:00:20. > :00:20.Hello and welcome to Monday in Parliament.
:00:21. > :00:24.A raft of announcements on defence spending and how the Prime Linister
:00:25. > :00:27.hopes to persuade MPs to back air strikes in Syria.
:00:28. > :00:30.I do not want anyone in this House to fell they are being bounced
:00:31. > :00:35.into a position. I want this House to take the decision deliberately.
:00:36. > :00:38.But we should not take too long over it, because, as he says,
:00:39. > :00:42.every day that we spend is ` day that we are not getting to grips
:00:43. > :00:46.Feelings run high, as MPs debate a compromise deal
:00:47. > :01:01.I have to pinch myself? Is this a party that stood on the benches for
:01:02. > :01:03.years for a Northern Ireland that would be part of the United Kingdom?
:01:04. > :01:05.And time to stop the bully boys on bikes.
:01:06. > :01:08.He jumped a red light, weavdd off down the pavement between
:01:09. > :01:10.pedestrians, talking away on a mobile phone
:01:11. > :01:13.as he went and when I said that perhaps he should not be dohng
:01:14. > :01:16.that, he got off his bike and asked me to fight him.
:01:17. > :01:19.But first, at the start of the day, the Prime Minister was in P`ris
:01:20. > :01:21.for talks with the French President, Francois Hollande.
:01:22. > :01:24.He laid flowers at the Bataclan Theatre
:01:25. > :01:27.and at a press conference, he said the world was coming togethdr
:01:28. > :01:36.A few hours later, he was in the Commons,
:01:37. > :01:38.to set out the national security strategy and plans for
:01:39. > :01:40.defence spending over the ndxt ten years.
:01:41. > :01:43.It includes a force of up to 10,000 military personnel, `ble to
:01:44. > :01:46.support the police if there is a Paris-style terror attack in the UK,
:01:47. > :01:48.and new equipment, such as nine sea patrol aircraft aircraft
:01:49. > :02:01.The world is more dangerous today that even five years ago.
:02:02. > :02:04.While every government must choose how to spend the money it h`s
:02:05. > :02:06.available, every penny of which is hard-earned by taxpayers,
:02:07. > :02:08.this government has taken a clear decision to invest
:02:09. > :02:11.in our security and safeguard our prosperity.
:02:12. > :02:15.He explained the thinking behind the national strategx.
:02:16. > :02:17.At its heart is an understanding that we cannot choose
:02:18. > :02:22.between conventional defencds against state-based threats
:02:23. > :02:25.on the one hand or the need to counter threats that do not
:02:26. > :02:30.Today, we face both types of threat and we must respond
:02:31. > :02:40.Our armed forces, police and security and
:02:41. > :02:54.intelligence services are the pride of this country.
:02:55. > :02:57.They are the finest in the world and this government will ensure they
:02:58. > :03:00.stay that way. Using our renewed economic strength, we will help them
:03:01. > :03:02.to keep us safe for generations to come.
:03:03. > :03:03.I commend this statement to the House.
:03:04. > :03:07.I thank the Prime Minister for his statement statement
:03:08. > :03:09.and as I said last week in the house,
:03:10. > :03:12.the first duty of a state is to protect its own citizens.
:03:13. > :03:13.At the moment, this country's overwhelming
:03:14. > :03:17.focus is on the threat we f`ce from terrorism and how we can best ensure
:03:18. > :03:21.the defeat of ISIL. Labour supports the increased expenditure
:03:22. > :03:23.to our security services, as announced, to protect against the
:03:24. > :03:25.However, faced with the current threat,
:03:26. > :03:28.the public will not understand or accept any cuts to
:03:29. > :03:30.front-line policing. Everyone will be very concerned about the warnings
:03:31. > :03:33.we know he has had from sectrity officials and the police th`t the
:03:34. > :03:35.cuts will reduce, very significantly, the
:03:36. > :03:39.ability to respond to a Parhs-style attack.
:03:40. > :03:42.It is disappointing. There hs insufficient analysis in thd
:03:43. > :03:44.national security strategy of the global threats facing our country
:03:45. > :03:51.Inequality, poverty, diseasd, human rights abuses, climatd change
:03:52. > :04:00.I have no idea why members opposite find food security such a ftnny
:04:01. > :04:08.subject. Indeed, Mr Speaker, the flow of arms or and illicit funds
:04:09. > :04:17.to sustain and grow. How will he apply lessons learned in Libya,
:04:18. > :04:19.The SNP leader in Westminstdr raised what he called
:04:20. > :04:26.The Trident replacement. A weapons system system of mass
:04:27. > :04:41.Never be used. It will be spueezing defence alternatives. How expensive
:04:42. > :04:43.it strident need to be from the government to realise it will be
:04:44. > :04:50.squeezing defence alternatives. How expensive the strident need to be
:04:51. > :04:54.from the government to realhse terrorism or cyber attack or
:04:55. > :04:59.conventional attack in the Tnited Kingdom and its allies. Even at this
:05:00. > :05:06.late stage, may I appeal to the government Labour Party to realise a
:05:07. > :05:14.huge mistake to renew Trident. May remained, in Scotland, the lajority
:05:15. > :05:19.of parliamentarians and civhc organisations, from church groups
:05:20. > :05:25.through to the trade union Congress are all opposed. What kind of family
:05:26. > :05:33.of nations impose something on one of its members against will?
:05:34. > :05:39.Listening to the rate honourable gentlemen, you would not thhnk
:05:40. > :05:43.Scotland was getting more ahrcraft and ships. The United Kingdom
:05:44. > :05:47.punches above its weight and Scotland punches above its weight
:05:48. > :05:53.because it is within the Unhted Kingdom and the proud partndr with
:05:54. > :05:57.in our defence. The first dtty of the Prime Minister of the d`y should
:05:58. > :06:02.be ensure the protection and defence of the people of the countrx here
:06:03. > :06:07.and abroad. Calle on behalf of of our benches warmly welcome that the
:06:08. > :06:09.Prime Minister is living up to that requirement to the.
:06:10. > :06:11.Since the attacks in Paris, France has increased the nulber
:06:12. > :06:14.of air strikes against IS. The French Ministry of Defence
:06:15. > :06:16.released a video, showing ahrcraft departing on a mission
:06:17. > :06:22.David Cameron said he would be making a further statement
:06:23. > :06:25.to the Commons on Thursday, to try and persudade MPs
:06:26. > :06:43.that Britain should also conduct air strikes in Syri`.
:06:44. > :07:25.I will make the case how we can make more effort against
:07:26. > :07:27.But Jeremy Corbyn had questions for him now.
:07:28. > :07:30.How will he apply the lessons learnt in Libya, Iraq,
:07:31. > :07:32.Afghanistan and elsewhere to Britain's role in the escal`ting war
:07:33. > :07:34.in Iraq and Syria, ensuring that further disastrous mistakes
:07:35. > :07:37.The continued existence of the so-called caliphate is htself
:07:38. > :07:40.one of the most important drivers of radicalising young people hdre and
:07:41. > :07:43.elsewhere in Europe and the wider world. Will he accept that, before
:07:44. > :07:45.the public can be convinced into taking further action, parthcularly
:07:46. > :07:49.in Syria, a clearer case nedds to be put as to what the aims of ht are
:07:50. > :07:52.I will make the case how we can make more effort against
:07:53. > :07:56.I think the honourable gentleman is absolutely right. The fact that
:07:57. > :07:59.ISIL is a so-called state, committing these appalling `cts
:08:00. > :08:01.both locally in Syria and Iraq and around the globe
:08:02. > :08:03.is one of the most important dangers that we face.
:08:04. > :08:07.He is also right that we will not degrade and destroy ISIL as we need
:08:08. > :08:10.to do for our own national security simply through the exercise
:08:11. > :08:12.of military force. We need to combine that with the
:08:13. > :08:14.proper diplomatic and polithcal backing a proper government in
:08:15. > :08:16.Iraq and backing, over time, transitional election
:08:17. > :08:20.I welcome the Prime Minister's spending commitments on defdnce
:08:21. > :08:22.and overseas development. Can I ask him to ensure that,
:08:23. > :08:25.in his statement on Thursdax, he will set out how both
:08:26. > :08:28.will be used to take immedi`te action against ISIL and plan for
:08:29. > :08:35.the long-term reconstruction that Syria so desperately needs.
:08:36. > :08:38.Let me pay tribute to the honourable lady, who was arguing for increases
:08:39. > :08:49.in defence spending earlier on this year.
:08:50. > :08:52.with our defence budget, because each is equally important,
:08:53. > :08:56.to make sure that we are buhlding security and governance and systems
:08:57. > :08:59.where people can see their countries are working for them.
:09:00. > :09:03.We will not solve the probldms in Syria through missiles and bombs
:09:04. > :09:07.alone. It has to be solved by helping the Syrian people to have
:09:08. > :09:11.a government in which they can put their trust.
:09:12. > :09:14.Of course, members of Parli`ment on both sides of the House will have
:09:15. > :09:17.concerns about action in Syria. In that respect, we look forward to
:09:18. > :09:20.my right honourable friend's statement on Thursday.
:09:21. > :09:25.But would he agree with me that every day we delay `ction in
:09:26. > :09:31.Syria not only lets down our allies and the Syrian people, it also has
:09:32. > :09:33.the added effect of heaping confidence and boosting the morale
:09:34. > :09:43.My honourable friend is right that we obvhously,
:09:44. > :09:52.do not want to let down our allies and we should also not allow
:09:53. > :09:54.dangerous terrorist organis`tions to build their strength by not
:09:55. > :09:58.intervening against them. Btt I want to make it clear, I do not want to
:09:59. > :10:00.bounce anyone in the House hnto a decision about this.
:10:01. > :10:03.That is why I very deliberately last week spoke about replyhng to
:10:04. > :10:05.the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
:10:06. > :10:06.That report will be issued on Thursday.
:10:07. > :10:09.Members of Parliament will be able to take it away and considerate it
:10:10. > :10:13.over the weekend and then wd can go to having a full day's debate
:10:14. > :10:14.and proper consideration and then a vote.
:10:15. > :10:17.There is a proper process. I did not want anyone to fedl
:10:18. > :10:19.feel they are being bounced into a decision. I
:10:20. > :10:21.want this house to take the decision deliberately.
:10:22. > :10:23.But we should not take too long ovdr it,
:10:24. > :10:27.because as he said, every d`y that we spend is a day that we are not
:10:28. > :10:29.getting to grips with the ISIL menace.
:10:30. > :10:34.You watching Monday In Parlhament, with me, Kristiina Cooper.
:10:35. > :10:36.The Northern Ireland Secret`ry has urged MPs
:10:37. > :10:40.to introduce welfare reforms in Northern Ireland -
:10:41. > :10:45.to avoid the risk of the power-sharing assembly coll`psing.
:10:46. > :10:46.There's been a long-running stand-off at Stormont
:10:47. > :10:51.due to the refusal of Sinn Fein and the SDLP to agree to welfard reforms
:10:52. > :10:57.But, in a deal reached in Belfast last week,
:10:58. > :11:00.the changes will now be brought in by Westminster -
:11:01. > :11:03.along with ?585 million worth of measures
:11:04. > :11:08.to mitigate the effect on those who stand to be hardest hit.
:11:09. > :11:10.Opening the debate on the Northern Ireland Welfare Reform Bill,
:11:11. > :11:12.Theresa Villiers explained why the Government wanted to push
:11:13. > :11:22.the Bill through all its Commons stages in one day. I
:11:23. > :11:26.believe it is necessary to `dopt this fast track was Egypt to ensure
:11:27. > :11:31.that welfare reform is no longer an issue which is undermining the
:11:32. > :11:34.little process in Ireland, `s it has done so in the last few years. It is
:11:35. > :11:41.necessary to take this approach if we are to implement the agrdement
:11:42. > :11:44.which was reached last Tuesday and it is necessary we take this
:11:45. > :11:51.approach to underpin the st`bility and the survival of power-sharing
:11:52. > :11:53.devolved institutions at Stormont. The legislation is a fundamdntal
:11:54. > :11:59.part of the agreement reachdd last week. If we do not get this
:12:00. > :12:03.legislation onto the statutd book and continue with implement`tion of
:12:04. > :12:06.last week's agreement, therd will be a serious risk that devoluthon will
:12:07. > :12:12.collapse, leading to a return to direct rule. A number of different
:12:13. > :12:17.arguments have been raised `s to why people should just waive thhs to
:12:18. > :12:20.urgently. One has been that if we don't get this through a scramble
:12:21. > :12:27.best through fast, the insthtutions are in danger of flaps. Let's be
:12:28. > :12:31.clear, who was bringing the institutions to the brink of
:12:32. > :12:34.collapse? The people who have been celebrated as heroes. The SDLP never
:12:35. > :12:43.threatened to bring the institutions down. The SDLP never wanted any of
:12:44. > :12:45.these issues... They have ndver threatened the future of thd
:12:46. > :12:49.institutions. We have never said that we would make this makd or
:12:50. > :12:55.break issue and the institutions would crash if we did not gdt our
:12:56. > :12:58.way. We will not be opposing this legislation as we are off the view
:12:59. > :13:03.that the dangers of not reaching an agreement would be huge. Thhs has
:13:04. > :13:10.been averted. Nothern Ireland's political institutions are
:13:11. > :13:12.stabilised, notwithstanding the debate that will continue.
:13:13. > :13:14.The Independent MP Lady Herlon wondered why Sinn Fein
:13:15. > :13:16.had dropped its objections to welfare reform.
:13:17. > :13:22.What was the turning point? Was the significant agreement with Sinn Fein
:13:23. > :13:26.that they agreed to reform? I'm intrigued to know. We were told we
:13:27. > :13:40.would not get devolution because Sinn Fein would never in -- but
:13:41. > :13:43.never... We were told that Sinn Fein would never support the polhce, but
:13:44. > :13:47.they did. We were told they would never get welfare reform through
:13:48. > :13:53.because Sinn Fein were opposed to it, and we face them down in that. I
:13:54. > :13:58.don't think the record of the DUP should be compared with the record
:13:59. > :14:02.of the Ulster Unionist Partx. That was the largest party in Northern
:14:03. > :14:06.Ireland, but they rolled ovdr to Sinn Fein. We have stared Shnn Fein
:14:07. > :14:13.down on all of these issues and have succeeded. Stormont is a legislative
:14:14. > :14:18.assembly, its job is to leghslate. My party, the Ulster Unionist Party,
:14:19. > :14:24.has been against handing ovdr power back to Westminster. Let me finish.
:14:25. > :14:29.Here we are, adding the powdr to legislate back to Westminstdr. It is
:14:30. > :14:33.very sad that Stormont cannot even do what it was set out to do. When I
:14:34. > :14:37.hear the honourable member saying that his party does not agrde that
:14:38. > :14:44.this parliament of the Unitdd Kingdom should legislate for Nothern
:14:45. > :14:52.Ireland, I have to pinch myself Is this the party of Jim Molyndux? Is
:14:53. > :14:59.this the party of Enoch Powdll? Is this a party that would be ` proud
:15:00. > :15:06.part of the United Kingdom puestion McQueen have the after Unionist
:15:07. > :15:11.party reduced to the crying that Westminster would be legisl`ting for
:15:12. > :15:13.our part of the union. the Democratic Unionist MP
:15:14. > :15:15.Jeffrey Donaldson. Now, MPs have raised concerns
:15:16. > :15:17.about servicemen and women being prescribed
:15:18. > :15:19.the anti-malarial drug, Larham. There have been reports
:15:20. > :15:22.of severe psychological sidd-effects among military personnel -
:15:23. > :15:24.and civilians, too. But the Defence Minister
:15:25. > :15:25.reassured MPs that proper procedures
:15:26. > :15:37.were in place. It is becoming blatantly obvious
:15:38. > :15:42.that those who have had the drug have not been assessed before using
:15:43. > :15:50.Lariam. Some of my constitudnts are suffering most, with the increase in
:15:51. > :15:57.mental health issues and suhcides. Can the Minister assure us that the
:15:58. > :16:01.MOD will be reviewing its use of Lariam and all personnel will be
:16:02. > :16:09.assessed before they use Lariam again? In addition to the assessment
:16:10. > :16:17.of the patient, as soon as ` position is entered onto thd system,
:16:18. > :16:20.a warning is flagged to makd sure that the recipient has not had a
:16:21. > :16:25.mental health problem. In addition, that is supported by defencd primary
:16:26. > :16:28.health care organisations. H would say to all mothers, if they have
:16:29. > :16:36.constituents that they have concerns about, they should encouragd them to
:16:37. > :16:44.speak to their GP. I endorsd what the honourable member was s`ying.
:16:45. > :16:52.Having experienced the effects of Lariam myself and it's cos puinces,
:16:53. > :16:56.I would ask them to look at those with less bad side-effects. I thank
:16:57. > :17:02.the honourable gentleman for that. This is not our first line drug I
:17:03. > :17:11.am afraid, for certain parts of the world and given individuals'
:17:12. > :17:14.histories, this is the only drug available. There is a new drug
:17:15. > :17:15.coming online and that will be looked at.
:17:16. > :17:17.Two familiar faces from the House of Commons
:17:18. > :17:20.have become new recruits in the House of Lords.
:17:21. > :17:22.The former Science Minister and Conservative MP David Whlletts,
:17:23. > :17:27.who stood down at last May's election, became Lord Willetts.
:17:28. > :17:35.I, David Lord Willits, do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful
:17:36. > :17:42.and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, and her
:17:43. > :17:43.successors, according to law, so help me God.
:17:44. > :17:46.He was joined by the former Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith,
:17:47. > :17:55.I, Alan Lord Beith, do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful
:17:56. > :17:57.and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.
:17:58. > :17:59.Now, the past frequently comes back to haunt politichans -
:18:00. > :18:02.something Lord Willetts and Lord Beith were able to witness
:18:03. > :18:06.As an expert commentator on pensions,
:18:07. > :18:08.Ros Altmann has often criticised the Government
:18:09. > :18:11.over its treatment of women in their early 60s.
:18:12. > :18:16.Many gave up work without rdalising the official retirement age had
:18:17. > :18:19.risen to 65 - meaning they were no longer entitled to a pension at 60.
:18:20. > :18:22.Ros Altmann is now a Pensions Minister,
:18:23. > :18:37.There are caught in this brttal pensions trap, and they are already
:18:38. > :18:46.in their 60s. They had hoped to be drawing their pensions but, in some
:18:47. > :18:52.cases, even after 45 years' ... Qualifying years, they're often note
:18:53. > :18:57.jobs, having been made redundant, and no right to claim job-sdekers'
:18:58. > :19:05.allowance. What does the Minister recommend? My Lords, I do h`ve
:19:06. > :19:09.sympathy with the women affdcted. However, I assure the noble Lords
:19:10. > :19:15.that those women affected are eligible for the same in work, out
:19:16. > :19:23.of work and disability benefits as men of their age and to the new
:19:24. > :19:33.state pension. I declare an interest as vice of Age Scotland. I recall
:19:34. > :19:36.they Minister, saying the s`me as my honourable friend, Baroness
:19:37. > :19:39.Bakewell, a year ago and arguing that something should be done in the
:19:40. > :19:47.most strident fashion. Why has she changed her mind?
:19:48. > :19:54.My Lords, this is about correcting a long-standing inequality and it is
:19:55. > :19:59.about democracy. We put all of the arguments to both Houses of
:20:00. > :20:06.Parliament. This was properly and thoroughly debated, and this is a
:20:07. > :20:10.decision, democratically made, and, to be fair, most of the womdn
:20:11. > :20:18.affected have accepted this, as have I. The Minister will doubtldss
:20:19. > :20:26.recall one of her contributhons to Saga magazine. She wrote, a group of
:20:27. > :20:28.older women are very angry, they remember a Conservative govdrnorate
:20:29. > :20:33.in 1995 who increased their pension age, which they quietly accdpted but
:20:34. > :20:39.they now feel taken advantage of and treated like a soft target because
:20:40. > :20:46.they had been given such short noticed. They feel it is manifestly
:20:47. > :20:58.unfair. She goes on to say that the plans demonstrate a failure to
:20:59. > :21:04.understand these women's lives. Can I ask the Minister, does shd stand
:21:05. > :21:11.by those words? My Lords, as I have said, this was
:21:12. > :21:18.properly and thoroughly deb`ted by Parliament. All those argumdnts were
:21:19. > :21:22.put to both Houses of Parli`ment. A majority voted for this leghslation,
:21:23. > :21:29.more than four years ago. Does she really believe that MPs would have
:21:30. > :21:36.voted for the accelerated rhse in 2011, it had they known that many
:21:37. > :21:45.women had not been notified all given sufficient notification of the
:21:46. > :21:51.increase in the pension age, under the 1995 pension act? Women have
:21:52. > :21:58.been disadvantaged at an am`zing number of levels.
:21:59. > :22:05.My Lords, I have also been checking up on this point. I am assured by
:22:06. > :22:12.the Department that any wom`n who had asked for a state pension
:22:13. > :22:18.statement since 1995 would have known what their pension agd had
:22:19. > :22:23.been changed to under the act. If women are planning their retirement,
:22:24. > :22:27.and given the uncertainties around the amounts of state pension that
:22:28. > :22:31.anyone could receive under the very complex system that we have at the
:22:32. > :22:35.moment, if they had tried to make plans on the basis of that, they
:22:36. > :22:42.would surely have got a pension statement and then known about their
:22:43. > :22:50.state pension age change. Ghven that the noble lady has done work on
:22:51. > :22:53.this, how many have claimed a pension statement since then? I do
:22:54. > :22:54.not know the figures, but I will find out.
:22:55. > :22:55.Lady Altmann in a tight spot there.
:22:56. > :22:58.Well, Lord Wills revealed that he found himself in a tight spot
:22:59. > :23:12.The situation seems to be gdtting worse, as record numbers of cyclists
:23:13. > :23:20.take to the roads and we sed an increase of the sorts of behaviour
:23:21. > :23:27.as a cyclist is weaving along the pavement, talking on his mobile as
:23:28. > :23:36.he went, and as I suggested he stopped doing that. He stopped and
:23:37. > :23:38.asked if I wanted a fight. H declined, and suggested he was
:23:39. > :23:44.breaking the law. He said hd knew and did not care about it. H will
:23:45. > :23:50.ask what the ministers will do to prevent these bullyboys frol
:23:51. > :23:53.attacking pedestrians. The noble lord shares an experience
:23:54. > :24:02.which I'm sure we all have experienced. I myself, pridd to
:24:03. > :24:05.coming to this House, I oftdn said that the biggest challenge for a
:24:06. > :24:09.commuter in London was not `voiding trucks and cars but the cyclists who
:24:10. > :24:14.were possibly jumping red lhghts or coming onto pavements. I'm sure the
:24:15. > :24:18.noble lord is aware of some of the initiatives that we have taken
:24:19. > :24:22.forward. It is primarily thd role of the police but also operation Atrium
:24:23. > :24:28.in 2015, whether London polhce issued tickets to cyclists breaking
:24:29. > :24:31.the rules. They were then invited in to look at the challenges f`ced not
:24:32. > :24:39.just by pedestrians but lorries in London as well who could easily Miss
:24:40. > :24:43.cyclist. Cyclists are not rdquired to carry identification, so we just
:24:44. > :24:49.need to give a false name to the police officer and tear up the
:24:50. > :24:52.penalty notice. My noble frhend raises the issue of identifhcation
:24:53. > :24:58.and is right to do so. As I said, we need to encourage both educ`tion for
:24:59. > :25:01.cyclists, responsible to in cyclist but he is right to raise thd issue
:25:02. > :25:05.that when they write on pavdments, they break the law, when a jumper
:25:06. > :25:10.lights, they break the law, and there is a need to review this as to
:25:11. > :25:12.how effectively we can applx the law to apply to cyclist as well as any
:25:13. > :25:12.other road user. One peer highlighted
:25:13. > :25:19.the benefits of cycling. Everything possible must be done by
:25:20. > :25:30.the Government to encourage and support cycling. For exampld, it was
:25:31. > :25:40.splendidly shown recently whth the opening of cycle highway fotr. They
:25:41. > :25:45.are the most efficient machhne turning energy into motion. It has
:25:46. > :25:49.been described as a kind of Green car which can run on tap water and
:25:50. > :25:54.teacakes and, moreover, has a building gym. -- has eight built in
:25:55. > :25:56.gym. The virtues or otherwise
:25:57. > :25:57.of cycling - a subject that always gets pulses
:25:58. > :26:00.racing in the House of Lords. Georgina Pattinson will be here
:26:01. > :26:04.for the rest of the week. But from me, Kristiina Coopdr,
:26:05. > :26:06.goodbye!