0:00:11 > 0:00:15Hello and welcome to The Week In Parliament.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18The English may be a nation of shopkeepers, but they're
0:00:18 > 0:00:21still closing early on Sundays.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24But the pressures on our high street are rising and the Internet plays
0:00:24 > 0:00:25a part in that.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30Do we want them to sit behind a till on Sunday or do we say to them,
0:00:30 > 0:00:31yes, we believe that Sunday is special?
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Shouldn't the customer comes first?
0:00:34 > 0:00:36The numbers are up, but could we be doing better?
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Women in Parliament talk about getting more
0:00:38 > 0:00:41women in Parliament.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45And women do bring something additional to Parliament.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48We need more women shaping policies in think tanks and universities
0:00:48 > 0:00:50across the country.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53And look out, construction work ahead.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56The leader of the Lords explains why we've got to get the renovation
0:00:56 > 0:00:57of Parliament just right.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01This is about preserving the Palace of Westminster
0:01:01 > 0:01:04for the United Kingdom and for the people who live
0:01:04 > 0:01:07here and pay for it.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10But first, as if splits over Europe were not enough,
0:01:10 > 0:01:14the Conservatives were divided this week over a location closer to home
0:01:14 > 0:01:19- the local high street, or at least the out of town retail park.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21At the moment, shops are open for only six hours on Sundays
0:01:21 > 0:01:23in England and Wales.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26The Government wanted them open for longer, but Tory
0:01:26 > 0:01:29rebels had other ideas.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33And they, combined with Labour and SNP MPs, managed to inflict
0:01:33 > 0:01:35a rare Commons defeat on the Government after
0:01:35 > 0:01:38a keenly-fought debate.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Actually, we should just trust our constituents to make
0:01:40 > 0:01:44up their own minds.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48In life, we all have to find our own balance
0:01:48 > 0:01:54and we are all capable of deciding whether we work or shop on a Sunday.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57It isn't actually the most complicated decision
0:01:57 > 0:02:02that our constituents will make in their lives.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Don't we understand that when we have this great job here,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07with all the privileges that we have, we have a duty to look
0:02:07 > 0:02:10after people who are much less better off than us,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13who work unbelievably hard, often in fairly grim jobs,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16and do we want to force them, because ultimately all the pressure
0:02:16 > 0:02:19will be on them from these big businesses, do we want them to sit
0:02:19 > 0:02:22behind a till on a Sunday or do we say to them,
0:02:22 > 0:02:27yes, we believe that Sunday is special?
0:02:27 > 0:02:30To those who say that we need to keep Sundays special,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34I respect that, but do you not shop on the Internet on a Sunday?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Do you not visit your local leisure centre?
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Goods are delivered on a Sunday, we eat out in restaurants
0:02:40 > 0:02:42on a Sunday, call centres open on a Sunday, many sectors
0:02:42 > 0:02:44and professions work on a Sunday.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47You talk about rights, what about their rights?
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Many of us have been abroad, we've been in Spain or in Portugal
0:02:50 > 0:02:53or in France and we've found real restrictions on finding
0:02:53 > 0:02:58things open on Sunday.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00We've been out at lunchtime and found that the shops
0:03:00 > 0:03:02are on siesta.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Why is it that in this country this Government thinks we should put
0:03:05 > 0:03:10the free market above everything else?
0:03:10 > 0:03:13I think it is important to bear in mind that the laws on trading
0:03:13 > 0:03:17in England and Wales were last updated in 1994.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19That's back when the only time we'd heard of Amazon
0:03:19 > 0:03:22was when we were talking of a river and our high streets faced
0:03:22 > 0:03:25no external pressure.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28The Internet is liberating, it's changing the way we live
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and the way we work, but the pressures on our high street
0:03:31 > 0:03:35are rising and the Internet plays a part in that.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Surveys of Internet shoppers show there is no relationship
0:03:39 > 0:03:42between them Internet shopping on a Sunday because they want to go
0:03:42 > 0:03:46to extended hours in local stores.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48In fact, if you follow that argument, those
0:03:48 > 0:03:50who are on the Internet between midnight and 3am
0:03:50 > 0:03:53in the morning, is that an argument for the shops being open
0:03:53 > 0:03:54at that time?
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Even in workplaces with trade unionreps to support members,
0:03:57 > 0:04:03many staff are pressured into not using the Sunday opt out and in fact
0:04:03 > 0:04:06something like a third of workers, shop workers, are pressured
0:04:06 > 0:04:12into working Sundays or having their working hours cut.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Before entering This Place, I was in business for 25 years
0:04:15 > 0:04:17and it's absolutely right to consider the needs of large
0:04:17 > 0:04:19business, and of course small business, and the family
0:04:19 > 0:04:23lives of workers.
0:04:23 > 0:04:29As all business people know, shouldn't the customer comes first?
0:04:29 > 0:04:31If the customer wants to shop at other times of the weekend,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33shouldn't they be allowed to do that?
0:04:33 > 0:04:38People work to live, they don't live to work.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41There are lots of things we could do that would be more efficient.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43We could propose to our partners by text.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46We could read to our children on Skype from the office.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Nobody would suggest these things.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53This constant denigration of family life is truly unhealthy.
0:04:53 > 0:05:02Order!
0:05:02 > 0:05:05At the end of the debate, MPs voted for the rebel amendment,
0:05:05 > 0:05:06rejecting the longer opening hours.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08The ayes to the right, 317.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12The noes to the left, 286.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13CHEERING.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16The debate over Sunday shopping.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18It was International Women's Day this week.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Time to assess the progress made by women around the world
0:05:21 > 0:05:25in reaching positions of power and responsibility.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has been described
0:05:27 > 0:05:30as the most powerful woman in the world, but are there more
0:05:30 > 0:05:32following her to the top?
0:05:32 > 0:05:35In the UK, we have women in the jobs of Home Secretary and
0:05:35 > 0:05:40Northern Ireland Secretary, but the Commons remains 71% male
0:05:40 > 0:05:43and just 29% female.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46In a moment, I'll talk to two prominent Westminster women
0:05:46 > 0:05:50about how to shatter that so-called glass ceiling.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53But first, some moments from the latest debate
0:05:53 > 0:05:56in the Commons marking International Women's Day.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58And do women make a difference?
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Absolutely, they do.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I remember at the turn of the century asking the clerk
0:06:02 > 0:06:06to the Defence Select Committee what a difference having women
0:06:06 > 0:06:09on that committee for first time had made.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11I wasn't sure what the answer would be.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13"Of course it's made an enormous difference,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Fiona," this rather stuffy clerk said.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17I said, "What?"
0:06:17 > 0:06:21He said, "Well, we just used to talk about how big the bombs were and now
0:06:21 > 0:06:23we talk about the families of the people who fight."
0:06:23 > 0:06:27And I just know that what would make me brave is knowing
0:06:27 > 0:06:29that my family is safe.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33And women do bring something additional to Parliament.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35We need more women in politics.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38I don't just mean in the House of Commons, we need more
0:06:38 > 0:06:40women across the board.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44We need more women in every party standing up for local communities
0:06:44 > 0:06:49in councils, we need more women reporting on national and local
0:06:49 > 0:06:54politics, we need more women shaping policies in think tanks,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57in universities across the country.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Women dominate the lowest paid apprenticeships, making up 83%
0:07:00 > 0:07:04of health and social care apprentices and 91%
0:07:04 > 0:07:06of childcare apprentices.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Meanwhile, men dominate the highest paid apprenticeships,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13where only 3% of engineering apprentices and 2% of construction
0:07:13 > 0:07:18apprentices and 10% in IT are women.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20The workplace, whether it's in Parliament or whether it's
0:07:20 > 0:07:25in the City or in other institutions was designed by men for men and has
0:07:25 > 0:07:30not changed fast enough to retain women, not only in day-to-day
0:07:30 > 0:07:35positions, but in positions of leadership.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38As a former teacher, I would urge that we encourage
0:07:38 > 0:07:42others, girls and women, to take risks, to be fearless,
0:07:42 > 0:07:46and to embrace ambition.
0:07:46 > 0:07:51As always, we are only limited by our imagination.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Marin Alsop, the first female conductor at Last Night
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Of The Proms, said, and she admitted being quite shocked that it can be
0:07:58 > 0:08:032013 and there are still firsts for women.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Mr Speaker, let's hope by this time next year that women's place
0:08:06 > 0:08:10at the highest levels will be commonplace.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13We owe it to future generations.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Some moments from Tuesday's Commons debate marking
0:08:15 > 0:08:19International Women's Day.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22I'm joined in the studio now by two outstanding examples of female
0:08:22 > 0:08:25success in politics.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Philippa Whitford is an SNP MP who speaks for her party on health.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32And Lady Stowell is Leader of the House of Lords.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Welcome to The Week In Parliament.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38We could end up at the end of this year with a female United States
0:08:38 > 0:08:39President.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Do you think that will have a big effect in enabling more women
0:08:42 > 0:08:45to maybe enter American politics, for example?
0:08:45 > 0:08:47I don't know whether it's so much about enabling more women,
0:08:47 > 0:08:52because women can do that now and they know they can do it.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56I think when you see somebody in a position,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59a woman in a position where there's not been a woman before,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02it makes you stop and think.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I can remember when Mrs Thatcher was first elected leader
0:09:05 > 0:09:06of the Conservative Party, when the Conservatives
0:09:06 > 0:09:10were still in opposition.
0:09:10 > 0:09:16My mum, who was not a Conservative at all, said to me very clearly,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I can see her now looking at the TV and seeing Mrs Thatcher
0:09:19 > 0:09:23and her being fascinated by the fact that a woman was going to lead
0:09:23 > 0:09:24a political party.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27She said, "That woman is going to be the first woman Prime Minister."
0:09:27 > 0:09:29It was very impactful.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31And a very accurate prediction!
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Philippa Whitford, did you have any role models?
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Well, when I started out in surgery, there weren't any senior
0:09:37 > 0:09:41women surgeons at all.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Halfway through medical school, I was told that I couldn't do
0:09:43 > 0:09:45surgery because I was a woman.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46Really?
0:09:46 > 0:09:47It's that far back.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50So it became a challenge, presumably, from that point?
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Partly a challenge, but also that's why I went into medicine.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57I decided to be a surgeon as opposed to a doctor, that was my aim.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00For the first few hours, I thought they were
0:10:00 > 0:10:02just winding me up.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I thought they were pulling my leg, and then eventually realised,
0:10:05 > 0:10:06actually, they're serious.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10I decided, OK, my back-up is palliative care, which was just
0:10:10 > 0:10:13evolving at that time, but I'm going to give them a run
0:10:13 > 0:10:15for their money and that's what I did.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Returning to politics, Britain is really ranking remarkably
0:10:17 > 0:10:19low in the league table.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23I think 36th in terms of female representation in Parliament.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26It's been asked many times, but what sort of things
0:10:26 > 0:10:28are we looking at?
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Are we talking about women-only shortlists for political
0:10:30 > 0:10:34candidates, for example?
0:10:34 > 0:10:36In the Conservatives, women-only shortlists is not
0:10:36 > 0:10:38something we support.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42We shy away from that sort of thing because we want women to be
0:10:42 > 0:10:47there on merit and not feel, having been successful,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51they've somehow had an advantage they might not otherwise have had.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Although one MP in the Commons debate actually said that
0:10:53 > 0:10:54argument falls away.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59People forget you ever did get there on a quota.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02That may well be something they would argue if they'd been
0:11:02 > 0:11:05through that experience.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08There was a debate in the House of Lords as well this week.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10One of my colleagues, Baroness Jenkin of Kennington,
0:11:10 > 0:11:15Anne Jenkin, who has been a trailblazer in helping other women
0:11:15 > 0:11:17get into Parliament, she's in the House of Lords,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19but she's been very, very instrumental in the way
0:11:19 > 0:11:22we in the Conservatives have progressed in the number of women
0:11:22 > 0:11:27MPs, and she said had we not made the progress we made at the last
0:11:27 > 0:11:30election, getting more women elected, then she,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34and it was a personal view of hers, but she would have perhaps advocated
0:11:34 > 0:11:36all-women shortlists, but we made progress so we don't
0:11:36 > 0:11:38need to go that far.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Cheryl Gillan in the Commons debate was making a point that's
0:11:41 > 0:11:44been made many times, that it's little wonder people
0:11:44 > 0:11:48are put off politics when they tune into Prime Minister's Questions.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53She said there's better behaviour in a primary school playgroup.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Do you think that's a legitimate point in putting females off?
0:11:56 > 0:11:57I think it definitely is.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00I often describe it as a primary three class when the teacher has
0:12:00 > 0:12:02gone out of the room.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Not just for women.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06I think any person in the general public must
0:12:06 > 0:12:07see themselves reflected.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10You do need role models.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14What we've had is looking at trying to ensure the selection panel
0:12:14 > 0:12:19to choose a candidate must at least have women in it so that
0:12:19 > 0:12:21members of the party, because ours is a members' vote,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24can choose a woman candidate.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27But if people turn up and all the candidates are male,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31and most of the people are there, and the meetings are held in a pub,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33they're held at a bizarre time, you won't get people coming.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36If you hold a meeting in a pub, you won't get members
0:12:36 > 0:12:38of the Muslim faith coming.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40It's sometimes these other things.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43People just think, that's not for me because there's nobody like me
0:12:43 > 0:12:47in that group.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50I certainly think it's true that you have to go out and find people
0:12:50 > 0:12:53that you want to recruit in the places they are rather
0:12:53 > 0:12:56than just expect them to come to you.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59But back to the point you made about Prime Minister's Questions,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01I don't think Prime Minister's Questions is a turn-off
0:13:01 > 0:13:04to women at all.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06I think Prime Minister's Questions attracts the attention it does
0:13:06 > 0:13:10because of the way it is.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13It's the one event of the week where the Prime Minister
0:13:13 > 0:13:16of the day is held to account, and held to account
0:13:16 > 0:13:17in a very robust fashion.
0:13:17 > 0:13:24What I think women perhaps might feel when they look at politics...
0:13:24 > 0:13:26As a woman, this is a bit of a generalisation.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29As a woman, I want to get on and do things and politics
0:13:29 > 0:13:30is all about argument.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33What do they actually do?
0:13:33 > 0:13:37That sometimes is where women might think, I'd rather actually feel
0:13:37 > 0:13:38like I'm doing something rather than just talking
0:13:38 > 0:13:40about it all the time.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44One of the things that we as women in politics need to do in order
0:13:44 > 0:13:48to encourage other women and advertise politics is something
0:13:48 > 0:13:51which is worth them getting involved in is to be a bit more boastful
0:13:51 > 0:13:53about what it is we achieve as politicians.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Women can be a little bit shy of bragging sometimes.
0:13:56 > 0:14:03The men are often much better at this than we are.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Just finally, is this a subject where we're just going to be
0:14:06 > 0:14:09here again in another few years' time and we'll be talking
0:14:09 > 0:14:10about the same issue?
0:14:10 > 0:14:13The UN has a target of 50-50 by 2035.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Do you think we can get anywhere near that at Westminster?
0:14:16 > 0:14:21I don't think we're close to that.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I was number 391 and there are still more men sitting
0:14:24 > 0:14:28in the chamber than have ever been women MPs since 1918.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31I think we do actually have to try and accelerate it, and different
0:14:31 > 0:14:34parties will have different approaches, or else we will be
0:14:34 > 0:14:35still talking about it.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38We still have more to do, most definitely, but we have come
0:14:38 > 0:14:40quite a long way.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42I think 30% of the Commons now is women.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44That's significant progress.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46We need to go further, absolutely.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50Whether we'll get to 50-50 by the date the UN has set,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54I don't know.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56But we've got to keep going at it.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Some thoughts on women entering Parliament.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03But how safe is the Parliamentary building for anyone to enter -
0:15:03 > 0:15:04male, female, politician, staff or visitor?
0:15:04 > 0:15:07The crumbling state of the historic Palace of Westminster is giving
0:15:07 > 0:15:10plenty of cause for concern.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14One expert report gave the renovation a price tag
0:15:14 > 0:15:16of ?3.9 billion, with six years to get the job done
0:15:16 > 0:15:18if everyone moves out.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22A committee of MPs and peers has been set up to look at how best
0:15:22 > 0:15:25to do the work.
0:15:25 > 0:15:31This is some of what they heard this week.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34The full-scale of the disrepair isn't really known, access
0:15:34 > 0:15:37into voids is hampered by asbestos.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41You're certainly well beyond, in a lot of areas, the extent
0:15:41 > 0:15:48of your, what is sort of recommended life for a lot of areas.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52I know there are some areas with fire alarms that are sort
0:15:52 > 0:15:54of in excess of 30 years.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56You've got some pipe work that is probably bordering 30 to 40
0:15:57 > 0:15:57years as well.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00A lot of the essential plant and things will probably be
0:16:00 > 0:16:02at the end of their useful life.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04Well, some moments there from Monday's committee session
0:16:04 > 0:16:06looking at the refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Joining me still is Lady Stowell, Leader of the House of Lords.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10You are the co-chair of that committee.
0:16:10 > 0:16:16Now, one or two of those details struck me as rather alarming.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Ageing wiring, rusty pipes, it's almost sounding a bit
0:16:18 > 0:16:20like a deathtrap?
0:16:20 > 0:16:24What you heard from the people who've been giving evidence to us
0:16:24 > 0:16:27this week is the extent of the works that need to happen and that's why
0:16:27 > 0:16:33it is a major, complex project and why we are considering very
0:16:33 > 0:16:39carefully how best to approach this project and what we will want
0:16:39 > 0:16:42to make sure is that we do those works, those necessary works,
0:16:42 > 0:16:48in the most cost-effective way.
0:16:48 > 0:16:55The minimum cost to the British public, but in a way that preserves
0:16:55 > 0:16:58that building, which is the British public's building, and that it's
0:16:58 > 0:17:00maintained, for them, for our country, for our heritage.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02It's not just about parliamentarians.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05This is about preserving the Palace of Westminster
0:17:05 > 0:17:07for the United Kingdom and for the people who live
0:17:08 > 0:17:11here and pay for it.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Just, finally, if the parliamentarians do have to decamp,
0:17:14 > 0:17:18where would you like to go?
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Well, that's one of the big questions that we are looking
0:17:21 > 0:17:24at and that will be part of what we come forward
0:17:24 > 0:17:28with in our report later on in the summer.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33So in the summer we'll be able to say whether or not we think it's
0:17:33 > 0:17:41right for us to leave the Palace in one go or in phases in order
0:17:41 > 0:17:44for that work to take place and where we think the best place
0:17:44 > 0:17:45for us to go to is.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47No shortage of options for where you can go?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50There are not that many options available to us because,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53as you can imagine, I mean there's not that many place that is will be
0:17:53 > 0:17:56available to us in a location which is still quite close
0:17:56 > 0:17:57to where we are now.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58We'll see what happens.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59We'll watch with interest.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Lady Stowell, Leader of the House of Lords,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04thanks very much for joining us on The Week in Parliament.
0:18:04 > 0:18:05You're very welcome.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Some thoughts on the business of refurbishing Westminster.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Now, a look at some of the other stories inside Parliament
0:18:09 > 0:18:11in the last few days.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13The Government was defeated in the House of Lords
0:18:13 > 0:18:14on Wednesday night.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Peers voted for a proposal, from the crossbench peer Lord Alton,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20giving asylum seekers the right to work if their claims have not
0:18:20 > 0:18:22been processed within six months.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24He said his proposal would end the "workhouse destitution" suffered
0:18:24 > 0:18:34by asylum seekers.
0:18:34 > 0:18:34Number
0:18:34 > 0:18:39Number 57,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42would allow asylum seekers to be able to work if their claim is not
0:18:42 > 0:18:45determined by the Home Office within a time frame of six months.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47Why would any government oppose something they so clearly,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49on common sense, and on the principle of self-help
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and a removal of reliance on the state.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Of course there are also 1.5 million people who currently do not have
0:18:54 > 0:18:57employment in this country.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00It might be argued, it could be somebody who goes for a job
0:19:00 > 0:19:02in a particular location and they find they don't get that
0:19:02 > 0:19:05job because the job is offered to somebody who is here
0:19:05 > 0:19:10on an asylum basis.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Was this man speaking out of turn, or just doing his job?
0:19:13 > 0:19:15When the Bank of England governor wrote a letter
0:19:15 > 0:19:18to the Treasury Committee, saying British membership of the EU
0:19:18 > 0:19:21had reinforced the "dynamism of the UK economy", one MP
0:19:21 > 0:19:26wasn't best pleased.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32You are coming out with the standard statements of the pro-EU group
0:19:32 > 0:19:35that the figure for foreign direct investment in 1970 was that the UK
0:19:35 > 0:19:37received more than France and Germany combined before
0:19:37 > 0:19:39we were a member of the European Union.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42We have consistently received more foreign direct investment.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The statements you make about the dynamism of the economy
0:19:45 > 0:19:47could just as well refer to the reforms introduced
0:19:47 > 0:19:53by Margaret Thatcher.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56It is speculative and beneath the dignity of the Bank of England
0:19:56 > 0:19:58to be making speculative pro-EU comments.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00I'm not going to let that stand.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03The growth of the UK trade with the rest of Europe arguably,
0:20:03 > 0:20:07not conclusively, but arguably because of the single market,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09is greater than one would effect given the relative sizes...
0:20:09 > 0:20:11It's 100 up for the Leader of the Opposition.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16Since his election in September, Labour's Jeremy Corbyn notches up
0:20:16 > 0:20:20100 questions to David Cameron at Prime Minster's Question Time.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25On this auspicious 100th occasion, can I ask the Prime Minister to help
0:20:25 > 0:20:27out a young man called Callum.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Callum asks - he's a bright young man who wants to make his way
0:20:31 > 0:20:34in the world - will the Government acknowledge -
0:20:34 > 0:20:37well maybe the Prime Minister does as well -
0:20:37 > 0:20:40will the Government acknowledge the importance of sixth-form
0:20:40 > 0:20:44colleges and post-16 education services in Britain?
0:20:44 > 0:20:46What we're introducing in our country is a situation
0:20:46 > 0:20:50where we uncap university places, so as many people who want to go can
0:20:50 > 0:20:52go, and we're going to be introducing in this Parliament
0:20:52 > 0:20:56three million apprentices.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03"A black day for disabled people", how one member of the House of Lords
0:21:03 > 0:21:07summed up the end of the fight by some peers to stave off
0:21:07 > 0:21:09the Government's ?30-a-week cut in the benefit called Employment
0:21:09 > 0:21:14and Support Allowance for certain claimants.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19I just want to pose one question to the Noble Lord, the Minister.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Will he monitor the numbers of suicides in the year
0:21:21 > 0:21:25following the introduction of this cut?
0:21:25 > 0:21:29I, and I know others, spent a great deal of time last week
0:21:29 > 0:21:33working through every possibility of tabling another amendment to try
0:21:33 > 0:21:36and send this dreadful and punitive part of the Bill back
0:21:36 > 0:21:37to the other place.
0:21:37 > 0:21:38Unfortunately, because of parliamentary procedure,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40it wasn't possible.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44Having placed financial privilege on these amendments,
0:21:44 > 0:21:45ultimately means the other place have their way.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50There's more to democracy than just being elected.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Questions of representativeness, accessibility, openness
0:21:52 > 0:21:57and responsiveness all come into it as well.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59From these stand points this House, though unelected,
0:21:59 > 0:22:03is much more democratic.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05And, is it 'last orders!' for the newly appointed Pubs Code
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Adjudicator?
0:22:07 > 0:22:13The appointment of Paul Newby to referee between pub companies
0:22:13 > 0:22:17and tied tenants is flawed, says a Lib Dem MP.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Right now, Mr Speaker, the very companies he's acting
0:22:19 > 0:22:22for now currently are bullying and coercing tenants into signing
0:22:22 > 0:22:32away their rights or forfeiting pubs and his company is actively involved
0:22:33 > 0:22:34in selling off pubs.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37How can he possibly be trusted to be impartial giving his salary has been
0:22:37 > 0:22:40dependant for 20 years on those he must now adjudicate
0:22:40 > 0:22:41and potentially impose financial penalties on?
0:22:41 > 0:22:44And I take very grave exception to any allegation that either me
0:22:44 > 0:22:53or anybody else has acted in anyway improperly or complicitedly.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Anna Soubry.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57The only political leader to have won four British general elections
0:22:57 > 0:23:00in modern times was born 100 years ago this week.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Harold Wilson had plenty of achievements to his name,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06along with the odd setback, but he was, in electoral terms,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10Labour's most successful ever leader.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13His unexpected resignation as Prime Minister in March 1976 came
0:23:13 > 0:23:16a few days after his 60th birthday.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Patrick Cowling has picked out some career highlights of the man
0:23:19 > 0:23:24with the pipe.
0:23:24 > 0:23:30# 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...#.
0:23:30 > 0:23:40In 1964, Harold Wilson defeated the Conservative Government
0:23:42 > 0:23:45to become Prime Minister, aged 48, and was then the youngest
0:23:45 > 0:23:46of the 20th Century.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48At four, that's the number of general elections that
0:23:48 > 0:23:49Harold Wilson won as Labour leader.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51In 1964, '66, and twice in '74.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52Three.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57In his most memorable speech speech, Harold Wilson told his party in 1963
0:23:57 > 0:24:03he believed the Britain that is going to be formed
0:24:03 > 0:24:06in the white heat of this revolution will be no place for restrictive
0:24:06 > 0:24:09practices or for outdated methods on either side of industry.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Two.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12In 1967 sterling was devalued to tackle Britain's economic
0:24:12 > 0:24:14problems, but Wilson tried to reassure the British people.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16That doesn't mean of course that ?1 here in Britain,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19in your pocket or purse or in your bank, has been devalued.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20One.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Wilson stunned the nation with his shock resignation
0:24:22 > 0:24:32and retirement from front-line politics in March 1976,
0:24:33 > 0:24:34five days after his 60th birthday.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37# 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...#.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Patrick Cowling summarising the career of Harold Wilson.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Finally, returning to women in Parliament, the lingerie
0:24:42 > 0:24:45businesswoman, Michelle Mone, has made a maiden speech
0:24:45 > 0:24:48with a difference in the House of Lords.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51To encourage girls to achieve success in business,
0:24:51 > 0:24:53she turned to her musical heroine.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58I love music and I would like to share with you the words
0:24:58 > 0:25:01of a song by the late, great Whitney Houston
0:25:01 > 0:25:05which inspired me when I was growing up.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10I normally sing this at karaoke, but on the advice of our wonderful
0:25:10 > 0:25:19door keepers, I thought I would spare Your Lordships' ears.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22I believe the children are our future, teach them well
0:25:22 > 0:25:26and let them lead the way.
0:25:26 > 0:25:33Lady Mone.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I wonder who George Osborne will be taking inspiration
0:25:36 > 0:25:38from as he presents his annual Budget on Wednesday?
0:25:38 > 0:25:40We'll soon find out what surprises he's got in store.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43So do join me for the next Week In Parliament.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49Until then, from me, Keith Macdougall, goodbye.