0:00:00 > 0:00:00delayed until October. All decisions on the chair and other things that
0:00:00 > 0:00:04need to be decided will be made to this House before the Christmas
0:00:04 > 0:00:06recess.
0:00:11 > 0:00:20Order. Questions to the Prime Minister.I am sure members across
0:00:20 > 0:00:29the House which the
0:00:29 > 0:00:30to join me in congratulating Sarah Clark inherited when as Lady Usher
0:00:30 > 0:00:35of the Black Rod. She will be the first woman to hold this role in its
0:00:35 > 0:00:40650 year history and we offer her our best wishes.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.
0:00:44 > 0:00:50In addition to my duties, I will have further such meetings today.
0:00:50 > 0:01:02Mr Speaker, the BBC are currently broadcasting Drugsland, filmed in my
0:01:02 > 0:01:07constituency, showing the catastrophic impact of drugs laws on
0:01:07 > 0:01:10innocent bystanders. We'll be Prime Minister commit to watching
0:01:10 > 0:01:15Drugsland and Royal commission on our drugs laws which are plainly
0:01:15 > 0:01:19failing?I'm pleased to say that the Home Office under my right
0:01:19 > 0:01:23honourable friend the Home Secretary launched the drugs strategy only a
0:01:23 > 0:01:28matter of weeks ago. We recognise the importance of this issue. Drugs
0:01:28 > 0:01:33significantly affect people's lives, and sadly we also see people driving
0:01:33 > 0:01:37as a result of taking drugs but also the criminal activity that takes
0:01:37 > 0:01:45place around drugs. We take this very seriously, that is why we have
0:01:45 > 0:01:47launched our strategy. Divorce and family breakdown takes
0:01:47 > 0:01:51an emotional toll on all those involved, but the finally dynamic
0:01:51 > 0:01:54often overlooked is that between grandparents and their
0:01:54 > 0:01:58grandchildren. If access to grandchildren is removed or blocked,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02some grandparents call this a form of living bereavement. Will the
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Prime Minister join me, Dame Esther Rantzen, and thousands of
0:02:06 > 0:02:10grandparents across the country, to call for a change in the law to give
0:02:10 > 0:02:15access rights to grandchildren as is the case in France?My honourable
0:02:15 > 0:02:18friend is absolutely right that of course grandparents do play an
0:02:18 > 0:02:23important role in the lives of their grandchildren. We can all I'm sure
0:02:23 > 0:02:29sympathise with those who suffer anguish when they are prevented from
0:02:29 > 0:02:32seeing their grandchildren. When making decisions about a child's
0:02:32 > 0:02:38future, the first consideration must be the child's welfare. The law
0:02:38 > 0:02:42already allows family courts to order that a child should spend time
0:02:42 > 0:02:45with their grandparents and I understand my honourable friend has
0:02:45 > 0:02:49recently seen the Minister for the state of justice and I'm sure they
0:02:49 > 0:02:56will consider the points carefully. Jeremy Corbyn.Thank you, Mr
0:02:56 > 0:03:01Speaker. I joined the Prime Minister in congratulating the new Usher of
0:03:01 > 0:03:05the Black Rod and I am pleased it is a woman who has got that position at
0:03:05 > 0:03:11last. I hope the whole house will join me in sending solidarity
0:03:11 > 0:03:14following the atrocious suicide bombing which killed 50 people in
0:03:14 > 0:03:18eastern Nigeria. We should speak with sympathy for those who have
0:03:18 > 0:03:23lost loved ones and the obvious trauma they are all going through.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Mr Speaker, the Irish Prime Minister who has discussed Brexit with the
0:03:28 > 0:03:32British government says sometimes it doesn't seem like they have thought
0:03:32 > 0:03:38all this through. So can the Prime Minister reassure him by plainly
0:03:38 > 0:03:45outlining the Government policy on the Irish border?First of all, I am
0:03:45 > 0:03:47glad the right honourable gentleman has welcomed the new Lady Usher of
0:03:47 > 0:03:53the Black Rod. I hope it will not take 650 years before the Labour
0:03:53 > 0:04:03Party has a female leader.
0:04:07 > 0:04:15On the second issue... On the second issue that he raised, he referred to
0:04:15 > 0:04:19the issue of the attack that had taken place in eastern Nigeria, and
0:04:19 > 0:04:24of course I'm sure the thoughts and condolences of the whole House will
0:04:24 > 0:04:28be with those affected by it. He also asked me to outline our policy
0:04:28 > 0:04:32between the border of an end and the Republic of Ireland. I'm very happy
0:04:32 > 0:04:36to do so. We have done so on a number of occasions. We are very
0:04:36 > 0:04:40clear first of all in relation to the movement of people, the Common
0:04:40 > 0:04:45travel area will continue to operate as it has done since 1923, and on
0:04:45 > 0:04:48trade and movement of goods and services across-the-board, we will
0:04:48 > 0:04:55not see a hard border being introduced. We have been very clear.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Jeremy Corbyn.Mr Speaker, yesterday, the Foreign Secretary
0:04:59 > 0:05:04said there can be no border, that will be unthinkable. Maybe, but they
0:05:04 > 0:05:07have had 17 months to come up with an answer to this question, and
0:05:07 > 0:05:12there is still no answered the question because they have not
0:05:12 > 0:05:17engaged with the negotiations properly. There is another person
0:05:17 > 0:05:25who doesn't think the negotiations are going to and that is the right
0:05:25 > 0:05:29honourable member for Woking, who it was an ecclesiastic campaign for
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Brexit, but also finds time to be the chief global strategist for
0:05:33 > 0:05:40Charles Stanley investments. And he recently advised clients to invest
0:05:40 > 0:05:48elsewhere as the UK is hitting the brakes. Does the Prime Minister take
0:05:48 > 0:05:57advice from the member for Woking and does she agree with him? --
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Wokingham.We have been engaging fully in the negotiations in
0:06:01 > 0:06:07relation to Northern Ireland and other issues with the negotiations,
0:06:07 > 0:06:12and indeed, significant progress has been made. That is why I have said
0:06:12 > 0:06:16we have got agreement on the operation of the Common travel area
0:06:16 > 0:06:21for the future. He says we have not put any ideas about the board out, I
0:06:21 > 0:06:26have to say to him, we published a paper back in the summer on the
0:06:26 > 0:06:31hospital customs arrangements which could take place -- the possible
0:06:31 > 0:06:34customs arrangements which could take place. We are happy to move to
0:06:34 > 0:06:38further discussions of the customs and trading relationship we will
0:06:38 > 0:06:42have not just between Northern Ireland and the Republic, but
0:06:42 > 0:06:45between the United Kingdom and European Union. That does mean
0:06:45 > 0:06:48moving on to face two and the question for the right honourable
0:06:48 > 0:06:54gentleman, if he thinks it is so important, why do his MEPs vote
0:06:54 > 0:06:59against it?Mr Speaker, the EU's chief negotiator said this week the
0:06:59 > 0:07:02UK financial sector will lose its current rights to trade with Europe.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08It seems neither EU negotiators or the Government have any idea where
0:07:08 > 0:07:14this is going. Last week, the Brexit secretary said he would guarantee
0:07:14 > 0:07:18free movement for bankers post Brexit. Are there any other groups
0:07:18 > 0:07:26to whom the Prime Minister believes freedom of movement should apply,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28nurses, doctors, teachers, scientists, agricultural workers,
0:07:28 > 0:07:35care workers?I'm very interested that the right honourable gentleman
0:07:35 > 0:07:38has found that his appearances at prime ministers questions have been
0:07:38 > 0:07:43going so well, he has had to borrow a question from the leader of the
0:07:43 > 0:07:48Liberal Democrats, which he asked me last week. Perhaps the Leader of the
0:07:48 > 0:07:52Opposition should pay more attention to what happens in prime ministers
0:07:52 > 0:07:58questions. We have been absolutely clear that we will be introducing
0:07:58 > 0:08:01new immigration rules and as we introduce them we will take account
0:08:01 > 0:08:07of the needs of the British economy in doing so. That is why the Home
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Secretary has asked the migration advisory committee to advise on base
0:08:11 > 0:08:17areas where we need to pay the killer attention to migration coming
0:08:17 > 0:08:21into the United Kingdom. We want to get on to deal with the question of
0:08:21 > 0:08:28the future trading relationship, but I am also optimistic about the
0:08:28 > 0:08:33opportunities that will be available to this country and about the deal
0:08:33 > 0:08:36we can get from the negotiations we are having. The right honourable
0:08:36 > 0:08:39gentleman cannot even decide if he wants to be in the customs union,
0:08:39 > 0:08:45out of it, in the single market, out of it. He needs to get his act
0:08:45 > 0:08:50together.In April, the Brexit secretary was confident the European
0:08:50 > 0:08:54banking authority would be staying in London. Now he can't even
0:08:54 > 0:08:59guarantee banks having a right to trade with Europe. Last week, the
0:08:59 > 0:09:06Government voted down Labour's amendments to protect workers'
0:09:06 > 0:09:11rights. The Foreign Secretary described employment regulation as
0:09:11 > 0:09:16and I quote: backbreaking. And repeatedly promised to and I quote
0:09:16 > 0:09:21again: scrap the social chapter. Why when she guarantee workers' rights
0:09:21 > 0:09:26order she agree with the Foreign Secretary on these matters?We have
0:09:26 > 0:09:34guaranteed workers' rights. We have introduced a bill in the House of
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Commons to guarantee workers' rights and the Labour Party voted against
0:09:37 > 0:09:46it.Mr Speaker, The Record is clear, this government voted down our
0:09:46 > 0:09:52amendment to protect workers' rights. The Environment Secretary
0:09:52 > 0:10:01said he wanted a green Brexit. Yet again, Conservative MPs voted down
0:10:01 > 0:10:06Labour's amendments to guarantee environmental protection. On the 5th
0:10:06 > 0:10:10of December, Mr Speaker, the European financial summit takes
0:10:10 > 0:10:16place to address the issue of tax dodging as exposed by the Paradise
0:10:16 > 0:10:23papers. There are three proposals on the table, to blacklist tax havens
0:10:23 > 0:10:29like Bermuda, nude transparency rules to tax intermediaries, and
0:10:29 > 0:10:35mandate three country by country reporting for profit. Will the Prime
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Minister back these proposals, or is she is still threatening to turn
0:10:39 > 0:10:47Britain into a tax haven?I will take no lectures from the Labour
0:10:47 > 0:10:54Party on dealing with tax avoidance and tax evasion. £160 billion more
0:10:54 > 0:11:01taken as a result of action taken by Conservatives in government. 75 new
0:11:01 > 0:11:07measures to deal with tax avoidance and tax evasion. And I am pleased to
0:11:07 > 0:11:12say, recently, HMRC won an important case on tax avoidance in the Supreme
0:11:12 > 0:11:17Court, which means a further one point £1 billion coming to the
0:11:17 > 0:11:22United Kingdom. He may talk about tax avoidance and tax evasion, it is
0:11:22 > 0:11:27this government which takes action and makes sure we collect it.Her
0:11:27 > 0:11:31predecessor block EU wide proposals for a public register of trust and
0:11:31 > 0:11:36again, the Conservative MPs have voted down Labour's amendments to
0:11:36 > 0:11:41deal with tax avoidance. Mr Speaker, when it comes to Brexit, this
0:11:41 > 0:11:55government is a shambles.Order! Order! Far too many members are
0:11:55 > 0:12:00gesticulating on both sides of the House in a frenetic and frankly,
0:12:00 > 0:12:09outlandish fashion. I say to the honourable member, he should seek to
0:12:09 > 0:12:12imitate the Zen like calm and statesmanship of the Father of the
0:12:12 > 0:12:23House. Mr Jeremy Corbyn. I have much in common with the
0:12:23 > 0:12:38venom, Mr Speaker. -- I have much in common with zen, Mr Speaker.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51Mr Speaker. 17 months after the referendum, they say there can be no
0:12:51 > 0:12:55hard border but haven't worked out how. They say they will protect
0:12:55 > 0:13:00workers' rights and then vote against it. They say they will
0:13:00 > 0:13:04protect environmental rights and then vote against it. They promised
0:13:04 > 0:13:11action on tax avoidance and then vote against it time and time again.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15And, Mr Speaker, once again the Foreign Secretary offers his
0:13:15 > 0:13:20opinions, as does the Environment Secretary saying, there is
0:13:20 > 0:13:25insufficient energy going into these Brexit negotiations. Their words, Mr
0:13:25 > 0:13:32Speaker, not mine. Is it the truth this government has no energy, no
0:13:32 > 0:13:38agreed plan and no strategy to deliver a good Brexit for Britain?
0:13:38 > 0:13:43Can I say to the right honourable gentleman, he talks about voting
0:13:43 > 0:13:46against tax avoidance measures, it was the Labour Party which refused
0:13:46 > 0:13:51to allow tax avoidance measures to go through in a bill before we
0:13:51 > 0:13:55called the general election. So he should look at his own record and he
0:13:55 > 0:14:01talks about people taking different opinions. I might remind him that on
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Monday, and perhaps the Shadow Chancellor would like to listen to
0:14:03 > 0:14:12this? On Monday, when we were putting through that important piece
0:14:12 > 0:14:16of legislation in relation to customs and taxation and Europe, 76
0:14:16 > 0:14:25Labour MPs voted in a different lobby than his front bench.
0:14:25 > 0:14:32The party has no clue on Brexit in this Commons is the Labour Party.
0:14:32 > 0:14:39Week in and week out the right honourable gentleman comes to this
0:14:39 > 0:14:46House and talks down our country and is pessimistic about our future. Let
0:14:46 > 0:14:53me tell him, I am optimistic about our future. I am optimistic about
0:14:53 > 0:14:58the success we can make a Brexit and I am optimistic about the well-paid
0:14:58 > 0:15:03jobs that will be created, I am optimistic about homes we will
0:15:03 > 0:15:07build, that conservatives are building a Briton fit for the
0:15:07 > 0:15:13future. All he offers is a blast from the past.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29With the Prime Minister reassure people this Conservative government
0:15:29 > 0:15:33is committed to maintaining the United Kingdom's strong commitment
0:15:33 > 0:15:39to the highest standards of animal welfare now and post Brexit.I am
0:15:39 > 0:15:45happy to give that commitment. We already have some of the highest
0:15:45 > 0:15:50animal welfare standards in the world and as we leave the EU we
0:15:50 > 0:15:57should enhance those standards. We have set out proposals to introduce
0:15:57 > 0:16:03mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses and increase sentences for animal
0:16:03 > 0:16:06cruelty, ban microbeads that damage marine life and banned the ivory
0:16:06 > 0:16:10trade to bring an end to elephant poaching and we recognise animals
0:16:10 > 0:16:19are sentience beings and should be treated accordingly. The animal
0:16:19 > 0:16:24welfare act 2006 provides protection for all animals capable of
0:16:24 > 0:16:28experiencing pain or suffering under the control of man. I reaffirmed to
0:16:28 > 0:16:33my honourable friend we will ensure we maintain and enhance animal
0:16:33 > 0:16:40welfare standards when we leave the EU.
0:16:40 > 0:16:46Can the Prime Minister tell the House how many jobs have been lost
0:16:46 > 0:16:51this week with the departure of the European medicines authority and
0:16:51 > 0:16:59banking authority from London?We are seeing those two agencies leave
0:16:59 > 0:17:02the United Kingdom and go elsewhere in the European Union that when he
0:17:02 > 0:17:07talks about the number of jobs being created we have seen under this
0:17:07 > 0:17:12government 3 million jobs created. That is a record I would have
0:17:12 > 0:17:20thought even he would welcome. Of course, the Prime Minister
0:17:20 > 0:17:25refused to answer the question. Let me tell her, so she is aware of the
0:17:25 > 0:17:32cost of the hard Tory Brexit, losing the EMA and EBA means losing over
0:17:32 > 0:17:361000 jobs and the Bank of England have told us the city will lose
0:17:36 > 0:17:4675,000 jobs, jobs are already gone and jobs are going, Brexit is
0:17:46 > 0:17:51already biting. Will the Prime Minister recognise that exiting the
0:17:51 > 0:17:57EU is losing jobs and centres of excellence from the United Kingdom?
0:17:57 > 0:18:02I recognise that those agencies are leaving the United Kingdom but the
0:18:02 > 0:18:06right honourable gentleman talks about numbers of jobs lost. Since
0:18:06 > 0:18:15the Conservatives came into government, 3 million jobs, 3
0:18:15 > 0:18:19million more people in work, 3 million more people able to provide
0:18:19 > 0:18:26an income for themselves and their families.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Last year housing associations generated 5.5 billion in cash
0:18:30 > 0:18:38surplus which could be used to build 48,000 new homes. The accumulated
0:18:38 > 0:18:43reserves or housing associations come to 42 billion which would mean
0:18:43 > 0:18:4736,500 properties a year for the next ten years could be built. Would
0:18:47 > 0:18:51my right honourable friend look at ways we can make sure housing
0:18:51 > 0:18:54associations use the money to build the new homes people want rather
0:18:54 > 0:19:01than having them sitting in the bank.He raises an important point
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and the issue of housing and homelessness is something he has
0:19:04 > 0:19:11been a campaigner on. This is already the approach taken by
0:19:11 > 0:19:16housing associations. They are nonprofit organisations and
0:19:16 > 0:19:21surpluses of reinvested in the business and in 2015, investment in
0:19:21 > 0:19:23new and existing property was more than double the surpluses they
0:19:23 > 0:19:31generated. I have announced an additional 2 billion funding for
0:19:31 > 0:19:35affordable homes including social rent and last week housing
0:19:35 > 0:19:39associations were reclassified to the private sector which takes 70
0:19:39 > 0:19:43billion of debt off the balance sheet which means greater certainty
0:19:43 > 0:19:50for housing associations to get on with the job of building more homes.
0:19:50 > 0:19:56My thoughts are with the many constituents who have friends and
0:19:56 > 0:20:03family in Nigeria. The SNP has asked 140 times that the VAT paid by
0:20:03 > 0:20:06police and Fire Services Amber hundred and £40 million to be
0:20:06 > 0:20:13refunded. The Chancellor said only last month legally we would not be
0:20:13 > 0:20:17able to recover that and the UK Government is constrained by the
0:20:17 > 0:20:25rules in place.Was he misleading us? The SNP may have answered a
0:20:25 > 0:20:28number of questions but the SNP knew when they took the decision to
0:20:28 > 0:20:34create a single police and fire authority this would be the VAT
0:20:34 > 0:20:44treatment. Given the revised housing proposals
0:20:44 > 0:20:51that would force unprecedented numbers to the equivalent of a new
0:20:51 > 0:20:56town will the Prime Minister give me and my constituents reassurances
0:20:56 > 0:21:00unnecessary large-scale investment which will need to be made to boost
0:21:00 > 0:21:03public service infrastructure that will have to cope with up to 100,000
0:21:03 > 0:21:13more people?This is of course an important point for people. We want
0:21:13 > 0:21:16to see more homes built because I want young people to have the
0:21:16 > 0:21:20prospect they are going to have the future their parents and
0:21:20 > 0:21:23grandparents had to own their own homes and we will go further in
0:21:23 > 0:21:28building more homes but she is right, as we do that we need to make
0:21:28 > 0:21:32sure the infrastructure is in place and we are putting in billions for
0:21:32 > 0:21:37economic infrastructure up to 2021 including issues like transport,
0:21:37 > 0:21:42fibre broadband, but we recognise the importance of making sure homes
0:21:42 > 0:21:47are supported by the right infrastructure.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51I am proud the last Labour government lifted more than 1
0:21:51 > 0:21:57million children out of poverty. This government seems committed to
0:21:57 > 0:22:02doing the opposite. With the Institute for Fiscal Studies
0:22:02 > 0:22:10predicting an additional 1.2 million children will be pushed into poverty
0:22:10 > 0:22:16by 2021. That is on top of the 4,000,020 15-16. Is the Prime
0:22:16 > 0:22:21Minister proud of her government's record of failure on this and does
0:22:21 > 0:22:27she think the worrying forecast is acceptable?
0:22:27 > 0:22:33Far from the way in which she has portrayed the situation we have seen
0:22:33 > 0:22:39since 2010 600,000 fewer people in absolute poverty, a record low,
0:22:39 > 0:22:47300,000 fewer working age adults in absolute poverty, and 200,000
0:22:47 > 0:22:53children fewer in absolute poverty. 200,000 fewer children in absolute
0:22:53 > 0:23:01poverty. We have also seen families getting into work, 1 million fewer
0:23:01 > 0:23:15work less households. As the Prime Minister is aware
0:23:15 > 0:23:20Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK in terms of superfast
0:23:20 > 0:23:25broadband roll-out and in my constituency even further behind. A
0:23:25 > 0:23:32huge volume of my casework... A huge volume of my casework from one of my
0:23:32 > 0:23:37largest towns where 20,000 constituents reside, it is hardly
0:23:37 > 0:23:42what you would deem a remote area, can the Prime Minister confirm the
0:23:42 > 0:23:46next generation of funding to support the roll-out in Scotland
0:23:46 > 0:24:05will bypass that... For businesses and residents in my constituency get
0:24:05 > 0:24:13the ball band a desire?-- broadband they desire. I am happy to confirm
0:24:13 > 0:24:16that to my honourable friend and she will know we are making progress in
0:24:16 > 0:24:24Scotland but we need to go further. So programmes such as five G will
0:24:24 > 0:24:27allocate funding directly to local projects based on the quality of
0:24:27 > 0:24:32bids and my honourable friend the minister for digital has confirmed
0:24:32 > 0:24:36that their next generation of technology, we will deliver it
0:24:36 > 0:24:40directly to local authorities in Scotland. Rather than going through
0:24:40 > 0:24:45the Scottish Government because we want to make sure that Scotland is
0:24:45 > 0:24:55not left behind.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01In 2014 and enquiry was set up to look into a drug given to millions
0:25:01 > 0:25:06of pregnant women in the 60s and 70s that caused deformities and
0:25:06 > 0:25:11documents showing a cover-up. Last week a report was published
0:25:11 > 0:25:16condemned by MPs in the house is being white wash and misleading.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Will the Prime Minister meet the victims and order a public inquiry
0:25:20 > 0:25:23so justice can be done for these people?
0:25:23 > 0:25:27I know this is an issue number of members have been concerned about
0:25:27 > 0:25:32and recognise the result of the review was not what some families
0:25:32 > 0:25:38were hoping for. It was a comprehensive independent review of
0:25:38 > 0:25:41the available evidence by experts and all the meetings of the working
0:25:41 > 0:25:48were attended by an invited independent expert at the request of
0:25:48 > 0:25:55the patient group and the overall conclusion is that the scientific
0:25:55 > 0:25:59evidence does not support a causal association but that does not
0:25:59 > 0:26:03attract from the real suffering experienced by the families and I
0:26:03 > 0:26:08recognise these conclusions are hard to accept. The Department of Health
0:26:08 > 0:26:19is focused on implementing the recommendations.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23Does my right honourable friend agreed the right revised offer to
0:26:23 > 0:26:28the European Union far from throwing money away would be worthwhile to
0:26:28 > 0:26:29secure the future trading relationship with our European
0:26:29 > 0:26:34neighbours? I say he raises an important issue
0:26:34 > 0:26:39and I set out in my speech in Florence the UK will honour
0:26:39 > 0:26:43commitments we have made during our membership. We do not want European
0:26:43 > 0:26:52partners fearing they will receive less or pay more. We can only
0:26:52 > 0:26:54resolve the financial implications of withdrawal finally as part of the
0:26:54 > 0:26:58settlement of all issues I spoke about in Florence but once that is
0:26:58 > 0:27:02done in the days of Britain paying vast sums of money to the EU every
0:27:02 > 0:27:10year will end.Every Prime Minister since 1946 has successfully
0:27:10 > 0:27:16appointed a British judge to the international Court of Justice.Why
0:27:16 > 0:27:20has she not? Can I say to the honourable gentleman the British
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Prime Minister does not appoint judges to the international Court of
0:27:24 > 0:27:29Justice. There is a process undertaken in the United Nations and
0:27:29 > 0:27:34we wish all the judges who have been appointed by votes through the UN to
0:27:34 > 0:27:44the international Court of Justice well.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48My right honourable friend might be aware in a debate last week members
0:27:48 > 0:27:50of the Scottish National Party declared if the Scottish Government
0:27:50 > 0:27:54did not agree with the final Brexit deal they would push for another
0:27:54 > 0:27:59independence referendum. This obsession with breaking up our
0:27:59 > 0:28:05United Kingdom is damaging the Scottish economy and causing
0:28:05 > 0:28:09uncertainty. Will she Jomni in asking the SNP to drop their
0:28:09 > 0:28:17obsession with a second independence referendum? -- will she join the?
0:28:17 > 0:28:21The point raised is important. Scotland had a referendum in 2014
0:28:21 > 0:28:26that was legal and fair and the result was decisive. The people of
0:28:26 > 0:28:31Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom. I think that the
0:28:31 > 0:28:35election they sent a second message they didn't want a second referendum
0:28:35 > 0:28:40on this issue so I say to the Scottish Government, as we prepare
0:28:40 > 0:28:44to leave the EU, they should work with the UK Government to get the
0:28:44 > 0:28:50right deal for the whole of the UK, not taking Scotland back to these
0:28:50 > 0:28:54divisive constitutional debates of the past and I agree the SMP should
0:28:54 > 0:29:01take the unwanted proposal off the table once and for all.Will the
0:29:01 > 0:29:06Prime Minister support steel jobs in Scunthorpe and elsewhere by
0:29:06 > 0:29:09guaranteeing if the current flexibility within the emissions
0:29:09 > 0:29:15trading scheme is not retained until 2019, she will act immediately to
0:29:15 > 0:29:21ensure British industry is not financially penalise?The honourable
0:29:21 > 0:29:25gentleman raises an important point and this government has done a
0:29:25 > 0:29:29considerable amount to support the steel industry in the United
0:29:29 > 0:29:34Kingdom. I was pleased to be able to earlier in the year make a visit and
0:29:34 > 0:29:39meet with steelworkers and talk about the prospects for steel in the
0:29:39 > 0:29:45UK. We will look carefully to ensure the arrangements in place of those
0:29:45 > 0:29:51right for the national interest and we have supported steel in the past.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Can I take my right honourable friend back to the first question
0:29:54 > 0:29:58asked by the honourable lady for Bristol West and apart from
0:29:58 > 0:30:04commending the quality of the BBC programme she referred to, on the
0:30:04 > 0:30:08issue of Prohibition of drugs globally can I draw her attention to
0:30:08 > 0:30:13the fact global policy is beginning to change and in the face of the
0:30:13 > 0:30:20evidential failure of policies since the 1961 UN single convention on
0:30:20 > 0:30:23prohibition of narcotics drugs, and will she look at the evidence that
0:30:23 > 0:30:30will emerge in the United States and Canada on the legalisation of
0:30:30 > 0:30:32cannabis markets there as well as decriminalisation in Portugal and
0:30:32 > 0:30:43elsewhere?We are grateful. Quite enough, we are grateful.
0:30:43 > 0:30:49I can say to my honourable friend that when I was Home Secretary a
0:30:49 > 0:30:53piece of work was undertaken which looked at the experience in a number
0:30:53 > 0:30:58of countries and the ways they approach this issue of drugs. I do
0:30:58 > 0:31:01say to my right honourable friend that I take a different opinion to
0:31:01 > 0:31:05him in relation to drugs. I think those who are dealing with those who
0:31:05 > 0:31:15are affected by drugs would also do so. I think of my constituent
0:31:15 > 0:31:18Elizabeth Burdon Phillips who set up Drug Fam after the suicide of her
0:31:18 > 0:31:23son who was a drug addict. The work she is doing because a member of the
0:31:23 > 0:31:27family is on drugs and the incredible damage that can do to
0:31:27 > 0:31:30families and the individual concerned. I'm sorry I say to my
0:31:30 > 0:31:34honourable friend I take a different view. I think it is right that we
0:31:34 > 0:31:45continue to fight the war against drugs.The honourable member for
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Chesterfield has migrated a considerable way from his usual
0:31:47 > 0:31:51place but we look forward to hearing from him.People with the most
0:31:51 > 0:31:55serious disabilities find when they move on to Universal Credit they are
0:31:55 > 0:32:00£100 a week worse off, this is because there is no severe
0:32:00 > 0:32:04disability component in the payment. Does the Prime Minister realise that
0:32:04 > 0:32:08Universal Credit will continue to shame had government, whilst it
0:32:08 > 0:32:14pushes the most disabled into the worst poverty?I say to the
0:32:14 > 0:32:18honourable gentleman that we spend over £50 billion a year on benefits
0:32:18 > 0:32:21to support disabled people and people with health conditions. That
0:32:21 > 0:32:28is increased by more than £7 billion since 2010. Spending on disability
0:32:28 > 0:32:34benefits will be higher in every year to 2020 than it was in 2010.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39And as regards Universal Credit, as I have said in this chamber before,
0:32:39 > 0:32:44Universal Credit is a simpler, more straightforward system. But
0:32:44 > 0:32:48crucially, Universal Credit is helping people get into the
0:32:48 > 0:32:54workplace and making sure they keep more of the money that they earn.So
0:32:54 > 0:32:59David Amess.Will my right honourable friend join me in
0:32:59 > 0:33:03congratulating the Lyon Sea branch of the British Legion, local artist
0:33:03 > 0:33:07Beth Hooper and Mary Lister, I'm using a lottery grant for
0:33:07 > 0:33:15schoolchildren in Southend to make 7500 Saran poppies and display them
0:33:15 > 0:33:20on Southend's letters? And would she agree with me it is a further good
0:33:20 > 0:33:32reason to make Southend-on-Sea a city?IE congratulate the Leon C
0:33:32 > 0:33:36branch of the British Legion and the work they have done in
0:33:36 > 0:33:44congratulating young people in recognising the sacrifices made by
0:33:44 > 0:33:53previous generations for our safety. As for the last bit that is
0:33:53 > 0:33:58interesting. I know he champions Lee-On-Sea all the time and his bid
0:33:58 > 0:34:05will be looked at carefully. My constituent Haley Crawley is
0:34:05 > 0:34:08having palliative care for bowel cancer and she needs a specialist
0:34:08 > 0:34:13drug. She waited months to hear that her case for funding was rejected by
0:34:13 > 0:34:17NHS England and we are now waiting again to hear a reply for her
0:34:17 > 0:34:20appeal. Please will be Prime Minister right to NHS England and
0:34:20 > 0:34:28ensured that her case is treated as I priority.Obviously, I wear this
0:34:28 > 0:34:31will be causing distress to Haley while she is waiting for this appeal
0:34:31 > 0:34:35decision to come through and I am sure the Secretary of State for
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Health will look carefully at the case the honourable lady has raised.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42We were able to bring in the Cancer Drugs Fund which has enabled some
0:34:42 > 0:34:45patients to get access to drugs which otherwise would not be
0:34:45 > 0:34:48available, but I recognise the concern and distress that her
0:34:48 > 0:34:54constituent will be suffering from while she awaits for this decision.
0:34:54 > 0:34:59The Prime Minister will be aware that under President Mugabe, British
0:34:59 > 0:35:03citizens living in Zimbabwe, especially land overs, suffered
0:35:03 > 0:35:07considerably. Can she give an assurance to the House that as we
0:35:07 > 0:35:10seek a new regime coming into Zimbabwe, the British government
0:35:10 > 0:35:15will do all it can to persuade the new regime to treat British citizens
0:35:15 > 0:35:20living lawfully in that country, treat them with respect and the
0:35:20 > 0:35:24safety and security they should have along with all other Zimbabwean
0:35:24 > 0:35:29citizens.My honourable friend does raise an important point, as we see
0:35:29 > 0:35:33this change taking place in Zimbabwe. I have to say the
0:35:33 > 0:35:36resignation of Robert Mugabe provides Zimbabwe with an
0:35:36 > 0:35:40opportunity to forge a new path, free from the depression which has
0:35:40 > 0:35:45characterised the past. We want to see a democratic free secure
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Zimbabwe, where people across communities, and from communities
0:35:49 > 0:35:59across Zimbabwe are able to
0:36:00 > 0:36:03carry out their lives without fear, without oppression and we want to
0:36:03 > 0:36:04see that country rejoining the international community. We have
0:36:04 > 0:36:07obviously provided some support to Zimbabwe in terms of UK aid, and as
0:36:07 > 0:36:10their oldest friend, we will do everything we can to support