Transcripts For CSPAN2 Prime Ministers Questions From The British House Of Commons 20160420

It is the best thing to play for strength. I will look at that as an option and im keen to make sure tourism and ireland, make sure it dovetails into the offering in Northern Ireland so we can encourage people in north ireland and capitalize on the next series game of thrones due out very soon. Questions to the Prime Minister. [shouting] question number one, mr. Speaker. Thank you, 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. Thank you, mr. Speaker. On her 21st birthday in 1940 7a young woman declared that her whole life whether long or short would be dedicated to the service of our nation. Here, here. Nobody could possibly argue that her majesty Queen Elizabeth ii has been anything other than fulfill her promise to the nation with dignity and grace. Here, here. People across the country will be marking the queens birthday, 90th birthday tomorrow in many different ways, many honorable and right honorable members will join for the Queen Initiative tight enough our neighborhoods. Some will be raising a small glass and many will be having a proper so when the Prime Minister next has an audience with the queen will he pass on my best wishes . [laughter] and those, and those of the whole house . Here, here. Long may she reign. [cheers and applause] im very glad, very glad my honorable friend has raised this. I will certainly pass on his best wishes and best wishes from right across yorkshire. Tomorrow is an important landmark not only for her majesty, the queen but also for our country and for the commonwealth as a whole. She has served our nation with such dignity, with such a billy for so many years, 64 years on the throne. And i think its right we will have the opportunity in the house tomorrow to pay tribute to what shes done and i know the whole country and the whole house will want to join me in saying long may she reign over. [shouting] turn one. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Am also looking for to wishing her a happy birthday tomorrow. But until then, mr. Speaker, until then, mr. Speaker, could the Prime Minister explain why he is intent on forcing putin outstanding schools to become academies against the wishes of teachers, parents, School Governors and local council . The short answer is because we want schools to be run by head teachers and teachers, and not by bureaucrats. That is why we support the policy. We also supported because of the clear evidence of academies. If you look at converted academies, 88 of them are either good or outstanding. You look at schools started but academies, they see 10 improvement on average over the first two years. The results are better. Education is improving. I say lets complete the work. Mr. Speaker, he hasnt managed to convince the former chair of the education select committee, his friend who said and i quote, Current Evidence does not prove that academies rates standards overall or for disadvantaged children. Why is the Prime Minister ignoring evidence of select Committee Chairs and so many others on this issue speak with look, the results speak for themselves. There are 1. 4 million more pupils in good or outstanding schools, but let me take him to a school near where he lives. Lets try that down Hills Primary School not far from his constituency. It was in special measures, taken over by an academy and two years later it was a good school. So the question i would put to the leader of the opposition and, indeed, to the many of other increased opposite, why do you want to stand on a picket line under a banner saying save our Failing School . Mr. Speaker, as he well knows, every teacher, every. No, every pupil wants the best they can get for the school and they want a good Education System. What many are concerned about is his top down we organization. If you will not listen to the former chair of the education select committee, would you listen to his friend the member for culture who said this . If a school is well governed, wellrun and performing well, it should be left alone and allowed to do its job. Can the Prime Minister explained a good School Leaders should focus their time and resources not on educating children but an arbiter changes imposed from above . Let me make two points on specific issue he raises. I would say to outstanding or to good schools, they have nothing to fear from becoming academies but a huge amount to gain. The truth is even about outstanding or good schools we want them to be even better. And the truth is, academies and greater it depended, leading head teachers run their schools has been due to ineffective. This is something started by the labour government, given rocket boosters under this government. We have seen massive improvements in our schools because of academies and we say lets get on with it, finish the job and give all our children a great opportunity. Mr. Speaker, im sure the Prime Minister is aware of the views the people in oxfordshire on this issue. Counselor tilly, the conservative cabinet member for education in his own county said, im fed up with the cops from above, saying he would do this and you wont do that. He claims to be an advocate of devolution. So is he not concerned about criticisms from his friend the member who says, little accountability or parental involvement. Can the Prime Minister understand the anger so many people feel just being imposed on them, a system they dont want or what are often already very good if the outstanding schools . Its always good to get election on the cops i will pass over that. I will pass over that. The truth is, creating academies is to devolution because youre putting the power in the hands of head teachers and the teachers. And, of course, of course you will find people in local government who want to keep things exactly as they are. But the truth is one of the reasons i so strong support academies is that when they fail they are intervened on so much faster. Local Authority Schools are often left to fail year after year after year. I think one year of a Failing School is one year too many. So lets encourage academies. Lets build a great Education System and lets have opportunity for all our children. Mr. Speaker, last week i spent a very interesting afternoon at a local school in my constituency. I visited duncan primary school, and it is a good to outstanding school, and had a long discussion with the head teacher, parents. Governors and pupils. The pupils were very interesting interesting. Asked me to say this to the Prime Minister. Why are you doing this . They love their school, alike fiscal the weighted. They dont want any top down we organization. And he hasnt even convinced the former education secretary who says i dont like know why the government is doing this. What is his answer to the very smart pupils speak with my answer is very much the answer that he gave because i was following his tour of the school. This is what the right honorable gentleman sent. He said i want to see a family of schools and want to see them properly funded. With our reform to National Funding formula there will be fair funding right across the country. [shouting] and with our plans for academies there will be genuine families of schools, families that choose to group together. And heres the point about outstanding schools. Not only will they be able to get better but in groups of academies they will be able to help other schools to improve. Sawicki and thats why we need this reform to make outstanding schools, good schools even better and help raise the aspiration of all. Thats what its all about. Mr. Speaker, we appear to get into some kind of fantasy land. [laughter] the institute for fiscal studies, the institute for fiscal studies say that School Spending is expected to fall by at least 7 in real terms in the next four years. The biggest cut since the 1970s. So what on earth is the Prime Minister proposing to spend 1. 3 billion pounds on a top down we organization that wasnt in his manifesto . Parents dont want it, governors dont want and teachers dont want to. Even his own mps and counselors dont want to. Cant he just think again and support schools and education, not force it on them . Let me answer his question very directly about spending because we have protected spending or pupil all the way through the last parliament and all the way through this parliament. We are spending 7 billion pounds on more School Places to make up for the woeful lack of action under the last labour government. That is the truth on spending. Now, he talks about fantasyland. I think its the Labour Party Said this week entered fantasyland when they are now abandoning tridents in scotland, selected some visits on platforms with extremists in london, and they have now decided when i read, when i read theyre going to ban mcdonalds from the party conference, i thought it was the first sensible decision they made. It turns out it wasnt the job destroyer they want to keep away from the conference. It was one of britains biggest employers. They wonder labour mps are in despair. Frankly, im loving it. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. Can ask my right honorable friend whether he agrees with the treasury forecast issued on monday which warned that if we stay in the European Union there will be 3 million more migrants by the year 2030 . Last year my right honorable friend and i were elected on a clear manifesto to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands. How are we going to be able to deliver on that pledge unless we leave the European Union . The point about the treasury forecast as it takes the office of national to cystic figures and the orp figures and it doesnt alter them but it is time to make them very clear and pure argument backed by the government of the bank of england yesterday that much of what would happen if britain leads the eu. Theres a demand out there for independent and clear statistics and thats exactly the treasury provided. Thank you very much, mr. Speaker. Its believed the recent murder of glasgow shopkeeper was religiously motivated, and this week christian, jewish, chic and other leaders launched a campaign titled united against extremism. With the Prime Minister join me and colleagues of all parties in supporting the ends of his campaign to support and sponsor understanding and stand up to extremism . I will certainly join the right honorable gentleman. Is was a shocking murder and i think what it demonstrates begin what is question hints at that we need to going to stand up against violence and actual upholding violence like this but we also need to stand up against the extremist mindset that sometimes tries to justify events like this or other such outrages. Total agreement with the Prime Minister, number is just the most recent example of sectarian extremism. This includes reports of them being refused employment, businesses being boycotted, schoolchildren being bullied and people like the shopkeeper who worked to bring shape does the Prime Minister agree this is totally unacceptable in a country where we believe in free speech and religious tolerance . And the time has come for all community and all faith leaders of all religions to stand up against extremism . I certainly a great faith leaders can play a huge role in standing up against extremism and i welcome what they do but again i think we need to be very clear about what we are facing. The attack was inspired by other muslims. Demonstrates once again that what we face is not some clash of civilizations between islam and christianity or islam and buddhism. What we are seeing is a small minority within one of the grid religions of our world, islam, believing that theres only one way, a violent extremist with a professing their faith. This is a battle within islam and we have to be on the side of the monarch maggiore and make sure that we never got to really understand what is happening at otherwise will take the wrong path. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The future provided by hospitals are being thrown into doubt by new about to launch a consultation that gets it close with a replacement. Thats the Prime Minister shim attention and what he agreed Vital Services justify their action . I am aware of the draft proposals concerning hospital under said no decision has yet been made. The plants are due to be considered by the Clinical Commission groups and remember these bodies are now by and large clinical let and i think that is important the decisions about what services are required will be taken by that group but its our significant changes they just love to meet for tea test, shipboard, strengthen public engagement, clarity on the Clinical Evidence base of support for patient choice. All those things have to be satisfied. Mr. Speaker, the air in our cities is both toxic and illegal with the diesel fumes contributing to 800 deaths a week. Thats 40,000 killings a year. So what is the Prime Minister, instead of removing the most heavily polluting diesel vehicles from our streets, lobbying the eu in brussels with the mayor of london to weaken plans to improve our air quality and save lives . We are investing in better air quality since 2011 with committed over 2 billion pounds to operators upgrade afflicted with an air quality improved between 20102014 in terms of emissions coming down by 17 . When it comes to the standards that we ought to meet what are working with our car industry and i want a strong car industry in britain. Im proud of it has recovered so strong but in the northeast of england we make more cars than the whole of italy, a major investor and builder of diesel engines but we will make sure that they have the resources they need to meet the high standards that are set out. It is a truth acknowledgment that fish and chips case best on the pages and thats why 4 Million People visit those beaches every year. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that we should work with the environment agency, the local enterprise partnership, local counsel, build on the work of this government that has brought jobs and growth, extend the tours season and build a billion coastal economy wide the end of this decade speak with my honorable friend is right. That is what i announced a fivepoint plan for tourism last year to encourage people to visit uk resorts both from overseas and british people as well. Thats exactly whats happening. Isnt it interesting in the weekly were supporting fish and chips on the side of the house, they are banning mcdonalds . Turn one. Mr. Speaker, or than 2000 people have signed a petition in my constituency calling on the government not to cut the funding of community pharmacist. Given the major reports last week regarding actions do not face investigation by the regulators, isnt it time the Prime Minister supported independent pharmacists which are vital life and help to keep our high streets allied . We are supporting rural pharmacists. Theres a specific scheme to help but if we look at the last five years there was a massive increase in pharmacy spending, and as we make sure as much as the nhs resources go to the front lines, the doctors and nurses and operations and the a e we want to see carried out, weve got to make sure were getting value for money in pharmacy while protecting rural pharmacies that she speaks abo about. Given his earlier comments, does my right honorable friend agreed that it is the duty of all members of this house to condemn without caveat all extremism, and never, never to share a platform with any extremist . I think my honorable friend is absolutely right. If were going to condemn not just violent extremism but also the extremism that seeks to justify violence in any way, it is very important that we do not back these people and we do not appear on platforms with an. I do have to say i am concerned about labours candidate for mayor of london who has appeared and again and again and again [shouting] well, the leader of the labour party, the leader of the labour party is saying [shouting] let me tell him, right. Solomon [shouting] the honorable member has appeared on a platform with him nine times. This man supports [shouting] he even shared a platform mr. Speaker, i think they are shouting down this point because they dont want to hear the truth. [shouting] anyone can make a mistake about who they to appear on platform with. We are not always responsible for what our political opponents say, but if you do it time after time after time, it is right to question your judgment. [shouting] mr. Speaker, news overnight of a management [inaudible] will the Prime Minister become the head of sales and meet with the 20 customers who make up around 50 of this years new orders . We will certainly do everything we can to help this company and also develop with its customers during this difficult time. Right now we are talking with the board to make sure all the questions they need answered are answered by us because we want to have a proper sales process with proper buyers can afford and we want to be very clear that government is prepared to support that process and support the outcome. And thats exactly what we will do. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The eu security is only as strong as its weakest border. Does the Prime Minister shim a concern not only of chancellor merkels apparently freedom of speech, crucially his decision to liberalize these turkish these is, such porous borders and Identity Fraud and concerned currently chancellor merkel seems to be ousting everyone and making them pay for brexit spend what i would say is its certainly true, if youre in the zone then youre only as strong as your weakest border. That is absolut vodka we, of course, are not in the silver cup the first book. The second point is of course the zone has decided to offer visas to turkish nationals. We have not made that decision and remember, a visa is not a right to go and live and work or reside. Of these is the right to visit. So lets be clear also that those jerks with the visas visiting countries dont have those rights that they dont have the right automatically to come to britain either. Very important to get this clear. In the last hour, mr. Speaker, we vetted devastating news british gaps proposed to close the site with a loss of 700 jobs. Will the Prime Minister instructors ministers to contact the company and the unions and to arrange urgent meetings, preferably to save these jobs or if that proves impossible, to establish a task force or alternative opportunities for the loyal and hardworking workforce . I can give the honorable gentleman that veterans. I heard this news shortly before questioned as well. We will make sure a task force is available to talk to the company, to the local community, to provide assistance in terms of retraining and other things that can be done to help. Mr. Speaker, mrs. Thatcher used to go to organize seminars for ministers and senior academics for colleagues like myself whose knowledge among science she thought needed to be improved. [laughter] would he contemplate similar seminars for some of his danger and very respected cabinet colleagues with this has been on the nature of International Trade in todays world . [laughter] because some very respected figures appear to believe that you simply turn up and sell goods and services that comply with british made rules but dont have to comply with any rules agreed with the country to which you were selling. And woody also include some of the many businessmen who are putting Investment Decisions on hold now because of the uncertainty about brexit after june the 23rd which illustrates the dangers we would run . We made our whole future trading arranges with the outside world as im certain some people are trying to [shouting] i always listen very carefully to my right honorable friend and will consider such a seminars. I hope they will not be as frightening as seminars sometimes used to be under margaret thatcher. I remember one of the very first time i met her i was responsible for trade and industry research. She asked him what the days trade figures were. I did not and ive never wanted the floor to open up and swallow me more than at that moment. I think the point my friend makes, hes absolutely right, is that just because you have friended relationship with a country does it mean to get automatically good trade relations. We are very pleased president obama is coming here this friday, but it is worth note that even though we have different list relations with america we currently cannot sell beef or lamb to the United States of america. The point is you dont just a good relations. You need nail down trade arrangements. Mr. Speaker, a chance to announce the creation of a Northern Schools strategy which i broadly welcomed but i am concerned that all the programs could then be reversed by the false academy station plan. Why are they pushing hi these ps which parents in my constituency dont want . Even a former tory secretary planned unnecessary. What i say to the honorable gentleman is what the outcome of this review which my right honorable friend the chancellor said that. The point i would bake you some schools that have been failing year after year have been left by local authorities in that state. Actually we found the way to help succeeding schools to fly and for Failing Schools to improve is to have academies. The evidence is right there in front of us and thats why we are so keen on progressing in this. Dr. Liam fox. Turn one. One of the reasons why he led his party to victory last years general election was a pledge to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands. Can he tell us further why the obr, why the obr projects immigration to the above 200,000 a year for the rest of this decade . By what assumptions did he reach this figure could you give us some details . To give him some details the obr dont take into account the instance which is which the European Union over welfare and other immigration restrictions. The treasury document is very clear about not trying to make all sorts of different assumptions about variables but to take a very clear set of statistic established by the obr and thats what his interest with the governor of the bank of england came out and said it wasnt analytically robust process. But as for the details that doesnt take into account the agreement we reached in europe. Thank you, mr. Speaker. In 2009 michel was brutally raped and murdered. Since 2011, a man wanted in connection with this crime, and seven other counts of Sexual Violence in my constituency, has been debating expedition from india. Over 30 Court Appearances to date and another one planned for tomorrow. Yet despite the security of this crime and the delay in these proceedings, there is no record at all of any ministerial our diplomatic representation from either for office or the home office. Will the Prime Minister today commit to put this right and directly raise this matter with his partner so they can finally seek justice . Im happy to give the honorable lady that assurance to the British Government always raises all these individual cases if that is what the victims want us to do. We always raises them just as we raise series of cases with our british people stuck in the Indian Justice system. So very happy to do that assurance. I wasnt aware of the specific case. If she gives me the details i am sure we will raise it at brexit. With the president of the United States visiting the uk later this week cannot ask my right honorable friend the Prime Minister to raise the issue of the islanders, the governor concluded in a report last year that they have rights of resettlement and with the u. S. Military presence, will he raise the case of u. S. Assistance for the rights for the territory . I certainly will be discussing this issue and i know its right that my honorable friend raise this because there are many who live in his constituency. What you said is not entirely correct. What the National Security council and the cab and have been doing is looking at the situation of the islanders and redoing all of the options for how we can help their future. Those discussions have taken place and we need to come to conclusion about the best way forward. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Some people think that the worst case that has been made so far to go to leave the eu is to claim that england is an island. Could the Prime Minister townhouse what worst argument he has heard . I think probably the one we get out of the song contest. That not only would be incredible he said but i think even that israel and anyone anywhere near europe seems to be able to enter. Australia, i think were pretty safe from that one. Would my stand up. Would my right honorable friend point out to president obama that in a series of European Court judgments such as davis come using eu Data Protection laws and the eu charter of fundamental rights, the eu has established its jurisdiction over our intelligence and data and sought to prevent our intelligence sharing with the United States. We could therefore warned the president if we vote remain far from you is gaining influence in the eu, United States is losing control and influence over her closest ally . Im sure the president will take all of these calculations into account before saying anything he might have to say. Let me make two points. First of all this decision is a decision for the british people and the british people alone. We are sovereign in making this decision. Personally i believe we should listen to advice from friends aninother countries, and i strue to find the leader of any friendly country who thinks we should leave. The second point when it comes to the United States it is worth looking at what so many treasury secretaries have said, going back over republican or democrat administrations. Listening to what our friends in the world is not a bad idea. Mr. Speaker, the average Property Price is 682000 pounds. The medium and lower rent for a twobedroom flat is one and a half thousand pounds, and overcrowding event for social housing is the highest ive seen in 20 years. Can the Prime Minister tell my constituents how on earth housing bill is going to help them . Its going to help them because we are building starter homes for the first time that people can buy. We are extending the right to bite Housing Association tenants so they can buy homes. Well, i notice [shouting] lady giving us the benefit of her wisdom. [shouting] many people in american statistic would love to bite account allows for an association us. Also have a help devised scheme which is helping many people get on the housing ladder and weve shared ownership is welcome all of those things will help. Since 2010 to 101,000 homes have been built in london including 67,000 affordable homes. We need to build many more and we need to make a sensible to people who work hard and do the right thing. And thats whose side we are on. [shouting] thank you, mr. Speaker. He Prime Minister, [inaudible] would the Prime Minister agree that this precious habitat and the Prime Minister is 331 acres in his constituency, which he agreed to be protected in line with heritage sites and national im very lucky to have an ancient forest in my constituency, probably continue many of the trees she mentioned. I will look carefully at what she says. I think perhaps the most important thing we can do is make sure that we are planting more force, more trees come more woodlands at this government has a very good record on. The secretary of state for Northern Ireland said recently and rightfully that politics in Northern Ireland was in a more stable footing that has been for sometime and we for our part will continue to offer strong leadership for a Better Future in Northern Ireland. But people in Northern Ireland are concerned about the twosided approach to the past, to investigate a Police Officer who stopped an ira bomber tried to kill Police Officers 25 years ago at a police station. Will the Prime Minister agree with me that we have to get behind our security forces, praise them for the work they did in Northern Ireland and not persecute them going over . First of all in the pay tribute to the honorable gentleman and his nose of parliament, members of the assembly. I think detroit is the politics in Northern Ireland is more stable and, frankly, its more productive now than has been for many years. Obviously, these issues around the acts of the past still cause a huge amount of pain and difficult on all sides of the debate but i think one of the things we have told on this is the fact we have an independent and impartial justice system. Order. [inaudible conversations] here on cspan can we live the british house of commons as members move on to other business. You have been watching Prime Ministers question time aired live wednesdays when parliament is in session. A quick reminder you can see this week session began sunday night at nine eastern and pacific on cspan. For more information go to cspan. Org and click on series to the every program we fared from the british house of commons since october of 1989. We invite your comments via twitter using hashtag pmqs. President obama departed on a sixday trip started in saudi arabia on wednesday. He will meet with the countries keen and stay in rihanna. On thursday meet with leaders from the gulfcorporation counsel countries. Saturday april 23 is the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeares death. And on that day the Folder Library here in washington, d. C. Which has the largest collection Folger Library shakespeares documents and memorabilia in the world will be hosting an event commemorating his life and its impact on our literature, our language, politics and our history. Booktv will be covering the event live at noon eastern, and afterwards well have it large nationwide callin with shakespeare scholars so you can join in the conversation as well. Henry folger with the president of the Standard Oil Company and a shakespeare buff, so he and his wife spent many years in many dollars collecting shakespeare artifacts, documents, memorabilia. Its the Worlds Largest collection of shakespeare related documents. To join us on saturday april 23. We will be live beginning at noon from the Folger Library for 400 years of shakespeare on booktv. Is sunday night on q. And a. , historian ron charnock talks about the hit Broadway Musical hamilton spinning he said i was reading your book on vacation, mexico, and as i was reading it, a hiphop song start devising off the page. Then he started telling me, hamiltons life is a classic hiphop narrative. And i was thinking what on earth is this guy talking about . I think i quickly picked up the fact he had a world class ignoramus about hiphop understands any city on the spot because my first question to him was, can hiphop be the vehicle for telling this kind of very large and complex story . He said, im going to educate you about hiphop, and he did on the he started pointing out hiphop, you can pack more information into the lyrics than any other form because its a very, very dense and rapid. He started talking about the fact that hiphop not only has brined paintings, it has internal rhymes, he started educating me in all these different devices that are very, very important to the success of the show. Sunday night at eight eastern and pacific on cspans q a. Next public isis profiting from the theft and looting of antiquities, artifacts and cultural materials taken from historic locations and museums. The House Financial Services Committee Heard from witnesses including the author of the Monuments Men. This hearing is two hours. Ithe task force will come to order. The title of todays task force hearing is preventing cultural genocide countering the plunder and sale of priceless cultural antiquities by isis. Without objection which is also a stickler of recess at any time. Without objection all members will have five legislative days within which to submit extremist materials for inclusion in the record. Without objection members of the ultimate who are not members of the task force may participate in todays hearing for the purpose of making an Opening Statement and questioning the witnesses. That youre not recognizes himself for three minutes or an Opening Statement. I want to thank apple for joining us today for the eighth hearing of the House Financial Services Committee Task force to investigate terrorism financing. I would again like to thank chairman hensarling and Ranking Member waters as well as my colleagues for the unwavering support as we continue to investigate the threat of terror finance. Since it is surfaced by this is meant substantially different in many terror organizations and is opposed to self finance to do with diversified revenue streams, pulling in funds from ransoms to oil production. One of the most discussed methods of in the explication of art and antiquities from syria and iraq. Are not as lucrative as well or extortion, iraq efficiently that i. S. Could generate as much as 100 million from the sale and trafficking of antiquities alone. Recent events have attracted this alyssa practice exclusively to i. S. But make no mistake, the plunder has rightly been utilized by transnational groups operating around the world. It has been estimated that the prophet of the traffic and sale of its Cultural Properties may range between anywhere from 3. 46. 3 billion annually. This time has and will continue to be a global problem which requires a coordinated International Effort to combat. Furthermore, this issue hits close to home. The fbi has credible reports that u. S. Persons have been offered Cultural Property as appear to have been removed from syria. A United States must do its part in curbing the demand for this cultural and artistic pieces by taking another look at customer Due Diligence and improving coordination with our international partners. This is a revenue stream exploded by a list of actors around the world, and they cannot continue unabated. I believe todays hearing with this expert panel of witnesses will help illustrate the scale and severity of this issue as well as offer measures to this combat and diminish this despicable practice. At this time i like to recognize this task force is Ranking Member, mr. Lynch, for four minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I also want to thank chairman hensarling and Ranking Member waters as well as vice chairman for holding todays hearing. And i would like to welcome and thank our distinguished panel of experts this morning for helping our task force with this important work. Todays hearing will focus on how that United States can counter the plunder and sale of priceless cultural antiquities by the Islamic State and others. The relevant themes of todays hearing will focus on antiquities are analogous to what weve seen throughout our task force hearings, especially those concerned with her to statebased Money Laundering. We need better information sharing on all fronts, and this includes improvement in information between government agencies, between countries and with the private sector. We need to be able to track the true owners of property whether the property is an ancient artifact or a high rise apartment building. We need to cut off a trade was that terrorists use to funnel illicit goods and we need a network of transparency tenets for proper customs enforcement. The same strategies, we need to combat antiquities trafficking can be used in a broader to combat isis. For example, in a previous hearing on tradebased Money Laundering this task force discussed the roots isis used to smuggle cash in and out of the territories it controls. Many of these routes run through turkey and jordan. In their remarks were todays hearing, yaya fanusie indicated that isis is using similar route to smuggle antiquities out of its territory. In addition he notes lebanon as well as the balkan route to greece and bulgaria are being used to smuggle antiquities and other illicit commodities. There isnt have opportunity for terrorist groups to exploit is rich with low risk of being caught. We need to do a better job of policing these routes so that isis can no longer smuggle antiquities and other contraband out of the territories that it controls. Furthermore, we must curtail the laundry of antiquities that make it out of the isis controlled territory so these good cannot be integrated to legitimate market. As others mentioned in the prepared remarks as well, isis ability to profit from the sale of antiquities is only possibly because of a systematic problem of tradebased Money Laundering in the art industry. We need to bring together greater pools of transparency to this industry so that antiquities trafficking is no longer profitable to a terrorist organization. And as dr. Gerstenblith suggest, better track arts and it took tk what is the end of that United States we should require worth more than 10,000. And also considered a tariff on imports of these items. Of the 40 hearing the testimony from eyewitnesses so testimony from eyewitnesses so we can further examine this and i yield back the balance of my time. I know recognized for an Opening Statement the vice chairman of the task force mr. Fincher of North Carolina for two minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for your dedication and hard work on these issues. I would also like to thank penelec, chairman hensarling, Ranking Member waters as well as our professional staff joe joe kidd. Over the last of the gain important insight into the threats facing our nation. How they are funded, many obstacles we face the intercepting these funds. Recently i had the opportunity to travel to south america to witness firsthand the problems they face with regard to alyssa financing operations and the emerging presence iran, hezbollah and other terrorist groups. While the problems are great i was inspired by the dedicated officials in argentina, panama, colombia and paraguay. They are cast with a heavy burden of combating sophisticated criminal financial network. We must continue working with these countries and sharing our own resources and expertise to ensure these countries do not become overrun by wellfinanced criminal terror organizations. Today we address the isis financing through illegal antiquity sales. Isis remains the most, the worlds most dynamic terrorist organization. It is the objective of the United States to degrade and defeat isis. While this Administration Overall strategy remains questionable, both parties can agree that preventing the flow of dollars to find isis and its caliphate must remain a top priority of our government. With a searing congress is signaling the importance of identifying and combating each element of the financing. Whether it be extortion, crossborder cash smuggling, tradebased Money Laundering or in this case antiquity sales. Thank you, mr. Chairman going to support hearing of such a burning issue, and i yield back. Not recognize the gentlelady from arizona for one minute. Thank you. Terrorism as an undeniable threat to our countrys security and global stability. Terrorist networks constantly develop new ways to finance the dead operations and threaten america. The Islamic State is one of the worlds most violent, dangerous and wellfinanced terrorist groups. Within the past year, admitted greater pressure on its of the financial resources, ins has ratcheted up the extraction and sale of antiquities to fund its violent in 2015 i. S. Generate millions from trafficking and antiquities. Funds are raised from direct looting as well as imposing taxes and requiring permits for criminal smugglers who operate in i is controlled territory. The impact of these actions goes beyond the financing of terrorism. The destruction of his antiquities is also part of the apocalyptic worldview which anything outside of its perverse and disgusting vision of islam must be destroyed the the loss of these treasures is a tragedy. To keep our country safe we must be one step ahead of i. S. , cutting off its funding and stopping its efforts. I appreciate hearing from witnesses about addressing this threat and defeating i. S. I yield back. We now welcome our witnesses. Mr. Robert edsel is the first witness. He is the author of several nonfiction books including rescuing da vinci, the Monuments Men, allied heroes, not sisi, the greatest Treasure Hunt in history as well as saving italy, the race to rescue and nations treasure from the nazis. Is coproducer of a documentary film, the founder president of Monuments Men foundation for the preservation of our. Most famously Academy Award winner George Clooney directed and starred in some based on his book the monuments been which was released on fedora seven, 4014. Raised in dallas, texas, they graduate from st. Marks school of texas and Southern Methodist university. Hes been awarded the texas note of arts award, the president s, the president called a source award, hope for cement award presented by the dallas museum, in 2014 was presented with the records of Achievement Award from the foundation for the National Archives which recognizes an individual whose work has fostered a broader National Awareness on the history and identity of the United States the use of original records but he serves as trustee of the National World War Ii Museum in new orleans. Mr. Yaya fanusie aspect of analysis efforts in unsanctioned and illicit finance at the foundation for defense of democracies. He spent seven years as both an economic and counterterrorism analysts in the cia were deregulate briefed White House Level policymakers come u. S. Military personnel and federal law enforcement. After Government Service he worked in a small Consulting Firm where he led a team of animals working on a multibillion dollars recovery effort involving a global corruption ring. Even operated his own consulting practice, train firms specializing in strategic analysis, ebusiness Due Diligence. Yaya received an m. A. In International Affairs from Columbia University school of International Affairs and a ba in economics from uc berkeley. Dr. Patty gerstenblith the best english professor at depaul University School of law. Patty gerstenblith doesnt distinguish Research Professor and director of its center for art museum and Cultural Heritage law. Shes having president of the Lawyers Committee for Cultural Heritage preservation, director of the u. S. Committee of the blue shield and Senior Advisor to the abas art and Cultural Heritage law committee. In 2011 she was appointed by president obama to serve as the chair of the president Cultural Property Advisory Committee in the u. S. Department of state. Predecisionals editor in chief of the International Journal of Cultural Property. Dr. Gerstenblith received her bachelors from bryn mawr college, ph. D. In art history and anthropology from harvard, and jd from northwestern university. Dr. Alazm is an associate professor at shawnee state university. Content as an associate professor come educator in the uk reading archaeology of western asiatic at University College london and graduated with a doctoral degree in 1991. He was the direct of scientific and conservation laboratories at the General Department of antiquities and museums in syria and taught at the university of damascus until 2006. From 20062009 he was visiting assistant professor at Brigham Young university. Is an active member of the Syrian Opposition says an executive committee of the day after project. Mr. Shindell is the chairman of in your head coder aris title insurancinsurance corporation, n of a nasdaq traded argo group, International Insurance company. They are the world leader in securing legal ownership to nonreal estate Property Assets for multiple industry sectors. He readily advises them speaks and writes in national on the legal title risks inherent in the global art and collectibles market for a range of industry stakeholders and participants. The witnesses will not be recognized for five minutes each to give an oral presentation of your written remarks. Without objection witnesses written statements will be made part of the written statement at once into the witness have finished presenting the testimony that members of the Task Force One five minutes within which to ask questions each. Win, on your table there are three lights. Yellow means you have one minute remaining. Red means youre time is up. The microphone is sensitive. Would ask the witnesses to make sure that you please speak directly into it. With that, mr. Edsel, you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you, sir. Turn the microphone on, please. I would like to extend my thanks to chairman fitzpatrick, Ranking Member lynch and the members and staff of the task force for including me in these important deliberations. Evidence that isis has sanctioned the looting and sale of antiquities to generate revenue for terrorism is a game changer. It compels us to think about the ownership of art, the responsibility of the art trade and collectors, and the role of the federal government differently than ever before. We cannot say we were not warned. As recent as 1981, Monuments Men mason hammond, the only monument officer to see duty in italy and germany, and then import advisor to general eisenhower staff urged all those willing to listen quote, planners future hostilities tend to think in terms of the last conflict, but any consideration of the different ways in which the first and second world wars were fought demonstrates the fallacy of such an approach. If this generation which is to leave to its children the Cultural Treasures that it has enjoyed, such planning should be encouraged. His warning went unheeded as events in iraq in 2003 and more recently in syria a painfully demonstrated, he was right. The Monuments Men saw firsthand the destruction of cherished artistic and religious treasures is the starter gun that precedes genocide and the human suffering that follows. It prove true in nazi germany, and bosniaherzegovina and alqaeda controlled areas of afghanistan and mali and now that isis administered portions of syria and iraq. Ignoring the Early Warning sign denies our nation a chance to act. We can only react. Organizations that are charged with preserving our Cultural Heritage are instead relegated to bearing witness to its destruction. Steps we as a nation have taken to protect our homeland following set of 11 have not kept pace with developments in the art world, nowhere near. Today, art is synonymous with money. The global explosion of wealth the past when he says great more buyers with greater resources chasing priced objects. Prices have skyrocketed. Consider a painting by picasso that sold for less than 200,000 in 1986 recently sold 180 million. A sculpture for 141 million, a drawing by roxio for 50 million, this sounds are staggering and get regular to authorities have not created and applied the same level of control procedures in the art market as we have in other areas of commerce involving similar sums of money. This creates a weakness that isis and others, tax cheats, those in possession of looted paintings and objects and smugglers can exploit. The very profitability of art and antiques, sometimes the road to the small size, facilitates movement. Sometimes into hiding places out of you by tax authorities, other victims of theft. For example, just last week the Panama Papers leak revealed a nazi looted painting worth upwards of 25 million was among thousands of works of art stored in special tax zones known as freeport. While this art does provide privacy for the honors, the lack of transparency also cloaks tax cheats, thieves and those aiding isis Business Operation of converting Cultural Treasures to cash to fund terrorist. The art trade as a largely self regulated, antiquated Business Model operating in a digitized or new visible world. Until the advent of the internet in the late 1990s, few in the our world paid attention to providence, a fancy word for who owns something in the past, unless it enhanc enhanced the vf the object. Looted art traded hands, some of it openly. Although there ha has been improvement in this greg ip objects sold at public auction, there remains a high degree of willful ignorance by some collectors eager to add to their collections. Worse still is the lack of knowledge about the history of what they already own. Some dont want to know. Who can be against confusing the opec a system of art world with increased transparency . Tax cheats, those who possess stolen works of art, smugglers, terror networks