:00:00. > :00:00.Government's internal discussions on Brexit. What I have committed to do
:00:00. > :00:00.is deliver the best possible deal for Scotland in these negotiations.
:00:00. > :00:26.Questions to the Prime Minister. I'm sure the people here would like
:00:27. > :00:30.to join me in wishing the people across the world a happy St David's
:00:31. > :00:35.Day. I'm sure the whole house will also want to join me in paying
:00:36. > :00:40.tribute to our former colleague, Sir Gerald Kaufman, who died over the
:00:41. > :00:43.weekend. He was an outstanding MP who dedicated his life to the
:00:44. > :00:47.service of his constituents. As father of the House, his wisdom and
:00:48. > :00:50.experience will be missed right across the House. I'm sure our
:00:51. > :00:55.thoughts are with his friends and family. I had meetings with
:00:56. > :00:58.ministerial colleagues and others, in addition to my duties with the
:00:59. > :01:03.House I will have further such meetings today. I would like to
:01:04. > :01:06.associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks and assure the
:01:07. > :01:09.many relatives and friends of our former colleague that they are very
:01:10. > :01:16.much in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Mr Speaker,
:01:17. > :01:22.following last week's historic by-election victory in Copeland...
:01:23. > :01:25.CHEERING Does my right honourable friend
:01:26. > :01:30.believe this is an endorsement of her government's plans to maintain a
:01:31. > :01:34.strong economy, bring our society together, and ensure that we make a
:01:35. > :01:42.huge success of leaving the European Union? I thank my honourable friend.
:01:43. > :01:45.First of all, I would like to congratulate my honourable friend,
:01:46. > :01:49.the new member for Copeland, and I look forward to welcoming her to
:01:50. > :01:53.this house very shortly. But my honourable friend is absolutely
:01:54. > :01:56.right that last week's historic result in Copeland was an
:01:57. > :02:01.endorsement of our plans to keep the economy strong. And our plans to
:02:02. > :02:07.ensure places like Copeland to share in the economic success after years
:02:08. > :02:12.of Labour neglect. It was also an endorsement of our plans to unite
:02:13. > :02:15.communities where Labour seeks to sow division. And I think it was an
:02:16. > :02:27.endorsement of offering strong, competent leadership in the face of
:02:28. > :02:34.Labour's chaos. Jeremy Kerley bin. Thank you, Mr Speaker. -- Jeremy
:02:35. > :02:37.Corbyn. Could I join the Prime Minister in wishing everyone in
:02:38. > :02:43.Wales and all Welsh people all around the world a very happy St
:02:44. > :02:47.David's Day. And could I also expressed the hope that the workers
:02:48. > :02:52.at the Ford plant in Bridgend gets today daily assurances they need
:02:53. > :02:57.about their job security and job futures. Mr Speaker, I also want to
:02:58. > :03:01.echo the Prime Minister's tribute to Gerald Kaufman who served in this
:03:02. > :03:04.house since 1970 - the longest serving member. He started in
:03:05. > :03:10.political life as an adviser to Harold Wilson. He was an iconic
:03:11. > :03:14.figure in the Labour Party and British politics. He was a champion
:03:15. > :03:18.for peace and justice in the Middle East, and around the world.
:03:19. > :03:22.Yesterday at his funeral, the rabbi who conducted the service, radio
:03:23. > :03:28.message on behalf of the House to his family, which was so much
:03:29. > :03:31.appreciated. -- conveyed your message on behalf of the House.
:03:32. > :03:35.Yesterday I spoke to his family and I asked how would they describe
:03:36. > :03:41.Gerald. They said he was an awesome uncle. I think we should remember
:03:42. > :03:45.Gerald as that. We convey our condolences to all of his family. Mr
:03:46. > :03:50.Speaker, just after the last budget, we then Work and Pensions Secretary
:03:51. > :03:56.resigned, accusing the Government of balancing the books on the backs of
:03:57. > :04:00.the poor and vulnerable. Last week, the Government sneaked out a
:04:01. > :04:04.decision to overrule a court decision to extend personal
:04:05. > :04:10.independence payments to people with severe mental health conditions. A
:04:11. > :04:14.government that found ?1 billion in inheritance tax cuts to benefit
:04:15. > :04:21.26,000 families seems unable to find the money to support 160,000 people
:04:22. > :04:26.with debilitating mental health conditions. Will the Prime Minister
:04:27. > :04:31.change her mind? Let me be very clear about what is being proposed
:04:32. > :04:37.in relation to personal independence payments. This is not a policy
:04:38. > :04:42.change. This is not a cut in the amount that is going to be spent on
:04:43. > :04:46.disability benefits. And no one is going to see a reduction in their
:04:47. > :04:55.benefit from that previously awarded by the DWP. What we are doing is
:04:56. > :05:00.restoring this particular payment to the original intention that was
:05:01. > :05:07.agreed by the coalition government, agreed by this parliament after
:05:08. > :05:09.extensive consultation. Extensive consultation is an
:05:10. > :05:15.interesting idea because the court made its decision last year. The
:05:16. > :05:18.Government did not consult the Social Security advisory committee
:05:19. > :05:26.and instead at the last minute snaked out its decision. The court
:05:27. > :05:31.ruled that the payment should be made because the people who are
:05:32. > :05:35.going to benefit from it were suffering overwhelming psychological
:05:36. > :05:40.distress. Just a year ago, the new Work and Pensions Secretary said you
:05:41. > :05:46.can tell the House were not going ahead with the changes to Pip that
:05:47. > :05:49.were put forward. Her friend, the member for South Cambridgeshire,
:05:50. > :05:53.said that in her view, the courts were there for a reason. If both,
:05:54. > :05:57.with a warning that raise the criteria should be extended, she
:05:58. > :06:03.believed there should be a duty to honour that. Isn't she right? First
:06:04. > :06:09.of all, on the issue of these payments and those with mental
:06:10. > :06:12.health conditions, actually, Personal Independence Payment is
:06:13. > :06:15.better for people with mental health conditions. Two thirds of people
:06:16. > :06:20.with mental health conditions who are in receipt of Personal
:06:21. > :06:27.Independence Payment, two thirds of them get awarded the higher daily
:06:28. > :06:31.living rate allowance. That compares, that two thirds compared
:06:32. > :06:36.to less than a quarter under the previous DLA arrangements. But it
:06:37. > :06:39.second time that the right honourable gentleman has suggested
:06:40. > :06:52.that somehow this change was sneaked out. It was in a written ministerial
:06:53. > :06:56.statement to Parliament. And I... Can I remind him, week after week he
:06:57. > :07:01.talks to me about the importance of Parliament. We accepted the
:07:02. > :07:04.importance of Parliament and maybe statement to Parliament. But also
:07:05. > :07:08.she referred to the Social Security advisory and they can look at this.
:07:09. > :07:12.My right honourable friend the Work and Pensions Secretary called the
:07:13. > :07:15.chairman of the Social Security advisory committee and spoke to him
:07:16. > :07:22.about the regulations on the day they were being introduced. He
:07:23. > :07:24.called the chairman of the work and pensions select committee and spoke
:07:25. > :07:30.to him about the regulations being introduced. He called both officers
:07:31. > :07:34.of the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, but there was no answer
:07:35. > :07:52.and they didn't come back to him for four days. Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker,
:07:53. > :07:55.calling the... Mr Speaker, calling the chairs of two committees and
:07:56. > :08:01.making a written statement to the House does not add up to scrutiny.
:08:02. > :08:04.And as I understand it, there was no call made to the office of my
:08:05. > :08:11.friend, the shadow Secretary of State. Mr Speaker, the reality is
:08:12. > :08:17.this is a shameful decision that will affect people with dementia,
:08:18. > :08:22.those suffering cognitive disorders due to a stroke, military veterans
:08:23. > :08:27.with post-traumatic stress disorder, and those with schizophrenia. Can
:08:28. > :08:29.she looked at the effects of her decision to override what an
:08:30. > :08:38.independent court has decided and think again? The issues that he
:08:39. > :08:42.raised, the conditions that he raised, is these are taken into
:08:43. > :08:45.account when decisions are made about Personal Independence
:08:46. > :08:49.Payments. What the court said was the regulations were unclear. That
:08:50. > :08:56.is why we are clarifying the regulations and ensuring that they
:08:57. > :09:00.respect and inflect the original intention agreed by this Parliament.
:09:01. > :09:04.If the right honourable gentleman wants to talk about support being
:09:05. > :09:11.given to people with disabilities, this government is spending more
:09:12. > :09:14.than ever on support for people with disability and health conditions. We
:09:15. > :09:19.are spending more than ever on people with mental health
:09:20. > :09:21.conditions. As I say to him, what we are doing with the Personal
:09:22. > :09:28.Independence Payments is ensuring that those who are most in need get
:09:29. > :09:31.most support. The Government has overridden an independent court
:09:32. > :09:36.decision on this, and they should think very long and hard about that.
:09:37. > :09:40.Her friend, the member for North East Bedfordshire, said this week
:09:41. > :09:44.the Government had to make it very clear that physical and mental
:09:45. > :09:47.health of the same priority. In 2002, the Prime Minister made a
:09:48. > :09:55.speech at the Conservative Party conference. I was watching on
:09:56. > :10:00.television. She described her party as we Nasty Party. She said some
:10:01. > :10:06.Tories have tried to make political capital by demonising minority. This
:10:07. > :10:13.week, her policy chair suggested people with debilitating conditions
:10:14. > :10:19.were those who, and I quote, take a at home, who suffer from an anxiety,
:10:20. > :10:26.and were not really disabled. Isn't that prove the Nasty Party is still
:10:27. > :10:29.around? My honourable friend has rightly apologised for the comment
:10:30. > :10:35.that he made, and I hope that the whole house will accept his apology.
:10:36. > :10:42.He asks me about the parity between mental health and physical
:10:43. > :10:46.conditions. It is this Conservative government that has introduced
:10:47. > :10:52.parity of esteem in relation to dealing with mental health in the
:10:53. > :11:01.National Health Service. How many years where labour in government and
:11:02. > :11:06.did nothing about that? 13 years! It was a Labour amendment to the health
:11:07. > :11:11.and social care bill that resulted in parity of esteem being put on the
:11:12. > :11:14.face of the bill. I'm surprised she's forgotten that, because she
:11:15. > :11:21.could take this opportunity to thank the Labour Party for putting that
:11:22. > :11:25.forward. Earlier this... The Prime Minister made a speech earlier this
:11:26. > :11:31.year supporting parity of esteem for mental health, and I'm glad she did.
:11:32. > :11:40.40% of NHS mental health trusts are having their budgets cut. There are
:11:41. > :11:44.6600 fewer mental health nurses, and 160,000 people with severe mental
:11:45. > :11:49.health conditions about to lose out on support. Can she not recognised
:11:50. > :11:53.parity of esteem means finding it properly, and not overriding court
:11:54. > :11:58.decisions that would benefit people suffering from very difficult
:11:59. > :12:02.conditions? We should reach out to them, not deny them support they
:12:03. > :12:08.need. As I say, we are spending more than ever on mental health. That's
:12:09. > :12:13.?11.4 billion a year. More people each week are now receiving
:12:14. > :12:17.treatment in relation to mental health than have done previously. Is
:12:18. > :12:22.there more for us to do mental health? Yes, there is. I've said
:12:23. > :12:32.that in this chamber on answer two questions I have seen previously.
:12:33. > :12:36."We Will -- "Well, do it!" Shouts the Shadow Health Secretary from her
:12:37. > :12:39.normal sedentary position. We are doing it, that's why we are putting
:12:40. > :12:43.more money into mental health in seeing more people being provided
:12:44. > :12:47.with mental health treatment every week and this government. But there
:12:48. > :12:51.is one thing that I know. If you're going to be able to provide that
:12:52. > :12:56.extra support for people with these conditions, if you're going to be
:12:57. > :13:00.able to provide treatment, you need to have the strong economy that
:13:01. > :13:08.enables us to pay for it. And the one thing we know about labour is
:13:09. > :13:12.that they would bankrupt Britain. Coming from a government that by
:13:13. > :13:16.2020 will have borrowed more and increased the national debt by the
:13:17. > :13:23.total borrowing of all Labour governments, that comes rich! Mr
:13:24. > :13:26.Speaker, the mental health charity Rethink says the Government has
:13:27. > :13:30.spoken forcefully about the importance of parity of esteem
:13:31. > :13:35.between physical and mental health. Yet when presented with a chance to
:13:36. > :13:40.make this a reality, has passed the opportunity by. Mr Speaker, as a
:13:41. > :13:46.society where judged by how we treat the most vulnerable. The respected
:13:47. > :13:49.mental health charity Mind has said this misguided legislation must be
:13:50. > :13:56.reversed. Can the Prime Minister look again? Look again at the
:13:57. > :14:01.decision of the court. Look again at the consequences of it. And withdraw
:14:02. > :14:06.this deep decision, this nasty decision. I accept the court's
:14:07. > :14:09.judgment and support those going through a difficult time in their
:14:10. > :14:15.life. -- accept the court's judgment. That is how we will all be
:14:16. > :14:19.judged. The way we are dealing with disability benefits is to ensure
:14:20. > :14:24.payments are going to those who are most vulnerable. What we are doing
:14:25. > :14:28.in relation to Personal Independence Payments is ensuring that the
:14:29. > :14:32.agreement of this Parliament is being put into practice. But he
:14:33. > :14:40.talks about funding and he talks about boring. I understand that
:14:41. > :14:43.today. Siam have a constant debate -- have a constant debate while the
:14:44. > :14:45.high minister is answering a question. The question was heard and
:14:46. > :14:55.the answer was heard. I understand that the Labour Shadow
:14:56. > :15:01.Health Secretary today when asked how Labour would pay for the
:15:02. > :15:07.increase if it was put in place, said we've not outlined that yet.
:15:08. > :15:11.That just sums up the Labour Party and the Labour Party leadership, you
:15:12. > :15:18.know, after the result in Copeland last week, after the result in
:15:19. > :15:22.Copeland, the honourable member for Lancaster and Fleetwood summed up
:15:23. > :15:30.the result by saying it was an incredible result for the Labour
:15:31. > :15:38.Party. You know, I think that word describes the right honourable
:15:39. > :15:51.gentleman's leadership. Incredible. Thank you Mr Speaker. On Monday...
:15:52. > :15:59.Thank you. On Monday I chaired a seminar at the rote society looking
:16:00. > :16:03.at the priority for the science committee. A report of the meeting
:16:04. > :16:07.will be launched here on 21st March. I understand the Prime Minister
:16:08. > :16:13.might be too busy to attend that herself will she agree to meet me so
:16:14. > :16:17.I present the collective concerns to her in person, round collaboration
:16:18. > :16:21.and people in particular. I thank him for raising this, this it is San
:16:22. > :16:26.important issue, he is right to raise it. We want the UK to be the
:16:27. > :16:30.go to place for innovators, we want to secure the best possible outcomes
:16:31. > :16:35.for the UK research base as we leave the European Union, indeed it is one
:16:36. > :16:38.of the objectives I have set out in our negotiation, are lates to
:16:39. > :16:42.science and research, we are already a leading destination for sign and
:16:43. > :16:46.innovation and we welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our
:16:47. > :16:55.European partners I am interested in what he has said and I am sure that
:16:56. > :16:59.report will be looked at carefully. We on these benches join the Prime
:17:00. > :17:07.Minister and the Leader of the Labour Party in entending our
:17:08. > :17:12.condolences to the family and friend of Gerald Kaufman. Prior to PMQ
:17:13. > :17:19.today in Scottish questions minute stirs were unable to answer basic
:17:20. > :17:23.questions about Government plans for agriculture and fisheries. They are
:17:24. > :17:29.devolved areas to the Scottish Government and Parliament. With
:17:30. > :17:33.Brexit ending the role of Brussels, will all decision about agriculture
:17:34. > :17:39.and fisheries be made at Holyrood, yes or no? Well, the right
:17:40. > :17:44.honourable gentleman knows very well we are discussing with the devolved
:17:45. > :17:47.administration the question of the UK framework and devolution of
:17:48. > :17:51.issues as they come back from Brussels. The overriding aim I think
:17:52. > :17:56.for everything we do, when we make those decisions is making sure we
:17:57. > :18:01.don't damage the very important single market of the United Kingdom.
:18:02. > :18:05.A market which I might remind him is more important to Scotland and that
:18:06. > :18:12.the European Union is. There is a very interesting answer
:18:13. > :18:17.because during the Brexit referendum, people in Scotland,
:18:18. > :18:20.including those working in the agriculture and fisheries sectors
:18:21. > :18:23.were told the powers would be exercised fully by the Scottish
:18:24. > :18:29.Government and the Scottish Parliament. Now it seems judging by
:18:30. > :18:34.the PM's answer that that is not going to be true. Will the Prime
:18:35. > :18:39.Minister confirm today, she has the opportunity, will she confirm today,
:18:40. > :18:44.that it is her intention to ensure that it is UK ministers that will
:18:45. > :18:48.negotiate and regulate over large areas that impact on Scottish
:18:49. > :18:54.fisheries and agriculture post-Brexit. I repeat to the right
:18:55. > :18:58.honourable gentleman he seems no to have quite understood this point, we
:18:59. > :19:02.are in the process of discussing with the devolved administration the
:19:03. > :19:08.question of which of those powers that currently reside in Brussels,
:19:09. > :19:13.will be returned and remain at a UK level for decision and which would
:19:14. > :19:16.be further devolved into the devolved administrations, that is
:19:17. > :19:19.taking place at the moment. When he asks about the negotiations for
:19:20. > :19:23.Brexit with the European Union, it will be the UK Government that will
:19:24. > :19:31.negotiating with the European Union, taking full account of the interests
:19:32. > :19:38.and concerns of the devolved area of the devolved administration and the
:19:39. > :19:43.other regions of England. Does the Prime Minister aglee when
:19:44. > :19:48.tickets to a teenage cancer charity gig by Ed Sheeran are being resold
:19:49. > :19:54.on a ticket website for over ?1,000 with none of that money going to the
:19:55. > :20:04.charity, and tickets to the hit musical Hamilton, are touted for up
:20:05. > :20:09.washed of ?5,000 when via go go know the tickets are invalid, what will
:20:10. > :20:15.the Government do ensure genuine fans are not fleeced by ticket touts
:20:16. > :20:19.and rogues? I thank hill for raising this
:20:20. > :20:23.important issue. I know he has been working on it for some time. He is
:20:24. > :20:27.right to identify those circumstances as he does where there
:20:28. > :20:31.are websites that are causing, that are acting in the way he talks about
:20:32. > :20:35.and causing the problems for people who believe they are able to buy
:20:36. > :20:42.tickets for what they wish to attend. I understand he has met by
:20:43. > :20:44.right honourable gentleman the Minister of State for digital and
:20:45. > :20:53.cultural matters to discuss this issue, as he will by a wear the
:20:54. > :20:57.consumer rights act introduced new rules on ticketing and that will be
:20:58. > :21:01.responded to. But we are as a government looking at the general
:21:02. > :21:06.issue of where markets are not working in the interest of
:21:07. > :21:11.consumers. Can I add my condolences to those expressed about the former
:21:12. > :21:20.father of the house and welcome to his place the new member for Stoke
:21:21. > :21:28.on Trent. Mr Speaker, young black men using mental Health Services are
:21:29. > :21:33.more likely to be subject to detention extreme forms of
:21:34. > :21:39.medication and severe physical restraint and others and this has
:21:40. > :21:44.led to death in extreme case, too many black people with mental ill
:21:45. > :21:48.health are afraid to seek treatment from a service they fear will not
:21:49. > :21:52.treat them fairly. Will the Prime Minister meet with me and some of
:21:53. > :21:57.the of effected families to discuss the need for an inquiry into
:21:58. > :22:04.institutional racism in their mental Health Services? I thank the
:22:05. > :22:08.honourable gentleman, I am happy to member the new member for
:22:09. > :22:13.Stoke-on-Trent to this house. It is because of concern about how many
:22:14. > :22:20.various people were being treated within our public services, that
:22:21. > :22:23.this Government has introduced, I introduced an audit of disparity of
:22:24. > :22:28.treatment within public service, I saw this as Home Secretary when I
:22:29. > :22:32.looked at the way that particularly people with, black people with
:22:33. > :22:36.mental health issues were being dealt with in terms of police and
:22:37. > :22:41.detention in various ways and that is the sort of issue we are looking
:22:42. > :22:46.at. I am happy for him to write to me with the details of the issue he
:22:47. > :22:52.has set out. Le Thank you. Would the Prime
:22:53. > :22:57.Minister join me in congratulating my West Suffolk college, all the
:22:58. > :23:02.staff and the principal who last week in the times education
:23:03. > :23:09.alfurther education award won the teaching and learning initiative for
:23:10. > :23:15.the whole country. By combining maths, art, religion and science,
:23:16. > :23:20.this initiative drives forward inquisitive minds and grows future
:23:21. > :23:26.generations we will need for the skills they need succeed. I am very
:23:27. > :23:31.happy to join my right honourable friend for the award they have been
:23:32. > :23:36.given in this category for best teaching and learning initiative. It
:23:37. > :23:40.is a really interesting initiative they have put in place. Congratulate
:23:41. > :23:45.all the staff and this is a sign, I think, this award of the dedication
:23:46. > :23:51.of the staff and the students at West Suffolk college. All colleges
:23:52. > :23:54.across the country should be aspiring to reach #24ez standards,
:23:55. > :24:00.she is is right, we need to ensure that young people have not just a
:24:01. > :24:04.skill set, but also the entiring mind that enables them as they look
:24:05. > :24:12.forward to what might be different career, to emgreats new skills and
:24:13. > :24:15.change throughout their careers. My constituent Joanne Good's
:24:16. > :24:22.16-year-old daughter Megan tragically died after drinking half
:24:23. > :24:29.a three litre bottle of Frosty Jack cider which is 7.5% proof and at
:24:30. > :24:34.under ?4 a bottle contains 22 vodka shot equivalents. Does the Prime
:24:35. > :24:37.Minister accept that cheap super-strength white cider is a
:24:38. > :24:44.health hazard and should be banned or at the very least carry a much
:24:45. > :24:52.higher duty per unit. First of all. I am sure that members across the
:24:53. > :24:55.whole house will want to join me in offering our deepest similar thinks
:24:56. > :24:58.to the family of this former constituent of the honourable lady.
:24:59. > :25:05.She does raise a very important issue. That is why we do as a
:25:06. > :25:09.government recognise the harm that is associated with problem
:25:10. > :25:15.consumption of alcohol. These high strength cider and beer are taxed
:25:16. > :25:24.more, we have taken action on the very cheap alcohol by banning sales
:25:25. > :25:29.below duty plus vat. Young people must be made assure of the danger
:25:30. > :25:33.and hashes of alcohol abuse. Campaign have had been run offering
:25:34. > :25:36.advice and support and they work with charities and in schools to
:25:37. > :25:41.help raise awareness which I think is San important part.
:25:42. > :25:45.We are rightly proud that young people regardless of race, creed or
:25:46. > :25:51.colour with study at our colleges and university, yet this week Jewish
:25:52. > :25:55.students are being subjected to intimidation, fear, and to
:25:56. > :26:01.anti-Semitism as a result of so-called Israel apartheid group,
:26:02. > :26:06.what action willry of make that Chancellorings and principles ensure
:26:07. > :26:12.that anti-Semitism is not allow to prosper on campuses. Well, first of
:26:13. > :26:14.all I want to assure my right honourable friend hiring education
:26:15. > :26:18.institution have a responsibility to ensure they provide a safe and
:26:19. > :26:23.inclusive environment for all students and we expect them to have
:26:24. > :26:29.robust policies in place to comply with the law, to ingaes gate and
:26:30. > :26:35.address hate crime including anti-Semitic incidents reported. I
:26:36. > :26:41.know the universities minister has written to remind institutions of
:26:42. > :26:48.these expectations and urged them to follow the Government's lead.
:26:49. > :26:54.There is a flaw in the legislative reform order with which the
:26:55. > :26:59.Government is seeking to create private fund limited partnerships
:27:00. > :27:03.which allows criminal owned cosh limited partnerships to easily
:27:04. > :27:09.convert to to these new types of partnerships. Will the Prime
:27:10. > :27:17.Minister delay that until such times as the current review into SLPs is
:27:18. > :27:24.completed? Completed? Well we have taken important steps to tackle
:27:25. > :27:29.money launders and other crimes. On the question think raises of
:27:30. > :27:34.Scottish limited partnerships, I understand that the Department for
:27:35. > :27:37.Business consulted last year on further transparency requirements
:27:38. > :27:41.and they will be publishing proposals soon. The Business
:27:42. > :27:48.Secretary is gathering evidence which may lead to further reform. My
:27:49. > :27:53.right honourable friend will be aware of the concern overs the new
:27:54. > :27:57.business rates and why there is a welcome for many of the businesses
:27:58. > :28:03.who have been taken out of business rate there's is a concern among
:28:04. > :28:07.those who have Ian an increase. Can she give me an assurance that we
:28:08. > :28:13.will do all we can for these people who work very hard to be the engine
:28:14. > :28:20.room of our economy and a rise of this size threaten their livelihood
:28:21. > :28:25.itself. Business rates are based on property value. It has opinion seven
:28:26. > :28:30.years since those, this property values were last looked at. It is
:28:31. > :28:39.right that we update them. Of course, as I recognised last week it
:28:40. > :28:44.is important we have put already put -- so that we help the companies who
:28:45. > :28:47.are facing increased bills but as I said in this House, have asked my
:28:48. > :28:51.right honourable friends the Chancellor and the Communities
:28:52. > :28:55.Secretary to make sure that support that is provided is appropriate and
:28:56. > :28:58.is in place for the hardest cases and I would expect my right
:28:59. > :29:06.honourable friend the Chancellor to say more about this next week in the
:29:07. > :29:11.budget. A recent national awe deaf report
:29:12. > :29:19.showed massive overspend on free school sites with the department ex
:29:20. > :29:22.mating it will need to respond more. Schools in my constituency are
:29:23. > :29:26.reporting chronic levels of underfunding. Will the Prime
:29:27. > :29:27.Minister provide our existing schools with the ininvestment they
:29:28. > :30:22.need. #4s... The Secretary of State for Wales has
:30:23. > :30:30.been working with colleagues across Government. Does the Prime Minister
:30:31. > :30:40.agree that Welsh interests must remain at the heart of our United
:30:41. > :30:49.Kingdom and the future has My honourable friend is right to be
:30:50. > :30:54.raising the importance of Wales and my honourable friend the Welsh
:30:55. > :31:01.Secretary is reminding people that Wales is one of the best places in
:31:02. > :31:04.the UK to trade with and we are committed to getting a deal for all
:31:05. > :31:08.parts of the UK including Wales and I think the best part of the UK to
:31:09. > :31:16.do that is for devolved administrations to continue to work
:31:17. > :31:24.together. I will be holding a St David's Day reception in Downing
:31:25. > :31:33.Street tonight and again I wish all members of this House a happy St
:31:34. > :31:36.David's Day. Congestion, journey times between Bradford and Leeds and
:31:37. > :31:47.among the worst in the country. Will the Prime Minister support our
:31:48. > :31:54.campaign for our West Yorkshire powerhouse? I apologise to the
:31:55. > :32:01.honourable lady because I missed the first part, I think she was talking
:32:02. > :32:06.about investment and infrastructure, HS3. We've already set out
:32:07. > :32:10.commitments as a Government we made in relation to infrastructure. It
:32:11. > :32:15.plays an important part in encouraging the growth of the
:32:16. > :32:20.economy and ensuring that we do see that we increase productivity around
:32:21. > :32:29.the rest of the country and we'll be looking at further projects that can
:32:30. > :32:33.do just that. Canvassing in Cortland recently, people wanted to talk
:32:34. > :32:40.about the future of their local maternity unit -- Copeland. It was
:32:41. > :32:45.like being at home in Banbury. Rather than politicise the NHS, with
:32:46. > :32:51.the Prime Minister agree to a review of maternity services, encouraging
:32:52. > :32:59.not just care that is safe but also clear that is kind and close to
:33:00. > :33:03.home. My honourable friend raises an important point in relation to local
:33:04. > :33:07.maternity services. I am looking forward to welcoming the new member
:33:08. > :33:11.for Copeland in this House but during the campaign, she made it
:33:12. > :33:17.very clear that she did not want to see any downgrading of the west
:33:18. > :33:21.Cumberland Hospital services but she also put forward a very powerful
:33:22. > :33:26.case for what my honourable friend has just suggested, which is a
:33:27. > :33:31.review to tackle the recruitment issues that affect these maternity
:33:32. > :33:33.services out there and the professionally led review does seem
:33:34. > :33:38.very sensible and then know the health minister is looking at it. A
:33:39. > :33:44.90-year-old constituent of mine faces being discharged by the mental
:33:45. > :33:48.health trust for a second time because they have neither the skills
:33:49. > :33:55.nor the cash to provide the support he needs. What's the Prime
:33:56. > :33:58.Minister's message to him? I don't not the individual details of the
:33:59. > :34:01.case the honourable gentleman has raised. I know we are ensuring all
:34:02. > :34:07.money is being put into mental health conditions over the year and
:34:08. > :34:10.will continue to be, but if you wish to write to me at the Secretary of
:34:11. > :34:17.State for Health, I'm sure we can look into it. As a leader who wants
:34:18. > :34:23.to spread wealth and opportunity as widely as possible, will the Prime
:34:24. > :34:28.Minister insurer that we end the practice of developers buying
:34:29. > :34:35.freehold land on which they sell new house is on a leasehold basis? Many
:34:36. > :34:38.first-time buyers on help to buy feel they're being ripped off by
:34:39. > :34:44.this practice and look to the Government for help. I thank my
:34:45. > :34:47.honourable friend for raising this point, an issue he has raised
:34:48. > :34:53.previously. I know he is working on it. Our house on the White Paper --
:34:54. > :34:57.housing White Paper says there should be house developed for people
:34:58. > :35:00.to live in for fairness for leaseholders but we will be
:35:01. > :35:08.consulting on a range of measures to tackle unfair unreasonable abuses of
:35:09. > :35:10.leasehold as my friend has said. Other than exceptional
:35:11. > :35:25.circumstances, I don't see why new homes can't be built and sold at the
:35:26. > :35:28.point. I add my condolences to the family of Gerald Kaufmann. Yesterday
:35:29. > :35:33.I received a new mill from your local pharmacist who since the
:35:34. > :35:37.Government announcement in October has cemented cost-cutting measures
:35:38. > :35:47.including staff and services. -- implemented. He has had a reduction
:35:48. > :35:53.of nearly ?9,000 which represents 18.8%, well beyond the 4% the
:35:54. > :35:57.pharmacy ministers spoke about in October. Will the Government commit
:35:58. > :36:04.to revisiting community pharmacy funding as a matter of urgency? We
:36:05. > :36:08.all recognise the important service that pharmacists provide that is by
:36:09. > :36:11.spending them has risen in recent years and also we have seen an
:36:12. > :36:18.increase of over 80% in the past decade. The system does need to
:36:19. > :36:23.reform so that the NHS resources are spent efficiently and effectively
:36:24. > :36:24.and just look at some of the figures, two thirds of
:36:25. > :36:38.pharmacies are within ten minutes walk of two others. Many receive a
:36:39. > :36:43.subsidy regardless of size or quality. What we did do is to look
:36:44. > :36:46.at this concern when it was raised last summer and make changes to
:36:47. > :36:55.ensure there was greater support available to pharmacies in
:36:56. > :36:57.particular areas. One of David Cameron's greatest legacies were his
:36:58. > :37:04.efforts to fight human trafficking and modern-day slavery under the
:37:05. > :37:10.act. Last year this country looked after 800,000 children in Syria or
:37:11. > :37:16.the surrounding countries for the same investment of looking after
:37:17. > :37:19.3000 in this country. By doing that, we helped defeat human trafficking.
:37:20. > :37:25.Could the Prime Minister confirm that we will continue with that
:37:26. > :37:28.policy? I'm very happy to join my honourable friend in paying tribute
:37:29. > :37:32.to David Cameron. I was very pleased he supported the modern slavery act
:37:33. > :37:36.when I propose we should introduce it and we had indeed committed to
:37:37. > :37:41.continuing our policy in relation to this area. I have setup a modern
:37:42. > :37:44.slavery task force at number ten, which I chair, bringing together
:37:45. > :37:46.various parties to ensure that across Government, we are doing what
:37:47. > :37:51.is necessary both to break the criminal gangs, deal with the
:37:52. > :37:56.perpetrators and provide necessary support for the victims. May I on
:37:57. > :38:00.behalf of my honourable friend join with the Prime Minister and Leader
:38:01. > :38:05.of the Opposition in expressing condolences to the family of the
:38:06. > :38:11.late father of the House, he will be greatly missed. The Prime Minister
:38:12. > :38:14.I'm sure cannot have failed to notice the intervention by two
:38:15. > :38:23.former Prime Ministers recently with the Brexit debate and as helpful as
:38:24. > :38:27.they were, I'm sure, I'm sure the Prime Minister will know, of course,
:38:28. > :38:35.what they and everyone else means by hard Brexit, soft Brexit, but we all
:38:36. > :38:41.wondering what is meant by a soft coup!
:38:42. > :38:45.LAUGHTER When indeed it may be triggered and
:38:46. > :38:51.when we bother it has been triggered or not! Perhaps the Prime Minister
:38:52. > :38:55.can elucidate on that since she has been so helpful in so many other
:38:56. > :39:00.ways. Which eg the opportunity today however to make it clear that
:39:01. > :39:05.whatever former Prime Ministers for the unelected upper house might say,
:39:06. > :39:09.the reality is that her plan to trigger Article 50 by the end of
:39:10. > :39:14.March is now clearly on track? CHEERING
:39:15. > :39:19.I thank the honourable gentleman for the question that he has asked. It
:39:20. > :39:27.is my plan to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, rather than
:39:28. > :39:32.triggering any kind of coup. It is still our intention to do that. It
:39:33. > :39:38.is important the Article 50 builders respond to the judgment of the
:39:39. > :39:41.Supreme Court but also responds to the voice of the United Kingdom when
:39:42. > :39:49.people voted to ensure we do leave the European Union and that is what
:39:50. > :39:53.we will do. Mr Speaker, perhaps you like many here today took a shower
:39:54. > :40:05.this morning. LAUGHTER
:40:06. > :40:13.I am sure, Mr Speaker, you are very careful to check whether the shower
:40:14. > :40:21.gel contained micro beads. Products containing them can result... The
:40:22. > :40:29.thrust of this fascinating question! Let's hear it. Shower gel products
:40:30. > :40:32.containing them can result in 100,000 micro beads or plastics
:40:33. > :40:38.being washed down the drain every time you use them. This damage is
:40:39. > :40:41.precious habitats. With the Prime Minister join with me in welcoming
:40:42. > :40:50.the steps this Government is taking to introduce a ban on micro beads
:40:51. > :41:05.used in cosmetics and care products. The consultation ended just a few
:41:06. > :41:08.days ago. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think I should say for clarity to
:41:09. > :41:12.members of this House that I am not in a position to know whether or not
:41:13. > :41:22.you took a shower this morning. LAUGHTER
:41:23. > :41:27.My honourable friend has raised a very important point and it is
:41:28. > :41:30.completely unnecessary to add plastics to products like face
:41:31. > :41:37.washes and body scrub were harmless alternatives can be used. As she
:41:38. > :41:40.referred to at the end of her question, our consultation to ban
:41:41. > :41:45.micro beads in products closed recently. We were aiming to change
:41:46. > :41:49.legislation by October 20 17th and we also ask for what more can be
:41:50. > :41:52.done in future to prevent other sources of plastic from entering the
:41:53. > :41:55.marine environment because we are committed to being the first
:41:56. > :42:00.generation ever to leave the environment in a better state than
:42:01. > :42:03.it was inherited and I'm sure we can work together to bring an end to
:42:04. > :42:12.these harmful plastics clogging up our oceans. I think people are
:42:13. > :42:19.assured by what the Prime Minister just said! Along the corridor in
:42:20. > :42:29.South Wales, families woke up this morning worried about potential job
:42:30. > :42:31.losses at Ford in Bridgend. Families are particularly frightened that
:42:32. > :42:35.Ford is not going to be able to bring new contracts into the factory
:42:36. > :42:41.with the uncertainty of Brexit ahead of them. Can I have an assurance
:42:42. > :42:47.from the Prime Minister that she will ensure our ministers meet with
:42:48. > :42:51.Ford and the union to see what can be done to support Ford to ensure
:42:52. > :42:59.continuity of engine production in the Bridgend Ford plant? Can I
:43:00. > :43:01.reassure the honourable lady that one of our automotive sectors is one
:43:02. > :43:05.of the most productive in the world and be what is she going from
:43:06. > :43:07.strength to strength? That's why ministers in this Government have
:43:08. > :43:13.been engaging with various companies within the sector including Ford and
:43:14. > :43:17.other companies. Ford is an important investor here. It has been
:43:18. > :43:21.established for over 100 years. We now account for around a third of
:43:22. > :43:25.its global engine production and Bridgend continue to be an important
:43:26. > :43:28.part of that. We have had dialogue with Ford and will continue to have
:43:29. > :43:36.regular dialogue with Ford about the ways Government can help to make
:43:37. > :43:40.sure the success continues. Will the member wishing to take her seat
:43:41. > :43:49.please come to the table? CHEERING