0:00:10 > 0:00:12Hello and welcome to Monday in Parliament.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15The main news from Westminster.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17On her first Commons outing as Prime Minister,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Theresa May declares she would be prepared to press
0:00:19 > 0:00:27the nuclear button.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30The whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies know
0:00:30 > 0:00:32that we would be prepared to use it.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Several Labour MPs back the Prime Minister but the Labour
0:00:34 > 0:00:51leader Jeremy Corbyn argues against nuclear weapons.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53issues, have always argued for a nuclear free world.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54Also on the programme...
0:00:54 > 0:00:57A message to the people of France in the wake
0:00:57 > 0:00:58of the attack in Nice last week.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Now, Theresa May has made her first appearance in the House
0:01:01 > 0:01:02of Commons as Prime Minister.
0:01:02 > 0:01:08I call the Prime Minister!
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Since arriving in Number Ten last Wednesday there have
0:01:11 > 0:01:13been two major events.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17I am sure the whole house will join me in sending our deepest
0:01:17 > 0:01:21condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the last
0:01:21 > 0:01:28week's horrible attack in Nice.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33Innocent people murdered by terrorists who hate the freedom that
0:01:33 > 0:01:36we treasure and want nothing more than to destroy our way of life.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38We will never be cowed by treasure.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Although the battle against terrorism may be long, the
0:01:42 > 0:01:55terrorists will be defeated.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58I also want to talk that the serious events
0:01:58 > 0:02:01in Turkey.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06We have condemned the actions of the military who in
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Turkey.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11The issue she chose for her first outing as Prime Minister
0:02:11 > 0:02:13was the UK's nuclear weapons programme - Trident.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16It's an issue around which the Conservative Party can unite.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18That's not the case for Labour though.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is strongly opposed
0:02:20 > 0:02:24to Trident while many Labour MPs are supporters.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28There is no greater responsibility as Prime Minister than ensuring the
0:02:28 > 0:02:31safety and responsibility of our people.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34That is why I've made first responsibility in this House to move
0:02:34 > 0:02:37this motion so that we can get on
0:02:37 > 0:02:44with a part of our national-security for generations to come.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46For almost half a century, almost every hour or
0:02:46 > 0:02:48of every day, our Royal Navy
0:02:48 > 0:02:54nucleus of Marines have been patrolling the oceans, unseen and
0:02:54 > 0:02:59undetected - our ultimate defence against nuclear attack.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04A Labour backer of Trident was quick to speak up.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Will she be reassured that was over she might hear from our front bench,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12it remains stepped fastly Labour policy to renew the deterrent while
0:03:12 > 0:03:17other countries have the capacity to threaten the United Kingdom and many
0:03:17 > 0:03:21of our colleagues will do the right thing for the long-term security of
0:03:21 > 0:03:25our nation and a vote to complete the programme that we ourselves
0:03:25 > 0:03:30started in government?
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Can I commend the honourable gentleman
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Can I commend the honourable gentleman for the words he has just
0:03:37 > 0:03:44said, he is right.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Keeping our nuclear weapons is necessary for our safety,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48that she accept the logic
0:03:48 > 0:03:52that every other country must seek to acquire them and does she think
0:03:52 > 0:03:58the world would be safer if that was the case?
0:03:58 > 0:04:02No,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I don't accept that.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07She and members of the Labour Party seem to be the
0:04:07 > 0:04:13first to defend the country's enemies and the last to accept...
0:04:13 > 0:04:17She said the threats from Russia and North Korea remained real.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20We must continually convince any potential aggressors that the
0:04:20 > 0:04:23benefits of an attack on Britain are far outweighed by their consequences
0:04:23 > 0:04:26and we cannot afford to relax our garden and put our country in
0:04:26 > 0:04:37danger.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41So is she personally prepared to authorise the nuclear
0:04:41 > 0:04:44strike that could kill 100,000 men, women and children?
0:04:44 > 0:04:45Yes.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47And I have to say to the honourable gentleman,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51the whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies need to know that
0:04:51 > 0:04:56we would be prepared to use it.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Unlike some suggestion that we could have a nuclear deterrent but not
0:04:59 > 0:05:02actually be willing to use it, which seem to come from the Labour Party
0:05:02 > 0:05:03front bench.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06The Labour leader started by congratulating Theresa May -
0:05:06 > 0:05:10and joking about Labour's leadership woes.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14I wish her well in that position and I'm glad that her election was quick
0:05:14 > 0:05:18and short.
0:05:18 > 0:05:23As for replacing Trident, he said the funds involved were massive.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25We must also consider the complex both moral and strategic issues of
0:05:25 > 0:05:30our country possessing weapons of mass destruction.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35There is also the question of its utility.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Do these weapons of mass destruction, because
0:05:38 > 0:05:42that is what they are, act as a deterrent to the threats we face,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45and that deterrent credible?
0:05:45 > 0:05:48The motion, Mr Speaker, says nothing of the costs involved,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51which are ballooning ever upwards.
0:05:51 > 0:05:59We on these benches, despite our differences
0:05:59 > 0:06:02have always argued
0:06:02 > 0:06:05for the aim of a nuclear free world.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09We might differ on how it can be achieved, but are united in our
0:06:09 > 0:06:14commitment to that end.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Last year, party conference voted overwhelmingly in favour
0:06:16 > 0:06:18of maintaining the nuclear deterrence.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20So why are we not had
0:06:20 > 0:06:22hearing that from the dispatch box now?
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Party policy is to review our
0:06:24 > 0:06:26policies, that is why we have reviews.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27The SNP is also opposed to Trident renewal.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31It is a poor indictment of the new administration that the first motion
0:06:31 > 0:06:34in Parliament is to renew Trident, when there are so many other issues
0:06:34 > 0:06:40facing the country in the context of Brexit.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44It is obscene that the priority of this government and too
0:06:44 > 0:06:48many people on the Labour benches, that at a time of austerity and
0:06:48 > 0:06:53uncertainty, it is to spend the lives of pounds on outdated nuclear
0:06:53 > 0:07:00weapons that we do not want, do not need and could never use.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04With debt, deficit and borrowing levels
0:07:04 > 0:07:08forecast to get worse after Brexit, and with more than ?40 billion to be
0:07:08 > 0:07:11cut from public services by 2020, spending ?167 billion, or ?179
0:07:11 > 0:07:18billion, or ?205 billion, or whatever the number, the government
0:07:18 > 0:07:27is not prepared to tell us what it actually is, is an outrage.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29After nearly six hours of heated debate, the Commons voted
0:07:29 > 0:07:33to continue with the UK's nuclear weapons programme.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38The police and intelligence agencies have launched a review of security
0:07:38 > 0:07:42measures in the UK in response to last week's attack in Nice.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45A Tunisian man killed 84 people by driving a lorry into crowds
0:07:45 > 0:07:51celebrating Bastille Day before he was shot dead by French police.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Speaking in the Commons for the first time in her new post
0:07:54 > 0:07:58of Home Secretary, Amber Rudd said action was being taken to make sure
0:07:58 > 0:08:02large events planned in the UK would be as safe as possible.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04On Friday, following the attack in Nice, the police,
0:08:04 > 0:08:09intelligence and security agencies took steps to review our
0:08:09 > 0:08:11own security measures and ensure that we have robust
0:08:11 > 0:08:14procedures in place.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17And I am receiving regular updates.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19All police forces have reviewed upcoming events taking place
0:08:19 > 0:08:23in their regions to ensure that security measures
0:08:23 > 0:08:26are appropriate and proportionate.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Amber Rudd condemned the attack as brutal and cowardly and had
0:08:29 > 0:08:33a message for the people of France.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37What happened in Nice last Thursday was cruel and incomprehensible.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40The horror and devastation is something many people will live
0:08:40 > 0:08:42with for the rest of their lives.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44We know you are hurting, we know this will
0:08:45 > 0:08:47cause lasting pain.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49So let me be quite clear.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51We will stand with you.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54We will support you in this fight and together, with our partners
0:08:54 > 0:08:57around the world, we will defeat those who seek
0:08:57 > 0:09:01to attack our way of life.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05This was an act of indiscriminate and sickening brutality,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07made all the more abhorrent by the targeting of
0:09:07 > 0:09:10families and children.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15Ten children and babies were killed, 50 more are still being treated.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Many more have been orphaned and left with lasting psychological
0:09:17 > 0:09:18scars.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Unlike other attacks, this one was not planned
0:09:20 > 0:09:24by a cell with sophisticated tactics and weapons.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27A similar attack could be launched anywhere at any time.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30And that is what makes it so frightening and so difficult
0:09:30 > 0:09:31to predict and prevent.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34He promised a united front against extremism but
0:09:34 > 0:09:37questioned elements of the government's strategy.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39In the wake of Paris, in her predecessor almost promised
0:09:39 > 0:09:42to protect police budgets but that has not been honoured
0:09:42 > 0:09:47and there are real terms cut to the police this year.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Will the new Home Secretary pledged today to protect police budgets
0:09:50 > 0:09:53in real terms going forward?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55She mentions the Prevent programme.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58I have to say I do not share her complacent view
0:09:58 > 0:09:59of what it is achieving.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02In fact, some would say it is counter-productive,
0:10:02 > 0:10:09placing a climate of suspicion and mistrust and far
0:10:09 > 0:10:11from tackling extremism, creating the very conditions
0:10:11 > 0:10:12for it to flourish.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16There is nothing complacent on this side of the House about what we do
0:10:16 > 0:10:18to address terrorism and dangerous ideology.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21I accept that there is always more to do but he should not
0:10:21 > 0:10:26underestimate what has been achieved so far by the Prevent strategy.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29There are many people who have been deterred from going to Syria.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Michael Gove made his contribution from the backbenches
0:10:32 > 0:10:36since his sacking as Justice Secretary last week.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39There is a distinction between the ideology of Islamist
0:10:39 > 0:10:43extremism that animate organisations like Daesh, and which is driven
0:10:43 > 0:10:47by prejudice and hate, and the great religion of Islam.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Which is a religion of peace, which bring spiritual
0:10:49 > 0:10:52nourishment to millions.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55And is it not vital in the days ahead that while we focus
0:10:55 > 0:10:58on countering extremism, we also underlines the benefits
0:10:58 > 0:11:04that the faith of Islam has brought to so many.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Questioning turned to how the attacker had been radicalised.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Does she agree with me, whatever the truth of it as it emerges,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12the Internet remains a key battle ground in our fight
0:11:13 > 0:11:15against terrorism?
0:11:15 > 0:11:19And will she do all she can to work with Europol and Interpol to make
0:11:19 > 0:11:25the Internet companies do more to take down the subversive videos?
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Amber Rudd said the government was doing all it could to stop
0:11:28 > 0:11:33the internet being used to radicalise people.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35As chair of our group d'amitie between the two parliaments,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39may I just encourage my good friend the Secretary of State,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43we served on the Council of Europe together on many of these issues,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45de donner a nos amis Francais notre solidarite,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48nos pensees, et notre encouragement.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Nous sommes avec vous maintenant et pour toujours.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Hear, hear!
0:11:55 > 0:11:57My honourable friend is entirely right.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Nous sommes avec vous.
0:11:59 > 0:12:08And then I will return to the English, I think.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11But I was able to speak to my French counterpart this morning,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Bernard Cazeneuve, and I would also say in part response to the right
0:12:14 > 0:12:17honourable gentleman, that of course we will continue our very strong
0:12:17 > 0:12:18friendship and mutual support for the French,
0:12:18 > 0:12:19whatever the outcome.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Amber Rudd, the new Home Secretary there.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Her appointment formed part of a drastic changing of the guard
0:12:25 > 0:12:27last week when Theresa May hired, shifted and fired a host
0:12:27 > 0:12:31of Government Ministers.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Several Cabinet Ministers were given new jobs and there were a lot
0:12:34 > 0:12:37of changes in the junior ranks, too.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39One surprise appointment was Andrew Percy, who has
0:12:39 > 0:12:46a reputation for speaking his mind.
0:12:46 > 0:12:47Andrew Percy.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Thank you.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54I share the House's surprise...
0:12:54 > 0:12:58With permission Mr Speaker, I will answer questions
0:12:58 > 0:13:0113 and 17 together.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03This government remains committed to growth
0:13:03 > 0:13:07This government remains committed to growth and infrastructure
0:13:07 > 0:13:09While the UK
0:13:09 > 0:13:14While the UK remains a member of the EU, current
0:13:14 > 0:13:17funding remains unchanged and it will be for the government
0:13:17 > 0:13:19to work out the new arrangements for new funds.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23There wasn't such a warm welcome, though, from a Labour MP.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28He was part of a campaign which not only promised ?350 million a week
0:13:28 > 0:13:33for the NHS if we left the European Union.
0:13:33 > 0:13:38They also said that any funding would be matched.
0:13:38 > 0:13:50Can you confirm that the ?115 million for
0:13:50 > 0:13:53the EU is destined for Stoke is underwritten
0:13:53 > 0:13:54by this government.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Tell the pottery they are going to get their money!
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I am pleased the honourable gentleman
0:14:01 > 0:14:03took such an interest in my campaigning.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08We have made it clear that while the EU funds have
0:14:08 > 0:14:13delivered some important support for growth and jobs, they have only been
0:14:13 > 0:14:15a small part in a much larger investment by this government.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19It will be for the government to set out in times when we exit the
0:14:19 > 0:14:21European Union, the funding arrangements and the guarantees that
0:14:21 > 0:14:25we hope to get to get the certainty across government once that process
0:14:25 > 0:14:26begins.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Here's another new Minister - Gavin Barwell - answering a question
0:14:29 > 0:14:31on the green belt.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34The government is committed to strong protection and enhancement
0:14:34 > 0:14:37of green belt land.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Most building is inappropriate and should be refused planning
0:14:39 > 0:14:42permission unless in very special circumstances.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Philip Davies.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Mayor welcomed the minister although you pointer to no longer
0:14:48 > 0:14:51be my whip.
0:14:51 > 0:15:01Laughter there because Philip Davies often votes against his party.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I wish the honourable friend good luck and his new whip the best
0:15:04 > 0:15:05of luck as well.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08He should see a description of the kind of development
0:15:08 > 0:15:10which is appropriate in the green belt and a strong view
0:15:10 > 0:15:12that the inappropriate development not be approved
0:15:12 > 0:15:17except in special circumstances.
0:15:17 > 0:15:24One major, but less well publicised, surprise was the departure
0:15:24 > 0:15:28of Lady Stowell, who has been Leader of the Lords for two years.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30The day in the Lords started with tributes to Lady Stowell.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Labour's leader in the Lords recalled how she handled the same
0:15:33 > 0:15:35sex marriage bill.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38She brought both political judgment and humour to what might have
0:15:38 > 0:15:41been difficult debate.
0:15:41 > 0:15:48Who will ever forget her explanation on adultery?
0:15:48 > 0:15:51She explained that if she was married to George Clooney
0:15:51 > 0:15:53under the then existing law, and I quote, should I wish
0:15:53 > 0:15:57to divorce Mr Clooney on those grounds, I would do
0:15:57 > 0:15:59so on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03But in future, if the noble Lord, Lord Ali, was to marry Mr Clooney,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06and Mr Clooney was to have an affair with me, and she added,
0:16:06 > 0:16:08and who would blame him in the circumstances?
0:16:08 > 0:16:10That would be adultery and the noble Lord, Lord Ali,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13should he choose to, would be able to divorce Mr Clooney
0:16:13 > 0:16:15on those grounds.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19The wit and careful thought she brought to that debate helped us
0:16:19 > 0:16:21all better appreciate the details.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25And there was a tribute from the new Leader of the Lords.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29It is greatly to her credit that the legislative programme
0:16:29 > 0:16:31of the first Conservative government for nearly 20 years was delivered,
0:16:31 > 0:16:36despite there being no Conservative majority in this place.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39And as a whip on several much debated bills, I have the battle
0:16:39 > 0:16:44scars to prove just how difficult that was.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46While I am, I know, a newcomer, I have a deep appreciation
0:16:46 > 0:16:49and admiration for the important role this House plays
0:16:49 > 0:16:53in governing our great country.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I am honoured to have been asked to be a member of the Cabinet
0:16:56 > 0:16:59by the new Prime Minister but I'm particularly proud to be leader,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Leader of the House of Lords and by that, I mean leader
0:17:03 > 0:17:08of the whole house, not just the Conservative benches.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10You're watching Monday in Parliament, with me,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Kristiina Cooper.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18The Government has been accused of behaving fraudulently
0:17:18 > 0:17:23over its decision to change the terms for students paying
0:17:23 > 0:17:24back their university loans.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27The threshold at which repayment begins has been frozen at ?21,000.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Previously, the level rose each year in line with average earnings.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32An e-petition has so far attracted over 130,000 signatures,
0:17:32 > 0:17:46so a debate on the issue was organised.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48The worst thing about this decision, it seems
0:17:48 > 0:17:50to me, is that it is retrospective,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53so that students who took out a loan at the beginning of this process,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57and let's remember some of them were only 18 when they did so,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01have found the conditions of that loan changed without any right
0:18:01 > 0:18:07of appeal or any course to any other relief.
0:18:07 > 0:18:14of appeal or any recourse to any other relief.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Now, as people have said quite rightly, if this were a commercial
0:18:17 > 0:18:19organisation, they wouldn't be allowed to do that,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22but the standards that the government imposes on others,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24it seems, it isn't prepared to adhere to itself.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28I'm sure the Minister is a literate and intelligent man and can work it
0:18:28 > 0:18:31out for himself but, if he looks at the political impact
0:18:31 > 0:18:35of this versus the fiscal gain, I think he will see that it's
0:18:35 > 0:18:38basically not an objective that is worth pursuing,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41because part of the rationale for the government doing this is not
0:18:41 > 0:18:44that they wish to be faithless towards students
0:18:44 > 0:18:48but that their country's circumstances demand that.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Going on to the country's circumstances, if it is the case,
0:18:51 > 0:18:58and the Chancellor has told us several times that the country's
0:18:58 > 0:19:02finances are in an upward trend and we are in a more buoyant position.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07The Prime Minister said the other day the economy
0:19:07 > 0:19:09was left in a very strong position.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Why do we need to do worse things than we did in 2010?
0:19:12 > 0:19:13I don't follow the logic.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15She made the calculations about what she could afford
0:19:15 > 0:19:18on the basis of that trust that she put in the government,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22and now she expects to pay thousands more over the life of her loan,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25because perhaps in her area of study she's going to graduate
0:19:25 > 0:19:28with an incredibly socially useful degree, fulfilling a very positive
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and useful role in our society, but isn't necessarily going to be
0:19:31 > 0:19:33a high earner.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38This is, she said to me, more than just about money.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42A retrospective change, she said, will destroy any trust that she has
0:19:42 > 0:19:44in the student finance system and, perhaps more significantly,
0:19:44 > 0:19:49in the political system as a whole.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53In total, 73% of graduates are now expected to never fully pay
0:19:53 > 0:20:04off their debts, in comparison with 32% under the old system.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Figures from the Royal College of Nursing show that it would take
0:20:07 > 0:20:10247 years to repay an NHS loan on a staff nurse's salary.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13I know that life expectancy is increasing, but I hadn't quite
0:20:13 > 0:20:17realised the government expected it to be on that scale.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19The measure doesn't apply in Scotland but one SNP MP
0:20:19 > 0:20:24said his email inbox showed his constituents were concerned.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28I have never met a nurse or a teacher or a social worker
0:20:28 > 0:20:32who enrolled as a student in those professions in order to get rich.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37I've never known a student nurse or student teacher or social worker
0:20:37 > 0:20:40that could have told me on the day they matriculated or the day
0:20:40 > 0:20:43of their graduation how much they expected to get paid
0:20:43 > 0:20:44over their lifetime.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It's simply not part of what brings people into these vital and,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51all too often, undervalued professions.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54So let's stop saying that these changes are minor because they don't
0:20:54 > 0:20:55make that much difference
0:20:55 > 0:20:58to somebody's long-term lifetime earnings.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02They are enough to deter people who are scared of the idea
0:21:02 > 0:21:05of leaving university with a student loan debt three times as much
0:21:05 > 0:21:08as their first annual pay packet.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12I recognise the strength of feeling on this issue,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16but we as a government have to balance the interests
0:21:16 > 0:21:19of the students who benefit from higher education and those
0:21:19 > 0:21:20of general taxpayers.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24We have taken difficult decisions but, in the process,
0:21:24 > 0:21:26we've underpinned the financial sustainability of our student
0:21:26 > 0:21:29funding system in a manner that enables us to lift student number
0:21:29 > 0:21:32controls and ensure that more young people proportionately are able
0:21:32 > 0:21:34to benefit from university than ever before.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Now, what role - if any - does Parliament now have
0:21:37 > 0:21:40in the process of the UK withdrawing from the European Union?
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Members of the House of Lords devoted all of their daily question
0:21:43 > 0:21:46time to different aspects of this vexed issue.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49There are grave uncertainties in the operation of modern law
0:21:49 > 0:21:52concerning the royal prerogative, not least in relation
0:21:52 > 0:21:56to going to war and the BBC Charter, but the most pressing
0:21:56 > 0:22:00is the requirement relating to the triggering of Article 50
0:22:00 > 0:22:03to leave the European Union.
0:22:03 > 0:22:071050 barristers have, most unusually, given free advice
0:22:07 > 0:22:10to the nation, that the consent of Parliament is necessary.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15Other lawyers say that it is a matter of prerogative alone.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20Can the Minister disentangle these competing views and say
0:22:20 > 0:22:26whether Parliamentary consent is necessary?
0:22:26 > 0:22:32Well, the government's position is that there is no legal obligation
0:22:32 > 0:22:35to consult Parliament on triggering Article 50,
0:22:35 > 0:22:39and I understand that there is, as the noble Baroness rightly
0:22:39 > 0:22:41alluded to, a court case beginning to trundle its way
0:22:41 > 0:22:44through the courts, and that will have to make its way.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Beyond what I said, there is nothing further for me to add at this point,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50other than what I have just said.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53The fact that the government does not legally require the consent
0:22:53 > 0:22:56of Parliament does not mean that government cannot bind itself
0:22:56 > 0:22:59to seek Parliament's authority before entering
0:22:59 > 0:23:01into particular action.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04That is what the government has done in relation to entering
0:23:04 > 0:23:06into armed conflict.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10And can I just put it to my noble friend that sometimes ministers
0:23:10 > 0:23:13are not allowed to say things that we all know are perfectly
0:23:13 > 0:23:15obvious, that ministers of government must seek the approval
0:23:15 > 0:23:21of both Houses of Parliament before notifying under Article 50.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24I hear what the noble Lord says.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Given that my noble friend was my first boss, I hear it
0:23:28 > 0:23:30very much so.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34It is inconceivable that the royal prerogative should be used
0:23:34 > 0:23:35to withdraw statutory rights.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Isn't that what we had an argument with Charles I about in
0:23:38 > 0:23:39the 17th century?
0:23:39 > 0:23:42That's an interesting observation, my lords.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45This is not just a matter of the triggering of Article 50.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49It's the whole process ahead of us that is a matter of concern to both
0:23:49 > 0:23:50Houses of Parliament.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Does the Minister recall that, throughout the referendum campaign,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54there were constant calls to restore the sovereignty
0:23:54 > 0:24:00of the British Parliament, not least from Messieurs Davis,
0:24:00 > 0:24:01Fox and Johnson.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04We also were told regularly that we should take back control.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Who is in control?
0:24:06 > 0:24:07Is it the British Parliament?
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Who is answerable to the British Parliament?
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Is it one of those three?
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Another Minister had a shot at answering
0:24:12 > 0:24:13these constitutional questions.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Parliament is sovereign but, of course, the executive has certain
0:24:16 > 0:24:20prerogative powers, which it exercises in international legal
0:24:20 > 0:24:24matters, including the making and unmaking of treaty,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26and that remains the position.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Now, last Friday the funeral of Labour MP Jo Cox took place.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Jo Cox was stabbed and shot just over a month ago
0:24:33 > 0:24:36in her constituency, Batley and Spen.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Her death caused shock and horror in the UK and across the world.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43At her funeral, hundreds of people lined the streets of Batley
0:24:43 > 0:24:45to pay their respects.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Jo Cox leaves behind her husband, Brendan, and two children.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51The Speaker, John Bercow, shared one example of how her death
0:24:51 > 0:24:54is being commemorated.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59I have received a letter from the President of the Chamber
0:24:59 > 0:25:02of Deputies of Italy, telling me that her chamber has
0:25:02 > 0:25:06established a cross-party committee on intolerance,
0:25:06 > 0:25:13xenophobia, racism and hate crime, and have decided to name it
0:25:13 > 0:25:17the Cox Committee after our colleague,
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Jo Cox.
0:25:21 > 0:25:27In the president's words, and I quote, through this act,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30we will contribute to keeping the memory of Jo Cox
0:25:30 > 0:25:36and of what she stood for alive.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38The Speaker telling MPs about the creation
0:25:38 > 0:25:41of the Cox Committee in the Italian Parliament.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Well, that's it from Monday in Parliament.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Alicia McCarthy will be here for the rest of the week but,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49from me, Kristiina Cooper, goodbye.
0:26:01 > 0:26:02Good morning.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05A summer scorcher on the way for most of you but then again
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Monday wasn't too bad.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09We had some cloud in northern parts of the country,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11sunshine elsewhere, temperatures widely in the mid-to-high 20s,