0:00:00 > 0:00:02European Union but I will also point out to the Honourable member, 80% of
0:00:02 > 0:00:06Welsh exports go to the rest of the UK maintaining the integrity of the
0:00:06 > 0:00:11UK market should be the first priority.Audero, questions to the
0:00:11 > 0:00:19Prime Minister.Number one.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28I have been asked to reply my right honourable friend the Prime Minister
0:00:28 > 0:00:35is in China building on existing strong ties between our two
0:00:42 > 0:00:45A number of Carillion employ use and former in please live in my
0:00:45 > 0:00:52constituency and indeed, the company has a training centre in Gateshead
0:00:52 > 0:00:56-- Carillion employees. Will the government act now to correct a
0:00:56 > 0:00:59similar future corporate theft where private directors have siphoned off
0:00:59 > 0:01:04what should have been millions of pounds in pension contributions to
0:01:04 > 0:01:07pay bogus dividend and unearned corporate bonuses to themselves?
0:01:07 > 0:01:13What action does the government propose to take?First of all, Mr
0:01:13 > 0:01:19Speaker, I completely understand the anxiety that must be affecting the
0:01:19 > 0:01:23apprentices and their families in the honourable gentleman's
0:01:23 > 0:01:26constituency. He probably heard me say Jerry last week's debates that
0:01:26 > 0:01:31the construction industry training board had taken responsibility for
0:01:31 > 0:01:36finding alternative employers to enable all those in apprentices who
0:01:36 > 0:01:41were with Carillion to continue and complete their qualifications. They
0:01:41 > 0:01:46are making good progress in that work but I shall certainly insure
0:01:46 > 0:01:49that the particular concern he has concerned about Gateshead is brought
0:01:49 > 0:01:54to their attention. On the broader question, the House will understand
0:01:54 > 0:02:00that it will be wrong for me to pre-empt findings by an independent
0:02:00 > 0:02:04inquiry by the official receiver but we have already made clear that we
0:02:04 > 0:02:08will be publishing proposals later this year to stop directors being
0:02:08 > 0:02:16able to siphon off pension funds in any way that he described.Mr
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Speaker, my right honourable friend will be aware that the country faces
0:02:20 > 0:02:24significant cyber threats from other countries and from non-state actors.
0:02:24 > 0:02:30He will also be aware that we are protected from those by our security
0:02:30 > 0:02:33and intelligence services including the men and women at GCHQ in my own
0:02:33 > 0:02:37county of Gloucestershire. When the government publishes the results of
0:02:37 > 0:02:43the security review, will he confirm that we will continue as we have
0:02:43 > 0:02:48since 2010 two invest in those capabilities to keep our country
0:02:48 > 0:02:52safe?Mr Speaker, my right honourable friend is absolutely
0:02:52 > 0:02:55correct and I'm happy to give him that assurance on behalf of the
0:02:55 > 0:03:00government. The sad truth is, in this country, we face a growing
0:03:00 > 0:03:06threat of cyber attacks from States, serious crime gangs and hacking
0:03:06 > 0:03:13groups. We do have a robust strategy to protect services such as our
0:03:13 > 0:03:18democratic process is underpinned by 2 billion in government investment.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me start by welcoming the minister back to
0:03:22 > 0:03:27his role but diving from the Prime Minister. Last time he did so in
0:03:27 > 0:03:32December 2016, his party was 17 points ahead in the polls, and he
0:03:32 > 0:03:36told the House that the Labour Party was, I quote, quarrelling like the
0:03:36 > 0:03:43film mutiny on the Bounty, reshot by the team who made carry on. Well,
0:03:43 > 0:03:53what a difference a year makes!Oh, how the tables have turned!But I'm
0:03:53 > 0:03:59not going to intrude further on the government's private grief because I
0:03:59 > 0:04:03genuinely hope that we can reach consensus across this house today on
0:04:03 > 0:04:07a very important issue. Next Tuesday will beat the centenary of women
0:04:07 > 0:04:11gaining the right to vote in Britain, followed later in 1918 by a
0:04:11 > 0:04:14second right, to stand for Parliament. I'm sure the minister
0:04:14 > 0:04:18will agree that we have a long way to go in regard to the second right.
0:04:18 > 0:04:24After all, I am the only Emily elected since 1918, and he is one of
0:04:24 > 0:04:31155 Davids. And the women behind me on these benches represent one
0:04:31 > 0:04:36quarter of all the women elected in the last 100 years but it is still
0:04:36 > 0:04:42not good enough. So does the Minister think, will the Minister
0:04:42 > 0:04:49tell us how he can best increase female representation in this house?
0:04:49 > 0:04:55Mr Speaker, can I first of all thank the right honourable lady for her
0:04:55 > 0:05:01worlds of welcome and clearly my previous remarks struck a chord with
0:05:01 > 0:05:04her to have been treasured in the way that they clearly have. It's a
0:05:04 > 0:05:11delight to me to see the right honourable lady still in her place
0:05:11 > 0:05:15when no fewer than 97 members of her front bench have either been sacked
0:05:15 > 0:05:20or resigned since we took office.
0:05:26 > 0:05:32JEERING. You know, I play credit to her
0:05:32 > 0:05:37sticking power though she must sometimes whisper to myself, surely
0:05:37 > 0:05:45I'm a celebrity, please get me out of here!
0:05:45 > 0:05:54The point that she raised is a serious one. And I think that all
0:05:54 > 0:05:59political parties represented here, she's right to seek to make this
0:05:59 > 0:06:05conceptual, wants to encourage more women candidates to come forward. I
0:06:05 > 0:06:09am played that my party, since I was first elected to 25 years ago, has
0:06:09 > 0:06:12made very considerable progress but I also accept that there is more to
0:06:12 > 0:06:19be done. I hope that she for her part will accept that we have now
0:06:19 > 0:06:22had two women leaders and by minister so they have a bit of
0:06:22 > 0:06:29catching up to do.I've got to say, Mr Speaker, that if the party
0:06:29 > 0:06:33opposite is so proud of having a female leader, why are so many of
0:06:33 > 0:06:38them trying to get rid of her? And why has she had to run away to China
0:06:38 > 0:06:43to get away from them? But I thank him for that answer and I totally
0:06:43 > 0:06:50agree with your sentiment. But let me ask him also about the first
0:06:50 > 0:06:55right that I mentioned. I write that million to Mecca of women received
0:06:55 > 0:07:00100 years ago this week, the basic right to vote. It was originally
0:07:00 > 0:07:04restricted to women with property over the age of 30, then 90 years
0:07:04 > 0:07:08ago was extended to all women over 21, then 50 years ago, to all men
0:07:08 > 0:07:13and women over the age of 18. So can I ask the minister of simple
0:07:13 > 0:07:17question? How many more years to be have to wait until the vote is
0:07:17 > 0:07:28extended to everyone over 16?Mr Speaker, the age of 18 rather than
0:07:28 > 0:07:3116 is widely recognised as the age at which one becomes an adult and
0:07:31 > 0:07:37that is when full citizenship rights are attained. There's only a handful
0:07:37 > 0:07:41of countries in the world that have a nationwide voting age below 18 and
0:07:41 > 0:07:49we believed that the age of majority, 18, should continue to be
0:07:49 > 0:07:53the age at which people become eligible to vote.The honourable
0:07:53 > 0:07:55gentleman makes international comparisons but I have to say to the
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Minister that it was this country and a Labour government that led the
0:07:58 > 0:08:03way in Europe and India speaking world in reducing the -- and the
0:08:03 > 0:08:09English speaking world and reducing the age of vote to 18 and where we
0:08:09 > 0:08:12lead others followed, and it will be the same here. Let me move on to the
0:08:12 > 0:08:16second question I would like to ask the honourable gentleman. I have
0:08:16 > 0:08:20listened carefully to his answer but I didn't hear any logical
0:08:20 > 0:08:23explanation for the different rights that we give 16-year-olds in this
0:08:23 > 0:08:28country. At 16, we are free from parental control, we can leave home
0:08:28 > 0:08:33and start a family, get married, start work, pay taxes, join the
0:08:33 > 0:08:37forces, so can the minister give us a logical explanation why a
0:08:37 > 0:08:4616-year-old should not have the right to vote?Mr Speaker, I am, I
0:08:46 > 0:08:51have to say, slightly baffled by the honourable lady's comments when
0:08:51 > 0:08:57compared with what her party did in office. Because it was the last
0:08:57 > 0:09:01Labour government that raised the legal age for buying cigarettes to
0:09:01 > 0:09:0718, raised the age of selling knives to 18, raised the age to buy
0:09:07 > 0:09:13fireworks to 18, and raised the age for using a sunbed to 18.
0:09:13 > 0:09:20LAUGHTER I think that if she wants a lesson
0:09:20 > 0:09:26in inconsistency, she might want to examine the mirror.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Mr Speaker, he mentions a range of restrictions that we have until the
0:09:29 > 0:09:33age of 18 but those are for the most part to do with public health,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36public sector data and the prevention of crime. They are not
0:09:36 > 0:09:40the same as the basic right to vote on issues that affect your life.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45What a heart considered old enough -- once you are considered old
0:09:45 > 0:09:48enough to make other decisions on your life such as leaving school,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50leaving home, getting married. Let me give the Minister of specific
0:09:50 > 0:09:59example.Order, I'm sure it will not have escaped public notice and it is
0:09:59 > 0:10:02rather a sad irony, that when a woman is addressing the House, quite
0:10:02 > 0:10:11a lot of noisy boorish and in one case rather stupid individuals are
0:10:11 > 0:10:16trying to shout the Right Honourable lady down. Cut it out.Thank you
0:10:16 > 0:10:21very much, Mr Speaker. I wanted to give the Minister of specific
0:10:21 > 0:10:24example to illustrate what I'm talking about. According to the
0:10:24 > 0:10:28government's own figures, the number of 16 and 17-year-olds receiving
0:10:28 > 0:10:32carer's allows for looking after disabled relatives at home has risen
0:10:32 > 0:10:39by more than 50% in four years. -- carer's allowance. Over 2016 and
0:10:39 > 0:10:4617-year-olds last year gave up their youth and -- 2000, 1617 -year-olds
0:10:46 > 0:10:50last year gave up their youth and education to look after relatives.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53How can it be fair to expectancies take on the responsibility because
0:10:53 > 0:10:57of failures of the state and deny them the say on how that state is
0:10:57 > 0:11:03run?Mr Speaker, the logic of the honourable lady's arguments is that
0:11:03 > 0:11:10she wishes to lower the age of majority from 18 to 16. She listed a
0:11:10 > 0:11:14number of areas in which she supported the age at which activity
0:11:14 > 0:11:21should be allowed at 18 on grounds that only then could people be
0:11:21 > 0:11:24expected to have sufficient maturity and responsibility to have those
0:11:24 > 0:11:32rights. My argument to her is that the age of majority should be set
0:11:32 > 0:11:36matching both rights and responsibilities. And I think that
0:11:36 > 0:11:41it is perfectly reasonable to say that from the age of 18, we entrust
0:11:41 > 0:11:46young men and women to exercise those rights and responsible if he's
0:11:46 > 0:11:54in full. On Havard Nordtveit -- on her final point, it is right that
0:11:54 > 0:11:57sensible local authorities have particular care for the role of
0:11:57 > 0:12:01young carers, and in my experience, local authorities, whichever party
0:12:01 > 0:12:05runs them, makes every effort to do that.I'm genuinely surprised at the
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Minister's response because after all, this is what he said two years
0:12:09 > 0:12:13ago speaking to the youth Parliament. And let me quote him.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17When the voice and the vote of young people is absent, decisions are made
0:12:17 > 0:12:23that affect young people's lives that they have not always chosen. So
0:12:23 > 0:12:26not for the first time in these exchanges, I've got to say, Mr
0:12:26 > 0:12:31Speaker, I agree with the Minister. All of us on this side agree with
0:12:31 > 0:12:36the Minister. So why does he no longer agree with himself?Well, if
0:12:36 > 0:12:42she had been with me at the youth Parliament which was indeed a
0:12:42 > 0:12:45memorable and enjoyable occasion, she would have discovered that a
0:12:45 > 0:12:47significant number of the young men and women there were actually over
0:12:47 > 0:12:53voting age. But I fully support the role that the youth Parliament does,
0:12:53 > 0:12:58the role that their members do throughout the country, the role
0:12:58 > 0:13:03that organisations like school councils do, in getting young people
0:13:03 > 0:13:07used to the idea of exercising democratic responsibility. That
0:13:07 > 0:13:10seems to me and excellent training for the full adult responsibility is
0:13:10 > 0:13:13that they will inherit when they are 18, and I hope and encourage more
0:13:13 > 0:13:20young people to go out and vote.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25He says he was only talking about 18-year-olds but you were there. He
0:13:25 > 0:13:32was talking to 370 under 18s. But what these discussions have revealed
0:13:32 > 0:13:37is that there is no logical principled objection to votes at 16.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40That is why the Welsh and Scottish Government support it, that is why
0:13:40 > 0:13:45every single political party in this House supports it, except, of
0:13:45 > 0:13:50course, the Conservative Party and the DUP. Once again, joined in
0:13:50 > 0:13:55opposition to change. They're not the Coalition of chaos, Mr Speaker,
0:13:55 > 0:14:03they are the Coalition of cavemen. But does the Minister... And does
0:14:03 > 0:14:09the Minister not realise the lesson...Order! Order! One member
0:14:09 > 0:14:13who thinks he knows what he is talking about is gesticulating at me
0:14:13 > 0:14:17and the answer is, it is a matter of taste, not of order, and it
0:14:17 > 0:14:21shouldn't escape somebody of great intelligence.I was talking about
0:14:21 > 0:14:27cavemen and what I wanted to say was this... Why doesn't the Minister
0:14:27 > 0:14:33realise the lesson that we women taught his predecessors 100 years
0:14:33 > 0:14:37ago - when changes it cannot be resisted for ever, and this is a
0:14:37 > 0:14:47change time has come.Mr Speaker, I think my advice to the right
0:14:47 > 0:14:52honourable lady is to wean herself off the habit of watching old
0:14:52 > 0:14:59versions of the Flintstones on the relevant cartoon channel. I just
0:14:59 > 0:15:06think that we ought to salute the fact that not just the parliament
0:15:06 > 0:15:09but many schools and other youth organisations throughout the country
0:15:09 > 0:15:14are working hard to get young people use to the idea that as they grow
0:15:14 > 0:15:19up, they should take an interest in current affairs and then when they
0:15:19 > 0:15:22reach the relevant age exercise the full rights and responsibilities of
0:15:22 > 0:15:27an adult by participating in elections and in political
0:15:27 > 0:15:31campaigning. But the situation we have here, Mr Speaker, with the
0:15:31 > 0:15:37national voting age at 18, is one that is followed by 26 out of 27
0:15:37 > 0:15:43other members of the European Union, by the United States, Canada, New
0:15:43 > 0:15:49Zealand and Australia. Unless she is going to denounce all of those
0:15:49 > 0:15:56countries as somehow inadequate to her own particular standards, then
0:15:56 > 0:16:00quite honestly, Mr Speaker, I wish she ought to grow up and try and
0:16:00 > 0:16:07treat the subject with a greater degree of seriousness.Thank you, Mr
0:16:07 > 0:16:14Speaker. The government's attacks has made what the UK one of the most
0:16:14 > 0:16:17competitive basis to do business so does my right arable friend agree
0:16:17 > 0:16:23that raising tax would damage the UK economy, as we have seen in
0:16:23 > 0:16:29Scotland, where growth has fallen behind the rest of the UK?Mr
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Speaker, I'm very happy to agree with my rubble friend. We did
0:16:33 > 0:16:36devolve promise has new powers to Hollywood and it is obviously for
0:16:36 > 0:16:40the Scottish Government to determine how to use them. It is a matter of
0:16:40 > 0:16:45great regret that they have chosen to use those powers to break their
0:16:45 > 0:16:52promises and penalised aspiration in Scotland's. In our own budget, we
0:16:52 > 0:16:56increased the Scottish Government's spending power by £2 billion, so the
0:16:56 > 0:17:01SNP have no excuse for hiking the taxes of hard-working people,
0:17:01 > 0:17:07including public servants, and penalising businesses. The leader of
0:17:07 > 0:17:10the Scottish Nationalists in Westminster used to champion wealth
0:17:10 > 0:17:13creation and free enterprise. I hope he will ask the First Minister of
0:17:13 > 0:17:24Scotland to think again.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I welcome the Minister to his place. If
0:17:27 > 0:17:32reports are true, he may be auditioning for a new role and I
0:17:32 > 0:17:39wonder if he is sending out a heart-warming letter. And if you are
0:17:39 > 0:17:46single market is essential to the Government's agenda for trade and
0:17:46 > 0:17:51competitiveness. Since Buzzfeed published the analysis, does the
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Minister recognise that the single market is essential for jobs and
0:17:55 > 0:18:03prosperity? Mr Speaker, when we leave the EU next March, we will, as
0:18:03 > 0:18:09a matter of legality, leave the single market and the EU customs
0:18:09 > 0:18:13union. The Prime Minister and the entire Government have set out in
0:18:13 > 0:18:18both the Lancaster House and Florence speeches, also making it
0:18:18 > 0:18:23clear that we are seeking a new partnership with our neighbours in
0:18:23 > 0:18:26the European Union that ensures that we continue to have frictionless
0:18:26 > 0:18:31trade, which is the interest of not just our people but the people of
0:18:31 > 0:18:37every one of the 27 EU countries. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I must say I
0:18:37 > 0:18:43am surprised at the Minister because it is not a question... Or we are
0:18:43 > 0:18:47going to be an transitional deal and will still be in the single market.
0:18:47 > 0:18:54This is a Government in crisis and an international embarrassment. The
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Chancellor, the Scottish Secretary, the Scottish Conservatives, the Home
0:18:58 > 0:19:03Secretary have all supported membership of the single market.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Despite this, the Government is still prepared to make everyone
0:19:07 > 0:19:17poorer. Where is the leadership?Mr Speaker, the leadership which the
0:19:17 > 0:19:20right honourable gentleman wants was set out very clearly both that
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Lancaster House and then again in Florence, and by right on oral
0:19:23 > 0:19:27friend the Prime Minister will be making further speeches on these
0:19:27 > 0:19:32issues in the weeks and months to come. But can I just say to the
0:19:32 > 0:19:37honourable gentleman that the most important single market to the
0:19:37 > 0:19:46people of Scotland is the single market of the United Kingdom, which
0:19:46 > 0:19:52is worth nearly £50 billion every year to the Scottish economy, four
0:19:52 > 0:19:57times more than trade with the European Union. It is our deep and
0:19:57 > 0:20:02special partnership with the EU in the future that will help deliver
0:20:02 > 0:20:05prosperity to Scotland, not the separatist policies pursued by the
0:20:05 > 0:20:13Scottish National Party.I know my right honourable friend shares my
0:20:13 > 0:20:17passion for ensuring that all children get opportunity to succeed,
0:20:17 > 0:20:22regardless of who they are or where they come from. Can he confirm what
0:20:22 > 0:20:25progress the Government has made in reducing the attainment gap between
0:20:25 > 0:20:31less well off second risk pupils and their peers, and that positive
0:20:31 > 0:20:38impact of when the next preschool applications will open?He is
0:20:38 > 0:20:40absolutely right and the Government's clear ambition and
0:20:40 > 0:20:47purpose is to ensure that our school system works for every child in
0:20:47 > 0:20:53every community in this country. Our reforms have already raised school
0:20:53 > 0:20:56standards. We are seeing now nearly 2 million more children attending
0:20:56 > 0:21:00good and outstanding schools and the attainment gap between disadvantaged
0:21:00 > 0:21:06pupils on their peers has shrunk by 10% at GCSE and 10.5% at key stage
0:21:06 > 0:21:12two since 2011. I know education ministers will be happy to talk to
0:21:12 > 0:21:14my honourable friend about their plans further to improve standards
0:21:14 > 0:21:23in schools.Mr Speaker, last Sunday in my constituency, 17-year-old was
0:21:23 > 0:21:30stabbed with life changing results. The knife crime across our country
0:21:30 > 0:21:36is not being driven by my nose and young people but driven by
0:21:36 > 0:21:41gangsters, organised criminals and dirty money. -- driven by miners.
0:21:41 > 0:21:49Cocaine alone is driven £12 million in this country, so I asked the
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Minister, why are we cutting our Border Force, why are we cutting our
0:21:53 > 0:21:58police and why has London been offered only in their violence
0:21:58 > 0:22:03reduction strategy a community fund of more 5p. You could not buy a
0:22:03 > 0:22:11house for not .5 million in London. --Can I first say that I, like
0:22:11 > 0:22:16every other member of this House, would have nothing but the most
0:22:16 > 0:22:23heartfelt sympathy for the victim himself and for his family and
0:22:23 > 0:22:27friends at the most appalling experience that they have endured
0:22:27 > 0:22:31and are still living through. The honourable gentleman is right to say
0:22:31 > 0:22:37that there are complex causes to what we are seeing in terms of knife
0:22:37 > 0:22:42crime. There is no doubt, I agree with him, that organised crime is
0:22:42 > 0:22:50contributing to this, and organised crime is exploiting young people who
0:22:50 > 0:22:55they try to groom to attract into criminal gangs and the Government is
0:22:55 > 0:23:00to publish later this year a violent crime strategy that will be not just
0:23:00 > 0:23:06to look at the criminal justice system but how we work effectively
0:23:06 > 0:23:12with all other agencies to ensure that young people are diverted away
0:23:12 > 0:23:14from that sort of activity in the first place. But it is also true
0:23:14 > 0:23:21that we have... If you carry a knife, you can expect to end up in
0:23:21 > 0:23:23jail. We have toughened and sentences and we have protected,
0:23:23 > 0:23:29despite what he said, police budgets. A quarter of all police are
0:23:29 > 0:23:37in London.Demand full school places in the London Borough of Bromley are
0:23:37 > 0:23:42forecast to grow by some 20 present over coming years but repeatedly
0:23:42 > 0:23:45proposals for much-needed schools have been delayed in no small
0:23:45 > 0:23:50measure because of concerns at the way the educational schools funding
0:23:50 > 0:23:55agency has handled the planning application process. On behalf of
0:23:55 > 0:23:57the Prime Minister, will my right honourable friend agreed to meet me
0:23:57 > 0:24:02to discuss the very real concerns that local parents have out of the
0:24:02 > 0:24:06competency of the agency?Can I say either I or my right horrible friend
0:24:06 > 0:24:12the Education Secretary will be happy to talk to him. The purpose of
0:24:12 > 0:24:14the education and Skills Funding Agency formed at the start of this
0:24:14 > 0:24:18financial year was to provide a more joined up approach to funding,
0:24:18 > 0:24:23covering schools, colleges and other providers. I do note that Bromley
0:24:23 > 0:24:28has increased both primary and secondary school capacity by more
0:24:28 > 0:24:34than 6300 places since 2010 and the ESF a is delivering nine schools in
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Bromley but there is more work to be done and ministers will gladly talk
0:24:37 > 0:24:42to my honourable friend about that. Recent research shows that
0:24:42 > 0:24:46international students are worth a staggering £20 billion to the UK
0:24:46 > 0:24:49economy. That research was commissioned by Nick Hillman, who
0:24:49 > 0:24:54was the Conservative Party candidate in green ridge in 2010 and a former
0:24:54 > 0:24:56adviser to Lord Willets, yet the policies of the Prime Minister have
0:24:56 > 0:24:59stopped that steady increase of a number of international students
0:24:59 > 0:25:04commit our country. Does he agree with me this is a touch careless of
0:25:04 > 0:25:07the Prime Minister to have squandered the billions of pounds
0:25:07 > 0:25:12that could have been available to our schools and hospitals?Mr
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Speaker, what the facts actually say is that we are the second most
0:25:15 > 0:25:21popular destination in the world for students, and university sponsored
0:25:21 > 0:25:26these applications are up by nearly one fifth since 2010 so I would
0:25:26 > 0:25:31argue that contrary to what he alleges, we are doing a good job in
0:25:31 > 0:25:36attracting international students. South Dorset is the most beautiful
0:25:36 > 0:25:45constituency in the whole of the United Kingdom.No, it is not!So
0:25:45 > 0:25:48improving the infrastructure is difficult, to create jobs and
0:25:48 > 0:25:52prosperity. What we can do is improve our rail links on the
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Salisbury line and Yeovil Junction to get faster trains to Weymouth.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01Will my right honourable friend reassure my constituents and me that
0:26:01 > 0:26:05the Government is behind this scheme to do exactly what the Government
0:26:05 > 0:26:10wants, to create more wealth and prosperity in South Dorset?Mr
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Speaker, as my honourable friend will know, the Chancellor last year
0:26:13 > 0:26:21set aside a very considerable sum of money, more than £20 billion, to
0:26:21 > 0:26:25finance infrastructure improvements, rail, road and broadband, in order
0:26:25 > 0:26:29to generate growth around the country and to facilitate housing
0:26:29 > 0:26:33development. I know my honourable friend's constituency is one that
0:26:33 > 0:26:37has seen considerable housing development in recent years. I will
0:26:37 > 0:26:41ensure that transport ministers talk to him about the particular concerns
0:26:41 > 0:26:45he has expressed.On the 25th of January 1985, the Conservative
0:26:45 > 0:26:49government promised there would be no nuclear waste dumped in
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Billingham on a mine. Will be confirmed that that promise still
0:26:53 > 0:27:00stands?He will have to forgive me if I say that my memory for
0:27:00 > 0:27:06statements that were given in 1985 is a little bit rusty. It was seven
0:27:06 > 0:27:10years before even I was first elected to this House. I will look
0:27:10 > 0:27:13into the point that he has raised and I will write to him to set up
0:27:13 > 0:27:21the position.To secure our future prosperity and to meet the
0:27:21 > 0:27:25employment challenge posed by artificial intelligence, this
0:27:25 > 0:27:29country has an urgent need to improve its digital skills base.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33Will my right honourable friend therefore congratulate the open
0:27:33 > 0:27:37University in my constituency for securing a leading role in the
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Government's new Institute of coding?Can I first of all join my
0:27:41 > 0:27:44honourable friend in congratulating the open University for securing
0:27:44 > 0:27:48that lead role in the Institute of coding. I think the Institute is
0:27:48 > 0:27:52going to be a very important new initiative to get universities to
0:27:52 > 0:27:57work together closely with businesses to develop specialist
0:27:57 > 0:28:01coding skills, and the Government is investing £84 million to deliver a
0:28:01 > 0:28:04comprehends a programme to improve the teaching of the computer
0:28:04 > 0:28:08curriculum. We look forward to working closely with the University
0:28:08 > 0:28:14and the Institute.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17After ten years of this country, my constituent missed out on the right
0:28:17 > 0:28:23to indefinite leave bite into two days when she went away from the
0:28:23 > 0:28:29country and broke a leg making it unable for her to come back. She has
0:28:29 > 0:28:33to wait ten years to apply again which means that she will be unable
0:28:33 > 0:28:36to adopt a child which might be the only way she could have family in
0:28:36 > 0:28:39this country. Can we have a meeting to discuss this in Justice when she
0:28:39 > 0:28:47returns?I don't know more about the detail about the case went the
0:28:47 > 0:28:54honourable gentleman has just described in the House, but like
0:28:54 > 0:28:57many members, I have immigration casework my constituency so I'm
0:28:57 > 0:29:01familiar with the type of problem that he has described. If you would
0:29:01 > 0:29:04like to write to me after these exchanges, setting out the details,
0:29:04 > 0:29:07I will discuss that with my right honourable friend the Home Secretary
0:29:07 > 0:29:15and the relevant minister will meet him.Last week, I visited RNAs
0:29:15 > 0:29:21called Rose as part of the Armed Forces polymer tree scheme and was
0:29:21 > 0:29:26delighted to see an outreach programme to promote skills to the
0:29:26 > 0:29:31local community in STEM. Does he agree that these initiatives to
0:29:31 > 0:29:34inspire the skills of the Armed Forces and the country will need to
0:29:34 > 0:29:43succeed in the future and their approach at cold the area should be
0:29:43 > 0:29:49defended?He raises an important point, I did know about the
0:29:49 > 0:29:53important role that STEM plays in the life of Cornwall but he has
0:29:53 > 0:30:06highlighted the work of Culdrose in the science and mathematics skills
0:30:06 > 0:30:09that we will need in the growing economy highlighted in the
0:30:09 > 0:30:14government strategy and what he has described as happening at Culdrose
0:30:14 > 0:30:22will go towards that.It is an extraordinary fact that this year,
0:30:22 > 0:30:26last year, every for over a decade, one London Borough, the London
0:30:26 > 0:30:35Borough of Islington, has received more arts Council funding than the
0:30:35 > 0:30:39entirety combined of the Midlands and Northern X coalfield
0:30:39 > 0:30:50communities. Who is going to be brave enough to reverse this is
0:30:50 > 0:30:54equity so that my constituents, especially young constituents, can
0:30:54 > 0:31:01have fair and equitable access to arts funding?Well, I'm not sure
0:31:01 > 0:31:05whether that was meant as an attack directed on the Right Honourable
0:31:05 > 0:31:13member for Islington North or Islington South. But what I can say,
0:31:13 > 0:31:17to the honourable judgment, is this, obviously if there is a particular
0:31:17 > 0:31:23bid that he feels was unfairly treated, he is welcome to take that
0:31:23 > 0:31:27up with the new arts minister who I know will want to examine that case
0:31:27 > 0:31:31carefully. But in general terms, more than half of the arts funding
0:31:31 > 0:31:40in England is awarded to arts activities outside Greater London.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Mr Speaker, holiday homes in Cornwall are a mixed blessing. They
0:31:43 > 0:31:47provide important support our local economy but they also take up
0:31:47 > 0:31:52vitally needed housing stock and push up prices beyond the reach of
0:31:52 > 0:31:56many local people. In addition, many of them avoid paying council tax by
0:31:56 > 0:32:00switching to business use and enjoying the benefits of small
0:32:00 > 0:32:03business rate relief. Does my right on role boyfriend agree with me that
0:32:03 > 0:32:03this
0:32:06 > 0:32:10-- does my right honourable friend agree with me that this situation is
0:32:10 > 0:32:14unsustainable and he will find a way to post this loophole?He raises a
0:32:14 > 0:32:18valid point, it is clearly right that holiday owners should pay the
0:32:18 > 0:32:24correct tax. The individual decisions on council tax and
0:32:24 > 0:32:30business tax rates on the properties rests with the department which is
0:32:30 > 0:32:35independent of ministers, but if a property is available for rent for
0:32:35 > 0:32:39140 days or more year it is subject for business rates, and if he does
0:32:39 > 0:32:44not meet this test, council tax is due. If an individual provides false
0:32:44 > 0:32:48information to seek business rate relief, that person is liable to
0:32:48 > 0:32:54summary conviction or a fine or both.Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister
0:32:54 > 0:32:58wants to bring forward legislation to tackle domestic violence and
0:32:58 > 0:33:02abuse. But her government is currently taxing the same survivors
0:33:02 > 0:33:08for using the child maintenance service. For survivors of domestic
0:33:08 > 0:33:14abuse, using the collect and pay service is not a matter of choice,
0:33:14 > 0:33:16it is a matter of safety. Will he urged the Prime Minister to commit
0:33:16 > 0:33:20to using this bill to scrap the tax for survivor Primakov domestic
0:33:20 > 0:33:29abuse?-- survivors of domestic abuse? There is a government
0:33:29 > 0:33:33consultation imminent and I would urge her to make representations to
0:33:33 > 0:33:42that.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Following last year's terrorist
0:33:42 > 0:33:45attack in Manchester, the government has committed £24 million to the
0:33:45 > 0:33:51city. The effect being felt across the area and in my constituency,
0:33:51 > 0:33:53will the government give an assurance that they will continue to
0:33:53 > 0:33:59support Manchester?We will certainly continue to support
0:33:59 > 0:34:04Manchester, right across government. Through the various agencies and
0:34:04 > 0:34:09spending programmes that government has a available. And I think that
0:34:09 > 0:34:14the Manchester area demonstrated last year its resilience and strong
0:34:14 > 0:34:18sense of community identity and purpose, and I think that will serve
0:34:18 > 0:34:24it well economically and socially in the years ahead.The whole house
0:34:24 > 0:34:29will warmly welcome the fantastic news which has saved thousands of
0:34:29 > 0:34:37news at bombardier in Northern Ireland. And we should pay tribute
0:34:37 > 0:34:45to the management of Bombardier in Northern Ireland and Canada, the
0:34:45 > 0:34:49workforce and unions who worked well together, the honourable members on
0:34:49 > 0:34:53this bench and the government who went in very strongly to support the
0:34:53 > 0:35:01company. Can I I urge the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to get
0:35:01 > 0:35:05behind improving manufacturer
0:35:05 > 0:35:06of the Duchy of Lancaster to get behind improving manufacturing in
0:35:06 > 0:35:10Northern Ireland? , gently urge the government, which I know always
0:35:10 > 0:35:19listens very carefully, to get on with it?Can I first of all thank
0:35:19 > 0:35:22the right honourable gentleman for his word and although it is a few
0:35:22 > 0:35:30years ago since I had the opportunity to visit Bombardier in
0:35:30 > 0:35:35Belfast, Ireland how important that enterprise is for the provision of
0:35:35 > 0:35:41high-quality -- I remember how important it is for the provision of
0:35:41 > 0:35:46high-quality work in the area. The government worked closely with
0:35:46 > 0:35:52leaders and politicians, in Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister rate --
0:35:52 > 0:35:56rate this with President Trump and Justin Trudeau in Canada and we have
0:35:56 > 0:36:02been very active, we are pleased by the outcome. You can rest assured
0:36:02 > 0:36:07the government will remain a strong supporter of business in Northern
0:36:07 > 0:36:10Ireland but I would perhaps add that the sooner we can get back to
0:36:10 > 0:36:15devolved government in Northern Ireland, the easier it will be to
0:36:15 > 0:36:23ensure the practical benefits flowing back to Northern Ireland.A
0:36:23 > 0:36:27vibrant high Street is critical in traditional market towns like
0:36:27 > 0:36:31Knaresborough in my constituency where there has been a market since
0:36:31 > 0:36:341310. In this age of Internet shopping, will my right honourable
0:36:34 > 0:36:37friend confirmed the government support for traditional markets and
0:36:37 > 0:36:43policies that will boost our high streets?Mr Speaker, my honourable
0:36:43 > 0:36:47friend is right to speak up on behalf of his constituents, I know
0:36:47 > 0:36:53he is a tireless campaigner for Harrogate and Knaresborough. And
0:36:53 > 0:36:56markets like the one in Knaresborough are part of the local
0:36:56 > 0:37:01fabric and tradition of towns right across this country. The government
0:37:01 > 0:37:08wants to help those markets and town centres to prosper in what is at the
0:37:08 > 0:37:13same time a rapidly changing retail environment, and I'm sure the right
0:37:13 > 0:37:16honourable friend the community Secretary will write to him with
0:37:16 > 0:37:21further details.Lincoln's walk-in centre will close in a few weeks
0:37:21 > 0:37:25despite the fact that there is inconsistent and inconsistent
0:37:25 > 0:37:30service provision in place to mitigate the closure. Will the
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Minister pass on to the Prime Minister my request to meet meet to
0:37:32 > 0:37:42discuss review of that closure?If she would like to set out a bit more
0:37:42 > 0:37:46detail, than she has had the time to do today, I will ensure that a
0:37:46 > 0:37:53minister sees her about this.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Next Wednesday, we
0:37:53 > 0:37:57will be assessing and voting on the local government finance settlement.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00A group of us from the shire counties are very concerned that
0:38:00 > 0:38:10there is not enough money for rural counties like ours when adult social
0:38:10 > 0:38:16care costs are spiralling out of control, in my own county we have a
0:38:16 > 0:38:20black hole the £10 million. What message should I take back to the
0:38:20 > 0:38:29leader of my counsel?That is thicker, I think one -- Mr Speaker,
0:38:29 > 0:38:33I think one message to send to my honourable friend is the government
0:38:33 > 0:38:38has made an extra £2 billion in funding available to local
0:38:38 > 0:38:42authorities, particularly for social care. And local authorities are
0:38:42 > 0:38:47obviously deciding at this moment whether they use the more flexible
0:38:47 > 0:38:52powers that they have in respect of social care. I know my honourable
0:38:52 > 0:38:58friend met my right noble friend, the community secretary a few days
0:38:58 > 0:39:04ago, and I would encourage him to continue to talk to the community
0:39:04 > 0:39:07secretary and other ministers in that department about the particular
0:39:07 > 0:39:13circumstances in Shropshire.The current edition of the Economist
0:39:13 > 0:39:17magazine carries an article which says that the hostile takeover bid
0:39:17 > 0:39:24for GKN by Melrose, quote, costs down not only on the survival of
0:39:24 > 0:39:28GKN, Britain's third largest and independent aerospace defence firm,
0:39:28 > 0:39:33but the rest of the industry as well. The honourable gentleman knows
0:39:33 > 0:39:35that when national security issues are involved, ministers have the
0:39:35 > 0:39:39power to intervene to protect the public interest. Will they do so in
0:39:39 > 0:39:48this case?As I understand it, the bid for GKN is being examined by the
0:39:48 > 0:39:56relevant independent authorities, clearly this is something that the
0:39:56 > 0:39:59appropriate ministers in defence and business departments will be
0:39:59 > 0:40:02monitoring closely. It would be wrong of me to spec in more detail
0:40:02 > 0:40:08about this case for now.-- speculate in more detail. My
0:40:08 > 0:40:13constituency of Chelmsford is a very popular place to live. And this
0:40:13 > 0:40:16week, we've had very good news that there are more first-time buyers
0:40:16 > 0:40:23getting on the housing ladder than any time in the past decade. Can my
0:40:23 > 0:40:26right honourable friend update us on the progress the government is
0:40:26 > 0:40:33making to help people to buy a house?Mr Speaker, I'm pleased to be
0:40:33 > 0:40:37able to say that the number of first-time buyers is now at the
0:40:37 > 0:40:43highest level for about ten years. And that is a tribute to the various
0:40:43 > 0:40:46initiatives that both the community secretary and the Chancellor of the
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Exchequer have put in place to introduce us time buyers, things
0:40:50 > 0:40:55like the cut in stamp duty -- Raqqa first-time buyers, things like the
0:40:55 > 0:41:02cut in stamp duty which will benefit 95% of first-time buyers. We need to
0:41:02 > 0:41:04improve housing supply and constituencies like hers and mine
0:41:04 > 0:41:08are showing the way to the rest of the country about the need to build
0:41:08 > 0:41:11houses to meet the legitimate demands and expectations of young