0:00:29 > 0:00:31Hello and Welcome to The Week In Parliament.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34The Brexit Bill clears the Commons and heads for the Lords.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35Plenty of democratic debate?
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Not everyone thinks so.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41What is it about the procedures of this place that allow a bill of this
0:00:41 > 0:00:43constitutional significance to be railroaded through in this
0:00:43 > 0:00:46disgraceful fashion?
0:00:46 > 0:00:47The Bill goes through unaltered.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51But there are concessions.
0:00:51 > 0:00:59A Brexit Minister promises that Parliament WILL get a meaningful
0:00:59 > 0:01:02vote on the final EU exit deal.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05I can confirm that the government will bring forward a motion on the
0:01:05 > 0:01:07final agreement to be approved by both Houses of Parliament before
0:01:07 > 0:01:08it's concluded.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Also, a little local difficulty for John Bercow,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13after he suggests President Trump is sexist and racist and shouldn't
0:01:13 > 0:01:15be allowed to make an official address in Westminster Hall.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Has the Speaker prompted a campaign to remove him?
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Funnily enough I don't think there was ever not a campaign
0:01:21 > 0:01:23to get rid of the Speaker.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26There's been a whole lot of Tory MPs, most of them in
0:01:26 > 0:01:28fact, who would be delighted to see him go.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30And...
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Message delivered OK, but to a surprise recipient.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Did the text that came the Labour leader's way reveal a secret deal
0:01:37 > 0:01:42on social care?
0:01:42 > 0:01:47And is the same sweetheart deal on offer to every council facing the
0:01:47 > 0:01:48social-care crisis created by her government?
0:01:48 > 0:01:50But first...
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Joy for the Government, joy for Brexit supporters.
0:01:53 > 0:01:58But problems and high-profile resignations for Labour.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00The successful passage of the so-called Brexit Bill
0:02:00 > 0:02:02through the Commons produced several moments of turbulence
0:02:02 > 0:02:05for the political parties.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Against expectations, the Notification of EU
0:02:07 > 0:02:13Withdrawal Bill was approved by MPs without any alterations.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17It now goes on to the House of Lords.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20The Bill, imposed on Parliament by the ruling of the Supreme Court,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25authorises Ministers to start the EU departure process.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28But before the Bill left the Commons there were key issues to debate,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30issues such as the rights of EU nationals working
0:02:30 > 0:02:32and living in the UK.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38Labour said, why no guarantees?
0:02:38 > 0:02:41They and their families are not pawns in a game
0:02:41 > 0:02:44of poker with the EU.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48They cannot be used as a human shield as we battle it out
0:02:48 > 0:02:51in Europe for our UK citizens in other countries abroad.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55I think, again, it would be completely wrong in terms
0:02:55 > 0:03:00of negotiating, in terms of our negotiating position,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03to declare unilaterally that all EU nationals up to a certain date can
0:03:03 > 0:03:06continue to live here without any fear or favour.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Another day, another issue.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14On Tuesday MPs demanded that in two years' time Parliament gets
0:03:14 > 0:03:22a decisive vote on the final exit agreement from the EU.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25The central theme of the case I will seek to make this afternoon
0:03:25 > 0:03:28is that a vote in this House must be before the deal is concluded.
0:03:28 > 0:03:34That is the dividing line that makes the real difference here.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36I can confirm that the Government will bring forward a motion
0:03:36 > 0:03:40on the final agreement to be approved by both Houses
0:03:40 > 0:03:43of Parliament before it is concluded and we expect and intend that this
0:03:43 > 0:03:45will happen before the European Parliament debates and votes
0:03:45 > 0:03:48on the final agreement.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51I hope that is of assistance.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56I am very grateful for that intervention.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01That is a huge and very important concession.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04If that deal comes to this House and we vote it down
0:04:04 > 0:04:09and subsequently the Commission and the European Parliament agree it
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and say, "Like it or lump it," what will we do then?
0:04:12 > 0:04:15I would have thought that in the circumstance that this House
0:04:15 > 0:04:19had voted it down it would be highly unlikely that it would ever be put
0:04:19 > 0:04:21to the European Parliament.
0:04:21 > 0:04:31I think the point here is, for this to be a meaningful
0:04:33 > 0:04:35concession, what the House wants is the opportunity to send
0:04:35 > 0:04:38the Government back to our EU partners, to negotiate a deal if one
0:04:38 > 0:04:39hasn't been reached.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Going on to WTO rules, I say to the Minister,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44will be deeply damaging for our economy and
0:04:44 > 0:04:45wholly unacceptable.
0:04:45 > 0:04:55We could end up with a situation where the agreement is one minute
0:04:59 > 0:05:01to midnight at the end of the two year period,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and if the Government doesn't then conclude an agreement to bring it
0:05:04 > 0:05:05to the House before it
0:05:05 > 0:05:08goes to the European Parliament, we could end up with no deal at all.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11You could imagine, two years of travel, journey down that
0:05:11 > 0:05:13road and negotiation, we get to the edge of the canyon
0:05:14 > 0:05:15and we have a point of decision.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Are we going to have that bridge across the chasm,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21which might be the new treaty, it might take us to that new future,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24or are we going to potentially decide to jump off into the unknown,
0:05:24 > 0:05:25into the abyss?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27And Parliament should have the right to decide that point.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30So to Wednesday, and at Prime Minister's Questions the SNP asked,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32what about the views of the Scottish Parliament?
0:05:32 > 0:05:36When the Prime Minister was in Edinburgh on the 15th of July
0:05:36 > 0:05:42last year, she pledged that she would, and I quote,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46not trigger Article 50 until she had an agreed UK-wide approach.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51So given that the Scottish Parliament has voted overwhelmingly
0:05:51 > 0:05:53against her approach and all bar one MP representing a Scottish
0:05:53 > 0:05:58constituency in this House of Commons has voted
0:05:58 > 0:06:01against her approach, she does not have an agreed UK-wide approach.
0:06:01 > 0:06:11Now, Mr Speaker...
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Mr Speaker, as the Prime Minister knows, a lot of people in Scotland
0:06:14 > 0:06:17watch Prime Minister's Questions, so will she tell those viewers
0:06:17 > 0:06:22in Scotland whether she intends to keep her word to Scotland or not?
0:06:22 > 0:06:24The Supreme Court was very clear that the Scottish Parliament does
0:06:24 > 0:06:33not have a veto on the triggering of Article 50.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36The bill that is going through the House obviously is giving
0:06:36 > 0:06:39the power to the Government to trigger Article 50.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42And I would also remind him of this point, because he constantly refers
0:06:42 > 0:06:44to the interests of Scotland inside the European Union.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48An independent Scotland would not be in the European Union.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51With all amendments voted down, the Brexit Bill reached the end
0:06:51 > 0:06:53of the road in the Commons.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58But before the final vote, expressions of anger.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01The Government's refusal to accept a single amendment means
0:07:01 > 0:07:02there will be no report stage.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06The programme motion means there's no debate on third reading.
0:07:06 > 0:07:13I'm informed by the library that the last time that combination
0:07:13 > 0:07:15happened was the Defence of the Realm Act of 1914,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17which was about the First World War.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21For this to happen in any bill would be an abuse.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23To happen on this bill is an outrage.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26What is it about the procedures of this place that allow a bill
0:07:26 > 0:07:28of this constitutional significance to be railroaded through in this
0:07:28 > 0:07:35disgraceful fashion?
0:07:35 > 0:07:38What I can say is that the House agreed to a programme motion
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and that is what's been adhered to.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Point of order.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Mr Deputy Speaker, this House has nobly represented
0:07:45 > 0:07:48the will of the British people in a referendum.
0:07:48 > 0:07:54That is why it's passed as it has.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56And so to the vote.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58The question is that the bill now be read.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00As many as are of the opinion, say "aye".
0:08:00 > 0:08:01Aye!
0:08:01 > 0:08:02To the contrary, "no".
0:08:02 > 0:08:03No!
0:08:03 > 0:08:04Division.
0:08:04 > 0:08:05Clear the lobbies.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07In fact, the verdict was never in doubt.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09With most Labour MPs supporting the Bill,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13there was a huge majority for the Government.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16The ayes to the right, 494.
0:08:16 > 0:08:23The noes to the left, 122.
0:08:23 > 0:08:2952 Labour MPs had defied their whip and voted against the Bill.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31That meant some resignations, most notably Clive Lewis
0:08:31 > 0:08:36from his job as Shadow Business Secretary.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40And a final footnote.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43The pro-European SNP MPs struck up a musical
0:08:43 > 0:08:45note in the chamber, by way of protest, singing
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Beethoven's Ode To Joy, the European anthem.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51THEY SING
0:08:51 > 0:08:52Until they were stopped.
0:08:52 > 0:08:59Order!
0:08:59 > 0:09:01I don't want a sing-off within the chamber.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03It's a very good of you, much appreciated, but if you'll just
0:09:03 > 0:09:07leave it for a little while, it's been a very tense week already,
0:09:07 > 0:09:08I just don't need any extra.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09Thank you.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Lindsay Hoyle, the Deputy Speaker, bringing the Commons
0:09:11 > 0:09:12to order in his own way.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15It was quite a week for the Commons Speaker himself.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17A motion of no-confidence was put down on Speaker John Bercow,
0:09:17 > 0:09:21after he dramatically announced that he wouldn't want the US
0:09:21 > 0:09:23President, Donald Trump, to address Westminster Hall on his anticipated
0:09:23 > 0:09:27forthcoming state visit.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29The no-confidence motion, tabled by a Tory backbencher,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32is not likely to be debated.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36But it does add to the pressures on Mr Bercow.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Critics say by speaking out he's undermined the traditional
0:09:38 > 0:09:40neutrality of the Speaker's role.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45Gary Connor now reports.
0:09:45 > 0:09:53Ever since it was announced that US President Donald Trump would come
0:09:53 > 0:09:58to the UK on a state visit this year, there's been a row brewing.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Some state visits, such as those by Nelson Mandela,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Pope Benedict and Barack Obama, have seen the leaders make a speech
0:10:03 > 0:10:06in Westminster Hall.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10But more than 200 MPs have signed an early day motion, a method
0:10:10 > 0:10:12for MPs to register their support for a course, against President
0:10:12 > 0:10:13Trump visiting Westminster.
0:10:13 > 0:10:21And on Monday the Speaker spoke out.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24I wondered, Mr Speaker, whether you could tell us
0:10:24 > 0:10:26what approaches have been made to you and what conversations
0:10:26 > 0:10:28or discussions have taken place with the relevant authorities,
0:10:28 > 0:10:30the key-holders for such an approach to go ahead,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34and whether or not there are ways in which those of us who have deep
0:10:34 > 0:10:36concerns about President Trump's comments could make that known
0:10:36 > 0:10:40to the responsible authorities?
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been
0:10:44 > 0:10:46strongly opposed to an address by President Trump
0:10:46 > 0:10:52in Westminster Hall.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump
0:11:00 > 0:11:06in Westminster Hall.
0:11:06 > 0:11:14As far as this place is concerned, I feel very strongly
0:11:14 > 0:11:19that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support
0:11:19 > 0:11:23for equality before the law and an independent judiciary
0:11:23 > 0:11:28are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.
0:11:28 > 0:11:36But an address to Parliament isn't just
0:11:36 > 0:11:37at the discretion of Mr Bercow.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39His House of Lords equivalent also has a say.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44And Lord Fowler said that he wasn't consulted.
0:11:44 > 0:11:52Yesterday Mr Bercow made it clear that he was opposed
0:11:52 > 0:11:57to the President speaking.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59I can say that I wasn't consulted on that decision.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Although John Bercow received rapturous applause
0:12:01 > 0:12:03from the opposition benches, some on the government side,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06not always great fans of the Speaker, weren't so happy.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09So was the Speaker wrong to express a view shared by many MPs
0:12:09 > 0:12:10and members of the public?
0:12:10 > 0:12:12There's nothing wrong with that if you're the Prime Minister,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14possibly even if you're the monarchy, you know,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17that is what the leaders of the country are there to do.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21He's not the leader of the country, though, his job is to be a very
0:12:21 > 0:12:23independent arbiter of proceedings in the House of Commons.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28And the Speaker was taken to task by certain sections of the press.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32So he's been a very good Speaker certainly for backbenchers,
0:12:32 > 0:12:37for journalists too, regularly, almost every
0:12:37 > 0:12:40day, certainly once or twice a week he will call a minister
0:12:40 > 0:12:46to the House of Lords
0:12:46 > 0:12:47to answer an urgent question,
0:12:47 > 0:12:49which is great because that is almost always topical.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52When he does put his head above the parapet and goes a bit too
0:12:52 > 0:12:57far, as I think most people think he might have done this week,
0:12:57 > 0:13:01absolutely he's a target and newspapers are there
0:13:01 > 0:13:03to try and pull him down a peg or two.
0:13:03 > 0:13:04It's what we're quite good at.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08So what impact might John Bercow's stand have on his future as speaker?
0:13:08 > 0:13:10I think John Bercow's future is going to be incredibly
0:13:10 > 0:13:12interesting and this will play out this year.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15He said he was going to stand down in 2018.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17He said he would serve nine years and that was that.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21There was a lot of chat in the tearooms amongst MPs on both
0:13:21 > 0:13:24sides in the last week after the Trump furore that actually
0:13:24 > 0:13:28he might have done this simply to put his cards down
0:13:28 > 0:13:29for re-election.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Maybe he's actually thinking, actually I'm rather enjoying this
0:13:32 > 0:13:33job, I don't want to go next year.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37I might just stay on a few more years and I'll be able to do that
0:13:37 > 0:13:41if I have the support of Labour MPs, and what better to get that support
0:13:41 > 0:13:43than giving Donald Trump a kicking?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46The people of Surrey were due to take part
0:13:46 > 0:13:49in a referendum in recent days, not on EU membership
0:13:49 > 0:13:52but on whether they were happy to see a large, 15% rise
0:13:52 > 0:13:55in their council tax to pay for the increasing costs of caring
0:13:55 > 0:13:56for elderly and vulnerable people.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58But the vote was called off. So what happened?
0:13:58 > 0:14:00At Prime Minister's Questions, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
0:14:00 > 0:14:03believed he knew why the vote and the 15% rise were abandoned.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Can the Prime Minister tell the House whether or not a special
0:14:06 > 0:14:10deal was done for Surrey?
0:14:10 > 0:14:13We recognise the short-term pressures.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16That is why we have enabled local authorities to put more
0:14:16 > 0:14:17money into social care.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19We have provided more money.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Over the next two years, ?900 million will be
0:14:22 > 0:14:24available for social care.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Mr Speaker, my question was whether there had been a special
0:14:27 > 0:14:29deal done for Surrey.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32The leader said they had many conversations with the government.
0:14:32 > 0:14:40We know they have because I have been sent copies of texts sent
0:14:40 > 0:14:43by the Tory leader David Hodge intended for somebody called Nick
0:14:43 > 0:14:45who works for ministers and the Department for Communities
0:14:45 > 0:14:49and Local Government.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52And these texts read, "I'm advised that DCLG officials have
0:14:52 > 0:14:58"been working on a solution and you will be contacting me to
0:14:58 > 0:15:02"agree a memorandum of understanding."
0:15:02 > 0:15:07Will the government...
0:15:07 > 0:15:13Will the government now publish this memorandum of understanding?
0:15:13 > 0:15:17What the Labour Party fails to understand is this is not just
0:15:17 > 0:15:20a question of looking at money, it is a question of spreading best
0:15:20 > 0:15:24practice, and finding a sustainable solution.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27And I have to say to him that if we look at social care provision
0:15:27 > 0:15:30across the entire country, the last thing social care
0:15:30 > 0:15:36providers need is another one of Labour's bouncing cheques.
0:15:36 > 0:15:45Mr Speaker, I wonder if it is anything to do with the fact
0:15:45 > 0:15:50that the Chancellor and Health Secretary represents
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Surrey constituencies.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58Mr Speaker, there was a second text from Surrey County
0:15:58 > 0:16:04Council leader to Nick.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08In the second text, it says, "The numbers you indicated
0:16:08 > 0:16:17"are the numbers that I understand are acceptable for me
0:16:17 > 0:16:19"to accept and call off the R."
0:16:19 > 0:16:22I've been reading a bit of John Le Carre, and apparently,
0:16:22 > 0:16:23"R" means referendum.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26It is very subtle, all of this.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31And he goes on to say, in his text to Nick,
0:16:31 > 0:16:36"If it is possible for that info to be said to myself,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39"I can then revert back soonest, really want to kill this off."
0:16:39 > 0:16:42So, how much did that government offers sorry to kill this off?
0:16:42 > 0:16:45And is the same sweetheart deal on offer to every council facing
0:16:45 > 0:16:48the social care crisis created by her government?
0:16:48 > 0:16:53Yet again, what we get from Labour are alternative facts.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57What...
0:16:57 > 0:17:04What they really need is an alternative leader.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09What he always fails to recognise, what he fails to recognise is that
0:17:09 > 0:17:12you can only spend money on social care and on the National Health
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Service if you have a strong economy to deliver the wealth you need.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Theresa May, displaying her leadership style in the Commons.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Well, the leadership approach of Britain's recent prime ministers
0:17:23 > 0:17:26is the subject of a new series produced by BBC Parliament.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28The political journalist
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Steve Richards will be examining the careers of six former
0:17:31 > 0:17:33British prime ministers.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37His unscripted talks were recorded at Westminster.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42Here, he considers David Cameron's decision to call the EU Referendum.
0:17:42 > 0:17:51I still think there was a case for doing it.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55I certainly understand why he did it.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00Leaders sometimes are trapped, and when you have MPs defecting
0:18:00 > 0:18:03to Ukip, and Ukip winning, as they did the European
0:18:03 > 0:18:10elections, topping that poll, you panic, as Prime Minister.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14And Cameron, he had already offered it by the time Ukip had one
0:18:14 > 0:18:17the European elections, so he had no choice
0:18:17 > 0:18:21if he wanted to keep his party together but to hold it.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24But one of the lessons of leadership is this,
0:18:24 > 0:18:34referendums are dangerous.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40They lure leaders towards them, thinking this is the way
0:18:40 > 0:18:43that they will be able to survive in politics and the referendum
0:18:43 > 0:18:44is their saviour.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45And when the leader actually announces one,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48it tends to clobber them.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50And finish them off.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53And the first of the series, Leadership Reflections is on
0:18:53 > 0:18:55BBC Parliament at eight o'clock on Sunday evening.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Now, a look at some of the other stories around Parliament
0:18:57 > 0:18:58in the last seven days.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Labour has described as shameful the Government's decision to wind
0:19:01 > 0:19:03down a scheme allowing vulnerable refugee children into Britain.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07The Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the programme risked acting
0:19:07 > 0:19:11as an incentive for children to make perilous sea crossings to Europe.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14The Labour peer whose name is associated with the scheme
0:19:14 > 0:19:17voiced his disappointment.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21I must confess, I'm slightly puzzled because if the government says a
0:19:21 > 0:19:25specified number of children, then after that total had been reached,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27the scheme had been closed.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29I believe in arbitrarily closing down the scheme,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31without any good reason for doing so,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34the government is in breach of its own commitment.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36At this point in time the scheme is not closed.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38What I think...
0:19:38 > 0:19:45Well, more children will come, the scheme is not closed.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49What I think we have to appreciate, and I've think the lords
0:19:49 > 0:19:52generally have appreciated, is that the capacity of local
0:19:52 > 0:20:00authorities is limited.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02The noble lords might rubbish that but the
0:20:02 > 0:20:05passage to have local authorities is limited.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06Are the banks ripping us off?
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Which? magazine finds that customers who run up unauthorised overdrafts
0:20:09 > 0:20:11face charges sometimes seven times higher than the cost of borrowing
0:20:11 > 0:20:12from a payday lender.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15It is a disgrace that the banks are charging more than payday
0:20:15 > 0:20:18lenders for short term lending and getting away with it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20So, the government should take action.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22The major banks currently make up ?1 billion per
0:20:22 > 0:20:25year on charges on unauthorised overdrafts,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28the majority of whom, says the head of the competitions
0:20:28 > 0:20:32and markets authority, from financially vulnerable customers.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36We've taken steps to encourage competition, we have taken steps to
0:20:36 > 0:20:39support credit unions,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43we have taken steps to improve financial education.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46And it is through this comprehensive approach that this
0:20:46 > 0:20:50government will continue to take steps to make sure British customers
0:20:50 > 0:20:52have quality choices.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54An important tradition?
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Or do they give Parliament the wrong image?
0:20:56 > 0:21:00The wigs worn by the clerks who sit in the chamber of the Commons
0:21:00 > 0:21:02are to be phased out later this month.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05The Speaker finds himself in more controversy.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09And it will, in my view, which I recognise may
0:21:09 > 0:21:20not be universally shared, convey to the public a marginally less
0:21:20 > 0:21:24stuffy and forbidding image of this chamber at work.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And I had declared informally that I thought it was sensible to
0:21:27 > 0:21:30continue the cause this, Mr Speaker, is the High Court of Parliament.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36And I do think that the clerks, dressed as they are, add
0:21:36 > 0:21:38to the dignity of the House.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41But the idea that this was something that I dreamt up
0:21:41 > 0:21:43and sought to impose against the will of the clerks
0:21:43 > 0:21:46is 100% wrong.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Will building new homes, both for owning and renting,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53provide the answer to England's "broken" housing market?
0:21:53 > 0:21:56The Government announces ways to get more houses built,
0:21:56 > 0:21:59including making it harder to object to new developments.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02And we'll tackle unnecessary delays, caused by
0:22:02 > 0:22:05everything from planning conditions to great crested newts.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08They are young people right now in every one
0:22:08 > 0:22:12of our constituencies staring into the windows of estate agents,
0:22:12 > 0:22:17their faces glued to them, dreaming of renting or buying a decent home
0:22:17 > 0:22:21but knowing that it is out of reach because prices have risen so high.
0:22:21 > 0:22:26It is tragically clear, Mr Speaker, from the statement, that seven years
0:22:26 > 0:22:32of failure on housing is set now to stretch to ten.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36We were promised a white paper, we are presented with a white flag.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39They're definitely increasing but are they also
0:22:39 > 0:22:40becoming more aggressive?
0:22:40 > 0:22:44The seagull problem and how to solve it occupies MPs' thoughts
0:22:44 > 0:22:46in Westminster Hall.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50They make a nest on the flat roofs of houses, they squabble
0:22:50 > 0:22:53with each other, they squawk incessantly at all hours of the day
0:22:53 > 0:22:59and night, creating an nasty racket, they bombard and soil windows.
0:22:59 > 0:23:07We read stories about a diving seagull killing pet dog.
0:23:07 > 0:23:15Things have become so bad, so widely publicised that our
0:23:15 > 0:23:22former minister, David Cameron, said that he wanted a big conversation
0:23:22 > 0:23:24about murderous seagulls.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26And those juicy courgettes that we all miss so much.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29How long will the courgette crisis go on for, after wintery weather
0:23:29 > 0:23:31in Europe left the shelves short of veg?
0:23:31 > 0:23:34A minister in the Lords reassures us things are not so bad.
0:23:34 > 0:23:35It is certainly no crisis.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37The only shortage will be of iceberg lettuce
0:23:37 > 0:23:39which will be for about a few months.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42And there is a wonderful variety called cos which is even better.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Isn't it time that the government's forthcoming green paper
0:23:45 > 0:23:49on food and farming seeks to tackle this decline in home-grown veg?
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Very much so.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56In fact, I was pleased only this morning to hear that
0:23:56 > 0:24:00cauliflowers from Cornwall are coming onto the market.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03So, we have a great opportunity again, to buy
0:24:03 > 0:24:04some British vegetables.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05Lord Gardiner.
0:24:05 > 0:24:06And finally, it's official.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09As we long suspected, the Prime Minister is a keen
0:24:09 > 0:24:11viewer of BBC Parliament.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14At PMQs, Theresa May told MPs how often she tunes in
0:24:14 > 0:24:17during the course of an evening.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It all stemmed from a question put to her by an SNP MP
0:24:20 > 0:24:23about long-winded speeches.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Does she agree with me that the rules of the House should be changed
0:24:26 > 0:24:29to prevent filibustering and to ensure that the members from all
0:24:29 > 0:24:32sides of the House have their fair share of the time available?
0:24:32 > 0:24:34I have to say, I find that rather curious
0:24:34 > 0:24:39question from the honourable gentleman.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Last night, as it happens, I was out of the House
0:24:42 > 0:24:44between the two votes.
0:24:44 > 0:24:50I switched on the BBC parliamentary channel, and I
0:24:50 > 0:24:52saw the honourable gentleman speaking.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54I turned over to something else.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56I switched back.
0:24:56 > 0:25:03I switched back to the parliamentary channel.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I saw the honourable gentleman still speaking.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09I switched over to something else.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14I switched back and the honourable gentleman was still speaking.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18He is the last person to complain about filibustering in this House.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Theresa May, clearly a big channel hopper.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24But what was she switching over to?
0:25:24 > 0:25:25That's it for this programme.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28MPs and peers are now leaving Westminster
0:25:28 > 0:25:30for their half-term break.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32When they return, the House of Lords begins its debates
0:25:32 > 0:25:34on that Brexit bill.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37So, do join us in a fortnight's time for the next Week In Parliament.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42Until then, from me, Keith Macdougall, goodbye.