:00:22. > :00:34.Questions to the Prime Minister Number one, Mr Speaker.
:00:35. > :00:37.I know the House has been s`ddened by the death of Harry Harper,
:00:38. > :00:39.after a great career, an adviser to David Blunkett,
:00:40. > :00:41.he was returned to this place last May, succeeding
:00:42. > :00:47.He was in this place a short time and became a popular MP,
:00:48. > :00:52.recognised for his commitment to his constituents and his beliefs.
:00:53. > :00:56.He continued to carry out hhs work, as an MP, throughout his trdatment,
:00:57. > :01:04.we offer his wife and their five children our condolences.
:01:05. > :01:06.This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues
:01:07. > :01:09.and in additional to my duthes in this House, I will have
:01:10. > :01:18.I would like to agree about the sad loss for the Member for Sheffield
:01:19. > :01:27.and Hillsborough, he came to this House with an excellent record
:01:28. > :01:28.in local government and will be sadly missed.
:01:29. > :01:32.The whole House send our condolences to his family at this sad thme.
:01:33. > :01:41.Housing is the number one issue in my constituency,
:01:42. > :01:44.queries on a workable local plan, looking after our green spaces
:01:45. > :01:46.and strongly offering the Conservative value of the right
:01:47. > :01:50.to buy, would the Prime Minhster agree that the help to buy HSAs
:01:51. > :01:54.with one being taken out every 30 seconds,
:01:55. > :02:01.is the right way to promote savings and encourage homeownership?
:02:02. > :02:11.I agree, that is why these help to buy ISAs,
:02:12. > :02:16.where we match the money thdy put in, it can really help,
:02:17. > :02:21.and so what we have seen under this government,
:02:22. > :02:25.is 40,000 people exercise their right to buy their cotncil
:02:26. > :02:29.house, now we're extending that to all housing association tenants
:02:30. > :02:33.and we have seen 130,000 people with help to buy,
:02:34. > :02:37.getting the first flat or the first house, and there is more to do,
:02:38. > :02:43.mostly building houses, but helping people with their deposits hs vital.
:02:44. > :02:56.I join the Prime Minister and the member for Eastleigh
:02:57. > :02:59.in paying tribute to Harry Harper, the honourable member for Sheffield
:03:00. > :03:01.and Hillsborough, a former liner who passed away last week,
:03:02. > :03:05.just a short time ago Harry used his last question here to ask
:03:06. > :03:08.the Prime Minister questions about the Sheffield Masters
:03:09. > :03:21.on his diligence regarding that part of his committee.
:03:22. > :03:29.I said to his wife, how would they like to remember Harry?
:03:30. > :03:37.She said, we have admired the bravery and carriage he showed
:03:38. > :03:40.She said, we have admired the bravery and courage he showed
:03:41. > :03:42.in his life, which was formdd during the miners' strike
:03:43. > :03:45.and which carried him forward for the rest of his life.
:03:46. > :03:52.People will remember him as a decent man, and we are very sad
:03:53. > :03:59.Mr Speaker, also following the member for Eastleigh,
:04:00. > :04:05.I have an e-mail from Rosie, she's in her 20s.
:04:06. > :04:27.Unfortunately, the Rosie who has written to me
:04:28. > :04:31.does not have the same good housing that the Chief Whip
:04:32. > :04:49.The Rosie who has written to me she's in 20s and she says,
:04:50. > :04:58.and I'm still having to livd at home with my parents,"
:04:59. > :05:00.the lack of housing options are forcing her to
:05:01. > :05:08.She asks the Prime Minister, what action he is going to take
:05:09. > :05:12.to help young people and falilies suffering from unrealistic house
:05:13. > :05:20.prices and uncapped rents to get somewhere safe and secure to live?
:05:21. > :05:23.When you get a letter from the Chief Whip,
:05:24. > :05:28.that normally spells trouble, I should say.
:05:29. > :05:33.What I would say to Rosie, we want to do everything we can
:05:34. > :05:36.to help young people get on the housing ladder,
:05:37. > :05:39.that is why we have these help to save ISAs and I hopd
:05:40. > :05:43.she is looking at that, we are cutting taxes and shd will be
:05:44. > :05:48.able to earn ?11,000 before she starts paying any taxes.
:05:49. > :05:51.If Rosie is a tenant in a housing association hole,
:05:52. > :05:54.she can buy that home, because we are introducing
:05:55. > :05:58.and extending the right to buy, and with help to buy
:05:59. > :06:01.she will have the opportunity to register for help to buy,
:06:02. > :06:06.which gives people the chance to have a small deposit,
:06:07. > :06:08.but still a chance of owning their own home.
:06:09. > :06:11.If she wants to be a homeowner, shared ownership can make a real
:06:12. > :06:14.difference and in some parts of the country you will need
:06:15. > :06:17.a deposit of just a few thotsand pounds to begin the process
:06:18. > :06:22.of becoming a homeowner, but I realise that building
:06:23. > :06:29.more houses, we have got to deliver for Rosie.
:06:30. > :06:32.I'm very pleased that the Prime Minister would like to help deliver
:06:33. > :06:36.decent housing, Rosie lives and works in London,
:06:37. > :06:41.as the Prime Minister knows, London is very expensive.
:06:42. > :06:44.He talks about people getting on the housing ladder,
:06:45. > :06:48.but the reality is, home ownership has fallen under his governlent
:06:49. > :06:53.by 200,000 and it rose by a million under the last Labour government,
:06:54. > :06:58.and his record is one of actually some years of failure on hotsing.
:06:59. > :07:01.He said that council homes sold on the right to buy would bd
:07:02. > :07:03.replaced like for like, can the Prime Minister tell us
:07:04. > :07:16.What happened under Labour, one council home was built for every
:07:17. > :07:30.We have said we will make stre that two homes are built for every
:07:31. > :07:42.council home in London that is sold that is because the member
:07:43. > :07:45.for Richmond insisted on th`t in an amendment to the Houshng Bill.
:07:46. > :07:48.These take some years to buhld, but the money which which
:07:49. > :07:50.they will be built, the mondy comes back to the Treasury.
:07:51. > :07:55.The Prime Minister should bd aware that just one home has been built
:07:56. > :07:59.for every eight that have bden sold under his government.
:08:00. > :08:01.People are increasingly finding it very difficult
:08:02. > :08:07.The Chancellor's crude cuts in housing benefit for thosd
:08:08. > :08:11.in supported housing, they are putting at risk hundreds
:08:12. > :08:15.people with mental health conditions,
:08:16. > :08:19.war veterans and women fleehng domestic violence who need support.
:08:20. > :08:22.Can the Prime Minister tell the House what estimate housing
:08:23. > :08:26.providers have made in terms of the impact of this policx
:08:27. > :08:34.We are going to increase hotsing supply in the social sector
:08:35. > :08:37.by an ?8 billion housing budget during this Parliament
:08:38. > :08:42.which will build 400,000 affordable homes.
:08:43. > :08:45.When it comes to our reforms of housing benefit, yes,
:08:46. > :08:48.we have cut housing benefit, because it was out of control
:08:49. > :08:54.There were families in London who were getting ?100,000
:08:55. > :09:00.Think how many people, think how many Rosies
:09:01. > :09:08.just to provide that housing benefit for one family.
:09:09. > :09:12.We support supported housing schemes and we will look very careftlly
:09:13. > :09:14.to make sure they can work well in the future,
:09:15. > :09:18.but I make no apology for the fact that in this Parliament
:09:19. > :09:22.we are cutting social rents, so for Rosie, for example,
:09:23. > :09:25.living in social housing, going out to work but she whll have
:09:26. > :09:32.I'm pleased the Prime Minister got onto the question
:09:33. > :09:39.Housing providers estimate that nearly half of all supported housing
:09:40. > :09:43.schemes will close, one in four providers are set to close
:09:44. > :09:48.all of their provision, this is a very serious crishs.
:09:49. > :09:51.I assume the Prime Minister is not content for people with mental
:09:52. > :09:55.health conditions to have nowhere to live,
:09:56. > :10:00.that the warm words he has given on supported housing will bd matched
:10:01. > :10:05.by action and he will stop this cut which will destroy this
:10:06. > :10:10.We will continue to support the supported housing sector
:10:11. > :10:14.and the report that he quotds from, it was an opinion poll
:10:15. > :10:16.with an extremely leading qtestion, if he actually looks
:10:17. > :10:23.The changes that we are makhng, reducing social rents by 1%,
:10:24. > :10:27.every year for four years, that is good news for peopld who go
:10:28. > :10:31.out to work and work hard and like to pay less rent.
:10:32. > :10:34.That goes with the lower taxes they will be paying and the more
:10:35. > :10:37.childcare they will be getthng, and the other change we are making
:10:38. > :10:40.which does not come into force until 2018, is to make sure
:10:41. > :10:44.that we are not paying houshng benefit to social tenants
:10:45. > :10:49.way above what we would pay to private sector tenants.
:10:50. > :10:51.The simple point is this, and this is where I think L`bour
:10:52. > :10:54.have got to focus, every penny you spend on housing subsidy
:10:55. > :11:02.is money you can't spend on building houses.
:11:03. > :11:05.Let's take this right back to Rosie in the beginning,
:11:06. > :11:07.if she would like a country where we build homes,
:11:08. > :11:10.that she would like a country where she can buy a home,
:11:11. > :11:13.she would like a country with a strong economy so yot can
:11:14. > :11:16.afford to buy a home, all of those things we are delivering,
:11:17. > :11:19.but you will not deliver thdse if you go on subsidising hotsing,
:11:20. > :11:21.and the welfare benefit, one day Labour has got to rdalise
:11:22. > :11:29.that the welfare system has got to be brought under control.
:11:30. > :11:33.Shelter estimates that the leasures in the Housing Bill will lose
:11:34. > :11:39.180,000 affordable homes ovdr the next four years.
:11:40. > :11:44.The Prime Minister is oversdeing a very damaging housing crisis,
:11:45. > :11:47.it is pricing out people from buying, it is not provhding
:11:48. > :11:51.enough social housing, therefore many people are forced
:11:52. > :11:56.to rely on the private rented sector.
:11:57. > :12:00.The benches behind him recently voted against an amendment put
:12:01. > :12:04.forward by my honourable friend for homes to be fit
:12:05. > 2:44:13homes up to a decent homes standard, and there are now 11 million people
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in this country who are private renters.
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Does the Prime Minister know how many of those homes do not leet
2:44:14 > 2:44:13To listen to Labour, when in the last five years,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13we built more council houses than they built in 13 years.
2:44:14 > 2:44:1313 years and a hopeless record on housing.
2:44:14 > 2:44:13What we are doing is an ?8 billion housing budget, that will provide
2:44:14 > 2:44:13400,000 new affordable homes and a target to build a million
2:44:14 > 2:44:13homes during this Parliament, getting housing benefit down
2:44:14 > 2:44:13so we can spend money on hotsing and having a strong economy that can
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Mr Speaker, I was asking through you, the Prime Minister
2:44:14 > 2:44:13how many of the 11 million renters are living in homes that ard not
2:44:14 > 2:44:13going to make the decent holes standard and therefore
2:44:14 > 2:44:131000 of those in the privatd rented sector do not meet that standard
2:44:14 > 2:44:13One third of those in the private rented sector do not meet that
2:44:14 > 2:44:13standard and Shelter found six out of ten renters have issues
2:44:14 > 2:44:13like damp, mould, leaking roofs and windows, it is simply
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Millions are struggling to get the homes they deserve,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13more families slipping into temporary accommodation,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13homelessness rising, too few homes being built,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13social housing under pressure, families forced into low st`ndard,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13an overpriced rental sector, young people unable to move out
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the family home and start their own lives,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13when is the Prime Minister going to realise that there
2:44:14 > 2:44:13is a housing crisis in Brit`in, and his government needs to address
2:44:14 > 2:44:13it now, so that we do not continue with this dreadful situation
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Homelessness is less than h`lf the peak today than it was tnder
2:44:14 > 2:44:13You can only invest in new houses, you can only restore existing
2:44:14 > 2:44:13houses, you can any build ndw houses and support people into those houses
2:44:14 > 2:44:13houses, you can only build new houses and support people
2:44:14 > 2:44:13into those houses if you have a strong economy.
2:44:14 > 2:44:13We inherited mass unemploymdnt, an economy that completely
2:44:14 > 2:44:13collapsed, a banking crisis and now we've got zero inflation,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13wages growing, unemployment at %, and economy growing and people able,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13for the first time, to look to their future and see thex can buy
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Mr Speaker, Nadia was a 19-year-old
2:44:14 > 2:44:13They killed most of her famhly. They tortured her, they raped her and
2:44:14 > 2:44:13they made her there a slave. Nadia's story is the same
2:44:14 > 2:44:13as thousands of Yazidi women except thousands are still held
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in captivity and Nadia escaped. In fact, Nadia is in
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the public gallery today. Will the Prime Minister join me
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in accepting acknowledging Will the Prime Minister
2:44:14 > 2:44:13join me in acknowledging Nadia's bravery and resilience
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and the qualities that Let me thank my friend for raising
2:44:14 > 2:44:13this issue and welcome Nadi`, She and the Yazidi communitx have
2:44:14 > 2:44:13suffered appallingly at this murderous, brutal, fascist
2:44:14 > 2:44:13organisation in Syria and Iraq. We must do everything we can
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to defeat Daesh and its ideology. We are playing a leading role
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in this global coalition. In terms of Iraq, where so lany
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Yazidis suffered, Daesh havd lost As I said at the time
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in the debate about Syria, Building up Iraqi security forces,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13working with Syrian opposithon forces, building the capacity
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of governments in both countries to drive this organisation
2:44:14 > 2:44:13out of the Middle East. However long it takes,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13we must stick at it. We on these benches join
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in the condolences in relathon to Harry and pass on our condolences
2:44:14 > 2:44:13at this sad time to his famhly. The Prime Minister made a vow
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and his party signed an agrdement that there would be
2:44:14 > 2:44:13no detriment to Scotland Why is the UK Treasury proposing
2:44:14 > 2:44:13plans that may be detriment`l towards Scotland
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to the tune of ?3 billion? First of all, we accept the Smith
2:44:14 > 2:44:13principles of no detriment. No detriment to Scotland at the time
2:44:14 > 2:44:13when this transfer is made. And then no detriment
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of Scottish taxpayers, but also to the rest
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the United Kingdom taxpaxers I have had good negotiations
2:44:14 > 2:44:13with the First Minister, I want us to successfully complete
2:44:14 > 2:44:13this very important piece of devolution in a fair
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and reasonable way and thesd Let me remind
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the right honourable gentlelan, if we had had full fiscal
2:44:14 > 2:44:13devolution, with oil revenues
2:44:14 > 2:44:13having collapsed by 94%, then the right honourable gdntleman
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and his party would be weeks away from a financial
2:44:14 > 2:44:13calamity for Scotland. In the context of a referendum
2:44:14 > 2:44:13referendums, whether in Scotland or across the UK EU membership,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13don't voters have a right to know what is promised by the UK
2:44:14 > 2:44:13government can be trusted Will the Prime Minister tell
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the Treasury that time is running out for delivering a fair
2:44:14 > 2:44:13fiscal framework and that they must agree a deal that is fair,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13both to the people of Scotl`nd and fair to the rest
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the United Kingdom? I can tell him everything that has
2:44:14 > 2:44:13been committed to by this government We committed to this huge act
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of devolution to Scotland We committed to the Scotland Bill
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and we are well on the way All the things we said we would
2:44:14 > 2:44:13including those vital princhples. There are ongoing
2:44:14 > 2:44:13negotiations to reach a fair settlement and I would say
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to the Scottish First Minister and the Scottish Finance
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Minister they have to recognise there must be fairness
2:44:14 > 2:44:13across the United Kingdom, too. But, with goodwill,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13I can tell you, Mr Speaker, no-one is keener
2:44:14 > 2:44:13on agreement than me. I want the Scottish National Party
2:44:14 > 2:44:13here and in Holyrood What are you going
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to do with benefits? I want to get rid of, frankly,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13this grievance agenda and ldt you get on with the governing
2:44:14 > 2:44:13agenda and then we can see The skills shortage
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in engineering in Wiltshire It is threatening and underlining
2:44:14 > 2:44:13all the work we have done in job creation and also in
2:44:14 > 2:44:13supporting businesses. It is quite simply
2:44:14 > 2:44:13a ticking timebomb. May I ask the Prime Minister
2:44:14 > 2:44:13what more can he do to remove the stigma, misunderstanding
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and all the problems associ`ted around STEM subjects
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and STEM careers. friend is in absolutely
2:44:14 > 2:44:13right to raise this. There are special circumstances
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in Wiltshire because you've got the enormous success
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of Dyson which is hiring engineers and skilled mathematicians
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and scientists from every university in the country and long
2:44:14 > 2:44:13may that continue. What we will do is help by training
2:44:14 > 2:44:13three million apprentices in this We are giving special
2:44:14 > 2:44:13help to teachers of STEM subjects and encouraging
2:44:14 > 2:44:13them into teaching. But I think there is a lot that
2:44:14 > 2:44:13business and industry can do to help us end this by going into schools
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and talking about what his lodern engineering careers are all about,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13how much fulfilment people can get from these careers,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to encourage people to change the culture when it
2:44:14 > 2:44:13comes to pursuing Young people are losing thehr homes,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13winning are denied pensions they were expecting
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and increasingly, the needy left exposed without the social care
2:44:14 > 2:44:13they need to live a decent life When will the Prime
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Minister addressed What we are doing for pensioners
2:44:14 > 2:44:13is putting in place the triple lock so that every
2:44:14 > 2:44:13pensioner knows there can ndver be another shameful 75p increase
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in the pension which we saw under They know that every year,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13it will either be wages, And that is why
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the pension is so much higher than when I
2:44:14 > 2:44:13became Prime Minister. But of course we need to make sure
2:44:14 > 2:44:13there is a fair settlement for local government, too,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and we will be hearing more But this ability of local
2:44:14 > 2:44:13councils to raise special council tax for social
2:44:14 > 2:44:13care will help an area The Spitfire was a crucial hmplement
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in winning the Battle of Brhtain And keeping our country
2:44:14 > 2:44:13free from tyranny. However, there are some who fear
2:44:14 > 2:44:13that our independent nuclear deterrent could be as
2:44:14 > 2:44:13obsolete as the Spitfire. Could my right honourable
2:44:14 > 2:44:13friend the Prime Minister assure the House and the cotntry
2:44:14 > 2:44:13that this is not the case? It takes quite a talent
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in the Shadow Defence Secretary to insult Spitfird pilots
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and our brave submariners all in one Another week, another
2:44:14 > 2:44:13completely ludicrous Labour I think the last word should go
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to the honourable member for Bridgend and thank you,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Twitter, for this one, who, as she came out of the PLP
2:44:14 > 2:44:13meeting, tweeted this - "Need to go to rest
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in a darkened room." I expect she will find the rest
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of her party will be there with her. At today's bid select committee
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the Business Secretary confhrmed that the government
2:44:14 > 2:44:13won't support the EU commission in raising
2:44:14 > 2:44:13tariffs on dumped steel Why won't the UK Government
2:44:14 > 2:44:13stand up for UK steel? We have repeatedly
2:44:14 > 2:44:13stood up for UK steel, including supporting taking
2:44:14 > 2:44:13anti-dumping measures in thd EU We also need to get behind public
2:44:14 > 2:44:13procurement for steel. We need to get behind reduchng
2:44:14 > 2:44:13energy bills for steel. We need to support
2:44:14 > 2:44:13communities like his And that is exactly
2:44:14 > 2:44:13what we are doing. We recognise what a vital p`rt
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of Britain's industrial basd the steel industry is and that is
2:44:14 > 2:44:13why we are backing it. Julian Assange is accused
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of rape and is on the run. Despite this, the United Nations
2:44:14 > 2:44:13panel that nobody has ever heard of declared last week
2:44:14 > 2:44:13that she has been arbitrarily detained and solehow
2:44:14 > 2:44:13deserving of compensation. Does my right honourable
2:44:14 > 2:44:13friend agree with me that this was a nonsensical
2:44:14 > 2:44:13decision, that Mr Assange should hand himself over to the Swddish
2:44:14 > 2:44:13prosecutors, and that if anxone is deserving of compensation,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13it is the British taxpayer who has had to pay ?12 million
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to police his Ecuadorian My honourable friend
2:44:14 > 2:44:13is absolutely right. I think this was a
2:44:14 > 2:44:13ridiculous decision. You've got a man with
2:44:14 > 2:44:13an outstanding allegation He barricaded himself
2:44:14 > 2:44:13into the Ecuadorian Embassy and yet claims he was
2:44:14 > 2:44:13arbitrarily detained. The only person who detained
2:44:14 > 2:44:13himself was himself. So, what he should do is cole out
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of that Embassy and face thd arrest He is being asked to stand trial
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in Sweden, a country with a fair reputation for justice and ht should
2:44:14 > 2:44:13bring to an end this whole sorry Women's aid groups have raised
2:44:14 > 2:44:13serious concerns about houshng benefit making the closure
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of many refuges. Will the Prime Minister
2:44:14 > 2:44:13undertake to specifically exclude refuges from these leasures
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and protect these vital services I said in answers to questions
2:44:14 > 2:44:13from the Leader of the Opposition we want to support supported
2:44:14 > 2:44:13housing projects that work And we have all seen
2:44:14 > 2:44:13how important they are. These changes we are
2:44:14 > 2:44:13talking about, about housing benefit, don't actu`lly come
2:44:14 > 2:44:13into place until 2018 so there is plenty of time
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to make sure that we Next month, Milton Keynes
2:44:14 > 2:44:13will host the first ever We have strong record
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in expanding apprenticeships. But is there not still a nedd
2:44:14 > 2:44:13for a cultural shift in carders advice to show that high-level
2:44:14 > 2:44:13apprenticeships are equally valid I think my honourable friend
2:44:14 > 2:44:13is absolutely right, the careers advice
2:44:14 > 2:44:13we need to give young people is that there is a choice
2:44:14 > 2:44:13for every school either of dither a university place, because we have
2:44:14 > 2:44:13uncapped university places, or an apprenticeship
2:44:14 > 2:44:13because we are funding 3 million And we need to go on to explain that
2:44:14 > 2:44:13if you become an apprentice, that doesn't rule out doing
2:44:14 > 2:44:13a degree or a degree level litigation later on during
2:44:14 > 2:44:13your apprenticeship. The option of earning and ldarning
2:44:14 > 2:44:13is stronger in Britain todax than it Does the Prime Minister agrded that
2:44:14 > 2:44:13how we protect human rights in the legal systems
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the United Kingdom deserves full And will he give
2:44:14 > 2:44:13an assurance that his consultation on the Human Rhghts Act
2:44:14 > 2:44:13will not conflict with the pre-election
2:44:14 > 2:44:13period since Scotland and the other devolved
2:44:14 > 2:44:13administrations? We will look very carefully
2:44:14 > 2:44:13at all of these issues but I would say to
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the honourable lady and to honourable members opposite,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the idea that there were no human rights in Britain before
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the Human Rights Act This House has been a great Bastian
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and defender of human rights. But we will look very careftlly
2:44:14 > 2:44:13at the timing of any Mr Speaker, I spent most
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of my working life in children's hospices who rely heavily
2:44:14 > 2:44:13on donations from organisathons like Children in Need
2:44:14 > 2:44:13who have a long proud association with
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the town of Pudsey. Last week, Children in Need's most
2:44:14 > 2:44:13famous celebrity sadly Would my right honourable friend
2:44:14 > 2:44:13join me and the people of Ptdsey in paying tribute to
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Sir Terry Wogan who did so luch to inspire millions of pounds to be
2:44:14 > 2:44:13donated to these courses? And the honourable
2:44:14 > 2:44:13member representing his constituency where Pudsdy has
2:44:14 > 2:44:13such a connection with Children in Need is absolutely
2:44:14 > 2:44:13right to raise this. I think Terry Wogan was one
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the great icons of this country. I think, like many people in this
2:44:14 > 2:44:13House, you sort of felt you grew up with him, listening to him
2:44:14 > 2:44:13on the radio, in the car, or presenting Blankety Blank,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13or all the other things he did. Perhaps many people's favourite
2:44:14 > 2:44:13was the Eurovision Song Contest which every year he brought
2:44:14 > 2:44:13such great humour to. You didn't have to be a Tog to be
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to be an enormous fan. I think we were all fans
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and he will be hugely And his work with Children hn Need
2:44:14 > 2:44:13was particularly special. Mr Speaker, Sir,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13on Monday, I attended the Work and Pensions tribunal
2:44:14 > 2:44:13appeal hearing for my consthtuent Mrs Jackie Millen, a brave,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13inspiring woman with dwarfism, who despite being unable
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to climb staircases, was awarded zero disability
2:44:14 > 2:44:13points by her assessor. Can I ask the Prime
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Minister whether he has, as a constituency MP, himself,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13attended any tribunal hearings? And if so, whether
2:44:14 > 2:44:13he found the process I'm very happy to look
2:44:14 > 2:44:13into the specific case he r`ises. As a constituency MP,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of course I have people coming to my surgery
2:44:14 > 2:44:13with enquiries either about employment support
2:44:14 > 2:44:13or indeed about disability And also, I've got the experience,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13having had a disabled son of selling out all the forms
2:44:14 > 2:44:13myself and I am looking forward to the new system,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13which I think with a proper medical So, I have listened
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to these arguments but we have to have a system
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of adjudication that is inddpendent Growing up nearby, I always knew
2:44:14 > 2:44:13that I was nearly home when I saw the iconic cooling towers
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the power stations On Monday, the owners
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the remaining power stathon announced its likely
2:44:14 > 2:44:13closure this summer. Will my right honourable frhend ask
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the Secretary of State to mdet with me and discuss further
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the government support that can be provided to the 150 workers
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and the provisions that can be made to ensure the site is redevdloped
2:44:14 > 2:44:13as quickly as possible? I will certainly arrange
2:44:14 > 2:44:13for that meeting to take place and we should thank
2:44:14 > 2:44:13everyone who has worked at power stations that then come to the end
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of their lives for the work they have done to give
2:44:14 > 2:44:13us a electricity, to keep the lights on,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to keep our economy moving. But I think she is absolutely
2:44:14 > 2:44:13right, as the power station comes to the end
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of its life, we must make stre that proper redevelopment
2:44:14 > 2:44:13takes place so we provide jobs for
2:44:14 > 2:44:13constituents like hers. The Football Supporters' Federation
2:44:14 > 2:44:13is considering calling on f`ns to hold mass walk-outs
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to get their voices heard Will the Prime Minister act to give
2:44:14 > 2:44:13fans a place at the table in club boardrooms in order that
2:44:14 > 2:44:13their voices can be heard when issues such as ticket prices
2:44:14 > 2:44:13are being discussed? I will look very carefully
2:44:14 > 2:44:13at the suggestion the honourable I think there is a problem
2:44:14 > 2:44:13here where some teams and some clubs put up prices
2:44:14 > 2:44:13very rapidly every year, even though so much
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the money for football comes through the sponsorship
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and the equipment and So, I will look very
2:44:14 > 2:44:13carefully at what he says. The vital debate and
2:44:14 > 2:44:13vote on the Trident successor submarine should have been
2:44:14 > 2:44:13held in the last parliament but was blocked by
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the Liberal Democrats. Given the fun that the Primd
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Minister had a few moments `go at the Labour Party's expense over
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Trident's successor, it must be tempting for him
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to put off the vote until Labour's
2:44:14 > 2:44:13conference in October. May I urge him, however,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to do the statesman-like thhng and hold that vote
2:44:14 > 2:44:13as soon as possible because everyone is ready for it
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and everyone is expecting it. What we should do is
2:44:14 > 2:44:13have the vote when we need to have the vote
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and that is exactly what we will do. But no one should be
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in any doubt that this government is going to press ahead
2:44:14 > 2:44:13with all the decisions that are necessary to
2:44:14 > 2:44:13replace in full hour I think the Labour Party
2:44:14 > 2:44:13should listen to Lord Hutton who was the Defence Secretary
2:44:14 > 2:44:13for many years, and he says this: "If Labour wants to retain `ny
2:44:14 > 2:44:13credibility on defence, "it had better recognise
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the abject futility "of what its leadership
2:44:14 > 2:44:13is currently proposing." So, I hope that when that vote
2:44:14 > 2:44:13comes, we will have support from right across this
2:44:14 > 2:44:13House of Commons. In light of today's damning
2:44:14 > 2:44:13National Audit Office report on teacher shortages,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13will the Prime Minister now take urgent steps to help excelldnt
2:44:14 > 2:44:13schools such as those in my constituency recruit
2:44:14 > 2:44:13and crucially retain the best teachers, including
2:44:14 > 2:44:13by extending the so-called inner London weighting to all Harrow
2:44:14 > 2:44:13schools and indeed other suburban Obviously, we will look
2:44:14 > 2:44:13carefully at this There are 13,100 more teachdrs
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in our schools than when I became Our teachers are better
2:44:14 > 2:44:13qualified than ever People are shouting out
2:44:14 > 2:44:13about increased pupil numbers but we've got 47,500 fewer pupils
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in overcrowded schools than in 010 because we put the investment
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in where it was needed. But where I agree with
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the honourable and is we do need schemes like Teach First,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13like our national leadership row gram and are getting
2:44:14 > 2:44:13some of the best teachers into the schools where
2:44:14 > 2:44:13they are most needed. My right honourable friend
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the Prime Minister deserves great credit for the results
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of the Syria reply measurement conference
2:44:14 > 2:44:13which was held under his But he will be aware this c`n only
2:44:14 > 2:44:13address the symptoms of the catastrophe that is Syria
2:44:14 > 2:44:13today and not the causes. Can he tell the House what lore
2:44:14 > 2:44:13he thinks the British government can do to try and promote the political
2:44:14 > 2:44:13tract and ensure it reaches the most Firstly, can I thank my honourable
2:44:14 > 2:44:13friend for what he says It gives me the opportunity
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to thank my co-host, the Norwegians, the Germans,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the Kuwaitis and the Secret`ry We raised in one day more money
2:44:14 > 2:44:13than has ever been raised at one of these conferences ever
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in history, over $10 billion. And I want to pay
2:44:14 > 2:44:13tribute to my right honourable friend the Secretary
2:44:14 > 2:44:13of State for DFID who did a lot This money helps
2:44:14 > 2:44:13because it will keep people in the region,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13it will keep people fed, clothed, make sure they get
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the medicine that they need. We go on working with all of our
2:44:14 > 2:44:13partners to deliver this. But it does require all countries,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13including Russia, to recognhse the need for moderate
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Sunni a position to be at the table to creatd
2:44:14 > 2:44:13a transitional authority in Syria. Without that, I fear we will end up
2:44:14 > 2:44:13with a situation where we h`ve Assad in one corner and Daesh in `nother
2:44:14 > 2:44:13corner, the worst possible outcome in terms of terrorism,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13the worst possible outcome hn terms of refugees, and the worst possible
2:44:14 > 2:44:13outcome for the future of Sxria I'm sure the Prime
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Minister is looking As the UK City of Culture,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13we are already backed by many prestigious organisations
2:44:14 > 2:44:13like the BBC and the What we could do much better to make
2:44:14 > 2:44:13this a real national celebration of culture,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13will the Prime Minister join with me in urging the many London b`sed
2:44:14 > 2:44:13National arts organisations to actually do their
2:44:14 > 2:44:13bit and contribute I think the honourable
2:44:14 > 2:44:13lady makes a very important point which is our
2:44:14 > 2:44:13national cultural institutions have immense amount of work and prestige
2:44:14 > 2:44:13that they can bring out two regional galleries and regional centres
2:44:14 > 2:44:13when there is a City of Culture I will be looking forward
2:44:14 > 2:44:13to visiting Hull. I know my honourable friends,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13as the city of Wilberforce, you will want to be joining me
2:44:14 > 2:44:13in the city of Hull. It is a city of poets,
2:44:14 > 2:44:13Andrew Marvell, home And sometimes one might
2:44:14 > 2:44:14like to contemplate what it looks