0:00:18 > 0:00:22Hello and welcome to our look back at the day here at Westminster.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Coming up: The humanitarian situation in Yemen could get worse,
0:00:26 > 0:00:28the Foreign Office minister warns.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Concerns are raised about the company that
0:00:30 > 0:00:34administers student loans.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36And during a debate on the TV licence
0:00:36 > 0:00:45a bit of appreciation for one BBC channel.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48The BBC Parliament channel, of course, is worth an entire licence
0:00:48 > 0:00:50fee on its own!
0:00:50 > 0:00:53But first, the dire situation in Yemen could get immeasurably
0:00:53 > 0:00:54worse, according to the Foreign Office.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56The Saudi-led coalition, which is supporting the Yemeni
0:00:56 > 0:00:59government in its war with the rebel Houthi movement, has
0:00:59 > 0:01:03tightened its blockade of Yemen's borders in response to
0:01:03 > 0:01:06a ballistic missile attack on the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09It's reported that water and sewerage systems in major cities
0:01:09 > 0:01:13have stopped working because fuel is so scarce.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16The war in Yemen has gone on for two years
0:01:16 > 0:01:17with nearly 9,000 people killed.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22Over 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance
0:01:22 > 0:01:24and the conflict has led to a cholera outbreak.
0:01:24 > 0:01:31In the Commons, the minister set out the latest situation.
0:01:31 > 0:01:41We understand why the Saudi-led coalition felt obliged
0:01:41 > 0:01:44to temporarily close Yemen's ports and airports in order
0:01:44 > 0:01:46to strengthen enforcement of the UN mandated arms embargo.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49It is critical that international efforts to obstruct illicit weapons
0:01:49 > 0:01:50flows are strengthened.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53But at the same time it is vital that commercial
0:01:53 > 0:01:57and humanitarian supplies of food, fuel and medicine are able
0:01:57 > 0:02:00to reach vulnerable Yemeni people, particularly in the North,
0:02:00 > 0:02:01where 70% of those in need aid.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Even before the current restrictions, 21 million people
0:02:04 > 0:02:07were in need of humanitarian assistance and 7 million were only
0:02:07 > 0:02:08a single step away from famine.
0:02:08 > 0:02:1890% of food in Yemen is imported.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Three quarters of that comes via the ports of Hurgada and Salif.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25No other ports in Yemen have the capacity to
0:02:26 > 0:02:27make up the shortfall.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Let me quote this weekend's joint statement by the world
0:02:31 > 0:02:33health programme, the World Food Programme and Unicef.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38They say be tightening of the blockade, "Is making
0:02:38 > 0:02:40an already catastrophic situation far worse."
0:02:40 > 0:02:42They say that supplies the Saudis are blocking are essential to stave
0:02:42 > 0:02:45off disease and starvation and, without them, untold thousands
0:02:45 > 0:02:46of innocent victims will die.
0:02:46 > 0:02:53They estimate that if nothing is done over the coming months,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57150,000 already malnourished children could starve to death.
0:02:57 > 0:03:03And they conclude that, "To deprive this many
0:03:03 > 0:03:05from the basic means of survival is an unconscionable act
0:03:05 > 0:03:10and a violation of humanitarian principles and law."
0:03:10 > 0:03:13The Minister of State has already said he shares those concerns
0:03:13 > 0:03:19and is urging the Saudis to open up humanitarian access,
0:03:19 > 0:03:25but at what point will he admit that strategy isn't working?
0:03:25 > 0:03:28At what point will he warn the Saudis that Britain
0:03:28 > 0:03:30will withdraw its support if they carry on with this blockade,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34and at what point do we say that this is no longer a question
0:03:34 > 0:03:37of diplomatic persuasion, it is a matter of international law?
0:03:37 > 0:03:40There is an awful lot of concentration on the Saudis
0:03:40 > 0:03:44and the coalition, very little attention paid to the activities
0:03:44 > 0:03:46of the Houthis and their supporters and those
0:03:46 > 0:03:48who have been involved in human rights abuses on their side.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52It does take two sides.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57And the efforts that the United Kingdom has made both
0:03:57 > 0:04:00at the UN and through our ambassador in Yemen and through the work
0:04:00 > 0:04:03going on has been significant, but I share his concern with him
0:04:03 > 0:04:04and agree with him.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07We are dangerously complicit in a policy which is directly promoting
0:04:07 > 0:04:13a famine and the collective punishment of an entire population.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18Are we not on the brink, Mr Speaker, of witnessing in Yemen
0:04:18 > 0:04:21a totally preventable, massive humanitarian catastrophe,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24the likes of which we have not seen in decades?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Save The Children report 150 children in Yemen will die today
0:04:26 > 0:04:33and tomorrow and the next day, until this conflict ends.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Will the Minister tell us how he will stop this?
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Again I come to the last point of the honourable lady's remarks,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43how will this conflict come to an end?
0:04:43 > 0:04:46This conflict will come to an end when both sides are brought together
0:04:46 > 0:04:49by those who make it clear that there is no military solution
0:04:49 > 0:04:54to this and there has to be a political solution.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Can I express some surprise that the Minister has been reluctant
0:04:57 > 0:05:07about using the word "blockade"?
0:05:09 > 0:05:12When the United Nations is warning fuel will run out in a month,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and when you know that within a month, 150,000 children,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17already malnourished will die, and Save The Children are saying
0:05:17 > 0:05:21that 130 are dying every single day now, as well as pushing
0:05:21 > 0:05:27for the political solution which he is right is absolutely
0:05:27 > 0:05:33necessary, is he giving any indication at all to Saudi Arabia
0:05:33 > 0:05:36that they could be in any way accountable for the deaths
0:05:36 > 0:05:46of what could be millions of people?
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Again, I think the term described is less
0:05:49 > 0:05:50material than the impact.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52The impact of these restrictions are very clear.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55It has led to what the agencies have said about running out of food
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and fuel and water and it is one of the reasons why
0:05:58 > 0:06:01the United Kingdom has called, as we did in a statement last week
0:06:01 > 0:06:05and again today, for an immediate lifting of these restrictions,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07subject to what we believe is reasonable controls
0:06:07 > 0:06:12by the coalition authorities to protect themselves.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Now, most students heading off to university will need to borrow
0:06:14 > 0:06:16a great deal of money to cover their costs.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21The Student Loan Company administers more than £100 billion
0:06:21 > 0:06:24in loans held by six million students and graduates.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29But the chief executive of the company, Steve Lamey,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32was suspended in July and then sacked in November.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Labour's higher education spokesman Gordon Marsden wanted to know
0:06:36 > 0:06:38about reported problems at the organisation
0:06:38 > 0:06:48and the decision to get rid of Mr Lamey.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Mr Speaker, over the November recess this announcement was snuck out,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53the same day as the Secretary of State for International
0:06:53 > 0:06:54Development resigned.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Since last Monday two articles have raised questions
0:06:56 > 0:07:00about the process in the Times.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Can I ask the Minister why in his letter to me on 17th of October,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07six weeks after I wrote to him on the SLC, the Minister
0:07:07 > 0:07:10referred to the suspension of the Chief Executive as a neutral
0:07:10 > 0:07:16act that did not imply wrongdoing when he was actually made aware
0:07:16 > 0:07:18of the allegations against Lamey in June,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21as his written reply has told me.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Will we also publish the performance review from the SLC given two
0:07:24 > 0:07:26months before the suspension, where, as the Times says,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Steve Lamey was rated outstanding, and in that report was the minister
0:07:30 > 0:07:34aware at the time that the Jenkins report on Steve Lamey had concluded
0:07:34 > 0:07:36he was making a real and positive difference to the Student Loan
0:07:36 > 0:07:45Company and was a popular and effective leader
0:07:45 > 0:07:47supportive before the decision was made to sack him.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49The lack of proper cooperation between the SLC and HMRC has
0:07:49 > 0:07:51led to significant over payment of debts.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Can the Minister tell us how many overpayments there have been over
0:07:54 > 0:08:00£10,000 since 2015-16, and, given that this
0:08:00 > 0:08:04is the situation, I have just been told the government is tacitly
0:08:04 > 0:08:11admitting their failure in this area by saying that from 2019 onwards
0:08:11 > 0:08:15the HMRC and SLC will co-operate on these matters.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17However, it doesn't address the question of Mr Lamey
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and the Permanent Secretary at the HMRC blaming each
0:08:20 > 0:08:21other for the issue.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Mr Lamey has claimed already he asked for real-time updates
0:08:23 > 0:08:24and HMRC wouldn't share.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Who is telling the truth?
0:08:28 > 0:08:36In addition to these ongoing issues BBC Panorama raised issues
0:08:36 > 0:08:38about private providers where students have fraudulently
0:08:38 > 0:08:40enrolled in courses in order to claim student loans.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43How much money has been paid to students of private providers
0:08:43 > 0:08:45who have subsequently turned out to be ineligible in
0:08:45 > 0:08:49the last few months?
0:08:49 > 0:08:54What began Kansans are in place to reclaim the missing taxpayer money?
0:08:54 > 0:09:01He asked about the investigation that led to the dismissal of Mr
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Lamey from his position as chief executive of the Student Loan
0:09:03 > 0:09:09Company. The concerns were brought to the SLC board in May and to the
0:09:09 > 0:09:15attention of the Department for Education and we learn about this in
0:09:15 > 0:09:21May, and I learned about it in me, as I have just said. In the two
0:09:21 > 0:09:25investigations which were immediately set in motion, to get to
0:09:25 > 0:09:30the bottom of the allegations which the SLC board had received, one was
0:09:30 > 0:09:35led by the government internal audit agency and the other led by Sir Paul
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Jenkins, formerly Treasury Solicitor and head of the government legal
0:09:39 > 0:09:45services. They concluded Mr Lamy had not shown the leadership that would
0:09:45 > 0:09:50be expected of someone in that role, and accordingly, the SLC board took
0:09:50 > 0:09:55the decision that he should no longer continue in that role, and
0:09:55 > 0:09:59the Department for Education, as a consequence of the SLC decision took
0:09:59 > 0:10:02the decision to relieve him of his responsibilities as accounting
0:10:02 > 0:10:12officer of the SLC.MPs then asked about the problems with the loans
0:10:12 > 0:10:24themselves.The Minister will know about the value for money inquiry
0:10:24 > 0:10:27into universities, but as well as looking at the management of the
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Student Loan Company can he use this opportunity to look at reducing the
0:10:31 > 0:10:35rate of interest rates for students, which is much higher than many other
0:10:35 > 0:10:42countries in the developed world? Wiki all aspects of the student
0:10:42 > 0:10:45finance system under review to ensure that it is fair and
0:10:45 > 0:10:48effective, that it is meeting our core objectives of removing
0:10:48 > 0:10:51financial barriers to access, funding university system fairly and
0:10:51 > 0:10:54sharing the cost of doing so equitably between individual
0:10:54 > 0:11:00students and the general taxpayer. At a time when graduates pay up to
0:11:00 > 0:11:056.1% in loan interest, student debt in England has almost trebled to
0:11:05 > 0:11:10what it is in Scotland. Does the Minister not think that whilst SLC
0:11:10 > 0:11:15could use a radical shake-up and reform, his policies could also. The
0:11:15 > 0:11:21budget is just round the corner. While the Minister wants to clear up
0:11:21 > 0:11:25the managerial problems why doesn't he clean up the mess of his policy
0:11:25 > 0:11:30and stop saddling English students with a mouse and orbit around our
0:11:30 > 0:11:35necks? Pau I'm not sure that we need lessons in Scotland on higher
0:11:35 > 0:11:38education policies. They are, or a successive administrations,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41resulting in levels of access from people from disadvantaged
0:11:41 > 0:11:46backgrounds that should, be the envy of members on that bench rather than
0:11:46 > 0:11:48a source of criticism of them.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50You're watching Monday in Parliament with me, Georgina Pattinson.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Don't forget, if you want to catch up with all the day's
0:11:54 > 0:12:03news from the Commons, Lords and Committee rooms online,
0:12:03 > 0:12:04you can go to bbc.co.uk/ parliaments,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06where you'll find reports from Westminster, Holyrood
0:12:06 > 0:12:10and the European Parliament too.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Now, with the Budget fast approaching, ministers have faced
0:12:14 > 0:12:17renewed demands for increased spending on the police
0:12:17 > 0:12:18and fire services.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21The Government is looking at changing the way money is shared
0:12:21 > 0:12:22between police constabularies.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Last week the Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, used
0:12:25 > 0:12:30Prime Minister's Questions to press Theresa May over police funding.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33And Labour kept up the demands at Home Office questions,
0:12:33 > 0:12:41but the subject was initially raised by a Conservative MP.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Derbyshire has been particularly badly affected by the current
0:12:43 > 0:12:50formula. In the meantime please assure my local police force that
0:12:50 > 0:12:57there will be an inflationary right in their funding for the year.I
0:12:57 > 0:12:59have spoken directly to both the Police and Crime Commissioner in
0:12:59 > 0:13:06Derbyshire and the chief, to get an update on the performance of the
0:13:06 > 0:13:10service and the demand on it and that will feed into the review that
0:13:10 > 0:13:13I have signalled and that in turn will feed into the decisions about
0:13:13 > 0:13:17the 18-19 funding settlement which he will not have to wait too long
0:13:17 > 0:13:24for.The Minister wants evidence, how about the document that every
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Chief Constable and PCC and the country signed up to this month
0:13:26 > 0:13:32warning that without the investment, up to 6000 police officers could be
0:13:32 > 0:13:36lost by 2020 and that usable resources are back a fraction of the
0:13:36 > 0:13:40figure the Minister keeps quoting. If the Minister thinks the UK two
0:13:40 > 0:13:44most senior police leaders are wrong, will he commit today that
0:13:44 > 0:13:47there will be no further cost a police officer numbers during this
0:13:47 > 0:13:55Parliament?I can confirm the decisions about responding not been
0:13:55 > 0:13:58finalised but being done shortly and an announcement will be make to
0:13:58 > 0:14:02their House as part of the draft grant settlement for 2018-19 in the
0:14:02 > 0:14:06usual way. To the report that she's sites, but there's a report that the
0:14:06 > 0:14:10work closely because the Home Office and the police system do want to
0:14:10 > 0:14:14understand and do a proper job on updating our understanding of the
0:14:14 > 0:14:16pressures that the police are under, which are real.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21There was concern too over Fire Service funding and pay.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25The National Audit Office figures show that 30% of central government
0:14:25 > 0:14:30funding has been cut from the Fire and Rescue Service since 2011. With
0:14:30 > 0:14:36a further cut of 20% by 2020, basic pay for firefighters is nearly £3000
0:14:36 > 0:14:43less in real terms than it was in 2010. Isn't it time government stop
0:14:43 > 0:14:46hiding behind cash-strapped authorities and stump up the cash
0:14:46 > 0:14:57that these vital public servants deserve?
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I say with respect, there is a reason why we have fewer in the
0:15:00 > 0:15:06country. He talks about a cash strapped service. He will be aware
0:15:06 > 0:15:10that single fire authorities like his own have had multi-year
0:15:10 > 0:15:15settlements and they are part of a system that is sitting on £616
0:15:15 > 0:15:22million of reserves, a number that has grown by 153% since 2010.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Concerns about strains on the border after the UK leaves the EU
0:15:25 > 0:15:27were raised in a report by the National Audit Office -
0:15:27 > 0:15:29the UK's spending watchdog - last month.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32The report warned of a significant increase in workload for border
0:15:32 > 0:15:34forces following Brexit.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38MPs on the Public Accounts Committee had some questions for senior
0:15:38 > 0:15:40representatives from customs and border teams, about
0:15:40 > 0:15:47whether Britain's borders were ready for Brexit.
0:15:47 > 0:15:54Did I just you use save that there is no evidence to suggest that when
0:15:54 > 0:16:01we come out of the EU, if we come out with or without a deal is
0:16:01 > 0:16:05immaterial, they would not be an increase in freight from non-EU
0:16:05 > 0:16:13countries, did a key you say that? Well, that would be on... On day one
0:16:13 > 0:16:16hour assumption would be that we are resuming the same levels of freight
0:16:16 > 0:16:22from the EU and non-EU.How on earth can you be planning that in mind?
0:16:22 > 0:16:27Isn't the point to come out of Europe.I agree with your
0:16:27 > 0:16:34proposition that ultimately the aim is a shift of traits to rest of the
0:16:34 > 0:16:38world countries from the EU. What I was really trying to say is that
0:16:38 > 0:16:44from the EU there is no reason to assume there will be a reduction in
0:16:44 > 0:16:49freight is from the EU. There is no change to the composition of that
0:16:49 > 0:16:55freight to the EU, and no change to the physical risk associated with
0:16:55 > 0:16:59that freight. For the container freight...I think you are wrong.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04I'm just going to have to say, as an observation, I don't hear any theme
0:17:04 > 0:17:10and figure from any of you. It feels to me that the world will change at
0:17:10 > 0:17:15all. I will not hear any dynamic response to the various scenarios
0:17:15 > 0:17:19that might be. Everything I'm hearing is that it will be the same.
0:17:19 > 0:17:33No, no.We are taking this very seriously. We have about 85,000
0:17:33 > 0:17:37systems. There are white papers legislation to be done. We are
0:17:37 > 0:17:41trying in a controlled way to make sure that we can advise ministers
0:17:41 > 0:17:48that we can get through either April 19 with no Deal, or around two years
0:17:48 > 0:17:54in 2021 with a deal.The Prime Minister has already recognised they
0:17:54 > 0:18:00need a transition period. Others that will crash out with no Deal.
0:18:00 > 0:18:06How is your planning from 1-5, one not important, five very important,
0:18:06 > 0:18:14to have those additional two years post-2019 to manage our exit and all
0:18:14 > 0:18:19the different outlines you have made this afternoon.Agyei some very
0:18:19 > 0:18:22extended evidence to the Treasury slick committee, said to be
0:18:22 > 0:18:26directing answering your question, if the Government reaches an
0:18:26 > 0:18:30agreement with the EU to implement the highly streamlined customs
0:18:30 > 0:18:34agreement, then the answer to your question is five. We would need the
0:18:34 > 0:18:38two years, that policy change is a basket of changes, some of which are
0:18:38 > 0:18:44the continuance of existing arrangements. Some take a year, some
0:18:44 > 0:18:51take two, some take three. Depending on the basket of elements that make
0:18:51 > 0:18:58up the customs agreement.I will answer a slightly different
0:18:58 > 0:19:03question...Perhaps you could answer the question I asked!I'm scenario
0:19:03 > 0:19:10planning on the basis of a deal and no Deal transition, that is what
0:19:10 > 0:19:15scenario planning as is. I would give it a four or five in terms of
0:19:15 > 0:19:19smooth transition. We can deliver a much better streamlined and
0:19:19 > 0:19:24effective move if we have a transition period, then we can if
0:19:24 > 0:19:28we...And would we save money by having that transition period,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31rather than trying to achieve something with no Deal?Yes, we
0:19:31 > 0:19:33would.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Sticking with Brexit - will British tourists heading
0:19:35 > 0:19:38to the airport for a holiday have trouble getting off the ground
0:19:38 > 0:19:39after the UK leaves the EU?
0:19:39 > 0:19:42The EU Open Skies agreement provides consistent rules
0:19:42 > 0:19:44for airlines and airports - and means British holiday-makers
0:19:44 > 0:19:49can fly to hundreds of destinations on the continent.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52And the deal between the EU and the US means airlines located
0:19:52 > 0:19:58in the EU or the United States can fly to any airport in either area.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01In the Lords, the Lib Dem peer Lady Doocey wanted to know
0:20:01 > 0:20:03whether the UK's exit from the agreement would
0:20:03 > 0:20:11have an impact on tourism.
0:20:11 > 0:20:18My Lords, the airport operator's Association, and all of the major
0:20:18 > 0:20:21United States airlines, have all said that it is essential to have
0:20:21 > 0:20:28new deals in place by spring of next year. But given the speed of the
0:20:28 > 0:20:33Brexit negotiations, that is perhaps being a little bit optimistic. What
0:20:33 > 0:20:38is the Government doing to mitigate the devastating impact that any
0:20:38 > 0:20:42disruption or interruption to flights is likely to have on to
0:20:42 > 0:20:50risen which contributes £127 billion to the UK economy and provides
0:20:50 > 0:20:59employment for 3 million people?My Lords, the UK already has 111
0:20:59 > 0:21:01bilateral agreements with air services with other countries and
0:21:01 > 0:21:06they will continue after we leave the EU. But we do understand the
0:21:06 > 0:21:11need for early reassurance for flights to the EU and that will be a
0:21:11 > 0:21:14consideration when negotiating our future relationship. Airline
0:21:14 > 0:21:16representatives made clear last month that they will continue to
0:21:16 > 0:21:21sell tickets and are confident that we will get a good agreement in
0:21:21 > 0:21:26place after Brexit.Can the Minister guarantee to the House that there
0:21:26 > 0:21:35will be no disruption to air traffic as a result of Brexit in March 2019?
0:21:35 > 0:21:41My Lords, the Government recognises the need for UK air traffic
0:21:41 > 0:21:45management arrangements to remain with the rest of Europe. And
0:21:45 > 0:21:49efficient traffic management is a priority. We are considering or
0:21:49 > 0:21:51potential implications for the UK and working so that there is no
0:21:51 > 0:21:57disruption.Could she tell the House whether it was possible before 1972
0:21:57 > 0:22:02to fly across the Channel? Because I seem to render doing it when it was
0:22:02 > 0:22:07rather easier than now?I can confirm that yes it was indeed
0:22:07 > 0:22:11possible to fly between the Channel and we look forward to continue
0:22:11 > 0:22:16doing so.No guarantees were given in response to the question. And I'm
0:22:16 > 0:22:21sure notice has been taken of that fact. In light of the cancer by the
0:22:21 > 0:22:32noble lady at -- answer. Will the Government at least do what the
0:22:32 > 0:22:37aviation industry wants and give a commitment now to deal with aviation
0:22:37 > 0:22:40separately and in advance of the main negotiations with the EU on
0:22:40 > 0:22:46Brexit?I am afraid I am not to give that commitment today. It will be of
0:22:46 > 0:22:50course a matter for negotiations as to how sectors will be discussed.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54But we do recognise that traditionally aviation agreements
0:22:54 > 0:22:57have been negotiated separately. For our part we are ready to move on
0:22:57 > 0:23:04with these negotiations.Longer queues at the airport are likely to
0:23:04 > 0:23:11be another exciting bonus Brexit. Could my good minister please tell
0:23:11 > 0:23:14us what plans the Government have got to deal with the likely increase
0:23:14 > 0:23:20of Turing at the airports?My Lords, of course we are mindful of this
0:23:20 > 0:23:23possibility and we are planning for the border in order to maintain
0:23:23 > 0:23:27security and flow at all ports of entry and exit. The Department for
0:23:27 > 0:23:31Transport is working closely with the Home Office in order to minimise
0:23:31 > 0:23:32delays after Brexit.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Now, Monday afternoon is often used by MPs to discuss e-petitions -
0:23:35 > 0:23:37issues which have proved popular on the government's website.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40This time, it was the TV licence fee which came under scrutiny.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43But there was a bit of support from a Tory MP
0:23:43 > 0:23:50for one BBC channel in particular.
0:23:50 > 0:23:57The other petition, to 00239, says that it is unfair that you need the
0:23:57 > 0:24:03licence fee to watch the free view channels. But the free view channels
0:24:03 > 0:24:11include BBC One, BBC Two, DD three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC news
0:24:11 > 0:24:14channel and BBC Parliament, with of course the entire licence fee on its
0:24:14 > 0:24:15own.
0:24:15 > 0:24:21There was criticism of the BBC from some MPs.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25An independent, impartial and fully accountable public service
0:24:25 > 0:24:29broadcaster sounds like a very good idea. Could we have one please?
0:24:29 > 0:24:37Because I am afraid I disagree with much of what has been said today. We
0:24:37 > 0:24:41have £3.8 billion of public finances going into the BBC. And producing
0:24:41 > 0:24:47some very good programmes, and I pay my licence fee, somewhat
0:24:47 > 0:24:51reluctantly, very reluctantly, because of issues I will come onto
0:24:51 > 0:24:55the moment. They produce good programmes, and they produce some
0:24:55 > 0:25:01not so good programmes. But I don't have a choice.A recent poll said
0:25:01 > 0:25:08that 49% of people are in favour of funding the BBC through the licence
0:25:08 > 0:25:15fee, compared to 27% who want funded by advertising and 23% who want it
0:25:15 > 0:25:20to be a subscription service.When you look at the current licence fee
0:25:20 > 0:25:24system, you realise they're obvious flaws. When you look at the
0:25:24 > 0:25:27alternatives, you realise that what we have now is best described as the
0:25:27 > 0:25:32least worst option.I think the honourable gentleman is right. It is
0:25:32 > 0:25:39like what church my church will set about democracy, it is the Western
0:25:39 > 0:25:41to see all the others.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44And that's it, but do join Alicia McCarthy at the same time
0:25:44 > 0:25:47tomorrow for another round up of the day here at Westminster.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50For now from me, Georgina Pattinson, goodbye.