European Council Summit Statement

:00:00. > :00:00.lady is always attentive to her responsibilities and in the grisly

:00:00. > :00:00.event it is necessary for her to raise a further point of order I am

:00:00. > :00:12.sure she won't hesitate to do so. Statement, the Prime Minister.

:00:13. > :00:16.Thank you, Mr Speaker. With permission, I would like to make a

:00:17. > :00:20.statement on last week's European Council. Long after we have left the

:00:21. > :00:24.European Union, the UK will continue to be a strong and committed

:00:25. > :00:29.partner, standing alongside our neighbours and working together to

:00:30. > :00:33.advance our shared srls -- values and interests. This Council provided

:00:34. > :00:36.a further opportunity to demonstrate that ongoing commitment through

:00:37. > :00:41.discussions that included migration, the digital single market, Turkey,

:00:42. > :00:45.North Korea and Iran. And it made important progress in moving towards

:00:46. > :00:50.the new deep and special partnership with the European Union that we want

:00:51. > :00:57.to see. First on migration, the UK is playing its full part. The Royal

:00:58. > :01:01.Navy has intercepted 172 smuggling boats and saved over 12,000 lives

:01:02. > :01:05.since operation Sophia began. While our National Crime Agency is working

:01:06. > :01:10.with Libyan law enforcement enhancing their capability to tackle

:01:11. > :01:14.the people smuggling and trafficking networks. At the Council we welcomed

:01:15. > :01:18.the reduction in migrant crossings and the renewed momentum behind the

:01:19. > :01:22.Libyan political process. But we must also continue to address the

:01:23. > :01:27.root causes driving people across the Sahara and the Mediterranean, so

:01:28. > :01:32.the UK is also continuing to invest for the long-term in education, jobs

:01:33. > :01:37.and services, both in countries of origin and transit. On the digital

:01:38. > :01:39.single market it is right to up the pressure on completing

:01:40. > :01:44.implementation by the end of 2018. This will continue to be of benefit

:01:45. > :01:48.to us even after we leave the European Union. At this Council I

:01:49. > :01:52.also argued that the free flow of data is key to unlocking the

:01:53. > :01:55.potential of Europe's digital trade and we secured conclusions which

:01:56. > :01:59.recognise this. As the Government set out in a paper over the summer,

:02:00. > :02:02.such arrangements will be an important part of the future

:02:03. > :02:07.relationship between the UK and the EU. Turning to the discussions on

:02:08. > :02:12.Turkey. We share the concerns over the arrests of E nationals and

:02:13. > :02:16.others defending human rights. This is something I raised personally

:02:17. > :02:21.with President Erdogan when we met. We are publicly calling on Turkey to

:02:22. > :02:24.protect freedom of expression and release those defending human

:02:25. > :02:28.rights. At the same time, I believe we must take a long-term view of the

:02:29. > :02:33.enduring importance of our relationship with Turkey, a vital

:02:34. > :02:35.partner in ensuring a secure and prosperous European neighbourhood

:02:36. > :02:40.and we must also continue to recognise the challenges they are

:02:41. > :02:44.responding to, not least that they faced a military coup only 16 months

:02:45. > :02:48.ago. We must continue to work with Turkey as our ally in partner, in

:02:49. > :02:52.particular as we respond to shared challenges of terrorism, migration

:02:53. > :02:56.and instability in the Middle East. But in so doing, we must do all we

:02:57. > :03:00.can to convince Turkey to demonstrate its commitment to human

:03:01. > :03:03.rights and to the rule of law. To turn away from Turkey now would

:03:04. > :03:09.undermine those who seek to secure a European future based on our shared

:03:10. > :03:13.values. On North Korea, we welcomed the EU sanctions adopted last week

:03:14. > :03:17.and reaffirmed our clear condemnation of North Korea's

:03:18. > :03:23.aggressive and illegal missile and nuclear tests. We urged all states,

:03:24. > :03:27.including China, to play their part in changing the course Pyongyang is

:03:28. > :03:33.taking. And on Iran, the Council built on the joint statement made by

:03:34. > :03:36.Chancellor Merkel, President Macron and myself last week, reiterating

:03:37. > :03:41.its firm commitment to the nuclear deal. This deal was the culmination

:03:42. > :03:46.of 13 years of diplomacy and a major step towards ensuring that Iran's

:03:47. > :03:48.nuclear programme is not diverted for military purposes, that is

:03:49. > :03:54.vitally important for our shared security. And we are continuing to

:03:55. > :03:57.work particularly closely with our French and German allies on this

:03:58. > :04:01.crucial issue. Turning to our negotiations to leave the European

:04:02. > :04:05.Union, I shared the vision I set out in Florence for a creative and

:04:06. > :04:08.pragmatic approach to a new deep and special partnership between the

:04:09. > :04:11.United Kingdom and the European Union. A partnership based on the

:04:12. > :04:17.fundamental beliefs we share in democracy and the rule of law, but

:04:18. > :04:20.also in free trade, rigorous and fair competition, strong consumer

:04:21. > :04:25.rights and high regulatory standards. I have also been clear

:04:26. > :04:27.that the United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to

:04:28. > :04:30.maintaining Europe's security. Both sides have approached these talks

:04:31. > :04:33.with professionalism and constructive spirit and we should

:04:34. > :04:37.recognise what has been achieved to date. On citizens' rights, both

:04:38. > :04:42.sides share the same objective of safeguarding the rights of EU

:04:43. > :04:45.nationals living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU. This has

:04:46. > :04:50.been my first priority from the beginning of the negotiations and it

:04:51. > :04:54.remains so. The negotiations are complicated and deeply technical.

:04:55. > :05:00.But in the end they are about people, and I am determined that we

:05:01. > :05:04.will put people first. EU citizens make an extraordinary contribution

:05:05. > :05:08.to our life and we want them to stay. I know that EU member states

:05:09. > :05:13.also value the UK nationals living in their communities and I want them

:05:14. > :05:16.to have their rights protected too. We are united on the key principles

:05:17. > :05:20.and while there are a small number of issues that remain outstanding,

:05:21. > :05:24.we are in touching distance of a deal. This agreement will provide

:05:25. > :05:27.certainty about residents, healthcare, pensions and other

:05:28. > :05:31.benefits. It will mean that EU citizens who have paid into the UK

:05:32. > :05:36.system and UK national who is have paid into the system of an EU27

:05:37. > :05:39.country can benefit from what they have put in. It will enable families

:05:40. > :05:43.who have built lives together to stay together and it will provide

:05:44. > :05:47.guarantees that the rights of those UK nationals currently living in the

:05:48. > :05:52.EU and EU citizens currently living in the UK, will not diverge over

:05:53. > :05:57.time. We will also ensure that the implementation of the agreement we

:05:58. > :06:00.reach does not create complicated and bureaucratic hurdles, for

:06:01. > :06:03.example, I have said that applying the settled status will cost no more

:06:04. > :06:07.than a UK passport and that people applying will no longer have to

:06:08. > :06:10.demonstrate comprehensive sickness insurance. We will also do

:06:11. > :06:15.everything possible to work closely with EU member states to ensure

:06:16. > :06:20.their processes are equally streamlined for British nationals

:06:21. > :06:23.living in their countries. We have also made significant progress on

:06:24. > :06:26.Northern Ireland. It is absolutely imperative that joint work on the

:06:27. > :06:31.peace process is not affected in any way. The Belfast Agreement must be

:06:32. > :06:34.at the heart of our approach and we have clearly agreed that the unique

:06:35. > :06:38.circumstances across the whole of the island of Ireland will require

:06:39. > :06:41.specific solutions. There will not be any physical infrastructure at

:06:42. > :06:45.the border, and we have also developed joint principles to ensure

:06:46. > :06:49.the continuation of the common travel area. These principles will

:06:50. > :06:54.fully preserve the rights of UK and Irish nationals to live, work and

:06:55. > :06:58.study across these Islands and protect the soernted rights to

:06:59. > :07:03.public services and social security. This Council provided an opportunity

:07:04. > :07:06.to assess and reflect on how to make further progress in the

:07:07. > :07:11.negotiations. My speech in Florence made two important steps which have

:07:12. > :07:14.added a new impetus. First, I gave two clear commitments on the

:07:15. > :07:16.financial settlement that the UK will honour commitments we have made

:07:17. > :07:21.during the period of our membership. And that none of our EU partners

:07:22. > :07:25.should fear they will need to pay more or receive less over the

:07:26. > :07:29.remainder of the current budget plan as a result of our decision to

:07:30. > :07:34.leave. As the House would expect, we are going through our potential

:07:35. > :07:38.commitments line by line and that detailed work continues. Second, I

:07:39. > :07:41.proposed a time limited implementation period based on

:07:42. > :07:46.current terms which is in the interests of both the UK and the EU.

:07:47. > :07:50.At this Council the 27 member states responded by agreeing to start their

:07:51. > :07:54.preparations for moving negotiations on to trade and the future

:07:55. > :07:57.relationship we want to see. The Council conclusions call for work to

:07:58. > :08:02.continue with a view to being able to move to the second phase of the

:08:03. > :08:05.negotiations as soon as possible. And President Tusk in his press

:08:06. > :08:10.conference was clear that the EU's internal work will take account of

:08:11. > :08:13.proposals presented in the Florence speech and indeed that this

:08:14. > :08:16.agreement to start preparery discussions would not be possible

:08:17. > :08:22.without the new momentum given by that speech. So I am ambitious and

:08:23. > :08:25.positive about Britain's future and these negotiations. If we are going

:08:26. > :08:29.to take a step forward together it must be on the basis of joint effort

:08:30. > :08:33.and endeavour between the UK and the EU but I believe by approaching

:08:34. > :08:37.these negotiations in a constructive way, in a spirit of friendship and

:08:38. > :08:42.co-operation, we can and will deliver the best possible outcome

:08:43. > :08:48.that works for all our people and that belief was shared by other

:08:49. > :08:54.European leaders. We are going to leave the European Union in March

:08:55. > :08:57.2019. Delivering on the democratic will of the British people. Of

:08:58. > :09:01.course we are preparing for every event annuality to ensure we leave

:09:02. > :09:05.in a smooth and orderly way but I am confident that we will be able to

:09:06. > :09:07.negotiate a new deep and special partnership between a Sovereign

:09:08. > :09:11.United Kingdom and our friends in the European Union. That is my

:09:12. > :09:12.mission, that is this Government's mission and I commend this statement

:09:13. > :09:25.to the House. I would like to thank the Prime

:09:26. > :09:28.Minister for advanced copy of this statement and I also underlined the

:09:29. > :09:34.importance of the spec for human rights and democracy in Turkey and

:09:35. > :09:37.say to the government of Turkey, imprisoning journalists and lawyers

:09:38. > :09:48.is not part of that process and is not acceptable --. And also that we

:09:49. > :09:52.also need to defend the Iran nuclear deal which has been rightly defended

:09:53. > :09:56.at the EU Council last week and we must all do everything we can to

:09:57. > :10:00.defend it to prevent the proliferation of any nuclear

:10:01. > :10:03.weapons. I commend also the service of the Royal Navy in operation as a

:10:04. > :10:07.bit which the Prime Minister has pointed that has saved thousands of

:10:08. > :10:12.lives but in relation to Libya, nothing is more pressing than

:10:13. > :10:17.securing a viable long-term peaceful settlement to their problems. Given

:10:18. > :10:20.the language used by the Foreign Secretary in this matter, the Prime

:10:21. > :10:24.Minister may need to take a lead on this just as she has had to take

:10:25. > :10:30.over the lead from the Brexit secretary on negotiations with the

:10:31. > :10:40.EU. I am now beginning to feel a worrying sense of Groundhog Day

:10:41. > :10:46.here. Every time she gives us an update on the progress of

:10:47. > :10:51.negotiations, only two weeks ago she told this house that her speech in

:10:52. > :10:57.Florence had put momentum into the Article 50 negotiations. And that an

:10:58. > :11:02.agreement on a phase one of these talks was within touching distance.

:11:03. > :11:08.Here we are again, after another round of talks, and we are still no

:11:09. > :11:11.clearer as to when negotiations on the future of Britain with our

:11:12. > :11:17.largest trading partner will actually begin. And still no clearer

:11:18. > :11:26.as to what exactly she has agreed to in phase one of these talks. In what

:11:27. > :11:30.are the most crucial negotiations of our country's recent history we are

:11:31. > :11:37.clearly stuck in an impasse, no real progress and no progress at home.

:11:38. > :11:42.Especially given the withdrawal bill has been delayed to presumably allow

:11:43. > :11:49.the government whips to try to pull together the splits in her own

:11:50. > :11:53.party. Maybe she can shared some light on this confusion, a confusion

:11:54. > :11:58.that has only been escalated by members of her own government. For

:11:59. > :12:04.instance, the Home Secretary says no deal with the EU would be

:12:05. > :12:10.unthinkable. The Brexit secretary still maintains no deal must be an

:12:11. > :12:16.option while the Secretary of State for International Development says

:12:17. > :12:21.that leaving without a deal would not be the Armageddon that some

:12:22. > :12:26.people project. Does the Prime Minister believed an outcome that is

:12:27. > :12:36.not Armageddon might be setting the bar a bit too low? Mr Speaker, the

:12:37. > :12:41.Prime Minister will also be aware that leaders of every major business

:12:42. > :12:46.organisation have written to her today urging clarity and quickly.

:12:47. > :12:52.Across the UK businesses in every region and nation are clear, they

:12:53. > :12:58.need a transition deal with the EU to be put in place as soon as

:12:59. > :13:02.possible so they can take investment decisions, in order to protect jobs

:13:03. > :13:06.and investment in this country. I know the Prime Minister has talked

:13:07. > :13:11.about the need for an implementation period after we leave the EU but she

:13:12. > :13:18.has not been clear about the terms and conditions of that. Can she tell

:13:19. > :13:25.is now what she means by accepting the same basic conditions in an

:13:26. > :13:28.limitation period? Surely this can only mean remaining within the

:13:29. > :13:36.single market and customs union for the transition period as Labour has

:13:37. > :13:43.made clear. On EU citizens rights, the Prime Minister said again and

:13:44. > :13:47.agreement is in reach. Can she tell us when the detail of that agreement

:13:48. > :13:52.will be ready to bring to this house and, more importantly, to all those

:13:53. > :13:56.people in this country and in the EU who are desperate to know what their

:13:57. > :14:02.future holds for them. This could have been dealt with 16 months ago.

:14:03. > :14:11.Instead, families are suffering anxiety and some EU citizens are

:14:12. > :14:16.deciding to leave, including nurses from our National Health Service. If

:14:17. > :14:19.that had been resolved, as it should have been, then hundreds of

:14:20. > :14:26.thousands of British nationals would also have the security they need.

:14:27. > :14:28.And will be promised to tell us what will happen to the specific

:14:29. > :14:36.agreement on the citizens right if the government fails to secure a

:14:37. > :14:40.final Brexit deal with the EU -- will she tell us? Will the Prime

:14:41. > :14:44.Minister now do the right thing and guarantee the right of citizens

:14:45. > :14:53.living in the UK regardless of the outcome of Article 50 negotiations?

:14:54. > :14:57.On the financial settlement, clearly some within the EU need to stop

:14:58. > :15:11.briefing out astronomical and unacceptable numbers. But will the

:15:12. > :15:14.Prime Minister... Will be Prime Minister confirm reports that she

:15:15. > :15:19.privately assured European leaders that Britain would pay more than the

:15:20. > :15:24.offer she had previously made in her Florence speech? If this is the

:15:25. > :15:30.case, is she confident this would pass the red lines set out by the

:15:31. > :15:35.Foreign Secretary a few weeks ago? Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister hails

:15:36. > :15:40.the progress she has made so far in these negotiations. The biggest

:15:41. > :15:44.battle she faces is not so much with the 27 European states, the

:15:45. > :15:51.Chancellor so deftly described as the enemy, it is her battle to bring

:15:52. > :15:56.together the warring factions of her own Cabinet and party. And the Prime

:15:57. > :16:03.Minister is too weak to do anything about it. The outcome of crashing

:16:04. > :16:08.out with no deal to become a deregulated tax Hoban, the dream of

:16:09. > :16:13.a powerful faction of her back benches and front benches would be a

:16:14. > :16:17.nightmare for people's jobs and living standards -- tax haven. The

:16:18. > :16:26.message from Labour is different and clear. Only Labour can negotiate a

:16:27. > :16:33.Brexit and deliver an economy... Order. The Prime Minister's

:16:34. > :16:41.statement was heard with courtesy and so will the response be. No

:16:42. > :16:47.further discussion on no comment required, that if the situation.

:16:48. > :16:51.Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you, Mr Speaker, I was making it clear that

:16:52. > :16:56.Labour's message is different and very clear, only Labour can

:16:57. > :16:59.negotiate a Brexit and deliver an economy that puts jobs and living

:17:00. > :17:07.standards first and that is what we are ready to do.

:17:08. > :17:12.Thank you, Mr Speaker. First of all I welcome the comment that the Right

:17:13. > :17:15.Honourable gentleman made on the Iran nuclear deal, it is important

:17:16. > :17:19.that across this house we agreed that we should continue to support

:17:20. > :17:23.that deal. I also agreed that what we want to see in Libya is a

:17:24. > :17:26.peaceful settlement that can enable that country to be stable and

:17:27. > :17:31.peaceful into the future and I think it is important that we all support

:17:32. > :17:38.the work being done by the UN special envoy in relation to this

:17:39. > :17:44.issue. He asked about the Brexit bill, what I set out the European

:17:45. > :17:48.Council was what I set out in my Florence speech and have just

:17:49. > :17:52.repeated in my statement. He talked about us making no real progress, we

:17:53. > :17:58.have not reached a final agreement but it is going to happen. I would

:17:59. > :18:02.have a degree of confidence that we will be able to get the point of

:18:03. > :18:06.sufficient progress by December. After the Florence speech there is a

:18:07. > :18:09.new momentum and that was a step forward and there should be a

:18:10. > :18:14.positive response to the willingness to work on the interim period and

:18:15. > :18:17.there has been established momentum. As it happens, those are not my

:18:18. > :18:27.words, they are the words of Chancellor Merkel, the tea shock --

:18:28. > :18:32.the Swedish primaries, the Italian and Polish and Danish by ministers

:18:33. > :18:36.and I can assure him that progress was made. The Labour Party to talk

:18:37. > :18:42.about the need to move ahead in the negotiations. If they think it is so

:18:43. > :18:57.important to move ahead, why did Labour MEPs vote against moving

:18:58. > :19:01.ahead in the negotiations? And he talks about the withdrawal bill as

:19:02. > :19:05.if this was something that Labour were eager to see and if they are,

:19:06. > :19:13.why did they vote against it at second reading? And in doing so,

:19:14. > :19:19.vote against bringing workers' rights and environmental standard

:19:20. > :19:24.into the UK law? And finally he spent a long time in his response

:19:25. > :19:27.talking about no deal. I can only assume that the Labour Party want to

:19:28. > :19:35.talk about that because they simply don't know what sort of deal they

:19:36. > :19:39.would want. They can't decide whether they want to be in the

:19:40. > :19:43.single market or not, whether they want to be in the customs union or

:19:44. > :19:47.not, they can't decide whether they want a second referendum or not,

:19:48. > :19:53.whether they agree with free movement continuing or not and worse

:19:54. > :19:57.than all of that, they say they would take any deal whatever the

:19:58. > :20:01.price they were asked to pay. That is not the way to get a good deal

:20:02. > :20:09.for the UK, it is the way to get the worst possible deal for the UK.

:20:10. > :20:15.Mr Speaker, is it not clear that damaging delay will be coursed if we

:20:16. > :20:21.don't make progress soon and the main problem is that other European

:20:22. > :20:24.leaders can see that a noisy minority in the Cabinet and on the

:20:25. > :20:31.backbenches of her own party have persuaded themselves that no deal at

:20:32. > :20:36.all is completely desirable? This causes them to doubt whether she is

:20:37. > :20:40.able to produce a clear picture of where she eventually wants to go and

:20:41. > :20:43.whether she is able to produce the majority here for any agreement they

:20:44. > :20:50.have with her. Has she considered, she may have an overly, appointing

:20:51. > :20:53.some trusted minister to make approaches to leading members of the

:20:54. > :20:59.opposition parties to see if they will live up to some of the things

:21:00. > :21:03.that the leader appears to say and perhaps do better so that at least

:21:04. > :21:09.we can have a consensus in this parliament in the national interest

:21:10. > :21:13.on the outline of a transitional deal at least that would enable us

:21:14. > :21:16.to negotiate the final details and arrangement that the majority of

:21:17. > :21:22.this house could agree is in the long-term interests of the UK? I

:21:23. > :21:25.have to say to my right honourable and learned friend that that sounded

:21:26. > :21:42.rather like a job application! Can I just say to my right

:21:43. > :21:44.honourable friend, that what was clear from my interaction with

:21:45. > :21:48.European leaders is that they recognised that the vision I set out

:21:49. > :21:52.in the Florence speech for that deep and special partnership for the

:21:53. > :21:55.future and also for the implementation period did bring

:21:56. > :22:02.clarity into the thinking of the UK. It is now, and the 27 have agreed,

:22:03. > :22:06.for them to consider what they want to see from the future of that

:22:07. > :22:13.relationship so the next stage of the negotiations can indeed begin.

:22:14. > :22:18.Can I also thank the Prime Minister for advance copy of her statement.

:22:19. > :22:22.Mr Speaker, I welcome some of the conclusions from the Council summit,

:22:23. > :22:26.Piccadilly on migration and the stronger commitment on resettlement.

:22:27. > :22:31.We also welcome the united approach on sanctions against North Korea and

:22:32. > :22:36.fully endorse the EU call for it to abandon its nuclear and ballistic

:22:37. > :22:43.missile programme. However it is of deep concern that the ongoing crisis

:22:44. > :22:48.in Catalonia was not covered. EU citizens were brutally thrown to the

:22:49. > :22:53.floor while exercising their right to vote, a parliament stripped of

:22:54. > :22:56.its constitutional status. Can the Prime Minister tell because what

:22:57. > :23:03.representations she made to address this democratic outrage? Mr Speaker,

:23:04. > :23:06.last week the EU 27 voted unanimously to declare there had not

:23:07. > :23:11.yet been sufficient progress on leaving the EU. It is clear that the

:23:12. > :23:16.negotiating sticking points are the same as before on the financial

:23:17. > :23:23.settlement, EU citizens rights and the Irish border. There was a

:23:24. > :23:28.poignant mark made, that nobody explained the first place to the

:23:29. > :23:30.British people what Brexit absolutely actual -- actually meant.

:23:31. > :23:36.How true and no wonder this government is in such a mess. Today

:23:37. > :23:41.the UK's five biggest business lobby groups have called for an urgent

:23:42. > :23:44.transition deal, time is running out for the business community and

:23:45. > :23:49.financial institutions are already giving notice of leaving London.

:23:50. > :23:57.Ireland as clinched deals with more than a dozen London based banks to

:23:58. > :24:03.move. Ernst Young have warned 83,000 city jobs could be lost if

:24:04. > :24:07.the UK loses it Ukip Peshmerga EU clearing rights. This is uncertainty

:24:08. > :24:10.and we need to know the details of the future trading relationship at

:24:11. > :24:14.any transition deal before the end of the year. It is absolutely

:24:15. > :24:21.critical that we stay in the single market and the customs union. Will

:24:22. > :24:24.the Prime Minister end her government's catastrophic

:24:25. > :24:25.ideological flotation of a no deal scenario and take that of the table

:24:26. > :24:34.and do it today? First of all, can I say that I have

:24:35. > :24:39.spoken to Prime Minister Roja on the issue of Catalonia on a number of

:24:40. > :24:42.occasions including when I saw him at the European Union Council. We

:24:43. > :24:46.are clear that the referendum had no legal basis, we want to see people

:24:47. > :24:50.upholding the rule of law and the Spanish constitution. Now, on the

:24:51. > :24:52.wider issue that he talks about in terms of the future relationship

:24:53. > :24:56.with the United Kingdom with the European Union, I have set out the

:24:57. > :25:01.vision that we have for that. As I have just said in answer to the

:25:02. > :25:04.leader of the official opposition, the EU27 will now be looking at

:25:05. > :25:06.their vision for this. But I am sorry that I have to repeat again to

:25:07. > :25:10.the right honourable gentleman because this is an issue he has

:25:11. > :25:14.raised in the past, that membership, full membership of the single market

:25:15. > :25:18.and full membership of the customs union go with the jurisdiction of

:25:19. > :25:23.the European Court of justice and freedom of movement. These are

:25:24. > :25:27.issues which were voted against when people voted to leave the European

:25:28. > :25:33.Union. They would effectively mean that we would remain in the European

:25:34. > :25:43.Union and we are going to leave in March 2019. May I say to my right

:25:44. > :25:47.honourable friend that she may wish to answer some of those who want

:25:48. > :25:52.certainty by reminding them that you can not have agreement on an

:25:53. > :25:56.implementation period until you have something to implement first and

:25:57. > :26:00.foremost. Secondly, could she explain that during the course of

:26:01. > :26:04.her discussions the private ones she had, the ones that the acting

:26:05. > :26:08.President of the European Union hasn't actually put into the papers,

:26:09. > :26:13.but her private discussions, could she just say whether she reminded

:26:14. > :26:18.her colleagues in the European Union that to reach a proper free trade

:26:19. > :26:22.arrangement they will need to have concluded those discussions before

:26:23. > :26:25.the summer of next year otherwise it will be difficult to get those

:26:26. > :26:28.through in time, both in the European Union or here and did she

:26:29. > :26:33.get an answer about when they might like to start?

:26:34. > :26:36.Well, can I say, thank my right honourable friend because he is

:26:37. > :26:40.slightly right, as we have said on a number of occasions, the point of

:26:41. > :26:43.the implementation period is to put in place the practical changes

:26:44. > :26:45.necessary to move to the future partnership and in order to have

:26:46. > :26:50.that you need to know what that future partnership is going to be.

:26:51. > :26:53.He asks about, I have obviously in my discussions with other leaders

:26:54. > :26:58.raised the issue of a timetable that we have. Of course the ultimate

:26:59. > :27:00.timetable that was set by the Lisbon Treaty and my right honourable

:27:01. > :27:05.friend talks about knowing the details of the trade deal by next

:27:06. > :27:08.summer, of course Michel Barnier suggested October 2018 might be the

:27:09. > :27:11.point at which it will be necessary to know that but my right honourable

:27:12. > :27:18.friend is absolutely right that of course there will need to be a

:27:19. > :27:21.period of time for ratification of any future rarngmentes by the

:27:22. > :27:29.various national parliaments. As we know that can be more than one in

:27:30. > :27:33.some of the countries concerned. Can the Prime Minister explain why it is

:27:34. > :27:38.frequently said by those with whom we are negotiating that they do not

:27:39. > :27:42.know what the UK wants when it comes to a long-term deal and does she

:27:43. > :27:48.think it has anything to do with the fact that the Cabinet appears not to

:27:49. > :27:52.have reached its own view yet about what the nature of that... This is a

:27:53. > :27:55.negotiation and there will be different levels of detail at

:27:56. > :27:59.different stages of the negotiation. I have set out the vision for our

:28:00. > :28:04.future partnership and as I have said in response to a number of

:28:05. > :28:08.remarks now, what happened at this European Council was that the EU27

:28:09. > :28:11.agreed that they will now start the work of preparing their vision of

:28:12. > :28:16.what that future partnership will be so that when we come to open

:28:17. > :28:21.formally those trade negotiations, both sides have got that agenda and

:28:22. > :28:25.clearly know what those negotiations will cover. Given the wish of

:28:26. > :28:28.business to deal with uncertainties which is understandable, would the

:28:29. > :28:34.Prime Minister agree that the best course for a business trading with

:28:35. > :28:41.Europe would be to prepare for a smooth transition to WTO trade terms

:28:42. > :28:45.which this Government can and will guarantee unilaterally but to expect

:28:46. > :28:49.the Prime Minister to have good luck in bringing back something better.

:28:50. > :28:53.Well, I think it's absolutely right that it is important that business

:28:54. > :28:57.prepares for a smooth and orderly move to the future relationship that

:28:58. > :29:00.we have, that's why I have proposed this implementation period and I

:29:01. > :29:03.believe that's in the interests of businesses, not just in the United

:29:04. > :29:07.Kingdom but also in the European Union, but as my right honourable

:29:08. > :29:09.friend says, we are working to get the good deal which I think also

:29:10. > :29:17.will be not just in our interests but in the interests of the EU27 as

:29:18. > :29:22.well. Further to her answer to the member for Chingford, the Brexit

:29:23. > :29:26.Secretary said last week that the transition phase will be triggered

:29:27. > :29:30.only once we have completed the deal itself. I understand her

:29:31. > :29:33.spokesperson said today the implementation period is a bridge to

:29:34. > :29:40.where you are heading and you need to know where you are heading. Could

:29:41. > :29:45.she clarify, is she saying today that if we haven't got a long-term

:29:46. > :29:50.trade deal agreed by this time next year, then there won't be any

:29:51. > :29:57.transition deal at all and Britain will end up on WTO terms by March of

:29:58. > :30:02.2019? Well, can I say to the right honourable lady as I just responded

:30:03. > :30:05.to my right honourable friend the member for Chingford, an

:30:06. > :30:08.implementation period is about a period which is adjusting to the

:30:09. > :30:11.future relationship, that's the basis on which I put it forward to

:30:12. > :30:18.the European Union and the basis on which we will be negotiating an

:30:19. > :30:23.agreement on it. In relation to any implementation period, will my right

:30:24. > :30:28.honourable friend accept that it is a potential bear trap if there is a

:30:29. > :30:32.direct involvement of the European Court whose case law asserts

:30:33. > :30:38.supremacy over our parliament and over our courts and includes a

:30:39. > :30:42.commitment to the charter of fundamental rights and political

:30:43. > :30:46.integration? As my honourable friend knows I have been very clear that

:30:47. > :30:49.one of the intentions of people voting to leave the - for the UK to

:30:50. > :30:54.leave the European Union was to ensure in the future the

:30:55. > :30:57.jurisdiction of the court of justice no longer was covered - covered the

:30:58. > :31:01.United Kingdom. When it comes to the implementation period we will of

:31:02. > :31:06.course have to negotiate the basis of that implementation period, if we

:31:07. > :31:08.are going to ensure that we have the greatest possible certainty for

:31:09. > :31:14.business during that period, then it will be necessary, I think, for to

:31:15. > :31:17.us see as little change during that period as is commencerate with that

:31:18. > :31:23.certainty for business. Indeed one of the purposes of the EU withdrawal

:31:24. > :31:30.bill is to bring the EU law into UK law to give that certainty to

:31:31. > :31:33.businesses and individuals here. Until recently, the British

:31:34. > :31:37.Government was leading the negotiations in Europe to create a

:31:38. > :31:43.digital single market benefitting creative industries. Can she explain

:31:44. > :31:49.how she expects to be taken seriously in the words of her

:31:50. > :31:54.statement to - completion of the single market by 2018, when she's in

:31:55. > :31:58.the process of trying to leave it? Can I say to the right honourable

:31:59. > :32:02.friend the UK continues to lead in the debate on the creation of the

:32:03. > :32:06.digital single market. We believe this is important for the EU27 and

:32:07. > :32:09.important for the UK in or out of the European Union. So we will

:32:10. > :32:12.continue to negotiate during the period that - encourage the digital

:32:13. > :32:17.single market during the period we are members of the EU but I believe

:32:18. > :32:19.it's important once we leave the EU that digital single market has

:32:20. > :32:26.indeed been created and we will forge a new relationship and new

:32:27. > :32:32.partnership with it. Can I commend the Prime Minister's statement and

:32:33. > :32:36.the progress that she has made in negotiations. As we have heard,

:32:37. > :32:40.representatives of British businesses, businesses of all sizes,

:32:41. > :32:47.from all sectors, have written today to the Government warning of the

:32:48. > :32:52.consequences of no deal and relying on World Trade Organisation rules.

:32:53. > :32:58.They said the Government should give certainty to business by immediately

:32:59. > :33:03.ruling this option out under any circumstances. Will the Prime

:33:04. > :33:11.Minister agree to listen to British businesses and would she even go so

:33:12. > :33:16.far today as finally to rule out no deal? Well, can I say to my right

:33:17. > :33:19.honourable friend that we have of course been engaging with business,

:33:20. > :33:23.we have been listening to business. I was very clear that the

:33:24. > :33:27.implementation period was something that business was very keen on

:33:28. > :33:32.having and ensuring that they had that smooth and orderly process of

:33:33. > :33:36.withdrawal. But we are in a negotiation with the EU27. I think

:33:37. > :33:40.it is important to remember as part of that negotiation that if we want

:33:41. > :33:45.to get a good deal for the United Kingdom I think the best wait to get

:33:46. > :33:49.a bad deal for the UK is to say we will accept anything that they give

:33:50. > :33:54.us regardless. We have to be clear that what we are working for is a

:33:55. > :33:57.good deal. But I am optimistic about that because we have made some

:33:58. > :34:02.progress and I believe that the good deal that we are seeking is in the

:34:03. > :34:06.interests of both sides. Isn't it the case the business community will

:34:07. > :34:11.be shocked to hear the Prime Minister's words today which seem to

:34:12. > :34:14.suggest that there will be no clarity on transition or

:34:15. > :34:20.implementation until we get a final deal in some number of months or

:34:21. > :34:23.possibly longer ahead? It's the cliff-edge that the business

:34:24. > :34:29.community want to know will not be there in March 2019. Will she not

:34:30. > :34:34.give a commitment now to treat this - attaining a transitional

:34:35. > :34:38.arrangement separately, from trying to get this final deal? I set out in

:34:39. > :34:42.my Florence speech the concept of the implementation period and of

:34:43. > :34:46.course we have to discuss that with the EU27. But I am confident that we

:34:47. > :34:49.are going to get a good deal precisely because getting a good

:34:50. > :34:53.deal is not just in our interests, it's in the interests of the EU27 of

:34:54. > :34:58.the remaining European Union as well. That's what we are working for

:34:59. > :35:06.and that's what our effort is going into. A Lincolnshire knight, Sir

:35:07. > :35:11.Edward League. May I commend the Prime Minister's approach based on

:35:12. > :35:17.the Florence speech, which I think is entirely sensible, pragmatic and

:35:18. > :35:21.moderate. But may I also encourage her, given that we are being

:35:22. > :35:26.entirely open about our negotiating tactics, namely, that no European

:35:27. > :35:30.nation should be worse off or any EEU citizen, may I encourage her to

:35:31. > :35:36.be more transparent and open with parliament on the figures. I know

:35:37. > :35:42.the position of Whitehall is that parliament is a nuisance, but what

:35:43. > :35:45.else was Brexit about, ex-September reviving parliamentary democracy? We

:35:46. > :35:48.still have no idea what we have offered, what they're demanding, I

:35:49. > :35:52.think we could do with more information because there will be a

:35:53. > :35:57.vote on this in this House and that will and vote that counts. May I say

:35:58. > :36:00.to my honourable friend that of course we have said that there will

:36:01. > :36:04.and vote on the deal in this House and we expect that to and vote that

:36:05. > :36:09.will take place before the European Parliament votes on the deal in this

:36:10. > :36:13.House. I have also said and I said this in my Lancaster House speech in

:36:14. > :36:16.January that when we are able to make information available we will

:36:17. > :36:19.make that information available. But as my honourable friend and others

:36:20. > :36:23.may recall, I also said that we weren't going to give a running

:36:24. > :36:27.commentary on the details of the negotiations and I think that's

:36:28. > :36:31.important. Because we must not put this country in a position where we

:36:32. > :36:34.have set out publicly everything that we are looking for in these

:36:35. > :36:40.negotiations because of course that just hands the cards to the other

:36:41. > :36:48.side. This is a negotiation. Both sides will have to move on it. Given

:36:49. > :36:53.the report from the business groups today calling for transition and

:36:54. > :36:58.giving the lust for the cliff-edge being displayed by some on her back

:36:59. > :37:01.benches, perhaps she could introduce some facts, could she list any major

:37:02. > :37:09.economies in the world which trade with the EU on the basis of WTO

:37:10. > :37:13.rules alone with no sectoral or other agreements in place? Can I say

:37:14. > :37:17.to the right honourable friend the premise of his question is false in

:37:18. > :37:21.that he seems to be suggesting that the purpose of the Government's

:37:22. > :37:26.negotiations are to somehow engineer a no deal scenario. They are not. We

:37:27. > :37:29.are working to a deal, we are working to a good deep and special

:37:30. > :37:34.partnership for the future relationship for this country with

:37:35. > :37:40.the European Union to cover both trade and security relationships.

:37:41. > :37:42.Can I follow that up because the tenure of the Prime Minister's

:37:43. > :37:48.negotiations last week in her statement to the House today is very

:37:49. > :37:51.much as she said, to seek a creative and pragmatic approach to a new

:37:52. > :37:55.partnership. Partnership is the key word, is it not, because no

:37:56. > :37:59.partnership is possible without dialogue, within this House, with

:38:00. > :38:03.the European neighbours and fellow member states, and in the Cabinet.

:38:04. > :38:07.Can the Prime Minister assure us those talks will continue and that

:38:08. > :38:09.she will not listen to those unfortunately on these times benches

:38:10. > :38:15.who want talks to stop and us to go on to WTO rules?

:38:16. > :38:19.I can assure my right honourable friend that the negotiations are

:38:20. > :38:22.continuing as I have said, we want to ensure that we have work to, it's

:38:23. > :38:27.what we are doing, working to get ago good deal. The purpose of my

:38:28. > :38:30.Florence speech was to get out -- set out that vision for that special

:38:31. > :38:36.partnership in the future and it's that partnership the Government is

:38:37. > :38:40.working towards. There's been much talk today of the

:38:41. > :38:43.time limited implementation period which the Prime Minister referred to

:38:44. > :38:47.in her Florence speech. Others have referred to it as a transitional

:38:48. > :38:52.deal. Can she tell us whether there has been any discussion with the

:38:53. > :38:54.EU27 as to what the legal basis of such a transition prime minister

:38:55. > :38:59.period would be, would it be Article 50 or would it be something else?

:39:00. > :39:08.I can say that the EU themselves actually raised a similar concept to

:39:09. > :39:13.the invitation appeared in April guidelines on the basis of the

:39:14. > :39:20.Article 50 process. On the matter of North Korea, the defence select

:39:21. > :39:24.committee recently took evidence from a group of academics who argued

:39:25. > :39:31.that North Korea may already have the ability to reach the UK with a

:39:32. > :39:36.thermonuclear weapon. If that be true, does the Prime Minister agreed

:39:37. > :39:43.it would be the utmost folly to abandon our independent nuclear

:39:44. > :39:46.deterrent? I can absolutely agree with my honourable friend that it

:39:47. > :39:48.would be folly to abandon our independent nuclear deterrent and

:39:49. > :39:52.there are many reasons why it is important to maintain our

:39:53. > :39:57.independent nuclear deterrent and this Parliament has of course voted

:39:58. > :40:01.to upgrade that independent nuclear deterrent and it is important

:40:02. > :40:06.because it is also part of the collective defence of Europe that we

:40:07. > :40:11.provide is a member of Nato. The government position of the Brexit

:40:12. > :40:13.negotiations is simply absurd. The Prime Minister reputable out no

:40:14. > :40:16.deal, the Brexit secretary was threatening no deal last week and

:40:17. > :40:22.the Home Secretary was saying it was unthinkable. My question is, what it

:40:23. > :40:26.is going to cost the British taxpayer? The Home Secretary said

:40:27. > :40:30.that 50 million was already being spent this year on contingency

:40:31. > :40:33.planning in her department. How much is being spent across government and

:40:34. > :40:38.how many nurses, doctors or police could that pay for? I can tell the

:40:39. > :40:43.honourable gentleman that in fact I have already said at this dispatch

:40:44. > :40:48.box that the Treasury has set aside for this year ?250 million to be

:40:49. > :40:57.spent across departments in preparing contingencies for every

:40:58. > :41:01.eventuality. May I congratulate the Prime Minister on the great progress

:41:02. > :41:09.and change in tone the negotiations... May I particularly

:41:10. > :41:14.thank her for the progress that has been made on the citizens rights

:41:15. > :41:20.issue and may I ask her to give us more detail of the areas where

:41:21. > :41:25.agreement has been cemented? I can say to my honourable friend that

:41:26. > :41:27.there are a number of areas where agreement has been reached,

:41:28. > :41:31.particularly in relation to issues such as payments on pensions and

:41:32. > :41:36.health care arrangements for citizens, both EU citizens here and

:41:37. > :41:40.UK citizens in the EU and there are a small number of areas where we are

:41:41. > :41:46.yet to reach agreement but as I said I think it is clear from both sides,

:41:47. > :41:49.from the UK and also from Michel Barnier and the EU, that we can see

:41:50. > :41:56.the shape of that deal and we are within touching distance of getting

:41:57. > :41:58.there. Thank you, Mr Speaker, I welcome the statement by the Prime

:41:59. > :42:04.Minister and look forward to progress being made especially after

:42:05. > :42:07.December when we moved to phase two but has the Prime Minister taken the

:42:08. > :42:14.opportunity to remind the Republic of Ireland Taoiseach macro that is

:42:15. > :42:18.about time he started to pull his in the interest of the Republic of

:42:19. > :42:24.Ireland rather than attempting to throw his weight around on the issue

:42:25. > :42:28.of the border? All that is doing is damaging potentially his economy

:42:29. > :42:32.more than the economy of Northern Ireland. And could the Prime

:42:33. > :42:39.Minister also make an impression on the front bench of the Labour Party,

:42:40. > :42:45.when they visit Northern Ireland and threaten that the peace process is

:42:46. > :42:51.an exchange for Brexit, they are playing with fire and it ought not

:42:52. > :42:54.to encourage that beast. I think it is very important that all sides on

:42:55. > :43:01.this issue are very clear that the Belfast agreement must be insured to

:43:02. > :43:08.be put into place and recognised and respected in its entirety. It is

:43:09. > :43:11.also important and we want to ensure that the peace programmes that have

:43:12. > :43:15.been possible through our membership of the EU can continue in the future

:43:16. > :43:22.and of course when it comes to the board and resolving the issue, it

:43:23. > :43:25.will be for us to work with the Republic of Ireland government and

:43:26. > :43:29.the EU more generally to find the solution we all want to see which is

:43:30. > :43:36.no physical infrastructure of the border and no return to the borders

:43:37. > :43:40.of the past. Can I reassure my right honourable friend that anyone who is

:43:41. > :43:48.suggesting that she is weak is seriously underestimating her, but

:43:49. > :44:00.seriously underestimating this party, which supports her, and

:44:01. > :44:05.underestimating the importance of the referendum mandate and the fact

:44:06. > :44:10.that she personally obtained more conservative votes than any other

:44:11. > :44:14.conservative leader for 30 years. Will she sticks to her guns and

:44:15. > :44:18.follow through and have confidence that unfortunately the only people

:44:19. > :44:20.undermining her from this site are people who are threatening to go

:44:21. > :44:30.into the lobbies with the Labour Party? Can I thank my honourable

:44:31. > :44:35.friend for the confidence he has shown in me and can I also say to

:44:36. > :44:39.him that I am sure all members of our party want to ensure that we get

:44:40. > :44:43.the best possible deal for the UK and that is what the government is

:44:44. > :44:50.working to and I look forward to everybody on these benches

:44:51. > :44:55.supporting us. Did the EU Council discuss Russia and in this context

:44:56. > :44:59.has the UK Government or its agencies been asked for help or

:45:00. > :45:04.information by the American congressional team or the US special

:45:05. > :45:09.Counsel Robert Mueller investigating alleged Russian subversion of the US

:45:10. > :45:13.presidential election? I can say to the right honourable gentleman that

:45:14. > :45:18.on this occasion Russia was not one of the subject on the agenda of the

:45:19. > :45:24.EU Council. We did discuss a number of foreign policy issues, North

:45:25. > :45:36.Korea, Turkey, DPRK were all on the agenda but Russia was not. If our EU

:45:37. > :45:41.friends were to demand a sum of, say, ?1 trillion rather than 100

:45:42. > :45:46.billion, the position of the opposition would have to be to

:45:47. > :45:53.accept that because they would not walk away under any circumstances.

:45:54. > :45:58.Given that we would walk away under unacceptable circumstances of that

:45:59. > :46:02.sort, can the Prime Minister reassure us that all necessary

:46:03. > :46:06.preparations will be made so that we can walk away without a deal if we

:46:07. > :46:11.need to, which will of course maximise the prospect of getting a

:46:12. > :46:16.good deal and not having to walk away? Can I say to my honourable

:46:17. > :46:21.friend that indeed we are ensuring that government is preparing for all

:46:22. > :46:24.contingencies, that is the sensible and pragmatic approach for any

:46:25. > :46:29.government to take. We are of course working for a deal as I have set out

:46:30. > :46:32.previously but can I also thank my honourable friend for graphically

:46:33. > :46:36.illustrating the position taken by the Labour Party, which is that they

:46:37. > :46:46.would simply pay any price for a whatever? The Prime Minister says

:46:47. > :46:51.she wants a deep and special partnership with the EU but some of

:46:52. > :46:57.her colleagues want a total and complete break. Isn't the truth that

:46:58. > :47:01.her failure to resolve this fundamental issue is what has

:47:02. > :47:09.stalled the negotiations and put the future of our country at risk? The

:47:10. > :47:14.honourable lady obviously failed to recognise the progress that was made

:47:15. > :47:19.at the EU Council and the decision that was taken that the EU 27 will

:47:20. > :47:23.now be preparing for their position in the negotiations on the future

:47:24. > :47:32.partnership and an implementation period in the lead up to that

:47:33. > :47:35.partnership. They recognised that we had set out our vision for what the

:47:36. > :47:39.future partnership would look like and it is now for them to look at

:47:40. > :47:46.what they believe that partnership should be in the future and that is

:47:47. > :47:52.what they are doing. Last year the European Union had a surplus of

:47:53. > :47:55.?71.8 billion and a report said Lars Vidot if we moved to tariffs the

:47:56. > :48:00.German auto industry alone would lose 29,000 jobs that was any

:48:01. > :48:07.realisation at all in the discussions of the impact of not

:48:08. > :48:11.discussing free-trade arrangements because it is massively in the

:48:12. > :48:14.interests of our partners to maintain reciprocal free-trade and

:48:15. > :48:22.do they understand they would lose far more if we moved to WTO if they

:48:23. > :48:26.would. It is clear across the EU that it is recognised that we need

:48:27. > :48:30.to look at what a trade relationship might be in the future because as he

:48:31. > :48:34.has said and others, this is not just about the UK future position

:48:35. > :48:41.but also about jobs and the economy in the EU 27 as well and I think

:48:42. > :48:45.there is a recognition, and they are now looking at what they think that

:48:46. > :48:49.partnership could be for the future, and I'm sure my right honourable

:48:50. > :48:52.friend is aware there are a number of organisations on the continent

:48:53. > :48:58.now starting to talk about the importance of this relationship for

:48:59. > :49:02.their businesses in the future. Could I ask the Prime Minister a

:49:03. > :49:08.question that the Brexit secretary was unable to answer last week?

:49:09. > :49:11.Given that the government now envisages a two-year transition

:49:12. > :49:15.period with the existing structures of rules and regulations applying,

:49:16. > :49:21.could she clarified if a pharmaceutical company wanting an

:49:22. > :49:24.authorisation to market a new cancer drug in the UK during transition

:49:25. > :49:31.would do so via the European medicines agency or a new system as

:49:32. > :49:37.yet undefined? Can I say to the honourable lady that the intention

:49:38. > :49:40.of the implementation period is, as far as possible, to ensure there is

:49:41. > :49:44.not a cliff edge and people can operate on the same basis as they do

:49:45. > :49:49.at the moment, as they put in place the necessary changes leading up to

:49:50. > :49:54.the future partnership. Of course that implementation period, which is

:49:55. > :50:01.now going to be looked at by the EU 27, is something that will be part

:50:02. > :50:06.of future negotiations. Does my right honourable friend agree with

:50:07. > :50:10.the select committee on exiting the EU that it would be in the best

:50:11. > :50:14.interests of both sides if we could conduct negotiations on the divorce

:50:15. > :50:19.settlement in parallel with those of our new relationship and does she

:50:20. > :50:23.agreed further that any flexibility on the size of our exit payment must

:50:24. > :50:29.be linked to flexibility in other areas to be negotiated? I can take

:50:30. > :50:33.to my right honourable friend that the government and I have been very

:50:34. > :50:37.clear that the whole question of that financial settlement cannot be

:50:38. > :50:43.finally settled until we know what the future partnership will be. It

:50:44. > :50:47.is not that we will sign up to a bill and negotiate what the

:50:48. > :50:49.partnership will be so it'll be the case that once those formal

:50:50. > :50:54.negotiations on the future trade relationship have started and the

:50:55. > :51:01.security relationship, there will be negotiations continuing that were

:51:02. > :51:06.initially identified in phase one. Since the Brexit vote there has been

:51:07. > :51:14.a 96% drop in EU nurses registering to work here. With a vacancy in the

:51:15. > :51:17.NHS rate of 86000 and rising, how much bigger does that crisis have to

:51:18. > :51:21.get before this government stops using these medics as bargaining

:51:22. > :51:27.chips and do something to make sure there are nurses and doctors in our

:51:28. > :51:30.A this winter? First of all I want to reiterate the point I make in my

:51:31. > :51:34.statement and have made on a number of occasions, that we value the

:51:35. > :51:40.could Bishoo EU citizens have made here in the UK and we want them to

:51:41. > :51:44.stay -- Adeoti contributions. There are of course more nurses in the

:51:45. > :51:48.later today than in 2010 and we are taken of the limit on the number of

:51:49. > :51:51.nurses who can be in training and there are 52,000 nurses in training

:51:52. > :51:55.and there were two applicants for every nurse training place here in

:51:56. > :51:59.the UK. Does my right honourable friend agree that the progress

:52:00. > :52:03.achieved at the Council meeting demonstrate there is a weight of

:52:04. > :52:07.logic on both sides that lends itself to a deal being done but

:52:08. > :52:12.would she reassure the house that in the weeks ahead every ounce of

:52:13. > :52:15.effort will be marshalled across the government to achieve that end? I

:52:16. > :52:19.absolutely agree with my right honourable friend that this is in

:52:20. > :52:23.both our interests and I can reassure him that government as a

:52:24. > :52:27.whole and collectively across every department is putting the effort

:52:28. > :52:33.necessary into this in looking at what legislation we need to bring

:52:34. > :52:37.forward but also at preparing for all eventualities once these

:52:38. > :52:40.negotiations have finished but the whole government -- effort of

:52:41. > :52:45.government is being put into this. The prime Minster has raised

:52:46. > :52:50.expectations about the situation between Northern Ireland and the

:52:51. > :52:56.rubber brick and that is welcome. -- and the republic. Is it conceivable

:52:57. > :53:00.that it could be done without real negotiation between Dublin and

:53:01. > :53:04.London and of course with Brussels as well and if it really possible we

:53:05. > :53:09.can talk about no deal in that scenario? Can I say to the right

:53:10. > :53:13.honourable gentleman that it is not that expeditions have been raised

:53:14. > :53:17.this time round, that is the position we have taken and

:53:18. > :53:20.consistently taken since Mike Lancaster House speech in relation

:53:21. > :53:24.to not wanting to seek a return to the borders of the past between

:53:25. > :53:28.Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. As I said earlier, of

:53:29. > :53:35.course ensuring we get the solution to that will require us to work not

:53:36. > :53:38.just with the EU Commission and with the 27 but to work hard with the

:53:39. > :53:43.Republic of Ireland government as well. The Prime Minister is

:53:44. > :53:48.absolutely right not to roll out a no deal scenario, to do otherwise

:53:49. > :53:52.would be utterly naive but when it comes to the implementation period,

:53:53. > :53:58.what assurances can she did that it will be strictly time limited? I

:53:59. > :54:03.think the key issue about this is that it is about the period of time

:54:04. > :54:08.that is necessary to make the practical changes necessary to move

:54:09. > :54:11.to the future partnership and of course by definition those changes

:54:12. > :54:14.will have a time limit to them. I have said this would be around two

:54:15. > :54:19.years on the current implications of what we are looking at in terms of

:54:20. > :54:22.those practicalities, but it is absolutely essential that it is time

:54:23. > :54:26.limited because we will have left the EU and we will be moving to win

:54:27. > :54:30.up -- to a new partnership and people here want to ensure we get to

:54:31. > :54:41.that partnership and to the new arrangement outside the EU.

:54:42. > :54:50.You look surprised! If the honourable lady doesn't wish to

:54:51. > :54:54.contribute she's not obliged to. Let's hear the honourable lady. What

:54:55. > :54:59.we have heard is the possibility of a no deal Brexit. What about the

:55:00. > :55:04.threat that would pose through leaving the single aviation market

:55:05. > :55:09.to our entire aviation industry in this country? I would say that of

:55:10. > :55:12.course we are aware of the necessity of looking very closely at

:55:13. > :55:15.negotiating those deals in relation to aviation because we still want

:55:16. > :55:21.people to be able to fly as they're able to do so today. But once again

:55:22. > :55:25.she's folking on a no deal when the efforts of Government are put into

:55:26. > :55:31.getting a good deal. -- she's focussing. A true parliamentarian is

:55:32. > :55:34.never lost for words! Whilst we all hope our European partners start to

:55:35. > :55:38.negotiate on trade is there not a silver lining if they are

:55:39. > :55:42.unreasonable in that we will have to move towards WTO rules and suddenly

:55:43. > :55:47.the French and Germans will realise what a disaster it is for their

:55:48. > :55:51.economies, not us, they'll negotiate a good deal, not write out the blank

:55:52. > :55:54.cheque the members opposite want to give them. My honourable friend is

:55:55. > :55:58.right that I think it is in the interests of both sides, it's in the

:55:59. > :56:02.interests of businesses here in the UK but also businesses in the EU27

:56:03. > :56:07.countries that we get that deal on trade and that's why we are working

:56:08. > :56:12.so hard for it. When are we going to have the committee stage of the EU

:56:13. > :56:17.withdrawal bill? I only ask because if there is any, I don't know,

:56:18. > :56:21.hiatus or gap in the legislative programme, there is another bill

:56:22. > :56:24.that's had second reading unanimously and it was an incident

:56:25. > :56:27.where the Conservatives didn't vote, that's because they were in the

:56:28. > :56:30.support of the bill, it's the assault on emergency workers bill,

:56:31. > :56:35.couldn't we bring that into committee and have it through the

:56:36. > :56:42.processes by Christmas so we can stand by our emergency workers? I

:56:43. > :56:45.note the bid the honourable friend has put in relation to this

:56:46. > :56:48.particular matters. He tempts me to make a business statement here that

:56:49. > :56:52.I will not do, that is matter for the leader of the House but I am

:56:53. > :56:55.pleased the Government is able to support the bill that he has brought

:56:56. > :57:06.forward. I think this is important. We look forward to seeing it on the

:57:07. > :57:11.statute book. Will she show caution in respect of this suggestion that

:57:12. > :57:16.she reach out and enlist the support of members opposite, particularly

:57:17. > :57:21.those who have shown their desire to thwart Brexit at every turn by

:57:22. > :57:26.voting against the principle of the withdrawal bill. Well, with his many

:57:27. > :57:30.years of wisdom, my right honourable friend is right to urge caution on

:57:31. > :57:34.me in relation to this matter and he is absolutely right, the Labour

:57:35. > :57:39.Party has tried to thwart the measure which would enable us to put

:57:40. > :57:42.into place the decision taken by the British people. As we have heard

:57:43. > :57:47.this afternoon, there are many members opposite who claim that

:57:48. > :57:52.leaving with no deal and trading on WTO terms will be relatively

:57:53. > :57:56.straightforward. But if we are in a no deal scenario, we will still need

:57:57. > :58:00.the EU in its capacity as a member of the WTO to at least agree to the

:58:01. > :58:05.new terms of our independent membership of it. Can she therefore

:58:06. > :58:10.guarantee if there is no deal with the EU, that she will at least get

:58:11. > :58:15.their agreement to the new terms of our independent membership of the

:58:16. > :58:19.WTO? Can I say to the honourable gentleman that actually the whole

:58:20. > :58:22.question of our membership of the WTO and the independent role that we

:58:23. > :58:24.will take in future once we are outside the European Union is one on

:58:25. > :58:27.which the department for international trade is already

:58:28. > :58:32.working and already working with partners such as the European Union

:58:33. > :58:36.to look ahead to the position we are going to take. The reason why this

:58:37. > :58:39.country has been so successful in the past and will be in the future

:58:40. > :58:46.is because of our belief in the rule of law. So therefore, can I urge the

:58:47. > :58:49.Prime Minister to pay the European Union what is legally due to them

:58:50. > :58:53.when we leave the EU, not a penny less but not a penny more either. If

:58:54. > :58:58.the Government has got spare tens of billions of pounds in its coffers, I

:58:59. > :59:02.am not sure it has, that money should be used to pay for things

:59:03. > :59:07.like social care and for pay rises for public sector workers, not to go

:59:08. > :59:12.into the bottomless pit of the EU and into Jean-Claude Juncker's wine

:59:13. > :59:16.cellar which I am sure is rapidly diminishing as we speak. We can't

:59:17. > :59:22.look public sector workers nr the eye if we give billions of pounds to

:59:23. > :59:27.the EU that is not needed to give to them legally, and hold back their

:59:28. > :59:30.pay at the same time. Can I assure my honourable friend that as I said

:59:31. > :59:33.in the Florence speech and reiterated today, we are clear that

:59:34. > :59:36.we will honour our commitments but we are going through those

:59:37. > :59:42.commitments line by line. Of course part of the discussion about those

:59:43. > :59:45.commitments is precisely about the legal nature of those commitments

:59:46. > :59:49.because we are a law abiding nation and we want to ensure we stand by

:59:50. > :59:56.commitments that we have made but we are not going to sign up to anything

:59:57. > :00:00.like the Labour Party. Tomorrow a number of EU nationals will converge

:00:01. > :00:04.on parliament to speak to their Members of Parliament about a lot of

:00:05. > :00:08.feelings of distress and anxiety. What's the Prime Minister's message

:00:09. > :00:11.to those individuals? My message to them is that we value the

:00:12. > :00:15.contribution they have made here in the United Kingdom. We want them to

:00:16. > :00:18.stay. That's what we are working for. We have made significant

:00:19. > :00:22.progress in relation to citizens' rights. I have made a number of

:00:23. > :00:25.commitments in an article that I wrote last week to EU citizens

:00:26. > :00:33.living here in the United Kingdom and I stand by those commitments. We

:00:34. > :00:35.want them to stay. Does my right honourable friend agree with me that

:00:36. > :00:40.by some happy accident we have actually ended up in a rather more

:00:41. > :00:45.constructive space for a successful deal because we are going to have

:00:46. > :00:48.two months of private diplomacy around the future deep and

:00:49. > :00:55.comprehensive trade agreement we will have with our EU partners but

:00:56. > :01:00.even so it is necessary for us to prepare for no deal, these talks may

:01:01. > :01:05.fail and even the fact that it's Gina Miller agrees with me we should

:01:06. > :01:09.begin to surface the Government's own preparations around the

:01:10. > :01:12.contingency plans, the - I think does she agree these should be

:01:13. > :01:16.surfaces so it's not just the Government but business and people

:01:17. > :01:21.who can begin to make necessary contingency plans? Well, I say to my

:01:22. > :01:24.honourable friend that we are working to get the deal that we

:01:25. > :01:27.believe will be in the interests of the UK but also of the European

:01:28. > :01:33.Union for the future. That is where our focus is going. Of course as I

:01:34. > :01:36.have said, we are working across Government to make contingency

:01:37. > :01:39.arrangements for every eventuality but I have also said when we go

:01:40. > :01:44.through, as we are in negotiations, we are not going to give a running

:01:45. > :01:47.commentary on every detail of those negotiations but we continue to work

:01:48. > :01:53.for what I believe is in the best interests, which is to get that good

:01:54. > :02:02.deal for us and for the European Union. Last week I took part in a -

:02:03. > :02:06.exiting the EU Brexit Select Committee trip to Dover, which

:02:07. > :02:11.processes 10,000 heavy goods vehicles per day. There we were told

:02:12. > :02:17.that if you add an extra two minutes to the customs proceedings, you get

:02:18. > :02:22.an additional 17 miles of tailback going from Dover to Ashford. With we

:02:23. > :02:27.were also told in that context a no deal scenario would be a total

:02:28. > :02:31.catastrophe. Can the Prime Minister please explain what measures are

:02:32. > :02:41.being put in place to avoid total gridlock in Dover in the event of a

:02:42. > :02:43.no deal scenario? The honourable gentleman is Wittering away in

:02:44. > :02:47.appreciation of the point articulated by his honourable friend

:02:48. > :02:52.from whose constituency he is himself far distant. It's all

:02:53. > :02:55.inexplicable. Prime Minister. I think the honourable friend was

:02:56. > :02:58.making a point that actually this would be an issue that would affect

:02:59. > :03:02.others on the other side of the channel as well as the United

:03:03. > :03:06.Kingdom. But the point is that we have published proposals, the future

:03:07. > :03:09.customs relationship will be part of the negotiations as we look to the

:03:10. > :03:13.future trade relationship that we will have. But we publish proposals

:03:14. > :03:18.in the summer as to a number of options that could be adopted to

:03:19. > :03:24.ensure that we do see as conflictsless as possible trade

:03:25. > :03:29.across the border -- frictionless. So the problem does not arise. I am

:03:30. > :03:35.glad the Prime Minister could explain, I couldn't tell, I am

:03:36. > :03:39.grateful for a bit of information! This morning I met with a gentleman

:03:40. > :03:44.who was singing the praises of the Prime Minister, he was saying that

:03:45. > :03:48.she's determined, yet patient and gets things done. I think the whole

:03:49. > :03:54.House would agree with that. But he went on to say he reads the

:03:55. > :03:57.newspapers and very concerned about progress not being made and things

:03:58. > :04:02.are terrible. Would the Prime Minister agree with what the

:04:03. > :04:07.newspapers are saying or - one other thing, I did ask which newspaper he

:04:08. > :04:12.read, and it was the Evening Standard. Well, can I say to my

:04:13. > :04:15.honourable friend we have a free press in this country and that's an

:04:16. > :04:18.important underpinning of our democracy. What I know is what the

:04:19. > :04:22.Government is doing and what we are doing to ensure that we get that

:04:23. > :04:26.good deal for the future. I heard you from your seat, Mr Campbell.

:04:27. > :04:31.Let's hear you on your feet if you are still interested. Here's me

:04:32. > :04:35.thinking you weren't going to call me. Seeing we are not in the euro,

:04:36. > :04:44.can she guarantee that none of the money that - will be used to prop up

:04:45. > :04:47.The Euro. Good question. Will that money be used?

:04:48. > :04:51.LAUGHTER Like the Speaker said. We are not in

:04:52. > :04:58.the euro. Our money shouldn't be used for it. The only problem the

:04:59. > :05:02.Prime Minister's got is some of the Cabinet ministers walking up the

:05:03. > :05:06.gangway. Can I say to the honourable gentleman that of course this party

:05:07. > :05:11.has a track record of ensuring that we don't have to contribute to

:05:12. > :05:15.propping up the euro because that is exactly what my - and the previous

:05:16. > :05:22.Prime Minister negotiated when he was in negotiations with the

:05:23. > :05:26.European Union in the past. I welcome the statement made by the

:05:27. > :05:30.Prime Minister and particularly the progress that she's reported to the

:05:31. > :05:35.House. I do not believe that EU citizens living in the UK should

:05:36. > :05:39.have the European Court of justice as the final arbitter for any

:05:40. > :05:42.disputes when we leave the EU. However, to the extent that this

:05:43. > :05:47.matter remains on the agenda for Brussels, can the Prime Minister

:05:48. > :05:51.give an assurance to the House that Britain is demanding that British

:05:52. > :05:58.citizens living in EU countries will be able to have recourse to our

:05:59. > :06:04.Supreme Court and not the ECJ? Well, the point that my honourable friend

:06:05. > :06:08.makes actually I think shows up in a real way this issue of which court

:06:09. > :06:12.should have supremacy over these issues. What I have said in relation

:06:13. > :06:16.to citizens' rights and this is one of the issues that remains on the

:06:17. > :06:20.table, we will give the certainty to EU citizens here in the United

:06:21. > :06:27.Kingdom by ensuring that that agreement is part of the withdrawal

:06:28. > :06:32.agreement is it in UK law, I believe that will give them certainty and

:06:33. > :06:36.they can then take that as cases to the courts here in the United

:06:37. > :06:39.Kingdom. Of course as happens in any case and in relation to other

:06:40. > :06:43.courts, not just the ECJ, courts near the UK do look at judgments

:06:44. > :06:46.that have been made by other courts and matters that are relevant to

:06:47. > :06:51.them. But the important thing is that it will be through our courts

:06:52. > :07:01.that EU citizens will be able to take their cases. The Prime Minister

:07:02. > :07:06.used her new mantra of a deep and special partnership three times.

:07:07. > :07:12.Even though the lack of progress, the business uncertainty and the

:07:13. > :07:18.splits in her Government mean that the reality is that this deep and

:07:19. > :07:25.special is actually the new strong and stable. An empty slogan from an

:07:26. > :07:37.empty vessel caretaker Prime Minister. Gosh, it really is a day

:07:38. > :07:42.of name calling. I can't imagine it's the sort of behaviour I would

:07:43. > :07:46.have ever indulged in myself. The Prime Minister. Can I just say to

:07:47. > :07:50.the honourable gentleman what we saw happening at the European Council

:07:51. > :07:54.was the EU27 moving towards their own discussions about what that deep

:07:55. > :08:06.and special partnership will be in the future. There are some who think

:08:07. > :08:09.nationalisation is a Goodway forward. But there are also some

:08:10. > :08:13.people who think we should stay in the single market. Could my right

:08:14. > :08:18.honourable friend confirm that due to state aid rules you can not

:08:19. > :08:23.nationalise if you are in the single market. I think my honourable friend

:08:24. > :08:28.is absolutely right. It is yet again one of the confusions on the Labour

:08:29. > :08:35.Party that shows they really don't know where they're going. Following

:08:36. > :08:40.on from the question of the honourable member from Avon, the

:08:41. > :08:44.members of the Select Committee were also told in Dover by a

:08:45. > :08:48.representative of the port of Calais they would not build a lorry park in

:08:49. > :08:54.Calais, they could not operate without it, they would not build a

:08:55. > :08:57.lorry park because of the migrant issues and the port of Calais would

:08:58. > :08:59.have to close under the circumstances. Has the Prime

:09:00. > :09:10.Minister considered that problem? What we have done and will continue

:09:11. > :09:13.to do when we are on to the negotiations in relation to trade is

:09:14. > :09:17.talk about the future customs relationship we want to have with

:09:18. > :09:22.the EU. We have set out proposals for that and we look forward to

:09:23. > :09:28.discussing them with the EU. I was very pleased that the Prime Minister

:09:29. > :09:34.confirm that the UK is fully playing its part over migration and to hear

:09:35. > :09:39.that the Royal Navy have intercepted 172 smuggling boats and saved over

:09:40. > :09:42.12,000 lives since operation Sophia began but could she confirm that at

:09:43. > :09:49.the summit the EU report that it has a looming deficit, a pay gap of ?225

:09:50. > :09:57.million in the money that goes towards migration projects in North

:09:58. > :10:01.Africa? I understand that Germany and Sweden offered more money

:10:02. > :10:05.towards these projects. Could she confirm that and say if any other EU

:10:06. > :10:09.countries were forthcoming in offering more money to help save

:10:10. > :10:13.lives? My right honourable friend is referring to the trust fund that has

:10:14. > :10:17.been established in relation to migration matters in Africa that is

:10:18. > :10:21.something to which the UK has contributed alongside others and she

:10:22. > :10:25.is right that the commission reported there was that deficit.

:10:26. > :10:30.From the UK point of view we are putting extra money into activities

:10:31. > :10:34.in Africa in relation to supporting be put in countries of origin and

:10:35. > :10:39.transit and what we're doing is working alongside that trust fund

:10:40. > :10:46.and the work we're doing is to ?75 million.

:10:47. > :10:56.I am sure the Prime Minister's confidence is well-placed that the

:10:57. > :10:59.EU would agree to as being an independent member of the WTO but in

:11:00. > :11:03.that situation we would also need the agreement of every member

:11:04. > :11:09.including Russia. What price does she think they would extract? Can I

:11:10. > :11:13.say to the honourable lady that of course we are a member of the WTO at

:11:14. > :11:19.the moment but obviously we have that link in relation to the EU and

:11:20. > :11:23.in future we will want to be an independent member. We're working

:11:24. > :11:30.across the WTO to ensure we are able to put in place the necessary

:11:31. > :11:34.arrangements for that to happen. Could I thank the Prime Minister for

:11:35. > :11:38.the huge amount of work she is putting into these negotiations and

:11:39. > :11:44.say that I am sure she has the support of the whole house as she

:11:45. > :11:51.does so? Could I also ask her whether she intends to ensure as she

:11:52. > :11:55.mentioned in a statement that free flow of data is an integral part of

:11:56. > :12:01.the future relationship between the UK and the EU which we will get? I

:12:02. > :12:06.am very happy to give my honourable friend that reassurance. As I said

:12:07. > :12:10.at the council, that free flow of data is important for us in relation

:12:11. > :12:15.to the operations and particularly in building this digital single

:12:16. > :12:19.market. But another point made that I and others made it that we should

:12:20. > :12:22.not just look at the digital market about being about the EU, it is a

:12:23. > :12:29.global issue and we have to make sure that work is being done on a

:12:30. > :12:34.global basis on this. The Prime Minister has talked a great deal

:12:35. > :12:41.about an implementation deal. We all know we will be withdrawing in March

:12:42. > :12:45.2019, there is no disagreement on that, the free trade deal may take

:12:46. > :12:50.some time to negotiate. Does the Minister accept that this is what

:12:51. > :12:55.business needs to hear, that a transition deal may help to deal

:12:56. > :13:00.with the finer detail and conclusion of a trade negotiation and therefore

:13:01. > :13:05.will not be some of implementation but a proper transition? Both sides

:13:06. > :13:12.on this recognised that the timetable set out in the Lisbon

:13:13. > :13:14.Treaty and it refers to the future relationship and the withdrawal

:13:15. > :13:21.agreement can only be considered and agreed in respect of taking account

:13:22. > :13:24.of the future relationship. It is important we negotiate that future

:13:25. > :13:29.relationship so we have both the withdrawal agreement and the future

:13:30. > :13:33.partnership and the intimidation period is a practical period.

:13:34. > :13:38.Honourable lady looked as if she does not believe that is possible

:13:39. > :13:42.but the point is that we start these negotiations on a completely

:13:43. > :13:45.different bases from any other third countries. We start on the basis we

:13:46. > :13:49.are already trading with the other member states of the EU, on the

:13:50. > :13:51.basis of rules and regulations and when we leave we will have taken

:13:52. > :14:18.those regulations, EU law. I would like to ask my right

:14:19. > :14:23.honourable friend whether, given the disappointment we seed consistently

:14:24. > :14:29.from the bureaucracy over Europe, in her discussions with the leadership

:14:30. > :14:32.of Europe and the politicians and individual member states, is the

:14:33. > :14:38.position more nuanced and is there hope for optimism? I can say to my

:14:39. > :14:44.honourable friend that I think there is hope for optimism. Obviously we

:14:45. > :14:48.are negotiating that future partnership and one of the

:14:49. > :14:51.interesting issue is that the EU 27 are themselves starting to think

:14:52. > :14:53.about their future and the future nature of the relationship they

:14:54. > :15:00.would have and the arrangements they would have. But what we're doing is

:15:01. > :15:04.working to negotiate that deal and in one sense as I have just

:15:05. > :15:07.indicated in response to the honourable member for Pedersen and

:15:08. > :15:14.Stockbridge, we know that we start on the same basis as negotiations,

:15:15. > :15:17.on the same basis as trading which will make it easier for us and it

:15:18. > :15:24.does now to be as bureaucratic as it might be in other circumstances. As

:15:25. > :15:29.the prestigious organisation for economic cooperation and development

:15:30. > :15:36.reported last week, that the British economy would be far stronger in the

:15:37. > :15:40.future without Brexit, and as we have new horrors revealed about

:15:41. > :15:43.Brexit on an almost weekly basis, is it not right that three years after

:15:44. > :15:49.the referendum, when we are thinking of taking this step, we allow the

:15:50. > :15:56.public to have a second opinion on it in the knowledge that second

:15:57. > :15:59.thoughts are always superior to first thoughts? Can I say to the

:16:00. > :16:04.honourable gentleman that I think this is about more than a decision

:16:05. > :16:07.to leave the EU, it is about whether the public can trust their

:16:08. > :16:12.politicians to put into place the decision they have taken. And I

:16:13. > :16:16.suggest that any suggestion we in some sense say to the public, you

:16:17. > :16:20.better have a second referendum because we think you got it wrong,

:16:21. > :16:26.that is out of the question. We will be leaving the European Union. I

:16:27. > :16:31.welcome my right honourable friend's update and the tone and manner with

:16:32. > :16:35.which she is representing the UK in these negotiations. Whilst no deal

:16:36. > :16:39.is obviously better than a bad deal, does she agree that according to

:16:40. > :16:43.reports now that the German foreign ministry is preparing a draft trade

:16:44. > :16:47.accord and the Swedish national board of trade is drawing up trade

:16:48. > :16:53.plans, there are grounds for optimism that a mutual beneficial

:16:54. > :16:56.trade agreement can be struck which honours the instruction the British

:16:57. > :17:00.people made last year? I agree with my honourable friend that there are

:17:01. > :17:06.grounds for optimism, that we will be able to move those detailed

:17:07. > :17:09.negotiations on trade and get that good trade deal and that is

:17:10. > :17:13.precisely the point, as she is illustrated, because it matters to

:17:14. > :17:19.others in the EU and not just to us, it is in the interests of both sides

:17:20. > :17:23.to have that trade deal. A third of the designated negotiating time is

:17:24. > :17:28.already part and it is clear that the EU holds the best cards. Would

:17:29. > :17:33.it not be wiser for the government to perform a tactical retreat and

:17:34. > :17:35.base its position on permit state is within the customs union and single

:17:36. > :17:40.market instead of accelerating towards an uncertain if the knee

:17:41. > :17:44.cost jobs and squeeze living standards? The first of all, the

:17:45. > :17:47.British people voted to leave the European Union and that is what we

:17:48. > :17:52.will be doing and that means we will no longer be full members of the

:17:53. > :17:55.customs union or single market but we should be optimistic about the

:17:56. > :18:00.opportunities that will be opened to the UK at a sovereign nation not

:18:01. > :18:05.just with a good trade deal with the EU but also negotiating deals around

:18:06. > :18:09.the world. Does the primaries to believe there are still too many

:18:10. > :18:13.refuseniks sitting on the benches opposite divided impossible to come

:18:14. > :18:17.to terms with the result of the referendum and that by the antics

:18:18. > :18:19.they are not just undermining the bargaining position of the

:18:20. > :18:26.government but indeed of the verdict of their own constituents Rustenburg

:18:27. > :18:30.and the image of some of them, crossing the Channel recently and

:18:31. > :18:34.pain commented to the commission and holding a bowl of British taxpayers

:18:35. > :18:39.money like some Oliver twist in reverse saying, please sir, can we

:18:40. > :18:43.give you more, was not just absurd but a slight to the British

:18:44. > :18:48.taxpayer? I agree with my right honourable friend that I'm afraid

:18:49. > :18:52.all we hear from the benches opposite our speeches and questioned

:18:53. > :18:56.and indeed votes that are intended to thwart the will of the British

:18:57. > :19:00.people and what the British taxpayer wants is for this government to get

:19:01. > :19:04.on with a job which is exactly what we're doing and what they do not

:19:05. > :19:10.want it an opposition that says to the EU, tell us the bill and pay

:19:11. > :19:18.whatever it is. I thought that might be the timing, when is the Prime

:19:19. > :19:22.Minister going to face down the ideologues in her party on the back

:19:23. > :19:27.benches and indeed in her Cabinet who, from the safety of their

:19:28. > :19:33.stately homes and chateaux, their trust funds and inherited wealth,

:19:34. > :19:39.clamour for a no deal that they know would do huge damage to the just

:19:40. > :19:45.about managing, leave the UK weaker and leave our position in the world

:19:46. > :19:51.much smaller? When will she stand up for Remain voters and indeed the

:19:52. > :19:54.Leave voters who do not watch the economic catastrophe that the

:19:55. > :19:59.Eurosceptic obsessives on her benches want to inflict upon us? I

:20:00. > :20:03.will tell the right honourable gentleman who I'm standing up for,

:20:04. > :20:07.and standing up for the British people who voted to leave the

:20:08. > :20:10.European Union. Unlike the Liberal Democrat party who want to tell the

:20:11. > :20:17.British people they got the answer wrong. We gave them the choice and

:20:18. > :20:23.they voted and we will deliver it. Over the weekend TV broadcasters and

:20:24. > :20:26.newspapers have repeatedly used a photograph where the German

:20:27. > :20:31.Chancellor and French President are covering their mouths. Viewers too

:20:32. > :20:35.much of the day will be familiar to this post are often used by managers

:20:36. > :20:42.when they do want to the opposition to see their change of tactics. Does

:20:43. > :20:44.my right honourable friend detect a change of tactics amongst our

:20:45. > :20:48.European colleagues and does she think they have ruled out victory,

:20:49. > :20:55.the defeat or are playing for a score draw? Can I say to my

:20:56. > :20:59.honourable friend that indeed I do think and we saw this from the

:21:00. > :21:04.comments I quoted earlier from other European leaders, that the speech I

:21:05. > :21:09.gave in the Florence has given a change in momentum and has been a

:21:10. > :21:13.spur to the negotiations and the progress made at the EU Council and

:21:14. > :21:17.could not possibly comment on what Chancellor Merkel and President

:21:18. > :21:24.Akron said when they were talking in that manner -- President Macron.

:21:25. > :21:29.Today the Northwest business leadership team warned about the

:21:30. > :21:33.consequences of Brexit for jobs in the region, in particular Portman

:21:34. > :21:36.are factoring jobs. Is the Prime Minister withholding information

:21:37. > :21:42.about the risks to Manufacturing from a bad Brexit or any Brexit? As

:21:43. > :21:47.I have said, I see optimism in terms of the trade deal we can get with

:21:48. > :21:51.the EU, and about trade deals we can negotiate around the rest of the

:21:52. > :21:56.world but also optimism about what we can do in the UK through our

:21:57. > :22:00.modern industrial strategy to ensure that this is a country that works

:22:01. > :22:04.for everyone and we do see the jobs created in the north-west and other

:22:05. > :22:08.parts of the country and we see those jobs in manufacturing and also

:22:09. > :22:17.in the sectors that will be the future artificial intelligence and

:22:18. > :22:20.driverless cars. I welcome the Prime Minister's positive approach and the

:22:21. > :22:25.news we are within touching distance of a deal because that is in the

:22:26. > :22:28.best interests of everyone but in preparing for all eventualities,

:22:29. > :22:32.would the Prime Minister be prepared to reinstate the seasonal

:22:33. > :22:35.agricultural workers scheme because businesses in my constituency are

:22:36. > :22:43.keen to plan ahead for all eventualities? Of course I was Home

:22:44. > :22:45.Secretary when the seasonal agricultural workers scheme stopped

:22:46. > :22:49.and at that stage it was clear that it was felt it was not necessary to

:22:50. > :22:54.reintroduce the scheme at least for a period of time but the migration

:22:55. > :22:59.advisory committee has been asked by the Home Secretary to look at issues

:23:00. > :23:03.across the UK economy as to where it is at the immigration needs in the

:23:04. > :23:06.economy and I am sure that will include the sector my honourable

:23:07. > :23:12.friend has spoken about and whether a scheme is necessary. Did she hear

:23:13. > :23:17.the Foreign Secretary's attempt to be helpful after the EU Council this

:23:18. > :23:22.money by quoting Shakespeare, including there's a tide in the

:23:23. > :23:28.affairs of men which take of blood that lead fortune from Julius Caesar

:23:29. > :23:32.which was uttered by Brutus who went on to stab his leader subsequently

:23:33. > :23:41.and came to a sticky end himself? Is that not a perfect metaphor metaphor

:23:42. > :23:44.for her predicament? I always welcomed the literary and classical

:23:45. > :23:47.references on my right robber friend brings to bear in his speeches and

:23:48. > :23:50.statements and he and I are both working to get the right deal for

:23:51. > :23:56.the UK -- my right honourable friend.

:23:57. > :24:03.I was listening to the Foreign Secretary and I was heartened by his

:24:04. > :24:06.remark in relation to career and I think my right honourable friend

:24:07. > :24:09.that matter thank her for her update on those discussions at the EU

:24:10. > :24:14.Council but does she agree that as we leave the EU it is more important

:24:15. > :24:17.than ever that we reassure our important friends and allies in that

:24:18. > :24:19.region such as Japan and the Philippines that our support for

:24:20. > :24:22.them remained undimmed and is stronger than ever?

:24:23. > :24:29.I am very happy to give that reassurance. I spoke to Prime

:24:30. > :24:33.Minister Abe this morning to congrate late him on his victory and

:24:34. > :24:37.also to reinforce the fact that we as the United Kingdom want to build

:24:38. > :24:40.and enhance our relationship with Japan. We will continue to work with

:24:41. > :24:49.them and other international partners to ensure that we get the

:24:50. > :24:53.right result in relation to stopping the illegal activity from the PRK.

:24:54. > :24:57.We also want a strong relationship with Japan in the future. Can I ask

:24:58. > :25:02.the Prime Minister in terms of European security, in a week where

:25:03. > :25:06.Hillary Clinton reminded us how pleased the Russians are about

:25:07. > :25:11.Brexit and instability across Europe, was there a discussion in

:25:12. > :25:20.the Council about Russia's part in Europe and security of our nations

:25:21. > :25:25.going forward? As I said in response to right honourable earlier Russia

:25:26. > :25:30.was not a subject t has been a subject on the agenda previously. We

:25:31. > :25:35.continue and he talks about disruption across Europe, of course

:25:36. > :25:42.the Russians have indulged in disruptive activity, not just the

:25:43. > :25:45.illegal annexation of Crimea, but also in a number of other countries

:25:46. > :25:50.to interfere in democratic elections in those countries. This is a

:25:51. > :25:58.subject I am sure the EU Council will return to. My right honourable

:25:59. > :26:02.friend has outlined the progress that is being made in the

:26:03. > :26:09.negotiations. This is particularly important in the 80% export sector

:26:10. > :26:15.of this country and services. The service sector has no protection

:26:16. > :26:19.under WTO rules. Can my right honourable friend outline what

:26:20. > :26:26.assessment has been made about the impact on the service sector of no

:26:27. > :26:29.deal? We are looking across obviously all parts of our economy

:26:30. > :26:33.in relation to the work that we are doing for the future. She is right

:26:34. > :26:37.to raise the issue of the services sector, it's a very important sector

:26:38. > :26:41.for the United Kingdom, obviously. It's an issue that is one of the key

:26:42. > :26:45.issues that we will be focussing on in relation to obviously the trade

:26:46. > :26:48.negotiations for the future. We have always been very clear, it's not

:26:49. > :26:53.just about goods but also about services and obviously we want to

:26:54. > :26:56.ensure that we retain the value of that service sector here in the

:26:57. > :27:03.United Kingdom but also the world leadership that we have in many

:27:04. > :27:08.aspects of the services sector. The Brexit Secretary has been quite

:27:09. > :27:12.right when he says that it is so useful to know when Barnier speaks

:27:13. > :27:18.he does so on behalf of a unified 27 in terms of negotiations. If Barnier

:27:19. > :27:25.wants to know the position of the UK Government, who should he speak to?

:27:26. > :27:29.It's in the Florence speech. Can I thank my right honourable friend for

:27:30. > :27:32.her statement and welcome warmly the progress she's outlined towards the

:27:33. > :27:36.deal that both we and our European partners require. I also welcome the

:27:37. > :27:40.statement about EU citizens. Can I say I note in her statement she says

:27:41. > :27:43.there ash small number of issues that remain outstanding. Could she

:27:44. > :27:47.say what progress might be made in front of the December council on

:27:48. > :27:50.those matters because resolution of that would represent a real

:27:51. > :27:56.Christmas present for many EU citizens in my constituency and

:27:57. > :28:00.elsewhere. Yes, as I say, I think both sides see the possible options

:28:01. > :28:05.for moving to that, indeed moving to that agreement and I would hope that

:28:06. > :28:10.we can make rapid progress on that over the coming weeks to the

:28:11. > :28:15.December Council. The best contribution to the negotiations the

:28:16. > :28:19.Government can make is a deep and special relationship with fellow

:28:20. > :28:22.members of her Cabinet. If we are within touching distance of an

:28:23. > :28:28.agreement as she said several times, it is surprising that there are so

:28:29. > :28:33.many different positions coming out of her Cabinet colleagues so close

:28:34. > :28:39.to the recent summit. So can see get a grip of her Government because

:28:40. > :28:43.that would be the most significant contribution to our negotiation

:28:44. > :28:47.position. Can I say to the honourable gentleman, I use the

:28:48. > :28:51.phrase in touching distance in relation to the citizens' rights

:28:52. > :28:55.issue, where I have indicated there are a number of issues still on the

:28:56. > :28:59.table. I think we can see where we can go to ensure that we get that

:29:00. > :29:02.deal and that agreement. The Government is very clear on the

:29:03. > :29:06.position we have taken into the negotiations, we have set it out, I

:29:07. > :29:09.set it out in the Florence speech. That's setting that vision for the

:29:10. > :29:15.future deep and special partnership and it's that vision that the

:29:16. > :29:20.European Union is now responding to. I welcome words and conclusions

:29:21. > :29:22.about the need to have a fair and effective - all companies across

:29:23. > :29:27.Europe pay their share of taxes. Does the Prime Minister have a

:29:28. > :29:29.chance to urge the EU to follow progress we have made on

:29:30. > :29:35.multinational companies and commit to extending that to overseas owners

:29:36. > :29:39.of UK properties? My honourable friend raises an interesting point.

:29:40. > :29:43.Can I say to him that we have made clear to the European Union of

:29:44. > :29:48.course the work that the UK has done on in in the past. There was a

:29:49. > :29:51.particular discussion on this issue in relation to the digital market

:29:52. > :29:54.and a recognition also in the European Union that as we have

:29:55. > :29:58.always said and the efforts that we have put into this in the past, this

:29:59. > :30:04.is an issue that has to be looked at in a global scale and not just

:30:05. > :30:07.within the European Union. Surely the Prime Minister must recognise

:30:08. > :30:11.the concerns of business leaders with regards to the lack of progress

:30:12. > :30:14.on at least a transitional deal when they're having to make decisions

:30:15. > :30:17.about investments and jobs in this country over the next 18 months to

:30:18. > :30:20.two years so what message does the Prime Minister think it sends out to

:30:21. > :30:23.the people who create jobs and wealth in this country when her

:30:24. > :30:27.Cabinet is completely split on whether or not there should be a no

:30:28. > :30:31.deal cliff-edge scenario? The Government is working to ensure that

:30:32. > :30:35.we get the best possible deal for the United Kingdom. That's where our

:30:36. > :30:39.efforts are being focussed and that's what we will continue to do.

:30:40. > :30:43.I set out the implementation period in my Florence speech, as I

:30:44. > :30:48.indicated earlier, in response to a question, this is an issue that was

:30:49. > :30:51.alluded to by the European Council and the Commission in the April

:30:52. > :30:57.guidelines that were set out. So this is a matter on which I believe

:30:58. > :31:02.we can make progress because it is in both sides' interests. May I

:31:03. > :31:07.thank the Prime Minister for her statement and the constructive

:31:08. > :31:12.progress that's been made and in particular her reference in reply to

:31:13. > :31:13.my honourable friend, the importance and significance of financial

:31:14. > :31:32.services. Inisbry! I speak as a lonely West

:31:33. > :31:37.Ham supporter in doing so, will she bear in mind the importance that our

:31:38. > :31:45.Crown territory of Gibraltar makes to financial services, it strongly

:31:46. > :31:49.complements the City of London. Will she make sure Gibraltar's interests

:31:50. > :31:51.are firmly taken aboard both in relation to financial services,

:31:52. > :31:56.professional services and the operation of a free flowing border

:31:57. > :31:59.as we go forward in negotiations? Yes, I am happy to give that

:32:00. > :32:02.assurance. We have been very clear we have been keeping the Gibraltar

:32:03. > :32:06.Government in touch with the work that we have been doing and we

:32:07. > :32:12.continue to work with them and we have assured them and will continue

:32:13. > :32:21.to do so that we will take their interests into account at every

:32:22. > :32:25.stage. Thank you. A week after the universal...

:32:26. > :32:31.LAUGHTER Anything I said! Let's hear the

:32:32. > :32:34.honourable gentleman. Thank you. A week after the universal credit

:32:35. > :32:39.debate debacle the Prime Minister has the cheek to come to this

:32:40. > :32:45.chamber and use a phrase she's determined to put people first. Now

:32:46. > :32:49.16 months down the line and yet no agreement on settled status for EU

:32:50. > :32:53.nationals. That's her number one priority, this does not bode well

:32:54. > :32:59.for the rest of negotiations. However, if we are in touching

:33:00. > :33:04.distance of an agreement for settled status, what plans does she have in

:33:05. > :33:08.process to be able to process up to three million applications? This is

:33:09. > :33:12.a matter that the Home Office is putting necessary arrangement noose

:33:13. > :33:15.place. Can I say to the honourable gentleman that we have set out very

:33:16. > :33:18.clearly what we believe the arrangements for the future in

:33:19. > :33:21.relation to settled status for EU citizens here in the United Kingdom

:33:22. > :33:28.must be but in putting people first we must not just put EU citizens in

:33:29. > :33:31.the UK first, bewe must also put UK citizens in the rest of the EU first

:33:32. > :33:39.and that's why it's necessary to ensure that their rights are also

:33:40. > :33:45.being guaranteed. The Prime Minister will have seen the recent EEF survey

:33:46. > :33:49.of customers - of companies future investment plans and would she agree

:33:50. > :33:52.this underlines how important it is for business that we get to

:33:53. > :33:55.discussing trade arrangements at the earliest opportunity. Well, I

:33:56. > :34:00.absolutely agree with my honourable friend, that's why I set out in my

:34:01. > :34:04.Florence speech what our future trade relationship could be like so

:34:05. > :34:10.that has elicited a response from the European Union 27 and they're

:34:11. > :34:14.now preparing for negotiations on that trade relationship. Can I just

:34:15. > :34:17.say what fine fettle the Prime Minister appears to be in given

:34:18. > :34:21.there were German media reports at the weekend suggesting she was the

:34:22. > :34:26.opposite. Must have been lost in translation. Anyway, look, does she

:34:27. > :34:29.share the concern of my constituents who work in the City of London at

:34:30. > :34:34.the declaration of the CEO of Goldman Sachs that he is going to be

:34:35. > :34:39.spending more time in Frankfurt after all of this? Similar musings

:34:40. > :34:45.have come out of JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. What is she doing to

:34:46. > :34:50.stem the brain drain and corporate exodus that faces our great capital?

:34:51. > :34:54.We make sure the City of London retains its place as the world's

:34:55. > :34:59.leading financial centre, that's been reconfirmed recently. What I

:35:00. > :35:05.would say to those who think that the City of London will be damaged

:35:06. > :35:10.by us leaving the European Union, is that the very reasons why the City

:35:11. > :35:14.is so important in an international financial sense are the very reasons

:35:15. > :35:18.why it is important for the City to retain that financial services

:35:19. > :35:26.provision for the rest of the European Union as well. Page seven

:35:27. > :35:30.of the conclusions refers to combatting terrorism and online

:35:31. > :35:34.crime. And readiness to support appropriate measures at EU level.

:35:35. > :35:37.Germany is introducing legislation to have extremist material taken

:35:38. > :35:39.down within 24 hours. Is that something the United Kingdom will be

:35:40. > :35:44.doing and urging other European countries to do so as we are all in

:35:45. > :35:47.it together to defeat this poisoned ideology? The taking down of

:35:48. > :35:51.material is very important as my honourable friend has said. Through

:35:52. > :35:54.the counterterrorism internet referral unit we have been taking

:35:55. > :35:58.down significant amounts of material. What my right honourable

:35:59. > :36:02.friend the Home Secretary has done is working with the tech industry,

:36:03. > :36:06.with the internet service providers, they've established a global forum,

:36:07. > :36:10.we want to ensure that this material is taken down, not within 24 hours,

:36:11. > :36:18.but actually within two hours. One or two hours. That's what we are

:36:19. > :36:22.working to with the industry. Did the Prime Minister have a chance

:36:23. > :36:26.over dinner with Michel Barnier to discuss the fact that he is soon to

:36:27. > :36:29.meet leaders of the core cities in the UK to discuss Brexit

:36:30. > :36:33.negotiations, does she welcome the fact that he is willing to meet the

:36:34. > :36:37.representatives of 19 million people and doesn't she think it's rather

:36:38. > :36:41.rude of the Brexit Secretary not to be prepared to do so himself? I have

:36:42. > :36:44.to say to the honourable lady that I am aware that Michel Barnier is

:36:45. > :36:49.meeting a number of people here in the UK and elsewhere around Europe

:36:50. > :36:54.to discuss these issues. But the Brexit Secretary himself has indeed

:36:55. > :36:59.put in place arrangements for meeting the MEPtro mayors to ensure

:37:00. > :37:06.interests of people represented are taken into account. -- metro mayors.

:37:07. > :37:08.Businesses on Teesside will give a warm welcome to the announcement

:37:09. > :37:11.that we are closer than tofr a deal which is obviously great news and

:37:12. > :37:15.important we do so as quickly as possible. However, does she agree

:37:16. > :37:21.with me and my constituents that Labour's position that no deal is

:37:22. > :37:26.not an option represents not so much negotiation, as capitulation? I

:37:27. > :37:29.absolutely agree with my honourable friend, it's important that it is

:37:30. > :37:34.very clear when we go into these negotiation that is we want to get a

:37:35. > :37:36.good deal, we want to get the best deal for both sides, actually if it

:37:37. > :37:45.is necessary, as I said before, no deal is better than a bad deal.

:37:46. > :37:49.The EU citizens I have spoken to since they received the Prime

:37:50. > :37:53.Minister's e-mail a week or two ago have taken no reassurance whatsoever

:37:54. > :37:58.from it. Will the Prime Minister not accept that when she appears to make

:37:59. > :38:04.concessions to EU nationals what matters is not how loudly her own

:38:05. > :38:08.bark benchers cheer but how resured those people are and at the moment

:38:09. > :38:13.they're not reassured by her e-mail. Of course I recognise that what we

:38:14. > :38:15.want to do is to ensure we get to an arrangement with the European Union

:38:16. > :38:20.where we are able to guarantee the rights of the EU citizens living

:38:21. > :38:25.here in the UK, I want them to stay. I value the contribution that they

:38:26. > :38:29.have made. I recognise that they will want reassurance, that was

:38:30. > :38:33.precisely why I indicated the various issues that I did in the

:38:34. > :38:36.e-mail and the article that I wrote about their future here in the

:38:37. > :38:40.United Kingdom. But of course we also want to ensure that the rights

:38:41. > :38:44.of UK citizens living in the EU are guaranteed as well. I am sure that

:38:45. > :38:50.the honourable gentleman as a member of parliament of the United Kingdom

:38:51. > :38:56.would want to give reassurance to UK citizens living elsewhere in Europe.

:38:57. > :39:00.I congratulate the Prime Minister on taking the talks on citizens' rights

:39:01. > :39:06.so close to touching distance of a deal. The logic of an implementation

:39:07. > :39:09.period, partly implies time to prepare for our future trading

:39:10. > :39:13.relationships with Europe and elsewhere. Could my right honourable

:39:14. > :39:16.friend confirm that during the implementation period we will be

:39:17. > :39:20.able to negotiate both the cloning of existing EU free trade agreements

:39:21. > :39:23.and any new arrangements with other countries so that as many as

:39:24. > :39:24.possible become effective on day one after the end of the implementation

:39:25. > :39:32.period? I thank my honourable friend for

:39:33. > :39:41.raising an important point and it is our intention to assure that well --

:39:42. > :39:44.when we reach that future partnership we can open those trade

:39:45. > :39:54.arrangement with the other nations around the world. There are two sets

:39:55. > :39:58.of document it would be helpful if the Prime Minister would release to

:39:59. > :40:02.the house. While we look at the EU withdrawal bill. Would she be

:40:03. > :40:09.willing to release the potential impact studies that show how Brexit

:40:10. > :40:17.will impact across departments and the UK? And also the legal advice

:40:18. > :40:22.relating to the powers that will be pursued why this house for the

:40:23. > :40:27.devolved administrations, many of whom feel this house has no

:40:28. > :40:34.responsibility to areas of those addict in those purview. Would she

:40:35. > :40:38.release those documents? She talks about the whole issue of devolution

:40:39. > :40:41.and the arrangement within the devolved administrations and we have

:40:42. > :40:44.been very clear about the issue, we want to ensure that power is

:40:45. > :40:49.currently within Brussels, when they are brought back to the UK, we have

:40:50. > :40:53.that discussion and negotiation about those where we need to ensure

:40:54. > :40:59.we have UK frameworks in place. I see that her fund them is suggesting

:41:00. > :41:04.that those powers should be devolved immediately to the Northern Ireland

:41:05. > :41:08.weather is an executive, to Scotland and Wales and that could lead to a

:41:09. > :41:11.break-up of the UK internal market, the very market which is of most

:41:12. > :41:21.importance to those devolved administrations. On the half of the

:41:22. > :41:26.EU citizens in my constituency of Redditch who I know first hand have

:41:27. > :41:30.welcomed the finalist's commitment and remarks, I'm delighted she has

:41:31. > :41:33.made a very practical practical statement about the cost of a

:41:34. > :41:37.settled side has been no greater than a British passport and this

:41:38. > :41:40.will also be welcome and can she also consider the issue of the

:41:41. > :41:45.document needed to apply for this status which could be very difficult

:41:46. > :41:50.for someone who has migrated to this country and that would also give

:41:51. > :41:53.reassurance. My honourable friend raises an important point and a

:41:54. > :41:56.number of EU citizens are concerned about that process of applying for a

:41:57. > :42:00.settled figures and how bureaucratic it will be and that is why the Home

:42:01. > :42:03.Office is working to make that add light touch and streamlined as

:42:04. > :42:09.possible so people can have the reassurance it will not be a

:42:10. > :42:12.difficult process to enter into. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Prime

:42:13. > :42:16.Minister stated her intention to create a new partnership with the

:42:17. > :42:20.European Union after Brexit built on shared fundamental values such as

:42:21. > :42:24.democracy, the rule of law, free trade, rigorous and their

:42:25. > :42:29.accommodation and fair trade standards but would she also agree

:42:30. > :42:32.that the hard fought for workers' rights in the EU are also critical

:42:33. > :42:38.to that shared fundamental value and we should uphold after Brexit? This

:42:39. > :42:42.government not only wants to maintain workers' rights but enhance

:42:43. > :42:45.them and I am very surprised that the honourable gentleman should ask

:42:46. > :42:50.that question given that the Labour Party voted against the very bill,

:42:51. > :42:55.the EU withdrawal bill, that would bring workers' rights and EU law

:42:56. > :43:01.into UK law. One of the first things I learned at law school would that

:43:02. > :43:06.you can't have an agreement to agree, entering into an obligation

:43:07. > :43:09.to enter a future agreement the terms of which you don't know at the

:43:10. > :43:15.time you signed the first one so would the Prime Minister agreed that

:43:16. > :43:18.it is legally ridiculous and a terrible negotiating position to try

:43:19. > :43:24.to amend the EU withdrawal bill to make no deal legal impossibility and

:43:25. > :43:29.to force us to have an implementation agreement on a deal

:43:30. > :43:34.we don't know the content of? I doubt my honourable friend's legal

:43:35. > :43:40.knowledge on this issue but he is absolutely right, if we look at the

:43:41. > :43:43.issue of an implementation period, that is about practical arrangements

:43:44. > :43:49.to reach the future partnership. You don't know what those arrangements

:43:50. > :43:53.are until you know what the future partnership is. Thank you, Mr

:43:54. > :43:56.Speaker. Last week we had to make a significant announcement, firstly

:43:57. > :44:00.from Peugeot that they provide to reduce the number of jobs here in

:44:01. > :44:08.the UK to maintaining the investment and job levels, and also from Lloyd

:44:09. > :44:12.Blank find who announced that he would be spending more time in

:44:13. > :44:17.Europe. Do these announcements concerned the Prime Minister? We are

:44:18. > :44:21.of course working with business to ensure that we can get the right

:44:22. > :44:24.arrangement for our future trade relationship and for the

:44:25. > :44:27.implementation period to give business the certainty they have

:44:28. > :44:31.asked for but I'm optimistic not just about that relationship but

:44:32. > :44:35.also the other agreements we can negotiate around the world and about

:44:36. > :44:39.the opportunities for the economy and for firms here in the UK not

:44:40. > :44:43.least because of modern industrial strategy put in place by this

:44:44. > :44:48.government. Thank you, Mr Speaker. There is a lot of talk about deals

:44:49. > :44:51.and no deals but is not a crucial distinction that the Prime Minister

:44:52. > :44:54.has shown total commitment to a deal on Northern Ireland and a citizen 's

:44:55. > :44:57.rights and security and a host of other issues but where she is

:44:58. > :45:04.rightly sceptical is on whether a punishment deal is better than no on

:45:05. > :45:07.trade? My honourable friend is absolutely right, this is where the

:45:08. > :45:09.Labour Party get it absolutely wrong, that may think they should be

:45:10. > :45:15.signing up to any deal across the whole board, regardless of the price

:45:16. > :45:21.and the conditions applied by the EU.

:45:22. > :45:28.Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wonder if she was able to share any of the

:45:29. > :45:30.perspectives of the double administrations with the other

:45:31. > :45:34.government at the summit, particularly the concerns around the

:45:35. > :45:38.EU withdrawal bill and given the Secretary of State for Scotland at

:45:39. > :45:42.promised the powers bonanza for Holyrood, I wonder if she could name

:45:43. > :45:51.one power that would definitely be devolved after Brexit? We will be

:45:52. > :45:54.making clear where we expect further devolution to take place. He asked

:45:55. > :45:59.if I discussed the withdrawal bill with the EU Council and I have to

:46:00. > :46:04.say that that is a matter for this parliament and this parliament will

:46:05. > :46:08.decide on it. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I congratulate my right

:46:09. > :46:11.honourable friend on her excellent statement and on contingency

:46:12. > :46:15.planning being ready on day one, would she agree that money invested

:46:16. > :46:18.in that is money well invested at an insurance policy, well invested as

:46:19. > :46:24.giving us a stronger hand in negotiations but also as the is no

:46:25. > :46:27.regrets investment in our world-class customs and border 's

:46:28. > :46:31.system and resilient roads that do not need to have the kind of

:46:32. > :46:37.gridlock the party opposite hopeful? I absolutely agree and some of the

:46:38. > :46:40.work being done on contingency arrangement will apply regardless of

:46:41. > :46:47.the nature of the outcome whether there is a deal or not. Thank you,

:46:48. > :46:52.Mr Speaker. I was disappointed with the European Council that on this

:46:53. > :46:56.occasion they did not find the time to discuss the ongoing appalling

:46:57. > :47:01.situation in Venezuela. Does my right honourable friend believe that

:47:02. > :47:04.this was to spread the blushes of the Leader of the Opposition who

:47:05. > :47:09.apparently was in town working with the EU to undermine the UK's

:47:10. > :47:14.negotiating position? I have to say that that may well have been the

:47:15. > :47:17.case and I know that the Leader of the Opposition was in town at the

:47:18. > :47:20.time and of course what he was doing was basically saying to the EU that

:47:21. > :47:24.he would be willing to take any deal at any price which is not the

:47:25. > :47:30.position of this government. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm starting to

:47:31. > :47:37.think it the Christmas card and sending, to give me a complex, and

:47:38. > :47:41.having relegated EU nationals to a spectator stages in this debate and

:47:42. > :47:46.she shakes her head but she voted to exclude them from the referendum,

:47:47. > :47:51.does she not think it is at best a tad Ghosh if not outright rude to

:47:52. > :47:56.charge them 70 odd pounds in order to settle a status they have no and

:47:57. > :48:03.in offering in the first place? -- are they had no hand. We will be

:48:04. > :48:07.ensuring that we get those guarantees for EU citizens here in

:48:08. > :48:11.the UK and putting into place in the UK the arrangements necessary to

:48:12. > :48:14.ensure that they are able to get that settled status because we value

:48:15. > :48:21.the contribution they have made here in the UK. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I

:48:22. > :48:25.wonder if the Prime Minister shares my view that one of the factors that

:48:26. > :48:28.may well have contributed to the progress recently made was the fact

:48:29. > :48:33.that the EU has come to understand that the UK is not afraid of a no

:48:34. > :48:36.deal outcome and does this show wide to continue progress and focus

:48:37. > :48:41.minds, no deal has Thursday on the table? I think my honourable friend

:48:42. > :48:46.is right that of course we are working to get a deal and the best

:48:47. > :48:51.deal for the UK but we have to be very clear that we are prepared to

:48:52. > :49:00.save that no deal is an option if we are not able to get that good deal

:49:01. > :49:04.for the UK. Thank you, Mr Speaker. You have saved me a trip to the gym

:49:05. > :49:10.today. Does the primaries do agree that in order to better represent

:49:11. > :49:13.the interest of EU citizens that the negotiators could benefit from a

:49:14. > :49:18.remedial course in economics so they can understand the difference

:49:19. > :49:21.between a surplus of ?70 billion and a deficit of 70 billion bags because

:49:22. > :49:25.they seem to be getting it the wrong way round at the moment? He makes a

:49:26. > :49:28.very important point which emphasises that the deal we are

:49:29. > :49:36.working towards is actually going to be in the benefit of the EU as well

:49:37. > :49:40.as the UK. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I warmly welcome the Prime Minister's

:49:41. > :49:44.statement, in contrast to honourable members from the SNP, I welcome the

:49:45. > :49:49.comment and commitment to EU citizens, her commitment to putting

:49:50. > :49:53.people first and her open letter of last week. Could I urge her to

:49:54. > :49:57.continue to do so because this is so important not just to EU citizens

:49:58. > :50:03.but UK citizens living and working in the U? He is absolutely right, I

:50:04. > :50:06.have been clear from the start that we needed to make this one of the

:50:07. > :50:11.early agreements we came to and it was part of the very first stage of

:50:12. > :50:14.negotiations and we are in touching distance of a deal but it is

:50:15. > :50:22.important not just a EU citizens here but UK citizens who made their

:50:23. > :50:28.home elsewhere the European Union. Point of order. Thank you, Mr

:50:29. > :50:32.Speaker. Over the weekend there were various posts on social media and in

:50:33. > :50:33.the press that we might be able