0:00:12 > 0:00:16Hello and welcome to Thursday in Parliament.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Hello and welcome to Thursday in Parliament.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Coming up a Labour MP says the UK is ignoring the murders
0:00:21 > 0:00:22of teenage gang members.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26The Government is accused of wanting to eviscerate the BBC.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30And in the Lords and there is a cooling tips to save the planet.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34I now use laddered tights, clean ones to filter through piths
0:00:34 > 0:00:36and pips when making marmalade.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41But first it is time for a cross-party commission
0:00:41 > 0:00:49into stopping young people being drawn into gangs.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51They warned gangs are widening their net into provincial towns.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54That the level of violence is getting worse and gang members
0:00:54 > 0:00:56are getting younger.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59MPs spoke about some of the grim cases in their constituencies
0:00:59 > 0:01:02and called for a new understanding of a problem that involved many
0:01:02 > 0:01:03complex social issues.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Deprivation, domestic abuse and fear.
0:01:07 > 0:01:13Just two weeks ago, I was notified by police of gun shots being fired
0:01:13 > 0:01:16on a Friday in a location in the north of my constituency.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21On the Saturday after there was a multiple stabbing of a young
0:01:21 > 0:01:25man in the south of my constituency and then just outside my
0:01:25 > 0:01:26constituency on the Sunday after that Saturday,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29there was a drive-by shooting.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30I will give way shortly.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35On Monday this week at 530 PM in the afternoon a teenager
0:01:35 > 0:01:38was stabbed in the north of my borough in Oval after a fight
0:01:38 > 0:01:41in a chicken shop and so it goes on.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44He examined some of the reasons for youth violence.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Some of the violence is carried out by young people from dysfunctional,
0:01:48 > 0:01:54often chaotic families with a history of domestic violence.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Very often, a lot of young people who get wrapped up in this,
0:01:57 > 0:02:05come from quite stable families, sometimes there is an issue
0:02:05 > 0:02:08because you may have two parents who are struggling to make ends
0:02:08 > 0:02:12meet, holding down two jobs to pay the bills and there is a link
0:02:12 > 0:02:17to that because often, I was hearing from some young people
0:02:17 > 0:02:20this morning, there is a desire to help, provide for your family
0:02:20 > 0:02:23and your mum.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26And you end up getting wrapped up in this kind of activity as a way
0:02:26 > 0:02:31of making money to help pay the bills.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33I don't care if the usual suspects are saying,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35you are excusing, we are not providing excuses today.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38But unless we look at why this is happening and the extra nation
0:02:38 > 0:02:44then we will not stop it.
0:02:44 > 0:02:51It is not fear the real reason why people join groups.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56If you are a young person living on an estate in an area
0:02:56 > 0:03:02where these groups operate, and you are not a member of that
0:03:02 > 0:03:10group then you will be very fearful that this group were set
0:03:10 > 0:03:12upon you and do you great damage.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15In my view, in my limited understanding of this problem,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18it seems to me that fear is the spur for young people
0:03:18 > 0:03:26to join such groups.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28I think Mr Speaker, the honourable gentleman has made
0:03:28 > 0:03:29an important intervention.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31I agree with him and think this is a major factor.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36David Lammy said worries about gangs were not new.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39What is new?
0:03:39 > 0:03:43I think the level of violence is new.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47I think the age profile is worrying.
0:03:47 > 0:03:54And the geographic spread feels out of control.
0:03:54 > 0:04:04And he said gang violence was spreading out of the big cities.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Last year we had Basildon, Grimsby, Harrow, High Wycombe,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Southampton, Swindon and what is going on here.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Something that was urban, that was in a city has now become
0:04:13 > 0:04:14incredibly suburban.
0:04:14 > 0:04:20Murders that were traditionally black have become white.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Actually, it is the whole reflection of our young people that
0:04:24 > 0:04:26are being caught up in the violence, the picture is not unique
0:04:26 > 0:04:28to particular communities.
0:04:28 > 0:04:34It is spreading so there is a geographical spread.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I come back to is it worth an eight page strategy of very anodyne,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40we will continue to prioritise the reduction of gang related
0:04:40 > 0:04:45violence including knife crime.
0:04:45 > 0:04:46How?
0:04:46 > 0:04:47What?
0:04:47 > 0:04:48When.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Two days before Christmas a young man I know who did working spread
0:04:51 > 0:04:54to my office was surrounded by a group of 20 young people
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and stabbed in the chest.
0:04:57 > 0:05:03The knife entered the fat each issue of his heart,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05he was extremely lucky to survive.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07You can live in these communities and be unaware.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09As a middle-aged woman, I can walk the streets and live
0:05:09 > 0:05:10As a middle-aged woman, I can walk the streets and live
0:05:10 > 0:05:11in a different world.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13And the world that our young people living, in the cities
0:05:13 > 0:05:15are increasingly towns to is different and their experience
0:05:16 > 0:05:17of it is different.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Replying to the debate to the Home Office, Karen Bradley
0:05:22 > 0:05:27reassured MPs that tackling youth violence was a priority.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31She admitted that by the time young people came into conflict
0:05:31 > 0:05:32with public authorities, usually at hospital,
0:05:32 > 0:05:39it was too late.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Now Labour say that those at the top of government wants
0:05:42 > 0:05:43to eviscerate the BBC.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45The accusation came during culture questions.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47The corporation's future is up for discussion after the Government
0:05:47 > 0:05:53published a paper in July.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56In the Commons, the Shadow Culture Secretary said the renewal
0:05:56 > 0:05:58was being used to diminish the broadcaster and boost
0:05:58 > 0:06:03its competitors.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Mr Speaker 80% of the 192,000 responses that were in
0:06:07 > 0:06:09the consultation say the BBC serves
0:06:09 > 0:06:10is audience well or very well,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13the majority believe its content is high quality and distinctive
0:06:13 > 0:06:14from other broadcasters.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18The Secretary of State reports to be a supporter of the BBC so why
0:06:18 > 0:06:21is he using the renewal to restrict what the BBC can do rather
0:06:21 > 0:06:22than help
0:06:22 > 0:06:24it to compete in a rapidly changing increasingly global
0:06:24 > 0:06:29broadcasting environment?
0:06:29 > 0:06:32I was not surprised to find the responses show that the vast
0:06:32 > 0:06:36majority of people value the BBC, as I have said, I value it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39The right Honourable lady will have two away the publication
0:06:39 > 0:06:43of the white paper but it is not a question of trying to cut back
0:06:43 > 0:06:47on its output, nevertheless there is a case I believe
0:06:47 > 0:06:51which is borne out by responses and other surveys we have conducted
0:06:51 > 0:06:54that the BBC needs to be more distinctive and that is something
0:06:54 > 0:06:56that the director-general himself has said when he set
0:06:56 > 0:07:04out his own plans for a chance renewal.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06The Secretary of State speech yesterday was more
0:07:06 > 0:07:13about bashing the BBC rather than anything else
0:07:13 > 0:07:16and that is what the chair of the BBC trust said.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Bashing the BBC is the one thing the secretary of state
0:07:18 > 0:07:22and the Prime Minister and the Chancellor agree on these
0:07:22 > 0:07:25on these days.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28To eviscerate the BBC, to do its competitors FA that rather
0:07:28 > 0:07:31than delivering what the licence fee paying public want to see.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34They just don't seem to accept that the British people like the BBC
0:07:34 > 0:07:37and wanted to continue what it's doing so when will the secretary
0:07:37 > 0:07:39of state except that charter renewal should be about making
0:07:39 > 0:07:42the BBC fit for the future, rather than trying to diminish
0:07:42 > 0:07:44it for the commercial convenience of competitors?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47I think the honourable lady must have looked at a different speech
0:07:47 > 0:07:51to the one I delivered.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54It certainly wasn't about bashing the BBC and indeed as soon as I have
0:07:54 > 0:08:03finished making the speech I had a good meeting with the chairman
0:08:03 > 0:08:06of a BBC trust who didn't mention anything about bashing
0:08:06 > 0:08:07the BBC
0:08:07 > 0:08:08and indeed welcomed what I had said.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11As for the charter renewal, it is precisely about making the BBC
0:08:11 > 0:08:14fit for the future and I do intend to try to bring forward
0:08:14 > 0:08:16the publication as soon as possible.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19As the honourable lady knows, there are a number of very important
0:08:19 > 0:08:22contributions including 192,000 consultations which we want to take
0:08:22 > 0:08:25fully into account.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26I have had representations from hundreds of constituents
0:08:26 > 0:08:30in Cambridge concerned about the future of the BBC.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Overwhelmingly supportive and positive I must say.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Now we have the results and over three fifths are in favour
0:08:38 > 0:08:41of the current funding system, can we have an assurance
0:08:41 > 0:08:46that there will be no further top slicing of the licence fee?
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Well I do hope to be able to update the House on our progress
0:08:50 > 0:08:53with the renewal of the charter in due course.
0:08:53 > 0:09:00But we are taking all the responsibilities we have
0:09:00 > 0:09:03received very seriously, we are fully taking them
0:09:03 > 0:09:06into account, but I would like to point out that we have
0:09:06 > 0:09:09already agreed with the BBC that one of the top slices,
0:09:09 > 0:09:11that is the additional amount taking for broadband will come
0:09:11 > 0:09:21to end in 2020.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25I know my right honourable friend will have noted the forthcoming BBC
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Shakespeare season held in collaboration with many other
0:09:27 > 0:09:28bodies including the Royal Shakespeare Company,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31designed to bring Shakespeare to life new generation using not
0:09:31 > 0:09:33just TV but radio and online services as well.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Does he agree with me that this is exactly the sort of thing the BBC
0:09:37 > 0:09:42ought to be doing and something that only the BBC can do?
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I do agree with my right honourable friend strongly.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Another conservative turn to the findings of the recent report
0:09:47 > 0:09:50into the abuse by the former BBC DJ and television presenter Jimmy
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Savile.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57This four-year ?6 million enquiry confirmed that Jimmy Savile molested
0:09:57 > 0:10:0272 victims, raped a youngster as young as eight and attacks
0:10:02 > 0:10:11occurred in the corridors and dressing rooms of every BBC
0:10:11 > 0:10:14premises over a period of 47 years and yet no senior manager past
0:10:14 > 0:10:15or present has accepted individual responsibility.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Does the secretary of state believe this is an adequate response
0:10:18 > 0:10:25for the leading public service broadcaster?
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Well I would say to my right honourable friend that I hope
0:10:28 > 0:10:31he will read in full the statement by the director-general which makes
0:10:31 > 0:10:33clear that the BBC does take this matter very seriously,
0:10:33 > 0:10:39that it offers a full apology and that it fully accept
0:10:39 > 0:10:43the recommendations of Dame Janet Smith.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46The important thing is measures are put in place to ensure this
0:10:46 > 0:10:47never happens again.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50A lot has been done by the BBC but I welcome the fact the BBC have
0:10:50 > 0:10:54accepted the recommendations of a further review to be carried
0:10:54 > 0:10:58out to make sure that everything possible is being done to stop this
0:10:58 > 0:10:59kind of abuse ever happening again.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02John Whittingdale.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Staying with culture questions there was also a call for
0:11:04 > 0:11:10the Government to do cyber bullying.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13One in 5, 10-12-year-olds with a social media account has
0:11:13 > 0:11:17been bullied online.
0:11:17 > 0:11:24According to a BBC Newsround survey.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27The survey found most 10-12 -year-olds have at least one
0:11:27 > 0:11:28social media accounts.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Despite the fact that many networks say you must be 13 to join.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34The survey asked over a thousand 10-18 year olds in the UK
0:11:34 > 0:11:37about their experiences on social media.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Will the Minister agree with me in roundly welcoming
0:11:40 > 0:11:50the consultation starting today which has commenced in taking action
0:11:55 > 0:11:58on Internet trolls to create fake social media profiles to bully,
0:11:58 > 0:11:59harass
0:11:59 > 0:12:00and menace others online,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02in particular taking real action on children affected
0:12:02 > 0:12:03by this online bullying?
0:12:03 > 0:12:05I entirely share my honourable friend's concern on this matter,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07it is a very distressing matter when this happens.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10I discovered that somebody had set up a profile of me
0:12:10 > 0:12:13without my knowledge a few weeks ago which I swiftly had removed.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18It is clear that we do need to tighten the law in this area
0:12:18 > 0:12:24were people are using these profiles to cause distress and in some cases
0:12:24 > 0:12:26breaching the law and therefore I absolutely welcomed
0:12:26 > 0:12:31the new guidelines should the CPS are coming out with.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33You are watching Thursday in Parliament, here on BBC
0:12:33 > 0:12:39Parliament with me, Alicia McCarthy.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45What can be done to promote public awareness of Parliament?
0:12:45 > 0:12:49In the Commons, MPs had plenty of ideas, including getting more
0:12:49 > 0:12:53children to visit.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57There was also a suggestion that more use should be made
0:12:57 > 0:13:03of modern technology.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Does the Deputy Leader of the House agree with me that use
0:13:06 > 0:13:09of the internet and in particular developments such
0:13:09 > 0:13:11as Parliamentlive.tv has the potential to hugely increase
0:13:11 > 0:13:14the engagement of the public in the proceedings of this place?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17The internet is a marvellous form of communication,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20whether it is social media, whether it is Parliamentlive.tv.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Of course, people can also watch us on BBC Parliament channel,
0:13:24 > 0:13:30if they so desire and I'm sure my mother is watching right now.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38It will be of great concern to everybody in the House that more
0:13:38 > 0:13:40and more people think Westminster politics is remote,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44corrupt, boring - inexplicably - and unclear.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46A third of eligible voters in Britain chose not to go down
0:13:46 > 0:13:50the road and cast a ballot in last year's general election.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53What does she believe are the main problems with Parliament that
0:13:53 > 0:13:56are putting people off and what is the Government
0:13:56 > 0:13:59doing about it?
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Voter engagement, in terms of general election turnout,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06collapsed in the 2001 election after four years of the Blair
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Government.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12But I am pleased to say that voter turnout has increased.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14She talks about this institution potentially being corrupt.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17I do not believe that is the case.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20I believe we have high levels of integrity but where MPs have been
0:14:20 > 0:14:23found to break the law, they have been sent to jail
0:14:23 > 0:14:25and that is where they belonged.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Down the corridor in the Lords, there was concern that some Muslims
0:14:28 > 0:14:32might be missing out on further education because their opposition
0:14:32 > 0:14:36to interest-bearing loans prevented them from taking student loans.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41Peers were told the Government had consulted an a Sharia-conmpliant
0:14:41 > 0:14:43finance scheme for the students and hoped to introduce a product
0:14:43 > 0:14:47based on Takaful - a form of Islamic insurance.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50I ask the Minister the question because the head teacher
0:14:50 > 0:14:53of the Preston Muslim Girls School asked me the question
0:14:53 > 0:14:56and I could not answer it.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I'm not sure the head teacher and his students will find
0:14:59 > 0:15:01much present comfort in the Minister's reply.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Every year that passes without a solution, thousands
0:15:04 > 0:15:07of Muslim students are disadvantaged.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10The Government, as the Minister said, identified the solution two
0:15:10 > 0:15:14years ago and still can't say when it is going to be delivered.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Will the Minister agree to meet with me so we can discuss how
0:15:17 > 0:15:22to have a Sharia-compliant system in place without further delay?
0:15:22 > 0:15:26As I said, the Government did a consultation in 2014
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and we are continuing to work closely with experts in Islamic
0:15:29 > 0:15:33finance to develop the product.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36But at the moment, the Secretary of State does not have power to just
0:15:36 > 0:15:38introduce this product, we do need primary legislation
0:15:38 > 0:15:42which is why we are hoping and looking for a suitable
0:15:42 > 0:15:44opportunity to bring it forward.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Given that the student maintenance grants are now going to be ended,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51this is going to be far more urgent because it means there is a whole
0:15:51 > 0:15:57swathe of students now that will not have grants available to them,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01so it really isn't any good saying they have been doing this for two
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and a half years now, it has to be in place by the time
0:16:04 > 0:16:06the grants are withdrawn.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Can we have that commitment from the Government?
0:16:10 > 0:16:14As I said, we will be looking for a suitable vehicle
0:16:14 > 0:16:17with which to attempt to introduce the system.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20There is strong interest in it and the consultation responses -
0:16:20 > 0:16:2394% believed there would be demand for such a system and 81% thought
0:16:23 > 0:16:27that the proposed scheme which is being developed
0:16:27 > 0:16:30was acceptable, so we want of course to assure access to all students
0:16:30 > 0:16:33to our education which is why we would be the first Government
0:16:33 > 0:16:35to introduce such a scheme but we need primary legislation
0:16:35 > 0:16:38to do so.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Can the Minister tell me, will this product be available
0:16:42 > 0:16:45to persons of all religions or none?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Yes, this will be a product that is open to everybody.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51It is 45 years ago today, the first British nuclear submarine
0:16:51 > 0:16:53reached the North Pole...
0:16:53 > 0:16:56LAUGHTER
0:16:56 > 0:16:59It only did that courtesy of the engineers and the skill
0:16:59 > 0:17:02of those engineers and in the interest of helping out any
0:17:02 > 0:17:05of the Muslims who wish to join the Navy as engineers,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07will get their courses paid for.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10LAUGHTER
0:17:10 > 0:17:13I thank the noble Lord for his comments and
0:17:13 > 0:17:17add my congratulations for this important occasion.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20As I said, what we do want to do is try and ensure that access
0:17:20 > 0:17:23to university, all young people who wish to and have the ability
0:17:23 > 0:17:26to go to university have so and that is why
0:17:26 > 0:17:27we are looking forward.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30We would be the first Government to introduce such a product.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Labour has urged the Government to do more to promote the circular
0:17:33 > 0:17:36economy, cutting waste by repairing and recycling products rather
0:17:36 > 0:17:39than throwing them away.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42The opposition called on ministers to encourage consumers to reject
0:17:42 > 0:17:46the throwaway society and cut landfill mountains.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Peers said radical new thinking was needed to prevent
0:17:49 > 0:17:53the unsustainable use of resources such as precious metals which ended
0:17:53 > 0:17:57up in rubbish tips when products broke down or were no longer wanted.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Current consumption is linear - companies use raw materials to make
0:18:01 > 0:18:05products, they are sold to consumers, who then discard them
0:18:05 > 0:18:08when they are no longer valuable or useful.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12The circular economy replaces that model with a virtuous circle
0:18:12 > 0:18:17which replaces the concept of waste with the concept of disassembly
0:18:17 > 0:18:22and re-use so that materials are used again and again.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26The global population is set to increase from 7 billion
0:18:26 > 0:18:30to 9 billion by 2050, many of whom will be joining
0:18:30 > 0:18:34the new middle classes with new levels of consumption.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38In the next 20 years, we will need 40% more energy
0:18:38 > 0:18:42and water and three times more material resources.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Ways of doing things which may come naturally to us need to be shared
0:18:46 > 0:18:48with the new generation, who find it easier to chuck
0:18:48 > 0:18:51than to reuse.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54When I was a girl growing up, before tights were invented,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57we were taught to darn our own stockings -
0:18:57 > 0:19:00that is his circular economy.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03I now use laddered tights - clean ones - to filter
0:19:03 > 0:19:07through the pith and pips when making marmalade and of course
0:19:07 > 0:19:10then to recycle the residue into my compost bin.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Again, my own personal, household circular economy.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17There are standards for how you deal with food waste but we have yet
0:19:17 > 0:19:21to get to the situation where the food industry itself
0:19:21 > 0:19:24is changing the way in which it operates.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28The food chain needs to be circular and not linear.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33It is estimated, there are probably 125 million old mobile phones
0:19:33 > 0:19:38languishing in the top drawers of British households at the moment,
0:19:38 > 0:19:42many of which contain metals that are becoming increasingly scarce
0:19:42 > 0:19:45in the natural world.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48We still generate roughly 200 million tonnes of waste
0:19:48 > 0:19:52annually across the UK. We must reduce this.
0:19:52 > 0:19:57We must do more to ensure that waste that cannot be prevented
0:19:57 > 0:20:01is reused and the noble lady, Lady Jones of Whitchurch,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04highlighted challenges there are in increasing
0:20:04 > 0:20:08levels of recycling.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12Currently we recycle 44.9% of waste from households and we are indeed
0:20:12 > 0:20:16committed to meeting the EU target of 50% by 2020.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20But we need to go further of course and Government continue to work
0:20:20 > 0:20:26with local authorities and businesses to promote best practice.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Lord Gardiner.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31You might feel as though you have already heard plenty about June's
0:20:31 > 0:20:34referendum on our EU membership, but in the Commons
0:20:34 > 0:20:37at Business Questions, several MPs thought there was a need
0:20:37 > 0:20:41for plenty more debate, with one suggesting the subject
0:20:41 > 0:20:45should come up for discussion very, very regularly.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Every week, we should have, surely, a major debate,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52and could we start with one on the dreadful impact that
0:20:52 > 0:20:55leaving the EU would have on our universities,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58for most of us in university towns, our biggest employers,
0:20:58 > 0:21:02vital to our future, not one vice Chancellor has come out
0:21:02 > 0:21:04in favour of Brexit.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Could we have an early debate, a regular debate?
0:21:07 > 0:21:10I am sure that we will have plenty of opportunities to debate
0:21:10 > 0:21:13European Union matters.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15We have just had a series of statements and debates
0:21:15 > 0:21:18on these issues.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21I'm sure the future of universities will be a matter of debate
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and discussion in those at which the means of funding,
0:21:24 > 0:21:26either direct or indirect via Brussels, will be a regular
0:21:26 > 0:21:28subject for a debate.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Can we have a debate about positive campaigning and can
0:21:30 > 0:21:33we encourage everyone, when we are debating our place
0:21:33 > 0:21:35in Europe, that this is done as positively as possible?
0:21:35 > 0:21:38One of the major issues to be debated during the EU referendum
0:21:38 > 0:21:42campaign will be the size of the UK's net contribution.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Could the Leader find time for a debate so that those in favour
0:21:45 > 0:21:49of leaving the EU can outline the infrastructure projects
0:21:49 > 0:21:53and improvements to public services we could spend that money on?
0:21:53 > 0:21:58And it would also give an opportunity for those to try
0:21:58 > 0:22:01and defend why the money should go to Europe rather than be spent
0:22:01 > 0:22:05in their own constituency.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Some French Minister has apparently been saying today that if we had
0:22:08 > 0:22:12the nerve to come out of the EU, all the 4,000 people in Calais
0:22:12 > 0:22:15would be put in rubber boats and come across to Britain
0:22:15 > 0:22:17because the French don't want anything to do with it.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20If I was a Frenchman, I would be hugely embarrassed
0:22:20 > 0:22:23by my Government.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26A country that is two and a half size of this country,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28and roughly the same population cannot disperse 4,000 people
0:22:28 > 0:22:32and look after them. They should be ashamed.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Could we have a statement from the Foreign Secretary next week
0:22:36 > 0:22:42letting this House know whether it is the Government's
0:22:42 > 0:22:46position that if we came out of the EU, we would have more
0:22:46 > 0:22:48immigration to this country, rather than less?
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Chris Grayling, who favours leaving the EU, said he was certain
0:22:51 > 0:22:54that the Foreign Secretary would be back in front
0:22:54 > 0:22:58of the Commons very shortly.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02The fallout from the EU referendum was also on the mind
0:23:02 > 0:23:05of the Shadow Leader of the Commons Chris Bryant.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10He pressed Chris Grayling to give the date of the Queen's Speech -
0:23:10 > 0:23:14the day when the Government sets out the bills it wants to put into law
0:23:14 > 0:23:15over the next year.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Mr Bryant wondered if the Government was putting this off
0:23:18 > 0:23:20because of the referendum.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23He suggested that perhaps MPs would run out of things to do
0:23:23 > 0:23:25in this session if it did not end soon.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Downing Street has also said there is going to be a re-shuffle
0:23:28 > 0:23:30after the referendum and that the Leader of the House
0:23:30 > 0:23:33tops the list of those who will be sacked.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36I for one am beginning to feel very sorry for him so I have been
0:23:36 > 0:23:39searching the job pages for him.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Sadly, the only thing that seemed even vaguely suitable
0:23:41 > 0:23:44was working as an unpaid, voluntary intern for
0:23:44 > 0:23:46the honourable member for Bath.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50But unfortunately, he says in the job description,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53that he wants someone who is a good team player so that rules
0:23:53 > 0:23:54the Leader out.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58And all the other jobs say they want someone with a good sense of humour.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01LAUGHTER Need I say more?
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Don't worry though, I'm sure the Prime Minister will give
0:24:04 > 0:24:06the Leader of the House a glowing reference.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09The last Parliament was the 'zombie Parliament', as we know.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12For months on end, the House had no proper business.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Now, we have the return of the living dead.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17They walk amongst us, they look like ministers,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20they are paid like ministers but they are doomed.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22They hate the Prime Minister, they think he is damaging
0:24:22 > 0:24:24the economy and putting our security at risk.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Frankly, the only thing that is keeping them
0:24:27 > 0:24:31in the Government is the ?23,570.89 extra salary they will get by
0:24:31 > 0:24:3523rd June.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37So how does the Government intend to fill the business
0:24:38 > 0:24:40between now and then?
0:24:40 > 0:24:43We will announce the date of the Queen's Speech when we have
0:24:43 > 0:24:45decided the date of the Queen's Speech and as always,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47the honourable gentleman makes the mistake of believing that
0:24:47 > 0:24:50what he reads the papers is what is actually going to happen.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53I haven't seen the papers.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55We will take a decision on the Queen's Speech
0:24:55 > 0:24:59and we will announce it to this House as always.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02And of course, we have to be mindful of the needs to ensure
0:25:02 > 0:25:04the progress of business.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07I think it somewhat ironic, actually, he can't really
0:25:07 > 0:25:09have it both ways.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12On the one hand, he is saying, where are the recess dates
0:25:12 > 0:25:14and on the other hand, he is saying it is a zombie
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Parliament, with no serious business.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Actually, he is completely wrong.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21I have just set out plans for a second reading of the Policing
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and Crime Bill next week, a really important measure that
0:25:24 > 0:25:26will, I think, restore a sensible balance to many aspects
0:25:26 > 0:25:29of our policing and justice system.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32I announced the Investigatory Powers Bill, a crucial bill to enable us
0:25:32 > 0:25:33to defend our country.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36If he thinks that is a feature of a zombie Parliament,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38then frankly, he doesn't know what the word zombie means.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Chris Grayling on how you define a zombie.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44And that is it for now but do join me on Friday night at 11pm
0:25:44 > 0:25:46for a full round-up of the week here at Westminster,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49including a round-up of this week's arguments on Europe
0:25:49 > 0:25:51and an explanation of why the Government has paused plans
0:25:51 > 0:25:55to devolve more powers to Wales.
0:25:55 > 0:26:01But for now, from me, Alicia McCarthy, goodbye.