24/02/2017

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0:00:19 > 0:00:22Hello and welcome to the Week In Parliament.

0:00:22 > 0:00:24The House of Lords weighs into the arguments over Brexit.

0:00:24 > 0:00:27A Labour peer says colleagues must stand up

0:00:27 > 0:00:29for the interests of the young.

0:00:29 > 0:00:33This House should be urging a rethink on this whole project.

0:00:33 > 0:00:38This House should be saying, not in our name.

0:00:38 > 0:00:41But a Conservative offers peers this reassurance on Brexit -

0:00:41 > 0:00:45even if there's no deal.

0:00:45 > 0:00:48There is no greater nonsense than the claim that in the absence

0:00:48 > 0:00:51of a trade deal with the EU we shall be falling off a cliff edge.

0:00:51 > 0:00:53There is no cliff edge for the simple reason

0:00:53 > 0:00:57that there is no cliff.

0:00:57 > 0:00:58Also on the programme:

0:00:58 > 0:01:00Some powerful speeches and surprising revelations

0:01:00 > 0:01:04during a debate about Donald Trump.

0:01:04 > 0:01:08Which one of us has not made some ridiculous sexual comment

0:01:08 > 0:01:10sometime in our past?

0:01:10 > 0:01:14Well, in private, you know, let...

0:01:14 > 0:01:16Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

0:01:16 > 0:01:17All right?

0:01:17 > 0:01:20But first, the bill authorising the Government to start the formal

0:01:20 > 0:01:23process for leaving the EU has been approved by the Commons.

0:01:23 > 0:01:28Now it's the turn of the House of Lords to chew over the legislation.

0:01:28 > 0:01:32In a marathon debate over two days, there were 184 speakers.

0:01:32 > 0:01:35To add to the sense of occasion, there was a surprise

0:01:35 > 0:01:38visitor in the Lords.

0:01:38 > 0:01:40In a very unusual move, the Prime Minister Theresa May went

0:01:40 > 0:01:43to the Upper Chamber to listen to the start of the debate.

0:01:43 > 0:01:47It was the second reading of the EU Notification of Withdrawal Bill.

0:01:47 > 0:01:49Technically that means a general discussion

0:01:49 > 0:01:57on the principles of the Bill.

0:01:57 > 0:02:00But as the Bill is short and narrow in scope,

0:02:00 > 0:02:02the debate ranged over wider territory - the pros and cons

0:02:02 > 0:02:05of Brexit, possible amendments to the Bill and the role

0:02:05 > 0:02:06of the House of Lords.

0:02:06 > 0:02:08The Government is determined to trigger Article 50 by the 31st

0:02:08 > 0:02:11of March in order to deliver on the decision of the British

0:02:11 > 0:02:14people, the bill before us is a procedural part

0:02:14 > 0:02:17of that withdrawal process.

0:02:17 > 0:02:20I welcome the constructive tone we have heard from the opposition

0:02:20 > 0:02:23that they will not seek to frustrate this process while of course

0:02:23 > 0:02:25undertaking the scrutiny role we are here to perform.

0:02:25 > 0:02:27We will not be threatened into not fulfilling our normal

0:02:27 > 0:02:30constitutional role.

0:02:30 > 0:02:35And neither will we be goaded into acting irresponsibly.

0:02:35 > 0:02:45We have to have a serious and responsible debate.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49In doing so, if we ask the House of Commons to look again

0:02:49 > 0:02:52at an issue, it is not a constitutional outrage

0:02:52 > 0:02:53but a constitutional responsibility.

0:02:53 > 0:02:55There is a world of difference between blocking the bill

0:02:55 > 0:03:02and seeking to amend it.

0:03:02 > 0:03:04So, my Lords, if we clearly have the power were to amend

0:03:04 > 0:03:07the bill, should we positively seek to do so?

0:03:07 > 0:03:15My Lords, I believe that we should.

0:03:15 > 0:03:17There is a respectable argument, which other noble and learned Lords

0:03:17 > 0:03:20may say something about later in this debate, that only

0:03:20 > 0:03:23Parliament by legislation has the constitutional authority

0:03:23 > 0:03:27to authorise the concluding of an agreement with the EU

0:03:27 > 0:03:29or the act of withdrawal if that is what the Government

0:03:29 > 0:03:33decides that it has to do.

0:03:33 > 0:03:39As is well known, I was a Remainer, not because of my pension rights

0:03:39 > 0:03:41but because I am a patriot.

0:03:41 > 0:03:43A patriot rather than a nationalist.

0:03:43 > 0:03:48There is no greater nonsense than the claim that in the absence

0:03:48 > 0:03:51of a trade agreement with the EU we shall be falling

0:03:51 > 0:03:53off a cliff edge.

0:03:53 > 0:03:55There is no cliff edge for the simple reason

0:03:55 > 0:03:59that there is no cliff.

0:03:59 > 0:04:01Absent of trade agreement with the EU, we shall continue

0:04:01 > 0:04:11to trade with our former partners but on WTO terms.

0:04:12 > 0:04:15Some Lords may be unaware that the UK already does far more

0:04:15 > 0:04:17trade with the rest of the world than it does with

0:04:17 > 0:04:19the rest of the EU.

0:04:19 > 0:04:21And the gap is widening with every year that passes.

0:04:21 > 0:04:23And the overwhelming bulk of our trade with the rest

0:04:23 > 0:04:28of the world is on the WTO terms.

0:04:28 > 0:04:31That was day one of the Lords debate on the Brexit Bill.

0:04:31 > 0:04:33To accommodate everyone who wanted to speak,

0:04:33 > 0:04:38the Lords had an early start the following day.

0:04:38 > 0:04:41I made my maiden speech in the House of Commons in 1972

0:04:41 > 0:04:43in favour of our membership of the European Union

0:04:43 > 0:04:51on the European Communities Third Reading Act.

0:04:51 > 0:04:54I little dreamt that 45 years later I would be standing up and actually

0:04:54 > 0:04:56advocating the reverse procedure, namely that we should withdraw

0:04:56 > 0:05:01from the organisation I advocated joining.

0:05:01 > 0:05:08But it's not me who changed but, I think, Europe

0:05:08 > 0:05:11But it's not me who changed but, I think, Europe,

0:05:11 > 0:05:13as was symbolised in its change of name from the European

0:05:13 > 0:05:15Economic Community, to the European Community,

0:05:15 > 0:05:16finally to the European Union.

0:05:16 > 0:05:18It was only in 1965 that President Johnson gave

0:05:18 > 0:05:25the African Americans the vote in America.

0:05:25 > 0:05:29In 50-100 years' time, when people come to look at this

0:05:29 > 0:05:34debate here they will be equally shocked and surprised that

0:05:34 > 0:05:38until 2016 this country, Britain, was still contracting out its laws

0:05:38 > 0:05:41to be made by people we did not elect, we did not

0:05:41 > 0:05:47know and could not sack.

0:05:47 > 0:05:50My lords, the time for pay and obey is done.

0:05:50 > 0:05:57Not before time.

0:05:57 > 0:06:01History will record what each of us does and our children

0:06:01 > 0:06:03and grandchildren will ask, what did you do when

0:06:03 > 0:06:04this was decided?

0:06:04 > 0:06:07What did you do at this crucial, crucial junction?

0:06:07 > 0:06:08Were you shackled by convention, fearful

0:06:08 > 0:06:10you were going to be abolished?

0:06:10 > 0:06:13Did you dance to the tune of the Daily Mail?

0:06:13 > 0:06:16Or did you stand up for principal and posterity and the values

0:06:16 > 0:06:20of tolerance and inclusion and for the interests

0:06:20 > 0:06:22of our young and, in fact, for the neglected communities

0:06:22 > 0:06:25in our midst?

0:06:25 > 0:06:28I will support vital amendments and if they're not accepted I'm

0:06:28 > 0:06:31going to vote against this bill.

0:06:31 > 0:06:34This House should be urging a rethink on this whole project.

0:06:34 > 0:06:42This House should be saying, not in our name.

0:06:42 > 0:06:44Lord Pannick is the lawyer who led the Brexit case

0:06:44 > 0:06:48against the Government in the Supreme Court.

0:06:48 > 0:06:51It's for us to scrutinise a bill enormous importance

0:06:51 > 0:06:57to the future of this country.

0:06:57 > 0:07:02And I think that this bill requires amendment and it requires amendment

0:07:02 > 0:07:03in particular to ensure parliamentary sovereignty

0:07:03 > 0:07:13as the process of withdrawal occurs over the next two years.

0:07:13 > 0:07:16One has to ask why those who base their arguments for Brexit

0:07:16 > 0:07:23on the will of the people are now opposed to consulting the people

0:07:23 > 0:07:26on the outcome of the negotiations.

0:07:26 > 0:07:29One has to suspect that they fear that they will get

0:07:29 > 0:07:33a different answer.

0:07:33 > 0:07:36If so, we ought to know.

0:07:36 > 0:07:39The Lords will now start debating amendments to the Bill.

0:07:39 > 0:07:41They include proposals to give EU citizens in the UK

0:07:41 > 0:07:46the right to remain, a legal commitment to

0:07:46 > 0:07:48a parliamentary vote to approve any deal reached with the EU

0:07:48 > 0:07:53and a referendum on any final deal.

0:07:53 > 0:07:56I discussed these amendments - as well as the wider

0:07:56 > 0:07:58challenges facing the Lords - with two former Members

0:07:58 > 0:07:59of the European Parliament.

0:07:59 > 0:08:00The Liberal Democrat Baroness Ludford and

0:08:00 > 0:08:01the Conservative Lord Callanan.

0:08:01 > 0:08:04I asked Lord Callanan if he could support an amendment

0:08:04 > 0:08:08on rights for EU citizens.

0:08:08 > 0:08:10No, I wouldn't support an amendment on that.

0:08:10 > 0:08:13And the reason is that the Government have already tried

0:08:13 > 0:08:15to get this agreed by the European Council.

0:08:15 > 0:08:18Of course we want to be concerned about EU nationals here but we also

0:08:18 > 0:08:20want to be concerned about the 2 million British

0:08:20 > 0:08:22nationals that are living in other EU member states.

0:08:22 > 0:08:26And there is a reciprocity here.

0:08:26 > 0:08:28The Government already proposed this in the council,

0:08:28 > 0:08:30saying, look, you know, can we get this agreed?

0:08:30 > 0:08:33And a couple of member states, France and Germany, said, no,

0:08:33 > 0:08:36we have to leave it for the start of the negotiations.

0:08:36 > 0:08:39So a unilateral move from the UK side to say, well, actually,

0:08:39 > 0:08:40we'll just grant this, without any converse

0:08:40 > 0:08:42agreement for UK citizens, risks the whole thing

0:08:42 > 0:08:44being forgotten about and shoved away and uncertainty

0:08:44 > 0:08:46continuing for UK citizens.

0:08:46 > 0:08:49Whereas if we say nothing about it, if we leave it for the start

0:08:49 > 0:08:52of the negotiations, then I very much suspect it will be

0:08:52 > 0:08:55the first thing agreed and everybody will be happy but a pre-emptive move

0:08:55 > 0:08:58on this could disadvantage those of our own UK citizens

0:08:58 > 0:09:01who are in other European countries.

0:09:01 > 0:09:03That's not what the groups representing Brits in other

0:09:03 > 0:09:04EU countries believe.

0:09:04 > 0:09:06They believe it's important to kick-start the process,

0:09:06 > 0:09:11to have a catalyst by the UK Government taking the first move.

0:09:11 > 0:09:14It's perfectly reasonable for the other EU countries to say

0:09:14 > 0:09:20that everything has to be actually negotiated under the same umbrella.

0:09:20 > 0:09:22Of course it's unrealistic.

0:09:22 > 0:09:25The Government is searching for a figleaf about why it

0:09:25 > 0:09:27won't offer this unilateral guarantee and it does not

0:09:27 > 0:09:29undermine Brits abroad.

0:09:29 > 0:09:31Partly because the really politically difficult

0:09:31 > 0:09:37argument is in this country.

0:09:37 > 0:09:43You don't hear the same sort of noises against Brits exercising

0:09:43 > 0:09:44their free movement rights in other countries.

0:09:44 > 0:09:47Well, I don't think we have consensus on that front.

0:09:47 > 0:09:49Could we get consensus on whether there should be

0:09:49 > 0:09:50a parliamentary vote on any final deal?

0:09:50 > 0:09:54People like Lord Butler, Lord Pannick have suggested that

0:09:54 > 0:09:57might in fact be the legal route to go down, that that would protect

0:09:57 > 0:09:59the Government from any legal challenge in future.

0:09:59 > 0:10:01Lord Callanan, could you support such an amendment

0:10:01 > 0:10:02on a parliamentary vote?

0:10:02 > 0:10:07Well, the Government have already said that there will be

0:10:07 > 0:10:10and indeed has to be a parliamentary vote on the final deal.

0:10:10 > 0:10:13The argument is about when that will take place, which will depend

0:10:13 > 0:10:16on the structure of negotiations and when everything is agreed.

0:10:16 > 0:10:18The commitment that the Government have given is that they intend

0:10:18 > 0:10:21that there will be a final vote before the European Parliament votes

0:10:21 > 0:10:24on it, once everything is agreed, and I think that should be good

0:10:24 > 0:10:25enough for other members.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28I've got a nasty suspicion that this is all part

0:10:28 > 0:10:30of the Liberal Democrats' attempt to refight the referendum,

0:10:30 > 0:10:32to delay the whole process, to stop it happening

0:10:32 > 0:10:35because they didn't agree with the result.

0:10:35 > 0:10:36Well, this is true, isn't it?

0:10:36 > 0:10:37You didn't agree.

0:10:37 > 0:10:43I'm sure the crossbenchers who are among the Leavers.

0:10:43 > 0:10:45Lord Pannick is no Liberal Democrat, as you know.

0:10:45 > 0:10:52Lord Pannick is a crossbencher.

0:10:52 > 0:10:54So are some of his other colleagues who are leading,

0:10:54 > 0:10:56Lord Hope for instance, I mean, there are distinguished

0:10:56 > 0:10:57lawyers on this.

0:10:57 > 0:11:01What the Government is offering is a sort of take it or leave it

0:11:01 > 0:11:03between this deal and no deal.

0:11:03 > 0:11:08What I think people are looking for is a much more meaningful vote,

0:11:08 > 0:11:10something that is more dynamic which would assess any deal

0:11:10 > 0:11:16that the Government came back with and if it wasn't adequate

0:11:16 > 0:11:20would send them back to have another go.

0:11:20 > 0:11:22Is this a risky time for the Lords?

0:11:22 > 0:11:25Is this the way you handle this bill going to be

0:11:25 > 0:11:26crucial to your future, your reputation,

0:11:26 > 0:11:31to your existence even?

0:11:31 > 0:11:32There was a threat of abolition.

0:11:32 > 0:11:33I hope not.

0:11:33 > 0:11:35There have been a few noises off.

0:11:35 > 0:11:37The Prime Minister demonstrated how seriously she takes the house

0:11:37 > 0:11:41by coming for the opening speeches on Monday and nobody officially

0:11:41 > 0:11:43has said there is any threat to the Lords.

0:11:43 > 0:11:45The Lords has a proper constitutional role to look, review,

0:11:45 > 0:11:48revise Government legislation, to ask the House of Commons

0:11:48 > 0:11:57to think again if necessary.

0:11:57 > 0:12:00I hope we won't do that in this case, given the importance

0:12:00 > 0:12:02of the bill and the background of the referendum.

0:12:02 > 0:12:05I suppose that's possible that one or two amendments might be passed,

0:12:05 > 0:12:08ask the House of Commons to think again, if they do and we come back

0:12:08 > 0:12:11again, I think we'd be really pushing our luck to pursue

0:12:11 > 0:12:12it any further.

0:12:12 > 0:12:14You could agree with some of that, didn't you?

0:12:14 > 0:12:15Absolutely.

0:12:15 > 0:12:17Yes, he's made the case, really.

0:12:17 > 0:12:19There's been a lot of huffing and puffing, just as there

0:12:19 > 0:12:21was over the tax credits, which eventually

0:12:21 > 0:12:22absolutely collapsed.

0:12:22 > 0:12:24The Government just...

0:12:24 > 0:12:27The Lords knows its constitutional limits, it also knows

0:12:27 > 0:12:31its constitutional duty and powers, which are to scrutinise, to call

0:12:31 > 0:12:35the Government to account and, if amendments are passed,

0:12:35 > 0:12:37to ask the Commons, hopefully with a rather persuasive voice,

0:12:37 > 0:12:41to look again, to think again.

0:12:41 > 0:12:45Are you saying that if the Commons reject any Lords amendments then

0:12:45 > 0:12:47you will give in at that stage?

0:12:47 > 0:12:50I can't predict what is going to happen in the process.

0:12:50 > 0:12:54OK.

0:12:54 > 0:12:56We are talking about reputation.

0:12:56 > 0:12:58Next week, there will be a documentary, Meet The Lords,

0:12:58 > 0:13:01in which Baroness D'Souza is making fairly serious claims about

0:13:01 > 0:13:02allowances and how they claimed.

0:13:02 > 0:13:04I wonder if we can have a look at a clip.

0:13:30 > 0:13:32There is a core of peers who work incredibly hard who do that work,

0:13:32 > 0:13:34and there are, sad to say, many, many, many peers

0:13:34 > 0:13:38There is a core of peers who work incredibly hard who do that work,

0:13:38 > 0:13:40and there are, sad to say, many, many, many peers

0:13:40 > 0:13:43who do absolutely nothing but who claim the full allowance.

0:13:43 > 0:13:45I can remember one occasion when I was leaving the House quite

0:13:45 > 0:13:48late, and there was a peer, who shall be utterly nameless,

0:13:48 > 0:13:50who jumped out of taxi just outside the peers entrance,

0:13:50 > 0:13:52and left the engine running.

0:13:52 > 0:13:54And he ran in, presumably, to show that he had attended,

0:13:54 > 0:13:57and then ran out again while the taxi was still running.

0:13:57 > 0:13:58OK, you both are hard-working peers.

0:13:58 > 0:14:01Are you aware of other peers turning up briefly just to claim ?300

0:14:02 > 0:14:05in allowance and then going home?

0:14:05 > 0:14:07No is the answer to your question.

0:14:07 > 0:14:10I think if that is the case, then Baroness D'Souza should name

0:14:10 > 0:14:11the person responsible.

0:14:11 > 0:14:13It's all very well to make allegations, but she said that

0:14:13 > 0:14:15person should be utterly nameless, it should be named,

0:14:15 > 0:14:19let's find out who it is, and find out if this is going on,

0:14:19 > 0:14:20because I think it is unacceptable.

0:14:20 > 0:14:23How do you feel, seeing that clip and hearing that allegation?

0:14:23 > 0:14:25Well, obviously, I don't like anything that apparently brings

0:14:25 > 0:14:27the Lords into disrepute, and I'm a little bit surprised

0:14:27 > 0:14:29because Baroness D'Souza was Lord Speaker, and on quite

0:14:29 > 0:14:32the prized if she felt that these things were happening

0:14:32 > 0:14:34that they weren't followed up with the right

0:14:34 > 0:14:35authorities or whatever.

0:14:35 > 0:14:35Lord Callanan and Baroness Ludford, thank you for your time.

0:14:37 > 0:14:38The ongoing debate on Brexit.

0:14:38 > 0:14:41Also high on the agenda this week - the prospective State Visit

0:14:41 > 0:14:43to the UK by the American President Donald Trump.

0:14:43 > 0:14:461.8 million people signed a petition objecting to the visit -

0:14:46 > 0:14:47enough to trigger a debate in Parliament.

0:14:47 > 0:14:50As MPs launched into a feisty exchange of views, there

0:14:50 > 0:14:52was a protest outside in Parliament Square.

0:14:52 > 0:14:53Protestors urged politicians to withdraw the invitation

0:14:53 > 0:14:54to Donald Trump.

0:14:54 > 0:14:57At times, their chants could be heard inside Westminster Hall.

0:14:57 > 0:14:59The anti-Trump petition wasn't the only one on the table.

0:14:59 > 0:15:00A counter petition supporting the visit

0:15:00 > 0:15:02mustered 300,000 signatures.

0:15:02 > 0:15:05And for three hours MPs argued the issue.

0:15:05 > 0:15:08Only two residents of the United States have been granted

0:15:08 > 0:15:09a state visit since 1952.

0:15:09 > 0:15:15It is extraordinary that that is the situation

0:15:15 > 0:15:19but here we have a position where seven days into his

0:15:19 > 0:15:22presidency, he is invited to have the full pageantry

0:15:22 > 0:15:24of a state visit.

0:15:24 > 0:15:26Extraordinary.

0:15:26 > 0:15:27Completely unprecedented.

0:15:27 > 0:15:29The fact is that there was 61 million people

0:15:29 > 0:15:33who voted for Donald Trump, and where do we stand up in this

0:15:33 > 0:15:37country and condemn him for being racist, and I have seen no

0:15:37 > 0:15:46evidence of that,...

0:15:46 > 0:15:55I have seen no evidence of him being racist,

0:15:55 > 0:15:58or that they attack him in an unseemly way.

0:15:58 > 0:15:59They are actually attacking the American people.

0:15:59 > 0:16:05The 61 million people who voted for Donald Trump.

0:16:05 > 0:16:07I want to remind the chamber that there are many African-Americans

0:16:07 > 0:16:09in America sitting at home in fear.

0:16:09 > 0:16:12They are concerned about a president that has had the support

0:16:12 > 0:16:14of the Ku Klux Klan.

0:16:14 > 0:16:16They are concerned about a president that has

0:16:16 > 0:16:20welcomed white supremacists.

0:16:20 > 0:16:23It is a term that we hoped would almost fall into history.

0:16:23 > 0:16:33Mr Trump is not my sort of conservative.

0:16:33 > 0:16:35I really have nothing in common with him.

0:16:35 > 0:16:38But I will say that let us look at one of his comments.

0:16:39 > 0:16:40The charge of misogyny.

0:16:40 > 0:16:43I mean, of course what he said, what he was reported to have said

0:16:43 > 0:16:45in a private conversation was absolutely horrible

0:16:45 > 0:16:46and ridiculous.

0:16:46 > 0:16:48But which one of us has not made some ridiculous sexual comment,

0:16:48 > 0:16:49sometime in our past.

0:16:49 > 0:16:51Well, in private, you know...

0:16:51 > 0:16:53Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

0:16:53 > 0:16:54All right?

0:16:54 > 0:16:57Listen carefully and you will hear the thousands of people outside

0:16:57 > 0:17:01right now, outside this House, saying they do not want on Trump

0:17:01 > 0:17:05to becoming in to this country on the royal state visit.

0:17:05 > 0:17:11We have a duty to listen to these people, to give them a voice,

0:17:11 > 0:17:14and if people from the Trump administration are listening,

0:17:14 > 0:17:17this is not fake news.

0:17:17 > 0:17:21These people that are protesting outside, these are not alternative

0:17:21 > 0:17:25facts, these are real protests from British people who do not

0:17:25 > 0:17:27want to give him a royal visit.

0:17:27 > 0:17:29The Commons Speaker John Bercow raised a few eyebrows

0:17:29 > 0:17:32when he announced that he would oppose any attempt to allow Donald

0:17:32 > 0:17:34Trump to address Mps in Parliament.

0:17:34 > 0:17:40That intervention sparked a mini-campaign to oust the Speaker.

0:17:40 > 0:17:43A Conservative, James Duddridge, has tabled a no confidence motion.

0:17:43 > 0:17:45So far, five MPs have put their names to it.

0:17:45 > 0:17:48Undaunted Mr Duddridge raised it with the Speaker.

0:17:48 > 0:17:54Point of order, Mr James Duddridge.

0:17:54 > 0:17:57Thank you, Mr Speaker, for seeing me, and granting a point of order.

0:17:57 > 0:17:59And notwithstanding, Mr Speaker, the underwhelming support

0:17:59 > 0:18:04for my vote of no-confidence in you, has the government or indeed

0:18:04 > 0:18:08the Backbench Business Committee contacted you in any way to allocate

0:18:08 > 0:18:12time for this unresolved matter to be debated and indeed voted on?

0:18:12 > 0:18:15The short answer is no, and there is absolutely no reason

0:18:15 > 0:18:18why they should have done, a point which I can say

0:18:18 > 0:18:21from my own head and heart, fortified in the knowledge

0:18:21 > 0:18:26that it is also the sound advice of the experienced clerk

0:18:26 > 0:18:29of the House who has been working in the service of the

0:18:29 > 0:18:31House for 40 years.

0:18:31 > 0:18:34Now, for a quick round-up of a few other stories in Westminster.

0:18:34 > 0:18:37The Home Affairs Committee is investigating the Government's

0:18:37 > 0:18:40decision to close a scheme giving sanctuary to lone child

0:18:40 > 0:18:42refugees from Europe.

0:18:42 > 0:18:44We are very disappointed that the Dubbs scheme has closed.

0:18:44 > 0:18:47We would like the Dubbs scheme to remain open and to remain safe

0:18:47 > 0:18:51and legal route for unaccompanied child refugees who are in Europe

0:18:51 > 0:18:54to seek sanctuary in the UK.

0:18:54 > 0:18:57I think the impact we have seen of the closure and some

0:18:57 > 0:19:01of the confusion around what has been going on is quite severe.

0:19:01 > 0:19:04The Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid said he understood how it felt

0:19:04 > 0:19:07to face higher business rate bills.

0:19:07 > 0:19:43He promised more support for businesses in next month's Budget.

0:19:43 > 0:19:44Now, growing up above the family shop, I saw myself the impact

0:19:44 > 0:19:44He promised more support for businesses in next month's Budget.

0:19:44 > 0:19:45Now, growing up above the family shop, I saw myself the impact

0:19:45 > 0:19:46He promised more support for businesses in next month's Budget.

0:19:46 > 0:19:55Now, growing up above the family shop, I saw myself the impact

0:20:00 > 0:20:03And, calls to limit investigations into claims against British veterans

0:20:03 > 0:20:04who served in Northern Ireland.

0:20:04 > 0:20:07MPs say cases should only proceed if new evidence is uncovered.

0:20:07 > 0:20:09It is wrong that our veterans are sitting at home,

0:20:09 > 0:20:11wondering if perhaps a third or fourth investigation is now

0:20:11 > 0:20:14going to take place into their case simply because some hot,

0:20:14 > 0:20:16fast-thinking, make-a-quick-buck human rights lawyer in Belfast

0:20:16 > 0:20:18thinks it is a good idea to reopen this case.

0:20:18 > 0:20:21A fortnight ago, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sprang a surprise

0:20:21 > 0:20:22on Theresa May at Prime Minister's Questions.

0:20:22 > 0:20:25He read out leaked text messages which - he said -

0:20:25 > 0:20:28indicated the Government had offered Surrey County Council a special deal

0:20:28 > 0:20:29to fund social care.

0:20:29 > 0:20:31His remarks were widely reported and the Department

0:20:31 > 0:20:33for Local Government spent that day rejecting the assertions.

0:20:33 > 0:20:35At the latest session of PMQs, Mr Corbyn returned

0:20:35 > 0:20:36to the same territory.

0:20:36 > 0:20:38Two weeks ago, we found out about the sweetheart

0:20:38 > 0:20:39deal with Tory Surrey.

0:20:39 > 0:20:42When will the other 151 social services departments in England get

0:20:42 > 0:20:48the same as the Surrey deal?

0:20:51 > 0:20:52SPEAKER: Prime Minister.

0:20:52 > 0:20:55The right honourable gentleman refers to the questions he asked me

0:20:55 > 0:20:57about Surrey County Council two weeks ago.

0:20:57 > 0:20:59Those claims were utterly destroyed the same afternoon.

0:20:59 > 0:21:03So, rather than asking the same question, he should

0:21:03 > 0:21:08stand up and apologise.

0:21:08 > 0:21:11Her government has put the NHS and social care

0:21:11 > 0:21:13in a state of emergency.

0:21:13 > 0:21:21Nine out of ten NHS Trusts are unsafe.

0:21:21 > 0:21:2618,000 patients a week are waiting.

0:21:26 > 0:21:29Mr Speaker, I repeat the figure.

0:21:29 > 0:21:3418,000 patients a week are waiting on trolleys

0:21:34 > 0:21:35in our hospital corridors.

0:21:35 > 0:21:38We need a government that puts the NHS first

0:21:38 > 0:21:44and will invest in our NHS.

0:21:44 > 0:21:49First of all, I have to say to the right honourable gentleman

0:21:49 > 0:21:53that he should consider correcting the record because 54% of hospital

0:21:53 > 0:21:57trusts are considered good or outstanding.

0:21:57 > 0:22:01Quite different from the figure he has shown.

0:22:01 > 0:22:07Secondly, I will take no lessons on the NHS from the party...

0:22:07 > 0:22:10From the party...

0:22:10 > 0:22:14Oh, the deputy leader of the Labour Party says we should

0:22:14 > 0:22:17take lessons for the NHS.

0:22:17 > 0:22:21I won't take any lessons from the party that presided over

0:22:21 > 0:22:27Mid Staffs hospital.

0:22:27 > 0:22:29Jamal al-Harith - a British citizen -

0:22:29 > 0:22:32was held as a terror suspect in Guantanano Bay in 2002

0:22:32 > 0:22:36after the US forces seized him in Pakistan.

0:22:36 > 0:22:42He was released in 2004.

0:22:42 > 0:22:45The Daily Mail has claimed that the British Government gave him

0:22:45 > 0:22:46?1 million in compensation.

0:22:46 > 0:22:47His family has denied the claim.

0:22:47 > 0:22:50Jamal al-Harith subsequently joined the so-called Islamic State group

0:22:50 > 0:22:52and last week he carried out a suicide attack at

0:22:52 > 0:22:54an army base in Iraq.

0:22:54 > 0:22:57The Home Office was called to the Commons to make a statement.

0:22:57 > 0:23:00But the Minister couldn't say very much about the case.

0:23:00 > 0:23:01Everyone understands that there will be information

0:23:01 > 0:23:03that cannot be revealed because of intelligence reasons.

0:23:03 > 0:23:06However, he has provided far too little information

0:23:06 > 0:23:09about such a serious case.

0:23:09 > 0:23:13Can he confirm whether Mr al-Harith was made any payment?

0:23:13 > 0:23:17And also notwithstanding subsequent welcome legislation which had

0:23:17 > 0:23:21cross-party support to tighten the law, would he agree that people

0:23:21 > 0:23:25across the country will feel sickened at the idea of large

0:23:25 > 0:23:29payments being made to someone who may have been involved

0:23:29 > 0:23:32in serious terrorist activity?

0:23:32 > 0:23:34Like her and my constituents, we will be outraged and disappointed

0:23:34 > 0:23:37by the sums of money that have been paid.

0:23:37 > 0:23:40But the sums of money that have been paid and been

0:23:40 > 0:23:44reported to have been paid, I can't comment on the individual

0:23:44 > 0:23:47cases, and unlike former Home Secretarys, the government

0:23:47 > 0:23:51is bound by its legal obligation that it has made, and we cannot

0:23:51 > 0:23:54break those legal commitments.

0:23:54 > 0:23:58But I can say that some of the vulnerability that led us

0:23:58 > 0:24:02to have to pay those damages occurred when she was a member

0:24:02 > 0:24:07of the Labour government, and when those individuals brought

0:24:07 > 0:24:09claims against us.

0:24:09 > 0:24:12Let's take a look at what's been happening in the wider world

0:24:12 > 0:24:13of politics this week.

0:24:13 > 0:24:16With our countdown, here's Julia Butler.

0:24:21 > 0:24:24Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson appeared to perform a dab at PMQs

0:24:24 > 0:24:28this week to congratulate Jeremy Corbyn after his exchanges

0:24:29 > 0:24:31with the Prime Minister.

0:24:31 > 0:24:34The dance craze originates on the US hip-hop scene.

0:24:37 > 0:24:39Former Employment Secretary Lord Tebbit was given a taste

0:24:39 > 0:24:42of his own medicine as he lambasted cycle lanes in London.

0:24:42 > 0:24:44Labour peer Lord Hunt gave the former Cabinet minister

0:24:44 > 0:24:50a piece of his mind.

0:24:50 > 0:24:53You can't even watch the BRIT Awards to escape from politics.

0:24:53 > 0:24:55US singer Katy Perry's performance featured dancing white houses

0:24:55 > 0:24:59and two puppets trust to look like Donald Trump and Theresa May.

0:24:59 > 0:25:02Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson confessed it was the victim

0:25:02 > 0:25:03of mistaken identity during a recent visit to Newcastle.

0:25:03 > 0:25:11I was mistaken for Mr Trump in, I think, Newcastle.

0:25:11 > 0:25:15A very humbling experience it was, as you can imagine.

0:25:15 > 0:25:18And, next week, will have two new MPs in a double

0:25:18 > 0:25:20by-election bill as Labour hold Stoke-on-Trent Central

0:25:20 > 0:25:22while the Tories snatched Copeland.

0:25:28 > 0:25:30Julia Butler reporting.

0:25:30 > 0:25:33And that's it from me for now, but do join Alicia McCarthy

0:25:34 > 0:25:36on Monday night at 11pm for a roundup of the day

0:25:36 > 0:25:37here at Westminster.

0:25:37 > 0:25:40But from me, Kristiina Cooper, goodbye.