:00:16. > :00:18.Hello and welcome to Monday in Parliament, our look
:00:19. > :00:25.The Northern Ireland Secretary says he's still focused
:00:26. > :00:28.on a return to power sharing - his Labour shadow calls
:00:29. > :00:34.for the Prime Minister to be at the forefront of negotiations.
:00:35. > :00:42.He could tell her to get more involved, get on a plane to Belfast,
:00:43. > :00:43.I am sure Arlene Foster would not mind.
:00:44. > :00:45.Pressure from all sides of the House of Commons
:00:46. > :00:57.There are 17 million families being ripped off. Ofgem proposals will
:00:58. > :00:59.deal with at most 3 million, a 40 million are still being preyed on by
:01:00. > :01:01.the big six. Fish shawls cannot be maintained
:01:02. > :01:13.unilaterally. The Northern Ireland Secretary,
:01:14. > :01:15.James Brokenshire, has said he believes a deal
:01:16. > :01:17.between the parties is Northern Ireland remains
:01:18. > :01:19.achievable but has warned that He said that long term funding
:01:20. > :01:23.decisions could not be Because of the snap general
:01:24. > :01:29.election, an extended deadline of 29 June had been set for forming
:01:30. > :01:32.a power-sharing executive. That was, of course, last Thursday,
:01:33. > :01:38.and did not result in a deal. In the past few days since
:01:39. > :01:41.the passing of the deadline some progress has continued to be made
:01:42. > :01:44.including on the most challenging issues such as language,
:01:45. > :01:48.culture and identity. But gaps remain between the parties
:01:49. > :01:51.on a defined number of The Government remains
:01:52. > :01:57.committed to working with the parties and the Irish Government
:01:58. > :02:00.to find a way to close these gaps quickly in order to reach
:02:01. > :02:04.an agreement which will pave the way for the restoration
:02:05. > :02:11.of devolved government. I am clear that the return
:02:12. > :02:13.of inclusive devolved government by a power-sharing
:02:14. > :02:16.executive is what would be profoundly in the best interests
:02:17. > :02:21.of Northern Ireland. And that will remain our
:02:22. > :02:23.overriding focus in the The UK Government will
:02:24. > :02:30.continue to govern in the interests of everyone
:02:31. > :02:33.in Northern Ireland by providing political stability
:02:34. > :02:34.and keeping an open parties and the Irish Government in
:02:35. > :02:38.accordance with the well established Questions must now be
:02:39. > :02:48.asked about what more his Government can do to assist
:02:49. > :02:51.the parties in moving forward. It was encouraging
:02:52. > :02:53.that the Prime Minister picked up the phone to the leaders
:02:54. > :02:57.of the DUP and Sinn Fein on Friday But I would invite the Secretary
:02:58. > :03:07.of State, in this new spirit of free speech
:03:08. > :03:09.that seems to be abroad in the Conservative Party to agree
:03:10. > :03:12.with me that the Prime Minister could do a bit more,
:03:13. > :03:15.that he could tell her to get more involved herself,
:03:16. > :03:17.indeed get on a plane to I'm sure that Arlene Foster
:03:18. > :03:20.wouldn't mind lending Owen Smith said the Prime Minister
:03:21. > :03:27.ought to take a more prominent role It is her reliance
:03:28. > :03:32.on the DUP that is being cited by other interlocutors
:03:33. > :03:35.at the talks as part of the reason So I agree with the Secretary
:03:36. > :03:39.of State that the hiatus cannot continue for much longer
:03:40. > :03:42.but I would like to hear more from him about what he is going
:03:43. > :03:45.to do to resolve it. Because of it isn't with greater
:03:46. > :03:47.hands-on involvement by the Prime Minister
:03:48. > :03:58.and the Taoiseach, as I and others have suggested,
:03:59. > :04:01.is there a role for a new independent, impartial,
:04:02. > :04:02.international perhaps, chairman of the talks, with
:04:03. > :04:06.In the past that too has played an important
:04:07. > :04:10.His party's deal with the DUP makes reaching a deal more difficult.
:04:11. > :04:12.But does he consider the link between
:04:13. > :04:13.his ministerial colleague, the parliamentary
:04:14. > :04:15.Department for Exiting the European Union, and
:04:16. > :04:17.the Constitutional Research Council, which made the
:04:18. > :04:20.questionable Brexit donation to the DUP to be an additional and
:04:21. > :04:29.Why did it take three years from the consultation on increasing
:04:30. > :04:35.transparency in Northern Ireland's political donations to get the
:04:36. > :04:38.position where the Government is now announcing that it will be bringing
:04:39. > :04:41.The murk that surrounds this whole affair at times
:04:42. > :04:43.makes it increasingly difficult to trust that that is true
:04:44. > :04:47.Can he confirm that unless we have a fully up and running
:04:48. > :04:49.executive we cannot implement the corporation tax which will
:04:50. > :04:53.Regrettably, in answer to the question, the answer is
:04:54. > :04:57.without an executive being in place the devolution corporation tax
:04:58. > :05:01.cannot happen, and I think it underlines one of many reasons why
:05:02. > :05:05.an executive is needed to get on to see that vision of prosperity,
:05:06. > :05:08.further investment taking place, and how an executive
:05:09. > :05:17.I do not often hanker after the days of Tony Blair but I have to
:05:18. > :05:23.say that if we had reached this state under his premiership we would
:05:24. > :05:26.have seen not just involvement by the Prime Minister but active
:05:27. > :05:33.It is a matter of regret, with all due respect to the
:05:34. > :05:35.Secretary of State, that the Prime Minister is not here today.
:05:36. > :05:37.The Speaker and the Secretary of State
:05:38. > :05:39.will know my commitment to devolution.
:05:40. > :05:44.But at some point there has got to be a realisation that the
:05:45. > :05:50.If that is the case about devolution can
:05:51. > :05:55.he put a time frame, can the
:05:56. > :05:59.Secretary of State put a time frame, on the life expectancy that is
:06:00. > :06:03.Will appropriations be moved before the summer recess?
:06:04. > :06:06.I think there is still very firmly life there.
:06:07. > :06:08.I think the engagement that we continue to
:06:09. > :06:14.profoundly that is what is in Northern Ireland's
:06:15. > :06:19.locally elected politicians serving the community in Northern Ireland.
:06:20. > :06:33.Something I know that he believes in very strongly.
:06:34. > :06:35.The Energy Secretary has said he is prepared to use legislation
:06:36. > :06:38.if Ofgem's plans for an energy price cap don't go far enough.
:06:39. > :06:41.There is currently a price cap on people using pre-payment meters -
:06:42. > :06:43.the proposals would extend it to other low income households.
:06:44. > :06:46.Greg Clark welcomed Ofgem's plans as "a step in the right direction"
:06:47. > :06:50.but said he wanted to wait to see it "turned into action to cut bills".
:06:51. > :06:53.Labour say this is a government u-turn - as plans for a price cap
:06:54. > :06:57.Greg Clark referred to a report on the subject from the competition
:06:58. > :07:03.It's a step in the right direction but I will wait to see the actual
:07:04. > :07:06.proposals and to see them turned into action.
:07:07. > :07:12.The test of whether the regulators' changes go far enough is
:07:13. > :07:14.whether they move sufficiently to eradicate the detriment to consumers
:07:15. > :07:17.I remain prepared to legislate if they
:07:18. > :07:22.I hope that such legislation would command wide support across
:07:23. > :07:26.Does he recall that during the election his party placed
:07:27. > :07:28.the promise of an overall price cap on energy
:07:29. > :07:31.prices at the centre of
:07:32. > :07:34.their manifesto, and does he recall the Prime Minister stating, I am
:07:35. > :07:36.making this promise, if I am re-elected on June 8th, I will
:07:37. > :07:44.take action to end this injustice by introducing a cap
:07:45. > :07:47.on unfair energy prices, it will protect them and 17 million
:07:48. > :07:52.variable prices from being exploited with some
:07:53. > :07:53.unjustified increases in
:07:54. > :07:57.Does the Secretary of State now intend to pass legislation that
:07:58. > :07:59.requires Ofgem to introduce a price cap?
:08:00. > :08:02.Or is he content to allow his firm election promise of a
:08:03. > :08:06.If he does what does he have to say to the
:08:07. > :08:08.17 million people on standard variable tariffs who thought that
:08:09. > :08:10.relief from rip-off price rises was on its way,
:08:11. > :08:13.and who will now feel completely betrayed by this policy
:08:14. > :08:19.I am required to ask for advice from Ofgem.
:08:20. > :08:26.They have responded to that and what they have
:08:27. > :08:29.said is that they are going to work with consumer groups to identify how
:08:30. > :08:49.Of the 1.4 billion has been identified as going
:08:50. > :08:51.to the big companies instead of consumers' pockets how much
:08:52. > :08:53.of that money is going to be returned to
:08:54. > :08:55.consumers when the measure that has come forward?
:08:56. > :08:58.What's his timescales for reviewing what is happening just
:08:59. > :09:02.Will he also ask Ofgem to determine what
:09:03. > :09:09.17 million families currently being ripped off on expensive standard
:09:10. > :09:13.Ofgem's proposals will deal with at most 3 million of
:09:14. > :09:17.That leaves 14 million still being preyed on by the big six
:09:18. > :09:21.Will my right honourable friend agree that Ofgem
:09:22. > :09:24.proposals will be viewed as a great betrayal of those 14 million
:09:25. > :09:28.And if we are going to create an economy which works for
:09:29. > :09:31.everyone will he distance himself from this big six stitch up and
:09:32. > :09:33.pledge himself to help the millions of households
:09:34. > :09:34.who Ofgem seems set to
:09:35. > :09:37.My honourable friend has done great work with many members
:09:38. > :09:40.across the House in establishing that there is an appetite and eight
:09:41. > :09:42.need to tackle this problem that has been
:09:43. > :09:45.going on for too long that the
:09:46. > :09:56.In Wales we produce more energy than we used that we paid their highest
:09:57. > :10:00.prices. One third of households are in fuel but you. Does not that
:10:01. > :10:06.suggest that Westminster control over energy policy is not working?
:10:07. > :10:15.One of the reasons why this investigation was commissioned and
:10:16. > :10:25.five what I have asked Ogem to enact will be particularly important for
:10:26. > :10:30.his constituency. Wind and solar was going to be the future. There is a
:10:31. > :10:34.song, how long is this going on? This has been going on too long.
:10:35. > :10:42.This explication of people who cannot afford to pay the price.
:10:43. > :10:44.The Communities Secretary has told MPs that no-one who was illegally
:10:45. > :10:46.sub-letting their flat in Grenfell Tower
:10:47. > :10:52.In a statement in the Commons, Sajid Javid said it was vital to
:10:53. > :10:55.find out who was in Grenfell Tower at the time of the fire.
:10:56. > :10:57.There may have been people living in flats that
:10:58. > :11:00.were illegally sublet who
:11:01. > :11:03.had no idea of the true status of their tenancy.
:11:04. > :11:06.Their families want to know if they perished in the
:11:07. > :11:11.These are their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters.
:11:12. > :11:13.They need closure and it's the least that
:11:14. > :11:19.But that can't happen unless we have the information we
:11:20. > :11:23.So we are urging anyone with that information to come forward and
:11:24. > :11:30.The Communities Secretary also pledged to meet the deadline
:11:31. > :11:33.for providing residents with temporary accommodation
:11:34. > :11:35.and said it had been right for the leader of Kensington
:11:36. > :11:40.The Building Research Establishment is continuing to test
:11:41. > :11:42.the combustibility of cladding from councils
:11:43. > :11:44.and housing associations as
:11:45. > :11:48.So far all the samples of cladding testing
:11:49. > :11:57.It's obviously disturbing that there are such large number of buildings
:11:58. > :12:00.with combustible cladding and the priority now is to make those
:12:01. > :12:04.Where appropriate mitigating measures cannot be
:12:05. > :12:09.implemented quickly landlords must provide alternative accommodation
:12:10. > :12:12.while the remedial work is carried out and that is exactly what
:12:13. > :12:14.happened in the four tower blocks in Camden.
:12:15. > :12:16.The Secretary of State gave the latest version of the
:12:17. > :12:19.A good quality temporary home within three
:12:20. > :12:41.And by what date will all residents affected by the fire be in
:12:42. > :12:54.Will he act now, not wait for a public
:12:55. > :12:56.inquiry, to reassure residents in all other tower blocks,
:12:57. > :12:58.by starting the overhaul of building regulations, retrofitting sprinkler
:12:59. > :13:01.systems, starting with the highest risk blocks, and making very clear
:13:02. > :13:03.the Government will fund upfront the full costs of any
:13:04. > :13:07.Our commitment has been very clear and unchanged from day one.
:13:08. > :13:10.All residents of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk will be offered
:13:11. > :13:12.temporary accommodation in Kensington and Chelsea or a
:13:13. > :13:17.neighbouring borough within three weeks.
:13:18. > :13:20.We have made it very clear that whatever measures that
:13:21. > :13:23.need to be taken, any remedial measures to make buildings safe,
:13:24. > :13:30.local authorities, housing associations should get on with
:13:31. > :13:33.those, and for those local authorities or housing associations
:13:34. > :13:35.that need help with funding we are ready
:13:36. > :13:37.to discuss that with them and
:13:38. > :13:40.I would again restate the position of the
:13:41. > :13:43.SNP, that the public inquiry should be as wide-ranging as possible.
:13:44. > :13:45.And that at every stage of that that the
:13:46. > :13:47.Grenfell Tower survivors' views should be taken into account.
:13:48. > :13:50.The statement from the new independent chair that
:13:51. > :13:54.the scope of the inquiry might be limited to the start of the fire and
:13:55. > :13:56.how it spread has caused some alarm amongst survivors.
:13:57. > :14:00.Can he say a little bit more about that and can
:14:01. > :14:03.he also confirm that all survivors will get proper legal aid to get
:14:04. > :14:05.proper independent solicitors and barristers representing their
:14:06. > :14:11.The inquiry, whilst the judge will rightly determine that
:14:12. > :14:14.ultimately for himself, we all expect it to be broad and as
:14:15. > :14:30.wide-ranging as possible and absolutely we want to make sure that
:14:31. > :14:32.all the victims and survivors, their families and friends, feel that they
:14:33. > :14:35.are properly represented and get the proper financial support.
:14:36. > :14:36.This horrendous fire started with a fault
:14:37. > :14:39.Will the Government revisit legislation of March last
:14:40. > :14:42.year to dismiss or delay many of the recommendations of the
:14:43. > :14:46.review into product recall which I commissioned in 2014?
:14:47. > :14:48.And in particular will the Secretary of
:14:49. > :14:50.State recognise that the funding for enforcement of safety regulations
:14:51. > :14:52.through trading standards is inadequate and urgently must be
:14:53. > :14:57.I can tell the honourable member first of all I know that my
:14:58. > :14:58.right honourable friend the Secretary
:14:59. > :14:59.of State for Business is
:15:00. > :15:02.looking at this issue very seriously.
:15:03. > :15:05.He's a member of the task force that has been discussing this
:15:06. > :15:08.And I know he is speaking to many manufacturers
:15:09. > :15:15.about what can be done to make sure that when products are recalled that
:15:16. > :15:21.it is done much more quickly and more safely.
:15:22. > :15:22.You're watching Monday In Parliament.
:15:23. > :15:26.a deal on power-sharing is still achievable,
:15:27. > :15:31.Police numbers need to be looked at afresh
:15:32. > :15:32.after the terrorist incidents over the summer,
:15:33. > :15:35.a Home Office minister has told the Commons.
:15:36. > :15:38.At Question Time, MPs representing London and Manchester
:15:39. > :15:46.Can he remember a time when a Conservative Government
:15:47. > :15:50.has been so unpopular with police officers
:15:51. > :15:54.apart from when the current Prime Minister was Home Secretary?
:15:55. > :15:56.Public safety is the number one priority for any Government.
:15:57. > :15:59.As he's heard from my colleague, we have protected police spending
:16:00. > :16:06.and increased spending in areas of specialisation.
:16:07. > :16:08.Now, Mr Speaker, in the light of the terrible events
:16:09. > :16:12.that have shocked us all, it is quite right that we go
:16:13. > :16:14.through a process of reviewing with the police,
:16:15. > :16:15.police and crime commissioners and colleagues
:16:16. > :16:19.from all sides of the House water resources are needed to be
:16:20. > :16:23.absolutely sure that the police have got the resources to keep us safe.
:16:24. > :16:26.In Greater Manchester Police, following the bomb, the whole of the
:16:27. > :16:30.police service has been working 12 hour days where there is no capacity
:16:31. > :16:33.for them to draw people in for overtime.
:16:34. > :16:35.Does the Minister not now understands that policing is
:16:36. > :16:39.stretched beyond any capacity to deliver?
:16:40. > :16:43.will know that we are extremely sensitive to that point.
:16:44. > :16:46.As I said in my remarks, we are very aware that the pressure
:16:47. > :16:49.put on the police as a result of recent terrible events,
:16:50. > :16:52.has required a surge of police effort
:16:53. > :16:57.and fantastic collaboration between forces.
:16:58. > :16:59.But now we have to sit down rationally
:17:00. > :17:03.with police and crime commissioners and police chiefs to really
:17:04. > :17:06.understand and test assertions about pressure on these forces
:17:07. > :17:08.to make sure that they've got the resources they need
:17:09. > :17:13.West Midlands Police have done a fantastic job in cutting crime
:17:14. > :17:19.Will the Minister ensure that the police funding formula
:17:20. > :17:23.is reformed to deliver a fairer deal for the West Midlands?
:17:24. > :17:28.Well, I thank my honourable friend for that comment and I hope I can
:17:29. > :17:31.reassure him that a lot of work is being done to make sure
:17:32. > :17:34.that's not only the police have the resources,
:17:35. > :17:39.but that those resources are allocated fairly across them.
:17:40. > :17:41.No final decision has been taken on the
:17:42. > :17:44.fair funding formula but I'm very happy to sit down with him
:17:45. > :17:47.and colleagues from all sides of the House who have got concerns
:17:48. > :17:49.about the resource allocation for their forces.
:17:50. > :17:51.During the Queen's speech debate on security last week,
:17:52. > :17:53.the Home Secretary said she was more worried
:17:54. > :18:01.So will the Minister tell the House how the Home Office measures
:18:02. > :18:06.and values the outcomes of community police officers?
:18:07. > :18:10.Ultimately, what matters most is the trend in crime
:18:11. > :18:13.that he knows from his experiences what unsettles our constituents most
:18:14. > :18:16.and public safety is the number one priority, so the ultimate outcome
:18:17. > :18:21.are the crime statistics and I'm sure he'll welcome me in noting
:18:22. > :18:25.and welcoming the long-term decline we've seen in that since 2009.
:18:26. > :18:27.The subject was returned to during topical questions,
:18:28. > :18:31.West Yorkshire Police are still reeling from cuts
:18:32. > :18:35.dating back to 2010 when they lost 20% of their force.
:18:36. > :18:39.Can we look now at budget again so that we can restore
:18:40. > :18:42.the numbers of police officers on our streets to give them
:18:43. > :18:45.a fighting chance of dealing with demand?
:18:46. > :18:48.Mr Speaker, let me take the opportunity to clarify once more
:18:49. > :18:56.From 2010 to 2015, there were indeed cuts but what was so remarkable
:18:57. > :19:01.and the good work of local communities meant that crime
:19:02. > :19:10.Since 2015 to 2020, we will continue to protect police money to ensure
:19:11. > :19:13.that crime continues to come down and that policing
:19:14. > :19:16.and communities get the necessary support.
:19:17. > :19:21.The UK fishing industry is going to 'take back control'
:19:22. > :19:24.of waters within six to 12 nautical miles of the coastline.
:19:25. > :19:27.It means ending the London Fisheries Convention,
:19:28. > :19:30.agreed in the 1960s, with several European countries
:19:31. > :19:34.It's a step towards the UK's withdrawal
:19:35. > :19:37.from the Commons Fisheries Policy of the EU.
:19:38. > :19:40.In the House of Lords, several people predicted several
:19:41. > :19:45.The question is as follows - to ask Her Majesty's Government
:19:46. > :19:50.how they intend to police and enforce the new regulations
:19:51. > :19:58.My Lords, the UK has a robust enforcement system
:19:59. > :20:01.delivered by the Marine Management Organisation - MMO -
:20:02. > :20:04.and inshore fisheries and conservation authorities -
:20:05. > :20:12.The MMO cover the UK's exclusive economic zone from six nautical
:20:13. > :20:16.miles to 200 nautical miles or the median line
:20:17. > :20:21.whilst IFCAs cover the area from 0-6 nautical miles.
:20:22. > :20:25.As we leave the EU, we will need to review and reflect on the level
:20:26. > :20:31.My Lords, I thank the noble Lord the Minister for his answer.
:20:32. > :20:35.I have to say this simple sailor is absolutely stunned
:20:36. > :20:38.by the answer which shows amazing complacency.
:20:39. > :20:42.The bottom line is we have very, very few vessels involved in this.
:20:43. > :20:45.They are not properly centrally coordinated.
:20:46. > :20:48.We have already seen the number of countries
:20:49. > :20:50.involved saying, well, to hell with what you're saying,
:20:51. > :20:54.We will be made a laughing stock if we apply some rules
:20:55. > :20:58.I think the best thing I'd like to do,
:20:59. > :21:01.because I'd like to go as well, is if the noble Lord would be
:21:02. > :21:04.prepared to go with me to Newcastle to see the vessels monitoring
:21:05. > :21:07.system which I've learned a great deal about
:21:08. > :21:10.since his question was on the order paper which is a digital service
:21:11. > :21:17.which enables us to target those areas so that we know every vessel
:21:18. > :21:20.that's at sea within our waters and therefore, and I've got some
:21:21. > :21:24.very interesting statistics as to the enforcement statistics
:21:25. > :21:29.Last year, a Lords committee pointed out the challenges posed by Brexit,
:21:30. > :21:33.stating that fish know nothing of political borders.
:21:34. > :21:36.If we're to have sustainable fishing in the longer term,
:21:37. > :21:39.which will obviously need to be based on clear scientific evidence,
:21:40. > :21:42.there has to be some alignment and cooperation
:21:43. > :21:46.Fish stocks can't be managed unilaterally
:21:47. > :21:50.and fish shoals can sometimes move for hundreds of miles and indeed,
:21:51. > :21:53.our own fishermen sometimes fish up towards the north of Russia
:21:54. > :22:00.So this can't be resolved by unilateral declaration.
:22:01. > :22:03.There has to be discussion, detailed discussion
:22:04. > :22:06.which, as we know from the very good report, the Brexit Fisheries Report
:22:07. > :22:14.is so incredibly complicated a set of agreements.
:22:15. > :22:17.So I hope you will take the message back to the Secretary of State
:22:18. > :22:19.that there is no point in making just a unilateral
:22:20. > :22:24.There has to be really thoughtful, detailed discussions on the future.
:22:25. > :22:28.My Lords, there's a lot I agree with the noble Baroness,
:22:29. > :22:32.which is that we do need to base our decisions on science.
:22:33. > :22:35.We have a responsibility under international law
:22:36. > :22:38.to have sustainable fish stocks and I'm very pleased in this
:22:39. > :22:42.country, I think we have some considerable successes in getting up
:22:43. > :22:46.And of course, the basis of this is that we have
:22:47. > :22:50.given a two-year notice that we are intending to leave
:22:51. > :22:52.the London Fisheries Convention which is necessary
:22:53. > :22:57.under legal advice, but clearly we need to negotiate now
:22:58. > :23:02.with our partners and friends in Europe so that we have, as I say,
:23:03. > :23:05.a sustainable fishing industry and also for the first time,
:23:06. > :23:09.we will have the ability to decide who fishes in our waters.
:23:10. > :23:11.Can the noble lord the Minister confirm
:23:12. > :23:13.to your Lordships that the figures he has given us
:23:14. > :23:22.are as it is now in its state decimated by our membership
:23:23. > :23:25.of the European Union and the Common Fisheries Policy?
:23:26. > :23:28.Can he give us any idea of the wonderful future
:23:29. > :23:34.and the figures which pertain to it when we have taken back control
:23:35. > :23:38.of all our waters having left the Common Fisheries Policy?
:23:39. > :23:41.My Lords, the whole purpose of what we want to do
:23:42. > :23:43.is to ensure that we have a sustainable future
:23:44. > :23:50.It's the first time in 50 years we will have been able
:23:51. > :23:54.I think that's a force for good because in particular,
:23:55. > :23:59.it's very important that we have sustainable stocks the future.
:24:00. > :24:02.The first piece of legislation put before the new parliament
:24:03. > :24:04.updates the protection given to holiday-makers.
:24:05. > :24:06.ATOL is the scheme giving peace of mind
:24:07. > :24:10.and every UK travel company selling deals including a flight
:24:11. > :24:16.consumers can be refunded and flown home.
:24:17. > :24:21.The bill updates ATOL to include holidays bought over the internet.
:24:22. > :24:23.The need for strong consumer protection is vital
:24:24. > :24:27.to underpin confidence in this important sector.
:24:28. > :24:29.By its very nature, there are a number of risks
:24:30. > :24:31.in the holiday market which have existed
:24:32. > :24:36.It is common for consumers to be up front
:24:37. > :24:39.on the promise of a holiday, which may be many weeks
:24:40. > :24:45.There can be a lack of awareness of the financial stability
:24:46. > :24:48.of holiday providers, particularly as the services
:24:49. > :24:57.I think the Minister has it right that this is a bill to be welcomed.
:24:58. > :25:01.The events of failure are rare, but it's absolutely imperative
:25:02. > :25:06.that this market develops and the response to it develops so
:25:07. > :25:11.that those people who have those rare failures have recourse and
:25:12. > :25:14.he'll find a great deal of support from the side of the House
:25:15. > :25:20.Passengers' rights have been enshrined in EU law and consumers
:25:21. > :25:24.and businesses deserve to know, they need to know, in fact,
:25:25. > :25:28.they're very keen to know how Brexit will affect them.
:25:29. > :25:32.What is sought are cast iron assurances that the rights and
:25:33. > :25:36.protections of travellers will not be diminished after the UK leaves
:25:37. > :25:41.the EU and I know that the minister understands that.
:25:42. > :25:47.Keith Macdougall's here for the rest of the week but from me,