0:00:15 > 0:00:18Hello there and welcome to Thursday in Parliament.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23On this programme - as election campaigning gets underway,
0:00:23 > 0:00:27questions about election expenses from 2015.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29The Commons unites to condemn the detention, torture and
0:00:29 > 0:00:35killing of gay men in Chechnya.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38There are calls for the Government to act to make sure food prices
0:00:38 > 0:00:39don't go up after Brexit.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41And, find out what this Conservative has been
0:00:41 > 0:00:45doing in the bathroom and why it's going to land him in a whole heap of
0:00:45 > 0:00:46trouble when he gets home.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48To my horror, I found...
0:00:48 > 0:00:50LAUGHTER.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54A plastic container of Olay anti-wrinkle,
0:00:54 > 0:00:59anti-ageing lotion...
0:00:59 > 0:01:01But first, and SNP MP is demanding the Government urgently explain
0:01:01 > 0:01:07whether or not the police investigation into Conservative
0:01:07 > 0:01:10MPs' election expenses swayed a decision to call an early
0:01:10 > 0:01:13general election.
0:01:13 > 0:01:1614 police forces have sent files to the Crown Prosecution
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Service in relation to allegations of breached spending limits in the
0:01:19 > 0:01:222015 general election.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Pete Wishart wanted to know more before this year's election
0:01:24 > 0:01:27campaign got into full swing.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Before we rise, Mr Speaker, we have to have
0:01:30 > 0:01:33an urgent statement on the status of all these Conservative Members
0:01:33 > 0:01:35of Parliament who are currently under
0:01:35 > 0:01:37police investigation for electoral fraud.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41It seems that there might be up to two dozen Conservative MPs
0:01:41 > 0:01:44facing the possibility of being prosecuted while we are in the
0:01:44 > 0:01:47middle of an election campaign.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49The public, I believe, deserves to know
0:01:49 > 0:01:55what happened under these circumstances and will it be
0:01:55 > 0:01:57possible for them to continue as candidates in this general
0:01:57 > 0:01:58election if that was to pass?
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Now, there are a lot of people who suspect that with the
0:02:01 > 0:02:05first charging decision to be made on the 20th of May, that this is
0:02:05 > 0:02:06the real reason for the snap election,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and we need to hear from the Government if this played any
0:02:09 > 0:02:11feature in its deciding and determining the state
0:02:11 > 0:02:12of the election.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15I would like to hear from the Leader of the House of Commons
0:02:15 > 0:02:16on this issue.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19The honourable gentleman made a serious point to me
0:02:19 > 0:02:23about the police investigations.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25I want to reiterate, Mr Speaker, what
0:02:25 > 0:02:27the Prime Minister said yesterday -
0:02:27 > 0:02:30that we stand behind all our candidates at the forthcoming
0:02:30 > 0:02:32election, who will be out campaigning for a strong and stable
0:02:32 > 0:02:34government in the national interest.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36A number of police forces have conducted investigations and many
0:02:36 > 0:02:37have been dropped.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42Now, it's right these matters are investigated
0:02:42 > 0:02:44properly, but the battle bus was directed by
0:02:44 > 0:02:47the National Party, as was the case with other
0:02:47 > 0:02:49political parties, and we are confident
0:02:49 > 0:02:55that individual colleagues acted properly.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The Shadow Leader of the Commons turned to the electoral
0:02:58 > 0:03:00campaign and the reasons given by Theresa May for calling an
0:03:00 > 0:03:01early election.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04The Prime Minister wants stability and to strengthen her hand
0:03:04 > 0:03:06in the negotiations, but blames the opposition
0:03:06 > 0:03:08parties for calling a general election.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11But it is her dithering and confusion and watching her back.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Firstly, what an allegedly arrogant statement, that she should
0:03:13 > 0:03:15presume to know the outcome of an election.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Secondly, what has her Government been doing for the last
0:03:17 > 0:03:19nine months?
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Thirdly, can the Leader of the House confirm that if the
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Government wins, that we are not entering into a rolling programme of
0:03:26 > 0:03:28snap elections during negotiations?
0:03:28 > 0:03:33I think all of us in the House, whatever political perspective we
0:03:33 > 0:03:40bring to these matters, want to see public services of a kind in which
0:03:40 > 0:03:44we can all take pride, in which we think work effectively
0:03:44 > 0:03:46for our constituents, who are vulnerable
0:03:46 > 0:03:50and in need of help.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54It is the belief of this Government and this party that
0:03:54 > 0:03:59the foundation for effective public services has to be a strong
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and growing economy.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06And the plans put forward by the right honourable
0:04:06 > 0:04:11gentleman, the Leader of the Opposition, would render any
0:04:11 > 0:04:15such chaotic Government incapable of funding public services, because
0:04:15 > 0:04:17they would have bankrupted the British economy, raised taxes
0:04:17 > 0:04:21on ordinary working families and piled yet more public debt
0:04:21 > 0:04:27onto the next generation, a betrayal of young people.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31A Conservative asked about Government Bills that wouldn't now
0:04:31 > 0:04:35become law because of the early election, including a Bill to
0:04:35 > 0:04:39bolster security in jails and crack down on the use of drugs and mobile
0:04:39 > 0:04:42phones in prisons.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47Can the Leader of the House confirm that the Prison and Courts
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Bill has now been abandoned for this Parliament and will have to start
0:04:50 > 0:04:52its passage again through the House in the next Parliament?
0:04:52 > 0:04:56And can he tell us which Bills will be going
0:04:56 > 0:04:59through the rather grubby process of the wash up, which is a rather
0:04:59 > 0:05:03unsatisfactory way to pass laws?
0:05:03 > 0:05:08The Bills that were introduced to this
0:05:08 > 0:05:12House quite late in the current Parliamentary session, and which
0:05:12 > 0:05:17received carry-over motions, so that they could be debated in what
0:05:17 > 0:05:21would have been the third session of the current Parliament,
0:05:21 > 0:05:27will fall, including the Prisons and Courts Bill.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32I referred in my statement to some of those measures that we will
0:05:32 > 0:05:36be addressing during the wash-up period next week.
0:05:36 > 0:05:43There are, as my right honourable friend knows,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45discussions going on through the usual channels
0:05:45 > 0:05:47about how to handle particular pieces of legislation,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49and I don't want to prejudice what the outcome of those
0:05:49 > 0:05:51discussions will be.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54A leading Brexiteer, who is standing down at the election,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56reflected on the task ahead for MPs.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01The next Parliament has a very difficult task.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03The Government has to implement the will of the
0:06:03 > 0:06:07people, as expressed on the 23rd of June last year.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The Opposition has to scrutinise the Government in a
0:06:10 > 0:06:12constructive, but nevertheless, relentless way, to ensure that we
0:06:12 > 0:06:16get the best deal.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20But finally, can I just paraphrase Nancy Astor...
0:06:20 > 0:06:24I shall miss this House, I shall miss
0:06:24 > 0:06:28this House more than the House will miss me.
0:06:28 > 0:06:34Gisela Stuart.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Now, Britain must deliver the strongest possible siren message
0:06:36 > 0:06:38over the brutal persecution of gay men in Chechnya,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40a Foreign Office Minister has said.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Sir Alan Duncan, who was the first openly gay
0:06:44 > 0:06:49Conservative MP, said the reported torture and killing was the and
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Conservative MP, said the reported torture and killing was beyond
0:06:52 > 0:06:53contempt and pledged to raise the issue
0:06:53 > 0:06:55with allies in Europe and the Commonwealth.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57The arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of over
0:06:57 > 0:07:00100 men in Chechnya, because of their sexual orientation,
0:07:00 > 0:07:05is of deep concern to the UK.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Credible reports suggesting that at least four people
0:07:07 > 0:07:11have been killed and many have been tortured are particularly shocking.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Statements by the regional government in Chechnya, which appear
0:07:13 > 0:07:17to condone and incite violence against LGBT people are
0:07:17 > 0:07:21utterly despicable.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24The question had been raised by a Labour MP.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26We are talking here about detention, we're
0:07:26 > 0:07:29talking about beatings, we are talking about abuse,
0:07:29 > 0:07:31electric shock treatments, and I do not say this
0:07:31 > 0:07:33lightly, Mr Speaker, but some have described gay
0:07:33 > 0:07:35concentration camps.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38And, Mr Speaker, the Guardian's Shaun Walker I think expressed
0:07:38 > 0:07:41really the horrors that we are seeing.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44He described the situation of an individual, at least once a day,
0:07:44 > 0:07:46captors attached metal clamps and sent powerful electric
0:07:46 > 0:07:51shocks through his body.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54If he managed not to scream, others would join in, beating him
0:07:54 > 0:07:56with sticks or metal rods and demanding to know
0:07:56 > 0:07:59the names of other gay men that he knew in Chechnya.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01So, if we have any doubts, Mr Speaker,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04of the brutality of this regime towards the LGBT community, we
0:08:04 > 0:08:05need not have them.
0:08:05 > 0:08:11So, he asked, what had the British government done to put
0:08:11 > 0:08:12pressure on the Russian or Chechen governments?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15We in the Government fully condemn this.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17We do use all engagement with Russia to make
0:08:17 > 0:08:20our voice clear.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22I did so personally with the Deputy Foreign Minister of
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Russia, when I met him two or three weeks ago, Vladimir Titov.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29We spoke on general human rights matters, but also Chechnya.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34And may I say, Mr Speaker, that I hope this House
0:08:34 > 0:08:37will be fully united in giving the strongest possible siren message
0:08:37 > 0:08:40to Russia, and to Chechnya in particular, that this kind of
0:08:40 > 0:08:42activity is beyond contempt and not
0:08:42 > 0:08:46acceptable in the world in which we live.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50It is nothing short of officially-sanctioned policy from
0:08:50 > 0:08:55the Chechnyan authorities, but the Russian government, who bears
0:08:55 > 0:08:57ultimate responsibility for its citizens' safety, appears to be
0:08:57 > 0:08:58looking the other way.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00And that is scarcely any better.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02We do need and we are speaking today with a strong
0:09:02 > 0:09:05and unified voice, but it does seem to me
0:09:05 > 0:09:08that whilst I applaud, of course, the right honourable
0:09:08 > 0:09:10gentleman's raising this matter as the Deputy Foreign
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Secretary, I do think that it needs to be escalated,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16and as a result of the urgent question today, I hope that we will
0:09:16 > 0:09:17get an undertaking from the Government
0:09:17 > 0:09:21that it will be raised at a much higher political level.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24It seems to me that this is a matter that the Prime Minister really
0:09:24 > 0:09:27should take an initiative on and she should call in the
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Russian Ambassador and demand some answers.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32This reminds us we are phenominally lucky in this
0:09:32 > 0:09:35This reminds us we are phenomenally lucky in this
0:09:35 > 0:09:37country, those of us who are gay, in particular gay
0:09:37 > 0:09:42because I remember meeting in Russia in 2009
0:09:42 > 0:09:45a lesbian activist who was 83 years old.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I asked her how she got away with it, and she said, "Well I think
0:09:48 > 0:09:53President Putin thinks that women don't have sex after the age of 80!
0:09:53 > 0:09:56How wrong can you be?" she said.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58But the serious point here is that we
0:09:58 > 0:10:00should of course pay tribute to those people
0:10:00 > 0:10:02who are standing up and are at risk of their own lives,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06and I'm glad that the Government is acting to try and do that.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10But isn't this all part of a piece?
0:10:10 > 0:10:15President Putin appointed Kadyrov as president in Chechnya.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17He then got elected with 98% of the vote, that
0:10:17 > 0:10:20doesn't of course seem at all bizarre, does it?
0:10:20 > 0:10:23But he and Putin have both repeatedly abused human rights.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28They've used violence to excess, they've always resorted to
0:10:28 > 0:10:31violence when there is another opportunity of providing a
0:10:31 > 0:10:33peaceful means.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Whether we like it or not, Kadyrov actually has the fundamental
0:10:36 > 0:10:39support, in some terms, of his nation, as a region of the
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Russian Federation.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45So, how do we undermine that is also about investment and
0:10:45 > 0:10:49also about foreign aid, in tackling human rights across the world.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52So, will the Deputy Foreign Minister commit now,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55here on the floor of the House, in fighting for human rights,
0:10:55 > 0:10:59LGBTI and other rights, in places like Chechnya, to ensuring
0:10:59 > 0:11:04that his foreign aid budget doesn't change after the general election?
0:11:04 > 0:11:10Well, I think we should all commit to
0:11:10 > 0:11:14fighting prejudice wherever we find it and I hope that when we
0:11:14 > 0:11:16stand in the election on June 8th, that
0:11:16 > 0:11:19will be part of all of the views we hold as we present
0:11:19 > 0:11:20ourselves to the electorate.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21Sir Alan Duncan.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24The Government has a debt of honour to give all elderly
0:11:24 > 0:11:26British citizens living abroad an annual rise in their pensions,
0:11:26 > 0:11:31according to a long-standing campaigner on the rights of expats.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36Around one million UK pensioners are now resident in overseas
0:11:36 > 0:11:39locations, many in sunny retirement destinations
0:11:39 > 0:11:42such as Spain, France and the Caribbean.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44More than half of them don't receive yearly increases
0:11:44 > 0:11:47in their state pensions.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49In a debate, Sir Roger Gale read from a
0:11:49 > 0:11:51letter he'd recently received from a 91-year-old British
0:11:51 > 0:11:54citizen living in Canada.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57I was brought up to believe that Britain was a fair country.
0:11:57 > 0:12:03It's a disgrace. It has to end.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06It's terrible to meet pensioners over here who say they
0:12:06 > 0:12:12have to come back to Britain because they can't manage.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14And Joe Lewis, a 90-year-old, who also lives in
0:12:14 > 0:12:18Canada and has recently lost his wife, will be moving back to the
0:12:18 > 0:12:20United Kingdom as he can no longer cope with his frozen pension.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22The MP said the UK Government had done
0:12:22 > 0:12:25deals with certain countries, meaning some expats did receive
0:12:25 > 0:12:28rises in their pensions.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31So this leads, Mr Deputy Speaker, to the
0:12:31 > 0:12:33ludicrous situation where a British pensioner
0:12:33 > 0:12:37living on one side of the Niagara Falls in Canada
0:12:37 > 0:12:40receives a frozen pension, while another living just a mile
0:12:40 > 0:12:42across the Falls in the United States has a pension rate
0:12:43 > 0:12:45up-rated every year.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Additionally, some Caribbean islands enjoy up-rated
0:12:47 > 0:12:50pensions, while other small countries and overseas territories
0:12:50 > 0:12:53do not.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Mr Deputy Speaker, we are now, and I trust that we will
0:12:56 > 0:12:57remain, in Government.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02And so we should have the opportunity to
0:13:02 > 0:13:05finally address and put to rest a debt of honour that must be paid.
0:13:05 > 0:13:11The vast majority of frozen pensioners live in the Commonwealth.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Around 250,000 of those affected live in Australia and
0:13:13 > 0:13:17almost 150,000 in Canada.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21These people are not immune from the effects of inflation,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24yet are forced to cope with their rising cost of
0:13:24 > 0:13:25living on a static income.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27As you can imagine, this has a major impact
0:13:27 > 0:13:29upon their lives.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35But the reality is that these 550,000 British citizens,
0:13:35 > 0:13:41British citizens, the same as every one of us here, the same as all of
0:13:41 > 0:13:44our constituents who are UK citizens, they do not have an MP.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49They do not have a single person who is directly representing them
0:13:49 > 0:13:51and fighting their cause.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55We, as a country, have always prided ourselves
0:13:55 > 0:13:58on being a caring country.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00We are one of the highest net providers of foreign
0:14:00 > 0:14:02aid in the world, and rightly so.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05We must, however, ask the question as to why we do not
0:14:05 > 0:14:08feel the need to adequately support our own pensioners who have
0:14:08 > 0:14:09retired abroad?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11An increasing number of modern countries operate pensions in
0:14:11 > 0:14:14line with inflation to pensioners living overseas, regardless of
0:14:14 > 0:14:16where they reside.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21Today, we must consider why the UK is not doing the same.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Despite those pleas, the Minister said the cost of giving all UK
0:14:24 > 0:14:30pensioners overseas an annual up-rating was too high.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34But I think it's reasonable to say that the
0:14:34 > 0:14:37decision to move abroad, for most people, is a voluntary one
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and remains a personal choice, dependent
0:14:40 > 0:14:43on the circumstance of the individual.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47It's a voluntary choice to live abroad.
0:14:47 > 0:14:53Those who are eligible for a UK state pension can
0:14:53 > 0:14:55have their pension paid wherever they choose to live.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57The rules governing the uprating of pensions
0:14:57 > 0:14:59are straightforward, widely publicised and have been the
0:14:59 > 0:15:00same for many years.
0:15:00 > 0:15:01The Government's position remains consistent with
0:15:01 > 0:15:04that of every Government for the last 70 years,
0:15:04 > 0:15:13and the annual cost of changing the long-standing policy
0:15:13 > 0:15:15will soon be an extra ?500 million which the Government
0:15:15 > 0:15:16believes cannot be justified.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Now it was back in 2015 that the car-maker Volkswagen
0:15:18 > 0:15:20was found to have installed what are known
0:15:20 > 0:15:22as defeat devices in its diesel models,
0:15:22 > 0:15:23so that they would pass emission tests.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26The matter has been under investigation by the transport
0:15:26 > 0:15:28committee, who have interviewed the company's top UK executive,
0:15:28 > 0:15:33Paul Willis, twice.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Compensation for UK customers is a critical issue, and
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Mr Willis was full of apologies on behalf of the company
0:15:41 > 0:15:43when he first gave evidence to us in 2015.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Since then, as I've said, his tune has
0:15:45 > 0:15:51changed dramatically.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53In fact, it is now VW's position, stated to us by
0:15:53 > 0:16:00Mr Willis to the committee a short time ago, that the company has done
0:16:00 > 0:16:03nothing wrong in the UK, or indeed in the rest of Europe,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06and he told us that because the company has done nothing
0:16:06 > 0:16:10wrong, no compensation is due.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Well, this, Mr Chairman, is treating the
0:16:13 > 0:16:16UK with contempt.
0:16:16 > 0:16:22Let me remind honourable members of the current
0:16:22 > 0:16:24position in other countries in relation to compensation.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26In the US, Volkswagen has agreed to provide
0:16:26 > 0:16:27each owner with between $5000-10,000.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30A deal agreed in Canada will give owners between $4000-6000.
0:16:30 > 0:16:40And here, nothing, nothing at all.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48Owners who have had their cars fixed have reported problems.
0:16:48 > 0:16:57I am receiving, almost daily, numerous communications from
0:16:57 > 0:17:00members of the public, who report that their vehicle has been impaired
0:17:00 > 0:17:01since they had the fix applied.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Many people have told me of the stress of
0:17:03 > 0:17:05suddenly finding their vehicle was not working after the measure
0:17:05 > 0:17:09was applied, and there are instances of the vehicle going into limp mode
0:17:09 > 0:17:12or a state where the vehicle would not go above a certain speed,
0:17:12 > 0:17:14and in one case, this was on a motorway,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16the other cars having to swerve to avoid a collision.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18In many instances where concerns were raised, the customers
0:17:18 > 0:17:22were told it was a coincidence and they were asked to pay hundreds or
0:17:22 > 0:17:24even thousands of pounds for the fault created
0:17:24 > 0:17:26by the so-called fix to be investigated and put right.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31This morning, I got an e-mail from a constituent
0:17:31 > 0:17:33on this very subject, who has a diesel vehicle.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Neil says in his e-mail, "For the past two
0:17:37 > 0:17:40decades, I've driven a diesel car, on the advice that this type of fuel
0:17:40 > 0:17:41was the best environmental choice.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43I am now in a position of being considered
0:17:43 > 0:17:48the demon of the roads oweing to thepollution, in particular
0:17:48 > 0:17:53nitrogen oxide released by these cars.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59This is due to the car company's fraud use
0:17:59 > 0:18:01of pollution-cheating systems."
0:18:01 > 0:18:08He goes on to say, "I would like to be sure that I will
0:18:08 > 0:18:12not be the one who ends up footing the bill to change my polluting
0:18:12 > 0:18:15diesel," and asks if there are any UK schemes being planned to help
0:18:15 > 0:18:17people who are the victims of the scam.
0:18:17 > 0:18:18The Government continues to challenge Volkswagen's
0:18:18 > 0:18:24unacceptable view that they do not need to compensate British motorists
0:18:24 > 0:18:29that have been affected by the manipulation emissions test.
0:18:29 > 0:18:34Ruskin said that endurance is nobler than
0:18:34 > 0:18:39strength, and my enduring determination to ensure that we not
0:18:39 > 0:18:46only closely monitor the progress of Volkswagen's implementation
0:18:46 > 0:18:52of technical upgrades,
0:18:52 > 0:18:53and overseeing that they appropriately
0:18:53 > 0:18:56deal with the issues and complaints related to those changes, that we
0:18:56 > 0:18:58will press to for them to do what they should
0:18:58 > 0:18:59have done all along.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Admitted their failure, and offered recompense for it.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04It is, in the end, as straightforward as that.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09The Transport Minister, John Hayes.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13You're watching Thursday in Parliament, with me,
0:19:13 > 0:19:19Alicia McCarthy.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Labour says food prices are on the rise and is warning
0:19:22 > 0:19:26things will get worse if there is a bad Brexit deal.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32The accusation came at environment questions, but the
0:19:32 > 0:19:37Minister rejected the claim, saying the amount the poorest households
0:19:37 > 0:19:39were spending had been stable for a decade.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41A Labour MP began by quoting figures from the Office
0:19:41 > 0:19:42for National Statistics, or ONS.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The ONS are reporting a surge in food prices that is likely
0:19:45 > 0:19:47to continue to rise.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Children are returning to school after the Easter holidays hungry.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52Elderly are being admitted to hospital for
0:19:52 > 0:19:54malnourishment, and still this Government refuse to properly
0:19:54 > 0:19:57measure the levels of hunger and food poverty in our country.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Isn't it true that because they refuse to
0:20:00 > 0:20:09measure it, because then they would have to admit some culpability?
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Now, the honourable lady is wrong.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16We do mention it.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21We have a long-standing living cost of food survey
0:20:21 > 0:20:27which has run for many, many years, and which include a measure for
0:20:27 > 0:20:29household spending among the 20% poorest households.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31I can tell her that household spending in those
0:20:31 > 0:20:33poorest households has remained steady, at around 16%, for at
0:20:33 > 0:20:34least a decade.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Contrary to what the Minister said earlier, recent
0:20:36 > 0:20:39inflation figures revealed that food prices are rising at the fastest
0:20:39 > 0:20:41pace in three years, adding ?21 to the average household
0:20:41 > 0:20:43shopping bill in the last three months alone.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45When will the Secretary of State get a
0:20:45 > 0:20:48grip on this soaring cost of living affecting millions of families?
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Well, as I pointed out earlier, the question
0:20:50 > 0:20:53that was raised, we saw the biggest spike in food prices in 2008,
0:20:53 > 0:20:54because of energy prices then.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Food prices fell by around 7% between 2014-16.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59It is true that they have seen a modest increase over the last
0:20:59 > 0:21:0612 months of 1.3%.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11It is quite common in food processing plants for
0:21:11 > 0:21:1370% of the employees to be EU migrants.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16It is not clear where their staff are going to come
0:21:16 > 0:21:23from in the future.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Is the Minister committed to defending this sector
0:21:26 > 0:21:35in the Brexit negotiations to come, and so avoiding price rises from
0:21:35 > 0:21:36this driver as well?
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Well, I can reassure the honourable gentleman
0:21:38 > 0:21:40that I've had regular meetings with food processors.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Indeed, just two days ago, I had a meeting with the
0:21:42 > 0:21:44new president of the Food and Drink Federation
0:21:44 > 0:21:46and this is an issue raised by them.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49It is the case that around 30%, according to ONS, of
0:21:49 > 0:21:51employees in the food processing sector are from other European
0:21:51 > 0:21:52Union countries.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55But I would simply say this, the Prime Minister has been
0:21:55 > 0:21:58very clear that she wants to safeguard and protect the rights of
0:21:58 > 0:22:01EU citizens that are here and that she would expect that to be
0:22:01 > 0:22:03reciprocated as well, and that could be agreed early
0:22:03 > 0:22:04in the negotiations.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Does the Minister recognise that it's absolutely crucial that the
0:22:06 > 0:22:09needs of the agricultural sector are placed at the heart of
0:22:09 > 0:22:10Brexit negotiations?
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Because isn't it clear that if the Government doesn't get
0:22:12 > 0:22:16its act together, a bad Brexit deal is going to leave British farmers
0:22:16 > 0:22:22and food producers facing the double whammy of cheap food imports and
0:22:22 > 0:22:25tariffs on their exports?
0:22:25 > 0:22:27I would simply say to the honourable lady
0:22:27 > 0:22:30that access to the UK market is incredibly important for European
0:22:30 > 0:22:32countries as well.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34While we export around ?11 billion of food and drink
0:22:34 > 0:22:37to the European Union, we import some ?28 billion worth of food
0:22:37 > 0:22:38from the EU.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41That is why farming unions across the EU are telling their
0:22:41 > 0:22:44governments that they must have a free trade agreement with the UK.
0:22:44 > 0:22:52The Environment Minister, George Eustace.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54MPs have approved a motion cancelling the Manchester Gorton
0:22:54 > 0:22:57by-election which was due to be held on May the 4th.
0:22:57 > 0:23:06The seat became vacant following the death of
0:23:06 > 0:23:08veteran Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman earlier this year.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11The Leader of the Commons said the planned vote had
0:23:11 > 0:23:14been overtaken by the decision to hold an early general election on
0:23:14 > 0:23:15June the 8th.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17The motion therefore requests you, Mr Speaker, to convey
0:23:17 > 0:23:20to the clerk of the Crown and the desire of this house,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23that he issued a writ of supersedeas to the writ issued on
0:23:23 > 0:23:24Tuesday the 28th of March for the by-election.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27This will put beyond any doubt the authority of the act
0:23:27 > 0:23:30of the returning officer to cancel the by-election process that is
0:23:30 > 0:23:31currently underway.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33I understand that this approach is supported by
0:23:33 > 0:23:35other political parties in the House, as it avoids unnecessary
0:23:35 > 0:23:45expense and uncertainties that the candidates involved.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48David Lidington.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Finally, a Conservative MP is probably going to be in some
0:23:50 > 0:23:53hot water when he arrives home, after a tactless comment about his
0:23:53 > 0:23:55wife and her beauty secrets.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56During environment questions, Sir Henry Bellingham
0:23:56 > 0:23:59attempted to make a point about micro beads, small bits of
0:23:59 > 0:24:04plastic found in many bathroom and beauty products which cause
0:24:04 > 0:24:06environmental damage when they work their way
0:24:06 > 0:24:08into the seas and oceans life.
0:24:08 > 0:24:18Sir Henry explained he'd been doing some investigating of his own.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22I was recently rummaging through my wife's collection of shampoos and to
0:24:22 > 0:24:23my horror...
0:24:23 > 0:24:24LAUGHTER.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26A plastic, a plastic container of Olay, anti-wrinkle
0:24:26 > 0:24:27anti-ageing lotion...
0:24:27 > 0:24:28Complete with exfoliating micro beads.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Now obviously neither Secretary of State
0:24:30 > 0:24:32nor her Minister would ever have need to use such
0:24:32 > 0:24:35a product, but will she get on the telephone to Procter
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Gamble and tell him that selling
0:24:36 > 0:24:39this sort of product at the moment is completely outrageous and it
0:24:39 > 0:24:47should be withdrawn from the market at once?
0:24:47 > 0:24:57The pursuits of the honourable gentleman are truly extraordinary!
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Minister?
0:25:04 > 0:25:10Mr Speaker, what I find extraordinary is that
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Lady Bellingham is a flawless picture and would even need these
0:25:13 > 0:25:16products, so I'm sure that, I'm sure that my honourable friend will be
0:25:16 > 0:25:18buying flowers later today to make up for this!
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Therese Coffey suggesting a way for Sir Henry Bellingham to avoid some
0:25:21 > 0:25:22marital hot water when he gets home.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25And that's it from me for now, but do join me
0:25:25 > 0:25:28on Friday night at 11 for a full round-up of what's been
0:25:28 > 0:25:30another quite extraordinary week here at Westminster, as campaigning
0:25:30 > 0:25:32gets underway for June's surprise general election.
0:25:32 > 0:25:42But for now, from me, goodbye.