:00:00. > :00:00.which can be used on the front line, but it means public services will be
:00:00. > :00:07.simpler for the citizens to be dealt with because they are situated on
:00:08. > :00:26.one place. Questions to the Prime Minister.
:00:27. > :00:29.I would like to express my condolences to the family and
:00:30. > :00:31.colleagues of the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin
:00:32. > :00:38.We do not condone the path he took in the first period of his life.
:00:39. > :00:42.However, he played an indispensable role in bringing the republican
:00:43. > :00:46.movement away from violence to peaceful and democratic means and to
:00:47. > :00:49.building a better Northern Ireland. This morning I had meetings with
:00:50. > :00:52.ministerial colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in this
:00:53. > :00:58.has, I shall have further such meetings later today. The Prime
:00:59. > :01:08.Minister says that there is more money for the National Health
:01:09. > :01:12.Service, more nurses and more doctors, yet Bassetlaw breast care
:01:13. > :01:16.unit has been cut back and Bassetlaw children's ward has been closed
:01:17. > :01:24.overnight. Something clearly does not add up. I and the mothers of the
:01:25. > :01:29.most seriously ill children who use the children's ward the most
:01:30. > :01:33.frequently offer to the Prime Minister to work with her to solve
:01:34. > :01:40.this problem. Is her door at Number Ten open to us? I say to the
:01:41. > :01:45.honourable gentleman, if we look at what has happened in his area, his
:01:46. > :01:49.NHS Bassetlaw clinical commissioning groups is receiving a cash increase,
:01:50. > :01:54.the Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS hospitals foundation trust have over
:01:55. > :01:59.80 more doctors and nearly 30 more nurses but of course what we see...
:02:00. > :02:05.He talks of listening to the voice of local people in relation to
:02:06. > :02:07.health services in the local area. That is exactly what the
:02:08. > :02:11.sustainability and transformation plans are about. It is about hearing
:02:12. > :02:14.from local people and local clinicians and putting together the
:02:15. > :02:22.health provisions that ensure that they meet local needs. Thank you, Mr
:02:23. > :02:27.Speaker. Telford is a story of trans formation and progress, from the
:02:28. > :02:32.ironmasters of the first industrial revolution through to a new
:02:33. > :02:36.revolution in hi-tech manufacturing in Telford today. It has helped
:02:37. > :02:41.build Britain. As this government delivers on the democratic will of
:02:42. > :02:46.the British people and triggers Article 50, will my right honourable
:02:47. > :02:53.friend tell us how Telford will prosper from Brexit and from her
:02:54. > :02:58.plan for Britain? As I've said before, the referendum result was
:02:59. > :03:03.not just about membership of the EU, it was about to change the this
:03:04. > :03:07.country works and to make Britain a country that works for everyone, not
:03:08. > :03:11.just the privileged few. And that's why the plan for Britain is a plan
:03:12. > :03:16.to get the right deal for Britain and abroad but also to build a
:03:17. > :03:20.stronger, fairer Britain for ordinary working families here at
:03:21. > :03:25.home like those in Telford and I'm pleased that we've already provided
:03:26. > :03:31.?70 million of funding to the local LEP to proof improve in the search
:03:32. > :03:34.in Telford. This government is putting the resources and our plans
:03:35. > :03:38.are Britain will deliver that stronger, fairer economy and a more
:03:39. > :03:46.united, more outward looking country than ever before. Jeremy Corbyn.
:03:47. > :03:49.Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Could I start by echoing the words
:03:50. > :03:54.of the Prime Minister concerning the death of Martin McGuinness, the
:03:55. > :03:57.former deputy minister of Northern Ireland. He died this week and our
:03:58. > :04:01.thoughts go to his family, his wife Bernie and the wider community.
:04:02. > :04:05.Martin played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Northern
:04:06. > :04:09.Ireland and it is that peace that we all want to see energy for all time,
:04:10. > :04:18.for all people in Northern Ireland. -- endure. The government is cutting
:04:19. > :04:24.the schools budget by 6.5% by 2020 and today, we learn the proposed
:04:25. > :04:29.national funding formula will leave 1000 schools across England facing
:04:30. > :04:34.additional cuts of a further 7% beyond 2020. Can the Prime Minister
:04:35. > :04:38.explain to parents why cutting capital gains tax, cutting
:04:39. > :04:43.inheritance tax, cutting corporation tax, cutting bank levy are all more
:04:44. > :04:50.important than our children's future? This government is committed
:04:51. > :04:54.to ensuring that all our children get the education that is right for
:04:55. > :05:00.them and that all our children have a good school plays. That is what
:05:01. > :05:05.the Government's plans for education will provide and that is building on
:05:06. > :05:08.a fine record of the past nearly seven years for Conservatives in
:05:09. > :05:12.government, when we've seen 1.8 million more children in good or
:05:13. > :05:17.outstanding schools. We've protected the schools budget and the national
:05:18. > :05:22.funding formula is a consultation and obviously there will be a number
:05:23. > :05:25.of views. The consultation closes today and then the Department for
:05:26. > :05:31.Education will respond to that in due course. The manifesto on which
:05:32. > :05:34.she fought the last election promised that under a future
:05:35. > :05:40.Conservative government, the amount of money following your child into
:05:41. > :05:48.school will be protected. No wonder even be editor of the London Evening
:05:49. > :05:53.Standard is up in arms about this! Where is he? There he is! Mr
:05:54. > :05:58.Speaker, the cuts to school funding equates to the loss of two teachers
:05:59. > :06:02.across all primary schools, six teachers across all secondary
:06:03. > :06:07.schools. So is the Prime Minister advocating larger class sizes,
:06:08. > :06:15.shorter school days or unqualified teachers? Which is it? As we said we
:06:16. > :06:19.would, we have protected the schools budget. We now see more teachers in
:06:20. > :06:25.our schools, we see more teachers with first-class degrees in our
:06:26. > :06:30.schools. As I say, we see 1.8 million more children in good or
:06:31. > :06:36.outstanding schools. That's a result of the policies of this government,
:06:37. > :06:40.of diversity in education, Free Schools, academies, comprehensives,
:06:41. > :06:45.faith schools, universities, grammar schools. We believe in diversity in
:06:46. > :06:51.education and choice for parents. He believes in a one size fits all,
:06:52. > :06:57.take it or leave it model. She was clearly elected on a pledge not to
:06:58. > :07:01.cut school funding and that is exactly what's happening. Maybe she
:07:02. > :07:06.could listen to headteachers in West Sussex, who say they believe savings
:07:07. > :07:12.will come from, and I quote, staffing reductions, further
:07:13. > :07:15.increased class sizes, withdrawal of counselling and pastoral services,
:07:16. > :07:20.modified school hours, reduction in books, IT and equipment. I've got a
:07:21. > :07:25.heartfelt letter from a primary school teacher by Remain Eileen.
:07:26. > :07:33.Eileen is one of our many hard working teachers who cares our kids
:07:34. > :07:37.and she wrote to me to say, teachers are purchasing items such as pens,
:07:38. > :07:42.pencils, glue sticks and paper out of their own pockets. Fundraising
:07:43. > :07:46.events have quadrupled as funds are so low that parents are having to
:07:47. > :07:51.make donations to purchase books. This is disgraceful, says Eileen.
:07:52. > :07:59.Does the Prime Minister agree with Eileen? We are seeing record levels
:08:00. > :08:04.of funding going into our schools. We have protected the schools
:08:05. > :08:09.budget, we protected the pupil premium, but what matters for
:08:10. > :08:14.parents is the quality of... You shouldn't keep yelling out, what
:08:15. > :08:21.about Eileen? The Prime Minister is... The Prime Minister is giving
:08:22. > :08:29.her response to the leader of the is a, including the references to
:08:30. > :08:34.Eileen. The Prime Minister. What matters for all of us who are
:08:35. > :08:37.concerned about education in this country is to ensure that the
:08:38. > :08:42.quality of education that has provided our children is a quality
:08:43. > :08:46.that enabled them to get on in life and have a better future. That is
:08:47. > :08:51.what this government is about. It is about ensuring that in this country,
:08:52. > :09:00.you get an on the basis of merit, not privileged. It is about ensuring
:09:01. > :09:03.every child, every child... Every child across this country has the
:09:04. > :09:07.opportunity of a good school plays. That's what we have been delivering
:09:08. > :09:13.for the past seven years and is what we will deliver into the future and
:09:14. > :09:16.every single policy that has delivered better education for
:09:17. > :09:24.children has been opposed by the right honourable gentleman. Mr
:09:25. > :09:28.Speaker, maybe she could have a word with her friend the Member for the
:09:29. > :09:34.Cotswolds who said this week, under this new formula all my large
:09:35. > :09:40.primaries and all my secondaries will actually see a cash cut in
:09:41. > :09:46.their budgets. And in the budget, the Government found no more money
:09:47. > :09:53.for the schools budget but it did find ?320 million for her own
:09:54. > :09:58.special schools, grammar schools vanity project. So there was no
:09:59. > :10:01.money for Eileen's schools but 320 million for divisive grammar
:10:02. > :10:10.schools. What kind of priority is that? First of all, what we have
:10:11. > :10:13.done in relation to the funding formula is addressed an issue that
:10:14. > :10:24.Labour ignored for all its time in government. Across... Across this
:10:25. > :10:27.House, there has generally, for many years, been an accepted view that
:10:28. > :10:34.the current formula for school funding is not fair. I was calling
:10:35. > :10:39.for a better funding formula over 15 years ago when I was the Shadow
:10:40. > :10:42.Education Secretary. We've put forward a proposal, we are
:10:43. > :10:48.consulting on it, the consultation closes today and we will respond to
:10:49. > :10:54.that consultation. But he talks about the issue of the sort of
:10:55. > :10:58.system in schools we want. Yes, we want to diversity, different sorts
:10:59. > :11:03.of schools. We have put money into new school places but I say to the
:11:04. > :11:06.right honourable gentleman, his Shadow Home Secretary sent her child
:11:07. > :11:15.to a private school, his shadow Attorney General sent her child to a
:11:16. > :11:21.private school. He sent... He sent his child to a grammar school. He
:11:22. > :11:31.went to a grammar school himself. Typical Labour - take the advantage
:11:32. > :11:46.and pull up the ladder behind you. Mr Speaker... I want a decent, their
:11:47. > :11:53.opportunity for every child in every school. I want a staircase for all,
:11:54. > :11:58.not a ladder for the few. She hasn't been very good at convincing the
:11:59. > :12:03.former Secretary of State for Education, the honourable member for
:12:04. > :12:09.Loughborough, who wrote last week," all the evidence is clear that
:12:10. > :12:12.grammar schools damaged social mobility". What evidence has the
:12:13. > :12:20.Prime Minister got that the former Secretary of State is wrong in that?
:12:21. > :12:24.The evidence is that the attainment for the poorest children, the
:12:25. > :12:31.attainment gap in a selective school is virtually zero. That tells us the
:12:32. > :12:37.quality of the education that they are getting. But what I want is a
:12:38. > :12:41.diverse education system, where there are genuine opportunities for
:12:42. > :12:45.all to have the education that is right for them. That's why in the
:12:46. > :12:50.budget, as well as dealing with the issue of new school places, we've
:12:51. > :12:53.also put extra money into technical education, for those young they will
:12:54. > :12:56.for whom the technical education is right. He says he wants
:12:57. > :13:01.opportunities for all children, he says he wants good school places for
:13:02. > :13:07.all children. When he should jolly well support the policies we're
:13:08. > :13:11.putting forward. It is not just the former Education Secretary, it is
:13:12. > :13:14.also the chair of the education select committee, who says grammar
:13:15. > :13:21.schools do little for social mobility and are an unnecessary
:13:22. > :13:24.distraction. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister and her government
:13:25. > :13:28.arbitrating a generation of young people by cutting the funding of
:13:29. > :13:32.every child to adopt -- are betraying. Children will have fewer
:13:33. > :13:36.teachers, larger classes, fewer subjects to choose from and all the
:13:37. > :13:42.Prime Minister can do is focus on her grammar school vanity project
:13:43. > :13:46.that can only ever benefit a few children. Is the Prime Minister
:13:47. > :13:52.content that this generation, this generation in our schools today,
:13:53. > :13:56.will see their schools decline, their subject choices diminished,
:13:57. > :14:04.and their life chances held back by decisions of her government today?
:14:05. > :14:09.Protected school funding, more teachers in our schools, more
:14:10. > :14:14.teachers with first-class degrees in our schools, more children in good
:14:15. > :14:18.or outstanding schools. It's not a vanity project to want every child
:14:19. > :14:23.in this country to have a good school plays, because that's how
:14:24. > :14:28.they will get on in life and that's what this party will deliver. But it
:14:29. > :14:33.shows that there is a difference... Yes. There is a difference between
:14:34. > :14:38.the right honourable gentleman and meet it up earlier this week, he
:14:39. > :14:44.recorded a video calling for unity. He called for Labour to think of our
:14:45. > :14:49.people first, think of our movement first, think of the party first.
:14:50. > :14:52.That's the difference between him and made it up labour but the party
:14:53. > :15:11.first, we put the country first. Thank you, Mr Speaker. For searching
:15:12. > :15:14.Prime Ministers have taken a close personal interest in the
:15:15. > :15:17.effectiveness of Dover and the channelp ports as gateways and
:15:18. > :15:22.guardians of the kingdom. Can I ask my right honourable friend to take a
:15:23. > :15:27.close interest in making sure Kent's ports are ready for Brexit on day 1,
:15:28. > :15:30.not just for customs but also that the lorry port is on schedule and
:15:31. > :15:36.that the Thames crossing are in force. And Mr Speaker will you join
:15:37. > :15:41.with me and the Prime Minister in wishing Dame Vera Lynn a happy 100th
:15:42. > :15:44.birthday this week? I'm extremely grateful to the honourable
:15:45. > :15:48.gentleman, but I did do that a couple of days ago. Mr Speaker, I
:15:49. > :15:55.didn't have the opportunity in this House to do it a couple of days ago.
:15:56. > :15:59.I'm happy to wish Dame Vera Lynn a very happy 100th birth day. I think
:16:00. > :16:03.it is right to recognise the service she gave to this country as many
:16:04. > :16:06.others Z my honourable friend raises an important issue of transport
:16:07. > :16:10.links in Kent and one which we have discussed on a number of occasions
:16:11. > :16:15.as I have with other Kent MPs. In addition to the M 20 lorry park I
:16:16. > :16:17.can assure him that the department for department is fully committed to
:16:18. > :16:20.delivering a long-term solution as quickly as possible. They're
:16:21. > :16:22.currently consider the findings of the lower Thames crossing
:16:23. > :16:27.consultation and highways England will be doing more detailed work on
:16:28. > :16:30.the A2 and the Home Office will be looking very closely at what
:16:31. > :16:37.measures need to be in place for Brexit for those coming across the
:16:38. > :16:40.border into Dover. May I begin extending condolences as
:16:41. > :16:43.the Prime Minister and the leader of the Labour Party have done to the
:16:44. > :16:47.family, friends and colleagues of the former Deputy First Minister of
:16:48. > :16:51.Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness. And we pay tribute to his
:16:52. > :16:55.contribution towards peace, whilst never forgetting the terrible human
:16:56. > :17:03.price during the Troubles. Last year, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister
:17:04. > :17:08.promised that she would secure a UK-wide agreement between the
:17:09. > :17:10.governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and her government,
:17:11. > :17:19.before triggering Article 50 own Brexit. Article -- on Brexit. Since
:17:20. > :17:22.then, she has delayed, blocked, been intransjet and lectured and
:17:23. > :17:27.surprise, surprise, she has no agreement. There is no agreement.
:17:28. > :17:35.Will these be her negotiating tactics with the European Union?
:17:36. > :17:39.Over the past few months, every effort has been put in at various
:17:40. > :17:43.levels, at ministerial and official levels to work with all the devolved
:17:44. > :17:47.administrations, to identify their particular concerns and interests
:17:48. > :17:50.and to ensure we are able to take those into account throughout the
:17:51. > :17:56.negotiating process and discussions will continue in the future. What we
:17:57. > :18:01.want to ensure is that we get the best-possible deal when we leave the
:18:02. > :18:05.European Union, for all the people of the United Kingdom, including the
:18:06. > :18:13.people of Scotland. Because at heart we are one people. And Mr Speaker,
:18:14. > :18:17.viewers will note that the Prime Minister totally glossed over the
:18:18. > :18:23.fact she has reached no agreement with the devolved governments of the
:18:24. > :18:26.United Kingdom. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister says that she wants
:18:27. > :18:31.Article 50 negotiations to lead to a deal. And she wants people to know
:18:32. > :18:37.the outcome of that deal before it is approved. So, will the Prime
:18:38. > :18:43.Minister confirm that in the period for an I greement, the House of
:18:44. > :18:46.Commons will have a choice -- for an agreement the House of Commons will
:18:47. > :18:49.have a choice, the House of Lords will have a choice. The European
:18:50. > :18:53.Parliament will have a choi.s 27 Member States of the European Union
:18:54. > :18:58.will have a choice. Mr Speaker, if it is right for all of them to have
:18:59. > :19:03.a choice about Scotland's future, why should the people of Scotland
:19:04. > :19:11.not have a choice about their own future? This isn't a question about
:19:12. > :19:24.whether the people of Scotland should have a choice. The people of
:19:25. > :19:29.Scotland voted - exercised their right to self-determination and
:19:30. > :19:36.voted in 2014 to remain a part of the United Kingdom. The people of
:19:37. > :19:44.the United Kingdom last year voted to leave the European Union. We are
:19:45. > :19:53.respecting both of those votes. He is respecting neither of them. Mr
:19:54. > :19:58.Speaker, with her strong commitment to defence, would my right
:19:59. > :20:09.honourable friend agree that we must stem the outflow from our flow
:20:10. > :20:12.slinking forces? Could I urge her to reconsidering the approximatelicy
:20:13. > :20:17.she inherited of encouraging service families to get on the housinger why
:20:18. > :20:24.and on the other hand focussing the Army in areas where there is no
:20:25. > :20:28.affordable housing and applying the new landlord tax arrangements of
:20:29. > :20:31.they buy-to-let. Obviously I recognise the passion with with my
:20:32. > :20:34.honourable friend has raised these issues in relation to the Armed
:20:35. > :20:39.Forces. He raises an important point but I can assure him we are fully
:20:40. > :20:42.committed to our goal of an 82,000-strong Army by 2020. He
:20:43. > :20:45.raises a point about service accommodation. We want to ensure
:20:46. > :20:49.that people have a greater choice in where they of live, by using private
:20:50. > :20:54.accommodation, and meeting their aspirations for home-ownership.
:20:55. > :20:58.That's why we have set up the ?200 million forces help-to-buy scheme
:20:59. > :21:00.and we're considering to support subsidised housing for service
:21:01. > :21:05.personnel and the pot of money will not be cut. The Ministry of Defence
:21:06. > :21:10.is working with the Treasury in relation to the issues he raises and
:21:11. > :21:15.I'm sure they will keep him updated. Thank you Mr Speaker. The United
:21:16. > :21:19.Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be 95 years'
:21:20. > :21:22.old in December N that UK-Scottish economic growth is one-quarter of
:21:23. > :21:26.that independent Iceland and one-third of independent Ireland.
:21:27. > :21:30.Now, given the Prime Minister supports Irish independence and the
:21:31. > :21:34.benefits it has brought its economy and population, why does she owe
:21:35. > :21:38.pose it for Scotland and will she show Scotland the respect the EU
:21:39. > :21:45.shows the UK in regards to a referendum. I have to say to the
:21:46. > :21:49.honourable gentleman that if he is looking at issues around economic
:21:50. > :21:52.growth and he quoted figures for economic groat. He should pay
:21:53. > :21:55.attention for the most important market for Scotland. The most
:21:56. > :21:59.important market for Scotland is the market of the United Kingdom and
:22:00. > :22:08.this is' why Scotland should remain part of it. -- and that's why. Thank
:22:09. > :22:12.you, Mr Speaker, last week, with cross-party support my honourable
:22:13. > :22:20.friend for chipping ham and I set up an all-party group for lime disease
:22:21. > :22:22.this, debilitating disease is a growing problem across the country
:22:23. > :22:25.and including my constituency of North Dorset, yet awareness of it
:22:26. > :22:27.amongst the public and GPs is incredibly low. Will my right
:22:28. > :22:32.honourable friend ensure that her Government does all that it can to
:22:33. > :22:36.raise its profile and resolve the problems surrounding both diagnosis
:22:37. > :22:39.and treatment? Well, my honourable friend raises an important point. I
:22:40. > :22:43.commend him and my honourable friend the member for chipping ham for the
:22:44. > :22:47.attention that is now going given in the House to this issue. He is
:22:48. > :22:51.right, we do need to raise awareness of this issue but we also need to
:22:52. > :22:55.ensure that diagnosis and treatment is - early diagnosis and treatment
:22:56. > :22:58.is there because that's the best way of limiting the complications from
:22:59. > :23:01.this particular disease. The Department of Health is already
:23:02. > :23:06.taking steps, clinical guidelines are being updated and enhanced by
:23:07. > :23:09.NICE. NHS England has undertaken robust reviews on diagnosis, testing
:23:10. > :23:13.and treatment but there is more that we can do and so Public Health
:23:14. > :23:16.England is holding regular medical training days and conducting
:23:17. > :23:19.outreach across the medical community to raise awareness and
:23:20. > :23:24.ensure that that early diagnosis is there.
:23:25. > :23:27.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Yesterday in a Westminster Hall debate a Health
:23:28. > :23:31.Minister said the issue in hand was above his pay grade. On the basis
:23:32. > :23:35.that the Prime Minister has the top pay grade, can she give us a clue as
:23:36. > :23:40.to when we'll see the long-aed waited and very late tobacco-control
:23:41. > :23:43.plan? I can assure him that we are working on the tobacco control plan
:23:44. > :23:50.and one will be issued in due course.
:23:51. > :23:53.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Recently a substantial number of Government
:23:54. > :23:59.ministers took the opportunity to visit Cumbria. . Hear, hear. They
:24:00. > :24:05.saw for themselves not only its beauty, but also its industrial
:24:06. > :24:08.strengths and its potential. If the Government's industrial strategy is
:24:09. > :24:12.to succeed, places such as Cumbria need to be part of that success.
:24:13. > :24:14.Plot Prime Minister ensure that Cumbria gets the infrastructure
:24:15. > :24:19.investment which it requires to make sure that it really does fulfil its
:24:20. > :24:22.potential? I can assure my honourable friend that I and other
:24:23. > :24:26.ministerial colleagues were delighted to be able it take the
:24:27. > :24:31.opportunity to visit the beautiful county of Cumbria and we are even
:24:32. > :24:35.happier now Cumbria has another strong force in the form of the
:24:36. > :24:38.Conservative MP for Copeland. But he's right, Cumbria and the
:24:39. > :24:42.north-west has huge industrial potential that's why we are getting
:24:43. > :24:50.on delivering our investment plans across the country, including in the
:24:51. > :24:54.north-west. And just some figures, ?556 million allocated to produce
:24:55. > :24:57.productivity and north is getting ?156 million to tackle congestion
:24:58. > :25:01.and local interest. But it is our plan for Britain that will deliver
:25:02. > :25:04.the stronger, fairer economy, and that will deliver the higher-paid,
:25:05. > :25:09.higher-skilled jobs for people across the whole country.
:25:10. > :25:15.The Prime Minister is in denial. Today's report from the Institute
:25:16. > :25:20.for Fiscal Studies confirms that schools are already facing "The
:25:21. > :25:27.largest cut in spending per pupil over a four-year period since at
:25:28. > :25:30.least the early 1980s." And that under her new national formula "You
:25:31. > :25:36.funding is diverted from schools with very high level of
:25:37. > :25:45.deprivation." Every single school in my constituency will lose an average
:25:46. > :25:55.of ?584 per pupil. Has she failed at maths or failed to read her own
:25:56. > :26:02.manifesto? I responded to this point earlier but just to reiterate -
:26:03. > :26:06.across this House, for many years, there has been a general acceptance
:26:07. > :26:14.that the current funding formula for schools is unfair. That is why this
:26:15. > :26:19.Government is looking to find a formula, a fairer formula. There is
:26:20. > :26:25.a consultation exercise and the Department for Education will
:26:26. > :26:34.respond to that in due course. We are grasping this issue. Labour did
:26:35. > :26:39.nothing for 13 years. Can my right honourable friend
:26:40. > :26:45.confirm that in the forthcoming debate on the restoration and
:26:46. > :26:49.renewal of Parliament, all members, including ministers, will have a
:26:50. > :26:54.completely free vote in what is a House matter? And does she
:26:55. > :27:01.understand that many of us believe that in these times of austerity, we
:27:02. > :27:04.should not be front-loading billions of pounds worth of expenditure on
:27:05. > :27:10.ourselves at the expense of schools and hospitals, but that we should
:27:11. > :27:17.carry on the work and stay in what is the iconic image of the nation?
:27:18. > :27:20.Well, this Palace of Westminster is world renowned, tss a very important
:27:21. > :27:24.part of our national heritage. It belongs to the people of the United
:27:25. > :27:28.Kingdom and of course we have a responsibility to our constituents,
:27:29. > :27:33.also, to preserve this place as the home of our democracy. It will be
:27:34. > :27:37.for Parliament to take the final decision on this matter but I can
:27:38. > :27:45.assure my honourable friend, as it will be a House matter, it will be a
:27:46. > :27:49.free vote. Thank you Mr Speaker, air and road pollution, caused mainly by
:27:50. > :27:54.diesel engines brings about 40,000 early deaths in this country, while
:27:55. > :28:02.causing severe lung diseases, like bronchitis and asthma in our young
:28:03. > :28:05.people and children. A road in my constituency in Crumlin is the most
:28:06. > :28:11.polluted road outside of lob dovenl it is an absolute disgrace. Most of
:28:12. > :28:16.it is caused by HGVs lorries travelling up that road, spewing out
:28:17. > :28:23.noxious gases on the residents. Will the Prime Minister commit to ensure
:28:24. > :28:26.that hauliers will start using newer diesel engines and cleaner
:28:27. > :28:31.technology and cleaner inner joy to ensure that everybody, including our
:28:32. > :28:35.young people, can enjoy a better quality of life, especially on the
:28:36. > :28:38.road in my constituency? The honourable gentleman speaks up well
:28:39. > :28:41.for his constituents. I have to say to him this is an issue that we all
:28:42. > :28:44.recognise, the problems in relation to air quality. That's why the
:28:45. > :28:47.Government will be bringing forward further proposals in relation to air
:28:48. > :28:52.quality. We have seen some changes taking place and we have, of course,
:28:53. > :28:56.put investment into green transport initiatives and plans to introduce
:28:57. > :29:00.clean air zones around the country will help to tackle and that in fact
:29:01. > :29:03.we have been at the forefront of action in Europe in some aspects in
:29:04. > :29:08.relation to this. I accept there is more to be done. As I say we'll
:29:09. > :29:14.bring forward further proportional in due course Compensation paid by
:29:15. > :29:20.Network Rail to train operators for delays, far exceeds the amount that
:29:21. > :29:25.the passengers who have experienced the delayed are getting because the
:29:26. > :29:28.process can be come boresome. Will the Prime Minister insist the train
:29:29. > :29:31.operators ringfence that company, spend it on smart ticketing
:29:32. > :29:35.automation, so customers can tap on and tap off their train and receive
:29:36. > :29:38.the amount in their bank account for the delays they have been caused? My
:29:39. > :29:44.honourable friend does raise an important point. I know it is a
:29:45. > :29:47.source of much frustration to many rail travellers but I would also
:29:48. > :29:51.like it thank him for the way in which he and others have spoken up
:29:52. > :29:55.on behalf of passengers especially on the Thameslink, Southern and
:29:56. > :29:59.other lines. Now the best way to ensure that the operators do not
:30:00. > :30:02.profit from unclaimed compensation is for passengers to claim the
:30:03. > :30:07.compensation that they are entitled to and we are looking and Department
:30:08. > :30:10.for Transport is looking at how we can ensure that we publicise
:30:11. > :30:16.compensation schemes, make claims easier and we are rolling out
:30:17. > :30:19.improved delay repay compensation to allow passengers to claim after a
:30:20. > :30:22.delay of 15 minutes but the Department for Transport is
:30:23. > :30:24.continuing to look at this issue and I'm sure will pick up the points he
:30:25. > :30:33.has raised. Last week the Electoral Commission
:30:34. > :30:37.issued its largest ever find the Conservative Party for breaking a
:30:38. > :30:41.vital and crucial election ruled. What did the Prime Minister, the
:30:42. > :30:44.Cabinet and her assistants know about this activity, who was
:30:45. > :30:48.responsible for designing and signing off all of this and does she
:30:49. > :30:56.agree with me that this is at best wilful negligence and at worst pure
:30:57. > :31:00.electoral fraud? The honourable gentleman is asking me to respond to
:31:01. > :31:08.what is a party matter but I can assure him that the Conservative
:31:09. > :31:12.Party debt campaign in 2015 across the country for the return of a
:31:13. > :31:17.Conservative government and we should be clear that such
:31:18. > :31:20.campaigning would be part of the party's national return, not
:31:21. > :31:25.candidates' local return, as the Electoral Commission itself has
:31:26. > :31:31.said. We accepted in April 2016, the party accepted Ray Poar 2016, it had
:31:32. > :31:35.made an administrative error on its national spending. -- accepted in
:31:36. > :31:39.April 2016. It brought back to the attention of the commission to amend
:31:40. > :31:42.its national return. National spending is a question for the
:31:43. > :31:49.national party, not for individual members. The Electoral Commission
:31:50. > :31:52.has looked into these issues, as it has for the Liberal Democrat party
:31:53. > :31:58.and the Labour Party, it has issued fines to all three parties and those
:31:59. > :32:01.fines will be paid. The international trade committee has
:32:02. > :32:04.been taking evidence from the chambers of commerce this morning
:32:05. > :32:08.about exports. Given the Prime Minister's commitment to a global
:32:09. > :32:11.Britain, would she agree with me that we can maintain good relations
:32:12. > :32:16.with our European friends as we leave the EU and build on our
:32:17. > :32:19.long-standing relationships with our Commonwealth friends across the
:32:20. > :32:25.world to trade our way to greater prosperity? I say to him, obviously
:32:26. > :32:29.one of the four pillars are planned for Britain is that global Britain,
:32:30. > :32:32.and more outward looking Britain. He is right, it's not just a question
:32:33. > :32:37.of ensuring you get the right relationship with Europe when we
:32:38. > :32:43.leave the EU, we do want to continue to have a partnership, to be able to
:32:44. > :32:47.trade freely across Europe and for companies in European member states,
:32:48. > :32:51.EU member states, to trade with us. But we do want to enhance and
:32:52. > :32:53.improve the arrangements we have portrayed in other parts of the
:32:54. > :33:02.world, including members of the Commonwealth. Last week, through no
:33:03. > :33:05.fault of our own, Amy and her young daughter became homeless. After
:33:06. > :33:09.months of looking for a flat, she finally went to Merton council, who
:33:10. > :33:15.told her they could only offer her temporary accommodation in
:33:16. > :33:20.Birmingham, 140 miles away from her job, from her daughter's school and
:33:21. > :33:25.from the friends and family who make it possible for her to be a working
:33:26. > :33:29.single mum. Can I ask the Prime Minister, in one of the richest
:33:30. > :33:36.cities in the world, where Russian oligarchs and Chinese banks own
:33:37. > :33:40.scores of properties and leave them empty, how can it be right that a
:33:41. > :33:48.London born working family like Amy have not a room to live? Well, the
:33:49. > :33:51.issue, obviously, of housing in the London Borough of Merton is one that
:33:52. > :33:54.the honourable lady and I worked on many years ago when we were on the
:33:55. > :33:58.housing committee of the London Borough of Merton together and I
:33:59. > :34:02.recognise that she has raised a concern for her constituent.
:34:03. > :34:08.Obviously, I won't comment on the individual case. What I will say is
:34:09. > :34:12.what's important is that overall, the Government is dealing with the
:34:13. > :34:18.issue of homelessness, we are rich we are building more homes, we are
:34:19. > :34:22.giving more support to people to get into their own homes. -- we are
:34:23. > :34:26.ensuring we are building more homes. That will take time and as we ensure
:34:27. > :34:30.we maintain the record that we have in providing housing support in all
:34:31. > :34:36.types of housing across this country. As the Prime Minister
:34:37. > :34:39.already said, it must be right that the same pupils with the same
:34:40. > :34:42.characteristics attract the same amount of money and that is an
:34:43. > :34:47.unfairness that was not challenged for 13 years under the Labour
:34:48. > :34:51.government. Yes, there needed to be changes to the current draft formula
:34:52. > :34:54.but I hope that she will commit to confirm -- to fulfilling our
:34:55. > :34:57.manifesto promise of making school funding fairer and I think she will
:34:58. > :35:00.agree with me that if the Labour Party had carried on in office,
:35:01. > :35:04.their spending plans would have led to what has happened in Greece and
:35:05. > :35:10.Spain where not just hundreds, but tens of thousands of teachers, have
:35:11. > :35:13.had to be fired. My right honourable friend is right. As I said earlier,
:35:14. > :35:17.this is an issue in terms of the funding formula for schools that was
:35:18. > :35:23.docked for too long and certainly doctored by the last Labour
:35:24. > :35:27.government. We have started to address it. -- docked. We have put
:35:28. > :35:32.forward a proposal, we will look at the consultation responses on that
:35:33. > :35:36.and respond in due course but she is absolutely right about the Labour
:35:37. > :35:39.Party. The Labour Party's education policies would mean fewer
:35:40. > :35:44.opportunities in schools and their economic policy would mean less
:35:45. > :35:51.funding for schools. Last week, her government confirmed that an
:35:52. > :35:58.assessment of the economic impact of the failure to strike in EU deal
:35:59. > :36:02.before exited top is it not the case that in triggering Article 50 last
:36:03. > :36:04.week, she is the military equivalent of Lord Cardigan, the military
:36:05. > :36:09.commander responsible for the child of light Brigade, and we all love
:36:10. > :36:12.how that ended? In triggering Article 50 next week, what I'm doing
:36:13. > :36:20.is responding to the wishes of the British people. Does the Prime
:36:21. > :36:25.Minister agree that we urgently need to find a solution to the impacts of
:36:26. > :36:30.the national living wage on sleeping shifts in the care sector? This,
:36:31. > :36:35.together with HMRC policies that are insisting on a payment of six-years'
:36:36. > :36:40.backpay plus penalties, may have a devastating impact on this vitally
:36:41. > :36:44.important sector. He has raised a very important point and obviously,
:36:45. > :36:50.through the national living wage, we are giving Britain a pay rise,
:36:51. > :36:53.making sure pay is fair, in social care and all sectors. But on the
:36:54. > :36:56.specific pointy has raised, this is an issue we are addressing, we are
:36:57. > :37:01.looking at it very carefully, including in the context of the
:37:02. > :37:06.funding pressures on social care. We are working to ensure it affects low
:37:07. > :37:10.paid workers in a fair and proportionate manner. As the
:37:11. > :37:13.Chancellor announced in the budget, ?2 billion of extra money is going
:37:14. > :37:16.into the social care sector but the very specific issue my honourable
:37:17. > :37:24.friend has raised is being carefully looked at by the Treasury. Despite
:37:25. > :37:30.austerity, shocking pay increases were awarded to the board of
:37:31. > :37:40.Liverpool CCG, where a lady deputy chair is paid over ?100,000 after a
:37:41. > :37:45.43% increase. -- a lay deputy checked it would the Minister agree
:37:46. > :37:50.to investigate this and the lack of scrutiny within the wider Liverpool
:37:51. > :37:57.health economy, whilst ensuring that no murders take place while this is
:37:58. > :38:00.investigated? I understand that the Health Secretary has asked NHS
:38:01. > :38:03.England to investigate the remuneration of nonexecutive
:38:04. > :38:07.directors at Liverpool CCG and I'm sure he will keep updated about
:38:08. > :38:10.this. We want to make the NHS even more efficient so every penny
:38:11. > :38:13.possible can be spent on front line patient care and we are seeing
:38:14. > :38:18.results, I'm pleased to say, because we now see a financial position that
:38:19. > :38:23.has improved by 1.3 billion compared to this time last year with 44 fewer
:38:24. > :38:28.trust endeavours it but, as I say, NHS England is investigating the
:38:29. > :38:32.issue she has raised. The Prime Minister will be aware that the Jo
:38:33. > :38:36.Cox commission on loneliness is calling us all to action to
:38:37. > :38:40.highlight and tackle loneliness. In Northumberland, a small charity of
:38:41. > :38:43.which I'm a patron is taking up this challenge with female military
:38:44. > :38:48.veterans who are suffering from severe isolation issues. With the
:38:49. > :38:53.Prime Minister meet with me and some of these extraordinary women to
:38:54. > :38:57.learn how our government can help? Can I commend the work that is being
:38:58. > :39:02.done by that organisation in my honourable friend's constituency. It
:39:03. > :39:08.sounds like a valuable project doing valuable work and state for defence
:39:09. > :39:11.will be happy to meet her. Tomorrow the schools minister has been good
:39:12. > :39:15.enough to meet Erdington Headteachers from a constituency
:39:16. > :39:19.rich in talent but one of the poorest in the country in a city,
:39:20. > :39:25.Birmingham, where 96% of schools will lose a total of ?20 million
:39:26. > :39:29.under the government's fair funding formula, yet Surrey gained 17
:39:30. > :39:34.million, Southwark gains ten million and Windsor and Maidenhead gained
:39:35. > :39:39.300,000. How can that possibly be fair? I note that the schools
:39:40. > :39:44.minister will be meeting the honourable gentleman and head
:39:45. > :39:48.teachers to discuss this issue. What the fair funding formula is looking
:39:49. > :39:54.at is trying to ensure that the unfair funding which has existed up
:39:55. > :40:00.till now is actually dealt with, and there are some very, very stark
:40:01. > :40:03.differences. There are schools in London, for example, that gets
:40:04. > :40:07.almost twice the funding of schools in other parts of the country. We
:40:08. > :40:10.need to ensure that we are addressing the unfairness in the
:40:11. > :40:14.funding formula but, as I said earlier, there was a consultation
:40:15. > :40:17.exercise and the department will respond in due course.