PMQs: Keir Starmer takes questions in parliament – watch live

The Minister intends to further work with Phillip A&I to promote the high quality and the lower cost that Northern Ireland has. We have lots to offer, let's take advantage of it. Do shut on the movie I think, come on Mr Speaker. If you're directing it Mr Speaker. I look forward to my visit to Strangford, I don't see enough of the Honourable Member in this House. The creative industries in Northern Ireland are booming as he says and they're backed all of the way by this Government. We have a modern industrial strategy, a 10-year plan to back our strengths and unlock potential. The Government has committed to increasing investment in creative industries to £31 billion by 2035. Sam Russell. With permission Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 4 and 6. Together, the 2023 Legacy Act was rejected by all the major Northern Ireland political parties as well as by our domestic courts, victims and survivors and by many veterans who saw it as an affront to the rule of law that they sought to protect. The Government took a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Act by introducing the Troubles Bill which received its second reading yesterday. Sam Russell. Thank you Mr Speaker, I'm proud to represent a community with a lot of veterans, many of whom served in Northern Ireland. Can the Secretary of State tell me, who is he engaging with to make sure that the protections for our veterans in the Legacy Act are as strong and effective as possible? The Secretary of State for Defence. We have, those protections have been drawn up following extensive consultation with veterans organisations and I gave the House a commitment yesterday evening that I will continue to talk to veterans, to the Royal British Legion and to the Veterans Commissions and others to make sure we get these right. Sir Hall. Thank you Mr Speaker, my constituents Colin and Wendy Parry, whose 12 year old son Tim along with 3 year old Jonathan Ball were murdered in the 1993 Warrington bombing and they've waited over 30 years for justice. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the Government act on the extracts of the Shawcross report and the 2018 Northern Ireland APPG recommendations and work across Government to deliver justice for Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism and will he meet with me to discuss these matters? The Secretary of State. Well I, the whole House would once again want to express his sympathy to all the families affected by that terrible bombing. The Government and predecessor Governments have raised this issue with the Libyan authorities. It is a difficult process engaging with them, there are complications to do with the way in which their assets are held. This is a leave for the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office and I will make sure that the appropriate Minister hears the request that my Honourable Friend has made. Alex Easton. Thank you Mr Speaker. Secretary of State, isn't it the reality that this legislation has failed to win the confidence of many who served and that's what is now needed are clear, robust protections against repeated investigations so that we honour our veterans in practice and not just in rhetoric? The Secretary of State. Well I say to the Honourable Gentleman, those protections including against repeated investigations are clearly set out in the Bill that the House gave a second reading to yesterday and I hope that as people come to understand that they're there and how they work, they will offer the reassurance that he is looking for. Jim Allister. Yesterday in the second reading the Secretary of State gave an undertaking that he would not appoint any paramilitaries to the victims and survivors group. In light of that undertaking will he now underwrite it by indicating that he will accept an amendment to put into statutory form that there cannot be any paramilitary serving on the victims and survivors group? If his undertaking is good then let's make it even better by putting in the statute. Well I think from memory Mr Speaker I gave that undertaking three times at the dispatch box yesterday and I hope that it would provide the Honourable Member with the assurance that he is looking for because I'm quite clear no one with that record is going to be appointed to the victims and survivors panel. Horan Moon. May I ask Mr Speaker, yesterday along with the Veterans Minister I met with a group of Special Forces veterans based in Cornwall. The Legacy Act's immunity scheme which would have enabled immunity for terrorists and other key provisions were ruled against by our domestic courts. Isn't it the case that any new government would have had to have dealt with this? Well that is indeed the case my Honourable Friend is absolutely right. It was quite wrong to have brought forward legislation to seek to give immunity to terrorists which is what the last government's Legacy Act did and that is probably the principal reason why it had no support in Northern Ireland including from victims and survivors because there is a fundamental principle we believe in the rule of law and it should apply to everyone and that is why the government is acting in the legislation and the remedial order to finally lay that failed attempt at immunity to rest. Gregory Stafford. Thank you Mr Speaker. Can I ask the Secretary of State whether, was the Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris wrong when he said that there were no new protections for veterans in the Troubles Bill? Well there clearly are new protections for veterans in the Troubles Bill set out throughout the legislation that were never in the previous legislation that the last government passed and we've laid them out to the House and the veterans community and others can see clearly what they are. Alex Burkhart, Shadow Secretary of State. Thank you very much Mr Speaker. On the 15th of August 1998 in Omar the real IRA murdered 29 people including a woman who was pregnant with twins. It was the deadliest attack of the Troubles and the most wicked. Following the 2021 recommendation of Mr Justice Horner the last Conservative government launched the Omar inquiry into whether there was anything that UK state authorities could have done to prevent the bombing. But the bombers planned and launched their attack from the Republic of Ireland and this was why Mr Justice Horner also said there needed to be an independent inquiry in the Republic to ask whether Irish state authorities themselves could have done anything. Given that the UK's inquiry was announced three years ago, has the Secretary of State raised the question of an inquiry in the south with his counterparts on his recent trip to Dublin? Well I have in my conversations with the Irish government raised that question. It is of course for the Irish government to decide whether they wish to hold a public inquiry but as the honourable gentleman will be well aware the Irish government has committed to co-operate fully with the inquiry the last government established both through the memorandum of understanding on the provision of information and the commitment they have made to legislate to allow witnesses to give evidence to it. Now look I thank the Secretary of State for his answer and I am aware that the Republic is sharing information with our inquiry but the Secretary of State will be aware that the Omar inquiry is only capable of answering questions about what UK state authorities did and did not do. Four years ago Mr Justice Horner said that there needed to be a parallel inquiry in the south. The victims and families recognise it, does the Secretary of State recognise it? Well I recognise both what the judge said in his judgement four years ago and I strongly support what the last government did to establish a public inquiry but it is a matter for the Irish government to make that decision but I hope that with the co-operation, unprecedented co-operation that the Irish government has undertaken to give to the inquiry it will provide absolutely vital information for the inquiry to get to the bottom of what happened. Paul Kearnley Liberal Democrat spokesperson. Thank you Mr Speaker as I hope the Secretary of State knows my party and I are hugely supportive of his efforts to move beyond the Tories failed legacy act, provide the legitimate concerns about veterans are fully met. Can the Secretary of State detail specifically either now or in writing later with which veteran groups he has consulted on the wording of the Bill and which ones have currently expressed acceptance of the Bill as currently drafted? Well I will very gladly if I may write to the honourable gentleman to set out the veterans organisations that the Government, myself, the Defence Secretary and the Armed Forces Minister have engaged in in drawing up those protections and I have already indicated to the House the groups we will continue to talk to as we take that work forward. Mark Tobin Question number five please Mr Speaker. The Government's new partnership with the EU aims to deliver a broad range of economic benefits for Northern Ireland including smoothing flows of trade, protecting the UK's internal market, reducing costs for businesses and benefiting firms who move agri-food and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Thank you Mr Speaker and I thank the Secretary of State for his answer. Does he agree with me that aligning safety standards and cutting red tape for checks and paperwork is precisely the kind of support for growth and trade that this Government promised to deliver for business when it was elected last year? Well I do agree with my honourable friend on that and that is why the partnership agreement reached with the EU back in May was so widely welcomed in Northern Ireland particularly by those in the agri-food sector because as we take that forward and turn it into a full SPS agreement it will bring enormous benefits to firms that are moving those products across the Irish Sea from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Robin Swann Mr Speaker come the 1st of January veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland will be reduced by 40% according to the current suppliers over there. What steps has the Government taken to ensure the supply of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland which ensure animal health but also have an eye counted at human health as well? Well as the honourable gentleman will be aware we've had the veterinary medicines working group we've been working very closely with the industry we have set out two schemes the veterinary medicines health situation scheme and the veterinary medicines internal market scheme drawing on the cascade and we are confident that that will ensure the continued supply of veterinary medicines from the 1st of January to vets and farmers and others who need them. Joe White Question number seven Mr Speaker. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will retain part four of the 2023 legacy act which includes provisions for memorialisation. I would welcome views and suggestions on how to take this forward including on whether any new memorials should be established. Joe White On the 5th of April 1979 an IRA sniper fired an armoured vehicle as it entered Anderstown RUC station killing blue royal serviceman Anthony Dyke. My constituent whose mother Kathleen now aged 94 has never let his memory go. She told me her son is a forgotten soldier. There are monuments for soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq but nothing for those who served in Northern Ireland. Kathleen is now very frail. I am her voice today asking government to commit to a national memorial. Well first of all could I express on behalf of the whole house our condolences to her on the loss of her son all those years ago. I would say that the names of those service personnel who died on deployment to Operation Banner are rightly listed on the armed forces memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum as a lasting record of their sacrifice and I don't know whether my hon. Friend's constituent has had a chance to visit there. Perhaps it's something she might like to facilitate. The Father of the House Sir Edmund Leigh Many thousands of our brave troops served in Northern Ireland and many gave their lives for peace and for our country. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that they deserve a memorial not some of them to be prosecuted? The Prime Minister Well as I indicated in answer to the earlier question there is that memorial already at the National Memorial Arboretum. There are other places in which the service and sacrifice of those who serve the state is recorded including the RUC memorial garden that I have had the opportunity to visit and it was an extremely moving occasion as one looks at all of the names and remembers the huge sacrifice that all of those people made in defence of freedom in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister Before I come to Prime Minister's questions may I extend a warm welcome to the President of the National Council of Slovak Republic and his delegation who are with us in the gallery today. May I also welcome the new Chief Minister of St Helena. We now come to questions from Prime Minister Kit Malthouse. Prime Minister Let me start by congratulating Scotland on their magnificent victory for the first time since 1998. The Prime Minister I didn't realise you were all Scottish MPs. The Prime Minister They qualified with fantastic goals including a cracker from former Arsenal player Kieran Teaney who was always a great favourite with the fans. My thoughts are with the communities across the country affected by severe flooding particularly in Monmouthshire. I have been liaising with the First Minister of Wales and I want to thank all our emergency services for their response. My thoughts are also with the family and loved one of Royal Fleet Auxiliary member James Elliott who has sadly been lost. I know the contribution that personnel of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary make and the risks that they take in the line of duty. My thoughts and I'm sure the thoughts of the whole House are with those who knew him at this tragic and difficult time for them. Mr Speaker last Thursday I visited Anglesey to announce the construction of the country's first small modular reactor. That's the biggest investment in North Wales in a generation creating more than 6,000 jobs. On Monday we introduced the largest overhaul of the asylum policy in modern times restoring control, fairness and creating safe and legal routes. And today I'm pleased to announce that inflation is coming down. There's more to do but it's an important step. Mr Speaker this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in addition to my duties in this House. I shall have further such meetings later today. Mr Speaker many of us are becoming concerned that technical or procedural manoeuvres outside of this House may be used to prevent Parliament reaching a decision on the terminally ill adults bill. Now the government is neutral on the bill itself but I presume it's not neutral on the issue of democracy or the primacy of this chamber. So could the Prime Minister please reassure the House that the decision of elected members and the wishes and hopes of the vast majority of the people we serve will not be frustrated in this way? Can I thank him for his question. I know he feels strongly about this issue. As he says the government is neutral on the passage of the bill. It is a matter of conscience that there are different and respected views across Parliament and it is for Parliament to decide in the end on any changes in this chamber. Scrutiny of the bill in the Lords is a matter for the Lords but the government does have a responsibility to make sure that any legislation which passes through Parliament is workable, is effective and of course enforceable. John Tricky. Thank you very much indeed Mr Speaker and the party opposite in government said that they would level up the country but in fact they left the country divided. Half austerity in de-industrialisation, stagnant wages all took the heart, ripped the heart out of mining communities like the ones I represent. Everywhere you can see a legacy which the party opposite left and how can it be right that the hard-working loyal people in my constituency earn £400 a week or £20,000 a year less than people who live in Kensington. So will the Prime Minister now declare that it is the government's moral purpose to eliminate economic injustice, starting with the budget next week, announcing massive investment in the north and wherever else poverty and low pay raise its hand. Well can I thank him for raising this important issue because they laugh but working people paid a very heavy price for 14 years of economic failure. Austerity damaged the economy and decimated public services. The botched Brexit deal stifled growth and the reckless borrowing on a mini-budget saw mortgages and the cost of living soar. He's right to raise this issue, we're determined to tackle inequality. He'll be pleased to know that under this government wages are up but we need to do more. We've had a pay increase to the £3.5 million lowest paid and the chance will deliver a budget based on Labour values. Kevin Beard not leader of the opposition. Thank you Mr Speaker and can I associate our side of the house with the remarks the Prime Minister made about James Elliot. Can the Prime Minister tell us why his government is the first government in history to float increasing income tax rates only to then U-turn on it all after the actual budget. Well I'll inform her the budget is actually next week rather than after the budget. So we've got one week to go but I can tell her it'll be a Labour budget Mr Speaker with Labour values. That means we will concentrate on cutting NHS waiting lists, cutting debt and cutting the cost of living and because of the decisions we've already made. Inflation is down this morning, the Bank of England have upgraded growth. We've got a record £230 billion of investment into this country under this government. Mr Speaker he says the budget is next week but we read all about it in the papers. This is the first budget to unravel before it's even been delivered. The Chancellor's cluelessness I'm afraid is damaging the economy now. The Prime Minister needs to end this shambles. So can he confirm today that he won't break another promise by freezing income tax thresholds. Mr Speaker the budget is one week today and we will lay out our plans. But what we won't do Mr Speaker, I've said what we will do in terms of protecting the NHS and public services. What we won't do is inflict austerity on the country as they did. What we won't do is inflict a borrowing spree like Liz Trusted also inflicted huge damage. Mr Speaker have they learnt anything? She's apparently got a golden economic rule I think. So it's a very important rule this golden rule. This £47 billion of cuts with no detail, no one at the Institute of Government says they're on very shaky foundations. They haven't listened and they haven't Mr Speaker it is quite clear that they are going to freeze thresholds. We didn't get a clear answer from them but this is really important because in her budget speech last year, in her budget speech last year the Chancellor said and I quote, I am keeping every single promise on tax that I made in our manifesto. So there will be no extension of the freeze in income tax and national insurance thresholds. Why was freezing thresholds a breach of the manifesto last year but it isn't this year? Mr Speaker every week she comes along and speculates and distorts. Last year they predicted recession and what did we get? The fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of the year. They opposed NHS investment and what did we get? 5 million extra appointments in the first year of a Labour government. They tried growing the economy with millions on NHS waiting lists with our schools crumbling and holes in our road. It didn't work. What do they want to do now? Go back to the same failed experiment. Mr Speaker he talks about speculation. The only people who've been speculating are his government every single day for the last three months and he mentioned inflation in his last answer. Inflation has nearly doubled since they came into office. He wants a round of applause because it's come down a little bit. I will remind him that food inflation is up 4.9% that is making life miserable for all of those people out there. But let's go back to thresholds because this is important. When the Chancellor made that promise to unfreeze the thresholds it wasn't an off-the-cuff comment. She said it on the floor of this house in her budget speech. That was a deliberate statement of government policy. So if she breaks such a clear promise how can the public trust the words that she says next week? Mr Speaker she talks about inflation it went to 11% or more. 11% and the country's still paying the price. Inflation is down this morning. Wages are up but we've had five interest rate cuts and that's because our fiscal rules are ironclad. And the leader of the opposition and the party of us have no credibility on the economy. She was Treasury Minister during the worst decline in living standards on record and she said that Liz Truss got the mini budget 100% right. Not much room for flexibility there. 100% that's pretty full marks Mr Speaker. She might want to tell us whether that's still her position 100% right for Liz Truss. Mr Speaker I was Treasury Minister at the height of the pandemic. We cleaned up that mess. Maybe he could clean up some of his own mess. I'm going to repeat what the Chancellor said because it's quite clear that the whole front bench has forgotten. She said I have come to the conclusion that extending the threshold freeze would hurt working people. It would take more money out of their payslips and yet that's what they're planning to do next week. And all of this speculation is having real world consequences. Just this morning the UK chair of Exxon Mobil said and I quote the government needs to understand that the whole industrial base of the UK is at risk unless they wake up and realise the damage their economic policies are doing. Mr Speaker can the Prime Minister tell us is the loss of UK industry the price the country has to pay for having a clueless Chancellor? Mr Speaker let me just say about Exxon Mobil it is a difficult time for the workforce there and we must focus on supporting them. We've been meeting the company for over six months and explored every possible reasonable avenue. They have been facing losses for the last five years. It's best to do the detail before you chunter and they're currently losing one million pounds a week. But she talks about policy and approach. On energy policy she follows reform. On the European convention she follows the man who wants her job. And when her shadow minister said we should deport people lawfully here to achieve cultural coherence she pretended that it didn't happen. I could go on she was the trade secretary that didn't sign any trade deals. Cheerleader for the mini-budget, cheerleader for open borders and when they were crashing the economy, botching Brexit and running down the NHS she was right at the centre. She hasn't got an ounce of credibility. Mr Speaker on energy policy what we are doing is listening to industry. Mrs Slinger please, we don't want to have to sling you out. Mr Speaker just this morning we heard from the chair of one of our largest energy companies. Last week I had a round table with energy companies and what they had to say about this prime minister and his energy secretary is unprintable. They are absolutely furious. Our oil and gas industry is dying and he's standing there saying he had meetings. People out there are struggling Mr Speaker. The budget chaos is causing real anxiety. People aren't buying houses, businesses aren't hiring and they are cancelling investment decisions. Two weeks ago the chancellor called a ridiculous press conference to blame everyone else for her having to raise income tax. Then last week she u-turned on her own u-turn. Instead we can see they're planning to freeze income tax thresholds. Something she said last year would be a breach of their manifesto. They are making it up as they go along. Doesn't the country deserve better than government by guesswork. Mr Speaker either we renew our country with Labour or we go back to austerity 2.0 with reform of the Tories. They left waiting lists at record highs. Almost a million more children in poverty and they wrecked our public services. She comes here to talk down the country. We're turning the page. More NHS appointments, free breakfast clubs, free childcare, more homes and better public services. That's what we're fighting for. A Britain built for all. What happened? Mr Speaker, standing in the heart of Weymouth the Rectory is an iconic building. Formerly a theatre, once a bustling cinema and then a popular pub as well. And yet for more than a decade this building has stood empty. We want to turn this building into a thriving centre for arts and culture. Hosting exhibitions and celebrating everything that makes Weymouth unique. So will the Prime Minister work with me and all the key players on the ground to revitalise the Rectory and reopen this fantastic building for our town. Prime Minister. My Honourable Friend is a brilliant champion for South Dorset and he's right to champion revitalising our high streets. The Minister for Heritage would be delighted to discuss how we can get this iconic building reopened as he wants. I'm pleased that Weymouth secured £20 million in Pride in Place funding, giving his community the power and resources to make a real difference to people's lives. Sir David, leader of the Liberal Democrats. Thank you Mr Speaker. Can I associate myself with the Prime Minister's opening remarks and can I also join with him in congratulating Scotland on their amazing win against Denmark and wish them well in the World Cup. And can I also say I hope Wales soon qualifies to join England and Scotland. But Mr Speaker, every year there are more than 300 suicides related to problem gambling. It affects hundreds of thousands of families tearing them apart. Meanwhile online gambling firms are taking in record revenues of over £7 billion a year. Now ITV News are reporting that one of them, Skybet, is moving its headquarters to Malta so it can save tens of millions of pounds in corporation tax. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that it's time that we tax them on their UK profits so these online gambling firms don't escape wherever they are registered for tax. Prime Minister. Can I join him on wishing Wales well and Northern Ireland. I'd like to see all four nations in the finals. But look he raises the really important issue of suicide and it's Men's Health Day and it is really important and I think the whole House would want to work together on anything that can prevent suicide. I think if all of us think about individuals we may know who lost their lives through suicide it's something that touches almost every one of us and all of our families as well. We will of course look at the link between suicide and gambling and take whatever measures we can to reduce suicide. It's a very important issue. Sir Ed David. Thank you for his reply and we look forward to the government coming forward with action on that. On another domestic matter Mr Speaker, next to the river Charwell in Oxfordshire a field is now covered in an enormous mound of rubbish 150 metres long and up to 12 metres high. The water is now lapping against the waste and carrying it into the river. It's just one of many sites Mr Speaker where organised criminal gangs are illegally dumping their waste onto our countryside and getting away with it. This is a shocking environmental emergency. So will he instruct the Environment Agency to clean it up now? Firstly these are utterly appalling scenes, utterly appalling. A criminal investigation as he knows is underway and specialist officers are tracking down those responsible. The Environmental Agency in answer to his question will use all available powers to make sure that the perpetrators cover the cost of the cleanup which must now follow. We have boosted the Environment Agency's budget for tackling waste crime by 50% giving councils new powers to seize and crush fly-tippers vehicles and lawbreakers can now face up to five years in jail. Immigration is the number one issue on doorsteps of Bristol North East. Most people will ask me about it. They want a firm but also a fair approach but have been let down over many years. Controlling our borders and knowing who comes is essential not least to integration. Mr Speaker what can the Prime Minister say to my constituents in Bristol North East that will give them assurance that the reforms that the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary are proposing which I support will be firm but will also be fair. Prime Minister I'm proud Mr Speaker to lead an open tolerant generous country. To maintain that principle we must restore order and control, fix the utterly broken system left by the party opposite and end the division that others seek to exploit. That does include creating safe and legal routes, recognising those who contribute, integrate and strengthen our society while at the same time reducing illegal arrivals and removing those with no right to be here. That is a fair progressive system that meets modern challenges. Jim Ellison Mr Speaker the governments of France, Germany and the United States have all extracted from Libya compensation for their citizens who were affected by Gaddafi-led terrorism across the world. Why Prime Minister is the British Government continuing to fail United Kingdom citizens who suffered to a huge extent through the importation of arms and in particular the tons of semtex that Gaddafi supplied to the IRA, giving rise to Inniskillen, to Warrington, to the Baltic Exchange and multiple others? Why is no compensation being extracted from Libya for our citizens when it can be done for others? Will the Prime Minister at least meet representatives of the almost forgotten but still campaigning families of those affected by Gaddafi's terrorism? The Prime Minister So many suffer from Gaddafi and he is absolutely right to raise this really serious issue. We are working hard on it. I will absolutely make sure that the meeting he asks for is set up with the relevant Minister so that we can give the full position and take on board what they have to say. Luke Charters On International Men's Day and in the spirit of Movember, I want to be open about my own past mental health challenges in the hope that it might encourage other men to do the same. And during the traumatic birth of my first son, I nearly lost my wife and a dark cloud settled over me. A cloud lifted through conversation and support and through the safe arrival of my second son and bright days lie ahead. I'm joined in the gallery today by Mike from Menfulness, a fantastic charity, giving men a place to talk. So will the Prime Minister, as a dad himself, agree with me that strength as a man means being open about our emotions and that we should never face into challenges on our own? The Prime Minister Can I thank him for his honesty. It's never easy to stand up and say what he's just said. And I hope he understands just how important that is for others who will be suffering, who will be inspired to be able to talk openly about their experiences and importantly, get the help that they need. I'm really proud to publish the first ever men's health strategy today to tackle challenges that disproportionately affect men, including certain cancers and suicide, which is tragically the biggest killer of those men under 50. So we will invest millions in helping more men access mental health support, better care for former minors and rolling out at-home blood tests to tackle prostate cancer. But I do thank him for speaking out. I think it's so important. It's so brave. It's been done across the House. This isn't a party political issue, but it's always very powerful when it's done and it's a model for all of us. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given the government's desire to improve educational outcomes and the well-being of our children, it is ignoring the elephant in the room. This morning, I hosted a really powerful roundtable with three secondary head teachers who spoke about the transformational effect that a complete ban on smartphones in their schools had had. Improved behaviour, increased focus, far fewer safeguarding issues and most importantly, happier children. But for them it has been a really hard one and it's sunk a huge amount of time. So will the Prime Minister tell me, and the thousands of head teachers out there who are crying out for this change, why his government won't back them with a ban on smartphones in school? I thank her for her question. It's a really important question. I've got teenage children in secondary school and I know it's an issue of concern to parents and teachers. The reality of the statistics are that the vast majority of schools already ban smartphones. They allow children to bring their phones to school but they ban them in school time in lessons. Of course we'll always keep this under review. We've got to take steps that will be effective. I agree with the sentiment of what she's putting to me. We need to deal with it effectively. Thank you Mr Speaker. One of the worst legacies of the last Conservative government was the collapse in apprenticeships for young people in places such as Port Talbot, shutting a generation out of opportunity. Mr Speaker, my city is determined to turn that around with places like Peterborough College, like many of our colleges, leading the charge. Whilst I welcome the government's reform, I still speak to too many young people who can't access the training they need to rebuild Britain. Will the Prime Minister set out what more we can do together to ensure Peterborough's young people get the good jobs and apprenticeships they deserve? Well I thank him. His dedicated campaign means Peterborough has one of the first youth guarantee pilots in the country. Mr Speaker, we inherited an awful situation where almost 1 million young people were not earning or learning. We refuse to accept that. That's why we're delivering the new youth guarantee, investing a record £3 billion into apprenticeships, and increasing the national minimum wage for 16 to 20 year olds. The reform and the Tories say the minimum wage is too high. They're totally wrong. We're going to focus on every young person to give them the chance to succeed. Thank you Mr Speaker. Whilst the Labour frontbench continue to peddle their own form of dog whistle politics, Reform UK are cracking on with the day job. Our reform-led councils have already identified savings of over £330 million in the first six months, and the Prime Minister may shake his head propped up by these gullible backbenchers, but here's the challenge. Will he guarantee, will he ensure that all the cancelled elections from this year and the proposed local elections for next year will go ahead in May 2026? Go on, be a man. I didn't realise he's quite so good at stand-up comedy. Mr Speaker, he talks about dog whistle. Last week his leader said he didn't have time, didn't have time to condemn the racist comments of his fellow MP for Runcorn. He also said he didn't have time to condemn his party calling children in care evil. He didn't have time. I wonder if we could ask his leader next door to him whether he's got time for his explanation for the stories in today's papers. Mr Speaker, over the summer large quantities of illegal cigarettes were seized in shops in my constituency, however many of those shops will reopen the very next day. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that we have to make it easier for these shops to be closed down permanently so we put out of business forever these criminal networks? Prime Minister, can I thank her for raising this because there's been a surge in response to illegal shops selling products they shouldn't be selling and not paying their taxes. It's very important. A raid in October saw over 900 arrests, almost £11 million of criminal profits were seized and almost £3 million of illegal gear was destroyed. We need to go further to protect our high streets. That's why we're giving councils powers to prevent certain shops from even opening, supporting them to deal with unwanted shops and through the tobacco and vape spill, cracking down on rogue retailers who break the law. Thank you Mr Speaker. Eastbourne resident Pam was given a cheque for £125,000 by her terminally ill partner which she went on to cash in but an error by the bank, Barclays, meant that only £125 was deposited. Barclays admitted the error and then said that they will compensate her for £250 for the inconvenience caused. Will the Prime Minister work with me to ensure that Barclays Bank pays Pam the compensation that she needs and deserves and while we're here will he commit to imposing a windfall tax on the banks like Barclays on their excess profits to bring bills down for residents struggling? The case of his constituent Pam is staggeringly bad, absolutely terrible. If he could provide me with the full details of it I will make sure that the government joins him in doing whatever we can in relation to his constituent. Before I sit down may I take a moment to send my warmest congratulations to the honourable member on getting engaged I think on Thursday. The proposal I think was right here in Parliament. You never know what you might find in this dispatch box but on behalf of my party and actually I'm sure the whole house can I wish him and Connor a lifetime of happiness. Thank you Mr Speaker. Crewe railway station is the gateway to the north and indeed the shop window for my constituency with an average annual footfall of four and a half million people. I am working with Cheshire East Council on ambitious plans for Crewe 360 to deliver much needed investment into the station and into the land around the station and we want to adopt the railway industry association's station investment zone proposals which could deliver much needed improvements in transport, housing, regeneration and economic growth. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that Crewe would make a perfect pilot for these proposals and will he agree to work with me to bring government departments around the table so that we can make these plans a reality. Well I thank him for his question because of our actions Mr Speaker house building near stations like Crewe will now be a yes. That means tens of thousands of homes delivered far sooner for families with great transport links as standard. I'll make sure that he meets the relevant ministers to drive forward growth. Every step we've taken to deliver more homes has been opposed by the parties opposite. They're the blockers, Labour are the builders. Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker it is an open secret that the gig economy is a magnet for organised crime and illegal workers. As Christmas approaches and demand increases so do the associated risks. Will the Prime Minister please explain why enforcement in this area is so low and what he will do to restore order. Well we're delivering a record crackdown on illegal working in the gig economy, expanding the right to work and facial recognition checks which are really important. We're also introducing a new criminal offence of trespassing with intent to commit a crime through the place a criming bill. As you can tell. Thank you Mr Speaker based on their reaction to care or remember but every day I see the cost to my constituents in Bournemouth West of years of cuts to public services, youth services gone, neighbourhood policing decimated, no NHS dentist appointments. So can the Prime Minister confirm there will be no return to austerity under this Labour government. I certainly can but the austerity that they imposed on the country destroyed our public services and we're still paying the price. We'll be cutting waiting lists, cutting the debt and cutting the cost of living. Fair choices to skew Britain's future not a return to the failure of the party opposite. Thank you Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister has expressed sincere regret for appointing David Cogan to the independent football regulator. Will he now put on record the full amount Mr Cogan has donated to his leadership campaign and his party, any hospitality he's received and whether he declared these interests before appointing him. Prime Minister they were all declared properly. Mr Speaker this Friday we commemorate the 51st anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings in which 21 people lost their lives in what is still the largest unsolved murder in our history. The families do not believe that the approach set out by the government will discover the truth and that only a public inquiry will do. Can we now have the meetings in order to hear the family's direct and agree an approach that will command not just confidence but will find the truth of who bombed Birmingham. Prime Minister. Well can I extend my deepest sympathies that remain with the bereaved and survivors of the horrific pub bombing in Birmingham in 1974. We do believe the most appropriate route is through the independent commission for reconciliation and information recovery but Honourable Friend has raised this issue directly with me and of course I'll make sure that the relevant meeting is set up so that he and the families can put their point of view for us to consider. Mr Stirling. Mr Speaker you and the chamber will be well aware that I represent the biggest and most remote constituency in the UK and I'm bound to say Mr Speaker that in it bank branches are becoming rarer than the sightings of the Loch Ness monster. We have no banks at all in a huge county of Sutherland. Now we have legislation that provides for access to cash but what we don't have is legislation that provides for face-to-face banking services. So I'd be deeply grateful if the Prime Minister would ask the Treasury to meet with me to discuss how we might update the Financial Services and Markets Act to include some form of access to cash provision that would preserve face-to-face banking for my constituents and other remote areas. Mr Speaker I know how important face-to-face banking is to local communities. As he knows we're rolling out banking hubs. Decisions over location are taken independently but they should be rolled out wherever there is a need for one and of course there's more to come. I will in answer his question make sure that he gets the meeting that he requests so that we can have a look at the proposal. Thank you Mr Speaker. As the Prime Minister is aware November marks Islamophobia Awareness Month. This Labour government has shown a steadfast commitment to supporting Muslim communities particularly through consulting on the definition of Islamophobia. Given anti-Muslim hate is at a record level in the UK can the Prime Minister outline the steps this government will take to tackle a rising level of racism and xenophobia against the Muslims in Britain? Can I thank him for raising this important issue. He's always been a strong champion on this. Anti-Muslim hatred is abhorrent Mr Speaker and has no place in our society and the increase in incidents must be addressed. It's why we're increasing funding to protect mosques and Muslim faith schools across the country. It's why we've announced a new fund to monitor anti-Muslim hatred and support victims and we continue to work on the definition of anti-Muslim hatred. Thank you Mr Speaker. Everyone who cares about media independence and freedom will be relieved that Redbird have recognised that they cannot run the Telegraph. But there are serious concerns that they will burden the paper with unsustainable debt if the title is sold for less than half a billion pounds. So will the Prime Minister step in to prevent this from happening and enable a sale at a lower price if necessary without this toxic debt burden? Prime Minister. Well he raises a serious issue. I'm not quite sure what he's asking the government to do to step in and nationalise it. I don't think would be the right thing. Whereas Mr Speaker on the 5th of March at the Dispatch Box the Prime Minister said these words we do recognise Cornish national minority status not just the proud language the history and the culture of Cornwall but it's bright for each future. Since then I've repeatedly asked Ministers for Cornwall's unique place on this island to be recognised through devolution. When the devolution bill comes back to the House next week will the Prime Minister help me explicitly enshrine Cornish devolution and Cornish national minority status in that bill? Prime Minister. Can I thank him for his question? Of course he has raised this issue with me on a number of occasions already. He's a great champion for Cornwall. We will ensure that Cornwall's national minority status is safeguarded in any future devolution arrangements. We have provided half a million pounds to support distinctive Cornish culture including the Cornish language. Sir David. The Prime Minister knows that last week nine four-star generals made plain that the yesterday's Northern Ireland Bill is doing harm to the British Army already. Most acute damage is being felt by the Special Air Service. It's already affecting their recruitment, their retention, their morale and their operational effectiveness. As a result lawyers acting for the SAS Regimental Association have sent a letter before action for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I know of no precedent for this in the entire history of the British Army and it's because it's so important. It reflects how important it is. So can I make a plea to the Prime Minister? Will he involve himself personally to make sure that 60, 70, 80 year old soldiers who have carried out actions which most of us would view as heroic are not persecuted in the coming years? Because now it's a matter not of national security but of national honour. Can I thank him for his question and reassure him on the protections that he seeks for veterans because it is a very important issue and he's continually and rightly raised it. There will be protection from repeat investigations so the commission doesn't go over old ground without compelling reasons. There will be protection from cold calling and protection in old age so that elderly veterans are respected and those who do contribute to the legacy process will have a right to anonymity, a right to stay at home to give evidence remotely and a right to be heard through the commission. That is the work that we're doing and I'm happy to discuss it further with him. To end on the subject no doubt we can expect is Scotland's victory total correct. Thank you Mr Speaker. When the Prime Minister next meets with the President of the United States can he ask him if he knows any reasonably priced hotels near the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey where the World Cup final is to be held? And as we are about to provide the biggest boost to whiskey exports since our trade deal was signed can he ask the Chancellor to gently consider excise duties next week so we Scots can continue celebrating at reasonable prices? Prime Minister. Thank you for his question. On the question of whiskey it is important that we do everything we can to support whiskey. I'm really pleased with the progress we're making with the United States and of course with India as well under the trade deal. I'll continue to discuss what more we can do with him. That completes Prime Minister's questions.