0:00:07 > 0:00:09Hello and welcome to Thursday In Parliament.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10The main news from Westminster...
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Fears of a government power grab as Ministers set about disentangling
0:00:13 > 0:00:17the UK from European Union law.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19It has been suggested that the Government is looking
0:00:19 > 0:00:21at Henry VIII clauses to take this through.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23So much for Parliamentary sovereignty.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Scotland's aspirations for a voice also seem to be given the Henry VIII
0:00:27 > 0:00:31treatment with a rough wooing clearly taking place right now.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Will security cooperation be used as a bargaining
0:00:33 > 0:00:34chip in Brexit talks?
0:00:34 > 0:00:39A former police chief thinks an "implied threat" has been issued.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45That the UK will withhold security cooperation with the EU if it does
0:00:45 > 0:00:50not get the trade deal that it wants was insensitive, reckless,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53or an empty threat, or all three?
0:00:53 > 0:00:56And calls to increase the jail sentences imposed, in England,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00on people who are cruel to animals.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02These individuals are practising cruelty, basically, on animals
0:01:02 > 0:01:06which they will then transfer on to humans.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Now that Article 50 has been activated, work begins on what to do
0:01:09 > 0:01:12with the vast body of regulations generated by the European Union and
0:01:12 > 0:01:16enshrined in UK law over 45 years.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19The Government will be introducing a Great Repeal Bill which,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22among other things, will get rid of the European Communities
0:01:22 > 0:01:27Act or ECA of 1972.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Repealing the ECA on the day we leave the EU enables
0:01:29 > 0:01:34a return to this parliament of the sovereignty we ceded in 1972
0:01:34 > 0:01:37and ends the supremacy of EU law in this country.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42It is entirely necessary to deliver on the result of the referendum.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46But repealing the ECA alone is not enough.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51A simple repeal of the ECA would leave holes in our statute book.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54The EU regulations that apply directly to the UK would no
0:01:54 > 0:01:57longer have any effect and many of the domestic regulations
0:01:57 > 0:02:01we have made to implement our EU obligations would fall away.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Therefore to provide the maximum possible certainty,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07the Great Repeal Bill will convert EU law into domestic law
0:02:07 > 0:02:13on the day we leave the EU.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14This means, for example, that the workers' rights,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17environmental protection and consumer rights enjoyed under EU
0:02:17 > 0:02:24law in the UK will continue in UK law after we have left the EU.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27And he said that, as far as possible, power taken back
0:02:27 > 0:02:29from the EU would be devolved to Northern Ireland,
0:02:30 > 0:02:31Scotland and Wales.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34It is the expectation of the Government that outcome
0:02:34 > 0:02:37of this process will be a significant increase
0:02:37 > 0:02:42in the decision-making power of each devolved administration.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46But we must also ensure that, as we leave the EU, no new barriers
0:02:46 > 0:02:51to living and doing business within our own union are created.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Mr Speaker, nobody underestimates the task of converting EU law
0:02:54 > 0:03:01into domestic law but the question is how is it done and what is done?
0:03:01 > 0:03:03The White Paper on the question of how gives sweeping
0:03:03 > 0:03:07powers to the executive.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13Sweeping because it proposes a power to use delegated legislation
0:03:13 > 0:03:19to correct and thus change primary legislation, and also
0:03:19 > 0:03:22devolved legislation by delegated legislation.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Sweeping because of the sheer scale of the exercise.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28On these benches, we think the triggering of Article 50
0:03:28 > 0:03:31yesterday was a sad day for everybody in Europe, including
0:03:31 > 0:03:35everybody in these islands, and an EU which for years has
0:03:35 > 0:03:40brought us peace, stability, security and prosperity.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42We are turning the clock back 40 years and I am
0:03:42 > 0:03:44glad that the minister reminded his own front benches
0:03:44 > 0:03:48devolution existed now in a way it didn't exist 40 years ago.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51It has been suggested the Government is looking at Henry VIII clauses
0:03:51 > 0:03:52to take this through.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54So much for Parliamentary sovereignty.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Scotland's aspirations for a voice also seem to be given their Henry
0:03:58 > 0:04:04VIII treatment with a rough wooing clearly taking place right now.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06I'd like to commend the Secretary of State for ignoring some
0:04:06 > 0:04:09of the more over excitable demands from parts of the Brexit press
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and some of his backbenchers, and to confirm as he has today
0:04:12 > 0:04:15that he will incorporate into British law some of the EU
0:04:15 > 0:04:17jewels in the crown such as the Habitats Directive,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19the Working Time Directive, the Green Renewable Energy
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Directive, which we can all agree upon.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Although he will know there is a fork in the road.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25The Government will either have to keep those provisions
0:04:25 > 0:04:28in domestic legislations, in which case they will reasonably
0:04:28 > 0:04:30say, "What on earth was the point of leaving the EU
0:04:30 > 0:04:31in the first place?"
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Or they will remove those provisions, in which case the EU
0:04:34 > 0:04:36will need exacting safeguards to ensure we are not
0:04:36 > 0:04:40undercutting EU standards.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43The Government's aim that EU law, with all its rights and protections,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47will remain in place is a pragmatic approach and we need to find a way
0:04:47 > 0:04:50of making that happen but the Secretary of State will be
0:04:50 > 0:04:53aware of concerns that others might try and use this process to get rid
0:04:53 > 0:04:56of EU laws they have never liked or use these powers to make changes
0:04:56 > 0:04:57beyond the minimum necessary.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00This is really a Great Transfer Bill, that's what it really is.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05Could the Secretary of State give an unequivocal undertaking
0:05:05 > 0:05:06that workers' rights, environmental protections
0:05:06 > 0:05:09and consumer protections will be in no way changed as a result
0:05:09 > 0:05:19of this ill and indeed anything else that is taken...?
0:05:21 > 0:05:24The Prime Minister has already given those undertakings.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I thank my right honourable friend for making it clear that two years
0:05:27 > 0:05:30from today our sovereign parliament will indeed have the power to amend,
0:05:30 > 0:05:39repeal or improve all this ghastly EU legislation.
0:05:39 > 0:05:47I will pass on the assessment of the legislation but I will
0:05:47 > 0:05:57of course reinforce the point I have already made, which is the aim
0:05:57 > 0:06:00of this bill at the end of the day is to bring the decisions back
0:06:00 > 0:06:02to this House.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04There's speculation, generated by Theresa May's farewell
0:06:04 > 0:06:06letter to the European Union, that security cooperation may be
0:06:06 > 0:06:08used as a bargaining chip during Brexit negotiations.
0:06:08 > 0:06:15Some peers are worried about the implications.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Less than a week after four people died as a result
0:06:18 > 0:06:24of terrorism on our doorstep, does the noble lady,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27the minister think that the implied threat made by the Prime Minister
0:06:27 > 0:06:29in her Article 50 letter, backed up yesterday...
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Hear, hear.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34..backed up yesterday by the Home Secretary that the UK
0:06:34 > 0:06:37will withhold security cooperation with the EU if it does not
0:06:37 > 0:06:39get the trade deal that wants was insensitive,
0:06:39 > 0:06:49reckless, or an empty threat, or all three?
0:06:49 > 0:06:54My Lords, may I also paid tribute to the people who lost their lives
0:06:54 > 0:07:01last week and who still lie in hospital injured?
0:07:01 > 0:07:06But I do take exception to what the noble Lord says.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11My Lords, the letter says both sides would cope but our
0:07:11 > 0:07:13cooperation would be weakened.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16We want and we believe that the EU wants security to be part
0:07:16 > 0:07:20of a new partnership so that is why it is part of the negotiation.
0:07:20 > 0:07:28The threat was not a threat at all, it was a matter of fact.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Would the minister, for the service of the House,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33read the two sentences in the letter before the one that she
0:07:33 > 0:07:38selectively read out?
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Because those sentences make it absolutely clear
0:07:41 > 0:07:44that the Government's intention and the implied threat is that
0:07:44 > 0:07:48unless there is agreement on trade, a comprehensive agreement
0:07:48 > 0:07:58as they call it, there will not be an agreement on security.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00And by that means they would imperil not only our economic
0:08:00 > 0:08:02capability but also, even more seriously,
0:08:02 > 0:08:10our security capability.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14The noble Lord is actually quite wrong in what he says.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16The letter says both sides would cope but our
0:08:16 > 0:08:18cooperation would be weakened.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21That is what the letter says.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24And we want and we believe the EU wants security to be part
0:08:24 > 0:08:27of the new partnership and that is why it will be
0:08:27 > 0:08:28part of the negotiation.
0:08:28 > 0:08:29That is the right way forward.
0:08:29 > 0:08:36My Lords, does my noble friend realise that the appropriate reply
0:08:36 > 0:08:38to the noble Lord Kinnock lies in the Gospel according
0:08:38 > 0:08:40to Saint Matthew?
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Chapter six, verse 19.
0:08:43 > 0:08:50LAUGHTER.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Ask the Bishop.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Yes.
0:08:56 > 0:09:02Perhaps the Right Reverend Prelate would like to comment?
0:09:02 > 0:09:09to the noble Lord Kinnock lies in the Gospel according
0:09:10 > 0:09:15Would the noble Baroness, the minister not agree with me
0:09:15 > 0:09:18the best way of answering Lord Paddick's question is to ensure
0:09:18 > 0:09:20the Government arranges with our European partners to deal
0:09:20 > 0:09:22with security issues first and foremost and separately
0:09:22 > 0:09:25from trade to make sure there is no moment when we fall
0:09:25 > 0:09:26off a security cliff?
0:09:26 > 0:09:29The noble Lord is quite right in the sense that the Prime Minister
0:09:29 > 0:09:31put these aspects of negotiation right at the forefront.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34I have been in debates in the last few weeks talking
0:09:34 > 0:09:35about how that cooperation...
0:09:35 > 0:09:38We have been world leaders in those areas.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41It is so important as we go forward.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45But it is all part of the whole deal and that is bearing in mind
0:09:45 > 0:09:54the context in which we operate.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57With what the noble Lord just said, would my noble friend agree that
0:09:57 > 0:09:59as we begin this long and difficult process, intemperate
0:09:59 > 0:10:03remarks are hardly helpful?
0:10:03 > 0:10:10Well, it pains which intemperate remarks my noble friend
0:10:10 > 0:10:12-- Well, it depends which intemperate remarks my noble
0:10:12 > 0:10:16friend is referring to that, yes, I think we all have to be very
0:10:16 > 0:10:18careful about what we say.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Back in the Commons, the Transport Secretary was accused
0:10:20 > 0:10:22of pursuing a "little Britain" strategy in his approach
0:10:22 > 0:10:24to Brexit, which could damage the UK aviation industry.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26The ramifications of leaving the EU-dominated
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Transport Question Time from the off.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30The Open Skies Agreement has provided great opportunities for EU
0:10:30 > 0:10:32registered airlines, including UK companies such
0:10:32 > 0:10:34as easyJet, who fly largely unrestricted between member states
0:10:34 > 0:10:37and within member states as well as from the EU to the US,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40but Brexit could change all that, so can the Secretary of State
0:10:40 > 0:10:43reassure the industry and passengers that the UK will remain part
0:10:43 > 0:10:49of Open Skies arrangements?
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Mr Speaker, as I said a moment ago, we will of course be reaching that
0:10:52 > 0:10:55agreement in due course.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56It is our intention across the sectors,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00whether it is haulage or aviation, to secure the best possible
0:11:00 > 0:11:04agreement for the future that will benefit those who seek to do
0:11:04 > 0:11:07business in the UK from elsewhere in the EU and those who seek to do
0:11:07 > 0:11:11business elsewhere in the EU from the UK.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Sir Desmond Swayne.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16How important is it to make arrangements for the worst-case
0:11:16 > 0:11:23scenario just to show how serious our negotiating intent is?
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Well, Mr Speaker, you will not be surprised to learn
0:11:25 > 0:11:28that the Government of course takes steps to prepare for all
0:11:28 > 0:11:30eventualities but we enter the negotiations with good faith
0:11:30 > 0:11:33and intention to secure a deal because we believe very strongly
0:11:33 > 0:11:38it is in everyone's interests both here in the UK and across the EU.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Can the Secretary of State confirm that the worst-case scenario
0:11:40 > 0:11:44is no arrangement at all?
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Can he also confirm that for airlines they have to schedule
0:11:47 > 0:11:5212-18 months in advance and therefore can he confirm
0:11:52 > 0:11:57that he has to resolve this within the next six months?
0:11:57 > 0:12:00I never speculate on these things but what I would say is I have
0:12:00 > 0:12:02detailed discussions with the aviation industry,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05have had over the past few weeks, well aware of the challenges
0:12:05 > 0:12:07they face around their business models and, of course,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09the Government listens very carefully to them about how best
0:12:09 > 0:12:12to approach this important sector in the context of the negotiations.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16The Prime Minister told the House yesterday that she will, her words,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19deliver certainty to UK businesses about the position they
0:12:19 > 0:12:21will be in post-Brexit.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24But without agreement on the principles behind cabotage,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28trucking companies are already warning that new customs checks
0:12:28 > 0:12:31will gridlock roads leading to the Channel ports.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34UK-based airlines are already warning that they may need
0:12:34 > 0:12:37to relocate their bases across the Channel if the UK falls
0:12:37 > 0:12:42out of the Common Aviation Area.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45So just how and when the minister is going to deliver the certainty
0:12:45 > 0:12:48that those companies need now rather than a kind of ministerial
0:12:48 > 0:12:50aspiration that everything is going to be all right
0:12:50 > 0:12:52on the night?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Of course, Mr Speaker, this is not simply about UK
0:12:55 > 0:13:00companies because the vast majority of haulage-based cabotage that takes
0:13:00 > 0:13:02place in the United Kingdom is international hauliers operating
0:13:02 > 0:13:05in the UK, so they themselves have a vested interest in ensuring
0:13:05 > 0:13:08that their politicians work with us to ensure we have the best possible
0:13:08 > 0:13:09arrangement for the future.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12That is what we will do and I am confident other European governments
0:13:12 > 0:13:14will want to do the same.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16The Prime Minister flippantly said in her Article 50 speech
0:13:16 > 0:13:19that we will be leaving EU institutions but not Europe,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21as if that was a good thing.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24The Aviation Safety Agency plays a crucial role in excluding any
0:13:24 > 0:13:27aircraft or company that have poor safety records from European
0:13:27 > 0:13:30airspace, safeguarding the security and well-being of people right
0:13:30 > 0:13:33across the continent.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Now that negotiations are underway, this government has a duty
0:13:36 > 0:13:39to passengers in the aviation sector to tell us if the UK will be
0:13:39 > 0:13:42a participant or are they happy to compromise our economy
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and passenger well-being to achieve their "little
0:13:45 > 0:13:51Britain" hard Brexit?
0:13:51 > 0:13:54In the friendliest possible spirit, there is no danger of her suffering
0:13:54 > 0:13:58ill health as a result of excessive hurry.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Secretary of State.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Well, that may be, Mr Speaker, but the honourable lady
0:14:04 > 0:14:10does speak an awful lot of nonsense.
0:14:10 > 0:14:11LAUGHTER.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14We do not pursue, we do not and are not pursuing
0:14:14 > 0:14:16a "little Britain" strategy.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19We are looking to build our role in the world.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Aviation will be an important part of that which is why
0:14:22 > 0:14:26we are expanding Heathrow Airport, seeking to expand Heathrow Airport,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28subject to the consultation happening at the moment,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and we will, of course, bring forward to this House
0:14:31 > 0:14:34and to this country our proposals in due course.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Many of these international bodies went beyond the EU, he added,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41and the UK would continue to play a role in them.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Last year, the Speaker announced a new initiative called
0:14:44 > 0:14:46the Speaker's Democracy Award.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49It enables the Commons to recognise individuals who have championed
0:14:49 > 0:14:51democracy in some way.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54John Bercow has announced the first winner of the award.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58I'm pleased to be able to tell the House that Marvi Memon MP
0:14:58 > 0:15:01is the winner in this, the inaugural year of the award.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05Ms Memon is a Pakistani politician who is the current
0:15:05 > 0:15:10chairperson of the Government of Pakistan's Benazir Income Support
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Programme, the BISP, and an elected member
0:15:14 > 0:15:20of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25Ms Memon has prompted a substantial and impressive programme
0:15:25 > 0:15:33of empowerment through her BISP work by giving over 5.3 million
0:15:33 > 0:15:37of the poorest women a modest stipend for essentials such as food,
0:15:38 > 0:15:42clothing, health care and education.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45It's hoped that Marvi Memon will visit Parliament
0:15:45 > 0:15:47to collect the award in person.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48You're watching Thursday in Parliament,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52with me, Kristiina Cooper.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57There have been distressing stories of animal cruelty in the Commons
0:15:57 > 0:16:00as MPs called for an increase in penalties
0:16:00 > 0:16:01for offenders in England.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03They want the maximum sentence for offences
0:16:03 > 0:16:05to be increased to five years.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08It's currently six months.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11There were examples of what some people have done to animals -
0:16:11 > 0:16:14and what punishment they received.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17A young fox had a habit of going to the large supermarket
0:16:17 > 0:16:20every night to hunt for food.
0:16:20 > 0:16:26The fox was caught by a gang of boys from my own constituency.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31They caught it by the tail, hurled it round and round,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34smashed its head against the wall several times
0:16:34 > 0:16:37and then stamped on its head.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42The punishment for that, well, it was hardly punishment at all,
0:16:42 > 0:16:47so I think it's absolutely necessary to increase the penalties
0:16:47 > 0:16:51for people who impose that kind of cruelty on animals.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54A small dog named Scamp was found buried alive in the woods
0:16:54 > 0:16:58near Redcar on the 19th of October with a nail hammered into its head.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02In February Michael Heathcock and Richard Finch pleaded
0:17:02 > 0:17:05guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and they were sentenced to four months, meaning they will probably
0:17:08 > 0:17:10serve just eight weeks in prison.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Not enough time for reflection, punishment or rehabilitation.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17The people of my constituency have been horrified by these cases
0:17:17 > 0:17:21and it's important for me to pay tribute to their response.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24After hearing of the incident and others, they held vigils
0:17:24 > 0:17:28with hundreds of people coming to light candles and send
0:17:28 > 0:17:32their messages loudly and defiantly.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36There are also plans for a dog park to be built in their memory.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40The perpetrators do not represent our community.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45People in Redcar are decent and kind.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48I know passionate animal lovers and I meet many dog lovers
0:17:48 > 0:17:52as I walk my own dog but my constituents are angry.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54They feel the criminal justice system has let them down
0:17:54 > 0:17:56and that is why I am standing here today.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58The current penalties for animal welfare in England
0:17:58 > 0:18:00are too low, far too low.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03The maximum sentence of animal cruelty is six months in prison
0:18:03 > 0:18:05and an unlimited fine.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Will he take an intervention from me?
0:18:08 > 0:18:10I will.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14I agree with him and his motion but part of the problem
0:18:14 > 0:18:19is persuading courts even to impose those minimum sentences
0:18:19 > 0:18:20that are far too low.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23I thank him for his intervention.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25He is right.
0:18:25 > 0:18:31I feel if we had a larger sentence and there was more
0:18:31 > 0:18:34flexibility in the courts when you have the worst of cases,
0:18:34 > 0:18:40the magistrates would have that ability to make that sentence
0:18:40 > 0:18:46but he's right, sometimes there is not enough sentencing,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50a long enough sentence even in the amount at the moment.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I know from working in psychology that there is certainly a link
0:18:53 > 0:18:58between cruelty to animals and psychopathy and cruelty
0:18:58 > 0:19:03to humans, so this must be taken as cruelty in terms of animal
0:19:03 > 0:19:10welfare but also in thinking of the impact on other victims
0:19:10 > 0:19:14of cruelty because these individuals are practising cruelty on animals
0:19:14 > 0:19:19which they will then transfer on to humans.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23At present the maximum penalty for such offences is six months
0:19:23 > 0:19:27in prison or an unlimited fine or both, and the unlimited
0:19:27 > 0:19:31fine was only raised from ?20,000 in 2015.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35In addition offenders can be disqualified from owning animals
0:19:35 > 0:19:39or having influence over the way an animal is kept for as long
0:19:39 > 0:19:44as the court sees fit and this is an important point and moves
0:19:44 > 0:19:48on from owning an animal to things like transport.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Lord Gardner, I know, is in regular contact
0:19:51 > 0:19:56with the Ministry of Justice to discuss maximum sentences.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00Current sentencing for such offences does not suggest the courts
0:20:00 > 0:20:04are finding sentencing powers inadequate, which is to say that
0:20:04 > 0:20:06changing the maximum sentence will not make a difference if courts
0:20:06 > 0:20:11consider a lower sentence appropriate, but I can inform
0:20:11 > 0:20:14the House that the sentencing council has recently reviewed
0:20:14 > 0:20:18the Magistrates' Court sentencing guidelines,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21including those in relation to animal cruelty,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24and the sentencing council's revised guidance, published
0:20:24 > 0:20:28on their website, which will become effective from May, will allow
0:20:28 > 0:20:32magistrates more flexibility as regards imposing penalties
0:20:32 > 0:20:35towards the upper end of the scale.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37To the Lords now, where the statement made earlier
0:20:37 > 0:20:39by the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, on the Great Repeal
0:20:39 > 0:20:42Bill was read out to peers.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44One remark that's often made about the Great Repeal Bill
0:20:44 > 0:20:47is that it doesn't do anything of the sort because it actually
0:20:47 > 0:20:50turns all EU laws into British law.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54The former diplomat Lord Hannay made the point - in his own way.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59Would it not have been better to adopt the byline of the Prince
0:20:59 > 0:21:03of Lampedusa's famous remark in The Leopard when he gave
0:21:03 > 0:21:07a definition of revolution which was "everything must change
0:21:07 > 0:21:11so that everything may stay the same"?
0:21:11 > 0:21:14I think that is probably more the title and I think
0:21:14 > 0:21:17the Daily Telegraph's regulatory bonfire may be a bit
0:21:18 > 0:21:20short of dry kindling.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Labour thought that mixed messages were coming out
0:21:22 > 0:21:24of the Government about EU law.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28We've heard from the Secretary of State for International Development
0:21:28 > 0:21:31arguing that to restore Britain's competitiveness we must begin
0:21:31 > 0:21:36by deregulating the labour market whilst the Foreign Secretary wants
0:21:36 > 0:21:41to use the opportunity to axe needless regulations that have
0:21:41 > 0:21:45accreted since Britain joined the EU.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48How do those comments chime with the Prime Minister's
0:21:48 > 0:21:52introduction to the White Paper and indeed the Government's
0:21:52 > 0:21:56long-standing promise that the same rules and laws will apply on the day
0:21:56 > 0:22:00after exit as on the day before?
0:22:00 > 0:22:04So will the Minister confirm that it is the Prime Minister
0:22:04 > 0:22:08who is the boss and that despite the words of the others,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12there is no intention to repeal those madcap ideas
0:22:12 > 0:22:14within the repeal bill?
0:22:14 > 0:22:17I know he'll be on his feet for hours on end in the complexities
0:22:17 > 0:22:19of these and other bills.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22The advantage this bill has is that although the detail may be
0:22:22 > 0:22:26difficult, the objective couldn't possibly be simpler.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29It is to ensure that this Parliament,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33and we're all parliamentarians, makes the laws, changes the laws,
0:22:33 > 0:22:38amends the laws which the people of this country expect this
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Parliament to perform, and that's the duty that
0:22:41 > 0:22:45in all my experience as an MP, they expect this Parliament
0:22:45 > 0:22:49to be able to make the decisions on their behalf, so all of us
0:22:49 > 0:22:55who are keen parliamentarians and value the priceless authority
0:22:55 > 0:22:59we have in either house, but principally in the Commons,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02should bear in mind that this is a wholly desirable
0:23:02 > 0:23:05piece of legislation.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08I'm delighted the noble Lord sees it this way and I agree that
0:23:08 > 0:23:09although it is complex, the challenge ahead,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12we need to proceed with some simple principles and a simple
0:23:12 > 0:23:14and approach as possible.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17My Lords, I confess to an irresistible urge to return
0:23:17 > 0:23:23to full-time practice at the bar because this is a legal minefield.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25It was the last sitting day for the Commons
0:23:25 > 0:23:27before the Easter break.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Labour's Valerie Vaz, the shadow Commons leader,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33put aside Brexit tensions and tried to introduce some
0:23:33 > 0:23:34end-of-term levity.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38And so to R, Mr Speaker.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Rock and roll.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Recently we had the death of the creator of the genre,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Chuck Berry, and it is as though he had some songs just
0:23:45 > 0:23:48for the Government, so we have Maybellene,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50why can't you be true?
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Reeling and Rocking - the Government has had some U-turns
0:23:54 > 0:24:02on National Insurance contributions, disquiet about school funding,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05special deals with Tory councils and, Mr Speaker, one for you -
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Johnny B Goode.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Finally, I want to say thank you to all our civil servants
0:24:11 > 0:24:16for all the work they have done when we were part of the EU
0:24:16 > 0:24:21and all the ambassadors and all the ministers for Europe,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23including the leader of the House, who was an outstanding
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Minister for Europe and it's because he was so good that I hope
0:24:27 > 0:24:32the goodwill will come back when we finish our negotiations.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36And I also want to say goodbye and thank you to David Beamish,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38the clerk of Parliament, who is sadly retiring
0:24:38 > 0:24:40after 42 years.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43He's done a fantastic job, is a great public servant and worked
0:24:43 > 0:24:48closely with our own clerk, and also Russell Tatum,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51one of the unsung heroes, a backroom person who's worked
0:24:51 > 0:24:56for both sides, the Labour and Conservative opposition whips.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57He's kept us all going.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01We wish him well in his new post at the Department of Health and hope
0:25:01 > 0:25:02he can sort them out too.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05And finally can I repeat again, can I thank everyone for everything
0:25:05 > 0:25:09they did in the last week, and for everyone connected
0:25:09 > 0:25:13with the House, a very happy and peaceful Easter.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Goodbyes and gratitude from Valerie Vaz there,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19bringing us to the end of Thursday in Parliament.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22I'll be back at the same time tomorrow for a round-up
0:25:22 > 0:25:23of the Week in Parliament.
0:25:23 > 0:25:29Until then, from me, Kristiina Cooper, goodbye.