:00:11. > :00:12.Hello there and welcome to Tuesday In Parliament.
:00:13. > :00:17.Sharp exchanges between the governor of the Bank of England and a leading
:00:18. > :00:20.Eurosceptic over the bank's views on our EU membership.
:00:21. > :00:24.The head of the firm set to build a new nuclear power station
:00:25. > :00:28.in Somerset says he doesn't know when a final decision will be made.
:00:29. > :00:31.And it's time for a kitty catch-up on Palmerston,
:00:32. > :00:37.I'm pleased to report to the House that he has settled in perfectly.
:00:38. > :00:40.But first, the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney,
:00:41. > :00:43.has denied accusations that he has become politically involved
:00:44. > :00:49.Earlier this month, the Bank gave a stark warning of the dangers
:00:50. > :00:52.to the economy of the UK leaving the European Union,
:00:53. > :00:56.including the possibility of a recession.
:00:57. > :00:59.Vote Leave campaigners reacted angrily to that, with
:01:00. > :01:04.the Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg calling on Dr Carney to resign.
:01:05. > :01:07.So there were prickly exchanges when the Governor appeared before
:01:08. > :01:12.the Commons Treasury Committee, of which Mr Rees-Mogg is a member.
:01:13. > :01:15.The Conservative wanted to know if it was possible to see
:01:16. > :01:19.the minutes of meetings between George Osborne and Mark Carney.
:01:20. > :01:22.And would there be a possibility of publishing those, so we can see?
:01:23. > :01:27.I mean, it's not the norm to publish those minutes.
:01:28. > :01:30.It's highly politically sensitive, and to see that there has not been
:01:31. > :01:31.undue influence coming from the Treasury...
:01:32. > :01:35.I mean, there is no possibility of undue influence coming
:01:36. > :01:50.There is no possibility of undue influence.
:01:51. > :01:54.There is no possibility of effective influence,
:01:55. > :01:59.But it is very convenient that you are giving out exactly the same
:02:00. > :02:04.I don't accept that at all. I don't accept that at all.
:02:05. > :02:10.Mr Rees-Mogg, the judgment in the Monetary Policy summary,
:02:11. > :02:13.in the minutes, in the letter to the Chancellor,
:02:14. > :02:18.Those judgments around the risks around the referendum,
:02:19. > :02:21.both actual and manifesting in the economy today,
:02:22. > :02:24.in respect of the event of the vote to leave,
:02:25. > :02:29.those are the judgments of, individually and collectively,
:02:30. > :02:33.the nine independent members of the Monetary Policy Committee.
:02:34. > :02:35.In a deeply political area where you would not,
:02:36. > :02:38.in a general election, give a view, when it had gone away
:02:39. > :02:46.from the normal independence of the bank...
:02:47. > :02:48.This is not a general election, Mr Rees-Mogg.
:02:49. > :02:51.I'm aware of that but it's still a popular vote across the country.
:02:52. > :02:54.As the Prime Minister has said, it is more important
:02:55. > :02:56.Mr Rees-Mogg, we have a responsibility,
:02:57. > :02:59.both to discharge our remit, and we have a broader responsibility
:03:00. > :03:01.to the British people, who don't want risks kept from them,
:03:02. > :03:10.They expect us to come straight with them about issues,
:03:11. > :03:13.and they expect us to take action to the extent possible
:03:14. > :03:16.to mitigate those risks, and that's entirely right.
:03:17. > :03:18.Don't you have a responsibility to be apolitical?
:03:19. > :03:22.As soon as you become political and you support one
:03:23. > :03:24.side of the campaign, why should anyone now trust
:03:25. > :03:27.what you said on interest rates gor the benefit
:03:28. > :03:34.Mr Rees-Mogg, we have not supported a side in the campaign.
:03:35. > :03:37.The only side we have supported is the pursuit of low, stable,
:03:38. > :03:38.veritable inflation, which is our remit.
:03:39. > :03:40.You have effectively... And we have made...
:03:41. > :03:42.And by our actions, by our commentary,
:03:43. > :03:45.which may be inconvenient for you, it may be inconvenient for you,
:03:46. > :03:49.we have made it more likely that we will bring
:03:50. > :03:50.inflation back to target, whatever the outcome
:03:51. > :03:57.of the referendum, sooner and more sustainably, and that will be
:03:58. > :04:02.Tha's our contribution to a better economic outcome
:04:03. > :04:05.and to suggest otherwise is to try and undermine that.
:04:06. > :04:10.I do suggest otherwise. And so you try to undermine that.
:04:11. > :04:13.I think you have become politically involved in a way you have quite
:04:14. > :04:15.clearly said you would not in a general election.
:04:16. > :04:18.Jeremy Corbyn made an important speech on economics a few days ago.
:04:19. > :04:22.The MPC has not given a view on whether his new economics
:04:23. > :04:38.Now, the UK is investigating reports that British-built cluster bombs
:04:39. > :04:41.made in the 1970s have been found in Yemen, near the border
:04:42. > :04:47.A Saudi-led coalition has been involved in military action in Yemen
:04:48. > :04:54.Ministers said it was not yet clear how the weapons came to be there.
:04:55. > :04:56.Cluster bombs have been banned by over 100 countries -
:04:57. > :05:03.We know what these weapons can do, especially to children,
:05:04. > :05:09.Amnesty also reports that, on 1 March, two children
:05:10. > :05:12.near the village of Fard were herding goats,
:05:13. > :05:16.when they found some other cluster bomblets and played with them
:05:17. > :05:21.It killed an eight-year-old and severely injured
:05:22. > :05:27.Does the Foreign Secretary regard the use of cluster bombs
:05:28. > :05:33.in civilian areas as a breach of international humanitarian law?
:05:34. > :05:37.Mr Speaker, as the honourable gentleman knows, the UK has
:05:38. > :05:41.long since given up the use of cluster munitions.
:05:42. > :05:47.Their use or supply is illegal under British law, and the weapons that
:05:48. > :05:50.are being described here, as my honourable friend said
:05:51. > :05:58.We are aware of reports of the alleged use of
:05:59. > :06:02.cluster munitions by the coalition in Yemen.
:06:03. > :06:04.We have raised the issue of their use during the current
:06:05. > :06:08.conflict in Yemen several times with the Saudi Arabian authorities
:06:09. > :06:10.and, in line with our obligations under
:06:11. > :06:13.the Convention on Cluster Munitions,
:06:14. > :06:15.continue to encourage Saudi Arabia -
:06:16. > :06:19.as a non-party to the convention - to accede to it.
:06:20. > :06:23.The Saudis have previously denied using UK cluster munitions
:06:24. > :06:26.during the conflict in Yemen, but we are seeking fresh
:06:27. > :06:30.assurances in light of this new serious allegation.
:06:31. > :06:35.Will the UK Government now finally suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia
:06:36. > :06:40.and properly investigate the issues raised by Amnesty International?
:06:41. > :06:42.And will the Secretary of State now confirm that the Government
:06:43. > :06:45.will keep its commitment to the EU not to export in these
:06:46. > :06:53.And, finally, will the Secretary of State now apologise to the House
:06:54. > :06:55.for this Government's continued inaction in this vital matter,
:06:56. > :06:58.which has resulted in the deaths of Yemeni men, women and children,
:06:59. > :07:06.The minister said Britain was seeking further assurances
:07:07. > :07:09.from the Saudi authorities that British weapons had not
:07:10. > :07:14.The Government's Special Envoy to Kuwait said to remember
:07:15. > :07:18.the current peace talks were at a critical phase.
:07:19. > :07:21.I've also personally been to the operational targeting
:07:22. > :07:25.headquarters of the Saudi - led coalition, and have seen
:07:26. > :07:28.for myself what I believe to be the very high professional standards
:07:29. > :07:37.Notwithstanding the honourable lady's passion on this,
:07:38. > :07:42.driven, I think it's fair to say, much more by NGO briefings...
:07:43. > :07:47...than it is by any kind of personal experience in this.
:07:48. > :07:49.Would it not be...? Would it not be...?
:07:50. > :07:54.It's not insulting at all, to suggest that experience
:07:55. > :08:00.We are involved in Yemen because we are peacemakers.
:08:01. > :08:04.We want to see peace restored to this country that is bleeding
:08:05. > :08:08.to death, because of the involvement of so many countries.
:08:09. > :08:11.Of course, we needed the support of the Saudi Arabians in order
:08:12. > :08:15.to restore a legitimate Government with President Hadi, because of
:08:16. > :08:20.However, it is important that they now stop and
:08:21. > :08:27.These kinds of allegations undermine the work that is being
:08:28. > :08:34.Could he ensure that the Saudi Arabian ambassador is called to see
:08:35. > :08:38.the Foreign Office Minister, so that we can reinforce the message
:08:39. > :08:44.that these kinds of allegations undermine the peace process?
:08:45. > :08:47.The minister replied that the UK did all it could to work
:08:48. > :08:50.You're watching Tuesday In Parliament, with me,
:08:51. > :08:59.The boss of EDF Energy has told MPs he does not know
:09:00. > :09:03.when a final investment decision on the ?18 billion Hinkley
:09:04. > :09:09.The decision had been due to take place this month, but the company's
:09:10. > :09:13.trade union members have suggested the Somerset nuclear project should
:09:14. > :09:18.The Energy Climate Change Committee heard
:09:19. > :09:21.that the French Economy Minister had said his government remained
:09:22. > :09:24.committed to the project, and a final decision would be
:09:25. > :09:28.taken once a consultation with the unions had taken place.
:09:29. > :09:33.At the moment we speak, the project continues
:09:34. > :09:37.to prepare for the final discussion, at which time we will confirm
:09:38. > :09:45.Secondly, EDF has secured its overall financing.
:09:46. > :09:49.We are consulting with the trade unions, and teams are still working
:09:50. > :09:57.Hinkley Point C is a strategic project for France and for China.
:09:58. > :10:01.It is as essential for EDF as it is for the UK.
:10:02. > :10:06.Can give us dates for the end of the consultation period,
:10:07. > :10:08.or the time needed to analyse responses, or indeed,
:10:09. > :10:13.the earliest possible date for the final decision being made?
:10:14. > :10:19.I understand the form of impatience that you express, and many express,
:10:20. > :10:23.which is for me a good sign of support for the project.
:10:24. > :10:26.In a sense, I have teams with the same impatience.
:10:27. > :10:31.But we have, at the same time, to remain calm and dispassionate.
:10:32. > :10:36.If I was prejudging the outcome of the process,
:10:37. > :10:43.And I would not prejudge, cos I do not want to harm the process,
:10:44. > :10:46.So when is the end of the consultation period?
:10:47. > :10:48.Therefore, you can understand that it is in the best interests
:10:49. > :10:55.of all who are expecting that the final investment
:10:56. > :11:05.decision is taken and the sooner the better...
:11:06. > :11:07.It is in the best interests not to prejudge the consultation.
:11:08. > :11:09.Also appearing before MPs was the Energy Minister,
:11:10. > :11:12.She was confident Hinkley C would go ahead.
:11:13. > :11:15.I've been down to Somerset myself to see the Hinkley Point C,
:11:16. > :11:18.and I can tell you I was absolutely overwhelmed by the massive amount
:11:19. > :11:25.I had the great pleasure of seeing the brilliant bat house,
:11:26. > :11:29.and I've seen hedgehog tunnels, and an amazing levelling
:11:30. > :11:34.A huge amount of work that is going on onsite that is not
:11:35. > :11:39.the actions of a company that is not planning to move ahead with it,
:11:40. > :11:42.and I think, as you have just heard very strongly from EDF's senior
:11:43. > :11:46.people, that this project is going ahead.
:11:47. > :11:48.What contingency plans are you making in the event
:11:49. > :11:54.that the decision is not taken and is not taken soon?
:11:55. > :11:57.Nuclear is a core part of our energy ambitions.
:11:58. > :12:10.We are also, as you will be aware, bringing on more offshore wind.
:12:11. > :12:12.We're also doing everything we can to promote new storage.
:12:13. > :12:14.We are looking at new combined gas cycle turbines.
:12:15. > :12:17.I just want to reiterate, we don't have all our
:12:18. > :12:19.The construction of Hinkley C, said the Minister,
:12:20. > :12:26.If it does not go ahead, we will not leave the British
:12:27. > :12:27.consumer honourable to the lights going out.
:12:28. > :12:33.So you are planning for the position that it could potentially not
:12:34. > :12:37.go ahead? What?
:12:38. > :12:41.Obviously, my department's core function is to ensure energy
:12:42. > :12:56.Thirdly, it's to decarbonise at the lowest possible price.
:12:57. > :12:59.New nuclear hits all of those buttons but we will not leave the UK
:13:00. > :13:09.consumer vulnerable to the lights going out.
:13:10. > :13:13.The Defence Secretary has admitted that progress to end the conflict
:13:14. > :13:16.in Syria has been far slower than he would have wanted
:13:17. > :13:19.Michael Fallon was giving his quarterly update to MPs on how
:13:20. > :13:32.the fight against so-called Islamic State, or Daesh, was progressing.
:13:33. > :13:40.The military programme is making progress. It is on the back foot and
:13:41. > :13:46.its leadership has been struck. Over 40% of the territory Daesh once held
:13:47. > :13:51.has been retaken. Several different places have been taken and
:13:52. > :13:53.preparatory operations are under way and at the weekend the Prime
:13:54. > :14:01.Minister they announced the beginning of the operation to retake
:14:02. > :14:04.the ledger. The persistence of Daesh and Russia's intervention has
:14:05. > :14:17.created a more complex association. In Aleppo, hospitals and schools
:14:18. > :14:23.have been repeatedly shelled. On the 4th of May, the UK called in urgent
:14:24. > :14:28.session of the security council to highlight the regime's atrocities.
:14:29. > :14:33.Russia, the Assad regime's protector, must apply pressure to
:14:34. > :14:39.end this violence. Nonetheless, even in Syria, they have lost ground and
:14:40. > :14:45.has been driven from a major supply route. A particularly significant
:14:46. > :14:49.development in Iraq was seen at the weekend, which was the launch of a
:14:50. > :14:55.ground offensive against the diet should stronghold of foliage. It's
:14:56. > :14:59.often forgotten that around 350 -- 250 British troops have also been
:15:00. > :15:05.deployed on the ground in Iraq providing advice to the Iraqi
:15:06. > :15:08.security forces. We have an important stake in the success of
:15:09. > :15:13.the Iraqi military and will continue to monitor their progress carefully.
:15:14. > :15:16.As the Secretary of State acknowledges, Syria is a situation
:15:17. > :15:20.which is much more complex. Last year, he said we were going to
:15:21. > :15:27.tighten the noose around the head of the snake which was Raquel, but in
:15:28. > :15:33.taking the fight to the Dave facto capital, it would present many
:15:34. > :15:39.challenges. -- Raqqa. If the government's elections has proven
:15:40. > :15:42.correct, Syria would have a transitional government next week.
:15:43. > :15:45.What is the minister's most up-to-date predictions as to when
:15:46. > :15:51.these two vitally important milestones will be delivered? To be
:15:52. > :15:58.honest, I would not have predicted the progress that has been made in
:15:59. > :16:03.Iraq. It's been more rapid than I would have thought. The honourable
:16:04. > :16:08.member asked me about that during the debate in December. In Syria,
:16:09. > :16:12.yes, it's been far slowly than we would have wanted, far slower than I
:16:13. > :16:17.thought would be the case when the cessation was agreed in Munich in
:16:18. > :16:23.February. But this is war. There are a lot of people involved who have an
:16:24. > :16:26.interest in sustaining this war, especially the Assad regime,
:16:27. > :16:29.supported by Russia. We have to keep working at it.
:16:30. > :16:31.Now to the continuing debate on the Queen's speech.
:16:32. > :16:34.The topics for the day - Europe, human rights and keeping
:16:35. > :16:37.Labour's Harriet Harman turned to the counter-extremism measures
:16:38. > :16:48.Everyone seems to agree that the most precious asset in the fight
:16:49. > :16:52.against terrorism is a relationship between the authorities, the police,
:16:53. > :16:57.schools, councils, and the Muslim communities of this country. We must
:16:58. > :16:59.guard against any undermining of the relationship between the authorities
:17:00. > :17:04.and the Muslim community, which would thereby make the fight against
:17:05. > :17:08.terrorism even harder. The last thing we must do is anything which
:17:09. > :17:11.fosters the alienation that can lead to radicalisation.
:17:12. > :17:17.A Conservative turned to so-called Islamic state.
:17:18. > :17:25.In defeating IES, they could be easily defeated, but it's largely an
:17:26. > :17:31.ideological defeat and that's very much more difficult. We must show
:17:32. > :17:33.the same abhorrence of Islamophobia as we show of anti-Semitism.
:17:34. > :17:36.One Conservative had just returned from a foreign affairs
:17:37. > :17:44.There is an issue about whether we are going to try and help the
:17:45. > :17:52.Russians out of the cul-de-sac that have got themselves into and I do
:17:53. > :17:56.think even if it is initially at the level of cultural exchanges as
:17:57. > :18:01.students coming, we should invest in this relationship in any way that we
:18:02. > :18:06.can. It's a very important relationship. Russia is a very
:18:07. > :18:09.important country. That is why it becomes even more critical when a
:18:10. > :18:15.country of that size is under the leadership that it is, a position of
:18:16. > :18:17.deep lack of self-confidence underneath.
:18:18. > :18:19.And there was a maiden speech from the winner
:18:20. > :18:23.who spoke about one of his predecessors, Sir Raymond Powell.
:18:24. > :18:31.We are in fact both trade being butchery. Sir Raymond, a master
:18:32. > :18:35.butcher, and me, a butchery assistant. I'm not sure if my skills
:18:36. > :18:39.with a knife will ever come to use in this house but I'm told by
:18:40. > :18:41.members it's a useful skill to have. I of course assume metaphorically.
:18:42. > :18:44.Chris Elmore, the new MP for Ogmore, with a surprising skillset.
:18:45. > :18:48.Now, regular viewers will know that there's increasing
:18:49. > :18:51.disquiet about the size of the House of Lords.
:18:52. > :18:55.Now topping 800 members, there have been growing calls -
:18:56. > :18:58.not least from peers themselves - for a fairly radical rethink.
:18:59. > :19:01.One Labour peer thought he'd spotted another problem with the make up
:19:02. > :19:03.Lady Stowell agreed an incremental approach
:19:04. > :19:22.Out of 808 rates, 383 -- 385 were living in London, and very few in
:19:23. > :19:24.Wales, in the East Midlands and West Midlands, in the north-east of
:19:25. > :19:28.England and the north-west of England, and in Yorkshire and
:19:29. > :19:32.Humberside. In order to reflect all of those interests properly, is it
:19:33. > :19:37.not better to have people from all quarters of the United Kingdom? And
:19:38. > :19:45.world leader of the house look at ways in which this terrible
:19:46. > :19:49.imbalance can be rectified? The noble Lord is right that there are
:19:50. > :19:53.certain parts of the United Kingdom that are better represented than
:19:54. > :19:58.others and I certainly believe it is very important that for us to be
:19:59. > :20:05.effective as a house, we all offer a range of backgrounds and experiences
:20:06. > :20:11.and expertise. But because we are unelected and don't have that
:20:12. > :20:15.represent -- responsibility to represent any parts of the United
:20:16. > :20:20.Kingdom, it is not an easy question for us to remedy. But it's certainly
:20:21. > :20:23.one I will reflect upon. The noble lady pointed out that the
:20:24. > :20:30.Conservative manifesto said there was going to be no comprehensive
:20:31. > :20:33.reform of this house. And insofar as that is shorthand for not
:20:34. > :20:36.introducing a bill for unelected house, it's very welcome to some of
:20:37. > :20:42.us. Budget would she make clear that it doesn't rule out sensible
:20:43. > :20:47.incremental reform of your lordship's house and that means
:20:48. > :20:57.taking decisive action to reduce the numbers in this house. As far as
:20:58. > :21:02.further steps along that track, if there is broad consensus and we are
:21:03. > :21:06.able to attract some cross-party agreement on reforms, I would be
:21:07. > :21:07.interested to support that sort of thing.
:21:08. > :21:13.Lawrence of Arabia's robes and dagger should go on display
:21:14. > :21:16.in the Foreign Office - so says one of its ministers,
:21:17. > :21:17.after they were saved from going overseas.
:21:18. > :21:21.TE Lawrence, an archaeologist and diplomat,
:21:22. > :21:23.became internationally famous following his exploits
:21:24. > :21:25.in the Arab peninsula during the First World War.
:21:26. > :21:28.He was later immortalised in the 1962 David Lean
:21:29. > :21:33.His robes and dagger had been bought at auction
:21:34. > :21:39.but were then subject to a temporary export ban.
:21:40. > :21:45.At Foreign Office questions, a Conservative MP wanted to know.
:21:46. > :21:51.Now that the government has prevented the export of his robes
:21:52. > :21:56.and dagger, can he tell the house where they will be available for the
:21:57. > :21:59.public to see them as an inspiration for greater understanding of the
:22:00. > :22:00.Middle East and also to encourage greater freedom in that part of the
:22:01. > :22:01.world? The Foreign Office Minister,
:22:02. > :22:03.an ex-army officer replying to the question, is said to have
:22:04. > :22:13.taken a keen interest in the case. He is absolutely right to say this
:22:14. > :22:16.important, not only the robe of the dagger itself, has been saved for
:22:17. > :22:23.the nation and will not be departing. This was a gift given to
:22:24. > :22:28.Lawrence of Arabia by the man after his fantastic attack on Akbar,
:22:29. > :22:34.where, glossed over by the media at the time, he actually accidentally
:22:35. > :22:41.shot his camel. It continued on another camel. He then moved to work
:22:42. > :22:45.in the Foreign Office. I would like to see the garment, the gown and
:22:46. > :22:48.indeed the robe and the dagger on display in the Foreign Office. I'm
:22:49. > :22:50.not sure we will be successful in that but I'm glad to say it will
:22:51. > :22:58.stay the United Kingdom. While we're on the subject
:22:59. > :23:01.of working for the Foreign Office there was also a question
:23:02. > :23:03.about an altogether Palmerston the Foreign Office
:23:04. > :23:06.cat was recruited from Battersa Cats Dogs Home
:23:07. > :23:11.this spring. The continued presence of mice in
:23:12. > :23:16.the main building has given by officials pause for thought. After
:23:17. > :23:20.can -- careful consideration, we appointed Palmerston Cats last month
:23:21. > :23:24.as chief Mouser to the FCO, to comp lament the work of our contractor
:23:25. > :23:28.and I'm pleased to report that he has settled in perfectly and is
:23:29. > :23:35.performing his duties more than satisfactorily. For five years,
:23:36. > :23:43.we've had a first-class cat which has done the necessary and its name
:23:44. > :23:49.is Order. I am sure the whole house will welcome the Prime Minister's
:23:50. > :23:54.statement and also the arrival of Palmerston the FCO's rodent killer
:23:55. > :23:57.but there is a serious point here, Mr Speaker. Can I ask my right
:23:58. > :24:04.honourable friend whether Palmerston has been security cleared or not.
:24:05. > :24:07.You may recall that the Chancellor's cat had access to the Foreign
:24:08. > :24:12.Office, number ten Downing St and it was thought that she might have been
:24:13. > :24:18.got out by a foreign power. Can I ask him, as he been positively
:24:19. > :24:22.vetted by the Security service and scanned for bugs by GCHQ? And can my
:24:23. > :24:27.right honourable friend assure the house and the more paranoid element
:24:28. > :24:31.in the Brixton is, or Palmerston's British provenance and that he isn't
:24:32. > :24:42.a long-term mole working for the EU commission. Mr Speaker, he is
:24:43. > :24:48.definitely not a mole. I can, Mr Speaker, categorically assure my
:24:49. > :24:54.honourable friend that Palmerston has been regularly vetted. As for
:24:55. > :24:59.being a sleeper, he is definitely a sleeper. I'm told very often in my
:25:00. > :25:03.office. But unlike Freya, who went missing for two years, his
:25:04. > :25:07.attendance record has been 100% and my experts tell me that pretty much
:25:08. > :25:13.rules out the possibility of him being a commission employee. I
:25:14. > :25:20.should also tell the house that while Palmerston so far has a record
:25:21. > :25:24.three mice, his Twitter account has attracted 8158 followers with a rate
:25:25. > :25:26.of growth that implies he will overtake me by the summer recess.
:25:27. > :25:29.Which feline frenzy brings us to the end of this programme,
:25:30. > :25:32.but do join me tomorrow for another round up of the day at Westminster,
:25:33. > :25:34.including Prime Minister's Questions, when George Osborne
:25:35. > :25:36.and Angela Eagle will be taking centre stage.
:25:37. > :25:39.But until then, from me, Alicia McCarthy, goodbye.