26/04/2017 Prime Minister's Questions

Wrexham which is creating jobs and has been seen as an example of how

to do public sector investment in Wales and the UK. Order. Questions

to the Prime Minister. The economy in the West Midlands is

performing well. Businesses are continuing to invest, and since

2010, employment has risen by 180,000, because conservatives in

Government have safeguarded the economy, and as a result, my

honourable friend asked about public services, there are more doctors and

nurses in his hospitals because you can only have strong public services

when you have the strong and stable leadership that delivers a strong

economy. Mr Speaker, I think what this nation needs is a strong and

stable Government. But isn't it the case that, thanks to devolution, we

won't only just have, I hope, strong and stable Government after the

general election but in the West Midlands strong and stable

leadership and the right choices made after the 4th of May. My

honourable friend makes a powerful point. On the 4th of May, people in

the West Midlands have the opportunity to elect a strong local

leader who will oversee ?8 billion of investment. I think that in Andy

Street, they have a man who has the local knowledge, the business

experience, and he has the commitment to the West Midlands to

deliver for the whole of the West Midlands. On the 8th of June, people

in the West midlands have the opportunity to elect the strong and

stable leadership of a Conservative Government working together, strong

Conservative leadership in the West Midlands and strong Conservative

leadership in Government will deliver for the West Midlands. This

morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in

addition to my duties in this house I shall have further such meetings

today. Mr Speaker, in 2015, a group called the Social Campaign For

Labour Victory drew up a plan to get rid of MI5, disarm the police and

scrap the nuclear deterrent. I can tell my honourable friend, my

answer is a resounding no, I would not allow anyone involved in that to

be involved in the Cabinet. Can I commend my honourable friend, who

has a proud record of defending our country. He raises an important

point, because the Leader of the Opposition has chosen just such a

person. The plan to disband MI5, to disarm our police and scrap our

nuclear deterrent was endorsed by the Right Honourable gentleman's

policy chief, and even by his Shadow Chancellor. Again, at the weekend,

we saw the Right honourable gentleman refusing to say he would

strike against terrorism, refusing to commit to our nuclear deterrent,

and refusing to control our borders are keeping the country safe is the

first duty of a Prime Minister. The right honourable gentleman is simply

not up to the job. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is

the... This is the last Prime Minister's Question Time of this

Parliament. And I think it would be appropriate, Mr Speaker, if we all

paid tribute to those colleagues who have decided to leave the House at

the end of this Parliament, thank them for their service, thank

them... Thank them for their service to democracy in this country and to

thank you, Mr Speaker, for the way you have presided over this House,

and the way in which you have sought to reach out to the wider

communities in this country. When I became Leader of the Opposition 18

months ago... CHEERING

I said... If they'll wait a moment, I'll

explain what I'm about to say. I said I wanted people's voices to be

heard in Parliament, so, Mr Speaker, instead of just speaking to

hand-picked audiences who can't ask questions, I hope the Prime Minister

won't mind if she answers some questions today from the public. I

start, Mr Speaker... I start, Mr Speaker, with Christopher, who wrote

to me this week, and he says, in the last five years, my husband has had

only a 1% increase in his wages. The cost of living has risen each year.

We now have at least 15% less buying power than them. So, where is

Christopher and his husband's share in the stronger economy? Thank you,

Mr Speaker. Can I first of all join The Right Honourable gentleman in

commending those colleagues who are leaving the house for the service

they have shown to their constituents and to Parliament over

the years. Can I also say a huge thank you to the staff of the House

of Commons and Parliament who support us in the work we do in this

chamber and elsewhere. I will come onto the point... I know that the

right honourable gentleman did not take the opportunity to stand up and

showed how he would stand up for the defence of our country. Once again,

he missed that opportunity. I know what the right operable gentleman is

saying about wages -- I know what the right honourable gentleman is

saying about wages. I think we should, first of all, recognise,

actually, that for people working in the NHS, around half of those staff,

because of progression and basic pay increases, we'll see, on average, a

pay increase of 4%. What we know... What we know... What we know, and

what I can say to Christopher, is that he will have a choice at the

next election between the strong and stable leadership of the

Conservatives, which will secure our economy for the future, and a Labour

Party which would crash our economy, which would mean less money for

public services and ordinary working families would pay the price. Mr

Speaker, isn't the truth that many people are being held back by this

Government that has slashed taxes for the rich and held back or cut

the pay of dedicated public servants? Mr Speaker, Andy, a

parent, is concerned about how his children are being held back. He

asks, why, despite the fact they have worked consistently since

leaving school, all three of my children, who are now in their

mid-20s, cannot afford to move out of the family home? Isn't this a

crisis that many people are facing all over the country? Don't we need

a housing strategy that deals with it? First of all, let's look and see

what happened under a Labour Government for housing. I'll come

onto that. Under the last... Under the last Labour Government, house...

House building starts fell by 45%. Under the last Labour Government,

houses purchased in England fell by 40%, and the number of social rented

homes, under a Labour Government, fell by 420,000. Under the

Conservatives, we have seen more than twice as much council housing

being built than under the last Labour Government. That's a record

of a Conservative Government delivering on housing, delivering

for ordinary working families. Mr Speaker, the last Labour Government

delivered a decent homes standard for every council home in the whole

of the country, and it is something we are very proud of. Very proud of

it indeed. Her Government, house building has fallen to the lowest

level since the 1920s. More people homeless, more people on waiting

lists, more people overcrowded, more people unable to pay the rent. That

is the record of the Tory Government. Mr Speaker, our children

are being held back by Conservative cuts will stop Laura, a young

primary school teacher -- Conservative cuts. Laura, a young

primary school teacher, says, IMC Inc a drop each year in available

cash to provide quality education to the children in my class and an

increase in the reliance on the parent teacher Association. Is the

Prime Minister still denying the fact that funding for each pupil is

still being cut? What I would say to Laura is that we've said we would

protect school budgets, and we have. We have seen record levels of

funding going into schools in this country. At the election on the 8th

of June... At the election on the 8th of June, people will have a very

clear choice: A choice between a Conservative Government that has

delivered 1.8 million more good and outstanding school places for

children across this country, a Conservative Government that

believes in parents having choice in a range of schools, providing the

education that is right for every child, and a good school place for

every child. The right honourable gentleman, he believes in a one size

fits all, take everybody down to the lowest common and the nominator,

take it or leave it. We believe in encouraging aspiration and

encouraging people to get on in their lives. Labour isn't slashing

school budgets or putting money into pet projects. We want every child,

every child, to have a decent chance in a decent school. We don't want an

education system that relies on begging letters from the schools in

order to maintain employment and books in the classroom. Many people

feel, Mr Speaker, the system is rigged against them. Maureen wrote

to me this week... If I was you, I would listen to what Maureen has to

say. I really would, I really would, because she writes, and she writes

with a heavy heart, we have been treated this casting late. Most of

us women born in the 1950s will not be receiving our pension until we

are 66, with no notification of this drastic change. We have worked for

45 years and have accrued more than enough to be paid our pension.

People want what is rightfully theirs. Maureen asks, what can be

done to help the WASPi women? What I would say to the issue Maureen has

raised is that the Government has taken steps to help these women.

Extra funding has been made available and we have ensured that

there is a limit to the period of time that is affected in relation to

these changes. If the right honourable gentleman wants to talk

about pensions and pensioners, looking to the future, once again,

there will be a very clear choice in this election, a clear choice... A

clear choice between a Labour Party who, in Government, so the increase

in basic state pension of 75p in one year, and a Conservative Government

whose changes to pensions mean basic state pension is our ?1250 better

off, but you only get that with a strong economy. And what do we know

about Labour? Only yesterday, we saw that we had finally emerged from

Labour's economic crash. What we now see... What we now see is a Labour

Party that would do it again, crash the economy, more debt, more waste,

higher taxes, fewer jobs. That does nothing for ordinary working

families of pensioners. -- or for pensioners.

Mr Speaker, millions of waspy women will have heard that answer, as have

the other questions I have put not been answered today. I will say

this, Labour will guarantee the triple lock, Labour will treat

pensioners with respect and we won't move the goalposts for people

looking forward to retirement. I have a writer -- I'm 88, I have a

wonderful service from the national health service but nowadays I'm

scared at the thought of going into hospital. With more people waiting

more than four hours in the a E and more people on trolleys in corridors

and more delayed discharges, thanks to Tory kushgts isn't she right to

be frightened about the future. ... ... We are going more GPs and

record levels of funding into our health service, but only possible

with a strong economy and only possible with a strong and stable

Government. And, of course, over the coming weeks, we are all going to be

out there, campaigning across the country as I will be taking our

record in the National Health Service. I did note this week that

the Shadow Home Secretary has been campaigning in her own personal way.

She has directed her supporters, her followers to a website, I Like

Corbyn But... It says, "How will he pay for all

this? But I've heard he wants to increase taxes. But, I've heard he

is a terrorist sympathiser. But his attitudes about defence worry me.

They are right to be worried. Unable to defend our country. Determined to

raise tax on ordinary workers, no plan to manage our economy. Even his

own supporters know he's not fit to run this country.

My question was about the National Health Service Sybil's concerns.

It's all right, it's all right. The NHS has not got the money it needs.

The Prime Minister knows that. She knows waiting times and waiting

lists are up. She knows there is a crisis in almost every A

department. Maybe she could go to a hospital and allow the staff to ask

her a few questions. Mr Speaker, strong leadership is about standing

up for the many not the few. But when it comes to the Prime Minister

and the Conservatives, they only look after the richest, not the

rest. They are strong against the weak and

weak against the strong. Far from building a strong economy, schools

and our NHS are being cut. People can't afford homes. Millions can't

make ends meet. That doesn't add up to a stronger economy for anyone. Mr

Speaker, the lings on 8th June is a choice between a Conservative... --

the election on 8th June. Is a choice between the

Conservatives for a few and a Labour Government that will stand up for

all of our people. If the right honourable gentleman wants it talk

about the NHS perhaps he should talk about Labour's custodianship of the

NHS in Wales. There is somewhere where the NHS has been cut, it's in

Wales under the Labour Party. But the right honourable gentleman is

right, in something over six weeks we will be back at these Despatch

Boxes again and the only question is where will we be standing, who will

be Prime Minister of this great country? And he says the choice is

clear and the choice is clear. Every vote for him is a vote for a chaotic

Brexit. Every vote for me is a vote to strengthen our hand in

negotiating the best deal for Britain. Every vote for him is a

vote to weaken our economy. Every vote for me is a vote for a strong

economy, for the benefit felt by everyone across the country. And

every vote for him is a vote for a coalition of chaos. A weak leader,

propped up by the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Nationalists. Every

vote for me is a vote for strong and stable leadership in the national

interest, building a stronger and more secure future for this country.

CHEERS THE SPEAKER: Order.

Order. The exchanges between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the

Opposition have been unprecedentedly comprehensive. We do wish to hear

questions from backbenchers. Mr Benn Howlett. Thank you Mr Speaker.

Thanks to this Conservative Government the west of England has

seen billions of investment in trap fra. On freak visits to Bath by the

Transport Secretary and Prime Minister I have raised congestion

and air pollution as well as feasibility study on the long

overdue link road to the east of Bath will the Prime Minister agree

the only way to secure this vital project is for Bath residents to

give me a renewed mandate on June 8th? My honourable friend is

absolutely right. I know he has been campaigning tirelessly on behalf of

his constituents on this issue. I understand highways England is

already considering a number of options to divert traffic awaying

from Bath as my honourable friend suggests. It is under this

Conservative Government we've increased annual Government

infrastructure investment but it is only possible with a strong economy

and that's only possible with a strong and stable Conservative

leadership and a vote for any other party is a vote for wrecking our

economy, for a coalition of chaos, and that will do nothing for my

honourable friend's constituents, for whom I hope he will continue to

be able to work tirelessly. Sir Angus Robertson. Will the Prime

Minister give a clear and unambiguous commitment to

maintaining the triple lock on the state pension? I've been very clear

that under this Conservative Government we have seen pensioners

benefit as a result of what we have done to the basic state pension. To

the tune of ?1250 a year and I am clear that under a Conservative

Government pension and incomes would continue to increase. Mr Speaker, I

asked the Prime Minister a pretty simple question, a yes or a no and

the Prime Minister failed to answer. So pensioners, right across this

land are right to conclude that this Tory Prime Minister plans to ditch

the triple lock on the state pension. Mr Speaker, too many women

already face pensions inequality and the Tories now won't even guarantee

the pensions triple lock. The only reason that they will not guarantee

it is because they want to cut pensions. Is not the message to

pensioners - you cannot trust this Prime Minister, you cannot trust the

Tories on your pension? I say to everybody, as I have just said - if

you want to know the party in Government that has improved the lot

of pensioners, across this country, it is the Conservative Party. And

under a Conservative Party r Conservative Government, those

pensioner incomes would continue to increase and he talks about

inequality for women. It's the change in the structure of the state

pension, introduced by this Government, that is going to improve

the lot of women, female pensioners in the future, that is going to be

much better for them but one thing that pensioners, one thing that

pensioners in Scotland will know, as other voters in Scotland will know,

is that if they believe in the union, there's only one way to vote

and that's to vote Conservative. Thank you, Mr Speaker, my local CCG

is planning to downgrade A at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and

move it to Halifax. This is being Dickicated by a disastrous PFI deal.

I have been fighting this plans alongside the community groups Hands

Off HRI led by Karl Deech will the Prime Minister join me in praising

the community campaigners led by Karl. Does she agree with me that

patients should not be suffering as a result of these catastrophic PFI

deals, defined by the last Labour Government and will she ensure that

communities like mine have their voices listened to properly? Well

can I say to my honourable friend, he will know, because it is an issue

he has raised with me, I know he has been a tires campaigner on this and

has been a strong voice for his local constituency and put his case

persuasive to ministers. It is Labour's disastrous PFI deals that

are costing the NHS more than ?1 billion every year and the choice at

the election will be clear - do the people of Colne Valley want that

strong voice for their local A with the ear of a strong Government,

continuing to keep our economy strong and investing in our national

health service or do they want the Leader of the Opposition and his

coalition of chaos, less money for public services, less money for

National Health Service, fewer doctors, fewer nurses and worse

health care for our constituents. Mr Speaker, my honourable friends for

Redcar, Scunthorpe and other constituents have all proven local

champions for their local steel communities. Doesn't the Prime

Minister agree that their ongoing presence in this place is vital for

the future of our British Steel industry? Well, can I just say that

the honourable gentleman, that I know that he is - I believe he is

standing down at the election having said that was due to his significant

and irreconcilable differences with the leadership of his party. What is

important... SHOUTS THE SPEAKER: Order, I'm trying to

help backbenchers be heard. Please help the chair to help backbench

ministers, the Prime Minister. What is important for the steel industry

in this country is this Government has taken action to support the

steel industry. I was very pleased when visiting Wales yesterday to be

able to visit a company that works with the steel industry, galvanises

products, steel products and they were talking about actually the

greater work that they are seeing and the improvement they are seeing

in the steel industry. This Conservative Government has taken

steps to support the steel industry and will continue to do so. Thank

you, Mr Speaker, with the consultation on Greater Manchester's

spacial framework now closed I would like to thank the 3,600 cheedal

residents who signed my petition. It calls for the green belt in cheed

yul homosexual am, To be protected and homes to be built on brownfield

land inside. Would the Prime Minister agree with me that we must

press for brownfield sites to be identified and redeveloped and the

protection of our pressure green spaces can only be maintained under

a strong, Government Government? My honourable friend is right on this

issue, and I know she has been a strong campaigner and -- the green

belt in Cheedal spss Hulme shall. We have set out in the white paper that

boundaries should only be locked at when local #240r9s have looked at

other sites. I know there was great consultation on the spacial Graham

work and I commend my honourable friend for the work she did to

gather the views of her constituents in Cheedle. I'm sure they'll be

taken into account It has been announced 2,000 jobs will be lost to

York. Yesterday Nestle announced job losses in my constituency.

Devastating for workers jobs, not products being exported to the EU

and as ever, skilled jobs being replaced by low-wage, insecure work.

In the light of the special deal at Nissan in Sunderland, will the Prime

Minister meet with me, trade unions and the company to strike a special

deal to save these jobs, avert the losses both now and in the future?

First, I think the honourable lady is right to raise this issue that

emerged yesterday the announcement from Nestle. Nestle themselves been

clear that this was not a decision affected by leaving the EU, they say

they have made it irrespective of that, but of course it is a worrying

time for the workers and their families in both York and Newcastle,

and I can assure her, we are already in contact with the company to

understand their plans and the next steps. The Business Secretary will

speak with senior Nestle representatives later today. DWP of

course stands ready to put in place their rapid response service to

support any workers made redundant by helping them back into employment

as quickly as possible, and there are various ways in which job centre

plus can help. It is important to ensure the support is Marmite. As I

said, the Business Secretary will speak to Nestle representatives

later today. Record employment, the national living wage, strong

national defence is keeping our promises in Europe - these are some

of the achievements we can be proud of. Does my right honourable friend

agree that it is only about four strong and stable Conservative

leadership in the national interest on the 8th of June that will

continue to deliver on the economy, defence and a deal with Europe that

will enable businesses to continue to thrive by re-electing a

Conservative MP for the second time? Well, I, I, will say to my

honourable friend, can I thank him for his question. He has, since that

fantastic, historical election of him in Gower, he has been a really

powerful voice for his constituents, but also in deed for the needs of

Wales more generally. I already referred to the fact that I was in

Wales yesterday and had the opportunity to speak to people in

business and meet voters and to hear of their concerns, but my honourable

friend goes absolutely to the heart of the matter when he says what is

necessary is a good Brexit deal. It is crucial for businesses, for jobs,

and it is only achievable by a strong and stable Government. Every

vote for me and the Conservatives, and Conservative candidates and

local levels, will strengthen our hand in those negotiations.

Yesterday, the Scottish Tories' defence of the rate close failed.

Can the Prime Minister confirm that no organisation in Scotland has

signed up to fill in the 8-page why my child is a victim of rape form?

Is the Prime Minister seriously going into this election with this

unworkable and immoral policy? Well, this is an incredibly sensitive

issue, and that is why we have looked at it very cavalier. We

consulted very carefully on it -- very carefully. We have put in place

a series of measures when such cases arise. It is important to look at

what lies behind this, because underpinning this policy is a

principle of fairness, and we know the SNP want to scrap the policy in

its entirety. We believe that people who are in work have to make the

same decisions as those people who are out of work, so that people who

are on benefits should have to decide whether they can afford more

children, the same way that people in work have to decide. York is a

fantastic place to work, live and start a business, but transport

infrastructure is key for the city to fulfil its economic potential. A

ring road, a new railway station, upgrading roads will all help secure

yorker's future, so will the Prime Minister continue to improve

infrastructure and deliver for regions like Yorkshire? He raises an

important point. We have been able to invest ?1.6 million this year for

transport improvers, ?2.2 million for highways improvements, and ?3

million for the York initiative, but you can only invest if you have the

strong and stable leadership that secures a strong economy, and that

is what the choice in June is going to be. A strong economy,

guaranteeing investment across the country, in York and other parts, or

bankruptcies and chaos under Labour. As the Prime Minister knows, betting

terminals cause immense harming communities. On taking office, she

authorised a review of maximum stakes and all that information was

collected by the end of last year. Why do we still not have a result,

and will she today show some leadership and reduce the maximum

stake on these appalling machines to ?2? I recognise this is an issue

that has been raised by a number of members of this House. The answer,

we did indeed have that consultation and there will be a Government

response. Of course, that response... Well... Get on with it,

we're told. We are now in a situation where these things will be

published after the purdah period and after the general election, so

the honourable gentleman, the right honourable gentleman, we'll have to

wait for that response, but we recognise the concern and we will

respond in due course. Should the Prime Minister find herself in the

vicinity of Milton Keynes over the next few weeks, may I suggest a

visit to Milton Keynes hospital where she will find rising clinical

standards and investment going into a new ward, a new medical school and

a new cancer treatment centre. Can I thank my honourable friend. I think

I will be visiting parts of communities around the whole country

over the next few weeks, but I want to congratulate the staff at Milton

Keynes University Hospital for achieving that rating. As my

honourable friend said, it was backed up by considerable

investment. Between 2015 and 2020, of ?500 million is being spent on

the NHS in England and it is only possible because we have safeguarded

the economy over the last seven years. It will only be possible in

the future if we secure the strong and stable leadership our country

needs. As I said, in Wales, Labour had been cutting the health budget.

Can I invite the Prime Minister to visit me in Southampton instead of

going to Milton Keynes? She could tour the Southampton schools. If she

does, she will find that those schools are in despair about the cut

in pupil funding of 10% in Southampton, ?475 per pupil,

equivalent to a loss of almost 400 teaching jobs across the city. She

would find also one school that is inviting parents to clean the school

toilets. Order! The Prime Minister... It is perfectly possible

I might find myself in Southampton over the coming weeks. As I have

said, as I have said before in this House, there has been a general

agreement that the current funding formula is not fair, and Labour did

nothing in 13 years of Government to address it. It is important we get

it right and we will be responding to the consultation in due course.

What is good news for schools in the honourable gentleman's constituency

is, we now see 7000 more pupils in God are outstanding schools, and

overall funding would rise under our reforms. After he steps down after

44 years service in the house, I call Sir Alan Hazlehurst. Can my

right honourable friend as you me that her second Government will have

high regard for matters of great concern to the Saffron Walden

constituency? Namely improved railways, in line with reports, the

spread of fast broadband to rural communities, and an airspace regime

that prioritises noise reduction? Can I first of all pay tribute to my

right honourable friend for his service, not just his constituents

over years, but for his service to this House when he took the chair as

Deputy Speaker of this House. He has been a stall what and a champion of

the people of Saffron Walden over the years, for 40 years, as this

speaker has said. He is right to raise issues of infrastructure

spending. In the budget, we included ?40 million for the East of England,

but of course, as I think my right honourable friend implied in his

question, it is only possible to do that with the strong economy that

comes with a strong and stable Government, and for Saffron Walden,

that will mean seeing a Conservative Government elected on the 8th of

June. My constituent, Mr Buchanan, who suffered several serious strokes

and requires extensive care was deemed to have missed an appointment

when Aptos arrived early, and his carers had not turned up yet. His

benefits were stopped. Why is the welfare regime punishing vulnerable

people like my constituent? We want to ensure that we have a system in

place that does properly assess people who are applying for

benefits. As he has referred to, and as other members will know, there

have been some issues around the way in which that system is operated,

which is why the DWP has looked carefully at it to ensure it does

make proper assessment and delivers the right results for people. Does

my right honourable friend realise I am standing down after 34 years

because of her was back because I have confidence that the country

will be safe after the election under her strong and stable

leadership. Does she realise that seizing the opportunity from

regaining control over our laws, our money, our borders and our trade

would be more important than the terms of any exit deal? And does she

recognise that to get a reasonable deal we must accept that no deal is

indeed better than a bad deal, and to deny this signals that no price

is too high, no concession to grovelling to accept, a recipe for

the worst possible deal? So, I wish my right honourable friend and all

honourable members in this tack-mac house I love Godspeed. -- in this

House I love. I thank him for the tremendous contribution he has made

through his years as a member of this House, not only for his

constituents, but also for the time he spent in Government as a valued

minister in a Conservative Government. He has rightly

highlighted the importance of the decision that was taken last year by

the people of the United Kingdom. He played a role in that referendum

campaign, and it is right that we get on with that job of delivering

Brexit, making a success of it. That does mean a strong hand in

negotiations, and the only way to ensure that is the case, the only

way to ensure that people of Hitchin and Harpenden and the whole of the

UK, is to ensure a Conservative Government is elected on the 8th of

June. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We do need a strong Prime Minister to lead

this nation, but we also need the countries of this nation to have a

strong voice too. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that those

who abstain from taking their seats in this house, those who are denying

the people of Northern Ireland the Government, the formation of a

Government, are denying their constituents a say in the future of

this country, and we will not allow that to happen? The honourable

gentleman and is absolutely right, of course. It is important that the

constituents who we elect members of Parliament feel that those members

are able to do their job, able to bring their concerns here to this

House and play a full part in this chamber. He is also right that we

want to ensure that every part of the UK has a strong voice, which is

why it is important that we continue to work for the restoration of the

devolved administration in Northern Ireland. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

Prime Minister has shown considerable leadership in adopting

the definition of anti-Semitism. Does she believe it is the duty of

all party leaders in this House not just pay lip service but to do

something about it? And does she share... Does she share my disgust

that a former member of this House, criticised by the home affairs

select committee for his anti-Semitic utterances, is now the

official candidate in Bradford East for the Lib brawl Democrats -- the

Liberal Democrats? Can I... Can I first of all pay tribute to my right

honourable friend, my chum, for all the service he has given, and not

just for his service in this House. He had a considerable record in

local Government before he came into this House, and he is also in his

time and the work he has done on anti-Semitism performed a very

important role. He has had a relentless drive to stamp out

anti-Semitism, and indeed intolerance in all its forms in our

communities, and he should be proud of the record he has and the work I

know he will continue to do as a champion on this issue. He is right

to highlight Bradford, of course. He has a particular knowledge of that

city, and people will be, I think, rightly disappointed to see the

Liberal Democrats readopt a candidate with a questionable record

on anti-Semitism. It is important that all parties maintain the

strongest possible sense your on all forms of intolerance and send that

message to our communities. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is he

standing down, too? In the nine months the Prime Minister has held

her office, she has closed the door on desperate child refugees. She has

ignored the plight of those suffering under crisis in health and

social care and she's responsible for the shameful rape clause. 20

years ago she berated the Conservative Party for being the

nasty party but her party has never been nastier. For the legacy of this

Parliament... THE SPEAKER: Order, order. Whatever the strength of

feeling, the right honourable gentleman must be heard. And the

legacy of this Parliament is the utter abject failure of Her

Majesty's official Opposition to effectively hold her Government to

account for any of it. Is it not time that Britain had a strong,

decent, new Opposition? Well, first of all let me pick up thep point he

made on child refugees. This Government has a proud record on

supporting refugees in Syria. We have been the second biggest by

lateral donor to the region, in order to support millions of

refugees to educate children, as I saw when I visited Jordan recently

and of course we've also supported some of the most vulnerable

refugees, including children in bringing them here to make a new

life in the United Kingdom. He talks about a decent Opposition. I find it

difficult to hear those words coming from his mouth when we've heard his

party has selected a candidate with questionable views on anti-Semitism.

Mr Speaker, it has been an immensed privilege to serve my constituents

for the past 34 years. I arrived in 1983 when one formidable and

determined female Conservative Prime Minister was transforming the

country's economic fortunes and I depart as another is determined to

restore to this country the status of a Sovereign mention state,

embracing the rest of the world and as I too bid my right honourable

friend the Prime Minister God speed for a victory on 8th June, may

Aldershot just make one final plea in these troubled times, please will

she ensure that Her Majesty's Armed Forces are properly funded, manned,

equipped and housed to defend and protect the people of this glorious

sceptred Isle, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Hear hear. Well, once again can I pay tribute to the work that my

honourable friend has done in this House, representing as he has done,

over the 34 years, two different constituencies. But, of course one

of the underlying themes of his time in this House has been his

passionate championing of the Armed Forces and his consideration for our

Armed Forces. And I can assure him that on 8th June people will have a

very clear choice between the right honourable gentleman who refuses to

defend our country, and a Conservative Government that will

continue to support our Armed Forces. THE SPEAKER: Graham Morris.

Can I ask the Prime Minister why is she running scared of the televised

leadership debates? May I suggest that she holds such a televiced

where she can see the consequences of her policies and explain to the

people if it is possible that she has any mandate to seek their

support and re-election? I have been in televised debates with the right

honourable gentleman the Leader of the Opposition week in and week out

since I have been Prime Minister and I will be talking across all parts

of this country a fine record for a Conservative Government. He talks

about housing, twice the amount of council houses, than built under

Labour. Record funding into the National Health Service and schools

and pensioners on the basic state pension ?1250 aier better off.

That's a proud record of the Conservatives and a record that we

will continue after 8th June. THE SPEAKER: Mike Wood.

Mrnchts speaker, it is good to be back, and to be honest, it is good

to be anywhere. -- Mr Speaker Doctors and nurses of my local

hospital saved my life in January but each year 44,000 people are less

lucky. Will my honourable friend look at the measures we can take, to

reduce deaths from sepis, including awareness-raising, including a

national registry to properly record the burden of sepis and effective

commissioning levers to incentivise best practice. The UK Sepis Trust

estimates that measures like these will save 50,000 lives over the next

Parliament. Can I say to my honourable friend, that it is

fantastic to see him back in his place. I hope he will have noted the

welcome he got from across the House for being back in his place but he

is absolutely right, to bring a focus on this issue of this

devastating condition of sepis and every death from it, of course is a

tragedy but as we know, something like 10,000 deaths per year could be

avoided through prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. We do need

to get better at spotting sepis across the NHS. The Department of

Health is beginning work on a new sepis action plan. We are having a

new public awhich areness campaign and we expect a NICE quality

standard to be published later this year and with the passion that my

honourable friend now brings to this campaign, I'm sure he will continue

to make his voice heard on this important issue. THE SPEAKER: George

Howarth? Yesterday, Mr Speaker, my right honourable friend for Leigh,

who will be much missed in this House, had a debate on contaminated

blood on which he called for an independent Hillsborough-style panel

to get at the truth. The Prime Minister has praised the independent

panel approach as a way of opening up the door to justice. So, will she

join with Labour and the SNP in committing to setting up such a

process in her party's manifesto? Hear hear. Well last July we

committed ?125 million of extra funding for those affected by the

contaminated blood tragedy of the 70s and 8 #0s, more than any

previous Government. We published reforms last year and we are now

consulting on a new measure to allow people affected to benefit from

higher annual payments but I can assure everybody that everyone will

receive at a minimum what they receive now as a result of the

proposed changes and the Department of Health will respond to the

consultation in due course. THE SPEAKER: Dame Angela Watkin son?

Thank you, Mr Speaker, it was a privilege to win back the seat of

Upminster in 2001 for the Conservatives. Would my right

honourable friend tell the House why the good people of Hornchurch and

Upminster should continue to vote Conservative at the coming election?

Well, can I first of all pay tribe Bute to my honourable friend for the

contribution that she has made, not -- pay tribute to my honourable

friend for the contribution she has made, not just here but in the

whip's office in this House and I'm happy to tell the voters of

Hornchurch and Upminster that every vote for me and the local

Conservative candidate will strengthen our hand in the Brexit

negotiation to get the best deal for this country and every vote for me

and the local Conservative candidate will be a vote for a stronger

economy and every vote for me and the local Conservative candidate

will be a vote for a strong and stable leadership in the national

leadership, compared to the coalition of chaos we will see under

the Labour Party. THE SPEAKER: Mr Douglas Carswell. Whamplgts

assurances account Prime Minister give to the 3.8 million people that

voted Ukip at the last election that if she is Prime Minister after June

8th, the United Kingdom will become a Sovereign country again, living

under our own Parliament, making our own laws? I will give an assurance

to all those people who voted for the United Kingdom to leave the

European Union and for all people across the country, regardless of

how they voted, who now want to see this Government getting on with the

job of Brexit and making a success of it, that we want to see control

of our borders, control of our laws, control of our money and that's what

we will deliver. THE SPEAKER: In wishing the right honourable

gentleman all the best for the future, I I call Sir Simon Burns.

Dump SHOUTS Mr Speaker, may I thank you for that. May I tell my right

honourable friend the Prime Minister that for 30 years I've had the

privilege and honour to represent the great people of Chelmsford. May

I also tell her that the great people of Chelmsford are

persvicacious. And theyp want a Government that provides strong

economy, strong leadership and strong defences and may I tell my

honourable friend it is the Conservative Party under her strong

leadership that will deliver for this country for the next five

years. Well, can I thank my honourable friend for the

significant contribution that he has made his constituents in Chelmsford

and in this House and in Government over this period of time. And can I

say to him that he is absolutely right, his constituents will be

looking for strong defences, for a strong economy, a strong leadership

that will build a more secure future for this country and it is only a

Conservative Government that can provide that. Alex Salmond In this

Brexit world the Prime Minister is desperate to have trade deals with

anybody and nobody so the international Trade Secretary went

to the Philippines this month appeared with the president and said

he wanted a strong relationship based on shared values. Can the

Prime Minister identify for the House what shared values that she

has in common with the president there? Well, the right honourable

gentleman is right that as we leave the European Union we want it ensure

that we are a truly global Britain, that we do have trade deals around

the rest of the world and the reason wep want those trade deals as well

as the strong and secure deep and special partnership with the

European Union on trade is so we can ensure prosperity across the whole

of the country and jobs for ordinary working families.

Order. STUDIO: And that was the final Prime

Minister's Questions of the Parliament of 2015-17. It was also

the longest Prime Minister's Questions on record. It amount went

to the full hour. 58 minutes. Beating the record last December on

56 minutes. Only on the Daily Politics do you get statistics like

this. We are overrunning just a little bit because we wanted to

cover it all. The speaker seemed to be going for most of the MPs who are

standing down. He seemed to get a few and another few were thrown N

the exchanges between Mr Corbyn and Mrs May. Mr Corbyn wanted to cover

falling consumer spending power, NHS spending, school cuts, more about

the NHS and so on, Mrs May's replies were largely about strong