14/12/2016 Prime Minister's Questions

Questions

Questions to

Questions to the

Questions to the Prime

Questions to the Prime Minister.

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues

and others in addition

to my duties in this House.

I shall have further such

meetings later today.

Mr Speaker, can I take the opportunity to wish you

and all members of the House a merry Christmas and a happy new year?

Mr Speaker, in the light of the Foreign Secretary's

Mr Speaker, in the light of the Foreign Secretary's

display of chronic foot in mouth disease,

when deciding on cabinet positions,

does the Prime Minister now regret that pencilling FO

against his name should

have been an instruction, not a job offer?

LAUGHTER

Mr...

LAUGHTER

Order!

There's far too much noise in the chamber.

We've heard the question, but I want to hear the Prime Minister's answer.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

First of all, I join the honourable gentleman in wishing

everybody happy Christmas.

I will, of course, have an opportunity to do that

on Monday, when I'm sure the House will be as full for the

statement on the European council meeting.

Funny that the yes comes from this side, not from the Labour side.

I have to say that the Foreign Secretary is doing

an absolutely excellent job.

He is, in short, an FFS, a Fine Foreign Secretary.

Amanda Milling!

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Rugeley has a really bright future ahead...

I want to hear the voice of Cannock Chase!

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Rugeley has a really bright future ahead,

but only if we're ambitious, bold and visionary in our

redevelopment plans.

Will my right honourable friend outline how the Government's

industrial strategy can create the conditions which will help us

build a sustainable local economy and highly skilled jobs

for future generations?

My honourable friend is absolutely right that

communities across this country

have a bright future ahead of them, but we need to ensure that we create

the conditions for that future.

That's why we will be producing a modern industrial strategy that

will show how we can encourage the strategic strengths of the UK,

deal with our underlying weaknesses.

It will enable companies to grow, to invest in the UK,

to provide those jobs for the future, but we also need

to make sure that that prosperity is spread across the whole of the UK

and is prosperity for everyone.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Could I start by wishing yourself, Mr Speaker, and all members

of the House and everyone who works in the House a very happy Christmas

and a prosperous New Year.

Sadly, Mr Speaker, our late colleague Jo Cox will not be

celebrating Christmas this year with her family.

She was murdered and taken from us.

So I hope the Prime Minister - I'm sure she will -

join me in encouraging people to download the song which many

members helped to create as a tribute to Jo's life and work

and in everlasting memory of her.

The right honourable gentleman is absolutely right

to raise this issue.

I'm sure everybody in this House, we should send

a very clear message -

download this single for the Jo Cox Foundation.

It's a very important cause and we all recognise that Jo Cox

was a fine member of this House and would have carried

on contributing significantly to this House and to this country,

had she not been brutally murdered.

I think the Chancellor is waiving the VAT on this single.

Everybody involved in it gave their services for free.

I'm having a photograph with MP4 later this afternoon.

LAUGHTER

And, once again, let's just encourage everybody

to download the single.

The Prime Minister was of course referring, for the benefit

of those observing the proceedings outside, to the outstanding

parliamentary rock band MP4.

Mr Speaker, I applaud the work of MP4, but for

the benefit of their quality,

I'm not a member of it!

I thank her for that answer.

Mr Speaker, social care is crucial.

It provides support for people to live with dignity.

Yet Age UK research has found that 1.2 million older people

are currently not receiving the care that they need.

Will the Prime Minister accept there is a crisis in social care?

I have consistently said in this House that we

recognise the pressures

on social care, so it might be helpful if I set out

what the Government is doing in social care.

We recognise the pressures.

That is why the Government is putting more money into social

care through the Better Care Fund, and by the end of this

Parliament, that will be

billions of pounds extra.

It's why we have enabled the social care precept for local authorities.

We recognise that there are immediate pressures on social care.

That's why this will be addressed by my right honourable friend,

the Secretary of State for communities and local government

in the local government finance settlement tomorrow.

But we also recognise that this is not just about money,

it is about delivery.

There is a difference in delivery across the country.

We need to make sure reform takes place so that we see

best practice in terms

of integration of health and social care across the country, but we also

need to ensure that we have a longer term solution to give people

the reassurance for the future that there is a sustainable

system which will ensure that they are receiving the social

care that they need in old age, and that is what the Government

is working on.

There's a short-term issue, there's a medium-term need to make

local authorities and health services are delivering

consistently, and there is a long-term solution

we need to find.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, the Care Quality Commission warned as recently

as October that evidence

suggests we have approached a tipping point, so instead

of passing the buck on to local government, shouldn't the Government

take responsibility itself for the crisis?

Could the Prime Minister take this opportunity to inform the House

exactly how much was cut from the social care budget

in the last Parliament?

We have been putting more money into social care and health.

We have been putting more money into social care and health.

We recognise the pressures that exist, and that's why we will be

looking at the short-term pressures that exist in relation

to social care.

But you cannot look at this question as simply being an issue

of money in the short term.

It is about delivery, it is about reform,

it is about the social care system working with the health system.

That's why this is an issue that is being addressed not just

by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,

but also the Secretary of State for Health.

But if we are going to give people the reassurance that they need

in the longer term that their social care needs will be met,

this isn't just about looking for a short-term solution,

it's about finding a way forward that can give a sustainable

system of social care for the future.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister doesn't seem

to be aware that 4.6 billion was cut from the social care budget

in the last Parliament,

and that her talk of putting it on to local government ought to be

taken for what it is, a con.

2% of council tax is clearly a nonsense.

95% of councils use this social care precept,

and it raised less than 3%

of the money they planned to spend on adult social care.

Billions seem to be available for tax giveaways to corporations,

not mentioned in the Autumn Statement, underfunded,

and many elderly people left isolated and in crisis

because of the lack of government funding of social care.

We see many councils around the country that have taken

the benefit of the social care precept and have, as a result,

seen more people being able to access social care

and needs being met.

Sadly, there are also some councils across the country,

some Labour councils, who haven't taken that opportunity,

where we do see a worse performance in relation to social care.

But the right honourable gentleman once again refers

to the issue of money.

I might remind him that at the last election,

the then Shadow Chancellor said that if Labour were in government,

there would be not a penny more for local authorities, and also that

when recently asked about spending more money on social care,

Labour's Shadow Health Secretary said when he was asked

where the money would come from, "Ooh, well, we're going to have

to come up with a plan for that".

Mr Speaker, this Government has cut social care and she well knows

it and she well knows the effect of that.

She also well knows that raising council tax has a different outcome

in different parts of the country.

For example, if you raise the council tax in Windsor

and Maidenhead, you get quite a lot of money.

If you raise a council tax precept in Liverpool or Newcastle,

you get a lot less.

Is she saying that older people, frail, elderly, vulnerable people

are less valuable in our big cities than they are in wealthier

parts of the country?

Mr Speaker, this crisis is a crisis for many elderly people

who are living in a very difficult situation because of this.

It is also a crisis for the National Health Service.

Those people who are in hospital cannot be discharged

because there is nowhere for them to go to, so I'll ask her again -

the crisis affects individuals, families and it affects the National

Health Service, so why doesn't she do something really bold -

cancel the corporation tax cut and put the money into

social care instead?

The right honourable gentleman has quoted Newcastle council

in the list that he set there.

I have to say, Newcastle council is one of the councils where we saw

in September virtually no delayed discharges, so elderly people

were not being held up in hospital and they didn't need to be

and when they didn't want to be, so what this shows

is that it is possible for councils to deliver on the ground.

So you see councils like Newcastle and Torbay doing that,

and you see councils like Ealing not using the social care

precept and a different result.

The difference between the worst

performing council in relation to delayed discharges and the best

is a twentyfold difference.

That is not about the difference of funding, but about

the difference of delivery.

Corbyn!

Mr Speaker, councils work very hard to try to cope with a 40% cut

in their budgets across the whole country, and the people that

pay the price are those who are stuck in hospital

who should be allowed to go home, and those that aren't getting

the care and support they need.

This is a social care system that's deep in crisis.

The crisis is made in Downing Street by this Government.

The former chair of the health select committee,

Stephen Dorrell, says

the system is inadequately funded.

The current chair of the health select committee says

"The issue can't be ducked any longer because of the impact it's

having not just on vulnerable people, but also on the NHS".

Why can't the Prime Minister listen to those in local

government, to the King's Fund, the NHS Confederation,

her own council leaders, and recognise that this social care

crisis forces people to give up work to care for loved ones

because there isn't a system to do it, makes people stay in hospital

longer than they should and leads people into a horrible,

isolated life when they should be cared for by all of us

through a properly funded social care system?

Get a grip and fund it properly, please.

The issue of social care is indeed one that has been ducked

by governments for too long.

That is why it is this government, it is this government

that will provide a long-term, sustainable system for social care

that gives reassurance to people.

But when he talks about governments ducking social care,

let's look at about 13 years of Labour in government.

They said in 1997 that they would sort it in their manifesto.

They had a royal commission in 1999, a green paper in 2005,

the Wanless Report in 2006.

In 2007, they said they'd sort it.

In 2009, they had another green paper.

13 years, and no action whatsoever.

Order!

Mr Speaker, today a constituent of mine from Shoreham will struggle

to get to University College Hospital in

London for life-saving cancer drug trials.

Across Sussex, thousands of others will be unable to get

to work, school and college because

Aslef object to their drivers on Southern operating the doors.

Yet today, Aslef drivers will be driving Thameslink

trains on the same rails, operating the doors

on the London to Brighton line.

Can the Prime Minister give her assurance that everything

will be done at the ACAS talks today to end this nonsense of a strike,

address any residual safety issues and give our constituents

their lives back?

My honourable friend is right to raise this issue.

This is an appalling strike.

He's right to raise the discrepancy in attitude of Aslef.

We've seen driver-only operated trains on rail networks

in the UK for decades.

They are on the Thameslink train.

I hope that the talks at Acas are going to lead

to an end to this strike, but, actually, I've got a suggestion

for the Leader of the Opposition.

I think the Leader of the Opposition could do something to help

members of the public.

The Labour Party is funded by Aslef.

Why doesn't he get on the phone and tell them to call

the strike off immediately?

Angus Robertson.

We join with the leader of the Labour Party

and with the Prime Minister in wishing great success

to the Jo Cox single that's available for download on Friday.

I'm sure we're all going to download it.

Mr Speaker, civilians have suffered grievously with the bombing

of hospitals, of schools, of markets.

The United Nations believes that 60% of civilian casualties

are caused by air strikes.

In the last 24 hours, the United States has stopped

the supply of guided munitions to Saudi

Arabia to bomb Yemen.

When will the UK follow suit?

As the right honourable gentleman knows, we do have a very strict

regime of export licences in relation to weapons

here in the UK.

We exercise that very carefully and in recent years,

we have indeed refused export licences in relation

to arms, including to Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The US government has just said, and I quote, "Systematic,

endemic problems in Saudi Arabia's targeting drove the US decision

to halt a future weapons sale involving precision-guided

munitions".

The Saudis have UK-supplied precision-guided

Paveway IV missiles.

They're made in Scotland.

The UK has licensed ?3.3 billion of arms to Saudi Arabia

since the beginning of the bombing campaign.

What will it take for the UK to adopt an ethical foreign policy

when it comes to Yemen?

As the right honourable gentleman knows, the intervention in Yemen

is a UN-backed intervention.

As I've said previously, where there are allegations

of breaches of international humanitarian law, we require those

to be properly investigated.

We do have a relationship with Saudi Arabia.

The security of the Gulf is important to us and I would

simply also remind the right honourable gentleman that,

actually, Saudi intelligence, the counterterrorism links we have

with Saudi Arabia, the intelligence we get from Saudi Arabia,

has saved potentially hundreds of lives here in the UK.

Dr Sarah Wollaston.

Mr Speaker, one of my constituents has just had to move to residential

care because no carers could be found to support her

in her own home.

She's at the sharp end of a crisis in social care that is as much

about inadequate funding as it is about a shortfall in our

very valued social care workforce.

I'm looking forward to hearing what immediate further support

will be provided for social care, but isn't it time that rather

than having confrontational dialogues about social care funding,

all parties work together across this House to look

for a sustainable, long-term solution for funding of both

integrated health and social care?

My honourable friend is right to raise the issue of looking

at a sustainable way in which we can support integrated health and social

care and a sustainable way for people to know that

in the future, they are going to be able to have the social

care they require.

As I said earlier in response to the Leader of the Opposition,

we recognise the short-term pressures on the system, but I think

it is important for us to look at those medium and longer term

solutions if we are going to be able to address this

issue, and I was very

pleased to be able to have a meeting with my honourable friend to discuss

this last week and I look forward to further such meetings.

Mark Durkan.

Can I tell the Prime Minister that the cross-party delegation

led by the right honourable member for Cynon Valley will meet

the Russian ambassador tomorrow morning on Aleppo,

and we will reflect and amplify, in precisely the sort of terms

that she and the Foreign Secretary have used, about Russia,

the Assad regime and Iran, not least because we want to protect

those who have heroically struggled to save lives in that city

who are now going to be at particular risk because of

the witness they can give.

But does she accept that many of us believe that those sort of messages

are more cogent when we are equally unequivocal about the primacy

of human rights and international humanitarian law when we meet

the Gulf states?

We do raise the issues of human rights when we meet the Gulf States,

but he's absolutely right in relation to the role that Russia

is playing in Syria.

There's a very simple message to President Putin.

He has it within his own hands to be able to actually say to the Assad

regime that enough is enough in Aleppo, we need to ensure that

humanitarian aid is there for people and the people who have,

as he says, been heroically saving the lives of others,

ensure that they have their security ensured.

I'm sure that is a message he and others will be giving

to the Russian ambassador.

It's in President Putin's hands.

He can do it - why doesn't he?

Will the Prime Minister thank me in joining the many

people from this House who took part in Sing for Syrians.

It was created in order to pay the salaries

of the medical staff in Aleppo.

Since our hospital was shut two weeks ago, bombed two weeks ago,

we have been buying prosthetic limbs with all of our money.

We have a waiting list of 30,000 people.

What can we do to target our humanitarian aid it make sure it

gets to the most vulnerable people in Syria, the old,

very young and people who are too injured to move?

Well, first of all, I absolutely join my honourable friend

in congratulating everyone who took part in Sing for Syrians.

I'm sure the whole House would welcome the work that that

group is doing and the money that is being put to extremely good

use, that is being raised.

She raises, I think, the House was struck by the number

of people she referred to being on the waiting list

for prosthetic limbs.

Of course, in terms of our humanitarian aid support for Syria,

which is the biggest humanitarian effort that the United Kingdom has

made, of course we are giving money to the refugees who have fled

from Syria, we're also, of course, working diplomatically

to try to reduce the suffering, to try to make sure that we can see

the sort of aid and medical support she is talking about,

getting through to the citizens of Aleppo.

But we will continue to ensure that our humanitarian aid

is being put to good use, helping those who are vulnerable

but also helping those who need the education and support to be

able, in due course, to rebuild Syria when we see

a stable and secure Syria.

Mr Speaker, rip-off interest rates on household goods are wrong.

Companies like Brighthouse exploit families who have no other way

to furnish their homes.

So, will the Prime Minister look at capping these interest

rates, to help those who are just about managing?

Well, the honourable gentleman raises an important issue

and I recognise there are many people who are just about managing,

who are struggling to get by, who did find themselves actually

having to revert to support from companies who do, sadly,

as we see, charge the sort of interest rates

he is talking about.

Of course, action has been taken in relation to some of these

activities in the past.

But I will look at the issue he raised.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Across the country, and particularly in Kent,

lorry fly parking something a blight.

It's antisocial and dangerous.

Will my right honourable friend, the Prime Minister,

support my campaign for more lorry parking spaces, more effective

enforcement and ultimately, a ban on lorries parking

in unauthorised places?

Well, I recognise the concern my honourable friend has raised.

This is one I think is shared by many Kent MPs, who see this

problem only too closely in their own constituencies.

Can I assure her that the Government shares the desire to ensure

that we don't see this fly parking of lorries across Kent,

that we do provide suitable lorry parking facilities in Kent.

I know that my right honourable friend, the minister for roads,

is looking at this issue very carefully indeed.

I recognise it from my time as the Home Secretary,

the pressure at particular times that can be put on the roads

and villages and towns in Kent, in relation to this.

It is something that Government is working

on and we will find a solution.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Now we know, courtesy of the Government's own

infrastructure watchdog, that mobile coverage in the UK

is worse than Romania, will the Prime Minister take steps

to introduce a universal service obligation.

In the Highlands,

it is fair typical to get the message, no signal.

It would often be better to use carrier pigeons.

Will the Prime Minister recognise this is not acceptable

and will she take responsibility?

It's time to connect the Highlands to the rest of the world.

Well, I can assure the honourable gentleman that the issue of decent

mobile coverage isn't one that only affects the Highlands.

There are some other parts of England, Wales

and Northern Ireland that also get affected by it, but the Government

has very strong commitments in relation to this.

We have very strong commitments in relation to broadband

and my right honourable friend, the Culture Secretary,

will be delivering on those.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, money cannot compensate somebody who has been

accused of a very criminal offence and then finds the details

of that are in the press, along with their name.

Nothing can restore, in truth, their reputation,

after it has been trashed in those circumstances.

In 2011, I tried it change the law in a private member's bill.

Today, Sir Bernard Hogan Howe said now is the time

to introduce new legislation.

Would the Prime Minister, agree to at least consider changing

the law, so that everyone, with a few exceptions,

should have a right to anonymity if they are a suspect in criminal

proceedings, until such time as they are charged?

Quite right.

I recognise the interest that my honourable friend has taken

in this particular issue.

As she will know, it is one that has been debated on a number

of occasions in this House.

The general assumption is that somebody should not be named

before the point of charge but there is an allowance

for the police to be be able to raise somebody's name

if it is a case where they believe that doing that will help,

perhaps, to find other victims coming forward.

This has been particularly of concern where it is matters

of sexual violence, of rape, for example, or where they believe

the naming of the individual will help

in the detection of the crime.

But this is a delicate issue.

I recognise the concern my honourable friend has shown.

The College of Policing is looking at this issue very carefully.

They are going to deliver new guidance in the new year

in relation to this issue to the media.

The heartbreaking humanitarian crisis and genocide in Syria,

continues to take place as the world watches on impotently,

yet there is still no end in sight.

Does the Prime Minister agree with the right

honourable member for Tatton, that what is happening in Syria

is a failure of Western leadership and does she agree with me,

that what is now urgently required, is what our dear friend,

Jo Cox called for, nearly a year ago, and that is - a UK-led strategy

to protect civilians.

Whether it is those fleeing persecution.

Whether it is those surrendering themselves or those that

are still besieged?

We must all take responsibility for decisions we have taken,

whether we take those decisions sitting around National Security

Council table or indeed this House, in taking the decision that it

did in 2013.

The honourable lady raises the question of a UK-led

action in relation to the protection of civilians.

It is the UK that has been pressing for action

inside the United Nations' Security Council, working

with the French, the two most recent emergency UN Security Council

meetings were those that we called for.

The most recent of those took place yesterday.

As I'm sure the honourable lady will know, there have been six UN

Security Council resolutions which have been vetoed by Russia.

The most recent also vetoed by China.

We are continuing to work with the United Nations,

but if we are to get a solution that works on the ground,

then it has to be a solution that is actually bought

into by other countries and it has to be a solution that

Russia is going to buy into as well as the regime.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I have received a message from Nick from Grantham.

Actually, it was a text message from our honourable

friend the member for Grantham and Stamford.

For the avoidance of doubt, this is one text message he is willing

to be read in public.

Mr Speaker, other than getting rid of his tumour and making a swift

return to this place and nothing matters more to him than that,

than ensuring round-the-clock emergency services are restored

had his local hospital in Grantham.

Will my right honourable friend the Prime Minister,

receive the petition he has organised, ensure that

the passionate views of his constituents are heard and,

above all, reassure people, in this rural area,

that they will always have access to safe, emergency care

for them and their families?

Well, can I first of all, I'm sure that the thoughts of the whole House

are our honourable friend, the member for Grantham and Sandford

and can I wish him the very best for his recovery as he goes

through this illness.

And I recognise the strength of feeling that he has

about the emergency services in his local hospital.

I believe that there are also concerns that are shared by ou

new honourable friend, the member for Sleaford and I can

assure my honourable friend the member for Grantham

and Stamford, that the process that is taking place in looking

at the development of local services, is about listening

to local people, hearing the local voice and about ensuring

that the services available to local people in their area are the right

services for that area and that can be delivered safely

and securely for local people.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

At the last election, the Conservative Party manifesto

said, "We will help local authorities keep council tax low

"for hard-working tax payers and ensure residents can continue

"to veto high rises."

Taxpayers in my area face paying more with no

veto because of the account of Government's failure to tackle

the social care crisis, so will the Prime Minister now

admit her party's pledge on council tax has been bane donned.

I have to say obviously we put the social care precept in place,

in recognition of the pressures on social care but I'm pleased

to say we have seen many examples over the country,

of good local authorities, actually ensuring they were keeping

council tax down, including may I say the Royal Borough

of Windsor and Maidenhead which cut council tax,

for six years running.

Mr Speaker, on 14th August, my constituents George Lowe

and Ben Barker were the victims of a vicious knife

attack in Ayia Napa.

George Lowe sadly died later that day from his injuries.

The two culprits fled to northern Cyprus where they were actually

arrested in unrelated matters.

Despite representations made by the Foreign Office,

one of these men was recently able to simply walk free

and it is feared the second man will follow shortly.

Will the Prime Minister do all she can to help bring justice

for George Lowe and Ben Barker for what was an horrific,

a vicious attack that was completely without provocation and has been

devastating for both of their families?

I'm sure all of us across the House would want to send our deepest

sympathies to the family of George Lowe and our best wishes

for a full recovery for Ben Barker from the terrible injuries

that he suffered as a result from what my honourable

friend said was a violent and unprovoked attack.

The previous time this case was raised by the relevant Government

was during by the Foreign Secretary during his visit to Cyprus

and he clearly set out his desire to see those guilty

brought to justice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to offer support

to both families.

We'll continue to raise this issue and I'm

sure the Foreign Office will keep my honourable friend

informed of any developments.

Many food and drink projects have benefited from a European scheme.

What guarantees can the Prime Minister give

What guarantees can the Prime Minister give

us that we'll continue to get that protection,

should we end up leaving the EU?

Well, first of all, of course, issues like that are ones

that we will be needing to address as we look at the arrangement

that will be in place, following the EU.

I'm sure everybody would recognise the significant

of the Arbroath smokey and, indeed other products around the UK.

But, can I just say to the honourable gentleman,

at the end there, he said "should we leave the EU."

I can tell him we will be leaving the EU.

Thank you, Mr Spearer, on December 19th, 35 years ago,

16 people lost their lives in ferocious storms off

the coast of West Cornwall.

Eight lives were men who launched their lifeboat

to rescue the crew of the Union Star.

35 years later, this tragedy still haunts the village and many

people mark the anniversary every year.

Would the Prime Minister join with me in marking this day,

and pay credit to those men and women who risk their lives

for those in peril on the sea.

I thank my honourable friend for raising this issue.

I absolutely join him in marking the 35th anniversary

of the Penlee lifeboat tragedy and sending our sympathies

to all those families affected but also to the local communities

who were affected, as he has set out.

Finally, I'm sure everybody in this House would want to pay

tribute to the RNLI,

the tireless work they do.

As an island,

it is important we have that security and safety

around our shores.

The RNLI work tirelessly to protect people, who,

as my honourable friend say are in peril on the sea

and we pay tribute to them.

The Prime Minister knows that I and colleagues from all parties

across this House are keen to guarantee the rights

of some three million EU and EA citizens in this country.

This will be the largest administrative task the Home Office

has ever undertaken.

Could I encourage her to look at the report producedes

by British Futures which suggests practical suggestions on how

the Home Office can implement this and possibly encourage

the Home Secretary to update us on any progress made?

Well, I say to the honourable lady I'm keen to ensure we can protect

the rights of EU citizens living here but I'm also keen that UK

citizens' rights for those living in the EU are protected.

The Home Secretary I think is aware of the proposals that have been put

forward and is looking at them very carefully.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

In October, hundreds of people from across European attended a neo-Nazi

rally in a small village in my constituency.

What steps is the Prime Minister taking about this?

Can we make it clear there is no allowance for racial hatred.

Earlier this week my right honourable friend,

the Home Secretary, proscribed the Right Wing Organisation National

Action, which means being a member of or inviting support for that

organisation will be a criminal efence.

I think it is important we take every step we can to stop racial

hatred in this country.

I was pleased to announce on Monday that Britain will be the first

country in Europe to adopt the International Holocaust

Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism.

Yesterday, I met with the CEO of Providence Financial,

one of two FTSE 100 companies in Bradford, yes, outside

of London, right in the heart of the North and being

in my condition constituencicy.

We agreed that for Bradford to fulfil the potential of its young

people, we need better educational outcomes and transport.

Having been overlooked for so long, can I invite the Prime Minister

to come and meet the leaders of my great city and pave

the way for long overdue investment in Bradford.

The honourable lady is right to talk about what is needed that's why I'm

pleased the say there has been an increase of 16,000 people

in Bradford who are at good or outstanding schools since 2010.

We are taking action to ensure the quality education

pleased the say there has been an increase of 16,000 children

in Bradford who are at good or outstanding schools since 2010.

We are taking action to ensure the quality education

but I want it make sure

there are enough good school places for children across the council

and this is what our education consultation is about.

I came to PMQs today from an incredibly moving

and powerful private session with the DWP Select Committee,

talking and listening to four victims

of modern slavery who are living in safe houses.

I don't think I will ever forget it in my life.

Please would the Prime Minister take her passion

and work with the Secretary of State for Pensions.

These people are vulnerable.

When they come to job centres their background

cases are not understood.

The same as women and survivors of domestic violence they need to be

fast-tracked.

They need the state to step up and support

them, please can we do more?

My honourable friend is absolutely right.

I think nothing brings home to one more than anything else,

the absolute horrific nature of the crime of modern slavery,

than actually sitting down hearing the testimony of a victim.

These people have gone through the horrendous,

dehumanising experiences very often and it is absolutely right

that the Government brought forward the Modern Slavery Act.

It is right that we have been looking at how Victim Support

is provided and the international referral member you nichl

and a number of steps and we'll work with the DWP.

and a number of steps and we'll work with the DWP.

My honourable friend refers to job centres but it

isn't just job centres.

We need to ensure that those in authority who come into contact

with people who have been the victims of modern slavery

are able it recognise those signs and are able to treat it in the way

and deal with people, sensitively and sympathetically

in an appropriate way.

Thank you.

I don't think the Prime Minister has any idea

of the level of suffering and pain that rail passengers

and businesses in Brighton and beyond are suffering.

And it is not just on strike days.

This has been going on for well over 18 months.

So, given the failure of her passive Transport Secretary who apparently

has no intention of acting to deal with this utterly incompetent

company, will she sack him, strip DCR of the franchise

and freeze fares for long-suffering passengers?

Well, first of all my right honourable friend

the Transport Secretary has been taking steps in relation

to the general performance of Southern Railway.

We've stepped in to invest ?20 million to specifically tackle

the issue and bring a rapid improvement to services.

We announced the delay repay 15 from 11th December for whole

of Southern which will make it easier for passengers

to complam exceptcation.

We've announced a refund for a month's travel.

So we have been looking at that wider issue.

But the honourable lady raises the question of the current

strike.

There is only one body responsible for the

current strike, ASLEF.

This is a strike from the trade union and she should be standing up

and condemning that strike because it is passengers who suffer.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The ?1.5 billion additional funding

for the Better Care Fund is both needed and welcome.

But, the problem is, that this money is not

available until 2019.

Will my right honourable friend look at seeing whether some of this

funding can be drawn down earlier than, that in order to alleviate

the pressure on social care in areas such as Devon,

where there is a very high level of elderly people?

Well, my right honourable friend raises an important point bht

the short-term pressures there are on social care.

That's why the Government has been looking at what measures can

be taken to alleviate the short-term pressures.

My right honourable friend the Communities' Secretary will be

making the statement on the local government finance

settlement tomorrow.

We need to look at the medium-term delivering issues and longer term

reassurance we can provide to people in order to ensure we have

a sustainable system of care that gives people the comfort of knowing

they will be cared for in their old age.

Can I join colleagues who have earlier on urged people in this

house and beyond to go out and buy the Jo Cox Foundation single

by the excellent MP4 not just available in download but in hard

copy for those of us who prefer that kind of thing.

Every day, Mr Speaker, since Brexit result on 23rd June,

seems to have been a good day to bury bad news.

The worst news is in our social care and health system.

The daily wave of tragedies indignatory tis and near posts,

the short fall in social care funding and thousands ofp hospital

advice its cancelled.

the shortfall in social care funding and thousands of hospital

appointments cancelled.

Yesterday, the NHS and Social Care said they needed more money

and the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not offer a single extra money

for health or social care within the Autumn Statement.

Which of the two does she agree with?

Will she take this opportunity to provide health and social care,

give it the money it needs this side of Christmas?

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

will be making a statement tomorrow on the local Government

finance settlement.

I suggest the right honourable gentleman wait for that statement.

Back in 2010, the overseas aid budget was around ?7 billion a year.

By 2020, it will have more than doubled to over

?15 million a year.

The shortfall in social care funding by 2020 is estimated

at about ?2.5 billion.

Surely, the Government priority should be to look after the elderly,

vulnerable and disabled people in our own country, before we hand

money over to other countries?

Will the Prime Minister take some of that money,

a small amount of that increase from the overseas aid budget

and spend it on elderly, vulnerable and disabled people

in our own country?

Surely charity begins at home?

I think it is absolutely right that the Government is taking steps

in relation to the pressures on social care here in

the United Kingdom but I would say to my honourable friend,

I think it is also important for us that we do take consideration

of those who are in different circumstances across the world.

I think that the record that this Government has of ensuring that 0.7%

of our GDP is spent over overseas aid is a record second to none.

I think we should all be proud of the help and support

we are giving to people around the world who are living off an

incredibly difficult circumstance.

So we look after old people here in the UK, we also take that

moral responsibility for people around the world seriously as well.