28/06/2017 Prime Minister's Questions

friend has made. Northern Ireland is a great place to do business, and as

a Government we will continue to support but in all ways that we can,

as well as all parts of the UK, too. The Speaker: Questions to the Prime

Minister. People putting Labour Party posters

on my home, photographing them and pushing them through my letterbox.

Somebody even your naked on my office door. Hardly a kinder,

gentler politics. -- somebody even if you were naked. -- urinated. It

may be putting off people from serving in this place. My honourable

friend is absolutely right to raise this issue, and she wasn't the only

person that experienced this sort of intimidation during the election

campaign. Particularly, I'm sorry to say, this sort of intimidation was

experienced by female candidates during the election campaign. I

believe that this sort of behaviour has no place in our democracy. And I

think she's right. I think it could put good people off from serving in

this house. We want more people to become engaged, more people to want

to stand for election to this house, and I think particularly as I stand

here and I see the plaque that has been dedicated to the late Jo Cox

that we should all remember what Jo said, we are far more united and

have far more in common with each other then the things which divide

us. Mr Speaker, I welcome the announcement by the Crown

Prosecution Service this morning that they are going to prosecute six

people in relation to Hillsborough. This prosecution, the enquiry and

this development only happened because of the incredible work done

by the Hillsborough justice campaign, Andy Burnham, Steve

Rotherham and other colleagues about this house, and I think we should

pay tribute to all of those that spend a great deal of time trying to

ensure there was justice for those that died at Hillsborough. Mr

Speaker, 79 people died in Grenfell Tower. Our thoughts are with the

families and friends of those that have died. Those still unaccounted

for and those who are going to live with the trauma of this hoary thick

-- horrendous and avoidable tragedy. Last Thursday, the Prime Minister

said she expected to appoint a judge to chair the enquiry in the next few

days. We haven't heard any more. Can she update the house when an

appointment will be made and what will be the timetable for the

enquiry. May I first of all I -- say that I think we are all welcoming

but after so many years of waiting, the Hillsborough families and those

different groups within Hillsborough, not just the Justice

campaign, the family that came together and the work done by

Margaret Aspinall and others, has been absolutely exemplary. And I'm

sure obviously today will be a day of mixed emotions for them, that I

welcome the fact that charging decisions have been taken. I think

that is an important step forward. The right Honourable gentleman asked

me to update him in regards Grenfell Tower. I would like to update the

house on a number of aspects. We all know what an unimaginable tragedy

this was and our thoughts will be with those who have been affected by

it. As of this morning, the cladding in 30 areas has been tested and it

has failed the combustibility test. Given the 100% failure rate, we are

clear that they should not wait for test results but get on with the job

of fire safety checks. You should take any action necessary and the

government will support them in doing that. The community secretary

has set up an independent advisory panel to advise on the measures that

need to be taken, which is meeting this week. On the housing offer, 282

good-quality temporary properties have been identified. 132 families

have had their needs assessed, and 65 offers of temporary accommodation

have already been made to families. The payment from the funds, those

payments continue. As of this morning, nearly one point -- one 25p

has been paid. We are giving an extra ?2 million to the local

consortium of charities that has been doing so much important work.

On the issue of the public enquiry, I expect to be able to name a judge

soon. The process is that the Lord Chief Justice recommends the name of

a judge. What we want to do is make sure as the process is going

forward, the families, the survivors, have involvement. I thank

the Prime Minister for that answer but I hope she is able to stick to

her promise of everyone being rehoused within three weeks because

at the moment it does not look anything like that target will be

achieved. She, I hope, understand the fear that so many people have

living in power blocs all around the country. In 2017, the all-party fire

safety group said, today's buildings have a much higher content of

readily available combustible material. There have been

contradictory messages from the government. Can the Prime Minister

give a clear answer, is cladding with a combustible core illegal and

was the cladding of Grenfell Tower legal? The situation is, in relation

to the cladding, the building regulations identify the cladding

which is compatible and that which is noncompliant. My understanding is

this particular cladding was not complying with the building

regulations. This raises wider issues and it is important that we

are careful in how we talk about this. There is a criminal

investigation taking place and it is important that we allow the police

to do that and take the decision that they need to take. But there is

a much wider issue here. As we have seen from the number of buildings

where the cladding has failed the combustibility test, from those

samples sent in from local authorities already, this is a much

wider issue, it is an issue that has been continuing for many years, for

decades, in terms of cladding being put up in buildings. There are real

questions as to how this has happened, why this has happened, and

how we can ensure that it does not happen in the future. That's why I'm

clear that in addition to the enquiry that needs to identify the

specific issues for Grenfell Tower, what happened in relation to

Grenfell Tower and who was responsible, we will also need to

look much more widely at why it is that over decades, under different

governments, under different councils, material has been put up

on these power blocs that is noncompliant with building

regulations. There is a very wide issue here. -- tower blocks. Last

birthday the Prime Minister told the member for Leeds Central that she

would make the results of the Grenfell Tower cladding testing

public within 48 hours. I'm not sure if she has actually done that with

her statement today. As of yesterday, and the Prime Minister

has confirmed this, 120 high-rise blocks have had fire safety tests

and feel Ben. -- failed them. What timetable has the Prime Minister set

for such tests to be completed including schools and hospitals, and

what plans does she have to compel the testing of high risers such as

office blocks and hotels which may also have combustible cladding on

them? If I can just say, my understanding was the police are

going to make a statement and I think the police made a statement

about the possession. In relation to the test, my message is a very

simple one. As I said in my answer to his first question, what we are

seeing two people is this is not a question of waiting for the tests.

Don't wait until you've got a sample in. So far, 100% of the samples have

proved to be combustible sole work on the assumption that you should be

doing the test now. That's what we are telling people to do. Parts of

the private sector are also doing their work but my response to all

those who have buildings covered by this is do the fire safety checks

with the Fire Service. Take any measures that are necessary and the

government will support you in doing that. Since 2010 only a third of new

schools have had sprinkler systems installed soap parents are quite

rightly unsure about the safety of their children. A letter formally

recommended that the government inform suppliers to consider

retrofitting sprinklers. It was reported that 1% of council tower

blocks had sprinklers fitted. Can the Prime Minister let us know what

the government actually did to encourage retrofitting during the

last four years? The government did ensure that local authorities were

aware of the recommendations. They did act on that recommendation. But

I say to the Right Honourable gentleman if we look at what has

happened, and the identification of the issues in a number of tower

blocks so far, their -- there are various issues that lead to concerns

about fire safety. If we look at Camden, one of the five blocks was

considered to be habitable but four were not. That was not just because

of the cladding, it was because of other issues in relation for example

to the gas rise. These issues raised wider questions about the

inspections that have taken place, about residents complaints, voices

not being heard. That is an issue that has been raised at Grenfell

Tower. It is also in Camden. This is a much wider question. A terrible

tragedy took place. People lost their lives who should never have

lost their lives. We need to look at what has happened over decades in

this country. Building regulations have not been overhauled, local

authorities, whilst asked to act upon them, have had their budgets

cut by 40%. Under her predecessor, fire safety audits and inspections

work at by a quarter. Fire authority budgets were cut by a quarter. Can

the Prime Minister give an assurance to the house that the further 20%

cut to the Fire Service planned by 2020 will be halted? I say to the

right honourable gentleman that, in his reference to the building

regulations, I think he has missed part of the point, which is that it

is not just a question of what laws you have, it's how those are being

applied, and that is the issue. We have the building regulations about

compliant materials. The question is, why is it that, despite that, we

have seen in local authority area after local authority area materials

being put up that appear not to comply with those building

regulations. And he talks about... That is what we need to get the

bottom of, why is that fire inspections, that local authority

inspections seem to have missed this essential issue. I think I can help

the Prime Minister with this issue. When you cut local authority

expenditure by 40%, you end up with fewer building control inspectors...

SHOUTING. Order! It's pretty bad when people

shout. For somebody to be sitting right by the Speaker's chair and

shouting displays, let's say, a lack of wisdom which should not be

repeated. Order. Every member in this chamber must and will be heard,

however long the session has to run. Jeremy Corbyn. I was simply making

the point, which seems to have upset a lot of members opposite, that when

you cut local authority budgets by 40% we all pay a price in public

safety. Fewer inspectors, fewer building control inspectors,

planning inspectors. We pay a price. And, Mr Speaker, those cuts to the

Fire Service have meant there are 11,000 fewer firefighters. The

public sector pay cap is hitting recruitment and retention right

across the public sector. What the tragedy of Grenfell Tower is exposed

is a disastrous effects of austerity.

RENEWED SHOUTING. Mr Speaker. This disregard for

working-class communities, the terrible consequences of

deregulation and cutting corners. I urge the Prime Minister to come up

with the resources needed to test and remove planning, retrofit

sprinklers, properly fund the Fire Service and the police so that all

our communities can truly feel safe in their own homes. Mr Speaker, this

disaster must be a wake-up call. CHEERING

. The cladding of tower blocks didn't

start under this government. It didn't start under the previous

coalition government. The cladding of tower block began under the Blair

government. The right honourable gentleman talks about local

authority resources, and he talks about changes to the regulation. In

2005, it was a Labour government that introduced the regulatory

reform fire safety order, which changed the requirement to inspect a

building on fire safety from the local fire authority, which was

usually the Fire Brigade, to a responsible person. The legislation

governing fire safety in tower blocks, and this was commented on by

the lack in all house report into that fire, it criticised that 2005

order which had been put in place by the Labour government. Order. The

Prime Minister's answer must be heard. What approach and laws which

took effect in 2006 ended the practice of routine fire

inspections, passing the responsibility to councils. That is

why I say to the right honourable gentleman, this should be an issue

that across this house we recognise is a matter that has been developing

over decades, is a matter that has occurred under governments of both

colours, councils of all political persuasions, and is something which

I would hope we would say we should come together and ensure that we...

NOISE IN THE HOUSE. We get to the answers of why this

has happened over the years, what has gone wrong and how we stop it

from happening in the future. Order. Understandably, on this most solemn

and sensitive matters, the front bench exchanges have been, perhaps

inevitably and rightly, very pensive. I am now keen that all

backbenchers scheduled to take part should have the opportunity. -- very

comprehensive. Businesses in my constituency share the Prime

Minister's desire to provide certainty for trade arrangements in

the years immediately following our exit from the EU. In my right

honourable friend confirm that any transitional arrangements will be

for a strictly time-limited period and that any suggestion of ever

retweeting deadlines or perpetual status quo would fall short of

honouring the decision made by the people of this country to leave the

EU? My honourable friend is absolutely right. For very practical

reasons, when we know what the future relationship with the EU will

be, we may need implementation periods. That will be to ensure that

the practical arrangements can be put in place for that new

relationship. But I am very clear that this doesn't mean unlimited

transitional phase. We are going to leave the EU, that's what people

wanted and that's what we will deliver. Can I welcome the

announcement of the prosecutions on Hillsborough, and congratulate the

families and all those involved in the many years of campaigning. Mr

Speaker, the Scottish Secretary insisted that Scotland would see

increased funding if the DUP secured money for Northern Ireland as part

of a confidence and supply deal, insisting, quote, I'm not going to

agree to anything that could be constructed as back door funding to

Northern Ireland. Did the Prime Minister received any

representations from the Scottish Secretary about the DUP deal, either

before or after it was signed? I say to the honourable gentleman that, of

course, when we look at what has happened in terms of funding for the

rest of the UK, in the Autumn Statement last year, my right

honourable friend, the Chancellor, set aside an infrastructure fund of

?23 billion. We are putting more money into our NHS, more money into

our schools, and of course there is an impact on Scotland as a result of

that Autumn Statement. ?800 million extra spending is going to Scotland.

As a result of the budget, ?350 million extra is going to Scotland.

I don't remember when that money was announced the honourable gentleman

complaining about more money should be going to Northern Ireland. But

then, of course, he is a nationalist and not a unionist. Mr Speaker, the

Prime Minister's failure to give a straight answer to that question

speaks volumes. NOISE IN THE HOUSE.

Order. Let's hear the fellow. Mr Ian Blackford. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Prime Minister's failure to give a straight answer to that question

speaks volumes and has only succeeded in piling more pressure on

the Scottish Secretary, whose position looks less secure with

every day that passes. The honourable gentleman's question, and

I think he is reaching it, must be heard. I will give the Prime

Minister one more opportunity. Did she receive any representations

about the DUP deal from the Secretary of State for Scotland, yes

or no? I can assure the honourable gentleman that I regularly receive

representations from the Secretary of State for Scotland about matters

relating to Scotland, including regular representations which point

out that, if the Scottish Nationalists actually had the

interests of Scotland at heart, they would want to remain part of the UK.

Given that rail passengers in my constituency of Lewis are once again

facing rail misery with an overtime ban and strike action looming, does

the Prime Minister not agree with me that the only way to end the 18

months rail misery for my constituents and all passengers on

Southern Rail is for the unions to stop their strike and get back round

the table? My honourable friend is absolutely right. Southern Rail

passengers have experienced absolutely unacceptable delays and

disruption to their service, and an expert report has found that the

main cause of widespread disruption was union action. So, for the sake

of the passengers, get round the table and solve this dispute. Can I

thank the Prime Minister for coming to my constituency of Wrexham during

the general election campaign? And for making a widely welcomed U-turn

on the dementia tax. Can I invite the Prime Minister backs of Wrexham

to make another announcement reversing her appalling cuts to

police budgets, which my constituents want to see the back

of? We are protecting police budgets, yes...

NOISE IN THE HOUSE. We are protecting the least budgets.

But we are, of course, making reforms to policing. That's why I

introduced National Crime Agency, to deal with serious and organised

crime that relates to crime on the streets. That is why we have put

money into a new national cyber crime unit to ensure police can deal

with the new sorts of crimes there are that they have to deal with. We

are reforming policing, but the key to this is not that the number of

police on the streets, but about what happens to crime, and crime has

fallen to a record low. Mr Speaker, the Grenfell Tower tragedy shot and

so many of us, because we all believe there is much that should

never have happened, but to claim, the opposition front bench did,

ahead of any enquiry, that, quote, residents were murdered by

politicians, unquote, is grotesquely inappropriate. Would my honourable

friend confirm that our government will get on with rebuilding lives

and homes and progressing enquiries with urgency and nonpartisan calm? I

think my honourable friend raises a very important point. What all of

those affected by Grenfell Tower deserve is an enquiry that gets to

the truth and provides them with the truth and with knowing who was

responsible. We need to do that in a careful, calm and determined way and

we need to use that same calm determination to make sure we get to

the bottom of the wider issue of why it is that materials have been used

in tower blocks around the country which appear to have been

noncompliant with building regulations. There are real issues

here and we are not going to get to the truth by pointing fingers. We

will buy calm determination. Regarding the deal she has done with

the DUP, is it true that on the one hand she is shelling out all of this

extra money to secure their support while, on the other hand, she is

still giving them tax payers' cash in the form of short to be in

opposition? Is that what we get from this by Minister, no pay rise for

nurses but double bubble for her friends in the DUP? -- is that what

we get from this Prime Minister. Let's be clear about what the

government has done in the agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party.

As a result of the election, no party has a majority in this house.

Yes. NOISE IN THE HOUSE.

The party that had... The party that had the largest number of seats and

the only party that can form an effective government is the

Conservative Party. That's the right thing to do and that's what we've

done. Does the Prime Minister share my concern that last year 50,000

people were stopped at the controls at Calais, 150 people every day?

Does that underline not only that we should keep those controls in place

but we should consider the case for investing more in state-of-the-art

technology and more border officers so we can win the war against people

traffickers and keep our borders safe and secure? I say to my

honourable friend at our border force officers do an excellent job

at the juxtaposed controls and the work they do in his constituency.

Particularly the work they are doing to stop illegal immigrants and the

human traffickers. They have indeed, we have been investing in the system

capabilities. 108 million has been invested in the last two years in

new technology, and a further 71 million is earmarked for that in the

current financial year. Of course, there are particular pressures on

Dover. That's why we've invested more money to maintain security

there, and to ensure the Calais camp remains closed, and we are meeting

efforts upstream as well to ensure that we reduce the number of people

trying to get to the UK illegally. The Foreign Office are putting extra

money into the central Mediterranean route, for extra humanitarian

support. I know the Prime Minister is well aware of the misery and

suffering caused by reckless gambling. Following her recent own

experience and the turmoil it has caused to her friends and

colleagues, will she now commit to legislating against fixed odds

betting terminals, because of so much hardship across our

communities? As the honourable lady knows, a consultation was undertaken

in relation to that particular issue, which the department for

culture, media and sport are considering and we will announce a

response in due course. In Fareham, 63% of voters chose the

Conservatives, giving us a record share of the vote not seen since

1935. Will my right honourable friend join me in reminding the

chamber that this side won the election? Will she join me in

thanking... Join me in thanking the good people of Fareham for placing

their trust in the Conservatives, and in reassuring them that she is

the best person to deliver a prosperity lead and successful

Brexit? I am very happy to join her in thanking the good people of

Fareham for re-electing a first-class Member of Parliament to

represent them. She is absolutely right, of course. It was the

Conservative Party that got the highest percentage share of votes in

the election, the Conservative Party that got the most seats, 56 more

than the Labour Party, and the Conservative Party that got more

votes, and that's why we are an effective government. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. Will the Prime Minister confirm that, last week, Britain's

for most senior police officers, the commission of the Matt, the head of

counterterrorism, the National Crime Agency and the police chiefs cancel

all wrote to the government saying that counterterrorism, policing and

protective security grant is being cut by 7.2 billion -- 7.2%? Doesn't

that show contrary to what she just told the member for Wrexham, that

her to protect police budgets is not being kept? -- that her promise to

protect police budgets. We have protected counterterrorism policing.

We have put money in. We have also put money in to an uplift, for an

uplift in armed policing, and the commission of the Metropolitan

Police has made the point that the Metropolitan Police are well

resourced and have a wide diversity of tools that they can encounter in

terrorism. That's the point, it's not just about the funding but

ensuring they have the powers they need to deal with the terrorists.

That's what we are determined to ensure.

I was deeply alarmed to hear the announcement made from the Leader of

the Opposition at the Glastonbury festival that he would abandon

Trident. Would pro-government that provides -- would the payment to

agree that it is only our party that can provide the safety the country

needs? Can I welcome my honourable friend to this house. I'm sure he

will be a fine representative of the constituency. And I join with him in

seeing that in public Leader of the Opposition wanted to appear to

support Trident but in private wanted to scrap it. It is only the

Conservative Party that is clear about maintaining the deterrent.

After being defeated by my honourable friend in Perth, this

government has honoured the defeated candidate, Ian Duncan, with a job in

the Scotland Office. Instead of this affront to democracy does she think

she should stop treating the Scottish people with contempt and

give the Scottish Government a seat at the Brexit negotiations table? We

have, throughout the time, been working with and talking with the

Scottish Government and other devolved administrations and we will

continue to do that. I hope and trust that this means the Scottish

Nationalists will be focused on issues that matter to Scotland

rather than independence. If the Prime Minister aware of the current

crisis in Venezuela and is this an example of how an experiment in

socialist revolution can go horribly wrong? I have to say that I think

he's made an extremely important point. When we are talking about

trade deals in the future, the Leader of the Opposition and the

Shadow Chancellor think the only good trade deals are with Venezuela,

Cuba and North Korea. The brave men and women in our emergency services

have consistently put the safety of others first. Especially in response

to the terrible events we've seen in recent months. We pay tribute to the

professionalism. That's why I believe it's important that we give

them the resources they need to do their vital job. In Scotland it is

outrageous that police and Fire Services are required to pay VAT,

front line services paying ?35 million. Order, Mr cleverly. You are

usually the embodiment of calm, repose and statesmanship. Take some

sort of tablet, man. Thank you again, Mr Speaker. I repeat that. It

is outrageous that Fire Services and police services must pay VAT and it

cost them ?35 million last year alone. Now that the Prime Minister

has found the magic money tree, will she... We got the gist of it. The

Prime Minister. When the Scottish Government took the decision to

merge police forces into a single force, they were told that this

would lead to VAT being paid by Police Scotland. They were advised

that was the position that they chose to go ahead with the merger.

Thank you very much. Today is the festival Day of Saint Alden is. What

more can be done to protect persons of faith being persecuted for their

faith, particularly students who are suffering large amounts of

anti-Semitism? I am happy to recognise its. It is important.

Sometimes we talk a lot about people being persecuted for their faith in

countries abroad. We need to be very clear that sadly we do see people

suffering attacks. The CST do a lot of work with students to support and

I'm happy for that. We are supporting Muslim communities

suffering from Islamophobic. There is no place for this in our society.

The current Prime Minister recently visited my constituency. Upon being

asked about the precarious situation facing the District Hospital and the

Royal Infirmary she stated that people work scaremongering. And she

used this opportunity to reassure my constituents that all services will

be retained at both hospitals including a full accident and

emergency provision? The honourable lady knows, I was asked, and I can

confirm that Dewsbury accident and emergency is not closing. The

service will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A majority of

patients will see no change. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The repeated claim

that spending ever increased amounts of money on foreign aid keeps this

country safe has been shown by recent events to be utter nonsense.

Can I tell the Prime Minister that spending more money on overseas aid

does not make of the compassionate, it makes us look idiotic, when that

money is much needed in the United Kingdom. Can she promised to slash

the overseas aid budget, spend it on priorities in the UK? I hope she

does not have a strange political aversion to pursuing policies that

might be popular with the public. I can assure my honourable friend that

I don't have that aversion but on this issue I do take a different

view. I think it is important that given the position we hold, the

state of our economy, one of the largest economies in the world, we

recognise that we can help those around the world. We are seeing

millions of people, particularly girls, being educated. I think

that's important. I recognise what my honourable friend has said, that

we have suffered from terrible terrorist attacks in the United

Kingdom, are services have also foiled a number. Going back over

recent years as well. I think it's important that we are able to use

the money to ensure good governance in countries saw that we don't see

the creation of spaces where terrorists are able to train. I must

thank the Prime Minister and most of the Cabinet for visiting healing

because my majority went up 50 times. 53,000 EU nationals reside in

the London Borough of Ealing and they would like some clarity on this

fair and generous offer of how much extra the applications are going to

cost them and why it is that they are not going to be able to vote in

local elections as they are now? I would say, I'm grateful she

described it as a fear and generous offer. I think it is fair and

generous for people to ensure that they are able to stay and they will

have rights. A significant number of charities,

including those having to look after the most vulnerable in our society,

our under closure because of the National living wage and HMRC's

insistent that there is six years back page despite the advice only

changing last year. With the Prime Minister asked HMRC to suspend any

actions until we find a workable solution. My honourable friend has

raised a very important issue and it is one that he cares about

particularly. It is through the National living wage that we are

making sure that PSP. That pay is fair. But on this point, the

Department of Health and the relevant department are looking at

this carefully because they want to ensure that enforcement protects low

paid workers in a proportionate manner. We've invested more money in

social care. We need to look at this issue on a longer-term basis. I can

assure him are looking at the specific issues. Does the Prime

Minister think, like her Brexit secretary, it will be simple to

deliver the free trade deal with the European Union. The Brexit secretary

and I have said we think a comprehensive trade agreement is not

just possible but will be easy over other third-party countries because

we are operating on the same basis at the moment. Therefore, we are not

negotiating in the same position as say, Canada or other countries. I

think we can achieve that and it will be good for the UK and good for

the EU. With the Prime Minister agree that an opposition leader who

claims to be all things to all men saying one thing to remain voters in

London and quite another in leave voters constituencies is no kind of

leader at all and maybe that is why he was rejected in the recent

elections? I would like to welcome my honourable friend. I was very

pleased to visit his constituency. Absolutely right. People want to

know the position of the parties on this question. We are very clear

that we want to see the country coming together and we want to

deliver. It is what the government will do. Can I beg the Prime

Minister at this crucial time to listen to the many friends we have

in Europe and the world who fear that we are sleepwalking into a

disastrous deal with Europe. They've no confidence in the three ministers

in charge of the deal and believe our country is going to be deeply

damaged, in terms of our economy and our fall in the world, if we don't

get our act together. I have to say that the Brexit negotiations have

started formally. There was a constructive and positive start with

my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for exiting the

EU, and the commission's appointed negotiator. We've set up three

working groups dealing with citizens rights, and a dialogue on the issue

of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. That is

important. We've set out our objectives, published our

objectives, we know the plan. The party that does not know the plan is

his party. The Prime Minister was crystal clear on Monday that the

reciprocal agreements should include the people of Gibraltar. On Tuesday

the Spanish Foreign Minister sought yet again to suggest Spain should

have unilateral veto. Will make it clear that this is pointless and

counter-productive and our commitment is absolute. I thank my

honourable friend for raising that issue. This government's commitment

to Gibraltar has not changed and it will remain. Suicide rates in

Northern Ireland, in my constituency, are some of the worst

in Europe and the developed world. Clinicians have pointed to the

legacy of 30 years of terrorism and violence and the awful legacy. Part

of the money we are investing goes to health care. Isn't it time people

recognised this is delivery for all of the people of Northern Ireland

and is going to help some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged

people in Northern Ireland? People should get behind it and welcome it.

My right honourable friend makes a very important point on this. It is

the case, as we said in the agreement, that we recognise the

particular circumstances of Northern Ireland that have arisen as a result

of its history. There will be mental health issues that arise as a part

of that. It is important we put more into mental health across the UK. I

visited a school in Bristol. As he says, the money is for the good of

all people across Northern Ireland. I wonder if the Prime Minister has

an opportunity to see the British attitudes survey which stated 75% of

British people wanted to leave the EU. She will now that more than 80%

of the British electorate voted for parties that want to leave the EU.

She will know from her extensive canvassing that thousands of people

tell me the referendum to say that the issue, just get on and leave the

EU. Would she assure the house that she will make it her priority? What

I've seen across the country is eyed unity of purpose for people.

Regardless of how they voted in the referendum, their view is the

decision has been taken, just deliver it. Thank you very much.

With 9 million people in our country lonely all or most of the time, and

loneliness as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, will

the Prime Minister join with the honourable member for South Rebel

and myself in encouraging members of the host to attend the Jo Cox

loneliness event immediately after PMQs today to find out what all of

us can do to tackle this blight in our society? The honourable lady has

raised an important point and I would like to say the work you're

both doing is excellent, I encourage members of the house to do what she

says. We all recognise the impact loneliness has on health. We've been

able to put some support into the programme. We are helping the skills

of volunteers over 50 in looking at these issues. It's an important

issue and honourable members should recognise the work. Order.