Summary

  • MPs are debating private members' bills

  1. 'No doubt' that more funding is neededpublished at 21:29 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Clive BettsImage source, HoC

    Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Clive Betts, says there is no doubt that funding is needed for social care.

    "We have to have a long term solution" which "councils can rely on", he says.

    Often, he adds, politicians say that something needs to be done without saying how it should be done. The report published between his committee and Dr Wollaston's Health Committee demonstrates how funding should be raised for social care, he states.

    He says that often the caring workforce are on zero hours, minimum wage contracts, and the same working conditions as someone would receive in a supermarket. He criticises the lack of job security offered to those in the care sector.

  2. Commons debates adult social care fundingpublished at 20:35 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dr Sarah WollastonImage source, HoC

    Chair of the Health Committee Dr Sarah Wollaston says that while the NHS is free at the point of delivery; social care, from the outset, has been means-tested.

    She says that patients often expect things which "to their surprise, often isn't there" when they use social care services.

    "Just to stand still" there will need to be an increase in social care spending of 3.4%, she says.

    She says it is "essential" that the government works to keep people well, rather than treating them when they get sick.

    The NHS funding settlement for five years is "welcome" to her, as there has been a tendency to use "sticking plasters" on the NHS budget in short term spending commitments.

    She says she does not see that there will be a "Brexit dividend" for the NHS, rather a "Brexit penalty".

  3. What are Estimates Days?published at 20:14 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Commons tweets

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  4. Discussion on 'upskirting' bill beginspublished at 20:11 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    BBC journalist tweets

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  5. The public sector is the 'core' of UK prisonspublished at 20:09 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Rory StewartImage source, HoC

    Justice Minister Rory Stewart says there has been a "transformation" of offenders on short term sentences, and there will be 10,000 new places for such prisoners.

    It is "tawdry" buildings which underlie the problems which lead to prison violence, such as Victorian buildings and poor cleanliness, he says.

    He adds that the government believes in the public sector being the "core" of the justice system, but it believes in a mix of public and private capital being used on projects. He states that the government can learn things from the private sector.

    He says that body-worn cameras by prison officers will prevent some further crimes.

    Around 50% of prisoners have not achieved reading levels of an 11-year-old, he states, saying that reforms to the system will take "patience".

  6. Cuts are undermining the rule of law - Labourpublished at 20:08 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Richard BurgonImage source, HoC

    Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon says that Tory cuts are undermining the rule of law in the UK.

    The Ministry of Juistice budget will have been cut by 40% by the end of the decade, he says, which risks turning the "current crisis" into a "full-blown emergency".

    He says the cuts were a "political choice" and that it is now eight years since the "emergency budget" which cut government departments.

    "There are real human costs" to these decisions, he adds, saying that the government has had to hire new prison officers due to the cuts which were made in 2010, and subsequent prison unrest.

    This has created a "cocktail" of "inexperienced officers and experienced prisoners," he adds.

    "The government should stop rewarding failure," he says, referring to probation services and prisons being run by private, for-profit companies.

  7. Scotland's legal aid system is has a wider remit - SNPpublished at 19:51 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Joanna CherryImage source, HoC

    The SNP's justice and home affairs spokesperson Joanna Cherry says the rejection of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Windrush scandal have dented the reputation for human rights being respected in the UK.

    She says the UK spends less per capita on legal aid in Scotland, even though legal aid in Scotland has wider scope and is available to more people, saying this shows the "contrast" between Scotland, England and Wales.

    She says that legal aid funding in England has been cut from £2.51bn to £1.55bn.

    She asks the government to "look to the Scottish example".

  8. 'Missed opportunity' for justice investmentpublished at 19:47 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kate GreenImage source, HoC

    Labour's Kate Green says that these estimates are a missed opportunity for justice investment, particularly in funding for women's centres.

    Up to now, there has been a "patchwork" of different funding models for women's centres, when there needs to be more secure funding, she says.

    A lack of alternatives means that when an approach doesn't work in a women's centre, then there are few other ways of helping, she states.

  9. This is about 'concrete rights'published at 19:47 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    Conservative MP Alex ChalkImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Alex Chalk says the rule of law is about concrete rights. He says that respect for justice is ingrained, and that the British people are appalled when they see injustice.

    The MP says that the Department of Work and Pensions spends the entire Ministry of Justice budget in 10 days.

    The amount spent on Syria he says is greater than the entire legal aid budget.

    The MP says access to justice should be truly maintained.

  10. MPs scrutinise Justice spendingpublished at 18:54 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Estimate debates

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The debate on contaminated blood comes to an end and MPs move on to their next debate, on Ministry of Justice spending.

    This is the first two separate 'estimate debates' taking place today - when MPs scrutinise spending estimates by government departments.

    The House of Commons usually sets aside three estimates days each year to consider the estimates of government spending.

    The subject of today's debate was selected by the Backbench Business Committee as part of a new estimates day procedure.

  11. MP questions timeframe for inquirypublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Contaminated Blood Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Diana JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Diana Johnson - who chairs the parliamentary group , externalon contaminated blood - says 2,500 people have already died as a result of the scandal.

    She says this is a greater number than all the other disasters added up together if you start from the 1970s, from the Moorgate Tube disaster, through to Grenfell just last year.

    She asks the the minister if the two year timescale for the inquiry is realistic.

    Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington replies that the two-year time frame is an estimate and it is "very difficult" to be more precise than that.

  12. This is the worst NHS tragedy in 70 years - SNPpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Contaminated blood inquiry statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dr Philippa WhitfordImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Dr Philippa Whitford says this is the worst NHS tragedy in the 70 years of the service, and may even indicate that cover ups took place.

    Ninety people have died since the inquiry was announced a year ago, she says, and she asks what steps are being taken to avoid Maxwellisation at the end of the inquiry, as happened with the Iraq War inquiry.

    She asks if the inquiry will be able to force witnesses to give evidence.

    Mr Lidington says there have been allegations of "mistreatment" and "concealment," which is something the inquiry will specifically look at.

    He says that the inquiry will be able to compel witnesses to attend.

  13. Health Committee finishes evidencepublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Health and social care committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Dr Wollaston thanks the panel for their contribution, and with that, ends the committee's session.

    Health committeeImage source, Parliament
  14. The longer the delays, the fewer people will be around to see justice - Labourpublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Contaminated blood inquiry statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris MathesonImage source, HoC

    Labour's spokesperson Chris Matheson says the longer the delays, the fewer victims will be around to see justice.

    He says that this has taken too long to come forward since the inquiry was originally announced a year ago, adding that the public has little trust in inquiries hosted by the government.

    "Nevertheless, today is progress, and we welcome the statement," he says.

    He welcomes the fact that the inquiry is UK-wide. He asks for the assurance that the government will be able to give the inquiry all the resources it needs, and he asks if there will be scope for interim reports during the inquiry.

    Mr Lidington says the government has "consistently tried to move this inquiry forward as quickly as possible".

    He adds that it was important to get a judge "who had the right experience and expertise" but also could spare two years to chair the inquiry.

    "There is no doubt in my mind" that Sir Brian is committed to getting the right answers for those affected, he says.

    The Cabinet Office will provide the inquiry with all the resources they need to operate effectively, he states.

    Legal Aid will be available to those who want to speak to the inquiry, he says, adding that the applicants will not be subject to means testing.

  15. 'Long and hard road'published at 18:03 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Labour AM tweets

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  16. Labour MP: what is needed to reduce pressure on budgets?published at 18:00 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Health and social care committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Labour's Luciana Berger asks what will need to be done on prevention and social care to reduce pressure on NHS budgets.

    Mr Stevens highlights reducing smoking and reducing health inequalities among children (the difference between the health of the poorest and richest children).

    He calls for the integration of health and social care.

    Mr Bradshaw says it is clear that the additional funding for the NHS means there will be no money for public health and social care. He asks whether NHS money will be diverted to these causes.

    Mr Stevens says that is a question for government and that Mr Bradshaw is "assuming decisions have been taken" which haven't.

  17. Commons hears statement on contaminated bloodpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Contaminated blood inquiry statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    David LidingtonImage source, HoC

    Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington is making a statement on the contaminated blood inquiry.

    There were as many as 7,500 victims of from imported blood products, according to a parliamentary report in 2017.

    You can follow all of the BBC's reporting on this inquiry on the topic page.

    Mr Lidington says that the inquiry has received 700 responses to its consultation, adding that the terms of reference for the inquiry are "comprehensive" and the inquiry is "United Kingdom wide" and will host regular meetings across the UK.

    The inquiry can start its work today, he says, and evidence will be "public, transparent, and subject to scrutiny".

    "Speed is of the essence," he says, referring to the decision made on who the expert panel will be.

    "A number of people have died since the inquiry was announced," he adds.

  18. Support for fellow Brexiteerpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Foreign Secretary tweets

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  19. Thanks to the ministerpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    Lords Brexit minister tweets

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  20. 'Worth noting' PM's response on EEA optionpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 2 July 2018

    The Spectator's political editor tweets

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