28/10/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

Mr Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial

colleagues and others.

I shall have further such meetings later today.

James Morris.

In the Black Country in the West Midlands,

we are very proud of our long, industrial heritage.

We are also very proud of the recent revival in the fortunes

of the Black Country with ndw jobs and investment in the local economy.

Would the Prime Minister agree with me that one of the ways

to create an economy that works for everyone is to further

devolve powers and funding to the West Midlands to drive

investment and to combine that with the strong leadership

and vision that only Andy Street can provide,

the Conservative candidate for West Midlands?

Thank you.

My honourable friend speaks up well for the Black Country.

I am pleased to echo his colments about the economic growth

in the West Midlands.

Since 2010 we have seen 220,000 more jobs in the region,

55,000 more new businesses in the region, but he is right,

the devolution deal is important.

It is the biggest devolution deal that is being done,

for the West Midlands.

Part of that is crucially the election of a directly

elected mayor.

I think Andy Street with both his local knowledge

and business experience, will drive economic growth.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you.

Could I start by welcoming the child refugees that have arrived

in Britain in the last few days

They are obviously deeply traumatised and we should wdlcome

them and love them and support them in the best way we can.

Irrespective of party, when members of this House go

through health problems, we reach out a hand of support,

solidarity and friendship to them.

I want to pay tribute to thd member for Grantham and Stamford

for the social media messagd he sent out this morning.

It shows amazing humour and bravery and we wish him all the verx best

and hope he fully recovers.

There are now to be regular sessions of the joint ministerial

Council to discuss Brexit.

But it seems the Prime Minister s counterparts are already fedling

the same sense of frustration as members of this House.

The First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones, said there is a great

deal of uncertainty but they are clear they need full

and unfettered access to the single market.

Can the Prime Minister help the First Minister of Wales

and the other devolved administrations by giving

them some clarity?

First of all can I commend the Home Office for the work that

has been done in ensuring that it is working carefullx to look

at the best interests of the child refugees,

so they are provided with the support they need

when they come here to the United Kingdom.

Can I also join him in commdnding my honourable friend,

the member for Grantham and Stamford, for being willing

to be so open about the health problem he has, and we wish him

all the very best for the ftture and for his place here in this House.

In relation to the issue of clarity on the aims that the Governlent has

in relation to Brexit, I have been very clear

and I will be clear again.

There are those who talk about means and those who talk about ends.

There are those who talk about means and those who talk about ends.

I am talking about ends.

What we want to see is the best possible arrangement for tr`de

with and operation within the single European market for businesses

in goods and services here in the United Kingdom.

I thought for a moment the Prime Minister was going to say

Brexit means Brexit again.

There are others...

I am sure she will tell us one day what it actually means.

The Mayor of London also added this is causing unnecessary

certainty but it is also very important - uncertainty.

It would be very helpful if the Prime Minister

could provide some clarity over the Northern Ireland border.

Will we continue membership of the customs union

or are we going to see borddr checks introduced between Northern

Ireland and the Republic?

The Leader of the Opposition tries to poke fun at the phrase,

Brexit means Brexit, but the whole point is this.

Brexit, it is this government that is listening to the vohce

of the British people.

Brexit means Brexit and that means we are coming out

of the European Union.

What the Right Honourable gdntleman appears to be doing is frustrating

the will of the British people by saying Brexit means something

completely different.

Now, in relation to the Northern Irish border, a considerabld

amount of work was already going on with the Irish govdrnment

to look at issues around the Common travel area.

That work is continuing.

We have been very clear, the government of the Republic

of Ireland has been very cldar.

The Northern Ireland Executhve has been very clear.

None of us want to see a return to the borders of the past.

I would remind the right honourable gentleman that the Common travel

area has been in place sincd 19 3.

That is well before either of us joined the European Union.

Mr Speaker, on Monday, the Prime Minister said the customs

union was not a binary choice.

I can't think of anything other than a binary choice

is whether you have a border or do not have one.

There is not a third way on that one.

On Monday, her friend, the honourable member for Broxtowe,

expressed concern of the automotive and aerospace industries,

while the British Banking Association said its members

are poised, quivering, over the relocate button.

Every day the Prime Minister dithers over this chaotic Brexit,

employers delay investment, and there are rumours

circulating about relocation.

This cannot carry on until March of next year.

When will the Prime Minister come up with a plan?

I have to say to the right honourable gentleman,

the fact that he seems to confuse a customs union with a borddr

where they are two different issues, shows why it is important

that it is this party that is in government and not his.

He talks about the plan.

I have been very clear that we want to trade freelx -

both trade with and operate within the single European larket.

I want this country to be a global leader in free trade.

The Labour Party is against free trade.

I want to introduce control on free movement

so that we have an end to free movement.

The Labour Party wants to continue with free movemdnt.

I want to deliver on the will of the British people.

He is trying to frustrate the will of the British people.

Mr Speaker, there was no answer on the border,

which was the question.

On Monday, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister told the House,

and I quote, we have a plan which is not to set

out at every stage of the negotiation the details.

I have been thinking about this for a couple of days, Mr Spdaker.

I think when you are searchhng for the real meaning

and importance behind the Prime Minister's statemdnt,

you have to consult the great philosophers.

The only one I can come up with ..

THE SPEAKER: Mr Cleverly, calm yourself.

You are imperilling your own health, man, which is a great

cause for concern for me.

All I can come up with Mr Speaker is Baldrick, who said, "our cunning

plan is to have no plan."

Brexit was apparently about taking back control,

but the devolved governments do not know the plan, businesses

do not know the plan, Parliament does not know thd plan.

When will the Prime Minister abandon their shambolic Torx Brexit

and develop a plan that delhvers for the whole country?

I am interested that the right honourable gentleman

shows his to support Baldrick.

Of course, the actor playing Baldrick was a member

of the Labour Party as I recall

I'll tell the right honourable gentleman

what we are going to deliver.

We are going to deliver on the vote of the British people,

we are going to deliver the best possible deal for trade in goods

and services both with and operating within the European Union.

And we are going to deliver an end to free movement.

That is what the British people want and that is what this government

will deliver for them.

Mr Speaker, three years ago the United Kingdom backed

Saudi Arabia for membership of the UN Human Rights Council.

On 28th of October, there are elections again for the UN

Human Rights Council.

A UN panel has warned that the Saudi Arabian

bombing of Yemen has violated international law.

Amnesty International says, and I quote, executions

are on the increase, women are widely discriminated

against, torture is common `nd human rights organisations are banned

Will her government again bd backing the Saudi dictatorship

for membership of that commhttee?

As the right honourable gentleman knows, where there are legitimate

human rights concerns in relation to Saudi Arabia, we raise them.

In relation to the action in the Yemen we have been clear

that we want those incidents that have been referred to to be properly

investigated and we want the Saudi Arabians,

if there are lessons to be learned, to learn lessons.

I will reiterate a point I have made in this House before

that our relationship with Saudi Arabia is import`nt.

It's a particularly important relationship in relation

to the security of this country and counterterrorism and fohling

activities of those who wish to do harm to citizens in the UK.

Tahir Qasim, a Yemeni man lhving in Liverpool told me this wdek that

Yemen is quickly becoming the forgotten crisis.

If people are not being killed by bombs, it is hunger

that kills them.

The UK needs to use its influence to help the people of Yemen.

Bombs exported from Britain are being dropped on Yemeni children

by Saudi pilots trained by Britain.

If there are war crimes being committed, as the UN suggests,

they must be investigated.

Isn't it about time this government suspended its arms

sales to Saudi Arabia?

The issues are being investhgated, I say to the right honourable

gentleman, and we have taken action.

He is right to refer to the humanitarian

crisis in the Yemen.

This country is one of thosd at the forefront to ensuring

humanitarian aid is provided.

That is a record I believe this country and governing can bd proud

of around the world in terms of the actions taken.

It is important.

There was a cessation of hostilities in the Yemen for a period of 72

hours over the weekend.

I spoke to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the weekend.

One issue we discussed was the importance of trying to find

a political solution in Yemdn and trying to see if that cdssation

of hostilities could be continued.

It hasn't been continued but we are very clear that the only

solution that will work for the Yemen is to make sure

we have that political solution which will give

stability in the Yemen.

Mr Speaker, 20 years ago, a Conservative government agreed

that Christchurch and East Dorset councils could retain

their sovereignty, independdnce and control over their own destiny.

Will my right honourable frhend assure the House that the Government

will not agree to the abolition of Christchurch or East Dorset

councils against the will of my constituents?

My right honourable friend hs right to speak up for his constittents.

He is also right that there is not a single model that will work

in every part of the countrx.

That is why we believe it is important for local pdople

to come together and determhne what is right for them.

I know my right honourable friend is trying to build a consensus

in Dorset as to what the right way forward is.

It is right that local people are able to respond

to the consultation and their concerns are listdned to.

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is launched today for

parliamentarians, so can I take the opportunity to praise

all of the fundraidsers, the volunteers and veterans involved

and I'm sure colleagues in other parts of the House will comlend

efforts to raise money for the Poppy Appeal in the rest

of the UK as well.

Hear, hear.

Mr Speaker, one of the biggdst humanitarian catastrophes

of our time is in Syria, specifically in Aleppo,

where we expect the ceasefire to end shortly and an onslaught to begin.

Will the Prime Minister tell us what efforts the UK is currdntly

undertaking to support a pe`ceful resolution to the conflict,

but also to deal with those who are exacerbating

the situation?

Hear, hear.

Well, first of all, may I join the right honourable gentlelan

in commending and praising the work of all those across the whole

of the United Kingdom who give their time and efforts

to raise money for the Poppx Appeal.

It is very important that wd never forget those, through many

conflicts, who have given of themselves for the safetx

and security of us and it is important that we recognise

that and give generously to the Poppy Appeal over

the United Kingdom.

In relation to Syria, of course it is important to

approach this in a number of tracks.

We are involved, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretarx,

has been involved in discussions with the United States of Alerica,

Secretary of State, Kerry about looking for a way forward

I raised the issue of Russi`n actions in Syria, particularly

the bombing of Aleppo at the European council at the end

of this week, it was only on the agenda because

the UK had raised it.

As a result of that discusshon, the EU agrees that should

the atrocities continue, then we will look at all av`ilable

options for taking action to put pressure on Russia

to stop their indiscriminatd bombing of innocent civilians.

I commend the Prime Minister for those endeavours,

but it is widely expected that the onslaught on Aleppo will be

unleashed by Russian airpowdr, which is currently steaming

across the Mediterranean aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov

and its battle group.

And in recent years 60 Russhan vessels have refuelled

and resupplied in Spanish ports

So will the Prime Minister join me and EU and NATO Allies

in unequivocally calling on Spain to refuse the refuelling?

The right honourable gentlelan refers to the passage of Russian

naval ships and of course on the high seas they are able

to travel as they wish, although, of course,

when they went through the Dnglish Channel they were accompanidd

by royal naval vessels as they went through.

But, what we have seen, sadly, is that the Russians are already

able to unleash attacks on hnnocent civilians on Syria.

What matters is that we put pressure on Russia to do what everybody

agrees is the only way that we are going to resolvd this

issue, which is to ensure that we have a political

transition in Syria, and that's where we should

focus our attention.

THE SPEAKER: Wendy Morton.

Mr Speaker, my constituency of Aldridge Brownhills forms part

of the new West Midlands Combined Authority.

So there will be new powers being devolved

to the authority and the maxor.

Can the Prime Minister tell me how these new powers

will help my constituents, and local businesses,

in sectors such as manufacttring, the automotive industry

and bricks and ceramics?

I can confirm that the deal will provide the West Midlands

with ?1 billion over 30 years to spend on local projects

to drive economic growth.

This is why it is so import`nt to have a mayor who underst`nds

the local area, but also has business expertise,

Andy Street, to ensure thosd economic projects are being

developed with the interests of the locality in the

prime focus for them.

I believe that the deal will deliver more jobs and economic prosperity

across the West Midlands.

It is good for the West Midlands and her constituents,

and good for the rest of the country as well.

The independent inquiry on child sexual abuse was established

to deliver long-awaited justice for victims and survivors

and to do so it must have their confidence.

The Shirley Oaks Survivors Association represents more than 600

survivors of abuse that took place in Lambeth Council-run children s

homes and has raised concerns about changes to the inquirx.

Will the Prime Minister meet with me, the honorable membdr

for Stretham and representatives from the Shirley Oaks

Survivors Association to discuss their concerns and take

action so that confidence can be restored.

The whole purpose of this enquiry was to provide justice for those

whose voices have not been heard for too long and who felt that

people in positions of power and institutions of the state

and other organisations had not heard their voice, had not been

prepared to listen to them and properly investigate wh`t had

happened to them.

It is important that victims and survivors have confidence

in the inquiry.

The inquiry is an independent inquiry and it is up to the inquiry

chairman to work with survivors and victims, which I know

the inquiry chairman has bedn doing, but I will certainly ensure

that the Home Secretary has heard the representations

that the honourable lady has made and we will take what she h`s said

to us today away and considdr very carefully what she said.

We all want this inquiry to work properly and to

work in the interests of survivors and victims.

THE SPEAKER: Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

The Prime Minister will be `ware that our nation's commitment

to our present and former Armed Forces personnel and families

by way of the Armed Forces Covenant is a work in progress and whilst

we have made important moves, there is much more to do.

Will she take this opportunhty to assure this house of her personal

commitment to the values and promises set out in the covenant

and pledge to lend her support to efforts to continue the good work

begun to ensure personnel vdterans and their families face no

disadvantage for the servicd and sacrifice they have

all made for our country?

My honourable friend is absolutely right.

I know she has championed the Armed Forces Covenant

and is a great proponent of our veterans and Armed Forces.

It is right that everybody hn this House owes a great debt of gratitude

to our veterans and those sdrving today in our Armed Forces

for what they do to keep us safe and secure.

And that is why it is so important that the covenant isn't just

a responsibility for the Government, it is actually a national

responsibility.

We should all be working to ensure that those who served

us and served us well, do not face disadvantages.

It is why we have been doing things like putting money into a forces

help-to-buy scheme to help them with housing, I think

the figure is ?200 million.

We must continue to do this.

I absolutely commit to ensuring this is a government that contintes

to support veterans and the members of our Armed Forces.

Mr Speaker, last year, my 25-year-old nephew Matty

committed suicide after a vdry short period of depression.

His GP had referred him for talking therapy counselling but warned him

it would be at least six months before he got an appointment.

Mr Speaker, these treatments in the NHS are very often a waiting

game and a dangerous waiting game and a postcode lottery.

What is the Prime Minister doing to sort this crisis out?

Hear, hear.

Can I first of all recognisd and commend the honourable gentleman

for raising the personal experience that he has of the terrible tragedy

that can occur when mental health problems are not

properly dealt with.

He raises a very serious issue and it is a serious issue

for everybody in this House on how the NHS treats mental health.

It is why we have establishdd this concept of parity of esteem

for mental health and physical health in the National

Health Service.

It is why we are seeing record levels of funding but the qtestion

of talking therapies, which are therapies which are very

effective and we have been introducing waiting time st`ndards

in relation to talking ther`pies, but I accept there is more to do

in this area to ensure that those with mental health problems

are properly treated, and are given the care

and attention they need.

It is an issue not just for the them but for the whole of our society.

My right honourable friend became Prime Minister in dramatic

and extraordinary circumstances and in my judgment, she has proved

more than capable of rising to the many challenges...

It was not my right honourable friend's fault that the Chilcot

report took seven years or lore than ?10 million in terms of cost.

Now that we know that Parliament was misled,

would my right honourable friend reassure me that she has a cunning

plan to ensure that action hs taken.

Well, I thank my honourable friend for his comments.

Obviously, what the Chilcot report did was an important task

but although it did look at and criticise the way

in which information had bedn handled in a number of aspects,

it did not say that people had set out deliberately to mislead.

I think it is important that we recognise that.

I think it is important that we recognise that

but it is important, also, that we learn the lessons

from the Chilcot report and that's why the national security advisor

is leading a piece of work, an exercise to do precisely that.

This was a long time coming, it was a serious report.

There is much in it, we need to ensure that we do learn

the lessons from it.

THE SPEAKER: Dr Alasdair McDonnell.

Question 6, please.

THE SPEAKER: Get in there, man, let's hear it.

The Prime Minister will be `ware that much of the foundation

and many of the elements of the 1998 settlement,

the peace agreement in Northern Ireland was refdrenced

and rooted in EU approaches and processes of laws and that

leaving the EU will significantly destabilise the foundations of that

settlement, has the Prime Mhnister given any consideration

to the extent of the potenthal damage the EU withdrawal

from the European Union could do to do Good Friday Belfast agreement

under the 1998 political settlement and does she at this stage have any

plan to protect that settlelent

Can I say to the honourable gentleman, I don't believe

there is any reason to belidve that the outcome of the refdrendum

will do anything to undermine the absolute rock solid comlitment

of this Government and the people of Northern Ireland,

to the settlement that was set out in the Belfast agreement.

And there is and remains strong support for the entirely pe`ceful

future for Northern Ireland.

That has been determined by democracy and consent.

We remain committed to that and we remain committed to work

with others to ensure that entirely peaceful future.

THE SPEAKER: Jeremy Lefroy.

General Electrihas has shown its confidence in the UK

economy and my constituents by starting construction

of the second of its two new world class research and manufacttring

facilities on Staffordshire County Council's Redhill business park

Would the Prime Minister medt with General Electric and other

West Midland manufacturers who hear how important that may

have chains and markets, free of tariffs and bureaucracy

are to them and their hundrdds of thousands of staff.

I'm delighted to hear of the commitment GE has made

to Stafford but it is more than a commitment to Stafford.

It is a commitment to the UK and to the future of our

economy here in the UK.

I understand my right honourable friend,

the International Trade Secretary, has already met with GE,

to discuss with them, their interests in trade

and what we can be doing to promote free trade.

As I have said earlier, I want the UK to be a global leader

in free trade and we are listening to businesses around the cotntry,

in the importance that they place on free trade, as we look

at the negotiations for exiting the EU.

Is the Prime Minister aware of the recent reports showing

the continuing and alarming increase in average alcohol

consumption in the UK, and particularly, amongst women

Given the numerous health rhsks associated with excessive

alcohol consumption, will her Government,

together with the drinks industry, reexamine the case for mand`tory

health warnings on all alcoholic products?

Well, I recognise what the honourable gentleman rahses

in terms of the figures that have been shown recently,

and particularly the figures in relation to women

and the use of alcohol.

Of course, as Home Secretarx, part of the development

of the alcohol strategy that the Government produced

a few years ago.

I'm pleased to say that at that time we were working well with industry

to encourage them to ensure that they could take steps

to have an impact on the drhnking habits of the nation.

THE SPEAKER: Maggie Throup.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

With the final decision on the eastern route of HS2

imminent, it is important for the infrastructure,

and additional traffic this will bring to the areas

around the station hubs.

With this in mind, will my honourable friend back my c`mpaign

for a new phase of the M1 to ensure that Erewash residents

don't get stuck in a jam?

I seem to recall I first met my honourable friend

when she was campaigning on an issue in relation to motorways and she's

absolutely right that in order to support the rail infrastructure,

we need to ensure that the right roads infrastructure is there.

And that's why we are investing ?15 billion

in the road investment strategy

That's about boasting local economies and boosting growth

and seeing further economic growth.

I understand Highways England are looking at the issues

in the East Midlands and looking at bringing forward significant

new road enhancements around the site of the East Midlands HS2

station and going forward, they are looking at an audit

of roads in the area.

I trust that my honourable friend will make her voice heard on this

issue and that of her consthtuents as she has done in the past.

Can I return the Prime Minister to the answer she gave

to my friend for Hull.

Because the Conservative manifesto promised shorter NHS waiting times

for those who need help with their mental health.

But as prescriptions for antidepressants still rhse,

my constituents in Wirral, who need talking therapies,

have to wait a month for referral, and well over four

months for treatment.

So, was that Tory manifesto just words, or will the Prime

Minister ever deliver?

Hear, hear.

I gave a serious answer to her honourable friend,

which is that we have been looking at the whole issue of talking

therapies and the availabilhty of talking therapies

and the waiting times that relate to talking therapies.

And we do want to improve the options that people havd

for having access to talking therapies, precisely

because they have been shown to be so successful in so many cases.

So, this is something that the Government is workhng on.

We will continue to work on it to provide, as we have said,

that parity of esteem betwedn mental health and physical health

in the National Health Servhce.

As a former Wimbledonian my right honourable friend will understand

the significant of transport for south-west London

and in particular for Wimblddon

Could my right honourable friend assure me the Government

still supports CrossRail 2 and will she ask the Secret`ry

of State to set out the timdtable for the delayed consultation?

Well, I can absolutely give the commitment that we conthnue

to support CrossRail 2.

We are waiting to see a probust business case and a proper funding

proposal in relation to CrossRail 2.

My right honourable friend the Transport Secretary will he be

setting out what the timetable in relation to this is, but I can

assure my honourable friend, as a former Wimbledon,

we are well aware of his interest in the Wimbledon to Waterloo aspect

of this and the needs of thd local area are being taken into account.

THE SPEAKER: Yasmin Qureshi.

Mr Speaker, in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, over the last thred months,

150 people have died, 600 blinded by the deliberate use

of pellet guns, over 16,000 injured, many critical,

unexplained disappearances, food and medicine shortages.

Will the Prime Minister meet with me and cross-party colleagues

to discuss the human rights abuses and the issue of self-deterlination

for Kashmiri people, as set out in the resolution

of the UN in 1958 and can she raise this matter

with the Indian Prime Minister?

THE SPEAKER: Extremely gratdful to the honourable lady.

The Prime Minister?

Well, the honourable lady sdts out her case and the issues she has

identified in relation to this.

I take the same view this Government has,

since it came into power and indeed previously, which is that the issue

of Kashmir is a matter for Hndia and Pakistan to deal with and sort

out but the Foreign Secretary has heard her representations and I m

sure will be interested in taking those issues up with her.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Several months ago, I raised the issue of enhanced medic`l

assistance for the Kurdish Peshmerga with the former Prime Minister

at his last PMGs and wrote ht the new Prime Minister.

But now with a campaign to liberate Mosul ongoing, will my honotrable

friend agree it meet with md and representatives of Kurdhsh

regional government to disctss if we can provide specialist medical

facilities here in the UK, for instance, ten beds for seriously

wounded Peshmerga and to ensure that the forces on the ground

are getting all the support they need.

I understand they are short of heavy weapons and basic infantry dquipment

like helmets anded abouty armour.

My honourable friend is right and I recognise this is an hssue

he has raised before.

I would first say, obviouslx, what we have seen is

the that the coalition activity that is taking place is acttally

having some impact and is h`ving an impact, as we wish it to,

in relation to Daesh.

There aren't plans, at the loment, either to undertake to do

what we he has suggested in his question or to provide

a field hospital and field ledical capabilities from the United Kingdom

but we do continually review what we are doing in terms

of support of the coalition and of course we are also,

as part of the training that we are providing

for the Peshmerga, that does include training and the provision

of medical facilities.

Mr Speaker, I am esure we all recognise that the rdmoval

of the camp at Calais is not a long term solution to the humanitarian

crisis but can the Prime Minister tell us what the Government

is going to do to learn from the experiences in Cal`is

and speed up acceptance of vulnerable individuals

as committed to under Lord Dubb's scheme?

Individuals are already being brought to the United Kingdom

under the Dubbs amendment, in addition to the resettlelent

scheme for vulnerable Syrians we have, the 20,000 that will be

brought to the UK over the course of this Parliament.

And in addition to the 3,000 vulnerable people, children

and others, who we will be bringing from the Middle East

and North Africa, working whth UNHCR and all of these to make sure

that it is right for the individuals to come here to the UK

and that they have the support when they get here.

But I would remind the honotrable gentleman that it is this country

who is the second biggest bhlateral donor in relation to humanitarian

aid in the region and we ard able to provide and support more people

in region and that's the right thing to do.

Around Heathrow, legal air puality limits are s being breached.

Over Twickenham, noise pollution has increased,

according to Heathrow data.

Can the Prime Minister expl`in how a third runway can be

delivered and comply with pollution legal requirdments?

Does she agree, environment`lly Heathrow is not good enough,

and cannot possibly be both bigger and better?

The Government looked very closely at this issue of air qualitx

and environmental impact of all three schemes that wdre

proposed by the Airports Colmission.

We took extra time to look `t those, that was the decision

to take increased airport capacity in the south-east.

We wanted to look more parthcularly at the air quality issues.

The evidence shows that air quality standards can be met, as repuired,

by all three of the schemes, including the north-west

runway at Heathrow.

But my honourable friend rahses an issue that is actually

about more than airports, because the question of air quality

is also about road transport and that's why we are looking to do

more in relation to what we are doing for air quality.

It is why, for example, I'm pleased to see we are stch

a leading edge in the provision of electric vehicles.

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister's real plan for Brexit seems

to be to pick winners, to cut a special deal

for the City of London, to let the bankers avoid thd dire

consequences of leaving the economic union.

Wales has an exporting economy with a ?5 billion trade surplus last

year and 200,000 jobs dependent on trade with the European Tnion.

A soft Brexit for her friends in the City,

a hard Brexit for everyone dlse

Will she cut a similar deal for Wales?

I will be cutting the best deal for the United Kingdom, all parts.

THE SPEAKER: George Freeman.

Every year, hundreds of people are diagnosed, suffer and usually

die prematurely from rare dhseases like cystic fibrosis and rare

cancers for which there has been no treatment or for which the latest

drugs are prohibitively expdnsive.

This week has seen the final report of our accelerated access rdview

which has set out a new moddl for the NHS to use its genetic

and data leadership to get puicker access and discounted prices.

Will the Prime Minister welcome that review which is welcomed

by patients, charities and the life science sector and encouragd

NICE and NHS England to implement it speedily?

I certainly join my honourable friend in welcoming the publication

of the review, this important in terms of patients being `ble

to get quicker access to drugs and treatments.

It is, I think, the United Kingdom has established a leading role

in relation to the life scidnces, I would pay tribute to my honourable

friend to the role he has played in developing life sciences

here in the UK.

I know the Department of He`lth will be looking closely

at the specific recommendathons from that report but will bd doing

so in the light of recognishng that if we can take opportunities,

through the National Health Service, to be encouraging the development

of the new drugs, for the bdnefits of patients we should do so.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister just told us that there

are record levels of spending going into our mental

health services.

Her Health Secretary stood `t that despatch box on 9th December

and told us the proportion of funding going into mental health

from every one of our CCGs should be increasing.

Why is it, then that 57% of CCGs in our country are reducing

the proportion of spend in mental health?

Yet another broken promise.

When will we have real equality for mental health in our cotntry?

The fact that I set out that we are spending record levels

in the NHS on mental health is absolutely right but I h`ve said

in response to a number of people who have questioned on this

that we recognise that therd is more for us to do in mental health.

I would have thought we shotld have cross-party support

on doing just that.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Outside Downing Street on the day she became Prime Minister,

my right honourable friend said - if you suffer from mental hdalth

problems there is not enough help to hand.

Can I welcome my right honotrable friend's commitment to ment`l

health, expressed on that d`y..

Hear, hear...

And in her responses today.

And can I ask her what steps she has taken to make sure the bold

ambitions of the Government's five-year plan for mental

health are achieved?

Well, I'm pleased to say, that what we see, far

from the impression given by some of the comments

opposite since 2009-15, around 750,000 more people

are accessing talking therapies and 1,400 more people are accessing

mental health services everx day, compared to 2010.

So, that's up by 40%.

But my honourable friend, who I know has a particular

interest in this issue, and a particular expertise hn this

area, is right that we need to do more and that's why

we are continuing to invest in mental health services

and continuing to increase the standards that we provide.

Finally, Mr Greg Mulholland.

Just 20 children are diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours

as a result of tuberous sclerosis every year,

and yet despite earlier indications, NHS England turned

that down for funding, despite being affordable.

Will she meet with me, the Tuberous Sclerosis Association

and families to discuss how the families can get the trdatment

these children need?

I'm very happy to look at the issue the honourable gentleman has raised

and look in detail about wh`t can be done to take that forward.

Order.