:00:00. > :00:00.Parliament, we have an ambitious target of more than a third of
:00:00. > :00:25.projects and I had to work with her to make sure we achieve that target.
:00:26. > :00:35.I would like to congratulate the British Olympic team on a great
:00:36. > :00:40.medical -- medal haul, finishing second, in front of China. CHEERING
:00:41. > :00:45.I know everyone would wish to give the very best wishes to our
:00:46. > :00:49.Paralympic athletes and wish them the best of success. This morning I
:00:50. > :00:52.had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and I will
:00:53. > :01:01.have further such meetings later today. May I add my warm wishes to
:01:02. > :01:05.those, all Paralympians and those from Bristol in particular, they
:01:06. > :01:15.will do us Brown. The whole house will be delighted that this house
:01:16. > :01:21.houses a disproportionate number of the worlds finest university -- that
:01:22. > :01:26.this country. However, some are being shutout in anticipation of
:01:27. > :01:30.Brexit, this is so important for scientific, medical, engineering and
:01:31. > :01:38.other research, and for our economic prosperity. Can the Prime Minister
:01:39. > :01:46.please tell us what her strategy is? Can I first of all say come out very
:01:47. > :01:49.good it is to see her in this house. We agree of the importance of
:01:50. > :01:59.valuable adversities and the work they do and the research and
:02:00. > :02:04.collaboration they have -- of the value of our universities. We have
:02:05. > :02:07.given certain guarantees to universities in relation to funding
:02:08. > :02:12.decisions which have been taken by the European Union and we are
:02:13. > :02:17.standing by them because we recognise the value they bring to
:02:18. > :02:23.the country. Neil Parish. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome the statement
:02:24. > :02:28.from the Chancellor on support payments for farmers after 2020, to
:02:29. > :02:31.give confidence to farming and the countryside, but with trade deals
:02:32. > :02:38.now being done, bridges farmers produce some of the best welfare and
:02:39. > :02:43.friendly food in the world and we need to make sure they are not both
:02:44. > :02:46.farming... We need to make sure the food industry is protected through
:02:47. > :02:52.trade deals in the future and I seek reassurance from the Prime Minister.
:02:53. > :02:57.-- British farmers. You are right, the announcement I referred to just
:02:58. > :03:00.now, to answer the first question the Chancellor gave, gave guarantees
:03:01. > :03:05.to the farming industry about the support available to them after 2020
:03:06. > :03:09.but we need to recognise the very significant role that the food and
:03:10. > :03:13.farming industry plays in the United Kingdom and we will be looking to
:03:14. > :03:16.work with the sector. The Environment Secretary will be doing
:03:17. > :03:20.that to see how we can develop those industries looking into the future.
:03:21. > :03:25.And looking at the trade deals we will be doing and how they will play
:03:26. > :03:33.their part. Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you. Can I join the Prime Minister
:03:34. > :03:37.in congratulating the entirety of the Olympic team for their fantastic
:03:38. > :03:44.achievements at the Olympics in Rio and wish the Paralympic team all the
:03:45. > :03:50.best and can she tell us, did this set the visit off to China in a good
:03:51. > :03:56.way or was there a bit of tension? If bragging rights were allowed. The
:03:57. > :04:02.average house price in Britain is now ?215,000 and over eight times
:04:03. > :04:07.the average wage. The average price of a first-time buyers home has
:04:08. > :04:14.risen by 12% in the past year. Isn't the dream of home ownership for many
:04:15. > :04:22.people just that? A dreamer? First of all, in response to the first
:04:23. > :04:24.point, I actually... The Chinese president congratulated me on the
:04:25. > :04:30.success of the United Kingdom in the Olympic Games. He raises the issues
:04:31. > :04:32.of housing which he has raised on a number of occasions with my
:04:33. > :04:38.predecessor and also with me before we broke for the summer recess. Of
:04:39. > :04:45.course it is important for us to look at helping people get their
:04:46. > :04:49.first... Their step on the first rung of the housing ladder or stop
:04:50. > :04:54.that is why I'm pleased that house-building has been up under a
:04:55. > :04:59.Conservative government compared to Labour, but we are not complacent
:05:00. > :05:02.and we will be doing more. We will have more houses being built under
:05:03. > :05:05.this Conservative government and also providing support for people to
:05:06. > :05:11.make sure they have the financial support which helps them to own
:05:12. > :05:14.their own home. House-building under this government is 45,000 a year
:05:15. > :05:25.less than it was under the last Labour government. And for those who
:05:26. > :05:34.are desperate to get their own place, I referred the Prime Minister
:05:35. > :05:39.to an note I received from a lady called Jenny, her partner and
:05:40. > :05:43.herself work in a supermarket, they are trying to get a mortgage and
:05:44. > :05:51.they have been told they can borrow ?73,000. Not much hope for them,
:05:52. > :05:56.then. The former Prime Minister promised there would be a wonderful
:05:57. > :06:02.one replacement for every council house that is sold under right to
:06:03. > :06:07.buy -- there would be a one for one. Sadly there is only one for every
:06:08. > :06:11.five that are sold. Will the prime to give us a commitment on the one
:06:12. > :06:17.for one replacement and when will it be a reality? Can I say to Jenny
:06:18. > :06:20.that I fully understand and appreciate the concerns that
:06:21. > :06:25.individuals have about wanting to be able to have their own home and to
:06:26. > :06:30.set up that home and I recognise the difficulties that they are after
:06:31. > :06:34.some people in doing that. I have to say, in relation to the figures on
:06:35. > :06:39.council houses, he is wrong, we have delivered on the one for one
:06:40. > :06:46.replacement on leave to buy. I'm very interested. I noticed that the
:06:47. > :06:54.right honourable gentleman had asked his Twitter followers what questions
:06:55. > :06:57.he should ask me this week and I thought I would love to see what
:06:58. > :07:01.responses he would receive, and I thought the first one was quite good
:07:02. > :07:12.-- I would look. He might want to stay sitting down. Lewis writes,
:07:13. > :07:19.does she know that in a recent Paltan who would make a better Prime
:07:20. > :07:22.Minister, -- does she know that in a recent poll on who would make a
:07:23. > :07:29.better Prime Minister, don't know rated higher than Jeremy Corbyn. We
:07:30. > :07:35.do know that we're not going to let Labour anywhere near power again.
:07:36. > :07:41.The number of first-time buyers has halved in the last 20 years and the
:07:42. > :07:47.average age has increased a great deal. There is a housing crisis in
:07:48. > :07:51.Britain. 10 million people now live in the private rented sector and
:07:52. > :07:57.many are forced to claim housing benefit to cover costs of rents.
:07:58. > :08:05.Devastating figures released over the summer show that ?9.3 billion of
:08:06. > :08:09.public money is paid through housing benefit directly into the pockets of
:08:10. > :08:14.private landlords. Does the Prime Minister think this ?9.3 billion
:08:15. > :08:23.into the private rental market is really money well spent? I have to
:08:24. > :08:28.say, he talks about the importance of people being able to buy their
:08:29. > :08:33.own homes and then challenge is one of the measures which helps people
:08:34. > :08:36.to get into their own homes through housing benefit, support in the
:08:37. > :08:40.private rented sector, so it might be that he has an ideological
:08:41. > :08:45.objection to the private rented sector, but what this government is
:08:46. > :08:47.doing is making sure that what we are doing is looking across the
:08:48. > :08:51.board so we will see more houses being built. We are looking to make
:08:52. > :08:56.sure there is a diversity of opportunity for people in terms of
:08:57. > :09:05.getting their own home, but I have to say, everything he says tells us
:09:06. > :09:07.all we need to know about modern Labour, the train has left the
:09:08. > :09:11.station, the seats are empty, the leader is on the floor, and even on
:09:12. > :09:20.rolling stock they are a laughing stock. CHEERING
:09:21. > :09:36.Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker... Her predecessor... Mr Speaker, her
:09:37. > :09:39.predecessor in discussing this issue said the simple point is that every
:09:40. > :09:47.penny you spend on housing subsidy is money you can't spend on building
:09:48. > :09:52.houses. And if landlords rent outhouses in a very bad state, such
:09:53. > :09:56.as heavy damp wet walls, no working toilet, they need to be getting
:09:57. > :10:00.fined. The government has got to regulate, that is what choice wrote
:10:01. > :10:06.to me, and the citizens advice bureau says one sixth of housing
:10:07. > :10:13.benefit goes to private sector landlords renting out on safe homes,
:10:14. > :10:22.is this really a satisfactory state of affairs gridlock -- on safe. What
:10:23. > :10:27.I would say, if he thinks housing benefit is actually such a bad
:10:28. > :10:29.thing, why was it that when we change the rules on housing benefit
:10:30. > :10:36.the Labour Party opposed those changes that we took? He talks about
:10:37. > :10:39.bad landlords, we have changed the rules on selective licensing and we
:10:40. > :10:46.are making changes and we have given councils free reign to impose
:10:47. > :10:52.burdens of the Chrissy on landlords -- burdens of bureaucracy on
:10:53. > :10:58.landlords, we think that will lead to problems in the market with high
:10:59. > :11:03.costs on tenants and landlords. We are looking at all of these issues.
:11:04. > :11:08.I recognise as every MP does the problems that people have when they
:11:09. > :11:12.are living in accommodation that is not up to the standard that we would
:11:13. > :11:16.wish to see people living in. That is why we are looking and changing
:11:17. > :11:23.the rules and we are making sure that the regulations are there. That
:11:24. > :11:26.is extremely interesting. Only a year ago the Prime Minister voted
:11:27. > :11:30.against a Labour amendment to the housing bill which simply said all
:11:31. > :11:38.homes for rent in the private rented sector should be fit for human
:11:39. > :11:45.habitation. Just over a year ago the Treasury estimated that it is losing
:11:46. > :11:50.half ?1 billion per year on unpaid tax on landlords renting in the
:11:51. > :11:55.private rented sector. ?9.5 billion in housing benefit, half a billion
:11:56. > :11:59.not being collected and a large number of homes not really fit for
:12:00. > :12:03.human habitation. Does this require government intervention on the side
:12:04. > :12:10.of the tenant and those in housing need? The right honourable gentleman
:12:11. > :12:14.asks for the government to intervene, and the government has
:12:15. > :12:19.the housing and panning act introduced further tough measures --
:12:20. > :12:23.planning act. Banning orders for serious offenders and repayment
:12:24. > :12:27.orders, we have provided money so local authorities can conduct more
:12:28. > :12:32.inspections of properties, people's homes, we have seen more people and
:12:33. > :12:36.more properties being inspected, we now have thousands of landlords
:12:37. > :12:39.facing further action. Far from not taking action in this area, the
:12:40. > :12:48.government has. But I say to the right John -- honourable gentleman,
:12:49. > :12:50.he might have a vision of society where he doesn't want private
:12:51. > :12:54.landlords and he would like the government deliberating on
:12:55. > :12:59.everything about that is not what we want. We want opportunities for
:13:00. > :13:03.people -- but that is not what we want. They're big difference between
:13:04. > :13:11.him and me is that we want people to take opportunities. We want to make
:13:12. > :13:14.sure that those living in the private rented sector are properly
:13:15. > :13:21.treated and not having to pay excessive levels of rent. Womens Aid
:13:22. > :13:26.has said that two thirds of women refugees are going to close because
:13:27. > :13:33.of the benefit cap when it comes into force and that 87% of women and
:13:34. > :13:37.children who are in those refuges will suffer as a result and most of
:13:38. > :13:43.those refuges require an income level which comes mainly from
:13:44. > :13:47.housing benefit, 90% from vat. Does the Prime Minister recognised that
:13:48. > :13:51.these are very vulnerable women in those refuges and the closure of
:13:52. > :13:54.them would be devastating for them and very dangerous for the most
:13:55. > :13:59.vulnerable people within our society? Will should take action to
:14:00. > :14:08.make sure the cat doesn't apply to Womens Aid refuges? -- the cap.
:14:09. > :14:12.The right honourable gentleman raises a very important issue. On
:14:13. > :14:17.the issue of domestic violence we should come across this house, do
:14:18. > :14:23.all we can to stop these crimes taking place and provide support to
:14:24. > :14:29.the victims and survivors of these crimes. We are working on exempting
:14:30. > :14:34.refuges from the cap. I would also remind him of the very good record
:14:35. > :14:38.that we have on domestic violence. It was a Conservative government
:14:39. > :14:47.that introduced the new offence of coercive control, that put into
:14:48. > :14:50.practice those laws, that putting ?80 million to support domestic
:14:51. > :14:54.violence victims in the period up to 2020. We are listening to these
:14:55. > :14:59.problems and we are responding to them and we all take this very
:15:00. > :15:04.seriously indeed. But I say to the right honourable gentleman, it is 50
:15:05. > :15:09.days since he and I last met across this dispatch box. It would be nice
:15:10. > :15:14.to see you, he said. It is nice to see him sitting in his place.
:15:15. > :15:19.LAUGHTER And I have to say, if we just look
:15:20. > :15:23.at the contrast is what -- of what has been done over the summer, the
:15:24. > :15:29.Conservative government has been working tirelessly to support
:15:30. > :15:34.everyone. Yanuyanutawa ?250 million of loans
:15:35. > :15:39.to small businesses, introduced the racial disparity audit, looking at
:15:40. > :15:42.public services and how they treat people and setting the groundwork
:15:43. > :15:50.for new trade deals around the world.
:15:51. > :15:54.What we have seen, what a contrast. What a contrast with the party
:15:55. > :15:59.opposite, divided amongst themselves, and I'm capable of
:16:00. > :16:03.uniting our country. What we do know is there is only one party that is
:16:04. > :16:07.going to provide a country, a government, and economy, a society
:16:08. > :16:18.that works for everyone, and that's the Conservative Party! CHEERING
:16:19. > :16:22.. Last week the children Society published a report that showed 10%
:16:23. > :16:28.of children feel their lives have little meaning or purpose. I know
:16:29. > :16:31.the Prime Minister understands the importance of tackling mental
:16:32. > :16:36.health, because she raised in her Downing Street speech. What further
:16:37. > :16:40.action does she propose to increase mental health support in our
:16:41. > :16:43.schools? My honourable friend raises a very
:16:44. > :16:47.important point. I think there has been a collective concern about the
:16:48. > :16:53.issue of the way in which mental health is dealt with. That is why we
:16:54. > :16:56.put a record ?1.4 billion into transforming the dedicated mental
:16:57. > :17:01.health support available to young people across the country. That
:17:02. > :17:04.includes ?150 million for services to support children and young people
:17:05. > :17:08.with eating disorders. There are other things, we are publishing a
:17:09. > :17:13.blueprint for school counselling services. The role schools play is
:17:14. > :17:15.very important in this. I know that my right honourable friend the
:17:16. > :17:24.Education Secretary will be looking very closely at the report to see
:17:25. > :17:27.what more we can do. May I join with the Prime Minister and leader of the
:17:28. > :17:33.Labour Party in praising all Olympians. This is the first day of
:17:34. > :17:38.the Paralympics, an inspiration to us all. Mr Speaker, there is very
:17:39. > :17:45.real concern and worry about the prospect of Brexit, especially in
:17:46. > :17:49.Scotland, where the of people voted Remain in the EU. The UK Government
:17:50. > :17:55.has had all summer to come up with a plan, to come up with a strategy. So
:17:56. > :17:59.far we've just had waffle. Can I ask the Prime Minister a very simple
:18:00. > :18:06.question, she want the UK to remain fully in the single market?
:18:07. > :18:11.What I want the UK is we put in place, into practice the vote taken
:18:12. > :18:17.by UK people to leave the European Union. That we get the right deal
:18:18. > :18:20.for the trade in goods and services with the European Union, a new
:18:21. > :18:25.relationship we will be building with them and we also introduce
:18:26. > :18:29.control of the movement of people from the European Union into the
:18:30. > :18:33.United Kingdom. I say we can approach the vote that took place on
:18:34. > :18:37.the 23rd of June in two ways. We can try and go back neck, have a second
:18:38. > :18:43.referendum, say we didn't really believe it. Actually, we are
:18:44. > :18:48.respecting the views of the people. -- we can go back on it. But more
:18:49. > :18:52.than that, we will be seizing the opportunities that leaving the
:18:53. > :18:58.European Union now gives us, to forge a new role for the United
:18:59. > :19:01.Kingdom in the wild. We on these benches respect the
:19:02. > :19:14.views of the people of Scotland who voted to Remain. The European single
:19:15. > :19:20.market... One mast be heard, and he will be heard. Mr Angus Robertson.
:19:21. > :19:23.The European single market is the biggest market in the world and it
:19:24. > :19:28.really matters to our businesses and it really matters to our economy. I
:19:29. > :19:35.asked the Prime Minister a very, very simple question. It's either in
:19:36. > :19:39.or out answer. Let me ask again, does she want the United Kingdom to
:19:40. > :19:45.remain fully part of the European single market? Yes or no?
:19:46. > :19:51.The right honourable gentleman doesn't quite seem to understand...
:19:52. > :19:57.What the vote on the 23rd of June was about. The United Kingdom will
:19:58. > :20:02.leave the European Union and we will build a new relationship with the
:20:03. > :20:06.European Union. That new relationship will include control of
:20:07. > :20:10.the movement of people from the EU into the UK and it will include the
:20:11. > :20:15.right deal for trade in goods and services. That is how to approach
:20:16. > :20:19.it. I also say this to the right honourable gentleman, in looking at
:20:20. > :20:26.negotiations it would not be right for me or this government to give a
:20:27. > :20:37.running commentary on negotiations. Or... Order, order. Just as the
:20:38. > :20:40.right honourable gentleman must've been heard, the Prime Minister's
:20:41. > :20:46.answer be heard. It would not be right for us to
:20:47. > :20:49.prejudge those negotiations. We will be ensuring we achieve opportunities
:20:50. > :20:53.for growth and prosperity across the UK, including growth and prosperity
:20:54. > :20:58.in Scotland. As we saw from figures released this summer, what gives
:20:59. > :21:02.growth and prosperity in Scotland is being a member of the United
:21:03. > :21:07.Kingdom. Thank you Mr Speaker. Last week
:21:08. > :21:10.hundreds of local residents and businesses attended my faster
:21:11. > :21:17.broadband fair. Many of those with the very slowest speeds a ?500 about
:21:18. > :21:20.voucher to fund an alternative broadband connection capable of
:21:21. > :21:25.delivering at least 10 megabits per second. Will the Prime Minister join
:21:26. > :21:31.me in congratulating Somerset County Council on this excellent scheme and
:21:32. > :21:36.confirm the Government remains committed of delivering a service of
:21:37. > :21:40.10 megabits a second by 2020? I am happy to give my assurance and join
:21:41. > :21:44.with him in paying tribute to his council and the work they are doing,
:21:45. > :21:48.and all those involved in that innovative scheme. High-speed
:21:49. > :21:51.broadband is an important part of 21st-century infrastructure. We will
:21:52. > :21:54.be doing everything we can to ensure it is there and available for
:21:55. > :22:02.people, because that will enable us to have jobs and prosperity in this
:22:03. > :22:06.country. Penman engineering established in
:22:07. > :22:15.1859 was forced into administration in my constituency this week. I
:22:16. > :22:18.can't name the debtor, it is an impossible decision. They have to
:22:19. > :22:24.continue to trade with this debtor as well as pursuing the debt. Will
:22:25. > :22:27.the Prime Minister put me in touch with the Business Secretary to
:22:28. > :22:30.discuss support that can be given on how we can ensure these companies,
:22:31. > :22:35.who receive enormous amounts of public money, don't hold our supply
:22:36. > :22:39.chain to ransom and pay bills on time?
:22:40. > :22:42.First of all, I said the honourable gentleman that of course our
:22:43. > :22:47.thoughts are with all those families who are affected by what has to
:22:48. > :22:50.Penman engineering. The administrator has a role in ensuring
:22:51. > :22:55.any sale of the business protects the maximum number of jobs and my
:22:56. > :22:58.right honourable friend the Scottish Secretary has made clear that that
:22:59. > :23:02.is his priority. I hope the Scottish Government will offer their support
:23:03. > :23:06.of this long-standing business. Our thoughts are with all those who have
:23:07. > :23:09.been affected and the administrator will be looking to ensure the best
:23:10. > :23:20.possible options are found for the company.
:23:21. > :23:24.In adding my congratulations to the Prime Minister, can I say following
:23:25. > :23:27.the EU referendum and under her leadership, I feel more confident
:23:28. > :23:36.about the future of this country than ever in my lifetime.
:23:37. > :23:46.And we'll surely beware of those who are trying to make leaving the
:23:47. > :23:52.European Union ever more complicated and protracted, and to that end.
:23:53. > :23:58.Order, order. Progress is very slow. There is too much noise.
:23:59. > :24:03.The honourable gentleman will be heard. Will she confirm there is no
:24:04. > :24:06.basis in law to require the Government to seek the permission of
:24:07. > :24:13.parliament before invoking Article 50?
:24:14. > :24:16.Prime Minister I thank my honourable friend for his comments.
:24:17. > :24:20.He is absolutely right. The Government's position is very clear.
:24:21. > :24:26.This is a prerogative power. It is a power that can be exercised by the
:24:27. > :24:29.Government. As he alludes to in his question I don't think anyone should
:24:30. > :24:33.be in any doubt that those people who are trying to prolong the
:24:34. > :24:36.process by their legal references in relation to Parliament are not those
:24:37. > :24:39.who want to see us successfully leaving the European Union, they are
:24:40. > :24:47.those who want to stop us leaving the European Union. The Prime
:24:48. > :24:51.Minister seems less keen than her predecessor on the northern
:24:52. > :24:58.powerhouse, but she also says post Brexit Britain is open for business.
:24:59. > :25:06.Where better in 2025 than the great city of Manchester to host the world
:25:07. > :25:14.Expo, where the atom was split and where graphene was invented, to
:25:15. > :25:18.showcase the best of Britain's world. Will she back our bid?
:25:19. > :25:24.I say to the honourable gentleman I'm interested to hear the lobby he
:25:25. > :25:28.is making for Manchester. And can I say how pleased I am Manchester will
:25:29. > :25:35.be hosting the parade for are Olympic athletes.
:25:36. > :25:39.In this process Brexit world, will the Prime Minister agree with me
:25:40. > :25:42.that Nato is more important cornerstone than ever, particularly
:25:43. > :25:47.article five that lays down an attack on one is an attack on all.
:25:48. > :25:52.Any politician who will not sign up to that commitment or even worse,
:25:53. > :25:58.who tells Nato they should give up, go home and go away, is recklessly
:25:59. > :26:02.risking the defence of all? I absolutely agree on all the points
:26:03. > :26:05.my right honourable friend made. We must never forget the importance of
:26:06. > :26:09.Nato, is the cornerstone of our defence and security and that
:26:10. > :26:14.strength is based on the fact that all of those partners within Nato
:26:15. > :26:20.have committed to article five and operating under the basis of article
:26:21. > :26:25.five. Anybody who says, rejects that, is rejecting that security on
:26:26. > :26:28.that defence, they'd be undermining our national security and the
:26:29. > :26:32.National security of our allies. What we know from the Labour Party
:26:33. > :26:36.is far from delivering stronger defence, they would cut defence
:26:37. > :26:44.spending, undermine Nato and they've scrapped the nuclear deterrent.
:26:45. > :26:48.Prime Minister, I have just had a debate in Westminster Hall on the
:26:49. > :26:51.police ombudsman's report into the Northern Ireland massacre, in which
:26:52. > :26:58.six men were shot dead by the UVF in a period of direct rule in my
:26:59. > :27:01.constituency. I have a letter from my predecessor in which he
:27:02. > :27:07.acknowledged this unspeakable evil and said the Government accepts the
:27:08. > :27:12.police ombudsman's report and any allegations of police misconduct are
:27:13. > :27:17.taken very seriously. Will the Prime Minister detail what action she will
:27:18. > :27:19.take to ensure prosecutions are pursued, an apology is forthcoming
:27:20. > :27:25.from the Government and compensation is provided for lost lives?
:27:26. > :27:31.I say to the honourable lady she is absolutely right. What happened was
:27:32. > :27:35.a terrible, terrible evil. I am sure that everybody across the House will
:27:36. > :27:39.want to join me in expressing our sympathies to all of those who were
:27:40. > :27:44.affected by the appalling atrocity. As she has said, and as my right
:27:45. > :27:48.honourable friend for Whitney said, the Government accepts the
:27:49. > :27:51.ombudsman's report. It is important that where there are allegations of
:27:52. > :27:55.police misconduct they are taken seriously, and properly looked into,
:27:56. > :27:59.if there has been wrong doing it must be pursued. Obviously it is a
:28:00. > :28:05.matter for the PSM eye, although I would remind the Chief Constable has
:28:06. > :28:09.been very clear he wants to be sure he is determined where there is
:28:10. > :28:12.wrongdoing people will be brought to justice. A long-running review into
:28:13. > :28:18.hospital services in Bedford and Milton Keynes was an abject failure.
:28:19. > :28:23.By publishing recommendations for significant changes to services and
:28:24. > :28:27.refusing to answer any questions. Can the Prime Minister assure me
:28:28. > :28:29.their sustainability and transformation plans for
:28:30. > :28:34.Bedfordshire and elsewhere, to be released by NHS England will be
:28:35. > :28:37.subject to proper local accountability and for local
:28:38. > :28:43.decision authority? I say to my honourable friend it is
:28:44. > :28:47.it is absolutely the point of these plans, that they should be locally
:28:48. > :28:51.driven, that they will be considered locally, they should be taking into
:28:52. > :28:55.account the concerns and interests locally, not just by commissioning
:28:56. > :29:00.groups but Local Authorities and the public. These must be planned that
:29:01. > :29:06.are driven from the locality. I give my honourable friend that assurance.
:29:07. > :29:09.Nearly 2 million people signed up to vote in the European Union
:29:10. > :29:13.referendum earlier this year. It surely right that constituency
:29:14. > :29:17.should be based on the actual electorate that want to vote. Is the
:29:18. > :29:23.Prime Minister concerned the review going ahead next week without
:29:24. > :29:26.including those 2 million voters? I'd say to the honourable gentleman
:29:27. > :29:30.all parties across this house supported the proposal that the
:29:31. > :29:35.commission would follow this timetable, bring forward these
:29:36. > :29:40.proposals and by 2018 those commission proposals would be put in
:29:41. > :29:46.place. All parties supported that and I continue to support that. Does
:29:47. > :29:52.the Prime Minister share my anger that on the weekend of the 23rd of
:29:53. > :29:57.July, up to 250,000 people on the road to Dover were stuck in gridlock
:29:58. > :30:00.in the sweltering heat for up to 17 hours without food, water or even
:30:01. > :30:04.able to go to the toilet and will she support my campaign to make sure
:30:05. > :30:09.we get better infrastructure to the Channel ports, starting with a lorry
:30:10. > :30:14.car park and getting some proper motorways to Dover? I say to my
:30:15. > :30:19.honourable friend he has been a passionate advocate for the support
:30:20. > :30:23.for his local area, given some of the pressures that Dover finds
:30:24. > :30:26.itself under as a cross Channel port. It is an important issue. We
:30:27. > :30:31.are committed to providing support. The money for the lorry park was
:30:32. > :30:35.announced last November. The site was announced in July and I believe
:30:36. > :30:40.consultation is taking place on the design for that particular site. On
:30:41. > :30:44.the issue of the possible dualling of the A2-macro, we do want to
:30:45. > :30:47.support local infrastructure to handle the growth in traffic,
:30:48. > :30:51.particularly given their right expansion plans for the port. I
:30:52. > :30:56.assure him Dover will be considered as part of that plan.
:30:57. > :30:59.As many children return to school this week I am sure the Prime
:31:00. > :31:03.Minister will join me in wishing them all the very best of the school
:31:04. > :31:08.year ahead. Will she also provide reassurance to my constituents and
:31:09. > :31:12.to children across London that the objectives of changes to the
:31:13. > :31:14.school's funding formula will be achieved by levelling up, not
:31:15. > :31:20.levelling down on funding for schools in London will not be cut by
:31:21. > :31:25.up to 20%? I join the honourable lady in
:31:26. > :31:28.wishing all those going to school, many for the first time, well in
:31:29. > :31:32.their education. I hope what we will be aiming to do is ensuring every
:31:33. > :31:36.child has the education right for them and the opportunities that are
:31:37. > :31:39.right for them. It is right that we look at the National funding
:31:40. > :31:46.formula. That will be done carefully to see what the impacts will be
:31:47. > :31:51.across the country. Our world leading universities are one of our
:31:52. > :31:56.country's great assets. When I next meet with the Vice Chancellor of
:31:57. > :32:00.York University, to discuss Brexit and higher education, what
:32:01. > :32:04.assurances can I pass to him from my right honourable friend the Prime
:32:05. > :32:08.Minister that our universities will continue to receive the vital
:32:09. > :32:13.funding they need to thrive beyond 2020?
:32:14. > :32:17.I say to my honourable friend again he raises an important point about
:32:18. > :32:20.the relevance and significance of our universities. My right
:32:21. > :32:23.honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer was able to give
:32:24. > :32:26.confidence and reassurance to universities in the summer about the
:32:27. > :32:30.funding arrangements that will continue while we are still members
:32:31. > :32:35.of the European Union and while we are members of the European Union we
:32:36. > :32:37.will maintain our full rights of obligation and obligations of
:32:38. > :32:42.membership and expect others to deal with us on that same basis. Looking
:32:43. > :32:47.ahead we have a higher education Bill going through this house, which
:32:48. > :32:50.is about how we can ensure we are seeing the places, the university
:32:51. > :32:54.places available in this country, to provide the education we want to
:32:55. > :32:58.provide. We have a great record on higher education in this country, we
:32:59. > :33:05.want to build on that and develop it for the future. I would like to put
:33:06. > :33:07.to the Prime Minister a request I know she will think is reasonable.
:33:08. > :33:11.My local hospital, Saint Helena Hospital, which delivers, which is a
:33:12. > :33:16.high performing hospital and delivers excellent care, built in
:33:17. > :33:20.the 1930s and is in need of very substantial investment, will she
:33:21. > :33:25.agree to earmark the first two weeks of the ?350 million is going to be
:33:26. > :33:30.available each week post Brexit to spend on the reconstruction of my
:33:31. > :33:35.hospital? I have to say to the honourable
:33:36. > :33:39.gentleman his question tempts me to go down a number of routes and
:33:40. > :33:42.answering him. What I would say is I recognise the importance of his
:33:43. > :33:46.local hospital trust. I'm pleased to say that over the last six years
:33:47. > :33:51.we've seen more doctors and nurses in that trust able to provide more
:33:52. > :33:57.services and more facilities and since 2010 the capital spend on the
:33:58. > :34:02.trust has already gone up. ?72.7 million. We will be looking to
:34:03. > :34:05.ensure we provide the health service that is right for everyone in this
:34:06. > :34:11.country. At the moment there rather AET
:34:12. > :34:16.vulnerable elderly patients in Kettering General Hospital awaiting
:34:17. > :34:20.delayed transfer to social care. The national guideline says there should
:34:21. > :34:26.be 25. In the next few weeks the number is likely to rise to 200, the
:34:27. > :34:29.highest in the country, with a similar number in Northampton
:34:30. > :34:36.General Hospital, because of proposals by Northamptonshire County
:34:37. > :34:40.Council to extend it from three days to four weeks. In order to prevent
:34:41. > :34:47.this crisis, will the Prime Minister organise a joint meeting of
:34:48. > :34:52.government and ministers, the local NHS and Council to bang heads to
:34:53. > :34:57.prevent this crisis happening? What I will say to my honourable friend
:34:58. > :35:01.is ensure the health Department is aware of the request he has put
:35:02. > :35:06.forward. Everybody I think in this house is well aware of the challenge
:35:07. > :35:09.we have in relation to the interaction of social care with
:35:10. > :35:12.hospitals. This is an issue we have already looked at. We've put money
:35:13. > :35:17.into the better care fund. We've been looking at the better working
:35:18. > :35:21.together of health services and social care and social services and
:35:22. > :35:24.Local Authorities. It is one of the challenges we see. There are some
:35:25. > :35:28.areas where this has been done very well and I think it's right we look
:35:29. > :35:30.at those and try to spend, spread that good practice. I will make sure
:35:31. > :35:37.the health Department is aware of that concern.
:35:38. > :35:40.Nine months after signing the Paris climate agreement the Government
:35:41. > :35:43.still hasn't ratified the treaty. According to the committee on
:35:44. > :35:48.climate change it lacks half the policies it needs to reach its
:35:49. > :35:53.climate targets. With the delayed carbon induction plan and the risk
:35:54. > :35:57.of missing our energy targets, or will the Prime Minister take this
:35:58. > :36:02.opportunity to reassure people it remains committed to climate action
:36:03. > :36:07.and follow the example of 26 states that have ratified, will it give us
:36:08. > :36:11.a firm date for ratification before the follow-up negotiations in
:36:12. > :36:14.November. What I'm happy to give the honourable lady is the assurance we
:36:15. > :36:19.will be ratifying the Paris agreement. My right honourable
:36:20. > :36:22.friend, the current Home Secretary, then as energy secretary, played a
:36:23. > :36:26.key role in ensuring that Paris agreement was actually achieved. I
:36:27. > :36:29.would also hope the honourable lady will want to congratulate the
:36:30. > :36:33.Government. We've been identified as being the second best country in the
:36:34. > :36:42.world for tackling climate change. I would have hoped she would have
:36:43. > :36:52.congratulated us on that. Today is the day designed to bring
:36:53. > :36:55.attention to the muscle wasting disease. Will the Prime Minister
:36:56. > :37:00.join me in welcoming the recent announcement that a drug is now
:37:01. > :37:05.going to be available to these young boys in NHS England and will she
:37:06. > :37:13.congratulate my constituent Archie hill, Mustard dystrophy UK and all
:37:14. > :37:22.the colleagues in this house. -- muscular dystrophy. I am very happy
:37:23. > :37:25.to join my right honourable friend in congratulating all of those
:37:26. > :37:30.involved in making sure this innovative drug available. I thank
:37:31. > :37:34.her for weight raising awareness of an important issue. I know the right
:37:35. > :37:40.honourable member for Whitney as Prime Minister met Archie, the young
:37:41. > :37:43.man with muscular dystrophy and was inspired by him. I am sure all
:37:44. > :37:46.members across this house will welcome the fact that this
:37:47. > :37:50.innovative drug is now available on the NHS. We are committed to making
:37:51. > :37:55.sure that patients with rare conditions get access to the latest
:37:56. > :38:02.medicines and are taking some bold steps to speed up the process. Will
:38:03. > :38:05.the Prime Minister join me, and I'm sure the rest of the House, in
:38:06. > :38:09.sending our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the family
:38:10. > :38:20.and friends of Roseanne Cooper and her ten-year-old nephew, who were
:38:21. > :38:24.mown down by a stolen car last week in Penge. And send best wishes to
:38:25. > :38:29.the three young girls also involved. Whilst enquiries by the police and
:38:30. > :38:32.the Independent Police Complaints Commission are undertaken on the
:38:33. > :38:36.matter is now before the courts, I will say no more about this specific
:38:37. > :38:40.case, other than to ask the Prime Minister, if she is aware of the
:38:41. > :38:44.widespread public concern that the law on causing death by dangerous
:38:45. > :38:49.driving is wholly inadequate, and will she undertake a review, both of
:38:50. > :38:54.its suitability and its applicability as the courts enact
:38:55. > :38:58.it? Can I first of all join the
:38:59. > :39:02.honourable member in expressing our sympathies to all those who were
:39:03. > :39:07.involved in this terrible accident that took place, this terrible
:39:08. > :39:11.tragedy, when this stolen car mowed down two people and affected others
:39:12. > :39:15.as well. I'm aware of the concern that there is about the law in
:39:16. > :39:19.relation to dangerous driving. I've had a particular case about the
:39:20. > :39:23.daughter of someone in my constituency, who was killed as a
:39:24. > :39:26.result of dangerous driving and they have raised concerns with me
:39:27. > :39:29.specifically about their case. This is a matter I believe the Justice
:39:30. > :39:31.Department is looking at. Order.