25/10/2017 Prime Minister's Questions

for the people of Scotland, it is

time for the SMB to stop ducking

their responsibilities and use their

considerable powers to do so as

well. -- SNP.

Questions to the Prime

Minister.

Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker. I'm sure

all members across the house will

wish to join me in wishing all of

the home nations teams the best of

luck in the rugby league World Cup

starting this week. This morning I

had meetings with ministerial

colleagues and others and in

addition to my duties in this House

I will further meetings today.

Social care services in England are

in crisis. Since 2010 the local

council in Manchester had its annual

social care budget cut by 32

million. By March the government

will have taken 6.3 billion out of

social care. Why won't the Prime

Minister match Labour's commitment

to invest 8 billion in social care

in the budget?

As I have said in

this House we recognise the pressure

on social care as we see an ageing

population. There are short-term and

medium term and long-term answers

and in the short-term we have made

extra funding available to local

authorities and the announcement

made in the budget was for an extra

£2 billion for local authorities and

in the medium term we need to ensure

best practice is observed in local

authorities and NHS trusts and in

some cases delayed discharges are

higher than others and in the

long-term we need a sustainable

footing for social care which is why

we will be publishing an open

consultation on ideas and proposals

to ensure we can have that system in

future.

The Prime Minister will be

aware of the roles supported housing

plays with many vulnerable people in

Torbay. What reassurance can she

give about the ongoing support the

government is giving to those vital

services?

He raises an important

issue and something we have looked

at closely. Since my right

honourable friend the first

Secretary of State commissioned work

on this when he was Work and

Pensions Secretary. I confirmed we

will publish our response to that

consultation on Tuesday, 31st of

October and it will look at a range

of issues, and we need to ensure

funding is right so all providers

are able to access it effectively

and we need to look at issues such

as the increase in service charges,

making sure we are looking at cost

control in the sector. As part of

our response to the review we will

not apply if the cap to supported

housing and we will not implement it

in the wider social rented sectors.

The details will be made available

when we publish our response.

Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, I joined the

Prime Minister in wishing the rugby

league team the best in the

competition and I hope they win it.

Last week, the house voted by 299-0

to pause the roll-out of Universal

Credit. Will the Prime Minister

respect the will of the house?

As I

have said we acknowledge that there

are concerns people have raised and

as we have been rolling it out we

have listened to those changes have

been made. Perhaps I could update

the house on where we are on the

roll-out of Universal Credit.

Currently, people claiming benefits,

8% are on Universal Credit and by

January next year it will rise to

10%. The roll-out is conducted in

three phases and the intention is it

will complete by 2022. It is being

done in a measured way and I am

pleased to say four out of five

people are satisfied or very

satisfied with the service they are

receiving. Universal Credit helps

people into the workplace and make

sure work pays and that's what the

system should do.

I would have

thought that if only 8% of the

roll-out has taken place, and 20% of

the people in receipt are

dissatisfied, that is the cause for

thought, maybe a pause in the

process. Last week only one

Conservative MP had the courage of

their convictions to vote with us on

suspending Universal Credit

roll-out. For... Then, Mr Speaker, a

Conservative member of the Welsh

Assembly, Angela Burns said, and I

quote, for the life of me I cannot

understand why a six week or four

week gap is deemed acceptable. She

called Universal Credit Kallis at

best and downright cruel at worst

and concluded by saying she is

ashamed of her government. Can the

Prime Minister ease her colleague's

shame by pausing and fixing

Universal Credit?

We have been

making changes to the implementation

as it has gone through the roll-out.

Let's be clear about why we

introduced Universal Credit. It is a

system...

Members are getting

overexcited. The question has been

put and the answer will be heard.

We

introduced Universal Credit is a

more straightforward system that

ensures the work pays and helps

people into the workplace. Let's

look at what happened in the system

under Labour. Under Labour the low

paid page tax and had it paid back

to them in benefits. Under Labour,

people were trapped on a life of

benefits for years. Under Labour,

the number of workless households

doubled. Labour's benefits system

cost households extra £3000 a year.

What the Conservatives have done is

give the low paid a pay rise, given

the work as a tax cut and ensure we

have the benefit system that helps

people into work.

Under Labour, 1

million children were lifted out of

poverty. Under Labour we introduced

the principle of the national

minimum wage, opposed by all Tories

over there. If the Prime Minister is

not prepared to listen to Angela

Burns, perhaps she could listen to

the architect of Universal Credit,

The Right Honourable member for

Chingford, who said one of the

reasons I resigned from the

government was I did not actually

agree with the additional waiting

days. This is something the

government needs to look at. Does

the Prime Minister agree with him?

This is not just the answer I have

given three or four times in this

PMQs but in previous PMQs. As we

look at Universal Credit roll-out we

look at the way in which we

introduce it. He talks about what

happened under Labour and I am happy

to talk about what happened under

Labour.

Order! Too much noise and

finger-pointing on both sides of the

chamber. The responses from the

Prime Minister will be heard as more

questions from the opposition and

every other member, without fear or

favour.

Under the Labour Party, The

right honourable gentleman is

talking about rolling out of a new

benefit system. Let's think about

what happened when the Labour Party

rushed to introduce tax credits. I

was not the only member of

Parliament who had people in my

constituency surgery who had filled

in the force properly, given their

information to the authorities, and

years later, the government came

back and landed them with bills for

thousands of pounds. That is what

happens when you rush into a system

rather than introducing it properly,

as we are.

I thought we had passed

the threshold last week when the

Prime Minister was going to answer

questions but we have not achieved

that yet. Labour introduced working

tax credits to help people on low

pay out of poverty and it made a

very big difference. The sad truth

is that Universal Credit is in such

a mess that councils are forced to

pick up the Bill. An example,

Croydon Council, which piloted the

scheme, is now spending £3 million

of its own budget to prevent tenants

from being evicted due to rent

arrears caused by Universal Credit.

Does the Prime Minister think it is

right or fair that hard-pressed

local authorities, having their

budget cut by central government and

having to dip in what little they

have got left to prevent people

being evicted when they know it is

the responsibility of this

government and its Universal Credit

system that is causing the problem.

Labour introduced working tax

credits and then called back

thousands of pounds from people

working hard. He raises the issue of

rent arrears. Members have concerns

over people managing budgets to pay

their rent. The majority, for the

majority, it is not an issue,

managing their budget and after four

months, the number of people on

Universal Credit in arrears has

fallen by one third. We recognise

the issue so we're working with

landlords and have built flexibility

into the system so landlords can be

paid directly. Nobody can be legally

evicted from social housing due to

short-term rent arrears. I think

that is an important point to get

across to people. I come back to the

essential point about Universal

Credit. It is about a welfare system

that helps people into work and

makes work pay and does not trap

people in benefits for years.

I note

the Prime Minister could not say

anything about people being evicted

from the private rental sector

because of Universal Credit

problems. The costs are driven by

low pay and high rents. In 2015 the

then Chancellor promised £9 and our

living wage. In the March budget who

was sneaked out the minimum wage

would only reach £8 75. The welfare

state was not created to subsidise

low-paying employers and

overcharging landlords. Will the

budget in November put the onus

back...

Order! I expect better of

you. You were better behaved when

you were at Oxford University. What

has happened to you, man?

Calm

yourself. My question is this, will

the budget in November put the onus

back on to employers to pay a decent

wage so that workers can make ends

meet?

Of course we want to ensure

there are higher paid jobs, that is

why we are investing in the economy

and why we are investing in

infrastructure and in schools for

young people and why we are

introducing a modern industrial

strategy. He says that he did... The

welfare system was not created to

subsidise employers paying low

wages. That is what Labour's working

tax credit system did!

The Government's own social mobility

commission reported that low pay was

endemic in the United Kingdom, one

in four workers permanently stuck in

low paid jobs. That's why Labour

backs a real living wage of £10 per

hour to make work pay. This

Government doesn't really know

whether it's coming or going. They

say... Mr Speaker, the Conservative

Party and the Government says they

have full confidence in universal

credit. But won't vote for it. They

say they will end the NHS pay cap

but won't allocate any money to pay

for it. The communities Secretary

backs £50 billion of borrowing on

housing, but the Chancellor says

it's not policy. The Brexit

Secretary says they're planning for

a no deal Brexit. The Chancellor

says they're not. Isn't the case, Mr

Speaker, this Government is weak,

incompetent, divided and unable to

take a decision...

Order, order!

Order. I said that the responses

from the Prime Minister would be

heard. And the remarks of the right

honourable gentleman will be heard.

You can try to shout him down and

other members can try to shout the

Prime Minister down. It won't work.

End of. Jeremy Corbyn.

Isn't it the

case that this Government is weak,

incompetent and divided and unable

to take the essential decisions

necessary for the good of the people

of this country?

Now, I will tell

the right honourable gentleman, of

course we want to see people earning

higher wages. Of course we want, as

we are doing, to be able to ensure

we can invest in our public

services. But the way to do that,

the way to have a higher standard of

living, to have higher wages, to

invest in our public services, to

have a better future for people in

this country, is to build and

continue to build that stronger

economy and you don't build a

stronger economy by losing control

of public finances. You don't build

a stronger economy by uncontrolled

borrowing. You don't build a

stronger economy by hitting people

with the highest taxes in our

peacetime history. You don't build a

stronger economy by voting against

progress in our Brexit negotiations.

And you don't... You don't build a

stronger economy by planning for

capital flight and a run on the

pound. That's what Labour would do

and we will never let it happen.

Thank you, MrSpeaker. Some people in

Plymouth are campaigning by way of a

petition to say that lifeboats must

be launched immediately a fishing

vessel is overdue, I believe this is

irresponsible and puts our valiant

lifeboat crews in peril if they

don't know where they're going. We

know this in Cornwall. Would the

Prime Minister look at making safety

grants available so that all fishing

boats can have an AIS locater beacon

on board, this cost well under £4

million, even if every registered

fishing vessel under 15 metres got a

full grant for covering the whole

cost, my late husband had one of

these aboard his boat.

Can I thank

my honourable friend for raising

this issue and as she has just said

I know this is an area where she

tragically has personal experience

and I would like to commend her for

the work she has done in this

important area and for championing

these causes. I think she is right,

launching a lifeboat whenever a

fishing vessel is overdue may be the

wrong decision, it could as she says

be dangerous for the crew involved,

that's why the coastguard do take

time to gather valuable information

before deciding how best to respond.

On the issue she has raised, there

are a number of grants available

from various safety schemes and I

would encourage all those involved

in fishing to make the most of those

grants that are available.

Thank

you, MrSpeaker. Does the Prime

Minister agree with me that

migration is key to delivering

sustainable economic growth?

What I

think is absolutely key is to ensure

that we have controlled migration in

this country, that's what the people

of this country want and that's what

this Government is delivering.

An

American couple moved to Scotland

and invested £400,000 to run an

award-winning guesthouse in

Inverness. They contribute to their

community in the local economy. Yet,

they will be deported because of a

retro spective change by how was

rules. Will the Prime Minister meet

with me to discuss this case and the

systemic problems with UK migration?

My right honourable friend, the Home

Secretary, is happy to meet with the

honourable friend in order to

discuss this specific case he has

raised. It's absolutely right is

that the Home Office does work to

ensure that the immigration rules

are being properly applied and that

action is being taken according to

those rules.

Now it is time to hear

MrSimon Hoare.

Thank you, I have

composed myself. I was greatly

cheered last week as I am sure many

colleagues were, the German

Chancellor say that a final deal

with regards to protection is going

to happen. Does my right honourable

friend agree with my assessment that

we are going to get a good deal,

that works for our country, for the

European Union and possibly more

importantly, for my conconstitute

yepts of North Dorset.

I do agree

with my honourable friend, I believe

that we are - our job is to get the

bes Brexit deal for Britain. I we

can. I believe it's a deal that will

benefit the United Kingdom, that

will benefit the United Kingdom

across all parts of the UK,

including his constituency. That we

maximise the benefits from leaving

the EU, while ensuring we maintain

the greatest possible access to EU

markets. That's what we are

continuing to work on, that's what

vision I set out in my Florence

speech, and the European Union as we

know are now preparing their

response to that.

The Prime Minister

has previously stated her commitment

to apprenticeships. However, in my

constituency the apprenticeship levy

has not been helping those for whom

it was designed. What steps will she

take to ensure apprenticeships help

those from lower income backgrounds?

Well, apprenticeships are important.

We have already in the Government

from 2010 to 2015, we saw two

million more apprenticeships

created.

The important point about

apprenticeships is that this is an

opportunity for young people, not to

feel they just have to be -

encouraged to go down an academic

route when that doesn't work for

them. When I meet apprentices they

say, many of them this is the best

thing they've done and we want to

make sure it's available for all

those who will benefit from it.

Can

the Prime Minister assure me that

the right road, school places, post

boxes and of course especially

healthcare provision will be in

place to support both my new

constituents and the up withes I

have got at the moment.

Well, can I

first of all congratulate my

honourable friend and say that I am

pleased that the district is doing

what we recognise we need to do to

build, to tackle dysfunctional

housing marringet, which is to build

more homes. She is right,

infrastructure is also an important

part of that. That's why we have

committed to £15 billion for road

investment strategy, over half a

trillion will be spent on the NHS in

England during this parliament. A

record £41 billion will be spent on

core funding for schools this year.

That I am pleased to say is the

record of Conservatives in

Government.

In 24 hours the people

of Dundee will wave off the bid for

the 2023 European capital of

culture. A fantastic bid which will

generate some 1500 jobs and add 5%

to local GDP. Can I ask the Prime

Minister, notwithstanding her

current difficulties with Europe, to

back this bid, given it comes from

the most innovative and forward

looking city in the whole of the UK.

Well, can I say to the honourable

friend that of course we are always

willing to back bids from any city

in the United Kingdom to become the

European City of Culture. But I

welcome the fact that Dundee has put

a bid forward. And is part of this.

As I say, we want to support all

cities in the United Kingdom who are

doing it.

It is a criminal offence

for those like teachers in a

position of trust to have a sexual

relationship with those young people

under 18. But a constituent came to

me recently distressed about exactly

such a relationship between his

17-year-old daughter and a middle

aged driving instructor. Now while

if consensual it's not illegal, I am

concerned that there might be risks

to young drivers being groomed by a

predatory instructor. Does my right

honourable friend agree that driving

instructors are by the nature of

their work in a position of trust,

should be covered by the same rules

as teachers and if so would she ask

the relevant Minister to work with

me on this?

I am concerned to hear

the case of of his constituent

raised and I recognise the position

and the role that driving

instructors play. Can I say to my

honourable friend I think it's

something that I will ask the

appropriate department to look at

and to get in touch with him to get

further details of this case.

In

March 2019 the Prime Minister told

this house that parliament would be

given a meaningful vote on the tems

of the Article 50 withdrawal bill.

This morning, in the Brexit Select

Committee the Secretary of State

told us that vote may not take place

until after March 2019. Can the

Prime Minister please explain how

it's possible to have a meaningsful

vote on something that's already

taken place?

As the honourable

friend knows we are in negotiations

with the European Union but I am

confident that we will - the

timetable under the Lisbon Treaty

does give time until March 2019 for

negotiations to take place. But I am

confident, because it is in the

interests of both sides, it's not

just this parliament that wants to

have a vote on that deal, but

actually there will be ratification

by other parliaments that we will be

able to achieve that agreement and

that negotiation in time for this

parliament to have the vote that we

committed.

We enter a week of

commemorations around the centenary

of the balance Ford declaration.

Would the Prime Minister rededicate

us to the pursuit of peace and

justice for both the Israelis and

the Palestinians, but celebrate with

pride our small national

contribution to the creation of a

democracy in the Middle East, a

sanctuary for those who suffered

from anti-Semitism and fear its rise

again and in the state of Israel a

true friend of the United Kingdom.

Well, can I first of all say to my

honourable friend that we are proud

of the role that we played in the

creation of the state of Israel and

we will certainly mark the centenary

with pride. I am also pleased at the

good trade relations and other

relationships that we have with

Israel and that we have are building

on and enhancing. We also must be

conscious of the sensitivitying some

people do have about the declaration

and we recognise that there is more

work to be done. We remain committed

to the two-state solution in

relation to Israel and the

Palestinians. That is an important

aim. I think it's important that we

all recommit to ensuring that we can

provide security, stability and

justice for both Israelis and

Palestinians through such a lasting

peace.

Trying to get a decision on

the Swansea tidal lagoon is becoming

like Groundhog Day. Can I ask the

Prime Minister when she will be

ready?

I say to the honourable lady

as she knows this raises a number of

complex issues, we are grateful for

the review that was conducted and

the relevant department is still -

the business department is

considering this and we will respond

in due course.

Does the Prime

Minister agree that as we leave the

EU and take control of our land

management policy our manifesto

commitment to planned 11 million

trees is a critical part of a

holistic countryside management

framework which we can now build to

ensure long-term home grown wood for

our housing industry alongside

increasing our natural carbon

capture potential and reducing flood

risks.

Well, my honourable friend is

absolutely right, we did commit in

our manifesto to plant 11 million

trees. We are putting that at the

heart of our work to protect the

environment for future generations.

I am pleased to say that since April

2015 we have planted just over two

million trees. But we do have much

more to do and we will be continuing

to work with landowners and

stakeholders on this particular

issue. But it is also about the role

that trees play in reducing flood

risks and helping to hold carbon

dioxide.

The banister has spoken on mental

health.

Can I thank her for that?

When she was Home Secretary she

outlawed police cells used for those

in mental health crisis but today

parts of the system are in crisis.

In my constituency, children, young

people and families, weighted two

years for autism assessments. The

Secretary of State agrees it is not

acceptable. Can I ask the Prime

Minister if she will turn her

well-intentioned statements into

action?

We are taking a number of

courses of action and he has raised

the issue of the autism diagnosis

and the length of time it takes. I

know my right honourable friend the

Health Secretary has looked into

this and will do so because we are

clear we want to insure adults and

children should not have to face too

long for period of diagnosis to take

place. The Department of Health is

working with partners to address

these issues. And the clinical

guidance sets out assessment should

begin within three months of

referral. It is within the

Department of Health to work in

those areas to make sure it is

possible to achieve.

Tomorrow at

Cornwall airport the bloodhound will

carry out its first test run in the

next step on its quest to achieve

the land speed record. Will the

Prime Minister join me in wishing

the team, especially the driver Andy

Greene a successful test run and

does she agreed these projects show

the UK continues to lead the world

in innovation in science and

engineering?

I am very happy to join

him in wishing the team well and I

have met some of the members of the

team. I agree with the point he

makes that this continues to show

what a world leader in science and

innovation UK ears. We have some of

the best universities with four in

the world top ten and more Nobel

prizewinners than any country

outside of the United States. I am

sure we will all be proud of the

Bloodhound team.

Does the Prime

Minister agree that as a result of

the potential downgrading of

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, 479

professionals lost, over 300

hospital beds cut and a 90 minute

journey to the nearest A&E are not

in the best interests of

constituents? And will she meets to

discuss the detrimental impact this

will have on the area?

The principle

we want to base their decisions on

is service changes should be based

on clear evidence and led by

clinicians who best understand what

the local needs are. I understand

that councils have referred the

changes to the Health Secretary and

I know he will consider those issues

carefully and come to a decision in

due course.

Next year sees the

centenary of the first woman member

of Parliament. Would my right

honourable friend tell us what

leadership and encouragement to the

women and girls in his constituency

to take part in public life is a

member for Sheffield Herm has shown

in his remarks?

Can I say --

Sheffield Hallam. It is important we

mark the centenary and recognise the

role women have played in this House

and in public life. I want to see

young women and women able to see

this House is the place they want to

come to, they want to contribute to

their society, want to respond to

needs of local constituents and make

a difference to people'slives. That

is what I am in it for and why I

encouraged women to come into this

House and I'm pleased to say we have

more women on our benches ever

before. Finally, all of us in this

House should have due care and

attention to the way in which we

refer to other people. And should

show women in public life the

respect they deserve.

Yesterday the

Scottish Parliament voted by 91-28

to ban fracking in Scotland. Could I

ask why the Prime Minister would not

consider following Scotland's lead

and introducing a moratorium on the

rest of the UK in order that there

can be an evaluation of the health

and environmental consequences of

this controversial technology and in

order of the public can be

consulted?

This is an issue on which

he and I will disagree because I

think shale gas has the potential to

power economic growth and it will

support thousands of jobs in the oil

and gas industry and other sectors

and it will provide a new domestic

energy source. We have more than 50

years of drilling experience and one

of the best records for economic

development while protecting the

environment. Shell wealth funds will

provide additional resources and

local councils will be able to

retain hundred per cent collected

from shale gas developments. We will

bring in further proposals but this

is a potential new source of energy

and it is right we use this and take

the benefits for the economy and

people'sfutures.

I'm sure the Prime

Minister is aware of the terrifying

incident on Sunday where a gunman

held hostages at a bowling alley in

my neighbouring constituency

Nuneaton, a facility enjoyed by my

constituents. Will she join me in

praising the excellent work in

Warwickshire Police and West

Midlands ambulance did in ensuring

the situation was brought to a swift

conclusion without casualties?

Can I

say of course we were concerned to

hear of the incident and I am happy

to join him and the honourable

member for Nuneaton in commending

the professionalism and bravery of

Warwickshire Police in bringing this

to a swift conclusion and to the

Ambulance Service in ensuring there

were no injuries. The emergency

services do an amazing job and this

is the sort of incident when they do

not know whether this is the sort of

thing they will have to be called to

and I was pleased to welcome

emergency services personnel to a

reception in Downing Street on

Monday, and what they all say and

always say is they were just doing

their job but my goodness me, what a

job they do.

On the 29th of March, I

asked the Prime Minister if she

would help the people of new ferry

after the huge explosion that

devastated the town centre. She said

she was happy to help and they would

be support offered to the community.

Two weeks later she called a general

election and her government seems to

have forgotten about the people in

new ferry. While she may have

forgotten, my constituents have not.

I ask again, precisely when will

Heard government put their hands in

their pockets so the people in new

ferry can rebuild their town and

lives?

The government has not

forgotten about the issue and I

understand that we are waiting for

the local council to produce

proposals and a business case and we

will look at those seriously.

In

acknowledging the hard work of the

men and women at RAF Benson in my

constituency for the work they did

in the Caribbean, will she

acknowledged the Puma to helicopter

was ready and available for work in

the Caribbean within a couple of

hours of having arrived?

I am very

happy to commend the work of those

at RAF Benson and those in the

military and volunteers who provided

support after the devastating

hurricanes that took place and I am

also happy to agree with him that

contrary to some stories put about,

we were there, on time, and able to

act quickly in getting people

support.

We can all agree no one

should ever be persecuted on account

of their sexuality. Last week at the

Pink News awards, the Prime Minister

said we had come a long way on LGBT

rights that there is more to do. Can

I ask to start that work today by

promising that never again will the

Home Office deport LGBT asylum

seekers to countries where they are

unlikely to be persecuted with the

instruction that they pretend to be

straight?

Can I say to the

honourable lady this is an issue

that we take seriously. I think I'm

right in saying the Conservative

government changed the rules on

asylum seeking to introduce the

category of those who could face

persecution in their home of origin

because of their sexuality. I am

pleased that was done and I am sure

the Home Office treats all cases

with a sensitivity that is

appropriate.

As of 2016, 17% of the

premises in Scotland were without

superfast broadband compared to 11%

for the UK as a whole. Will she join

me in calling on the Scottish

Government to do more and

constructively engage with

departments in Westminster to

deliver this crucial service in

communities in Scotland?

Can I

say...

Can I say? Order! All sorts

of curious hand and finger gestures

are being deployed, each trying to

outdo the other in terms of

eccentricity but I am interested in

hearing the Prime Minister's reply.

Can I say that we all recognise the

importance of broadband and fast

broadband being available to people

but he is right, the members of the

Scottish Nationalist party come to

Westminster. They spend a lot of

time talking about Powell is for the

Scottish Government. It is time the

Scottish Government got on with

using its powers for the benefit of

people in Scotland.

Mr Speaker, in

the past fortnight we have heard the

announcement of the loss of many

hundreds of jobs in Lancashire at

BAE Systems sites which is a hammer

blow to workers and families. Today

I want to raise a proposed closure

impressed and that will mean the

loss of another 180 jobs. We keep

hearing the hype about the Northern

Powerhouse. Why are aerospace and

trade manufacturers in the North

shedding jobs by hundreds?

I

recognise this is a worrying time

for workers involved. Obviously, we

will ensure through the Department

for Work and Pensions they have

support to look for new jobs which

includes the rapid response service

which gives particular support to

people in these areas. In relation

to the decision by BAE Systems, I

assure the house we will continue to

promote this industry and I hope all

Labour members will continue to

promote the defence industry. I am

glad that last month we signed a

statement of intent with Qatar and

last year the Ministry of Defence

spent £3.7 billion with Bae and are

working with them to maximise export

opportunities for Typhoons in Hawks

to retain jobs in the UK.

When it

comes to tackling homelessness,

prevention is better than cure, so I

am delighted the government backed

my Homelessness Reduction Act. One

of the obstacles to people is

putting together a deposit for rent

and help with the rent. Will my

right honourable friend look at a

scheme that will provide 32,000

people a year the opportunity to

rent for an investment of £3.1

million per year, and not only that,

to save the public purse up to £1.8

billion over a three-year period?

I

thank him for the issue he has

campaigned on, the issue of

homelessness and preventing

homelessness and I am pleased we

supported his Homelessness Reduction

Act and I think that will be an

important contribution. I understand

on the specific issue he has raised,

he has made a representation to the

Chancellor and I am sure he will

look at that representation

carefully. On the general issue of

helping people to buy and helping

with deposits, I'm pleased to

announce the extra £10 million of

the to buy scheme, which makes a to

people to get into homes.

The

workforce, the unions and management

at Bombardier in Belfast deserve

credit for the way they responded to

the threats coming from the United

States and Boeing, which is a threat

to their jobs. Can the Prime

Minister given assurance she will

continue building on the good work

that has happened through herself

the Secretary of State for business

and also the Northern Ireland

Secretary and work with the unions

and management to ensure the threat

of tariffs is removed. The C series

is a success story and thousands of

jobs in Belfast are protected and

across the United Kingdom, as well?

I am very happy to give that

commitment. A lot of work has been

done in relation to this by myself

and by the Business Secretary and

Chancellor and other ministers with

their opposite numbers in America

and Canada. We will continue to do

that work. Most recent announcement

made in relation to Airbus and the C

series is important, but we want to

ensure those jobs stay in Northern

Ireland because we recognise the

importance of the jobs for the

economy of Northern Ireland and for

the people and their families.

Order.