:00:00. > :00:00.Hello and welcome to Wednesday in Parliament,
:00:00. > :00:10.The United Kingdom has triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty -
:00:11. > :00:13.starting the process for leaving the European Union.
:00:14. > :00:16.The Prime Minister issues a call for unity.
:00:17. > :00:19.We can together make a success of this moment and we can
:00:20. > :00:23.together build a stronger, fairer, better Britain.
:00:24. > :00:25.A Britain our children and grandchildren are
:00:26. > :00:32.I commend this statement to the House.
:00:33. > :00:35.there were warnings from the Opposition parties.
:00:36. > :00:37.Labour will not give this government a free hand to use
:00:38. > :00:42.Brexit to attack rights, protections and cut services!
:00:43. > :00:45.If she denies Scotland a choice in our future, she will make
:00:46. > :00:58.Also on the programme, the Government's told there
:00:59. > :01:00.should be no more cuts in support for disabled people.
:01:01. > :01:02.And it's one week since the terror attack in Westminster,
:01:03. > :01:09.Our thoughts will be, in particular, with the Metropolitan Police
:01:10. > :01:16.as they mourn their colleague PC Keith Palmer.
:01:17. > :01:19.Nine months ago, in last June's referendum, 52% of voters
:01:20. > :01:23.ticked the box marked "Leave the European Union".
:01:24. > :01:26.It set in train an enormous political upheaval.
:01:27. > :01:30.A Prime Minister resigned and a new one was installed.
:01:31. > :01:31.The Government fought and lost two court battles
:01:32. > :01:38.Legislation authorising the Prime Minister to trigger
:01:39. > :01:41.Article 50 had a rough ride, but made it on to the Statute Book.
:01:42. > :01:43.Dozens of parliamentary inquiries have been launched.
:01:44. > :01:47.And there have been hours of debate, inside and outside Parliament.
:01:48. > :01:50.And now, a milestone has been reached.
:01:51. > :01:54.At around 12.30pm, the UK's ambassador to the EU,
:01:55. > :01:57.Sir Tim Barrow, delivered a six-page letter to Donald Tusk,
:01:58. > :02:03.the President of the European Council.
:02:04. > :02:05.Shortly after the letter was handed over, Theresa May
:02:06. > :02:09.A few minutes ago in Brussels, the United Kingdom's permanent
:02:10. > :02:13.representative to the EU handed a letter to the President
:02:14. > :02:18.of the European Council on my behalf confirming the Government's decision
:02:19. > :02:22.to invoke Article 50 of the treaty on European Union.
:02:23. > :02:24.The Article 50 process is now underway and,
:02:25. > :02:27.in accordance with the wishes of the British people,
:02:28. > :02:33.the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union.
:02:34. > :02:39.from which there can be no turning back.
:02:40. > :02:42.Britain is leaving the European Union.
:02:43. > :02:45.We are going to make our own decisions and our own laws.
:02:46. > :02:48.We are going to take control of the things
:02:49. > :02:53.And we are going to take the opportunity to build
:02:54. > :02:55.a stronger, fairer Britain - a country that our children
:02:56. > :02:59.and grandchildren are proud to call home.
:03:00. > :03:03.Loud cheers in the Commons, largely on the Conservative benches.
:03:04. > :03:06.But outside, there was a protest against Brexit.
:03:07. > :03:10.Pro-EU demonstrators waved placards saying,
:03:11. > :03:15.Meanwhile, in the Commons, Theresa May said she wanted a deep
:03:16. > :03:17.and special partnership between Britain and the EU.
:03:18. > :03:20.And, unwittingly, she cheered the Liberal Democrats up.
:03:21. > :03:30.the world needs the liberal, democratic values of Europe.
:03:31. > :03:40.Values... CHATTER AND LAUGHTER
:03:41. > :03:51.Perhaps... LAUGHTER CONTINUES
:03:52. > :03:56.Perhaps, now more than ever, the world needs the Liberal
:03:57. > :03:58.Perhaps, now more than ever, the world needs the liberal
:03:59. > :04:03.values that the United Kingdom shares.
:04:04. > :04:05.Mr Speaker, we understand that there will be consequences
:04:06. > :04:14.We know that we will lose influence...
:04:15. > :04:18.We know that we will lose influence over the rules that affect
:04:19. > :04:22.We know that UK companies that trade with the EU will have to align
:04:23. > :04:25.with rules agreed by institutions of which we are now longer a part,
:04:26. > :04:28.with rules agreed by institutions of which we are no longer a part,
:04:29. > :04:31.just as we do in other overseas markets, and we accept that.
:04:32. > :04:33.However, we approach these talks constructively,
:04:34. > :04:37.respectfully and in a spirit of sincere cooperation.
:04:38. > :04:39.For it is in the interests of both the United Kingdom
:04:40. > :04:42.and the European Union that we should use this process
:04:43. > :04:46.to deliver our objectives in a fair and orderly manner.
:04:47. > :04:48.And she promised to unite the country and act
:04:49. > :04:53.I know that this is a day of celebration for some
:04:54. > :04:58.The referendum last June was divisive at times.
:04:59. > :05:02.Not everyone shared the same point of view or voted the same way.
:05:03. > :05:05.The arguments on both sides were passionate.
:05:06. > :05:10.Let us come together and work together.
:05:11. > :05:16.Let us together choose to believe in Britain with optimism and hope.
:05:17. > :05:21.For if we do, we can make the most of the opportunities ahead.
:05:22. > :05:24.We can together make a success of this moment and we can
:05:25. > :05:27.together build a stronger, fairer, better Britain.
:05:28. > :05:28.A Britain our children and grandchildren are
:05:29. > :05:34.I commend this statement to the House.
:05:35. > :05:44.Mr Speaker, the direction the Prime Minister is threatening
:05:45. > :05:49.to take this country in is both reckless and damaging.
:05:50. > :05:52.And Labour will not give this government a free hand to use
:05:53. > :05:57.Brexit to attack rights, protections and cut services!
:05:58. > :06:07.So let me be clear, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister says...
:06:08. > :06:12.The Prime Minister says that no deal is better than a bad deal.
:06:13. > :06:19.But the reality is no deal IS a bad deal!
:06:20. > :06:22.We all have an interest in ensuring the Prime Minister gets the best
:06:23. > :06:30.we do need full access to the single market.
:06:31. > :06:34.The Secretary of State for Exiting the EU seems to agree on this.
:06:35. > :06:37.He stated, in this House on the 24th of January,
:06:38. > :06:42.the government plan is, and I quote, "a comprehensive free
:06:43. > :06:45.trade agreement and a comprehensive customs agreement that will deliver
:06:46. > :06:58.So will the Prime Minister confirm today that she intends to deliver
:06:59. > :07:04.a trade and customs agreement with the exact same benefits?
:07:05. > :07:06.The SNP leader said the Prime Minister had promised not
:07:07. > :07:10.to trigger Article 50 until she had reached an agreement with Scotland.
:07:11. > :07:18.We on these benches have become accustomed to the views of members
:07:19. > :07:21.on the other side of the House OF being incapable of understanding
:07:22. > :07:26.that the people of Scotland voted to remain in the European Union.
:07:27. > :07:31.The Prime Minister promised...promised...
:07:32. > :07:32.Do honourable gentlemen and ladies opposite understand that
:07:33. > :07:37.That viewers in Scotland can see the discourtesy
:07:38. > :07:45.They don't like to hear it, but listen they must!
:07:46. > :07:47.The Prime Minister promised an agreement.
:07:48. > :08:01.Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister says that she thinks that
:08:02. > :08:03.Brexit will bring unity to the United Kingdom.
:08:04. > :08:07.On this issue, it is not a United Kingdom and the
:08:08. > :08:09.Prime Minister needs to respect, respect the differences across
:08:10. > :08:15.If she does not, if she remains intransigent, and if she denies
:08:16. > :08:20.she will make Scottish independence inevitable.
:08:21. > :08:29.The Commons Speaker allowed the question and answer session
:08:30. > :08:35.It was a momentous day for Sir Bill Cash, who has been
:08:36. > :08:38.campaigning for the UK to withdraw from the European Union
:08:39. > :08:45.Today, Mr Speaker, is a historic day indeed.
:08:46. > :08:48.Can my right honourable friend reaffirm that,
:08:49. > :08:52.at the very heart of this letter, lies the democratic decision
:08:53. > :08:57.in the referendum of UK voters, given to them by a sovereign act
:08:58. > :09:01.of Parliament, by 6-1 in this House, enabling the British people
:09:02. > :09:03.to regain their birthright to govern themselves, for which people fought
:09:04. > :09:11.The Liberal Democrat leader was not in a celebratory mood.
:09:12. > :09:16.Today, the Prime Minister is not enacting the will of the people.
:09:17. > :09:19.She is at best interpreting that will, choosing a hard Brexit outside
:09:20. > :09:24.the single market that was never on the ballot paper,
:09:25. > :09:26.so this day, of all days, the Liberal Democrats will not
:09:27. > :09:29.roll over, as the official opposition has done!
:09:30. > :09:35.Our children and our grandchildren will judge all of us
:09:36. > :09:50.I am determined that I will look my children in the eye
:09:51. > :09:53.and be able to say that I did everything to prevent this
:09:54. > :10:01.calamity that the Prime Minister has today chosen.
:10:02. > :10:09.The Prime Minister is right that this should be for all the people,
:10:10. > :10:13.the unity should be earned and not just asserted. We are a long way
:10:14. > :10:16.away from it. I hope she will agree with that.
:10:17. > :10:19.Could the Prime Minister give an assurance that she has not
:10:20. > :10:21.turned her back on membership of the single market?
:10:22. > :10:31.It would see off Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP's I'll register months
:10:32. > :10:34.And... SHOUTING
:10:35. > :10:41.And these are serious matters that this United Kingdom faces.
:10:42. > :10:44.And we'll be hearing what the House of Lords had to say about triggering
:10:45. > :10:47.You're watching Wednesday in Parliament,
:10:48. > :10:57.It's been one week since the terror attack in Westminster.
:10:58. > :10:59.Khalid Masood drove at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge last
:11:00. > :11:05.Wednesday, killing three people and injuring dozens.
:11:06. > :11:08.He went on to kill PC Keith Palmer in a knife attack
:11:09. > :11:13.The Palace of Westminster and the surrounding area went
:11:14. > :11:17.A commemoration has been held on Westminster Bridge.
:11:18. > :11:19.Hundreds of people gathered on the bridge,
:11:20. > :11:24.At the start of the day in the Commons, the Speaker John Bercow
:11:25. > :11:27.harked back to the events of last week.
:11:28. > :11:31.2.40pm today marks a week on from the shocking
:11:32. > :11:36.events of last week, and our thoughts will be,
:11:37. > :11:40.in particular, with the Metropolitan Police as they mourn
:11:41. > :11:50.The attack raised questions about security around Westminster.
:11:51. > :11:53.As would be normal after such events, we are seeking to make sure
:11:54. > :11:59.that any lessons are learned through two reviews.
:12:00. > :12:01.The Lord Speaker and I are commissioning an external
:12:02. > :12:05.independent review of how the perimeter of the parliamentary
:12:06. > :12:09.estate, including outbuildings, is secured and protected to produce
:12:10. > :12:16.a preliminary report by the end of April.
:12:17. > :12:18.The two clerks are commissioning an externally-led Lessons Learned
:12:19. > :12:20.review of the operation last week of Parliament s incident
:12:21. > :12:30.management framework to report by the end of June.
:12:31. > :12:31.At the start of Prime Minister's Questions,
:12:32. > :12:35.Theresa May also recalled the terror attack.
:12:36. > :12:37.Since my statement on Thursday, the names of those who have
:12:38. > :12:41.They were Aysha Frade, Kurt Cochran, Leslie Rhodes and,
:12:42. > :12:50.I am sure members across the House will join me in offering
:12:51. > :12:54.our deepest condolences to their friends and families.
:12:55. > :12:56.The police and security services' investigation continues and two
:12:57. > :13:02.people have now been arrested and remain in custody.
:13:03. > :13:05.I want to begin by paying tribute to the emergency services,
:13:06. > :13:08.as the Prime Minister did, across the country, especially
:13:09. > :13:10.all those that responded to the Westminster attack last
:13:11. > :13:13.Wednesday and to those tha turned out to help the victims
:13:14. > :13:17.of the New Ferry explosion last Saturday.
:13:18. > :13:21.Our thoughts remain with the injured and those who have lost loved ones,
:13:22. > :13:27.and we especially thank the police for their ongoing investigations.
:13:28. > :13:29.Jeremy Corbyn challenged Theresa May over funding
:13:30. > :13:33.A cross-party group of MPs has accused the Government of overseeing
:13:34. > :13:35.the biggest funding shortage for schools in England
:13:36. > :13:40.The Public Accounts Committee criticised Government "delusions"
:13:41. > :13:45.over the situation which it said threatened to damage standards.
:13:46. > :13:50.Between 2015 and 2018 there will be a real-terms cut of ?330 million
:13:51. > :13:55.in central Government funding for police forces.
:13:56. > :13:58.Can the Prime Minister assure the House that police forces
:13:59. > :14:00.all over the country have the necessary resources
:14:01. > :14:08.The former shadow Home Secretary, his colleague the right hon.
:14:09. > :14:09.Member for Leigh, said during the 2015
:14:10. > :14:12.Labour party conference that
:14:13. > :14:16.The Police say 5 per cent to 10 per cent over the Parliament
:14:17. > :14:19.is just about do-able. We did not accept that.
:14:20. > :14:21.We have actually protected the police budget.
:14:22. > :14:24.I have been speaking to police forces, as has my right hon.
:14:25. > :14:26.Friend the Home Secretary, and they are very clear
:14:27. > :14:33.about the fact that they have the resources that they need.
:14:34. > :14:41.The Police Federation survey recently undertaken reveals that 55%
:14:42. > :14:46.of serving police officers say they are morale is low due to the way in
:14:47. > :14:50.which the funding has been treated. Front line policing is vital in
:14:51. > :14:56.tackling crime and terrorism. Since 2010 however there are 20,000 fewer
:14:57. > :15:03.police officers, 12,000 less on the front line so I have the Prime
:15:04. > :15:07.Minister again will she think again about the cuts to policing and
:15:08. > :15:12.guarantee policing on the front line will be protected so every community
:15:13. > :15:17.can be assured it has the police officers in the community? Let's
:15:18. > :15:23.think about what has happened since 2010. Since 2010 we have seen crimes
:15:24. > :15:28.that are traditionally measured by the independent crime survey falling
:15:29. > :15:33.by one third to a record low. That is the work of hard-working police
:15:34. > :15:38.officers up and down the country. They have been backed by this
:15:39. > :15:42.government. We have made them more accountable through the Police and
:15:43. > :15:44.Crime Commissioners, there has been reform of policing including a
:15:45. > :15:48.reform of the Police Federation which was very necessary, but we
:15:49. > :15:53.have ensured the police have TV sources to do the job and we see
:15:54. > :15:58.crime at a record low. Last week she told me four times we have protected
:15:59. > :16:06.the schools budget. Though she still stand by that statement? We have
:16:07. > :16:13.protected schools budgets and we are putting record funding into schools.
:16:14. > :16:18.Today Mr Speaker the Public Accounts Committee says of the Department for
:16:19. > :16:23.Education that it does not seem to understand the pressures that
:16:24. > :16:27.schools are already under and they went on to say that funding per
:16:28. > :16:33.pupil is reducing in real terms and goes on to say schools budgets will
:16:34. > :16:44.be cut by 3 billion, the equivalent of 8%, by 2020. Is the Public
:16:45. > :16:49.Accounts Committee wrong on this? What we see over the course of this
:16:50. > :16:55.parliament is ?230 billion going into our schools. But what matters
:16:56. > :16:59.is the quality of education we see. 1.8 million more children in good or
:17:00. > :17:02.outstanding schools and a policy from this government to ensure that
:17:03. > :17:07.every child gets a good school place. If the Prime Minister is
:17:08. > :17:14.right then the parents and teachers are wrong, the ISS is wrong, the
:17:15. > :17:17.National Audit Office is wrong, the educational policy Institute is
:17:18. > :17:22.wrong and now the Public Accounts Committee which includes eight
:17:23. > :17:26.Conservative members is also wrong. So which organisation does back the
:17:27. > :17:32.Prime Minister's few on education spending in our schools? We said we
:17:33. > :17:37.would protect school funding and we have, real terms protection for the
:17:38. > :17:45.budget and we have sent money to schools. Wait like she accused
:17:46. > :17:52.Jeremy Corbyn of demanding more spending. Earlier PMQ 's goes by
:17:53. > :17:57.when he does not call for more public spending. When it comes to
:17:58. > :18:02.spending money they haven't got the labour simply can't help themselves.
:18:03. > :18:06.Same old Labour, spent today and give someone else the bill tomorrow.
:18:07. > :18:07.We would do that to the next generation.
:18:08. > :18:10.The government's been told there should be no more cuts
:18:11. > :18:14.The call came as MPs held an emergency debate on changes
:18:15. > :18:22.to a disability benefit - the Personal Independence Payment.
:18:23. > :18:24.Ministers are seeking to overturn two tribunal rulings
:18:25. > :18:27.which would increase the number of people entitled to higher
:18:28. > :18:30.The Government insists the change is not a cut BUT restores
:18:31. > :18:32.the original intention of the policy.
:18:33. > :18:34.The shadow work and pensions secretary disagreed.
:18:35. > :18:36.The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work claims
:18:37. > :18:38.that the changes restore PIP to its original policy intentions,
:18:39. > :18:42.The fact is that over a quarter of those on PIP receive
:18:43. > :18:46.the highest level of support, which is much more than
:18:47. > :18:49.the 15% of DLA working-age claimants who did so.
:18:50. > :18:51.Are the regulations not doing exactly what was originally
:18:52. > :18:57.intended: targeting resources at those who need them most?
:18:58. > :19:00.I am sorry, but I do not see the honourable Gentleman s logic.
:19:01. > :19:07.These new regulations are nothing more than a shameful cut.
:19:08. > :19:09.Once again, this Government are trying to balance
:19:10. > :19:11.the books on the backs of the sick and disabled.
:19:12. > :19:13.The Government s own analysis estimates that the new regulations
:19:14. > :19:16.will affect more than 160,000 people by 2023, the majority of whom will
:19:17. > :19:22.Many of these will be newer applicants, but the regulations
:19:23. > :19:27.will also affect those who are being reassessed,
:19:28. > :19:30.who will not be eligible for the full support
:19:31. > :19:32.to which they would have been entitled under the rulings
:19:33. > :19:35.of tribunals, an effective cut of ?3.7 billion.
:19:36. > :19:37.Having spent 14 very happy months as the Minister
:19:38. > :19:42.responsible for these matters, I want to pass on some
:19:43. > :19:44.of the observations that I made during that time.
:19:45. > :19:46.Let me make it absolutely clear that stakeholders and charities recognise
:19:47. > :19:50.that PIP is a better benefit than DLA.
:19:51. > :19:54.It is not perfect`much more work is still to be done to deliver
:19:55. > :20:01.further improvements`but the statistics show
:20:02. > :20:04.Under DLA, only 16.5% of all claimants access the highest
:20:05. > :20:10.rate of benefit, under PIP, the figure is over 25%.
:20:11. > :20:13.The courts have given us a loud and clear message that we have got
:20:14. > :20:17.In this age where we are desperately trying to change society s views
:20:18. > :20:20.of mental health and parity of esteem, we have to listen
:20:21. > :20:29.to the courts`they have given us a judgment for a reason.
:20:30. > :20:34.Personal and and payments are supposed to support people with
:20:35. > :20:38.additional costs for the disability, we have heard that the court ruling
:20:39. > :20:41.these changes seem to undermine. If ruled that people live in the the
:20:42. > :20:45.house because of anxiety panic attacks or other mental health
:20:46. > :20:53.problems should be able to receive a higher rate of Pip. This bears
:20:54. > :20:58.repeating. I thank you. Does this not run the risk of actually
:20:59. > :21:02.increasing stigma again on mental health visitor to people clearly
:21:03. > :21:07.that anxiety causes you to stay inside and is not something that a
:21:08. > :21:14.serious and doesn't it conflict with the principle of equal treatment
:21:15. > :21:17.between mental and physical health? I thank the honourable gentleman for
:21:18. > :21:25.his intervention and completely agree. As I said and have said
:21:26. > :21:28.before, this government cannot simply change the goalposts of
:21:29. > :21:32.retirement was a battle. These regulations do nothing more than
:21:33. > :21:38.pander to old attitudes and stigmas towards mental illness. As a person
:21:39. > :21:41.needs help finding need help regardless of their age or
:21:42. > :21:47.disability or health condition. It is important to be clear what these
:21:48. > :21:51.regulations are not, they are not a policy change are intended to make
:21:52. > :21:55.new savings. And they will not result in any claimant saying a
:21:56. > :22:01.reduction in the amount of Pip previously awarded by DWP. There is
:22:02. > :22:03.no change to the budget and no change to guidance.
:22:04. > :22:06.We finish where we started - with the news that the UK Government
:22:07. > :22:08.has triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
:22:09. > :22:10.Theresa May's statement was repeated in the House of Lords.
:22:11. > :22:13.First to respond was the Labour leader in the Lords, Lady Smith.
:22:14. > :22:20.Labour has set the Government six tests for the Brexit deal.
:22:21. > :22:27.Just like any other divorce there will be some who rejoice in new
:22:28. > :22:30.opportunities and those will despair of our shared past and was love. If
:22:31. > :22:35.you find the look of the marriage divorces and remarriage of the -- of
:22:36. > :22:39.Richard Burton and ultimately with Taylor is hope but through it all my
:22:40. > :22:42.Lords the only people to get rich where those trying to unravel those
:22:43. > :22:44.40 plus years of relative harmony. Lawyers.
:22:45. > :22:46.Labour has set the Government six tests for the Brexit deal.
:22:47. > :22:48.Lady Smith added a seventh - honesty.
:22:49. > :22:50.This process must not be so ideologically driven
:22:51. > :22:53.that the Government accept anything and claim it is a good deal.
:22:54. > :22:58.If the Prime Minister is disappointed or dissatisfied
:22:59. > :23:02.with the negotiations or the outcome of agreements, she must
:23:03. > :23:11.in the national interest be prepared to say so.
:23:12. > :23:14.But sadness is a passive emotion, and it is not the only
:23:15. > :23:21.We feel a sense of anger that the Government are pursuing
:23:22. > :23:24.a brutal Brexit, which will rip us out of the single market and many
:23:25. > :23:27.other European networks from which we benefit so much.
:23:28. > :23:32.The Minister reassured peers that Parliament would be fully invovled.
:23:33. > :23:36.We have said there will be a Motion on the final agreement to be
:23:37. > :23:38.approved by both Houses of Parliament before
:23:39. > :23:51.We expect and intend that this will happen before
:23:52. > :23:53.the European Parliament debates and votes on the final agreement.
:23:54. > :23:56.We intend that Parliament s vote will cover not only the withdrawal
:23:57. > :23:58.arrangements but the future relationship with the EU.
:23:59. > :24:01.And we will give the last word to Lord Kerr, a former diplomat
:24:02. > :24:05.The country will judge the outcome of the negotiations by the words
:24:06. > :24:08.of those on the Government Front Bench.
:24:09. > :24:14.Before the referendum, Mr Davis told us that there would be
:24:15. > :24:18.no diminution of trade with the EU if we left the European Union.
:24:19. > :24:21.This year, he has told us that the exact same benefits will be
:24:22. > :24:23.secured as if we had remained in the single market
:24:24. > :24:30.Before the referendum, Mr Johnson told us that there would be no
:24:31. > :24:39.This year, Mr Brokenshire has told us that there will be
:24:40. > :24:43.a frictionless border, even though that will be the border
:24:44. > :24:46.of the EU s customs union and it will be for the EU to decide
:24:47. > :24:59.Does the noble Baroness understand that, as this negotiation proceeds,
:25:00. > :25:01.the country will not forget what it was told, and Ministers
:25:02. > :25:11.The author of Article 50 - Lord Kerr - speaking on the day
:25:12. > :25:14.Well that's it from Wednesday in Parliament.
:25:15. > :25:19.I'll be back at the same time tomorrow but for now, from me -