0:00:17 > 0:00:19Hello and welcome to Thursday in Parliament.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Coming up...
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Peers speak out against any further cuts to the UK's defence budget.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27There's a call for a special deal for the North of England
0:00:27 > 0:00:28in the Brexit negotiations.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31And the chair of the Equalities Committee argues it's time
0:00:31 > 0:00:34for tougher action to get more women into Parliament.
0:00:34 > 0:00:44We need to turn those warm sentiments into bums on seats.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52But first, a former Nato Secretary General has warned
0:00:52 > 0:00:54against further defence cuts, saying the UK is sleepwalking
0:00:55 > 0:00:55into potential calamity.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Opening a debate on the UK's current Armed Forces capability,
0:00:58 > 0:01:00the Labour former Defence Secretary, Lord Robertson, also questioned US
0:01:00 > 0:01:02President-elect Donald Trump's attitude to Nato.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Donald Trump is due to take over as US president
0:01:04 > 0:01:08at the end of next week.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10During the US election campaign, he appeared
0:01:10 > 0:01:13to play down the importance of the military alliance.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16In his speech in the Lords, Lord Robertson warned that the world
0:01:16 > 0:01:22was now seeing a bonfire of the post-Cold War certainties.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25He told peers he'd recently been asked what was the biggest threat
0:01:25 > 0:01:28to the safety and security of the UK and the list of potential
0:01:28 > 0:01:30answers was a long one.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32I considered some of the immediate and looming challenges
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and threats that there are, and some of them are
0:01:35 > 0:01:36pretty formidable.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Migration flows, which have suddenly ended up on our shores,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44the spread of religious extremism and jihadi violence plumbing
0:01:44 > 0:01:48new depths of savagery, a restive and resurgent Russia,
0:01:48 > 0:01:56a rise in China and the disruption of North Korea.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00And then, on top of all of that, there is the rise and dominance
0:02:00 > 0:02:02of organised crime, population growth, pandemics and
0:02:02 > 0:02:04financial instability.
0:02:04 > 0:02:14That's a pretty formidable cocktail of trouble for us to face.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18But my answer to the question of what was the greatest threat
0:02:18 > 0:02:19is actually different.
0:02:19 > 0:02:19It is ourselves.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21We are our own worst enemies.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25We are short-sighted, penny-pinching, na vely optimistic,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29we are complacent and we're ostrich-like to the way
0:02:29 > 0:02:32in which the world is becoming interconnected, more fragile,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36more unpredictable and more incendiary.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41He moved on to the election of Donald Trump as US President.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46The Donald, with his Mexican wall, with new protectionism
0:02:46 > 0:02:51and isolationism, with his serious questioning of Nato solidarity,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54with a belief in torture and with Lieutenant General Michael Flynn
0:02:54 > 0:02:58as his key security adviser.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03Perhaps we don't actually need more enemies in the world today.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05He attacked the amount the UK spent on defence,
0:03:05 > 0:03:10warning we were sleepwalking to a potential calamity.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13A former First Sea Lord joined in that call for the Government
0:03:13 > 0:03:14to spend more on defence.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Having robust defence forces makes a war involving
0:03:16 > 0:03:19our nation less likely.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22If a small conflagration in a distant part of the world
0:03:22 > 0:03:25develops into a war that threatens our national survival,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28the best welfare provision, National Health Service,
0:03:28 > 0:03:33education and foreign aid programmes in the world are as nothing.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Stopping war and defending our nation and people, if war happens,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39are more important than any other Government spending priorities.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43If ministers get defence wrong, the nation will never forgive them
0:03:43 > 0:03:46and the cost in blood and treasure enormous.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48The Government has a choice of whether we spend what is required
0:03:48 > 0:03:52to ensure the safety of our nation, dependencies of people or not.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55At present, I believe they're getting that choice wrong.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58A former Conservative Defence Secretary was one of many
0:03:58 > 0:04:00to raise fears about Russia.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05I hope sincerely President Putin and his colleagues realise how
0:04:05 > 0:04:09easily that mobilisations and provocations, that
0:04:09 > 0:04:14accidents can happen, and how easily conflict can start.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17We don't have to have the memories of the First World War
0:04:17 > 0:04:20and Second World War, where war started by accident
0:04:20 > 0:04:22involving the wrong people at the wrong time which weren't
0:04:22 > 0:04:24meant to happen.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29I just do take that factor very seriously.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32In the face of Russian ambition, my lords, Europeans can no longer
0:04:32 > 0:04:36get their defence on the cheap.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40It's an interesting reflection that whereas the word burden-sharing used
0:04:40 > 0:04:45to be used when one went to Washington, now the assessment
0:04:45 > 0:04:50of Europe's contribution is shall we say expressed in more trenchant
0:04:50 > 0:04:56and perhaps less suitable terms for a debate of this kind.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00My lords, proposals for a European army in these circumstances are not
0:05:00 > 0:05:05credible because it would inevitably create duplication and divert
0:05:05 > 0:05:10necessary expenditure from the main thrust of Nato.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13We lack strength in numbers.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17We are not well placed to deal with the inevitable unseen,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20least of all against a capable foe.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25The more independently minded we become, the more capability
0:05:25 > 0:05:28we need in a dangerous world.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Surely the two must go together.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Defence spending is going up.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37When defence spending will increase by ?5 billion over this Parliament,
0:05:37 > 0:05:42it's nonsense for anyone to suggest that there is no new funding.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I hope it is clear that the Government fully recognises
0:05:44 > 0:05:46the breadth and severity of the threats that
0:05:46 > 0:05:49face our country today.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51We know that in this era of uncertainty we can take
0:05:51 > 0:05:54nothing for granted.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57The approach we've taken in the SDSR is, I believe, the right one
0:05:57 > 0:06:00for strengthening our defence and security, and it is the one
0:06:00 > 0:06:03to which this Government is fully committed.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04Lord Howe.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07The Transport Secretary has been accused of putting politics
0:06:07 > 0:06:09before rail passengers.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Labour MPs attacked Chris Grayling at Question Time in the Commons
0:06:12 > 0:06:14for refusing to give control of commuter services
0:06:15 > 0:06:17to the Mayor of London.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20And they demanded the railways be taken back into public ownership.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Mr Grayling said Labour could no longer be taken seriously
0:06:24 > 0:06:26after Jeremy Corbyn said he'd join the picket line with
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Southern Rail workers.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Mr Grayling faced a call for his resignation in December
0:06:32 > 0:06:35after a leaked letter revealed he had opposed the devolution
0:06:35 > 0:06:38of London suburban rail services, to keep them out
0:06:38 > 0:06:40of the clutches of Labour.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Not only are my constituents of all political persuasions
0:06:43 > 0:06:46disgusted by the manner in which the Secretary of State has
0:06:46 > 0:06:49politicised this issue, but they have absolutely no
0:06:49 > 0:06:53confidence in his proposed solution for the south-eastern franchise.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56It is not right for London to act like a Hunger Games-style capital
0:06:56 > 0:06:58seeking to subjugate the districts.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02We need fair rail services for Kent, Essex and the other Home Counties
0:07:02 > 0:07:06and I urge the Secretary of State to carry on and uphold his decision.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Well, Mr Speaker, I can assure my honourable friend I've
0:07:09 > 0:07:11every intention of doing so.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15The reality is this is a partnership arrangement that brings together
0:07:15 > 0:07:18London, Kent County Council and my department to do the right
0:07:18 > 0:07:21thing for passengers.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24It is interesting that the Mayor could offer no proposals to expand
0:07:24 > 0:07:26capacity on these routes.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30I intend to bring forward proposals that do offer expanded capacity
0:07:30 > 0:07:34for passengers on these routes.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39The Secretary of State's leaked letter reveals that he reneged
0:07:39 > 0:07:42on the suburban rail agreement because of his obsession to keep
0:07:42 > 0:07:46services out of the clutches of a potential Labour mayor.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47His words.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50He put party politics ahead of passengers and clearly prefers
0:07:50 > 0:07:55to see trains run late rather than on time under Labour.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00Will he now agree to an independent assessment of the proposal
0:08:00 > 0:08:02by a respected figure, and with his own department,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06given the revelations yesterday of conflicting commercial interests,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09and restore credibility to the process and ensure proper
0:08:09 > 0:08:17consideration of the needs of long-suffering passengers?
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Mr Speaker, I cannot believe what I just heard
0:08:19 > 0:08:21from the honourable gentleman.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Putting party politics before passengers.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30In the week when the Leader of the Opposition said he would join
0:08:30 > 0:08:34a picket line to perpetuate the unnecessary strikes
0:08:34 > 0:08:38on Southern Rail that are causing so much damage to passengers.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41I say to him, I will not take him seriously, Mr Speaker,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43until I hear him condemn those strikes and tell the workers
0:08:43 > 0:08:46to go back to work.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49The Government's franchising policy lies in tatters,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52with desperate attempts to retrofit contracts to protect
0:08:52 > 0:08:55operators' profits and, as revealed yesterday,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59National Express taking the money and running and selling c2c
0:08:59 > 0:09:02franchise to the Italian state.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05His director of passenger services awarded the disastrous Southern
0:09:05 > 0:09:08franchise whilst owning shares in the company advising
0:09:08 > 0:09:11the winning bidder.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13The country has had enough of these sleazy deals.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Isn't it way past time for franchising to be scrapped
0:09:16 > 0:09:23and the UK rail industry revitalised through public ownership?
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Well, and the clock ticks ever backwards, Mr Speaker.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28They don't want inward investment.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33They don't want private sector investment in our railways.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35And of course, Mr Speaker, what we still don't hear
0:09:35 > 0:09:38from that part of This House, from the benches opposite,
0:09:38 > 0:09:42is any words on behalf of passengers about the strikes.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46This is a party that takes money from the rail unions and defends
0:09:46 > 0:09:48them when they are on strike, no matter the inconvenience
0:09:48 > 0:09:53to passengers.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56They are a disgrace, they should stand up and say
0:09:56 > 0:09:57the strikes should stop.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I'll say one thing at least about the Mayor of London.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02He has at least had the wit and wisdom this week to say
0:10:02 > 0:10:03the strikes are wrong.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04Chris Grayling.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07A special deal for the North of England should be sought
0:10:07 > 0:10:10during the forthcoming negotiations on the UK's departure from the EU.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12That was the view of peers in a three-hour debate entitled
0:10:13 > 0:10:15The State Of The North.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17It allowed peers to talk about the distinctive
0:10:17 > 0:10:19character of northern towns, northern industry and
0:10:19 > 0:10:22the northern landscape.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Peers accepted that while the North had benefited greatly
0:10:25 > 0:10:28from regional EU funds, large parts of the region had voted
0:10:28 > 0:10:33overwhelmingly to leave the EU in last year's referendum.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Despite its significant population, and in the absence of devolution,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40the North does not punch at its weight and many,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43especially those living in de-industrialised,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47rust-belt towns, feel both disaffected and alienated.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50It's a fact that a baby, a girl born in Manchester,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54can expect to live for 15 fewer years in good health
0:10:54 > 0:10:58than a baby girl born in the London Borough of Richmond.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Consider that Londoners currently benefit at a rate of over ?65
0:11:02 > 0:11:07per head for investments in cultural infrastructure compared with less
0:11:07 > 0:11:12than ?5 per head for the population based outside the capital.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14We spent ?40 million on a garden bridge in London
0:11:14 > 0:11:16without a brick being laid.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20That would have gone a long way in Hull and secured many other
0:11:20 > 0:11:22scores of arts institutions which have been decimated in
0:11:22 > 0:11:27the North over the last year or so.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Why is there no vision for the wealth-making skills up
0:11:30 > 0:11:33there when we are in clear danger?
0:11:33 > 0:11:36The vision that, for instance, led us to fast build aeroplanes
0:11:36 > 0:11:38when the Second World War seemed imminent.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40These are utterly vital.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Who's defending the country now with anything like that foresight?
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Most governments of all political colours have tended to be
0:11:46 > 0:11:49London-centric in their thinking and the result of the referendum
0:11:49 > 0:11:53in many parts of the North was certainly, in part,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55a reaction to what many regard as the opinions
0:11:55 > 0:11:59of a Westminster elite.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02The divide was cemented even more by the sneering tone
0:12:02 > 0:12:06of some commentators, implying that voters in the North
0:12:06 > 0:12:10lacked the intelligence to vote the right way.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13A Lib Dem peer praised a recent report on the North of England
0:12:13 > 0:12:15by the think tank the IPPR.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Its recommendations urging local enterprise partnership resilience
0:12:19 > 0:12:22audits in the face of Brexit, and the creation of a northern
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Brexit negotiating committee to speak for the North
0:12:25 > 0:12:29in the absence of the devolved structures now available in London,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are critically important.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37The report from IPPR on the North warns us that the uncertainties
0:12:37 > 0:12:40surrounding the Brexit vote could set the recovery
0:12:40 > 0:12:44of the North back very badly.
0:12:44 > 0:12:50But the status quo before June 23rd was not serving the North well.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55Brexit cannot just be about more control for London.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58It's certainly heartening that the Government has understood
0:12:58 > 0:13:04the need for an industrial strategy, making things matter.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07In November, I read in the Evening Standard
0:13:07 > 0:13:11that the Secretary of State for our exit from the
0:13:11 > 0:13:14European Union, David Davis, had agreed with the London Mayor,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Sadiq Khan, that he would have a monthly face-to-face meeting
0:13:18 > 0:13:23and this would take place both before and after Article 50.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25So that the position of London could be understood at every
0:13:26 > 0:13:27stage of the negotiation.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29As far as I know, there is no such arrangement
0:13:29 > 0:13:31for the North-East of England.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33If there are negotiations, and money is to come back,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37let that go to the regions, let's have constitutional change.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39In Scotland, they want more powers for devolution,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42and probably stay in, as they say.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45We've combined, and I've combined with my colleague Gordon Brown,
0:13:45 > 0:13:49together, to see if Scotland and the North, as a powerhouse,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53if you want a real powerhouse, but Scotland and the North together
0:13:53 > 0:13:56if you want a real powerhouse, put Scotland and the North together
0:13:56 > 0:13:57for the same reason.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59To redistribute the power, redistribute the resources and begin
0:13:59 > 0:14:01to develop a northern economy.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03We don't want to be patronised.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06We do not intend to bring a begging bowl.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10But we do insist that we be given the tools so that we can
0:14:10 > 0:14:13get on with the job.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16That means Government being bold enough to let go of the reins.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19When I first came into this house, I remember a Conservative Peeress
0:14:19 > 0:14:22saying to me, "Do you know, I've just been to Yorkshire
0:14:22 > 0:14:26"and parts of it were quite nice."
0:14:26 > 0:14:30The media, as we all know, are also heavily concentrated
0:14:30 > 0:14:34in north-east London and they report things that happen in Islington
0:14:34 > 0:14:36or Tower Hamlets in ways they would never think
0:14:36 > 0:14:41about reporting if they happened in North Leeds or East Bradford.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Listening to this debate, I was struck by the number
0:14:43 > 0:14:49of representations that we heard about the potential relative
0:14:49 > 0:14:54disadvantage of the North in accessing the decision-makers.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57That is, without going beyond my brief, that is certainly a point
0:14:57 > 0:14:59that I think my colleagues in Government should be aware
0:14:59 > 0:15:02of given the strength of feeling that has been expressed
0:15:02 > 0:15:05throughout this debate.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07I think that is one of the most important lessons
0:15:07 > 0:15:15that I have learned.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19You are watching Thursday in Parliament with me, Alicia McCarthy.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24The Commons Equality Committee says political parties
0:15:24 > 0:15:28must face fines if they don't ensure at least 45% of General Election
0:15:28 > 0:15:30candidates are female.
0:15:30 > 0:15:3330% of current MPs are female.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36The Commons Equality Committee said that
0:15:36 > 0:15:41represented a serious democratic deficit for no good reason.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43It said the law must change after the
0:15:43 > 0:15:462020 General Election if that figure didn't change significantly.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49The general secretary made a statement on the report.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51If 100 years ago the suffragettes who fought for
0:15:51 > 0:15:58women's rights, fought for our right to be elected to sit in this place,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00were told that just 455 women would be elected
0:16:00 > 0:16:02to this place over the
0:16:02 > 0:16:05next ten decades, I am not sure whether they would have laughed or
0:16:06 > 0:16:12cried.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15I think they would be proud that the United Kingdom had seen two
0:16:15 > 0:16:16female Prime Ministers, but the fact is there
0:16:16 > 0:16:18are as many men sitting in
0:16:18 > 0:16:21this place today as there are women ever elected to be Members of
0:16:21 > 0:16:28Parliament.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30The committee called for more transparency from parties on
0:16:30 > 0:16:32the work they are doing to improve selection
0:16:32 > 0:16:34and for diversity data to
0:16:34 > 0:16:37be published.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40She said they also wanted a minimum of 45% of
0:16:40 > 0:16:41parliamentary candidates to be women and that
0:16:41 > 0:16:43women should make up 45% of
0:16:43 > 0:16:49MPs by 2030.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54To make progress, these measures need real teeth and that is
0:16:54 > 0:16:56why the committee has also recommended that the remit of
0:16:56 > 0:16:59the electoral commission be extended to introduce fines for
0:16:59 > 0:16:59noncompliance.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01In our evidence session with leaders of the
0:17:01 > 0:17:04political parties it is evident there is enormous support for more
0:17:04 > 0:17:05representation in parliament.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10Each one agreed that Parliament would be
0:17:10 > 0:17:14a better place if 50% of MPs were women, but we need to turn
0:17:14 > 0:17:16those warm sentiments into bums on seats and I
0:17:16 > 0:17:18hope that isn't unparliamentary language.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20She said Parliament was letting itself down on the global
0:17:20 > 0:17:22stage and had fallen down the world's rankings in terms
0:17:22 > 0:17:25of female representation.
0:17:25 > 0:17:35More than half the MPs today are on Labour benches.
0:17:42 > 0:17:4443.7% of the PLP is made up of women.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Much of this is to do with Labour's commitment at the shortlist level
0:17:47 > 0:17:49and I would like to ask,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52does she think other parties should look to introduce all women short
0:17:52 > 0:17:54lists for their parliamentary selections and does she agree that
0:17:54 > 0:17:55parties that aren't already taking direct
0:17:55 > 0:17:56positive action should do so
0:17:57 > 0:17:58as a matter of urgency?
0:17:58 > 0:18:00I thank the honourable lady for her question.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01I think the party should look at evidence
0:18:01 > 0:18:03of what works and what the
0:18:03 > 0:18:06report clearly says is that there is a body of evidence
0:18:06 > 0:18:07parties can look at.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09I don't think it is for the select committee
0:18:09 > 0:18:10to dictate to parliamentary
0:18:10 > 0:18:13parties as to how they run their own selection procedures.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15That is for them but they should also look
0:18:16 > 0:18:17at the evidence.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20In recalling that Labour lost one of the safest seats
0:18:20 > 0:18:24in Blaenau Gwent in 2005 because of the imposition
0:18:24 > 0:18:28of a women only short list, what role does my right
0:18:28 > 0:18:30honourable friend see in local associations being able to choose
0:18:30 > 0:18:34what candidate they think are best for that area irrespective of gender
0:18:34 > 0:18:37or of the voters deciding to vote for that person irrespective of
0:18:37 > 0:18:39their gender.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41I thank my honourable friend for that question and he is
0:18:41 > 0:18:44absolutely right.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Associations and local parties have a huge role to play
0:18:47 > 0:18:51in making sure they get the right person for
0:18:51 > 0:18:56the job in that area, but
0:18:56 > 0:18:58it is very surprising to see that just one
0:18:58 > 0:18:59in four candidates at the
0:18:59 > 0:19:01last general election was female.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04I think perhaps we need to ensure there is the right training and
0:19:04 > 0:19:12support in place and we have a diversity of candidates from those
0:19:12 > 0:19:14associations and parties to choose from.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17The SNP thought there were lessons to be learned from Scotland.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18The SNP Scottish Government is also making
0:19:18 > 0:19:21decisive action to make sure women are in senior decision-making roles
0:19:21 > 0:19:23including in the boardroom, and it contains many ambitious
0:19:23 > 0:19:27commitments in support of women's equality.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Can I ask if the UK Government is considering similar measures and
0:19:31 > 0:19:40when they would come in to fruition?
0:19:40 > 0:19:43The recommendations in our report are for the government to consider.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45We think it is important after the next
0:19:45 > 0:19:47general election, if there isn't significant progress, 45% of
0:19:47 > 0:19:49candidates should be female.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53She mentioned equal representation in
0:19:53 > 0:19:57cabinets, and I was really heartened to see Justin Trudeau when he became
0:19:57 > 0:20:00premier in Canada having a gender balanced cabinet and saying, what
0:20:00 > 0:20:05would you expect in 2016?
0:20:05 > 0:20:08I say, what should we expect in 2017.
0:20:08 > 0:20:14A senior Labour MP has called on ministers to back an independent
0:20:14 > 0:20:15investigation into allegations of breaches
0:20:15 > 0:20:17of humanitarian law in the
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Yemen civil war, because it is simply not acceptable to wait for
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Saudi Arabia to do the job.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict between a Saudi
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Arabian-led coalition backing the Yemen government and Iran-backed
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Houthi rebels.
0:20:31 > 0:20:37MPs are calling for an independent investigation into
0:20:37 > 0:20:39allegations made against both sides of breaches of international
0:20:39 > 0:20:40humanitarian law.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45Stephen Twigg, the Labour chairman of the International
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Development select committee, said such an investigation
0:20:47 > 0:20:49was long overdue,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52as he bemoaned the pace of the progress made by Saudi Arabia
0:20:52 > 0:20:53on its own investigations.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55The government repeatedly, over the last 14 months,
0:20:55 > 0:21:00has been asked about Saudi Arabia's own investigations.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03To my knowledge and the Minister may be able to
0:21:03 > 0:21:06update us today, Saudi Arabia have produced nine reports on violations,
0:21:06 > 0:21:11even though there have been many other allegations made.
0:21:11 > 0:21:18Progress, I believe, on this is glacial and I
0:21:18 > 0:21:20think it is remarkable the government still hold
0:21:20 > 0:21:23the line that Saudi Arabia must take responsibility
0:21:23 > 0:21:24for investigating its own alleged violation.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28I give way.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31These reports put forward have been far too slow and
0:21:31 > 0:21:34the reason is we are dealing with the country
0:21:34 > 0:21:35written a report like this and
0:21:35 > 0:21:36they are having to learn
0:21:36 > 0:21:38the hard way to show the
0:21:38 > 0:21:43transparency that the international community expects.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46The point I would like to make is that this progress
0:21:46 > 0:21:49is slow because we are talking about a fledgling state, and this is still
0:21:49 > 0:21:53a very young state which is not used to this level of scrutiny and
0:21:53 > 0:21:55transparency and so it will take a long time for these
0:21:55 > 0:21:57reports to come out.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00The honourable lady anticipates the final remarks that I want to
0:22:00 > 0:22:03make in this speech because she used the word
0:22:03 > 0:22:10"slow," the minister used the
0:22:10 > 0:22:13word "slow," I used the word "glacial" because it is too slow.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15The substantial point I want to ask and
0:22:15 > 0:22:18I look forward to the minister responding when he speaks, at what
0:22:18 > 0:22:21point will the British government take the view that we need to move
0:22:21 > 0:22:27to an independent enquiry?
0:22:27 > 0:22:29The machine is slow in putting these together.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33The conduct of investigations is totally new and the assessment team
0:22:33 > 0:22:34is learning its way.
0:22:34 > 0:22:40I keep putting pressure on them and will continue
0:22:40 > 0:22:44to do so and I make it very clear that to lose faith in that process
0:22:44 > 0:22:47which is beginning, and to digress, how long it took for the Chilcott
0:22:47 > 0:22:48enquiry to come together.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50And this is a machine that we have in this
0:22:50 > 0:22:53country well versed to the legal parameters you have to deal with.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55We have to have faith in Saudi Arabia
0:22:55 > 0:22:58for the moment to see these reports must be
0:22:58 > 0:23:04forthcoming and for the
0:23:04 > 0:23:06moment I remain confident they can produce these reports.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Finally, are we any closer to a decision on when MPs and peers
0:23:09 > 0:23:14can decide on whether or not to move out
0:23:14 > 0:23:16of Parliament to allow a massive refurbishment programme?
0:23:16 > 0:23:18The Palace of Westminster is crumbling with
0:23:18 > 0:23:23leaking roofs, crumbling stonework and ancient wiring and plumbing.
0:23:23 > 0:23:33At business questions, one MP wondered
0:23:33 > 0:23:36if a decisions was on the horizon, but first he wanted to raise
0:23:36 > 0:23:41something altogether different that was trending on social media.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42Further to the question, sorry, may I
0:23:42 > 0:23:45first of all wish you a happy kiss a ginger day.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47The member for North Antrim quite rightly asked the
0:23:47 > 0:23:48question...
0:23:48 > 0:23:53I'm sure you can look it up!
0:23:53 > 0:23:56The member for Northampton raised a very serious question
0:23:56 > 0:23:59earlier about the committee report which was produced 18 weeks ago on
0:23:59 > 0:24:03the future of the Palace of Westminster.
0:24:03 > 0:24:09It is now becoming irresponsible that we have not yet
0:24:09 > 0:24:17had a debate because a fire in one of the 98 rises of this building
0:24:17 > 0:24:20would spread very rapidly and asbestos, in any part of this
0:24:20 > 0:24:22building, if discovered could lead to the closing of this building
0:24:22 > 0:24:23immediately and indefinitely.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25And any problems in the sewage of the
0:24:25 > 0:24:29building could close the building immediately.
0:24:29 > 0:24:35So could he make sure we get on with this immediately and
0:24:35 > 0:24:37we are outrunning unnecessary costs and risks.
0:24:37 > 0:24:44The honourable gentleman summarises the points that were made
0:24:44 > 0:24:50at much greater length and the committee report
0:24:50 > 0:24:55about the very real challenges in terms of managing
0:24:55 > 0:24:58risks that there are with the building of the Palace of
0:24:58 > 0:24:59Westminster.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01I said to the honourable member that I would hope
0:25:01 > 0:25:05we could have a debate as soon as possible.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07This kiss a ginger activity is probably perfectly lawful
0:25:07 > 0:25:14but I have no plans to take part in it myself.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Strikes me as a very rum business altogether.
0:25:17 > 0:25:23I have not the slightest idea about what the
0:25:23 > 0:25:25honourable gentleman was prating so the matter had
0:25:25 > 0:25:26to be googled for me.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29A rather bemused John Bercow bringing us to the end of this
0:25:29 > 0:25:36programme, but please join me Friday night
0:25:36 > 0:25:38at 11 for a full round-up of the
0:25:38 > 0:25:40week in Westminster including the chair
0:25:40 > 0:25:41of the women and equality is
0:25:41 > 0:25:44committee on how to increase the number of female MPs, but for now,
0:25:44 > 0:25:49from me, Alicia McCarthy, goodbye.