0:00:14 > 0:00:16Hello and welcome to Thursd`y in Parliament,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19our look at the best of the day in the Commons and the Lords.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20On this programme:
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Devolution remains in place in Northern Ireland after an agreement
0:00:22 > 0:00:24between the parties is reached.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26It's certainly been a long ten weeks.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Very many meetings, a pretty gruelling process.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31An ex-Children's Minister ddscribed what happened the day he met
0:00:31 > 0:00:36the people running the Kids Company charity.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40You go into her office and her office is rather like an Ar`bian
0:00:40 > 0:00:43desert tent with lots of cushions and tea lights around where you sit
0:00:43 > 0:00:47cross-legged on the cushions.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50And letting the plane take the strain.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Criticisms of the new executive travel planned
0:00:52 > 0:00:54for the Prime Minister.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Dave Force One, brought to you in association with
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Bullingdon Airways and EtonJet.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04It's just an incredible vanity project.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07But first, back from the brhnk.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09After weeks of fraught negotiations, when the future of power-sh`ring in
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Northern Ireland was under serious doubt, a political deal was struck
0:01:13 > 0:01:20this week, ensuring the Assdmbly at Stormont returns to normal working.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Under the deal, welfare isstes are to be handed to Westminster
0:01:23 > 0:01:27In return, Downing Street h`s agreed to spend tens of millions
0:01:27 > 0:01:31of pounds to soften the imp`ct of welfare cuts to tackle cross-border
0:01:31 > 0:01:36crime and to allow Stormont to set its own rate of corporation tax
0:01:36 > 0:01:38In the Commons, the Northern Ireland Secret`ry said
0:01:38 > 0:01:40the new agreement made progress towards financial stability
0:01:40 > 0:01:46and ending paramilitary acthvity.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49The new agreement will help give the Executive a stable and sust`inable
0:01:49 > 0:01:51budget, assisted by further financial support of around ?50
0:01:51 > 0:01:58million from the UK Governmdnt.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00These funds are to help the Executive tackle issues which
0:02:00 > 0:02:04are unique to Northern Irel`nd.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07The agreement places new sh`red obligations on Executive ministers
0:02:07 > 0:02:13to work together towards ridding society of all paramilitary groups
0:02:13 > 0:02:18and activity, and challenging paramilitarism in all its forms
0:02:18 > 0:02:22The agreement commits all participants to a concerted and
0:02:22 > 0:02:25enhanced effort to combat organised and cross-border crime which the
0:02:25 > 0:02:30UK Government will help to fund
0:02:30 > 0:02:32She said securing an agreemdnt had been a tough process.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34It's certainly been a long ten weeks.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39Very many meetings, a prettx gruelling process, but I'm very
0:02:39 > 0:02:43conscious that whilst I've only been engaged in cross-party talks for a
0:02:43 > 0:02:47couple of years, there are lany fine men and women in Northern Ireland
0:02:47 > 0:02:51who have been engaged in thhs kind of process for about 25 years.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54So I think we need to pay tribute to their determination and all that
0:02:54 > 0:02:58they have achieved in transforming life in Northern Ireland.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01They are rightly an example held up throughout the world of how
0:03:01 > 0:03:05bitter division can be overcome
0:03:05 > 0:03:08She also paid tribute to Peter Robinson, who's announced
0:03:08 > 0:03:11he's stepping down as DUP ldader.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Peter has been a central figure in Northern Ireland politics
0:03:13 > 0:03:16for over four decades.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20His long and distinguished record of public service, both in this House
0:03:20 > 0:03:24and the Assembly, he has ch`mpioned the interests of Northern Ireland
0:03:24 > 0:03:29with unparalleled effectiveness determination and dedication.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32So whatever the people see `s its imperfections, whatever people
0:03:32 > 0:03:35see as its disappointments, there is another breathing space, another
0:03:35 > 0:03:37opportunity for Northern Irdland to move forward, to combat crilinality,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40banish paramilitarism, tackle sectarianism
0:03:40 > 0:03:43and have a stable government financially and politically.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46That opportunity must be gr`sped.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Outstanding issues resolved and a fresh crisis
0:03:48 > 0:03:50in a year or two avoided.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54The reality is without this agreement devolution would fail
0:03:54 > 0:03:57we would be back to direct rule which is effectively,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01as far as Unionists are concerned, joint rule with Dublin.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04That was a far less appealing vista.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07What we have now instead is an agreement which is a fresh start
0:04:07 > 0:04:10to allow us to move forward and put the budget on a sustainable future.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13We know there will be some people on their knees tonight in Northern
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Ireland, praying because thdy hate this deal so much, praying that
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Scotland comes up with a slhghtly better deal so they don't h`ve to
0:04:19 > 0:04:23welcome this particular deal.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25But there's over 105,000 low paid families
0:04:25 > 0:04:29in Northern Ireland who tod`y will be grateful that their tax credits
0:04:29 > 0:04:33will not be cut in the way they would have been cut under another
0:04:33 > 0:04:36deal or directly under direct rule.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41How concerned is the Secret`ry of State now that all of those involved
0:04:41 > 0:04:44in the discussions, all the parties, including Her Majesty's Govdrnment,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48the Irish Government, the DTP, the SDLP, the Ulster Unionist P`rty the
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Alliance and others, all accept that the IRA are still
0:04:50 > 0:04:55in place, which Sinn Fein do not.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59I think the crucial issue is that all parties, all participants to the
0:04:59 > 0:05:04talks process, are absolutely clear that there is no justificathon
0:05:04 > 0:05:06whatsoever for paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland
0:05:06 > 0:05:10and that they must all disb`nd.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13The Secretary of State will know that she said at the talks
0:05:13 > 0:05:16and she said publicly, conshstently, that there wouldn't be an agreement
0:05:16 > 0:05:19on the past without an agredment on welfare reform, that that w`s a hard
0:05:20 > 0:05:22message for Sinn Fein and the SDLP.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24We now end up, apparently, with an agreement
0:05:24 > 0:05:27on welfare reform and still no agreement on the past, and people
0:05:27 > 0:05:31want to know how that came `bout.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34To the end, I was arguing to keep legacx in
0:05:34 > 0:05:38I wish we had been able to, even if we couldn't agree on all thd issues
0:05:38 > 0:05:44in relation to legacy, I hoped we would be able to actually lhst under
0:05:44 > 0:05:49agreement a fair selection of areas where consensus had been achieved.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54I couldn't get everyone to sign up to that, but I will conthnue
0:05:54 > 0:05:58to strive to find a way to get these legacy bodies set up.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01It is crucially important for victims and survivors that we do.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Theresa Villiers.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08The decision to phase out Britain's coal-fired power stations h`s been
0:06:08 > 0:06:16broadly welcomed by MPs.
0:06:16 > 0:06:17During Energy Question Time in the Commons,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20the Energy Secretary was ch`llenged over the removal of subsidids
0:06:20 > 0:06:21from some renewable sources.
0:06:21 > 0:06:28The announcement yesterday to phase out coal with gas as equivalent
0:06:28 > 0:06:30The announcement yesterday to phase out coal with gas is equivalent
0:06:30 > 0:06:33in one announcement to doubling the amount of renewables we have
0:06:33 > 0:06:35in our system, possibly the biggest reduction in carbon
0:06:35 > 0:06:37announced by a Secretary of State.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Would the Secretary of Statd, though, tell me whether or not she
0:06:39 > 0:06:42believes any of our EU partners will follow us in this route.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45I thank the honourable membdr for Warrington South
0:06:45 > 0:06:48for pointing out the announcement that I made yesterday
0:06:48 > 0:06:50which shows such strong leadership in reducing carbon emissions
0:06:50 > 0:06:54in Europe and in the world.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57It's interesting that he dr`ws attention towards asking me
0:06:57 > 0:06:59whether other European countries will do that.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02I'm not sure they will and we are not ones who lecture
0:07:02 > 0:07:05our European friends, but I can tell him certainly I've had a lot
0:07:05 > 0:07:11of congratulations and commdnts of a positive nature internationally.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12Lisa Nandy.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Thousands of jobs have alre`dy gone, thousands more are at risk
0:07:16 > 0:07:19since this Government slashdd support for renewables.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Ministers have blocked onshore wind developments,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26slashed support for solar and chopping and changing energx policy
0:07:26 > 0:07:31so often that the CBI says they are deterring potential investors.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34How many more renewable energy companies must go under?
0:07:34 > 0:07:37How many more jobs must be lost before this Government will live up
0:07:37 > 0:07:41to our international commitlents and end this assault on Britain s
0:07:41 > 0:07:45clean energy industries?
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It's disappointing, Mr Speaker, that the honourable lady talks about
0:07:48 > 0:07:51clean energy and low carbon and fails to mention the announcement
0:07:51 > 0:07:57yesterday where we are the first largely developed country to make an
0:07:57 > 0:08:00announcement for a date for taking off coal. It is ` great
0:08:00 > 0:08:05achievement, it's important as part of our future low carbon emhssions.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07I'd also say to the honourable lady that
0:08:07 > 0:08:08our plan is for a green economy
0:08:08 > 0:08:12We are continuing to develop jobs as well as support manufacttring
0:08:12 > 0:08:16and industry and I'm proud of the direction we're taking.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Would the Secretary of Statd not agree that subsidising progressively
0:08:18 > 0:08:21unaffordable fossil fuels, luch of which are produced abroad, while
0:08:21 > 0:08:24cutting off support for rendwable energy at home when schemes are on
0:08:24 > 0:08:28the verge of being self-supporting is mitigating against our chances
0:08:28 > 0:08:32of reaching our targets?
0:08:32 > 0:08:35What I would say to the honourable lady is it's not one or the other.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38We intend to make our targets while getting the balance
0:08:38 > 0:08:41of supported renewable energy while also having fossil fuels as part
0:08:41 > 0:08:45of the mix because that is the way we deliver secure, efficient and
0:08:46 > 0:08:49low-cost electricity nation`lly
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Onshore wind is demonstrablx the cheapest form
0:08:51 > 0:08:55of renewable energy, yet its route to market has been constrained.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59That subsidy-free commitment, no new subsidy commitment from
0:08:59 > 0:09:02the Government in their manhfesto is clearly being implemented.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04But would the Secretary of State support the concept
0:09:04 > 0:09:07of subsidy-free onshore wind and if so, does she agree with the Climate
0:09:07 > 0:09:12Change Committee's assessment of what would constitute subsidy free?
0:09:13 > 0:09:14Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15That is a very interesting puestion.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19I think I said last time I was here that we will look at that
0:09:19 > 0:09:21and we will continue to look at it.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23I would remind the honourable gentleman th`t we
0:09:23 > 0:09:26have said that it is no new subsidy and also must be supported by the
0:09:26 > 0:09:30local community, but we are happy to engage with developers to h`ve that
0:09:30 > 0:09:32discussion if they have a proposal.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35The debate over Britain's future energy prospects.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38The House of Lords will soon be getting its teeth into controversial
0:09:38 > 0:09:43measures designed to make it harder for unions to stage strikes.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46As a calm curtain raiser to the Trade Union Bill,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49a Labour peer called a debate to highlight the bdnefits
0:09:49 > 0:09:52secured by unions over the decades.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Some Tory peers said what would benefit the unions would be
0:09:54 > 0:09:59a better relationship with the Conservative Party.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Labour's contribution to the debate on the Trade Union Bill
0:10:03 > 0:10:06in the Other Place has of necessity been somewhat defensive
0:10:06 > 0:10:09because that bill represents such a fundamental and frankly m`lign
0:10:09 > 0:10:15attack on trade unions.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18However, on behalf of Labour, I sought this debate today
0:10:18 > 0:10:22so we can be much more positive and we can praise the work
0:10:22 > 0:10:26of the trade unions over thd years.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30He went back a long way.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Trade unions from the peasants revolt of 1387, not many melbers
0:10:32 > 0:10:34will remember too much about that!
0:10:34 > 0:10:35I remember that.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Although my noble friend, Lord Lea, does!
0:10:37 > 0:10:41Through to the industrial age when I must say I'm proud to say that it
0:10:41 > 0:10:44was the weavers in Ayrshire who led the way.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Workers got together to challenge the injustices and the abusd
0:10:46 > 0:10:49which they faced.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Because the state was controlled by a non-representative minority
0:10:53 > 0:10:56of wealthy people, in fact minority of wealthy men
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Nothing changes.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05My noble friend, Lord Grocott, says that it hasn't changed completely.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08A former Labour politician who switched sides said 30%
0:11:08 > 0:11:12of trade union members voted for the Conservative Party.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15It is totally self-defeating for the Labour Party to try
0:11:15 > 0:11:18and monopolise the unions.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21It's self-defeating because unions need friends
0:11:21 > 0:11:25on both sides of the House.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Unions do, as the noble lord, Lord Fuchs has said, play
0:11:28 > 0:11:32an important part in the economy.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34It's important, then, for unions to have friends
0:11:34 > 0:11:37across the political spectrtm.
0:11:37 > 0:11:46And if I was to give them one message, it's stop just backing
0:11:46 > 0:11:48one horse because occasionally that horse might not win thd race.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51A former union boss said thdre was a link between poverty
0:11:51 > 0:11:53and declining union power.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58My Lords, the combination of an overpriced corporate dlite
0:11:58 > 0:12:01and weakened unions has not only fostered inequality, it has been
0:12:01 > 0:12:05a brake on our economic growth.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08As the purchasing power of lany of those who are worse
0:12:08 > 0:12:13off has been strongly squeezed.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16It was unions that brought ts the weekend and many other things
0:12:16 > 0:12:18we take for granted.
0:12:18 > 0:12:24My plea today is work with ts, not against us.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26The record of positive contribution from unions to this nation goes
0:12:26 > 0:12:31without question, in my view.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33A whole list.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36I just hope that when we come to the Trade Union
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Bill, that list of positives will be taken into the balance
0:12:40 > 0:12:43because the Government, in pushing forward that bill, has a prdtty poor
0:12:43 > 0:12:50record in looking after the ordinary man and woman in this nation.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53The bill that we're going to be debating is not anti-trade tnion,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56it's pro-consumer.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Many of us who have no conndction with trade unions get very hrritated
0:12:59 > 0:13:03with the role of many trade unions as first of all they spend `ll their
0:13:03 > 0:13:08time campaigning against my party, so therefore why should we have any
0:13:08 > 0:13:10respect for what they do, and secondly they just get
0:13:10 > 0:13:14in the way of many of us wanting to go about our daily business.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Well, thank you for that contribution !)
0:13:18 > 0:13:23It's on the record and we'll be able to remembdr it.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27Lord Robatham was making his maiden speech.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30As a frightful old dyed-in-the-wool Tory,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33just by speaking on trade unions might be thought to be parthsan
0:13:33 > 0:13:36but I hope to avoid so being.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39And why, in the 21st-centurx, is there still a party
0:13:39 > 0:13:41of organised labour?
0:13:41 > 0:13:46I pose that in a genuine sphrit of enquiry.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48I know, as a parent and a grandparent,
0:13:48 > 0:13:53that when teachers go on strike children's education is disrupted
0:13:53 > 0:13:57and parents need to take tile off work to look after their chhldren.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00When health care workers strike appointments are cancelled
0:14:00 > 0:14:04and patients do not get the service they deserve.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08When the trains or buses or underground workers strike,
0:14:08 > 0:14:13commuters cannot get to work.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18And she emphasised that the Government wasn't seeking to ban
0:14:18 > 0:14:21strikes, but introducing minimum turnout thresholds for strikes.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25You're watching our round-up of the day in the Commons and the Lords.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26Still to come, the questions continue over what
0:14:26 > 0:14:29went wrong at Kids Company.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37The former Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has warned that world
0:14:37 > 0:14:41leaders can't afford to fail on tackling climate change.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Ed Miliband, who is also a former Energy Secretary, was speakhng
0:14:44 > 0:14:47in a Commons debate ahead of the United Nations summit on clhmate
0:14:47 > 0:14:53change which will get under way at the end of this month in Paris.
0:14:53 > 0:14:58We need an agreement that is as close as possible to what
0:14:58 > 0:15:00the science tells us is necdssary.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03And we should all be worried about what the science is now telling us.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Compared to six years ago it is even clearer.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08I think there is a very good assessment
0:15:08 > 0:15:11which has been produced by the Met Office earlier this month.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15They told us that 2015 is sdt to be the hottest year on record, that is
0:15:15 > 0:15:20yet another record and some of this may be related to El Nino btt all
0:15:20 > 0:15:24the experts tell us that thd underlying warming is as a result of
0:15:24 > 0:15:27human-induced climate changd and we are now at 1 centigrade of
0:15:27 > 0:15:29warming,
0:15:29 > 0:15:36so that is halfway to 2 .
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Now, the important thing about this, Madam Deputy Speaker, is th`t global
0:15:40 > 0:15:43warming is not some theorethcal idea and sometimes we talk about it as if
0:15:43 > 0:15:48it is, it is happening now `nd the changes are already being whtnessed.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51He explained what he thought would be agreed in Paris.
0:15:51 > 0:15:59We will get, I believe, a 2 commitment, at Copenhagen btt not,
0:16:00 > 0:16:01I'm afraid, a 2 degree deal and
0:16:01 > 0:16:04I think this is something that the Secretary of State has acknowledged.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07The UN says that on the best case scenario for Paris,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09the current commitments madd by countries for 2013, mean th`t we
0:16:09 > 0:16:10will be halfway
0:16:10 > 0:16:13between business as usual elissions, ie; no action and where we should be
0:16:13 > 0:16:15to
0:16:15 > 0:16:17have a fighting chance of 2 degrees.
0:16:17 > 0:16:23In fact the UN has made cle`r we are heading on the basis of
0:16:23 > 0:16:34submitted plans for something like a 3 degree deal.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37We should be clear that if we end up by 2100 with 3 degrees
0:16:37 > 0:16:37of
0:16:37 > 0:16:38warming, that will be catastrophic.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41It would mean temperatures higher than at any time in the last
0:16:41 > 0:16:433,000,000 years, dramatic effects of intense heatwaves, floodhng and
0:16:43 > 0:16:45millions, not to say, hundrdds
0:16:45 > 0:16:46of millions of climate change refugees.
0:16:46 > 0:16:47The debate highlighted recent pronouncements
0:16:47 > 0:16:49by the Pope on carbon emisshons
0:16:49 > 0:16:52For those of you who have not been keeping up with papal polithcs
0:16:52 > 0:16:56things have moved on since Trban VIII put Galileo under arrest.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Pope Francis embraces the work of independent scientific rdsearch,
0:16:58 > 0:16:59and the
0:16:59 > 0:17:06benefits of technology to mddicine, engineering and communications.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08He points to the very solid scientific consensus
0:17:08 > 0:17:12on global warming.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15And to our role through the intensive use of fossil fuels
0:17:15 > 0:17:19and deforestation.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I think meeting the challenge of climate change is
0:17:21 > 0:17:24about more than degrees celsius and that is why the Pope's
0:17:24 > 0:17:27prounouncement matters.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30It forces us to confront thd reality that our response to climatd change
0:17:30 > 0:17:34goes to the heart of who we are and the values which guide our decisions
0:17:34 > 0:17:38collectively and as individtals
0:17:38 > 0:17:40The Energy Secretary said a successful outcome in Parhs was
0:17:40 > 0:17:41tantalisingly close and
0:17:41 > 0:17:45she addressed Ed Miliband dhrectly.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50I share his view that what happens after Paris is key.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53He will know that we are ambitious for getting a deal in Paris
0:17:53 > 0:17:56and what is really key is the nature of the reviews and
0:17:56 > 0:18:00the bindingness of those gohng forward.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03He will also be aware of how difficult it is to get cert`in
0:18:03 > 0:18:07countries to commit and how delicate that is as we approach Paris to try
0:18:07 > 0:18:13and keep everybody in the tdnt and yet to have an ambitious deal.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Paris will not be the end, but the moment
0:18:15 > 0:18:18when the world changes direction and kick-starts a revolution to a
0:18:18 > 0:18:22new kind of growth and development.
0:18:22 > 0:18:28Amber Rudd.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30MPs continued to probe what went wrong at Kids Company.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32The charity led by its flamboyant founder C`mila
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Batmanghelidjh collapsed in the summer when questions were raised
0:18:35 > 0:18:39over its financial management.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41The charity was set up to assist deprived youngsters in
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Britain's inner cities.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47When the former Children's Linister came before the Commons comlittee,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50MPs were curious to learn more about the meetings he had h`d with
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Camila Batmanghelidjh.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57You had cups of tea with her?
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Apparently, I had cups of tda with her in her tent, yes.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Can you describe this tent? It sounds very exotic! LAUGHTER. It is
0:19:04 > 0:19:08very nice, it is very odd, but this is a rather drab office block in
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Southwark, I think it is.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15You go into her office and her office is rather like an Ar`bian
0:19:15 > 0:19:18desert tent with lots of cushions and tea-lights around, wherd you sit
0:19:18 > 0:19:23cross-legged on the cushions.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25It is like a shrine really.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29That would be one way to put it it is an unconventional offhce, Mr
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Flynn, anyway.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36He described what happened when as a minister he asked
0:19:36 > 0:19:37for information about Kids Company.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40I went through my papers and I think you heard this from the
0:19:40 > 0:19:41Secretary of State for
0:19:41 > 0:19:47Education, it is slightly chaotic to find those papers.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I asked for all the papers relating to Kids Company in my time `t the
0:19:50 > 0:19:51Department for Education.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54There were clearly quite a lot of papers missing which I could
0:19:54 > 0:19:54recall
0:19:54 > 0:19:56which I asked for, including the letter which Camila
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Batmanghelidjh wrote directly to the Prime
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Minister to which I referred before.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Some of those were eventually found.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08When you said you referred to things happening in Number 10,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12what did you mean by that?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15I will come back to the point I was just making, Kids Company was
0:20:15 > 0:20:16exceptional
0:20:16 > 0:20:19in that it was very high profile and had very high profile b`ckers
0:20:19 > 0:20:23in inverted commas, so when you realised that the ministers see
0:20:23 > 0:20:27Camila Batmanghelidjh around the Cabinet table in Number Ten as
0:20:27 > 0:20:30part of the Big Society sumlit, when
0:20:30 > 0:20:35you have got a reception held in 2011 for Kids Company at Nulber 10,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38when policy advisers and people from the policy unit at Number 10 were
0:20:38 > 0:20:40apparently having contact whth Kids Company for which you're not
0:20:40 > 0:20:52aware, clearly the pressure is on.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55This is a charity that needs to be looked
0:20:55 > 0:20:59at a bit more favourably and in that light, that is why H say,
0:20:59 > 0:21:05it was a bit of a fait accolplis when the funding round results were
0:21:05 > 0:21:07presented in front of us.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11And that is why all I could do and in my letter to Camila
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Batmanghelidjh, the
0:21:14 > 0:21:17stipulations I put down where, one, you're not going to get any more
0:21:17 > 0:21:21funding and secondly, we ard going to second an official from the
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Department of Education to go and work inside Kids Companx,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27ostensibly to help her explore other sources of funding that did not rely
0:21:27 > 0:21:30on the public purse but also to try and find out exactly
0:21:30 > 0:21:33what was going on within Kids Company and try and get somd
0:21:33 > 0:21:39evidence as to how this mondy was being spent.
0:21:39 > 0:21:45What you are referring to sdems to be a diffusion of accountabhlity.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48You were the minister signing off the submissions, but, there was
0:21:48 > 0:21:51interference and even interference you did not know about, so that was
0:21:51 > 0:21:53quite difficult, it would h`ve been quite difficult to hold you
0:21:53 > 0:21:55accountable for handling that money with all
0:21:55 > 0:22:04the interference that was going on.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05Yes.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Thank you for that.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Now it has been announced that the Prime Minister and other senior
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Cabinet ministers are to get their own plane for official trips.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17We are not talking small here, an RAF Voyager A330
0:22:17 > 0:22:17air-to-air refuelling
0:22:17 > 0:22:22aircraft needs to be re-fitted for the purpose.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26The refit will cost ?10 million
0:22:26 > 0:22:28The government says the move will save about ?775,0 0
0:22:28 > 0:22:36a year as the plane will be cheaper than chartering flights.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41When the arrangement was mentioned in the Commons, the debate took off.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43We also want to look at the government's travel costs
0:22:43 > 0:22:45when we are looking at expenditure.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48In the light of the news th`t the government today is planning to
0:22:48 > 0:22:52go ahead with Call Me Dave @irways.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55I mention this because when he was the Shadow Transport Secret`ry,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57the Leader of the House, told the BBC that
0:22:57 > 0:23:00the idea that a special jet should be set aside for the Prime
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Minister, then Mr Blair and he said that this was the wrong momdnt to be
0:23:03 > 0:23:05splashing out taxpayers mondy on funding
0:23:05 > 0:23:12the government to travel in style.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Now what on earth has changdd?
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Is it that the honourable mdmber has changed his job
0:23:17 > 0:23:21and now he has a ministerial car, he has got used to it and hd wants
0:23:21 > 0:23:23everyone else to travel in style?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I have to say, if I look back at what was proposed back in
0:23:26 > 0:23:29the days of the Labour government, they were going to spend ?100
0:23:29 > 0:23:33million on two brand-new aircraft.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35What would have been even then a travesty,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37a complete waste of public loney.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40We are spending a small fraction of that, upgrading an existing aircraft
0:23:40 > 0:23:44to save money for the taxpaxer.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46That is the difference between our two parties,
0:23:46 > 0:23:51they spend spend spend and we deliver value for the taxpaxer.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Mr Speaker, I am really ple`sed we have a debate next week on
0:23:54 > 0:23:58the Airports Commission, we have a debate on this on Thursd`y, and I
0:23:58 > 0:24:01wonder if this would maybe be an opportune time to bring up the issue
0:24:01 > 0:24:02of the Prime Minister's proposed plans for
0:24:02 > 0:24:05his own personal air travel, Dave Force One, brought to xou
0:24:05 > 0:24:12in association with Bullingdon Airways and Eton Jet!
0:24:12 > 0:24:15It is an incredible vanity project, when the day before the Chancellor
0:24:15 > 0:24:16will be
0:24:16 > 0:24:18standing at the dispatch box with his latest round of misery
0:24:18 > 0:24:25for those which are disadvantaged and vulnerable in our community
0:24:25 > 0:24:29I can simply say the difference between us, not
0:24:29 > 0:24:32between us and Labour but also the SNP as well is that when we make a
0:24:32 > 0:24:33change,
0:24:33 > 0:24:34it is designed to save monex.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36This will reduce government travel costs and that surely is
0:24:37 > 0:24:39the right thing to do.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Chris Grayling.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Two new peers have taken their seats in the House of Lords.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Former Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce who has been succeeded
0:24:48 > 0:24:54in his Scottish constituencx by the SNP's Alex Salmond, was
0:24:54 > 0:24:57introduced into the Lords as Lord Bruce of Bennachie. He sword the
0:24:57 > 0:25:03familiar oath of allegiance. I Lord Bruce of Bennachie do swear by
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her
0:25:06 > 0:25:13Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, hdr heirs and successors, according to law, so
0:25:13 > 0:25:17help me God. And also introduced was Kate Rock, the vice-chairman
0:25:17 > 0:25:23of the Conservative Party.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27She will sit on the Conserv`tive benches of the Lords.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29And that is it for this programme.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Do join me for The Week In Parliament, where we
0:25:31 > 0:25:35will not only look back at the last few days in both Houses, but will
0:25:35 > 0:25:38also have a studio discussion on whether it is really timd to
0:25:38 > 0:25:39lower the voting age from 18 to 16.
0:25:39 > 0:25:46Until then, from me, Keith MacDougall, goodbye.