09/03/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

Government which is giving out the grants. I think that is wrong in

principle. We have been using this in practice for over a year and that

is why we have extended it across the Government.

The Prime Minister. Thank you Mr Speaker. This morning I had meetings

with my colleagues and I shall have further such meetings today. People

in Bristol South look forward to the promised Chef apprenticeships yet

question how this will happen on the eve of National Apprenticeship Week,

does the Prime Minister have a delivery plan or is he making it up

as he goes along? We achieved 2 million in the last Parliament, we

are confident of achieving 3 million in this Parliament. We have a

delivery plan, based on large companies continuing with their

plans for apprenticeships. We want small companies to do more and the

public sector to join in with larger plans and we regularly review

progress towards the target. James Berry. Mr Speaker, many of my

constituents get the train to central London every day for work

and are concerned about terrorist threats posed by Daesh in the

capital. Can my friend Mike update the House on progress made on

tackling the source of that threat in Iraq and Syria? --, honourable

friend update the House? It was very striking what is this and

Commissioner Mark Rowley said last week about the dangers we face.

Domestically we are protecting counterterrorism policing and

investing in counterintelligence and securities abuses as we did in the

last element, we are making good progress and pushing Daesh backs

this is something we need to do domestic league and overseas. I was

appalled to see yesterday that the Labour Party has readmitted Somerby

to their party who says that the 9/11 suicide bombers must never be

condemned, and belongs to an organisation that says that we

defend Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Appalling views and I hope the

Leader of the Opposition will throw the person out of the party instead

of welcoming him in. Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Speaker. I hope the Prime

Minister will join me in morning of the death today of the fifth Beatle,

George Martin, and the wonderful music that will last for time that

he gave us. Last week the Prime Minister told the house we had a

strong economy with a sound plan. If the economy is so strong, why this

week has he forced through a ?30 per week cut, hitting some of the

poorest disabled people in the country? First let me join him in

what he said about George Martin, he was a massive figure, a giant in

popular music and responsible for some tunes that will live for ever

more. I'm only disappointed that he can't comment on my earlier point.

It seems to me that we have a responsibility as party leaders for

our own parties. He asked about the strength of the economy. We do face

an uncertain international environment and all the experts warn

of the danger we face. Yet today we have zero inflation percent, our

economy is growing, which is growing and we cut the taxes that people are

paying. That, combined with reforming welfare, and we are doing

that, is the way to get the deficit down, continue with growth and help

deliver for working people in Britain. Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Speaker I

do not believe that the majority of people in this country are content

to see someone diagnosed with cancer today and unable to work next year,

reduced to poverty because of the cuts this government is putting

through. The Chancellor has found another ?6.6 billion to reduce

corporation tax and big business. Despite our corporation tax already

being lower than any other G7 nation. Today action for children,

the Children's Society, the National children's bureau, shows local

authority spending on children and young people has been cut by ?2

billion, 71%. Does this not show a wrong choice by the pro-minister?

Let's look at what has happened to corporation tax receipts since we

cut corporation tax. That's the question because the point of

setting tax rates is to raise money rather than make a political point.

And the fact is that corporation tax receipts are up by 20% under this

government so we have more money to spend on children, and children's

services, on education. Whereas if we put up tax rates as reasons to be

suggesting we would get less money in. That's the result, they care

about making a political point, we care about raising revenue and

providing good services. I asked, if there's more money available to be

spent on children's services why are there half a million more children

in poverty in Britain because of the policies of his government? If we

really have the strong economy the Prime Minister claims, why did

Chancellor warned last week and I quote, we may need to make further

reductions? Who will they fall on, young people, women? Will he rule

out attacking those groups? He will see the Budget next week when my

right honourable friend who has an excellent record of steering the

economy stands and to deliver it. About those remarks on poverty let

me say what has happened since 2010. There are 680,000 who were workless

households. Think what that means. 80,000 households where someone is

bringing home a wage, putting food on the table and paying less taxes.

There are 40,000 fewer households where no member has ever worked and

480,000 fewer, that is about tackling poverty, all things never

delivered by Labour. Mr Speaker, the problem is the number of households

suffering from in work poverty because of the insecure jobs,

because of zero hours contracts, because of low wages. As he well

knows, the poorest have paid the most for the cuts and women have

paid for 81% of those cuts. Mr Speaker, on 99 previous attempts to

ask questions to the Prime Minister, I have been unclear or dissatisfied

by the answers, as indeed have many other people! So, on this auspicious

100th occasion, can I ask the Prime Minister to help a young man named

Cal. Last week the Prime Minister told the engineering employers

Federation that we have a skills shortage. A good admission. Callum

as a bright young man, wanting to make his way in the world and he

says,... Well, maybe the Prime Minister does as well... Will the

government acknowledged the importance of sixth form colleges

and post-16 education services in Britain? Let me congratulate the

honourable gentleman on getting to 100 not out, that will be welcomed

across the House. What I would say to Callum is what we are introducing

is a situation where we and cap university places so as many people

who want to go can go and we will introduce in this Parliament 3

million apprentices. That combined with better funded sixth forms and

further education colleges means we've got a proper education system

that can really drive opportunity in this country. Let me come back once

more and child poverty, let me give him the figures. 800,000 fewer

people in relative poverty than 2010. 300,000 fewer children in

relative poverty in 2010. That is the Labour measurement used so when

he gets to did this batch proxy can tell us that he was wrong about

child poverty. -- when he gets to this dispatch box. The prime

ministers seems to be answering the last question but one. If I could

bring him back to the question from Callum, and point out that there has

been a 10% cut in real terms in sixth form and further education and

adult education has been cut by 35% during his time as Prime Minister,

the construction output in Britain has shrunk for two consecutive

quarters now. Surely this is a matter of concern? Is this not a

sign that this economic recovery has been constructed on sand? Let me

first confirmed that we have protected 16-18 education in this

spending round. He talks about construction. We want to see every

part of our economy growing and it is, unlike so many in what is a

difficult and dangerous world right now. Yet if you look at our

construction plans because we have a strong economy we can commit to HS2,

the biggest road programme since the 1970s, the largest rail programme

since Victorian times and together with huge infrastructure projects in

energy and other areas. Those things are only possible because we have a

strong and growing economy. We know what Labour would do. His spending

plans are a risk to the nation 's finances, his tax plans a risk to

every family in the country and we know what he wants which is to put

up taxes on people earning over ?20,000, that's the plan and it

would wreck this country's finances. Mr Speaker we have the construction

industry in recession at a time when there is an acute need for new

housing. Construction apprenticeships have fallen by 11%

since 2010. We have the lowest rate of house building since the 1920s,

almost 100 years ago. Will the Prime Minister look again at this issue,

stop the cuts to skills training and the cuts to investment

that are holding back this country, holding back the skill ambitions of

so many young people and invest in them and invest in our future. I

have to pick up the right honourable gentleman on his statistics because

we have seen a massive boost to apprenticeships and apprenticeship

funding under this government, 2 million in the last Parliament, 3

million in this one. House-building under Labour fell by 45% and has

since increased by two thirds, over 7000 new homes delivered since 2010

and now completions our up, housing starts at the highest level since

2007, lasted, they nearly doubled the low point of 2009. They wrecked

the economy, created that instability, we have been building a

strong economy and that is what we have to stick with. Mark Spencer.

Thank you. Unemployment in Sherwood has halved since 2010. Given that

the Chancellor will make his budget statement next week can the Prime

Minister assure the House you will continue to support education and

support to get to jobs that is maintaining the Conservative lot of

aspiration? My honourable friend is right, the school improvement

programme we are driving forward combined with an capping university

places and investing in apprenticeships is giving people a

ladder of opportunity to make the most of their lives and the most of

the aplomb and opportunities clearly created in this country where there

are 2 million more people in work. I know he has a particular interest in

his constituency, and extending the Robin Hood line and is meeting with

ministers to deliver this. Just the sort of infrastructure project this

government wants to get behind. Angus Robertson. Mr Speaker, the

refugee crisis is the biggest issue facing governments across Europe. Is

the Prime Minister ashamed that any UK Government programme, we now know

that in Folkestone trafficking victims were locked up without food,

asylum seeking children were forced to sleep on concrete floors,

patients with diarrhoea denied access to showers and a naked woman

was allegedly beaten at a detention centre. As the Prime Minister

ashamed of this? I would say that our asylum system

is fair and Britain, down the ages, has given people asylum who are

fleeing persecution and torture. When it comes to the issue of

resettling Syrian refugees, it was instructed at this week's European

Council with a chart showing how many countries have actually be

settled Syrian refugees, Britain has done far better than any other

country except Germany. Angus Robertson. This week the Scottish

refugee Council called for an investigation into how asylum

seekers are treated and housed in Glasgow. They want the Home Office

to commission an independent inquiry into claims of substandard housing

and deep -- dehumanising treatment by his government. Will he

commission that investigation? We are very happy for these issues

to be properly investigated. The home affairs select committee on

this House of Commons has done a report into the way asylum, housing

is commission. If the Scottish Parliament wants to carry out those

investigations, of course the United Kingdom government will cooperate.

We need to make sure when we take people in they are properly housed,

look after, their children at school, because that is the sort of

generous country we are. Mr Stevenson.

Thank you Mr Speaker. I welcome the Government's excellent initiative to

encourage employers to hire ex-offenders. Speaking as someone

who employs an ex-offender by the excellent working chance charity,

good the Prime Minister sure the House that implies in the public,

private and voluntary sectors play their part in providing excellent

opportunities? I agree with my friend and agree

with what he has done. If people are applying for a job, they have two at

some stage declared the criminal record they have on the offences

they may have committed. The question is do they have to do it

absolutely at the CVE stage? We believe they shouldn't. This level

-- civil service will do this. You might at least get the chance of an

interview so you are not ruled out. That is what we talk about. When we

talk about life chances for people in our country and giving people

sometimes a second chance to have a go at their life, we are putting our

money where our mouth is. If the British people vote to leave

the European Union, will the Prime Minister resign, yes or no?

No. It is very much to the Government

must back credit that over 2 million jobs have been created since 2010.

-- government's credit. But nearly 1 million have gone to non-UK EU

nationals. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that the EU's free

movement of people is damaging UK nationals implement prospects and

contributing to the people still unemployed and has not been

compensated for by jobs in other countries the European nationals.

If you look at the figures over the last five years two thirds of the

rise of employment over the last five years has been made up by jobs

going to British people. Where I would agree with her is in

combination with the welfare reform we have introduced for EU citizens

and the tougher control on migration from outside the EU, we should see

while fair reform in the UK as the flip side of migration control. We

want to make sure it always pays for British people to train up and do

the jobs available. We should see immigration control and welfare

reform as a way of getting more of our people into work.

Thank you Mr Speaker. Does the Prime Minister agree with me it is very

important we make the positive case for Britain remaining in the EU?

Each of us get ?1200 back for every ?120 we get back, we have lower

prices and choice in shops and easier travelling for holidays and

businesses. Can the Prime Minister explained how our membership of the

EU impact so many aspects of our lives?

The honourable lady makes an important point. In all the

arguments about single markets and sovereignty we can sometimes lose

some of the simple consumer benefits of being a member of the European

Union. The things she mentioned about cheap air travel, ease of

travel, not having any tariffs, these are things we take for granted

now, but simply weren't the case 40 years ago. That is a strong part of

the very positive case we should make the remaining in the EU. But

with her own constituency in mind I also think we should point of the

enormous success of the British car industry, which now employs and is

responsible for over 140,000 jobs. That is a great European success

story. A lot of those cars go to the European market and we want to make

sure that continues, tariff free. Thank you. Our security is

guaranteed under Nato and this government's action to meet our 2%

commitment is most welcome. I recently visited RAF Odiham in my

constituency where the chin-ups -- chinooks base. Would the Prime

Minister improve the living quarters for these people?

I pay tribute to all the people who service those helicopters. I visited

Afghanistan something like 13 times in recent years and their

professionalism and brilliance in flying at very low levels is very

remarkable. They have rightly been decorated for the work they do. We

have an upgraded programme for the chinooks, which means new

helicopters replacing part of the existing fleet. Some ?2 million has

been spent on RAF Odiham but if more is needed, we shall make sure that

happens. In 1949, aged 11 months, my constituent William was diagnosed

with polio. He has worked from the age of 15 and continues to work at

67 but following a clearly flawed EIP assessment he is set to lose his

motor ability card, within three weeks. He said it will leave him

unable to leave the House and unable to work. Will the Prime Minister

urgently review his case and the case of 14,000 disabled people who

have this as an essential lifeline? What we have found so far with

personal independence payments is we are spending more money on

disability, rather than less money on disability. I will look very

carefully at the case. The whole point about PIP compared to DLA is

there is a proper medical screening process. I am sure your constituent

will welcome us being so close to eradicating polio entirely from our

world and this government is committed to going the extra mile

and making that happen. Schools in South Suffolk were

delighted this week to see the publication of the Government's

consultation on fairer funding. Given that the first part of this

consultation will focus on the core principles, does my right honourable

friend agree with me, one of those principles must be to recognise

rural schools face unique and unavoidable costs which are not

funded under the current formula? I certainly agree it is right we are

examining this formula and trying to achieve better fairness. I think

everyone can see that the figures between best funded schools on the

less worst funded schools, that gap has got too great. I agree, it will

be vital, the specific needs of schools in rural areas are properly

considered. Our proposal suggests sending additional funding to all

schools in sparsely populated areas. To follow up the question from my

right honourable friend, the Leader of the Opposition, that official

figures show... It is not funny. 12,000 vacancies in construction are

hard to fill due to a lack of skilled applicants. Can the Prime

Minister explain why the number of construction apprenticeships have

fallen under him? The point is we are building more

houses, investing more in construction, training more

apprentices. The money is there from the Government and now we are going

to have the apprenticeship levy on the larger businesses that will make

sure we can fund apprenticeships long through this Parliament. Mr

Bellingham. The Prime Minister will be aware of a recent tragic fatality

on the A17 in my constituency. Whilst we must await the result of a

full inquest and police inquiry, does he agree it is vital the local

council is consulted when it comes to looking at new safety measures?

I have heard about this tragic accident and I am sure on behalf of

everyone we should send our sympathies and condolences to those

involved. I think he is right to say and so many of these cases the

parish council has a lot of expertise about roads that are not

things that could be done and they should be listened to in this and

other cases. On Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day

and just yesterday International Women's Day. Members opposite

rightly working to celebrate women on both occasions. Why has this

government introduced cuts to public services, a freeze to child benefit

and reductions in work-related benefits that have left mothers ?13

billion worse off? The one thing I share with the

honourable lady is it was right to celebrate Mother's Day, I shared it

with my mother, but I think I have probably said enough about her for

the time being a! Also, it was a privilege to welcome to number ten

yesterday some inspirational women from all walks of life, to mark

International Women's Day. I'm not saying this government has sold all

of these problems. We have more women in work, they are getting

higher pay, paying lower taxes, getting more childcare and retiring

with better pensions. When it comes to the things government needs to

do, we are appointing more women to senior positions, to public

appointments. The honours system is properly reflecting women.

Some said, what about the pay gap? It is at its lowest published level.

We have abolished the pay gap for the under 40s. When it comes to

protecting women, this is the Government that criminalised forced

marriage and introduced the duty to report female genital mutilation. It

set out a specific domestic violence measure. We introduced Claire 's Law

so people can find out about violent partners. I accept there is more to

be done, but let me say this to the Labour Party, one thing you could

help with, no more segregated, political meetings. Let us end the

process of having people with bigoted religious views treating

women as second-class citizens. I think you should all take the

pledge, no more segregated meetings! The UK still has relatively poor

superfast broadband and far too many mobile not spots. Great work has

been done but what will my right honourable friend be discussing with

his right honourable friend the Chancellor, in advance of the Budget

Statement next week, in how we can improve coverage further,

particularly for rural, small businesses in areas like mine?

I think my honourable friend is right to raise this. Since 2010 we

have nearly doubled the number of homes and businesses with superfast

broadband. We are on track for the 90-95% target but there is more that

needs to be done. I think this is something for members right across

the House. Ten year is ago we were all rather guilty of leading

campaigns against phone masts. Our constituents now want coverage for

their Internet, they want coverage for mobile phones. We need to make

sure we change the law in all the ways necessary, to make sure the

masts are built, we increase coverage and make sure everyone is

connected to the information superhighway. Thank you. 76% of the

cost of a bottle of whiskey is taxed. Last week the Government's 2%

cut in duty Priest revenue by 2.5 million. Well that Prime Minister

accepts one of our greatest products as taxed too much and join with me

in calling for a further 2% cut in duty in this year's budget?

The Chancellor and I have consistently backed Scotland,

Scottish whiskey and this vital industry. Let me say this. On the

day the profit and loss account comes out for Scotland, you can see

there is a ?15 billion gap that Scotland would face if it was

outside the United Kingdom. I dread to think what taxation would be have

to be levied not just an whiskey but petrol, work incomes, Holmes. That

is the prospect of life outside the United Kingdom and why I am so we

voted to stay together. The Government has just presented

three White papers to Parliament under their self-imposed legal duty

to provide information under the European referendum act. The

Minister for Europe, during the proceedings between the two houses,

undertook to me that the Government's information under that

act would certainly be accurate and impartial, as he put it. The three

recent White papers are not. My right honourable friend is the

enforcer of the ministerial code, which demands ministers give

accurate information to Parliament. Will my right honourable friend

issue instructions to Foreign Office ministers to review and correct

these White papers? Let me say to my honourable friend,

we believe in the sovereignty of Parliament. Parliament dictated that

these documents would be published and that is why they are being

published. On the question of their content, their content has been

prepared by civil servants and all the appropriate codes. If he does

not agree with some of the content I would say, challenged the content.

Have an argument about the content, not the process.

The Prime Minister's notes will indicate to him that I raised the

question at the National wildlife crime unit this year, I'm delighted

to report its funding has now been secured. For the next four years. I

take full responsibility for that. I read it on my website, so it must be

true! As my mother used to say, it never hurts to say thank you, and I

do. Can I ask him on a similar matter

how his manifesto pledge on not using animals in circuses is

progressing? Can I thank him for raising such good questions. On the

circuses and wild animals, we have a manifesto commitment. We did not

manage to meet it in the last parliament. We license these things

so strictly I think we are talking about one or two circuses. Two,

thank you. We are committed to legislating when Parliamentary time

allows. Later today colleagues across the House and I will be

launching a Parliamentary group on ending homelessness. Will my right

honourable friend join me in welcoming the work of organisations

around the country, including the Hope Centre in my constituency and

pledge as a government we will do all we can to help homeless people

and I certainly welcome my honourable

friend, and the launch of the old parliamentary group. We have to work

on the issues of rough sleeping, We hope to build by the end of this

Parliament 1 million new homes. All the arguments against homelessness

eventually come down to providing effective new homes.

Can the Prime Minister imagine the shock when a shop worker discovered

he was going to lose money as a result of the introduction of the

living wage question that that is because to introduce it be and Q are

cutting allowances. As a result he will take home ?50 a week less, or

?2600 a year after the hourly rate goes up. Can that Prime Minister and

Chancellor in their budget next week ensure that nobody working on a shop

takes on less money? We want to see people take hope that more money and

that is why we introduced the national living wage which will be

at ?9 by 2020. We are cutting the taxes of people like the friend whom

the honourable lady refers, will be able to earn ?11,000 from the 1st of

April before paying any taxes at all. A recent study led by Imperial

College has shown biomass, is progressed through the contracts for

difference, could save Bill payers and the Treasury millions of pounds.

An industry that supports many jobs in Selby in Cleethorpes. Can the

Prime Minister look at this as a sustainable business

model? Biomass comes from the US and Canada. Will you look at this so we

can try and get it into the programme? I will, but what we have

do realise is the extra amount of money we are prepared to put into

renewable energy is a finite amount and in the end we have to make sure

that what we get is cost effective. I will look carefully at what my

friends as. It used to be said in English family's home was their

castle. But following the Government's Housing Bill new

tenants in social housing will be on pre-5-year contracts. Does the Prime

Minister think it is right a student beginning their secondary education

may face eviction at the time they come up to their GCSEs and A-levels?

We want for their home to genuinely be there on which is why we are

extending right to buy so that millions of people will be able to

own their own home. As for future tenancies, we want to make sure

social housing is therefore the people who need it most. No current

tenant is going to be affected. That is why we think this Housing Bill

will see more homes built, more homes owned, more homes rented and

will be good for housing in our country.

We will come to the points of order. Honourable members raising points of

order should have an attentive audience. Which seems more likely

once those leaving have done so quickly and quietly. And what is

more, sorry to disappoint the honourable gentleman, whose

eagerness is evident for all to see, that the points of order come out of

the question and this statement. I'm sure these are genuine points of

order, honourable members will come scurrying back to