Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Paul Farrelly says he has heard that some people are unhappy with the informal grievance process, which then leads them to a formal procedure. He says emailing into an inbox, with no named person, is not popular.

Anne Bulford says "we keep the door open" and if there is a way to resolve informally, the BBC will seek to do that.

Progress has been made over the summer, she says, but if the criticism is that the communication isn't good enough, is something that she has heard herself.

Why can't someone go to a named person? Mr Farrelly asks.

Employees can go to a named person, but an email will go to a team who will then pass it on, Ms Bulford says.

Select Committee
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The witnesses are asked about the measures being taken to prevent the use of the drug Spice by Conservative MP Victoria Prentis.

Mark Fairhurst of the POA says there have been incidents where every ambulance in the area has been at the prison due to excessive use of Spice.

The drug "gets in very easily" because there is "no security" and argues that when individuals enter prisons they should be searched like they are at an airport.

Nick Pascoe, also of the POA, says the availability of drug dogs is "mixed" despite the push to recruit more.

The so-called zombie drug Spice, which is designed to mimic the effects of cannabis, can have severe debilitating effects.

You can read more about the use of Spice in prisons here.

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Select Committee
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Labour's Julie Elliott asks about equal pay.

Anne Bulford says there is widespread reform across the BBC, and she says there has been agreement with unions and staff about a new structure.

She says the BBC has encouraged people to come forward, and so many people have approached managers.

Ms Elliott says she understands there were over 200 formal grievances launched; but Anne Bulford says those were not the figures she understands, and that 78 formal grievances were lodged and seven have been resolved.

Ms Elliott asks about staff morale, particularly among women.

"I think it's better," says Ms Bulford.

Select Committee
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Conservative MP Alex Chalk asks about the level of violence in prisons now.

Mr Fairhurst of the Prison Officers Association says he has noted over the last 10 years a different type of prisoner emerging who "is violent and has no respect".

"Prison violence is worse than ever," he says.

Julia Rogers from public service provider Serco tells the committee a roll-out is underway of 45 minutes of personal time with prison officers for each inmate each week which is "very important in dealing with all of their needs".

As crunch time for Brexit approaches, this is firmly the prime minister's approach.

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative Julian Knight says he is surprised that there was no internal review following the case involving Sir Cliff Richard.

He also brings up a report from the BBC's Panorama programme, which saw a teenage resident of the Medway Secure Training Centre named.

When the BBC apes the tabloids, it falls down, he says, and he asks whether the BBC should not be first but be correct.

Lord Hall says accuracy is important, as well as the agenda for BBC News. He says the agenda on the BBC News at 10pm is the right one.

He says the appointment of Kamal Ahmed, as editorial director, will point the audiences to stories that are important.

Select Committee
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Mark Fairhurst of the Prison Officers Association tells the committee that private contracts within prisons is the main issue facing the prison service.

Mr Fairhurst argues these contracts should be "scrapped" and says the canteens within jails are so expensive that "prisoners are getting ripped off".

"All we are doing is making money out of people who are incarcerated," he says.

The Prison Officers Association is a trade union for prison workers.

Select Committee
Parliament

Tony Hall apologises for what Sir Cliff Richard has been through.

Earlier this year, a judge ruled the BBC infringed the singer's privacy in its reporting of a police raid on his home in 2014,awarding him £210,000in damages.

Sir Cliff was never arrested or charged as part of the investigation.

The corporation has apologised to Sir Cliff for the distress caused.

The BBC decided not to appeal the case, and Lord Hall tells the committee that the issue about the reporting is something that Parliament needs to decide.

Labour's Paul Farrelly asks how much "soul searching" the BBC went through on this case.

Lord Hall says this case was something that was discussed a great deal, and says he personally approached the singer to see if it could be settled outside court.

"One of the reasons we are not appealing is that the nature of the coverage was over the top," he says.

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Committee chair Damian Collins asks the BBC's Director-General about the future of BBC Parliament.

Lord Hall says BBC Parliament is "very important" as well as the BBC's duty to help voters to understand what is happening and what is going on.

Mr Collins questions Lord Hall about the planned cuts to BBC Parliament's programming, citing the edited weekly programme - The Week in Parliament.

Lord Hall acknowledges the importance of BBC Parliament's output and suggests the BBC could work with a parliamentary website to direct people towards certain topics of interest.

"I want the edited programmes to continue," Lord Hall says whilst acknowledging there is £800m savings to be made by the end of the Charter period.

"I can't see us turning off BBC Parliament as a linear channel," he adds.

Select Committee
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The Justice Committee is chaired by Conservative MP Bob Neill.

The other MPs asking the questions will be:

• Robert Neill , external(Chair)Conservative
• Mrs Kemi Badenoch , externalConservative
• Ruth Cadbury , externalLabour
• Alex Chalk , externalConservative
• Bambos Charalambous , externalLabour
• David Hanson , externalLabour
• John Howell , externalConservative
• Gavin Newlands , externalScottish National Party
• Victoria Prentis , externalConservative
• Ellie Reeves , externalLabour
• Ms Marie Rimmer , externalLabour

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This morning, the Justice Committee will examine the issues relating to prison population.

Giving evidence will be:

• Mark Fairhurst, National Chair, Prison Officers Association
• Nick Pascoe, Vice-Chair, Prison Governors Association
• Julia Rogers, Managing Director Justice and Immigration, Serco

The purpose of this session is to examine the current and future pressures on the prison system from a strategic and operational perspective.

Image source, HoC

Select Committee
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Chair Damian Collins asks whether funding the free licence fee for over-75s is sustainable.

BBC's Director-General Lord Hall says the current concession comes to an end in June 2020 and the board must decide what will replace it.

When pressed by Mr Collins as to whether the current system will be reformed or continue as it is, Lord Hall says this is a "very, very difficult issue" and assures the committee there will be a public consultation.

Currently, if you are aged 75 or older you can get your TV Licence free in the UK.

Select Committee
Parliament

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee is being streamed from Salford on You Tube, external.

Welcome to a busy day in Westminster - although the first item on our agenda today comes not from SW1, but from Media City in Salford.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee is questioning BBC Director General Tony Hall and Deputy Director-General Anne Bulford on the performance of the BBC last year.

We'll also be crossing over to Westminster, for coverage of the Justice Committee, questioning representatives of the prison service. That's at 10am.

Thanks for joining us.

MPs are now debating Gypsy and Traveller policy in an adjournment debate led by Conservative MP Andrew Selous.

That's the end of our coverage for today.

Join us tomorrow as the Lords debate Brexit legislation in the form of the Trade Bill.

In the Commons, MPs will question the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Treasury ministers, before Lucy Powell introduces her Online Forums Bill as a ten minute rule motion. There's an emergency debate on Yemen, and then MPs' focus then turns to the remaining stages of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill.

Join us again tomorrow...

House of Commons
Parliament

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Robin Walker, Minister for Exiting the EU, says the withdrawal agreement bill is a vital step in delivering the outcome of the referendum, and will give effect to the agreement the government fully intends to have in the coming weeks.

Mr Walker says the bill will only be introduced once the vote on the final deal has been held, and will require Royal Assent by exit day to come into action.

He adds that the withdrawal agreement bill will be the primary means by which the rights of EU citizens will be underpinned in the UK, noting that he wants EU citizens in the UK to know "we want you to stay, we value you, and we value your contribution to our country".

The minister reiterates the government's promises on protecting the reciprocal rights of British and Irish citizens, a common travel area and there being no hard border.

In addition Mr Walker says:

• The government does not want or expect a no deal outcome.
• The implementation period is time limited
• There is a need for EU law in the immediate period after the European Communities Act is repealed to provide legal certainty.

He also assures MPs that the UK will be able to sign new trade deals, and that the taxpayer's money will not be wasted on paying the EU off.

"This legislation is vital for our smooth and orderly exit from the EU," he says.

House of Commons
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Shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman says there's no reason why Parliament should not be given the opportunity to see draft Brexit legislation now, rather than later.

This would provide further scrutiny and greater clarity for those affected, as well was avoiding "the farce" of legislation being introduced and then repealed in quick succession.

But she says this idea ignores "the elephant in the room" that plenty have pointed out -- that "there will be no bill if there is agreement to think about".

The truth is the government has badly handled Brexit, she says, explaining they have failed to put forward any proposals that anyone finds acceptable.

House of Commons
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Conservative Vicky Ford says it should come as no surprise that the legislation is complex.

She says she believes most in the UK would like an amicable and long lasting relationship, but there are politicians who would seek to disrupt this for their own political gain.

"The next few weeks are crucial and I welcome the increased pace of negotiations."

Ms Ford says a no deal Brexit brings many uncertainties and it is certainly not the preferred solution.

Ms Ford says while the Norway solution brings huge challenges including needing to keep the free movement rules which were such an issue to many voters in the referendum, the Canada style might sound quite attractive, but the EU negotiators are not offering us that, and a border would be placed in the Irish Sea.

"Any time anyone here pulls the negotiation plans to pieces, negotiations are jeopardised."

House of Commons
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"I think we're making a catastrophic mistake in this country," Labour MP Chris Bryant says, stating he is "so angry with David Cameron" for giving a referendum on Brexit in an "attempt to appease the far right".

"Yet again we are debating a theoretical bill... a very, very theoretical bill," he says.

Brexit is a "massive distraction" from the issues that really matter to his constituents, he explains, and they would not believe that their representative is discussing Brexit yet again rather than issues like inequality and the cost of living.

He questions the timing of negotiations and legislation. "I'm guessing everyone has given up on October for the date on the negotiations to end," he says, arguing that he's never known of legislation of such significance passing through Parliament within the time constraints.

"There is no prospect at all of legislation making it through... unless they're going to use every trick in the book to make sure we can't have proper debates."

"I think this will prove to be the greatest catastrophe that we've ever engaged in," he concludes.