:01:30. > :01:32.And in the South East: Handouts for the hungry - more and
:01:33. > :01:42.more families are being forced to rely on food banks but should
:01:43. > :01:43.
:01:43. > :37:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2130 seconds
:37:13. > :37:21.charities be filling the funding Good morning, this is Sunday
:37:21. > :37:26.Politics in the South East. Coming up: The Chancellor gave encouraging
:37:26. > :37:32.signs for shale gas extraction in his Autumn Statement. We hear from
:37:32. > :37:37.the protesters in Kent and Surrey. Joining me is Rehman Chishti, the
:37:37. > :37:41.Conservative MP for Gillingham & Rainham, and the Labour peer Lord
:37:41. > :37:45.Bassam. Let us start with this novel idea to liven up British
:37:45. > :37:50.politics. That is to set up a new party dedicated to preserving
:37:50. > :37:58.financial interests of people in the South East. It is the idea of
:37:58. > :38:03.Kelvin MacKenzie, the former Sun editor. Maybe he can do better at
:38:03. > :38:09.representing people. We have a strong presence in the south. We
:38:09. > :38:16.are getting stronger all the time. It is a crazy idea. It will not
:38:16. > :38:19.catch on. It will not do the South much good. The traditional parties
:38:20. > :38:24.have got representation here. We need to make sure we represent
:38:24. > :38:28.people's interests. His argument is creative and hard-working people
:38:28. > :38:35.should stop subsidising other parts of the country. He suggests home
:38:35. > :38:39.rule as a solution. It is so bizarre. What we saw with the
:38:40. > :38:49.previous government, they want regional assemblies. The referendum
:38:49. > :38:53.got turned down. We are better together. This idea of home rule as
:38:53. > :39:03.pathetic. His judgment is fraught legged was when he was editor of
:39:03. > :39:04.
:39:04. > :39:08.the Sun. The Hillsborough disaster was covered in an appalling way.
:39:08. > :39:13.household costs increase, more families are turning to charity for
:39:13. > :39:17.support. Just this week, two food banks are adding to the growing
:39:17. > :39:22.number in the South East. The first one opened last year. Food prices
:39:22. > :39:31.are predicted to rise by 4% a year in the next 10 years. What can be
:39:31. > :39:35.done about the problem? This is an affluent West Sussex town. It was a
:39:35. > :39:41.surprise when a food bank opened in April. What is more shocking is it
:39:41. > :39:46.has already paid 570 people and half of them are children. This man
:39:46. > :39:52.is unemployed but says he is trying to get into work. -- this woman is
:39:52. > :39:57.unemployed but says she is trying. It is embarrassing but at the same
:39:57. > :40:03.time it is nice there are people here who understand that not
:40:03. > :40:10.everybody can make ends meet. It is difficult for people. Especially
:40:10. > :40:16.when you are on a low income. June last year, this Christian
:40:16. > :40:22.charity opened its first food bank in Eastbourne. 18 months on, it has
:40:22. > :40:28.opened 10 more, including two new ones this week in Bexhill. Another
:40:28. > :40:31.one will open in the New Year and there are plans for three more. The
:40:31. > :40:37.Freddie Starr as the 4th highest demand for food banks, well above
:40:37. > :40:41.the national average. -- the South East has the fourth-highest demand.
:40:41. > :40:47.We are hearing a lot of stories about parents going without meals
:40:47. > :40:51.so they can feed their children. It is that working family that we are
:40:51. > :40:55.seeing an increase coming into the food bank. Food banks are not about
:40:55. > :41:00.feeding the homeless. They're about feeding people there are struggling
:41:00. > :41:04.to make ends meet. They come up with a voucher, like this one. It
:41:04. > :41:09.is given by the local council or a health care professional. This is
:41:09. > :41:15.what they get. Boxes of food like rice and canned fruit, cereal and
:41:15. > :41:19.long-life milk. It is emergency food, designed to feed you for
:41:19. > :41:25.three days. The food is debated by the public and given out by
:41:25. > :41:30.volunteers. With a man so high, we have learned at least six of our
:41:30. > :41:34.pencils are giving money to food banks. The charity is wary of being
:41:34. > :41:40.drawn into the welfare system. are responding to a problem that
:41:40. > :41:46.has been created as a consequence of cuts. You do not want to fill a
:41:46. > :41:50.funding gap? Absolutely not. That is not the purpose. Government
:41:50. > :41:57.figures show food prices have risen by a third in five years, that is
:41:57. > :42:02.twice as fast as inflation. Prices are expected to continue going up
:42:02. > :42:06.by 4% a year for the next decade. What we have got is very powerful
:42:06. > :42:12.companies dominating and politicians have been happy about
:42:12. > :42:16.that because they have brought prices down. Now prices are going
:42:16. > :42:23.up and a giant companies cannot control it. They cannot control
:42:23. > :42:29.climate change or flood. They cannot control oil prices. The
:42:29. > :42:39.politicians are a way with the ferries. Ordinary people get it. --
:42:39. > :42:43.
:42:43. > :42:52.with the fairies. Five boxes of pizza. To bananas. What is the
:42:52. > :42:57.solution? -- two bananas. Reducing the food we waste is one of them.
:42:57. > :43:01.Here in Brighton, this company has been collecting surplus food from
:43:01. > :43:07.supermarkets for 10 years and distributing it to 50 charities. It
:43:08. > :43:13.is a well-oiled machine but plans for a law to oblige supermarkets to
:43:14. > :43:19.donate food has stalled. The vast majority goes to landfill. It is
:43:19. > :43:29.criminal. Hundreds of people cannot eat and we are throwing away
:43:29. > :43:29.
:43:30. > :43:33.literally hundreds of thousands of tonnes a year of a double food. --
:43:33. > :43:38.of edible food. A with thousands of people fed by charities this
:43:38. > :43:43.Christmas, what will the Government to to make sure they do not go
:43:43. > :43:47.hungry next year? Face reality. Stop patronising the poor. It is
:43:47. > :43:52.dreadful the Prime Minister has come out in support of food banks.
:43:52. > :43:58.This is OK for the Old Etonian classes but it is not good politics.
:43:58. > :44:04.Food banks are papering over the cracks but the cracks a widening.
:44:04. > :44:10.Joining us from our Hastings studio is the Conservative MP amber Rudd.
:44:10. > :44:16.Lots of questions coming up. Food banks are papering over the cracks
:44:16. > :44:20.and the cracks are widening. Do you agree? I think food banks are
:44:20. > :44:25.providing an important service. I do not think they are a response to
:44:25. > :44:29.what is going on because they were set up in the year 2001. They have
:44:29. > :44:33.accelerated over the past few years but that is because people like
:44:33. > :44:37.giving food. I have been to Sainsbury's and helped collect
:44:37. > :44:45.fruit and a lot of people say, I preferred giving food to help
:44:45. > :44:48.people rather than money. People want to help. They know it is not
:44:49. > :44:52.just the homeless. It is people having hard times. Most people go
:44:52. > :44:56.through that sort of situation. They like helping other people.
:44:56. > :45:00.There is an element of people responding to people in their
:45:00. > :45:08.community and wanting to help. That is not a bad thing. But the number
:45:08. > :45:12.of food as a prince has gone up. -- food recipients. It is an explosion
:45:12. > :45:16.of food banks in the last 18 months. That is not just because people
:45:16. > :45:22.like giving food. It is because people are suffering because of the
:45:22. > :45:26.Government's austerity programme. Can I point out, under the last
:45:26. > :45:31.government, job seekers were not allowed to carry leaflets about
:45:31. > :45:35.food banks. -- people were not allowed. I am not surprised about
:45:36. > :45:44.the South East. We know there is a misconception that is the luggage
:45:44. > :45:50.area and it is not. -- that is a lavish area. We fed 700 people
:45:50. > :45:54.earlier in the year at one food bank. It does sound a bit
:45:54. > :45:59.patronising to be saying, it is wonderful, the work they are doing.
:45:59. > :46:03.The food banks have said they do not want to fill this gap. It is
:46:03. > :46:07.patronising of you to say it is patronising of me. People do want
:46:07. > :46:14.to help a we should welcome the fact they do. People have always
:46:14. > :46:18.had needs. There is a problem and I admit that. Over that -- before
:46:18. > :46:22.this Government, people were saying they had to go to food banks
:46:22. > :46:27.because they were not getting benefits in time. That peaked at
:46:27. > :46:31.35% and it has come off from them. Getting the benefits system better,
:46:31. > :46:35.getting a more efficient so people do not have this crisis moments, is
:46:35. > :46:43.something we can move on to. after the Autumn Statement,
:46:43. > :46:47.benefits will rise by 1%. That is below inflation. Things are not
:46:47. > :46:54.going to get better, they will get worse. In the past five years, out
:46:54. > :46:59.of work benefits went up by 20%. In work benefits went up by 10%. In
:46:59. > :47:07.the past, it has been skewed to two people out of work. Last year, they
:47:07. > :47:12.went up by 5.2%. This year, it will be 1%. That is like the average
:47:12. > :47:16.wage. With the deficit, we have to make some squeezes. We are hitting
:47:16. > :47:22.the better-off and bureaucracy as well. It is a joint effort. Let's
:47:22. > :47:27.talk about what you can do. Food prices are rising at 4%. That is
:47:27. > :47:35.higher than inflation. You cannot control the weather, or oil prices.
:47:35. > :47:41.You did have a food strategy -- the last government had a food strategy
:47:41. > :47:46.you haven't abandoned. Energy prices have a big impact. -- you
:47:46. > :47:53.have abandoned. The Chancellor has set out his plans to get shale gas
:47:53. > :47:57.out of the ground. I am a supporter of wind farms. We need a more
:47:57. > :48:02.diverse plant to supply energy. We must not be so dependent on oil. If
:48:02. > :48:09.we have a better supply of energy, we will get food prices on an even
:48:09. > :48:17.keel. Three we will talk about shale gas in a moment. Thank you.
:48:17. > :48:23.Lord Bassam, what do you feel about relying on charities? Is it the
:48:23. > :48:28.right thing? They care for people, they are doing the right thing. We
:48:28. > :48:35.are in a desperate situation. The Autumn Statement is going to drive
:48:35. > :48:40.more people, particularly those in work, into poverty. She is a way
:48:40. > :48:43.with the fairies. She is suggesting it is nothing to do with the
:48:44. > :48:50.Government increasing cuts. But it is. She knows that. The Chancellor
:48:50. > :48:54.knows that. It is unfortunate about this week's announcement. I have to
:48:54. > :49:00.give great credit to organisations like the ones we saw in your report.
:49:00. > :49:04.Their figures show a over the last three years, a number of people --
:49:04. > :49:10.are the number of people relying on food banks have trebled. If Rehman
:49:10. > :49:14.Chishti, you will welcome the work they are doing. I did not ask about
:49:14. > :49:19.the law which would force supermarkets to donate food. That
:49:19. > :49:23.is a shame. There is more you could be doing. We have got to do
:49:23. > :49:31.everything we can to make sure people who need help get help.
:49:31. > :49:36.People at the bottom end a to go to a shop where there is a crisis,
:49:36. > :49:41.benefits have been delayed, and the other category where people have
:49:41. > :49:48.come out of prison and have not got the skills to get a job. They are
:49:48. > :49:53.dependent on this as well. We need to get people into skilled jobs.
:49:53. > :50:03.That, in combination with benefits are paid to people who need help,
:50:03. > :50:05.
:50:05. > :50:10.rather than abuses, we have a good package. When I went to a food bank
:50:10. > :50:15.and spoke to the volunteers, they did not ask me for more money, they
:50:15. > :50:19.said, can we have another shelter? That shows me people are donating
:50:20. > :50:24.and we have to give them the extra support to make sure they can do
:50:24. > :50:29.that. Thank you. Fuel costs could go down if we could access
:50:29. > :50:35.something back. Large parts of the South East could be exploited for
:50:35. > :50:40.the controversial practice of fracking. The dots on the map show
:50:40. > :50:45.areas where gas has been previously drilled for and could be potential
:50:45. > :50:49.shale gas production sites. Fracking, involving pumping water
:50:49. > :50:55.into shale rock at high pressure to extract IPCC, was temporarily
:50:55. > :51:04.banned when it was blamed for causing mini earthquakes near
:51:05. > :51:08.Blackpool. -- extract gas. Are we going to have to get used to
:51:08. > :51:13.fracking on our doorstep? Rosie Rechter from East Kent Against
:51:13. > :51:18.Fracking joins us now. You were quite unhappy when you heard the
:51:18. > :51:24.Chancellor's comments in the Autumn Statement? Yes. I was prepared for
:51:24. > :51:28.it but I was hoping against hope he would not go that far. Why is he
:51:28. > :51:35.flogging a dead horse of fossil fuels instead of looking to the
:51:35. > :51:40.future? He is gambling recklessly with all our futures. I will get a
:51:40. > :51:47.wife he is doing it. If shale gas reserves could be accessed, they
:51:47. > :51:52.would give us cheaper fuel. Rising fuel costs of putting people into
:51:52. > :51:55.poverty. I'd challenge it being a cheaper fuel. Another thing he said
:51:55. > :52:02.in the Autumn Statement was he was looking for regulations that were
:52:02. > :52:07.simple and safe. It is an extremely complex procedure which can be
:52:07. > :52:13.highly dangerous and it needs complex regulations and a legal
:52:13. > :52:17.framework to protect us all. At most, it will last 20 years. It is
:52:17. > :52:21.madness. The Government is not going to put people's lives at risk.
:52:21. > :52:26.He is promising safe regulation. What would it take for you to
:52:26. > :52:30.accept exploiting shale gas reserves is worthwhile? I do not
:52:30. > :52:34.think anything would convince me. It is going in the wrong direction.
:52:35. > :52:40.We should be developing renewable energy which will last for ever,
:52:40. > :52:46.not a near 20 years. That is before I get on to the damage it could do
:52:46. > :52:52.to everybody who lives anywhere near it. Let us remind us -- remind
:52:52. > :52:58.us of your concerns about fracking. Looking at what happened in America,
:52:58. > :53:03.it is difficult to get convincing reports from there, but in one
:53:03. > :53:10.region alone, they had 1,000 cases of contamination of water last year.
:53:10. > :53:17.We are worried about water. We are worried about the quality of life.
:53:18. > :53:24.I think we need to 1,000 truckloads for the drilling of each single
:53:24. > :53:32.well. On average, you have six to eight Matt Wells so you will have
:53:32. > :53:37.constant noise, can destine on the roads, air pollution, possibly
:53:37. > :53:42.contamination of the water. -- congestion on the roads. It is all
:53:42. > :53:46.very well false -- it is all very well for people to say it is no
:53:46. > :53:56.worse than a lorry going past the door but people have suffered
:53:56. > :53:57.
:53:57. > :54:05.damage to their properties from earthquakes. Thank you. I could go
:54:05. > :54:10.on! She did paint an alarming picture. 1,000 truckloads per well,
:54:10. > :54:14.the contaminated water. It is hard to justify going ahead with this.
:54:14. > :54:24.We have got to do everything we can to reduce energy prices around the
:54:24. > :54:24.
:54:24. > :54:28.country. This is a way that could achieve that. The concerns that
:54:29. > :54:37.have been raised can be dealt with. We have to make sure we do
:54:38. > :54:42.everything we can to help. It is a risk. I am a sceptic. I think Rosie
:54:42. > :54:47.Rechter has a lot going for her arguments. The Government is in a
:54:47. > :54:53.pickle with its energy policy. We have not got the balance between
:54:53. > :55:03.renewables and none renewables. Fracking smacks of desperation. We
:55:03. > :55:06.
:55:06. > :55:10.do not need lessons from Labour on energy. I think, almost, before it
:55:10. > :55:17.goes ahead, there has to be a planning application, it has to be
:55:17. > :55:23.looked at by the Environmental Agency. And then it can be given
:55:23. > :55:30.permission. There are concerns but bodies have said concerns can be
:55:30. > :55:38.dealt with. A both areas they you represent have a high areas of fuel
:55:38. > :55:41.poverty. We could have a cheap and secure fuel source. Security is the
:55:41. > :55:46.issue. There may be circumstances where it is appropriate and right
:55:47. > :55:50.to consider exploiting this energy but I am not sure we have yet got
:55:50. > :55:56.to that point that. I am not convinced the Government has got
:55:56. > :56:01.the right framework in place. It is fragmented between the local
:56:01. > :56:05.authorities. There is a lack of cohesion in policy. If all that can
:56:05. > :56:11.be overcome, let us assume that the Government does not want to put
:56:11. > :56:16.lives at risk, what -- given what we have been talking about, this is
:56:16. > :56:22.surely worth exploring? I think you have got to follow the science.
:56:22. > :56:29.That is my approach. I do not think the science is perfected on this
:56:29. > :56:35.yet. There are troubling questions that have not been answered. The
:56:35. > :56:43.idea of selling it by talking about fuel poverty is not the right way.
:56:43. > :56:47.In the Energy Bill, we have looked at this. The environmental
:56:47. > :56:54.committee says this is the right way forward. Other agencies agree.
:56:54. > :57:01.Are we have cut fuel poverty. The petrol prices have been cut. This
:57:01. > :57:08.would be another way... A energy prices have gone up a third in the
:57:08. > :57:18.last two years. We have to leave it there. Now a round-up of the week's
:57:18. > :57:19.
:57:19. > :57:24.news. There was relief for south-east
:57:24. > :57:29.motorists after the Chancellor announced he would cancel the three
:57:29. > :57:34.pence rise for January. Good news for Brighton. They will receive
:57:34. > :57:39.government funding for ultra-fast broadband. It is good for business.
:57:39. > :57:44.The climate change Minister has been defending wind farms. He said
:57:44. > :57:50.they can be wonderful and majestic. He has no objection to turbines in
:57:50. > :57:54.his constituency. The Education Secretary announced �700,000 of
:57:54. > :57:59.funding for the Territorial Army in Tunbridge Wells. Former soldiers
:57:59. > :58:04.will be sent to classrooms to help raised -- to help raise results
:58:04. > :58:12.been troubled youngsters. We can make an aspirational. That is what
:58:12. > :58:15.is needed to bring discipline to Thanet Council. It is like a gang
:58:15. > :58:23.culture. This independent councillor says petty vendettas
:58:23. > :58:28.have led to council members -- council meetings resembling a
:58:28. > :58:33.jungle. You have both served on local councils. The quality of
:58:33. > :58:43.political debate taking place in than it gives cause for concern.
:58:43. > :58:44.
:58:44. > :58:52.does seem that way. It seems petty. It seems personal. Is it a one-off?
:58:52. > :58:57.It happens all over. It adds colour. But it can be very damaging.
:58:57. > :59:01.Brighton and Hove is a good example. The quality is not as good as it
:59:01. > :59:11.should be. I think it is the same thing in Parliament when you see
:59:11. > :59:11.
:59:11. > :59:16.people pointing fingers, shading. - - shouting. Look at Ed Balls when
:59:16. > :59:21.he sits on the opposition. He is the first one to give gestures. He
:59:21. > :59:29.asked to be prepared to take it if he is going to dish it out. You
:59:29. > :59:33.need integrity of politics. Lord Bassam, I am sure you welcome the
:59:33. > :59:43.announcement about faster broadband in Brighton. It will add a lot to
:59:43. > :59:44.