0:00:23 > 0:00:25Hello there, and welcome to the programme.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Coming up in the next half hour: the government confirms it
0:00:28 > 0:00:30won't appeal a high court ruling on benefit payments for people
0:00:30 > 0:00:31with mental illness.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36Labour reckons it's good news for hard pressed claimants.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39The cuts that have been brought on disabled people by this government
0:00:39 > 0:00:41is an absolute disgrace.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Also on this programme: the former chair of the social mobility
0:00:44 > 0:00:46commission says ministers weren't willing or able to "put
0:00:46 > 0:00:52their shoulders to the wheel" to tackle the problem.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56And an MP says it's time to put an end to rip off
0:00:56 > 0:01:00rickshaw rides in london.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06Charging 2- £300 to go the half-mile from Oxford Circus.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08But first: the work and pensions secretary has confirmed
0:01:08 > 0:01:10that up to 220,000 people could have their benefits
0:01:10 > 0:01:14restored to a higher level, following a high court ruling.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Ministers announced on Friday that they would not appeal
0:01:16 > 0:01:18against a high court judgment on disability benefits.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20The row is over those with mental health conditions
0:01:20 > 0:01:22and whether they should qualify for higher rates of
0:01:22 > 0:01:30personal independence payments, known as pips.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34An SNP MP asked the new work and pensions secretary to come
0:01:34 > 0:01:37to the commons and explain what would happen now.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Esther McVey said the government would write to those affected
0:01:39 > 0:01:42and payments would be backdated.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47We are not appealing the outcome of the recent High Court judgment in
0:01:47 > 0:01:51order to provide certainty to our climate. Our next steps will build
0:01:51 > 0:01:53on the positive work this government is already undertaking, including
0:01:53 > 0:02:02spending on main disability benefits, pip, DLA and attendance
0:02:02 > 0:02:05allowance has risen by four points 2 billion cents Ted 2010. Real
0:02:05 > 0:02:11spending on disability benefits will be higher every year to 2010 Dan in
0:02:11 > 0:02:152010.How long will it take to carry out the review? Out what longer will
0:02:15 > 0:02:19these people have to wait to receive the money that they rely on and the
0:02:19 > 0:02:24money that rightfully unlawfully is theirs. Can the Secretary of State
0:02:24 > 0:02:29explain why her apartment as amassing such an appalling that...
0:02:29 > 0:02:34Doesn't that tell the Government something about these cuts? Finally,
0:02:34 > 0:02:42will she not come to the... System its most fundamental principle is
0:02:42 > 0:02:46not to upgrade the budget but to protect the respect and dignity of
0:02:46 > 0:02:48those who rely on it rather than continuing think to punish people
0:02:48 > 0:02:52for having disabilities.Hear, hear! When you are trying to expand
0:02:52 > 0:02:55support it is not always going to be easy, so we knew at the time we were
0:02:55 > 0:02:59taking on a very difficult change and it would no doubt be legal
0:02:59 > 0:03:06challenges. But do you know what? When there is legal challenges, Mr
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Speaker, we've got to look at them, take a true and fair judgment, and
0:03:10 > 0:03:14carry on that path. And on this instance I do believe I made a fair
0:03:14 > 0:03:20judgment. I have to say the Secretary of State's statement, to
0:03:20 > 0:03:23any disabledperson watching this will be absolutely gob smacked.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Hear, hear! And to say there is a commitment to
0:03:27 > 0:03:31disabled people when the human committee on the rights of disabled
0:03:31 > 0:03:35people has said it is a human catastrophe, the cuts that have been
0:03:35 > 0:03:40brought on disabled people by this government is an absolute disgrace.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42And she asked, how many people
0:03:42 > 0:03:44would be affected by the decision.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48How many people could this be effecting? It could affect up to
0:03:48 > 0:03:53220,000 people. And that's why we are taking this process very
0:03:53 > 0:03:59seriously and we as a department will be reaching out to those people
0:03:59 > 0:04:07once we know exactly what we are doing.As for the UN, how did he
0:04:07 > 0:04:14figures that she has given compare internationally?Again, and other
0:04:14 > 0:04:21good point raised by my right honourable friend. The UK is one of
0:04:21 > 0:04:25the most generous countries in the world when it comes to supporting
0:04:25 > 0:04:33its disabled people.Hear, hear! Only Germany in the G7 spends more.
0:04:33 > 0:04:41We disband what is deemed appropriate, available and that we
0:04:41 > 0:04:47have -- we do spend. Which is over £50 billion. But as I say, and I
0:04:47 > 0:04:49will reiterated, we are one of the most generous countries in the
0:04:49 > 0:04:53world.And other colleagues at last year we should listen to the message
0:04:53 > 0:04:56that the courts were giving us, accepting their ruling would be a
0:04:56 > 0:05:02significant step forward... Booker the Select Committee were about to
0:05:02 > 0:05:08publish an article... Please will the Secretary of State commit to
0:05:08 > 0:05:11seriously considering our recommendations for what we can do
0:05:11 > 0:05:16to improve both of those benefits it comes?The Secretary of State talks
0:05:16 > 0:05:20of the unnecessary vilification of her policies. When it was her given
0:05:20 > 0:05:22to a responsible for the vilification of so many mentally
0:05:22 > 0:05:27disabled people by presenting them as applying for benefits for which
0:05:27 > 0:05:31they are not entitled.Hear, hear! And I have seen the misery these
0:05:31 > 0:05:34decisions have cost us so many of my constituents, including those
0:05:34 > 0:05:38suffering from host dramatic stress syndrome as a consequence of sexual
0:05:38 > 0:05:41abuse. So we'll she now guaranteed to them the maximum amount of time
0:05:41 > 0:05:45that they will have to wait to have their cases reviewed?Hear, hear!
0:05:45 > 0:05:54Thank you. It is unfortunate when members of the opposition try and
0:05:54 > 0:05:58ratchet the level of the motion up in the Chamber. Especially when it
0:05:58 > 0:06:06is very emotional as it is. Nobody has ever sought to vilify anybody.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11Hear, hear! And I think if we could get that on
0:06:11 > 0:06:20the record now, this is not about vilification about anybody. It's not
0:06:20 > 0:06:24about vilification. It is about giving the right support to those
0:06:24 > 0:06:26people who need it.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27The work and pensions secretary, Esther McVey.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31The former head of the social mobility commission, alan milburn,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33says the government lacks the willingness and ability
0:06:33 > 0:06:43to deal with the "social crisis" facing the country.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45The commission's four board members quit in December in protest
0:06:45 > 0:06:53at a lack of action on the agenda.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Giving evidence to the education select committee, Alan Milburn said
0:06:55 > 0:06:57there had been "disengagement" about the watchdog's status,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00which had seen its membership shrink from ten commissioners to four.
0:07:00 > 0:07:06We had an independent -- independent department and I was it. ... We then
0:07:06 > 0:07:13made recommendations to government about who was avoidable. It took
0:07:13 > 0:07:17almost a year for the Government to decide -- who was avoidable. That
0:07:17 > 0:07:20none of the people that we recommended work suitable for
0:07:20 > 0:07:28appointment. And in that time by the way, none of the candidates heard
0:07:28 > 0:07:31anything. And effectively and I insisted a letter of apology be sent
0:07:31 > 0:07:35to candidates and a the other applicants.If the Government is not
0:07:35 > 0:07:43going to renew our position, then we will be left with three. We know
0:07:43 > 0:07:49this is my sense. If it requires ten people it requires ten people. And I
0:07:49 > 0:07:57felt that it was an intolerable position for staff and it was not in
0:07:57 > 0:08:03a position to be working in the way it had been intended.Good
0:08:03 > 0:08:07initiative, good Ministers that try to do the right thing, but overall I
0:08:07 > 0:08:13think the conclusion was that it didn't seem that the Government had
0:08:13 > 0:08:17the either ability or willingness to put their collective shoulders to
0:08:17 > 0:08:23the wheel... Why was that? It is pretty obvious in a sense. Ashley is
0:08:23 > 0:08:30understandable. Brexit is fiercely complex, probably the most complex
0:08:30 > 0:08:34international negotiations and has ever been. And the conclusions I
0:08:34 > 0:08:39reached was that unfortunately. The Government left then with to really
0:08:39 > 0:08:44match the rhetoric with the reality. I said that as a matter of regret, I
0:08:44 > 0:08:53really do.I think also with Brexit actually that there may well be
0:08:53 > 0:08:57quite a lot of turmoil one way or another. And a lot of change to cope
0:08:57 > 0:09:05with which means that social change will become even more important.
0:09:05 > 0:09:12Former education secretary, Gillian, now Lady Shephard.
0:09:12 > 0:09:22The culture secretary has come under pressure from opposition MPs
0:09:23 > 0:09:26to "prohibit" Rupert Murdoch's £11 billion bid to take full
0:09:26 > 0:09:27control of the broadcaster, Sky.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29The demands came after the competition and markets authority,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32the CMA, said the takeover was not in the public interest as it
0:09:32 > 0:09:35would give the Murdoch family trust too much influence over public
0:09:35 > 0:09:39opinion and the political agenda.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43But Sky could end up owned by disney if Mr Murdoch's
0:09:43 > 0:09:47proposed sale of Fox, which owns 39% of Sky, goes ahead.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49In a statement the culture secretary said that the CMA's
0:09:49 > 0:09:50findings were provisional.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54A final report is expected in May.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58I hope the House will understand that I cannot comment successively
0:09:58 > 0:10:01on the original report before us anonymously for the final report
0:10:01 > 0:10:06before commenting commenting. I am however aware of the keen interest
0:10:06 > 0:10:10across the House on this important matter. And I know that members will
0:10:10 > 0:10:14be closely scrutinizing the provisional findings and will have
0:10:14 > 0:10:20views on them. InNovember, sky has threatened to shut down Sky News if
0:10:20 > 0:10:25it lived to be a plurality obstacle in their bid. Will be reject any
0:10:25 > 0:10:30attempt by the Murdochs to blackmail him or the regulator by threatening
0:10:30 > 0:10:37sky's staff.Hear, hear! .I will follow the process by
0:10:37 > 0:10:39taking into consideration the final report once it is published by the
0:10:39 > 0:10:44ECMA. I will consider what it says, I will consider all the relevant
0:10:44 > 0:10:47evidence and information -- published by the CMA. And then make
0:10:47 > 0:10:54a decision.Mr Speaker, we hear reports that owners of Sky would be
0:10:54 > 0:10:58willing to close down Sky News if it becomes an impeachment in the Bill,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01with a possible loss of 500 jobs. Can the Secretary of State confirm
0:11:01 > 0:11:05that he will not allow employers of Sky to be used as pawns in any
0:11:05 > 0:11:12takeover in this final decision coming to vote? ... What impact will
0:11:12 > 0:11:17this have on his final decision on a given that Disney's reported lack of
0:11:17 > 0:11:24interest in news broadcasting.Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Well, it
0:11:24 > 0:11:28is a matter of law that whilst consideration of this proposal is
0:11:28 > 0:11:35ongoing, sky news cannot be shut down in advance of a decision.When
0:11:35 > 0:11:42it comes to plurality, and he just bear in mind that the greatest
0:11:42 > 0:11:46disaster that could befall plurality of media in this country would be
0:11:46 > 0:11:49from sky News which is after all a lossmaking enterprise, although
0:11:49 > 0:11:54extremely good. If that enterprise were to be closed.First applied it
0:11:54 > 0:11:58is very important that he and the CMA should not allow back door
0:11:58 > 0:12:01attempt by the Murdochs to get control of Sky from the so-called
0:12:01 > 0:12:07remedies process. The simple way to stop this deal going ahead is to
0:12:07 > 0:12:12prohibit it, not to have some carved out or some complicated process.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17This is personal. This is basically leftist, particularly the party
0:12:17 > 0:12:23opposite who don't like Murdoch. If this involve any other media
0:12:23 > 0:12:26organization, the shadow Secretary of State in the party opposite would
0:12:26 > 0:12:30have nothing at all to say. This is something that is personal. You
0:12:30 > 0:12:31should bear that in mind.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33You're watching tuesday in parliament, with me,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35alicia mccarthy.
0:12:44 > 0:12:44Tuesday is cabinet meeting day.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Cabinet arrivals and apart from these sorts of pictures
0:12:46 > 0:12:49of all the senior figures striding up downing street, there's
0:12:49 > 0:12:50generally not much to say.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52But this tuesday was different because it'd been widely reported
0:12:52 > 0:12:55that the foreign secretary, boris johnson, was planning to pitch
0:12:55 > 0:12:57for £100-a-week boost for the nhs in england,
0:12:57 > 0:12:58as a "brexit dividend".
0:12:58 > 0:13:05Well, we don't know exactly what transpired at the meeting
0:13:05 > 0:13:07but theresa may did make a plea for discussions about future
0:13:07 > 0:13:08funding to remain private.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10In the afternoon, jeremy hunt was appearing before
0:13:10 > 0:13:19the health committee and the subject came up.
0:13:19 > 0:13:27In the run-up to today's events. You supported the foreign secretaries
0:13:27 > 0:13:38cause for the NHS. How did that go? I don't think any help section
0:13:38 > 0:13:43secretary, resources for his or her department. Obviously, you
0:13:43 > 0:13:48understand been telling you about the precise content of the Cabinet.
0:13:48 > 0:13:53Is the Foreign Secretary, making these comments public in getting his
0:13:53 > 0:13:58people to brief them today's running?I am not able to comment
0:13:58 > 0:14:02about what happened, but I would say that there was a Brexit debate and
0:14:02 > 0:14:14then NHS debate, and indication of those two debates coming together.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17There is not going to be any money flowing, so where's this money going
0:14:17 > 0:14:22come from? Will have to ask the Foreign Secretary.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24In addition to touching on cabinet tensions,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26the health committee was chiefly concerned with what might happen
0:14:26 > 0:14:29to the provision of medicines after the uk leaves the eu.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30Jeremy hunt was asked about a transition deal.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Jeremy hunt.
0:14:35 > 0:14:43We need one now. The Business Secretary could, based on, the
0:14:43 > 0:15:01status -- status quo, again today. No, the reality of these things, no,
0:15:01 > 0:15:11these communications of the EU and the...The EU could agree now?I
0:15:11 > 0:15:15think that is a question you have to address to David Davis, but we have
0:15:15 > 0:15:20made it very clear that the transition deal, that was agreed
0:15:20 > 0:15:25with the EU in December, and I think a pretty imported moment in the
0:15:25 > 0:15:27negotiations, also moving onto discussions in the future
0:15:27 > 0:15:33relationship. There are going to be some eyes to be dotted and send
0:15:33 > 0:15:40feedback need to be crossed, it was a broad agreement, as far as the
0:15:40 > 0:15:44sectors concerned is along the lines that we would all... I am very
0:15:44 > 0:15:49confident that we can add the transition deal.We've heard from a
0:15:49 > 0:15:52number of people in different trade associations, that British patients
0:15:52 > 0:15:59will receive new medicines more slowly than they do at the moment.
0:15:59 > 0:16:05And that obviously can be critical for patient's treatment. How are we
0:16:05 > 0:16:12going to deal with that issue after Brexit?I think the first point to
0:16:12 > 0:16:19make is that, British patients currently receive medicines to
0:16:19 > 0:16:29slowly. -- too slowly. And part of the catalytic effect of Brexit was
0:16:29 > 0:16:38for us to look much harder. And one of those is the fact that when they
0:16:38 > 0:16:44develop new drugs in the UK, it takes too long to get picked up by
0:16:44 > 0:16:52the NHS. And that is a significant negative as far as we are concerned.
0:16:52 > 0:16:58So we are looking more broadly, for patient's safety, it is an absolute
0:16:58 > 0:17:08priority to make sure that things do not slow down as a result of Brexit.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10The justice secretary says the "most stringent" licensing conditions must
0:17:10 > 0:17:13be placed on the black cab rapist, John Worboys when he is
0:17:13 > 0:17:15released from prison.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19Worboys is believed to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual
0:17:19 > 0:17:25assaults on women in London between 2002 and 2008.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28He was transferred from HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire to HMP
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Belmarsh, south-east London, at the weekend ahead
0:17:31 > 0:17:38of his expected release.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40David Gauke said that while the "precise conditions"
0:17:40 > 0:17:42for parole are decided at an "operational level",
0:17:42 > 0:17:44he had written to the authorities stressing the need to ensure
0:17:44 > 0:17:47that the concerns of victims were put at the heart of this process".
0:17:47 > 0:17:53The case was raised by a conservative MP.
0:17:53 > 0:18:03They propose to release him, and it is terrifying. And like his victims,
0:18:03 > 0:18:09they are appalled to learn that he is been moved to the new prison, he
0:18:09 > 0:18:15will do absolutely everything in his power to ensure that Worboys is
0:18:15 > 0:18:22released to keep him out of Greater London.What I say to my honourable
0:18:22 > 0:18:32friend who has been tireless on this matter in recent weeks. Is that
0:18:32 > 0:18:36first of all, when it comes to the precise conditions, those are
0:18:36 > 0:18:42operational matters that are not this -- are decided and operational
0:18:42 > 0:18:50level. Stressing the needs that the concerns of victims at the heart of
0:18:50 > 0:18:56this process and ensuring that the most stringent measures are taken in
0:18:56 > 0:19:02place in terms of the conditions will stopand the review of public
0:19:02 > 0:19:09safety, the victims of Worboys, can they confirm that the government
0:19:09 > 0:19:12will at least co-operate with the judicial review now being brought by
0:19:12 > 0:19:19victims?Well, I've been, and I think my honourable friend for her
0:19:19 > 0:19:29question? I set out that I would not be pursuing a traditional review on
0:19:29 > 0:19:33behalf of the government in this case. But I also made it very clear
0:19:33 > 0:19:37that I would not say or do anything that would stand in the way of
0:19:37 > 0:19:47others who may have different meanings into a traditional review.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51He has not been prosecuted for the vast majority of his crimes, how is
0:19:51 > 0:19:55the government working with victims, to make sure that they are
0:19:55 > 0:20:07prosecuted for their crimes?It is troubled us all. It has troubled me
0:20:07 > 0:20:13personally. Of course it has. In this particular case, the state is
0:20:13 > 0:20:17investigating the review from a probation point of view. As the
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Secretary of State has already said, there are operational
0:20:21 > 0:20:24responsibilities here and response to where she is transferred to and
0:20:24 > 0:20:29his directions -- he.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34The government's been accused of 'playing games' by not setting
0:20:34 > 0:20:36out its preferred plan for the post-Brexit relationship
0:20:36 > 0:20:38between the EU and the UK's financial services sector.
0:20:38 > 0:20:44The issue was raised in the House of lords by a liberal democrat
0:20:44 > 0:20:52who chairs a Lords committee on financial affairs.
0:20:52 > 0:20:59What is lacking is a paper, telling the financial services
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Senator. What it should implement and plan for when the transition
0:21:06 > 0:21:13period is over. This is an industry that, more than 1 million jobs are
0:21:13 > 0:21:19at stake, and has huge strategic importance for the United Kingdom.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24But none of the long promised financial service sectors.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Replying the Minister quoted the Minister in the Commons.
0:21:28 > 0:21:38We shall continue to review it, and we will set it out as appropriate.
0:21:38 > 0:21:45And as we continue to be.It is over a year since they reported on the
0:21:45 > 0:21:49financial services and Brexit are produced. We have no clear view of
0:21:49 > 0:21:53what the government thinks, if it had to does not know? And not
0:21:53 > 0:22:06talent? Or is it really just not up to the task?If you did not come
0:22:06 > 0:22:11from the benches opposite, where the labour parties position can only be
0:22:11 > 0:22:17described as, let me just reminded the lady of this cutting I precisely
0:22:17 > 0:22:26what has been happening. There has been an extensive, she knows that we
0:22:26 > 0:22:35are seeking a good trade agreement between the UK and the EU. A
0:22:35 > 0:22:41detailed technical talk which she is well aware. There is an ongoing
0:22:41 > 0:22:45dialogue, this is a delicate sense of time, and to the government must
0:22:45 > 0:22:50be the arbiter of what is appropriate in particular areas.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52A conservative former chancellor, said the Government had
0:22:52 > 0:22:54made clear it wanted the maximum possible access.
0:22:54 > 0:23:01And wasn't it absurd to ask for more detail than that.
0:23:01 > 0:23:07And to ask a government that is trying to negotiate a deal, that is
0:23:07 > 0:23:12not realistic.I should not need to remind the noble Baroness that this
0:23:12 > 0:23:17is only a small part of the United kingdoms financial services
0:23:17 > 0:23:23industry. And a large part of it is in Scotland, Bristol, Leeds, these
0:23:23 > 0:23:28jobs are at risk and this is not the time to be playing games. My neck I
0:23:28 > 0:23:34think she's being a bit harsh in her terminology. We are not playing
0:23:34 > 0:23:39games, and let me tell you in Brusselsthese are complex
0:23:39 > 0:23:44challenging negotiations and be very nature of them, are very sensitive,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47and that involves the need to observe the degree of
0:23:47 > 0:23:48confidentiality.
0:23:48 > 0:23:49Lady Goldie.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Finally, in the Commons there was a call for people
0:23:52 > 0:23:54using cycle rickshaws, or pedicabs to be protected
0:23:54 > 0:23:55from huge rip-off fares.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59The conservative Paul Scully introduced a bill, enabling
0:23:59 > 0:24:03transport for London to regulate the industry.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05He said because pedicabs weren't regulated there was no requirement
0:24:05 > 0:24:08for the estimated 1,400 drivers to have insurance, or for vehicle
0:24:08 > 0:24:14condition or driver quality to be assessed.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Paul Scully said his bill was "simply ironing out an anomaly",
0:24:18 > 0:24:21as London was the only part of the UK where cycle rickshaws
0:24:21 > 0:24:24weren't already regulated.
0:24:24 > 0:24:32And he argued the change would protect customers.
0:24:32 > 0:24:39An undercover film-maker revealed in 2016, examples of rickshaw drivers
0:24:39 > 0:24:46charging Chinese tourist £300 each for a three-minute ride. And
0:24:46 > 0:24:57charging two to £300 to go half a mile,, pedicabs increased traffic
0:24:57 > 0:25:04delays and pollution, obstructing legitimate business. Many play loud
0:25:04 > 0:25:09music. Clearly not all, but on many occasions, there are enough to ruin
0:25:09 > 0:25:12the reputation of those simply trying to earn a living in a
0:25:12 > 0:25:13conscientious way.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Well Paul Scully won the right to take his bill forward.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20But unless the Government backs it, it won't become law.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24And that's it from me for now but do join us on BBC Parliament at 11:00
0:25:24 > 0:25:26on Wednesday night for a full round up of the day
0:25:26 > 0:25:28here at Westminster, including Prime Ministers Questions,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30and the Brexit secretary, David Davis, in front
0:25:30 > 0:25:32of the Brexit committee.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36But for now from me, AM goodbye.