13/11/2011 The Politics Show West Midlands

In the Midlands, we will remember them. Bob Ainsworth reveals their

heavy responsibilities and frustrations of high office. And

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1884 seconds

Hello again. Later we will be asking why MPs are giving their

backing to high-speed rail. First, �6.7 million was raised in this

region alone last year by the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, to

help and support the armed forces. That was nearly one-fifth of the UK

total. What sort of shape are the defence forces in? Peter Luff

should know, he is responsible for equipment and technology. Steve

McCabe, Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak. That constituency

borders the internationally renowned Centre for Defence

Medicine in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. We also have a Dawn

Turner from Rubery in Worcestershire. She is a very proud

mother, who has two sons that you are serving in the military. Tell

us about them. One is in the Royal Artillery, the other is in the

Royal Horse Artillery. They both joined at 16. The eldest has done a

tour in Iraq, the younger one has done a tour in Afghanistan. We are

no rating -- we're waiting for my eldest son to go back to

Afghanistan. You must be extremely proud of them. As a family, you are

just perfectly committed to the cause they are engaged in?

course. I am very proud. Pride always comes with a price, and that

is the worry of the knock on the door. The ringing phone. I am

extremely proud. All of us can identify with that. Plenty to talk

about today. I have been talking to Bob Ainsworth, the former Secretary

of State for Defence. He joined me in the Westminster studio to

reflect on his period at the men and -- his period at the Ministry

of Defence. There was a lot of debate about equipment. When you

have people in harm's way, Afghanistan is about the most

difficult operation the British forces have done since Korea, there

can never be enough. Just the other night, I spent some time with the

brigade that have just come back, and they are getting the benefit of

decisions that were taken a very long time ago. To talk about the

delay like that, that is difficult if you think about the love one's

of soldiers who are right there. One reason problem was getting

ballistic protection for small vehicles. -- one reason problem. We

now have it. It has been built in the Midlands but it was designed

from scratch in order to get that dynamic. The military covenant is

something that you and other ministers have spoken of in strong

support. It enshrines the obligation from the state to be

able to put their way -- from the State for people who put their

lives on the line. You have put it in a document. I did, it put

obligations on every department of government to deliver for around

forces. We had it in our manifesto. -- are our own forces. But we

should have read in a legal document. David Cameron said he

would. The Colonial Service gives us good value for money. --

coronial service. But there is no good standard that runs throughout

it. They teach the other departments lesson, but at worst

they are dreadful. Does it surprise you there might be to -- and

jealousy that creeps in. There is a resentment that other people feel

the service community are getting preferential treatment? Nobody else

is asked to put their lives on the line and take orders to walk into

extreme danger. When people are injured in those circumstances, it

is absolutely appropriate. The overwhelming majority of civilians

if they think about it, support that. It is not special treatment.

Is his return for sacrifice and for services given to the nation. -- it

is a return. Bob Ainsworth giving us a sense of the extreme pressure

on any Secretary of State. Peter Luff, can you identify with that

frustrations he felt. There is the delay, night time goggles, body

armour, getting them out to the front. I can, and there is to

sources of that delay. Political will and technical issues. -- two

sources. There is no point having new equipment taken out to

Afghanistan if they cannot use it. Training is important. It does take

a long time. The troops have never been better equipped than they are

now. So would you say to Dawn Turner, whose sons are out there,

that the situation is now resolved. I can. Like all, I met three

Commando last week. They are delighted with the equipment. They

say it is performing better than expected. I can say that our boys

and girls have exactly what they need. You are benefiting from a

hard work that Bob Ainsworth put in? He did. He did a lot of good

work. But we inherited a financial mess and we kept the process going.

I am very happy that the people in Afghanistan have that equipment now.

Steve, you will be keeping watch on this issue. I think where they are

taking measures to protect the troops, we will give them our total

support. People do not want to see political parties squabbling about

the treatment of the armed services. Obviously some areas we have

reservations, we want to know what has happened to the dedicated wards

but the Prime Minister promised. We do not think the decision on

pensions is correct. We think a number of people who stand to lose

out quite heavily. -- will lose out. So we will push them in those areas.

Those issues resonate very strongly in this part of the country. We are

told that one in eight of all new recruits are from the West Midlands.

There is a real affinity in this part of the country, is there not?

There is. It is important these guys keep contact with your family.

I must agree with Peter, my sons have commented on what an

improvement has been made on the equipment. The helmets bit better,

the lights do not fall down. These things make the difference. -- fit

better. Are you satisfied that the armed forces covenant is been taken

seriously? To a certain degree. There is

obviously areas that need to be looked at. For example? A few weeks

ago there was a young soldier who lost his life, and his family were

absolutely devastated when his wages came through, and he was

docked 10 days because he died 10 days before the pay-day. We know

all politicians do not discuss individual cases, but the Ministry

of Defence does need to look into this to make sure that that is

prevented in the future. Peter Luff, that does seem particularly bad.

was wrong and should not have happened. The overall picture is

encouraging. The principles are now in lot. We can be held to account

for anything. -- now in law. It is very good. Given the proximity for

the centre of defence medicine deer -- the Centre for Defence Medicine

to your constituency, what you say to the people who say armed forces

are getting special treatment? have not encountered that myself.

When I have spoken to civilians, they have been quite proud of what

goes on there on behalf of our troops. There will always be one or

two people, it is always possible to find someone like that, but the

general feeling is everyone is benefiting because some of these

young people were very badly injured but it tests the doctors to

the limits in terms of the work they are doing. The civilian

population benefit as a result of these medical advances. Your son

received some treatment there himself, did he not? He did, when

it was based in Selly Oak. He broke his ankle. Where did he get his

injury? Afghanistan. We found out it was his cousin that flew them

home. Obviously, Dawn Turner is reassured, but the difficulty as

Bob Ainsworth said is that this defence cover and we have been

talking about evolves all the time, so that next service and the next

service will continue. You cannot keep up with that. -- defence

covenant. I happen to disagree with Bob Ainsworth about the top --

about the chief coroner. It is about a whole service. We believe

the reforms we need to make to make it better for military families can

be made more rapidly. It has been very good to talk to you Dawn

Turner, and for the moment, thank you very much indeed.

There is a good case to build a high-speed rail line, so says the

Transport Select Committee. They have been examining plans for a new

generation of bigger, faster trains, starting with a link between

Birmingham and London. As Andrew Adonis once said, everybody wants a

station, nobody wants the line. Our transport correspondent found the

project is not yet a done deal. Believe the spin and you would

think the committee had given HS2 a ringing endorsement. Go through the

report and you find a different story. Although the concept gets a

thumbs-up, there is doubt. The Transport Select Committee are

asking very deep questions. They have been misgivings about HS2.

information they are asking for work will completely devastate the

case for a chest do. The committee is concerned about not only the

strength of the business case but also investment levels on the

existing network. MPs want to know how a test to fit into the

transport strategy. This will go through a long parliamentary

process, and we suggest the key questions that need to be asked.

For those affected by a Test do, last week's report says they are

not the only ones with misgivings. It will become more heated next

month when the public consultation results are printed. Ministers

certainly seem to have their work cut out if they are going to have a

considered response ready in time for the big announcement, following

public consultation. Steve McCabe, in common with most Labour MPs, all

the big centres, you are a supporter. But these are not just

idle criticisms. The environmental impact, financial, damage to rural

economies, this is substantial staff. There -- substantial stuff.

That is why we have select committees. My view is this country

does not have a great history in dealing with these major

infrastructure transport projects. This one has tremendous potential.

The benefits to the Birmingham economy are enormous. It is quite

right that before you embark on a project like this, some of the

questions and criticisms are addressed. Peter Luff, a final word,

you are very knowledgeable on the railway industry, should we not

take on these criticisms? We will listen to the criticisms, that is

what the select committee does. It is the right idea to build this

line. We must get the detail right. Will this be on the statute book

What links Crawshawbooth in Lancashire, Congelton in Cheshire

and Knowsley Safari Park on -- the statute book?

There are many beneficiaries of Children In Need. Each year, the

fund-raising campaign swings into action. We have been to see how one

minibus has been delivering a healthier way of living for some

Staffordshire children. It is lifestyle and lack of exercise that

is the major cause of obesity. Youngsters play computer sport

rather than doing it. I was the class clown. Just silly comments.

They would all add up. Now at 15, he is a boxing champion and is

totally dedicated. His father cannot believe the turnaround.

transformation has been unbelievable. He is not interested

in going out with his friends any more. He wants to be at the

gymnasium. His attitude is completely different. He is a

different person. Tamworth Amateur Boxing Club, established 1969. Part

of the big society before it started. It punches well above its

weight in a poor community. Although it has had lottery funding,

people feel it has had one hand tied behind its back. I do not know

when the big society will happen. It has not changed anything for us.

We are struggling for space. If it was to work, we would have that

space. Without BBC children In Need funding this minibus, pupils would

struggle to get here. Some of these teenagers could have been expelled.

They are now tot by boxing coaches, and have landed 150 GCSEs. It is a

lot more fun. They make the lessons more fun. I am not in school so I

come here and it makes me feel better. It is better than school.

The budget has have for alternative courses. -- halved. Some doctors

are worried about health inequality. I would agree nationally we have

got to make certain we do not lose healthily quality -- health

inequality. The best way out of poverty is education, and people

who are educated quite simply live longer. In parts of the West

Midlands, a quarter of children are obese. More than a third live in