conservative member maria miller chaired this 90-minute hearing. >> this session today will look at the wider picture in the workplace and other public spaces. and this may be an issue that the

concern, and has to bring into question whether or not the laws are strong enough in this area maria millerwhat was the brief? i was hired as a hostess. posters injobs, brief? i was hired as a hostess. posters in jobs, plenty brief? i was hired as a hostess. posters injobs, plenty of brief? i was hired as a hostess. posters in jobs, plenty of women do them around the country at sports events, music concerts, essentially being a waitress, you're there to be friendly and smile and serve drinks. and just to make people feel co mforta ble. and just to make people feel comfortable. what were you expected to weara? comfortable. what were you expected to wear a? we were told in advance to wear a? we were told in advance to bring a pair of black high heels, to bring a pair of black high heels, to be wearing black underwear, and that we would be given a black dress and black belt on the night. and on the evening itself, tell me more about the clientele? so, the men introduced themselves by their first names, so we don't necessarily know their backgrounds, but it was a room of 360 men, and we had don

conservative member maria miller chaired this 90-minute hearing. >> this session today will look at the wider picture in the workplace and other public spaces. and this may be an issue that the committee will decide to look at it more closely and in more detail and this session today will help inform the inquiry as we take it forward. so can i first stop by thanking our witnesses today on behalf of the whole committee for taking time out of what i know are incredibly busy diaries for you to be here. i know that preparation required to be here is significant. so thank you. the usual practice is that we have questions from committee members. we have a lot of ground to cover. so i might use my chair's ability to move things on if need be. just before we start with the first set of questions, could you say your name and the organization you represent. >> i'm claire mcbegin, professor of law at darwin university. >> scarlet harris. >> mark hamilton, police chiefs counsel. >> our first questions are from eddie. >> good morning. when she visited the uk in 2014, the u.n. special ob violence aga

maria miller, thank you very much for your time this afternoon. story. i will show you one from kevin maguire of the daily mirror, speaking specifically about the presence of nadhim zahawi, and he quotes what nadhim zahawi, and he quotes what nadhim zahawi, and he quotes what nadhim zahawi says. you can see the court there and what kevin thinks of that. nadhim za hawi court there and what kevin thinks of that. nadhim zahawi has tweeted himself, and says "i do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. the report is truly shocking. i will never attend a men only function ever." that is unlikely to be the end of the matter but we will keep an eye on twitter and of course bring any further reaction to you. you are watching afternoon live. there's been a significant rise in the number of prosecutions collapsing in england and wales, because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence. figures obtained by bbc news show that more than 900 people were formally cleared, or had cases against them dropped, in the year to last april, because of pro

maria miller. this country have some of the best laws...s. it was said that it had been right, he said, to insist on paid transparency at the bbc, the bbc resisted that transparency, as to what it paid its seniorjournalists and now we are starting to see why, said matt hancock the culture secretary. more on that throughout the afternoon. let me bring you more on the government recessional —— reshuffle as well. we have a response to criticism of the prime minister reshuffle coming from downing street who said it is about getting the right team in place, the prime ministers as spokesman said theresa may has the right team in place, also asked about the position of jeremy hunt the health secretary, the spokesman said he was a long—standing ha rd—working health secretary who was doing a good job, will continue to do so and about the departure ofjustin greening, she "displayed a commitment for social mobility and improving opportunities for children across the country." that is the prime minister ‘s official spokesman. all australia has been cel

at westminster is conservative mp maria miller who is chair of the commons women and equalities selectt of all, to what carrie has done? i think it is a very serious position indeed when there is evidence of this sort of pay discrimination. it is very separate to the gender pay gap and should not be confused, pay discrimination is where a man and woman are paid differently for the samejob woman are paid differently for the same job and think there needs to be urgent action taken on this over and above that which the bbc has already set out. what more do you want them to do, because the argument the bbc is that they are being transparent, they have published the list of those earning more than £150,000 in july and they are now looking, three different studies looking into this now? publishing the list isn't enough, pay dissemination is against the law and the equality and human rights commission already have statutory powers to be able to take action to start an investigation, and to get a plan to put this right. it is not enough to say that the pay is being made transparent and lists o

others are dealing with a shortage of iv bags after hurricane maria cut power to manufacturing plants in puerto rico. michelle milleris at massachusetts general hospital in boston where staff is trying to cope with a shortage in what some think is an unusual way. >> reporter: if you have ever been inside of a hospital, an iv bag is a familiar sight. it holds the life saifzing fluids and medicines delivered through iv. supplies of this very necessary hospital staple are dwindling and doctors and nurses are racing to find other ways to care for their patients. >> i'm going to give you that gatorade now. >> reporter: this nurse uses gatorade to combat dehydration. it now takes her four times as long to add min ce intravenenously. >> as the nurse we look at our patients and see if there is any possible way to give a fluid, electrolyte, a medication in any way other than in an iv fluid. >> the shortage is widespread. 3,000 miles away near san diego, ben boyer's wife is undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumor. >> these nurses work so hard. it worries me that they don't have everything they could possibly need at their d

maria miller chairs the parliamentary committee on women and equality.he suggested the equalities act might need to be strengthened.” suggested the equalities act might need to be strengthened. i think, at a time when hollywood and westminster are getting their act in order, tackling harassment, to see so order, tackling harassment, to see so many members of the top establishment of british business in bold in an event like this, think it gives cause for concern, and it has to bring into question whether or not the laws are strong enough in this area. maria miller, chair of the parliamentary committee on women and equalities. the number of prosecutions which have collapsed because police or prosecutors didn't follow rules about disclosing evidence has risen by 70% in england and wales over the past two years. proceedings were dropped against more than 900 people in the 12 months to last april, because of problems with evidence. our home affairs correspondent, danny shaw, reports. i was relieved not only for myself but also everyone that's been with me ev