:00:00. > :00:13.agreement between the UK and the EU. -- and comprehensive agreement.
:00:14. > :00:26.We will hear from the fellows surely. I'm sure he knows his own
:00:27. > :00:31.name. Sir Edward. In the interests of good governance, will the
:00:32. > :00:34.Minister shot the permanent Secretary to make sure there are
:00:35. > :00:37.worthwhile discussions with the possible future Government to ensure
:00:38. > :00:42.how we are going to square the circle of staying in the single
:00:43. > :00:46.market but controlling immigration, and being outside the customs union,
:00:47. > :00:50.I don't know what they're going to do, and trying to make new trade
:00:51. > :00:58.agreements. Could he square the circle? I congratulate my honourable
:00:59. > :01:05.friend for his demonstration of the single transferable question. The
:01:06. > :01:10.speech from the Shadow Secretary of State has been widely picked up as
:01:11. > :01:13.being a confused position. Our permanent secretary is bright and
:01:14. > :01:27.brilliant enough to be able to work his way through it. Mr Speaker, it
:01:28. > :01:32.is nice to be here. The Government is committed to securing a deal that
:01:33. > :01:37.works for the entire United Kingdom, including all parts of England. We
:01:38. > :01:41.are working with the local Government Association and regional
:01:42. > :01:47.partners to understand the problems and to identify any regional
:01:48. > :01:51.differences. As my honourable friend will be aware, the Secretary of
:01:52. > :01:56.State has already committed to bringing the mayor 's together for a
:01:57. > :02:01.summit in the summer. The Secretary of State agreed to hold a meeting in
:02:02. > :02:07.York for the mayor is off the north to make sure the region's interests
:02:08. > :02:12.are properly represented. With Yorkshire's devolution deal is
:02:13. > :02:16.proving challenging, with the Secretary of State agreed to invite
:02:17. > :02:21.those areas that are not represented by a male? The Government is
:02:22. > :02:26.committed to securing a deal that works for the whole of the United
:02:27. > :02:30.Kingdom and every part of England. Ministers have visited Yorkshire on
:02:31. > :02:35.a number of occasions, including the Secretary of State's visitor
:02:36. > :02:43.November, and sure he will be willing to consider another visit
:02:44. > :02:46.after the election. There has been investment in funding from the
:02:47. > :02:50.European Union, counterbalancing the effect of this another Tory
:02:51. > :02:55.governments. What guarantee will he offered that the repatriations of
:02:56. > :02:58.powers from Europe will not mean further concentration and Whitehall
:02:59. > :03:04.and that it will be devolved to the region 's? After the United Kingdom
:03:05. > :03:07.lease the European Union will be giving full consideration to further
:03:08. > :03:12.devolution to bring powers as close as possible to all parts of the
:03:13. > :03:15.country, but we are committed to securing a deal that works for the
:03:16. > :03:20.north-east and ministers have visited every part of England,
:03:21. > :03:26.including a recent doesn't to Sunderland to talk to people about
:03:27. > :03:30.manufacturing issues. On his visits around the regions of the UK, will
:03:31. > :03:36.the Minister make it clear that in order to deliver and take back
:03:37. > :03:41.control of our money, our laws and our borders, we must leave the
:03:42. > :03:44.single market, leave the customs union, and establish sovereign
:03:45. > :03:55.control of our borders and the maritime waters. He has set out the
:03:56. > :03:59.Government position Abra boy. -- admirably visiting the Northeast is
:04:00. > :04:04.always a good thing to do and we are happy to have him, but while he is
:04:05. > :04:05.there he needs to listen. The engineering employers Federation has
:04:06. > :04:11.warned that walking away with no warned that walking away with no
:04:12. > :04:17.deal would condemn Northeast manufacturing to a painful and
:04:18. > :04:21.costly Brexit. Instead of posturing, the engineering employers Federation
:04:22. > :04:24.was the Government to focus on having a clear position on customs
:04:25. > :04:30.and a sensible transition period. Why isn't the Government listening
:04:31. > :04:35.to manufacturers in the north Christmas on the contrary, we
:04:36. > :04:42.regularly deal with manufacturing industry. I had a meeting with the
:04:43. > :04:47.EEF that was very successful. The fact of the matter is that we are
:04:48. > :04:50.planning to seek the best possible free-trade agreement with the
:04:51. > :04:58.continuing UDP union. Our position will be that no deal is better than
:04:59. > :05:01.a bad deal and I find it extraordinary that the Government of
:05:02. > :05:13.the opposition seems to think it is sensible to go to the negotiating
:05:14. > :05:18.Chamber expecting to have no deal. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have
:05:19. > :05:24.regular discussions with ministers, including with the Attorney General.
:05:25. > :05:29.We fully respect the convention and happy working with the devolved
:05:30. > :05:35.administrations, through the joint ministerial Committee. Before what
:05:36. > :05:41.is my last question in this House, can I thank you and your staff
:05:42. > :05:45.across all areas in which colleagues across the House every success in
:05:46. > :05:51.the coming months. Can the Minister confirm whether the Great Repeal
:05:52. > :06:01.Bill will require consent from the dissolved assembly 's? Thank you for
:06:02. > :06:06.her warm remarks. Could I express my best wishes to her for the future.
:06:07. > :06:12.Whether or not legislative consent is required for the Great Repeal
:06:13. > :06:17.Bill will depend on the form and content of that, which will be
:06:18. > :06:22.published in the next Parliament. Has my right honourable friend
:06:23. > :06:25.received a report on the visit on Monday and Tuesday this week of the
:06:26. > :06:30.Scottish affairs Committee to Brussels? Does he share my delight
:06:31. > :06:35.that it was made absolutely clear throughout those discussions that
:06:36. > :06:37.the European Union is only interested in negotiating with the
:06:38. > :06:45.United Kingdom Government and not with the Scottish Government? I did
:06:46. > :06:49.note that, Mr Speaker, and the position is quite clear. It is
:06:50. > :06:54.member states and negotiate with European Union and given that this
:06:55. > :06:58.country voted as a single country to leave the European Union, we should
:06:59. > :07:03.be expecting the support of the Scottish National Party are not what
:07:04. > :07:07.they are doing at the moment. Scotland voted twice to remain in
:07:08. > :07:11.the European Union, because they told us that brought against
:07:12. > :07:21.independence was afoot to stay in the EU. Statutory instruments are
:07:22. > :07:24.not normally subject to legislative consent, but will the Government
:07:25. > :07:31.committed to ensuring that will be consent? It is very likely that the
:07:32. > :07:34.necessary competences will be created to allow the dissolved
:07:35. > :07:40.assemblies themselves to make those statutory instruments. On that
:07:41. > :07:45.point, there have been many who have criticised the Government's plans to
:07:46. > :07:51.make minor technical changes to legislation using the Henry VIII
:07:52. > :07:56.powers, which is no more than the plans to use delegated legislation.
:07:57. > :07:59.Does he agree with me that actually do use of delegated legislation is
:08:00. > :08:05.an established part of the legislative procedures used in this
:08:06. > :08:11.House? By honourable friend is entirely right. Any such statutory
:08:12. > :08:12.instruments would be under statute that would go through this House and
:08:13. > :08:29.the other place in the normal way. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The
:08:30. > :08:33.Government is working hard to get the best deal for the United
:08:34. > :08:37.Kingdom, are free-trade deal with the EU that is more ambitious than
:08:38. > :08:44.any other yet struck. We are considering and analysing the impact
:08:45. > :08:49.on future trading in all sectors of our economy, developing policies to
:08:50. > :08:58.support our vision for a global Britain that is producing more,
:08:59. > :09:03.selling more on exporting more. Could they Minister tried to
:09:04. > :09:08.concentrate. Welsh farmers are saying that the door is open to New
:09:09. > :09:12.Zealand competition which could clear welsh sheep off-the-shelf
:09:13. > :09:17.because of the price and the door is not open to new markets in the
:09:18. > :09:20.United States, although this was promised. The Minister will
:09:21. > :09:27.understand the culture of priority of men training Welsh farms, where
:09:28. > :09:33.one of the most ancient languages and the whole of Europe prospers in
:09:34. > :09:37.its purest and best form. Is this not a major priority to the
:09:38. > :09:45.Government, to give a guarantee to welsh farmers? I represent many more
:09:46. > :09:52.welsh farmers than he does and I intend to do so and after the
:09:53. > :09:56.general election. This Government is intent on ensuring the best possible
:09:57. > :10:00.free-trade agreement for this country, which will benefit all
:10:01. > :10:11.farmers including Welsh farmers, and we intend to ensure Welsh exports
:10:12. > :10:18.continue as the general election. If she would like to contribute, she
:10:19. > :10:22.was welcome to do so. Welsh sheep are important part of the
:10:23. > :10:26.agricultural sector in Wales and the farming community as a whole
:10:27. > :10:28.throughout the UK is looking for reassurance that they will be
:10:29. > :10:33.supported and to relieve the European Union full up there is a
:10:34. > :10:40.very high agricultural sector in my constituency and they would be
:10:41. > :10:44.grateful of the protection as you leave the European Union. The
:10:45. > :10:48.agricultural sector is very important in the forthcoming
:10:49. > :10:54.negotiations. We have already increased the number of exports from
:10:55. > :10:58.the British farming sector, we are currently in the process of
:10:59. > :11:03.negotiating to open a market in Saudi Arabia and there are other
:11:04. > :11:22.opportunities out there once we have left the European Union.
:11:23. > :11:32.Excellent, I was hoping the Honourable Gentleman would beetle
:11:33. > :11:44.into the House on time and he has done so. I reinstate number 13. Mr
:11:45. > :11:50.Henry Smith. Thank you, Mr Speaker. With your permission I will and so
:11:51. > :11:53.questions 1319 together. Engagement with industry is an essential part
:11:54. > :11:58.of our plan to build a national consensus around a negotiating
:11:59. > :12:02.position. We're been speaking to industry groups across the UK and
:12:03. > :12:09.internationally, including Rolls-Royce and the aerospace growth
:12:10. > :12:23.partnership. Thank you for your forbearance. Well my honourable
:12:24. > :12:29.friend... And much more, Mr Speaker. Well my honourable friend welcome
:12:30. > :12:34.Boeing's investment in a new hangar maintenance facility at Gatwick
:12:35. > :12:42.Airport as proof of the expanding aviation sector, even post-Brexit?
:12:43. > :12:48.Yes, indeed. Boeing have announced 100 new jobs of their facility at
:12:49. > :12:52.Gatwick. Aviation and the space industry are vitally important parts
:12:53. > :12:55.of our economy and we have no doubt that they will continue to thrive
:12:56. > :13:05.after we have left the European Union. I am grateful to the Minister
:13:06. > :13:08.for mentioning Airbus who have our location in my constituency. What
:13:09. > :13:12.discussions has the Minister had with these companies to reassure
:13:13. > :13:16.them that their supply chains are secure and that there will be
:13:17. > :13:25.well-placed to make the most of a global, facing Britain. I have had
:13:26. > :13:26.several discussions with various aerospace companies, including
:13:27. > :13:34.Airbus, Blair met in Bristol recently. We understand that supply
:13:35. > :13:36.chains across Europe are heavily integrated, but there is a mutual
:13:37. > :13:42.interest in agreeing trading arrangements. The British aerospace
:13:43. > :13:44.industry is the most important in Europe and there is a mutual
:13:45. > :13:51.interest in ensuring the continued elation ships persist beyond Brexit.
:13:52. > :14:12.-- the continued relationships. I think it is me again. This was the
:14:13. > :14:19.question that was due to be linked with number ten. The ministerial
:14:20. > :14:22.team have frequent discussions with colleagues across departments,
:14:23. > :14:24.including the Department for International Trade, about our
:14:25. > :14:30.future relationship with European Union. The Government wants to
:14:31. > :14:36.secure and mutually beneficial customs agreement and a bold and
:14:37. > :14:44.ambitious free-trade agreement on greater scale and ambition than any
:14:45. > :14:48.before it. Does the Minister agree with International Trade Secretary
:14:49. > :14:54.that it needs to be easier to hire and fire workers in the UK. Our
:14:55. > :14:59.commitment to the security of workers' rights has been stated many
:15:00. > :15:05.times. We called a debate in Government time to ensure that point
:15:06. > :15:19.was well made and I am surprised that the Honourable Gentleman raises
:15:20. > :15:24.the issue again. Car manufacturers a vital part of the Shropshire
:15:25. > :15:28.economy. Could he commit that any free-trade agreement will protect
:15:29. > :15:34.car manufacturer throughout the United Kingdom?
:15:35. > :15:39.Clearly a agreement would not only be a huge benefit to Land Rover in
:15:40. > :15:45.shops and many other motor manufacturers in the country. -- in
:15:46. > :15:48.Shropshire. We are seeking an ambitious agreement that would
:15:49. > :15:57.provide a host of opportunities for manufacturers across the world. The
:15:58. > :15:59.Minister will no doubt paragraph 19 of the European Council draft
:16:00. > :16:05.guidelines for the negotiations on the future EU UK relationship
:16:06. > :16:09.declared there must be a level playing field for competition with
:16:10. > :16:13.the same social and environmental standards. Does the Minister agree
:16:14. > :16:20.with that principle and would he be happy to see it in bedded in the
:16:21. > :16:27.agreement? Firstly these are draft guidelines, the final guidelines
:16:28. > :16:32.will not be issued until the 29th of this month. These are the guidelines
:16:33. > :16:35.under which the EU want us to operate the discussions, it remains
:16:36. > :16:48.to be seen what our response to that is. Although we are of one mind that
:16:49. > :16:54.we have to questions and only one knighthood! The government is right
:16:55. > :16:59.to seek continuing free-trade agreement with the EU, it would be
:17:00. > :17:05.in the interests of the EU as well as ourselves and it would be the
:17:06. > :17:10.first, best outcome. They cannot admit to what is quite likely that
:17:11. > :17:16.politics might, macroeconomics and there might be no deal. Can they
:17:17. > :17:20.confirm that in those circumstances we will go to a good second-best
:17:21. > :17:24.which is trading on most-favoured-nation terms as do the
:17:25. > :17:32.European Union's most successful partners, the USA, China, Japan and
:17:33. > :17:37.Russia? It would mean an average tariff of 4%, relatively small beer
:17:38. > :17:41.competitiveness because of the competitiveness because of the
:17:42. > :17:50.exchange rate and saving ?10 billion a year which is equivalent to a 7%
:17:51. > :17:54.tariff on our exports. Let me say quite clearly that the ambition and
:17:55. > :17:58.the intention of the government is to achieve the best possible
:17:59. > :18:07.free-trade agreement with our EU partners. However, opposition also
:18:08. > :18:10.is that we expect to negotiate toughly and unlike the opposition
:18:11. > :18:14.our position will be made clear to the EU that we are prepared to walk
:18:15. > :18:19.away from the negotiating table if it is not possible to achieve a deal
:18:20. > :18:23.that suits us. The Secretary of State when he gave evidence to the
:18:24. > :18:29.select committee told me the government had not undertaken any
:18:30. > :18:33.economic assessment of the impact of Brexit Cynthia Bean in his post.
:18:34. > :18:37.Could he update the house on whether there have been any progress and
:18:38. > :18:41.will be also ensure that when it comes to publishing the government's
:18:42. > :18:46.final deal that there is an economic assessment of the impact of that
:18:47. > :18:49.deal, of the impact of no deal, so my constituents and the country can
:18:50. > :18:56.about whether no deal is indeed about whether no deal is indeed
:18:57. > :18:59.better than a bad deal? The department has carried out an
:19:00. > :19:04.in-depth assessment right across 50 sectors of the economy. What we have
:19:05. > :19:08.made clear is that it is not in the national interest for us to produce
:19:09. > :19:15.a running commentary on how we are developing our negotiating position
:19:16. > :19:23.and that will remain the case. Question number 15.
:19:24. > :19:31.We're working closely with colleagues across government to
:19:32. > :19:35.assess the impact that withdrawal from the EU overlap across sectors
:19:36. > :19:37.in crosscutting areas and the environment sector is continuing the
:19:38. > :19:43.best options for future agricultural and land use Halsey that can benefit
:19:44. > :19:49.British farming, countryside and the environment. I'm grateful for his
:19:50. > :19:53.answer and the UK exit from the EU could provide many new and exciting
:19:54. > :19:58.opportunities for our farmers but in order to get the policy right, what
:19:59. > :20:00.work is going on alongside Defra to engage fully with our farmers and
:20:01. > :20:03.also with the sector more generally? also with the sector more generally?
:20:04. > :20:09.And at any time A-listers would be welcome the company date with my
:20:10. > :20:14.farmers in Corby and East Northamptonshire. We are presented
:20:15. > :20:17.with an unprecedented opportunity to redesign agricultural policies to
:20:18. > :20:24.suit the British agricultural industry. And we are meeting with a
:20:25. > :20:26.number of interested parties and stakeholders from the agricultural
:20:27. > :20:31.sector and we have had meetings with all the British farming unions, the
:20:32. > :20:35.national pig Association, country land and business Association and
:20:36. > :20:38.the International meat trade association to name but a few.
:20:39. > :20:50.Question 16, please. We're working closely with
:20:51. > :20:54.colleagues across government to assess the impact that withdrawal
:20:55. > :20:58.from the EU will have a number of sectors in cost-cutting areas. I
:20:59. > :21:02.have meetings with a number of stakeholders from the Scottish food
:21:03. > :21:04.and drinks sector including NFU Scotland, the Scotch Whisky
:21:05. > :21:06.Association, the Scottish fishermen Association, the Scottish fishermen
:21:07. > :21:13.'s Federation and the food and drink Federation. I'm grateful for the
:21:14. > :21:21.answer, Stirling constituency has many world-class food and drink
:21:22. > :21:24.companies. I wonder what assurances the Secretary of State or the
:21:25. > :21:28.Minister could give me if any that during the Brexit negotiations
:21:29. > :21:34.access to the important EU market for these excellent MPs can be
:21:35. > :21:38.maintained unprotected? As I have said already, we are seeking a
:21:39. > :21:42.free-trade agreement that would continue to secure such access but
:21:43. > :21:45.might I also say that the Scotch Whisky Association has said that
:21:46. > :21:49.there are enormous opportunities for the sector if the UK can secure
:21:50. > :21:53.favourable bilateral trade deals across other export markets. India
:21:54. > :21:58.is a growing market for Scotch whiskey but we are being held back
:21:59. > :22:01.by a 150% tariff so the honourable gentleman should be looking for the
:22:02. > :22:10.opportunities of Brexit and not being a wet blanket. Thank you, Mr
:22:11. > :22:14.Speaker. Since the SNP government came into office, the value of
:22:15. > :22:17.Scottish food exports has more than doubled with businesses in my
:22:18. > :22:22.constituency enjoyed excellent levels of growth. What impact
:22:23. > :22:27.assessment has his department carried out on the impact of Brexit
:22:28. > :22:34.on such excellent growth or is it simply fingers crossed approach?
:22:35. > :22:37.Morning I received a response from the Scotland Office in relation to a
:22:38. > :22:39.question I posted to the Secretary of State for Scotland and we now
:22:40. > :22:48.know that the Scotland Office has not made any assessment of the
:22:49. > :22:56.impact of Brexit on Scottish trade. I'm surprised to hear that, Mr
:22:57. > :23:00.Speaker. As I said a moment ago, in fact the Scotch was the association
:23:01. > :23:05.itself has identified enormous opportunities from Brexit so maybe
:23:06. > :23:09.when the honourable lady goes back to her constituency to do
:23:10. > :23:16.campaigning, she might go to her nearest distillery and ask them what
:23:17. > :23:21.they think. Number 17, please, Mr Speaker. The government has provided
:23:22. > :23:26.assurances to EU student in the UK and are welcomed the announcement
:23:27. > :23:30.that confirmed EU students applying to study at English universities in
:23:31. > :23:35.2018 at the 19th will continue to remain eligible for undergraduate,
:23:36. > :23:39.masters, and financial support even if the course concludes after the UK
:23:40. > :23:42.exit the EU. The government want an environment in which the UK remained
:23:43. > :23:46.a world leader in research and academia and continues to be home to
:23:47. > :23:50.the best universities in the world. I would like to echo this sentiment
:23:51. > :23:54.about international students and commend my honourable friend for all
:23:55. > :23:59.this work on that campaign. I'm proud to have the award-winning
:24:00. > :24:03.Huddersfield University in our town and I've visited the Institute for
:24:04. > :24:08.railway research a couple of weeks ago and thanks to a business growth
:24:09. > :24:12.fund they are working on innovative rail and tram projects around the
:24:13. > :24:14.world including in Australia, so can the Minister and his deep make sure
:24:15. > :24:19.what world-class universities will be Gavor heart of the opportunities
:24:20. > :24:22.that Brexit will bring? My honourable friend is absolutely
:24:23. > :24:28.right to champion our universities and along with my colleague I have
:24:29. > :24:32.been meeting regularly with his higher education and innovation
:24:33. > :24:36.Council which represents the views of the university sector and it is
:24:37. > :24:40.clear that UK collaborative research both with EU partners and widely in
:24:41. > :24:51.the world is a huge opportunity for improving this process.
:24:52. > :24:58.Can I thank my honourable friend for his debate the other day in
:24:59. > :25:02.Westminster Hall where we discussed this issue. A Conservative
:25:03. > :25:06.government successfully secured the rebate in 1984 which was introduced
:25:07. > :25:10.in 1985 and compiling an aggregate figure in real to the context matter
:25:11. > :25:15.and the government has not published such figures but I know he has
:25:16. > :25:20.estimated it at well over ?100 billion. Details of the most recent
:25:21. > :25:23.rebate are published in a document and the latest edition was published
:25:24. > :25:32.in February report that the UK received a rebate of ?3.9 billion
:25:33. > :25:37.from the EU in 2016. A massive 117 billion pound total rebate since
:25:38. > :25:40.Margaret Thatcher negotiated it in 1984 is testament to her resolution
:25:41. > :25:45.and determination in getting the best deal for Britain and refusing
:25:46. > :25:51.to take no for an answer. Will my honourable friend agree to emulate
:25:52. > :25:56.her negotiating style and to swing the metaphorical handbag until we
:25:57. > :26:01.get the deal that Britain needs? I can assure my honourable friend that
:26:02. > :26:04.as both at the tap repetition of both our secretary of state and the
:26:05. > :26:07.Prime Minister we'll be robust in defining our national interest
:26:08. > :26:13.throughout this process. As the Prime Minister set out, the days of
:26:14. > :26:19.Britain making vast contributions to the EU every year will end. A
:26:20. > :26:24.strong, stable government will be best placed to secure the best deal
:26:25. > :26:27.for the British taxpayer and just as our first lady prime ministers
:26:28. > :26:30.secured the rebate and taxpayer Balliu, I am sure our second one
:26:31. > :26:41.will fight our corner in these negotiations. Number one, please.
:26:42. > :26:43.Before I answer that I start by thanking you for your forbearance
:26:44. > :26:49.and indeed for ever because you have done for this house. We have a clear
:26:50. > :26:54.plan for Britain, one that fosters a deep and a special new partnership
:26:55. > :26:59.with the EU and serves the interests of all parts of the UK. We want that
:27:00. > :27:04.partnership to be underpinned by a comp rancid free-trade agreement
:27:05. > :27:08.that gives UK companies the maximum access to European markets and
:27:09. > :27:12.European companies the same access to UK markets -- comprehensive
:27:13. > :27:15.free-trade agreement. Membership of the single market involves
:27:16. > :27:18.maintaining or four freedoms including free movement of people
:27:19. > :27:21.which is inconsistent with our desire to take back control of our
:27:22. > :27:27.borders. Britain is leaving the EU but not Europe and it has been in
:27:28. > :27:29.both our interest to see the EU succeed socially, politically and
:27:30. > :27:36.economically and it will be our policy. Would my right honourable
:27:37. > :27:40.friend confirmed that as part of that plant is the government's
:27:41. > :27:44.commitment to put the right to EU citizens to British law by the Great
:27:45. > :27:48.Repeal Bill and nothing will affect those right and as has the consent
:27:49. > :27:52.of this house? Indeed he is right and one of the things I think people
:27:53. > :27:56.have missed and he has picked up in this is that any change in those
:27:57. > :28:01.right would require primary legislation in this house in
:28:02. > :28:05.addition to that our plan is to put through the Great Repeal Bill and
:28:06. > :28:09.have subsequent consequential primary legislation which will
:28:10. > :28:15.underpin those rights. I have made these points to many of my opposite
:28:16. > :28:18.numbers but other member state and said this is obviously will be taken
:28:19. > :28:23.at the same time as protection of British rights abroad and all
:28:24. > :28:27.understood it and welcome it and I'm very confident that we can get a
:28:28. > :28:35.deal which will protect all of the 4 million people in very short order.
:28:36. > :28:40.Let me pick up on that theme because of the Secretary of State knows,
:28:41. > :28:45.around 3 million EU nationals are very anxious about their status when
:28:46. > :28:49.we leave the EU. Labour would unilaterally Danty their status from
:28:50. > :28:54.day one. Under this government, or they can do is apply for
:28:55. > :29:02.consideration for permanent residency. As the Brexit committee
:29:03. > :29:04.warned in March, the current process for consideration a permanent
:29:05. > :29:11.residency applications is not fit for purpose. He knows how important
:29:12. > :29:15.it is. Have things improved? The thing I would say and I respect his
:29:16. > :29:19.concern in this area and let me be clear about that, but I would say
:29:20. > :29:23.that the system is not designed to deal with 3 million people and it
:29:24. > :29:28.has been made plain, if you go on the Home Office website you will say
:29:29. > :29:32.that it says you don't need to make an application and when we move the
:29:33. > :29:39.primary legislation, I believe it will be very simple. As the
:29:40. > :29:43.Financial Times reported yesterday, the Home Office is now saying don't
:29:44. > :29:47.apply them is that the official government position for EU
:29:48. > :29:51.nationals, don't apply for permanent residency? Is that how they are
:29:52. > :29:58.going to deal with the anxiety? Don't apply? But that is about is
:29:59. > :30:01.the reflection of what is on the website of the Home Office which is
:30:02. > :30:06.that they don't need to apply for their rights to be underpinned. That
:30:07. > :30:10.is the approach we are taking. Bear in mind, for the next two years
:30:11. > :30:14.irrespective of anything the government does, all of the existing
:30:15. > :30:19.rights and privileges continue to apply. There will be no change in
:30:20. > :30:24.that respect. Before we come to the point of exit from the EU, we will
:30:25. > :30:35.have made this very clear in primary legislation.
:30:36. > :30:46.The Lincolnshire coast line is the best place in the country for a
:30:47. > :30:50.traditional seaside holiday. But the coastline also has pockets of
:30:51. > :30:54.deprivation and investment in infrastructure such as broadband,
:30:55. > :30:59.traffic solutions and renovated beach huts are key to the local
:31:00. > :31:05.economy. Can my honourable friend reassure my constituents that the
:31:06. > :31:11.coastal economy and rural economy will be central in preparations for
:31:12. > :31:16.our exit? I am grateful to the honourable lady for that question.
:31:17. > :31:20.Her coastline, with the exception of the north Wales coastline, is one of
:31:21. > :31:25.the most beautiful in the UK. Coastal communities do contribute an
:31:26. > :31:29.important part to our economy. They are part of the study we have big
:31:30. > :31:33.undertaking and we intend to ensure their interests are reflected
:31:34. > :31:37.post-Brexit. The Prime Minister called the general election in the
:31:38. > :31:43.name of unity to strengthen her EU negotiating position, but this is
:31:44. > :31:48.the Prime Minister who said, -- sent Go Home vans around parts of
:31:49. > :31:52.Britain. She aided and abetted the most disgraceful campaign against
:31:53. > :31:58.the first-Muslim-macro back capital city and this is the Government
:31:59. > :32:02.which we did had Brexit allies seeks to call anyone who calls into
:32:03. > :32:08.question their negotiating strategy a bunch of saboteurs. He's not the
:32:09. > :32:14.truth that far from uniting this country, this Government has been
:32:15. > :32:18.dividing it since they took office? If the honourable gentleman wants an
:32:19. > :32:22.answer, the first place he should start is on the streets of Britain,
:32:23. > :32:27.where he will find a massive support for Prime Minister. A massive
:32:28. > :32:30.respect for our Prime Minister, and a belief that she will deliver the
:32:31. > :32:38.best outcome in the Brexit negotiations. Last week, I met staff
:32:39. > :32:43.at Norwich manufacturing, they small but impressive company with links to
:32:44. > :32:49.Ireland and the continent. Firms such as this need is free as
:32:50. > :32:53.possible trade between the other member states. Will he look for
:32:54. > :32:58.security, stability, and simplicity, for small firms up and down this
:32:59. > :33:03.country? We fully understand the importance of these issues to SMEs
:33:04. > :33:08.including those in her constituency, and let me repeat for the umpteenth
:33:09. > :33:11.time, we are pursuing a bold and ambitious free trade agreement which
:33:12. > :33:17.will be for the benefit of firms such as those and others around the
:33:18. > :33:21.country. Thousands of my constituents work in Edinburgh's
:33:22. > :33:26.financial sector, the second largest in the UK. Following the
:33:27. > :33:29.announcement by the EU 27 this week that the intend to exclude the
:33:30. > :33:34.financial services sector from any future trade deal with the UK after
:33:35. > :33:37.Brexit, can the minister tell me what contingency planning he is
:33:38. > :33:44.carrying out to protect my constituents' jobs? As I said
:33:45. > :33:48.earlier, we seek a competitive trade deal which absolutely would include
:33:49. > :33:51.comprehensive doublet financial services, but we have engaged with
:33:52. > :33:54.the Edinburgh financial services sector, who have been very clear
:33:55. > :34:00.with us that access to European Union market is in potent --
:34:01. > :34:04.important to them but even more important to them is their access to
:34:05. > :34:08.the rest of the UK and the relationship between Scotland and
:34:09. > :34:15.the rest of the UK. As my right honourable friend proceeds with the
:34:16. > :34:18.immense task of delivering a responsible and good Brexit for the
:34:19. > :34:23.country and most especially at these difficult times for me to six, would
:34:24. > :34:27.he agree with me that we cannot pretend to be a global player
:34:28. > :34:32.without running an open economy with an orderly, and bureaucratic
:34:33. > :34:39.immigration policy which will allow businesses and public services the
:34:40. > :34:47.people and skills they need? Mid Sussex is in good hands. Of course
:34:48. > :34:51.he's right. The balance that any Government strikes when it controls
:34:52. > :34:55.its own immigration policy, controls its own borders, something which he
:34:56. > :35:01.has fought for down the years, is one which is both... Provides proper
:35:02. > :35:04.security and proper policy, in terms of delivery of social services and
:35:05. > :35:11.delivering housing, that but at the same time, allows our businesses,
:35:12. > :35:16.universities, our research centres, I financial centres, all to take
:35:17. > :35:21.part in the battle for talent which actually makes our country one of
:35:22. > :35:25.the greatest in the world. Can I thank you for putting up with me so
:35:26. > :35:29.tolerantly for quite a long time? But can I also warn you I will make
:35:30. > :35:35.every effort to be back and troublesome in future? And can
:35:36. > :35:38.surprise you by asking a topical question? The fact is, I want to ask
:35:39. > :35:46.the Secretary of State, people like me, we were remainders but we accept
:35:47. > :35:50.for the will of the British people and we want a great deal for this
:35:51. > :35:56.country and we are very worried that this election will get in the way.
:35:57. > :35:58.GCC this morning's report from make pharmaceutical industry, by the
:35:59. > :36:06.pharmaceutical industry will move out of Britain for two reasons, one
:36:07. > :36:10.11, Brexit, and two, the fact we have not put sufficient resources
:36:11. > :36:14.into our national health service. He's the one person who has actually
:36:15. > :36:18.got me a rebuke from the Speaker in the past, so I look forward to him
:36:19. > :36:24.coming back and continuing that tradition. We have had industries
:36:25. > :36:30.relocated here. We have had people like GlaxoSmithKline increased
:36:31. > :36:34.expenditure here. And as for the other aspect of the attempt by the
:36:35. > :36:37.AP PI, it seemed to be pressure on the spending of the National health
:36:38. > :36:42.service, which is something I think is more for the Health Secretary,
:36:43. > :36:45.but I think he will make sensible decisions in the national interest,
:36:46. > :36:56.not in individual industry's interest. We have outstanding are
:36:57. > :37:01.space -- aerospace businesses in the UK, including Rolls-Royce. Would my
:37:02. > :37:06.right honourable friend agree that it is a vital sector to the UK
:37:07. > :37:11.economy, and assured this House that it will have a strong voice in the
:37:12. > :37:15.negotiations? Pendle has a strong voice going into the next general
:37:16. > :37:19.election. Aerospace is a key industry for this country and that
:37:20. > :37:23.is why, as I said earlier, we have paid so much attention. We will make
:37:24. > :37:32.sure we continue to have the most important are space industry in
:37:33. > :37:36.Europe. Far from there being an extra ?350 million a week to be
:37:37. > :37:42.spending on the NHS following Brexit, we are likely to face an NHS
:37:43. > :37:46.staff crisis and slow access to cancer drugs and treatment because
:37:47. > :37:49.of the loss of the European medicines agency. Is the Secretary
:37:50. > :37:56.of State going to be putting that sign on a bus in the next few weeks?
:37:57. > :38:00.One of the oddities of the position of the Labour Party is that on one
:38:01. > :38:07.hand, it says, you must represent everybody, which is entirely proper,
:38:08. > :38:10.but on the other hand, they want to revisit... I will answer when
:38:11. > :38:19.Heckerling stops. Clearly the onboard gentleman is getting into
:38:20. > :38:23.hustings at his constituency. It may be the last one he has. I will not
:38:24. > :38:29.revisit the oddments of the past. I will work on delivering the best
:38:30. > :38:34.outcome for the future. -- I will not revisit the arguments. As this
:38:35. > :38:38.is the last day and other than points of order, we will be
:38:39. > :38:47.suspending, my instinct is to hear colleagues who want to ask
:38:48. > :38:53.questions, but I hope that they will be able to be heard. If colleagues
:38:54. > :38:56.would like to put the questions forward to the Secretary of State
:38:57. > :39:02.and his colleagues, I am open to that. With great brevity. Does he
:39:03. > :39:07.agree that financial services in London, Edinburgh and throughout the
:39:08. > :39:10.country will be able to benefit for equivalence and mutual recognition
:39:11. > :39:15.as an alternative to pass porting to ensure that sector remained open and
:39:16. > :39:20.thriving, as stated by the Governor of the Bank of England recently?
:39:21. > :39:25.She's right and we will continue to work closely with the regulators to
:39:26. > :39:28.ensure we have some of the best regulated financial services in the
:39:29. > :39:35.world. The secretary of the state is a wise man and we all read his wife
:39:36. > :39:39.article in the Irish Times on September the 5th last year, when he
:39:40. > :39:46.said that Ireland did not have to choose between Ireland and the UK,
:39:47. > :39:51.it could have extensive trade and commerce. Ireland is a big market
:39:52. > :39:55.for England but not the biggest, so given his wise words in Ireland,
:39:56. > :39:57.what patients does he have with those that somehow suggest that
:39:58. > :40:03.England would like to have trade barriers with its largest market in
:40:04. > :40:10.Europe and at ?50 billion its second largest export market in the world,
:40:11. > :40:14.Scotland. Before I answer, I will say this, he's an old friend and
:40:15. > :40:20.politics notwithstanding I wish him well. The answer to his question, I
:40:21. > :40:27.don't want to see any trade barriers within the United Kingdom, which is
:40:28. > :40:33.why I support the union. Whilst all of us in this place want a good
:40:34. > :40:38.negotiating settlement, for some it is vital, not least the agricultural
:40:39. > :40:42.sector, who do stand to lose significantly if there is no deal.
:40:43. > :40:46.Could my right honourable friend continue to reassure that despite
:40:47. > :40:53.the necessary shorthand of our approach to the negotiations, that
:40:54. > :41:00.means the -- that the need for the agricultural sector to be secure is
:41:01. > :41:05.uppermost in his mind? He is right that the agricultural sector is the
:41:06. > :41:09.most sensitive to the issue of tariffs and indeed the issue of
:41:10. > :41:15.customs, because of the nature of the product. Very often it is
:41:16. > :41:20.biodegradable and so on. It is also true that this is true the other way
:41:21. > :41:24.round, we are an enormous market for France, Bavaria and many other
:41:25. > :41:30.agricultural areas of Europe. So we have dead centre the aim of getting
:41:31. > :41:33.a frictionless trade in that sector and we are confident that it is in
:41:34. > :41:39.the interests of the whole of the European Union, not just us. Will be
:41:40. > :41:43.minister tell us why we are going into this premature election? Those
:41:44. > :41:48.others who voted to remain have accepted fully the decision voted
:41:49. > :41:52.for Article 50 as they did in the other house. That is not the reason.
:41:53. > :41:56.Can he confessed today that the real reason that we are having this
:41:57. > :42:01.election is that the Government want to escape from the promise they made
:42:02. > :42:07.two years ago, the five-year promise not to raise taxes and to respect
:42:08. > :42:12.the triple lock? And isn't it true that what lies ahead on the economic
:42:13. > :42:18.front isn't a great -- is a great sink hole into which our economy
:42:19. > :42:23.will fall in a tailspin? I note the attention to your call for a short
:42:24. > :42:28.question, Mr Speaker. But I will give it a short answer. The Labour
:42:29. > :42:32.Party throughout this has maintained its interesting schizophrenia. On
:42:33. > :42:36.the one hand, saying, we respect the outcome of the referendum, and then
:42:37. > :42:41.at every turn trying to thwart it. They say, you have a mandate to lead
:42:42. > :42:48.but not on these terms. When the election is over, we will have a
:42:49. > :42:55.mandate on those terms. Thank you. We'll be minister consider a West
:42:56. > :43:00.Midlands Brexit summit with the new mayor of the West Midlands, who will
:43:01. > :43:04.hopefully be Andy Street and with key regional businesses so that we
:43:05. > :43:07.can ensure that the West Midlands' interests are considered in the
:43:08. > :43:12.Brexit negotiations and Brexit delivers for the West Midlands as
:43:13. > :43:16.well as the rest of the country? One of the best things that could happen
:43:17. > :43:19.to the West Midlands is for Andy Street to be elected, and I will
:43:20. > :43:28.make time to see him as soon as he is. London is the predominant
:43:29. > :43:34.economic force in the country. I want assistance and cooperation --
:43:35. > :43:37.what assistance and cooperation has my right honourable friend received
:43:38. > :43:42.from the Mayor of London and the authorities in London to ensure a
:43:43. > :43:46.smooth, clean Brexit that benefits the capital and the whole of the
:43:47. > :43:52.country? He's dead right that the financial sector in London is the
:43:53. > :43:57.largest, but not just London, remember Scotland is a major
:43:58. > :44:00.financial sector, and so on. We have been in constant communication. All
:44:01. > :44:07.of the ministers in the department and the relevant ministers in the
:44:08. > :44:11.Treasury, with the whole sector, and representative groups of the sector,
:44:12. > :44:16.and a large number of companies in the sector. And to give him his due,
:44:17. > :44:22.I have also had representations from Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and
:44:23. > :44:28.useful, day since -- useful conversations with him and we
:44:29. > :44:33.recognise we have the interests of London at heart. What kind of deal
:44:34. > :44:36.does he think he will get if he and his Government refuses to pay their
:44:37. > :44:42.dues in Europe? Surely negotiations are about give and take? It is
:44:43. > :44:50.interesting that the Scottish National Party wants to give ?60
:44:51. > :44:54.billion. My constituency in Bromley and Chislehurst welcome the emphasis
:44:55. > :44:59.given to the financial services, our largest employer. Wilkie also
:45:00. > :45:06.acknowledge that these are important to the Crown dependencies? And also
:45:07. > :45:10.to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar? Will he make sure those
:45:11. > :45:12.two key areas also get the full benefit of our ambitious free-trade
:45:13. > :45:20.deal? The honourable gentleman is just
:45:21. > :45:26.about old enough to remember me defending Gibraltar before and we
:45:27. > :45:29.defended it then and we will now. My constituency with the net
:45:30. > :45:33.beneficiary from the EU is to boost our economy we need continuous
:45:34. > :45:36.investment for jobs so will the Minister commit to the same high
:45:37. > :45:41.levels of infrastructure investment for the future? The honourable
:45:42. > :45:47.gentleman will know that the government has guaranteed structural
:45:48. > :45:51.fund payments to 2020 and he must also understand that the
:45:52. > :45:53.responsibility for delivering infrastructure in Wales is that the
:45:54. > :45:57.Welsh Assembly government and no doubt he will be speaking to his
:45:58. > :46:02.colleagues as soon as Parliament is risen. I thought we were about to
:46:03. > :46:11.hear from the member of South Norfolk who has -- but we are
:46:12. > :46:15.ratified we will hear from him. I'm grateful, I only wish to ask about
:46:16. > :46:22.the pig industry, an important industry across is Anglia. Can you
:46:23. > :46:24.tell us what prospect they see for the industry which is not happy
:46:25. > :46:28.subsidy from the public purse but would have made huge gains
:46:29. > :46:34.particularly in China where the pigs ear deal added ?5 per carcass, what
:46:35. > :46:40.vast ecstasy to see for this important sector? I am sure that my
:46:41. > :46:46.honourable friend will be declaring his interest, but can I assure him
:46:47. > :46:50.that the government understands the importance of pig meat to the
:46:51. > :46:52.economy. I have met with the National pig Association and that
:46:53. > :47:01.the say that they are very positive about the future. Can the Secretary
:47:02. > :47:04.of State name one power or policy area he can definitely guarantee
:47:05. > :47:13.will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament in the event of Brexit?
:47:14. > :47:17.All the ones they currently have. In an earlier question reference was
:47:18. > :47:22.made to the English regions which are of course an EU construction.
:47:23. > :47:26.They divide great counties like ligature between the East Midlands
:47:27. > :47:31.and Yorkshire and the Humber. Would it be too much to expect a future
:47:32. > :47:33.government when we regain our independence to scrap these regions
:47:34. > :47:42.or at least ensured that linking to it in one of them? -- Lincolnshire.
:47:43. > :47:47.Or I can say is that the honourable gentleman tempts me to much! In
:47:48. > :47:52.relation to the preparation for the UK leaving the EU, can I ask how
:47:53. > :47:55.Northern Ireland will be represented taking into account the state of
:47:56. > :48:00.devolution and how does he believe he will be able to meet the needs of
:48:01. > :48:05.Northern Ireland at this time? We continue to urge all parties to come
:48:06. > :48:08.together so there can be a restoration of the devolved assembly
:48:09. > :48:11.and we can engage with all parties in Northern Ireland to make sure
:48:12. > :48:14.their views are represented in this period. I would say to him that
:48:15. > :48:18.earlier this week I was attending the British and Irish chambers of
:48:19. > :48:21.commerce where there was cute interest in maintaining strong and
:48:22. > :48:29.positive relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
:48:30. > :48:33.and UK -- huge interest. How can any negotiator achieve any concession
:48:34. > :48:38.from any other negotiator if it is known in advance that he will not
:48:39. > :48:43.walk away if no concessions are given? My honourable friend is
:48:44. > :48:51.absolutely right and he crystallises the point on no deal is better than
:48:52. > :48:53.a bad deal and he demonstrates why the Labour proposal, apart from
:48:54. > :48:59.being completely impractical, would never be deliverable. Then the
:49:00. > :49:05.Secretary of State Guaranty regional aid for the West Midlands after
:49:06. > :49:13.Britain leaves the EU and more importantly, we have a fine
:49:14. > :49:16.candidate for the mayor's job. Certainly the West Midlands is one
:49:17. > :49:19.of the powerhouses of this country that will be important for powering
:49:20. > :49:26.the economy after we have left the EU. These will be matters discussed
:49:27. > :49:33.in the fullness of time. And with the new mayor. Andy Street. Three
:49:34. > :49:39.years ago David Cameron and I launched my first election campaign,
:49:40. > :49:42.British Sugar in Newark, three years and approaching three elections
:49:43. > :49:48.later, the sugar industry continues to employ hundreds of people in
:49:49. > :49:51.Nottinghamshire and keeps the field of Nottinghamshire full of rich beet
:49:52. > :49:57.crop. And the sugar industry is optimistic about the prospects for
:49:58. > :50:03.Brexit. I know he has acquired a reputation as something of a bruiser
:50:04. > :50:06.over the years but with 13 years of experience at Tate Lyle, will he
:50:07. > :50:11.retain his sweet tooth as he approaches the negotiations? I must
:50:12. > :50:17.admit I am wondering whether I should declare an interest on the
:50:18. > :50:20.half my pension fund if nothing else! But of course we will fight
:50:21. > :50:29.the interests of the sugar industry as much as anything else and will be
:50:30. > :50:34.successful. Mr Speaker, in my constituency energy is the largest
:50:35. > :50:38.sector, we have wind farms can nuclear power, gas even a panel
:50:39. > :50:42.going under the day to fit a electrical cables from one end of
:50:43. > :50:48.Cumbria into Lancashire. EDF energy is the largest employer and they are
:50:49. > :50:52.continually reinvesting and have plans to expand. Would my honourable
:50:53. > :50:58.friends agree with me that this is a sign of things to come? We have had
:50:59. > :51:02.a number of meetings with the energy industry including with EDF and I
:51:03. > :51:05.would be delighted to meet my honourable friend to discuss this
:51:06. > :51:08.further because making sure we continue to have the energy to power
:51:09. > :51:14.the British economy in the future is vital part of our considerations.
:51:15. > :51:18.Can the Minister confirmed that Britain's withdrawal from the EU
:51:19. > :51:23.will not affect the border controls and also the immigration controls
:51:24. > :51:31.that people from the EU are currently subjected to as they enter
:51:32. > :51:34.the UK? Clearly it is a part of our negotiating aims to have free and
:51:35. > :51:41.frictionless travel as well as trade. There will honestly be in the
:51:42. > :51:45.future more control of our borders but it will not be controlled the
:51:46. > :51:49.signs to inconvenience people, but designed to deliver the national
:51:50. > :51:52.interest and also keep this a free and open country that welcomes
:51:53. > :51:57.people from all over the world in the way we have done for centuries
:51:58. > :52:02.and will do for centuries to come. Is that the last question? Can I
:52:03. > :52:07.just wish everybody in the house are happy six weeks and I look forward
:52:08. > :52:10.to seeing some of them again! I thank the Right Honourable gentleman
:52:11. > :52:17.for what he said and for kind remarks about me earlier. Thank you.
:52:18. > :52:23.Points of order, I will start with Mr Alex Salmond. Have you had any
:52:24. > :52:27.notification of statement from the Minister of the Cabinet Office or
:52:28. > :52:31.the Prime Minister herself on the Channel 4 report of last evening
:52:32. > :52:37.which suggests that the Crown Prosecution Service has 30
:52:38. > :52:40.individuals they have to report on for possible prosecution between the
:52:41. > :52:46.20th of May and the early part of June? Given these include many
:52:47. > :52:51.members of this house and all of the implications that could have for
:52:52. > :52:55.reporting of any such decision in terms of coverage or the position of
:52:56. > :52:59.candidates during an election campaign, and given a court it would
:53:00. > :53:04.be a scandal of enormous proportions if any attempt was made to influence
:53:05. > :53:08.the timing of any such reports, but provision has surely been made as to
:53:09. > :53:13.how to cope with such an eventuality if it occurs during an election
:53:14. > :53:18.campaign. Given that the Prime Minister has decided to reappoint
:53:19. > :53:22.all of the campaign team who have already been fined by the Electoral
:53:23. > :53:27.Commission responsible for this Bhullar, we cannot get into our
:53:28. > :53:29.souls up the position of that campaign team having successfully
:53:30. > :53:37.bought one election being allowed to buy another. I thank him for his
:53:38. > :53:40.point of order. My response is as follows, the rules governing the
:53:41. > :53:45.conduct of elections are not a matter for the chair and I hope the
:53:46. > :53:49.house will understand I have given him a full opportunity to register
:53:50. > :53:52.his concerns but I hope the house will understand that I have no
:53:53. > :53:56.intention of being drawn into this matter which would be quite
:53:57. > :54:02.improper. What the police and the Crown Prosecution Service do and
:54:03. > :54:07.when is a matter for them. Members with views on these matters can and
:54:08. > :54:15.doubtless will express them. I will express no view on the matter. I'm
:54:16. > :54:20.not sure that is but I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Mr Dennis
:54:21. > :54:29.Skinner. When I raised this matter with the Prime Minister a week as
:54:30. > :54:35.yesterday, as a matter for you, really, since I did not get an
:54:36. > :54:40.answer from the Prime Minister, I was then fortunate enough to be
:54:41. > :54:46.called by you to the Justice Secretary of State to raise the
:54:47. > :54:53.matter again. And once more I did not receive a reply from the
:54:54. > :55:00.government. What has emerged now is that you in the chair are saying it
:55:01. > :55:07.is not a matter for me, the Prime Minister says, doesn't respond to my
:55:08. > :55:15.accusation that the election should not have been called and she didn't
:55:16. > :55:21.get a revelation, she called a snap election in order to try to beat the
:55:22. > :55:27.Crown Prosecution Service. That is what this election is all about and
:55:28. > :55:35.that is why it is a point of order for you, sir. The nature of the
:55:36. > :55:41.system is as has been described and I think there will be a general
:55:42. > :55:46.acceptance that the police and the prosecuting authorities have
:55:47. > :55:49.responsibility in these matters. My responsibility is most certainly
:55:50. > :55:53.lead to hear colleagues and two other on the side of latitude in
:55:54. > :55:57.hearing colleagues who want to raise points of order and I think I have
:55:58. > :56:00.done that very fairly. I have never ducked anything that is my
:56:01. > :56:09.responsibility but I think I know that which is not. Point of order,
:56:10. > :56:16.there are long-standing problems with academy sponsor AET. Yesterday
:56:17. > :56:21.they unceremoniously sacked the Board of Governors at Sandown
:56:22. > :56:27.Academy and there was a great deal of concern at local and
:56:28. > :56:31.accountability being dispensed with immediately before this house is
:56:32. > :56:38.dissolved. What steps can be taken before the 8th of June to make AET
:56:39. > :56:45.accountable for the actions? I think there are two answers. I respect him
:56:46. > :56:50.for raising a matter of real concern to him and many others. The first is
:56:51. > :56:54.that the concerns he has can and doubtless will be expressed during
:56:55. > :56:59.the election campaign, conversations do not cease to take place and the
:57:00. > :57:05.honourable gentleman must avail himself of the opportunities that
:57:06. > :57:10.will be forthcoming and will present themselves for which he will create.
:57:11. > :57:15.Secondly, the constitutional point, the government of this country
:57:16. > :57:19.continues. The government this country continues and if the
:57:20. > :57:25.honourable gentleman wishes to raise his concerns relevant ministers, it
:57:26. > :57:28.is absolutely open to him to do that but there is no further opportunity
:57:29. > :57:35.for the matters to be aired in this chamber. The honourable gentleman,
:57:36. > :57:41.to use a word deployed by the Right Honourable member for Chelmsford
:57:42. > :57:46.yesterday, as demonstrated against his perspicacity, upon which I
:57:47. > :57:55.congratulate him. The threat of deportation hangs over the head of
:57:56. > :57:59.constituent of mine who originated from the Anglophone minority in
:58:00. > :58:01.Cameroon. I have been in correspondence with the Home Office
:58:02. > :58:10.about the lack of guidance with Cameron. They face a very specific
:58:11. > :58:13.threat in that country and unconcerned as Parliament is
:58:14. > :58:17.dissolved and the civil service is already in purdah, my options for
:58:18. > :58:23.raising this case are extremely limited and with the threat of
:58:24. > :58:27.deportation remaining something that he faces, can you advise me how I
:58:28. > :58:31.will be able to ensure that his position is properly considered? The
:58:32. > :58:36.short answer is that I can advise him and he should continue his
:58:37. > :58:41.casework. Tasered continues to be conducted during election campaigns
:58:42. > :58:46.-- casework continues. And in the politest possible way I say to him,
:58:47. > :58:50.who I am sure is well capable of this, that he must balance whatever
:58:51. > :58:56.activities he is undertaking in attempted pursuit of his
:58:57. > :59:00.pre-election by knocking on doors or delivering leaflets or engaging with
:59:01. > :59:07.public meetings, with his continued diligent attention to his casework
:59:08. > :59:11.on behalf of constituents. That is what the honourable gentleman must
:59:12. > :59:17.do. He is going to be a busy bee but he will not be alone in that regard!
:59:18. > :59:25.Specialist delicacy must be kept until later. He will be aware that a
:59:26. > :59:27.number of reports are going to be coming out from the various
:59:28. > :59:34.committees of the house including the public house, he -- the public
:59:35. > :59:37.has committee. What can he do does put me in my efforts to make sure
:59:38. > :59:43.this house get the opportunity to properly scrutinise the report on
:59:44. > :59:48.HMRC closures which will affect my constituents in Livingston and take
:59:49. > :59:51.on board the point he makes about government continuing, but the
:59:52. > :59:54.government must not put out its trash and be allowed not to be
:59:55. > :59:59.properly scrutinised. What can he do to support me in the effort to make
:00:00. > :00:02.sure no decisions are made about jobs in my constituency and those
:00:03. > :00:09.are and decisions are paused until we return after the election? When
:00:10. > :00:12.she says what can he do, if the honourable lady means me, I must be
:00:13. > :00:17.honest with her and say that I can do absolutely nothing to assist the
:00:18. > :00:22.honourable lady in the course of the election campaign for the simple
:00:23. > :00:26.reason, and it is an inescapable fact and always has been, that when
:00:27. > :00:30.the house has been dissolved, the house does not meet and when the
:00:31. > :00:33.house does not meet there is no speaker in the chair and there are
:00:34. > :00:37.no exchanges from these green benches. However, the documents to
:00:38. > :00:43.which the honourable lady is referring are, or will be public
:00:44. > :00:47.documents so the honourable lady will study them carefully and she
:00:48. > :00:52.will marshal her arguments and she can write to ministers and if she
:00:53. > :00:55.wishes to XP sheet on these important matters in her
:00:56. > :00:58.constituency, it is perfectly open to her to do so and I have a feeling
:00:59. > :01:12.she probably will. Point of order. Oh, I think I
:01:13. > :01:15.mistake the honourable gentleman. In all my years in this House I have
:01:16. > :01:26.never heard of a case of fleeing in this House of one member against
:01:27. > :01:33.another. And I have just heard of a case. I wonder, as The House will
:01:34. > :01:39.not be sitting for a while but you will be here, and I'm sure you would
:01:40. > :01:45.not approve of one member acting in a bullying way to another. I will
:01:46. > :01:48.not name names but it is a Government male MP against an
:01:49. > :01:53.opposition female. I don't even want an inquiry on it but I want a set of
:01:54. > :01:58.rules that verbal or any other sort of bullying of one member to another
:01:59. > :02:05.is not allowed in this House, anywhere around this House. There is
:02:06. > :02:09.a code of conduct and it binds all members. I manifestly cannot comment
:02:10. > :02:13.on a particular case, not least because the honourable gentleman
:02:14. > :02:18.cannot give me and I wouldn't ask him to give me the details of it,
:02:19. > :02:21.but that principle, of the code of conduct, must be observed. It is
:02:22. > :02:28.sacrosanct and if the honourable gentleman does know, as I'm sure he
:02:29. > :02:32.does, of the personalities involved, it may be that as he is extremely
:02:33. > :02:41.experienced, he can remind members of that code of conduct very well.
:02:42. > :02:45.It was so serious that Wickes on both sides of the House were
:02:46. > :02:50.involved, so I'm sure he could make inquiries to find out the facts of
:02:51. > :02:54.the matter. Well, I am very happy to enquire of the respective whips
:02:55. > :02:58.offices. The honourable gentleman has given me an indication that his
:02:59. > :03:03.concern relates to a member of each of the two sides of the House. I am
:03:04. > :03:07.happy to make that inquiry but I don't want to raise the honourable
:03:08. > :03:15.gentleman's expectations, because it is not for me to act as arbiter in
:03:16. > :03:19.the matter, unless the alleged conduct relates to proceedings in
:03:20. > :03:24.the chamber, in which case I would take a very definite and distinct
:03:25. > :03:28.interest. But I think the holding response I will give to the Oracle
:03:29. > :03:31.gentleman, which I think is reasonable, is that I'm happy to
:03:32. > :03:41.make limited but necessary inquiries of a kind that I think proper for me
:03:42. > :03:45.to make. Point of order. On Tuesday, my honourable friend the member for
:03:46. > :03:51.Brentford and Isil Worth raised the devastating case of a baby whose
:03:52. > :03:56.family live in her and my constituency. Her question was met
:03:57. > :04:00.with short shrift by the Government. This continues to be an incredibly
:04:01. > :04:06.tough time for the family and our hearts go out to Connie, Chris,
:04:07. > :04:12.their parents, the parents, as they continue the campaign supported by
:04:13. > :04:16.the huge support of those known now as Charlie's Army. I appreciate that
:04:17. > :04:19.Parliament is being cut short by this election but isn't it right
:04:20. > :04:22.that the family continue to get the support that they need, that there
:04:23. > :04:28.is clarity on entitlement to legal aid in such cases and, as I call on
:04:29. > :04:33.the Justice Secretary also, to do all that she can that I would like
:04:34. > :04:39.to put on record my support today for the family and my view that it
:04:40. > :04:43.should, particularly in this complex case, it should be the parents that
:04:44. > :04:52.have the final say on the treatment of their son. I hope the honourable
:04:53. > :04:58.lady will understand if I feel that almost everything that could
:04:59. > :05:06.properly be said on that matter today has just been said by the
:05:07. > :05:10.honourable lady, and insofar as she requires any indication from me as
:05:11. > :05:17.to what might usefully be done in the days or weeks ahead, I think my
:05:18. > :05:22.counsel to her would be similar to that which I proffered to the
:05:23. > :05:24.honourable gentleman the member for Sheffield Central, namely, casework
:05:25. > :05:32.continues and the honourable lady should feel free and emboldened to
:05:33. > :05:40.make representations in pursuit of justice and closure. For the family
:05:41. > :05:43.concerned. I thank the honourable lady for raising this matter and
:05:44. > :05:50.putting it on the record. I'm sure she'll want to share it with those
:05:51. > :05:54.on whose behalf she has spoken. I want to raise a matter that strikes
:05:55. > :06:01.right at the heart of the integrity of our democratic system. This is
:06:02. > :06:07.based on two articles in the House magazine, one by a Conservative and
:06:08. > :06:12.one by a Labour member, sounding notes of alarm that our electoral
:06:13. > :06:16.system is at its most vulnerable at any time since 1818. There is
:06:17. > :06:21.powerful evidence of foreign governments interfering in the
:06:22. > :06:29.elections in America and possibly hear, and there is also overwhelming
:06:30. > :06:34.evidence of money being paid in huge amounts, entirely invisible to the
:06:35. > :06:38.system, by the use of methods and algorithms of artificial
:06:39. > :06:44.intelligence, in a manner that nobody understands except those who
:06:45. > :06:47.are participating in it, and we might well be vigilant in this
:06:48. > :06:53.election because the Electoral Commission do not have the tools to
:06:54. > :06:58.deal with the interference of this kind, and we are in a position where
:06:59. > :07:06.we're trying to have a modern election with the tools of the 19th
:07:07. > :07:11.century. Well, I'm grateful to the honourable gentleman for his point
:07:12. > :07:20.of order. He has registered a strong and deeply felt concern and that is
:07:21. > :07:25.now on the record. It is not, however, a matter for me, and I
:07:26. > :07:29.don't say it flippantly. Algorithms are certainly not a matter for the
:07:30. > :07:33.Chair and I am sure members will be reassured to hear me say that. The
:07:34. > :07:37.wide issues are issues for all of us. But the honourable gentleman,
:07:38. > :07:44.who has now served without interruption in this House for three
:07:45. > :07:50.decades, the overwhelming majority of which by his choice has been as a
:07:51. > :07:57.backbench member, has demonstrated once again, not least for the unfit
:07:58. > :08:01.of members completing their first Parliament -- for the benefit of
:08:02. > :08:06.members completing their first Parliament, that he has written the
:08:07. > :08:12.textbook on how to be a backbencher. He has published a book, which I am
:08:13. > :08:18.proud to have read. He has written the textbook in the sense that he
:08:19. > :08:26.exploits every, and I use exploits non-pejorative leak, he X Deutz --
:08:27. > :08:35.he exploits every opportunity to give raised to his concerns. He
:08:36. > :08:41.gratuitously has been the last point of order and I hope that we can
:08:42. > :08:54.leave it there. Order, order. The seating is suspended. Shortly before
:08:55. > :09:01.the sitting resumes, I shall cause the division Bell is to be. Order.
:09:02. > :09:08.-- I shall cause the division bells to be sounded.