0:00:00 > 0:00:00clear and we have sensitively handled that as an exception for
0:00:00 > 0:00:14precisely these reasons.Questions to the Prime Minister.Question one.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16I am sure
0:00:22 > 0:00:33I'm sure all members in the house will like to enjoy me in congrate
0:00:33 > 0:00:37lating Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip on their plait yum
0:00:37 > 0:00:40wedding anniversary coming up. I know the whole House would wish to
0:00:40 > 0:00:45offer them our very best wishes on this special occasion. This morning
0:00:45 > 0:00:49I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others and in
0:00:49 > 0:00:53addition to my duties in this House I shall have further meetings today.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Thank you, Mr Speaker, my right honourable friend's stewardship of
0:00:57 > 0:01:01the economy and her predecessor's excel epted work in making sure this
0:01:01 > 0:01:06economy grows, has seen confidence in our country grow, despright the
0:01:06 > 0:01:12troubles and tribulations set before -- despite the troubles. Our debt
0:01:12 > 0:01:16has come down. Will she take this opportunity to spref in our economy
0:01:16 > 0:01:20even more than she is already and perhaps even take the chance to
0:01:20 > 0:01:28build more homes?My honourable friend makes a very important point
0:01:28 > 0:01:31about investing in infrastructure. He refers to housing particularly.
0:01:31 > 0:01:37But we are doing exactly that. That is why we have seen over a quarter
0:01:37 > 0:01:44of a trillion pounds in infrastructure spending since 2010
0:01:44 > 0:01:49and putting in another £22 billion from central Government or economic
0:01:49 > 0:01:52infrastructure. We are seeing the rail projects and biggest
0:01:52 > 0:01:56road-building programme ever for a generation that this country, this
0:01:56 > 0:02:02Government building a country fit for the future. THE SPEAKER:Jeremy
0:02:02 > 0:02:06CorbynThank you, Mr Speaker, I join the Prime Minister in wishing Her
0:02:06 > 0:02:12Majesty and Prince I will if I a happy Platinum wedding anniversary
0:02:12 > 0:02:15-- Prince Phillip. The thoughts of the whole house will be to the
0:02:15 > 0:02:20victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Iraq and Iran on
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Monday leaves hundreds dead and thousands without shelter. I hope
0:02:24 > 0:02:27the Government is offering all necessary emergency help and support
0:02:27 > 0:02:32that can be used to save lives. I also hope, Mr speaker and I'm sure
0:02:32 > 0:02:37the House will join me in sending our sympathies to the family and
0:02:37 > 0:02:40friends of the late Karl sergeant, the Labour Assembly Member in Wales
0:02:40 > 0:02:46who tragically died last week. Mr Speaker, crime is up, violent
0:02:46 > 0:02:52crime is up. And police numbers are down by 20,000. Will the Prime
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Minister urge her Chancellor, who I note this week is sitting absolutely
0:02:55 > 0:03:01next to her, so it'll be easier for her to make this demand on him, to
0:03:01 > 0:03:07provide the funding our police need to make communities safe?Well,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11first of all, can I say to the right honourable gentleman, he raised
0:03:11 > 0:03:14three points. First of all on the earthquake that took place in Iraq
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and Iran we are monitoring this closely. It's a devastating
0:03:17 > 0:03:21earthquake. We know. Our thoughts are with those who have been
0:03:21 > 0:03:27affected. We are looking at the situation and stand ready to provide
0:03:27 > 0:03:29assistance for urge epted humanitarian needs if requested. --
0:03:29 > 0:03:32urgent. The Government will do what is necessary and we'll stand ready
0:03:32 > 0:03:39to help people. I join with him in offering condolences to the family
0:03:39 > 0:03:42and friends of Karl Sargeant. I'm sure that goes for everybody across
0:03:42 > 0:03:47this whole House. He raised the issue of crime and policing. Crime
0:03:47 > 0:03:51is traditional measured by the independent crime survey are down by
0:03:51 > 0:03:56well over one-third since 2010. We have been protecting police budgets.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02We have protected police budgets. And we are putting more money into
0:04:02 > 0:04:05counter-terrorism policing but what matters is what the police do and
0:04:05 > 0:04:10how they deliver and as I say, the crime survey shows that crime is
0:04:10 > 0:04:16down by nearly one-third since 2010. Mr Speaker, I have been following
0:04:16 > 0:04:19some of the tweets from some of her friends along the front bench over
0:04:19 > 0:04:24there. And one of them and I quote says "Very disappointed and
0:04:24 > 0:04:35mystified at the closure of Uxbridge police station."
0:04:43 > 0:04:50CHEERS AND JEERSFor the want of any doubt, Mr Speaker, that came from
0:04:50 > 0:04:54the Foreign Secretary, who is also...THE SPEAKER:I want to hear
0:04:54 > 0:05:00about the Uxbridge police station. Jeremy Corbyn?I'm very pleased you
0:05:00 > 0:05:03do, Mr Speaker, the Foreign Secretary is so excited, he won't
0:05:03 > 0:05:09even hear the answer The real reason, Mr Speaker is that it's
0:05:09 > 0:05:12closing because of a £2.3 billion cut to police budgets in the last
0:05:12 > 0:05:18Parliament. And it gets worse. They are going to be cut by another £700
0:05:18 > 0:05:31million by 2020. Mr Speaker. Under this Government, there are, in...
0:05:31 > 0:05:35There are 11,000 fewer firefighters in England since 2010. Last year,
0:05:35 > 0:05:42deaths in fires increased by 20%. In the wake of the terrible Grenfell
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Tower fire, the Prime Minister was actually very clear and she said -
0:05:46 > 0:05:49this could not be allowed to happen again and money would be no object
0:05:49 > 0:05:58to fire safety. Will she, therefore, now, back the campaign to provide £1
0:05:58 > 0:06:03billion to local councils to retro fit sprinklers in all high-rise
0:06:03 > 0:06:09blocks?Well, first of all, on the first question that the right
0:06:09 > 0:06:12honourable gentleman raised the first issue, he might not have
0:06:12 > 0:06:23noticed but the Police and Crime Commissioner in London is the mayor.
0:06:23 > 0:06:29He is one of ours or one of yours? The last time I looked, Sadiq Khan
0:06:29 > 0:06:38was a Labour Mayor of London. Although perhaps, perhaps the Leader
0:06:38 > 0:06:42of the Labour Party thinks he is not Labour enough for him and his brand
0:06:42 > 0:06:51of Labour. But let's be very clear about funding for the Metropolitan
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Police. There is more money and more officers for each Londoner than
0:06:55 > 0:06:59anywhere else in the country. That's the reality about funding for the
0:06:59 > 0:07:09Metropolitan Police. Now, he asks... He has asked about the issue of fire
0:07:09 > 0:07:13and we absolutely take what happened, the appalling tragedy of
0:07:13 > 0:07:16what happened at Grenfell Tower seriously and that's why I set up
0:07:16 > 0:07:21the public inquiry. It's why my right honourable friend the
0:07:21 > 0:07:25communities' secretary has set up already in work taking place on the
0:07:25 > 0:07:28fire regulations and building regulations to ensure that we do
0:07:28 > 0:07:33have those right. It is why we continue to support Kensington and
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Chelsea Council in ensuring that we deliver for those who have been
0:07:37 > 0:07:42victims of this awful tragedy. But he asked about sprinklers? We do
0:07:42 > 0:07:47want to make sure that homes are fit for those who live in them. There is
0:07:47 > 0:07:52a responsibility on building owners in relation to that. And some owners
0:07:52 > 0:07:55do retro fit sprinklers but there are other safety measures that can
0:07:55 > 0:08:00take place. Perhaps he ought to look at what Labour councils have said
0:08:00 > 0:08:13about this. Har ingay rejected it, and Lewisham said they want to weigh
0:08:13 > 0:08:18up the issues because it can cut through fire compartmentalisation,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22another safety measure. Lambeth Council said there were issue retro
0:08:22 > 0:08:25fitting sprinklers and questions about how effective they were. Even
0:08:25 > 0:08:30Ises council say they need to look at how effective spripgleers would
0:08:30 > 0:08:40be. -- sprinklers. Mr Speaker at Latmore House said
0:08:40 > 0:08:44fitting sprinklers would be right thing to do, the Chief Fire Officer
0:08:44 > 0:08:51said it would be the right thing to do, those local authorities that
0:08:51 > 0:08:54have asked central Government for support, to retro fit sprinklers
0:08:54 > 0:09:00have all been refused by her Government. Surely we need to think
0:09:00 > 0:09:06about the safety of the people living in socially rented high-rise
0:09:06 > 0:09:11blocks. Yesterday I was passed a letter from a lettings agency in
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Lincolnshire, where Universal Credit is about to be rolled out. The
0:09:15 > 0:09:21agency, and I have the letter here...
0:09:21 > 0:09:28The agency is issuing all of its tennants with a pre-emptive notice
0:09:28 > 0:09:31of eviction because Universal Credit has driven up arears where it's been
0:09:31 > 0:09:43rolled out. And the letter, and I quote says: "GAP Property cannot
0:09:43 > 0:09:47sustain arears at the potential levels Universal Credit could
0:09:47 > 0:09:51create." Will the Prime Minister pause Universal Credit so it can be
0:09:51 > 0:09:59fixed? Or does she think it is right to put thousands of families through
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Christmas in the trauma of knowing they are about to be evicted because
0:10:02 > 0:10:11they are in rent arears because of Universal Credit?Can I say to the
0:10:11 > 0:10:15right honourable gentleman that there have been concerns raised and
0:10:15 > 0:10:19concerns raised in this House previously over the issue of people
0:10:19 > 0:10:25managing their budgets to pay rent. But what we actually see - what we
0:10:25 > 0:10:30see is that over - we see that after four months the number of people on
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Universal Credit in arears has fallen by one-third. Now, it's
0:10:34 > 0:10:39important that we do look at the issues in this particular case. Now
0:10:39 > 0:10:44the right honourable gentleman might like to send the letter through. I
0:10:44 > 0:10:48know, in an earlier Prime Minister's Questions he raised a specific
0:10:48 > 0:10:52constituent's case, of an individual who had written to him about her
0:10:52 > 0:10:57experience on Universal Credit, I think it was Georgina. As far as I
0:10:57 > 0:11:01am aware he has so far not sent that letter to me, despite the fact I
0:11:01 > 0:11:08have asked for it.Mr Speaker, I am very happy to give the Prime
0:11:08 > 0:11:13Minister a copy of this letter. I suspect it's not the only letting
0:11:13 > 0:11:24agency that is sending out that kind of letter. She might be aware that
0:11:24 > 0:11:28food bank usage has increased by 30% in areas where Universal Credit has
0:11:28 > 0:11:36been rolled out. 3 million families are losing an average of £2,500 a
0:11:36 > 0:11:40year through Universal Credit. The Child Poverty Action Group estimates
0:11:40 > 0:11:44more than 1 million will be in poverty due to cuts imposed by
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Universal Credit. If those aren't reasons enough to pause the
0:11:48 > 0:11:58roll-out, I don't know what there are. And, Mr Speaker, last week the
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Chief Executive...THE SPEAKER: Order, order. Mr Morris. Calm
0:12:01 > 0:12:07yourself. Behave with restraint. You are seating in a prominent position.
0:12:07 > 0:12:14Quiet. It will be good for your well-being. Jeremy Corbyn.Thank
0:12:14 > 0:12:19you, Mr Speaker. Last week the Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon
0:12:19 > 0:12:26Stevens wrote "The budget for the NHS next year is well short of what
0:12:26 > 0:12:31is currently needed A&E waiting time targets hasn't been met for two
0:12:31 > 0:12:34years, the 62-day cancer waiting time target hasn't been met since
0:12:34 > 0:12:382015. So, again, account Prime Minister spend the next week
0:12:38 > 0:12:42ensuring that the Budget does give sufficient funding to our NHS to
0:12:42 > 0:12:48meet our people's needs?First of all on the first issue the right
0:12:48 > 0:12:52honourable gentleman raised, can I remind him, yet again, Universal
0:12:52 > 0:12:57Credit is ensuring that we are seeing more people in work and able
0:12:57 > 0:13:06to keep what they earn. He talks about Simon Stevens says about the
0:13:06 > 0:13:12National Health Service. Let's look at what he says. "The quality of NHS
0:13:12 > 0:13:17care is demonstrably improving. Outcomes of care more most major
0:13:17 > 0:13:20conditions are dramatically better than three or five or ten years ago.
0:13:20 > 0:13:27." He says what has been achieved "More convenient access to primary
0:13:27 > 0:13:30care services, expanding the primary care workforce. Highest cancer
0:13:30 > 0:13:39survival rates ever. Big expansion in cancer check-ups, public
0:13:39 > 0:13:42satisfaction, with hospitals in-patients at its highest more than
0:13:42 > 0:13:51two decades." That's the good news of our National Health Service.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Well, it's very strange, Mr Speaker. Very strange, Mr Speaker that the
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Chief Executive of NHS providers says "We are in the middle of the
0:13:58 > 0:14:02longest and deepest financial squeeze in history." I've got a
0:14:02 > 0:14:06pretty good idea they know what they are talking about. Let me give the
0:14:06 > 0:14:10Prime Minister another statistic. The number of people waiting more
0:14:10 > 0:14:16than four hours in A&E has gone up by 557% since 2010. Two weeks ago,
0:14:16 > 0:14:21Mr Speaker the Opposition to us, the Tories over there were very noisy
0:14:21 > 0:14:26when I mentioned ... You are the Government, we are the Opposition,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29you are in opposition to us, it is not complicated. It is not
0:14:29 > 0:14:37complicated.
0:14:37 > 0:14:48Two weeks ago, Mr Speaker, I raised the question of cuts in school
0:14:48 > 0:14:53budgets. Teachers and parents telling MPs what the reality of it
0:14:53 > 0:14:56was about. The Prime Minister was in denial. Every Tory MP was in denial.
0:14:56 > 0:15:05This week, 5000 headteachers from 25 counties wrote to the Chancellor
0:15:05 > 0:15:10saying, we are simply asking for the money that is being taken out of the
0:15:10 > 0:15:17system to be returned. Will the Prime Minister listen to
0:15:17 > 0:15:22headteachers and give a commitment that the budget next week will
0:15:22 > 0:15:24return the money to school budgets, so that our schools are properly
0:15:24 > 0:15:31funded?Can I say to the right honourable gentleman, actually, I
0:15:31 > 0:15:36think this is a major moment. He has got something right today. We are
0:15:36 > 0:15:47the government and he is the opposition.
0:15:47 > 0:15:55CHEERING. On the NHS, can we say, there are
0:15:55 > 0:16:001800 more patients seen within the four hour A&E standard every single
0:16:00 > 0:16:06day, compared to 2010. He talks about school funding. We are putting
0:16:06 > 0:16:10more money into our school budget. We are seeing record levels of
0:16:10 > 0:16:15funding going into our schools. And this government is the first
0:16:15 > 0:16:17government in decades that has actually gripped the issue of a
0:16:17 > 0:16:23fairer national funding formula, and we are putting that into practice.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28But you can only put record levels of money into your NHS and your
0:16:28 > 0:16:34schools with a strong economy, and what do we see as the result of
0:16:34 > 0:16:39policies which this Conservative government has put into place?
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Income inequality, down under the Conservatives, up under Labour.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48Unemployment, down under the Conservatives, up under Labour.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Workless households, down under the Conservatives, up under Labour.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Deficit, down under the Conservatives, up under Labour. He
0:16:55 > 0:16:59is planning a run on the pound. We are building a Britain fit for the
0:16:59 > 0:17:10future.Mr Speaker, I would have thought that 5000 headteachers would
0:17:10 > 0:17:17have a pretty good idea about the funding problems of their schools,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20and a pretty good idea of the effect of government cuts on school budgets
0:17:20 > 0:17:27on their staff and their students. Indeed, the IFS says that school
0:17:27 > 0:17:33funding will have fallen by 5% in real terms by 2019 as a result of
0:17:33 > 0:17:39government policies. Mr Speaker, public services in crisis, from
0:17:39 > 0:17:42police to the Fire Service, from NHS to children's schools, while a
0:17:42 > 0:17:50super-rich few dodge their taxes. Oh, yes. Big up and sit on its hands
0:17:50 > 0:17:57as billions are lost to vital public services. The Conservatives cut
0:17:57 > 0:18:04taxes for the view and vital services for the many. It's not just
0:18:04 > 0:18:09that there is one rule for the super-rich...Order, order. I
0:18:09 > 0:18:11apologised for interrupting the right honourable gentleman. Both
0:18:11 > 0:18:17sides of this house will be heard, and the idea that, when somebody is
0:18:17 > 0:18:20asking a question, they should be a concerted attempt to shout that
0:18:20 > 0:18:27person down, is totally undemocratic and completely unacceptable, from
0:18:27 > 0:18:30whichever quarter it comes and I would just ask colleagues to give
0:18:30 > 0:18:37some thought to how our behaviour is regarded by the people who put us
0:18:37 > 0:18:44here. Jeremy Corbyn.Mr Speaker, quite simply, isn't the truth that
0:18:44 > 0:18:51this is a government that protects the super-rich, while the rest of us
0:18:51 > 0:18:55pick up the bill through cuts, austerity, poverty, homelessness,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59low wages and slashing of local services all over the country? That
0:18:59 > 0:19:08is the reality of a Tory government. We have taken £160 billion extra in
0:19:08 > 0:19:13as a result of the action we have taken on tax avoidance and evasion.
0:19:13 > 0:19:19The tax gap is now at its lowest level ever. If the tax gap had
0:19:19 > 0:19:24stayed at the level it was under the Labour Party, we would be losing the
0:19:24 > 0:19:31equivalent of the entire police budget for England and Wales. We in
0:19:31 > 0:19:35the Conservatives are building a Britain that is fit for the future,
0:19:35 > 0:19:41the best Brexit deal, more high-paid jobs, better schools the homes that
0:19:41 > 0:19:45our country needs. Labour have backtracked on Brexit. They have
0:19:45 > 0:19:48gone back on their promise on student debt. And they would cause
0:19:48 > 0:19:53and lose control of public finances. I say to the right honourable
0:19:53 > 0:19:58gentleman, he may have given momentum to his party but he'd bring
0:19:58 > 0:20:12stagnation to the country. CHEERING.
0:20:12 > 0:20:20Thank you, Mr Speaker. In April 2015, the residents of browns over
0:20:20 > 0:20:26saw their only GP surgery closed in an area of rock B that once had
0:20:26 > 0:20:30significant challenges but, thanks to the great work of local
0:20:30 > 0:20:36councillors, has been regenerated. -- an area of rugby. My constituents
0:20:36 > 0:20:40had short-term pain for the regrettably, the surgery still has
0:20:40 > 0:20:43not been started on, so I wonder if the Prime Minister might meet on me
0:20:43 > 0:20:49and the local patients' action group to consider the slippage in this
0:20:49 > 0:20:55much-needed facility.My honourable friend is right to important issue
0:20:55 > 0:21:00for his constituents and I had been assured that, in this case, all
0:21:00 > 0:21:03local health organisations remain fully committed to this project.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06They are confident it will bring benefits to the local population in
0:21:06 > 0:21:10the long term, but fully understand the frustration my honourable friend
0:21:10 > 0:21:16has at the delays that has taken place. I understand he will meet
0:21:16 > 0:21:20representatives of NHS England and NHS property services later this
0:21:20 > 0:21:22month, and it is those two organisations that are in the best
0:21:22 > 0:21:26position to insure that this project is progressed as quickly as
0:21:26 > 0:21:30possible, and I hope there will be some positive news coming out of
0:21:30 > 0:21:34that meeting but, as my honourable friend has raised the issue of
0:21:34 > 0:21:38access to local health services, I would like to take this opportunity
0:21:38 > 0:21:45as well to say how important it is... No, this is an important issue
0:21:45 > 0:21:49for people around this house and outside of this house. Health
0:21:49 > 0:21:55services, I want to make sure that everybody who is entitled to a flu
0:21:55 > 0:22:00jab this year goes and gets one. I have had one as a type one diabetic
0:22:00 > 0:22:03and I hope everybody in this house is encouraging their constituents
0:22:03 > 0:22:12who are entitled to those flu jab is to get them.Thank you. Can I join
0:22:12 > 0:22:15with the premise that and the leader of the Labour Party in
0:22:15 > 0:22:19congratulating the Queen and Prince Philip for the impending platinum
0:22:19 > 0:22:22anniversary of their wedding, and I'm sure the house would want to
0:22:22 > 0:22:25join me in welcoming the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament,
0:22:25 > 0:22:30who is in the gallery today. Does the Prime Minister agree with me
0:22:30 > 0:22:35that we should be incredibly proud of our emergency services, that they
0:22:35 > 0:22:39do a heroic job, often putting themselves in danger to keep us all
0:22:39 > 0:22:44safe?First of all, can I join the right honourable gentleman in
0:22:44 > 0:22:47welcoming the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament to see our
0:22:47 > 0:22:50proceedings today. As I have said previously in this chamber, I am
0:22:50 > 0:22:56happy to confirm it, our emergency services do an amazing job. I was
0:22:56 > 0:23:02very pleased at the pride of Britain awards to be awarding, posthumously
0:23:02 > 0:23:07awarding an award in the name of PC Keith Palmer, who worked to keep
0:23:07 > 0:23:10this place is safe, but other police officers, the Leader of the
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Opposition and the leader of the Liberal Democrats gave to other
0:23:13 > 0:23:18police officers who had also done what they do and other emergency
0:23:18 > 0:23:21services do, they run towards danger when most of us would run away from
0:23:21 > 0:23:27it.I associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister, but
0:23:27 > 0:23:33Scottish fire and police are the only forces in the UK to be charged
0:23:33 > 0:23:41VAT, depriving front line services of £140 million since 2013. The SNP
0:23:41 > 0:23:50has now raised this issue 30 times in this chamber. Will the UK
0:23:50 > 0:23:55Government now gives Scotland's emergency services back £130 million
0:23:55 > 0:23:58and scrap the VAT? This has been a long-standing SNP campaign and we
0:23:58 > 0:24:07will not give up.As the chief secretary has made clear, officials
0:24:07 > 0:24:12in HMRC will look at this and report on it in due course. I am pleased to
0:24:12 > 0:24:16say that constructive representations have been made by my
0:24:16 > 0:24:17Scottish colleagues on the Conservative benches on this
0:24:17 > 0:24:24particular issue. But let's be clear. Because the right honourable
0:24:24 > 0:24:28gentleman knows this, that before the Scottish Government made the
0:24:28 > 0:24:32decision to make Scotland's police and Fire Services national rather
0:24:32 > 0:24:36than regional bodies, they were told that this would mean that they would
0:24:36 > 0:24:39become ineligible for VAT refunds, and they pressed ahead despite
0:24:39 > 0:24:50knowing that.Grandparents have a vital role to play in the upbringing
0:24:50 > 0:24:58of their grandchildren, something that, at a time of rising life
0:24:58 > 0:25:02expectancy, they are better equipped than ever to fulfil. Does the Prime
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Minister agree with me that we should send a strong signal from
0:25:04 > 0:25:08this does, not only that they should be a presumption in their favour
0:25:08 > 0:25:12when it comes to adoption but that they should be intimately involved
0:25:12 > 0:25:14in those decisions, something that has been sadly lacking in my
0:25:14 > 0:25:22constituency.Can I say to my honourable friend that, like him, I
0:25:22 > 0:25:25have seen grandparents in my constituency, through my surgery,
0:25:25 > 0:25:29who have been concerned about decisions that have been taken in
0:25:29 > 0:25:31relation to their grandchildren, when they themselves were willing to
0:25:31 > 0:25:36provide that home and support for them, so he has raised an important
0:25:36 > 0:25:40issue. There is already a duty on local authorities in legislation to
0:25:40 > 0:25:44ensure that, wherever possible, children are raised within their
0:25:44 > 0:25:48family, and the statutory guidance makes particular reference
0:25:48 > 0:25:51grandparents, but adoption agencies must also consider the needs of the
0:25:51 > 0:25:54child first and foremost. Each case will be different but I think the
0:25:54 > 0:25:58message he is giving grandchildren being able to be brought up in their
0:25:58 > 0:26:05family wherever possible is a good one.Had the Prime Minister accepted
0:26:05 > 0:26:09my invitation to the Universal Credit summit in Inverness, she
0:26:09 > 0:26:11would have heard harrowing constituency from and multiple
0:26:11 > 0:26:18agencies, including Macmillan cancer care partnership, who told not only
0:26:18 > 0:26:23of patient dying while awaiting payments but they are now forced to
0:26:23 > 0:26:25self declared that they are dying even if they did not want their
0:26:25 > 0:26:29doctor to tell them their fate. Will she stop this weight and end this
0:26:29 > 0:26:35cruel condition?I made the point earlier about the importance of
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Universal Credit. We have made changes in its implementation and we
0:26:39 > 0:26:42are listening to the concerns that are being raised. We are making more
0:26:42 > 0:26:48advanced payments available. But the honourable gentleman might also like
0:26:48 > 0:26:51to recognise that, thanks to the unprecedented devolution of powers
0:26:51 > 0:26:57to Scotland that we have given, including over welfare, the Scottish
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Government have the ability to take a different path, if they wish, so
0:27:01 > 0:27:13that action in Hollywood might be there.We are leaving the EU and, as
0:27:13 > 0:27:16the EU Withdrawal Bill goes through the House of Commons, does the Prime
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Minister agree with me that it's part of our job as Members of
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Parliament, some might even say that it's our duty, scrutinise that
0:27:23 > 0:27:28legislation, to debate considered amendments which seek to improve the
0:27:28 > 0:27:31bill and which are constructive, and which seek to ensure that a smooth
0:27:31 > 0:27:39transition of our laws and the EU to the UK? Importantly, that we come
0:27:39 > 0:27:43together and deliver Brexit for our country and the British people?My
0:27:43 > 0:27:49honourable friend is right. We will be leaving the European Union on the
0:27:49 > 0:27:5429th of March 2019 and there is a lively debate going on in this
0:27:54 > 0:27:57place, and that is right and proper and important, and there are strong
0:27:57 > 0:28:03views held on different sides of the argument about the European Union,
0:28:03 > 0:28:08on both sides of this house. What we are doing as a government is
0:28:08 > 0:28:11listening to the contributions that are being made. We are listening
0:28:11 > 0:28:15carefully to those who wish to improve the bill. And I hope that we
0:28:15 > 0:28:18can all come together to deliver on the decision that the country took,
0:28:18 > 0:28:24that we should leave the EU.It's been almost a year since I stood in
0:28:24 > 0:28:29this chamber and told my personal story and asked for a children's
0:28:29 > 0:28:33funeral fund to be established. The leader of the house recently
0:28:33 > 0:28:37expressed sympathy for such a fund, and I have written to the Chancellor
0:28:37 > 0:28:43and urged him to include such a fund in next week's budget. Will the
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Prime Minister added her voice to mine and ask her Chancellor to make
0:28:46 > 0:28:52this provision a reality?The honourable lady has been a
0:28:52 > 0:28:57passionate campaign on this issue and has very thoughtfully shared her
0:28:57 > 0:29:03personal experience with this house, and we recognise what an incredibly
0:29:03 > 0:29:09painful experience it is to lose a child, and I know that the whole
0:29:09 > 0:29:12house are in sympathy with those who do experience such a tragedy each
0:29:12 > 0:29:20year, sadly, thousands of families. Now, what has happened is that we
0:29:20 > 0:29:24have put in place a piece of cross government work to look at this
0:29:24 > 0:29:27whole question of how we can improve support for bereaved parents in a
0:29:27 > 0:29:33variety of ways. That piece of work is being led by the state for youth
0:29:33 > 0:29:38justice. We are already supporting the private members bill on parental
0:29:38 > 0:29:41treatment that might honourable friend, the member for Thirsk and
0:29:41 > 0:29:45Malton, is introduced. We are making it easier for parents to apply for
0:29:45 > 0:29:47financial support and we are also ensuring that support from across
0:29:47 > 0:29:53government is brought forward so it is easily accessible for bereaved
0:29:53 > 0:29:56parents at a difficult time.With the premise to join me in craving
0:29:56 > 0:30:01the work of the community transport partnerships like those provided
0:30:01 > 0:30:08across the country, and can she intervene to sort out the threat
0:30:08 > 0:30:11that threatens their services going forward and, in the meantime, can
0:30:11 > 0:30:15she issue guidance that confirms there was no need for local councils
0:30:15 > 0:30:21to take enforcement action until that consultation is complete?
0:30:21 > 0:30:24We strongly believe they provide vital services connecting people and
0:30:24 > 0:30:27communities and reducing isolation. I was very pleased to visit a number
0:30:27 > 0:30:32of weeks ago to actually visit and take a ride on one of the community
0:30:32 > 0:30:34buses provided within the Wokingham borough which services part of my
0:30:34 > 0:30:38constituency. The Department for Transport remains committed to
0:30:38 > 0:30:41supporting community transport operators, has no intention of
0:30:41 > 0:30:46ending the permit system and to support this, we have written to all
0:30:46 > 0:30:52local authorities in Great Britain to explain how they can comply with
0:30:52 > 0:30:56the regulations without neglectively impacting on all operators and
0:30:56 > 0:31:01passengers. THE SPEAKER:Progress is slow. Let's try to speed upThe
0:31:01 > 0:31:07Prime Minister is aware that a supplier to the energy sector, has
0:31:07 > 0:31:11entered administration, this would putm 1,400 jobs in Scotland and
0:31:11 > 0:31:16elsewhere under threat. Can I ask the Prime Minister to work with the
0:31:16 > 0:31:20company, the Scottish Government and the council to do all she can and
0:31:20 > 0:31:23what specific action they can take. I'm happy to gift honourable
0:31:23 > 0:31:26gentleman that assurance, I was able to discuss this matter briefly with
0:31:26 > 0:31:30the First Minister of Scotland yesterday when I met her and I'm
0:31:30 > 0:31:36pleased to say that my honourable friend the member for devises, as a
0:31:36 > 0:31:40minister there, speak to the relevant minister in the Scottish
0:31:40 > 0:31:46Government, yesterday about this issue and we stand ready, Baize, HMT
0:31:46 > 0:31:48and Government stand ready to work with the Scottish Government and
0:31:48 > 0:31:55others to ensure the best result can be achieved.Thank you, Mr speaker.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Our NHS is a national treasure and we must be bold to protect T each
0:31:59 > 0:32:01week my constituents struggle to get an appointment with the their
0:32:01 > 0:32:05doctors. Whilst our fantastic doctors are stretched to the limit
0:32:05 > 0:32:10and practices are struggling to recruit. To safe guard or NHS, will
0:32:10 > 0:32:13the Prime Minister look at making medical students sign a contract,
0:32:13 > 0:32:18committing them to working within the NHS for the first five years?
0:32:18 > 0:32:24Stopping the brain drain of our newly-qualified doctors overseas?
0:32:24 > 0:32:28Well, this is an important issue and my honourable friend is right, we do
0:32:28 > 0:32:33need more GPs. That's why we are increasing the number of places at
0:32:33 > 0:32:36medical school by 1,500 and the first 500 of those will be available
0:32:36 > 0:32:41next September. On the specific point she raises about committing
0:32:41 > 0:32:45people who've been trained to work in the NHS, this is - the Department
0:32:45 > 0:32:50of Health has been looking at ways on which we can maximise our
0:32:50 > 0:32:55investment in medical education and have asked Health Education to look
0:32:55 > 0:32:58at this point and report back early next yearThe Foreign Secretary told
0:32:58 > 0:33:02this house he has seen no evidence of Russian interference in UK
0:33:02 > 0:33:06elections in the referendum. Yet on Monday the Prime Minister warned
0:33:06 > 0:33:11Russia not to meddle in Western democracies and today the Times'
0:33:11 > 0:33:15reports that fake Russian Twitter accounts turned out thousands of
0:33:15 > 0:33:23messages in an ato influence the EU referendum result. Has the Foreign
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Secretary been kept in dark of the intejerks not read it or willfully
0:33:27 > 0:33:32blind and will she stop dragging her feet and set up the intejobs and
0:33:32 > 0:33:36security committee to look urgently into the Kremlin's attempts to
0:33:36 > 0:33:41undermine our democracy?The honourable lady is right, I spoke on
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Monday about the issue of Russian interference in elections. We have
0:33:44 > 0:33:48seen that in a number of countries, taking place in a number of
0:33:48 > 0:33:52countries in Europe. Well it is all very well Labour members pointing to
0:33:52 > 0:33:55the Foreign Secretary, he made a specific point about what was
0:33:55 > 0:33:58happening in the United Kingdom and if they care to look at the speech I
0:33:58 > 0:34:02gave Monday they will see the examples I gave of Russian
0:34:02 > 0:34:07interference, were not in the United Kingdom. But she raises issues about
0:34:07 > 0:34:08the Intelligence and Security Committee and it is being
0:34:08 > 0:34:16established today.Mr Speaker, the harmful aspects of the internet are
0:34:16 > 0:34:20now causing a series of social policy emergencies, particularly
0:34:20 > 0:34:24amongst young people. While parents across the country will welcome the
0:34:24 > 0:34:28engagement of the Home Secretary with the industry on these issues,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32could the Prime Minister tell us when we can expect legislation with
0:34:32 > 0:34:35real teeth that recognises that our children only have one chance at
0:34:35 > 0:34:40childhood?Well, my honourable friend, I know has taken a
0:34:40 > 0:34:44particular interest in this issue and in ensuring we are giving
0:34:44 > 0:34:48support on security and safety for young people on the internet that as
0:34:48 > 0:34:52he says, is so necessary. We are considering a range on options on
0:34:52 > 0:34:56this issue, later this month - sorry last month we published our internet
0:34:56 > 0:35:01safety strategy. We are consulting on a number of measures like a
0:35:01 > 0:35:04social media code of practice, social media levy and transparency
0:35:04 > 0:35:09reporting but we do need to take action to protect internet users,
0:35:09 > 0:35:12especially young people, and that includes considering a sanctions
0:35:12 > 0:35:16regime to ensure compliance, as we indeed said in our party manifesto.
0:35:16 > 0:35:23Thank you Mr Speaker. Prime Minister, in the past month, Adam
0:35:23 > 0:35:29and Tommy have been fatally stabbed in my constituency. This is part of
0:35:29 > 0:35:35an increase in violent crime of 20% in the last year. Since 2009
0:35:35 > 0:35:40Merseyside Police have lost over 1,7 under flooint staff. That includes
0:35:40 > 0:35:46over 1,000, that's more than one in five, police officers. 82 million
0:35:46 > 0:36:01have been cut up to now, with more for 2020-2022. How can you increase
0:36:01 > 0:36:05the budget for more police on streets. Merry side's Budget has not
0:36:05 > 0:36:11been protected. -- Merseyside.I am esure the sympathies and thoughts of
0:36:11 > 0:36:15the whole House will have been with those injured and stabbed in the way
0:36:15 > 0:36:19the honourable lady has referred to. Of course, we are concerned about
0:36:19 > 0:36:23criminal acts of this sort that take place. The question, as I said
0:36:23 > 0:36:29earlier, in other answers, we have been protecting the police budget.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32We have been protecting police budgets and of course... We do see a
0:36:32 > 0:36:38higher percentage of police officers now actually on the front line.
0:36:38 > 0:36:49Thank you, Mr Speaker. In July 2016 a 20-year-old Mane rived in my area
0:36:49 > 0:36:56from Romania. Three weeks later in broad daylight he held a shard of
0:36:56 > 0:37:02glass to a 14-year-old schoolgirl, forced her into bushes and raped
0:37:02 > 0:37:07her. Efs sentenced to nine years' in prison last week. Can the Prime
0:37:07 > 0:37:12Minister explain what efforts she is making in people like this entering
0:37:12 > 0:37:16the done triand can she ensure that the Brexit situation, will not
0:37:16 > 0:37:20result in the weakening of security operations with the EUHe also
0:37:20 > 0:37:23raises an appalling and horrific crime and thoughts of members across
0:37:23 > 0:37:27the House with the victim and her family. I can assure him in the
0:37:27 > 0:37:30specific case the Home Office will be ensuring deportation action
0:37:30 > 0:37:34against the individual. I understand he met my right honourable friend
0:37:34 > 0:37:37the Home Secretary and she will be writing to him with further details
0:37:37 > 0:37:43shortly. He makes a wider point, though, about the continued work we
0:37:43 > 0:37:46will have and partnership and cooperationship we will have the EU
0:37:46 > 0:37:5027 once we have left the European Union. I'm very clear, as I was in
0:37:50 > 0:37:54my Florence speech, we want to maintain that cooperation in
0:37:54 > 0:37:58security and on criminal justice and law enforcement matters, it is
0:37:58 > 0:38:03important to us allThank you, Mr Speaker. The Child Poverty Action
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Group recently published some figures that showed as a consequence
0:38:06 > 0:38:11of the cuts to Universal Credit and the benefits freeze, single parents
0:38:11 > 0:38:17with children stand to lose, on average, 2,380 pounds per annum from
0:38:17 > 0:38:29the family. I would ask the Prime Minister, when she is sitting down
0:38:29 > 0:38:32with her Government ministers, planning this, whether today she
0:38:32 > 0:38:39feelings a sense of shame?Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I said in answer
0:38:39 > 0:38:43to a number of questions on Universal Credit, I believe that the
0:38:43 > 0:38:47introduction of Universal Credit is very important in helping people get
0:38:47 > 0:38:50into work, helping more people get into work and also in ensuring that
0:38:50 > 0:38:57people can earn more of what they pay. Of course we looked at the
0:38:57 > 0:38:59implementation and the impact the implementation is having and we have
0:38:59 > 0:39:04made a number of changes in that. But Universal Credit itself is the
0:39:04 > 0:39:09right thing to do, because it is enabling more people to get into the
0:39:09 > 0:39:15workplace and helping them when they are in the workplace.With recent
0:39:15 > 0:39:18events in Zimbabwe and total electoral chaos in Kenya will the
0:39:18 > 0:39:22Prime Minister join me in celebrating the hugely successful
0:39:22 > 0:39:26elections this week in Somaliland and with direct help from this
0:39:26 > 0:39:30country, from our Government, the national Election Commission in this
0:39:30 > 0:39:33country has conducted a template election described by the
0:39:33 > 0:39:36international observer mission as "Peaceful, transparent, fair and."
0:39:36 > 0:39:41What's more the winning candidate has announced one of his first acts
0:39:41 > 0:39:48will be to legislate against FGM as a direct consequence of the work of
0:39:48 > 0:39:52a British campaigner who serves... My honourable friend raises an
0:39:52 > 0:39:58important issue. This Government is pleased at the work we have done to
0:39:58 > 0:40:01support the Government in Somalia to ensure that we can see those
0:40:01 > 0:40:04elections taking place in the way that my honourable friend has said
0:40:04 > 0:40:09and we continue to do that. I was pleased myself to Chair the Somalia
0:40:09 > 0:40:13conference that took place here earlier this year. I'm very pleased
0:40:13 > 0:40:18to hear of the intention to deal with the issue of female genital
0:40:18 > 0:40:22mutilation. It is an important issue raised by a number of members across
0:40:22 > 0:40:26this House. We want to see it dealt with, not just in Somalia but here
0:40:26 > 0:40:31in the UK. As well.Thank you, Mr Speaker, a couple in my constituency
0:40:31 > 0:40:34have had their application for Universal Credit delayed because the
0:40:34 > 0:40:38mum doesn't have any photo ID. She can't afford a passport and she
0:40:38 > 0:40:44doesn't drive so. They now have to wait for both her dentist and her
0:40:44 > 0:40:47doctor who provide identification. Now, with all the other chaos of
0:40:47 > 0:40:53Universal Credit, will the Prime Minister step in, show some common
0:40:53 > 0:40:58sense and transfer legacy identification from legacy benefits
0:40:58 > 0:41:01over to Universal Credit, so these unnecessary delays don't give my
0:41:01 > 0:41:08constituents more pain and suffering?Can I say to the
0:41:08 > 0:41:11honourable lady, I'm sure she will appreciate that it is important in
0:41:11 > 0:41:14dealing with the benefits that we ensure it is those who are entitled
0:41:14 > 0:41:19to them who are receiving them and we do look and continue to look at
0:41:19 > 0:41:25how we are implementing Universal Credit. And I'm sure that if she
0:41:25 > 0:41:32would care to invite the point she's making to the Secretary of State for
0:41:32 > 0:41:38Work and Pensions he will look at it.Businesses at the Dover flooint
0:41:38 > 0:41:41are now preparing to leave the European Union. Will the Government
0:41:41 > 0:41:45consider earmarking at least £1 billion in the upcoming Budget to
0:41:45 > 0:41:50make sure we are ready on day 1, deal or no deal, and prepared for
0:41:50 > 0:41:55every single eventuality?I thank my honourable friend for his question.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Obviously in his constituency, this issue of preparations for the
0:41:58 > 0:42:04position when we leave the European Union is very, very tightly-felt and
0:42:04 > 0:42:08there is a great focus on it and I appreciate why that is the case. We
0:42:08 > 0:42:12have already madep funds available for the preparations and work that
0:42:12 > 0:42:15is necessary across Government, in preparations for Brexit, and, of
0:42:15 > 0:42:19course we will be looking at what further work is necessary to ensure
0:42:19 > 0:42:23that we are ready. We hope we're going to get that good deal and
0:42:23 > 0:42:27we're working to get that good deal but either way there will need to be
0:42:27 > 0:42:31some changes from a Government point of view and we're ensuring the
0:42:31 > 0:42:36resources are there to do that. Yesterday the Brexit secretary gave
0:42:36 > 0:42:39a pledge in the City that freedom of movement would be preserved for
0:42:39 > 0:42:44bankers and other members of the financial services industry. Why
0:42:44 > 0:42:48can't the same pledge be given to other key economic sectors like
0:42:48 > 0:42:53manufacturing and agriculture?As we look towards the immigration rules
0:42:53 > 0:42:56that will be introduced once we leave the European Union, we are
0:42:56 > 0:43:00very clear about the need to ensure we take into account the needs of
0:43:00 > 0:43:05our economy - that's precisely why my right honourable friend the Home
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Secretary has asked the independent migrationly committee to look at
0:43:08 > 0:43:15this issue and make recommendations to the Government. Given the recent
0:43:15 > 0:43:23reportsP of Zimbabwe. What support can Her Majesty's Government give to
0:43:23 > 0:43:26Zimbabweans to help their country, economically but also in terms of
0:43:26 > 0:43:29the democratic systems of Government?My honourable friend
0:43:29 > 0:43:32raises an important point. We have all seen what has been taking place
0:43:32 > 0:43:37there. We are mob tore the developments carefully Dobb
0:43:37 > 0:43:42monitoring the developments carefully. The situation is fluid.
0:43:42 > 0:43:47We urge rep strants on all side. We want to avoid violence. Our primary
0:43:47 > 0:43:56consider is of British nationals in Zimbabwe. We would recommend British
0:43:56 > 0:44:00nationals in Harare to remain safely at home until the situation becomes
0:44:00 > 0:44:04clearer but on the point my honourable friend has specifically
0:44:04 > 0:44:09raise we are providing by lateral support of over £80 million and part
0:44:09 > 0:44:14of it is to support economic reform and development as he says.Next
0:44:14 > 0:44:18week will mark six months since the tragic attack at the Manchester
0:44:18 > 0:44:22Arena, will the Prime Minister join me, once again, paying tribe Bute to
0:44:22 > 0:44:26all of those who responded so brilliantly to the aftermath? The
0:44:26 > 0:44:29Prime Minister will also be aware that the costs associated with this
0:44:29 > 0:44:34attack, now imposed on the city, are well in excess of £17 million. Costs
0:44:34 > 0:44:40which the Government agreed to meet. Yet, as of today, these monies have
0:44:40 > 0:44:45yet to be reimbursed. Would she today give a clear and categoric
0:44:45 > 0:44:48commitment that these monies will be reimbursed at the earliest
0:44:48 > 0:44:52opportunity?
0:44:52 > 0:44:58Our thoughts continue to be with those all of those who were affected
0:44:58 > 0:45:02by this terrible attack that took place in Manchester. I myself, as
0:45:02 > 0:45:06well as meeting some of the victims immediately after the attack, I also
0:45:06 > 0:45:10met some of the victims and those who were involved in a matter of
0:45:10 > 0:45:15weeks ago and talked to them about the long-lasting this has on them,
0:45:15 > 0:45:19and she has raised an important issue, but I can say to her, in
0:45:19 > 0:45:23relation to this funding, we will be responding in full by the end of
0:45:23 > 0:45:26next week, but I would expect that responds to confirm that the
0:45:26 > 0:45:31majority of funds will be made available.The Prime Minister
0:45:31 > 0:45:34represents a constituency in the green belt, so will she issue of the
0:45:34 > 0:45:37house that the government she leaves will never weaken protection for the
0:45:37 > 0:45:42green belt?We have been clear about our position in relation to the
0:45:42 > 0:45:47green belt and, indeed, we have confirmed that in the housing White
0:45:47 > 0:45:52Paper we set out, where we were clear about that. We want to see
0:45:52 > 0:45:56more homes being built in this country and it's important that we
0:45:56 > 0:45:59see more homes being built particularly in London, but there
0:45:59 > 0:46:03are many opportunities to do that which don't affect the green belt.
0:46:03 > 0:46:07Earlier in the year, the Prime Minister told the country she was
0:46:07 > 0:46:12the only person that could offer strong and stable leadership in the
0:46:12 > 0:46:19national interest. With her Cabinet crumbling before her eyes, can she
0:46:19 > 0:46:28tell us how it's going?Let me say to the right honourable lady, what
0:46:28 > 0:46:34we see this government delivering. I spoke about some of the things
0:46:34 > 0:46:38earlier, deficit and unemployment down, we have seen record sums going
0:46:38 > 0:46:43to our health service and schools, and a government determined, with a
0:46:43 > 0:46:47clear plan, as set out in my Florence speech, a clear plan to
0:46:47 > 0:46:51deliver the best Brexit deal for this country. She is a member of a
0:46:51 > 0:46:54party that can't even decide what it wants from Brexit, let alone set a
0:46:54 > 0:47:03plan for it.No serious negotiation would normally allow one side to try
0:47:03 > 0:47:05and dictate financial terms before the wider terms were known. In
0:47:05 > 0:47:11preparing to embrace the world when it comes to trade through WTO rules,
0:47:11 > 0:47:16will she please ignore the siren voices and defeatist voices who got
0:47:16 > 0:47:24project fear one wrong and our need to join the Euro wrong? WAG can I
0:47:24 > 0:47:28say to my honourable friend, what we want to do is to negotiate a good,
0:47:28 > 0:47:33close partnership, a special partnership with the remaining EU
0:47:33 > 0:47:3927, so we can continue to see good trade, as far as possible, tariff
0:47:39 > 0:47:41free and frictionless, between companies here and in the UK and
0:47:41 > 0:47:47those in the EU 27, but we also want to have trade deals around the rest
0:47:47 > 0:47:51of the world, to ensure that we are taking advantage of the
0:47:51 > 0:47:53opportunities those trade deals give, because it means more
0:47:53 > 0:48:00prosperity and jobs in the UK.Being good neighbours, the Prime Minister
0:48:00 > 0:48:04and I, from Maidenhead in Slough, I'd like to place on record my
0:48:04 > 0:48:07immense gratitude the Prime Minister and half of her cabinet for having
0:48:07 > 0:48:12come my aid recently to increase our majority from 7000 to 17,000. I
0:48:12 > 0:48:19couldn't have done it without you. Mr Speaker, constituents, businesses
0:48:19 > 0:48:24and unions in my constituency feel very aggrieved that various
0:48:24 > 0:48:27government announced initiatives have seen little or no progress. The
0:48:27 > 0:48:31electrification of the train line between Slough and Windsor has now
0:48:31 > 0:48:36been deferred...Order. I'm trying to be accommodating to colleagues
0:48:36 > 0:48:39and I want to hear the honourable gentleman, but the rest of the
0:48:39 > 0:48:44question must be just that I'm a one sentence, and a question mark at the
0:48:44 > 0:48:52end.Could the Prime Minister assuage the concerns of my
0:48:52 > 0:48:57constituents and reassure them that the western rail link to Heathrow
0:48:57 > 0:48:59will be treated as a priority matter, so that it is dealt with
0:48:59 > 0:49:06immediately?I'm pleased to say to the honourable gentleman that we are
0:49:06 > 0:49:10putting significant sums of money into transport infrastructure and
0:49:10 > 0:49:13rail infrastructure, crucially, of course, we are electrifying the
0:49:13 > 0:49:15great western mainline, which will be of benefit to Slough and
0:49:15 > 0:49:23Maidenhead.Will the Prime Minister join me in welcoming the decision by
0:49:23 > 0:49:30the people of Australia to vote in favour of same-sex marriage? Does
0:49:30 > 0:49:34she share my hope that the government of Australia will quickly
0:49:34 > 0:49:39legislate to introduce it and follow the lead set by this house?I am
0:49:39 > 0:49:42happy to join my honourable friend in welcoming the green welcoming
0:49:42 > 0:49:48that vote in Australia. I was proud when we passed legislation in this
0:49:48 > 0:49:52house to enable same-sex marriage in the UK, and I hope the Australian
0:49:52 > 0:49:54government will indeed take that vote and act on it very