0:00:28 > 0:00:29Mr
0:00:29 > 0:00:29Mr Gordon
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Mr Gordon Marsden.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37and in addition to my duties in the House, I shall have further
0:00:37 > 0:00:38such meetings later today.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42May I associate myself, and I hope the whole House,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45with what the Prime Minister and others in government have said
0:00:45 > 0:00:46about the attacks in Paris?
0:00:46 > 0:00:48No man or woman is an island.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53People from Blackpool were among those murdered
0:00:53 > 0:00:55on a Tunisian beach, and, like other places worldwide,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59our tower was lit in red, white and blue in remembrance of those
0:00:59 > 0:01:00killed by the terrorists in France.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I raised concerns with the Prime Minister here two weeks ago about
0:01:03 > 0:01:06neighbourhood policing and security being threatened by the scale
0:01:06 > 0:01:08of the proposed cuts and about the Lancashire funding formula, which
0:01:08 > 0:01:12has now been admitted to be flawed.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Will he reflect on the words "When facts change, I change my mind"?
0:01:16 > 0:01:20Given that police local intelligence can be crucial against terrorists,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22perhaps this is not the time to jeopardise it with arbitrary
0:01:22 > 0:01:27Treasury targets for cuts.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29First, I thank the honourable gentleman for his comments
0:01:29 > 0:01:37about Paris and the importance of the whole House coming together.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Perhaps the House would like a brief update - as I said yesterday, one
0:01:41 > 0:01:43British national, Nick Alexander, was killed at the Bataclan theatre;
0:01:43 > 0:01:46three other British nationals have now been released from hospital and
0:01:46 > 0:01:50returned to the UK, and the Foreign Office and Red Cross are
0:01:50 > 0:01:53providing support for trauma to at least another 15 British nationals.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We will make sure we provide support to those injured and traumatised
0:01:56 > 0:01:59by the events that have happened.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02There has been progress this morning in France with the arrest
0:02:02 > 0:02:09of terrorists, but perhaps I can say more about that later.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12On policing, we rightly protected counter-terrorism policing in the
0:02:12 > 0:02:20last Parliament, and we will protect it again in this Parliament.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Otherwise on policing, we have seen an increase of 3,800 in the number
0:02:24 > 0:02:27of neighbourhood officers over the Parliament and a 31% cut in crime.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31I commend the police, not just counter-terrorism police, but all
0:02:31 > 0:02:34police, for the work they do, and we will announce our proposals
0:02:34 > 0:02:42on police spending next week.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46As our hearts go out to the people of France, will the Prime Minister
0:02:46 > 0:02:50agree that the first duty of Her Majesty's government must be to
0:02:50 > 0:02:56protect British citizens from harm?
0:02:56 > 0:03:01So will he take immediate action to secure our UK borders from those who
0:03:01 > 0:03:06threaten our nation and, on security grounds alone, restore complete
0:03:06 > 0:03:12sovereignty over our British borders from the European Union?
0:03:12 > 0:03:17My honourable friend raises an important question.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22In answering, I want to explain an important
0:03:22 > 0:03:26point - because the UK is not in the Schengen area, we already retain
0:03:26 > 0:03:34full control over who enters our country and can check all entrants
0:03:34 > 0:03:37at the border, including EU and European Economic Area nationals.
0:03:37 > 0:03:43The House might be interested to know that, since 2010, we have
0:03:43 > 0:03:46refused entry to almost 6,000 EU nationals, more than 3,800 of whom
0:03:46 > 0:03:50were stopped at our juxtaposed border controls in Calais.
0:03:50 > 0:03:56Since 2010, we have denied entry to nearly 95,000 people.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Of course, one of the principal reasons for not letting people in,
0:03:59 > 0:04:05be they EU or non-EU nationals, is national security concerns.
0:04:05 > 0:04:18We are in that situation already because we are not in Schengen.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23Let me start by expressing the horror of all Opposition Members
0:04:23 > 0:04:28at the events in Paris on Friday evening, and our continued
0:04:28 > 0:04:30solidarity with the victims and all those affected by conflict and
0:04:30 > 0:04:33terrorism, whether in Paris, Beirut, Ankara, Damascus or anywhere else
0:04:33 > 0:04:35in the world.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians by anyone.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41We know that at least one British national has been killed,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43and many more injured.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Many British people live and work in Paris, and millions visit Paris
0:04:46 > 0:04:50and France every year.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Will the Prime Minister continue what he was saying in response to
0:04:53 > 0:04:56my honourable friend the Member for Blackpool South
0:04:56 > 0:04:59about the support given to British nationals affected by the attacks,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02and will he say what the Government's latest advice is
0:05:02 > 0:05:05for those travelling to France, and speak about our need to show
0:05:05 > 0:05:08the best possible normality in our relations with the French people?
0:05:08 > 0:05:13I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his remarks,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17and it was a pleasure to be with him last night at the England-France
0:05:17 > 0:05:22football match, where there was a tremendous display of solidarity.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25I am sure that they can sing the Marseillaise louder in the Stade
0:05:25 > 0:05:28de France, but I think we did a pretty good job yesterday,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30and I was proud to be there.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34The right honourable gentleman is right to say that there is never any
0:05:34 > 0:05:36justification for terrorism, and we should be clear about that right
0:05:36 > 0:05:38across the House and at all times.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41He asked specifically what more we can do to help British people who
0:05:41 > 0:05:43are caught up in these problems, and Peter Ricketts,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47our ambassador in France, has done a brilliant job with his staff.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I have been keeping a close eye on the consular situation,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54and I think that everything that can be done is being done.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Our travel advice is all on the Foreign Office website, but I agree
0:05:58 > 0:06:00with the right honourable gentleman that the most important thing is for
0:06:00 > 0:06:02people to carry on with their lives.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04It is important that the Eurostar continues to function,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07that flights continue to go, and that people continue to travel
0:06:07 > 0:06:08and to enjoy London and Paris.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13We must continue going about our business.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19As we do so, yes, we need enhanced security, and that is happening
0:06:19 > 0:06:22with the way that the police are acting in the UK and elsewhere.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25One way to defeat terrorism, however, is to show the terrorists
0:06:25 > 0:06:27that we will not be cowed.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31We know that, sadly, after atrocities such
0:06:31 > 0:06:33as those we have seen, intolerance such as Islamophobia, anti-Semitism
0:06:33 > 0:06:39and racism often increase.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Will the Prime Minister agree that it is vital that everyone
0:06:42 > 0:06:44in public life, particularly we as politicians, must be careful how
0:06:44 > 0:06:51we discuss these issues?
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Will he join me in making it very clear that the dreadful
0:06:54 > 0:06:57terrorism in Paris has nothing in common whatsoever with the 2 million
0:06:57 > 0:07:00British Muslims in this country who are as appalled as anyone else
0:07:00 > 0:07:02by the events in Paris last Friday?
0:07:02 > 0:07:04I am happy to join the right honourable gentleman in
0:07:04 > 0:07:07that, and some of the strongest and best statements following the Paris
0:07:07 > 0:07:10attacks have been made by a series of British Muslims who have come
0:07:10 > 0:07:13together to say that these attacks are in no way carried out
0:07:13 > 0:07:14in their name.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I do think, we talked about this yesterday, that this raises an
0:07:17 > 0:07:21important issue, because it cannot be said often enough that these
0:07:21 > 0:07:24butchers of Isil are no reflection of the true religion of Islam,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29which is a religion of peace.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32At the same time, we must recognise that whether these
0:07:32 > 0:07:35terrorists are in Tunisia, Egypt, Paris or London, they spout
0:07:35 > 0:07:38the same bile that they claim comes from the religion of Islam.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41That is why we must take apart what they say and prove
0:07:41 > 0:07:43that that is not the case.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47It is not good enough to say that there is no connection
0:07:47 > 0:07:50between these terrorists and Islam - they are making a connection, and we
0:07:50 > 0:07:52need to prove that it is not right.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55As we do so, the support of Muslim communities and scholars is vital,
0:07:55 > 0:08:01and I commend them for their work.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Surely a crucial way to help defeat Isil is to cut off its funding,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09its supply of arms, and its trade.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11May I press the Prime Minister to ensure that
0:08:11 > 0:08:14our allies in the region, indeed, all countries in the region,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17are doing all they can to clamp down on individuals and institutions in
0:08:17 > 0:08:22their countries who are providing Isil with vital infrastructure?
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Will he, through the European Union and other forums if necessary,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30consider sanctions against those banks and companies, and
0:08:30 > 0:08:33if necessary countries, that turn a blind eye to financial dealings with
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Isil that assist it in its work?
0:08:37 > 0:08:41As I said yesterday, we play a leading role in ensuring
0:08:41 > 0:08:44that the supply of money, weapons and support is cut off.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47However, we should be clear about where Isil
0:08:47 > 0:08:53got its money from originally.
0:08:53 > 0:09:00Because we did not have a Government in Iraq that effectively represented
0:09:00 > 0:09:03all its people, and because in Syria there is a leader who is
0:09:03 > 0:09:07butchering his own people, Isil was able to get hold of oil, weapons,
0:09:07 > 0:09:09territory and banks, and they have used that to fund
0:09:09 > 0:09:16their hatred and their violence.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19We cannot dodge forever the question of how to degrade
0:09:19 > 0:09:22and destroy Isil in both Iraq in Syria, and that is why I will be
0:09:22 > 0:09:25setting out my response to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Yes, we should go after the money and the banks, and
0:09:29 > 0:09:35cut off supplies to Isil, but we should not make that a substitute
0:09:35 > 0:09:40for the action that is required to beat these people where they are.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Next week the Chancellor will present
0:09:42 > 0:09:44his Autumn Statement to the House.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Can the Prime Minister clarify something about the source of
0:09:48 > 0:09:51the necessary extra funding for the security services, which we support?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Will it come at the expense of other areas, either within
0:09:55 > 0:09:57the Home Office budget or other areas of public spending, from
0:09:57 > 0:10:00the reserves, or from new funding?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Does he want me to go on longer so that the Chancellor can explain
0:10:03 > 0:10:10the answer to him?
0:10:10 > 0:10:13We will set out in full our decisions next week, but
0:10:13 > 0:10:16we have already said that we will fund an increase in the security
0:10:16 > 0:10:17services of 1,900 personnel.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20We will safeguard the counter-terrorism budget
0:10:20 > 0:10:23and we will see an increase in aviation security.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27All that is part of an overall spending settlement.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31At the same time as funding our security and increasing our defence
0:10:31 > 0:10:34spending, we have to make decisions that eradicate our budget deficit
0:10:34 > 0:10:43and keep our economy strong.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46We do not do this just for the current generation, we do it
0:10:46 > 0:10:49for our children and grandchildren, because none of these things,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51not even strong defence, is possible without a strong economy.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54I am not absolutely sure where the money is coming from
0:10:54 > 0:10:58following the Prime Minister's answer, but no doubt it will come.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03London has been targeted by terrorists before,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05and this weekend's events in Paris have focused attention not just
0:11:05 > 0:11:09on London but on other cities throughout the whole of Britain.
0:11:09 > 0:11:15Policing plays a vital role in community cohesion,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18gathering intelligence of those who might be about to be
0:11:18 > 0:11:21a risk to all of us, but that is surely undermined if we cut the
0:11:21 > 0:11:23number of police officers by 5,000.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Does the Prime Minister agree with the commissioner of the Metropolitan
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who said "I genuinely worry
0:11:30 > 0:11:35about the safety of London", if the cuts go through on this scale?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38The right honourable gentleman asks where the money comes from.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41On this side of the House, we never forget that every penny we
0:11:41 > 0:11:47spend comes from taxpayers.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Borrowed money is simply taxes that are deferred,
0:11:49 > 0:11:53and that is why it is so important to eradicate our deficit at
0:11:53 > 0:11:56the same time as making sure that we fund our security and intelligence
0:11:56 > 0:11:58services and police properly.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03As I have said, we are protecting the counter-terrorism budget.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08We saw a 3,800 increase in neighbourhood police officers
0:12:08 > 0:12:13in the last Parliament, at the same time as a 31% cut in crime.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16The Shadow Home Secretary has said that a 10% efficiency target
0:12:16 > 0:12:18for the police is doable.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Is the Leader of the Opposition saying that he does not agree with
0:12:21 > 0:12:22the Shadow Home Secretary?
0:12:22 > 0:12:25There does seem to be a little bit of disagreement on
0:12:25 > 0:12:27the Opposition Front Bench today.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31I have a question from a taxpayer, actually.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35His name is John and he says...
0:12:43 > 0:12:49He says that at a time when we are experiencing the greatest threats
0:12:49 > 0:12:52from terrorism ever faced, our police office numbers and their
0:12:52 > 0:12:58resources are being cut and that, "Demands on the police have been
0:12:58 > 0:13:00"increasing steadily as budgets are slashed,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02"increasing stress on officers.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05"Couple that with detrimental changes to their pay, terms,
0:13:05 > 0:13:12"conditions and pensions, it's no wonder that morale", in
0:13:12 > 0:13:15"the police force, is so poor that 1 in 3 are considering leaving."
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Will the Prime Minister be able to tell us whether community policing
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and other police budgets will be protected or not
0:13:22 > 0:13:25in next week's autumn statement?"
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Let me tell the right honourable gentleman
0:13:29 > 0:13:31again neighbourhood policing numbers have gone up by 3,800.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34In the capital city, we have seen a 500% increase
0:13:34 > 0:13:37in neighbourhood policing.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Because we have cut bureaucracy, we have also put the equivalent of an
0:13:40 > 0:13:43extra 2,000 police on the streets.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47But I will tell him somethingas well as wanting resources, the police
0:13:47 > 0:13:51want the appropriate powers.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Has it not come to something when the Leader of
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Her Majesty's Opposition is not sure what the police's reaction should be
0:13:56 > 0:14:03when they are confronted by a Kalashnikov-waving terrorist?
0:14:09 > 0:14:14The attacks on Paris were quite clearly an attack on all of us.
0:14:14 > 0:14:20Does the Prime Minister agree that our resolve must be unbreakable
0:14:20 > 0:14:24and that we should hunt down Isil wherever it is operating, wherever
0:14:24 > 0:14:28it is planning, wherever it is plotting, and if that means "shoot
0:14:28 > 0:14:36to kill", so be it, and if it means action in Syria, so be it?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38I think my honourable friend is right.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41What I have said is that in order to respond to this very severe threat
0:14:41 > 0:14:45that we face, we need to focus on counter-terrorism here in the United
0:14:45 > 0:14:49Kingdom, giving our intelligence agencies the laws they need and our
0:14:49 > 0:14:53police the powers they need and ensuring that we are vigilant.
0:14:53 > 0:14:58We need counter-extremism, as we discussed earlier, emphasising the
0:14:58 > 0:15:01importance of stopping the poisoning of these young minds, not least by
0:15:01 > 0:15:03radical preachers on the internet.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06We also need to stop the problems at their source.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10We know where much of this problem is coming fromit is Isil not just
0:15:10 > 0:15:13in Iraq, but in Syria.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16I told the House yesterday that I will prepare a detailed response to
0:15:16 > 0:15:19the Foreign Affairs Select Committee report to demonstrate that we have
0:15:19 > 0:15:23a clear strategy of bringing in the neighbourhood powers and the
0:15:23 > 0:15:27regional powers, building a future for these countries
0:15:27 > 0:15:29and stability in the middle east.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31I believe that part of that is taking action
0:15:31 > 0:15:34against Isil wherever it is.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41In the wake of terrorist outrages and the ongoing civil war in Syria,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44it is very welcome that there is significant diplomatic progress
0:15:44 > 0:15:49in trying to find a solution to the Syrian crisis.
0:15:49 > 0:15:55The UK joined the US, France, Russia and Iran at talks in Vienna
0:15:55 > 0:15:58at the weekend, and all signed a communique committing to progress
0:15:58 > 0:16:01through the United Nations.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Will the Prime Minister confirm that he
0:16:04 > 0:16:06will support a UN Security Council resolution on this before seeking to
0:16:06 > 0:16:11intervene militarily in Syria?
0:16:11 > 0:16:13I am grateful to the right honourable gentleman
0:16:13 > 0:16:14for asking this question.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17The point is that Russia has different aims from us
0:16:17 > 0:16:22and has repeatedly threatened to veto any such resolution.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Of course, it is always preferable in these
0:16:25 > 0:16:30circumstances to have the full backing of the UN Security Council,
0:16:30 > 0:16:35but what matters most of all is that any action we would take would
0:16:35 > 0:16:41be both legal and help protect our country and our people right here.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44As I said yesterday, we cannot outsource to a Russian
0:16:44 > 0:16:52veto the decisions we need to keep our country safe.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56The first survey of UK public opinion on Syrian intervention
0:16:56 > 0:17:01since the Paris attacks, conducted by Survation, has shown that 52%
0:17:01 > 0:17:11believe that "the UK should engage with all countries to co-ordinate an
0:17:11 > 0:17:14appropriate response, military or otherwise, backed
0:17:14 > 0:17:17by United Nations resolution", and only 15% believe that UK should
0:17:17 > 0:17:21independently launch air strikes.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Will the Prime Minister give a commitment to secure a
0:17:23 > 0:17:26UN Security Council resolution, which the UK agreed to and
0:17:26 > 0:17:31which Russia agreed to as well?
0:17:31 > 0:17:34I could not be clearer with the right honourable gentleman.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Of course it is always preferable in whatever action we are taking,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41whether it be lifting people out of the Mediterranean, flying air
0:17:41 > 0:17:47patrolling missions over Baltic countries that feel a Russian threat
0:17:47 > 0:17:50or taking action in the middle east against Isil, to have a
0:17:50 > 0:17:53UN Security Council resolution.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55However, if such resolutions are vetoed or
0:17:55 > 0:17:58threatened with a veto over and over again, my job as Prime Minister is,
0:17:58 > 0:18:02frankly, not to read a Survation opinion poll but to do the right
0:18:02 > 0:18:08thing to keep our country safe?
0:18:13 > 0:18:17The French armed police who stormed the Bataclan
0:18:17 > 0:18:22and killed those vile, murderous scum are heroes, and so are
0:18:22 > 0:18:29the British armed police who protect our public spaces and the people.
0:18:29 > 0:18:35Will the Prime Minister send a note of unequivocal support today
0:18:35 > 0:18:38to those officers on patrol, and ensure that in next week's
0:18:38 > 0:18:42review, they have the resources they need to keep us safe?
0:18:42 > 0:18:44I absolutely agree with my honourable friend.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49We ask the police every day to take risks on our behalf.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Let me thank the police who policed so effectively the game at Wembley
0:18:52 > 0:18:54last night.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57In terms of what the French police have done, I think
0:18:57 > 0:18:58the House would welcome an update.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02We have seen the news of a police operation in Paris this morning.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Two terrorist suspects died, including a female suspect who blew
0:19:04 > 0:19:05herself up.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Seven arrests are reported to have been made.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09This operation has now finished.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12As the French Interior Minister has said, we should all acknowledge
0:19:12 > 0:19:14the bravery of the French police in dealing with what is
0:19:14 > 0:19:16a very challenging situation.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19I hope there can be consensus across the House, I mean right
0:19:19 > 0:19:21across the House, on this.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23If we are confronted with a situation like this, the British
0:19:23 > 0:19:25police should not be in any doubt.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28If you have a terrorist who is threatening to kill people, you can,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31indeed, you must, use lethal force.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38In a recent Financial Times article, President Obama said "I have
0:19:38 > 0:19:42emphasised the importance of tax credits to help working families
0:19:42 > 0:19:46afford childcare and keep two-earner families in the workforce."
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Does the Prime Minister agree with the importance the President
0:19:49 > 0:19:53of the United States has attached to tax credits?
0:19:53 > 0:19:56I think it is important that we do the best we can
0:19:56 > 0:20:00to help low-paid people.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03That is why we are taking people out of income tax, 3 million of
0:20:03 > 0:20:06the lowest paid taken out of income tax since I became Prime Minister.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09We are going to be setting an ?11,000 threshold before people
0:20:09 > 0:20:10have to start paying tax at all.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12We are helping working families with childcare.
0:20:12 > 0:20:20We are helping with a national living wage of ?7.20
0:20:20 > 0:20:22starting next year, something I suspect President Obama would love
0:20:22 > 0:20:23to introduce in the United States.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28We are doing it right here.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Integrating health and social care will be a great prize for devolved
0:20:32 > 0:20:36cities and regions, but without effective democratic and clinical
0:20:36 > 0:20:40oversight things can go badly wrong.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Already, in Manchester a major hospital reorganisation is
0:20:42 > 0:20:45awaiting judicial review.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48May I urge my right honourable friend to ensure that proper
0:20:48 > 0:20:51safeguards are in place so that local authorities retain a last
0:20:51 > 0:20:59resort power to refer NHS changes for independent clinical review?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I will look carefully at what my honourable friend says, but I think
0:21:02 > 0:21:05this does go to a larger point, which is that we are currently
0:21:05 > 0:21:08changing the way our country is run.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12These big devolution deals, first to Greater Manchester but now, with
0:21:12 > 0:21:18the announcements yesterday, to Liverpool and to the West Midlands,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20mean that we are going to have powerful metro mayors who
0:21:20 > 0:21:23are accountable to local people for the decisions they make.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26That is a very direct form of accountability
0:21:26 > 0:21:29and that is why we can be confident of devolving health and social care
0:21:29 > 0:21:31to those authorities.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33For too long, our country has been too centralised.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37The great cities of Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40and soon to be Leeds, I hope, will benefit from these massive
0:21:40 > 0:21:44devolution deals, but if we devolve the power and we devolve the money,
0:21:44 > 0:21:49we have to devolve the trust and the accountability too.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Against the backdrop of a tidal wave of local job losses, the Teesside
0:21:53 > 0:21:58Collective for industrial carbon capture has the very real potential
0:21:58 > 0:22:02to secure a major step change in our industrial renaissance.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Ahead of the Paris conference, will the Prime Minister meet me and
0:22:05 > 0:22:09the industrial leaders driving this project so that we can secure these
0:22:09 > 0:22:14immense climate change gains with the UK leading this new industrial
0:22:14 > 0:22:21revolution, and make this initiative a reality for Teesside and the UK?
0:22:21 > 0:22:25I know how important it is that we all work on behalf of Teesside, not
0:22:25 > 0:22:28least because of the difficulties there have been in Redcar.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31That is why we have the taskforce and why the additional
0:22:31 > 0:22:32resources are going in.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I am very happy to look at the project the honourable
0:22:35 > 0:22:36gentleman talks about.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39It may be best for him to meet the Energy and Climate Change
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Secretary, because we have to make important decisions about all these
0:22:42 > 0:22:50technologies in the run-up to the Paris conference and beyond.
0:22:50 > 0:22:56In my constituency, manufacturing is thriving thanks to
0:22:56 > 0:22:59innovative small businesses such as Powerkut and Naysmith Group,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02which are creating high quality local jobs and apprenticeships
0:23:02 > 0:23:03in the engineering sector.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Given the challenges that these types of companies face
0:23:06 > 0:23:08in finding traditional bank and funding support, what assurances can
0:23:08 > 0:23:12the Prime Minister give that this Conservative Government understand
0:23:12 > 0:23:16the importance of our innovators and will continue to provide
0:23:16 > 0:23:18initiatives, such as the annual investment fund, to ensure British
0:23:18 > 0:23:23businesses continue to lead the way?
0:23:23 > 0:23:25We want to rebalance the British economy not just in terms
0:23:25 > 0:23:29of the devolution of power I have just talked about, but to see
0:23:29 > 0:23:32a thriving manufacturing sector.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Manufacturers have told us that they want continued investment
0:23:35 > 0:23:38in the catapult centres, which do a good job of making sure
0:23:38 > 0:23:41that technology is taken up.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44They want strong support for the apprenticeship programme, and
0:23:44 > 0:23:47we have set a target of 3 million apprentices during this Parliament.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51They also want to make the annual investment allowance permanent, and
0:23:51 > 0:23:54it will be permanent at ?200,000 throughout this Parliament so that
0:23:54 > 0:23:58manufacturing companies and others that want to make investments know
0:23:58 > 0:24:02they can do so in a way that will be profitable for them.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06My niece Ruby is safe and well after being caught up in
0:24:06 > 0:24:10the aftermath of the Paris attacks.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15She has been a student in Paris for three years,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19and she wants to know whether this country will be safe on her return.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21She has a question for the Prime Minister.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23She is worried about the cuts to the ambulance,
0:24:23 > 0:24:27police and Fire Services here, and whether those cuts will allow us to
0:24:27 > 0:24:35have the preparedness that was shown by the emergency services in Paris.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38I also want to know why we are not joining the Russians in calling
0:24:38 > 0:24:42for a UN mandate to remove Isis from Syria.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45First, let me say how glad I am to hear that
0:24:45 > 0:24:48the honourable gentleman's niece is safe after those terrible attacks.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Let me answer her question very directly.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54We are doing everything we can to make sure that this country is safe.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56After receiving intelligence some years ago about the potential
0:24:56 > 0:25:01for a marauding firearms attack at multiple locations, perhaps
0:25:01 > 0:25:04in our capital city or elsewhere in our country, we have run exercises
0:25:04 > 0:25:06and we have done research.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10We have looked at everything we can do to make sure, for instance, that
0:25:10 > 0:25:13ambulances and their crews will be able to go into a so-called hot zone
0:25:13 > 0:25:16and recover casualties, that we have the right number of armed police in
0:25:16 > 0:25:20the different parts of our country, and that we can respond in ways
0:25:20 > 0:25:24that will include using other forces in all the ways that we can.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28We have looked carefully at what the French have done in surging troops
0:25:28 > 0:25:31on their streets and have made sure that that can now happen here, and
0:25:31 > 0:25:33that all the permissions are given.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35There is never a 100% guarantee of safety in any country,
0:25:35 > 0:25:39but I would say to the honourable gentleman's niece that we are doing
0:25:39 > 0:25:43everything that we possibly can.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45In that spirit, I warmly congratulate the Prime
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Minister on the new funding that has been announced for special forces
0:25:49 > 0:25:52equipment, but may I draw his attention to the plight of David and
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Maria Summers, in my constituency, who have struggled to obtain
0:25:56 > 0:25:58permanent residency for Maria despite having been married
0:25:58 > 0:26:01for 45 years?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04May I ask the Prime Minister to encourage officials to look
0:26:04 > 0:26:06at the case again?
0:26:06 > 0:26:10I shall be happy to look at the case again, but, given the constituency
0:26:10 > 0:26:12that my honourable friend represents, his question gives me an
0:26:12 > 0:26:15opportunity to say something about a group of people we say very little
0:26:15 > 0:26:18about because we do not comment on the amazing work that they do.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Hereford is a very important part of the nation's security,
0:26:21 > 0:26:25both domestically and overseas.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Very, very brave people work there, and we should all give
0:26:28 > 0:26:30credit to them.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32A constituent of mine was a soldier in Iraq
0:26:32 > 0:26:38and Afghanistan, and is currently training to be a doctor in London.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42He tells me that with the proposed junior doctors' contracts,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45morale in the NHS is lower now than it has been at any time
0:26:45 > 0:26:48during his time on the front line.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Does the Prime Minister agree that low morale
0:26:51 > 0:26:59among our junior doctors and nurses is a threat to patient safety?
0:26:59 > 0:27:01I would say that the honourable lady's constituent
0:27:01 > 0:27:04and all junior doctors should please look very carefully at what
0:27:04 > 0:27:09the Government are offering before they decide to go on strike.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12What is on offer is not an increase in hours, indeed, for
0:27:12 > 0:27:21many doctors it will mean less long hours, and it is not a cut in the
0:27:21 > 0:27:24pay bill for junior doctors. It is actually an 11% basic pay increase.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27It will also mean better rostering of doctors, including at weekends,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29and more support for consultants.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30I would say to the honourable lady's constituent,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33as I would say to others, "Look at the Department of Health's
0:27:33 > 0:27:37website, look at the pay calculator, and see how you will be affected."
0:27:37 > 0:27:39We have given a guarantee that anyone who is
0:27:39 > 0:27:45working legal hours will not be worse off under the new contract.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48It is good for the NHS, good for doctors, and good for patients.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Even at this late hour, I hope that the British Medical Association will
0:27:51 > 0:27:56call off its damaging strike.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Fundamental to the success of the Good Friday Agreement was
0:28:00 > 0:28:03a spirit of peace and reconciliation that saw dozens,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07or even hundreds, of convicted terrorists released from prison.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Many had been found guilty of murder.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Yet in the last week, we have heard the alarming news that a 66-year-old
0:28:13 > 0:28:16former paratrooper has been arrested in connection with events that took
0:28:16 > 0:28:19place in Londonderry 43 years ago.
0:28:19 > 0:28:24In a week when we are all having to once again contemplate sending
0:28:24 > 0:28:27our young men and women into harm's way, with our security services
0:28:27 > 0:28:30and police are on high alert, what message does the Prime Minister feel
0:28:30 > 0:28:32that that sends to our Armed Forces, our police
0:28:32 > 0:28:36and our security services?
0:28:36 > 0:28:40I understand my honourable Friend's concern and the feelings that many
0:28:40 > 0:28:43will have on seeing this news, but the truth is that one of the most
0:28:43 > 0:28:46important things about our country is that the Government do not decide
0:28:46 > 0:28:49who is prosecuted and who is not prosecuted. We have
0:28:49 > 0:28:53the rule of law; we have independent prosecuting authorities.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56This is something that people across the world cry out for and we have
0:28:56 > 0:28:59here, and we have to support them even when they take decisions that
0:28:59 > 0:29:03sometimes we would want to question.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05In that context, let me make a broader point.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Yesterday the principal parties in Northern Ireland came together
0:29:08 > 0:29:11and agreed a deal to make sure that the devolved institutions can
0:29:11 > 0:29:14continue to work.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18That deal involved people who have lost loved ones to terrorism, and
0:29:18 > 0:29:21who have been opposed to each other all of their lives, sitting down and
0:29:21 > 0:29:25working together to try to deliver good government for this part of our
0:29:25 > 0:29:31United Kingdom, It is that spirit we should look to for the future.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34HMRC's decision last week to close its offices in the Bradford district
0:29:34 > 0:29:42will mean the loss of over 2,000 high-skill, high-wage
0:29:42 > 0:29:46jobs, ?1.2 million in business rates and almost ?12 million
0:29:46 > 0:29:49of the district's retail spending.
0:29:49 > 0:29:55This will have a devastating impact on Bradford's families and economy,
0:29:55 > 0:29:59so will the Prime Minister give me assurances that HMRC will meet
0:29:59 > 0:30:04Bradford MPs to consider the clear economic and social case for keeping
0:30:04 > 0:30:08those offices in Bradford open?
0:30:08 > 0:30:09First, I am happy to ask the Financial
0:30:09 > 0:30:14Secretary to meet the local MPs.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Secondly, we will make sure that Jobcentre Plus and all
0:30:17 > 0:30:22the support is there for people who potentially are losing their jobs.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25The point I would make in Bradford more broadly is that the claimant
0:30:25 > 0:30:29count is down by 26% in the last year, so jobs are available.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32But let me also make this point, because it is a difficult
0:30:32 > 0:30:35and important point to makeeveryone in this House wants to see HMRC
0:30:35 > 0:30:38raise more money and make sure that people and
0:30:38 > 0:30:43companies do not avoid their taxes.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47That does mean reform, and it means making sure that HMRC is even more
0:30:47 > 0:30:56effective in raising the taxes on which our public services depend.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58In acknowledgement of the fact that sport can bring a nation together,
0:30:58 > 0:31:01and, for that matter, nations, as was demonstrated at Wembley last
0:31:01 > 0:31:06night, will my right honourable friend ensure that, in addition to
0:31:06 > 0:31:10the welcome extra investment in the police and security
0:31:10 > 0:31:13services, investment in sports such as cricket will be maintained
0:31:13 > 0:31:16because they are a tool to help us face longer-term challenges
0:31:16 > 0:31:20in integrating communities?
0:31:20 > 0:31:23I am sure that over the next week the spending requests
0:31:23 > 0:31:28will quicken as we get closer to the Spending Review.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33It is important that we have put in place the school sport premium
0:31:33 > 0:31:35for primary schools, it is making a real difference, but
0:31:35 > 0:31:39of course there is a role for the sporting bodies to play themselves.
0:31:39 > 0:31:40Many of them receive large amounts of
0:31:40 > 0:31:45money from the television contracts, and if more of them can use that
0:31:45 > 0:31:48money to invest in grassroots sports to make sure we are bringing
0:31:48 > 0:31:54on the young stars of tomorrow, that will be absolutely vital.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58As the new leader of the anti-austerity movement in
0:31:58 > 0:32:12Oxfordshire, will the Prime Minister tell us how his campaign is going?
0:32:12 > 0:32:15What I said to my local council is what I say to
0:32:15 > 0:32:22every council"You've got to get more for less, not less for more."
0:32:22 > 0:32:25As I said, on this side of the House we want to
0:32:25 > 0:32:30make sure that every penny raised in council tax is well spent, and if
0:32:30 > 0:32:33the honourable gentleman's council would like to come in and get the
0:32:33 > 0:32:42same advice, I will gladly oblige.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45At a time when my right honourable friend so rightly emphasises the
0:32:45 > 0:32:49need for our solidarity with France, will he see what he can do to ensure
0:32:49 > 0:32:54that the Franco-British Council, set up over 40 years ago by both
0:32:54 > 0:33:00nations' Governments to promote civil society partnership, can
0:33:00 > 0:33:03continue to do its important work in fields as diverse as defence and
0:33:03 > 0:33:07community cohesion, because without a very small amount of funding from
0:33:07 > 0:33:12both Governments, it will not be able to do that? I am very
0:33:12 > 0:33:13happy to look at that proposal.
0:33:13 > 0:33:18France and Britain have a lot to learn from
0:33:18 > 0:33:21each other, and we should enter into these discussions in that spirit.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25We have a lot to learn about how we try to integrate people in
0:33:25 > 0:33:28our country, how we have effective counter-terrorism policing, and how
0:33:28 > 0:33:31we share intelligence, and I am very committed to making sure that we
0:33:31 > 0:33:37pursue all those things with our French friends. Wigan council
0:33:37 > 0:33:40has had a cut of over 40% in its funding over the past five years
0:33:40 > 0:33:45and lost a third of its staff.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Does the Prime Minister advise that I should write to the leader
0:33:48 > 0:33:51of the council regarding the consequent reductions
0:33:51 > 0:33:55in services, or should I place the blame firmly where it belongsin
0:33:55 > 0:33:58the hands of his government?
0:33:58 > 0:34:02If the honourable lady is looking for someone to blame,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05she might want to blame the Labour Party, which left this country with
0:34:05 > 0:34:10the biggest budget deficit anywhere in the western world.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13And as she does so, the advice I would give her about her local
0:34:13 > 0:34:17council is to look at its overall spending power, the combination
0:34:17 > 0:34:20of business rates, council tax and grant, and ask what money it has
0:34:20 > 0:34:24to provide good local services.