Transcripts For CSPAN Question Time 20140623 : vimarsana.com

Minister and colleagues and others. I shall have further such meetings later today. I spoke to my constituents they were anxious because the suns passport had not arrived. Given the dreadful level of service, she was quite shocked to find that it Passport Agency returned a surfeit of 73 Million Pounds. Values you say about the of his government that theyre making a profit off of our misery . Uents what i say to the constituents of any mp in this house, it is an important issue. Anyone who needs to travel within the next week, andrus waited more than three weeks through no fault of their own will be fast tracked for no extra cost so they can get the passport in time. I dont want anyone to miss the holiday because of these difficulties. In terms of what has happened, weve seen a 15 increase over the last week in the number of passports being processed, but we need to go faster, we need to hire more people, and the home sector will be this afternoon. Is not the Prime Minister of the grave sentiment that the publication reports be so long delayed, the ancient but still interesting power of back pensions to commence the procedures of impeachment should now be activated to bring mr. Tony blair to account for allegedly misleading the house on the necessity of the invasion of iraq in 2003. It is important that we see the results of the iraq inquiry. It has had access to all of the papers, all of the officials, all of the ministers, and frankly, what i would say is if the iraq inquiry had started when this party, and when the liberal democrats suggested it, then actually we would have seen the iraq inquiries published by now. But members opposite including the leader of the opposition, voted against starting the inquiry on on no fewer than four occasions. Band. Mili all of us have been appalled by the images of brutal aggression of isis that spread across iraq terrorizing its citizens, undermining its fragile democracy. Iraq is facing fundamental threats to its integrity, security and stability. Could the Prime Minister divide the house with his latest assessment of the situation in iraq . Welcome appearance of mr. Malik he calling for national unity, can you say what more he believes can be done to encourage a more inclusive and Representative Government which is essential to the future of iraq . First of all, the leader of the opposition is absolutely right, that one of the crucial things that needs to happen is for the Iraqi Government to take a more inclusive approach towards shia, sunni and kurds as important constituent parts of iraq. I can tell the house the latest reports indicate that fighting is continuing on a front from some are out to boko bob from akuba. There is his largescale recruitment not only of shia militias, but other young recruits to the iraqi armed forces. It is vital that that proceeds sil is pushed back by iraqis. When you get this combination of poor governance, of ungoverned spaces and support for extremism, that provides an opportunity for the terrorists. We have to address this on each of those three fronts, supporting the Iraqi Government with the work that they need to do. I agree with the Prime Minister. This crisis has consequences for the whole world including the u. K. Can you chart the extra measures of the government is making to ensure that british nationals in the region cannot return here and engage in violent extremism or terrorism . Can you say what the government is doing to prevent people in this country becoming radicalized and traveling to the region in order to fight . I believe this is the correct focus. I said yesterday our approach to this issue must be based on a hardheaded assessment of our national interest. Most important of all is how to keep our citizens here safe and home. We will be legislating in this session of parliament to make the planning of terrorist attacks overseas illegal here in the u. K. We will be making sure that our security, intelligence and policing resources are focused particularly on this part of the world and the danger of british people traveling there and becoming radicalized and returning to the u. K. We have already stopped a number of people traveling. We have taken away passports, including using the new powers that we legislated in the last parliament. We will do everything we can to keep our country safe. Measures . Urther if so, we would like to look at those. I want to talk about iran and its role in this crisis. We support the announcement made yesterday by the foreign secretary to reopen the British Embassy in teheran. Iraq islenge we face in that although iran opposes isis, the regime in the past is shown visit that it does not support a vision of a Democratic State in iraq. Can you give the house and assessment of the willingness and intent of the current Iranian Regime to play a constructive rather than a divisive role in trying to solve the iraqi crisis . I make two points. First, it is important to reengage with dialogue with iran. That is why we are planning to reopen the embassy. It should be stunned yes it should be done on a stepbystep basis with a very clear i am a very hardheaded because we know of the appalling things that happened to our embassy back in 2011. Two people who say that some sort of inconsistency with having dialogue with iran while at the same time recognizing how much they have done to destabilize the region, i would say we need to take a consistent approach with all the players in this region, which is to say that we support the voices of moderation, the voices that support a democracy, inclusive government, pluralistic politics under the rule of law. We need the iranian government under that law as much as anyone else. Itdoes he agree with me that is not just iran, but other significant countries across the region that have a huge responsibility not to further fuel the sectarian conflict. That includes support for extremist groups including isis. Will the Prime Minister make clear that that will simply fuel the conflict . I think that is absolutely right. Whatever we are looking to do, whether it is to support the voices of moderation and democracy in syria, whether it is trying to help the Iraqi Government closed down this ungoverned space in iraq, or indeed to the conversations we have with other regional players , it is very important that we are consistent with that engagement and that we oppose extremism, terrorism and violence. Let me reassure the house that when it comes to the sport that we have given to rebels in syria, that we do that through the official Syrian Opposition who are committed to those things and not to extremism, violence and terrorism. Our engagement with the saudis, and miratis others e and others are all on the basis that we do not support terrorists or extremists. We have allies in the region such as jordan that are dealing with a huge refugee crisis. Events in iraq threatened to there are more. Refugees outside the camps than inside the camps. What further practical measures as a Prime Minister believe we can take to support countries like jordan and lebanon affected by this crisis . All, we remain when , we remain theia second largest bilateral aid donor anywhere in the world, which is something i think britain can be proud of. We are providing shelter, food, clothing and support for the millions of people who have been made homeless by the conflict. When it comes to supporting the neighboring countries, we have given some direct help to jordan because the increase of population in jordan and lebanon is equivalent, effectively, of almost 15 Million People coming here to the u. K. In terms of the iraq humanitarian situation where there is an emerging humanitarian problem because of people being displaced because regime, weerous isil have artie given 3 Million Pounds of aid to people in that region. We will be increasing that to 5 Million Pounds. Yet again, britain will play its role or those who through no fault of their own have been displaced and are in a very difficult situation. And hope you will continue to look at what more can be done for those outside the camps and support infra structures like jordan. Everything we are seeing across this region begs a fundamental question about whether it can develop a politics where people live alongside each other citizens rather than dividing along sectarian, ethnic or religious lines. Sisi agree with me that while we can and should provide assistance to make that happen, in the end, it is about the political will of those in the region that will determine whether this happened or not . That it would be a mistake to believe that the only answer to these problems is the heart attack of direct intervention. We know that can create problems by itself, but i also disagree with those people who think this is nothing to do with us. If they want to have some sort of extreme islamist regime in the middle of iraq that wont affect us, it will. The people in that regime as well as trying to take territory are also planning to attack us here at home in the united kingdom. The right answer is to be longterm, hardheaded, patient and intelligent with the interventions that we make. The most important intervention of all is to make sure that these governments are fully representative of the people who live in their countries. That they closed on the ungoverned space and remove the support for the extremists. If we do that, not just in syria, but we have to help in iraq, somalia, nigeria, mali, because these problems will come back and hit us at home if we do not. This week, construction ins on what this new upc another education trap. In it, students will receive firstclass academic education, but also real preparation for real jobs in the real world. With the Prime Minister encourage young people in watford to explore the opportunities of this wonderful that this wonderful new school will offer . What i can say is that i know we are doing all we can to help get the Watford University Technical College to open its doors in september so that students can start to benefit. What i would say, having visited these colleges now in harlow and staffordshire, i think they represent filling in one of the missing links in our system that was left after the second world war. Ironically, we helped the germans established good technical schools, but didnt put them in place here in the united kingdom. Im very glad to be leading a government that is putting that right. Three large are facing crisis. Gps shortleast 10,000 of what we need. Labor is promising a maxim 48 await to see a gp maximum 48 hour wait to see a gp. In order to bribe to provide more gps, we need to provide more money. We were told by the Party Opposite that it would be responsible. We see 7000 more doctors, more nurses, more midwives, but 19,000 fewer bureaucrats. I think that is absolutely vital in providing the Health Services that we need. Were waiting a detailed response from him. Willie welcome the happy news that just up the river we are in the midst of renovating a historic site. [indiscernible] i would be delighted to welcome that and recommended take advantage, not just in this budget but in others to come. This air pollution problem, and a very happy to discuss that with her. In terms of community, we are seeing a growth in terms of community parks. That is all to the good. It is welcome that we introduce the community that is mabel a number of communities to take hold of his facilities and operate them for the use of the public. In its recent report on a hospital in woolwich, the see qc praise to the staff for being kind, caring and respectful, but highlighted serious capacity restraints. As a Prime Minister remember that a year ago his government were proposing to close the amd department in the neighboring lewisham hospital that is already overstretched. What lessons have been learned from that serious error of judgment . I think the most important thing with our Health Services to praise good service when we see it, but to recognize where you see poor service, it has to be turned around. We are very clear about the turnaround work that is being done in many of our hospitals that were left for year after year under labor. The house might be interested to know that the average amount of time you waste in a and e with 77 was 77 minutes when labor were in charge and it is under 30 minutes now. Advisethe Prime Minister my constituents what actions the government is taking to ensure that we received the necessary infrastructure to support the increase in population . My friend makes an important point. The new homes bonus have helped to make sure the local authorities can put in place infrastructure. We have revised and strengthened new Planning Guidance to ensure that infrastructure is provided to support new develop and. As a result of the recent franchise, there will be new Rolling Stock on the line. By the end of 2018, there will be over 3000 more seats on trains running through and then endondo times through at peak times. What are his remedies . The estimates being made today are being made on the basis that we have set challenges for the nhs in terms of making efficiencies. After four years in government, they have met the sufficiency challenges every single year under this government. That money has been plowed back into better patient care in our nhs. The questions i would argue is why is it in wales were labor are in control, where it are sent cuts have been made in the nhs budget, they might be yawning opposite, they are not yawning in wales because they are stuck on waiting lists, desperate for treatment. Will my right honorable friend join me in congratulating the england womens football . Eam on and off the pitch, women are delivering for england. More women in employment, more women setting up businesses. Will the Prime Minister confirm that in our longterm economic land, we will ensure that women can continue to score the goals for the uks economy, and that no one is left behind . Im very happy to join my honorable friend, who is a keen fan not just of the football team, but of the english cricket team. Have a great pleasure of having representatives of those teams in downing street recently. They put us through considerably less heartache stress and worry when their qualifying for these major competitions, and indeed when theyre winning the ashes. I think there are some good news to celebrate, which is female employment it is is at a record high in our country. There are nearly 700,000 more women in work than at the election. Were seeing more entrepreneurs starting businesses. We are making sure that women get their pensions. There is more work to be done. As to speaker, exactly 20 a man wento the day, into a pub and killed six men. The families have never received truth and justice. Only two weeks ago, the police insured that investigation was stalled. Does the Prime Minister agree police that all u. K. Services must cooperate fully with their oversight authorities, both to the letter and the spirit, to ensure that families that i represent received truth and justice . Honorable with the lady that everyone should cooperate with the police ombudsman. I believe the system in Northern Ireland is actually a model that other countries are looking to follow. It is something i discussed quite recently in terms of what happens in the republic of ireland. We have a system that works. We have a we have historical inquiry teams which are also working. I hope for much of the work can continue between the parties in Northern Ireland to discuss the house principles and ideas for flags, parades and the past. I hope everyone can get together and sort these issues out. Randomhilling him and this clearly shows that our willterm economic plan the Prime Minister join with me in welcoming the new creation of a University Technical college where our future generations will have the right skills . Im delighted to say to the honorable gentleman that it is welcome that youth unemployment, which has been too high for too long in our country, is down by 25 this year in his constituency, and longterm youth unemployment is down 41 . He makes the point about these University Technical colleges. I want to see one of these in every major town in our country. We really want to give young people the opportunity of good of a good Technical Education if that is what they choose. The schools must be wellfunded, well resource and also partnered with good organizations that can bring their expertise to bear. It is simple issue of principle. Much more connected to the principle than the name. The principle is this, and i think it will be shared on every side of the house, that the members of the European Council who are the elected Prime Ministers and the elected president under the treaties, we should choose who runs the european committee. People onnd how many the European Council disagree with me, i will fight this right to the very end. What i would say to my colleagues on the European Council, many of whom have expressed interesting views about this principle, if you want reform in europe, you have to stand up for her change in europe, you have to vote for. That is a message that i will take and that is right message for our country. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Last year, a this minister said the savings needed. Will the Prime Minister look to move some of those jobs to red car in cleveland where we have affordable housing, people ready to work, and a great lifestyle . Jobs iselocation of important. We want to see that developed. I note changes to the Insolvency Services in stockton were disappointing. There had been such a sharp fall in bankruptcy and company closures, which is a welcome development. Overall, employment is rising in the northeast by 47,000 last year. We need to make sure we generate not just private sector jobs, but where we can, sensibly located publicsector jobs to different parts of the country. We continue with that program. How many people from this isis . Y are fighting for the estimates that have given so far are that 400 people from the u. K. Have taken part in fighting with isis. More basedrs are around what is happening in syria than what is happening in iraq where we have considerably less information. What i can say is that together with the home secretary and others, weve had a series of meetings to make sure that our intelligence, community and policing services are vocus as sharply as possible on this problem. The estimates are that this is a greater threat to the u. K. Than the return of foreign jihad is from the afghanistan or pakistan region. Good news that the deficit has been cut by one third, there is still much more to do. One way of helping our countries means is to send back all the convicted criminals who are foreign internationals and who are costing british taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds each year to keep in our prisons. All too often, attempts to send back these criminals are stopped by human rights legislation. What plans does the Prime Minister have to put in and to this ludicrous state of affairs . My honorable to friend is that i agree we have to do more on this front. We have removed around 20,004 National Offenders since his government came to office, but the number is still too high. Ive allotted individual ministers to territories, particularly those with the highest number of foreign offenders. Countries like out nigeria, china, vietnam. We also need to use the transfer agreement within the european union, because that could lead to a large return of prisoners, not least to poland. We need to keep up pressure on this. I also believe if we have a conservative government, we will have more human rights. The National House service missed its treatment targets the very first time. What does the Prime Minister have to say to patients and their families who have to put their lives on hold waiting for finals treatment to start . There isnt a family in this country that is no factor by cancer and the difficulties of making sure you get the treatment you need as fast as you can. We have a series of targets for Cancer Treatment and we are meeting almost all of them. We have seen an increase in 15 in the terms of the number of people that are being treated for cancer. Of course we have introduced something that never existed under the previous government, that is the cancer drugs fund. Know people inly her own constituency just is not i know people in mind were getting medicines that they need to do they never got before. Creating thousands of new jobs and exporting across the globe. We commend these businesses and support their efforts to export more . As i said before, were pleased laughing leads, the g leads, thee effin rest of the country follows. We saw the record increase in employment, this week we have seen inflation fault to a fiveyear low. Are very successful meetings yesterday with the chinese premier signing 14 billion pounds worth of important deals that will ring jobs, growth and investment to this country. We have to keep working on every aspect of our plan, including improving exports to the fastestgrowing countries. The former Prime Minister john major is made a very strong for our constitutional arrangement, whatever the outcome. Will he accept that evolution in london is very much unfinished business. If our great cities like birmingham want to remain economic engines, we revise funding structures . I am a fan of directly elected mayors. The people of birmingham had the chance to make that decision and they voted not to have a mayor. I hope that people will see successful mayors in london, liverpool, bristol, and other parts of the country, and they will see there are real benefits from that. Even if we dont move to a mayoral system, theres more we can do through city deals and local enterprise partnerships, through devolving some of the funding in white fall further down to cities and regions all will be to the good. What is worthwhile and welcome is that her party has not enterprisetear up partnerships, but instead to extend them. I think it is good we have cross Party Agreement on how to drive this evolution to a great cities across the nation. Constituents, of mayor thanked the Prime Minister for his swift and effective action in giving what is in effect a posthumous honor to my constituent Stephen Sutton . With the economic plan now working well, how can we build on that, and how can we build on the legacy that Stephen Sutton set for giving to charitable purposes . Stephen was an absolutely inspiring individual, and his zest for life even as he was suffering from a very difficult and progressive cancer was completely extraordinary and very inspiring. He raised a huge amount of money for teenage Cancer Services and raised it from around the world as well as the u. K. I think it is right that our honor system does properly reward people that give to charity, that give of their time from the very bottom to the very top. I think theres more we can do to make sure that our honor system really reflects with the British Public want, which is to see giving, generosity and compassion rewarded. The Prime Minister may recollect that a few months ago i asked him to meet victims. I was asked if you would see them, look at the document that show thatoduced to nothing was done about the problems with these drugs. I would ask you to consider a public inquiry. I dont think i will be able, im afraid, today to see constituents and the people youre bringing to the house of commons. Im happy to have another conversation about what can be done and to understand what more can be communicated to these people so that we can fix it up. Welcoming the chinese premier mystery to this country and in recognizing that china is one of the greatest export markets for britain, and as the Prime Minister to use his auspices to to the the barrier export of pigs feet for human consumption which would ensure of longterm Economic Growth my region . I will certainly take my right honorable friend on this issue. On a previous issue to china, we unlocked the export of pig semen to china, so were making progress. I will look very carefully it takes feet. If exports can be allowed and if jobs can be promoted, i will be very help happy to help. Does the Prime Minister share my concern about the crisis in south sudan, where 4 Million People are facing famine . What steps are being taken to implement the Peace Process . Was discussion this issue yesterday with the archbishop of who is heading to the or where there were some very serious fighting. We need a government that governs on behalf of all the people in that country, and does not try to divide the country along ethnic lines. We will do what we can again. We talk about intervention in this country, it is intervention through diplomacy, aid, assistance, advice. We will continue to do that could work. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Is my right honorable friend aware that at a conference this weekend in athens of the National Chairman of the european select committee, with delegates from all parties, but also chairman of the european parliamentary committees as well, that the british attempton defeated an to treat the skepticism is skepticism is equivalent to racism. The unprecedented procedure relating to the proposed appointments or elections of mr. Alsor, the conference agreed with the british delegation that this was an unprecedented and unacceptable and unsuccessful procedure. That my honorable friend was successful in his very important negotiation on behalf of britain. There is support right around europe for the concept of the ministers making these choices. It requires elected Prime Ministers and president s to vote in the way that they believed. We have been slightly delayed, but there are a combination on the Prime Ministers 98 are nationally being closed for this is what he meant when he promised to protect the nhs . What i meant is just that. We are spending 12. 7 billion pounds more on the nhs which made which major said was irresponsible. We have 3000 more nurses in our nhs. We have over 1000 more midwives in our nhs, but there is something we have less of in our nhs. We have 19,000 fewer bureaucrats. That money has been piled into patient care including primary care right around the country. Mr. Robert gentry. The people of newark have become more acquainted with mr. Cameron. Commitmentffirm his that those parts of nottingham sure that were severely affected receive similar grants to those arts elsewhere in the country flooded at the beginning of this year . First of all, let me welcome my right honorable friend to his long foughthe election. Are places elsewhere that flooded during 20 that werent eligible for some of the payments made subsequent to the flooding in the turn of the last year. Support for householders, farmers and other sorts of proposals. Were looking very hard at this as to whether we can put to the beginning of the 2013 Financial Year the Eligibility Criteria for that flood work. I will look at it very carefully and talk with my right honorable friend in the department, the secretary of state for the local government and community and see whether we can resolve this issue for my honorable friend. You been watching Prime Ministers questions from the british house of commons. Western time airs live on cspan to every wednesday at 7 00 a. M. Eastern and again on sunday nights at 9 00 p. M. Eastern and pacific on cspan. Watch any time at cspan. Org, where you can find video of past Prime Ministers questions and other readers Public Affairs programs. British Public Affairs programs. Discussion by a about how the situation in iraq could impact u. S. Gas prices. After that, a Heritage Foundation forum on oversight of the united nations. Now you can keep in touch with Current Events from the Nations Capital using any phone, anytime. Simply call 2026268888. Listen to a recap of the days events at 5 00 p. M. Eastern on washington today. You can also hear audio of the five networks sunday public afs