0:00:24 > 0:00:27Hello, and welcome to Tuesday In Parliament.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30On this programme the Defence Secretary says defeating
0:00:30 > 0:00:32so-called Islamic State in Iraq will not be quick.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34But...
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Real progress is being made and defeating Daesh in the long term
0:00:38 > 0:00:43helps make the streets of Britain and Europe safer.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46MPs hear that members of the independent enquiry
0:00:46 > 0:00:49into child sexual abuse had concerns about the leadership of its former
0:00:49 > 0:00:53chair, Dame Lowell Goddard, months before she resigned.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57And the Romanian ambassador to the UK explains why freedom
0:00:57 > 0:00:59of movement matters to him.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03When I was a child, I couldn't travel in the West because
0:01:03 > 0:01:07it was not permitted.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11But, first, the Defence Secretary has told MPs that so-called Islamic
0:01:11 > 0:01:13State group is failing in Iraq.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16But he warned the fight to regain the country's second largest city
0:01:16 > 0:01:20will not be a quick operation.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Sir Michael Fallon was answdring an urgent question about
0:01:23 > 0:01:26the operation to retake Mostl - the city in northern Iraq
0:01:26 > 0:01:29that was overrun by IS militants in 2014.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Iraqi security forces have now launched a major offensive
0:01:32 > 0:01:35to take the city back, with the support of Kurdish
0:01:35 > 0:01:40fighters, Shia paramilitary forces, Sunni tribesman and US-led
0:01:40 > 0:01:44coalition air strikes.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Sir Michael told MPs that forces were converging
0:01:46 > 0:01:48from the east and the south.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51The RAF, alongside other co`lition aircraft, have been providing
0:01:51 > 0:01:55intelligence-gathering and hntensive air support to Iraqi ground forces.
0:01:55 > 0:02:01More than half the RAF's recent strikes have been
0:02:01 > 0:02:05in and around Mosul.
0:02:05 > 0:02:12On the ground, British military instructors are with coalithon
0:02:12 > 0:02:14colleagues helping to train, mentor and equip many of thd forces
0:02:14 > 0:02:16engaged in the Mosul operathon.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Mr Speaker, this will not bd a quick operation and we can expect Daesh
0:02:19 > 0:02:21to fight hard to keep Mosul.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24When I visited Baghdad thred weeks ago, senior Iraqi
0:02:24 > 0:02:30and coalition commanders outlined their plans for Mosul.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Their confidence is high and it s clear that Daesh is now failing
0:02:34 > 0:02:39The Daesh extremists now hold only 10% of Iraqi territory.
0:02:39 > 0:02:45Ridding Iraq of Daesh was ndver going to be quick or easy.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48As we enter the third year of the campaign,
0:02:48 > 0:02:53real progress is being made.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55And defeating Daesh in the long term will help make the streets
0:02:55 > 0:02:57of Britain and Europe safer.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00The MP who raised the issue asked about reconstruction.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04How will we show that we have learnt the lessons of previous failures
0:03:04 > 0:03:08over the last decade, including where we left a v`cuum
0:03:08 > 0:03:11which the extremists were able to fill -
0:03:11 > 0:03:13both geographically and in the minds of Iraqi pdople?
0:03:13 > 0:03:16He is absolutely right that when Daesh, as I hope,
0:03:16 > 0:03:23is eventually driven out of Iraq, then we have to continue all our
0:03:23 > 0:03:26efforts to combat their ideology and look more deeply
0:03:26 > 0:03:30at what attracted people to join up in the first place.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33We will need to work with moderate Islam right across the world to make
0:03:33 > 0:03:37sure that that perversion does not increase.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42And, above all, as he said at the end, we need to learn
0:03:42 > 0:03:44the lessons of this campaign.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Which is that we must ensurd that the Sunni population,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50in particular, of Iraq, has sufficient security
0:03:50 > 0:03:54in the future and that we don't have to be asked back to do this
0:03:54 > 0:03:55all over again.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57We fully support the operathon to liberate the city,
0:03:57 > 0:04:02because Daesh and its evil hdeology, must be defeatd wherever it emerges.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07Not only to protect the people of Iraq and Syria, who suffdred such
0:04:07 > 0:04:10a great deal, but also to protect our citizens
0:04:10 > 0:04:14here in the UK from the global threat posed by Daesh.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Aid agencies estimate that lore than 700,000 people are esthmated
0:04:17 > 0:04:20to be displaced by this conflict.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23That's more than the population of Glasgow.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Save the Children are concerned they do not yet have tents
0:04:26 > 0:04:29in which to put these peopld up and safe routes to make surd
0:04:29 > 0:04:32they get out of the city without being impeded by Dadsh
0:04:32 > 0:04:36or other forces in the area.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Can he give me some assurance as to what the Government c`n do
0:04:39 > 0:04:41in terms of providing safety for those routes,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44and services when people do arrive?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47These are very valid concerns that arise from what is now becoling
0:04:47 > 0:04:50a war zone in and around Mosul.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53The Iraqi government is fully aware of the need to cope
0:04:53 > 0:04:57with any increase in the displaced population.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00As I said, to arrange transport for those who can get out
0:05:00 > 0:05:04of the city to safer areas, and to be ready with additional
0:05:04 > 0:05:08accommodation, and winter is coming, to be ready with additional tent
0:05:08 > 0:05:13accommodation to help the others.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16There has been a great deal of planning all summer for this
0:05:16 > 0:05:19operation and the consequences of this operation,
0:05:19 > 0:05:24what we call The Day After , the day after Mosul is liberated.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Sir Michael Fallon.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Earlier the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson,
0:05:29 > 0:05:34hit out at the "ruthless and brutal" actions of Russia in Syria.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38His comments came after Russia announced that a humanitari`n pause
0:05:38 > 0:05:41in its bombing of Aleppo will take place on Thursday,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45so civilians and rebels can leave the city.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48At question time in the Comlons Boris Johnson told MPs that
0:05:48 > 0:05:50in the last 11 months, Russian bombing had been responsible
0:05:50 > 0:05:54for the deaths of more than 3,000 people, of whom more
0:05:54 > 0:05:57than 700 were children.
0:05:57 > 0:06:03Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Of course it is right that the UK and the Russian Federation should
0:06:06 > 0:06:09continue to cooperate and engage in all the areas
0:06:09 > 0:06:12where we have common interest.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15But in view of the ruthless and brutal behaviour of the Russians
0:06:15 > 0:06:19in Ukraine and in Syria, I hope the House will agree that
0:06:19 > 0:06:22it's right that the UK should be leading in keeping the pressure
0:06:22 > 0:06:27on sanctions, and it cannot be business as usual with Russha.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I'm not sure the demonstrathons outside the Russian Embassy
0:06:30 > 0:06:32will make any odds.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34But what might make a difference is if we stopped Putin's
0:06:35 > 0:06:36cronies coming to London.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Will he go and demonstrate against the Home Secretary
0:06:38 > 0:06:40to make sure she changes thd rules?
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Just in the last 11 months, Russian bombing alone
0:06:43 > 0:06:46has been responsible for thd deaths of 3,189 civilians -
0:06:46 > 0:06:52of whom 763 were children.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55It's in those circumstances that it's absolutely right that we should
0:06:55 > 0:06:59be keeping up the sanctions regime.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Not just on Russia but on key members, key associates
0:07:02 > 0:07:05of the Putin regime.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Julian Brazier.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:07:08 > 0:07:14Would my right honourable friend agree that the particular activities
0:07:14 > 0:07:17he so eloquently described by Russia in Syria have been allowed to happen
0:07:17 > 0:07:21because of several years of weakness and inconsistency in western
0:07:21 > 0:07:26policy towards the area?
0:07:26 > 0:07:30And would he further agree that if we want to hold the ring,
0:07:30 > 0:07:35the importance of being seen to be absolutely solidly behind N`to has
0:07:35 > 0:07:40never been stronger?
0:07:40 > 0:07:46My right honourable friend is absolutely right and we lust
0:07:46 > 0:07:51He's absolutely right to say that the vacuum
0:07:51 > 0:07:53left by the decision, I'm afraid, by this House
0:07:53 > 0:07:57and the Obama administration in 2013 not to oppose the Assad reghme has
0:07:57 > 0:07:59allowed the Russians to move into that base.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04It's vital that we keep pressure, of course, with the threat
0:08:04 > 0:08:14of justice in the International Criminal Court.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Not just the Syrian opposithon.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Syrian civil society, and also NGOs in this country
0:08:26 > 0:08:28are calling for our governmdnt to lead on a comprehensive strategy
0:08:28 > 0:08:30to protect civilians including a no bombing phond.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Can I ask the Foreign Secretary to confirm that that is what our
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Government will take the considering now?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I'm grateful to the honourable lady and again I pay tribute
0:08:38 > 0:08:40to the forcefulness with which she is advocated this cause.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43I must say that I wish thred years ago the Labour opposition h`d then
0:08:43 > 0:08:46been as resolute in wishing to see that kind of engagements to protect
0:08:46 > 0:08:48the people of Syria, because the critical decision
0:08:48 > 0:08:50was taken then which, as the right honourable
0:08:50 > 0:08:52gentleman remembers well, has made it much more
0:08:52 > 0:08:53difficult for us today.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55The Home Affairs Committee has been trying to establish
0:08:55 > 0:08:57the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Dame Justice
0:08:57 > 0:09:02Lowell Goddard as chair of the independent enquiry
0:09:02 > 0:09:03into child sexual abuse.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Justice Goddard stepped down in August, calling
0:09:06 > 0:09:08it a "lonely task."
0:09:08 > 0:09:12But according to newspaper reports, other members
0:09:12 > 0:09:15of the enquiry panel had concerns about her professionalism.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19The new enquiry chair, Professor Alexis Jay,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23was an adviser to the enquiry before being promoted to chairing ht.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26She said Justice Goddard had kept colleagues at a distance.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29While another panel member had concerns about the quality
0:09:29 > 0:09:30of her leadership.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33What was your relationship like and your working conditions
0:09:33 > 0:09:37and working relationship like, with Dame Lowell Goddard
0:09:37 > 0:09:42in her 16 months that coincided with your tenures?
0:09:42 > 0:09:46I'll start, and the others can make their own contributions.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50It was clear from the beginning that Lowell Goddard would h`ve
0:09:50 > 0:09:54preferred to sit on her own without the assistance of the panel.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58We did feel that we were kept at a distance from a lot
0:09:58 > 0:10:03of the activities of the enpuiry.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07And is that something that manifested itself
0:10:07 > 0:10:08quite early on?
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Yes.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14I'm sure we'll return to thhs, but we did make every effort to make
0:10:14 > 0:10:17the arrangements work from the beginning.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18There were challenges.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20However...
0:10:20 > 0:10:22That's a very all-encompasshng word, "challenges".
0:10:22 > 0:10:25And indeed there were some fairly all-encompassing challenges, too.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30But what I will say is the chair was not always present
0:10:30 > 0:10:35in the United Kingdom for that entire 16 month period.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40So we were able to continue for extensive periods withott very
0:10:40 > 0:10:42much contact with the chair.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45There were times when things were perfectly amicable
0:10:45 > 0:10:48and perfectly professional.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50There were other times when it was less the case.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Was she a nightmare to work with, as some papers have suggestdd?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55I would not use that language.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57What language would you use?
0:10:57 > 0:10:59I would prefer to say that there were challenges.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01HE LAUGHS
0:11:01 > 0:11:09I think this has been a circular exchange.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Druscilla, what's your view?
0:11:12 > 0:11:16These reports of her being `busive to staff to a bullying degrde,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20was that an accurate reflection
0:11:20 > 0:11:24I'm not going to engage in the sort of character issues that have been
0:11:24 > 0:11:25published across the press.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28It seems to me to be entirely inappropriate.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33These are matters which werd not something which ought to be played
0:11:33 > 0:11:36out in the public domain.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39However, having said all of that, the panel had concerns
0:11:39 > 0:11:42about the qualities of leaddrship that were being evidenced
0:11:42 > 0:11:48through the course of the enquiry.
0:11:48 > 0:11:54At the end of April, I think the 26th of April,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57with the panel's knowledge, I reported my concerns
0:11:57 > 0:12:00about the leadership of the enquiry to the then director general
0:12:00 > 0:12:02of the Home Office, Mary Calam.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06I want to take the opportunhty to make absolutely clear th`t
0:12:06 > 0:12:09I did not give anyone permission to spread these concerns
0:12:09 > 0:12:12amongst anybody else.
0:12:12 > 0:12:18I did not require any action to be taken.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20On top of these issues, Professor Jay revealed the dnquiry
0:12:20 > 0:12:23was struggling to find premises for the hearings.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27One of the concerns that yot may be interested in is the extremdly
0:12:27 > 0:12:31disappointing attitude of landlords to the enquiry.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34We look at somewhere, the premises is suitable,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37we go so far, and when they learn what the nature
0:12:37 > 0:12:40of our work is, they withdr`w because they simply do not wish
0:12:40 > 0:12:46to have anything to do with the issues of child sexual `buse.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51The proceedings were interrtpted by someone in the audience.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56This enquiry is bigger than any individual ego of personality.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01And certainly you've made some. .
0:13:01 > 0:13:04We've heard some comments...
0:13:04 > 0:13:06AUDIENCE MEMBER HECKLES
0:13:06 > 0:13:07Please, sir!
0:13:07 > 0:13:12Order, order.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15When the session resumed, Professor Jay promised
0:13:15 > 0:13:17that the emphasis of her enpuiry would be on holding
0:13:17 > 0:13:20institutions to account.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22You're watching Tuesday in Parliament with me,
0:13:22 > 0:13:23Alysia McCarthy.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31The Health Secretary has warned MPs of painful efficiency savings
0:13:31 > 0:13:35to come in the NHS in England.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39Jeremy Hunt said his task was to find ways of finding better
0:13:39 > 0:13:44outcomes for an older popul`tion with very real financial prdssures.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46But he told the Commons Health Committee he was confident
0:13:46 > 0:13:49he could deliver increased numbers of doctors.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53We are looking after a millhon more over 75s than we were five xears ago
0:13:53 > 0:13:56and in five years' time we'll be looking after another million over
0:13:56 > 0:13:5875s in England.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03That creates massive pressure for people on the NHS front line.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08I completely understand that people working in hospitals recognhse
0:14:08 > 0:14:12that they have never been btsier, people working in GP surgerhes,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15in the social care sector, the same.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18For year one and year five, yes, I think you can say
0:14:18 > 0:14:21we were in the zone, but for the next three years,
0:14:21 > 0:14:26we didn't get the funding that the NHS requested.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28That's not a controversial statement, it's what I've already
0:14:28 > 0:14:31said to the Public Accounts Committee, it's not a new statement.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34As a result we've got a bigger hill to climb.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39It's going to be more challdnging, 2017, 2018, 2019-20.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43I just wondered what your vhew overall is of the picture,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46the state of the NHS, and how accurate is this
0:14:46 > 0:14:49narrative of crisis, or could there be a different
0:14:49 > 0:14:53way of setting out what's really going on?
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Well, as you say, I think it is a mixed picture
0:14:56 > 0:14:59across the country.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02However, I believe that for any of the serious conditions
0:15:02 > 0:15:05that the NHS treats, I would not choose,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08for me and my family, to have been treated three xears
0:15:08 > 0:15:11ago, five years ago or ten xears ago, I'd rather be treated now.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14That's certainly true for c`ncer services, it is true for he`rt
0:15:14 > 0:15:16disease and stroke services.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18On any of the measures for which we've got outcomes data,
0:15:18 > 0:15:20outcomes are better.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Can you confirm that the Prhme Minister did tell you there will be
0:15:23 > 0:15:26no more money for the NHS when you saw her last week?
0:15:26 > 0:15:28First of all, the meeting wasn't last week.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29Or in the last few days.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Secondly, it was a private leeting.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34What about social care?
0:15:34 > 0:15:35Any hope for social care?
0:15:35 > 0:15:39As you will well know, Mr Bradshaw, from your time in government,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42discussions between Cabinet ministers, the Treasury
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and Number Ten about the future contents of budgets
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and Autumn Statements are confidential matters.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51We have an Autumn Statement coming up - are you fighting
0:15:51 > 0:15:52for your department?
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Are you fighting for the NHS?
0:15:54 > 0:15:57All I would say is that I stand by my record as Health Secrdtary
0:15:57 > 0:16:02in fighting for budgets for the NHS.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04Everybody seems to agree, from Simon Stevens
0:16:04 > 0:16:07to the Care Quality Commisshon, whose report last week the Secretary
0:16:07 > 0:16:12of State described the health and social care system
0:16:12 > 0:16:16as at a tipping point, that were there to be any extra
0:16:16 > 0:16:18money found by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement, he should
0:16:18 > 0:16:19prioritise it to social card.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Do you agree with that?
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Yeah...
0:16:24 > 0:16:27As we've discussed earlier, I'm not going to make any comments
0:16:27 > 0:16:31about the contents of the Autumn Statement.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34But I do accept the broad point that the financial pressures,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37high though they seem in thd NHS, are even more acute
0:16:37 > 0:16:40in the social care system.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42The committee chair asked about the government's pledge
0:16:42 > 0:16:45to pay for extra doctors.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48There is a very significant cost attached to the number of doctors
0:16:48 > 0:16:53you're proposing to train at a time when Health Education England
0:16:53 > 0:16:56budgets are being cut and of course there are implications for the NHS
0:16:56 > 0:17:00as well in terms of the timd and the placements,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03where are those placements, where are the staff to carrx out
0:17:03 > 0:17:04the training?
0:17:04 > 0:17:05And so forth.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I'm just wondering if you sdt a cost to this and where that's
0:17:08 > 0:17:09going to come from.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10Yes, sorry...
0:17:10 > 0:17:14That's an important question to ask.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18The answer is that we think in this spending review period betwden now
0:17:18 > 0:17:24and the end of the Parliament, the cost will be less
0:17:24 > 0:17:28than ?100 million for that commitment because when you're
0:17:28 > 0:17:32training up to 1,500 medical students, the cost
0:17:32 > 0:17:35training up to 1,500 more medical students, the cost
0:17:35 > 0:17:38to Health Education England and the NHS, coming towards the end
0:17:38 > 0:17:40of that period of training when they are doing their placements
0:17:40 > 0:17:43in hospitals, so we think it is possible to absorb,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45within the ?116 billion anntal budget, which of course will be
0:17:45 > 0:17:50going up as well between now and the end of the Parliament.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53The Health Secretary, Jeremx Hunt.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56The EU referendum campaign was a pretty feisty affair `t times
0:17:56 > 0:18:00with both sides making predhctions about the financial fallout
0:18:00 > 0:18:03of either staying in or leaving
0:18:03 > 0:18:07In the Lords, one peer asked if the government stood by forecasts
0:18:07 > 0:18:09from the Treasury ahead of the vote about what Brexit
0:18:09 > 0:18:11would mean for growth.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Lord Hannay reminded peers of what the predictions had been.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19A loss of GDP in the event of us leaving the European Union
0:18:19 > 0:18:23and having a single market outcome of 3.8%.
0:18:23 > 0:18:276.2% if we merely had a free trade agreement.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30And 7.5% if we fell back on the default option
0:18:30 > 0:18:35of the WTO membership.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Now, those are significant figures and there are
0:18:37 > 0:18:39significant gaps between thdm.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Isn't it about time the govdrnment told us a bit more about thdm
0:18:42 > 0:18:44and isn't it about time that they identified
0:18:44 > 0:18:48the impact on individual sectors of the economy,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52some of which, as is the nature of all averages, will be hurt much
0:18:52 > 0:18:57more by these changes than others?
0:18:57 > 0:19:01This was taking as a baseline continued membership of the EU
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and then trying to predict the impact on GDP of
0:19:03 > 0:19:05three scenarios.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08One, the Norway solution, EDA.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Second, the Canada option.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13And thirdly, WTO.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15The government has subsequently made it clear that it is not
0:19:15 > 0:19:22going for any of those thred options, it is going for a bespoke
0:19:22 > 0:19:24option which won't necessarhly carol any of those.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26And for that reason, there is no particular advantage
0:19:26 > 0:19:31in updating the analysis that the Noble Lord referred to
0:19:31 > 0:19:37What happened to the emergency budget which the dodgy dossher
0:19:37 > 0:19:40to which the Noble Lord Hannay referred said would be immediately
0:19:40 > 0:19:43needed if the electorate would so unwise as
0:19:43 > 0:19:49to vote for Brexit?
0:19:49 > 0:19:50What's happened to it?
0:19:50 > 0:19:51Why hasn't it been produced?
0:19:51 > 0:19:53The Chancellor and the Primd Minister have made it clear
0:19:53 > 0:19:56that they are no longer seeking a surplus in the government's
0:19:56 > 0:19:57accounts by the end of this Parliament.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59That target has been postponed.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Therefore some of the imper`tives that my noble friend has just
0:20:01 > 0:20:04referred to are not as essential as they were under
0:20:04 > 0:20:06the previous Chancellor.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Lord Young.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Well, staying with Brexit, the Romanian ambassador to the UK
0:20:11 > 0:20:13has told peers why freedom of movement is so important
0:20:13 > 0:20:17to people from his country.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20He said Romanians treasured the idea because of the years Romani` spent
0:20:20 > 0:20:22behind the Iron Curtain with its citizens barred from
0:20:22 > 0:20:26travelling anywhere in the West
0:20:26 > 0:20:29When I was a child, I couldn't travel in the West because
0:20:29 > 0:20:35it was not permitted.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39The only permission I and mx parents had was to travel
0:20:39 > 0:20:44in the socialist...
0:20:44 > 0:20:46I could travel to Poland, for instance, or the Czech
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Republic, or Hungary.
0:20:49 > 0:20:56So we feel much more this freedom of movement.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Probably as you do not feel it because we had these restrictions.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04I come back...
0:21:04 > 0:21:10Figures, numbers are import`nt, but the sense of moving fredly
0:21:10 > 0:21:14around, working, changing your workplace, everywhere.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17The sense of freedom that comes from having had the lid
0:21:17 > 0:21:22of totalitarianism lifted from your lives?
0:21:22 > 0:21:27This was one of the main driving forces.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32And does that make you feel that, to some extent, we may,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35in the fullness of time, see a lessening of that bec`use it's
0:21:35 > 0:21:39taken for granted?
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Because people have burst ott and know what it's like to travel
0:21:42 > 0:21:49that they're perhaps will bd a more settled sense within Romani` itself?
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Well, this was my...
0:21:53 > 0:21:59I think this should be presdrved.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Figures of registration are important.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Figures are important.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Protection of the labour force is important.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12Our values as a democracy, our basic values as a democracy
0:22:12 > 0:22:16is the free world.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21The freedom of working, travelling everywhere.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Labour has accused ministers of effectively placing a gun
0:22:25 > 0:22:29to the head of the BBC by ddmanding it fund free TV licences
0:22:29 > 0:22:35for the over 75s while negotiating charter renewal.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39The deal has an estimated cost of ?700 million a year.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41The Shadow Culture Secretarx, Tom Watson, said it amounted
0:22:41 > 0:22:45to a smash and grab raid on the BBC.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48This was done without meaningful public consultation and little
0:22:48 > 0:22:51parliamentary debate.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54And it was part of a deal that was made behind
0:22:54 > 0:22:56closed doors.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58I will do.
0:22:58 > 0:23:04When it comes to this imposhtion of the cost of over-75 licences
0:23:04 > 0:23:09that was negotiated at the same time as the charter was being negotiated.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Does that not imply there was a degree of duress in m`king
0:23:12 > 0:23:15the BBC accept the decision?
0:23:15 > 0:23:18It's certainly not the most ideal circumstances when you're
0:23:18 > 0:23:23negotiating for your survival, is it?
0:23:23 > 0:23:24We are concerned about it.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28We don't think there was a meaningful public consult`tion.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31I hoped those days were behhnd us.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33We feel very strongly that those arrangements cannot be allowed
0:23:33 > 0:23:36to happen again.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Tony Hall, when he appeared before us in the select committee,
0:23:38 > 0:23:44told us that he thought his staff were delighted with the deal.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46I had to pinch myself.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Anybody who spends a nanosecond talking to any of his staff knows
0:23:50 > 0:23:54that the staff thought the deal was absolutely disastrous bdcause,
0:23:54 > 0:23:59of course, it will have an dffect on programme making budgets.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Also, importantly, it's not the role of the BBC
0:24:01 > 0:24:04to deliver social provision.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06The BBC is a broadcaster, it's the government's role
0:24:06 > 0:24:10to deliver social provision.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12They've now got an increase in the licence fee,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16they have a five-year review, which probably means nothing.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18This year they've had enough money to increase their wage
0:24:18 > 0:24:21bill by ?21 million.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23One of the biggest issues that we did have to look
0:24:23 > 0:24:26at was whether or not the lhcence fee was sustainable.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29A perfectly rational thing to look at and I think it became prdtty
0:24:29 > 0:24:32clear that the licence fee, like democracy, was the least worst
0:24:32 > 0:24:36of the options in front of ts.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Nevertheless, my right honotrable friend has introduced
0:24:39 > 0:24:43the opportunity for the BBC to trial subscription services.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46He's quite right to have done that because the BBC,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50as has been mentioned already, will face extraordinary competition,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52not from its terrestrial broadcast rivals, but from the likes
0:24:52 > 0:24:57of Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Google.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It's quite right in a digit`l age it should start to look at how best
0:25:01 > 0:25:06to raise its income and indded how to distribute its content.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08The new Royal Charter will make the BBC stronger
0:25:08 > 0:25:11in a number of ways.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14It will increase the BBC's independence, improve
0:25:14 > 0:25:18its regulation, make it mord transparent and accountable
0:25:18 > 0:25:20to licence fee payers, and make it better reflect the whole
0:25:20 > 0:25:23of the United Kingdom.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27I believe that this funding settlement is a strong fundhng
0:25:27 > 0:25:31settlement that puts the BBC on a sustainable footing
0:25:31 > 0:25:38within inflationary increasd in the licence fee.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39with an inflationary increase in the licence fee.
0:25:39 > 0:25:40Karen Bradley.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42And that's it for now.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Do join me at the same time tomorrow for another round-up of the best
0:25:45 > 0:25:47of the day here at Westminster, including the highlights
0:25:47 > 0:25:48from Prime Minister's Questhons
0:25:48 > 0:25:48Until then, from me, Alysia McCarthy, goodbye.