:01:35. > :01:38.Coming up in half an hour, we look at us fresh calls for home rule for
:01:38. > :01:48.the North. And why animal welfare campaigners fear that stray pets
:01:48. > :01:48.
:01:48. > :35:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2002 seconds
:35:10. > :35:13.Good morning. Coming up today: Is it time to
:35:13. > :35:18.fast-tracking economic power it to the north?
:35:19. > :35:24.We look at a new campaigns for Yorkshire assembly. It will come, I
:35:24. > :35:29.have never lost faith in that. animal welfare campaigners urge the
:35:29. > :35:34.Government to maintain a ban on stray pets being used in scientific
:35:34. > :35:39.experiments. Our guests today are up Craig
:35:40. > :35:44.Whittaker, the Conservative MP and Linda Riordan the Labour MP for
:35:44. > :35:50.Halifax. Craig Whittaker, it is there an argument for some form of
:35:50. > :35:54.Yorkshire parliament? Absolut nonsense. People said they did not
:35:54. > :36:01.wanted in the north-east, and we had one imposed on us by the then
:36:01. > :36:06.Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. We very much want localism, but in
:36:06. > :36:11.regards to this big bureaucratic... People want less politicians. They
:36:11. > :36:17.are fed up with being told what to do, so no is the answer. Linda
:36:17. > :36:21.Riordan, you are the President for an organisation campaigning for
:36:22. > :36:25.home rule for the North. Tell us about that. It is a new
:36:25. > :36:30.organisation, and there has never been at a time when we need of
:36:30. > :36:33.regional government for the North, for Halifax and Yorkshire, and the
:36:33. > :36:38.whole northern region more than life. It has been talked about
:36:38. > :36:43.before, and as John Prescott said, it was rejected them. But things
:36:43. > :36:48.change. That is the reason why we need it now. With Scotland and
:36:49. > :36:54.Wales getting more power, who is facing the brunt of the cuts? For
:36:54. > :36:58.every pound cut it affects the North more than the south. We do
:36:59. > :37:03.not have the private sector to cushion that blow. I want to see us
:37:03. > :37:09.making our own decisions and it will increase democracy. People
:37:09. > :37:13.will be voting on the things that affect them. Some of the view with
:37:13. > :37:17.envy the deal the Scots and Welsh landed with their devolved
:37:17. > :37:21.parliament. Given the massive disparity between north and south
:37:21. > :37:25.on spending in areas like transport and health, there is a resurgence
:37:25. > :37:32.sentiment that Yorkshire should be looking to determine some aspects
:37:32. > :37:36.of its own economic destiny. There are those who would say that
:37:36. > :37:39.Yorkshire's economy is not on the right track and this is one of them.
:37:39. > :37:44.Roger's family has run this department store for three
:37:44. > :37:49.generations. He says scrapping a well-funded regional development
:37:49. > :37:54.agency was a mistake and it needs to be replaced in some way. He has
:37:54. > :37:58.got reservations over how exactly that should be done. We had a
:37:58. > :38:03.wonderful operation in Yorkshire, it made a huge difference
:38:03. > :38:10.financially and politically and is not there anymore. We do not want
:38:10. > :38:16.any more or talk shops, we want to talk shops with money. Years ago
:38:16. > :38:20.there was a plan by the Labour Government to go further and set up
:38:20. > :38:24.a director -- directly elected regional assemblies. Those plans
:38:24. > :38:30.were dropped due to public indifference, but this man thinks
:38:30. > :38:34.the public mood is different today. As the North begins to see, I know
:38:34. > :38:38.we got rejected in the north-east, but as they begin to see an unfair
:38:38. > :38:43.distribution of resources between these parts of the UK, they will be
:38:43. > :38:49.demanding to have a regional form of government. It will come, I have
:38:49. > :38:53.never lost faith in that. People in Halifax appear as divided today as
:38:53. > :38:59.locals were eight years ago. need something sorted out in
:38:59. > :39:06.Yorkshire, the way things are going, it is not a bad idea. I think it is
:39:06. > :39:11.a great idea, I hope they have the same in other places. I think it is
:39:11. > :39:15.too complicated. Rubbish. But in nearby Brighouse, there are moves
:39:16. > :39:20.for another form of directly elected regional government. This
:39:20. > :39:24.is the head of the Hannah Mitchell Foundation, and the Yorkshire based
:39:24. > :39:29.research and lobby group committed to devolving power to the north of
:39:29. > :39:33.England. We're seeing a widening gulf between north and south. That
:39:34. > :39:39.will get worse in the next two years. We need to redress that
:39:39. > :39:44.problem by having, if you like, a strategic Tia of governments that
:39:44. > :39:49.can take power out of Westminster and build on some of the work the
:39:50. > :39:54.old regional development agencies did. Give them democratic
:39:54. > :39:58.accountability which they never had before. A limited form of
:39:58. > :40:02.devolution could soon be coming to the 11 local authorities that
:40:02. > :40:05.collectively make up the league city regions. They have asked the
:40:05. > :40:09.Government to transfer transport powers to them so they can take
:40:09. > :40:15.decisions to boost the local economy. That decision is expected
:40:15. > :40:18.in the next three weeks. Transport is key to the local economy. London
:40:18. > :40:22.and the south-east have funding for transport three times that of our
:40:22. > :40:30.area. We want the ability to make her own decisions and fund our own
:40:30. > :40:34.schemes. We want to lift the economy of the North of England to
:40:34. > :40:39.the levels we see elsewhere. Hannah Mitchell foundation has its
:40:39. > :40:44.first parliamentary reception at next week. It is hoped that one day
:40:44. > :40:47.those receptions will be held in the north rather than down south.
:40:47. > :40:51.John Prescott suggests that regional government is still a goer,
:40:51. > :40:57.do you fancy having a scrap with him on that? The people are the
:40:57. > :41:02.ones to listen to and the people have well and truly said no. I will
:41:02. > :41:09.go back to what Roger, I love him to bits but I think he is totally
:41:09. > :41:14.wrong, the old agencies wasted 40% of what they spend. The Leeds City
:41:14. > :41:19.region it is set up by wealth creators of the county, the
:41:19. > :41:24.business people. I am all in favour of giving them more money, more
:41:24. > :41:31.power to bring it in the northern habit that a lot of MPs have been
:41:31. > :41:35.lobbying for in government. Why do we need bureaucracy? The Labour
:41:35. > :41:40.government were excellent inputting that in place, let's tear it down
:41:40. > :41:47.and give it to people who can make real decisions for the real local
:41:47. > :41:52.economy. Do we need more politicians, Linda Riordan?
:41:52. > :41:56.Hannah Mitchell Foundation, and regional government, is not about
:41:56. > :42:01.creating more bureaucracy or another layer of government. It is
:42:01. > :42:11.about replacing what is already there. It is about democratic
:42:11. > :42:14.
:42:14. > :42:18.accountability. Let's have not forget what the Yorkshire forward
:42:18. > :42:23.did for Halifax when we were in danger of losing age boss. They
:42:23. > :42:27.played a major role in keeping those there. That is what our
:42:27. > :42:32.foundation is about, about the North going out and getting more
:42:32. > :42:37.power into Yorkshire and more jobs into Yorkshire instead of all the
:42:37. > :42:42.jobs going down south. We must fight for what we deserve up here.
:42:42. > :42:46.Let's cannot forget when business rates are not shared out any longer,
:42:46. > :42:51.another decision by this government, you will keep your own reads in
:42:51. > :43:00.each area. If you do not have a lot of private business, you will
:43:00. > :43:05.suffer, how can that be right? will not in Halifax. That is what
:43:05. > :43:10.it is about. It is not about a new layer of government, and it will
:43:10. > :43:14.bring money in rather than take money out. Craig Whittaker, you got
:43:14. > :43:17.rid of the Yorkshire forward and brought in a regional growth. You
:43:17. > :43:23.have to look long and hard to find a business that has been helped by
:43:23. > :43:30.that. I opened a ten million pound factory this morning, that is real
:43:30. > :43:34.local businesses doing well in our area. 20% of our people work in
:43:35. > :43:44.manufacturing. We have some of the best manufacturers in the world. We
:43:45. > :43:51.
:43:51. > :43:57.That is what we need to promote more and we need to be given money
:43:57. > :44:02.to do it. We need to give them freedom to do what they do best,
:44:02. > :44:07.not more people like us, local councillors, bureaucracy or red
:44:07. > :44:12.tape. We have to leave that particular debate therefore now.
:44:12. > :44:17.It sounds like many animal lovers worst nightmare. Pets which have
:44:17. > :44:21.been abandoned by their owners being used for scientific testing.
:44:21. > :44:26.Campaigners say any you directive could overturn the ban on stray
:44:26. > :44:29.cats and dogs being used in experiments. Many MPs from
:44:29. > :44:35.Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are urging the Government to keep the
:44:35. > :44:43.ban. Across the country animal shelters
:44:43. > :44:47.are full to capacity with unwanted pets. It is no different here. This
:44:47. > :44:52.lady runs the alternative animal sanctuary in south Lincolnshire.
:44:52. > :44:58.She is worried about reports that a ban on stray dogs and cats being
:44:58. > :45:02.used for experiments could be overturned. I cannot understand
:45:02. > :45:06.what would happen if you're looking for your pet, don't find it within
:45:06. > :45:10.a specified time and then find out it has ended up in a laboratory
:45:11. > :45:15.where it could be experimented on for months until it is killed. I
:45:15. > :45:21.find it hard to believe the English are prepared to except that that
:45:21. > :45:25.could be a reality. The Government says scientific research using
:45:26. > :45:29.animals is essential in the development of new drugs and
:45:29. > :45:33.medical technology. It is heavily regulated and has to be licensed by
:45:33. > :45:37.the Home Office. Home Office officials say they
:45:37. > :45:43.cannot foresee any circumstances where a licence would be granted
:45:43. > :45:50.for an experiment on strays. But animal campaigners say any EU
:45:50. > :45:55.directive leaves the door open for just that scenario. Britain has the
:45:55. > :46:00.option to say no, we will stick to our current plan. All the animal
:46:00. > :46:05.welfare groups have said, yes, we should stick to the ban. For some
:46:05. > :46:10.reason the Government has said no, we will adopt a less restrictive
:46:10. > :46:17.wording and allow it under some circumstances. Many MPs have raised
:46:17. > :46:20.concerns about the European legislation. Scunthorpe MP shares
:46:20. > :46:24.at the Parliamentary Group for the Replacement of animals in medical
:46:24. > :46:28.experimentation. That is the practice in some parts of Europe
:46:28. > :46:33.were stray animals are used for animal experiments, the argument
:46:33. > :46:38.being you do not have to breed animals for our -- laboratory
:46:38. > :46:42.experiments. In the UK, that has not been the case and I would very
:46:42. > :46:48.much hope that the Government take steps to make sure that cannot be
:46:48. > :46:52.the case in the future either. That is the reason I tabled a written
:46:52. > :46:59.parliamentary question last week asking exactly what the Government
:46:59. > :47:04.intends to do in relation to this area. It seems a little bit
:47:04. > :47:13.suspicious that it is brought in at lock long after the discussion
:47:13. > :47:17.about compulsory microchip in animals. -- not long after. The
:47:17. > :47:22.council can say if it is not checked, and we cannot trace its
:47:22. > :47:27.owner, it is now our property. Campaigners are calling for an
:47:27. > :47:33.urgent debate in the House of Commons to discuss changes they
:47:33. > :47:37.believe will be of concern to the nation of animal lovers.
:47:37. > :47:42.Linda Riordan, you signed a Commons motion calling for a debate on this.
:47:42. > :47:46.What are your concerns question mark it is a crazy idea.
:47:46. > :47:53.British public will not put up with this. I know the Government are
:47:53. > :47:57.saying it is hardly likely to be used, it should not be there at all.
:47:58. > :48:02.Research has moved on so much, whilst appreciating all the
:48:02. > :48:07.research that has gone on in the past, cancer treatments, lots of
:48:07. > :48:12.others have been discovered, but there is not the need for it. You
:48:12. > :48:16.lose your pet and you might find it in a laboratory, no, we will not
:48:16. > :48:21.wear that. There will be many debates in Parliament about that I
:48:21. > :48:25.am sure. Craig Whittaker, do you think the Government could
:48:25. > :48:32.seriously except his EU directive which could see stray cats and dogs
:48:32. > :48:35.being used for experiments? Government have very clearly said
:48:35. > :48:39.they are going to strengthen the directive and keep in place a lot
:48:39. > :48:43.of the things that are of much greater and harsher in this country
:48:43. > :48:48.than you. I do not understand why this mill section of it about
:48:48. > :48:53.strays, they have decided there is no need to keep the provision which
:48:53. > :48:58.we currently have. I am with Linda on this one, it is nonsense and
:48:58. > :49:02.should be changed. Linda Riordan, do you accept there is some need
:49:02. > :49:07.for animal testing in science? Taking the drugs that I do, I have
:49:07. > :49:14.got to. We have moved on and people live normal lives and get cured
:49:14. > :49:18.from many diseases. I am not against it 100%. But as I said,
:49:18. > :49:23.research has moved on and there is not the need there used to be for
:49:23. > :49:27.all the experiments on animals, and certainly not strays. The flipper
:49:27. > :49:32.argument is many animals are bred specifically for medical research.
:49:32. > :49:37.We look at all these beetles that are used in medical laboratories. -
:49:37. > :49:42.- beagles. With strays is that such a bad thing if they end their lives
:49:42. > :49:48.being used for the benefit of humankind? The problem with that it
:49:48. > :49:53.is, what is a stray. If someone loses a pet, it goes missing for a
:49:53. > :49:58.few weeks, it could end up in a laboratory. That cannot be the case.
:49:58. > :50:03.There should be no circumstances, there is no reason to change the
:50:03. > :50:13.law that his curly working well in this country, to be more relaxed. -
:50:13. > :50:22.
:50:22. > :50:26.Six months to go before we elect our first ever police commissioners.
:50:26. > :50:30.Labour launched its campaign and candidates this week. A familiar
:50:30. > :50:36.face for Humberside with local councillors fighting to run in the
:50:36. > :50:40.three neighbouring forces. The should be paid teachers, nurses and
:50:40. > :50:43.dinner ladies less if they work in the North?
:50:43. > :50:49.Lot of opposition from that government idea in Parliament this
:50:49. > :50:54.week. We cannot get NHS workers to come to the Humber to work, and we
:50:54. > :51:00.could not get teachers to teach in the City of Hull a few years ago
:51:00. > :51:06.and had to give them an enhanced salary to do that. And Olympic
:51:06. > :51:12.torch mania hit Yorkshire. Amazing scenes with stories to tell our
:51:12. > :51:22.grandchildren, but has it left a golden economic legacy? The idea
:51:22. > :51:22.
:51:22. > :51:26.that it brought huge amounts of Craig Whittaker, there was talk the
:51:26. > :51:30.Government would drop these proposals for regional paid public
:51:30. > :51:34.sector, but they looked determined to press ahead. We do have a
:51:34. > :51:41.regional pay around the country already, but these particular
:51:41. > :51:45.proposals, I agree. They need to be dropped. Myself and a few other MPs
:51:45. > :51:50.went to see George Osborne last week to say we would not support
:51:50. > :51:54.regional pay because in Yorkshire and the Humber, let's take
:51:54. > :52:00.education for example. We have the lowest attainment rates in the
:52:00. > :52:05.United Kingdom. By reducing regional pay, we will not attract
:52:05. > :52:10.the best to our region to come and left those standards. I cannot
:52:10. > :52:13.support it and a lot of local MPs cannot supported either for. Linda
:52:13. > :52:18.Riordan, many businesses and the private sector say they struggled
:52:18. > :52:24.to compete when they do not have a level paying for -- playing field
:52:24. > :52:30.on pay. We have some of the lowest- paid employees at the moment in the
:52:30. > :52:36.north. We do not need to go there. Education, Social Services, we are
:52:36. > :52:41.struggling to get people because we pay less in colder deal than Leeds
:52:41. > :52:49.and Manchester. If regional pay is brought in, how will that help
:52:49. > :52:55.anybody? Forget -- they get London weighting and they have higher
:52:55. > :53:00.mortgages. But I come home every week and switch my heating on up
:53:00. > :53:05.here. Transport is more expensive, heating is more expensive, perhaps
:53:05. > :53:10.it ought to be the other way round and we get the Northern waiting.
:53:10. > :53:18.You expect another government U- turn? It is not a U-turn because it
:53:18. > :53:22.is not in any draft legislation. Who knows, one would say they might
:53:22. > :53:28.just listens. The big event this afternoon will be the Olympic torch,
:53:28. > :53:38.it is back in Yorkshire in both of your constituencies. Very excited,
:53:38. > :53:39.
:53:39. > :53:43.looking forward to going and seeing that, bringing people to Halifax.
:53:43. > :53:48.It brought loads of people to the area, and I am hoping they will
:53:48. > :53:53.come to us as well. What about the cynics who say the torch relay has
:53:53. > :53:58.not brought economic benefits that were prop -- that were promised.
:53:58. > :54:03.Humbug! If you look at all the things the Olympics has regenerated,
:54:03. > :54:07.not just in London but outside London as well. Look what happened
:54:07. > :54:13.that two or three weekends ago at the Jubilee weekend. It was a
:54:13. > :54:18.fantastic weekend, people were united. All the here on the news is
:54:18. > :54:22.doom and gloom but there is some great stuff going on. I am rushing
:54:22. > :54:26.from here to take all of my family down to watch the torch and will be
:54:26. > :54:33.cheering for it as well. For you confident the Olympics will benefit
:54:33. > :54:38.the North? Certainly. It will benefit the country, certainly
:54:38. > :54:41.Londoner again. It has regenerated a whole area and there will be
:54:41. > :54:49.social housing left there. Hopefully there will be a knock-on