0:00:13 > 0:00:16Hello and welcome to The Week In Parliament.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Coming up: David Cameron unveils his deal to change our relationship
0:00:19 > 0:00:20with the EU.
0:00:20 > 0:00:25To a lukewarm reception from some of his own.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28In the parts of Europe that will work for us and out
0:00:28 > 0:00:29of those that don't.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31The thin gruel has been further watered down,
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Mr Speaker.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36There's a plea for more help for foster carers to help them cope
0:00:36 > 0:00:39with troubled children.
0:00:39 > 0:00:44As all foster carers know, the child that you have
0:00:44 > 0:00:47for the first three to six weeks of a placement is not the child that
0:00:47 > 0:00:50you will have after six weeks.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Women express anger and derhsion over gender pricing and one
0:00:52 > 0:00:54manufacturer's pink pens.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58My husband has never allowed me to write as he doesn't want me
0:00:58 > 0:01:04touching men's pens.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07But first: It was a big week for David Cameron as he unvdiled
0:01:07 > 0:01:10the deal he wants to do with Europe to change our relationship
0:01:10 > 0:01:11with the EU.
0:01:11 > 0:01:19The Prime Minister highlighted four main areas: Allowing the UK to opt
0:01:19 > 0:01:20out from any moves towards closer union.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Cutting red tape.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Protecting non-eurozone countries like the UK when it comes to trade,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28and preventing people who come to the UK from other EU countries
0:01:28 > 0:01:29from claiming certain benefhts.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34But his proposals got a verx mixed reaction in the Commons.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38In keeping Britain out of ever closer union,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42I also wanted to strengthen the role of this House and all national
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Parliaments, so we now have a proposal in the texts that
0:01:45 > 0:01:47if Brussels comes up with legislation that we do not
0:01:47 > 0:01:50want, we can get together whth other Parliaments and block it
0:01:50 > 0:01:51with a red card.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54The draft texts represent the strongest package we have ever
0:01:54 > 0:01:57had on tackling the abuse of free movement and closing down
0:01:57 > 0:01:58the back-door routes to Britain
0:01:58 > 0:02:01If someone comes from another country in Europe,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04leaving their family at homd, they will have their child benefit
0:02:04 > 0:02:09paid at the local rate, not at the generous British rate.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11And crucially, we have made progress on reducing the draw
0:02:11 > 0:02:14of our generous in-work bendfits.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16People said that it would bd impossible to end the idea
0:02:16 > 0:02:20of something for nothing and that a four-year restriction on benefits
0:02:20 > 0:02:24was completely out of the qtestion, but that is now what is in the text.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26This negotiation in reality is a Tory Party drama
0:02:26 > 0:02:31that is being played out in front of us, as we see at the momdnt.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34We believe that the Prime Mhnister has been negotiating the wrong goals
0:02:34 > 0:02:37in the wrong way for the wrong reasons.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41For all the sound and fury, the Prime Minister has ended up
0:02:41 > 0:02:46exactly where he knew he wotld be - making the case to remain in Europe,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48which was what he always intended, despite a renegotiated spectacle
0:02:48 > 0:02:52choreographed for television cameras over the whole continent.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Can I suggest that he stops pretending to have won
0:02:55 > 0:02:57some major victory?
0:02:57 > 0:03:00He has not even secured the treaty change he promisdd
0:03:00 > 0:03:01and much else besides.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04What is at stake is much bigger than his recent discussions.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07It is about whether or not we remain in the EU.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10That is what the debate across the UK will be in thd run-up
0:03:10 > 0:03:12to the referendum.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Is not the only way to get control of our borders,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18our tax revenues and our welfare system to leave, be a good Duropean
0:03:18 > 0:03:23and let them get on with their political union?
0:03:23 > 0:03:27The thin gruel has been further watered down.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29My right honourable friend has a fortnight, I think,
0:03:29 > 0:03:39in which to salvage his reputation as a negotiator.
0:04:01 > 0:04:01Macro
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Once the Macro EU negotiations are complete, will the Prime Minister
0:04:04 > 0:04:05confront people's anxiety, demonstrate strong leadershhp
0:04:05 > 0:04:08and unequivocally come out hn favour of our EU membership?
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Can the Prime Minister confhrm that nothing in this renegotiation waters
0:04:10 > 0:04:13down important security cooperation at the EU level like intellhgence
0:04:13 > 0:04:15sharing, joint investigations, and the EU arrest warrant,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and that when a deal is dond finally that it will join members on this
0:04:18 > 0:04:22side of the House making a strong case that our membership of the EU
0:04:22 > 0:04:24helps bring criminals to justice and keep Britain safe?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26The next day Eurosceptics hdld a debate on parliamentary
0:04:26 > 0:04:27sovereignty.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30There can be no greater isste for this parliament to debate
0:04:30 > 0:04:31and defend than this country's sovereignty.
0:04:31 > 0:04:41It goes to the heart of everything we do.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Yet as our EU renegotiations proceed,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47it appears that little effort is being made to truly
0:04:47 > 0:04:48restore parliamentary soverdignty.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52If you cannot get rid of thd people that are in an institution then
0:04:52 > 0:04:53it is not democratic.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54We have reached a point of no return.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56We have to say no.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57We have to leave.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Sovereignty does not reside in this place.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04It does not reside in those sent to serve in this place.
0:05:04 > 0:05:14It resides forever in those who have sent us to serve in this pl`ce.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Not attempting to address now the technicalities
0:05:19 > 0:05:22of this issue, the economic rights and wrongs, let me conclude
0:05:22 > 0:05:25on a note of freedom with the words of John Milton himself.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31Me thinks I see in my mind ` noble and puissant nation rousing herself
0:05:31 > 0:05:35like a strong man after sledp, and shaking her invincible locks.
0:05:35 > 0:05:45Methinks I see her as an eagle muing her mighty youth
0:05:45 > 0:05:48and kindling her undazzled dyes at the full midday beam.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Geoffrey Cox.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Eurosceptics then clearly think the Prime Minister should h`ve
0:05:54 > 0:05:55bargained harder to get more powers returned
0:05:55 > 0:05:58to the Parliament at Westminster.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01But he has got a promise in the draft that the UK won't be
0:06:01 > 0:06:04drawn into ever closer union and a provision for a "red card
0:06:04 > 0:06:11as a way to stop some EU legislation.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13But how would that work and will voters be persuaded by it?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Earlier I spoke to Prof Matthew Goodwin from the University of Kent
0:06:16 > 0:06:20and asked him to explain the red card idea.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23The basic idea of the red c`rd system involves a number of EU
0:06:23 > 0:06:26member states essentially clubbing together to block,
0:06:26 > 0:06:32slow down, legislation at ET level.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35That seems to be very important because Eurosceptics argue that
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Britain is gradually giving away international sovereignty
0:06:37 > 0:06:42to the European Union.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47And that also is important because it tackles that one common
0:06:47 > 0:06:51criticism of the EU which is that it has a democratic deficit at its core
0:06:51 > 0:06:54and does not necessarily listen as much as it should do
0:06:54 > 0:06:57to the interests of nation states.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59The Eurosceptics in David C`meron's party have already said
0:06:59 > 0:07:06that they don't think this is an idea that would work
0:07:06 > 0:07:08even if the other states approved it.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11They think the idea that yot can club together with other st`tes
0:07:11 > 0:07:13to get this to happen is pretty remote.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17But is it the sort of idea that might prove popular with thd public?
0:07:17 > 0:07:18Is it something that people will like?
0:07:18 > 0:07:21The general idea of Britain reclaiming some of its sovereignty
0:07:21 > 0:07:23from the European Union would be popular among voters includhng those
0:07:23 > 0:07:28crucial swing voters who colprise around 20% of the electoratd
0:07:28 > 0:07:34and who could make all the difference in a close referdndum.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37But issues of national sovereignty are not the dominant concern
0:07:37 > 0:07:41for voters particularly when it comes to renegotiation
0:07:41 > 0:07:46of Britain's EU membership.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50When a pollster surveyed voters last year and asked what are the top
0:07:50 > 0:07:51priorities for you in the renegotiation, the top
0:07:51 > 0:07:54two were not related to sovereignty issues.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55They were related to immigration issues.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Number one was enacting controls on immigration,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01reducing the numbers.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04And number two was modifying the amount of benefits that EU
0:08:04 > 0:08:06migrant workers can claim.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Those sovereignty issues were down in position three or four.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15So, important but not at thd top of voters' priorities.
0:08:15 > 0:08:25One of the other big ideas that David Cameron was toting was this
0:08:25 > 0:08:27idea of competencies, that once a year the EU
0:08:27 > 0:08:28would have
0:08:28 > 0:08:31to look at what it had control of and if necessary give sole
0:08:31 > 0:08:33of those powers back to national parliaments.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Is that something that is going to be realistic to achieve?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38This is an idea with long roots that the Conservatives in p`rticular
0:08:38 > 0:08:44have often argued, that Britain should be regularly reviewing
0:08:44 > 0:08:48the amount of influence that the European Union has
0:08:48 > 0:08:51in domestic policy areas and should be trying to reclaim some control
0:08:51 > 0:08:54over those areas.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59It is an idea that is going to be popular again with voters
0:08:59 > 0:09:01if they believe that they are obtaining a greater level of control
0:09:01 > 0:09:04over domestic issues.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09Whether or not it is realistic is another matter.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13It is now simplistic to say we will be reclaiming control over
0:09:13 > 0:09:20these areas, given the incrdasingly complex nature of the EU.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24After the referendum it is `lso going to be difficult for voters
0:09:24 > 0:09:27to cast a judgment on whethdr or not that is the case.
0:09:27 > 0:09:35Most voters are not tuning in to the fine details of ET policy,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37most voters probably don't dven know what the renegotiation
0:09:37 > 0:09:39baskets even are.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Over the long haul these iddas might play a role in the referendtm debate
0:09:42 > 0:09:46but they are not game changdrs.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Isn't that the problem for both David Cameron and his Eurosceptics
0:09:49 > 0:09:57to some extent, that whilst the public might be interested
0:09:57 > 0:09:59in our relationship with Europe they are not paying attention
0:09:59 > 0:10:00to the finer details?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I think that is a really interesting point and I think it speaks very
0:10:03 > 0:10:06loudlly to this comparison that lots of people draw
0:10:06 > 0:10:08between the independence referendum in Scotland and the EU
0:10:08 > 0:10:09referendum on the horizon.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11There is a crucial difference between the two that speaks
0:10:11 > 0:10:12to your question.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15In Scotland you had a real groundswell of interest and public
0:10:15 > 0:10:17passion in that referendum.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21But as we know from the polling in Britain in general the issue
0:10:21 > 0:10:23of Europe has been one of low salience.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26It has never featured in the top five most pressing
0:10:26 > 0:10:28priorities for voters.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Pretty much since Maastricht onwards it has been under 10%
0:10:32 > 0:10:35in the Issues Index Tracker which asks voters what are
0:10:35 > 0:10:39the top two issues.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43So it is not likely to trigger a mass outburst of passion
0:10:43 > 0:10:48and interest among an electorate that is instinctively scepthcal
0:10:48 > 0:10:51about the EU but is by no mdans in love with the idea of debating
0:10:51 > 0:10:54what the EU is and whether Britain should be a part of it.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55Thank you.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Plenty for us to think about.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Thank you for coming in.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Professor Matthew Goodwin.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08A plea for more help for those who foster children with mental
0:11:08 > 0:11:10health problems has been made in Parliament.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13As part of its inquiry into the well-being of lookdd
0:11:13 > 0:11:17after children, the Education Committee listened to the fhrst hand
0:11:17 > 0:11:18experiences of two carers, who've fostered children
0:11:18 > 0:11:21over several years.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23But first, it heard from a 16-year-old girl who's been
0:11:23 > 0:11:32looked after by foster carers.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Can you tell the committee about the placements you have had
0:11:34 > 0:11:40since you have been in care?
0:11:40 > 0:11:43I have been in care for two and a half years and this
0:11:43 > 0:11:44is the longest
0:11:44 > 0:11:46placement I have had, about ten months, and I havd
0:11:47 > 0:11:47had 13 placements.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Quite a lot of movement.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50Very unsettling.
0:11:50 > 0:11:5213 places in two and a half years.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55I gave up believing in myself.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58I let people use me as I was used because I felt that was nattral
0:11:58 > 0:11:59to let people do that.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03I have had bad relationships were things have gone wrong.
0:12:03 > 0:12:12I thought it was normal until I moved to Christine's.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16The child that you have for the first three to six weeks
0:12:16 > 0:12:20of placement is not the child you will have after six weeks.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24They settle in and then you see the real child.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26By then you have ticked the box saying they sleep well,
0:12:26 > 0:12:31they do not bully, and it is a lot of rubbish.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Six weeks later you have a potential monster in your house.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Because you have been given a child with no diagnosis,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42no help, what can you do?
0:12:42 > 0:12:47It is really, really diffictlt.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49I was going to ask Teresa and Christine first of all
0:12:49 > 0:12:52what training, if you could outline the training received specifically
0:12:52 > 0:12:53on mental health and well-bding
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Pretty zero.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58We didn't get any training on that.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00Did you request any?
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Were you actively refused any?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06No.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08We get sent an e-mail at the beginning of the year stating
0:13:08 > 0:13:11what training will be held over the 12 months
0:13:11 > 0:13:21and that is it, really.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29The committee later heard from the Minister.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I was anxious to make sure that we looked very carefully,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35going back two and a half ydars ago when I took on this role,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38at how we support foster carers so that they have the skills,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41the knowledge and the understanding as to what are the types
0:13:41 > 0:13:43of behaviour we have to deal with potentially?
0:13:43 > 0:13:45And what is the best way of handling them?
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Who can they go to for support?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50It was about ?36 million I think that we spent on providing
0:13:50 > 0:13:52multi-systemic therapy, so that there was a greater prospect
0:13:52 > 0:13:54of foster carers feeling confident that the role they were takhng
0:13:54 > 0:13:58on was one that they were able to cope with because if you go back
0:13:58 > 0:14:07to the very first question about stability of placement,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10one of the reasons placements break down is because foster
0:14:10 > 0:14:13carers are unable to cope.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Edward Timpson.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18It has been another busy wedk at Westminster so let's takd a quick
0:14:18 > 0:14:20look at some of the other stories in brief.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22The Zika virus has been declared a global health emergency.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23The viruses by mosquitoes.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26It has been linked to thous`nds of babies in Brazil being born
0:14:26 > 0:14:28with underdeveloped heads and brains.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31MPs were told the risk to the UK is extremely low.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35One doctor agreed but saw a bigger problem.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38I would have thought that the district is actually
0:14:38 > 0:14:43spectators and competitors returning from the Rio Olympics back
0:14:43 > 0:14:45to other hot countries.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49We could end up with this establishing in north Afric`,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53where many women do go on holiday, southern Europe, pregnant
0:14:53 > 0:14:56women do go on holiday.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59The age at which women qualhfy for state pension is increasing
0:14:59 > 0:15:03first to 65 and then to 66.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06It means that thousands of women born in the 1950s who were dxpecting
0:15:06 > 0:15:09to retire at 60 will have to work for longer.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13Many haven't got an occupathonal or private pension
0:15:13 > 0:15:15to tide them over.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Campaigners want government action.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21It broke the contract with its citizens, that cithzens pay
0:15:21 > 0:15:25in the national insurance in the understanding
0:15:25 > 0:15:29that they will get something back when they are in need.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33That contract with these women have been broken.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36I say again, if this was a private provider,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40we would be after them for mis-selling.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43But at Work and Pensions Secretary is, the minister said the government
0:15:43 > 0:15:45had already made changes.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I would say to the honourable lady that a confession was made hn 2 11.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52At second reading, the Secrdtary of State said that he would go away
0:15:52 > 0:15:53and think about matters and consider them.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55He did.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59He came back, made a concession worth ?1.1 billion, ensured
0:15:59 > 0:16:02that the two-year extension was reduced to 18 months,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06and in the case of 18 months, 81% of women affected would have
0:16:06 > 0:16:09to work no more than 12 months.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13Nations meeting in London h`ve pledged more than $10 billion
0:16:13 > 0:16:17to help Syrians affected by the five-year conflict.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20The money will go towards food, medical care and shelter.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24In the Lords, peers accused Russia of bombing civilians in Syrha.
0:16:24 > 0:16:32Every bomber flying from Russia unloading unguided bombs in large
0:16:32 > 0:16:36numbers and killing almost indiscriminately, and doesn't that
0:16:36 > 0:16:40also have the dramatic affect of driving up the refugee ntmbers
0:16:40 > 0:16:42which also continues to destabilise Europe.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Maybe just maybe we're not taking this seriously enough.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47The noble Lord is absolutelx right.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52There is no question that Rtssia is actively targeting civilhans
0:16:52 > 0:16:56and is almost certainly bre`ching international humanitarian
0:16:56 > 0:16:58law in the process.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59That has to stop.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Staying in the Lords, peers have criticised new powers
0:17:02 > 0:17:04in the immigration bill givhng the authorities the power
0:17:05 > 0:17:07to stop and search drivers.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10The bill gives the police the right to search someone's car if they have
0:17:10 > 0:17:14reasonable grounds for belidving the driver is in the UK illdgally.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19Peers warned that black and Asian drivers will bear the brunt.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22The call to cut membership of the Northern Ireland assdmbly
0:17:22 > 0:17:24in time for this year's collections was defeated in Stormont.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29The assembly was debating the bill to reduce the number of MLAs
0:17:29 > 0:17:33per constituency from six to five by 2021.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37The Alliance Party said bringing in the change earlx
0:17:37 > 0:17:40could save ?11 million.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43We can look at over governance in relation to Northern Ireland
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and compared with other regions on these isles.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52Scotland, it is my understanding, has one MSP for approximately 4 ,000
0:17:52 > 0:18:01people.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Wales, approximately one AM for 50,000 people.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06But here in Northern Ireland, we have one MLA for around
0:18:06 > 0:18:0816 to 17,000 people.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11That is a drastically different ratio, by any assessment.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13But other parties opposed the Alliance Amendment.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16The DUP it accused the Alli`nce of grandstanding as the election
0:18:16 > 0:18:18approaches.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21While Sinn Fein said the prhority should be to cut the number
0:18:21 > 0:18:24of quangos in the province.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26There was astonishment and ready to after the Times newspaper
0:18:26 > 0:18:31found that clothing, toys and toiletries forward in cost
0:18:31 > 0:18:33sometimes twice as much as those for men.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35It seems that we pay more for everything, from shoes
0:18:35 > 0:18:37to the humble razor.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39If it is pink.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41The minister was scathing.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I don't know if any of you can remember the stream of online
0:18:44 > 0:18:50reviews when a set of ballpoint pen manufacturers manufactured
0:18:50 > 0:18:53a ladies version in pastel shades and hundreds of women came online
0:18:53 > 0:18:54to express their heartfelt gratitude.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57One said, my husband has never allowed me to write.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00He doesn't want me touching men's pens.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Once I had learned to write, this feminine colour,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and the feminine grip size, which was more suited to my delicate
0:19:05 > 0:19:08little hands has unable to leet to vent thoughts about new recipe
0:19:08 > 0:19:10ideas, sewing and gardening.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12I'm sure we can all sympathhse with that.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14And, of course, men joined hn.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17The complaints of the delic`te pens but to slippery forefingers
0:19:17 > 0:19:21calloused from a hard day's shark wrestling and that they hatdd
0:19:21 > 0:19:23the visions of fairies and rainbows they got when ever
0:19:23 > 0:19:25they used these pens.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28The Equalities Minister Caroline Dinenage with just some
0:19:28 > 0:19:32of the reaction to gender pricing.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35The Scottish Parliament has always had the power to vary incomd
0:19:35 > 0:19:38tax by 3p in the pound.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40But it is a power that has never been used.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43The thought was it was too luch pain for not enough game.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47But from this April, it is in charge of half of hncome
0:19:47 > 0:19:49tax at standard and upper r`tes
0:19:49 > 0:19:52And it has the ability to vary the bands.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54With the proviso that if it wants to change one,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56it has to change both.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Rather than, for example, just putting up the top ratds.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02And for the first time, it has been suggested that this
0:20:02 > 0:20:04power should be used.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07BBC Scotland's political edhtor Brian Taylor explains.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09The Liberal Democrats got there first.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12They said push up all of those bands by 1p.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Raise nearly ?500 million, spend that money on education.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Scotland's schools were suffering and needed a reprieve.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24The Labour Party agreed and said, yes, push up the rates by a penny
0:20:24 > 0:20:28across all of the bands but they said there should be
0:20:28 > 0:20:31a rebate of ?100 paid to the low paid households,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35including pensioners, to indicate some way of supporting
0:20:35 > 0:20:40them, some way of removing the impulse from their salaries
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Now, that proposal was put to the parliament here at Holyrood
0:20:44 > 0:20:47and it was rejected.
0:20:47 > 0:20:48It was rejected by a majority.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Why so?
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Because the SNP hold that m`jority and they argued against the plan.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57They said that by raising the standard rate, it was pdnalising
0:20:57 > 0:21:01the tour, punishing the poor in a time and they were verx hard
0:21:01 > 0:21:04pressed and it was exactly the wrong thing to do.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Is that the end of the mattdr?
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Well, it probably is for thhs year.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Income tax this year in Scotland will stay mostly static.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14The Scottish Parliament has voted so and it is likely
0:21:14 > 0:21:16to continue to vote that wax.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18But it is by no means the end of the matter.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21By next year, it is intended that the Scottish parliament will be
0:21:21 > 0:21:23given power over income tax, all rates and hands,
0:21:24 > 0:21:25they can vary them as they choose.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Not the starting rate but they can vary all the other rates
0:21:28 > 0:21:30and bands as they choose, a very very substantial powdr
0:21:30 > 0:21:33indeed, although not the full power that the SNP want.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37And, already, there is jockdying amongst the various parties.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Will they suggest the upper rates should be increased?
0:21:39 > 0:21:41What about the standard ratd?
0:21:41 > 0:21:44What will happen to taxation?
0:21:44 > 0:21:47A very huge political debatd going on here in Hollywood
0:21:47 > 0:21:49about tax, all of it dependdnt on those powers
0:21:49 > 0:21:51actually going through.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55And they only go through if there is an agreement on funding over
0:21:55 > 0:21:58all between the Scottish and UK governments, and those talks
0:21:58 > 0:22:00are still underway.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03BBC Scotland's political edhtor Brian Taylor.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Now, David Cameron has admitted that the NHS in England is falling
0:22:07 > 0:22:11short of its target to treat cancer patients within two months
0:22:11 > 0:22:14of their first referral to hospital from a GP.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Speaking at Question Time, the Prime Minister said that
0:22:17 > 0:22:20government must improve our performance.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the 62 days target had not been met
0:22:24 > 0:22:26for more than a year and a half
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Cancer is a disease that allost every family in this countrx
0:22:30 > 0:22:33has been affected by, in some way or another.
0:22:33 > 0:22:362.5 million people in this country have cancer.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39There are members on both shdes of this House who have recehved
0:22:39 > 0:22:42or are receiving treatment at the present time.
0:22:42 > 0:22:451000 people a day are diagnosed with cancer and they go
0:22:45 > 0:22:48through the trauma as soon as they are diagnosed.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51But in the last year, there has been of 36% incre`se
0:22:51 > 0:22:54in the number of people waiting beyond six weeks
0:22:54 > 0:22:57for vital diagnostic tests.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Could the Prime Minister do something to bring that down?
0:22:59 > 0:23:03When you look at how we tre`t cancer in our country, we are putthng
0:23:03 > 0:23:07an extra ?19 billion into otr NHS and specifically, while he
0:23:07 > 0:23:10is absolutely right, everyone in this House and dvery
0:23:10 > 0:23:12family in this country will know someone who has been
0:23:12 > 0:23:15affected by cancer, we are treating more ancients.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17And let me give him the figtres
0:23:17 > 0:23:21Compared with 2010, over 644,00 more patients with suspected
0:23:21 > 0:23:23cancers have been seen.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26That is an increase of over 71%
0:23:26 > 0:23:29And almost 40,000 patients have been treated for cancer.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32And that is an increase of 07%.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Could the Prime Minister tell us when was the last time that the NHS
0:23:36 > 0:23:40target for starting cancer treatment was actually met
0:23:40 > 0:23:42within the 62 days required?
0:23:42 > 0:23:47As I said, of the three big targets, we are meeting the specialist
0:23:47 > 0:23:50within two weeks target, we are meeting the first trdatment
0:23:50 > 0:23:55within 31 days of diagnosis of treatment, we are currently
0:23:55 > 0:23:59falling short of the 62 days target, something which I actually said
0:23:59 > 0:24:04in answer two, but he hasn't gotten around to it until question five.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07I think the cops need to turn a little bit faster.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09David Cameron.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Now, let's have a look at what has been happening in the wider world
0:24:12 > 0:24:13of politics this week.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Here is Billy Hill with our countdown.
0:24:21 > 0:24:22Confusion in the Commons.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25A backbench vote on parliamdntary sovereignty fell on Thursdax
0:24:25 > 0:24:29when MPs who should have cotnted the votes turned up late.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32You're late! I've already called the restlt!
0:24:32 > 0:24:37Plaid Cymru says Wales should have its own bank notes to give it
0:24:37 > 0:24:40equal status with Scotland and Northern Ireland.
0:24:40 > 0:24:45The UK Treasury says Welsh banks are excluded by a 19th-centtry law.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50And a member of the House of Lords is now officially presumed dead
0:24:50 > 0:24:5442 years after he disappeardd, Lord Lucan is suspected
0:24:54 > 0:24:58of killing his family's Manny Sandro Rivett.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02The ruling gives his son thd right to inherit the title.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Former Shadow Chancellor at all is failed to win his heat
0:25:05 > 0:25:08in the Great Sports Relief Bake Off this week.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11He depicted Eddie the Eagle on a ski jump cake.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16And one large property with plenty of bedroom spacd.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Stormont's leaders are sellhng an official nuclear uncle.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25It is on offer for ?575,000.
0:25:25 > 0:25:34A nuclear bunker of one zond.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36That report from Billy Hill.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37And that is it for now.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Do join Joanna Shin on Mond`y night at 11pm for another roundup
0:25:41 > 0:25:44of the day here at Westminster.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47But until then, from me, Alicia McCarthy, goodbye.
0:26:41 > 0:26:42Question one.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43Thank you.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues
0:26:44 > 0:26:47and in addition to my duties in this house I shall have