0:00:11 > 0:00:18Hello this is Thursday in Parliament,
0:00:18 > 0:00:19our look at the day at Westlinster.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21The headlines...
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Flights to and from Sharm el-Sheik are grounded, leaving thous`nds of
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Britons stranded, after a Rtssian passenger plane which took off from
0:00:27 > 0:00:29the resort crashed at the wdekend.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32We still cannot be certain what caused the loss of the aircraft
0:00:32 > 0:00:35but we are reaching the view that a bomb on board is
0:00:35 > 0:00:40a significant possibility.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43As the Egyptian president vhsits the UK, MPs debate human rights
0:00:43 > 0:00:46in his country.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48The human rights record in Egypt has plummeted.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52And peers warn about the dangers of pornography.
0:00:52 > 0:00:58Objectification, exploitation and, very often, abuse.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09About 20,000 Britons are stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh, after flights
0:01:09 > 0:01:11between the UK and the Egyptian resort have been suspended.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13David Cameron said it was "increasingly likely"
0:01:13 > 0:01:13a "terrorist bomb"
0:01:13 > 0:01:16caused a Russian passenger jet, which took off from the Red Sea
0:01:16 > 0:01:19resort, to crash, killing all 2 4 people on board on Saturday.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21In a statement to the Commons, Transport Secretary,
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Patrick McLoughlin, said the safety and securitx
0:01:22 > 0:01:29of the travelling public was the Government's highest prhority.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32We still cannot be certain what caused the loss of
0:01:32 > 0:01:36the aircraft, but we are re`ching the view that a bomb on board is a
0:01:36 > 0:01:37significant possibility.
0:01:37 > 0:01:43Were this to turn out to be the case, it
0:01:43 > 0:01:46clearly has serious implications for the security of UK nationals flying
0:01:46 > 0:01:48from Sharm el-Sheikh.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50We have therefore taken the decision that it
0:01:50 > 0:01:53was necessary to act.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55The decisions we have made are based on a review
0:01:55 > 0:01:56of all the information available.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Some of it is sensitive and I am not
0:01:58 > 0:02:02able to go into detail on that information.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05But the House can be assured
0:02:05 > 0:02:08we have taken this decision on the basis of the safety of
0:02:08 > 0:02:10British citizens.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13He said specialist teams wotld be working with the Egyptians to allow
0:02:13 > 0:02:15scheduled flights to begin `gain.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18The decision to suspend flights is very serhous
0:02:18 > 0:02:21indeed and has not been takdn lightly, but the safety and security
0:02:21 > 0:02:23of the travelling public is of course
0:02:23 > 0:02:27the Government's highest prhority.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30We need to be confident security standards meet our
0:02:30 > 0:02:36expectations and those of the public before we allow services to resume.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38The airlines are working with us to bring their passengers home.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39No UK-bound aircraft
0:02:39 > 0:02:44will take off until it is s`fe to do so.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The Shadow Transport Secret`ry said the opposition supported
0:02:47 > 0:02:49the government's move to ground flights to and from the resort.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Mr Speaker, given that the Government bdlieves
0:02:52 > 0:03:00that the Metro Jet flight m`y have been deliberately targeted,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03will he reassure the House on how he reached the concltsion
0:03:03 > 0:03:05that there was no threat in the wider
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Sharm el-Sheikh resort?
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Will the Secretary of State also update the House on when he expects
0:03:11 > 0:03:14the security review of the `irport to conclude and can he give
0:03:14 > 0:03:17any further information on the possible new long-term leasures
0:03:17 > 0:03:21he referred to in his statelent
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Can I thank the honourable lady for the general support that has
0:03:24 > 0:03:28been given by the opposition?
0:03:28 > 0:03:32She is right to say this is not a decision that is taken lightly
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and was taken after very careful consideration of the details
0:03:34 > 0:03:35the Government had received.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40As this is a very concerning time, information will be the key,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44with many people getting their information from webshtes
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Can we get an assurance that consular support
0:03:46 > 0:03:51on the ground will be providing people with practical support?
0:03:51 > 0:03:54The Foreign Office have deployed people and they are deploying more
0:03:54 > 0:04:03people today to the airport and working with tour operators as well.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06I understand what he says about websites giving information
0:04:06 > 0:04:10and indeed, social media giving information, which can,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13some of information has been put out and turned out to not be correct.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16I think it is very important for people to check with totr
0:04:16 > 0:04:27operators, check with the officials from the Foreign Office.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30It has very serious implacations for the Egyptian tourist industry and
0:04:30 > 0:04:33some of the Egyptian sensithvity that we have experienced relates to
0:04:33 > 0:04:34that significant potential damage to their interests.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37But could my honourable fridnd impress upon his Egyptian opposite
0:04:37 > 0:04:39numbers that the same candotr and transparency in this investhgation
0:04:39 > 0:04:42is probably the quickest wax to restore confidence, for people being
0:04:42 > 0:04:43able to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh
0:04:43 > 0:04:46rather than resorting to dissembling and cover-up?
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Yes, I agree with my honourable friend.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52I do not think there is any desire for anybody
0:04:52 > 0:04:55to dissemble or cover-up.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00The focus is on Sharm el-Shdikh and the airport there,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03but now we know there is a suspicion Isis is targeting aviation.
0:05:03 > 0:05:09Are you taking a review of security at British airports
0:05:09 > 0:05:11We are always reviewing safdty at British airports.
0:05:11 > 0:05:19So, that is something which does not stop.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I think anybody that goes to an airport sometimes will complain
0:05:22 > 0:05:27about the level of intrusivdness that is there in those airports
0:05:27 > 0:05:31But of course, we keep security under revidw.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35As I say, in this particular case, this is where we were not s`tisfied
0:05:35 > 0:05:38about some of the ways in which security measures werd being
0:05:38 > 0:05:38carried out.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43The current concern over flhghts into and out
0:05:43 > 0:05:46of Egypt has coincided with a visit to the UK by the Prdsident
0:05:46 > 0:05:48of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Shsi.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50President Sisi has been the subject of widespread criticism
0:05:50 > 0:05:53for the alleged oppression taking place in his country.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55This led to protests in Central London, as scores of demonstrators
0:05:55 > 0:05:59objected to his visit.
0:05:59 > 0:06:05The Egyptian leader went to Downing Street for talks with David Cameron.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08When an urgent Commons questions was asked about human rights in Egypt,
0:06:08 > 0:06:14a Foreign Office Minister ddfended President Sisi's visit.
0:06:14 > 0:06:20The visit provides an opportunity for the Prime Minister to elphasise
0:06:20 > 0:06:23his desire to see more political progress in Egypt, including on
0:06:23 > 0:06:25human rights and political freedoms, which are essential foundathons
0:06:25 > 0:06:32for long term stability.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35The Prime Minister invited President Sisi to the UK because it
0:06:35 > 0:06:38is in Britain's interest
0:06:38 > 0:06:39to help Egypt succeed as a stable, prosperous
0:06:39 > 0:06:46and democratic country and boost our strong commercial relathonship.
0:06:46 > 0:06:52The UK government position on human rights also appears to be wdakening.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Asked if human rights were now ond of its
0:06:54 > 0:06:56lower priority activities, Simon McDonald,
0:06:56 > 0:06:57Permanent Secretary at the FCO, replied,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59"Answering as Permanent Secretary,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01"although it is one of the things we follow,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03"it is not one of our top priorities.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06"I would not dispute that rhght now the prosperity agenda is further
0:07:06 > 0:07:09"up the list of priorities."
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Will the Minister take this opportunity to confirm the TK
0:07:11 > 0:07:16government is not downgrading human rights in favour of trade
0:07:16 > 0:07:20It is now our view
0:07:20 > 0:07:23that we raise human rights as a matter of coursd,
0:07:23 > 0:07:31not instead of, but part of the package.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35It is part of the process that every time I go into a meeting
0:07:35 > 0:07:37and indeed every time my honourable friend from the Department for
0:07:37 > 0:07:40International Development goes into a meeting, we raise these m`tters.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42A Conservative MP recalled how President Sisi ousted Mohamled Morsi
0:07:42 > 0:07:44in 2013.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Nobody should be in any doubt about what the price has bedn.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Possibly thousands of people were killed
0:07:48 > 0:07:50when the squares were cleardd.
0:07:50 > 0:07:5740,000 are in prison.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00We have had the reports, we have seen death penalties handed out
0:08:00 > 0:08:02with batches of several hundred
0:08:02 > 0:08:04And many of us will have had first-h`nd
0:08:04 > 0:08:09testimony of people being tortured in the Egyptian justice system.
0:08:09 > 0:08:20And I am not entirely sure that inviting President Sisi to the
0:08:20 > 0:08:23United Kingdom is wholly appropriate at this time until these issues are
0:08:23 > 0:08:26fully addressed and there is some accountability for the condtct of
0:08:26 > 0:08:31the operation in 2013 and the conduct of policies since.
0:08:31 > 0:08:32As chairman of the all-partx Eygypt group
0:08:32 > 0:08:34along with the member for Morley,
0:08:34 > 0:08:43may I fundamentally disagred with my honourable friend and sax to
0:08:43 > 0:08:46the Minister that we welcomd the visit of President Sisi and we
0:08:46 > 0:08:49think it is a tremendous opportunity for the United Kingdom to engage
0:08:49 > 0:08:51for all the reasons my honotrable friend, the Minister, has sdt out.
0:08:51 > 0:08:57Egypt is an ally of ours and a key part in bringing `bout
0:08:57 > 0:09:01regional stability, not least in the work that it has done in trying
0:09:01 > 0:09:06to bring about a solution bdtween Israel and the Palestinians.
0:09:06 > 0:09:13The human rights record in Egypt has plummeted.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15The Minister knows that there was a trial where 520 death sentences
0:09:16 > 0:09:17were issued after one hour,
0:09:17 > 0:09:24683 were issued without a single defendant being prdsent.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29We don't hear about it becatse 125 journalists are locked tp.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Can the Minister not understand that appearing to endorse Presiddnt Sisi
0:09:33 > 0:09:36is likely to make people more engaged with radical terrorhsm
0:09:36 > 0:09:40than the other way around?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Any government founded on democracy
0:09:43 > 0:09:46and respect for human rights
0:09:46 > 0:09:49will see stability and prosperity follow.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51A government founded on oppression and denial of human rights will
0:09:51 > 0:10:00never be a stable government and a prosperous country.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01You're watching Thursday in Parliament.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02Our top story:
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Flights to and from the Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheikh are suspended
0:10:05 > 0:10:06as thousands of tourists are stranded.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07And still to come:
0:10:07 > 0:10:13What's wrong with a particularly twisted turnhp?
0:10:14 > 0:10:19Now, the widespread availabhlity of pornography, especially on
0:10:19 > 0:10:23the Internet, is having a ndgative impact on society and espechally
0:10:23 > 0:10:28childhood, peers heard during a debate led by the Bishop of Chester.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29The Bishop acknowledged his personal knowledge
0:10:29 > 0:10:30of pornography was limited.
0:10:30 > 0:10:37He'd been struck by warnings, including
0:10:37 > 0:10:40an NSPCC ChildLine survey of 70 children aged 12 and 13, whhch found
0:10:40 > 0:10:43that 20% had seen pornography that shocked or upset them.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51The danger is that in tacitly or openly accepting the pervashve
0:10:51 > 0:10:54presence of adult pornography in people's lives, we are choosing to
0:10:54 > 0:10:57make the attitudes that lie behind and in pornography seem norlal.
0:10:57 > 0:11:03Objectification, explanation and very often, abuse.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06This leaves young people exposed to much damaging material,
0:11:06 > 0:11:12which presents them with distorted images of life.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16If this is true of both boys and girls, it is girls that suffer
0:11:16 > 0:11:19the worst consequences, with poor perceptions of their own bodies and
0:11:19 > 0:11:22the damage that comes from that
0:11:22 > 0:11:26The sharing of sexually specific images on the Internet and lobile
0:11:26 > 0:11:31phones is another dimension of the potential harm, especially when they
0:11:31 > 0:11:34are shared with other peopld and indeed in adults, of course, this
0:11:34 > 0:11:35can produce so-called revenge pornography
0:11:35 > 0:11:43which I am glad to say has now been recognised as a criminal offence.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Since much of this, my lords, is historically unprecedentdd,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49and moving so rapidly, we cannot say with any confhdence
0:11:49 > 0:11:56where it will lead.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59The regulatory issues to me are huge, far more complex, I think
0:11:59 > 0:12:05than the Right Reverend indhcated.
0:12:05 > 0:12:18As are those drawing the boundaries between what is
0:12:18 > 0:12:21acceptable sexual experimentation and innovation and what is not.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23There is a whole new world out there which no
0:12:23 > 0:12:26generation of human beings has ever experienced before in the s`me way.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29My lords, I am very, very exercised as a grandparent with
0:12:29 > 0:12:30four grandchildren about thd uninhibited, unlimited effect that
0:12:31 > 0:12:38pornography on the Internet has
0:12:38 > 0:12:45And I believe there is an absolute moral duty resting on all of us to
0:12:45 > 0:12:50seek to come up with a solution that will indeed protect the young.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Crossbencher Lady Murphy warned there was a lack
0:12:52 > 0:12:56of accurate research on the subject to come to conclusions and said that
0:12:56 > 0:13:02in Japan, where violent porn was watched, there was a low rape rate.
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Fantasies do not translate into behaviours
0:13:03 > 0:13:07and that is the core problel.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Sexual fantasies are no different.
0:13:09 > 0:13:15They do not translate into behaviours.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19The Minister told peers the UK was leading the world in the
0:13:19 > 0:13:21fight to address the most hdinous crimes against children onlhne.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24The potential harm to children and young people with onlind
0:13:24 > 0:13:32pornography mean the most responsible approach to
0:13:32 > 0:13:34ensure they are protected should not jeopardise the rights of chhldren to
0:13:34 > 0:13:35a safe Internet experience.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Children should be able to dnjoy the huge benefits
0:13:38 > 0:13:40the online world has to offdr but must have the right to experience
0:13:41 > 0:13:43a happy and healthy childhood.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46And Lady Shields said the Government was taking action on a rangd
0:13:46 > 0:13:48of fronts to tackle the viewing downloading and sharing
0:13:48 > 0:13:49of abuse imagery online.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Myanmar, formerly Burma, goes to the polls on 8th November -
0:13:55 > 0:13:58the country's first elections since a civilian government was
0:13:58 > 0:14:03introduced in 2011, ending nearly 50 years of military rule.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05But there are concerns about the elections.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10The Labour MP Valerie Vaz asked an urgent question about thd release
0:14:10 > 0:14:15of political activists and `bout human rights ahead of the election.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18The Minister explained the situation in the countrx.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Burma goes to the polls this very Sunday `nd has
0:14:21 > 0:14:25the possibility of being thd most important democratic opporttnity
0:14:25 > 0:14:28for Burma in over 50 years.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Credible, inclusive and transparent elections would represent a huge
0:14:31 > 0:14:37step at consolidating Burma's transition towards a democr`cy.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41But we are under no illusions that these elections will be perfect and,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45more widely, human rights rdmain extremely troubling.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48But the Minister said the commitment to release all political
0:14:48 > 0:14:50prisoners remained unfulfilled.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53If the government really wants to move forward to democracy,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57no political prisoners, Mr Speaker, should be behind bars.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Scores of political prisoners remain behind bars.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02The country has yet to move forward to democracy.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Civil society groups need to push for amending the Draconian laws
0:15:05 > 0:15:08that attempt to silence acthvists.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Large parts of the Christian majority state effectively remain
0:15:12 > 0:15:14in a state of civil war.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18More than 100,000 people have been displaced as a result of thd clashes
0:15:18 > 0:15:22and remain in temporary camps.
0:15:22 > 0:15:29The conflict shows that the government has failed to deliver
0:15:29 > 0:15:32on its promise to end armed clashes in Myanmar before the 8th
0:15:32 > 0:15:33of November vote.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Totally unacceptable to imprison people in the run-up to
0:15:35 > 0:15:38the election, even if they `re freed, particularly given they
0:15:38 > 0:15:41can't campaign under Burmesd law is particularly concerning that this
0:15:41 > 0:15:46has all happened given, in 2012 the President did make an assertion that
0:15:46 > 0:15:49political prisoners will be freed and much progress had been lade
0:15:49 > 0:15:52since that visit in 2012 to London.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56However, we have gone backwards recently
0:15:56 > 0:15:58The Minister said the government had reports
0:15:58 > 0:16:00of more people being arrestdd.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04In relation to the number of groups that have signed tp to
0:16:04 > 0:16:10the ceasefire, I believe it's eight out of 15 or 16, and that cdasefire
0:16:10 > 0:16:12is broadly still in place.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Human Rights Watch yesterdax identified concerns over thd
0:16:14 > 0:16:18electoral process being unddrmined by a systematic and structural
0:16:18 > 0:16:22problem, including the lack of an independent election comlission,
0:16:22 > 0:16:26ruling party dominance of state media and reservathon
0:16:26 > 0:16:29of 25% of seats for the milhtary.
0:16:29 > 0:16:35This is an anathema to us in this House to think that 25%
0:16:35 > 0:16:41of the seats in this Chamber might be filled by military gener`ls.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43This is not something that hs recognised, clearly,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46as part of a modern democracy.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48The Minister there.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53Now, a repeat of the 2008 fhnancial crisis could be on the cards
0:16:53 > 0:16:56unless the government thinks again on how it sells off its stake
0:16:57 > 0:16:58in the Royal Bank of Scotland.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01That's the view of a Labour MP.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Starting a lengthy backbenchers debate on the sale,
0:17:03 > 0:17:08Kate Osamor said the sell-off should only proceed after a review of the
0:17:08 > 0:17:11whole UK banking sector was made.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15The UK has the most concentrated and homogeneous banking sector
0:17:16 > 0:17:17in the developed world.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Just 3% of our banking systdm is locally controlled compared
0:17:21 > 0:17:23to two thirds in Germany.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27We are also uniquely reliant on shareholder-owned banks `t the
0:17:27 > 0:17:30expense of other ownership lodels.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32This lack of diversity makes us uniqudly
0:17:32 > 0:17:35vulnerable to financial crisis.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Put simply, it makes it more likely that our
0:17:38 > 0:17:44banks will suffer the same problems at the same time as it did hn 2 08.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Breaking up RBS and localishng our banking system would make us
0:17:48 > 0:17:51more resilient to future shocks
0:17:51 > 0:17:53I do favour, very much, the idea in this motion
0:17:53 > 0:17:56of a new model of banking.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Since 2007, there's not been significant reform.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04There's been almost nothing done to reign in the worst excesses
0:18:04 > 0:18:06of fractional reserve banking.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10And it's this, this ability to conjure credit out of nothing that,
0:18:10 > 0:18:15first of all, creates chronhc malinvestment and credit bubbles in
0:18:15 > 0:18:20the wider economy, but also, which make banks intrinsically unstable
0:18:20 > 0:18:23and in need of bailouts - b`ilouts, incidentally,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25which I've consistently opposed
0:18:25 > 0:18:28We can debate and discuss the frailties which are still there in
0:18:28 > 0:18:32the Royal Bank of Scotland today and what it has to do to improvd its
0:18:32 > 0:18:35balance sheet but, I think, the real worry is that when banks ard in a
0:18:35 > 0:18:38much better position than pdrhaps they are today, where the b`lance
0:18:38 > 0:18:41sheets are strengthened, wh`t would stop the likes of Royal Bank
0:18:41 > 0:18:43of Scotland, even in the ringfenced scenario, of putting additional
0:18:43 > 0:18:46capital into investment banking
0:18:46 > 0:18:47That's the problem.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51It's the seduction of the charms of investment banking that we know
0:18:51 > 0:18:53in the last decade, the last 2-3 decades,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56has led to investment banks going down that road and, I think, that's
0:18:56 > 0:18:58what we have to be very cardful of.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02The easiest thing to do would be to leave RBS in state hands,
0:19:02 > 0:19:06to duck the difficult questhons but, in fact, no one in today's debate
0:19:06 > 0:19:10argued that the situation that we inherited in 2010, with large chunks
0:19:10 > 0:19:15of failing banks in taxpayer hands, is a situation that we should
0:19:15 > 0:19:17maintain forever.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20The right thing to do for the strength of the economy
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and for taxpayers is to start selling off our stake as part
0:19:23 > 0:19:26of a phased disposal progralme.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Peers have dismissed a call for a national debate on Islam, sponsored
0:19:29 > 0:19:32by the Government, as divishve.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36The idea came from the Ukip peer Lord Pearson, who revealed that he'd
0:19:37 > 0:19:40written a short summary of Hslam.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Some noble Lords may not be aware that abrogation means that where
0:19:43 > 0:19:49there is contradiction in the Koran, its later more valid versus outweigh
0:19:49 > 0:19:53its admirably peaceful earlx texts.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, together with some Koranic
0:19:58 > 0:20:03scholars, I have written a short summary of Islam, which I whll send
0:20:03 > 0:20:09him, and that we are asking the Guardian newspaper to hold
0:20:09 > 0:20:13an open debate as to its accuracy?
0:20:13 > 0:20:15And second, my Lords, given the seriousness
0:20:15 > 0:20:20of our domestic situation, couldn't the government itself sponsor
0:20:20 > 0:20:24a council of our Muslim leaders in which they could clarify the
0:20:24 > 0:20:35modern meaning of their relhgion and cast the extremists out of Hslam?
0:20:35 > 0:20:40My Lords, I look forward to receiving the noble Lord's summary
0:20:40 > 0:20:44of the great religion of Islam, but perhaps, on his reflection, he would
0:20:44 > 0:20:47have also noted, with the exception of one verse in the holy Koran,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51every verse of the holy Kor`n starts with the word, "in the name of God,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54the gracious, most merciful", which underlines the true sdntiments
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and principle of that relighon.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59In terms of engaging in deb`te, the government has been verx much
0:20:59 > 0:21:02engaging in debate across Mtslim communities.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Indeed, the Prime Minister recently launched an engagement forul where
0:21:05 > 0:21:08he is meeting with people of all denominations from across the Muslim
0:21:08 > 0:21:12community and beyond to enstre we confront extremism, as I sahd
0:21:12 > 0:21:16earlier, in all its ugly guhses
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Does the noble Lord think it's helpful or constructive that any
0:21:18 > 0:21:23religious text, be it from the Koran, the Old Testament or even the
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Hebrew Scriptures, taken and quoted selectively, should be used in a
0:21:27 > 0:21:32negative, divisive and political way to put whole communities on trial?
0:21:32 > 0:21:36One peer quoted some very offensive remarks he'd read
0:21:36 > 0:21:38in newspaper cuttings.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41What are the government's vhews of the following comments?
0:21:41 > 0:21:45"Most Nigerians are generally bad people."
0:21:45 > 0:21:48"Jewish bankers financed Hitler "
0:21:48 > 0:21:51"Islam is a cancer."
0:21:51 > 0:21:55And what should be our response to a political party that holds such
0:21:55 > 0:21:58views?
0:21:58 > 0:22:01The views that the noble Lord has just arthculated,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05which he's reporting to the House, are abhorrent and I think I speak
0:22:05 > 0:22:08for the whole House.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12First of all, I wasn't award that the noble Lord, Lord Pearson,
0:22:12 > 0:22:16was a scholar of Islamic thdology.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20I do not profess to have anx such expertise but I am concerned that
0:22:20 > 0:22:27such a debate as he advocatds could be divisive and further exacerbate
0:22:27 > 0:22:32the current rise in Islamophobia.
0:22:32 > 0:22:38My Lords, I, like the majorhty, the vast majority of the 1.6 billion
0:22:38 > 0:22:44Muslims around the world, w`s taught that peace, compassion and obeying
0:22:44 > 0:22:48the law of the land are fundamental.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51To me, that is the nature of Islam.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Now, about a third of the 41 million tonnes of food
0:22:54 > 0:22:58that's bought in the UK every year is wasted and the highest proportion
0:22:58 > 0:23:00of this is from households.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02And the cost?
0:23:02 > 0:23:06The campaigning organisation Wrap estimates that each household wastes
0:23:06 > 0:23:11?480 - that's a total of ?12 billion a year.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Labour's Holly Lynch asked the environment, food and rtral
0:23:13 > 0:23:19affairs team what progress was being made on combating food wastd.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20We heard from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's War
0:23:20 > 0:23:23on Waste documentary this wdek that supermarket practices, such
0:23:23 > 0:23:27as unnecessarily strict cosletic specifications for products,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30are contributing to huge amounts of waste in the supply chain.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Can I ask the Minister what he's doing to
0:23:32 > 0:23:35ensure that supermarkets take much greater responsibility for reducing
0:23:35 > 0:23:37food waste in their supply chains?
0:23:37 > 0:23:39I'd like to pay tribute to some of the retailers.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Tesco's has made progress on bananas, there's been good progress
0:23:42 > 0:23:46from the Co-op on potatoes for the Marfona range, which basically
0:23:46 > 0:23:49reduces by 30% potato waste.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53But I absolutely agree retahlers have to play a larger role
0:23:53 > 0:23:57in reducing food waste in gdneral.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59The consumers have a role to play, too.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02What's wrong with an overbent banana?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05What's wrong with a particularly twisted turnhp?
0:24:05 > 0:24:07They can still taste just as good!
0:24:07 > 0:24:10We've got to educate the consumer.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15What will the Minister do about doing just that?
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Ministers and Shadow Ministdrs walking around with strange,shaped
0:24:17 > 0:24:20fruit is not always very positive!
0:24:20 > 0:24:23However, in order to encour`ge this, I would be delighted to be seen
0:24:23 > 0:24:27eating a wobbly banana.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31Notably in the company of the honourable member for Lichfheld
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Two new peers have taken their seats on the red benches.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38They were, until recently, more at home on the green bdnches.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41The Former Lib Dem leader Shr Ming Campbell and the former Lib Dem MP
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Don Foster are now both peers.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Sir Ming will now be Lord C`mpbell of Pittenweem and his colle`gue
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Lord Foster of Bath.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54Know ye that we, of our espdcial grace, certain knowledge and mere
0:24:54 > 0:24:59motion, in pursuance of the Life Peerages Act 1958 and of all other
0:24:59 > 0:25:04powers on that behalf us en`bling do, by these presents, advance,
0:25:04 > 0:25:08create and prefer our right trusty and well-beloved councillor,
0:25:08 > 0:25:13Sir Walter Menzies Campbell, knight, member of our Order of
0:25:13 > 0:25:16the Companions of Honour, commander of our most excellent Order of the
0:25:16 > 0:25:22British Empire, one of our counsel, learned in the law, to the state,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25degree, style, dignity, title and honour of Baron C`mpbell
0:25:25 > 0:25:29of Pittenweem, of Pittenweel in our county of Fife.
0:25:29 > 0:25:35I, Donald, Lord Foster of B`th, do swear by Almighty God th`t I will
0:25:35 > 0:25:41be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth
0:25:41 > 0:25:47her heirs and successors, according to law, so help md, God.
0:25:47 > 0:25:55Thanks for watching and frol me Georgina Pattinson, goodbye.