Today our historic Trade Bill will be debated in the House of Commons, establishing the UK as an independent trading power now that we have left the EU.
- We are delivering on our promise to end free movement, take back control of our borders and introduce a new Australian-style points based immigration system.
- The current transition period with the EU will end on December 31 this year, and the UK will then have a fully independent trade policy that will allow us to strike ambitious new free trade deals with countries around the world.
- That is why we are introducing the Trade Bill to Parliament, so that we are prepared to make the most of these new trading opportunities, and will ensure that our trade policy reflects the needs and potential of the whole of the UK as we emerge from the coronavirus.
- This will help to reaffirm the UK as a global leader for free trade, and will make sure that our future trading policy works for every part of our country so that is more united and more outward looking than ever before.
Today the Government is introducing legislation that will end the automatic early release of terrorists and increase the minimum time they have to spend in prison, ensuring the worst criminals serve the sentence they deserve.
- Events in recent months and years have been a stark reminder of the threat we face from terrorism. It is our duty to protect the public from terrorists and ensure they stay in prison until they can no longer pose a threat.
- That is why we are introducing a new Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill that will ensure the most dangerous offenders spend a minimum of fourteen years in prison, as well as ending their prospect of early release, and introducing tougher monitoring for up to 25 years after they have left prison.
- This Government promised to act and tackle the threat of terrorism, and these measures will make sure that those who wish us harm are kept off our streets for as long as necessary, keeping our communities and streets safe.
The Government has launched a new ‘Pick for Britain’ website, encouraging UK workers to apply for fruit and vegetable picking jobs to help with the farming harvest.
- Every year large numbers of workers from Romania and Bulgaria temporarily come to the UK to take part in the harvest – but this year only about a third of the normal number of workers are available, with travel for other workers severely limited.
- That is why we are encouraging UK workers to join the ‘Pick for Britain’ campaign, so that jobseekers, furloughed workers, students and anyone else interested can lend a hand and help to bring the harvest home by picking fruit and vegetables across UK farms.
- This will help to support our farmers, employ thousands more workers and ensure that everyone can eat and enjoy British fruit and vegetables this year – and we urge everyone interested to seize this opportunity to feed the UK.
The Government continues to constructively engage with schools, teachers and unions so that we can get our children back to school as soon as possible.
- The Prime Minister has set out that by 1 June at the earliest, we may be in a position to get some primary pupils back into schools – but only if we meet our five tests, including the rate of transmission decreasing.
- The Government is continuing to work closely with teachers and the unions to facilitate these plans and is in the process of drawing up further guidance with them. Schools are already putting in place protective measures, including ensuring pupils do not attend if they or a member of their household has symptoms, keeping children in small groups and minimising contact, and cleaning surfaces more frequently.
- We have been guided by the science at all key decision points throughout this pandemic, and that continues to be the case. Pupils and staff will only return to school when the scientific advice allows.
Stay alert
We must stay alert, to control the virus, and save lives.
We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:
- Stay at home as much as possible
- Work from home if you can
- Limit contact with other people
- Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
- Wash your hands regularly
- Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.
