09/04/2014 Daily Politics

Good morning. This is the Daily Politics. It's taken almost a week

but those baying for Maria Miller's blood have got what they wanted. The

Culture Secretary, who'd been under heavy fire over her expenses,

resigned early this morning saying the controversy had become a

distraction. I want to remove what has become an unhelpful and very

difficult distraction for colleagues but also taking away from being able

to talk about the achievements of the Government. The Prime Minister

was expected to come under further pressure over her position during

Question Time in the Commons. See how he fares at midday. And musician

and activist Billy Bragg will be here to explain why he thinks

restricting prisoners' access to books and guitars is wrong. We

believe that music can help offenders to engage in the process

of rehabilitation. Prisons we work with realise the value of creative

expression in helping offenders to come to terms with the crimes they

have committed. All that and more coming up in the next 90 minutes of

television gold. And with us for the duration, two squeaky clean MPs.

Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps and Labour's Chuka

Umunna.He's the Shadow Business Secretary.

Welcome to you both. Now without further ado, let's talk about the

resignation of the Culture Secretary, Maria Miller. Her

resignation was announced a little after 7:30am after almost a week of

criticism surrounding her expenses. She has finally gone in front of the

cameras. This is what she said a little earlier. I want to remove

what has become an unhelpful and difficult distraction for colleagues

but also taking away from being able to talk about the achievements of

the Government. In your resignation letter, you mention Leveson. Do you

think this is part of the media witchhunt? I take responsibility for

the situation. I fully accent the findings in the Parliamentary

standards report. This is about that. -- accept. It is important I

take away this distraction from the work of the Government and I really

do want to reiterate my full support for the Prime Minister. That was

Maria Miller speaking this morning. She sounded a bit more contrite than

she did in her apology in the House of Commons last week. It lasted only

32 seconds and was not seen as adequate by people on both sides of

the House. Last night, Maria Miller appeared to be fighting for

political survival, issuing a fresh apology to her Basingstoke

constituents through her local newspaper. It has been quite a long

and protracted saga. Talk us through it. Although it's a story that's

reached a crescendo and denouement in less than a week, the saga of

Maria Mller's expense claims has been playing out over the last 14

months. In December 2012, the Telegraph reported that Mrs Miller

had claimed over ?90,000 in parliamentary expenses for the

mortgage and running costs of her second home in South London between

2005 and 2009. The Telegraph would later allege that Conservative

advisors tried to warn them off the story, saying they were looking at

Leveson. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

investigated and cleared the MP of making false expenses claims but did

ask her to repay ?45,000 for over-claiming for mortgage interest

payments and council tax. However, the final say over sanctions rested

with the Commons Committee for Standards. They asked Mrs Miller to

pay back just ?5,800 and apologise for her attitude to the

investigation, which she duly did, for a whole 32 seconds.

I wish to make a personal statement in relation to today 's report. The

report resulted from an allegation made by the member for Bassetlaw.

The committee has dismissed his allegation. The committee has

recommended that I apologise to the House for my attitude to the

commissioner 's inquiries and I, of course, unreservedly apologise. I

fully accept the recommendations of the committee and thank them for

bringing this matter to an end. Maria Miller and her apology. The

brief apology didn't win her any friends in either the press or

politics. Tory grandee Lord Tebbitt accused her of behaving arrogantly

and called on her to resign, as did former speaker Baroness Boothroyd,

who was disappointed and outraged about it. And the Telegraph followed

up with a second allegation that Mrs Miller flipped her second home in

Wimbledon, designating it as her main residence, avoiding capital

gains tax when she sold it. The Prime Minister, however, resolutely

stood by her insisting she had done the right thing by apologising.

Grassroots Conservatives disagreed. 85% said she should go and, in the

end, they got their way. We are joined now by: Shapps and Chuck A.

Has Maria Miller gone because she has done something wrong or you

could not stand the media and public frenzy for her to go? She was

becoming the story. It prevented any other story, including for example,

the International monetary fund saying we have the fastest growth of

any advanced economy. It was getting in the way. You agree yesterday, the

IMF said, fast growth, number six on the news, Maria number two. It was

getting in the wake of that she thought that was becoming

unsustainable. Did she do anything wrong? That is not for means to say.

The committee said she had to pay back ?5,800 and apologise for the

way in which the information was provided, through a lawyer, I think.

Presumably it was all very legalistic and time-consuming. You

are unable to say whether in your view she did anything wrong or not?

she did something wrong in terms of public opinion. If you read the

report, they come to the conclusion that the rules themselves were also

part of the problem, in addition to anything else. That is why there was

a discrepancy between the Commissioner and the outcome of that

committee. By the way, that was chaired by a Labour MP. They were

definitely have said if it was wrong. Having decided to stick by

her, as the Prime Minister originally did, why was there no

campaign or operation mounted by Downing Street to protect her? I am

talking about in the start. No Cabinet ministers would come

forward. Tory MPs could not come forward. You decided to stick with

her and you left her unprotected. I do not think that is entirely true.

When it is the Prime Minister, that is important. I do also think, our

press is able to go without fear anywhere they want. If your job was

to protect her, that was the original decision taken by your

Prime Minister. Why didn't you make sure and insist she made a

semi-decent apology? A lot has been made of the length of the apology. I

think it is perfectly fair for people to comment upon it. When you

listen to the words, she used the phrase, I unreservedly apologise. I

thought the words were right. I do not know the ins and outs. You did

not know. Downing Street was mounting a protection operation

which, in the end, left her unprotected. We should explain,

somebody's personal statement to the House of Commons is exactly that. It

is a personal statement. The reputation of the Prime Minister is

on the line. He is defending her. Wouldn't you really like to see,

could you just run past us exactly how you will apologise? When you go

to the House of Commons and you speak on a ministerial brief, the

Government brief comic you want to be clear it is collective

responsibility of the Government. On a personal statement can you would

write it down and deliver it. Her political private secretary said it

was a witchhunt in the media. Do you agree with that? I think the media

should and can go anywhere they want to. I think that is a very good

thing. You have no complaints that how the media has handled this in

the past ten days? Gnome. We are all subject to a lot of scrutiny. -- no.

That makes me proud to be British. We live in a country where people

can ask whatever they want and the press can be fearless. I still think

it is very good. You say that but her private Parliamentary Secretary

said it was a witchhunt. She said that in a text message. Her own

special adviser made the link with Leveson, threatening, reminding

newspapers that she was the woman in charge of the Leveson process.

Whether she was or not was another matter. That was the threat. Do you

agree with the behaviour of her special adviser? I have been clear

on this. I do not think it is the media coming to get revenge. Was it

right, to raise Leveson as an issue with the media that was trying to

cover what she was doing with her expenses? When you listen to that

conversation, you realise the bit the forwards about the elderly

father of Maria Miller, who had just come out of hospital and had a

delicate operation. The concern at the time was about press intrusion

into a member of the public 's life. That was not meant to be a threat.

In regard to doorstep in her elderly father. Her father was quite happy

to speak to the press that he joked with them. He had come out of

hospital. He joked with them. There was no threat. They said, had they

had known all of this, they would not have done that. With this

standards committee, made up of MPs, it kind of exonerated or, at least,

substantially reduce the criticisms of the were four Labour MPs on this

committee. They all eat it that way. -- voted that way. There is the

system, this story, Maria Miller, and the way it has been handled by

the Prime Minister. The best thing to say is, this is bad for all of

us. Clearly she is a Conservative Cabinet minister. From the point of

view of your viewers, they put us into the same pot. They are all the

same. This is bad for all of us. We need to change the system. What this

has highlighted, if you like, going to your point about the committee,

there is a perception we are marking our own homework. That is why I

think, ultimately, when these things are being determined, the further

away we are from making a determination of that being seen to

mark our own home work, better. The committee is chaired by a Labour MP.

There is a majority of government MPs on it. You all voted the same

way. I do not think it is a good thing that there is a perception

that there is a gap between where the committee landed and whether

Parliamentary standards Commissioner went. In respect of Maria, one thing

I was surprised by, you cannot underestimate how toxic the expenses

issue is. Never mind retaining her job as Culture Secretary, she will

have a real battle on her hands to keep her seat. How on she would have

found the time to do that and run her department at the same time, I

think from the point of view of A Minister, the problem for him was

there was a perception he was acting in a party interest and not a

national interest. This has been a complete diversion. Grant is

desperate to talk about the IMF. The big economic issue is what he wants

to talk about. To some extent it is a legacy issue. It was an alleged

infraction that took place before the new regime came in. There have

been these complaints about MP should not be marking their own

homework. In the new regime that is now place, if a similar fence on

expenses to place, what would now be the role of the standards committee

of MPs? It would not have a role. That is the key point. People have

been saying all week it is wrong that MPs mark their own homework. It

is very frustrating over expenses. It is one of those stories that,

somehow, has been buried in theirs. Andrew Lansley was on Newsnight last

night. Other MPs have been on the programme. Let me clear it. The fact

of the matter is, if it is post-2010 when the Independent Parliamentary

Standards Authority came in, in future, a case like this would be

reported to someone independent of itself. If they want to appeal the

outcome, it would be going to a lower tier tribunal. That is the

tribunal system useful all sorts of MPs. Another legal process. Until

this case came up, I was not aware of all those details and all of

things. Granted, I came into Parliament under this different

system. It is toxic. This is awful. You decided to defend her and then

did not mount an operation to give her any defence. The lack of

perceived humility was a problem. I understand that. She is different

this morning. She has resigned now. You mentioned her constituency. Well

Giles is in Maria Miller's constituency. Not a very right day

for her in Basingstoke. Do you think she should have gone, and if she

should have gone, should she have gone sooner? I don't think she

should have gone, she apologised and the allegations were unfounded. So I

don't think she should have gone, we have lost a fantastic secretary of

the eight and I think it is a travesty. Who do you blame for it,

her, or is it a media witchhunt? Lots of Tory MPs were saying it is

toxic for us on the doorstep, she has got to go. I don't think she

should have gone, I think the whole thing has been misunderstood. Isn't

it the case it is understood by the public that somebody who got tax

payers money and did not have to pay back what the enormous sum was, only

?5,000. Lots of people have criticised her apology for a seeming

lack of contrition, aren't you a bit disappointed she could have stopped

this before it got out of hand? No, I think Maria handled this extremely

well. There is a lack of understanding about this whole

thing. Do you have any understanding? None whatsoever. She

was caught out. If she had put her hands about the time and said sorry,

I will pay it all back, I made a mistake. Thousands of people signed

a petition to get her out and her own MPs did not stand up with her.

The committee said she had not done anything wrong she just didn't

cooperate fully with the Co-op -- investigation, so what does she put

her hands up to? What is the ?5,000? If she had made an apology

to those people who saved her ?40,000, I can see why do people

turned on her. Will she be in trouble at the next election? Maria

is a fantastic dentist UNC MP. -- constituency MP. When people get to

the ballot is, they will reflect on council tax being kept low. Why were

so many of her colleagues not prepared to put their head over the

parapet? People I have been talking to a very supportive. I am talking

about the person on the street who have come up to me, asked me

questions because they don't understand the thing that has gone

on. When it is explained, they understand and she has their

support. Somebody mentioned this, Nigel Farage, stood in a

constituency and tried to make something of expenses, do you think

we will find him here in 2015? We will find him here tonight. Will he

stand? No, we have a wonderful candidate, Alan Stone. Everyone

loves him and knows him, he will win. That is the word in

Basingstoke. There is a feeling she will bubbly resigned, but why didn't

she go a little bit sooner? Andrew. Let's move on from Maria Miller in

her resignation letter. Letter she said she didn't want her "present

situation become a distraction from the vital work this Government is

doing". Well, we here at the Daily Politics won't allow it to distract

us for the WHOLE programme. So we're going to give Grant a breather and

spend the next few minutes talking about something else entirely. The

International Monetary Fund says the UK economy will be the

fastest-growing in the G7 this year. It says the UK will grow 2.9% in

2014, up from a January estimate of 2.4%, and will see growth of 2.5% in

2015. Chuka you must be delighted we're seeing such robust growth just

a year ahead of the general election?

Their chief economist, at the IMF has admitted we underestimated UK

growth, we got it wrong and so did you? Let's hope his forecasts are

right this time. All economists have this issue. He has admitted he was

overcautious, he underestimated UK growth and Labour did exactly the

same? We have got to ensure everybody gets to share in the

proceeds of that growth. It is a phrase that has been used in the

past and we have people who have faced a big fall in their wages

since 2010 who now want a pay rise. What is the nature of the new

employment created? We have millions of people on zero hours contracts,

1.4 million people working part-time and millions of people working on a

part-time basis who want to be full-time. But there is a structural

issue and that is, we need to change the shape of our labour market,

which is to lower wages and low skill. Compared to the other

countries, there are only four others who have a higher incidence

of low paid, load skill work. That is the challenge we have got. It is

all right having GDP growth, but in terms of peoples lives, it will not

change much. We will come onto that, let's go on to the narrative of

Labour, it was just about growth. You said it was reckless, they are

taking the most reckless, political gamble with the economy, for

political reasons. It has not paid off, it has been catastrophic. Who

said that in January 2013? The argument has always been, not that

there would never be growth, but in 2010 we had falling unemployment. So

who said that? Have a guess. I have no idea. It was Ed Balls. If you let

me finish my sentence. You did not and so my question. I was about two

and the point I was going to make is, we never said there would be no

growth ever. You said flat-lining and growth would be choked off. You

had three years of saying and we will come onto whether it is the

right growth and sustainable, but we had three years of Labour saying it

was a flat-lining economy and it was choking off any recovery and any

recovery would be minimal. 2.9% this year before returning to its

long-term trend of 2.5%. Annual rate of growth in Dring, the strongest in

three years. Isn't this investment is predicted to be at 7%. Higher

than it was before the crash. Where is the catastrophe? Where is the

choking off of any recovery? There was three years of witty much no

growth. That was the choking off of growth we were referring to. Let's

hope the business investment figures pick-up because what we were

promised was a business investment led recovery. Figures are unchanged

compared to January and the last three months. We have seen trade

falling, particularly in goods. The OBR are saying it will make no net

country fusion to growth. In terms of business investment, we have not

seen the business investment we would have hoped. Danny Alexander

has tried to cajole business and it has not happened. We were promised

an export on business in the economy and that has not happened. Let's

pick up on the type of recovery. You talked about the labour market.

Let's look at the wealth divide and the gap in inequality. The IMF warns

about that and if it does not close, there are long-term problems for the

future. That is what is happening under this government. It is

important gap in inequality does close. Something which was missed

last year, I only saw the independent report it, but the gap

between rich and poor has closed since 1986, I think it was. One of

the things that has helped, raising the bar so you don't pay income tax

up to the first ?10,000. It will be even higher next year and that has

put more money into the pockets of people who are hardest up. We have

had a long-term economic plan which has led to this growth, we have held

our nerve and created a situation where we had more jobs in this

country, 30 million. But the number of part-time jobs and people want

more hours? I do accept those things, but there are fewer 0-hour

contracts hours now than there were in 2010. No they're not. The ONS

statistics work were less than 200,000 in 2010, the most recent

statistics is there are over half a million and they will revisit those

figures. They are disputed figures anyway. They are not, it is the ONS.

0-hours contract is something that needs to be addressed. Let's look at

the inequality gap which the IMF said will be there unless it is

sorted out. It is important people have jobs. Another charge that has

been made is these are all sometime part-time jobs. They are not, the

majority are full-time jobs and they are going to people from overseas.

They are not. It is an accusation often made and it is untrue. Nine

out of ten of these jobs are going to British people. It will soon be

PMQs. Those of you who have been through Maria Miller's expenses with

a fine tooth comb will note that the former Culture Secretary is partial

to a spot of crockery. The good news Maria, is you'll now have more time

to watch the Daily Politics and get your hands on one of these beauties.

Every cloud has a silver lining. But remember you'll have to be in it to

win it. Very naughty. But let's see if you

can remember when this happened. # Alone...why must I be alone?

Prince Charles made history by being the first royal to go to this

school. To be in with a chance, send your

answers to our e-mail address: You can see the full terms and

conditions on our website. It's coming up to midday here, just

take a look at Big Ben. That can mean only one thing... Yes, Prime

Minister's Questions is on its way. If you'd like to comment on

proceedings, and try and be polite! We will try and read some out

later. Nick Robinson is here. How does this play out PMQs? A phrase

that the Prime Minister will be reminded of is, let's leave it

there. Meaning his reaction to the Maria Miller affair, is it is over,

let's leave it. Ed Miliband will say it is a mistake. He realises the

political class have still not, " got it" and there are more changes

required to do with expenses. I think the Prime Minister will have a

bit to say about the detail of why he did defend Maria Miller and some

indication of where we might go next in terms of expenses. Let's go

straight over to the House of Commons now.

Immigration is down by a third and at its lowest level since 1998. We

have seen 2.2 million people over two years. That was unacceptable and

we are getting the situation under control. Speaking recently with a

constituent of mine who has been diagnosed with dementia, she was

frightened about what the future might hold for her. It has made

great progress and comes to an end this month. Will the primers to give

personal assurances is a new dimension framework will be put in

place as soon as possible? -- dementia. I can give my honourable

friend that Ashour rinse. We will treat it like a disease, like cancer

or heart disease. We will make sure local communities are more dementia

friendly. We will continue to use our position in the G-7 to push for

this issue globally as well. Mr Speaker, the events of the last week

have caused deep concern and anger to the public. What lessons does the

Prime Minister -- has the Prime Minister learned from his handling

of the situation? There is still very deep concern, public concern

which is very raw about the expenses scandal which rocked this Parliament

and the last parliament. That anger is still very raw and it needs to be

acted upon. I hope the one lesson that will not be learned, the right

thing to do as soon as someone as to answer allegations, is that they

will be allowed to do that. I was asking about his handling of the

situation and the lessons he learned and he had no answer. He wrote in

his letter to the Culture Secretary today, I think it is important to be

clear that the committee on standards clear due of the unfounded

allegations made against you. Can he now explain what, in his view, the

Culture Secretary did wrong? The Culture Secretary set out the

reasons for her resignation in her letter. He makes an important point.

The Culture Secretary was accused of a very serious offence, which was by

a member of Parliament. She was accused of housing her parents at

the public expense. She was cleared of that allegation. I thought it was

right. Others can take their own view. I thought it was right. We

needed to allow her to make her apology and continue with her job.

That is the way I think is the right way to handle it. Others can take

their own view. If people cleared themselves of a serious offence, you

let them get on with their job and try to do their job. That is the

right thing to do. I have to say to him, it is completely unclear why

the Culture Secretary is still not in her job because he think she did

nothing wrong. Let me explain to him. Order! This session will be

conducted in an orderly way, however long it takes. I happen to know

there are children here today observing proceedings who would like

to think the House would show a good example. Let's see if we can. What

she did wrong was refused to cooperate with an inquiry, she broke

the code of conduct for MPs and gave a perfunctory and inadequate apology

to the House. He said six days ago she had done the right thing and we

should leave it at that. Does he now recognise this was a terrible error

of judgment? I think it was right to allow her the chance to get on with

her job. There is one weakness in the argument of the right honourable

gentleman. If he thinks this was the case, why did he not call on her to

resign? In my view, he seems to be the first leader of the opposition

probably in history, to come to this house and make the first suggestion

that someone should resign after they have already resigned. I have

heard everything! It is my job to fire members of his own Cabinet.

This is about him and the fact he still does not understand what he

did wrong. -- she did wrong. If it had happened in any other business,

there would be no question about staying in their job. Why was he the

last person in the country to realise the position was untenable?

She did do something strong and that is why she was asked to apologise

and she did. It was not right not to cooperate properly with the

committee and she apologised for that. It is rather extraordinary,

the right honourable gentleman, in coming here saying she should have

resigned. It shows all the signs of someone seeing a political bandwagon

and wanting to jump on it. He is jumping on this bandwagon after the

whole circus has left town. Where I agree with the right honourable

gentleman is that there is still more that needs to be done to deal

with the problems of expenses that we suffered in the last Parliament.

We have made some big steps forward. I am not sure everyone knows this.

Any expense complaint from 2010 onwards is dealt with by an

independent body and not dealt with by MPs. That is right. The committee

of MPs that does the work on the path cases now has mothers of the

public sitting on it. That is right. I accept, let us do more to reassure

the public about the scandal of expenses and how we are dealing with

it. I am happy to hold meetings with party leaders, authorities of this

house, I think it is right we should do everything we can to show that

this is a good and honest Parliament with good and hard working people in

it. That is the assumption I'd start off and I make no apology for that.

The Prime Minister describes it as a bandwagon and a circus. Let me

actually... This is about the members of this country absolutely

appalled by the conduct of his government over the last week. That

is what it is about. It is about members of the public who cannot

understand why he did not act. He said in his forward to the

Ministerial Code, British people expect high standards of conduct and

we must not let them down. Does he not recognise that his failure to

recognise what went wrong has undermined trust, not just in his

government, but in politics? He came here today determined to play

politics in every single way he could. Absolutely clear. Since

2010... The Prime Minister 's answer must and will be heard. Members

across this house would know, since 2010, since the last Parliament, a

lot of changes have been made. Independent members on the

Parliamentary committee, publications of meetings, visits and

gifts for ministers, publication of special adviser salaries,

publication of government spending. Is there more to do? Absolutely. If

he is serious about doing it, he will sit down with other party

leaders, the authorities of this House, and letters ask what we can

do to put beyond doubt this is a good and honest Parliament with

hard-working people. If he wants to play politics and he wants a good

sound bite on the news, carry on. If you are serious, get serious. I will

have meetings with him any time about how we will reform the systems

of this House. Of course I will. He just does not get it. That is what

he has shown today. He needs to learn profound lessons. The Culture

Secretary went, not because of bad conduct, but because of bad press.

He promised to be an apostle of better standards and he has been an

apologist for unacceptable behaviour. If the right honourable

gentleman thinks that you should not give someone a chance to get on with

their job, that is not leadership, that is weakness. If that is his

recommendation of leadership, I do not think the country will have any

of it. With the Prime Minister agree with me, and the people living

in... Order! There should not be a collective groan. The honourable

gentleman is good-humoured. The House will hear the honourable

gentleman. That is much better. Will the Prime Minister agree with me

that people living in rural Britain have as much right to decent quality

and safe health care as anyone else? Will he helped to intervene directly

if he does and help me personally to ensure the Morecambe Bay hospitals

trust does not downgrade or sell-off the hospital? Representing a wall or

constituency I know how important it is for access to health services. I

know how important it is to get Health and Social Care Bill is his

to work together. He asked me to look into the specifics and I am

happy to do that. In the light of this week 's historic visit by the

Irish president to the UK, building a legacy and the historic visit of

her Majesty in 2011, would be Prime Minister agree that Anglo - Irish

relationships have never been stronger and to build lasting

reconciliation across the islands we need backing by his government and

the Irish government to ensure the potential prospects are delivered

and implemented? First of all, can I strongly agree that it is a landmark

visit of the Irish president to this country, coming three years after

the extraordinary visit by the Queen to the Republic of Ireland. I would

agree that Anglo /Irish relations are at an all-time high. We are

absolutely committed to building on that relationship and all the time

of thinking of new things that Britain and Ireland can do as good

neighbours and good friends. In terms of the talks, I do think it

would be good to make progress on that issue. That is something

parties in Northern Ireland have started and I would urge them to

continue. On the day when Woman's Our has put Rahman at number three

on the power list, it is challenging to suggest that women are

underrepresented in science and engineering careers. What is his

response... ? The honourable gentleman will be heard. The

opposition does not regard this as a serious matter. What is his response

to the thoughtful report published last week? Can I pay tribute to my

right honourable friend the campaigning and working so hard on

this issue? It is important for the future of our country, not just for

gender equality but the economic future to get women into Stem

subjects and engineering. I support the National Centre target of

doubling numbers of female engineering graduates by 2013. We're

working with employers, professional bodies and academic institutions to

implement the Perkins review. One of the most powerful things is role

models. Did the Prime Minister or any of his staff ask the right

honourable member for Basingstoke to resign her position as Culture

Secretary and, if not, should he have? She has set out the reasons

for her resignation in a letter she set out today and I think people

should accept that. I have even the best answers I could in my attitude

and working with colleagues in giving them a chance to get on with

their jobs. That is the right approach. Thanks to this government

is long-term economic plan... Youth unemployment has been cut by 42% in

my constituency. Does the Prime Minister think the opening of a new

university technical College and a new, free sixth form College in

Salisbury will enhance the ability of young people in South Wilts to

compete in the global race? My honourable friend is entirely right

in every word. Because what we see is a decline in youth unemployment.

The figures in Salisbury and in the south-west are remarkable. The

long-term youth claimant count has come down by 37%. What we need to

further drive down youth unemployment is make sure training

opportunities and education is there and that is why university technical

colleges are important. Youth unemployment is still too high, when

we strip out those in full-time education it is 8.7%. It is lower

than the EU average, but it is still too high. My constituents, Paul

Cowdrey is to lose his home at the raising concerns of over charging by

solicitor, Michael Sandler. This solicitor found a loophole in which

he could sue my complaining for complaining. The authority have

described Michael Sandler as morally reprehensible but are powerful to

act. Will the Prime Minister look this case and intervene to stop

solicitors are running rings around their regulators? I will be happy to

look into this. The legal ombudsman, which were improved over

previous years are independent of government. It is not possible to

intervene directly but I can arrange a meeting between him and the

Minister for legal services to discuss what remedies are open to

his constituent. I will put that in place. The Prime Minister for

Pakistan is due to visit the United Kingdom later this month. Will the

Prime Minister discussed with him the reform of blasphemy laws in

Pakistan which are used to prosecute and persecute the minority

community, including the Christian community. And Will the Prime

Minister make sure all of those people who are prosecuted under

these laws get justice, including a British national? I will certainly

raise that issue with the Prime Minister when he comes to this

country. In the run-up to Easter it is worth remembering how many

Christians are persecuted around the world. It is an important issue and

I am looking over to meeting with the Pakistan leadership. Is the

Prime Minister were that for 3 million, low income families, for

every ?3 they gain through the higher personal tax allowance, they

will lose ?2 straightaway through universal credit. Isn't the Prime

Minister giving with one hand but taking away from low-paid Britain

with the other? I think the honourable gentleman is profoundly

wrong. The point about universal credit is it you will always keep a

reasonable share of any extra pound earned. Difference between universal

credit and the last system is you off than face people with over 100%

marginal tax rates when they were in work. That is what universal credit

will change and that is why I thought the party opposite were in

favour of universal credit, but if they have changed their mind on

that, they should tell us. The number of apprenticeship starts in

my constituency is at a record high. I am hoping -- holding another

apprenticeship fair in Raleigh Regis. Will the Prime Minister agree

that investing in apprenticeship skills is important in the economic

plan to give people in the Black Country to give the skills they need

to get good quality jobs and secure their future? I join my honourable

friend in what he said. We have seen 180,000 apprenticeships start under

this government and we are on target the 2 million under this Parliament.

I want to make sure we grow apprenticeships and see an increase

in the quality of apprenticeships and there is better information for

young people in school about deciding the pathway they want to

take. Whether they want to take an academic pathway through university

or look at apprenticeships. We will be doing more on this front. Despite

the progress achieved in Northern Ireland, recent polls find 67% of 16

to 24-year-olds think their future lies outside of Northern Ireland and

the youth that local politicians could not agree in the future. Does

the Prime Minister agree this should be an wake-up call to start showing

real leadership to inspire young people and give them hope for a

better future in Northern Ireland? Can I pay tribute to the honourable

lady for the work she does on this front? Anyone who believes change is

not possible or politicians cannot rise to a challenge in Northern

Ireland would have been struck, as I was, seeing Martin McGuinness around

the table at the banquet with the Queen last night. People have come a

huge way and we need to continue with that vital work, including the

work to fight racism and sectarianism. We need politicians in

Northern Ireland to build a shared future, take down those walls, make

sure the economy can grow and opportunities are there for everyone

in Northern Ireland. 35,000 runners in last year's The London Marathon

raised ?53 million for good causes. I will be running again this

Sunday, but I am running for the Forget-me-not children's hospital in

Huddersfield. Over the cornflakes this morning I saw and attract a

picture of my honourable friend in his shorts and the Shadow Chancellor

in a curiouser pair of black leggings. I know a number of

colleagues in this House, I have to say I'd bow down to you, 26 miles is

a long way to go. I cannot manage it but full of admiration for the money

you raise the excellent causes and pay tribute to all members on all

sides of the House. My constituents, Sue Martin is suffering from MJ and

is waiting for her claim to be processed. She has to borrow from

her 84-year-old mother to get by. All delays in these benefits are

unacceptable. What we are trying to do with the Personal Independence

Payment, is introduced it gradually so we can ensure decision-making is

good. Last week, I was privileged to meet a Holocaust survivor. Is the

Prime Minister aware of any reported persecution happening today, ethnic

cleansing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A gentle religious Islamic

tolerant people who educate their sons and their daughters. Would he

meet with a member concerned with this to discuss this situation? We

should be absolutely clear the Afghanistan we have been supporting

and will continue to support must be a multiracial and multiethnic

Afghanistan, that includes different nationalities that make up that

country. It is vital for its future. I am happy to look at the

evidence he has and arrange any appropriate meetings. 2400 jobs have

been destroyed in Leicester, Corby and last Friday, 650 in Newport by

one, single firm that specialises in cynically buying up firms, degrading

the pay and conditions of their staff and then abandoning them to

unemployment. What protection is the government planning to give to those

blameless people, hard workers, who suffer from the scourge of this new,

vulture capitalism? I am happy to look at the individual case he

raises. But the situation in terms of jobs in the UK, if you look at

last week we have had eight hours and jobs from Birmingham City

airport, 12,000 jobs from Asda, over 1000 jobs from Vodafone. What we are

seeing is businesses wanting to locate in Britain, take people on in

Britain and grow in Britain. If he has an example of bad practice, I am

happy to look at it. In 1967, the abortion time limit was set at 28

weeks. In 1990 this was reduced to 24 weeks. Given it is now 2014, a

quarter of a century onwards, and given recent breakthroughs in

antenatal and neonatal care, does the Prime Minister agree it is now

time to reduce the abortion term limit to 22 weeks? I have always

made my personal views on this clear and there have been opportunities in

Parliament to vote. It is always open to members of Parliament to

bring forward legislation, amend existing bills and for the House to

debate this. It will continue on this side, and as on the other side

to be an entirely free vote issue. Did the Prime Minister or any member

of his Cabinet Aske at the member for Basingstoke to resign? The

member for Basingstoke took her own decision and has communicated that

decision in a letter. I think the members opposite should respect that

decision. A cloud hangs over the job prospects of 700 mine workers in my

constituency. Can the Prime Minister assure the House this government is

doing everything it can to ensure the future for that pit and those

livelihoods? I can give him that assurance. It is important, despite

the difficulties UK coal faces, the government should do everything it

can within the rules, to look at help and assistance we can give. I

am being kept up-to-date on their sometimes on a daily basis and I can

assure him it is getting the government's attention. In the

spirit of the positive case for the union, can the Prime Minister give

us his view as to which -- which of the fourth Horseman of the

apocalypse will descend on an independent Scotland? My view is a

positive one about what this United Kingdom has achieved together in the

past and what we can achieve in the future. The ones about take a

selfish view about the future are sitting on the bench is over there.

The Surgeon General of the Armed Forces has raised concerns over the

impact of longer, NHS waiting times on soldiers based in Wales. Does the

Prime Minister agree NHS outcomes for my constituents, including

soldiers, are not good enough and the Welsh government could be

undermining the operations of the Armed Forces and are potentially in

breach of the military covenant? I think my honourable friend makes an

important point. We have seen an 80% cut to the budget in Wales to the

NHS. The last time A targets are met was 2000 mine. The last time

cancer treatments were met was 2008 and over a third of people miss out

to access of diagnostic services within eight weeks. There is a

dreadful record when it comes to Labour's NHS in Wales. You see a

huge contrast with the NHS in England, properly funded, well-run

and meeting key targets and then the shambles that is in Wales. Five

years ago in one of the worst seen since the Good Friday agreement, my

constituents, Sapper, Patrick as an part and his colleague, Mark Quincey

was shot and killed outside their barracks in County Antrim. Their

families still await justice. Will the Prime Minister look at this case

and also into the use of different trials in Northern Ireland? Can I

take this opportunity to express my sympathy to the families of

soldiers. It was a despicable terrorist attack and I share the

desire the perpetrators are to justice. Just because we are trying

to deal with the legacies of the past does not mean crimes that have

been committed should not eat properly prosecuted and those

responsible can big. I know the Secretary of State for Northern

Ireland met the soldiers parents to discuss their concerns. The trial

system in Northern Ireland was abolished in 2007 and allowed

revisions for non-jury trials only in specific circumstances. Reviews

will take place as to whether they can be renewed in 2015. People in

Rossendale and Darwin would have been reassured this week to see the

IMF upgrades the country's growth forecast. However, would my right

honourable friend agreed that there would be more reassurance to know

our long-term economic plan is working in East Lancashire by the

announcement this week by red rose dry lining they have created 30 new

apprenticeships? I think my honourable friend makes an important

point. When we look at what has been happening, we can see the AMF saying

the UK will grow faster than any G-7 country, jobs at Birmingham, Asda

and Vodafone, the trade deficit is falling. Employment is rising,

Britain is on its way back. During the committee stayed of the legal

aid punishment offenders act, the Prime Minister assured the committee

those refused legal aid would still apply under the new exceptional

funding scheme. He said it was a vital safeguard. From April to

December 20 13, family law applications have been made, eight

has been allowed. What kind of safeguard is that? I will cases he

raises, but we have to make sure our legal aid system is affordable. When

we compared our legal aid system with other common law countries we

still spent more than Australia, New Zealand or others. He shakes his

head but it is no good for members of all in to vote against every

single spending decision but not recognise we have to get our deficit

down in order to help the economy recover. Will Prime Minister take a

few minutes over the Easter recess to read the winning entry in the

Institute of economic affairs competition which was announced last

night. If he does, I am sure it will give my right honourable friend some

good ideas as to why leaving the European Union should become part of

our long-term economic plan. My honourable friend and I agree on

many things, but I am afraid this isn't one of them. I will happily

look at the pamphlet as a potential piece of holiday reading and see how

it competes with other alternatives, perhaps the novel for

my honourable friend from Beds. Order.

The leader of the on position -- opposition tried to turn it into a

matter of judgment. Was he the last person in Britain to believe her

position was still tenable? Up with the line the opposition took. The

Prime Minister defended his position. -- that was the line. He

did not answer any questions from the Labour backbenchers asked what

pressure was put on to Mrs Miller yesterday to fall onto her own

sword. Let's hear what you heard about all of this. Dozens of e-mails

on Maria Miller. The issue at the core of the Parliamentary expenses

row is not the rules or the adjudication of the rules. The core

issue is the morality of parliamentarians. Debra says,

neither leader performed very well. This one saying that MPs should

commit expenses for scrutiny by an independent assessor before they are

paid. Maria Miller, ?45,000, how many people 's workplace benefits to

this involves? Helen Manning says, Ed and Dave arguing that MPs

fiddling expenses is ridiculous. They are all at it. I wonder what

the children sitting on the benches think! Who did go to see Maria

Miller yesterday to advise her to fall on her sword? My answer is she

came to the conclusion that it was in the way of everything else. The

Prime Minister said it there. It was her decision. Let me say, my

understanding is it was entirely her decision. The Prime Minister stood

by her on the basic principle that the claim had been made -- the claim

that had been made against had been thrown out. She came to the

conclusion to resign. Someone went to see her. She may have come to her

own decision. There is a fatuous verse about this each time someone

resigns. Was she pushed or did she jump? Can these think of a single

time when someone has said, actually, I was shocked? They have

to come to an agreement, and accommodation. There had to be words

written in letters and said in public to make sure the person going

is content. What David Cameron gave to Maria Miller, and I think he

believes it, he gave her praise in his letter. He said she had been a

Good Minister included on the central charge. He wanted to see her

back in office. I have no doubt someone did have a conversation and

say what the Prime Minister will have to go through tomorrow to

defend you. This happened again and again under the left premiership. Do

not make the Prime Minister stand up and defend you, which he is willing

to do, do not make him do that and then go a few hours later. And you

put him in an absolutely impossible position. If you are going to go,

go, because then, at least, there is clarity. I do not think they will

get the boat off, what she pushed? Is clear somebody had a conversation

to say it was pretty bad. -- it is clear. All Prime Ministers find

themselves in this position when a minister is attacked. The lines were

not clearly cut. The standards committee agreed something different

to what the commissioner had claimed against her. They stick with the

Prime Minister, with their Cabinet minister. After a while, the

pressure from the press or the public or new development... It

happened to Mr Blair, Mr Brown and has now happened to Mr Cameron. It

is a way of life. Some of the 1922 Committee may have said he employed

at that time to he is impacted by the Mitchell affair. Once the error

was exacerbated by the perfunctory apology, after that point, it was

going to go in the direction it has headed today. The problem for the

Prime Minister, I think, if you're watching this programme, this has

consumed the Government in many respects for the last six days.

Remember with Peter Mandelson. Actually twice. There does come a

point where you need to make a decision about these things. Is Mr

Miliband becomes Prime Minister, at some stage the same thing will

happen to him? It could be anybody. It could be anybody. I'm not going

to sit here and claim these decisions are easy. I am not doing

that. It is a matter of leadership. It is the perfunctory apology, the

accusation of seeking to believe the Parliamentary standards Commissioner

and the substance of the allegations. I think, to allow that

to consume and dominate your government, goes against your

judgment. Someone was leaning on her to go. The only way the Prime

Minister could have got out of this... He was asked it in a most

loyal way. He was asked if any member of the Cabinet sought to do

that? The reason why Nick, myself and Joe are suspicious is that by

the time this had reached a crescendo against Maria Miller, the

least bad way out of this for the premise was for her to fall on her

sword. That is probably the case all the way through. Pressure had

increased. It was probably true from day one. He is not that kind of

Prime Minister. He leads by saying, I wanted to get on with the job and

do it to the best of your abilities. I had been a minister

under this Prime Minister for the last four years. He does not try to

intervene on the day-to-day approach. That has been a good

thing. The good thing about this government is that ministers have

been able to get ahead of their briefs, understand them and put them

in place. Not like the days of ministers will come in place. Not

like the days of ministers were coming for nine months and move on.

The whole thing about this, it is a perception issue. It looks

absolutely awful. The point of view of the Prime Minister, the

perception is going to be that he did not act in the interests of

Maria Miller. Someone did see Maria Miller to talk about that perception

yesterday afternoon. I was just asking Grant. I do not have the

answer to that. Maria has been clear that she came to the decision that

was overshadowing... You are the commentators. You will spend no

doubt the rest of the day discussing who, when and how. As far as I am

aware, she came to the decision on when. -- her own. It is good the

system has changed about expenses. It cannot be said enough, the system

of MPs judging each other has gone. That was possibly the most

interesting thing about Prime Minister's Questions. It was not

particularly surprising that Mr Miliband said what he said. Many

people would have been saying, you tell, we are very cross. It was not

surprising. What was surprising was for the Prime Minister to use that

phrase, a good and honest parliament and to use it more than once. It is

a bold thing to do. Some MPs hate the fact that one particular case

ends up smearing their reputations. I was interested that he was willing

to do that. If you put two the public an opinion poll that

question, I do not think that would be their opinion. In a government

already seriously short of e-mail Cabinet ministers, you have now got

one fewer. -- female. That is true. I cannot argue with the fact. Nicky

Morgan has been promoted within the Treasury. She is not in the Cabinet

that she will go to the Cabinet to represent women. It means you will

have a non-Cabinet minister going to the Cabinet to represent women,

which, I guess a lot of people will think, we know where your priorities

are. It is not as unusual as people think. Most people do not realise

the Chief Whip is a member of the Cabinet. The system of people

attending cabinet at a very high level... Why has the Prime Minister

chosen to put in mail into this position? It is often said, there is

a shortage of Tory women. Particularly with the 2010 intake.

On both sides of the House it is true. Robert the House it is true.

Robert Beam also with Labour. There are a whole list of formidable

Tory women but none of them have been considered with the Prime

Minister. What is his problem? You are right to point out the female

talent within the Conservative Party. There are many at the middle

ranks of government as well. If I had been sat here and a woman had

been promoted into that job, without a shadow of a doubt, you would be

saying, Grant Shapps, why has he promoted women are not the best

person available for the job? Had it been any of the ones I had names, I

would not have been asking that question? The Prime Minister has the

looking around to find out who would be the best person to fill the

position. White Venger if the woman had been put into the job, it would

only have been because she was a woman and not because she was good

enough. -- if a woman. That is not what I am saying at all. Good try.

What I am saying is, you look for the best person for the role. Sajid

happens to be the person he thinks is most suitable for the job. There

is still time to have a cabinet with other talents. The Conservative

Party has a lamentable record for this. The people who have perhaps

the worst record in the House of Commons oil coalition partners. That

adds to the fact there are only a few women in the Cabinet. Anybody

who has a Welsh connection will be getting the job that Maria Miller

was pencilled in for after the reshuffle. Who has the current

connection? We will leave you to go and find out and who made the visit

to Maria Miller yesterday. Should prisoners have free access to

guitars and books serving time? The government says restrictions on

parcels prisoners received helps to keep prisons drug free. It is

introduced restrictions on prisoners having steel ring to guitars in

their cells. Billy Bragg tells us why he thinks they are a vital part

of rehabilitation. Guitars and books are my lifeblood

and they have been important to prisoners also. For the past seven

years I have been involved in Jail Guitar Doors and they have delivered

guitars to prisoners all over the UK. We believe music can help

offenders to engage in rehabilitation and the prisoners we

work with recognise the value of creative expression in helping

offenders come to terms with the crimes they have committed. New

rules introduced by Chris Grayling threaten to undermine our work by

banning inmates from using steel strung guitars in their cells. If

they can only get their hands on a guitar once a week, the chances of

making progress are slim. Our initiative relies on other inmates

seen a guitar being played on their landing and asking to join the

programme as a result. The government has also tightened rules

across prisons on parcels offenders can receive, effectively banning

them from receiving books from family and friends. Chris Grayling

says the public want to see a regime that is more spartan, unless you do

the right thing. I believe people should be punished for their crimes,

but we ask to -- have to ask ourselves whether we want is a

prison that rehabilitates offenders or one that leads them without

rehabilitation. # Redemption song.

Billy Bragg is with us now. There was a question asked about the

banning of steel string guitars and electric guitars in prisons. Have

you had an ants? No, apparently there is a 20 day time. There is a

whole list. What else is on the list? Lots of things, it seems to be

geared to making the prison experience a more Spartan. The

problem with that is, in my experience, in the 50 prisons I have

been in in the last seven years, each prison is an island in itself.

Although they are different categories, they have different

regimes. The way that works is it you have to give someone on the

ground in the prison the right to decide what can and cannot be done.

I believe it should be an issue for the governor of the prison rather

than the Minister of Justice to be managing from above. Presumably the

main thrust of the reason is safety? Is there a feeling that guitar

strings could be used as a dangerous weapon? Of course and there are some

prisons to get guitars into. There are unacceptable levels of self harm

going on. You want to be careful about what you introduce so we do

tend to send keyboards. But every prison we send guitars to make a

security assessment. Sometimes I sit down and meet with the security

staff to talk about these things. Every prison House to have

protocols, but also who will be allowed to use the instruments. But

it should be an issue to the governor and not the government?

What do you say about back Grant Shapps? Why should it be Chris

Grayling's assessment? The problem with books, not so sure about

guitars. It has never happened. It has never happened so there is not a

case? It has never happened. There are things you can hide in books. We

are talking about parcels, but answer the question about guitars

and strings, if there has never been an incident reported and presumably

Billy Bragg would know, wide ban it? Things have to be brought into

prisons and they have to be scammed. Then there is the issue of people

having access to things they would be able to do on the outside and the

point of risen is to restrict some freedoms. I know Chris Grayling's

view, but you should earn these things done automatically have the

right to access them. With the books, they are freely available

from a library from which you can order virtually any book that you

want. It has been a bit misreported. Parcels could contain other things.

That is different to musical instruments unless you are stuffing

stuff into the guitars. If they are left to borrow books from the

library, why is that a big deal? I have fixed in prison in my

constituency and one of our problems is we have people bear for a short

term. It is like a revolving door and it is hard to rehabilitate in

that situation. And so the spin about this book announcement, the

more books people are reading in that the more rehab we see

happening. The issue is, the announcement Chris may did not talk

about smuggling drugs, that came after the event. It came with a view

to appearing tough on prisoners. Being tough can be

counter-productive because you are trying to rehabilitate people using

books? I believe people should do the time if they have done the

crime, totally. The punishment is losing your liberty. Once we have

people in custody on the state, it costs more to keep a prisoner behind

a jail door than it does to privately educate a child. One of

the things we should he doing is making it an issue of privation. You

can't have probation and less you can read and write. I agree with

that, but the issue is not having an access to books, you can take the

library book out. If it is not there, you can order it. With

guitars there is an opportunity to engage prisoners. You cannot keep

beating people with a stick, otherwise we will end up like the

USA where we are just warehousing criminality. We should be taking

every opportunity to ensure Abbas Khan whatever viewers might feel at

home, 75% of people in prison will come out and they may come and live

next door to you. Don't you want them to be rehabilitated? I do, I am

paying for the service. You are absolutely right about the

rehabilitation, it is the way it is done, not allowing goods into

prisons which could cause harm. Billy Bragg, thanks very much. Women

in the Cabinet, France, 52%, Sweden, 52%, Germany, 37, the USA,

36, Rwanda 36, the United Kingdom, 13.6% and Maria Miller has resigned.

Was it the length and fashion of her Parliamentary apology that made her

more enemies than friends? Apparently there is an art to saying

sorry. There is no easy way to say this. We made a pledge, we did not

stick to it, and for that I am sorry. I sincerely, sincerely,

sincerely apologise. I accept mistakes were made and I should not

allow the impression of wrongdoing to arise. I am very sorry for that.

I therefore apologise to the House. I have apologised to the police, I

have apologised to the police officer involved on the gate Handy

has accepted my apology. I hope very much we can draw a line and leave it

there. It was a moment of madness for which I have paid a heavy price

and I am deeply sorry. I apologise to the House fully and unreservedly

which was a breach of the rules which I have at all times, sort to

comply with. I have missed is leading you, including my wife and I

deeply regret that. It all depends what the meaning is. Do you think a

more heartfelt and fulsome apology would have saved Maria Miller? It

wasn't a very convincing apology from Maria Miller. The brevity of it

did not help. But it was the blandness of the language. She is a

churchgoer, apparently if she had reached into the book of Common

prayer, and use more interesting language, that would have cut

through and made us think she was actually sorry. But she used

terribly boring official language and it contributed a large part.

What is the art of a good apology? To be unusual helps. But I

understand the speaker hast to approve. John Bercow would have had

to look at it and say it is fine. He has to look at it make sure there is

nothing unparliamentary. But it would not done Parliamentary to use

more expressive language. Look at Bill Clinton, he was so plainly

hamming it up. What did Benjamin Franklin say about apologies? I have

no idea. Never ruin an apology with an excuse. That might be a good

point also. 32 seconds, and even shorter one might have been better,

but I am truly, humbly contrite. You could go along the Japanese banker

line and have somebody entering at the far end of the House, grovelling

and bowing on the floor to the speaker. That might be a bit too

far. But there was a Scottish cardinal about two years ago who

resigned in a memorable way and talked about his own fears and then

said he was going to pray and pray for people. That was done more

convincingly than Maria Miller. When Henry IV apologise to Pope Gregory

the seventh for church state conflicts in 1077, how did he

apologise? I dread to think. You need to ask your parents to get

their money back from your school fees. He stood barefoot in the snow

the three days. Is that a lesson for Maria Miller? Imagine if anyone

follows that advice, you will have a good sketch to write. Where does the

word apology come from? It is Greek. It means defence. So Latin wasn't

your strong point at school. Now time for the cancer to Guess The

Year, it was back in 1957 when Quentin was in short trousers. That

is because he was a public school. Press the button to see who has one.

That is it, thanks to our guests. The one o'clock news is starting on

BBC One. I will be back tomorrow as usual. Goodbye.

Some businessmen have turned failing companies around.

Some have steered massive global firms.