0:00:12 > 0:00:15Hello there and welcome to Thursday in Parliament,
0:00:15 > 0:00:18where MPs and peers paid tributes to the Queen on her 90th birthday.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Let this be a day of thanksgiving and much rejoicing
0:00:21 > 0:00:24for Her Majesty's birthday.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Long live the Queen.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30After the recent scrutiny of his private life,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33the culture secretary says he still believes in the freedom
0:00:33 > 0:00:34of the press.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37And the verdict is read out on a peer who double-claimed
0:00:37 > 0:00:39mileage expenses.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45He be suspended from the House for eight months and required to repay
0:00:45 > 0:00:50the ?756 he wrongly claimed.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54But first MPs and peers have paid tribute to the Queen as the monarch
0:00:54 > 0:00:56celebrates her 90th birthday.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Crowds lined the streets in Windsor as Her Majesty took
0:00:59 > 0:01:01part in the walkabout.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Some had been waiting for four hours to catch a glmipse of the Queen
0:01:04 > 0:01:09on the day she became the nation's first ever 90-year-old monarch.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12In the Commons, the Prime Minister led the tributes.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14No other country has a head of state with such
0:01:15 > 0:01:17wisdom and such patience.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Mr Speaker, there are some who say at times I may put that
0:01:20 > 0:01:22patience to the test.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26In the play The Audience, the character who portrays me goes
0:01:26 > 0:01:29on and on about Europe so long that she falls asleep.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I can guarantee this has never happened.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36I may not have kept my promise not to bang on about Europe at every
0:01:36 > 0:01:39forum but this is certainly the one where I try the hardest.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42In 90 years, Her Majesty's lived through some extraordinary times
0:01:42 > 0:01:44in our world.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47From the Second World War, when her parents were nearly killed
0:01:47 > 0:01:51as bombs dropped on Buckingham Palace, to the rations
0:01:51 > 0:01:54with which she bought the material for her wedding dress.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58From presenting the World Cup to England at Wembley in 1966 to man
0:01:58 > 0:02:01landing on the moon three years later.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04From the end of the Cold War to peace in Northern Ireland.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Throughout it all as the sands of culture shift and the tides
0:02:08 > 0:02:13of politics ebb and flow Her Majesty has been steadfast.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Jeremy Corbyn spoke about a planned visit from the Queen
0:02:16 > 0:02:18to North London.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21In 2006, she was due to open the new Emirates Stadium
0:02:21 > 0:02:25in my constituency but had to pull out through injury.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Unfortunately, Mr Speaker, this is a fate that has affected far
0:02:28 > 0:02:32too many of Arsenal's squad in subsequent years.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36So we must congratulate her on her prescience.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39My honourable friend the member for Hornsey and Wood Green was then
0:02:39 > 0:02:43the leader of the council and as the Queen could not attend
0:02:43 > 0:02:45the opening they were invited to Buckingham Palace
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and she accompanied the whole squad to Buckingham Palace
0:02:48 > 0:02:50to meet the Queen.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54We know the Queen is absolutely above politics, she may
0:02:54 > 0:02:58be above football too, but many locals harbour this quiet
0:02:58 > 0:03:04secret view that she's actually privately a Gooner.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Throughout the decades of her reign, she has been a regular
0:03:07 > 0:03:09visitor across Scotland.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13For me, the most remarkable events have been in recent years,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17including the 1999 reopening of this Scottish Parliament after a recess
0:03:17 > 0:03:21of nearly 300 years.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26Who can forget the entire chamber, all MSPs of all parties,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29the public gallery, Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh
0:03:29 > 0:03:35all singing Man's A Man For All That by Robert Burns?
0:03:35 > 0:03:39She has seen technological advances, from when a telegram or radio
0:03:39 > 0:03:43programme was a thing of great excitement to the prevalence
0:03:43 > 0:03:46of satellite television, the iPhone and letters
0:03:46 > 0:03:51being supplanted by e-mail.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56But through all those years of change and upheaval one thing has
0:03:56 > 0:03:59been a constant and that has been Her Majesty's selfless service
0:03:59 > 0:04:03to Britain, admired both at home and around the world for constant
0:04:03 > 0:04:07and consistent advocacy of Britain at its best.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11I've always been so proud to share the date of my birth with our
0:04:11 > 0:04:16monarch and when I was a little girl in Cardiff my father used to kid me
0:04:16 > 0:04:21that the 24-gun salute was in fact for me.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25I did find out very shortly that it was for a much
0:04:25 > 0:04:27more important lady.
0:04:27 > 0:04:33This morning when I was buying my muffin in Portcullis House I noticed
0:04:33 > 0:04:42on the coin with which I paid Elizabeth II but today is not
0:04:42 > 0:04:48about the Elizabeth on the coins, today
0:04:48 > 0:04:55is about the Elizabeth in our hearts.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56Bleurgh.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58She is of course Her Majesty The Queen.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00The Commons also heard from the grandson of the former
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
0:05:02 > 0:05:08On the night of the 4th of April 1955, on the eve of his resignation
0:05:08 > 0:05:13as Prime Minister, Churchill gave a dinner at Number Ten
0:05:13 > 0:05:16in honour of the Queen.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It was agreed between the private offices that there
0:05:19 > 0:05:21would be no speeches.
0:05:21 > 0:05:29But the Queen, greatly moved by the impending retirement
0:05:29 > 0:05:32of her first Prime Minister, who she had known since
0:05:32 > 0:05:38she was a very small child, rose in her place and lifted her
0:05:38 > 0:05:43glass with the toast, "To my Prime Minister."
0:05:43 > 0:05:49And Churchill, a very old man, in the full dress evening uniform
0:05:49 > 0:05:55of a Knight of the Garter completely unprepared pulled himself
0:05:55 > 0:06:00to his feet and this is what he said to the Queen.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05He said, Madam, I propose a toast to your Majesty,
0:06:05 > 0:06:10I used to drink as an officer in the Fourth Hussars
0:06:10 > 0:06:13at Bangalore in India in the reign of your Majesty's
0:06:13 > 0:06:19great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria and I drink
0:06:19 > 0:06:25to the wise and kindly way of life of which your Majesty is the young
0:06:25 > 0:06:29and gleaming champion.
0:06:29 > 0:06:35Through 90 years of her life and 64 years of her reign she has
0:06:35 > 0:06:38always been the same.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39Nicholas Soames.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43The Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has said his faith
0:06:43 > 0:06:46in press freedom has been tested to the utmost but despite
0:06:46 > 0:06:49the scrutiny of his private life he told MPs he still believed
0:06:49 > 0:06:53in press freedom and that it was vitally important.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Last week the BBC's Newsnight programme revealed that
0:06:56 > 0:06:59four newspapers knew about John Whittingdale's
0:06:59 > 0:07:02relationship with a former sex worker but had decided not
0:07:02 > 0:07:05to publish the story.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Tonight John Whittingdale confirmed to this programme he had had
0:07:08 > 0:07:10a relationship with a woman who turned out unbeknownst
0:07:10 > 0:07:13to him to be a sex worker.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Campaigners accuse newspapers of sitting on the story
0:07:15 > 0:07:18in order to exert leverage over John Whittingdale,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21who's in charge of press regulation.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Following the Newsnight report, the newspapers did run the story
0:07:24 > 0:07:28publishing further details about his private life.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31This session of culture questions was Mr Whittingdale's first
0:07:31 > 0:07:34appearance in the Commons since and his first task
0:07:34 > 0:07:37was to answer a question from another MP who has also
0:07:37 > 0:07:40experienced press coverage of his private affairs.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Simon Danczuk asked about a law that allows courts to force newspapers
0:07:44 > 0:07:47that are not signed up to the approved regulator to pay
0:07:47 > 0:07:52all legal costs even where the paper has won the case.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55The Secretary of State must realise that press abuse victims want him
0:07:55 > 0:07:59to implement section 40, indeed even the Prime Minister
0:07:59 > 0:08:03personally promised victims of press abuse and this House that it
0:08:03 > 0:08:05would be enacted.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Why is the Secretary of State breaking the Prime Minister's
0:08:08 > 0:08:09promise?
0:08:09 > 0:08:12I have considerable sympathy with the victims of press abuse
0:08:12 > 0:08:17and I've had a number of meetings with himself and with others
0:08:17 > 0:08:22who are rightly following this matter with great interest.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26I would say that, having had my faith perhaps
0:08:26 > 0:08:30tested to the utmost, I still believe that press freedom
0:08:30 > 0:08:35is a vitally important component of a free society.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37We should tread very carefully however.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42The recommendations of the Leveson report, some have already been
0:08:42 > 0:08:45implemented and the new system is coming into effect,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49the exemplary damages provisions of section 40 you will be aware have
0:08:49 > 0:08:52been enacted now.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54The remainder are still under consideration.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58We do not yet have a recognised press regulator in place
0:08:58 > 0:09:03but we will continue to consider these matters very carefully.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Implementation of these cost incentives was promised by the then
0:09:06 > 0:09:11Culture Secretary, they were promised as a key part
0:09:11 > 0:09:14of the Leveson report, agreed by the Prime Minister,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17and not only by parliament but also victims of press abuse including
0:09:17 > 0:09:20the family of Madeline McCann.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24In signalling already that he has no intention of taking this step,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28has the Secretary of State reflected very much at all that he is not only
0:09:28 > 0:09:32thwarting parliament, breaching a cross-party agreement,
0:09:32 > 0:09:37but also breaking a firm and clear promise made by the Prime Minister
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and his colleagues?
0:09:40 > 0:09:44I would just say to the honourable gentleman, first of all I have not
0:09:44 > 0:09:47indicated that I have no intention.
0:09:47 > 0:09:53I simply said I was not minded which means that the matter
0:09:53 > 0:09:57is still under consideration and my mind and that
0:09:57 > 0:10:01of my colleagues is open on the matter.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04A culture minister tried to introduce some jollity.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06While we are on anniversaries may I also congratulate
0:10:06 > 0:10:11Charlotte Bronte on her 200th anniversary which falls today.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14I don't see anything wrong with congratulating her.
0:10:14 > 0:10:23Shall I get on with it?
0:10:23 > 0:10:26We've done a lot.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I also want to welcome and congratulate Ofcom's digital
0:10:30 > 0:10:33communications review, which is not 200 years old,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37in fact it is extremely fresh, staright out of the box and it's
0:10:37 > 0:10:41going to promote and petition and we've issued a very clear
0:10:41 > 0:10:43statement that we will back Ofcom all the way on this.
0:10:43 > 0:10:49I'm starting to realise why this department is known
0:10:49 > 0:10:52as the Ministry for Fun.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57We all know the Secretary of State has been distracted from doing his
0:10:57 > 0:11:02job as Culture Secretary by his extracurricular activities.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04I'm talking about his moonlighting for
0:11:04 > 0:11:05the Leave campaign.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Maria Eagle.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10You're watching the Today in Parliament with me.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18A peer has been suspended from the House of Lords for eight
0:11:18 > 0:11:22months over the double-claiming of hundreds of pounds of expenses.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Lord Bhatia was found to have claimed mileage in the Lords on 63
0:11:25 > 0:11:30occasions while also claiming from another organisation.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33It's the second time he's been suspended from the House having been
0:11:33 > 0:11:38barred for eight months in October 2010 for wrongly claiming over
0:11:38 > 0:11:42?27,000 in overnight allowances and mileage expenses.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46The ruling was announced by a senior peer.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49The commission found that he breached the House's rules
0:11:49 > 0:11:56on financial support for members and so breached the code of conduct.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00The commissioner also found that in not being scrupulous
0:12:00 > 0:12:06about the claims, Lord Bhatia, and I quote, failed to act
0:12:06 > 0:12:09on his personal honour, end of quote.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13The subcommittee on his conduct recommended that the Lord be
0:12:13 > 0:12:18suspended from the House for eight months and required to repay
0:12:18 > 0:12:24the ?756 he wrongly claimed.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29The proposal to suspend him was agreed unanimously.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33How much help is the government giving to Iraqi troops fighting
0:12:33 > 0:12:35against so-called Islamic State?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The UK already provides Iraqi forces with training
0:12:38 > 0:12:43and the Defence Secretary recently authorised an offer for 30 extra
0:12:43 > 0:12:47troops to provide training in areas such as logistics
0:12:47 > 0:12:48and bridge building.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52That means in total there are over 300 UK personnel involved
0:12:52 > 0:12:55in training inside Iraq.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Replying to a question on their role, here we're told
0:12:57 > 0:13:01what kind of operations they are involved in.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10Since December 2014, UK military personnel have helped
0:13:10 > 0:13:13to train over 12,000 individuals with infantry skills,
0:13:13 > 0:13:17weapons maintenance techniques, and counter-IED and
0:13:17 > 0:13:19combat medicine combat techniques.
0:13:19 > 0:13:25We expect this effort to continue in the coming year.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29The pace of training reflects the Iraqi
0:13:29 > 0:13:32government's ability to identify personnel and units, not currently
0:13:32 > 0:13:35committed to offensive operations who are therefore able to attend
0:13:35 > 0:13:41training in the subjects we offer.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Daesh or Islamic State, call it what you will,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47is waging war, as your Lordships no, not just in Iraq but
0:13:47 > 0:13:57also in Syria, Libya and, indeed, against the whole west.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06It is incumbent on nations such as ourselves and indeed it is in our
0:14:06 > 0:14:13own interests to assist in the battle
0:14:13 > 0:14:16against this brutal organisation.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19So, will my noble friend the Minister, tell the house
0:14:19 > 0:14:23what progress is being made with our assistance in Iraq in the war
0:14:23 > 0:14:26against Daesh?
0:14:26 > 0:14:27With coalition support, Iraqi security forces have
0:14:27 > 0:14:32taken around 40% of the populated areas that Daesh once held in Iraq,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34including Tikrit, Sinjar, and Ramadi.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36While were hit is now being cleared of Daesh remnants.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38We've been, also, striking elsewhere in northern Iraq, predominantly
0:14:38 > 0:14:41on Daesh's is lines of communication to support the Iraqi forces.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42Preparing for the retaking of Mosul.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44We will continue to provide vital as a port,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47as well as specialist training and equipment, as I mentioned.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Can the Minister say if the troops deployed
0:14:49 > 0:14:50on training are embedded forces?
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Which, according to this statement
0:14:53 > 0:14:57issued by the Defence Secretary on Monday would put them under Iraqi
0:14:57 > 0:15:02command, and would mean that they could become
0:15:02 > 0:15:06combat ants without the British parliament
0:15:06 > 0:15:09being told about it.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State
0:15:12 > 0:15:16for Defence made a written note to which the noble Lord will refer.
0:15:16 > 0:15:22He made it clear that embedded forces are
0:15:22 > 0:15:25not included in the convention that has grown up since 2011, bringing...
0:15:25 > 0:15:31When troops are sent to conflict zones, bringing that to
0:15:31 > 0:15:34the House of Commons.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36He has acknowledged that transparency is needed and those
0:15:36 > 0:15:39embedded forces are made public, where they are, and who they work
0:15:39 > 0:15:40for, once a year.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42At the moment, thereafter 177 embedded forces
0:15:42 > 0:15:43throughout the world.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44Staying with the battle against so-called Islamic
0:15:44 > 0:15:46State, the government has come under pressure
0:15:46 > 0:15:49to take action against the group for conducting
0:15:49 > 0:15:51a campaign of genocide.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54In the Commons on Wednesday, MPs voted by 278 votes to none
0:15:54 > 0:15:57favour of a demand that the government refer IS to the United
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Nations Security Council and the International Criminal Court.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01In the Lords, a crossbench or independent
0:16:01 > 0:16:04peer wanted to know what ministers were going to do in the light of
0:16:04 > 0:16:06that decisive vote in the House of Commons.
0:16:06 > 0:16:16Given the unanimous vote, 278 votes to zero, following similar
0:16:17 > 0:16:24declarations in the United States House
0:16:24 > 0:16:25of Representatives,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27the European Parliament, and in
0:16:27 > 0:16:29the Parliamentary assembly of the
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Council of Europe, wouldn't it be almost
0:16:33 > 0:16:36a contempt of Parliament, my Lords, for the government to simply
0:16:36 > 0:16:38say that this is non-binding and that they have no
0:16:38 > 0:16:39intention of following
0:16:39 > 0:16:42the will of Parliament in taking this matter to
0:16:42 > 0:16:44the Security Council so that those
0:16:44 > 0:16:46responsible for these horrendous crimes will one day
0:16:46 > 0:16:49meet their Nuremberg moment and be held accountable.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53My Lords, I bear in mind victims of Daesh who I have personally met,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55both here and in Iraq, my Lords, I'm not going
0:16:55 > 0:16:58to therefore get involved in what may
0:16:58 > 0:17:02or may not be the procedural niceties.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07What I will say is that the duties clearly a matter for
0:17:07 > 0:17:09judicial authority to determine whether genocide has taken place.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11The Prime Minister has taken a view and has
0:17:11 > 0:17:14said, and I'm aware that the Prime Minister has
0:17:14 > 0:17:17written to the noble Lord on this,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21the pragmatist said:
0:17:21 > 0:17:22"genocide is a matter of legal, rather than
0:17:22 > 0:17:24political, opinion."
0:17:24 > 0:17:26We, as the government, are not the prosecutor, judge, or the
0:17:26 > 0:17:30jury, my Lords, we may not be all of those things, but I say
0:17:30 > 0:17:32to Daesh and the perpetrators, we have a long memory,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35we have allies, we are working with the government of Iraq,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38we will not forget and the perpetrators will pay the price.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43The noble lady said it's not a matter for politicians,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45is she aware of article eight of the Genocide Convention
0:17:45 > 0:17:51which says, I quote, "Any contracting party may call
0:17:51 > 0:17:52upon the competent organs of the
0:17:52 > 0:17:54United Nations to take such action
0:17:54 > 0:17:57under the Charter as they consider appropriate for the prevention and
0:17:57 > 0:18:02suppression of acts of genocide."
0:18:02 > 0:18:11Why would the government not do that?
0:18:11 > 0:18:15My Lords, because it is the government's view that in order
0:18:15 > 0:18:18to hold out hope to people who have suffered from the violence of Daesh,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22one has to be reasonably sure of achieving agreement
0:18:22 > 0:18:24within the United Nations.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25Were not confident that agreement currently exists.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28That is why we want to make progress with discussions.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31The transport minister says there shouldn't be an overreaction
0:18:31 > 0:18:34to a reported drone strike on a passenger plane
0:18:35 > 0:18:41approaching Heathrow Airport.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43A police investigation was launched after the aircraft
0:18:43 > 0:18:45was hit on Sunday.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48If confirmed, it would be the first such incident incident in the UK.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Flying a drone near an airport can already be punished with
0:18:50 > 0:18:53up to five years in prison and rules also forbid
0:18:53 > 0:18:54flying them beyond the direct unaided line
0:18:54 > 0:18:57of sight of the operator,
0:18:57 > 0:19:06or near buildings, and crowds of people.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Drones may also not be flown above 400 feet or, or 122 metres,
0:19:09 > 0:19:11and the US has recently introduced a compulsory registration
0:19:11 > 0:19:14scheme so that any drone recovered from an accident can be traced back
0:19:14 > 0:19:16to its owner.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Robert Goodwill told a Lords committee that it wasn't
0:19:18 > 0:19:28confirmed that the strike on Sunday had been by a drone.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30It was the local police force that tweeted that
0:19:30 > 0:19:33they had reports of a drone striking an aircraft
0:19:33 > 0:19:35and, indeed, the early reports of a dint
0:19:35 > 0:19:38in the front of the plane were not confirmed.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40There was no actual damage to the plane and, indeed,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43it may have even been a plastic bag or something.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47As somebody who has landed the simulator of a 747,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50the pilot has a lot of other things to concentrate on so we're not quite
0:19:50 > 0:19:55sure what they saw.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58I think we should not overreact too much.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02But there have been some incidents, number of which are of
0:20:02 > 0:20:06great concern.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11Our primary responsibility as government is the security of our
0:20:11 > 0:20:14citizens, that's why we have one of the highest regulatory safety
0:20:14 > 0:20:17standards for commercial airlines in the world.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Now, there are already existing laws in place that require
0:20:20 > 0:20:22users of drones to maintain direct unaided visual contact with that
0:20:22 > 0:20:26vehicle and not to recklessly or negligently cause that aircraft to
0:20:26 > 0:20:29endanger any person or property.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31These incidents that we read about, or
0:20:31 > 0:20:33alleged incidents, were already breaking existing regulations.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38Indeed, the departments and the Civil Aviation Authority
0:20:38 > 0:20:40are working with a wide range of partners
0:20:40 > 0:20:42across the sector, including manufacturers, airport, and airlines
0:20:42 > 0:20:44to ensure our understanding of potential hazards for aircraft
0:20:44 > 0:20:45remains up to date.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Now, to business questions in the Commons.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50As ever, the leader of the house, Chris Grayling, faced questions from
0:20:50 > 0:20:52across the house on a wide range of subjects.
0:20:52 > 0:20:59And, as ever, his Labour shadow Chris Bryant was the first to speak.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04He took the opportunity to pay a warm tribute to the comedian,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06writer, and musician Victoria Wood, whose
0:21:06 > 0:21:12death was announced on Wednesday.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I don't know what your favourite line was, Mr Speaker, mine
0:21:15 > 0:21:19was her definition of middle age.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21It's when you walk past a Dr Scholl shop and think,
0:21:21 > 0:21:22"those look comfy."
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Perhaps was her sitting at the piano belting out,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28"Let's do it, let's do it not sweetly, not meekly
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Beat me on the bottom with a Woman's Weekly!
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Which does sound like a good time had
0:21:33 > 0:21:35by all at the Tory party awayday last week.
0:21:35 > 0:21:36Having taken his
0:21:36 > 0:21:40traditional swipe at the Conservatives, Mr Bryant moved
0:21:40 > 0:21:43on to a report published at the start of
0:21:43 > 0:21:45the week calling for changes into how the Commons deals
0:21:45 > 0:21:47with bills put forward by backbench MPs, known as
0:21:47 > 0:21:48private members bills.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Mr Speaker, we've already heard that the
0:21:50 > 0:21:52procedure committee has published its report on private
0:21:52 > 0:21:54members bills and the chairman is quite right, we
0:21:54 > 0:21:58think, when he says the system is completely bust and in the last
0:21:58 > 0:21:59chance saloon.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I have noted the comments from the deputy leader who
0:22:01 > 0:22:05seemed very hesitant about reform and the leader who seemed a bit more
0:22:05 > 0:22:07inclined towards reform but will the leader now guarantee
0:22:07 > 0:22:10that the house will get a proper chance
0:22:10 > 0:22:13to debate the changes to standing orders
0:22:13 > 0:22:15and I don't just mean some insubstantial debate but a proper
0:22:15 > 0:22:19debate that can lead to change.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21The Bills are traditionally debated on a
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Friday but are often talked out by ministers or other MPs.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27This is a thoughtful report, this is a welcome report, there is a lot
0:22:27 > 0:22:29of fruitful thought in it and we will respond
0:22:29 > 0:22:31in due course but I want to read it carefully.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I want to decide how best to respond but I will respond
0:22:34 > 0:22:37properly in due course, as he would expect.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Finally, let's return to those tributes to mark
0:22:39 > 0:22:42the Queen's 90th birthday.
0:22:42 > 0:22:52It wasn't just MPs who wanted to send their best wishes.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Peers too were keen to relive their encounters and give
0:22:59 > 0:23:00their own warm words.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02What is truly remarkable about Her Majesty's commitment is
0:23:02 > 0:23:04that she continues to serve with
0:23:04 > 0:23:07a zest and undimmed sense of public duty.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Last year, she carried out 306 engagements in the UK
0:23:10 > 0:23:12and 35 overseas, a workload that would be daunting
0:23:12 > 0:23:13to someone even half her age.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Several peers spoke of the Queen's experiences during
0:23:15 > 0:23:16the Second World War.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19With thousands of other young women, she qualified as a mechanic
0:23:19 > 0:23:21and a driver with the ATS.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24For The Times, it was quite bold and daring for a princess
0:23:24 > 0:23:27and not a decision that the government were at all happy about,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29believing that the most important training
0:23:29 > 0:23:31should be as heir to the throne, not as a mechanic.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36Her determination and persistence, insisting that she wanted to serve
0:23:36 > 0:23:39her country, was a clear indication that she would become a Queen
0:23:39 > 0:23:43who would bring her own style and make her own way.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Throughout the huge amount of change that this country
0:23:46 > 0:23:48has experienced in the last 90 years,
0:23:48 > 0:23:49Her Majesty has been constant,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51standing with her people, whether it be in times
0:23:51 > 0:23:54of tragedy, or times of joy.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Her unwavering sense of duty supported
0:23:56 > 0:24:01for over 68 years by the Duke of Edinburgh and her commitment
0:24:01 > 0:24:05to the service and welfare of
0:24:05 > 0:24:08the people of this country is surely an inspiration to us all.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10One peer recalled a reception he'd attended.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12My collegue had the misfortune to be in the process
0:24:12 > 0:24:14of eating a large biscuit.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Something was bound to go wrong and, indeed, it did.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21When he turned around he was so astonished
0:24:21 > 0:24:23to see her standing beside him that he dropped his biscuit
0:24:23 > 0:24:30onto the floor and right next to Her Majesty's feet.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35With her great sense of humour, Her Majesty was most amused.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40Since Her Majesty took the throne, there have been seven Archbishops
0:24:40 > 0:24:50of Canterbury and seven archbishops of York.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54What Her Majesty has made all the richly diverse and
0:24:54 > 0:24:56eclectic selection of primates will no doubt be never revealed.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59All that I can say from those of the
0:24:59 > 0:25:01archbishops of whom I have known, is that those archbishops like me
0:25:01 > 0:25:04valued at her support, interest, and faithfulness more than it is
0:25:04 > 0:25:09possible to describe.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12There are very few other people to whom an
0:25:12 > 0:25:16archbishop can look in his heart, knowing that his confidences will go
0:25:16 > 0:25:19no farther and certain that at the end of the conversation
0:25:19 > 0:25:22he will go away, affirmed and encouraged.
0:25:22 > 0:25:28Let this be a day of thanksgiving and
0:25:28 > 0:25:30much rejoicing for Her Majesty's birthday.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31Long live the Queen.
0:25:31 > 0:25:40Here, here.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Which rousing birthday wishes brings us to the of this edition of
0:25:43 > 0:25:44the programme.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Do join us on Friday night at 11 when I look back at the
0:25:47 > 0:25:51week here at Westminster when we talk to one here about why the
0:25:51 > 0:25:52government's Housing Bill is coming in for such
0:25:53 > 0:25:54stiff opposition in the Lords.
0:25:54 > 0:26:04But, until then, from me, goodbye.