>> and now live to london for british prime minister's question time. each week the house of commons is in session we bring you prime minister david cameron taking questions from members of the house of commons live wednesday

mornings here on c-span2. we invite your participation via twitter using hashtag pmqs. prior to question time members are finishing up other business. live to the floor of the british house of commons. >> i'm sure that he will be able to meet that very point to the minister when he meets him later today. >> order. questions to the prime minister. >> number one, sir. >> prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. >> thank you, mr. speaker. giving the damage over future investment and jobs which his strategy has created in the business community, will the prime minister today give the guarantee that he will not

support and outvote any future and an eu referendum? >> since i made the announcement that there should be an end out of referendum on europe actually investment coming into britain has gone up and there are regular times when britain is getting more inward investment and the rest of europe put together. >> i assume the whole house will want to order the bravery of nhs volunteers are welcome the news that no -- [inaudible] with the prime minister congratulate them for their outstanding work so far and offer support efforts to develop this vital vaccine? >> i think my honorable friend is right to raise this issue. i'm sure everyone is thinking of them and it is good news she is out of critical care, but still there's a long way to go. i think what she says about developing a vaccine is vitally

important. my right honorable friend the minister of the government policy is leading to work on this and making sure we do everything to try and cut through some of the bureaucracy that otherwise will be in place we can develop a vaccine fast. >> ed miliband. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, the whole country across all faiths and communities have a sense of solidarity for the people of france following last week's deadly attacks. this house of commons has sent a clear signal on this issue, we are united. can the actions of the be taken, does the prime minister agree that a key objective of our characters of effort must be to prevent young people from of being drawn into violent extremism in the first place? does he also agree the program to tackle the problem to prevent needs to be extended -- expanded

and is given the priority it deserves a? >> first of all it agree with right honorable gentleman about how important it is to stand together in favor of free speech, freedom of expression, the rule of law, democracy, the values that we'll dear. and i think that demonstration in paris and the outpouring using both here and around the world against these horrific attack shows that these values will not be defeated. in terms of what the right honorable gentleman says about what must be done, we've got to prepare for any attack that could take place, and that these mickey shorter we fund our counterterrorism police improperly as we do. it is reaching up to potentially vulnerable groups of people and i met with a jewish leadership council yesterday, but as he says it also means confronting the poisonous narrative of islamist extremism and that is what we're doing through putting a duty on every public organization to confront extremism wherever they find it whether that is in universities or in schools on campuses, in

prisons or elsewhere. that is what the present program which we're expanding is also all about. >> let me associate myself with what he said particularly about anti-semitism and prejudice wherever we find. as he also granted one about -- to persist in the conflict with more than half of them ever return that we need to do more. in particular does a great we need to do much more rigorous approach including compulsory engagement with the radicalization program to turn these people away from violent extremism? >> i think it is right that we do everything we can to stop people traveling to syria to take part in these activities and that is what the counterterrorism bill which is going to the house of lords right now ism to do. but also as he says people coming back should be looked at on a case by case basis and in every case it should be considered about whether they would benefit from going into it counter radicalization program.

what we've done with the freedom program is we have the review by lord carlisle and 2011 and be done existing program at a quote he said there have been cases where groups who we would now consider to support extremist ideology have received funding. that's the reason want we changed present when expanded program faces when you make make sure everyone the benefit from counterradicalization gets it. one final point and i make i hope in the spirit of feminist across the house one or two people have referred to our current situation and part of a something of a zombie parliament. i make the point that his characters and bill which is vital in defeating terrorism is being discussed and debated in this house of parliament right now. >> mr. speaker i'm glad we can work across parties on this issue, and we will endeavor to continue to do so. now let me turn to an issue where there is less agreement. in may 2010 speaking about the tv debate, a party leader, a

party -- [shouting] a party -- a party leader said and i quote, it would have been feeble to find some excuse to back out. so i thought we've got the stick-to-itness. we got to do. can he remind us who said that? >> i am all for these debates taking place but you cannot have -- >> order. the question has been asked and answered must be heard. prime minister. >> you cannot have two minor parties without a third minor party. so i put the question to him why is he so frightened of debating the green party? >> mr. speaker, i will debate anyone the broadcasters invite but the man who said, the man who said he would be feeble to back out of the debate was him. now we all understand that as

long ago as last thursday, his dividing patch was to get the green party a platform that it is frankly a pathetic excuse. [shouting] it's not for him -- it's not for him, it's not for me come it's not for any party leader to decide who is in of the debate. it's up to the broadcasters. that's the country we live in. is a really telling the people of britain that is going to speak to deny them the tv -- the tv debate if he doesn't get to choose who was end of the? >> we had a set of european elections this year, and ukip and the green both be the liberal democrats, i'm afraid to say, and you either have -- [laughter] it's very simple. you either have both of them or you have none of them. so let me ask him him again. what is he's a chicken when it comes to the green?

[shouting] >> mr. speaker, there's only there's only one person there's only one person running scared of these debates, and that's this prime minister. [shouting] and when he says he doesn't want to take part because of the green, but nobody believed them. not the people behind it. not a person next to them. not the country. however, he dresses it up, everyone knows he is running scared. these debates don't belong to me. they don't belong to them. they belonged to the british people. what does he think he it gives them the right to run away from these debates? >> there are two credible sets of debates did you either have a debate with all the national parties who appear in this house, or you can have a debate, or both have a debate between the two people who have become a prime minister.

those are the credible debates. so i ask them again, when he looks at the green party, why is he so scared? [shouting] >> mr. speaker, i will debate, i will debate anyone the broadcasters invite to debate. i think he protects to much. he's run out of excuses. he's running scared of these debates. and in the words of his heroine lady thatcher he brit. [shouting] >> is an interesting, mr. speaker, with just 10 of these sessions to go he wants to debate having a debate. he can't talk about unemployment because it's coming down. he can't talk about growth in the economy because it's going up. he can't talk about his is energy price freeze because it's turned into a total joke. and mr. speaker, the more time he and i can spin in a television studio and on television, the happier i will be.

[shouting] >> but please committees get anymore questions left ask a serious one. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, mr. speaker yesterday the former prime minister mr. blair had to be summoned to the select committee to reluctantly give evidence. we now understand that the director general of the bpc, lord hall, is refusing to give evidence to another select committee on the grounds that he is a member of parliament. is also a paid public servant. but isn't it time that we review the matter of parliamentary privilege in this place? >> i will look very closely a a woman on the front says. of this is a matter for the committee for the house but the general rule should be the people involved in the management should come because

it needs to be and is publicly accountable. i actually think fort hall does a very good job and i'm sure he would give a good account of himself but i'll have a careful look at what my honorable friend says. >> dr. alan whitehead. >> at the liaison committee meeting on december 16 the prime minister promised to look into the full publication of extent redacted report on show classroom economy impact. as he looked into this? is enough going to insist on full and non-reductive publication? >> i did look into the issue but don't want to give the honorable gentleman and in i could answer sal go and check about the action taken after that meeting and see what i can tell them. >> in a speech last week the director general of mi5 identified a number of important gaps in their surveillance which does need to be addressed by

law. now, some of these have called them a breach of civil liberties, others have said that it's just another snoopers of charter. but doesn't the prime minister agree with me the public safety most come above everything else and that civil liberties must include not being bombed shot or beheaded some deranged jihadists because i can? >> the first duty of every good is to keep the country safe. we certainly don't do that by trashing our own civil liberties and traditions, but i believe it comes to this vital issue of the nibbled a proper surveillance on the communications of potential terrorists, up until now this parliament and british governments have taken a very clear view whether it's been about looking at letters whether it's been about fixed telephone communication for mobile communications, we've always believed that in extremists on the production of

a signed war from the home secretary, it should be possible to look at someone's communication to try and stop a terrorist outrage. and the decision i think we have to take is are we prepared to allow in future as technology develops safe spaces for terrorists to communicate? the principle i think we should adopt his no we are not content with that weapon. as a result we should look to legislate accordingly. >> and then faces 1000 lashes and 10 years in is because he wrote some articles which is government does not agree. will the prime minister join me in condemning the barbaric and medieval regime of saudi arabia? does he believe that our international alliances should be more on human rights and less on economic muscle? >> we don't approve of these sorts of punishments and we always raise these cases when british citizens are involved in the strongest possible way and another we will on this occasion too.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. unemployment down 44% youth unemployment down 45%, long-term unemployment down 44%, this is started up 30%. all in the last year in my constituency. [shouting] >> what is my right honorable friend thinks that says about our long-term economic growth the? >> delighted with the views of my on will friend brings but it is remarkable how it almost every constituency in this house a number of people claiming unemployment benefit is down the number of young people claiming benefit is down. if he looks at the east of england as a whole, there are 224,000 people, almost a quarter of million more people in work inin the east of england. those are statistics but everyone is about someone who's going out and earning a wage and supporting their family and managing to achieve a better standard of living.

that is what we must continue with and that is why we'll stick to the long-term economic plan. >> eliminating the deficit, net migration down to the tens of thousands, no vat rice, the top every organization of the nhs. why did the prime minister make these promises and why did he break them? >> we said we would get the deficit down and the deficit is down by half of a share from the disgraceful situation left by labour. i thought the honorable gentleman would take the opportunity to talk about the vital steel interest in his constituency which we will be talking about later on today. i'm working as hard as we can to try to make sure we keep steel production growing in our country i have to say to them as he's introduced a political element, so might i. under this government steel production is up where's it was down under labour. under this government employment in the steel industry is up what

it was down under labour. why is that? because we have a car industry that's growing and aerospace industry that is growing. we've got construction that is growing. we are getting britain back to work. [shouting] >> is my right honorable friend to wear that in the past 12 months over 60 journalists have been killed in the course of the work including those at charlie hebdo last week? just five weeks ago i attended with several other members upon the finding in paris a declaration by representatives of every european country recognizing the vital role of the journalist in a free society, and pledging to do everything possible to protect their safety. will my right honorable friend reaffirm that commitment today? >> i pay tribute to my right honorable friend for the work he does in supporting the freedom of the press and i certainly reiterate what he says today. win this most struck me was action when i visited chapter in

northern sri lanka in which is a newspaper office that had been shot up, bombed and burned. that brings him to you what journalists and other countries have four years faced in bringing the truth and putting in front of the people which is a vital part of a free democratic system. and the event in paris are truly horrific and i think the duty of everyone in public life is not necessary to say whether not we agree with this been published or that been published. everyone will have the own opinion. what matters is we should always defend the right of people to publish whatever is inside the law, and in their opinion right to publish. that's our job and we must do it properly. >> mr. speaker, we are seeing a meltdown in emergency care. the prime minister's health secretary accuses us of whipping up a crisis. isn't it time for some honesty this government is simply failing our nhs? >> i'm glad she raises any just because absolutely we do face

real challenges this winter with pressures on a&e butter on constituency the university hospital foundation trust, proved what can be done with the extra resources we are putting in and the excellent management of that hospital. last week, 96.6% of people going to a&e in her constituency were seen within four hours. >> thank you, mr. speaker. last week i met chloe, a care assistant apprentice who has started her condition after visiting my most recent jobs there. with the prime minister congratulate all those people who have got jobs and started apprenticeships in my constituency since 2010 were unemployment has fallen by 30% in the last year alone, further evidence the government's long-term economic plan is delivering quality jobs and opportunities for people across the region's?

>> i certainly join my honorable friend in congratulating chloe and starting her print issue. in his constituency nearly 4000 people have begun an apprenticeship since 2010. if you look at what is happened to the claimant count as i said a few months ago in his constituency, the claimant count is down 42% since the election. the long-term use claimant count which should be the greatest concern to us because that is young people on unemployment benefit month after month that is down by 50% in the last year alone. this recovery is gathering pace, providing jobs for people each one of those jobs is a chance for them to provide a better future for their families but we've got to stick to the plane and a key part of the point is getting that deficit down. >> ambulance trusts are downgrading because of some six people in the country. east of england 57 people have believed to have died waiting for anglers that never arrived. isn't the prime minister a shame that this is what happens when

the tories run the nhs? >> clearly what happened in these england was wrong and the change was made without the knowledge of the trust board. as soon as it was found out, the chief executive reverse the decision and ordered an independent investigation, an investigation carried out by someone from outside the trust. the investigation found it had been no harm to patients. i think it is important to put this in context. he quite rightly says it's very important we conduct this debate in a good and civilized way. not to weaken, the leader of the opposition was asked seven times whether he had used the phrase that he wanted to weaponize the nhs. seven times he refused to answer the question. everybody knows that he said those words and if he had a shred of decency in him, he would get up and explain he should have said those words and apologized. [shouting] >> thank you, mr. speaker.

a few weeks ago a tragic event occurred in my constituency were a young five year old girl was killed in a traffic accident. since then, her school has rallied around to support the family, her parents. they have braved the money to try to bring the grandparents over from zimbabwe to join him at the funeral. the home office has refused to say and said the relatives may abscond to the parents of give me -- i have even gone one step further and said i would ask as a guarantor that the relatives will return to zimbabwe. the home office decision is cruel and unkind. prime minister, will you intervene in? >> well, it is absolutely horrific when children are killed in accidents like this and we're all in her own constituencies no individual cases cases and it's heartbreaking when it happens. i will look at the case but i

was just discussing it with the home secretary make sure the home office is a careful look to see what can be done. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the prime minister will be aware that the public and small businesses across the uk have had to endure very high fuel bills in recent years when oil prices averaged over $100 a barrel. in recent weeks that price has been steadily dropping and now stands at less than half that but fuel prices at the pump have not reduced by anything like that. last week the chancellor indicated that some actual action will be taken against fuel companies. and the prime minister named what action? >> i think we should welcome this fall in oil prices. we're beginning to see prices fall quite substantially at the pumps but i agree want to see that go further and faster but some of it will depend on on the buying strategies that the fuel companies had but we will make sure the competition of 40s the government does everything it can to make sure those fuel prices are passed on.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, on the 30th of january i shall be holding a dementia summit in my constituency bringing together some of the fantastic work the organizations like lies in peter smith have done to help dementia in the voluntary sector. does the right of the french agreed that dementia is one of the biggest challenges this country faces in the coming century? does he also agree that we need a strong economy to develop to invest in dementia research? >> he is right. this is a crisis for our country and it's been creeping up as a sort of silent crisis because the diagnosis rates for dementia haven't been high enough and i don't think there's been enough action across our communities to join up and deal with this. there is a very clear dementia strategy. we're doubling the amount of money going into research, training many more people in our nhs and in our care homes to do better with people with dementia. and also we're making sure more

people in the community become dementia friends with the target of over 1 million people become dementia friends, and we headed session the other day where every member of cabinet became a dementia friend. i commend what he's doing. i did the same of getting together all of the organizations that can help people so we spread the word about good practice. because people with dementia don't just need great health care, they need help whether therethey're at the post office, the bank, the bus or train station. they need help in every part of the life and we all have a role to play. >> according to the role college of nurses, the number of nurses in london has fallen to 4500. a prime minister says the number is rising. who is right? >> the fact is a nationwide we have 3300 more nurses, and i can give him some figures for his on constituency. if we look at the nac -- nhs redbridge group it is getting

increase of funding a 4.97%, at the numbers of staff in their there are up to give her look at for instance, the baath hospital what we had was last week over 6630 people were seen within four hours and performance across the london area has been very good. i mean, one further point which you might want to bring into his own local authorities, and they think this is important when we consider what is happening in social care is that to authorities, redbridge who have seen the reserves go up by 65 million cents 2010 and 26 million cents at 2010. that is what's happening and that actually was right. but let me give them the information on other areas as a whole in terms of the winter funding money. that is provided 22 more doctors, 27 more nurses, 146

more beds. >> there are over 3 million with the diabetes in this country, and today diabetes has published the nation of the state reported a culture education for people to prevent type two diabetes educational people to know when to approach their gp with symptoms type one or type two and education for people with the condition so that they can self manage and take pressure off the nhs. will the prime minister look through the report and act on its findings? >> i will certainly get this report because i think of all the health care conditions there are. one of the ones which, if we act on fastest we could have a huge knock on effect on the nhs is diabetes but if you look at the costs of things like amputations and other treatments because people getting diabetes, we can make an enormous impact. he raises the issue but being

able to self regulate. there's an enormous amount of exciting new technology coming forward in terms of diabetes and i want to make sure that technology is rapidly adopted by the nhs. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the independent obr says the government's long-term spending plan means cutting 1 million public service workers. could be prime minister tell the country, which million public service workers she is planning to cut? >> what the obr say is exactly what the treasury say, which is everyone in the last night voted for the fiscal mandate is committed to 30 billion pounds of adjustment in the next two years. on this side of the house my party has sent out exactly how we meet that. it is 13 billion of department cuts, 12 billion of welfare cuts and 5 billion in tax evasion and avoidance. so far the labour party has told

us absolutely diddly squat about how they would raise a single penny of that money. so the challenge for the labour party is come if you're going to sign up for 30 billion pounds of adjustment, is it time you told us which attacks are going to go, what you're going to do to get and how you're going to wreck this country's economy? >> thank you, mr. speaker. has my audible friends in the story of -- in "the sun" on page six today? is he aware that under this government women are flourishing? over 20% of businesses are run by women at over 53% apprenticeships are started by females. does my audible friends agree with me they are the whales off our long-term economic plan? >> absolutely. those wheels must keep turning. i think it is important the point he makes of course i look

at "the sun" every morning and was fascinated to see this article. but the fact is under labour theme of a deployment wind up by 24%. under this government the number of women in work is highest since records began. the proportion of women led businesses in our country is up by a third but it is still true if we could get the same level of the mill entrepreneurship in britain as there is in america we would virtually wipe out the remaining unemployment we have. >> at 1:00 this afternoon a petition will be at number 10 downing street by parents and children that are suffering from -- [inaudible] it is calling on the prime minister to get involved -- [inaudible]

will the prime minister personally get involved with this and get this resolved as a matter of urgency? >> i will try and find time to see this there's today. i was looking at this issue last night where their child about the exact same age of my center i saw a picture of his local football team and maybe think about how vital it is to get these drugs through as quickly as we can. i know there has been a debate about whether these drugs should be licensed quickly at all the issues and problems. i will meet them and have a look at this petition to see what can be done. >> will by right honorable friend telehealth what it is worth decided efforts at -- [inaudible] >> i think as it were into three stages of melamed, i think were now at the final part which is i think that no finally accepted that there is a deficit the they have now voted for

30 billion pounds of adjustment, but they cannot manage to tell us how much they will raise in taxes, what they will do in spending. they have had four and a half years to come up with an economic policy, and they have absolute no plan for our country. >> andrew slaughter. >> by 94 year old constituent was taken by ambulance to transport hospital which waited six hours in the corridor before being admitted. the next morning she was moved to another hospital because there were no beds available to does the prime minister think that asking the transport and all the 24, 360 inpatient beds as he proposes will make such an appalling instance more or less likely in the future? >> the truth is that nationwide 94% of people this year so far have been seeing the doctor within four hours at a&e but everybody in this house knows and they don't who is in

neighboring member of parliament of the honorable gentleman knows that is tousled instrumental in spreading disinformation campaign after disinformation campaign about his local hospitals. for once he should take the truth and put it on a leaflet. shot back. >> thank you, mr. speaker. some people are very quick to criticize the nhs. it must also been right to celebrate its successors. therefore with the prime minister congratulate milton keynes hospital and the university of buckingham for establishing a new medical school that will not only train the next generation of clinicians but raise standards at our hospital? >> i'm very happy to join my honorable friend in doing that. making sure we educate the next generation of doctors and nurses and clinicians is vital. what we see under this government is 9000 more doctors, 3300 more nurses. we are treating 1.3 million more

people in a&e and/or 6 million more outpatient of what ms. that's what's happening in our nhs and all credit to the hard-working staff who are carrying out out all the vital work. >> trying to -- [inaudible] does the prime minister agree -- [inaudible] >> i am in favor of the living wage. i think those organizations that convey the living wage should pay the living wage. i think it is a very good a very good thing that should happen to but in addition to that, what we can help with -- and notice the leader of the opposition doesn't pay the living wage so maybe he can start with his own backyard. [shouting] spend that shut him up. but in addition to that in

addition to seeing minimum wages rise, we should also be taking the lowest paid people out of tax. and under this government we have taken 3 million of the lowest paid people out of tax. >> order. [laughter] >> order to the honorable gentleman is that the experienced a member. he must know by now point of order after statement. in any case i always enjoy saving the honorable gentleman up for later. >> so do we. [laughter] >> [inaudible conversations]

>> andorder. statement from secretary. >> thank you mr. speaker. with permission i would like to make a statement about the terrorist attacks in paris at the threats we face in terrorism and the united kingdom. it will take some time for us to learn the full details of the attacks last week but the basic facts are now clear. 17 innocent people were murdered in cold blood and a number of others were injured. the terrorists who attacked the jewish supermarket claimed his actions were carried out in the name of isil. report suggests the brothers who attacked the office of charlie hebdo were associated with

al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula in yemen. the same al-qaeda affiliate that is been in contact with the men who murdered rigby in 2013. as the appalling events in paris run a story unfolding of this house with of this house with the bank the government's counterterrorism and security built at the threat level in the united kingdom. which is set by the independent joint terrorism analysis center and remains at severe. this means a terrorist attack in our country is highly likely and could occur without warning. three serious terrorist plots been disrupted in recent months alone. nearly 600 people from this country have traveled to syria and iraq to fight. around half of them have returned. there are thousands of people from across europe who have done the same. as i said during the passage of the counterterrorism bill and on many repeated occasions, the government will do everything it

can to keep the public safe. as soon as the attacks in france took place, the government increased security at the uk border. office from a tour de force, the police and other organizations intensify checks on passengers, vehicles and goods entering the uk. we offer the french government all assistance in this area, including the focal operation of our police and security and intelligence agencies. on sunday before i attended the piece rally in paris i held talks with my counter talks in europe, the united states and canada to discuss what action we can take together. it was from support from all the countries present for new action to share intelligence, track the movement of terrorists, defeat the ideology that lies behind the threat. it is important between -- we now deliver on those talks and my officials, the security minister and i will keep up the

pace, in particular when it comes to passenger name record with other european member states. on monday, the prime minister, defence secretary and i held a security meeting with senior official to reduce the terrorist attacks and the risks to the uk of a similar attack. of course, we have long had detailed plans for duty with these kinds of attacks. the house will recall the attacks in mumbai in 2008 we terrorist armed with assault weapons and explosives took the lives of more than 150 people. since 2010 and learning the lessons of that attack, we have improved our capability and the speed of a military response. we have enhanced protected securities where possible through a range of other measures. we have improved joint working between emergency services to give specifically with the gun attacks. specialist joined police and fire teams are now in place in key teams across england with equivalents in scotland and wales.

they trained and equipped they are trained and equipped to manage casualties in the event of this kind of an attack. the police and other agencies carry out exercises to test the response to a terrorist attack, and these exercises include scenarios that are similar to events in paris. we will ensure future exercises reflect specific elements of the pairs attack so we can learn from them and be ready for them should ever occur in the united kingdom. in addition i should tell the house that the police can call on appropriate military systems when required across the country. the attacks in paris were enabled by the availability of assault weapons. although there's obviously a number of illegal weapons in the uk, we have some of the toughest gun laws in the world and as a result, only make up a small proportion of those crimes. the types of firearms used in the attacks in paris are not unknown in the uk but they are extremely uncommon.

however as the prime minister has said can we must step up our efforts with other countries to crack down on the illegal smuggling of weapons across borders. in particular the member states of the european union need to work together to put beyond use the vast number of weapons in the countries of the former yugoslavia and disrupt the supply of weapons from other parts of the world especially north africa. mr. speaker, the measures were taken following events in pairs or in addition to the substantial work the government has undertaken and continues to undertake to counter the threat from terrorism. last summer parliament approved emergency legislation to prevent a sudden and rapid loss of access to communications data and the ability to intercept communications where it is necessary and appropriate to do so. and parliament is of course scrutinizing the proposal in the counterterrorism and security built as we speak. this important legislation will strengthen our powers to disrupt the ability of people to travel

abroad to fight and control their ability to return here. it will also in the house -- answer the to do with those in the uk who pose a risk to a particular will announce the relocation of people subject to investigation measures to other parts of the country. in addition the prime minister has announced 130 million pounds over the next two years for the agency's police and others in addition to the more than half a billion pounds spent on counter terrorism casing of the year. and, of course, this government has done more to confront the ideology that lies behind the threats we face. i have excluded more hate speech of any home secretary before me. we deported -- we've reform to prevent the studies that tackles nonviolent extremism as well as violent extremism, and we've invested more time, resources and money in counter narrative operations. mr. speaker we've always been clear that the police and security agencies must have the

capabilities and powers they need to do their job and following the attacks in paris the prime minister has reiterated that commitment. unfortunately, it comes to communications data and intercepted communication, there's no cross party consensus and, therefore, no parliamentary majority to pass the legislation to give the piece and security agencies the security they need. but let me be clear every day that passes without the bozos and the committee patient data bill, the capabilities of the people who keep us safe diminishes. >> here, here. >> and as those capabilities diminish, more people find themselves in danger, and yes crimes will go unpunished and innocent lives will be put at risk. this is not as i've heard it said letting the government snoop on your e-mail. it is allowing the police and the security services under a tightly regulated and controlled regime to find out the who,

where, when and how to mitigation but not its content so they can prove and disprove alibis, identified associations between suspects and i suspects and victims to specific locations. it is too soon to say for certain but it is highly probable the communications data was used in the pairs attack to locate the suspects and established the link between the two attacks. quite simply, mr. speaker if you want the police and this the police and the secret service to protect the public and save lives, they need this capability. >> here, here. >> last weekend people of all nationalities faiths and backgrounds came out onto the streets of france and other countries, to demonstrate their opposition to terror and to stand for democracy and for freedom. we must stand in solidarity with them, do all that we can to confront extremism and terrorism in all its forms.

>> yvette cooper. >> here, here. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the attacks last week in paris demonstrated the savagery with which terrorists seek to divide us. the murders and tolerant bigotry that they pursue him to spread fear and also to sow division that they believe exists, us against them. perez has not let the terrorists win, and we ought not do so either. the french police have been praised for the action that they took. charlie hebdo is being published today. faiths have united a boring the anti-semitism and grieving for the victims of the attack on the supermarket. muslims across the world have condemned the attack which is not islamic and does not in the name of their religion. and the brother of the french muslim police officer has said, my brother was killed i people who pretend to be muslims. they are terrorists that's it.

the prime minister and the leader of the opposition rightly attended the unity rally in paris, along with the prime minister, and i joined people saturday. in the attack the terrorist targeted other peaceful religions but they targeted those whose job it is to keep us safe. in other words, they targeted both liberty and security. and the response of the democratic governments everywhere to these sorts of attacks must be to defend about. governments need to keep our people safe so the we can enjoy the very freedom that our democracy depends on. let me return to the specific issue in the home secretary's statement but i am concerned about the way the home secretary's made a statement today as i did not see the statement before coming into the house, and i hope that she can set out what the reasons were what has changed in the home office position this morning that meant that the statement

was a changeup such late notice but i welcome the action taken by the intelligence agencies and police to support their counterparts in paris, and i think the whole house will want to pay tribute to the work of our security and intelligence services, at the counter terror police could do so much to keep us safe. it is important that they have the resources they need, and i welcome the resources the home secretary referred to today. as she said about government counterterror bill going through part of the ripeness which was supported and continue to support, and which includes restoring the relocation powers, terror suspects that she abolished four years ago as we called for to be reinstated. she will know that the agencies have appointed to the threat in this country the ongoing threat posed by the estimated 300 people returning from the conflict in syria. could she tell us whether any of those estimated 300 have been prosecuted? could she also confirmed that none of them are curly subject

is to either these powers are supposed to be pretentious suspects? activity need to be restricted to keep us safe. can she tell us whether the security service and police are now reviewing all of those cases to see whether it could help them a special with relocation powers restored or whether there was anything further that needs to change to those powers which are different from the previous control orders? could she also tell us how money of the estimated 300 have engaged with the channel program, and does she agree that we should not make that compulsory for those returning which is something that counterterror bill does not yet do? on the issue of access to dangerous weapons to also know there's concern about reduced custom and border checks, what action is she taking to increase border checks for dangerous weapons? mr. speaker, the home sector also raises the issue about

communications data. technology is changing all the time and that means the law needs to step up both in terms of capability of the agencies to get to the final intelligence we need and in terms of the oversight that we need. in july legislation and should be agencies and police could maintaining vital capabilities. and this month they supported axing those powers to ensure that ip addresses are covered in same as telephone numbers. and in july all parties agreed to support the review i david anderson from the independent reviewer of terrorists into both the powers and the oversight needed to keep up with changing technology. the home secretary referred to the previous communications data built. that was rejected three years ago by the joint committee that was established by the government to scrutinize it because they said then that it was too vague, too widely drawn and put too much power directly in the hands of the home secretary. they recommended that new legislation needed be drawn up

in a far more limited way and that the government should provide more evidence and clarity about what they wanted to achieve. since abandoned the home secretary has not come forward any revised proposal but she has not come forward to meet to discuss them or put forward are postals to parliament. parliament. even though we have said would happen to discuss details with her. given the urgency she says there now is can i ask her why she did that come forward with revised proposals after the conclusion of the joint committee three years ago? in july she was happy to agree to the review by david anderson which is due to report for the election. today she has not mentioned that review. hashing out and started that statutory review or will she be waiting for its conclusion? this is an extremely important issue, and the details matter. the details about the powers that for our intelligence agencies need, but also the

details about the safeguards and oversight that are needed as well. we agreed that the police and agencies do need to get the intelligence to keep us safe and lead updated legislation, and we also need safeguards and strong oversight to make sure the powers are effectively and appropriately used. but i would strongly caution the home secretary and the liberal democrats against setting up a caricatured argument between them about security on the one hand and a liberty on the other. because we need to protect both in our democracy and we need a responsible debate on getting the details right. the terrorists on that first they targeted both -- police officers. charlie hebdo editor have police protection to protect his freedom of speech, that shows strongly between our security and our liberty in any democracy. mr. speaker, we know the most

important thing to keep us safe in any democracy is making sure we have a cohesive community that prevent hatred is pretty good with supported extending prevent onto a statutory footing but i hope the home secretary will also now listen to the consent we have raised over some years, but more needs to be done to community led programs to tackle the hatred, to challenge the spread of extremism including through social media as well as in local communities and organizations. i hope she will work with local government to that effect. and can also ask her if she's working with the committee safety trust on tackling anti-semitism? we need to tackle all forms of extremism. terrorists try to silence us to cower, and to divide us. harris has shown as millions marched as we stood in solidarity with them that we will not be silenced but we will not give into fear and we will not give into division as we

defend our democracy. because although some were targeted in paris, we know this is about all of us. french[speaking french] >> may i apologize to the shadow home secretary for her late statement, and i apologized to her privately before came into the gym and i'm happy to redirect that apology on the floor of the house. can also joined her in being treated to our counterterrorist lease entity all our police but also our security and intelligence agencies. i think we cannot say it often enough that these are people who are working day and night to keep us safe and to protect us. and many of them unseen and unknown, and for obvious reasons that are part of our security and intelligence agencies but we are grateful to them for the work that they do and they think we should assess a public -- a public recognition of the important role that they play.

she asked me a number of questions covering a number of issues in this area. can i tell her that in relation to review, there is no suggestion so but because the review was not mentioned in my statement that we have anyway sidetracked that review. david anderson is doing his work. he's undertaking as far as i'm were a number of discussions with relevant parties about the issues that he's looking at. alongside our own parliamentary intelligence security committee is conducting its work in looking at the questions of privacy and civil liberties, and security. and these key reviews i think will come forward in a time that will enable this has to be take account of those reviews when it does the job which will be necessary for it to do which is at least looking at the legislation which has a clause for 2016 but wanted to take accountable the aspects of come forward in those two reviews. in relation, of course

government does publish on a corner basis the number of people who are under keep in and the question as to whether somebody should be put on that list is a matter for security service to initiate a request. i look at the request and if i agree that request there is then a judicial, a court process which has gone through in order to ensure that decision is reasonable. and as that this is a matter for security service to come forward with a proposal on the. the right i believe asked of making channels in the lead of the opposition also raised it in prime minister's question. we do believe channel does the does do important work and prevent does work with community groups. but i'm relation to china, i think that is the as to whether an individual should be put into a channel program is one that should be taken on a case-by-case basis. we are clear and have been in the discussions on the security built in relation to the

exclusion order way would be possible to ensure that people returning from syria are returning on our terms what that is about to be appropriate. but it may be that actions may be thought in relation to those individuals in the uk but that does did on a case by case basis as to what is appropriate for the particular individual concerned. in relation to the question of firearms i think there is an issue for us working with others and european union to look at the threat of firearms across the european union just the european union. with some of the toughest gun laws in the united kingdom but we have already seen major exercise is being undertaken by the national crime agency primarily in looking at the question of the of firearms in the uk and that has started before we saw these terrible attacks take place in paris. on the communications director bill, there is a difference of opinion among policies in this house as to what powers should be taken by government.

we did in fact respond to the proposals from the joint committee and we did in fact provide revised proposal in relation to those measures. i am clear the transfer is clear that this is an issue that does need to be returned to come and it is important i believe that we have the right powers that are available to be able to do with these issues. and, finally, she asked me if we speak to the cft. of course, we do speak with the cft on a regular basis and i had a number of meetings with them but also of course the police had meetings with them, discuss with them the whole question of the protected security that is available and protected the security had been stepped up once, when the threat level was raised which has been stepped up further. >> as the been a various press reports that the director general of mi5 in his speech on the eighth of january called for

new powers of surveillance for the agencies, will be home secretary confirmed that that is not, in fact, the case? that in a speech which the home secretary and as well as i attended in person, the main concern expressed by the director general was, and i quote, and changes in technology that people are using to communicate are making it harder for the agencies to maintain the capability to intercept the communications of terror. is that not indeed the prime requirement at the present time to ensure that the agencies are continuing to be able to exercise the capability that they have enjoyed for a number of years but which because of new technology is increasingly being denied to them? >> my ride of a friend is absolutely correct in his description of what the director general of mi5 said in that speech but i think it is unfortunate that very often people mix up some of these aspects of communication data and sometimes people believe that what the government is

trying to do in the communications bill was to expand the powers of the agencies. this is not the case. and, indeed as the director general of mi5 said come in the ability of access communication base is quite vital to our ability to protect national security, and unless we make it is capable of our ability to protect the country will be eroded. in maintaining that capability that was what the communication data bill was about and that's why we and others as evidenced by the quote think it is so important to do so. >> thank you, mr. speaker. as there has been a revolution in communication in the 16 years since i introduced a proposal which became the regulation of the power act of 2000 isn't it beyond argument that the legislation including in this data has to be revised? will be home secretary agree

with me that the series debate about the extent of the power is not remotely helped by the parity that these powers now being sourced our quote some kind of sleepless of chancellor? but i also say to her since i believe the distance between the two main parties in this house is actually very narrow on this issue, may we see the kind of close collaboration which which my honorable friend, the shadow home secretary, is speaking for? so that we we can resolve these issues as soon as possible. and can't ensure that intelligence and security agency and the police have the capability for today and tomorrow which they have had in the past under legislation which has really been agreed by this house? >> the right honorable gentleman is absolutely right that it is important in the debate on this issue that the facts are properly presented and that the

argument are properly presented. and sadly the terminology that has been used about communications bill, dated building a snoopers chart is not accurate which don't actually reflect what was being proposed. he's right that it is important of all of us in this house to actually look at this matter, and carefully and consider the powers that our agency meet people to maintain as were saying the capabilities which otherwise make it harder for them to keep us safe. ..