0:00:36 > 0:00:37Morning, folks.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Welcome to the Daily Politics.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Is it right that Downing Street investigate you?
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Damian Green is the latest Tory MP to be accused
0:00:45 > 0:00:47of inappropriate conduct.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Theresa May has ordered an investigation into allegations
0:00:49 > 0:00:56that he made inappropriate advances to a female Tory activist.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Mr Green has described the claims as "absolutely
0:00:58 > 0:01:02and completely untrue".
0:01:02 > 0:01:05As discussion about an unhealthy culture of abuse by powerful men
0:01:05 > 0:01:09in British politics continues to swirl around Westminster,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13we ask what should be done.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15On Brexit, Labour is mounting a fresh challenge today to force
0:01:15 > 0:01:20a vote to require the Government to hand over the 58 secret studies
0:01:20 > 0:01:24that have been carried out about the economic impact of Brexit.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27What do they say?
0:01:27 > 0:01:31And we have full coverage of today's big Parliamentary clash.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36Prime Minister's Questions will be live and uninterrupted from midday.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45All that in the next 90 minutes, and with me for the duration
0:01:45 > 0:01:47are the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Peter Dowd,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Claire Perry.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Welcome to you both.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Now, this morning, there are more allegations of sexual harassment
0:01:56 > 0:01:59and assault in Westminster.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Yesterday, Downing Street said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon
0:02:02 > 0:02:05would not be investigated by the Cabinet Office.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10In 2002, he had put his hand on the journalist
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Julia Hartley-Brewer's knee during a party conference dinner.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15She said she did not regard the incident as
0:02:15 > 0:02:17"anything but mildly amusing".
0:02:17 > 0:02:20And a list, thought to have been compiled by staff
0:02:20 > 0:02:27and researchers at Westminster, detailing a range of mostly unproven
0:02:27 > 0:02:31allegations about 40 Conservative MPs and ministers,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35has been published on social media.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38But most serious of all is the claim by a young Labour activist
0:02:38 > 0:02:45that she was raped by a senior Labour figure in 2011.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Emma has the latest details.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Damian Green, the First Secretary of State, and effectively
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Theresa May's deputy, is facing an investigation
0:02:53 > 0:02:56after allegations that he made inappropriate advances
0:02:56 > 0:02:57to a female activist.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Kate Maltby has written in the Times that, in 2015,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03during a drink, they discussed affairs in Westminster
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and he said his own wife was "very understanding".
0:03:06 > 0:03:10She then describes "a fleeting hand against my knee -
0:03:10 > 0:03:13so brief it was almost deniable".
0:03:13 > 0:03:17She claims she avoided Damian Green but he later sent her a "suggestive
0:03:17 > 0:03:20text" after she was pictured in the Times wearing a corset
0:03:20 > 0:03:22for a piece she'd written.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Damian Green has responded, saying:
0:03:25 > 0:03:27"This untrue allegation has come as a complete shock
0:03:27 > 0:03:29and is deeply hurtful, especially from someone
0:03:29 > 0:03:33I considered a personal friend."
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Theresa May has now ordered an investigation into the incident.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, has been asked
0:03:39 > 0:03:43to "establish the facts and report back as soon as possible".
0:03:43 > 0:03:46As he left his house this morning, Damian Green briefly
0:03:46 > 0:03:48spoke to journalists.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51REPORTER:Is your behaviour appropriate, Damian Green?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Is it right that Downing Street investigate you?
0:03:53 > 0:03:58All the allegations are completely false.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59Thank you very much.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Do you regret your behaviour, Mr Green?
0:04:02 > 0:04:04But the Conservatives aren't the only party facing allegations.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Labour has launched an independent inquiry after party activist
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Bex Bailey said she was raped at a Labour event in 2011
0:04:12 > 0:04:16and discouraged by a party official from reporting it.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Bex Bailey is a former member of the party's
0:04:18 > 0:04:22National Executive Committee and said her attacker was not an MP,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25but someone more senior than her in the party.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Labour has said it takes the allegations
0:04:29 > 0:04:31"extremely seriously".
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Here's Bex Bailey speaking to Carolyn Quinn on PM yesterday.
0:04:34 > 0:04:40I was seriously sexually assaulted at a Labour Party event by...
0:04:40 > 0:04:44It wasn't an MP but someone who was more senior.
0:04:44 > 0:04:50To me, I told a senior member of staff.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53It was suggested to me that I not report it.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I was told that if I did it might damage me.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58I wasn't given good advice.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02I wasn't given a procedure when I asked for it so that
0:05:02 > 0:05:05I could see what would happen if I did report it and
0:05:05 > 0:05:06then make a decision.
0:05:06 > 0:05:15It seemed to me that there wasn't one that existed.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18So there is a lot coming together here, and it's important to an
0:05:18 > 0:05:24packet. On the one hand, what might be regarded as inappropriate
0:05:24 > 0:05:28behaviour, but maybe no more than that, then sexual harassment and may
0:05:28 > 0:05:33be repeated sexual harassment making it more serious and, from Bex
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Bailey, a claim, an allegation of outright rape, which is one of the
0:05:36 > 0:05:43most serious criminal offences in the criminal code. Claire Perry,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Damian Green is being investigated by the cabinet secretary. How does
0:05:47 > 0:05:54he go about that?Well, any unwanted sexual behaviour is completely
0:05:54 > 0:05:59unacceptable in any workplace, whether it is a party environment or
0:05:59 > 0:06:01parliament, and I think it's absolutely right that the specific
0:06:01 > 0:06:07allegations that are made are dealt with quickly and clearly, and I
0:06:07 > 0:06:11can't comment on Damian Green's case, and we heard him saying it
0:06:11 > 0:06:16isn't true.I was talking about the process, really. Kate Maltby has
0:06:16 > 0:06:22made the accusation, and Mr green is reputed absolutely, in his words.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28Where does the cabinet secretary yaw is the cabinet secretary the
0:06:28 > 0:06:32appropriate person to do this? Where does he go?We are bound the
0:06:32 > 0:06:39ministerial code, but clearly, as has been the case in the past in
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Westminster, if their criminal allegations being made...These are
0:06:42 > 0:06:46not criminal allegations. There are other cases which would involve it,
0:06:46 > 0:06:52but this one is not.I think it's right that ministers are
0:06:52 > 0:06:54investigated by the cabinet secretary.But he is effectively the
0:06:54 > 0:07:01Deputy Prime Minister. He chairs 13 cabinet subcommittees and he sees
0:07:01 > 0:07:06Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, every day. Is it right
0:07:06 > 0:07:10that he should be investigating? That is the great division between
0:07:10 > 0:07:13the ministers and the government. I think it is right to go through
0:07:13 > 0:07:18procedure...But is this the right procedure? Nine Cabinet
0:07:18 > 0:07:24subcommittees, it is.In parliament, which we don't have, we need a
0:07:24 > 0:07:28cross-party independent system where anybody with any allegation about
0:07:28 > 0:07:32anybody working in Parliament, not just ministers and MPs, feels they
0:07:32 > 0:07:36can safely raise their concerns, and we don't have that and, frankly, if
0:07:36 > 0:07:40we want to make holiday place where people want to work, we need a bit
0:07:40 > 0:07:48Damian Green's accuser is not in Parliament, she is a journalist and
0:07:48 > 0:07:52an academic, and I wonder if this is the correct procedure. For there was
0:07:52 > 0:08:01a figure known as the Cabinet Office's propriety and ethics
0:08:01 > 0:08:03director general, a senior, in this case, female civil servant. She
0:08:03 > 0:08:09doesn't meet Mr Green everyday. Wouldn't that be a more appropriate
0:08:09 > 0:08:16independent assessment of what is happening?I can't comment on where
0:08:16 > 0:08:20the cabinet secretary wants to take it. From the Prime Minister's
0:08:20 > 0:08:24initial reaction, the fact she has made it very clear that there is no
0:08:24 > 0:08:28room for any of this behaviour in politics, the fact she was there for
0:08:28 > 0:08:31the big statement by the leader of the house... We are determined to
0:08:31 > 0:08:38make sure Parliament and MPs both uphold the law and demonstrate codes
0:08:38 > 0:08:42of conduct and behaviour that are irreproachable.As I think you will
0:08:42 > 0:08:48realise, that should go without saying. But if, and I am putting it
0:08:48 > 0:08:53in capital letters, if what Kate Maltby is saying is true, and that
0:08:53 > 0:09:02is established, does Mr Green have to resign?Damian has strenuously
0:09:02 > 0:09:08denied these allegations. Absolutely.So there is a point
0:09:08 > 0:09:13where you can't comment on cases, drugbut did what he is accused of
0:09:13 > 0:09:20doing... Is that serious enough if true to be a cause of a resignation?
0:09:20 > 0:09:25I think we are an dangerous territory. For too long, women who
0:09:25 > 0:09:28have brought forward allegations of abuse have been told they are not
0:09:28 > 0:09:31serious enough to warrant investigation, and we have heard
0:09:31 > 0:09:36shocking things cross-party on what has and hasn't been done. We need a
0:09:36 > 0:09:40culture where people feel, if they feel there has been wrongdoing, feel
0:09:40 > 0:09:43comfortable coming forward.But people will only come forward if
0:09:43 > 0:09:47they know there are consequences, and what I'm trying to establish is
0:09:47 > 0:09:52whether line is. Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the house, made the line
0:09:52 > 0:09:55quite low, low a criminal charge. She said it was if it made people
0:09:55 > 0:09:59feel uncomfortable what I'm trying to establish is the kind of
0:09:59 > 0:10:04behaviour that Mr Green is accused of, is that the kind of behaviour
0:10:04 > 0:10:08which should cost you your job if it's true?Will have to let the
0:10:08 > 0:10:13cabinet secretary disciple if you'll forgive me, there are some very
0:10:13 > 0:10:17serious allegations being made about party officials and MPs, and it is
0:10:17 > 0:10:24absolutely right that we investigate those for the... So why is there no
0:10:24 > 0:10:28investigation into Michael Fallon? Because somebody is determined,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32perhaps based on the reaction of the lady who made this point, that this
0:10:32 > 0:10:36wasn't a level of comfort. But I don't think we should sit in a
0:10:36 > 0:10:39television studio and try to opine on what people feel that somebody
0:10:39 > 0:10:43may or may not want...I'm not asking for an opinion, in that
0:10:43 > 0:10:47sense. I'm asking what the guidelines should be, in terms of
0:10:47 > 0:10:52what is inappropriate enough to cost you your job.We don't have
0:10:52 > 0:10:57guidelines now, and that's the problem.Is it more serious than
0:10:57 > 0:11:01what Michael Fallon or Damian Green have been accused of? That is what
0:11:01 > 0:11:06has happened to this young Labour activist. Her name is Bex Bailey.
0:11:06 > 0:11:15This is not a case of inappropriate behaviour or harassment. This, she
0:11:15 > 0:11:20claims, is rape. And yet, when she went to the Labour Party, not only
0:11:20 > 0:11:26did she get no help, she was basically told to shut up about it.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29It's shocking, I don't think there is any other word for what happened
0:11:29 > 0:11:35to that poor woman, and it's shocking. And the fact that the
0:11:35 > 0:11:39person didn't look into it, didn't investigate it, is itself shocking,
0:11:39 > 0:11:44and that's why we've set up an independent investigation.But it's
0:11:44 > 0:11:48worse because, not only did she get nowhere individually, and she got
0:11:48 > 0:11:53onto the NEC, your party's ruling council, she, without mentioning her
0:11:53 > 0:11:58circumstances or experience, she attempted to get mechanisms in place
0:11:58 > 0:12:05which would make it possible to handle these claims, to give them a
0:12:05 > 0:12:10proper airing, and for justice to be done, and she got nowhere.That's
0:12:10 > 0:12:16right, and that is the point I was making.And that was years ago.It
0:12:16 > 0:12:19was shocking, and what we have done is to set up an imprint desperately
0:12:19 > 0:12:26to set up an interesting -- to set up an independent investigation.Why
0:12:26 > 0:12:33didn't the NEC act?They should have acted it is dreadful.By 2017, it
0:12:33 > 0:12:39took break to put into place proper procedures. National Grid took a
0:12:39 > 0:12:44break.Procedures were set in place early on in 2015 to look into
0:12:44 > 0:12:53allegations like this. I don't deny it. I think it's important that we
0:12:53 > 0:12:57set up in regards to this one, an independent investigation as to
0:12:57 > 0:13:04happened at that particular point, and Don Buchler, -- dawn Buchler,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07our women and equality 's shadow minister, a set of a walking party
0:13:07 > 0:13:14to look at -- a working party to look at this.I would suggest that
0:13:14 > 0:13:18the Conservative and Labour parties and Westminster as a place of work,
0:13:18 > 0:13:23none of you has the proper procedures in place, particularly
0:13:23 > 0:13:26for women who find themselves, whether it is more at the moderate
0:13:26 > 0:13:30end of the scale or act the most serious end, they feel they have
0:13:30 > 0:13:36almost nowhere to go, and the places they do have to go do not do them
0:13:36 > 0:13:39justice. They are effectively given career advice to shut up.Ever since
0:13:39 > 0:13:46I came into politics, I've been told it's different in Westminster, we
0:13:46 > 0:13:48have traditions and weird sitting hours, that's how it is. To attract
0:13:48 > 0:13:54and retain the best people in politics, we have to clean up our
0:13:54 > 0:13:59act. And I think it's really important that we do this on a
0:13:59 > 0:14:03cross-party basis. I think the Prime Minister is right footI think,
0:14:03 > 0:14:08whatever it takes to get this culture right, to get the
0:14:08 > 0:14:11investigation process right, so people feel like they've had a
0:14:11 > 0:14:15proper hearing...You'd do it together?The speaker has
0:14:15 > 0:14:21indicated...What about this list of 40 Tory politicians. We are not
0:14:21 > 0:14:30naming these people. Known way of verifying them. -- there is no way.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33If there are specific named allegations against individuals, as
0:14:33 > 0:14:36the Prime Minister said, they will be investigated, but I also think
0:14:36 > 0:14:41that their names on that list where there are strong denials by the MPs
0:14:41 > 0:14:49involved, and again we shouldn't be relying on lists sold to media
0:14:49 > 0:14:54outlets in order to publicise inappropriate behaviour. We have to
0:14:54 > 0:14:59have, I think, a cross-party system in the House of Lords as well, that
0:14:59 > 0:15:03means that anybody who has a concern can bring it forward in a Safeway
0:15:03 > 0:15:06and know that it's going to be taken seriously. Is the case now. -- in a
0:15:06 > 0:15:13safe way.We shall see in Westminster I think this is going to
0:15:13 > 0:15:17come at Prime Minister's Questions.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Yesterday, Brexit Secretary David Davis gave evidence
0:15:20 > 0:15:22to a House of Lords committee on the EU negotiations.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24In it, he conceded that the withdrawal deal
0:15:24 > 0:15:27will likely favour the EU, but he believed future
0:15:27 > 0:15:33trading relations would be more equally beneficial.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36It comes as the Government confirmed it is recruiting up to 8,000 more
0:15:36 > 0:15:39staff over the next year in preparation for
0:15:39 > 0:15:41the UK's departure.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43This is what David Davis had to say.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47The withdrawal agreement on balance would probably favour the union
0:15:47 > 0:15:52in terms of the things like money and so on.
0:15:52 > 0:15:59Whereas the future relationship will favour both sides and will be
0:15:59 > 0:16:02important to both of us and, of course, in Article 50,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04as you know, it says taking into account
0:16:04 > 0:16:05the ongoing relationship.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Well, it seems to us you can't take something
0:16:07 > 0:16:09into account until it exists.
0:16:09 > 0:16:16So we see them as inseparable.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18This afternoon, Labour will seek to up the pressure on ministers
0:16:18 > 0:16:28over their refusal to release a series of Brexit impact studies.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32On Monday, the Government confirmed it has prepared 58 reports looking
0:16:32 > 0:16:36at different sectors of the economy, ranging from aerospace and aviation
0:16:36 > 0:16:38to tourism and legal services.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41But it is resisting calls to publish them, saying
0:16:41 > 0:16:44to do so would undermine the UK's negotiating position.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Labour will today use what it calls an "ancient,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51but still effective" Parliamentary tool, called a "humble address",
0:16:51 > 0:16:57to force the Government's hand.
0:16:57 > 0:17:03We shall see what happens. Why shouldn't these 58 studies be put
0:17:03 > 0:17:07into the public domain?They have a material impact on the outcome of
0:17:07 > 0:17:11the negotiations as we move to negotiations about what is the right
0:17:11 > 0:17:14trade deal. And I think one of the things we have seen is the
0:17:14 > 0:17:19Government is actually have been far more transparent than we thought
0:17:19 > 0:17:22they might be at the start of this process. We wanted lots of
0:17:22 > 0:17:28Parliamentary scrutiny and we have had that but I think it's absolutely
0:17:28 > 0:17:32right, I imagine the EU is doing this, if we are assessing the impact
0:17:32 > 0:17:36of certain outcomes on different trade sectors, I think we should be
0:17:36 > 0:17:40keeping that quiet until we progress in those negotiations. The EU is not
0:17:40 > 0:17:44publishing its assessment either.Is the British Government that we're
0:17:44 > 0:17:49talking about, if we don't see the studies, how can we judge if you get
0:17:49 > 0:17:56a good deal or not?That will be put to the test.One of the things... It
0:17:56 > 0:18:00won't be if we can't see the studies.We've had a clear steer
0:18:00 > 0:18:04from David Davis that Parliament ought to have a final vote on the
0:18:04 > 0:18:08shape of the deal.But what I'm saying is how do we judge the
0:18:08 > 0:18:14content of the deal if we haven't seen the impact studies on these 58
0:18:14 > 0:18:19industrial sectors?We will see the outcome of the deal and what the
0:18:19 > 0:18:22various trade-offs might be and I think where we are going is the
0:18:22 > 0:18:26closest possible relationship with the EU, so we can maintain these
0:18:26 > 0:18:29benefits of cross-border flows, which has a big influence on some
0:18:29 > 0:18:33sectors more than others.We won't know that if you don't publish the
0:18:33 > 0:18:39assessment. Wide do you want to see them?It's crucial to see what they
0:18:39 > 0:18:42say and for transparency. It's important we know what these
0:18:42 > 0:18:47assessments say because if they have an impact on tourism, which affects
0:18:47 > 0:18:51my city region, Liverpool, significantly, it's important that
0:18:51 > 0:18:54we see them for that there's an issue of transparency, about
0:18:54 > 0:18:58openness, and the point Claire makes about with had lots of discussions
0:18:58 > 0:19:03on this, the reality is Parliament at the moment RA zombie Parliament.
0:19:03 > 0:19:12On zero hours.You might be, Peter, I'm not!We are trying to drag every
0:19:12 > 0:19:16single piece of information out of the Government.Have you seen any
0:19:16 > 0:19:20impact assessment?All departments have been asked to put them
0:19:20 > 0:19:28together.Have you seen them?No. My teams have been involved in putting
0:19:28 > 0:19:33them together. Can I just make the point...Hold on, you as a
0:19:33 > 0:19:37Government minister in charge of climate change and what's the other
0:19:37 > 0:19:46one? Energy. Very important to this country's future. And you have not
0:19:46 > 0:19:50seen the impact assessment?I've been closely involved with a
0:19:50 > 0:19:55negotiation team that what we want to actually...But you have not seen
0:19:55 > 0:20:01the impact assessment on energy Brexit could have?I don't believe
0:20:01 > 0:20:07there is one prepared for energy. They managed 58 but not one for
0:20:07 > 0:20:14energy?Andrew, can we move on?No, this is outstanding. The Government
0:20:14 > 0:20:18has prepared 50 at impact assessments yet, on energy, which is
0:20:18 > 0:20:23a huge part of our economy, both the generation and distribution and
0:20:23 > 0:20:28import of it by the French connector, and Norwegian gas, one
0:20:28 > 0:20:34has not been prepared?I had a conversation yesterday with a French
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Minister about the impact of interconnection. The impact
0:20:37 > 0:20:41assessments will be a series of technical -based analysis based on
0:20:41 > 0:20:45different outcomes and if I can just say, both in our constituencies
0:20:45 > 0:20:55voted to leave, Peter. Brutal voted out. 54%.Let's not go there.We
0:20:55 > 0:20:59have to negotiate and get on with this.That's why he wants to see the
0:20:59 > 0:21:04impact assessment.If Peter's party for one second could come up with a
0:21:04 > 0:21:09stable view of what they want to come up with Brexit, I know your job
0:21:09 > 0:21:12is to oppose everything, but this is serious national conversation where
0:21:12 > 0:21:16we should do a bit more working together.For a national
0:21:16 > 0:21:20conversation to be informed, you have to have the data but you're not
0:21:20 > 0:21:25prepared to publish it. Let me ask you this. Do you think it'll be
0:21:25 > 0:21:28worth the paper it's written on? It's difficult to make a judgment
0:21:28 > 0:21:32until you have seen it.Had ever seen an impact assessment which
0:21:32 > 0:21:36turned out to be true?It's important to get indications and you
0:21:36 > 0:21:43can tease out...That's part of the negotiation, Peter.For example,
0:21:43 > 0:21:48Brexit is not an event. It is a process, a lead up to coming out,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52but it is important to that, during the process, we have as much
0:21:52 > 0:21:55information as we can about everything related to this from
0:21:55 > 0:22:01energy right the way through to environment. It's very important.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06What is wrong with asking for those getting that information?Our people
0:22:06 > 0:22:09have been looking through his impact assessments because we know some of
0:22:09 > 0:22:16the areas that there is one on gas and another on fossil fuels. The
0:22:16 > 0:22:23last time I looked, that's energy. And you haven't seen it and you're
0:22:23 > 0:22:31the energy minister?Richard Harrington is the energy Minister. I
0:22:31 > 0:22:35have climate change and industry. The point is... That's why we are
0:22:35 > 0:22:39leading the world in fossil fuels. How do you know if you've not seen
0:22:39 > 0:22:43the impact assessment on fossil fuels?I can look at what we have
0:22:43 > 0:22:47done historically and what we plan to do and I can also tell you the
0:22:47 > 0:22:51day-to-day conversations we have with ministerial colleagues where we
0:22:51 > 0:22:54are completely involved in setting up the various negotiations on these
0:22:54 > 0:22:59things are live and valid.Do you want me to put a word in for you to
0:22:59 > 0:23:05see if I can get you to see these papers?I can see them without your
0:23:05 > 0:23:10help, but thank you.A brilliant column in the Financial Times,
0:23:10 > 0:23:15there's lies, dam lies and economic impact assessments. You could be
0:23:15 > 0:23:22chasing something here, transparency I understand, but...It may or may
0:23:22 > 0:23:26not be the key to this, so why are the Government wanting to keep them
0:23:26 > 0:23:30under wraps? That is the question. The more you try to keep things
0:23:30 > 0:23:36under wraps, the more people...The Minister has not even seen them. Are
0:23:36 > 0:23:43you voting this afternoon on this? Of course. I am there every day.Are
0:23:43 > 0:23:48you going to vote against this?I shall look at it on the motions. Of
0:23:48 > 0:23:54course I'm going to vote, I always vote.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Have you ever found yourself stumbling across something
0:23:56 > 0:23:58on the internet that has completely ruined your evening?
0:23:58 > 0:24:01No, I'm not talking about some dubious list of Tory MPs
0:24:01 > 0:24:03and their predilections.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05I'm talking Twitter, I'm talking GBBO.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Yes, the Great British Bake Off.
0:24:08 > 0:24:14Yes, Prue Leith, I'm talking to you, Twitter's twit of the day.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17How could you preempt the nation's most important contest this year -
0:24:17 > 0:24:20apart from the Conservative leadership - by letting the cat out
0:24:20 > 0:24:28of the bag over who won Bake Off on Twitter?
0:24:28 > 0:24:31I know you are in Bhutan, six hours ahead, and didn't realise
0:24:31 > 0:24:33the time difference.
0:24:33 > 0:24:43And I know you feel more guilty than a black forest gateau.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Very 1970s here!
0:24:45 > 0:24:46Very 1970s here!
0:24:46 > 0:24:49So why don't you console yourself with a nice cup of Bhutanese tea -
0:24:49 > 0:24:52or po cha cha suma, as they say in Thimpu -
0:24:52 > 0:24:53the drink that cheers.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56And what better way to serve it than in public service
0:24:56 > 0:25:00broadcasting's finest beverage vessel,
0:25:00 > 0:25:01the Daily Politics mug?
0:25:01 > 0:25:04All you have to do is guess when all this happened.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08And, Prue, we will tell you who the winner is -
0:25:08 > 0:25:11at the end of the show.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24This moment occupies a special place in my heart.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30MUSIC: Driving In My Car by Madness.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32# I've been driving in my car.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35# It's not quite a Jaguar.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39# I brought it in Primrose Hill.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41# From a bloke from Brazil.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43MUSIC: This Time by England World Cup Squad.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45# This time more than any other time.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46# This time.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48# We're going to find a way.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50# Find a way to get away.
0:25:50 > 0:25:51# This time.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55# Getting it all together.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57# To win them all.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01MUSIC: Mirror Man by The Human League.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04# Oooh-ooh.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09# Aah-aah.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13MUSIC: Save A Prayer by Duran Duran.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15# Save it till the morning after.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18# No, don't say a prayer for me now.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21In their view, the cruise missile is not a deterrent.
0:26:21 > 0:26:22It's a weapon of death.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25# Save it till the morning after. #
0:26:36 > 0:26:39To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug,
0:26:39 > 0:26:44send your answer to our special quiz email address - dpquiz@bbc.co.uk.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Entries must arrive by 12:30pm today, and you can see the full
0:26:47 > 0:26:51terms and conditions for Guess The Year on our website.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55That's bbc.co.uk/dailypolitics.
0:26:58 > 0:27:07It's coming up to midday here - just take a look at Big Ben -
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Almost covered entirely in scaffolding now.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Yes, Prime Minister's Questions is on its way.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15And that's not all - Laura Kuenssberg is here.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18All the stories swirling around Westminster ranging from
0:27:18 > 0:27:25inappropriate behaviour to sexual harassment to rape. Hard for PMQs to
0:27:25 > 0:27:29avoid that, I would've thought.I would be surprised if they avoid
0:27:29 > 0:27:33this issue not just because it is what a is talking about in
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Westminster but also it's something extremely important and, as days go
0:27:37 > 0:27:40by, I do think we have entered a new phase in all of this. From time to
0:27:40 > 0:27:45time, stories like this have bubbled up but there has always been a real
0:27:45 > 0:27:49reticence among some of the victims of this kind of behaviour, who work
0:27:49 > 0:27:54across the road, to come forward, and I do think, potentially,
0:27:54 > 0:28:00particularly after yesterday and Bex Bailey, I think we are seeing a
0:28:00 > 0:28:03change in this celebrated apart is not just nervous that what's going
0:28:03 > 0:28:09to corrupt in their own party when the rock is lifted up, but they also
0:28:09 > 0:28:13are concerned to get this right. Actually to try to make this a
0:28:13 > 0:28:16moment and make the Parliament 2017 a parliament which created a change
0:28:16 > 0:28:19and I suspect by the end of the day we will see more proposal from the
0:28:19 > 0:28:25Labour Party by tightening up their procedures again.The key word there
0:28:25 > 0:28:32for me is 2017. It's only 2017 that we are now getting around to this.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34The understandable reluctance of women in particular to come forward
0:28:34 > 0:28:39and you can understand what happened from Bex Bailey's experience, but
0:28:39 > 0:28:41the consequence of that is it allowed Westminster and the
0:28:41 > 0:28:48political parties and Government not to do too much about it, not to put
0:28:48 > 0:28:54procedures in place.Yes, I think that has been part of the... There's
0:28:54 > 0:28:58been lots of issues here, but one of the problems has been when people
0:28:58 > 0:29:02don't speak up firstly it's very hard for the political parties to
0:29:02 > 0:29:05know what they're dealing with. If it's not open and discussed, then
0:29:05 > 0:29:11it's been very difficult to tell what the true scale of this kind of
0:29:11 > 0:29:15thing is. Everyone has heard these allegations from time to time. But
0:29:15 > 0:29:20until people were willing to put things on record it's very hard to
0:29:20 > 0:29:24know genuinely how widespread an issue this is. And we have also seen
0:29:24 > 0:29:28this as an issue for young men and for young women, when these issues
0:29:28 > 0:29:32have bubbled up before, there are people who feel when they've tried
0:29:32 > 0:29:35to speak out and they have been penalised. Sometimes they have
0:29:35 > 0:29:40slinked away from Westminster and part of the issue here is loyalty is
0:29:40 > 0:29:44whether currencies around here. That's not just the whips hanging
0:29:44 > 0:29:49onto awkward information to get people to vote the way they want to,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52but because Westminster attract ambitious people who want to come
0:29:52 > 0:29:55here quite often want to change the world and they want to make a
0:29:55 > 0:30:00difference so do people want to start their career being pointed to
0:30:00 > 0:30:04as some kind of troublemaker? With some kind of way that they will be
0:30:04 > 0:30:09attacked themselves and since Bex Bailey came forward yesterday, I
0:30:09 > 0:30:12talk to people who have been affected by these issues who told me
0:30:12 > 0:30:16this was in their mind, they felt they would not be believed and they
0:30:16 > 0:30:22feared they would be damaged in terms of their own futures if they
0:30:22 > 0:30:27spoke up. The other thing which is a structural issue is MPs employ their
0:30:27 > 0:30:30staff directly. We're not talking about a traditional business is how
0:30:30 > 0:30:35do you complain about the bass to the boss? There's no big HR
0:30:35 > 0:30:38department. There's no real structure. When these things are
0:30:38 > 0:30:42bubbled up over the years, Parliament has never quite grasped
0:30:42 > 0:30:46that and there have been various proposals. Should the expenses
0:30:46 > 0:30:51regulate to be the ones in charge of it? There were ideas David Cameron
0:30:51 > 0:30:55considered a 1922 committee not keen on having some kind of corporate
0:30:55 > 0:31:01Hellas employing a couple of thousand researchers -- beer
0:31:04 > 0:31:08but this is not just an issue in Parliament. This is an issue in the
0:31:08 > 0:31:15culture of Parliament. And politics and other industries. But there is
0:31:15 > 0:31:19something different here because Westminster works on power and
0:31:19 > 0:31:24loyalty is one of the things which boils the wheels and when people
0:31:24 > 0:31:28really, really care about their party, they have sometimes been
0:31:28 > 0:31:32persuaded to hold things back for the greater good.Which is what Bex
0:31:32 > 0:31:37Bailey appears to have done. It is interesting the way things work,
0:31:37 > 0:31:44Laura, if this is a watershed year...And it may not be.If it is,
0:31:44 > 0:31:48how society works now cut it takes the scandal surrounding a Hollywood
0:31:48 > 0:31:55mogul to result in a potential major change in Westminster.That is quite
0:31:55 > 0:32:02something. I would also say that certainly I have been in Westminster
0:32:02 > 0:32:07for nearly 20 years now and most people would concur the atmosphere
0:32:07 > 0:32:12is less secretive, less full of awful things going on in dark
0:32:12 > 0:32:17corners. It has improved if you want to use that word. But are there
0:32:17 > 0:32:20things that people have carried around with them for a long time
0:32:20 > 0:32:23that they feel they have not been able to share, yes, absolutely
0:32:23 > 0:32:23estimate
0:32:26 > 0:32:33the whips office in both parties, having date on someone but not using
0:32:33 > 0:32:40it to bring justice, keeping it... When I was a Government whip in
0:32:40 > 0:32:452013, that is not true, actually there were attempts made in 2013 to
0:32:45 > 0:32:50set up a cross-party independent... We will come back to that because we
0:32:50 > 0:32:51got to go straight
0:32:57 > 0:33:01I know that members across the house will have been appalled by last
0:33:01 > 0:33:05night's cowardly terrorist attack in New York. Our thoughts are with all
0:33:05 > 0:33:10of those affected and we stand united with the people of New York.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Members on both sides have been deeply concerned about allegations
0:33:14 > 0:33:17of harassment and mistreatment in Westminster. This demands a
0:33:17 > 0:33:21response, and that is why the leader of the house has been meeting with
0:33:21 > 0:33:24her counterparts, and we are hopeful all sides can work together quickly
0:33:24 > 0:33:28to resolve this, and I have written to all party leaders inviting them
0:33:28 > 0:33:33to a meeting early next week so we can discuss a common, transparent,
0:33:33 > 0:33:36independent grievance procedure for all of those who work in Parliament.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40We have a duty to ensure that everybody coming here to contribute
0:33:40 > 0:33:44to public life is treated with respect. This morning I had meetings
0:33:44 > 0:33:48with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in
0:33:48 > 0:33:53the house, I will have further such meetings later.Is the Prime
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Minister where there have been some very powerful research that's been
0:33:56 > 0:34:03done on the question of high speed rail? What it says is that, in the
0:34:03 > 0:34:08leafy suburbs of the south, the first 140 miles, 30% of it has been
0:34:08 > 0:34:14dedicated to tunnelling to avoid knocking down houses. Yet, in the
0:34:14 > 0:34:21north, we are now told that the percentage is only 2% for the whole
0:34:21 > 0:34:31of the north. Why? Because HS2 says it's too costly, so knock the houses
0:34:31 > 0:34:34down. Will she arranged for a meeting with people from my area in
0:34:34 > 0:34:42order to avoid another 30 houses being knocked down in Newton, part
0:34:42 > 0:34:46of Bolsover? And isn't it high time that this government stopped
0:34:46 > 0:34:56treating our people like second-class citizens?I say to the
0:34:56 > 0:34:59honourable gentleman that I'm sure the Department for Transport will be
0:34:59 > 0:35:06happy to look into the question that he has raised but, of course, HS2,
0:35:06 > 0:35:13the reason why we are doing HS2 is it is important to increase the
0:35:13 > 0:35:17capacity of the railway lines going through to the north. This will be a
0:35:17 > 0:35:21very important contribution to the UK economy. And I can assure him, if
0:35:21 > 0:35:24he looks at everything this government has done, with the
0:35:24 > 0:35:36Northern Powerhouse, the Midlands engine... Be significant investment
0:35:36 > 0:35:41in infrastructure across all parts of the country, this is a government
0:35:41 > 0:35:45that wants to ensure this is a country that works for everyone.I
0:35:45 > 0:35:52want to join the Prime Minister and add my thoughts are with New
0:35:52 > 0:35:56Yorkers. The shocking scenes in New York will have brought back awful
0:35:56 > 0:36:01memories of terrorist attacks there and, as we degrade and destroyed
0:36:01 > 0:36:06Daesh, at its base, it will exploit its death cult ideology. Will my
0:36:06 > 0:36:10honourable friend urged our international partners to join with
0:36:10 > 0:36:13us in delivering the recent UN resolution to investigate and
0:36:13 > 0:36:18prosecute Daesh terrorists so we can hold them to account for their vile
0:36:18 > 0:36:21part?My honourable friend raises an important point, and it's important
0:36:21 > 0:36:27that we ensure we have a complete response to this issue of the threat
0:36:27 > 0:36:32of terrorism. That involves dealing with the problem at source. It must
0:36:32 > 0:36:35also involve dealing with terrorism wherever it occurs. But our message
0:36:35 > 0:36:39is clear, that our values will prevail, that the terrorists will
0:36:39 > 0:36:42not win. As we do this, we need to ensure that we work with
0:36:42 > 0:36:48international partners. We want to try and make sure that there is in
0:36:48 > 0:36:57Syria Iran, that we develop -- Syria and Iraq. That we develop safe
0:36:57 > 0:37:00spaces as they re-emerge from this terrorist threat, that has been on
0:37:00 > 0:37:03their street but also affected people across the world. Crucially,
0:37:03 > 0:37:08and we have done a lot of work in this, in helping those in situ to be
0:37:08 > 0:37:14able to gain evidence that can be used to ensure that anybody who is
0:37:14 > 0:37:18involved in the horrors of attacks that we see, that anybody involved
0:37:18 > 0:37:28in those attacks can actually be brought to justice.On the question
0:37:28 > 0:37:31of the sex harassment allegations that the Prime Minister quite
0:37:31 > 0:37:34rightly referred to, to put on the record, I am happy to meet with the
0:37:34 > 0:37:38Prime Minister and all party leaders to discuss this. We need better
0:37:38 > 0:37:42protections for all in this house. This house must involve workplace
0:37:42 > 0:37:46trade unions in that, but it is also incumbent on all parties to have
0:37:46 > 0:37:51robust procedures in place to protect and support victims of
0:37:51 > 0:37:57sexual abuse and harassment. I join with the Prime Minister in sending
0:37:57 > 0:38:01our solidarity with the people of New York and then mayor, Bill de
0:38:01 > 0:38:05Blasio, for the appalling terrorist attack yesterday. I hope the whole
0:38:05 > 0:38:10house will join me in paying tribute to two former Labour can -- two
0:38:10 > 0:38:14former Labour colleagues, who passed away this week, candy Atherton, the
0:38:14 > 0:38:18member for Falmouth and Campbell, and Frank Doran, the member for
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Aberdeen North, who both did enormous good work at opposite ends
0:38:20 > 0:38:25of the UK to represent their communities and constituencies would
0:38:25 > 0:38:28they will be missed by all of us, especially in the Labour Party, who
0:38:28 > 0:38:34they served so well for their entire lives. In 2010, the Labour
0:38:34 > 0:38:42government intervened through HMRC to shut down an Isle of Man scheme
0:38:42 > 0:38:48used to import yachts into the EU and thus to avoid tax. A similar
0:38:48 > 0:38:50scheme has recently been exposed relating to the import of business
0:38:50 > 0:38:56jets into the Isle of Man. So can the Prime Minister assure the house
0:38:56 > 0:39:03that HMRC investigates these new allegations diligently?The right
0:39:03 > 0:39:08honourable gentleman has made a number of references in his
0:39:08 > 0:39:12question, and I will address all of them. On the first point, it is
0:39:12 > 0:39:16absolutely essential, and he is right, that we have processes, that
0:39:16 > 0:39:21political parties have processes to deal with allegations of misconduct,
0:39:21 > 0:39:25but also that, obviously, we have the ministerial code and proper
0:39:25 > 0:39:29investigations take place against that, where that is appropriate, but
0:39:29 > 0:39:33I believe it is also crucial for everybody working in this
0:39:33 > 0:39:37Parliament, be they working for a Member of Parliament, for the house
0:39:37 > 0:39:40authorities or a journalist working in this Parliament, that there are
0:39:40 > 0:39:46proper processes in this Parliament for people to be able to report
0:39:46 > 0:39:50misconduct and for that to be dealt with, and I think that is very
0:39:50 > 0:39:55important, and I'm grateful for him saying he will meet with me, and I
0:39:55 > 0:39:59hope other party leaders... I see the leader of the SNP is nodding his
0:39:59 > 0:40:03head. To look at this particular issue. Can I also join him in paying
0:40:03 > 0:40:11tribute to both Frank Duran -- Frank Doran and Candy Atherton. Frank
0:40:11 > 0:40:15Doran was first elected in 1987, serving two separate terms as the MP
0:40:15 > 0:40:18for Aberdeen, chairing the administration committee for five
0:40:18 > 0:40:22years and he was a tireless campaigner for safety in the oil and
0:40:22 > 0:40:25gas industry, and I'm sure everybody will recall his commitment in this
0:40:25 > 0:40:30house and join me in offering condolences to his family and
0:40:30 > 0:40:33friends, and Candy Atherton, first elected in 1997, when I was first
0:40:33 > 0:40:38elected, and she served for eight years as an MP, but she was a strong
0:40:38 > 0:40:42campaigner for women's rights and disability issues and continued to
0:40:42 > 0:40:45champion those causes on Cornwall council after leaving this house,
0:40:45 > 0:40:48and I'm sure that members across this house will join me in offering
0:40:48 > 0:40:52my condolences to her family and friends. The right honourable
0:40:52 > 0:40:56gentleman talks about tax avoidance, and I can assure him that, where
0:40:56 > 0:41:00cases are referred to HMRC in relation to tax avoidance, they take
0:41:00 > 0:41:02those seriously and look into those measures seriously. We have taken
0:41:02 > 0:41:09action collectively as a government over the last few years, since 2010,
0:41:09 > 0:41:16when he first came in, and we have secured over £150 million of
0:41:16 > 0:41:19compliance revenues since 2010 from a number of measures we have taken
0:41:19 > 0:41:26to ensure that we clamp down on tax evasion and avoidance.957 business
0:41:26 > 0:41:31jets in the Isle of Man seems a bit excessive for any island anywhere,
0:41:31 > 0:41:38and I hope it is investigated and you tax is investigated from those
0:41:38 > 0:41:47people trying to avoid it. -- the tax that is due. Allegations of the
0:41:47 > 0:41:51scale of tax docking -- tax dodging involved range up to 119 billion,
0:41:51 > 0:41:55the size of the NHS budget. The Isle of Man VAT avoidance allegations are
0:41:55 > 0:42:03part of a wider link from the Bermuda -based law firm said the a
0:42:03 > 0:42:07similar scale the Panama Papers. Will the Prime Minister commit the
0:42:07 > 0:42:16HMRC to fully investigate all evidence of UK tax avoidance and
0:42:16 > 0:42:22evasion from this league, and prosecute where feasible?I had
0:42:22 > 0:42:26given the right honourable gentleman and assurance in my first answer
0:42:26 > 0:42:31that HMRC does take these issues very seriously, does investigate and
0:42:31 > 0:42:33thus take action and, where appropriate, tax loopholes are
0:42:33 > 0:42:41closed. What is important is that, if we look at the record we have,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45and I mentioned the 160 billion in additional compliance revenues since
0:42:45 > 0:42:482010, we have announced or intimated over 75 measures since 2010 to
0:42:48 > 0:42:52tackle tax avoidance and evasion. The right honourable gentleman
0:42:52 > 0:42:58referred to one that was done by Labour. We have been continuing to
0:42:58 > 0:43:01act on this particular issue, so we will be raising billions of pounds
0:43:01 > 0:43:05more as a result. But I reassured him... I think most people would
0:43:05 > 0:43:12recognise that HMRC actually does rather want to collect tax. That its
0:43:12 > 0:43:16job, and it does look to make sure it can do so as much as possible.
0:43:16 > 0:43:24Well, it's rather strange then that Britain reportedly has blocked a
0:43:24 > 0:43:29French led proposal which would have placed Bermuda on the European Union
0:43:29 > 0:43:32tax haven blacklist. Perhaps the Prime Minister could explain why
0:43:32 > 0:43:36that would be the case? The Panama Papers exposed many wealthy
0:43:36 > 0:43:39individuals and big businesses who avoided tax through offshore trusts.
0:43:39 > 0:43:45Labour backs any necessary changes to toughen our laws against
0:43:45 > 0:43:52aggressive tax avoidance of just yesterday, Mr Speaker, we tried to
0:43:52 > 0:43:57strengthen legislation on beneficial ownership of trusts, with amendments
0:43:57 > 0:44:00we placed to the finance bill why did the government vote against
0:44:00 > 0:44:10them?Can I say to the right honourable gentleman that he raises
0:44:10 > 0:44:13the issue of British Overseas Territories. In fact, this
0:44:13 > 0:44:19government has taken action in relation to those British Overseas
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Territories, action that was not taken by the previous Labour
0:44:21 > 0:44:28government. So, if he says to me that this whole question of tax
0:44:28 > 0:44:32evasion is something that needs to be constantly looked at, and
0:44:32 > 0:44:36government needs to be prepared to act, my answer is, yes, we are and
0:44:36 > 0:44:46we will.There is a strange kind of pattern here, because, in 2015
0:44:46 > 0:44:53alone... In 2015 alone am a Conservative members of the European
0:44:53 > 0:44:59Parliament voted against five reports to introduce methods of
0:44:59 > 0:45:02fighting tax avoidance and evasion. Last week, HMRC admitted that
0:45:02 > 0:45:11multinational companies avoid paying 5.8 billion taxes in 2016. Despite
0:45:11 > 0:45:18this, HMRC is currently cutting another 8000 staff. So can the Prime
0:45:18 > 0:45:26Minister assure the house that, in the upcoming Budget, instead of more
0:45:26 > 0:45:28cuts to HMRC, they will get more resources to tackle the scourge of
0:45:28 > 0:45:35aggressive tax avoidance and evasion?
0:45:35 > 0:45:42I have reassure the Right Honourable gentleman. HMRC is acting since this
0:45:42 > 0:45:46Conservative Party came into Government in 2010 and will continue
0:45:46 > 0:45:53to act but, of course, in asking these questions, he might want to
0:45:53 > 0:45:56reflect on why it was before the dissolution of Parliament earlier
0:45:56 > 0:46:01this year, it was the Labour Party that stopped and refused to support
0:46:01 > 0:46:07a tax avoidance and evasion measures brought forward by this Government.
0:46:07 > 0:46:22His party stopped it.Mr Speaker, my question was why Conservative MPs
0:46:22 > 0:46:40opposed what Labour was proposing yesterday? So, Mr Speaker... Last
0:46:40 > 0:46:42month's European Parliament committee of enquiry set up in the
0:46:42 > 0:46:48wake of the Panama papers, claimed that the UK is obstructing the fight
0:46:48 > 0:46:53against tax dodging and money-laundering. And, just last
0:46:53 > 0:46:57week, the EU's competition Commissioner announced an enquiry
0:46:57 > 0:47:03into UK taxation rules that may have institutionalised tax avoidance by
0:47:03 > 0:47:09multinational corporations. Isn't the Prime Minister concerned that
0:47:09 > 0:47:13vital revenue is being lost to fund schools and hospitals? Will she
0:47:13 > 0:47:20change the rules in the budget?Can I say to the right honourable
0:47:20 > 0:47:28gentleman we have taken an extra £160 billion in additional
0:47:28 > 0:47:34compliance revenue since 2010 and he says measures being proposed this
0:47:34 > 0:47:39week, as I said in my previous answer, we would have had more tax
0:47:39 > 0:47:44evasion measures in place if the Labour Party had not blocked of
0:47:44 > 0:47:53before the last election. This party in Government has not just been
0:47:53 > 0:47:58acting in the UK. We have been working with the Crown dependencies,
0:47:58 > 0:48:05the British Overseas Territories, and leading the world, it was the
0:48:05 > 0:48:10Conservative Prime Minister that put this on the agenda of the G7 anergy
0:48:10 > 0:48:1620 four international action against tax avoidance and evasion.If we are
0:48:16 > 0:48:21leading the world perhaps she can explain how the amount of tax paid
0:48:21 > 0:48:28by the super-rich in income tax has fallen from 4.4 billion down to 3.5
0:48:28 > 0:48:36billion since 2009. Earlier this year, the Public Accounts Committee
0:48:36 > 0:48:40said the HMRC record of getting multimillionaires to pay their taxes
0:48:40 > 0:48:47was dismal and the super-rich were getting help with their tax affairs
0:48:47 > 0:48:54that is not available to other taxpayers. Our schools budget has
0:48:54 > 0:49:02been cut. More people waiting longer for treatment.In the
0:49:05 > 0:49:09order. We do tend to have overexcitement every week but I give
0:49:09 > 0:49:14notice as usual I would like to get to the end of the order paper and
0:49:14 > 0:49:19facilitate backbench enquiries, as well, so members are eating only
0:49:19 > 0:49:23into their own time forth I have got all the time the world.Since
0:49:23 > 0:49:27members to get so excited, I must say it again, our schools budgets
0:49:27 > 0:49:36are being cut, more people waiting longer for treatment on the National
0:49:36 > 0:49:41Health Service. More elderly and disabled not getting the social care
0:49:41 > 0:49:48they need. Does the Prime Minister think it is acceptable that, when it
0:49:48 > 0:49:52comes to paying taxes, there's one rule for the super-rich, and another
0:49:52 > 0:50:03the rest of us?The top 1% of earners in this country are paying
0:50:03 > 0:50:1028% of the tax burden. That is the highest percentage ever under any
0:50:10 > 0:50:20Government. And, once again, he is wrong forth over the next two years,
0:50:20 > 0:50:26£2.5 billion extra is being put into our schools, as a result of
0:50:26 > 0:50:31decisions taken by this Conservative Government. But I will tell him, he
0:50:31 > 0:50:36talks about spending on schools and hospitals. I will tell him where the
0:50:36 > 0:50:40real problem lies full sub today be spent nearly £50 billion in payments
0:50:40 > 0:50:45on interest to those we have borrowed from as a result of the
0:50:45 > 0:50:50legacy of the Labour Party.
0:50:56 > 0:51:01That is more than we spend on the NHS pay bill, it is more than we
0:51:01 > 0:51:04spend on...Order,
0:51:04 > 0:51:07Answer will be heard as I
0:51:07 > 0:51:13Answer will be heard as I indicated. Mr Gates, you are a senior denizen
0:51:13 > 0:51:19of the House. This excessive jester Galatea and is not good for you,
0:51:19 > 0:51:27man. Calm yourself.We spend £50 billion on debt interest every year,
0:51:27 > 0:51:32payments to people we have borrowed from, more than the NHS pay Bill,
0:51:32 > 0:51:37more than our schools budget, more than we spend on defence. That as a
0:51:37 > 0:51:43result of the economy we were left by the Labour Party Government. And
0:51:43 > 0:51:46what does the right honourable gentleman want to do? He wants to
0:51:46 > 0:51:52borrow £500 billion more to make the situation worse and leave even less
0:51:52 > 0:52:02money for schools and hospitals.Tim Lawton.On August 22, 2015 in my
0:52:02 > 0:52:08constituency, 11 men tragically lost their lives in the airshow disaster.
0:52:08 > 0:52:1026 months later, no decision has been taken on criminal charges and
0:52:10 > 0:52:15coroners inquest has been delayed again until November next year. The
0:52:15 > 0:52:18families of the victims have just had their application for
0:52:18 > 0:52:22exceptional case funding rejected by their legal aid agency and they will
0:52:22 > 0:52:27likely be the only persons at the inquest not legally represented.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30Will my right honourable friend agreed to look at this case again
0:52:30 > 0:52:34and to meet the families to ensure that they have proper access to
0:52:34 > 0:52:38justice in this exceptionally tragic case which is a much wider public
0:52:38 > 0:52:44interest for safety at all levels? Can I say he raises a very important
0:52:44 > 0:52:48issue and I can understand the concerns of the families. In
0:52:48 > 0:52:53relation to this. He talks about the timetable for decisions being taken
0:52:53 > 0:53:00for the Department for Transport has accepted the recommendation and they
0:53:00 > 0:53:03are working with the air accident investigation Branch to determine
0:53:03 > 0:53:08the scope of the review. The Civil Aviation Authority has accepted all
0:53:08 > 0:53:12recommendations, so there was considerable work going on to learn
0:53:12 > 0:53:17the lessons from this disaster. But we're also committed ensuring that
0:53:17 > 0:53:22people, where there is a public disaster, people have proper
0:53:22 > 0:53:26representation and this is an issue I will ask the Lord Chancellor to
0:53:26 > 0:53:33look at in relation to the questions raised.Ian Blackford.Thank you,
0:53:33 > 0:53:36can I associate myself with the remarks made by the Prime Minister
0:53:36 > 0:53:41went to talk about the zero tolerance there has to be for bad
0:53:41 > 0:53:44sexual practices and behaviour and I certainly commit my members to work
0:53:44 > 0:53:49with the Government to make sure that we can have a system we can be
0:53:49 > 0:53:52proud of that protects all members of the Houses of Parliament. Can I
0:53:52 > 0:53:57pass on my condolences to the family and friends of Frank Gordon for his
0:53:57 > 0:54:04sad death this week. Can the Prime Minister tell the House how much a
0:54:04 > 0:54:07working single parent can expect to lose because of the roll-out of the
0:54:07 > 0:54:14Universal Credit?Can I first of all say to the honourable gentleman that
0:54:14 > 0:54:17I'm grateful to him for agreeing he wants to work across the House on
0:54:17 > 0:54:21this important issue. If I may just say to him, he referred to sexual
0:54:21 > 0:54:27misconduct, I think what is important is that we list not just
0:54:27 > 0:54:31sexual misconduct and also bullying, as well because that is also
0:54:31 > 0:54:36important. He has raised the role of Universal Credit with me before. The
0:54:36 > 0:54:41reason why we have brought in to replace it is to ensure that when
0:54:41 > 0:54:45people are encouraged into the workplace and in work, they are able
0:54:45 > 0:54:50to keep more of the money they earn. That's an important principle we
0:54:50 > 0:54:57will continue to underpin that.The reality is that new research shows
0:54:57 > 0:55:03that working single parents could lose an average of £1350 a year.
0:55:03 > 0:55:09Because of the cuts to work allowances. Universal Credit is fast
0:55:09 > 0:55:16becoming Theresa May's poll tax. The Prime Minister has a habit of you
0:55:16 > 0:55:20turning. Will see you turn one more time and fix the problems with
0:55:20 > 0:55:26Universal Credit?Can I say to the honourable gentleman, I have
0:55:26 > 0:55:29underlined the principle which lies behind Universal Credit which I
0:55:29 > 0:55:32believe is very important and that is why when we look at the support
0:55:32 > 0:55:35given to people it isn't just about the support they receive in
0:55:35 > 0:55:42financial terms but also about helping them to get onto the work
0:55:42 > 0:55:46ladder, ensuring they can actually meet the requirements of getting
0:55:46 > 0:55:49into the workplace and when they are in work they can keep more of the
0:55:49 > 0:55:54money that they earn. I think that is an important principle and we
0:55:54 > 0:55:57will continue to roll-out Universal Credit looking carefully at the
0:55:57 > 0:56:02fermentation of Universal Credit as we do so, because we are doing this
0:56:02 > 0:56:07in a careful way over a period of time, but the important principle is
0:56:07 > 0:56:10Universal Credit is a simpler system which ensures people keep more as
0:56:10 > 0:56:24they earn more.Mr Speaker, in Amersham we are acutely aware that
0:56:24 > 0:56:27infrastructure is vital for economic success particularly of other parts
0:56:27 > 0:56:31of the country. However, we still have areas that do not have access
0:56:31 > 0:56:36to high-speed broadband, and with the advent of electric vehicles, we
0:56:36 > 0:56:41are going to need to install an extensive charging network. Could
0:56:41 > 0:56:44the Prime Minister tell me what further action the Government can
0:56:44 > 0:56:48take to ensure the timely completion of our broadband infrastructure and
0:56:48 > 0:56:52what it can do to guarantee the rapid roll-out of electric vehicle
0:56:52 > 0:56:56charging points soap Buckinghamshire residents and businesses cannot just
0:56:56 > 0:57:02bear the brunt and the burden of infrastructure development, but can
0:57:02 > 0:57:08take advantage of the opportunities offered by modern technology?She's
0:57:08 > 0:57:12absolutely right that we want to be able to ensure we take the
0:57:12 > 0:57:16advantages offered by modern technology. That's why these are
0:57:16 > 0:57:19issues addressed in our industrial strategy and we will continue to
0:57:19 > 0:57:25address them and we recognise that when we talk about infrastructure in
0:57:25 > 0:57:28this country actually increasingly the IT broadband infrastructure is
0:57:28 > 0:57:30part of that, it's not just the physical roads and rails
0:57:30 > 0:57:34infrastructure. We are investing 790 minute and pound improving
0:57:34 > 0:57:42broadband, our big investment up to 1.7 billion, and we are leading the
0:57:42 > 0:57:46world in the development of electric cars and we need to ensure we have
0:57:46 > 0:57:50those vehicle charging points so we have put in place grants and policy
0:57:50 > 0:57:54measures to ensure that we see those charging points so people can take
0:57:54 > 0:58:00advantage of it.If the Prime Minister is serious about building a
0:58:00 > 0:58:06country that works for everyone, why are under 25 is not included in the
0:58:06 > 0:58:14national mood and wage? And also apprentices, 3.15 hour?It's
0:58:14 > 0:58:17important we have the national living wage. It was this party which
0:58:17 > 0:58:24introduced it. That has happened and has had an important impact on
0:58:24 > 0:58:29people and obviously the national living wage continues to increase.
0:58:29 > 0:58:34Will the Prime Minister join with the local Government ministers
0:58:34 > 0:58:41positive comments this week welcoming family hubs and pushing
0:58:41 > 0:58:44carriage our excellent Conservative councils to be champions of these
0:58:44 > 0:58:49hubs which can so improve the lives of children including the most
0:58:49 > 0:58:53runnable children by strengthening their families?Can I thank her for
0:58:53 > 0:58:58raising this point. I hope we all recognise the value of stable and
0:58:58 > 0:59:03strong families and this is an issue she has championed through her time
0:59:03 > 0:59:09in this House but also outside of this House as well and I am happy to
0:59:09 > 0:59:13join her in welcoming the development of family hubs and I
0:59:13 > 0:59:14would encourage Conservative councils across the country to be
0:59:14 > 0:59:23champions of this.Thank you. Is the Prime Minister aware that my city of
0:59:23 > 0:59:28Dundee has been repeatedly in the news last week. It launched its
0:59:28 > 0:59:33European city of culture bid and is now the world centre for
0:59:33 > 0:59:35pharmaceutical innovation and the Wall Street Journal listed it as one
0:59:35 > 0:59:41of the top ten places to visit on earth, making it Scotland's coolest
0:59:41 > 0:59:45city. Wouldn't it be great if the Prime Minister today can finally
0:59:45 > 0:59:50tell the innovative, the creative and cool people of Dundee and
0:59:50 > 0:59:53surrounding area, what precisely is the UK Government's date for
0:59:53 > 1:00:04delivering its fair share of the deal?I'm sorry, I didn't hear the
1:00:04 > 1:00:07end of it. What is important for the honourable gentleman, he stands up
1:00:07 > 1:00:14and speaks and waxes lyrically about his city of Dundee and I was asked
1:00:14 > 1:00:19about the Dundee city of culture last week and made the point that,
1:00:19 > 1:00:23of course, a number of places across the UK may put in those bits but on
1:00:23 > 1:00:27the creative industries I'm pleased to see that element of the day in
1:00:27 > 1:00:34Dundee, as well and tasted the deal will be an important deal for Dundee
1:00:34 > 1:00:37and the surrounding area is at other city deals in Scotland have been for
1:00:37 > 1:00:45with those have been agreed.
1:00:45 > 1:00:48Cheltenham general's A&E is hugely valued by me and my constituents and
1:00:48 > 1:00:52we want to see it preserved and enhanced. Does my right honourable
1:00:52 > 1:00:57friend agree with me that local NHS managers must listen very carefully
1:00:57 > 1:01:02to the voices of my constituents and others in Gloucestershire and ensure
1:01:02 > 1:01:07that any proposals can truly command local support?My honourable friend
1:01:07 > 1:01:10raises an important issue, because we are very clear that proposals
1:01:10 > 1:01:14should be developed at a local level I local commissions, but taking
1:01:14 > 1:01:20account of and listening to the views of local residents and
1:01:20 > 1:01:24constituents on those particular matters. I think it is important
1:01:24 > 1:01:27that local people are heard and can know that decisions have been taken
1:01:27 > 1:01:31in the light of any concerns they raise, and I understand any
1:01:31 > 1:01:38proposals for urgent care developed by the Gloucestershire authority
1:01:38 > 1:01:41will be subject to proper consultation.The government will
1:01:41 > 1:01:45today published its first report detailing progress towards ratifying
1:01:45 > 1:01:49the Istanbul Convention on violence against women. After five years,
1:01:49 > 1:01:53hopefully today's report signals it won't have to wait long for
1:01:53 > 1:01:59application. But women suffering domestic violence don't have the
1:01:59 > 1:02:04luxury of time, so this is why the Prime Minister is sorting out
1:02:04 > 1:02:08misogyny and harassment in place, will she ensure that all women have
1:02:08 > 1:02:12somewhere safe to go when fleeing violence?I say to the honourable
1:02:12 > 1:02:17gentleman that, over the past few years, but when I was Home Secretary
1:02:17 > 1:02:19and under the current Home Secretary, we have taken steps in
1:02:19 > 1:02:24relation to funding in relation to domestic violence, but that funding
1:02:24 > 1:02:29is ring-fenced over a period of time, so there can be a greater
1:02:29 > 1:02:33certainty for organisations working in this area. There is much for us
1:02:33 > 1:02:35to do because, sadly, we still see domestic violence and abuse taking
1:02:35 > 1:02:41place. One of the other steps we are taking is to bring in new
1:02:41 > 1:02:44legislation in relation to domestic violence, which I hope will clarify
1:02:44 > 1:02:47the situation, but we need to address this across a wide variety
1:02:47 > 1:02:56of action.How we treat our farmed animals is an indication of our
1:02:56 > 1:03:01civility as a nation. And we in this country have a record of which we
1:03:01 > 1:03:07can be rightly proud. Does my right honourable friend share my concern
1:03:07 > 1:03:11that there have been reports that, as a result of leaving the European
1:03:11 > 1:03:16Union, there may be a relaxation of those standards? Can she take this
1:03:16 > 1:03:20opportunity to reassure me that that is not the case, and that in fact we
1:03:20 > 1:03:26will seize the opportunity to improve standards and thereby
1:03:26 > 1:03:29enhance the reputation of British produce?I can assure my honourable
1:03:29 > 1:03:33friend... First of all, I can agree with him that we are proud to have
1:03:33 > 1:03:37some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and we want
1:03:37 > 1:03:42to continue to be able to have that reputation as a country where we
1:03:42 > 1:03:44have those high standards. So leaving the EU isn't going to change
1:03:44 > 1:03:49that. We remain committed to high animal welfare standards and, as my
1:03:49 > 1:03:53honourable friend says, that may give an opportunity to enhance those
1:03:53 > 1:03:56standards, so we can further show people the reputation this country
1:03:56 > 1:04:01as is somewhere where they can be safe and secure in the knowledge of
1:04:01 > 1:04:06conditions in which their food has been prepared.The Prime Minister
1:04:06 > 1:04:11will be aware that 4 million children in our country are growing
1:04:11 > 1:04:16up in poverty, and that number has risen. Two thirds of those children
1:04:16 > 1:04:20are from working families. Does she still seriously believe that the
1:04:20 > 1:04:25introduction of Universal Credit will balloon -- will bring that
1:04:25 > 1:04:29number down?The number of children in absolute poverty has actually
1:04:29 > 1:04:35come down under this government. But, of course, we need to be aware
1:04:35 > 1:04:41of the impact of decisions. We are looking carefully at the
1:04:41 > 1:04:44implementation of Universal Credit, but I will repeat the point I made
1:04:44 > 1:04:48in response to the question from the leader of the SNP, which is that the
1:04:48 > 1:04:52point of Universal Credit if it is more straightforward, a simpler
1:04:52 > 1:04:57system, but also it helps people get into the workplace and ensures that
1:04:57 > 1:05:00they keep more of the money that they earn, which I think is
1:05:00 > 1:05:09important.This government's industrial strategy makes the
1:05:09 > 1:05:11historic commitment for a fairer distribution of infrastructure
1:05:11 > 1:05:17spending across the regions, our roads, railways and digital
1:05:17 > 1:05:20networks, and in advance of the White Paper, would my honourable
1:05:20 > 1:05:24friend confirm this commitment and between rebalancing of our economy
1:05:24 > 1:05:32by more investment spending in the regions, not least in Yorkshire?My
1:05:32 > 1:05:36honourable friend stands up well for his county and his constituency on
1:05:36 > 1:05:41this matter, but I am very happy to confirm to him that we will maintain
1:05:41 > 1:05:44that commitment in our forthcoming industrial strategy White Paper,
1:05:44 > 1:05:47because we want to see a fairer distribution of infrastructure
1:05:47 > 1:05:52spending across the country, and we want that because we know that
1:05:52 > 1:05:55infrastructure investment is important to unlocking economic
1:05:55 > 1:05:58opportunities and economic growth and productivity in our towns,
1:05:58 > 1:06:04villages and cities. Of course, we have backed this with ambitious
1:06:04 > 1:06:06commitments to increase spending on infrastructure by 50% over the next
1:06:06 > 1:06:10four years, but I can assure him we will be looking at that spending
1:06:10 > 1:06:15across the whole country.I'd like to thank the Prime Minister for her
1:06:15 > 1:06:21opening words about the horrific revelations this week, but can I say
1:06:21 > 1:06:25to her that, three years ago, I brought evidence to her in this
1:06:25 > 1:06:29house that whips had used information about sexual abuse to
1:06:29 > 1:06:35demand loyalty from MPs. I have brought my information to her in
1:06:35 > 1:06:40this house, and I warned her at the time that, unless real action was
1:06:40 > 1:06:45taken, we risked repeating those injustices again today. On three
1:06:45 > 1:06:49occasions, I asked her to act and, on three occasions, she did not. Can
1:06:49 > 1:06:56I ask her, in this of all weeks, for the fourth time, will she finally
1:06:56 > 1:07:02take concrete action to tackle this? I will, of course, look back at the
1:07:02 > 1:07:05questions that the honourable lady said that she raised with me in this
1:07:05 > 1:07:10house. I issue she raised those with me when I was Home Secretary. I will
1:07:10 > 1:07:17say to her that I am very clear that the whips office, and I hope this
1:07:17 > 1:07:20goes for all whips offices across this house, should make clear to
1:07:20 > 1:07:26people that, where there are any sexual abuse allegations that could
1:07:26 > 1:07:29be the criminal nature, that people should go to the police. It isn't
1:07:29 > 1:07:33appropriate for those to be dealt with by whips offices. Those should
1:07:33 > 1:07:37go to the police. That continues to be the case. I will look at the
1:07:37 > 1:07:40questions she raised with me, but I am very clear that we will take
1:07:40 > 1:07:46action against those, where there are allegations that we see, and the
1:07:46 > 1:07:52evidence is there that there has been misconduct. Can I just say to
1:07:52 > 1:07:55the honourable lady, I hope we will all send a message from this house
1:07:55 > 1:08:00today that we want people in this place to be able to feel confident
1:08:00 > 1:08:08to bring forward cases, and we need to make sure that those cases... No,
1:08:08 > 1:08:13we need to ensure that those cases are dealt with in a way that people
1:08:13 > 1:08:16can have confidence on both sides that they will be properly
1:08:16 > 1:08:23investigated. That means, and I want to see a good process within this
1:08:23 > 1:08:26parliament, so that people feel they don't have to go to a party
1:08:26 > 1:08:31political process in order to have their allegations considered.My
1:08:31 > 1:08:37constituency of Aldershot is the home of the British Army. It is home
1:08:37 > 1:08:41to many thousands of service men and women, are loyal, resolute in stead
1:08:41 > 1:08:46fast in their service to the Crown. Will my right honourable friend
1:08:46 > 1:08:49agree, when her busy schedule allows, to visit the Aldershot
1:08:49 > 1:08:53Garrison to meet with service men and women, and to thank them for
1:08:53 > 1:08:58their service?Can buy first of all assure my honourable friend that we
1:08:58 > 1:09:04recognise that the men and women of our armed services serve with great
1:09:04 > 1:09:07distinction and loyalty, and we are all grateful to them for the service
1:09:07 > 1:09:12they give this country. That is why we are committed to maintaining 10%
1:09:12 > 1:09:18of being spent on defence. He kindly invites me to visit his
1:09:18 > 1:09:24constituency, and I will be happy to do so, if my diary allows.A few
1:09:24 > 1:09:26days ago, the Chancellor told the house that the government could not
1:09:26 > 1:09:33afford to borrow £50 billion to invest in housing, because of the
1:09:33 > 1:09:36burden on the next generation. The Communities Secretary says that the
1:09:36 > 1:09:42government must borrow £50 billion because of the burden on the next
1:09:42 > 1:09:51generation of an affordable. Can she adjudicate?I have to say to the
1:09:51 > 1:09:53honourable gentleman, there is no need to adjudicate on the government
1:09:53 > 1:09:57agrees it is necessary for us to ensure we are building more homes in
1:09:57 > 1:10:00this country. We have already announced to enable that. We have
1:10:00 > 1:10:07put a number of proposals before the house in the White Paper. We were
1:10:07 > 1:10:10pleased to announce the extra £2 billion for affordable housing at
1:10:10 > 1:10:14our party conference, and the extra £10 billion in the cup to buy
1:10:14 > 1:10:17scheme, which genuinely helps people get their first foot on the housing
1:10:17 > 1:10:22ladder. More housings is being built under this element and we will
1:10:22 > 1:10:33continue to see that.Earlier this week, in my constituency, I horrific
1:10:33 > 1:10:36farmhouse claimed the lives of a father and five young children. This
1:10:36 > 1:10:43has had a devastating effect not just on the family but on the
1:10:43 > 1:10:46community around it. Would my honourable friend join me and this
1:10:46 > 1:10:50house in sending our sympathies to the family of the breed and the
1:10:50 > 1:11:02villagers and the town? -- the family of the reef. That is along
1:11:02 > 1:11:08with the emergency services. -- the family of the bereaved.My
1:11:08 > 1:11:12honourable friend has raised what I know is a tragic case, I'm sure that
1:11:12 > 1:11:15everybody across the house would want to join with him in sending
1:11:15 > 1:11:18condolences to the family and friends of those affected by the
1:11:18 > 1:11:23fire. This was a terrible tragedy, and it isn't just the family
1:11:23 > 1:11:27themselves that have been affected but the local community as well and
1:11:27 > 1:11:31I know that the emergency services did sterling work, and I am pleased
1:11:31 > 1:11:33to commend the work that they did and their bravery and
1:11:33 > 1:11:38professionalism. The Secretary of State for Wales has spoken to the
1:11:38 > 1:11:43police, and they will remain in touch over the coming days, but once
1:11:43 > 1:11:46again our emergency services do an amazing job protecting us, and we
1:11:46 > 1:11:50have seen this in so many instances. They never know when they are going
1:11:50 > 1:11:55to be called out to such a tragic incident.With today's news that the
1:11:55 > 1:11:59Electoral Commission is investigating Arron Banks, the main
1:11:59 > 1:12:05financial backer of Brexit, along with the significant British
1:12:05 > 1:12:11connections being uncovered by the American justice department's
1:12:11 > 1:12:15special council, Robert Muller, investigating Russian interference
1:12:15 > 1:12:17in the US presidential election, will she assure me that the UK
1:12:17 > 1:12:22Government and all of its agencies are cooperating fully with the
1:12:22 > 1:12:25Robert Marlow investigation, or that they will do so if asked? -- Robert
1:12:25 > 1:12:34Muller.We take very seriously issues of Russian intervention or
1:12:34 > 1:12:36attempts to intervene in electoral processes, or in the democratic
1:12:36 > 1:12:42processes of any country, and we will do so for any other states
1:12:42 > 1:12:46which were involved in trying to intervene in elections. We work
1:12:46 > 1:12:51closely with our United States partners, and I can assure them, as
1:12:51 > 1:12:54part of that relationship, we cooperate with them when required.
1:12:54 > 1:13:00Last month, I was in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and I referred
1:13:00 > 1:13:04customer declaration of members interests, but I saw people's
1:13:04 > 1:13:12enthusiasm for independence and the fresh dialogue with Baghdad. The
1:13:12 > 1:13:16subsequent statements are wholly unjust and unacceptable. We'll be
1:13:16 > 1:13:22promised except that Depeche Mode and the Kurdistan region, to whom we
1:13:22 > 1:13:26owe so much, both for resisting Daesh and helping keep our own
1:13:26 > 1:13:29streets safe, they remain vital to our security, and can she do all
1:13:29 > 1:13:33that she can to encourage a resolution based on full respect for
1:13:33 > 1:13:41the constitution and the democratic will of the Kurdish people?We are
1:13:41 > 1:13:44working with international partners to defeat Daesh together with the
1:13:44 > 1:13:48global coalition. Daesh is losing territory. The action that has been
1:13:48 > 1:13:53taken is having an impact. It finances have been hit, its
1:13:53 > 1:13:56leadership are being killed and its fighters are demoralised, but we
1:13:56 > 1:14:00want to see political reconciliation in Iraq and a political settlement
1:14:00 > 1:14:05to the Syria conflict to deny Daesh saves space and prevent
1:14:05 > 1:14:09re-emergence. He raises a particular point in relation to Iraq and
1:14:09 > 1:14:13Kurdistan. I say to him that we have always been there as a government
1:14:13 > 1:14:17that any political progress towards independence should be agreed with
1:14:17 > 1:14:20the government of Iraq. We want to see political reconciliation in
1:14:20 > 1:14:24Iraq, but we have urged all parties to promote calm, to pursue dialogue
1:14:24 > 1:14:31and to take this issue forward through dialogue.An hour ago, the
1:14:31 > 1:14:35government published this report, the patronising disposition of
1:14:35 > 1:14:38unaccountable power. It's a report of Right Reverend James Jones, which
1:14:38 > 1:14:42the Prime Minister herself commissioned to ensure that the pain
1:14:42 > 1:14:47and suffering of the Hillsborough families isn't repeated. Given what
1:14:47 > 1:14:51we have heard in this session, and given the events surrounding the
1:14:51 > 1:14:56Grenfell Tower disaster, I think that I worry that the pain and
1:14:56 > 1:14:59suffering of the Hillsborough families is already being repeated.
1:14:59 > 1:15:05So can the Prime Minister commit her government to supporting both a duty
1:15:05 > 1:15:12of candour for all public officials and, as this report requires, an end
1:15:12 > 1:15:17to public bodies spending limitless sums providing themselves with
1:15:17 > 1:15:24representation which surpasses that available to families?
1:15:24 > 1:15:27Obviously the House will appreciate that I have to be careful what I say
1:15:27 > 1:15:29immigration to the Hillsborough issue because of the ongoing
1:15:29 > 1:15:33committal proceedings, but I want to pay tribute to James Jones.
1:15:33 > 1:15:38Throughout the time his work in chairing the panel, the work he did
1:15:38 > 1:15:42as my advisor on this issue and working with the family forums, I
1:15:42 > 1:15:47think he's done an excellent job and once again his report into the
1:15:47 > 1:15:51experiences of the Hillsborough families which is being published
1:15:51 > 1:15:55today is important and Government will need to look very carefully at
1:15:55 > 1:15:58the 25 points of learning which have come out of it and we will want to
1:15:58 > 1:16:02do so because I've always been very clear that the experience of the
1:16:02 > 1:16:07Hillsborough families had should not be repeated. That's why we have
1:16:07 > 1:16:11looked and are committed to the concept of the Public Advocate
1:16:11 > 1:16:15because we want to ensure that people have the support that they
1:16:15 > 1:16:20need and it's important that we learn the lessons from Hillsborough.
1:16:20 > 1:16:23I was involved in making the decision which enabled the
1:16:23 > 1:16:28Hillsborough families to have legal support. On a basis I think is fair
1:16:28 > 1:16:32in relation to other parties involved in that inquest and I can
1:16:32 > 1:16:38assure her that we will not forget the Hillsborough families who have
1:16:38 > 1:16:42been dignified throughout the many years but they have been waiting for
1:16:42 > 1:16:46justice. We will not forget them, we will not forget their experience and
1:16:46 > 1:16:49will ensure we learn from that and learn from that to improve the
1:16:49 > 1:16:56experience of others in the future. Can I cheekily make another diary
1:16:56 > 1:17:00suggestion to the Prime Minister? If she could remain in the chamber for
1:17:00 > 1:17:04just a few moments after questions, she will hear my right honourable
1:17:04 > 1:17:10friend the Newbury introduce his Armed Forces statute of limitations
1:17:10 > 1:17:15Bill which will provide protection to those brave service personnel who
1:17:15 > 1:17:22served in Northern Ireland during the troubles. Like her, I, and the
1:17:22 > 1:17:26whole House, want to see the setting up the Northern Ireland executive.
1:17:26 > 1:17:32Would she agree with me, we can't do that at the price of pandering to
1:17:32 > 1:17:35Sinn Fein and allowing a witchhunt for those people who served so
1:17:35 > 1:17:43bravely for so many years to uphold the rule of law?I'm not sure I'm
1:17:43 > 1:17:46going to be able to satisfy him on the first point he made but I am
1:17:46 > 1:17:54aware of the proposed legislation my right honourable friend for Newbury
1:17:54 > 1:17:59is bringing forward. We all want to see a Northern Ireland executive set
1:17:59 > 1:18:03up, and we recognise that this question of legacy issues is one
1:18:03 > 1:18:07which has been there throughout these discussions and continues in
1:18:07 > 1:18:11Northern Ireland. What I want to ensure is any investigations which
1:18:11 > 1:18:15take place in the future take place in a fair and proportionate way
1:18:15 > 1:18:22because our soldiers did serve bravely in upholding the rule of law
1:18:22 > 1:18:26but what is important is we should never forget all those people who
1:18:26 > 1:18:31lost their lives at the hands of the terrorists in Northern Ireland and
1:18:31 > 1:18:34it is important that any investigation is conducted fairly
1:18:34 > 1:18:44and proportionately.As the Prime Minister will be aware,
1:18:44 > 1:18:47self-employed people are not eligible for shared parental leave.
1:18:47 > 1:18:52This place is a burden of childcare on the mother, denying father 's
1:18:52 > 1:18:55financial support and bonding time with the child. Has the Prime
1:18:55 > 1:19:02Minister seen the demands of the march of the mummies? Can she give
1:19:02 > 1:19:09us assurances she has prioritised this urgent issue?She raises an
1:19:09 > 1:19:13important issue. I'm happy to look at the point which has been made but
1:19:13 > 1:19:17I would simply also remind her of this. The reason we have shared
1:19:17 > 1:19:23parental leave for anybody in this country is because when I was
1:19:23 > 1:19:26Minister for Women and equality I had to ensure that shared parental
1:19:26 > 1:19:38leave was introduced.Thank you. In my constituency, one of the big
1:19:38 > 1:19:44challenges as we leave the EU is uncertainty around the seasonal
1:19:44 > 1:19:48migrant workforce. Angus produces 30% of Scotland's soft fruit and
1:19:48 > 1:19:52welcomes over 4000 seasonal workers every year. Would my right
1:19:52 > 1:19:56honourable friend agree that we need clarity on the new migration free
1:19:56 > 1:20:01work for the benefit of his loyal workers, for the prosperity of the
1:20:01 > 1:20:08British soft fruit industry and to support as our overall UK economy?
1:20:08 > 1:20:11She raises an important point about the importance of supporting the
1:20:11 > 1:20:17ruble economy across the UK. In relation to the seasonal alb and
1:20:17 > 1:20:21cultural workers scheme she has referred to, obviously as we leave
1:20:21 > 1:20:25the EU we will bring forward new immigration rules which will enable
1:20:25 > 1:20:29us to have that control we haven't had in the past for those coming
1:20:29 > 1:20:33from the European Union but we are recognising we need to do that in
1:20:33 > 1:20:38the national interest, look at the labour market and that's why the
1:20:38 > 1:20:41Home Secretary has commissioned the independent migration advisory
1:20:41 > 1:20:47committee to look at the needs of the UK labour market and to further
1:20:47 > 1:20:51inform us to bring those rules in. Order.
1:20:58 > 1:21:02Prime Minister's Questions finally coming to an end, another record. It
1:21:02 > 1:21:08began with Mr Corbyn saying that he would be prepared to meet with the
1:21:08 > 1:21:10Prime Minister to try and get a general approach to dealing with
1:21:10 > 1:21:16sexual harassment and more serious matters in the palace of Westminster
1:21:16 > 1:21:21and the political parties, and Lisa Nandy asked an interesting question
1:21:21 > 1:21:28of the Prime Minister, saying that she had raised some issues of the
1:21:28 > 1:21:34whips using sexual misbehaviour to ensure compliance. Mr Corbyn
1:21:34 > 1:21:40surprised us all, because he went on business jets, private jets, I think
1:21:40 > 1:21:44he was talking about. 950 of them on the Isle of Man, which would seem
1:21:44 > 1:21:49quite a lot for a small island, but apparently it's a way that the jets
1:21:49 > 1:21:54are bought that way to avoid VAT, and so Mr Corbyn went in general on
1:21:54 > 1:21:58tax avoidance and evasion issues for all of the questions that he went
1:21:58 > 1:22:06through. Although it surprised us, I think it's based on the fact there
1:22:06 > 1:22:09has been another leak, like the Panama Papers, we don't know if it's
1:22:09 > 1:22:14as big as that, this time based in Bermuda, a British Crown dependency,
1:22:14 > 1:22:18I think is what we call it, and the details of what are in this league
1:22:18 > 1:22:22are coming out this weekend, including an Panorama.
1:22:22 > 1:22:27There have been various stories about a company called Appleby, a
1:22:27 > 1:22:32data leak about business, of what's been going on in terms of Bermuda.
1:22:32 > 1:22:36There's been reporting on the Isle of Man and some pick-up in the
1:22:36 > 1:22:39British press about this particular scheme over whether people have been
1:22:39 > 1:22:44using the purchase of business jets as basically expensive ways of
1:22:44 > 1:22:49avoiding having to pay VAT. Not very much information about this in the
1:22:49 > 1:22:52public domain yet, it's not clear to me whether or not Jeremy Corbyn was
1:22:52 > 1:22:56picking up on this because he knows something the rest of us don't, or
1:22:56 > 1:22:59indeed it was over the fact that yesterday and I think it's more
1:22:59 > 1:23:02likely, yesterday in the House of Commons labour tried to put down
1:23:02 > 1:23:06amendments to the Finance Bill which was finally in its final stages,
1:23:06 > 1:23:10including an amendment from a prominent Labour backbencher, trying
1:23:10 > 1:23:14to crack down on this particular loophole and the Government did not
1:23:14 > 1:23:20accept that so this is absolutely home turf for Jeremy Corbyn, the
1:23:20 > 1:23:25kind of issue he's passionate about. And I think basically it was an
1:23:25 > 1:23:30opportunity for him to have a go at the gamut on this issue.
1:23:30 > 1:23:33Unfortunately, in terms of PMQs, it turned into a tit-for-tat, you voted
1:23:33 > 1:23:39against this a couple of years ago, but we will see whether or not he's
1:23:39 > 1:23:44got more information.What would you say to Jeremy Corbyn but not doing
1:23:44 > 1:23:47enough on tax avoidance?He's not looking at the measure which
1:23:47 > 1:23:51determines how much you are doing, the tax gap, so there's a
1:23:51 > 1:23:54calculation about how much we should theoretically be collecting against
1:23:54 > 1:23:59what we are collecting, and the gap has narrowed by 25% since 2010 and
1:23:59 > 1:24:03we now have the lowest tax gap in the world so of course there's more
1:24:03 > 1:24:08to be done, but for him to suggest nothing is being done, he's
1:24:08 > 1:24:12completely ignoring the fact we have completely focused on reducing the
1:24:12 > 1:24:16tax gap and we continue to do so. The Prime Minister said the
1:24:16 > 1:24:21Government collected next £160 billion because of enhanced
1:24:21 > 1:24:28compliance since 2010. And the tax gap had gotten narrower and narrower
1:24:28 > 1:24:35and much lower than under Labour so what you think of that?Well, my
1:24:35 > 1:24:41response is quite simply we have to push on further. Labour raised more
1:24:41 > 1:24:48taxes through closing loopholes but what we want to do is move on
1:24:48 > 1:24:51further than that and that's what we were trying to do in the Finance
1:24:51 > 1:24:54Bill which has been with us since March, trying to the gunmen to close
1:24:54 > 1:25:01even more tax loopholes.But you voted against doing this.No, that's
1:25:01 > 1:25:07not true. The bill came to us before the election, the Government called
1:25:07 > 1:25:12election, they cut short the process for scrutiny, so it goes into the
1:25:12 > 1:25:19system of what goes through and not. If we had passed those amendments,
1:25:19 > 1:25:27that law...I'm going to interrupt you because Lisa Nandi, Labour MP,
1:25:27 > 1:25:33she had one of the standard questions in PMQs about using
1:25:33 > 1:25:40scandal to control MPs' behaviour. What was the background to your
1:25:40 > 1:25:44question? Explain what it was you were getting at.Three years ago
1:25:44 > 1:25:47when Theresa May was Home Secretary, I came to the House to raise with
1:25:47 > 1:25:52her serious concerns I had about the way in which the whips office
1:25:52 > 1:25:59operated in the past. And wanted those same practices may persist now
1:25:59 > 1:26:02if left tackles a full stomach came about because I had seen the
1:26:02 > 1:26:08documentary where a former Tory whip had given an interview where he
1:26:08 > 1:26:14talked about covering up in discussions in total black book
1:26:14 > 1:26:19which was then used to demand loyalty from Tory MPs. In that same
1:26:19 > 1:26:24interview, the former Home Secretary had also made similar comments about
1:26:24 > 1:26:29the existence of these platforms. That was back in the 1970s. Is at
1:26:29 > 1:26:38your indication that are still going on?Unless Theresa May gave the
1:26:38 > 1:26:42child abuse enquiry she established the power to demand these papers, we
1:26:42 > 1:26:47would not be able to discover what had led to that situation being able
1:26:47 > 1:26:51to persist for so long, and we would not be able to learn lessons for the
1:26:51 > 1:26:56future to make sure we didn't repeat these practices in the present-day.
1:26:56 > 1:27:03In the end, sexual assault is about power. It's not just about sex. It's
1:27:03 > 1:27:08about power and bullying and secrecy and creating an environment in which
1:27:08 > 1:27:11it is allowed to persist. The question I asked of Theresa May
1:27:11 > 1:27:17three times, three years ago, would she act to make sure those papers
1:27:17 > 1:27:21were disclosed and real action was taken? She didn't do anything about
1:27:21 > 1:27:24it at the time but I hope she will do something now.Thank you for
1:27:24 > 1:27:28coming straight from the chamber to speak to us. You have been in the
1:27:28 > 1:27:35whips office more recently.Lisa was in opposition as a web at the time.
1:27:35 > 1:27:40You said they don't do that any more.This may or may not relate to
1:27:40 > 1:27:46practices in the 1970s, well before our time in politics but I can
1:27:46 > 1:27:51assure everybody there is no little black book and any allegation...Not
1:27:51 > 1:27:58even virtually?We have spreadsheets.That could be just as
1:27:58 > 1:28:04bad.Any criminal allegations and impropriety are taken straight to
1:28:04 > 1:28:07the place and I hope the Shadow whips office where Lisa works, I
1:28:07 > 1:28:11would hope the same thing applies. It was clear in the past that was
1:28:11 > 1:28:17not the case. We will find out soon if it will be.
1:28:17 > 1:28:20There's just time to put you out of your misery and give
1:28:20 > 1:28:22you the answer to Guess The Year.
1:28:22 > 1:28:23The year was...
1:28:23 > 1:28:241982.
1:28:24 > 1:28:26Let's find the winner.
1:28:26 > 1:28:31The winner is John Timson from Romford.
1:28:31 > 1:28:33He's won the coveted mug.
1:28:33 > 1:28:34That's all for today.
1:28:34 > 1:28:40The One O'Clock News is starting over on BBC One now.
1:28:40 > 1:28:41Plenty to report there.
1:28:41 > 1:28:44Jo and will be here at noon tomorrow with all the big political stories
1:28:44 > 1:28:52of the day.
1:28:52 > 1:28:54I will be back tomorrow night.
1:28:54 > 1:28:55I will be back tomorrow night.
1:28:55 > 1:28:56Do join us if you can.
1:28:56 > 1:28:58Bye bye.