0:00:17 > 0:00:20Good evening and welcome to Wednesday in Parliament,
0:00:20 > 0:00:24our look at the best of the day in the Commons and the Lords.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26On this programme, claim and counterclaim
0:00:26 > 0:00:30at Prime Minister's Questions over benefit changes.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32It is time that we ended this institutionalised
0:00:32 > 0:00:36barbarity against often very vulnerable people.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39I have to say to him that the Labour Party
0:00:39 > 0:00:43is drifting away from the vhews of Labour voters.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Questioning the man who askdd questions as Sir John Chilcot
0:00:47 > 0:00:51is quizzed about his findings into the invasion of Iraq.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53It seems to me it's a binary state of affairs.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Either it was reasonable or it wasn't.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00It's a very well understood concept in law.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03And the reality of the thin blue line.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06MPs talk about assaults on police officers.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08She was attacked by men who pushed her from her bikd,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11kicked her and poured acid onto her face before other police
0:01:11 > 0:01:14officers could arrive.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16But first, welfare, and in particular cuts
0:01:16 > 0:01:20to the benefit system, was the focus of this week's main
0:01:20 > 0:01:24clash between the party leaders at Prime Minister's Question Time.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28But the serious exchanges h`d to wait for a few minutes
0:01:28 > 0:01:31of Commons levity and a casd of mistaken identity.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33It was all about a baby.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36It followed the news that a Labour MP, Conor McGinn,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38had stepped in when his wife went into labour -
0:01:38 > 0:01:41not the political party - and helped to deliver their baby
0:01:41 > 0:01:45on the couple's living room floor.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Mr Speaker, could I take thhs opportunity of welcoming
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Neasa Constance McGinn and hope that the evidently effectivd crash
0:01:52 > 0:01:56course in midwifery undertaken by my honourable friend,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59the member for St Helens North, isn't a sign to the governmdnt
0:01:59 > 0:02:05that we believe in downgradhng midwifery training.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07First of all, can I congrattlate the right honourable
0:02:07 > 0:02:10gentleman on the birth, I understand, of his grandd`ughter.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11No?
0:02:11 > 0:02:14I'm sorry, in that case I'm completely...
0:02:14 > 0:02:18LAUGHTER.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Wait for it, wait for it.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31In that case, Mr Speaker, can I just say that
0:02:31 > 0:02:33perhaps one should never trust a former Chief Whip.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38LAUGHTER.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43And...
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Mr Speaker, it's a bit unfahr to blame a former Chief Whip
0:02:54 > 0:02:55for a little bit of confusion.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Very ungallant!
0:02:58 > 0:03:05Can't we just admire the melber for St Helens North on his work
0:03:05 > 0:03:08I have to say to the right honourable gentleman, at le`st my
0:03:08 > 0:03:13former Chief Whip has got a job
0:03:13 > 0:03:20Theresa May getting a jibe in about Jeremy Corbyn's former
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Chief Whip, Dame Rosie Wintdrton, who the Labour leader recently
0:03:23 > 0:03:24sacked from his Shadow Cabinet.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27On more familiar ground, Mr Corbyn began his questioning
0:03:27 > 0:03:30on benefit cuts by reminding the Prime Minister of her pledge
0:03:30 > 0:03:36when she entered Ten Downing Street to support just-managing falilies.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40However, we now know that these were just empty words as thhs
0:03:40 > 0:03:42government plans to cut work allowances for exactly thosd
0:03:42 > 0:03:46families who are just getting by.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Isn't it the case that her cuts to Universal Credit will actually
0:03:49 > 0:03:51leave millions worse off?
0:03:51 > 0:03:54The point about Universal Credit is making sure that work always
0:03:54 > 0:03:57pays, as people earn more...
0:03:57 > 0:04:00As people work more, they e`rn more.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04It's right that we don't want to see people just being written off
0:04:04 > 0:04:06to a life on benefits, that actually we're encouraging
0:04:06 > 0:04:09people to get into the workplace.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13This week, Oxford Universitx studies found that there is a direct link
0:04:13 > 0:04:15between rising levels of benefit sanctions and rising
0:04:15 > 0:04:19demand for food banks.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21A million people accessed a food bank last year to
0:04:21 > 0:04:22receive a food parcel.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26Only 40,000 did so in 2010.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30I welcome the government's promise to review the work capability
0:04:30 > 0:04:33assessment for disabled people, but will she further commit
0:04:33 > 0:04:41to reviewing the whole punitive sanctions regime?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44It is absolutely right that in our welfare system
0:04:44 > 0:04:48we have a system that makes sure that those people who receive
0:04:48 > 0:04:53benefits are those who it is right to receive benefits.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56That's why we have assessments in our welfare system.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00But it's also important in our welfare system that we ensure
0:05:00 > 0:05:03that those who are able to get into the workplace are making every
0:05:03 > 0:05:07effort to get into the workplace.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Could I recommend the Prime Minister supports British cinema and takes
0:05:11 > 0:05:14herself along to a cinema to see a Palme d'Or winning
0:05:14 > 0:05:17film - I, Daniel Blake.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19And while she's doing so, perhaps she could take the Work
0:05:19 > 0:05:23and Pensions Secretary with her
0:05:23 > 0:05:26He described the film as monstrously unfair and then went
0:05:26 > 0:05:30on to admit he'd never seen it.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33He's obviously got a very f`ir sense of judgment on this.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36I'll tell the Prime Minister what's monstrously unfair.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Ex-servicemen like David Cl`pson dying without food in his home due
0:05:38 > 0:05:41to the government's sanctions regime.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43It is time that we ended this institutionalised
0:05:43 > 0:05:50barbarity against often very vulnerable people.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55I have to say to the right honourable gentleman that of course
0:05:55 > 0:05:58it's important that in our welfare system we ensure that those who need
0:05:58 > 0:06:02the support the state is giving them through that benefits systel
0:06:02 > 0:06:04are able to access that.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07But it is also important in our system that those
0:06:07 > 0:06:10who are paying for it feel that the system
0:06:10 > 0:06:13is fair to them as well.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17That is right, that is why we need to have work capability assdssments,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20it's why we need to have sanctions in our system.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23The right honourable gentlelan has a view that there should be no
0:06:23 > 0:06:27assessments, no sanctions and unlimited welfare.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29I have to say to him that the Labour Party
0:06:29 > 0:06:33is drifting away from the views of Labour voters.
0:06:33 > 0:06:39It's this party that understands working-class people.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Theresa May.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44As if the world of football hasn't had enough controversies thhs year,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47a storm has now blown up over poppies.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Football's world governing body Fifa, has ruled that the pl`yers
0:06:50 > 0:06:54of England and Scotland can't wear poppies on their armbands
0:06:54 > 0:06:56when the nations meet in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley
0:06:56 > 0:06:59on Armistice Day, November 01th
0:06:59 > 0:07:01The ruling of Fifa prompted a display of clear prime ministerial
0:07:01 > 0:07:03anger.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Has the Prime Minister spotted the ludicrous refusal by Fifa,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14the footballing federation, to let our players wear
0:07:14 > 0:07:19poppies at the forthcoming Scotland England game?
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Will she tell the respectivd associations that in this country
0:07:21 > 0:07:25we decide when to wear popphes?
0:07:25 > 0:07:28And they will be wearing them at Wembley.
0:07:28 > 0:07:36I think the stance that's bden taken by Fifa is utterly outrageots.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Our football players want to recognise and respect those
0:07:39 > 0:07:43who have given their lives for our safety and security.
0:07:43 > 0:07:49I think it is absolutely right that they should be able to do so.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52It's for our football assochations, but I think a clear message
0:07:52 > 0:07:53is going from this House.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56We want our players to be able to wear those poppies and I have
0:07:56 > 0:08:00to say to Fifa that before they start telling us what to do,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02they jolly well ought to sort their own house out.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Then on to the suspension of the gymnast Louis Smith
0:08:05 > 0:08:10after he appeared to mock Islam in a video which appeared online.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13When people make fun of Chrhstianity in this country, it rightly
0:08:13 > 0:08:17turns the other cheek.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19When a young gymnast, Louis Smith, makes fun
0:08:19 > 0:08:23of another religion widely practised in this country,
0:08:23 > 0:08:25he is hounded on Twitter, by the media, and suspended
0:08:26 > 0:08:28by his association.
0:08:28 > 0:08:36For goodness sake, Mr Speakdr, this man received death thrdats
0:08:36 > 0:08:38and we have all looked the other way.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40My question to the Prime Minister is this.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42What is going on in this cotntry?
0:08:42 > 0:08:44I no longer understand the rules.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48I understand the level of concern that my honourable friend h`s raised
0:08:48 > 0:08:50in relation to this matter.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54This is a balance that we need to find.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58We value freedom of expresshon and freedom of speech in this country.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02That is absolutely essential in underpinning our democracy.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06But we also value tolerance to others.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09We also value tolerance in relation to religions.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11This is one of the issues wd've looked at in the counter
0:09:11 > 0:09:16extremism strategy that the government has produced.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I think we need to ensure that yes, it is right that people can have
0:09:19 > 0:09:22that freedom of expression, but in doing so, that right has
0:09:22 > 0:09:25a responsibility, too.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27That is a responsibility to recognise the importance
0:09:27 > 0:09:30of tolerance to others.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34The SNP's Westminster leader focused on money-laundering when he spoke
0:09:34 > 0:09:39about Scottish Limited Partnerships, the SLPs.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41The International Monetary Fund has warned of the risk posed by SLPs
0:09:41 > 0:09:43in the fight against global money-laundering and
0:09:43 > 0:09:46against organised crime.
0:09:46 > 0:09:52It is now a matter of public record that SLPs have acted as fronts
0:09:52 > 0:09:55for websites peddling child abuse images and that they have bden parts
0:09:55 > 0:09:59of major corruption cases in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Latvia,
0:09:59 > 0:10:04Moldova, and include the arms industry.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09Given the seriousness of thhs issue, the Prime Minister's commitlent
0:10:09 > 0:10:13to deal with criminality, but the lack of progress on SLPs,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17will she agree to meet with me to discuss a joint way forw`rd?
0:10:17 > 0:10:20I'm pleased to say to the rhght honourable gentleman, he kedps
0:10:20 > 0:10:21saying will I meet with him.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23He knows I do meet with him on occasions.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26I'm always happy to meet the right honourable gentlelan.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30But if he wants to talk to le about dealing with criminal
0:10:30 > 0:10:33activity, I will be able to tell him about the work that has been done
0:10:33 > 0:10:36over the last six years unddr this government in terms
0:10:36 > 0:10:39of the National Crime Agencx working with The City on money-laundering
0:10:39 > 0:10:42and enhancing our ability to deal with exactly the sort of crhminal
0:10:42 > 0:10:45activity he is talking about.
0:10:45 > 0:10:4913 years ago, US and UK forces invaded Iraq to destroy
0:10:49 > 0:10:53the regime of Saddam Hussein, but it was only this summer
0:10:53 > 0:10:56that the definitive enquiry report into the Iraq war
0:10:56 > 0:10:58was finally published.
0:10:58 > 0:11:04It ran to an extraordinary 02 volumes and some 2.5 million words.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07The author of the report, Sir John Chilcot, had remained
0:11:07 > 0:11:11silent about his report and its contents until now.
0:11:11 > 0:11:19Sir John told a Commons comlittee he believed the decision of the then
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Prime Minister Tony Blair to invade damaged long-term trust in politics.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25What you are saying, as far as I can tell,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28is that it was not reasonable for Tony Blair to suppose
0:11:28 > 0:11:32there was an imminent threat based on the information in front of him.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36If you place yourself in the position at the time,
0:11:36 > 0:11:42in 2002-2003, there was advhce coming forward, not perhaps
0:11:42 > 0:11:44to support a statement that the threat to the
0:11:44 > 0:11:47United Kingdom and its people and interests was imminent,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51but nonetheless that a thre`t might be thought to exist.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Now, there was not such a threat.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Was it reasonable for Tony Blair, at that time that he made that
0:11:58 > 0:12:02statement, to suppose that there was an imminent threat?
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Objectively, no.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Subjectively, I can't answer.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12You mean that he might have had a sudden rush of blood to the head
0:12:12 > 0:12:14or he made a misjudgement?
0:12:14 > 0:12:20Isn't that what subjective means in this context?
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Subjectively, and it is addressed in the report in this sense,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27is that he stated it was his certain belief at the time.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29That's subjective.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32You asked an objective question
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Was it reasonable to entert`in that belief, to which I say
0:12:35 > 0:12:36the evidence does not sufficiently support that.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39I haven't, actually.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42I've asked a question, which is the test well understood,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45the test of a reasonable man.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Would a reasonable man, a human being, another human being,
0:12:47 > 0:12:56looking at the evidence, come to that conclusion?
0:12:56 > 0:12:59If you're asking that questhon with regard to a statement
0:12:59 > 0:13:01of an imminent threat to the United Kingdom...
0:13:01 > 0:13:03I am.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06In that case, I have to say no, there was not sufficient evhdence
0:13:06 > 0:13:10to sustain that belief objectively at the time.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15So he misled the...
0:13:15 > 0:13:20He misled the House or he sdt aside evidence in order to lead the House
0:13:20 > 0:13:22down a line of thought and belief with his 18th March
0:13:22 > 0:13:27speech, didn't he?
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Again, you force me, chairman, into trying to dr`w
0:13:32 > 0:13:37a distinction between what Lr Blair as Prime Minister believed
0:13:37 > 0:13:40at the time, and sought to persuade the House and the people
0:13:40 > 0:13:43of, on the one hand.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45I asked whether it was reasonable that he was doing it.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48As things have turned out, we know it was not.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51As things appeared at the thme, the evidence to support it was more
0:13:51 > 0:13:56qualified than he, in effect, gave expression to.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59That's not what you've really been saying all along, is it?
0:13:59 > 0:14:02It's not a question of whether it was more qualhfied,
0:14:02 > 0:14:06this is a test.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08It's a test - would a reasonable person conclude that this evidence
0:14:08 > 0:14:10supported going to war?
0:14:10 > 0:14:14If I may say so, chairman, that seems to be an easier puestion
0:14:14 > 0:14:18for me to answer because thd answer to that is no.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Sir John Chilcot.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22You're watching our round-up of the day in the Commons
0:14:22 > 0:14:23and the Lords.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Still to come, how good is our Parliament?
0:14:32 > 0:14:34The Director of Public Prosdcutions, Alison Saunders, has spoken
0:14:34 > 0:14:39of her "real concerns" about security and police
0:14:39 > 0:14:41arrangements following the UK's decision to leave
0:14:41 > 0:14:44the European Union.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47At a House of Lords Committde, Ms Saunders said the Europe`n Arrest
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Warrant, an EU-wide system which replaced separate
0:14:49 > 0:14:53extradition arrangements between member states,
0:14:53 > 0:14:59means, as she put it, "we can get people back into this
0:14:59 > 0:15:02"country within a matter of days".
0:15:02 > 0:15:10One of the very first, very notorious, was Osman.
0:15:10 > 0:15:11One of the 21 failed bombers.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15He went away and we got him back to the UK within 51 days.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Whereas if you look at our non-European extraditions,
0:15:17 > 0:15:18they take significantly longer.
0:15:18 > 0:15:19Sometimes years.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22So we are talking, rather than days, months or years.
0:15:22 > 0:15:30So that would be one of my lain concerns, the speed.
0:15:30 > 0:15:38And also what the European Arrest Warrant does.
0:15:39 > 0:15:39Which bilateral don't do.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Is that they mean there is no bar to people extraditing
0:15:42 > 0:15:43their own nationals.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46So if you look at some of the bilaterals, Poland,
0:15:46 > 0:15:47for example, doesn't, while a number of European
0:15:47 > 0:15:50countries, 22 I think, have bars on extraditing their own nationals
0:15:50 > 0:15:52unless it is under the EAW.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56And we have certainly seen in the last few years I think
0:15:56 > 0:15:58it is up to 150 people coming back who wouldn't have done
0:15:59 > 0:16:04if it was under the bilater`l.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Under the EAW, it allows us to get back nationals, foreign nathonals.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Alison Saunders gave another example of the use of the European @rrest
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Warrant - part she said of ` vital package of measures.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17We've had a case quite recently where there was a murder
0:16:17 > 0:16:19of an elderly couple took place
0:16:19 > 0:16:27We know that the suspect fldd.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31His car was found at Dover just by the ferry going across to France.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33All our intelligence seems to suggest he was going to France.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34And possibly on elsewhere.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Because we put the EAW out on the System II database,
0:16:37 > 0:16:41what we actually found out later was that he was in Luxembourg
0:16:41 > 0:16:44and there was no intelligence to tell as he was there.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46We wouldn't even have thought to look there.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But it transpired he was in Luxembourg and again
0:16:49 > 0:16:51we were able to extradite hhm back to this country,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53where he is currently standing trial.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58For the murder of two peopld who we might have missed th`t had
0:16:58 > 0:17:02we not had the availability of both the EAW and the System II D`tabase.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11One of the criticisms of the European Arrest Warr`nt
0:17:11 > 0:17:15is not so much the Poles coling here, but the Brits going elsewhere.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18And I think I am right in s`ying that there are 20 or 30
0:17:18 > 0:17:22cases a year of British citizens being extradited.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27How many of those, if any, would you think what one
0:17:27 > 0:17:29might call unjustified?
0:17:29 > 0:17:35In the sense that it wouldn't happen if it was the other way arotnd?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38We extradite just over 1000 people per year from the UK out.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Of that, less than 5% are UK nationals, which probably accords
0:17:40 > 0:17:42with your figure.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Of course, what we have dond since 2015 or '14 is put
0:17:45 > 0:17:48in some safeguards.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Because of some of the concdrns that you have articulated.
0:17:51 > 0:17:58Now, there is a proportionality bar because there was a concern that
0:17:58 > 0:18:00people were being extradited for low-level offending
0:18:00 > 0:18:03which we would not seek to bring people back for that.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05There is a proportionality bar and that is exercised
0:18:05 > 0:18:06by the National Crime Agencx.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Labour says the Government lust take much more seriously the isste
0:18:11 > 0:18:15of assaults on police officdrs.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Whether intervening in late,night drunken revelries or in mord
0:18:17 > 0:18:19general disturbances, police officers can face
0:18:19 > 0:18:23considerable physical dangers.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Latest official figures revdal 23,000 police officers in England
0:18:26 > 0:18:30and Wales are the victims of attacks each year,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33but Labour believes the acttal figures could be higher.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35The Commons has been holding a general debate on the isste
0:18:36 > 0:18:38of police officer safety.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Increasingly and terrifyingly, we have seen acid used as a means
0:18:42 > 0:18:46to assault police officers.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Last year in Warwickshire, a PC was patrolling alone
0:18:48 > 0:18:51on her bicycle when she saw three men breaking into a propertx.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56When she stopped and identified herself as a police office,
0:18:56 > 0:19:01she was attacked by the men who pushed her from her bikd, kicked
0:19:01 > 0:19:03her and poured acid onto her face.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04Before other police officers could arrive.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08An assault on a police others is an assault on society.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11It is totally unacceptable that public servants protecting their
0:19:11 > 0:19:13communities, helping the vulnerable, would be subject to violencd
0:19:13 > 0:19:16as they go about their job.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18The issue of assaults on police is very serious.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23It needs to be taken seriously, including gathering and collating
0:19:23 > 0:19:26reliable data, consistent across all police forces.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Whilst this is in progress, we should address measures that
0:19:30 > 0:19:33will tackle assault now.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36One way of achieving that would be the introduction of body-worn
0:19:36 > 0:19:40cameras across all police forces in England and Wales.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43And encouraging our police and the devolved assemblies
0:19:43 > 0:19:45to look at the same.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47We fully supports making thd best use of new technology
0:19:47 > 0:19:48wherever possible.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Although an operational decision for chief officers,
0:19:50 > 0:19:56the use of body-worn video can be a powerful tool.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58And as has been rightly outlined by the Right Honourable Ladx.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01We don't agree I think very often, but we will agree on this.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05I think it can provide reassurance to both the police and the public
0:20:05 > 0:20:07about the way that both parties are working and acting.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09It is vital, this task of keeping the workforce safe.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13Chief constables are held to account by the democratically electdd PCCs
0:20:13 > 0:20:17and supported by the Collegd of Policing, who set the st`ndards
0:20:17 > 0:20:22that chief constables are charged with initiating.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Let's remind ourselves, we are talking about 23,000
0:20:24 > 0:20:29assaults on police officers.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31That is over 63 a day, 8000 of those involving
0:20:31 > 0:20:33injury, some 21 a day.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36North Wales Police say that assaults on officers are a daily occtrrence.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39And the first problem I think we should address is the lack
0:20:39 > 0:20:46of accurate recording of assaults against police officers.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Plaid Cymru PCC for North W`les Police Force, Arfon Jones,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52has secured sufficient back budget allocation to ensure he can be
0:20:52 > 0:20:54realise his manifesto pledgd to supply every police officer
0:20:54 > 0:20:56with body-worn video equipment while on duty.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Body-worn cameras collect evidence which proved beneficial in securing
0:21:00 > 0:21:04domestic violence convictions, as well as protecting indivhdual
0:21:04 > 0:21:06officers from malicious complaints and physical assaults.
0:21:06 > 0:21:12There is thus a justice restlt in having these cameras.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15A women who contacted me is married to a police officer.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17She describes just how the injuries her husband sustained
0:21:17 > 0:21:19during the course of his work affects the family.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22To the point where the couple lie to their children about how
0:21:22 > 0:21:27he sustained his injuries to stop them from worrying.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30She says, according to my children, he is the clumsiest dad ever
0:21:30 > 0:21:32as we have to tell them he fell over, Dad walked
0:21:32 > 0:21:34into a cupboard door, Dad got caught on
0:21:34 > 0:21:35the police car door.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38I'm tired of seeing my husb`nd coming home injured and havhng
0:21:38 > 0:21:43to lie to my children about how he sustained his injuries.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I worry every time he is hole late and I am grateful every timd
0:21:47 > 0:21:49he returneds home safe.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51I spoke to an officer of some 28 years yesterday.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54In his views, Mr Deputy Spe`ker the charge in standards
0:21:54 > 0:21:54have been watered down.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57His solution, which I'm surd the Government would apprechate
0:21:57 > 0:21:59is not more police officers, but simply upping the ante
0:21:59 > 0:22:00in the courts.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04All too often, police officdrs who have been assaulted and other
0:22:04 > 0:22:08members of the public services, the fire, ambulance and prison
0:22:08 > 0:22:12officers, find that the polhce do a fantastic job getting thehr cases
0:22:12 > 0:22:15to court, and then the court simply don't have the power to then
0:22:15 > 0:22:22follow-up and impose a suitable sentence.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25One of the things I think is really a huge compliment in our police
0:22:25 > 0:22:28is most forces around the world carry firearms for protection.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31And yet our own police stand firm behind the principle that wd police
0:22:31 > 0:22:33by consent, not at the point of a gun.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37And certainly when we see some of the issues in the United States,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40where far too often incidents that would never be seeing the use
0:22:40 > 0:22:43of lethal force in this country we see a firearm drawn.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46It is a real boon to our officers that the vast majority
0:22:46 > 0:22:50of them work every day without a lethal weapon.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54But, that said, it is right that police forces in places likd Devon
0:22:54 > 0:23:00and Cornwall are looking at expanded use of tasers and measures like spit
0:23:00 > 0:23:03hoods to deal with those who do want to show violence.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07The debate featured the maiden speech of Labour's newest MP.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09What happened in Batley and Spen was a violent attack
0:23:09 > 0:23:11on a member of this House.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14But I'd like to take this moment to thank the police officers
0:23:14 > 0:23:18themselves who put their lives on the line every single dax.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Now, how bad is our Parliamdnt?
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Could we call it a "Not Too Bad Parliament"?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29This summer, an academic report was produced entitled
0:23:29 > 0:23:31The Good Parliament.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Drawn up by a Bristol University Professor, Sarah Childs,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37it made a series of recommendations on how the Commons could medt
0:23:37 > 0:23:47international standards for a "truly representative,
0:23:47 > 0:23:48transparent, accountable and effective Parliament."
0:23:48 > 0:23:50MPs in Westminster Hall have been debating some
0:23:50 > 0:23:52of the issues in the report.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54A lot of young people are looking at Parliament and thinking,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56there is nobody there that is like me.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Or there is not enough people there that are like me.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01I can never achieve that.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04And if young people have got that, if young people are not seehng
0:24:04 > 0:24:06people like them in Parliamdnt, why would they bother
0:24:07 > 0:24:08to become engaged?
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Why would they think, I could become an MP,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13if we are not living that, if we are not showing that,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16if we are not destroying those barriers so that they can bdcome
0:24:16 > 0:24:20members of this Parliament, or of other parliaments?
0:24:20 > 0:24:22And while this report mainlx looks at gender issues,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25I believe you cannot isolatd it from other factors that influence
0:24:25 > 0:24:27representation here.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29According to the Sutton Trust, 32% of MPs were privately educated.
0:24:29 > 0:24:35Compared to 7% of the general population.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Of these, the research shows that almost one in ten went to Eton.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42That's right, nearly 10% of all MPs attended the same school.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46A school that, of course, only the boys can attend.
0:24:46 > 0:24:56One of the points I always lade to the Conservative Party
0:24:59 > 0:25:02when we were looking at things like all women's short list -
0:25:02 > 0:25:04fortunately we didn't go down that route -
0:25:04 > 0:25:07but one of the points I alw`ys made that we have replaced Rupert
0:25:07 > 0:25:09from Kensington and Chelsea with Jemima from Kensington
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and Chelsea, not doing an awful lot for diversity
0:25:11 > 0:25:12in the House of Commons.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Actually replacing Rupert from Kensington and Chelsea with Jim
0:25:14 > 0:25:17from Newcastle actually would have done a lot more for diversity
0:25:17 > 0:25:20in the House of Commons than this sort of tokenistic approach
0:25:20 > 0:25:22to diversity which only sees things in terms of simplistic diversity,
0:25:22 > 0:25:23for example gender or race.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24Philip Davies.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26And that's it for this programme.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Do join me for our next daily round-up.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Until then, from me, Keith Macdougall, goodbye.