0:00:20 > 0:00:25I have been asked to reply on behalf of my Right Honourable friend the
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Prime Minister who is abroad in the Middle East furtherering our
0:00:28 > 0:00:32interests in a region that is fundamental to national security and
0:00:32 > 0:00:48prosperity. We wish Prince Harry and making an market happiness in their
0:00:48 > 0:00:55future. Today is the 150 #9th anniversary of the RAF. The whole
0:00:55 > 0:00:58house will want to express our great today to their service to this
0:00:58 > 0:01:05country.The First Secretary's congratulations to Prince Harry on
0:01:05 > 0:01:09his engagement. Thanks to the outstanding efforts by the Labour
0:01:09 > 0:01:12council in North East Lincolnshire, the Government has included the
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Greater Grimsby project in its industrial strategy document. But we
0:01:16 > 0:01:21need more than a by line in a glossy magazine to make its potential a
0:01:21 > 0:01:25reality. Can the First Secretary said when the Government will put
0:01:25 > 0:01:30its money where its mouth is so we can get going.Beneath this, I can
0:01:30 > 0:01:33welcome the fact the honourable lady is welcoming the industrial
0:01:33 > 0:01:38strategy. As she should do. It will be good for Grimsby. It will be good
0:01:38 > 0:01:43for many communities around this country. Particularly those who may
0:01:43 > 0:01:50feel in the past, they have been left behind. I'm happy to assure her
0:01:50 > 0:01:54that the industrial strategy will come with Monet thatched as she will
0:01:54 > 0:01:59have heard in my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor's budget.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Making a success of the South Tees mayoral development corporation is
0:02:05 > 0:02:09vital for Teesside. He was die lighted toing with Welcome the Prime
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Minister to my constituency this summer. Will he join me in
0:02:13 > 0:02:18recognising the scale of opportunity the MDC makes and redefine Teesside
0:02:18 > 0:02:22to the world. And the new money awarded in the budget is only the
0:02:22 > 0:02:27start of the process on delivering its huge potential to change?I can
0:02:27 > 0:02:31see my honourable friend is getting the hang of questions already. I'm
0:02:31 > 0:02:37happy to assure him that we are committed to working with him and
0:02:37 > 0:02:42indeed, the Tees valley mayor, Ben Houcham who's doing so much to
0:02:42 > 0:02:50develop the area. We want to support him and the South Tees develop
0:02:50 > 0:02:56corporation. As he says, the Chancellor announce £123 million of
0:02:56 > 0:02:59new funding in the budget. We recognise the significant economic
0:02:59 > 0:03:08opportunities in that area.Let me join the Secretary of State in
0:03:08 > 0:03:15congratulating the RAF on its anniversary and congratulating
0:03:15 > 0:03:20Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their engagement. That's one
0:03:20 > 0:03:25American couple we'll be delighted to see holding hands. I'm sure
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Prince Harry, the patron of Rugby Football League will be joining all
0:03:27 > 0:03:31of us in supporting the England team in the World Cup Final on Saturday.
0:03:31 > 0:03:39I will be waving my St George's flag. On a much sadder note, I'm
0:03:39 > 0:03:43sure the whole House will join me in sending our thoughts to all those
0:03:43 > 0:03:46killed and injured in Friday's horrific attack on the mosque in
0:03:46 > 0:03:50north Sinai. It is a bitter reminder that the vast majority of the
0:03:50 > 0:03:56victims of Jihadi terror are Muslims. Before I get on with my
0:03:56 > 0:04:01questions, can I ask First Secretary a point of principle. Is he happy to
0:04:01 > 0:04:06be held to the same standards in Government as he has to others in
0:04:06 > 0:04:12opposition?Yes, I am. All ministers should respect and debate the
0:04:12 > 0:04:16ministerial code and I absolutely think that that's a very important
0:04:16 > 0:04:21part of confidence in public life. Can I also echo her thoughts about
0:04:21 > 0:04:27the terrible events in Sinai and, also say that she may find it
0:04:27 > 0:04:33difficult to wave the St George's flag but I will be doing so for the
0:04:33 > 0:04:38English rugby league team... As a Welsh rugby fan, I may find it even
0:04:38 > 0:04:47more difficult than her. But I will be doing so as well.The First
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Secretary looked rather perturbed at my line of questioning. He doesn't
0:04:50 > 0:04:55need to worry. I really am not going there. I merely wondered if he
0:04:55 > 0:04:58remembered the question he asked at Prime Minister's Questions almost 17
0:04:58 > 0:05:02years ago when John Prescott stood in forefootball and whether he could
0:05:02 > 0:05:05answer the same question today. So, what's the question? The question
0:05:05 > 0:05:10was this. What percentage of new nurses recruited in the past 12
0:05:10 > 0:05:20months are now working full-time?I can't remember! LAUGHTER I can't
0:05:20 > 0:05:23remember asking the question then. I'd love to know what the then
0:05:23 > 0:05:28Deputy Prime Minister answered. What I'm happy to assure the right
0:05:28 > 0:05:32honourable lady, is that we have more nurses, more midwives, more
0:05:32 > 0:05:40doctors... Working in the Health Service now. The Health Service is
0:05:40 > 0:05:44performing more operations now certainly than it was 17 years ago.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47And, in particular, in the budget last week, my right hop rabbling
0:05:47 > 0:05:53friend the Chancellor was able to announce more than £6 billion extra
0:05:53 > 0:05:57on health spending which will make the Health Service even stronger in
0:05:57 > 0:06:02the future than it is now.I thank him for that response. Since he
0:06:02 > 0:06:05failed to answer my original question oo ail dough it for him.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09According to the Government's latest figures. More than 40% of newly
0:06:09 > 0:06:12recruited nurses are leaving full-time employment within their
0:06:12 > 0:06:17first year. It is not just the new recruits that are quitting, the
0:06:17 > 0:06:22overall number of NHS nurses and health visitors is down by 1,500
0:06:22 > 0:06:27this year. And the numbers are now lower than when this Government came
0:06:27 > 0:06:34into office. So, why does the First Secretary think so many nurses are
0:06:34 > 0:06:44leaving?There are, as I say, more operations being done, more nurses,
0:06:44 > 0:06:51more doctors, more midwives. The Health Service is expanding. We have
0:06:51 > 0:06:58got 14,900 more doctors, 1500 more medical school places each year and
0:06:58 > 0:07:03we've 10,000 more nurses on our wards and we've announced an
0:07:03 > 0:07:09increase of more than 5,000 extra nurse training places every year. We
0:07:09 > 0:07:16are, of course, we have said in addition, the Chancellor said in his
0:07:16 > 0:07:25budget, that we would commit to make sure that the nurse's pay increase,
0:07:25 > 0:07:29the action for change, agenda for change staffing covered would not
0:07:29 > 0:07:34comout of other health spending. So, nurses can be reassured that this
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Government will continue to support them both in pay and in terms of
0:07:38 > 0:07:42numbers and that is why our health service in England is getting
0:07:42 > 0:07:46better. If she wants to look at a health service where things are
0:07:46 > 0:07:56getting worse... She can look to the Labour Government in Wales. And she
0:07:56 > 0:08:02doesn't need to take it from me, she can take it from the public. Because
0:08:02 > 0:08:05public satisfaction with the NHS in Wales is lower than it is in
0:08:05 > 0:08:12England. That's the effect of Labour Government on health care.I hate to
0:08:12 > 0:08:17brake it to him, there are more nurses in the NHS than those working
0:08:17 > 0:08:20in emergency and acute wards. Including, district nurses. They've
0:08:20 > 0:08:26halved under the Tories. Guess who picks up the slack in nurses are not
0:08:26 > 0:08:30there? Nurses in acute care. Why are so many nurses leaving the vocation
0:08:30 > 0:08:36they love? According to the RCN, the top four reasons are excess
0:08:36 > 0:08:39workload, staff shortages, low pay and worries about patient care.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42According to the Government's own figures, the number of nurses
0:08:42 > 0:08:47quitting because of worries about their finances or their health has
0:08:47 > 0:08:51doubled since the Tories first froze their pay. Let's get on to the
0:08:51 > 0:08:56question that was asked by John Prescott 17 years ago, he said,
0:08:56 > 0:09:04nurses at his local hospital were warning "staff shortages are putting
0:09:04 > 0:09:08patients' lives at risk" so can he tell me, what are those same nurses
0:09:08 > 0:09:14telling the First Secretary today? What I can tell you is that since 17
0:09:14 > 0:09:21years ago, it is interesting that 17 years ago there were still
0:09:21 > 0:09:25significant numbers of Labour Government ahead with all these
0:09:25 > 0:09:31pressures exposed to us, since 17 years ago, there are significantly
0:09:31 > 0:09:35more nurses in post. I didn't quite understand her point about wards.
0:09:35 > 0:09:41She seemed to go on and off the wards. But we know we've 10,000
0:09:41 > 0:09:47morse nurses on our wards where people want to see them. Also, if
0:09:47 > 0:09:52she's interested in nurse's pay, of course, I hope she'll find it in
0:09:52 > 0:09:56herself to welcome the tax cuts that were announced in the budget, the
0:09:56 > 0:10:00increase in the personal allowances, that will help nurses just as they
0:10:00 > 0:10:04will help workers across both the public and private sector. This is
0:10:04 > 0:10:11good news for nurses. It was a budget in the just good for the
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Health Service but specifically good for the nurses profession. I hope
0:10:14 > 0:10:18she can bring herself to welcome that.Well, I notice he didn't want
0:10:18 > 0:10:23to talk about patient care at his local hospital. Could the reason be
0:10:23 > 0:10:29that his local A&E according to the board's most recent minutes "have
0:10:29 > 0:10:34severe staff shortages in medical and nursing care, which means
0:10:34 > 0:10:38patient safety is being put at risk. The only option to tackle those
0:10:38 > 0:10:44shortages is to cancel out patient clinics" it gets worse. And it gets
0:10:44 > 0:10:49worse. At a public meeting tomorrow, there is going to be a public
0:10:49 > 0:10:55meeting tomorrow to consider closing his local A&E for good. In other
0:10:55 > 0:10:59words, all of things the First Secretary has been denying what are
0:10:59 > 0:11:02you doing to our NHS? It is happening on your own doorstep.
0:11:02 > 0:11:09Isn't it about time the First Secretary got a grip?
0:11:09 > 0:11:12THE SPEAKER: THE SPEAKER:I'm entirely innocent
0:11:12 > 0:11:19in this matter. First Secretary.The right honourable lady's grasps at
0:11:19 > 0:11:26the facts is shaky. The meeting tomorrow in my constituency is about
0:11:26 > 0:11:36the strategic transformation plan. I am happy to assure her that I am
0:11:36 > 0:11:41entirely in favour of option one of that strategic transformation plan
0:11:41 > 0:11:46which suggests not just leaving A&E services in the hospital in my
0:11:46 > 0:11:54constituency but expanding specialist services there. I would
0:11:54 > 0:11:58strongly suggest she doesn't think she knows more about what's going on
0:11:58 > 0:12:04in my constituency than I do.I suspect that neither the nation or
0:12:04 > 0:12:09his own constituents will have taken any reassurances from that answer.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14But really, we have an NHS in the grip of a choppic funding and
0:12:14 > 0:12:21staffing crisis. GPs are quitting in record numbers. Junior doctors are
0:12:21 > 0:12:26running A&Es without supervision. Our nurses are at breaking point at
0:12:26 > 0:12:30before the winter crisis is coming. So, let me finally ask the First
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Secretary, what does it say about the Government's priorities that
0:12:33 > 0:12:40last week's budget could only find £350 million to help the
0:12:40 > 0:12:45cash-strapped stretched to the limit NHS cope with the winter fuel
0:12:45 > 0:12:53crisis?
0:12:57 > 0:13:04Only £350 million to cope with the winter crisis, and was able to find
0:13:04 > 0:13:1011 times that amount, to spend on a no deal Brexit. Isn't that the very
0:13:10 > 0:13:13definition of a government fiddling away while the rest of the country
0:13:13 > 0:13:20burns? The Right Honourable lady is
0:13:20 > 0:13:25determined to talk the NHS down. It is a Conservative Government which
0:13:25 > 0:13:30is increasing funding, on the NHS, so it remains the best Health
0:13:30 > 0:13:34Service in the world, as the independent Commonwealth fund has
0:13:34 > 0:13:39repeated, for the second year in a row. It is this party which promised
0:13:39 > 0:13:46and delivered more money for the NHS in 2010, 2015, and in last week's
0:13:46 > 0:13:52budget where my Right Honourable friend the Chancellor promised 6.3
0:13:52 > 0:13:56billion extra for the NHS. More patients treated, more operations
0:13:56 > 0:14:02carried are out by more doctors and nurse, when she says at the end,
0:14:02 > 0:14:07that the Government is wasting £3 billion on preparing for Brexit, we
0:14:07 > 0:14:11know that, we now know that the Labour Party doesn't think it is
0:14:11 > 0:14:16worth preparing for Brexit, they do, though, they do, though, think it is
0:14:16 > 0:14:21worth preparing for a run on the pound. That is all you need to know
0:14:21 > 0:14:28about Labour. This week, one of Labour's last two
0:14:28 > 0:14:32remaining councillors in Boston crossed the floor to join the
0:14:32 > 0:14:40Conservatives. And he said he didn't want to see this country go back to
0:14:40 > 0:14:461973. Will the first secretary join me in welcoming this new member to
0:14:46 > 0:14:51the Conservative Party, and will he agree with me, that an open
0:14:51 > 0:14:56optimistic Britain deserved better than reheated Marxism and Labour's
0:14:56 > 0:15:06bankrupt economy.I am very happy to agree with my honourable friend and
0:15:06 > 0:15:11indeed, with the wisdom of the Labour councillor who has joined the
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Conservative Party, quite right that what we see from the party opposite,
0:15:14 > 0:15:22is they would lose control of public finances, hike taxes to their
0:15:22 > 0:15:32highest ever peacetime level and cause business, the new... I would
0:15:32 > 0:15:37point out to the local councillor he may have moved in anticipation
0:15:37 > 0:15:40because I understand that moderate councillors are being deselected by
0:15:40 > 0:15:54the hard left. Thank you Mr Speaker I can join the first secretary in
0:15:54 > 0:16:01congratulating Prince Harry on his engagement. Can I welcome the
0:16:01 > 0:16:05moderator of the church of Scotland. Can the First Secretary of State
0:16:05 > 0:16:10tell the House how much money the UK Government has received for arms
0:16:10 > 0:16:14sales from Saudi Arabia since the war with Yemen began. I don't have
0:16:14 > 0:16:21the figure to hand, I do urge the honourable gentleman, to recognise
0:16:21 > 0:16:26the fact first of all, that our defence industry is an extremely
0:16:26 > 0:16:30important creator of jobs and prosperity, in Scotland as well as
0:16:30 > 0:16:36in other parts of the country and that we have, because I am obviously
0:16:36 > 0:16:41aware of the very terrible situation in Yemen at the emno, but this
0:16:41 > 0:16:46country has one of the most rigorous and robust defence sales regimes in
0:16:46 > 0:16:51the world, it was recognised in a court case last July, and we are
0:16:51 > 0:16:54absolutely determined to continue the most rigorous robust system in
0:16:54 > 0:16:59place because that is the right thing to do, both for prosperity and
0:16:59 > 0:17:03to ensure we keep a proper control on arms.
0:17:03 > 0:17:14That is a long time to be able no to not answer the question. The UK
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Government has received 4.billion, from arms to Saudi Arabia since the
0:17:18 > 0:17:23war in Yemen he garntion which has created a humanitarian crisis. Yemen
0:17:23 > 0:17:30is now on the brink of famine. Unicef said 150,000 children will
0:17:30 > 0:17:34die by the end of the year. Doesn't the first secretary agree the best
0:17:34 > 0:17:38thing the Prime Minister can do with her meetings today is follow the
0:17:38 > 0:17:43example of the Netherlands and suspend licenses for arms sales to
0:17:43 > 0:17:51Saudi Arabia.I should correct something the right honourable said
0:17:51 > 0:17:55that the Government received money. It will be the companies that
0:17:55 > 0:17:59receive the money and therefore, their worker, so, he can take that
0:17:59 > 0:18:03position if he wan, I I know the Labour Party's position is that as
0:18:03 > 0:18:08well. But that would entail significant job loss, what is very
0:18:08 > 0:18:13important is is not only that we have the robust regime which I
0:18:13 > 0:18:16talked about, but that absolutely we continue the humanitarian efforts
0:18:16 > 0:18:22that we make, to try and alleviate the terrible conditions in Yemen, we
0:18:22 > 0:18:25are the fourth largest humanitarian donor to Yemen, and the second
0:18:25 > 0:18:31largest to the UN appeal. I would also remind him that the involvement
0:18:31 > 0:18:37of the Saudis in this conflict came at a request of the legitimate
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Government of Yemen and has United Nations Security Council backing,
0:18:40 > 0:18:47that is why we support it. This is a conflict supported by the UN
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Security Council, and I would hope that the right honourable gentleman
0:18:50 > 0:19:02will have some respect for the Security Council.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Thank you Mr Speaker. This Government's ambition to build more
0:19:06 > 0:19:10homes is welcome, especially among those struggling to get on the
0:19:10 > 0:19:16housing ladder. Taub on the dene is playing its part. With its garden
0:19:16 > 0:19:21town status we must have houses that are good places to live. Mr Speaker,
0:19:21 > 0:19:26maybe even where we have showers where people don't use microbeads in
0:19:26 > 0:19:33the shower. But we must have the right roads on these development,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36would he agree the housing infrastructure fund is key to
0:19:36 > 0:19:44unlocking funds for vital roads like the spine road through Taunton,My
0:19:44 > 0:19:48honourable friend is absolutely right. I know what a stout champion
0:19:48 > 0:19:53she is of the people of Taunton Deane, she is quite right about the
0:19:53 > 0:19:57housing infrastructure's fund as well, we need more homes but
0:19:57 > 0:20:00absolutely, we need the infrastructure to back them up, that
0:20:00 > 0:20:03is why the Chancellor doubled the housing infrastructure fund in the
0:20:03 > 0:20:09budget. Thank you Mr Speaker. As the First
0:20:09 > 0:20:16Secretary of State will know being my Nair noon in Kent. As a result of
0:20:16 > 0:20:20underfunding the County Council is running out of cash and is cutting
0:20:20 > 0:20:26the funding to buses by 70%. Four hospital buses, 14 school buses and
0:20:26 > 0:20:30over 100 other routes are to be cut. Thousands of pensioner, especially
0:20:30 > 0:20:35those in rural areas are to be trapped at hope. Does the right
0:20:35 > 0:20:42honourable member for Ashford support such cuts.I do not
0:20:42 > 0:20:46recognise the characterisation of Kent County Council's position,
0:20:46 > 0:20:51which my constituency neighbour has expressed. All Local Authorities as
0:20:51 > 0:20:56all parts of the public sector have to live within their means because
0:20:56 > 0:21:01we have to continue paying down the deficit that was run up by the
0:21:01 > 0:21:07previous Labour Government. Kent County Council is a very good County
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Council which does many good things for the people in Kent and will
0:21:10 > 0:21:20continue to do so. IsWould my right honourable friend
0:21:20 > 0:21:24agree that for decades the itch itch member states in the European Union
0:21:24 > 0:21:30have made large contributions to the budget of the EU, because the
0:21:30 > 0:21:34macroeconomic benefits of belonging to the large free trade areas of the
0:21:34 > 0:21:38single market make it a bargain to pay that share of the cost. Should
0:21:38 > 0:21:44we not therefore welcome the rumours we have today, in the press, of a
0:21:44 > 0:21:48possible imminent settlement of the method of calculating future
0:21:48 > 0:21:52contributions so it may enable us to get on the serious negotiations
0:21:52 > 0:21:58about how we retain the maximum future access to all those benefits
0:21:58 > 0:22:04of that free trade? Well, my right honourable friend has
0:22:04 > 0:22:09been round long enough to not know not believe everything he readses in
0:22:09 > 0:22:14the newspapers and it would be wrong for me to go into figures now, he is
0:22:14 > 0:22:18absolutely right that what we are about, and what my right honourable
0:22:18 > 0:22:23friend the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union is about
0:22:23 > 0:22:26is making sure we get the best possible deal at this stage so we
0:22:26 > 0:22:32can move on to the trade talks and Britain, as a country that meets its
0:22:32 > 0:22:38international obligations of course we, will, as it exits the European
0:22:38 > 0:22:42Union, meet the obligations and have all the rights we have in that
0:22:42 > 0:22:46process, so we can maintain a deep and special partnership with the
0:22:46 > 0:22:52other 27 members of the European Union, as we move forward in
0:22:52 > 0:23:02friendship and cooperation after we have left. Fear of publicity, some
0:23:02 > 0:23:07of the reasons why very many women are reluctant to report rape,
0:23:07 > 0:23:12assault and sexual harassment. Does he agree with me, that Government,
0:23:12 > 0:23:16particle need to lead by example. Will he, on behalf of Government
0:23:16 > 0:23:20apologise to the victims who Parliament and Government have been
0:23:20 > 0:23:33letting down? I All of the political parties, need to improve complaints
0:23:33 > 0:23:38procedures and other aspects of the culture of politics, to make sure
0:23:38 > 0:23:43that young men or young women who are interested in politics do not in
0:23:43 > 0:23:47any way feel deed from playing an active role in it. There is a place
0:23:47 > 0:23:53for everyone in this House on all sides and in all parties and indeed
0:23:53 > 0:23:56the House authorities of making sure this is the best possible working
0:23:56 > 0:24:03environment for young people to come into.Mr Speaker, many mothers in
0:24:03 > 0:24:06this chamber know how hard childbirth can be, but we would
0:24:06 > 0:24:10never use that knowledge in a veiled threat against a journalist when
0:24:10 > 0:24:14being questioned in the way the honourable member for Hampstead and
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Kilburn did when questioned by a Channel 4 journalist recently. As I
0:24:18 > 0:24:21assume the first secretary is not pregnant would he complete the work
0:24:21 > 0:24:25that the journalist tried and ask the honourable member for Hampstead
0:24:25 > 0:24:30to use her influence with her aunt who is the Prime Minister of
0:24:30 > 0:24:37Bangladesh whose regime is responsible for the kidnap of... And
0:24:37 > 0:24:45ask for his release.I am sure honourable ladyOrder I am sure she
0:24:45 > 0:24:49notified the honourable lady of an intention to refer to her in this
0:24:49 > 0:24:55question. She didn't? Well, that was disorderly.
0:24:55 > 0:25:03Sorry. Order, order. Order. Nevertheless, the question has been
0:25:03 > 0:25:07asked, nevertheless, perfectly proper for the first secretary,
0:25:07 > 0:25:13briefly, to reply.You and the House should be aware, I can only speak on
0:25:13 > 0:25:20behalf of the Government, and I can assure my honourable friend that
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Bangladesh remains an important human rights priority area for the
0:25:23 > 0:25:28Foreign Office, and that we continue to raise allegations of enforced
0:25:28 > 0:25:31disappear at all levels of the Government of Bangladesh I think I
0:25:31 > 0:25:38should stop there. Mr Speaker, at the present rate of
0:25:38 > 0:25:44progress, it will take the three officials at the first secretary's
0:25:44 > 0:25:50old department more than 70 years to investigate the claims of round
0:25:50 > 0:25:55four-and-a-half thousand waspy women deprived of their state pension. I
0:25:55 > 0:26:02know this Government is slow but isn't that adding insult to injury?
0:26:02 > 0:26:07The honourable gentleman will be aware that the Government committed
0:26:07 > 0:26:11a sum of more than 1 billion £ to make sure that no-one's pension
0:26:11 > 0:26:16would be delayed more than 18 months from the original period and he
0:26:16 > 0:26:21also, I am sure, as a reasonable man recognises that with increasing
0:26:21 > 0:26:25longevity it is inevitable that the pension age will rise. That is what
0:26:25 > 0:26:29this Government is doing, and by next year, pension inequality will
0:26:29 > 0:26:36have been removed. We will hit 65 for both sexes, in next year, and
0:26:36 > 0:26:44that means that we will then have an equal pensions system. James Gray.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48The Royal Air Force is unique having been established by an act of
0:26:48 > 0:26:51parablement which received Royal Assent 100 years ago today. Will he
0:26:51 > 0:26:57find time to Joan me and members of both Houses and staff throughout the
0:26:57 > 0:27:02Palace in celebrating the service the RAF have given over the last 100
0:27:02 > 0:27:11years in a unique parade this evening at 7.30?I have already
0:27:11 > 0:27:14mentioned the sentry today and my honourable friend is right not just
0:27:14 > 0:27:18to bring it up again, we cannot pay high enough tribute to the men and
0:27:18 > 0:27:22women of the RAF for a century of service that will go on for a long
0:27:22 > 0:27:28time, into the future as well, and I am glad he has managed to get an
0:27:28 > 0:27:30advert in for the parade at Portcullis House.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35Thank you. The United Kingdom has lost its seat on the international
0:27:35 > 0:27:39Court of Justice. EU agencies are pulling out of London, and there
0:27:39 > 0:27:43will be no more European capitals of culture in the United Kingdom. Is
0:27:43 > 0:27:53the sun setting on empire 2.0 before it has even begun?I think the
0:27:53 > 0:27:57honourable gentleman has, is not, it is not surprising that EU
0:27:57 > 0:28:01institutions are not going to be in a state that is not a member of the
0:28:01 > 0:28:07EU, that can't come as a surprise. On the capitals of culture, I rather
0:28:07 > 0:28:12agree, I think it is very disappointing that after they had
0:28:12 > 0:28:16let British cities asking, I know some in Scotland, asking to apply to
0:28:16 > 0:28:19be part of the process, the Commission decided that they
0:28:19 > 0:28:22couldn't. We are iner George Entwistle gent talks with the
0:28:22 > 0:28:26Commission about that and in particular, we are making sure that
0:28:26 > 0:28:30all those cities who applied can continue with their cultural
0:28:30 > 0:28:33development because cultural development has been shown to be an
0:28:33 > 0:28:36extremely good basis for the regeneration of cities and towns
0:28:36 > 0:28:42across the United Kingdom.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46This Saturday, I will be announcing the winners of Mayanual local shop
0:28:46 > 0:28:52Kempeities as part of small business Saturday. Will my Right Honourable
0:28:52 > 0:28:57Friend wish all retailers the best of luck and also wish those winners
0:28:57 > 0:29:03congratulations?I'm very happy to share my honourable friend's
0:29:03 > 0:29:10congratulations for her retailers. I like I suspect many members will be
0:29:10 > 0:29:15celebrating small business Saturday this weekend. It has become an
0:29:15 > 0:29:17extremely important part of the calendar. Supporting small business
0:29:17 > 0:29:21is at the heart of this Government's economic strategy. We should all
0:29:21 > 0:29:26take every opportunity to celebrate the hugely important work they do in
0:29:26 > 0:29:33innovation, entrepreneurship and in serving the people.Today we see
0:29:33 > 0:29:37shocking new figures that child knife deaths are nearing a 40-year
0:29:37 > 0:29:41high. Five months ago, the Prime Minister in this place promised
0:29:41 > 0:29:47action. But she has failed to deliver. Nothing in the budget on
0:29:47 > 0:29:50policing and nothing meaningful to tackle the causes as well as the
0:29:50 > 0:29:53crime. It's clear we need intervention now and not just from
0:29:53 > 0:29:57the Home Office. Funding youth workers in major trauma centres is
0:29:57 > 0:30:02proven to get young people out of the psych violence it would cost £6
0:30:02 > 0:30:06million a year to fund. Will the First Secretary in his role
0:30:06 > 0:30:09establish a cross-Government programme of action to come good on
0:30:09 > 0:30:13the Prime Minister's promise?I'm sure the honourable lady is aware
0:30:13 > 0:30:16the stance on knife crime this Government is taking is tougher than
0:30:16 > 0:30:21ever. We've made punishment against repeat offenders stronger. We've
0:30:21 > 0:30:25banned cautions for the most serious offences. There is now a very clear
0:30:25 > 0:30:29message, if you carry knives in public you are more likely than ever
0:30:29 > 0:30:36to go to price on. Price on. The latest figures show 42% of adult
0:30:36 > 0:30:40offenders were given an immediate custodial sentence, the highest rate
0:30:40 > 0:30:46in nearly a decade. I hope she can be reassured this Government's being
0:30:46 > 0:30:50tougher on knife crime than any previous Government.Does the First
0:30:50 > 0:30:55Secretary agree with me we don't need to break into the computer or
0:30:55 > 0:31:01iPad to work out the half a trillion he wants to borrow will attract £7.5
0:31:01 > 0:31:09billion of interest payments over a year.The one difficult
0:31:09 > 0:31:13THE SPEAKER:This relates to no Government policy the gentleman is
0:31:13 > 0:31:22responsible or rather the Shadow Chancellor for which he isn't.Mr
0:31:22 > 0:31:27Speaker, Sharon Jones is a constituent who had a malignant
0:31:27 > 0:31:31brain tumour removed 20 years ago. This left her with excruciating
0:31:31 > 0:31:35headaches and severe pain in her neck and shoulders. Sharon has been
0:31:35 > 0:31:39in receipt of ESA and the Department for Work and Pensions accepts that
0:31:39 > 0:31:44Sharon is not fit for work. Yet, she has now been placed in the work
0:31:44 > 0:31:50related activity group and her benefit has been reduced. Will the
0:31:50 > 0:31:55First Secretary justify this to Sharon?Obviously there will be
0:31:55 > 0:31:59clearly be individual issues in this case which I can't be aware of. I'm
0:31:59 > 0:32:03sure my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Work and
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Pensions will be very happy to look at this individual case to see if
0:32:06 > 0:32:15something needs to be done for Sharon.I very much welcome the
0:32:15 > 0:32:18announcement of a border lands growth deal. This is positive news
0:32:18 > 0:32:24for the border aya. But can the First Secretary assure me this
0:32:24 > 0:32:29initiative will receive sufficient resource to ensure its success?I
0:32:29 > 0:32:32share my honourable friend's enthusiasm for the borderlands
0:32:32 > 0:32:37growth initiative. I've seen the many benefits of city deals and
0:32:37 > 0:32:43growth deals around all parts-of-UK since I became First Secretary. I
0:32:43 > 0:32:45think the borderlands growth innish five is particularly important
0:32:45 > 0:32:50because it will show the mutual prosperity between his part of the
0:32:50 > 0:32:55north of England and the southern part of Scotland. All I can say is
0:32:55 > 0:33:00since my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is
0:33:00 > 0:33:03actually a constituency MP in the southern part of the Scotland, I
0:33:03 > 0:33:11know this deal will get particularly strict attention inside the Cabinet.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16Does the First Secretary agree with the Lord speaker's committee that
0:33:16 > 0:33:20the House of Lords should be reduced to 600 and the term should be
0:33:20 > 0:33:24limited to 15 years? Does he not feel the slightest sense of
0:33:24 > 0:33:29embarrassment that the crisis of credibility of the undemocratic
0:33:29 > 0:33:33upper chamber's become so acute its members are themselves begging for
0:33:33 > 0:33:40reform whilst the elect the Government refuses to act?I think
0:33:40 > 0:33:44when the honourable gentleman speaks on behalf of all members of the
0:33:44 > 0:33:49House of Lords in terms of begging for reform, he may not necessarily
0:33:49 > 0:33:52absolutely be representing the entire range of views in another
0:33:52 > 0:33:59place. But I'm happy to assure him the Government's looking very
0:33:59 > 0:34:04carefully at the proposal and we will respond in due course.Can my
0:34:04 > 0:34:08Right Honourable Friend and neighbour say what action the
0:34:08 > 0:34:13Government's proposing to take guest Russian-backed agenciesies spreading
0:34:13 > 0:34:18fakes news? They have been doing it in our political Tam wanes but
0:34:18 > 0:34:22disinformation may be spread about important issues about vaccines and
0:34:22 > 0:34:28the flu jab.My honourable friend is right to raise this. Cybersecurity
0:34:28 > 0:34:35is an extremely important issue. Fake news and the dissemination of
0:34:35 > 0:34:38potentially dangerous information is one part of that. The National Cyber
0:34:38 > 0:34:42Security Centre is looking very hard at this. It takes a number of
0:34:42 > 0:34:47measures to combat it. Some of which, obviously, have to remain
0:34:47 > 0:34:54private. I can assure him it is very high on the agenda of the national
0:34:54 > 0:34:58cybersecurity service which is underover a year old. It is doing
0:34:58 > 0:35:02good work in making sure the area of cybersecurity is doing much better
0:35:02 > 0:35:08than a used to.An 11-year-old primary school pupil approached me
0:35:08 > 0:35:15to say he, his mother and two brothers live in a one bedroom flat.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20Can he find me a council flat like I grew up in. It is very unlikely he
0:35:20 > 0:35:25will ever have one. Can I ask simply, given the measures announce
0:35:25 > 0:35:28in the last week's housing budget will not solve the scale of the
0:35:28 > 0:35:32problem which sees over 100,000 children living in temporary
0:35:32 > 0:35:37accommodation. What is he going to do to make sure that boy, his family
0:35:37 > 0:35:40and others living in temporary accommodation gets the decent home
0:35:40 > 0:35:45they need that they can call their own?I agree this is a serious
0:35:45 > 0:35:50problem. And that's one of the reasons why housing was at the
0:35:50 > 0:35:55centre of my Right Honourable Friend, the Chancellor's budget. I
0:35:55 > 0:36:01hear from the opposition front bench that is asking what we're doing
0:36:01 > 0:36:05about it. I'll tell her. Last year, we delivered more homes than we've
0:36:05 > 0:36:12seen in all but one of the last 30 years. 217,000, taking us to 1.1
0:36:12 > 0:36:19million since 2010. Over the next five years, we'll invest £44 billion
0:36:19 > 0:36:24in home building boosting the funding for council, social and
0:36:24 > 0:36:29low-cost housing to over £9 billion. We are building more social housing
0:36:29 > 0:36:33than the Labour Government did in its 13 years in office. We'll build
0:36:33 > 0:36:38even more in the future. This is a Government that's addressing his
0:36:38 > 0:36:50constituent's problems. Previous Labour Governments failed to do so.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55At the recent extremely successful Cheltenham and Literature Festival
0:36:55 > 0:37:00Hilary clin tan came and talked about the importance of ensuring the
0:37:00 > 0:37:03Russians cant inter veer with British or American elections.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08Should we be building an offensive cyber capability so our opponents
0:37:08 > 0:37:13know we have the will and where with all to strike back?My honourable
0:37:13 > 0:37:18friend is right as you would expect from the member of Parliament who
0:37:18 > 0:37:24represents GCHQ. He is absolutely right about the offensive capacity
0:37:24 > 0:37:32that we may well need in the cyber area and I'm happy to assure him and
0:37:32 > 0:37:39the House we are indeed developing that.I would like to ask the
0:37:39 > 0:37:44minister if, without Mensing the new state pension, apprenticeships or
0:37:44 > 0:37:47stating the false hood that the Scottish Government can somehow fix
0:37:47 > 0:37:52the problem and begin the Prime Minister is a WASPI woman herself,
0:37:52 > 0:37:58how he can justify a rise of 413% in the number of women over the age of
0:37:58 > 0:38:0360 in receipt of ESA because of this Government's refusal to give them
0:38:03 > 0:38:11their pensions?As I applied to a previous question on this subject, I
0:38:11 > 0:38:15hope she would recognise the principle that is right, that we
0:38:15 > 0:38:20need, as we live longer, to move up the pension age. And she knows as
0:38:20 > 0:38:26well as I do, that actually, the Scottish Government does have the
0:38:26 > 0:38:31capacity to top up welfare payments. They like to sit here and deny this.
0:38:31 > 0:38:36In Holyrood, they know they could do this. As ever with the SNP, they
0:38:36 > 0:38:41should stop simply moaning in this chamber. They should go back to
0:38:41 > 0:38:44their own Government in Scotland and say if they want to do something,
0:38:44 > 0:38:55they should do it. Get on with the day job of running Scotland.I very
0:38:55 > 0:38:58# Welcome the Government's modern industrial strategy that was
0:38:58 > 0:39:02launched this week. Does my Right Honourable Friend agree that it's
0:39:02 > 0:39:06really going to be important as this country moves forward. We seek a
0:39:06 > 0:39:12global Britain in in creating more and better quality jobs? The point
0:39:12 > 0:39:16about the industrial strategy, which is a hugely important moment, is to
0:39:16 > 0:39:20create not just a stronger economy, but a fairer economy for decades to
0:39:20 > 0:39:25come. That's why it's looking forward to 2030. It is a long-term
0:39:25 > 0:39:30attempt to make sure that we have not just a global outward looking
0:39:30 > 0:39:35economy but a modern economy where we can capitalise on our huge
0:39:35 > 0:39:42research strengths and our huge intellectual strength to make sure
0:39:42 > 0:39:46we actually benefit commercially from that for decades to come.
0:39:46 > 0:39:52That's the route for rising prosperity.This Sunday, the 3rd
0:39:52 > 0:39:57December, is the year when international day of persons with a
0:39:57 > 0:40:03disability. So far, in Government has refused to carry out a
0:40:03 > 0:40:06cumulative impact assessment of its social security policies of people
0:40:06 > 0:40:10living with a disability. Will the First Secretary now mark this day by
0:40:10 > 0:40:15doing the right thing for disabled people and carry out a full,
0:40:15 > 0:40:22cumulative impact assessment?I'm sure the honourable lady, who has
0:40:22 > 0:40:27great expertise in this field will know that this Government is
0:40:27 > 0:40:30spending £90 billion on disability benefits. But, more to the point, we
0:40:30 > 0:40:35are being more successful than ever before in giving disabled people a
0:40:35 > 0:40:40degree of independence. Hundreds of thousands more disabled people are
0:40:40 > 0:40:46in work than have ever been before. We have a plan to have an extra
0:40:46 > 0:40:50million in work over the next ten years. That is an extremely
0:40:50 > 0:40:53important and practical way to improve the lives of hundreds of
0:40:53 > 0:40:56thousands of disabled people. That's what this Government is doing.
0:40:56 > 0:41:06That's what we'll continue to do. Given the President of Iran said
0:41:06 > 0:41:11they will not be the first country to breach the joint plan of action,
0:41:11 > 0:41:15can the First Secretary assure US-British diplomats are working
0:41:15 > 0:41:18hard in Washington DC to persuade our American friends it is in the
0:41:18 > 0:41:24interests of the West and Iran to uphold the JCPOA as a prelude to
0:41:24 > 0:41:30solving other regional problems?My honourable friend is right. We think
0:41:30 > 0:41:36the JCPOA is a very important part of attempting to improve conditions,
0:41:36 > 0:41:41not just between Iran and its neighbours but across the wider
0:41:41 > 0:41:45Middle East and we will continue to argue that case in all parts of the
0:41:45 > 0:41:54world.I too join in offering congratulations to Prince Harry and
0:41:54 > 0:41:59Meghan Markle on their engagements. One of the issues Prince Harry
0:41:59 > 0:42:02highlightnd and campaigned on is the issue of mental health. The invest
0:42:02 > 0:42:06for livecam pain in Northern Ireland is doing a fantastic job and
0:42:06 > 0:42:10highlighting the need for extra resources on that issue ewe. We join
0:42:10 > 0:42:14in that campaign and have secured extra resources. At a time when
0:42:14 > 0:42:17issues like that, mental health, education and all 9 rest need tor
0:42:17 > 0:42:22prioritised in Northern Ireland by a locally devolved Government working
0:42:22 > 0:42:26on these issues and representing the people of Northern Ireland, does the
0:42:26 > 0:42:29First Secretary of State agree it is a gross dereliction of
0:42:29 > 0:42:32responsibility for Sinn Fein to announce this week they are not
0:42:32 > 0:42:35going to engage in further discussions on the restoration of
0:42:35 > 0:42:41devolution? If that's the case, we now need to move quickly to restore
0:42:41 > 0:42:44accountability and ministers to the Northern Ireland Office to get on
0:42:44 > 0:42:46with the people's business of responsible Government in Northern
0:42:46 > 0:42:54Ireland?The right honourable gentleman will know that my Right
0:42:54 > 0:42:59Honourable Friend the Northern Ireland Secretary is working as hard
0:42:59 > 0:43:02as possible to restore democratic control to restore the Northern
0:43:02 > 0:43:08Ireland Executive. We all want to see proper he devolved Government
0:43:08 > 0:43:12restored in Northern Ireland. I think that will be by far the best
0:43:12 > 0:43:15thing for the people of Northern Ireland and this Government will
0:43:15 > 0:43:19continue to work tirelessly to that end.