0:00:28 > 0:00:30Questions to the Prime Minister.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35Chris Law.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Number one, Mr Speaker.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38This morning, I had meetings with ministerial
0:00:38 > 0:00:39colleagues and others.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43In addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such
0:00:43 > 0:00:47meetings later today.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50A very happy new year to you, Mr Speaker, and I would
0:00:50 > 0:00:52like to extend that to everyone in this House.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55It has been more than six months since the European referendum.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Embarrassingly for the Prime Minister, the Scottish government
0:00:59 > 0:01:01are the only Administration on these islands to have published
0:01:01 > 0:01:06a plan on what to do next.
0:01:06 > 0:01:13Has she read it yet?
0:01:13 > 0:01:18When will she be publishing her own plan?
0:01:18 > 0:01:20I join the honourable gentleman in wishing
0:01:20 > 0:01:23everybody in the House, not only members, but all the staff
0:01:23 > 0:01:27of the House, a very happy new year.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30As I said to the Liaison Committee when I appeared in front
0:01:30 > 0:01:33of it before Christmas, I will, in a matter of weeks,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37be setting out some more details of our proposals on this issue.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40I would like just to remind him, when he talks about
0:01:40 > 0:01:47the Scottish Government's plan, that of course it is his party,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50the Scottish Nationalist Party, that wants to leave the United Kingdom
0:01:50 > 0:01:54and therefore leave the European Union.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Westinghouse's Springfields site in my constituency employs more
0:01:57 > 0:02:02than 1,200 people in highly skilled jobs manufacturing nuclear fuel,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05which generates 15% of the UK's electricity.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Does my right honourable friend agree that the nuclear industry
0:02:08 > 0:02:11is of crucial importance to the north-west economy?
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Will she continue to support the construction of a new generation
0:02:14 > 0:02:20of nuclear power stations to guarantee jobs in the region?
0:02:20 > 0:02:23I certainly agree with my honourable friend that new nuclear does
0:02:23 > 0:02:26have a crucial role to play in securing our future energy needs,
0:02:26 > 0:02:32especially as we are looking to move to a low-carbon society.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34The industrial strategy that the government will be setting
0:02:34 > 0:02:38out will have a strong emphasis on the role of regions in supporting
0:02:38 > 0:02:43economic growth and ensuring that the economy works for everyone.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Like him, I very much welcome the proposals from NuGen and Toshiba
0:02:46 > 0:02:50to develop a new nuclear power station at Moorside in Cumbria.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
0:02:53 > 0:02:56continues to work closely with NuGen and other developers as they bring
0:02:56 > 0:02:57their proposals forward.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00I call Jeremy Corbyn.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08It is nice to get such a warm welcome, and may I wish all members,
0:03:08 > 0:03:13as well as all members of staff in the House, a happy new year?
0:03:13 > 0:03:17I hope the whole House will join me, I am sure it will, in paying
0:03:17 > 0:03:20tribute to 22-year-old Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24who died in a "non-combat" incident in Iraq last Monday.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27I am sure the whole House will also join in sending its heartfelt
0:03:27 > 0:03:31condolences to the family and friends of seven-year-old
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Katie Rough, who tragically died in York earlier this week.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39I think it is right that we send condolences to her family.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44Last week, 485 people in England spent more than 12 hours on trolleys
0:03:44 > 0:03:48in hospital corridors.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53The Red Cross described this as a "humanitarian crisis."
0:03:53 > 0:03:55I called on the Prime Minister to come to Parliament on Monday,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58but she did not, she sent the Health Secretary.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01But does she agree with him that the best way to solve
0:04:01 > 0:04:06the crisis of the four-hour wait is to fiddle the figures so that
0:04:06 > 0:04:08people are not seen to be waiting so long on trolleys
0:04:08 > 0:04:12in NHS hospitals?
0:04:12 > 0:04:14First, may I join the right honourable gentleman
0:04:14 > 0:04:17in sending our condolences to the family of Lance Corporal
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Hetherington, who, as he said, died in a non-combat
0:04:20 > 0:04:23incident in Iraq?
0:04:23 > 0:04:25From everything I have seen and read about Lance Corporal Hetherington,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28he was a very fine young man.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32He delighted in being in the armed forces, and we are proud that
0:04:32 > 0:04:35such a fine young man was in our armed forces.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39I also join the right honourable gentleman in expressing condolences
0:04:39 > 0:04:45to the family and friends of little Katie, who died so tragically.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48The right honourable gentleman talks about the pressures on the NHS,
0:04:48 > 0:04:50and we acknowledge that there are pressures on the
0:04:50 > 0:04:53National Health Service.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55There are always extra pressures on the NHS
0:04:55 > 0:04:57during the winter but, of course, we have at the moment
0:04:57 > 0:05:01those added pressures of the ageing population and the growing complex
0:05:01 > 0:05:04needs of the population.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09He also refers to the British Red Cross's term, "humanitarian crisis."
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I have to say to him that I think we have all seen humanitarian
0:05:12 > 0:05:16crises around the world, and to use that description
0:05:16 > 0:05:25of a National Health Service that last year saw 2.5 million more
0:05:25 > 0:05:28people treated in accident and emergency than six years ago
0:05:28 > 0:05:36was irresponsible and overblown.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Some 1.8 million people had to wait longer than four hours in A
0:05:40 > 0:05:44departments last year.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47The Prime Minister might not like what the Red Cross said,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50but on the same day the British Medical Association said
0:05:50 > 0:05:52that "conditions in hospitals across the country are reaching
0:05:52 > 0:05:55"a dangerous level."
0:05:55 > 0:05:57The Royal College of Nursing has said that NHS conditions
0:05:57 > 0:05:59are the worst ever.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02The Royal College of Physicians has told the Prime Minister
0:06:02 > 0:06:06that the NHS is "under-funded, under-doctored and overstretched."
0:06:06 > 0:06:12If she will not listen to the Red Cross, who will she listen to?
0:06:12 > 0:06:15I have said to the right honourable gentleman that I of course
0:06:15 > 0:06:17acknowledge that there are pressures on the National Health Service.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19The government have put extra funding into
0:06:19 > 0:06:20the National Health Service.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23The fact is that we are seeing more people being treated in our NHS:
0:06:23 > 0:06:282,500 more people are treated within four hours every day
0:06:28 > 0:06:31in the National Health Service because of the government putting
0:06:31 > 0:06:34in extra funding and because of the hard work of medical
0:06:34 > 0:06:38professionals in our National Health Service.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42It is not just a question of targets for the health service,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45although we continue to have a commitment
0:06:45 > 0:06:47to the four-hour target, as the Health Secretary
0:06:47 > 0:06:49has made clear.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52It is a question of making sure that people are provided
0:06:52 > 0:06:55with the appropriate care for them, and the best possible care for them
0:06:55 > 0:06:59in their circumstances.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01The right honourable lady seems to be in some degree
0:07:01 > 0:07:02of denial about this.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05She will not listen to professional organisations that have
0:07:05 > 0:07:11spent their whole lifetimes doing their best for the NHS,
0:07:11 > 0:07:18but will she listen to Sian, who works for the NHS?
0:07:18 > 0:07:19She has a 22-month-old nephew.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21He went into hospital, but there was no bed.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24He was treated on two plastic chairs pushed together with a blanket.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Sian says that "one of the nurses told my sister that it's always
0:07:28 > 0:07:31"like this nowadays."
0:07:31 > 0:07:33She says to us all: "Surely we should strive
0:07:33 > 0:07:35"to do better than this."
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Do the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary think
0:07:37 > 0:07:40that is an acceptable way to treat a 22-month-old child
0:07:40 > 0:07:45in need of help?
0:07:45 > 0:07:50I accept that there have been a small number of incidents
0:07:50 > 0:07:58in which unacceptable practices have taken place.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02We do not want those things to happen, but what matters
0:08:02 > 0:08:05is how you deal with them, which is why it is so important
0:08:05 > 0:08:10that the NHS looks into the issues when unacceptable incidents have
0:08:10 > 0:08:14taken place and learns lessons from them.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17I come back to the point that I was making earlier: the right
0:08:17 > 0:08:19honourable gentleman talks about the hard-working health care
0:08:19 > 0:08:22professionals, like Sian, in the National Health Service,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24and indeed we should be grateful for all those
0:08:24 > 0:08:29who are working in the NHS, but on the Tuesday after Christmas
0:08:29 > 0:08:35we saw the busiest day ever in the National Health Service,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38and over the few weeks around Christmas we saw the day
0:08:38 > 0:08:43on which more people were treated in accident and emergency
0:08:43 > 0:08:48within four hours than ever before.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52That is the reality of our National Health Service.
0:08:52 > 0:08:59We all thank NHS staff and we all praise NHS staff,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01but the Prime Minister's government are proposing, through
0:09:01 > 0:09:03sustainability and transformation, to cut one third of the beds
0:09:03 > 0:09:09in all of our hospitals in the very near future.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11On Monday, she spoke about mental health and doing
0:09:11 > 0:09:12more to help people, particularly young people,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16with those conditions, which I welcome, except that last
0:09:16 > 0:09:19night the BBC revealed that, over five years, there had been
0:09:19 > 0:09:24an 89% increase in young people with mental health issues having
0:09:24 > 0:09:27to go to A departments.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Does she not agree that the ?1.25 billion committed to child
0:09:31 > 0:09:37and adolescent mental health in 2015 should have been ring-fenced rather
0:09:37 > 0:09:40than used as a resource to be raided to plug other holes
0:09:40 > 0:09:47in other budgets in the NHS?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50If we look at what is happening with mental health treatment
0:09:50 > 0:09:54in the National Health Service, we see 1,400 more people every day
0:09:54 > 0:09:58accessing mental health services.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00When I spoke about this issue on Monday, I said
0:10:00 > 0:10:04that there is of course more for us to do, this is not a problem that
0:10:04 > 0:10:06will be resolved overnight.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10I have set out ways in which we will see an improvement in the services
0:10:10 > 0:10:13in relation to mental health, but it is about the appropriate
0:10:13 > 0:10:16care for the individual.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19As I mentioned earlier, that is not just about accident and emergency.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25When I was in Aldershot on Monday, I spoke to service users with mental
0:10:25 > 0:10:30health problems who said that they did not want to go to A
0:10:30 > 0:10:34The provision of alternative services has meant that the A
0:10:34 > 0:10:39locally has seen its numbers stabilising rather than going up.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42It is about the appropriate care for the individual.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47We want to see that good practice spread across the whole country.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Nobody wants people with mental health conditions to go to A
0:10:50 > 0:10:55departments, the A departments do not want them to go there.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59Under this government, there are 6,000 fewer nurses and 400
0:10:59 > 0:11:03fewer doctors working in mental health.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06It is obvious that these people will go somewhere to try to get
0:11:06 > 0:11:09help when they are in a desperate situation.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Our NHS is under huge pressure.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17Much of that is caused by cuts to social care,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20which the Royal College of Physicians says "are pushing more
0:11:20 > 0:11:24"people into our hospitals and trapping them there for longer."
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Will the Prime Minister do what my honourable
0:11:26 > 0:11:29friend the member for Leicester South Jonathan Ashworth
0:11:29 > 0:11:33has called for and bring forward now the extra ?700 million allocated
0:11:33 > 0:11:39in 2019 and put it into social care so that we do not have this problem
0:11:39 > 0:11:42of people staying too long in hospital when they should be
0:11:42 > 0:11:46cared for by a social care system?
0:11:46 > 0:11:48The right honourable gentleman asked me those questions in the last
0:11:48 > 0:11:53PMQs before Christmas.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58He may find it difficult to believe that somebody will say the same
0:11:58 > 0:12:06thing that they said a few weeks ago, but we have put extra
0:12:06 > 0:12:12money into social care.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14In the medium term, we are ensuring that best practice
0:12:14 > 0:12:17is spread across the country.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20He talks about delayed discharges.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Some local authorities, which work with their health service
0:12:23 > 0:12:29locally, have virtually no delayed discharges.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Some 50%, half of the delayed discharges, are in only 24
0:12:31 > 0:12:35local authority areas.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37What does that tell us?
0:12:37 > 0:12:42It tells us that it is about not just funding, but best practice.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45If he comes back to me and talks to me about funding again,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48he should think on this: we can only fund social care and the NHS
0:12:48 > 0:12:51if we have a strong economy, and we will only have that
0:12:51 > 0:12:55with the Conservatives.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58I am sorry to have to bring the Prime Minister back
0:12:58 > 0:13:00to the subject of social care, which I raised before Christmas.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03The reason I did so, and will continue to do so,
0:13:03 > 0:13:08is that she has not addressed the problem.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13The government have cut ?4.6 billion from the social care budget.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15The King's Fund says that there is a social care funding
0:13:15 > 0:13:19gap of almost ?2 billion this year.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Earlier this week, the Prime Minister said
0:13:21 > 0:13:25that she wanted to create a "shared society."
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Well, we certainly have that: more people sharing hospital
0:13:27 > 0:13:31corridors on trolleys, more people sharing waiting
0:13:31 > 0:13:35areas in A departments, and more people sharing
0:13:35 > 0:13:39in the anxiety created by this government.
0:13:39 > 0:13:45Our NHS is in crisis, but the Prime Minister is in denial.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49May I suggest to her that, on the economic question,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52she should cancel the corporate tax cuts, and spend the money
0:13:52 > 0:13:56where it is needed, on people in desperate need in social care
0:13:56 > 0:14:02and in our hospitals?
0:14:02 > 0:14:04The right honourable gentleman talks about a crisis.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07I suggest he listens to the right honourable member
0:14:07 > 0:14:10for Don Valley, Caroline Flint, a former Labour Health Minister,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14who said that, with Labour, "It's always about crisis,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16"the NHS is on its knees.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20"We've got to be a bit more grown up about this."
0:14:20 > 0:14:27And he talks to me about restoring the cuts in corporation tax.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32The Labour party has already spent that money eight times.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36The last thing the NHS needs is a cheque from Labour that bounces.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39The only way that we can ensure that we have funding
0:14:39 > 0:14:41for the National Health Service is with a strong economy.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Yesterday, the right honourable gentleman proved
0:14:43 > 0:14:46that he is not only incompetent, but that he would destroy
0:14:46 > 0:14:48our economy, and that would devastate our
0:14:48 > 0:14:52National Health Service.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Cyber-bullying, sexting and revenge pornography are part
0:15:04 > 0:15:09of British teenage life today, so is a rapid increase in mental
0:15:09 > 0:15:13health problems among our teenagers.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16How is the Prime Minister helping to tackle the pressures that
0:15:16 > 0:15:19teenagers face in Britain today?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22My right honourable friend raises an important point.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25One of the things I spoke about, when I spoke about mental health
0:15:25 > 0:15:28on Monday, was trying to ensure that we can provide some better
0:15:28 > 0:15:32training for staff and teachers in schools to identify the early
0:15:32 > 0:15:37stages of mental health problems for young people,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40so that those problems can be addressed.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Something like half of all mental health problems start
0:15:42 > 0:15:45before the age of 14, so this is a real issue
0:15:45 > 0:15:47that we need to address.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52We are going to look at how we can provide that training.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56We will also review the mental health services provided for young
0:15:56 > 0:15:59people to ensure that we can identify what is working and make
0:15:59 > 0:16:05sure that good practice is spread across the country.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08May I begin with a tribute to Father George Thompson,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11who died shortly before Christmas?
0:16:11 > 0:16:15He led a remarkable life as a teacher, as a priest and as
0:16:15 > 0:16:17the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament for Galloway.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21We extend our sympathies to his family.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24All of us in this House and across these islands care
0:16:24 > 0:16:26about the peace process and about the democratic
0:16:26 > 0:16:30institutions in Northern Ireland, so may I wish the Prime Minister
0:16:30 > 0:16:32well and the Taoiseach, the Northern Ireland Secretary
0:16:32 > 0:16:35and the political parties all the best in trying
0:16:35 > 0:16:39to resolve the serious political difficulties there?
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Will the Prime Minister tell us what the consequences will be if no
0:16:42 > 0:16:45agreement can be found?
0:16:45 > 0:16:47First, may I join the right honourable gentleman in offering
0:16:47 > 0:16:49condolences to the family and friends of
0:16:49 > 0:16:52the Rev George Thompson, who, as he says, was the MP for Galloway
0:16:52 > 0:16:55between 1974 and 1979 and, I believe, was the first former MP
0:16:55 > 0:17:01in modern times to be ordained a Roman Catholic priest.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03On the issue that the right honourable gentleman raises
0:17:03 > 0:17:05about the political situation in Northern Ireland,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07we are obviously treating this with the utmost seriousness.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10As he will know, my right honourable friend the Northern Ireland
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Secretary made a statement in the House earlier this
0:17:12 > 0:17:14week on this issue.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16He has spoken to the First Minister and the former
0:17:16 > 0:17:22Deputy First Minister, and he is urging all parties to work
0:17:22 > 0:17:26together to find a way forward.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29I have also spoken to the Taoiseach about this issue, so we are putting
0:17:29 > 0:17:33every effort into this.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35The legislation says that if, within seven days,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38we do not have a nomination for a Deputy First Minister,
0:17:38 > 0:17:44the matter would go to an election.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47The Prime Minister has indicated that she wants to take the views
0:17:47 > 0:17:50of the elected representatives and the devolved institutions
0:17:50 > 0:17:54on Brexit seriously.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56So it stands to reason then that if there is no
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Northern Ireland Assembly and no Northern Ireland Executive for much
0:18:00 > 0:18:04of the time before the March timetable that she has set
0:18:04 > 0:18:09for invoking article 50, she will be unable to consult properly,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12to discuss fully and to find agreement on the complex
0:18:12 > 0:18:16issues during this period.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21In these circumstances, will the Prime Minister postpone
0:18:21 > 0:18:30invoking article 50...
0:18:30 > 0:18:37Or will she just plough on regardless?
0:18:37 > 0:18:40As the right honourable gentleman says, we want to ensure that we do
0:18:40 > 0:18:43hear the views from all parts of the United Kingdom.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47That is why we have established the JMC European committee
0:18:47 > 0:18:50specifically to take views, and the JMC plenary,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54which is also obviously meeting more frequently than previously.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57I am clear that, first of all, we want to try to ensure that,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00within this period of seven days, we can find a resolution
0:19:00 > 0:19:03to the political situation in Northern Ireland,
0:19:03 > 0:19:07so that we can to see the Assembly government continuing.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10But I am also clear that, in the discussions that we have,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13it will be possible, it is still the case that Ministers
0:19:13 > 0:19:15are in place and that, obviously, there are executives in place,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18that we are still able to take the views of
0:19:18 > 0:19:21the Northern Ireland people.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Closed question, Mr Michael Fabricant.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Uh...
0:19:33 > 0:19:38Apologies for...
0:19:38 > 0:19:40The fundamentals of the UK s economy are strong,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42including in Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Employment in Staffordshire has risen by over 20,000 since 2010.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47We have protected schools and police budgets.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52We see more doctors and more nurses in the Burton hospitals trust.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Of course, we are going further than this in the West Midlands
0:19:56 > 0:19:59by giving new powers to the West Midlands
0:19:59 > 0:20:00with the devolution deal
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and with the election of a directly elected Mayor.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05I have to say that I think Andy Street, with his business
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and local experience, would be a very good Mayor
0:20:08 > 0:20:13for the West Midlands.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18Michael Fabricant.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21I thank my right honourable friend the Prime Minister for that answer.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Unemployment in my constituency, my beautiful Lichfield
0:20:23 > 0:20:24constituency, is around 0.7%, and that is fantastic,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27but I want it even lower.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31I found out that 24% of my constituents work in the area
0:20:31 > 0:20:33of the West Midlands Combined Authority, so can I press my right
0:20:33 > 0:20:36honourable friend just a little further about what she thinks
0:20:36 > 0:20:38is needed in the West Midlands Combined Authority to improve
0:20:38 > 0:20:47employment still more.
0:20:47 > 0:20:48I thank my honourable
0:20:48 > 0:20:51friend, and, of course,
0:20:51 > 0:20:56I have had the advantage of having visited his beautiful constituency.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00But in relation to the Midlands, we have a very strong ambition
0:21:00 > 0:21:05to make the Midlands an engine for growth in the UK.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08That is why we have plans for the Midlands engine
0:21:08 > 0:21:11that demonstrate that, when we say we are going to build
0:21:11 > 0:21:14an economy that works for everyone, we actually mean it.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16In the autumn statement, my right honourable friend
0:21:16 > 0:21:21the Chancellor confirmed things such as the ?5 million for a Birmingham
0:21:21 > 0:21:26rail hub and a ?250 million Midlands engine investment fund,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29and we will shortly be publishing a strategy for the Midlands engine.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32But I repeat the point that I made - for the West Midlands,
0:21:32 > 0:21:37having the devolution deal, having the Mayor and having
0:21:37 > 0:21:40the right person elected as Mayor, who I think will be Andy Street,
0:21:40 > 0:21:41is absolutely crucial.
0:21:41 > 0:21:42Happy New Year, Mr Speaker.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Sir Ivan Rogers, in his resignation letter, said that people may
0:21:45 > 0:21:47have to deliver messages to the Government that ministers
0:21:47 > 0:21:49may find disagreeable.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51So here is a message that the Prime Minister may find
0:21:52 > 0:21:53disagreeable.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54Her lack of priority for the single market
0:21:54 > 0:22:00is putting jobs in Scotland and the economy at risk.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03That means her Government are as big a threat to the Union as the SNP.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Her Government are not worthy of the trust of Scots,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08let alone their blind trust, so will the Prime Minister take this
0:22:08 > 0:22:12opportunity to apologise for threatening the Union and give
0:22:12 > 0:22:18a solemn promise to every single person in this country
0:22:18 > 0:22:23that they will not be a penny worse off after a Tory Brexit?
0:22:23 > 0:22:25The honourable gentleman will be very well aware
0:22:25 > 0:22:28that I want to see the best possible trade deal for the United Kingdom
0:22:28 > 0:22:31with the EU and the best possible deal for trading with and operating
0:22:31 > 0:22:33within the single European market.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36When we enter the negotiations, obviously, that is one of the issues
0:22:36 > 0:22:40that I have said that I want to see, and we will be out there
0:22:40 > 0:22:42and be delivering on it.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46Unlike the sort of downplaying that he
0:22:46 > 0:22:48does about the approach that we are taking, I have
0:22:48 > 0:22:53to say that it is this Government that is ambitious
0:22:53 > 0:22:56for the opportunities that are available to this country once
0:22:56 > 0:23:00we leave the European Union.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02Cheshire schools in areas of rurality and areas of high
0:23:02 > 0:23:04deprivation will receive some of the lowest per-pupil funding
0:23:04 > 0:23:08rates in the country under the new proposed funding formula.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Does the Prime Minister agree that these discrepancies must be
0:23:10 > 0:23:12addressed to ensure that Eddisbury pupils get the best
0:23:13 > 0:23:15possible start in life?
0:23:15 > 0:23:17I think everybody recognises that the way that schools
0:23:17 > 0:23:20have been funded in the past has been unfair and many pupils
0:23:20 > 0:23:23have been missing out.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27That is why I think it is right for us to look at bringing forward
0:23:27 > 0:23:29a new fair funding formula, making sure that funding is attached
0:23:29 > 0:23:32to children s needs.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Of course we recognise the particular issues
0:23:34 > 0:23:38of rural areas in this, and that is why, within the fair
0:23:38 > 0:23:43funding formula, additional funding for such schools has been included.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48But, of course, the Department for Education has this out
0:23:48 > 0:23:51for consultation at the moment, and I would urge my honourable
0:23:51 > 0:23:54friend to make her representations as part of that consultation.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59Dewsbury hospital A is set for a downgrade this year.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Over Christmas, I had constituents who were waiting 20 hours for a bed
0:24:03 > 0:24:08in a facility that might not even exist next year.
0:24:08 > 0:24:13Would the Prime Minister please face reality and act now
0:24:13 > 0:24:19to stop this vital A service from disappearing?
0:24:19 > 0:24:24What the honourable lady
0:24:24 > 0:24:27is referring to, of course, is the plans that are being put
0:24:27 > 0:24:32forward at local level to consider...
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Order.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37There is far too much noise.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39I must say to the honourable member
0:24:39 > 0:24:41for Dewsbury that if she were behaving like this
0:24:41 > 0:24:43in another public place she would probably be subject
0:24:43 > 0:24:47to an antisocial behaviour order.
0:24:47 > 0:24:54I return to the point, Mr Speaker.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Decisions about services in the local area are rightly taken
0:24:57 > 0:24:59by the local National Health Service, because we believe
0:24:59 > 0:25:02that it is local clinicians, and also local patients and leaders,
0:25:02 > 0:25:03who know what is best for their areas.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08So it is about trying to tailor the services to provide the best
0:25:08 > 0:25:10possible services for the needs of local people, modernising
0:25:10 > 0:25:13the care and facilities, and making services appropriate
0:25:14 > 0:25:15to the local area.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18This trust has an extensive improvement plan to ensure that both
0:25:18 > 0:25:21hospitals within it can care for patients attending
0:25:21 > 0:25:27accident and emergency in as timely a way as possible.
0:25:27 > 0:25:33Next Thursday evening, I will host the first session
0:25:33 > 0:25:37of the Bedford Community Business School, free of charge and open
0:25:37 > 0:25:43to all, with 250 local people sharing a passion
0:25:43 > 0:25:45for entrepreneurship and learning tips about business from national
0:25:45 > 0:25:46and local business leaders.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Will my right honourable friend ensure that her forthcoming
0:25:48 > 0:25:51industrial strategy has at its heart the passion and the interest
0:25:51 > 0:25:57of Britain s small business leaders and entrepreneurs?
0:25:57 > 0:25:59I can absolutely give my honourable friend that commitment.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02What is important is that the industrial strategy will be
0:26:02 > 0:26:05looking to the economy of the future - what is the sort of economy
0:26:05 > 0:26:08we want in this country?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Crucial to that will be the growth that is generated by entrepreneurs
0:26:11 > 0:26:14and by small businesses, by the very passion that he has spoken about.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18We want to see an environment in which those who can grow can
0:26:18 > 0:26:22emerge and develop to provide future jobs for people and contribute
0:26:22 > 0:26:24to the strength of our economy.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27That is what the industrial strategy is about.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29I absolutely agree
0:26:29 > 0:26:30with my honourable friend.
0:26:30 > 0:26:39The Prime Minister, I am sure, will understand,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41despite the reassurances, that there are genuine and really
0:26:41 > 0:26:44serious concerns among staff across the NHS and the care system,
0:26:44 > 0:26:45and patients and their families, about the pressure
0:26:45 > 0:26:50that they are under.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53For that reason, MPs from her own party, from the Labour
0:26:53 > 0:26:56party and from my party have come together to call for the Government
0:26:56 > 0:27:01to establish an NHS and care convention to engage
0:27:01 > 0:27:04with the public, so that we can come up with a long-term settlement
0:27:04 > 0:27:06for the NHS and care.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Would the Prime Minister be prepared to meet us to discuss it,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13so that she can hear our case?
0:27:13 > 0:27:15I recognise, obviously, the interest
0:27:15 > 0:27:17and the attention that the right honourable gentleman has
0:27:17 > 0:27:19given to these issues and of course, he is a former
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Health Minister himself, and I would be happy to meet him
0:27:23 > 0:27:24and others, as he suggests.
0:27:24 > 0:27:31There can be nothing as distressing for a parent
0:27:31 > 0:27:35as the death of their child, particularly where that
0:27:35 > 0:27:38child has been murdered.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43That is what happened to the two ladies, one of them
0:27:43 > 0:27:46a constituent of mine, who set up Justice After Acquittal,
0:27:46 > 0:27:51successfully campaigning for voluntary national standards
0:27:51 > 0:27:55of support by the Crown Prosecution Service and by the police
0:27:55 > 0:27:59for the families of murder victims following an acquittal.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Those standards are due to be launched here next Tuesday.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Would the Prime Minister join with me in paying tribute
0:28:05 > 0:28:08to the determination and energy with which they have
0:28:08 > 0:28:11campaigned for their cause, and will she continue to ensure,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14as she always has done, that the voices of the victims
0:28:14 > 0:28:16of crime and their families are always listened to?
0:28:16 > 0:28:19My honourable friend raises a very important point.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23I am very happy to join him in paying tribute
0:28:23 > 0:28:24to these two campaigners.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Indeed, I am sure that the whole House would want to pay tribute
0:28:27 > 0:28:29to the work that they are doing.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31As he says, I remain committed to ensuring that the voices
0:28:31 > 0:28:33of victims are heard.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36That is what I did when I was Home Secretary,
0:28:36 > 0:28:38if we look at issues such as introducing new measures
0:28:38 > 0:28:42to tackle modern slavery, strengthening the Independent Police
0:28:42 > 0:28:47Complaints Commission and legislating in relation
0:28:47 > 0:28:50to police complaints and discipline systems to strengthen public
0:28:50 > 0:28:52confidence in policing, and a number of other actions that
0:28:52 > 0:28:53I took.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56I am very pleased to say that my right honourable friend
0:28:56 > 0:28:58the current Home Secretary is taking that same passion to ensuring
0:28:58 > 0:29:01that the voices of the victims of crime are heard and is
0:29:01 > 0:29:02taking that forward.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Across the United Kingdom, many banks are accelerating
0:29:04 > 0:29:07their closure of local branches, with adverse effects on vulnerable
0:29:07 > 0:29:10and older people and adverse effects on the high street.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14The Royal Bank of Scotland is closing down branches
0:29:14 > 0:29:16across Scotland, including those at Juniper Green and Chesser
0:29:16 > 0:29:20in my constituency.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24Local convenience stores are taking the strain of processing bills
0:29:24 > 0:29:28and often face exorbitant bank charges for the privilege
0:29:28 > 0:29:29of doing that.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Will the Prime Minister meet me to discuss how we can realise
0:29:32 > 0:29:35a situation where banking across the UK services customers
0:29:35 > 0:29:38and the real economy?
0:29:38 > 0:29:44The issue of bank branches and, indeed, of the accessibility
0:29:44 > 0:29:47of bank services is one that is for individual banks
0:29:47 > 0:29:52themselves to take and consider, and of course there are many ways
0:29:52 > 0:29:56in which people are now accessing bank services other
0:29:56 > 0:29:58than by going physically into an actual bank branch,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01but I will certainly look
0:30:01 > 0:30:03at the issue that the honourable and learned lady has raised.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Building a country that works for everyone means doing even more
0:30:06 > 0:30:09to tackle the economic and social deprivation that has come to afflict
0:30:09 > 0:30:11pockets of seaside towns such as Rhyl in my constituency.
0:30:11 > 0:30:20Will my right honourable friend therefore support Growth Track 360 -
0:30:20 > 0:30:24a locally developed plan to invest in rail infrastructure to help
0:30:24 > 0:30:28unlock the true potential of the north Wales and Mersey-Dee
0:30:28 > 0:30:31economic region as an integral part of the northern powerhouse,
0:30:31 > 0:30:38connected to the rest of the country via the proposed HS2 hub at Crewe?
0:30:38 > 0:30:42Can I say to my honourable friend that I welcome
0:30:42 > 0:30:45the establishment of the north Wales
0:30:45 > 0:30:47and Mersey-Dee rail taskforce and the work that it is doing.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50The plan that my honourable friend
0:30:50 > 0:30:52mentions sets out an ambitious programme
0:30:52 > 0:30:55of improvements for the area, and I am sure it will be
0:30:55 > 0:30:56prioritising the most promising options.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00I can say to him that the Department for Transport will continue to work
0:31:00 > 0:31:03closely with the taskforce and with the Welsh Government
0:31:03 > 0:31:06to consider what can be jointly accomplished.
0:31:06 > 0:31:12As Pensions Minister, Steve Webb misled the public about the value
0:31:12 > 0:31:15of the single-rate pension.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18He also gave us the Pensions Act 2011.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21He was rightly booted out by the voters, yet is now deemed
0:31:21 > 0:31:23suitable for a knighthood.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Does the Prime Minister not understand that,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30unless this Government take action to help the struggling WASPI women,
0:31:30 > 0:31:33that knighthood is the final insult to these women?
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Action has been taken on the issue in relation
0:31:36 > 0:31:39to women s pensions.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42The Government took action to ensure that the number of people
0:31:42 > 0:31:45who were affected and the period for which they were affected
0:31:45 > 0:31:49would be reduced, and money was put in to ensure that that was possible.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53If the honourable gentleman looks at the new structure
0:31:53 > 0:31:56that is being put in place for pensions, he will see that women
0:31:56 > 0:31:59will actually be some of the greater beneficiaries of the new structure.
0:31:59 > 0:32:06I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has raised awareness
0:32:06 > 0:32:09of the importance of child mental health this week, not least
0:32:09 > 0:32:14because 65% of young people requiring mental health support
0:32:14 > 0:32:18in south Warwickshire last year had to wait over 12 weeks
0:32:18 > 0:32:20before starting treatment.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23Can my right honourable friend outline how the new proposals
0:32:23 > 0:32:27will improve our support network for such vulnerable young people?
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Well, my honourable friend raises an important issue,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33which was of course alluded to earlier in this session
0:32:33 > 0:32:34of PMQs.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37We are investing more in mental health than ever before - we
0:32:37 > 0:32:40are spending a record ?11.4 billion a year -
0:32:40 > 0:32:43and it was of course the Conservative-led Government that
0:32:43 > 0:32:45introduced parity of esteem
0:32:45 > 0:32:48between mental and physical health, but as I said earlier,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51there is more for us to do in ensuring that appropriate care
0:32:51 > 0:32:53is available for people.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58I cited an example earlier of where I saw excellent work
0:32:58 > 0:33:01being done to provide care and support for people in
0:33:01 > 0:33:05the community, which was relieving pressure on accident and emergency,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07but also ensuring that people were getting the best
0:33:07 > 0:33:10possible care for them, and that is obviously
0:33:10 > 0:33:11what we want to see.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16The strained accident and emergency provision
0:33:16 > 0:33:19in my constituency is under review, and the community further up
0:33:19 > 0:33:22the Cumbrian coast risks losing 24-hour access to accident
0:33:22 > 0:33:25and emergency and to consultant-led maternity from its local hospital.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30I understand that the Prime Minister will say that these decisions
0:33:30 > 0:33:35are to be made locally, but will she at least say
0:33:35 > 0:33:41that she can understand the anxiety of expectant mums who face a 40-mile
0:33:41 > 0:33:44journey on difficult roads, which are often blocked,
0:33:44 > 0:33:48if they have a difficult birth?
0:33:48 > 0:33:54Can I say to the honourable gentleman that I think the problems
0:33:54 > 0:33:56that are facing the health service
0:33:56 > 0:34:00in Cumbria are widely recognised, and I do understand the concerns
0:34:00 > 0:34:03of local people about the services that will be available for them.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06We have put robust national support in place to address some
0:34:06 > 0:34:09of the long-standing challenges in Cumbria, and we are developing
0:34:09 > 0:34:13a lasting plan to deliver the high-quality, sustainable
0:34:13 > 0:34:15services that patients rightly expect.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20He is right that these specific decisions
0:34:20 > 0:34:22are being taken locally, and no final decisions
0:34:22 > 0:34:24have been taken.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26I recognise the concern that he has raised previously,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29particularly about services at West Cumberland Hospital.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32There will be considerable involvement in taking those
0:34:32 > 0:34:35decisions, but as I say, we do recognise the local concerns
0:34:35 > 0:34:38about some of the long-standing challenges for health service
0:34:38 > 0:34:40provision in Cumbria.
0:34:40 > 0:34:49I know from my career in medicine that the men and women
0:34:49 > 0:34:54of our East Midlands ambulance service do a brave and sterling job
0:34:54 > 0:34:58for the people of Sleaford and North Hykeham and others,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00saving people s lives every day.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04East Midlands ambulance service responded to a total of 11,662
0:35:04 > 0:35:09999 calls over the Christmas bank holiday weekend alone,
0:35:09 > 0:35:132,500 of which were in Lincolnshire.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute
0:35:17 > 0:35:21to their dedication, particularly over the busy winter
0:35:21 > 0:35:25period, and tell the House what more the Government can do
0:35:25 > 0:35:29to support our ambulance services and improve response times in rural
0:35:29 > 0:35:33areas like Sleaford and North Hykeham?
0:35:33 > 0:35:39Can I thank my honourable friend for her question,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41and also for bringing her personal experience as a medical
0:35:41 > 0:35:43professional in relation to this issue?
0:35:43 > 0:35:46I am very happy to join her in paying tribute to the men
0:35:46 > 0:35:50and women of the ambulance service for the dedication and
0:35:50 > 0:35:52commitment that they show.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54She asks what the Government have been doing.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58We recognise that ambulance services are very busy.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02That's why we see over 2,000 more paramedics now compared with 2010,
0:36:02 > 0:36:05and we are increasing paramedic training places by over
0:36:05 > 0:36:0660% this year.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Also, the Department of Health, NHS Employers and ambulance
0:36:10 > 0:36:14unions have agreed changes to the compensation for paramedics,
0:36:14 > 0:36:18potentially giving them a pay increase of up to ?14,000
0:36:18 > 0:36:19as they progress.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22But we recognise the excellent work that they do.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26Can I commend the Prime Minister
0:36:26 > 0:36:29for her considered statement last night and, indeed, for the words
0:36:30 > 0:36:31that she has given this afternoon?
0:36:31 > 0:36:34She knows our commitment to the institutions
0:36:34 > 0:36:36in Northern Ireland, but would she agree that nothing
0:36:36 > 0:36:41can be, or should be, gained from threatening the peace
0:36:41 > 0:36:45process, the progress that we have made or the institutions
0:36:45 > 0:36:49that we have fought so hard to sustain in Northern Ireland?
0:36:49 > 0:36:55Well, the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland
0:36:55 > 0:36:58has been hard won, and we must all recognise that we don't want
0:36:58 > 0:37:01to put that progress in jeopardy.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03That is why it is so important for the Government,
0:37:03 > 0:37:07and for all parties, to work as hard as we can to see
0:37:07 > 0:37:11a resolution to this issue, so that we can see a return
0:37:11 > 0:37:13to the power-sharing institutions and ensure,
0:37:13 > 0:37:17as we say, that the hard-won progress can be continued.
0:37:17 > 0:37:22Can I warmly welcome what my right
0:37:22 > 0:37:24honourable friend said
0:37:24 > 0:37:26health earlier this week, but may I draw her attention
0:37:26 > 0:37:28to another burning injustice?
0:37:28 > 0:37:31My constituent Paula Edwards has been battling cancer for four years.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34She is recovering from an operation and has taken 28 weeks off work.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38She is still employed and is on half pay, yet her working tax
0:37:38 > 0:37:42credits have been stopped, which means that she is worrying
0:37:42 > 0:37:46about how she's making ends meet rather than on her recovery.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Will my right honourable friend ask the Treasury to look at this,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52perhaps in the course of Budget preparations?
0:37:52 > 0:38:01I thank my right honourable friend for her comments
0:38:01 > 0:38:03about the mental health announcements that I have made.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05I'm sorry to hear of the particular difficulties that her constituent
0:38:05 > 0:38:08is experiencing and the distress that they have caused her.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10Of course, working tax credits provide support for low-income
0:38:10 > 0:38:12families in work and are designed to incentivise people
0:38:12 > 0:38:15to increase their working hours.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18We will be, obviously, with the new universal credit system,
0:38:18 > 0:38:22have a system of benefits with single, streamlined payments
0:38:22 > 0:38:26that encourages work, but I am sure the Financial Secretary
0:38:26 > 0:38:31to the Treasury would be happy to look at the individual case
0:38:31 > 0:38:35that my right honourable friend has raised and the issue
0:38:35 > 0:38:37that she has set out.
0:38:37 > 0:38:38Order.