0:00:18 > 0:00:20Hello, and welcome to the programme.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21In the next half-hour:
0:00:21 > 0:00:24That Brexit divorce bill, are the rumours true?
0:00:24 > 0:00:28If they've got £60 billion to spare, it should go
0:00:28 > 0:00:32to the National Health Service and social care.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35A new strategy for the railways is announced, but Labour say
0:00:35 > 0:00:39the plans are unambitious.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43And fears of an unwelcome new role for one county.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46The county will be a car park.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48The issue of how much the UK is going to have
0:00:48 > 0:00:51to pay to leave the EU, the so-called divorce bill,
0:00:51 > 0:00:53has been heavily debated.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57And that was before reports that suggest the Government had
0:00:57 > 0:00:59substantially increased its offer to somewhere between
0:00:59 > 0:01:0240-50 billion euros.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05The Chief Secretary to the Treasury was called to the House
0:01:05 > 0:01:07to explain what was going on.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Can I ask the Chief Secretary, how do her constituents react
0:01:10 > 0:01:13to the idea that they're going to be lumbered with all these extra costs?
0:01:13 > 0:01:18Don't they ask her, what exactly are we getting for this?
0:01:18 > 0:01:22What wondrous new advantages will we gain by shelling out
0:01:22 > 0:01:24these astronomical sums?
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Won't to the Chief secretary be straight with the House?
0:01:28 > 0:01:32That we are paying for the privilege of voting the world's most
0:01:32 > 0:01:35efficient free trade, tariff-free, frictionless
0:01:35 > 0:01:39agreement into the bin, and we're being told to pay
0:01:39 > 0:01:42for the privilege of downgrading to an inferior deal with our
0:01:42 > 0:01:45European neighbours?
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Why is the Chief Secretary being so coy about the deal
0:01:48 > 0:01:50that is being done?
0:01:50 > 0:01:53They've gone from "go whistle" to "where do we sign?"
0:01:53 > 0:01:55The honourable gentleman knows perfectly well
0:01:55 > 0:01:58we are in negotiations as we speak.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03If, in this House, we were to talk about numbers and we were to talk
0:02:03 > 0:02:07about the aspects of the deal, that would cut across our
0:02:07 > 0:02:09negotiating position.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14What the people of Britain want to see is us get on with it,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17they want to see us take the advantages of leaving
0:02:17 > 0:02:19the European Union, make the most of those opportunities,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23secure the best possible deal.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27We're well on the way to doing that, and I suggest the honourable
0:02:27 > 0:02:31gentleman, rather than trying to re-fight the referendum battle,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35which is what he seems to be doing, he needs to get with the programme,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39and start talking about how he can be helpful.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Those who oppose paying any money are presumably
0:02:42 > 0:02:47wanting a no-deal Brexit, and that would actually be
0:02:47 > 0:02:51catastrophic for this country, and stop the opportunity my right
0:02:51 > 0:02:52honourabel friend, the Brexit Secretary,
0:02:52 > 0:02:59has of negotiating a deal that retains many benefits for jobs,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03investments and the growth of the economy of this country
0:03:04 > 0:03:05as we possibly can in the future.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Could she please remind those who have raised this question that,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11even if we agreed a figure of something in the order
0:03:11 > 0:03:14of 40 billion over 40 years, because we will not be paying
0:03:14 > 0:03:18contributions the European Union, that means the UK Exchequer will be
0:03:18 > 0:03:22better off by £360 million in the course of that
0:03:22 > 0:03:2540 years, a net gain with a free-trade arrangement.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Will the Chancellor, given there was a Budget last week
0:03:29 > 0:03:39which did not make provision for this 40-£50 billion,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42will he now bring forward an emergency Budget to expand
0:03:42 > 0:03:44on where he is finding the money?
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Well, I thought, Mr Speaker, when the honourable lady stood up,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50it was to be to thank the Government for the £2 billion additional
0:03:50 > 0:03:54spending power that we gave to the Scottish Government
0:03:54 > 0:03:57in the Budget, which no doubt, they will be able to use
0:03:57 > 0:04:00to improve their public services.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05As I've said before, and as been pointed out
0:04:05 > 0:04:12by the Opposition front bench, to talk about the money now
0:04:12 > 0:04:16would cut across the negotiations and prevents us from getting
0:04:16 > 0:04:20the best possible deal, and that is not in anyone's interests.
0:04:20 > 0:04:2770% of the people that voted in Bolsover voted to leave.
0:04:27 > 0:04:33But can I also say this to you, those same people in Bolsover,
0:04:33 > 0:04:39I believe, would expect me to tell the honourable lady from the Finance
0:04:39 > 0:04:44Department that if they've got £60 billion to spare,
0:04:44 > 0:04:50it should go to the National Health Service and social care.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52For the first time in my Parliamentary career,
0:04:52 > 0:04:54I'm going to agree with the honourable
0:04:54 > 0:04:56member for Bolsover.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00He's absolutely right.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03The 60%-odd of people in Wellingborough who voted to leave
0:05:03 > 0:05:06would want to know what we were doing with £60 billion.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Would want it spent on the NHS, social care and defence.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13They would not want it given to the European Union.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18Would the Minister agree such a move would be betraying the trust
0:05:18 > 0:05:19of the British people?
0:05:19 > 0:05:29The money that we've been reading about in the press is speculation.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33These negotiations are ongoing.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36The discussion is ongoing, and we want to secure value
0:05:36 > 0:05:40for money for the British taxpayer.
0:05:40 > 0:05:41Liz Truss.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Well, Prime Minister's Questions looked a little
0:05:43 > 0:05:46different this Wednesday, no Prime Minister.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Theresa May is on a visit to the Middle East,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52so the First Secretary of State, Damian Green, was understudy.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55And taking on the role of Jeremy Corbyn was Emily Thornbury,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Shadow Foreign Secretary.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59She opened with a few jokes.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01See if you can get the references.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05And congratulating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their engagement.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09That's one Anglo-American couple we on this side would be delighted
0:06:09 > 0:06:13to see holding hands.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19I'm sure that Prince Harry, the patron of Rugby Football League,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21will join us all in supporting England in the World Cup
0:06:22 > 0:06:23final on Saturday.
0:06:23 > 0:06:30And I, for one, will be waving my St George's flag.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33That was a reference to the tweet she sent 2014 about a terraced house
0:06:33 > 0:06:36flying three England flags, for which she was
0:06:36 > 0:06:41sacked by Ed Miliband.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44And the handholding was of course Donald Trump taking Theresa May's
0:06:44 > 0:06:45hand in Washington.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47But it was first question that raised eyebrows.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50The First Secretary of State is currently be investigated
0:06:50 > 0:06:52by the Cabinet Office over allegations about his
0:06:52 > 0:06:53past behaviour.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Can I ask the First Secretary a simple point of principle -
0:06:56 > 0:06:59is he happy to be held to the same standards in Government
0:06:59 > 0:07:01that he required of others whilst he was in Opposition?
0:07:01 > 0:07:07Yes, I am, I think all ministers should respect and obey
0:07:08 > 0:07:10the ministerial code.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14And I absolutely think that that's very important part
0:07:14 > 0:07:18of confidence in public life.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20I merely wondered if he remembered the question he asked
0:07:20 > 0:07:22at Prime Minister's Questions almost 17 years ago, when
0:07:22 > 0:07:24John Prescott stood in for Tony Blair,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and whether he could answer the same question today.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28So, what's the question?
0:07:28 > 0:07:30The question was this - what percentage of new nurses
0:07:30 > 0:07:38recruited in the past 12 months are now working full-time?
0:07:38 > 0:07:43I can't remember...
0:07:43 > 0:07:45I can't remember asking the question then, and I'd love
0:07:45 > 0:07:48to know what the then Deputy Prime Minister answered then.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52What I'm happy to assure the right honourable lady
0:07:52 > 0:07:59is that we have more nurses, more midwives, more doctors...
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Working in the Health Service now, the Health Service is performing
0:08:03 > 0:08:06more operations now, certainly than it was 17 years ago.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10And in particular, in the Budget last week, my right honourable
0:08:10 > 0:08:14friend the Chancellor was able to announce more than £6 billion
0:08:14 > 0:08:17extra on health spending, which will make the Health
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Service even stronger in the future than it is now.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We have an NHS in the grip of a chronic funding
0:08:24 > 0:08:26and staffing crisis.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30GPs are quitting in record numbers, junior doctors are running A&Es
0:08:30 > 0:08:32without supervision, our nurses are at breaking point
0:08:32 > 0:08:36and all this is before the winter crisis which is coming.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40So, Mr Speaker, let me finally ask the First Secretary, what does it
0:08:40 > 0:08:45say about the Government's priorities that last week's Budget
0:08:45 > 0:08:51could only find £350 million to help the cash-strapped,
0:08:51 > 0:08:56stretched-to-the-limit NHS, cope with the winter fuel crisis?
0:08:56 > 0:08:59JEERING
0:08:59 > 0:09:06Keep going, keep going!
0:09:06 > 0:09:12Only £350 million to cope with the winter crisis,
0:09:12 > 0:09:18and was able to find 11 times that amount to spend on a no-deal Brexit?
0:09:18 > 0:09:23Isn't that the very definition of a Government fiddling away
0:09:24 > 0:09:28while the rest of the country burns?
0:09:28 > 0:09:32The right honourable lady's determined to talk the NHS down.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37It's the Conservative Government which is increasing funding
0:09:37 > 0:09:42on the NHS so it remains the best health service in the world,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45as the Independent Commonwealth Fund has repeated for the
0:09:45 > 0:09:47second year in a row.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52It's this party which promised and delivered more money
0:09:52 > 0:09:56for the NHS in 2010, 2015 and in last week's Budget,
0:09:56 > 0:10:01when my right honourable friend the Chancellor promised 6.3 billion
0:10:01 > 0:10:03extra for the NHS.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06More patients treated, more operations carried out by more
0:10:06 > 0:10:09doctors and more nurses.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13And when she says at the end that the Government is wasting
0:10:13 > 0:10:20£3 billion on preparing for Brexit, we now know that the Labour Party
0:10:20 > 0:10:23doesn't think it's worth preparing for Brexit.
0:10:23 > 0:10:29They do, though, think it's worth preparing for a run
0:10:29 > 0:10:32on the pound, that's all you need to know about Labour.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Damian Green.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Well, at the end of PMQs, news reached the Commons chamber
0:10:38 > 0:10:42that the US president, Donald Trump, had retweeted
0:10:42 > 0:10:44three imflammatory videos from a British far-right group.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Two Labour MPs for the Home Secretary should come
0:10:48 > 0:10:53to the dispatch box to condemn the President's actions.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55The Speaker though said he wouldn't expect a Minister
0:10:55 > 0:10:56to respond immediately.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Downing Street later said Donald Trump was wrong to retweet
0:10:59 > 0:11:02the anti-Muslim videos.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03And you're watching Wednesday In Parliament
0:11:03 > 0:11:05with me, Mandy Baker.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Firms which operate passenger services would also manage
0:11:13 > 0:11:17the tracks their trains run on, under new Government plans.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19And some rail routes lost under Richard Beeching
0:11:20 > 0:11:22in the 1960s could be restored.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The closing of some 4000 miles of tracks,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28mainly in the rural areas, became known as the Beeching Cuts.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Chris Grayling said railway lines would be reopened if they encouraged
0:11:31 > 0:11:34house-building and eased congestion.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38His plans also give us the chance to show you these lovely pictures.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42The move is part of a new Government rail strategy.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44I know the party opposite doesn't believe this,
0:11:44 > 0:11:50but privatisation brought a revelation to our railways.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52That's why there's twice as many passengers as
0:11:52 > 0:11:53there were 20 years ago.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55But now is the time, Mr Speaker, for evolution
0:11:55 > 0:11:58to build on that success, joining up track and train,
0:11:58 > 0:11:59expanding the network, modernising the customer experience,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02opening the railway for new innovation.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05We have a vision, Mr Speaker, of a revitalised railway,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08used to its full potential by a partnership between the public
0:12:08 > 0:12:10and private sectors.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Supporting people, communities and the economy.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16And we're taking real action to make that vision a reality.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18The Government's proposals are more window-dressing,
0:12:18 > 0:12:23which will solve none of the rail's urgent problems.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Only Labour has the vision and courage to deliver the railway
0:12:27 > 0:12:30the public deserves.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34The public want public ownership of the railways and the next
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Labour Government will deliver it.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Beeching itself was typical of the Tory policy of knowing
0:12:40 > 0:12:44the price of everything and the value of nothing.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47And this attitude continues with the Secretary of State's ideological
0:12:47 > 0:12:49adherence to privatisation.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Now, while he worships the private sector, what he needs to remember,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56already there are four foreign state-owned
0:12:56 > 0:13:00companies operational in the existing UK franchises.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03So if it's good enough for foreign state-owned companies,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05it should be good enough for UK state-owned companies
0:13:05 > 0:13:07to run these franchises.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10And hopefully he supports the Scottish Government's move
0:13:10 > 0:13:15to bring a public sector bid in Scotland.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18The SNP have sought to put pressure on the Government over the plight
0:13:18 > 0:13:21of women born in 1950s who've lost out because of changes
0:13:22 > 0:13:25to pension law.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29In a rowdy debate, the SNP claimed the 3.8 million Waspi women have
0:13:29 > 0:13:30waited far too long.
0:13:30 > 0:13:39It is an absolute outrage that when the evidence is before us,
0:13:39 > 0:13:45of the fact that the women did not get appropriate notice
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and the fact that acceleration has taken place so quickly,
0:13:48 > 0:13:49we have had nothing yet from this government.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52I will give way.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I will give way.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56I'm grateful for the honourable member for giving way.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58It's an important debate, last week I attended
0:13:58 > 0:14:01the one in Westminster Hall because it is a very important issue
0:14:01 > 0:14:04but would he accept that it is wrong to say that the government has
0:14:04 > 0:14:06taken no action?
0:14:06 > 0:14:08In 2011 they made sure that nobody waited for an extended
0:14:08 > 0:14:09period beyond 18 months?
0:14:09 > 0:14:14period beyond 18 months?
0:14:14 > 0:14:22That's not true!
0:14:22 > 0:14:24I have heard about spinning but let's deal with
0:14:24 > 0:14:26the facts of the matter, because what the honourable lady
0:14:26 > 0:14:29is referring to is the fact that the government brought
0:14:29 > 0:14:31in an act of 2011 that increased the acceleration,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33to talk about the fact that the government have mitigated
0:14:33 > 0:14:36is a distortion of the reality, and the government benches should
0:14:36 > 0:14:38stop spinning the way that they are doing,
0:14:38 > 0:14:44and start telling the truth to the 3.8 million women affected.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46That is that pensionable age is increasing by three
0:14:46 > 0:14:47months per calendar month.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52That is the reality.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55And for the government to try and argue against it is something
0:14:55 > 0:14:57they should be utterly ashamed of.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59But a former Tory minister said he was prepared
0:14:59 > 0:15:09to vote with the SNP.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14This is very much a women-focused
0:15:14 > 0:15:15injustice.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16Of men approaching
0:15:16 > 0:15:17retirement expect to rely just on
0:15:17 > 0:15:18the state pension
0:15:18 > 0:15:22but for women it is as many as 53%, which is why it is such an important
0:15:22 > 0:15:28issue to them and all of us.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Other conservatives intervened to say that the Scottish Government
0:15:30 > 0:15:31could take action.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34In section 28 of the Scotland act, you can create a new benefit,
0:15:34 > 0:15:37and you can make that argument by not reason of old age,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40which the DWP have accepted, that argument, and in section 26
0:15:40 > 0:15:47of the act, it allows the Scottish Government to make
0:15:47 > 0:15:54short-term payments to people who need them to "avoid risks
0:15:54 > 0:15:59to the well-being of an individual".
0:15:59 > 0:16:02They have the powers but they choose not to use them.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04Ian Blackford insisted the Scottish Parliament did not
0:16:04 > 0:16:06have the ability to introduce new benefits based on age.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09This is a failure of policy of the UK Government.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10Nobody can get away from that.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Are the Conservatives in Scotland really saying
0:16:12 > 0:16:13that the Scottish parliament, the Scottish Government,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16should clear up the mess, again, which was left by this
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Conservative government?
0:16:17 > 0:16:19We've already spent £400 million of the Scottish Government
0:16:19 > 0:16:22mitigating the worst effects of Tory austerity.
0:16:22 > 0:16:32I think the government can find this money.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36It's no good blaming the Scottish parliament.
0:16:36 > 0:16:43It is a UK issue, full stop.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45And I can assure the honourable gentleman that
0:16:45 > 0:16:46I will be backing him.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48We made a manifesto pledge regarding this issue.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51The reason why I am here as a spokesman of the party today
0:16:51 > 0:16:55is because we do support it, we will go through the lobby on it
0:16:55 > 0:17:04and I do think that the Waspi women will be better served if we had
0:17:05 > 0:17:07a debate that was not devisive or about point-scoring.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09It's not a party.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Whether it is the liberal, Labour or Conservative parties
0:17:14 > 0:17:15which has not cause this problem.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18But the minister said, the government wasn't changing track.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20We cannot change of policy which has been implemented over 22 years,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22and supported by all three major political parties.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The government has to ensure that the costs of an ageing
0:17:25 > 0:17:27population are shared out fairly without placing an unfair financial
0:17:27 > 0:17:28burden on future generations.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31But MPs voted by 288-0 in support of the SNP demand
0:17:31 > 0:17:33that the government improve transitional arrangements
0:17:33 > 0:17:34for the Waspi women.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37The vote is not binding on the government, but the Deputy
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Speaker said the Commons leader promised that
0:17:39 > 0:17:41after a result like this, it would be a ministerial
0:17:41 > 0:17:44response within 12 weeks.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Returning to Brexit, and MPs have heard fresh warnings
0:17:46 > 0:17:48that our departure from the EU could cause gridlock at airports
0:17:52 > 0:17:54that our departure from the EU could cause gridlock at ports
0:17:54 > 0:17:55and railway stations.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58The home affairs committee heard concerns raised by representatives
0:17:58 > 0:17:59of border and immigration staff.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01The 300 additional staff that the border force
0:18:01 > 0:18:04are recruiting at the moment, do you understand that
0:18:04 > 0:18:11that is entirely additional to meet Brexit preparations,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13or will some of that be backfilling for existing staffing gaps?
0:18:13 > 0:18:15My understanding is that it is entirely backfilled...
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Entirely?
0:18:19 > 0:18:29It is only intended to bring orders up to where it should already be.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31So if there were changes, what would be the impact
0:18:31 > 0:18:32with that number of staff?
0:18:32 > 0:18:40Very long queues.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42Not only of people, but also possibly and more
0:18:42 > 0:18:43significantly of freight.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46If we had to move to freight checking on day one,
0:18:46 > 0:18:48like Dover, for example, it would grind to a halt
0:18:48 > 0:18:51and we wouldn't be able to bring the lorries off
0:18:51 > 0:18:52the ferry fast enough.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55There isn't enough physical space in that port.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It would be a car park, in actual fact.
0:18:58 > 0:19:06Because at the moment there is around 4 million units
0:19:06 > 0:19:08of freight which come through, Dover and the Channel
0:19:08 > 0:19:12tunnel at the moment, only 1% of that is non-EU so they go
0:19:12 > 0:19:14to the Western docks to be checked over, and it
0:19:14 > 0:19:15normally takes 2-3 hours.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Per lorry.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21If you are looking at around 40,000 being checked now,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23you need to do 4 million.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27You can see the scale of the problem.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31If there were continental checks in place, if they are agreeable
0:19:31 > 0:19:38to that, then that does certainly take off the pressure of a large
0:19:38 > 0:19:42stacking system of lorries when they arrive at Dover?
0:19:42 > 0:19:45It puts the stacking system somewhere else
0:19:45 > 0:19:48but if they are willing to have those checks in that country,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50it would make a huge difference.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54I don't know what the benefit to those countries would be though.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56The MPs also heard from the independent inspector
0:19:56 > 0:19:57of borders and immigration.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59He was asked about plans for 700 staff to deal
0:19:59 > 0:20:07with applications from EU nationals.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09with applications from EU nationals for settled status,
0:20:09 > 0:20:10allowing them to remain in the UK.
0:20:10 > 0:20:153 million people to be registered in the space of two years,
0:20:15 > 0:20:182.5 years, and then a further 250,000 a year additional.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20What would your expectations be of the level of staffing
0:20:20 > 0:20:22needed to deliver that, given the staffing ratios that
0:20:22 > 0:20:25you have got already?
0:20:25 > 0:20:34It will essentially be a different sort of regime
0:20:34 > 0:20:36exists at the moment.
0:20:36 > 0:20:42Essentially one where the onus is on the department to grant
0:20:42 > 0:20:44settlement in all but most cases where there are particular
0:20:44 > 0:20:46reasons for not doing so.
0:20:46 > 0:20:52But that said, 700, if you do the maths,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55that we tried to do the other day, it did come out
0:20:55 > 0:21:02at something like 100 decisions per day per person.
0:21:02 > 0:21:08I may have got the maths wrong but that is a lot of decisions,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11even with a relatively light touch process.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13If that were to be the case, that would be around...
0:21:13 > 0:21:16You would need someone taking a decision every 3-4 minutes.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Is that remotely realistic on any kind of casework system
0:21:18 > 0:21:19that you have ever seen?
0:21:19 > 0:21:23I think the point to be made is that it isn't intended to be
0:21:23 > 0:21:25like any casework system that any of us have seen.
0:21:25 > 0:21:26That's what the minister was saying.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27But...
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Do you think it is conceivable?
0:21:29 > 0:21:31I wouldn't want to be doing it myself.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32David Bolt.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Now, do we need an Arctic ambassador?
0:21:34 > 0:21:38A couple of years ago, a Lords committee called for just
0:21:38 > 0:21:40such a person to be appointed, peers said Britain could and should
0:21:41 > 0:21:43be more active in Arctic affairs.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46The SNP's Douglas Chapman agrees, and he led a debate on the idea
0:21:46 > 0:21:48in Westminster Hall.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51He pointed out that the North of Scotland is closer to the Arctic
0:21:51 > 0:21:53than it is to London, and he focused
0:21:53 > 0:21:54on shared interests...
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Like Iceland, Scotland is the home of some of the world's most
0:21:57 > 0:22:00beautiful scenery and natural wonders which attracts
0:22:00 > 0:22:06millions of visitors to our shores every year.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09We need to make sure that these valued resources are protected,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12so they can continue to be enjoyed by Scots and tourists alike
0:22:12 > 0:22:14for generations to come.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17It's very generous.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21I too am a Scot and Scotland has a great deal to offer to the north
0:22:21 > 0:22:25and the south but I'm puzzled as to his logic why Scotland has
0:22:25 > 0:22:28nice scenery, and why it should lead to a leap that there should be
0:22:28 > 0:22:29an Arctic ambassador.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32After all, that is what the debate is about?
0:22:32 > 0:22:33Well, I think it fits absolutely perfectly.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38The need for an Arctic ambassador, I will cover other areas
0:22:38 > 0:22:41in my speech but it is absolutely crucial that we make these links
0:22:41 > 0:22:43and have these friendships, and collaborative projects
0:22:43 > 0:22:47across the whole of the Arctic.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51You know, I hope the honourable member has a wide range of interests
0:22:51 > 0:22:55and am asking him to open his mind to the possibilities
0:22:55 > 0:22:58if we have an Arctic ambassador fighting for the UK and for Scotland
0:22:58 > 0:23:00over a wider range of issues.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03The minister said he didn't think that appointing
0:23:03 > 0:23:05an Arctic ambassador, as some countries have done,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09was the right approach for the UK.
0:23:09 > 0:23:18Particularly given our wide diversity of interests
0:23:18 > 0:23:20and established engagement across the Arctic States
0:23:20 > 0:23:23and in the Arctic Council, we do not think that this
0:23:23 > 0:23:26would add value.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28As Minister for the Polar Regions, I'm already supported
0:23:28 > 0:23:30by a senior Foreign & Commonwealth Office official.
0:23:30 > 0:23:40That official oversees the development and implementation
0:23:42 > 0:23:45of the UK's Arctic Policy framework.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Chairs across government Arctic network, and ensures that the UK
0:23:47 > 0:23:49is appropriate representation at the Arctic Council and other key
0:23:49 > 0:23:51international Arctic events.
0:23:51 > 0:23:52The Minister for the Polar Regions.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55There is to be an emergency debate in the Commons on Thursday
0:23:55 > 0:23:56on the crisis in Yemen.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00The bitter conflict there has been going on for more than two years.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01The Yemeni government, supported by a coalition
0:24:01 > 0:24:06led by Saudi Arabia, is battling the rebel Houthi
0:24:06 > 0:24:10movement, aided by Iran.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12The Saudis have recently lifted their blockade of Yemen's
0:24:12 > 0:24:15borders but it is estimated there are more than 20 million
0:24:15 > 0:24:17people in need of humanitarian help.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19When Theresa May visits Saudi Arabia for trade talks,
0:24:19 > 0:24:21she is expected to broach the subject of the growing
0:24:21 > 0:24:24humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27The SNP raised the matter at Prime Minister's Questions.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30The UK Government received £4.6 billion in serving arms
0:24:30 > 0:24:36to Saudi Arabia since the war in Yemen began.
0:24:36 > 0:24:43A war that has created a devastating humanitarian crisis.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Yemen is now on the brink of famine, and Unicef has said that 150,000
0:24:47 > 0:24:49children will die by the end of this year.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Doesn't the first secretary agree that the best thing
0:24:51 > 0:24:53that the Prime Minister could do with their meetings today
0:24:53 > 0:24:56is to follow the example of the Netherlands and suspend
0:24:56 > 0:25:01licences for arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04To stop killing children!
0:25:04 > 0:25:06after Conservatives secured an emergency debate.
0:25:06 > 0:25:12Today we are witnessing an almighty catastrophe of biblical
0:25:12 > 0:25:13proportions unfolding in Yemen, in which Britain,
0:25:13 > 0:25:18Madam Deputy Speaker, is dangerously complicit.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Britain is respected throughout the world for bringing hope
0:25:21 > 0:25:23and relief to those caught up in humanitarian misery
0:25:23 > 0:25:25but today, in Yemen, which I visited earlier this year,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27we are in danger of earning a reputation
0:25:27 > 0:25:31for precisely the reverse.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34We will have full coverage on the debate on the programme
0:25:34 > 0:25:37at the same time tomorrow.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41But for now from me, Mandy Baker, goodbye.