0:00:18 > 0:00:22Hello and welcome to Monday In Parliament.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Coming up on the programme: Theresa May says she's confident
0:00:24 > 0:00:32she can reach a deal with the EU.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37The pragmatism, calm and patient discussion, I am confident we can
0:00:37 > 0:00:39set an example to the world.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45But Labour dismiss her vision as a shambles.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49This government's reckless strategy is putting our jobs in manufacturing
0:00:49 > 0:00:50industry at risk.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54The Defence Secretary repeats his verbal attacks on Russia.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Putin has made it quite clear that he has hostile intent towards this
0:00:58 > 0:01:00country.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03And warnings in the Lords about family doctors retiring early
0:01:03 > 0:01:07and junior doctors quitting the NHS after their training.
0:01:07 > 0:01:12With the noble Lord care to speculate why there is a flood of
0:01:12 > 0:01:18departing junior doctors right now?
0:01:18 > 0:01:20But first, emboldened by her landmark speech
0:01:20 > 0:01:22on Brexit last Friday, Theresa May told the Commons
0:01:22 > 0:01:23she's confident Britain can reach an agreement
0:01:23 > 0:01:25with the European Union.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Last week, she spelt out her vision for the new relationship,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30in which she said the UK will leave the single market, the jurisdiction
0:01:30 > 0:01:32of the European Court of Justice will end,
0:01:32 > 0:01:34some regulations will remain in step with the EU,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37and she said she wants trade across borders which is
0:01:37 > 0:01:38as frictionless as possible.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40This was the first time the Prime Minster had faced
0:01:40 > 0:01:44MPs since that speech.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49I am confident we can solve our remaining differences in the days
0:01:49 > 0:01:54ahead. Now we must focus on our future relationship. A new
0:01:54 > 0:01:58relationship that respects the result of the referendum, provides
0:01:58 > 0:02:01an enduring solution, protects people's jobs and security, is
0:02:01 > 0:02:05consistent with the kind of country we want to beat and strengthens our
0:02:05 > 0:02:07union of nations and people.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11It was clear MPs from all sides wanted to make their views heard.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16We must resolve the tensions between our objectives. We want the freedom
0:02:16 > 0:02:20to negotiate trade agreements around the world, we want control of our
0:02:20 > 0:02:25borders and a frictionless as border are possible with the EU so we did
0:02:25 > 0:02:34not damage the integrated supply chain to our industries rely on.A
0:02:34 > 0:02:41very considerable level of heckling taking place in the House.20 months
0:02:41 > 0:02:46passed since the referendum. A year has passed since the triggering of
0:02:46 > 0:02:51Article 50, 20 wasted months in which the arrogance of some of the
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Cabinet who said it would be the easiest deal in history has turned
0:02:55 > 0:03:03into debilitating in fighting. This government's reckless strategy is
0:03:03 > 0:03:08putting our jobs in manufacturing industries at risk. The Prime
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Minister's only clear priority seems to be to tie the UK permanently to
0:03:13 > 0:03:16EU rules which are being used to enforce privatisation and block
0:03:16 > 0:03:18support the industry.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21The Liberal Democrats were keen to address concerns that a future
0:03:21 > 0:03:29trade deal with the US would open up the NHS to American health giants.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35Can I first congratulate the Prime Minister on the fact that, after 20
0:03:35 > 0:03:38months of tough negotiation, she appears to have delivered at least a
0:03:38 > 0:03:47trade deal with her own Cabinet? Specifically in her future,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51independent trade negotiations with the economic nationalists and
0:03:51 > 0:03:56warmongering in the White House, what exactly at the Prime Minister's
0:03:56 > 0:04:03redlines? Do they include the NHS?I am absolutely clear that as we look
0:04:03 > 0:04:07to negotiate a trade with the US, the NHS will remain as it is today,
0:04:07 > 0:04:15it will remain free of the point of use, it is not for sale.Last month,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19as the Prime Minister gathered with her Cabinet at Chequers, there was
0:04:19 > 0:04:23one glaring absence. Where was the Secretary of State for Scotland?
0:04:23 > 0:04:29Scotland's voice was not heard that these crucial Cabinet discussions.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33The House, Mr Speaker, been a flagrant disregard by this
0:04:33 > 0:04:37government of the nations that make up the United Kingdom.The decision
0:04:37 > 0:04:42that led to the approach in my speech were taken by the whole
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Cabinet, not by a subgroup of the Cabinet, and all members bar one
0:04:46 > 0:04:51that was in this House at the time were present when that was taken.On
0:04:51 > 0:04:56Friday and today, the Prime Minister said access to one another's markets
0:04:56 > 0:05:02would be less than it is now. This is the public burial of the claim
0:05:02 > 0:05:05made by her Brexit secretary year ago in this House that the
0:05:05 > 0:05:10government's aim was to secure the exact same benefits. The Prime
0:05:10 > 0:05:16Minister has admitted to her country that there is economic cost to
0:05:16 > 0:05:21Brexit. So blushing now tell us, what is that economic cost, when
0:05:21 > 0:05:27will the public be told about it, and who will pay it?Can I say to
0:05:27 > 0:05:30the right honourable gentleman, life will be different in the future
0:05:30 > 0:05:34because we will have a different relationship of the European Union?
0:05:34 > 0:05:38But while he and the Labour Party consistently only focus on our
0:05:38 > 0:05:41relationship with the European Union, what we're doing as a
0:05:41 > 0:05:44government is ensuring that the good trade deal, the best possible trade
0:05:44 > 0:05:48deal with the European Union, together with trade deals with
0:05:48 > 0:05:51countries around the world and develop a colour me so it is a
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Britain the future.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57And just in case you thought it was possible for politicians to discuss
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Brexit without any food metaphors...
0:05:59 > 0:06:03When she gets into negotiations with the European counterparts about
0:06:03 > 0:06:08trade arrangements, could she remind them that cake exists to be eaten
0:06:08 > 0:06:11and cherries exist to be picked?
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Iain Duncan Smith there.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15After spending the best part of an hour watching Theresa May
0:06:15 > 0:06:17answer questions on Brexit, the Chancellor, Phillip Hammond,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20faced his own inquisition.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23The European Scrutiny Committee wanted to know first of all
0:06:23 > 0:06:26if the UK would agree to any new EU taxes - for example
0:06:26 > 0:06:28on financial transactions - if they were introduced
0:06:28 > 0:06:36during a transition period after Brexit.
0:06:36 > 0:06:42Would you regard this as something which we would have to reject
0:06:42 > 0:06:49because, after all, we have said categorically we are not in favour
0:06:49 > 0:06:52of financial transaction tax, but there is nothing on the face of it
0:06:52 > 0:06:56to prevent the EU from bringing in something like that?The question
0:06:56 > 0:07:00you are asking is, could rules or regulations be introduced during the
0:07:00 > 0:07:07transition period which we maybe didn't like? The question is whether
0:07:07 > 0:07:12we would be required to implement them. We think we have got very good
0:07:12 > 0:07:20visibility of the pipeline of potential legislation. In this case,
0:07:20 > 0:07:26the relatively slow pace at which the EU sausage machine grinds works
0:07:26 > 0:07:32in our favour. We are talking about a transition period, implementation
0:07:32 > 0:07:37period of around two years from the time we cease to take part as a
0:07:37 > 0:07:45participant in decision-making. And, as a matter of fact, during the
0:07:45 > 0:07:53course of 2019, quite a lot of the EU decision-making apparatus will be
0:07:53 > 0:08:01in a state of suspended animation. Six months ago, H R C had both here
0:08:01 > 0:08:06and in the Republic of Ireland said there was no issue about having a
0:08:06 > 0:08:11hard border, and yet it has suddenly become, over the last month or two,
0:08:11 > 0:08:17huge issue and all these people are jumping up and down getting
0:08:17 > 0:08:21interested in Northern Ireland. Do you not feel that, if the Irish
0:08:21 > 0:08:24government really wanted this to work, they should be getting
0:08:24 > 0:08:28together with the British government and officials on either side and
0:08:28 > 0:08:32looking at technology and some of the things that have been said by
0:08:32 > 0:08:34the European Parliament or constitutional committee, that it
0:08:34 > 0:08:36could work?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Mr Hammond said the UK also needed a free-flowing
0:08:38 > 0:08:43border at Dover-Calais.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46As we seek solutions with the European Union, including
0:08:46 > 0:08:49technology-based solutions to achieve that objective, lorries
0:08:49 > 0:08:54coming off the ferry at Calais can roll straight through Dover and vice
0:08:54 > 0:08:58versa, which has to be our objective. As we seek a solution
0:08:58 > 0:09:05that delivers that, we expect that we will find in that solution the
0:09:05 > 0:09:12basis for a working solution in the Irish border as well.Have you found
0:09:12 > 0:09:21who licked those documents?The cross government economists. The
0:09:21 > 0:09:28Cabinet Secretary, as I understand it, is, you know... Carrying out an
0:09:28 > 0:09:33investigation, as always happens when an unauthorised leaks of
0:09:33 > 0:09:38documents occur. I have not heard he has reached any conclusions yet.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40The Chancellor also said he was setting aside £3 billion
0:09:40 > 0:09:45over the next two years to prepare for Brexit.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49It is being spent on ensuring we are prepared for a full range of
0:09:49 > 0:09:57outcomes. Some of it is being spent on preparations for a no deal exit
0:09:57 > 0:10:01in March 20 19. Clearly, we will make his money available to
0:10:01 > 0:10:05departments on the basis that we will continually review the
0:10:05 > 0:10:08situation. They have to get on with this now because, obviously, there
0:10:08 > 0:10:10is limited time.
0:10:10 > 0:10:11The Chancellor.
0:10:11 > 0:10:17You're watching Monday in Parliament, with me, Lucy Grey.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19The Prime Minister has announced changes to the planning rules
0:10:19 > 0:10:22in England after admitting young people without family wealth
0:10:22 > 0:10:26were "right to be angry" at not being able to buy a home.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28She told a conference in London that the disparity
0:10:28 > 0:10:31was entrenching social inequality.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33It was left to her Housing Secretary, Sajid Javid,
0:10:33 > 0:10:39to sell the new policy to MPs.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43I am confident that the bold and ambitious measures we are proposing
0:10:43 > 0:10:49will have a huge impact. Not just on the number of homes built but
0:10:49 > 0:10:54ultimately on people's prospects and our prospects as a country to ensure
0:10:54 > 0:10:57that local authorities and developers can no longer be in any
0:10:57 > 0:11:01doubt where they stand about what is expected of them and what they must
0:11:01 > 0:11:05do to help fix our broken housing market and deliver the homes that
0:11:05 > 0:11:10the people of this country need and deserve.Today once again we have
0:11:10 > 0:11:13seen the government bring forward proposals that tinker with the
0:11:13 > 0:11:17planning system and yet another failed attempt to look as though
0:11:17 > 0:11:21they are doing something about the housing and infrastructure prices
0:11:21 > 0:11:26the country is facing and which is largely of their making. And let's
0:11:26 > 0:11:30be clear about the skill of the problem that has arisen. Many
0:11:30 > 0:11:35communities up and down the country do not have the homes they need.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39Since 2010, the number of rough sleepers in England has nearly
0:11:39 > 0:11:45trebled from 1700 to nearly 5000 last year.Given the scale of the
0:11:45 > 0:11:50housing crisis in London, does he really think it is acceptable that
0:11:50 > 0:11:52developers use viability assessment is to drive down levels of
0:11:52 > 0:11:56affordable housing simply because to do otherwise would limit their
0:11:56 > 0:12:03profits to below 20%?Mr Speaker, I do not think it is acceptable for
0:12:03 > 0:12:05developers to not meet the commitments they have set at the
0:12:05 > 0:12:10start. We have seen particularly in London too many examples where a
0:12:10 > 0:12:14percentage of the developer will set out for affordable housing, it was
0:12:14 > 0:12:18not met on the way the assessment process works. That is why I hope
0:12:18 > 0:12:22you will support the process was set up the day the greater
0:12:22 > 0:12:26standardisation and much more transparency.In 1909, Winston
0:12:26 > 0:12:32Churchill spoke about the value of the land tax while public money is
0:12:32 > 0:12:38used to enhance an area. Today developers are sitting on almost 1
0:12:38 > 0:12:43million plots as young people face a lifetime of house and security in
0:12:43 > 0:12:47prices. Is it not time of the government to look again at the
0:12:47 > 0:12:52benefits of a land value taxation? The honourable lady might be
0:12:52 > 0:12:56interested in the consultation that we have set up to on developer
0:12:56 > 0:13:00contributions because I'm sure she will agree that developer
0:13:00 > 0:13:05contributions are a type of tax on developers. They are expected to
0:13:05 > 0:13:09provide for perhaps infrastructure or affordable housing, in some cases
0:13:09 > 0:13:14both, so if she's really interested in this issue I would urge to look
0:13:14 > 0:13:15at that consultation.
0:13:15 > 0:13:21The SNP felt England should look to Scotland in the area of housing.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26Affordable housing is a third higher per head of population than in
0:13:26 > 0:13:31England. Has the government learned from the SNP's building programme?
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Scrapping right to buy has allowed the Scottish Government to improve
0:13:34 > 0:13:38our council housing stock. What council houses had been delivered
0:13:38 > 0:13:43across 32 local authorities in Scotland than 326 local authority
0:13:43 > 0:13:47areas in England. Or the Minister rather than extending right to buy
0:13:47 > 0:13:53the further reduce housing supply follows:'s lead and abolish it?Has
0:13:53 > 0:13:57the government learnt anything from Pete 's SNP's approach to housing?
0:13:57 > 0:14:03No. She has also then asked about the right to buy. We have not
0:14:03 > 0:14:08learned anything from that because they followed exactly the wrong
0:14:08 > 0:14:11policy. We actually believe it is a good thing to allow people to buy
0:14:11 > 0:14:13the House.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14Sajid Javid.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Now, could we be heading for a crisis of departing doctors?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20The number of GPs retiring early in England is on the increase,
0:14:20 > 0:14:21according to recent figures.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24And the departure of junior doctors from the National Health Service
0:14:24 > 0:14:26at the end of their training has become a flood,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28in the words of one Labour peer.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29The Government denies the situation is serious.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33The issue was raised at question time in the House of Lords.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37My Lords, we appear to be in a vicious cycle of doctors
0:14:37 > 0:14:40either retiring early and then coming back and working part-time,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43and fewer EU doctors coming to work here.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48What can my noble friend the Minister do to increase
0:14:48 > 0:14:50the number of doctors wishing to enter GP practice,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52as opposed to other specialties?
0:14:52 > 0:14:56And as regards EU doctors, what is the certification procedure
0:14:56 > 0:15:01going to be for them to be recognised as doctors
0:15:01 > 0:15:03to practise post-Brexit in this country?
0:15:03 > 0:15:05It's interesting to note that the total number
0:15:05 > 0:15:08of retirees from general practice has been falling in recent years,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11which I think is very welcome, even though there has been
0:15:11 > 0:15:13an increase in the last few years in the number
0:15:13 > 0:15:15taking early retirement.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17In terms of entering general practice, of course,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19that is how we need to get more GPs.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22The number of training places has increased to a record 3250,
0:15:22 > 0:15:27and that has been, again, an 18% increase over the last three years.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32Finally, on the issue of certification, mutual recognition
0:15:32 > 0:15:35of professional qualifications is, of course, a matter for negotiation
0:15:35 > 0:15:39as part of our future relationship with the EU.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41But I can tell that the Government is committed, under whatever
0:15:41 > 0:15:44circumstances, to recruit 2000 international GPs
0:15:44 > 0:15:46in the coming years.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48One of the reasons why general practice is less attractive
0:15:48 > 0:15:52than it used to be is because of the enormous
0:15:52 > 0:15:54bureaucratic load that is placed upon them nowadays.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56They have to sit on committees, on CCGs,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58and they are rushing around doing nonclinical work.
0:15:58 > 0:16:06Is there anyway of reducing this nonclinical workload?
0:16:06 > 0:16:09I would point the noble Lord, and other noble Lords,
0:16:09 > 0:16:10to NHS England's ten high-impact actions.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13These are actions that all GP surgeries can take, whether it's
0:16:13 > 0:16:16using technology such as e-booking and e-prescribing to work
0:16:16 > 0:16:18to reduce the kind of workload that he's talking about.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21More GPs are leaving the profession than joining it, and there
0:16:21 > 0:16:25are soaring numbers of junior doctors leaving the NHS after
0:16:25 > 0:16:28their two-year foundation training.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30So how does the Government intended to fill
0:16:30 > 0:16:33the failing pipeline of junior doctors, and would the noble
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Lord the minister care to speculate
0:16:35 > 0:16:39why there is a flood of departing junior doctors right now?
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Could it be due to the rock-bottom level of morale
0:16:41 > 0:16:47of junior doctors after their shabby treatment by the Secretary of State?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Well, the noble lady might be interested to note that if you look
0:16:50 > 0:16:53at the number of GPs in specialty training in 2014, it was 2671,
0:16:53 > 0:17:00in 2017 it was 3157 - an increase of nearly 400.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02That is how we're filling the places.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Is the noble Lord the Minister aware of the increasing number
0:17:06 > 0:17:09of inner-city GP practices where the entire GP workforce consists
0:17:09 > 0:17:12of locum doctors because of recruitment problems?
0:17:12 > 0:17:15And does he agree that that is an expensive way
0:17:15 > 0:17:18of providing GPs, and one which diminishes
0:17:18 > 0:17:22the doctor-patient relationship?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Yes, I do agree with the noble Lord, we do need to crack down
0:17:25 > 0:17:29on agency and locum spend, which has been falling in recent years.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Of course, the way that we fix this issue and the demand for
0:17:33 > 0:17:36general practice in a sustainable way is to increase the number of GPs
0:17:36 > 0:17:38coming into the service, and as I've said,
0:17:38 > 0:17:39exactly what we're doing.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Health Minister Lord O'Shaugnessy.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45The world is sliding into a second Cold War.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48That was the stark assessment of an Opposition MP during
0:17:48 > 0:17:49defence questions in the Commons.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54It follows the state-of-the-nation speech made by President Putin last
0:17:54 > 0:17:56week, when he announced that Russia had tested an array
0:17:56 > 0:17:59of new strategic nuclear weapons that couldn't be intercepted.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01He said his country was now in possession of missiles
0:18:01 > 0:18:04that no other country had.
0:18:04 > 0:18:13A Labour MP was clearly troubled at the turn of recent global events.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Surely the Secretary of State knows that what Mr Putin announced
0:18:16 > 0:18:18a few days ago was, basically, a new Cold War.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22And it's not just cyber warfare, it's every kind of warfare,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25at a time when Europe seems to be fragmenting,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27our commitment to Nato is deeply hurt by Donald Trump
0:18:27 > 0:18:29moving into a new phase of withdrawal.
0:18:29 > 0:18:36What are we going to do about all this?
0:18:37 > 0:18:41So Putin has made it quite clear
0:18:41 > 0:18:48that he has hostile intent towards this country.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51We've been seeing the build-up of his forces across the Eastern
0:18:51 > 0:18:54front, and in terms of what they're doing over many years now.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58We have to wake up to that thread, and we have to respond to it.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02We have to match what Putin is doing with Russian forces, we
0:19:02 > 0:19:09have to be aware of the challenges that they face, and that is
0:19:09 > 0:19:12very much why we're engaging in the modernising defence
0:19:12 > 0:19:14programme, to ensure that we can match the Russians going forward.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19The US Nuclear Posture Review was met with an equal level
0:19:19 > 0:19:21of posturing by President Putin in his state-of-the-nation
0:19:21 > 0:19:22speech last Thursday.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25What is the British Government's policy response to these worrying
0:19:25 > 0:19:27developments at the world slides needlessly into a second Cold War?
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Does he believe the British Government has an opportunity
0:19:29 > 0:19:31to de-escalate the situation?
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Let's be really clear.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40President Putin has been developing a much more hostile and aggressive
0:19:40 > 0:19:44posture towards the United Kingdom, towards the United States,
0:19:44 > 0:19:50towards our allies for an awful lot longer than the last 12 months.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54They want to assert their rights, they want to...
0:19:54 > 0:19:58You've seen increased Russian activity in the North Atlantic,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01a tenfold increase over the last few years.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05And do we sit submissively by, do we just accept that
0:20:05 > 0:20:10President Putin can do whatever he wishes to do?
0:20:10 > 0:20:17Or do we have to look at how we respond and make it clear
0:20:17 > 0:20:20that we are not willing to stand up to bullying?
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Can I implore my right honourable friend not to listen
0:20:22 > 0:20:24to the Trump bashing opposite?
0:20:24 > 0:20:26There is absolutely no indication whatsoever
0:20:26 > 0:20:30that President Trump is attenuating
0:20:30 > 0:20:33his commitment to Nato.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36And can I further say to my right honourable friend
0:20:36 > 0:20:38that Nato is the backbone, not the European Union,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40of this nation's defence, and he should be,
0:20:40 > 0:20:45and I know that he is, going out there to Washington,
0:20:45 > 0:20:50speaking to his counterparts,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54and can he talk about precisely what he has achieved?
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Sorry about that!
0:20:57 > 0:21:01LAUGHTER.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04I thought my honourable friend was incredibly eloquent,
0:21:04 > 0:21:08and let's be absolutely clear.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13There is one reason that we've had peace right
0:21:13 > 0:21:16across the continent of Europe since the Second World War,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19and that is down to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation,
0:21:19 > 0:21:27and the fact that it has acted as a deterrent against those
0:21:27 > 0:21:29who which to prosecute aggressive campaigns against the West,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32and I'm very proud of the work that has been done and will be done
0:21:32 > 0:21:34in the future with our allies.
0:21:34 > 0:21:35The Defence Secretary.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Ministers have been urged to introduce a licensing
0:21:37 > 0:21:39regime for air weapons.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41As the Home Office Minister was questioned in the Lords,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44peers heard that there had been thousands of attacks
0:21:44 > 0:21:48on pets involving airguns in the last five years.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Is she aware that a growing number of crimes involving air weapons
0:21:52 > 0:21:57relate to senseless attacks and domestic animals,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59and particularly cats, nearly half of whom die
0:21:59 > 0:22:00as a result of often horrific injuries?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03The Cats Protection charity recorded 164 attacks on cats and kittens
0:22:03 > 0:22:06with an airgun last year, while the RSPCA received nearly
0:22:06 > 0:22:08900 calls to their cruelty hotline, reporting air weapon attacks
0:22:08 > 0:22:11on animals, making 4500 attacks in the last five years.
0:22:11 > 0:22:19Is it not time to license these weapons to ensure
0:22:19 > 0:22:22that they're possessed only for legitimate purposes
0:22:22 > 0:22:25by responsible owners, and not by those who would cruelly
0:22:25 > 0:22:27inflict pain and suffering, and often death
0:22:27 > 0:22:30on defenceless domestic animals?
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Well, as a cat lover and a cat owner, I sympathise
0:22:33 > 0:22:36with my noble friend's question,
0:22:36 > 0:22:40and the Government does take animal welfare very seriously.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45My Lords, anyone who shoots a domestic cat is liable
0:22:45 > 0:22:47to be charged and prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
0:22:48 > 0:22:52with causing unnecessary suffering.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54We are increasing the maximum penalty for this offence
0:22:54 > 0:22:59from six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine
0:22:59 > 0:23:02to five years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06The number of offences involving air weapons in the year to March 2017
0:23:06 > 0:23:08was similar to the previous year,
0:23:08 > 0:23:15and there were 64% fewer air weapons offences than the decade previously.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18A review was launched following the case of 13-year-old Ben Wragge,
0:23:18 > 0:23:28who was shot and killed by a home-made air rifle.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31We do have some of the strongest gun laws
0:23:31 > 0:23:33in the world, but they're still not strong enough.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35In the hands of irresponsible people, these weapons can kill,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37as in the tragic case of Benjamin Wragge.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40My friend Karen Smith in the other place had an 18-month-old child
0:23:40 > 0:23:42in her constituency injured by an air weapon recently.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45We need a responsible licence system, and can the noble lady agree
0:23:45 > 0:23:47to look at the whole question of storage?
0:23:47 > 0:23:50The advice at the moment as they need to be stored
0:23:50 > 0:23:52in a locked cabinet, I don't think that good at all.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Lady Williams said the Government was keeping an open mind
0:23:55 > 0:23:57around the regulation of airguns in England and Wales.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59The weapons are already subject to licensing in Scotland
0:23:59 > 0:24:01and Northern Ireland.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Finally, two MPs briefly used sign language
0:24:03 > 0:24:06during a debate in Westminster Hall.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07It had been triggered by an e-petition
0:24:07 > 0:24:10that's attracted around 30,000 signatures.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14The petition calls for British Sign Language, or BSL,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16to become part of the National Curriculum.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18The debate also featured a live communication
0:24:18 > 0:24:22of the speeches by a sign language expert.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27There's three things that I want to tell,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29the story about why I learned sign language.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Secondly, how BSL should be in the National Curriculum,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36and why that is really important.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41And third, I want to ask the minister some questions.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45And we need more access to work, not less.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48We need to invest in access to work so that deaf people
0:24:48 > 0:24:50can reach their full potential.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54And we need to invest, and the way to do that is to show commitment.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58So I do hope, when the minister gets to his feet,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01that he will have some good news for the deaf community
0:25:01 > 0:25:04and BSL users.
0:25:04 > 0:25:10And I am asking the Minister to please make BSL a GCSE.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11Thank you.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14We do value BSL.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17There will be a huge number of steps to go through for the BSL
0:25:17 > 0:25:19qualification to be accredited as a GCSE.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24And having been through the process, it is not a simple process
0:25:24 > 0:25:26of getting those qualifications accredited.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Nick Gibb.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34And that's it from us for now, but do join us at the same time
0:25:34 > 0:25:36tomorrow for another round-up of the day at Westminster.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40But for now, from me, Lucy Grey, goodbye.