07/09/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

I know the House will join me in congratulating

the British Olympic team on a great medal haul, finishing second, in

front of China.

CHEERING.

I know the whole House would wish to give the very best wishes

to our Paralympic athletes and wish them the best of success.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues

and others, and I will have further such meetings later today.

May I add my warm wishes to those of the Prime Minister,

all Paralympians and those from Bristol in particular,

they will do us proud.

The whole house will be delighted that this country hosts

a disproportionate number of the world's finest universities.

However, some are saying they're already being shut out of important

collaborations with other universities in

anticipation of Brexit,

this is so important for scientific, medical, engineering

and other research, and for our economic prosperity.

In view of this, can the Prime Minister please tell us

what her strategy is?

Can I first of all say how very good it is to see her in this house.

We agree of the importance of our universities and the work

they do and the research and collaboration they have

with a number of universities.

That's why the Chancellor made an announcement giving certain

guarantees to universities in relation

to funding decisions which have been taken by the European Union

and we are standing by them because we recognise the value

they bring to the country.

Neil Parish.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I very much welcome the statement from the Chancellor on support

payments for farmers up to 2020, to give confidence to farming

and the countryside, but with trade deals now being done,

British farmers produce some of the best welfare friendly

and environmentally friendly food in the world and we need to make

sure the farming and the food processing industry

is protected through trade deals in the future and I seek

reassurance from the Prime Minister.

You are absolutely right, the announcement I referred to just

now, in answer to the answer the first question

the Chancellor gave, gave guarantees to the farming

industry about the support available to them up to 2020 but we need

to recognise the very significant role that the food and farming

industry plays in the United Kingdom and we will be looking to work

with the sector.

The Environment Secretary will be doing that to see how we can develop

those industries looking into the future.

And looking at the trade deals we will be doing in future and how

they will play their part.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Can I join the Prime Minister in congratulating the entirety

of the Olympic team for their fantastic achievements

at the Olympics in Rio and wish the Paralympic team all the best

and can she tell us, did this set the visit off to China

in a good way or was there a bit of tension?

If bragging rights were allowed.

The average house price in Britain is now ?215,000 and over eight

times the average wage.

The average price of a first-time buyer's home has risen

by 12% in the past year.

Isn't the dream of home ownership for many people just that?

A dream?

First of all, in response to the first point made, I actually...

The Chinese president congratulated me on the success

of the United Kingdom in the Olympic Games.

He raises the issue of housing which he has raised on a number

of occasions with my predecessor and also with me before we broke

for the summer recess.

I will say of course it is important for us to look at helping people

get their first rung...

Their step on the first rung of the housing ladder.

That is why I'm pleased that house-building has been up under

a Conservative government compared to Labour, but we are not complacent

and we will be doing more.

We will have more houses being built under this Conservative government

and also continuing to provide support for people to make sure

they have the financial support which helps them

to own their own home.

Actually, house-building under this government is 45,000 a year less

than it was under the last Labour government.

And for those who are desperate to get their own place,

I just refer the Prime Minister to a note I received

from a lady called Jenny, whose partner and herself work

in a supermarket earning ?7.37 an hour each, they are trying to get

a mortgage and they have been told they can borrow ?73,000.

Not much hope for them, then.

The former Prime Minister promised there would be a one for one

replacement for every council house that is sold under right to buy.

Sadly the reality is there is only one for every five that are sold.

Will the Prime Minister give us a commitment on the one

for one replacement and when will it be a reality?

Can I say to Jenny that I fully understand and appreciate

the concerns that individuals have about wanting to be able

to have their own home and to set up that home and I fully recognise

the difficulties that there are for some people in doing that.

I have to say, in relation to the figures on council houses,

he is wrong, we have delivered on the one for one replacement

on right to buy.

But I'm very interested...

I noticed that the right honourable gentleman had asked all his Twitter

followers what questions he should ask me this week so I thought

I would look to see what responses he would receive.

I have to say the first one was quite good -

he might want to stay sitting down.

Lewis writes, does she know that in a recent poll on who would make

a better Prime Minister, "don't know" rated higher

than Jeremy Corbyn.

We do know that whoever wins the leadership contest,

we're not going to let Labour anywhere near power again.

The number of first-time buyers has halved in the last 20 years

and their average age has increased a great deal.

There is a housing crisis in Britain.

10 million people now live in the private rented sector

and many are forced to claim housing benefit to cover costs of rents.

Devastating figures released over the summer show that ?9.3 billion

of public money is paid through housing benefit

directly into the pockets of private landlords.

Does the Prime Minister think this ?9.3 billion into the private rental

market is really money well spent?

I have to say, he starts off talking about the importance of people

being able to be in their own homes and then challenges one

of the measures which helps people to get into their own homes

through housing benefit, support in the private rented sector,

so it might be that he has an ideological objection

to the private rented sector, but what this government is doing

is making sure that what we are doing is looking

across the board so we will see more houses being built.

We are looking to make sure there is a diversity

of opportunity for people in terms of getting their own home,

but I have to say, that everything he says tells us all we need to know

about modern Labour, the train has left the station,

the seats are empty, the leader is on the floor,

and even on rolling stock they are a laughing stock.

CHEERING.

Mr Speaker...

Her predecessor...

Mr Speaker, her predecessor in discussing this issue said

the simple point is that every penny you spend on housing subsidy

is money you cannot spend on building houses.

And if landlords rent out houses in a very bad state,

such as heavy damp wet walls, no working toilet, they need

to be getting fined.

The government has to regulate, that is what choice Joyce wrote to me,

and the Citizens Advice Bureau says one sixth of housing benefit goes

to private sector landlords renting out unsafe homes.

What I would say, if he thinks housing benefit is actually such

a bad thing, why was it that when we change the rules on housing

benefit, the Labour Party opposed those changes that we took?

He talks about bad landlords, we have changed the rules

on selective licensing and we are making changes

and we have given councils free rein to impose burdens

and burdens of bureaucracy on landlords, we think that

will lead to problems in the market with higher costs for

tenants and landlords.

We are looking at all of these issues.

I recognise as every MP will, the problems that people sometimes

have when they are living in accommodation that is not up

to the standard that we would wish to see people living in.

That is why we are looking and changing the rules

and we are making sure that the regulations are there.

That is extremely interesting.

Only a year ago the Prime Minister voted against a Labour amendment

to the housing bill which simply said all homes for rent

in the private rented sector should be fit for human habitation.

Just over a year ago the Treasury estimated that it is losing half

a billion per year on unpaid tax on landlords renting

in the private rented sector.

So we have it - ?9.5 billion in housing benefit, half a billion

not being collected and a large number of homes not really fit

for human habitation.

Doesn't this require government intervention on the side

of the tenant and those in housing need?

The right honourable gentleman asks for the government to intervene -

the government has, through the housing

and planning act, introduced further tough measures.

Civil penalties, banning orders for serious offenders

and repayment orders, we have provided money so local

authorities can conduct more inspections of properties,

of people's homes, we have seen more people and more

properties being inspected, we now see thousands of landlords

facing further action.

Far from not taking action in this area, the government has.

But I say to the right honourable gentleman,

he might have a model of society where he doesn't

want private landlords and he would like the government

owning everything, deliberating on everything and doing

everything for everybody - but that is not what we want.

We want opportunities for people we want to help

them to take those.

It's a big difference between him and me.

Of course we recognise there is a mixed housing economy

but we want to make sure that those living in the private rented sector

are properly treated and not having to pay excessive levels of rent.

Womens Aid has said that two thirds of women refuges are going to close

because of the benefit cap when it comes into force and that 87%

of women and children who are in those refuges will suffer

as a result and most of those refuges require an income level

which comes mainly from housing benefit, 90% from it.

Does the Prime Minister recognise that these are very vulnerable women

in those refuges and the closure of them would be devastating

for them and very dangerous for the most vulnerable people

within our society?

Would should take action to make sure the cap doesn't apply

to Womens Aid refuges in any part of Britain?

The right honourable gentleman raises a very important issue.

On the issue of domestic violence we should, across this House,

do all we can to stop these crimes taking place and provide

support to the victims and survivors of these crimes.

That's why we are working on exempting refuges from the cap

in relation to what he speaks about.

I would also remind him of the very good record that we have

on domestic violence.

It was a Conservative government that introduced the new offence

of coercive control, that put into practice the Domestic

Violence Protection Orders, that introduced Claire's Law,

that is putting ?80 million to support domestic violence victims

in the period up to 2020.

We are listening to these problems and we are responding to them

and we all take this very seriously indeed.

But I say to the right honourable gentleman,

it is 50 days since he and I last met across this dispatch box.

It would be nice to see you, he said.

It is nice to see him sitting in his place.

LAUGHTER

And I have to say, if we just look at the contrast

of what has been done over the summer, the Conservative

government has been working tirelessly to support

everyone in this country.

?250 million of loans to small businesses,

introduced the racial disparity audit, looking at public services

and how they treat people and setting the groundwork for

new trade deals around the world.

What we have seen, what a contrast.

What a contrast with the party opposite, divided amongst

themselves, and incapable of uniting our country.

What we do know is there is only one party that is going to provide

a country, a government, an economy, a society

that works for everyone, and that's the Conservative Party!

Last week the Children's Society published a report that showed 10%

of children feel their lives have little meaning or purpose.

I know the Prime Minister understands the importance

of tackling mental health, because she raised in her

Downing Street speech.

What further action does she propose to increase mental health

support in our schools?

My honourable friend raises a very important point.

I think there has been a collective concern about the issue of the way

in which mental health is dealt with.

That is why we put a record ?1.4 billion into transforming

the dedicated mental health support available to young people

across the country.

That includes ?150 million for services to support children

and young people with eating disorders.

There are other things, we are publishing a blueprint

for school counselling services.

The role schools play is very important in this.

I know that my right honourable friend the Education Secretary

will be looking very closely at the report to see

what more we can do.

May I join with the Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party

in praising all Olympians.

This is the first day of the Paralympics,

an inspiration to us all.

Mr Speaker, there is very real concern and worry

about the prospect of Brexit, especially in Scotland,

where the of people voted Remain in the EU.

The UK Government has had all summer to come up with a plan,

to come up with a strategy.

So far we've just had waffle.

Can I ask the Prime Minister a very simple question,

does she want the UK to remain fully in the single market?

What I want for the UK is we put in place, into practice

the vote taken by UK people to leave the European Union.

That we get the right deal for the trade in goods and services

with the European Union, a new relationship we will be

building with them and we also introduce control of the movement

of people from the European Union into the United Kingdom.

I say we can approach the vote that took place on the 23rd

of June in two ways.

We can try and go back neck, have a second referendum,

say we didn't really believe it.

Actually, we are respecting the views of the people.

-- we can go back on it.

But more than that, we will be seizing the opportunities that

leaving the European Union now gives us, to forge a new role

for the United Kingdom in the wild.

We on these benches respect the views of the people of Scotland

who voted to Remain.

The European single market...

One must be heard, and he will be heard.

Mr Angus Robertson.

The European single market is the biggest market in the world

and it really matters to our businesses and it really

matters to our economy.

I asked the Prime Minister a very, very simple question.

It's either in or out answer.

Let me ask again, does she want the United Kingdom to remain fully

part of the European single market?

Yes or no?

The right honourable gentleman doesn't quite seem to understand...

what the vote on the 23rd of June was about.

The United Kingdom will leave the European Union and we will

build a new relationship with the European Union.

That new relationship will include control of the movement of people

from the EU into the UK and it will include the right deal

for trade in goods and services.

That is how to approach it.

I also say this to the right honourable gentleman,

in looking at negotiations, it would not be right for me or this

government to give a running commentary on negotiations.

Or...

Order, order.

Just as I said the right honourable gentleman must be heard, the

Prime Minister's answer must be heard.

It would not be right for us to prejudge those negotiations.

We will be ensuring we seize opportunities for growth

and prosperity across the UK, including growth and

prosperity in Scotland.

As we saw from figures released this summer,

what gives growth and prosperity in Scotland is being a member

of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Last week, hundreds of local residents and businesses

attended my faster broadband fair.

Many of those with the very slowest speeds a ?500 voucher to fund

an alternative broadband connection capable of delivering at least

10 megabits per second.

Will the Prime Minister join me in congratulating Somerset County

Council on this excellent scheme and confirm the Government remains

committed of delivering a service of at least 10

megabits a second by 2020?

I am happy to give my assurance and join with him in paying

tribute to his council and the work they are doing,

and all those involved in that innovative scheme.

High-speed broadband is an important part of 21st-century infrastructure.

We will be doing everything we can to ensure it is there and available

for people because that will enable us to develop jobs

and prosperity in this country.

Penman Engineering established in 1859 was forced into administration

in my constituency this week by one debtor.

I can't name the debtor, it is an impossible position.

They have to continue to trade with this debtor as well

as pursuing the debt.

Will the Prime Minister put me in touch with the Business Secretary

to discuss export support that can be given, and how

we can ensure these

companies, who receive enormous amounts of public money,

don't hold our supply chain to ransom and pay bills on time?

First of all, can I say to the honourable gentleman that

of course our thoughts are with all those families

who are affected by what has to Penman Engineering.

The administrator has a role in ensuring any sale of the business

protects the maximum number of jobs and my right honourable friend

the Scottish Secretary has made clear that that is his priority.

I hope the Scottish Government will offer their support to this

long-standing business.

Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected

and the administrator will be looking to ensure the best possible

options are found for the company.

In adding my congratulations on her appointment as Prime Minister,

can I say following the EU referendum and under her leadership,

I feel more confident about the future of this country

than ever in my lifetime.

And will she beware those who are trying to make leaving

the European Union ever more complicated and protracted,

and to that end...

Order, order.

Progress is very slow. There is too much noise.

The honourable gentleman will be heard.

Will she confirm there is no basis in law to require the Government

to seek the permission of Parliament before invoking Article 50?

I thank my honourable friend for his comments.

He is absolutely right.

The Government's position is very clear.

This is a prerogative power.

It is a power that can be exercised by the Government.

As he alludes to in his question, I don't think anybody should be

in any doubt that those people who are trying to prolong

the process by their legal references in relation to Parliament

are not those who want to see us successfully leaving

the European Union, they are those who want to stop us leaving

the European Union.

The Prime Minister seems less keen than her predecessor

on the Northern Powerhouse, but she also says post

Brexit Britain is open for business.

Where better in 2025 than the great city of Manchester

to host the world Expo, where the atom was split

and where graphene was invented,

to showcase the best of Britain's world.

Will she back our bid?

I say to the honourable gentleman I'm interested to hear the lobby

he is making for Manchester.

And can I say how pleased I am Manchester will be hosting

the parade for our Olympic athletes.

In this post-Brexit world, will the Prime Minister agree

with me that Nato is a more important cornerstone than ever,

particularly Article 5 that lays down an attack on one

is an attack on all.

Any politician who will not sign up to that commitment or even worse,

who tells Nato they should give up, go home and go away,

is recklessly risking the defence of the realm.

I absolutely agree on all the points my right honourable friend made.

We must never forget the importance of Nato,

it's the cornerstone of our defence and security and that strength

is based on the fact that all of those partners within Nato

have committed to Article 5 and operating under the basis

of Article 5.

Anybody who rejects that is rejecting that security on that

defence, they'd be undermining our national security and the National

security of our allies.

What we know from the Labour Party is far from delivering stronger

defence, they would cut defence spending, undermine Nato

and they'd scrapped the nuclear deterrent.

Prime Minister, I have just had a debate in Westminster Hall

on the police ombudsman's report into the Northern Ireland massacre

in which six men were shot dead by the UVF in a period of direct

rule in my constituency.

I received a letter from my predecessor

in which he acknowledged this

unspeakable evil and said the Government accepts the police

ombudsman's report and any allegations of police misconduct

are taken very seriously.

Will the Prime Minister now detail what action she will take to ensure

prosecutions are pursued, an apology is forthcoming

from the Government and that compensation

is provided for lost lives?

I say to the honourable lady, she is absolutely right.

What happened was a terrible, terrible evil.

I'm sure that everybody across the House will want to join

me in expressing our sympathies to all of those who were affected

by the appalling atrocity.

As she has said, and as my right honourable friend for Whitney said,

the Government accepts the police ombudsman's report.

It is important that where there are allegations

of police misconduct, they are taken seriously

and properly looked into,

if there has been wrong doing it must be pursued.

Obviously it is a matter for the PSNI, although I would remind him

the Chief Constable has been very clear he wants to be

sure he is determined where there is wrongdoing people

will be brought to justice.

A long-running review into hospital services

in Bedford and Milton Keynes was an abject failure.

By publishing recommendations for significant changes

to services and then refusing to answer any questions.

Can the Prime Minister assure me their sustainability

and transformation plans for Bedfordshire and elsewhere,

to be released by NHS England will be subject to proper local

accountability and full local decision authority?

I say to my honourable friend it is it is absolutely

the point of these plans that they should be locally driven,

that they will be considered locally, they should be taking

into account the concerns and interests locally,

not just as commissioning groups but as Local Authorities

and the public.

These must be plans that are driven from the locality.

I give my honourable friend that assurance.

Nearly two million people signed up to vote in the European Union

referendum earlier this year.

It surely right that constituency should be based on the actual

electorate that want to vote.

Is the Prime Minister concerned the boundary review

is going ahead next week

without including those two million voters?

I'd say to the honourable gentleman all parties across this house

supported the proposal that the boundary commission would follow

this timetable, bring forward these proposals and by 2018 those

commission proposals would be put in place.

All parties supported that and I continue to support it.

Does the Prime Minister share my anger that on the weekend

of the 23rd of July, up to 250,000 people on the road

to Dover were stuck in gridlock in the sweltering heat for up

to 17 hours without food, water or even able to go

to the loo and will she support my campaign to make sure we get

better infrastructure to the Channel ports, starting with a lorry car

park and getting some proper motorways to Dover?

I say to my honourable friend he has been a passionate advocate

for the support for his local area, given some of the pressures that

Dover finds itself under as a cross Channel port.

It is an important issue.

We are committed to providing support.

The money for the lorry park was announced last November.

The site was announced in July and I believe consultation

is taking place on the design for that particular site.

On the issue of the possible dualling of the A2,

we do want to support local infrastructure to handle

the growth in traffic, particularly given there are

expansion plans for the port.

I assure him Dover will be considered as part of that plan.

As many children return to school this week, I am sure

the Prime Minister will join me in wishing them all the very best

of the school year ahead.

Will she also provide reassurance to my constituents and to children

across London that the objectives of changes to the school's funding

formula will be achieved by levelling up, not levelling down

and that funding for schools in London will not be cut by up to 20%?

I join the honourable lady in wishing all those

going to school, many for the first time, well in their education.

I hope what we will be aiming to do is ensuring every child has

the education that is right for them and the opportunities

that are right for them.

It is right that we look at the national funding formula.

That will be done carefully to see what the impacts will be

across the country.

Our world leading universities are one of our country's

great assets.

When I next meet with the Vice Chancellor of York University

to discuss Brexit and higher education, what assurances can

I pass to him from my right honourable friend the Prime Minister

that our universities will continue to receive the vital funding

they need to thrive beyond 2020?

I say to my honourable friend again he raises an important point

about the relevance and significance of our universities.

My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer

was able to give confidence and reassurance to universities

in the summer about the funding arrangements that will continue

while we are still members of the European Union

and while we are members of the European Union

we will maintain our full rights of obligation and obligations

of membership and expect others to deal with us on that same basis.

Looking ahead, we have a higher education bill going through this

house, which is about how we can ensure we are seeing the places,

the university places available in this country,

to provide the education we want to provide.

We have a great record on higher education in this country,

we want to build on that and develop it for the future.

I would like to put to the Prime Minister a request which

I know she will think is reasonable.

My local hospital, St Helier Hospital,

which is a high-performing hospital and delivers

excellent care but was built in the 1930s and is in need

of very substantial

investment, will she agree to earmark the first two weeks

of the ?350 million that's going to be available each week

post Brexit to spend on the reconstruction

of my hospital?

I have to say to the honourable gentleman, his question tempts me

to go down a number of routes and answering him.

What I would say is I recognise the importance of his

local hospital trust.

I'm pleased to say that over the last six years,

we've seen more doctors and nurses in that trust able to provide more

services and more facilities and since 2010, the capital

spend in the trust has already gone up.

?72.7 million.

We will be looking to ensure we provide the health service

that is right for everyone in this country.

At the moment, there are 80 vulnerable elderly patients

in Kettering General Hospital awaiting delayed transfer

to social care.

The national guideline says there should be 25.

In the next few weeks, the number is likely to rise to 200,

the highest in the country, with a similar number

in Northampton General Hospital, because of proposals

by Northamptonshire County Council to extend social care assessments

from three days to four weeks.

In order to prevent this crisis, will the Prime Minister authorise

a joint meeting of local government and health ministers, county MPs,

the local NHS and the county council to bang heads to prevent this

crisis from happening?

What I will say to my honourable friend is ensure the health

department is aware of the request he has put forward.

Everybody, I think, in this house is well aware

of the challenge we have in relation to the interaction of social

care with hospitals.

This is an issue we have already looked at.

We've put money into the Better Care Fund.

We've been looking at the better working together of health services

and social care and social services and local authorities.

It is one of the challenges we see.

There are some areas where this has been done very well and I think it's

right we look at those and try to spend, spread

that good practice.

I will make sure the health department is aware of that concern.

Nine months after signing the Paris Climate Agreement,

the Government still hasn't ratified the treaty.

According to the committee on climate change it lacks half

the policies it needs to reach its climate targets.

With the delayed carbon induction plan and the risk

of missing our energy targets, will the Prime Minister take this

opportunity to reassure people it remains committed to climate action

and follow the example of 26 states that have ratified,

will it give us a firm date for ratification before the

follow-up negotiations in November.

What I'm happy to give the honourable lady is the assurance

that we will be ratifying the Paris Agreement.

My right honourable friend, the current Home Secretary,

then as Energy Secretary, played a key role in ensuring

that Paris Agreement was actually achieved.

I would also hope the honourable lady will want

to congratulate the Government.

We've been identified as being the second best

country in the world for tackling climate change.

I would have hoped she would have congratulated us on that.

Today is World Duchenne Awareness Day, which is designed to draw

attention to a terrible muscle wasting disease that affects a small

number of young men.

Will the Prime Minister join me in welcoming the recent announcement

that the drug Translarna is now going to be available to these young

boys in NHS England and will she congratulate my constituent

Archie Hill, Muscular Dystrophy UK and all those colleagues in this

House and former ministers that worked so hard to make this

life-changing drug available in this country?

I am very happy to join my right honourable friend in congratulating

all those involved in making sure this innovative drug is available.

I thank her for raising awareness of an important issue.

I know the right honourable member for Whitney as Prime Minister met

Archie, the young man with muscular dystrophy and was inspired by him.

I am sure all members across this House will welcome the fact

that this innovative drug is now available on the NHS.

We are committed to making sure that patients with rare conditions get

access to the latest medicines and are taking some bold steps

to speed up that process.

Will the Prime Minister join me, and I'm sure the rest of the House,

in sending our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences

to the family and friends of Roseanne Cooper and her

ten-year-old nephew who were mown down by a stolen car

last week in Penge.

And send best wishes to the three young girls also involved.

Whilst enquiries by the police and the Independent Police

Complaints Commission are undertaken and the matter is now before

the courts, I will say no more about this specific case,

other than to ask the Prime Minister if she is aware of the widespread

public concern that the law on causing death by dangerous

driving is wholly inadequate?

And will she undertake a review, both of its suitability

and its applicability as the courts enact it?

Can I first of all join the honourable member

in expressing our sympathies to all those who were involved

in this terrible accident that took place, this terrible tragedy,

when this stolen car mowed down two people and affected others as well.

I'm aware of the concern that there is about the law

in relation to dangerous driving.

I've had a particular case about the daughter of someone

in my constituency who was killed as a result of dangerous driving

and they have raised concerns with me specifically

about their case.

This is a matter I believe the Justice Department

is looking at.

Order.