0:00:18 > 0:00:20Hello and welcome to the programme.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Coming up...
0:00:21 > 0:00:23More controversy in the Commons over Universal Credit,
0:00:23 > 0:00:31as the government's urged to listen to those who want payment times cut.
0:00:31 > 0:00:38We can't all be wrong. The six week weight must be reduced to one month.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Work should always pay and that is the principle that underlies
0:00:41 > 0:00:42Universal Credit.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44MPs denounce an inquiry into a controversial pregnancy
0:00:44 > 0:00:45test as a white-wash.
0:00:45 > 0:00:52And demands for action to tackle antibiotic resistance.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57We must start with a public education programme to manage
0:00:57 > 0:00:59expectations and highlight the issues of inappropriate use and to
0:00:59 > 0:01:00frequent use.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03But first, the Labour MP who chairs the work and pensions committee says
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Universal Credit is becoming a "personal nightmare"
0:01:05 > 0:01:07for constituents.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Frank Field was opening a debate in the Commons calling
0:01:10 > 0:01:12on the government to urgently reduce the initial six-week wait
0:01:12 > 0:01:14for payment to four weeks.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17The new benefit is meant to simplify the welfare system and encourage
0:01:17 > 0:01:20claimants into work.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23It's being rolled out across the country, but many Mps
0:01:23 > 0:01:25have expressed concern that the switchover is leading
0:01:26 > 0:01:29to debt and rent arrears.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Frank Field had one example.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35It was of a gentleman who had waited, waited
0:01:35 > 0:01:40and waited for an operation at our local hospital.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43That operation was taking place when he was told to turn up
0:01:43 > 0:01:46for an interview at our Job Centre Plus.
0:01:46 > 0:01:52He was sanctioned.
0:01:52 > 0:01:59A friend befriending him reported yesterday that this constituent
0:01:59 > 0:02:04of mine is now homeless and while being homeless,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07struggling to recover from surgery.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Can he help me in this respect, when I met with the citizens advice
0:02:11 > 0:02:14bureau, because we have Universal Credit being rolled out
0:02:14 > 0:02:17in July, they are now making arrangements with all relevant
0:02:17 > 0:02:20authorities so that these very examples don't exist.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24My real question to the right honourable gentleman is did these
0:02:24 > 0:02:27constituents come to him at the end of this ghastly process or earlier
0:02:27 > 0:02:32on because if they'd come earlier on, we as MPs all have exactly
0:02:32 > 0:02:36the access to speed it up and would he agree that we should be
0:02:36 > 0:02:45doing this now before it comes out in our areas?
0:02:45 > 0:02:47I couldn't agree more, although being here a little longer
0:02:47 > 0:02:50than the right Honourable Lady, I never thought as an MP I would be
0:02:50 > 0:02:54speaking like this about this, of my job being adapted in this way.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59Croydon was one of the first boroughs where Universal Credit has
0:02:59 > 0:03:02been rolled out so we've had longer to see what a total and utter
0:03:02 > 0:03:05disaster it's become.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09But I've had a long and growing stream of people coming
0:03:09 > 0:03:14into my office, many of them close to tears because Universal Credit
0:03:14 > 0:03:18has forced them into debt, made it harder for them to stay in work
0:03:18 > 0:03:21or left many of them facing eviction for rent arrears.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Our local council has had to spend £3 million so far to stop people
0:03:24 > 0:03:30being evicted because of late payments for rent.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Local food banks are running out of food because of the vast increase
0:03:33 > 0:03:36in people having to go there going hungry because of
0:03:36 > 0:03:40what the government's scheme has done to them and there are thousand
0:03:40 > 0:03:43tenants in Croydon now who have rent arrears of over three months
0:03:43 > 0:03:46and are at risk of losing their home because of the failures
0:03:46 > 0:03:50of Universal Credit.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52I'm calling for the government to cut the waiting time
0:03:52 > 0:03:55for Universal Credit and cause the roll-out.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57for Universal Credit and pause the roll-out.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Glasgow will be the last major city in the UK to be subject
0:04:00 > 0:04:02to the roll-out but before that, how many thousands of families,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05children and vulnerable people will have to suffer and starve
0:04:05 > 0:04:06before it gets to that point?
0:04:06 > 0:04:09If a tenth of the resource that is put into chasing benefit
0:04:09 > 0:04:12fraud was put into chasing tax avoidance, how much more resource
0:04:12 > 0:04:15could support working people and enable them to work rather
0:04:15 > 0:04:18than cut off back lifelines?
0:04:18 > 0:04:21I am firmly of the view, as I believe are most people on both
0:04:21 > 0:04:25sides of this House, that work should always pay
0:04:25 > 0:04:28and that is the principle that underlines Universal Credit
0:04:28 > 0:04:33and the passion that there is on this side of the House
0:04:33 > 0:04:37to ensure that more people get into work, are supported
0:04:37 > 0:04:42into work and once there, get on and get ever more work
0:04:42 > 0:04:46in terms of hours and in terms of quality of work.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Members on all sides of this House, the cross party work
0:04:50 > 0:04:52and pensions select committee, appears, charities,
0:04:52 > 0:04:54the Children's Commissioner and most importantly of all,
0:04:54 > 0:04:55our constituents, have raised concerns.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58We can't all be wrong.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03The six weeks wait must be reduced to a month.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Down the corridor, peers, too, were debating Universal Credit.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Labour's Lady Hollis said it was having a "catastrophic"
0:05:07 > 0:05:10impact on many claimants.
0:05:10 > 0:05:19Many, I fear, will never get out of the net we have
0:05:19 > 0:05:20constructed for them.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Family members themselves struggling trying to support other family
0:05:22 > 0:05:25members as one sister said, it's the poor that are
0:05:25 > 0:05:29supporting the poorest.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Over a quarter are waiting more than six weeks
0:05:33 > 0:05:35for their initial payment.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37One in ten for more than ten weeks without earnings,
0:05:38 > 0:05:39benefit or savings.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Pawning their belongings, missing arrears.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Charity workers finding a fiver out of their own pockets to put back
0:05:47 > 0:05:50on the meter for some lighting and heating.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56And all of them facing Christmas.
0:05:56 > 0:06:06Of course I'm as concerned as anyone else in this
0:06:06 > 0:06:09about the glitches in the workings of the system involved.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11It's not be amazed about, it's the certainly worry about.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15But look at the glitches we had in the IT systems we had
0:06:15 > 0:06:16throughout Parliament and throughout this government.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20They are being tackled, these are being tackled
0:06:20 > 0:06:24and they will be overcome.
0:06:24 > 0:06:34One young mum visits Saint Aidan's church kitchen
0:06:34 > 0:06:36in Hartlepool with her disabled son.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38She was moved onto Universal Credit and waited several
0:06:38 > 0:06:39weeks for her money.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41She told one of my clergy that she took paper
0:06:41 > 0:06:43napkins from McDonald's because she was unable
0:06:43 > 0:06:44to afford toilet paper.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Her son's condition means that he wears nappies,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48which she was also unable to afford.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53Can any of us here imagine the stress and indignity
0:06:53 > 0:06:54of such a situation?
0:06:54 > 0:07:01Despite now receiving her money, the majority of her payments go
0:07:01 > 0:07:03towards her rent arrears, so she's still dependent
0:07:03 > 0:07:05on Saint Aidan's for a meal and food each week.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Hers is one of many stories of families and individuals falling
0:07:08 > 0:07:12down the slippery slope of rent arrears, personal debt,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15eviction and homelessness.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17It's too simplistic, however, to say that UC alone
0:07:17 > 0:07:19pushes families into debt.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23In many cases it exacerbates existing personal debt
0:07:23 > 0:07:27and makes that debt almost impossible to escape.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28This is particularly acute in the north-east.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31In Hartlepool, Gateshead and County Durham, more than 30%
0:07:31 > 0:07:35of adults are indebted and at least three months behind
0:07:35 > 0:07:39with their bills compared to a national average of 18%.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44This will only intensify as payday loan sharks and doorstep lenders
0:07:44 > 0:07:48increase their worth and their profits.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Back in the Commons, at the end of MPs' debate on the subject,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55the minister said Universal Credit was being rolled out at a measured
0:07:55 > 0:08:00pace over nine years with frequent pauses in the process.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Universal Credit is a vital reform, it changes how we support people out
0:08:04 > 0:08:07of work and in work and how we help them progress from
0:08:07 > 0:08:08one into the other.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13It is a lot of change, a new benefit, the new IT system,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15a new operational system, new ways of working with partners
0:08:15 > 0:08:17and yes, that does bring with it some challenges.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20We will continue to work with claimants, with stakeholders
0:08:20 > 0:08:23and partners, with honourable and right Honourable members
0:08:23 > 0:08:25across the House to resolve these challenges as they arise and improve
0:08:25 > 0:08:34Universal Credit as it is introduced across the country.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37At the end of the debate, MPs voted without a division to call
0:08:37 > 0:08:40on the Government to cut the time claimants have to wait before
0:08:40 > 0:08:42receiving their first Universal Credit payment.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45After the vote, Frank Field said the Work and Pensions Secretary
0:08:45 > 0:08:48should come to the Commons on Monday to explain what the government
0:08:48 > 0:08:54would do now to reform the benefit.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57The Deputy Speaker, Eleanor Laing, said she was sure that Ministers
0:08:57 > 0:09:00would "note" the MP's request.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01The Prime Minister has announced that Parliament
0:09:01 > 0:09:04is to have an independent grievance procedure to deal with complaints
0:09:04 > 0:09:06about harassment and abuse.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09The Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom told Mps that a working group had
0:09:09 > 0:09:12been set up to decide how it will function.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15MPs hoped the new system would ensure justice for parliamentary
0:09:15 > 0:09:18staff and politicians.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23The working group has agreed that a new system should provide support,
0:09:23 > 0:09:25advice and action on a wide spectrum of complaints around willing
0:09:25 > 0:09:29bullying and harassment.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31We will do everything in our power to ensure
0:09:31 > 0:09:36the solution is transparent, fair and effective.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41And this fairness must also apply to MPs and peers because we do
0:09:41 > 0:09:47recognise that right across both houses we have many model employers
0:09:47 > 0:09:51who genuinely care about and look after their staff extremely well.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55We all want a robust process that has the confidence of everyone
0:09:55 > 0:10:00but it is only when it is tested that we will know whether it is
0:10:00 > 0:10:05robust enough so that everyone can work safely in this amazing place
0:10:05 > 0:10:11for the good of our constituents and the country.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15There needs to be absolutely zero tolerance for any abuse
0:10:15 > 0:10:18or inappropriate behaviour and that all means are deployed not just
0:10:18 > 0:10:22to tackle the current issues that have been presented
0:10:22 > 0:10:25but the historical patriarch and cultural hierarchies that have
0:10:25 > 0:10:28been allowed to develop in this House which have gone unchallenged
0:10:28 > 0:10:32in the past and we all agree that there needs to be a safe place
0:10:32 > 0:10:36for anybody to raise any harassment issues
0:10:36 > 0:10:38and that is the objective of this group.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40I welcome the statement and having just quickly read through it
0:10:40 > 0:10:44as well as listen to it I notice it doesn't say the word sexual
0:10:44 > 0:10:47harassment in it once and I would like to put weight
0:10:47 > 0:10:51behind what the shadow deputy leader said in encouraging
0:10:51 > 0:10:56the leader to make sure that there is a specialist sexual
0:10:56 > 0:10:59violence service that is giving advice to the working group and also
0:10:59 > 0:11:02then in place for people in this place afterwards and to urge that
0:11:02 > 0:11:09mediation in cases of sexual harassment is never appropriate.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12The parties keep on stating that they must have their
0:11:12 > 0:11:13own party procedures.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18There is, however, I think as we have seen over the last
0:11:18 > 0:11:20few weeks a real issue here where what you get is parties
0:11:20 > 0:11:24acting and let's say for example suspending the whip from a member
0:11:24 > 0:11:28of Parliament but they either member of Parliament and they carry
0:11:28 > 0:11:31on with duties and responsibilities here in the House.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35The question therefore is how swift and how co-located can that process
0:11:35 > 0:11:39be with what goes on in the House in terms of investigations?
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Because members of Parliament stand accused and the longer this goes on,
0:11:43 > 0:11:47the more difficult it becomes to both do their jobs or should
0:11:47 > 0:11:48they be doing their job?
0:11:48 > 0:11:53And I would like her to look carefully at that.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56My right honourable friend raises a very important point and one
0:11:56 > 0:11:59that the working party has certainly acknowledged needs to be resolved
0:11:59 > 0:12:03and he's right that it is difficult if somebody stands accused to be
0:12:03 > 0:12:07very clear where there's party procedure that may make a decision
0:12:07 > 0:12:15to take action on the whip and an ongoing grievance or indeed
0:12:15 > 0:12:17criminal procedure in another area of either policing or with this
0:12:17 > 0:12:23grievance and complaints procedure.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25You have to have justice for both sides.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28If we just have trial by the newspapers or trial by front
0:12:28 > 0:12:31page, that is not justice for the young people or the people
0:12:31 > 0:12:34who feel they have been abused and make allegations nor is it
0:12:34 > 0:12:37justice for those at the other end.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40I remember in 2003 a journalist from the Mail On Sunday coming up
0:12:40 > 0:12:44to me in the Stranger's bar and saying "We're all taking bets
0:12:44 > 0:12:46on when you commit suicide.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50I hope it'll be before Christmas."
0:12:50 > 0:12:55I'm so sorry to hear that and, you know, I really sympathise
0:12:55 > 0:12:58with the Honourable gentleman on that last point.
0:12:58 > 0:13:05That is really, truly appalling and, you know, we all the nice
0:13:05 > 0:13:07there is a challenge here with living in the public eye
0:13:07 > 0:13:11and often unfortunately allegations which are either spurious or indeed
0:13:11 > 0:13:15malicious or designed to hurt can be made at individuals
0:13:15 > 0:13:19and that's not right.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21MPs have denounced an inquiry into a controversial pregnancy test
0:13:21 > 0:13:25as a whitewash and a cover-up.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27This week, a major scientific review of hormonal tests,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30including Primados, concluded that they did not cause
0:13:30 > 0:13:33major birth defects.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37The tests were widely used in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40The inquiry was set up after a long-running campaign
0:13:40 > 0:13:44by parents whose children suffered heart problems, missing limbs,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46spina bifida and other conditions.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49In the Commons, the minister recognised that the conclusion
0:13:49 > 0:13:54was not what campaigners wanted to hear.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56Available relevant evidence on the possible association has been
0:13:56 > 0:13:59extensively and thoroughly reviewed with the benefit of up-to-date
0:13:59 > 0:14:02knowledge by experts from the relevant specialisms.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05The evidence which has been reviewed by the expert group will be
0:14:05 > 0:14:08published in the New Year once it has been rightly checked in line
0:14:08 > 0:14:11with legal duties and data protection confidentiality.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14In addition to the overall conclusion, the expert working group
0:14:14 > 0:14:17has made a number of recommendations to safeguard future generations
0:14:17 > 0:14:20through strengthening the systems in place of detecting,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23evaluating, managing and communicating safety concerns
0:14:23 > 0:14:25with use of medicines in early pregnancy.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28While I recognise the conclusion of the report will be
0:14:28 > 0:14:30a disappointment to some, I hope they will see
0:14:30 > 0:14:35the recommendations as positive.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38I am so disappointed with the minister's response.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Clearly he is just quoting what his staff at the Ministry
0:14:42 > 0:14:44have been telling him.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48I do wish the Minister would actually go through the document
0:14:48 > 0:14:52that was submitted to the enquiry, the document we have,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56because if he has read those documents, he would never have come
0:14:56 > 0:15:00to the despatch box and said what he has said.
0:15:00 > 0:15:06I'm not just quoting notes that are put before me.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09I'm quoting evidence from an expert working group, an expert panel,
0:15:09 > 0:15:11and it really would come to something if members in this
0:15:11 > 0:15:13House suddenly started to second-guess expert scientific
0:15:13 > 0:15:17and medical evidence so I'm not just quoting what's before me.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20On Friday, two constituents came to my surgery to speak
0:15:20 > 0:15:23to me exactly about this.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26The mother had taken one of these pills and her daughter
0:15:26 > 0:15:28was born with deformities.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32Can I suggest, it's not the Minister's report,
0:15:32 > 0:15:37he's just giving us his explanation and he's doing his job,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40but could I suggest that we have a proper backbench
0:15:40 > 0:15:44debate about this the exercise all these issues because with great
0:15:44 > 0:15:47respect to this working party, having had some experience
0:15:47 > 0:15:50as a former public health minister and knowing about contaminated
0:15:50 > 0:15:54blood, I'm afraid to say I smell something like a very large rat
0:15:54 > 0:15:58in all of this and I think there have been cover-ups in it.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00The conclusions don't take away from the suffering experienced
0:16:00 > 0:16:03by the families but we recognise the review's conclusion may be
0:16:03 > 0:16:08difficult to accept by the families, of course we do, and birth defects
0:16:08 > 0:16:11occur naturally in up to four in every 100 babies and a birth
0:16:11 > 0:16:14defect in a baby exposed to a medicine during pregnancy does
0:16:14 > 0:16:17not necessarily mean it was caused by the medicine.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20There were complaints, too, about how the public release
0:16:20 > 0:16:22of the report was handled.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Does he think 24 hours is a reasonable period of time
0:16:25 > 0:16:27to ask a family to travel to London from quite a rural
0:16:27 > 0:16:29parts of the country?
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Does he also think it's appropriate that the Honourable Lady
0:16:32 > 0:16:34for Bolton South East and myself were locked out of
0:16:34 > 0:16:38the press conference that the MHRA held yesterday?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41That in itself smacks of a cover-up.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43The Honourable Lady's point about the notice
0:16:43 > 0:16:46the families were given, no, I don't think it's good enough
0:16:46 > 0:16:49and I and my honourable friend in the other place has made
0:16:49 > 0:16:53that crystal clear.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56There was some notice given to Mrs Lyons on Friday last week
0:16:56 > 0:17:00that there was likely to be an event on Wednesday but that was confirmed
0:17:00 > 0:17:03until Monday so that was the notice that they got and no,
0:17:03 > 0:17:08I don't think that's good enough, I've made that very clear.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11As far as her and the Honourable Lady who chairs the all-party group
0:17:11 > 0:17:15being locked out the group, I cannot imagine how
0:17:15 > 0:17:18that happened and again, I have explained to the MHRA that
0:17:18 > 0:17:21I expect them to look into that and come back to me and explain
0:17:21 > 0:17:25to me how that could have happened to cause while we may disagree,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28I can see how that merely feeds the conspiracy theory that's
0:17:28 > 0:17:32around this subject.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Steve Brine.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38You're watching Thursday In Parliament with me, Alicia McCarthy.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45We could be facing a return to the "medical dark ages"
0:17:45 > 0:17:47unless action is taken to tackle antibiotic resistance,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50and to get people to use them only when appropriate.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54That warning came as MPs held a debate to mark
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Antibiotics Awareness Week, and following the launch last month
0:17:57 > 0:18:02of Public Health England's Keep Antibiotics Working campaign.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06It's warned that antibiotic resistance, known as AMR,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09already represents a major global health issue.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12In the UK alone, it is estimated that every year
0:18:12 > 0:18:14at least 5,000 deaths result from antibiotics
0:18:14 > 0:18:19no longer working for some infections.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22If we do not act now, antimicrobial resistance will be
0:18:22 > 0:18:28responsible for ten million deaths per year by 2050.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31This is more than the worldwide number of people who were killed
0:18:31 > 0:18:33by cancer in 2015.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38We run the risk of returning to a medical dark age,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42where routine operations, such as hip operations, cannot be
0:18:42 > 0:18:50carried out, and standard infections today, become deadly.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies,
0:18:52 > 0:18:56has rightly described AMR as a catastrophic threat.
0:18:56 > 0:19:02She has warned of a post-antibiotic apocalypse, where 40% of the
0:19:02 > 0:19:05population die prematurely from infections that we cannot treat.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10In her view, this could amount to nothing less than
0:19:10 > 0:19:18"the end of modern medicine".
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Labour's Julie Cooper said antibiotics had often been
0:19:20 > 0:19:23used inappropriately, especially in agriculture.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25We will start with a public education programme,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27to manage expectations, and to highlight the issues of both
0:19:27 > 0:19:31inappropriate use, and too frequent use.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33The Health Minister, Steve Brine, highlighted the importance
0:19:33 > 0:19:43of public awareness.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47AMR is a global problem. The UK has led the way and made significant
0:19:47 > 0:19:52progress, but this is clearly a long-term serious and urgent
0:19:52 > 0:19:58problem. Initiatives I think such as World Antibiotic Awareness Week are
0:19:58 > 0:20:02very welcome, it gives us an opportunity to continue to discuss
0:20:02 > 0:20:05things, gives them a media hook to hang them on, and keep them high in
0:20:05 > 0:20:09the minds of people across all sectors, and vitally, across members
0:20:09 > 0:20:15of the public. A recent study revealed an increase in the number
0:20:15 > 0:20:19of girls admitted to hospital for self harming over a three-year
0:20:19 > 0:20:25period.In the Lords, people wanted to know how the problem was being
0:20:25 > 0:20:36addressed.They are non-stigmatising, and easily
0:20:36 > 0:20:40accessible. However, I visited an area yesterday, where I was told
0:20:40 > 0:20:43that all the school counsellors have had to be sacked because the schools
0:20:43 > 0:20:49cannot afford to pay them. So, will be minister work with the Department
0:20:49 > 0:20:52for Education to ensure that, by the end of this Parliament, every
0:20:52 > 0:20:57secondary state school in this country has a cool councillor?
0:20:57 > 0:21:04Bullying in schools can start very early, and it can give rise to
0:21:04 > 0:21:07severe mental health issues. Would you also agree that schools struggle
0:21:07 > 0:21:11to deal with this issue, partly because they are unclear about how
0:21:11 > 0:21:16to balance their duties of care to victims and to perpetrators who
0:21:16 > 0:21:22often have issues of their own?In the end, it actually comes down to
0:21:22 > 0:21:27behavioural policies. Schools with very robust behaviour policies, fair
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and robust behaviour policies, do not tend to see bullying. Those who
0:21:30 > 0:21:35are more lax on it do, and so first and foremost it is about making sure
0:21:35 > 0:21:38that teachers have the training and support from the Government and
0:21:38 > 0:21:45parents that they need to crack down on that. Bullying has also moved
0:21:45 > 0:21:48into different domains, particularly online. You may have seen that his
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge is today launching some actions on
0:21:52 > 0:21:55cyber bullying, so dealing with bullying is a big part of that, and
0:21:55 > 0:21:59I completely agree with her about the importance of starting hourly.
0:21:59 > 0:22:05The Government's on research, most notably commissioned by DWP,
0:22:05 > 0:22:12conclusively showed a causal link between young people's internalising
0:22:12 > 0:22:20problems such as self harm with conflict and -- in their parents'
0:22:20 > 0:22:23relationships. Will this evidence be acted on in the forthcoming Green
0:22:23 > 0:22:27paper on children and young people's mental health?The Department for
0:22:27 > 0:22:32Work and Pensions has a cross Government support for parents. I'll
0:22:32 > 0:22:37salute the best community health services and schools work to provide
0:22:37 > 0:22:40that support, with a number of parenting programmes out there, and
0:22:40 > 0:22:44I can assure him that that evidence absolutely takes proper place in the
0:22:44 > 0:22:47mental health strategy we will be publishing for children and young
0:22:47 > 0:22:50people.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Lord O'Shaugnessey.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52MPs are to hold their third day
0:22:52 > 0:22:55of the detailed consideration of the EU Withdrawal Bill
0:22:55 > 0:22:56on Tuesday next week.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58The government has promised 64 hours over eight days
0:22:58 > 0:22:59for this stage of the bill.
0:22:59 > 0:23:09It completed its first two days this week without amendment.
0:23:11 > 0:23:12..whether whe committee stage of the whole House
0:23:13 > 0:23:14will be completed before
0:23:14 > 0:23:15the Christmas recess on the 21st of December?
0:23:15 > 0:23:17And will it be in the other place
0:23:17 > 0:23:18before the Christmas recess?
0:23:18 > 0:23:21I know that my friends in the other place are
0:23:21 > 0:23:24very keen to help out.
0:23:24 > 0:23:25She will be aware that the usual procedure,
0:23:25 > 0:23:30because it is difficult to project forward with absolute certainty for
0:23:30 > 0:23:32a lengthy period of time, so we will continue to update
0:23:32 > 0:23:35the House in the usual way every week with future business,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37as far as we are able to do so.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40The SNP's spokesman reflected on news from outside the chamber
0:23:40 > 0:23:42while Parliament had been away for a brief recess.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45It has only been a couple of weeks since the last
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Prime Minister's Questions, but I suppose two weeks in politics
0:23:48 > 0:23:49must seem like an eternity for this Government.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52In that time, they have managed to lose two members of the
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Cabinet, and the Brexit Civil War now raging would actually put
0:23:55 > 0:23:58the Roundheads and Cavaliers to shame.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01But, fear not, the Environmental Secretary has apparently been
0:24:01 > 0:24:04auditioning for the role of Chancellor at Cabinet meetings, by,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06according to his colleagues, using lots of
0:24:06 > 0:24:10"economicky words," so all is not lost.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Well, there'll be plenty of "economicky words" next week,
0:24:13 > 0:24:17with Philip Hammond giving his Budget on Wednesday.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20A Conservative MP has made his maiden speech.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24David Duguid was one of only two MPs elected this year yet to make
0:24:24 > 0:24:26a speech in the Commons.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28As is tradition, he praised his constituency, which he said
0:24:28 > 0:24:34was a great place to live and visit.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Our coast, across the north-east of Scotland,
0:24:36 > 0:24:37is like no other in the British Isles.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Rugged cliffs, home to a wealth of birdlife,
0:24:39 > 0:24:40including, for information,
0:24:40 > 0:24:47Scotland's only mainland gannet colony, at Troup Head.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50We're all coming to visit, then!
0:24:50 > 0:24:55You're all most welcome!
0:24:55 > 0:24:56Our shoreline is also regularly visited
0:24:56 > 0:24:58by porpoises, dolphins, and even the occasional
0:24:58 > 0:25:02humpback or killer whale.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
0:25:05 > 0:25:09has taken his seat in the House of Lords.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Lord Hogan-Howe was flanked by supporters Lord Alton
0:25:11 > 0:25:14of Liverpool and Lord Dholakia as he swore the oath
0:25:14 > 0:25:17of allegiance to the Queen.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Lord Hogan Howe retired as the head of Britain's biggest police force
0:25:20 > 0:25:24earlier this year after five years in the post, he will sit
0:25:24 > 0:25:29as an independent crossbencher peer.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32And that's it from us for now, but do join me on Friday night
0:25:32 > 0:25:34at 11:00 on BBC Parliament for our round up
0:25:34 > 0:25:36of the week at Westminster, when among other things,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40I'll be chatting to Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, the new elected
0:25:40 > 0:25:44chair of the powerful Commons Liaison committee.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46But, for now, from me, Alicia McCarthy,
0:25:46 > 0:25:52goodbye