Transcripts For CSPAN Prime Ministers Questions 20160215

Is coming up next to the Prime Ministers questions at the house of commons. The House Foreign Affairs committee looks at implementation of iran nuclear agreement. During question time this week, David Cameron entered several questions on the uks Public Housing program. He also spoke about is unemployment and the outcome of the syria donors conference. Liberally on sunday to take full advantage. I think its a good idea but i hope she might consider supporting it. Order. Questions to the Prime Minister. Number one, mr. Speaker, please. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I know the whole house has been deeply saddened by the death of harrys last week from cancer. After distinguished career as a minor and advisor to david and to counsel he was returned to this place last may succeeding david block and into. While he was only in this place a short time he quickly became a popular mp, recognized for his commitment and his police. Its a measure of the man he can continue to carry out his work as an empty throughout history. We offer his wife and children are profound condolences. Here, here. Mr. Speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. Mens davis. Firstly may i state myself alongside colleagues with the sentiments expressed for the member for sheffield. He came to this house with an excellent record in Labour Government and will be greatly missed but im sure the whole house since our condolence to his family at this time. Here, here. Housing is the number one issue in my constituency. Queries on a workable local man looking after whilst on the offering that pure conservative value. With the Prime Minister agree to our help to fight isis one being taken every 30 seconds or the right way to promote both savings and encourage homeownership . I agree with my honorable friend. One of the most difficult things for young people is to get that deposit together for the first flat for the first house and thats what these this help to make such a big difference. It is right to know a quarter of a million First Time Buyers have opened an account at what weve seen is the 40,000 people exercise their right to buy their council house. Now we are extending that to all Housing Association tenants and weve seen one of 30,000 people with help to buy getting their first flat or the first house. Theres more to do, building houses, but helping people with their deposits is a vital for our country. Jeremy corbyn. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. I joined the Prime Minister and a member in paying tribute to harry, a former miner who passed away last week. Just a short time ago harry used his last question here to ask the Prime Minister questions about the sheffield forge masters and the Steel Industry. I hope the Prime Minister will reflect on his diligence and representing the industry and his constituents turn 12 yesterday, mr. Speaker, i had a chance to have a very nice conversation with harrys widow and his family. And the last them to say how would you like to remember harry executed in this message which i will read out. We have it marked the bravery and courage he showed in his life which was formed during the strike and carried him for for the rest of his life. Im sure the whole house and many in a much wider committee were remember harry as a decent, honorable man absolutely dedicated to his community and his constituents, and whatever he said he has passed. Here, here. Mr. Speaker, also followed the member for me so i to question. I got an email from rosie, shes in her 20s [laughter] [shouting] unfortunately, mr. Speaker, the rosie who has written to me doesnt have the same good housing that the chief whip of our party does. [laughter] but after aspirations spring ago. The rosie who was rented is in her 20s and she says [laughter] i worked incredibly, i worked incredibly hard at my job yet im still having to live at home with my parents. The lack of housing options, mr. Speaker, of forcing her to consider moving, even leaving the country. She asked the Prime Minister what action hes going to take to help young people and families suffering from unrealistic house prices and uncapped rates to get somewhere safe and secure to live . First of all let me say to the right honorable gentleman when you get a letter from the chief whip, that normally spells trouble. [laughter] but what i would say to rosie, the rosie wrote to him is we want to do everything we can to help young people get on housine housing ladder. Thats why weve got these help to save account until to look at that but cutting rosies taxes so that you should be able to earn 11,000 pounds before she starts paying any taxes. The rosie is a 10 and Housing Association she can buy that house because the we are introducing and extending the right to buy. Of course, with help to buy she will have the opportunity to register for help to buy which gives people the chance to a smaller deposit on owning their own home. In rosie is the earning that much money but wants to be homeowner, shared ownership can make a real difference in some parts of the country you only need a deposit of some one or 2000 pounds to begin the process of becoming a homeowner. I recognize in this Parliament Building more houses following these schemes without to deliver for rosie. Mr. Speaker, im pleased the Prime Minister once to help deliver decent housing for rosie. She lives and works in london and as the Prime Minister knows london is a very, very expensive. He talks the people getting on the housing ladder but the reality is that homeownership asphalt under his government i 200,000. It rose by a million under the last Labour Government. His record is one of actually some years of failure on housing. He said Council Homes sold under right to buy would be replaced like for like. And the Prime Minister tell us how that policy is panning out . First of all let me start with what happened under labour with right to buy sales. Because what happened was one council home was built, one council home was built for every 170 Council Homes they sold. That is the record. We have said that we will make sure that you homes are built for every council home in london that is sold. That is because my honorable friend the member for Richmond Park insisted on that. These take some years to build but the money that they will be built or the money comes back to the treasury. Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister ought to be aware that just one home has been built for every eight that have been sold under his government. People are finding it difficult to find anywhere to live the. The chancellors crude cuts in housing benefits for those in support, Supportive Housing are putting at risk hundreds of thousands of older people, people with Mental Health conditions can war veterans and winning fling Domestic Violence or need support. Cant the Prime Minister tell the house what estimate Housing Providers have made in terms of the impact of this policy on Supportive Housing . First of all were going to increase housing supply in the social sector by 8 billionpound housing budget during this parliament is going to build 400,000 Affordable Homes. When it comes to our reforms of housing benefit, yes, we have cut housing benefit because it was completely out of control when we came to government. That were families in london who were getting 100,000 pounds of housing benefit per family. Think how many people, think how many rosies were going to work working hard everyday just to provide that housing benefit for one family. We support supported Housing Scheme and we will look very carefully to make sure they can work well in the future, but i make no apology for the fact that in this parliament we are cutting social rent. So the roses were living in social houses going out to work will have lower rents under this government. At least the Prime Minister finally got on the question of supported housing. Housing providers estimate that nearly half of all supported Housing Schemes will close, one in four providers are set to close all other provisions. This is a very serious crisis. I assume the Prime Minister is not content to see the elderly people with Mental Health conditions and others with nowhere to live, so can he assure the house now that the warm words hes just given will be matched by action and he will stop this cut which will destroy the supported housing sector . We will continue to support the supported housing sector, and the report he quotes from was an opinion poll with an extremely leading question, if he actually looks at what it was he was looking at. But the changes we are making reducing social rents by 1 every year for four years, that is good news for people who go out to work, work hard would like to pay less rent. That goes with a lower taxes and the more childhood obesity. The other change we are making which doesnt come into force until 2018 is to make sure we are not paying housing benefit to social tenants way above what we would pay to private sector tenants. Because the simple point is this, this is what i think labour have got to focus, every penny you spend on housing subsidy is money you cant spend on building housing. So lets take this back, lets take us right back to rosie in the beginning. She wants a country where we build homes. She wants a country where you can buy a home. She wants a country with a Strong Economy so you can afford to buy a home. All of those things where delivering, and she will not deliver them if you go on spending more and more money on subsidized housing and housing benefits. One day labour has got to realize that welfare bills have to be brought under control. [shouting] mr. Speaker, shelter estimates the measures and in housing they will loose 180,000 Affordable Homes over the next four years. The Prime Minister is overseeing a very damaging housing crisis. Its a pricey out people from buying. Its not providing enough social housing. Therefore, many people are forced to rely on the private rented sector. The benches behind them recently voted against an amendment put forward by my honorable friend for homes to be fit for human habitation. Labour invested 22 billion pounds in government in bringing social homes up to a decent home standards. That are now 11 Million People in this country who are private renters. Does the Prime Minister know how many of those homes dont need a decent home standards . To listen to labour win in the last five years we have held a more Council Houses than they built in 30 years we built more. [shouting] where was he . Where was he when that was going on . 13 years and absolutely hopeless record on housing. What we are doing is an 8 billionpound housing budget that will provide 400,000 new Affordable Homes, cover to build 1 million homes during this parliament, getting as a benefit down so he can spend money on housing and having a Strong Economy that can support the housing we need. Mr. Speaker, i was asking through you the Prime Minister how many of the 11 million renters are living in a that are not, did not meet the decent home standard and, therefore, substandard. I will help them. Onethird of those in the private rented sector dont meet those decent home standards, shelter found that six out of 10 renters have to do with damp, moldy, leaking roads and windows. Its simply not good enough. Millions are struggling to get the home they deserve. More families living in temporary accommodation from elderly threatened with conviction, too few homes being built, social housing under pressure, families forced into standards, overpriced private rented sector. Young people unable to move out of the family home and start their own life. When is the Prime Minister going to realize there is a housing prices in britain . His government needs to address it now so that we do not continue with this dreadful situation in this country. [shouting] let me take one of the figures he mentioned about homelessness. Homelessness is less than half the picture was today under the last Labour Government. Theres a simple point. You can only invest in new houses, you can only restore existing houses, you can only build new houses, you can only support people into those houses the youve got a Strong Economy. We inherited mass unemployment, and economy that was completed collapse, a banking crisis and now weve got zero inflation, wages are growing, unemployment at 5 and an economy growing and people able for the first time to look to the future and see taken by ann althouse in our country. [shouting] buy a house in our country. A 19 year old ucd woman when days came to her village. They killed most of her family, they tortured her, raped her and then make her their slave. Mr. Speaker, her story is the same as thousands of ucd women except thousands of ucd women are still in captivity and nadia managed to escape. In fact, not he is in the Public Gallery today. Mr. Speaker, with a Prime Minister join me in acknowledging her resilience, bravery, the essential qualities that allowed her to triumph over daesh . Will he do everything in his power to redouble his efforts to support the yazidi women and eradicate the daesh . Let me thank my honorable friend are raising this issue in a way which has done so, let me welcome nokia who is here with us today. She and the ucd committee have suffered at the hands of his murderous, brutal, fascist organization in syria and in iraq. We must do everything we can to defeat daesh and its violent ideology. We are playing a leading role in this global coalition. In terms of iraq where so many ucds supper, wage has lost over 40 of the territory it once controlled suffered. Assets at the time of the debate about syria its going to take a long time to build up Iraqi Security forces, working with opposition forces, building the capacity of governments in both countries to try this evil organization out of the middle these. For however long it takes we must stick at it. We on the benches of join in the condolences the Prime Minister and a leader of the Opposition Coalition to Harriet Harman and pass our best wishes to his family of this sad, difficult time. Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister made his party signed an agreement that would be no detriment to scotland with new devolution arrangements. Why is the uk treasury hosting plans that may be detrimental for scotland to the tune of 3 billion pounds . First of all we except the smith principles of no detriment that there are two principles. Personal no detriment has gone quite rightly at the time when this transfer is made in terms of scotland having these new tax raising powers. And then no detriment to scottish taxpayers but also to the rest of the United Kingdom taxpayers who we have to bear in mind as we take into account this important negotiation. Ive had good conversations with the first minister, negotiations are under way. I want us to successfully complete this important piece of devolution and a fair and reasonable way. These negotiations should continue. Met me remind right honorable gentleman. If we had full fiscal devolution with oil revenues have been collapsed i 94 , to the right honorable gentleman and his party would be just weeks away from a financial calamity for scotland. [inaudible] dont voters have a right to know that what is promised can be trusted and will be delivered in full . Will the Prime Minister to the treasury that time is running out on delivering a fair fiscal framework and that he must have a deal that is there both to the people of scotland and fair to the rest of United Kingdom . I can tell him everything that has been committed to by this government will be delivered. We committed to this huge act of devolution to scotland and we delivered it. We committed to the scotland bill. We are well on the way to delivering it. All the things we said would including those smith principles but theres an ongoing negotiation to reach a fair settlement and i would say to the Scottish First minister and the finance minister they have to recognize there must be fairness across the rest of United Kingdom, too. But with goodwill i can tell you, mr. Speaker, no one is more keen on agreements than me. I want to Scottish National party here and in holyrood to start making decisions which taxes are going to raise . Would are you going to do with benefits . I want to get rid of, frankly, this greatest agenda let you get on with a governing agenda and that we can see what you are made of. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. [inaudible] is threatening and undermining all the work weve done in job creation but also supporting businesses. It is quite simply a ticking timebomb. What, mr. Speaker, to ask the Prime Minister what more can he do to remove the stigma, misunderstanding and all the problems associated around this subject because i think my friend is right to raise the specter our special circumstances because of course you got the enormous success of dyson which is hiring engineers and skills mathematicians and scientists from every university in the country, and long may that continue. What we will do so by training 3 million apprentices in this parliament, give special help to teachers of stem subject and encouraging them into teaching. I think theres a lot that business industry can do to help us in this by going into schools and talking about what these modern engineering covers are all about. How much fulfillment people can get from these careers to encourage people to change the goal to it comes to pursuing these careers. People are afraid of losing their homes. Women deny pensions they were expected come and increase in left expose without the social care they need to live a decent life. When will the Prime Minister address of these scoundrels . What we are doing for pensioners is putting in place the triple lock for every pensioner knows that can never be another shameful 75p increase that we saw under labour. They know every year it would either the wages, prices or 2. 5 and thats why the pension is so muchwhen i became Prime Minister. But, of course, we need to make sure theres a fair settlement for local government, and will be hearing more about that later today. The visibility of local councils to a special council tax for social care will help them everywhere there is great pressure. Nigel adams. [shouting] this bit fire was a crucial element within the battle of britain 75 years ago. Here, here. And keeping our country free from tyranny. However, there are some who fear that our independence Nuclear Deterrent could be as obsolete as the spitfire. Could my right honorable friend the Prime Minister ashore the house and the country that this is not the case . It takes quite a talent and a shadow defense to to [inaudible] another week, another completely ludicrous labour position on the bench. I think the last word should go to the honorable member of an thank you, twitter for this whether i should get out of the meeting tweeted this. Oh dear, oh dear, oh, my god, oh dear, do. Need to go to rest in a darkened room. I suspect youll find the rest of her party there with her. [laughter] thank you, mr. Speaker. [shouting] at todays committee that this is secretary confirmed that the government will not support the Eu Commission in racing tariffs. Why wont the uk government stand up for uk steel . Because we have repeatedly stood up for uk steel, including supporting taking at the dumping measured in the you but thats not enough. Also need to get beyond covering procurement for steel and thats what were doing. We need to get behind reducing energy bills for steel and thats a weird thing. We need support communities like his own medicine job losses, and thats exactly what were doing. We recognize what a vital part of Britains National base for Steel Industry is and thats why we are backing it. Gloria atkins. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. Julian assange is accused of rape and is on the run. Despite this the United Nations panel nobody has ever heard of declared last week that he has been arbitrarily detained of the somehow deserving of compensation to does my right honorable friend agree with me that this was a nonsensical decision that Julian Assange should hand himself over to swedish prosecutors about anyone is deserving of compensation it is the british taxpayer . Who was had to pay 12 Million Pounds to police come his ecuadorian carveouts because my friend is absolutely. I think this was a ridiculous decision. Youve got a man with an outstanding allegation of rape against them. He barricaded himself into the Ecuadorian Embassy and yet claims he was arbitrarily again. The person who detained himself was insulted what he should do is come out of the embassy and face the arrests were that is against them. He is being asked to stand trial in sweden, country with a rare reputation for justice a fair reputation to justice and he should bring to in this whole sorry saga. [inaudible] have raised his concerns a change in housing benefits have forced the closure of many refugees people the Prime Minister undertake specifically exclude refugees from these changes and protect the Vital Services for Vulnerable Women and children is because i said and answers to questions from the leader of the opposition we want to support Supportive Housing projects that work in many of our constituencies. We have all seen how important they are. These changes were talking about, but housing benefits dont come into place until 2018 so theres plenty of time to make sure that we support Supportive Housing projects. Thank you, mr. Speaker next month we will host the First Ever National apprenticeship affair. We have a strong record and expanding apprenticeships but is there not still indeed a cultural shift in career supply to show the high level of apprenticeships are equally valued to University Places . I think my friend is right that careers advice me to give young people is that theres a choice for every school leader, either a University Place because with uncapped University Places or an apprentice you because were funding 3 million of them in this parliament. We need to go on to the point if you become an apprentice that doesnt rule out doing a degree or a degree level qualification later on during the apprenticeship. The auction of using, earn and learn stronger than ever before. Does the Prime Minister agree that how we protect human rights in the legal system of United Kingdom deserves full and careful consideration . Will he give an assurance that his consultation on the repeal of the human rights act will not conflict with the preelection purchased years in scotland and the other devolved administrations . We will look carefully at all of these issues but i would say to the honorable lady and to auto members opposite, the idea that there were no human rights in britain before the human rights act is absolutely ludicrous notion. This house has been that great bastion and defender of human rights but we will look very carefully at the timing of any of the answers that we make. Mr. Speaker, i spend most of my working life in childrens hospitals rely heavily on donations from organizations like children in need who have a long and Pub Association with account of last week with a writable for enjoyment and the people in my constituency debate tribute to jerry pitted so much as part millions of pounds to be donated to these causes . I am very happy to do that. The honorable member representing his constituency whether such a connection with children in need is right to raise this. I think kerry was one of the great icons of this country. I think like many people in this house you sort of felt almost you grew up with them listen to them on the radio in the car are presenting blanketyblank or all the many other things he did. Perhaps many people favorite was the song contest which every year he brought such great humor to be kidnapped to be untoward to be an enormous entry i think were all fans and he will be hugely missed and his work for children in need was particularly special. On monday i attended the tribunal appeal from a constituent mr. Jackie melancon a brave and spider woman who has worked with him because by being unable to climb staircases except on all fours, she was awarded zero disability point buy her a sasser. Can ask the Prime Minister whether he has a constituency mp himself attended any tribunal hearings . And if so whether he finds the process fair, dignified and compassionate . Im very happy to look into the specific case he raises. As a constituency mp of course i people come to my surgery with inquiries either about employment and support allowance or indeed about disability living allowance. Ive got to experience having had a disabled son anthony at all the forms was up and looking for to the new system which i think with proper medical check will work out better. I have listened to these arguments but we have to have a system of adjudication that is independent of two politicians. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Growing up to but i always knew i saw the iconic cooling towers at the station on the horizon. On monday the remaining power station announced its likely closure this summer. Will my right honorable friend asked the secretary of state to meet with me and discuss further the governments support that could be provided to the 150 workers and the provisions that can be made to ensure this site is we develop as quickly as possible . I will arrange for the meeting to take place and we should thank everyone who has worked at power stations that can come to the end of their lives for the work they have done to give us electricity to keep the lights on to keep our economy moving. I think shes right as coalfired power stations can be into their life we must make sure proper redevelopment takes place we provide jobs for constituents like hers. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The federation is considering calling a potential mass walkout in order to get their voices heard about the issue of [inaudible] will the Prime Minister act to give fans a place at the table in club boardrooms in order that their voices can be heard when issues such as ticket prices are being discussed the . I will look very carefully at this just in he makes. I think there is a problem here where some teams, some clubs put up prices very rapidly every year, even though so much of the money for football actually comes to the sponsorship and equipment and other sources ive looked carefully at what he says. Dr. Julian lewis. The vital debate and vote on the successes of marine should been held in the last parliament but was blocked by the liberal democrats. Given to fund the Prime Minister had a few moments ago at the labour partys expense fun over this can and must be tempting for them to put off the boat into labours vote in october the me i urge him to hold a vote as soon as possible because everyone is ready for it and everyone is expecting at . What we should do is have the boat when we need to have a vote and thats exactly what we will do. No one should be in any doubt this come is going to press ahead with all the decisions that are necessary to replace in full our trident submarine. I think the labour party should listen to lord hutton was their defense secretary for many years, he says this. Of labour wants to retain any credibility on defense whatsoever it had better recognize the abject futility of what is leadership is currently proposing. I hope when that vote comes will have support from right across this house of commons. In light of todays report on teacher shortages will the Prime Minister now take urgent steps to of Excellent Schools such as those in my constituency recruit and crucially retaining the best teachers including by extending to all schools and the other suburban schools in london . We will look carefully at this report. To our 13,100 more teachers andn the schools and when i became Prime Minister. Our teachers are Better Qualified than ever before. People ar shouting out about increase pupil number of but it might be interested in with 47,500 fewer pupils in overcrowded schools than in 2010 because we put the investment in where its needed. Where i agree with the honorable gentleman is we do need schemes like to teach first, like our National Leadership programs that are getting some of the best teachers into the schools where they are most needed. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My right honorable friend the Prime Minister deserves great credit for the results of the syria replenishment conference which was held under his coauthorship in london. But he will be aware that this can only address the catastrophe that is syria today and not the causes. Can he tell the house what more he thinks the British Government can do to try and promote the political track and ensure that it reaches the most speedy possible success . First of all candidate by then for what he says about the syria conference. It gives me an opportunity to thank my cohost, the norwegians, the germans come the kuwaitis and the secretary chertoff United Nations. We raise in one day more money than has ever been raised at one of these conferences ever in history, over 10 billion. I want to pay tribute to my right honorable friend the secretary of state who did a lot of hard work that was done. Done. This money helps because the key people in the region, the people come close people, make sure they get medicine they need but we do need is political solution. We going worked with all of our partners to deliver this but it does require all countries including russia to recognize the need for a moderate sunni opposition to be at the table to greet a Transitional Authority in syria. Without the idea well end up with a situation where you have a sock in one corner and daesh in the other corner, the worst possible outcome in terms of terrorism to the worst possible outcome in terms of refugees and the worst possible outcome for the future of syria assad in one corner. Im sure the Prime Minister is looking forward to this, as the uk city of culture we are backed by many prestigious organizations like the bbc. But we could do much better. To make this a Real National celebration of culture. Will the Prime Minister join with me in urging the many london face national art organizations who do their bit and contribute to the success . I think the honorable lady makes a very important point which is our National Cultural institution have an immense amount of works and prestige that they can bring out to regional galleries and Regional Centers when theres a city of culture event or frankly more broadly. I do talk to them about that. I will be looking forward to visiting them. I