0:00:21 > 0:00:24Hello and Welcome to Monday in Parliament, our look at the best
0:00:24 > 0:00:26of the day in the Commons and the Lords.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27On this programme:
0:00:27 > 0:00:35Questions follow the liquidation of construction firm Carillion.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Candy has been told what the Government knew about Carillion's
0:00:39 > 0:00:44financial health when the awarding of a £1.4 billion contract for a
0:00:44 > 0:00:52chest quite recently. -- HS2.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53So where does the crisis-- HS2.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55at Carillion leave the use
0:00:55 > 0:00:58of private companies to run public services?
0:00:58 > 0:01:02I think the project has delivered many projects for Government.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04And, how to get the military to recruit from ethnic minorities?
0:01:04 > 0:01:09Not everyone's convinced the Army's going about things the right way.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13The new advertising campaign, rather less than robust, will be able to
0:01:13 > 0:01:19successfully do that with the good old-fashioned Be the Best.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21But first, the Cabinet Office Minister
0:01:21 > 0:01:23David Lidington says the Government will keep services
0:01:23 > 0:01:24going following the collapse of Carillion.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Early on Monday morning came the announcement
0:01:26 > 0:01:28that the Midlands-based construction company, that also provides
0:01:28 > 0:01:30services for schools, prisons and hospitals across the UK,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34had gone into liquidation, so threatening thousands of jobs.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39Carillion had been losing money on its large public sector
0:01:39 > 0:01:43contracts - its debts are totalling around £1.5 billion.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46In a statement in the Commons, David Lidington said the Government
0:01:46 > 0:01:49would step in to pay employees and small businesses working
0:01:49 > 0:01:52on the company's public contracts.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54He said Carillion's shareholders and lenders would bare the "brunt
0:01:54 > 0:02:01of the losses".
0:02:01 > 0:02:07It is regrettable Carillion has not been able to find suitable financing
0:02:07 > 0:02:12options with its lenders and I am disappointed the company has become
0:02:12 > 0:02:20insolvent as a result. Taxpayers should not and will not bail a
0:02:20 > 0:02:23private sector company for private sector bosses or a low rewards for
0:02:23 > 0:02:29failure. I understand that members of the public and particularly
0:02:29 > 0:02:33employees of companies in the Carillion group will have concerns
0:02:33 > 0:02:37at this time and the Government is doing everything possible to
0:02:37 > 0:02:41minimise any impact on employees. Let me declare that all employees
0:02:41 > 0:02:47should continue to turn up to work confident in the knowledge they will
0:02:47 > 0:02:53be paid for the public services that they are providing. Carillion
0:02:53 > 0:02:59delivered a range of public services across health, education, justice,
0:02:59 > 0:03:04defence and transport and most coasters the contracts had been
0:03:04 > 0:03:11running successfully. Since its first profit warning we have been
0:03:11 > 0:03:22monitoring and since then had planned extensively and had robust
0:03:22 > 0:03:29contingency plans in place. This was to protect the public service
0:03:29 > 0:03:33delivery.I have been asking questions for three months about
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Carillion. Why was it apparent to everyone except the Government that
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Carillion was in trouble? The Transport Secretary in particular
0:03:41 > 0:03:46has questions to answer. Can the Government be told about what --
0:03:46 > 0:03:53House be told what the Government knew when they awarded a £1.4
0:03:53 > 0:04:05billion contract recently. For HS2. Reckless with taxpayers' money, help
0:04:05 > 0:04:10is on public services, isn't it time the Government made way for an
0:04:10 > 0:04:16administration which cares and will exercise due diligence?If we look
0:04:16 > 0:04:24at those Carillion contracts which are steel, until this morning, still
0:04:24 > 0:04:30active, roughly one third, yes, were awarded by the Conservative
0:04:30 > 0:04:38Government. Roughly one third were awarded by the Coalition Government,
0:04:38 > 0:04:45when the honourable member was... And the other third by Labour
0:04:45 > 0:04:48governments in which as the right honourable gentleman knows he was
0:04:48 > 0:04:54actually working in the office of the then Prime Minister, so I would
0:04:54 > 0:04:57suggest that the right honourable gentleman when he returns to their
0:04:57 > 0:05:02subject treat it with the seriousness that it deserves.When
0:05:02 > 0:05:07bail collapsed at the weekend they had debts of £900 million and a
0:05:07 > 0:05:13pension deficit of £600 million. And yet year after year after year
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Carillion paid dividends out of their shareholders. After the chief
0:05:17 > 0:05:20executive Chris jettisoned after the profits warning last July he is
0:05:20 > 0:05:28still being paid a salary in excess... Until this coming October.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Will the Government confirmed that the payments to the former chief
0:05:31 > 0:05:36executive.As of today? Can my right honourable friend confirm he will
0:05:36 > 0:05:41not fall into the labour trap of how to do with corporate failure, and
0:05:41 > 0:05:46the last Labour Government who lets bank investors pocket profits for
0:05:46 > 0:05:53many years but when the sheet hit the rocks the taxpayer picked up the
0:05:53 > 0:06:06bills.20,000 people across the UK including employees at sheet hit the
0:06:06 > 0:06:09rocks headquarters at risk of using their jobs, it seems senior
0:06:09 > 0:06:14management have changed the rules so that they can keep hold of their
0:06:14 > 0:06:18exorbitant bonuses. Does he think this is fair and if not what of the
0:06:18 > 0:06:26Government going to do about it?I can certainly well understand and
0:06:26 > 0:06:29appreciate that sense of unfairness on the part of the honourable lady's
0:06:29 > 0:06:37constituents. I think it would be wrong of me from the dispatch box to
0:06:37 > 0:06:40pre-empt the enquiry that the official receiver will carry out
0:06:40 > 0:06:45into the conduct of both present and previous members of the board of
0:06:45 > 0:06:54directors. But I can say to the honourable lady that the official
0:06:54 > 0:06:58receivers not only has power to investigate but to impose severe
0:06:58 > 0:07:02penalties as he finds the conduct has taken place.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05When the Carillion issue was debated in the Lords,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07one Labour peer said his chief concern centred on smaller companies
0:07:07 > 0:07:09caught up in supply chains to the company.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12These companies employ fewer than ten people.
0:07:12 > 0:07:19Given the payment structure which Carillion adopts,
0:07:19 > 0:07:20there are now many companies in the supply
0:07:20 > 0:07:22chain who have completed the
0:07:22 > 0:07:27work but are still waiting to be paid.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30There is a 120 day period between the completion of work and
0:07:30 > 0:07:34the payment for the work done.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37And these people, from what has been said today, seem to have been
0:07:37 > 0:07:41forgotten about.
0:07:41 > 0:07:51They have done their duty under the contracts to
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Carillion and they have now been left hanging without any
0:07:56 > 0:07:59prospect of payment and any prospect of getting any kind of money.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02It is a serious issue that there may be circumstances where Carillion is
0:08:02 > 0:08:05paid but the money has not filtered down the supply chain.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06I have made enquiries about this.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08The priority of the official receiver is to
0:08:08 > 0:08:09maintain continuity of service.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12I gather that there is provision within the resources available to
0:08:12 > 0:08:16the official receiver and the circumstances that the noble
0:08:16 > 0:08:18the official receiver in the circumstances that the noble
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Lord has just mentioned for those payments that have not filtered
0:08:20 > 0:08:23through to be made in order to ensure the continuity of services
0:08:23 > 0:08:27provided.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31There is of course anger by many of those working for and with the
0:08:31 > 0:08:36company that is the warning signs were not followed up very quickly by
0:08:36 > 0:08:41the Government after their alert in July. Not least the fact that a
0:08:41 > 0:08:48crown representative was not appointed when good practice and the
0:08:48 > 0:08:56ministerial guidelines set it should not happen.May I say it is time for
0:08:56 > 0:09:02a further independent enquiry into the Private Finance initiative
0:09:02 > 0:09:08process? This idea I think originally... It came to me when I
0:09:08 > 0:09:11was transferred some 30 odd years ago. My Treasury officials working
0:09:11 > 0:09:17on it. I refused to have anything to do with it.Will the Minister chavvy
0:09:17 > 0:09:30has whether he plans to chair the investigation? To investigate the
0:09:30 > 0:09:36cause of failure in any company but that will not cover the action of
0:09:36 > 0:09:40ministers and ministers have their fingerprints all over this debacle.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43As someone who has worked in the contraction industry, it was fairly
0:09:43 > 0:09:48common knowledge 12 months ago that Carillion was in considerable
0:09:48 > 0:09:52difficulty. I ask the question whether my noble friend will look at
0:09:52 > 0:09:56who is it within Her Majesty'sGovernment that is there to
0:09:56 > 0:10:00keep a watch on these major, major contracts across departments. It
0:10:00 > 0:10:05seems to me that is a question that does not need to be asked.-- does
0:10:05 > 0:10:15need to be at. Underlining a point which I certainly take to heart the
0:10:15 > 0:10:18method of assessing the financial viability we have to undertake when
0:10:18 > 0:10:22we award, in light of the review.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24So has the Carillion case demonstrated possible risks
0:10:24 > 0:10:26when private sector companies are awarded contracts
0:10:26 > 0:10:28to run public services?
0:10:28 > 0:10:32At a committee session, a senior civil servant has been
0:10:32 > 0:10:35defending the Government's use of private firms.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Four years ago John Manzoni became chief executive
0:10:37 > 0:10:41of the Major Projects Authority in the Cabinet Office.
0:10:41 > 0:10:49A Conservative MP took up with him the case of High Speed 2.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55After the contracts were signed, there were question marks over a
0:10:55 > 0:10:59large number of the company signed up to HS2. I asked on that occasion
0:10:59 > 0:11:04whether due diligence had been carried out on all the countries and
0:11:04 > 0:11:12in reality transferring unacceptable risk to the taxpayer?Successfully
0:11:12 > 0:11:23delivered many projects for Government.
0:11:24 > 0:11:30Through PFI. By the same companies, good ones and bad points was of the
0:11:30 > 0:11:34structure of what we do in that particular case, the joint venture
0:11:34 > 0:11:39of three companies. In particular for this reason, the risks are
0:11:39 > 0:11:45shared, and in this case one company has said, we will cover this. That
0:11:45 > 0:11:49is why we structure it that way. This is of course a much bigger
0:11:49 > 0:11:54debate and of course there are various better companies and worse
0:11:54 > 0:12:00companies, but I think in general the use of private infrastructure,
0:12:00 > 0:12:05this country is actually very good at building infrastructure through
0:12:05 > 0:12:08the private sector and various financing constructs, delivery
0:12:08 > 0:12:14authorities.There are successful. The point he makes is right, one of
0:12:14 > 0:12:17the things we have learned over the years, I have certainly learned
0:12:17 > 0:12:28space following the G4S saga. Over the last three format years we
0:12:28 > 0:12:33prioritised building the quality of our commercial profession. Making
0:12:33 > 0:12:38sure everyone in it is of the right standard through an assessment
0:12:38 > 0:12:42centre. And just having much more of a grip, better information about
0:12:42 > 0:12:52contracts. And also people are likely moving over this, the fact is
0:12:52 > 0:12:56the team have done weeks and weeks of contingency planning against the
0:12:56 > 0:13:00worst-case scenario, which is what has happened today. No doubt a bad
0:13:00 > 0:13:03outcome for the country but the work we have done in the commercial
0:13:03 > 0:13:11trying to understand across 450 public sector contracts,
0:13:11 > 0:13:17understanding what would happen. Ten years ago, we wouldn't have known
0:13:17 > 0:13:25where to start. A total understanding of why the contracts
0:13:25 > 0:13:31are, the ability to actually really interrogate, learn from each other.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Ten years ago, five years ago, which are not impossible. I think you have
0:13:35 > 0:13:39seen a change in the maturity of that commercial function, and stays
0:13:39 > 0:13:46this remind us why it is so important.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49You're watching our round-up of the day in the Commons and the Lords.
0:13:49 > 0:13:50Still to come.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Are new cycle lanes causing too many congestion problems for cars,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55lorries and vans?
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Now, is it well-targeted advertising?
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Or could it be barking up the wrong tree?
0:14:00 > 0:14:04The latest Army recruitment campaign was unveiled last week.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06It's costing £1.5 million and it's aimed at addressing
0:14:06 > 0:14:11concerns that potential soldiers might have over signing
0:14:11 > 0:14:16up to the Army.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18"What if I get emotional?".
0:14:18 > 0:14:21In the Commons, MPs have given the new approach a mixed reception.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23A Labour MP started the exchanges.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Having a more diverse Armed Forces clearly add to that effect on this,
0:14:36 > 0:14:40but unfortunately, the latest figures show that the number of
0:14:40 > 0:14:47regular personnel has only risen 0.5% since 2015, so what specific
0:14:47 > 0:14:51initiatives does the Ministry of Defence have to improve on this?
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Well, the honourable lady will be aware of the latest advertising
0:14:55 > 0:14:59campaign that is going through. She is right, that if we are to reflect
0:14:59 > 0:15:03society, then we must be able to recruit from right and crossed
0:15:03 > 0:15:11society, that includes B AME, and also women as well. We have got this
0:15:11 > 0:15:18target. We hope we will achieve them.Speaker, I strongly support
0:15:18 > 0:15:22the minister's ambition to encourage more BME people to join the Armed
0:15:22 > 0:15:29Forces, but what has led to this new campaign which is rather less robust
0:15:29 > 0:15:35in my own view then the good old-fashioned, Be The Besthe will
0:15:35 > 0:15:49be aware that the Be The Best campaign continues, but we must. We
0:15:49 > 0:15:53must recruit from a diverse footprint.Of course the Armed
0:15:53 > 0:15:58Forces should be welcoming to everybody irrespective of their
0:15:58 > 0:16:03gender, race or sexuality, but is it not best to state this in general
0:16:03 > 0:16:08terms, because we are all part of a minority, I am part of many
0:16:08 > 0:16:12minorities in my views, and the Armed Forces should be
0:16:12 > 0:16:15representative, and represent the whole nation.They should do, and
0:16:15 > 0:16:20that is why, in the time frame of this Government, we have seen the
0:16:20 > 0:16:24number of women, for example, in one star postings and above, increase
0:16:24 > 0:16:29from ten to 20, and it is one that we have opened up every single role
0:16:29 > 0:16:31in the Armed Forces as well.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32Tobias Ellwood.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34Meanwhile, MPs have urged the Defence Secretary,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Gavin Williamson, to do more to protect the armed forces
0:16:36 > 0:16:37from further cutbacks.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Included as part of the Government's wide-ranging National Security
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Capabilities Review, or NSCR, is a study
0:16:41 > 0:16:44of current defence spending.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Answering an urgent question, the Defence Secretary insisted "hard
0:16:46 > 0:16:49work" was taking place to ensure the "right resources" were in place
0:16:49 > 0:16:59to combat the threats facing the UK.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05I can assure the House that as long as I am Defence Secretary, we will
0:17:05 > 0:17:09develop and sustain the capabilities necessary to maintain continuous at
0:17:09 > 0:17:15the nuclear deterrence, a carrier force able to strike anywhere on the
0:17:15 > 0:17:19globe, and the Armed Forces necessary to protect the knot at
0:17:19 > 0:17:23frantic, protect Europe, and makes that we continue to work with our
0:17:23 > 0:17:30Nato allies. The Prime Minister, Chancellor and myself will be doing
0:17:30 > 0:17:33all we can to insure that we have a sustainable budget go forward, so
0:17:33 > 0:17:37that they can deliver the right capabilities for our Armed Forces.
0:17:37 > 0:17:44Its new threats have intensified, isn't more money needed, and less of
0:17:44 > 0:17:48course, previous conventional threats of seriously diminished.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Yet, if previous conventional threats have diminished, why did the
0:17:52 > 0:17:56National Security adviser claim to the defence committee in a letter,
0:17:56 > 0:18:04and I quote, because the main decisions during the 2015 DSR, this
0:18:04 > 0:18:09review is not defence focused.Is it the case that the defence element of
0:18:09 > 0:18:14the review is to be hived off, and if so, when can we expect the
0:18:14 > 0:18:19defence part of the review to be published? Weasel live in a time of
0:18:19 > 0:18:23deep global uncertainty, and the risks that we face continue to grow
0:18:23 > 0:18:28and evolve. Can you confirm that the review will carry out a thorough,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32strategic analysis of those risks, and make a full assessment of the
0:18:32 > 0:18:37capabilities required to deal effectively with those risks.We all
0:18:37 > 0:18:40recognise on this side of the House the importance of making sure that
0:18:40 > 0:18:45we maintain conventional forces. Side of the House, we recognise the
0:18:45 > 0:18:49fact that we have got to have been continuous at the nuclear deterrent,
0:18:49 > 0:18:53but you cannot have one and not the other, you have got to make sure
0:18:53 > 0:19:00that you have the ability, if we are in a point of conflict, that there
0:19:00 > 0:19:05are deterrence at many levels. That is why having a robust Armed Forces,
0:19:05 > 0:19:10in terms of our Army and Navy and air force is so incredibly vital.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11Gavin Williamson.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13"Disastrous traffic management" in London is leading to increasing
0:19:13 > 0:19:16pollution and mental stress for those living and
0:19:16 > 0:19:17working in the capital.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20That's the view of a Conservative member of the House of Lords,
0:19:20 > 0:19:22who asked at question-time what the Government was doing
0:19:22 > 0:19:28to try to reduce levels of pollution from vehicle emissions in London.
0:19:29 > 0:19:30Why is pollution still so bad?
0:19:30 > 0:19:35According to King's College London and thousand 400 people died the
0:19:35 > 0:19:37year and thousands more suffer lung diseases caused by traffic
0:19:37 > 0:19:41congestion.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Average speed has slowed down from 12 mph to seven miles per
0:19:44 > 0:19:47hour.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52Hardly progress.
0:19:52 > 0:19:53Would the Minister agree that disastrous
0:19:53 > 0:19:56traffic management is causing not only pollution but also mental
0:19:56 > 0:19:58stress and loss to for and of business?
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Perhaps despite the worthiness, there is need for better
0:20:00 > 0:20:06qualified planners on TFL and local councils.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10My lords, air pollution poses the biggest environmental
0:20:10 > 0:20:15threat to public health and it is a particular
0:20:15 > 0:20:18threat to the elderly, the young and those with existing
0:20:18 > 0:20:20health issues.
0:20:20 > 0:20:29My noble friend makes a very sensible proposal to have a
0:20:29 > 0:20:32black cab driver, expert in roads and routes on the TLF board.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34I will certainly pass that suggestion on to
0:20:34 > 0:20:35the new Minister for London.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37I know he is looking forward to working
0:20:37 > 0:20:40closely with the mayor on many issues including how to tackle air
0:20:40 > 0:20:41quality.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43Will my noble friend herself meets with some black cab
0:20:43 > 0:20:44drivers?
0:20:44 > 0:20:47And if she does will she listen very carefully to what they
0:20:47 > 0:20:49say has been the result of reducing the mains
0:20:49 > 0:20:51on our major roads in
0:20:51 > 0:20:59London, caused very largely by the creation of cycle lanes?
0:20:59 > 0:21:09The construction of bike lanes and bus
0:21:10 > 0:21:12lanes and indeed the pedestrianisation of many roads have
0:21:12 > 0:21:14reduced the available space.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Of course, cycle lanes are welcome to
0:21:16 > 0:21:19protect cyclists and encourage cycling but I do understand that
0:21:19 > 0:21:21they have caused increased congestion, but we do want to
0:21:22 > 0:21:23encourage people to cycle.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28The reduction of things that traffic and
0:21:28 > 0:21:31travel and means there are more cars taking longer journeys than ever
0:21:31 > 0:21:34before at slower speed and the evidence is of course that the
0:21:34 > 0:21:37internal combustion engine is less efficient and pollute more at slow
0:21:37 > 0:21:47speed particularly when it is waiting.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Can we have some Government figures for the evidence of
0:21:49 > 0:21:51pollution being greater than for the bike lanes
0:21:51 > 0:21:54and afterwards, because this is an important issue in future
0:21:54 > 0:22:04planning of our cities in this country?
0:22:05 > 0:22:10I am afraid I do not have those figures to hand. I will write to the
0:22:10 > 0:22:15noble Lord.The Government is being sued for the third time over the
0:22:15 > 0:22:19failure of its plans on air quality to tackle the issue in the fastest
0:22:19 > 0:22:25possible time. The current plan requires no action in 45 of the
0:22:25 > 0:22:31local authorities which have illegal identified levels of air pollution.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Does the Minister except that every local authority with an pollution
0:22:35 > 0:22:43problems needs to be required to take urgent action to reduce the
0:22:43 > 0:22:48pollution caused by traffic?I do agree that every local authority
0:22:48 > 0:22:52must do what they can to reduce pollution caused by traffic, and the
0:22:52 > 0:22:57noble lady is right, whilst we meet the vast majority of targets, we are
0:22:57 > 0:23:03one of 17 EU member states that are not meeting the nitrogen dioxide
0:23:03 > 0:23:09limits. The reason for that is the lower than expected reduction in the
0:23:09 > 0:23:13diesel vehicles. We have got plans which we published last year, and we
0:23:13 > 0:23:18have issued directives to 28 local authorities outside of London. They
0:23:18 > 0:23:22have already been drawing on the £250 million fund which were made
0:23:22 > 0:23:25available in order to try and bring improvements with was possible.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26Lady Sugg.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Now time for the final frontier.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Is Parliament boldly going where no-one has gone before?
0:23:30 > 0:23:33MPs have been debating the Government's Space Industry Bill -
0:23:33 > 0:23:37legislation which is part of the process to introduce
0:23:37 > 0:23:40commercial spaceflight activities from launch sites in Britain.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43The Industry Minister Jo Johnson told MPs there was nothing
0:23:43 > 0:23:51like space to galvanise interest in science and technology.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56Satellites, a speciality of the British space industry, play a
0:23:56 > 0:23:59crucial role in our economy, supporting more than £250 billion of
0:23:59 > 0:24:00our GDP.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03In the future, tens of thousands of new smaller satellites
0:24:03 > 0:24:06are planned, creating a global launch opportunity worth £10 billion
0:24:06 > 0:24:08over the next ten years.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11This is an opportunity the UK is well placed to
0:24:11 > 0:24:21pursue.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Our long coastline, aviation heritage and engineering capability,
0:24:26 > 0:24:28thriving space sector and business friendly environment make the UK
0:24:28 > 0:24:29attractive for new commercial launch services.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32While we have already an licence space activities that are
0:24:32 > 0:24:34carried out by UK companies from other countries,
0:24:34 > 0:24:36we could carry out space activities from our own
0:24:36 > 0:24:37shores.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39If it is correct my understanding that this Bill will
0:24:39 > 0:24:46open the way for commercial space flights within the next 20 years,
0:24:46 > 0:24:56and if that is correct, does the Minister realise
0:24:56 > 0:24:57that commercial space flights will arrive
0:24:57 > 0:24:59in many years quicker than the proposals
0:24:59 > 0:25:04in transport for the North's improvements for transport including
0:25:04 > 0:25:05the rail electrification to Hull?
0:25:05 > 0:25:07We want to move forward on many fronts and this
0:25:07 > 0:25:09bill will enable us to capture
0:25:12 > 0:25:15This is about the commercial potential of things like
0:25:15 > 0:25:16space tourism, microgravity research.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17And eventually hyperbolic fight over a distance.
0:25:17 > 0:25:27Obviously reaction engines and air breathing
0:25:31 > 0:25:40-- have been mentioned.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43That could see us flying to Japan or Australia in literally ate few
0:25:43 > 0:25:44hours.
0:25:44 > 0:25:51Simply by using going up to touch the edge of space and back down.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52A look at space travel.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54And that's it for this programme.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Alicia McCarthy will be here for the rest of the week.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59But for now, from me, Keith Macdougall, goodbye.