0:00:12 > 0:00:14Hello and welcome to Wednesday in Parliament.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Our look at the best of the day in the Commons and the Lords.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21On this programme...
0:00:21 > 0:00:26Summer is over, new term, new mockery from the new Prime Minister.
0:00:26 > 0:00:34Lewis writes, "Does she know that in a recent poll on who would make
0:00:34 > 0:00:36a better Prime Minister, 'don't know' scored higher
0:00:36 > 0:00:37than Jeremy Corbyn?"
0:00:37 > 0:00:39LAUGHTER.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42But Labour says the Government is muddled and confused over Brexit.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44The outcome has left this country divided with increased
0:00:44 > 0:00:47levels of hate crimes, huge uncertainty about what comes
0:00:47 > 0:00:49next for our country.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51And the great education debate...
0:00:51 > 0:00:54In improving children's life chances, do grammar schools pass
0:00:54 > 0:01:01the test or should they be given a fail mark?
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Grammar schools will benefit a minority of pupils.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08It was their destruction, it was a major cause
0:01:08 > 0:01:12of the reduction in social mobility.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17But first, Wednesday at Westminster means Prime Minister's Question Time
0:01:17 > 0:01:19and the still emerging duel between Theresa May
0:01:19 > 0:01:20and Jeremy Corbyn.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Mr Corbyn could, in theory, have only a couple of
0:01:22 > 0:01:23weeks left in the job.
0:01:23 > 0:01:28The outcome of the battle with his leadership contender,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Owen Smith, will be known two weeks on Saturday.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Facing the Prime Minister, the Labour leader stuck to one
0:01:33 > 0:01:35of his main priority issues, namely housing.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38He said the average price of a house in Britain is now ?215,000,
0:01:38 > 0:01:45eight times the level of the average wage.
0:01:45 > 0:01:55For those...
0:01:56 > 0:01:59For those who are desperate to get their own place,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02I just refer the Prime Minister to a note I received
0:02:02 > 0:02:04from a lady called Jenny, whose partner and herself
0:02:04 > 0:02:07work in a supermarket earning ?7.37 an hour each.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11They are trying to get a mortgage and have been told
0:02:11 > 0:02:15they can borrow ?73,000 - not much hope for them then.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18The former Prime Minister, the right honourable member for Witney,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22promised that there would be a one-for-one replacement
0:02:22 > 0:02:28for every council house that is sold under Right to Buy.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Sadly, the reality is that there is only one for every five sold.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Will the Prime Minister give us a commitment on the one-for-one
0:02:36 > 0:02:38replacement and when it will be a reality?"
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Prime Minister.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Well, firstly, can I say to Jenny that I fully understand
0:02:44 > 0:02:47and appreciate the concerns that individuals have about wanting to be
0:02:47 > 0:02:50able to have their own home and to set up that home.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54I fully recognise the difficulties that there are for some people
0:02:54 > 0:02:57in doing that.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00I have to say to the right honourable gentleman that
0:03:00 > 0:03:03in relation to the figures on council housing, he is wrong,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06we have delivered on the one-for-one replacement on the Right to Buy.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09But, I was...
0:03:09 > 0:03:13I am very interested because I did notice that the right honourable
0:03:13 > 0:03:17gentleman had asked all his Twitter followers what questions he should
0:03:17 > 0:03:21ask me this week, so I thought I would look to see what sort
0:03:21 > 0:03:23of responses he'd received.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I have to say that the first one was quite good.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30In fact, he might want to make sure he stays sitting down for this.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Lewis writes, "Does she know that in a recent poll on who would make
0:03:34 > 0:03:36a better Prime Minister, 'don't know' scored higher
0:03:36 > 0:03:37than Jeremy Corbyn?"
0:03:37 > 0:03:47LAUGHTER.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Mr Speaker, what we do know is that whoever wins the Labour Party
0:03:50 > 0:03:52leadership, we're not going to let them anywhere
0:03:52 > 0:03:53near power again.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55CHEERING.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Jeremy Corbyn.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Mr Speaker, the number of first-time buyers has halved in the last 20
0:04:01 > 0:04:06years and their average age has increased a great deal.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11There is a housing crisis in Britain.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13What I say is what this government is doing,
0:04:13 > 0:04:18is ensuring that we are looking across the board so we will see
0:04:18 > 0:04:22more houses being built, we're looking to ensure
0:04:22 > 0:04:25that there is a diversity of opportunity for people in terms
0:04:25 > 0:04:31of getting their own home.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34But I have to say to the right honourable gentleman that everything
0:04:34 > 0:04:37he says just tells us all we need to know about modern Labour...
0:04:37 > 0:04:40The train has left the station, the seats are all empty,
0:04:40 > 0:04:41the leader is on the floor...
0:04:41 > 0:04:48Even on rolling stock, they are laughing stock.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Jeremy Corbyn went back to the conditions of
0:04:50 > 0:04:55some rented housing.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57The Citizens Advice Bureau says one sixth of housing benefit goes
0:04:57 > 0:05:01to private sector landlords renting out unsafe homes.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Does the Prime Minister think this really is a satisfactory
0:05:04 > 0:05:06state of affairs?
0:05:06 > 0:05:12We are introducing new regulations in relation to housing
0:05:12 > 0:05:14in multiple occupation, so we're looking at
0:05:14 > 0:05:16all of these issues.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21I recognise, as every Member of Parliament in this house will,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24the problems that people sometimes have when they are living
0:05:24 > 0:05:27in accommodation that is not up to the standard that we would all
0:05:27 > 0:05:29wish to see people living in.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32That is why we are looking, we are changing the rules
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and we are ensuring that the regulations are there.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35Jeremy Corbyn.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Well, that is extremely interesting, Mr Speaker, because only one year
0:05:38 > 0:05:40ago the Prime Minister voted against a Labour amendment
0:05:40 > 0:05:43to the Housing Bill which quite simply said all homes rented
0:05:43 > 0:05:46in the private rented sector should be fit for human habitation.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48And just over one year ago the Treasury estimated
0:05:48 > 0:05:55that it is losing half of ?1 billion per year on unpaid tax
0:05:55 > 0:05:58from landlords renting in the private rented sector.
0:05:58 > 0:06:04So there we have it, ?9.5 billion in housing benefit,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07half a billion not being collected, a very large number of homes not
0:06:07 > 0:06:11really fit for human habitation.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Does this not require government intervention on the side of the
0:06:13 > 0:06:15tenant and those in housing need?
0:06:15 > 0:06:19He may have a model of society where he does not want to see
0:06:19 > 0:06:21private landlords, where he wants to see the Government owning
0:06:21 > 0:06:24everything, the Government deliberating on everything
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and the Government doing everything for everybody, that
0:06:27 > 0:06:30is not what we want.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32We want opportunities for people and to help them take
0:06:32 > 0:06:34those opportunities, there is a big difference
0:06:34 > 0:06:35between him and me.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Jeremy Corbyn.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Of course, we all recognise there is a mixed housing economy
0:06:42 > 0:06:46but we want to make sure that those living in the private rented sector
0:06:46 > 0:06:49are properly treated and not having to pay excessive levels of rent.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Jeremy Corbyn.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Well, ten weeks have gone by since the momentous vote
0:06:54 > 0:06:57for the UK to leave the EU.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59But are we any closer to knowing more about the terms
0:06:59 > 0:07:03of Britain's departure and what the country's future
0:07:03 > 0:07:07relationship with the continuing EU will be?
0:07:07 > 0:07:11The issue was focused on at PMQs by the Scottish National Party.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13The UK Government has had all summer to come up
0:07:13 > 0:07:15with a plan, a strategy.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17So far we have just had waffle.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23So may I ask the Prime Minister a very simple question,
0:07:23 > 0:07:31but it is quite important?
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Does she want the UK to remain firmly in
0:07:33 > 0:07:37the European single market?
0:07:37 > 0:07:40What I want in the UK is that we put into place and into practice
0:07:40 > 0:07:43the vote that was taken by the people of the United Kingdom
0:07:43 > 0:07:44to leave the European Union.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48And that we get the right deal for the trading goods and services
0:07:48 > 0:07:50within the European Union and a new relationship
0:07:50 > 0:07:53that we will be building with them and that we will also introduce
0:07:53 > 0:07:55control of the movement of people from the European Union
0:07:55 > 0:07:56into the United Kingdom.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59And I would say to the right honourable gentleman that we can
0:07:59 > 0:08:02approach the vote that took place on 23 June in two ways.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05We could try to row back on it, have a second referendum and say
0:08:05 > 0:08:08that we did not really believe it, but actually we are respecting
0:08:08 > 0:08:10the views of the British people.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13More than that, we will be seizing the opportunities that leaving
0:08:13 > 0:08:16the European Union now gives us to forge a new role
0:08:16 > 0:08:18for the United Kingdom in the world.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19Angus Robertson.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26We on these benches respect the views of the people of Scotland,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30who voted to remain in the European Union.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34The European single market...
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Order.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40The right honourable gentleman must be heard and he will be heard.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47The European single market is the biggest market in the world
0:08:47 > 0:08:55and it really matters to our businesses and to our economy.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59I asked the Prime Minister a very, very simple question, to which there
0:08:59 > 0:09:00is either an in or an out answer.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Let me ask it again.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Does she want the United Kingdom to remain fully part
0:09:04 > 0:09:05of the European single market?
0:09:05 > 0:09:06Yes or no?
0:09:06 > 0:09:10The right honourable gentleman does not seem to quite understand
0:09:10 > 0:09:17what the vote on 23 June was about.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21The United Kingdom will leave the European Union and we will build
0:09:21 > 0:09:26a new relationship with the European Union.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30That new relationship will include control over the movement of people
0:09:30 > 0:09:33from the EU into the UK, and it will include the right deal
0:09:33 > 0:09:35for trade in goods and services.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39That is how to approach it.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43I also say to him that, in looking at the negotiations,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46it would not be right for me or this government to give a running
0:09:46 > 0:09:49commentary on negotiations...
0:09:49 > 0:09:51May I just comment that following the EU referendum
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and under her leadership, I feel more confident
0:09:54 > 0:09:59about the future of this country than ever in my lifetime?
0:09:59 > 0:10:07And...
0:10:07 > 0:10:10And will she beware those who are trying to make leaving
0:10:10 > 0:10:14the European Union ever more complicated and protracted?
0:10:15 > 0:10:16To that end...
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Order, progress is very slow.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22There is far too much noise, the honourable gentleman will be
0:10:22 > 0:10:24heard, it is as simple as that.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27He will be heard.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30And to that end, will the Prime Minister confirm
0:10:30 > 0:10:33that there is no basis in law to require the Government to seek
0:10:33 > 0:10:36the permission of Parliament before invoking Article 50?
0:10:36 > 0:10:43As he alludes to in his question, no one should be in any doubt
0:10:43 > 0:10:46that those who are trying to prolong the process by their legal
0:10:46 > 0:10:49references in relation to Parliament are not those who want to see
0:10:49 > 0:10:51us successfully leave the European Union, they are those
0:10:51 > 0:10:54who want to try to stop us leaving the European Union.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Well, a few minutes after that, the Prime Minister gave
0:10:57 > 0:11:01the customary report back to MPs on the outcome of the weekend's
0:11:01 > 0:11:04summit in China of the G20 group of leading nations.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05It allowed the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
0:11:05 > 0:11:11to challenge the Prime Minister on the Brexit issue.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Mr Speaker, when the British people voted to leave the European Union,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16they did not vote to leave Europe.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19To turn inwards or to walk away from the G20 or any
0:11:19 > 0:11:21of our international partners around the world.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25That's never been the British way.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27We've always understood that our success as a sovereign
0:11:27 > 0:11:29nation is inextricably bound up in our trade
0:11:29 > 0:11:33and cooperation with others.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37The G20 met in the wake of the vote to leave the European union.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42We have to be clear, we accept the decision taken
0:11:42 > 0:11:45by the majority of our people, however, we cannot ignore the fact
0:11:45 > 0:11:48that the outcome has left this country divided,
0:11:48 > 0:11:52with increased levels of hate crimes, huge uncertainty
0:11:52 > 0:11:55about what comes next for our country and an extraordinary
0:11:55 > 0:12:00lack of planning and preparation on how to navigate
0:12:00 > 0:12:03the post-referendum situation in relation to Europe.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06He said ministers had come up with contradictory
0:12:06 > 0:12:10messages that did not add up to a considered position.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12The Brexit Secretary said that staying in the single
0:12:12 > 0:12:14market was improbable.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17The Prime Minister's spokesperson said that was not the case.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18It is one or the other.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21It cannot be both.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23So, can the Prime Minister tell the House what the Government's
0:12:23 > 0:12:28policy actually is?
0:12:28 > 0:12:31It will be a new relationship and as indicated in my statement
0:12:31 > 0:12:33and indeed in Prime Minister's Questions earlier, I will not be
0:12:33 > 0:12:35giving a running commentary, nor will the Government,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37on our negotiations.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40And there is a very good reason for doing that, we want
0:12:40 > 0:12:43to get the best deal, we want to get the right deal
0:12:43 > 0:12:46for the United Kingdom and if we were to give a constant
0:12:46 > 0:12:48running commentary and give away our negotiating hand,
0:12:48 > 0:12:53then that would not be what we would achieve.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Now Australia today has joined the United States at the G20
0:12:56 > 0:12:58last week in slapping down her government,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02telling us we are in fact at the back of the queue for a trade
0:13:02 > 0:13:04deal, the plain fact is that this government is not
0:13:04 > 0:13:14concealing its hand, it hasn't got a hand,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17or it would appear a clue.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I would like like to thank the Prime Minister for clarifying
0:13:19 > 0:13:22that her Brexit Secretary was wrong to rule out membership
0:13:22 > 0:13:24of the European single market and that her Foreign Secretary
0:13:24 > 0:13:26was wrong to campaign for a points-based immigration
0:13:26 > 0:13:29system and that her International Trade Secretary was wrong to say
0:13:29 > 0:13:30that we are leaving the customs union.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34But is it not the case, Mr Speaker, that if we are to strike
0:13:34 > 0:13:37trade deals with non-EU countries - and I am somebody who appreciates
0:13:37 > 0:13:40the value of free trade deals - then we will have to leave
0:13:40 > 0:13:42the customs union and that will bring disadvantages
0:13:42 > 0:13:44for UK businesses and for foreign direct investment?
0:13:44 > 0:13:48In the European Union, we currently run a deficit
0:13:48 > 0:13:52with the other 27 member states - according to the Office
0:13:52 > 0:13:54for National Statistics - of 62 billion each year.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59However, we run a surplus for the same goods and services
0:13:59 > 0:14:02with the rest of the world at over 30 billion, which went up
0:14:02 > 0:14:06by 10 billion last year alone.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11Will my right honourable friend therefore continue her crusade
0:14:11 > 0:14:18for free trade to develop our world opportunities through Brexit
0:14:18 > 0:14:21and to make sure that the European Commission and the European Union
0:14:21 > 0:14:23are no longer continuing to run our trade policy -
0:14:23 > 0:14:25we will do it ourselves and do it really well?
0:14:25 > 0:14:29Why did the Prime Minister authorise a very public dressing down
0:14:29 > 0:14:32of the Brexit Secretary merely for telling the House that
0:14:32 > 0:14:35membership of the single market and free movement of people tend
0:14:35 > 0:14:36to go together?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Is it not possible that the Brexit Secretary,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41who has believed in this stuff for years, has thought more deeply
0:14:41 > 0:14:44about it than a Prime Minister who has been a Brexiteer
0:14:44 > 0:14:45for a matter of weeks?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Can we revert in this House to the traditional practice
0:14:48 > 0:14:52where ministers are disciplined for misleading the House
0:14:52 > 0:14:54as opposed to the odd occasion when they are caught
0:14:54 > 0:14:56telling the truth?
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Please could she tell us and clear up the confusion from yesterday,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00does she value membership of the single market?
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Does she think it should be an aim or an objective of the negotiations
0:15:04 > 0:15:09and that we should be trying to stay in it if we can?
0:15:09 > 0:15:12I would have to say to the right honourable lady, I have answered
0:15:12 > 0:15:16this question on a number of occasions already today.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20And she will find that she can, you know...
0:15:20 > 0:15:22People ask me a question, I give an answer.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25If they ask the same question, they will get the same answer.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Theresa May.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31You're watching our round-up of the day in the Commons and Lords.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Still to come, the new Home Secretary tells MPs how she sees
0:15:34 > 0:15:42the immigration question.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Now, are grammar schools the way to improve the life chances
0:15:45 > 0:15:46of children from disadvantaged backgrounds?
0:15:46 > 0:15:48The debate over selective or comprehensive education was a big
0:15:48 > 0:15:49political topic in previous decades.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Many hundreds of grammar schools were closed across England
0:15:52 > 0:15:58and replaced by comprehensives.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00But the arguments could now be rekindled.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Theresa May is said to favour re-instigating grammar
0:16:04 > 0:16:06schools in certain areas as part of her mission
0:16:06 > 0:16:10to improve social mobility.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12This week, a private document by a civil servant about ending
0:16:12 > 0:16:14restrictions on grammars was captured by a photographer
0:16:14 > 0:16:19outside 10 Downing St.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22The issue was taken up in the House of Lords by a Labour peer.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25The inadvertent leak yesterday, if indeed that is how it was,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27that the Government is seeking to create new grammar schools,
0:16:27 > 0:16:33has caused widespread alarm.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Now, the noble lord the Minister has not accepted that that is the case,
0:16:36 > 0:16:43but I think something must be afoot.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46The Prime Minister has made it quite clear she wants a society
0:16:46 > 0:16:49that works for everyone, she wants children to have access,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51all children, to have access to a good education.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53We are exploring our options for delivering this and we want
0:16:53 > 0:16:56all good schools to help us in this endeavor.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Will the Minister agree that the majority...
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Grammar schools will benefit a minority of pupils,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02that's well-recognized, but they will not benefit
0:17:02 > 0:17:04the majority of pupils, because the majority of pupils,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06if I may say so, like me, are deprived the opportunity
0:17:06 > 0:17:15to go to grammar schools?
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Anyone who is really concerned about the great lack of social
0:17:18 > 0:17:20mobility in recent years will be delighted about any possibility
0:17:20 > 0:17:23of the return of grammar schools, since it was their destruction
0:17:23 > 0:17:29that was a major cause of the reduction in social mobility.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Will the Minister tell the House what representations his department
0:17:31 > 0:17:33has received for the return of secondary modern schools?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Well, as I said, this is a long-running debate.
0:17:35 > 0:17:46We've had plenty of representations for the return of grammar schools.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51In the great Butler Education Act, there was a provision
0:17:51 > 0:17:53for a tripartite system - grammar schools, the secondary
0:17:53 > 0:18:03moderns and the technical schools.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05The failure of successive governments has been to institute
0:18:05 > 0:18:07a suitable number of high-quality technical schools and that is one
0:18:07 > 0:18:10of the reasons why we have lagged behind our rivals
0:18:10 > 0:18:20in Germany in the provision of a skilled workforce.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Does the Minister not accept that, for every grammar school,
0:18:24 > 0:18:25there is consequentially three secondary modern schools?
0:18:25 > 0:18:27In other words, the comprehensive schools become secondary modern
0:18:27 > 0:18:30schools, so that one child's social mobility is bought at the expense
0:18:30 > 0:18:39of the destruction of opportunity for three other children?
0:18:39 > 0:18:42As one who benefited from a grammar school education and who lives
0:18:42 > 0:18:44in a county of Lincolnshire which has excellent grammar schools
0:18:44 > 0:18:54which do no damaged to children at all, could I urge my noble
0:18:54 > 0:18:56friends to support our right honourable friend
0:18:56 > 0:18:58the Prime Minister, if indeed she is inclined to increase
0:18:58 > 0:19:07the number of grammar schools in this country?
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Of course, my job is to support the Prime Minister and I'm
0:19:10 > 0:19:12fully aware that many, that most grammar schools
0:19:12 > 0:19:14do an excellent job, but this is a long-running argument
0:19:14 > 0:19:17and there are strong views on both sides and I can assure the House
0:19:17 > 0:19:19that we won't do anything without detailed consideration
0:19:19 > 0:19:23and consultation.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24Lord Nash.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Next week, we'll get an idea of what parliamentary constituencies
0:19:27 > 0:19:29in England and Wales might look like in future.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31The Boundaries Commissions will be publishing their
0:19:31 > 0:19:40initial recommendations.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43The idea is to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and redraw
0:19:43 > 0:19:46constituency boundaries in time for the general election of 2020.
0:19:46 > 0:19:54In the Commons, Labour laid into the plans.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57The review next week is going to be a sham.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Nearly 2 million voters haven't been counted, so why doesn't the Minister
0:19:59 > 0:20:02start again so our democracy isn't undermined by next week's
0:20:02 > 0:20:06partisan gerrymandering?
0:20:06 > 0:20:10Minister.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Without the implementation of these reforms, legislated by a majority
0:20:12 > 0:20:14in the previous Parliament, members will continue to represent
0:20:14 > 0:20:19constituencies that were drawn up on data over 20 years ago,
0:20:19 > 0:20:20disregarding significant changes in the population
0:20:20 > 0:20:27since that happened.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30The status quo cannot and must not be an option and in future
0:20:30 > 0:20:33the boundary reviews will take place every five years to ensure
0:20:33 > 0:20:36constituencies remain up-to-date as they should be.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Glyn Davies.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40The number of electors in the Welsh parliamentary
0:20:40 > 0:20:43constituencies varies hugely.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Cardiff South, over 72,000 electors, others have less than 40.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50My constituency sits roughly in the middle with about 48,000.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Now, does the Minister agree that it can't be right for each
0:20:53 > 0:20:57of these constituencies to elect one MP, when the number
0:20:57 > 0:21:01of voters within them is so radically different?
0:21:01 > 0:21:04It's absolutely right.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07We cannot continue with the historic injustice of allowing such
0:21:07 > 0:21:11unequal representation - representation that currently allows
0:21:11 > 0:21:15for one seat to be twice the size of another,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19or to be put in other words, allow one of elector's vote to be
0:21:19 > 0:21:20worth twice that of another.
0:21:20 > 0:21:29This injustice, long recognised, must be resolved.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Labour said ministers hoped to save ?12 million by cutting
0:21:31 > 0:21:32the number of MPs, but...
0:21:32 > 0:21:37Is it not the case that this town three redistribution is proceeding
0:21:37 > 0:21:40on the basis of a register where 2 million people are excluded
0:21:40 > 0:21:47and is that not an absolute affront to democracy?
0:21:47 > 0:21:48-- boundary redistribution.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Minister!
0:21:51 > 0:21:56He is absolutely right to recognise that cutting the number of MPs
0:21:56 > 0:21:59of MPs from 650 to 600, will not just save ?12 million,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02it will save ?66 million over the course of a Parliament.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04At the time, Mr Speaker, when many areas of public
0:22:04 > 0:22:07life have found savings, it is right that we should
0:22:07 > 0:22:10put our own house in order, equally it is right that we should
0:22:10 > 0:22:12be finally establishing the Democratic principle of equal
0:22:12 > 0:22:13size constituencies, first called for by the Chartists
0:22:13 > 0:22:16back in 1838 and more recently endorsed by the committee
0:22:16 > 0:22:17on standards in public life.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Does the Minister agree with the Lord Speaker that
0:22:19 > 0:22:21membership of the House of Lords should be less
0:22:21 > 0:22:23than that of the Commons?
0:22:23 > 0:22:24Minister!
0:22:24 > 0:22:26The other place has an important role in scrutinising,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29improving draft legislation, as a revising chamber.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31The Government is clear that an unelected chamber should not seek
0:22:31 > 0:22:35to block the will of the Commons.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38The Conservative manifesto is clear that a reform of the House of Lords
0:22:38 > 0:22:40is needed and we have seen significant reforms including
0:22:40 > 0:22:41the retirement of peers.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Over 150 peers have left the Lord since 2010 and the chamber is 400
0:22:44 > 0:22:48members smaller than 1998.
0:22:48 > 0:22:54The operating cost of the Lords have also fallen by 14% since 2010.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56The new minister, Chris Skidmore, who by the way studied
0:22:56 > 0:22:59history at Oxford.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04It may take some time, that was the phrase
0:23:04 > 0:23:06of the Home Secretary Amber Rudd on Britain reaching the flagship
0:23:06 > 0:23:16pledge on immigration, namely to reduce it to tens
0:23:19 > 0:23:22of thousands - it was the target that the previous Prime Minister
0:23:22 > 0:23:24David Cameron famously missed during his years in power,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27a miss that could've played a key part in voting intentions in the EU
0:23:27 > 0:23:28referendum in June.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Amber Rudd, who campaigned for a Remain result
0:23:30 > 0:23:33in the referendum, has been facing questions for her first time
0:23:33 > 0:23:35in the new job from the Home Affairs Committee.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37The Prime Minister rejected the Australian style points system
0:23:37 > 0:23:40as a vehicle to control immigration to the United Kingdom at the G20.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Given that this was a key opponent of the Brexit campaign,
0:23:43 > 0:23:51given that many people understood this to be the mechanism
0:23:51 > 0:23:53under which we could regain control of our borders
0:23:53 > 0:23:55and that the public are, I believe, rightly concerned
0:23:55 > 0:23:58about immigration, you may wish to comment on that,
0:23:58 > 0:24:00how do you propose controlling migration and immigration
0:24:00 > 0:24:02if a points-based system is not the way forward?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05I think that with the Prime Minister drew attention to was
0:24:05 > 0:24:07that the points-based system has not been a successful system
0:24:07 > 0:24:12for limiting migration into a country.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Although the Prime Minister is committed, as I am,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19to making sure we produce migration and we make sure that the public get
0:24:19 > 0:24:21what they have voted for, which is more control
0:24:21 > 0:24:23over their borders with European countries, the points-based
0:24:23 > 0:24:27system is not going to be the way to deliver it.
0:24:27 > 0:24:28-- reduce.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30We need to find a different way.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So two questions.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38First, the points-based system could well be used, as in Australia,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41to increase migration in certain areas, but it could also be used
0:24:41 > 0:24:43to control migration if the bar was set high enough.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47So perhaps that's a failing of the points-based system
0:24:47 > 0:24:49in the past, but not a reason to rule it out.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51I would welcome your comments on that.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53But second, if it is not a points-based system,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56how do you propose that migration is controlled going forward?
0:24:56 > 0:24:59The Home Office is looking at the various alternatives.
0:24:59 > 0:25:07I can't reveal anything more than that at the moment
0:25:07 > 0:25:10because we want to make sure that we explore all the different
0:25:10 > 0:25:13options and that the Prime Minister is armed with all the information
0:25:13 > 0:25:16she needs, although it is fair to say she has a fairly substantial
0:25:16 > 0:25:18expertise in this area.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20And then she will be able to proceed with the negotiations
0:25:20 > 0:25:26within the European Union.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27-- with the European Union.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30But I want to be absolutely clear that leaving the European Union
0:25:30 > 0:25:33will mean having more control over our borders in a way
0:25:33 > 0:25:36that we haven't to date when engaged with the European Union.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38So are we still going for the tens of thousands?
0:25:38 > 0:25:41We are still going to be looking to achieve tens of thousands,
0:25:41 > 0:25:43but it may take some time.
0:25:43 > 0:25:43Amber Rudd.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45And that's it for this programme.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Do join me for our next daily round-up.
0:25:47 > 0:25:53Until then, from me, Keith McDougall, goodbye.