City and russias intervention in the u. S. Election. I know that members across the house are appalled by last nights cowardly terrorist attack in new york. Members on both sides of the house have been deeply concerned about allegations of harassment and mistreatment here in westminster. That is why my honorable friend, the leader of the house, has been meeting with her counterparts. Ive written to all Party Leaders inviting them to a meeting early next week so we can discuss a common, transparent, independent grievance procedure for all those working in parliament. We have a duty to ensure that everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect. Mr. Speaker, this morning i had meetings. I shall have further such meetings later today. Dennis skinner. Theres been some very powerful Research Done on the question of high speed rail. What he says is that in the leafy suburbs of the south, the first 140 miles, 30 of it has been dedicated to tunnelling to avoid knocking houses down. Yet in the north, we are now told that the percentage is only 2 for the whole of the north. Why . Because hs 2 says its too costly. Knock the houses down. Will she arrange for a meeting with people from my area in order to avoid another 30 houses being knocked down in newton. Isnt it high time that this government stop treating our people like second class citizens . Knch im sure the department of transport will be happy to look into the question that he has raised. But of course hs 2, the reason why theyre doing hs 2 is that it is important to increase the capacity of the Railway Lines going through to the north. This will be a very important contribution to the United Kingdom economy. And i can assure him if he looks at everything this government has done with the northern power house, the midlands engine [ shouting ] the significant investment in infrastructure across all parts of the country, this is a government that wants to ensure this is a country that works for everyone. I want to join the Prime Minister and add that my thoughts are with new yorkers. The shocking scenes in new york will have brought back awful memories of terrorist attacks here. As we degrade and destroy at its base, i urge our International Partners to join with us in delivering the recent u. N. Resolution to investigate and prosecute terrorists so we can hold them to account for their vile crimes. Yes. My honorable friend raises a very important point. It is important that to ensure that we have a complete response to this issue of the threat of terrorism that does involve dealing with the problem at source. It also involves dealing with terrorism wherever it occurs. Our message is very clear that our values will prevail, that the terrorists will not win. As we do this, we do need to ensure that we work with International Partners. We want to try to make sure that there is in syria and iraq, that we develop a safe spaces as they reemerge from this terrorist threat which has been on their streets but has also affected us here and elsewhere across the world. Crucially in helping those actually in situ to gain evidence that can be used to ensure that anybody who is involved in the horrors of attacks that we see that anybody whos involved in horrors of attacks actually can be properly brought to justice. Thank you, mr. Speaker. On the question of the sex harassments allegations that the Prime Minister quite rightly referred to, just to put on the record im happy to meet with the Prime Minister and all Party Leaders to discuss this. We need better protections for all in this house. This house must involve workplace trade unions in that. But its also incumbent on all parties to have robust procedures in place to protect and support victims of sexual abuse and harassment. I join with the Prime Minister in sending our solidarity to the people of new york and their mayor bill de blasio. They boasted enormous good work at opposite ends of the u. K. To diligently represent their communities and constituencies. Theyll be sadly missed by all of us, particularly in the labor party. Mr. Speaker, in 2010 the labor government intervened through hmrc to shut down aisle of mans scheme used to import yachts into the European Union and thus avoid tax. A similar scheme has recently been exposed relating to the import of Business Jets into the isle of man. Can the Prime Minister ensure the house that hmrc investigates these new allegations diligently . The honorable gentleman has made a number of references in his question andly address all of them. On the first point, it is absolutely essential that we have processes that Political Parties have processes to deal with allegations of misconduct, also that obviously we have the ministerial code and proper investigations take place against the ministerial code where that is appropriate. But i believe it is also crucial for everybody working in this parliament, be they working for a member of parliament, for the house authorities or a journalist working in this parliament, that there are proper processes in this parliament for people to be able to report misconduct and for that to be dealt with. And i think that is very important and im grateful for him saying he will meet with me and i hope other political leaders to look at this particular issue. And i also join him in paying tribute to both frank doran and candy atherton. He chaired the Administration Committee for five years, was a tireless campaign for the safety in the oil and gas industry. Im sure everybody will recall the commitment with which he served in this house and join me in offering condolences to his family and friends. Candy atherton served for eight years as a member of parliament. Once again, im sure members across the house will join me in offering my condolences to her family and friends. The right honorable gentleman talks about tax avoidance. I can assure him that where cases are referred to hmrc in relation to tax avoidance, they take those seriously and look into those measures seriously. Weve secured almost 160 pounds since 2010 through number of measures we have taken to ensure we clamp down on tax evasion and avoidan avoidance. Mr. Speaker, 957 Business Jets in the isle of man seems a bit excessive for any island anywhere. And i hope its investigated and due tax is collected from those people that are trying to avoid it. Estimates of the scale of tax dodging range from 34 billion, which is around the size of our schools budget, to 119 billion, which is the size of the nhs budget. The isle of man v. A. T. Avoidance allegations are part of a wider leak from the bermuda based law firm said to be on a similar scale to the Panama Papers. Will the Prime Minister commit the hmrc to fully investigate all evidence of u. K. Tax avoidance and evasion from this leak and prosecute where feasible . I had given the right honorable gentleman assurance in my first answer that hmrc does take these issues very seriously, does investigate and does take action where appropriate and tax loopholes are closed. What is important is that if we look at the record that we have, i mentioned the 160 billion in additional compliance revenues since 2010. Weve announced or implemented over 75 measures since 2010 to tackle tax avoidance and evasion. The right honorable gentleman referred to one done by the labor government. We have been continuing to act on this particular issue. So we will be raising billions of pounds more as a result of that. But i think most people would recognize that hmrc actually does rather want to collect tax. Thats its job and it does look to make sure it can do so as much as possible. Mr. Speaker, its rather strange then that britain reportedly has blocked a frenchled proposal which would have placed bermuda on the European Union tax haven blacklist. Perhaps the Prime Minister could explain why that would be the case. The Panama Papers exposed many wealthy individuals and big businesses who avoided tax through offshore trusts. Labor backs any necessary changes to toughen our laws against tax avoidance. Just yesterday, mr. Speaker, we tried to strengthen legislation on Beneficial Ownership of trusts with amendments we placed to finance bill. Why did the government vote against them . Can i say to the right honorable gentleman that he raises the issue of british overseas territories. In fact, this government has taken action in relation to those british overseas territories, action that was not taken by the previous labor government. So if he says to me that this whole question of tax evasion is something that needs to be constantly looked at and government needs to be prepared to act, then my answer is yes, we are and we will. Mr. Speaker, theres a strange kind of patent here. Pattern here. In 2015 alone, conservative members of the European Parliament voted against five reports to introduce methods of fighting tax avoidance and evasion. And last week hmrc admitted that Multinational Companies avoid paying 5. 8 billion taxes in 2016. And despite this, hmrc is currently cutting another 8,000 staff. So can the Prime Minister assure the house that in the upcoming budget, instead of more cuts to hmrc, theyll get more resources to tackle the scourge of aggressive tax avoidance and evasion. I have reassured the right honorable gentleman that hmrc is acting, has been acting since this conservative party came into government in 2010 and will continue to act. But of course the right honorable gentleman in asking these questions might want to reflect on why it was before the dissolution of Parliament Earlier this year, it was the labor party that stopped and refused to support antitax avoidance and evasion measures brought forth by this government. His party stopped it. Mr. Speaker, my question was why conservative mps opposed what labor was proposing yesterday. So mr. Speaker [ shouting ] last months European Parliament committee of inquiry set up in the wake of the Panama Papers claimed that the u. K. Is obstructing the fight against tax dodging and money laundering. And just last week the e. U. s competition commissioner announced an inquiry into u. K. Taxation rules that may have institutionalized tax avoidance by multinational corporations. Isnt the Prime Minister concerned that vital revenue is being lost to fund schools and hospitals . Will she change the rules in the budget . Can i say to the right honorable gentleman, we have taken an extra 160 billion pounds in additional compliance revenue since 2010. And he says he comments on measures that were being proposed this week. As i said in my previous answer, we would have had more tax evasion, antitax evasion measures in place if the labor party had not blocked them before the last election. This party in government, this party in government has been not just acting in the u. K. We have been working with the crown dependencies and we have been leading the world. It was a conservative Prime Minister that put this on the agenda of the g7 and the g20 for International Action against tax avoidance and evasion. Mr. Speaker, if we are leading the world, perhaps she could explain how the amount of tax paid by the super rich in income tax has fallen from 4. 4 billion to 3. 5 billion since 2009. Earlier this year, the accounts Committee Said the hmrc record of getting multimillionaires to pay their taxes was, and i quote, dismal. And that the super rich were getting help with their tax affairs that is not available to other taxpayers. Our schools budgets are being cut. More people waiting longer for treatment. Order we do tend to have large doses of this overexcitement every week. Id like to get to the end of the order paper and to facilitate back bench inquiries as well. Members are eating only into their own time. Ive got all the time in the world. I must say it again. Our schools budget are being cut, more people waiting longer for treatment on the National Health service, more elderly and disabled not getting the social care they need. Does the Prime Minister think it is acceptable that when it comes to paying taxes, theres one rule for the super rich and another for the rest of us . The top 1 of earners in this country are paying 28 of the tax burden. That is the highest percentage ever under any government. And once again, the right honorable gentleman is wrong. Over the next two years 2. 5 billion pounds extra is being put into our schools as a result of decisions taken by this conservative government. But ill tell him. He talks about spending on schools and hospitals. Ill tell him where the real problem lies. Today we spend nearly 50 billion pounds in payments on interest to those we have borrowed from as a result of the legacy of the labor party. That is more than we spend on the nhs pay bill, it is more than we spend order the Prime Ministers answer will be heard. As i indicated the question from the opposition would be heard. You are a senior denizen of the house. This excessive gesticulation is not good for you, man. Calm yourself. We spend 50 billion pounds on debt interest every year, payments to people weve borrowed from. Thats more than the nhs pay bill, its more than our school budget, its more than we spend on defense. Thats a result of the economy we were left by the labor party in government. What does the right honorable gentleman want to do . He wants to borrow 500 billion pounds more that would make the situation worse and mean even less money for schools and hospitals. Mr. Speaker, on august 22nd, 2015, in my constituency 11 men tragically lost their lives. Over 26 months later no decision has been taken on criminal charges. The inquest has been delayed again until next year. The family of the victims have just had their application for exceptional case funding denied. Will my right honorable friend agree to look at this case again and to meet the families to ensure that they have proper access to justice in this exceptionally tragic case which has a much wider Public Interest for safety . Can i say to my honorable friend he raises a very important issue and i can fully understand the concerns of the fami families. He talks about the timetable for decisions being taken. The department of transport has accepted the investigation recommendation and independent review and theyre working with the air Accidents Investigation branch to determine the exact scope of the review. The Civil Aviation authority has accepted all recommendations. There is considerable work going onto learn the lessons from this disaster. We are also obviously committed to ensure where there is a public disaster people are able to have proper representation. This is an issue that i will ask the lord chancellor to look at in relation to the question he has raised. Ian blackford knch. Thank you, mr. Speaker. When the Prime Minister talked about the zero tolerance there has to be for bad Sexual Practices and behavior. I certainly commit my members to work with the government to make sure we can have a system that we can be proud of that will protect all members of the house of parliament. Can i also pass on my condolences to the family and friends of frank dodd for his untimely death. Can the Prime Minister tell the house how much a working single parent can expect to lose because of the roll out of universal credit . Can i first of all say to the honorable gentleman that im grateful for him for agreeing that he wants to work across the house on this important issue. He referred to sexual misconduct. I think that is important is that any processes that are put in place dont just look at sexual misconduct, but look at issues like bullying as well because i think that is also important. Hes raised universal credit with me before. He knows the reason weve brought into place universal credit is that when people are in the workplace they are able to keep more of the money that they earn. I believe thats an important principle. It underpins what were doing. Mr. Speaker, the reality is that working Single Parents could lose an average of 1350 pounds per year because of the cuts to work allowances. Universal credit is fast becoming a poll tax. The Prime Minister has a habit of uturning. Will she uturn one more time and fix the problems with universal credit . Ive underlined the principle that lies behind universal credit, which i believe is a very important one. When we look at the support that is given to people, it isnt just about the support on universal credit. Its also about support to help them to get into the workplace to ensure they can actually meet the requirements of getting into the workplace. And when theyre in the workplace, they can keep more of the money they earn. I think that is an important principle. We will continue to roll out universal credit looking carefully at the implement take of universal credit as we do so because were doing this in a careful way over a period of time. Universal credit is a simpler system that ensures that people keep more as they earn more. Mr. Speaker, in chesham we still have areas that do not have access to high speed broadband. And with the advent of electric vehicles, were going to need to install an extensive charging network. Could the Prime Minister<