a.m. eastern monday morning. announcer: british prime minister theresa may takes questions from the members of the house of commons. after that, new york senator charles schumer calls for a committee investigation into foreign hacking. outgoing u.n. secretary-general holds his end-of-the-year news conference. at 11:00 p.m., another chance to on the life of president james buchanan. on wednesday, british prime minister theresa may talked about the uk's role in offering humanitarian aid to syrians, health care for the elderly, combating racism, and the ongoing brexit negotiations. this is the final question time of the year. it is 45 minutes. >> questions to the prime minister.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. this morning, i had meetings with ministerial colleagues in addition to my duties, i should have further such meetings later today. opportunityake the to wish you and all members of the house the merry christmas. in the light of the foreign for and mouth disease when deciding on cabinet positions, does the prime minister now address -- [laughter] >> there is far too much noise in the chamber.

i want to hear the prime minister's answer. p.m. may: thank you mr. speaker. i join the honorable gentleman in wishing everybody a happy christmas. i will have an opportunity that again on monday -- opportunity to do that again on monday. it seems to come from this side, but not the labor side. the current secretary is doing an absolutely excellent job. is in short of fine foreign secretary. thank you, mr. speaker. he has a really bright future ahead. >> i want to hear the voice of janet chase. >> thank you again.

a bright future ahead, on the f we are ambitious and visionary in our redevelopment. how can the governments industrial strategy create the condition which will help us build a sustainable local economy and highly skilled jobs for future generations? communities across this country have a bright future ahead of them. but we need to ensure that we create conditions for that future. that is why we will be choosing a modern industrial strategy that will show how we can encourage the strategic strength of the united kingdom, deal with underlying weaknesses. it will enable companies to grow, to invest in the u.k., to provide jobs for the future. we also need to make sure the prosperity is spread across the hall united kingdom. thank you, mr. speaker.

could i start by wishing yourself and all members of the house and everyone who works here a very happy christmas and a prosperous new year. caulks --olleague joe jo cox will not be celebrating christmas with her family. she was murdered and taken from us. i hope the prime minister will join me in encouraging people to download the song which many members help to create as a tribute to jo's life and work and in memory of her. p.m. may: the right honorable gentleman is right to raise this issue. i'm sure everybody in this house sends a very clear message -- download this single for the jo cox foundation, a very important cause. we recognize that she was a fine member of this house and would have carried on contributing significantly had she not been brutally murdered. it is right, i think the

chancellor is waving the vat on this single. i think everybody is having a photograph with mp for this afternoon. [laughter] once again, let's just encourage everybody to download this single. >> the prime minister is referring, for the benefit of those observing, the outstanding parliamentary broadband mp4. ,> i applaud the work of mp4 but i'm not a member of it. [laughter] >> i think the prime minister for that service. mr. speaker, folks who care is crucial. it provide support for people to live with dignity, yet age u.k. research has found 1.2 million older people are currently not

receiving the care that they need. will the prime minister accept there is a crisis in social care? p.m. may: i have consistently said in this house that we recognize the pressures that there are on social care. it might be helpful if i set out what the government is doing in relation to social care. i recognize these pressures. that is why the government is putting more money into the better care fund. that will be millions of pounds extra. that is why we have enabled the social care precepts for local authorities. we recognize there are immediate pressures on social care. that's why this'll be addressed by my right honorable friend, secretary of state and local government and the local government finance settlement tomorrow. we also recognize this is not just about money. it is about delivery. there is a difference and delivery across the country. we need to make sure reform is

taking place and that we receive best practice in terms of integration of health and social care, but we also need to ensure we have a longer-term solution to give people the reassurance for the future, that there is a sustainable system to ensure they are receiving the social care they need in old age. that is what the government is working on. there is a short-term issue, a medium-term need, and there is a long-term solution that we need to find. >> jeremy corbyn. >> the care quality commission has warned as early as october that evidence should just we have reached a tipping point. instead of passing the buck to local government, shouldn't the government take responsibility for the crisis? the prime minister take this opportunity to inform the house how much was cut from a social care budget in the last parliament/ ? p.m. may: we have been putting more money into social care --

we have been putting more money into social care. we recognize the pressures that exist. that is why we will be looking at the short-term pressures. but you cannot look at this question as simply being an issue of money in the short term. reform, it delivery, is about the social care system working with the health system. that is why this is an issue being addressed not by -- not only by the secretary of local government, but also by the house. if we are going to give people the reassurance that they need in a longer term, this is not just about looking for short-term solutions. it is about finding a way forward that can give us a sustainable system for the future. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister does not seem to be aware that 4.6 billion was cut from the social care budget and a last parliament.

to talk of putting it on local governments ought to be taken for what it is -- a con. councils use -- raised its social care precepts and it raised less than 3% of the money they plaintiffs and on adult social care. billions need to be made available. the tax giveaways to corporations not mentioned in -- manyement isolated elderly people are isolated and in crisis because of the lack of government funding. councils we see many across the country that have taken the benefits of the social care precepts and have seen more people being able to access social care and needs being met. councils across the country who have not taken that opportunity, where we do see a worse performance in relation to

social care. but the right honorable gentleman refers to the issue of money. i might remind him that at the last election, the chancellor said there would be not a penny more for local authorities. [commotion] p.m. may: and also when recently asked about spending more money on social care, the labor health secretary said, when he was asked where the money would come from -- we are going to have to come up with a plan for that. [commotion] >> mr. speaker, this government has cut social care and she well knows it and she well knows the effect of that. she also well knows that raising council tax has a different outcome in different parts of the country. for example, if you raise the council tax in windsor and maidenhead, you get quite a lot of money. if you raise the council tax in liverpool or newcastle, you get

a lot less. ,he is saying that older people vulnerable people are less valuable in our big cities then they are in wealthier parts of the country. [commotion] speaker, this crisis is a crisis for many elderly people who are living in a difficult situation. it is also a crisis for the national health service. those people who are in hospital cannot be discharged because there is nowhere for them to go. thell ask her again -- crisis affects individuals, families, and the national health service. why doesn't she do something really bold/ cancel the corporation tax cut and put the money into social care instead. [commotion] p.m. may: the right honorable gentleman has included newcastle in the list. i have to say, newcastle council

is one of the councils where we saw virtually no delayed discharges, so elderly people were not being held up in hospital when they did not need to be or want to be. this shows it is possible for councils to deliver on the ground. you see councils like newcastle doing that and you see councils like dealing not using the social care precepts, and a different result. the difference between the worst-performing council in delayed discharges and the best is a 20 difference. that is a difference of delivery, not funding. [commotion] >> mr. speaker, councils work very hard to try to cope with a 40% cut in their budget across the whole country. people who pay the price are those stuck in hospital who should be able to go home and those who are not getting the care and support they need. this is a social care system that is deep in crisis.

the crisis is made in downing street by this government. the former chair of the health committee says the system is inadequately funded. the current chair of the health select committee says "the issue cannot be dumped any longer because of the impact it is having not only on vulnerable people but also the nhs." why can't the prime minister listen to those in local government, the nhs, our own council leaders, and recognize this social care crisis forces people to give up work to care for loved ones because there is not a system to do it/ and it makes people stay in hospital longer than they should and leads people into a horrible, isolated life when they should be cared for by all of us who are properly funded social care system. get a grip and find it properly, please. fund it properly, please.

[commotion] p.m. may: this issue has been docked by governance for too long. will this government who provide a long-term, sustainable system to give assurance to people. but when he talks about care,ment docking social let's look at 13 years of labor and government -- [commotion] in 1997, they said they would put it in their manifestoes and they had a role commission in 1999 -- a royal commission in 1999. in 2007, they said they had -- in 2009, they had another green paper. 13 years and no action whatsoever. [commotion] >> mr. speaker, a constituent of

mine will struggle to get to university college hospital london for life-saving cancer drug trials. thousands of others will be unable to get to work, school, object --cause people trains one driving the same rail operating the london to brighton line. can the prime minister give her insurance that everything will ,e done to end this nonsense address any residual safety issues, and give our constituents their lives back? p.m. may: my honorable friend is absolutely right. this is an appalling strike. he is right to raise the discrepancy. we have seen driver only operated trains on rail networks in the u.k. for decades. that is going to lead to

an end to this strike. i have a suggestion for the leader of the opposition. [commotion] p.m. may: i think the leader of the opposition could do something to help members of the public. the labour party is funded by -- why doesn't he get on the phone and tell him to call the strike off immediately? [commotion] >> mr. speaker, we joined with the leader of the labour party and with the prime minister and wishing great success to the jo cox single, available for download on friday. civilians have suffered grievously with the bombing of hospitals, schools, markets. the united nations believes that 60% of civilian casualties were caused by airstrikes. in the last 24 hours, and united

of of has stopped the supply munitions to saudi arabia. when will the u.k. follow suit? p.m. may: as the right honorable gentleman knows, we do have a very strict regime of export licenses in relation to weapons in the united kingdom. we exercise that very carefully. indeednt years, we have refused licenses in relation to arms, including to yemen and saudi arabia. saide gentleman has just that these systematic problems and saudi arabia's targeting drones -- caused the u.s. to halt a future weapons sale. the saudi's have u.k. supplied guided medicines -- missiles made in scotland. the u.k. has licensed 3.3 billion pounds worth of arms to saudi arabia since the beginning

of the bombing campaign. what will it take for the u.k. to adopt an ethical foreign policy -- [commotion] as the right honorable gentleman knows, intervention in yemen is a u.n. intervention. as i've said previously, where there are allegations of reaches of humanitarian law, we require those to be properly investigated. we do have a relationship with saudi arabia. the security of the gulf is important to us. i would also remind the gentleman that saudi intelligence and counterterrorism links -- the intelligence we get from saudi arabia has saved tensely hundreds of lives in the u.k. constituents has had to move to residential care because no carers could be found to support her in her home. she is part of a crisis in

social care that is about an adequate funding and the shortfall in our valued workforce. i'm looking forward to hearing what the immediate further support will be provided, but isn't it time that rather than having confrontational dialogue about social care funding that all parties work together for a sustainable, long-term solution for funding integrated health and social care? my honorable friend is right to raise the issue of looking at a sustainable way which we can support integrated health and social care. a sustainable way for people to know that they are going to have the social care they require. as i said earlier, we recognize the short-term pressures on the system. it is important for us to look at those medium and longer-term solutions if we are going to address this issue.

i was very pleased to have a meeting with my honorable friend to discuss this last week and i look forward to further meetings. ministertell the prime that a cross party delegation will meet the russian ambassador tomorrow morning on aleppo/ we will reflect and amplify precisely the sort of terms that she and the foreign secretary have used about russia, the assad regime, and i ran. not least because we want to protect those who have correctly struggled to save lives, who are now going to be at risk because of the witness they can give. does she accepts that many of us believe that those messages are mere coaching, when we are equally unequivocal about the privacy of human rights? p.m. may: we do raise the issue of human rights when we meet the gulf states, but he is absolutely right in relation to the role russia is playing in

syria. it is a simple message to -- heent cutin -- putin has it within his hands to say to the assad regime that enough is enough and aleppo, we need to ensure that humanitarian aid is there and that people who have been heroically saving the lives of others -- ensure that they have their security in short. -- their security and short -- ensured. it is an president putin's hands. you can do it, why doesn't he? >> will the prime minister join me in thanking all the members who sponsored syrians last night? in order to pay the salaries of the medical staff and aleppo. since the hospital was shot with bombings two weeks ago, we have seen -- we have been buying prosthetic limbs with all of our money. we have a waiting list of 30,000 people.

what can we do to target our humanitarian aid to make sure he gets to the most vulnerable people in syria -- the old, the very young, people too injured to move/ ? p.m. may: i join my honorable friend in congratulating everyone who took part. i welcome the work that group is doing and the money being put to good use. she raises -- i think the house was struck by the number of people that she referred to being on the waiting list for prophetic lambs. -- prosthetic limbs. it is the biggest humanitarian effort that the united kingdom has made. raising money for the refugees who have fled for syria, working diplomatically to reduce the suffering to make sure we can see this sort of aid

and medical support that she is talking about getting through to the citizens of aleppo. we will continue to ensure that our humanitarian aid is being quick to good use, helping those who are vulnerable and helping those who need the education and support to be able to rebuild syria when we see it stable and secure. >> mr. speaker, interest rates on household goods are wrong. companies like bright house exploit families who have no other way to furnish their homes. with the prime minister cap these interest rates to help those who are just about managing? p.m. may: the honorable gentleman raises an important issue. i recognize there are many people who are just about managing who do find themselves to support from companies who do 70 charge high

interest rates. action has been taken in relation to some of these activities in the past. i will look at the issue that he raised. speaker.you, mr. across the country and particularly can't -- kent, there is a blight. will my friend the prime minister support my campaign for parkingry -- lorie spaces, more effective enforcement, and a ban on lorries parking in unauthorized places? p.m. may: i recognize the concern. can i assure her that the government shares the desire to ensure that we don't seem -- son't see the parking of lorrie across kent and that we provide

parking facilities for them. i recognize from my time as home secretary the pressure that can be put on the roads and villages in kent. it is something the government is working on. >> thank you, mr. speaker. courtesy of the government's infrastructure walked job, mobile government in the u.k. is worse than romania. prime minister introduce a universal service obligation? in the highlands, it would be better to use carrier pigeons. it is time to connect the highlands to the rest of the world. i can assure the honorable gentleman that the issue of decent mobile coverage

is not one that only affects the highlands. there are other parts of england that also are affected. the government has very strong commitments -- right honorable friend the culture secretary will be delivering on those. >> mr. speaker, money cannot compensate somebody who has been accused of a very serious criminal offense and then finds the details are in the press along with their name. nothing can restore their reputation after it has been trashed. in 2011, i tried to change the law. it is now the time to introduce new legislation. will the prime minister agree to consider changing the law so that everyone -- with a few exceptions -- will have a right

to anonymity if they are a suspect in criminal proceedings as till such time as they are charged? p.m. may: i recognize the interest that my honorable friend has taken. she will know it is one that has been debated on a number of occasions in this house. it is the general assumption that people -- that somebody should not be named before the point of charge, but there is an allowance for the police to be able to raise somebody's name if it is a case where they believe that doing that will help perhaps to find other victims coming forward. this has been particularly of concern where it is matters of sexual violence or rate, for example, or when they believe the naming of the individual will help in detection of the crime. this is a delicate issue. i recognize the concern. we are looking at this issue very carefully.

they are due to provide new guidance to the police in the new year on this issue in relation to the media. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the heartbreaking humanitarian crisis and genocide in syria continues to take place as the world watches indifferently. there is still no end in sight. does the prime minister agree members right honorable that what is happening is a failure of western leadership, and does she agree with me that what is urgently required is what our dear friend jo cox called for a year ago, a u.k. led strategy to protect civilians, whether it is those fleeing persecution, surrendering, or those still besieged. >> here here. p.m. may: we must all take responsibility for decisions we have taken, whether we take

those sitting around security council tables or this house. the honorable lady raises the actionn of the u.k.-led in relation to protection of civilians. it is the u.k. that has been pressing for action in the united nations security council, working with the french. the two most recent un security council meetings were those we call for, the most recent yesterday. as i am sure you know, there have been six un security council resolutions which have been vetoed by russia, the most recent also vetoed by china. we are continuing to work with the united nations to get a solution that works on the ground. it has to be a solution that is bought into by other countries and it has to be a solution that russia is going to buy into.

>> other than getting rid of his tumor and making a swift return to this place, nothing matters more to my honorable friend then -- ensuring around-the-clock services are restored to his hospital in grantham. in short, the passionate views of his constituents are heard. people in this rural area they will always have access to safe emergency care for them and their families. sure theof all, i am thoughts on the whole house are with our honorable friends, the men's -- the members of

grantham. can i wish him the very best for his recovery. what he thinks about in hisrgency services local hospital. i also believe these are concerns shared by our new honorable friend. can assure my honorable friend that the process that is taking place and looking for acts of development and local services is about listening to local people. above all, it is about ensuring that the services that are available are the right services for that area and that can be delivered safely and securely to local people. >> last election, the conservative party manifesto said they would help local

residentss it sure living high crisis. will the prime minister now admit? crisis. it has been abandoned. >> obviously would put the social care in place on social care. i'm pleased to say we see many extent those over the country of the local authorities enjoyed that they were keeping council tax down which cut council for six years running. >> on the 14th of august my constituents were that the dems have a vicious knife attack. they died later that day. the two corporate were actually

arrested on unrelated matters. the site representations made was briefed to simply walk free and is feared that the second man will follow shortly. will the prime minister help bring justice and then darker for what buzz and horrific vicious attack that is completely without any provocation and devastating for both their families. >> he would spend their deepest sympathies and their very best wishes to then darker for full recovery as a result of what my honorable friend in a completely unprovoked attack. the most recent time in which the case was raised with developing government work for the foreign secretary during the 30th of november to cyprus and

he clearly sent out guilty of this attack to justice. the law office will offer help is hard and we will continue to raise this issue as i ensure that the foreign office will keep my honorable friend informed of many developments. >> thank you, mr. speaker. along with other products have benefited greatly from the european union scheme. what guarantees can the prime minister give us to continue to get that protection should we end up leaving the e.u.? >> first of all, issues like better once we need to address as we look at the arrangements following the e.u. i'm sure everybody would recognize the significant and indeed other products around the united kingdom. but cannot just say say to the honorable gentleman, should we leave the e.u.

i can tell that we will be leaving the e.u. sometimes >> thank you, mr. speaker. on december 19, 35 years ago, six people lost their lives off the coast of west somewhere. eight of these lives for a man who had lost their life to rescue the crews of you to start. five years later the tragedy still hold the village and many people every year. will the prime minister join with me and remember these great men, the loved ones left behind and take credit to men and women prepared to risk their lives for those in peril on the e.u. >> absolute to join him in marking the 35th anniversary of the tragedy in defending our sympathies to all those families who were fact did, but also the

local communities affect it as we were set out. finally, i'm sure everybody wants to pay tribute to the ini. the work they do is an island porch and that we have that security and safety around their shores. they work tirelessly to protect people and we pay tribute to them. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the prime minister knows that i collect them across this house had been keyed -- this will be the largest of ministers talks the home office has ever undertaken. can they produce some very systems and how the home office implement is -- [inaudible] >> i'm keen to ensure we can protect the right of citizens

living here, but also u.k. citizens rights for those protected as well. the home secretary is aware of the proposals being put forward in this looking very carefully. >> thank you, mr. speaker. hundreds of people from across europe attended a neo-nazi rally had a small village in my rural constituency. but steps of the prime minister taking to tackle racial hatred? >> first of all, kerry once again send a clear message there is no place for racial hatred in our society. it is so important the home office has done a lot of work in relation to racial hatred. they published a hate crime action plan which shows what we are doing to the lifetime of the government. earlier this week on the bright honorable friend prescribes the organizationnational action which means being a member of support for the organization will be a criminal offense.

it's important we take every step we can to stop racial hatred in this country and i was pleased to announce on monday britain will be the first country to adopt the international remembrance of anti-semitism. >> thank you, mr. speaker. find that with one of two companies outside of london. we agreed we need to have better education and better trained for it. can i invite the prime minister to meet the leaders of a great city and pave the way for a long investment. the >> the honorable ladies right to raise the issue education plays. that is why i'm pleased to say there's an increased of 16,000

children who go to announce it in school since 2010. the quality of education and i want to make sure that there is enough places for children across the whole country and not voter education consultation is about. >> thank you, mr. speaker. and incredibly moving and powerful private session with the select committee talking and listening to the dems among slavery. i don't think i'll ever forget. with the prime minister take enthusiasm, the path passion of the secretary and these people are fungible. so often their background is the same as women and survivors of domestic violence. if people needed to step up and support them, it's the complete

roll. >> my honorable friend is absolutely right. nothing brings hope to one more than the absolute horrific crime of modern slavery than actually sitting down and the hearing testimony about the term. they have gone through the most horrendous to humanizing experience is very often and it's absolutely right we look at how it provided the national referral mechanism and the whole number of steps and we will work with the dwp and the kid. my honorable friend refers to jobs that is that it isn't just a job census. one day we need to do is make sure those who come into contact with people are able to recognize those signs nra bold to treat it in the way and deal with people sensitively and sympathetically in an appropriate way.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. i don't think the prime minister has any idea the level of suffering and pain to the patented businesses beyond suffering. this has been going on for well over eight to nine. so the passive transport secretary currently have no intention of dealing with this utterly at home to take on any. prepare for long-suffering passengers. >> first cell, my right honorable friend has been taken steps in relation to the southern railway. which stepped in to invest 20 million pounds to specifically tackle the issue every rapid improvement services. we now pay 15 from 11% which would make it easier to claim compensation. we then also give a refund for a

month travel. so we've been looking at the wider issue. the honorable lady raises the question of the current strike. there is only one body responsible for the current strike that will frighten the trade union and she should be standing up in condemning that site. [cheers and applause] >> hugos squier. >> the 1.5 billion additional funding for the better care find better care fund is both needed and welcome. the problem is this money is not available in 2019. will my right honorable friend there for a look at seen whether this funding can they draw down earlier than that in order to alleviate the pressure on social care in areas where there's a very high level of elderly people. >> my right honorable friend raises an important point about the short-term pressures on social care.

that said the government has been looking at what measures can be taken to immediate short-term pressures. as i say the secretary will be making a statement on the finance element tomorrow. we need to look at the medium-term issues have delivered medium-term issues that delivered him a long-term reassurance we can provide people and ensuring they have a sustainable system of social care that gives people the comfort of knowing they will be cared for their old age. >> can i join colleagues were urged people in this house and beyond to go out and buy the jo cox foundation single mp for not just available on download as you can see, but hard copy for those of us who prefer that kind of thing. every day since the results on the 23rd of june is a good day for very bad news. the worse news is then our social system.

the way the tragedies and near misses to 2.5 billion pounds and social care funding and thousands of operations council. today mr. speaker the secretary of health that the nhs is social care needed her money. and yet, the chancellor at the exchequer did not offer a single extra penny for health or social care. which of the two do she agree with? will she take the opportunity? [shouting] >> the local government will make a statement tomorrow on the finance summit. i i suggest the right honorable gentleman wafer that statement. >> finally, mr. billy davis. [shouting] >> the overseas budget was around 7 billion pounds a year.

by 2020 we will have more than doubled to 50 million pounds a year. the shortfall in social care fund by 2020 is estimated about 2.5 billion pounds a year. surely the government priority should look at the disabled people in our own country before we have other countries. will the prime minister take some of that money, a small amount of increase from the budget and spend it on elderly disabled people and around country. surely begins at home. >> is absolutely right the government is taking steps in relation to the pressures on social care if you're in the united kingdom, but i was dead think it's also important for us that we do take consideration of those who are in different circumstances across the world. i think the record that this government has been ensuring .7% of our gdp is spent on overseas aid is of records second to none.

we should all be proud of the hopkins corp. we are giving to people around the world off incredibly difficult circumstances. with that after old people here in the u.k. we also take that responsibility for people around the world as well. >> you have been watching prime minister's questions from the british house of commons. you can find video of british prime minister's questions and other programs online. c-span, monday, electors vote for the present of the united states. we will have live coverage of the counting in illinois, michigan and virginia starting at 11:00 a.m. eastern and will re-air our coverage at 8:00 p.m. eastern.

the cofounder of ben & jerry's ice could talks about business. >> the idea we could not sell enough ice cream in vermont. that first us to look to other markets. -- forced us to look to other markets. >> the future of the defense department under president-elect donald trump. >> i think the challenges are great and i think over the course of the last many years have unfortunately done serious damage to our capabilities to meet the threats. >> living in that period, there are a lot of flashbacks. the new administration will have to look at that kind of world. policy wesly defined need in order to deal with that. then develop the defense policy to confront that kind of world. >> thursday at 8:00 p.m. eastern , ok