0:00:12 > 0:00:15Hello there and welcome to Thursday in Parliament.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18On this programme: the Government sets out plans for the future
0:00:18 > 0:00:22of the BBC, urging them to focus on distinctiveness and diversity.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Just how many people are coming to the UK from the rest of the EU?
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Ministers are urged to iron out the wrinkles in the figures.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34And a former Labour leader appears a calendar clash between the EU
0:00:34 > 0:00:39referendum and the Glastonbury Festival.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42It would be an awful pity if instead of voting,
0:00:42 > 0:00:43they were rocking, my Lords.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45But first, the Culture Secretary has unveiled the Government's blueprint
0:00:45 > 0:00:48for the future of the BBC, saying the broadcaster needs
0:00:48 > 0:00:52to focus on distinctiveness and diversity.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55John Whittingdale dismissed earlier reports on plans to reduce the BBC's
0:00:55 > 0:01:05independence and funding as the hysterical speculation
0:01:06 > 0:01:07of left-wing luvvies.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Under the plans, the licence fee will continue for at
0:01:10 > 0:01:11least the next 11 years.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13People watching BBC programmes online will have to
0:01:13 > 0:01:14pay the licence fee.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16The BBC will be overseen by a new unitary board and regulated
0:01:17 > 0:01:18by the broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20And there was news about the highest-paid individuals,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24including star names.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27The public has a right to know what the highest earners the BBC
0:01:27 > 0:01:29employs are paid out of their licence fee.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32The new charter will therefore require the BBC to go further
0:01:32 > 0:01:36regarding the transparency of what it pays its talent
0:01:36 > 0:01:38and publish the names of all its employees and freelancers
0:01:38 > 0:01:40above ?450,000, which is the current director-general's
0:01:40 > 0:01:45salary, in broad bands.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47John Whittingdale said the Government was not saying
0:01:47 > 0:01:50the BBC should not be popular.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Some of its most distinctive programmes such as Life On Earth
0:01:53 > 0:01:56or Strictly Come Dancing had very wide audiences.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01But it wasn't for the BBC to produce "me too" popular shows.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06Commissioning editors should ask consistently of new programming,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08"Is this idea sufficiently innovative and high quality?"
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Rather than simply, "How will it do in the ratings?"
0:02:11 > 0:02:15So we will place a requirement to provide distinctive content
0:02:15 > 0:02:20and services at the heart of the BBC's overall coordination
0:02:20 > 0:02:25of informing, educating and entertaining in the public interest.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29For the last few weeks, Mr Speaker, we have had to read
0:02:29 > 0:02:32an increasing avalanche of briefing to Conservative supporting
0:02:32 > 0:02:36newspapers, especially those newspapers hostile to the BBC,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39which appears to have been emanating from his department.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43The fact that most of his wilder proposals appear to have been
0:02:43 > 0:02:46watered down or damped or delayed by the Government
0:02:46 > 0:02:49of which he is a member is a reflection of his diminishing
0:02:49 > 0:02:51influence and lack of clout.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56He's not got his way in most things, Mr Speaker, and I welcome that.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59She was concerned about the appointments to the new board
0:02:59 > 0:03:01to oversee the corporation.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04I am still worried that the Government are seeking unduly
0:03:04 > 0:03:07to influence the output and editorial decision-making
0:03:07 > 0:03:12of the BBC, or can be seen to be doing so.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14So will the Secretary of State now promise that all Government
0:03:14 > 0:03:18appointments will be made by a demonstrably
0:03:18 > 0:03:20independent process, overseen by the Commissioner
0:03:20 > 0:03:24for Public Appointments, which prevents there being any
0:03:24 > 0:03:27suspicion that the Government seeks to turn the BBC into something over
0:03:27 > 0:03:33which it has more control than is currently the case?
0:03:33 > 0:03:36I do have some sympathy with the Right Honourable Lady,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39who of course had a dry run of this yesterday and rehearsed
0:03:39 > 0:03:42all of her lines of attack only to wake up this morning to discover
0:03:42 > 0:03:46that all of the concerns she expressed were based
0:03:46 > 0:03:51on ill-founded, hysterical speculation by left-wing lobbies.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55A view shared by a veteran conservative.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Every fox she expected to see running appears to have been shot
0:03:58 > 0:04:01and the hounds she expected to release appear to be running
0:04:01 > 0:04:04around in some confusion.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I am sorry to say to the Secretary of State that the British
0:04:07 > 0:04:10people are not going to be fooled by his words today.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14There might be some fantasy foxes being shot this morning,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18but the fact is, by Sunday, like the budget, when this
0:04:18 > 0:04:21has been crawled over, when we look at the detail,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I believe that this is going to be a deep, dark day for the BBC
0:04:24 > 0:04:25and the British public...
0:04:25 > 0:04:29OK, the Brexiters, who seem to be joined by hating
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Europe and hating the BBC, the fact of the matter is that this
0:04:33 > 0:04:36is going to be a champagne night for Rupert Murdoch and Richard
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Desmond.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42The BBC is better than that and it is owned by the British
0:04:42 > 0:04:45people, not this Government.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Mr Speaker, the BBC have struggled with diversity on screen and off
0:04:48 > 0:04:50screen for far too long.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54And I absolutely welcome the enshrinement of diversity
0:04:54 > 0:04:55into the new charter.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57It is the right thing to do.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58It is the wise thing to do it.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01And does the Secretary of State agree with me that attracting
0:05:01 > 0:05:04the brightest and most diverse talent will actually improve
0:05:04 > 0:05:06the content of the BBC's offering and also
0:05:06 > 0:05:09ultimately the ratings?
0:05:09 > 0:05:10Helen Grant.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Well, that statement was repeated a short time later
0:05:12 > 0:05:15in the House of Lords.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17My Lords, surely it is fair to congratulate the Government
0:05:17 > 0:05:20on dropping some of the more unacceptable proposals that have
0:05:20 > 0:05:24been floated over the last few weeks and to congratulate them
0:05:24 > 0:05:28on abolishing the BBC Trust, which should never have been
0:05:28 > 0:05:30established, and which the committee of this house actually said ten
0:05:31 > 0:05:34years ago should not be?
0:05:34 > 0:05:38The test today, for me, is really does this white
0:05:38 > 0:05:41paper leave the BBC more independent or less independent
0:05:41 > 0:05:45than it is today?
0:05:45 > 0:05:49And my fear is it is less independent.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Many of us are very concerned that this is the thin end
0:05:52 > 0:05:54of the wedge, my Lords, that is going to prevent the BBC
0:05:54 > 0:05:57from competing in prime time with commercial broadcasters,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01and is deliberately designed to do so.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Now, what assurance can the minister gave to this house that that is not
0:06:05 > 0:06:10the intention and that that will not be the case?
0:06:10 > 0:06:14I think I can assure my noble friend that that is not the intention.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17It is certainly something that the BBC has fully
0:06:17 > 0:06:18recognised and embraced.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21The BBC's director-general has been a driving force here.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25He has highlighted that he wants to see a system that firmly
0:06:25 > 0:06:31holds our feet to the fire on distinctiveness and that,
0:06:31 > 0:06:35to my mind, is what the white paper proposals will deliver.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36My Lords...
0:06:36 > 0:06:42My Lords, the register declares my interest -
0:06:42 > 0:06:45I was going to say as a member of an endangered species,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47but it is now an member of a condemned species -
0:06:47 > 0:06:50namely, the BBC Trust.
0:06:50 > 0:06:57Now first, knowing the great interest there is in this house,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I welcome the Government's commitment in the white
0:07:00 > 0:07:04paper to the ring-fencing of the BBC World Service.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06I think that is very important indeed.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10That presents a solid guarantee for the years ahead
0:07:10 > 0:07:13as well as the certainty provided by an 11 year charter.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15My concerns, however, are that the proposals to protect
0:07:15 > 0:07:21the BBC's independence do not go far enough.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26Will the Minister assure the house that the Government will provide
0:07:26 > 0:07:28sufficient guarantees that its future decisions
0:07:28 > 0:07:32about the BBC and in particular about funding appointments
0:07:32 > 0:07:34to the board are made clearly and transparently
0:07:34 > 0:07:39and without comprising the BBC's independence?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Lady Neville-Rolfe said points of detail would be debated
0:07:42 > 0:07:46in the weeks and months ahead.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Now, the Government has urged MPs not to distort discrepancies
0:07:49 > 0:07:53between National Insurance numbers and long-term migration figures.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown
0:07:57 > 0:07:59that just over 250,000 migrants from other parts
0:07:59 > 0:08:02of the European Union were recorded as coming to the UK
0:08:02 > 0:08:05over the last year.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09But more than 650,000 National Insurance numbers
0:08:09 > 0:08:12were issued during the same period.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15A Conservative MP, John Redwood, called on ministers to "get
0:08:15 > 0:08:25a grip," saying locations for public services.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32-- saying the difference between the two figures had big
0:08:32 > 0:08:33implications for public services.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36But answering an urgent question, the Immigration Minister said
0:08:36 > 0:08:38the gap was due to short term EU migration to the UK.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41National Insurance numbers can be obtained by anyone working in the UK
0:08:41 > 0:08:44for just a few weeks, and the ONS explains clearly why
0:08:44 > 0:08:46the number of National Insurance registrations should not be compared
0:08:46 > 0:08:48with migration figures, because they measure entirely
0:08:48 > 0:08:51different things, and we must now be careful not to distort these figures
0:08:51 > 0:08:52following their clear statements.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Doesn't it show that all the time we stay in the European Union,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58we cannot control European migration in the way that we promised to do
0:08:58 > 0:09:00in the general election?
0:09:00 > 0:09:04And doesn't he share my wish to get a grip on it so that we can properly
0:09:04 > 0:09:05plan our public services?
0:09:05 > 0:09:09And I found the note slipped out - but fortunately the speaker allowed
0:09:09 > 0:09:12an urgent question - doesn't answer the discrepancy
0:09:12 > 0:09:15and it doesn't deal with this fundamental point that
0:09:15 > 0:09:18if someone comes here, works and get a National Insurance
0:09:18 > 0:09:21number, we need to provide public facilities for them.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24But the minister argued that leaving the EU would not have the effect
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Mr Redwood believes it would.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30This idea that somehow on the outside that it
0:09:30 > 0:09:32would somehow be better, I find it inconceivable
0:09:32 > 0:09:35that we would have access to the single market and not have
0:09:35 > 0:09:39those issues of free movement.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Labour's spokesman quoted the head of the ONS.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45National Insurance numbers are not a good indicator
0:09:45 > 0:09:47of long-term migration.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51This research shows that many people who register for National Insurance
0:09:51 > 0:09:57stay in the United Kingdom for less than a year, which is the minimum
0:09:57 > 0:10:02stay for a long term migrant, according to the internationally
0:10:02 > 0:10:06recognised definition.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09The publication of these NI numbers is simply one more confirmation
0:10:09 > 0:10:13that there is no chance, zero, of us fulfilling our promise
0:10:13 > 0:10:16to the British people on immigration, to reduce it
0:10:16 > 0:10:18to the tens of thousands, unless there is restriction on free
0:10:18 > 0:10:21movement of Labour within the European Union,
0:10:21 > 0:10:25so since the minister himself mentioned the renegotiation,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29will he tell us why the Government did not attempt in any way to get
0:10:29 > 0:10:32a reduction in that free movement as part of that renegotiation?
0:10:32 > 0:10:37The real migrant crisis which we in this country face
0:10:37 > 0:10:39at the moment is a problem of how to deal with,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42in a civilised and effective way, with the flood of people coming
0:10:42 > 0:10:46from war and anarchy in the Middle East and North Africa
0:10:46 > 0:10:50and the problem is not Polish construction workers and Romanian
0:10:50 > 0:10:52nurses, who make a very valuable contribution to the economic
0:10:52 > 0:10:56life of this country.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59A few months ago, the Prime Minister was telling us that unless he got
0:10:59 > 0:11:03his way on migration, he would consider leaving the EU.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08This was a minor change in migration figures and controls.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11He now says that if we leave the EU, there might indeed
0:11:11 > 0:11:12be a third world war.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Doesn't the mismatch, and we can see it...
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I brought this graph so that members can see the difference
0:11:17 > 0:11:18between the two figures.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22The fact is we have no idea what net migration in this country is.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25It is out of control and we need to get control back of our borders
0:11:25 > 0:11:28and that is what he should have done with an emergency break.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31On their own, I don't think these National Insurance registrations are
0:11:31 > 0:11:33a reliable indicator for measuring long-term international migration.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35It is vital, though, we remember that migration
0:11:35 > 0:11:39is a global phenomenon and not just a European issue and also
0:11:39 > 0:11:42remember that it is very much a two-way street.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46In Scotland, we are all too well aware that for generations migration
0:11:46 > 0:11:49has meant that many of our citizens have had to move abroad and even now
0:11:49 > 0:11:52many of our most highly qualified young people leave to build careers
0:11:52 > 0:11:57in other parts of the world.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Every EU citizen and their dependents have the right to come
0:12:00 > 0:12:02here and the Government has no means of excluding them,
0:12:02 > 0:12:07even if they are criminals and terrorists.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Figures clearly lay bare that the government is powerless
0:12:09 > 0:12:11to control EU immigration for the benefit of
0:12:11 > 0:12:13our public services.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16I came into the chamber hoping to see conspiracy exposed over
0:12:16 > 0:12:19National Insurance numbers and there is no conspiracy,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23so it has been a disappointing day.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Meanwhile, in the Lords, there were bad tempered exchanges
0:12:26 > 0:12:29over the causes of large-scale migration.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33A Liberal Democrat wanted to know what evidence the government had
0:12:33 > 0:12:36to support its claim that pull factors are responsible
0:12:36 > 0:12:39for the mass movement of people from the Middle East
0:12:39 > 0:12:41and North Africa in recent years.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44The causes of migration are many and complex.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48But are commonly described as consisting of push factors,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52that make people want to leave their own countries,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56and pull factors that make them choose particular destinations.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00The Government does not claim that pull factors alone are responsible
0:13:00 > 0:13:03for migration, but there is good circumstantial evidence that
0:13:03 > 0:13:09demonstrates language, benefits and work opportunities
0:13:09 > 0:13:13influence movements of people.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16I can see from the Minister's reply that the Government still insist
0:13:16 > 0:13:18that pull factors...
0:13:18 > 0:13:21I am glad to see that he has now accepted that there are some
0:13:21 > 0:13:23push factors involved...
0:13:23 > 0:13:25That pull factors, by which I mean higher wages and benefits,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28are still at work.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Given that these have remained relatively stable over many years,
0:13:30 > 0:13:34what does he believe is the reason behind the very large
0:13:34 > 0:13:38increase in numbers of refugees in recent years?
0:13:38 > 0:13:42The Government has always recognised there are both push and pull factors
0:13:42 > 0:13:45in the context of migration.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Indeed, historically, that has been well established.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51We can go back to the Goths moving into the Western Roman Empire
0:13:51 > 0:13:55in order to confirm that issue.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58With regards to more recent migration, there is no
0:13:58 > 0:14:04doubt that a great deal of it is economically based.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Indeed, statistical flows to Italy between January and April this year
0:14:07 > 0:14:10show that the top nationalities entering across the Mediterranean
0:14:10 > 0:14:13have been Nigerian, Gambian and Senegalese.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Would not the Government accept that it is wars,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19repression and instability that primarily lead to the mass
0:14:19 > 0:14:22movement of people?
0:14:22 > 0:14:25If those seeking to come from Europe, from the Middle East
0:14:25 > 0:14:29and North Africa are simply economic migrants, then why is it after every
0:14:29 > 0:14:32outbreak of violence and repression we get,
0:14:32 > 0:14:41a new wave of people from the area that has just had that outbreak?
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Listening to Labour opine on the matter of immigration
0:14:44 > 0:14:47and immigration control, is rather like listening
0:14:47 > 0:14:53to an arsonist on the subject of fire prevention.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I cannot answer the question unless I'm given an opportunity
0:15:00 > 0:15:05to do so, but thank you.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Now, the position is this, yes, yes, push factors increase
0:15:08 > 0:15:11when there is violence and instability but push factors
0:15:11 > 0:15:14alone are not the issue.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17There are push factors and pull factors and a simple
0:15:17 > 0:15:20example is Sweden.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It takes the second-highest number of asylum seekers from North Africa
0:15:23 > 0:15:25and the Mediterranean area and yet has the borders furthest away
0:15:26 > 0:15:28from that point.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Lord Keen of Elie.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33You are watching Thursday in Parliament with me,
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Alicia McCarthy.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Now, do you have a Smart meter in your home monitoring how much
0:15:40 > 0:15:44energy you are using? If not, you could have one soon.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47The Government has committed to getting 53 million of these
0:15:47 > 0:15:52devices into homes and businesses by the end of 2020.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Smart meters send information on energy usage directly
0:15:55 > 0:15:58back to the supplier and there are concerns
0:15:58 > 0:16:01about the safety of that data.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Concerns were raised with the Energy and Climate Change Secretary
0:16:04 > 0:16:07who told the Commons that the new meters were vital
0:16:07 > 0:16:09to putting consumers in control of their energy use.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13Consumers need to have ready access to the data from their Smart meters
0:16:13 > 0:16:16if we are to achieve this goal, and that is why all households
0:16:16 > 0:16:19will be offered an in-home display that will allow them to see
0:16:19 > 0:16:23the energy that they are using in real near-time as well as its costs
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and why it will also add suppliers to trial new and innovative
0:16:26 > 0:16:28technologies alongside that.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Yes, Smart meters can transform domestic energy consumption
0:16:35 > 0:16:39and literally help save the planet but only if consumers
0:16:39 > 0:16:42are giving secure, controlled ownership of their own data.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46The display option she refers to will still allow Smart meters
0:16:46 > 0:16:51to be a back door into our homes for hackers so can she,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55before it is too late, overcome her ridiculous complacency
0:16:55 > 0:17:00and announce measures which will give consumers the digital
0:17:00 > 0:17:04rights that they deserve?
0:17:04 > 0:17:08The honourable lady should know that privacy is absolutely
0:17:08 > 0:17:11protected and at the heart of the Smart meter programme.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14She should be careful not to put fear into the hearts of people
0:17:14 > 0:17:16where none should exist.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19The data is protected and the data belongs not to Government,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22which some people might not unreasonably fear,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25but to the energy companies.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28So we will make sure that we always reassure consumers that privacy
0:17:28 > 0:17:31is at the core of delivering safe meters in the future.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34According to government's own calculations, they reckon that
0:17:34 > 0:17:38with Smart meters installed, we could as a nation save some
0:17:38 > 0:17:41?17 billion on our collective energy bills over the next 15 years.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Does the Minister recognise that if consumers have access
0:17:45 > 0:17:48to their detailed data usage, this would put them in a good
0:17:48 > 0:17:51position to share with third parties, should they want to,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and this could improve competition which is something the Government
0:17:53 > 0:17:56would always be glad to see?
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Yes, Mr Speaker, the Government will be glad to see the fact that
0:17:59 > 0:18:03competition and market authority have said they are going to make
0:18:03 > 0:18:07available in a controlled way, the details of people who have not
0:18:07 > 0:18:11switched, who have to make sure it is done in a way which doesn't
0:18:11 > 0:18:18result in consumers feeling overwhelmed by suggestions.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20They have yet to come out with a final solution
0:18:21 > 0:18:23on this point but I'm
0:18:23 > 0:18:26confident they will do so in a way that is measured and it will help
0:18:26 > 0:18:29make sure that the people who have not been switching have
0:18:29 > 0:18:30access to switching and the opportunities
0:18:30 > 0:18:31that are there.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34There was one item not on the Commons agenda on Thursday
0:18:34 > 0:18:37which many MPs had been expecting - a statement on Syria.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39The Leader of the House Chris Grayling suggested last week
0:18:39 > 0:18:41that there would be a statement before this session
0:18:41 > 0:18:42of Parliament ended.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45So a Labour MP asked the Speaker when it might now happen.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47Quarterly reports, Mr Speaker, as you will recall, were part
0:18:47 > 0:18:51of the motion agreed in this House on the 2nd December,
0:18:51 > 0:18:552015 and as the first few weeks will be taken up of the new session
0:18:55 > 0:18:58for the Queen's Speech, I wanted to see your guidance
0:18:58 > 0:19:02as to when would be the very first opportunity that we would be able
0:19:02 > 0:19:05to have a statement from the Government on the situation
0:19:05 > 0:19:12in Syria and military involvement?
0:19:12 > 0:19:18Realistically, it seems to me that a statement cannot be made
0:19:18 > 0:19:24to the House for at least a week and it may be somewhat
0:19:24 > 0:19:27longer than that.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31I take very seriously the point of order the honourable
0:19:31 > 0:19:36lady has raised.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39I am bound to say that I did recall what was said last week
0:19:39 > 0:19:43and therefore I had rather anticipated that there was to be
0:19:43 > 0:19:47such a statement today.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50The House had been told there would be.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53There may very well have been some private understanding reached
0:19:53 > 0:19:56between the front benches on this matter, I have no
0:19:56 > 0:19:59way of knowing that.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Although I would just say, whether that is the case or not,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06that there has to be a respect for the rights of the House
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and its legitimate expectations as a whole.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14This is not just a matter of what front benches may
0:20:14 > 0:20:17or may not have agreed, so I confess I was looking forward
0:20:17 > 0:20:20to the statement.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23It seemed to me a very important matter and the Government Chief Whip
0:20:23 > 0:20:26is unfailingly courteous to me and to all members, is in his place
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and he has heard what has been said and I very much hope,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32let's just put it like that, it was a very good commitment
0:20:32 > 0:20:35the Government made, I very much hope we can have that
0:20:35 > 0:20:37statement as soon as is practical.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40The cause was taken up by a Liberal Democrat who picked up
0:20:40 > 0:20:43on a phrase used by the Speaker at Prime Minister's Questions
0:20:43 > 0:20:46the day before when he had said the party leader,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Tim Farron, should be heard, however irritating he might be
0:20:49 > 0:20:52to Government backbenchers.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56You will be aware that I have been pursuing this issue of the Syrian
0:20:56 > 0:20:58quarterly statements for some months now,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01in a dogged and possibly irritating fashion.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I accept of course that the Government have made a number
0:21:05 > 0:21:10of statements on this matter, whether it is the siege of Aleppo,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14the Russian intervention, the humanitarian conference,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17but they have rarely focused on the matter which I think
0:21:17 > 0:21:23the Prime Minister promised to report on, and that was quarterly
0:21:23 > 0:21:31statements in relation to the RAF's action against Daesh in Syria.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35Periodically, people irritate other people,
0:21:35 > 0:21:40but members hardly ever irritate me.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44I am always happy to hear members and I'm very happy to hear the right
0:21:44 > 0:21:47honourable gentleman's right honourable friend yesterday.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51In fact, so keen was I to hear the right honourable gentleman,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54that I called him something like ten minutes into injury time,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56so I'm sure he won't have any complaints, he is
0:21:56 > 0:21:59a robust character.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03He can look after himself and he has a good sense of humour in any case.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06I don't think I can offer the prospect of a statement
0:22:06 > 0:22:09on Wednesday of next week, I think that is simply not practical.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14I think that we have to balance the understandable disappointment
0:22:14 > 0:22:18on the part of many members that there isn't a statement today
0:22:18 > 0:22:24with a degree of reasonableness as to when that statement
0:22:24 > 0:22:28can take place.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32I don't think we would serve the House by interrupting
0:22:32 > 0:22:34the Queen's Speech debate on Wednesday of next week.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37The Commons Speaker, John Bercow.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Now, are you registered to vote and what about anyone you know under
0:22:40 > 0:22:42the age of 25?
0:22:42 > 0:22:46In the Lords, many Peers were concerned that with the EU
0:22:46 > 0:22:50referendum just weeks away, many teenagers and university
0:22:50 > 0:22:52students weren't on the register.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55A former Labour leader wanted action.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Will the Government therefore make major efforts, in addition
0:22:58 > 0:23:03to the commitments they have so far undertaken, particularly
0:23:03 > 0:23:05through the online communication that was mentioned and through
0:23:05 > 0:23:09social media to ensure that young people know that the final date
0:23:09 > 0:23:15for voter registration and for getting a postal vote
0:23:15 > 0:23:21is June 7th? Just less than four weeks from now.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Does the Minister agree with me that this kind of information
0:23:25 > 0:23:30is specially vital when polling day coincides
0:23:30 > 0:23:35with the Glastonbury Festival, which through broadcasting,
0:23:35 > 0:23:40could rather preoccupy the attention of millions of young people,
0:23:40 > 0:23:44whose votes are not only vital to their future,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47but to the future of the country.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51It would be an awful pity if, instead of voting,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54they were rocking, my Lords.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I think the answer is in the question.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Glastonbury.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04I think the noble Lord should get a group of their Lordships together,
0:24:04 > 0:24:08appear on stage, and sing, no satisfaction, unless
0:24:08 > 0:24:11there is registration.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Which nod to the Rolling Stones brings us rumbling to the end
0:24:15 > 0:24:17of this session of Parliament.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21The session closed with a traditional ceremony of prorogation.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25It begins with the Lords gathering with the Leader of the House,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Lady Stowell taking centre stage as senior Peers gather
0:24:28 > 0:24:31in their ceremonial finery.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35Black Rod is then summoned and asked to go to the Commons to summon MPs.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Just as with the Queen's Speech, Black Rod, General David Leakey,
0:24:38 > 0:24:42sets off to the House of Commons.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44And having passed through Central Lobby, he arrives
0:24:44 > 0:24:47at the door of the chamber.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Black Rod delivers his message to MPs who then leave their seats
0:24:50 > 0:24:54and slowly process out of the Commons chamber and down
0:24:54 > 0:24:57the corridor to gather at the bar of the House of Lords.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01When the MPs arrive, there is a ceremonial doffing
0:25:01 > 0:25:04of hats before the Leader of the Lords tells MPs
0:25:04 > 0:25:07that while the Queen is not present herself,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10she has given her royal assent to a number of acts.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13The names of the bills which have recently been passed are then read
0:25:13 > 0:25:18out and the Clerk of Parliaments gives royal assent in Norman French.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23Immigration act. La Reyne le veult.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28After which, MPs return to the Commons before finally
0:25:28 > 0:25:30leaving Westminster, shaking hands with the Speaker John Bercow
0:25:31 > 0:25:33on their way out.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37So that is it from us but do join me on Friday night at 11pm for a full
0:25:37 > 0:25:40round-up of the week here at Westminster,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42when among other things, I'll be talking to two Westminster
0:25:42 > 0:25:46watchers about the art of the political U-turn.
0:25:46 > 0:25:52But for now, from me, Alicia McCarthy, goodbye.