There. Stephen metcalf. As you know, my right honorable friend will know, the successful launch of the Engineering Campaign aimed at changing the perception of engineering and inspiring the next generation of engineers. The Prime Minister is personally committed to this campaign so can i invite him to join me and 80,000 other people at the big bang best to reinforce the message that engineering is a great career and open to everyone regardless of background and gender. My right honorable friend makes an important point on the issue of engineering particularly for more women seeing engineering as a career, something i have promoted for many years now and engineers vital to our economy. And it isnt just about gender and ethnicity. Everybody having a chance to build a good career in engineering. And thank you, i join you in commemorating Holocaust Memorial day, many members will sign the book of remembrance, many attending the event tomorrow, we have to teach all generations that descendents of nazi is a holocaust must never be repeated anywhere on this planet. Does the Prime Minister agree with foreign secretary the National HealthService Needs an extra 5 billion pounds . I think the right honorable gentlemen as i recall was here in this chamber for the autumn budget, my right honorable friend, where he announced he will be putting 6 billion pounds more in the session. The only problem with that is it was 2. 8 billion, two weeks ago the Prime Minister told the house it was indeed the case that the nhs was better prepared than ever before. 68 senior doctors have written to the Prime Minister about what they describe as serious terms for the safety of our patients. They say patients being treated in core doors are dying prematurely, who should the public believe . It is right to be prepared for this. We saw 3400 being brought in in the winter period, we saw the use of the call system leading to significant reduction, the number of people going to hospital, the changes made an accident and emergency lining, helping to ensure people who do not need to go in hospital, overall, overall, we have seen 2. 8 million more people last year visiting accidents and emergencies and did so in 2010. Our nhs is indeed providing for patients. We were prepared for winter pressures and we would ensure as we have done every year under this conservative government that the nhs receive more funding. Since 2000 and we have lost 14,000, the Health Foundation and trust agree the nhs needs another 4 billion. In december, the month just gone, nhs england reported worst ever performances with more patients then ever awaiting four hours, now the uk statistics Authorities Say the numbers may be worse because the figures have been fiddled. Can the Prime Minister told the house when the figure is couch related in line with previous years will be published . Prime minister . The nhs is opening publishing a whole variety of things in relation to the targets that it has. We are putting more money into the nhs year in and year out and continuing to do that but if he wants to talk about figures and targets being lit, the latest figures show that in england, 497 people were waiting 12 hours but the latest figures also show under the labor government in wales, 3741 people were waiting. Mister speaker, the Prime Minister is responsible for the underfunding of the Welsh Government and despite that, the overall budget has grown by 5 in 201617. The problem of underfunding from a conservative government in westminster. 100 and patients have been forced to wait more than 30 minutes in the back of an ambulance and she is responsible yet still the Prime Minister refuses to give the nhs the money it needs. Can she tell us how many more patients will face lifethreatening weights in the back of ambulances this winter . To the right honorable gentlemen we want to ensure people are waiting for the only answer he ever comes up with the question of money and the question, this is no. The question is this, the question is this. Why are there some hospitals where the percentage of patients waiting 30 minutes is 0 and other hospitals where the percentage of patients waiting more than 30 minutes is considerably higher and if he wants to talk about funding we should look at what the labour party promised. It is all very well, there is shouting about the comparison of money but the last connection, the institute of physical studies said this, labor and the conservatives are pretty much on the same page, not much to choose between them in terms of money they put into the nhs. Labor government wouldnt be underfunding the nhs. Social care. Labor government would be committed as a human right. According to a whistleblower hang on. According to a whistleblower as many as 80 patients were harmed or died following significant ambulance delays over a 3week period this winter. This is a very serious situation and the Prime Minister must be aware of it. What investigation is the department of health carrying out into the use deeply alarming reports . Prime minister . When we hear reports of course they are very alarming and the department of health does make sure investigations do take place. That may be undertaken by the department of health or the Ambulance Trust or the hospitals, these issues are properly investigated as we dont want to see that happening, we want to see people properly care for and if there are lessons to be learned they will be learned because what we want to do is support the nhs, providing with funding, doctors, nurses, treatments, capabilities it needs in order to deliver the patients. That is why we are backing the nhs with more funding and ensuring they get the best treatments and survival rate for cancer higher than they have ever been before and ensuring we better joined of services across the nhs and social care so those who dont go to hospital are able to be cared for at home and why we are ensuring we are reducing waste in the nhs so take their money is spent as effectively on patient care. That is the plan for the nhs but puts patients first. Mister speaker, the Prime Minister must be aware of what is backed up in hospital carparks in the back of ambulances, ambulance drivers and paramedics desperate to deal with the next patient cant leave because the patients they are dealing with cant get into the a e department. It is reported a man froze to death waiting 16 hours for an ambulance. Last week a young gentleman called chris wrote to me, my friend, 93yearold father, waited four hours for an ambulance after 4 00. These are not isolated cases, these are common parlance all over the country. It needs money, it needs support and needs it now. The Prime Minister is in denial about the state of the nhs. Even the foreign secretary recognizes it. The Prime Minister isnt listening. People using the nhs can see from their own experience it has been starved of resources. People are dying unnecessarily in the back of ambulances and in hospital core doors. Gp numbers are down, nurses are leaving. The nhs is in crisis. Mister speaker, tori mps might not like it but i ask this question of the Prime Minister. When is she going to face up to the reality and take action to save the nhs from death by 1000 cuts . There is only one path that has been cut in its funding, the nhss wales under labor government. This is a government that is backing the nhs plan, putting more money into the nhs, recruiting more doctors and nurses, seeing new treatments come on board which ensure people are getting the best treatment they need because this is a government that recognizes priorities of the british people. Priorities to ensure nhs remains a worldclass health care system, the best Healthcare System in the world. Priorities to build the homes people need, to make sure the kids are in good schools, this is a government that is building a country that works for everyone and a country in which people could look to the future with optimism and hope. The british people need to be constant in the integrity of our voting system. What is my right honorable friend doing to follow eric pickles report securing the ballot to minimize voter fraud and whether it is for referendum, general elections . Prime minister. As he was on his feet congratulate them by Election Results from the labour party. And about strengthening the elect oral process and enhancing the confidence people have in our democratic processes and in five local authorities to identify the best way to identify nationality and they are going to be piloting measures to improve the integrity of the proxy process. Our democracy matters to have true confidence in it. Can i associate myself with the Prime Minister, and never forget. And i must work to eradicate the scourge from our society. Earlier this week the royal bank of scotland chief executive officer admitted and a leaked memo the closing 22 local branches is painful for customers, 13 pounds lose the last bank in scotland. Prime minister, i give you one other opportunity. As the majority shareholder, to meet the case to keep the branch open. And and that is how the established asset to biking standard that commits the banks for a second number of steps closing this branch. And reached an agreement with the banks that allows more customers never to use postal services. 99 of postal customers carry out their daytoday banking at the post office as a result of the new agreement. I say to the Prime Minister, your own responsibilities, causing these branches, replacing something that does not provide disability access, the royal bank of scotland appears to be in breach of the uk equality act. It is described outside the does the Prime Minister agree rbs has a legal responsibility to offer a quality of service to customers and will she hold rbs to account on this issue. All customers are able to Access Services they need. Customers who are disabled and customers who live in remote areas. This is a commercial decision taken by the royal bank of scotland. Banks are closing branches because what they see is being made of those branches but as the right honorable gentlemen has been talking about financials, they dont welcome the fact that trade figures for scotland show their biggest export market remains the rest of the united kingdom. Damien green. Thank you. It is a lot easier asking them answering. It is vital for longterm prosperity that the government to maintain infrastructure investment. With this in mind and as proposals for new bridges are fashionable can i ask the Prime Minister to commit the government to a very practical idea which is an early start on the Lower Crossing between kent and essex which would create 5000 jobs, relieve pressure on the Motorway Network and provide significant boost to the economy of the eastern side of england. My right honorable friend is right in drawing attention to the impact of infrastructure when it developed in part of the uk and i know that will unlock opportunities and Economic Growth for the region and offer better connections and better journey that is part of the biggest investment in englands road network in a generation. My right honorable friend knows announced preferred route related last year. It has raised some concerns in affected constituencies but can i assure him and other members there will be further opportunities for those who pull these proposals and those who do not to give their views and have their say but is absolutely right, new Infrastructure Development can make a huge impact not only on jobs during the development of that infrastructure but impact the economy locally and nationally. Customs union with the eu, keep it in good faith, complex and punitive rules of origin given the Prime Ministers name for a section with trade post brexit can she confirm whether or not it is her intention to pursue Customs Union with the eu . I have said on many occasions and i will repeat it, leaving the European Union means we will be leaving the single market, we will no longer be members of a single market, no longer members of the Customs Union, we want to sign and implement trade deals with other parts of the world with trade policy but in the negotiations we are looking forward to a comprehensive freetrade agreement between the uk and the European Union for the future we are looking for a trade agreement as soon as possible. Many members of the house, myself included expressed concern about National Defense that this government will always take the right longterm decision to protect National Security. Can my right honorable friend assure this approach will continue . You raised an important subject. And the ability review. And in 2015, to have the capabilities and investment in those capabilities we need in National Security and investment of those capabilities, i agree to highlevel findings of this review at National Security council. And to have the right capabilities, and needed on tax and modernizing defense and make sure the Defense Budget is being spent intelligently and efficiently and investing in the case to keep our nation safe. The defense secretary will update the house. It is a tragedy them in the past year, by 26 , the First National youth survey to look at their experiences, will the Prime Minister meet with me to discuss the root causes of Youth Violence and how to find solutions. This is an important issue to look at this issue, crimes that are measured by the crime survey shows a drop of over a third since 2010. We need to consider this the root cause of violence among young people and the nature of crime is changing. The home secretary will be happy to talk about Youth Violence. And to address low stock and funding confirms having done it. The previous afternoon from the police regarding the same person who could appear with less outside overnight in inhospitable weather conditions. Im speaking to the person who had the initial call to the Emergency Services and seen concerns to how it was handled including wife case came to light in only the last few days. I ask the Prime Minister to endorse the request ice made to the Ambulance Service and Suffolk Police to immediately instigate a full and independent inquiry to establish what happened and put in place measures to assure this tragic bend does not happen again. I share my honorable friends concerns about what happened here, the tragedy that happened here. We should recognize the Ambulance Services work hard and regularly go beyond the call of duty to ensure our safety but there have been concerns about the commission of services in england including this very worrying and tragic case, in response the leader of the opposition earlier we take these issues, these cases very seriously, and what is taken seriously. They received assurances, these are being investigated by the trust with serious instances in conjunction with its commissioners and also an issue my honorable friend holds to discuss with the chief executive of nhs england. 3 Million People in this Country Living homes that are unfit, with health and safety. Last week house gave a second reading to my fitness bill. And to act against the worst way to, grateful to have the support of government as well as the ventures and inevitably limited. Will she assure me she will do all she can to ensure this important and now consensual bill will make rapid progress and become law. Prime minister. The honorable rady raises an important point. We have seen a significant number of homes meeting the decent homes standard by the condition in which people are living is important and need the house to look at the issue she raised. Rudy harrison. Mister speaker. Internationally celebrated for nuclear excellence, this afternoon, showcased in fine food and drink. And myself and the Prime Minister, and is fair. Can i say to my honorable friend, im afraid my diary does not permit me to attend the event this afternoon but it is a test of the lincolnshire event recently and we are forecast to send me after the event. Sarah jones. This morning, thousands of us across the country heard my friend and former boss talk for the first time, diagnosed with a highgrade brain tumor. It was a joy to hear her utter relentless positivity and complete commitment changing the world. In a speech in other places tomorrow, improved cancer diagnosis and treatment, will the Prime Minister and Health Secretary meet with other health experts, how they improve outcomes to meet the goal and ultimately save lives. I am sure the whole house was saddened to hear of the diagnosis of the noble lady but also encouraged by the positive approach and the home secretary, very moving. They have the very best wishes at this time. We want to make sure Cancer Treatment is a priority and the best treatments being provided. We will consider investing in that. We accepted 96 recommendations in the nhs strategy, we do need to look at this. My right honorable friend the Health Secretary will be happy to meet with the honorable lady and an outstanding public servant. The house will understand in my 20 years in this place i never met a more courteous or gracious member of parliament. John hayes. [shouting] im only just beginning. The devastation, depth despair by terminals, widespread, hard cry from the coupon. Will she meet me and others discuss how the maximum terminals can be reduced and simultaneously plan a crackdown on that Online Gambling sites which target young children. The steak is too high. It will be cut to make sure we have a safe sustainable industry where children are protected. And the final decision will be made in due course. With regard to the specific point about children there are reports in place to prevent children and young people from accessing Online Gambling in the Gambling Commission has a responsible strategy to examine the wider relationship between children and gambling. Around 30 times and repeatedly asked for a test and she was refused. She only got the test when she took the test privately and suddenly the cancer had spread at that point. With the Prime Minister support [inaudible] to introduce a law which would change the regulation so that women under 25 can access a smear test on the National Health service when theyre symptomatic . I send my condolences and ensure the whole house does to her family for this terrible things that happened. The smear test is usually important. Sadly, what we see even for those who qualify today to have the smear test, that too many women do not take it up. And look, i know its not a comfortable thing to do because i have it as others do but it is so important for womens health. And i first of all want to encourage women to actually take the smear test. Secondly, shes raising issues about the availability of that test and eyewall asked my right honorable friend the secretary of state of health to look at this issue. Its been raised before for those were under the age of 25. Of course action has been taken in terms of the vaccine that is been introduced for teenagers. There have been some questions about that. I fed people in my constituency raise questions we need to raise this issue in every way possible so we will look at the question at the age qualification for the smear test but my overall message is please, vote to call for a smear test. Go and have it. Would my right honorable friend join me in congratulating the club on its 60th anniversary and agree with me that the sport is good for health and wellbeing . Can i say to my honorable friend im very happy to endorse what you said about sport and, indeed, to join him in congratulating the club under oe significant anniversary. Im sure over all those years it has given many young people and others an introduction into the joy of sport and the way that sport can be both good for the community, for society and also for the individual soul and happy to endorse his claim. Thank you, mr. Speaker. This week ive been approached by constituents who is a single mom and up until december was a teacher. Shes been told shes going to have to wait is over six weeks for universal credit payments and have been denied hardship loans. This means shes living on 20 pounds a week, and food banks. Can the Prime Minister tell us is that how universal credit supposed to work . And that she regret, m his son naturally stimulate 9000 children living in poverty . She will note changes would make him when he changes to the operation of universal credit which were announced in the budget, including changes which mean the availability of advanced payments have increased. The size of those advance payments have increased but im sure if she would like to send the details of the case right in with me then we can look at it and make sure it is properly considered. I want to National Statistics show for the progress in reduced deficits. [inaudible] over 170 billion pounds . My honorable friend raises a very important point. It hasnt been easy reducing the deficit in the way we have. We have to deal with the biggest deficit in our peacetime history that was left us by the labour party, by the government [shouting] yes, yes. Order. They may not like hearing that but its what happened. [shouting] it is by the hard work of the british people and by decisions of the government had taken the weve been able to reduce that deficit. But 170 billion pounds extra in order to meet the ideological desires of the leader of the opposition would saddle people up and down this country with higher debt and ordinary people would pay the price. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Does she instructs the dwp to release the details of benefits claims with disabilities who are taken their own lives after their claims were turned down, stop without notice or significantly reduced . I think the honorable lady, but the dwp does not give details of individuals with whom it deals and thats absolutely right. Its absolutely right. What it does do is ensure that we have a welfare system that provides support for those who need it and it will for system that increasingly encourages those who cant get into the workplace. But as we continue to see what work is the best route out of poverty. Thank you very much, mr. Spe. In a release that they kabila described the uk Financial System as both a National Asset and the Global Public good. Does my right honorable friend think its unreasonable the uk Financial Service sector which pays billions of pounds in taxes once to the governments and patience to ensure the city of london remains a global preeminent Financial Center in the same with way the governmet out its ambitions for other sectors last summer . I say to my right honorable friend that have said in this chamber that we retain that ambition for the city of london and remained a global Financial Center. I said in this chamber and it is indeed what were working on. I was very pleased to welcome a number of senior representatives from the Financial Services sector to attend down a street only a number weeks ago to set that i talk about how we can ensure we do exactly that. Londons place as a Financial Sector for the world is not just a benefit to the united kingdom. Its a benefit to the global Financial System and also benefit to the European Union. Thank you very much. Its absolutely wonderful that others talk about building walls. We talking about building bridges. Together despite brexit but let me reassure our american friends that the mexicans and the french will be painful because are in a just need to be properly funded first. However, can the Prime Minister confirm that [inaudible] over the English Channel by 50 billionpound horse airport, when will the six, rail track lead from my constituency connecting wales south and the west directly to heathrow . Window that finally be billed . Will we be subjected to further [inaudible] Prime Minister . May i say to the honorable gentleman that i believe that is very strong cross party support. The honorable jim has expressed his support. My friend has also been supporting it. It would reduce a journey time to passengers from southwest that it could support the economy as well pick at something i must have looked into previously. Funding has been committed for this project and the department of transport is scheduled to provide further detail in due course. Can i congratulate the Prime Minister and the parties in Northern Ireland for the resumption of talks . What more can be done to be sure the executive is restored and the nightmare of direct role avoided . My honorable friend is right. The people of Northern Island need strong government and political leadership. And they can i continue to have their public so to supper by the lack of an executive with that ministers making key policy and budget decisions. We are determined to reestablish a fully functioning Inclusive Administration that works for everyone in Northern Ireland. We believe thats a basis exists and thats why my right honorable friend of the Northern Island sector pestered to set a political talk to restore the executive. I believe its very important and would encourage all parties to come together and focus on the job of restoring the government in Northern Ireland. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Over christmas, football fans raised over 50,000 pounds for the west in food bank in my constituency which your soon to visit, mr. Speaker, helping to feed people like john who, despite having copd, arthritis, type two diabetes and anxiety and depression was sanctioned for not working hard enough to try and find work. Will the Prime Minister congratulate the people of newcastle on their generosity . English explain why it was necessary . Prime minister. What i would say is i applaud all those who give their time voluntarily, raise money across the board in terms of the activities. Shes raise a specific example of the work of people in newcastle, and i came in people when they do raise money and raise money for causes. Can i just say to the honorable lady, i cant discuss an individual case across this dispatch box and she will knows. I think it is important, it is important that we do ensure that we have a system which does work properly and fairly. Im sure if she wants to raise the individual case with the secretary of state for work and pensions it would be looked into. So much indeed, mr. Speaker. The Prime Minister window the construction of the National Minimum wage has created undissolved difficulty of the cabinet minister, specifically for 24 hours learning difficulties. [inaudible] with the Prime Minister agreed to meet with me to see how we can best find a way forward through this impasse . My honorable friend raises an important issue which is an issue which is of concern to a number of organizations, and to those others around the house. Im very happy to meet her and look into this particular question. I would say to my honorable friend this is a matter the Cabinet Office has been looking at in working with the relevant government departments, now the department of health and social care to find a resolution to this issue which i know is a concern. Thats why there has been measures taken to defer the aspects of this but we continue to work on this and im happy to look into it. Thank you, mr. Speaker. No one has been charged with having been anally penetrated in the hours before death. Poppy was not noted social Services Despite a staggeringly troubled family history. So will she agree to a cross party calls for a Public Inquiry so we can learn the lessons from this and make children safer across the country . I think the honorable jeremy and i think this is a case that a shocked and appalled everybody around the country when they had seen the horrific abuse that was carried out and obviously the tragic circumstances of poppies death. Im sure everybody will join me in offering our condolences. As i understand it the prosecutions of has announced it is considering the corners decision, and i think what is right is we actually allow the process to continue to take place and we await the outcome of it before considering whether any further action is needed. But i can assure the honorable gentleman that i think anybody across this house is well appraised of the significance of this issue and how appalling this tragedy was in the need for us to ensure that there is indeed justice and also lesson to learn from it. Thank you. Order. [inaudible watching Prime Ministers questions at the house of commons. Question time is live every wednesday at 7 00 a. M. Eastern time on cspan2 and airs again here sunday at 9 00 p. M. Eastern time. You can watch anytime at cspan. Org. Heres a look at our live coverage monday. On cspan, the Homeland Security secretary talks about combating terrorism. Then the house comes in for general speeches followed by legislative business, which includes a bill to strengthen protections for young victims of sexual abuse. In the morning on cspan2, a conference on Internet Security a senator, the deputy Homeland Security secretary and a congressman. At 2 00, the senate goebbels and to take up a the senate avels in. A cspan three, we will get state of the union preview. Later, for members of Congress Talk about bipartisanship and civility in the current political climate. Next, the Foreign Ministers of several middle Eastern Countries sit down with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to talk about the region and relations with the u. S. This was part of the World Economic forum in doubles, switzerland. It is just under an hour