0:00:00 > 0:00:00changed in response to public consultation. I wouldn't be doing my
0:00:00 > 0:00:06duty if I couldn't in my final words wish Paisley every success in the
0:00:06 > 0:00:13City of Culture competition.Order, order. Questions to the Prime
0:00:13 > 0:00:13Minister.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31The question tabled by the honourable member for Lichfield,
0:00:31 > 0:00:36relating to economic performance and public services in the West
0:00:36 > 0:00:45Midlands, question five, has in Eire been omitted from the printed copies
0:00:45 > 0:01:03of the order paper. -- has been in error. A corrigendum has been made
0:01:03 > 0:01:13available in the vote office, and copies are on the table. Order,
0:01:13 > 0:01:18questions to the Prime Minister. Ruth George.Thank you, question
0:01:18 > 0:01:22number one.The Prime Minister.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31Mr Speaker, I'm sure the whole house will wish to join me in offering
0:01:31 > 0:01:35condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of police constable
0:01:35 > 0:01:39James Dixon from Thames Valley Police, who was killed while on
0:01:39 > 0:01:45motorcycle duty yesterday, and also to the family and friends of the
0:01:45 > 0:01:48passenger car involved in the collision. I'm sure the House would
0:01:48 > 0:01:52like to join me in offering condolences to family and friends of
0:01:52 > 0:01:58the former member of this house who was a former miner and strong voice
0:01:58 > 0:02:02of Lanarkshire in this place for nearly 30 years. This morning I had
0:02:02 > 0:02:07meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and I shall have further
0:02:07 > 0:02:12such meetings later today.Ruth George.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16My constituent Kate has run a successful nursery for over 14
0:02:16 > 0:02:20years, but after two months on the Government's funding for three and
0:02:20 > 0:02:23four-year-old she says she can't make it work, she's having to sell
0:02:23 > 0:02:28her home to pay her staff redundancies. Over 1000 nurseries
0:02:28 > 0:02:34have already closed and 58% say they cannot continue. If nurseries close,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37parents can't work. Please will the Prime Minister meet with me and
0:02:37 > 0:02:44nursery owners to discuss such widespread and critical problems?
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Well, I can say to the honourable lady that I have indeed recently met
0:02:48 > 0:02:51with some nursery owners looking at this issue, and they've given a very
0:02:51 > 0:02:55clear message that actually there are parts of the country where Local
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Authorities are operating the system very efficiently are very well and
0:02:58 > 0:03:01there are parts of the country where that is not happening. Of course,
0:03:01 > 0:03:05what underpins this is the decision taken by this government to improve
0:03:05 > 0:03:10the childcare offer for parents, so that they actually have a better
0:03:10 > 0:03:12opportunity and ensure their children get the childcare they
0:03:12 > 0:03:20need. Will the Prime Minister give a quick
0:03:20 > 0:03:23update on the Brexit negotiations and does she agree with me that post
0:03:23 > 0:03:29Brexit...LAUGHTER It's crucial that we enhance skills
0:03:29 > 0:03:31and apprenticeships in the construction housing sector and does
0:03:31 > 0:03:36she agree that now is not the time for the construction training board
0:03:36 > 0:03:42to be proposing to close their site in West Norfolk, putting at risk 600
0:03:42 > 0:03:45jobs in a rural area? Will she make me to discuss this and will she help
0:03:45 > 0:03:50me in my campaign? Can I say to my honourable friend
0:03:50 > 0:03:54that he is a great champion for his constituency. He's been a great
0:03:54 > 0:04:02supporter of the CI TB at Birch. I'm happy to support his campaign, I
0:04:02 > 0:04:06wish him well and I'm happy to meet him. He asked about Brexit and, of
0:04:06 > 0:04:10course, what we're doing in the Brexit negotiations is ensuring we
0:04:10 > 0:04:13can indeed build those houses and build that country for the future
0:04:13 > 0:04:20that we to seek, and the principles we are working to our that the text
0:04:20 > 0:04:24that is currently being discussed is a report on the progress of
0:04:24 > 0:04:27negotiations, on which basis the European Commission will decide
0:04:27 > 0:04:30whether sufficient progress has been made and we can move onto the next
0:04:30 > 0:04:36stage of talks. It is for those future talks to agree precisely how
0:04:36 > 0:04:40we ensure cross-border trade, while maintaining constitutional integrity
0:04:40 > 0:04:44of the United Kingdom. We are leaving the European Union, the
0:04:44 > 0:04:53singles market on the customs union. But we will do, we will do what is
0:04:53 > 0:04:58right in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom, and nothing
0:04:58 > 0:05:03is agreed until everything is agreed.Jeremy Corbyn.
0:05:03 > 0:05:11Thank you, Mr Speaker. I joined the Prime Minister in offering
0:05:11 > 0:05:15condolences to the police officer and passenger who lost their lives
0:05:15 > 0:05:21yesterday and in paying tribute to Jimmy Hood, he was a good friend of
0:05:21 > 0:05:24all of us, and he was a great fighter for the coal industry and
0:05:24 > 0:05:27the mine workers union during the strike and after that, during his
0:05:27 > 0:05:34time here. We thank Jimmy for his work in the labour movement.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Mr Speaker, in July, the international trade Secretary said
0:05:38 > 0:05:43Brexit negotiations would be the easiest in human history. Does the
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Prime Minister still agree with that assessment?LAUGHTER
0:05:47 > 0:05:53I am very pleased to report to the right gentleman, as I've just said,
0:05:53 > 0:06:02negotiations are in progress and very good progress has been made.
0:06:02 > 0:06:14But... What my right honourable friend has been focusing on is the
0:06:14 > 0:06:18trade negotiations for the future, and indeed, because we are already a
0:06:18 > 0:06:22member of the European Union, when we leave we will not be at the same
0:06:22 > 0:06:28basis, like Canada was in negotiating a trade agreement, and
0:06:28 > 0:06:31we do expect that be will get a deal that is right for the whole of the
0:06:31 > 0:06:35United Kingdom. What we need to do to be able to do that is to move on
0:06:35 > 0:06:40to phase two, and if he is so concerned about easing negotiations,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43why did his MPs vote against us being able to do that?
0:06:43 > 0:06:49Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister can always look behind herself. Mr
0:06:49 > 0:06:55Speaker, she hasn't, she hasn't succeeded in convincing many people
0:06:55 > 0:07:01and yesterday on Tory donor told the papers and I quote, "Yesterday
0:07:01 > 0:07:05proved beyond doubt that the Prime Minister is not only weak but it's
0:07:05 > 0:07:11her incompetence that is hobbling the UK." And he wasn't very kind
0:07:11 > 0:07:16about the rest of her from bench either, describing them as a bunch
0:07:16 > 0:07:22of jellyfish masquerading as a cabinet.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27Mr Speaker, this is... This is truly a coalition, this is truly a
0:07:27 > 0:07:31coalition of chaos. At the start of the week, it all seemed to be going
0:07:31 > 0:07:35so well. The Prime Minister had scheduled a lunch with Jean-Claude
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Juncker followed by a press conference and then to triumphantly
0:07:39 > 0:07:43returned to the House to present her deal.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48Order, order. Let me make it clear for the umpteenth time, no, order. I
0:07:48 > 0:07:55know what's going on, I can look after these matters. No one in this
0:07:55 > 0:08:00chamber is going to be shouted down. It will not happen, and if people
0:08:00 > 0:08:05think they can sit where I can't see them and make a raucous noise
0:08:05 > 0:08:09they're very foolish. I know where they are and I know what they're up
0:08:09 > 0:08:15to, and it's not going to work. End of subject.Jeremy Corbyn.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Thank you, Mr Speaker. On her way back to Britain, someone forgot to
0:08:18 > 0:08:27share the details of the Irish border deal with the DUP. Surely
0:08:27 > 0:08:32there are 1.5 billion reasons why the Prime Minister really shouldn't,
0:08:32 > 0:08:43shouldn't have forgotten to do that. I think it was a little difficult to
0:08:43 > 0:08:51detect the question is that interruption. Let me say to the
0:08:51 > 0:08:52right honourable gentleman, as President Jean-Claude Juncker said
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Monday, there are still a few things we are negotiating on... LAUGHTER
0:08:56 > 0:09:03And he is confident, he is confident that we will be able to achieve
0:09:03 > 0:09:07sufficient progress. But if he wants to wonder about plans for
0:09:07 > 0:09:14negotiations, perhaps he should look at his own front bench! The Shadow
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Chancellor used to say staying in the single market was not respecting
0:09:18 > 0:09:28the referendum. Now he says it's on the table. The shade -- shadow trade
0:09:28 > 0:09:32secretary used to say staying in the customs union was very unattractive,
0:09:32 > 0:09:37now he says it is not off the table. We now know from the Shadow
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Chancellor what their approach really is, it's not having a plan at
0:09:40 > 0:09:46all, because when asked what the Labour Party plan was, the Shadow
0:09:46 > 0:09:51Chancellor said, well, that's difficult for us. As we all know,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54the only thing the Labour Party is planning for is a runner on the
0:09:54 > 0:10:02pound.Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister was
0:10:02 > 0:10:05unable to support her Brexit secretary when he tried to explain a
0:10:05 > 0:10:09deal was supposed to be done in October but still hasn't been done
0:10:09 > 0:10:13by December. The leader of the DUP told Irish television she only got
0:10:13 > 0:10:19sight of the deal on Monday morning, five weeks after she first asked for
0:10:19 > 0:10:23it. Two months after the original deadline for the first phase of
0:10:23 > 0:10:29talks and after Monday's shambles, is the Prime Minister now, now able
0:10:29 > 0:10:33to end the confusion and clearly outlined what the Government was my
0:10:33 > 0:10:38position is now, with regard to the Irish border?
0:10:38 > 0:10:41I'm very happy to outline the position that I've taken on the
0:10:41 > 0:10:47Irish border with Northern Ireland. It is exactly the same position that
0:10:47 > 0:10:52I took in the Lancaster House speech, that I took in the Florence
0:10:52 > 0:10:56speech, that we have taken consistently in the negotiations,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00which is that we will ensure there is no hard border between Northern
0:11:00 > 0:11:07Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We will do that while we respect the
0:11:07 > 0:11:14constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom. And while we respect
0:11:14 > 0:11:17the internal market and protect the internal market of the United
0:11:17 > 0:11:26Kingdom. Those Labour members who shout "How?", that's the whole point
0:11:26 > 0:11:32of the second phase of the negotiations... Because we will
0:11:32 > 0:11:38deliver this, we aim to deliver this is part of our overall trade deal
0:11:38 > 0:11:44between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and we can only talk
0:11:44 > 0:11:50about that when we get into phase two. We have a plan, he has none.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55Jeremy Corbyn. 18 months after the referendum, the
0:11:55 > 0:12:02Prime Minister is unable to answer the question. And on Monday, and on
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Monday, as she thought she was coming here to make a statement, it
0:12:06 > 0:12:14was vetoed by the leader of the DUP, the tale really is wagging the dog
0:12:14 > 0:12:24here. Mr Speaker, the Brexit secretary told the BBC's Andrew Marr
0:12:24 > 0:12:28programme in June, "In my job I don't think out loud and I don't
0:12:28 > 0:12:34make guesses. I try and make decisions. You make those based on
0:12:34 > 0:12:43data, the data is being gathered, we have 50, nearly 60 sector analyses
0:12:43 > 0:12:47done." The House voted to see the analyses but today the Brexit
0:12:47 > 0:12:50secretary told the select committee they don't exist. Can the Prime
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Minister put us out of our misery, do they exist or don't they, have
0:12:54 > 0:12:58they done the work or haven't they? That is surely one question she can
0:12:58 > 0:13:05answer after 18 months. Can I make a gentle suggestion to
0:13:05 > 0:13:12the Leader of the Opposition? He asked me a question on the Northern
0:13:12 > 0:13:17Irish border, I answered the question. He then stood up and said
0:13:17 > 0:13:20I had answered the question. Perhaps he should listen to the answers that
0:13:20 > 0:13:31I give. The House requested, as I understand it, 58 sectoral impact
0:13:31 > 0:13:37assessments. There were no 58 sectoral impact assessment. There
0:13:37 > 0:13:42was sectoral analysis, over 800 pages of sectoral analysis has been
0:13:42 > 0:13:46published and made available to the select committee and arrangements
0:13:46 > 0:13:51have been made available for members of this house to see it. We are very
0:13:51 > 0:13:55clear that we will not give a running commentary on negotiations,
0:13:55 > 0:14:03but what we will do, what we will do is work for what this country wants.
0:14:03 > 0:14:09We will ensure we leave the European Union in March 2019. We will leave
0:14:09 > 0:14:12the internal market, we will leave the customs union at the same time,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17and we will ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and
0:14:17 > 0:14:18the Republic of Ireland when we do it.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Speaker, this really is a
0:14:23 > 0:14:30shambles. All they've done... All they've done is offered a heavily
0:14:30 > 0:14:38redacted abbreviated version that has not been widely shared, and the
0:14:38 > 0:14:44Brexit secretary said in September, Mr Speaker, that 50 billion divorce
0:14:44 > 0:14:47payment was complete nonsense. The Foreign Secretary rejected any
0:14:47 > 0:14:52payment and said the EU could go whistle, so can the Prime Minister
0:14:52 > 0:14:58put before the House a fully itemised account that could be
0:14:58 > 0:15:02independently audited by the Office for Budget Responsibility and the
0:15:02 > 0:15:04National Audit Office on any proposed payment?
0:15:07 > 0:15:12We are at the point of progressing to the next stage. Snog agreed until
0:15:12 > 0:15:15everything is agreed. So the final settlement won't be agreed until we
0:15:15 > 0:15:20have actually got the whole of the deal agreed. But I have to say to
0:15:20 > 0:15:23the right honourable gentleman, he's asked me questions earlier about
0:15:23 > 0:15:26hard borders, half the Labour Party wants to stay in the single market,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29half the Labour Party wants to leave the single market. The only hard
0:15:29 > 0:15:38border around is right down the middle of the Labour Party.
0:15:38 > 0:15:4418 months since the referendum, no answers to the questions. Today,
0:15:44 > 0:15:49they haven't yet concluded phase one. No answers to the questions.
0:15:49 > 0:15:56And the DUP appear to be ruling the roost and telling her what to do.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Whether it's Brexit, the National Health Service, social care, our
0:16:00 > 0:16:05rip-off railways, rising child poverty, growing pensioner poverty,
0:16:05 > 0:16:10or universe credit, this Government, this Government is unable to solve
0:16:10 > 0:16:13important issues facing this country. In fact, it's making them
0:16:13 > 0:16:20worse. The economy is slowing. More people in poverty. Brexit
0:16:20 > 0:16:24negotiations in a shambles. This Government is clearly not fit for
0:16:24 > 0:16:29the future. If they can't negotiate a good deal, wouldn't it be better
0:16:29 > 0:16:38if they just got out of the way?Can I say to the right honourable
0:16:38 > 0:16:44gentleman, week in and week out, he comes to this House making promises
0:16:44 > 0:16:48that he knows he can't deliver. And they keep doing it. At the election
0:16:48 > 0:16:53he told students they would write off their student debt. Then he said
0:16:53 > 0:16:58I did not commit to write off the debt. What are the Labour Party
0:16:58 > 0:17:05doing? They're putting around leaflets which say Labour will
0:17:05 > 0:17:10cancel xooising student debt. -- existing. It's time the right
0:17:10 > 0:17:15honourable gentleman apologises for grossly misleading Labour leaflets.
0:17:15 > 0:17:27Order. Order! Closed question, MrMichael Fabricant.Question five.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33Prime Minister.I am pleased to say that employment in the West Midlands
0:17:33 > 0:17:38has risen by 198,000 since the 2010 election. And in the budget my right
0:17:38 > 0:17:41honourable friend the Chancellor confirmed people living and working
0:17:41 > 0:17:48in the West Midlands will benefit from second devolution deal and a
0:17:48 > 0:17:54£250 million allocation for regional transport projects.The devolution
0:17:54 > 0:18:00deal, the budget, and now the establishment of the national
0:18:00 > 0:18:04battery R and D centre in the West Midlands puts the whole region at
0:18:04 > 0:18:08the very heart of European autonomous drive and electric drive
0:18:08 > 0:18:14cars. So will my right honourable friend commit to continue to support
0:18:14 > 0:18:20this important industry and will she make a very important promise to me?
0:18:20 > 0:18:32Yes. Will she get rid of that gas guzzler Jagielka of hers -- Jaquar
0:18:32 > 0:18:37and get a modern one from the West Midlands, because we are the party
0:18:37 > 0:18:48of the future, not the old Labour Party danosaurs opposite.Perhaps I
0:18:48 > 0:18:52could just... Perhaps I could just let my
0:18:52 > 0:18:57honourable friend know that, sadly, the Jaguar Number 10 Downing Street
0:18:57 > 0:19:01is not mine. But my honourable friend is absolutely right, that the
0:19:01 > 0:19:04West Midlands is at the heart of this important industry. We are
0:19:04 > 0:19:09investing £31 million in the West Midlands for the development of
0:19:09 > 0:19:12testing infrastructure for connected and autonomous vehicles and we will
0:19:12 > 0:19:16also build on the West Midlands expertise and self driving cars as
0:19:16 > 0:19:21we invest a further £5 million in an initial test bed and I certainly
0:19:21 > 0:19:27look forward to seeing this technology developing further.Can I
0:19:27 > 0:19:31associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister regarding the
0:19:31 > 0:19:34late Jimmy Hood and pass on condolences to his family and
0:19:34 > 0:19:37friends. I am sure the House will want to join me in welcoming Billy
0:19:37 > 0:19:43Irvine, one of the Chennai six who has arrived back in Scotland this
0:19:43 > 0:19:48morning. Now we know that the deal that was done with the DUP to keep
0:19:48 > 0:19:54the Prime Minister in office gave the DUP a veto over Brexit. It is
0:19:54 > 0:19:58embarrassing that it was being briefed on Monday morning that the
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Prime Minister had a deal, only to take this off the table after a call
0:20:02 > 0:20:09with the DUP. Is this the Prime Minister who is in office but not in
0:20:09 > 0:20:16power?What we are doing is working for a deal that will work for the
0:20:16 > 0:20:19whole of the United Kingdom. There are particular circumstances for
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Northern Ireland because it is the one part of the United Kingdom that
0:20:22 > 0:20:25shares a land border with a country that will be remaining in the
0:20:25 > 0:20:30European Union. But as we look ahead and during the negotiations as the
0:20:30 > 0:20:33honourable gentleman will know, we are consulting and talking with all
0:20:33 > 0:20:36parts of the United Kingdom, with the Welsh Government and the
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Scottish Government, and we want to ensure that we get the right deal
0:20:40 > 0:20:44for the UK and that's the deal that I have set out, we will be leaving
0:20:44 > 0:20:47the European Union, we will be leaving the single market, leaving
0:20:47 > 0:20:52the customs union, but we will ensure that we get that good trade
0:20:52 > 0:20:57deal for the future.The clock is ticking. We need a deal that keeps
0:20:57 > 0:21:02us in the single market and the customs union. To do otherwise will
0:21:02 > 0:21:05devastate our economy and cost jobs. Will the Prime Minister recognise
0:21:05 > 0:21:10that such a deal will resolve the Irish border question and protect
0:21:10 > 0:21:13jobs throughout the UK, anything less will be a failure of
0:21:13 > 0:21:17leadership.I have to say to the right honourable gentleman that he
0:21:17 > 0:21:20continues to washing up -- bark up the wrong tree. We are leaving the
0:21:20 > 0:21:25European Union, that means we will be leaving the single market and the
0:21:25 > 0:21:29customs union. We will take back and we will ensure that we can go trade
0:21:29 > 0:21:32deals around the rest of the world and that will be important for us
0:21:32 > 0:21:36and it's important, he references jobs, it will be important in
0:21:36 > 0:21:40ensuring jobs in this country. We will get a good deal on trade and
0:21:40 > 0:21:43security because this isn't just about trade for our future
0:21:43 > 0:21:47relationship. I set out in my Florence speech the deep and special
0:21:47 > 0:21:50partnership we want to continue to have with the European Union. That
0:21:50 > 0:21:54is about a trade deal that ensures jobs and prosperity across the whole
0:21:54 > 0:22:00of the United Kingdom.I politely observe that the front bench
0:22:00 > 0:22:01exchanges have absorbed a disproportionately large share of
0:22:01 > 0:22:08time. I am determined to accommodate backbenchers who are waiting to ask
0:22:08 > 0:22:15questions.Thank you. The bottleneck on the A417 continues to cause
0:22:15 > 0:22:17dreadful accidents and traffic misery in Gloucestershire. Now
0:22:17 > 0:22:20following the leadership of the Transport Secretary and the support
0:22:20 > 0:22:23of Gloucestershire honourable members the vital consultation stage
0:22:23 > 0:22:26of the short listed improvement proposals will begin shortly. Does
0:22:26 > 0:22:29my right honourable friend back the scheme and does she agree by
0:22:29 > 0:22:34committing hundreds of millions of pounds for this crucial project that
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Government is backing the Gloucestershire economy?Thank you.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41I know my honourable friend has been working tirelessly on this
0:22:41 > 0:22:44particular issue and I understand concerns and frustrations that
0:22:44 > 0:22:48drivers in his constituency and elsewhere have about this vital
0:22:48 > 0:22:50strategic road for, not just Gloucestershire but the wider region
0:22:50 > 0:22:57as well. I am happy to assure him we are backing the development of the
0:22:57 > 0:23:01multimillion pound roundabout scheme announced in 2014. A consultation
0:23:01 > 0:23:04will begin shortly. So we can develop the right solution to tackle
0:23:04 > 0:23:10this pinch point and continue this support which as he says is good for
0:23:10 > 0:23:14the whole of Gloucestershire's economy.The Prime Minister has been
0:23:14 > 0:23:19unable to provide us with a single plausible Brexit scenario that will
0:23:19 > 0:23:23meet her red lines, and be acceptable to the Cabinet, Ireland
0:23:23 > 0:23:27and the DUP. Isn't it therefore time that she either dropped her red
0:23:27 > 0:23:33lines, the DUP, or the pretence she can govern this country.I have to
0:23:33 > 0:23:36say to the honourable lady she's completely wrong, this Government
0:23:36 > 0:23:39has published a number of documents which set out various option that is
0:23:39 > 0:23:43can be taken forward in relation to the trade relation for the future,
0:23:43 > 0:23:48that address the question of the customs relationship in relation to
0:23:48 > 0:23:51customs, address the issue of the Northern Ireland border. We have
0:23:51 > 0:23:54already published those proposals. They're not part in detail - those
0:23:54 > 0:23:56details are not part of the negotiations at the moment. They
0:23:56 > 0:24:06will become part of the negotiations when we move on to phase two.When
0:24:06 > 0:24:10the British people voted to leave the European superstate they voted
0:24:10 > 0:24:14to end the free movement of people, they voted to stop sending billions
0:24:14 > 0:24:20of pounds to the EU each and every year. They voted to make our laws in
0:24:20 > 0:24:26our own country judged by our own judges. Prime Minister, are we on
0:24:26 > 0:24:29course still to deliver that? If we have a problem, would it help if I
0:24:29 > 0:24:43came over to Brussels with you to sort them out?
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Well, I say to my honourable friend I am always happy to spend time in
0:24:48 > 0:24:54his company and I hope his petition on chicken farms went down well the
0:24:54 > 0:24:57other evening. The answer is yes, we are on course to deliver what the
0:24:57 > 0:25:01people of this country voted for when they voted to leave the
0:25:01 > 0:25:06European Union.Will the Prime Minister support new transpen nine
0:25:06 > 0:25:11rail links, namely high speed three, but also the restoration of the
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Skipton coal link which as well as providing an economic boast to pen
0:25:15 > 0:25:21nine towns has the additional merit of starting in the Government Chief
0:25:21 > 0:25:26Whip's constituency.Can I say to the honourable gentleman that we are
0:25:26 > 0:25:29of course looking very seriously and have been supporting with this
0:25:29 > 0:25:33concept of the railway. We are waiting as I understand it for
0:25:33 > 0:25:38specific proposals to be brought forward and we will look at those
0:25:38 > 0:25:43proposals seriously.I am sure the whole House is aware that 40 years
0:25:43 > 0:25:49ago today this House came together and voted for a new charity,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51mobility charity which has transformed the lives of disabled
0:25:51 > 0:25:58people and their families. Would the Prime Minister agree that - it
0:25:58 > 0:26:01should be carried forward and gives a golden opportunity for disabled
0:26:01 > 0:26:06people to get into the workplace and enjoy things everybody else does in
0:26:06 > 0:26:11this country.I am grateful to my right honourable friend for marking
0:26:11 > 0:26:14the whoth anniversary of mobility in this way and I am happy to join him
0:26:14 > 0:26:18in marking that and I am looking forward to becoming a senior patron,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21they do excellent work for people in enabling them to stay mobile and
0:26:21 > 0:26:27active and there are more people with a mobility car today than there
0:26:27 > 0:26:32were in 2010. Can I also wish my right honourable friend well as I
0:26:32 > 0:26:37understand he will be going to the Palace tomorrow to receive his
0:26:37 > 0:26:43knighthood.Thank you. Prime Minister, in light of the news today
0:26:43 > 0:26:47and the reported terrorist threat on the Prime Minister and others, can I
0:26:47 > 0:26:50assure her of our prayers for her and Her Majesty's Government on this
0:26:50 > 0:26:54side of the House and thank the security forces for their sterling
0:26:54 > 0:26:58efforts. Prime Minister, can you give us specific commitment that
0:26:58 > 0:27:04nothing will be done that creates any barrier, constitutionally,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06politically, economically, or regulatory between Northern Ireland
0:27:06 > 0:27:11and the rest of the United Kingdom? Can I thank the honourable gentleman
0:27:11 > 0:27:15for the remarks that he made. Can I say to him the simple answer to his
0:27:15 > 0:27:19question is yes. He will know as other members of this House will,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23that there are already areas where there are specific arrangements
0:27:23 > 0:27:27between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, for example,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31the single energy market that exists between the Republic of Ireland and
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Northern Ireland. But we want to ensure that there is no hard border,
0:27:34 > 0:27:39that is exactly what we are working for. We are also working to respect
0:27:39 > 0:27:43the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom and protect the
0:27:43 > 0:27:48internal market of the United Kingdom and I think we share those
0:27:48 > 0:27:55aims.The Prime Minister will be aware of citizens advice Scotland
0:27:55 > 0:28:00report issued yesterday that said in Scotland up to a million consumers
0:28:00 > 0:28:05pay on average 30% more to have parcels delivered than the rest of
0:28:05 > 0:28:08the country: In my constitute at this time there is a huge issue
0:28:08 > 0:28:12where ridiculous prices are put on to deliver. In some cases companies
0:28:12 > 0:28:15refuse to deliver at all. Can my right honourable friend tell me what
0:28:15 > 0:28:21the UK Government can do with myself to ensure we right this wrong once
0:28:21 > 0:28:25and for you will.My honourable friend is right to raise this issue
0:28:25 > 0:28:32and speak up on behalf of his constituents. I am sure he knows
0:28:32 > 0:28:35rail mail does provide a service that includes parcel service at a
0:28:35 > 0:28:39uniform price throughout the UK but there are commercial issues at play
0:28:39 > 0:28:43outside this service. But I am sure that my right hon friend the
0:28:43 > 0:28:50Business Secretary will be happy to meet and discuss this issue.The
0:28:50 > 0:28:54recognition by Donald Trump of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
0:28:54 > 0:28:59will do grave damage to the prospects for a just and lasting
0:28:59 > 0:29:03peace settlement with the Israelis and Palestinians which has been
0:29:03 > 0:29:08British and indeed American foreign policy for decades. Was she
0:29:08 > 0:29:13consulted about this announcement and if so what did she say? Will she
0:29:13 > 0:29:18hear and -- here and now clearly condemn it?
0:29:18 > 0:29:24Well, I say to the right honourable gentleman that I am intending to
0:29:24 > 0:29:31speak to President Trump about this matter. But our position has not
0:29:31 > 0:29:35changed. He says it's been a long-standing position and it's also
0:29:35 > 0:29:39a very clear one, that the status of Jerusalem should be determined as a
0:29:39 > 0:29:44- in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians
0:29:44 > 0:29:49and Jerusalem should ultimately form a shared capital between the Israeli
0:29:49 > 0:29:53and Palestinian states. We continue to support a two-state solution. We
0:29:53 > 0:29:57recognise the importance of Jerusalem and our position on that
0:29:57 > 0:30:10has not changed.Today GlaxoSmithKline and many other
0:30:10 > 0:30:14companies invested in genetics, does my honourable friend agree
0:30:14 > 0:30:18investment in science and research underpins jobs and revolution in
0:30:18 > 0:30:22medical treatment that will save lives and give hope to many patients
0:30:22 > 0:30:26for new treatments.Well, I absolutely agree with my honourable
0:30:26 > 0:30:30friend and what she has highlighted is a sector which is important for
0:30:30 > 0:30:33the United Kingdom and I welcome the investment that she has referred to.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38That is why this is one of the sectors that has been given
0:30:38 > 0:30:41significance in the industrial strategy that my right honourable
0:30:41 > 0:30:44friend the Business Secretary has delivered, has published, because
0:30:44 > 0:30:51this is exactly an area where we see there are Ben bsh -- benefits here,
0:30:51 > 0:30:55jobs, but also improving the treatments available to patients and
0:30:55 > 0:31:03improving their lives.When the Prime Minister rings Donald Trump to
0:31:03 > 0:31:09express our concern about his moves concerning Jerusalem and the US
0:31:09 > 0:31:13Embassy, will she also be informing President Trump that we will be
0:31:13 > 0:31:20proceeding to recognise the state of Palestine as a central part of
0:31:20 > 0:31:25keeping the two-state process under way?We want to see a negotiated
0:31:25 > 0:31:28settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, we believe that
0:31:28 > 0:31:32should be based on a two-state solution, that should be a Sovereign
0:31:32 > 0:31:37and viable Palestinian state but also a secure and safe Israel. That
0:31:37 > 0:31:44should be a matter for negotiation between the parties.The whole House
0:31:44 > 0:31:49will support what the Prime Minister said last week in the Middle East on
0:31:49 > 0:31:53her visit about the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58Will she continue to provide the maximum amount of pressure to lift
0:31:58 > 0:32:03both the humanitarian and the commercial blockade and use
0:32:03 > 0:32:07Britain's good offices at the United Nations to secure a resumption of
0:32:07 > 0:32:11some sort of political peace process which is inclusive and which does
0:32:11 > 0:32:15not have any preconditions?Well, my right honourable friend has raised
0:32:15 > 0:32:19an important issue and I am sure everybody across this House is
0:32:19 > 0:32:22deeply concerned at the humanitarian crisis and the spiralling crisis
0:32:22 > 0:32:26that we have seen in the Yemen and the lingering threat of famine
0:32:26 > 0:32:30there. I did indeed as he said raise my concerns when I visited Saudi
0:32:30 > 0:32:36Arabia last week. I made it clear that the UK's view is that we want
0:32:36 > 0:32:39to see not just a border open for humanitarian aid to get in but it
0:32:39 > 0:32:44should be open for commercial vessels as well. This is absolutely
0:32:44 > 0:32:48crucial and important and he revenss the need for peace talks, that is
0:32:48 > 0:32:52our top priority. The best way to bring a long-term solution and
0:32:52 > 0:32:55long-term stability is to have a political solution and we will
0:32:55 > 0:32:59continue to support the efforts of the UN special envoy and play a
0:32:59 > 0:33:02leading role as he says in diplomatic efforts to ensure a
0:33:02 > 0:33:12political solution can be reached. Due to the one billion deal that the
0:33:12 > 0:33:18DUP MPs - each one is worth more than Ronaldo. We need to consider
0:33:18 > 0:33:27the cut to Scotland's budget, £600 million rail shortfall, the £200
0:33:27 > 0:33:37million... And £140 million VAT refund. Each one of the Scottish
0:33:37 > 0:33:42Tories cost Scotland £265 million. Can we transfer them?I have to say
0:33:42 > 0:33:47it's time that when he stood up for questions he actually looked at the
0:33:47 > 0:33:54facts. It's my Scottish Conservative colleagues who have ensured that in
0:33:54 > 0:33:59the budget we were able to take steps in relation to the VAT status
0:33:59 > 0:34:03of police Scotland and the fire services in Scotland and he
0:34:03 > 0:34:10obviously hadn't noticed but I am happy to repeat as a result of this
0:34:10 > 0:34:18budget £2 billion extra will come to Scotland.In 2010 the
0:34:18 > 0:34:22Conservative-led Government set out to reform the school curriculum to
0:34:22 > 0:34:26give children skills they need to succeed. Does the Prime Minister
0:34:26 > 0:34:29agree yesterday's reading standard results are a vindication of our
0:34:29 > 0:34:32reforms and amazing teachers' efforts which will allow our
0:34:32 > 0:34:39children to forge a truly global Britain.Well, I thank my honourable
0:34:39 > 0:34:42friend, she has raised an important issue and I am happy to agree with
0:34:42 > 0:34:48her. Yesterday we learned how the UK's revolution in phonetics has
0:34:48 > 0:34:54dramatically improved school standards. I would like to pay
0:34:54 > 0:34:59particular tribute to my honourable friend the Minister for schools
0:34:59 > 0:35:02standards who has worked tirelessly to this end through his time here in
0:35:02 > 0:35:06this House but also pay tribute to the hard work of teachers up and
0:35:06 > 0:35:13down the country. We have, just for the figures, in 201258% of
0:35:13 > 0:35:19six-year-olds passed reading checks, this year it's 81%. We are indeed
0:35:19 > 0:35:23building a Britain fit for the future.In October the Prime
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Minister wrote an open letter saying EU citizens living lawfully in the
0:35:27 > 0:35:34UK today will be able to stay. But this week my constituent was told by
0:35:34 > 0:35:38UK she had to wait until Brexit was done and take her chances. Can the
0:35:38 > 0:35:47Prime Minister tell us are the EU citizens living here just pawns in
0:35:47 > 0:35:52the Brexit negotiations or will she change UK operating systems to
0:35:52 > 0:35:56ensure EU citizens can stay?The position on EU citizens that I set
0:35:56 > 0:36:00out in the open letter that I sent is the position of the United
0:36:00 > 0:36:05Kingdom Government and I suggest to the honourable lady if she has a
0:36:05 > 0:36:09complaint about something said she sends that information to the
0:36:09 > 0:36:14immigration Minister.Yesterday the all-party group on cancer held its
0:36:14 > 0:36:18annual Britain against cancer conference, the largest one-day
0:36:18 > 0:36:21gathering of the capser community in the UK to launch a report on the
0:36:21 > 0:36:25cancer strategy. We heard from the Government and NHS England many good
0:36:25 > 0:36:28things that were happening, there was one issue causing real concern
0:36:28 > 0:36:34to frontline services, and that is the delay in the release of the
0:36:34 > 0:36:37transformation funding to those frontline services, with additional
0:36:37 > 0:36:41requirement applied to the funding after the bidding process closed.
0:36:41 > 0:36:46Having discussed the issue with the Secretary of State who was a jolly
0:36:46 > 0:36:50chap, would the Prime Minister meet with me to discuss this matter
0:36:50 > 0:36:58further.Well, I say to my honourable friend of course this is
0:36:58 > 0:37:02an important issue and we have as he said seen great progress being made
0:37:02 > 0:37:05in relation to this issue of providing higher standards of cancer
0:37:05 > 0:37:09care for all patients. Survival records are now at a record high.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14Around 7,000 more people are surviving cancer after successful
0:37:14 > 0:37:18NHS treatment compared to three years ago. Of course we want to do
0:37:18 > 0:37:23more in relation to this issue. He has raised a very specific point and
0:37:23 > 0:37:27I understand that the Department of Health are adopting a phased
0:37:27 > 0:37:29approach to investment as the national cancer programme does run
0:37:29 > 0:37:34for a further three years but I would be happy to meet to discuss
0:37:34 > 0:37:41this.Contrary to her previous answer on the subject, only the
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Prime Minister's Government can remove barriers to universe credit
0:37:44 > 0:37:48for ter minutally ill people in Scotland, England, Wales and
0:37:48 > 0:37:53Northern Ireland. Will she answer this question again this time, will
0:37:53 > 0:37:58she end the cruel requirement for people across the UK who don't want
0:37:58 > 0:38:04to know they're dying to self-certify on universal credit?
0:38:04 > 0:38:08Can I say to the honourable gentleman that I suggest that this
0:38:08 > 0:38:11is an issue I will ask the Secretary of State for work and pensions to
0:38:11 > 0:38:16look at. We do want to ensure that as knows we are working on how
0:38:16 > 0:38:20universal credit is rolled out and how that is dealt with in relation
0:38:20 > 0:38:26to individuals. I am sure he will understand that if there are
0:38:26 > 0:38:29particular things that apply to people and particular circumstances
0:38:29 > 0:38:33then they can only apply if - if the universe credit and Jobcentres are
0:38:33 > 0:38:38aware of those circumstances but I will ask the Department for Work and
0:38:38 > 0:38:45Pensions to look at this.Before my right honourable friend next goes to
0:38:45 > 0:38:50Brussels, will she apply a new code of paint to her red lines because I
0:38:50 > 0:38:57fear on Monday they were beginning to look a little bit pink?No, I can
0:38:57 > 0:39:01say, happy say to my honourable friend that the principles on which
0:39:01 > 0:39:06this Government is negotiating were set out in the Lancaster House
0:39:06 > 0:39:12speech and the Florence speech and those principles remain.This
0:39:12 > 0:39:17morning London MPs were briefed by the Metropolitan Police service on
0:39:17 > 0:39:20the grave challenge of serious youth violence and violent crime,
0:39:20 > 0:39:25including the scourge of scooter assisted crime. With robbers up 30%
0:39:25 > 0:39:29in London, the Police Service in London faces a £400 million squeeze
0:39:29 > 0:39:33which will drive police numbers down to the lowest in 20 years and my own
0:39:33 > 0:39:37Borough has already lost is 98 police officers. Does the Prime
0:39:37 > 0:39:44Minister still think we have the police resources we need -- 198.I
0:39:44 > 0:39:48would say we are not reducing the police budget, we are protecting
0:39:48 > 0:39:52police budgets. They were protected in the 2015 spending review. I
0:39:52 > 0:39:56repeat as I said in this House before, there is more money and
0:39:56 > 0:39:58officers or each Londoner than anywhere else in the country. Of
0:39:58 > 0:40:03course it is up to the Mayor of London to decide how that budget is
0:40:03 > 0:40:07spent. But she also raised the important issue of scooter or moped
0:40:07 > 0:40:11crime and I am pleased to say the Home Secretary has held a round
0:40:11 > 0:40:16table with police and others in the Home Office to look at how this can
0:40:16 > 0:40:22be better addressed.The industrial strategy identifies that the world
0:40:22 > 0:40:27will need 60% more food by 2050. As we leave the EU will the Prime
0:40:27 > 0:40:32Minister commit to supporting our farmers?I am very happy to commit
0:40:32 > 0:40:36to supporting our farmers. And in fact markets for British food are
0:40:36 > 0:40:40growing around the world and we want to see those Margetts grow even
0:40:40 > 0:40:45further. Leaving the EU means we will have an opportunity to design a
0:40:45 > 0:40:48new approach to agricultural policy, one that supports our farmers to
0:40:48 > 0:40:53grow more, to sell more and to export more of their world-class
0:40:53 > 0:40:57proproducts. What we will be doing is ensuring we have an agriculture
0:40:57 > 0:41:06policy that meets the needs of the United Kingdom.This week motor
0:41:06 > 0:41:14manufacturers announced a year on year drop in car sales of over 11%.
0:41:14 > 0:41:19They blame confusion caused by the Government's incoherent policy on
0:41:19 > 0:41:24clean air and diesels, budget measures and uncertainty caused by
0:41:24 > 0:41:29Brexit. This industry is vital for both the national economy and jobs
0:41:29 > 0:41:33in the West Midlands. What is the Government going to do to turn this
0:41:33 > 0:41:37around?I have to say to the honourable gentleman that if he had
0:41:37 > 0:41:42listened to the answer I gave and the questions from my honourable
0:41:42 > 0:41:46friend earlier he would have heard how we are supporting the automotive
0:41:46 > 0:41:51industry, supporting the future of the industry. We recognise its
0:41:51 > 0:41:53importance for the West Midlands and importance for the United Kingdom
0:41:53 > 0:41:56and that's why it's one of those sectors that we are clear in our
0:41:56 > 0:42:01industrial strategy that we will be supporting so we can support those
0:42:01 > 0:42:06jobs and prosperity for the future. Would my right honourable friend
0:42:06 > 0:42:10confirm she is aware of the strong enthusiasm for free trade deals with
0:42:10 > 0:42:18the UK from countries like Canada, Japan, United States, Australia, and
0:42:18 > 0:42:23even for participation in - UK participation in the
0:42:23 > 0:42:27transpartnership. None of these opportunities will come our way if
0:42:27 > 0:42:32we are shackled to regulation after we have left the EU.Well, I am
0:42:32 > 0:42:37happy to say to my honourable friend that I do recognise the enthusiasm
0:42:37 > 0:42:40there is out there around the rest of the world for to us do trade
0:42:40 > 0:42:44deals with other countries. I am happy to say that my right
0:42:44 > 0:42:47honourable friend the trade Secretary was in Australia recently
0:42:47 > 0:42:51discussing these opportunities. When I go around the world I also hear
0:42:51 > 0:42:54the same message from a whole variety of countries, they want to
0:42:54 > 0:42:58do trade deals for us in the future. What we want to do is to ensure we
0:42:58 > 0:43:01get a good trade deal with the European Union and the freedom to
0:43:01 > 0:43:08negotiate these trade deals around the rest of the world.
0:43:08 > 0:43:13On Monday evening during the opening speeches of the EU withdrawal bill
0:43:13 > 0:43:19the Government bench showed its true colours. Revealed were the imperial
0:43:19 > 0:43:23British Government's intentions spelled out in red, white and blue.
0:43:23 > 0:43:27Would the Prime Minister care to echo the chair of the Welsh affairs
0:43:27 > 0:43:33Select Committee and I quote, it is a power grab, and what a wonderful
0:43:33 > 0:43:38power grab it is too or would she admit that the scrabble to
0:43:38 > 0:43:44repatriate powers from Brussels provides a grubby excuse to deny our
0:43:44 > 0:43:50democratic rights in Wales.The honourable lady knows full well what
0:43:50 > 0:43:54my honourable friend was saying was that what we will be doing when we
0:43:54 > 0:44:00leave the European Union is grabbing powers back from Brussels to the
0:44:00 > 0:44:04United Kingdom. That's exactly right. Following that we will expect
0:44:04 > 0:44:08to see a significant increase in the decision-making power of devolved
0:44:08 > 0:44:13administrations. As a result of that. That is absolutely right. If
0:44:13 > 0:44:16Plaid Cymru are saying they want to see powers rest in Brussels, we take
0:44:16 > 0:44:19a different view. We want those powers to be here in the United
0:44:19 > 0:44:29Kingdom.
0:44:32 > 0:44:38Will the Prime Minister join me in wishing them every success in their
0:44:38 > 0:44:44bid to see Stoke become the next capital of culture for Britain?I
0:44:44 > 0:44:48have been very happy to visit Stoke on Trent on a number of occasions
0:44:48 > 0:44:52and my honourable friend is a valiant champion for Stoke. I wish
0:44:52 > 0:44:57them all the best. I have to say as I have been asked about a number of
0:44:57 > 0:45:01other bids from cities around the United Kingdom I am sure all of
0:45:01 > 0:45:02those cities bidding have