pancreatic cancer die and some never even received treatment. every few minutes in the uk, someone is diagnosed with cancer but for those diagnosed, time is too often running out. i am really proud of the labour government because my commission to our nhs but when the prime minister now commit to reviewing a long—term cancer strategy so we can improve diagnosis and treatment rates in this country? i diagnosis and treatment rates in this country?— in this country? i think are for raising _ in this country? i think are for raising this _ in this country? i think are for raising this important i for raising this important issue and it is obviously the second time it has been raised in this session. i will have a lot more to say tomorrow when i did with the report. i pay tribute to her tireless campaigning, in particularwith campaigning, in particular with pancreatic campaigning, in particularwith pancreatic cancer. cancer patients have been failed by the last government, waiting for too long for diagnosis and treatment. we will get the nhs

catching cancer on time, diagnosing it earlier and treating it faster so more patients survive this horrible set of diseases. following labour's decision to scrap winter fuel payments with little notice to millions of pensioners, when the prime minister today rule out scrapping concessionary travel affairs and counsel to discounts which also help millions of pensioners across the uk? yes or no? figs millions of pensioners across the uk? yes or no?— millions of pensioners across the uk? yes or no? as he knows very well. _ the uk? yes or no? as he knows very well. i _ the uk? yes or no? as he knows very well. i am _ the uk? yes or no? as he knows very well, i am not _ the uk? yes or no? as he knows very well, i am not going - the uk? yes or no? as he knows very well, i am not going to - very well, i am not going to pre—empt the budget, it will all be set out in due course. can i pass on the heartfelt thanks on behalf of the bolton council who greatly appreciated the dedication and leadership of the prime minister showed during the recent riots over the summer. does my right honourable friend agree with me

for interfaith committee groups who play a vital role in bring people together? i who play a vital role in bring people together?— who play a vital role in bring people together? i think are risin: people together? i think are rising bad- _ people together? i think are rising bad. we _ people together? i think are rising bad. we own - people together? i think are rising bad. we own an - rising bad. we own an incredible debt of gratitude to our colleagues for their courage to make sure they have the resources they needed to restore order to our streets. we also provided additional security for mosques to ensure freedom of worship and protection from racist threats. in the aftermath, we saw communities who really represent britain coming forward, led by faith groups and committee organisations, they showed that unity and demonstrated our values of tolerance and respect. building infrastructure and maintaining responsible stewardship of the countryside.

the welsh labour government's policy is for all new power lines to be placed underground where possible. the uk labour government favours overhead pylons. why is his government opposing welsh colleagues in wales? we opposing welsh colleagues in wales? ~ ., opposing welsh colleagues in wales? ~ . ., , , wales? we are absolutely committed _ wales? we are absolutely committed to _ wales? we are absolutely committed to the - wales? we are absolutely. committed to the transition wales? we are absolutely - committed to the transition to renewable energy. the reason for that is because it gives us energy independence, it lowers the bills and of course the next generation ofjobs are tied up with it. we have to do it in a cost—effective way but we will make those decisions in the best buy. we will make those decisions in the best buy-— we will make those decisions in the itest buy-— the best buy. the uk steel industry needs _ the best buy. the uk steel industry needs a _ the best buy. the uk steel industry needs a serious i industry needs a serious government which works in partnership with both businesses and trade unions to secure a transition that is both right for the workforce and delivers economic growth in wales. we know that the industrialisation can be devastating to committees so can the prime minister tell me how the government's safeguarding jobs and securing

the future of steel—making communities like ours for generations to come? we are takin: generations to come? we are taking every _ generations to come? we are taking every step _ generations to come? we are taking every step we - generations to come? we are taking every step we can - generations to come? we are taking every step we can in i taking every step we can in relation to the steel industry because it is vital that we give it the support that it needs. we need still in this country, we need steel made in this country and our plans and missions mean we are going to need more steel, not less, that is the duty of the government to ensurejobs on is the duty of the government to ensure jobs on committees and people are not ignored in the transition and thatjobs are protected and i can say the business secretary will an update to the house this afternoon.— update to the house this afternoon. ., , ., , , afternoon. oxfordshire has seen afternoon. oxfordshire has seen a hue afternoon. oxfordshire has seen a huge amount _ afternoon. oxfordshire has seen a huge amount of— afternoon. oxfordshire has seen a huge amount of population - a huge amount of population growth in recent years without the infrastructure to match. a new railway station between didcot and swindon would help to reduce traffic and improve access to both oxford and london. does he support investment in our railway and would he meet with me to hear

the case for a new railway station? i the case for a new railway station?— station? i think the honorourable - station? i think the i honorourable member for station? i think the _ honorourable member for raising this important issue and for his constituents. we are committed to putting passengers at the heart of our railways. great british railways will work closely with regional mayors, operators and groups to make sure it meets the needs of communities and i will ensure that he gets the meeting that he wants with the relevant minister to discuss the issues in his constituency.— in his constituency. that completes _ in his constituency. that completes a _ in his constituency. that completes a prime i in his constituency. that completes a prime list l in his constituency. that| completes a prime list of questions. i will let the frontbenchers clear. prime _ frontbenchers clear. prime minister's questions has now wrapped up as you can see. various members of parliament are exiting the chamber, but we are exiting the chamber, but we are expecting to hear an announcement in the next few minutes from the business secretary and that is over the ongoing concerns about the

plant at port talbot and we have been told that there will be a statement on the uk government deal about the project. we are waiting for that secretary of state statement. we will stay on those pictures. irate statement. we will stay on those pictures.— statement. we will stay on those pictures. statement. we will stay on those ictures. ~ ., ., those pictures. we now come to the statement, _ those pictures. we now come to the statement, secretary i those pictures. we now come to the statement, secretary of i the statement, secretary of state — the statement, secretary of state for business, jonathan reynolds. with your permission, mr speaker, i would like to update the house on the improved deal this labour government has secured for the workers of tata steel. specifically as it relates to their plan in talbot. port as well as setting out the details of this improved deal, i am also announcing today our ambition for a new uk—wide steel strategy, one which equips our

steel—making industry with the right support, notjust steel—making industry with the right support, not just to adapt, but to thrive in the new green economy. before i do so, i want to address the situation we have in hereford. since becoming the secretary of state than they made over the last parliamer the secretary of state to months ago, i've had to becoming the secretary of state to months ago, i've had to respond to a series of respond to a series of challenges, notjust with the challenges, notjust with the steel industry, but also in steel industry, but also in shipping, such as harland and shipping, such as harland and wolff, and another areas where wolff, and another areas where the previous government had the previous government had simply ceased to make simply ceased to make decisions. and decided to leave decisions. and decided to leave them for us to deal with. this them for us to deal with. this was a dereliction of duty. it was a dereliction of duty. it has left the steel industry in has left the steel industry in parliament. particular in an extremely particular in an extremely perilous position. the last perilous position. the last government had been promising a government had been promising a plan for the steel industry for plan for the steel industry for years. with what i am able to years. with what i am able to announce today, with the announce today, with the signing of a legally binding signing of a legally binding deal that enables tata steel to deal that enables tata steel to order their furnace as part of order their furnace as part of a significantly improved a significantly improved package, this government has package, this government has made more progress into months made more progress into months than they made over the last than they made over the last

parliament. but even if we had started these negotiations are your ago, started these negotiations are yourago, never started these negotiations are your ago, never mind started these negotiations are yourago, never mind many started these negotiations are your ago, never mind many years ago, as they had the opportunity to do, i have no doubt we would have secured an even better dealfor doubt we would have secured an even better deal for the even better dealfor the community. so i would like to support, start with an apology to the people of port talbot because they were let down by the previous government and whilst still as much improved, i acknowledge very much that it short of what would be my ideal. however, i have been to port talbot several times, i have met the workforce there, the reps, the generations of families who have literally forged port talbot as we know it. that is why when tata steel first announced they would be closing the furnaces with 2,800 job losses, i knew the workforce deserved so much better. i warned my predecessor not to proceed with what they had negotiated. why? because i was confident the government could secure a better deal for

the workers and a better deal for the people of port talbot. mr speaker, iam for the people of port talbot. mr speaker, i am able to announce today that this government has secured that better deal. but i reiterate, had we had the opportunity that the previous government had over so many years, we could have done more. the key

�* the to secure the slot for the electric furnace, that element needs to be sorted now. further delays would put the whole project at risk and could lead to a much worse outcome. secondly, in every conversation i have had with the directors of tata steel, i have stressed the need to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible. i have asked them to channel their efforts instead into a job matching and retraining to the steel workers in port talbot who have dedicated so much to the industry in the past can now help shape its future as they will be able to transition and move within the business. but as well as that, tata steel or agreeing to offer a comprehensive training programme for any employee as an alternative to those at risk of compulsory redundancy. this would be on full pay for one month and then £27,000 a year per employee for ii month and then £27,000 a year per employee for 11 months and tata steel will fund all of these costs. employees will be able to choose from recognised qualifications to deliver

sought—after skills that will be in high demand in the local economy now and long into the future. we know, too, that tata steel expects during the construction of the electric furnace that at least 500 new jobs could be created which will tap into the local labour market wherever possible. thirdly, where we cannot secure newjobs or training, working closely with the unions, i can tell the house how we have helped secure improved terms on redundancies. the employees are now able to express an interest in the most generous voluntary redundancy package the company has ever offered for a restructuring of this size. employees will now be paid 2.8 weeks of earnings for each year of service, up to a maximum of 25 years. at the same time, we are ensuring there is a minimum redundancy payment of £15,000 per rata and a payment of £5,000 for employees leaving the business because of. over

2000 staff have expressed an interest in voluntary redundancy who will be eligible for these terms. fourthly, as part of the deal, the company will also be releasing 385 acres at their site for sale or transfer. this is valuable real estate which will help bring in more companies and more employers, notjust from the steel sector, but from a whole host of other industries, two, to help diversify the workforce in port talbot. while those of the opposition benches told us there was no alternative to what was originally proposed, we knew that there was and we have bargained hard for it. we are putting in watertight conditions within our grant funding agreement forjob funding agreement for job guarantees, to funding agreement forjob guarantees, to claw—back investment if these jobs do not materialise. for example, there is now an improved grant repayment of £40,000 for every job that is not retrained. this money will be paid directly to the government and is a powerful incentive for the company to deliver and make the 5,000 ukjobs target. our

ambition for a steal is so much bigger and broader than one single company, it is about the whole sector. the uk has always been a proud steel—making nation with a rich heritage stretching back to the industrial revolution, from cars to cranes to ships and scaffolding. british steel has been, and is still used, the world over. yet for years, steel has been a neglected industry in this country. crude steel pollution has declined by over 50% in the last ten years, indeed some say the decline would be inevitable in the 21st century, that it was somehow a sunset industry but those people are wrong. on the side of the house, we have never believed that decline is inevitable. while the industry faces challenges today, we want to do everything we can to ensure that it can adapt and grow tomorrow. that is why i am pleased to announce that we will introduce our new stealer

strategy our manifesto included plans to make available to 5p for steel on top of the £500 —— five and million pound transformation of port talbot. our intention is to increase uk keep ability, something the previous government never attended so that we can create attended so that we can create a more vibrant, competitive steel sector in the uk. as part of our strategy, this government will look seriously to improve the keep abilities across the supply chain including in primary steel—making. we are also clear that we won't be able to prioritise short—term subsidies over long—term jobs. that is why, with the help of independent experts, we will also be reviewing the viability of technologies for the production of primary steel including possibly direct reduced our. steel is essential to deliver our zero goals and building the next generation of green infrastructure which is something i know members of this government are passionate about. that is why as part of our steel strategy, we intend

to use the new procurement act to use the new procurement act to drive economic growth and account for social value and the things the government buys in the projects we commission. this work is already under way to increase the role of steel as we build a factoring base. we also recognise that for 40 long, energy intensive industries have been held back by high illiteracy costs. more often than not, this is made the uk are less attractive to international investors but we are going to take action. our clean energy emission will ensure we are no longer exposed to the kind of gas price shocks we have seen in recent years, helping british businesses to compete and win in the double market. to support that ambition, we are also working with other like—minded nations to tackle global trade distortions including through our cherry of the global forum on steel excess capacity this year. our steel strategy will be developed and delivered in partnership with the steel sector in the trade unions. it will work in step with the

government was much industrial strategy. our ambition to strengthen our supply chains and create more well—paid jobs in the places where they are needed the most. to drive our partnership on the steel strategy forward, i will shortly meet with industry experts and interested parties to discuss the future of the industry and we intend to publish strategy in spring next year. this is a government that cares about steel and cares about the communities it supports and recognise its fundamental importance to the economy. and supporting steel in this country is involved in being involved in the detail. but it is also about providing a direction of travel, and inspiration for investment so the sector can play its part in the sector can play its part in the next ten years and beyond. we are not naive about the scale of the challenge before us but while this is still challenging, i believe that this is both a better deal than

of that which was on the table for port talbot and the maximum improvement that we could make in two months. it represents the better destination and a better transition to the bright future that steel will have under this government and i commend this statement to the house. can i thank the secretary of state for advanced side of statement? i wish i could say i was surprised by the content but it has been religiously briefed to the media over the last couple of days. it is also no surprise that once again, labour or poseidon over the demise of our steel sector. under the last labour government, output fell 47%, 56% ofjobs government, output fell 47%, 56% of jobs were government, output fell 47%, 56% ofjobs were lost and today's deal now means 100% of output gone at port talbot with an electric arc furnace taking, at best, at best, mr speaker, five years to get up and running, with some suggesting

eight to nine years before a single newjob is created if we see any newjobs at all. this is as the statement says, transition, but it is a heartbreaking transition for thousands of people, a transition from people in work to people out of work. why didn't the secretary of state take steps in his discussion with tata steel to ensure that the blast furnace was not closed before the new furnace can open is this really the new labour playbook, scrub jobs, scrap production and become reliant on higher polluting countries for imports? that, mr speaker, is not what i call decarbonisation. i musti speaker, is not what i call decarbonisation. i must i do feel a little sorry for the secretary of state who has been dispatched here today to announce these spending decisions just a day after

labour's day of shame on winter fuel cuts for pensioners. in government, conservatives provided a grant of 500 million towards the 1.25 billion invested by tata steel. at the time this is one of the larger support packages in government history. at the time of the last governmentmarked amounts and, this support was expected to save at least 5,000 jobs in the country. we worked with the welsh government and tata steel to establish a dedicated transition board to support affected employees so can the secretary of state update on any of those job projections when he returns to the dispatch box? further, today's announcement is notable by the absence of any reassurance or plans for the thousands of steelworkers in scunthorpe who may not have jobs by christmas. equally as notable in today's announcement is once again a failure from the government to commit any detail on the domestic production of virgin steel. he says we will have a

steel. he says we will have a steel strategy in the spring when thousands ofjobs and reduction capacity has been scrapped today! it was no surprise that last week during the urgent question on steel, the urgent question on steel, the industry minister failed to commit four times to safeguarding the future of virgin steel production in this country. i am sure the secretary of state doesn't need reminding that if he allows scunthorpe to close, too, we will be the only g7 country without the ability to produce virtual steel, leaving us open and vulnerable to cheap foreign imports, particularly from china. to his credit, he has always argued against offshore in our industry. he considered once this would be a political mistake so, ask him what conversations he has had with the secretaries of state for transport and defence about the impact of this government's new steel policy on our national security and ability to deliver infrastructure? can he assure the house that he is doing everything in his power to make sure we do not lose virgin steel manufacturing here in the united kingdom? forthe steel manufacturing here in the united kingdom? for the benefit

of new colleagues, the government then when in opposition were committed to a £28 billion a year of borrowing to fund their decarbonisation plans, a price tag which has magic disappeared but a target which has not. of this, the secretary of statement promises to the steel industry, where are they now? it is still battling the chancellor? we know labour's unions are quite successful in squeezing money from the treasury so maybe he can send them to stand up for the chancellor if he is having problems. this government has our support to ensure the future of steel—making in this country is sustainable. that speaks beyond tata steel and beyond south wales. only in labour's wales can the word improved mean fewerjobs so i hope he can return to the dispatch box and do betterfor uk steel—making. i dispatch box and do better for uk steel-making.— dispatch box and do better for uk steel-making. i have been a member of— uk steel-making. i have been a member of parliament - uk steel-making. i have been a member of parliament for i uk steel-making. i have been a member of parliament for 14 i member of parliament for 14 years and i think i have seen some interesting critical events in those years.

we are going to leave the house of commons there. the business secretary speaking earlier and we just heard also from the shadow business minister, greg smith. as we heard there, the business secretary confirming 500 will young pounds grant for modernisation at tata steel at port talbot plant. let us go to article and who is at the tuc congress in brighton. you were listening to that statement there, i understand there is a lot of frustration about the handling of the situation at port talbot but tell us what conversations people are having and what all stem might be now this announcement has been made? ,,, ., ,, ., this announcement has been made? .,~ ., ., ., made? speaking to two of the big unions _ made? speaking to two of the big unions involved _ made? speaking to two of the big unions involved in - made? speaking to two of the big unions involved in this, i big unions involved in this, unite bank and the gmb, their verdict on port talbot can be summed up like this, it is not

quite as bad as they feared but it is still very bad news. for example, unite are taking credit for getting from the government up to 5p for the steel industry, 500 million going to port talbot. they also say that there is an improved redundancy package, there will be retraining for people whose jobs are under threat. nonetheless, 2,500 jobs out of 4,000 or due to go and i spoke to the general secretary and he had concerns about port talbot but he also had wider concerns about how the government is going to transition to net zero and whether it has moved to decarbonise the economy and if it will lead to deindustrialisation. we can hear now from gary smith. we will lose thousands ofjobs at port— we will lose thousands ofjobs at port talbot, we will lose steel— at port talbot, we will lose steel making capacity and we are very— steel making capacity and we are very clear that this was the — are very clear that this was the mess_ are very clear that this was the mess created under the tories _ the mess created under the tories i_ the mess created under the tories. i think labour are

trying _ tories. ! think labour are trying to— tories. i think labour are trying to do their best with a difficult _ trying to do their best with a difficultjob but trying to do their best with a difficult job but welcome to government, these are the tough decisions — government, these are the tough decisions you need to face. we welcome — decisions you need to face. we welcome the fact that labour has now— welcome the fact that labour has now adopted a lot of the plans— has now adopted a lot of the plans from the trade unions about— plans from the trade unions about reskilling and training but lets _ about reskilling and training but lets be under no illusions, this is— but lets be under no illusions, this is a — but lets be under no illusions, this is a huge impact for the port— this is a huge impact for the port talbot community and for steel— port talbot community and for steel production in the uk, and thousands ofjobs are going to lo, thousands ofjobs are going to go, kimathi is going to be hollowed out and we will see reductions in carbon emissions but at — reductions in carbon emissions but at what price was not not all voluntary redundancies? we fear there — all voluntary redundancies? we fear there will be compulsory redundancies were we welcome the fact— redundancies were we welcome the fact there will be protection, some protection, and — protection, some protection, and the — protection, some protection, and the opportunity for retraining of many of those workers _ retraining of many of those workers. anybody who is impacted with the threat of redundancy, that has to be

welcomed. labour has listened to the — welcomed. labour has listened to the trade unions but we really— to the trade unions but we really have to stop this decarbonisation through deindustrialisation. serving up a 45— deindustrialisation. serving up a 45 to — deindustrialisation. serving up a 45 to working class people, that — a 45 to working class people, that is— a 45 to working class people, that is not— a 45 to working class people, that is not the way to decarbonise this country. what are our decarbonise this country. what are your concerns _ decarbonise this country. what are your concerns about i decarbonise this country. what are your concerns about jobs . are your concerns aboutjobs elsewhere? we know that other facilities, what are your worries about other jobs facilities, what are your worries about otherjobs and money factoring? brute worries about other “obs and money factoring?i worries about other “obs and money factoring? we think the next few weeks _ money factoring? we think the next few weeks will _ money factoring? we think the next few weeks will be - next few weeks will be extremely tough. harland and wolff — extremely tough. harland and wolff yards are in a very difficult _ wolff yards are in a very difficult place. we are worried about — difficult place. we are worried about the future of the scunthorpe steel plant and grangemouth, we are worried about— grangemouth, we are worried about the _ grangemouth, we are worried about the future of that plant, too~ _ about the future of that plant, too we — about the future of that plant, too. we should be clear with each — too. we should be clear with each other that we are not reducing _ each other that we are not reducing our consumption of oil and gas — reducing our consumption of oil and gas. we still need lots of steei~ — and gas. we still need lots of steel. we are just going to be producing the stuff elsewhere

and importing it and we are going— and importing it and we are going to— and importing it and we are going to be producing more steel— going to be producing more steel in— going to be producing more steel in countries like china who— steel in countries like china who burn _ steel in countries like china who burn coal to produce it. this— who burn coal to produce it. this is— who burn coal to produce it. this is bad _ who burn coal to produce it. this is bad for communities, devastating news in terms of jobs. — devastating news in terms of jobs. not _ devastating news in terms of jobs, not great for national security, _ jobs, not great for national security, that makes no sense in terms — security, that makes no sense in terms of— security, that makes no sense in terms of the environment. are _ in terms of the environment. are you — in terms of the environment. are you worried there isn't enough of an open debate or engagement on how we transition to zero? . , engagement on how we transition to zero? ., , , engagement on how we transition to zero? . , , ., ., to zero? there has been a lot of talk about _ to zero? there has been a lot of talk about the _ to zero? there has been a lot of talk about the transition i of talk about the transition but the _ of talk about the transition but the wind farms all around our coast _ but the wind farms all around our coast are invariably built in china, _ our coast are invariably built in china, anywhere but the uk, and they— in china, anywhere but the uk, and they have not been built by uk components and we're going to have — uk components and we're going to have even less steel capacity going forward. there needs— capacity going forward. there needs to _ capacity going forward. there needs to be an honest debate and we — needs to be an honest debate and we need to shape up a for the future _ and we need to shape up a for the future. we cannot survive on wishful _ the future. we cannot survive on wishful thinking on our own and we — on wishful thinking on our own and we are _ on wishful thinking on our own and we are going to have to have — and we are going to have to have an _ and we are going to have to have an honest conversation about — have an honest conversation about the lack of industrial policy _ about the lack of industrial policy and about the way environment policy is impacting 'obs environment policy is impacting jobs because it discussed in us jobs. _ jobs because it discussed in us jobs. no — jobs because it discussed in us jobs, no doubt about that. our message — jobs, no doubt about that. our message to ed milne and is very clear. _ message to ed milne and is very clear. we — message to ed milne and is very clear, we are worried about a

lot of— clear, we are worried about a lot of promises that have not been — lot of promises that have not been delivered onjobs. we want to work— been delivered onjobs. we want to work with you on industrial plans— to work with you on industrial plans that will bring jobs, skilled _ plans that will bring jobs, skilled jobs and hope that investment back to working cask amenities. he needs to get on with— amenities. he needs to get on with it — amenities. he needs to get on with it now. he has made big promises. _ with it now. he has made big promises, time to deliver. interesting there that he began that interview denouncing the previous government saying they had not focused enough on the problems in the steel industry but nonetheless, it is now labour's was possibility to sort this out and his view is that the strategy is notjoined up, they have commitments to get clean energy by 2030 but they are not necessarily looking at the effect that has on jobs in looking at the effect that has onjobs in more traditional industries and interestingly, here at the tuc, unite union and gmb successfully passed a motion about north sea oil workers, they are worried about the oil and gas industry as well and whether there will be job guarantees for people employed there as we move into different sources of energy,

they have suggested that labour should not cancel new north sea oil licences so quite big challenges, difficulties, i think, between the industrial wing on the political wing of the labour movement notjust on industrial policy but on this whole question of green transition in the journey towards zero. just a reminder of that announcement that came from the government, confirming it will contribute around 500 and pounds to a transition at the port talbot site 41 in south wales. it comes as 2,800 jobs will still be lost as a result of the shutdown of blast furnaces and a switch to using an electric arc system of production. plenty more on that

story on the today at one — a fiery first tv debate in the us. the abc news presidential debate. donald trump and kamala harris exchange personal insults and debate the economy, abortion and immigration. in springfield, they're eating the dogs. the people that came in, they're eating the cats. they're eating...

they're eating the pets of the people that live there. also on the programme... a man jailed for murder 33 years ago has had his conviction quashed. oliver campbell says he can now start his life as an innocent man. the chancellor rachel reeves warns there are difficult decisions ahead, as figures show the economy failed to grow injuly. and do you recognise this royal couple? a new statue in memory of queen elizabeth ii and prince philip at antrim castle gardens in northern ireland, has received... ..a mixed reception. and coming up on bbc news. harry kane says he wants more in a three lions shirt as he leads england to victory over finland at wembley in the uefa nations league.

good afternoon.