29/03/2017 Prime Minister's Questions

aid to the people that need it most, that is something we are proud of,

and absolutely, we stand tall in the world when we stand up for our

obligations for the poorest in the world, that's effectively what we

are doing the blue order, questions to the Prime Minister.

They were Aysha Frade, Kurt Cochran, Leslie Rhodes and, of course, PC

Keith Palmer. I am sure the house will join me in extending

condolences to the families. The investigation continues and two

people have been arrested and are in custody. This morning I had meetings

with ministerial colleagues and I will have further such meetings

later today. May I echo her sentiments and congratulate her also

on all the good work done since last week. May I also congratulate the

Prime Minister and government on triggering Article 50 today. I know

this is a momentous action to the whole of the United Kingdom and

while I like herself campaigned to stay in, we recognise the people

have spoken and we offered the Ulster Unionist Party. Port in

ensuring negotiations deliver the best for the whole of the UK and

particularly for Northern Ireland. But could I ask the Prime Minister

to confirm that in the extremely improbable event that a border poll

should take place regarding the future of Northern Ireland within

the United Kingdom during her premiership, that a government will

fully support any official Remain campaign? Just as the government

have done both in regard of the EU and indeed Scotland. The honourable

gentleman is right. Today we do give effect to the democratic decision of

the people of the United Kingdom who voted for us to leave the European

Union. It was a call to make the United Kingdom a country that works

for everyone not just the privileged few. We are within that fully

committed to ensuring the unique interests of Northern Ireland are

attracted and advanced as we establish our negotiating position.

Our position is we strongly support the Belfast agreement including the

principle of consent that Northern Ireland constitutional position is

that the people of Northern Ireland to determine. We have a preference

that Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom and we

will never be neutral in expressing our support for that. That is

because I believe fundamentally in the strength of our union. Pupils

and parents deserve good schools and real choice in education including

schools focused unashamedly on academic rigour. Can my right

honourable friend tell us when the government will open applications

for the new wave of free schools and can she confirmed they will be

genuinely free to be run as they wish, serving the community and

creating scores for everyone? My honourable friend is right. Schools

should be free to be run as best suit them. We put autonomy and

freedom in the hands of strong leaders and outstanding teachers so

they can deliver an excellent education. We want to get out of the

way of outstanding education providers to set up the types of

schools parents want which is why we have set out plans to remove the ban

on new grammar schools and restrictions on new faith schools.

We do expect to announce the details of the next wave of free school

applications following the publication of the White Paper. I

want to begin by paying tribute to the emergency services as the Prime

Minister did, across the country, especially those who responded to

the Westminster attack and to those who turned out to help the victims

of the new ferry explosion on Saturday. Our thoughts remain with

the injured and those who have lost loved ones and we thank the police

for their investigations. Could the Prime Minister assure Ross police

will be given all support and resources to take them through this

difficult period -- assure us? I joined the right honourable

gentleman in praising the work of the emergency services, who have to

deal with a wide range of incidents that take place. Our focus has been

most recently on the attack last Wednesday. We should not forget that

day in day out emergency services work on our behalf and often put

themselves in danger as a result. I have kept in touch as has my right

honourable friend the Home Secretary with the security services and

Metropolitan Police on the investigation taking place into the

attack last week and I am looking forward to security arrangements and

I can assure him they have the resources they need to carry out

vital work. Of course we all pay tribute to the police for the work

they do but there are some problems that between 2015 and 2018 there

will be a real terms cut in central government funding to police forces

of 330 million. Can the Prime Minister assure the house the police

all over the country have the necessary resources to do the job? I

would remind him that what we have done is protected that police budget

and of course the former Shadow Home Secretary, his colleague, the right

honourable member, prior to the... At the Labour Party conference said

savings can be found. The police say 5-10% is just about doable. We have

protected the police budget. I have been speaking to police forces and

they are cleared the work they are doing has the resources they need.

The Police Federation survey recently undertaken reveals that 55%

of serving police officers say morale is low due to the way in

which funding has been treated. Front line policing is vital in

tackling crime and terrorism. Since 2010, there are 20,000 fewer police

officers, 12,000 fewer on the front line. I asked the Prime Minister

again, will she think again about the cuts and guaranteed policing on

the front line will be protected so every community can be assured it

has the officers it needs in their community? I said we have protected

those police budgets including of course the precepts they raise

locally. Let's think about what has happened since 2010. Since 2010 we

have seen crime is traditionally measured by the independent crime

survey falling by a third to a record low, and that is the work of

hard-working officers up and down this country. They have been backed

by this government. We have made them more accountable through

directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners and there has been

reform, including reform of the Police Federation that was

necessary, but we have ensured police have resources to do their

job and we see crime at a record low. The Royal air forces preparing

to fly typhoons from my constituency to Romania, to support Nato allies

on the border with Russia. This is as President Putin is locking up

political opponents and crushing calls for democracy. Will my right

honourable friend confirm that as we leave the EU, the United Kingdom

will continue to lead Nato in defending this vital border, and

will she paid tribute to the Armed Forces who safeguard our democracy

at home and abroad? I am very happy to join my honourable friend in

paying tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, they are the

best in the world and they worked tirelessly to keep us safe and we

open every gratitude. Our commitment to collective defence and security

through Nato is as strong as ever. We will meet our pledge to spend 2%

of GDP wand expense every year of the decade and we plan to spend 178

billion on equipment. She referred to work done by the Royal Air Force

in relation to Romania. With Nato we deploy a battalion to Estonia and

squadron to Poland and I think that shows our commitment to our

collective security and defence. We associate ourselves with the

condolences of the Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party and

praise for the emergency and security services. After the

appalling terrorist atrocity. Last year, the Prime Minister promised

before she would trigger Article 50 on leaving the EU, she would secure

a UK wide approach and agreement... Last year the Prime Minister did

make that promise and promised there would be agreement with the

governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before triggering

Article 50. The Prime Minister has now triggered Article 50 and she has

done so without an agreement. There is no agreement. Why has she broken

her promise and her word? I have been clear throughout and since the

first visit that I made as Prime Minister to Edinburgh last July,

which was we would work with the devolved administrations and develop

a UK wide approach but in negotiations it would be a UK

approach taken into the negotiations and it would be the United Kingdom

government that took forward that position and I would remind him that

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. People will note the Prime

Minister did not deny she would seek a UK wide approach and agreement

with the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and there

is no agreement. The Scottish Government was elected with a higher

percentage of the vote with a bigger electoral mandate than the UK

Government. Yesterday the Scottish Parliament voted by 69 to 59 that

people in Scotland should have a choice about their future. After the

negotiations with the EU are concluded, there will be a period

for democratic approval of the outcome. That choice will be

exercised in this Parliament, in the European Parliament, and in 27

member states of the EU. Given that everybody else will have a choice...

Will the people of Scotland have a choice... ? I say to the right

honourable gentleman that we are taking forward the views of the

United Kingdom into the negotiations with the European Union on the

United Kingdom exiting the European Union. The Scottish Nationalist

party consistently talks... Order! This is unseemly heckling. You are a

distinguished QC. You would not behave like that in the Scottish

courts. You would be chucked out. Prime Minister. The SNP consistently

talks about independence as the only subject they wish to talk about. I

said to him and his colleagues that now is not the time to be talking

about a second independence referendum. On today of all days, we

should be coming together as a United Kingdom to get the best deal

for Britain. Improving vocational and technical

education is vital to closing our productivity gap so can the Prime

Minister assure me vocational education will enjoy equal status

with academic education so that as we leave the EU, our young people

can be equipped to build the high skilled economy of the future? My

honourable friend has raised an important issue. It is essential for

young people we give vocational and technical education the right esteem

and focus because it is essential in addressing the productivity gap. We

want to deliver a world leading technical education system to create

genuine options that are equal in esteem, two options for young people

in esteem. In the budget, the Chancellor announced a significant

package of investment to represent the most ambitious post-16 reform

since the introduction of A-levels. We will invest an extra half ?1

billion in Ingham's technical education and introduce maintenance

loans or those studying high-level technical qualifications at

institutes of technology. The Treasury Select Committee says that

having to fill in a tax return every three months means that many smaller

companies face disaster. The Federation of small business says

the extra cost is likely to be annually ?2700 a year. This is

another burden on business from this government. She got it wrong on

national Insurance, is she going to backtrack now on tax returns, as

well? Perhaps the honourable gentleman

should have listened to the announcement the Chancellor made in

the budget where he indicated he would be delaying the introduction

of this for the smallest businesses below the VAT threshold for a year.

But I think it is right that HMRC does try to move to a greater

digitisation of the way in which it operates. I think that will enable

it to give a better service to those people who are completing their

forms, and we should always remember that aspect of what is being

proposed. I welcome the additional money the Government has given for

adult social care, but it is important we also look at long-term

solutions for the. Will the Prime Minister look at issues with how the

system works with Northampton county council and Northampton General

Hospital? I say to my honourable friend but I'm grateful that he is

welcome for the extra money, the ?2 billion going to social care and out

by the Chancellor. This shows we have recognised the pressures and

demands on social care, but it is also important that we ensure best

practice is delivered across the whole of the country, it isn't just

about money, so we are trying to find a long-term sustainable

solution which will help local authorities to learn from each other

and raise standards across the system, and we will bring forward

proposals in a green paper later this year to put the state funded

system on a more sustainable and long-term footing. As Home

Secretary, the Prime Minister clearly didn't protect police

budgets. Last week she told me four times, we have protected the schools

budget. Does she still stand by that statement? We have protected schools

budgets, and we are putting record funding into schools. Today, Mr

Speaker, the Public Accounts Committee says the Department of

Education that it does not seem to understand the pressures that

schools are already under. And they went on to say that funding per

pupil is reducing in real terms, and goes on to say schools budgets will

be cut by ?3 billion, equivalent to 8%, by 2020. Is the Public Accounts

Committee wrong on this? What we see over the course of this Parliament

is ?230 billion going into our schools. But what matters is the

quality of education that we see in our schools. 1.8 million more

children in good or outstanding schools, and a policy from this

Government to ensure that every child gets a good school plays. Mr

Speaker, the daily experience of many parents who have children in

schools is that they get letters from the schools asking for money.

One parent, Elizabeth, wrote to me to say she has received a letter

from her daughter's school asking for a monthly donation to top up the

reduced funds that her school is receiving. This Government's cuts to

schools are betraying a generation of our children. If the Prime

Minister is right, then the parents are wrong, the teachers are wrong,

the IFF is wrong, the National Audit Office is wrong, the education

policy Institute is wrong and now the Public Accounts Committee, which

includes eight Conservative members in it, is also wrong. So which

organisation does back the Prime Minister's view on education

spending in our schools? I would say to the right honourable gentleman

that as I have just said to him, we said we would protect school

funding, and we have. A real terms protection for the schools budget.

We said we would protect the money following children into schools, and

we have, it reaches ?42 billion as pupil numbers rise in 19/ 20. But it

is also about the quality of education children are receiving.

1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools than under the

Labour government. But I also say this, because time and time again,

the gentleman stands up in PMQs and asks questions which would lead to

more spending. Let's look at what he has done recently. On the 11th of

January, more spending. On the 8th of February, more spending. On the

22nd of February, more spending. On the first and the 8th of March, more

spending. On the 15th and 22nd of March, more spending. Barely a PMQs

goes by that he doesn't call for more public spending. When it comes

to spending money that they haven't got, Labour simply can't help

themselves. It's the same old Labour, spend today and give

somebody else the Bill tomorrow. Well, we won't do that to the next

generation. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm sure

everyone in the House will want to join me in paying tribute to the

thousands who worked in munitions factories in both world wars. Often

in very dangerous conditions. And they produced a vital equipment for

the Armed Forces that helped us to victory. I'm sure my honourable

friend will recognise that for practical reasons it is not possible

to pursue individual awards, but I know that the Department for

Business would be happy to work with him to look at further ways to

recognise the collective effort of former munitions workers. I thank my

right honourable friend for that answer. These ladies found that the

chemicals in the shells turned their skins yellow, and they were

nicknamed canary girls. I know my right honourable friend is

exceptionally busy at the moment, but could she find just a few

moments in her diary to meet me and some of these canary girls to

recognise their service? I would be very happy to do that. I would be

very happy to meet some canary girls. As I said, they did work

which was vital to the war effort. They did work which in one sense was

absolutely routine, but in another sense was extremely dangerous, and I

think we should recognise the efforts that they put in. Thank you,

Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister will be aware that the Welsh Labour

government has established a children's funeral fund. Many

leading funeral providers have also indicated that there will be no

charges for children and young people's funerals. I know the Prime

Minister is a compassionate woman, and I know she understands the

importance of a children's funeral fund. Will she agree to work with me

to establish this fund to bring some comfort to bereaved parents in their

darkest hour? I pay tribute to the honourable lady who has been

campaigning tirelessly on this issue, and obviously it is not just

a passionate campaign, but she has spoken on many occasions moving in

this House about her personal experience which she has brought to

bear on this issue. I welcome the decision taken by the co-operative

funeral company to waive the fees on this. There is some financial

support available, we are looking at this issue on the problems faced by

parents, and at what more can be done through a cross government

piece of work, and I ask the Minister for the Cabinet office who

is meeting on that piece of work to meet with us and talk about the

idea. As the Prime Minister will know, the budget gave an extra ?200

million to the Welsh Labour government in order to provide

business rate relief. Will the Prime Minister agree with myself and the

leader of Monmouthshire council that Welsh Labour must now commit to

spending that money on supporting Welsh businesses and giving the same

level of support that has been provided in England by this

conservative Government? I say to my honourable friend he is absolutely

right. As he said at the budget, my right honourable friend the

Chancellor announced a ?200 million boost to the Welsh budget. They will

be able to use that money to support their own priorities, but the people

of Wales can send a clear signal about these priorities by voting for

Conservative councillors like Peter Fox on the 4th of May. And I have to

say it is the UK Government actions to support working families

throughout the country that will make sure Wales benefits. The

Foreign Secretary jury be EU referendum campaign urged people to,

and I quote, take back control of huge sums of money, ?350 million per

week, and spend it on our priorities such as the NHS. The Prime Minister

will trigger article 50 today. Can the Prime Minister confirm precisely

when she wants to fulfil the promise made by her Cabinet colleagues who

is sitting on the front page smirking at the British public?

Order, order, Boris is sitting perfectly comfortably, there is an

air of repose about the fellow! Prime Minister.

I am very happy to tell the honourable lady that when this

country leaves the European Union, we will have control of our budget

and we will decide how that money is spent. With modification, schools in

my constituency welcome the National funding formula, and given the

Leader of the Opposition's intervention, I hope my next

question doesn't land me on the naughty step, but given that

Stockport schools and other schools have been at the bottom of the

funding pile for years, and have less scope for efficiencies, would

my right honourable friend consider giving immediate support to them? As

my honourable friend is saying, what we are doing is aiming to end the

postcode lottery of schools funding, and schools funding is at a record

high. In relation to the minimum funding level, as I have said

before, the DFE have heard representations on the issue on this

national funding formula and will be considering those. There have been a

lot of responses to that, but it is a historic and complex reform but

there has been general agreement for many years that reform is needed, we

want to get this right which is why we are carefully considering it.

After nine months of this Prime Minister's approach to Brexit,

Northern Ireland is deadlocked, the Welsh are alienated, Scotland is

going for a referendum, the English are split down the middle and Brexit

MPs are walking out of Commons committees because they don't like

home truths. Has the Prime Minister considered in terms of invoking

Article 50 that now is not the time? What the UK Government is doing in

invoking article 50 is putting into practice the Democratic vote of the

British people on the 23rd of June last year in a referendum. There was

a referendum in 2014 in Scotland when the Scottish people voted to

remain part of the United Kingdom. I suggest The right honourable

gentleman and his colleagues put that into practice! Mr Speaker,

three quarters of my constituent Umag voted to leave the European

Union. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that as she triggers article

50, it marks a watershed moment, not only for this country's control of

immigration and our sovereignty, but also for listening to the views of

people who were forgotten for far too long? I absolutely agree with my

honourable friend. Not only are we putting into place the views of the

British people as set out in that referendum on the 23rd of June last

year, but crucially that was not just a vote about leaving the EU. It

was a vote about changing this country for the future, and this

Government has a clear plan for Britain that will change this

country, that will see us with a more global outlook, a stronger

economy, a fairer society and a more united nation. The people expect the

Prime Minister to follow her party's manifesto and abide by a majority

vote of this Parliament. So why does she say that the First Minister of

Scotland should do the opposite? What I say is that at this point in

time Dodge at this point in time as we face this historic moment of

facing Article 50 and this country's relationship with the European

Union, now is the time for us to pull together and not, part. On

Friday, thousands of people will be up and down this country raising

funds and awareness of brain tumour research. Many of these people will

know people someone who have suffered from a brain tumour. It is

a bigger cancer killer of children and adults under 40. Will the Prime

Minister join me in commending all these people raising awareness and

funds and see what more we can do to raise funding for brain tumour

research? This is an important area, and I believe in this area the UK

does have a good record of research on brain tumours, and that is

important, but he is absolutely right. The people who are raising

funds for this important cause should be commended, as he says many

of them will have had personal experience in one way or another of

brain tumours, and I think it is important that we recognise that

there are many killers out there which don't often receive the

publicity and support of others, and we should recognise their

importance, and commend those who are raising funds.

Can the Prime Minister said what she is doing to ensure national and

local government prioritise the purchasing and buying of British

goods and services, although the Home Secretary on police vehicles,

does not give us cause for optimism. We have been encouraging the

procurement of British goods and services. He asked what we can do

for local authorities, if people want local authorities to take their

best interests to heart, they should vote Conservative. Can I ask... I

congratulate the Prime Minister and invoking Article 50. Does she agree

this needs to be the end of the phoney war and posturing and focus

now on the detail for every industry, centre and community to

get a bespoke deal we can all get behind? I agree with my honourable

friend. Now is the time to come together and be united across this

House and country to ensure we work for the best deal for the United

Kingdom and best future for us all. The Prime Minister has rightly

emphasised her determination to deliver for all constituent parts of

the United Kingdom on this historic day and while others are content to

moan, we want to see that delivery happen and we are confident she will

make that happen. In Northern Ireland, where some have walked away

from responsibilities in terms of devolution, we want devolution up

and running to have a functioning government and we have set no

preconditions. If others continue to stay away from devolution and walk

away, will she pledged to work more closely with those of us in this

House to defend and protect the interests of Northern Ireland? We

say that we all want to work together to ensure we can protect

the best interests of Northern Ireland. I think that ensuring we

have strong devolved government in Northern Ireland is important for

the future and so we can build on the significant progress made in

recent years for the people of Northern Ireland and I urge all

parties to come to the talks with a view to finding a way through so

that Northern Ireland once again can be restored to devolved government.

With the Prime Minister agree social media companies need to take action

to remove extremist and hate material from platforms and to foot

the Bill for the police who are currently doing their dirty work at

the taxpayers' expense? This question of working with the

companies to ensure extremist material is removed as quickly as

possible is one that is not new. Through the counterterrorism

internet referral unit we have the process to enable the police to take

material down. 250,000 pieces of material have been taken down since

2010 and there has been increase in that activity in the last couple of

years. I know the Home Secretary will be meeting companies this week

to talk to them about this important issue. We do not want extremist

material on the internet, what we want to see is companies taking

action to remove material encouraging hate and division. Late

on Saturday night, a massive explosion devastated new ferry in my

constituency. We are thinking of those who were hurt. It is a miracle

more people were not injured. The community faces dereliction. All the

Prime Minister join with me in thanking all of those who looked

after my community over the weekend and recent days, and will she

arrange a meeting with the Secretary of State who can discuss how the

government can help us to rebuild New Ferry. I am happy to do those

things. I commend and thank all of those who worked hard in the

emergency services and others to support her community when this

devastating explosion took place. That work will continue. There will

be support I am sure being given to the community in the future and I am

happy to ask the Secretary of State to meet her and discuss how that

community can be rebuilt and overcome the impact of this

explosion. Order. Statement, the Prime Minister.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Today, the government acts on the democratic

will of the British people. It acts on the clear and convincing position

of this House. A few minutes ago in Brussels, the United Kingdom's

permanent representative to the EU handed a letter to the president of

the European Council on