:00:10. > :00:10.Hello and welcome to Monday in Parliament,
:00:11. > :00:16.The planned strike by junior doctors has been suspended.
:00:17. > :00:18.Speaking ahead of the announcement, the Health Secretary sounded
:00:19. > :00:27.cautious optimism As Labour thrashes out plans for a free vote
:00:28. > :00:34.At weekends and during the, discussions led to a potenthal
:00:35. > :00:36.agreement early this afternoon, between the BMA leadership `nd the
:00:37. > :00:41.government. As Labour thrashes out on air strikes in Syria, Mps debate
:00:42. > :00:47.Britain and the Middle East. plans for after working through the
:00:48. > :00:48.weekend, discussions led to a potential agreement early this
:00:49. > :00:51.afternoon, between the BMA leadership and the government. As
:00:52. > :00:54.Labour thrashes out plans for a it is right that Britain should play a
:00:55. > :00:57.And in Westminster Hall - how far should a government come
:00:58. > :01:04.role IAS from the face of the the possibilities and say how dhfferent
:01:05. > :01:09.will those children's life Strike action by junior doctors
:01:10. > :01:11.was suspended late in the d`y. But faced with three days
:01:12. > :01:14.of planned action by junior doctors in England, the Health Secrdtary
:01:15. > :01:17.gave a statement to the House of It followed a weekend
:01:18. > :01:20.of negotiations with As Jeremy Hunt spoke to Mps,
:01:21. > :01:32.the BMA was considering what Mr Hunt chances be I think we could look at
:01:33. > :01:39.the possibilities and say how different will those childrdn's life
:01:40. > :01:42.chances government's commitlent to the NHS. Additional resourcds have
:01:43. > :01:48.to be matched with even safdr services for patients. That is why
:01:49. > :01:51.on the back of mounting academic evidence that mortality ratds are
:01:52. > :01:56.higher at weekends and during the week, we made an manifesto
:01:57. > :02:00.commitment to deliver a truly seven-day service for urgent and
:02:01. > :03:46.emergency care. Our plans are deliberately intended to be
:03:47. > :03:55.Hopefully common sense will prevail. A week and a half ago, I wrote to
:03:56. > :04:00.the premise to suggesting independent ACAS talks to rdsolve
:04:01. > :04:05.this dispute. My proposal w`s immediately supported by thd Academy
:04:06. > :04:11.of Medical Royal Colleges and accepted by the British Medhcal
:04:12. > :04:18.Association. Into the Government a further five days to agree to enter
:04:19. > :04:23.talks. The issue is, given that a number of operations have already
:04:24. > :04:27.been cancelled, is it's not the case that if the Health Secretarx had
:04:28. > :04:32.agreed to this proposal when it was first put to him, he could have
:04:33. > :04:37.avoided or at least mitigatdd any disruption to patients tomorrow As
:04:38. > :04:43.many studies have concluded, there needs to be much more research into
:04:44. > :04:49.why there is a weekend effect, so we can make sure we focus efforts on
:04:50. > :04:51.the actual problem. Will be housed separately -- Health Secret`ry today
:04:52. > :05:00.commit to commissioning new independent research into how
:05:01. > :05:03.informing independent... Max help improve the quality of weekdnd
:05:04. > :05:12.services? Does the understands that part of the problem has been that
:05:13. > :05:21.the... Differential mortality among patients admitted at the wedkend.
:05:22. > :05:27.We keep talking about extra people dying at weekends. If I could just
:05:28. > :05:36.again stress it is not excess deaths at weekends, implying hospitals look
:05:37. > :05:41.like the marry Celeste is, ht is people admitted at weekends who may
:05:42. > :05:45.die on any day of the week. Junior doctors are already covering the
:05:46. > :05:50.weekends. It is the additional services to diagnose and get people
:05:51. > :05:53.on their journey. If we could just focus on that. Unfortunatelx the
:05:54. > :05:57.Secretary of State on previous statements has moved from t`lking
:05:58. > :06:02.about excess deaths to talkhng about the consultant opt out clause which
:06:03. > :06:07.only applies to routine work and at O'Neill clinic on a Sunday will not
:06:08. > :06:12.save lives. When the statemdnt was repeated in the House of lords,
:06:13. > :06:16.there was news of progress. My Lords, can I just confirmed that I
:06:17. > :06:19.am very pleased to job has hn the last few minutes the BMA and the
:06:20. > :06:23.Government have reached an `greement which will allow time for
:06:24. > :06:27.negotiations to take place `nd the BMA has agreed to suspend industrial
:06:28. > :06:35.action, including that of tomorrow, and the Government has agredd to not
:06:36. > :06:40.proceed unilaterally with the new contracts. This is very good news.
:06:41. > :06:41.Lord prior bringing news of the suspension of the junior doctor s
:06:42. > :06:49.stripe. -- strike. Over the last few days,
:06:50. > :06:52.a lot of attention has been focussed on the Labour Party's posithon
:06:53. > :06:54.on airstrikes in Syria. A few hours after the Shadow Cabinet
:06:55. > :06:56.thrashed out an agreement giving Labour LPs
:06:57. > :06:59.a free vote, a Commons debate Only a few Labour Mps contrhbuted
:07:00. > :07:03.but there were plenty of - often reflective -
:07:04. > :07:09.speeches from the Scottish It is right that Britain should play
:07:10. > :07:13.a leading role with its allhes in eradicating houses from the face of
:07:14. > :07:18.the Earth. The difficult qudstion is how we use military force to
:07:19. > :07:22.construct it -- destructive and not destructive ends. On this point I do
:07:23. > :07:27.not believe we have yet got a sufficient answer. Military action
:07:28. > :07:31.never has reliable outcomes and it spreads fear and chaos. Protracted
:07:32. > :07:38.air strikes will do more harm than good if civilian casualties rise.
:07:39. > :07:42.Strikes are not the decisivd game changer but I believe they `re an
:07:43. > :07:46.important part of a bigger dffort. One of the things that worrhes me
:07:47. > :07:53.about this proposal of intervention in Syria is about our capabhlity.
:07:54. > :07:59.Not in terms of whether or not our Armed Forces are actually ddtermined
:08:00. > :08:05.enough, whether they are skhlled enough but actually whether or not
:08:06. > :08:13.they have the capability in terms of platforms. If we look at thd Gulf
:08:14. > :08:22.War 1991, we had 36 fast jet squadrons. Today we have seven. Only
:08:23. > :08:25.three of which are To not -, Tornado squadrons. I still have to be
:08:26. > :08:28.persuaded that the policy is likely to be effective and realisthc. I
:08:29. > :08:34.want to be persuaded but let me spell out my concerns and doubts.
:08:35. > :08:40.Above all, we must learn thd lessons of experience from Afghanistan, from
:08:41. > :08:45.Iraq, from Libya, all of whhch continue to haunt us. Albert
:08:46. > :08:50.Einstein said the definition of insanity is to keep on doing the
:08:51. > :08:56.same thing and expect a different outcome. I don't doubt therd is a
:08:57. > :08:59.robust military plan and th`t our military forces, which are surely
:09:00. > :09:04.the best in the world, will have the better of Daesh, be it from the air
:09:05. > :09:09.or the ground. It is worth reiterating that we on thesd benches
:09:10. > :09:12.are not a pacifist party and the Prime Minister would do well to
:09:13. > :09:18.remember that. Of course, it goes without saying, something mtst be
:09:19. > :09:22.done. Specifically to those who struck at the heart of Paris at
:09:23. > :09:26.fortnight ago. The lesson wd take from history is that it is not
:09:27. > :09:31.enough to say something must be done. I cannot support Brithsh
:09:32. > :09:36.military action in Syria at present and I will vote against any motion
:09:37. > :09:40.in this house this week. It is my view that the eradication of Daesh
:09:41. > :09:46.from Syria, Iraq and around the world is a necessary process and one
:09:47. > :09:49.in which the UK should be engaged, including in effective military
:09:50. > :09:52.action. I am not currently persuaded it would be lawful for the royal air
:09:53. > :09:56.force to bomb Syria. He and his family came to Britain to
:09:57. > :10:09.escape Saddam Hussein in thd 19 0s. Today I still capture the hdadlines
:10:10. > :10:13.have the imagination that they are just a symptom, potentially fatal
:10:14. > :10:17.symptom of a great rest at the heart of the most world. The rift has
:10:18. > :10:23.several parts, all matching and each at different layers. For decades, a
:10:24. > :10:29.stricter, puritanical interpretation of Sunni is lamb has prolifdrated
:10:30. > :10:35.across the region, tradition more enlightened forms have been rejected
:10:36. > :10:40.and this has led to more aggression and intolerance. As we watch Syria
:10:41. > :10:43.torn apart and Iraq stuck in political deadlock and thre`tened by
:10:44. > :10:45.the invasion of tampon, it has become clear to us that the new
:10:46. > :10:48.settlement is needed. The second phase
:10:49. > :10:51.of the high speed rail network, HS2 is to be opened six years
:10:52. > :10:53.earlier than originally planned The 43 mile section,
:10:54. > :10:55.between Birmingham and Crewd, The Transport Secretary,
:10:56. > :10:59.Patrick McLoughlin, promised the benefits would be great
:11:00. > :11:03.- and compensation generous. But the local MP for Stoke on Trent
:11:04. > :11:06.said people The Transport Secretary, Patrick
:11:07. > :11:17.McLoughlin, on the HS2 projdct. The government is committed to
:11:18. > :11:24.assisting people along the dight best to route. Therefore today I am
:11:25. > :11:28.launching a consultation on the proposals to implement the same
:11:29. > :11:33.long-term property assistance games for phase two a as for phasd one. As
:11:34. > :11:38.with phase one, the governmdnt proposes to go above and bexond what
:11:39. > :11:43.is required by law, including discretionary measures to hdlp more
:11:44. > :11:47.people. Mr Speaker, HS2 will deliver economic growth for this cotntry,
:11:48. > :11:53.not just in the immediate ftture, but also the long term. This is why
:11:54. > :11:57.we continue to commit to thhs essential project. Today marks a sad
:11:58. > :12:12.day for Stoke-on-Trent as otr campaign for a stop in Stokd for the
:12:13. > :12:14.second phase of HS2 hits thd buffers. We have argued that the
:12:15. > :12:16.rail line from London to Manchester could have been achieved more
:12:17. > :12:19.quickly and cheaper with a route through the potteries. Let le ask
:12:20. > :12:21.the Minister, the initial modelling for HS2 suggested a downgrade of
:12:22. > :12:25.services to Stoke-on-Trent based on cuts to existing inner-city services
:12:26. > :12:29.to cities such as Stoke and Leicester, can he confirm that is no
:12:30. > :12:33.longer the plan? The Departlent for Transport document speaks of working
:12:34. > :12:37.to attain broadly comparabld services to today and can I tell the
:12:38. > :12:41.Minister that my constituents are not interested in the expenditure of
:12:42. > :12:46.millions of pounds just for similar services. I fully accept th`t the
:12:47. > :12:50.importance that the high-spded train link which I think will comd to the
:12:51. > :13:10.whole region, he talks as it crew-macro is 100 miles awax from
:13:11. > :13:14.Stoke-on-Trent, it is liter`lly just up the road and just over the other
:13:15. > :13:16.side of the M6 as far as were the station may well go, so I vdry much
:13:17. > :13:19.look forward to the advantages serving not only Crewe, but also
:13:20. > :13:20.Stoke-on-Trent as well. We have seen the ombudsman finding HS2 gtilty of
:13:21. > :13:23.maladministration. The standing order use committee describdd their
:13:24. > :13:25.information as a shambles and a Freedom of Information requdst
:13:26. > :13:31.revealed a massive in actor and a Freedom of Information requdst
:13:32. > :13:36.revealed a massive in confidence can we have that today's announcement of
:13:37. > :13:40.a speeded up timetable for phase two of HS2 is not going to lead to an
:13:41. > :13:46.increased catalogue of mismanagement, mistakes and more
:13:47. > :13:49.misery for people along the route? Anything I say about HS2 as far as
:13:50. > :14:14.my right honourable friend hs concerned will not be met whth any
:14:15. > :14:17.kind of favour whatsoever, she has made her position clear. I believe
:14:18. > :14:18.it is essential for the long-term economic interests of the UK and
:14:19. > :14:21.particularly for our northern cities. That is why it is rhght to
:14:22. > :14:24.go ahead but I will not disliss those people directly affected and
:14:25. > :14:25.those people who have trouble at as a result of a major infrastructure
:14:26. > :14:26.project taking place. The Transport Secretary, Patrick
:14:27. > :14:28.McLoughlin, on the HS2 projdct. You're watching Monday
:14:29. > :14:30.in Parliament on BBC Parlialent Still to come -
:14:31. > :14:36.is your Christmas tip reachhng Steps are taken to insure that these
:14:37. > :14:40.employers who hold onto tips are named and shamed.
:14:41. > :14:42.Earlier this month, a BBC investigation found that
:14:43. > :14:45.schools in England were havhng to recruit all the year round
:14:46. > :14:47.and share job hopefuls, amid a drastic shortage of teachdrs.
:14:48. > :14:50.Head teachers say the number of new recruits is not keephng up
:14:51. > :14:56.with demand and sometimes there are no applicants for vacancies.
:14:57. > :14:58.The Government responded by saying teaching remained
:14:59. > :15:01.a hugely popular profession with the highest numbers joining since 2 08.
:15:02. > :15:07.Ministers were challenged over the figures at question timd.
:15:08. > :15:09.Recent Government figures show a 50% recruitment shortfall
:15:10. > :15:12.Is this a case for urgent and special attention?
:15:13. > :15:16.We continue to offer bursarhes for graduates to come in to
:15:17. > :15:19.teaching design and technology, we have also revised the curriculum,
:15:20. > :15:43.making it more attractive and rigorous qualification.
:15:44. > :15:46.There have been false in nulbers of students taking the GCSE
:15:47. > :15:50.and the A level of a number of years and to tackle that, we have improved
:15:51. > :15:52.the qualifications in this subject, which should follow through, I
:15:53. > :15:54.believe, into more people bdcoming graduates in these subjects
:15:55. > :15:58.Retention in teaching is a far bigger problem than recruitlent
:15:59. > :16:01.That is caused largely by the adverse workloads te`chers
:16:02. > :16:04.Can the Minister tell the House what specific steps
:16:05. > :16:06.his Government is taking to lessen teacher workloads in England?
:16:07. > :16:09.First of all, the doom-mongdring notions that he is setting hs wrong.
:16:10. > :16:11.87% of those who qualified in 2013 were
:16:12. > :16:14.72% of teachers who qualifidd in 2009 are still teaching five
:16:15. > :16:18.The honourable gentleman should stop talking down what is a very popular
:16:19. > :16:23.Indeed, we are also tackling the excessive workloads that
:16:24. > :16:31.teachers inherited from the previous Liberal Governlent
:16:32. > :16:33.-- teachers inherited from the previous Labour Governmdnt.
:16:34. > :16:34.My right honourable friend the Secretary
:16:35. > :16:36.of State had a workload challenge, we had three working groups
:16:37. > :16:39.specifically tasked with tackling those issues that are identhfied
:16:40. > :16:44.UCAS have reported a shortf`ll in trainee teachers
:16:45. > :16:48.What bold steps is the minister going to take to ensure that young
:16:49. > :16:52.people are taught by qualifhed teachers, in certain subjects.
:16:53. > :16:58.We have introduced very gendrous bursaries, to ?30,000,
:16:59. > :17:00.for top graduates in physics to come into teaching.
:17:01. > :17:06.If you look at this year's recruitment into teacher tr`ining
:17:07. > :17:09.compared with last year, in physics we've recruited 746
:17:10. > :17:11.graduates compared to 637 l`st year and, in mathematics, 2407 graduates
:17:12. > :17:22.There's more to do but we'rd in the right direction.
:17:23. > :17:24.Does the Secretary of State now except that there is a growhng
:17:25. > :17:29.We have always been very cldar that there is a challenge in terls
:17:30. > :17:34.While the overall vacancy hdadline rates are low, we are aware that
:17:35. > :17:40.there are issues in certain subjects and in certain parts of the country,
:17:41. > :17:42.which is why I announced thd creation of the National Te`ching
:17:43. > :17:47.It's good to see that the Sdcretary of State is now accepting that there
:17:48. > :17:49.is a growing problem of teacher shortage.
:17:50. > :17:51.It stands in contrast to sole of the answers given earlier
:17:52. > :17:58.Because there was an import`nt report out last week that should
:17:59. > :18:02.showed half all schools had unfilled vacancies at the start of this
:18:03. > :18:05.academic year and, to try and plug these gaps, one in four schools are
:18:06. > :18:09.One in six are using non-spdcialist teachers to cover vacancies.
:18:10. > :18:12.And more than one in ten schools are resorting to using unqu`lified
:18:13. > :18:17.Does the Secretary of State think this is good for
:18:18. > :18:23.raising standards in schools or does she think this isn't happenhng?
:18:24. > :18:26.What I think is needed is for all of us on all sides of
:18:27. > 1:31:04the House to recognise the dnormous contribution that teachers lake
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Those who try to talk down teaching at every opportunity,
1:31:05 > 1:31:04talking about the problems, do our schools and education service
1:31:05 > 1:31:04One of the issues, one of the subjects were recruitment is hardest
1:31:05 > 1:31:04So she might like to reflect on the fact that in 13 years of her
1:31:05 > 1:31:04party being in power, the tdaching of modern foreign-language `nd the
1:31:05 > 1:31:04studying of taking exams absolutely plummeted, which means it's much
1:31:05 > 1:31:04harder now to find those sttdents to teach modern foreign languages.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04The Education Secretary Nicky Morgan.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Ministers have faced fresh calls for a tax on sugary soft drhnks
1:31:05 > 1:31:04A Labour MP, who admitted she's a martyr to chocolate cravings,
1:31:05 > 1:31:04said the amount of prematurd deaths and health complications brought
1:31:05 > 1:31:04about by poor diet meant thd issue should be taken seriously.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04I think we face a real health emergency in this
1:31:05 > 1:31:04country, led to an epidemic and sugar is one of the worst ctlprits.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04There is sugar added to processed food and that actually changes
1:31:05 > 1:31:04If you look at a small can of drink, there can be up to nine teaspoons
1:31:05 > 1:31:04And the result of that is that we are all growing bigger
1:31:05 > 1:31:0430% of our children are now overweight or obese.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04This is the responsibility of parents.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04But also the responsibility of many of those companies who
1:31:05 > 1:31:04produce these goods, who have shown a level of responsibility.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04The size of confectionery, of the average Mars bar, has become
1:31:05 > 1:31:04There is more information now on all of these products.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04About the amount of fat, thd amount of sugar in these products.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04In many ways, we are living in a more responsible
1:31:05 > 1:31:04and are informed consumers, both young and old, that are there today.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04That is where the responsibility lies
1:31:05 > 1:31:04and that responsibility has been put into place to a large extent.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Would you agree with me that actually
1:31:05 > 1:31:04the voluntary approach to the food and drink industry isn't working?
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Because, frankly, I'm afraid, and contrary to what
1:31:05 > 1:31:04the honourable gentleman is saying, they are not takhng
1:31:05 > 1:31:04responsibility to reformulate sugary drinks and some of them havd as much
1:31:05 > 1:31:04as 14 teaspoons of sugar, double the daily recommended amount
1:31:05 > 1:31:04of sugar and that's why we need a regulatory approach.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04But I come back to that point about whether Government also has
1:31:05 > 1:31:04a responsibility for the he`lth of the nation's children.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Should any of us feel it is acceptable that we are conddmning
1:31:05 > 1:31:04one in four, a quarter, of the most disadvantaged children in Britain to
1:31:05 > 1:31:04And if there's something we can do about it that simply nudges
1:31:05 > 1:31:04a different way, I think we could look at the possibilities
1:31:05 > 1:31:04in this and say, how differdnt would those children's life chancds be?
1:31:05 > 1:31:04The chair of the Health Comlittee, Dr Sarah Wollaston
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Tipping on your credit card was brought up in
1:31:05 > 1:31:04the House of Lords, with ond Liberal Democrat concerned customers may not
1:31:05 > 1:31:04realise their festive gesture of goodwill may not reach the member
1:31:05 > 1:31:04This Christmas, many restaurant customers may decide
1:31:05 > 1:31:04to be particularly generous to those who serve them well
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Does the Minister accept that many of these ctstomers
1:31:05 > 1:31:04will be unaware that servicd charges paid by credit card is
1:31:05 > 1:31:04And that the staff providing the service may not receive any of
1:31:05 > 1:31:04this money or that some restaurants chains deduct a proportion
1:31:05 > 1:31:04It is clear the voluntary gtidelines about making restaurant polhcies
1:31:05 > 1:31:04in relation to tipping and service charge is properly known
1:31:05 > 1:31:04My noble Lord is quite right that some of these tipping practhces are
1:31:05 > 1:31:04not as they should be and is the code of practice, which
1:31:05 > 1:31:04was brought in in 2008, did list a number of areas where the tipping
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Such as making sure that all members of staff and all customers were
1:31:05 > 1:31:04We will be looking at all these issues raised from the constltation,
1:31:05 > 1:31:04which finished on November the 10th, and in time we will come
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Could the noble Lord the Minister explain to us how he will protect
1:31:05 > 1:31:04the requirement to make surd that everyone
1:31:05 > 1:31:04in the country benefits frol the living wage without dilttion
1:31:05 > 1:31:04from factors including other matters but particularly tipping?
1:31:05 > 1:31:04My Lords, just sticking, initially anyway, to the relation
1:31:05 > 1:31:04of the National Minimum Wagd where the Government, his Governmdnt,
1:31:05 > 1:31:04the whole country's Governmdnt, the Labour Government of 2008-2 09,
1:31:05 > 1:31:04ensured that when they brought in this voluntary code of practice
1:31:05 > 1:31:04that the tips and gratuities should not be used to up-rate wages to meet
1:31:05 > 1:31:04As far as the living wage is concerned, my lords, that whll be
1:31:05 > 1:31:04coming in this year and that will help many of our lower paid.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04The Autumn Statement last wdek referred to lower productivhty
1:31:05 > 1:31:04in the UK than in other countries and I can imagine that one's desire
1:31:05 > 1:31:04to work hard may be diminished with the knowledge that one's employer
1:31:05 > 1:31:04I think the voluntary code introducdd
1:31:05 > 1:31:04in the other place clearly hs not working and would the Minister
1:31:05 > 1:31:04please ensure that following the evidence review steps are taken
1:31:05 > 1:31:04to ensure these employers who hold onto tips are named and shaled.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04The minister replied that all issues were being considered.
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Great Britain's Davis Cup tdam have been congratulated in Parli`ment
1:31:05 > 1:31:04after winning the famous tennis trophy for
1:31:05 > 1:31:04The Speaker, John Bercow, led tributes having witnessdd the
1:31:05 > 1:31:04As a guest of the Lawn Tennis Association, it was my
1:31:05 > 1:31:04pleasure and privilege to bd present in Gent to observe the Davis Cup
1:31:05 > 1:31:04final over the weekend. I fdel sure that the whole house will whsh to
1:31:05 > 1:31:04join me in expressing congratulations to the victorious
1:31:05 > 1:31:04British team. Captained by Leon Smith, it
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Featured legend airily Andy Murray, Jamie Murray, James Ward, Kxle
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Edmond, Dan Evans and Dominhc in clot. It was a superb team dffort to
1:31:05 > 1:31:04secure the cup and be the world champions of tennis for the first
1:31:05 > 1:31:04time for Britain since 1936. How fitting it was that the victory was
1:31:05 > 1:31:04sealed by a performance both outstanding and majestic. Bx Andy
1:31:05 > 1:31:04Murray. We congratulate each and every one of them.
1:31:05 > 1:31:05Georgina Pattinson's here for the rest of the week - but