:00:18. > :00:19.Hello, and welcome to Thursday in Parliament.
:00:20. > :00:23.Our look at the best of the day in the Commons and Lords.
:00:24. > :00:25.On this programme, the Government says
:00:26. > :00:27.is unacceptable that standards in a third of nursing homes
:00:28. > :00:36.in England have fallen below safe levels.
:00:37. > :00:42.In some areas it is completely unacceptable that standards in some
:00:43. > :00:43.cities are below those likely expected by early users and their
:00:44. > :00:44.families. Claims that the news media
:00:45. > :00:56.are being too hostile to Brexit. I cannot recall a single instance in
:00:57. > :00:57.recent times when I have seen good economic news the BBC didn't
:00:58. > :00:58.describe as despite Brexit. And those maiden speeches
:00:59. > :01:08.by new MPs, they It is essential that we give people
:01:09. > :01:12.the tools they need to live their lives to the fool. Lincoln and its
:01:13. > :01:15.citizens have the hassle of defying the odds. We have a saying.
:01:16. > :01:18.But first, the quality of care in nursing homes for elderly and
:01:19. > :01:20.vulnerable people is once again in the spotlight.
:01:21. > :01:22.After inspecting 24,000 care services in England, the
:01:23. > :01:24.Care Quality Commission watchdog said it found completely
:01:25. > :01:35.problems according to the CQC with a third falling short of safety
:01:36. > :01:38.The report found examples of elderly people being shouted at
:01:39. > :01:40.humiliated, living in dirty conditions, not receiving adequate
:01:41. > :01:44.In the Commons, the care minister said he was heartened that
:01:45. > :01:46.the majority of care was good, but the failures
:01:47. > :02:05.We have seen the numbers of over 65s increase by nearly 1.2 million, 40%
:02:06. > :02:08.over the last five years, and today's report shows that in some
:02:09. > :02:13.areas it is completely unacceptable that standards in some cities are
:02:14. > :02:16.below those likely expected by Keir users and their families. This
:02:17. > :02:20.government sees social care as a priority which is why the spring
:02:21. > :02:24.budget this year than announced additional money to councils over
:02:25. > :02:27.the next three years to spend on adult social care services. On the
:02:28. > :02:34.side we have repeatedly raised the damaging aspects of budget cuts, the
:02:35. > :02:38.?5 billion cut since 2010. Does he now see that this has caused the
:02:39. > :02:46.crisis in peer staffing which is at the heart of the Porky are being
:02:47. > :02:51.reported. Poor staff training is a key factor. With social caring
:02:52. > :02:54.crisis that is not the time to be threatening to stop working with
:02:55. > :02:59.local councils, so will he reversed the threat and match the Labour
:03:00. > :03:07.pledge of an extra ?8 million including an extra ?1 billion this
:03:08. > :03:11.year. Nobody is making any threats. The government has very supportive
:03:12. > :03:14.of the best performing systems of local government and the NHS working
:03:15. > :03:23.together to tackle the challenge of delayed transfers of care. We said
:03:24. > :03:28.we would consider a review of the allocations of social care funding
:03:29. > :03:31.for the area is properly performing. This funding wall remain with local
:03:32. > :03:37.government to be used for social care. We obviously recognise there
:03:38. > :03:40.are real pressures in the system which is why we responded as we did
:03:41. > :03:45.and I think that party were pleased with that at the time. If I could
:03:46. > :03:51.just point out that the same report gives 92% good than 3% outstanding
:03:52. > :03:56.on caring and it comes down to the commitment of staff who sadly have
:03:57. > :04:01.not been given a breaking of the 1% cap. Obviously what has been raised
:04:02. > :04:06.as the safety issue with one in four feeling to provide safe care and it
:04:07. > :04:09.comes down to workforce and funding. Brexit threatens workforce because
:04:10. > :04:15.as the honourable member said there is a one in four turnover. Funding
:04:16. > :04:24.has reduced 9% and it is something that has to be tackled. Of the care
:04:25. > :04:27.homes requiring improvement on the inspection 5% have deteriorated so
:04:28. > :04:33.what action is the minister taking beyond just inspection to improve
:04:34. > :04:36.standards? It is an absolutely fair question which is why I said in my
:04:37. > :04:42.statement that through the dashboard we have picked 12 most challenged
:04:43. > :04:45.local areas for review. The reviews will cover providers and
:04:46. > :04:51.commissioners to look at the interface between social care and
:04:52. > :04:54.general primary care and include an assessment of the governments in
:04:55. > :04:59.place and management resources. I am sorry to read that it but I wanted
:05:00. > :05:03.it absolutely clear on the record. I welcome the sea QC inspections
:05:04. > :05:06.because it is driving up standards and highlighting problems but many
:05:07. > :05:10.older residents tell me what they want to do is stay in their own
:05:11. > :05:14.homes for longer. What is the minister doing to help that to
:05:15. > :05:19.happen tee I thank my right honourable friend for that and it is
:05:20. > :05:24.exactly why I said this has to be a one system solution and we need the
:05:25. > :05:28.NHS to work on delayed transfers of care but we need local authorities
:05:29. > :05:32.to work with us as well. I hope the Minister would agree that these
:05:33. > :05:37.widespread feel years of care are intolerable in a civilised society,
:05:38. > :05:43.and does he share my view that they will have to confront the need to
:05:44. > :05:46.increase taxes to ensure we have an efficient system and witty embrace a
:05:47. > :05:52.cross-party approach to come up with a long-term approach? Does the
:05:53. > :05:56.Minister agree it is deeply cynical to pretend there is some financial
:05:57. > :06:02.issue to this that doesn't involve difficult decisions both within and
:06:03. > :06:08.across generations. Yes, I do. The many disappointing things about the
:06:09. > :06:14.recent general election but I can say that one of the more
:06:15. > :06:19.disappointing things, being serious, one of the more disappointing things
:06:20. > :06:26.was that the debate in the future of adult social care was reduced to
:06:27. > :06:32.using the words dementia tax which I think is dead our public life and
:06:33. > :06:36.this Parliament an enormous disservice and I do think we need to
:06:37. > :06:39.have a grown-up debate in this country around this issue and that
:06:40. > :06:43.is why we are going to bring out proposals for consultation. I say
:06:44. > :06:47.gently to the Minister the only reason the Labour Party was able to
:06:48. > :06:53.mention dementia tax was because the Conservative Party had put something
:06:54. > :06:55.stupid in their manifesto. And really, this is far too important a
:06:56. > :06:57.matter for party politics. The former Conservative leader and
:06:58. > :07:01.Foreign Secretary Lord Haig has told a group of peers that Brexit
:07:02. > :07:04.will undoubtedly damage the UK's He's leaving the European
:07:05. > :07:06.union would also mean the UK having less influence
:07:07. > :07:12.in the rest of the world. He appearing at a Lords
:07:13. > :07:16.committee alongside former Nato Secretary-General and a former
:07:17. > :07:18.EU foreign policy chief. Lord Haig said being
:07:19. > :07:35.part of the EU had been Brexit will be damaging to our
:07:36. > :07:40.ability to work with other EU countries, obviously on foreign
:07:41. > :07:44.affairs and influence they overall. The UK's participation in the
:07:45. > :07:51.EUforeign affairs helps to keep the whole Western alliance together, and
:07:52. > :07:54.we have at a time of the danger of fragmentation of the Western world.
:07:55. > :08:01.We can see that for many reasons and in many ways. As the forthcoming
:08:02. > :08:08.summit in Germany is demonstrating. And so UK participation in
:08:09. > :08:11.influencing the foreign affairs of the other EU nations is a crucial
:08:12. > :08:19.aspect of averting such a fragmentation. How then will Brexit
:08:20. > :08:22.affect our relationship with the remaining EU countries with regard
:08:23. > :08:28.to the formulation and exercising foreign policy? The most fundamental
:08:29. > :08:33.issue is that in the process of working up the way in which policy
:08:34. > :08:37.is developed and determining what Europe's policy will be, we want to
:08:38. > :08:42.be in the room to either influence it in one way or another, and
:08:43. > :08:49.that'll be a loss to the European Union and potentially lost to our
:08:50. > :08:53.capacity to develop policy. Brexit changes the political relationship
:08:54. > :08:56.with the EU, it doesn't change their geography or the nature of the
:08:57. > :09:03.common threats that we face. And in many ways, it doesn't affect the
:09:04. > :09:04.corporation that is essential on handling the future of security
:09:05. > :09:14.threats as well. With American foreign policy veering
:09:15. > :09:19.slightly away from the old relationship, Europe is going to
:09:20. > :09:23.have to do more in terms of capability in terms of exercise and
:09:24. > :09:27.in terms of political priority, and therefore we need to be part of
:09:28. > :09:33.that, and the reality is today and for the future, UDP and defence
:09:34. > :09:37.actually as Britain and France. That's what it is. These are the
:09:38. > :09:41.only two countries with the capability and the headquarters and
:09:42. > :09:46.the ability to do things. So how we move forward on that is going to be
:09:47. > :09:51.complex and difficult. Speaking as someone not in favour of leaving the
:09:52. > :09:56.EU but effects we are doing, it is true that they will want our
:09:57. > :09:59.participation, our support. We do have the biggest military budget in
:10:00. > :10:05.the EU and the biggest development budget by some distance, and one of
:10:06. > :10:09.the equal biggest diplomatic network and a seat on the UN Security
:10:10. > :10:13.Council, and so there are many things that can't effectively be
:10:14. > :10:17.done by Europe without some degree of participation and support from
:10:18. > :10:22.the United Kingdom. And therefore the degree to which it is damaging
:10:23. > :10:28.depends on what we put in place to enable the maximum cooperation, and
:10:29. > :10:36.I think that will require a lot of political commitment by ministers
:10:37. > :10:42.but also a specific framework designed for this purpose. Can you
:10:43. > :10:46.say something about the influence on the rest of the world? Are you
:10:47. > :10:50.saying that our influence will be diminished not just in Europe but
:10:51. > :10:55.when we go and talk to the United States, if we are not a member of
:10:56. > :11:00.the European Union two or our influence at the UN will be
:11:01. > :11:03.diminished. I think it necessarily follows that if you are less
:11:04. > :11:08.influential and grafting the overall approach of the EU you end up with
:11:09. > :11:12.this influence on the rest of the world and I think there will be less
:11:13. > :11:17.solidarity with Britain invoked that the United Nations. We cannot simply
:11:18. > :11:20.depend on institutional relationships, because if you are
:11:21. > :11:25.not in the room then you are not part of the framework at the
:11:26. > :11:28.beginning, the concept of operations, if its military
:11:29. > :11:30.operations, and the exit strategy, and that is where we are bound to
:11:31. > :11:33.lose traction. And Lord Hague said some
:11:34. > :11:43.sort of post-Brexit And enhanced framework participation
:11:44. > :11:47.agreement between the UK and the EU on foreign affairs. Something of
:11:48. > :11:51.that kind would mitigate the damage that will undoubtedly because.
:11:52. > :11:53.The Lords committee discussing Brexit, but our journalists being
:11:54. > :11:55.too gloomy over Brexit's Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said recently
:11:56. > :11:59.on BBC's new site that she wished broadcasters could be a bit more
:12:00. > :12:02.Now her Cabinet colleague Liam Fox has accused media
:12:03. > :12:04.organisations of not wanting to see Brexit succeed.
:12:05. > :12:06.His remarks in the Commons followed a question from a
:12:07. > :12:21.I think the potential for trade with Commonwealth countries is very
:12:22. > :12:26.exciting but every time I open a newspaper or listen to the radio
:12:27. > :12:29.or TV, the story is done very negatively that it will be
:12:30. > :12:37.impossible to do these trade deals. Mr Speaker, it does appear that some
:12:38. > :12:40.elements of our media would rather see Britain fail than
:12:41. > :12:42.see Brexit succeed. I cannot recall a single time
:12:43. > :12:45.in recent times when I have seen good economic news that the BBC
:12:46. > :12:59.didn't describe as despite Brexit. This front bench team must know that
:13:00. > :13:04.a silly attack on the BBC cannot be used as an excuse for policy. This
:13:05. > :13:08.is a Secretary of State who has refused to meet the all-party
:13:09. > :13:13.manufacturing group. Can I tell him from the manufacturers I know that
:13:14. > :13:16.they have no confidence in the Secretary of State, living in cloud
:13:17. > :13:25.cuckoo land, they think he is not confident and want his resignation.
:13:26. > :13:28.I will take note of his comments. The members only Conservative
:13:29. > :13:30.backbencher desperate for the Secretary of State to give us more
:13:31. > :13:37.confidence that they will massively increased trade and the common law,
:13:38. > :13:40.but he is wise not to do so in that Australia and Canada collectively
:13:41. > :13:45.account for less than 5% of their exports. With research showing the
:13:46. > :13:49.most enduring statistic is that trade halves every time the distance
:13:50. > :13:53.between nations doubles, isn't it foolhardy far as to be turning away
:13:54. > :13:57.from close of trading partners and the lying on increasing trade with
:13:58. > :14:03.countries so very far away? I am sorry to hear that the lack of
:14:04. > :14:08.understanding of how the modern economy works, because particularly
:14:09. > :14:12.countries which have large proportion of their trade in
:14:13. > :14:18.services, services trade does not depend upon distance, and in fact,
:14:19. > :14:21.what we need to have is an increasingly close cooperation with
:14:22. > :14:24.countries that are similar to ours in terms of their economic status,
:14:25. > :14:25.not necessarily geographically proximate.
:14:26. > :14:34.You're watching our round-up of the day in the Commons and the lords.
:14:35. > :14:38.Still to come, the closure of job centres north of the border.
:14:39. > :14:40.The Minister for equalities has told MPs there
:14:41. > :14:42.will be no backsliding on
:14:43. > :14:44.rights for lesbian, gay and transgender people by this
:14:45. > :14:49.During Commons questions, MPs expressed concern
:14:50. > :14:51.that equalities policies could come under pressure following the
:14:52. > :14:53.Conservative's confidence and supply deal struck with Northern Ireland's
:14:54. > :15:07.DUP representatives have described homosexuality as repulsive, wrong,
:15:08. > :15:08.vile, immoral, offensive and obnoxious.
:15:09. > :15:19.Does the Minister agree that it is these hateful remarks
:15:20. > :15:21.themselves that are repulsive, wrong, vile, immoral, offensive and
:15:22. > :15:25.And they should have no place in our politics let alone in
:15:26. > :15:29.The DUP once ran a campaign called save also from
:15:30. > :15:32.Isn't it time to save Ulster from bigotry?
:15:33. > :15:34.The views that she set out are absolutely not ones
:15:35. > :15:37.that I agree with or indeed I think our shared by this house.
:15:38. > :15:42.As I said to her, I think it is important that
:15:43. > :15:49.the way in which we have this debate and progress continued improvements
:15:50. > :15:52.in LGBT rights, women's rights, in the rights of disabled
:15:53. > :16:09.All sorts of people who face discrimination
:16:10. > :16:10.in our country is in ameasured fashion.
:16:11. > :16:13.Where we can find some consensus, we will steadily win
:16:14. > :16:15.Equality and tolerance are important British
:16:16. > :16:20.Will the Minister work to overturn the ongoing
:16:21. > :16:21.ban on equal marriage in
:16:22. > :16:24.Northern Ireland, or does she believe that ?1 billion is a fair
:16:25. > :16:26.price to pay for selling of these fundamental values?
:16:27. > :16:29.I think we have to fundimentally win the argument on LGBT rights.
:16:30. > :16:32.This is something that needs to take place across our country, including
:16:33. > :16:34.There is a democratic Northern Ireland assembly
:16:35. > :16:38.and I think it is a debate that we all need to engage in, but I think
:16:39. > :16:42.it is one that we see progress made in over many, many years.
:16:43. > :16:46.She sets out that there is a lot of progress to
:16:47. > :16:50.I have spoken to my party leader, who is a woman and my
:16:51. > :16:53.closest colleague in MLA, who just happens to be a woman.
:16:54. > :16:55.And my most senior member of staff, my close
:16:56. > :16:58.adviser and shockingly is also a woman.
:16:59. > :17:01.Equality and rights in their party, they seem to be satisfied.
:17:02. > :17:02.Subsequently, I would ask the Minister 's question.
:17:03. > :17:04.I wonder what discussions have been held with
:17:05. > :17:07.Labour's sister party the SDLP, who hold many of the same moral
:17:08. > :17:09.issue stances that we hold, which is what
:17:10. > :17:18.I believe this question is ready seeking to highlight.
:17:19. > :17:21.I think he sets out that there is a discussion
:17:22. > :17:24.and debate to be had across political parties both here in this
:17:25. > :17:25.Parliament, but also in Northern Ireland.
:17:26. > :17:28.That is a debate and discussion that I welcome.
:17:29. > :17:32.Can I join everybody in this house in
:17:33. > :17:34.wishing all those celebrating London Pride this weekend a happy Pride.
:17:35. > :17:36.Despite a number of promises during the election
:17:37. > :17:45.campaign on the need to
:17:46. > :17:46.strengthen and protect equality legislation,
:17:47. > :17:48.there is no commitment in this year's Queen speech.
:17:49. > :17:51.People across the country have deep concerns that the Tory backbench
:17:52. > :17:54.deal with the DUP could undermine, halt or damage equality here in the
:17:55. > :17:57.What assurances will the Minister provide that progress on a
:17:58. > :18:00.quality will not be sidelined for political expediency?
:18:01. > :18:02.I think I have given those assurances on a number
:18:03. > :18:06.I will be very happy to come to this dispatch box and
:18:07. > :18:10.continue to give them because I think they are important.
:18:11. > :18:19.Later, the Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke was called to
:18:20. > :18:21.the Commons to explain the Government's decision to close ten
:18:22. > :18:23.job centres across Scotland, including six in Glasgow.
:18:24. > :18:25.Ministers say online applications meant that
:18:26. > :18:33.More than 70 Jobcentres are being closed across the United Kingdom,
:18:34. > :18:40.Compassionate conservativism lasted fully two days.
:18:41. > :18:42.There should have been a statement at a vote in this
:18:43. > :18:49.Does the Secretary of State accept that there
:18:50. > :18:53.is a direct link with the index of multiple deprivation
:18:54. > :18:55.and those job centres earmarked for closure?
:18:56. > :18:57.Will he publish an impact on the quality
:18:58. > :19:01.assessment, particularly on those with disabilities and those
:19:02. > :19:05.It will be the case after these reforms have been completed that
:19:06. > :19:07.there will be a reduction in the number of job centres
:19:08. > :19:13.in Glasgow, that Glasgow will still have more
:19:14. > :19:16.job centres per head of population than any other city in the United
:19:17. > :19:27.It is also the case that a number of the Glasgow job centres
:19:28. > :19:31.It is therefore sensible that we rationalise this estate and can
:19:32. > :19:35.In some cases, what we need is much improved
:19:36. > :19:37.job centres with improved facilities, greater capability of
:19:38. > :19:44.That is exactly what this strategy involves.
:19:45. > :19:49.Having conducted a survey outside Batley
:19:50. > :19:51.Jobcentre, I know that the majority of users actually walk there often
:19:52. > :19:55.everyday to use the computers to look for jobs.
:19:56. > :20:01.With Batley's closing they will have to work to Dewsbury.
:20:02. > :20:03.A journey of 20 minutes if you are able bodied.
:20:04. > :20:05.So can the Secretary of State confirm whether new
:20:06. > :20:08.sanctioning guidance will be provided for those who are late or
:20:09. > :20:17.We don't expect people to miss appointments.
:20:18. > :20:19.It is the case that as I say, people who
:20:20. > :20:22.are looking for jobs are expected to spend 35
:20:23. > :20:27.That should enable them to travel from Batley to Dewsbury in
:20:28. > :20:34.As I say, we would expect people to make
:20:35. > :20:40.appointments, but we would look at the individual circumstances if
:20:41. > :20:43.somebody has missed an appointment to see if we can take into account
:20:44. > :20:45.whether there has been any mitigating factors.
:20:46. > :20:50.The more serious issue ahead is making sure we have
:20:51. > :20:52.got the right resources in the Jobcentre plus
:20:53. > :20:53.for the expanded role of
:20:54. > :20:55.Universal Credit that is starting next year.
:20:56. > :20:58.I think my honourable friend hits the nail on the head,
:20:59. > :21:01.It is very important that we have got job
:21:02. > :21:08.centres that are able to deal with the new and important role in terms
:21:09. > :21:17.of providing the support that claimants need, having worked
:21:18. > :21:19.coaches in place, having those facilities and sometimes that
:21:20. > :21:21.requires new estate, new improve estates.
:21:22. > :21:23.We shouldn't be stuck on where the footprint that we happen
:21:24. > :21:28.The class of 2017 continues to make itself
:21:29. > :21:31.Brand-new MPs have been making their maiden speeches in the
:21:32. > :21:46.I'm also thankful for my honourable friends for gathering around me
:21:47. > :21:49.like a protective huddle of penguins, I very much appreciate it.
:21:50. > :21:52.We must be realistic, pragmatic and determined about how
:21:53. > :21:54.we best shape this country as we leave
:21:55. > :21:58.But too often debate on how we do this is infected
:21:59. > :22:00.by corrosive pessimism that betrays a lack of confidence in our nation
:22:01. > :22:05.As a local councillor, I have also witnessed the impact
:22:06. > :22:07.of cuts to local council budgets and how
:22:08. > :22:10.austerity for some has caused untold misery for the many and not a few.
:22:11. > :22:13.At the beginning of the General Election campaign, it was unclear
:22:14. > :22:15.whether I would be standing here today making a speech, but Lincoln
:22:16. > :22:18.and its citizens have a history of defying the odds.
:22:19. > :22:20.From the development in the first tank in
:22:21. > :22:24.World War I, by a determined group of engineers, to the recent runaway
:22:25. > :22:27.success of Lincoln City's football club, the Imps, who took the fight
:22:28. > :22:29.in the FA Cup to the Emirates Stadium last
:22:30. > :22:33.proud history of going the extra mile.
:22:34. > :22:36.I want to quote in Gaelic to amuse your good selves, Mr Speaker,
:22:37. > :22:44.The mighty cairn is built of Little stones.
:22:45. > :22:51.I do hope Mr Speaker that this particular
:22:52. > :22:54.stone, myself, may play a suitable part in the mighty cairn that is
:22:55. > :22:57.It is essential that we give people the
:22:58. > :23:02.tools that they need to live their lives to the full.
:23:03. > :23:04.When I have worked with people in various jobs
:23:05. > :23:07.who are receiving benefits or support from charity, that is what
:23:08. > :23:10.They want support to do things for themselves.
:23:11. > :23:12.Not a hand-out, as some members of this
:23:13. > :23:13.house and the media, might have you believe.
:23:14. > :23:15.Some of the new members of the Commons.
:23:16. > :23:19.The issue of male MPs wearing ties in the Commons has been
:23:20. > :23:23.Last week, the Speaker, John Barker, said he was
:23:24. > :23:25.prepared to relax the rule on the compulsory
:23:26. > :23:27.wearing of ties in the
:23:28. > :23:36.At the start of the week, the transport Minister John Hayes
:23:37. > :23:38.declared that he wouldn't take interventions from sartorially
:23:39. > :23:42.challenged MPs who were not wearing ties.
:23:43. > :23:45.That prompted this response from the Lib Dem MP, who first asked
:23:46. > :23:47.the Speaker if the tie rule could be dropped.
:23:48. > :23:52.You were not in the chair on Monday and may not
:23:53. > :23:54.have heard the Minister of State for transport,
:23:55. > :23:56.who said that he would not take interventions from anybody who
:23:57. > :24:09.Given your pronouncements on this matter,
:24:10. > :24:18.Mr Speaker, do you think there is a risk of a slippery slope which might
:24:19. > :24:21.lead that member to refuse to take interventions from members who are
:24:22. > :24:24.sartorially challenged in other ways, such as wearing a gaudy tie,
:24:25. > :24:28.I'd welcome your advice on this matter, Mr
:24:29. > :24:36.I rather thought that what he had to say on this matter was
:24:37. > :24:41.proffered in his characteristically jocular fashion.
:24:42. > :24:43.However, insofar as I could be staged to have received
:24:44. > :24:51.an application from the Right Honourable gentleman by virtue of
:24:52. > :24:53.his pronouncements for the role of style
:24:54. > :25:02.right honourable gentleman and all members of the house that I have
:25:03. > :25:07.filed the application for the right honourable
:25:08. > :25:12.member for that post in
:25:13. > :25:19.The Speaker clarifying the position, I think.
:25:20. > :25:24.To join me for the week in Parliament when we not only look
:25:25. > :25:27.back at the last few days in the Commons and the Lords,
:25:28. > :25:29.but also discussed what the agreement between
:25:30. > :25:32.the DUP and the Conservative Government means for the future of
:25:33. > :25:42.For now, for me Keith McDougall, goodbye.