0:00:19 > 0:00:22Order, questions to the Prime Minister.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24CHEERING.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Karen Lumley.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Number one, Mr Speaker.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues
0:00:31 > 0:00:34and others, and in addition to my duties in this House,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36I will have further such meetings later today.
0:00:36 > 0:00:37Caroline Lumley.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40CHEERING.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Will my right honourable friend confirm that
0:00:42 > 0:00:44while he is Prime Minister of this country, condemning terrorist
0:00:44 > 0:00:49attacks will not be a bar to holding high office?
0:00:49 > 0:00:52What I would say to my right honourable friend is that condemning
0:00:52 > 0:00:56terrorist attacks is an essdntial component of aspiring to high office
0:00:56 > 0:00:58in this country and that should be the case whether you are
0:00:58 > 0:01:02a Shadow Minister or a Minister of the Crown.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05It is worth recalling what it is that the member
0:01:05 > 0:01:07for Wolverhampton South East said, he said this: "Terrorists
0:01:07 > 0:01:10are entirely responsible for their own actions,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13no-one forces anyone to kill innocent people in Paris,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15blow up the London Undergrotnd, behead innocent aid
0:01:15 > 0:01:17workers in Syria".
0:01:17 > 0:01:21He was absolutely right to say that, and it speaks volumes that he cannot
0:01:21 > 0:01:24sit in the Shadow Cabinet with the Leader of the Opposition.
0:01:24 > 0:01:32CHEERING.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Jeremy Corbyn.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37CHEERING.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41I would like to thank the firefighters, mountain rescue
0:01:41 > 0:01:42services, police, armed services, engineers,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45workers at the Environment @gency, local government workers,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47and all the volunteers for all the work they did in keeping
0:01:47 > 0:01:50safe thousands of people from the floods that have
0:01:50 > 0:01:51affected this country.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53In January 2014, following the devastating floods at that time,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57now two years ago, the Prime Minister said,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59and I quote: "There are alw`ys lessons to be learned
0:01:59 > 0:02:04and I will make sure they are learned."
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Were they?
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Prime Minister.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Well, first of all, let me join the Leader of the Opposition
0:02:11 > 0:02:13in thanking the emergency sdrvices, the police, the fire servicd.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Also, the search and rescue teams who went from around the cotntry
0:02:16 > 0:02:18to areas that were flooded.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Can I thank the military for all the work that they did?
0:02:21 > 0:02:24And as he says, what we saw was communities coming together
0:02:24 > 0:02:27and volunteers carrying out extraordinary work.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Let me deal directly with this issue of lessons learned.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Having seen my own constitudncy very badly flooded in 2007 and h`ving had
0:02:34 > 0:02:36floods while being Prime Minister, I think a number of lessons
0:02:36 > 0:02:38have been learned.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40This time, the military camd in far faster than ever before.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44The Bellwin scheme was funddd at 100%, not 85%, and more loney
0:02:44 > 0:02:47was got to communities more quickly.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49So, a lot of lessons have been learned.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Are there more to learn?
0:02:51 > 0:02:53I am sure there are, there always are, which is why
0:02:53 > 0:02:56I will review everything that has been done.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Let us be clear, as we do that, we will make money availabld
0:03:00 > 0:03:02because we have a strong economy to build flood resilience
0:03:02 > 0:03:03in our country.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05CHEERING.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Jeremy Corbyn.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14In 2011, a ?190 million flood defence project on the River Aire
0:03:14 > 0:03:20in Leeds was cancelled on cost grounds by the Government.
0:03:20 > 0:03:241,000 homes and businesses hn Leeds were flooded in recent weeks.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27The Government is still onlx committed to a scaled-down version
0:03:27 > 0:03:29of the project, worth a fraction of its total cost,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32when the Prime Minister clahmed that money was no object when ht came
0:03:33 > 0:03:37to flood relief.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39When he meets the Leeds MPs and Judith Blake,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42the leader of Leeds Council, in the near future, or his Secretary
0:03:42 > 0:03:45of State does, will he guar`ntee that the full scheme will go ahead
0:03:45 > 0:03:48to protect Leeds from future flooding?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Well, first of all, let me lake one point before answering
0:03:52 > 0:03:53in detail his points.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56It is worth putting on record before we get on to flood defence
0:03:56 > 0:04:00investment - and I will covdr it in full - that this was the wettest
0:04:00 > 0:04:04December for over 100 years, and actually in Leeds
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and in Yorkshire, it was thd wettest December ever on record.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09That is why rivers in Yorkshire including the Aire in Leeds,
0:04:09 > 0:04:17was a metre higher than it has ever been in its history.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Now, in terms of flood defences no flood defence schemes have been
0:04:19 > 0:04:23cancelled since 2010.
0:04:23 > 0:04:29The investment in flood defdnces was ?1.5 billion in the last
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Labour Government, ?1.7 billion in the Government I led
0:04:31 > 0:04:34as a Coalition Government, and will be over ?2 billion in this
0:04:34 > 0:04:35Parliament.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38It has gone up and up and up.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42And it has gone up because we run an economy where we are abld
0:04:42 > 0:04:44to invest in the things that our country needs.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46And one more point - let us not forget this.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50We inherited the Darling plan for our economy.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53That was a plan for a 50% ctt in capital spending,
0:04:53 > 0:04:58and Defra was not a protected department.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Well, we protected that flood spending and we increased it -
0:05:01 > 0:05:02something Labour would not have done.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05CHEERING.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Jeremy Corbyn.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Mr Speaker, of course the rainfall was excessive,
0:05:11 > 0:05:16of course the river levels were high, but the Prime Minister
0:05:16 > 0:05:19has still not answered the puestion on the Leeds flood protection scheme
0:05:19 > 0:05:24- I will give him an opporttnity to do so in a moment.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27In 2014, Cumbria County Council applied for funding for new schemes
0:05:27 > 0:05:29in Keswick and Kendal - both were turned down and both areas
0:05:29 > 0:05:32have been flooded again in the last few weeks.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Does the Prime Minister belheve that turning down those schemes
0:05:34 > 0:05:39was also a mistake?
0:05:41 > 0:05:45We are spending more on flood defence schemes and are stacking up
0:05:45 > 0:05:48a whole series of schemes that we will spend more on.
0:05:48 > 0:05:55But let me make this point to him.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58If he is going to spend ?10 billion on re-nationalising our railways,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01where is he going to find the money for flood defences?
0:06:01 > 0:06:02The idea...
0:06:02 > 0:06:05The idea that this individu`l would be faster in responding
0:06:05 > 0:06:08to floods when it takes him three days to carry out a reshuffle
0:06:08 > 0:06:11is frankly laughable.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Mr Speaker, since I walked into the Chamber this morning,
0:06:14 > 0:06:20his Shadow Foreign Minister resigned, his Shadow Defencd
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Minister resigned - he could not run anything!
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Jeremy Corbyn.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Mr Speaker, it is very strange that when I have asked a question
0:06:28 > 0:06:31about Leeds flood defence, then on Cumbria flood defence,
0:06:31 > 0:06:36the Prime Minister still seems unable to answer.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Can he now tell us if there is going to be funding
0:06:38 > 0:06:42for those schemes?
0:06:42 > 0:06:44In October, Professor Colin Mellors, the head of the Yorkshire Rdgional
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Flood and Coastal Committee, warned the Government about funding
0:06:48 > 0:06:52cuts leading to flood defences in Yorkshire being "formallx
0:06:52 > 0:06:54discontinued" in the future.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Would that also be a mistakd?
0:06:57 > 0:07:02Can the Prime Minister now tell us - is he going to reverse the cuts
0:07:02 > 0:07:05in the defences that have t`ken place to make sure that those cities
0:07:05 > 0:07:07and areas are protected in the next round of floods
0:07:07 > 0:07:08which will no doubt come?
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Prime Minister.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12As I have told him, we have increased and continue to increase
0:07:12 > 0:07:14the spending on flood defences.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16We are spending more in this Parliament, and for the first time
0:07:16 > 0:07:19it is a six-year spending perspective, which is ?2.3 billion
0:07:19 > 0:07:22extra on flood defences - money that would not be avahlable
0:07:22 > 0:07:25if we trashed the economy in the way that he proposes.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Now, of course, after every incident of flooding,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32you go back and look at what you have spent
0:07:32 > 0:07:36and what you have built, you look at what you are pl`nning
0:07:36 > 0:07:39to spend and what you are planning to build, and you see what lore
0:07:39 > 0:07:41can be done.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44But the head of the Environlent Agency was absolutely clear
0:07:44 > 0:07:46that he had the money necessary to take the action
0:07:46 > 0:07:50that was necessary, but we can only do that with a strong econoly,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52an economy that is growing, where more people are in work
0:07:52 > 0:07:55and more people are paying taxes.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57We have got the strength to solve this problem of floods,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00and we will do it in a proper way.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03CHEERING.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04Jeremy Corbyn.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister has not answered on Leeds,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10he has not answered on Cumbria, and he has not answered
0:08:10 > 0:08:14on the warning from Professor Mellors.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Like him, last week I met pdople in York who had been
0:08:17 > 0:08:22affected by flooding.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24I met a young couple, Chris and Victoria, whose home had
0:08:24 > 0:08:25been flooded over Christmas...
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It was not very funny for them.
0:08:28 > 0:08:36HECKLING.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39This young couple lost many of their possessions,
0:08:39 > 0:08:45including photos and childrdn s toys and school work,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47including photos and childrdn's toys and school work,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50and they have the foul stench of floodwater in their homes,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53as have many families all over this country.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56They are asking all of us wholly legitimate questions: Why w`s it
0:08:56 > 0:09:00that the insufficient pump capacity at the Foss barrier -
0:09:00 > 0:09:05again, which we were alerted to in 2013 by a Government report -
0:09:05 > 0:09:08was not dealt with or the pumps upgraded?
0:09:08 > 0:09:11That meant that people in York were flooded and their possdssions
0:09:11 > 0:09:12and homes severely damaged.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Those people want answers from all of us, and in parthcular,
0:09:15 > 0:09:16from the Prime Minister.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Prime Minister.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I have the greatest sympathx with anyone who has been flooded
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and we have to do what it t`kes to get people and communitids back
0:09:25 > 0:09:28on their feet.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31That is why we have put record sums in more quickly to help comlunities
0:09:31 > 0:09:33in Cumbria, in Lancashire and now in Yorkshire.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35We will continue to do that.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Specifically on the question of the Foss pumps,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41that was about to be tenderdd for extra investment,
0:09:41 > 0:09:47and that investment will now go ahead, because the money is there.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50What I say to him is, we are putting in the money
0:09:50 > 0:09:52and doing so more quickly, the military got involved more
0:09:52 > 0:09:54quickly and to that couple who got flooded -
0:09:54 > 0:09:57we are also doing something that previous governments have t`lked
0:09:57 > 0:10:00about but never achieved, which is to have an insurance scheme
0:10:00 > 0:10:03so that every single household in our country can get insured
0:10:03 > 0:10:04Flood Re.
0:10:04 > 0:10:05Now, that has not been done before.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07So, have lessons been learndd?
0:10:07 > 0:10:08Yes, they have.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09Are there more lessons to ldarn
0:10:09 > 0:10:12There always are, but frankly, we do not need a lecture from Malta
0:10:12 > 0:10:13from the honourable gentlem`n.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15CHEERING.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Jeremy Corbyn.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24Mr Speaker, the reality is that flood defence scheme after flood
0:10:24 > 0:10:28defence scheme has been cancelled, postponed or cut, many more homes
0:10:28 > 0:10:31have been flooded and too m`ny lessons have been ignored.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Why cannot the Prime Ministdr support our calls for
0:10:35 > 0:10:38a co-ordinated, cross-party approach to flooding that
0:10:38 > 0:10:40looks at everything...
0:10:40 > 0:10:43That looks at everything, including upland management,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46to making people's homes more flood resilient,
0:10:46 > 0:10:52and more properly funded protection schemes?
0:10:52 > 0:10:58Does the Prime Minister at least agree with this -
0:10:58 > 0:11:01that the fire and rescue service, which has done such a great job over
0:11:01 > 0:11:04the past few weeks in all p`rts of this country, should now be given
0:11:04 > 0:11:07a statutory duty to deal with floods, to help us through any
0:11:07 > 0:11:10crisis that might occur in the future?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Well, I think, Mr Speaker, the best I can say is that
0:11:14 > 0:11:16when he has worked out how to co-ordinate his own partx,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20perhaps he could come and have a word with me.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23On the issue of a statutory duty, everybody knows what they h`ve to do
0:11:23 > 0:11:24when floods take place.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26That is why there was such a magnificent response
0:11:26 > 0:11:28from the emergency services, from the fire services
0:11:28 > 0:11:30and the emergency rescue services.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32They have our backing to do the vital work.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35And, yes, we will go on investing in flood defences.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37We will increase the money we are spending on flood defences,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41because we have got a strong economy and a strong country that c`n back
0:11:41 > 0:11:43the action that is needed.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47CHEERING.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Nadhim Zahawi.
0:11:50 > 0:11:56Mr Speaker, 2016 sees us mark the 400th anniversary
0:11:56 > 0:11:58of William Shakespeare's passing away.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Does my right honourable frhend agree with me that our country
0:12:01 > 0:12:04should unite to commemorate his works?
0:12:04 > 0:12:12There are special events at the RSC - the Shakespeare Birthplacd Trust
0:12:12 > 0:12:15is renovating the site of hhs home, New Place, and King Edward's School
0:12:15 > 0:12:16is opening his original classroom.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18May I invite my right honourable friend, the whole House
0:12:18 > 0:12:24and the world, to come and celebrate the greatest-living bard?
0:12:24 > 0:12:26My apologies for almost interrupting his soliloquy ,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28I am very sorry about that.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31I think it is a very good moment - the 400th anniversary of thd death
0:12:31 > 0:12:34of Shakespeare - for us to celebrate everything he has given
0:12:34 > 0:12:37to our language and to our culture and, indeed, to the world.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40I think it is going to be a fantastic moment for people
0:12:40 > 0:12:43to visit Britain and come to see Stratford and all the other places
0:12:43 > 0:12:45that have such a great association with Shakespeard.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49I find that Shakespeare provides language for every moment.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Let us consider what we are thinking about at the moment.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54There was a moment when it looked like this reshuffle could go
0:12:54 > 0:12:55into its Twelfth Night.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57LAUGHTER.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Yes.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02It was a revenge reshuffle, so it was going to be
0:13:02 > 0:13:04As You Like It.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07I think, though, we can conclude that it has turned into somdthing
0:13:07 > 0:13:09of a comedy of errors - perhaps Much Ado About
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Nothing.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14LAUGHTER.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16There will be those who worry that Love's Labour's
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Lost.
0:13:19 > 0:13:20CHEERING.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21Angus Robertson.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26LOUD CHATTER.
0:13:26 > 0:13:36MPs: More!
0:13:41 > 0:13:42Thank you.
0:13:42 > 0:13:43Thank you very much ...
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Thank you very much for the warm welcome.
0:13:45 > 0:13:46LAUGHTER.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Mr Speaker, the health service is devolved,
0:13:48 > 0:13:49but junior doctors in Scotland are not planning
0:13:50 > 0:13:51to strike next week.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Why does the Prime Minister think that the Scottish Government have
0:13:53 > 0:13:55good relations with junior doctors and his government do not?
0:13:56 > 0:13:57Prime Minister.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59And now for the Scottish pl`y.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02I think he raises an important question.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06We have taken a different approach to the government in Scotland.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08We have increased spending on the NHS by more than
0:14:08 > 0:14:11the government in Scotland, which I think is the right `pproach.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14But we are determined to de`l with this issue of having
0:14:14 > 0:14:17a genuine seven-day NHS.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Everybody knows - doctors know it, patients know it, the managdment
0:14:20 > 0:14:22of the NHS know it, the BMA knows it -
0:14:22 > 0:14:26that there is a problem with the NHS at the weekend and one of the ways
0:14:26 > 0:14:29to correct that is making stre that we have new contracts,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31including with junior doctors, to make sure not
0:14:31 > 0:14:33that they work longer hours...
0:14:33 > 0:14:37In fact, under our plans, many will work many fewer hours
0:14:37 > 0:14:41It is not to reduce doctors' pay.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44No-one who works legal hours will see a cut in their pay.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Indeed, 75% of doctors will see a pay rise.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50We think that this is a good deal for a good advance in the NHS.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53And I am sure that Scotland will be looking at it too.
0:14:53 > 0:14:58Angus Robertson.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02The Scottish Government havd been investing record levels of funding
0:15:02 > 0:15:06in the NHS in Scotland and `lso works very hard to have the best
0:15:06 > 0:15:10possible relations with doctors nurses and all NHS staff.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Will the English Health Secretary speak to his Scottish colle`gue
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Shona Robison, to learn how to resolve the situation in England
0:15:15 > 0:15:18and stave off strike action that no-one wants to see,
0:15:18 > 0:15:19least of all junior doctors?
0:15:19 > 0:15:20Prime Minister.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23There should always be good relations and good discussions
0:15:23 > 0:15:25between the Health Secretarx in the United Kingdom Government
0:15:25 > 0:15:31and Health Ministers in the devolved administrathons
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Obviously, one thing that wd think is important: When we make
0:15:34 > 0:15:37a decision to increase fundhng in the NHS, as we have done -
0:15:37 > 0:15:40?19 billion more in this Parliament - it has consequences for W`les
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Scotland and Northern Ireland under the Barnett formula.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45And, of course, I find it vdry depressing that the Welsh h`ve
0:15:45 > 0:15:47decided, under Labour, to spend less than we are planning
0:15:47 > 0:15:55to spend, and that Scotland has done the same thing.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Chris Green.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03CHEERING.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07The local economy in my constituency of Bolton West continues
0:16:07 > 0:16:10to strengthen, with great btsinesses such as Eventura and LLabor`te both
0:16:10 > 0:16:15relocating to and growing in Westhoughton.
0:16:15 > 0:16:21We are also seeing Heritage Trade Frames investing ?1 million
0:16:21 > 0:16:25in equipping a new factory in Lostock, and Trojan Utilhties
0:16:25 > 0:16:28winning new contracts and rdcruiting more staff in Horwich.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Will the Prime Minister agrde with me that the Northern Powerhouse
0:16:31 > 0:16:35is not just about our great northern cities, it is also
0:16:35 > 0:16:38about our great northern towns?
0:16:38 > 0:16:40CHEERING.
0:16:40 > 0:16:41Prime Minister.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45My honourable friend is absolutely right.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47It is instructive that Opposition Members do not
0:16:47 > 0:16:49want to hear good news about the businesses,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51jobs and investment that are happening in our economx.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54But I think sometimes it can sound as if the plan
0:16:54 > 0:16:56for a Northern Powerhouse is all about the cities
0:16:56 > 0:16:59of the north of England.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Our view is that by linking up the cities, you also help the towns
0:17:02 > 0:17:04in the north-west and across our country.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07You also help the rural are`s because you are rebalancing our
0:17:07 > 0:17:12economy and increasing opportunity in the north of our country.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Anna Turley.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39In 2014, in response to the flooding of the Thames Valley,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41the Prime Minister said that money would be no object.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44In the light of his cuts to the flood defences,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46his cut of a fire and rescud service, his cuts to
0:17:46 > 0:17:49the Environment Agency, can he say the same to the people
0:17:49 > 0:17:51of Leeds, Rochdale, York, Whitby and Teesside?
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Or is it one rule for his constituents and another
0:17:53 > 0:17:55for ours in the North?
0:17:55 > 0:17:57She is completely wrong about the funding figures,
0:17:57 > 0:17:59as I have explained in great detail.
0:17:59 > 0:18:021.5 billion to 1.7 billion to 2 billion.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05But the point is what we've put in place under this governmdnt
0:18:05 > 0:18:07is not funding of 85% of what a council spends
0:18:07 > 0:18:09but funding of 100%.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11So what I said absolutely stands good.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14The PM has always been a st`unch supporter of the Welsh TV channel
0:18:14 > 0:18:16S4C set up under the Thatcher government.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Could he use this opportunity to reinforce his support
0:18:19 > 0:18:21for the channel and the comlitment we made to safeguarding its funding?
0:18:21 > 0:18:23I am very happy to do that.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26S4C is a very important part of our broadcasting structure,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28it is very popular and well liked in Wales.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31I want to make sure we meet both the wording and the spirit
0:18:31 > 0:18:34of our manifesto promise to make sure this continues to be
0:18:34 > 0:18:36a very strong channel.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40With home ownership down to its lowest level in a generation,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43down every year since he became Prime Minister, why did Torx MPs
0:18:43 > 0:18:45vote against Labour's amendlent to the housing bill last night
0:18:45 > 0:18:48which would have perfected the publicly funded discount
0:18:48 > 0:18:50for new starter homes for future buyers?
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Isn't that better value for money for first-time buyers
0:18:54 > 0:19:03and for the taxpayer? Yes or no?
0:19:04 > 0:19:05Well, the proposal for starter homes
0:19:05 > 0:19:09is a Conservative Party proposal put into our manifesto and opposed
0:19:09 > 0:19:11throughout by the Labour Party.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13This is only happening because we won a majority and put
0:19:13 > 0:19:15the housing bill through this House of Commons.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18We are taking every step we can to help more people get
0:19:18 > 0:19:19on the housing ladder.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22So, in London, where he represents, we are seeing Help to Buy now
0:19:22 > 0:19:25funding 40% of the home people want to buy rather than 20%.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28We are going to see 200,000 starter homes built during this Parliament.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Because we are managing our economy properly, interest rates ard low.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34So it is easier for people to get a mortgage and with our
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Help to Save scheme, there is now every opportunhty
0:19:37 > 0:19:41for people to put aside mondy to help them with the deposht.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45We are absolutely on the side of the home owner but above all
0:19:45 > 0:19:48those people who want to get on the housing ladder.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51We are helping with jobs, helping with the tax cuts,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54helping with Help to Buy, helping with Help to Save,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and crucially, helping by building more homes.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01On Boxing Day, the village of Croston in my constituency
0:20:01 > 0:20:08suffered the worst floods in living memory.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11With damage to schools, homes and businesses.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Will my right honourable frhend join with me in praising the efforts
0:20:14 > 0:20:16of everybody in Croston who pulled together to protect their community
0:20:16 > 0:20:19and will he ask his honourable friend, the member for Penrhth
0:20:19 > 0:20:22and The Border to review the decision by the Environlent
0:20:22 > 0:20:30Agency to switch off the pumps at Croston?
0:20:30 > 0:20:33First of all, let me pay trhbute to her constituents who worked
0:20:33 > 0:20:36around the clock to help each other in what were appalling floods
0:20:36 > 0:20:38with this incredibly high level of rainfall.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Let me join with her in thanking the emergency services again
0:20:42 > 0:20:44for all the work they did.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46After floods like this, there are always questions
0:20:46 > 0:20:49about which pumps were used, which flood gates were open,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51what decisions were made by the experts on the ground
0:20:51 > 0:20:54and it is very important, having seen many communities flooded
0:20:54 > 0:20:57in my own constituency, it is very important to hold
0:20:57 > 0:20:59meetings with community after community to go through those
0:20:59 > 0:21:02decisions and work out what lessons can be learnt and work
0:21:02 > 0:21:05out whether the right decisions were made.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07I absolutely pledge that that should be done.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09We have announced ?40 million for the work across Lancashhre
0:21:09 > 0:21:12and Cumbria for helping people out and we will make sure the flood
0:21:12 > 0:21:16alleviation money, the scheles that we set up after 2013,
0:21:16 > 0:21:21that the money is paid out as quickly as it can be.
0:21:21 > 0:21:29In light of last month's Paris climate agreement
0:21:29 > 0:21:32at which all countries agreed to progressively
0:21:32 > 0:21:35increase their ambition and to keep global warning
0:21:35 > 0:21:37well below two degrees,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40does the Prime Minister agrde that we must now urgently bdgin
0:21:40 > 0:21:44the process of strengthening the EU's 2030 greenhouse gas
0:21:44 > 0:21:48reduction targets to 50% below 990 levels at the very least,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52a position he argued for at the European Council?
0:21:52 > 0:21:58Let me join her in once agahn recognising that Paris
0:21:58 > 0:22:00was a big step forward.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Previous agreements, like at Kyoto, didn't include action
0:22:03 > 0:22:06by China or action by America.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09And now you've got all the big countries, all the big emitters
0:22:09 > 0:22:10as part of the deal.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13We did argue that the EU should go further.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16We achieved, I think, a very aggressive package for the EU
0:22:16 > 0:22:19but that was the best we cotld do in the circumstances.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23I think the EU agreement helped to bring about the general `greement
0:22:23 > 0:22:25and no-one should be in any doubt that Britain is playing
0:22:25 > 0:22:26a very major role.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Let me give you one statisthc because I know there is gre`t
0:22:29 > 0:22:32interest in this House about solar panels.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35I asked a question the other day, what percentage of solar panels had
0:22:35 > 0:22:39been installed in Britain since we took office in 2010
0:22:39 > 0:22:42expecting the answer might be 50% or 60%,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44the answer is 98%.
0:22:44 > 0:22:50Yesterday it was announced that the Foxhill housing zone
0:22:50 > 0:22:53in Bath received ?313,000 of government funding to help
0:22:53 > 0:22:57kick-start work to build thousands of new homes in the city.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Would the Prime Minister agree with me that this funding
0:23:00 > 0:23:03will help to reverse the lack of house-building under the party
0:23:03 > 0:23:05opposite and enable struggling families to get
0:23:05 > 0:23:08onto the property ladder?
0:23:08 > 0:23:11I'm delighted to hear about the development
0:23:11 > 0:23:13in his constituency.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15The fact is we've built 700,000 houses since this government came
0:23:15 > 0:23:17to office in 2010.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20There is a lot more that nedds to be done.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Sometimes, it is specific bhts of transport infrastructure,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25or specific planning permissions or disagreements between district
0:23:25 > 0:23:28councils and county councils that need to be sorted out.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30But we shouldn't forget the fact that the developers
0:23:30 > 0:23:33and house-builders will onlx go ahead with house-building
0:23:33 > 0:23:36if they believe it is a benhgn economic environment with a strong
0:23:36 > 0:23:39and growing economy and stable interest rates and all
0:23:39 > 0:23:41the things that we need.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43That is the key to the success in housing.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48The Prime Minister promised to cut the number of government spdcial
0:23:48 > 0:23:52advisers and the Chancellor wants to limit pay increases to ptblic
0:23:52 > 0:23:56sector employees to 1% so how does he possibly square that with now
0:23:56 > 0:23:59having 26 more special advisers than in 2010 and a 42% pay hncrease
0:23:59 > 0:24:05for the Chancellor's own personal image consultant?
0:24:05 > 0:24:10There are fewer special advhsers under this government
0:24:10 > 0:24:14than there was under the last government.
0:24:14 > 0:24:21Will my right honourable frhend agree with me that it is more
0:24:21 > 0:24:25than a matter of regret that the new Shadow Defence Secretary has seen
0:24:25 > 0:24:30fit to take a donation from the immoral, thieving
0:24:30 > 0:24:35and ambulance-chasing lawyers Leigh Day, together
0:24:35 > 0:24:43with Public Interest Lawyers specialise in hounding our brave
0:24:43 > 0:24:46service personnel in Iraq with spurious claims?
0:24:46 > 0:24:51Is it time that we removed the latter from the pernicious
0:24:51 > 0:24:53clutches of the Human Rights Act and honoured our manifesto
0:24:53 > 0:24:57commitment for a British bill of rights?
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Taking his questions in turn, yes, we should honour our commitlent
0:25:01 > 0:25:05for a British bill of rights and I look forward to
0:25:05 > 0:25:07making progress on that.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10I do think that this organisation, Leigh Day, does have some qtestions
0:25:10 > 0:25:13to answer, not least because they were deeply involved
0:25:13 > 0:25:16in the Al-Sweady inquiry where a whole lot of claims,
0:25:16 > 0:25:22completely fell apart and there was, it seems, evidence that could have
0:25:22 > 0:25:24shown that those claims were falsd.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28And I do think it is instructive that we have lost a Shadow Secretary
0:25:28 > 0:25:32of State for Defence who believed in strong defence,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35who believed in our nuclear deterrent, and instead,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38we've got someone, apparently, who takes funds from Leigh Day.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41I think that leaves us with serious questions to answer.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Frankly, it goes to a bigger truth, which is one day, this reshtffle,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48I suppose, will be over, and we will be left
0:25:48 > 0:25:52with a collection of politicians
0:25:52 > 0:25:56who have signed up to unilateral nuclear disarmament,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59who have signed up to wrackhng up taxes, debt and spending
0:25:59 > 0:26:02and one of the left-wing programmes in living memory.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06This is a collective act they would have taken part hn.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08We shouldn't be asking is the Leader of the Opposition happy
0:26:08 > 0:26:11to have the member of Leeds Central. We know he is not.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14The question is, what on earth is the member for Leeds Central
0:26:14 > 0:26:18and others doing in this Labour Party government?
0:26:18 > 0:26:25The Prime Minister may be aware that there is also a Shakespeare
0:26:25 > 0:26:30connection to Knowsley where Midsummer Night Dream,
0:26:30 > 0:26:34for example, was written, amongst other plays.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37I wonder whether he will lend his support to the proposal
0:26:37 > 0:26:41for a Shakespeare of the North, which will complete the tri`ngle
0:26:41 > 0:26:45of the Globe Theatre, Stratford upon Avon and Knowsley
0:26:45 > 0:26:47as a celebration of the work of Shakespeare?
0:26:47 > 0:26:51I think this sounds like an excellent proposal.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54We shouldn't try and constr`in Shakespeare to Stratford.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57We should be making sure thhs is a national, indeed international
0:26:57 > 0:27:01celebration so I will look carefully at the proposal he makes.
0:27:01 > 0:27:07In Derbyshire, the County Council have announced plans to cut four
0:27:07 > 0:27:10care homes, including Hillcrest in my constituencx.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14As well as axing sheltered housing wardens from March.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18This is clearly an attack on the elderly and vulnerable
0:27:18 > 0:27:21in Derbyshire by an authority with a proven track record
0:27:21 > 0:27:24of wasting taxpayers' money.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Will my right honourable frhend look at this dismal situation to ensure
0:27:27 > 0:27:31all Derbyshire residents have access to good levels of care?
0:27:31 > 0:27:34I am very happy to look at the problem and the issud
0:27:34 > 0:27:37that my honourable friend r`ises.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Obviously, this is the Labour-controlled council
0:27:41 > 0:27:42taking these decisions.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46What I would urge them to do is look at the proposal that we madd
0:27:46 > 0:27:48in the spending review, look at the fact that counchls
0:27:48 > 0:27:52are now able to use a surch`rge on the council tax to fund
0:27:52 > 0:27:55additional social care and then recognise that their job,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58instead of playing politics, should be serving local people.
0:27:58 > 0:28:05Last year, the IMF warned income inequality is the most defining
0:28:05 > 0:28:08challenge of our time, is gdtting worse, and slows economic growth.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11By last night, FTSE 100 chidf executives will have been p`id
0:28:11 > 0:28:15more for five days' work than the average UK worker will be
0:28:15 > 0:28:21paid for the whole of 2016, getting a pay rise of nearlx 50
0:28:21 > 0:28:26last year while the average worker had a pay rise of less than 2%.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30So, will the Prime Minister support the High Pay Centre's
0:28:30 > 0:28:34recommendations for organis`tions to publish data on the ratio
0:28:34 > 0:28:37of the top pay to average p`y?
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Well, I'm a great supporter of transparency in these thhngs
0:28:41 > 0:28:44as we've proved in the government.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46But, let's be clear, since I have become Prime Mhnister,
0:28:46 > 0:28:50income inequality has actually fallen whereas it went up under
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Labour.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55One of the biggest things we are doing to help with income
0:28:55 > 0:28:58inequality is for the first time ever to bring in
0:28:58 > 0:29:00a national living wage.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03This is the year that we ard going to see people paying no tax
0:29:03 > 0:29:06until people have earned ?10,00 .
0:29:06 > 0:29:09This is the year we are going to see a national living wage at ?7.20
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Those are big advances in hdlping the low paid in our country.
0:29:12 > 0:29:18I would like to pay tribute, as well, to the countless ntmbers
0:29:18 > 0:29:22of people and organisations who have helped out during the recent floods.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Yesterday, I spoke with the chairman of the new insurance scheme Flood Re
0:29:26 > 0:29:30and I know that people who have been hammered by the floods will welcome
0:29:30 > 0:29:35the fact that their premiums will be quashed and that they won't meet eye
0:29:35 > 0:29:40watering excesses but he told me that it won't cover any houses
0:29:40 > 0:29:45built after 2009 and it won't cover businesses eithdr.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50Will the Prime Minister look again at the scheme to ensure
0:29:50 > 0:29:53that it is properly comprehdnsive?
0:29:53 > 0:29:58We are looking very carefully at this scheme, particularlx
0:29:58 > 0:30:00on the issue of the businesses.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03What we have heard so far is a number of anecdotal stories
0:30:03 > 0:30:05about small businesses saying it will be very difficult
0:30:05 > 0:30:07to get insurance.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Meanwhile, the insurance colpanies are telling us they won't ttrn down
0:30:10 > 0:30:12any small businesses.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16So, we need to get to the bottom of this before we get the fhnal
0:30:16 > 0:30:18introduction of Flood Re in April this year.
0:30:18 > 0:30:23It was good to welcome the Prime Minister and his
0:30:23 > 0:30:25Excellency the President of China to Manchester Airport
0:30:25 > 0:30:29in my constituency recently to talk about investment.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32But what is in the North's hnterests and what is in that nation's
0:30:32 > 0:30:35interests is extra runway capacity in the South East.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Why does the Prime Minister continue to procrastinate?
0:30:38 > 0:30:43First of all, can I thank hhm and everyone in Greater Manchester
0:30:43 > 0:30:48who helped to welcome President Xi at the excellent lunch that was held
0:30:48 > 0:30:51in Manchester and then the very good visit to Manchester Airport.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54The point I would make, in response to his question,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57is that the Environmental Atdit Committee of this House and indeed
0:30:57 > 0:31:01the author of the original report, Howard Davies, have both sahd
0:31:01 > 0:31:06that the problems of air qu`lity do raise new questions
0:31:06 > 0:31:08that the government has to `nswer.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11I'm in favour of answering those questions and then
0:31:11 > 0:31:13making a decision.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18Two years ago, I think tomorrow the House lost a superb
0:31:18 > 0:31:22parliamentarian and much-loved colleague in all parts of the House,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25the honourable gentleman's predecessor, Paul Goggins.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29We remember him with affection and respect.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33And we also remember and thhnk fondly of his widow Wyn
0:31:33 > 0:31:38and their children, Matthew, Theresa and Dominic
0:31:38 > 0:31:40who are all wonderful human beings
0:31:40 > 0:31:44and we wish them well for the future.
0:31:44 > 0:31:45Philip Davies.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50As the Prime Minister knows, my constituency was decimatdd
0:31:50 > 0:31:52by the recent floods.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55It was reported in the Bradford Telegraph earlier this week
0:31:55 > 0:31:58that the Bradford district would not receive any of the extra funding
0:31:58 > 0:32:01the Prime Minister announced for Yorkshire for flood defdnces.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03Will he take this opportunity to confirm that isn't the c`se,
0:32:03 > 0:32:08that whatever money is necessary to protect my constituency
0:32:08 > 0:32:10from future flooding will bd spent?
0:32:10 > 0:32:14And if he is struggling to find the money, perhaps he could use
0:32:14 > 0:32:16money from the overseas aid budget because I am sure he believds
0:32:16 > 0:32:19that victims are flooding in Shipley should not be discriminated
0:32:19 > 0:32:22against in terms of victims of flooding in other parts
0:32:22 > 0:32:23of the world.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27Let me say to my honourable friend, we will do what it takes to make
0:32:27 > 0:32:30sure that families and commtnities and businesses can
0:32:30 > 0:32:32get back on their feet.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34That is why we have invested record sums more quickly into
0:32:34 > 0:32:36the areas that have been affected.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39We have learnt the lessons of previous floods where soletimes
0:32:39 > 0:32:41the schemes have been too bureaucratic, too much time
0:32:41 > 0:32:43has been taken.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45So, whether it is building new bridges, whether it is repairing
0:32:45 > 0:32:48roads, whether it is building the flood defences,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51whether it is examining where the water went this thme
0:32:51 > 0:32:53and what more can be done, we will make sure that work
0:32:53 > 0:32:56is carried out in Bradford, as in everywhere else.
0:32:56 > 0:33:01Is the Prime Minister aware of the valuable work
0:33:01 > 0:33:05of the National Wildlife Crhme Unit in not just enforcing the l`w
0:33:05 > 0:33:07but in promoting
0:33:07 > 0:33:10animal welfare and part of the international
0:33:10 > 0:33:12effort against the trade in endangered species?
0:33:12 > 0:33:16Is he further aware that thd funding for it expires in just a cotple
0:33:16 > 0:33:19of months' time and Defra and the Home Office have yet to make
0:33:19 > 0:33:21a decision to continue it?
0:33:21 > 0:33:24Can I ask him to prevail upon his right honourable friends
0:33:24 > 0:33:27to ensure this extremely important and valuable work is continted?
0:33:27 > 0:33:32My understanding is that we have kept the funding for
0:33:32 > 0:33:33this organisation.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36It does important work both domestically and in
0:33:36 > 0:33:38terms of overseas.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40I will look very carefully at what he suggests.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43I think there is a decision still to be made about the future
0:33:43 > 0:33:45but up until now, we have b`cked this organisation fully.
0:33:45 > 0:33:51My right honourable friend knows that the legacy of thalidomhde
0:33:51 > 0:33:55still hangs over over 500 pdople in our country today.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00In the last Parliament, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister signalled a very
0:34:00 > 0:34:04strong support to get a fair and just solution to their problems.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08Can I ask my right honourable friend in this Parliament to renew that
0:34:08 > 0:34:11pledge and to work with the all-party group to ensure
0:34:11 > 0:34:13a just outcome?
0:34:13 > 0:34:15I'm very happy to make that clear.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18In the last Parliament, I mdt with some of my own constittents
0:34:18 > 0:34:21who have been affected by thalidomide and they had a number
0:34:21 > 0:34:23of things they wanted parliamentarians to do.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27I think a lot of people got behind their campaign and I'm happy
0:34:27 > 0:34:30to continue to work with thdm in this Parliament.