iflgfififiwm ' have happened should never happen again. the terrorist attacks in manchester, london bridge and finsbury park took innocent lives. causing dozens of injuries. and traumatised hundreds of people. with wilful and callous disregard for human life. the attack in the early hours of monday morning in my own constituency is a reminder to us all that hate has no creed, that violence has no religion, and that we must stand up to hatred, whoever the target, and stand together against those who would drive us apart. last night, hundreds of people assembled alongside finsbury park mosque, to givejust people assembled alongside finsbury park mosque, to give just that message, from all communities and faiths. our communities and country are strongest when we are united. as oui’ are strongest when we are united. as our late colleague, jo cox, said, we have far more in common than that which divides us. it is just over

one year ago that she was taken from us, by someone driven by hatred. jo was driven by love. it was in the spirit of that energy and passion for people, life and justice that so many for people, life and justice that so ma ny eve nts for people, life and justice that so many events were held in her memory ashed the country last weekend. including one in muslim welfare huws in my constituency near the site of the vile attack that happened a day later. they held a great get together at the weekend. we should remember her and thank her and make sure these great get together events do continue year in and year out to unite our local communities. earlier this year, mr speaker, we also lost the father of the house who had served his constituents for nearly 47 years and previously worked for harold wilson in downing street. he was an iconic figure in the labour party. he came from a proud jewish

background and campaigned to bring peace to the middle east throughout his life and it was my pleasure to travel with him in that quest to many countries in the region and i loved the very many lengthy conversations we had with him. in fa ct conversations we had with him. in fact nobody ever had a short conversation with him! both gerald andjo conversation with him! both gerald and jo will be fondly remembered by all those who knew and worked with them. mr speaker, iwant all those who knew and worked with them. mr speaker, i want to congratulate the mover and seconder of the queen's speech. first, i do congratulate the honourable member for newbury on his speech. my mother told me of the joy of greenham common because she was there and i went to visit her there and i hope that he will understand the deep love of humanity that motivated all those women and others to go to greenham common during those days. i would like to thank them for faking time ourt from his considerable responsibilities looking after his extensive property portfolio and... laughter and tending to his directorship of

the uk water partnership. i hope one day a labour government may soon be able to come to the aid of his newbury constituents by taking water back into public ownership and to the aid of his tenants by ensuring there is a responsibility on landlords to ensure all homes are fit for human habitation. i know the honourable member will also continue dig gently to pursue his other interests in parliament and his interests in defence and africa and in rural affairs and i agree with part of what he said when he spoke up for us as a country to adhere to all the agreements on climate change and i thank him for that part of his speech. i turn now to the seconder of today's loyal address whose speech was typically articulate. after all he is a former winner of university challenge so he

would be able to do that. he mentioned benjamin disraeli aye welcomed that because benjamin disraeli once said if i want to read a book, iwrite disraeli once said if i want to read a book, i write one. well, disraeli once said if i want to read a book, iwrite one. well, mr speaker, it seems the honourable gentleman has taken that to new levels. writing or co writing six books during the seven years he has been a member of this house! i have been a member of this house! i have been looking through the back catalogue of his books and one book absolutely stands out. it's a must read. it's appetite to our times. i hopeifs read. it's appetite to our times. i hope it's re—printed. the book said, "after the coalition." now, i don't wa nt to "after the coalition." now, i don't want to cut across any of his present literary representations, but perhaps a sequel maybe in the offing! although i understand the latest coalition may already be in some chaos! and nothing could emphasise that chaos more than the queen's

speech we've just heard. a thread bare programme from a government that's lost its majority and run out of ideas altogether. this would be a thin legislative programme even if it was for one, but for two years, two years, there is not enough in it to fill up one year. mr speaker, there is therefore appropriate by welcoming what's not in the speech. firstly, there is no mention of scrapping the winter fuel allowa nce for mention of scrapping the winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners, through means—testing. can the prime minister assure us the conservative plan has been withdrawn? mercifully neither is there any mention of ditching the triple—lock. pensioners across britain will also be grateful to know whether tory election commitment on that has also been binned? and older people and their

family might be keen for clarity around the government's policy on social care. whether it's still what was originally set out in the conservative manifesto or whether it's what was later amended to or whether it is now something else entirely? i'm sure it'sjust a matter of historical record, but looking on the conservative website today, the manifesto has been taken down in its entirety. it apparently no longer exists! the prime minister might also like to confirm that food is not after all going to be taken from the mouths of infants and that younger primary school children will continue to receive universal free school meals. on the subject of schools, mr speaker, there was nothing about grammar schools in the gracious speech. does the prime minister now agree with her predecessor that it is delusional to

think that a policy of expanding the number of grammar schools is either a good idea, a sellable idea or even a good idea, a sellable idea or even a right idea? mr speaker, the good news may even extend to our fury friends. if the prime minister can guarantee the barbaric practise of fox—hunting will remain banned in this country? mr speaker, the government has recently embarked on what are likely to be very difficult negotiations concerning brexit which the hole house will want to scrutinise. unfortunately, there have been some leaks with the other side in the process expressing dismay at the weakness of the government's negotiating skills, but that's enough about coalitions of chaos with the democratic unionist party. we must get on to the even more crucial issue of brexit. labour accepted from the beginning that the decision of the referendum has been taken. we are leaving the european union. the question is, how and on

what terms? the government could have begun negotiations on a far better footing had have begun negotiations on a far betterfooting had ministers accepted the will of the house in july last year and granted full rights to european union nationals living in this country. i hope now that the minority government will indeed listen to the wisdom of this house a bit more and work in partnership with our european neighbours. it is neighbours. itis— neighbours. it is — ah, of course, i thank the right honourable gentleman for giving way. during the election campaign he repeatedly refused to rule out a second referendum on our eu membership. given that brexit negotiations have now commenced will he take this opportunity to rule out a second referendum now? i'm not sure the honourable member was listening carefully to my speeches in the general election

campaign. i made it clear we would negotiate sensibly and fairly with the european union and bring the results of those negotiations back to this house. it's in all our interests, we get a brexit deal that puts jobs and the economy first. no deal is not better than a bad deal. it's a bad deal and not viable for this country. we need full access to the single market and a customs arrangement that provide britain as the brexit secretary's pledged and i quote with the exact same benefits as now. neither must arbitrary targets for immigration be prioritised over the jobs and arbitrary targets for immigration be prioritised over thejobs and living standards of the people of this country. let's decide our immigration policy on the basis of the needs of our communities and our economy. not to the tune of dog whistle cynicism of linton crosby or

the hate campaigns or indeed, mr speaker, the hate campaigns of some sections of our press whose idea of patriotism is to base themselves in an overseas tax haven. thank you, mr speaker. i thank the honourable gentleman for giving way. i would like to ask can he confirm the contradiction in his own plans? where he plans not to reduce immigration numbers yet also stopping employers recruiting overseas? is it not the right honourable gentleman who that is a bit wobbly? mr speaker, we made it very clear throughout the election campaign and before that those employers that unscrupulously recruit low paid workers from overseas, exploit them in this country, and runaway with the profits at the same time as creating

community discord, are wrong and are making money out of poverty and grossly exploiting very vulnerable people on both sides of the channel. the tory position on the single market and the customs union is clear. what is the labour position on the single market and the customs union? again, mrspeaker our union? again, mr speaker our position has been absolutely clear. our position is we need tariff—free access to the european market to protect industries and jobs in this country. and let's have a little bit less from the other side of the dangerous threats of turning britain itself into a tax haven which would threaten jobs itself into a tax haven which would threatenjobs and itself into a tax haven which would threaten jobs and public services here far more than in mainland europe. we do not yet know the

official title of the government's much trumpeted great repeal bill. but if we're talking about taking back control, then parliament must be able to scrutinise legislation. thankfully, mr speaker, the thrin gruel of this gracious speech allows plenty of time for longer debates and greater scrutiny. that must include ensuring that the human rights act and our commitment to the european convention on human rights and the human rights of everyone in this country remain completely and totally intact and we will ensure they do. it's our determination that by working with devolved administrations, responsibility such as agriculture and fisheries will be devolved to those administrations and not hoarded in whitehall. and on the subject of devolved administrations, may i also wish the prime minister every success in

reconvening talks with all parties to restore the stormont assembly in belfast as soon as possible. we also very much hope that any done deal with the dup in this place respects the over riding priority of the good friday agreement to maintain peace in northern ireland. mr speaker, a state visit from the spanish head of state was announced forjuly, but can the prime minister update the house on whether she can still expect the united states head of state to visit any time this year orany time in of state to visit any time this year or any time in the future? just a question! mr speaker, as i said earlier, as i said earlier, that public... mr speaker, as i said earlier, public service workers such as fire service, police and the nhs staff receive huge praise when they respond to terrorist attacks and

other major incidents. but it's not good enough to be grateful to our public service workers only at a moment of crisis and disaster. they deserve dignity, the dignity of fully funded services, the dignity of not seeing theirjobs cut and living standards fall. there are now 20,000 fewer police officers than when the conservatives came into office in 2010. and when the police, and mr speaker, when the police raised this subject with the then home secretary, do you know what? she accused the police officers of crying wolf. i hope the current prime minister will correct the m ista kes prime minister will correct the mistakes of the former home secretary. the gracious speech

promises them all the powers they need, but what the police and security services deserve and the public demand is that they will have all the resources that they need. the speaker: order. order. it is manifestly clear that at the moment the leader of the opposition is not giving way. mr jeremy the leader of the opposition is not giving way. mrjeremy corbyn. thank you, mr speaker. because what was briefed to the media yesterday about scrapping the changes to the police funding formula is insufficient. as they will only move funding between... the memberfor chester is very forward sighted, thank you very much. as it will only move funding between rural and urban forces when the real issue, the real issue mr speaker is the £2.3 billion

cut that has been made in police budgets in the past five years. mr speaker, our firefighters did budgets in the past five years. mr speaker, ourfirefighters did an outstanding job at the grenfell tower fire. but those firefighters worked incredibly long shifts. in pa rt worked incredibly long shifts. in part because there are 600 fewer firefighters in london. ten fewer firefighters in london. ten fewer fire stations in london, cuts and closures forced through by the previous mayor of london. and talking to those firefighters, mr speaker, exhausted from their work, who went into a burning building to save people, i said, "why do you do it? why do you go in when you know it's so difficult and so dangerous?" they said "because we're firefighters of the that's what we're trained to do. that's why we serve the public in the way we do." there needs to be more of them. there needs to be more of them. there has to be proper security for

them in the future. we have to properly fund our fire service not just at a time of crisis. mr speaker, i welcome the fact that there is a public inquiry going into grenfell. can we take action now? i pay tribute to croydon council to install sprinklers in all blocks of ten storeys or more, but such minimum safety standards cannot be left to a postcode lottery so will the government make available emergency funds for councils to both check cladding and to install sprinklers? the government should also have committed to a public safety bill to implement the recommendations of the 2013 inquiry into the fire at lakanal house. and reverse its guidance that removed the requirement to install sprinklers in new school buildings. it could still do so and it would do so with our support additional to any recommendation that come from

the grenfell tower inquiry. any recommendation that come from the grenfell tower inquirylj any recommendation that come from the grenfell tower inquiry. i thank the grenfell tower inquiry. i thank the right honourable gentleman for giving way and what he said about sprinkler systems for high rise flats. we have 116 blocks of high rise flats in my city of leeds, 26 of which are in my constituency. at the moment, only eight and those are the moment, only eight and those are the sheltered acomedations will have sprinklers. it will cost £30 million for sprinklers in all of those flats. will the right honourable gentleman join with me flats. will the right honourable gentlemanjoin with me in ushlging the government to provide the money for all local authorities to put sprinklers into those high rises? i absolutely thank my friend for that intervention and during the discussion we held last week in westminster hall about this, her friend the member for leeds central raised a similar point about the numbers of tower blocks and i don't suppose too many members of this house live in tower blocks, butjust think for a moment of the sense of fear that so many people had when they saw that lakanal house fire,

they're living on the 15th, 16th, 17th floor knowing there is no fire ladder that can reach them. no helicopter that can land and they are reliant on being able to get out or the fire to be contained. we need to give everyone that assurance and local authorities that have seen massive cuts in their budget over the past years need the resources now to install the necessary sprinkler systems and fire prevention systems and you cannot just use the excuse that the money isn't there. the money has got to be there to ensure we save life in the future. and we will support the government if it is able to bring that forward. for the last time i give way and then i must move on. on behalf of my honourable friend for kensington west, i thank him for visiting the area and also for making this an absolute priority. will he ensure

that the disaster relief in north kensington and also pursuing this issue over the safety of people in tower blocks is made the absolute numberone tower blocks is made the absolute number one priority? i thank my friend for the support he has given to me friend the member for kensington in the work that's been done there because what happened in grenfell tower is terrifying for all those there. and i have to say the problems that have enshoed since then indicate just what happens when you cut local authority spending to the bone and local authorities cannot cope as a result. we need properly funded good quality public services in this country. the prime minister says that legal support will be made available to the families affected by the g re nfell tower the families affected by the grenfell tower fire. but they should have had access to legal aid beforehand. and when they were raising their desperate concerns about fire safety, they were ignored and again, ignored by a

conservative—controlled local authority. the lessons of the failed austerity programme must urgently be learntment we cannot have council housing, social housing on the cheap and we cannot have public services on the cheap. we have to invest in them. so will the prime minister now halt the cuts to the police, cuts that the former met commissioner this week called an absurdity. those cuts have affected our prisons too, mr speaker. her majesty's chief inspector of prisons has expressed his concern at the lack of prisons and a courts reform bill, one that could have implemented our election ma nifesto to could have implemented our election manifesto to employ another 3,000 prison officers. our children's schools are facing budget cuts. can the prime minister confirm whether cuts per pupil funding the prime minister confirm whether cuts per pupilfunding are going ahead? and can she clarify to the

house the status of the national funding formula? headteachers and teachers are going through incredible stress with over sized classes and the difficulties of maintaining employment of tacheders. the gracious speech mentioned legislation to protect victims of domestic violence. but does that also include restoring legal aid in such cases or restoring the funding to re—open the many refuges that have been closed ? to re—open the many refuges that have been closed? we welcome reform of mental health legislation to give it greater priority. and we would welcome an assurance that no mental health trust will see its budget cut this year like 40% of them did last year. will she call on the public service, will she call time on the public sector pay cap which means our nurses are 14% worse off today than they were seven years ago? as

the prime minister is aware, some nurses and other public service workers have been forced to resort to using foodbanks. alongside over a million other people in this country. rising inflation, the effects of low pay, falling real incomes are going to hit even more families. the six million workers earning less than the living wage, the millions of people in secure work, those subject to benefits freeze and the 5.5 million public servants. we owe them a lot better deal than they have been given by this government in the past seven yea rs. my yea rs. my party, labour, won almost 13 million votes at the election mr speaker. and that was because, mr speaker, we offered hope and opportunity for all and a real change to our country. the prime minister began the election campaign, she began the election

campaign, she began the election campaign saying if i losejust campaign, she began the election campaign saying if i lose just six seats, i will lose this election. when it came to it, she lost more than four times that many seats to labour alone. from cardiff to canterbury, from stockton to kensington, people chose hope over fear. and they sent an unequivocal message mr speaker that austerity must be put to an end. seven years of conservative rule has left wages falling, inflation rising, the pound falling, inflation rising, the pound falling, personal debt rising, and the economy slowing. by no stretch of the imagination could any of that be described as strong or stable. i've given way to three members on that side and three members on this side so i will conclude my speech. thank you. if you want to boost pay,

the most effective means is through strong and independent trade unions. workers collectively defending and improving their pay and conditions. so we would repeal the trade union act and strengthen collective bargaining. across britain people have shown they believe there is a better way. in recent years this government has thrown away tens of billions of pounds in tax give aways to the very richest and to big business and at the very same time, the very same time, closing sure sta rt centres the very same time, closing sure start centres and closing libraries, tipping social care into crisis and our national health service into record deficit. under conservative rule school budgets are being cut, couege rule school budgets are being cut, college courses closed, students being saddled with a lifetime of debt, and per patient funding in the

nhs set to fall for the first time in history. our manifesto for the many, not the few, and its popular policies set out a very different path which caught the imagination of millions. a way for the public really to take back control. so that our key utilities and our railways are taken into public ownership and run in the interests of the many, not to pay the dividends of the few. we would end austerity, mr speaker, by making very different choices. by asking the highest 5% of earners to pay a little bit more. whilst still keeping the top 10%age points lower thanit keeping the top 10%age points lower than it was for most of margaret thatcher's time in office. by asking big business to pay a little more in tax, whilst still retaining a lower

corporation tax rate than any other g7 country. austerity and inequality are choices. they're not necessities. they are not u nfortu nate necessities. they are not unfortunate outcomes. they are a choice to make life worse for the many, to maintain the privilege of a few. if this government rejects austerity, challenges inequality, invests to expand and rebalance our economy, then it would have our support. but it continues down this path of deliberately making people worse off. of deepening division, of deepening division and of neglecting communities that deserve support and respect. then we will oppose them every step of the way if they

continue with that. mr speaker, this isa continue with that. mr speaker, this is a government — i will continue with my speech, thank you mr speaker. mrfrgets speaker —— mr speaker. mrfrgets speaker —— mr speaker there, is a government without a majority, without a mandate, without a serious legislative programme, led by a prime minister who has lost her political authority and is struggling even today to stitch together a deal to stay in office. the speaker: i hope it is a point of order. let's hear the attempted point of order. point of order mrs maria miller. i am simply seeking your advice as someone who has been in this house for 12 years, members can

be disappointed that the leaders of the opposition is not in a position to answer questions. perhaps he can advice what the usual format is in these cases. the speaker: all i will say to the right honourable lady is this, i'm must touched by her faith in my abilities. disappointment maybe very regrettable, but it is not a matter for the chair. mr jeremy regrettable, but it is not a matter for the chair. mrjeremy corbyn. mr speaker, i for the chair. mrjeremy corbyn. mrspeaker, iam for the chair. mrjeremy corbyn. mr speaker, i am deeply sorry that the member... the speaker: jacobries mooing. —— jacob rys—mogg the speaker: jacobries mooing. -- jacob rys-mogg the leader of the opposition said about ten minutes ago, "in conclusion." i fear as time has passed he maybe in danger of inadvertently having misled the

house! i thought you might want to take the opportunity to get this right. no, some may think that the honourable gentleman is fastidious. you pay your money and you take your choice. there is no disorder, but if people persist in raising what they know not to be points of order that would be disorderly. i know that the honourable gentleman of all people wouldn't want to stray into such misdemeanour. mr jeremy corbyn. just for the record i have given way six times in this debate, and there is six days of debate, so you will have plenty of time to make your points during the debate. mr speaker, we will use every opportunity to vote down government policies that have failed to win public support. we will use every opportunity to win support for our programme. labour is not really an

opposition, mr speaker, we are a government in waiting. with a policy programme. . . government in waiting. with a policy programme... shouting mr speaker... with programme... shouting mrspeaker... witha programme... shouting mr speaker... with a policy programme that engaged and infused millions of people in this election, many for the first time ever in their political lives. we are ready to offer real "strong and stable" leadership! —— enthused. in the interests of the many, not the few, we will test this government's "brexit" strategy and what legislation comes forward against that standard. mr speaker, this election engaged more people than for a generation, a tribute to our democracy. in the election, labour set out a vision of what this country could be. what it could be.

it could be more equal, it could be more prosperous, it could have opportunities for all. that is what we, on this side, will be putting forward in this parliament. what we will be fighting for in this parliament, what we will be demanding in this parliament, the people of this country deserve something better than this thin piece of very little when they have so many problems they want and demand answers to from this parliament. we will engage fully and make that case for a prosperous, more stable, more cohesive society in britain. thank you, mr speaker. cheering i call the prime minister. first of all, i'm sure the whole

house will want to join me first of all, i'm sure the whole house will want tojoin me in sending our thoughts to prince philip, since his visit to hospital, we wish him a speedy recovery. let me alsojoined the leader of the opposition in condemning the appalling terrorist attack in his constituency earlier this week. and let me pay tribute to the work through the night with his constituents on sunday. i know the thoughts and prayers are with... this was the fourth terrorist attack

on our country in three months, following attacks in westminster, manchester and london bridge. this time, the attack was on british muslims as they left their place of worship at a sacred time of year. it was a brutal and sickening reminder that terrorism, extremism and hatred can take many forms, and our determination to tackle them must be the same, whoever is responsible. this queen 's speech takes important steps in helping us to do so. we will review the counterterrorism strategy to ensure police and security services have all the powers they need, and the length of custodial sentence for terrorism related offences are sufficient to keep people safe. we will work to reach international agreements to regulate cyberspace, to prevent the

spread of terrorist planning, and encourage tech companies to do more to remove harmful content from networks. extremism is every bit as insidious and destructive to our values, we will stop at nothing to defeat it. i hope that whatever disagreements, i hope that whatever disagreements, i hope we can all welcome the focus in the queen's speech of stamping out extremist and hateful ideology of any kind, including islamophobia. for like all terrorism, in ever form —— any form, monday's attacks ought to drive us apart and break the precious bonds of solidarity and citizenship that we share in this country. our response must be stand together more strongly than ever, to show... injust one moment... to show... injust one moment... to show that hatred and evil of this

kind will never succeed and our values and way of life will always win that she agreed with me that we need to work with communities and engage with communities, all communities, they should play a leadership role, in ensuring that we reject once and for all, terrorism. the right honourable gentleman is absolutely right, i was struck, when i visited finsbury park on monday, to see the way in which the various faith communities there were coming together, i saw representatives from the muslim faith, the jurors community, from the christian community, from the christian community, all coming together with one ambition, which is to drive extremism and hatred out of our society. i'm very grateful to the prime ministerfor society. i'm very grateful to the prime minister for giving way, society. i'm very grateful to the prime ministerfor giving way, first time we have come together after manchester, london bridge, finsbury park, can drink extremism and

terrorism of all kinds must be a priority for this governor, will she join me in calling on all members of this house to give security agencies the tools they have asked for in this speech so they can do theirjob properly? well, i am gratefulto my honourable friend for the intervention that he has made, and i would hope, given that i believe there is a desire across this whole house for us to deal with terrorism, and drive out terrorism and extremism of all kinds, that all members of the house will feel able to support the government in measures would bring forward to do just that. when she was home secretary, she took a decision to wea ken secretary, she took a decision to weaken the surveillance powers of the police and intelligence services by apology abolishing control measures, will she now accept that decision was a mistake? will she review it and will she strengthen the powers of the police and intelligence services in the very difficult task that they have to do,

of monitoring suspects who may have the intent of doing harm, but who have not yet committed a crime? the right honourable gentleman refers to control orders, what was happening with control orders, that the previous labour government introduced was they are being knocked down in the courts, we introduced the terrorism investigation prevention measures, we have subsequently enhanced those measures and ensure that through the investigatory powers act, which was introduced when i was home secretary, that our police and intelligence and security agencies have powers they need. what we have seen now is an increase in the tempo of attack, planning and remember, we have seen these terrible terrorist attacks that have taken place over the same time period five other plots have been foiled. i police and security services. this shows the increasing scale and tempo and it is in that context that we need to look at powers for the future to ensure that our security services and

police have the powers they need and i look forward to the right honourable gentleman in joining i look forward to the right honourable gentleman injoining us and ensuring we give those powers to our agencies. i would also like to say a few words about the disaster at grenfell tower. say a few words about the disaster at gre nfell tower. i say a few words about the disaster at grenfell tower. i will give way. across the country concerns have been raised about the cuts to policing in the last parliament, and the impact that has had on the connection between police and our communities. will she now today also confirmed that she will look to reverse those cuts, to make sure that we have that connection at a time when there are greater demands on police time, and we need to have much greater reassurance connecting back without communities. as i'm sure the honourable lady is aware, we have protected counterterrorism policing, providing funding for an uplift in policing... we are also protecting police budgets. which is

different to the view that was put forward by the former shadow home secretary, now the mayor of manchester, said the police could ta ke manchester, said the police could take 10% cuts in their budget. we did not listen to that, we protected them. i would also like to say a few words about the disaster at grenfell tower. the whole country was heartbroken by the horrific loss of life and the utter devastation that we have seen. i am life and the utter devastation that we have seen. i am sure life and the utter devastation that we have seen. i am sure that the whole house will join we have seen. i am sure that the whole house willjoin me in sending deepest condolences to the friends and families of all those who lost loved ones, and today we also think of those who survived but lost everything. one lady i had met ran from the fire wearing only a t—shirt and a pairof from the fire wearing only a t—shirt and a pair of knickers, she has lost absolutely everything. let me be absolutely everything. let me be absolutely clear, the support on the ground for families in the initial hours was not good enough, people we re left hours was not good enough, people were left without belongings, without roofs over their heads,

without roofs over their heads, without basic information about what had happened, what they should do and where they could seek help. that was a failure of the state, local and national, to help people when they needed it most. as prime minister, i apologise for that failure. as prime minister, i have taken responsibility for doing what we can to put things right, that is why each family whose home was destroyed is receiving a down payment from the emergency fund, so they can buy food, clothes and other essentials, and all those who have lost their homes will be rehoused within three weeks. there will also be an independent public enquiry, chaired by a judge, to get to the truth about what happened, and who was responsible, and provide justice for the victims and their families who suffered so terribly. all those with an interest, including survivors and victims families, will be consulted about the terms of reference, those affected will have legal costs paid. because it is clear that the royal borough of

kensington and chelsea have not been able to cope with the scale of the tragedy, we will develop a new strategy for resilience in major disasters, including a new civil disasters, including a new civil disaster response horse, which can help at times of emergency, and finally, we must learn some of the lessons of this and previous disasters were bereaved families have not had the support they need. an estimated 8% of london's population live in tower blocks, the same point has been made in respect to other cities. in london authority such as westminster, of funding lost, including responsibilities for environmental health, in kensington, 38%. will she today guarantee local authorities will be fully funded for an urgent review of tower blocks safely and all the media or action thatis safely and all the media or action that is necessary including installation, where appropriate, so that they can proceed in a matter of days with that? —— insulation. will

she agree that regulation is a necessary element of a civil society, and will legislate swiftly where necessary to ensure all high—rise residence are safe? where necessary to ensure all high-rise residence are safe? across this whole house we all share a desire to ensure that people are safe and can have confidence of being as safe in their homes. the work started immediately by the department for the communities and local government including local authorities, they have been working with the fire service to look at, to look at the issues in their tower blocks, and assess those tower blocks. we do not yet know the absolute cause of the fire in 6 re nfell tower, absolute cause of the fire in grenfell tower, that work is ongoing. we will take what action is necessary coming out of that, including learning the lessons that come out of it. she speaks about the issue, the honourable lady speaks about the issue of regulation, there is rigorous fire regulation in place, if there are requirements to change that that come out, if there

are requirements to change that that come out of the investigation currently taking place, of course, we will act and we will do so swiftly. just so honourable members of the house are aware, there is a numberof of the house are aware, there is a number of investigations, the police have opened a criminal investigation, the fire service and the building research establishment are investigating as quickly as possible the exact cause of the fire, so that any action that can be taken, and the public enquiry that i have also announced. finally, as i said, we must learn some of the lessons of this and previous disasters, where bereaved families have not had the support they need, so we will also introduce an independent public advocate for disasters, a strong independent voice for victims acting on behalf bereaved families, and supporting them at public inquest and enquiries. let me join the leader of the opposition in paying tribute to the opposition in paying tribute to the two members of parliament that we lost in the course of the last

year. gerald kaufman was an outstanding parliamentarian who serve this house and his constituents in manchester for an incredible 46 years, we did not agree on everything, but as father of the house, he was an invaluable source of wisdom and experience for members on all sides and will be greatly missed. the despicable murder of jo greatly missed. the despicable murder ofjo cox shocked and devastated this house and this country, she was an inspirational mp, campaignerand human country, she was an inspirational mp, campaigner and human terrain, whose mission in life was defined by hope and love. her killer sought instead to spread hate and division, but last weekend, as part of the great get—together, i, and many hundreds of thousands of others, i'm sure members of this house, in her honour, came together, stood together, pulled together all across the country, to unite against that hatred and prove in her own words that we have far more in common than that we have far more in common than that which divides us. i'm sure the whole house will join that which divides us. i'm sure the whole house willjoin me in paying tribute also to her husband,

brendan, for the extraordinary courage and strength that he has shown in dealing with such personal tragedy, and honouring her memory in such an inspiring way. whatever our disagreements in this house, may we all honour her memory and show that in our united kingdom, hope will always triumph over hate. the house will know that the first part of the successful queen is will know that the first part of the successful queen 's speech is finding someone to propose it, it is intended to be a witty speech. as indeed the speech from my right honourable friend, the member for newbury was today. from my point of view, a little too witty. because he took all the jokes i had written in my speech(!) laughter wait for it...! my right honourable friend over the years that he has beena memberfor friend over the years that he has been a member for newbury and in the years that he was fighting to take the seat has shown a great commitment to his constituents, but also to dean court and task of

government of building a stronger economy and building a fairer society. —— economy and building a fairer society. — — but economy and building a fairer society. —— but also to the important task of government. the issue of mental health as well. he has also made a significant contribution during his time as a minister, once as fisheries minister he mixed up his cod and his skate, i'm sure like the rest of us, he will not fail to welcome the absence in this house today of salmon... bo0ing cheering laughter i wonder if the prime minister's reason for not welcoming the former honourable member is that he scares her! laughter

iiihave to her! laughter i i i have to say to the honourable lady is the reason he is not being welcome to this house is because he was beaten by a conservative. my right honourable friend, my right honourable friend, the member for newbury, showed great skill and tenacity over his three years on the fisheries policy, it started as the uk witha fisheries policy, it started as the uk with a minority of one, and ended with the eu supporting a reform agenda, the specifics of which will be at the heart of the fisheries bill, in the queen's speech, he also secured cross—party bill, in the queen's speech, he also secured cross— party support bill, in the queen's speech, he also secured cross—party support for moving canals and waterways from the public to the charity sector, creating one of the best endowed charities in this country. he made an excellent speech today in the finest traditions of this house. the

queen's speech was brilliantly seconded by my honourable friend, the member for spelthorne. my honourable friend, the member for spelthorne is a distinguished political historian and prolific writer, as has been pointed out by the opposition, and my honourable friend has a particular interest in female prime ministers. indeed, members may know... members may know that his most recent book profile the most testing six months for our country's first female prime minister, it rented 272 pages... i fear his next book could be somewhat longer. laughter -- it longer. laughter —— it ran to 272 pages. also widely regarded for his good looks, the sunday telegraph... cheering the sunday sunday telegraph... cheering ... the sunday telegraph... sunday telegraph... cheering the sunday telegraph... once described him as a tory heart—throb.

during his time on you university challenge, i gather he even made it to page three of the sun. laughter perhaps most significantly, my honourable friend is confounding the daily mail, who cited the 1995 university challenge winning team of which my honourable friend was a memberarguing all too which my honourable friend was a member arguing all too often, the brainy winners of the flagship programme sink without trace after their moment in the spotlight. i could not disagree more, the house has today seen my honourable friend's talents on full display, a tremendous speech with flair, substance and wit acrylate let me welcome the new memberfor acrylate let me welcome the new member for ross, skye and lochaber. —— let me welcome. and 13 scottish

conservative colleagues. it is good that my right honourable friend the scottish secretary will not have to put up with any more jokes about pandas. turnout at the election was higher than pandas. turnout at the election was higherthan in pandas. turnout at the election was higher than in 2015, including many more younger people, while on this side of the house we would have preferred more of them to vote for us, more young people going to the ballot box is something we should all welcome. let me also welcome the right honourable member for islington, let me also remember the right honourable member for islington north back to his place as leader of the opposition, fighting a spirited campaign and came a good second... laughter was... which was second... laughter ... was... which was which second... laughter was... which was which was which was which was both better than the pundits predicted and many of his own mps hoped for. i'm grateful to

the prime ministerfor own mps hoped for. i'm grateful to the prime minister for giving own mps hoped for. i'm grateful to the prime ministerfor giving way, celebrating her immense triumph during the recent campaign(!), i could not help but notice, as the prime minister and the leader of the opposition went off to listen to the humble address, thinking back to when i was at school, we did not see people for six weeks, then they came back and you thought, as she shrunk or has he grown? laughter cheering bo0ing laughter —— has she shrunk or has he grown? we will hear from the... i am bottling him up... normally there is a response to an intervention before one has another intervention. a response to an intervention before one has another interventionlj a response to an intervention before one has another intervention. i was indicating the fact that i did not think that intervention required or justified a response. in procedural terms, i'm afraid it did, it is now receive a response. yellow as always, mr speaker, i

receive a response. yellow as always, mr speaker, |am inclined to agree with you. can i thank the prime minister for giving way, can i thank her also for calling a general election in which i increased my majority from 93 votes up to 9000... cheering she talks about young people increasing the vote, in that case, white she introducing voter suppression methods, such as in forcing obliging voters to show identification before they vote? anybody who values democracy will also want to ensure that that democracy is fair and free of fraud, and it is in that spirit that we are introducing, that we are introducing acquirement is for people to identify themselves, carefully reasonable requirement to insure the people voting are those who are entitled to vote. if she values

votes for young people and values democracy, i look forward to her bringing forward vote for 16 and 17—year—olds! bringing forward vote for 16 and 17-year-olds! cheering that is an issue on which the honourable gentleman and i will continue to disagree. mr speaker, the election also showed that as it faces the big challenges of the future, our country is divided, red versus future, our country is divided, red versus blue, young versus old, leave versus versus blue, young versus old, leave versus remain. as i said here last week, the test for all of us is whether we choose to reflect divisions or help the country ove rco m e divisions or help the country overcome them. with humility and resolve, this government will seek to do the latter, we will do what is in the national interest, and we will work with anyone in any party thatis will work with anyone in any party that is prepared to do the same.|j thank the prime minister commitment to tackling social injustice, can she perhaps say a little bit more

about how we will stop dissemination on grounds of race as well.|j about how we will stop dissemination on grounds of race as well. i thank my honourable friend for raising that, this will reflect the outcome of the very important racial disparity audit which we introduced as soon as i disparity audit which we introduced as soon as | became disparity audit which we introduced as soon as i became prime minister la st as soon as i became prime minister last year. i think it is important that we test what is happening in relation to our public services. i was struck as home secretary by the examples i saw, i took action on stop and search, never had been done bya stop and search, never had been done by a labour government but i took action because i thought it was important that nobody was stopped on the streets of our country because of the colour of their skin. other issues we addressed in government previously. our racial disparity audit will show us what is happening in public services and we will act on the back of that to ensure truly that the approach we are taking is a fairone and there that the approach we are taking is a fair one and there is not that discrimination. i'm going to make a little progress before i give way again. mr speaker, we will work every day to earn the trust and confidence of the british people. we

will make their priority is our priority, dealing head on with the major challenges the country faces and that is what this queen 's speech is all about. i'm going to make a little progress and then i will give way. this speech is about recognising and grasping the opportunities for every community in the country to benefit as we leave the country to benefit as we leave the european union. it is about delivering the will of the british people with a brexit deal that works for all parts of the united kingdom and that commands the greatest possible public support. it is about building a new, deep and special partnership with european friends and neighbours, because we are leaving the european union, not leaving the european union, not leaving europe. it is about seizing, it is about seizing this moment of national change, to deliver a plan for a stronger, fairer britain, by strengthening the economy, tackling injustice and promoting opportunity and aspiration for all. because, as i have said, many times before, the referendum vote was not just a vote to leave the european union, it was

a profound and justified expression that our country often does not work the way it should for millions of ordinary families and this queen 's speech begins to change that by putting fairness at the heart of our agenda. i thank my right honourable friend for giving way, she knows i have been a long—standing campaign for improving mental health care in this country, and the truth is that there are many people across our country today not getting the care that they need, including many children who in very traumatised state of spending —— are spending too long in queues to get the appropriate treatment. can the prime minister tell us what she is going to do to convert warm words of the government on parity into actual action on mental health?” government on parity into actual action on mental health? i commend my honourable friend who has, as he said, while he has been in this house and before been a champion on

this issue of mental health. he has done important work on it. there are a numberof done important work on it. there are a number of strands to what the government wants to do, one of those is putting in place a new mental health act, we will consult widely on that new mental health act. also wa nt on that new mental health act. also want to ensure that every school, every primary and secondary school asa memberwho every primary and secondary school as a member who is trained to identify mental health problems and knows how to deal with those issues. i was very struck when i met the charity, young minds, if you weeks ago, at the issue of raising awareness of mental health problems. —— young minds. particularly among young people, the earlier we can address these issues, the better we can deal with them and the better life we can ensure that people with these mental health problems have. those are some of the issues that we will be putting into place but i look forward to working with my honourable friend in insuring that what we are doing indeed addresses theissues what we are doing indeed addresses the issues we need to address. i will give way to the honourable lady. i'm gratefulto her giving way, had to see her here, actually

facing the other parties, she has actually turned up, which during the election campaign was not always the case. laughter not one single exit bill covers the environment, is herfailure to propose a "brexit" bill on the greatest challenge that we face because she does not care, or because she does not care, or because she does not care, or because she has been influenced by the dup dinosaur deniers? inaudible shouting i'm conscious of the significant amount of legislation from europe which affects environmental matters, and those issues... inaudible mr speaker, my party was elected by the people of northern ireland who represent the constituents. is it parliamentary to describe us in the unparliamentary terms that she did? which i regret. she does not

understand the policy that my party has on the environment, she should go and read our manifesto, but we have a right to speak for the northern ireland and in this parliament, we will. the speaker: let me just say two things in response to the sincere point of order from the right honourable gentleman. first of all, the use of the word in question is not unparliamentary. it's a matter of taste as to its desirability or otherwise and secondly and i know how robust a character the honourable gentleman, the right honourable gentleman is, i would say that the word in question refers to a species that survive for many, many millions of years. thank you, mr speaker. as i said, the queen's speech is about putting fairness at the heart of our agenda. that's about building a stronger economy, delivering a modern industrial strategy that that all parts of our country and all parts of our society share in the benefits