Select Committee
Parliament

"There is resistance to reporting allegations," says Ms Russell, "but it is our duty to hold charities to account."

The committee asks about the difficulties of regulating global organisations, and whether the aid sector needs its own regulator.

Ms Russell says individual countries need to come together to agree standards.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs have moved on to their Estimates Day debate, focused on education.

The House of Commons sets aside three estimates days each year on which to consider the estimates of public spending by government departments.

This first debate is on education, and the chair of the Education Committee, Conservative Robert Halfon, is opening the debate.

Select Committee
Parliament

"We have seen a step change in the amount of case work," says Helen Stephenson, the commission's chief executive.

She says there needs to be a conversation about resourcing as the commission's workload increases.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Ross Thomson is introducing his Ten Minute Rule Bill, which would amend the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to make the theft of pets an offence.

The petition has been signed by 100,000 people across the country, and 69 in his constituency, he states.

He says that the worst part of his job is leaving his dog, Poppy, every Monday morning. He says he doesn't want to "contemplate" the notion of going home to find that she wasn't there.

He says the theft of a pet is worse than losing an inanimate object - the theft of a pet invariably leads to a "slap on the wrist" for perpetrators which fails to act "as a deterrent" he says.

Select Committee
Parliament

The International Development Committee is hearing evidence on sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector.

It follows a scandal in which several charities, including Oxfam and Save the Children, were accused of covering up allegations of sexual abuse.

The first panel of witnesses are leading figures in the Charity Commission.

"It's about leadership," says Michelle Russell, the commission's director of investigations, monitoring and enforcement.

She says the commission is focusing on safeguarding.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Martin Docherty-Hughes says it is "imperative that the House is given a clear idea" on what the future strategy for the region is, especially if the UK is not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Less than half of the Iraqi reconstruction figure has been raised so far, he says, "others will need to step up as well".

Mr Williamson says the international community has come forward with "£30bn of support," adding that there are "positive signs" in the Iraqi economy and private sector investment in the country.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith says she welcomes "the extraordinary progress" which has been made against IS.

She pays tribute to UK servicemen and women who have worked so hard to attack this terrorist group.

The Iraqi government is now focusing on securing the border with Syria, she says, and she asks what the government is doing to support their government in this.

The World Bank has estimated that the cost of reconstructing Iraq will be $88bn, she says, adding that reconstructing the country is key to making sure that IS does not appear elsewhere or in another form. She asks what the government is doing to diminish the financial power of the group.

Mr Williamson says that the government is working to see how it can train border staff in the region as well as their security services. He adds that the government has paid £30m in support for UN stabilisation forces in the region.

"Countering propaganda is vital," he says, adding that the UK government has been "incredibly active" in reducing IS propaganda in the UK, which has seen a 70% reduction in such propaganda.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is giving a statement to the Commons on countering the Islamic State group.

He says that the group are now in a small pocket on the Iraq-Syria border, and under daily attack.

The government welcomes the prospect of working with a new government in Iraq, when it is formed, he says.

The international community can do much to help with reconstructing Iraq, he says.

The conflict in Syria is entering its eighth year, he states, by IS's defeat "is now at hand" he states.

"We are doing all we can do alleviate the unimaginable suffering experienced by the Syrian people," he adds.

As long as the grievances that gave rise to IS, he says, these seeds of instability will be sown again.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee Maria Miller says that "education has a pivotal role to play" in addressing anti-LGBT sentiment. She welcomes the progress the government has made in introducing statutory sexual education.

She asks how the minister will deal with the "anti-trans hostility that has filled the vacuum of policy".

The starting point for all of this does need to be in our schools, says Ms Mordaunt, and work on the action plan will be funding by the Government Equalities Office.

On the anti-trans "bigotry and abuse," she says it is important to put some of these issues "to bed". All bigotry must be called out on social media and elsewhere, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Hannah Bardell says that a lot of this has been "done in Scotland already", adding that Scotland is one of the best nations in the world for LGBT people.

She says that pride celebrations across the UK are "vital," adding that there are too many areas in the UK where there is not LGBT progressiveness.

Ms Mordaunt says that one of the strengths of a four nation healthcare system is that the national government can learn from other devolved administrations.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Dawn Butler says that she is happy that this survey was based on the Labour Party manifesto pledges to host such a survey.

She says the government now has a "global platform" to try to help LGBT people in Commonwealth countries, as the UK is currently chairing the Commonwealth countries. She says that the Government Equalities Office needs stability to do its work, but has moved offices four times since 2010 and has had its funding halved.

Ms Mordaunt says that this is an opportunity to be able to provide equality across society. The government will be making funding available to LGBT+ people, as well as setting up a new "national panel" which will help feed in to future policy.

"This is a national conversation," she says.

She adds that GEO funding for programmes "has actually gone up".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow women and equalities secretary Dawn Butler is asking an urgent question on the government LGBT action plan.

The government, this morning, published, external its LGBT action plan which is aimed at making the lives of LGBT people in the UK better.

The plan lists preventing bullying and hate crime, as well as ending the practice of gay 'conversion therapies'.

Also, there is a proposal to appoint a national LGBT health adviser to tackle health inequalities that LGBT people face.

Women and Equalities Minister Penny Mordaunt says that the national LGBT survey received 108,000 responses, making it the largest survey of its kind to date.

"The findings will serve as crucial additional evidence to help us build from," she says.

"There is much more to do" before achieving equality, as two thirds of respondents felt they were unable to hold their partners hands in public.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's transport spokesperson Alan Brown says that "performance is an absolute disaster". He asks if Mr Johnson agrees with comments from Tory backbenchers criticising the railway.

He says that GTR received a subsidy of £100m from the government and asks if this is value for money. He asks what safeguards are in place to ensure that rail companies do not "claw back" this rail industry funded compensation from the taxpayer.

Mr Johnson says that the department is reviewing the best options for the £2.9bn that has been set aside for rail improvements.

There is a new chief executive of GTR, he adds, "he has the vital task" of making sure that the new timetable "stabilising things as quickly as possible".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald says that further plans to cancel rail electrification in the north will kill any prospect of a Northern powerhouse.

He asks when the decision will be made on whether or not to strip GTR of their franchise.

He further asks who will fund the compensation package which will be introduced for those travelling on GTR services, which he says is reported to refund customers for one month of service.

Mr Johnson says that the government will have spent £13bn by 2020 on rail in the north.

The government has put in place "a hard review" of the franchise, and "no options are off the table".

The compensation package will be "rail-industry funded," he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald is asking an urgent question on Govia Thameslink.

The company has been plagued by problems since timetable changes were introduced, and a source in the government told the BBC that if there was no improvement soon then the process to strip the franchise could start within weeks.

Transport Minister Jo Johnson says that performance on GTR "has been unacceptable" since the timetable changes were introduced on 20th May.

On 15th July, they will provide an interim timetable which will once again change trains, he says.

The government has started a "formal review of the franchise" to make sure that it is abiding by its obligations, he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Angela Smith asks what assessment has been made of the fiscal effect of the UK leaving the customs union and single market on the agriculture sector.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride says that it is impossible to assess the impact on the agricultural sector until negotiations have been completed. He says that agriculture has a very high priority.

Ms Smith says that the IFS has said that Brexit will damage tax receipts and "significant damage to the economy". She asks for guarantees that farmers will not receive a reduction in pay once the UK leaves the Common Agriculture Policy.

Mr Stride says DEFRA are consulting currently and are reflecting on how to fund farming in the future. He reiterates that the government has pledged the same amount of money for farming payments as under the EU for the rest of this Parliament.

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee's hearing has ended with unanimous agreement from the panel that a social media code of conduct needs to be enforceable.

Image source, Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Maria Miller asks what fiscal steps the department is taking to reduce unemployment.

Chancellor Philip Hammond says that because the UK government has taken "tough fiscal decisions" the UK economy is at a better place than it was in 2010. Employment has also risen, he adds, and the unemployment rate is at its lowest in 40 years.

Ms Miller says she'd like to see more women in better paid jobs. She asks if he agrees that all jobs should "be flexible from day one".

Mr Hammond says that female employment is now at a record high of 71.3%.

He adds that it is fair that women should be taking part in the workforce. Changes should be made so that women can progress in the workforce, he adds.