprehensive free-trade agreement. Can I commend the Prime

Minister for the strongly the ship, Latvia is hosting the Nato supreme

Allied Commander Europe meetings tomorrow, I represent a considerable

Ukrainian community. In Huddersfield. It is clear there are

real and present threats across from Russia, will the Prime Minister

continued to put Nato at the forefront of tackling these worries

and concerns from Russian aggression. I can absolutely assure

my honourable friends that we will continue to put Nato at the

forefront of that, and I'm pleased that UK is able to make a very

specific contribution to Nato and its efforts in relation to the

eastern border and we will soon be seeing UK troops going to Estonia

for example as a very visible sign of the commitment. Fears over the

consequences of Brexit have undoubtedly been exploited by Sinn

Fein and the recent Northern Ireland election, Sinn Fein increased its

first preference vote by somewhere in the region of 58,000 first

preference votes. That means that Sinn Fein is just one seat behind

the DUP in the new assembly as elected. I wonder and I'm sure that

the country wonders, and particularly those in Northern

Ireland, what steps the Prime Minister is going to take including

visiting Northern Ireland, what additional steps is the Prime

Minister going to take to turn back the tide of support for Sinn Fein.

Obviously, the honourable lady is correct in what she sets out as the

facts in relation to the voting matter place in the election. I

think the focus that we must all have in the coming couple of weeks

because there is limited time set aside in the legislation for doing

this, is on bringing the parties together to form a devolved

administration. I believe it is absolutely essential that we do

everything that we can to ensure that a devolved administration is

maintained in Northern Ireland. On the issue in relation to the impact

of Brexit, we have been very clear about the relationship that we want

to ensure in relation to the border with the Republic of Ireland and we

continue to work with the Republic of Ireland and others on delivering

on that. I think the focus of us all over the next couple of weeks as the

bringing the parties together to see it but administration being formed

in Northern Ireland. As Home Secretary and Prime Minister my rock

honourable friend has paid particular attention to the scourge

of modern slavery, can she confirmed that as she negotiates out of the

European Union, she will prioritise a collaborative approach to continue

to tackle this will trade and she would take the same approach when it

comes to designing a scheme for seasonal workers who may still have

to come to work in this country? It is certainly the case that we will

continue to prioritise the work that we do in relation to modern slavery

and to supporting the victims of this file trade but also breaking

the criminals were making so much money out of this terrible trade and

out of the damage, and abuse, that they bring to individuals. As he

says, this is something that he has looked at particularly in areas of

the agricultural sector in his own part of the country. As we do that

we want to continue that cooperation on that matter. As we leave the

European Union we will the continuing to cooperate on these

issues. They are not just about them ship of the European Union but about

whatever international organisations we are part of. The Prime Minister

talks about listening to the Scottish Government, that is on the

back of the people of Scotland voting overwhelmingly to remain

within the European Union. It is little surprise given the tragedy of

the UK Government, that the Scottish National party asked if romance of

the Scottish referendum, will she attempt to put a veto on the

democratic wishes of the Scottish people and the Scottish Parliament.

There was a referendum in septum 2014 in which the people of Scotland

decided to remain part of the United Kingdom. And his right honourable

friend the member for Gordon at the time said it was a once in a

generation vote. The honourable member for Murray quite rightly

started his questions by emphasising the importance of jobs in the

economy. In circumstances where Scottish trade with the UK's ?50

billion and is four times less in the EU, is there, does the Prime

Minister think there is a good economic case for Scotland to remain

in the UK, and ensure that together we work for the besties in Europe?

-- the best deal. My honourable friend is absolutely right, the

figures are very clear, the single market that's most important to

Scotland is the single market in the United Kingdom. The right Honourable

member for Gordon shouts the word frictionless and borders from his

sedentary position. Of course Scotland has a frictionless border

with the rest of the United Kingdom and it is also the most important

single market it is a member. Thank you Mr Speaker, in recent

discussions it is clear there is no support in any of the parties

represented in the German parliament for the UK to return Harry

The Prime Minister has asserted her optimism but the she recognised that

is the starting point we are at? The reality of the starting point is

that we are going to be sitting down with the European commission,

representatives of the European Council and the European Parliament

to negotiate the relationship that is going to be right for the UK and

the rest of the EU and the discussions I've had so far indicate

that there is a recognition of the importance of making sure that that

is a very good free trade agreement on both sides of the negotiation. I

commend the Prime Minister for her statement. Would she agree with me

that now is a very significant time when we can consider raising

environmental and animal welfare standards as we leave the EU? For

example, the export of live animals, which currently we cannot stop? The

position we have taken is that at the point at which we leave the EU,

the key will be brought into UK law, through the great repeal bill, so

that at the point at which we believe everybody will know where

they stand in relation to the various rules and regulations that

we have abided by as members of the EU but thereafter, it will be open

to this Parliament to determine what the standards are that rewrote Crier

-- that we require. The prime minister will know that under the

Dublin rules, Great Britain has returned more asylum seekers than we

have received from other countries. What are her intentions post Brexit?

Does she intend us to continue to participate in that? We will be

looking at the relationship we will have with the EU on matters such as

the asylum seekers issue. I have broadened the discussion on this

issue. It is not just about the UK's relationship with the EU but how the

whole international community deals with asylum seekers and economic

migrants and I'm very clear that as an international community we should

accept that people should claim asylum in the first safe country

that they reach. Two Dorset members! Can I congratulate my right

honourable friend for her clarity and her purpose and does she agree

with me that there is no greater importance today as the United

Kingdom to stand together, and for those calling for a second

referendum, they are behaving totally irresponsibly and leading

the people of Scotland potentially over a cliff like lemmings to

economic ruin? He is right that as we start on the negotiations for the

future relationship with the EU, I believe it is important for us to do

that as a United Kingdom, to come together, recognising the interests

of all parts of the UK and ensuring that we get absolutely the right

deal for the whole of the UK. The European Council last week agreed to

speed up proposals for European travel authorisation and sharing of

information on travel. Given Brexit, are we planning to be in that system

and, if not, what does it mean for these fees or access Europe for

British citizens? -- these Negotiations are ongoing. Is a

member of the EU, we had the ability not to be part of that arrangement

but as we look forward to the arrangements post Brexit, one of the

issues we will be discussing within the negotiations is how we exchange

information in relation to Borders. The right honourable gentleman will

know from his experience in his previous positions, it is not just a

question of issues like that but access to things like you wrote DAX.

The third of the Dorset trio this afternoon! Like my right honourable

friend, I am a unionist to my fingertips. Could I invite my right

honourable friend to discuss with her Cabinet colleagues that as we

see a dwindling of EU financial contributions to capital programmes

in this country, we explore very vigorously the opportunity to

present all of our constituents where capital projects are

undertaken in all parts of the kingdom that they are funded,

supported and delivered by UK taxpayers from a UK Treasury? He

raises an interesting point and obviously, as he is aware, the

Treasury have been able to give, in relation to funds that are currently

received from the EU, the Treasury have been able to give reassurances

to people about those funds moving forward for the period while we are

still members of the EU and, in some cases, thereafter as well. Leaving

the EU does give us an opportunity to look at how support can best be

provided, as my honourable friend says, by the United Kingdom

government. In December last year, just 101 EU nurses came over to work

in our NHS, a decrease of over 90% from the pre-referendum months. How

does the Prime Minister intends to tackle this so that we don't have

any more hospital wards like many in my constituency, which are

dangerously understaffed? I recognise the contribution nurses

from the EU have made to the NHS over the years and, of course, that

is one group of EU citizens we will be thinking of when we start those

negotiations in relation to the EU citizens that are living here and

their rights but what the Government has also recognises that there are

many people here in the UK who wish to train as nurses who have not been

able to do previously because of the cap on the numbers and we have

removed that cap and are enabling more to be able to do that. Nobody

knows what the answer will be when the people of Scotland are asked a

simple question, do they want to choose hard Brexit as part of the UK

or do they want to seek full partnership with 27 sovereign states

in the European Union? Will Prime Minister agree that that question

should be asked at a time when whatever the Democratic answer from

people is, it can be seen to be implemented and that means that

question should be asked in the time frame indicated by Nicola Sturgeon

yesterday? He will know because he has been present in this chamber on

previous statements and debates I've made, I don't agree or accept the

terminology he has used that what we are negotiating will be a hard

Brexit from the EU. We will be negotiating a good trade deal which

will be good for all parts of the EU, including the people of

Scotland. In her desperation to do Ukip's bidding, the Prime Minister

has determined that we will be leaving the single market as well as

withdrawing from the European Union. Can she tell me whether there will

be stand-alone legislation to repeal the European Economic Area act of

1993, or does she intends to use the EEA as the basis for her

transitional implementation period? Can I say to the honourable lady

that I would have expected better of her than the sort of description

that she has given and I will say simply this - what this government

is doing is the bidding of the British people and the British

people alone. Turkey is an exceptionally important partner in

Europe's attempts to deal with mass migration. Turkey is also an

exceptionally important partner in Nato. Given the events of the last

week, did the European Council have any discussions on how we can ensure

that democracy does not row back in Turkey but at the same time Turkey

remains the important partner it has been so far? The council recognises

the contribution made in the EE- Turkey deal made some time ago which

has led to a significant reduction in the number of people moving from

Turkey across the Aegean Sea into Greece. I'm very clear, as others

have been, that we want to see Turkey maintaining its democratic

institutions, rule of law and respecting international human

rights. There has been a lot of emphasis on the trade deal but the

divorce deal is very important, too, and at the heart of any divorce deal

is a fair financial settlement. What will the prime minister do if there

is no fair financial settlement at the end of the Article 50 period?

What will happen men to the divorce bill and our exit from the EU? Why

walk she will be aware that as we exit the EU, there are a number of

issues we will be looking at and discussing with the EU. But I didn't

raise this or respond to this point earlier but a number of people have

used this term of divorce. I prefer not to use the term of divorce from

the European Union because very often when people get divorced, they

don't have a very good relationship afterwards and this is about...

Honourable members need to stop looking at this as simply coming out

of the European Union and see the opportunity for building a new

relationship with the European Union, and that is what we will be

doing. Thank you, Mr Speaker. In the jumble of words that forms the Prime

Minister's statement, she missed two keywords, hypocrisy and irony

regarding her actions today. But the real question I want to ask is,

post-Brexit, what is the Prime Minister's plans with regards to the

London fisheries convention? The London fisheries convention is one

of the issues that the government is looking up currently and will be

looking at in relation to the future relationship as we come out of the

European Union and their four out of the common fisheries policy. A very

important matter and I believe we are going to learn more about it.

The honourable gentleman obviously knows all about it. When the first

minister announced her drive for a second device of Scottish

independence referendum yesterday, one of her manufactured grievances

was the fact that Brexit gives the UK government an opportunity to

muscle in on the powers of the Scottish Parliament. Would the Prime

Minister agree with me that the fundamental overriding principle of

any EU repatriate powers should be that they are transferred to the

defaulter demonstrations? I've been very clear with all the defaulter

ministrations that Brexit will not involve any powers that have

currently been devolved to those of ministrations being returned to the

UK government and indeed, as we look of the transfer of powers that are

currently in Brussels back to the UK, they may very well see more

powers being devolved to the administrations. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. 43% of publications from the UK's 47 biggest universities

come from collaboration with at least one EU firm, even higher in

London institutions. So did the discussion is the prime minister

engaged in with their European counterparts touch on any kind of

safeguards for our university sector, given this level of

dependency on European industry? And also, how is her manifesto

commitment, page 75, to not only remain in the single market but to

expand it... How is that one going? She might have noticed we also

promised the British people a referendum and a vote on whether to

stay in the EU, we gave them that vote, they decided, we are now

acting on the results of that vote. Although the vast majority of

questions this afternoon have been about the issue of Brexit, the issue

of Brexit was not an issue that was discussed formally in the EU

council, as I indicated earlier. But in response of the issue and

universities, we have given some comfort to universities in relation

to research funding equivalent that they enter into before we leave the

EU but if she looks at the Lancaster house speech that I gave in the

White Paper, she will see science and innovation is one of the issues

we have put as one of the areas which will be a negotiating object

of. Many thanks, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister has welcomed the

completion of the free trade agreements between the EU and Canada

and the pending free trade agreement between the EU and Japan. Isn't it

the case that when it comes to benefits of the single market and

free trade, the EU will be getting the full jammy doughnut, whilst the

UK will be left behind with nothing but an empty hole?

No, we will be negotiating free trade agreements, not just with the

EU but with other countries around the world. And, crucially, other

countries around the world are eager to work with us to negotiate

free-trade agreements. Discussions with countries like America,

Australia, Mexico, India, we are already looking at agreements we can

have as a United Kingdom outside the European Union. Does the Prime

Minister accept that her intransigence over amendments to the

EU withdrawal bill, her pandering to the Brexit fanatics on her

backbenchers, have diminished the role and sovereignty of this

Parliament over the Brexit process, and has opened up the door and

threatened the future integrity of the UK? Amendments were put before

this house, this house voted and took a decision. I find the sort of

description that the honourable gentleman has given, if he is saying

every time this house takes a decision he does not agree with,

somehow it is disrespectful parliament, I have to tell him that

is not how this place works. We put our arguments, we vote on them, one

side wins and the other losers. Does the Prime Minister accept if we

crash out of the European Union with a bad deal or no deal at all, that

would entirely beady failing and responsibility of our chief

negotiator and her team, namely the Prime Minister and her ministers? I

have already said I am optimistic we will be able to negotiate a good

deal for the United Kingdom. Well, I agree with the Prime Minister on one

thing, Mr Speaker, that politics is not a game. Which is why I will not

sit back and just hope for the best from her Government as she seems to

wish me to do. Given the way she has handled the compromise is put

forward from the Scottish Government, and the situation she

now finds herself in, can I offer her a moment of reflection? Is there

anything she regrets in the way that she has responded to those

compromises, or does dogma still raining Downing Street? We have had

extensive discussions with the Scottish Government and the other

devolved administrations on the issues that they have raised with

the United Kingdom government, and issues that they wish us to take

into concern. As I said earlier, and I said yesterday, there are many

areas of common ground between us and the Scottish Government. We both

agree on the protection of workers' rights, once we have left the

European Union. We have been looking at those areas of common ground. We

have also been looking, as we will do in negotiations, at ensuring we

get a deal, an arrangement, a relationship for the future that is

good for the whole of the United Kingdom, including Scotland. First

of all, Prime Minister, can I thank you for your statement and refer you

to the Somalian conference new referred to. At the meeting of the

IPG for Nigeria, a Nigerian MP was a guest speaker. He informed us that

Nigeria have become a centre for illegal arms smuggling for the whole

of Africa, the biggest that there was. Can I seek an assurance from

the Prime Minister that she will raise this issue at the conference

for all of Africa, because it is very important, when it is hosted in

the UK in May 2017? I can assure the honourable gentleman that the issues

he has raised is one that we will look at very seriously as a

government. There are a number of concerns in respect of what he has

said. I will certainly look at that issue very carefully. I am extremely

grateful to the Prime Minister and to all 66 backbench members,

following the Leader of the Opposition, who questioned her.

Point of order, Maria Miller? The European Court of Justice has

announced today any employer can ban religious symbols at work, including

the wearing of headscarves. This overturns important existing case

law from the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Speaker, what mechanisms

are open to this house to obtain a swift clarification of what this

means here in the UK, particularly so soon after the Prime Minister 's

statement in this house that what a woman wears is her choice, and

nobody else's? I am grateful to the honourable lady for the point of

order, raised not only in her capacity, doubtless, as a

constituency member of Parliament, but on the strength of her interest

in the equalities committee. I have not been aware of that development

until the right honourable lady notified me, not least because I had

been in the chair, tending to my duties. I can imagine the issue will

be of considerable interest and concern to a great many people, with

a variety of different views, in all parts of the country. The short

answer to the right honourable lady is that it is open to her to table a

question on the matter. I have received no occasion of an intention

by a government minister to come to the house and make an oral

statement, but she has the recourse of a question. If, as seems

possible, she judges the matter to be urgent, she knows the mechanism

that is available to her. To bring the matter of the attention of the

house, to secure a ministerial response, sooner, rather than later.

If there are no further points of order, we come now to the ten minute

rule motion. Mr Speaker, I beg to move that leave

be given to bring in a bill to require our overseas embassies and

consulates to serve wines and sparkling wines produced in the

United Kingdom at official functions. Article 50 is on its way

and this could be seen as the first post Brexit bill. As we leave the

EU, we must grasp every opportunity to find new markets for products

around the world and to be imaginative in supporting and

promoting them. British culture is an industry that has a golden future

ahead of it, much like the colour of its best-known sparkling vintages.

It will play an increasing important role in rural economic powerhouse.

For those that think our weather cannot support wines to compete with

France, Italy and Spain, think again. Chalky soil, with south

facing slopes and warmer temperatures provide ideal

conditions for producing wine and sparkling wine. Last year, with just

5 million bottles of English wine. Even Scotland, Wales and Northern

Ireland produces wine to be bottled to everybody's taste and budget.

Admittedly, it is a fraction of the global total, but that means we have

a market share in our sights. In fact, speaking of France, we have

been beating them at their own game. Last year, a tasting was held in

Paris and English wine was not only mistaken for champagne, but it beat

respected champagne houses all around. This wasn't just a one-off.

English wine won more than 175 UK and international awards in 2016

alone. One of the great characteristics of modern Britain is

that someone who was not exactly brought up with a champagne flute in

their hand, unlike several honourable members I could

mention... Don't look at me! Has the opportunity to represent and promote

such a fantastic, blossoming, British industry. My constituency of

Wilden, East Sussex, has not one or two vineyards, but well over a

dozen. Several of them boast international awards. Madam Deputy

Speaker, I have to report that my husband is doing his single-handed

best to support this local industry, judging by the contents of our

fridge. It is a hugely exciting time to be part of the English wine

industry. There are now 133 wineries and over 500 vineyards dotted across

our beautiful English countryside. 150 of these are open to the public,

including one of our own local vineyards, which is set in an area

of outstanding beauty and with far reaching views to the South Downs in

the distance. Sussex Fox And Fox Vineyards, sit either side of the

hilltop village of Mayfield. Among rolling hills and woodlands, you

would be forgiven for seeing a photo of harvest time and thinking it was

taken in champagne. Set amid bluebell woods at the edge of

Ashdown forest are Bluebell Vineyard Estates. Like many vineyards, it

specialises in producing award-winning, estate grown, English

sparkling wines, using traditional methods. The same method used to

create champagne. Last year, it picked up an impressive haul of 16

medals at International wine competitions. Similarly, Davenport,

which has vines in my constituency, has won a whopping 35 awards since

its establishment. Most impressively, both winemakers

received silver medals at the prestigious International Wine And

Spirit Competition last year, something which would have been

unheard of last year. Last month, I celebrated the English wine

industry's success in Parliament, with top wine critic Matthew Gilks,

hosting a tasting and taking opportunity to boast about the

stunning quality. It is no wonder that for the first time last year it

is wineries became official suppliers to Number 10. Chapeltown

and Ridgeview are now official suppliers for Downing Street

receptions and I believe Her Majesty the Queen serves English sparkling

wine at State banquets, showing commitment and confidence in the

wine industry. UK produced wine currently accounts for around 1% of

the wine purchased in the UK. But it has high aspirations and great

potential. It is no longer just a few people growing vines in their

back garden. Bluebell vineyard has more than doubled in size since

opening in 2005, and now has 70 acres and 100,000 vines. On my

doorstep, my honourable friend for Lewis has an estate established in

2010, and it has the potential to produce over 1 million bottles of

Sussex sparkling wine annually within eight decade. It could

develop into one of the largest single vineyards in England and even

the largest in Europe. Back home, there is a real appetite to invest

in British soil and the industry has seen significant overseas investment

in recent years. Champagne houses have already invested into growing

English grapes and this type of venture shows no sign of stopping.

In 2015, sales of English sparkling hit ?100 million. Overseas markets

grew by one third. There is a huge appetite from the industry to

continue this trend. Indeed, winemakers have pledged to produce

10 million bottles by 2020, with 25% of those for export. That is why, in

a post-Brexit world, we must do all we can to get behind industries that

show the sort of potential of our wine industry. What better way to do

that then to give the world a taste by serving UK produced wine and

sparkling wine in our 268 embassies, high commissions and consulates

around the world? What could be more appropriate as a setting to promote

English wine than the famed Ambassador's reception? However, the

lack of consistency in embassy policies for hosting and saving

British products means that we are missing opportunities to show it off

in new markets that should be fertile territory for exports such

as China, Japan, Singapore and even India, where wine consumption

amongst the professional classes is growing exponentially. Last week, I

was told that our Rome embassy asked the UK wine industry to sponsor a

wine tasting for Tuscan wines. This just isn't good enough. I doubt

Italy's outposts in London said anything other than Italian wine.

This bill will enable a consistent, top-down policy from the Foreign

Commonwealth Office to require embassies, where possible, to serve

British wines and thus promote British exports. Our embassies, high

commissions and UK missions abroad are an extension and projection of

our country's brand, showing support for a high quality and high

indigenous product, such as our award-winning British wines, which

will demonstrate a confident in our country and a belief in the

opportunities ahead of us. -- a confidence. Madam Deputy Speaker,

Chapeltown in Kent has just signed a deal, a distribution deal, in

France, of all places. I look forward to the very best of our wine

is creating a splash in Paris, and Berlin, and Madrid, and room for

that matter and, perhaps, perhaps helping to oil the wheels of the

Brexit negotiations to come. Madam Deputy Speaker, I commend this build

the house. -- this Bill to the house. The question is that the

Honourable Member have leave to bring in the Bill. The question is

that the Honourable Member have leave to bring in the bill. As many

of that opinion, say aye. I think the ayes have it. Who will bring in

the Bill? Said Peter Bottomley, Nigel Evans, James Duddridge, Andrew

Trevelyan, Julian Brazier, Chris Bryant, James Heappey, James

Cartlidge and myself. Thank you very much. The United

Kingdom Wines And Sparkling Wines Bill. Second reading, what day?

Friday, the 24th of March. The Klerk will now proceed to read the orders

of the day. The question is as on the order

paper. Thank you. This government is about delivering opportunity. The

opportunities that matter to ordinary working people up and down

this country, the opportunity to work in a skilled, well paying

career. The opportunity to send your children to a good school. The

opportunity to contribute to a fair, better society where everyone can do

their best for their community. These ambitions are not too much for

us to ask. They are not unreasonable. But the truth is far

too long too many people in our country have felt cut off from

opportunity. They see doors open for others but staying closed for them.

We will work with the grain of human nature to spread opportunities to

every town, city and region in our country, to give everyone the chance

to contribute. A strong economy is a vital part of this mission. It

provides the careers and the jobs which equip people and fill them

with a sense of self-worth. The knowledge that we all have a role in

the society, and a strong economy is at the heart of how people could

contribute to our country as a whole. This government is in the

business of building careers and jobs. Over 2 million jobs since

2010. There are more people working than ever before. The employment

rate for women is at the highest level since records began with 70%

of 60-64 -year-olds -- 16-64 -year-olds now in work. Does she

agree with me that one of the most important things the government can

do is support women returning to work? Absolutely right. She will

hopefully welcome the element of the project that invested in

internships. I will come onto that later in my speech. Take it from me,

I believe wealth creation is so important to give us the resources

for wealth creation. So many people have cut back. We are the 64th worst

hit out of 650. We don't feel the affluence she talks about. We have

record investment coming into our schools and if I can continue, to

secure and build a strong economy we do need sustained investment in the

human capital. The skills, the knowledge and the technical

excellence that drives productivity and growth, it is people that will

lift our country and we are investing in people. We need to do

this now more than ever because we know there is a productivity gap

between the UK and other advanced economies and we know that part of

this is caused by skills shortages. I am grateful for giving way. Is it

a mistake to cut this? It will affect them and deny the

opportunities. As I already said, the strong economy that has helped

to be created I was talking about how that is important. We know that

top employers and businesses are telling us the skills they need in

science, technology, engineering and maths are in two short supply. As my

right honourable friend says, is she aware that 5% of women returning to

work would generate an extra ?750 million? Absolutely, and that is why

it is one of the most powerful leaders we have two helped Drive

growth in the economy and more broadly around the world over the

coming years ahead. When we look at how we are going to plug the skills

gap, only 10% of adults in our country for the technical

qualification. Germany currently produces twice as many science