migrated over to the cabinet office. yep. migrated over to the cabinet office. ye -. �* migrated over to the cabinet office. ye . _ �* ., , migrated over to the cabinet office. ye -. ~ ., , ., yep. and at the beginning of the pandemic. _ yep. and at the beginning of the pandemic. it _ yep. and at the beginning of the pandemic, it was _ yep. and at the beginning of the pandemic, it was the _ yep. and at the beginning of the pandemic, it was the disability i pandemic, it was the disability unit, and then by september 2020, if i understand your written evidence, it became part of the equality help. is that a fair summary? yes, it became part of the equality help. is that a fair summary?— is that a fair summary? yes, it is. and the equality _ is that a fair summary? yes, it is. and the equality help, _ is that a fair summary? yes, it is. and the equality help, as - is that a fair summary? yes, it is. and the equality help, as an - and the equality help, as an umbrella, covered discipline to unit, race disparity unit, and also the government equalities office. yep. the government equalities office. ye -. �* , , the government equalities office. ye. �* , , ., the government equalities office. ye. , , ., yep. and there is is of course a minister for— yep. and there is is of course a minister for equality. _ yep. and there is is of course a minister for equality. that's - yep. and there is is of course a i minister for equality. that's right. and our minister for equality. that's right. and your role _ minister for equality. that's right. and your role was _ minister for equality. that's right. and your role was to _ minister for equality. that's right. and your role was to assist - minister for equality. that's right. and your role was to assist with l and your role was to assist with that migration.— and your role was to assist with that migration. yep. perhaps you may have not heard _ that migration. yep. perhaps you may have not heard but lord sedwill touched on the rationale behind perhaps why the discipline to unit was brought into existence and brought into the cabinet office, and see if you agree with this, the rationale was to bring some stubble at the to coverage of those interests, to counterbalance ministerial change or turn, not his words. that is the context we've had, perhaps you could tell your understanding of...? mr; understanding of...? my understanding _ understanding of...? my understanding and my recollection is, understanding and my recollection is. cabinet — understanding and my recollection is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears _ is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears of— is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears of the — is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears of the machinery of government, and whilst _ ears of the machinery of government, and whilst i _ ears of the machinery of government, and whilst i was based in dwp, any stakeholder engagement would invariably bring up issues that were beyond _ invariably bring up issues that were beyond dwp tuners go and responsibility, and it was more efficient— responsibility, and it was more efficient from a cabinet office ahgte — efficient from a cabinet office angle to — efficient from a cabinet office angle to then go and chase up the relevant _ angle to then go and chase up the relevant departments to either flag the issue. — relevant departments to either flag the issue, sick resolution et cetera _ the issue, sick resolution et cetera. and so it was a move i was very— cetera. and so it was a move i was very supportive. —— seek resolution. and also— very supportive. —— seek resolution. and also being part of the equality help and also being part of the equality hetp also— and also being part of the equality help also made sense because there was a _ help also made sense because there was a lot— help also made sense because there was a tot of— help also made sense because there was a lot of co—working, particularly around data and sharing that. particularly around data and sharing that so _ particularly around data and sharing that so it— particularly around data and sharing that. so it made sense. it was a differeht— that. so it made sense. it was a different building, so as a minister there _ different building, so as a minister there was— different building, so as a minister there was the inconvenience of being spread _ there was the inconvenience of being spread across two but i absolutely understood the decision behind that and understood the decision behind that ahd it— understood the decision behind that and it was— understood the decision behind that and it was one i supported. and understood the decision behind that and it was one i supported.- and it was one i supported. and in terms of your— and it was one i supported. and in terms of your role, _ and it was one i supported. and in terms of your role, you _ and it was one i supported. and in terms of your role, you had - terms of your role, you had oversight of the disability unit, did you have direct responsibility for the disability unit? yes, though it did sit within, — for the disability unit? yes, though it did sit within, ultimately - for the disability unit? yes, though it did sit within, ultimately within l it did sit within, ultimately within the equality hub, which was the responsibility of a different secretary of state to my own. so, i would _ secretary of state to my own. so, i would not — secretary of state to my own. so, i would not have done the operational, day-to-day_ would not have done the operational, day—to—day things, but certainly in any stakeholder engagement, the disability unit would have been present. — disability unit would have been present, and they would have taken the responsibility of chasing that ”p the responsibility of chasing that up with— the responsibility of chasing that up with the relevant departments, relevant _ up with the relevant departments, relevant ministers. and i have to say they— relevant ministers. and i have to say they were an impressive unit who were very. _ say they were an impressive unit who were very, very efficient at taking up were very, very efficient at taking up any— were very, very efficient at taking up any of— were very, very efficient at taking up any of the challenges and issues that were _ up any of the challenges and issues that were raised. the up any of the challenges and issues that were raised.— that were raised. the last aspect of this art that were raised. the last aspect of this part one _ that were raised. the last aspect of this part one of— that were raised. the last aspect of this part one of your _ that were raised. the last aspect of this part one of your evidence - that were raised. the last aspect of this part one of your evidence is, i this part one of your evidence is, with two hats on, you are now outside government... with two hats on, you are now outside government. . .- with two hats on, you are now outside government... yep. and with lessons learned, on how we can improve things going forward, with that mindset, do you think, was there, at the time, or looking back, a drawback that you were a minister, not a minister of state, in the dwp and not a minister within the cabinet office?— and not a minister within the cabinet office? �* ~ ., , cabinet office? and i think that is fair to dig into _ cabinet office? and i think that is fair to dig into because _ cabinet office? and i think that is fair to dig into because i - cabinet office? and i think that is fair to dig into because i have - fair to dig into because i have looked — fair to dig into because i have looked at _ fair to dig into because i have looked at many of the submissions that have _ looked at many of the submissions that have come in and this has been raised _ that have come in and this has been raised and — that have come in and this has been raised. and it's a difficult... i can't — raised. and it's a difficult... i can't give _ raised. and it's a difficult... i can't give a _ raised. and it's a difficult... i can't give a definitive answer because _ can't give a definitive answer because there are advantages and disadvantages. disability benefits is £156 _ disadvantages. disability benefits is {13.6 billion, at the time of covid. — is £13.6 billion, at the time of covid. it— is {13.6 billion, at the time of covid. it is— is {13.6 billion, at the time of covid, it is greater now, 2.1 million _ covid, it is greater now, 2.1 million people. and so, for many people _ million people. and so, for many people with disabilities and long—term health conditions, that would _ long—term health conditions, that would be — long—term health conditions, that would be the absolute priority for a minister. _ would be the absolute priority for a minister, because if financial stability— minister, because if financial stability was not in place, the consequences could be catastrophic. but counter to that, cabinet office is better— but counter to that, cabinet office is better placed across government work because it is the eyes and engines — work because it is the eyes and engines. so i cannot give a definitive answer because there is advantages and disadvantages to bothi _ advantages and disadvantages to both, both can work, but having stepped — both, both can work, but having stepped out, i think probably a disability— stepped out, i think probably a disability minister probably would be better placed in cabinet office and i_ be better placed in cabinet office and i think disability benefits can be run _ and i think disability benefits can be run still from dwp as part of the wider— be run still from dwp as part of the wider benefits but there would be some _ wider benefits but there would be some downside to that because there would _ some downside to that because there would be _ some downside to that because there would be less focus. 30, some downside to that because there would be less focus.— would be less focus. so, what would we would have _ would be less focus. so, what would we would have in _ would be less focus. so, what would we would have in this _ would be less focus. so, what would we would have in this alternative - we would have in this alternative structure would be a minister for equalities which ideally would be somebody who is a secretary of state. 50 at cabinet office level, and then underneath that, the minister for that abilities, and then underneath that, the ministerfor that abilities, and minister for that abilities, and then ministerfor that abilities, and then with liaison between the minister of disabilities and the dwp to ensure the important financial support remains?— to ensure the important financial support remains?- last - to ensure the important financial support remains? yeah. last point in terms ofyour— support remains? yeah. last point in terms of your involvement _ support remains? yeah. last point in terms of your involvement during the covid response. as a minister of state but not a cabinet secretary of state. it is right, isn't it, that you, on the whole, there are some exceptions which we will turn to, you did not attend cobra, cabinet or ministerial implementation groups or the covid—o groups, overall that was the covid—o groups, overall that was the position? the covid-o groups, overall that was the position?— the position? yep, that's right. there are _ the position? yep, that's right. there are exceptions, - the position? yep, that's right. there are exceptions, which . the position? yep, that's right. i there are exceptions, which we the position? yep, that's right. - there are exceptions, which we will turn to. in terms of the interests of disabled people, how were they represented and raised at cobra, at the relative covid—o or mig? 50, the relative covid-o or mig? so, there are a _ the relative covid—0 or mig? so, there are a number of strands, first of all— there are a number of strands, first of all nty— there are a number of strands, first of all my secretary of state to raise — of all my secretary of state to raise coffee was exceptionally hard working. _ raise coffee was exceptionally hard working, took her role very seriously, _ working, took her role very seriously, so she was keen to attend cobra _ seriously, so she was keen to attend cobra as— seriously, so she was keen to attend cobra as the — seriously, so she was keen to attend cobra as the senior member of the department. she would have daily meetings, so, all ministers within dwp _ meetings, so, all ministers within dwp could — meetings, so, all ministers within dwp could flag issues. was very receptive — dwp could flag issues. was very receptive to issues being raised which _ receptive to issues being raised which she — receptive to issues being raised which she would then take up if they needed _ which she would then take up if they needed to— which she would then take up if they needed to be. there were occasions where _ needed to be. there were occasions where i_ needed to be. there were occasions where i attended where there were specific _ where i attended where there were specific disability... we where i attended where there were specific disability. . ._ specific disability... we are listening — specific disability... we are listening to _ specific disability... we are listening to justin - specific disability... we are i listening to justin tomlinson, listening tojustin tomlinson, former list of state for disabled people, work and health, giving evidence to the code inquiry which is taking place in central london. earlier we heard from the phobe former cabinet secretary mark sedwill who was the chief civil servant during that period. you can follow develop months on the live pages on our website now i am going to hand you back to my colleague. situation in gaza is increasingly dire, with the number of aid trucks entering no any other numbers which are needed. the un said this week that 569 aid trucks had entered gaza since the 21st of october but aid agencies say many more are required. 50 agencies say many more are required. so far most aid has been entering overland via the rafah crossing which connects southern gaza to egypt. to discuss this further i am nowjoined by hannah bond, the deputy director of advocacy at the international charity actionaid uk, which works in the gaza strip. thanks very much forjoining us. we've been reporting that israel has temporarily opened what it says is a safe corridor, how if at all does this impact the ability to get aid into places in gaza which desperately need it? into places in gaza which deseratel need it? ., . desperately need it? thanks so much for having me- _ desperately need it? thanks so much for having me. the _ desperately need it? thanks so much for having me. the aid _ desperately need it? thanks so much for having me. the aid is _ desperately need it? thanks so much for having me. the aid is absolutely l for having me. the aid is absolutely essential in gaza at the moment. as you said, 569 trucks have gone insofar, they are prior to the 7th of october, there were 500 a day, so in a month we have seen in a month what previously we were seeing per day. so, it's absolutely essential that that gets in, people need food but they need water, in order to survive, and of course medical supplies, because the bombardment has been so significant that all of those things are absolutely necessary and they needed not only to get in but to be able to get across the gaza strip. and to get in but to be able to get across the gaza strip. and hannah, what are your _ across the gaza strip. and hannah, what are your colleagues _ across the gaza strip. and hannah, what are your colleagues on - across the gaza strip. and hannah, what are your colleagues on the - what are your colleagues on the ground saying to you and how are they doing as well?— they doing as well? yeah, so, we have both — they doing as well? yeah, so, we have both colleagues _ they doing as well? yeah, so, we have both colleagues and - they doing as well? yeah, so, we have both colleagues and partneri have both colleagues and partner organisations in gaza, communication is really difficult, some days it is very much about their safety, of course, people's survival is absolutely essential at the moment, so there was supplies that i already mentioned, around water and fuel and food, are in really desperate supply now. we are seeing dehydration, we're seeing malnutrition. you imagine if that was your children or yourfamily, in desperate need for water, in desperate need for food, and thatjust not coming in and not coming in at the sufficient levels. and of course there are so many needs that you have described there, hannah, what are the priorities in terms of what you would load onto a truck that is waiting to get in from the rafah crossing into gaza? fuel is absolutely _ the rafah crossing into gaza? hat is absolutely essential, so, no fuel has gone in yet whatsoever. on any of those trucks that we have already spoken about. fuel is important of course for bakeries, bakeries are a cornerstone of palestinian life, they need to be able to run, and they need to be able to run, and they need to be able to run, and they need fuel to run. you need fuel to cook from but also you need fuel to cook from but also you need fuel to run hospitals. 16 hospitals have already closed and other hospitals are on the brink of closure, warning that that could happen at any minute. you need that for incubators, for example, imagine if you have a small baby who needs critical care and the fueljust isn't there my doctors are literally operating under the light of a phone, in order to do really, really needed operations, and that fuel is absolutely essential, but it has to go alongside water, it has to go alongside food and it needs to go alongside food and it needs to go alongside medical supplies. had a bond from actionaid, _ alongside medical supplies. had a bond from actionaid, thank- alongside medical supplies. had a bond from actionaid, thank you very much for bringing us up—to—date on the situation on the ground in gaza. now, there are still thousands of palestinian civilians living in the northern part of gaza, where the israeli military operation and the fighting with hamas has been at its most intense. during the conflict the israeli authorities have advised civilians to move out but many of those who thought moving further south would be safe, in some cases they have heard that their homes have been destroyed and their neighbours killed. we can now go live to dr abdul qadir hammad, a transplant surgeon based at the royal liverpool hospital, who has just returned from gaza, having arrived there on the 6th of october, to train fellow doctors. thank you so much forjoining us here on the bbc. you are now back in liverpool but it has been a very traumatic few weeks for you, first of all, just tell as how you are doing and about how you were able to leave? goad how you were able to leave? good afternoon- — how you were able to leave? good afternoon- it _ how you were able to leave? good afternoon. it has _ how you were able to leave? good afternoon. it has been _ how you were able to leave? good afternoon. it has been a _ how you were able to leave? (ems afternoon. it has been a terrible four weeks in gaza, with continuous air strikes and shelling just across the road from where we are. so, i'm naturally very relieved to be back home with my family, but still, i can't remove from my thoughts those who are left behind, my colleagues, my patients, who are still in that situation there, and i'm trying all the time to phone them or message them, to make sure that they are still alive in that situation. and still alive in that situation. and of course _ still alive