Employees and former employees live in any constituency. And the company has an Apprenticeship Training center. They fearsome uncertain future. Will the Government Act now to prevent similar corporate theft what should have been hundreds of millions of pounds in pension contributions and unearned corporate bonuses to themselves . Exactly what does the government propose . First of all, mr. Speaker, i completely understand the anxiety that must be affecting the apprentices and their families and the honorable gentlemans constituency. He probably heard me say during last weeks debate that the Construction IndustryTraining Board has taken responsibility for finding employers to enable all those apprentices to continue and complete their qualifications. They are making Good Progress in that work. But i should certainly insure that the particular concern hes expressed about gateshead is brought to their attention. On the broorder question, the house will understand, mr. Speaker, that it will be wrong for me to preempt findings by an independent querrey but a receiver and we will be publishing proposals to stop directors to stipend Pension Funds in the way that you describe. Mr. Speaker, my right honorable friend will be aware that the country faces significant Cyber Threats from other countries and from nonstate actors. He will also be aware that were protected from those by our security and Intelligence Services including men and women at gshq of you in chers. When the government publishes the review will, he confirm that we will continue as we have since 2010 to invest in those capabilities to keep our country safe . Mr. Speaker, my right honorable friend is absolutely correct and im happy to give him that assurance of our government. The sad truth that we face a growing number of Cyber Attacks from syrias crime gangs and from hacking groups we do have a Robust National cyber strategist to protect critical Services Including our Democratic Services and that is underpinned by nearly 2 billion government processes. Emily thornbury. Let me start by his role. Last time he did so was in december 2016 when he party was 17 points ahead in polls and he told the house that the labor party i quote well, what a difference a year makes. But im not going to intrude further on the governments public grief, because i genuinely hope that we can reach consensus across the house today on a very important issue. Next tuesday will be the women gaining the right to vote in britain followed later in 1918 by a second right to stand for parliament. Im sure that the minister will agree that we have a long way to go with regard to the second rights. After all, im the only emily elected since 1918 and he is one of 155 davids. And the women behind me on the offensive represent one quarter of all the women elected in the last 100 years, but it is still not good enough. So does the minister think will the minister tell us how we can best increase female representation in this house . Mr. Speaker, can i first of all thank the lady for her words of welcome and clearly my previous remashes struck accord with her to have been in the way that they clearly have. And its safe its a delight to me to see the right honorable lady still in her place when no fewer than 97 memberses of her front bench have either been sacked or resigned you know, i pay credit to her sticking power she must sometimes whisper to herself, surely im a celebrity, please get me out of here. [laughter] the point that she raised is a serious one. And i think all Political Parties represented here shes right to seek this want to encourage more women candidates to come forward. Im pleased that my party since i was first selected 25 years ago has made very considerable progress. But i also accept that there is more to be done. I hope that she for her part will accept that we have now had two Women Leaders and Prime Ministers. So they have a bit of catching up to. Do ive got to say mr. Speaker, that if the Party Opposite is so proud of having a female leader, why are so many of them trying to get rid of us . And why did he have to run away to china to get away from them . But i thank you for that onset ander and i totally agree with his sentiments but let me ask him about the second right they mention a right that millions of women received 100 years ago this week the basic right to vote. It was restricted to women with property over the age of 30. 90 years ago it was extended to all women over 21. And almost 50 years ago it was extended to all men and women over the age of 18. So can i ask the minister a simple question how many more years do we have to wait until vote is extended to veryone over 16 . Mr. Speaker, the age of 18 rather than 16 is widely recognized at the age of which one becomes an adult. Thats when full Citizenship Rights are atained. Only a handful of countrys that have a nationwide voting age below 18. We believe it is right, that the age of majority 18, should dont be the age at which people should become eligible to vote. Makes comparisons but it was this country and the labor party who reduced the voting age for up to 18 in 1969. And where we led, others followed. And it will be the aim here. So let me move on to a second question that i would like to ask the on robble gentleman, which is this, ive listened care to feel his answer but i didnt hear any logical explanation for the different rights that we give 16 yearolds. At 16 we are free from parental control, we can leave home, we can get married. We can start work, we can pay taxes, we can join the forces. So the can minister give us a logical explanation why a 16yearold should not have the right to vote . Mr. Speaker, it i am i have to say im slightly baffled by the honorable ladys comments with compared to what her party did in office. Because it was the last labor government that raised the legal age for buying cigarettes at 18. Raise the age to selling knives to 18. Raise the age to buy fireworks to 18. And raise the age for using a sun bed to 18. [laughter] i think if she wants to lessen an inconsistency she might want to examine the mirror. Emily thornbury. Mr. Speaker, he mentioned the raise of restriction that we have until age of 18 but those are to do with public health, Public Safety and preventing a crime. That are not the same as a basic right to vote on issues that affect your life. Once you are considered old enough to make other decisions such as leaving home, leaving school, getting married. Let me give the minister a specific example. Order. Im sure it will not have escaped Public Notice and is a sad irony when a women addressing the house and rather stupid individuals are trying to shout the right on robble lady down. Cut it out. Emily thornbury. Thank you very much, mr. Speaker. I wanted to give the minister a specific example to illustrate what im talking about. According to the governments own figures, the number of 16 and 17yearolds for looking after disabled relatives at home have risen over 50 over the past four years. Andast year over 2,000 15 16yearolds gave up their schooling to care for relatives at home. How can it be fair . How can it be logical to expect for them to take on that responsibility because of failures of the state and deny that very state is run . Mr. Speaker, i mean, the logic of the honorable ladys argument is that she wishes to lower the age of majority from 18 to 16. She listed a number of areas in which she supported the age of which activities should be allowed to 18 on grounds that only then could people be expected to have sufficient maturity and responsibility to have those rights. Now, my argument to her is that the age of majority should be set matching both rights and responsibility. And i think that it is perfectly reasonable to say that from the age of 18, we entrust young men and women to exercise those rights and responsibilities in full. The final point she made, it is right that sensible local authorities have particular care for the role of young parents. And in my experience, local authorities whichever party runs, they make every effort to do that. I have to say im genuinely surprised at the ministers response because after all, this is what he said two years ago speaking to the Youth Parliament. And let me quote him. When the voice of young peoples are absent decisions are made that affect young peoples lives that they have not always chosen. So not for the first time in these exchanges, ive got say mr. Speaker, that i agree with the minister. All of us on this side agree with the minister. So why does he no longer agree with himself . If she was with me at the Youth Parliament which was an enjoyable occasion she would have discussed that a sufficient number of the men and women there were at the voting age. By support the role of the Youth Parliament does, the role that members do throughout the country, the role that organizations like School Councils do in getting young people used to the idea of exercising democratic responsibilities. That seems to me an excellent training for the full adult responsibilities that they will inherent at 1. I hope that will encourage young people to get out vote. Mr. Speaker, you were there. He was talking to 370 under 18s. But mr. Speaker, what these discussions have revealed is that there is no logical principles pull objection to vote at 16. Thats why the welsh and Scottish Government supported. Thats why every single Political Party in this house support it except of course, the conservative party and the d. U. P. Once again, join in opposition to change. Theyre not the coalition of chaos, mr. Speaker. Theyre the coalition of cave men. Not oes the minister realize order, order. One member thinks he knows what hes talking is speaking at me. It shouldnt escape somebody of great intelligence. Emily thornbury. I was talking about cave men, mr. Speaker and i what i wanted to say is this. Why doesnt the minister realize the lesson that we women taught the predecessors 100 years ago when change is right it cannot be resisted forever. And this is a change whose time has come. Mr. Speaker, i i think the right honorable lady is to wean herself of watching old versions of the flintstones on the channel. I just think that we ought to salute the fact that not just the Youth Parliament but many schools and other youth organizations throughout the country are working hard to get young people used to the idea. But as they grow up, they should take an interest in Current Affairs and then when they reach the relevant age, exercise the full rights of responsibilities of an adult by participating in elections and in political campaigns. But the situation we have re, mr. Speaker with the National Voting age at 18 is one thats followed 26 out of the 27 other members of the European Union, by the united states, canada, new zealand and australia. I dont unless shes going to denounce all of those countries are somehow inadequate to her own particular standards then quite honestly mr. Speaker, she ought to treat this swudget a greater degree of seriousness. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The government has made the u. K. One of the most competitive places to do business compared by the recent growth figures. Therefore does my right honorable friend green gree raising tax would raise it. As we have seen in scotland which has faten behind the rest of the u. K. Mr. Speaker, im very happy to agree with my honorable friend. We did evolve from this route. Its obviously for the Scottish Government to determine how to use them. It is a matter of great regret that theyve chones to use those powers to break their policies and penalize aspirations in scotland. And our own budget we increased the spending power by two billion pounds. So they have no excuse for hiking the taxes of hard working people including Public Servants an penalizing businesses. The leaders of the scott ickish nationalist used to champion free enterprise. I hope they asked the third minister of scotland to think again. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Can i welcome the ministers to his place at the report that he will be enjoying a new role . Mr. Speaker, the minister previously said that the Single Market is essential to the governments agenda for trade and competitiveness. Since buzz feed published these things, do they recognize that its a jolt for Single Market prosperity. Mr. Speaker, when we leave the European Union next month as a matter of legality, leave the Single Market and the e. U. Customs unit. The Prime Minister and the entire government is set out in the house and in the floored speeches are also making it clear that we are seeking a new partnership with our neighbors in the European Union. That insures that we continue to have friction in the train which is the interest of not just our people but the people of every one of the 27 other e. U. Companies. Ian black bird. Thank you mr. , speaker. Im surprised a because this is a transitional deal. Youll still be in the Single Markets. This is a government in crisis. And that international embodiment. Chancellor, the scottish conservatives, the home secretary of all supported membership of the Single Market. Despite this, the government is still prepared to make everyone matter. Where is the leadership . Mr. Speaker, the leadership was set out very clearly both at Lancaster Health and then again in florida. So my friend the Prime Minister will be making further speaks in the weeks and mondays to come. An i just say that honorable gentleman that is its important, the most important Single Market is the single arket of the united kingdom. Nearly 50 billion pounds every year to the scottish economy. Four times more than trade with the European Union. It is our deep and special partnership with the e. U. In the future that will help deliver prosperity for scotland not the separate politics as viewed by the National Thank you, mr. Speaker. I know my friend shared my passion for enjoying that they get an opportunity to succeed regardless of who they are or where they come from. Can he confirm what they have made between less secondary school pupils. Im giving them a positive i impact when the next round of schools will open. Mr. Speaker, apply honorable friend is absolutely right. And the governments clear ambition and purpose is to insure that our School System works for every child in every community in this country. Our reforms have already raised school standards. Were seeing two million more children. Attending school school. And 10 and a half of key state two since 20 10. I know we will be happy to talk about their honorable friends to improve standard in school. Mr. Speaker, last sunday in y constituency or the late was stabbed with life changing results. The knife crime across our country is not being driven by minors and young people. Its being driven by gangsster, organized criminals and dirty money. Cocaine is worth 10 tpwhl this country. 1 tons crossing our borders. So i ask them why are we cutting our border for it . Why are you cutting our police . And why has london been offered only in their violence redestruction strategy a Community Fund of half a million. You couldnt buy a house for half a million in london. Mr. Speaker, can i first say that i like every other member of this house would have nothing but his heartfelt sympathy for himself, and his family. At the most apolling situations that they have endured and are still leaving through. The honorable gentleman is right to say that there are complex causes to what were seeing in terms of night crile. There is no doubt, i agree him that organized crime is ntributing to this, an organized climb is exploiting. They tried to gloom to attract into criminal gangs. And the government is to blic late theyre year a Violent Crime strategy. Not just to look at the criminal Justice System but how we work effectively with all other agencies to insure that young people are diverted away from that sort of activity in the first. Its also true that we have its now if you carry a knife, you could expect to end up in jail. We have toughened the sense sentences and we have protected Police Budgets a quarter of all police are in london. Report neil. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The scores of places forecast the group by some 20 in our coming years. But repeatedly has senior been delied. They cause conscious. They have handled on behalf of the Prime Minister, you can meet with me to discuss the very real concerns that local parents have as to the comp penity of the agency. The secretary will be happy to talk to him. I mean, the purpose of the Education SkillsFunding Agency formed this year was to provide a more quality approach. Do know that they have increased primary and secondary School Capacity by more than 6,300 places in since 2010. Clearly theres more work to be done. Youre worth a stagering 20 20 billion pounds. And in