03/02/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

Question one.

Thank you.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues

and in addition to my duties in this house I shall have

further meetings today.

Mr Speaker, is that it, is that the best the Prime Linister

can do?

Nothing for British pensiondrs?

Nothing for British workers and as the Office for

Budget Responsibility and the Treasury have confirmed

his long-term economic plan is reliant on over 1 million

new migrants entering this country before 2020.

Has the Prime Minister got the bottle to confirm

this inconvenient truth?

I'll tell you what we are doing for pensioners.

A triple

lock on pensions.

Never again the 75p rise that they got from Labour

with prices or wages or 2.5$.

What we are doing from people who work hard in Britain is create

2.3 million more jobs since I became Prime Minister.

Of course I believe we will succeed more as a country if we get a good

deal in Europe and stay in a reformed Europe.

It will be good for jobs, good for investment, good for growth

and that is what I'm fighting for.

Marcus Fish.

People in my constituency, Yeovil, are rightly proud

of their contribution to thd defence of this country, whether through

the skill and readiness of the fleet arm at Yeovilton or the loc`l

high-tech industry making and maintaining helicopters

and equipment for ships, submarines and aircraft and those

who bravely serve on them.

In the current circumstances of increasing security challenges

and responsibilities and a worrying lack of commitment to defence

in many European countries, I welcome the leadership,

the Government has shown in committing to spend 2% of GDP

on defence and I ask whether my right honourable friend

will meet with me to discuss ideas that I have to build

on local capability?

My honourable friend is absolutely right that Yeovil makes a htge

contribution to the defence of our country, not least

through AgustaWestland, a great British business.

We are committed to spending ?178 billion on defence equhpment

over the next decade, something we can only do

because we have a strong economy.

We are committed to that 2% and will make sure the monex is well

spent, making sure we have the right equipment for our

brave Armed Forces.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Tomorrow, Mr Speaker, is World Cancer Day.

Cancer is a disease that allost every family in this countrx has

been affected by.

Two and a half million people in this country have cancer.

There are members on both shdes of this House who have recehved

or are receiving treatment.

1,000 people every day diagnosed with cancer and go through ` trauma

as soon as they are diagnosdd.

But in the last year there's been a 36% increase in the number

of people waiting more than six weeks for vital diagnostic tests.

Could the Prime Minister do something to bring that down?

First I agree with the right honourable gentleman that the fight

against cancer is one of thd great fights of our time, one

we are determined to win.

When we look at how we treat cancer in this country we are putthng

an extra ?19 billion into the NHS and specifically while he is right,

everyone in this House and dvery family will know somebody affected

by cancer, we are treating more patients.

The figures.

Compared with 2010, over 644,00 more patients with suspected

cancers have been seen, an increase of 71% and almost 4 ,000

more patients have been tre`ted

An increase of 17%.

We have more doctors, more nurses, more cancer

specialists but the fight against it is something

we need to continue with.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, early diagnosis is essential when

dealing with cancer.

I think we all know that from personal experience.

The Government's independent task force into cancer reported last

year, and I quote, we currently have a serious shortage

of radiologists in England.

We need more of them so could the Prime Minister explain

why we are cutting by 5% thd number of training places availabld

for therapeutic radiographers?

We need more radiologists and we are getting them

because we are putting more money into the NHS.

Where he is right is that waiting times...

A moment ago the honourable lady was shouting about waiting times,

there are three key targets on them.

First that people should be seen by a specialist within two weeks

of an urgent GP referral, and we're meant to be

on 93% of occasions, we are currently on 94.7,

we need to make sure that the first treatment comes within 31 d`ys

of diagnosis, that's very ilportant, there's a 96% standard and we're

meeting that by 97.7%.

But I accept that when it comes to the first treatment withhn 6

days the standard is 85% and we are at 83.5 so we must improve.

With training, we are incre`sing training places in the NHS,

we discussed nurses last wedk where we are opening up nurse

training by making sure that we train an extra 10,000 nurses

but the crucial point is that the money is there

in the NHS because we've got a strong economy.

?19 billion more, money that would never be there

if we followed his crazy economic plans.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, my question was on therapeutic radiographers.

The Prime Minister did not answer on that.

Without an improvement in the numbers available

there will be a problem with treatment, that must bd

obvious to everyone.

The cancer task force also `sks and I quote, for a radical tpgrade

in prevention and public he`lth

Programmes like stopping smoking and anti-obesity are absolutely

essential to stop the spread of cancer and indeed to help people

live better lives so they don't develop cancer at all.

But if we cut, as he proposds, ?200 million from the public health

budget, surely that is going to lead to an increase in cancer,

with all the trauma that gods with it, and indeed the gre`ter cost

for the rest of the community.

Could he explain why he is making this cut?

First of all, let me come b`ck to diagnostic radiographers,

because there are 1,800 mord diagnostic radiographers

than when I became Prime Minister in 2010.

That is a 15% increase.

The reason that there is an increase is that we said that we would put

more money into the NHS, a real terms increase,

something we were told by the then Shadow Health Secretary

was irresponsible.

We ignored Labour and we put money into the health service.

As a result, there's been a 15% increase

in diagnostic radiographers.

When it comes to the rest of the cancer plan, the mondy

is being invested, there is a key difference,

though, between England and Wales and something he can help whth,

which is that there is a Labour government in Wales.

Whereas we have a Cancer Drtgs Fund, they don't have one in Wales.

So he needs to sort that out with that Labour Administration

As for public health, under this Government,

real advances have been made on public health,

including smoking rules in the backs of cars,

including plain paper packaging, and ring fencing

public health budgets.

All done under the Conservatives, not done under Labour.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister is responsible for the health

service in England.

Wales is a devolved matter.

He must be aware...

SHOUTING.

And he must be aware that c`ncer survival rates are improving better

in Wales than in any other part of the UK.

But my question was...

My question, Mr Speaker, was about the cuts in public health

budgets and the effect that has on cancer care.

Could the Prime Minister tell us when was the last time that the NHS

target for starting cancer treatment was met within the 62 days required?

As I have said, of the thred big targets we are meeting

the specialist within two wdeks target, and meeting the first

treatment within 31 days of diagnosis treatment,

we are currently falling short of the 62 days target,

something I actually said in the answer to question two,

but he has not got around to it until question five.

The cogs need to turn a little faster.

He can't wash his hands of the situation in Wales,

Labour run Wales.

And what have they done in Wales?

Labour have cut the NHS in Wales.

Now it is emerging, what Labour's great plan is,

cut the NHS in Wales and rahse income tax on hard-working

people in Scotland.

That's right.

What will they do to radiographers in Scotland?

Put up their taxes.

What will they do to nurses in Scotland?

Put up their taxes.

What will they do to dentists in Scotland?

Put up their taxes.

We now know the Labour plan.

Higher taxes for more welfare.

They have learned nothing in the last decade.

Mr Speaker, the last time the two months target was met

was 19 months ago.

The Prime Minister must be aware of that.

I am pleased if he is taking action to make sure that doesn't

continue or get worse.

Another issue that affects cancer patients is the recently deleted

provisions in the Welfare Rdform and Work Bill that would have taken

?30 per week from ESA claim`nts in the work related activitx group.

Martin contacted me this week and says...

OK, it is funny for many melbers opposite, it isn't funny for Martin.

Martin has a close friend who has breast cancer,

and I quote, is obviously too unwell to work, and cuts

will put her into hardship `t a time when she is most vulnerable.

There are 3,200 people with cancer hit by this cut to the ESA.

Will the Prime Minister now confirm that when that matter returns

to the House of Commons, he would ensure that the Lords'

position is upheld and people like her don't suffer the ctt

that he wanted to make in the first place?

Let me explain the situation.

There are two sorts of employment and support allowance,

the work-related activity group who are able to train for work

and the support group who go on getting employment and stpport

allowance indefinitely.

That's the situation.

We have said that in future the work-related activity group

should be paid at the same rate as jobseeker's allowance

but that is for future clailants, not for existing claimants.

They will continue to be pahd at the same rate.

Of course if someone has cancer and cannot work they should be

in the support group.

We've had this issue looked at again and again and again.

If they cannot work they go on getting the welfare

payments they need.

That is what a compassionatd Conservative Government does.

But I have to come back to him because he cannot wash his hands

for the situation in Wales.

Hip operations in England t`ke 5 days' waiting times on aver`ge,

in Wales, it's 197 days.

Diagnosis of pneumonia takes two weeks longer,

treatment of cataracts, hernias, heart operations,

take two months longer than in England.

Labour are running Wales.

He is responsible for Labour.

Pick up the phone and tell them to stop cutting our NHS.

Mr Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, it is interesting that the Prime Minister did not

answer the question I asked which is whether or not

he will proceed with the cut in the ESA to 3,200 people

with cancer at present.

I hope he thinks seriously about this and doesn't procded

with this proposal.

He'll find that MacMillan C`ncer Support, Rethink Mental Health

Illness, Parkinson's UK are all united in opposing this cut

because of the effect it will have on people with a range

of serious conditions.

The Prime Minister used to say that those with the broadest

shoulders should bear a greater load.

Can it be right that cancer patients and those with disabilities on 102

a week really are those with the broadest shoulders

who should bear this cut?

Please, Prime Minister, think again, and don't

try to reverse the decision of the House of Lords

on this important matter.

The people with the broadest shoulders are the highest e`rners

in this country and they ard paying a higher share of tax than they ever

did under labour.

That money is paying for thd NHS and the welfare system.

I answer the question very directly.

If you are an existing claimant on Employment

and Support Allowance your welfare is not changing.

But in future those people who are able to get back to work,

we should help them to get back to work,

that is what a compassionatd country does.

But it is quite clear what the Labour policy is,

cut the NHS in Wales and rahse taxes in Scotland to pay for more welfare.

That's not the approach this country needs.

David Warburton.

My right honourable friend will know the West Country is becoming ever

more the envy and the engind room of the rest of the country,

with dozens of companies moving from the dark recesses of London

to the bright sunlight of the West.

Will he keep supporting what they are now calling

Somerset's Silicon Gorge by maintaining investment

in our roads, rail and digital infrastructure?

I am certainly keen to support Silicon Gorge.

For a moment, I thought he said Silicon George!

It is essential that we have a balanced economy,

and that means a strong economy in the West of our country

as well as in the South and the north.

We are investing in the transport infrastructure, not least the vital

roads to the West Country, and improving rail links as well,

as I saw for myself yesterday in Chippenham.

We also need to make sure this broadband roll-out is effective

across the country, and there has to be a big focus getting

to the last 10% of homes in so many rural areas.

It is crucial to make sure they are not left out.

Angus Robertson.

The timing of the forthcoming European Union referendum

is extremely important.

Today, the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

have jointly called for a commitment by the UK Government not to hold

the EU referendum in June, which would clash with elections

to the devolved legislatures.

Will the Prime Minister givd that commitment today?

First of all, there is no agreement.

And, so, no day has been fixed for the referendum.

We discuss this a lot in thhs House of Commons and we legislated to make

sure we wouldn't hold the rdferendum at the same time as Scottish

or Welsh elections.

The former First Minister of Scotland who is not in hhs place

today said it would be wrong to hold the referendum within six wdeks

of those elections and I can guarantee that won't happen.

The first ministers of Scotland Wales, and Northern Ireland have

written today saying that they believe holding

the referendum in June, and I quote, confuses issues when claritx

is required and call on the Prime Minister to ag`in,

I quote, defer the EU referdndum, at least until later in the year.

Why will the Prime Minister not respect the electorate

and the governments of Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland `nd give

that commitment today?

First of all, I do respect the former First Minister

of Scotland who said that shx weeks was what was necessary.

I also respect the electorates of England, Scotland, Wales,

and Northern Ireland, on the basis that I think pdople

are perfectly capable of making up their minds in a local election

or in the Scottish parliamentary election or in a Welsh asselbly

election, and then a period of some weeks afterwards, making thdir minds

up all over again on the vital question of the European Unhon.

So, no date has been fixed.

There must be a six-week gap but I think, frankly,

he is looking for things to complain about.

This House has voted for a referendum.

It would be pretty old if h`ving voted for a referendum,

we then spent ages debating about not having one.

The Prime Minister will be `larmed to hear that the shopping Ghllingham

selling illicit tobacco was making ?25,000...

Order!

Excessive chuntering from a sedentary position from

a number of Scottish Nation`l Party members who wanted an orderly

hearing for their leader.

The honourable gentleman is entitled to be heard.

I appeal to the honourable gentleman to start his question again.

Let's hear it.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Prime Minister will be `larmed to hear that a shop in Gillhngham

selling illicit tobacco was making ?25,000 a week destroying the local

economy, damaging people's health, and nationally this trade is costing

the economy ?2 billion a ye`r.

Will the government look at increasing the statutory maximum

penalty for this offence to bring in-line with the supply

of class C drugs?

I will certainly look at thd issue my honourable friend raises.

As far as I can see, HMRC, working very closely with border

force, has been highly effective at reducing the tax gap of people

selling illegal tobacco and have closed off 1.3 billion of t`x gap

since the year 2000.

They do have a wide range of sanctions to deal with illicit

sales, including seizure, penalties, and criminal

prosecutions.

They prosecuted almost 800 different people,

I think, in the last two ye`rs.

So, I think the powers are there.

But I will have a check to see if more is needed.

My constituency works for the DWP and he tells me that the government

is correct when they denied that staff have targets set

for sanctioning benefits.

They are not called targets, they are called aspirations.

Can I asked the Prime Minister, with the roll-out of in work

benefits sanctions, how many of his own low-paid DWP

colleagues should my constituent aspire to sanction this year?

What I would say to the honourable lady is that sanctions in a benefit

system are important.

We want to benefit system that is there for people

who can't find a job, who need support, but it shouldn't

be a lifestyle choice, and if people can work,

they should work.

That is why we have the sanction system.

And I believe that sanctions system is fairly applied.

May I share my right honour`ble friend's disappointment that

despite all his hard work, the European Union is forcing him

to abandon our manifesto plddge to change the benefits

system for migrants.

And we'll my right honourable friend confirm that badly the only way

in which we are going to be able to regain control

over our own borders is by leaving the European Tnion?

I have great respect from mx right honourable friend but we don't agree

on this one.

We said in our manifesto th`t anyone coming to Britain from the DU

searching for work should not get unemployment benefit and we have

fulfilled that promise.

We have said if within six lonths, they don't have a job,

they should go home, we have fulfilled that promhse.

We said that people should not be able to come here and send British

child benefit back to their families and we have secured that thdy will

only get child benefit at the local rate, and we said no more

something for nothing.

The idea that you could comd here, claiming immediately

from our in work benefits sxstem, out paying in, was not right.

And I said we would secure a four-year gap and we have.

People said it would be impossible but that is what we

have put in place.

Now, it is a negotiation but these are the good proposals that I think

we'll have the backing of the British people

because they mean no more something for nothing and that is a vhtal

value for Britain.

Over two and a half thousand people are directly employed

by the ceramics industry in Stoke-on-Trent.

These and tens of thousands of British manufacturing jobs

are at risk if China is granted manufacturing,

market economy status.

That is my first question.

The Prime Minister is very happy to sell off the family silvdr

but can he guarantee it that he won't sell off

the family crockery?

We want to support industry in the potteries and that is

what we are helping manufacturing with the tax credits,

we're helping with apprenticeship schemes, we're helping with a whole

range of measures, not least the energy intensive industry

measures which are very, very important for the constituency

she represents.

That is what we want to see.

The issue with market econoly status is a separate issue.

Even if they get that status, they cannot dump steel prodtcts

or other things into Europe`n markets and they can be findd.

And what we should be doing is making sure we are driving open

markets for us to sell to China

They are the ones that the lassive growth in the middle-class taking

place of hundreds of millions of people joining that

and there are a great many products made in Stoke that should bd

sold in China.

Sir, the Isle of Wight Council can balance the books this year but fear

they will be an able to do so next year.

Would my right honourable friend confirm the government's willingness

to work with them over the coming months to help them to access

existing sources, finance, or find new ways to address

the Ireland's unique circumstances?

We are very happy to work with the authorities

on the Isle of Wight.

I think I am writing is sayhng that when it comes to spending power

actually the spending power is increasing slightly

in the next year.

What we are doing with this settlement for an open government

is because overall it is a relatively flat cash settlement,

over the five-year period, we are allowing councils

to use their reserves and also to sell unwanted property and use

that money directly to provhde services to bridge over the period

of the next five years.

I am very happy to look at the circumstances of the Isle

of Wight but I believe this is a fair settlement.

The Prime Minister has told us today that more money

is going into the NHS.

Let me tell him that my loc`l hospital trust is spending

?1.5 million a week on interest payments alone to industry

for its PFI deal.

Wait for it.

Come on.

The Prime Minister eventually saw sense about the need to deal

with the damage that high cost credit was doing to individtals

when will he deal with thesd legal sharks of the public sector?

Well, you know, sometimes, it takes a long time to unlock wind

the damage done by a Labour government.

She is absolutely right, one of the first things we did

in government was to launch a review of Labour's PFI,

begin an initiative to attr`ct savings and give better valte

for money for all of the projects, including Barts.

What we are seeing in her own health economy is we are seeing

there are more GPs in the NHS and in terms of the NHS

Waltham Forest clinical commissioning group,

next year, they are getting a cash increase of 3.7%,

that is money provided because we are putting more money

into the NHS.

A lone parent in my constittency has described her experience of child

maintenance group as appallhng, with a lack of communication

being passed from pillar to post.

But failure to act on evidence and not progressing

with enforcement.

Will the Prime Minister arr`nge for the Secretary of State to meet

with my constituent to disctss the particular issues around

the enforcement of child mahntenance when nonresident parents ard taking

advantage of the system and depriving children

of the support they are enthtled to?

I am very happy to help arrange that meeting.

I know my honourable friend speaks, as many of us find in our own

constituency services, particularly about the behaviour

of nonresident parents and how they give everyone the runaround

and don't fulfil their dutids by helping to pay for the children

that they are responsible for.

We introduced a new statutory child maintenance service for pardnts

who are unable to make a family-based arrangement.

It should bring speedier processing of applications,

simple calculations and faster enforcement action.

But I will make sure that she has the meeting that she needs

to straighten out this case.

I wonder if the Prime Minister can comment on recent events

in Northern Ireland regarding the investigations

into steak knife, the allegdd and the former.

And will he ensure that thex are equal investigations into the likes

of the Enniskillen bomb and other major atrocities

by terrorist organisations?

I will look carefully at what he says.

We have to make sure that wd look at all of these things in a fair

and reasonable way and perh`ps I can write to him about the issud.

?38 billion a year is currently spent on pensions tax relief,

with three quarters going to higher rate taxpayers who need

it the least.

Will the Prime Minister agrde with me that it would be a huge

boost to social justice in this country if pensions tax relhef

was reformed to a single fl`t rate which would benefit millions

of hard-working Britons?

I know my honourable friend speaks on this issue with consider`ble

expertise because of the career he had before coming to this House

so he brings a lot of knowlddge about this sector.

He is right that there are great costs related to pension tax relief.

That is why the Chancellor published a consultation last summer to see

whether the system should bd reformed but as the saying goes

taxes are for the Chancellor and his budget.

I welcome the government's announcement of further support

for child refugees last week, as far as it goes.

A nine-year-old girl who lives in my constituency has recently

asked me what we are doing to help refugee children.

Of course, what a child reftgee needs most is a home.

When are we going to offer home to 3000 other refugee

children in Europe?

First of all, let me say to the honourable lady what we have

done so far.

She knows about the 20,000 relocation schemes where we got 1000

people in by Christmas, including many vulnerable children.

That is going well.

Fewer people are aware of the fact that in the last year,

through our normal asylum processes, we took something like 2500

unaccompanied children last year.

If you look at Kent social services and the pressure they are under

they have something like 1000 children that they are lookhng

after, and obviously facing great pressures on.

Another point people don't `lways recognise is that unaccompanied

children in Europe, if they claim asylum in the country they `re in,

under the Dublin regulation, if they have direct family

in Britain, they can come to Britain.

We think that is the right `pproach, taking some people from the region,

but being very cautious because all the evidence shows that

even if it is an orphaned child they may well have some bro`der

family they are connected to and it is better to keep

them with them.

Given the security threats faced by this country,

whose policies are most dangerous?

Those in Scotland who want to scrap our nuclear deterrent compldtely?

Or those on the party opposhte who want to keep Trident submarines

without nuclear missiles?

Well, it is hard to choose from the wrong and the bizarre.

You can take your pick.

Labour's latest plan is to tse Trident submarines to transport

military personnel around the world.

It is the most expensive Ubdr service that anyone has

ever thought of.

You really do wonder what on earth they will think of next.

Prime Minister, you may be `ware of the case of my

constituent Lisa Brown.

Her family were notified by Spanish police authorities on the 10th

of November 2015 as a missing person, though could have bden

missing since the 6th of November.

Lisa's mother Catherine, her sister Helen and her brother

Craig has visited Spain sevdral times since and have met both

with Spanish authorities and with UK Council staff.

While the Spanish authoritids are actively working on this case,

there have been various pieces of misinformation in the Sp`nish

media which we know not to have been helpful.

Can I call upon the Prime Mhnister to seek assurances on behalf

of Lisa's family from the Spanish authorities here in London

and in Madrid as well as thd Foreign and Commonwealth Office that

everything possible is being done to ensure that Lisa's

family can get the answers they so desperately need.

I will certainly look into this case and make surd,

after the honourable gentlelan has raised its so clearly,

that the Europe minister medts with him to try and make sure

everything is done for Lisa's family as possible.

Further to the question from the honourable lady

from Walthamstow, my Sherwood Forest Hospital Trtst

is also wrestling with the disastrous PFI signed under

the Labour government.

Luckily, there is light at the end of the tunnel as Nottingham Derby

Trust look to take over Sherwood Forest Hospital.

But can the Prime Minister `ssist them in any way in solving this

enormous mess left to them by the previous Labour government?

They are extremely difficult to solve, these PFI contracts.

My understanding is that the monitoring Care

and Quality Commission are absolutely clear that Sherwood

needs a long-term partnershhp and I understand, the trust plans

to announce its preferred p`rtner in mid-February and that, I hope,

will help it to support the services they need but I will look

carefully and make sure that the Health Secretary looks

carefully at the suggestion he makes.

Following the shocking official report into the murder

here in London of Alexander Litvinenko, when will he and his

Chancellor takes some meaningful action to tackle the dirty Russian

money and to property here hn London that helps sustain the Putin regime?

First of all, the report was shocking, although,

as the Home Secretary said at the time, this confirmed

for the previous Labour govdrnment understood to have happened.

But nonetheless, when you rdad the report all over again,

it is deeply shocking what happened, and that is why we have takdn

action, in terms of asset freezes and the other measures described

by the Home Secretary.

In terms of the problem of so-called hot money coming into London,

I made a speech recently explaining that we are doing more,

in terms of other countries, in terms of transparency,

in terms of beneficial ownership, who owns what in terms of companies

and we are also going to do the same in terms of property.

I think that is one of the best ways, not just to make sure we don't

have a legal Russian money but to make sure that corrupt monies

stolen from African taxpayers and other continents

doesn't end up in London.

When I first came to this House I spoke about that great st`in

upon this nation when it comes to the care of our

Armed Forces veterans.

Here is a sentence from an e-mail on the weekend.

I have not had any letter or any warning, I was told that was it not

to think about it any more, but now I dread the post evdry day.

The Prime Minister has alre`dy intervened to tighten up

the historical allegations process and for that I thank him,

but will my right honourabld friend look even more closely

at the support we are giving, so that what we want to delhver

and what is actually delivered the same thing?

I am very happy to look at that specifically.

I have been very clear about what went wrong and how

unacceptably it was a let md repeat again we will continue

to provide our support to those going through investigations,

including providing legal advice.

And we will crack down on any legal firm that has abused the system

Because we have got the milhtary covenant now written into l`w

and a covenant group that mdets under the excellent chairmanship

of friend the member for West Dorset, we have

an opportunity not just to raise but to try and properly tackle these

issues in a systematic way.

The dumping of Chinese steel is crippling the British Stdel

industry.

The granting of market economy status to China would dramatically

reduce scope for taking and dumping measures.

Why, then, is the Prime Minhster supporting market economy

status for China?

Is it because he puts cosying up to Beijing ahead of

protecting British industry?

I put helping British industry first.

That is why we cut taxes for British industry,

we are cutting the energy bhlls for British industry we're helping

with apprenticeships, we're busting open markets `broad

so the British industries can succeed.

And, crucially, for this industry, we are investing in our

infrastructure and trying to make sure there is a real forward

movement for British Steel.

But I think the honourable gentleman is wrong.

We should take these two issues separately.

If there is illegal dumping, we will support action

in the European Union.

And that can be done in spite of the status that country has.

We have actually put those sorts of burdens on America beford today

so I don't think it is right to connect the two issues in the way

that he does.

Mental health issues take m`ny forms and services for those suffdring

from eating disorders are often overlooked.

And, yet, they cause intolerable stress and suffering.

As health devolution in Manchester gathers pace,

does the Prime Minister agrde with me that it is an important

opportunity to secure better mental health service provision,

particularly for children and young adults?

I think my honourable friend is absolutely right.

I don't see any reason why the devolution of resources

to Greater Manchester under this landmark deal

will disadvantage mental he`lth

If anything, it will lead to a greater priority being given

to mental health as people can see the connections between mental

health and holding back opportunities for so many pdople.

We are investing more, in terms of children's ment`l health

and giving a greater focus particular to eating disorddrs,

where we do seek tragically real growth in this problem.

So, the money is there and the devolution should hdlp.