0:00:32 > 0:00:35The Prime Minister is visiting Poland and Romania, and I have been
0:00:35 > 0:00:36asked to reply.
0:00:36 > 0:00:37This morning, I had meetings with ministerial
0:00:37 > 0:00:38colleagues and others.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41In addition to my duties in the House, I shall have further
0:00:41 > 0:00:45such meetings later today.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49The Chancellor will know that, as Christmas draws closer,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53people who are having difficulty in making ends meet will not
0:00:53 > 0:00:56experience much good will in the season of good
0:00:56 > 0:00:59will if they fall into the clutches of loan sharks as they try to buy
0:00:59 > 0:01:04presents for their families, so why is he choosing
0:01:04 > 0:01:07now to cut the budget of the Birmingham-based England
0:01:07 > 0:01:12Illegal Money-Lending Team by a third, although it has helped
0:01:12 > 0:01:1424,000 loan shark victims to get ?63 million of illegal
0:01:14 > 0:01:17debts written off?
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Will he have a word with his friend the Business Secretary,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22who seems to be refusing to answer questions from the Daily Mirror
0:01:22 > 0:01:28on the subject?
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Of course we take very seriously the issue of illegal
0:01:31 > 0:01:35loan sharks and, indeed, that of excessive interest
0:01:35 > 0:01:42charges on payday lending, which is why it was Conservatives
0:01:42 > 0:01:52who introduced the first-ever cap on payday lending.
0:01:52 > 0:01:53As for the
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Gentleman s specific question about funding for illegal money
0:01:55 > 0:01:58laundering and loan shark teams, we are considering the imposition
0:01:58 > 0:02:00of a levy on the industry to meet the requirements
0:02:00 > 0:02:09that he has identified.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Following last week s vote, can my right hon.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14friend give us an update on action against the genocidal jihadists
0:02:14 > 0:02:16who not only attack Christians, Yazidis and Muslims,
0:02:16 > 0:02:17but pillage their churches, shrines and mosques?
0:02:17 > 0:02:22I welcome the announcement of ?30 million to protect cultural
0:02:22 > 0:02:25heritage, but can we also ratify the Hague Convention sooner
0:02:25 > 0:02:29rather than later?
0:02:29 > 0:02:30I thank my hon.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Friend for raising this important issue.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Let me briefly update the House on the military action that has
0:02:35 > 0:02:36taken place since we met last week.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38We have 16 aircraft conducting strikes, as well as
0:02:39 > 0:02:39our Reaper drones.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42The Royal Air Force has flown 11 missions and conducted four strikes,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44principally against the oilfields, and we are also supporting
0:02:45 > 0:02:46Iraqi security forces.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will be
0:02:48 > 0:02:50in New York next week for talks
0:02:50 > 0:02:53on trying to bring an end to the horrendous conflict in Syria.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56As for the damage that is being done to the cultural artefacts
0:02:56 > 0:02:58in the area, we are providing ?30 million as part
0:02:58 > 0:03:00of the cultural fund.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02I have discussed that with the director of the British
0:03:02 > 0:03:07Museum.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10And as for the Hague Convention, that process is now moving apace.
0:03:10 > 0:03:19I call Angela Eagle.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21ALL: Hurray!
0:03:21 > 0:03:29Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35It is nice to be given such a warm welcome.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Our hearts go out to all those who are suffering the consequences
0:03:39 > 0:03:45of the severe flooding in the north-west this week.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Given that thousands of families are affected,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49the priority must be for the Government to give immediate
0:03:50 > 0:03:52help to all of them.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Yet one year on from the 2013-14 floods, it emerged that only 15%
0:03:55 > 0:03:57of those affected had received payments from the Government s
0:03:57 > 0:04:01repair and renew scheme.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Does the Chancellor agree that that cannot possibly be allowed
0:04:03 > 0:04:07to happen again?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10These people need urgent help now, so will he today give the House
0:04:10 > 0:04:20a guarantee that people will receive the help they need, and quickly?
0:04:20 > 0:04:22First, let me welcome the hon.
0:04:22 > 0:04:28Lady to her place and the warm support she has on the other side.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31I join her in expressing the sympathy of the whole House
0:04:31 > 0:04:35to those who have been affected by these terrible floods.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40A record rainfall has hit Cumbria and Lancashire.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44The update is that we have just one severe flood warning still in place,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48power has been restored to 168,000 homes and the west coast main line
0:04:48 > 0:04:50is open, but we have to be there for the long term
0:04:51 > 0:04:53for these families.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55We continue to support the immediate rescue efforts,
0:04:55 > 0:05:00and the military have deployed.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03On recovery and the question the hon.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Lady asks, I can today announce a ?50 million fund for families
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and businesses affected in the area.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10That will be administered by the local authorities to avoid
0:05:10 > 0:05:13some of the administrative problems to which she alluded
0:05:13 > 0:05:16in her question.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18When it comes to rebuilding the infrastructure of Cumbria,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Lancashire and other areas affected, we are assessing now the damage
0:05:21 > 0:05:23to the flood defences and to the roads.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Funds will be made available.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29One of the benefits of having a strong and resilient economy
0:05:29 > 0:05:33is that we can help people in need.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35I thank the Chancellor for that answer but,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38from listening to him, you would not think that he has cut
0:05:38 > 0:05:45flood defence spending by ?115 million this year.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51After visiting the floods in the Somerset levels in 2014,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54the Prime Minister told this House that money is no object in this
0:05:54 > 0:05:59relief effort and that whatever money was needed would be spent.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I welcome the announcement that the Chancellor has just made,
0:06:02 > 0:06:10but will he confirm that the same will apply this time?
0:06:10 > 0:06:11Absolutely.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13The money will be made available to those affected and to
0:06:13 > 0:06:15the communities who have seen their infrastructure damaged.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Up to ?5,000 will be made available to individual families
0:06:18 > 0:06:22to repair their homes and protect them against future flooding,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24and we will provide money to businesses that have
0:06:24 > 0:06:34seen their businesses ruined.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38There have been heartbreaking stories ` we have all seen them
0:06:38 > 0:06:40on television ` about businesses that have been affected.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41That money is available.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Because we have a strong and resilient economy,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46we are increasing the money we spend on our flood defences.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48It is just not the case that that has been reduced.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52The last Labour Government spent ?1.5 billion on flood defences,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54and we will be spending ?2 billion on flood defences and increasing
0:06:54 > 0:06:59maintenance spending.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03It is something we can do and we can help these communities precisely
0:07:03 > 0:07:05because we took the difficult decisions to fix our economy
0:07:05 > 0:07:09and public finances.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12I thank the Chancellor for that, and we will hold him to account
0:07:12 > 0:07:18on the promises he has made today.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20However, I note that the Government s own figures show
0:07:20 > 0:07:22that their planned capital investment in flood defence
0:07:22 > 0:07:27will only protect one in eight of those households at risk.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I see that the Prime Minister cannot be with us to answer questions today
0:07:30 > 0:07:35because he is visiting Poland and Romania on the latest leg
0:07:35 > 0:07:45of his seemingly endless European renegotiation tour. He has been
0:07:45 > 0:07:47jetting all over the place.
0:07:47 > 0:07:54No wonder we had to buy him his own aeroplane.
0:07:54 > 0:08:02So can the Chancellor tell us, how is it all going?
0:08:02 > 0:08:12The good news is we have a party leader who is respected abroad.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29The Prime Minister is in central and eastern Europe because we are
0:08:29 > 0:08:31fighting for a better deal for Britain, something that never
0:08:31 > 0:08:38would have happened if there had been a Labour Government.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40I have to tell the Chancellor that many of his own backbenchers
0:08:40 > 0:08:47are pretty unimpressed with how it is going so far.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02LAUGHTER
0:09:02 > 0:09:03The hon. Member for North East Somerset has
0:09:03 > 0:09:04described the Prime Minister s
0:09:04 > 0:09:06renegotiation efforts as pretty thin gruel , the hon.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Member for Harwich and North Essex has called them lame and
0:09:09 > 0:09:11trivial , and yesterday the hon.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Member for Richmond Park told the Press Gallery they were not
0:09:13 > 0:09:19all that impressive .
0:09:19 > 0:09:24The Chancellor is well known for cultivating his backbenchers,
0:09:24 > 0:09:29and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, so may I ask him
0:09:29 > 0:09:37the question his own side want answering: given that the Prime
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Minister has pre-resigned, does he really aspire to be
0:09:39 > 0:09:49Britain s first post-EU Prime Minister?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52I am not sure I would be quoting the views of backbenchers
0:09:52 > 0:09:55if I was speaking for the Labour party at the moment.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00Most opposition parties are trying to get momentum,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04they are trying to get rid of it.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10We are fighting for a good deal for Britain in Europe,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13we are fighting to make the European economy more competitive
0:10:13 > 0:10:17for everyone and we are fighting to make sure that Britain,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20as a country that is not in the euro, gets a fair
0:10:20 > 0:10:22deal from the eurozone.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26That is what we are fighting for, but in the end this is something
0:10:26 > 0:10:29that we will put to the people of Britain in a referendum.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31The only reason that referendum is happening
0:10:31 > 0:10:37at all is that the Conservative party won the general election.
0:10:37 > 0:10:43Instead of obsessing about issues in the Labour party,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47the Chancellor should be condemning the appalling activities
0:10:47 > 0:10:51in Conservative Future and attacking the Tory bullying scandal.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54I notice he did not answer the question about his own
0:10:54 > 0:10:59prime ministerial activities.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02I am not sure, but he might be worried about somebody a few places
0:11:02 > 0:11:04down from him on the Treasury Bench.
0:11:04 > 0:11:10She knows who she is.
0:11:29 > 0:11:35She knows who she is.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44LAUGHTER
0:11:44 > 0:11:47If the Chancellor will not listen to the doubts of his own
0:11:47 > 0:11:50backbenchers, perhaps he will listen to someone who has written in.
0:11:50 > 0:11:56I have got here a letter.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11It is from Donald of Brussels.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21LAUGHTER
0:12:21 > 0:12:23He writes: Uncertainty about the future of the UK
0:12:23 > 0:12:25in the European Union is a destabilising factor.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29He s right, isn t he?
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Since the Conservative party announced its policy
0:12:31 > 0:12:34on a referendum, we in this country have received the lion s share
0:12:34 > 0:12:37of investment into Europe.
0:12:37 > 0:12:42That is because we have built a strong economy, we stand up
0:12:42 > 0:12:44for Britain s interests abroad and we have made this a competitive
0:12:45 > 0:12:49place to grow and build a business.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51While we are quoting missives, let me tell the House that someone
0:12:51 > 0:12:53called Tony has been writing today.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56He happens to be the most successful Labour leader in history,
0:12:56 > 0:13:03and he describes the current Labour party as a complete tragedy.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05May I suggest that the hon. Lady asks some serious questions,
0:13:05 > 0:13:12about the health service, the economy, social care?
0:13:12 > 0:13:16She can ask any of these questions. She has got one more question.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Let s hear it.
0:13:20 > 0:13:27I prefer this quote from Tony: Just mouth the words five more Tory
0:13:27 > 0:13:29years , and you feel your senses and reason repulsed
0:13:29 > 0:13:32by what they have done to our country. We all know
0:13:32 > 0:13:42that the Chancellor is so preoccupied with his own leadership
0:13:46 > 0:13:50ambitions that he forgot about the day job, and that is why
0:13:50 > 0:13:56he ended up trying to slash working families tax credits in the Budget.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Is it not about time that he focused on the national interest rather
0:13:59 > 0:14:07than his own interest?
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Three million UK jobs are linked to trade with the EU.
0:14:10 > 0:14:19Half our exports go there.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22That is what they are putting at risk by flirting with Brexit,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and that is why we on this side of the House know that Britain
0:14:25 > 0:14:29is better off in.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32I thought that the Labour party voted for the referendum when it
0:14:32 > 0:14:34came before the House of Commons.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36We are fighting for a better deal for Britain in Europe.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40The truth is that this week we have shown that we have an economic plan
0:14:40 > 0:14:41that is delivering for Britain.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Whether it is well-funded flood defences, putting money
0:14:44 > 0:14:49into our national health service, backing teachers in our schools
0:14:49 > 0:14:53or introducing a national living wage, we are delivering security
0:14:53 > 0:14:55for the working people of Britain.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59Their economic and national security would be put at risk if the Labour
0:14:59 > 0:15:03party ever got back into office.
0:15:06 > 0:15:13I recently visited the apprentice workshop of David Wilson Homes
0:15:13 > 0:15:17and saw at first hand the work the construction industry
0:15:17 > 0:15:22is doing to support apprenticeships in Hampshire.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25What more can schools do to promote apprenticeships as a valuable
0:15:25 > 0:15:30alternative to post-16 academic study?
0:15:30 > 0:15:31My hon. Friend raises an important point.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Schools have a legal duty to provide pupils with information on the full
0:15:35 > 0:15:38range of training and education available.
0:15:38 > 0:15:46Schools in her constituency can tell their pupils about the increase
0:15:46 > 0:15:48in the number of apprenticeship places - three million
0:15:48 > 0:15:50in this Parliament - we are funding.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53That is a huge commitment to young people in this country
0:15:53 > 0:15:55and a big commitment to the construction industry.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57We want homes to be built.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00One of the challenges is getting skilled people into that industry,
0:16:00 > 0:16:02and no doubt that was raised by the business she spoke
0:16:02 > 0:16:08to, but the 3 million apprentices will help.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13Occasionally, highly toxic and dangerous materials
0:16:13 > 0:16:15are transported around the country.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Are not the public right to expect the highest safety standards
0:16:18 > 0:16:21and full co-operation between the responsible
0:16:21 > 0:16:26public agencies?
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Absolutely.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31That co-operation is expected.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman is talking
0:16:35 > 0:16:36about the transportation of nuclear
0:16:36 > 0:16:38materials from the Faslane base on the Clyde.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42I have met the local teams and seen how they transport
0:16:42 > 0:16:44the nuclear materials.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47If he has something else he wants to ask me about, go ahead.
0:16:47 > 0:16:53There are growing reports in the north of Scotland about plans
0:16:53 > 0:16:57to transport on public roads dangerous nuclear material,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00potentially including nuclear weapons-grade uranium,
0:17:00 > 0:17:05from the Dounreay nuclear facility to Wick airport.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08It is believed that from there it will be flown to the United States.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11What will that nuclear material be used for,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14and has the Chancellor or any of his colleagues spoken
0:17:14 > 0:17:21with a single Minister in the Scottish Government about this?
0:17:21 > 0:17:25The transportation of nuclear materials across this country has
0:17:25 > 0:17:28happened over many decades.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32There are established procedures for that, and the Royal Marines
0:17:32 > 0:17:35and the police service in Scotland provide the security.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40If the right hon. Gentleman has specific concerns
0:17:40 > 0:17:44about the plans for that transportation, he can
0:17:44 > 0:17:45raise them with us.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48As I say, arrangements are in place to ensure
0:17:48 > 0:17:51that we protect the public.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55The Chancellor will know that the Prime Minister said
0:17:55 > 0:17:58in his recent conference speech that we have to get away
0:17:58 > 0:18:02from the lock em up or let em out mentality in respect
0:18:02 > 0:18:03of prison reform.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05That has to be right because the prison system
0:18:05 > 0:18:07is costing our constituents a fortune.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Does the Chancellor agree that the time for rehabilitation
0:18:10 > 0:18:12that works is now, and that we should not be afraid
0:18:12 > 0:18:16to look at other jurisdictions to find examples and new ideas
0:18:16 > 0:18:20to tackle this ongoing state failure?
0:18:20 > 0:18:22My hon. friend is right to raise
0:18:22 > 0:18:25prison reform.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26People who commit crimes should go to prison,
0:18:26 > 0:18:30but prisons should be suitable places to rehabilitate prisoners.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Some of our Victorian prisons are not suitable,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38which is why we will close them, knock them down, build desperately
0:18:38 > 0:18:43needed housing in our cities, and build modern prisons
0:18:43 > 0:18:47on the outskirts of our cities.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50I am incredibly proud that a Conservative Government are taking
0:18:50 > 0:18:54on this progressive social reform.
0:18:56 > 0:19:01They are a great British institution and earn billions for our economy,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04so I am sure the Chancellor will share my concern that two curry
0:19:04 > 0:19:08houses a week are closing due to Government policies and the fact
0:19:08 > 0:19:11that the proposed specialist colleges have failed.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16As a fan himself, will he review the situation?
0:19:16 > 0:19:20He once likened the elements of a strong economy to those
0:19:20 > 0:19:22of a good curry, so will he take action to head off
0:19:22 > 0:19:27the coming curry crisis?
0:19:28 > 0:19:35We all enjoy a great British curry, but we want the curry chefs to be
0:19:35 > 0:19:39trained in Britain so that we can provide jobs for people
0:19:39 > 0:19:40here in this country.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44That is what our immigration controls provide.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49My right hon. friend is well aware,
0:19:49 > 0:19:50from my repeated representations
0:19:50 > 0:19:53to him and his colleagues, of the need for a southern relief
0:19:53 > 0:19:56road and eastern bypass for Lincoln, which have been delayed
0:19:56 > 0:19:57by bureaucracy for nearly 100 years.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00He and his Government colleagues are well acquainted with the need
0:20:00 > 0:20:04to drive growth and local economic wellbeing by utilising appropriate
0:20:04 > 0:20:07infrastructure improvements to fuel the midlands engine.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10What would he say to my constituents, should he visit
0:20:10 > 0:20:13the beautiful city of Lincoln, other than to tell them that any
0:20:13 > 0:20:15new road is eventually better than no road?
0:20:15 > 0:20:17new road is eventually better than no road?
0:20:19 > 0:20:20I congratulate my hon.
0:20:20 > 0:20:20I congratulate my hon.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Friend on securing ?50 million of extra funding for Lincoln
0:20:23 > 0:20:26and ensuring that a bypass will go ahead.
0:20:27 > 0:20:28I have spoken to him.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31I know he has concerns that the bypass will not be big
0:20:31 > 0:20:34enough and that it should be a dual-lane bypass.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Let us continue to have those conversations.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41We both need to ensure that local authorities agree
0:20:41 > 0:20:43with his assessment, and I am happy to help him
0:20:43 > 0:20:46with that task.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Since the Chancellor s Budget in July, I have asked time and again
0:20:53 > 0:20:57how he intends to make women prove, in order to qualify for tax credits,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00that they had their third child as a result of rape.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05Will he now admit that his abhorrent, vile policy is completely
0:21:05 > 0:21:10unworkable, and will he drop the rape clause?
0:21:10 > 0:21:13It is perfectly reasonable to have a welfare system
0:21:13 > 0:21:16that is fair not just for those who need it but for those
0:21:16 > 0:21:20who pay for it.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22We have identified the specific cases that the hon. Lady
0:21:22 > 0:21:26refers to in her question, in which women have been victims
0:21:26 > 0:21:29of domestic abuse, or, indeed, rape, and that is why we are consulting
0:21:29 > 0:21:33and discussing changes to protect vulnerable women.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39More than 4,000 apprenticeships have been created in my constituency
0:21:39 > 0:21:44since 2010, and I recently met representatives of In-Comm Training
0:21:44 > 0:21:46and a group of small local businesses to discuss
0:21:46 > 0:21:48skills and apprenticeships.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53What are the Government doing to help small businesses to help
0:21:53 > 0:21:55people into training and employment, thereby securing the economy
0:21:55 > 0:22:02of the midlands engine for future generations?
0:22:02 > 0:22:07The great news is that jobs are being created in the midlands
0:22:07 > 0:22:08engine, including in my hon.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09Friend s constituency, and we are investing
0:22:09 > 0:22:11in infrastructure there as well.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13We are also investing in the skills of the next generation
0:22:13 > 0:22:16through the apprenticeships she mentions, and we are backing
0:22:16 > 0:22:21small businesses by cutting the corporation tax they pay
0:22:21 > 0:22:24and by increasing employment allowance so that they can take
0:22:24 > 0:22:26on more people without paying the jobs tax.
0:22:26 > 0:22:36Medecins sans Frontieres reports that despite giving GPS co-ordinates
0:22:37 > 0:22:40several of its hospitals have been bombed by coalition and,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42in particular, Assad forces in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan,
0:22:42 > 0:22:47killing medics as well as patients.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52With so many forces involved in airstrikes, will the Chancellor
0:22:52 > 0:22:57explain how the Government propose to avoid this happening in future?
0:23:00 > 0:23:04The hon.Lady mentions the tragic bombing of the hospital.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09A review is going on to ensure that the coalition has accurate
0:23:09 > 0:23:11information for its strikes.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15When it comes to Yemen, we are working with the Saudi
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Government to make sure that they can review this
0:23:18 > 0:23:24information and that it is accurate.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27I am afraid we have no control over the Syrian Government and Assad,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30which is one of the reasons we would like to see Assad go.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33The regeneration of Dunsbury Hill Farm in my constituency will create
0:23:33 > 0:23:37up to 3,500 new jobs, which is good news for an area
0:23:37 > 0:23:41where unemployment has halved since 2010.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Will the Chancellor commit to continuing investment
0:23:43 > 0:23:47in the Solent regional economy, an area that much prefers his big
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Red Book to any other type?
0:23:53 > 0:23:55I am delighted to hear about the regeneration
0:23:55 > 0:23:57of Dunsbury Hill Farm.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00It is part of the good news in my hon. Friend s
0:24:00 > 0:24:03area, where, thanks to local businesses
0:24:03 > 0:24:06and to his work as a new MP in attracting infrastructure
0:24:06 > 0:24:08and investment into his constituency, the claimant count
0:24:08 > 0:24:13is down by 25% in the past year alone.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17I am glad he likes the Red Book of the Government and does not have
0:24:17 > 0:24:21so much time for the little red book brandished by Opposition Members.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27During the autumn statement, the Chancellor casually removed
0:24:27 > 0:24:30vital bursary support from student nurses.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33I have since spoken to a number of nurses and some of the 4,000
0:24:33 > 0:24:36nursing students at my local university, all of whom say
0:24:36 > 0:24:39that they would not have been able to study nursing without vital
0:24:39 > 0:24:40bursary support from the Scottish Government.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44What will he say to the aspiring nurses across the rest of the UK
0:24:44 > 0:24:46who may be prevented from pursuing their dreams
0:24:46 > 0:24:48of becoming a nurse?
0:24:49 > 0:24:55Currently, two thirds of people in England who apply for nurse
0:24:55 > 0:24:57training courses are turned down.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00That cannot be right, as it means hospitals increasingly
0:25:00 > 0:25:03rely on agency staff or overseas nurses.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07We are reforming the education of nurses so that those who apply
0:25:07 > 0:25:10for nursing places are much more likely to get them.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Carlisle and Cumbria have experienced a traumatic few days,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20with the devastating floods.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It was good that the Prime Minister saw at first hand the tremendous
0:25:23 > 0:25:26work of the emergency services, the issues relating to the flood
0:25:26 > 0:25:29defences and of course the direct impact of those floods
0:25:29 > 0:25:32on local families.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35As part of the recovery, Cumbria Community Foundation,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38a highly respected, county-wide charitable organisation,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41has launched a flood appeal.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43I wrote to the Prime Minister asking for the Government s
0:25:43 > 0:25:45support for the appeal, as it would help many affected
0:25:45 > 0:25:48people right across the county.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Would the Chancellor be able to offer such support
0:25:50 > 0:25:54from the Government towards this much-needed fund?
0:25:56 > 0:25:59First, everyone here would pay tribute to the people of Carlisle,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02the extraordinary resilience they have shown and the acts
0:26:02 > 0:26:05of friendship that neighbours have shown to those affected
0:26:05 > 0:26:07by the terrible floods.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Before the Prime Minister left for central Europe this morning,
0:26:11 > 0:26:16he asked me to make sure we would be able to help on the
0:26:16 > 0:26:17specific point my hon. Friend raises,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19and did raise with the Prime Minister,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and I can say that we will support the work the Cumbria Community
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Foundation does and we will match, by up to ?1 million,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29the money it is raising for its local flood appeal.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34When the Chancellor tripled student tuition fees,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37he set the repayment threshold at ?21,000.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41He has now frozen the threshold, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies
0:26:41 > 0:26:44tells us that many students will bear many extra thousands
0:26:45 > 0:26:47of pounds in repayments.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Given that he has broken his promise, will he send students
0:26:51 > 0:26:55an apology or just the bill?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58There seems to be collective amnesia among Labour Members:
0:26:58 > 0:27:08they introduced tuition fees and the payment
0:27:10 > 0:27:13threshold was ?15,000.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16We have increased it to ?21,000, which enables us to fund the lifting
0:27:16 > 0:27:21of the cap and more people who are qualified
0:27:21 > 0:27:22go to university.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25I would have thought, and I would have hoped,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27that on this day the hon. Gentleman welcomed the big
0:27:27 > 0:27:28investment we are making
0:27:28 > 0:27:30in Cambridge, not least with the renovation of the famous
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Cavendish laboratory.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36The Bexhill-Hastings link road will finally open this month,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40delivering a business park, new homes for a new labour market
0:27:40 > 0:27:42and a countryside park.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45The road has been talked about for decades but it has been
0:27:45 > 0:27:47commissioned and built in the past five.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Will the Chancellor join me in welcoming new business
0:27:49 > 0:27:55to relocate to Bexhill and Hastings, and to expand?
0:27:55 > 0:27:57I would certainly encourage businesses to relocate to
0:27:57 > 0:27:58my hon. Friend s area.
0:27:58 > 0:28:04He is right about the link road: for decades people called for it,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06and although for all those years there was a Conservative MP
0:28:06 > 0:28:11for Bexhill, there was a Labour MP for Hastings for many of those years
0:28:11 > 0:28:12and nothing happened.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Now that we have Conservative MPs in both Bexhill and Hastings,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19we are getting the investment the local area needs.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27On 7 September, the Prime Minister told me that he could not remove
0:28:27 > 0:28:30refugees from the migration target because of the requirements
0:28:30 > 0:28:34of the Office for National Statistics, but I wrote to the ONS
0:28:34 > 0:28:41and it told me that in fact this would be possible.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Can the Chancellor therefore demonstrate that Britain
0:28:43 > 0:28:53will do its bit and remove refugees from the migration target?
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Order.
0:28:56 > 0:29:01Order. Let us hear the Chancellor.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04Let me say something surprising: we talk to each other in this
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Government!
0:29:07 > 0:29:09The Cabinet actually gets round the table and has meetings.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12We discuss things, we agree, and then we move forward.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17The Labour party should try it.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21The Office for National Statistics is independent, but Britain
0:29:21 > 0:29:25is doing its bit by taking 20,000 refugees from the Syrian
0:29:25 > 0:29:27refugee camps.
0:29:27 > 0:29:35We have always provided a home for genuine asylum seekers.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40Under current toy regulations, small children can be engulfed
0:29:40 > 0:29:49in flames by 3cm in one second.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Will the Chancellor encourage my right hon.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Friend the Prime Minister to intervene to see
0:29:54 > 0:29:56whether the Business Secretary can introduce a statutory instrument
0:29:56 > 0:29:57to improve the flammability of children s play
0:29:57 > 0:29:58and dress-up costumes?
0:29:58 > 0:30:01My hon. Friend is right to raise that case.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03We all saw the tragedy that befell the family
0:30:03 > 0:30:11of the Strictly Come Dancing presenter and the campaign
0:30:11 > 0:30:15that her family have undertaken to change the regulations.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17It is true that we do not have the same flame-retardant
0:30:17 > 0:30:21regulations for children s fancy dress costumes.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23That seems wrong.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25I know that my right hon. Friend the Business Secretary
0:30:25 > 0:30:28is looking at the matter and will ensure that that changes.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31Will the Chancellor take this opportunity to correct the bizarre
0:30:31 > 0:30:36claim made yesterday by Donald Trump about parts of London being no-go
0:30:36 > 0:30:38areas for the Metropolitan police?
0:30:38 > 0:30:43Will he point out to Mr Trump that relationships between the Muslim
0:30:43 > 0:30:47communities of London and the police are in fact excellent?
0:30:47 > 0:30:50The right hon. Gentleman speaks for everyone
0:30:50 > 0:30:59in this House.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02The Metropolitan police do a brilliant job, and they have
0:31:02 > 0:31:03fantastic relations with British Muslims.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05British Muslims have made a massive contribution to our country.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Donald Trump s comments fly in the face of the founding
0:31:08 > 0:31:10principles of the United States, which have proved such
0:31:10 > 0:31:14an inspiration to so many people over the past 200 years.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18The best way to defeat such nonsense is to engage in robust,
0:31:18 > 0:31:22democratic debate and make it very clear that his views
0:31:22 > 0:31:24are not welcome.
0:31:27 > 0:31:37Cornwall Hospice Care, which has one hospice on the border
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Will the Chancellor work with me and my other colleagues in Cornwall
0:31:55 > 0:31:57to see what more money can be put into our hospices,
0:31:57 > 0:31:58and Cornwall Hospice Care?
0:31:58 > 0:31:59I know that my hon.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02I know that my hon. Friend is a strong champion
0:32:02 > 0:32:06of his community and of the hospice he mentions.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08We have taken steps to help the hospice movement,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12not least by removing the VAT it paid in the previous Parliament.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14We want to get the right balance.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17It is good that our hospices are funded in part by local
0:32:17 > 0:32:19charities and supported so strongly by the local community,
0:32:19 > 0:32:24but they also need the backing of the NHS.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Of course, as we have a strong economy, we are now putting that
0:32:27 > 0:32:33money into the NHS so that it can help the hospice movement.
0:32:33 > 0:32:39If business rates are localised without equalisation,
0:32:39 > 0:32:44my own authority of Gateshead will lose ?9.4 million a year on top
0:32:44 > 0:32:48of the proposed severe cuts to the revenue support grant.
0:32:48 > 0:32:55The seven north-east local enterprise partnership authorities
0:32:55 > 0:32:58will lose ?186 million a year and the combined 12 authorities
0:32:58 > 0:33:04in the north-east ?223 million a year.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06Meanwhile, the City of London will gain ?222 million
0:33:06 > 0:33:07and Westminster ?440 million.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10How does that help the Chancellor s vision of the northern powerhouse?
0:33:13 > 0:33:17The top-up and tariff system will apply as we devolve
0:33:17 > 0:33:20business rates to reflect the discrepancies the hon.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Gentleman identifies.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25I would have thought that the Labour party supported the devolution
0:33:25 > 0:33:26of business rates.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29It is a massive opportunity for local areas to grow and to see
0:33:29 > 0:33:31the benefits of that growth.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34When it comes to the northern powerhouse, we have the fantastic
0:33:34 > 0:33:38announcement today of the new train franchises, which mean more than ?1
0:33:38 > 0:33:42billion going into new trains, faster journeys, and better
0:33:42 > 0:33:44journey experiences for people in the north of England.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48He should get behind it.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53An important report was published today showing that the TV debates
0:33:53 > 0:33:56at the general election were a great success, engaging people who are not
0:33:56 > 0:34:01normally interested in politics, particularly young people.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05Will the acting Prime Minister - I know he might have a personal
0:34:05 > 0:34:10interest in this matter - encourage TV debates
0:34:10 > 0:34:14at the next general election?
0:34:16 > 0:34:19The TV debates are decided in discussions between the political
0:34:19 > 0:34:23parties and the broadcasters.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25I think that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister
0:34:25 > 0:34:29did exceptionally well in them last time.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35I understand that the Home Secretary has banned 84 hate preachers
0:34:35 > 0:34:37from entering the UK.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40Will the Government lead by example and consider making
0:34:40 > 0:34:45Mr Donald Trump the 85th?
0:34:45 > 0:34:48I think that the best way to confront the views of someone
0:34:48 > 0:34:53like Donald Trump is to engage in a robust, democratic argument
0:34:53 > 0:34:57about why he is profoundly wrong about the contribution
0:34:57 > 0:35:00of American Muslims, and indeed British Muslims.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03That is the best way to deal with Donald Trump and his views,
0:35:03 > 0:35:09rather than trying to ban presidential candidates.