Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Commons Chamber

Thursday 4th December 2025

(began 1 hour, 4 minutes ago)

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09:34

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

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Order, Order, order! Order, order! We Order, order! We show Order, order! We show questions Order, order! We show questions to the Minister of the Cabinet Office.

09:34

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Alistair Carmichael. Number one. Mr Speaker.

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As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, the Minister for the Cabinet Office is at a funeral today so is unable is at a funeral today so is unable to attend. So he's asked me to reply on his behalf. Mr. speaker, this government is determined to deliver a closer relationship with deliver a closer relationship with the EU. As part of that, we are negotiating a bold SPS agreement. negotiating a bold SPS agreement. The potential benefits here are huge reducing checks at the border, unnecessary checks, cutting costs for businesses of around £200 per shipment and in the long run, boosting the UK economy by around £5 billion a year.

We are starting negotiations. We hope to have it concluded by early 2027. It's just one example of this government filling the holes left by the party opposite Alistair Carmichael.

09:35

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP (Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

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Mr. speaker, I am sure we all >> Mr. speaker, I am sure we all understand the reasons for the Paymaster General absence today, although I am less clear about his reasons for being absent from the Select Committee next Tuesday, for he has declined our invitation. A bold deal is indeed something that is to be wished for, but one that does not bring with it lots of unintended consequences for the farmers, food producers, chemical companies and others whose work will be impacted by this.

So if they will not engage with the committee, will the Minister give me some assurance that they will at least be engaging with those very vital industry interests?

09:36

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Thank you for that. I do understand the Minister has offered to meet directly with the chair of to meet directly with the chair of the committee on this, and but the Minister will come back to that. Obviously, we will be engaging with this and sharing scrutiny across Parliament as much as possible. This is an incredibly important part of the deal. As I say, the benefits here are potentially very, very important and can make a real benefit to farmers and other communities. Thank you.

09:36

Q2. What steps he has taken to ensure that trade union recognition is considered when determining the award of public contracts. (906714)

Question number two, Mr. Speaker.

09:36

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Minister, thank you again. who recognise a trade union or other forms of worker representation. We are looking at further reforms to procurement to ensure the rules do everything possible to boost jobs skills and reward good work. I am working with trade unions, businesses and other Beavers.

09:36

Lorraine Beavers MP (Blackpool North and Fleetwood, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I refer >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I refer to my register of interest. Bid foods have public contracts with foods have public contracts with the Army, prisons and schools across the UK. They have torn up a long standing recognition deal with GMB and unite, leaving workers open to fire and rehire. Does he agree with me that public contracts should only go to businesses that recognise and work constructively with trade unions?

09:37

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Well, Mr. Speaker, I personally think all businesses should recognise and work with trade unions and our social value model, which we are reforming and will strengthen shortly, does allow contracting authorities to consider the economic, social impact and reputation of bidders and of course, the Employment Rights Bill, the biggest upgrade in workers rights in a generation, will end the scandal of fire and rehire.

09:37

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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Yes, Madam. are being taken to prioritise UK firms in public procurement, especially for the provision of vital equipment like PPE in our NHS.

09:37

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Okay. we are going to bring forward plans, hopefully in the next session to reform procurement rules and a big part of that, as the Chancellor has said many times, is to help people to buy British more and support local, support local jobs, support economies around the country. So we will be bringing forward reforms in the next session. I should point out, though, that the of all their other failings, the last government did make some progress on this in the Procurement Act 2023, but we session.

09:38

Q3. What recent progress his Department has made on negotiations with the EU on a youth experience scheme. (906715)

Ben Coleman Mr. speaker, Minister, okay.

09:38

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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It's not going to be all me. Don't worry. This is the last. This is the last. This is. My don't is the last. This is. My don't worry, don't worry. Mr. speaker, I'm delighted to say that we have held several rounds of negotiations with the EU about a youth experience scheme. It will be balanced, capped, time limited and subject to a visa requirement. But it will deliver huge benefits to young people. And I have to say, Mr. Speaker, one of the tragedies of the details of the deal that the last government negotiated is it reduced and narrowed opportunities for young people.

This government will change that.

09:39

Ben Coleman MP (Chelsea and Fulham, Labour)

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Peckham. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Peckham. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Chancellor said recently that an ambitious youth experience scheme with the EU would be good for growth and good for business, for growth and good for business, and the centre for European Reform has estimated that such an agreement could add nearly half a percent to UK GDP over ten years. So can the Minister reassure my constituents in Chelsea and Fulham that the government will maximise all the opportunities on offer for our young people, from all backgrounds, to work and to study, to do apprenticeships, to volunteer in European Union countries, to boost our economy and to rebuild cultural links after the damage of the Conservative Party's botched Brexit.

09:39

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Yes, I can look. I think this agreement will make a real difference to jobs to maximise opportunities for young people and for cultural exchange. It's why we're working so hard on it. It's why we're also working on associate relationship with the Erasmus+ scheme. The exact parameters of this are of course apart from negotiations, but we'll update the House on it shortly.

09:40

Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)

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Wera Hobhouse Mr. speaker, in October more than 200 UK and EU cultural and creative organisations is used. Joint statement calling for the UK to rejoin Creative Europe and take part in its proposed successor, Agora EU, giving lots of young people access to grants and access to cultural exchanges. What assessment has the government made to rejoin Creative Europe?

09:40

Chris Ward MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Labour)

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Well, as I said, one of the tragedies of the deal the last government did was it excluded opportunities on cultural exchange and particularly for young people. We are going to change that as part of negotiations. On the specific point of that, I'll ask my colleague from the Minister for the Cabinet Office to come back on specific point, on cultural bit. But in general, our aim is to get as close as we can to to that agreement and as quickly as can. But. Sir.

09:40

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Mr. Rebecca Harris.

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disappoint. In the last few months I've begun to stand up a high calibre begun to stand up a high calibre team working at pace to develop proposals for a free new digital proposals for a free new digital credential for all UK citizens. This credential will be inclusive, secure and useful, learning from secure and useful, learning from the best schemes around the world. And in the new year, we'll be inviting the public to have their inviting the public to have their say in a major public consultation, and I'll be travelling up and down the country in new ways to engage as we develop this vital new public good for our country.

09:41

Mr Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield, Labour)

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Toby Perkins. >> Toby Perkins. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Britain has a proud track record of providing refuge for people fleeing providing refuge for people fleeing persecution and war. But when tens of thousands of people are travelling across many safe countries to get here, it's clear that the criminal gangs sales pitch that Britain's an easy place to find illegal work is working. So come, my hon. Friend, tell me how digital ID will help us to smash those criminal gangs and to tackle the scourge of illegal work.

09:41

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Yeah, yeah.

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Around the world and across Europe, countries use digital checks to evaluate whether someone checks to evaluate whether someone has a legal right to work, but we do not. While we have brilliant digital verification tools, millions of checks use unreliable paper based systems of passports, birth certificates and other forms of evidence. This leaves too much room for fraud and, crucially, creates the perception that our country has weaker regimes for combating illegal working. Digitising checks will enable digital auditing of employers and more enforcement, bringing our illegal working regime in line with international peers and helping to deliver on one of our top priorities reducing illegal migration.

09:42

Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, Conservative)

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Mike Wood sir, the Minister.

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Mr. speaker, the Prime Minister called a Downing Street press conference in October rather than come to this House so he could tell come to this House so he could tell the nation that digital ID will not be mandatory. It's just that you be mandatory. It's just that you won't be able to get a job without one. So what else won't you able to be able to do without this apparently voluntary digital ID? Can the Minister confirm that if Can the Minister confirm that if you won't be allowed to get a job without digital ID, you won't be able to receive any benefits without digital ID?

09:43

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Lewis Cocking. credential for UK systems is a major public good that we need to do carefully and take our time over, and that is why, as I said, we will be launching a major public consultation in the new year. In that consultation will be a whole series of questions about the use cases for digital ID, and I look forward to working with the hon. Member and members across this House to work together on what this new digital credential should do for our citizens.

09:43

Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, Conservative)

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Right.

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Well thank you. The minister's answer makes it clear that this announcement is not a policy. It was a party conference stunt. They clearly haven't thought thought it through. It is clear thought it through. It is clear that the Prime Minister lacks the backbone to push back against officials who've taken this awful officials who've taken this awful idea off the shelf once again, because, Mr. Speaker, the truth is, because, Mr. Speaker, the truth is, this is a £1.8 billion solution in search of a question to solve.

So the the Minister talks about about illegal migration. But but the truth is, the truth is that there are already a legal responsibility to do those checks. And the Home Office offers a reliable service. So can the Minister tell us just how many people who've passed the Home Office right to work? Check a later found not to have the right to work.

09:44

Josh Simons MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Makerfield, Labour)

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Yeah, yeah yeah. Okay.

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On digital on right to work checks. To be very clear, the current system is not fit for purpose. The United Kingdom is out of whack with international peers. of whack with international peers. That creates the perception that we have a leak, illegal labour market regime. And I'm sure the Minister regime. And I'm sure the Minister opposite would not be against toughening up enforcement, against illegal working. And on the broader illegal working. And on the broader benefits of digital ID in the future economy, and state that we need to build a digital credential free that every citizen has access to is a vital, foundational public good for everything that we want our government and our state to do 1520 years ahead.

And I am proud that this government is taking on the task of building it.

09:45

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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So Edward Leigh Father of the House number five.

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Minister. With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I would like to answer questions five and 13 together. The decision to call in the planning application for the proposed Chinese embassy was made by the Chinese embassy was made by the former Deputy Prime Minister, in line with the current policy on calling. This decision is subject calling. This decision is subject to a quasi judicial process and independent from the rest of government. No private assurances

09:46

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)

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have been given to the Chinese application. >> Sarah Bool Will the prayers of.

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Long dead medieval monks save us from this hideous mega embassy from this hideous mega embassy right next to the most totemic, totemic building in the United totemic building in the United Kingdom, the Tower of London? The Secretary of State for the Home and Secretary of State for the Home and Foreign Office wrote us a letter on 14th January insisting that a 14th January insisting that a condition be made that there should be a wall and public access to the Cistercian medieval monastery on the site.

The Chinese, in their arrogant way, are ignoring us. Will the government stand firm? Insist on public access? And by the way, that would be a good way of stopping this awful project.

09:46

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, what I can say to the Father of the House is that national security is the first duty of this government, and it has been a core priority throughout this process. We have considered the breadth of national security considerations and have publicly outlined the necessary security mitigations that we need in order to support an application. I can also tell the Father of the House that should the planning decision be approved, the new embassy will replace the seven different sites which currently comprise China's diplomatic estate.

09:47

Gregory Stafford MP (Farnham and Bordon, Conservative)

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Gregory Stafford. Yesterday, my hon. Friend, the Member for Newmarket raised concerns with the Foreign Secretary expressing those made by the United States, the Dutch, the Swiss and the Swedish governments regarding the reported presence of data cables running beneath the Royal Mint Court. I note that the Cabinet Office has since denied these reports to the press. So can the Minister now provide the clarity that his colleague at the Foreign Office could not, and give a clear yes or no answer to this House as to whether any such cables run site.

09:47

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, what I can say to the hon. Gentleman is to reiterate the hon. Gentleman is to reiterate the point about the government having considered the breadth of national security considerations, and both the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary have been clear about this. I can also say to him that we work incredibly closely with our allies, particularly our Five Eyes partners, ensuring our collective national security.

09:48

Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)

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Euan Stainbank Madam Speaker. posing, beyond the potential implications of their embassy planning application, considering Chinese state subsidised bus manufacturers have gained a rising market share in the UK over the past few years, the DfT and I.

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Think it is way off the question. It is literally just about the Chinese embassy. It is important to

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us and recognising that, I'm sure you might catch my tropicals right? Let us move to Gideon Amos. Number.

09:48

Q7. What steps he is taking to improve national resilience. (906723)

>> Number. >> Seven, Mr. Speaker. >> Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With

09:48

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With your permission, I'd like to answer a question seven and 23 together. The government published the The government published the Resilience Action Plan in July to set out its strategic approach to improve the UK's resilience to the full range of risks that we face. One of the actions we've taken is to conduct the largest ever pandemic exercise. The exercise involved all regions and nations of the UK, and thousands of participants. Gideon Amos from.

09:49

Gideon Amos MP (Taunton and Wellington, Liberal Democrat)

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The first ever charts by Captain Cook to real time digital mapping, the UK Hydrographic Office enables and keeps our Royal Navy safe at sea, operating quite literally under the radar. Will the Minister pay tribute to the hundreds of people in my constituency working at the office? And will he support a cross-sector approach to both energy cables and telecommunication cables and their security? Bringing in the universities of Plymouth, the University Centre Somerset and the Hydrographic Office in my constituency?

09:49

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Well. >> Well. >> Mr. Speaker, I'm grateful to him and I join with him in paying tribute to the important work of tribute to the important work of the UK Hydrographic Office and its vital contribution to the UK's maritime security. I can tell him that the Cabinet Office plays a central role to cohere cross-government efforts to secure the UK's undersea infrastructure. Given the growing prominence of this issue, lead government departments are engaging with industry partners and we will continue this inclusive approach as we support the Royal Navy to take a leading role to secure our undersea infrastructure.

09:50

Susan Murray MP (Mid Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat)

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Susan Murray Mr. speaker, the >> Susan Murray Mr. speaker, the Russian spy ship Yantar has been probing our infrastructure in the probing our infrastructure in the North Sea. While doing so, they used high powered lasers against an RAF plane monitoring their activity, threatening the lives of our pilots. What steps is the government taking to secure our critical strategic infrastructure in the North Sea, and to ensure that there are clear and serious consequences for Russia when it carries out aggressive and dangerous military activity off our coasts?

09:50

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Well, Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to her, and she and the House will to her, and she and the House will understand that I am limited in terms of what I can say in my response, but I can give her an assurance that Russia is a top national security priority for the government. And UK law enforcement has recently secured a range of convictions in this area. I will have more to say about this later today.

09:51

Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)

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Thank you. UK over the past few years, and that DfT and NCS have announced recently an investigation into kill switches in Chinese buses, and that the ten year bus pipeline is expected imminently. Will the Minister be raising our government's concerns about Chinese buses directly with the Chinese government?

09:51

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Well, I'm grateful to him, not just for his question today, but for the very important work that I know he has done in this particular area, in his constituency and across Scotland. I listened very carefully to what he's had to say this morning, and I'd be very happy to discuss it with him further.

09:51

Q8. What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the effectiveness of cross-Government working on food security. (906724)

Number eight, Mr. Speaker.

09:52

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through the National Security Risk Assessment, the Cabinet Office engages closely with Defra to continuously assess risks to the security and resilience of the food sector, as well as interdependencies between critical national infrastructure sectors. The government has published the results of the first Annual Public Survey on Risk and Resilience, and provides resilience advice to the public on Gov.uk.

09:52

Daniel Zeichner MP (Cambridge, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Has shown remarkable resilience. And flexibility in recent years, but seasoned industry voices are but seasoned industry voices are warning that we face new challenges. Climatic risk and global instability. I appreciate it is not instability. I appreciate it is not just a food production issue here. It is a cross-government issue. So I wonder if the hon. Gentleman could say a little bit more about

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could say a little bit more about the measures to assess our readiness for these new challenges. Well.

09:52

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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>> Well. >> Mr. Speaker, I'm grateful to the hon. Gentleman who I know speaks with great authority on these matters. I can say to him that the Cabinet Office is strongly supportive of the work that Defra is undertaking on food security, including mapping critical food supply chain assets to provide a greater understanding of potential vulnerabilities. We've also published the first ever chronic risks analysis to support decision making on longer term cross-cutting and interconnected risks, such as climate and geopolitical change. Minister.

09:53

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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With permission, Mr.

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Speaker, I would like to ask the questions. Nine, 12. And 17 together. After the damage wrought by successive conservative governments, we have successfully reset relations with the devolved government and thanks the devolved government and thanks to the hard work of a Leonard Morgan, Anas Sarwar and our brilliant Welsh and Scottish Labour

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brilliant Welsh and Scottish Labour MPs, we have provided the largest uplift to their budgets since devolution began. Gerald Jones.

09:53

Gerald Jones MP (Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, Labour)

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>> Gerald Jones. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I very much welcome the additional £505 million of investment the Chancellor announced in last week's Budget through the Barnett formula. Building on the biggest settlement since devolution. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that this is another example of two Labour governments working together for the benefit of the people of Wales, which is in complete contrast to the way we were treated by the party opposite.

09:54

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Hey. one fantastic example of two Labour governments working together to deliver for the people of Wales. As he says, in stark contrast to 14 years of conservative governments ignoring Welsh leaders in the synod. Just the other week we announced two AI growth zones and the UK's first small modular reactor in Anglesey, alongside an historic investment in Welsh Rail earlier this year. Through these, we are creating 11,000 new jobs across Wales, thanks again to two Labour governments working together for the people of Wales.

09:54

Katrina Murray MP (Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, Labour)

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Katrina Murray.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister agree that in constituencies like mine, where people are struggling to access people are struggling to access healthcare, it is vital that the SNP government makes a effective SNP government makes a effective use of the recent funding uplift to finally deliver the long promised elective treatment and diagnostics

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elective treatment and diagnostics centre in Cumbernauld, so that we can cut waiting lists and get my constituents the care they need. Yes.

09:55

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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>> Yes. >> My hon. Friend will know that it was Nicola Sturgeon, no less campaigning less than a month before the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, who promised a new elective treatment and diagnostic centre for the people of Cumbernauld. Four and a half years later, my hon. Friend's constituents are still waiting and the SNP have admitted they will not be building it any time soon. This Labour government has committed billions of pounds in extra funding for Scottish public services, but voters in Cumbernauld and across Scotland will rightly be asking the SNP government the question where's the money gone?

09:55

Irene Campbell MP (North Ayrshire and Arran, Labour)

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John Irene Campbell. Minister agree with me that with a Labour government, Holyrood working with the UK Labour government, constituencies like mine in North Ayrshire and Arran could be much better off if the nuclear policy in Scotland changed and sites like Hunterston currently blocked from investment by SNP policy, could be developed to support small modular reactors, bring good jobs to the community and play a key part in our energy supply.

09:56

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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In England and Wales, Mr Speaker Labour governments are investing billions of pounds to deliver a new generation of clean, safe nuclear power. Hunterston in. My hon. Friend's constituency is just one of those communities in Scotland which could benefit from this investment if it was not for the SNP's outdated ideological ban on nuclear power. There student politics approach is holding Scotland back. Only a vote for Scottish Labour and Anas Sarwar next May will deliver the jobs and growth which nuclear power could offer Scotland.

09:56

Wendy Chamberlain MP (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat)

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Wendy Chamberlain thank you, Mr. Speaker. Despite the government's assurances, the government and the Scottish Government fail to communicate in many ways and as a Scottish MP, I am used to the frustrating process of being sent from one to another with nobody taking responsibility. Access for all is a great example of the new ramp at Leuchars Station, which serves Saint Andrews, could provide effective step free access, but nobody knows when the new scheme is coming and how it will be administered in Scotland.

Can I get assurance that conversations are taking place about the scheme?

09:57

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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I can confirm that Ministers across government, including myself, the Prime Minister and in relevant departments engage with their counterparts in the Scottish Government frequently and we wish to unblock problems to improve delivery for the people of Scotland. On the particular issue, if the hon. Lady writes to me, I will ensure that that is taken into account. And perhaps next time the SNP might come to questions to hear it themselves directly. Speaker. Speaker.

09:57

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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The Minister is a gentleman and that never in question. What steps will be taken to respect the principle of devolution and avoid legislating over Northern Ireland Assembly without genuine necessity? I cast everyone's mind in this House back to 2019, when this side of the House in government brought in the abortion legislation against the will of the Northern Ireland Assembly, against the will of the people of Northern Ireland, and this House endorsed it. What can be done, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that that never, ever happens again?

09:58

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Justice Secretary Luhansk Rotherham. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it comes from mutual respect and it comes from mutual respect and dialogue, which this government has exhibited since it's come into government, as he says, in stark contrast to the relationship over the previous 14 years and the Northern Ireland Secretary and myself, engagement with the deputy First Minister and the First Minister, alongside the Prime Minister, engage on these issues routinely and will continue to try to provide the best answers for the people of Northern Ireland.

Speaker.

09:58

Q10. What steps he is taking to improve relations with the EU. (906726)

Secretary.

09:58

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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permission, I would like to answer questions ten, 11 and 16 together. Since coming to office, this Since coming to office, this government has secured a new strategic partnership with the EU to deliver for jobs, bills and to deliver for jobs, bills and borders. We are repairing the damage inflicted by the Conservatives botched Brexit deal, which left food businesses paying which left food businesses paying £200 on paperwork for every single consignment shipped in from the EU. We've made significant progress We've made significant progress since our historic May summit, including negotiations on a food and drink deal which will slash red tape for businesses and bring down prices for consumers.

09:59

Alex Brewer MP (North East Hampshire, Liberal Democrat)

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Alex Brewer thank you, Mr. >> Alex Brewer thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that Brexit has left a £90 billion hole in the UK tax a £90 billion hole in the UK tax revenues and small business owners in my constituency of North East Hampshire are telling me that the last two budgets have been, and I quote, catastrophic for them. Why is the government not pursuing a bespoke UK EU customs union to cut red tape, boost economic growth and support British businesses here?

09:59

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Here. The Prime Minister was very clear in the House yesterday that we'll be honouring our manifesto commitments on a single market and customs union. We will not be rejoining those institutions, but there is a great deal of work that can be done between the botched deal we inherited from the Conservatives, from the acrimonious relationship where they just refused to talk to each other in the interests of either Britain or the European Union, and the new relationship that the Prime Minister has built with his counterparts in Europe to deliver Kingdom.

10:00

Andrew Cooper MP (Mid Cheshire, Labour)

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Andrew Cooper. in the EU Security Action for Europe, an initiative aimed at strengthening defence capacity across the continent in response to escalating Russian threats, appears to have come to an end without agreement. While it is right that the UK only enters agreements that clearly support our national interest and represent value for money, we must continue to play a leading role in European security. Could the Minister outline how the government intends to build momentum for renewed UK EU cooperation in this area? cooperation in this area?

10:00

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend for his important question. The United Kingdom remains committed to our role in European security in the face of rising threats. As the House will know, the Prime Minister has led the coalition of the willing to combat Vladimir Putin's aggression in Ukraine and has worked tirelessly to strengthen our relationships with our allies, including across Europe. We are working quickly with the EU to implement our ambitious security and defence partnership, and have already stepped up our cooperation on key issues, such as tackling hybrid threats and our collective support to Ukraine.

10:01

Dr Al Pinkerton MP (Surrey Heath, Liberal Democrat)

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Gloucester Al Pinkerton. Minister, when asked about a UK EU customs arrangement, said and I quote, that that journey of travel is self-evident given the box. The botched Brexit deal is costing the UK exchequer 90 billion a year. Can I ask what that self-evident journey now means for the government's own red lines? And can I also ask whether the party opposite will take the opportunity to take a giant leap on that journey by supporting my ten minute rule bill next Tuesday?

10:01

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I have to confess, Mr. Speaker, I have not listened to the News Agents podcast he refers to, but I Agents podcast he refers to, but I know Mr. Speaker will be pleased to hear that. What is self-evident is what is said in this house, not on podcasts. And the Prime Minister was very clear on the government's position yesterday in relation to a single market and the customs union, whilst also improving our trading and security relationships, which on.

10:01

Luke Myer MP (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Labour)

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Duma thank you, Mr. Speaker. The agreement in May included the restoration of the UK's country specific steel quota. But in October, of course, we saw new measures from the EU on steel protection. So does the government expect that we will be honoured in the article 28 gap process around those quotas? And will we see trade measures set out prior to the steel strategy?

10:02

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. My colleague, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, is he will understand, in discussions with counterparts in the European Union about the changing global landscape for steel. This government is very clear that we should protect British Steel and our capabilities to produce steel, in this case in the UK, while supporting exports and making sure that British Steel is not undercut by cheap global imports from around the world.

10:02

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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Alex Burghart shadow Secretary. pleased to hear that the Labour Party is going to honour some of its manifesto commitments. Last week, it was announced that the that the government's attempt to join the new EU Defence Fund had failed. This is a major setback for our relationship with the EU and it's a major embarrassment for the government. But since that time, no Minister has come to the House to explain what on earth has gone so horribly wrong. So perhaps the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster can tell us what has gone so horribly wrong.

10:03

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Well, the first thing to say is >> Well, the first thing to say is that regardless of the negotiation on Safe, our collaboration with European partners is stronger than ever on defence collaboration and defence procurement in relation to Safe. In particular, as the hon. Member asked. This was always going to be a negotiation between the EU and the UK, and the UK government would rightly have to consider value for money considerations in return for how much access British industry would have to those contracts being negotiated in Europe, irrespective of the position on Safe, I can confirm to the House that UK companies will still be able to take part in European procurement for defence equipment, with an up to 35% allowance for British components in those manufactured goods.

10:04

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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Yeah. that. He is to sort of pretend that this in some way was not a defeat, but a victory, but many more such victories. And we are lost. The the House will remember that in May, number ten trumpeted a new agreement with the EU, which gave the EU privileged access to our fishing waters for 12 years. 12 years. Mr. speaker, in return, in order to, and I quote, pave the way for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU's proposed new defence fund.

So now the EU have killed off that deal with what the Chancellor rightly describes as an unreasonable demand for £5 billion. Are we going to get our fish back?

10:04

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Yeah, yeah. Union was not just on one particular issue. It was a package of improvements between the relationship between the UK and the EU. And he might want to recognise and welcome the agreement on food and drink regulation reform so that we can get prices down on the shelves in British supermarkets after after they went through the roof under the conservative government.

10:05

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Lisa Smart Liberal Democrat spokesperson. following threats from Donald Trump earlier this week, the government announced that between 3 and £6 billion each year will be diverted from our NHS services into the pockets of pharmaceutical giants. The American health Secretary, RFK Jr, said the agreement shows Trump's courage and leadership in demanding these reforms and that he puts Americans first. This will give no comfort to my Hazel Grove constituents, who rightly value our NHS and want to see it thrive.

Does the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster agree that we are more isolated from our European allies following Brexit, making us far too vulnerable to the threat of American tariffs? What will it take for the government to rethink their red lines, protect the British people from further bullying from the White House by agreeing a bespoke UK EU customs union with our European?

10:06

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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The agreement that has been reached on pharmaceuticals is a win for the United Kingdom. We have an enormously important sector for pharmaceutical research and development and production in the United Kingdom, who export many of their products to the American market. So to have agreed the tariff arrangements with the United States is a win for UK farmers and for people who work in it. And I would just point to the fact that the UK's relationship with the United States, thanks to our Prime Minister, has been one of the most productive relationships in the world in securing trade and security agreements, both for the UK and to support our allies around the world.

10:06

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Lisa Smart I note the Chancellor's response and it may well be good for the pharma industry. My question was about whether it was good for the NHS. Just four days ago, the Prime Minister said that Brexit deal has significantly hurt our economy and that we have to keep moving towards a closer relationship with the EU. I agree with the Prime Minister on this, a clear and welcome step for jobs and for growth would be to create a bespoke customs union with the EU.

The Lib Dems want to cut unnecessary red tape, support British businesses and deliver sustainable long term economic growth. I am sure the Chancellor does too. I agree with him in his remarks earlier on. What happens in this House matters. So will he at least agree not to block his colleagues on the government benches from backing my Liberal Democrat friend? The hon. Member for Surrey Heath ten minute rule bill next Wednesday, setting a path towards a bespoke EU UK customs

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union. Sir, honestly, you can't go on and on. In fairness, we have to

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and on. In fairness, we have to limit the amount of time we've got. I'm sure he's got at least three of the questions. There's obviously a great deal

10:07

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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>> There's obviously a great deal of interest, Mr. Speaker, on the Liberal Democrat benches for their ten minute rule bill, which I look

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ten minute rule bill, which I look forward to reading in due course. Andrew Rosindell. Mr. Speaker. Mr.

10:07

Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Barnsley North, Labour)

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>> Mr. speaker, the government recently introduced the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to strengthen the resilience of UK critical national infrastructure. Yesterday I visited BT, who've worked with the National Cyber Security Centre, to block almost a billion attempts to access malicious content in just six months. In the spring, the government will publish a business first national cyber Action Plan, and we've already engaged with over development.

10:08

Andrew Rosindell MP (Romford, Conservative)

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Mr. Rotherham, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The United Kingdom is increasingly and uniquely vulnerable to malicious cyber activity targeting national infrastructure. Democratic institutions, including Parliament itself. So these do pose a serious risk to our national security. Experts have warned of a critical data leak. New scale of severe

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