0:00:19 > 0:00:21Hello and welcome to the Week In Parliament.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23It's pressure on the NHS which dominates the week.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26The Labour leader mocks Theresa May.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30We know that the Prime Minister recognises there is a crisis
0:00:30 > 0:00:33in our NHS, because she wanted to sack the Health Secretary last
0:00:33 > 0:00:37week but was too weak to do it.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41The Prime Minister defends her health policy.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Preparations for winter in the NHS have been more extensive
0:00:44 > 0:00:48and meticulous than ever before.
0:00:48 > 0:00:58And is the head of the energy regulator OFGEM just too laid back?
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Do you ever roll your sleeves up and really get stuck in,
0:01:02 > 0:01:04because I don't really see the evidence of that.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05But first...
0:01:05 > 0:01:07The Government called it winter pressures,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09the opposition called it a winter crisis.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11New figures showed that last month 300,000 people had to wait longer
0:01:11 > 0:01:13than they should have at Accident and Emergency
0:01:13 > 0:01:14departments in England.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16These were the worst figures since the targets
0:01:16 > 0:01:17were introduced in 2004.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21The Labour leader led the attack at Prime Minister's Questions.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Mr Speaker, I know it seems a long time ago,
0:01:25 > 0:01:32I know it seems a long time ago but just before Christmas I asked
0:01:32 > 0:01:35the Prime Minister about the 12,000 people left waiting more than half
0:01:35 > 0:01:37an hour in the back of an ambulance at accident
0:01:37 > 0:01:41and emergency departments.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44She told the House the NHS was better prepared
0:01:44 > 0:01:51for winter than ever before.
0:01:51 > 0:01:59So what words of comfort does the Prime Minister have to
0:01:59 > 0:02:01the 17,000 patients left waiting in the back of ambulances
0:02:01 > 0:02:03in the last week of December?
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Is it that nothing is perfect by any chance?
0:02:05 > 0:02:08I fully accept that the NHS is under pressure over winter,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12it is regularly under pressure at winter times.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16I have been very, I have been very clear, I apologise to those people
0:02:16 > 0:02:19who have had operations delayed and those people who have had
0:02:19 > 0:02:20admissions to hospital delayed.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23But it is indeed the case that the NHS was better prepared
0:02:23 > 0:02:25this winter than ever before.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28We know the Prime Minister recognises there is a crisis
0:02:28 > 0:02:31in our NHS because she wanted to sack the Health Secretary last
0:02:31 > 0:02:39week but was too weak to do it.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42And if the NHS is so well resourced and so well-prepared,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45why was the decision taken last week to cancel the operations
0:02:45 > 0:02:54of 55,000 patients during the month of January?
0:02:54 > 0:03:00This is what NHS providers said only last week.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Preparations for winter in the NHS have been more extensive
0:03:02 > 0:03:07and meticulous than ever before.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09The Health Secretary said that the government wanted to be
0:03:09 > 0:03:15the best in the world for cancer diagnosis, treatment and care.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20Today, according to a memo from the head of chemotherapy
0:03:20 > 0:03:22at Oxford Churchill Hospital, terminally ill cancer patients
0:03:22 > 0:03:25will have their chemotherapy cut because of a massive shortfall
0:03:25 > 0:03:29in specialist nurses.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Will the Prime Minister apologise to cancer
0:03:31 > 0:03:36patients and their families for this appalling situation?
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I say to the honourable lady that the trust has made clear
0:03:39 > 0:03:43there are no plans to delay the start of chemotherapy treatment
0:03:43 > 0:03:48or reduce the number of cycles given to cancer patients.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52What Simon Stevens has said is happening is that,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56over the past three years, the highest cancer survival rates
0:03:56 > 0:03:58ever, and latest figures show an estimated 7000 more people
0:03:58 > 0:04:00surviving cancer, after successful NHS cancer treatment compared
0:04:00 > 0:04:07to three years prior.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11With record funding, our NHS is doing more than ever,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15but when the UK is in the bottom third of countries for heart attack
0:04:15 > 0:04:23deaths, when we have significantly worse survival for strokes
0:04:23 > 0:04:25than France and Germany, and when our closest match
0:04:25 > 0:04:30for cancer survival is Chile and Poland, isn't it time
0:04:30 > 0:04:33to act across this house, back this week by the Centre
0:04:33 > 0:04:35for Policy Studies, to establish a royal commission
0:04:35 > 0:04:37on health and social care, in the 70th anniversary year
0:04:37 > 0:04:41of our most cherished national institution?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44My honourable friend is right that we need to continue to look
0:04:44 > 0:04:49at the NHS and ensure that we are continuing
0:04:49 > 0:04:53to improve the performance in a variety of areas.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55And the NHS remained firmly on the agenda on Wednesday afternoon
0:04:55 > 0:04:57when Labour used an opposition debate to highlight
0:04:57 > 0:05:02the strain winter was placing on the health service.
0:05:02 > 0:05:08This is not just a winter crisis - it is an all-year-round funding
0:05:08 > 0:05:12crisis, a year-round staffing crisis, a year-round social care
0:05:12 > 0:05:17crisis and a year-round health inequality crisis,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21manufactured in Downing Street by this Government.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23The truth is that doctors and nurses have lost confidence in him,
0:05:23 > 0:05:29patients have lost confidence in him, and it seems
0:05:29 > 0:05:31the Prime Minister has lost confidence in him.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34He fights for his own job, but he will not fight for the NHS.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Our patients are crying out for change.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40It is a big deal for patients who are told that their planned
0:05:40 > 0:05:43procedure is to be postponed.
0:05:43 > 0:05:51No one minimises the distress that that causes, but last year
0:05:51 > 0:05:59and in previous winters operations were cancelled at the last moment,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01which is much more distressing and challenging for hospitals
0:06:01 > 0:06:09to plan around.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16This Government have put in an extra £437 million specifically
0:06:16 > 0:06:22for the winter period?
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Would he not at least give the Government credit for that
0:06:25 > 0:06:30planning, which we have never seen before?
0:06:30 > 0:06:32All of us recognise that this is a particularly tough winter
0:06:32 > 0:06:37because there has been an outbreak of flu on top of a bad freeze.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41I point out to those who think the worst is past that the flu
0:06:41 > 0:06:44season lasts until March and at the moment this
0:06:44 > 0:06:47is an outbreak, not an epidemic, but it comes on top of underlying
0:06:47 > 0:06:54pressures, and across the four nations this has involved staff
0:06:54 > 0:06:58having to go above and beyond the call of duty.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02One of the real problems is the absence of any
0:07:02 > 0:07:05acknowledgement from Ministers of the huge knock-on effect that
0:07:05 > 0:07:15rescheduling a whole month s operations will have.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19It will simply mean that existing patients who are already
0:07:19 > 0:07:21on the waiting list will have to wait even longer, too,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24and it will be very, very difficult to bring that list
0:07:24 > 0:07:25back down.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Labour's motion condemning government spending on the NHS
0:07:27 > 0:07:29was later passed unopposed, as Conservative MPs continued
0:07:29 > 0:07:32their tactic of abstaining on opposition motions.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Another big announcement of the week was the Prime Minister's pledge
0:07:36 > 0:07:39to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42She made the commitment after tramping around
0:07:42 > 0:07:43a wetland centre in London.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47The strategy is part of the Government's 25-year plan
0:07:47 > 0:07:49for England to improve the natural environment.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53The amount of plastic in the oceans has caused an outcry.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54The new measures include urging supermarkets to introduce
0:07:54 > 0:07:57"plastic-free" aisles, while taxes and charges
0:07:57 > 0:08:03on single-use items such as takeaway containers will be considered.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The issue seemed to be the talk of Parliament on Thursday.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08In the Commons, a Labour MP complained it was
0:08:08 > 0:08:15a long time coming.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19This UK Government has finally got around to bunching is 25 year plan
0:08:19 > 0:08:23catching up with the Welsh Labour government on the rustic bag levy
0:08:23 > 0:08:31just six years later. This plan lacks substance is full of missed
0:08:31 > 0:08:35opportunities, weak proposals and no laws. It is not innovative, not
0:08:35 > 0:08:38radical and it is a cheap attempt by this Prime Minister of rebranding
0:08:38 > 0:08:44the Tories green wash. Will the Government commit to making a
0:08:44 > 0:08:50statement on this plan in this House to allow for proper scrutiny?I am
0:08:50 > 0:08:53disappointed she is is a little churlish to what we are sickened to
0:08:53 > 0:08:58do. There are some issues across the House we can unite and do what is
0:08:58 > 0:09:03right for future generations. I would really caution her to learn
0:09:03 > 0:09:06more information as to what is being decided. I'm sure it will be
0:09:06 > 0:09:10discussed at length across the House in the forthcoming business and she
0:09:10 > 0:09:13will learn more today I hope and more in the future as well.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15During a debate on forestry, the Chair of the Environment
0:09:15 > 0:09:19Committee, said he had "much enthusiasm" for the plan.
0:09:19 > 0:09:25I think what I want to see now is a practical application on how we are
0:09:25 > 0:09:30going to meet these goals because if you want to change and
0:09:30 > 0:09:35environmental, financial regulation in banking, you change financial
0:09:35 > 0:09:37regulation in banking and that fixes hopefully the problem. If they
0:09:37 > 0:09:43actually say aye want to plant millions of trees you physically
0:09:43 > 0:09:47have to plant the trees and have to find the land for it and the policy
0:09:47 > 0:09:51to do it. I'm not saying we can't do it but it is how we deliver that
0:09:51 > 0:09:52into the future.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55And in the Lords, the former Chair of the Green Party said she'd been
0:09:55 > 0:10:00hoping for concrete measures, but she was disappointed.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04There was absolutely nothing new on climate change and there was no
0:10:04 > 0:10:09measures, no strong measures or suggestions for legislative change
0:10:09 > 0:10:14that could actually make a difference. And for example I just
0:10:14 > 0:10:17don't understand how the Prime Minister can claim we as a country
0:10:17 > 0:10:21are leading on climate change when she is about to give the green light
0:10:21 > 0:10:27for more fracking. We are still earning onshore wind developers. We
0:10:27 > 0:10:31are still trying to build new nuclear power stations and we are
0:10:31 > 0:10:39giving tax breaks to oil and. None of these things are going to help us
0:10:39 > 0:10:41to have a greener and safer planet.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Lady Jones.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Westminster awoke on Tuesday still ruminating on how Theresa May
0:10:45 > 0:10:46had reshuffled her cabinet pack.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48The changes may have been rather limited,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51but that didn't mean there weren't several ministers getting to grips
0:10:51 > 0:10:52with new departments.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54And there was no gentle warm-up either.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Less than 24 hours into the job, the Justice Secretary,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00David Gauke was answering questions about the decision to
0:11:00 > 0:11:03release the serial sexual offender, John Worboys.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Worboys was convicted of 19 offences and is suspected of attacking
0:11:06 > 0:11:08more than 100 women.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11But the decision by the Parole Board to free him, nine years
0:11:11 > 0:11:13after he was jailed, has raised concern
0:11:13 > 0:11:15among his victims.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17David Gauke said he'd look into the transparency surrounding
0:11:17 > 0:11:22the parole board's decision.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24I should be absolutely clear that I think that parole board should
0:11:24 > 0:11:28remain an independent body, responsible for making decisions
0:11:28 > 0:11:32about the on going risk that individuals pose
0:11:32 > 0:11:35after serving their tariff.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38But I agree with my predecessor's assessment that there is a strong
0:11:38 > 0:11:42case to review the case for transparency in the process
0:11:42 > 0:11:45for parole decisions and how victims are appropriately engaged in that
0:11:45 > 0:11:49process and consider the case for changes in policy, practice,
0:11:49 > 0:11:56or the parole board rules or other guidance or procedures,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59including the victims' code.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02It is all too clear that the victims of the vile crimes committed
0:12:02 > 0:12:07by John Worboys feel that this process has failed to do so.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09And such failings risk undermining public trust
0:12:09 > 0:12:13in our wider justice system.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18Mr Speaker, many women, both the victims and others more widely,
0:12:18 > 0:12:22will be every anxious indeed about Mr Worboys being freed.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26And the current legal restrictions on the parole board mean
0:12:26 > 0:12:29that we do not know why this decision was taken.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Some of the victims still have heard nothing
0:12:31 > 0:12:35from the victims liaison officer.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37They still don't know what the parole board terms are,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and whether this man may end up living near them.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Given that the tariff is a minimum, why does the sole test applied
0:12:45 > 0:12:47by the parole board appear to be simply whether the criminal
0:12:47 > 0:12:51still poses a risk to others?
0:12:51 > 0:12:53What has happened to the concept that the punishment
0:12:53 > 0:12:57should fit the crime?
0:12:57 > 0:13:00In his review, is he going to look explicitly not at what transparency
0:13:00 > 0:13:02there was about how decisions were being made, but how victims'
0:13:02 > 0:13:05voices were actually being heard as part of that process?
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Since the privatisation of probation in the West Midlands,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10there is one victims' officer for an area with
0:13:10 > 0:13:13three million people in it.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16So, in this review, can I ask the very welcome
0:13:16 > 0:13:21new Justice Secretary to look at what was taken away
0:13:21 > 0:13:24and potentially why an e-mail to a victim isn't enough
0:13:24 > 0:13:31when a relationship is what we used to have?
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Worboys was up prolific sex attacker for up to ten years.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36There are likely to be hundreds of victims.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41Yet in court, he showed no remorse, he dismissed his actions as banter,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44and even two years ago, he was claiming that he had done
0:13:44 > 0:13:46absolutely nothing wrong.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49So, it is impossible for people to understand how the board
0:13:49 > 0:13:53could possibly have deemed this man to be safe.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56So, would my right honourable friend agree with me that unless,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59and until the board explains publicly the rationale behind
0:13:59 > 0:14:02the decision it took, people can't possibly have
0:14:02 > 0:14:05confidence in our room and justice system.
0:14:05 > 0:14:15I completely understand the point that my honourable friend is making.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18As presently stands, the parole board is not able
0:14:18 > 0:14:20to provide in public the reasons for their decision.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22The chair of the parole board has made clear
0:14:22 > 0:14:32that he wishes that he could.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38The new Justice Secretary David Gauke.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41One of the Cabinet whose job never seemed to be
0:14:41 > 0:14:43in peril was Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46In fact she gained a new role, as Minister for Women and Equalities.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48One of the first issues to confront her in her additional
0:14:48 > 0:14:51capacity was the row about equal pay at the BBC.
0:14:51 > 0:14:52The corporation's China editor Carrie Gracie resigned
0:14:52 > 0:14:55from her post accusing the BBC "unlawful pay discrimination."
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Here in the 21st century, surely women deserve total equality.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Can the Minister tell us what steps the government is taking to make
0:15:00 > 0:15:03sure there isn't a pay gap in the civil service,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05in light of the fact that Carrie Gracie has resigned recently
0:15:05 > 0:15:09as China editor of the BBC, citing pay issues there?
0:15:09 > 0:15:15Well, I thank my honourable friend for raising such
0:15:15 > 0:15:16an important element.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It is absolutely essential that we all ensure that the equal
0:15:19 > 0:15:23pay act is enforced and much as I admire the BBC and enjoy
0:15:23 > 0:15:27listening and looking at their programmes,
0:15:27 > 0:15:29they clearly have a very serious question to answer
0:15:29 > 0:15:34here which I certainly hope they will address.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38And in terms of gender pay gap, we are committed to ensuring
0:15:38 > 0:15:41that we do address that as well, and of course, we have
0:15:41 > 0:15:42new disclosure arrangements.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Amber Rudd's predecessor as Women and Equalities Minister
0:15:44 > 0:15:47was the Education Secretary Justine Greening, who quit in the reshuffle.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49From her new position on the backbenches, she rose
0:15:49 > 0:15:50to ask her first question.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53First of all, I would like to congratulate the Home Secretary
0:15:53 > 0:15:54on her expanded role.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56I know she will do a brilliant job.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59She will know that young people, parents, and teachers think
0:15:59 > 0:16:05that it is vital in a modern internet world to see sex
0:16:05 > 0:16:12and relationships education updated.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Can she confirm that the government will push ahead
0:16:15 > 0:16:18with updating the guidance that is now so out of date but also
0:16:18 > 0:16:20if she will meet with myself, my right honourable friend
0:16:20 > 0:16:22the member for Basingstoke, and also the honourable
0:16:22 > 0:16:24member for Rotherham, to make sure we can have cross-party
0:16:24 > 0:16:26support for the work that is being undertaken?
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Can I start by thanking the Minister for the enormous good work
0:16:30 > 0:16:36she did in this role, and I will try my best to keep up
0:16:36 > 0:16:40the momentum that she has provided.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44And one of the fantastic things that she had was lead on making sure
0:16:44 > 0:16:46that sex and relationship education is going to be provided
0:16:46 > 0:16:47in all schools.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50I would be delighted to work with her to make
0:16:50 > 0:16:52sure that is the case, and also across the House,
0:16:52 > 0:16:56to make sure that the outcome we get is one that the whole House can
0:16:56 > 0:16:59support, as I know that everyone believes this is an important part.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00Amber Rudd.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02The chief executive of the energy regulator Ofgem admitted
0:17:02 > 0:17:04the organisation "should have done better" for vulnerable consumers.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Dermot Nolan was given something of a roasting
0:17:06 > 0:17:10by the Commons Business Committee.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14So, given that you accept you have a statutory duty to protect
0:17:14 > 0:17:16those vulnerable customers, do you think that...
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Well, you have effectively just admitted that you have
0:17:18 > 0:17:21failed them today.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25ball I think we have not done as well as we could have.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27You are the single most important player in the market
0:17:27 > 0:17:29because you have the most extraordinary powers
0:17:29 > 0:17:33as the regulator.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37And, yet, your testimony sounds so incredibly passive.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Do you ever just roll your sleeves up and really get stuck in?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Because I don't really see the evidence of that.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44I apologise if I seem passive.
0:17:44 > 0:17:45I honestly do not feel passive.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46I did exhibit, I think...
0:17:46 > 0:17:49As I said before, I wish we had moved earlier
0:17:49 > 0:17:50in putting the price caps in.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53What lessons have you taken from that?
0:17:53 > 0:17:55And how has that changed your behaviour?
0:17:55 > 0:17:58We are rolling up our sleeves very strongly at the moment,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01and we have been doing so over the last year, since the BMA
0:18:01 > 0:18:03finished, in terms of bringing a price cap for vulnerable
0:18:03 > 0:18:09customers, which I think is the limit.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11You have just admitted that you acted earlier.
0:18:11 > 0:18:18But the consequence of you not acting earlier has been
0:18:18 > 0:18:19that many customers, particularly vulnerable customers,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22have paid much more money than they should have done.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24I accept that and we should have moved earlier.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25Do you apologise to those customers?
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I do.
0:18:28 > 0:18:34Ofgem's chief executive.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Labour told ministers that they're rewarding failure by bailing out
0:18:36 > 0:18:38train companies that run into trouble.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41In 2014, Virgin and its partner Stagecoach signed a deal to run
0:18:41 > 0:18:42the East Coast line until 2023.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44But in November, ministers allowed the companies to withdraw
0:18:44 > 0:18:46from running the service three years early.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48The Shadow Transport Secretary condemned the move.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52In 2016, the Department for Transport set out its objectives
0:18:52 > 0:18:54for rail franchising.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58These were to encourage a flourishing, competitive passenger
0:18:58 > 0:19:03rail market which secures high performing, value for money services
0:19:03 > 0:19:08for passengers and tax payers, whilst driving cost effectiveness.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Deputy Speaker, it is clear that the department has failed
0:19:12 > 0:19:13to meet these objectives.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18The latest collapse of the East Coast franchise
0:19:18 > 0:19:21announced in November makes a mockery of the
0:19:21 > 0:19:25department's 2016 aims.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Virgin Stagecoach didn't deliver and defaulted on their contract,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33and the Secretary of State has given them a gift.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36I am grateful to my honourable friend for giving way.
0:19:36 > 0:19:46Given on the East Coast mainline that this will be the third occasion
0:19:46 > 0:19:48in just over a decade that the private contractor has
0:19:48 > 0:19:51announced that it wishes to hand back the keys,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54was it not a fundamental mistake, on the part of the government, not
0:19:54 > 0:19:56to have allowed East Coast Trains that successfully run the franchise
0:19:56 > 0:20:01for over five and a half years, paid back £1 billion
0:20:01 > 0:20:04to the Treasury, to allow carrying on its good work and instead
0:20:04 > 0:20:07ideological elite demanding that anyone could bid to run it but not
0:20:07 > 0:20:15the state owned company that had done it so successfully?
0:20:15 > 0:20:17My right honourable friend has made an absolutely perfect point,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20and it is the scene that will be consistent throughout this debate.
0:20:20 > 0:20:26I have absolutely no doubt.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Indeed, the government should have followed the example of Labour
0:20:28 > 0:20:31in 2009 when theh operator defaulted and taken the the contract back
0:20:31 > 0:20:38into the public sector.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40If a company defaults, it doesn't deserve the contract.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42That way, there would be no reward for failure,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45and other companies in the industry wouldn't expect the same treatment.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48When it came to his turn, the Transport Secretary was scathing.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50We've just heard something like 45 minutes of complete nonsense
0:20:50 > 0:20:51from the party opposite.
0:20:51 > 0:21:07I suspect it might also be unparliamentary of me
0:21:07 > 0:21:13to call him hypocritical, so I won't call him personally
0:21:13 > 0:21:16hypocritical, but I have no doubt that others in the know will be
0:21:16 > 0:21:18astonished by the gall with which they simply
0:21:18 > 0:21:19forget their actions in government.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22With which they pretend their ideas won't cost a penny.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24I keep hearing their ideas won't cost a penny.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25It is absolutely untrue.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28And with which they make inaccurate claims, based on a lack of facts
0:21:28 > 0:21:30on subjects they appear to not understand.
0:21:30 > 0:21:31Chris Grayling.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34The Government has been warned that moves to cut the size of the House
0:21:34 > 0:21:37of Lords could be undermined if the Prime Minister
0:21:37 > 0:21:37appoints new peers.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Reports have suggested Theresa May is preparing to create 12
0:21:40 > 0:21:41new Conservative peers to help get Brexit legislation
0:21:42 > 0:21:43through the Lords.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45In a debate last year, there was strong support among peers
0:21:45 > 0:21:47for the recommendations of the Burns Committee to reduce
0:21:47 > 0:21:49the numbers from 800 to 600.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Mrs May was urged to show restraint.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Would it not be a embarrassment and make a nonsense of any further
0:21:54 > 0:21:56consideration of the Burns report if the Prime Minister was to go
0:21:56 > 0:21:59ahead and make a series of nominations before we had
0:21:59 > 0:22:00considered it fully?
0:22:00 > 0:22:02The point that the noble Lord has just made was
0:22:02 > 0:22:12made during the debate.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16And I thought, if I may say so, that it was dealt
0:22:16 > 0:22:18with very well indeed by the Lord Butler of Brockwell.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21And he said this, we are told that a further list of appointments
0:22:21 > 0:22:24is about to be published, but I do not share the apocalyptic
0:22:24 > 0:22:26view expressed earlier by the noble lord Lord Steele.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29I believe this can be regarded as a legacy issue arising
0:22:29 > 0:22:32from the May general election that does not inhibit the adoption
0:22:32 > 0:22:34of the approach indeed of the Burns report.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38I hope the noble lord is reassured by the words
0:22:38 > 0:22:39of the former Cabinet Secretary.
0:22:39 > 0:22:47If the government is prepared to accept the Burns proposals,
0:22:47 > 0:22:53and that includes departures from and introductions to this House
0:22:53 > 0:22:57should be on the basis of two out and one in,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00and on a 15 year term limit, probably from the last general
0:23:00 > 0:23:01election, we will abide by that.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Will the government agreed to do so as well?
0:23:03 > 0:23:06As I said, the government is considering the report and will
0:23:06 > 0:23:07make its views known shortly.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10But if I can just take up the point that the noble
0:23:10 > 0:23:12baroness made in her speech.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16And she made a good speech, if I may say so, as did my noble
0:23:16 > 0:23:18friend and the leader of the Lib Dems.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20What she said is this - it is not about giving up
0:23:20 > 0:23:22patronage or appointments, but about showing some
0:23:22 > 0:23:23restraint, as it used to be.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Now, the Prime Minister has demonstrated restraint,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27putting on one side David Cameron's resignation honours,
0:23:27 > 0:23:37in the last 18 months, the Prime Minister has appointed
0:23:37 > 0:23:39eight, eight new peers, five crossbenchers,
0:23:39 > 0:23:40and three ministers.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Now, I think that is demonstrating the restraint that the noble
0:23:43 > 0:23:44lady has just asked for.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Is there not another way that an this little
0:23:46 > 0:23:51dilemma might be resolved?
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Quite clearly, if you look at the electorate as a whole,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56and the votes which have been cast at recent elections,
0:23:56 > 0:23:58the Lib Dem peers are grossly overrepresented here.
0:23:58 > 0:24:05Suppose 50 of them did the decent thing and resigned,
0:24:05 > 0:24:06this would all be resolved!
0:24:06 > 0:24:07LAUGHTER.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Well, I think that question, if I may say so, from my noble
0:24:10 > 0:24:12friend, was not addressed to me, but addressed to
0:24:12 > 0:24:14the benches opposite.
0:24:14 > 0:24:19It is indeed the case that on almost any objective basis,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22the Liberal Democrats are overrepresented,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25and credit to them, they actually recognise this during the debate.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27The noble lord Lord Newby, when he spoke on behalf
0:24:27 > 0:24:31of the Lib Dems, recognised that their numbers would have
0:24:31 > 0:24:33to come down under the proposals of the Burns report.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38Whether one could expect the Lib Dem is to unilaterally cut their numbers
0:24:38 > 0:24:48without anybody else doing anything at all would be to exhibit
0:24:49 > 0:24:52a generosity for which the Liberal Democrats are not well-known.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53The ever-understated Lord Young.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Well, during the course of the week there were many words
0:24:56 > 0:24:58of congratulation for the various ministers who moved or gained
0:24:58 > 0:24:59jobs in the reshuffle.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02But one of the main talking points was the erroneous and then
0:25:02 > 0:25:04hastily deleted tweet from Conservative Central Office
0:25:04 > 0:25:06that Chris Grayling had been made chairman of the party.
0:25:06 > 0:25:12The Shadow Transport Secretary felt it important to mark
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Mr Grayling's achievement.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Also, I want to congratulate the Secretary of State
0:25:16 > 0:25:18for his superb stewardship of the Conservative Party.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23There has never been a fine record.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28No elections were lost, no major scandals, and I think
0:25:28 > 0:25:31he has maintained his membership around 70,000, so not bad
0:25:31 > 0:25:33for 27 seconds work.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35So, the best to him.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Chris Grayling - the mayfly of Conservative chairmen.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38And that's all we've got time for.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Keith MacDougall will be here on Monday.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42But for now from me, Mandy Baker, goodbye.