26/06/2017

:00:00. > :00:13.Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament with live coverage from the House of

:00:14. > :00:17.Commons. Fresh from finalising negotiations with the DUP to support

:00:18. > :00:21.the government, Theresa May will make a statement to the Commons on

:00:22. > :00:24.the outcome of the recent European Council summit in Brussels. The

:00:25. > :00:28.government has proposed offering EU migrants who have been in the UK for

:00:29. > :00:34.five years the right to stay after Brexit. That will be followed by a

:00:35. > :00:36.statement from the first secretary of state, Damian Green, on Northern

:00:37. > :00:46.Ireland. As part of the deal with the DUP the government has committed

:00:47. > :00:48.to an additional ?1 billion in spending commitments for Northern

:00:49. > :00:48.Ireland. The communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid

:00:49. > :01:24.would also make a statement. Order. Order. I have a short

:01:25. > :01:29.statement to make covering three separate matters. The house was

:01:30. > :01:34.informed before the general election that, following the shocking attack

:01:35. > :01:39.on Westminster Bridge and these Houses of Parliament in March, the

:01:40. > :01:45.Lord Speaker and I commissioned an external independent review of how

:01:46. > :01:53.the perimeter of the Parliamentary estate, including outbuildings, is

:01:54. > :01:56.secured and protected. At the same time, the clerks of both houses

:01:57. > :02:01.commissioned an externally led review of the lessons learned from

:02:02. > :02:07.the operation inside Parliament of the incident management framework.

:02:08. > :02:12.The report of the first review has now been received and formal

:02:13. > :02:18.delivery of the second is imminent. Both will be carefully considered. I

:02:19. > :02:24.can assure the house that appropriate action will be taken

:02:25. > :02:28.swiftly and decisively. As colleagues will be aware,

:02:29. > :02:32.Parliament's IT service was subjected to a sustained and

:02:33. > :02:36.determined cyber attack over the weekend. Parliament has robust

:02:37. > :02:42.measures in place to protect all of our accounts and systems. In order

:02:43. > :02:47.to protect our core network and systems it was necessary temporarily

:02:48. > :02:52.to restrict remote access to the network which meant that some

:02:53. > :02:59.colleagues were unable to access their e-mail accounts. Good progress

:03:00. > :03:02.is being made in restoring remote access. Constituency offices have

:03:03. > :03:09.been given priority so that our critical work in constituencies can

:03:10. > :03:13.continue. Parliament's first priority has been to ensure that the

:03:14. > :03:18.business of both houses can continue. It is self-evident that

:03:19. > :03:22.this has been achieved and I am sure colleagues will join me in thanking

:03:23. > :03:27.all of those Parliamentary staff who have worked intensively over the

:03:28. > :03:36.past few days to ensure that our parliamentary democracy can operate

:03:37. > :03:42.freely. On Thursday last I informed the house about arrangements for the

:03:43. > :03:45.election of deputy speakers. Nominations are due tomorrow and the

:03:46. > :03:50.ballot will be held on Wednesday morning. I thought it would be

:03:51. > :03:57.helpful to all members if I informed the house now rather than late

:03:58. > :04:03.tomorrow afternoon when nominations close that I have decided after

:04:04. > :04:08.consultation with the clerks, and in the light of technical advice from

:04:09. > :04:15.the electoral reform Society for the house's advisers on ballots, that

:04:16. > :04:21.is, and I stress if, there is only one candidate from the conservative

:04:22. > :04:27.side of the house and there are more than two candidates from the other

:04:28. > :04:34.side, the name of the soul conservative candidate will not be

:04:35. > :04:39.on the ballot paper and will be declared in due course as elected as

:04:40. > :04:44.first deputy chairman of ways and Means, in much the same way as

:04:45. > :04:50.happens when there is an unopposed candidate for the chair of a select

:04:51. > :04:58.committee. I hope that this will help members in all parts of the

:04:59. > :05:04.house to deal with the perceived complexity is of the STV system to

:05:05. > :05:14.which we are bound idly standing orders. If, I recognise this is in

:05:15. > :05:21.the realms of conjecture, colleagues are in anyway puzzles by its

:05:22. > :05:32.operation, they are welcome to seek advice from the public bill office

:05:33. > :05:39.or the library, or indeed Wikipedia. Statement, the Prime Minister. With

:05:40. > :05:44.permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on last week's

:05:45. > :05:48.European Council and the proposals we are publishing today which, on a

:05:49. > :05:51.reciprocal basis, seek to give reassurance and certainty to EU

:05:52. > :05:57.citizens who have made their homes and lives in our country. This

:05:58. > :06:01.council followed the formal start of the negotiations for the United

:06:02. > :06:06.Kingdom's departure from the EU as well as marking the first

:06:07. > :06:09.anniversary of the referendum that led to that decision. In that

:06:10. > :06:16.referendum the British people chose to take back control of our laws,

:06:17. > :06:20.our money and our borders, to restore supremacy to this Parliament

:06:21. > :06:23.and reclaim our sense of national determination and this government

:06:24. > :06:32.will fulfil the democratic will of the British people. But the

:06:33. > :06:36.referendum was not a vote to turn our backs on our friends and

:06:37. > :06:40.neighbours. Indeed, as we become ever more internationalist in our

:06:41. > :06:44.outlook and as we build the global Britain we want to see, we will

:06:45. > :06:48.continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close friends

:06:49. > :06:54.with all the member states of the European Union. We want to work with

:06:55. > :06:58.one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more

:06:59. > :07:02.prosperous through our continued friendship. We want to buy each

:07:03. > :07:08.other's goods and services and trade as freely as possible and we will

:07:09. > :07:11.continue to celebrate and defend the liberal democratic values we share

:07:12. > :07:15.and to protect those values that are the foundation of our freedoms and

:07:16. > :07:20.way of life. In short we want to build what I have described as a

:07:21. > :07:23.newcomer deep and special partnership between a competent,

:07:24. > :07:29.self-governing, global Britain and all our friends and allies in the

:07:30. > :07:33.European Union. -- are confident also that the positive and

:07:34. > :07:36.constructive spirit in which my right honourable friend the

:07:37. > :07:39.Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union began the formal

:07:40. > :07:43.negotiations last week and it is the same spirit in which the United

:07:44. > :07:47.Kingdom made a full contribution to all the issues that this council

:07:48. > :07:53.raised including on security, migration, climate change and trade.

:07:54. > :07:57.On security and I thank our European partners for their condolences and

:07:58. > :08:01.for their resolve in standing with us following the appalling terrorist

:08:02. > :08:07.attacks that the UK has suffered in recent weeks. Those attacks have

:08:08. > :08:10.seen citizens from across Europe tragically killed and injured but

:08:11. > :08:15.they have also seen our citizens standing together in some of the

:08:16. > :08:19.most inspiring ways. At London Bridge we saw a Spanish bank are

:08:20. > :08:24.tragically killed as he rushed to the aid of a woman being attacked.

:08:25. > :08:31.And we saw mania and Baker fighting of the terrorists and giving shelter

:08:32. > :08:35.to Londoners in his bakery. -- a Romanian bakery. These show how far

:08:36. > :08:43.from budding as such attacks on our way of life will only serve to

:08:44. > :08:46.strengthen our shared unity and resolve but, Mr Speaker, these

:08:47. > :08:50.attacks also showed that we need to respond to a new trend in the threat

:08:51. > :08:53.we face as terrorism breeds terrorism and perpetrators are

:08:54. > :08:58.inspired to attack by copying one another using the crudest of means.

:08:59. > :09:02.So building on the bilateral agreement I reached with President

:09:03. > :09:07.Macron earlier this month, at this council I argued that we must come

:09:08. > :09:11.together to defeat the hateful and extremist ideologies that inspired

:09:12. > :09:17.the attacks and to stop the Internet being used as a safe space for

:09:18. > :09:22.extremists. When one third of all links to Daesh propaganda are shared

:09:23. > :09:26.within the first hour of release, it is not enough for technology

:09:27. > :09:31.companies to respond reactively to extremist content on their

:09:32. > :09:35.platforms. The council agreed to put pressure on these companies to do

:09:36. > :09:39.more to remove this content automatically and also to ensure

:09:40. > :09:43.that law enforcement agencies can access encrypted data. This was a

:09:44. > :09:47.significant step forward and we will continue to work together with our

:09:48. > :09:53.European partners to combat this evil, to defend our values and to

:09:54. > :09:57.keep our citizens safe. Turning to other issues, on migration the

:09:58. > :10:00.council recommitted to be comprehensive approach that the UK

:10:01. > :10:05.has advocated dealing with the drivers migration while also doing

:10:06. > :10:10.more to stem the flow. And at this summit I confirmed a new UK

:10:11. > :10:15.commitment of ?75 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs in the

:10:16. > :10:17.central Mediterranean while also facilitating voluntary returns of

:10:18. > :10:22.migrant making these treacherous journeys. On trade, as the UK leads

:10:23. > :10:26.the EU, we will be forging trade deals around the world with old

:10:27. > :10:41.friends and new allies alike but this

:10:42. > :10:45.will not undermine the EU's trade agenda, it is not even in

:10:46. > :10:48.competition with it. For as long as we remain part of the EU we will

:10:49. > :10:50.continue to press for an a vicious trade agenda that can deliver jobs

:10:51. > :10:53.and growth across the continent and that is what I did at this council

:10:54. > :10:55.where there was a particular focus on the work towards deals with

:10:56. > :10:56.Japan, Mexico and the Machis or block of South American countries.

:10:57. > :10:59.And on climate change is the council riven the commitment of all member

:11:00. > :11:04.states to fully impairment the Paris agreement. The UK has already

:11:05. > :11:07.reaffirmed its own commitment and I have expressed my disappointment to

:11:08. > :11:10.President Trump that he has taken a different decision. We will continue

:11:11. > :11:17.to make the case to our American allies to think again. Mr Speaker,

:11:18. > :11:21.turning to citizens rights, EU citizens make an invaluable

:11:22. > :11:25.contribution to our United Kingdom, to our economy, our public services

:11:26. > :11:29.and everyday lives. They are an integral part of the economic

:11:30. > :11:32.cultural and social fabric of the country and I have always been clear

:11:33. > :11:35.I want to protect their rights. That is why I initially sought an

:11:36. > :11:40.agreement on this before we triggered Article 50.

:11:41. > :11:46.It is why I am making it an immediate priority at the beginning

:11:47. > :11:49.of negotiations. Mr Speaker, that agreement must be reciprocal because

:11:50. > :11:55.we must protect the rights of UK citizens living in EU member states

:11:56. > :11:58.too. At the council I set out some of the principles I believe should

:11:59. > :12:01.underlie that reciprocal agreement and there was a very positive

:12:02. > :12:05.response from individual leaders and a strong sense of mutual goodwill in

:12:06. > :12:11.trying to reach such an agreement as soon as possible. So, today we are

:12:12. > :12:17.publishing detailed proposals to do exactly that. Let me set out the key

:12:18. > :12:20.points for the House. First, we want certainty. I know there has been

:12:21. > :12:26.some anxiety about what would happen to EU citizens at the point we leave

:12:27. > :12:31.the European Union. Today, I want to put that anxiety to rest come I want

:12:32. > :12:35.to completely reassure people that under these plans no EU citizen

:12:36. > :12:42.currently here will be asked to leave at the point the UK leaves the

:12:43. > :12:46.EU. We want you to stay for subsecond, any EU citizen in the UK

:12:47. > :12:50.with five years continuous residence at a specified cut-off date will be

:12:51. > :12:55.granted settled status and will be treated as if they were UK citizens

:12:56. > :13:00.for health care, education, benefits and pensions. While any EU citizens

:13:01. > :13:04.with any less than five years residents who arrived before the

:13:05. > :13:09.cut-off date specified will be at the stay until they have the five

:13:10. > :13:12.years of residence to apply for UK settled status. Third, the specified

:13:13. > :13:15.cut-off date will be the subject of discussions but no earlier than the

:13:16. > :13:21.date which a good Article 50 and no later than the date we leave the EU.

:13:22. > :13:25.Fourth, no families will be split up. Family dependents who join a

:13:26. > :13:29.qualifying EU citizen here before the UK's exit will be able to apply

:13:30. > :13:33.for settled status after five years command after the UK has left the

:13:34. > :13:37.European Union EU citizens with subtle status will be able to bring

:13:38. > :13:42.family members from overseas in the same terms as British nationals.

:13:43. > :13:46.Fifth, there will be no cliff edge. There will be a grace period of up

:13:47. > :13:51.to two years to allow people to regularise their status. While those

:13:52. > :13:53.EU citizens who arrived in the UK after the specified cut-off date

:13:54. > :13:59.will be allowed to remain in the UK for at least a temporary period and

:14:00. > :14:01.may still become eligible to settle permanently. Sixth, the system of

:14:02. > :14:05.registration that citizens go through will be as streamlined and

:14:06. > :14:07.light touch as possible and we intend to remove some of the

:14:08. > :14:13.technical requirements currently needed to obtain permanent residents

:14:14. > :14:14.not require anyone to demonstrate not require anyone to demonstrate

:14:15. > :14:21.they have held comprehensive sickness insurance. Seven, we expect

:14:22. > :14:25.this offer to be extended on a reciprocal basis to nationals of

:14:26. > :14:28.Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Switzerland, and the reciprocal

:14:29. > :14:33.agreement on citizens' rights will apply to the entire United Kingdom

:14:34. > :14:38.and Gibraltar. Eighth, this is all without prejudice to the Common

:14:39. > :14:41.Travel Area arrangements that exist between the UK and Ireland. We will

:14:42. > :14:45.preserve the freedoms that UK and Irish nationals currently enjoy in

:14:46. > :14:48.each other's Stead, and Irish citizens will not need to apply for

:14:49. > :14:54.permanent residence to protect these entitlements. And finally, the UK

:14:55. > :14:57.will continue to export and operate the UK state pension and provide

:14:58. > :15:02.associated health care cover within the EU. We will continue to protect

:15:03. > :15:05.the export of other benefits and associated health care cover where

:15:06. > :15:09.the individual is in receipt of those benefits on the specified

:15:10. > :15:11.cut-off date. Subject to negotiations we want to continue

:15:12. > :15:16.participating in the European health insurance card scheme so that UK

:15:17. > :15:20.cardholders could continue to benefit from free or reduced cost

:15:21. > :15:25.health care while on a temporary stay in the EU and vice versa for EU

:15:26. > :15:31.cardholders visiting the UK. Mr Speaker, this is a fair and serious

:15:32. > :15:37.offer. Our obligations in the withdrawal treaty with the EU will

:15:38. > :15:41.be binding on the UK as a matter of international law. We will

:15:42. > :15:44.incorporate commitments into UK law guaranteeing that we will stand

:15:45. > :15:48.firmly by our part of the deal. So our offer will give those 3 million

:15:49. > :15:52.EU citizens in the UK certainty about the future of their lives and

:15:53. > :15:56.a reciprocal agreement will provide the same certainty for the more than

:15:57. > :16:02.1 million UK citizens living in the European Union. Mr Speaker, one year

:16:03. > :16:05.on from that momentous decision to leave the European Union, let us

:16:06. > :16:10.remember what we are seeking to achieve with these negotiations. We

:16:11. > :16:14.are withdrawing from a system of treaties and bureaucracy that does

:16:15. > :16:17.not work for us. But we're not withdrawing from the valleys and

:16:18. > :16:22.solidarity that we share with our European neighbours. As a confident

:16:23. > :16:25.at outward looking and self-governing nation, we know that

:16:26. > :16:29.it's not just our past that isn't wind in the fortunes of our friends

:16:30. > :16:34.and neighbours, it is our future too. That is why we want this new,

:16:35. > :16:38.deep and special partnership and why we approach these negotiations with

:16:39. > :16:41.optimism. Because, a good deal for Britain and a good deal for Europe

:16:42. > :16:46.are not competing alternatives. They are the best single path to a

:16:47. > :16:51.brighter future for all our children and grandchildren. That I believe is

:16:52. > :16:54.the future the British people voted for and that is the future I want is

:16:55. > :17:02.to secure, and I commend this statement to the House. SPEAKER:

:17:03. > :17:05.Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you, Mr Speaker. First of all, Mr Speaker,

:17:06. > :17:08.could I join you in thanking all staff at the House of Commons for

:17:09. > :17:11.the work they did over the weekend to ensure that our electronic

:17:12. > :17:15.systems are safe and I would be grateful if you can pass that on to

:17:16. > :17:20.staff. I would want to thank the prime list for the advanced copy of

:17:21. > :17:23.the statement we have just heard. 68 days ago the Prime Minister stood on

:17:24. > :17:27.the steps of Downing Street and asked this country to give her a

:17:28. > :17:32.strong mandate to negotiate Brexit. She offered little by way of

:17:33. > :17:39.strategy or plan, more hollow sound bites and grandstanding and the past

:17:40. > :17:44.six months the Prime Minister has stuck to her mantra. No deal is

:17:45. > :17:48.better than a bad deal. And continued with her threat to turn

:17:49. > :17:57.Britain into an offshore tax haven aimed at undercutting the European

:17:58. > :18:01.Union. By ripping up regulation, hacking back public services, and

:18:02. > :18:04.leading a race to the bottom in pay and conditions. Well, Mr Speaker,

:18:05. > :18:08.the British people saw through that rhetoric, they saw through the

:18:09. > :18:13.threats, and instead of giving the Prime Minister the mandate she

:18:14. > :18:16.wanted, they rejected in large numbers the deregulated, low-wage

:18:17. > :18:23.future the Conservative Party has in mind for this country. She wanted a

:18:24. > :18:28.landslide. She lost her majority. Now her mandate is in tatters. But

:18:29. > :18:34.the Prime Minister still insists she is the best person to get a good

:18:35. > :18:41.deal for Britain. And incredibly, and incredibly... Incredibly

:18:42. > :18:44.believes she is the best person to strike a deal with the very people

:18:45. > :18:50.she spent the last six months threatening and hectoring. The truth

:18:51. > :18:55.is this country needs a new approach to Brexit that a Tory government

:18:56. > :18:59.simply cannot deliver. They are taking Britain down a reckless path,

:19:00. > :19:03.prepared to put jobs and living standards at risk just to maintain

:19:04. > :19:08.support within her own party and keep her government in office. The

:19:09. > :19:14.cracks are already beginning to appear, while some in her party want

:19:15. > :19:19.to move towards Labour's approach, to Brexit, at least... At least in

:19:20. > :19:24.terms... At least in terms of protecting jobs, trade and the

:19:25. > :19:28.economy the hard right voices in her Cabinet, and on her backbenchers,

:19:29. > :19:35.are still determined to force Britain over a cliff edge. The Prime

:19:36. > :19:40.Minister needs to ignore them. She needs now to listen. So I ask her,

:19:41. > :19:43.how she promised to restore supremacy to this parliament? Will

:19:44. > :19:48.she now be more transparent and involve it properly in the Brexit

:19:49. > :19:52.negotiation process? Will she now finally rule out the possibility of

:19:53. > :20:00.no deal being a viable option for this country? The choice is hers. Mr

:20:01. > :20:08.Speaker, the Prime Minister went to Brussels last week to make what she

:20:09. > :20:12.described as "A generous offer to EU nationals in this country." The

:20:13. > :20:17.truth is it's too little too late. That could have been done and should

:20:18. > :20:22.have been done a year ago when Labour put that very proposal to the

:20:23. > :20:27.House of Commons. But by making an offer only after negotiations have

:20:28. > :20:30.begun, the Prime Minister has dragged the issue of citizens and

:20:31. > :20:37.families deep into the complex and delicate negotiations of our future

:20:38. > :20:40.trade relations with the European Union, which she herself has been

:20:41. > :20:46.willing to say may result in failure. This isn't a generous

:20:47. > :20:51.offer. This is confirmation that the government is prepared to use people

:20:52. > :20:56.as bargaining chips. So, can the Prime Minister now confirmed what

:20:57. > :21:00.will happen to her offer to nationals in this country if no deal

:21:01. > :21:06.is reached? What happens to the rights of family reunion which EU

:21:07. > :21:11.citizens are currently entitled to? Does the Prime Minister in Visic the

:21:12. > :21:16.five-year period EU nationals must accumulate here in Britain will also

:21:17. > :21:21.be the same for British citizens who want to retain the right to live in

:21:22. > :21:25.other parts of the European Union? And can the Prime Minister tell the

:21:26. > :21:29.House if these proposals were drawn up to take into account the impact

:21:30. > :21:34.on our public services? Especially the National Health Service where

:21:35. > :21:41.there is great concern over falling numbers of nurses and doctors

:21:42. > :21:44.already. Mr Speaker, what makes this situation even more remarkable is

:21:45. > :21:49.what we learned this weekend from the former Chancellor of the

:21:50. > :21:51.Exchequer. That immediately after last year's referendum the

:21:52. > :21:57.government was willing to give assurances to EU nationals in this

:21:58. > :22:05.country, however, that was blocked in the Cabinet by the Prime Minister

:22:06. > :22:09.herself. This is people's lives we are talking about. Our neighbours,

:22:10. > :22:13.friends, husbands, wives, children. The Prime Minister really didn't

:22:14. > :22:20.care about them then. Why should they believe she cares about them

:22:21. > :22:24.now? Mr Speaker, the country needs a change of direction. People are

:22:25. > :22:28.tired of tough talk from a weak government and a weak Prime

:22:29. > :22:32.Minister. The government needs to listen put the national interest

:22:33. > :22:37.first, and deliver a Brexit for the many, not the few, one that puts

:22:38. > :22:40.jobs, the economy and living standards first, by building a new

:22:41. > :22:46.partnership with the European Union on the base of common interest and

:22:47. > :22:51.common values. One that protects living standards and promotes human

:22:52. > :22:55.rights through new trade deals throughout the world. That is what

:22:56. > :23:00.Labour would do. The Prime Minister has no mandate at home and no

:23:01. > :23:03.mandate abroad. Isn't it the case, Mr Speaker, that it would only be a

:23:04. > :23:07.Labour government that works for the whole country that could deliver a

:23:08. > :23:11.Brexit that works for all and protects those jobs and living

:23:12. > :23:19.standards that are at risk while this government remains in office?

:23:20. > :23:23.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Right Honourable gentleman has talked

:23:24. > :23:25.about a variety of this useful stuff he talked about Parliament and

:23:26. > :23:30.transparency and we have been very clear there will be a vote in this

:23:31. > :23:33.Parliament on the deal that has been negotiated with the European Union

:23:34. > :23:38.and we expect that to take place before the European Parliament has

:23:39. > :23:42.an opportunity to vote on it. There will be many opportunities in

:23:43. > :23:46.legislation and other ways coming in the coming weeks and months in

:23:47. > :23:50.Parliament to make its views known on these various matters. Let me

:23:51. > :23:53.come onto the position that the Right Honourable gentleman referred

:23:54. > :23:57.to in relation to workers' rights. We are very clear, as I was in the

:23:58. > :24:01.objectives I set out in the Lancaster House speech in January,

:24:02. > :24:04.as I have continued to set out in the Article 50 letter and elsewhere

:24:05. > :24:10.that we want to protect workers' rights, indeed, we want to enhance

:24:11. > :24:14.workers' rights. He talks about no plan. I set out our objectives in

:24:15. > :24:17.that Lancaster House speech and in the Article 50 letter and have

:24:18. > :24:21.continued to set out those objectives, whereas the Labour Party

:24:22. > :24:25.has had seven plans on Brexit in nine months, we have members of the

:24:26. > :24:28.Labour Party front bench, Shadow Home Secretary, shadow chief

:24:29. > :24:32.secretary, Shadow Attorney General, who want to retain free movement. We

:24:33. > :24:35.have 35 lead MPs who want to retain membership of the Single Market.

:24:36. > :24:41.Neither of these, as far as I'm aware, where in the Labour Party

:24:42. > :24:44.manifesto that was stood on in the last election. And then we get onto

:24:45. > :24:49.the whole issue... Then we get onto the whole issue of... We get onto

:24:50. > :24:54.the issue of the negotiations on EU citizens and their rights here in

:24:55. > :24:58.the United Kingdom. I have to say to the Right Honourable gentleman, I

:24:59. > :25:02.find it bizarre, if not worrying, that in the position he holds he's

:25:03. > :25:08.willing to stand in this House and say he has no care for UK citizens

:25:09. > :25:16.living in the European Union. Because, that is what he is saying.

:25:17. > :25:21.I said... I said at... I said at an early stage that we wanted to

:25:22. > :25:26.address the EU citizens' rights issue early. The European Union were

:25:27. > :25:30.clear that there was no negotiation before notification. It is one of

:25:31. > :25:34.the first issues that we are addressing after notification. They

:25:35. > :25:36.were clear it had to be undertaken on a reciprocal basis and they were

:25:37. > :25:42.clear that whatever the United Kingdom said the European Union

:25:43. > :25:46.would still be arguing about its proposals in relation to the

:25:47. > :25:49.protection of rights for EU citizens. People who say that we

:25:50. > :25:53.should be not dealing on this as a reciprocal basis simply don't

:25:54. > :25:57.understand what negotiations are about, because the other side will

:25:58. > :26:04.be negotiating on these issues. He talks about the issue of no deal

:26:05. > :26:08.being better than a bad deal. I will tell him what I worry about in terms

:26:09. > :26:13.of a bad deal. I worry about those... I worry about those who

:26:14. > :26:17.appeared to suggest in Europe that we should be punished in some sense

:26:18. > :26:21.for leaving the European Union. And I worry about those who command from

:26:22. > :26:25.what he says, I think the Leader of the Opposition in business

:26:26. > :26:28.particular camp, we should take any deal regardless of the Bill and

:26:29. > :26:34.regardless of the circumstances. He would negotiate the worst deal with

:26:35. > :26:39.the biggest possible Bill. And finally, can I just say to the Right

:26:40. > :26:45.Honourable gentleman, he talks about wanting a future relationship based

:26:46. > :26:49.on a partnership of values, shared values with trade deals across the

:26:50. > :26:52.world. That's exactly what I said in my statement so I suggest he starts

:26:53. > :26:57.supporting the government on his Brexit arrangements.

:26:58. > :27:07.Given Brexit and our vital red light on the European court and the repeal

:27:08. > :27:12.of the 1972 act, would my right honourable friend agree that a

:27:13. > :27:14.reasonable framework to protect reciprocal citizens rights whilst

:27:15. > :27:19.making no concession at all on preserving our own Westminster

:27:20. > :27:23.jurisdiction and judicial sovereignty would be a tribunal

:27:24. > :27:31.system such as I outlined in a house last week, which would be along the

:27:32. > :27:34.lines similar to a court and a parallel sort of agreement. My

:27:35. > :27:38.honourable friend raises an interesting proposal and of course

:27:39. > :27:42.we are looking at a variety of arrangements for the enforcement of

:27:43. > :27:47.agreements that we come to pull is in relation to the EU citizens

:27:48. > :27:51.rights, if these form part of the withdrawal pretty they will be

:27:52. > :27:55.enshrined in international law but I also think we should recognise that

:27:56. > :27:59.our courts are world renowned and respected around the world and what

:28:00. > :28:03.I want to receive and would expect is that these citizens rights for EU

:28:04. > :28:08.citizens in the UK would be upheld and enforced by our courts in the

:28:09. > :28:15.same way as UK citizens rights are upheld and enforced by our courts.

:28:16. > :28:20.If I could make some short remarks on the sad passing of Gordon Wilson

:28:21. > :28:26.who was member of Parliament for Dundee East from 1974 to 1987 and

:28:27. > :28:30.I'm sure everybody in the house would wish to pass their condolences

:28:31. > :28:34.to his family. Those of us on these benches were honoured to have the

:28:35. > :28:37.wisdom, wit and intelligence of Gordon with us for many decades and

:28:38. > :28:42.he spoke with me on Wednesday before I entered with chamber to respond to

:28:43. > :28:46.the Queen's speech. You will be sadly missed by all of us,

:28:47. > :28:51.particularly those on these benches. I think the Prime for above site for

:28:52. > :28:54.the government of the Marc Vandal EU citizens. It was more than

:28:55. > :28:58.concerning to open the document designed to settle the lives of many

:28:59. > :29:02.citizens appear to discover it leaves many more questions than

:29:03. > :29:05.answers. The Prime Minister went to Brussels last week and presented a

:29:06. > :29:09.plan for EU nationals that fell short of expectations with the Dutch

:29:10. > :29:13.president stating there are thousands of questions to ask about

:29:14. > :29:17.the proposal. Will the prime of the confirmed that the joint ministerial

:29:18. > :29:22.committee was consulted on the proposals published to date? When

:29:23. > :29:25.will she honoured the pledge of a united United Kingdom approach to

:29:26. > :29:31.Brexit and give Scotland a place at negotiating tables? Has she got that

:29:32. > :29:35.her plan for EU nationals which she presented last week and when will

:29:36. > :29:39.the costings be laid before the house? Will she confirm that EU

:29:40. > :29:46.citizens in Scotland will not have to fill out the 85 page paper form

:29:47. > :29:48.for residency? In the early hours after the referendum result, the

:29:49. > :29:52.First Minister of Scotland called loud and clear for the Prime

:29:53. > :29:57.Minister to unilaterally guarantee EU citizens rights. It is therefore

:29:58. > :30:01.shocking to learn that the then Foreign Minister had pledged just to

:30:02. > :30:05.do that but the current Prime Minister blocked the plan -- the

:30:06. > :30:10.then Prime Minister. Does she accept she was wrong and will she now do

:30:11. > :30:15.the right thing and reassure thousands of concern EU nationals

:30:16. > :30:19.living in the UK by unilaterally guaranteeing their rights? We

:30:20. > :30:23.created these circumstances we should be showing leadership. We

:30:24. > :30:27.welcome the EU summit conclusions, especially those on jobs, growth and

:30:28. > :30:30.competitiveness. The SMB was the birth government in the UK to

:30:31. > :30:40.publish a plan for Brexit, putting the single market at the hand of

:30:41. > :30:44.that -- the SNP. Additional summit conclusions on the Paris agreement

:30:45. > :30:48.are very welcome in ensuring the agreement is implemented after the

:30:49. > :30:53.US withdrawal last month. The Prime Minister must tell the house what

:30:54. > :30:55.the UK's next step will be up in permitting the agreement in

:30:56. > :31:00.cooperation with our EU friends. I welcome the announcement of the

:31:01. > :31:03.upgrading of the pensions of those living in the EU but will be

:31:04. > :31:07.premised on the net to pensioners in other parts of the world that

:31:08. > :31:11.currently don't benefit from operating? And on the heart of these

:31:12. > :31:18.benches I send best wishes to the Estonian president ahead of tentacle

:31:19. > :31:24.over -- ahead of him taking over on the 1st of July. First of all may I

:31:25. > :31:28.join the honourable gentleman in passing condolences to the family

:31:29. > :31:36.and friends of Gordon Wilson and I am sorry to hear of his passing. He

:31:37. > :31:41.has raised a number of issues within the comments that he has made. Can I

:31:42. > :31:45.reiterate the point about the process of application? He referred

:31:46. > :31:50.to the 85 page application paper, as I said, the hope with its wooden to

:31:51. > :31:56.introduce a streamlined, light touch approach on this so people will not

:31:57. > :31:59.have to apply on and 85 page paper as yet asked. He referred to the

:32:00. > :32:10.story in the Evening Standard and I have to say that is not my

:32:11. > :32:15.recollection. What we're doing today is setting out what I believe it's a

:32:16. > :32:22.fair and serious offer to EU citizens here in the UK but we want

:32:23. > :32:27.to have a care for those UK citizens who are living in the European

:32:28. > :32:30.Union. Anna might remind the honourable gentleman that during the

:32:31. > :32:35.Scottish independence referendum the First Minister told EU nationals

:32:36. > :32:38.that if an independent Scotland was not allowed to rejoin the EU, they

:32:39. > :32:44.would lose the right to stay here. We're saying that to EU nationals

:32:45. > :32:48.here, we are saying we want you to stay in this paper is the basis on

:32:49. > :32:53.which they can stay and nobody will be forced to leave. I congratulate

:32:54. > :32:57.the Prime Minister on her policy which will bring many benefits to

:32:58. > :33:02.the UK and the rest of the EU also can she tell the house a little more

:33:03. > :33:05.about how far we can do in negotiating free trade agreement

:33:06. > :33:09.with non-EU countries before we leave and when we will learn how we

:33:10. > :33:18.can spend all the money we're going to save? As my right honourable

:33:19. > :33:22.friend will know, one of the issues that we proposed during the election

:33:23. > :33:25.campaign was that some of the money that is returned is spent in a

:33:26. > :33:30.Shared Prosperity Fund here in the UK which will be looking to deal

:33:31. > :33:35.with and remove the disparities that occur within regions and nations and

:33:36. > :33:39.between the part of the United Kingdom. As regards the trade deals

:33:40. > :33:42.for the rest of the world, of course legally we cannot sign up to

:33:43. > :33:46.free-trade agreements with other parties until we are no longer

:33:47. > :33:50.members of the European Union but there is much work that might right

:33:51. > :33:52.honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development

:33:53. > :33:57.is doing with other countries around the world such as India and America,

:33:58. > :34:01.to look to see what trade benefits we can achieve before leaving the EU

:34:02. > :34:07.by removing some of the barriers that currently exist to trade

:34:08. > :34:11.between our countries. The Prime Minister will be aware that EU

:34:12. > :34:15.citizens living and working here are particularly concerned about the

:34:16. > :34:20.status of their children. Can she confirm that a young person who has

:34:21. > :34:24.lived in Britain for four years of EU parent and is currently studying

:34:25. > :34:30.at the University of sweat in the EU and will be over the age of 18 when

:34:31. > :34:33.she returns will be able to automatically returned to her

:34:34. > :34:41.parents and will her parents be required to meet an income

:34:42. > :34:49.threshold? That individual would be allowed to return to the UK. If the

:34:50. > :34:55.EU citizens are living here at the time at which we leave, before the

:34:56. > :34:59.specified cut-off date and have five years residence they get that

:35:00. > :35:04.settled status. If they have less than five years before the cut-off

:35:05. > :35:08.date, they will be able to stay to build up a five years residence for

:35:09. > :35:15.settled status and of course for anybody coming afresh, new people

:35:16. > :35:19.coming to the UK after we leave the EU, we will be setting out those

:35:20. > :35:25.immigration rules in due course and there will be a bill through

:35:26. > :35:28.parliament. Can I urge the Prime Minister to settle this issue as

:35:29. > :35:31.part of an interim deal with the EU so those affected do not have to

:35:32. > :35:37.wait for the conclusions of the negotiations? I thank my right

:35:38. > :35:42.honourable friend, I would like us to be able to do that by dealing

:35:43. > :35:46.with this at an early stage in the negotiations and recognising what we

:35:47. > :35:49.all want is to ensure we give people reassurance that they are no longer

:35:50. > :35:53.anxious about their future and I would hope that the European Union

:35:54. > :36:01.would see the benefit of that and we will be able to address this at an

:36:02. > :36:06.earlier stage of the negotiations. I think the Prime Minister needs to

:36:07. > :36:11.reassure the members of the European Parliament. I was in Brussels last

:36:12. > :36:16.week and I heard petitioners from this and other countries talking

:36:17. > :36:20.about their concerns. Previously when I asked the Prime Minister if

:36:21. > :36:24.she would address the European Parliament she said she was waiting

:36:25. > :36:28.for an invitation, however she must know that she does not have to have

:36:29. > :36:33.an invitation also she can volunteer to address the plenary of the

:36:34. > :36:40.European Parliament, will she do that? I thank the honourable lady

:36:41. > :36:44.and I can let her know that my right honourable friend the Immigration

:36:45. > :36:49.Minister will be meeting MEPs later today to talk about the proposals we

:36:50. > :36:54.have put forward. I have been in discussions with the president,

:36:55. > :36:58.speaking about the possibility of my going to the European Parliament and

:36:59. > :37:03.speaking to them and we're looking at on what basis that should be and

:37:04. > :37:05.on what timetable. Does my right honourable friend agree that one of

:37:06. > :37:10.the principal reasons why the British people voted to leave the EU

:37:11. > :37:14.was to reassert the supremacy of this Parliament and of the UK

:37:15. > :37:17.courts? And can she confirm that when we do leave that will be the

:37:18. > :37:23.position for all citizens resident in the UK no matter from where they

:37:24. > :37:26.came? I can confirm that to my right honourable friend. One of the key

:37:27. > :37:30.differences between the proposals we have put forward and those of the

:37:31. > :37:35.European Union is they want the ECJ to continue to have jurisdiction on

:37:36. > :37:39.European citizens even after we have left the EU and I think people were

:37:40. > :37:43.very clear they did not want the ECJ to have jurisdiction here and I

:37:44. > :37:48.believe our courts, we have fine courts in this country and they will

:37:49. > :37:53.be able to uphold EU citizens write just as they do UK citizens. The

:37:54. > :37:58.Prime Minister did not answer the question from my right honourable

:37:59. > :38:02.friend the member for Leeds Central. If there are French parents whose

:38:03. > :38:07.daughter is studying in Paris and who is 19 and they have been living

:38:08. > :38:11.here for more than five years, will that daughter be able to return to

:38:12. > :38:15.live with them here without them having to pass the income threshold

:38:16. > :38:20.and if those parents have been living here for less than five

:38:21. > :38:24.years, will they still have all the same rights as if they had been

:38:25. > :38:30.living here for more than five years? Yes, if they have been living

:38:31. > :38:35.here for the five years, their daughter will be able to return to

:38:36. > :38:39.the United Kingdom on the same basis as that individual would today so

:38:40. > :38:42.there would be no new rules that apply. If they have been living here

:38:43. > :38:46.for less than five years they will be able to a crew that five-year

:38:47. > :38:54.status so they go to the same position with that settled status.

:38:55. > :38:59.The lead of the opposition alleged there were many on this side who

:39:00. > :39:04.were coming over to Labour's way if thinking. Just in case I were to be

:39:05. > :39:15.tempted, Mr Speaker, this is anyone have any idea what that is?! I have

:39:16. > :39:20.to say, my honourable friend is always known for his plain speaking

:39:21. > :39:23.and he has put the product in a plane a way that I did earlier in my

:39:24. > :39:31.response to the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Speaker, at the

:39:32. > :39:36.summit, paragraph six of the conclusion refers to peace and

:39:37. > :39:39.stability in the world. Was there at opportunity to discuss the situation

:39:40. > :39:46.in Yemen where 10,000 people have been killed, where the cholera

:39:47. > :39:50.epidemic has now reached one fifth of a million people and where the

:39:51. > :39:54.Saudis and Qataris are refusing to speak to each other? Surely if there

:39:55. > :40:00.was a role for the EU at this present time it is to work with the

:40:01. > :40:05.United Kingdom to try to bring peace to Yemen. The right honourable

:40:06. > :40:10.gentleman raises a very serious issue in terms of the situation that

:40:11. > :40:14.exists in Yemen and this has been of concern for some time and is a

:40:15. > :40:20.growing issue in terms of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. I am

:40:21. > :40:23.pleased the UK has been able to provide some support, of course

:40:24. > :40:28.there are issues about ensuring that gets through to the people who

:40:29. > :40:33.needed in Yemen. I will be open with him, there was not a discussion on

:40:34. > :40:36.the Yemen specifically at this European Council but we will

:40:37. > :40:42.continue to work with other member state in the EU and with our role on

:40:43. > :40:49.the Security Council of the UN to try to find a way through this

:40:50. > :40:51.solution so we can see a reduction in the humanitarian problems that

:40:52. > :40:58.exist in the Yemen and peace and stability in that country. The

:40:59. > :41:01.status of EU citizens is something I know the Prime Minister has been

:41:02. > :41:07.attending to resolve since well before the triggering of Article 50

:41:08. > :41:11.so what more can EU citizens who are residing in the UK be doing to make

:41:12. > :41:16.it clear to whoever is standing in the way of an agreement come into

:41:17. > :41:20.place, Watmore pressure can they put on to resolve this issue which is

:41:21. > :41:24.causing so much heartache to so many -- what more? My right honourable

:41:25. > :41:29.friend raises an interesting point and I think the message has to go

:41:30. > :41:33.across these negotiations that it is an important issue, about the future

:41:34. > :41:37.of people and we want to remove anxiety and give people reassurance.

:41:38. > :41:42.When I speak to other European leaders, that is the message I get

:41:43. > :41:45.from them, but what we need to do is ensure that the working group that

:41:46. > :41:47.has been set up under the negotiations recognises that and

:41:48. > :41:54.does its work as quickly as possible. Does the Prime Minister

:41:55. > :42:01.accept that the only way to reassure the 3 million EU citizens who work

:42:02. > :42:05.but are starting to leave our hospitals, schools, care homes and

:42:06. > :42:08.businesses, and the UK citizens in the EU, is for the two immediately

:42:09. > :42:12.and traditionally grant full rights to EU citizens in the UK no ifs or

:42:13. > :42:18.buts, anything less will leave them thinking they are nothing more than

:42:19. > :42:20.bargaining chip in a crude and cruel game of call my Bluff initiated by

:42:21. > :42:29.the Brexiteers sitting next to her? We are making clear in the document

:42:30. > :42:34.that we have set out today the basis on which we believe it reciprocal

:42:35. > :42:39.arrangement can be put also making clear to people EU citizens in the

:42:40. > :42:42.UK, no one is being asked to leave the United Kingdom. This is one of

:42:43. > :42:45.the most important messages we can give to people here. Because there

:42:46. > :42:52.has been that anxiety, this is a serious offer but nobody is being

:42:53. > :42:55.asked to leave the UK. I strongly welcome the offer to EU National is

:42:56. > :42:59.the Prime Minister makes today and the spirit of generosity and

:43:00. > :43:02.pragmatism with which she makes the offer. Does my Right Honourable

:43:03. > :43:06.friend agree with me that carrying forward that same spirit to the

:43:07. > :43:09.negotiations about the rights of future EU workers gives us our best

:43:10. > :43:12.chance of protecting our own economic interests and securing a

:43:13. > :43:16.comprehensive trade deals that we all want to see? My Right Honourable

:43:17. > :43:21.friend is right that what we want to do was to work forward in a positive

:43:22. > :43:25.spirit, constructive spirit, because it is in the interests of both sides

:43:26. > :43:32.of the UK and the European Union to ensure that we get the right offer

:43:33. > :43:37.to citizens, EU citizens here and UK citizens in the EU but also that we

:43:38. > :43:39.get that comprehensive trade deal we want. That will not just be to our

:43:40. > :43:47.benefit but other member states as well. SPEAKER: Caroline Flint. I

:43:48. > :43:51.certainly want to see the dilemma that those EU nationals working here

:43:52. > :43:55.and living here are facing put to bed and put to rest so they can plan

:43:56. > :43:59.for their future. I also know that my constituents who voted leave

:44:00. > :44:03.wanted to see a reform of free movement. Can I ask the Prime

:44:04. > :44:06.Minister to pledge today to ensure that in the future more of my

:44:07. > :44:10.constituents will be trained to fulfil any vacancies that are

:44:11. > :44:17.created by the reform of freedom of movement in both public and private

:44:18. > :44:20.sector? If the answer that is yes, will she commit to come back to this

:44:21. > :44:23.House to explain just how we are going to do that? Can I thank the

:44:24. > :44:27.Right Honourable lady for the references she has made? I can give

:44:28. > :44:31.her the assurance that I think it is absolutely crucial in this country

:44:32. > :44:34.that we ensure that young people are given the skills and training they

:44:35. > :44:39.need to be on the take up the vacancies, jobs not just of today

:44:40. > :44:42.but of the future. That is why we were reform technical education and

:44:43. > :44:45.introduce changes that have proper technical education in this country

:44:46. > :44:49.for what I believe is the first time, and alongside that we have an

:44:50. > :44:53.industrial strategy which is about spreading prosperity across this

:44:54. > :44:57.country and ensuring those job opportunities are available.

:44:58. > :45:00.SPEAKER: Mark Harper. I commend the Prime Minister for the generous

:45:01. > :45:04.offer she set out which I hope will see an offer that will also benefit

:45:05. > :45:10.British citizens also I am also in answer to questions that she shed EU

:45:11. > :45:15.nationals will get the same rights as British citizens but not better

:45:16. > :45:19.rights than British citizens. Can I also ask her, is she going to take

:45:20. > :45:22.the opportunity to make sure EU nationals who have come to this

:45:23. > :45:25.country and sadly abused our hospitality by committing crimes,

:45:26. > :45:28.she will use the full opportunity of this to make sure they can be

:45:29. > :45:34.removed from our country? My Right Honourable friend with one

:45:35. > :45:38.well about the issue of those who well about the issue of those who

:45:39. > :45:43.have come to this country and abused the rights they have been given by

:45:44. > :45:47.their criminality. I certainly will ensure that those who are serious

:45:48. > :45:54.and persistent criminals, that we can take action to remove them from

:45:55. > :45:56.the UK. Mr Speaker, given that EU citizens are living and working here

:45:57. > :46:02.legally at the moment, on the matter legally at the moment, on the matter

:46:03. > :46:06.of the cut-off date, how can this be earlier than the date we leave the

:46:07. > :46:11.European Union given that the rights and obligations we have as members

:46:12. > :46:18.continue up until the date that we leave, even through the article 15

:46:19. > :46:21.negotiation process? The rights we have set out on the

:46:22. > :46:25.question of the specified date is about the point at which people are

:46:26. > :46:30.able to qualify for several status here in the United Kingdom. Of

:46:31. > :46:33.course, as we are members of the European Union then the arrangements

:46:34. > :46:38.which have also existed for us as members of the European Union will

:46:39. > :46:42.continue. But for those getting settled status and wishing to retain

:46:43. > :46:45.settled status for the future, that is where the cut-off date is

:46:46. > :46:51.pertinent and that will be a matter for negotiation. SPEAKER: Spin

:46:52. > :46:54.blunt. Can I welcome the fact the Prime Minister chose to raise this

:46:55. > :47:01.extremely important issue the council. But in the future conduct

:47:02. > :47:04.of the negotiations, will she confirmed that they will pass

:47:05. > :47:06.through the Secretary of State for leaving the European Union in

:47:07. > :47:12.bringing negotiations together in the same way the European Council

:47:13. > :47:14.are standing behind Michel Barnier? I'm not sure my Right Honourable

:47:15. > :47:18.friend is looking at those threads he is going to pull together. We are

:47:19. > :47:21.clear that as we go through these negotiations, at different stages in

:47:22. > :47:25.the working groups and so forth a whole variety of people will be

:47:26. > :47:29.involved in those. As has already happened last Monday when it was my

:47:30. > :47:32.Right Honourable friend, the Secretary of State for leaving the

:47:33. > :47:35.EU, and went to the start of the negotiations opposite Michel

:47:36. > :47:41.Barnier, I think it is clear the status and position he holds. Ben

:47:42. > :47:45.Bradshaw. She doesn't seem to understand that the lection has

:47:46. > :47:48.changed everything and her extreme damaging Brexit is dead. So why is

:47:49. > :47:52.she making an offer that both as it affects British nationals on the

:47:53. > :47:59.continent and EU nationals here is far less generous than the offer

:48:00. > :48:02.they made to us just two weeks ago? Can I say to the Right Honourable

:48:03. > :48:12.gentleman, there is no extreme Brexit we are talking about. There

:48:13. > :48:17.is no... There is no hard Brexit and there is no soft Brexit. What we

:48:18. > :48:21.want is the right deal for the United Kingdom. I remind the Right

:48:22. > :48:24.Honourable gentleman that over 80% of people voted in the recent

:48:25. > :48:29.election voted for parties that were committed to taking the United

:48:30. > :48:36.Kingdom out of the European Union. Over 80% voted for parties... Voted

:48:37. > :48:40.for parties that were committed to taking the United Kingdom out of the

:48:41. > :48:44.European Union. We have made a fair and serious offer. I believe it is a

:48:45. > :48:47.generous offer. There is one way in which it is different from the offer

:48:48. > :48:50.the European Union has put, and that is about the jurisdiction of the

:48:51. > :48:53.European Court of Justice will stop when people voted in the referendum

:48:54. > :48:56.last year they voted to ensure that we stopped the jurisdiction of the

:48:57. > :49:04.European Court of Justice here in the UK. Mr Byrne Jenkins. May I

:49:05. > :49:08.congratulate my Right Honourable friend on the very comprehensive

:49:09. > :49:12.offer she has made to secure the rights of EU citizens in our own

:49:13. > :49:17.country in a bid also to secure the rights of UK citizens in the EU. The

:49:18. > :49:21.next time she meets the heads of government in the European Union,

:49:22. > :49:26.can she explained to them that there are rather a lot of people who are

:49:27. > :49:29.Remainers in this in this country who would prefer mystical then, the

:49:30. > :49:33.Leader of the Opposition, to become Prime Minister, but who will come if

:49:34. > :49:38.he says he will scrap our weapons within six months and remove part of

:49:39. > :49:45.Europe's vital defensive shield provided through Nato? Will she make

:49:46. > :49:49.clear the danger of that to them? Tangentially related to the matters

:49:50. > :49:52.on which the Prime Minister is reporting, but we are grateful to

:49:53. > :49:59.the honourable gentleman for what I think I will charitably call a

:50:00. > :50:05.cerebral meander. Mr Speaker, the European Council did touch on

:50:06. > :50:12.defence issues as well. So it is possible for me to report to my

:50:13. > :50:14.honourable friend that I did indeed touch on the importance of the

:50:15. > :50:19.United Kingdom continuing to maintain its defence relationship

:50:20. > :50:24.with other countries in Europe. Our relationship through Nato is very

:50:25. > :50:28.important. We are obviously, because of our nuclear deterrent, one of the

:50:29. > :50:33.key safeguards of the security and safety of Europe. Caroline Lucas.

:50:34. > :50:37.The primers keeps talking about the need for reciprocity. Can she told

:50:38. > :50:42.Dummett tollhouse washes into didn't reciprocate the genuinely fair and

:50:43. > :50:45.honest proposal of the European Commission in April that would have

:50:46. > :50:50.guaranteed the existing rights of the 1.2 million UK citizens living

:50:51. > :50:54.elsewhere in the EU, it would have saved time, built up goodwill and

:50:55. > :50:58.got the negotiations off to a better start. Can I say I think I've

:50:59. > :51:01.pointed out there are some differences between the two

:51:02. > :51:05.proposals put forward by us and the European Union through the European

:51:06. > :51:08.Commission. One of the key ones was the suggestion from the European

:51:09. > :51:12.Commission that after we have left the European Union there should be

:51:13. > :51:16.two classes of citizen in the UK, UK citizens whose rights would be

:51:17. > :51:19.guaranteed by the UK courts and EU citizens whose rights would be

:51:20. > :51:22.guaranteed by the European Court of Justice. I don't believe that's

:51:23. > :51:26.right, all Sissons should have the rights guaranteed through our

:51:27. > :51:31.courts. This to Jacob Rees-Mogg. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does the

:51:32. > :51:36.Prime Minister agree with me that no reasonable person could oppose what

:51:37. > :51:40.she has proposed force of the only people who do never wanted us to

:51:41. > :51:45.leave in the first place. The idea that a foreign court should rule on

:51:46. > :51:52.the rights of people living here is a kin to the outdated colonial

:51:53. > :51:58.approach taken towards China and the unequal treaties of the

:51:59. > :52:01.19th-century. I always bow to my honourable friend's historical

:52:02. > :52:06.knowledge and references that he makes. But I think the point is a

:52:07. > :52:09.clear one. Which is that what we want to see when we leave the

:52:10. > :52:14.European Union is that citizens here in the UK have their rights

:52:15. > :52:21.guaranteed by UK courts and enforced by UK courts. The honourable

:52:22. > :52:27.gentleman was present himself at set treaties. We don't know, we will

:52:28. > :52:30.leave it to speculation. Did the Prime Minister have an opportunity

:52:31. > :52:34.to speak to the President of Cyprus and express support for the

:52:35. > :52:39.settlement talks between Greek and Cypriot leaders due to commence in

:52:40. > :52:45.Switzerland on Tuesday? I welcome the honourable gentleman to his

:52:46. > :52:48.place in this House and can I say I did indeed have a bilateral

:52:49. > :52:51.discussion with the President of Cyprus about those talks and about

:52:52. > :53:00.our hope and expectation. They have come so far. I think they have both

:53:01. > :53:03.taken the discussions to the point that is far closer to seeing in

:53:04. > :53:08.resolution than we have ever seen before and I hope we can take it

:53:09. > :53:12.over the line in the talks that will start in Geneva later this month and

:53:13. > :53:18.the UK, as a co-guarantor, stands ready to play its part in doing

:53:19. > :53:22.that. Thank you, Mr Speaker. When EU leaders say they want EU laws to

:53:23. > :53:25.prevail over their citizens in the UK, what they are effectively saying

:53:26. > :53:30.is they do not trust our judicial system. When the Prime Minister next

:53:31. > :53:33.meets with her EU counterparts, may I suggest she gently reminds them

:53:34. > :53:38.that many of the companies in their own countries, companies that drive

:53:39. > :53:42.their economies, actually use English and Welsh contract law,

:53:43. > :53:46.which is to be enforced in our courts by our judges, and the reason

:53:47. > :53:52.why they use English and Welsh law is because globally our judicial

:53:53. > :53:57.system commands greater respect than the judicial systems of Germany,

:53:58. > :54:02.France, Italy and so on. My honourable friend has made an

:54:03. > :54:06.extremely good point. At the nub of it is this, our courts are respected

:54:07. > :54:10.around the world, and as he says people choose to use our law because

:54:11. > :54:17.they respect it and they respect our courts and also respect the validity

:54:18. > :54:23.of our Lord. I think it's important that citizens in the UK are under

:54:24. > :54:27.the jurisdiction of our courts. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I note the

:54:28. > :54:29.Prime Minister intends to do away with the technical requirement for

:54:30. > :54:32.comprehensive sickness insurance comprehensive sickness insurance

:54:33. > :54:35.once a reciprocal agreement has been reached but constituents like my

:54:36. > :54:39.Lithuanian constituents are suffering as a result of this

:54:40. > :54:42.requirement at present, because despite being in Scotland for more

:54:43. > :54:45.than five years she cannot get permanent residency because she

:54:46. > :54:49.doesn't have comprehensive sickness insurance and we heard evidence on

:54:50. > :54:52.the EU Select Committee in the last Parliament that no such insurance

:54:53. > :54:58.product exists. Will the Prime Minister do away with that

:54:59. > :55:00.requirement here and now because it is a technical nonsense because

:55:01. > :55:03.these people are using the NHS anyway was I have to say to be

:55:04. > :55:06.Honourable Lady the requirement for comprehensive sickness insurance is

:55:07. > :55:09.an EU requirement and as long as we are members of the EU it will

:55:10. > :55:14.continue to be there. When we leave we can indeed remove it. James

:55:15. > :55:21.Cleverly stop I welcome the government's commitment to maintain

:55:22. > :55:25.the anything but arms free trade relationship with the least

:55:26. > :55:31.developed countries. Could she Speaker that a bit more about the

:55:32. > :55:34.Government's intention to extend free and fair trade with developing

:55:35. > :55:39.countries who are not necessarily on the least developed countries list

:55:40. > :55:46.but who have historically been penalised by the EU's tariff

:55:47. > :55:49.arrangements? I can assure my honourable friend that we are

:55:50. > :55:52.looking for a wide range of trade deals with countries around the

:55:53. > :55:57.world when we leave the European Union. I think those trade deals are

:55:58. > :56:01.important because they bring prosperity, growth and jobs to the

:56:02. > :56:04.UK. But also because its free trade that has lifted millions out of

:56:05. > :56:08.poverty around the world, and not just for the least developed

:56:09. > :56:11.countries but for others there are huge advantages to them and their

:56:12. > :56:15.citizens for ensuring those trade deals are in place so we can see

:56:16. > :56:22.growth, jobs and prosperity spread more widely than it is today. Louise

:56:23. > :56:27.Ellman. Could the Prime Minister tell us what discussions took place

:56:28. > :56:29.on Corporation against terrorism? Was there any reference to what

:56:30. > :56:36.happened on the streets of London just over a week ago when

:56:37. > :56:40.demonstrators were allowed to shout out blaming Zionists for the

:56:41. > :56:48.Grenfell Tower fire and castigating rabbis and synagogues? I can say to

:56:49. > :56:52.the Honourable Lady that there was indeed a significant discussion on

:56:53. > :56:56.counterterrorism and the need for us to corporate together in dealing

:56:57. > :57:00.with that issue. We focused as I said in my statement on issues

:57:01. > :57:04.around the Internet, on the way in which the Internet is used to

:57:05. > :57:08.promulgate hateful propaganda, but also for the terrorists to be able

:57:09. > :57:13.to plan on the Internet and have a safe space. We are united in our

:57:14. > :57:16.wish, and indeed our determination to ensure that we take action with

:57:17. > :57:21.the tech companies to ensure this can happen in the future. On the

:57:22. > :57:25.last point the Honourable Lady raises I would simply say this dash

:57:26. > :57:30.across the whole of this House we are clear that there is no place for

:57:31. > :57:33.hate crime or hate speech in this country.

:57:34. > :57:40.3.2 million EU citizens currently choose to live and work in our

:57:41. > :57:44.country and they are well aware we are leaving the EU. What does my

:57:45. > :57:49.right honourable friend believes this says about their perception of

:57:50. > :57:53.the future prospect of our country after Brexit and about many of the

:57:54. > :57:57.members opposite that millions of EU citizens have more confidence in our

:57:58. > :58:01.country going forward than they do? I say to my honourable friend that I

:58:02. > :58:06.think what that shows is what a great place the UK is to live and

:58:07. > :58:10.work and what great opportunities we have for the future and I'm very

:58:11. > :58:15.pleased that those 3.2 million EU citizens have confidence in our

:58:16. > :58:18.country and want to stay here. The Prime Minister talked about the

:58:19. > :58:22.drivers of migration which include climate change, conflict and extreme

:58:23. > :58:25.poverty. As a country we have a proud record on international

:58:26. > :58:31.development, does she agree that it is vitally important as this process

:58:32. > :58:34.moves forward that we continue to cooperate very closely with the EU

:58:35. > :58:39.and other European countries to tackle extreme poverty, especially

:58:40. > :58:42.in Africa? Indeed it is and I am pleased that as the country we have

:58:43. > :58:47.been able to play our part in dealing with that. As an example,

:58:48. > :58:53.the Somalia conference we brought forward and hosted some weeks ago

:58:54. > :58:57.brought countries from around the world to find ways in which we could

:58:58. > :59:02.continue to support Somalia which has been a source of people choosing

:59:03. > :59:06.to leave to try to come to Europe, to present a greater stability in

:59:07. > :59:08.the country and also greater economic opportunity. The UK has

:59:09. > :59:14.been at the forefront with the contract we have with India pipped

:59:15. > :59:16.into providing economic jobs opportunities for people who

:59:17. > :59:19.otherwise might try to migrate to Europe and we will continue to work

:59:20. > :59:23.with our European allies on this. Does the primaries to believe that

:59:24. > :59:29.our new relationship with Europe will enable us to reduce further the

:59:30. > :59:34.significant numbers of EU nationals in our prisons? Of course it would

:59:35. > :59:38.give further headroom for our hard-pressed prison officers to do

:59:39. > :59:43.the vital rehabilitation work. Indeed we want to ensure we are able

:59:44. > :59:47.to continue to transfer prisoners from the UK to their home states in

:59:48. > :59:52.the European Union but we also want to ensure and will do that we are

:59:53. > :00:00.able to remove serious and persistent criminals from the United

:00:01. > :00:07.Kingdom. If I could ask the right honourable and even closer friend

:00:08. > :00:16.the Prime Minister... LAUGHTER What reassurance the Prime Minister

:00:17. > :00:21.can give to the agri- food sector in Northern Ireland, its producers and

:00:22. > :00:24.processors in particular, about the rights of workers that will be

:00:25. > :00:28.required to benefit from the increase in trade that the sector

:00:29. > :00:34.will undoubtedly get as a result Brexit? Will this be marshalled by

:00:35. > :00:40.way of a work permit system and if so will that be capped in Northern

:00:41. > :00:44.Ireland? The rules we will set for people coming into the UK from the

:00:45. > :00:52.European Union once we have left, people who not here already, this

:00:53. > :00:56.will be set out in the new immigration bill we will bring to

:00:57. > :01:00.the house after the repeal bill, but I fully recognise the importance of

:01:01. > :01:08.the agri- food sector in Northern Ireland, that was clear on several

:01:09. > :01:12.visits I made there, and we want to ensure that not just in Northern

:01:13. > :01:15.Ireland but in the whole of the UK that we seek greater opportunities

:01:16. > :01:21.for the agri- food sector which will ring jobs and greater growth and

:01:22. > :01:26.prosperity. Would my right honourable friend agree that the

:01:27. > :01:29.typically warm and constructive response from Mr Junker to the

:01:30. > :01:35.welcome proposals reinforces the need for her to work ever closer

:01:36. > :01:41.than with European heads of compliments? As I said in my

:01:42. > :01:45.statement, the responses I had from individual leaders in the EU were

:01:46. > :01:51.positive to the proposals we were putting forward and I can cite for

:01:52. > :01:55.example the Fire Minister of Poland in a positive response to what was

:01:56. > :02:05.said and he has made an interesting point. -- Prime Minister. The pie

:02:06. > :02:09.Mr's new governing partners, the DUP come in their manifesto said they

:02:10. > :02:13.were seek to deliver "A frictionless border with the Republic of Ireland

:02:14. > :02:18.and a conference of free trade and customs agreement with the EU." Is

:02:19. > :02:24.not the case that neither of these objectives can be secured if we

:02:25. > :02:29.leave the EU a deal? I have to say to the honourable gentleman that the

:02:30. > :02:32.requirement and desire to bring about a frictionless border between

:02:33. > :02:35.Northern Ireland and Ireland and the desire to have that free trade deal

:02:36. > :02:40.is exactly what the government is pursuing, it is what we have said in

:02:41. > :02:46.the Lancaster House deal and we are doing it. I met the incoming

:02:47. > :02:54.Taoiseach last week and we will work with them to deliver just that.

:02:55. > :02:58.Violent ideologies from far right is the mists are increasingly on line.

:02:59. > :03:02.Can my right honourable friend provide more information as to what

:03:03. > :03:07.was agreed in the council in finding accountable Internet companies that

:03:08. > :03:11.carry extremist content or those that are platforms for grooming? My

:03:12. > :03:16.honourable friend makes a very important point and what we seethes

:03:17. > :03:20.with extremism which leads to terrorism whatever the source, is

:03:21. > :03:24.that people are trying to divide us in this country and I think that is

:03:25. > :03:30.why the response we have had to all the terrorist attacks that have

:03:31. > :03:35.taken place recently, the differing reasons for those attacks taking

:03:36. > :03:38.place of course, the response of unity and unity of purpose of the

:03:39. > :03:42.British citizens to ensure we tried out this hatred from our country is

:03:43. > :03:46.so important. We focused in the discussions on the aspect of the

:03:47. > :03:51.Internet and in particular on the industry led forum which we and

:03:52. > :03:56.others have been discussing with tech companies to be set up. We want

:03:57. > :04:00.to the automatic technological solutions to removing material from

:04:01. > :04:04.the Internet because at the moment that the process of removing that

:04:05. > :04:07.extremist material is too slow and it allows too many minds to be

:04:08. > :04:14.infiltrated before it is taken down so we want automatic removal of it.

:04:15. > :04:20.The Prime Minister has made clear that her hostility to the European

:04:21. > :04:26.Court of Justice, what is going to happen to British citizens living in

:04:27. > :04:29.other EU countries if they are not protected by the European Court of

:04:30. > :04:39.Justice? Will they become citizens of nowhere? What I have made clear

:04:40. > :04:45.is that, as regards the jurisdiction of courts in the UK, I believe we

:04:46. > :04:48.should not be subject to the European Court of Justice, that EU

:04:49. > :04:51.citizens rights here should be protected in a different way and I

:04:52. > :04:55.believe when people voted to believe the EU, one of the things they voted

:04:56. > :05:01.for was for the ECJ have jurisdiction here the UK.

:05:02. > :05:09.I think the whole country will welcome the agreement that the

:05:10. > :05:15.Conservative and Unionist Party has done with the DUP. The Prime

:05:16. > :05:21.Minister in her statement referred to the Brexit dividend of over ?10

:05:22. > :05:25.billion that we will save when we're not in the European superstate and I

:05:26. > :05:32.welcome the half ?1 billion a year going to Northern Ireland, but is

:05:33. > :05:36.that funding to adapt the rest of the UK? What I can say to the

:05:37. > :05:41.honourable gentleman is that we do have to look at how we are going to

:05:42. > :05:45.use money we will no longer be sending to the European Union.

:05:46. > :05:49.People voted for us not to send vast sums of money to the EU and we have

:05:50. > :05:54.to look at how we use that and one of the aspects we have already

:05:55. > :05:57.proposed on this side of the house is this concept of a Shared

:05:58. > :06:03.Prosperity Fund which will be removing disparities between

:06:04. > :06:06.different parts of the UK. Did the Prime Minister have a chance to

:06:07. > :06:09.discuss transitional funding arrangements for Wales at the

:06:10. > :06:13.European Council? Surely she will have to have something to say to the

:06:14. > :06:16.people of Wales who feel they are being treated like second-class

:06:17. > :06:19.citizens when she can magic up billions for Northern Ireland but

:06:20. > :06:25.would not give a guaranteed to Wales on future funding. We have already

:06:26. > :06:28.been very clear on various aspects of funding from the EU in relation

:06:29. > :06:32.to funding for farmers and the guarantees we have given over period

:06:33. > :06:36.of years for that but we want to make sure that when we have money

:06:37. > :06:39.comes back from Europe, that we're not giving to the European Union,

:06:40. > :06:44.that we are able to spend that money in a way that is as effective as

:06:45. > :06:53.possible in driving improvement across the whole of the UK. Before

:06:54. > :06:57.coming to this place I used to teach effective negotiation skills. Could

:06:58. > :07:03.I invite the lead of the opposition to a free trial period? -- the

:07:04. > :07:08.Leader of the Opposition. Can I say I think that was the most generous

:07:09. > :07:11.offer from my honourable friend but I suspect the first thing he will

:07:12. > :07:19.have to do is explain to the Leader of the Opposition what a negotiation

:07:20. > :07:23.actually is. Can I continue the efforts of my colleague from

:07:24. > :07:27.Pontefract and lead Central in trying to understand what this will

:07:28. > :07:31.mean for EU constituent resident in the UK and their family members. Can

:07:32. > :07:35.the Prime Minister confirmed that under her rules this means a Polish

:07:36. > :07:41.nurse who is on a band five salary of under ?22,000 and therefore will

:07:42. > :07:45.not meet the threshold of income required under the current rules

:07:46. > :07:52.will not be able to bring her child and partner over to the UK, or a

:07:53. > :07:56.French teaching assistant on under ?17,000 will not be able to bring an

:07:57. > :08:00.elderly relative to the UK under these rules and if so what impact

:08:01. > :08:07.does she think this will happen our public services? What I have said

:08:08. > :08:11.earlier, for those EU citizens who are here and qualified for the

:08:12. > :08:16.several satyrs, either with five years residents already, or they are

:08:17. > :08:19.here before the cut-off date and are able to build up that qualification

:08:20. > :08:23.for settled status, they will be no extra requirement in terms of them

:08:24. > :08:33.bringing family members into the UK. We're not going to be splitting

:08:34. > :08:36.those families. I welcome the Prime Minister's clear assurances that in

:08:37. > :08:41.Brexit there will be no family split ups and they will be able to have no

:08:42. > :08:45.cliff edges so they can regularise their status and also the health

:08:46. > :08:50.care and pension arrangements but the impact of Brexit on British

:08:51. > :08:54.businesses who employ EU workers simply cannot be underestimated,

:08:55. > :08:58.especially in places like Taunton Deane with the food and drink and

:08:59. > :09:01.farming industries, so what reassurances can be Prime Minister

:09:02. > :09:08.give British businesses who employ EU citizens? First ball can I

:09:09. > :09:11.reemphasise the point my honourable friend has made that there will be

:09:12. > :09:15.no cliff edges and people will be able to bring family members here,

:09:16. > :09:21.we're not talking about splitting up families and business are very

:09:22. > :09:23.important message. Once we have left the European Union, we will of

:09:24. > :09:29.course be putting immigration rules in place but as we do for people who

:09:30. > :09:35.come here already from outside the EU, we will recognise with those

:09:36. > :09:39.rules they need that our country has access to the skills it needs

:09:40. > :09:43.particular in shortage occupations but we also want to ensure that

:09:44. > :09:46.people here in the UK are trained to take those jobs, hence the very

:09:47. > :09:52.important moves the government is making on technical education. The

:09:53. > :09:55.Prime Minister said earlier that no families would be split up but she

:09:56. > :09:59.said in the general election campaign that she is intending to

:10:00. > :10:06.cut net migration to this country to the tens of thousands. There is a

:10:07. > :10:10.problem here because last year 's 136,787 people came to this country

:10:11. > :10:13.through the family route so if she is going to meet her pledge, she is

:10:14. > :10:19.going to split families up, isn't she? Let's be very clear about what

:10:20. > :10:22.I'm saying about EU citizens who qualified for settled status, they

:10:23. > :10:31.will be able to bring family members here into the UK without extra

:10:32. > :10:33.requirements. I welcome the prime Elizabeth Maca statement that

:10:34. > :10:39.Britain will be more internationalist after leaving the

:10:40. > :10:45.EU -- the Prime Minister. Can she give further details on discussions

:10:46. > :10:49.with non-EU countries about that prospect? I am happy to say we have

:10:50. > :10:51.already have a number of productive engagements on the issue of trade

:10:52. > :11:00.for the future with countries around the world, notably with India,

:11:01. > :11:02.America, and other countries as well like Australia and New Zealand,

:11:03. > :11:06.discussions with China and other countries around the world. There

:11:07. > :11:15.are real opportunities for the UK to the EU and we will make every effort

:11:16. > :11:18.to make sure we take them. The Prime Minister's of is a step in the right

:11:19. > :11:21.direction but long overdue and she will know as a former Home Secretary

:11:22. > :11:26.that it is impossible to grant the rights she proposes to 3.2 million

:11:27. > :11:31.EU citizens and fulfil her target to reduce net migration to the tens of

:11:32. > :11:36.thousands. Can she confirm for the house that she has set aside this

:11:37. > :11:40.than target and is going to propose instead to follow the Chancellor's

:11:41. > :11:45.advice of a Brexit that is rich in jobs? We all want to ensure that the

:11:46. > :11:48.deal we come to with the EU is going to ensure we have the comprehensive

:11:49. > :11:52.free trade agreement that will indeed ensure we see growth and

:11:53. > :11:56.prosperity and jobs here in the UK. That is the aim but also we will be

:11:57. > :11:59.able to see jobs being brought here as a result of the trade

:12:00. > :12:06.arrangements made around the rest of the world. May I paid tribute to the

:12:07. > :12:11.Prime Minister for confirming once more people Poolman of this side the

:12:12. > :12:16.house to deliver that referendum result on control of our Lord and

:12:17. > :12:19.Borders and money and would she give due assurance that any pressure to

:12:20. > :12:25.allow the European Court of Justice any role in immigration or future

:12:26. > :12:31.status of EU citizens within this country will be flatly opposed?

:12:32. > :12:38.The assurances I have set out earlier, I believe in terms of

:12:39. > :12:40.assuring the rights of EU citizens living in the United Kingdom, we

:12:41. > :12:44.believe that should be done through our courts and not the European

:12:45. > :12:48.Court of Justice. I would reiterate the point I made earlier, when many

:12:49. > :12:52.people voted to leave the European Union, one of the things they wanted

:12:53. > :13:00.to ensure was the ECJ no longer had jurisdiction in the UK. Mr Barry

:13:01. > :13:04.Sheerman. Many of us who did not want this country of ours to leave

:13:05. > :13:08.the European Union did so partly because we believed it would make us

:13:09. > :13:12.more vulnerable and Europe less stable. Could she assure me that

:13:13. > :13:17.there were discussions at the European Council of the security

:13:18. > :13:22.implications of where we are now in Europe, given the increasing threat

:13:23. > :13:24.from Russia, both in terms of military and defence, but also in

:13:25. > :13:29.terms of other activities they seem to be getting up to these days? I

:13:30. > :13:34.can assure the honourable gentleman that there were discussions,

:13:35. > :13:38.particularly discussions relating to the activities of Russia and the

:13:39. > :13:40.EU's response to that and the United Kingdom has been one of the

:13:41. > :13:48.countries leading the requirements in relation to that. We remain clear

:13:49. > :13:51.that the sanctions must stay until the Minsk agreement is fully

:13:52. > :13:56.implement it in relation to what activity Russia has undertaken in

:13:57. > :13:59.Ukraine. We also discussed other security and defence issues and I

:14:00. > :14:03.was able to reassure the other heads of state and government that the

:14:04. > :14:07.United Kingdom will retain its role in helping to ensure the security

:14:08. > :14:10.and safety of the European Union. We want to continue to have a defence

:14:11. > :14:16.and security partnership with our European allies. Tim Lawton. Can

:14:17. > :14:22.return to the Prime Minister's welcome comments on social media

:14:23. > :14:25.sites hosting hate material. We have led the way on requiring employers

:14:26. > :14:30.to proactively make checks on the legality of prospective employers.

:14:31. > :14:35.For landlords to check on prospective tenants and for banks to

:14:36. > :14:39.check on money-laundering. No such requirements or fines are in place

:14:40. > :14:45.for social media companies. So can she now set down urgently a timeline

:14:46. > :14:48.minimum requirements and the real prospect of significant and

:14:49. > :14:53.meaningful fines for those social media companies who continue to act

:14:54. > :14:56.responsibly? My honourable friend makes a very important point and it

:14:57. > :15:01.is precisely because we want to see those companies acting with greater

:15:02. > :15:05.responsibility in this area that we have been discussing with them this

:15:06. > :15:08.industry led forum for automatic takedown of material from the

:15:09. > :15:13.Internet and that we have galvanised support, not just in the G7, as I

:15:14. > :15:17.did earlier this month, but also in the EU Council last Friday.

:15:18. > :15:21.International support for ensuring that we can put collective pressure

:15:22. > :15:26.on the companies to ensure that they are not carrying this material, and

:15:27. > :15:32.that we do see the importance and significance of taking this action.

:15:33. > :15:36.We have also discussed that, whereas the first step will be discussions

:15:37. > :15:38.with the companies and what they can do themselves, we have also

:15:39. > :15:46.discussed the prospect of legislation if that fails. SPEAKER:

:15:47. > :15:51.Adam Jones. He was here a moment ago. Mr David Hanson. Could the

:15:52. > :15:57.Prime Minister assure the House she has made progress of ensuring our

:15:58. > :16:00.members above the European Arrest Warrant, Europol and the Eurojust in

:16:01. > :16:04.her discussions, and could she also tell me that the UK Government does

:16:05. > :16:11.no when European citizens enter the United Kingdom? As regards the

:16:12. > :16:14.Eurojust and Europol and European Arrest Warrant, though this will be

:16:15. > :16:19.matters for the negotiations. I've been very clear that we want to

:16:20. > :16:25.retain our security cooperation not just on counterterrorism matters but

:16:26. > :16:31.also on matters relating to crime. Wendy Morton. Mr Speaker, when we

:16:32. > :16:34.triggered Article 50 it was very clear that the immigration regime

:16:35. > :16:37.would need to be changed. Does my Right Honourable friend agree that

:16:38. > :16:42.it was entirely sensible and appropriate to discuss the cut-off

:16:43. > :16:47.date with the EU Commission? I absolutely agree with my honourable

:16:48. > :16:50.friend. We will see new immigration rules brought in to the UK for those

:16:51. > :16:54.people who are moving from the EU into the UK after we have left, and

:16:55. > :16:58.is entirely right and sensible as part of the negotiations to discuss

:16:59. > :17:05.the cut-off date for EU citizens who are here. I represent many EU

:17:06. > :17:08.citizens who are fearful and indeed tearful about their future prospects

:17:09. > :17:11.so I welcome some of the clarity the Prime Minister has brought to the

:17:12. > :17:15.matter. She talks about a streamlined system for status but

:17:16. > :17:19.many of them worry about having to pay the costs for an entire family

:17:20. > :17:23.to go through this process in short order. Can she give an indication of

:17:24. > :17:26.what the costs might be said that she can reassure them? The Home

:17:27. > :17:30.Office will be looking very carefully at ensuring that the costs

:17:31. > :17:33.are reasonable in this. They want to ensure that the streamlined process

:17:34. > :17:37.will be a light touch process and will be easy for people to access,

:17:38. > :17:46.and therefore easy for people to regularise their status. Thank you,

:17:47. > :17:50.Mr Speaker. It is very important to our economy that business continues

:17:51. > :17:54.to invest and there are no cliff edge changes to our trading

:17:55. > :17:59.relationships. As well as seeking a fair deal on exit as well as a new

:18:00. > :18:02.trade deal with the Prime Minister seek a two-year or three-year

:18:03. > :18:07.transition period to give Mr Cesc total of five years to prepare for

:18:08. > :18:11.the future? -- to give businesses. It is important that when we know

:18:12. > :18:15.the basis of the future relationship with the EU that we recognise that

:18:16. > :18:17.not just business but government has welcome may need to have an

:18:18. > :18:21.intimidation period when they are able to make the adjustments

:18:22. > :18:24.necessary. How long that period will be will depend, of course, on what

:18:25. > :18:29.the new relationship is going to be, and therefore that will be part of

:18:30. > :18:34.the discussions that take place during the negotiations. With tens

:18:35. > :18:38.of thousands of Scottish jobs at risk will the Prime Minister listen

:18:39. > :18:42.to her Chancellor's warnings in relation to our place in the Single

:18:43. > :18:45.Market? As regards Scottish jobs I have to say the most important

:18:46. > :18:54.Single Market is that of the United Kingdom. Mr Henry Smith. Thank you,

:18:55. > :19:01.Mr Speaker. Was the Prime Minister able to convey to her European

:19:02. > :19:04.counterparts in the council that 589 members of this House elected in the

:19:05. > :19:09.general election earlier this month did so on a promise to deliver a

:19:10. > :19:16.comprehensive Brexit? Yes, I was very clear that the view of the

:19:17. > :19:21.electorate, the view of the government, the view of the

:19:22. > :19:23.majority, the position that was taken at the election of the

:19:24. > :19:27.majority of people who have come into this House was precisely that,

:19:28. > :19:31.to deliver on the will of the people expressed in the referendum. The

:19:32. > :19:35.Prime Minister said at the beginning of her statement that she wished for

:19:36. > :19:40.the UK and EU to trade as fairly as possible in the goods and services.

:19:41. > :19:43.Can she confirmed to the House if any time was spent on developing

:19:44. > :19:48.proposals for the UK to remain invisible market and customs union?

:19:49. > :19:52.I have to say to the honourable gentleman, what we want to do is to

:19:53. > :19:56.ensure that we have a good frictionless and as tariff free as

:19:57. > :20:00.possible access to the Single Market. That's what we are talking

:20:01. > :20:03.about when we talk about a comprehensive free trade agreement,

:20:04. > :20:09.that agreement will be part of the negotiations. Mr Richard Graham.

:20:10. > :20:13.European Union citizens in my constituency of Gloucester and their

:20:14. > :20:18.employers, notably the NHS, university and many businesses, will

:20:19. > :20:19.greatly appreciate the clarity in the Prime Minister's statement

:20:20. > :20:22.today. Could my Right Honourable friend give an idea of whether she

:20:23. > :20:26.believes an agreement on this crucial issue of so many citizens

:20:27. > :20:29.here and so many British citizens in Europe might be possible before

:20:30. > :20:36.agreement on other issues, and if so when? I am pleased that this issue

:20:37. > :20:40.is one of the first issue going to be addressed in the negotiations. I

:20:41. > :20:43.hope and I believe there is goodwill on both sides to recognise the

:20:44. > :20:50.importance of this issue for citizens both here and in the

:20:51. > :20:53.European Union, the remaining 27 member states. I cannot put a

:20:54. > :20:56.timeline on that because there are aspects of this that have to be

:20:57. > :21:01.negotiated and the European Union has said that nothing is agreed

:21:02. > :21:05.until everything is agreed. But I would hope we would be able to give

:21:06. > :21:12.final reassurance to its citizens at an earlier stage. Diana Johnson. The

:21:13. > :21:15.Prime Minister said, and I'm sure we would all agree, that she wants to

:21:16. > :21:19.see the removal of serious and persistent criminals from the UK.

:21:20. > :21:23.Could she say more about how she intends to do that, bearing in mind

:21:24. > :21:29.she failed to do it in the six or seven years she was Home Secretary?

:21:30. > :21:33.I have to say to the Honourable Lady that her portrayal of what happened

:21:34. > :21:38.during the time I was Home Secretary, and indeed since, is not

:21:39. > :21:41.correct. Significant number of persistent and serious criminals

:21:42. > :21:46.were removed from the United Kingdom. The basis on which it is

:21:47. > :21:50.possible to do that for people who are here as European Union citizens,

:21:51. > :21:54.of course, is subject to slightly different rules than for others and

:21:55. > :21:59.once we are out of the European Union we will be able to adjust

:22:00. > :22:02.that. My constituency has proportionally more EU nationals

:22:03. > :22:07.than any other in the country compared to how recently they have

:22:08. > :22:11.arrived. I know that day and I would warmly welcome this statement which

:22:12. > :22:16.provides real clarity and I hope that she dumb and will be concluded

:22:17. > :22:21.as she has said that the end of this deal. On the issue of social media,

:22:22. > :22:24.can I remind the Prime Minister it wasn't that long ago that Internet

:22:25. > :22:29.company said the removal of child sex abuse is automatically was

:22:30. > :22:31.simply impossible. Now it happens routinely. Extremist material is

:22:32. > :22:36.harder but does she agree with me that it can be done? My honourable

:22:37. > :22:41.friend has made an important point in drawing that comparison. It did

:22:42. > :22:44.take a while and hard work to get the tech companies to the position

:22:45. > :22:48.where they would take the action they have done on child sexual abuse

:22:49. > :22:51.images on the Internet. I believe we can do the same with extremism and

:22:52. > :22:56.that is what we are encouraging them to do.

:22:57. > :23:02.Prime Minister, with your statement at the council, did you manage to

:23:03. > :23:06.raise the issue of the Erasmus plus programme and our continuing work in

:23:07. > :23:09.that? We have the deadline for the Erasmus plus grants in October. It

:23:10. > :23:14.takes six months for those grants to be awarded and another year

:23:15. > :23:18.sometimes for them to be enacted. Will the Prime Minister ensure that

:23:19. > :23:23.any academic student or young person that is awarded an Erasmus programme

:23:24. > :23:27.is able to come here without additional fees are burdens? First

:23:28. > :23:32.of all I would point out that while we are still within the European

:23:33. > :23:36.Union, the current arrangements and opportunities to apply still apply

:23:37. > :23:39.to the United Kingdom. We have been able to give some certainty in terms

:23:40. > :23:43.of certain programmes to the continuation of those programmes

:23:44. > :23:46.after we leave the European Union. I think after we have left the

:23:47. > :23:52.European Union there will be options for us to find ways in which we can

:23:53. > :23:57.continue to participate in such programmes. We warmly welcome the

:23:58. > :24:01.honourable gentleman to the chamber and deliberations. Michael

:24:02. > :24:06.Tomlinson. I have just returned from the Netherlands with a delegation

:24:07. > :24:09.for the Lords and Commons. It is the Dutch tour, whereas amongst other

:24:10. > :24:13.things I have the opportunity to speak to British nationals living

:24:14. > :24:16.and working in the Netherlands. What reassurance can the Prime Minister

:24:17. > :24:19.give to them and other British nationals working across the EU that

:24:20. > :24:26.their rights will be protected alongside EU writes living here? I

:24:27. > :24:29.think the best assurance I can give to those British citizens living in

:24:30. > :24:36.the Netherlands and elsewhere in the European Union is that we have set

:24:37. > :24:40.out a fair deal, a fair offer to those EU citizens living here but we

:24:41. > :24:43.are very clear this must be reciprocal and British citizens must

:24:44. > :24:48.have their rights protected as well. We will continue to argue for that.

:24:49. > :24:53.Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister mention the trade deal with Japan

:24:54. > :24:57.and the EU. She will be aware from leaked documents this weekend that a

:24:58. > :25:01.lot of people are concerned that there is no mention of employment up

:25:02. > :25:05.to use, for example tackling Japan's illegal timber trade all whaling in

:25:06. > :25:08.that draft agreement. Does she think those protections should be in there

:25:09. > :25:13.and what does she think that means about those negotiations that will

:25:14. > :25:19.be undertaken when we leave the EU? There is still negotiation going on

:25:20. > :25:23.between the UK and Japan. When we are able to set up these agreements

:25:24. > :25:27.ourselves, and Japan is another of the countries we have been talking

:25:28. > :25:30.to, it will be up to us as part of the negotiations for that trade deal

:25:31. > :25:34.to set the conditions for that trade agreement. Nigel Huddleston.

:25:35. > :25:38.Returning to the issue of online Returning to the issue of online

:25:39. > :25:42.content, will the promised concerned, confirm whether the

:25:43. > :25:47.government would create an act of legislation themselves, should the

:25:48. > :25:51.Internet companies not make progress on removing inappropriate content?

:25:52. > :25:55.We are certainly willing to consider legislation on this matter. This is

:25:56. > :25:58.so important. I believe that with the international pressure we are

:25:59. > :26:02.building and with the cooperation internationally we are building we

:26:03. > :26:05.will be to put pressure on the tech companies such that they do this

:26:06. > :26:14.themselves. We should not rule out any option. Patrick Grady. I know we

:26:15. > :26:18.should not blow raspberries in this House but that was the reaction of

:26:19. > :26:22.constituents on Saturday when they heard about the reports of this

:26:23. > :26:25.deal. I wonder how many EU nationals the Prime Minister has met or

:26:26. > :26:30.consulted with in drawing up the proposals she presented today? I

:26:31. > :26:33.have to say to the honourable gentleman, like other members of

:26:34. > :26:39.this House, I've met people in my constituency who are employees of EU

:26:40. > :26:42.nationals, people who are EU nationals concerned about their

:26:43. > :26:45.position, and I suggest that what he does, because the detail has not

:26:46. > :26:49.been published at the weekend, that he takes the detail of this to his

:26:50. > :26:55.constituents and enables them to see for themselves the fair serious

:26:56. > :26:59.offer we are making. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I was pleased

:27:00. > :27:03.to hear the Prime Minister refer to the manifesto commitment to create a

:27:04. > :27:06.UK Shared Prosperity Fund earlier in this session. Even though it wasn't

:27:07. > :27:09.specifically mentioned in the Queen's speech, could the Prime

:27:10. > :27:12.Minister confirm that this government is committed to bring

:27:13. > :27:16.forward such a fund to replace EU structural funding that has been so

:27:17. > :27:20.important to places like Cornwall? I want to ensure that when we are in a

:27:21. > :27:23.position that we are no longer sending these huge sums of money

:27:24. > :27:26.every year to the European Union that the money that is available,

:27:27. > :27:31.some of the money available, can be used in this way. There is a very

:27:32. > :27:36.real issue about ensuring that we do that in a way that is as effective

:27:37. > :27:37.as possible and is going to have the maximum impact across all parts of

:27:38. > :27:45.the United Kingdom. I'm sure the Prime Minister will be

:27:46. > :27:48.aware of the problems already faced by our universities and research

:27:49. > :27:52.centres because of the uncertainty around these issues so could she

:27:53. > :27:55.tell others what discussions she had the council with other leaders about

:27:56. > :27:59.dealing with these challenges and could she take the opportunity to

:28:00. > :28:04.say whether she wants us to stay in the Horizon 2020 programme in

:28:05. > :28:10.future? There are a number of these programmes and projects that the UK

:28:11. > :28:13.has been part of and we have benefited from that will be part of

:28:14. > :28:17.the negotiations as we go through. What I am very clear about and the

:28:18. > :28:22.point we have consistently made within EU circles is to ensure that,

:28:23. > :28:25.as long as we are still in the European Union, we should have the

:28:26. > :28:31.same ability to apply for programmes and be part of these as has been the

:28:32. > :28:36.case previously. One of the areas of concern I have is that in areas such

:28:37. > :28:40.as University research, I am hearing anecdotes that universities are

:28:41. > :28:45.finding it harder because of our future. What I would say is that as

:28:46. > :28:47.long as we are in the EU, we are able to apply on the same basis as

:28:48. > :29:01.always. The European arrest warrant has

:29:02. > :29:07.proved very effective exclusion order means by which we cede speedy

:29:08. > :29:13.justice for those who have committed crimes and for the victims who want

:29:14. > :29:19.to see a speedy outcome -- by which we see. As the Prime Minister

:29:20. > :29:25.discuss this at any point and if not when does she think it will be

:29:26. > :29:29.discussed? Those issues, as I indicated to her right honourable

:29:30. > :29:34.friend earlier, will be part of the negotiations but I'm also bound to

:29:35. > :29:38.point out that I have stood at this dispatch box as Home Secretary and

:29:39. > :29:41.argued for the UK remaining in the European arrest warrant when the

:29:42. > :29:53.Labour Party was trying to stop us get the legislation through.

:29:54. > :29:59.All this junk rig is rather unfair on the honourable lady who wishes to

:30:00. > :30:05.unburden herself of a series of important thoughts which the nation

:30:06. > :30:10.should hear -- all this chuntering. Every week in my surgery I see

:30:11. > :30:15.constituents who are already one down by the incompetence and

:30:16. > :30:18.intransigence and unkindness of the Home Office. What steps will be

:30:19. > :30:22.Prime Minister put in place to give the home of his adequate funding to

:30:23. > :30:26.deal with these additional EU nationals that need to be processed?

:30:27. > :30:30.The hope this is well able to deal with the issues it will be

:30:31. > :30:35.addressing and it will be ensuring as I said earlier in response to her

:30:36. > :30:39.honourable friend that the process which people will go through will be

:30:40. > :30:45.streamlined and light touch. I recently visited a manufacturer in

:30:46. > :30:51.my constituency that exports into the EU who informed me that they now

:30:52. > :30:55.have to include the risks of Brexit in their export contracts. What

:30:56. > :31:00.advice does the Prime Minister have bought Manufacturer 's like those

:31:01. > :31:04.who have to today assess the risk they may end up paying tariffs when

:31:05. > :31:09.we leave the EU? I would say to those manufacturers that I hope they

:31:10. > :31:14.will work with us as the government to ensure we understand the needs of

:31:15. > :31:18.every part of industry in the country as we go forward into the

:31:19. > :31:21.negotiation of the comprehensive free trade agreement. We want to see

:31:22. > :31:24.a tariff free ability to trade with the EU and we will consider the

:31:25. > :31:31.views and interests of British industry as we do that. The Prime

:31:32. > :31:35.Minister as twice this afternoon responded to questions about the

:31:36. > :31:40.skills challenges that will be created as a result of the reform of

:31:41. > :31:43.the freedom of movement by referring to the reform of technical education

:31:44. > :31:48.but of course the economy will have much greater needs new dentists,

:31:49. > :31:53.doctors, vets and other professionals. On that basis will

:31:54. > :31:57.she guaranteed the funding necessary to ensure that our schools, colleges

:31:58. > :32:03.and universities will be able to meet skills challenges of a

:32:04. > :32:06.post-Brexit world? I have been very clear we need to meet those skills

:32:07. > :32:11.challenges which is why we are bringing in the reforms we are and I

:32:12. > :32:14.have to say that she refers to issues within the NHS. Of course one

:32:15. > :32:18.of the important steps this government has taken is to remove

:32:19. > :32:26.the caps on numbers of people who can train as staff in the NHS. My

:32:27. > :32:31.question relate to that posed by my friend from Cambridge, I would like

:32:32. > :32:34.to ask why is the Prime Minister truly is concerned about the future

:32:35. > :32:38.of British side in European funding, there is no mention of British side

:32:39. > :32:43.in European funding in either this statement nor of any of the Brexit

:32:44. > :32:47.bills nor in the Queen's speech? Can I suggest that the honourable lady

:32:48. > :32:51.looks at the 12 objectives we set out in my Lancaster House speech in

:32:52. > :32:58.January for our negotiated deal with the EU when we specifically referred

:32:59. > :33:02.to science and innovation. Much player has been made about the

:33:03. > :33:05.supremacy of this place in terms of the repatriation of powers from the

:33:06. > :33:09.EU yet there has been no consideration made about whole

:33:10. > :33:13.government and structure of the UK is to be developed post Brexit so it

:33:14. > :33:16.will become and give any consideration to a concurrent

:33:17. > :33:20.constitutional convention which will consider how stable and sustainable

:33:21. > :33:26.governance and distribution of power is considered after the Brexit

:33:27. > :33:32.prizes including a federal UK? -- Brexit process. I welcome the

:33:33. > :33:35.honourable gentleman to his place, there are one or two other members

:33:36. > :33:40.who I have not welcome and I apologise to them for that but can I

:33:41. > :33:43.just say that I think the best way of ensuring good governance and

:33:44. > :33:46.stability across the UK is maintaining the United Kingdom. I

:33:47. > :33:51.also welcomed the honourable member for Glasgow North East who has

:33:52. > :33:58.served up a very interesting hors d'oeuvre and we look forward to his

:33:59. > :34:01.main course before long! In York we have Timico excellent universities

:34:02. > :34:05.but they already challenged by the recruitment and retention of EU

:34:06. > :34:14.staff will stop -- two excellent universities. How will academics

:34:15. > :34:20.accrue their settled status under new rules? I have to say that I

:34:21. > :34:23.suggest the honourable lady looks at the proposals we have set out which

:34:24. > :34:27.make it clear the basis on which people are able to get their

:34:28. > :34:32.guaranteed settled status here in the UK and that will cover people

:34:33. > :34:37.from all walks of life. We want EU citizens who are here to stay, we're

:34:38. > :34:47.not talking about forcing anybody to leave the UK. The Prime Minister has

:34:48. > :34:50.not fully answered a number of questions about the longer term

:34:51. > :34:55.right of EU nationals to bring their family over here should they need to

:34:56. > :34:58.in the future. Can she answered the question categorically, will she get

:34:59. > :35:01.an absolute guarantee that the minimum income requirement that is

:35:02. > :35:07.obstructing so many family reunions for non-EU nationals that that

:35:08. > :35:14.requirement will never be imposed on any EU National in the UK? EU

:35:15. > :35:18.nationals who have been here for five years and have the five-year

:35:19. > :35:21.residence will qualify for settled status, EU nationals who have been

:35:22. > :35:25.here for less than five years will be given an opportunity to qualify

:35:26. > :35:32.for that settled status, to stay for those five years to qualify for it,

:35:33. > :35:35.those EU nationals will not have any extra requirements imposed on them

:35:36. > :35:42.in relation to bringing family members here in the UK. When we have

:35:43. > :35:44.left the EU we will be establishing within the immigration rules the

:35:45. > :35:49.arrangements for EU nationals who then move into the UK who will be in

:35:50. > :36:00.the same status as those who are moving from outside of the European

:36:01. > :36:05.Union. As part of her recent little tour around Labour held seats across

:36:06. > :36:13.the country at the Prime Minister stopped for a photograph in a farm

:36:14. > :36:22.in my constituency. Why was there no mention of agriculture in the

:36:23. > :36:25.statement today? I have to say, what I was reporting on were the subject

:36:26. > :36:31.discussed at the European Council on Friday and by reported faithfully on

:36:32. > :36:35.those subjects. Can the Prime Minister confirm that she was aware

:36:36. > :36:39.of the details that are contained in that document on EU nationals

:36:40. > :36:42.wanting to remain in the UK at the time in the general election when

:36:43. > :36:46.she promised to cut immigration to the tens of thousands and are the

:36:47. > :36:51.two compatible with one another? What we're talking about in this

:36:52. > :36:56.document is the right of EU citizens who are living here in the United

:36:57. > :37:00.Kingdom. We are making a fair and serious offer that nobody will be

:37:01. > :37:04.forced to leave the UK, that families will not be split up. We

:37:05. > :37:12.want people to stay and this document will enable them to.

:37:13. > :37:17.Statement, the first Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet

:37:18. > :37:27.Office, minister Damian Green. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

:37:28. > :37:35.With permission I will make a statement on details of the

:37:36. > :37:38.agreement reached today between the Conservative and Unionist Party and

:37:39. > :37:41.the Democratic Unionist Party under which the DUP will support the

:37:42. > :37:45.government on a confidence and supply basis. Having won the most

:37:46. > :37:50.votes and the largest number of seats in the general election on the

:37:51. > :37:54.8th of June by a significant margin, it is only the Conservative Party

:37:55. > :38:02.which has the ability and legitimacy to lead the government our country

:38:03. > :38:05.needs. This agreement delivers the certainty we need in the United

:38:06. > :38:11.Kingdom's national interest at this crucial time. This agreement means

:38:12. > :38:16.the DUP will support the government on votes on the Queen's speech, the

:38:17. > :38:21.budget and on legislation relating to our exit from the EU and national

:38:22. > :38:26.security. It will ensure that we can govern in the national interest,

:38:27. > :38:30.strengthening and enhancing the union, keeping our country safe,

:38:31. > :38:34.delivering prosperity for all and securing a departure from the

:38:35. > :38:39.European Union which benefits all parts of the UK. To support this

:38:40. > :38:42.agreement the government will chair a coordination committee involving

:38:43. > :38:50.both parties. As members of this house are well aware and as our

:38:51. > :38:52.manifesto made clear, the Conservative Party has never been

:38:53. > :38:55.neutral in expressing its support for the union. As this agreement

:38:56. > :38:58.states, Her Majesty's government remains fully committed to the

:38:59. > :39:01.Belfast agreement and its successors. This means we will

:39:02. > :39:07.continue to govern in the interests of all part of the community in

:39:08. > :39:11.Northern Ireland. These confidence and supply arrangements in no way

:39:12. > :39:15.affect our stead fast and went to see the re-establishment of an

:39:16. > :39:18.inclusive Northern Ireland executive by this Thursday. The government

:39:19. > :39:22.will do everything in its power working alongside the Irish

:39:23. > :39:27.government to bring the talks process to a successful conclusion

:39:28. > :39:32.in the short time which remains. Both the government and the DUP

:39:33. > :39:35.recognise the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland's history and

:39:36. > :39:40.the effect this has had on its economy and people from all parts of

:39:41. > :39:43.the community. This government is resolute in its determination to

:39:44. > :39:48.deliver for the whole of the United Kingdom. In recognition of our

:39:49. > :39:52.commitment to support growth across all parts of the United Kingdom, we

:39:53. > :39:56.have agreed to provide additional support for the people of Northern

:39:57. > :40:00.Ireland. I hope this part of the agreement will play a positive role

:40:01. > :40:04.in the efforts to re-establish devolved government. Funding would

:40:05. > :40:10.go to a restored Northern Ireland executive in the same way as the

:40:11. > :40:13.?2.5 billion of financial support and flexibility which was made

:40:14. > :40:18.available to the executive through the 2014 Stormont house agreement

:40:19. > :40:22.and in 2015 through the fresh start agreement. The government supports

:40:23. > :40:25.further cooperation with the Northern Ireland executive on

:40:26. > :40:30.infrastructure development in Northern Ireland, the UK Government

:40:31. > :40:35.will allocate ?200 million per year for two years. Both the government

:40:36. > :40:39.and previous executives have recognised the integral part digital

:40:40. > :40:43.instructor played in opening up new opportunities for growth and

:40:44. > :40:47.connectivity for both businesses and consumers. We will therefore

:40:48. > :40:52.contribute ?75 million per year for two years to help provide ultrafast

:40:53. > :40:55.broadband for Northern Ireland just as we made funding available for

:40:56. > :41:02.this purpose in communities across the UK. The UK Government is

:41:03. > :41:06.committed to working with the executive and others to work toward

:41:07. > :41:10.a comprehensive and ambitious set of city deals across Northern Ireland

:41:11. > :41:14.to boost investment and help unlock the full potential of Northern

:41:15. > :41:17.Ireland. This is the sort of targeted positive intervention in

:41:18. > :41:25.the UK Government can make across the UK and builds on the success of

:41:26. > :41:30.existing deals such as those in Glasgow, Cardiff and Swansea. Since

:41:31. > :41:33.2014 in the UK Government has committed to over ?1 billion worth

:41:34. > :41:37.of investment in Scotland and Wales through this programme along with

:41:38. > :41:40.other projects. This is a continuation of our determination to

:41:41. > :41:45.be a government for the whole of the UK. In order to target pockets of

:41:46. > :41:50.severe deprivation so that all can benefit from growth and prosperity,

:41:51. > :42:03.the UK Government will also provide ?20 million a year for five years to

:42:04. > :42:05.the Northern Ireland executive. We will also ensure that all parts of

:42:06. > :42:08.the UK are properly reflected in the future UK Shared Prosperity Fund as

:42:09. > :42:10.we exit the European Union. As our manifesto made clear, we are also

:42:11. > :42:16.increasing our commitment to investment in public services across

:42:17. > :42:19.the UK. That is why we pledged a minimum of ?8 billion in additional

:42:20. > :42:23.NHS funding in real terms over the next five years and it is also why

:42:24. > :42:29.we pledged to increase funding in real terms per head in every year.

:42:30. > :42:32.Our spending on the NHS in England is also translated into extra

:42:33. > :42:36.spending in Scotland and Wales through the Barnett Formula. How

:42:37. > :42:50.that is spent is of course a matter for the Scottish and Welsh

:42:51. > :42:53.governments. To address immediate priorities in Northern Ireland, the

:42:54. > :42:56.UK Government will also allocate an additional ?50 million per year for

:42:57. > :42:58.two years to enable the executive to address pressures in health and

:42:59. > :43:00.education and recognising the priority given by the executive to

:43:01. > :43:02.securing De Boer, sustainable health service in Northern Ireland, the UK

:43:03. > :43:07.Government will allocate ?100 million per year for two years to

:43:08. > :43:10.support the executive's priority of health service transformation. The

:43:11. > :43:14.government and executive also agreed on the importance of support for

:43:15. > :43:17.mental health, particularly recognising the historical impact of

:43:18. > :43:22.Northern Ireland's passed on its communities.

:43:23. > :43:28.I am glad the Shadow Foreign Secretary finds that amusing, mental

:43:29. > :43:32.health in Northern Ireland, I find that surprising. The UK Government

:43:33. > :43:36.will provide ?10 million a year for five years to support the Northern

:43:37. > :43:38.Ireland Executive to deliver this measure. Our general election

:43:39. > :43:43.manifesto made clear that there would be no change in the pensions

:43:44. > :43:46.triple-lock before 2020. As part of this agreement both parties have

:43:47. > :43:50.agreed there will be no change to triple-lock for the duration of this

:43:51. > :43:58.Parliament. We further agreed that there would be no change to the

:43:59. > :44:01.universal nature of the Winter Fuel Payment. The Prime Minister said we

:44:02. > :44:03.would listen to what people said during the election campaign and

:44:04. > :44:08.this is an example of our doing so. Mr Speaker, as the party with the

:44:09. > :44:11.most seats at the general election, the Conservative Party had a duty to

:44:12. > :44:16.form a government. It is right we talk to other parties to seek to

:44:17. > :44:20.ensure that the government can provide the confidence the country

:44:21. > :44:24.needs at this crucial time. Mr Speaker, I commend this statement to

:44:25. > :44:32.the House. SPEAKER: Emily Thornberry. Mr Speaker, this is a

:44:33. > :44:38.shabby and a reckless deal, which has taken the government at least ?1

:44:39. > :44:42.billion to buy, and whose true cost for the future of peace in Northern

:44:43. > :44:46.Ireland could be infinitely higher. The Good Friday Agreement is rightly

:44:47. > :44:50.seen across the world as a model for other countries who are seeking to

:44:51. > :44:55.end conflict, but it is also fragile and relies, above all, on trust,

:44:56. > :45:00.good faith and the impartiality of the British Government. So for the

:45:01. > :45:05.government to be put on a Mac putting such an agreement in

:45:06. > :45:10.jeopardy just to prop up this dismal Prime Minister is nothing short of

:45:11. > :45:13.disgraceful stop so, can I ask the first secretary what legal advice

:45:14. > :45:17.the government has received on whether today's agreement is

:45:18. > :45:20.compatible under its legal obligations under the Good Friday

:45:21. > :45:24.Agreement and will he publish the advice today? Mr Speaker, I won't

:45:25. > :45:28.waste time discussing the so-called policy agreements set out today,

:45:29. > :45:35.after all it was not the DUP who forced this government to ditch

:45:36. > :45:38.their plans to hit pensioners' incomes. The British people did that

:45:39. > :45:45.on June the 8th. No, this agreement is all about the money. Let me ask

:45:46. > :45:57.the first secretary for some clarity on funding. First, can he explain

:45:58. > :45:59.how much extra funding will go to support infrastructure, broadband,

:46:00. > :46:00.deprivation in the rest of the deprivation in the rest of the

:46:01. > :46:02.begrudge the ?1 billion of extra begrudge the ?1 billion of extra

:46:03. > :46:06.support for these areas in Northern Ireland. But in Scotland, in Wales,

:46:07. > :46:12.and other English regions of the UK the needs are just as great. So when

:46:13. > :46:16.will the rest of the country be getting its share? Second, the

:46:17. > :46:21.agreement says that there will be a consultation on reducing VAT on

:46:22. > :46:25.tourism in Northern Ireland. Now, just a year ago the current Minister

:46:26. > :46:29.of stay for security told this House that the government had concluding

:46:30. > :46:31.the costs of such a VAT cut would outweigh the benefits and that this

:46:32. > :46:37.was not something the government would consider. So, can I ask the

:46:38. > :46:41.first secretary what has made the government to change its mind? In

:46:42. > :46:45.the light of his commitment today, to be fair to all parts of the

:46:46. > :46:49.United Kingdom, will he extend this consultation to all parts of the UK

:46:50. > :46:54.are seeking to support better as and hospitality industries? And if not,

:46:55. > :47:00.why does he not include the likes of Blackburn, Margate or Colwyn Bay?

:47:01. > :47:05.And thirdly and finally, and most importantly, can the first secretary

:47:06. > :47:09.tell us this? When the extra ?1 billion announced today will come

:47:10. > :47:13.from -- where. During the election he was fond of telling interviewers

:47:14. > :47:22.there was no magic monetary. So what has happened today? Has he found the

:47:23. > :47:25.keys to the secret Garden? Or is the truth is that like everything else

:47:26. > :47:32.that this government says and does it can all be ditched if it helps

:47:33. > :47:36.them to hang onto power, no matter the bedfellows, no matter what the

:47:37. > :47:40.manifesto said, no matter where the money comes from, no matter the

:47:41. > :47:44.unfairness for the rest of Britain, and no matter the consequences for

:47:45. > :47:49.peace? Batcombe on Mr Speaker, is no way to lead a government and

:47:50. > :47:55.definitely no way to run a country. Mr Damian Green. Let me deal with

:47:56. > :47:59.some of the detailed points that the Right Honourable lady has just made.

:48:00. > :48:06.She seems to speak that providing more money for Northern Ireland's

:48:07. > :48:10.health and education, broadband, and other parts of infrastructure in

:48:11. > :48:14.some ways, makes it less likely that an executive will be formed. I can

:48:15. > :48:18.assure her it makes it more likely that an executive will be formed.

:48:19. > :48:22.She asked about infrastructure help for the rest of the country. I am

:48:23. > :48:27.happy to repeat some of the things I said in my statement and add to

:48:28. > :48:32.them. We have pledged to provide ?8 million of new money for the health

:48:33. > :48:36.service, ?4 billion for education, and we have an overall

:48:37. > :48:45.infrastructure fund of ?23 billion, so the rest of the country

:48:46. > :48:49.absolutely will share in the infrastructure spending we have

:48:50. > :48:52.promised. She asks, of course, about how we can afford this. We can

:48:53. > :48:57.afford this because we have a strong economy after seven years of

:48:58. > :49:00.Conservative government. It takes some nerve for a party which had

:49:01. > :49:05.tens of billions of pounds of unfunded commitments at the election

:49:06. > :49:11.to complain about targeted infrastructure spending and spending

:49:12. > :49:18.specifically designed to help some of the most deprived communities in

:49:19. > :49:22.this country. The party opposite also had the idea to nationalise

:49:23. > :49:25.half of British industry and said it would not cost any money because,

:49:26. > :49:28.although they would borrow the money, that didn't count as

:49:29. > :49:32.borrowing because they would pay it back out of the profits of the

:49:33. > :49:36.industry. I have two things to say to the Right Honourable lady. First

:49:37. > :49:39.of all, if you borrow money it is still borrowing, and secondly after

:49:40. > :49:42.six months of delay the government running industry they wouldn't be

:49:43. > :49:48.any profits to pay back any of the borrowing. I think where she is

:49:49. > :49:54.fundamentally wrong is the thought that this doesn't help what is a

:49:55. > :50:00.hugely important week for Northern Ireland to try to make sure we

:50:01. > :50:05.restore proper devolved democratic government to Northern Ireland. I

:50:06. > :50:09.think helping the executive to be set up will be one of the great

:50:10. > :50:14.achievements of this week. What she has missed is this extra support,

:50:15. > :50:16.this extra money, goes to all communities in Northern Ireland, run

:50:17. > :50:22.by the Northern Ireland Executive, so that people from all political

:50:23. > :50:25.traditions and all communities will benefit from this extra money. I

:50:26. > :50:34.would have thought, frankly, she would welcome that. The good Doctor,

:50:35. > :50:36.Doctor Julian Lewis. In the discussions with the Democratic

:50:37. > :50:41.Unionists, did my Right Honourable friend take any progress on the

:50:42. > :50:48.question of protection for former service personnel who still face the

:50:49. > :50:57.possibility of prosecution many years after fatal incidents in the

:50:58. > :50:59.period of the Troubles? I am grateful to my Right Honourable

:51:00. > :51:06.friend for that question. The answer is, yes, we seek to ensure proper

:51:07. > :51:10.fairness in the issue that he raises, and in other legacy issues,

:51:11. > :51:16.and I'm sure the agreement that comes out of our talks with the DUP

:51:17. > :51:23.will help advance a balanced and fair solution to those issues. Mr

:51:24. > :51:28.Pete Wishart. Mr Speaker, this is quite simply a pathetic, grubby

:51:29. > :51:30.little deal demonstrating the worst excesses of pork barrel politics,

:51:31. > :51:37.designed to prop up a government without a majority and increasingly

:51:38. > :51:42.without any credibility whatsoever. We now know that ?1.5 billion is the

:51:43. > :51:46.price this country will have to pay to keep this shambolic government in

:51:47. > :51:53.power. This was a government that warned of the coalition of chaos.

:51:54. > :51:57.This is much, much worse than that. The Conservatives and the DUP,

:51:58. > :52:04.exacting a price from this government. The funds across the UK

:52:05. > :52:10.will be delivered at the expense of all the other nations of the UK.

:52:11. > :52:21.Only 24 hours ago the Secretary of State for Scotland was categorically

:52:22. > :52:28.ensuring that Scotland would be in line for full funding. He either is

:52:29. > :52:33.misleading as or he has no idea what is going on because the Scots will

:52:34. > :52:35.get nothing out of this deal. Can I ask the Secretary of State what

:52:36. > :52:41.representations he has received from the Scotland Office, or any of these

:52:42. > :52:44.other new Scottish members of Parliament that said they would

:52:45. > :52:48.stand up for Scotland? If the Barnett Formula is to be bypassed

:52:49. > :52:52.what will Scotland get out of this? Why has the Barnett Formula been

:52:53. > :52:57.bypassed when it comes to this deal? This is a huge test for these new

:52:58. > :53:02.Scottish Tory members of Parliament. They either stand up for Scotland

:53:03. > :53:04.and Scotland's funding interests or they stand behind this chaotic

:53:05. > :53:13.government and their new best friends. The honourable gentleman is

:53:14. > :53:19.so far wide of the mark that it's almost laughable. He makes a point

:53:20. > :53:24.that this comes from the block grant and specifically says this is

:53:25. > :53:28.outside the Barnett Formula. Let me give him some facts about what's

:53:29. > :53:35.happening in Scotland. Video outside the Barnett Formula for Glasgow of

:53:36. > :53:41.?500 million. A city deal for Aberdeen outside the Barnett Formula

:53:42. > :53:46.of ?125 million. A city deal for Inverness outside the Barnett

:53:47. > :53:51.Formula of ?53 million. Would he like me to go on? Five leading

:53:52. > :53:57.pounds for the V in Dundee outside the Barnett Formula. 5 million for

:53:58. > :54:00.the Glasgow School of Art, 5 million for the water fund. There is huge

:54:01. > :54:03.amounts of money going to Scotland outside the Barnett Formula as well

:54:04. > :54:08.as inside the Barnett Formula, and if the SNP don't recognise this, I

:54:09. > :54:13.suggest they go back to their constituencies and find out what's

:54:14. > :54:18.happening in Scotland. Maria Miller! Thank you, Mr Speaker, can I welcome

:54:19. > :54:22.my Right Honourable friend's statement today that sadly some of

:54:23. > :54:25.you have used rather opportunistically to suggest this

:54:26. > :54:28.means the government has changed its policies when it comes to the

:54:29. > :54:32.quality matters, particularly on equal marriage and access to

:54:33. > :54:35.abortion. Perhaps my Right Honourable friend could use this

:54:36. > :54:40.opportunity to update the House on those issues. I am extremely happy

:54:41. > :54:45.to reassure my Right Honourable friend, and indeed colleagues on all

:54:46. > :54:49.sides of the House, that this deal has no impact on those sorts of

:54:50. > :54:56.issues, particularly the issue of equal marriage, which she brings up.

:54:57. > :55:02.As she will see from the agreement, the agreement covers financial

:55:03. > :55:05.deals, Brexit legislation, security legislation and the Queen's speech,

:55:06. > :55:08.and she will no doubt have seen that in the Queen's speech that the

:55:09. > :55:14.government reconnects its commitment to equality across all grounds and

:55:15. > :55:20.that commitment is as strong today as it ever has been. Yvette Cooper.

:55:21. > :55:24.Further to that point, Mr Speaker, will the government now use this to

:55:25. > :55:28.deal with the huge anomaly when Northern Ireland women are being

:55:29. > :55:35.expected to be charged in NHS hospitals in the UK, the NHS in the

:55:36. > :55:42.UK, for abortions? Would he agree that this is hugely unfair on women

:55:43. > :55:44.from Northern Ireland who travel to England, Scotland or Wales for an

:55:45. > :55:53.abortion which treats them completely unfairly and is unjust

:55:54. > :55:57.for women's rights? I appreciate the strength of the Right Honourable

:55:58. > :56:04.lady's convictions on these issues. I would point out to her that this

:56:05. > :56:09.comes under the heading of a health matter and it is therefore devolved

:56:10. > :56:14.to Northern Ireland. It is for people in Northern Ireland to decide

:56:15. > :56:16.issues like this. This is the logic of devolution, that issues like this

:56:17. > :56:22.should be decided in the devolved authorities, just as health matters

:56:23. > :56:28.are decided already by the Scottish and Welsh governments. Since we all

:56:29. > :56:32.hope, I assume we all hope, that we should have a devolved executive in

:56:33. > :56:37.Northern Ireland, it is for the people of Northern Ireland to decide

:56:38. > :56:41.these matters. SPEAKER: Stephen Crabb al-Samah I welcome my Right

:56:42. > :56:45.Honourable friend's statement and personal commitment to ensuring that

:56:46. > :56:49.the imbalances and inequalities that exist in all parts of the United

:56:50. > :56:52.Kingdom are effectively tackled by this government. Could he say a bit

:56:53. > :56:56.more about how the UK prosperity fund will be used to raise economic

:56:57. > :57:00.output in the poorest parts of the United Kingdom and could I encourage

:57:01. > :57:05.him to keep an open mind on some of the ideas Welsh colleagues may have

:57:06. > :57:08.on further investment? I am very happy that my Right Honourable

:57:09. > :57:13.friend brings up the UK prosperity fund, which we will introduce when

:57:14. > :57:16.Brexit has been completed, because it is precisely to help

:57:17. > :57:21.disadvantaged communities across the whole of the United Kingdom, some of

:57:22. > :57:25.them will be in England, it is meant to replace the money that has gone

:57:26. > :57:29.through European institutions to some of our deprived communities. I

:57:30. > :57:32.know communities in Cornwall have benefited from that. Absolutely

:57:33. > :57:36.there will be communities in Wales, as they will be in Scotland and

:57:37. > :57:40.Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK, like the north-east, that

:57:41. > :57:44.will benefit from that. I am always open to creative ideas from any part

:57:45. > :57:49.of the UK about how best to spend that sort of money. Stella Creasy.

:57:50. > :57:54.Let me explain to the minister why there is a concern on this side of

:57:55. > :57:58.the house about those women from Northern Ireland because this is not

:57:59. > :58:04.a devolved matter, this is when they come to our shores via as UK

:58:05. > :58:09.taxpayers and their ability to use UK services. I note in the official

:58:10. > :58:13.agreement that it says the government is committed to providing

:58:14. > :58:17.health care services which meet the needs of everyone, no matter who

:58:18. > :58:21.they are or where they live. It does not seem like that when it comes to

:58:22. > :58:28.these women so can the Minister confirm of the access to abortion in

:58:29. > :58:32.England as was discussed as part of the negotiations or that Northern

:58:33. > :58:36.Ireland laws on abortion have been found to violate the UK's human

:58:37. > :58:40.rights responsible abuse and the government make any commitment to

:58:41. > :58:43.the DUP about this matter or art Northern Irish women expected to pay

:58:44. > :58:49.the price of what feels like a forced marriage? I'm happy to assure

:58:50. > :58:56.that the honourable lady and the house that the agreement is what is

:58:57. > :59:02.set out, there are no private or side agreement is attached to this.

:59:03. > :59:07.This is completely open. I appreciate the strength of feeling

:59:08. > :59:10.she brings to this and it is clearly a political discussion she may wish

:59:11. > :59:17.to bring about in Northern Ireland when we have a devolved executive.

:59:18. > :59:23.Jeremy Quin. Can I welcome the government's funding of city deals

:59:24. > :59:28.in Northern Ireland and also urge the government to continue foreign

:59:29. > :59:33.investment into the province? My honourable friend makes a good point

:59:34. > :59:37.that foreign direct investment is extremely helpful to the Northern

:59:38. > :59:45.Ireland economy as it is to the UK economy as a whole. It is absolutely

:59:46. > :59:47.the case that we wish to better utilise our embassies and high

:59:48. > :59:52.commissions around the world not just to boost exports which is

:59:53. > :59:56.traditionally regarded as one of their important roles but to also

:59:57. > :59:59.help foreign direct investment particularly to those parts of the

:00:00. > :00:05.UK including Northern Ireland that would most benefit from it. Alistair

:00:06. > :00:10.Carmichael. I think the first secretary for the statement, my

:00:11. > :00:13.first thought in seeing it was that the government had scraped the

:00:14. > :00:18.bottom of the barrel in reaching it and I had to tell him, I suspect he

:00:19. > :00:22.will learn in the coming months that there is probably no bottom to that

:00:23. > :00:27.barrel will stop the government cannot be blind to the fact that

:00:28. > :00:30.this agreement does place in jeopardy their role under the Good

:00:31. > :00:36.Friday Agreement and that agreement can only be secured if the

:00:37. > :00:39.government will commit to transparency, not just today but

:00:40. > :00:46.every step of the way for as long as this agreement lasts. Will we get

:00:47. > :00:54.that transparency? I don't agree with the honourable gentleman that

:00:55. > :00:56.this hinders the formation of a new executive and therefore the

:00:57. > :00:59.implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I think this agreement

:01:00. > :01:07.will help the full implementation of it. And since what the confidence

:01:08. > :01:15.and supply agreement entailed is support from the DUP for the

:01:16. > :01:18.government's programme in its key areas in this house, the

:01:19. > :01:21.transparency will come when he observes people going through the

:01:22. > :01:28.division lobbies in a public way as they traditionally do. James

:01:29. > :01:34.Duddridge. In welcoming the additional votes the DUP brink of I

:01:35. > :01:39.criticise the government for not being bold enough, as the Labour

:01:40. > :01:44.front bench with the back bench and the backbench to the front bench, it

:01:45. > :01:50.left a lot of Labour MP disaffected, a number of people who do not

:01:51. > :01:54.identify themselves as Leninist or Marxist or even socialist so could

:01:55. > :01:56.we send out a warm offered for those discontented members opposite to

:01:57. > :02:02.vote with us in the lobbies to deliver this Queen 's speech? My

:02:03. > :02:09.honourable friend makes a very shrewd point and indeed I would

:02:10. > :02:13.extend that invitation and seriously there will be large part of the

:02:14. > :02:17.Queen's speech both in terms of economic regeneration and in terms

:02:18. > :02:21.of issues like mental health where I would genuinely hope that we might

:02:22. > :02:26.seek support and get support from all sides of the house because there

:02:27. > :02:30.are many issues on which actually partisan politics will not

:02:31. > :02:34.necessarily apply. Some of them are included in the built in the Queen's

:02:35. > :02:41.speech and I look forward to men and women of goodwill from all sides of

:02:42. > :02:46.the house of supporting those bills. Can I warmly welcome the first

:02:47. > :02:49.secretary's statement today and it is a good agreement for the United

:02:50. > :02:53.Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and a good

:02:54. > :02:56.agreement for all of the people of Northern Ireland and in particular

:02:57. > :03:01.the money for mental health and in terms of hard to reach areas, all

:03:02. > :03:05.the money outlined is for every section of the community in Northern

:03:06. > :03:08.Ireland. This is a deal that delivers for all the people of

:03:09. > :03:12.Northern Ireland. We commit to transparency, we are very open to

:03:13. > :03:19.that and some they I would like to think we might publish all of the

:03:20. > :03:25.correspondence and conversation we had in 2010 with the Labour front

:03:26. > :03:32.bench and in 2015 with the Labour front bench and indeed with the SNP

:03:33. > :03:39.as well. Because some of the faux outrage we have heard is hypocrisy

:03:40. > :03:43.of the highest order. Mr Speaker, we look forward to working with the

:03:44. > :03:49.government over the course of the next five years to deliver a

:03:50. > :03:52.strengthened union of the United Kingdom come to deliver Brexit and

:03:53. > :03:56.prosperity to all ports of the UK and most more to protect and defend

:03:57. > :04:04.our country at home and abroad. -- all parts of the UK. I of course

:04:05. > :04:10.welcome completely the words of my right honourable friend. He and I

:04:11. > :04:15.have spent more time together over the past few weeks has been our want

:04:16. > :04:19.in the past and I can assure him it has been a life enhancing experience

:04:20. > :04:26.at all times and I very much welcome the support of him and his

:04:27. > :04:30.colleagues on those benches so that we can, as he says, strengthen the

:04:31. > :04:34.union, strengthen the economy in all parts of this country, debt Brexit

:04:35. > :04:39.deal that works for the whole of the country and provide us with a

:04:40. > :04:47.competent government to go through the next five years. -- confident.

:04:48. > :04:52.Mark Harper. Can I welcome what might right honourable friend has

:04:53. > :04:56.set out, the most important thing he mentioned was getting the devolved

:04:57. > :04:59.institutions back up and running but if this deal, together with the

:05:00. > :05:04.money that was promised under the previous agreements, can help that,

:05:05. > :05:07.it is to be welcomed. That will strengthen the United Kingdom and

:05:08. > :05:10.the partnership for the countries within it and I welcome both what he

:05:11. > :05:16.has said and what the right honourable gentleman said across the

:05:17. > :05:20.aisle. I think my right honourable friend is right, not just to repeat

:05:21. > :05:30.what is a hugely important point, which is that the money will go to

:05:31. > :05:34.all parts of Northern Ireland. It will benefit all communities in

:05:35. > :05:37.Northern Ireland and that should be a significant step towards making

:05:38. > :05:44.sure we have a successful conclusion to these vitally important talks

:05:45. > :05:50.about the resetting up of a devolved executive which I am sure everyone

:05:51. > :05:59.in this house wants to see. Paul Flynn. The minister concerned and

:06:00. > :06:05.his performance today is likely to bring crude hypocrisy into some

:06:06. > :06:10.disrepute. The government has just lost an election, they made

:06:11. > :06:15.themselves and the country more unstable and weaker than they were

:06:16. > :06:20.before, in order to again correct problems within the Tory party they

:06:21. > :06:25.are using this crude bribe. Is not the answer today that those MPs who

:06:26. > :06:30.represent Wales and Scotland have got to put our country's first and

:06:31. > :06:35.the result of this is that the government is making the United

:06:36. > :06:39.Kingdom more divided than ever. I think the problem with the

:06:40. > :06:44.honourable gentleman's analysis is what he started with, that this

:06:45. > :06:49.party lost the election. No, we didn't, his party lost the election.

:06:50. > :06:56.It lost its third election in a row and we all know the result, that

:06:57. > :06:59.Labour won more seats than most of its own members thought, there are

:07:00. > :07:04.people on those benches who assumed they would be out about job now and

:07:05. > :07:08.in the spirit of nonpartisanship I welcome them back to this house but

:07:09. > :07:12.nevertheless the idea that the Labour Party won the election is

:07:13. > :07:20.fantasy which I think is dying out even in the wilder shores of

:07:21. > :07:24.Momentum. Given that the DUP's well-known hard-nosed negotiators

:07:25. > :07:27.have done deals generally for about ?1 billion when they need

:07:28. > :07:30.arrangements from the UK Government, can I congratulate my might

:07:31. > :07:34.honourable friend on the fabulous value for money he has obtained in

:07:35. > :07:38.the confidence and supply arrangement lasting five years and

:07:39. > :07:44.delivering Brexit comparing rather well with the 2008 arrangement when,

:07:45. > :07:48.for one vote on a 42 day detention when we were joined in the lobbies

:07:49. > :07:51.by the Leader of the Opposition, the Shadow Chancellor, Shadow Foreign

:07:52. > :07:54.Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary, for around the same amount of money

:07:55. > :07:59.for one vote which was then reversed in the House of Lords, this deal

:08:00. > :08:09.looks spectacularly good value for money for the UK. I think I thank my

:08:10. > :08:13.honourable friend for that question! Indeed, I'm happy to agree with him

:08:14. > :08:16.that this is indeed a very good deal not just for Northern Ireland but

:08:17. > :08:21.for the whole of the United Kingdom. Ronnie Campbell. Will the Minister

:08:22. > :08:24.be aware that the north-east of England is one of the poorest areas

:08:25. > :08:36.in the country and we do not have a Barnett Formula. Is he giving our

:08:37. > :08:41.money away, will we get what we are getting or will they get nothing? If

:08:42. > :08:50.the honourable gentleman wants to come and talk to us about a deal,

:08:51. > :08:53.I'm sure... I'm sure he and indeed his constituents would be very

:08:54. > :08:58.welcome. I can absolutely assure him that this does not involved by

:08:59. > :09:04.diverting money from any of the various programmes that we use and

:09:05. > :09:08.indeed the UK prosperity fund will I hope be able to help some part of

:09:09. > :09:13.his area and he is more than welcome to keep an eye on that but as he

:09:14. > :09:18.knows, there are many city deals across England, the metro met in

:09:19. > :09:23.Teesside I am sure will do great things for that area as well -- the

:09:24. > :09:28.metro map. We are committed to part of the UK including the one which he

:09:29. > :09:34.represents such distinction. Thank you Mr Speaker. I did think the

:09:35. > :09:40.first secretary mentioned difference in his statement -- I don't think.

:09:41. > :09:45.But can I ask him to confirm what I think I have read elsewhere, that

:09:46. > :09:49.the Democratic Unionist Party and the Conservative Party agreed we

:09:50. > :09:54.will spend a minimum of 2% on defence? My honourable friend is

:09:55. > :09:58.indeed right, I'm sorry I did not read out the entire agreement

:09:59. > :10:02.because I think you, Mr Speaker, might have objected to that but he

:10:03. > :10:06.is absolutely right. One of the things on which the DUP and the

:10:07. > :10:11.Conservative Party are completely united is making sure we meet our

:10:12. > :10:16.Nato commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence and I hope he would

:10:17. > :10:21.welcome to date the first sailing of the new aircraft carrier which shows

:10:22. > :10:31.that this party and indeed the DUP are very serious about defending our

:10:32. > :10:36.country. Tracy Brabin. Could I take this opportunity to thank U, Mr

:10:37. > :10:39.Speaker, for Saturday, for the fantastic family event where this

:10:40. > :10:43.chamber was full of the sound of children and joy and you handled it

:10:44. > :10:47.with grace. I would also like to encourage all members to take a look

:10:48. > :10:53.at the coat of arms for our much loved Jo Cox and enjoy the symbolism

:10:54. > :10:58.of mountains, the Thames, women's suffrage and of course the Yorkshire

:10:59. > :11:04.rose. My question is, the global goal five which we agreed to state

:11:05. > :11:08.there has to be reproductive rights for all women. Will the deal with

:11:09. > :11:12.the DUP mean we have stopped our progress towards this goal, losing

:11:13. > :11:17.our position as one of the global leaders fighting for equality for

:11:18. > :11:23.all? First of all can I associate myself with the very outside the

:11:24. > :11:29.marks the Honourable Lady makes about the Jo Cox Memorial, which

:11:30. > :11:34.indeed is very good to see in this house on what was a very sad

:11:35. > :11:39.anniversary of years. In terms of her question, as I said to her

:11:40. > :11:45.Honourable friends, this is a matter to be decided in Northern Ireland by

:11:46. > :11:48.Northern Ireland politicians and the people of Northern Ireland and that

:11:49. > :11:56.is where she should be making her arguments. Mr Andrew Bowie. Can my

:11:57. > :12:00.right honourable friend confirm that this government is committed to

:12:01. > :12:05.ensuring that everyone from every nation and region of our United

:12:06. > :12:08.Kingdom are able to share in the proceeds of continued economic

:12:09. > :12:11.growth? Of course, as already mentioned, one such weight has been

:12:12. > :12:16.the successful city deals from which my constituency of West

:12:17. > :12:22.Aberdeenshire to the Aberdeen city deal has greatly benefited so what

:12:23. > :12:24.will the government do to boost investment in Northern Ireland and

:12:25. > :12:33.spread the benefit of such mechanisms as these?

:12:34. > :12:38.Can I welcome my right honourable friend to his place and he is

:12:39. > :12:42.completely right to point out the benefits of the investments that has

:12:43. > :12:45.been made in his constituency, thanks to the strong economic

:12:46. > :12:51.progress made by this government over the past seven years, which

:12:52. > :12:54.means we can afford regeneration and investment like that in a way that

:12:55. > :12:59.those who would run the economy down, wouldn't be able to afford. I

:13:00. > :13:04.am happy to assure him and indeed the people of Northern Ireland the

:13:05. > :13:10.same strength of the economy can be used, will be used to regenerate

:13:11. > :13:16.communities all over the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.

:13:17. > :13:23.I hope I have pronounced the surname of the right honourable member and I

:13:24. > :13:29.hope the honourable gentleman is as a devoted admirer of the late and

:13:30. > :13:36.great David Barry as I have been. Mr David Hanson. Could the first

:13:37. > :13:43.secretary concern the extra money he has announced today is to the

:13:44. > :13:47.Northern Ireland assembly, not one particular party. Could he agreed

:13:48. > :13:52.the money has been agreed and if priorities have been agreed, by all

:13:53. > :13:58.parties they may form executive on Thursday? As I said on a number of

:13:59. > :14:03.occasions, absolutely, this is money for Northern Ireland, for the whole

:14:04. > :14:07.of Northern Ireland, it is not for one party in Northern Ireland, it is

:14:08. > :14:11.not for one community in Northern Ireland, it is for the whole of

:14:12. > :14:17.Northern Ireland. As I said in response to the shadow first

:14:18. > :14:22.secretary, I am surprised people on the Labour benches are not welcoming

:14:23. > :14:26.this extra money, particularly money for disadvantaged communities in

:14:27. > :14:31.Northern Ireland. There was a time when the Labour Party purported to

:14:32. > :14:37.care about disadvantaged communities. Would he agree with me

:14:38. > :14:42.a lot has been said in recent weeks about the importance of working with

:14:43. > :14:46.others across the aisle in the national interest, but not everybody

:14:47. > :14:52.seems to like that in practice. Would he agree, I think the words of

:14:53. > :15:00.Ronald Reagan, but somebody you agree with 80% of the time, is 80%

:15:01. > :15:04.friend and ally and not 20% ally. It is an extremely good quotation which

:15:05. > :15:11.I must confess I have never heard before and I will shamelessly use

:15:12. > :15:14.that. I sat for four years in a coalition government with the

:15:15. > :15:19.Liberal Democrats, I'm quite happy to admit there will be times when

:15:20. > :15:22.one has strong disagreements with those in another party, but you can

:15:23. > :15:27.still work alongside them for the interests of the country as a whole

:15:28. > :15:38.and that is a duty we should all take on board. I am sure the first

:15:39. > :15:44.secretary will agree with me it is a remarkable day the Labour Party

:15:45. > :15:49.criticises investment in school, investment in roads, investment in

:15:50. > :15:54.housing, investment and jobs and threatening the peace process. It is

:15:55. > :15:58.bonkers to suggest that is the case, but perhaps some on the Labour

:15:59. > :16:03.frontbencher might want to reflect on their past equivocation when it

:16:04. > :16:06.came to supporting the IRA and what that sons and the message that sense

:16:07. > :16:13.to young people today in Northern Ireland who might be thinking about

:16:14. > :16:21.taking up arms in the future. I am happy to agree with my right

:16:22. > :16:26.honourable friend that it is clear anything that AIDS investment,

:16:27. > :16:30.particularly for disadvantaged communities ought to help produce a

:16:31. > :16:34.more positive political atmosphere in Northern Ireland and I am sure

:16:35. > :16:42.the Labour front bench has heard his other thoughts with interest as

:16:43. > :16:46.well. In welcoming this deal and increased role of Northern Ireland

:16:47. > :16:50.MPs in Westminster affairs, would the first secretary agree, it is

:16:51. > :16:57.time to look again at critical donations to the Irish party to make

:16:58. > :17:03.sure they are in line with the rules in terms of transparency? This is

:17:04. > :17:07.not part of the agreement, so it is not directly relevant to the

:17:08. > :17:11.statement I am making today, but I am sure the House will have heard my

:17:12. > :17:19.honourable friend and will no doubt wish to discuss those matters

:17:20. > :17:23.further in the future. The first secretary of state said funding

:17:24. > :17:29.would go to a restored Northern Ireland executive. If the Northern

:17:30. > :17:34.Ireland executive is not restored, will the money still go there, or

:17:35. > :17:40.will it not go until the executive is restored? I think at this stage

:17:41. > :17:44.with three days to go before the deadline, the sensible thing for me

:17:45. > :17:49.to point out is that the Conservative Party is completely

:17:50. > :17:54.committed to getting the executive re-established. And indeed the DUP

:17:55. > :17:59.is completely committed to getting the Executive re-establish. We both

:18:00. > :18:02.believe decisions about funding for different public services in

:18:03. > :18:07.Northern Ireland should be taken by politicians in Northern Ireland.

:18:08. > :18:10.That is the logic of the devolution settlement we have with other

:18:11. > :18:13.countries within the United Kingdom and that's the position we want to

:18:14. > :18:25.get back to Northern Ireland as well. Spreading infrastructure

:18:26. > :18:28.development, bringing stability to the government, delivering the Good

:18:29. > :18:31.Friday Agreement and implementing a soft border with the Republic of

:18:32. > :18:36.Ireland are all good for Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. If

:18:37. > :18:42.none of that is welcome to the member for Perth and his party

:18:43. > :18:53.opposite, would the government confirm that we would receive back

:18:54. > :18:58.money from the SNP Scottish money the cities? I don't believe I missed

:18:59. > :19:02.the SNP speaks for Scotland. I am interested in the prosperity and the

:19:03. > :19:08.future of the Scottish people just as I am of the people of England,

:19:09. > :19:16.Wales and Northern Ireland. That is the object of being Unionist.

:19:17. > :19:22.Hospitals, schools and other public services in my constituency continue

:19:23. > :19:26.to face unprecedented cuts. How does this government justify finding 1.5

:19:27. > :19:32.billion in order to achieve self preservation and is there any money

:19:33. > :19:37.on the magic money tree for the Jewsbury constituency? As I have

:19:38. > :19:40.explained to this shadow first secretary, this government is

:19:41. > :19:45.committed to spending an extra eight on the NHS in this Parliament, an

:19:46. > :19:50.extra 4 billion on education and on infrastructure as a whole, an extra

:19:51. > :20:01.23 billion around the whole of the country, around the whole of the

:20:02. > :20:09.United Kingdom. I hope and expect the people of Jewsbury can benefit

:20:10. > :20:17.from that as well. 26% of my constituents voted Conservative.

:20:18. > :20:22.Many did so because they were inspired by the vision for Brexit

:20:23. > :20:31.that was laid out by the Reza May. Can the first secretary tell me, can

:20:32. > :20:38.he reassure me this deal strengthens Theresa May's hand when it comes to

:20:39. > :20:42.Brexit and will ensure we can deliver and control our borders and

:20:43. > :20:59.laws as was promised at the general election? Order, the honourable

:21:00. > :21:13.gentleman was in campaign mode. No name is required. Minister. I should

:21:14. > :21:17.praise his constituency in Mammoth massively increasing his vote at the

:21:18. > :21:22.recent election. I am happy to assure him that this deal does make

:21:23. > :21:26.it clear that the vision of a Brexit that works for all parts of this

:21:27. > :21:33.country is reinforce and strengthened by the agreement we are

:21:34. > :21:38.discussing today. The Prime Minister and the DUP pride themselves on

:21:39. > :21:42.being champions of the supposedly precious union. While the Prime

:21:43. > :21:47.Minister is busily bribing the DUP to stitch up this threadbare

:21:48. > :21:52.Administration, she continually neglects the people of Wales and

:21:53. > :21:58.treats us as third class citizens in this so-called family of equals. The

:21:59. > :22:03.Barnett Formula is not fit for purpose. The government's disregard

:22:04. > :22:07.the day in seems to indicate they agree. And if this government can

:22:08. > :22:12.hang out ?1 billion to Northern Ireland in terms of such austerity,

:22:13. > :22:19.I would ask on behalf of the people of Wales, where is the ?1.7 billion

:22:20. > :22:23.which is now so evidently are right? I am happy to remind the honourable

:22:24. > :22:29.lady that under the new funding formula agreed last year, public

:22:30. > :22:35.spending in Wales is roughly ?120 per head for every ?100 per head

:22:36. > :22:39.spent in England, so the idea this government is in some way neglecting

:22:40. > :22:43.the people of Wales, my own homeland, is wide of the mark. And

:22:44. > :22:51.as for the Barnett Formula and on top of that, there are two city

:22:52. > :22:56.deals of funding up to 540 million, which should release private sector

:22:57. > :22:59.investment totalling 4.7 billion. So as she can see, the people of Wales

:23:00. > :23:07.are being well served by this government. Be in no doubt this deal

:23:08. > :23:11.has everything to do with the Conservative Party and absolutely

:23:12. > :23:15.nothing to do with the country. If it had anything to do with the

:23:16. > :23:18.country, the first secretary would come to the dispatch box and tell me

:23:19. > :23:24.how much money Scotland will get as a result of this deal being signed?

:23:25. > :23:29.Since this is a deal about Northern Ireland, Scotland will benefit in a

:23:30. > :23:32.way it has done in the past. I will repeat the figures are repeated to

:23:33. > :23:39.the spokesman for the Scottish National Party, but I wouldn't want

:23:40. > :23:42.to embarrass him further. Scotland is doing well out of city deals,

:23:43. > :23:48.doing well out of other things and it benefits from the Barnett Formula

:23:49. > :23:52.as well. What Scotland's problems are, it has a government in Holyrood

:23:53. > :23:59.that is not very good at running public services. He and I ought to

:24:00. > :24:04.probably agree on that. There has been much reference to the national

:24:05. > :24:08.interest this afternoon. I commend my right honourable friend with the

:24:09. > :24:12.deal on the DUP in the national interest. However, would he agree

:24:13. > :24:17.with me, given the crucial time in our history we have at the moment

:24:18. > :24:21.and the challenges that lie ahead, now is the time for Labour to

:24:22. > :24:26.actually work constructively with the government for the greater good

:24:27. > :24:33.of the nation, rather than seek to score political points? I agree with

:24:34. > :24:38.my honourable friend, it is a very wise point and it is never too late

:24:39. > :24:41.to repent and of the opposition front bench which to adopt a more

:24:42. > :24:52.constructive attitude to this, I would very much welcome that. Ian

:24:53. > :24:56.Paisley. Does the first secretary view with utter despair, the

:24:57. > :25:01.comments and inferences from the front bench in their statement today

:25:02. > :25:06.that effectively, people will go back to war because we intend to

:25:07. > :25:12.spend ?1.5 billion upon services that they so vitally need? A bit of

:25:13. > :25:15.Russia now surely needs to be injected into this debate, this is a

:25:16. > :25:22.good debate for Northern Ireland and a good day for the entire United

:25:23. > :25:27.Kingdom. I agree the extra billion pounds in new many in this deal,

:25:28. > :25:33.which will be, as I repeatedly said, spent in the interests of developing

:25:34. > :25:38.the prosperity of all the people of Northern Ireland, is hugely welcome

:25:39. > :25:43.in itself, it is hugely welcome in this crucial week for the devolution

:25:44. > :25:49.process. I am genuinely surprised there is not more welcome on the

:25:50. > :25:56.Labour benches for this. Does the first secretary agreed they are

:25:57. > :26:00.should be a consultation on tourism rates on Northern Ireland because it

:26:01. > :26:06.has a land butter with another country that has a lower VAT rate on

:26:07. > :26:11.tourism and is at a competitively disadvantaged? My honourable friend

:26:12. > :26:14.makes a good point. Of course, there are various things about Northern

:26:15. > :26:19.Ireland that make it unique within the United Kingdom. The history is

:26:20. > :26:24.one, the land border is of course another. That is why it has a

:26:25. > :26:29.specific type of devolved government that we hope to see restored and

:26:30. > :26:35.indeed, that's why we will be consulting on the various policy

:26:36. > :26:40.areas as well. I am surprised by the Secretary of State's statement. He

:26:41. > :26:43.left out the most important part of the agreement. He said the DUP would

:26:44. > :26:48.support the government is on votes on the Queen's speech and so on, but

:26:49. > :26:51.left out the only bit they cared about, which is they will support

:26:52. > :26:56.the government on all motions of no confidence. That is what they have

:26:57. > :27:00.bought with this money, the continuing support on all motions of

:27:01. > :27:04.no confidence and that is because the only way you can bring a

:27:05. > :27:09.government down under the fixed term that is on a motion of no

:27:10. > :27:13.confidence, so the rest is irrelevant. Now that party has

:27:14. > :27:16.become a party of government and not a party of opposition, they should

:27:17. > :27:32.surrender the right to short the money? I am quite surprised... That

:27:33. > :27:37.the honourable gentleman doesn't recognise that the addition of large

:27:38. > :27:44.sums of money for promoting infrastructure, for promoting people

:27:45. > :27:46.with mental health problems, helping disadvantaged communities aren't the

:27:47. > :27:50.most important part of this agreement. That seems to me, the

:27:51. > :27:54.most important part of this agreement because it will help

:27:55. > :27:58.people in Northern Ireland, it will help disadvantaged people in

:27:59. > :28:01.Northern Ireland. If the honourable gentleman doesn't accept that is

:28:02. > :28:07.important, I feel he is losing some of his socialist firebrand

:28:08. > :28:12.credentials, which he loves to parade.

:28:13. > :28:18.We were told by Ruth Davidson no less that the 13 Scottish

:28:19. > :28:23.Conservative MPs in this parliament would be operating at a separate

:28:24. > :28:27.block, would put Scotland's case forcefully and make sure they

:28:28. > :28:31.delivered for Scotland. Gandhi first secretary tell us not with reference

:28:32. > :28:36.to the last parliament but with reference to this parliament what

:28:37. > :28:39.additional targeted investment in the 13 Scottish Tories MPs have

:28:40. > :28:44.secured for Scotland in return for the boarding this deal -- can the

:28:45. > :28:50.First Minister tell us? I would refer to Honourable Lady to what

:28:51. > :28:53.Ruth Davidson has said, that she is completely in support of this

:28:54. > :28:59.agreement and she makes the point that just as Scotland benefit hugely

:29:00. > :29:09.from the strength of economy that the government provides, but just as

:29:10. > :29:12.we have treated Scotland fairly we should treat Northern Ireland and

:29:13. > :29:16.Wales and other parts of England fairly as well and that is what this

:29:17. > :29:24.government will continue to do. If she wants any new money I referred

:29:25. > :29:28.her to the UK prosperity fund that we will be introducing after Brexit

:29:29. > :29:35.from which I hope many communities in Scotland as well as other parts

:29:36. > :29:40.of the UK will benefit. I recognise that abortion is a devolved matter

:29:41. > :29:46.although I deplore the legislative framework in Northern Ireland that

:29:47. > :29:49.has resulted from that. Women are posited and convicted in Northern

:29:50. > :29:53.Ireland for seeking to procure abortions which forces them to come

:29:54. > :29:58.to England for terminations. The question we are trying to ask it

:29:59. > :30:03.will his government fund those terminations, those procedures in

:30:04. > :30:06.English hospitals, because those Northern Ireland women, UK citizens,

:30:07. > :30:11.cannot get them in their own country? As I have said in answer to

:30:12. > :30:17.previous questions along these lines, I think this is a matter come

:30:18. > :30:20.if we accept the logic of devolution, this is a matter to be

:30:21. > :30:30.resolved by politics in Northern Ireland. Gavin Robinson. Can I

:30:31. > :30:34.commend the first Secretary of State for the contents of the deal and as

:30:35. > :30:39.a Belfast member of Parliament, my right honourable friend and

:30:40. > :30:43.Honourable friend, both Belfast representatives, can I comment them

:30:44. > :30:47.on the content of the city deal commitment that forms part of this

:30:48. > :30:50.arrangement and the huge opportunities there are for the city

:30:51. > :30:54.of Belfast and the wider region around us. Can I ask the first

:30:55. > :30:58.secretary of state to engage in organising meetings as soon as

:30:59. > :31:02.possible so we can get on and make sure we get the best benefits of

:31:03. > :31:08.this city deal for our constituents in Belfast? I am very pleased as the

:31:09. > :31:18.honourable gentleman will no that there are already talks in operation

:31:19. > :31:21.about the Belfast city deal, I hope they can be excluded -- concluded as

:31:22. > :31:25.fast as possible so Belfast can enjoy the benefits that other cities

:31:26. > :31:29.including Glasgow and Cardiff already have because that would seem

:31:30. > :31:32.apart from anything else to be a good symbol of the United Kingdom

:31:33. > :31:33.government is acting in the interests of all parts of the United

:31:34. > :31:44.Kingdom. , Simmonds. An extra ?1.5 billion was mentioned

:31:45. > :31:49.for Northern Ireland and under the Barnett Formula that should mean an

:31:50. > :31:54.extra ?2.5 billion for Wales. Does he agree that if the Welsh Secretary

:31:55. > :31:57.refuses to find that money for Wales around the Cabinet table then once

:31:58. > :32:06.again the Tories have betrayed the people of Wales? The new money of ?1

:32:07. > :32:10.billion in this deal is of course outside the Barnett Formula. As I

:32:11. > :32:16.have already explained to the Honourable Lady, under the Barnett

:32:17. > :32:20.Formula, every person in Wales receives approximately ?120 for

:32:21. > :32:24.every ?100 of public spending for every person in England. I think it

:32:25. > :32:31.is perfectly clear from the figures that Wales is not doing badly out of

:32:32. > :32:37.this formula. During seven years of austerity which left north-east

:32:38. > :32:43.working families on average ?1000 worse off per year, Tory governments

:32:44. > :32:49.refused to invest in smart growth for good jobs. Now they find ?1.5

:32:50. > :32:53.billion to bunker at the DUP. Does he acknowledge that unless he

:32:54. > :32:59.immediately invests an equivalent amount in the north-east plus an

:33:00. > :33:04.airport passenger duty tax review, their reputation for economic

:33:05. > :33:06.competence will be on a level with their reputation for Brexit

:33:07. > :33:13.negotiations, ie the laughing stock of Europe. I would point out to the

:33:14. > :33:17.Honourable Lady that over that period have indeed over her period

:33:18. > :33:23.in the house, unemployment has consistently fallen in her area as

:33:24. > :33:27.in others until it is at the lowest level since the mid-19 70s and I

:33:28. > :33:31.would have thought she would welcome that more of her constituents are in

:33:32. > :33:39.work than ever before. Diana Johnson. Why does not this

:33:40. > :33:43.government do the right thing and deal with these women who have no

:33:44. > :33:47.option but to travel from Northern Ireland to seek termination services

:33:48. > :33:53.in England, Scotland and Wales, why doesn't the government do the right

:33:54. > :33:57.thing and say that those women should not be charged for accessing

:33:58. > :34:03.NHS services which, as taxpayers, they contribute to through their tax

:34:04. > :34:09.in their wages? The Honourable Lady knows that the NHS is a devolved

:34:10. > :34:13.function in the devolved administrations and therefore if we

:34:14. > :34:19.accept the logic of devolution, this is clearly a political issue for the

:34:20. > :34:23.people of Northern Ireland. Angela Smith. The house is disappointed

:34:24. > :34:27.this afternoon that the first Secretary of State has been so vague

:34:28. > :34:33.in explaining where exactly the money is coming from to pay for this

:34:34. > :34:37.deal. It is therefore incumbent I think that the Secretary of State

:34:38. > :34:43.should ask his Chancellor to come to this house to explain how big is

:34:44. > :34:47.that the period of austerity we have suffered so long as so abruptly come

:34:48. > :34:53.to an end and for him to explain them if we now have the proceeds of

:34:54. > :34:56.growth, Alec is that areas such as Yorkshire, the North West,

:34:57. > :35:02.Newcastle, Cumbria, are not also allowed to enjoy the proceeds of

:35:03. > :35:07.that growth? All of the areas that the Honourable Lady talks about have

:35:08. > :35:10.indeed benefited from an economic policy that has reduced unemployment

:35:11. > :35:17.to its lowest level for more than 40 years and I'm happy to assure her

:35:18. > :35:23.that the money in this deal is well within the confines of the fiscal

:35:24. > :35:32.target we set ourselves so we are still able to hit those targets of

:35:33. > :35:39.eliminating the deficit by 2025, and reducing the structural deficit to

:35:40. > :35:51.no more than 2% by 2021. This does not affect our fiscal target at all.

:35:52. > :35:55.Speaking as the new member for Sterling, where there is a new city

:35:56. > :36:02.region deal in the offing, can my right honourable friend confirmed

:36:03. > :36:06.for the benefit of members opposite that all city deals in Scotland and

:36:07. > :36:13.Wales since 2014 have sat outside the Barnett Formula? Again, I

:36:14. > :36:20.welcome my honourable friend to his place and he is exactly right. The

:36:21. > :36:24.city deals and the city region deals have proved one of the most

:36:25. > :36:28.successful innovations of this government, I look forward to the

:36:29. > :36:31.people of his constituency benefiting from them as people in

:36:32. > :36:37.constituencies across the United Kingdom already have. Ballast

:36:38. > :36:42.the Secretary of State for Scotland is not in his place. No doubt of

:36:43. > :36:45.polishing his brass neck so I will have to tell the secretary of state

:36:46. > :36:49.at the city deals arranged in Scotland have come at a cost to

:36:50. > :36:54.local government and the Scottish Government. The UK Government has

:36:55. > :36:58.only put in ?678 million whereas the Scottish Government and local

:36:59. > :37:03.government in Scotland has put in ?1.3 billion. Can I ask the minister

:37:04. > :37:06.out much local authorities in Belfast and in Northern Ireland as a

:37:07. > :37:13.whole are expected to put into the city deals? Only an SNP member could

:37:14. > :37:19.I delete talk about only six in at ?78 million. Soon we will talking

:37:20. > :37:27.about real money. The UK Government and the Scottish Government have

:37:28. > :37:31.enjoyed responsibilities for talking -- have joint responsibilities to

:37:32. > :37:36.help the economy in Scotland and the UK give it is already demonstrably

:37:37. > :37:41.meeting those commitments and I hope the SNP led Scottish Government

:37:42. > :37:46.continues to do so. I welcome this agreement. Would the first secretary

:37:47. > :37:52.agree with me, the injustice, because that is what it is, of women

:37:53. > :37:56.from Northern Ireland who seek termination is being charged to have

:37:57. > :38:02.them on the mainland by the NHS is nothing at all to do with this

:38:03. > :38:06.agreement. It is an entirely separate matter and to that end

:38:07. > :38:11.would he agree with me that this is something the government should look

:38:12. > :38:13.at because it is not fair that women seeking terminations from Northern

:38:14. > :38:19.Ireland should be charged by the NHS here in this country. I can only say

:38:20. > :38:24.to my honourable friend what I have said to Honourable members opposite,

:38:25. > :38:29.that this is clearly an enormously sensitive political topic and the

:38:30. > :38:35.best place for it to be resolved is within the democratic politics of

:38:36. > :38:41.Northern Ireland itself. Tonight many of my constituents in Glasgow

:38:42. > :38:44.East will be wondering why our local job centres will be shut when the

:38:45. > :38:49.pavement of Northern Ireland are being made of gold so can I ask him

:38:50. > :38:55.if the Secretary of State for Scotland was involved in Scotland or

:38:56. > :39:00.once again frozen out? The Secretary of State for Scotland as all Cabinet

:39:01. > :39:05.members plays a key role in all decisions made by the government and

:39:06. > :39:09.the Honourable gentleman's characterisation of this deal is, as

:39:10. > :39:16.I hope I have shown, completely wide of the mark. Border. Statement on

:39:17. > :39:23.the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

:39:24. > :39:26.Secretary Sajid Javid. With permission Mr Speaker I would like

:39:27. > :39:29.to update the house on the government's response to the

:39:30. > :39:32.Grenfell Tower tragedy and our safety inspections of cladding and

:39:33. > :39:37.other buildings. I know I speak for the whole house when I express my

:39:38. > :39:41.heartfelt grief at the Grenfell Tower catastrophe. Almost a

:39:42. > :39:45.fortnight has passed but the shock has not subsided. I have visited

:39:46. > :39:50.Kensington and witnessed the terrible anguish of those who have

:39:51. > :39:56.lost so much. In some cases people that have lost literally everything.

:39:57. > :40:00.I am sure that, like me, many Honourable members have returned

:40:01. > :40:05.from their constituencies today with the anger and fears of residents

:40:06. > :40:10.still ringing in their ears. Anger that a tragedy on this scale was

:40:11. > :40:14.ever allowed to happen in 21st-century Britain and fear that

:40:15. > :40:20.it could happen again. It is this fear that I want to address first

:40:21. > :40:24.today, Mr Speaker. I know the entire country is anxious to hear what we

:40:25. > :40:30.are doing to reassure residents about fire safety in similar blocks

:40:31. > :40:36.around the country. My department has contacted all councils and

:40:37. > :40:39.housing associations asking them to identify all tall buildings,

:40:40. > :40:43.residential buildings in England that they are responsible for which

:40:44. > :40:50.have potentially similar cladding. We estimate this number to be around

:40:51. > :40:56.600. On the 18th of June we read to them and ask them to start sending

:40:57. > :41:00.samples and on the 21st of June our combustibility testing programme for

:41:01. > :41:05.aluminium composite material started, run by the building

:41:06. > :41:10.research Establishment. On the 22nd of June the government provided

:41:11. > :41:17.advice to all these landlords about interim safety measures where a

:41:18. > :41:20.building has ACM cladding that is unlikely to be complied with

:41:21. > :41:24.building regulations and this advice was recommended by an independent

:41:25. > :41:28.panel of expert and includes advice based on the emerging findings from

:41:29. > :41:33.the Metropolitan Police investigation into Grenfell Tower. I

:41:34. > :41:38.can inform the house that as of midday today the cladding from 75

:41:39. > :41:43.high-rise buildings in 26 local authority areas has failed the

:41:44. > :41:47.combustibility test. I know members will rightly want to know if their

:41:48. > :41:51.residents are effected and my department will publish regular

:41:52. > :41:57.updates on our website. The combustibility test has three

:41:58. > :42:02.categories wasted one 23 and it is judged that cladding material in

:42:03. > :42:05.category two or three does not meet the requirements for limited

:42:06. > :42:10.combustibility in building regulations. I can also confirmed to

:42:11. > :42:17.the house that so far on that basis all samples of cladding tested have

:42:18. > :42:22.failed. The fact that all samples so far have failed underlined the value

:42:23. > :42:28.of the testing programme and the vital importance of submitting

:42:29. > :42:33.samples urgently. The testing facility can analyse 100 samples per

:42:34. > :42:39.day and runs around the clock. I am concerned about the speed at which

:42:40. > :42:44.sampled are being submitted. I would urge all landlords to submit their

:42:45. > :42:48.sampled immediately. In every case of failed tests, landlords and the

:42:49. > :42:53.local Fire And Rescue Services are alerted and we are supporting and

:42:54. > :42:57.monitoring all follow up action including by dedicated caseworkers

:42:58. > :43:02.in my department. Landlord for all affected buildings have been

:43:03. > :43:06.informed, and have informed or are informing tenants and are in

:43:07. > :43:10.permitting the interim safety measures needed working with Fire

:43:11. > :43:14.And Rescue Services. At this time the safety of people living in these

:43:15. > :43:18.building is our paramount concern and I am determined that residents

:43:19. > :43:23.have as much peace of mind as possible in such worrying times.

:43:24. > :43:27.Landlord must keep residential buildings safe for tenants when they

:43:28. > :43:30.cannot satisfy that obligation with appropriate mitigating measures we

:43:31. > :43:34.expect alternative accommodation to be provided widely remedial work is

:43:35. > :43:39.being carried out. That is exactly what happened in Camden and I would

:43:40. > :43:41.like to pay tribute to the residents for their brave response to such a

:43:42. > :43:51.distressing situation. It is obvious the problem of unsafe

:43:52. > :43:58.cladding may not be a problem unique to social housing or residential

:43:59. > :44:01.buildings. We have as of the landowners, to consider their own

:44:02. > :44:06.buildings and we have made the testing facility freely available to

:44:07. > :44:11.them. My department is also working with the government property unit to

:44:12. > :44:15.oversee the checks on wider public sector buildings. Hospitals are well

:44:16. > :44:20.each has a tailored fire safety plan, but nothing is more important

:44:21. > :44:25.than the safety of patients and staff, so on a precautionary basis

:44:26. > :44:28.we have asked all hospitals to conduct additional checks. The

:44:29. > :44:32.government will continue to work closely with fire and rescue

:44:33. > :44:40.colleagues based on local circumstances. The educational

:44:41. > :44:45.skills funding agency is contacting all bodies responsible for safety in

:44:46. > :44:51.schools requiring them to carry out further checks. We will have more

:44:52. > :44:54.information this week. Across the wider government stake, 15 buildings

:44:55. > :45:03.have been identified as requiring further investigation. While that

:45:04. > :45:08.work continues it is vital we offer assistance to the victims of the

:45:09. > :45:12.Grenfell Tower tragedy. 79 people have been confirmed dead or missing,

:45:13. > :45:17.confirmed dead. Sadly, it is believed this number will increase.

:45:18. > :45:22.Mr Speaker, as the Prime Minister told the House last week, the

:45:23. > :45:25.initial response of the emergency services was exemplary but the

:45:26. > :45:30.immediate support on the ground will simply not good enough. A remarkable

:45:31. > :45:35.community effort sprung up overnight while official support was found

:45:36. > :45:44.wanting. That failure was inexcusable and it is right and you

:45:45. > :45:46.team and approach is in operation. We have activated a scheme and send

:45:47. > :45:49.significant government resource, including a single point of access

:45:50. > :45:53.into government provided by the Grenfell Tower victims unit. Staff

:45:54. > :45:58.from six Government departments offering support at the Westway

:45:59. > :46:04.assistance Centre and a bereavement Centre. The government has set aside

:46:05. > :46:13.?5 million for the Grenfell Tower residence discretion of fund. Each

:46:14. > :46:20.household affected is receiving 5500 funds to provide some immediate

:46:21. > :46:26.assistance and so far 1100 households have received assistance.

:46:27. > :46:29.They are one of many charities, favour of ionisation is an charity

:46:30. > :46:37.that have provided invaluable assistance. I can announce today the

:46:38. > :46:42.government will contribute ?1 million to support the efforts. It

:46:43. > :46:46.will be new money, and it will be distributed to the foundation is

:46:47. > :46:51.working together to respond to this tragic event. Our other priority has

:46:52. > :46:56.been to find survivors are safe and secure place to live. The Prime

:46:57. > :46:59.Minister made it clear a good quality, temporary home will be

:47:00. > :47:03.offered to every family whose home was destroyed in the fire within

:47:04. > :47:08.three weeks. Every family will be offered a permanent social home in

:47:09. > :47:10.the local area. This work is underway and the first families

:47:11. > :47:16.moved into their homes over the weekend. This week I announce the

:47:17. > :47:20.government had secured 68 homes in a new development in Kensington to

:47:21. > :47:24.rehouse local residents. We will do everything we can to support the

:47:25. > :47:29.victims of the Grenfell fire, now and in the future and I will

:47:30. > :47:33.regularly update the House on our progress. Mr Speaker, as the Prime

:47:34. > :47:39.Minister said last week, the disaster at Grenfell Tower should

:47:40. > :47:42.never have happened. There is an ongoing police investigation and

:47:43. > :47:44.they will be an independent public enquiry to get to the truth of what

:47:45. > :48:09.happened and who was responsible. Building regulations and the system

:48:10. > :48:11.for ensuring fire safety in buildings have been developed over

:48:12. > :48:13.many decades. And until the Grenfell fire, many experts would have

:48:14. > :48:15.claimed this system had served well. But now we have witnessed a

:48:16. > :48:18.catastrophic failure on a scale many thought impossible in 21st-century

:48:19. > :48:19.Britain. It is clear failure must be understood and rectified without

:48:20. > :48:22.delay and the government is determined to ensure it happens. As

:48:23. > :48:24.an initial stab I can inform the House I am establishing an

:48:25. > :48:27.independent expert advisory panel to advise the government on any steps

:48:28. > :48:31.that should be taken on fire safety. Further details of that panel,

:48:32. > :48:36.including its members will be released shortly. Mr Speaker, this

:48:37. > :48:40.tragedy must never be forgotten, it should weigh heavily on the

:48:41. > :48:44.consciousness of every person tasked with making decisions to ensure it

:48:45. > :48:53.can never, ever happen again. Thank you. Can I thank the Secretary of

:48:54. > :48:58.State for the prior copy of his statement on what he has told the

:48:59. > :49:02.House. As the secretary of state or so, the shock from this truly

:49:03. > :49:08.terrible tragic fire at Grenfell Tower has not subsided and nor has

:49:09. > :49:11.the fear. The Prime Minister said in her statement last week, the

:49:12. > :49:17.government's response both national and local in the early days was not

:49:18. > :49:21.good enough. Nationally, it is still not good enough. Hundreds of

:49:22. > :49:26.residents of Grenfell Tower and their relatives are still struggling

:49:27. > :49:30.to keep their lives going in the face of this loss and hundreds of

:49:31. > :49:35.thousands of residents in 4000 other tower blocks around the country are

:49:36. > :49:38.still wondering if their homes are safe, worried about sleeping at

:49:39. > :49:45.night and wanting to know what the government is doing to ensure they

:49:46. > :49:50.are safe. Trust is so low in the local community around Grenfell

:49:51. > :49:55.Tower, that I do welcome the local gold command leadership. I welcomed

:49:56. > :50:01.the key workers in place to provide each household with support and

:50:02. > :50:04.advice and the ?1 million paid so far in immediate assistance

:50:05. > :50:08.payments. The Minister has made a promise to rehouse all Grenfell

:50:09. > :50:13.Tower residence in the local area within three weeks. It is now nearly

:50:14. > :50:20.a fortnight since the fire. How many people are covered by this pledge?

:50:21. > :50:24.An two weeks on, is it correct 370 households are still in emergency

:50:25. > :50:31.accommodation? How many have been found permanent, or even as the

:50:32. > :50:33.Secretary of State says, good quality, temporary homes? And by

:50:34. > :50:38.what they will all residents affected by the fire be in a

:50:39. > :50:42.permanent new home? As they move, will the government guaranteed the

:50:43. > :50:49.children will still be eligible for their same schools, where ever they

:50:50. > :50:54.move to? More widely, ministers talk to loosely about the buildings

:50:55. > :50:58.tested so far. The Prime Minister herself said last week, we can test

:50:59. > :51:04.over 100 buildings date, will he make it clear to the House the

:51:05. > :51:08.government's testing is only of cladding samples sent by councils

:51:09. > :51:13.and housing associations? When the government says 600 tower blocks

:51:14. > :51:18.with cladding needs safety checks, Hawaii, five days into the

:51:19. > :51:25.programme, have only 75 tests been done so far? Why have all failed?

:51:26. > :51:29.Will the Secretary of State confirm cladding is not just the whole

:51:30. > :51:35.story. We know this from the coroner 's reports in 2013 to the Lakanal

:51:36. > :51:41.House and the Shirley Towers fires. And we will find this in

:51:42. > :51:45.investigation into the Grenfell fire. The fire that broke into

:51:46. > :51:51.almost every floor and the building. We need from ministers, and much

:51:52. > :51:55.more thorough fire review of fire safety in all of the tower blocks in

:51:56. > :51:59.the country. A commitment to action to deal with any problems and are

:52:00. > :52:04.guaranteed the government will help fund the costs. This applies also to

:52:05. > :52:11.schools and hospitals, over which similar doubts may hang. The issue

:52:12. > :52:15.of cost is crucial, Mr Speaker because some significant work and

:52:16. > :52:19.alterations have to be done and have to be done quickly. Will the

:52:20. > :52:26.Secretary of State make funding available upfront, not after the

:52:27. > :52:30.event, for any council or housing association that needs it for

:52:31. > :52:35.re-cladding or the installation of sprinklers and other fire prevention

:52:36. > :52:39.measures, starting with the highest risk high-rise blocks and those with

:52:40. > :52:47.sheltered accommodation? And will the Secretary of State lift the

:52:48. > :52:56.central cap he places on local authority housing to enable them to

:52:57. > :52:59.borrow to make sure there are -- their residents say. He is wrong to

:53:00. > :53:09.say we have a buildings regulation and fire safety system which many

:53:10. > :53:13.experts will claim have served as well. Many experts will say the

:53:14. > :53:22.opposite is specially after the coroner report into the two previous

:53:23. > :53:26.high-rise fires. There should be commonplace at triple fire safety

:53:27. > :53:31.lock around buildings and works on them. First, the materials must be

:53:32. > :53:35.fit for surface and meat safety specifications. Fire safety systems

:53:36. > :53:41.must be in place and fire risk assessment done regularly and third,

:53:42. > :53:46.building regulation and control must make sure design, construction and

:53:47. > :53:51.any further works are fully safe. Instead, update the Secretary of

:53:52. > :53:56.State has given us this afternoon suggests a collapse of the fire

:53:57. > :54:00.safety control and check system. It is not working, it must change.

:54:01. > :54:04.Finally, what is the Secretary of State doing to make sure the Prime

:54:05. > :54:09.Minister's words when she said we simply haven't given enough

:54:10. > :54:13.attention to social housing in this country, are not just empty words?

:54:14. > :54:17.What is he doing to make sure this terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower

:54:18. > :54:27.means a profound change of course on housing in this country? Mr Speaker,

:54:28. > :54:30.can I thank the right honourable gentleman for his comments, in

:54:31. > :54:35.particular his support for gold command and the relief effort going

:54:36. > :54:40.on on the ground in Kensington. He asked a number of specific

:54:41. > :54:44.questions. First of all for the victims of the Grenfell Tower

:54:45. > :54:48.tragedy. I can give him some updated numbers. The commitment we rightly

:54:49. > :54:52.have made is that every single one of those families that have had

:54:53. > :54:58.their homes homes destroyed, but Grenfell Tower and the neighbouring

:54:59. > :55:03.Grenfell walk, together it is 144 units, they will all be guaranteed,

:55:04. > :55:09.within three weeks, the offer of temporary housing in the local

:55:10. > :55:12.neighbourhood. We have defined the local neighbourhood of Kensington

:55:13. > :55:20.and Chelsea but also the neighbouring boroughs. So far there

:55:21. > :55:27.are some 373 hotel rooms that are being occupied. That represents 153

:55:28. > :55:35.households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell walk and 220 people

:55:36. > :55:41.households from the cordoned area. As for the people from Grenfell

:55:42. > :55:45.Tower, Grenfell walk, they have had their individual housing assessments

:55:46. > :55:50.done and that work is being done by Westminster City Council with

:55:51. > :55:55.support from other councils across London. The ones who have not had it

:55:56. > :55:59.done, it is through choice, they said they are not ready and we are

:56:00. > :56:02.respecting their wishes. Those who have been done, there have been 59

:56:03. > :56:08.offers already of temporary accommodation. One thing members

:56:09. > :56:13.will understand, it is one thing we are finding is for some families,

:56:14. > :56:18.they want to take their time to make a decision on the temporary

:56:19. > :56:21.accommodation. We have had a number of instances where quite

:56:22. > :56:25.understandably, the families have asked for something as close as

:56:26. > :56:28.possible to where they lived, but when they have been shown the home

:56:29. > :56:33.and they see the tower and what is left of it, they have changed their

:56:34. > :56:38.minds and understandably, they have said we want some other options. So

:56:39. > :56:42.we are working with them at their pace and our commitment is they will

:56:43. > :56:46.be made offers within three weeks. But not necessarily the case they

:56:47. > :56:52.will all be in temporary accommodation because we have to

:56:53. > :56:56.respect their choice when they may change their mind. The other issue

:56:57. > :57:05.is with some of the families, they doubted when we say the first

:57:06. > :57:11.accommodation is temporary. I admit, one family on Friday in the Westway

:57:12. > :57:15.Centre, they said to me, how do I know temporary is temporary? How do

:57:16. > :57:19.I know you will just not leave me there and not by a better quality,

:57:20. > :57:23.more suitable permanent accommodation? When I probed that

:57:24. > :57:29.further, they told me they had been told when they first moved into

:57:30. > :57:34.Grenfell Tower, that would be temporary accommodation. 17 years

:57:35. > :57:39.later, they were still there. So I can understand that in that case I

:57:40. > :57:43.had to make a personal commitment to that family. We want to work with

:57:44. > :57:45.each family at their pace and get them what they deserve, what they

:57:46. > :57:59.need, as best as we can. I can confirm the testing facility

:58:00. > :58:04.that is operated as of the cladding material only and the reason why

:58:05. > :58:09.that is so important is because the material itself, besides the whole

:58:10. > :58:14.building structure, the material does have to be minimum combustible

:58:15. > :58:21.standards and that is what the test tries to achieve. 75 tests of

:58:22. > :58:26.buildings have taken place with samples and all 75 have failed. I do

:58:27. > :58:31.agree with him that cladding is not the whole story, it goes much

:58:32. > :58:37.further. An example is what is happening in Camden. The result of

:58:38. > :58:40.the cladding test for Camden was the trigger for the further

:58:41. > :58:44.investigations for the local Fire Service, the London Fire

:58:45. > :58:49.Commissioners, but when the commissioners went into the tower

:58:50. > :58:54.blocks in Camden, in their own words, they found multiple fire

:58:55. > :58:59.safety failures. Failure is which should not have happened in tower

:59:00. > :59:04.blocks of any type, certainly those tower blocks in Camden. For example,

:59:05. > :59:11.there was problems with steel ways that were not accessible, preachers

:59:12. > :59:17.of internal walls and most astonishingly, hundreds of fire door

:59:18. > :59:21.is missing. The estimate by Camden Council is that they need 1000 fire

:59:22. > :59:27.door is because they were missing from those five blocks. That had

:59:28. > :59:30.nothing to do with the cladding. Something has gone drastically wrong

:59:31. > :59:35.there but it is an example of again where these issues need to be looked

:59:36. > :59:39.at very carefully as to why this is happening in this day and age in our

:59:40. > :59:46.country. The honourable gentleman asked about cost. We have been very

:59:47. > :59:54.clear on this. The local authorities and housing associations must not

:59:55. > :59:57.hesitate at all and is on as they learn about any action they need to

:59:58. > :00:00.take, any steps they need to take to ensure public safety, they must take

:00:01. > :00:03.that action and if they find that they are not able to pay for that

:00:04. > :00:09.themselves, then of course we will work with them and put financial

:00:10. > :00:13.support packages in place with that individual organisation. Finally,

:00:14. > :00:19.there were two further questions about acting now and what more we

:00:20. > :00:23.can do now. I am sure he understands there are some things we can do now

:00:24. > :00:27.with his immediate situation but there are longer term lessons to

:00:28. > :00:31.learn as well. Some will come from the public enquiry but I do not

:00:32. > :00:35.think we can wait for the final results. It is up to the judge but

:00:36. > :00:38.there will be an interim report. I think there is work that can be done

:00:39. > :00:44.much sooner than that and that is one of the reasons why I am fitting

:00:45. > :00:49.that expert panel in place, a panel that I would be happy for the Right

:00:50. > :00:53.honourable gentleman to meet as well. Lastly, on his final point

:00:54. > :00:58.about social housing. I do agree there are big lessons to learn here

:00:59. > :01:05.about social housing, the quality and quantity. There has been massive

:01:06. > :01:10.investment in social housing. 330,000 new units created and more

:01:11. > :01:15.social Council housing built in the last six years than 13 years before

:01:16. > :01:18.that put together. There is a lot more that we can do but it is much

:01:19. > :01:27.better if we work together. Thank you. There will be no more tragic

:01:28. > :01:31.matter than that is before us now. I want every member who wishes to

:01:32. > :01:36.contribute to the exchanges to have the opportunity to do so. It might

:01:37. > :01:46.help the House if I point out that in the debate to come, there are 52

:01:47. > :01:55.contributors. As a result, the premium from back and function --

:01:56. > :02:01.front bench alike. Mr Ian Duncan Smith. Mr Speaker, can I commend my

:02:02. > :02:05.right honourable friend for the action he has taken. The urgency

:02:06. > :02:09.with which he is seeing this process and how he wants to drive it

:02:10. > :02:13.through. Returning to the front bench of the opposition, there is

:02:14. > :02:19.one issue I think we need to revisit as fast as we can. As we go forward,

:02:20. > :02:22.looking at the cladding and all the other issues, like the windows which

:02:23. > :02:27.exploded into flames because they are the wrong type of class, which

:02:28. > :02:30.are often overlooked by things like fire doors, I returned to my main

:02:31. > :02:37.concern. We should be asking ourselves the question of whether it

:02:38. > :02:40.is necessary any longer and many of these cases to have these older

:02:41. > :02:45.tower blocks as they stand and whether we would not be better

:02:46. > :02:49.digging is very strong position to bring some of these tower blocks

:02:50. > :02:56.down and make more family friendly low rise. Will he comment on that

:02:57. > :03:02.now's I thank my right honourable friend from his remarks and he makes

:03:03. > :03:09.a very good point. Our most urgent work is to make these tower blocks

:03:10. > :03:12.safe and ensure they are safe but also there are longer term

:03:13. > :03:15.consequences and that includes looking at the approach to social

:03:16. > :03:23.housing and the quality of social housing. Allison viewers. Thank you,

:03:24. > :03:28.Mr Speaker. I would like to extend my sympathies to those who have been

:03:29. > :03:31.affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy and those who are facing

:03:32. > :03:36.worry as the wonder about the accommodation. I am very glad to see

:03:37. > :03:42.the gathering funds to local charities, that is very welcome. I

:03:43. > :03:46.would like to ask more questions. Will there be funding for mitigating

:03:47. > :03:52.measures for certain accommodation for all local authorities who are

:03:53. > :03:56.facing measures for this radio work, which may take a significant time

:03:57. > :04:00.and residents will need to be housed and compensated? Will be additional

:04:01. > :04:07.funding for the Fire Service who were not able to carry out the fire

:04:08. > :04:10.safety works? Will the tenancy agreements for those being moved

:04:11. > :04:13.into temporary accommodation be equivalent or better than the

:04:14. > :04:21.Tennessee agreements that they have an Grenfell Tower? It was clear that

:04:22. > :04:25.the official response was not good enough and I make these points in

:04:26. > :04:31.the spirit of helpfulness and not any party critical bases. In

:04:32. > :04:36.Scotland, in Glasgow, we have a well developed resilient strategy

:04:37. > :04:44.including all local authority and orgies. Would you look to Glasgow

:04:45. > :04:52.and Scotland of the way it is implemented? -- local authority

:04:53. > :04:56.bodies. Is it possible to have Scottish representation on the

:04:57. > :05:00.advisory panel that he mentions? To be able to share some of that

:05:01. > :05:05.experience and difference of approach. The Scottish Government

:05:06. > :05:09.has already established a working group on building fire safety. Will

:05:10. > :05:15.there be a means of reporting on that to the fire officer? Can I

:05:16. > :05:19.thank the honourable lady for all of her important point in this

:05:20. > :05:26.question? Just touching on this funding, we have made clear that for

:05:27. > :05:29.the housing associations that they must do all the necessary work and

:05:30. > :05:33.we will work with everyone of them to make sure they have the funding

:05:34. > :05:41.they need if that is something that is preventing them from doing work.

:05:42. > :05:47.On the tenancy agreements, for the Grenfell Tower residents, it BBC

:05:48. > :05:53.turns or better terms, including what ever housing we do receive, the

:05:54. > :06:00.temporary or permanent housing. In terms of Scotland, that was a very

:06:01. > :06:04.good point. Scotland has already identified 500 high rise buildings

:06:05. > :06:09.of the cladding but none of them have this type of cladding. I think

:06:10. > :06:12.it deserves a closer look at Scottish building regulations and as

:06:13. > :06:18.we do it wider review, we should take that into account. The most

:06:19. > :06:24.worrying thing in the statement from my point of view was where he said

:06:25. > :06:27.all of the examples of cladding so far had not met the requirements and

:06:28. > :06:32.the building regulations that had been fitted to buildings. Can I urge

:06:33. > :06:41.him to make that the first thing that he answers -- acts we panel to

:06:42. > :06:44.look at. It feels to me we have widespread building regulations,

:06:45. > :06:49.that is the most urgent thing we need to deal with to prevent another

:06:50. > :06:55.tragedy somewhere in the country. I very much agree that is a very

:06:56. > :07:00.urgent question that has already been looked at once we have this

:07:01. > :07:10.panel established, from tomorrow morning, that is one of the first

:07:11. > :07:15.things they will be tasked with. I just want to say I have heard some

:07:16. > :07:20.very ill informed comments about tower blocks. As the only

:07:21. > :07:23.architecture expert in the House, I am happy to give you a lecture of

:07:24. > :07:31.safety of Wellman teamed tower blocks. They are safer than

:07:32. > :07:36.Victorian terraces, for example. That is for another day. I heard

:07:37. > :07:40.this morning that people who have concerns about the immigration

:07:41. > :07:44.status or lack of documentation are still not coming forward and

:07:45. > :07:49.sleeping rough. Some have been told that they may not be eligible for

:07:50. > :07:54.housing and may be reported to the Home Office. Will be Secretary of

:07:55. > :07:59.State please make a firm commitment now and June indicate that widely

:08:00. > :08:06.that this immigration status will not be a barrier to services or

:08:07. > :08:13.reported to the Home Office and that traumatised people have no fear in

:08:14. > :08:19.coming forward? Can I thank the honourable lady for the reassurance

:08:20. > :08:24.that she has been providing to her constituents. Many of them looking

:08:25. > :08:29.for support across the Government but she has been a very reassuring

:08:30. > :08:33.figure locally and I thank her for that. On her question on

:08:34. > :08:38.immigration, I can give her that assurance. We have made it clear

:08:39. > :08:44.that anyone coming forward, any information they provide, it will

:08:45. > :08:48.not be used for any immigration check. It has been put in a letter

:08:49. > :08:51.that has been given to every family that has been affected. If the

:08:52. > :08:55.honourable lady has further suggestions of how we get that

:08:56. > :09:03.message out, I would be happy to listen. Can I welcome the testing

:09:04. > :09:08.for the cladding. It is shocking to hear that so many tower blocks are

:09:09. > :09:12.unsafe. We have heard about the situation in Camden where tower

:09:13. > :09:20.blocks are being evacuated. Can you advise whether other countries to

:09:21. > :09:24.manage evacuations of tower blocks? Thankfully, there have been no other

:09:25. > :09:33.councils that have come forward, so far, with the need to have an

:09:34. > :09:36.evacuation and hopefully, I do want to prejudge them, but hopefully what

:09:37. > :09:44.has happened in Camden will be a rare occurrence. In the case of

:09:45. > :09:48.Camden, the cladding was a trigger for further fire safety inspections.

:09:49. > :09:57.It was the massive failure of those fire safety inspections that caused

:09:58. > :10:00.the evacuation. I thank the Secretary of State for commending

:10:01. > :10:09.the bravery of the 3000 residents who were evacuated from their homes

:10:10. > :10:14.on Friday. Residents have also had the closure of the fire station,

:10:15. > :10:17.which was 500 metres away from the tower blocks in question. Will he

:10:18. > :10:24.give his support to reopening the fire station which was closed by the

:10:25. > :10:31.former Mayor of London in 2014, so that my residents can feel safe in

:10:32. > :10:36.their homes again? I thank the honourable lady for her question.

:10:37. > :10:41.Local fire rescue services must have the resources that the need at but

:10:42. > :10:46.in the assessment that was done with Camden in recent days, there is

:10:47. > :10:50.nothing to suggest that was the issue that might have led to an

:10:51. > :10:55.evacuation. She is rightly concerned about her constituents. I am sure

:10:56. > :10:59.she will be hugely concerned what has come out of the fire safety

:11:00. > :11:04.report in Camden. The issue around the fire doors particularly to stop

:11:05. > :11:08.I am focusing my efforts on making sure Camden can get all that

:11:09. > :11:12.remedial work done and significant help from Government to make sure

:11:13. > :11:18.those fire doors are in place as soon as possible. Regrettably, it

:11:19. > :11:26.would appear that unsafe cladding is widespread. Labour councils,

:11:27. > :11:28.Conservative councils. It was put up during labour administrations and

:11:29. > :11:33.Conservative administrations. This is sheer my regret that there is

:11:34. > :11:37.party crystallisation of this tragedy and hope we can all work

:11:38. > :11:42.together to make sure this never happens again? I agree very much

:11:43. > :11:48.with my right honourable friend. As I said in my statement, clearly some

:11:49. > :11:52.things have gone drastically wrong. It has happened over a number of

:11:53. > :11:58.decades and I think if we are going to put that right, it is something

:11:59. > :12:05.we can all do if we work together. Could the Secretary of State and for

:12:06. > :12:09.us whether he has received any samples from Coventry of samples to

:12:10. > :12:15.evaluate and has he taken it up with his right honourable friend the

:12:16. > :12:20.Chancellor the question of the contingency fund and money available

:12:21. > :12:21.from that, which is usually very large and established for this sort

:12:22. > :12:32.of disaster? If I may attend to the question on

:12:33. > :12:38.Coventry. There are 26 local authority areas that have done tests

:12:39. > :12:41.now that our public. But not all those local authority areas have

:12:42. > :12:45.told the residents of their respective towers, but Coventry is

:12:46. > :12:50.not on the list of the 16 that have gone public. But what I can reassure

:12:51. > :12:54.the right honourable gentleman, if Coventry where one of those, they

:12:55. > :12:58.would be contacting individually, their respective local MPs. With

:12:59. > :13:04.respect to funding, he will also know local authorities also have

:13:05. > :13:06.reserves that are therefore unforeseen circumstances and some

:13:07. > :13:12.local authorities most certainly want to use their reserves. Can I

:13:13. > :13:15.commend my right honourable friend for this extensive statement to the

:13:16. > :13:21.House and our thoughts are still with those who have been affected. I

:13:22. > :13:27.welcome the systemic testing of cladding material. Can the Minister

:13:28. > :13:30.tell the House what the legal ramifications would be if landlords

:13:31. > :13:35.failed to make use of that service or ensured their property is safe?

:13:36. > :13:39.Does he agree with me, local authorities should be reviewing the

:13:40. > :13:46.use of high-rise accommodation for disabled and very elderly people? Mr

:13:47. > :13:50.Speaker, first let me start with the final point my right honourable

:13:51. > :13:56.friend made about the disabled and very elderly people. Of course, that

:13:57. > :14:01.would require special circumstances in the case of evacuation in case of

:14:02. > :14:04.fire and that should be taken into account where the local Fire Service

:14:05. > :14:11.is looking at those buildings and carrying out a further inspection.

:14:12. > :14:15.With respect to the legal ramifications if a landlord does not

:14:16. > :14:21.submit something for testing when there is good reason to do so, it is

:14:22. > :14:25.the legal responsibility of every landlord in the country, whether it

:14:26. > :14:28.is social property or private property to make sure the property

:14:29. > :14:34.is safe for its tenants and there will certainly be action. Whilst I

:14:35. > :14:38.welcome the announcement of the independent expert advisory panel,

:14:39. > :14:42.the government has historically had the government advisory committee

:14:43. > :14:48.which hasn't met the five years which has been doing the job which

:14:49. > :14:54.sounds as though the Independent advisory panel will do. Can he

:14:55. > :14:57.explain what the difference is? I thank the honourable gentleman for

:14:58. > :15:02.the work he has done over the years to promote fire safety. I know he

:15:03. > :15:07.has an adjournment debates with my honourable friend this evening as

:15:08. > :15:12.well. But this particular panel, I think in light of the tragedy it

:15:13. > :15:14.will have a broader remit and its membership might be broader in

:15:15. > :15:22.taking on some international experience. The horror of Grenfell

:15:23. > :15:26.Tower will remain with the victims, their family and friends for

:15:27. > :15:30.generations. Can my right honourable friend expands on the Dick Tim's

:15:31. > :15:37.unit and the work it is doing and for the children who have lost a

:15:38. > :15:44.parent or a English-speaking member of their family. The Dick Tim's unit

:15:45. > :15:53.has a number of officials from six Government departments at the moment

:15:54. > :15:58.and the idea is, if they have an issue central government can help

:15:59. > :16:01.with, it might be tax, benefits, immigration issue, they will only

:16:02. > :16:06.have to deal with one individual, making it much easier for them. I am

:16:07. > :16:13.grateful for his statement and share his grief, anxiety and shop at this

:16:14. > :16:18.catastrophe. When tower blocks are found to fail fire safety tests and

:16:19. > :16:22.when mitigating measures cannot be done to make those building safe,

:16:23. > :16:27.what the Minister has said today to the House doesn't reassure many

:16:28. > :16:30.members, because local authorities and housing associations will need

:16:31. > :16:35.funding support to help them provide you housing for residents affected.

:16:36. > :16:41.What considerations have been given to declare this a civil emergency so

:16:42. > :16:44.funds from central government can be provided down to housing

:16:45. > :16:51.associations and local authorities trying to rehouse local residents?

:16:52. > :16:55.First of all I can reassure the right honourable gentleman, funding

:16:56. > :16:58.already is being provided from central government in certain

:16:59. > :17:03.circumstances. What we have made clear is that if there is an issue,

:17:04. > :17:07.if those properties, the remedial work cannot be immediately done and

:17:08. > :17:12.the property cannot be said, as it was in the case of Camden, the local

:17:13. > :17:19.authority should take action immediately regardless of the cost,

:17:20. > :17:21.making those residents safe and in the circumstances the local

:17:22. > :17:26.authority need support and funding, we will provide them with that

:17:27. > :17:29.support. May I thank him for his statement today. I'm sure all

:17:30. > :17:35.members on all sides are united in their determination such horrific

:17:36. > :17:40.events never happen again. I am encouraged by the statement of a

:17:41. > :17:43.full public enquiry, but can the Secretary of State give a commitment

:17:44. > :17:46.it will not be allowed to drag and we have the enquiry as soon as

:17:47. > :17:52.possible. We need those answers and we need them quickly. He refers to

:17:53. > :17:56.the public enquiry announced by the Prime Minister last week which will

:17:57. > :18:01.be led by a judge and independent. We shouldn't prejudge the terms,

:18:02. > :18:06.they will be set by the judge. As well as the timing issue of that,

:18:07. > :18:08.what is also important is making sure the victims are properly

:18:09. > :18:15.represented and that is something else the Prime Minister has also

:18:16. > :18:21.promised. The Secretary of State referred to cladding, but did not

:18:22. > :18:24.refer to installation. He will know the police and Fire Service have

:18:25. > :18:30.raised concerns about the way in which the installation spread the

:18:31. > :18:34.fire in Grenfell Tower. Can he say what has been done about

:18:35. > :18:39.installation, whether it is time to require testing of insulation

:18:40. > :18:43.materials as well, and also some transparency about what insulation

:18:44. > :18:47.materials were used in Grenfell Tower and whether those materials

:18:48. > :18:55.should now be banned in other tower blocks and other properties as well?

:18:56. > :18:59.The right honourable lady is right to raise this issue. The police

:19:00. > :19:04.report rightly focused on that. I will not say any more on Grenfell

:19:05. > :19:12.Tower, it is important I don't get involved in that, but more broadly

:19:13. > :19:16.it is possible could showed that the cladding itself is of what's called

:19:17. > :19:20.category one, soak the correct type of cladding, but the insulation may

:19:21. > :19:27.be the wrong type of insulation. So what we have already done working

:19:28. > :19:30.with the LGA, since the police report, we have updated the price

:19:31. > :19:34.that's going to local councils and looking out what the best way to

:19:35. > :19:39.respond to that and make sure the insulation is also being locked up

:19:40. > :19:43.properly. Does he share my disappointment this issue tragically

:19:44. > :19:48.has been Pulitzer ties so heavily by senior members of the party

:19:49. > :19:53.opposite. How long does he think the public enquiry will take to come to

:19:54. > :19:57.conclusions and does he have any idea if this cladding has been used

:19:58. > :20:01.in any other countries? What the public want to see and what they are

:20:02. > :20:05.seeing today in this chamber, everyone is working together. In

:20:06. > :20:09.terms of timing of the public enquiry, that will be up to the

:20:10. > :20:13.judge. But it is hoped the judge might see fit to have an interim

:20:14. > :20:19.report, something we can act on much more quickly. I want to press the

:20:20. > :20:23.Secretary of State further on the issue of funding to local

:20:24. > :20:27.authorities. Most of them do not have vast reserves, most are

:20:28. > :20:31.struggling at 40% funding cuts and there isn't sufficient clarity as to

:20:32. > :20:36.where and when the government will step forward with funding. We need

:20:37. > :20:39.not only for those places where we need sprinklers and get rid of the

:20:40. > :20:46.cladding, but on the issue of rehousing. Will he say exactly what

:20:47. > :20:51.the national government will fund? I can only repeat what I said earlier,

:20:52. > :20:57.which is whether it is removing of cladding or taking other necessary

:20:58. > :20:59.action to improve the fire safety building or rehousing costs, then

:21:00. > :21:05.local authorities should get on with those. They should, just as Camden,

:21:06. > :21:09.the first action was to think about how to fund this, they got on with

:21:10. > :21:12.the action, made those tenants safe and then the government will work

:21:13. > :21:19.with those local authorities where they cannot afford it, to provide

:21:20. > :21:23.necessary support. As someone who has previously worked for shelter,

:21:24. > :21:27.can I thank that organisation and the others that are working so hard

:21:28. > :21:32.in that constituency to do what they can for the victims of the Grenfell

:21:33. > :21:37.Tower fire. What is the government's timeline to rehouse all the

:21:38. > :21:40.displaced Grenfell survivors from temporary accommodation into

:21:41. > :21:46.long-term, stable homes in their local community? We welcome the

:21:47. > :21:49.honourable lady to the House and we look forward to bringing the

:21:50. > :21:54.benefits of her experience in that and other sectors to our

:21:55. > :22:00.deliberations. Secretary of State. In terms of the actual time, the

:22:01. > :22:04.temporary accommodation, the offer within three weeks then in terms of

:22:05. > :22:08.permanent accommodation, we have found a number of units and some

:22:09. > :22:12.have begun to look at permanent units. Hopefully we can do that

:22:13. > :22:18.within months and move very quickly on that, as long as that is what the

:22:19. > :22:22.tenants want. Can I also welcome her experience and tell her she may

:22:23. > :22:26.already be aware, shelter is helping tremendously on the ground in

:22:27. > :22:30.Kensington and they are helping with a lot of the tenants and their

:22:31. > :22:39.concerns over whether temporary really means temporary and I hugely

:22:40. > :22:41.welcome that. This issue of funding, the Secretary of State the

:22:42. > :22:44.government will work with local authorities and housing associations

:22:45. > :22:50.to provide funding if they cannot afford to do the work. Could the

:22:51. > :22:55.Secretary of State explain precisely what it means? What criteria he will

:22:56. > :22:59.use? Is it fundamentally wrong to expect other social housing tenants

:23:00. > :23:03.to pay for this work, either through increased rent or less maintenance

:23:04. > :23:07.on their properties? Will the government bring forward a

:23:08. > :23:10.comprehensive finance package which provides merely not increase

:23:11. > :23:15.borrowing for organisations but the actual cash to pay for this work? Mr

:23:16. > :23:21.Speaker, the honourable gentleman will know, it is a legal requirement

:23:22. > :23:26.for local authority housing associations already, as we speak,

:23:27. > :23:31.to make sure the homes they offer to tenants are fit for habitation. They

:23:32. > :23:35.should be meeting these requirements already. I gave the example of

:23:36. > :23:40.Camden early, it should already have been meeting those requirements.

:23:41. > :23:45.Despite that, if they cannot do that from the current resources, they

:23:46. > :23:48.should get on with the job, meet those requirements and we will

:23:49. > :23:55.support them with whatever they need. It is good to be back. Mr

:23:56. > :24:00.Speaker, and Jones, the assembly member for the Vale of Clywd has

:24:01. > :24:04.introduced her own legislation to introduce sprinklers in all

:24:05. > :24:10.new-build houses in Wales. I am a firm believer that out of badness

:24:11. > :24:16.comes good. What happened in Grenfell Tower was bad, it was a

:24:17. > :24:19.tragedy. Can we use this disaster to open a complete review of fire

:24:20. > :24:24.safety across the UK. Not just on the issue of cladding, but

:24:25. > :24:30.insulation, containment, emergency lighting and especially sprinkler

:24:31. > :24:37.systems. Not just in tower blocks, but other vulnerable housing, such

:24:38. > :24:41.as houses of multiple occupation. Mr Speaker, as I said in my statement,

:24:42. > :24:48.there will be a need for a complete review across the UK. Approximately

:24:49. > :24:53.one in three of all properties in Westminster towers, and I am sure

:24:54. > :24:57.this goes for others, are leaseholders. Can the secretary of

:24:58. > :25:02.state tell us if he has the legal power to require leaseholders to

:25:03. > :25:05.install fire doors and other internal fire safety? If not, what

:25:06. > :25:10.is he going to do about it and who you is going to pay? She raises a

:25:11. > :25:15.very important point. It is often the case, there are many

:25:16. > :25:17.leaseholders who have removed fire doors and clearly that's not

:25:18. > :25:22.acceptable. I believe all the legal powers are there and it is certainly

:25:23. > :25:27.one of the lessons from this tragedy and what we have seen a Camden so

:25:28. > :25:34.far, to take a much greater interest in enforcement. Mr Speaker, the

:25:35. > :25:37.secretary of state in his statement said landlords must keep residential

:25:38. > :25:43.building safe for their tenants. Experts agree sprinklers save lives

:25:44. > :25:50.and sympathetic words are not good enough. It would cost less to fit

:25:51. > :25:53.sprinklers than the deal the government has stitched together

:25:54. > :26:01.with the DUP. What is more important, clinging to power or

:26:02. > :26:05.preventing fire deaths? Mr Speaker, where the local Fire and Rescue

:26:06. > :26:12.Service recommend sprinklers, they should be installed. Was his

:26:13. > :26:18.department is aware of the fire in the crust tower in Melbourne in

:26:19. > :26:22.2014? It had similar cladding to the building at Grenfell Tower and what

:26:23. > :26:26.lessons were learned by the DC LG from fire and shouldn't that have

:26:27. > :26:31.prompted a review of cladding on tower blocks in this country? I

:26:32. > :26:37.think the important point the honourable gentleman highlights is

:26:38. > :26:40.we can benefit from international experience, whether it is coming

:26:41. > :26:44.from Australia, Europe or elsewhere and it is one of the things we

:26:45. > :26:52.should be looking at as we learn the lessons.

:26:53. > :27:00.I would like him to explain now why she will not simply use this

:27:01. > :27:04.opportunity to pay for the sprinkler systems that were recommended by the

:27:05. > :27:12.coroner after the Lakanal House fire. It is important we are clear

:27:13. > :27:19.on this. The coroner in her report in 2013, she did not say that all

:27:20. > :27:25.high-rise buildings should all have sprinklers, she said they should be

:27:26. > :27:33.considered where appropriate. To follow up on my honourable friend

:27:34. > :27:37.from Kensington's point about immigration status. Having worked

:27:38. > :27:42.with people with fragile immigration status who have suffered a trauma,

:27:43. > :27:46.until people have a stable immigration status, they will never

:27:47. > :27:49.feel safe to speak out. The Secretary of State asking what to

:27:50. > :27:53.do, we could get those people a message today that we will

:27:54. > :27:58.fast-track them for indefinite leave to remain with access to public

:27:59. > :28:05.funds in order that they can go through the enquiry without fear or

:28:06. > :28:11.favour. Will he agree to that? I think it is a very important point

:28:12. > :28:18.that those people, those victims, feel they have challenges with the

:28:19. > :28:24.immigration status and we can show sensitivity and treat them more

:28:25. > :28:29.favourably. Public enquiries are slow instruments for a change, as we

:28:30. > :28:34.found with the Chilcott report and the double enquiry that took nearly

:28:35. > :28:40.a decade. Can he give and assurance that we will not wait for the remedy

:28:41. > :28:44.until the report, but as soon as remedies are obvious and required,

:28:45. > :28:54.we will act instantly because the danger is so high and the anxieties

:28:55. > :28:59.are so widespread? Yes, I agree. These Secretary of State is right

:29:00. > :29:07.that lessons need to be learned from this tragedy. Why were Fire Service

:29:08. > :29:17.checks cut back by 25% since 2010? In the here and now, Georgian accent

:29:18. > :29:22.-- argent is needed. Rightly anxious tenants want action. Birmingham City

:29:23. > :29:27.Council have pledged they will retrofit sprinklers to all of those

:29:28. > :29:32.blocks. That will cost ?31 million. The City Council is suffering the

:29:33. > :29:37.biggest cuts in local history and therefore urgently needs Government

:29:38. > :29:42.support. Can I ask for a straight answer, yes or no, will be Secretary

:29:43. > :29:46.of State guaranteed that Birmingham City Council can go ahead and carry

:29:47. > :29:54.out that work and that they will be refunded in full? Birmingham City

:29:55. > :29:58.Council, like every council, has a legal responsibility when it comes

:29:59. > :30:03.to its social tenants and it should do what ever it believes is

:30:04. > :30:06.necessary and as I have said before, for necessary works, if there is an

:30:07. > :30:14.issue with funding, we will provide the support. Can I praise the swift

:30:15. > :30:20.response of the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council in responding to

:30:21. > :30:26.concerns. Over 14,000 apartment units in the constituency. We'll be

:30:27. > :30:30.Secretary of State look at the issue of estate management companies? I

:30:31. > :30:35.have seen very variable records of action on fire safety and responding

:30:36. > :30:40.to concerns across privately owned tower blocks in my own constituency

:30:41. > :30:44.and some of them are not living up to their responsibilities in terms

:30:45. > :30:48.of staffing, resources and looking at issues like fire doors,

:30:49. > :30:55.sprinklers and fire safety. I think he makes a very good point. One of

:30:56. > :30:58.the lessons from this tragedy we are learning now means we should look at

:30:59. > :31:06.the private sector more carefully and management companies. 13 group

:31:07. > :31:12.own most of the social housing across Teesside. The paid for

:31:13. > :31:16.nontoxic cladding for buildings in my constituency and the ended up

:31:17. > :31:21.with flammable toxic material now being removed. One dangerous

:31:22. > :31:25.alternative provided. Does the Minister agree that frauds like

:31:26. > :31:35.these ought to be investigated and those responsible prosecuted? I

:31:36. > :31:41.agree 100%. The Secretary of State said nothing about the cause of the

:31:42. > :31:46.fire. I realise that is a section for days. Whether you see when the

:31:47. > :31:50.tests on the fridge freezer will complete and whether he will

:31:51. > :31:53.immediately change the advice that owners of this model can continue to

:31:54. > :32:01.use them pending the outcome of the tests? I can assure the honourable

:32:02. > :32:04.gentleman that my right honourable friend the Business Secretary are

:32:05. > :32:08.not just speaking to the manufacturer of the fridge freezer

:32:09. > :32:17.concerned, with regard to Grenfell Tower, also other white goods. The

:32:18. > :32:21.piece of recall is frankly far too slow and that is something that my

:32:22. > :32:29.right honourable friend is taking very seriously. -- the pace. Between

:32:30. > :32:38.2010 and 2015 the Department reduced its capacity by a higher proportion

:32:39. > :32:41.than any other department, also 40%. In many areas, the department is

:32:42. > :32:46.very stretched. Will the Minister confirm that the number of staff in

:32:47. > :32:51.the department is being increased so that it can coordinate the national

:32:52. > :32:56.response to all that aspects of the tragedy in a timely manner,

:32:57. > :33:05.including providing emergency support any council that request it?

:33:06. > :33:10.Yes, it is being increased. I went to echo what colleagues have said

:33:11. > :33:15.about the need for certainty about funding for councils. Bristol is

:33:16. > :33:19.facing ?104 million of cuts. We need to know where that we need to make

:33:20. > :33:25.other cuts or not. Can I pressed him on other changes that would help us

:33:26. > :33:29.raise our own finance, scrapping the reduction rule and allowing us to