0:00:20 > 0:00:23Hello and welcome to the programme.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Coming up in the next half hour: Concerns that the Brexit Bill
0:00:26 > 0:00:29is a Government power-grab.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32What this House being asked again and again his take on trust that
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Ministers will not abuse these powers.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35Ministers will not abuse these powers.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36A desperate call for better
0:00:36 > 0:00:38funding of refuges.
0:00:38 > 0:00:44The bare minimum is that someone -- someone should be no more than a
0:00:44 > 0:00:46phone call away, these people are at risk, they are in danger.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49phone call away, these people are at risk, they are in danger.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50And on National Postal Workers' Day,
0:00:50 > 0:00:54one MP suggests a quite radical gift.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Renationalize...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Renationalize...
0:00:57 > 0:00:59But first, we're now three-quarters of the way
0:00:59 > 0:01:01through the detailed deliberations of the European Union
0:01:01 > 0:01:02Withdrawal Bill.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04And Tuesday was all about Henry VIII!
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Well, not so much him, but the powers he held.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10In 1539 the Statute of Proclamations was passed.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13This gave Henry the power to legislate by proclamation.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16What on earth has that got to do with Brexit?
0:01:16 > 0:01:20Well, there are Henry VIII powers in the EU Withdrawal Bill.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22These would enable ministers to repeal or amend measures
0:01:22 > 0:01:24without further parliamentary scrutiny after the bill's
0:01:24 > 0:01:26been passed into law.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31And some MPs don't approve.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36It's not an exaggeration to say that this is a massive potential transfer
0:01:36 > 0:01:41of legislative competence from Parliament to government. And it is
0:01:41 > 0:01:45a sweeping power that would certainly make Henry VIII blush. If
0:01:45 > 0:01:52you are to see it today. My amendment 57 proposes deleting the
0:01:52 > 0:01:56sweeping measure of that particular sub-clause because Ministers have
0:01:56 > 0:02:00not ensured that their powers are as limited as possible, quite the
0:02:00 > 0:02:06contrary they have ensured that they are as sexually wide as possible.
0:02:06 > 0:02:12Would he not agree with me that whilst a member... Says that there
0:02:12 > 0:02:15might be primary legislation in relation to trades... Those bills
0:02:15 > 0:02:20are very likely to have the same Henry VIII powers in them.Will
0:02:20 > 0:02:23that's it, I think a different pieces of subsequent legislation
0:02:23 > 0:02:28which are also opening up this precedent, patting at members of
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Parliament saying don't you trouble yourselves we will sort out all
0:02:31 > 0:02:36these areas, you will just go away and if you really really object you
0:02:36 > 0:02:41can petition us about it which is effectively with the provisions are
0:02:41 > 0:02:45saying. That is not good enough.The Bill itself could be used further
0:02:45 > 0:02:51Henry VIII powers. If this bill is passed an amended we face the
0:02:51 > 0:02:54prospect of Ministers, perhaps not this Minister, and perhaps not
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Ministers in this government but Ministers having the ability to use
0:02:57 > 0:03:02the Henry VIII powers in the built in for further such powers onto
0:03:02 > 0:03:07themselves or other UK institution. Delegated legislation, piled upon
0:03:07 > 0:03:10the delegated legislation, I would argue that that is an outcome that
0:03:10 > 0:03:14no member of this House should regard as an acceptable prospect.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18The point is it is possible using the powers conferred under clause
0:03:18 > 0:03:24seven as it is currently drafted, as with so much of this bill what this
0:03:24 > 0:03:28House is being asked again, and again, is to take on trust that
0:03:28 > 0:03:33Ministers will not abuse these powers.It's already been mentioned
0:03:33 > 0:03:37about the working Time directive, 48, a weekly work. I'm not
0:03:37 > 0:03:40suggesting that the Government Minister necessarily want use these
0:03:40 > 0:03:45powers to completely overturn that, and substitute 48 with 72, I'm not
0:03:45 > 0:03:50suggesting, but it may well be that a Minister in the future within this
0:03:50 > 0:03:54period of the transition will find that the 48 hours is overly
0:03:54 > 0:03:59prescriptive as in a mandatory sense of them I choose to make that more
0:03:59 > 0:04:04of I and advisory notion and something that is absolute and can
0:04:04 > 0:04:08be challenged. And with a stroke of a pan overnight the actual rights
0:04:08 > 0:04:12and data rights at work for millions of people I work in this country
0:04:12 > 0:04:13could somebody wrote it.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16for the creation of a committee to sift through all legislation that
0:04:16 > 0:04:19won't be subject to the usual parliamentary scrutiny -
0:04:19 > 0:04:24the "statutory instruments" or SIs.
0:04:24 > 0:04:30Much is going to depend on the common-sense of the in how will
0:04:30 > 0:04:33those were going to be appointed a committee are chosen. There are of
0:04:33 > 0:04:39this House, on all sides, who have a keen understanding of what a
0:04:39 > 0:04:43statutory instrument is, a sack -- a keen understanding of how it should
0:04:43 > 0:04:48work, and an ability to sniff out when it is being misused. And it is
0:04:48 > 0:04:54those individuals which if I may say to my old friends, who are the ones
0:04:54 > 0:05:04who ought to be appointed. The conservative MPs who tabled the Bill
0:05:04 > 0:05:09said he would tab key.The political costs of his front bench, to my
0:05:09 > 0:05:12front bench of going against a recommendation of the sifting
0:05:12 > 0:05:17committee will be significant. It will have to give a reason. Why
0:05:17 > 0:05:25isn't this agreement. The Minister will be summoned. To explain his or
0:05:25 > 0:05:28her departments position. And it will be tagged on the order paper
0:05:28 > 0:05:34that this is I, this has not been agreed to sifting committee and
0:05:34 > 0:05:37government.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38The Brexit minister denied there
0:05:38 > 0:05:41was any power-grabbing going on.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45It is the case of the Government wishes to take the minimum powers
0:05:45 > 0:05:48necessary, the minimum powers required to do the job before us.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Which is to deliver a working statute by accident. We do not
0:05:52 > 0:05:56intend to make any major changes in policy between ash beyond those
0:05:56 > 0:05:59which are appropriate. Beyond those which are appropriate to deliver a
0:05:59 > 0:06:04working statute book where the law after exit data substantially the
0:06:04 > 0:06:08same before exit day so that the public, so that individuals and
0:06:08 > 0:06:09businesses can rely upon it.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12And scrutiny of the Brexit Bill continues on Wednesday
0:06:12 > 0:06:17with the Government expected to face its toughest day yet.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Now, the Home Affairs Committee is examining what action
0:06:20 > 0:06:22the Government could take to stop demonstrations taking place directly
0:06:22 > 0:06:25outside abortion clinics.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Two abortion providers told MPs that women were being harassed
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and suggested that a "buffer zone" would help.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36But anti-abortion protesters insisted they were simply "pavement
0:06:36 > 0:06:39counsellors" helping women in desperate situations
0:06:39 > 0:06:43to make a "true choice".
0:06:43 > 0:06:50We see an escalation both in the size and in the tactics used, we've
0:06:50 > 0:06:59seen across the UK now, protests and other harassment. Not only are
0:06:59 > 0:07:10outside dedicated sensors, but in GP surgeries and NHS properties. Mostly
0:07:10 > 0:07:16we a change in tactics from what our staff use to describe over the
0:07:16 > 0:07:23previous 20 years as usually silent prayer, to now engaging directly
0:07:23 > 0:07:29with our service users to point of physically grabbing and blocking
0:07:29 > 0:07:35them. And using other means of intimidation. We had one service
0:07:35 > 0:07:39user recently say that she was greeted outside the clinic by a
0:07:39 > 0:07:45protester or sidewalk counsellor with the mummy please don't kill me,
0:07:45 > 0:07:52I love you mummy. They are told that they will die of cancer, that God
0:07:52 > 0:08:00will punish them, they are holy water thrown at them.God help me I
0:08:00 > 0:08:05just hope that the people on the panel will ask for a very concrete
0:08:05 > 0:08:08evidence of this, none -- none of you will represent an reduced
0:08:08 > 0:08:13evidence against you just because they say to be so. ... Have two
0:08:13 > 0:08:18cameras trained on the base their book a new and in spring this year
0:08:18 > 0:08:21just so they can have a better view of us all the time. That we're
0:08:21 > 0:08:26blocking women enter, were grabbing hold of them were shutting the gate
0:08:26 > 0:08:31of women, where Facebook live Street and women. All these things are
0:08:31 > 0:08:33happening the sole evidence otherwise no evidence of it. There's
0:08:33 > 0:08:39no evidence because it is not happening.Have been cases where was
0:08:39 > 0:08:42by, whether have been cases of somebody standing in front of an
0:08:42 > 0:08:45entrance or following somebody was left the clinic, or sending
0:08:45 > 0:08:49threatening messages to staff, do you agree that that is intimidation
0:08:49 > 0:08:54and that it should not happen?To the best of my knowledge none of
0:08:54 > 0:08:57those in incidence exists and I believe that they should not happen.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59of the Unborn Child doesn't take part in vigils but supports
0:08:59 > 0:09:03organisations that do.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Many women that are arriving at abortion clinics and they're not
0:09:06 > 0:09:09decided they've not got a clear-cut decision yes I want to go through
0:09:09 > 0:09:14with my abortion. Huge pressure is on these women, from boyfriends to
0:09:14 > 0:09:18families, they are worried about the future, there is some peaceful
0:09:18 > 0:09:25prayer for woman, person offering him a lifeline, -- offering them
0:09:25 > 0:09:29alternatives. And they take that. Let's figure out these women. Whose
0:09:29 > 0:09:32lives have been turned around for the better because they've
0:09:32 > 0:09:38encountered a pro-life pavement counsellor who has given them a true
0:09:38 > 0:09:41choice about the decision that they're facing.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42Abortion
0:09:42 > 0:09:43providers
0:09:43 > 0:09:44pointed to Australia
0:09:44 > 0:09:46where clinics have buffer zones of 150 metres.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Clare Murphy said the protests were forcing women to
0:09:48 > 0:09:52turn to other means.
0:09:52 > 0:09:58Particularly where there are activist potentially with cameras,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01women were in situations where they just cannot risk their
0:10:01 > 0:10:06confidentiality, they cannot risk the family finding out. Who are
0:10:06 > 0:10:11going online to order, to try to order pills to try and take at home
0:10:11 > 0:10:15because they feel that this activity as I clinics is just an absolute,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19this is an absolute impediment to them accessing the services.Would
0:10:19 > 0:10:23you be prepared to come to a voluntary agreement that you would
0:10:23 > 0:10:26voluntarily effectively operate a buffer zone and would not be a
0:10:26 > 0:10:31certain distance from the clinic doors so that nobody had to pass you
0:10:31 > 0:10:36on the way to the clinic.Looking at the hundreds of women we see every
0:10:36 > 0:10:40year who take our help and feel that they haven't had up to instantly
0:10:40 > 0:10:45dump dead inside his clinics, I'm noticing anyways I'm going to move
0:10:45 > 0:10:48away from the nearest opportunity to give the woman's the leaflet as she
0:10:48 > 0:10:50is going the door.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52The debate about abortion clinics.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Back in the Commons, there was a call for new powers
0:10:55 > 0:10:57to stop stalkers and domestic abusers using the courts to cause
0:10:58 > 0:11:01further distress to their victims.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04A Plaid Cymru MP wants courts to be able to dismiss "meritless
0:11:04 > 0:11:08applications" amid concerns that "baseless, vexatious"
0:11:08 > 0:11:12claims were being made in the civil courts.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17The purpose of this bill is to limit the ability of perpetrators of
0:11:17 > 0:11:21primarily domestic abuse, stalking, and harassment, their ability to
0:11:21 > 0:11:26use, indeed misuse, or abuse, family and civil courts as a cynical and
0:11:26 > 0:11:30calculus -- totally a method to cause further distress and to
0:11:30 > 0:11:32exercise deliberate control over the actions of their victims.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34exercise deliberate control over the actions of their victims.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37One victim had faced repeated court cases in which he had to face
0:11:37 > 0:11:43being questioned by his stalker who was under a restraining order:
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Lucy's partner had a restraining order, having been charged with
0:11:47 > 0:11:52stalking her. He is taking Lucy to court 15 times in civil and family
0:11:52 > 0:11:57courts. This is cost around £25,000. But many people she is not eligible
0:11:57 > 0:12:03for legal aid in the circumstances. Victims of abuse often -- years of
0:12:03 > 0:12:07abuse, are obliged to present core protocol to face her abusers, to sit
0:12:07 > 0:12:12with them in waiting rooms, to be in close proximity to them in court
0:12:12 > 0:12:13rooms, and to undergo cross in person.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15rooms, and to undergo cross in person.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17And she said if cases were allowed to go ahead,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20the victims of abuse or stalking should be allowed to give evidence
0:12:20 > 0:12:22behind a screen or by video link.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Liz Saville Roberts was allowed to introduce her bill
0:12:25 > 0:12:30but without government support it has little chance of becoming law.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32You're watching Tuesday in Parliament, with me, Mandy Baker.
0:12:32 > 0:12:41Don't forget you can find all our programmes on the BBC Iplayer.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Now, plans to change the way refuges for victims of domestic violence
0:12:44 > 0:12:48are funded have been strongly criticised by MPs.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51The Government proposes giving local councils a protected grant to pay
0:12:51 > 0:12:53for all supported housing.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56This would cover refuges but would also include housing
0:12:56 > 0:12:58for other groups of people such as offenders, drug
0:12:59 > 0:13:00addicts and the homeless.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04In Westminster Hall, the Labour MP Jess Phillips related
0:13:04 > 0:13:06some of the experiences she had when she worked for
0:13:06 > 0:13:10the organisation, Women's Aid.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14I remember a woman coming into the refuge where I worked, she could not
0:13:14 > 0:13:21speak or eat, as she had been part of her control. I will never forget
0:13:21 > 0:13:25what watching the refuge workers at sitting her for hours, gently
0:13:25 > 0:13:29feeding her, teaching her how to feed herself again. I rub her
0:13:29 > 0:13:34another family where the mother had been so belittled, so dehumanize by
0:13:34 > 0:13:38her abuser that she could not parent your kids any more. She had no power
0:13:38 > 0:13:44or influence over them at all. She criticised a proposal to hunt -- the
0:13:44 > 0:13:49bare minimum is that someone should be no more than a phone call away,
0:13:49 > 0:13:59these people are at risk, how's the going to, this money and what
0:13:59 > 0:14:09they're spending it on. , commissioned actually help people.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14Because local need which is what has been outlined has been very
0:14:14 > 0:14:19different things. I want is a little girls given back their childhood. I
0:14:19 > 0:14:22want to securing well-paid support workers sitting over their clients
0:14:22 > 0:14:26were so traumatised the cannot eat. I want lives to be rebuilt. I don't
0:14:26 > 0:14:32want a bed for the night, I know my local schools also played an
0:14:32 > 0:14:40important role fighting has schools in which there is violence.... We
0:14:40 > 0:14:46also need help to give victims the competent support to extirpate
0:14:46 > 0:14:48themselves and toxic relationships and try to instill faith in their
0:14:48 > 0:14:52own strength to live with a violent or abusive partner. Refugees can
0:14:52 > 0:14:55play crucial role in nine the Government proposal is not changing
0:14:55 > 0:14:58the entitlement of the services, nonetheless I'm very glad the
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Government is taking aromatic approach by committing to her view
0:15:01 > 0:15:07of the new funding to ensure that his work is at this shed.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Following the coalition government's decision to transfer the support
0:15:10 > 0:15:13element of funding for refugees into local authority budgets,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16while making huge cuts to council funding, 17% of specialist refugees
0:15:16 > 0:15:19have closed by 2014 and it's little wonder, then,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23that putting the entirety of state funding for refugees into the hands
0:15:23 > 0:15:26of already under pressure local authorities has caused the member
0:15:26 > 0:15:28for Birmingham Yardley and others working in
0:15:28 > 0:15:38the sector so much concern.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40There have been several family members that have been
0:15:41 > 0:15:43direct victims of quite
0:15:43 > 0:15:46extreme domestic abuse and I've seen through luck, through their own
0:15:46 > 0:15:49strength, and energy and determination that they've been
0:15:49 > 0:15:52able to change that trajectory and make sure it wasn't
0:15:52 > 0:15:54something that was repeated for future generations.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57I think it is down to their character and luck that they've been
0:15:57 > 0:16:00able to do that and that is not something that is afforded
0:16:00 > 0:16:03to everyone and that is why government must intervene.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07The new funding model will see all housing costs,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10core rent and eligible service charges funded by a ring fenced
0:16:10 > 0:16:14grants to be distributed by local authorities and we intend that ring
0:16:14 > 0:16:16fence to remain in the long term.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19We also intend to use grant conditions to ensure
0:16:19 > 0:16:25that the funding is spent where it is intended.
0:16:25 > 0:16:33What I'd like to do is invite the honourable lady for Yardley
0:16:33 > 0:16:36to meet with myself and my honourable friend to discuss some
0:16:36 > 0:16:39of these issues in more depth, particularly in terms of appropriate
0:16:39 > 0:16:42accommodation and the examples that she mentioned in that sense,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45the wider issues that she raised.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48As members have pointed out as well, there is a consultation on funding
0:16:48 > 0:16:51which closes on the 23rd of January.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55So there is still time for organisations to have their say
0:16:55 > 0:17:00and I would encourage them to come forward and do that.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05I welcome the Minister's statement and what I will say
0:17:05 > 0:17:09is that the reality on the ground never feels quite like what is being
0:17:09 > 0:17:13presented to me at whichever particular dispatch box
0:17:13 > 0:17:16but I will never ever ever stop pointing that out until what is said
0:17:16 > 0:17:26to me feels exactly like what it feels like to get someone a refuge
0:17:30 > 0:17:39bed at ten to five when the office is shutting on a Friday.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Because, at the moment it feels impossible.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43At the weekend the chairman of a major London
0:17:44 > 0:17:45hospital trust resigned.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Lord Kerslake claimed that ministers were simply not addressing
0:17:47 > 0:17:48the financial challenges facing the NHS.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50But when an urgent question about his resignation
0:17:50 > 0:17:52was asked in the Commons, he came under sustained attack
0:17:52 > 0:17:55from Conservative MPs.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Kings is receiving substantial financial support from
0:17:57 > 0:18:00the Department of Health.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03During this financial year the trust is receiving £135 million of support
0:18:03 > 0:18:05in order to maintain front line services.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08This is the second highest level of support across England.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13Both the level of deficit and speed of deterioration is an acceptable,
0:18:13 > 0:18:18as I'm sure all honourable members would agree and while no trust
0:18:18 > 0:18:21or hospital is an island, it is right that those charged
0:18:21 > 0:18:26with leading it should take responsibility for such results.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31The chief financial officer and Chief Operating Officer both
0:18:31 > 0:18:35resigned last month and, as we know, Lord Kerslake left on Sunday.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40The trust will now receive even more support with the appointment
0:18:40 > 0:18:48of a financial improvement director.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51The organisation will be required to implement a plan
0:18:51 > 0:18:55to prove its finances to be more closely monitored
0:18:55 > 0:18:56by NHS Improvement.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59On top of special measures and subject to due process,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02NHS Improvement intends to appoint Ian Smith as a new and experienced
0:19:02 > 0:19:04interim chair for Kings to take control of the organisation.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Harriet Harman.
0:19:06 > 0:19:06In
0:19:06 > 0:19:12Doesn't the Minister realise that the problem at Kings is not
0:19:12 > 0:19:15the leadership any more than it is the growing number
0:19:15 > 0:19:16of patients or the dedicated staff.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20The problem at Kings is not enough money.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23And he shows no recognition of the fact that over the last
0:19:23 > 0:19:27two years they've already cut £80 million, double the rate that
0:19:27 > 0:19:30other hospitals have had to cut, and they've taken on an ailing trust
0:19:30 > 0:19:33in order to help out the wider NHS and now they've been told
0:19:33 > 0:19:41that they've got to make even further cuts.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Several South London MPs pointed to the background behind
0:19:43 > 0:19:51the financial problems at Kings.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53The root of this current financial crisis go back to 2013
0:19:53 > 0:19:57to the collapse of the South London health care trust and the decision
0:19:57 > 0:19:58to incorporate two additional hospitals which were failing
0:19:58 > 0:20:01in their services into Kings trust without adequate funding
0:20:01 > 0:20:02to support that decision.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04This has been followed by year-on-year real term revenue cuts,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07next to zero capital funding and all the time demand and need
0:20:07 > 0:20:11in our community is going up.
0:20:11 > 0:20:17their work calls for a commission to be setup to look the issues.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Over the decades we have perpetrated the fiction that we can
0:20:20 > 0:20:22have a Scandinavian level of public service an American-style levels of
0:20:22 > 0:20:24taxation and this is the reason why.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27I would ask the Minister to heed the call of the member of Parliament
0:20:27 > 0:20:30for Totnes and many others across this house and set up
0:20:30 > 0:20:33a proper convention to look at what is the sustainable model,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37not just for Kings but for the whole of the NHS so that we can
0:20:37 > 0:20:42continue to get the services our constituents deserve.
0:20:42 > 0:20:50A series of Conservatives attacked the record of Kings.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Under Lord Kerslake's watch £715,000 last year was spent off
0:20:52 > 0:20:53payroll on an interim director.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57£30,000 a month was spent on temporary managers.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01There is a problem in this country with this scandalous waste
0:21:01 > 0:21:04of tax payers' money.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07What we have here is one of Labour's top advisers jumping in in a blaze
0:21:07 > 0:21:10of politically motivated publicity before being pushed out for woeful
0:21:10 > 0:21:12financial mismanagement.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Given the noble Lord's Kerslake much-publicised association
0:21:15 > 0:21:23with the current Labour leadership should it come as any surprise
0:21:23 > 0:21:26that the trust he was chairing would run out of taxpayers money.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28And isn't the truth that he actually jumped and squeaked
0:21:28 > 0:21:30before he was pushed.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Now, rail fares are about to see their largest
0:21:32 > 0:21:35increase for five years.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Fares in Britain will go up by an average of 3.4% from 2nd January.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41The increase is the biggest since 2013.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44The price rise will affect regulated fares, which includes season
0:21:44 > 0:21:48tickets, and unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50In the Lords peers wanted to know why such a big
0:21:50 > 0:21:54increase was necessary.
0:21:54 > 0:22:00An annual season ticket from Swindon to London will increase by £304.
0:22:00 > 0:22:10For many years now the government has frozen fuel duty to help
0:22:11 > 0:22:14motorists so will the Minister agree that government should now freeze
0:22:14 > 0:22:23rail fares for the coming year to help rail passengers?
0:22:23 > 0:22:26The noble lady raises the point on freezing fuel duty
0:22:26 > 0:22:31which is obviously widely welcomed by motorists following the budget,
0:22:31 > 0:22:35I'm afraid were not able to freeze rail fares because by doing
0:22:35 > 0:22:39so we would have to decrease the investment in our
0:22:39 > 0:22:49which is sorely needed.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52Not only is the whole
0:22:52 > 0:22:55area of rail fares very complicated it is in fact discriminatory
0:22:55 > 0:22:58when you look at many people in this country who do not have access
0:22:58 > 0:23:01to Internet or to computers and they find trying to get
0:23:01 > 0:23:03deals on railways almost impossible and they also find,
0:23:03 > 0:23:09like I do, that the stations are not always accessible because the staff
0:23:09 > 0:23:12are on training or sick and we stand there in the rain waiting for
0:23:12 > 0:23:22the train, it's not a good picture.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25My Lords, I recognise that the fare system can sometimes be complicated
0:23:25 > 0:23:28and indeed illogical.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Of course, many tickets are now bought online but for those
0:23:31 > 0:23:34who don't use the Internet the rail minister is working on a fares
0:23:34 > 0:23:35and ticketing action plan.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Amongst other things, they are working on reducing jargon
0:23:37 > 0:23:40and improving the vending machines at stations and they've
0:23:40 > 0:23:43extended the availability of advanced purchase fares.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Which you can now purchase at the station on the day of travel.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Well, it may have escaped your notice but Tuesday
0:23:51 > 0:23:52was National Postal Workers' Day.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55The event is organised by the Communications Workers Union.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Members across the Commons agreed postmen and women
0:23:57 > 0:24:00did an excellent job.
0:24:00 > 0:24:07But one MP called for a dramatic policy change.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Royal Mail was up for sale under this government
0:24:10 > 0:24:12the privatisation they faced worsening conditions on tax
0:24:12 > 0:24:14and pensions and the prospect of more job losses.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Will the Minister re-nationalise the Royal Mail?
0:24:16 > 0:24:22Minister!
0:24:22 > 0:24:24I'd like to start by heartily agreeing
0:24:24 > 0:24:32with the right honourable gentleman's celebration
0:24:32 > 0:24:37of our postal workers today who will deliver,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39as he says, in all weather to 29 million addresses across the
0:24:39 > 0:24:41country over the festive season.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43I can't agree with him that renationalisation is the answer.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Does the Minister agree with me that regardless of ownership Royal Mail
0:24:46 > 0:24:49needs to continue to modernise and become more efficient because it
0:24:49 > 0:24:50operates in a very increasingly competitive marketplace.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Minister!
0:24:52 > 0:24:56My honourable friend makes a very good point.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58When it was privatised, Amazon was one of Royal Mail's
0:24:58 > 0:24:59biggest customers.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Amazon now is one of its biggest competitors.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03So my honourable friend is absolutely
0:25:03 > 0:25:06right.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08More investment required in technology and in modernisation.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Margot James.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14So that ends Day Six of detailed debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill.
0:25:14 > 0:25:21And important though it is, it can be a bit, well, dry.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24The power could not be used to remove functions relating
0:25:24 > 0:25:28to rights and protections, as are the concerns of the Amendment
0:25:28 > 0:25:31342 and new clause 37, unless somehow they became deficient
0:25:31 > 0:25:33outside the EU and removing functions entirely was
0:25:33 > 0:25:35an appropriate response.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38All of which would, of course, be laid out in the accompanying
0:25:38 > 0:25:40explanatory memorandum.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Taking dryness to a whole new dimension:
0:25:42 > 0:25:46the Brexit minister, Steve Baker.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48And that's it from me, Mandy Baker no relation.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52Do join me again at the same time tomorrow.
0:25:52 > 0:25:58But for now, goodbye.