0:00:00 > 0:00:04Now on BBC News, Wednesday in Parliament.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Hello and welcome to the programme.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Coming up, Theresa May says 23 Russian diplomats will be expelled
0:00:25 > 0:00:33after Moscow failed to explain the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38They have treated the use of a military grade nerve agent in Europe
0:00:38 > 0:00:40with sarcasm, content and defiance.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44But the Labour leader has more questions.
0:00:44 > 0:00:50How has she responded to the request for a sample of the agents used in
0:00:50 > 0:00:52the Salisbury at tack to run its own tests?
0:00:52 > 0:00:55And the Communities Secretary sets out a plan
0:00:55 > 0:00:58to improve social cohesion.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Everyone, regardless of whether they are a new arrival or they can trace
0:01:02 > 0:01:06their ancestry back to the Norman conquest feels proud to call this
0:01:06 > 0:01:07country there are home.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11But first, for the second time in a week, the Prime Minister has
0:01:11 > 0:01:14addressed MPs about the attempted murder of a former Russian spy
0:01:14 > 0:01:16and his daughter in Salisbury.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20On Monday, there'd been an outcry after Jeremy Corbyn was felt to have
0:01:20 > 0:01:23abandoned the consensus that's usual in Parliament when the UK
0:01:23 > 0:01:25is under threat.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29On Wednesday, Theresa May's midnight deadline had passed and Moscow had
0:01:29 > 0:01:31failed to explain the involvement of a Russian-made nerve agent.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37The Prime Minister outlined her response.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40It was right to offer Russia the opportunity to provide an
0:01:40 > 0:01:45explanation. Their response has demonstrated complete disdain for
0:01:45 > 0:01:51the gravity of these events. They have provided no credible
0:01:51 > 0:01:55explanation that could suggest they lost control of their nerve agent.
0:01:55 > 0:02:01No explanation as to how this agent came to be used in the -- the United
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Kingdom. No explanation as to why Russia has an undeclared chemical
0:02:05 > 0:02:11weapons programme in contravention of international law. Instead, they
0:02:11 > 0:02:15have treated the use of military grade nerve agent in Europe sarcasm,
0:02:15 > 0:02:21contempt and defiance. So, Mr Speaker, there is no alternative
0:02:21 > 0:02:25conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable for the
0:02:25 > 0:02:34attempted murder of Mr Scrip role on his daughter -- Mr Skripal.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39She spelt out what measures the Government would now be taking.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44We will expel 23 diplomats who have been declared as offices. They have
0:02:44 > 0:02:49one week to leave. This will be the single biggest expulsion for over 30
0:02:49 > 0:02:53years and it reflect the fact that this is not the first time that the
0:02:53 > 0:02:58Russian state have acted against our country. Through these expulsions,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01we will fundamentally degrade Russian intelligence capability in
0:03:01 > 0:03:05the UK for years to come, we will freeze Russian state assets were
0:03:05 > 0:03:09over we have the evidence that they may be used to threaten the life or
0:03:09 > 0:03:14property of UK nationals or residence, and led by the National
0:03:14 > 0:03:19crime agency, we will continue to bring all the capabilities of UK law
0:03:19 > 0:03:22enforcement to bear against serious criminals and corrupt elites. There
0:03:22 > 0:03:25is no place for these people or their money in our country.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28In response, the opposition leader condemned the attack in Salisbury.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31He wondered if it was still possible that Russia had lost
0:03:31 > 0:03:34control of a nerve agent.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Has the Prime Minister taken the necessary steps under the chemical
0:03:38 > 0:03:44weapons Convention to make a formal request for evidence on the Russian
0:03:44 > 0:03:50government under article 9.2? How has she responded to the Russian
0:03:50 > 0:03:54government's request for a sample of the agents used in the Salisbury
0:03:54 > 0:04:03attacker to run it own tests? Has high resolution trace analysis being
0:04:03 > 0:04:08run on a sample of the nerve agent, and has that revealed any evidence
0:04:08 > 0:04:13as to the location of its product shouldn't or the identity of its
0:04:13 > 0:04:14perpetrators?
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Jeering began when Mr Corbyn condemned cutbacks
0:04:16 > 0:04:19in diplomatic staff.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22The Speaker interrupted to call for order as Conservative MPs,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25including those on the frontbench, continued to heckle.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29I couldn't understand a word of what the Foreign Secretary just said, Mr
0:04:29 > 0:04:35Speaker, but his Hager demeans his office. -- is behaviour.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37There was a terse response to Jeremy Corbyn's stance
0:04:37 > 0:04:38from the Prime Minister.
0:04:38 > 0:04:45It was clear from the remarks that were made by backbenchers across the
0:04:45 > 0:04:49whole of this house on Monday that there is a consensus across the back
0:04:49 > 0:04:55benches of the South. I am only sorry that the consensus does not go
0:04:55 > 0:05:00as far as the right honourable gentleman.
0:05:05 > 0:05:15Who... Who could... Who could have taken the opportunity as the UK
0:05:15 > 0:05:19government has done to condemn the culpability of the Russian state.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Many on the Labour backbenches spoke out in support
0:05:21 > 0:05:24of Theresa May's action, including one MP who explicitly
0:05:24 > 0:05:31condemned his own leader's response.
0:05:31 > 0:05:37Responding with strength and resolve when your country is under threat is
0:05:37 > 0:05:47an essential component of political leadership. There is labour
0:05:47 > 0:05:52tradition that understands that and it is understood by all parties who
0:05:52 > 0:05:52have stood there.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Spokesmen from other parties expressed solidarity
0:05:54 > 0:05:56with the Government.
0:05:56 > 0:06:03There has to be a robust response to the use of terror on our streets. We
0:06:03 > 0:06:08must act in a measured way to show that we will simply not tolerate
0:06:08 > 0:06:15this behaviour, and in this regard, I will --, an associate with those
0:06:15 > 0:06:19of these on these benches with the measures contained in a statement.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22We welcome the decisive action which has been taken by the Prime Minister
0:06:22 > 0:06:26today, and it sits in contrast with the policy of appeasement that we
0:06:26 > 0:06:31have heard from the front bench of the Labour Party. I'm sure the
0:06:31 > 0:06:36people of the UK are pleased that it is a Prime Minister who is standing
0:06:36 > 0:06:40behind that dispatch box today, defending the rule of law and the
0:06:40 > 0:06:44citizens of this country.I say that I and my party fully support the
0:06:44 > 0:06:50Prime Minister's statements. But can I ask, what is her response to the
0:06:50 > 0:06:57brave Leader of the Opposition in Russia? Who is not allowed to stand
0:06:57 > 0:07:01in the presidential election. Who has said that the most effective
0:07:01 > 0:07:05action the British government can take is to use its legal powers such
0:07:05 > 0:07:11as the unexplained wealth orders against named individuals who are
0:07:11 > 0:07:13critical to the Putin operation?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15A Labour MP had two suggestions for cracking down
0:07:15 > 0:07:16on Russian money-laundering.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21She could bring forward the public register of ownership properties,
0:07:21 > 0:07:26which was promised by her predecessor in 2015, and has been
0:07:26 > 0:07:31delayed by this government, and in the second place, she could increase
0:07:31 > 0:07:35transparency in our corporate structures so we would know who
0:07:35 > 0:07:40forms companies here, where the money comes from and deal with it if
0:07:40 > 0:07:44it is illicit money brought in by arms they breed people. -- on
0:07:44 > 0:07:55slavery. -- unsavoury.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57The Prime Minister said she was looking at those options.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00But it was a senior Conservative who emphasised the seriousness
0:08:00 > 0:08:01of the whole situation.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02Ken Clarke.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05This is actually a serious threat to the safety of the Western world
0:08:05 > 0:08:09unless we do or something together to actually start getting the
0:08:09 > 0:08:14Russians to do something as opposed to simply ignore us.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Now to Prime Minister's Questions, where Jeremy Corbyn urged
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Theresa May to "get a grip" on England's NHS.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23The session had begun with both leaders paying
0:08:23 > 0:08:27tribute to the physicist Professor Stephen Hawking,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29whose death had been announced just a few hours earlier.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32But when questioning began in earnest, the Labour leader
0:08:32 > 0:08:35turned his attention to the health service and raised two cases
0:08:35 > 0:08:38which he believed highlighted the problems it faced.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Firstly, he cited a cancer patient unable to get treatment,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44before turning to a letter he'd received from a pensioner
0:08:45 > 0:08:48called Hilary.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53I am now having to pay for my thyroid medication because the CCG
0:08:53 > 0:08:58needs to save money. I've worked all my life, paid national Insurance and
0:08:58 > 0:08:59this is not fair.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Theresa May asked for the details of the cases he'd raised.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07May I just take this opportunity of reminding him that I think he raised
0:09:07 > 0:09:10the case about Georgina with me last Hobart and hasn't written to me
0:09:10 > 0:09:12about that.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14And Theresa May went on to defend the Government's record
0:09:14 > 0:09:16on the health service.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Jeremy Corbyn said Georgina's case had been resolved before he'd had
0:09:19 > 0:09:21a chance to bring it to the Prime Minister,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23showing the power of Parliament.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28He moved on to funding.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32The NHS is clearly in crisis, so why wasn't there a penny extra for the
0:09:32 > 0:09:39NHS in yesterday's statement by the chancellor?Prime Minister...Can I
0:09:39 > 0:09:43say to the right honourable gentlemen, we didn't wait until
0:09:43 > 0:09:46yesterday's Spring statement to announce more money for the NHS. We
0:09:46 > 0:09:54are now sit in the budget last autumn! And as a result of that, the
0:09:54 > 0:09:58NHS is getting £2.5 billion more in the forthcoming financial year, 18,
0:09:58 > 0:10:0519, and more to resolve the nurses pay settlement.A recent reports
0:10:05 > 0:10:12suggest that NHS funding will fall by 0.3% in 2019. People's lives are
0:10:12 > 0:10:17at stake. If the Prime Minister really saying AMD doctors are wrong,
0:10:17 > 0:10:22NHS managers are wrong, Royal colleges are wrong, health unions
0:10:22 > 0:10:27are wrong, and actually, it is only she that knows best about the NHS?
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We are putting more money into the National Health Service, but what
0:10:30 > 0:10:35you need in order to be able to do that is to ensure that you have a
0:10:35 > 0:10:38strong economy to provide the money for the National health service.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42What do we know about the policies? It would cause a run on the pound,
0:10:42 > 0:10:48crash our economy, less money for the NHS.Jeremy Corbyn!When people
0:10:48 > 0:10:53are dying because of long waits in hospitals, I think the Prime
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Minister should get a grip and ensure the NHS now has the money
0:10:57 > 0:11:02that it needs to deal with the patient demands. We started with
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Professor Stephen Hawking and he said a few months ago, there is
0:11:06 > 0:11:12overwhelming evidence that NHS funding and the number of doctors
0:11:12 > 0:11:17and nurses are inadequate and it's getting worse. Does she agree with
0:11:17 > 0:11:24Professor Hawking?Prime Minister. Once again, I'm very happy to point
0:11:24 > 0:11:28out some facts to the right honourable gentleman. There are
0:11:28 > 0:11:3314,900 more doctors working in the National Health Service. We have
0:11:33 > 0:11:38almost 13,900 more nurses working on how awards. Why don't we put an
0:11:38 > 0:11:43emphasis on nurses working in our wards? Because of what we saw under
0:11:43 > 0:11:45the labour government in mid- Staffs.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48The SNP's Westminster leader turned to a completely different subject.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51The row between Westminster and the Scottish and Welsh
0:11:51 > 0:11:56governments over the return of powers to the UK after Brexit.
0:11:56 > 0:12:02Prime Minister famously claimed that the UK was made up of equal
0:12:02 > 0:12:06partners. What an irony. Now that is overseeing the demolition of the
0:12:06 > 0:12:11settlement. I call upon the Prime Minister once again, stock with
0:12:11 > 0:12:18attack on devolution and double your efforts and working with the
0:12:18 > 0:12:21ministrations in finding agreement. This is the government has given
0:12:21 > 0:12:24more powers to the Scottish government. This is a government
0:12:24 > 0:12:28that will be giving more powers to the Scottish government, significant
0:12:28 > 0:12:32extra powers will be given as a result of the decisions that we are
0:12:32 > 0:12:33taking around Brexit.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36And there were accusations of a Whitehall power grab
0:12:36 > 0:12:37during Welsh Questions.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40The Scottish and Welsh governments are working on their own legislation
0:12:40 > 0:12:43as a backstop in the event that agreement is not reached
0:12:43 > 0:12:45with ministers over the EU Withdrawal Bill,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48the so-called "continuity bills".
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Plaid Cymru's leader at Westminster said the Welsh EU Continuity Bill
0:12:51 > 0:12:56was set to pass its first stage in the Welsh Assembly.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01If it passes, debates will be forced out of this chamber and into the
0:13:01 > 0:13:08court. Will the Secretary of State confirm when the continuity bill
0:13:08 > 0:13:10passes, whether he intends to fight us in the courts?
0:13:10 > 0:13:13The Wales Secretary didn't think bills were necessary.
0:13:13 > 0:13:19The 64 areas, we have already said that 30 would pass without any need
0:13:19 > 0:13:24for any further agreement or at the very most, an informal agreement
0:13:24 > 0:13:29between the UK government and the administrations. There are 24 areas
0:13:29 > 0:13:33whereby it is in the interests of businesses in Wales, Scotland and
0:13:33 > 0:13:38northern England and to have common practices that we can predict the UK
0:13:38 > 0:13:42market. 80% of Welsh output is sold to the rest of the world.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44The other question taxing MPs with Welsh constituencies
0:13:44 > 0:13:51was the proposed introduction of US tariffs on steel.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56If the Secretary of State aware of the tax -- are aware of when George
0:13:56 > 0:14:01Bush introduced tariffs, it led to 200,000 job losses.What steps are
0:14:01 > 0:14:04being taken to ensure American politicians and employers and trade
0:14:04 > 0:14:09unions up pushing President Trump to drop these utterly self-defeating
0:14:09 > 0:14:11tariffs?
0:14:11 > 0:14:15The Minister said the Government was deeply disappointed by the move.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20This is such a priority to this government. Across government action
0:14:20 > 0:14:25to support it. As someone whose father was a world in steel I
0:14:25 > 0:14:26recognise the importance of this industry.
0:14:26 > 0:14:27Alan Cairns.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30You're watching Wednesday in Parliament with me, Mandy Baker.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32If you want to catch up with all the news
0:14:32 > 0:14:35from Westminster on the go, don't forget our sister programme,
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Today in Parliament, is available as a download
0:14:37 > 0:14:38via the BBC Radio 4 Website.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Mistrust, anxiety and prejudice are characterising too many
0:14:44 > 0:14:47parts of the country, the Communities Secretary has said.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51He told MPs there was a "lack of meaningful mixing" between people
0:14:51 > 0:14:56from different backgrounds, as he set out a government
0:14:56 > 0:15:02consultation paper on how to improve integration.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07None of these measures dilutes the government's commitment to project
0:15:07 > 0:15:12legitimate rights to free speech and practising religion within the law.
0:15:12 > 0:15:18Indeed the green paper reaffirms this commitment. But we cannot and
0:15:18 > 0:15:22will not shy away from challenging cultural practices that are harmful,
0:15:22 > 0:15:27particularly for women and girls. Recent news about the abuses in
0:15:27 > 0:15:34Telford highlights how important this is. Parents who work hard to
0:15:34 > 0:15:39get on and give something back. I want everyone in Britain to enjoy
0:15:39 > 0:15:45opportunities. Playing a full and proper role in British society. To
0:15:45 > 0:15:50see people from all backgrounds mixing really without fear to ensure
0:15:50 > 0:15:55that everyone, regardless of whether they are a new arrival or can trace
0:15:55 > 0:16:00their ancestry back to the Norman conquest, feels proud to call this
0:16:00 > 0:16:01country it's home.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Labour said the strategy needed to be ambitious
0:16:03 > 0:16:05and backed by serious money.
0:16:05 > 0:16:13So we welcome the Broads cost of the strategy as an overdue first step
0:16:13 > 0:16:17but despite the fact it lacks some of the ambition, we would like the
0:16:17 > 0:16:21strategy to be deeper and wider in its approach. There are some
0:16:21 > 0:16:26positive ideas to the statement. The true test will be whether there is a
0:16:26 > 0:16:30rigourous evaluation or any successful strategy is given the
0:16:30 > 0:16:35backing to be expanded to all areas. Can I urge the government to make
0:16:35 > 0:16:40sure its ambitions are matched by sufficient funding to make a reality
0:16:40 > 0:16:43and also to the Secretary of State to recognise the route cause is a
0:16:43 > 0:16:52lack of opportunity. There are two feelgood jobs, low levels of
0:16:52 > 0:16:56education and many people living in poverty.This parliament has
0:16:56 > 0:17:03pandered to the tabloids. They should apologise. This is a
0:17:03 > 0:17:08government of go home fans, hostile environments, making asylum seekers
0:17:08 > 0:17:14destitute, preventing them from working. Dealing highly skilled
0:17:14 > 0:17:18migrants a threat to national security. Of the Brexit shambles
0:17:18 > 0:17:26which makes EU nationals feel so unwelcome.Despite the attitude
0:17:26 > 0:17:30taken, we stand ready to work with the Scottish Government to further
0:17:30 > 0:17:33joint goals of having a more integrated society.
0:17:33 > 0:17:33Sajid Javid.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37MPs spent much of the afternoon on the first of two days
0:17:37 > 0:17:38general debate on Brexit.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Discussion ranged from trade to devolution to the Irish border.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43A Labour MP meanwhile was highly critical of the government's
0:17:43 > 0:17:51handling of the Brexit negotiations.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55This whole Brexit catastrophe is like watching a car crash in slow
0:17:55 > 0:18:00motion except that the fact that as the driver, the Prime Minister is
0:18:00 > 0:18:03holding her hands over her eyes and tried to convince the passengers,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06that is her own party and the public, that everything will turn
0:18:06 > 0:18:12out fine. There is a hit at it and hope attitude from the government.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Completely ignoring the realities of the modern world. The UK government
0:18:16 > 0:18:21tells us it is all going to be well and we are supposed to take it on
0:18:21 > 0:18:25trust but through this entire process to date, they have sought to
0:18:25 > 0:18:25exclude Parliament.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28A Conservative former MEP said a transition arrangement
0:18:28 > 0:18:29needed to be agreed now.
0:18:29 > 0:18:34She gave an example of why it was so important.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39On the back of my mobile phone is a CE mark on every product which is
0:18:39 > 0:18:43placed in the market in Europe has this mark in anything that has been
0:18:43 > 0:18:49imported to the UK has to have this mark put on it and the mark is
0:18:49 > 0:18:53offered with a 12- month certificate and so if you are importing your
0:18:53 > 0:19:00mobile home from elsewhere, you need someone who can issue a certificate
0:19:00 > 0:19:05which takes you notice to the end of this march but next March and unless
0:19:05 > 0:19:13we resolve transition this month, what happens to CE is a good place
0:19:13 > 0:19:19on the market and it will not be resolved. Actually, there are not
0:19:19 > 0:19:23enough notified bodies to take the place of the British notified bodies
0:19:23 > 0:19:24today.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26And that debate continues on Thursday.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29The question of how to deal with Russia came up again
0:19:29 > 0:19:32on the Committee corridor.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35The Culture Secretary Matt Hancock was asked whether the regulator
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Ofcom should conduct a fit and proper person test
0:19:37 > 0:19:40on Russia Today, or RT, the Russian Federation's news
0:19:40 > 0:19:46channel which operates in the UK.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49In a statement yesterday, of Com said that should the UK
0:19:49 > 0:19:55investigating authorities determine there was an unlawful use of force,
0:19:55 > 0:20:01we will consider this to be satisfied that RT is fit and proper.
0:20:01 > 0:20:09Has that condition be met? They said that should the UK authorities
0:20:09 > 0:20:12determine there was in what will use force, they will consider this
0:20:12 > 0:20:17relevant in their ongoing duty to be satisfied that RT is fit and proper.
0:20:17 > 0:20:23We do consider there was an unlawful use of force by the Russian state
0:20:23 > 0:20:29against the UK. It's a question four of Com on how to react to that.It's
0:20:29 > 0:20:35very important bits is a matter for Com. That is the structure of
0:20:35 > 0:20:40regulation that was put in place and has strong cross-party support and
0:20:40 > 0:20:44one of the other things the Prime Minister said, we must respond to
0:20:44 > 0:20:51this threat from Russia appropriate to our values and one of our values
0:20:51 > 0:20:57is that politicians and the government don't interfere.The
0:20:57 > 0:21:03Prime Minister has talked about hostile state activity in general.
0:21:03 > 0:21:09TUC disinformation emanating from the Russian state through the
0:21:09 > 0:21:13distribution of fake news or incidents were Russian state
0:21:13 > 0:21:18broadcasters have breached UK code. DC mitigations as part of that
0:21:18 > 0:21:28package?Yes, we've clearly seen activity from Russia directed that
0:21:28 > 0:21:38all Western democracies. And that includes here in the UK and the
0:21:38 > 0:21:43committee has done excellent work in ensuring that we get to the bottom
0:21:43 > 0:21:51of the quantum of that. And there is clearly intent.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54But he said that in the UK the impact of this
0:21:54 > 0:21:56disinformation had been minimal.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02For instance, when it comes to the referendum, there is no evidence the
0:22:02 > 0:22:05outcome of the referendum has been affected. If you look at the scale
0:22:05 > 0:22:09of activity, on the evidence that we have so far seen, there is no
0:22:09 > 0:22:13evidence of an impact on the overall result, not least because the margin
0:22:13 > 0:22:18was over a million votes in the scale of the impact that we have
0:22:18 > 0:22:20evidence for as much more.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Matt Hancock also said he'd commissioned independent research
0:22:22 > 0:22:24on the effects of fake news and disinformation.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28He was then asked what more social media platforms should do to stop
0:22:28 > 0:22:30foreign intervention in elections, particularly when it's sometimes
0:22:30 > 0:22:37impossible to trace the person responsible for a post.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41There are some ways that we have tackled that and some of them using
0:22:41 > 0:22:50the law and some not. In not using the law, when Daesh were using
0:22:50 > 0:22:55Twitter aggressively, we set up UK against Daesh and a series of
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Twitter accounts which make the argument in the opposite direction
0:22:59 > 0:23:02in that campaign was very successful.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Owners of dogs with behavioural problems can buy collars which give
0:23:05 > 0:23:06the animal an electric shock.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08The idea is help train them, but campaigners argue
0:23:09 > 0:23:10the devices are cruel.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13MPs have called for their use to be banned in England and they debated
0:23:13 > 0:23:18the issue in Westminster Hall.
0:23:18 > 0:23:24A Conservative MP described the case of Ostarra Langridge in Brighton
0:23:24 > 0:23:28who used an electric collar on her dogs.
0:23:28 > 0:23:35The first time that all got a shock was when they were buying stake.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39From then on, her pets associated the shocks with small dogs and
0:23:39 > 0:23:46therefore became afraid of them. So when Mr language -- language
0:23:46 > 0:23:50described the day when her dogs turned on a shiatsu, she had tears
0:23:50 > 0:23:55in arise, they connected the pain of the electric shock with dogs because
0:23:55 > 0:23:59the first time I used the collar, the day that machine came in this
0:23:59 > 0:24:01house, I regret.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04The Environment Minister said he'd heard cases both good and bad.
0:24:04 > 0:24:11There are often quoted reactions to colours such as people using
0:24:11 > 0:24:19hand-held devices is the strongest sitting in the first use. Another
0:24:19 > 0:24:23example is in relation to containment fences and when a dog
0:24:23 > 0:24:27chases something beyond the boundary line, they are often too scared to
0:24:27 > 0:24:34return. The stories of dogs who might be alive today were it not for
0:24:34 > 0:24:40these collars. This consultation obviously provides supporters of the
0:24:40 > 0:24:43colours and opponents of such devices to express their views on
0:24:43 > 0:24:43this issue.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46The Minister said it was already an offence to cause unnecessary
0:24:46 > 0:24:49suffering to an animal, but a ban would give
0:24:49 > 0:24:51clarity on the issue.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54And finally, MPs are always anxious to get in a good word
0:24:54 > 0:24:57about their constituency and the ideal time to do this
0:24:57 > 0:24:58is Prime Minister's Questions.
0:24:58 > 0:25:06So in the very dying minutes, one Conservative seized his chance.
0:25:06 > 0:25:11The inspirational music man project in Southend that works with people
0:25:11 > 0:25:16who have learning difficulties has now set a world record for tinkling
0:25:16 > 0:25:23the most number of triangles of. Does my right honourable friend
0:25:23 > 0:25:27agree with me that that is yet another reason why Southend should
0:25:27 > 0:25:28be made a city?
0:25:28 > 0:25:31The Prime Minister seemed unwilling to commit to Southend becoming
0:25:31 > 0:25:35a city on just the strength of that, but...
0:25:35 > 0:25:39I am very happy to congratulate the music man project in Southend for
0:25:39 > 0:25:42the record they have achieved in tinkling triangles.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Now there's a phrase you don't hear a Prime Minister say every day.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46And that's all.
0:25:46 > 0:26:02So from me, Mandy Baker, goodbye.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07Hello there.