0:00:23 > 0:00:24CHEERING
0:00:24 > 0:00:25CHEERING.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Number one, Mr Speaker.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Before answering my honourable friend,
0:00:34 > 0:00:38I know the whole House will wish to join me in paying tribute to Michael
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Meacher, who died suddenly last week, and we send our condolences to
0:00:41 > 0:00:42his family and friends.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Michael dedicated his life to public service, diligently representing
0:00:44 > 0:00:47his Oldham constituency in this place for a staggering 45 years.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50He was a passionate advocate of the causes he believed in.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53These included the environment, and he was able to put those
0:00:53 > 0:00:56into practice as a minister between 1997 and 2003.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00This House and our politics are a poorer place without him.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I know colleagues from all sides of the chamber will remember him with
0:01:03 > 0:01:07affection and miss him greatly.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Mr Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues
0:01:09 > 0:01:13and others, and in addition to my duties in the House, I shall have
0:01:13 > 0:01:15further such meetings later today.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Mr Stephen Metcalfe.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Can I associate myself with the sympathies expressed
0:01:21 > 0:01:23by the Prime Minister.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Will my Right Honourable Friend join me in celebrating that one in ten
0:01:26 > 0:01:29of the world's tractors are built in Basildon?
0:01:29 > 0:01:32CHEERING.
0:01:32 > 0:01:40That not an Airbus A350 flies without a part built in Basildon?
0:01:40 > 0:01:43That not an Airbus A380 flies without a part built in Basildon?
0:01:43 > 0:01:46And that Thurrock is not only home to the largest inward investment to
0:01:46 > 0:01:48the south-east, but is also attracting investment
0:01:48 > 0:01:50from world-renowned organisations such as the Royal Opera House.
0:01:50 > 0:02:10All this is leading to job creation and opportunity, and will he there
0:02:10 > 0:02:15therefore do all he can to make sure Britain remains a great place to do
0:02:15 > 0:02:17business and prosper in?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20CHEERING.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Basildon has a special place in my heart.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24I did not know those statistics, but it now has
0:02:24 > 0:02:25an even more special place.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I can tell him that the long-term youth claimant count
0:02:28 > 0:02:30in his constituency is down by 42% in the last year.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33He spoke about what a good place Britain is to do business.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37I am pleased to say we are now sixth in the world rankings for the best
0:02:37 > 0:02:41place to set up and to run a business, and I know that the Leader
0:02:41 > 0:02:43of the Opposition, not least because his new spokesman is apparently a
0:02:43 > 0:02:47great admirer of the Soviet Union, he will be very pleased to start
0:02:47 > 0:02:48the day with tractor statistics.
0:02:48 > 0:02:48Jeremy Corbyn.
0:02:48 > 0:02:48CHEERING.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Can I start by associating myself with the remarks the Prime Minister
0:02:55 > 0:02:58just made about Michael Meacher, and on behalf of the Labour Party,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00his constituents, and the much wider community,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02our condolences to his family.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05I spoke to them last night and asked them how they would
0:03:05 > 0:03:07like Michael to be remembered.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10They thought about it, and sent me a very nice message,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12which if I may, I will read out.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14It's quite brief but it's very poignant.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17This is what they said, memories of Michael.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20"When I was young, one of the things he frequently said to me was that
0:03:20 > 0:03:26people went into politics because they had principles and wanted to
0:03:26 > 0:03:29change things to make the world better but that in order to get
0:03:29 > 0:03:31into power, they would often compromise on their principles,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and that this could happen again and again until, if they eventually
0:03:34 > 0:03:37did get into power, they would have become so compromised,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40they would do nothing with it."
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Those who knew Michael knew him as a decent, hard-working,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45passionate and profound man.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47He represented his constituency with diligence
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and distinction for 45 years.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53He was a brilliant Environment Minister, as the
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Prime Minister has pointed out.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58He was totally committed to Parliamentary democracy,
0:03:58 > 0:04:02and of this Parliament holding all governments to account,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06and he was a lifelong campaigner against injustice and poverty.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09We remember Michael for all of those things.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11We express our condolences and our sympathies to his family
0:04:11 > 0:04:14at this very difficult time.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18His will be a hard act to follow, but we will do our best.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Mr Speaker, following the events in the other place on Monday evening,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25and the rather belated acceptance from the Prime Minister of the
0:04:25 > 0:04:31result there, can he now guarantee to the house and to the wider
0:04:31 > 0:04:35result there, can he now guarantee to the House and to the wider
0:04:35 > 0:04:37country that nobody will be worse off next year as a result
0:04:37 > 0:04:39of cuts to Working Tax Credits?
0:04:39 > 0:04:42I can guarantee that we remain committed to the vision of a high
0:04:42 > 0:04:47pay, low tax, lower welfare economy, and we believe that the way to make
0:04:47 > 0:04:50sure that everyone is better off is to keep growing our economy, keep
0:04:50 > 0:04:55inflation low, keep cutting people's taxes, and
0:04:55 > 0:04:59introduce the National Living Wage.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01As for our changes, the Chancellor will set them out
0:05:01 > 0:05:05of the Autumn Statement.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06in the Autumn Statement.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09I thank the Prime Minister for that, but the question I was asking was
0:05:09 > 0:05:12quite simply this, will he confirm right now that tax
0:05:12 > 0:05:20credit cuts will not make anyone worse off in April next year?
0:05:20 > 0:05:24What we want is for people to be better off
0:05:24 > 0:05:28because we are cutting their taxes and increasing their pay.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31But he is going to have to be a little patient,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34because although these changes passed the House of Commons five
0:05:34 > 0:05:39times, with ever-enlarging majorities, we will set out our new
0:05:39 > 0:05:47proposals in the Autumn Statement, and he will be able to study them.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49This is the time when we ask questions to the
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Prime Minister on behalf of the people of this country.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56They...
0:05:56 > 0:05:58LAUGHTER.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Thank you!
0:06:01 > 0:06:07LAUGHTER.
0:06:12 > 0:06:18Mr Speaker, if I may continue...
0:06:18 > 0:06:20People are very worried about what is going to happen to
0:06:20 > 0:06:23them next April, so what exactly does the Prime
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Minister mean, he is considering it, there is an Autumn Statement coming
0:06:27 > 0:06:32up, but we thought he was committed to not cutting tax credits.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Is he going to cut tax credits or not?
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Will people be worse off or not next April?
0:06:39 > 0:06:43He must know the answer.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45I will make two points.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47First of all, we set out in our election
0:06:47 > 0:06:50manifesto, we were going to find ?12 billion of savings on welfare.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53This is...
0:06:53 > 0:06:54CHEERING.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Order.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59There is too much noise in the chamber.
0:06:59 > 0:07:00Order!
0:07:00 > 0:07:02A bit of calm.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04The questions must be heard, and the answers must be heard.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05The Prime Minister.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09It is an important point, because every penny we do not save
0:07:09 > 0:07:13on welfare is savings we must find inthe education budget or
0:07:13 > 0:07:16on welfare is savings we must find in the education budget or
0:07:16 > 0:07:18in the policing budget or in the health budget.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21The second point that I would make is, because of what has happened
0:07:21 > 0:07:24in the other place, of course, we should have a debate
0:07:24 > 0:07:27about how to reform welfare and how to reduce the cost of welfare.
0:07:27 > 0:07:34I am happy to have that debate, but of course it is difficult to
0:07:34 > 0:07:36have a debate with the honourable gentleman,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38because he has opposed every single welfare change that's been made.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40He does not support the welfare cap.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42He does not support the cap on housing benefit.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45He does not think that any change to welfare is worthwhile,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49and I have to say, if we want a strong economy, and we want growth,
0:07:49 > 0:07:53and we want to get rid of our deficit and we want to secure our
0:07:53 > 0:08:00country, we need to reform welfare.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03What we are talking about are tax credits for people in work.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The Prime Minister knows that and he understands that.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09He has lost the support of many people in this country that
0:08:09 > 0:08:12are actually quite sympathetic to his political project.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17Some newspapers who support him have now come out against him on this.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22He did commit to ?12 billion in cuts in the welfare budget, but
0:08:22 > 0:08:25repeatedly refused to say whether tax credits would be part of this.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26In fact, he said they weren't.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Can he now give us the answer we are trying to get today?
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Answer the question!
0:08:32 > 0:08:36The answer will be set out in the Autumn Statement when we set out our
0:08:36 > 0:08:40proposals, but I have to say to him, it has come to quite a strange set
0:08:40 > 0:08:43of events when you have the House of Commons voting for something five
0:08:43 > 0:08:45times, when there is absolutely no rebellion amongst
0:08:45 > 0:08:50Conservative Members of Parliament, or, indeed, amongst Conservative
0:08:50 > 0:08:53peers, and the Labour Party is left defending and depending on unelected
0:08:53 > 0:08:59peers in the House of Lords!
0:08:59 > 0:09:02In British politics, we have got a new alliance -
0:09:02 > 0:09:05the unelected and the unelectable!
0:09:05 > 0:09:13CHEERING.
0:09:13 > 0:09:19Mr... Mr Speaker...
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Mr Speaker, it is very interesting that
0:09:21 > 0:09:24the Prime Minister still refuses to answer the fundamental question.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28This is not a constitutional crisis.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33This is a crisis for three million families in this country.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36For three million families who are very worried about what is
0:09:36 > 0:09:40going to happen next April.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Just before the last election, the former Chief Whip, now
0:09:43 > 0:09:50Justice Secretary, said in answer to a question on the BBC World at One,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53"Are you going to cut tax credits?"
0:09:53 > 0:09:55The answer was, "We are not going to cut them."
0:09:55 > 0:10:00Why did he say that?
0:10:00 > 0:10:02What I said in the election is that the basic
0:10:02 > 0:10:07level of child tax credits would stay the same, and at ?2,780 per
0:10:07 > 0:10:10child, it stays exactly the same.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14But the point is this, if we want to get our deficit down, if we want to
0:10:14 > 0:10:17secure our economy, if we want to keep on with secure growth,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20we need to make savings in welfare.
0:10:20 > 0:10:26Now, even with his deficit-denying, borrow-forever plan, presumably,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30he has to make some savings in public spending.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33If you don't save any money on welfare, you end up cutting
0:10:33 > 0:10:35the NHS, you end up getting even more deeply policing budgets.
0:10:35 > 0:10:41Those are the truths.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43the NHS, you end up cutting even more deeply policing budgets.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44Those are the truths.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48When is he going to stop his deficit denial, get off the fence,
0:10:48 > 0:10:49and tell us what he would do?
0:10:49 > 0:10:55Mr Speaker, I've...
0:10:55 > 0:10:56Order!
0:10:56 > 0:10:59A moment ago, I said that the answers needed to be heard.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01The questions need to be heard.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03The Right Honourable Gentleman was going to ask his question.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05It will be heard.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07If it takes longer, so be it.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Jeremy Corbyn.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Five times I have asked the Prime Minister today whether or not people
0:11:15 > 0:11:20will be worse off if they receive Working Tax Credits next April.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24He has still not been able to answer me, or indeed, many others.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29Can I put to him a question I was sent by...
0:11:29 > 0:11:34LAUGHTER.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Mr Speaker, it might be very amusing to members opposite, but...
0:11:41 > 0:11:44LAUGHTER.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51I was sent this question by Karen, and I quote.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55"Why is the Prime Minister punishing working families?
0:11:55 > 0:12:00I work full-time, and earn a living wage within the public sector.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05The tax credit cuts will push me and my family into hardship."
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Can he give a cast-iron guarantee to Karen
0:12:08 > 0:12:12and all the other families who are very worried what is going to happen
0:12:12 > 0:12:16next April to their income, how they are going to make ends meet?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19He could give them the answer today.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21I hope he will.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24I ask him, for the sixth time, please give us an answer to a very
0:12:25 > 0:12:29straightforward, simple question.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31What I would say to Karen is this.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34If she is on the living wage, working in the public sector, next
0:12:34 > 0:12:37year in April, she will benefit from being able to earn ?11,000 before
0:12:37 > 0:12:42she pays any income tax at all.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46It was around ?6,000 when I became Prime Minister.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49If she has children, she will benefit from 30 hours
0:12:49 > 0:12:52of childcare every week.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55That is something that has happened under this government.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58But above all, she will benefit because we have got a growing
0:12:58 > 0:13:01economy, because we have got zero inflation, because we have got two
0:13:01 > 0:13:04million more people in work, because we're going to train three million
0:13:04 > 0:13:07apprentices in this Parliament.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09And that is the fact.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13The reason the Labour Party lost the last election is they were
0:13:13 > 0:13:17completely un-trusted on the deficit, on debt,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21and on a stable economy, and since then, the deficit deniers
0:13:21 > 0:13:24have taken over the Labour Party.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27That is what happened, and when you look at their plans, borrowing
0:13:27 > 0:13:30forever, printing money, hiking up taxes, it is working people like
0:13:30 > 0:13:36Karen that would pay the price.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Mr David Morris.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Mr Speaker, in my constituency, unemployment has fallen
0:13:43 > 0:13:47by 30% since 2010.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50And this government has delivered the M6 link road after 60 years,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54which will create even more jobs in my area when it is completed.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Does my friend the Prime Minister agree with me that the Conservatives
0:13:57 > 0:14:02are ensuring that Morecambe is back open for business?
0:14:02 > 0:14:05I well remember visiting my honourable friend's constituency and
0:14:05 > 0:14:08looking at the very important road works that were being put in place
0:14:08 > 0:14:12that are going to open up the port, help when we bring the new nuclear
0:14:12 > 0:14:16power station and all the other steps that he wants to see.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19I can tell him that the long-term youth claimant count
0:14:19 > 0:14:23in his constituency has fallen by 30% in the last year.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Those are all young people now are able to work and able to
0:14:26 > 0:14:28benefit from our growing economy.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Mr Angus Robertson.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35We on these benches associate ourselves with
0:14:35 > 0:14:37the condolences already expressed by the Prime Minister and the Leader of
0:14:38 > 0:14:39the Opposition for Michael Meacher.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Last week, I asked the Prime Minister
0:14:41 > 0:14:44about the tragic circumstances of Michael Sullivan, a disabled man
0:14:44 > 0:14:47from North London who took his own life after an assessment by the
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Department for Work and Pensions.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52We know that at least 60 investigations have taken place into
0:14:52 > 0:14:56suicides following the cancellation of benefits, but the findings
0:14:56 > 0:15:00of them have not been published.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03The Prime Minister said to me last week that he would look
0:15:03 > 0:15:06very carefully at the specific question about publication.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11Will the Prime Minister confirm when those findings will be published?
0:15:11 > 0:15:14I will write to him about this, but my memory from looking into
0:15:14 > 0:15:17his question afterwards is, there are very good reasons why we can't
0:15:17 > 0:15:21publish the specific report that he talks about, because it has personal
0:15:21 > 0:15:27and medical data in it, which would not be appropriate for publication.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30If I have got that wrong, I will write to him, but that is
0:15:30 > 0:15:33my clear memory of looking into his question after last week.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Thank you very much.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Tim Salter from Stourbridge in the West Midlands was 53
0:15:39 > 0:15:41when he took his life.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44The coroner ruled that a major factor in his death was
0:15:44 > 0:15:47a statement that, and I quote, "his benefits have been greatly reduced,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50leaving him almost destitute."
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Tim's sister said, "it is the vulnerable people who are
0:15:52 > 0:15:54going to be affected the worst.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57The DWP need to publish these reports."
0:15:57 > 0:16:00The Prime Minister says he is concerned of the views
0:16:00 > 0:16:02of the families involved.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04The families say the findings should be published.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Will he publish the findings?
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Three million families are going to have
0:16:09 > 0:16:11their child tax credits cancelled.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15We need the answers to these questions.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Well, first of all, let me just correct him on his last point.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Under the proposals put forward, those people on the lowest levels
0:16:21 > 0:16:26of pay were protected because of the National Living Wage, and those
0:16:26 > 0:16:29people on the lowest incomes were protected because we were protecting
0:16:29 > 0:16:35the basic award of the child tax credit at ?2,780.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38I think the other part of the question is the bit I have already
0:16:38 > 0:16:42answered, which is my understanding, but I will send him a letter if I
0:16:42 > 0:16:45have got it wrong, is that there were too many personal and medical
0:16:45 > 0:16:48details for that to be published, and so I think that is an important
0:16:48 > 0:16:52consideration in considering whether to publish something.
0:16:52 > 0:17:01Mark Pawsey.
0:17:01 > 0:17:02Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Prime Minister about Ruby.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Ruby is one of my youngest constituents.
0:17:07 > 0:17:08She is just one month old.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Why should Ruby face the prospect of spending her entire working life
0:17:11 > 0:17:14paying off the debt that has been built up by this generation?
0:17:14 > 0:17:17I think it is absolutely right to care about Ruby.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20When we became the government, one in four pounds spent by
0:17:20 > 0:17:23the Government was borrowed money.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27One of the biggest budget deficits anywhere in the world, and it is
0:17:27 > 0:17:30always easy for people to say, "put off the difficult decisions, don't
0:17:30 > 0:17:34make any spending reductions," but what they are doing is burdening
0:17:34 > 0:17:38future generations with debt.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40And what I would say to the Labour front bench is,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43that is not generosity, that is actually selfishness.
0:17:44 > 0:17:44Mrs Sharon Hodgson.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Mrs Sharon Hodgson.
0:17:48 > 0:17:49Mrs Sharon Hodgson.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53We all know...
0:17:53 > 0:17:55LAUGHTER.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56I think the Honourable Lady must have misheard.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01An innocent error, but Mrs Sharon Hodgson.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04We all know about the Prime Minister's broken promise
0:18:04 > 0:18:07on tax credits, but will the final nail in the coffin of compassionate
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Conservatism be hammered home if he were to scrap universal infant free
0:18:10 > 0:18:12school meals in the Spending Review, taking hot, healthy meals out
0:18:12 > 0:18:18of the mouths of innocent, blameless infant children?
0:18:18 > 0:18:24Will he guarantee now, not to scrap universal infant free school meals,
0:18:24 > 0:18:31so he does not go down in history as Dave the Dinner Snatcher.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36I am immensely proud that it was a government I glad that introduced
0:18:36 > 0:18:39this policy.
0:18:39 > 0:18:4413 years of a Labour government. Did they ever do that?
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Do you remember the infant free school meals bill
0:18:47 > 0:18:50from the Labour Party? No.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53So, I'm proud of what we have done, and we will be keeping it.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58Thank you very much.
0:18:58 > 0:19:04My Right Honourable Friend has demonstrated considerable leadership
0:19:04 > 0:19:08in ensuring that Britain is the second-largest donor
0:19:08 > 0:19:11of bilateral aid in Syria.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14But there is another crisis going on, which the world has
0:19:14 > 0:19:17largely forgotten about. In Yemen, there is an ongoing war.
0:19:17 > 0:19:211.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Three million face starvation.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26At least half a million children are at risk from life-threatening
0:19:26 > 0:19:29malnutrition, and the president of the International Red Cross has said
0:19:29 > 0:19:33that in Yemen after five months, we are in the same position as we
0:19:33 > 0:19:37are in Syria after five years. Please can we do more?
0:19:37 > 0:19:40My honourable friend is absolutely right to raise this,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43and we have been involved in trying to help in this situation
0:19:43 > 0:19:46right from the start, as in Syria, and we are a major contributor
0:19:46 > 0:19:49in terms of humanitarian aid.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53We have made clear that all Yemeni parties should engage in good faith
0:19:53 > 0:19:57and without preconditions in peace talks to allow Yemen to move forward
0:19:57 > 0:20:01towards a sustainable peace.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05That needs to be a peace based on the fact that all people
0:20:05 > 0:20:08in Yemen need proper representation by their government.
0:20:08 > 0:20:15There are similarities with Syria, which is having a government
0:20:15 > 0:20:18on behalf of one part of the country is never going to be
0:20:18 > 0:20:19a sustainable solution.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21How dare anyone in this house earning ?74,000 a year
0:20:21 > 0:20:24tell families that their combined income of ?25,000 is too much,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27and that they need to give some of it back to balance the economy?
0:20:27 > 0:20:28Hear, hear!
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Did the Prime Minister refuse to put this in his manifesto because
0:20:32 > 0:20:35he knew he would not be elected?
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Let me remind the honourable lady about the situation we inherited.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41When I became Prime Minister, nine out of ten families were
0:20:41 > 0:20:44getting tax credits, including members of Parliament.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47That is how crazy the system we inherited was.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51We reduced that during the last Parliament, opposed, I have
0:20:51 > 0:20:55to say, of course, by Labour and the SNP, to six out of ten families.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Our proposals would take that down to five out of ten families,
0:20:59 > 0:21:02but these are not proposals on their own.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05They are accompanied by a National Living Wage for the first time.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09They are accompanied by allowing people to earn ?11,000 before
0:21:09 > 0:21:12paying tax, for the first time.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Those sorts of measures will help the sort
0:21:14 > 0:21:16of families she talks about.
0:21:16 > 0:21:24The Prime Minister spoke movingly at conference about the plight
0:21:24 > 0:21:26of young people in the care system.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Can he answer, what will the government actually do
0:21:29 > 0:21:33to improve the life chances of these young disadvantaged children
0:21:33 > 0:21:36and give them opportunities as they move forward in their lives?
0:21:36 > 0:21:40I thank my honourable friend for the question.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44The most important thing we can do is to speed up the adoption system
0:21:44 > 0:21:46so that more children get adopted.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Since I have been Prime Minister, we have seen an increase in adoptions,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54but because of one or two judgments, it has slipped backwards a bit.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58We need to work very hard to make sure more children get adopted.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01But for those who can't be adopted, we need to make sure our residential
0:22:01 > 0:22:05care homes are doing the best possible job, which is why today I
0:22:05 > 0:22:08can announce I have asked the former chief executive of Barnardos, Sir
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Martin Narey, who is an excellent public servant, who I worked with
0:22:11 > 0:22:15at the Home Office, to conduct an independent review of children's
0:22:15 > 0:22:19residential care, reporting to the Education Secretary and myself, so
0:22:19 > 0:22:22we can take every possible step to give these children
0:22:22 > 0:22:25the best possible start in life.
0:22:25 > 0:22:30Redundant steelworkers such as those at Caparo in Wrexham pay
0:22:30 > 0:22:34National Insurance contributions and play by the rules.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Why, then, is this government limiting mortgage
0:22:38 > 0:22:44interest support for them in the future, and making them pay twice,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48once through national insurance, and once through paying back a loan?
0:22:48 > 0:22:55Isn't that type of action an irresponsible government
0:22:55 > 0:22:58like his should not be pursuing?
0:22:58 > 0:23:03And isn't it an example of compassionate Conservatism dying?
0:23:03 > 0:23:09Actually, what the gentleman refers to is a temporary recession measure
0:23:09 > 0:23:13that was continued in five years, but he does give me the opportunity
0:23:13 > 0:23:18to say, as I promised I would last night, to update the house and what
0:23:18 > 0:23:21we're doing to help the steel industry, which I know is
0:23:21 > 0:23:23important to his constituency.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26On energy costs, I can announce today we will refund
0:23:26 > 0:23:30energy intensive industries for the full amount of the policy
0:23:30 > 0:23:35cost they face as soon as we get the state aid judgment from Brussels.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38I can confirm that payment will be made immediately, and it will be
0:23:38 > 0:23:42made throughout this Parliament, far more generous than what has been
0:23:42 > 0:23:46proposed by the party opposite.
0:23:49 > 0:23:54I have had hundreds of e-mails from constituents regarding
0:23:54 > 0:23:57the Northern Powerhouse, and I have chosen just one.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01John from Weaver Vale emailed me to tell
0:24:01 > 0:24:05me to not listen to the Leader of the Opposition, with his strategy of
0:24:05 > 0:24:09higher spending, higher borrowing, more debt, but instead, to stick to
0:24:09 > 0:24:14our long-term economic...
0:24:14 > 0:24:18higher wages, lower welfare, lower tax society.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Does the Prime Minister agree with John from Weaver Vale?
0:24:22 > 0:24:26I do agree. John from Weaver Vale has demonstrated
0:24:26 > 0:24:30more sense in his e-mail than the Leader of the Opposition did
0:24:30 > 0:24:33in at least six questions.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Not only have we seen an economy that is growing,
0:24:35 > 0:24:40two million more people in work, low inflation and rising living
0:24:40 > 0:24:45standards, but we can also see there are 680,000 fewer workless
0:24:45 > 0:24:50households, and 480,000 fewer children in workless households.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53To measure the real difference that the growth in our economy is making,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57think of those children, those households, and the dignity of work.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Last weekend was the first anniversary
0:25:04 > 0:25:09of the death from cervical cancer of Derry girl Sorcha Glenn, aged 23.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13In June 2013, she had been concerned enough to ask
0:25:13 > 0:25:18for an early smear test but was refused because she was under 25.
0:25:18 > 0:25:24Her family have now written an open letter to the Prime Minister.
0:25:24 > 0:25:30Can I ask him not to offer here a reflex repeat of the rationale for
0:25:30 > 0:25:35current screening age policy, but to reflect on the questions raised
0:25:35 > 0:25:39about how this translates into refusing smear tests to young women
0:25:39 > 0:25:43like Sorcha and to consider the age-related dilemma since the
0:25:43 > 0:25:46screening age was increased in 2004.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50The Honourable Gentleman raises a tragic case, and our thoughts
0:25:50 > 0:25:52goes out to her family and friends.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56It is an important case because the UK National Screening
0:25:56 > 0:26:00Committee set the age at 25, and I understand that the reason for that
0:26:00 > 0:26:04is not a resources-based decision, but because of potential perverse
0:26:04 > 0:26:08medical consequences of carrying out screening routinely
0:26:08 > 0:26:11below that age, that there would be a number of false positives
0:26:11 > 0:26:16because of anatomical changes that go on at that age.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19That is the reason, it is not a resources decision.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23But as he says, it is worth looking at those people who fear they have
0:26:23 > 0:26:26a family history and ask for a test, and I will certainly write
0:26:26 > 0:26:28to him on that specific issue.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Thank you.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Yesterday, the EU said that we can no longer have filters
0:26:35 > 0:26:38on the internet to protect our children from indecent images.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43I want to know what the Prime Minister is going to do to make sure
0:26:43 > 0:26:46that our children remain protected.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51Like her, I think it is absolutely vitally important that we enable
0:26:51 > 0:26:55parents to have that protection for their children from this material
0:26:55 > 0:26:58on the internet, and probably like her, when I read my Daily Mail this
0:26:58 > 0:27:01morning, I spluttered over my cornflakes, because we worked so
0:27:02 > 0:27:04hard to put in place these filters.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08But I can reassure her, because we actually secured an opt
0:27:08 > 0:27:14out yesterday, so we can keep our family friendly filters to protect
0:27:14 > 0:27:18children, and I can tell the house that we will legislate to put our
0:27:18 > 0:27:21agreement with internet companies on this issue into the law of the land,
0:27:21 > 0:27:26so our children will be protected.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35Can I associate myself with the Prime Minister's earlier
0:27:35 > 0:27:38remarks about the late Michael Meacher, a decent man, a good
0:27:38 > 0:27:41constituency MP, and an extremely effective Environment Secretary.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Yesterday, I visited the refugee camps on
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Lesbos, where I met families that were inspirational and desperate.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Along with the British charity workers I found
0:27:51 > 0:27:54there, I am frankly ashamed that we will not offer a home to a single
0:27:54 > 0:27:56one of those refugee families.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59May I ask this question - would he agree with
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Save The Children's plea that we take several thousand vulnerable,
0:28:03 > 0:28:08unaccompanied children in Europe, some of whom are as young as six?
0:28:08 > 0:28:12Let me welcome the minister to his place.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16It is good to see such a high turnout of his MPs.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21LAUGHTER
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Let me answer him very directly.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27We have taken the decision as a country to take 20,000
0:28:27 > 0:28:31refugees, and we think it is better to take them from the camps instead
0:28:31 > 0:28:33of from inside Europe.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37I repeat again today that we believe we will achieve 1,000 refugees
0:28:37 > 0:28:42brought to Britain, housed, clothed and fed before Christmas.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47And specifically on his question about the 3,000 children and the
0:28:47 > 0:28:49proposal made by Save The Children.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52I have looked at this carefully, and other NGOs and experts point to
0:28:52 > 0:28:56the real dangers of separating children from their broader
0:28:56 > 0:29:00families, which is why to date, we have not taken that decision.
0:29:00 > 0:29:10As he begins his negotiations on our reformed relationship with the
0:29:10 > 0:29:16European Union in earnest, will my Right Honourable Friend confirm to
0:29:16 > 0:29:22our partners and the British people that no option is off the table, all
0:29:22 > 0:29:27British options will be considered, including the option
0:29:27 > 0:29:32of a relationship such as that of Norway, if it is negotiable
0:29:32 > 0:29:35and in our interests?
0:29:35 > 0:29:40I can certainly confirm no options are off the table.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44If we don't get what we need in our renegotiation,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47I will rule nothing out.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50But I do think it is important, as we have this debate as a nation,
0:29:50 > 0:29:53that we are very clear about the facts and figures
0:29:53 > 0:29:55about the alternatives.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Some people arguing for Britain to leave the European Union, not all,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02but some, have particular pointed to the position of Norway,
0:30:02 > 0:30:04saying that is a good outcome.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06I would guide very strongly against that.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10Norway pays as much per head to the EU as we do.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15They take twice as many per head migrants as we do in this country.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18But, of course, they have no seat at the table,
0:30:18 > 0:30:21they have no ability to negotiate.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24I am not arguing that all of those who want to leave the EU
0:30:24 > 0:30:27say they want to follow the Norwegian path but some do
0:30:27 > 0:30:30and I think it is important in this debate that we absolutely
0:30:30 > 0:30:37are clear about the consequences of these different actions.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating
0:30:39 > 0:30:42my 17-year-old constituent Jesse McCabe on her 3,800 name
0:30:42 > 0:30:46e-petition that has managed to get the exam board at EdExcel
0:30:46 > 0:30:52for the first time ever to accept women composers on the syllabus?
0:30:52 > 0:30:56Will he tell us, is he a feminist?
0:30:57 > 0:31:01If feminism means that we should treat people equally, then, yes,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04absolutely. Absolutely.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07And I am proud of the fact that I have got sitting round the Cabinet
0:31:07 > 0:31:10table a third of women sitting around the Cabinet
0:31:10 > 0:31:13table, something we promised and something that we delivered.
0:31:13 > 0:31:14Yes.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17But can I congratulate her, above all, for her achievement
0:31:17 > 0:31:21in terms of this e-petition.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24It sounds thoroughly worthwhile and her constituents
0:31:24 > 0:31:27and her have done a good job.
0:31:27 > 0:31:37Sir, the NHS England knows that the Isle of Wight
0:31:37 > 0:31:41Clinical Commissioning Group is a significant outlier
0:31:41 > 0:31:44in relation to its allocation targets.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48Can my Right Honourable Friend confirm that progress is being
0:31:48 > 0:31:54made to identify the factors affecting the island?
0:31:54 > 0:32:00Will we benefit from amendments to the new CCG formula?
0:32:00 > 0:32:07It is right that decisions on allocations are made independent of
0:32:07 > 0:32:12government and not my government so that is how the formula is reached.
0:32:12 > 0:32:17There is an independent review of the funding formula underway.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20We expect to see its recommendations later this year.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24These things should be done in a fair and transparent way.
0:32:24 > 0:32:29The Prime Minister will remember meeting my constituents
0:32:29 > 0:32:31Neil Shepherd and Sharon Wood.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36Nine years ago this week, Neil took their two children Christi
0:32:36 > 0:32:41and Bobby on holiday to Corfu and the children tragically died
0:32:41 > 0:32:44of carbon monoxide poisoning.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47The family's dearest wish is that no other family suffers the heartbreak
0:32:47 > 0:32:50and tragedy that they have endured.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Tomorrow in the European Parliament, there will be a vote
0:32:53 > 0:32:56on the recommendation that the commission brings forward
0:32:56 > 0:32:59legislation to improve carbon monoxide safety and fire safety
0:33:00 > 0:33:03for tourism premises in the EU.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06Can I ask the Prime Minister whether his MEP supports it?
0:33:06 > 0:33:11And if that motion falls, will he look at instigating legislation
0:33:11 > 0:33:13nationally in this country?
0:33:13 > 0:33:16First of all, I well remember the meeting that we
0:33:16 > 0:33:20had and the bravery of the parents after that terrible loss, wanting to
0:33:20 > 0:33:23go on and campaign to make sure that others didn't go and lose children
0:33:23 > 0:33:25in the way that they had.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28I will look very carefully at what she is saying about the
0:33:28 > 0:33:29European Parliament.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32As for legislation in this country, we do have very strict legislation
0:33:32 > 0:33:36on particular things about fire resistant materials but I
0:33:36 > 0:33:38will look carefully at that, too.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Question 14. Closed question.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43Mr Michael Fabricant.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45...14, sir.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49The Chancellor and I set out an ambitious long-term plan for the
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Midlands, making its future engine for growth for the whole of the UK.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Across government, we are actively working with business leaders
0:33:55 > 0:33:57and local authorities to progress this ambition.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00Mr Michael Fabricant.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03I thank my Right Honourable Friend for his answer.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05The Northern Powerhouse will help millions.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08But it is the West Midlands which is the only region in the UK
0:34:08 > 0:34:13which has the trade balance surplus with China and it is
0:34:13 > 0:34:17Greater Birmingham which has the fastest rate of private sector to
0:34:17 > 0:34:20job creation in the UK since 2010.
0:34:20 > 0:34:25So, will the Prime Minister now ensure in the national interest that
0:34:25 > 0:34:31the West Midlands secures the best devolution deal possible?
0:34:31 > 0:34:35I think we have huge potential here to ensure devolution to the
0:34:35 > 0:34:37West Midlands.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40I would say to everyone in the West Midlands concert and that they are
0:34:40 > 0:34:43going to be left out of the Northern Powerhouse, actually, I think the
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Midlands is in the perfect place to benefit both from the success and
0:34:46 > 0:34:49growth of London and of course a rebalancing of our economy
0:34:49 > 0:34:51towards the North of England.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54In terms of the West Midlands, we look forward to the
0:34:54 > 0:34:58West Midlands combined authority coming forward with its plans.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02What I would say to all the areas contemplating devolution
0:35:02 > 0:35:05and devolution deals, the more you can put on the table
0:35:05 > 0:35:08and the bolder you can be with your vision, the bolder response you
0:35:08 > 0:35:10will get from government.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14Can I tell the Prime Minister and the Chancellor that the strong
0:35:14 > 0:35:17support for all the parties, the local business authorities
0:35:17 > 0:35:20right across the West Midlands for a properly funded and significant
0:35:20 > 0:35:23devolution deal to strengthen the economy, to boost productivity,
0:35:23 > 0:35:26to get Brownfield sites redeveloped, to tackle congestion so that we can
0:35:26 > 0:35:29transform the West Midlands with more jobs, but skills, quick
0:35:29 > 0:35:33transport links and new homes?
0:35:33 > 0:35:36I am very glad to hear from the Honourable Gentleman what
0:35:36 > 0:35:39an opportunity there is in the West Midlands to work across party to get
0:35:39 > 0:35:44the very best there is in the West Midlands to work across party to get
0:35:44 > 0:35:48the very best deal across all of these authorities. Because,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51as I said, the more we can get the local authorities to come
0:35:51 > 0:35:53together and work together and put their ambition and vision
0:35:53 > 0:35:56on the table, the better response they will get from government.
0:35:56 > 0:36:04Does my Right Honourable Friend agree with me that bullying
0:36:04 > 0:36:08in the workplace is reprehensible?
0:36:08 > 0:36:13Can he tell me whether the government is planning any review
0:36:13 > 0:36:18of the legislation with a view to extending it to this chamber?
0:36:18 > 0:36:24Given that my honourable friend has been called
0:36:24 > 0:36:28for a Prime Minister's Question at 12.38, I would have thought any
0:36:28 > 0:36:33hint of bullying was clearly over in this House in any conceivable way.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37He suffers no disadvantage and I think that is a very good thing.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39But I mustn't make light.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43Bullying in the workplace is a problem.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46We do need to make sure it is stamped out and dealt with where
0:36:46 > 0:36:49ever it occurs and that should apply in Parliament as elsewhere.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Hear, hear!