0:00:18 > 0:00:23Hello and welcome to the programme.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Coming up, MPs guilty of misconduct could face a by-election under
0:00:25 > 0:00:31new cross-party proposals.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36Hopefully we'll signalled the beginning of of the end of the
0:00:36 > 0:00:39poisonous patriarchy culture that has poisoned so many of the
0:00:39 > 0:00:40relationships of this House.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42The Government acknowledges that patients at a Liverpool Hospital
0:00:42 > 0:00:44suffered unnecessary harm.
0:00:44 > 0:00:50On behalf of the Government, I want to apologise to them, and I know the
0:00:50 > 0:00:53whole House will want to extend our sympathies to everyone.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57And Matt Hancock suffers an identity crisis.
0:00:57 > 0:01:02I look at forward to communicating with my constituents over Matt
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Hancock for a number of years.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07But first, MPs who are found to have bullied or harassed their staff
0:01:07 > 0:01:09could be suspended and voters could force them to
0:01:09 > 0:01:10face a by-election.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13The Leader of the Commons announced a package of measures to tackle
0:01:13 > 0:01:14misconduct at Westminster.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16The proposals were drawn up by a cross-party group.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19They include a new behaviour code, an independent complaints
0:01:19 > 0:01:23procedure, staff helplines and mandatory training.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Complainants and those accused will both be guaranteed anonymity.
0:01:27 > 0:01:35Andrea Leadsom presented the findings to MPs.
0:01:35 > 0:01:41The working group was formed to bring about change. It is a right,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44not a privilege, that will be treated with dignity and respect out
0:01:44 > 0:01:52work. And this ambitious report is a major step towards a safer and more
0:01:52 > 0:01:56professional environment.Everyone and Parliament must be able to walk
0:01:56 > 0:02:01together corporative flea, respecting beat and expertise of the
0:02:01 > 0:02:03House and balancing our responsibilities as elected
0:02:03 > 0:02:12representatives and a safe,... And staff of this House can benefit for
0:02:12 > 0:02:18working for the common good in this extraordinary place.This is a
0:02:18 > 0:02:23significant substantial document that has managed to secure all party
0:02:23 > 0:02:26support and we'll signalled the beginning of the end of the
0:02:26 > 0:02:29poisonous Patri Arkle Coulter that has characterised so many of the
0:02:29 > 0:02:36relationships of this House. -- patriarchy. Independent of the
0:02:36 > 0:02:40political parties, and that is perhaps the key feature of what is
0:02:40 > 0:02:44being designed and delivered today. The media spotlight can be very
0:02:44 > 0:02:48harsh, indeed, on a member of Parliament on the basis of an
0:02:48 > 0:02:56accusation made. I -- it can be harsh on a complainant that we must
0:02:56 > 0:03:01bring that to mind.That might bring forth operating evidence and what
0:03:01 > 0:03:05otherwise might be one person's worked against another. Where should
0:03:05 > 0:03:12that to the cold balance like?-- where should that difficult by
0:03:12 > 0:03:17balance life. This has been an incredibly difficult balancing act,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21and what we all made clear, all of us on the working group is that the
0:03:21 > 0:03:25commitments to protecting the interests of a complainant would be
0:03:25 > 0:03:29at the heart of this, and that means very often backed complainant does
0:03:29 > 0:03:34not want and will not come forward with a complaint if they then run
0:03:34 > 0:03:39the risk of being hounded in the media and effectively having a trial
0:03:39 > 0:03:51in the full glare of the public spotlight. But that was one of the
0:03:51 > 0:03:53core areas that we sought to address. But that does inevitably
0:03:53 > 0:03:59mean that there are compromises. Where it should become the right
0:03:59 > 0:04:04balance between the public interest to know about a perpetrator and the
0:04:04 > 0:04:09interest of the complainants to have their privacy and confidentiality
0:04:09 > 0:04:12respected.Which he agreed that not only do we need the consent training
0:04:12 > 0:04:19that you but it there needs to be sanctions for those who might not be
0:04:19 > 0:04:23persuaded to pick it up because those numbers are mug likely to be
0:04:23 > 0:04:28resisted and those that need it most.The training that we mentioned
0:04:28 > 0:04:33in consent, unconscious by bias, how to employ people and what
0:04:33 > 0:04:36constitutes bullying and harassment, all of these things are absolutely
0:04:36 > 0:04:41vital. They will be available as compulsory sanctions and will be
0:04:41 > 0:04:45seeking means to encourage people across a estate to take them up
0:04:45 > 0:04:49voluntary is where we can make it mandatory.One of the worst forms of
0:04:49 > 0:04:53bullying and a playground is when a bunch of kids ganged up on another
0:04:53 > 0:04:57child, and that is sort of what we do every Wednesday afternoon and
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Prime Minister questions, isn't it? When somebody is called that we
0:05:00 > 0:05:05don't like there are groves for members across the chambers, it's
0:05:05 > 0:05:10suggest that they are less important from anybody else. And then all too
0:05:10 > 0:05:12often the whips on either side are you deliberately trying to shout
0:05:12 > 0:05:18down people on the other side of the chamber. If we're going to tackle
0:05:18 > 0:05:20bullying, aren't they going to tackle the whole culture in the way
0:05:20 > 0:05:29that we do our business?I'm very sympathetic to what he's saying, and
0:05:29 > 0:05:34what this procedure seeks to do is to change the culture in this place.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38We all have our own personal opinions about different activities
0:05:38 > 0:05:42and what's right and what's wrong. What's very important and how the
0:05:42 > 0:05:47complainant feels. And by having this independent procedure, it will
0:05:47 > 0:05:50be possible for an individual to go and talk to somebody to receive
0:05:50 > 0:05:54support and guidance and where necessary to have an investigation
0:05:54 > 0:05:58if it's felt that it something that serious and needs to be addressed.
0:05:58 > 0:06:07Once we see the impact that that have on people, not necessarily
0:06:07 > 0:06:09members of this place, could be anybody who works in the
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Parliamentary stage, once people start to see that there are
0:06:11 > 0:06:14consequences I think that will have a change on the culture in this
0:06:14 > 0:06:15place.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16Andrea Leadsom.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18The Health Minister has apologised to patients and staff
0:06:18 > 0:06:21at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust after an investigation
0:06:21 > 0:06:23found that patients had suffered unnecessary harm,
0:06:23 > 0:06:27and cost-cutting had led to severe staff shortages and bullying.
0:06:27 > 0:06:35The Government found the Trust to be dysfunctional from the outset.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39What happened to patients of Liverpool community is before
0:06:39 > 0:06:43anything else a terrible, personal tragedy for all of the families
0:06:43 > 0:06:49involved. The report also makes clear the devastating impact on many
0:06:49 > 0:06:54of the front-line staff, as well. On behalf of the Government, I want to
0:06:54 > 0:06:58apologise to them, and I know the whole House will want to extend our
0:06:58 > 0:07:03sympathies to everyone.Today's reports as they suffered unnecessary
0:07:03 > 0:07:09harm because the senior leadership team was, I quote, out of its death.
0:07:09 > 0:07:16What lies at the heart of this, which directly led to patients being
0:07:16 > 0:07:20harmed. The report exposes serious problems about the scale of cost
0:07:20 > 0:07:24cutting being imposed upon NHS Trust. Indicate the Liverpool
0:07:24 > 0:07:29community healthy motivation was... The trust that the plan has
0:07:29 > 0:07:34suspended staff who blew the whistle about poor care and its
0:07:34 > 0:07:38controversial plans to / staff in order to save money. What guarantee
0:07:38 > 0:07:42can the Minister offer that trusts are no longer being allowed to
0:07:42 > 0:07:46prioritise patient saving over patient care? And what has been put
0:07:46 > 0:07:49in place for those who raise concerns about cost cutting?
0:07:49 > 0:07:52The Minister said a new regime had been put in place for hospital
0:07:52 > 0:07:54inspections which put more emphasis on staff and patient surveys.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The report also noted that the health trust had set
0:07:57 > 0:07:59an aggressive cost improvement plan, as part of efforts
0:07:59 > 0:08:04to save £30 million over five years and achieve foundation status.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06The chair of the Commons Health committee wanted an assurance it
0:08:06 > 0:08:13couldn't happen again.
0:08:13 > 0:08:18But on the wider issues raised by this report, clearly, where you
0:08:18 > 0:08:22continue to cut staff and funding from community services there are
0:08:22 > 0:08:27terrible consequences for patient care. Will the Minister assure the
0:08:27 > 0:08:32House that he will be working closely alongside the Care Quality
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Commission to identify other trusts and wish these kinds of issues are
0:08:35 > 0:08:38likely to arise because of the workforce and funding pressures that
0:08:38 > 0:08:40are now being faced?
0:08:40 > 0:08:41The report Dr Bill Kirkup follows
0:08:41 > 0:08:46a long running campaign by one Labour MP.
0:08:46 > 0:08:54I'd like to thank Doctor Kirk up as well, I'm paying tribute to his
0:08:54 > 0:08:57thoroughness and independents and thank him most sincerely on behalf
0:08:57 > 0:09:02of the staff and the patients in Liverpool who suffered really badly
0:09:02 > 0:09:12at the hands of this. ... I want is a dictatorship, regime, but it was
0:09:12 > 0:09:16done and our name, done in the name of the NHS and they do deserve
0:09:16 > 0:09:20justice.All organizations and individuals make mistakes. Where
0:09:20 > 0:09:23this is used as an opportunity to learn and improve, we will do all we
0:09:23 > 0:09:29can to provide support. Where, however, there is any kind of cover
0:09:29 > 0:09:34up or a blink of denial about what has happened, members of this House
0:09:34 > 0:09:39and the victims of that wrongdoing have a right to expect
0:09:39 > 0:09:42accountability. The Member for West Lancashire has done that and just a
0:09:42 > 0:09:49great service. I will place a copy of the Kirkup review in the House of
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Commons Library. The Government is acting in form on the finding.
0:09:53 > 0:09:54The financial watchdog, the National Audit Office,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57has been asked by the Government to investigate the finances
0:09:57 > 0:09:58of the charity, Motability.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01The company provides vehicles for disabled people.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05The move follows reports that Motability has reserves of nearly
0:10:05 > 0:10:10£2.5 billion and pays its chief executive 1.7 million a year.
0:10:10 > 0:10:17The Work and Pensions Secretary was concerned about the figures.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Whilst at the renumeration of its directors and managers is a matter
0:10:21 > 0:10:25for Motability to decide, one has to question from the outside whether
0:10:25 > 0:10:28this is really right. And if you endorsed by the Charity commission
0:10:28 > 0:10:33who said yesterday that the trustees of Motability may wish to consider
0:10:33 > 0:10:37the reputation of issues raised by the salaries being paid to their
0:10:37 > 0:10:41commercial partners executives. With the current focus on corporate
0:10:41 > 0:10:46governance issues and the use of public money, I had today asked the
0:10:46 > 0:10:51National Audit Office to give consideration into an investigation
0:10:51 > 0:10:54of matter. I will be keen for the NA ode to look at how taxpayers money
0:10:54 > 0:11:00is being used by Motability.What we are interested in Parliament, is it
0:11:00 > 0:11:07not, is the finances behind it, and the excessive profits, and the
0:11:07 > 0:11:11scandal that a no risk scheme has benefited so much and the charity
0:11:11 > 0:11:17itself holding 2.4 billion and reserves quite unnecessarily.Not
0:11:17 > 0:11:20only have the taxpayers been overpaying over the years, but also
0:11:20 > 0:11:24disabled people have been overpaying from their benefits to pay for this
0:11:24 > 0:11:27scheme and surely they could be getting exactly the same benefits
0:11:27 > 0:11:32for lower amounts of money per week and that that money could be given
0:11:32 > 0:11:35back to disabled people to help them pay for their other living cost.I
0:11:35 > 0:11:40raised the issue yesterday of my constituent and a toss-up who was in
0:11:40 > 0:11:43receipt of lifetime DLA and that was removed and she was threatened but
0:11:43 > 0:11:48haven't her vehicle taken from her on Boxing Day. Sorry, Mr Speaker.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52This is particularly pertinent for me. I would like to ask the
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Minister, I'm grateful that she's having an investigation. Will she
0:11:55 > 0:12:00pay particular attention to the conduct of the trustees?The
0:12:00 > 0:12:05honourable member is right to be emotional, because for many people
0:12:05 > 0:12:10this is an emotional matter particularly just after Christmas.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14And again, those are matters that need to be pursued and those
0:12:14 > 0:12:15trustees need to be held to account.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17Esther McVey.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20You're watching Thursday in Parliament with me, Mandy Baker.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Now, before Christmas, the Commons passed a motion calling
0:12:27 > 0:12:31on the Government to improve transitional arrangements
0:12:31 > 0:12:35for women born on or after the 6th of April 1951,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37the so-called WASPI women, who've lost out because of
0:12:37 > 0:12:43state pension changes.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45The Government had 12 weeks to respond - and on this,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48the last day before the half term recess, the Pensions Minister,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Guy Opperman, told the Commons that revoking government pensions
0:12:50 > 0:12:56legislation would carry a huge cost to the public purse.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Any further transitional arrangement would come at great cost. The
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Government has considered many options, and all of the proposals
0:13:04 > 0:13:07will be wrought with substantial legal problems as well as financial
0:13:07 > 0:13:10ones. In the amendment to the current legislation which creates a
0:13:10 > 0:13:13new inequality between men and women would unquestionably be highly
0:13:13 > 0:13:18dubious as a matter of law, causing younger people to bear a greater
0:13:18 > 0:13:22share of the cost of the pensions system in this way would be unfair
0:13:22 > 0:13:25and undermine the principle of intergenerational fairness that is
0:13:25 > 0:13:29integral to our state and German firm Das reforms.This statement
0:13:29 > 0:13:35Topley does nothing to help 1950s born women. Action, not words are
0:13:35 > 0:13:38needed if the Government is to restore some of the faith and
0:13:38 > 0:13:41dignity that many people feel they have lost as a result of the
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Government's refusal to act and introduce proper transitional
0:13:45 > 0:13:49procedures. These are women, the women of Britain who built this
0:13:49 > 0:13:51country. They deserve nothing less.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56The original debate, in November, had been called by the SNP.
0:13:56 > 0:14:02There is a clear majority in this House in support of the 1950s women.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Five conservative backbenchers, six DUP members voted for the SNP motion
0:14:05 > 0:14:11on the 29th of November. That's the second biggest rebellion in this
0:14:11 > 0:14:16Parliament, so perhaps rather than just bluster and passing... The
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Government should look forward to bringing forward to proposals to
0:14:19 > 0:14:28address what the this calls for for women born on the fifth -- in 1951
0:14:28 > 0:14:30and on, that is the will of the House clearly expressed time and
0:14:30 > 0:14:37again.I can only assume the Minister really doesn't get this,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41because the consequences and the strength of feeling, not just
0:14:41 > 0:14:45amongst the 1950s women but amongst colleagues is extremely angry. Maybe
0:14:45 > 0:14:49I cannot for some help. Maybe if the honourable gentleman was to meet
0:14:49 > 0:14:55with myself and the honourable member we could share with him the
0:14:55 > 0:14:58findings of a consultation we recently had to take on behalf of
0:14:58 > 0:15:03the state pensions and accord for women because maybe then, Mr Speaker
0:15:03 > 0:15:08we could talk into the problem and encourage him to do the right thing
0:15:08 > 0:15:11and acknowledge the problem and come up with the respectful answer.All
0:15:11 > 0:15:16the political parties are at fault here. The Conservatives, labour who
0:15:16 > 0:15:22for 13 years did very little for dumping any of us have clean hands.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27Secondly, I would urge the Minister to address three possible options.
0:15:27 > 0:15:33One, Lieber's cost neutral option, too, gives some indication of
0:15:33 > 0:15:36transition and number three, with the Minister accept if the
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Parliamentary ombudsman took some WASPI cases and concluded the
0:15:41 > 0:15:47communication had been shocking by all the political government.The
0:15:47 > 0:15:51honourable gentleman walked through the lobby with myself in about an 11
0:15:51 > 0:15:57to pass the 2011 act when the Liberal party was a party of
0:15:57 > 0:16:02financial discipline -- in 2011 to pass the 2011 act. So I will, with
0:16:02 > 0:16:07respect I believe we did the right decision at that particular time.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09The so-called cost neutral option I can assure the honourable gentleman
0:16:09 > 0:16:14is far from that. It is neither workable nor cost neutral and
0:16:14 > 0:16:18certainly it is the case that on an ongoing basis the Government is
0:16:18 > 0:16:24sticking to the put this -- position at the fourth since 1995. The Labour
0:16:24 > 0:16:26government put forward 13 years and the coalition government took in
0:16:26 > 0:16:272011.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28The pensions Minister.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30There were accusations in the Lords that conditions in prisons have
0:16:30 > 0:16:32never been worse than they are now.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35There are currently more than 84,000 people in prison in England
0:16:35 > 0:16:37and Wales compared with just under 45 thousand in 1991.
0:16:37 > 0:16:45Peers demanded urgent action.
0:16:45 > 0:16:5075 of the 119 prisons in England and Wales have populations in excess of
0:16:50 > 0:16:53the 35 normal accommodation standard. The latest figures show a
0:16:53 > 0:16:5712% rise in both assault and self injury in prison. The chief
0:16:57 > 0:17:03executive of the league tells me that in 30 years in the sector she
0:17:03 > 0:17:06has never known conditions so bad. When is this Brexit paralyse
0:17:06 > 0:17:11government going to treat prisoners and prisons reform as a national
0:17:11 > 0:17:15priority? How bad does it have to get? And will the noble Earl tell us
0:17:15 > 0:17:22when he last visited present to see conditions for himself?The demands
0:17:22 > 0:17:26on our prisons are a long-term issue, not a short-term problem, and
0:17:26 > 0:17:33we do intend to address them a programme of new prisons. I may say
0:17:33 > 0:17:37that the question of capacity in our prisons has been with us for well
0:17:37 > 0:17:44over 15 years, and indeed we are not quite at the same sort of ceiling of
0:17:44 > 0:17:49use as we were even ten years ago. This regards crowding level, I
0:17:49 > 0:17:55regret to say that even since 2004 they have remained persistently at
0:17:55 > 0:18:00about the same level on a measure in percentage terms between 24-25%. As
0:18:00 > 0:18:05I say we are seeking to address these issues with our programme of
0:18:05 > 0:18:09new establishments.Is the Government content that we have the
0:18:09 > 0:18:13fifth highest incarceration rate in the EU, exceeded only by Poland,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and if not, what does it
0:18:17 > 0:18:22propose to do about it?The Government is not content with such
0:18:22 > 0:18:27a situation it is addressing more widely the issue of how and when we
0:18:27 > 0:18:34can develop noncustodial sentences to a greater extent. One of the
0:18:34 > 0:18:37pressures on the existing prison population has been the development
0:18:37 > 0:18:42of sentencing with regard to historic sex abuse where long-term
0:18:42 > 0:18:45sentences had been imposed on a large number of people and that he
0:18:45 > 0:18:47has put further pressure on the prison population.
0:18:47 > 0:18:48There were also concerns
0:18:48 > 0:18:51about the high turnover of staff at the top of the Ministry
0:18:51 > 0:18:54of Justice and the impact that could have on the government's
0:18:54 > 0:18:57ability to make improvements.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02The Ministers have got to learn about prisons, which is not an easy
0:19:02 > 0:19:08task, and so we get a situation where good reforms are overlooked
0:19:08 > 0:19:14and mistaken reforms are implemented. Does he have a solution
0:19:14 > 0:19:20to this?Speaking from a personal perspective I hope that there is a
0:19:20 > 0:19:24solution in the form of some consistency and constancy in
0:19:24 > 0:19:29ministerial appointments in certain particular department. But I quite
0:19:29 > 0:19:34understand the noble lord's concern. But I would say is we are pursuing
0:19:34 > 0:19:37within the Ministry of Justice A persistent policy with regard to
0:19:37 > 0:19:38prison improvement.
0:19:38 > 0:19:39Lord Keen.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Gay marriage is being banned in Bermuda, just six months
0:19:41 > 0:19:43after it was brought in.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Officials in the British Overseas Territory voted on Wednesday
0:19:45 > 0:19:46to overturn the law.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48The Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has decided not
0:19:48 > 0:19:50to intervene to block the move.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52One Labour MP condemned that as a backwards
0:19:52 > 0:20:00step for LGBT rights.
0:20:00 > 0:20:06Does the Minister not really worry that when she tells the Russians to
0:20:06 > 0:20:09respect LGBT rights in Chechnya, or when she tries to convince India or
0:20:09 > 0:20:15Pakistan or Indonesia to drink Talib change the law and benefit LGBT
0:20:15 > 0:20:20people, those countries will just laugh at her -- to change the law,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23and say look, the first territory in the world to repeal same-sex
0:20:23 > 0:20:29marriage is British Bermuda and they did it with your express permission.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33We are disappointed that the right to marry has been removed, but we
0:20:33 > 0:20:38also have to recognise that the act does provide legal recognition of
0:20:38 > 0:20:42same-sex relationships and the recognition that is required under
0:20:42 > 0:20:47the European Court of Human Rights. I do respect the right of overseas
0:20:47 > 0:20:50territories to set their own laws but enter discussions with the
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Bermuda government, will the Minister communicate that there is
0:20:53 > 0:20:58discomfort with the decision on both sides of this chamber?The first
0:20:58 > 0:21:03slaves were brought to Bermuda in 1620. Oppressed, segregated,
0:21:03 > 0:21:10discriminated against, and that is why leaders like Nelson Mandela,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14Desmond Tutu and Barack Obama have not just fought for race riots, they
0:21:14 > 0:21:18fought for rights of lesbian, Gay and bisexual people. This country
0:21:18 > 0:21:24has been one of the world leaders on this subject. So, if this is not the
0:21:24 > 0:21:31issue on which to refuse assent, I don't know which is.Ultimately,
0:21:31 > 0:21:36isn't it the case that it would also be a profound step is written work
0:21:36 > 0:21:44to take this action in relation to Bermudian democracy?I do agree that
0:21:44 > 0:21:51those are the issues which are needed to be balanced in this
0:21:51 > 0:21:55circumstance, and that to withhold assent really requires a very
0:21:55 > 0:22:01limited circumstances and obviously would need to be based on a legal or
0:22:01 > 0:22:07constitutional issue of not having considered the circumstances very,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11very carefully, the Secretary of State is to lead and decided that
0:22:11 > 0:22:14these circumstances it would not be appropriate to use the power.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15Harriett Baldwin.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18And now for something, well if not completely different,
0:22:18 > 0:22:19a little bit different.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21It's not compulsory for committees to spend all their time
0:22:21 > 0:22:23on the Committee corridor of the Palace of Westminster.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25They can travel around taking evidence from other parts
0:22:25 > 0:22:27of the UK or even abroad.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30The Digital, Culture Media and Sport Committee have been
0:22:30 > 0:22:32investigating fake news and they decided to take
0:22:32 > 0:22:37a trip to a bastion of the genre - Washington DC.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40There, a huge cast had assembled - among them representatives
0:22:40 > 0:22:43of Google, Facebook, the New York Times and CNN.
0:22:43 > 0:22:51Youtube was asked about the Brexit referendum.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55We found no evidence of our service is being used to interfere in the
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Brexit referendum and we are happy to walk -- to co-operate with any
0:22:58 > 0:22:58further efforts.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03And what about fake news?
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Identifying and managing content on YouTube is the number one priority
0:23:06 > 0:23:11for us this year. Mission-critical for the business. Critical to our
0:23:11 > 0:23:16users, our creators, our advertisers and to us as a company. So we invest
0:23:16 > 0:23:19tremendous resources, both in terms of technology and the people working
0:23:19 > 0:23:23on these issues, our executive team, is absolutely engaged. We meet for
0:23:23 > 0:23:27hours every week to figure out how we can improve our systems to make
0:23:27 > 0:23:32sure that the policies on YouTube are followed. That we are quickly
0:23:32 > 0:23:37identifying content that violates those policies and removing it. So
0:23:37 > 0:23:38this is a top priority for the business.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39Juniper Downs of YouTube.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41And finally, the recently-appointed Secretary of State for Digital,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Culture, Media and Sport fully embraced the Digital
0:23:43 > 0:23:46part of his new brief by launching his very own smartphone
0:23:46 > 0:23:49app - the first MP to do so.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51The Matt Hancock App features picture galleries
0:23:51 > 0:23:53and videos of the him.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56It also allows users to sign up as friends and chat with other fans
0:23:56 > 0:23:59of the Matt Hancock app.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01But there have been concerns about the app's privacy policy
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and whether it complies with the Data Protection Act.
0:24:05 > 0:24:13So the shadow Culture Secretary had a question.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17What action does the Secretary of State and should be taken against an
0:24:17 > 0:24:20app which breaches key provisions of the data protection act and the
0:24:20 > 0:24:27privacy of communication regulations and is not GDP are compliant.I
0:24:27 > 0:24:30think that all should become client with the law and I'm delighted to
0:24:30 > 0:24:37say that the Matt Hancock app is. Exactly because the app I'm talking
0:24:37 > 0:24:44about is not just belonging to him, it is named after him. The general
0:24:44 > 0:24:48public need protecting, Mr Speaker, from their privacy being invaded --
0:24:48 > 0:24:52invaded by Matt Hancock -- Matt Hancock, their personal information
0:24:52 > 0:24:56being shared by third parties and their private functions being
0:24:56 > 0:24:58accessed by Matt Hancock. Lilly undertake to make sure Matt Hancock
0:24:58 > 0:25:02complies fully with all data protection rest -- regulations in
0:25:02 > 0:25:05future and explain why he thinks other people should abide by their
0:25:05 > 0:25:08legal obligations with regard to take the protection if Matt Hancock
0:25:08 > 0:25:16does not stop live of course he does comply.Were poorly I think we
0:25:16 > 0:25:19should use digital communications, Mr Speaker, to communicate with our
0:25:19 > 0:25:22constituents in all their modern form and I'm frankly delighted by
0:25:22 > 0:25:26the response that the app has had far bigger than I could possibly
0:25:26 > 0:25:31have imagined and I look forward to communicating with my constituents
0:25:31 > 0:25:33over Matt Hancock for many years to come.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34Matt Hancock delighted with.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Matt Hancock.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36And that's all we've got time for.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40But do join me at the same time tomorrow for a round up of the whole
0:25:40 > 0:25:41week here at Westminster.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45But for now from me, Mandy Baker, goodbye.