01/11/2017 Prime Minister's Questions

everything must suit business.

Businesses in Scotland will need to

continue to export and worked

throughout the UK. We also want

businesses to be able to work within

the Scottish market.

I know that members across the house

will have been appalled by last

night's cowardly terrorist attack in

New York. Our thoughts are with all

of those affected and we stand

united with the people of New York.

Members on both sides have been

deeply concerned about allegations

of harassment and mistreatment in

Westminster. This demands a

response, and that is why the leader

of the house has been meeting with

her counterparts, and we are hopeful

all sides can work together quickly

to resolve this, and I have written

to all party leaders inviting them

to a meeting early next week so we

can discuss a common, transparent,

independent grievance procedure for

all of those who work in Parliament.

We have a duty to ensure that

everybody coming here to contribute

to public life is treated with

respect. This morning I had meetings

with ministerial colleagues and

others. In addition to my duties in

the house, I will have further such

meetings later.

Is the Prime

Minister where there have been some

very powerful research that's been

done on the question of high speed

rail? What it says is that, in the

leafy suburbs of the south, the

first 140 miles, 30% of it has been

dedicated to tunnelling to avoid

knocking down houses. Yet, in the

north, we are now told that the

percentage is only 2% for the whole

of the north. Why? Because HS2 says

it's too costly, so knock the houses

down. Will she arranged for a

meeting with people from my area in

order to avoid another 30 houses

being knocked down in Newton, part

of Bolsover? And isn't it high time

that this government stopped

treating our people like

second-class citizens?

I say to the

honourable gentleman that I'm sure

the Department for Transport will be

happy to look into the question that

he has raised but, of course, HS2,

the reason why we are doing HS2 is

it is important to increase the

capacity of the railway lines going

through to the north. This will be a

very important contribution to the

UK economy. And I can assure him, if

he looks at everything this

government has done, with the

Northern Powerhouse, the Midlands

engine... Be significant investment

in infrastructure across all parts

of the country, this is a government

that wants to ensure this is a

country that works for everyone.

I

want to join the Prime Minister and

add my thoughts are with New

Yorkers. The shocking scenes in New

York will have brought back awful

memories of terrorist attacks there

and, as we degrade and destroyed

Daesh, at its base, it will exploit

its death cult ideology. Will my

honourable friend urged our

international partners to join with

us in delivering the recent UN

resolution to investigate and

prosecute Daesh terrorists so we can

hold them to account for their vile

part?

My honourable friend raises an

important point, and it's important

that we ensure we have a complete

response to this issue of the threat

of terrorism. That involves dealing

with the problem at source. It must

also involve dealing with terrorism

wherever it occurs. But our message

is clear, that our values will

prevail, that the terrorists will

not win. As we do this, we need to

ensure that we work with

international partners. We want to

try and make sure that there is in

Syria Iran, that we develop -- Syria

and Iraq. That we develop safe

spaces as they re-emerge from this

terrorist threat, that has been on

their street but also affected

people across the world. Crucially,

and we have done a lot of work in

this, in helping those in situ to be

able to gain evidence that can be

used to ensure that anybody who is

involved in the horrors of attacks

that we see, that anybody involved

in those attacks can actually be

brought to justice.

On the question

of the sex harassment allegations

that the Prime Minister quite

rightly referred to, to put on the

record, I am happy to meet with the

Prime Minister and all party leaders

to discuss this. We need better

protections for all in this house.

This house must involve workplace

trade unions in that, but it is also

incumbent on all parties to have

robust procedures in place to

protect and support victims of

sexual abuse and harassment. I join

with the Prime Minister in sending

our solidarity with the people of

New York and then mayor, Bill de

Blasio, for the appalling terrorist

attack yesterday. I hope the whole

house will join me in paying tribute

to two former Labour can -- two

former Labour colleagues, who passed

away this week, candy Atherton, the

member for Falmouth and Campbell,

and Frank Doran, the member for

Aberdeen North, who both did

enormous good work at opposite ends

of the UK to represent their

communities and constituencies would

they will be missed by all of us,

especially in the Labour Party, who

they served so well for their entire

lives. In 2010, the Labour

government intervened through HMRC

to shut down an Isle of Man scheme

used to import yachts into the EU

and thus to avoid tax. A similar

scheme has recently been exposed

relating to the import of business

jets into the Isle of Man. So can

the Prime Minister assure the house

that HMRC investigates these new

allegations diligently?

The right

honourable gentleman has made a

number of references in his

question, and I will address all of

them. On the first point, it is

absolutely essential, and he is

right, that we have processes, that

political parties have processes to

deal with allegations of misconduct,

but also that, obviously, we have

the ministerial code and proper

investigations take place against

that, where that is appropriate, but

I believe it is also crucial for

everybody working in this

Parliament, be they working for a

Member of Parliament, for the house

authorities or a journalist working

in this Parliament, that there are

proper processes in this Parliament

for people to be able to report

misconduct and for that to be dealt

with, and I think that is very

important, and I'm grateful for him

saying he will meet with me, and I

hope other party leaders... I see

the leader of the SNP is nodding his

head. To look at this particular

issue. Can I also join him in paying

tribute to both Frank Duran -- Frank

Doran and Candy Atherton. Frank

Doran was first elected in 1987,

serving two separate terms as the MP

for Aberdeen, chairing the

administration committee for five

years and he was a tireless

campaigner for safety in the oil and

gas industry, and I'm sure everybody

will recall his commitment in this

house and join me in offering

condolences to his family and

friends, and Candy Atherton, first

elected in 1997, when I was first

elected, and she served for eight

years as an MP, but she was a strong

campaigner for women's rights and

disability issues and continued to

champion those causes on Cornwall

council after leaving this house,

and I'm sure that members across

this house will join me in offering

my condolences to her family and

friends. The right honourable

gentleman talks about tax avoidance,

and I can assure him that, where

cases are referred to HMRC in

relation to tax avoidance, they take

those seriously and look into those

measures seriously. We have taken

action collectively as a government

over the last few years, since 2010,

when he first came in, and we have

secured over £150 million of

compliance revenues since 2010 from

a number of measures we have taken

to ensure that we clamp down on tax

evasion and avoidance.

957 business

jets in the Isle of Man seems a bit

excessive for any island anywhere,

and I hope it is investigated and

you tax is investigated from those

people trying to avoid it. -- the

tax that is due. Allegations of the

scale of tax docking -- tax dodging

involved range up to 119 billion,

the size of the NHS budget. The Isle

of Man VAT avoidance allegations are

part of a wider link from the

Bermuda -based law firm said the a

similar scale the Panama Papers.

Will the Prime Minister commit the

HMRC to fully investigate all

evidence of UK tax avoidance and

evasion from this league, and

prosecute where feasible?

I had

given the right honourable gentleman

and assurance in my first answer

that HMRC does take these issues

very seriously, does investigate and

thus take action and, where

appropriate, tax loopholes are

closed. What is important is that,

if we look at the record we have,

and I mentioned the 160 billion in

additional compliance revenues since

2010, we have announced or intimated

over 75 measures since 2010 to

tackle tax avoidance and evasion.

The right honourable gentleman

referred to one that was done by

Labour. We have been continuing to

act on this particular issue, so we

will be raising billions of pounds

more as a result. But I reassured

him... I think most people would

recognise that HMRC actually does

rather want to collect tax. That its

job, and it does look to make sure

it can do so as much as possible.

Well, it's rather strange then that

Britain reportedly has blocked a

French led proposal which would have

placed Bermuda on the European Union

tax haven blacklist. Perhaps the

Prime Minister could explain why

that would be the case? The Panama

Papers exposed many wealthy

individuals and big businesses who

avoided tax through offshore trusts.

Labour backs any necessary changes

to toughen our laws against

aggressive tax avoidance of just

yesterday, Mr Speaker, we tried to

strengthen legislation on beneficial

ownership of trusts, with amendments

we placed to the finance bill why

did the government vote against

them?

Can I say to the right

honourable gentleman that he raises

the issue of British Overseas

Territories. In fact, this

government has taken action in

relation to those British Overseas

Territories, action that was not

taken by the previous Labour

government. So, if he says to me

that this whole question of tax

evasion is something that needs to

be constantly looked at, and

government needs to be prepared to

act, my answer is, yes, we are and

we will.

There is a strange kind of

pattern here, because, in 2015

alone... In 2015 alone am a

Conservative members of the European

Parliament voted against five

reports to introduce methods of

fighting tax avoidance and evasion.

Last week, HMRC admitted that

multinational companies avoid paying

5.8 billion taxes in 2016. Despite

this, HMRC is currently cutting

another 8000 staff. So can the Prime

Minister assure the house that, in

the upcoming Budget, instead of more

cuts to HMRC, they will get more

resources to tackle the scourge of

aggressive tax avoidance and

evasion?

I have reassure the Right Honourable

gentleman. HMRC is acting since this

Conservative Party came into

Government in 2010 and will continue

to act but, of course, in asking

these questions, he might want to

reflect on why it was before the

dissolution of Parliament earlier

this year, it was the Labour Party

that stopped and refused to support

a tax avoidance and evasion measures

brought forward by this Government.

His party stopped it.

Mr Speaker, my

question was why Conservative MPs

opposed what Labour was proposing

yesterday? So, Mr Speaker... Last

month's European Parliament

committee of enquiry set up in the

wake of the Panama papers, claimed

that the UK is obstructing the fight

against tax dodging and

money-laundering. And, just last

week, the EU's competition

Commissioner announced an enquiry

into UK taxation rules that may have

institutionalised tax avoidance by

multinational corporations. Isn't

the Prime Minister concerned that

vital revenue is being lost to fund

schools and hospitals? Will she

change the rules in the budget?

Can

I say to the right honourable

gentleman we have taken an extra

£160 billion in additional

compliance revenue since 2010 and he

says measures being proposed this

week, as I said in my previous

answer, we would have had more tax

evasion measures in place if the

Labour Party had not blocked of

before the last election. This party

in Government has not just been

acting in the UK. We have been

working with the Crown dependencies,

the British Overseas Territories,

and leading the world, it was the

Conservative Prime Minister that put

this on the agenda of the G7 anergy

20 four international action against

tax avoidance and evasion.

If we are

leading the world perhaps she can

explain how the amount of tax paid

by the super-rich in income tax has

fallen from 4.4 billion down to 3.5

billion since 2009. Earlier this

year, the Public Accounts Committee

said the HMRC record of getting

multimillionaires to pay their taxes

was dismal and the super-rich were

getting help with their tax affairs

that is not available to other

taxpayers. Our schools budget has

been cut. More people waiting longer

for treatment.

In the

order. We do tend to have

overexcitement every week but I give

notice as usual I would like to get

to the end of the order paper and

facilitate backbench enquiries, as

well, so members are eating only

into their own time forth I have got

all the time the world.

Since

members to get so excited, I must

say it again, our schools budgets

are being cut, more people waiting

longer for treatment on the National

Health Service. More elderly and

disabled not getting the social care

they need. Does the Prime Minister

think it is acceptable that, when it

comes to paying taxes, there's one

rule for the super-rich, and another

the rest of us?

The top 1% of

earners in this country are paying

28% of the tax burden. That is the

highest percentage ever under any

Government. And, once again, he is

wrong forth over the next two years,

£2.5 billion extra is being put into

our schools, as a result of

decisions taken by this Conservative

Government. But I will tell him, he

talks about spending on schools and

hospitals. I will tell him where the

real problem lies full sub today be

spent nearly £50 billion in payments

on interest to those we have

borrowed from as a result of the

legacy of the Labour Party.

That is more than we spend on the

NHS pay bill, it is more than we

spend on...

Answer will be heard as I

Answer will be heard as I indicated.

Mr Gates, you are a senior denizen

of the House. This excessive jester

Galatea and is not good for you,

man. Calm yourself.

We spend £50

billion on debt interest every year,

payments to people we have borrowed

from, more than the NHS pay Bill,

more than our schools budget, more

than we spend on defence. That as a

result of the economy we were left

by the Labour Party Government. And

what does the right honourable

gentleman want to do? He wants to

borrow £500 billion more to make the

situation worse and leave even less

money for schools and hospitals.

Tim

Lawton.

On August 22, 2015 in my

constituency, 11 men tragically lost

their lives in the airshow disaster.

26 months later, no decision has

been taken on criminal charges and

coroners inquest has been delayed

again until November next year. The

families of the victims have just

had their application for

exceptional case funding rejected by

their legal aid agency and they will

likely be the only persons at the

inquest not legally represented.

Will my right honourable friend

agreed to look at this case again

and to meet the families to ensure

that they have proper access to

justice in this exceptionally tragic

case which is a much wider public

interest for safety at all levels?

Can I say he raises a very important

issue and I can understand the

concerns of the families. In

relation to this. He talks about the

timetable for decisions being taken

for the Department for Transport has

accepted the recommendation and they

are working with the air accident

investigation Branch to determine

the scope of the review. The Civil

Aviation Authority has accepted all

recommendations, so there was

considerable work going on to learn

the lessons from this disaster. But

we're also committed ensuring that

people, where there is a public

disaster, people have proper

representation and this is an issue

I will ask the Lord Chancellor to

look at in relation to the questions

raised.

Ian Blackford.

Thank you,

can I associate myself with the

remarks made by the Prime Minister

went to talk about the zero

tolerance there has to be for bad

sexual practices and behaviour and I

certainly commit my members to work

with the Government to make sure

that we can have a system we can be

proud of that protects all members

of the Houses of Parliament. Can I

pass on my condolences to the family

and friends of Frank Gordon for his

sad death this week. Can the Prime

Minister tell the House how much a

working single parent can expect to

lose because of the roll-out of the

Universal Credit?

Can I first of all

say to the honourable gentleman that

I'm grateful to him for agreeing he

wants to work across the House on

this important issue. If I may just

say to him, he referred to sexual

misconduct, I think what is

important is that we list not just

sexual misconduct and also bullying,

as well because that is also

important. He has raised the role of

Universal Credit with me before. The

reason why we have brought in to

replace it is to ensure that when

people are encouraged into the

workplace and in work, they are able

to keep more of the money they earn.

That's an important principle we

will continue to underpin that.

The

reality is that new research shows

that working single parents could

lose an average of £1350 a year.

Because of the cuts to work

allowances. Universal Credit is fast

becoming Theresa May's poll tax. The

Prime Minister has a habit of you

turning. Will see you turn one more

time and fix the problems with

Universal Credit?

Can I say to the

honourable gentleman, I have

underlined the principle which lies

behind Universal Credit which I

believe is very important and that

is why when we look at the support

given to people it isn't just about

the support they receive in

financial terms but also about

helping them to get onto the work

ladder, ensuring they can actually

meet the requirements of getting

into the workplace and when they are

in work they can keep more of the

money that they earn. I think that

is an important principle and we

will continue to roll-out Universal

Credit looking carefully at the

fermentation of Universal Credit as

we do so, because we are doing this

in a careful way over a period of

time, but the important principle is

Universal Credit is a simpler system

which ensures people keep more as

they earn more.

Mr Speaker, in

Amersham we are acutely aware that

infrastructure is vital for economic

success particularly of other parts

of the country. However, we still

have areas that do not have access

to high-speed broadband, and with

the advent of electric vehicles, we

are going to need to install an

extensive charging network. Could

the Prime Minister tell me what

further action the Government can

take to ensure the timely completion

of our broadband infrastructure and

what it can do to guarantee the

rapid roll-out of electric vehicle

charging points soap Buckinghamshire

residents and businesses cannot just

bear the brunt and the burden of

infrastructure development, but can

take advantage of the opportunities

offered by modern technology?

She's

absolutely right that we want to be

able to ensure we take the

advantages offered by modern

technology. That's why these are

issues addressed in our industrial

strategy and we will continue to

address them and we recognise that

when we talk about infrastructure in

this country actually increasingly

the IT broadband infrastructure is

part of that, it's not just the

physical roads and rails

infrastructure. We are investing 790

minute and pound improving

broadband, our big investment up to

1.7 billion, and we are leading the

world in the development of electric

cars and we need to ensure we have

those vehicle charging points so we

have put in place grants and policy

measures to ensure that we see those

charging points so people can take

advantage of it.

If the Prime

Minister is serious about building a

country that works for everyone, why

are under 25 is not included in the

national mood and wage? And also

apprentices, 3.15 hour?

It's

important we have the national

living wage. It was this party which

introduced it. That has happened and

has had an important impact on

people and obviously the national

living wage continues to increase.

Will the Prime Minister join with

the local Government ministers

positive comments this week

welcoming family hubs and pushing

carriage our excellent Conservative

councils to be champions of these

hubs which can so improve the lives

of children including the most

runnable children by strengthening

their families?

Can I thank her for

raising this point. I hope we all

recognise the value of stable and

strong families and this is an issue

she has championed through her time

in this House but also outside of

this House as well and I am happy to

join her in welcoming the

development of family hubs and I

would encourage Conservative

councils across the country to be

champions of this.

Thank you. Is the

Prime Minister aware that my city of

Dundee has been repeatedly in the

news last week. It launched its

European city of culture bid and is

now the world centre for

pharmaceutical innovation and the

Wall Street Journal listed it as one

of the top ten places to visit on

earth, making it Scotland's coolest

city. Wouldn't it be great if the

Prime Minister today can finally

tell the innovative, the creative

and cool people of Dundee and

surrounding area, what precisely is

the UK Government's date for

delivering its fair share of the

deal?

I'm sorry, I didn't hear the

end of it. What is important for the

honourable gentleman, he stands up

and speaks and waxes lyrically about

his city of Dundee and I was asked

about the Dundee city of culture

last week and made the point that,

of course, a number of places across

the UK may put in those bits but on

the creative industries I'm pleased

to see that element of the day in

Dundee, as well and tasted the deal

will be an important deal for Dundee

and the surrounding area is at other

city deals in Scotland have been for

with those have been agreed.

Cheltenham general's A&E is hugely

valued by me and my constituents and

we want to see it preserved and

enhanced. Does my right honourable

friend agree with me that local NHS

managers must listen very carefully

to the voices of my constituents and

others in Gloucestershire and ensure

that any proposals can truly command

local support?

My honourable friend

raises an important issue, because

we are very clear that proposals

should be developed at a local level

I local commissions, but taking

account of and listening to the

views of local residents and

constituents on those particular

matters. I think it is important

that local people are heard and can

know that decisions have been taken

in the light of any concerns they

raise, and I understand any

proposals for urgent care developed

by the Gloucestershire authority

will be subject to proper

consultation.

The government will

today published its first report

detailing progress towards ratifying

the Istanbul Convention on violence

against women. After five years,

hopefully today's report signals it

won't have to wait long for

application. But women suffering

domestic violence don't have the

luxury of time, so this is why the

Prime Minister is sorting out

misogyny and harassment in place,

will she ensure that all women have

somewhere safe to go when fleeing

violence?

I say to the honourable

gentleman that, over the past few

years, but when I was Home Secretary

and under the current Home

Secretary, we have taken steps in

relation to funding in relation to

domestic violence, but that funding

is ring-fenced over a period of

time, so there can be a greater

certainty for organisations working

in this area. There is much for us

to do because, sadly, we still see

domestic violence and abuse taking

place. One of the other steps we are

taking is to bring in new

legislation in relation to domestic

violence, which I hope will clarify

the situation, but we need to

address this across a wide variety

of action.

How we treat our farmed

animals is an indication of our

civility as a nation. And we in this

country have a record of which we

can be rightly proud. Does my right

honourable friend share my concern

that there have been reports that,

as a result of leaving the European

Union, there may be a relaxation of

those standards? Can she take this

opportunity to reassure me that that

is not the case, and that in fact we

will seize the opportunity to

improve standards and thereby

enhance the reputation of British

produce?

I can assure my honourable

friend... First of all, I can agree

with him that we are proud to have

some of the highest animal welfare

standards in the world, and we want

to continue to be able to have that

reputation as a country where we

have those high standards. So

leaving the EU isn't going to change

that. We remain committed to high

animal welfare standards and, as my

honourable friend says, that may

give an opportunity to enhance those

standards, so we can further show

people the reputation this country

as is somewhere where they can be

safe and secure in the knowledge of

conditions in which their food has

been prepared.

The Prime Minister

will be aware that 4 million

children in our country are growing

up in poverty, and that number has

risen. Two thirds of those children

are from working families. Does she

still seriously believe that the

introduction of Universal Credit

will balloon -- will bring that

number down?

The number of children

in absolute poverty has actually

come down under this government.

But, of course, we need to be aware

of the impact of decisions. We are

looking carefully at the

implementation of Universal Credit,

but I will repeat the point I made

in response to the question from the

leader of the SNP, which is that the

point of Universal Credit if it is

more straightforward, a simpler

system, but also it helps people get

into the workplace and ensures that

they keep more of the money that

they earn, which I think is

important.

This government's

industrial strategy makes the

historic commitment for a fairer

distribution of infrastructure

spending across the regions, our

roads, railways and digital

networks, and in advance of the

White Paper, would my honourable

friend confirm this commitment and

between rebalancing of our economy

by more investment spending in the

regions, not least in Yorkshire?

My

honourable friend stands up well for

his county and his constituency on

this matter, but I am very happy to

confirm to him that we will maintain

that commitment in our forthcoming

industrial strategy White Paper,

because we want to see a fairer

distribution of infrastructure

spending across the country, and we

want that because we know that

infrastructure investment is

important to unlocking economic

opportunities and economic growth

and productivity in our towns,

villages and cities. Of course, we

have backed this with ambitious

commitments to increase spending on

infrastructure by 50% over the next

four years, but I can assure him we

will be looking at that spending

across the whole country.

I'd like

to thank the Prime Minister for her

opening words about the horrific

revelations this week, but can I say

to her that, three years ago, I

brought evidence to her in this

house that whips had used

information about sexual abuse to

demand loyalty from MPs. I have

brought my information to her in

this house, and I warned her at the

time that, unless real action was

taken, we risked repeating those

injustices again today. On three

occasions, I asked her to act and,

on three occasions, she did not. Can

I ask her, in this of all weeks, for

the fourth time, will she finally

take concrete action to tackle this?

I will, of course, look back at the

questions that the honourable lady

said that she raised with me in this

house. I issue she raised those with

me when I was Home Secretary. I will

say to her that I am very clear that

the whips office, and I hope this

goes for all whips offices across

this house, should make clear to

people that, where there are any

sexual abuse allegations that could

be the criminal nature, that people

should go to the police. It isn't

appropriate for those to be dealt

with by whips offices. Those should

go to the police. That continues to

be the case. I will look at the

questions she raised with me, but I

am very clear that we will take

action against those, where there

are allegations that we see, and the

evidence is there that there has

been misconduct. Can I just say to

the honourable lady, I hope we will

all send a message from this house

today that we want people in this

place to be able to feel confident

to bring forward cases, and we need

to make sure that those cases... No,

we need to ensure that those cases

are dealt with in a way that people

can have confidence on both sides

that they will be properly

investigated. That means, and I want

to see a good process within this

parliament, so that people feel they

don't have to go to a party

political process in order to have

their allegations considered.

My

constituency of Aldershot is the

home of the British Army. It is home

to many thousands of service men and

women, are loyal, resolute in stead

fast in their service to the Crown.

Will my right honourable friend

agree, when her busy schedule

allows, to visit the Aldershot

Garrison to meet with service men

and women, and to thank them for

their service?

Can buy first of all

assure my honourable friend that we

recognise that the men and women of

our armed services serve with great

distinction and loyalty, and we are

all grateful to them for the service

they give this country. That is why

we are committed to maintaining 10%

of being spent on defence. He kindly

invites me to visit his

constituency, and I will be happy to

do so, if my diary allows.

A few

days ago, the Chancellor told the

house that the government could not

afford to borrow £50 billion to

invest in housing, because of the

burden on the next generation. The

Communities Secretary says that the

government must borrow £50 billion

because of the burden on the next

generation of an affordable. Can she

adjudicate?

I have to say to the

honourable gentleman, there is no

need to adjudicate on the government

agrees it is necessary for us to

ensure we are building more homes in

this country. We have already

announced to enable that. We have

put a number of proposals before the

house in the White Paper. We were

pleased to announce the extra £2

billion for affordable housing at

our party conference, and the extra

£10 billion in the cup to buy

scheme, which genuinely helps people

get their first foot on the housing

ladder. More housings is being built

under this element and we will

continue to see that.

Earlier this

week, in my constituency, I horrific

farmhouse claimed the lives of a

father and five young children. This

has had a devastating effect not

just on the family but on the

community around it. Would my

honourable friend join me and this

house in sending our sympathies to

the family of the breed and the

villagers and the town? -- the

family of the reef. That is along

with the emergency services. -- the

family of the bereaved.

My

honourable friend has raised what I

know is a tragic case, I'm sure that

everybody across the house would

want to join with him in sending

condolences to the family and

friends of those affected by the

fire. This was a terrible tragedy,

and it isn't just the family

themselves that have been affected

but the local community as well and

I know that the emergency services

did sterling work, and I am pleased

to commend the work that they did

and their bravery and

professionalism. The Secretary of

State for Wales has spoken to the

police, and they will remain in

touch over the coming days, but once

again our emergency services do an

amazing job protecting us, and we

have seen this in so many instances.

They never know when they are going

to be called out to such a tragic

incident.

With today's news that the

Electoral Commission is

investigating Arron Banks, the main

financial backer of Brexit, along

with the significant British

connections being uncovered by the

American justice department's

special council, Robert Muller,

investigating Russian interference

in the US presidential election,

will she assure me that the UK

Government and all of its agencies

are cooperating fully with the

Robert Marlow investigation, or that

they will do so if asked? -- Robert

Muller.

We take very seriously

issues of Russian intervention or

attempts to intervene in electoral

processes, or in the democratic

processes of any country, and we

will do so for any other states

which were involved in trying to

intervene in elections. We work

closely with our United States

partners, and I can assure them, as

part of that relationship, we

cooperate with them when required.

Last month, I was in the Kurdistan

region of Iraq and I referred

customer declaration of members

interests, but I saw people's

enthusiasm for independence and the

fresh dialogue with Baghdad. The

subsequent statements are wholly

unjust and unacceptable. We'll be

promised except that Depeche Mode

and the Kurdistan region, to whom we

owe so much, both for resisting

Daesh and helping keep our own

streets safe, they remain vital to

our security, and can she do all

that she can to encourage a

resolution based on full respect for

the constitution and the democratic

will of the Kurdish people?

We are

working with international partners

to defeat Daesh together with the

global coalition. Daesh is losing

territory. The action that has been

taken is having an impact. It

finances have been hit, its

leadership are being killed and its

fighters are demoralised, but we

want to see political reconciliation

in Iraq and a political settlement

to the Syria conflict to deny Daesh

saves space and prevent

re-emergence. He raises a particular

point in relation to Iraq and

Kurdistan. I say to him that we have

always been there as a government

that any political progress towards

independence should be agreed with

the government of Iraq. We want to

see political reconciliation in

Iraq, but we have urged all parties

to promote calm, to pursue dialogue

and to take this issue forward

through dialogue.

An hour ago, the

government published this report,

the patronising disposition of

unaccountable power. It's a report

of Right Reverend James Jones, which

the Prime Minister herself

commissioned to ensure that the pain

and suffering of the Hillsborough

families isn't repeated. Given what

we have heard in this session, and

given the events surrounding the

Grenfell Tower disaster, I think

that I worry that the pain and

suffering of the Hillsborough

families is already being repeated.

So can the Prime Minister commit her

government to supporting both a duty

of candour for all public officials

and, as this report requires, an end

to public bodies spending limitless

sums providing themselves with

representation which surpasses that

available to families?

Obviously the House will appreciate

that I have to be careful what I say

immigration to the Hillsborough

issue because of the ongoing

committal proceedings, but I want to

pay tribute to James Jones.

Throughout the time his work in

chairing the panel, the work he did

as my advisor on this issue and

working with the family forums, I

think he's done an excellent job and

once again his report into the

experiences of the Hillsborough

families which is being published

today is important and Government

will need to look very carefully at

the 25 points of learning which have

come out of it and we will want to

do so because I've always been very

clear that the experience of the

Hillsborough families had should not

be repeated. That's why we have

looked and are committed to the

concept of the Public Advocate

because we want to ensure that

people have the support that they

need and it's important that we

learn the lessons from Hillsborough.

I was involved in making the

decision which enabled the

Hillsborough families to have legal

support. On a basis I think is fair

in relation to other parties

involved in that inquest and I can

assure her that we will not forget

the Hillsborough families who have

been dignified throughout the many

years but they have been waiting for

justice. We will not forget them, we

will not forget their experience and

will ensure we learn from that and

learn from that to improve the

experience of others in the future.

Can I cheekily make another diary

suggestion to the Prime Minister? If

she could remain in the chamber for

just a few moments after questions,

she will hear my right honourable

friend the Newbury introduce his

Armed Forces statute of limitations

Bill which will provide protection

to those brave service personnel who

served in Northern Ireland during

the troubles. Like her, I, and the

whole House, want to see the setting

up the Northern Ireland executive.

Would she agree with me, we can't do

that at the price of pandering to

Sinn Fein and allowing a witchhunt

for those people who served so

bravely for so many years to uphold

the rule of law?

I'm not sure I'm

going to be able to satisfy him on

the first point he made but I am

aware of the proposed legislation my

right honourable friend for Newbury

is bringing forward. We all want to

see a Northern Ireland executive set

up, and we recognise that this

question of legacy issues is one

which has been there throughout

these discussions and continues in

Northern Ireland. What I want to

ensure is any investigations which

take place in the future take place

in a fair and proportionate way

because our soldiers did serve

bravely in upholding the rule of law

but what is important is we should

never forget all those people who

lost their lives at the hands of the

terrorists in Northern Ireland and

it is important that any

investigation is conducted fairly

and proportionately.

As the Prime

Minister will be aware,

self-employed people are not

eligible for shared parental leave.

This place is a burden of childcare

on the mother, denying father 's

financial support and bonding time

with the child. Has the Prime

Minister seen the demands of the

march of the mummies? Can she give

us assurances she has prioritised

this urgent issue?

She raises an

important issue. I'm happy to look

at the point which has been made but

I would simply also remind her of

this. The reason we have shared

parental leave for anybody in this

country is because when I was

Minister for Women and equality I

had to ensure that shared parental

leave was introduced.

Thank you. In

my constituency, one of the big

challenges as we leave the EU is

uncertainty around the seasonal

migrant workforce. Angus produces

30% of Scotland's soft fruit and

welcomes over 4000 seasonal workers

every year. Would my right

honourable friend agree that we need

clarity on the new migration free

work for the benefit of his loyal

workers, for the prosperity of the

British soft fruit industry and to

support as our overall UK economy?

She raises an important point about

the importance of supporting the

ruble economy across the UK. In

relation to the seasonal alb and

cultural workers scheme she has

referred to, obviously as we leave

the EU we will bring forward new

immigration rules which will enable

us to have that control we haven't

had in the past for those coming

from the European Union but we are

recognising we need to do that in

the national interest, look at the

labour market and that's why the

Home Secretary has commissioned the

independent migration advisory

committee to look at the needs of

the UK labour market and to further