0:00:17 > 0:00:18Hello and welcome to Monday in Parliament.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20The main news from Westminster.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Passions run high as MPs debate airdropping food and supplies
0:00:24 > 0:00:27to desperate Syrians.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29What Britain stands for on the world stage
0:00:29 > 0:00:30is being challenged.
0:00:30 > 0:00:31This is a test.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34There is no risk-free course of action left,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37but I believe there's a right course of action.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42If this house wants to carry out airdrops in a non-benign
0:00:42 > 0:00:50environment, expect our aircraft to be brought down.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Also on the programme: Labour MPs say the social care system
0:00:53 > 0:00:58is on the verge of collapse.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00The Prime Minister didn't have an answer to this
0:01:00 > 0:01:01last Wednesday.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04When is the minister responsible going to have an answer?
0:01:04 > 0:01:06And, there's dismay over the unprecedented number of suicides
0:01:06 > 0:01:08in prisons this year.
0:01:08 > 0:01:14This disgraceful figure of suicides owes much to the situation which,
0:01:14 > 0:01:18frankly, the government has created.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21But first, over the last two weeks the Syrian Government -
0:01:21 > 0:01:23backed by Russia and Iran - has intensified its mission
0:01:23 > 0:01:26to re-establish control over eastern Aleppo.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Aleppo is the second largest city in Syria and one of the oldest
0:01:29 > 0:01:32cities in the world.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34The eastern area has been in the hands of
0:01:34 > 0:01:35rebels for four years.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Life for ordinary citizens is brutal.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Air strikes have killed or injured thousands of people and destroyed
0:01:40 > 0:01:43homes and hospitals.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Now, food is running out - which means civilians,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48many of them children, may starve to death.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51There's been talk, in past Commons debates, about airdropping food
0:01:51 > 0:01:55and essential supplies into the area.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57But some MPs believe it is the only option left.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00A Minister was summoned to the Commons to answer an urgent
0:02:00 > 0:02:02question on the matter.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04The last functioning hospital was put out of action
0:02:04 > 0:02:07on the 19th of November.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Humanitarian access has been deliberately blocked by the regime
0:02:10 > 0:02:15and its allies over four months now.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Leading the 275,000 civilians in eastern Aleppo to face
0:02:19 > 0:02:22imminent starvation.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25He said addressing the dire situation in Syria was a priority
0:02:25 > 0:02:27for the Government.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30There can be no military solution to this conflict.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35What is needed is for the regime and its backers to return
0:02:35 > 0:02:38to diplomacy and negotiations on political settlement based
0:02:38 > 0:02:43on transition away from President Assad.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48The MP who secured the urgent statement said there
0:02:48 > 0:02:49was something they could do.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50The government envoy said.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53The government have always said that airdrops are a last resort,
0:02:53 > 0:02:54and I understand that.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57But Gareth Bailey, the UK's special representative to Syria,
0:02:57 > 0:02:58has tweeted about Aleppo today.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Situation in Aleppo could not be more dire.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Every hospital out of service, official food stocks run out,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06nowhere for civilians to run.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10He called Aleppo a coffin.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12Does the Minister agree that the government needs an urgent
0:03:13 > 0:03:15strategy to protect civilians?
0:03:15 > 0:03:17When hundreds of thousands of civilians are being starved
0:03:17 > 0:03:21and bombed into submission, we must consider airdrops.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23It's time for a last resort.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Mr Speaker, what Britain stands for on the world stage is
0:03:26 > 0:03:27being challenged.
0:03:27 > 0:03:28This is a test.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31There is no risk-free course of action left,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34but I believe there's a right course of action.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37That does not stand and watch as one of the great cities
0:03:37 > 0:03:38of the world is destroyed.
0:03:38 > 0:03:44Let us not allow 100,000 to starve in eastern Aleppo.
0:03:44 > 0:03:51She must understand, I think it's been repeated in this
0:03:51 > 0:03:54House before, that were we to do unilateral or even multilateral
0:03:54 > 0:03:56airdrops, it places us in harm's way, and in conjunction
0:03:56 > 0:04:01with what is already a complicated air environment.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03He harked back to August 2013 when the Commons voted
0:04:03 > 0:04:07against air strikes in Syria.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Britain has the ability and the aspiration to
0:04:11 > 0:04:16play a significant role on the world stage.
0:04:16 > 0:04:22We in 2013 in August had that opportunity, Mr Speaker.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23And we blinked.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27We had an opportunity there to hold Asssad to account.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30And because of that, we've ended up with a situation
0:04:30 > 0:04:34whereby both Russia and Daesh have come in.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36And the question I come to this House...
0:04:36 > 0:04:45What are you doing now?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48The question I pose to this House, and to the honourable lady who
0:04:48 > 0:04:50screams from the seats, is that unless this Parliament gives
0:04:50 > 0:04:53the Executive the support that we need, then our hands
0:04:53 > 0:04:54are tied on what we can do.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Let us be clear, nobody in this House is underestimating
0:04:57 > 0:04:58the complexity and risks involved.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00But with no alternatives, the thousands facing death
0:05:00 > 0:05:03if they do not get immediate supplies of food and medical
0:05:03 > 0:05:07equipment, these are risks that we must be prepared to take.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11So can I ask the Minister once more, will he take the urgent steps
0:05:11 > 0:05:15required today, to agree a plan for airdrops
0:05:15 > 0:05:20by British planes with the UN and our international partners?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22As has been called for by the White helmets, whose representatives
0:05:22 > 0:05:24are also met last week.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27She is now advocating that British aeroplanes,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Hercules aircraft or otherwise, go into Syrian airspace
0:05:29 > 0:05:33and make those drops.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35They will be shot down.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38As my honourable friend, the member for the Armed Forces.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41I'm not aware that the UN has actually requested airdrops
0:05:41 > 0:05:43per se at the moment.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46I'm not saying that they will not be ruled out.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48I'm not saying who should actually do those airdrops as well,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52it could very well be that we can coordinate and make those happen.
0:05:52 > 0:05:53They're not being dismissed.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56I simply share with the house that it is hugely complicated,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59and having been in the Armed Forces, involved in airdrops
0:05:59 > 0:06:03on a number of occasions, many of the occasions when the drop
0:06:03 > 0:06:06zone is particularly small, the kit lands in the wrong place
0:06:06 > 0:06:08and goes to the very people that you don't actually
0:06:09 > 0:06:19want to receive it.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22No practical challenge
0:06:22 > 0:06:23should be too tough.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26No political obstacles too insurmountable to do the right thing
0:06:26 > 0:06:28by these people whose suffering is growing day by day.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30And who could fail to be moved by the seven-year-old
0:06:30 > 0:06:32who is tweeting live from Aleppo when bombs
0:06:32 > 0:06:34are falling upon her, asking for help?
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I've organised airdrops in a benign environment.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41And that's the ideal situation, because airdrops are low.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43They're not high, they're low.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47And aircraft carrying them out are very vulnerable.
0:06:47 > 0:06:53Now, if this house wants to carry out airdrops in a non-benign
0:06:53 > 0:07:02environment, expect our aircraft to be brought down.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08If that's the risk this Parliament wishes to take, please
0:07:08 > 0:07:12in future vote for it.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16And everyone in this house should take responsibility for that vote
0:07:16 > 0:07:23when an RAF aircraft containing seven or eight people are brought
0:07:23 > 0:07:25into the ground and everyone is killed, because that is
0:07:25 > 0:07:32the responsibility this House will have to bear.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Bob Stewart, speaking during an intense debate
0:07:34 > 0:07:37about airdrops into Syria.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Now, the arguments about last week's Autumn Statement -
0:07:39 > 0:07:43setting out the Government's economic plans - rumble on.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Ministers have been accused of neglecting social care -
0:07:46 > 0:07:49practical support to help older and disabled adults live
0:07:49 > 0:07:51as independently as possible.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Labour MPs say the system is on the verge of collapse.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58But Ministers insist they are putting in enough money.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Yesterday the former Health Secretary commented
0:08:01 > 0:08:03on the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, saying
0:08:03 > 0:08:07that it was a mistake not to provide extra investment in the social care
0:08:07 > 0:08:09system which is inadequately funded.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Lastly, directors of social services described social care
0:08:11 > 0:08:14as in real jeopardy.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17And the Conservative leader of Warwickshire said it is no
0:08:17 > 0:08:21exaggeration to say that our care and support system is in crisis.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24The Minister says he is providing extra money, but when is this
0:08:24 > 0:08:28government going to wake up and provided the funds that
0:08:28 > 0:08:32are actually needed to prevent the whole system from collapse?
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Well, I can say that during the spending review last
0:08:35 > 0:08:39year, we consulted carefully with the sector.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43We spoke with the LGA, looked at length at what they said.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47They said that we should have ?2.9 billion extra funding available
0:08:47 > 0:08:53for adult social care across the spending period.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55And we've provided up to ?3.5 million.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57The Care Quality Commission has said that the social care system's
0:08:57 > 0:08:58about to topple over.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00The Local Government Association says that councils can't cope
0:09:01 > 0:09:02with the cost pressures.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03And much of the funding the Minister's talked
0:09:03 > 0:09:06about is either repackaged funding or funding that won't kick
0:09:06 > 0:09:07in until late in this decade.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11When is he going to come clean about the scale of the crisis,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14take his head out of the sand and actually lobby the Treasury
0:09:14 > 0:09:16to make sure that promised money for 2020's brought forward,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and we actually get to grips with this crisis?
0:09:20 > 0:09:22I would say to the honourable gentleman that this
0:09:22 > 0:09:23is not repackaged money.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27This is new money for adult social care, up to ?3.5 billion across this
0:09:27 > 0:09:28spending review period.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33He mentioned the LGA, and their report.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36And what I would say in relation to that is that they're absolutely
0:09:36 > 0:09:40right that the key to this is better integration between health
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and social care, and the ?1.5 billion we're providing
0:09:43 > 0:09:45through the better care fund is the best way
0:09:45 > 0:09:48in which we continue to promote that.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50The mood lightened, briefly, when the Speaker realised he had
0:09:50 > 0:10:00to choose between the Eagle sisters.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Well, I am loathe to come between sisters,
0:10:02 > 0:10:03and especially between twins!
0:10:03 > 0:10:05But, Angela Eagle.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Thank you, Mr Speaker, you may cause me some trouble
0:10:07 > 0:10:11later this evening.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14In the last six years, this government has cut social care
0:10:14 > 0:10:20funding by nearly ?5 billion.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24In my own authority of Wirral, there's now a ?3.5 million hole
0:10:24 > 0:10:27the budget only halfway through the year.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31The system is on its knees, and there is an 18% increase
0:10:31 > 0:10:38in emergency admissions to hospital as a result of this.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40The Prime Minister didn't have an answer to this
0:10:40 > 0:10:41last Wednesday.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45When is the Minister responsible going to have an answer?
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Mr Speaker, we have enabled councils to raise additional
0:10:48 > 0:10:52funding through the adult social care precept.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56But I would say to the honourable lady, this is all about priorities
0:10:56 > 0:11:00in the way in which local government allocates its finance.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03And what I would say to her is that she might
0:11:03 > 0:11:06want to have a word with her local council leader and their group,
0:11:06 > 0:11:11who sought to spend ?270,000 on a propaganda newspaper.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Is that a good value for money, when they're saying they need more
0:11:14 > 0:11:16for social care?
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Maria Eagle.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25I'm very grateful to follow my sister.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30As I always have.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Liverpool City Council, which covers most of my constituency,
0:11:34 > 0:11:39raises ?146 million in council tax every year because of the council
0:11:39 > 0:11:41tax base that it has.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46This year, it has spent ?151 million on adult social care,
0:11:46 > 0:11:53yet this government since 2010 and its predecessor has cut 50%
0:11:53 > 0:11:55of the budget that Liverpool City Council has
0:11:55 > 0:12:00to fulfil its statutory obligations.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01-- 58%
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Is the Minister really saying that Liverpool City Council
0:12:03 > 0:12:06is in a position to spend any more on adult social care,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09which it needs to do, without more money coming
0:12:09 > 0:12:14from central government?
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Well, I would refer the honourable lady to the indicative allocations
0:12:18 > 0:12:21that we made in terms of the better care fund, which takes into account
0:12:21 > 0:12:25the ability for particular councils to raise council tax.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30I would also say to her that Liverpool, in terms of their average
0:12:30 > 0:12:33spending power per dwelling, gets ?100 more than
0:12:33 > 0:12:36the national average.
0:12:36 > 0:12:43And she might want to also have a discussion with her council
0:12:43 > 0:12:45leader how they improve the collection of council tax,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48which is well below the national average in Liverpool.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49The Local Government Minister, Marcus Jones.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51It has just come to light that low-income families -
0:12:51 > 0:12:54with a disabled child - have lost out on thousands of pounds
0:12:54 > 0:12:58in tax credit payments.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00The underpayments,which were between 2011 and 2014,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02occurred after the Department for Work and Pensions failed
0:13:02 > 0:13:04to share data with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07HMRC said it would repay money owed for last year -
0:13:07 > 0:13:09but not earlier years.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14One MP raised the issue with the Speaker as a point of order.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17At the weekend, it was revealed that thousands of families
0:13:17 > 0:13:19with disabled children, including in my constituency,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23have lost out up to ?4400 a year in tax credits
0:13:23 > 0:13:27after an administrative error by the DWP.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30This is as a result of the DWP failing to inform HMRC
0:13:30 > 0:13:33about families' eligibility for the award over a three-year
0:13:33 > 0:13:41period, and has resulted in an estimated 20,000 families
0:13:41 > 0:13:44where children have qualified for DLA during 2011-2014, missing
0:13:44 > 0:13:46out on an additional
0:13:46 > 0:13:47tax credit premium of
0:13:47 > 0:13:51between ?60 and ?84 a week.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54At last it's Autumn Statement, the government set aside
0:13:54 > 0:14:01?360 million over six years to ensure these families
0:14:01 > 0:14:03who were eligible for child disability tax credits
0:14:03 > 0:14:07could be awarded this money.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10However, the payments will be backdated only to April 2016,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13meaning individual families may have lost out on the entitlement
0:14:13 > 0:14:15totalling up to ?25,000 over the past five years.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Mr Speaker, can I ask if you have had any indication from the Work
0:14:19 > 0:14:21and Pensions Secretary, or any other Minister,
0:14:21 > 0:14:25that they will come to this house and make a statement so we can
0:14:25 > 0:14:27clarify the impact upon our constituents?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30If not, could you give us any other guidance of how we might raise
0:14:30 > 0:14:32this issue in this House and scrutinise ministers on it
0:14:32 > 0:14:34at the earliest opportunity?
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Well, I'm grateful to the honourable lady for her point of order,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41and for her courtesy in offering me some advance notice of it.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44The short answer to the enquiry towards the end of her point
0:14:44 > 0:14:54of order as to whether I have received any indication of unlikely
0:14:55 > 0:14:57-- a likely ministerial statement on the matter is no.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00But he suggested raising the matter with Treasury Ministers or trying
0:15:00 > 0:15:01to secure a debate in Westminster Hall.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03You're watching Monday in Parliament, with me,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Kristiina Cooper.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08A record number of inmates have taken their own lives in prisons
0:15:08 > 0:15:10in England and Wales this year.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13That's according to the prison reform charity, the Howard League.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17The Howard League said there had been 102 suicides so far in 2016 -
0:15:17 > 0:15:22the highest since its records began in 1978.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25The Labour peer, Lord Beecham, wanted to know what action
0:15:25 > 0:15:27the Government was going to take.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30In its prisons White Paper, the Government devotes all of four
0:15:30 > 0:15:32paragraphs to health issues, and promises a review.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Given the role of NHS England and Public Health England,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37they promise a joint approach to the commissioning of prison
0:15:37 > 0:15:41health services, with responsibility for budgetary and clinical decisions
0:15:41 > 0:15:44and quality remaining with commissioners and providers,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48and with governors taking a joint responsibility.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50But most crucially, there is no mention of any additional funding
0:15:50 > 0:15:53in the context of the NHS, which is also in the throes
0:15:53 > 0:15:58of a growing crisis, of which no extra funding
0:15:58 > 0:16:05was promised in the Autumn Statement.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Has the Ministry of Justice made any estimate of the cost of tackling
0:16:09 > 0:16:10the health crisis in our prisons?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12And will the Department of Health foot the bill,
0:16:12 > 0:16:14thereby increasing the pressure on the NHS?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Isn't it high time for the Government to recognise that
0:16:16 > 0:16:19extra funding needs to be found for the prison health service,
0:16:19 > 0:16:21and not at the expense of the mainstream NHS budget?
0:16:21 > 0:16:25My Lords, I do accept that we are in a very serious situation.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29My right honourable friend, the secretary of State,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32has publicly acknowledged that the levels of violence
0:16:32 > 0:16:37in our prisons are too high.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40She has also said that we are addressing it,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42and that is what the White Paper set out to do,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44with a comprehensive reform of our prison system.
0:16:44 > 0:16:53That is why she made it quite clear there would be an extra 2500
0:16:53 > 0:16:55extra officers by 2018.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59I accept 2018 is some way off, so that is why she made it quite
0:16:59 > 0:17:01clear that there would be, starting with the most
0:17:01 > 0:17:04challenging prisons, an extra 400 officers
0:17:04 > 0:17:09by March of next year.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13The crisis requires urgent action.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18Many more staff in weeks and very few months, not years.
0:17:18 > 0:17:24An end to prisoners having to spend 23 hours in their cells.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27An end to mental health prisoners being placed in segregation
0:17:27 > 0:17:32when we need more secure hospital places.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37A serious attack on overcrowding, starting immediately.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40I do wish that noble lords and ministers would stop
0:17:40 > 0:17:43talking about extra staff.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48They are not extra staff, but they are replacement staff,
0:17:48 > 0:17:52which were wilfully cut, as the noble Lord Marks has said.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56I do wish, too, that ministers would stop taking a long-term view
0:17:56 > 0:18:03of what has been exposed as being a crisis by successive
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Chief Inspectors of Prisons over many years and has been ignored.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11And most recently, it was raised by the Prison Governors Association,
0:18:11 > 0:18:18who called for a public enquiry into the state of our prisons.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20And they should know, because they are on the receiving
0:18:20 > 0:18:22end of what is happening in prisons.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27This disgraceful figure of suicides owes much to the situation which,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30frankly, the Government has created.
0:18:30 > 0:18:38I do hope that the noble lords, who I know has more expertise
0:18:38 > 0:18:40in this than anyone else, that the noble lord will accept
0:18:40 > 0:18:43that we are doing all that we can in this matter.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Effective, humane and cost-effective solution to this does not lie
0:18:47 > 0:18:50inside the prisons at all, or how you treat prisoners,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54it depends on how you treat young people so that they do
0:18:54 > 0:18:58not become criminals.
0:18:58 > 0:19:04The path to criminality is easily detected as it begins.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Very frequently, simply in being excluded from school
0:19:06 > 0:19:10and driven onto the streets without supervision.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Small resources would have big results.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Staying with the Lords, Labour peers have been demanding
0:19:16 > 0:19:18to know more about any assurances given to Nissan by Ministers
0:19:18 > 0:19:22in the days before the Japanese firm confirmed it would be
0:19:22 > 0:19:26expanding its car-making operations in the northeast of England.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Last month, Nissan revealed plans to manufacture two new models
0:19:30 > 0:19:35at its Sunderland plant, safeguarding more than 7000 jobs.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38This question was originally put down when assurances
0:19:38 > 0:19:45were given to Nissan, regarding Brexit and the EU.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Now, it remains topical, because everybody else
0:19:48 > 0:19:51is still waiting for a reply.
0:19:51 > 0:19:56So will the Government confront this uncertainty?
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Will they show some leadership and give the sense of direction
0:19:59 > 0:20:03that's needed to enable and encourage the investment
0:20:03 > 0:20:06and the organisation, so that everybody else can get
0:20:06 > 0:20:09on with the job of raising the productivity that we
0:20:09 > 0:20:11so desperately need?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14My Lords, as I made clear, we will be publishing
0:20:14 > 0:20:18an industrial strategy.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21We will be publishing it later this year.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And there aren't many days to go until the year ends,
0:20:24 > 0:20:26and the noble lord can wait for that occasion.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31Does the Government agree that any special Brexit deal for Nissan,
0:20:31 > 0:20:36as intimated by the noble lord who asked the question, or any special
0:20:36 > 0:20:45deal for any other car-makers isn't even necessary?
0:20:45 > 0:20:51Because EU car-makers sell us 2.4 cars for every car we sell them.
0:20:51 > 0:20:58And they enjoy 64% of our domestic car-makers.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Also, my Lords, there are 2.5 million jobs in the EU
0:21:01 > 0:21:05selling things to us then we have selling things to them.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09So isn't it in the EU's interest to continue in free trade with us
0:21:09 > 0:21:19in the car and indeed other sectors?
0:21:22 > 0:21:24My Lords, we look forward to Nissan producing
0:21:24 > 0:21:25many cars as they do.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28We are grateful for the fact that they have put such faith
0:21:28 > 0:21:31in the North East and this country, and 7000 jobs and a great many
0:21:31 > 0:21:34others in the supply stream are dependent on that.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36My Lords, we also look forward to continuing to trade
0:21:36 > 0:21:37freely with Europe.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Is the noble lord the Minister aware that some 200 American companies
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and 50 companies from Japan have located in Wales in order to sell
0:21:43 > 0:21:45into the European market, and that any system of financial aid
0:21:45 > 0:21:49to industry has to be open, equally accessible and transparent
0:21:49 > 0:21:55so that companies like Ford, Toyota, Airbus and Siemens aren't
0:21:55 > 0:21:59disadvantaged in regards to their competitors?
0:21:59 > 0:22:03As my right honourable friend made clear in the other place,
0:22:03 > 0:22:09there has been no compensation package for Nissan.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Given that the need for assurances arises wholly and solely out of this
0:22:13 > 0:22:15country's impending departure from the European Union and the
0:22:15 > 0:22:19single market, why does the Government feel so inhibited
0:22:19 > 0:22:24about publicising, so that it can be examined, the assurances given
0:22:24 > 0:22:33to see whether their is in fact a special deal, and maybe it
0:22:33 > 0:22:36and maybe it could be imparted to all the other companies
0:22:36 > 0:22:37that will be affected?
0:22:37 > 0:22:39My Lords, what I made clear is that there was no
0:22:39 > 0:22:41compensation package to Nissan.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43That has been something that my right honourable friend,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46the Secretary of State, has made clear, and my noble
0:22:46 > 0:22:49friend has made clear when she repeated that statement
0:22:49 > 0:22:53on the 30th of October.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57And finally, measures to restrict internet pornography so children
0:22:57 > 0:23:00do not find it by accident will be among the most robust in the world,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02according to the Government.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05But the Culture Minister, Matthew Hancock, admitted that adult
0:23:05 > 0:23:08content on platforms such as Twitter will not be covered
0:23:08 > 0:23:11by the Digital Economy Bill.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13The Bill was back in the Commons after being scrutinised
0:23:13 > 0:23:21in detail by a committee.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23The introduction of a new law, requiring appropriate age
0:23:23 > 0:23:25verification measures for online pornography is a bold step,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27and it has many challenges.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29It represents the first stage of ensuring commercial suppliers
0:23:29 > 0:23:30of pornographic material are rightly held responsible
0:23:30 > 0:23:32for what they provide and profit from.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35When the internet brings incredible and unlimited opportunities,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38it also has the potential to change the way younger generations
0:23:38 > 0:23:43grow up to understand and experience healthy relationships.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46And delivering on this manifesto commitment to stop children
0:23:46 > 0:23:48and young people's access to online pornographic sites
0:23:49 > 0:23:51remains our priority.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54We want to get this right, and the provisions in this Bill,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56I believe, enable us to do that.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00One of the means by which young people are now accessing pornography
0:24:00 > 0:24:03more and more is through social media and sites like Twitter.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Can he say how his age verification requirements
0:24:06 > 0:24:10are going to apply to Twitter?
0:24:10 > 0:24:15The age verification requirements apply to the commercial
0:24:15 > 0:24:17provision of pornography.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Now, commercial provision is not only paid for,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23it's also that which is provided for a commercial return.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25There is a difference between websites that provide
0:24:25 > 0:24:34commercial pornography and platforms on which others can upload images.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39Getting this right around that second group is much harder
0:24:39 > 0:24:41than around the first group.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44One of these things that this Bill does is that it deals
0:24:44 > 0:24:46with the publication of pornography.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49But one of the things that we need to do is help
0:24:49 > 0:24:52children be more resilient, and actually understand
0:24:52 > 0:24:58that these images are not normal sexual behaviour,
0:24:58 > 0:25:05are the kind of violence that should not be part of relationships.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08And yet, when we look at the research by NSPCC and others,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11we learn that children, particular boys,
0:25:11 > 0:25:18think this is normal.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20What discussions has he had with the Department for Education
0:25:20 > 0:25:22to try and build greater resilience among children to some
0:25:22 > 0:25:25of the images that, despite the efforts in this Bill,
0:25:25 > 0:25:26they will see?
0:25:26 > 0:25:27The Minister replied that he entirely agreed,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29and conversations on this were taking place with
0:25:29 > 0:25:31the Department for Education.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34No more conversations from us though, because that's it
0:25:34 > 0:25:35from Monday In Parliament.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Alicia McCarthy will be here for the rest of the week.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41But from me, Kristiina Cooper, goodbye!