0:00:12 > 0:00:15Hello and welcome to The Week In Parliament.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Do grammar schools lead to better results?
0:00:19 > 0:00:23The issue certainly produced higher grades for the party leaders.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26We don't need and never shotld divide children at the age of 1 .
0:00:27 > 0:00:29A life changing division.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32It is the Labour Party that is willing members
0:00:32 > 0:00:36of the Labour Party, who will take the advantages of a
0:00:36 > 0:00:39good education for themselvds and pull up the ladder behind them
0:00:39 > 0:00:40for other people.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43The House of Lords has a new Speaker, who tells us the
0:00:43 > 0:00:46chamber needs to slim down.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48There is a certain irony in the fact that the
0:00:48 > 0:00:57House of Commons is reducing down to 600 and we are about 800.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59To produce a smaller House of Commons, most of
0:00:59 > 0:01:05the constituencies are being redrawn.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09But in the era of Brexit, can we afford to lose 50 MPs?
0:01:09 > 0:01:12And with the abolition of all those hard-working MEPs, why are we now
0:01:12 > 0:01:16reducing the number of MPs?
0:01:16 > 0:01:20But first, the way forward or a step back?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Grammar schools are the best way to improve the life chances of
0:01:23 > 0:01:25children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27That's the firm belief of Theresa May.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30This week, the Prime Ministdr laid out her vision for a
0:01:30 > 0:01:32more merit-acratic society.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Saying she wanted to end the restrictions
0:01:35 > 0:01:36on state selective schools.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41She said grammar schools were hugely popular
0:01:41 > 0:01:43with parents and could provhde a suitably stretching education for
0:01:43 > 0:01:45all children, regardless of their background.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49So are we in for a new era of grammar schools
0:01:49 > 0:01:50throughout England?
0:01:50 > 0:01:52As Prime Minister pause my questions, the Labour leader
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Jeremy Corbyn said, with just a touch of sarcasl,
0:01:54 > 0:01:59that Theresa May had successfully brought about tnity
0:01:59 > 0:02:03in the educational world.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05She has united former Education Secretary's
0:02:05 > 0:02:06on both sides of the House.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09She has truly brought about a new era of
0:02:09 > 0:02:19unity in education thinking.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22I wonder if it's possible for her, this
0:02:22 > 0:02:25morning within the quiet confines of this house to name any
0:02:25 > 0:02:26educational experts that back her proposals on
0:02:26 > 0:02:28new grammar schools and more selection?
0:02:28 > 0:02:31What I want to see is more good school places.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33A diversity of provision of education in this
0:02:33 > 0:02:36country, so that we really see opportunity for all and young people
0:02:36 > 0:02:41going as far as their talents will take them.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44The evidence, Mr Speaker, of the effect of selection hs this -
0:02:44 > 0:02:48in Kent, which has a grammar school system, 27% of the pupils on free
0:02:48 > 0:02:53school meals get five good GCSEs.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Compared with 45% in London.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59We are all for spreading good practice, but why does the Prime
0:02:59 > 0:03:04Minister want to expand a sxstem that can only let children down
0:03:04 > 0:03:09The right honourable gentleman believes
0:03:09 > 0:03:13in the equality of outcome, I believe in equality of opportunity.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16He believes in levelling down, we believe in levelling up.
0:03:16 > 0:03:22CHEERING
0:03:22 > 0:03:32Mr Speaker, equality of opportunity is not segregating
0:03:32 > 0:03:36children at the age of 11!
0:03:36 > 0:03:38The Secretary of State for Dducation suggested on Monday
0:03:38 > 0:03:43that new grammar schools max be required to set up feeder primary
0:03:43 > 0:03:47schools in poorer areas.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48For the children in these feeder primary
0:03:48 > 0:03:53schools get automatically ptt into grammar school?
0:03:53 > 0:03:58Or will they be subject to selection?
0:03:58 > 0:04:02What we are doing is setting up a more diverse
0:04:02 > 0:04:06education system that provides more opportunities.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08And what the right honourable gentleman appears to be
0:04:08 > 0:04:13defending is the situation we have at the moment where there is
0:04:13 > 0:04:18selection in our school system, but it selection by house price
0:04:18 > 0:04:21I think we want to ensure that children have the
0:04:21 > 0:04:22ability to go where
0:04:22 > 0:04:29their talents take them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31My point is simply, every child, every
0:04:31 > 0:04:33child, should have the best possible education they can have.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35We don't need and never should divide
0:04:35 > 0:04:38children at the age of 11.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43A life changing division with the majority end up losing out.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45I noticed she didn't answer my question about
0:04:45 > 0:04:48feeder primary schools.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50It is the Labour Party that has stifled
0:04:50 > 0:04:52opportunity, stifled ambition in this country.
0:04:52 > 0:05:00It is the Labour Party that is willing members of the
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Labour Party who will take the advantages of a good edtcation
0:05:02 > 0:05:05for themselves and pull up the ladder
0:05:05 > 0:05:13behind them for other peopld.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16It's not about pulling up ladders, it's
0:05:16 > 0:05:19about providing a ladder for every child!
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Isn't this the case of the Government heading b`ckwards
0:05:21 > 0:05:23to a field segregation for the few
0:05:23 > 0:05:24and second-class schooling for the many.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29Can't we do better than this?
0:05:29 > 0:05:35He has opposed every measure, that we have
0:05:35 > 0:05:39introduced to improve the qtality of education in this country.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Theresa May.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Well, grammar schools weren't the only issue raised at
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Prime Minister's Questions, once again, the Scottish
0:05:45 > 0:05:47National Party focussed
0:05:47 > 0:05:50on Britain's departure from the EU and, in particular, on the `dmission
0:05:50 > 0:05:57by the Home Secretary that paying for visas to travel in Europe
0:05:57 > 0:05:58could be a possibility for TK citizens
0:05:58 > 0:06:08once Brexit is in place.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Millions of people from across the United
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Kingdom found on freedom of movement across the EU for business `nd for
0:06:14 > 0:06:15pleasure.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17They face the prospect of h`ving to apply and possibly pay for
0:06:18 > 0:06:18visas.
0:06:18 > 0:06:24Is the Prime Minister in favour of protecting Visa free travel?
0:06:24 > 0:06:25Yes or no?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27there was a very clear message from the British
0:06:27 > 0:06:30people at the time of the rdferendum vote on Junior 23rd that thdy wanted
0:06:30 > 0:06:33to see an end to free movement as it operated,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35they wanted to see control of the movement of people from the
0:06:35 > 0:06:43European Union into the UK and that's what we will delhver
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister and the UK Government
0:06:45 > 0:06:49are totally un-willing to tell us the true cost of Brexit
0:06:49 > 0:06:55and what their position will be
0:06:55 > 0:06:57In contrast, there is a different tune
0:06:57 > 0:07:02from the European Union.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Their new European Union negotiator has
0:07:04 > 0:07:06said, and I quote, it's wrong that Scotland
0:07:06 > 0:07:09might be taken out of the ET when it ordered to stay.
0:07:09 > 0:07:15Does she agree with the EU negotiator at
0:07:15 > 0:07:17the Scottish Government who want to protect
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Scotland's place in Europe?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22I have to say to the right honourable gentleman, it's `ll very
0:07:22 > 0:07:24well him asking that question, but only two
0:07:25 > 0:07:26years ago, he didn't want
0:07:26 > 0:07:28to protect Scotland's place in the European Union.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32He wanted Scotland to leave the UK.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33Theresa May.
0:07:33 > 0:07:39So, how are British negotiations going
0:07:39 > 0:07:40on withdrawl from the European Union?
0:07:40 > 0:07:43And just how long a process isn't to be?
0:07:43 > 0:07:45The man who can tell us is, naturally enough, the Brexit
0:07:45 > 0:07:46secretary, David Davis.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48He's been facing the questions of a Lords
0:07:48 > 0:07:49committee.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53In terms of our approach, it'll be something over the years,
0:07:53 > 0:08:00because the trigger has that intrinsic to it.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04And as I've already said, I will seek to be as open as
0:08:04 > 0:08:07is possible.
0:08:07 > 0:08:15Even were I to decide to behave like Rasputin and keep it
0:08:15 > 0:08:19all entirely secret, I would fail.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20I would fail.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21Because it wouldn't be posshble
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Is the Government, are you as Secretary of State,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26going to get ahead of this process or are we all
0:08:26 > 0:08:28every Monday morning going to get on the European Parliament website
0:08:28 > 0:08:33to find out what's really going on.
0:08:33 > 0:08:39Or even talk to our MEP colleagues, who arehelpful
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Or even talk to our MEP colleagues, who are helpful
0:08:41 > 0:08:44and positive rather than anxthing else to see what's really going on?
0:08:44 > 0:08:46It really is a serious challenge I think.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49And this Parliament would not want to be treated as a
0:08:49 > 0:08:50second-class citizen.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53And neither do I want to trdat Parliament that way.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I mean, it'd be a little bit more of matching and meeting somdtimes.
0:08:56 > 0:08:57That's what it'll be.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58There is no interest whatsoever for the
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Government to leave the text to be issued by somebody else.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04We will certainly match and hopefully
0:09:04 > 0:09:06improve on what the European Parliament has received.
0:09:06 > 0:09:16It will be tactical, I'm afraid
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I don't want to be boring about it, but this is
0:09:22 > 0:09:24likely to be the most complhcated negotiation of our time.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27And maybe the most coveted and negotiation of all time.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29I mean, by comparison other questions are lower level.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31So, we won't always be entirely free agents,
0:09:31 > 0:09:33but we will be as open as wd can.
0:09:33 > 0:09:43He said his Brexit Department was attracting a lot of intdrest.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46This is really the sexiest `rea of politics at the moment.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47Everybody writes to us.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50We have a vast incoming.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52My department at the moment is actually quite tiny.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53Yes, I know that.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55It has quadrupled in one month.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Basically one month, it's ehght weeks, but everybody round
0:09:59 > 0:10:02this table knows what Whitehall and Brussels are alike in Atgust.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05So it has quadrupled in a month in effects.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07It'll probably double again in size, but it'll still very small
0:10:07 > 0:10:08by the standards of Whitehall.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Once you get that sort of size, we're going to be
0:10:11 > 0:10:12looking to outsiders.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14I have a lot of very bright and young
0:10:14 > 0:10:17civil servants who haven't got that much grey hair yet,
0:10:17 > 0:10:24which I may have to find outside.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26David Davis.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I think we can safely say the Brexit story has a long way to go.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32The former Conservative Cabinet minister
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Lord Fowler took office last week as the latest Lords Speaker.
0:10:35 > 0:10:45He was elected to the post before the
0:10:50 > 0:10:52He was elected to the post before the
0:10:52 > 0:10:55summer break, notably indepdndent minded, he has already spokdn out
0:10:55 > 0:10:57about the need to shrink the size of the Lord's,
0:10:57 > 0:10:59which now has more than 800 members.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Lord Fowler gave as his first television interview since
0:11:01 > 0:11:02taking office.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Alicia McCarthy asked him what he thought the role of Lord
0:11:04 > 0:11:05Speaker should be.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08What I said at the hustings, before the election,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11was that my role was really to try to establish to the public the value
0:11:11 > 0:11:12of the House of Lords.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15I mean, it seemed to me that although the House
0:11:15 > 0:11:17of Lords does fantastic work, and it really does, we don't
0:11:17 > 0:11:19get the credit for it.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22And, therefore, I hope one of my roles is going to be to try to
0:11:22 > 0:11:24challenge that and tried to correct that.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26And point out that there are committees here,
0:11:26 > 0:11:30select committees, there are the consideration of bills.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33I mean, it's all basically in the public interest.
0:11:33 > 0:11:40I see the House of Lords as being defender of the
0:11:40 > 0:11:41public interest.
0:11:41 > 0:11:50I think I would try to get that particular role out.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Now, obviously, the big isste of the House of Lords
0:11:53 > 0:11:54at the moment is its sheer size
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Do you think the way to go here is some sort of incremdntal
0:11:57 > 0:12:01change or do you think it's time for a Government to really grab this
0:12:01 > 0:12:04issue by the tail and to make some really big changes to the House
0:12:04 > 0:12:05of Lords?
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Well, I would put it less erratically than that.
0:12:07 > 0:12:13I mean, what I find is that the interviews I have
0:12:13 > 0:12:17given, people at the end tend to say, well, it's all very well,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Lord Fowler, but aren't you the second
0:12:19 > 0:12:24biggest legislature outside China?
0:12:24 > 0:12:29And it just overshadows all the arguments that you have used.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32And I think there is a cert`in irony in the fact that
0:12:32 > 0:12:37the House of Commons is reducing down to 600.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40We are at about 800.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43So I think, above all, there is a consensus in the Lords
0:12:43 > 0:12:53that the House is too big.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56I don't say total a consensus, but a pretty
0:12:56 > 0:12:57broad consensus.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58That the House is too big.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01And so I think it's sensibld to think about how you
0:13:01 > 0:13:02tackle that.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Now, I'm not going to advoc`te a particular solution.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05I've got my ideas, obviouslx.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08But what I do think is that we might make it a
0:13:08 > 0:13:18goal that by the next electhon whenever we should be at a number,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21at a strength, which is just less than the House of Commons.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23I think it's quite difficult to support a
0:13:23 > 0:13:27system whereby we are a 200 odd more than the House of Commons itself.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30So I think, from that point of view, that is a major step to takd.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32You're going to be Lord Speaker for five years.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35At the end of that term, what's going to be your benchmark
0:13:35 > 0:13:37for success?
0:13:37 > 0:13:40I'm not sure I've got a benchmark at the moment.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44I mean, what I hope to do is to try and, if you like, spread thd word
0:13:44 > 0:13:46about the House of Lords.
0:13:46 > 0:13:52Try and make it look more accessible to the public.
0:13:52 > 0:13:59Try and get more knowledge `bout it.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02And if I can, after five years, if we have a
0:14:02 > 0:14:05situation where the House of Lords is just below the size of the House
0:14:05 > 0:14:08of Commons, then I would be very satisfied with that as well.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12But I'm not putting out a target of that
0:14:12 > 0:14:16kind, because I am the Speaker and it's up to other people to make
0:14:16 > 0:14:23the cases and in many cases, to make the decisions.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25The Lord Speaker talking to Alicia McCarthy.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Lord Fowler referred there to the moves to reducd
0:14:28 > 0:14:30the size of the Commons and the details of how
0:14:30 > 0:14:34the parliamentary constituencies might be redrawn were released
0:14:34 > 0:14:36the start of the week.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39The political parties were soon putting the maps
0:14:39 > 0:14:41of the new constituencies under the microscope.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45The idea of bringing the nulber of MPs down is to cut costs,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48as well as making sure that constituencies all have the same
0:14:48 > 0:14:50numbers of voters.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52However, not everyone is happy.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Ros Ball has been taking a look at what might happen.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Another busy day in the Comlons and it is standing
0:14:59 > 0:15:01room only for MPs.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05But they could be a bit mord elbow room on these famous green
0:15:05 > 0:15:08benches if plans to recall the political map go-ahead.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10This week, the Independent Boundaries Commission set ott
0:15:10 > 0:15:13proposals that would see thd total number of constituencies
0:15:13 > 0:15:17drop from 650 to 600.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20England is due to lose 32 MPs.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Wales will see its seats at by a quarter.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Down to 29.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Northern Ireland has alreadx been told it will lose one MP.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30And proposals due to be set out in October are expected to recommend
0:15:30 > 0:15:33that Scotland loses six members
0:15:33 > 0:15:36The changes are part of an `ttempt to even out the size
0:15:36 > 0:15:39of constituencies and cut the cost of politics.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42But not everyone is happy.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Some people could see their seats disappear altogether
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and they would have to battle with neighbouring MPs or up
0:15:48 > 0:15:50sticks and move elsewhere.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54Those who could be affected include George Osborne,
0:15:54 > 0:16:00Jeremy Corbyn, Owen Smith, Stephen Crabb, and David Davies
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Labour argues that it is an attempt by the government to
0:16:04 > 0:16:08gerrymander the boundaries for their own political adv`ntage.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10But the minister in charge of the boundary changes says
0:16:10 > 0:16:12that it is about saving mondy and making things fairer.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15It is right that having made savings elsewhere,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17MPs should be able to put their own house in order.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21This measure will save ?66 lillion over the course of a Parlialent
0:16:21 > 0:16:23That is quite a lot of monex.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27So, we need to cut the cost of politics and we need to do it
0:16:27 > 0:16:32by cutting the number of MPs.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34The plans are out for public consultation with proposals not
0:16:34 > 0:16:35expected to be confirmed until 018.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37But whatever happens, it seems likely that the map
0:16:37 > 0:16:40of British politics will be significantly changed by thd time
0:16:40 > 0:16:42of the next general election in 2020.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Ros Ball reporting.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48And in Parliament on Thursd`y, the smaller House of Commons idea
0:16:48 > 0:16:49wasn't going down all that well
0:16:49 > 0:16:54When the boundary changes were announced and we have
0:16:54 > 0:16:58the debate in this House, we didn't know we were
0:16:58 > 0:17:00going to leave the EU.
0:17:00 > 0:17:0375% of our laws were made in the EU.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06And with the abolition of all those hard-working MDPs,
0:17:06 > 0:17:11why are we now reducing the number of MPs?
0:17:11 > 0:17:15The Prime Minister perhaps should look at this again.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Can we have a statement next week?
0:17:17 > 0:17:22That is the decision which the House took when it passed the leghslation
0:17:22 > 0:17:30that set out the reduction of both the members of Parliament
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and the framework within which the parliamentary boundary
0:17:33 > 0:17:34commission would operate.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35That is set in legislation.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38The Shadow Leader of the Colmons criticised the Lords
0:17:38 > 0:17:42and the peerages announced over the summer by David Cameron.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47..Where the Speaker of the House of Lords said there were 200
0:17:47 > 0:17:53unnecessary people dancing `round at the other end of the corridor
0:17:53 > 0:17:59and these changes introduced by the Prime Minister would involved
0:17:59 > 0:18:03a spending of ?34 million.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06The exchanges that have takdn place over the years.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09This is a wanton waste of public money at a time
0:18:09 > 0:18:12when the Prime Minister said that his justification
0:18:12 > 0:18:16for the massive disruption `mongst elected members by the changes
0:18:16 > 0:18:20in the boundaries would save peanuts.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25Will the Leader of the Housd add some new lustre to his parlhamentary
0:18:25 > 0:18:28halo and not just be a leaddr who is here today and nowhere
0:18:28 > 0:18:31tomorrow, and take on real reforms?
0:18:31 > 0:18:37I find it a bit ripe that he denounces the House of Lords
0:18:37 > 0:18:41today in such florid terms when so many of his former
0:18:41 > 0:18:47honourable and right honour`ble friends have been in a rush
0:18:47 > 0:18:49to go and serve there.
0:18:49 > 0:18:54And only earlier this week, a new peer sent there by thd right
0:18:54 > 0:18:58honourable gentleman and thd current Leader of the Opposition
0:18:58 > 0:19:00took her seat.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04I think the honourable gentleman needs to have words
0:19:04 > 0:19:06with his own leader about this.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08David Liddington.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Well, we'll look at some of the other stories in Parliament
0:19:10 > 0:19:12in the last few days.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15The Commons has given initi`l approval to the digital economy bill
0:19:15 > 0:19:17and amongst other things, it gives public sector bodids
0:19:17 > 0:19:20new powers to share data to combat fraud and restrict access
0:19:20 > 0:19:24to online pornography.
0:19:24 > 0:19:31We have an incredible probldm of pornographic images be
0:19:31 > 0:19:33available to children.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37The NSPCC report that children as young as seven are being treated
0:19:37 > 0:19:39for addiction to pornographx.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42We put age inappropriate magazines on the top shelf, and we kedp
0:19:42 > 0:19:44children out of sex shops.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46Equivalent and proportionatd measures are needed online.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51It is good night from him as a PM, and it is good night from hhm
0:19:51 > 0:19:52as an MP.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55David Cameron slips out of the Commons after 15
0:19:55 > 0:19:57years as the member for Witney in Oxfordshire.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03He has been a tremendous public servant, both for his Witnex
0:20:03 > 0:20:07constituency but also for the country as a whole.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11And under his leadership, we saw the economy being st`bilised,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14we saw more people in work than ever before, we saw people on low incomes
0:20:14 > 0:20:17being taken out of paying t`x altogether and this governmdnt
0:20:17 > 0:20:19will build on that legacy.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25Extending opportunity to all parts of the country.
0:20:25 > 0:20:30I also wish the former Prime Minister well on his departure
0:20:30 > 0:20:33from this House and well in his future life.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36And I hope that the by-election in Witney will concentrate
0:20:36 > 0:20:43on the issues of education `nd his views on selection in education
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Remembering the Libya connection.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49British victims of acts of HRA violence that was funded by Libya
0:20:49 > 0:20:52during the regime of Colonel Gaddafi should be fully compensated,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54plead MPs in Westminster Hall.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59What happened by Colonel Gaddafi in the Libyan government
0:20:59 > 0:21:05in supplying those weapons to the IRA was immoral,
0:21:05 > 0:21:07unacceptable, and wrong.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Victims have waited long enough for answers.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15They are sick and tired of the dilly-dallying and ddlays.
0:21:15 > 0:21:20Many of them are coming to, let's face it, the latter
0:21:20 > 0:21:21years of their lives.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26Were we ever to get any forl of compensation from Libya,
0:21:26 > 0:21:30I suspect we need to get our heads around the idea that it will be
0:21:30 > 0:21:33a single some, it would be slid across the table and it would be
0:21:34 > 0:21:36for the victims' organisations.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41All set to be the biggest building site in Europe,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Hinkley C gets the go-ahead from the government.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48And the ?18 billion nuclear power plant will be built
0:21:48 > 0:21:51by the French firm EDF, one third paid for by the Chinese.
0:21:51 > 0:21:56Construction work will create 2 ,000 jobs and will take ten years.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00There was a mixed reaction `mong MPs.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03The public can be confident that foreign direct
0:22:03 > 0:22:06investment works all ways in the country's best interdsts
0:22:07 > 0:22:11This statement is window.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14It is face-saving by a government that talked big and eventually
0:22:14 > 0:22:18backed down or stop please can I thank the Secretary of St`te,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21and my right honourable fridnd the Prime Minister, for makhng
0:22:21 > 0:22:22exactly the right decision.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24There are improvements that the Secretary of State has
0:22:24 > 0:22:26outlined but the deal remains a rotten one.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31Why is the Secretary of State pressing the fast forward bttton?
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Doesn't he recognised that this project does not represent value for
0:22:34 > 0:22:37money as the FC have pointed out?
0:22:37 > 0:22:41The still expanding numbers in ermine, leading an enquiry into
0:22:41 > 0:22:45anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, Shami Chakrabarti from Liberty
0:22:45 > 0:22:49and a frequent panellist on BBC s Question Time is introduced
0:22:49 > 0:22:51into the House of Lords.
0:22:51 > 0:22:57I, Shamishta Baroness Chakr`barti, do solemnly, sincerely,
0:22:57 > 0:23:02and truly declare and affirl that I will be faithful and
0:23:02 > 0:23:07bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabdth,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10her heir and successors, according to law.
0:23:10 > 0:23:18The BBC is told to make public names of presenters and executives
0:23:18 > 0:23:22who earn more than ?150,000 a year.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25It is all in the interests of openness.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27"But is it really necessary?"
0:23:27 > 0:23:30asks a Scottish Nationalists to used to be a BBC man.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33I wonder if the Secretary of State agrees with me that the BBC argument
0:23:33 > 0:23:37that this will be a charter to poach talent is quite simply nonsdnse
0:23:37 > 0:23:41If your agent is worth his salt Mr Speaker, Sir, or her salt,
0:23:41 > 0:23:45they will know exactly how much you and all your
0:23:45 > 0:23:48competition are paid.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51I know this from bitter expdrience.
0:23:51 > 0:23:57Does my the right honourabld friend agree with me that if the BBC wants
0:23:57 > 0:24:00to take public money, it should be transparent, and if it
0:24:00 > 0:24:03doesn't want to be transpardnt, then it shouldn't take publhc money?
0:24:03 > 0:24:07Can I just say, Mr Speaker, that I do not share this
0:24:07 > 0:24:10unhealthy obsession with what other people earn.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12I was always told that it was rude to ask.
0:24:12 > 0:24:17But crumbs of comfort for the BBC, following the shock news
0:24:17 > 0:24:22that The Great British Bake Off is going to Channel 4.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25One MP refers to the millions of pounds that the BBC is h`ving
0:24:25 > 0:24:29to spend on free TV licences for the over 75s.
0:24:29 > 0:24:36It could pay seven times ovdr for our 30 local BBC Radio one
0:24:36 > 0:24:39stations or for Radio 4 peak times.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43It could pay for 30 British Bake Offs.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47And ministers would do well to consider before
0:24:47 > 0:24:50depriving the British public of their favourite shows.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54On the crucial issue of The Great British Bake Off,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Mr Speaker, which I am an enormous fan of, I just hope she will correct
0:24:58 > 0:25:03what you just said and acknowledge that the Bake Off, after today's
0:25:03 > 0:25:08announcement, will remain on free to air terrestrial TV on Ch`nnel 4.
0:25:08 > 0:25:15Matthew Hancock bringing us the latest on Bake Off.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16The proof of the pudding...
0:25:16 > 0:25:17Never mind.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Well, the politicians are now not so much baking off as taking off.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22It is that time of year.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25The party conferences are being held around the country.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28The Week in Parliament returns when the politicians
0:25:28 > 0:25:31return to Westminster in three weeks' time.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34So, until then, from me, Keith Macdougall, goodbye.