14/09/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

international partners to sde how we can get aid through to thesd

critical conditions. Order. Questions to the Prime Minister

Let me start by paying tribtte to my right honourable friend, thd former

member of Parliament for Whhtney, David Cameron. He has been `

tremendous public servant both for his constituency, but also for the

country as a whole. Under hhs leadership we saw the econoly being

stabilised, more people in work than ever before, people on low hncomes

being taken out of paying t`x altogether. This government will

build on that legacy. By extending opportunity to all parts of the

country. VISTA Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial

colleagues and others,, and I shall have further meetings today.

Last week, the Prime Ministdr could not tell us whether she was in

favour of staying in the single market. As an Edinburgh MP, can I

tell her how important the financial sector is to the Scottish economy? I

wonder if she can tell us whether she agrees with her Foreign

Secretary that passport in for a financial services is guaranteed to

continue after the UK leads the European Union? I am not gohng to

give the honourable lady anx different answer from the answer I

gave the House on many occasions last week. Which is that thhs

government will be working to ensure the right deal for the Unitdd

Kingdom in trade, in goods `nd services. And that includes

listening to the concerns of the Scottish government may wish to

raise, the governments of Northern Ireland and Wales as well. We will

be fully involved with the devolved organisations -- administrations.

The best thing for the financial sector in Edinburgh and the economy

in Scotland is to be part of the United Kingdom. Marcus Fish. Will my

right honourable friend join me in welcoming figures that show that

unemployment in my constitudncy has halved since 2010? And cruchally

that youth unemployment has fallen by 12% in the last year. Will she

promote the value of technical skills and science and engineering,

in her poise for all childrdn to have a good education that dnables

them to go as far as their talent and hard work will take thel? I am

very happy to join my honourable friend in welcoming the good

employment figures we have seen today. Unemployment has halved in

his constituency since 2010. That is because we have had an economic plan

and build a strong economy. He is absolutely right. As we look to

provide opportunities for young people, we need to ensure wd

consider those for whom skills and a vocational education is the right

route. We want an education that is right for every child, so they can

actually get as far as their talents will take them.

Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am sure the whold House

will join me in paying tribtte to the police constable who was stabbed

several times yesterday in the line of duty while trying to arrdst a

rape suspect in Huyton. Can we wish him well and a speedy recovdry. I

also wish the former Prime Linister well on his departure from this

House and well in his futurd life. I hope the by-election will

concentrate on the issues of education and his views on selection

in education. I want to congratulate the Prime Minister. She has brought

about unity of Ofsted and the teaching unions. She has unhted

former education Secretary hs on both sides of the House. Shd has

truly brought about a new era of unity in educational thinking. I

wonder if it is possible for her this morning, within the quhet

confines of this House, to name any educational experts that back her

proposals on new grammar schools and more selection? Mr Speaker, first of

all, may I join the Right honourable gentleman in paying tribute to the

police constable who was st`bbed in Knowsley? One of the events that I

used to look forward to going to every year as Home Secretarx was the

police bravery awards. At that event we saw police officers who'd never

know when they start their shift what is going to happen to them

They run towards danger when other people would run away from ht. We

owe them a great tribute and our gratitude for that. Now I al glad

the right honourable gentlelan has raised the issue of education. It

enables me to point out that over the last six years we have seen 1.4

million more children in good or outstanding schools. That is because

of the changes that this government introduced. It is because of the

free schools, the academies, headteachers being put in charge,

more choice for parents. Ch`nges which I know the right honotrable

gentleman opposes. What I w`nt to see is more good school places, I

diversity in provision of education in this country, so that we really

see opportunity for all and young people going as far as their talents

will take them. Mr Speaker, I asked the Prime Minister if she could name

any experts who could help hn this policy. Sadly she wasn't able to.

Can I quote one expert, his name is John and he is a teacher. Hd wrote

to me and said the education system and teachers have made great strides

forward to improve quality `nd delivery of the curriculum. And he

says, why not fund all schools properly and let us do the job? The

evidence of the effects of selection is this. In Kent, which has a

grammar school system, 27% of the pupils on free school meals get five

good GCSEss, compared with 45% in London. We role for spreading good

practice, but wide does the Prime Minister wants to expand a system

that can only let system down? - children down?

Can I say to the right honotrable gentleman that he needs to stop

casting his mind back to thd 19 0s. What we will be doing, what we will

be doing is ensuring that wd are able to provide good school places

for the one and a quarter mhllion children who are in schools that are

failing, inadequate or need improvement. Those children and the

parents of those children know, they are not getting the education that

is right for them and the opportunities that they need. When

we look at the impact of gr`mmar schools, if you look at Thale and

for a disadvantage and non-disadvantaged children, the

attainment gap in grammar schools is virtually zero. It isn't in other

schools. It is opportunity for young people to go where their talents

will take them. I know that the right honourable gentleman believes

in equality of outcome. I bdlieve in equality of opportunity. He believes

in levelling down. We believe in levelling up.

CHEERING. Mr Speaker, equality of opportunity

is not segregating children at the age of 11. So let me quote the

Institute for Fiscal Studies, which says those in selected areas who do

not pass the 11 plus, do worse than they would have done in a

comprehensive system. The Sdcretary of State for Education suggdsted on

Monday, that new grammar schools may be required to set up feeder primary

schools in poorer areas. We'll be children in these feeder prhmaries

get automatic places in the grammar school? Will they be subject to

selection? What we are doing is setting up a

more diverse education systdm that provides more opportunities. And

what the right honourable gdntleman appears to be defending is the

situation we have at the molent where there is selection in our

school system but it is seldction by house price. I think we want to

ensure that children have the ability to go where their t`lents

take them. Can I just gentlx remind the right honourable gentlelan. . He

went to a grammar school. I went to a grammar school. It is what got us

where we are today. But my side .. My side might be rather happier

about that than his. Mr Speaker, the two things the Prime

Minister and I have in common is we can both remember the 1950s, and we

can both remember going to ` grammar school. My point is simply this

every child, every child should have the best possible education they can

have. We don't need and nevdr should divide children at the age of 1 , a

life changing division, where the majority end up losing out. I notice

she did not answer my questhon about feeder primary schools. On Londay,

the Secretary of State for Dducation said, we have not engaged mtch in

the reform of grammars. But the government would now start the

process. Can the Prime Minister confirm whether existing gr`mmar

schools, like those in Kent and Buckinghamshire, will now bd

instructed to widen their admission policy by the government? The right

honourable gentleman is right that what we are looking and consulting

on is it diversity provision in education. We want to make sure that

all grammar schools actuallx do the job that we believe is important,

which is providing opportunhties for a wide range of pupils. There are

many examples across the cotntry of different ways that is done through

selective education. But he talks about good education for evdry

child. That is what our polhcy is about. There are 1.25, one `nd a

quarter million children today, who are in schools that are not good or

outstanding. There are parents today who fear that their children are not

getting the good education to enable them to get on in life. I bdlieve in

the education that is right for every child. It is the Labotr Party

that has stifled opportunitx, stifled ambition in this cotntry...

It is the Labour Party that is willing members of the Labotr Party

will take the advantages of a good education for themselves, and pull

up the ladder behind them for other people.

I am sorry that the Prime Mhnister was unable to help anyone in Kent of

Buckinghamshire in the answdr to my question and presumably she will

have to return to it, but, ht is not about putting up ladders it is about

providing a ladder for everx child. Let me quote her a critic of grammar

schools. There is a kind of hopelessness about the demand to

bring back grammars, an asstmption that this country will only ever be

able to offer a decent educ`tion the a select few, the quote goes on to

say, I want the Conservativd Party to rise above that attitude. Not my

words, those of the former right honourable member for Whitndy. Isn't

he correct, that what we nedd investment in all of our school a

good school for every child, not this selection at the age of 11

What we need is a good school for every Chile and that is what we will

be delivering with the policy that we have announced. And -- child and

with that policy, we will sde, we will see universities expanding

their support for school, wd will see more faith schools being set up,

we will see independent schools increasing their support for schools

in the state sector, a diversity of provision of education is what we

immediate to ensure good school places for every child. That good

school place is important so young people can take opportunitids, and

get into the workplace and H notice I think this is the right honourable

gentleman's fifty question. He hasn't yet welcomed the employment

figures today. -- fifth. More people, more people in work than

ever before, wages rising above inflation, that is more people with

a pay packet, more money in those pay packets what would Labotr offer?

More taxation and misery for working family, it is only the Consdrvative

Party that knows you can only build an economy that works for everyone

when even has an opportunitx for work.

Mr Speaker, of course I welcome anyone that has managed to get a

job, I welcome those people that have managed to get jobs and keep

themselves and their familids together. The problem is, that there

are now almost a million of them on zero hours contract, who do not know

what they are going to be p`id from one week the the other. In order to

help her with the expertise on the reform of secondary schools, could I

quote to her the Chief Inspdctor of Schools who said the notion that the

poor stand to benefit from the return of grammar schools strikes me

as tosh and nonsense. Isn't all this proof that the

Conservative Party's green paper addressing none of the actu`l crises

facing our schools system. Real terms cut in schools budget, 50 ,000

pupils in supersize classes, a crisis in teacher recruitment and

retention. Rising number of unqualified teachers in classrooms,

vital teaching assistants losing their jobs, isn't this the case of a

government heading backwards, to a failed segregation for the few, and

second classed schooling for the many. -- class. Can't we do better

than this? Well, I have to say, I have to say to the right honourable

gentleman, that he has got some of his facts wrong. Plain and simple.

They, we have more teachers in our schools today, than in 2010. We have

more teachers joining the profession than leaving it. We have fewer

pupils in supersize classes, than there have been previously, but I

simply say this to the right honourable gentleman, first of all,

that he has opposed every mdasure that we have introduced to hmprove

the quality of edge kietion in this country. -- education, he h`s

opposed measures that incre`se parental choice, that incre`se the

freedom for head teachers to run their school, he has opposed to

opportunity for people o set up free school, they are leading to

improvements in our education system and we will build on those with our

new policies. But I recognise to the, for the right honourable

gentleman, this may very well be the last time that he has an opportunity

to face me, across this despatch box.

Certainly... Certainly if hhs Members of Parliament have `nything

to do with it. I accept that he and I don't agree on everything, well,

probably we don't agree on `nything, but I must say to him that he has

made his mark. Let us just think of some of the things that the right

honourable gentleman has introduced. He wants coal mines without mining

them, submarines without sahling them and he wants to be Labour

leader without leading them. One thing we know, who ever is Labour

leader, after their leadership election, it will the country that

loses. Can I just point out to the House

that progress today at this Question Time session has been absurdly slow,

absurdly slow. And I ask, order I ask the House, on behalf of our

constituents to show some rdspect for those colleagues who want to

question the Prime Minister. And I am determined to get down the list.

Craig Williams. Thank you. Students from Cardiff

schools and UK schools attended the recording of the British Holocaust

survivors giving their testhmony for future generation. It was a moving

experience for them and a stark reminder to fight racism,

anti-Semitism and hatred in all forms, as part of this vital

education effort of which I know my right honourable friend is `

supporter is the establishmdnt of a national memorial to the Holocaust,

could my right honourable friend update us on this I am gratdful He

is right that we need to ensure that we never forget the horrors of the

Holocaust and the lessons that must be learned from that. It is right

that we have agreed this national memorial, next to Parliament on

Victoria garden, that is an important place for it to bd. The

community's secretary will launch a competition for the design of that

them mall and included among that will be the possibility of `

learning centre, which will ensure that there will be those

opportunities for young people and others truly to learn that the

lessons from the Holocaust `nd to learn about the appallings ` Troyes

the -- atrocities that took place. Last week the Prime Minister was one

willing or unable to give assurances about remaining in the European

single market. Today she has been unwilling or unable to give

assurances to the financial sector about protecting the passporting of

financial services, meanwhile, millions from across the Unhted

Kingdom depend on freedom of movement across the EU for business

and for pleasure, they face the prospect of having to apply and

possibly pay for visas, is the Prime Minister in favour of protecting

visa free travel? Yes or no? There was a very clear message from the

British people at the time of the referendum vote on June 23rd, that

they wanted, that they wantdd to see an end to Freeman as it operated,

they want to see control of the movement of people from the European

Union, into the UK, and that is what we will deliver. Free movemdnt. Mr

Speaker, the Prime Minister and the UK Government are totally unwilling

to tell us the true cost of Brexit and what their negotiating position

will be, in contrast there hs a different tune from the European

Union union, there knew any away for Guy Verhofstadt said it is wrong

that Scotland might be taken out of the EU when it voted to stax. Stay.

Does she agree with Guy Verhofstadt and the Scottish Government, who

want to protect Scotland's place in Europe? I have to say to thd right

honourable gentleman, it is all very well him asking that question but

only two years ago, only two years ago, he didn't want to protdct

Scotland's place in the European Union because he wanted Scotland to

leave the EU? -- UK? And on all of these questions, whether it is the

question of the referendum, for leaving the European Union, the

referendum on independence hn Scotland, or questions in this

House, the right honourable gentleman seems to think th`t if he

asks the question all the thme, he will get a different answer. I won't

work for me and I won't work for the Scottish people. Thank you Lr

Speaker. Freedom of speech hs a fundamental British value. Which is

undermined by so call safe spaces in our universities where a sense of

entitlement by a minority of students that means their whsh not

to be offended shuts down ddbate. As students around the country return

to their places of learning, at the start of this new academic xear

does my right honourable frhend agree that university is prdcisely

the place for lively debate, and that fear of being offended must not

trump freedom of speech. Well, I absolutely agree with my

honourable friend, we want our universities not just places of

learning but places where there can be open debate where people can be

challenged and get involved in that. I think everybody is finding this

concept of safe spaces extraordinary. We want to sde that

innovation of thought taking place, that is how we develop as a country,

as a society, and as an economy and I agree with my right honourable

friend. Mr Speaker, nine-ye`r-old Mohammed is one of thousands of

child refugees alone in Syrha, his parents fled the country believing

he was dead and have Vetteldd in my constituency of Midlothian, in March

he was identified as being `live, he has been kidnapped, beaten `nd left

for dead before being refound again. He lives in fear of daily attacks or

sexual violence and assault. With the Prime Minister agree to meet

with me to review the steps the Government could take to retnite

Mohammed with his devastated family, and provide him with what is

required to help overcome hhs ordeal. I am not aware of the

details of the case. The Hole Secretary has heard him, I `m sure

if he would like to write to the Home Secretary, there are rtles that

enable family reunion to take place and also we are as a countrx,

taking, have committed to t`ke a number of children who are

particularly vulnerable, potentially vulnerable from sexual violdnce from

the region round Syria, to dnsure that we can Vettel them in the UK

and take them out of that fdar that they are seeing, but my right

honourable friend the Home Secretary will look at it if he cares to

write. What assurance can mx right honourable friend give that whatever

criteria comes to guide our immigration system, it will be

fairer than the present system? It will no longer discriminate peoples

from outside the EU, as the present system does. The, as I menthoned

earlier in response to a qudstion, it is the case that one aspdct of

the vote on the ifrd June w`s that people wanted us to control movement

from the European Union into the UK, and of course, we are already able

to control movement from outside the European Union into the United

Kingdom, and we intend to, details of the system we will introduce for

EU citizens are currently bding worked on, but I can assure my right

honourable friend we will h`ve the ability to control movement from the

EU, and movement from outside the EU, and therefore bring that greater

degree of fairness that I think people were looking for.

How can she try and justify reducing the House of Commons to 600, while

the House of Lords now have 820 members and by 2020 even more. Is

this her idea of democracy hn the 21st century? I have to say, of

course, the House of Commons voted for that reduction in the ntmber of

members of Parliament. I thhnk people wanted to see that. But I

would gently remind him when he refers to the House of Lords, and

changes in the House of Lords, that it is this Government that has

introduced the retirement procedure for the House of Lords that has soon

a reduction in the member of the House of Lords. The NHS fivd year

forward view, states that in future we will see more care delivdred

locally. Does the Prime Minhster think that in line with that, the

Cambridgeshire MP, ought to consider the importance of loaningle care

when assessing the future of the Princess of Wales minor injtries

unit in Ealing. My right honourable friend is right. The five ydar plan

does include that proposal for local, more local input, and it is

absolutely right that in looking at for example the future of mhnor

injuries unit Lokes should consulted. I understand there is to

be a meeting to consider thhs an I hope she will be able to make their

views known as that meeting. Tomorrow, I will be helping to

launch a programme at the engineering company ADI Grotp. To

boost the interest of 14-16-year-olds in engineerhng

skills. Now doubt the Prime Minister would like to join me in

congratulating ADI Group but would she take it from me that her words

of gloition would mean more if they were not accompanied of between cuts

between 30 and 20% in apprenticeship fund, a programme the industry has

described as a car crash. Well, I of course am happy to

commend the company he has referred to, and of course, the West Midlands

are important, driver in terms of engineering skills in this country,

but I simply don't recognisd the situation he set out in rel`tion to

apprenticeship, we have seen two million created over the last six

year, we are commits as a government to seeing more being created, that

giving young people opportunities, like the young people I met when I

went to jaguar Land Rover, to learn a skill to get into a job, to get

into the workplace and get on where their talents will take thel.

Does the Prime Minister agrde that the life chances of many chhldren

particularly the poorest ardas are limited through living in chaotic

and unstable household, and would she kindly look at the all party

Parliamentary children centre report produced which recommends f`mily

hubs in local communities and other solutions to this issue, with a view

to considering it further? Thank you. Can I say, commend my right

honourable friend on the work she is doing on the all party Parlhamentary

group. The question of that stable background, that family background

that young people are brought up this is an important issue `nd she

has been a champion for famhlies and for family life. I, can I s`y to her

I have set up a policy routd with, led my right honourable fridnd the

member for Mid Norfolk, I al surely ask him to look carefully at the

report that has come out of the all party Parliamentary group. On Monday

the Parliamentary advisory group on carbon capture published thdir

report about the potential of CCS to create thousands of job, save the

country billions and play a major role in meeting emission targets.

CCS is critical to say side. Can the Prime Minister tell the house when

the Government will publish its long-awaited new strategy? Thank

you, thank you. I can I first of all say, that the issue of clim`te

change of reducing emissions and our energy policy are very important to

this Government, we have a fine record in this area and we will be

continuing to, continuing to do that. But, on the issue of carbon

captured and storage, this has been looked at carefully in the past It

is one of the key issues rotnd is the cost, we will continue to invest

in the development of CCS, we are developing over 120 million to

develop the technology, through innovation support with the aim of

reducing its costs, and so we will continue to look at the rold it can

play. I know that schools have to make the

best use of their resource, therefore I was shocked to learn

that schools in the north-wdst are charged ?27 million for thehr water

charge, will the Prime Minister agree with me, that schools are

important community hubs and will the Government make represent days

to Ofwat to change the bandhng guidance so schools are considered

community asset, rather than classified in the same way `s big

business. Can I commend those who plax a role

as school governor, she is right schools need to think careftlly The

approach does change but we are looking at the guidance to water

companies, in relation to how they can deal with schools and whether

they could be looking at schools and using more concessionary rates in

relation to schools. Thank you very much. The Prhme

Minister may by a wear of l`st week's BBC Spotlight progralme on

what was serious allegation of corruption and fraud round the sale

of properties in Northern Ireland. Can the Prime Minister confhrm what

agencies will be investigathng those and if the National Crime Agency

will be involved, and will he the report be publicly published in due

course? I have to say to thd honourable gentleman on the specific

issue he has raise, if I max I will come back as he know the National

Crime Agency does operate in Northern Ireland on a slightly

different basis, and it will be necessary for the issues whdre they

are being looked into to ensure that the appropriate skills and

capability are brought to bdar. Will write him a detailed answer to his

question. Will the Prime Minister give her full and enthusiastic up

support to the Presidents as they reach a crucial stage of thdir

negotiations which we hope will deliver a negotiated settlelent for

a free and united Cyprus. I am happy to join my right honourable friend

in what she say, it is important I think everybody across the House

will wish these talks well, and hope they have a successful conclusion.

It has been two years since the Prime Minister set up the child

abuse inquiry, it is on to hts fourth chair and last week, the

outgoing chair said it had become inherently unmanageable. Since the

Prime Minister appointed Dale Goddard to her position, will she

insist she comes before this House to explain herself, surely child

abuse survivors deserve an dggs plagues. On the process point it is

not for the Prime Minister to insist who attends before a committee of

this house. I understand as she been invited to attend the committee

What I would say on the child abuse issue, she and I share, we share

across this House many honotrable members a desire to see these issues

of appalling crimes of child abuse being looked into it. It is

important that the inquiry, she has set up the diary, many aspects of

this which are already in place and operating, and I am very pldased

that Alexis Jay has take on the job. She will do it very well and we will

have answers to questions that so many have been asking for too long.

Thank you. Child sexual exploitation is an issue that affects many

community, does the Prime Mhnister agree that shining a light on the

events of the past is the bdst way to learn lessons in the futtre, and

will she agree to an independent review of child sexual explore

tasting in Telford? -- exploitation. I think my right honourable friend

has just shown the cross-party's concern that there is on thhs issue

of child abuse and child sexual exploitation, it is right adds my

right honourable friend says that we are able to look into the abuses of

the past and the crimes of the past, that will be important lessons we

immediate to learn from that as to why institutions, that were supposed

to protect children failed to protect them. It is for the

authorities in Telford to look specifically at how they wish to

address these issues in Telford but I am sure as my right honourable

friend the Home Secretary h`s heard her comments and I am sure she will

want to take that up with hdr. Following the successful

Hillsborough independent panel, will the Prime Minister now look at

setting up a similar review, of the biggest treatment disaster hn the

history of the NHS, the contaminated blood scandal. Victims are still

waiting for answers and justice 35 years on. The honourable lady raises

very important point in rel`tion to contaminated blood. I I will take

the point she has made and take it away and consider it. Obviotsly as

she will know that the reasons and the background which let to the

Hillsborough independent panel. I recognise that the concern people

have about contaminated blood and will consider the point she has

made. Will lead Prime Minister take this

opportunity to send a loud `nd clear message that the best way to secure

a harmonious society is not only for mainstream bidden to respect

minority traditions such as Diwali and Eid, but also that council

officials appreciate that mhnority communities should respect the views

and traditions of mainstreal Britain. That means Christm`s trees

are not festive trees. I do agree with my honourable friend. H'm not

going to comment or pre-empt the findings of Louise Casey's work and

her review. It is an import`nt piece of work. I will join him in saying

that what we want in our society is tolerance and understanding, but we

also want minority communithes to be able to recognise and stand up for

their traditions. We also w`nt to be able to stand up for our tr`ditions

generally as well, and that includes business. Would the Prime Mhnister

look very carefully at the calls from the Royal British Legion and

Poppy Scotland, for a new qtestions to be added to the next senses so we

can better meet the needs of our serving personnel in the arled

Forces, veterans and their families? In Northern Ireland, where such a

massive contribution is madd to the Armed Forces in terms of service,

would she look at funding under the Armed Forces covenant so thdre is

equitable funding across all regions of the United Kingdom? I sax to the

right honourable gentleman that I am pleased it was this governmdnt that

introduced the military covdnant and has recognised the importance of

that bond and that link with those who are serving in the Armed Forces,

but also the importance in terms of veterans in our armed Forces. I have

not seen the request. That will certainly be looked at by the

Cabinet office when considering the next senses.

Does she agree that the cooperation between Russia and the Unitdd States

in respect of Aleppo sets a very important precedent, and it is in

the British national interest to redevelop links with Russia and then

we may be able to solve manx more problems in that region? Thd

agreement reached between Rtssia and the United States about Syrha is

important, and I think everxbody in this House will want to see that

working, being put into practice and working on the ground. I wotld say

there have been a number of occasions where we have seen what we

thought were steps forward `nd sadly it has not been possible to

implement them. I hope this will be different this time and I hope it

will mark an important step. In relation to Russia, we should have

no doubt about the relationship we should have with Russia. It is not a

business as usual relationship. I made that very clear when I was

responding to the report on the murder of little and ankle. We

should continue with that position. George Howarth. Can I join with my

right honourable friend, thd Leader of the Opposition, the Primd

Minister, Jane Kennedy, the police and Crime Commissioner on

Merseyside, in commending the tremendous bravery of the police

officers involved in a stabbing incident in my constituency

yesterday? And also, despitd that, they apprehended the suspect. With

the Prime Minister acknowledge that the police, often in very d`ngerous

circumstances, are being asked to do more and more with fewer and fewer

resources? Once again, I john the right honourable gentleman hn

recognising the work of the individual police constable, as he

says, apprehending... Three police constables, I apologise. In

apprehending well-being unddr attack. Our police officers bravely

go where others would not go in order to protect the public. They do

so much in the line of duty. But also when they are off duty as well,

they are prepared to go and face danger. On the issue of resources, I

would simply remind him that we have protected police budgets ovdr the

period of the comprehensive spending review settlement. In the f`ce of a

proposal from his front bench that we should cut them by 5% to 10%

Order.