15/09/2016 BBC Parliament on BBC Two

Urgent question, Rebecca Long Bailey.

I asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make

a statement on the abilities and activities in relation to tax

credit investigations made on behalf of HMRC into Concentrix.

The government recognises the importance of tax credits

We all recognise that it is important that this support reaches

That is why HMRC work hard to check that they are making the correct

payments and to tackle any fraudulent claims.

We must acknowledge that fraud exists in the system and should

be investigated to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent directly.

As part of this, Concentrix Ltd was engaged to help

As a result, ?300 million worth of incorrect payments

I do want to reassure the House on two key points.

Firstly, Concentrix were only paid for making the right decisions.

They would not receive payment for taking someone's

And secondly, that Concentrix were not allowed to engage

in fishing expeditions or pick on vulnerable claimants at random.

But where there was evidence to suggest a claim might not be

correct, Concentrix wrote to claimants

to see information to confirm their eligibility.

I realise, and I know this as a constituency member myself,

that it can be stressful for someone to receive such a letter,

but it is right that we investigate the full picture with claimants

themselves to make the right payments.

That is why both Concentrix and HMRC, where it does the same

work, always sends a letter giving claimants 30 days to provide

information before taking any further action and it is important

that people do indeed respond and get in touch

if they are struggling to respond to any other questions.

Despite the best efforts of the staff manning the phones,

with a high volume of calls in recent weeks, Concentrix have not

been providing the high levels of customer service that the public

expect, and which are required in their contract.

HMRC has given notice that this contract will not be renewed

HMRC is also no longer passing new cases to Concentrix but working

with them, as a matter of urgency, to improve the service they provide

to claimants and to resolve outstanding cases.

I can confirm to the House that 150 HMRC staff have been redeployed

with immediate effect to help them resolve any issues people

are having with their claims, as quickly as possible,

and Mr Speaker, I realise that colleagues on all sides of the House

are concerned to get difficult cases resolved and assist vulnerable

In addition to the additional resources I have already referred

to, I have arranged a members' drop in in at 1 Parliament Street

between 9:30am and 11am tomorrow at which we can

offer guidance to colleagues, should that be helpful.

Many members across the House have been contacted by distressed

and anxious constituents, often hard-working individuals

who have had their tax credits cut unfairly,

pushing them, in many cases, into extreme hardship.

Whilst we on this side certainly welcome that HMRC is finally taking

action in announcing that the Concentrix contract

will not be renewed, it's most regrettable

that the government has only done this when events have been

dramatically exposed by the media, and indeed My Honourable Friends,

the member for Sheffield Healy and Birkenhead.

Whilst Concentrix will be carrying out the services for another

eight months, there's a risk that without radical amendment

to the contract itself, service failures will continue.

Most concerning is that the payment model creates a conflict of interest

as noted by the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Can the Minister confirm what arrangement she will make

to urgently revise the contract to preserve justice

Furthermore, as she stated, I understand HMRC will redeploy 150

staff so that claimants can get through to advisers

Can the Minister confirm how the government will monitor

this going forward, and will the government commit

to an official investigation into Concentrix's conduct

since being awarded a contract in 2014, so that we can determine

how this situation was allowed to arise?

And one final point, Mr Speaker.

Has the minister given any consideration to the real prospect

of bringing this service back in-house?

Mr Speaker, it is worth making the comment I think,

that this is a very complicated system

that this government, the previous government,

indeed inherited, and it is the case that long-term, the right answer

is to replace tax credits, as is our intention,

because it is an unnecessarily complex system that

But we must make it work whilst it is in operation and that is now

With regard to the contract and the decision that HMRC have

taken, I want to reassure the House that

monitoring has been taking place on a regular basis throughout

the contract, and HMRC have worked closely with Concentrix,

but it is the case that as is documented in recent weeks

that performance has not been right, and clearly, that has been something

that we have noted and which we are now taking action on.

With regard to the contract going forward, as I think

I mentioned in my statement, Concentrix will be focusing

on resolving outstanding claims, not opening new ones.

In other words, the ones that they are already open,

we'll be looking to deal with in an orderly and appropriate

manner, and HMRC is putting in additional resources,

focusing on those difficult cases where we have heard some

high-profile examples in recent days, and to make sure that we get

those resolved in the quickest possible time, to ensure that

vulnerable constituents of all of ours are helped and supported.

I don't think there is any need to go into inquiries etc.

It is monitored on a regular basis, it is not going to be renewed

when it ends in May next year, and the focus, I think,

for all of us, and for me and for HMRC in the coming days

and weeks, is in making sure that we get the outstanding

cases and resolve them, particularly those involving

the most vulnerable, and we make sure that people

have the money to which they are correctly entitled.

Cases women who have had their benefits withdrawn because the of

men they are living with. What we need to know is how quickly these

cases can be reviewed. I understand the point my right honourable friend

makes. The courage people to call the HMRC it number they have

received. We are putting people with immediate effect on to that hotline

to ensure that we can resolve that. I had been talking consistently on

this fact, that as soon as we can resolve the facts of the case, we

will get money into people 's accounts in a matter of days.

Whilst we on this side certainly welcome that HMRC is finally taking

action in announcing that the Concentrix contract

will not be renewed, it's most regrettable

that the government has only done this when events have been

How much of the savings were as a result of incorrectly cutting

payments? How much does the government intend to claw back to

directly compensate those who have been affected? The minister tells us

and I am pleased, that civil servants have now been drafted in to

clear up the mess. How much will that cost the taxpayer and will the

government be seeking additional payment from Concentrix to fund that

action? Mr Speaker, one or two of the points that the member raises

there, I am not able to respond to. It is important that we are able to

resolve the outstanding cases. We are not renewing the contract but we

do intend to go down on fraud. It is important. There is a lot of fraud

in the system. It has been a success, to be able to reduce that.

We need to continue to bear down on that because money that is

fraudulently obtained is not available to taxpayers. It remains a

vital matter that we do address that. For the moment, my primary

consideration is addressing the matter to ensure that we take care

of our most vulnerable constituents. Mr Speaker, I am a big fan of

helping those people who are trying very hard to get on with life. Are

those people still going to be dealt with by Concentrix? Are they going

to have the fear of being prosecuted as they go forwards as the what

assurance can the Minister give that those people are going to be looked

after? I have laid out the arrangements that are going to be

taking place. We will be looking at cases where Concentrix has already

focused on, open cases. Concentrix have assisted the government and

indeed the taxpayer in identifying those. I think it is important to

keep this in perspective. HMRC has made it clear its intention to not

continue its contract. Can I thank the Minister and the HMRC for

reacting so quickly to the issues? What estimation has been made of the

current backlog that needs to be dealt with by Concentrix and the

HMRC? How should those people who are currently being dealt with

contact Concentrix? Should they contact the HMRC directly? Why were

these appalling errors not acted on before they were revealed in

Parliamentary questions? Will they be bringing the country back

in-house in May next year? Will they commit to a review of all payments

by result contracts that are completely inappropriate in our

system? I am aware that the honourable lady has obviously been

very active in this and has asked a number of questions. I think with

regard to performance it is important to note, and performance

does support this, that actually it is in the recent weeks in particular

that performance has been not acceptable. It is not a case that

this has been something that has been an acute problem for a

considerable length of time. It is the case that performance has not

been acceptable in recent weeks so I just want to make that point. With

regard to who people should contact, the number is on the letters that

they have received. I am aware of the problems of getting through to

the phones in recent weeks. Indeed, I have had some myself. We are

putting forth additional resources to allow Concentrix to focus on

entering the phones, while additional staff deal with back

cases and some of the complexities so that people can fake as a focus

on the additional issue. Some are coming in. We think there are around

2500 in the system left to deal with, because it is that time of

year. Can my honourable friend clarify who

from HMRC or wherever is going to deal with claims of errors, fraud

and others problems. We has had a strong signal that it is not

acceptable but we want to see genuine claimants compensated. I can

reassure my honourable friend that both can is an HR NCR has three

matters of fraud. Obviously HMRC will continue to pursue cases of

fraud but indeed the government has put in additional resources into

supporting the general tax avoidance and of evasion complains --

compliance aspects. Mapping the Minister for statement and attention

to the difference to the previous government response. I don't believe

we would have this statement if not for the leadership election. I think

of that and likewise I hope she would pass on our thanks for the

immediate action she took on the action she took on the report I

submitted. She was asked investigate the unlawful use of self-employment.

The two questions I would like to ask, the worries about this contract

is that they appear for some people to be cutting benefits and asking

questions. And there is no mechanism

by which MPs have got a hotline to try and sort

out those issues out. Well very much work King --

working to bring the work in House, might she acknowledge that

this is a contract in place where a private company is able to make

a decision on benefit money for It could be deemed as quite cheeky

tasks many questions. Mr Speaker, I thank

the right macro -- to honourable member around fact

that it is priority to resolve I do think it is again be it

a rating that through this contract we have secured

to ?280 million of identified savings in terms of error and fraud

and that it continues to be considerable

fraud and regard to where people are I do not think it is important to

recognise this contract has brought This contract does

have its place but it work appropriately and it must do

what it is set out to do and it should work for taxpayers and should

work for the vulnerable. I will reflect on as

wide a point if I may. I want to give him reassurance

on that Gerald Bull point. All members of the House will have

received a deluge of harrowing cases of people

who have had cause to have The first of all

they were even unsure this company existed,

they thought it was a scam letter, There has been for delay

in post-opening and try to get through on the telephone has

been next to impossible. This has been a service level that

has an acceptable Can she assured us that

her statement shows this government is committed to

helping the vulnerable immediately I thank my honourable

friend for those These contracts, right

across government we have important contracts with people

to provide a server, but they need to be provided to an

acceptable standard. HMRC have taken into account

operational performance I think the focus for all of us,

for ministers, for HMRC and individual members working

in their constituency capacities as to make sure our most vulnerable

constituents are supported as soon as possible to make sure that money

they are entitled to hits their bank accounts and they do not have the

stress of wondering where that money All of us as constituency

members of Parliament can relay stories of how the service

contract has worked and has been But on the issue of the jobs that

will be lost, some of them in Belfast, can she tell us

what contact she has had with the Northern Ireland executive or

the HMRC has had with the relevant devolved administrations regions are

about the effect on jobs and what will be done to give support

to those who will lose jobs? I think it is important to note

that the decision has been taken by HMRC not

to renew the contract, so to that extent the decision for a private

company like Concentrix as to what they do beyond that point

is a matter for them. But I am sure that in the normal

way, if the right honourable gentleman has

concerns that nature, This is not a decision to end

the contract here and no, it is a decision not to renew

it in the spring. What other steps being taken

by the government to protect the Can my honourable

friend assure them a House that the lessons

learned in this case will not be applied

to the hat contract in May,

but across more contracts I hope I can give that reassurance

that not just in the future but obviously in the past and to date,

it has always been the case that when the government contracts

with the supplier to provide a service, that it should be

provided to the right standard, that contract

will be monitored and we make sure that service levels are except 22

members Despite what the Minister

has said earlier, I have constituents who have had

their tax credits cut off without receiving any prior

notification and has spent up to 70 minutes

on the Which is a huge drain

on the resources. Can she tell us whether the contract

included penalties for concentric 's not providing an acceptable service

level or answering call is within a set time, if not, who will

take the responsibility or negotiating such

Waiting 70 minutes to have a collards and is not acceptable.

I would understand the distress caused.

I am going to write to the

honourable lady about that, I do not have the detail at hand.

I need to assess what we can say in terms of

She was expected to deliver at is half the original says -- savings

plan on a contract. What more can the government do to improve the

tendering process. This is a payment by results contract and as I said in

the response to the Honourable Lady, concentric swell not be paid when

they have not acted appropriately, it is important to get this right.

-- Concentrix. I give him the reassurance that HCMR and indeed

government ministers will always seek to get the right contracts but

where there are lessons to be learnt we must reflect on them and make

sure that they are then reflected in future arrangements. Last week in

evidence to the Institute of government the former Secretary of

State admitted that outsourcing to the private sector was not a panacea

. Is it not time for a full review of outsourcing in the welfare system

and looking at whether it is appropriate at all or if there is

better provision to be done by civil service to oversee that this never

happens again. Again, I would urge members to keep a degree of

perspective. There are lots of contracts that deliver what we want

and it is worth noting again that this contract delivered ?280 million

of savings which is a sensible return on investment. Service levels

must be acceptable and to the standard we have contracted. There

are circumstances when the company used allows governments are

cost-effective way of doing something they may not have the

flexible capacity seed to do or it is easier in an unsure period than

doing it in-house. I think the point is made and I will reflect on them

but I do not draw the same general conclusion that he has. I concur

with the excellent point made by the member and the Minister will note

that genuine errors will occur by constituents and HMRC. Sometimes

that for compassion is not shown by HMRC were looking at the

circumstances, can we ensure that those are done in those difficult

circumstances for those in need. Of course I have had the same

experience as my honourable friend, only last week I sat with a

constituent who had a very complex case and was in a very difficult

situation. It is the case that if we take it upon the heart of

constituents but when they are in HMRC, it is important to soar people

out and get money into the bank accounts of constituents as soon as

possible. It is clearly an interest in the urgent question the points

are being made on all sides of the house will be heard when they need

to be heard. There are a significant number of my constituents who have

been left disadvantaged by the antics of the government. Canny

ministers say that she will look seriously into finding this company

and using those resources to compensate my constituents for the

financial distress they have suffered. To reiterate what I said

previously, I will ask HMRC to clarify the contractual obligations.

As a constituency MP who has dealt with a number of cases I am pleased

to note the action the government has taken. As a member of the Public

Accounts Committee I have sat through numerous reports on the

quality of service that HMRC provides, which is hardly call

service, what assurance that the minister have to say that we will

not see our drop-off in terms of service, standards and future

arrangements? I don't believe that will be the case as I say HMRC has

been dealing with cases of the same time as Concentrix throughout the

contract, and I have been assured that when 100 and 50 of the

additional staff deployed, and I have no reason to believe that the

services are suffering. The point is been made and will be investigated.

I am glad to hear that he Concentrix contract is ending but as the

minister mentioned they will still be dealing with ongoing casework.

Can she deal with a constituent of mind's situation who has been

plunged into 13 thousand pounds of debt due to concentric. --

Concentrix. Will she take up this case lease? If any member wishes to

write me a look at it as a matter of priority. If she wanted to come or

ring a complex case tomorrow to the drop in HMRC, if she liked to write

me I will respond. Or the thank you, Mr Speaker. I

first raised this issue in late January. That was about a family

that did not have any income and it had been going on for wheat. Why

does it take the BBC's programme to bring ministers to this dispatch box

is the on Monday, HMRC and Concentrix, on the basis that no one

will take responsibility. I think that involving the private sector in

a sensitive, the main issue like this does not work. I am sorry to

hear that the honourable gentleman had that difficult experience. I

cannot agree with his general point that there is no role for the

private sector in this regard. I refer again to the amount of money

that has been saved to the taxpayer. There is a amount of fraud in the

system and it is important that we bear down on this because clearly,

that money should, we do not want to go into people for whom it is not

appropriate. Most of the fraud, much of the fraud, does rest in that

area. As he highlighted, it is a particularly difficult and sensitive

issue to investigate but we do need to continue to investigate because

the amount of fraud involved is considerable. We can all share the

stories of anguish to our constituents and frustration for in

dealing with this issue. We should also remember that the HMRC itself

is not an innocent agent in this. It designed this contract. Its port

customer hostility and suspicion into the contract, into the very

practices that are in the contract and of course, it was HMRC that were

providing the names that were targeted by Concentrix. Well some of

those bigger policy miss guidance is being looked at as well as the

enjoyment we are all having today in scapegoating Concentrix themselves?

Mr Speaker, I returned to the answer I gave just a moment ago that we do

need to continue to bear down on fraud in the system. There is a

considerable amount of fraud. I am afraid it would be naive to think

that all of this is error. There is fraud in the system but there is a

lot of error which the original tax credits makes it easier. It is the

case that we do need to continue to bear down on fraud but clearly, we

need to do it in a way that does not make it difficult to assist the most

vulnerable. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The minister has mentioned fraud and

number of times. While obviously there is fraud in the system, I

really do not see that as an excuse for constituents such as mine like

Sarah Hodgson, with three young children, struggling to putting on

the table. It is no excuse for incompetent contract is. I am glad

that we have employed extra HMRC staff to assist people. The others

in my area is due for closure. Our nearest regional office is more than

200 Miles Drive away. Will you please review the closure of our

local offices so that people can keep support in this situation is

that they so much need like this? I am sorry to hear about the case that

she mentions. She raises a wider issue about the modernisation issue

that HMRC is going to. Perhaps it would be more appropriate if she

wrote to me. It is important in terms of the modernisation of HMRC

as they go forwards. Although, it does mean that some HMRC offices are

being closed. It is about delivering a better and more modern service

into the future for all of our constituents. I trust that there

will be some compensation paid to the company, first of all for the

way that the contracts were handled but also for the extra cost

incurred. It was not so long ago that this house was condemning the

HMRC for not answering more than half of telephone calls that were

made by constituents about tax matters. What steps have the

minister taken to ensure that new cases will be brought in-house, that

there will not be that same problems with the HMRC that there had been

with concentric? I think it is obviously documented that at times

in the past, the HMRC have had problems with the phones. I think

some of the information in the public domain lately has been rather

outdated. The HMRC phone performance is considerably better in recent

weeks. I think it is important in all of these things that we do reach

some balance, with regard to the point bounce Concentrix. It is worth

noting that they have amended around 5500 claims. I reiterate that this

is an important exercise but really needs to be done in the right way.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I work in the news from the minister that

Concentrix will not have their contract renewed. In the meantime,

there has been a lot of talk about what is unacceptable. I think there

has been a lot of focus on fraud. What we are talking about today is

tremendous suffering. We're not talking about exceptions, we are

talking about the widespread norm, causing exceptional misery to some

families. Let me just yet with you a story of one of my constituents. A

single mother of four, whose tax benefits were cut. As a result of

that, she cannot get benefits for the baby. She has been told more

importantly, that she cannot have her claim reopened for 44 days. Will

the minister reassure me that she will intervene as a matter of

urgency? I am sorry to hear her constituents

has had such a difficult time. I would urge her to

use the resource I have referred to throughout

this to take that up. I hope that can be resolved

and as soon as possible. I have emphasised, and HMRC

are aware of this, speed is of the essence, where people have

had their tax credits erroneously She is right, there is

error in the system. I reiterate this is a too complex

system and that is why the government is looking to make

a major long-term reform to the way we do this,

because even the honest taxpayer can easily fall

into error in a system that was so complex in

its design from the start. As we sit here,

families up and down the country have had to rely on charity

and food banks to make ends meet due to ridiculous decisions

made by Concentrix. Given that so many

are living a day to day existence,

can the Minister confirm just how quickly people can expect to receive

the money they are rightly The HMRC, at the point

at which the facts are resolved, it is important we do that quickly,

at the point when we have done and that may be in the course of one

phone call, I am assured and this

is what I expect to see, within a matter of around four

working days, no longer, we would get money

into people's accounts. But we need to establish

the facts in each instance. It is worth saying,

for the sake of the House, having some sense of

the 6% of customers asked

for a review of a decision

following a cheque. That is a large number

of people being checked, but nevertheless it

would be wrong to think that this was a huge

proportion of the cases. It is important we get

those ones right and we look to pay people

within days, as soon as we have The Minister says that

HMRC is supporting Concentrix in performing

their contract ending next year. What is the cost to the public purse

of that support that is being

provided and is that It has always been the case that

as you would expect managers within HMRC have been working with

Concentrix throughout, so I don't anticipate that that will be

an enormous additional cost because there has always

been a relationship because there has been some

overlap in the work to be done and I would expect

that to continue as we work towards the end

of the contract. The Minister is engaged

in crisis management, crisis management

itself is not good enough. In the opening

statement, she said In the opening statement,

she said that Concentrix are not One of my constituents

got a letter wanting Investigation is needed soon and it

needs to look at the contract terms, order process and Concentrix

behaviour and needs to look at what is the true

resource requirements. Unless she announces this,

we will be back here HMRC has data analytics

and operational experience to deliver the kind of

savings we are looking for in terms Practical measures going forward

in simplifying the system, and improved detection

of fraud are important parts of making sure we improve

performance going forward. It is worth noting

again that we have saved hundreds of millions of pounds

to the taxpayer by reducing error and fraud but we want to make it

harder in the future for people to As long as I have been one

of their MPs, HMRC has treated people in the Wirral

with disrespect, with indignity and this

is just the worst in a long

series of cases. Can I ask the minister one question,

when did she first meet Concentrix to raise our

concerns with them for? I have been a minister

since mid-July, I have not met Concentrix because I have not

been a minister for that long. Clearly colleagues,

previous colleagues, But I have been working with HMRC

to look at the regular monitoring and given the interest

from colleagues across the House in recent weeks, I have been getting

daily updates from HMRC But in the relatively short time,

given that we have had summer recess, being in my post,

I have not met them. I am sure HMRC will be disappointed

to hear what she says but I think

they would want to reflect One of the issues reported by my

constituents is the requirement to send all the documentation

by registered post, which costs over This is money that they can ill

afford when they're living on the Will the Secretary of State

look urgently at alternative methods of sending

documentation in the remaining time I will ask that question,

but I cannot give any assurance as to whether it is

possible to alter that She highlights an important point

about where we go in the future with The more that we can

make these things digital and make them really easy

for people to get right, the more likely we are to avoid

these unhappy situations. The Financial Secretary must know

I tabled five questions on this With 1800 people in

Belfast employed by Concentrix, with Concentrix

redeveloping onto one location in the city of Belfast,

could I ask her to reflect how appalling that was

that members of staff, how appalling that was that members

of staff, many of my constituents, last night from a tweet by the BBC,

as by any information from Concentrix and any

information from this House. As I have said a number of times,

the contract is not being The consideration of whether any

contract is renewed is something that takes place in

the normal course of events. The honourable gentleman does

give me an opportunity to place on record my

thanks to the many, many Concentrix It is as the same time

as we shine a light on where Adam -- form is as

unacceptable, there are many people who are doing a good job and

providing a good level of service. Many people are succeeding

in that regard. I know the Minister says she sees no

need for an enquiry but I and I know many colleagues in the chamber

today and certainly constituents of ours would disagree

with that position. My question would be how

can we learn lessons to ensure these practices employed

by Concentrix don't ever come to light again,

if we don't look into to light again, if we don't look

into the practices carried out by some form

of investigation or enquiry? I think it is right

that in the normal we arrange things in the future,

to reflect on what we can learn from things that have already happened,

and that would be something you would do through a normal process

of review and consideration. We will just have to agree to differ

with regard to the issue I have been contacted by so many

distressed women in my constituency about how

awful Concentrix is. to mums who were only trying

to renew their tax credits to get payday loans to feed

their children. There is a group formed

with over 5000 members. On this group, mothers

share their horror stories. The lady may have got

the Burnley condition. One mother hadn't

eaten for three days This is sickening

and should be stopped. I am aware of the Facebook

group she mentions and the nature of the cases

documented there. To end on when I began,

Mr Speaker, that is why we are deploying additional resources

so we can deal with the most difficult cases where people

are vulnerable in the quickest time possible

and that will be my focus and that of HMRC

We come to the ten minute rule motion.

Ten minute rule motion, Charlie Elphicke.

I beg that leave be given to bring in a bill

of the United Kingdom from membership of the European

Brexit means Brexit and we will make a success of it.

It also means Brexit means Brexit and it means we

The matter of Article 50 is a matter for

The matter of Article 50 is a matter for the Prime Minister alone.

She has the mandate of the masses given to her

on June the 23rd and it is right that she invoke it.

I hope the sooner she invokes that the better

so we have the security, the stability and the certainty we need

as we seek to build a post Brexit Britain.

I bring this House, I bring this bill to the House today.

First to give the House an opportunity to

endorse and accept the decision of the British people on June the 23rd.

And second, to talk about the red lines that the British people

clearly have in terms of what Brexit will look like.

And third, a kind of vision we can have for the post Brexit

The first issue is this issue of where

members of Parliament were when it came to the referendum.

I myself was concerned about the border

I am here today to say that is their decision.

This is in particular for the Labour Party to reject it,

we should have a second referendum to drive

the British people back into the European Union again.

It is not an opportunity for the party opposite

we accept and will submit to the will of the British people and will

I see the SNP as well who don't seem like

to like the result of any referendum on these British Isles at all.

Including accepting the decision of the Scottish people to

remain part of the European union and the United Kingdom.

I would say to them, they would be wrong to

think that if at first you don't succeed, vote,

That would be the wrong approach to take.

Turning to the red lines of the British people, it is

very clear that the British people are deeply concerned about the level

And they have been told and pledged in

manifestos, that the number would be brought down of net migration

And they are very concerned, people on Dover tell me

on a regular basis, about the downward pressure this

makes on their wages and they have been

underlined and proved right.

By important research that showed wages to be ?450

lower for hard-working classes of Britain.

And indeed, they found that if we did indeed succeed in bringing

migration down to the tens of thousands, we would have a pay rise.

There is work published by the OECD in 2009 that says mass migration has

not benefit at the people of written in general. It does not have an

economic good for the British people in their daily lives. That red line

is really crystal clear. We must and uncontrolled EU immigration. The

second point was also underlined by Lord Ashcroft. It is very clear that

people do not want to have billions for Brussels. That has got to end.

We cannot have any deal that involves handing billions of pounds

over to Brussels. That money should remain at home and be invested in

Britain. We need to use that money wisely, which brings me to the final

point which I want to make. A most important point, what is a post

Grexit written going to look like? My constituents say to me that it

has always seemed to be about investing in HS2 or runways in

in oils seems to be about benefiting the Jetset elite. Why is it never

about us in London? An infrastructure project that they

have been waiting for for so long, which OS seems to work for the

elites, not for the regional populace? The majority of the

British people live in the regions, London has only 10%.

The south-east has a difference of some 26%. My constituents couldn't

do that and said the allocation of resources in this country is not

bear. This is an opportunity to make that zero. Then it comes down to an

issue of who does Britain work for? They feel Britain to offer and works

for the Philip Green 's of this world, for the privileged few,

rather than the hard-working working-class kids of Dover and

Darlington. That needs to change. We all know that big companies are

gaining the corporate tax system and paying hardly any tax in this

country, they are about Apple. We all know that is on our too. We need

to make sure that when it comes to Google, that Google pay a fair share

of tax in this country. When it comes to car rental businesses, for

me, that showed that we are being taken for a ride. They were imposing

a Grexit tax on us, while not paying any corporate tax to Britain. It is

that kind of thing that drives the people of Dover a round the bend and

we need to put a stop to it. We can do that when we leave the European

Union. Very simply we can do that because we will not struck by their

antidiscrimination rules. We need to ensure that the nation works for the

people as a whole, rather than the bloated bonuses that we have seen

too much of recently and in recent years. Pay in the boardroom is 150

times that of the chief executives, then it is for employees. That is

not right and that has doubled in the pass 20 years. -- past 20 years.

That kind of culture needs to change. We need to have a country

that works for everyone, not just the few. It is very important to

ensure that when we have investment, we have investment in the region is,

like Bristol and Birmingham and Manchester. It is important that we

have rail and roads for the regions as well. Brexit means Brexit. We are

going to make a success of it. It is also an opportunity to change the

way we run Britain, to change our way of life. To change who we work

for, and to make sure that our country works for everyone. That is

the change that we want to make. It was the towns and villages of this

country that decided to take this country out of the European Union

and those towns should be supported for leading the charge on the kind

of future that we can have as we head out into the supermarket of the

world. Two to claim the honourable member of his right to bring in the

bill. He said that we in Scotland should have respect for the

decision, the outcome of the referendum. I very much respect the

outcome of those nations who voted to leave the EU. I would simply say

to my friend from Dover, perhaps he and his colleagues should respect

the wishes of those nations who voted to remain in the EU. It is

always sweet I think to be chided by the honourable member for Dover, who

railed against a Jetset elite, who talked about the imbalance in

boardroom pay. We do not need to leave the EU to tackle that

imbalance. He talked about the imbalance in public spending and he

was right to do so. Such is the imbalance, Scotland get even less

money than the south-east gets. We do not need to leave the EU in order

to rebalance public spending throughout the English regions. If I

we had an English Parliament to deal with these things, things would be

so much better. The honourable gentleman spoke about corporate tax

and how little was paid by some of the Goliaths of the global,

corporate world. We do not need to leave the EU and we can opportunity

further. In essence, the honourable gentleman made a pitch to leave now

because he said Brexit means Brexit and we will make a success of it.

The problem, and why no one can support this is when the Prime

Minister, the leader of government, leader of the Tory party is asked if

Brexit means Brexit means we will be in leaving the single market, she

does not know. When she was asked today if support for financial

services would be maintained, she said that I refer to the answer I

gave last week, which is that I do not know. On the basis that Brexit

means Brexit is no more than the meaningless, campaigning expression

and none of the attributes or benefits described by the honourable

gentleman in terms of tackling proper pay, tackling taxation,

tackling the imbalance in public regional expenditure in England will

be in any way improved by Brexit. I fear that we are going to have two

call against the valiant gentleman's attempts to drag the whole of the UK

out of the EU before there is even a plan to stop a

As many stop a as are of that opinion.

The question is that the honourable member have leave to bring

This is a trailer for BBC Four's conceptual art season.

You see clips of a pile of bricks causing anger in a gallery,