25/05/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

industries in the automotive sector that they bent on companies like

Toyota, Ford who want us to the main part of the single EU market.

Questions to THE SPEAKER: There's a process to

follow. Wait his turn! Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, as always.

The Prime Minister's attending the G7 in Japan. I've been asked to

reply on his MAFF. This morning I'd meetings in ministerial colleagues.

In addition to my duties in this House, I will have meetings again

later today. I'm sure members 07 sit will disagree. The first priority of

any Government is the defence and security of our country. Therefore,

could the Chancellor outline for me, the steps this Government is taking

to replace our Trident nuclear defence? My honourable friend is

right. The first duty of Government is to defend the country. To for

almost 70 years an independent nuclear deterrent has provided the

ultimate insurance of four freedom. We'll renew Trident deterrent,

bridge forward votes in this House. We ask MPs from all sides of the

House to support this commitment to our national security. When she

stands up, the honourable lady representing the Labour Party should

inti Kate that support today. THE SPEAKER: Angela e Eagle. Thank

you, thank you, Mr Speaker. We look forward to the vote on Trident. And

he should get on with it! Mr Speaker, given the overnight news of

the French authority's dawn raid on Google investigating allegations of

aggravated financial fraud and money laundering, does the Chancellor now

regret calling his cosy little tax deal with the same company good news

for the British taxpayer? Well, it is good news that we are collecting

money in tax from companies that paid no tax when the Labour Party

was in office. Sand she seems to forget, she was the exchequer's

secretary in the last Government. So, perhaps, when she stands up, she

can tell us whether she ever raised with the Inland Revenue at the time,

the tax affairs of Google? Mr Speaker, I think obviously the

Chancellor has done a bit more research this time. I regard that as

a compliment! Mr Speaker, I think from that answer, that the

Chancellor is far too easily satisfied with his cosy little tax.

I note that even the honourable member for Uxbridge and rice lip

labelled this cosy little deal derisory. The British public think

it's even worse. Despite all the rhetoric on his watch, the tax gap

has actually gone up. His tax deal with the Swiss raised a fraction of

the revenue he boasted that it would. And the OBR blaming the lack

of resources in Revenue Customs. So why, Mr Speaker, has he sacked

11,000 tax staff since 2010? And when is he going to give them the

resources they need to do a proper job? Well, we increased resources

for the HMRC to tackle tax evasion and avoidance. We've introdeuced a

diverted profits tax so companies like Google can't shift their

profits offshore nil. We made sure the banks pay a higher tax charge

than they ever did under the last Labour Government. I come back to

this, she was a Treasury minister, stood at this dispatch box. She's

asking me what we've done to tackle tax evasion and tax avoidance. Did

she ever raise, as the exchequer secretary, the tax affairs of

Google? We should know this before she asks questions of this

Government. Mr Speaker... THE SPEAKER: Members must calm

themselves! And remain calm. Order! On both sides, they should take the

lead from the right honourable and learned gentlemen, the member for

Rushcliffe who's always sitting calm in a statistics manlike manner.

That's the way to behave. An loo eagle. We all have the greatest

respect for the Right Honourable Member for Rushcliffe. The

Chancellor of the exchequer will know the exchequer secretary deems

with taxes on vices not Google. I did my job in taxing vices when I

was in the Treasury. He will be judged on results. He's been in

office for six years. With France demanding ten times more from Google

than he is, the public will make their own judgment. Mr Speaker,

while Labour is campaigning to ensure the UK remains in the

European Union because it's the best way to defend rights at work, as

well as jobs and prosperity, the party opposite is split right down

the middle. And... Mr Speaker, it's descending into vicious acrimony.

Last week, the Employment Minister... Last week... Mr Speaker,

last week the Employment Minister called for Brexit so there could be

a bonfire of workers' rights. Does the Chancellor agree with her or

does he agree with Len McCluskey that a vote to stay in the European

Union is the best deal for Britain's workers? First of all, she confirmed

that when she was in the Treasury, she asked absolutely no questions

about the tax affairs of Google. When it comes to the European Union,

as she knows, she agree on this, I think it's better Britain remains in

the European Union. Why don't we have consensus on other issues, like

having an independent nuclear deterrent. Let's have a consensus on

supporting businesses rather than disparaging businesses. Let's have a

consensus and not piling debts on the next generation but dealing with

our deficit. Let's have a consensus the parties in this House should

have a credible economic policy. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think he's

just agreed with Len McCluskey. The former work and Spences -- Work and

Pensions Secretary said this week the Chancellor's Brexit report

should not be believed by anyone. He branded the Chancellor Pinnochio

with his nose just getting longser and longer with every fib.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary to the TUC said the Trish remember's

report caves us half a million good reasons to stay in the European

Union. Who should the public listen to? I don't think it's any great

revelation that different Conservative MPs have different

views on the European Union. That's why we're having a referendum.

Because this issue does divide parties and families and friends.

And we made a commitment in our manifesto that the British people

would decide this question. I might just observe, if she wants to talk

about divisions in parties, whilst she's sitting here, the leader of

the Labour Party is sitting at home wondering whether to impeach the

former member of the Labour Party for war crimes. Mr Speaker, I'm glad

he agrees with Francis O'Grady. A pitty he can't get half his

backbenches and his own party to agree with him. Given that the

former Work and Pensions Secretary has just called the Prime Minister

disingenuous and the former Tory Mayor of London called him

Demmeented, I -- demeanted, I wouldn't talk about Labour splits.

He needs to get his own house in order. Following the second

omnishambles budget this year, the Chancellor's approval rating have

collapse by 80 points amongst his own party. Given he seems to be

following a similar career path... Begin he seems to be following a

similar career path, isn't it time he turned to Michael Portillo for

advice? Last week, the former would be leader said of the Queen's

Speech, after 23 years of careful thought about what they would like

to do in power... Order. This question will be heard. Those

preyting away should cease doing so, it is stupid and counter-productive.

After 23 years of careful thought about what they would like to do in

power, Michael Portillo said, the answer is nothing. There is nothing

they want to do with office or power. The Government has nothing to

do, nothing to say and thinks nothing. That's what he said. But

even this nothing Queen's Speech has caused a revolt on his own

backbenches and caused another U-turn to force the Government to

defeat in its legislative programme in 92 years. Mr Speaker... Mr

Speaker, doesn't that tell you all you need to know about this Prime

Minister and Chancellor? It seems they can't even get their

backbenches to vote for them. Nothing without a fight. I tell you

what we've done in recent weeks, we've taken another million people

out of tax altogether. We have frozen fuel duty. We've cut business

rates for small businesses. We've seen the deficit fall by another ?16

billion. We delivered a record number of jobs and introduced a

national living wage. That's what we've been up to. What have the

Labour Party been up to? She talks of ewe turns. They've turned the

Labour Party from a party that gave Britain its nuclear deterrent to a

pear that wants to scrap it. A party that created the academies programme

which now wants to abolish them. A party that once courted businesses

now disparages them. The prawn cocktail offences is just plain

offensive these days. They've gone from a Labour Party that won

elections to a Labour Party that's going to go on losing though

elections. Mr Speaker, with 29 days to go

before the most important decision in this country has faced in a

generation we have a government in utter chaos, split down the middle,

at war with itself, the stakes could not be higher and yet this

government is at the mercy of its own rebel backbenchers, unable to

get their agenda through Parliament, instead of providing the leadership

the country needs they are facing a bitter proxy war over the leadership

of their party. I noticed that all of the Brexit supporters have been

banished from the front bench. CHEERING

Well, Mr Speaker... It's nice to see the Justice Secretary here. I think

the Chancellor has put the rest of his Brexit colleagues in detention.

Instead of providing the leadership the country needs they are fighting

a bitter proxy war over the leadership of their own party

instead of focusing on the national interest, they are focusing on their

narrow self-interest. We need a government that will do the best for

Britain. What we've got is a Conservative Party focused only on

themselves. CHEERING She talks about our Parliamentary

party, let's look at hers. They are like rats deserting a sinking ship.

We've got the shadow health minister wants to be the mayor for Liverpool,

the member for Bury South wants to be the mayor for Manchester. The

shadow leader wants to be the mayor for both cities. When we said we

were creating job opportunities, we didn't mean for the whole Shadow

Cabinet. They are like a Parliamentary party on day release,

are they? When the honourable lady is here, they know the member for

Islington will be back and it is four more years of hard labour.

Today we are voting on a Queens speech that delivers economic

security, protects national security, enhances life chances for

the disadvantaged, it doesn't matter who stands at the dispatch box for

the Labour Party, these days they are dismantling our defences,

wrecking our economy, burdening people with debt and in their own

report published this week called Labour Pars future, surprisingly

long, they say this, they are becoming increasingly irrelevant to

the working people of Britain. CHEERING

Thank you, Mr Speaker, what a privilege it is to be called by you.

If the Remain campaign has its way, I will have two apply to Jean-Claude

Juncker by e-mail to speak. A wonderful example of European, not

EU, cooperation. The Fuser Large is built in this country and the wings

in Germany. Whether we remain inside or outside the EU will have no

affect on this business. As the Chancellor knows, it is trade and

hard work of businessmen and women that create jobs and prosperity not

politicians and bureaucrats. It is their job is to nurture growth and

enterprise... Order! I was looking for? For a question. Does my right

honourable friend agree it is to nurture business and not make

threats against enterprise and aspiration? Icon plie agree with my

honourable friend that jobs and enterprise are created through the

ingenuity of private businesses that we should support and nurture in

this house. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Lachlan brain is seven

years old and he attends the Gaelic medium primary school in Dingwall in

the Scottish Highlands. Next week, as the Home Secretary is currently

briefing him, the home Department plans to deport him and his family

despite the fact that he arrived through a Scottish Government

initiative from the Home Office to attract people to live and work in

the region. This case has been front page news in Scotland. What does the

Chancellor have to say to his family and the community who want him to

stay? As I understand it, the family don't meet the immigration criteria.

The Home Secretary says she is very happy to write to the Aiton

honourable gentleman on the details of the specific case. This has been

going on for weeks and that frankly is not good enough. Appeals have

been made to the Home Secretary by the First Minister, the local MP,

the local MSP, the community, it is wall-to-wall across the media of

Scotland and the Chancellor of the Exchequer clearly knew nothing about

it. The problem in the Highlands of Scotland is not immigration, it has

been emigration. Even at this late stage, knowing nothing about it,

speak to the Home Secretary, speak to the Prime Minister and get this

sort of -- sorted out. The Home Secretary will write on the details

of the case. Can I suggest to the Scottish Nationalists party, they

have substantial tax and enterprise powers and if they want to attract

people to the Highlands of Scotland, why don't they create an

entrepreneurial Scotland that people want to move to from the rest of the

United Kingdom where they can grow their business and have a successful

life? Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Why is the Chilcott

reported not being published before the referendum? Is it because the

Prime Minister and the Chancellor don't want the public to be reminded

how the government of the day and the establishment are prepared to

produce dodgy dossiers, make things up and distort the facts to con the

public into supporting something they otherwise wouldn't ahead of the

EU referendum? No, because it is an independent report and they decide

when to produce it. In the spirit of consensus Mr Speaker, may I say that

there are few things that unite the house more than a concentration on

the periodic reviews of the boundary commission which has been studied

with fierce intensity and covered as eyes. We do note that the electorate

of the royal Boehner of Kensington and Chelsea has declined preserver

severely -- precipitately and against all logic. Should the Prime

Minister be concerned about this and what should he be doing? I thought

he was the member of party -- parliament for Ealing. They are

drawing up the boundaries and we will see their proposals.

Will the Chancellor, Barnardo 's, the oldest children's charity

celebrating 150 years of supporting and protecting the honourable

children? Does he agree that young people need support beyond the age

of 18 to maximise life chances and that the government knew care

leavers, and which extends the duty of care to 25 is a fitting way to

build an Barnardo 's proud history of giving young people best

opportunities in life? I certainly agree with my right honourable

friend that Barnardos is a brilliant charity and we should congratulate

them on the work that they do. We have huge responsibility to the

people in the care of the state and that does not end when they are 18

years old. That's why in the Queens speech we are announcing new

measures to include support from a personal adviser until they are 25

and make sure other bodies like local authorities have care for

those people and make sure all the opportunities are brought to their

attention. It is part of the life chances strategy that lies at the

heart of the Queens speech. The Chancellor wanted a march of the

maker. Hundreds of Steelworkers are marching for their future and their

communities. Why does the government backed China's bid for market

economy status against the interests of the steelworkers? Why does he

block tariffs against the interests of steelworkers. When will he put

the interests of steelworkers ahead of his own? Of course, our thoughts

are with the and their families at very difficult time. If we take a

step back, we should all acknowledge that there is a global crisis in the

steel industry that tens of thousands of jobs have been lost

across Europe alone and many tens of thousands Billy on that. We are

taking specific action today to help Tata and the port but works and

related works across the country and the Business Secretary has been in

India with the First Minister of Wales in a cross-party effort.

Nationally, we have taken action to reduce energy charges are an energy

intensive industries, we have taken action to make sure there is more

flexibility with emission regulations, doing everything we can

to help this industry at a very difficult time including making sure

there are top tariffs on Chinese dumping and as a result on tariffs

on Rebar still, those imports are down 90%. Would the Chancellor

comment on the fact that Lord sugar has joined the government as Empress

-- enterprise are show that people are abandoning the Labour Party. And

can he confirmed that he has no plans for a sugar tax? We have hired

Lord Sugar to head enterprise and he will bring knowledge and enterprise.

Apparently, he has told the Labour Party, you're fired! I have a

14-year-old autistic constituent who got on very well at primary school

but since moving to secondary school has found them on compromising,

leaving him with special school as his only option. What will the

Chancellor do to make sure when the independent expert group looking at

initial teacher training reports back that ministers will ensure that

specific autism training performs part of their curriculum? I think

the honourable lady raises an important issue and I think she will

have a lot of sympathy from colleagues around the house. The

Education Secretary has raised her concerns and shares her concerns and

has raised the issue with the chair of the initial teacher training

review Stephen Mundie and her efforts will be to ensure that

teacher training supports children with special educational needs,

specifically autism, and will recommend how teacher training

should cover this in the report which will be published shortly. My

local clinical commissioning group are reporting on the report leading

to downgrading at Doncaster infirmary. Can we ensure that all

bands are on the table and that we must be able to compete with their

needs. Any service changes need to be made by the local NHS and they

need to be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better

outcomes for patients. It's right that these decisions are made by

local clinicians rather than politicians but they do need to meet

the key tests set out. Public and patient engagement, support from GP

commissioners, be based on clinical evidence and consider patient

choice. I would expect the local NHS to consider all these in any

decision they reach. The House of Commons library estimates that 4.9

million UK citizens live or work in other countries and yet week in,

week out I meet constituents from overseas that cannot get visas,

residences or citizenship here and the whole of Scotland is outrage at

the threat of deportation for the Brain family. What is the difference

between an economic migrant and an expat? The honourable gentleman and

straights that we do have border controls in this country and we do

have immigration rules that need to be complied with. That is a very

important part of the European Union Schengen area agreements that we are

not part. It is of the special status we have in the European

Union. Would the Chancellor join me in welcoming the crew of HMS Duncan,

the last of the type 45 destroyers presently moored in London for the

Battle of Jutland commemorations. Would he support the work that the

all-party group is doing to ensure all Armed Forces and their families

have the very best housing that we can offer them? I absolutely join

her in welcoming the crew of HMS Duncan and celebrating all they do

on behalf of this country to keep us safe and to represent Britain around

the world and of course we return them a duty of care and that is

enshrined in government. That didn't exist before we came into government

and we are honouring our promise to honour the armed services and our

Navy. This government wants to raise tuition fees even higher. Why has

the Chancellor changed his view since 2003 when he said that you

wish and fees were attacks on learning? Back then, the Labour

Party were voting for Jewish and fees and the difference is, we

learned our lesson and they have forgotten theirs. -- tuition fees.

This has given us the best universities in the world and the

record number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They have

an incredible policy to abolish tuition fees that they introduced

and create a ?10 billion hole in the public finances. It's time they were

straight with students that it is completely unavoidable.

St Albans and many areas of the South and East need their green

belt, 3 million people might come into this country if we remain.

Which parts of the green belt will be needed to build on and where will

it go? We need to provide houses, homes and infrastructure for these

people. We made a clear commitment to protect the green belt and our

planning laws that we introduced and proposed to introduce do meet those

laws but I have to say to my honourable friend, we disagree on

this issue on European union membership and I see no particular

evidence from the Leave campaign that more people would come in.

Let's agree on this, we have a referendum and it is not going to be

up to her or me but the British people to desired. -- decide. No

wonder should underestimate public support for the BBC. 200,000 people

have signed a petition over the removal of the recipes website. The

government may have held back from some more extreme proposals but

there is still a need for concern. Will they allow MPs to provide

Parliamentary scrutiny that the charter renewal so Rob Lee deserves?

We want a great public broadcaster. We have agreed a deal with the BBC

that they have welcomed. On the specific issue she raises, that was

an operational decision by the BBC and not a decision taken by the

government. We have a great national public broadcaster in the BBC. We

don't want a newspaper in the form of the BBC. As newspapers move

online, the BBC want to be careful about what information they have on

their website so we can also have a flourishing private press. I think

the BBC have got that balance right. Will the Chancellor, firm and

explain as the House of Commons library and the ONS figures for 2015

clearly show that as we export 44% of goods and services within the

single market, why it is that in relation to the other 27 member

states we run a disastrous loss or deficit on these exports of 68

billion per annum, up 9 billion from last year alone whereas Germany with

the same 27 runs a profit or surplus of a massive 82 billion. Isn't that

a bad deal? We are a massive exporter of services and they

represent a 80% of the economy. We are home to one of the most

successful car industries in the world and we export to the

continent. We are part of the European Supply chain and that is

why leading businesses are in favour of is remaining in the European

Union. We disagree on this issue and that is why together we stood on the

manifesto to have a referendum and let the people decide. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. Headteachers, NHS, private-sector employers in my

constituency are telling me they have few if any qualified applicants

for a range of skilled roles and too many experienced staff are leaving.

The single most common reason for this crisis is the cost of rental

and purchase housing in west London which the government's housing

policies will not addressed. Even the subsidies to buy... Order!

Order! I'm sorry to say to the honourable lady, one sentence with a

question at the end of it and we must press on. Will the Chancellor

acknowledge this recruitment and retention crisis and do something

about it? We have 25,000 more clinically trained staff in our

national health service but we agree with her that there is a challenge

of housing in London. I met with Sadik Khan earlier this week and we

are going to see where we can agree with others is that can address that

issue. In my right honourable friend's enthusiast and to bludgeon

the voter into supporting the European Union that they don't

really like, how can he justify planning to break the law? Is he

aware that the public Administration select committee has now published

three legal opinions from Speaker's Council, from... THEY TALK OVER EACH

OTHER I hope the sentence is coming to an

end with a question at the end of it. Very briefly. They make it

perfectly clear that it is illegal for the government to keep their

pro-EU propaganda on the government website during the third period.

Turing the period, the government will comply with the law. Can I make

a general observation. We have fought for the referendum which is

taking place with huge issues at stake about Britain's economy,

Britain's security and place in the world. Let's debate the substance

rather than the process and then the British people will feel they have

had a range of opinions and they can make their own mind up. The care

sector faces a crisis made worse by the failure of the Chancellor to

properly fund increases in the minimum wage. Local government

Association has asked the Chancellor to bring forward ?700 million of

care funding from 2019 to this year and next year to help with those

extra costs. Will the Chancellor listen to local councils and form

his own minimum wage policy? Of course we always listen to local

authorities and we have given them the power which many have used to

apply a social care precept and that has come in in April in many areas.

At the same time, we have put more money into the better care fund and

we are confident that social care is funded. More needs to be done to

help the social care sector and the key is going to be integration with

the national health service in the coming years so it is much more

seamless as a service for our citizens. Last year at the

Conservative Party conference, the Prime Minister said that the future,

for we the state provided was shameful. The Dell or early grave on

the streets. Yesterday the Prison Reform Trust produced a report

identifying that far too high a proportion of children in care come

in touch with the criminal justice system. Will he ensure that policies

are implemented that prevents the unnecessary contact between the

criminal justice system and children in care so that they can have a good

future? I think he speaks very powerfully and, of course, we've got

to have a care system that does the very best for children. The Queens

speech has measures in that respect. The key thing is reforming our

prison system so that people are punished for crimes but have a

chance to rehabilitate themselves and that is one of the reforms I am

proudest to be part of. A Southampton letting agency has been

banned from trading for three years for not giving tenants their

deposits back and using them for other purposes. The situation as far

as letting agencies is concerned is that they are almost completely

regulated and it is potluck as to whether residents get a fey deal or

not. Is the Chancellor planning to do anything about this? We are

looking to make sure that people who rent are getting proper consumer

protection including from landlords who unreasonably withhold deposits.

Order, order. Yes, points of order, at least a three course meal in my

experience. Point of order. Thank you. I