26/01/2018 The Week in Parliament

a rare standing ovation

in the Lords.

Hello and Welcome to

the Week In Parliament.

Coming up, there's a rare standing

ovation in the House of Lords

as a Labour former minister talks

of her battle with brain cancer,

and explains why she's campaigning

for more innovative treatment.

So that we can live well together

with cancer. Not just tying off of

it.

At prime ministers questions

Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May go

into battle over just how much money

should go to England's NHS.

Labour government would not be

underfunding the NHS, it would not

be privatizing the NHS. It would not

be underfunding social care.

Recognises the priorities of the

British people. But it remains a

world-class health care system.

Indeed, the best health care system

in the world!

Also on this programme: David Davis

makes his first appearance

of the year in front of the Brexit

committee, and rejects

the accusation that Britain

is to become a Vassal

state in Europe.

And there's fury in the Commons

over the allegations

of harassment and groping

at the Presidents

Club Charity dinner.

Organisers chose to make this a men

only event. They chose to make them

a haven this way. To make them wear

Black, skimpy, outfits.

But first: There was a rare standing

ovation in the House of Lords

on Thursday when the Labour former

minister, Tessa, now Lady,

Jowell called for greater global

cooperation and the use of more

innovative treatments

to help beat cancer.

Lady Jowell was diagnosed

with a rare form of

brain cancer last year.

She told peers what had happened:

On the 24th of May last year, I was

on my way to talk, not for the first

time, about projects. In East

London. I got into a taxi, but I

could not speak. I have to powerful

see visions, I was taken to the

hospital. Two days later, I was told

that I had a brain tumour. Or GMB.

She'd called the debate to argue

for more international

co-operation to pool knowledge

about the illness and said patients

should be able to try several

new treatments at the same time:

So many cancer patients collaborate

and support each other every day.

They create that community of love,

and determination, that they find

each other every day. Although we

now ask is that doctors and health

systems learn to do the same, and

for us to work together to learn

from each other. In the and, what

gives a life meaning is not only how

it is lived but how it is drawn to a

close. I hope that this debate will

give hope to other cancer patients,

like me. So that we can live well

together with cancer. Not just dying

of it. All of us for longer. Thank

you.

To a packed public

gallery and with MPs

crowding at the bar,

and with the Health Secretary

Jeremy Hunt looking on,

the minster praised her speech

I would also like to praise the

noble lady for the course of her own

illness. And I think it is fair to

say that she inspired us all into

many cancer sufferers as well. I

think we should expect nothing less,

from... But the lady has done today

is offer hope, in reading this

debate and with her ever for tile

mind, making suggestions on how we

can improve cancer care. We work

harder to offer hope to people

affected by the terrible disease

that she suffers from. It is the

white challenge -- right challenge.

And our efforts will not waiver

until cancer no longer robs us of

the ones we love.

Lord O'Shaughnessy.

Well it was funding for England's

health service that dominated

the exchanges between Theresa May

and Jeremy Corbyn at Prime

Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

The previous day it had been briefed

that the Foreign Secretary,

Boris Johnson, was to use a cabinet

meeting to call for a one

hundred million pounds

a week "Brexit dividend"

for the NHS in England.

He was reportedly slapped down

by Mrs May for calling

publicly for more money,

but the whole affair provided plenty

of ammunition for Jeremy Corbyn.

Does the PM

Agree with the Foreign Secretary had

it needs another £5 billion? Prime

Minister.

The right honourable

gentleman, here in this chamber for

the budget that was given by my

right honourable friend the

Chancellor, where he announced that

he will be putting £6 billion into

the health service.

The only problem

with that Mr Speaker is that it was.

The labour government would be

privatizing the NHS, it would not be

underfunding social care! A labour

government would be committed to an

NHS as a human right!

Our support

for the NHS is providing for the

doctors, the nurses, the treatment

capabilities, so it is able to

deliver for patients! That is why we

are backing the NHS of more funding,

that is why we ensure that they have

the best cheese meds, survival rates

for cancer - before! That we have

better joined up services across the

NHS and social care, so those people

who don't need to go to the hospital

are able to be cared for at home,

and that's why we are reducing waste

in the NHS, so taxpayer money is

used as efficient as possible.

It is

possible that a man froze to death

waiting 16 hours for an ambulance. A

gentleman named Chris told me, my

friend is 93 -year-old father. These

are not isolated cases, these are

all over the country. It needs

money, it needs support, and it

needs it now! When is she going to

face up to the reality and take

action!

There is only one part of

the NHS that is being cut. Seeing a

cut in its funding. It is the NHS in

Wales! This, this is a government,

this is a government that is backing

the NHS! That is putting more money

into the NHS! That is recruiting

more doctors and nurses, which is

seeing more come on board to make

sure that people are getting the

best treatment that they need! This

is a government that recognises the

realities of the British people!

Priorities to ensure that the NHS

remains a class health care system!

The best in the world! To make sure

that our kids are in good schools!

This is a government that is

building a country that works for

everyone! A country in which... A

country in which people can look to

the future with optimism and hope!

Theresa May.

Meanwhile in the Lords on Friday,

an independent or cross bench peer

put forward a bill to allow medical

staff NOT to withdraw

life-sustaining treatment

or perform IVF or an abortion

if they have moral objections.

She said having to carry out these

procedures had led some midwives

to leave the health service.

My lords

It simply can't be consistent with

conscience to say that I cannot do

this. But I order you to do it. If

one allocates and supervises an

activity, and one is not

unreasonable that it compromises

world was possibility -- moral

responsibility.

But the bill faced

determined opposition.

That they feel that their rights are

an sufficiently represented. The

existing provision, in certain

well-defined circumstances is

currently sensible and balanced. And

this bill brings unnecessary and

potentially dangerous...

Replying for the government

Lady Chisholm said she'd

reflect on the debate,

but without firm ministerial backing

it stands no chance of becoming law.

Now let's take a look at some

other news from around

Westminster in brief.

The Work and Pensions Secretary has

confirmed that up to 220 thousand

people could have their benefits

restored to a higher level,

following a High Court ruling.

The row is over those with mental

health conditions and whether or not

they should qualify for higher rates

of Personal Independence

Payments, known as PIPS.

To say

We are not appealing the outcome of

the judgement to provides certainty,

positive, that this government is

undertaking, including spending on

main disability that affects, it has

risen to four billion since 2010.

And real terms spending on

disability benefits will be higher

every year by two dozen 20 than

2010.

To say that there is a

commitment, when the UN committee on

them, on the rights of disabled

people, it is a catastrophe that

cuts that have been wrought on

disabled people. It is an absolute

disgrace!

As for the UN, how did the

figures compare internationally?

The Minister said the UK

spent 50 billion pounds

the Uk

the Uk

Is one of the most generous

countries and the world when it

comes to supporting its disabled

people. Only Germany spends more.

There could be more defence cuts on

the horizon, the potential loss of

amphibious assault ships, and all

time Army members could decrease.

Stories have been circulating

for weeks that there could be more

defence cuts on the horizon,

specifically the potential loss

of amphibious assault ships

and reports that full-time army

numbers could fall.

Senior army chiefs and members

of the Lords spoke out

against any further reductions.

Making a statement on Thursday Gavin

Williamson suggested he would resist

pressure to make more cuts.

We want to have the very best Armed

Forces that we can have. This is not

aimed as some operation did take

away from the Armed Forces. This is

to make sure that we have the Armed

Forces that they have the support

that we need, and the recognition

that they do the most amazing job

for our country. And that is what we

hope to achieve as part of this

review.

The prisons watchdog has

condemned the squalid

state of Liverpool jail,

describing conditions as the worst

inspectors could remember.

When the head of the Prisons Service

and the Justice minister appeared

before the justice committee,

MPs wanted to know how

things had been allowed

to get so bad that rats,

cockroaches and blocked toilets

were a frequent feature.

We had, from the autumn of 2016,

significant difficulty, leading up

to Christmas. Liverpool had issues

that we believe due to does a 17,

getting better with the population

increase to get back on

establishments. The impact of

substances, a big issue of

Liverpool, was actually a challenge

for a lot of prisons were, governors

you're making the same repeated

excuses. The fact that in Liverpool,

there are 549 staffed against the

benchmark of 466 staff. This is not

an issue of staffing, it is an issue

of leadership. Is it just the

government? Who was responsible?

I

think there is a responsibility at

multiple levels. Yes, we should have

recognised and dealt with them

earlier, and yes, there were

responsibilities without any local

level, after the organisation,

including at my level. I am not

talking that.

One third of all the alcohol sold

in England is consumed by just four

per cent of the population.

That figure emerged as ministers

were urged to bring in a policy

of minimum unit pricing in England

in an effort to combat the effects

of excessive drinking.

From May the 1st this year a minimum

50 pence-per-unit alcohol price

is being introduced in Scotland.

The health committee heard calls

for a similar scheme in England.

My patients with cirrhosis, the

average consumption is 120 L, or

units a week. And that is the

median. The mean is higher. They'll

be drinking 16 metres of that, and

paying £20 for it, and I will grow

up threefold.

On the other side,

they would still spend £20.

What

they are likely to do is rather than

drinking 7.5%, they'll be drinking

three or 4%. The code down to 3%,

they can drink 13 L. They'll have to

completely

The Culture Secretary has come under

pressure from opposition MPs

to prohibit Rupert Murdoch's

11 billion pound bid to take full

control of the broadcaster, Sky.

The demands came

after the Competition

and Markets Authority,

the CMA said the takeover was not

in the public interest as it

would give the Murdoch Family Trust

too much influence over public

opinion and the political agenda.

But Sky could end up owned

by Disney if Mr Murdoch's

proposed sale of Fox which owns

39% of Sky goes ahead.

The simple way to stop this from

going ahead is to prohibit it. Not

to have some cognitive process. This

is personal. This is basically

lefties who do not like Murdoch.

I

will follow process, taking into

consideration the final report, once

it is published, I will consider

what it says. I will consider all

the relevant evidence and

information and then make a

decision.

A Conservative called for people

using cycle rickshaws,

or pedicabs to be protected

from huge rip-off fares.

He said because pedicabs weren't

regulated there was no requirement

for the estimated 1400 drivers

to have insurance, or for vehicle

condition or driver

quality to be assessed.

An undercover film-maker with

rickshaw drivers boasting about

charging tourists £350 each, and

others talking about charging to or

£300 to go the half-mile from Oxford

Circus to Piccadilly Circus.

Pedicabs brutally blocked streets,

while objecting businesses. Many

played loud music, the drivers

shout. Clearly, not all, but after

many occasions, there are enough to

ruin the reputation of those simply

trying to earn a living in a

reasonable conscientious way.

There was fury in the Commons after

allegations of sexual harassment

at a charity fundraising dinner.

An undercover reporter

from the Financial Times says

she and other hostesses were groped

and propositioned by guests

at the Presidents Club

gala, a men-only event.

A businessman who helped organise

the dinner, David Meller,

stepped down as a non executive

board member for the

Department of Education.

There were allegations of

inappropriate and lewd behaviour. It

is extraordinary to me, Mr Speaker,

in the 21st century, allegations of

this kind are still emerging. Women

have the right to feel safe wherever

they work. And allegations of this

type of behaviour are completely

unacceptable.

What happened was

women were bought as bait for men

who were rich man, not a mile from

where we stand, as if that is an

acceptable behaviour. It is totally

unacceptable.

One of the prizes at

that dinner, was plastic surgery to

spice up your wife. It is appalling

that that continues. We all have our

duty to make sure those dinners do

not happen again.

One of the

comments you made, we do not know

where the line should be. This event

was billed as the most

un-politically event of the year, so

clearly, they do know where the line

is, should be. They decided to go

past. When we have reports of toll

it's being monitored and women who

are going to it being called out and

lead back to the ballroom. This is

not sexism, this is slavery.

Organisers chose

to make this event.

They chose to make them operate

across the stage. To make them wear

black skimpy outfits and specify the

colour of their underwear. They

chose to ask them to drink before

the event. Does she agree all of the

organisers, including the presidents

club, and all of the private

companies, should be investigated

for breach of the law and breach of

the charity.

I am in my, the right

honourable Lady is angry about this,

and her reports... Mr Speaker, do I

look like somebody who is not angry?

Several MPs asked about

the attendance at the event

of the Children's Minister,

Nadhim Zahawi.

While she has been very loyal to her

colleague, who did not stay, or any

long period of time, it is also

reported that the same gentleman

attended the presidents club on a

previous occasion. I have no idea if

that is true or not. That has been

reported. If that is the case,

should that Minister consider his

position?

I have no idea whether he

attended event before, but I do know

a senior people have attended it. I

know that senior politicians from

around the House have attended this

event. Let's hope, let's hope that

this debates today draws a line in

the sand, demonstrates to honourable

members to think twice about

attending any event like this ever

again.

Well.

number ten said that Nadhim Zahawi

had 'attended briefly

and felt uncomfortable' and left.

The Mps himself later

tweeted: I do unequivocally

condemn this behaviour.

I will never attend a men

only function ever.

What's been happening in the wider

world of politics this week?

Here's Duncan Smith

with our countdown.

Yum at all smiles. She says his

shoulder to shoulder. Either way, it

sounds like Donald Trump putt plan

to the UK is back on. Meanwhile, in

a chamber far far away.

I am sure is

a film we have all watched, be

careful not to choke on your

aspirations.

Does he agree, that the

views of membership of the industry,

not excuses.

The point he makes is a

good one.

They protest a speech by

the US vice president Mike pence. He

said the embassy will move to

Jerusalem by the end of next year.

Awkward exchanges in the warehouses,

conservative peers by for the be

next to speak.

Lord Tebbit

Wednesday. And no, no, no.

Counsellors reject the plans for

this Margaret Thatcher statue in

Parliament Square. They say her Lord

robes do not reflect her times as

PM, and they worry about vandalism.

David Davis has made his

first Commons Committee

appearance of the year,

coming before the MPs who are trying

to keep tabs on Brexit.

There was much discussion

of the proposed transition phase,

the period immediately

following our withdrawal

in March next year.

A Conservative eurosceptic,

Jacob Rees-Mogg, raised

the issue of the ECJ,

the European Court of Justice:

David Davis.

The UK is subject to the European

hollow justice, to its new rules

relating to the single market. And

is paying into the European budget.

Are we not vassal state?

Know we are

not. Not today.

We have a

representative on the board of

justice.

As I said earlier, my

colleagues, I take the view that the

transition is a little different. If

that were going to be the case, in

perpetuity, my answer would probably

be yes, but the answer for sure time

is no.

Isn't this a very serious. It

is hard to think of any president in

the world where an independent

nation has taken the judgements of a

foreign court as its superior law

without having any judge on that?

You are right. You are talking about

something which we are currently

negotiating. We have not decided how

we are going to manage those

elements. Or indeed the agencies and

so on.

In your earlier answers, the

European Court of Justice. What you

by except jurisdiction with Mac

exactly that. Young we are vassal

state for the two-year period. I did

not say that at all. We are

transitioning from one state to

another. From one state to another.

I do not think vassal state.

And that's it from us for now,

but do join Keith Macdougall on BBC

Parliament on Monday night at 11

for a full round up

of the day at Westminster,

as the Lords gear up

to begin their first

big debate on the EU

Withdrawal bill on Tuesday.

But for now, from me, goodbye.