to join the European Union under the
Maastricht criteria the fiscal deficit
would have to be three percent or less
of GDP that simply isn't the case it
currently runs at over seven percent so
as as as things stand at the moment the
economics of pure fantasy Stevenson and
Thank You mr. speaker the board allows
growth initiative has proved to be very
popular in the borderlands region and
the initiatives that were within it will
be implemented the next year or two will
the Secretary of State commit to the
border
[Applause]
my honourable friend won't be surprised
that I missed the end of his question as
our prime minister was cheered but I
think he was asking me to commit to the
delivery of the board lands gross deal
we have the quantum announced and very
soon we're going to have heads of terms
when he's looking at the regional growth
fuels for Edmund the audience well he
look at the next his government have
made over the closure of the HMRC office
in let's then in the moves to Edinburgh
and what he do as his predecessor did
come to Livingston and we're slowly and
speak to my constituents speak to the
workers speak to the unions and the
elected representatives and look at what
can be done to fill the gap and the mix
made by his government I'm very I'm very
happy to speak to the Honorable lady
outside the chamber about her concerns
on that yes
host carmine speaker on the subject of
the quantum for the island steel to
which the safety of state has already
referred will he confirm that he will
pursue with Treasury a basis is
different from the per capita funding of
other deals because otherwise the deal
for the islands will never be a
meaningful one the honorable gentleman
raised a very good point i mean it the
previously these deals have been done on
the basis of per capita and we recognize
for the islands as a huge geographical
area and per capita will be a different
would bring out very low outcome so we
are in discusses with the treasury about
raising the quantum we're now come to
questions from the Prime Minister and
room lower
Thank You mr. speaker question number
one mr. speaker Prime Minister
mr. speaker I shall begin by saying that
we of course condemn the attack on Iraqi
military bases hosting coalition forces
Iran should not repeat these reckless
and dangerous attacks but thus instead
pursue urgent de-escalation mr. speaker
I know that the thoughts of the house
are also with our friends in Australia
as they tackle the bush fires as they
are with the families of those killed in
the Ukrainian air crash mr. speaker this
morning I had meetings with ministerial
colleagues and others in addition to my
duties in this house I should have
further such meetings later today mr.
speaker motor neurone disease is a
terrible terminal illness with 1/3 of
people dying within a year and more than
half within two years of diagnosis
the last thing terminally ill people and
their family should be worrying about
are their finances the scrapped six
months campaign by the motor neurone
disease Association which is based in my
constituency of Northampton South as
managed to bring the important issue of
payments to those with terminal
illnesses to the fore and I welcome the
Department of Work and Pensions review
of the special rules for terminal
illness announced last July but can I
ask the prime minister to join me in
pressing the DWP to complete its review
and to scrap six months
well Mr Speaker I'd like to pay tribute
to my honourable friend and the work
he's doing for those suffering from from
motor neurone disease which is indeed a
a terrible illness and we're doing
everything we can to ensure that the
welfare system works for sufferers of
that illness and that's why the
developed of working pensions is is
indeed looking at how they can change
the way we help people nearing the end
of their life with the most severe
conditions including motor neurone
disease and I'm sure that my friends a
transexual estate for DWP will be only
too happy to meet my old friend at an
early lead with the opposition Jeremy
Corbyn Thank You mr. speaker Mr Speaker
I would like to start by paying tribute
to Andrew Miller the former member for
Ellesmere important nestin who sadly
died on Christmas Eve he sadly lost in
to this house he spent over 20 years
here was an expert on science and
technology made an enormous contribution
to this house our thoughts of with his
family and his friends and he's deeply
lost mourned on this on this side of the
house for the great contribution that he
made I also joined the prime minister in
sending sympathies and support to
friends in Australia where the fires
have claimed over 20 people along with
the loss of human life for hundreds of
millions of animals have also been
destroyed as a result of this this is a
warning of what global warming does to
all of us and we've got to take this
very very seriously the threat of
climate change and I joined the prime
minister also in thoughts going to the
friends and family of those who died
sadly in the Ukrainian plane that
crashed in Tehran last night mr. speaker
following last night's attack on the
United States bases in Iraq can the
Prime Minister confirm that he opposes
any further retaliation or escalation in
violence in a situation where the region
is in real risk of going into a
full-scale war well mr. speaker of
course I can confirm that and I can
point out to the agenda that the
kingdoms been working solidly since the
crisis began to bring together in
particular our European allies in their
response and the house would have noted
the the e3 declaration that was issued
by France Germany and the United Kingdom
in which we drew particular attention to
the baleful role played in the region
for a very long time by Qasem Soleimani
and that was a collective European view
but a view that doesn't up but yet
appear to be shared by the right
honourable gentleman I've been
interested in all his commentary and he
hasn't yet raised that matter jeremy
corbyn i think you're following the
government's support to the United
States over the assassination of general
Soleimani
is the Prime Minister confident that
United Kingdom troops and civilians are
not at further risk in the region and
beyond mr. speaker I can of course
confirm that's an important question
that the as far as we can tell them that
there were no casualties
last night sustained by the US and no
British personnel were injured in the in
the attacks and we are doing everything
we can of course to protect UK interests
in the region with HMS defending HMS
Montrose operating in an enhanced state
of readiness to protect shipping in the
Gulf and as the house heard yesterday
from my right or my friend the second
estate for defense we've relocated a
non-essential personnel from Baghdad to
Taji and we will do everything that we
can to prevent an escalation Jeremy Cole
the government has said that it's
sympathetic to the assassination of
general Soleimani what evidence has the
Prime Minister got to suggest that this
attack on him and his death was not an
illegal act by the United States
well mr. speaker all clearly the the
strict issue of legality is not for the
UK to determine since it was not our
operation I think that most reasonable
people would accept that the United
States has a right to protect its bases
and I would remind the house that's the
individual concerned Casson sulemani was
not only is was not any responsible for
many years amongst other things
arming the Houthis with missiles with
which they attacked innocent civilians
arming Hizbollah with missiles which
again they used to attack innocent
civilians sustaining the Assad regime in
Syria one of the most brutal and
barbaric regimes in the world and of
course supplying improvised explosive
devices to terrorists who are I'm afraid
killed and maimed British troops and
that man had the blood of British troops
on his hands mr. speaker if we stand by
international law as I'm sure the
government does and would want to then
surely killing somebody in a foreign
territory is an illegal act and should
be condemned as such if we believe in
international law that should be the
solution to the problems in the world
and as a permanent and as a permanent
member of the United Nations Security
Council can the as a permanent member of
the UN Security Council could the
government say what representations have
been made to ensure that the Iranian
officials that want to attend the
Security Council in order to try to
bring about a resolution to the very
dangerous situation in the region will
be allowed to attend and in the event of
the US administration blocking them what
representations will he personally make
to President Trump to make sure the UN
can operate in the way that it should
and must be able to operate
I think the right honourable gentleman
is probably well aware that the United
States has a duty under international
law to allow people to visit the UN and
that is indeed the position that the UK
supports scherbakov Iraqi parliament
passed a resolution calling for foreign
troops to leave their country can the
Prime Minister confirm that the British
government will respect any decision
made by a sovereign Parliament in
government in Iraq that may make such a
request in the future and will respect
and will respect the sovereignty of Iraq
as a nation as the highest could imagine
I've spoken extensively to our friends
around the world including our friends
in Baghdad and promised her I don't
Mickey who of course was like many
people in Iraq has come to rely and
depend on the support of coalition
forces not least from the UK and as he
will know there is a very significant
NATO mission in Iraq at the moment
helping in the fight against - and I
think it is it is my wishes which of
this government I think you should be
which of this house that we should do
everything that we can to support the
security and integrity
a bit Corbin my question was if the
government will respect the sovereignty
of Iraq its Parliament and its
government and the Prime Minister did
not answer that question the United
States actions have undoubtedly
escalated the risk of a dangerous
conflict and in an already destabilized
region putting civilians UK troops and
nationals at risk and leaving the Iran
nuclear deal in danger of being dead in
the water
this government's response is not
putting the interests of this country
first but instead seems more interested
in prioritizing the Prime Minister's
relationship with President Trump over
the security of the region and of this
country isn't the truth isn't the truth
mr. speaker that this Prime Minister is
unable to stand up to President Trump
because he's hitched his wagon to a
trade deal with the United States and
that prioritizes everything else that he
ought to be considering Mr Speaker I was
kind of waiting for their little green
men thing to come out at the end of that
the trade deal this is absolute fiction
but so what I will say is that the UK
will continue to work for de-escalation
in the region I think we're having a
great deal of success in bringing
together a European response and in
bridging that of the European response
without of course of our American
friends and working both with the
Iranians and with the Iraqis to dial
this thing done but he should be an
absolutely no doubt and this is of
course the leader of the Opposition
who's famously received 10,000 pounds
from the Iranian Press TV
[Applause]
he should be an absolutely no doubt that
we are determined to guarantee with over
everything that we can the safety and
security of the people of Iraq
whereas he of course would disband NATO
and it is this government that will
continue to stick up stick up for the
people across the Middle East who have
suffered who have suffered at the hands
of Qasem Soleimani and the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard pods force that he
has led and whose terrorism he's
promoted I'm very surprised at the end
of these exchanges that he is yet to
condemn the activities in volumes of
independent reviews and recommendations
calling for an end to inappropriate
inpatient care for people with learning
disabilities or challenging behavior in
the wake of the Winterbourne view
scandal alone there were seven such
reports as we start a new decade with my
right honourable friend state how many
people are still trapped in in
appropriate care settings and instruct
the Department of Health to act on those
recommendations and the asks of families
and campaigners so these very vulnerable
people can get the care they need and
deserve for the passionate campaign that
she she wages I can tell her the number
in his current number is two thousand
one hundred ninety which is patently
unacceptable buddied is moving down on
my right on my friend the health
secretary tells me the number is coming
down rapidly we have up we have a pledge
to reduce it by fifty percent and I'm
sure that he will meet her very shortly
in Blackfoot Thank You mr. speaker can I
welcome you to your place wish you all
members and staffers to give you you'd
and I associate myself with the remarks
of the prime minister for our friends in
Australia and the tragedy of the
Ukrainian airline crash and Mr Speaker
we want to see the resumption of
democracy in Iraq we want to see the
return to peace and of course we support
all measures to make sure that
diplomatic efforts can get us to a
better place mr. speaker Prime Minister
who should determine the future of
Scotland the Prime Minister are the
people who live in Scotland Mr Speaker I
think the answer is very clear it's the
people of Scotland who voted decisively
only
members of the most successful political
partnership in history by a decisive
majority in a once-in-a-generation
choice
mr. speaker this is about democracy 42
remain in the European Union yet they're
been dragged out of Europe against their
will by this Prime Minister and 2019 the
people of Scotland elected the majority
of SNP MPs to Westminster the Scottish
National Party won the election and the
Primus of Scotland's right to choose its
own future rejecting the prime minister
who lost more than half his seats in
Scotland mr. speaker today the Scottish
Parliament will decline legislative
consent to the misérable we are
deliberating later today why is this
Conservative government dismissing the
will of the people of Scotland ignore of
their voicing and disregarding our
Parliament mr. Speaker I think the real
question is why does the SNP keep going
on about breaking up the most successful
union in history to distract to distract
from their abundant failures in
government
in spite of getting an extra nine
billion if I'd getting nine billion
pounds a year from the UK its checker
which of course they would lose if they
were take foolishness to break away they
are they are mismanaging there they are
miss managing their health care and
you'll see I'm afraid no and it's not
the fault of Scottish pupils but you're
seeing Scotland Scottish schools falling
behind in in educational says
concentrate on what you're doing and
stop going on about breaking up
[Applause]
at the heart of our one nation
government is our manifesto commitment a
strong society needs strong families
after last week's 165 million pound
boost to extend the troubled families
program will Prime Minister outline how
the government will additionally fulfill
our manifesto pledge to championed
family hubs to and I quote from our
manifesto serve vulnerable families with
the intensive integrated support they
need to care for our children why I pay
tribute to my honorable friends all that
she's done to campaign for families and
it was thanks to her I think that we put
family hubs in the manifesto so being no
doubt that we're working now is with
local authorities to champion and to
deliver family homes both of all thank
you finally it appears that some action
has been taken against Northern Rail
will the Prime Minister commit to
stripping them of their franchise and
will he also commit to devolving the
power and the money to the regions so
that local people have the power over
their local transport and never have to
suffer the appalling catalogue of delays
overcrowding cancellations and
disruptions that have gone on far too
long I have to say to the Honourable
lady that I must I share her outrage and
I do understand what she what what she
is saying and we are developing
contingency plans for a replacement for
Northern Rail but what we are also doing
and she raises the point are we are also
looking at the whole way the franchising
system operates and she'll have seen the
Keith Williams's very very valuable
report on that Paul Holmes
my right honorable friend has always
been a vocal advocate of localism so
what advice can we give to my
constituents who are concerned about the
local Lib Dem councils unwanted housing
plan in Easley wit which would lead to
even more over development without
securing the vital infrastructure that
easily needs
well my I'm not surprised what he says
about the cavalier behavior of lived and
lived in councils in in East East Lee we
will make sure that in so far as we need
to build many more homes which we do we
will of course supply the infrastructure
necessary and do it on brownfield sites
Thank You mr. speaker the Prime Minister
is a man of vision apparently what is
his vision for the constitutional
relationship between Wales and England
in the events of Irish the unification
of Scottish independence the the our
relationship like the relationship of
the whole United Kingdom will go from
strength to strength
[Applause]
American company Wheelabrator has a
track record of breaching environmental
legislation in the USA and now seeks to
build a massive incinerator in the
beautiful Tess Valley local residents
are looking to this government because
of their concerns about emissions levels
and are seeking reassurance from my
right honourable friend that regulations
on emissions from incineration will be
further enhanced and greener
alternatives encouraged well I've seen
her point with great declare concern mr.
speaker because as we move to a a net
zero economy to rule by 2050 under these
groundbreaking conservative government
it is vital that we tackle that kind of
emissions that's why we're establishing
an office for environmental protection
and I will chair a new Cabinet Committee
to drive forward action on climate
change across the whole a Happy New Year
to you and all your staff and everyone
in the house the prime minister knows
that his great get brexit done slogan
was vacuous he also knows it's not even
the end of the beginning with No Deal
firmly back on the table so will he know
acknowledge that any job lost and any
impact on British industry as a result
of his brexit policy is fondly at his
door
is to speak a contra to the predictions
of the the gloom stirs unemployment is
at a record low we put on about 800,000
jobs since the since the referendum and
where we were we will indeed get brexit
done by January the 31st
Thank You mr. speaker for social justice
for life chances for opportunities for
the next generation education is the key
and that is why the prime minister's
pledge for additional funding is so
welcome especially for historically
underfunded areas such as Dorset and
Poole
but equally important are discipline and
standards will the Prime Minister ensure
that there is a continued focus on the
most disadvantaged especially when it
comes to vital literacy and numeracy
skills yes indeed I will mr. speaker and
I I pay tribute by the way to my own
review strategy where is he who came
papers intended synthetic phonics which
has done such a huge amount to help kids
to read in this country this is the only
country in the g7 where performance of
disadvantaged pupils has actually
improved in reading since 2009 we need
to do more and as my honourable friend
says that is why we're investing more on
our record sums in education rendered
ohhara Margaret Thatcher John media
Oh
Thank You mr. speaker
Margaret Thatcher exactly they're all
exactly that the union of United Kingdom
can only be maintained by consensus yet
despite winning three elections seeking
to test that consent the Prime Minister
insists that the SNP government does not
have a mandate to hold on our
independence referendum so could you
tell me exactly what mechanism is
available to the Scottish people to give
their consent or otherwise for
maintaining this union and should they
go about exercising that I can only
repeat my my point which is that the
Scottish people do have a mechanism they
used it in 2014 it's a referendum and it
took place it took place and it was as
as I think members opposite all
confirmed it was a once in
[Music]
David Morris Thank You mr. speaker mr.
speaker you've been a northern MP like
myself had welcomed the news that
there's going to be more money spent in
the north of England I want to reiterate
that Markham needs the Eden Project and
with my right honourable friend the
Prime Minister liked to come to more
come and see me and about getting the
Eden Project back in welcome again to
make more come the best place on the
face of this earth indeed this peak of
the Eden I I just heard from my brother
over friend the Chancellor that he does
indeed mr. speaker the house would know
that the Eden Project is now thanks to
the Chancellor very likely to come to
more than two years I have been
campaigning on behalf of my constituents
and heart health and 4,000 other
low-income Road Chef workers across the
UK who have waited more than 20 years to
receive shares of money that is
rightfully theirs in 2018 there was a
breakthrough when HMRC agreed to repay
millions of pounds and wrongfully paid
tax however understand that they are
trying now to recoup tax on every penny
possible from those low-income workers
given that the trust was set up as a
non-taxable scheme does the Prime
Minister think it is fair that hich MRC
would seek to run roughshod over that
and will he now meet with me in order to
discuss this protracted saga
yes yes of course I make a general point
that we've done a huge amount to raise
to raise the burden of to lift the
burden of Taxation on the low paid and
we're lifting the living wage by the
biggest ever increase but I I know that
my ride home will friend the Chancellor
will welcome the opportunity to discuss
the particular matter
he raises in person
shudders father in the period 2018 to
2019 overseas companies investing in
Northern Ireland created nearly 1,500
new jobs would my right honourable
friend agree with me that if Stormont
want to be up and running again then
this year that number would be
considerably higher and that is
important that no stone is left unturned
in efforts by the Northern Ireland
parties to seek agreement so that the
normal and assembly can be properly
functioning again Thank You mr. speaker
I'm proud to say the UK is now the third
highest recipient of foreign investment
in the world but Northern Ireland could
get even more than it currently does if
as my ronimal friend rightly says if
people took their responsibilities and
got Stormont up and running again
Tommy Shepherd mr. speaker in the
twilight of the last Parliament both
with the Scottish Affairs and Health
Select Committee's produce reports under
drugs crisis both reports drew on
international evidence and recommended a
change in the law to allow vulnerable
addicts to be able to consume substances
in secure facilities under medical
supervision now I know this is a complex
and and controversial area and I'm not
expecting the Prime Minister to make
policy in the hood but I want to ask him
will he consider on a pilot basis the
establishment of overdose prevention
centers in order to gather evidence as
to whether this could help prevent
deaths in this country as it has in
other countries I'm grateful to the
Honourable member because he's raising a
very important issue and a difficult
problem and the the question is how do
you introduce as it were consumption
rooms without encouraging consumption
that's the the challenge that we face as
he knows we are having a drugs summit in
this year it will be held in in Scotland
and we will be announcing a day short
my local NHS trust is currently
consulting on closing the stroke
rehabilitation service every support
from hospital stuff on the ward are
rightly very concerned about interpose
closure and the impact it will have on
local residents particularly those in my
rural communities so perhaps the Prime
Minister are you willing to work with
myself and a health secretary take this
matter seriously and prove the residents
of fish report claims that were on their
side well congratulate and welcome her
and you need all new colleagues for
their first edition the Prime Minister's
question time thank you thank thank her
for raising her concerns with me I've
heard just now from the health secretary
passing the ball straight down the line
that he is indeed going to address the
matter that she raises as fast as she
knows we're putting record sums into the
NHS and he's our intention to help
fishable bleed poacher
like much of the rest of the country
Hospital A&E waiting times in contry
have been under constant pressure with
the latest figures showing that almost a
quarter of attendances are waiting for
hours or more to be seen I'm aware that
the government has made commitments to
invest in the NHS so would the Prime
Minister agree to meet a delegation from
Coventry to discuss the prospect of
opening a second walking Center in the
city to alleviate some of the pressure
on our overstretched ane Department I
thank her for raising the issue with me
and if I can't do it I'm sure that the
health secretary can so David never know
that's why right honourable friends
share my concerns about the lack of
education achievement and aspiration
among so many of our working-class boys
across the country will he make it a top
priority for his government to ensure
that all schoolchildren throughout the
country are given the opportunities to
maximize their talents yes I can mr.
speaker not only a reinvesting record
sums in in primary and secondary
education but we're also setting up a
National Skills Fund to help those who
don't necessarily think that they are
candidates for university but have a
huge amount to offer the economy I need
every help they can get have massive
massive potential Thank You mr. speaker
happy New Year to you and everyone else
in the chamber
can the Prime Minister detail what steps
he has taken working in concert with
Germany and France in helping to restore
the Iran nuclear deal since he was
appointed prime minister in July well
I'm grateful to the owner he raises a
very important point and as he knows it
is our view that the the jcpoa remains
the best way of preventing a nuclear
proliferation in Iran the best way of
encouraging the Iranians not to develop
a nuclear weapon and we think that after
this crisis has abated which of course
we sincerely hope it will that that way
forward will remain it is a shell that
has currently been voided but it remains
a shell into which we can put substance
again born mr. speaker in in recent
months the performance of west midlands
rail for my constituents and for
constituents across the region has been
absolutely woven will he agree with Andy
Street the West Midlands mayor that if
they do not shape up by the end of
January that they too should have a an
inspection by the Secretary of State to
transport and potentially have their
franchise taken away
mr. speaker the house full of her what I
had to say already to the Honourable
lady about the performance of various
franchise holders across our rail
network we are looking at the the whole
issue and the Bell is tolling for from
West Midlands rel if I if I hear my
honourable friend correctly
[Applause]
during the festive season that means
feminists are basking in his hammock and
a stick maybe Ponton plating his mandate
but it's absolutely nothing compared
with the mandate won by my colleagues
here on the basis 45% popular votes and
eighty percent of the seats our mandate
is unassailable one so the Prime
Minister's qualities are over it's now
time to deliver on that Mandy the
Scottish Government has an oven ready
edinburgh v with 2.0 final discussions
begin
[Applause]
Mr Speaker I think I think I've given
this answer a couple of times already
the people of Scotland had the chance to
decide they decided emphatically in
favor remaining in me in the UK and that
I think I think that decision that
decision should be respected warmly
welcome the Prime Minister commits
continued commitment to invest and level
up across our country this will be
particularly welcomed in Cornwall that
continues to be one of the poorest parts
of the UK so will the Prime Minister
confirm to the people of caramel that we
will continue to be at the heart of his
government's plans to invest in the
regions of the country absolutely mr.
speaker I could confirm that and my old
friend Ryan discusses issue many times
or many before we continue receive all
the cash it gets through the shared
prosperity fun but we will do
extraordinary things with infrastructure
the a303 you name it to improve
transport to Cornwall road from plant
well transport and and the NHS as well
thorough Penzance and virtually every
awfully the hospital in Cornwall
antigone will be their final question
culture Thank You mr. speaker in 2005 my
constituent Stephen gallons did a bad
thing for which he is serving a life
sentence in prison but on the 29th of
November it was the third man on London
Bridge he wrestled the knife wielding
murderous terrorists to the ground so
that police marksmen could shoot him
dead
Stephen is rightly serving life in
prison but will the Prime Minister
congratulate tribute to Stephen for his
bravery that day which no doubt saved
lives well Mr Speaker I thank thee all
redundant for his question and for
making a very good point which I think
the whole house would agree I am lost in
admiration for the bravery of Stephen
gallant and indeed other
who went to the assistance of members of
the public on that day and and fought a
very determined terrorist and I
obviously is not for the government to
decide these things but it is my hope
that that gallantry will in due course
be recognized in the proper way
point of order hello Bedell yesterday on
re-entering the building for the first
time after Christmas
I witnessed one of the worst cases of
abuse of security staff I have seen in
my time here one of the members of the
other cliques who I will mean so as not
to incriminate anybody else
Lord Kane McGinnis had forgotten his
past something that we have all been
guilty of however instead of taking the
advice of the security staff who as we
all know are here for our security and
our safety he proceeded to verbally
abuse and shape at both the member of
staff Colin and Crickett seeing did they
not know who he was he had been here for
46 years and refusing to take the advice
of an assistance of both myself the
security staff and the police that then
attended I have reported this incident
to the authorities but I seek your
advice as the member is not elected so I
am interested to know to whom he is
accountable and what can be done to make
sure no member of staff or near state is
ever treated in that way
or abused in the manner of which I and
others witnessed yesterday
first of all let me say no member of
staff of either house should have to put
up with abuse I would say we have a
policy that runs through all of this
estate and I would always encourage
members to respect the people who are
carrying out their duties to make sure
we are safe and that's what I would also
say is normally we would not name a
member of either house in this way but
what I do take very seriously is that
stuff carrying out their duties should
not have to put up with abuse what I
would say is we are aware of the
situation I would expect girls in
another place to look into that and I
want to reassure those starbuck they
will not be tolerated and we will then
shoe it that that message goes across to
all members of both houses wait what am
I to publicly Mr Speaker I don't think
it will have escaped anybody's attention
but nevertheless I think it's worth
making the point that we went through
all the names
paper for Prime Minister's Questions and
a number of other colleagues on both
sides got in and we finished at about
12:30 one no one and no one had to
suffer abuse from the chair
so we thought may I wish you a very
happy new year of many more
well God says I'll double to use up the
time on that basis about they go to
Thomas mr. speaker I'm grateful to Lera
Dhin at Sally Luka who was originally
from Kosovo but had a British passport
and was before he was arrested and
imprisoned at Belmarsh resident in the
London borough of Herod was recently
found dead in his cell whilst the Prison
Service Ombudsman appears to be
investigating there appear to have been
delays according to his family in
getting a post-mortem to take place I
wonder what avenues are available to me
as a member of parliament from the set
of London borough of Herod to encourage
that autopsy to take place as a matter
of urgency
this who's been raised now nor the Home
Secretary is here in the team but I say
it's not an issue for me personally no
but I'm sure that it will be picked up
and dealt with like what I'd like to do
now is going to presentation bills
secretary pretty Beutel Windish
compensation scheme expenditure bill
second reading what day tomorrow we now
come to a presentation of bills
secretary Robert that learned prisoners
disclosure of information about victims
bill second reading what they tomorrow
we know a presentation of bill as a
secretary of state map woman
telecommuting telecommunications
infrastructure leasehold property bill
and somebody nonce marvellous right we
know second reading what they
the clock will know proceed to read the
orders of the day European Union
withdraw an agreement bill committee
order
[Music]
order European Union withdrawal
agreement bill good afternoon ladies and
gentlemen we now embark on the second
day of scrutiny of the withdraw bill by
committee of the whole house and can I
again gently remind honourable members
that mr. speaker has determined that
this is not a suitable vehicle for
maiden speeches and any colleagues
wishing to make a maiden speech should
consult with the table office and they
will find them later so we begin with
amendment 38 clause 19 with which it
will be convenient to consider clauses
schedules amendments and the new tours
listed on the selection paper joanna
cherry Thank You mr. chairman it's a
pleasure to serve under your
chairmanship
I rise to move amendments 38 39 40 41 42
43 44 45 46 and 49 in my name and those
of some of my colleagues I also rise to
move amendment 10 in the name of my
honourable friend the member for central
air shirt and some of my other
colleagues and also to move amendments
28 29 and new Clause at 43 in the name
of my honorable friend
the member for come Renault and concise
mr. chair we heard a lot yesterday from
the benches opposite about the desire
for the British people to get on with
brexit and so I would like to begin
today by reminding the benches opposite
that the United Kingdom at present
consists of four constituent parts and
two out of those four constituent parts
Scotland and Northern Ireland have voted
to remain in the European Union on every
single occasion they have been given
including the European Union referendum
in 2016 and thereafter
and BIOS diagnolly that the Prime
Minister and his party won a majority of
the seats in England and and a
respect that outcome in England I would
ask them on the benches opposite to
pause and consider that the Prime
Minister did not win the majority of the
seats in Wales
he didn't win any seats in Northern
Ireland and indeed it was remain parties
that won this that won the majority of
the seats in Northern Ireland and in
Scotland's where the conservative the
unionist party stood on a manifesto of
delivering Greg's eats and preventing a
second independence referendum they were
reduced to a rump of six MPs and the
Scottish National Party won the election
emphatically so I would just ask that
perhaps this afternoon could not be
another session of Scotland get back in
your box but there might be some
respectful recognition of the Democratic
desire of my constituents in Edinburgh
Southwest and the majority of
constituents in Scotland to have
remained in the European Union and
therefore rather than lectures about
delivering the will of the British
people let us seriously consider that it
is the role of Opposition to scrutinize
bills and while I realize inevitably
brexit will now happen although I hope
and believe that Scotland will find a
way around that for Scotland that
doesn't mean to see that there aren't
very legitimate concerns about the way
in which the government are seeking air
to deliver brexit and that sixteen point
five million people voted for parties
either supporting remain or a public
vote on the deal this is 14.5 million
for the oven-ready Breck's that there
were been prepared and therefore there
is in fact a democratic mandate to put
this deal to the people still
I have to say that I think the ship has
sailed
on that because of the outcome of the
election in England however the ship has
not sailed on Scotland's constitutional
future because like it or not the
Conservative Party was reduced to a rump
of representation in Scotland in the
general election and my party won 47 out
of the 59 seats now it's surely a matter
of concern in a democracy which is not a
unitary state but consists of several
nations that no matter how many
amendments I and my colleagues put
forward to this bill and probably every
other bill in this session we are
unlikely to achieve a single amendment
and rather than the braying and jeering
which occurred when the leader of my
group the right honourable member for
Ross Skye and Lochaber got up to ask his
questions this afternoon I would suggest
to those opposite if they really believe
in preserving the Union of the United
Kingdom they want no might want to sure
little bit more respect not necessary to
me or my right honourable friend but to
those who sent us here to advocate for
what in jority of people has gotten want
and the predator ventures opposite like
or not
majority people who Scotland do not want
to leave the European Union and the
majority of people in Scotland want a
second opportunity to look at Scotland's
constitutional future in the light of
England's decision to leave the European
Union I defy any Democrat to say that
that's not a reasonable position and I
would just gently suggest to the benches
opposite that jeering at the
representatives of voters in Scotland
shouting us down and rubbishing our
legitimate concerns is not a sustainable
position for the next five years I think
they right over the lady forgiving way
I'm a unionist and yet I share her
concern that there is a need for the
voices from the various and diverse
parts of the United Kingdom to be
heard and she is right to say that it is
unlikely the government will accept any
of the amendments that are being put
forward today that represent very
legitimate concerns not least on the
part of those of us who represent
Northland and actually who've come
together in a rather unprecedented way
all the main parties to back many of
these amendments so I do hope going
forward post they withdraw agreement
that there will be more consultation and
more discussion including the
representatives of the various parts of
the United Kingdom there's not much
about myself than the right honourable
gentleman will agree but we can agree on
this point and there needs to be a
recognition in the triumphalism of the
win in England and I understand that
because we feel pretty triumphal for our
win in Scotland but in the triumphalism
of the conservative unionists parties
win in England if they really see that
they are a unionist party then they're
required to engage properly with
representatives of the other parts of
the United Kingdom now this brings me to
M the terms of the amendments I wish to
move today and just before I get on to
the amendments number 38 and the ones
associated with that I just want to
raise again M with the Treasury bench
the points I made yesterday about the
sweeping powers which the government is
taking to itself in clauses 3 12 13 14
18 21 and 27 to make it to admit
delegated legislation making provision
for areas of devolved policy now I know
the Secretary of State's tried to
rubbish my interventions yesterday but
if he's had time to read the independent
report of the Scottish Parliament
Information Center overnight he will see
that this is not some SNP party
political diatribe but it is a matter of
fact on careful analysis of the bill
that the government is taking to itself
the right for British ministers acting
alone to make delegated legislation in
relation to devolved areas and this
shows that the paragraph which the SNP
have complained about and a number of
occasions is actually going to take
place now the minister tried to deflect
me yesterday by saying first of all that
the prior related to reserved matters
simply not correct it quite clearly
result relates to devolved matters and
then he tried to see that the power they
were taking was simply technical but of
course the Minister will know that the
Sewell Convention doesn't apply to
delegated legislation but mr. chair
probably wouldn't matter if it did
because the government's prepared to
drive up horses to intervention but
rather interestingly the government's
delegated powers memorandum in relation
to this bill states that the UK
ministers won't normally make
regulations in relation to devolve de
leus without the agreement of the
relevant devolved administration which
is what the Sewell Convention says but
we know that lately Sewell and that
convention has been more honored on the
breach then it's a being obeyed so I
want to ask the minister again can he
revisit his remarks from yesterday will
he acknowledge for the record and these
are matters which of course may be
litigated in the future so the record
might be quite important as well he
acknowledged for the record that the
clauses to which I've referred do give
UK government ministers the power to
make delegated legislation in relation
to devolved matters and will he
acknowledge for the record that that is
an encouragement devolved policy which
rightly causes concern not just for the
Scottish National Party but for all
those who believe in the devolved
settlement and I know its history but 22
years ago
75% of the people of Scotland voted for
that devolved settlement and it's worth
remembering that the background against
which they did sol was years and years
of Scotland voting labor but getting a
Conservative government now we have
years and years of Scotland voting SNP
but getting a conservative governments
and I think it's quite reasonable if one
looks at history to draw the lesson from
that that there probably will be another
constitutional referendum in scores
soon because a similar tension exists as
to the tension which existed in the
1990s so I look forward to eating from
the Secretary of State later on today
with an acknowledgement of the power
that has been taken to the British
government here now overall mr. chair I
would say that what this bill is about
is about the executive taking as much
part of itself as possible not just from
the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh
Assembly but also from this Parliament
the swaging use of delegated legislation
and in relation to clause 26 which I'll
come to in a moment from the Judiciary
now the conservative in unionist party's
manifesto revealed that the government's
aim was to change the balance between
government's Parliament and the courts
and as my honourable friend the member
for central Ayrshire said yesterday in
this bill we see the beginning of the
changing of that balance but we also see
a continued attack on rights not just to
the undermining of EU citizens rights as
we heard yesterday
not just the undermining of workers
rights which we'll come to later today
but also the rights of child refugees
and I think it's fair to say that this
is the proposal in this part which we're
discussing just now which has excited
the most public comment and I've
certainly received many communications
from constituents who are very worried
about this and in this connection I wish
to move the amendments in the name of my
honourable friend the member for crumb
Bernard and calcite the new clause at 43
amendment 28 an amendment 29 or at least
to address them at this stage mr. chair
whether or not they're moved is perhaps
a matter for later because mr. chair
right now across Europe there are
thousands of unaccompanied children
living in the most desperate
circumstances many of whom are separated
from their families
legal family reunion is a lifeline to
these children who would otherwise risk
their lives and dinghies or in the back
of lorries in order to reach a place of
safety with their family we've seen some
pretty awful evidence recently of what
can happen when refugees resort to
dinghies or the back of lorries and in
recognition of that fact and 2018 a
cross-party coalition in this house
including prominent members of all
parties including the conservative and
unionist party
recognize the humanitarian need for
family reunion to continue and secured a
legal commitment from the then
government to negotiate a replacement
for its for the rules currently in place
when we leave the European Union and for
the government to seek to remove those
protections known risks causing panic
amongst refugee families currently
separated in Europe with potentially
tragic consequences and it's also deeply
unacceptable to constituents of many
different MPs in this house now the
government say they're going to continue
with refugee family reunions so it's
really not clear to me why they're going
to the trouble of taking the commitment
out of this bill unless they want to
hedge their bets of it and based on past
experience that's what I suspect they
are up to because without this
obligation in the bill there'll be no
obligation on the government to ensure
that family reunion continues beyond the
very restrictive rules in United Kingdom
law I will yes the Honourable lady and I
was one of us