tv British House of Commons CSPAN September 18, 2011 9:00pm-9:30pm EDT
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around the country. created by cable, provided as a public service. >> the latest unemployment figures in the united kingdom showed no change from last month. it remains at 7.9%. this week, british prime minister david cameron addresses the jobless rate, the economic growth, and banking reform. this is about half an hour. >> alex cunningham. >> thank you, mr. speaker. this morning, i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. i shall have further such meetings later today. 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. grieving families have been waiting many months or many years to wait for inquests ended
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concluded. they suffered enough. will the prime minister stop the messing about now and stop the justice sector to sack the incompetent coroner. >> i will like at the particular case as the honorable gentlemen has talk about. we have been put money and resources to try to make them more resourceful but i'll look into the individual case that he talks about. >> would the prime minister give us an update on his recent stroift russia especially in relation to the tragic murder of a man whose widow lives in my constituency. would you be able to meet with her to give her an update. >> well, my right honorable widow speak with him. the british government has not changed its view one jot about
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how wrong it was for that murder to take place and how we need a proper explanation of what happened and who was responsible and we want justice for that family. we haven't changed our view but i do think it's right at the same time to try and build a better relationship with russia across a whole range of issues. we have common interests in trying to grow our economies and our trade. we have common interests on working together on issues like the middle east peace process. i i didn't just raised that case but i raised many other human rights case with the russian president and with others. i think that's the right way to consult our international relations. >> dave miliband. >> here, here. >> mr. speaker, today's figures show that unemployment is up by 80,000. does the prime minister still think the british economy is out of the danger zone? >> well, first of all, let me say these unemployment figures are disappointing figures.
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i don't want to hide from that. every lost job is a tragedy for that family and i want to do everything i can and this government will do everything it can to help those people back into work. that is why we have 360,000 apprenticeships starting this year. that's why we have 10,000 extra university places and that's why in the work program we've got the biggest back to work welfare to work program this country has seen since the 1930s. but at the same time, let me say to the right honorable gentleman, it is right that we get on top of our debts and our deficits. and today of all days shows the danger of getting into a position other european countries are in where the whole credibility is being questioned. >> ed miliband. >> mr. speaker, people are going to judge the prime minister on results. they don't want to hear his spin about the work program. youth unemployment is up by 78,000 on today's figures. even after his work program has
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started. what young people and their families are asking is where are the jobs? >> the work program is the best way to help young people and indeed all people back into work. now, of course, as i've said these figures are disappointing but we shouldn't ignore the fact that since the election there are actually 500,000 more jobs in the private sector and employment over -- there are more people, 300,000 more people in work than there are a year ago. that is absolutely -- let me just say to the honorable gentleman, there is not one ounce of complacency in this government about the need to do more to help people back to work. we have a growth plan, that includes cuts in corporation tax, freezing the council tax, cuts in petroduty, making sure we have enterprise zones in every part of our country but in every week and in every month we'll be adding to that growth program so we help people get back to work. >> mr. speaker, he and his
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government are the buy word for complacency on unemployment and youth unemployment has lowered before his election and has risen. and women's unemployment is at its highest level since 1988. and, mr. speaker, he's making the situation worse by cutting the child care tax credit. how does it make sense when unemployment is rising for women to cut the support that helps them back into work? >> let me just remind the right honorable gentleman youth unemployment went up by 40% under the last government. 278,000 more young people unemployed when he was sitting in the treasury and breaking our banking system and bankrupting our economy. that is what the people remember. now, when it comes to child care, what this government is doing and this first government
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to do it is making sure there's 15 hours of free child care for every 4-year-old and every 3-year-old and we've extended that to every 2-year-old and we've focused the tax credit system in the poorest people in the country so the child tax credits are going up by 290 pounds this year and next for those who need the most but let me just say to the honorable gentleman on a day when france and germany are meeting to stop greece go bankrupt, he must be the only person in the world who thinks you spend more to get out of a debt crisis. >> mr. speaker, it's no wonder he doesn't want to talk about the british economy and what's happening here because what's actually happening and not for the first time. and not for the first time he's wrong in what he says at the dispatch box. youth unemployment was falling at the general election and now -- and now it is rising. now, why -- why is it not working, mr. speaker? the reason is because his claim
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and the chancellor's central claim that you could cut the public sector and the private sector would make up the difference isn't happening. for every -- for every two jobs, for every two jobs being cut in the public sector, less than one is being created in the private sector. isn't that the clearest sign yet that his policy just isn't working? >> so now we have it, mr. speaker, he wants to tell us about the golden inheritance left by the last government. the fact that they completely bust our banking system. the fact they doubled the national debt and the fact they gave us the biggest deficit we're recovering and he can't be consistent in one day. this is what he said yesterday to the tuc. he said you cannot spend your way to a new economy. just 24 hours later and he's changed his tonight again.
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no wonder the labs exchequer said they have no credibility at all. >> mr. speaker, what an insult up and down the country who have lost their jobs. he doesn't -- he doesn't even try and answer the question about his central economic strategy to cut the public sector and make the private sector make up the difference. it's not -- it's not happening. and the truth is, mr. speaker, look at what's happened over the last year. britain has grown slower than any other eu country apart from portugal and romania. now, can the prime minister tell the country and tell the people who have lost their jobs what is he going to do differently over the last year -- over the next year compared to what he did over the last year? >> first of all, lee me correct his facts. britain is growing faster than america. that is something he doesn't choose to tell us. let me answer -- let me answer -- let me answer directly, let me answer directly -- >> order!
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the prime minister's answers must be heard. the prime minister? >> let me answer directly this point about unemployment in the public sector. it is -- all governments right now are having to take difficult decisions about cutting public spending. anyone sitting here will have to make those decisions. this government is reducing the welfare bill. if we weren't taking those steps, you'd have to make deeper cuts in terms of the rest of the public sector. he would be having even more unemployment in the public sector. that is the truth. when is he going to learn what i thought he said yesterday, you cannot spend your way to a new economy. is that still his view 24 hours later? >> mr. speaker, so the message to all those people who have lost their jobs is the prime minister is not going to change course. the chancellor of the exchequer has lashed himself to the mask.
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[applause] >> not for the first time perhaps. mr. speaker, mr. speaker, youth unemployment is at its highest level for 19 years. women's unemployment is at its highest level for 23 years. the highest level since the last time there was a tory government. it turns out he's just like all the others. for him unemployment is a price worth paying. >> it is this government that's cutting corporation tax, that's frozen the council tax, that cut the petroduty that started the regional growth fund, that ended labour's jobs attacks that has the biggest apprentice job and it's cut spending when labour left. the truth is, mr. speaker, it was the last government that robbed young people of their future by climbing up the debt. it is this government that's going to deal with our debts and give them back our future. >> chris hopkins. >> thank you, mr. speaker, the
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prime minister will be aware that the consultation on the draft national policy framework will come to end next month. committee confirm that the government's proposals will ensure that local residents will be able to fall far from the decision-making and important green spaces will retain their existing protection and that this will not become a developer's charter? >> i can certainly give him that assurance. the fact is we do need reform. the current system is too slow, too brewer crattic and it doesn't give local people enough of a say and we're replacing a vast bureaucratic guide with something that's much shorter. local development plans will mean that local communities and local people have a far greater say in what is developed and where. and we are not changing the rules on national parks, on green belts objects areas outstanding natural beauty. but let me just say this to everyone in the house because, i
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believe, there should be cross-party support on this issue. today -- today the first time buyer -- today, the first time buyer with no support from their family is aged 37. i think that is wrong. we do need to build more houses to help more people get on the housing ladder. >> thank you, mr. speaker. last week, the prime minister told this house there are 25,000 police officers in back-office jobs but the her majesty's services say there's less than 8,000 police officers and back-office roles. mr. speaker, week after week this house hears a litany of evasion, inaccurate answers and arrogant putdowns on the prime minister. we want a proper answer. but let's give the prime minister a chance today. is it the inspectiat or is it the prime minister. we won't get an honest. >> i think the honorable is confusing two things. and that is -- that is the number of police officers who
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aren't on front line duties and the number of police officers who are actually in back-office roles like i.t. or h.r. those are the figures that i gave. those are the figures that i write. and what is so complacent about the party opposite is they're not prepared to consider any reforms to try to get more police onto the front line onto our streets. >> dr. sarah wallaceston. >> i know the prime minister is serious about tackling violent crime, antisocial behavior and over million alcohol-related conditions. will he meet with me that we need to go further of minimum pricing, availability and particularly the marketing of alcohol to young people? >> i'm very happy to meet with the honorable lady who has made a lot of speeches and written a lot of articles about this issue, about which she feels passionate and i think she is right in many ways that actually
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there's a problem of binge drinking in our country. a lot of it is related to very low cost alcohol continuing in supermarkets. may it please to see is an end of that deep discounting rather than perhaps the way forward that she suggests but i'm very happy to meet and discuss this issue. >> a poll last week showed that 68% of scots want oil revenues devolved to scotland. does the prime minister agree with 68% of scots or he doesn't? [laughter] >> well, if you ask a stupid question you get a stupid answer. [laughter] >> the fact is, the whole of the united kingdom rightly has invested in the north sea, the whole of the united kingdom should benefit from the north sea. and i think we should do everything possible to keep the united kingdom together because
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we are stronger. england, scotland, northern ireland, wales than we ever would be separately. >> does the prime minister agree with me that we need more women on corporate boards? >> i completely agree with the honorable lady. the current figures are simply not good enough. only 14% of 100 company directors are women. we should do far better. we have some experience from the problems -- the problems we had in our own party and the need to take much more proactive action to make sure we have a better balance at the top of politics. we need a much better balance at the top of our board rooms as well. >> aren't the most vulnerable people in the care of the health service -- those silent voices who live in residential homes -- will he express his regret that under his watch, we hear today the reduction in the number of inspections which three-quarters a 70% reduction because money
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was moved from inspection to bureaucracy? doesn't this again prove that the national health service is not safe in the hands of the party? >> i think the health select committee report that is released today makes a very important point about the future and the work of the care quality commission. i think it is important that it focuses on inspections and making sure that standards are high rather than simply on a process of registration and bureaucracy. i look forward to seeing the government's response to it but i think it's a very good report. >> sir peter tapsel. >> was my right honorable friend taught at whatever school he happened to attend that one of the key functions of parliament over the centuries has been to diminish what the historians
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have called the overmighty subject? in the 18th century -- [laughter] >> i want to hear the honorable gentleman's views about the 18th century. [laughter] >> in the 18th century, it was the indian nabobs announced by edmond burke. in the 19th century, it was the ruthless industrialists humanized, in the 20th century it was the trade union leaders tamed by lady thatcher. today the almighty subject is the bankers. >> here, here. >> in the united states, the
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federal authorities are prosecuting a wide swath of the top banks. when is that going to happen here? >> well, first of all, the right honorable gentleman obviously had a much better education that is apparent -- it's very good to hear him say something positive about margaret thatcher. i think the serious point the right honorable gentleman is making we do need to cede responsibility from our bankers. i support of what vickers said in terms of reforms that we need. if people break the law, no matter where they come from or who they are, they should face the consequences and be punished. >> thank you, mr. speaker. what does the prime minister think of local authorities encouraging developers to put
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applications not on greenbelt but on greenfield sides in order to use the new homes bonus to balance their budgets? >> well, i have the completely original and shocking views that they should be for local people and local authorities. i think in the past we had far too much top-down central direction. i think people should make up their own mind through their local council about what planning should take place and where. that's the agenda this government is going to follow. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. i'm sure my right honorable friend would have noted the very sound advice recently that the government should operate effectively there should be unity at the top. with this in mind could you assure the house and the country that he should not rewrite a budget 14 hours before it's due? >> i can confirm that these discussions these days take place in a proper way. and they take place between the two partners in the coalition and it's not a battle between numbers 10 and 11 and i have also to say that when i have a
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meeting with the chancellor of exchequer it's nothing like going to the dentist and there's no reason to have anesthetic. >> i'm sure all parties in the house have convicted fraudster michael brown has been living under the pseudonym in the republic of dominica. unfortunately, mr. speaker, we have no treaty with that country. can the prime minister tell the house what steps this government is taking to bring mr. bound back to face justice? >> well, we like to extend the countries that we have these treaties with and i will certainly look in the case of the dominican case and get back to the honorable gentleman. and while we're at it, perhaps we could have a search for the individual donor to the labour party. i agree there was only one and his name was alistar campbell. >> thank you, mr. speaker. will the prime minister join me
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in congratulating the football club who in partnership with the university have delivered the first university of football business in the u.k. which has generated immense interest among the young people of the u.k. and across europe? >> i will happily join my honorable friend in praising the work of the football club. i've been very struck in this job of the privilege you get of seeing different football clubs working not just on their own football skills but inspiring young people not only here but as i saw in south africa in other countries as well. i think there's a huge role for football to help change people's lives and i fully support what our clubs do. >> mark hendricks. >> can the prime minister confirm that the winter fuel allowance this year will be 50 pounds less for the over 60s and 100 pounds less for the over-80s.
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>> what i can confirm that that payment will be exactly as set out by labour in their march budget, a budget that he supported. but at the same time the increase in the cold weather payments is actually going to be maintained throughout this apartment. -- apartment. >> sadly, the cost of new regulations put on businesses under the previous government amount to a staggering 90 billion pounds a year. can my right honorable friend tell what this government is doing on tackling that unacceptable burden in terms of regulation. >> so what this government does specifically on the retail sectors we've already removed 257 regulations. we have the new in one out one so any a staggering 90 billion pounds a enough money to small businesses. that is why we put in the merlin agreement in place and banking
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is not going down as the shadow chancellor is wrong about everything even when he is sending down. bank lending is actually going up. >> of the headquarters in my constituency, perfectly situated to take the green investment bank with the move from derby to the post office sorting center and the evaluation offices and with the closure of 70 jobs and the potential closure of bombardier would the prime minister encourage thinks secretaries of state to look at sending more civil service jobs to derbyshire so that we can have more employment in the area? >> well, the honorable lady makes an important point and i know there are real concerns because of what's happened at bombardier. and let me say this on the issue of the agreement investment bank i know there will be many bids from many parts of the country to house this excellent
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institution. on the issue of bombardier let me just say this. i think it's encouraging to hear that they are looking at the possibility of upgrading an existing set of diesel trains running them to use electric power. the fact is about the previous contract we've discussed this in the house before. it was established by the last government. we had to follow those instructions. that's why that contract had to be awarded elsewhere but we are looking to the future of bombardier and the future of derby and we want to make sure it's a bright future. >> chris williamson. >> thank you, mr. speaker. last week the prime minister told the honorable member for south derbyshire that he would do everything to help bombardier but the industry is hanging in a balance as a result of a plan to build planes in germany rather than in derby. so can i ask the prime minister if he will meet me and a across party group from derby so he can discuss to review the contract and it's possible to review it
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in order to secure the future of the british train building industry and keep bombardier in great britain. >> we want to keep bombardier in great britain and working. and that's why i said to my honorable friend that there should be a new activity but we are putting a lot of investment in our our real industry. 14 billion pounds into network grant for network rail, 3.8 billion for cross-rail, 750 million for high-speed too. this is a government that wants to do more for our railway industry and wants to do more for bombardier after they were so badly let down by the last government. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the campaign is on the right to get rid of the 50 pence tax rate. those on the left want to juggle with the a.t. will the fair and most aggressive way to maintain confidence in the economy to accelerate the process of raising the tax threshold to 10,000 pounds? >> what we have made -- i'm grateful to my honorable friend
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to his question. that we have raised the personal allowance significantly in our budgets. we've taken over a million people out of tax all together. we're committed to going further. on the 50p tax let me just say i think we should look at the evidence of this. we're going to find out soon just how much money this tax is raising. let's look and see whether it is a good way of raising money or not. >> prime minister, when the current riots hit our borough on that terrible monday night, there were at most 100 police officers on the streets including some very young community support officers facing mobs hundreds and hundreds strong, the result being that my borough was undefended. it was burnt. it was looted. now, can i put it to the prime minister -- not as a partisan point, but as a sensible point, that when the facts -- when the criminal facts change in england following the riots, a sensible government would pause for
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thought and change its mind and the last thing it would do is reduce police numbers? >> well, first of all, let me say i came to visit there and met with him and met with a number of people who had seen some shocking things happen in that borough that must not be allowed to happen again. but let me say to him even after the changes we're making in police funding, the police will be able to surge in a way that they did in several areas. the problem -- the problem on the night of the riots was that surge didn't take place soon enough. and i think he's confusing the response to the riots in the immediate circumstances and what's happening to police funding. the police have assured me they will be able to deliver as many police onto the streets of london as they did when they got control of the riots. >> zach goldsmith. >> mr. speaker, following a question from the honorable member, would the prime minister agree to meet organizations like the cpra, the national trust and so on to reassure them and their millions of members
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