Now on bbc news its monday in parliament. Hello, and welcome to monday in parliament. Coming up the foreign secretary updates mps on the situation in iran. But labour despairs. Withjust one more mistake, or miscalculation before brinkmanship tips over into war. One conservative says enough is enough. When do we decide that actually, the people of iran do not want this organisation any more, and we want to support them . The brexit withdrawal bill reaches the lords, but some peers accuse the government of rushing it through. This is both stupid, with corrections having to be made later but also arrogant, with scant regard to our normal democratic method of lawmaking. And a newcomer to the lords makes a powerful maiden speech. Across the entirety of the country, saying sometimes very vocally, unequivocably, we reject the extremism of anti semitism. But first the foreign secretary, dominic raab, has demanded a full, transparent and independent inquiry into the shooting down of a ukrainian airliner by iran. Iran admitted firing missiles by mistake at the plane that crashed near tehran. All 176 people on board were killed. They were mostly iranians and canadians. Four british nationals also died. Dominic raab was answering an urgent question in the commons. The regime in tehran is at a cost race. It can slip further and further into political and economic isolation. But there is an alternative, and the regime does have a choice. The diplomatic door remains open, and now is the time for iran to engage in diplomacy and chart a peaceful way forwards. This is the beginning of the opportunity if iran decides to take it to co operate with the International Community on the downed ukrainian aircraft. Unfortunately a number of britons were involved, but many more iranians. Therefore, could my right honourable friend tell the house precisely what discussions have been had about having a proper investigation into the aircraft downing, including the handing over of the flight boxes to a proper International Investigation . The canadians are leading some of the work in terms of visas and repatriation bodies. We are working together with them and all those affected, and our wider partners to make sure there is a credible, fair, and transparent investigation. Because although we understand that iran has accepted responsibly, we still dont know why it happened or the details of how it happened. And i think the british victims, the canadian victims and iranian victims but above all the uranian victims deserve to know the answers to those questions and why this tragedy happened. The shooting down of flight 572 is simply the latest in instances of civilian airliners being shot over war zones by mistake. Can i ask my colleagues what more might be done to enable Defence Forces properly to his english between civilian aircraft distinguish. And potential military threat, in order to ensure these are of avoided in the future . Ever since donald trump started to walk away from the Iranian Nuclear deal, we have been on a path to this point. With the strategy of engagement from the so called moderates in iran now discredited and abandoned, and with the hardliners firmly back charge in iran right now discredited and abandoned, and with the hardliners firmly backing charge into iran and an equally unhappy trigger happy president in the white house, and with one more mistake or miscalculation until brinkmanship tips over into war. Mr speaker, i believe these irresponsible actions are out of sync with the views of the people of iran. Once again, they have bravely taken to the streets to vent their fury against this regime, against the failing economy, and against the regimes international adventurism. The foreign secretary will have seen reports of the demonstrations across iran this weekend, illustrating the profound unhappiness amongst the people of iran themselves about the recent actions of their government. Can i say to the former secretary, that may in itself be the start of an opportunity to see a shift towards modern policy . Irans foreign policy. But if we are to maximise the opportunity, then we would need to engage those in the wider middle east with whom we have good relations, in order to see that shift executed in iran . Would he agree with me that reaching out to friends in the region would be a good avenue for making sure that iran not only comes back into the fold and frees its people from this awful territory, but also ends the policy of hostagetaking . Tyranny. It has not taken Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe away from her daughter, but for many otherfamilies too. In his conversations with iranian counterparts regarding the detention of uk counterpart, what have they sought regarding the rights of other Peaceful Protesters across iran who dont have the luxury and diplomatic immunity to protect them . I thank the honourable lady who raises a very important point. The reality is that International Norms that reflect and recognise, and call for the safeguarding of peaceful protesting across the board, and we do make those points to our iranian partners. But of course, there is a very clear obligation regarding diplomatic relations in terms of the way ambassadors and diplomatic staff are treated. And it is crucial, not least because if you cant have confidence that your diplomatic staff and missions are respected, you cant engage in the kind of diplomacy that we need to chart a peaceful way forward. At which point do we get the idea that this regime is not really bound on any peaceful nature, not going to give up of its opportunities . Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe is held as a hostage like many others. When do we decide that actually, the people of iran do not want this organisation any more, and we want to support them . There is a real sense now of chaos and emergency in crisis in the region. What assessment has the Foreign Commonwealth Office made of is both in the region and here at home, and what actions are being taken to encounter any dangers . I thank the honourable lady who makes a very important point. The reality is unless we can pursue the path of de escalation, the risk of war would benefit those terrorist groups. We are obviously keeping the Risk Assessment under constant review, we dont talk about the operational sides of that. But one of the clear aspects in all of this that we have in common, whether its with our european partners, american partners, or the iranian government is not to allow the hard fought gains and hard won gains against daesh to be lost. Tuesday saw the first Housing Communities and local government questions of the new parliament and the new year. Monday saw the first Housing Communities and ministers faced a barrage of questions. With local government in crisis, according to the tory lead lga, Children Care up 20 , Child Protection plans up to 53 , and a staggering 139 increase in serious cases. With a funding gap growing to {3. 1 billion by 2025, sticking plasters will not do. This is the best settlement for almost ten years. Theres a {2. 9 billion increase in local government spending. We will propose to allow increases of up to 2 of adult social care. This a positive set up, which i hope you will support in the weeks ahead. Labour also went on the offensive on the issue of planning. The loophole lets developers sidestep building roads and modern day slum housing. It has been in place forfour years now, so can the secretary of state say whether the number of new Affordable Homes being built has gone up or down . Permitted Development Rights are up for review. He has a right to say there are some examples of poor practice, and i will be carefully considering the information that weve received before coming forward with proposals. They have led to a large number of net additions that would not otherwise have brought forward. The snp claimed the housing issue couldnt be sorted until Government Support for right to buy was ended. In scotland, we ended the right to buy, and prevented the sale of 15,000 homes over a decade. So why cant the minister understand that it is totally senseless that new social housing will flog off interest . Nearly 600,000 households are being held to purchase the right to buy or help to buy. And what have we done . We are making sure that that money from the right to buy is actually helping more homes be built. Government action on averting a decline in the high street decline also came under the spotlight, prompting this from the minister responsible for local growth. This government is committed to supporting high street and local leaders up and down the country. And we are doing that for a £1 billion future high street fund, which is part of a larger {3. 6 billion towns fund. However, as this is the first questions back after the festive season, i wanted to take this opportunity and thanking all the shop workers who worked so hard over the Christmas Period to enable us to deliver our christmas presents. And particularly if i may, mr speaker, the workers in the rspca shop on bank street, who sold me this very natty tie for only 50p last weekend. Many mps raised what they saw as an imbalance in the fairness between rates for online traders and local shops. Last time, it received a warmer response from the government, recommendations that we address this fundamental imbalance where amazon paid nearly nothing in turnover rates, and high street shops paid between 2 6 . That needs addressing. Will they have a look at the unfairness and how we can rebalance the tax so that Digital Sales pay more and high street sales pay less . Mr speaker, im sure the right honourable gentleman wouldnt complain if ijust take this opportunity to wish him happy birthday. I was clear this would be a fundamentally wide ranging review of Business Rates and all arguments, including the argument set out in the report by the select committee chaired in the previous parliament, will be taken into account. So perhaps if he gets a spare moment between blowing out candles, he will read the relevant passage of our manifesto, which is pretty clear at this point. The eu Withdrawal Agreement bill had an easy ride through the commons last week, thanks to the conservative majority produced by decembers election. The legislation sets out the arrangements for the coming year when the uk is no longer a member of the eu, but will abide by its rules while negotiating a long term relationship. This week, its the turn of the house of lords to debate the legislation. Opposition peers will try to amend the bill, with labour calling the governments approach stupid and arrogant. Passing this bill will allow us to honour the result of the 2016 referendum, get brexit done, and focus on our other national priorities. My lords, i beg to move that this bill will be now read a second time. Before us, we have a very poor bill, and one being rushed through parliament. Perhaps understandably rushed, as 31 january is fast approaching. It is notjust being rushed, but rammed through. The government determined to allow no changes whatsoever, even if deficiencies are identified. This is both stupid as it will mean corrections having to be made later but also arrogant, with scant regard to our normal democratic method of lawmaking. A bit uncharitable. How can the noble lady say this is being rushed through, when the house of commons didnt take the time to discuss it . What i was saying is that it is being rammed through, because no changes will be contemplated. It was the distinction i was trying obviously unsuccessfully to make. Lady hayter referred to comments made by the brexit secretary, who happened to be watching the debate in the lords. Stephen barclay in the other place warned us, threatened us, not to defy the will of the country. I think that reflects a complete i hope not deliberate misunderstanding of our role in a bicameral democracy. The fact that the government has a large majority and has indicated that it has no intension of accepting any changes to the bill whatsoever is no excuse for your lordships house for failing to scrutinise its detailed provisions. Nor from voting to secure changes which is in the interest of individuals in the country or at home, and this is what we think to do. It is, of course, the second Withdrawal Agreement bill presented to parliament. The first version got its second reading in october, but was superseded by the election. At that point, the government lacked the secure majority and was prepared to make changes to get the bill through. Now free from such constraints, it should move all these concessions, however sensible or uncontentious they were. It is because i have the future of your lordships house very much at heart, i very much hope that this bill will not be subject to a great number of amendments. And i very much hope there will be no votes in this house on this bill. It is, however much some of us may regret it, it is the manifest will of the people. And the Prime Minister has a large majority, to which the noble lord referred to very generously it is the will of the people that we leave. Making his first speech in the lords was a former adviser to theresa may. The deal is in large part theresas deal. Having spent two years by her side as she negotiated it, i felt i should speak in this debate, even if there is a convention for maiden speeches to be uncontroversial. I feel that is impossible to be on this issue, and i tend to offend both sides equally. There are three changes to the previous deal one partly for the better and, two for the worse, in my opinion. Two were the Northern Ireland protocol. First, the government has gone back to what the eu originally wanted, a Northern Ireland only arrangement. The result is the goods will have to undergo customs checks when they can move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, creating a border than our single market. Within. As for the future relationship, he said the government had gone back to what the eu wanted a more distant relationship. Youre watching monday in parliament with me, mandy baker. And if youre keen to watch this program again and why wouldnt you be . All editions of the day in parliament are available on the bbc iplayer. At last, the debate on the queens speech finally began in the commons. It seems ages ago, doesnt it, that her majesty came to parliament in that horse and carriage, but almost straight after we had the christmas recess. And then last week, when youd normally expect the debate to have begun, we had the brexit Withdrawal Agreement bill. The theme of tuesdays debate was britain in the world. The foreign secretary said the governments agenda set out a bold new chapter for the country. Mr speaker, we are leaving the eu in 18 days time, but without to be the strongest of the european neighbours and allies. We are taking back control of our laws but also expanding our Global Horizons to grasp the enormous opportunities of free trade. And whilst we will always serve the interests of the small businesses, citizens of this country we also want to reinforce our National Mission as a force for good in the world. Mr speaker, the uk will leave the eu at the end of this month because the house has passed the withdrawal bill a third reading of the majority of 99. Hear, hear which of course is the strongest signal to the eu and the world about our ambition and resolve as we chart the course ahead. Is that clarity of purpose that now gives us the opportunity to be masters of our own destiny and to chart our course in a way which is independent but working very closely with our international partners. We will strive with our european friends to secure the best possible arrangements for our future relationship at the end of 2020. And i say thisjust to reassure every member of the south especially especially this house. The newer ones on all sides that our country is in the safest of hands. And has the most foresight of mines. This is what he said in response to my concerns about donald trump, the Paris Agreement and other issues, and i quote. With Great Respect i must say but i think the honourable lady, again, is being far too pessimistic. We were told the nuclear deal with the wrong was going to be junked, but its now pretty clear the american support that. It supports it were told that there were going to be a great love in between the us demonstration and russia. They are now very much in line. As for the Climate Change i think the honourable lady is once again being too pessimistic. Let us wait and see can weve heard mutterings from the right honourable lady, let us see what the American Administration actually do. I think she will be pleasantly surprised. As she has been in all other respects. If she were remotely intellectually honest. That, mr speaker, met him Deputy Speaker is the genius that is in charge of our country. A conservative and enthusiastic supporter of the leave Campaign Welcomed the emphasis on delivering brexit. We are not little englanders, voters commit want to look beyond the shores of the European Union. And indeed many of our greatest opportunities now lie in countries beyond europe. Economically within the next ten years it is likely that the five biggest economies in the world will be america, china, brazil, india and indonesia. None of those have trade agreements with the European Union, i hope within that time we will have agreements as soon as possible. I believe, having concluded, because i was not always a nationalist, that scotlands interest will be best served as an independent state in the European Union. I said that i regret that brex