26/06/2017 House of Commons

Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament with live coverage from the House of

Commons. Fresh from finalising negotiations with the DUP to support

the government, Theresa May will make a statement to the Commons on

the outcome of the recent European Council summit in Brussels. The

government has proposed offering EU migrants who have been in the UK for

five years the right to stay after Brexit. That will be followed by a

statement from the first secretary of state, Damian Green, on Northern

Ireland. As part of the deal with the DUP the government has committed

to an additional ?1 billion in spending commitments for Northern

Ireland. The communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid

would also make a statement. Order. Order. I have a short

statement to make covering three separate matters. The house was

informed before the general election that, following the shocking attack

on Westminster Bridge and these Houses of Parliament in March, the

Lord Speaker and I commissioned an external independent review of how

the perimeter of the Parliamentary estate, including outbuildings, is

secured and protected. At the same time, the clerks of both houses

commissioned an externally led review of the lessons learned from

the operation inside Parliament of the incident management framework.

The report of the first review has now been received and formal

delivery of the second is imminent. Both will be carefully considered. I

can assure the house that appropriate action will be taken

swiftly and decisively. As colleagues will be aware,

Parliament's IT service was subjected to a sustained and

determined cyber attack over the weekend. Parliament has robust

measures in place to protect all of our accounts and systems. In order

to protect our core network and systems it was necessary temporarily

to restrict remote access to the network which meant that some

colleagues were unable to access their e-mail accounts. Good progress

is being made in restoring remote access. Constituency offices have

been given priority so that our critical work in constituencies can

continue. Parliament's first priority has been to ensure that the

business of both houses can continue. It is self-evident that

this has been achieved and I am sure colleagues will join me in thanking

all of those Parliamentary staff who have worked intensively over the

past few days to ensure that our parliamentary democracy can operate

freely. On Thursday last I informed the house about arrangements for the

election of deputy speakers. Nominations are due tomorrow and the

ballot will be held on Wednesday morning. I thought it would be

helpful to all members if I informed the house now rather than late

tomorrow afternoon when nominations close that I have decided after

consultation with the clerks, and in the light of technical advice from

the electoral reform Society for the house's advisers on ballots, that

is, and I stress if, there is only one candidate from the conservative

side of the house and there are more than two candidates from the other

side, the name of the soul conservative candidate will not be

on the ballot paper and will be declared in due course as elected as

first deputy chairman of ways and Means, in much the same way as

happens when there is an unopposed candidate for the chair of a select

committee. I hope that this will help members in all parts of the

house to deal with the perceived complexity is of the STV system to

which we are bound idly standing orders. If, I recognise this is in

the realms of conjecture, colleagues are in anyway puzzles by its

operation, they are welcome to seek advice from the public bill office

or the library, or indeed Wikipedia. Statement, the Prime Minister. With

permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on last week's

European Council and the proposals we are publishing today which, on a

reciprocal basis, seek to give reassurance and certainty to EU

citizens who have made their homes and lives in our country. This

council followed the formal start of the negotiations for the United

Kingdom's departure from the EU as well as marking the first

anniversary of the referendum that led to that decision. In that

referendum the British people chose to take back control of our laws,

our money and our borders, to restore supremacy to this Parliament

and reclaim our sense of national determination and this government

will fulfil the democratic will of the British people. But the

referendum was not a vote to turn our backs on our friends and

neighbours. Indeed, as we become ever more internationalist in our

outlook and as we build the global Britain we want to see, we will

continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close friends

with all the member states of the European Union. We want to work with

one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more

prosperous through our continued friendship. We want to buy each

other's goods and services and trade as freely as possible and we will

continue to celebrate and defend the liberal democratic values we share

and to protect those values that are the foundation of our freedoms and

way of life. In short we want to build what I have described as a

newcomer deep and special partnership between a competent,

self-governing, global Britain and all our friends and allies in the

European Union. -- are confident also that the positive and

constructive spirit in which my right honourable friend the

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union began the formal

negotiations last week and it is the same spirit in which the United

Kingdom made a full contribution to all the issues that this council

raised including on security, migration, climate change and trade.

On security and I thank our European partners for their condolences and

for their resolve in standing with us following the appalling terrorist

attacks that the UK has suffered in recent weeks. Those attacks have

seen citizens from across Europe tragically killed and injured but

they have also seen our citizens standing together in some of the

most inspiring ways. At London Bridge we saw a Spanish bank are

tragically killed as he rushed to the aid of a woman being attacked.

And we saw mania and Baker fighting of the terrorists and giving shelter

to Londoners in his bakery. -- a Romanian bakery. These show how far

from budding as such attacks on our way of life will only serve to

strengthen our shared unity and resolve but, Mr Speaker, these

attacks also showed that we need to respond to a new trend in the threat

we face as terrorism breeds terrorism and perpetrators are

inspired to attack by copying one another using the crudest of means.

So building on the bilateral agreement I reached with President

Macron earlier this month, at this council I argued that we must come

together to defeat the hateful and extremist ideologies that inspired

the attacks and to stop the Internet being used as a safe space for

extremists. When one third of all links to Daesh propaganda are shared

within the first hour of release, it is not enough for technology

companies to respond reactively to extremist content on their

platforms. The council agreed to put pressure on these companies to do

more to remove this content automatically and also to ensure

that law enforcement agencies can access encrypted data. This was a

significant step forward and we will continue to work together with our

European partners to combat this evil, to defend our values and to

keep our citizens safe. Turning to other issues, on migration the

council recommitted to be comprehensive approach that the UK

has advocated dealing with the drivers migration while also doing

more to stem the flow. And at this summit I confirmed a new UK

commitment of ?75 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs in the

central Mediterranean while also facilitating voluntary returns of

migrant making these treacherous journeys. On trade, as the UK leads

the EU, we will be forging trade deals around the world with old

friends and new allies alike but this

will not undermine the EU's trade agenda, it is not even in

competition with it. For as long as we remain part of the EU we will

continue to press for an a vicious trade agenda that can deliver jobs

and growth across the continent and that is what I did at this council

where there was a particular focus on the work towards deals with

Japan, Mexico and the Machis or block of South American countries.

And on climate change is the council riven the commitment of all member

states to fully impairment the Paris agreement. The UK has already

reaffirmed its own commitment and I have expressed my disappointment to

President Trump that he has taken a different decision. We will continue

to make the case to our American allies to think again. Mr Speaker,

turning to citizens rights, EU citizens make an invaluable

contribution to our United Kingdom, to our economy, our public services

and everyday lives. They are an integral part of the economic

cultural and social fabric of the country and I have always been clear

I want to protect their rights. That is why I initially sought an

agreement on this before we triggered Article 50.

It is why I am making it an immediate priority at the beginning

of negotiations. Mr Speaker, that agreement must be reciprocal because

we must protect the rights of UK citizens living in EU member states

too. At the council I set out some of the principles I believe should

underlie that reciprocal agreement and there was a very positive

response from individual leaders and a strong sense of mutual goodwill in

trying to reach such an agreement as soon as possible. So, today we are

publishing detailed proposals to do exactly that. Let me set out the key

points for the House. First, we want certainty. I know there has been

some anxiety about what would happen to EU citizens at the point we leave

the European Union. Today, I want to put that anxiety to rest come I want

to completely reassure people that under these plans no EU citizen

currently here will be asked to leave at the point the UK leaves the

EU. We want you to stay for subsecond, any EU citizen in the UK

with five years continuous residence at a specified cut-off date will be

granted settled status and will be treated as if they were UK citizens

for health care, education, benefits and pensions. While any EU citizens

with any less than five years residents who arrived before the

cut-off date specified will be at the stay until they have the five

years of residence to apply for UK settled status. Third, the specified

cut-off date will be the subject of discussions but no earlier than the

date which a good Article 50 and no later than the date we leave the EU.

Fourth, no families will be split up. Family dependents who join a

qualifying EU citizen here before the UK's exit will be able to apply

for settled status after five years command after the UK has left the

European Union EU citizens with subtle status will be able to bring

family members from overseas in the same terms as British nationals.

Fifth, there will be no cliff edge. There will be a grace period of up

to two years to allow people to regularise their status. While those

EU citizens who arrived in the UK after the specified cut-off date

will be allowed to remain in the UK for at least a temporary period and

may still become eligible to settle permanently. Sixth, the system of

registration that citizens go through will be as streamlined and

light touch as possible and we intend to remove some of the

technical requirements currently needed to obtain permanent residents

not require anyone to demonstrate not require anyone to demonstrate

they have held comprehensive sickness insurance. Seven, we expect

this offer to be extended on a reciprocal basis to nationals of

Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Switzerland, and the reciprocal

agreement on citizens' rights will apply to the entire United Kingdom

and Gibraltar. Eighth, this is all without prejudice to the Common

Travel Area arrangements that exist between the UK and Ireland. We will

preserve the freedoms that UK and Irish nationals currently enjoy in

each other's Stead, and Irish citizens will not need to apply for

permanent residence to protect these entitlements. And finally, the UK

will continue to export and operate the UK state pension and provide

associated health care cover within the EU. We will continue to protect

the export of other benefits and associated health care cover where

the individual is in receipt of those benefits on the specified

cut-off date. Subject to negotiations we want to continue

participating in the European health insurance card scheme so that UK

cardholders could continue to benefit from free or reduced cost

health care while on a temporary stay in the EU and vice versa for EU

cardholders visiting the UK. Mr Speaker, this is a fair and serious

offer. Our obligations in the withdrawal treaty with the EU will

be binding on the UK as a matter of international law. We will

incorporate commitments into UK law guaranteeing that we will stand

firmly by our part of the deal. So our offer will give those 3 million

EU citizens in the UK certainty about the future of their lives and

a reciprocal agreement will provide the same certainty for the more than

1 million UK citizens living in the European Union. Mr Speaker, one year

on from that momentous decision to leave the European Union, let us

remember what we are seeking to achieve with these negotiations. We

are withdrawing from a system of treaties and bureaucracy that does

not work for us. But we're not withdrawing from the valleys and

solidarity that we share with our European neighbours. As a confident

at outward looking and self-governing nation, we know that

it's not just our past that isn't wind in the fortunes of our friends

and neighbours, it is our future too. That is why we want this new,

deep and special partnership and why we approach these negotiations with

optimism. Because, a good deal for Britain and a good deal for Europe

are not competing alternatives. They are the best single path to a

brighter future for all our children and grandchildren. That I believe is

the future the British people voted for and that is the future I want is

to secure, and I commend this statement to the House. SPEAKER:

Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you, Mr Speaker. First of all, Mr Speaker,

could I join you in thanking all staff at the House of Commons for

the work they did over the weekend to ensure that our electronic

systems are safe and I would be grateful if you can pass that on to

staff. I would want to thank the prime list for the advanced copy of

the statement we have just heard. 68 days ago the Prime Minister stood on

the steps of Downing Street and asked this country to give her a

strong mandate to negotiate Brexit. She offered little by way of

strategy or plan, more hollow sound bites and grandstanding and the past

six months the Prime Minister has stuck to her mantra. No deal is

better than a bad deal. And continued with her threat to turn

Britain into an offshore tax haven aimed at undercutting the European

Union. By ripping up regulation, hacking back public services, and

leading a race to the bottom in pay and conditions. Well, Mr Speaker,

the British people saw through that rhetoric, they saw through the

threats, and instead of giving the Prime Minister the mandate she

wanted, they rejected in large numbers the deregulated, low-wage

future the Conservative Party has in mind for this country. She wanted a

landslide. She lost her majority. Now her mandate is in tatters. But

the Prime Minister still insists she is the best person to get a good

deal for Britain. And incredibly, and incredibly... Incredibly

believes she is the best person to strike a deal with the very people

she spent the last six months threatening and hectoring. The truth

is this country needs a new approach to Brexit that a Tory government

simply cannot deliver. They are taking Britain down a reckless path,

prepared to put jobs and living standards at risk just to maintain

support within her own party and keep her government in office. The

cracks are already beginning to appear, while some in her party want

to move towards Labour's approach, to Brexit, at least... At least in

terms... At least in terms of protecting jobs, trade and the

economy the hard right voices in her Cabinet, and on her backbenchers,

are still determined to force Britain over a cliff edge. The Prime

Minister needs to ignore them. She needs now to listen. So I ask her,

how she promised to restore supremacy to this parliament? Will

she now be more transparent and involve it properly in the Brexit

negotiation process? Will she now finally rule out the possibility of

no deal being a viable option for this country? The choice is hers. Mr

Speaker, the Prime Minister went to Brussels last week to make what she

described as "A generous offer to EU nationals in this country." The

truth is it's too little too late. That could have been done and should

have been done a year ago when Labour put that very proposal to the

House of Commons. But by making an offer only after negotiations have

begun, the Prime Minister has dragged the issue of citizens and

families deep into the complex and delicate negotiations of our future

trade relations with the European Union, which she herself has been

willing to say may result in failure. This isn't a generous

offer. This is confirmation that the government is prepared to use people

as bargaining chips. So, can the Prime Minister now confirmed what

will happen to her offer to nationals in this country if no deal

is reached? What happens to the rights of family reunion which EU

citizens are currently entitled to? Does the Prime Minister in Visic the

five-year period EU nationals must accumulate here in Britain will also

be the same for British citizens who want to retain the right to live in

other parts of the European Union? And can the Prime Minister tell the

House if these proposals were drawn up to take into account the impact

on our public services? Especially the National Health Service where

there is great concern over falling numbers of nurses and doctors

already. Mr Speaker, what makes this situation even more remarkable is

what we learned this weekend from the former Chancellor of the

Exchequer. That immediately after last year's referendum the

government was willing to give assurances to EU nationals in this

country, however, that was blocked in the Cabinet by the Prime Minister

herself. This is people's lives we are talking about. Our neighbours,

friends, husbands, wives, children. The Prime Minister really didn't

care about them then. Why should they believe she cares about them

now? Mr Speaker, the country needs a change of direction. People are

tired of tough talk from a weak government and a weak Prime

Minister. The government needs to listen put the national interest

first, and deliver a Brexit for the many, not the few, one that puts

jobs, the economy and living standards first, by building a new

partnership with the European Union on the base of common interest and

common values. One that protects living standards and promotes human

rights through new trade deals throughout the world. That is what

Labour would do. The Prime Minister has no mandate at home and no

mandate abroad. Isn't it the case, Mr Speaker, that it would only be a

Labour government that works for the whole country that could deliver a

Brexit that works for all and protects those jobs and living

standards that are at risk while this government remains in office?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Right Honourable gentleman has talked

about a variety of this useful stuff he talked about Parliament and

transparency and we have been very clear there will be a vote in this

Parliament on the deal that has been negotiated with the European Union

and we expect that to take place before the European Parliament has

an opportunity to vote on it. There will be many opportunities in

legislation and other ways coming in the coming weeks and months in

Parliament to make its views known on these various matters. Let me

come onto the position that the Right Honourable gentleman referred

to in relation to workers' rights. We are very clear, as I was in the

objectives I set out in the Lancaster House speech in January,

as I have continued to set out in the Article 50 letter and elsewhere

that we want to protect workers' rights, indeed, we want to enhance

workers' rights. He talks about no plan. I set out our objectives in

that Lancaster House speech and in the Article 50 letter and have

continued to set out those objectives, whereas the Labour Party

has had seven plans on Brexit in nine months, we have members of the

Labour Party front bench, Shadow Home Secretary, shadow chief

secretary, Shadow Attorney General, who want to retain free movement. We

have 35 lead MPs who want to retain membership of the Single Market.

Neither of these, as far as I'm aware, where in the Labour Party

manifesto that was stood on in the last election. And then we get onto

the whole issue... Then we get onto the whole issue of... We get onto

the issue of the negotiations on EU citizens and their rights here in

the United Kingdom. I have to say to the Right Honourable gentleman, I

find it bizarre, if not worrying, that in the position he holds he's

willing to stand in this House and say he has no care for UK citizens

living in the European Union. Because, that is what he is saying.

I said... I said at... I said at an early stage that we wanted to

address the EU citizens' rights issue early. The European Union were

clear that there was no negotiation before notification. It is one of

the first issues that we are addressing after notification. They

were clear it had to be undertaken on a reciprocal basis and they were

clear that whatever the United Kingdom said the European Union

would still be arguing about its proposals in relation to the

protection of rights for EU citizens. People who say that we

should be not dealing on this as a reciprocal basis simply don't

understand what negotiations are about, because the other side will

be negotiating on these issues. He talks about the issue of no deal

being better than a bad deal. I will tell him what I worry about in terms

of a bad deal. I worry about those... I worry about those who

appeared to suggest in Europe that we should be punished in some sense

for leaving the European Union. And I worry about those who command from

what he says, I think the Leader of the Opposition in business

particular camp, we should take any deal regardless of the Bill and

regardless of the circumstances. He would negotiate the worst deal with

the biggest possible Bill. And finally, can I just say to the Right

Honourable gentleman, he talks about wanting a future relationship based

on a partnership of values, shared values with trade deals across the

world. That's exactly what I said in my statement so I suggest he starts

supporting the government on his Brexit arrangements.

Given Brexit and our vital red light on the European court and the repeal

of the 1972 act, would my right honourable friend agree that a

reasonable framework to protect reciprocal citizens rights whilst

making no concession at all on preserving our own Westminster

jurisdiction and judicial sovereignty would be a tribunal

system such as I outlined in a house last week, which would be along the

lines similar to a court and a parallel sort of agreement. My

honourable friend raises an interesting proposal and of course

we are looking at a variety of arrangements for the enforcement of

agreements that we come to pull is in relation to the EU citizens

rights, if these form part of the withdrawal pretty they will be

enshrined in international law but I also think we should recognise that

our courts are world renowned and respected around the world and what

I want to receive and would expect is that these citizens rights for EU

citizens in the UK would be upheld and enforced by our courts in the

same way as UK citizens rights are upheld and enforced by our courts.

If I could make some short remarks on the sad passing of Gordon Wilson

who was member of Parliament for Dundee East from 1974 to 1987 and

I'm sure everybody in the house would wish to pass their condolences

to his family. Those of us on these benches were honoured to have the

wisdom, wit and intelligence of Gordon with us for many decades and

he spoke with me on Wednesday before I entered with chamber to respond to

the Queen's speech. You will be sadly missed by all of us,

particularly those on these benches. I think the Prime for above site for

the government of the Marc Vandal EU citizens. It was more than

concerning to open the document designed to settle the lives of many

citizens appear to discover it leaves many more questions than

answers. The Prime Minister went to Brussels last week and presented a

plan for EU nationals that fell short of expectations with the Dutch

president stating there are thousands of questions to ask about

the proposal. Will the prime of the confirmed that the joint ministerial

committee was consulted on the proposals published to date? When

will she honoured the pledge of a united United Kingdom approach to

Brexit and give Scotland a place at negotiating tables? Has she got that

her plan for EU nationals which she presented last week and when will

the costings be laid before the house? Will she confirm that EU

citizens in Scotland will not have to fill out the 85 page paper form

for residency? In the early hours after the referendum result, the

First Minister of Scotland called loud and clear for the Prime

Minister to unilaterally guarantee EU citizens rights. It is therefore

shocking to learn that the then Foreign Minister had pledged just to

do that but the current Prime Minister blocked the plan -- the

then Prime Minister. Does she accept she was wrong and will she now do

the right thing and reassure thousands of concern EU nationals

living in the UK by unilaterally guaranteeing their rights? We

created these circumstances we should be showing leadership. We

welcome the EU summit conclusions, especially those on jobs, growth and

competitiveness. The SMB was the birth government in the UK to

publish a plan for Brexit, putting the single market at the hand of

that -- the SNP. Additional summit conclusions on the Paris agreement

are very welcome in ensuring the agreement is implemented after the

US withdrawal last month. The Prime Minister must tell the house what

the UK's next step will be up in permitting the agreement in

cooperation with our EU friends. I welcome the announcement of the

upgrading of the pensions of those living in the EU but will be

premised on the net to pensioners in other parts of the world that

currently don't benefit from operating? And on the heart of these

benches I send best wishes to the Estonian president ahead of tentacle

over -- ahead of him taking over on the 1st of July. First of all may I

join the honourable gentleman in passing condolences to the family

and friends of Gordon Wilson and I am sorry to hear of his passing. He

has raised a number of issues within the comments that he has made. Can I

reiterate the point about the process of application? He referred

to the 85 page application paper, as I said, the hope with its wooden to

introduce a streamlined, light touch approach on this so people will not

have to apply on and 85 page paper as yet asked. He referred to the

story in the Evening Standard and I have to say that is not my

recollection. What we're doing today is setting out what I believe it's a

fair and serious offer to EU citizens here in the UK but we want

to have a care for those UK citizens who are living in the European

Union. Anna might remind the honourable gentleman that during the

Scottish independence referendum the First Minister told EU nationals

that if an independent Scotland was not allowed to rejoin the EU, they

would lose the right to stay here. We're saying that to EU nationals

here, we are saying we want you to stay in this paper is the basis on

which they can stay and nobody will be forced to leave. I congratulate

the Prime Minister on her policy which will bring many benefits to

the UK and the rest of the EU also can she tell the house a little more

about how far we can do in negotiating free trade agreement

with non-EU countries before we leave and when we will learn how we

can spend all the money we're going to save? As my right honourable

friend will know, one of the issues that we proposed during the election

campaign was that some of the money that is returned is spent in a

Shared Prosperity Fund here in the UK which will be looking to deal

with and remove the disparities that occur within regions and nations and

between the part of the United Kingdom. As regards the trade deals

for the rest of the world, of course legally we cannot sign up to

free-trade agreements with other parties until we are no longer

members of the European Union but there is much work that might right

honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development

is doing with other countries around the world such as India and America,

to look to see what trade benefits we can achieve before leaving the EU

by removing some of the barriers that currently exist to trade

between our countries. The Prime Minister will be aware that EU

citizens living and working here are particularly concerned about the

status of their children. Can she confirm that a young person who has

lived in Britain for four years of EU parent and is currently studying

at the University of sweat in the EU and will be over the age of 18 when

she returns will be able to automatically returned to her

parents and will her parents be required to meet an income

threshold? That individual would be allowed to return to the UK. If the

EU citizens are living here at the time at which we leave, before the

specified cut-off date and have five years residence they get that

settled status. If they have less than five years before the cut-off

date, they will be able to stay to build up a five years residence for

settled status and of course for anybody coming afresh, new people

coming to the UK after we leave the EU, we will be setting out those

immigration rules in due course and there will be a bill through

parliament. Can I urge the Prime Minister to settle this issue as

part of an interim deal with the EU so those affected do not have to

wait for the conclusions of the negotiations? I thank my right

honourable friend, I would like us to be able to do that by dealing

with this at an early stage in the negotiations and recognising what we

all want is to ensure we give people reassurance that they are no longer

anxious about their future and I would hope that the European Union

would see the benefit of that and we will be able to address this at an

earlier stage of the negotiations. I think the Prime Minister needs to

reassure the members of the European Parliament. I was in Brussels last

week and I heard petitioners from this and other countries talking

about their concerns. Previously when I asked the Prime Minister if

she would address the European Parliament she said she was waiting

for an invitation, however she must know that she does not have to have

an invitation also she can volunteer to address the plenary of the

European Parliament, will she do that? I thank the honourable lady

and I can let her know that my right honourable friend the Immigration

Minister will be meeting MEPs later today to talk about the proposals we

have put forward. I have been in discussions with the president,

speaking about the possibility of my going to the European Parliament and

speaking to them and we're looking at on what basis that should be and

on what timetable. Does my right honourable friend agree that one of

the principal reasons why the British people voted to leave the EU

was to reassert the supremacy of this Parliament and of the UK

courts? And can she confirm that when we do leave that will be the

position for all citizens resident in the UK no matter from where they

came? I can confirm that to my right honourable friend. One of the key

differences between the proposals we have put forward and those of the

European Union is they want the ECJ to continue to have jurisdiction on

European citizens even after we have left the EU and I think people were

very clear they did not want the ECJ to have jurisdiction here and I

believe our courts, we have fine courts in this country and they will

be able to uphold EU citizens write just as they do UK citizens. The

Prime Minister did not answer the question from my right honourable

friend the member for Leeds Central. If there are French parents whose

daughter is studying in Paris and who is 19 and they have been living

here for more than five years, will that daughter be able to return to

live with them here without them having to pass the income threshold

and if those parents have been living here for less than five

years, will they still have all the same rights as if they had been

living here for more than five years? Yes, if they have been living

here for the five years, their daughter will be able to return to

the United Kingdom on the same basis as that individual would today so

there would be no new rules that apply. If they have been living here

for less than five years they will be able to a crew that five-year

status so they go to the same position with that settled status.

The lead of the opposition alleged there were many on this side who

were coming over to Labour's way if thinking. Just in case I were to be

tempted, Mr Speaker, this is anyone have any idea what that is?! I have

to say, my honourable friend is always known for his plain speaking

and he has put the product in a plane a way that I did earlier in my

response to the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Speaker, at the

summit, paragraph six of the conclusion refers to peace and

stability in the world. Was there at opportunity to discuss the situation

in Yemen where 10,000 people have been killed, where the cholera

epidemic has now reached one fifth of a million people and where the

Saudis and Qataris are refusing to speak to each other? Surely if there

was a role for the EU at this present time it is to work with the

United Kingdom to try to bring peace to Yemen. The right honourable

gentleman raises a very serious issue in terms of the situation that

exists in Yemen and this has been of concern for some time and is a

growing issue in terms of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. I am

pleased the UK has been able to provide some support, of course

there are issues about ensuring that gets through to the people who

needed in Yemen. I will be open with him, there was not a discussion on

the Yemen specifically at this European Council but we will

continue to work with other member state in the EU and with our role on

the Security Council of the UN to try to find a way through this

solution so we can see a reduction in the humanitarian problems that

exist in the Yemen and peace and stability in that country. The

status of EU citizens is something I know the Prime Minister has been

attending to resolve since well before the triggering of Article 50

so what more can EU citizens who are residing in the UK be doing to make

it clear to whoever is standing in the way of an agreement come into

place, Watmore pressure can they put on to resolve this issue which is

causing so much heartache to so many -- what more? My right honourable

friend raises an interesting point and I think the message has to go

across these negotiations that it is an important issue, about the future

of people and we want to remove anxiety and give people reassurance.

When I speak to other European leaders, that is the message I get

from them, but what we need to do is ensure that the working group that

has been set up under the negotiations recognises that and

does its work as quickly as possible. Does the Prime Minister

accept that the only way to reassure the 3 million EU citizens who work

but are starting to leave our hospitals, schools, care homes and

businesses, and the UK citizens in the EU, is for the two immediately

and traditionally grant full rights to EU citizens in the UK no ifs or

buts, anything less will leave them thinking they are nothing more than

bargaining chip in a crude and cruel game of call my Bluff initiated by

the Brexiteers sitting next to her? We are making clear in the document

that we have set out today the basis on which we believe it reciprocal

arrangement can be put also making clear to people EU citizens in the

UK, no one is being asked to leave the United Kingdom. This is one of

the most important messages we can give to people here. Because there

has been that anxiety, this is a serious offer but nobody is being

asked to leave the UK. I strongly welcome the offer to EU National is

the Prime Minister makes today and the spirit of generosity and

pragmatism with which she makes the offer. Does my Right Honourable

friend agree with me that carrying forward that same spirit to the

negotiations about the rights of future EU workers gives us our best

chance of protecting our own economic interests and securing a

comprehensive trade deals that we all want to see? My Right Honourable

friend is right that what we want to do was to work forward in a positive

spirit, constructive spirit, because it is in the interests of both sides

of the UK and the European Union to ensure that we get the right offer

to citizens, EU citizens here and UK citizens in the EU but also that we

get that comprehensive trade deal we want. That will not just be to our

benefit but other member states as well. SPEAKER: Caroline Flint. I

certainly want to see the dilemma that those EU nationals working here

and living here are facing put to bed and put to rest so they can plan

for their future. I also know that my constituents who voted leave

wanted to see a reform of free movement. Can I ask the Prime

Minister to pledge today to ensure that in the future more of my

constituents will be trained to fulfil any vacancies that are

created by the reform of freedom of movement in both public and private

sector? If the answer that is yes, will she commit to come back to this

House to explain just how we are going to do that? Can I thank the

Right Honourable lady for the references she has made? I can give

her the assurance that I think it is absolutely crucial in this country

that we ensure that young people are given the skills and training they

need to be on the take up the vacancies, jobs not just of today

but of the future. That is why we were reform technical education and

introduce changes that have proper technical education in this country

for what I believe is the first time, and alongside that we have an

industrial strategy which is about spreading prosperity across this

country and ensuring those job opportunities are available.

SPEAKER: Mark Harper. I commend the Prime Minister for the generous

offer she set out which I hope will see an offer that will also benefit

British citizens also I am also in answer to questions that she shed EU

nationals will get the same rights as British citizens but not better

rights than British citizens. Can I also ask her, is she going to take

the opportunity to make sure EU nationals who have come to this

country and sadly abused our hospitality by committing crimes,

she will use the full opportunity of this to make sure they can be

removed from our country? My Right Honourable friend with one

well about the issue of those who well about the issue of those who

have come to this country and abused the rights they have been given by

their criminality. I certainly will ensure that those who are serious

and persistent criminals, that we can take action to remove them from

the UK. Mr Speaker, given that EU citizens are living and working here

legally at the moment, on the matter legally at the moment, on the matter

of the cut-off date, how can this be earlier than the date we leave the

European Union given that the rights and obligations we have as members

continue up until the date that we leave, even through the article 15

negotiation process? The rights we have set out on the

question of the specified date is about the point at which people are

able to qualify for several status here in the United Kingdom. Of

course, as we are members of the European Union then the arrangements

which have also existed for us as members of the European Union will

continue. But for those getting settled status and wishing to retain

settled status for the future, that is where the cut-off date is

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

blunt. Can I welcome the fact the Prime Minister chose to raise this

extremely important issue the council. But in the future conduct

of the negotiations, will she confirmed that they will pass

through the Secretary of State for leaving the European Union in

bringing negotiations together in the same way the European Council

are standing behind Michel Barnier? I'm not sure my Right Honourable

friend is looking at those threads he is going to pull together. We are

clear that as we go through these negotiations, at different stages in

the working groups and so forth a whole variety of people will be

involved in those. As has already happened last Monday when it was my

Right Honourable friend, the Secretary of State for leaving the

EU, and went to the start of the negotiations opposite Michel

Barnier, I think it is clear the status and position he holds. Ben

Bradshaw. She doesn't seem to understand that the lection has

changed everything and her extreme damaging Brexit is dead. So why is

she making an offer that both as it affects British nationals on the

continent and EU nationals here is far less generous than the offer

they made to us just two weeks ago? Can I say to the Right Honourable

gentleman, there is no extreme Brexit we are talking about. There

is no... There is no hard Brexit and there is no soft Brexit. What we

want is the right deal for the United Kingdom. I remind the Right

Honourable gentleman that over 80% of people voted in the recent

election voted for parties that were committed to taking the United

Kingdom out of the European Union. Over 80% voted for parties... Voted

for parties that were committed to taking the United Kingdom out of the

European Union. We have made a fair and serious offer. I believe it is a

generous offer. There is one way in which it is different from the offer

the European Union has put, and that is about the jurisdiction of the

European Court of Justice will stop when people voted in the referendum

last year they voted to ensure that we stopped the jurisdiction of the

European Court of Justice here in the UK. Mr Byrne Jenkins. May I

congratulate my Right Honourable friend on the very comprehensive

offer she has made to secure the rights of EU citizens in our own

country in a bid also to secure the rights of UK citizens in the EU. The

next time she meets the heads of government in the European Union,

can she explained to them that there are rather a lot of people who are

Remainers in this in this country who would prefer mystical then, the

Leader of the Opposition, to become Prime Minister, but who will come if

he says he will scrap our weapons within six months and remove part of

Europe's vital defensive shield provided through Nato? Will she make

clear the danger of that to them? Tangentially related to the matters

on which the Prime Minister is reporting, but we are grateful to

the honourable gentleman for what I think I will charitably call a

cerebral meander. Mr Speaker, the European Council did touch on

defence issues as well. So it is possible for me to report to my

honourable friend that I did indeed touch on the importance of the

United Kingdom continuing to maintain its defence relationship

with other countries in Europe. Our relationship through Nato is very

important. We are obviously, because of our nuclear deterrent, one of the

key safeguards of the security and safety of Europe. Caroline Lucas.

The primers keeps talking about the need for reciprocity. Can she told

Dummett tollhouse washes into didn't reciprocate the genuinely fair and

honest proposal of the European Commission in April that would have

guaranteed the existing rights of the 1.2 million UK citizens living

elsewhere in the EU, it would have saved time, built up goodwill and

got the negotiations off to a better start. Can I say I think I've

pointed out there are some differences between the two

proposals put forward by us and the European Union through the European

Commission. One of the key ones was the suggestion from the European

Commission that after we have left the European Union there should be

two classes of citizen in the UK, UK citizens whose rights would be

guaranteed by the UK courts and EU citizens whose rights would be

guaranteed by the European Court of Justice. I don't believe that's

right, all Sissons should have the rights guaranteed through our

courts. This to Jacob Rees-Mogg. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does the

Prime Minister agree with me that no reasonable person could oppose what

she has proposed force of the only people who do never wanted us to

leave in the first place. The idea that a foreign court should rule on

the rights of people living here is a kin to the outdated colonial

approach taken towards China and the unequal treaties of the

19th-century. I always bow to my honourable friend's historical

knowledge and references that he makes. But I think the point is a

clear one. Which is that what we want to see when we leave the

European Union is that citizens here in the UK have their rights

guaranteed by UK courts and enforced by UK courts. The honourable

gentleman was present himself at set treaties. We don't know, we will

leave it to speculation. Did the Prime Minister have an opportunity

to speak to the President of Cyprus and express support for the

settlement talks between Greek and Cypriot leaders due to commence in

Switzerland on Tuesday? I welcome the honourable gentleman to his

place in this House and can I say I did indeed have a bilateral

discussion with the President of Cyprus about those talks and about

our hope and expectation. They have come so far. I think they have both

taken the discussions to the point that is far closer to seeing in

resolution than we have ever seen before and I hope we can take it

over the line in the talks that will start in Geneva later this month and

the UK, as a co-guarantor, stands ready to play its part in doing

that. Thank you, Mr Speaker. When EU leaders say they want EU laws to

prevail over their citizens in the UK, what they are effectively saying

is they do not trust our judicial system. When the Prime Minister next

meets with her EU counterparts, may I suggest she gently reminds them

that many of the companies in their own countries, companies that drive

their economies, actually use English and Welsh contract law,

which is to be enforced in our courts by our judges, and the reason

why they use English and Welsh law is because globally our judicial

system commands greater respect than the judicial systems of Germany,

France, Italy and so on. My honourable friend has made an

extremely good point. At the nub of it is this, our courts are respected

around the world, and as he says people choose to use our law because

they respect it and they respect our courts and also respect the validity

of our Lord. I think it's important that citizens in the UK are under

the jurisdiction of our courts. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I note the

Prime Minister intends to do away with the technical requirement for

comprehensive sickness insurance comprehensive sickness insurance

once a reciprocal agreement has been reached but constituents like my

Lithuanian constituents are suffering as a result of this

requirement at present, because despite being in Scotland for more

than five years she cannot get permanent residency because she

doesn't have comprehensive sickness insurance and we heard evidence on

the EU Select Committee in the last Parliament that no such insurance

product exists. Will the Prime Minister do away with that

requirement here and now because it is a technical nonsense because

these people are using the NHS anyway was I have to say to be

Honourable Lady the requirement for comprehensive sickness insurance is

an EU requirement and as long as we are members of the EU it will

continue to be there. When we leave we can indeed remove it. James

Cleverly stop I welcome the government's commitment to maintain

the anything but arms free trade relationship with the least

developed countries. Could she Speaker that a bit more about the

Government's intention to extend free and fair trade with developing

countries who are not necessarily on the least developed countries list

but who have historically been penalised by the EU's tariff

arrangements? I can assure my honourable friend that we are

looking for a wide range of trade deals with countries around the

world when we leave the European Union. I think those trade deals are

important because they bring prosperity, growth and jobs to the

UK. But also because its free trade that has lifted millions out of

poverty around the world, and not just for the least developed

countries but for others there are huge advantages to them and their

citizens for ensuring those trade deals are in place so we can see

growth, jobs and prosperity spread more widely than it is today. Louise

Ellman. Could the Prime Minister tell us what discussions took place

on Corporation against terrorism? Was there any reference to what

happened on the streets of London just over a week ago when

demonstrators were allowed to shout out blaming Zionists for the

Grenfell Tower fire and castigating rabbis and synagogues? I can say to

the Honourable Lady that there was indeed a significant discussion on

counterterrorism and the need for us to corporate together in dealing

with that issue. We focused as I said in my statement on issues

around the Internet, on the way in which the Internet is used to

promulgate hateful propaganda, but also for the terrorists to be able

to plan on the Internet and have a safe space. We are united in our

wish, and indeed our determination to ensure that we take action with

the tech companies to ensure this can happen in the future. On the

last point the Honourable Lady raises I would simply say this dash

across the whole of this House we are clear that there is no place for

hate crime or hate speech in this country.

3.2 million EU citizens currently choose to live and work in our

country and they are well aware we are leaving the EU. What does my

right honourable friend believes this says about their perception of

the future prospect of our country after Brexit and about many of the

members opposite that millions of EU citizens have more confidence in our

country going forward than they do? I say to my honourable friend that I

think what that shows is what a great place the UK is to live and

work and what great opportunities we have for the future and I'm very

pleased that those 3.2 million EU citizens have confidence in our

country and want to stay here. The Prime Minister talked about the

drivers of migration which include climate change, conflict and extreme

poverty. As a country we have a proud record on international

development, does she agree that it is vitally important as this process

moves forward that we continue to cooperate very closely with the EU

and other European countries to tackle extreme poverty, especially

in Africa? Indeed it is and I am pleased that as the country we have

been able to play our part in dealing with that. As an example,

the Somalia conference we brought forward and hosted some weeks ago

brought countries from around the world to find ways in which we could

continue to support Somalia which has been a source of people choosing

to leave to try to come to Europe, to present a greater stability in

the country and also greater economic opportunity. The UK has

been at the forefront with the contract we have with India pipped

into providing economic jobs opportunities for people who

otherwise might try to migrate to Europe and we will continue to work

with our European allies on this. Does the primaries to believe that

our new relationship with Europe will enable us to reduce further the

significant numbers of EU nationals in our prisons? Of course it would

give further headroom for our hard-pressed prison officers to do

the vital rehabilitation work. Indeed we want to ensure we are able

to continue to transfer prisoners from the UK to their home states in

the European Union but we also want to ensure and will do that we are

able to remove serious and persistent criminals from the United

Kingdom. If I could ask the right honourable and even closer friend

the Prime Minister... LAUGHTER What reassurance the Prime Minister

can give to the agri- food sector in Northern Ireland, its producers and

processors in particular, about the rights of workers that will be

required to benefit from the increase in trade that the sector

will undoubtedly get as a result Brexit? Will this be marshalled by

way of a work permit system and if so will that be capped in Northern

Ireland? The rules we will set for people coming into the UK from the

European Union once we have left, people who not here already, this

will be set out in the new immigration bill we will bring to

the house after the repeal bill, but I fully recognise the importance of

the agri- food sector in Northern Ireland, that was clear on several

visits I made there, and we want to ensure that not just in Northern

Ireland but in the whole of the UK that we seek greater opportunities

for the agri- food sector which will ring jobs and greater growth and

prosperity. Would my right honourable friend agree that the

typically warm and constructive response from Mr Junker to the

welcome proposals reinforces the need for her to work ever closer

than with European heads of compliments? As I said in my

statement, the responses I had from individual leaders in the EU were

positive to the proposals we were putting forward and I can cite for

example the Fire Minister of Poland in a positive response to what was

said and he has made an interesting point. -- Prime Minister. The pie

Mr's new governing partners, the DUP come in their manifesto said they

were seek to deliver "A frictionless border with the Republic of Ireland

and a conference of free trade and customs agreement with the EU." Is

not the case that neither of these objectives can be secured if we

leave the EU a deal? I have to say to the honourable gentleman that the

requirement and desire to bring about a frictionless border between

Northern Ireland and Ireland and the desire to have that free trade deal

is exactly what the government is pursuing, it is what we have said in

the Lancaster House deal and we are doing it. I met the incoming

Taoiseach last week and we will work with them to deliver just that.

Violent ideologies from far right is the mists are increasingly on line.

Can my right honourable friend provide more information as to what

was agreed in the council in finding accountable Internet companies that

carry extremist content or those that are platforms for grooming? My

honourable friend makes a very important point and what we seethes

with extremism which leads to terrorism whatever the source, is

that people are trying to divide us in this country and I think that is

why the response we have had to all the terrorist attacks that have

taken place recently, the differing reasons for those attacks taking

place of course, the response of unity and unity of purpose of the

British citizens to ensure we tried out this hatred from our country is

so important. We focused in the discussions on the aspect of the

Internet and in particular on the industry led forum which we and

others have been discussing with tech companies to be set up. We want

to the automatic technological solutions to removing material from

the Internet because at the moment that the process of removing that

extremist material is too slow and it allows too many minds to be

infiltrated before it is taken down so we want automatic removal of it.

The Prime Minister has made clear that her hostility to the European

Court of Justice, what is going to happen to British citizens living in

other EU countries if they are not protected by the European Court of

Justice? Will they become citizens of nowhere? What I have made clear

is that, as regards the jurisdiction of courts in the UK, I believe we

should not be subject to the European Court of Justice, that EU

citizens rights here should be protected in a different way and I

believe when people voted to believe the EU, one of the things they voted

for was for the ECJ have jurisdiction here the UK.

I think the whole country will welcome the agreement that the

Conservative and Unionist Party has done with the DUP. The Prime

Minister in her statement referred to the Brexit dividend of over ?10

billion that we will save when we're not in the European superstate and I

welcome the half ?1 billion a year going to Northern Ireland, but is

that funding to adapt the rest of the UK? What I can say to the

honourable gentleman is that we do have to look at how we are going to

use money we will no longer be sending to the European Union.

People voted for us not to send vast sums of money to the EU and we have

to look at how we use that and one of the aspects we have already

proposed on this side of the house is this concept of a Shared

Prosperity Fund which will be removing disparities between

different parts of the UK. Did the Prime Minister have a chance to

discuss transitional funding arrangements for Wales at the

European Council? Surely she will have to have something to say to the

people of Wales who feel they are being treated like second-class

citizens when she can magic up billions for Northern Ireland but

would not give a guaranteed to Wales on future funding. We have already

been very clear on various aspects of funding from the EU in relation

to funding for farmers and the guarantees we have given over period

of years for that but we want to make sure that when we have money

comes back from Europe, that we're not giving to the European Union,

that we are able to spend that money in a way that is as effective as

possible in driving improvement across the whole of the UK. Before

coming to this place I used to teach effective negotiation skills. Could

I invite the lead of the opposition to a free trial period? -- the

Leader of the Opposition. Can I say I think that was the most generous

offer from my honourable friend but I suspect the first thing he will

have to do is explain to the Leader of the Opposition what a negotiation

actually is. Can I continue the efforts of my colleague from

Pontefract and lead Central in trying to understand what this will

mean for EU constituent resident in the UK and their family members. Can

the Prime Minister confirmed that under her rules this means a Polish

nurse who is on a band five salary of under ?22,000 and therefore will

not meet the threshold of income required under the current rules

will not be able to bring her child and partner over to the UK, or a

French teaching assistant on under ?17,000 will not be able to bring an

elderly relative to the UK under these rules and if so what impact

does she think this will happen our public services? What I have said

earlier, for those EU citizens who are here and qualified for the

several satyrs, either with five years residents already, or they are

here before the cut-off date and are able to build up that qualification

for settled status, they will be no extra requirement in terms of them

bringing family members into the UK. We're not going to be splitting

those families. I welcome the Prime Minister's clear assurances that in

Brexit there will be no family split ups and they will be able to have no

cliff edges so they can regularise their status and also the health

care and pension arrangements but the impact of Brexit on British

businesses who employ EU workers simply cannot be underestimated,

especially in places like Taunton Deane with the food and drink and

farming industries, so what reassurances can be Prime Minister

give British businesses who employ EU citizens? First ball can I

reemphasise the point my honourable friend has made that there will be

no cliff edges and people will be able to bring family members here,

we're not talking about splitting up families and business are very

important message. Once we have left the European Union, we will of

course be putting immigration rules in place but as we do for people who

come here already from outside the EU, we will recognise with those

rules they need that our country has access to the skills it needs

particular in shortage occupations but we also want to ensure that

people here in the UK are trained to take those jobs, hence the very

important moves the government is making on technical education. The

Prime Minister said earlier that no families would be split up but she

said in the general election campaign that she is intending to

cut net migration to this country to the tens of thousands. There is a

problem here because last year 's 136,787 people came to this country

through the family route so if she is going to meet her pledge, she is

going to split families up, isn't she? Let's be very clear about what

I'm saying about EU citizens who qualified for settled status, they

will be able to bring family members here into the UK without extra

requirements. I welcome the prime Elizabeth Maca statement that

Britain will be more internationalist after leaving the

EU -- the Prime Minister. Can she give further details on discussions

with non-EU countries about that prospect? I am happy to say we have

already have a number of productive engagements on the issue of trade

for the future with countries around the world, notably with India,

America, and other countries as well like Australia and New Zealand,

discussions with China and other countries around the world. There

are real opportunities for the UK to the EU and we will make every effort

to make sure we take them. The Prime Minister's of is a step in the right

direction but long overdue and she will know as a former Home Secretary

that it is impossible to grant the rights she proposes to 3.2 million

EU citizens and fulfil her target to reduce net migration to the tens of

thousands. Can she confirm for the house that she has set aside this

than target and is going to propose instead to follow the Chancellor's

advice of a Brexit that is rich in jobs? We all want to ensure that the

deal we come to with the EU is going to ensure we have the comprehensive

free trade agreement that will indeed ensure we see growth and

prosperity and jobs here in the UK. That is the aim but also we will be

able to see jobs being brought here as a result of the trade

arrangements made around the rest of the world. May I paid tribute to the

Prime Minister for confirming once more people Poolman of this side the

house to deliver that referendum result on control of our Lord and

Borders and money and would she give due assurance that any pressure to

allow the European Court of Justice any role in immigration or future

status of EU citizens within this country will be flatly opposed?

The assurances I have set out earlier, I believe in terms of

assuring the rights of EU citizens living in the United Kingdom, we

believe that should be done through our courts and not the European

Court of Justice. I would reiterate the point I made earlier, when many

people voted to leave the European Union, one of the things they wanted

to ensure was the ECJ no longer had jurisdiction in the UK. Mr Barry

Sheerman. Many of us who did not want this country of ours to leave

the European Union did so partly because we believed it would make us

more vulnerable and Europe less stable. Could she assure me that

there were discussions at the European Council of the security

implications of where we are now in Europe, given the increasing threat

from Russia, both in terms of military and defence, but also in

terms of other activities they seem to be getting up to these days? I

can assure the honourable gentleman that there were discussions,

particularly discussions relating to the activities of Russia and the

EU's response to that and the United Kingdom has been one of the

countries leading the requirements in relation to that. We remain clear

that the sanctions must stay until the Minsk agreement is fully

implement it in relation to what activity Russia has undertaken in

Ukraine. We also discussed other security and defence issues and I

was able to reassure the other heads of state and government that the

United Kingdom will retain its role in helping to ensure the security

and safety of the European Union. We want to continue to have a defence

and security partnership with our European allies. Tim Lawton. Can

return to the Prime Minister's welcome comments on social media

sites hosting hate material. We have led the way on requiring employers

to proactively make checks on the legality of prospective employers.

For landlords to check on prospective tenants and for banks to

check on money-laundering. No such requirements or fines are in place

for social media companies. So can she now set down urgently a timeline

minimum requirements and the real prospect of significant and

meaningful fines for those social media companies who continue to act

responsibly? My honourable friend makes a very important point and it

is precisely because we want to see those companies acting with greater

responsibility in this area that we have been discussing with them this

industry led forum for automatic takedown of material from the

Internet and that we have galvanised support, not just in the G7, as I

did earlier this month, but also in the EU Council last Friday.

International support for ensuring that we can put collective pressure

on the companies to ensure that they are not carrying this material, and

that we do see the importance and significance of taking this action.

We have also discussed that, whereas the first step will be discussions

with the companies and what they can do themselves, we have also

discussed the prospect of legislation if that fails. SPEAKER:

Adam Jones. He was here a moment ago. Mr David Hanson. Could the

Prime Minister assure the House she has made progress of ensuring our

members above the European Arrest Warrant, Europol and the Eurojust in

her discussions, and could she also tell me that the UK Government does

no when European citizens enter the United Kingdom? As regards the

Eurojust and Europol and European Arrest Warrant, though this will be

matters for the negotiations. I've been very clear that we want to

retain our security cooperation not just on counterterrorism matters but

also on matters relating to crime. Wendy Morton. Mr Speaker, when we

triggered Article 50 it was very clear that the immigration regime

would need to be changed. Does my Right Honourable friend agree that

it was entirely sensible and appropriate to discuss the cut-off

date with the EU Commission? I absolutely agree with my honourable

friend. We will see new immigration rules brought in to the UK for those

people who are moving from the EU into the UK after we have left, and

is entirely right and sensible as part of the negotiations to discuss

the cut-off date for EU citizens who are here. I represent many EU

citizens who are fearful and indeed tearful about their future prospects

so I welcome some of the clarity the Prime Minister has brought to the

matter. She talks about a streamlined system for status but

many of them worry about having to pay the costs for an entire family

to go through this process in short order. Can she give an indication of

what the costs might be said that she can reassure them? The Home

Office will be looking very carefully at ensuring that the costs

are reasonable in this. They want to ensure that the streamlined process

will be a light touch process and will be easy for people to access,

and therefore easy for people to regularise their status. Thank you,

Mr Speaker. It is very important to our economy that business continues

to invest and there are no cliff edge changes to our trading

relationships. As well as seeking a fair deal on exit as well as a new

trade deal with the Prime Minister seek a two-year or three-year

transition period to give Mr Cesc total of five years to prepare for

the future? -- to give businesses. It is important that when we know

the basis of the future relationship with the EU that we recognise that

not just business but government has welcome may need to have an

intimidation period when they are able to make the adjustments

necessary. How long that period will be will depend, of course, on what

the new relationship is going to be, and therefore that will be part of

the discussions that take place during the negotiations. With tens

of thousands of Scottish jobs at risk will the Prime Minister listen

to her Chancellor's warnings in relation to our place in the Single

Market? As regards Scottish jobs I have to say the most important

Single Market is that of the United Kingdom. Mr Henry Smith. Thank you,

Mr Speaker. Was the Prime Minister able to convey to her European

counterparts in the council that 589 members of this House elected in the

general election earlier this month did so on a promise to deliver a

comprehensive Brexit? Yes, I was very clear that the view of the

electorate, the view of the government, the view of the

majority, the position that was taken at the election of the

majority of people who have come into this House was precisely that,

to deliver on the will of the people expressed in the referendum. The

Prime Minister said at the beginning of her statement that she wished for

the UK and EU to trade as fairly as possible in the goods and services.

Can she confirmed to the House if any time was spent on developing

proposals for the UK to remain invisible market and customs union?

I have to say to the honourable gentleman, what we want to do is to

ensure that we have a good frictionless and as tariff free as

possible access to the Single Market. That's what we are talking

about when we talk about a comprehensive free trade agreement,

that agreement will be part of the negotiations. Mr Richard Graham.

European Union citizens in my constituency of Gloucester and their

employers, notably the NHS, university and many businesses, will

greatly appreciate the clarity in the Prime Minister's statement

today. Could my Right Honourable friend give an idea of whether she

believes an agreement on this crucial issue of so many citizens

here and so many British citizens in Europe might be possible before

agreement on other issues, and if so when? I am pleased that this issue

is one of the first issue going to be addressed in the negotiations. I

hope and I believe there is goodwill on both sides to recognise the

importance of this issue for citizens both here and in the

European Union, the remaining 27 member states. I cannot put a

timeline on that because there are aspects of this that have to be

negotiated and the European Union has said that nothing is agreed

until everything is agreed. But I would hope we would be able to give

final reassurance to its citizens at an earlier stage. Diana Johnson. The

Prime Minister said, and I'm sure we would all agree, that she wants to

see the removal of serious and persistent criminals from the UK.

Could she say more about how she intends to do that, bearing in mind

she failed to do it in the six or seven years she was Home Secretary?

I have to say to the Honourable Lady that her portrayal of what happened

during the time I was Home Secretary, and indeed since, is not

correct. Significant number of persistent and serious criminals

were removed from the United Kingdom. The basis on which it is

possible to do that for people who are here as European Union citizens,

of course, is subject to slightly different rules than for others and

once we are out of the European Union we will be able to adjust

that. My constituency has proportionally more EU nationals

than any other in the country compared to how recently they have

arrived. I know that day and I would warmly welcome this statement which

provides real clarity and I hope that she dumb and will be concluded

as she has said that the end of this deal. On the issue of social media,

can I remind the Prime Minister it wasn't that long ago that Internet

company said the removal of child sex abuse is automatically was

simply impossible. Now it happens routinely. Extremist material is

harder but does she agree with me that it can be done? My honourable

friend has made an important point in drawing that comparison. It did

take a while and hard work to get the tech companies to the position

where they would take the action they have done on child sexual abuse

images on the Internet. I believe we can do the same with extremism and

that is what we are encouraging them to do.

Prime Minister, with your statement at the council, did you manage to

raise the issue of the Erasmus plus programme and our continuing work in

that? We have the deadline for the Erasmus plus grants in October. It

takes six months for those grants to be awarded and another year

sometimes for them to be enacted. Will the Prime Minister ensure that

any academic student or young person that is awarded an Erasmus programme

is able to come here without additional fees are burdens? First

of all I would point out that while we are still within the European

Union, the current arrangements and opportunities to apply still apply

to the United Kingdom. We have been able to give some certainty in terms

of certain programmes to the continuation of those programmes

after we leave the European Union. I think after we have left the

European Union there will be options for us to find ways in which we can

continue to participate in such programmes. We warmly welcome the

honourable gentleman to the chamber and deliberations. Michael

Tomlinson. I have just returned from the Netherlands with a delegation

for the Lords and Commons. It is the Dutch tour, whereas amongst other

things I have the opportunity to speak to British nationals living

and working in the Netherlands. What reassurance can the Prime Minister

give to them and other British nationals working across the EU that

their rights will be protected alongside EU writes living here? I

think the best assurance I can give to those British citizens living in

the Netherlands and elsewhere in the European Union is that we have set

out a fair deal, a fair offer to those EU citizens living here but we

are very clear this must be reciprocal and British citizens must

have their rights protected as well. We will continue to argue for that.

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister mention the trade deal with Japan

and the EU. She will be aware from leaked documents this weekend that a

lot of people are concerned that there is no mention of employment up

to use, for example tackling Japan's illegal timber trade all whaling in

that draft agreement. Does she think those protections should be in there

and what does she think that means about those negotiations that will

be undertaken when we leave the EU? There is still negotiation going on

between the UK and Japan. When we are able to set up these agreements

ourselves, and Japan is another of the countries we have been talking

to, it will be up to us as part of the negotiations for that trade deal

to set the conditions for that trade agreement. Nigel Huddleston.

Returning to the issue of online Returning to the issue of online

content, will the promised concerned, confirm whether the

government would create an act of legislation themselves, should the

Internet companies not make progress on removing inappropriate content?

We are certainly willing to consider legislation on this matter. This is

so important. I believe that with the international pressure we are

building and with the cooperation internationally we are building we

will be to put pressure on the tech companies such that they do this

themselves. We should not rule out any option. Patrick Grady. I know we

should not blow raspberries in this House but that was the reaction of

constituents on Saturday when they heard about the reports of this

deal. I wonder how many EU nationals the Prime Minister has met or

consulted with in drawing up the proposals she presented today? I

have to say to the honourable gentleman, like other members of

this House, I've met people in my constituency who are employees of EU

nationals, people who are EU nationals concerned about their

position, and I suggest that what he does, because the detail has not

been published at the weekend, that he takes the detail of this to his

constituents and enables them to see for themselves the fair serious

offer we are making. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I was pleased

to hear the Prime Minister refer to the manifesto commitment to create a

UK Shared Prosperity Fund earlier in this session. Even though it wasn't

specifically mentioned in the Queen's speech, could the Prime

Minister confirm that this government is committed to bring

forward such a fund to replace EU structural funding that has been so

important to places like Cornwall? I want to ensure that when we are in a

position that we are no longer sending these huge sums of money

every year to the European Union that the money that is available,

some of the money available, can be used in this way. There is a very

real issue about ensuring that we do that in a way that is as effective

as possible and is going to have the maximum impact across all parts of

the United Kingdom. I'm sure the Prime Minister will be

aware of the problems already faced by our universities and research

centres because of the uncertainty around these issues so could she

tell others what discussions she had the council with other leaders about

dealing with these challenges and could she take the opportunity to

say whether she wants us to stay in the Horizon 2020 programme in

future? There are a number of these programmes and projects that the UK

has been part of and we have benefited from that will be part of

the negotiations as we go through. What I am very clear about and the

point we have consistently made within EU circles is to ensure that,

as long as we are still in the European Union, we should have the

same ability to apply for programmes and be part of these as has been the

case previously. One of the areas of concern I have is that in areas such

as University research, I am hearing anecdotes that universities are

finding it harder because of our future. What I would say is that as

long as we are in the EU, we are able to apply on the same basis as

always. The European arrest warrant has

proved very effective exclusion order means by which we cede speedy

justice for those who have committed crimes and for the victims who want

to see a speedy outcome -- by which we see. As the Prime Minister

discuss this at any point and if not when does she think it will be

discussed? Those issues, as I indicated to her right honourable

friend earlier, will be part of the negotiations but I'm also bound to

point out that I have stood at this dispatch box as Home Secretary and

argued for the UK remaining in the European arrest warrant when the

Labour Party was trying to stop us get the legislation through.

All this junk rig is rather unfair on the honourable lady who wishes to

unburden herself of a series of important thoughts which the nation

should hear -- all this chuntering. Every week in my surgery I see

constituents who are already one down by the incompetence and

intransigence and unkindness of the Home Office. What steps will be

Prime Minister put in place to give the home of his adequate funding to

deal with these additional EU nationals that need to be processed?

The hope this is well able to deal with the issues it will be

addressing and it will be ensuring as I said earlier in response to her

honourable friend that the process which people will go through will be

streamlined and light touch. I recently visited a manufacturer in

my constituency that exports into the EU who informed me that they now

have to include the risks of Brexit in their export contracts. What

advice does the Prime Minister have bought Manufacturer 's like those

who have to today assess the risk they may end up paying tariffs when

we leave the EU? I would say to those manufacturers that I hope they

will work with us as the government to ensure we understand the needs of

every part of industry in the country as we go forward into the

negotiation of the comprehensive free trade agreement. We want to see

a tariff free ability to trade with the EU and we will consider the

views and interests of British industry as we do that. The Prime

Minister as twice this afternoon responded to questions about the

skills challenges that will be created as a result of the reform of

the freedom of movement by referring to the reform of technical education

but of course the economy will have much greater needs new dentists,

doctors, vets and other professionals. On that basis will

she guaranteed the funding necessary to ensure that our schools, colleges

and universities will be able to meet skills challenges of a

post-Brexit world? I have been very clear we need to meet those skills

challenges which is why we are bringing in the reforms we are and I

have to say that she refers to issues within the NHS. Of course one

of the important steps this government has taken is to remove

the caps on numbers of people who can train as staff in the NHS. My

question relate to that posed by my friend from Cambridge, I would like

to ask why is the Prime Minister truly is concerned about the future

of British side in European funding, there is no mention of British side

in European funding in either this statement nor of any of the Brexit

bills nor in the Queen's speech? Can I suggest that the honourable lady

looks at the 12 objectives we set out in my Lancaster House speech in

January for our negotiated deal with the EU when we specifically referred

to science and innovation. Much player has been made about the

supremacy of this place in terms of the repatriation of powers from the

EU yet there has been no consideration made about whole

government and structure of the UK is to be developed post Brexit so it

will become and give any consideration to a concurrent

constitutional convention which will consider how stable and sustainable

governance and distribution of power is considered after the Brexit

prizes including a federal UK? -- Brexit process. I welcome the

honourable gentleman to his place, there are one or two other members

who I have not welcome and I apologise to them for that but can I

just say that I think the best way of ensuring good governance and

stability across the UK is maintaining the United Kingdom. I

also welcomed the honourable member for Glasgow North East who has

served up a very interesting hors d'oeuvre and we look forward to his

main course before long! In York we have Timico excellent universities

but they already challenged by the recruitment and retention of EU

staff will stop -- two excellent universities. How will academics

accrue their settled status under new rules? I have to say that I

suggest the honourable lady looks at the proposals we have set out which

make it clear the basis on which people are able to get their

guaranteed settled status here in the UK and that will cover people

from all walks of life. We want EU citizens who are here to stay, we're

not talking about forcing anybody to leave the UK. The Prime Minister has

not fully answered a number of questions about the longer term

right of EU nationals to bring their family over here should they need to

in the future. Can she answered the question categorically, will she get

an absolute guarantee that the minimum income requirement that is

obstructing so many family reunions for non-EU nationals that that

requirement will never be imposed on any EU National in the UK? EU

nationals who have been here for five years and have the five-year

residence will qualify for settled status, EU nationals who have been

here for less than five years will be given an opportunity to qualify

for that settled status, to stay for those five years to qualify for it,

those EU nationals will not have any extra requirements imposed on them

in relation to bringing family members here in the UK. When we have

left the EU we will be establishing within the immigration rules the

arrangements for EU nationals who then move into the UK who will be in

the same status as those who are moving from outside of the European

Union. As part of her recent little tour around Labour held seats across

the country at the Prime Minister stopped for a photograph in a farm

in my constituency. Why was there no mention of agriculture in the

statement today? I have to say, what I was reporting on were the subject

discussed at the European Council on Friday and by reported faithfully on

those subjects. Can the Prime Minister confirm that she was aware

of the details that are contained in that document on EU nationals

wanting to remain in the UK at the time in the general election when

she promised to cut immigration to the tens of thousands and are the

two compatible with one another? What we're talking about in this

document is the right of EU citizens who are living here in the United

Kingdom. We are making a fair and serious offer that nobody will be

forced to leave the UK, that families will not be split up. We

want people to stay and this document will enable them to.

Statement, the first Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet

Office, minister Damian Green. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

With permission I will make a statement on details of the

agreement reached today between the Conservative and Unionist Party and

the Democratic Unionist Party under which the DUP will support the

government on a confidence and supply basis. Having won the most

votes and the largest number of seats in the general election on the

8th of June by a significant margin, it is only the Conservative Party

which has the ability and legitimacy to lead the government our country

needs. This agreement delivers the certainty we need in the United

Kingdom's national interest at this crucial time. This agreement means

the DUP will support the government on votes on the Queen's speech, the

budget and on legislation relating to our exit from the EU and national

security. It will ensure that we can govern in the national interest,

strengthening and enhancing the union, keeping our country safe,

delivering prosperity for all and securing a departure from the

European Union which benefits all parts of the UK. To support this

agreement the government will chair a coordination committee involving

both parties. As members of this house are well aware and as our

manifesto made clear, the Conservative Party has never been

neutral in expressing its support for the union. As this agreement

states, Her Majesty's government remains fully committed to the

Belfast agreement and its successors. This means we will

continue to govern in the interests of all part of the community in

Northern Ireland. These confidence and supply arrangements in no way

affect our stead fast and went to see the re-establishment of an

inclusive Northern Ireland executive by this Thursday. The government

will do everything in its power working alongside the Irish

government to bring the talks process to a successful conclusion

in the short time which remains. Both the government and the DUP

recognise the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland's history and

the effect this has had on its economy and people from all parts of

the community. This government is resolute in its determination to

deliver for the whole of the United Kingdom. In recognition of our

commitment to support growth across all parts of the United Kingdom, we

have agreed to provide additional support for the people of Northern

Ireland. I hope this part of the agreement will play a positive role

in the efforts to re-establish devolved government. Funding would

go to a restored Northern Ireland executive in the same way as the

?2.5 billion of financial support and flexibility which was made

available to the executive through the 2014 Stormont house agreement

and in 2015 through the fresh start agreement. The government supports

further cooperation with the Northern Ireland executive on

infrastructure development in Northern Ireland, the UK Government

will allocate ?200 million per year for two years. Both the government

and previous executives have recognised the integral part digital

instructor played in opening up new opportunities for growth and

connectivity for both businesses and consumers. We will therefore

contribute ?75 million per year for two years to help provide ultrafast

broadband for Northern Ireland just as we made funding available for

this purpose in communities across the UK. The UK Government is

committed to working with the executive and others to work toward

a comprehensive and ambitious set of city deals across Northern Ireland