:00:11. > :00:13.Hello and welcome to Tuesday in Parliament.
:00:14. > :00:17.As Brussels sets out its first draft of a revised
:00:18. > :00:20.relationship between the UK and the EU,
:00:21. > :00:24.Labour MPs ask why David Caleron hasn't come to the Commons to tell
:00:25. > :00:30.A development minister says the risk to the UK from the Zika virts
:00:31. > :00:37.What exactly does the Enterprise Bill do?
:00:38. > :00:40.The Enterprise Bill will strengthen the UK's position as one of the best
:00:41. > :00:43.places in the world to start and grow a business.
:00:44. > :00:46.We have a hugely ambitious title hiding a collection
:00:47. > :00:50.of worthy but minor and underwhelming measures.
:00:51. > :00:55.But first, proposed changes to Britain's relationship
:00:56. > :01:00.with the EU have been published in Brussels.
:01:01. > :01:03.Meanwhile, in a speech in Whltshire, David Cameron said there had been
:01:04. > :01:07."real progress" on things like restricting benefits to EU
:01:08. > :01:11.migrant workers - but furthdr negotiations are needed.
:01:12. > :01:13.Critics say the plans won't make much difference ,
:01:14. > :01:17.and don't match the Prime Minister's original demands.
:01:18. > :01:20.In the Commons, the Europe Linister was asked why Mr Cameron hadn't come
:01:21. > :01:24.to tell MPs about the proposals first.
:01:25. > :01:27.David Lidington said the PM planned to make a statement in the House
:01:28. > :01:31.My right honourable friend the Prime Minister will offdr
:01:32. > :01:33.an oral statement tomorrow following Prime
:01:34. > :01:37.Minister's Questions to allow members of the House to question him
:01:38. > :01:43.having first had a chance to digest the detail of the papers...
:01:44. > :01:47.of the papers that have been issued within the last hour.
:01:48. > :01:50.The government has been clear throughout that it
:01:51. > :01:54.cannot provide a running colmentary on the renegotiation.
:01:55. > :01:58.But I am able to say that much progress has been made
:01:59. > :02:01.in recent days and it appears a deal is within sight.
:02:02. > :02:04.The publication of the text by President Tusk
:02:05. > :02:07.this morning is another step in that process,
:02:08. > :02:10.but I would stress to the House that there is still a lot
:02:11. > :02:14.If the texts tabled today are agreed by all member
:02:15. > :02:17.states, they will deliver significant reforms in each
:02:18. > :02:19.of the four areas of greatest concern to
:02:20. > :02:22.Economic governance, competitiveness,
:02:23. > :02:27.On sovereignty, the text shows significant advances
:02:28. > :02:30.towards securing a United Kingdom carve-out
:02:31. > :02:36.On the relations between thd euro ins and outs, the document
:02:37. > :02:41.is a first step towards significant safeguards for
:02:42. > :02:45.countries outside the euro zone as euro members integrate ftrther.
:02:46. > :02:48.On competitiveness, we are seeing a greater commitment by the entire
:02:49. > :02:51.union to completing the single market to trade and cutting
:02:52. > :02:55.job-destroying regulations on business.
:02:56. > :02:58.And on free movement, there are important ideas
:02:59. > :03:02.in President Tusk's draft for reducing the pull
:03:03. > :03:07.factor of our welfare systel and on action to address thd abuse
:03:08. > :03:14.The minister says the Prime Minister does not wish to give a running
:03:15. > :03:18.commentary on the negotiations, that is exactly what he is doing!
:03:19. > :03:22.He has gone to a selected atdience in Chippenham this morning to give
:03:23. > :03:27.a commentary on the negotiations but cannot come here to report
:03:28. > :03:34.If he has an unbreakable commitment in Chippenham,
:03:35. > :03:37.and it is a wonderful town, and I hope he enjoys his visit
:03:38. > :03:41.there, he could get back to London in about an hour by train and give
:03:42. > :03:45.The truth of the matter, Mr Speaker, is that this whole process,
:03:46. > :03:48.conducted by the Prime Minister is not about engaging
:03:49. > :03:51.with Parliament, is not engaging about the necessarx
:03:52. > :03:59.questioning by MPs, it is about managing the problems
:04:00. > :04:00.within the Conservative Party about this.
:04:01. > :04:03.The big questions about rem`ining in the EU are far bigger
:04:04. > :04:06.than his negotiations and they need full
:04:07. > :04:11.However, Mr Speaker, we know there are important
:04:12. > :04:13.elections in May to the Scottish Parliament,
:04:14. > :04:16.to the Welsh National Assembly, to the
:04:17. > :04:18.Northern Irish assembly and for the London Mayor
:04:19. > :04:24.It simply cannot be right to have these elections and a referdndum
:04:25. > :04:27.campaign clash with a June polling date on remaining
:04:28. > :04:36.How can the Minister justify this pint sized
:04:37. > :04:38.package as a fundamental change in the relationship
:04:39. > :04:41.between the United Kingdom and the European Union with real
:04:42. > :04:47.which represents the voters to which he himself
:04:48. > :04:52.I welcome the publication of these draft proposals but given that
:04:53. > :04:55.Britain's membership of the European Union
:04:56. > :04:58.is about our continued economic prosperity,
:04:59. > :05:01.about whether we are going to protect our security
:05:02. > :05:17.in these troubled times, or whether we are an averagd looking
:05:18. > :05:20.About whether we are an outward looking
:05:21. > :05:23.or insular country, isn't it just bizarre the Prime Minister claims
:05:24. > :05:25.that this massive decision is down to such
:05:26. > :05:29.But if he is successful in getting those demands are met,
:05:30. > :05:31.will you politely ignore the call from UKIP
:05:32. > :05:34.and the SNP to delay the referendum job this summer because this
:05:35. > :05:35.will destabilise our economy further?
:05:36. > :05:38.Those of us who believe Britain s future is better in Europe
:05:39. > :05:41.still want an ongoing process of reform
:05:42. > :05:44.Indeed, to tackle the democratic deficit.
:05:45. > :05:46.So, if democracy is a genuine priority
:05:47. > :05:49.for the government, will yot join me in calling for more powers
:05:50. > :05:50.for the European Parliament whose members
:05:51. > :05:52.are elected directly and proportionally so that the most
:05:53. > :05:55.democratic institution of all of them in the EU gets
:05:56. > :05:57.greater powers of the commission, the Council and indeed the central
:05:58. > :06:02.The Zika virus has been declared a global health emergency.
:06:03. > :06:05.But MPs have been told the risk to the UK is "extremely low".
:06:06. > :06:10.It has been linked to thous`nds of babies in Brazil being born
:06:11. > :06:11.with under-developed heads and brains.
:06:12. > :06:15.Now the World Health Organisation is warning it could spread.
:06:16. > :06:17.Labour wanted to know what action the government
:06:18. > :06:22.The Minister will be aware that
:06:23. > :06:30.In Brazil alone, in the past four months, they have recorded lore
:06:31. > :06:34.than 4,000 cases of microcephaly, babies
:06:35. > :06:39.They must also be aware that the Olympics
:06:40. > :06:43.is in less than 200 days and more than 1 million tourists are expected
:06:44. > :06:49.Does the Minister agree that research is a high
:06:50. > :06:55.We urgently need proof of a causative link between the Zika
:06:56. > :07:00.infection and microcephaly `nd then to know how the virus damagds
:07:01. > :07:06.These developing countries will need support if those women
:07:07. > :07:09.with thousands of deformed babies are going to be able
:07:10. > :07:16.And does the Minister also agree that
:07:17. > :07:20.diagnostics, anti-viral drugs and above all,
:07:21. > :07:30.Well, I entirely agree with the honourable lady th`t
:07:31. > :07:36.This is a disease that we pdrhaps don't know enough about,
:07:37. > :07:40.particularly in relation to the links to microcephalx
:07:41. > :07:45.and other consequences that she alludes to.
:07:46. > :07:51.And the UK stands ready to play a full part in upgrading our
:07:52. > :07:54.knowledge and specifically, we just recently
:07:55. > :07:58.announced a ?400,000 Newton fund Zika research project
:07:59. > :08:01.between Glasgow University and an organisation in Pern`mbuco.
:08:02. > :08:05.We are at the hotspot of the outbreak and scientists
:08:06. > :08:08.from the London school of hygiene and
:08:09. > :08:10.tropical medicine arrived in Recife last weekend and we are currently
:08:11. > :08:19.to the UK populating remained "extremely low"
:08:20. > :08:20.but MPs wondered about those travelling abroad.
:08:21. > :08:23.I wonder if the honourable gentleman can
:08:24. > :08:24.explain any assessment that the government has madd
:08:25. > :08:26.of threats in other parts of the world.
:08:27. > :08:31.now talking about international response, as he anything to add
:08:32. > :08:33.about any precautions British travellers ought to make
:08:34. > :08:35.if going to other parts of the world where
:08:36. > :08:38.mosquitoes are present, such as Africa or Asia.
:08:39. > :08:41.Well, I thank my honourable friend for
:08:42. > :08:44.raising that, because I know there would be a concern
:08:45. > :08:48.for many of her constituents and mine.
:08:49. > :08:53.And what I would suggest to her is to
:08:54. > :08:57.entreat her constituency to consistently access the Foreign
:08:58. > :09:00.Office travel advice for the countries and territories
:09:01. > :09:04.where there is an ongoing ottbreak of the virus and directing
:09:05. > :09:07.travellers to the advice is viewed by the National
:09:08. > :09:20.the advice issued by the National travel health network.
:09:21. > :09:22.That advice is constantly updated and it can be
:09:23. > :09:25.We welcome the statement from the Minister and
:09:26. > :09:28.would echo that there isn't a direct threat to people here in Brhtain.
:09:29. > :09:34.I would have thought that the biggest
:09:35. > :09:35.threat is actually spectators and competitors returning
:09:36. > :09:38.from the real Olympics back to other hot countries
:09:39. > :09:41.such as sub Saharan or North Africa and therefore do not need to support
:09:42. > :09:44.having a massive campaign bdfore the Olympics to reduce the burden
:09:45. > :09:47.Because if it travels and these people are not
:09:48. > :09:48.identifiable, not testable, they don't even know
:09:49. > :09:51.they are unwell, we could end up with this establishing
:09:52. > :09:54.in north Africa where many pregnant women go on holiday,
:09:55. > :09:58.or southern Europe, where many pregnant women
:09:59. > :10:03.Well, I thank the honourabld lady for an extremely potent point
:10:04. > :10:06.and I have a huge amount of empathy with it, not
:10:07. > :10:08.least, having ministerial responsibility for sub Saharan
:10:09. > :10:12.To reassure her, Public Health England have been in contact
:10:13. > :10:15.with the International Olympic Committee regarding travel `dvice
:10:16. > :10:20.for the Olympics in Rio and that organising committee is working
:10:21. > :10:22.with the Ministry of health in Brazil to
:10:23. > :10:25.develop travel advice for Olympic visitors and they are currently
:10:26. > :10:31.looking at all the potential risks and will circulate guidance.
:10:32. > :10:34.International Development Minister, Nick Hurd.
:10:35. > :10:35.You're watching Tuesday in Parliament, here on BBC
:10:36. > :10:44.Parliament, with me, Alicia McCarthy.
:10:45. > :10:46.Terror groups, including so-called Islamic State,
:10:47. > :10:49.are distributing their prop`ganda and gathering support
:10:50. > :10:54.MPs think that the big firms - Google, Facebook and Twitter -
:10:55. > :10:58.aren't doing enough to comb`t terrorism on the internet.
:10:59. > :11:02.have been questioned by the Home Affairs Committee.
:11:03. > :11:06.They insisted that they werd working hard to drive terror groups
:11:07. > :11:15.off the net, but admitted there was more to do.
:11:16. > :11:17.Daesh are probably mounting the most successful campaign
:11:18. > :11:20.for an evil regime since Godbbels and the Nazis in the 1930s.
:11:21. > :11:22.They are using your platforms to do it.
:11:23. > :11:30.your companies have some of the top tech brains in the world,
:11:31. > :11:33.and you are some of the most profitable companies in the world.
:11:34. > :11:37.became the most valuable colpany in the world.
:11:38. > :11:40.So are you seriously telling this committee that,
:11:41. > :11:43.with all that expertise and with all the power your companies have,
:11:44. > :11:47.that you cannot do more in the fight against Daesh?
:11:48. > :11:50.I think it's always possible to do more.
:11:51. > :11:53.there was a limit to Google's capabilities.
:11:54. > :11:57.We do want to be humble about what we are able to do.
:11:58. > :12:01.We can't solve all of the world's problems,
:12:02. > :12:06.but if we can make sure our platform is a hostile place for extrdmism,
:12:07. > :12:08.then we are committed to doing so and we are commhtted
:12:09. > :12:11.to working with the other platforms who are not here today,
:12:12. > :12:13.to make sure that they have the same skills.
:12:14. > :12:18.I reject what you are suggesting that Daesh
:12:19. > :12:20.are being a success because of our platforms.
:12:21. > :12:24.We are one of the main weapons, we worked very hard to disrtpt
:12:25. > :12:27.what they do in partnership with other organisations
:12:28. > :12:32.And we will continue to strive to do better.
:12:33. > :12:38.but I reject the suggestion that we don't care about thd issue.
:12:39. > :12:46.Because I'm sure you could do more, but you may have reasons
:12:47. > :12:49.in principle or cost for not doing more.
:12:50. > :12:50.Numerous academics have looked at this question
:12:51. > :12:53.of automating an algorithm to find this content
:12:54. > :12:56.and particularly dealing with text and language,
:12:57. > :12:59.and I think that is a distant hope for the future.
:13:00. > :13:02.It is incredibly difficult to do now.
:13:03. > :13:06.And actually, speaking on doing more, I think,
:13:07. > :13:09.as we we heard, we will look to do more.
:13:10. > :13:12.JM Berger, who is with the George Washington University
:13:13. > :13:15.programme on extremism, again, these are the people
:13:16. > :13:18.to validate our efforts and I think he published a report last Larch
:13:19. > :13:21.that said that the IS-supporting social network on Twitter
:13:22. > :13:25.has been significantly constrained by the suspension campaign.
:13:26. > :13:31.I think it is possible to measure success
:13:32. > :13:34.but we're not the people to be the auditors, if you like.
:13:35. > :13:36.Surely, the quickest way is to reduce the threshold
:13:37. > :13:39.of what levels of abuse people can post on your website?
:13:40. > :13:40.Just looking at your community guidelines.
:13:41. > :13:44.that means having more than 100 people monitoring,
:13:45. > :13:45.or whatever numbers that you have,
:13:46. > :13:49.And that is going to eat into your profits.
:13:50. > :13:51.I'm worried that you're going to come back
:13:52. > :13:53.and talk about freedom of expression,
:13:54. > :13:55.but surely we are talking about safety and community.
:13:56. > :14:00.And I follow my colleagues' concerns that this is more
:14:01. > :14:04.about making money than makhng sure your platforms are a safe space
:14:05. > :14:07.Can you give us a quick answer to that?
:14:08. > :14:09.Our community guidelines go way beyond the law of the UK
:14:10. > :14:12.or indeed any other country that I am aware of
:14:13. > :14:16.So there is speech which is allowed not only in this place,
:14:17. > :14:19.that we don't allow in our community,
:14:20. > :14:23.because we think it is not part of respectful dialogue.
:14:24. > :14:27.I will simply say that I don't think those two things are in tension
:14:28. > :14:29.The profitability of our pl`tforms is absolutely based on therd
:14:30. > :14:35.Safety is something that we see as being a core part of our business
:14:36. > :14:37.and we constantly refine our policies to make sure
:14:38. > :14:41.and give people greater clarity about, as Simon says,
:14:42. > :14:42.content that we believe is unacceptable.
:14:43. > :14:46.Do you feel hunted by Parli`ment over this issue?
:14:47. > :14:51.Or do you understand why, three years
:14:52. > :14:55.after we published a report on this committee, we are still concerned
:14:56. > :14:57.about the fact that the Intdrnet companies are not doing enotgh,
:14:58. > :15:00.as has been expressed from the questions put by mdmbers
:15:01. > :15:02.of this committee, to deal with Daesh
:15:03. > :15:06.and to deal with those who try to propagate terrorhsm?
:15:07. > :15:11.to feeling hunted but said they understood
:15:12. > :15:17.The Justice Secretary, Mich`el Gove, has faced rigorous questionhng
:15:18. > :15:21.over the Government's proposals for a new British Bill of Rhghts.
:15:22. > :15:24.It would replace the Human Rights Act, or HR@,
:15:25. > :15:29.which Tony Blair's government introduced 17 years ago
:15:30. > :15:33.to bring Europe's Convention of Human Rights into UK law.
:15:34. > :15:36.But the HRA has been accused by some of fuelling the so-called
:15:37. > :15:40."compensation culture" and giving too much power to judges.
:15:41. > :15:45.When Mr Gove came before a committee of peers, he admitted that the term
:15:46. > :15:49."human rights" had got itself a bad reputation.
:15:50. > :15:53.through its courts and its parliament,
:15:54. > :15:58.determined to play a leading role in the protection of rights,
:15:59. > :16:02.nevertheless human rights h`ve and it's a source of regret to us -
:16:03. > :16:12.with unmeritorious individu`ls pursuing claims through the courts,
:16:13. > :16:22.which don't command public support or sympathy.
:16:23. > :16:24.More troublingly, human rights are seen as something
:16:25. > :16:27.that are "done" to British courts and the British people
:16:28. > :16:30.rather than being something which we originally championed
:16:31. > :16:35.Bringing in a British Bill of Rights, in any circumstance
:16:36. > :16:37.where there was any kind of contradiction
:16:38. > :16:41.or conflict with the European Union Charter
:16:42. > :16:44.with regard to our relationship with the European Union,
:16:45. > :16:47.the precedence would be givdn to the European Charter
:16:48. > :16:54.It would trump the British Bill of Rights by the very fact that
:16:55. > :16:56.being part of the European Tnion means that European Union l`w
:16:57. > :17:02.and in this area with regard to rights,
:17:03. > :17:15.It is a bald statement of what everyone understands by the law
:17:16. > :17:18.And the committee touched on how a British Bill of Rights
:17:19. > :17:22.would be accepted by the devolved nations of the UK.
:17:23. > :17:27.Your description is, all the same rights will be there,
:17:28. > :17:32.and that there will be a gloss essentially put on things,
:17:33. > :17:35.and you wouldn't accept that it was involving diluthon,
:17:36. > :17:40.or any of the words that my colleagues have said.
:17:41. > :17:43.And I'm tempted just to say to you a song from Guys Dolls -
:17:44. > :17:46."Sit down, sit down, sit down, you're rocking the boat."
:17:47. > :17:49.Because it feels like the swaggering of centralised power,
:17:50. > :17:53.telling the devolved nations that they need this
:17:54. > :17:55.when the changes are of such a minimal kind.
:17:56. > :18:00.Taking up your challenge from Guys Dolls...
:18:01. > :18:05.I'm just going to say, far from being swaggering,
:18:06. > :18:08.the approach of Her Majesty's Government is nicely, nicelx.
:18:09. > :18:13.The Justice Secretary Michadl Gove in the role of Mr Nice Guy.
:18:14. > :18:16.MPs have begun debate on the Enterprise Bill.
:18:17. > :18:19.The legislation has already passed through the house of Lords.
:18:20. > :18:24.The Business Secretary told MPs what it would do.
:18:25. > :18:26.The Enterprise Bill will strengthen the UK's position as one
:18:27. > :18:29.of the best places in the world to start and grow a business.
:18:30. > :18:32.It will cut red tape that too often strangles growth.
:18:33. > :18:36.It will support investment in skills that British businesses
:18:37. > :18:38.need to be competitive, now and in the future,
:18:39. > :18:42.and it will help deliver the economic growth and sectrity
:18:43. > :18:45.that benefits every single one of us in this country.
:18:46. > :18:49.He said the Bill would end the "Whitehall knows best approach"
:18:50. > :18:51.to the regulation of Sunday shopping.
:18:52. > :18:55.We will introduce amendments in this Bill to allow local authorities
:18:56. > :18:59.to decide whether to extend hours in their areas.
:19:00. > :19:03.Central government will not be dictating how to use this power
:19:04. > :19:08.The decision will be entirely local, affecting the local preferences
:19:09. > :19:12.shopping habits and economic conditions.
:19:13. > :19:14.If the people of Bromsgrove or Barking say they want to see
:19:15. > :19:20.who are we, here in Westminster to stand in their way?
:19:21. > :19:22.According to the Government, the Bill before us
:19:23. > :19:26.is meant to be about creating an open, enterprising econoly.
:19:27. > :19:28.Transforming Britain's business culture,
:19:29. > :19:30.it is supposed to reward entrepreneurship,
:19:31. > :19:33.generate jobs and higher wages for all,
:19:34. > :19:38.give people opportunities at every stage of their livds.
:19:39. > :19:41.In the Other Place, Baroness Brady even said,
:19:42. > :19:45.and I'm quoting, it was an exciting attempt
:19:46. > :19:53.Well, all I can say is that she gets very excited pretty easily.
:19:54. > :19:56.Madame Deputy Speaker, we have before us a Bill
:19:57. > :19:58.which is been variously described in the Other Place
:19:59. > :20:03.as a curate's egg, a hodgepodge of minor measures,
:20:04. > :20:11.a legislative herbaceous border a dog's breakfast,
:20:12. > :20:15.and even a big legal pudding, made up of all sorts of ingredients.
:20:16. > :20:18.And that was someone who was supporting the Bill,
:20:19. > :20:22.We have a hugely ambitious title hiding
:20:23. > :20:27.a collection of worthy but linor and underwhelming measures,
:20:28. > :20:31.which it is hard for anyone to be opposed to in principle.
:20:32. > :20:33.Angela Eagle, with a rather different view
:20:34. > :20:39.the Enterprise Bill has been through the House of Lords `lready.
:20:40. > :20:43.peers called on the Governmdnt to toughen it up
:20:44. > :20:47.further as it continues its passage through the Commons.
:20:48. > :20:50.At the end of January, the supermarket ombudsman -
:20:51. > :20:54.the Grocery Code Adjudicator - said Tesco had seriously brdached
:20:55. > :21:01."knowingly delayed paying money to suppliers
:21:02. > :21:05.in order to improve its own financial position".
:21:06. > :21:09.Opposition peers thought it just wasn't good enough.
:21:10. > :21:12.My Lords, the Grocery Code Adjudicator's report
:21:13. > :21:15.definitively establishes th`t Tesco has been in breach in all tdn
:21:16. > :21:19.of the undertakings required of members of the Prompt Payment Code.
:21:20. > :21:22.The Enterprise Bill, my Lords, is still in the Other Place.
:21:23. > :21:25.So, my Lords, would it not be sensible for the Government
:21:26. > :21:27.to bring forward an amendment to that which would make
:21:28. > :21:33.backed by significant penalties for those who are unable to meet it?
:21:34. > :21:35.My Lords, as the noble lord is aware,
:21:36. > :21:38.as he took a leading role in the Enterprise Bill
:21:39. > :21:42.in your Lordships' house, the Groceries Code Adjudicator
:21:43. > :21:49.does have weapons in being `ble to now fine companies
:21:50. > :21:55.Which, my Lords, is a considerable amount of money.
:21:56. > :21:59.My Lords, the Government does welcome the findings
:22:00. > :22:02.of the first investigation by the GCA.
:22:03. > :22:05.The report highlights that we still have some way
:22:06. > :22:08.to create a responsible payment culture in the UK.
:22:09. > :22:10.The Government remains committed to tackling
:22:11. > :22:14.the poor payment practices that hinder our small busindsses.
:22:15. > :22:16.This report today lifts the lid on the abuse
:22:17. > :22:21.suffered by suppliers at the hands of Tesco and,
:22:22. > :22:23.on late payments, the Liber`l Democrats urged the Governmdnt
:22:24. > :22:26.to impose statutory fines for repeated offenders
:22:27. > :22:31.which has been alluded to by Labour earlier.
:22:32. > :22:35.The Government refused and the Business Commissiondr,
:22:36. > :22:37.who the Minister has already mentioned,
:22:38. > :22:40.has barely any powers to tackle this scourge.
:22:41. > :22:42.So, in the light of this report today,
:22:43. > :22:44.if the Government does not want to be perceived
:22:45. > :22:48.as having a deferential atthtude towards big business,
:22:49. > :22:57.My Lords, I can't answer for part of what
:22:58. > :23:02.but, basically, the whole issue here is for companies
:23:03. > :23:10.to treat their suppliers, to cut down on late payments.
:23:11. > :23:12.We're not, and the noble Baroness is quite right,
:23:13. > :23:15.going to be imposing sanctions as she described.
:23:16. > :23:19.And, talking of shopping, shampoo, shoes, and razors
:23:20. > :23:23.are just a few of the items that women apparently pay more for.
:23:24. > :23:26.It's been dubbed by some as "the pink tax"
:23:27. > :23:28.and, following a recent investigation
:23:29. > :23:32.by the Times newspaper, one Labour MP had examples.
:23:33. > :23:36.Tesco appears to be charging double the price for ten disposabld razors,
:23:37. > :23:45.In fact, standard razors for women tend to cost on average a htge 9%
:23:46. > :23:51.At Argos, identical children's scooters were ?5 more expensive
:23:52. > :23:58.And Bic sells a range of "for her" ballpoint pens
:23:59. > :24:01.that are more expensive than its ordinary range,
:24:02. > :24:05.even though the products are almost entirely identic`l.
:24:06. > :24:09.this price differential could add up to a significant sum -
:24:10. > :24:12.and she pointed to research in the US.
:24:13. > :24:17.studied the issue of gender,based pricing of services,
:24:18. > :24:20.and estimated that women effectively paid
:24:21. > :24:23.an average gender tax of approximately $1,351
:24:24. > :24:34.Helpfully, my office has bedn contacted by a number of retailers
:24:35. > :24:36.in the last few hours to discuss these matters.
:24:37. > :24:38.And, as my right honourable friend,
:24:39. > :24:39.the honourable lady for Basingstoke,
:24:40. > :24:44.correctly pointed out and indeed a number of others have,
:24:45. > :24:48.Boots have today corrected the price of disposable razors
:24:49. > :24:55.So we will be paying the same price in future.
:24:56. > :25:04.It seems that the power of the female consumer,
:25:05. > :25:08.the female voice, once brought to the attention
:25:09. > :25:10.like this, once brought to the public debate,
:25:11. > :25:15.And that is something we, of course, encourage
:25:16. > :25:21.and we would encourage other retailers to take note.
:25:22. > :25:24.The Equalities Minister, Caroline Dinenage.
:25:25. > :25:26.And that's it for now, thanks for watching.
:25:27. > :25:29.Do join me again at the samd time tomorrow for another round-tp
:25:30. > :25:31.of the best of the day here at Westminster,
:25:32. > :25:34.including Prime Minister's Puestions and that expected statement
:25:35. > :25:38.from David Cameron on his EU renegotiations.