0:00:19 > 0:00:20Hello and welcome to Thursday In Parliament.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Coming up: There's universal condemnation
0:00:22 > 0:00:25of the President Trump tweets.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27President Donald Trump was wrong to retweet videos
0:00:27 > 0:00:31posted by far-right group Britain First.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Some called for the President's state visit to be cancelled.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38No matter what diplomatic route we find it to do it,
0:00:38 > 0:00:42we cannot simply roll out a red carpet and give a platform
0:00:42 > 0:00:45for the President of the United States to also sow
0:00:45 > 0:00:48discord in our communities.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And a little bit of history is made.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54This debate is being interpreted into sign language, which I believe
0:00:54 > 0:00:57is a Parliamentary first.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00So we may be making history in this debate, which is great.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03But first, the row over Donald Trump's retweeting of
0:01:03 > 0:01:07anti-Muslim videos has raised passions across Parliament.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10The Home Secretary was called to the Commons to answer an urgent
0:01:10 > 0:01:12question about the matter.
0:01:12 > 0:01:19Condemnation of the President came from all sides of the House.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21This is the President of the United States
0:01:21 > 0:01:23sharing with millions, inflammatory and devisive content,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26deliberately posted to sow hatred and division by,
0:01:26 > 0:01:28as the Home Secretary says, a convicted criminal
0:01:28 > 0:01:32who is facing further charges, who represents a vile,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35fascist organisation, seeking to spread hatred
0:01:35 > 0:01:38and violence in person and online.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43By sharing it, he is either a racist, incompetent or unthinking
0:01:43 > 0:01:45or all three.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48President Donald Trump was wrong to retweet videos posted by
0:01:48 > 0:01:52far-right group Britain First.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56When we look at the wider picture, the relationship between the UK
0:01:56 > 0:02:00and America, I know how valuable the friendship is
0:02:00 > 0:02:03between our two nations.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07And as Home Secretary, I can tell the House
0:02:07 > 0:02:08that the importance of the relationship
0:02:08 > 0:02:11between our countries, the unparalleled sharing
0:02:11 > 0:02:16of intelligence between our countries, is vital.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20It has undoubtedly saved British lives.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23That is the bigger picture here, and I would urge
0:02:23 > 0:02:25people to remmember that.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Whilst, on this side of the House, we appreciate
0:02:29 > 0:02:37the importance of realpolitik, we would also call on the Government
0:02:37 > 0:02:43to make clear that, in no way and at no time,
0:02:43 > 0:02:49does it give any support whatsoever to the distasteful views of the
0:02:49 > 0:02:5645th President on race and migration and Muslim
0:02:56 > 0:02:58communities internationally.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03Because to do anything else would be an affront
0:03:03 > 0:03:10to voters in this country, whichever side they support.
0:03:10 > 0:03:19And one of the advantages of having such a special relationship
0:03:19 > 0:03:21with the United States is, when a friend tells you you've
0:03:21 > 0:03:23done something wrong, you tend to listen.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26And wouldn't the world be a better place if the Prime Minister
0:03:26 > 0:03:28could persuade the President of the United States
0:03:28 > 0:03:29to delete his Twitter account?
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Several MPs felt strongly the President's state visit
0:03:31 > 0:03:33should not go ahead.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Isn't one of the key dangers in a state visit is
0:03:37 > 0:03:40that we have absolutely no idea what the President will say or tweet
0:03:40 > 0:03:41next and before he visits?
0:03:41 > 0:03:45So what does he have to say or tweet before the idea of a state visit
0:03:45 > 0:03:47is ditched once and for all?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Mr Speaker, an invitation for the visit has been
0:03:51 > 0:03:55extended and accepted, but the dates and precise
0:03:55 > 0:03:58arrangements have yet to be agreed.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00No matter what diplomatic route we find to do it,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04we cannot simply roll out a red carpet and give a platform
0:04:04 > 0:04:08for the President of the United States to also sow
0:04:08 > 0:04:11discord in our communities.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14We know that he and they will keep doing this and keep spreading
0:04:14 > 0:04:18extremism, and we also know, from the plaque behind us
0:04:18 > 0:04:23and from our own history, where the spread of extremism leads
0:04:23 > 0:04:26unless enough of us are prepared to stand up
0:04:26 > 0:04:28now and say no.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Putting aside the question of a state visit, should he even be
0:04:32 > 0:04:36allowed to enter our country, because unprecedented actions
0:04:36 > 0:04:39require unprecedented responses.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42I would just point out to the honourable lady,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46the Prime Minister has robustly replied to the President
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and made her views absolutely clear.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53In terms of what the honourable lady is also proposing, I would say,
0:04:53 > 0:04:59we do not routinely comment on individual exclusion cases.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Is the Home Secretary satisfied that President Trump's behaviour,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06which is not an isolated incident, does not undermine the important
0:05:06 > 0:05:09security and cooperation relationship we have United States?
0:05:09 > 0:05:11And can I just say, just because somebody
0:05:11 > 0:05:19stops using Twitter, does not mean they
0:05:19 > 0:05:20cease to be a twit. does not mean they
0:05:20 > 0:05:23My honourable friend put his finger on the matter, if I may say,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26in the first half of this comments, which is how important that
0:05:26 > 0:05:27close relationship is.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29And however strongly honourable members may feel
0:05:29 > 0:05:30about the President himself, we must protect that
0:05:31 > 0:05:33particular relationship.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Around a month ago, the most popular man in the world was a last-day
0:05:37 > 0:05:39employee of Twitter who unplugged the account of the President
0:05:39 > 0:05:40of the United States.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Was he not right?
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And if Twitter is genuine in its commitment to fight hate
0:05:45 > 0:05:49crime online, it should have no hesitant in taking down the Twitter
0:05:49 > 0:05:53account of the First Citizen of the US, as it would with any
0:05:53 > 0:05:56other citizen in the world which peddles such hate crime?
0:05:56 > 0:05:58The Prime Minister, when she was Home Secretary,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00said homophobes and racists and those who stir up hatred
0:06:00 > 0:06:04in this country will not be allowed in this country, and if they come
0:06:04 > 0:06:05to this country, they will be arrested.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08That's what should happen in this case, and the Home Secretary
0:06:08 > 0:06:09knows it, just say it!
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Mr Speaker, I would say to the honourable gentleman,
0:06:12 > 0:06:16there is no pretence here.
0:06:16 > 0:06:26We're absolutely clear in the actions we will take against
0:06:26 > 0:06:27people who propagate hate.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30And he should not underestimate the Prime Minister's views on this
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and the Prime Minister's absolute clarity on criticising the President
0:06:32 > 0:06:35and showing that to the public in her comment to him.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36The Home Secretary.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Now, MPs have accused the Government of sending mixed messages
0:06:38 > 0:06:40on the environment after Ministers scrapped a planned rise
0:06:40 > 0:06:46in fuel duty last week.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Appearing before a committee of MPs who have been
0:06:48 > 0:06:50investigating air quality, Ministers defended the announcement
0:06:50 > 0:06:53in the Budget that a tax rise wouldn't go ahead.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Are we sending a mixed message?
0:06:55 > 0:06:56No, I don't think we are.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Because we've allocated since 2010 £3.5 billion on air quality
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and cleaner transport initiatives.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07As against 46 billion on a fuel duty freeze?
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Well, if that's the Labour policy to increase fuel duty,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12we're very keen that it would represent a greater
0:07:12 > 0:07:13value for taxpayers...
0:07:13 > 0:07:16I'm not making the point for a political point, I'm asking
0:07:16 > 0:07:25you about the Government's policies in relation to mixed messages?
0:07:25 > 0:07:27I don't think it is a mixed message.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29We have allocated a significant amount of money to promote air
0:07:29 > 0:07:31quality and the move to electric vehicles,
0:07:31 > 0:07:35but we're doing this at the same time as recognising the challenges
0:07:35 > 0:07:37that households and businesses are with inflation,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39and are working therefore to keep the two things together.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43The Minister was also challenged over whether the Treasury had
0:07:43 > 0:07:46analysed how well pollution-reducing measures were working.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50You're the Treasury Minister and you don't know if there
0:07:50 > 0:07:52is a cost-benefit analysis within the Government on seeking
0:07:52 > 0:07:57measures to tackle air pollution on public health?
0:07:57 > 0:08:01You're suggesting we would only want to take action on the basis
0:08:01 > 0:08:03of cost-benefit, that's not the case.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06We recognise the public health challenge, that's why
0:08:06 > 0:08:08we're working on it.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10The department is revising its figures, we are seeing
0:08:10 > 0:08:12a downward projection in the medical statistics
0:08:12 > 0:08:19of an avoidable deaths, but nevertheless, we are very keen
0:08:19 > 0:08:23to work on air quality, as we know poor airquality effects...
0:08:23 > 0:08:26The question was to the Treasury Minister, thank you.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Later, the Communities Minister was as what his department does
0:08:28 > 0:08:31with councils that break air quality rules?
0:08:31 > 0:08:35Where we have concerns about a particular council,
0:08:35 > 0:08:40we ask the LGA to quite often look into those concerns
0:08:40 > 0:08:44and assist our department in terms of making sure that some
0:08:44 > 0:08:47of the functions of local Government are being carried through properly.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51You have a file, Minister?
0:08:51 > 0:08:56Because you want to file your teeth so that you can bite a bit more.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59I'm sorry, we are not getting any clear answer
0:08:59 > 0:09:02here about what you're doing about it?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Well...
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Mr Chairman, I share this issue in several directions.
0:09:07 > 0:09:08With my pals.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I'll bring in Dr Coffey in a moment.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14But I would say, Mr Parish, that we have a clear line
0:09:14 > 0:09:18of communication in terms of improving local
0:09:18 > 0:09:20authorities through the LGA.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23That is not just as a general programme, that's also where we've
0:09:23 > 0:09:25got specific issues.
0:09:25 > 0:09:26The committee then turned its attention
0:09:26 > 0:09:28to the emissions rigging scandal.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Just going back to Germany, I understand their car industry has
0:09:31 > 0:09:37contributed about 250 million euros to help with the clean air
0:09:37 > 0:09:39agenda within Germany.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42It just seems that in America, there's a huge legal payment,
0:09:42 > 0:09:47the German car industry has come up with 250 million euros to help,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49and we're not in the fortunate position of having either
0:09:49 > 0:09:51of those two things?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Believe me, I have been having these thoughts myself on many occasions.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58The situation in the UK is that we have a very different
0:09:58 > 0:10:02kind of car industry, and very different levels
0:10:02 > 0:10:03of exposure to diesel.
0:10:03 > 0:10:09In Germany, they have a relatively compact car industry,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12very large, but very compact and focused on diesel.
0:10:12 > 0:10:19And that has created a congruity of incentives with them.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Why is it that Germany, when they've got their massive car industry,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25held to account by their massive car industry, can still get money out
0:10:25 > 0:10:28of them and we just sit there wringing our hands saying,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32we don't know what sort of laws we've got that we can make it stick?
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Why can't you find something to make it stick?
0:10:35 > 0:10:38What a splendid intervention from the chair in the corner,
0:10:39 > 0:10:40thank you very much.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42You're asking exactly the same question, of course...
0:10:42 > 0:10:44I know, but you haven't answered it, have you?
0:10:44 > 0:10:46You're just not doing anything about it.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Au contraire, I've answered it precisely and to the question asked.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51The situation is very much not wringing our hands,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55we are doing what we can within the proper obedience
0:10:55 > 0:10:59to the rule of law and a degree of deference to the German
0:10:59 > 0:11:01prosecuting authorities.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Jesse Norman.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05You're watching Thursday in Parliament with me, Mandy Baker.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13At the last election, the Conservatives promised to get
0:11:13 > 0:11:16one million more disabled people into work over the next ten years.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Now they've unveiled a plan to do it.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24But Opposition MPs said Ministers had abandoned more ambition targets,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28and disabled people were bearing the brunt of Government cuts.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Our labour market is in its strongest position for years,
0:11:30 > 0:11:36with the employment rate in the UK at a near historic high of 75%,
0:11:36 > 0:11:41and around 600,000 more disabled people in work than four years ago.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Despite this, only around half of disabled people are in work,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46but many disabled people and people with health conditions
0:11:46 > 0:11:49can and want to work.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52This means too many people are missing the opportunity
0:11:52 > 0:12:00to develop their talents and connect with the world of work,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03and the range of positive impacts that come with doing so.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Including good health and social outcomes, which is why
0:12:05 > 0:12:07it's important that we act now.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09He said advances in technology offered new opportunities.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12The change needed is not one that Government can deliver on its own.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Across the country, there are striking examples
0:12:15 > 0:12:19of what can be achieved when employers, charities
0:12:19 > 0:12:22and health care professionals work together locally.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26But Government can help create the conditions for success.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31But Labour said the Government had watered down its ambitions.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34We should not be surprised by this disappointment,
0:12:34 > 0:12:41as throughout the Government's seven wasted years of a sturdy,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44time and time again, it is disabled people who have borne
0:12:44 > 0:12:48the brunt of their cuts.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50The Work and Health Programme is no different in this regard,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53with only 130 million a year set aside for its funding.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55A fraction of the billions spent on its predecessor,
0:12:55 > 0:12:56the Work Programme.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00The announcement today offers very little in the way of commitment.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04It is sadly an attempt to kick the issue back into the long grass,
0:13:04 > 0:13:11with vague statements on pilots, a commitment from Government
0:13:11 > 0:13:13to carry on doing what it's currently doing.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15And some minuscule sums of investment in training.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20This does not go nearly far enough, Madame Deputy Speaker.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23The SNP are extremely disappointed in the statement and the command
0:13:23 > 0:13:25paper produced today.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27We believe that the UK Government as a priority needs to reverse
0:13:27 > 0:13:30the cuts it has made to these benefits and need to scrap
0:13:30 > 0:13:33the freeze on benefits as well, because they are harming people.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Mencap have released a statement that says,
0:13:37 > 0:13:44we're alarmed that the needs of hundreds of thousands of people
0:13:44 > 0:13:46with mild or -moderate learning disabilities has been overlooked.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50It is the case that the Government seems to have abandoned its pledge
0:13:50 > 0:13:53to have the disability employment gap, and this gap is even worse
0:13:53 > 0:13:56for those people who've got learning disabilities.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Some MPs thought the Government should get to the grips with
0:13:59 > 0:14:00the work capability assessments.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Are we in danger of setting a very dangerous precedent,
0:14:02 > 0:14:12where constituents are in possession of a sick note from a health
0:14:12 > 0:14:14professional, whether that be a consultant, doctor or perhaps
0:14:14 > 0:14:17a psychiatrist, and that is then overridden by the work assessors
0:14:17 > 0:14:19who therefore declare that the person is fit for work?
0:14:19 > 0:14:23I had a constituent visit me just two weeks ago,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27she is clearly disabled, it is clear for all to see.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32She was asked how she does her shopping, and she said she doesn't
0:14:32 > 0:14:42online every couple of weeks.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Was told she was therefore fit to work in an office
0:14:45 > 0:14:46for 37 hours a week.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I think one point I would make in terms of assessments
0:14:49 > 0:14:52and whether we're looking at ESA or PIP, that the percentage of those
0:14:52 > 0:14:54of those assessments which are overturned
0:14:54 > 0:14:57is running at about 4%.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01I would rather it was lower, but let's put it in context that
0:15:01 > 0:15:05only 4% of assessments are overturned.
0:15:06 > 0:15:07Wendy Morton.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08Today's command paper, Madam Deputy Speaker,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10is a huge step forward and should be welcomed.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13When it comes to attitudes, though, does my right honourable friend
0:15:13 > 0:15:16agree that we need to tackle a culture, in some quarters,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18which fails to really harness the potential of disabled people
0:15:18 > 0:15:19in the workplace?
0:15:19 > 0:15:21David Gauke agreed, saying there should be a culture shift.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Now, the Transport Secretary has faced further questions over claims
0:15:24 > 0:15:27that the Treasury will miss out on billions of pounds
0:15:27 > 0:15:32following a change to the franchise for the East Coast Mainline.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35In a statement on Wednesday, Chris Grayling told MPs that,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37from 2020, a new East Coast partnership would be responsible
0:15:37 > 0:15:44for both trains and tracks on the route from London
0:15:44 > 0:15:46to the north-east of England and Scotland.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47The existing operator, Virgin Trains East Coast,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51is a partnership between Stagecoach and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54It had agreed to pay the Government just over £3 billion to run
0:15:54 > 0:15:58the service until 2023.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00We learned yesterday that the East Coast rail franchise
0:16:00 > 0:16:04will be terminated in 2020, three years early, potentially
0:16:04 > 0:16:09forfeiting billions of pounds in premiums due to the Treasury,
0:16:09 > 0:16:19yet the Secretary of State told the House that Stagecoach will meet
0:16:19 > 0:16:21in full the commitments it made to the Government as
0:16:21 > 0:16:22part of this contract.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25So, can he confirm that the full £3.3 billion due from
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Stagecoach-Virgin will be paid to the Treasury in accordance with
0:16:27 > 0:16:35the terms of the original contract?
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Mr Speaker, every time a franchisee takes up a new contract it makes
0:16:38 > 0:16:40a parent company commitment to the Government.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43That commitment will be kept in full.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Andy McDonald.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47So, can we get to the heart of this?
0:16:47 > 0:16:52Will the premiums due under that contract...
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Under that contract covering the years 2022-2023 of some
0:16:54 > 0:16:59£2 billion be paid?
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Will they be paid, yes or no?
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Well, Mr Speaker, self-evidently, given my announcement yesterday
0:17:06 > 0:17:08that we would have the East Coast partnership in place
0:17:08 > 0:17:11in 2020, there will be new arrangements in place in 2020.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15But what I have said to him, Mr Speaker, what I have said to him
0:17:15 > 0:17:18is that every franchisee makes a parent company commitment before
0:17:18 > 0:17:20taking out the contract and we will hold that that
0:17:20 > 0:17:23commitment be met in full.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Since 2010, rail fares have risen by 27%, twice the rate of wages,
0:17:27 > 0:17:32with the steepest fare hikes in five years due in January,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35while passenger numbers are now in decline.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37With more and more of my constituents being priced out
0:17:37 > 0:17:40of rail travel altogether, when will this Government accept
0:17:40 > 0:17:43that the whole system of rail franchising and private profiteering
0:17:43 > 0:17:49from our railways is utterly, utterly broken.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Well, I'm afraid members opposite really shouldn't try and draw
0:17:51 > 0:17:54conclusions from one quarter's statistics to try and underpin
0:17:54 > 0:17:57their own ideological agenda.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00The simple fact is that we are seeing far more passengers
0:18:00 > 0:18:04using our network than ever before.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06I believe that the privatised railways have been a success
0:18:06 > 0:18:09and the alternative that he proposes ensures that passengers are always
0:18:09 > 0:18:12at the back of the queue in every decision undertaken by any ghastly
0:18:12 > 0:18:16future Labour government.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18A Liberal Democrat MP raised an entirely different form
0:18:18 > 0:18:21of transport and an entirely different problem.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24In July, a three-year-old boy experienced a life-threatening
0:18:24 > 0:18:27allergic reaction on a plane when fellow passengers
0:18:27 > 0:18:30started eating nuts that they had been served.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Thankfully, he survived, but I know from personal experience
0:18:32 > 0:18:36how terrifying it is to go into anaphylactic shock and the last
0:18:36 > 0:18:40place you would want that to happen is 30,000 feet in the air
0:18:40 > 0:18:43when you are hours from formal medical attention.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Will the Secretary of State agree to meet with me and a group
0:18:46 > 0:18:48of campaigners to explore solutions that would enable the 2%
0:18:48 > 0:18:53of the population who have a nut allergy to fly with confidence?
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Mr Speaker, I absolutely understand why this is such a serious issue
0:18:56 > 0:18:59and I would be delighted to extend an invitation to her to come
0:18:59 > 0:19:02into the Department to meet ministers and officials to talk
0:19:02 > 0:19:04about what is clearly a very important matter.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06The Transport Secretary.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08There was a Parliamentary first in Westminster Hall
0:19:08 > 0:19:10on Thursday afternoon.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13The chair of the All-party Group on Deafness and Hearing Loss
0:19:13 > 0:19:16reckoned a bit of history was being made.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Our debate is being interpreted into sign language, which I believe
0:19:19 > 0:19:23is a Parliamentary first, so we may be making history in this
0:19:23 > 0:19:27debate, which is great for all of us who are here to participate
0:19:27 > 0:19:30in this event.
0:19:30 > 0:19:40Jim Fitzpatrick said he wanted to focus on three issues -
0:19:44 > 0:19:46the implementation of the National Plan on Hearing Loss,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48access to work, and the legal recognition of British sign
0:19:48 > 0:19:49language.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Legal recognition, he said, would have benefits for deaf
0:19:51 > 0:19:52people and wider society.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Deaf children are 42% less likely to achieve five
0:19:55 > 0:19:58or more GCSEs at grade C or above than their hearing peers.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00There is no reason that a deaf child should do any worse
0:20:00 > 0:20:02than a hearing child.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06In health, 70% of deaf people who haven't been to a GP
0:20:06 > 0:20:09recently wanted to go, but didn't, mainly because there
0:20:09 > 0:20:11was no interpreter.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13A Lib Dem said he had been deaf for 50 years.
0:20:13 > 0:20:19He believes 70% of profoundly deaf people were unemployed.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20That is ridiculous.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22That is just ridiculous.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25How can you possibly take out whatever it is,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27100,000 people if not more, of adult working age
0:20:27 > 0:20:29and have the barriers as such that 70% is unemployed.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33It's a bloomin' outrage.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35A Conservative told how her mother had gone deaf
0:20:35 > 0:20:38overnight following a virus.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41She hadn't been ill, she's never had any hearing problems,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44but she went from being a hearing person one day to the next
0:20:44 > 0:20:48day having nothing.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51My father took my mum to the hospital and, at that time,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53we had a really good ear, nose and throat
0:20:53 > 0:20:56hospital in Maidstone.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58It was about a week later, so about a week after
0:20:58 > 0:21:02she had lost her hearing, that she was taken there.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05It was confirmed that she had no hearing.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08They put her on steroids, they told her it was due to a virus
0:21:08 > 0:21:12and that the hairs in her ears had died and that it was probably very
0:21:12 > 0:21:15unlikely she would ever get her hearing back.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18This was absolutely devastating for my mother and for all of us -
0:21:19 > 0:21:23my sister, myself and my dad.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28It changed her life and our life fundamentally.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30We couldn't communicate with her.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Everything had to be written down.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35My mum couldn't sign, my mum couldn't lip-read,
0:21:35 > 0:21:40so she was flung into isolation and into, to be honest with you,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43a state of depression.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47It was a really, really tough time with two teenage girls at that
0:21:47 > 0:21:50particular time who were very much into their singing,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54and all of a sudden my mum had to admit that she would never be
0:21:54 > 0:21:57able to hear her daughters sing again.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Deafness is the invisible disability.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04My mum didn't look like she had a disability.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Her voice sounded like it always did, as she had been a hearing
0:22:07 > 0:22:09person for 40 years, but I saw and experienced first-hand
0:22:09 > 0:22:17the major barriers that people who are deaf have to experience.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20While a Labour MP told MPs she was the eldest child
0:22:20 > 0:22:22of two deaf parents.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26I have to tell you that I was tempted to sign my whole
0:22:26 > 0:22:31speech and I was going to do that and have the interpreters voice-over
0:22:31 > 0:22:34my comments for my colleagues, to give everybody a feel for how
0:22:34 > 0:22:38it is not to be able to communicate directly,
0:22:38 > 0:22:45not for a minute, not for a sentence, but for five
0:22:45 > 0:22:49minutes or however long it takes me to finish this.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Not to be able to communicate directly to the person
0:22:51 > 0:22:55you are talking to is really, really strange and difficult
0:22:55 > 0:22:59and deaf people feel that, experience that every single minute
0:22:59 > 0:23:01of their lives.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04The Public Health Minister turned to calls for British sign language
0:23:04 > 0:23:07to be legally recognised.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10It is not entirely clear to me which department would lead on legal
0:23:10 > 0:23:12recognition of British sign language, which is kind
0:23:12 > 0:23:16of the problem that so many people have referred to today.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Personally, I am sympathetic to the calls for strengthening
0:23:18 > 0:23:24the role of British sign language and we certainly want to see as many
0:23:24 > 0:23:26people trained and providing support as possible.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29The message that I can only bring today is that, at this time,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Her Majesty's government is not yet, anyway, convinced that the way to
0:23:32 > 0:23:35achieve this is through legislation.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Now, we have protections of the legal rights of people
0:23:37 > 0:23:40who are deaf in the Equality Act, of course, and in the duties
0:23:40 > 0:23:43of the NHS and the mandate that I'm responsible for giving to NHS
0:23:43 > 0:23:45England and, of course, publicly-funded social care
0:23:45 > 0:23:47organisations to conform to what we call the Accessible
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Information Standard.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52I'm very happy to take this point away.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54It's come across really clearly from so many members
0:23:54 > 0:23:58during the debate today and all I would say
0:23:58 > 0:24:02is that the Private Members Ballot is a wonderful thing.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04The Public Health Minister with a hint that keeping up
0:24:04 > 0:24:06the pressure for the legal recognition of British sign
0:24:06 > 0:24:09language might bear fruit.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Finally, it wasn't just MPs who were up in arms
0:24:12 > 0:24:13about Donald Trump and his tweets.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18In the Lords, peers were equally exercised.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22I assume that President Trump only tweets messages he has thought
0:24:22 > 0:24:26carefully about and agrees with because, if so,
0:24:26 > 0:24:31he has endorsed a Nazi group with a vicious record of attacks,
0:24:31 > 0:24:36racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Surely there can be no question of a state visit until at least
0:24:39 > 0:24:43he has expressed some remorse about this.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48I would gently suggest to the president of our greatest
0:24:48 > 0:24:52ally, that if he would make the White House
0:24:52 > 0:24:56a tweet-and-Twitter-free zone, he would make an immeasurable
0:24:56 > 0:24:59contribution to the peace of the world.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Hear hear.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Well, I do actually recall the words of the former Prime Minister
0:25:05 > 0:25:08about too many tweets and I shan't repeat what he said, but, yes,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11we must all be careful about what we tweet and the effect
0:25:11 > 0:25:16that it can have on the wider community.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21So, yes, we should tweet with care, my Lords.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24And Lady Williams brings us to the end of the programme.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26I'll be back at the same time tomorrow with The Week
0:25:26 > 0:25:30In Parliament, when I'll be talking to an MP who hopes to
0:25:30 > 0:25:32break the boundaries - of constituencies, that is.
0:25:32 > 0:25:38Until then, from me, Mandy Baker, goodbye.