13/09/2013 The Week in Parliament

why eight quiet and studious family were the subject of an arson attack.

It is 2:33am. Time for the week in It is 2:33am. Time for the week in

Parliament. Welcome to the show. Getting in the

mood for the conference season. Party leaders enjoy it pre—

conference baiting. They need to look at the Trading Standards, I

have to say, he folded very fast. For the few, not the many, he is a

two nation Prime Minister. The Deputy Speaker of the commons

two nation Prime Minister. The resigned after being charged with

personally in the chamber. Winston personally in the chamber.

through hell, keep going. Sage Churchill said, when you are

advice. I will see this through to advice. I will see this through to

the end. Caught between the rock and a hard place, we put the latest row

and counter claim poverty league BBC and

agreements made. He walked away with payoffs. I was not party to the

agreements made. He walked away with £1 million. First, the party

conference season is here. The conference season is here. The

political parties events, this week saw the annual

conference of the treaty union Congress. Going along to talk to the

union leaders of the area, was none other than the lead of —— Labour

leader, Ed Miliband. His party leader, Ed Miliband. His party 's

relationship with the unions is currently going through what may be

termed as difficult times. He was heard respectfully. The opinions of

the commentators differed about the commentators differed about the

com —— quality of his speech. David Cameron was keen to taunt the Labour

leader about his performance. Ed Miliband welcome to the league just

fall in the job figures, but he noted under point was still rising

in half of the UK. Unemployment is rising in half of the country. In

the east of the England, the north—east, Yorkshire and Humber,

the West Midlands, Scotland. Can you confirm that the only month when

wages rose faster than prices, was when he handed out the millionaires

tax cut and city bonuses went up... When city bonuses went up 82%. His

speech was so poor as we said speech was so poor as we said

yesterday, it is difficult to know when he's finished. He went to the

area, he screwed it up. The fact is, in this economy,

confidence is up, consumer confidence is up, exports are up.

They want to give the maximum support to millionaires who are

giving bonuses. It is a different story for those who go to food

banks. We know what this government thinks about those who go to food

banks. The children's secretary said banks. The children's secretary said

that the people who go to food banks only have themselves. One of the

honourable members is groaning. It honourable members is groaning. It

shows how out of touch Conservative party is. Now we would

all like to hear... Does the Prime Minister agree with his children's

times under labour. We would only secretary?

times under labour. We would only have to take —— we don't have to

take it lectures from them. On the issue of complacency, real

and borrowing through the roof. The and borrowing through the roof. The

children's secretary comments, nor distance himself from them. Let me

tell him, the children's secretary is an absolute disgrace. Mr Speaker,

let us see any of them try to live on £150 a week. Then we would see

would happens. 1 million young people are out of work. Unemployment

up in half the country. Millions of people worse off, while millionaires

get a tax cut. For the few, not the get a tax cut. For the few, not the

many. He is a two nation Prime Minister. I tell him what a disgrace

is. That is going down to the trade unions, and caving in. We were

promised this great big tough fight, this tough speech, he told us it

would be raging Bull. He gave us chicken run. Apparently yesterday, a

man in Bournemouth advertised, only to collapse in seconds. My friend

makes a good point. makes a good point. I admire

everything that happens in Dorset, but they need to look at the Trading

Standards. He folded faster than a Bournemouth deckchair. David

Cameron. The MP Nigel Evans resigned this week as Deputy Speaker of the

commons. He had been charged with serious sexual offences. At the

start of Wednesday 's business in the house, the empty that his seat

on the backbenches, and in a speech confirming his resignation, Mr Evans

said he would said he would be robust the

defending his innocence, and seeking acquittal. I have therefore decided

that the best course of action is for me to return to the backbenches,

and this is a decision that I have made myself after careful

consideration. I did not have the consideration. I did not have the

and I am not seeking to return after and I

the conclusion of the fence —— until after the conclusion of events.

had been put in limbo by recent had been put in limbo by recent

events, he said. I am so grateful to the Speaker, and to the two other

deputy speakers, the honourable they have given me over the three

years. Particularly, since May for. —— made a fourth. When I told the

member for Bristol south on Saturday my decision, I even got a hug from

her. Thank you. I have had so many hugs, prayers and good wishes since

thank everyone who has shown me such thank everyone who has shown me such

compassionate consideration. This is the most painful thing I have

endured in my life, alongside the loss of my mother in 2009, and the

loss of my brother earlier this year. Winston Churchill said, when

you are going through hell, keep going. Sage advice. I will see this

through to the end. With the support of the people that mean so much to

me. Nigel Evans. The verdict of the culture Secretary on, not the Queen,

but the BBC. The last 12 months have but the BBC. The last 12 months have

not been the BBC's finest time, after the Jimmy Sable revelations a

year ago, the size of payoffs given to departing BBC executives has

caused controversy. MPs on the commons Public Accounts Committee

had before them seven past and present corporation bosses. MPs

wanted to know how the BBC trust could not have known the details of

the payment given to the BBC's former deputy director—general when

he left in 2011. The former director—general claim to the trust

did know. I do not understand why those

made. I think it is... I do not want made. I think it

unfair misleading made specifically believe there were

unfair misleading made specifically on this point of how much, how much

information had been shared. Under the terms of the contract, one—year

salary, give or take a bit, is half £1 million. He walked away with,

half £1 million, which for most half £1 million, which for most

people, is megabuck is —— megabucks, given to someone no longer needed in

the organisation. We lost a quarter of the senior management, and a

massive reorganisation. We were, massive reorganisation. We were, as

you know from other hearings, in the middle of a series of gigantic

broadcasting house, also the broadcasting house, also the

preparation of the Royal wedding and the Olympic Games. We took the

decision, and it was my judgement, which I put to the executive board

and discussed with the BBC trust, that we wanted him through the

difficult transition fully focused on the enormous task we had. All I

said to the committee, and I am in said to the committee, and I am

difficulty about this, I repeat, I difficulty about this, I repeat, I

was not party to the agreements made about him. I am in the position

where I have been accused of where I have been accused of

misleading the committee on misleading the committee on

something I never knew. A million quid. I would have questioned it.

That is having been on a lot of executive —— nonexecutive member of

many public bodies. I take it you did not. I think it should have been

in your welcome back. I cannot understand why you did not put it in

there. The reason for that is there. The reason for that is

because my interpretation, and my staff 's interpretation of what Mr

Thompson has included in his brief is different. We were not aware of

the details of Mark Byford 's the details of Mark Byford 's

arrangement. Neither in writing arrangement. Neither in writing or

from any oral contact. That is the fact of the matter. I cannot believe

that. If you want me to explain, I fact of the matter. I cannot believe

would be happy to. A final summary from the chair. Have we got in any

wiser. I do not know. We will have to see when we look at the details

control. A failure to communicate incompetence.

have seen people covering their for an organisation whose business

of people who work for the BBC, who of people who work for the BBC, who

produce the fantastic content which enriches our lives. The sell—off of

the Royal mail is finally here. There will be a stock market

flotation in a matter of weeks. Privatisation of the service has

been on the cards for years. The management and the government say

the service needs access to private capital to grow and compete. Under

the plans, 10% of shares will be given to Royal mail employees. The

public will also be able to buy shares. The business minister

happy that —— with the sell—off. I happy that —— with the sell—off. I

am Royal mail management, fully recognised and understand the

natural apprehensions of the natural apprehensions of the

workforce about this. I workforce about this. I have

continued to meet with the union on regular meetings of the last year,

to discuss these concerns. I also want to reassure the house once

again that a change in Royal mail ownership does not and cannot

trigger any change in the provision of the universal postal service. Has

universal service provider, Royal mail will continue to be obliged to

deliver six days a week to urban and rural areas alike at the same

affordable prices. The Royal mail is a much cherished national

institution, but the case for institution, but the case for

recent annual profits of over £400 recent annual profits of over £400

million, we should be allowing it to flourish in the public sector. But

the minister the minister today has told the

stock exchange that he will sell a majority stake in the company on a

with this politically motivated fire with this politically motivated fire

sale to fill the sale to fill the hole in the

Treasury created by George Osborne. This is a decision that will have

businesses, and communities up and significant

that we started this process in the down the country. A

21 years ago, this must be the longest fire sale in history. Was it

apparent then, as is apparent now, that if the Post Office is going to

grow it must have commercial freedom. And at the same time,

through primary legislation... Royal Mail, sorry, must have commercial

freedom, and at the same time is possible through primary legislation

to protect the universal service, the stamp costs the same in rural

Lincolnshire as it did in London. We've said that 21 years ago, we

have been saying it since, when have been saying it since, when will

people start listening people start listening on the

benches opposite? The Minister continues to refuse the activation

that this is a fire sale, but as so many people are opposed to

privatisation, will be flotation not occur in an atmosphere where the

basic share price will automatically be reduced, therefore the taxpayer

will have been cheated? The sale of the Royal Mail. Some international

one that has shown particular one that has shown particular

durability, lasting exactly 300 years, the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713

that granted Gibraltar to the that granted Gibraltar to the

British. And the Spanish have been unhappy ever since. The Ra

long—running row over the place called the Rock has just gone

through its latest turbulence —— the long—running row. The border delays

stemmed, apparently, from the stemmed, apparently, from the

frustrations of Spanish politicians at the dropping of concrete blocks

earlier this year into the waters around the Rock. It was done to

create a reef to encourage sea life to flourish. But Spain says the

where the sympathies of MPs at where the sympathies of MPs at

Westminster lay on the matter. Can I make it abundantly clear to the

Spanish, hostility towards the British people

of Gibraltar, that he will tell the hostility towards the British people

his sombrero, straw donkey and his sombrero, straw

sangria, and go. There have been sangria, and go. There

have some under the Spanish occasions in recent weeks when

diplomatic language in doing so than ambassador, but I think if

diplomatic language in doing so than he is recommending onto Her Majesty

's government. $$CYAN Gibraltar is 's government. $$CYAN Gibraltar is

British, end of story. But it's certainly true that the Spanish

Foreign Secretary seems determined to get himself good headlines in the

right wing press. But can I urge the Foreign Secretary not to rise to the

Spanish bait. Keep calm and carry on. Well, I'm glad to hear... I'm

glad to hear the endorsement that Gibraltar is unequivocally British,

years ago from the Labour Party. So, years ago from the Labour Party. So,

some thoughts in the Commons on Gibraltar. Tuesday this week was

Gibraltar Day, marking the holding of the referendum on the Rock back

in 1967 when they voted in 1967 when they voted

overwhelmingly in favour of staying British. So, to shine a light on

this peculiarly British issue, I'm joined in the studio by Doctor

Chris, a in economic history and has co—authored a detailed book all

about Gibraltar. Thanks very much. Am I right in saying that during

this 300 year period the Spanish have always had a strong claim, or

has it ever been the case that they haven't been too bothered about

Gibraltar? The Spanish claim has always been held very strongly,

in power. So, some of them have been in power. So, some of them have been

able to get more leveraged out of the Gibraltar situation and others.

The Franco government was distinctly The Franco government was distinctly

more belligerent and closed the frontier between the end of the

1960s and the mid—19 80s. Whereas in 1960s and the mid—19 80s. Whereas in

the 19th—century Spanish governments knew pretty well they didn't have

much leveraged over Britain, it was much leveraged over Britain, it was

a dominant power. Has there ever been a chance of Gibraltar being

military force in the 18th—century. going to

military force in the 18th—century. But there was a very large siege

then that captured the and since then it has not been

imagination, and since then it has not been

likely that that would be acceptable to pre—poll in Britain. Onto the

political arrangements, how exactly is Gibraltar government? —— people

in Britain. It is governed separately to the United Kingdom, it

works slightly differently than say works slightly differently than say

the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. It does have that legacy of

being a colonial territory. After the Second World War, like a lot of

territories, it was moved to territories, it was moved to

internal self—government. It has a parliament with elected members. It

is run in the style of the British Parliamentary democracy. There is a

governor? There's a governor who holds reserve powers for policing

and security, who also deals with any diplomatic issues and crucially

is commander—in—chief of the armed forces, and represents, in theory,

the interests of the monarch. But in reality, of course, in the 21st

century it is more the interests of the government. Is the Gibraltar

government at the moment a government at the moment a

Labour/Liberal Democrat Coalition? It is a Labour Liberal Coalition,

although the Labour part of that styles itself as a socialist

government, so slightly different in that sense to certainly new Labour.

And the Liberal Party there does have strong links with the Liberal

Party in Britain through what's called the Liberal International,

there was a visit by the president there was a visit by the president

of that organisation to Gibraltar recently, and on behalf of the 100

Liberal Party members gave their support to the Gibraltar government.

I'm not sure whether there's any truth in this, but

course Spanish. I detected this hostility towards the UK

but in such a small place recently, it never

but in such a small place personalities matter. With her being

Spanish there is suspicion on the part of the people of Gibraltar

an aspect there. Gibraltarians have behind closed doors there could

an aspect there. Gibraltarians have an MEP, not their own, but one that

is tacked onto a part of the UK? Part of the south—west constituency.

the EU in 1973 alongside Britain, This came about

the EU in 1973 alongside Britain, and was required to follow all the

EU's directors, but didn't have vote until a legal challenge in the

late 90s that led to elections as part of the south—west

constituency. But no Westminster MP of course, any desire to have an MP

at Westminster? No, but there has been talk about this in the past, in

the 1970s for example, and that was the 1970s for example, and that was

on the back of similar attempts on the back of similar attempts to

get something in Malta, but that fell down. Very recently a new

movement asking for a Gibraltar movement asking for a Gibraltar MP

has started, but I think that the vast majority of people would see

that as being a retrograde step. that as being a retrograde step. Why

is that? Most people in Gibraltar's preference for a solution to the

Gibraltar problem would be something more like independence with close

association to Britain, rather than integration into the UK state. Spain

is a little less keen to talk about its own areas off the North African

coast that come under Spanish coast that come under Spanish

jurisdiction. A bit of double standards? Certainly that's the

accusation that has been thrown at Spain. There are those two

territories. Even when Spain was arguing at the UN in the 1960s that

Gibraltar should be the colonised, it had its own colonial territories

aspect of hypocrisy. And the aspect of hypocrisy. And the

future? One really can't see any solution to this problem, the

Spanish will always have a claim. Spanish will always have a claim.

This is it, the Treaty of Utrecht which regulates all this only allows

for two options, either retention by Britain or return to Spain. No

matter how much people in Gibraltar may prefer a third option of some

kind of this independence, that won't happen. And on the creation of

the reef, how is that going to the reef, how is that going to

resolve itself? That's an interesting one. The region itself

was used as an excuse to ratchet up was used as an excuse to ratchet up

the disruption at tried to distract attention from

Spanish politics. It was used as a wider bargaining chip. What happens

normally is when the trouble in Madrid passes over the trouble at

the frontier passes over. But this has been a more sustained attempt at

disrupting the frontier relationship than has been done for quite some

time. Chris, thanks very much. Now, it was, if you can remember it, a

time. Chris, thanks very much. Now, memorable little summer. And

alongside the sunnier than usual when —— usual weather and Andy

Murray winning Wimbledon there was extra reason for contentment. The

Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy on July the 22nd, and there

out of the hospital. He will be king out of the hospital. He will be king

one day, but not in my lifetime. one day, but not in my lifetime. On

Monday the Commons got the chance to send their best wishes. We must

remember, Mr Speaker, that this birth has not just been a national

event but first and foremost a very private and family event. It is

right that the Duke and Duchess right that the Duke and Duchess of

Cambridge privacy to get their new son, and in the coming years they

must be allowed to have that space. Any parent will have recognised the

emotions of excitement and indeed a bit of trepidation about the new

world of parenthood into which they are arriving. In their case with the

eyes of the world on them they carry a heavy sense of responsibility.

sure I speak for people across the sure I speak for people across the

house that they carried it off absolutely beautifully, as did

Prince George, with what was generally interpreted as a first

royal wave when he appeared in front royal wave when he appeared in front

of the cameras. I want to put on the record very good wishes, and for the

for those of the other parties to for those of the other parties to

send our congratulations to the wonderful wonderful green, and her

wonderful husband, and the parents of Prince George, we are delighted

with the safe arrival of Prince George in this world. MPs reflecting

on seven