20/01/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

Order.

Questions to the Prime Minister

Mr Gareth Thomas.

Number one, Mr Speaker.

Thank you.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues

and others and in addition to my duties in this

House I will have further stch meetings later today.

Gareth Thomas.

If you have worked hard for a company and helped it succeed,

surely you should be allowed to benefit a little from thd profits

that that company makes.

Does the Prime Minister think it is time for companies

like Sports Direct to follow the example of the best bushnesses

and benefit from a small percentage of the profits?

We have encouraged companies to have profit-sharing arrangements

and we took action in previous budgets to do that,

but we are going further th`n that to make sure there is for the first

time in our country a national living wage, which will comd

in in April this year.

That means, for the lowest paid people in this country

on the minimum wage it will be a 7.5% pay rise in April under

a Conservative government.

Mr Speaker, with mounting global economic uncertainty,

it was comforting to see thhs morning's figures showing

record UK employment.

In this new age of kinder

consensual politics does my Right Honourable friend agrde

that

every member of this House welcome the news

that

from North Yorkshire to North London Britain

is back in work?

My honourable friend is absolutely right.

Over the last year, we've actually seen more people in work in every

region in our country.

That is something that is wdlcome.

The unemployment figures thhs morning, which the House might not

have had time to see, are very welcome.

The unemployment rate is now the lowest rate in nearly

a decade at 5.1%.

The unemployment rate is now lower than it was at the start

of the recession.

The latest figures show unelployment falling by another 99,000.

And we have today in our cotntry the record number of people in work

ever in our history and a rdcord number of women in work.

Since I've become Prime Minhster 2.3 million more people in work,

and I'm sure that is somethhng the whole house can welcome.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, it's nice to get such

a warm welcome.

HECKLING.

If you will allow me for ond moment.

Can the Prime Minister tell the House where in his election

manifesto he put his plan to abolish maintenance grants for all students?

First of all, people will rdcognise no welcome for the thousands

of people who found work in our country,

what a depressing spectacle.

In our manifesto we said we would cut the deficit

and we would uncap student numbers, and we've done both.

Jeremy Corbyn.

There is not such joy in Port Talbot and other pl`ces

that have lost steel jobs and they want a Government

to support their industries.

The Prime Minister has form in terms of student maintenance grants

because the Conservative manifesto there was no mention either...

Are you done?

Let me very gently say to the dedicated Prime Minister s

Parliamentary Private Secretary ..

Calm yourself, man.

Being a statesman does not include chuntering.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

As I was saying,

the Prime Minister has form here because there was no mdntion

of tax credit cuts in the manifesto either.

This proposal will affect 500,0 0 students, not in his manifesto.

I have a question from a sttdent by the name of Liam,

who says: I'm training to bd a mathematics teacher and whll now

come out at the end of my course to debts in excess of ?50,000,

which is roughly twice as mtch as what his annual income would be.

Why is Liam being put into such debt?

What I would say to Liam is he is now in a country

where the university system has more people going to university than ever

before, and more people from low-income backgrounds

going to university than ever before.

In addition, what I'd say to Liam, and I wish him well,

is he will not pay back a penny of his loan

until he's earning ?21,000.

He will not start paying back in full until he's earning ?35, 00.

And our policy is actually going to put more money in the hands

of students like Liam, which is why we are doing it.

By contrast, the Labour polhcy, which is to scrap the loans

and scrap the fees, which would cost ?10 billion,

would mean going back to a situation where people went out,

worked hard, paid their taxds for the elite to go to univdrsity.

We are uncapping aspiration and he wants to put a cap on it

Jeremy Corbyn.

I'm pleased to say Liam is trying to be a maths teacher which might be

able to help the Prime Minister because he did say he was e`rning

?25,000, which is more than ?21,000, if that is a help

In 2010 his Government...

in 2010, Mr Speaker,

the Prime Minister's Governlent trebled tuition fees to ?9,000,

defending it by saying they would be increasing maintenance grants

for students from less well-off backgrounds.

They are now scrapping thosd very same grants they used to bo`st

about being increased.

Where is the sense in doing this?

Why are they abolishing those maintenance grants?

The sense in doing this is we want to uncap univershty

places, so as many young people in our country who want to go

to university can go to university.

And that's what we are doing.

Before too much shouting from the party opposite,

when they were in government it was Labour that introducdd

the fees and loans system.

Given this is the week we are meant to be learning the lessons

of the last election, let me read a lesson from someone,

frankly, I rather miss, Mr Dd Balls, who wrote this this week

in the Times Higher Education Supplement.

He said this: We clearly didn't find a sustainable way forward

for the financing of higher education.

If the electorate think you have the answers for thd future

they will support you.

When they were in Government they supported fees and loans,

when we were in opposition we made the mistake that they did.

If you want to be on the side of aspiration, if you want to be

on the side of more univershty students and help people make

the most of their lives, the system we've got is one

that is working and the numbers prove it.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, that is from thd very same Prime Minister who is taking

away the grants that are designed to help the poorest

within our society

and give them access to higher education.

I want to ask him about one particular group that

are being targeted by this Government, student nurses.

Not mentioned in the manifesto, the repayments that student nurses

will have to pay when they pualify amount to an effective pay cut

of ?900 for each nurse.

Why is he punishing them when we need these nurses

within the NHS?

First of all there are 6,700 more nurses than when I became

Prime Minister, but the facts are these: The Labour Party does not

want to face up to difficult decisions but let me give hhm

this one statistic.

Today, two out of three people who want to become a nurse can't

become a nurse because of the bursary system.

So, by introducing the loans, nurses will get more money,

we will train more nurses and bring in fewer from overseas.

It's good for nurses, it's good for the NHS and good

for our country, and it's only a Labour Party

that is so short-sighted and anti-aspiration

that can't see it.

Jeremy Corbyn!

The Prime Minister and I wotld probably agree that we need to be

spending more and directing more resources in dealing with the mental

health crisis in this country.

I've got a question from solebody who wants to help us get

through this crisis by becoling a mental health nurse.

It's a woman called Vicky from York, and she has a very real problem

I wouldn't have been able to or chosen to study to be a mental

health nurse without a burs`ry for the following reasons: H'm

a single mum, I need support for childcare costs and havd debts

from a previous degree.

I'm a mature student of 33

and wouldn't take on further debts which would be impossible for me

to pay back and be fair on my daughter.

She is somebody who we need in our NHS.

We need her as a mental health nurse.

We are losing her skill, her dedication, her aspirathon

to help the entire communitx.

Two out of three Vickys that turn up who want to be nurses are ttrned

away by the current system, so we are bringing people

in from Bulgaria or Romania, or the other side of the world,

to do nursing jobs we should be training British people to do.

The British people want to train as nurses, the NHS wants those

nurses, this Government will fund those nurses,

so let's halp them train and improve our health servhce.

Jeremy Corbyn.

The problem is, you are expdcting Vicky and others like her to fund

themselves by paying back a debt, or paying back from their w`ges

in the future.

I don't think she has been very reassured by the Prime Minister s

answers today, unconvincing to her.

However, he wasn't very good at convincing the honourabld member

for Lewes, a nurse herself, who said, I would have struggled

to undertake my training given the changes to the bursary scheme.

Nine out of ten hospitals ctrrently have a nurse shortage.

Isn't what he is proposing for the nurse bursary schemd

going to exacerbate the crisis, make it worse for everybody

and make our NHS

less effective than more effective?

What is his answer to that point?

I will give him a direct answer which is we're going to see 10, 00

extra nurse degree places because of this policy.

Because we are effectively uncapping the numbers that can

go into nursing.

I have to say, Mr Speaker, this week has all been of a piece,

a retreat of the Labour Party into the past.

We've seen it with wanting to bring back secondary picketing,

wanting to bring back flying pickets, we've seen it with the idea

of stopping businesses paying dividends and with the absurd idea

that nuclear submarines shotld go to sea without their missilds.

Anyone watching this Labour Party, and it's not just the leader,

it's the whole party, they are a risk to national

security, a risk to economic security, a risk to our health

service and to the security of every family in our country.

Leicestershire and the East Midlands continue to be a powerhouse of jobs

and growth attracting investment from the UK

and beyond and we are rightly proud of the success of our local

businesses in Charnwood.

Is their continued ability to attract foreign investment helped

or hindered if secondary picketing were reintroduced?

The East Midlands is a powerhouse of our economy and we've sedn

employment in the East Midlands go up by 17,000.

When businesses look at whether to invest in Britain

whether they're overseas businesses, or indeed British businesses,

they want to know we are gohng to have good labour relations

and not a return to the 1970s of secondary strikes

and flying pickets.

It is extraordinary for a p`rty that spent so long trying to cast off

that image of being in favotr of these appalling industri`l

practices has now elected a leader and is backing a leader

who would take us right back to the 1970s.

Angus Robertson.

Thank you very much, Mr Spe`ker

World attention on the conflict in the Middle East is focusdd

on Syria and Iraq, and much less so on the catastrophe in Yelen

which has caused thousands of people to lose their lives and millions

of people to lose their homds.

Can the Prime Minster tell the House what the UK Government is doing

to support peace in Yemen?

We are doing all we can with the people taking part in this

conflict to encourage them to get round a negotiating table,

as they have done recently hn order to bring about what's necessary

in Yemen, a government that can represent all of the people.

You've got to make sure that both Sunni and Shia are properly

represented in that country and that's the only way we can

meet our national interest which is to back a government

in Yemen that will drive the terrorists, including Al-Qaeda

in the Arabian Peninsula, APAP, out of Yemen, because they have been

and are a direct threat to the citizens of Britain.

Angus Robertson.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in Yemen including a large

number by the Saudi air force using British built planes

with pilots trained by Brithsh instructors dropping British made

bombs and are co-ordinated by the Saudis in the presence

of British military advisers.

Isn't it time for the Prime Minister to admit that Britain is effectively

taking part in a war in Yemdn that is costing thousands

of civilian lives, and he h`s not sought Parliamentary approv`l

to do this?

I think the right honourabld gentleman started in a serious place

but then seriously wandered off

It is in our interests that we back the legitimate government of Yemen

I think the right honourabld gentleman started in a serious place

but then seriously wandered off

It is in our interests that we back the legitimate government of Yemen

and it's right to do that.

We have some of the most stringent arms control measures of anx country

anywhere in the world but to be absolutely clear,

we are not a member of the Saudi-led coalition.

British military personnel `re not directly involved in the co`lition

operations, personnel are not involved in carrying out strikes,

directing or conducting operations in Yemen or selecting targets

and are not involved in the Saudi targeting decision making process.

But, yes, do we provide trahning and advice and help in order to make

sure countries do obey the norms of humanitarian law?

Yes, we do.

Thank you.

The recent floods in the North of England have caused untold misery

to people, householders, farmers, livestock and also what we need

is a long-term strategy for floods, and I know the Prime Ministdr has

done a lot of work across the country.

Some rivers need to be dredged, some need to be slowed down

and we need to manage the floodwaters in a better way

Along with our long-term economic plan, can have a long-term

plan on floods?

We absolutely can do and th`t's exactly what the Environment

and Agriculture secretaries are doing.

We have an unprecedented six-year commitment of ?2.3 billion

but as important as the mondy, is making sure we have a johned up

approach to dredging in somd places, building flood barriers in others,

managing the water in landscapes, including farming practices

in a holistic way to use all the resources we have to reduce

the likelihoods of floods.

There is concern on all sidds about the recent rather patchwork

approach to constitutional reform.

We need a new act of union, one which sets out the rules

and responsibilities so that the process of devolution

max by consent will be both fairer and more comprehensible.

Will the Prime Minister agrded to meet with me and other mdmbers

of the constitutional reforl group to discuss any act of the union

We come from all the major political parties, including experts such

as Lord Lisvane, better known to this House as the former clerk

Robert Rogers.

I'm very happy to meet with the honourable lady.

There is great expertise in this area.

What I believe and I think where there would be common interest

in this, what we are trying to do, as the government, is find

a devolution settlement that works for all of the devolved nathons

of the United Kingdom, incltding, importantly for England as well

And I think we have made very good progress with the further ddvolution

measures we have had in Scotland and in Wales,

with the maintenance of the devolved assembly Northern Ireland.

If there are further measures we can take,

I am very happy to see them.

But I don't necessarily belheve that simply writing things down hn one

place will solve the problel.

But I am happy to meet with the honourable lady.

Does my right honourable frhend agree with me that our nucldar

deterrent only works against our nation's enemies

if our nuclear submarines at actually equipped

with nuclear missiles?

ANd those who do not believd this, they have a defence policy hnspired

by the Beatles yellow submarine and shows that while the melbers

opposite may twist and shout, their current leader

certainly needs help.

Well, I congratulate my honourable friend on his ingenious question.

If there is a comic element to sending submarines to sed

without missiles in, but in fact, it is absolutely serious

because deterrent the has bden, on a cross-party basis,

and absolute key part of our defence and making sure we've got

the ultimate insurance policy, which we support on this side

and we should vote on in thhs House.

All I can say, when it comes to Beatles songs, I suspect

that the Leader of the Opposition prefers back in the USSR.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Just under two weeks ago, a 16-year-old boy was murdered in

a knife attack in my constituency.

I'm sure the whole House want to join me in sending our ddepest

condolences to his friends and family.

Given that knife crime in London rose last year and that the number

of teenage deaths as a result has peaked to the highest level in seven

years, what action will the government take to make sure

that we don't return to the days when knife crime in London `ffecting

particularly young people is merely a fact of life?

The honourable member speaks for the whole House and I al sure

the whole House will want to be in spirit with the family

and friends of Charlie Kutuxampo who lost his life in this attack.

There is nothing anyone can say here that will give them thd comfort

that they seek.

What I will say is that the law in terms of knife crime and offences

and the level of cost or du`l sentences people are getting,

for those crimes, I think the police have done a huge amount to hs trying

crackdown on knife crime and that is why over all,

it has fallen by 17% since 2010

I think there is still more, in terms of educating children

and young people about the dangers of carrying a knife.

In so many of these cases, the carrier of the knife ends up

the victim of the knife att`ck and so, as well as tough penalties,

strong policing, we also need better education.

Does the Prime Minister agrde with me that encouraging people

in this country to learn thd English language has a unifying effdct?

It aids integration and helps to create national identity

and social cohesion and therefore should be promoted?

My honourable friend is absolutely right.

I think the most important thing in our country is we make stre that

everybody can take advantagds of the opportunities in our country,

to work, to get training, to go to university.

This is an opportunity country.

But there is no opportunity for people if you don't

speak the language.

And that is why we are going to be targeting money and those pdople,

very often women, who have been stuck at home, sometimes by the men

in the House, and make sure they can get the English-language skhlls

that they need.

Let me just make one other additional point.

I think this is so important.

When I was sat in a mosque hn Leeds this week, one of the young people

there said how important it is that imams speak Englhsh

because if you've got young people, sometimes you speak English

themselves but not Urdu and not Arabic, they need someone to guide

them away from Isil and the poisonous rhetoric

so speaking English is important for all, imams included.

Over the past few months, young people in Southampton have

seen themselves frozen out of the living wage and houshng

benefit, faced the downgradhng of closure of the F E colleges

and sixth form colleges that many of them get their qualifications

from and now we see the endhng of maintenance grants for those

young people who want to go to university.

What is it the Prime Ministdr has got against young people trxing

to make their way in life?

I'll tell you what we are doing for young people.

Record numbers going to university, record numbers who are taking

on apprenticeships.

Record numbers in work.

Actually, the today, the guideline figures show ` record

low in the implement rate alongst those people who have left school.

I say to the honourable gentleman, one of the reasons why a Labour MP

in the south of England is `s rare as hen's teeth is because they talk

down our country and they t`lked down opportunity in it.

I would like to thank the Prime Minister for launching

the delivery board on Mondax evening at Number Ten, these men and women

who are experts in their sectors, together to deliver the 3 mhllion 17:38:31,696 --> 24:16:12,825 apprenticeships starts by 2020. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 thing if when students across our country log onto the UCAS 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 website, they are informed about the opportunities of degree 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 apprenticeships as well as the more traditional degrees? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I think my honourable friend is making a very important point 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 for two reasons. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 One is that if you become an apprentice, that is not blocking 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 out the chance of doing a ddgree later in your career. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Indeed, the opportunities for learning and learning 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 are getting greater in our country. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The secondaries and is in otr schools, of course all our teachers 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 are very well to tell peopld about degree opportunities 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 because that is the route they have taken, A-levels, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 UCAS form and suchlike. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 But we need to improve the information in our schools 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 though that people can see the upper tuna teas for apprenticeships, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 in some cases then leading onto degrees. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 My 24-year-old constituent Lara is in urgent need 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of the stem cell donor. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Her family's campaign - Match4Lara Is attracting global 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 support and on Saturday, the O2 Centre in my constittency 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 will be running a drive to get as many people as possible 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 on the bone marrow register. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Will the Prime Minister join me in this event on Saturday 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 and will he sentd a message of support to those working 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to keep Lara alive? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I certainly will join the honourable lady in supporting Lara's c`mpaign. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I have had meeting with the bone marrow organisations in number ten 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Downing St to support the m`tching campaign and I am sure 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 by her raising it at Question Time in this way, many others 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 will want to come to this event on Saturday and support Lar` 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 in the way she suggests. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The Prime Minister is aware that a number of colleagues 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 and I await his response to our request made in Novelber 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 for a meeting regarding the EU renegotiations to discuss 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the important issue of this Parliament by itself being `ble 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to stop any unwanted taxes and directives which goes 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to the core of the issues, such as control of our borddrs, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 business regulations, etcetdra. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Will he now meet with us prhor to the next EU meeting? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 As my honourable friend can imagine, I'm having a range of meetings 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 with my colleagues about the European issue. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I am sure I will be covering as many in our parliamentary 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 party as possible. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I have always felt with my honourable friend that he h`s 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 slightly made up his mind already and wants to leave the EU, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 whatever the results? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I don't want to take up any more of his time than is necessary. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The UK Government is a cheerleader for China to be awarded WTO market 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 economy status because it w`nts the City of London to becomd 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 a major trading centre for the Chinese currency. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 MES for China would make it nigh on impossible to charge tarhffs 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 on Chinese steel, despite its dumping strategx. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Is this not a classic case of once again the Westminster government 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 putting the bankers of London before manufacturing workers in Wales 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 and the rest of the UK? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I think the honourable gentleman is wrong, both on content 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 and on approach. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The two issues are separate. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 There are market economies that Europe still puts 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 dumping tariffs on. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 We actually did that recently with America. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 And we have done it in the past with Russia. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 So, I think we should take these two issues separately. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 We should continue to pursud robust action against China 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 which is exactly what we ard doing. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 In terms of a closer relationship, trading relationship with China 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I want to help those Welsh businesses, including companies 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 like Airbus to break into Chinese markets and make sure that we get 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the best for British jobs, British manufacturing, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 British exports. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 That is what we want in our relationship with Chhna. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Speaking of Airbus, Mr Speaker, the Mersey region which str`ddles 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the England Wales border is one of the most dynamic industrhal areas 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of the country. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Will my right honourable frhend welcome the establishment 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of the all-party Mersey grotp which has been formed to promote 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the economic success of the region? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 And will he urge his ministdrial colleagues and the Welsh government 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to cooperate with the group in its work? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 First of all, let me join my honourable friend 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 in welcoming this new group. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I think it is important, when you look at the development 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of the Welsh economy, very much to think about how 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 North Wales can benefit frol growth in the north-west of our cotntry 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 and the North West and Wales which this group will be ex`mining. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Clearly, HS2 and what happens in Crewe will be a vital part 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of that process but I am very happy to talk further with him. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Will the Prime Minister reiterate, not just on behalf 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of the government, but speaking for the whole of the House, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I believe, the unconditional and unequivocal support 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of the British people for the people of the Falkland Islands 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to their right... 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 ..to their inalienable and British-held right 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to self-determination and that that will not be undermined in any way 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 by some kind of accommodation or some kind of negotiations 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 in which the people of the Falkland islands may have an enormous site 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 but have no veto. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 They should have a right to determine their own future. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The honourable gentleman has put it better than I ever could. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The people of the Falkland Hslands have spoken as clearly 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 as they possibly could in that referendum and they want to maintain 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the Status Quo and as long as they want that, they havd 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 that guarantee from me. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 And I find it quite extraordinary that the Labour Party now 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 want to look at trying to change the status and to give away 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 something people absolutely considered to be there right. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 And that will never happen `s long as I am in Downing Street. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 As a former Cub Scout leader and Queen Scout, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I'm pleased to say that Scotting is thriving in Harrow. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 This year marks the centenary of the formation and bounding 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of Cub Scouting across the TK. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Will my right honourable frhend join me in congratulating 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the 150,000 young people who participate in Cub Scouting 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 every week in the UK, congratulate and thank the leaders 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 who give up their time voluntarily to enable young people 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to have a sense of adventurd in a safe environment and c`ll 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 on more people to volunteer as leaders as part of 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the big society movement? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I absolutely agree with my honourable friend. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The Scouts are a great part of the big society. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 We provided them and other tniformed youth groups with over ?10 lillion 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of funding since I have become Prime Minister to help them do 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 the excellent work they do. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I have had a letter recentlx from Bear Grylls, the chief scout 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 himself, looking at what we can do to welcome the centenary and give 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 this fantastic organisation a big centenary boost. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The Prime Minister should bd aware that Sheffield Forgemasters 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 announced this morning the loss of 100 jobs in this crisis hndustry. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Many of those jobs will be in my constituency. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 We have had lots of warm words, pandering, and some crocodile tears, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 both from the Prime Minister and ministers in this chambdr. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 About the tsunami of job losses across the steel industry. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Can he tell me when he is actually going to do something to actually 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 support world-class companids like Sheffield Forgemasters? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 First of all, we have taken action and including the action on energy 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 bills which will save these industries ?400 million in this 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Parliament. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The honourable gentleman chose to inject a bit 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of politics into this. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Well, let me inject some back. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 When the Labour Party were hn power, what happened to employment 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 in the steel industry? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 It was cut by 35,000, cut in half. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 that we put in place? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Where were the rules for making sure that we buy British Steel 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 here when it comes to public procurement, as we will for HS2 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 with the carrier programme? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 And, also, if he is interested in Sheffield Forgemasters, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 he might want to have a little word with his leader about something 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 called the Trident submarind. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Mr Speaker, we don't yet know who will headline act Glastonbury 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 this summer but we do know that as things stand, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 they will not have anywhere to do their banking as this 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 world-famous town is to losd all three of its remaining banks 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 within 12 weeks of each othdr. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Will my right honourable frhend join me in encouraging thosd banks 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to think again and otherwisd to make sure they meet their response 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 that is under the banking protocols? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I will certainly make sure that happens and I will have a mdeting 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 with the Treasury Minister to discuss this issue. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 We are seeing huge challengds, partly because of the growth 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 of internet banking, but it is important in markdt towns 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 like his that we continue to have a physical presence 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 on the high street. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 The Prime Minister may be aware of the tragic case of Julie Pearson, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 a young Scottish woman who died in Israel in November 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 and was allegedly beat and raped before her death. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I met the family recently and I hope the whole House will join whth me 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 in offering our condolences. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 They are struggling to get `nswers from the Israeli government 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 and authorities, in particular getting help autopsy report. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 Will the Prime Minister meet with me and look at this case to put 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 pressure on the Israeli govdrnment and authorities into Julie's death 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 so the family can get the answers they want and ultimately 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 get justice for Julie? 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 First of all, I'm not aware, directly, of this case, 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 but I will certainly take it up on her behalf with the Isradli 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 authorities because it is ilportant that our constituents get answers 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 on this matter. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 I have is I can arrange with her to have a meeting 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 with the Foreign Office minhster so they can discuss it. 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 We have good relations with Israel, we should use those good relations 24:16:12,825 --> 24:16:12,825 to make sure that when people need answers, they get them.