Lord Bates promises post legislative scrutiny of the bill will take place, but the government believe the normal process of scrutiny being carried out by parliamentary committees is preferable to "ad hoc and potentially inconsistent specific statutory requirements in individual bills."
Given Lord Bates assurance's that post legislative scrutiny will take place, Lord Alton withdraws his amendment.
Which brings business in the House of Lords to a close. Peers will be back tomorrow from 11.00 GMT where the main business will be two balloted debates: firstly, on the case for enabling economic leadership for cities; and secondly, on the case for new global development goals in 2015.
Debate cancelled
House of Lords
Parliament
It's just been announced that this evening's short debate on the report of the Communications Committee on media plurality led by the Committee chair, Lord Inglewood, will be suspended until a later date. So things will be concluding after this amendment.
'Motherhood and apple pie'
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers turn to their final amendment of the evening, which would require the Home Secretary to provide a report on the bill's implementation within five years after it becomes law.
Tabling the amendment Lord Alton says post legislative reviews of legislation, like this, are like "motherhood and apple pie, in that everyone appears to be in favour of it, but unlike motherhood and apple pie, it's not much in evidence".
This amendment would ensure "vital" post legislative scrutiny took place he says.
'Long term strategy'
House of Lords
Parliament
Lord Bates says Lord Alton's objective is part of the government's "long term strategy" but warns there are many stages to go through first.
He agrees to meet with the peers who supported Lord Alton's amendment between now and report stage to discuss the issue further, and Lord Alton agrees to withdraw the amendment.
Public reports needed
House of Lords
Parliament
Crossbench peer Lord Alton of Liverpool tables an amendment which would force big businesses to publicise statements on the action they have taken to ensure their supply chains are slavery free, that the Modern Slavery Bill would require them to produce.
He says in the bill as its currently drafted, neither "the content of what is reported, nor the location of the report" are likely to produce the "meaningful, accessible and comparable information that's so essential to take a proper view of what companies are doing to tackle slavery in their supply chain."
Amendment withdrawn
House of Lords
Parliament
Shadow home office minister Lord Rosser says that current requirements on companies included in the bill do not "go far enough" but withdraws his amendment.
Government response
House of Lords
Parliament
BBCCopyright: BBC
Home Office Minister Lord Bates is now responding to the debate for the government .Image caption: Home Office Minister Lord Bates is now responding to the debate for the government .
Slavery in the supply chain
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers are now debating a series of amendments aimed at tackling slavery in supply chains by improving transparency - requiring companies selling products or services in the UK to demonstrate that they have been seeking to ensure slave labour has not been involved in their supply process.
'Overwhelming' risk
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to the debate, Baroness Garden of Frognal says that the GLA is already equipped to tackle slavery. She tells peers that while it is natural to want to extend the body's remit quickly, rushed measures could undermine the body's "good work".
The GLA is a small body that "performs a targeted role in an effective way" she says, which plays a role in the broader tackling of slavery.
She argues that sweeping changes run the risk of overwhelming the organisation.
Baroness Butler-Sloss withdraws her amendment, which, she says, she knew the government wouldn't accept, but says she hopes the government will think about the issues raised during the debate.
More on the GLA
House of Lords
Parliament
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is the regulating body for workers in the shell fish, agriculture, food, and food packaging labour markets.
The GLA was established after the result of the 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster to prevent the exploitation of workers in the food production sector.
Gangmasters Licensing Authority
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers are now debating a series of amendments aimed at extending the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to fight slavery.
Tabling an amendment to allow the government the option to look into extending the authority's powers, former high court judge Baroness Butler-Sloss says thereare huge concerns over the use of slave labour in the construction industry and hospitality industry.
Scale 'underestimated'
House of Lords
Parliament
Baroness Cox says that ministers "totally underestimate" the scale of the problem and the vulnerability of the workers.
She says the government is not offering "very reassuring alternatives" to her amendment but she agrees to withdraw it, suggesting she may table a similar amendment at a later date if changes to the bill are not made.
Protection for overseas workers
House of Lords
Parliament
Government spokeswoman Baroness Garden of Frognal says current visa regulations already provide protection to overseas workers living in slavery.
If overseas workers leaving their employment to seek police or government assistance, "that is not considered an abuse of their visa", she tells peers. Such workers would be treated as victims and given appropriate support.
Those bringing overseas workers in to the country must prove to immigration officials they have had a pre-existing working relationship and provide evidence that workers have agreed to the terms of their employment - a system which also allows officials to check for a bonded labour relationship.
Meanwhile, those trafficked into the UK are protected under trafficking legislation, the National Referral Mechanism and provisions in this bill, she says.
Goodnight from MPs
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs have raced through a packed agenda to reach an early end to business in the Commons.
Join us tomorrow from 9.30 GMT for debates on the fishing industry, and Ukraine and UK relations with Russia.
And Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has an adjournment debate on NHS services in Devon, which follows the announcement that smokers and the morbidly obese could be denied routine surgery unless they quit smoking or lose weight.
It follows his question on the subject during PMQs today.
We still have plenty more debate left in the House of Lords though, so stay with us as peers scrutinise the Modern Slavery Bill at committee stage.
'One hand tied behind their back'
House of Lords
Parliament
Conservative peer Baroness Hanham says that overseas workers are becoming "hidden victims" of slavery and the current visa system is forcing them to fight "with one hand tied behind their back".
Many of the victims are from foreign countries, with little grasp of the English langue and so can't access protections currently offered to them, she says.
"People don't know they're there, they can't get out, they can't get attention and they are abused.
"We can't really just ignore it," she adds.
Recruitment
House of Commons
Parliament
Justice Minister Andrew Selous, responding to the debate on stress among prison officers, says the National Offender Management Service is "on target" to recruit further officers to help reduce pressures on existing staff.
Visa regulations
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers are debating an amendment to reintroduce the UK's pre-2012 visa regulations to protect overseas domestic workers from slavery, including the right to change employers. Many overseas workers are tied to one employer by their visa.
Baroness Cox, the founder of the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, tells peers that the bill as it stands "unintentionally strengthened the hand of the slave master against the victim of slavery" which completely undermines the intentions of the bill.
She describes the current situation, in which overseas worker are tied to a single employee, as "bonded labour". Without the freedom to resign, workers cannot "challenge or question anything their employers choose to do to them", she says.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Prison overcrowding
House of Commons
Parliament
Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd raises the subject of overcrowding in prisons.
The risk of violence increases with overcrowding, he argues, which means a greater risk for prison officers.
Slavery cases referred
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers agree to a series of government amendments to require suspected slavery cases to be referred to the home secretary, who can pass them to a specialist unit for investigating potential cases of slavery, rather than the National Crime Agency.
Work-related stress
House of Commons
Parliament
A survey by the Prison Officers Association on work-related stress and wellbeing was published in November.
The key findings of the survey revealed 84% of respondents felt under pressure to come into work when they felt unwell.
According to the survey, none of the Health and Safety Executive's standards for work-related stress have been met.
The report revealed that work-related stress and "failure to cope" is very stigmatised in the sector and is unsupported.
Amendment withdrawn
House of Lords
Parliament
Home Office Minister Lord Bates warns that any process to put something on a statutory footing can make it inflexible and "unresponsive to changing demands" due to the requirement for further legislation to make changes.
Quoting the findings of the review of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) led by senior civil servant Jeremy Oppenheim, which has been quoted by several peers in the debate, Lord Bates says that "putting the NRM on a statuary framework will not change the UK's commitment and obligations".
The most important thing is to make sure "victims are spotted and protected in the first place, and we can only help victims quickly and effectively" he says.
Lord Rosser withdraws his amendment on the understanding that there should be further discussions on finding the right balance between "flexibility" and giving the NRM greater weight.
Adjournment debate
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs agree to the Lords amendments which would allow the Welsh Assembly to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote in an income tax referendum.
And that ends the debate on the Wales Bill and MPs move swiftly on to the adjournment debate.
Labour MP John McDonnell is leading a debate on work-related stress and prison officers.
Great concern
House of Lords
Parliament
Conservative peer Lord James of Blackheath says the amendment "greatly causes him concern", and says referral networks aren't enough.
Instead "every child put into a migration situation" needs to be given legal status in the UK and "forced transportation" needs to be outlawed, he says.
Turnout worries
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour's Geraint Davies says he is broadly a supporter of votes at 16, but is concerned that introducing them via a "very technical" referendum on income tax powers could lead to an "extremely low" turnout of young people.
Greater understanding
House of Lords
Parliament
The Labour amendment would put the National Referral Mechanism on a statutory footing rather than its current "non-mandatory" basis.
Shadow home office minster Lord Rosser says the current scheme is not well known, and so is not being used enough. Placing it into primary legislation will give "greater transparency", create greater awareness of the scheme and would "provide an opportunity to establish a clear review and appeal process", he says.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Lord Rosser tells peers that the NRM is not as well known or used as it should be in its "non mandatory" form.Image caption: Lord Rosser tells peers that the NRM is not as well known or used as it should be in its "non mandatory" form.
'Supporter'
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Wales minister Nia Griffith tells MPs she has "long been a supporter of votes at 16".
National Referral Mechanism
House of Lords
Parliament
ECPAT - a global network of organisations aimed at eliminating child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children - has produced a handy guide on how the human trafficking National Referral Mechanism works.
'No consensus' on voting age
House of Commons
Parliament
Alun Cairns says the government backs a voting age of 16 in a Welsh referendum but argues there is "no consensus" on a lower voting age for elections.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Voting age
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs are now considering allowing the Welsh Assembly to let 16-year-olds to vote in an income tax referendum.
Minister Alun Cairns pays tribute to the political engagement of 16 and 17-year-olds in the Scottish independence referendum.
Labour MP Chris Ruane says too few young people are registered to vote and urges ministers to work to raise the numbers.
The minimum voting age for local and general elections is 18, but voters aged 16 and 17 were allowed to take part in Scotland's referendum.
Main business
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers now turn to the main business in the House of Lords today: the committee stage of the Modern Slavery Bill.
First: a Labour tabled amendment to put the framework for identifying and assisting victims of slavery and human trafficking- known as a National Referral Mechanism - on a statutory footing.
Amendments approved
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs agree Lords amendments which would allow the Welsh Assembly to set separate Welsh income tax rates.
Supply and demand
House of Lords
Parliament
Crossbench peer Lord Ramsbotham asks whether a census will be made of "skills needs and skills shortages" in the working world, which can be referred to by teachers and careers advisors.
Lord Nash says he will pass this idea on to the new company.
Trade union involvement
House of Lords
Parliament
Labour peer Baroness Turner of Camden asks what role trade unions can have in the provision of careers advice. Trade unions can be very important in "encouraging children who would otherwise miss out on education earlier in their careers" she says.
Lord Nash says the involvement of trade unions is extremely important and will be considered.
'Westminster establishment'
House of Commons
Parliament
Plaid Cymru's Jonathan Edwards tells MPs that his party "will not allow our country to be treated as a second class nation by the Westminster establishment".
Careers body
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to the statement, shadow education minister Baroness Jones of Whitchurch welcomes the announcement of a new careers body but asks "what took you so long?", claiming careers services deteriorated under the watch of this government.
The provision of careers advice is "only one part of the challenges exist" in the sector she says, claiming children are "crying out for one-to-one careers advice".
The new plan has "all the hallmarks of a policy scrambled together to plug a hole", she says,
Income tax devolution
House of Commons
Parliament
In the debate on the Wales Bill, Conservative MP Glyn Davies accuses Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones of trying to find reasons not to have a referendum on devolving income tax.
"Welsh Labour in Cardiff are desperate to avoid financial accountability," he claims.
Mr Davies says he has accepted that the bill will allow for a referendum but thinks one is not necessary.
The issue could be decided at a general election, he believes.
Education statement
House of Lords
Parliament
Education Minister Lord Nash is now repeating a statement made by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan earlier in the House of Commons on preparing young people for the world of work.
Important government statements made in the House of Commons will sometimes be repeated in the Lords at an appropriate time to fit in with the main business.
Once the statement has been repeated, peers have an opportunity to quiz a government minister on the content of the statement, as in the House of Commons.
Position shifted?
House of Lords
Parliament
Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Falkner of Margravine accuses the government of shifting its position and suggesting that Lord Ashton had ruled out any conversations with parts of the Assad regime to allow them to continue to rule, even in a transitional government.
Lord Ashton says he will not give out Foreign Office policy today, but will write to Baroness Falkner.
Migration figures
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to Lord Rosser's comments, government spokesman Lord Ashton says he doesn't accept the current Vulnerable Person refugee scheme - which has taken in 90 people - "isn't working".
The programme is on track to deal with "several hundred victims over three years", which is in addition to 3,400 people taken in under normal asylum rules.
The government will not change the net migration calculation as it is currently based on a UN definition of migration, and accounts for those figures in a way all countries internationally recognise.
Syrian refugees
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to the statement Shadow Home Office Minister Lord Rosser tells peers that Labour thinks refugees should be taken out of the government's immigration target as it is clouding their consciences over helping vulnerable people.
Lord Rosser tells peers the Syrian refugee crisis is the worst since World War II, calls on the government to increase the numbers being allowed into the country, and sign up to the United Nations programme to give asylum to the most vulnerable Syrian refugees.
According to the Press Association, the government has only accepted 90 refugees, the government must "do more", he says.
Syrian refugees
House of Lords
Parliament
Lord Ashton of Hyde is now repeating an answer made by James Brokenshire to an urgent question on Syrian refugees.
New peers
House of Lords
Parliament
We're getting two new hereditary peers.
Clerk of the Parliaments David Beamish announces that, following a by-election on the crossbenches, the 19th Duke of Somerset, Lord Seymour, and Lord Russell of Liverpool will be joining the House of Lords.
Welsh Politician of the Year
House of Commons
Parliament
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb topped the list of honours at the annual Welsh Political Awards.
Chair of the judges Dr Denis Balsom said Mr Crabb had "revitalised the political debate in Wales".
Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd was named Welsh MP of the Year, with Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams named AM of the year.
There was also a Lifetime Achievement Award for Labour peer Lord Morgan.
Size of the state
House of Lords
Parliament
Labour peer Lord Clinton-Davis tells peers that both the OBR and the IFS forecast that the policy of the government is reducing the size of the state - relative to GDP - to its lowest levels since the 1930s.
He tells peers this is "utter madness" and claims it is contrary to the government's claims about the benefits Universal Credit will have for those most in need.
Work and Pensions Minister Lord Freud says that Universal Credit - which he describes as "on track" - directs funding more efficiently "to those who need support", and provides "economic benefits of £7bn every year at a investment cost of £1.8 bn".
Shadow minister responds
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith opens for Labour by congratulating his counterpart Stephen Crabb for winning Welsh Politician of the Year.
Mr Smith says Mr Crabb who once "described devolution as constitutional vandalism" is now a supporter.
He jokes that Mr Crabb "deserves to have his political footwork duly recognised".
Protect Malala
House of Lords
Parliament
Former Chief of Naval Staff, Lord West of Spithead, asks the government to confirm that Malala Yousafzai is being properly protected from the threat of "jihadists" in this country.
Baroness Northover says she can't go into detail, but confirms the government are protecting her.
Pakistan teachers
House of Lords
Parliament
Conservative peer Baroness Berridge calls on the government to set up a scholarship for professional development of teachers or an award to teachers in Pakistan in honour of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
Department for International Development Minister Baroness Northover congratulates Malala Yousafzai who she calls "an extraordinary young women".
DfiD is committing significant resources to education in Pakistan, she tells peers. "The most important thing is to sustain that," she says.
More on the Wales Bill
House of Commons
Parliament
Stephen Crabb, Secretary of State for Wales, is opening for the government.
His predecessor David Jones described the legislation as a "major milestone in Welsh devolution".
The bill would also give the Assembly greater borrowing powers, including for capital expenditure.
It also allows for a referendum on devolving some income tax.
The bill follows reports from independent commissions: the Holtham Commission and the Silk Commission.
Ukraine fears
House of Lords
Parliament
Crossbench peer Lord Hylton argues that Russia's violations of the ceasefire in Ukraine, the presence of Russian military equipment and personnel in disputed areas, "the devastation of areas and the onset of winter" all make the case for strengthening the Organisation for Security and Co-operation's (OSC) mandate and personnel in the field.
Foreign Office Minster Lord Wallace of Saltaire says at the Basel meeting of the OSC last week only Belarus argued against such increases.
Wales Bill
House of Commons
Parliament
And that's it for a very brisk debate on the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill.
MPs move on to consider Lords amendments to the Wales Bill, which is the latest in a series of adjustments to devolution in Wales.
The bill aims to introduce important new powers which expand the competence of the Assembly into financial matters.
The bill will devolve stamp duty, land tax and landfill tax.
UKIP's approach
House of Lords
Parliament
Former UKIP leader Lord Pearson says the government's opting back into EU crime and justice measures, which he describes as "ceding to the corrupt and profligate octopus in Europe", is the reasons for rising support of UKIP.
Home Office Lord Bates says UKIP's approach toward Europe would make people in the UK less safe and make the government less able to secure its borders.
"That's ideology, this is pragmatism," he says.
Losing UK law?
House of Lords
Parliament
Former Conservative MP and chairman of the 1922 committee, Lord Spicer, begins debate in the House of Lords by warning against what he sees as a slide towards a single EU-wide body of law, jurisdiction or court through opting in to EU crime and policing measures.
With the 35 opt ins to EU criminal law now in place and with the "powers of the European court to make law", Lord Spicer warns the UK is "in very real danger of losing the presumption of innocence, the jury system, case law and Habeas Corpus".
Home Office Minister Lord Bates says there is no move towards a so called European corpus juris, he says he recognisees the point but says the prime minister is actively fighting against such encroachment.
Minister responds
House of Commons
Parliament
Exchequer Secretary Priti Patel, replying for the government, says: "This has been an efficient debate."
It has certainly been quick, mainly due to no major objections to the legislation from the opposition.
BBCCopyright: BBC
'Hated' slab tax
House of Commons
Parliament
Conservative MP Anne Main calls for the new graduated stamp duty to apply to commercial as well as residential premises.
The existing system has often been criticised as a "slab tax".
Ms Main argues that "if the slab system is hated, it is hated", adding it has been "roundly denounced by all parties".
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax
House of Commons
Parliament
From April next year, stamp duty in Scotland is being replaced by the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
The new stamp duty rates will apply to Scotland until they are replaced by the Scottish government's new tax on 1 April.
The rates for LBTT in Scotland will be lower than the equivalent stamp duty in England and Wales.
Scottish purchasers will start paying tax at £135,000, whereas buyers elsewhere in the UK will pay from £125,000.
Labour support
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Treasury minister Shabana Mahmood is opening for the opposition, indicating that Labour supports the proposed changes to stamp duty.
The new rates of stamp duty will only apply to the amount of the purchase price that falls within the duty band.
Someone buying a house for £200,000 will pay nothing on the first £125,000, and then 2% of the next £75,000.
Previously someone buying a house for £200,000 would have paid 1% on the total purchase price.
On average, someone buying a home in England and Wales will now pay £4,500 less in stamp duty.
Oral question session
House of Lords
Parliament
But before all that peers start the day with their daily question session with government minister's. Today's topics will include:
resisting further extensions of UK opt-ins to a European corpus juris
strengthening the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
the Nobel Peace Prize given to Malala Yousafzai for her contribution to girls' education
Today's main legislation will be the final day of committee stage scrutiny of the Modern Slavery Bill.
The section being dealt with today covers transparency in supply chains - requiring companies selling products or services in the UK to demonstrate that they have been seeking to ensure slave labour has not been involved in their supply process.
Rules on gang-masters should also be covered.
Peers' day
House of Lords
Parliament
Our live coverage of the House of Lords is about to begin.
Today's statement by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and the response to Yvette Cooper's urgent question will be repeated in the House of Lords to allow peers to have their say.
Government Whip Lord Ashton of Hyde will repeat Immigration Minister James Brokenshire's comments on Syrian refugees at around 15.40 GMT.
Education minister and former adviser to Michael Gove, Lord Nash, will repeat the statement on preparing young people for the world of work at 16.00 GMT.
Who's affected?
House of Commons
Parliament
Financial Secretary David Gauke is outlining the changes to stamp duty, as MPs debate the bill at second reading.
In his Autumn Statement, George Osborne said 98% of homeowners in England and Wales would pay less after the changes to stamp duty. He said that, in fact, only people who buy homes worth more than £937,000 will pay more in tax.
Stamp duty change
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs now turn their attention to the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill at second reading.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, announced changes to stamp duty in his annual Autumn Statement.
Stamp Duty Land Tax is paid when property is bought or transferred - and this bill amends the existing legislation which prescribes the method of calculating the amount due.
A new table of rates and bands applying to residential property transactions will be implemented by the bill.
More on ten minute rule bills
House of Commons
Parliament
Ten minute rule bills are introduced by backbench MPs and are a type of private members' bill.
The MP introducing the bill can give a ten minute speech when proposing it to the House.
A ten minute rule bill may be opposed and MPs can vote on whether to give the bill a second reading.
Ten minute rule bill
House of Commons
Parliament
Statements are over and the next item of business is a ten minute rule bill on planning consent applications from Conservative MP Nigel Evans.
The bill would require applicants for planning consent to enter into a contract with the relevant planning authority.
The contract would set out certain undertakings relating to the application for planning consent.
Failure to meet the undertakings that the contract stipulates would result in planning consent being withdrawn.
Public sector employers
House of Commons
Parliament
Lib Dem Simon Wright asks how the public sector will be represented on the planned careers and enterprise company.
"We are intending that various large public sector employers will have a role on the advisory board," Nicky Morgan responds.
This could include the NHS and the armed forces, she adds.
Post update
@SarahChampionMP
Labour MP Sarah Champion tweets: @BillEstersonMP tells SoS the select committee for Education felt the Govs proposal for career guidance was "nothing short of a train wreck"
'Employer-led'
House of Commons
Parliament
Ms Morgan says the new careers company will be "employer-led" and Parliament will be able to scrutinise how government money is spent on it.
'End-of-term initiative'
House of Commons
Parliament
Mr Hunt calls Ms Morgan's statement "a poorly thought through, end-of-term initiative".
Ms Morgan accuses Labour of having "no plan for young people".
BBCCopyright: BBC
'Dismantling of careers advice'
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt claims that "it is the dismantling of careers advice that stands amongst this government's greatest crimes".
He adds: "You get more careers advice as a prisoner than as a school pupil under this government."
He calls for universal work experience to be available in schools.
Chambers of Commerce survey
House of Commons
Parliament
A British Chambers of Commerce survey of 3,000 firms found nine out of 10 said school leavers were not ready for employment.
Three-quarters of the companies surveyed put the situation down to a lack of work experience.
Out of the companies surveyed, half said they did not offer work experience placements themselves.
The British Chambers of Commerce called for universal work experience in all secondary schools.
Post update
@grahamstuart
Chairman of Education Committee Graham Stuart MP tweets: Nicky Morgan is giving a statement in Parliament on careers advice and guidance. Welcome recognition of the issue.
'Break down barriers'
House of Commons
Parliament
Nicky Morgan says the new careers and enterprise company would work to "break down barriers between employers and schools".
Careers support
House of Commons
Parliament
Nicky Morgan says she wants young people "to make a compelling pitch for a job and I want them to be able to bounce back if things don't work out".
She adds that careers support is inadequate in many schools and announces "a new careers and enterprise company for schools".
BBCCopyright: BBC
'Preparing for the world of work'
House of Commons
Parliament
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is making a statement on preparing children for the world of work.
She tells MPs she wants "every young person" to have the skills and knowledge to succeed in life.
Asylum numbers
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour's Paul Flynn says areas including Rochdale and Cardiff take far more asylum seekers than Mr Brokenshire's outer London constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup, or Home Secretary Theresa May's constituency of Maidenhead in Berkshire.
The Home Office minister insists that the government works with local authorities on distributing asylum support.
'Shame'
House of Commons
Parliament
SNP MP Angus MacNeil says Amnesty International has commented that the numbers of Syrian refugees the UK has taken in "should cause heads to hang in shame".
He adds that "the SNP Scottish government wants to help".
Mr Brokenshire says the UK government is "working with local authorities and others".
Post update
@AlanDuncanMP
Conservative MP Alan Duncan tweets: Just raised in PMQs the death today of Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein, who died while protesting in his own land against its occupation.
'Lack of leadership'
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Barry Sheerman claims there has been a "lack of leadership and drift" from the prime minister on the Syrian refugee crisis.
James Brokenshire argues that David Cameron and the government are showing "very direct leadership".
Post update
@julianhuppert
Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert tweets: Still in the Chamber hoping to speak about why the UK should take more of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees #fb
'More refugees'
House of Commons
Parliament
Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather says Turkey has taken in more refugees in the last three days "than are resident in the whole of Europe altogether".
Mr Brokenshire says she is right to draw attention to the impact on Syria's neighbours.
'Human beings'
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman says there is nothing the UK can do to end the Syrian conflict and it is more important to help "the human beings" involved rather than spending on aid in the region.
"It's about time that it had a heart," he says of the Home Office.
'Shadow of Mr Farage'
House of Commons
Parliament
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell says: "I hope we're not allowing the shadow of Mr Farage to obscure our humanitarian responsibilities."
James Brokenshire responds with a firm "no".
'Less than 100'
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Keith Vaz, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Committee, criticises the admission of "less than 100" under a scheme to provide refuge for vulnerable persons, when there are many foreign criminals in the UK.
Minister rejects claim
House of Commons
Parliament
James Brokenshire rejects any suggestion that the government's "decisions are being clouded by a focus on the net migration figures".
He repeats that the UK has taken in 3,400 refugees.
"This country should be proud of the role it is playing," he adds.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Immigration cap
House of Commons
Parliament
Yvette Cooper asks that refugees be taken out of the government's cap on immigration.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Post update
@Oxfam
Oxfam International tweets: Rich nations pledged to take 100,000 of #Syria's refugees, but they could do a lot more #SanctuaryforSyrians
UK 'did nothing'
House of Commons
Parliament
Yvette Cooper welcomes the "UK's largest-ever humanitarian response".
She says while the "vast majority" of refugees "should stay in the region" some need more help.
She says that the UK did "nothing" when "asked for more help yesterday".
She says the recent placing of 90 refugees is much lower than the numbers settled by some other European countries.
Syria's war and refugees
Most refugees from Syria - around three million - are in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.
Up until now only about 62,000 have been allowed into Western countries.
Home Office Minister James Brokenshire tells the House that the UK has spent "£700m in response to the humanitarian crisis" to help refugees.
This makes the UK the second-largest donor after the United States, he says.
Ninety people have been granted protection in the UK between March and October, he adds, and 3,400 in total have been granted asylum or other leave.
Syrian refugees
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has tabled this urgent question on the resettlement of vulnerable Syrian refugees.
There are around 3.2m refugees displaced by the ongoing civil war in Syria.
Western countries have promised to increase the number of refugees they will accept for resettlement to 100,000 - well short of the amount of resettlement places the UN and aid agencies wanted.
Clegg claims
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MPs are using points of order to attack Mr Clegg over claims made during PMQs.
Andy Burnham rejects Mr Clegg's claim that Labour privatised Hitchinbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon.
"The contract was signed under the coalition," Mr Burnham claims.
The Speaker says it is up to a minister to "correct the record" if he or she feels it necessary.
Post update
@GregHands
Conservative MP (and whip) Greg Hands tweets: A very unusual set of Points of Order at the end of question time. Usually come after Statements.
Devon hospitals
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour's Ben Bradshaw says hospitals in Devon would deny treatment to Mr Clegg "because he smokes" and to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles "because of his size".
Mr Clegg says that is "a bit harsh" and defends the government's investment in the NHS.
The NHS in Devon has a £14.5m deficit and says the cuts are needed to help it meet waiting list targets.
Post update
Vicki Young
Political correspondent, BBC News
Clegg unsure how to describe colleague Vince Cable. After prompting manages to utter word "friend". Couldn't see if he rolled his eyes #pmqs
Defence spending
House of Commons
Parliament
Conservative MP Julian Lewis asks about the position of defence in the UK's spending priorities.
"Our defence budget is the highest in the EU and the second highest in Nato," Mr Clegg says.
Mr Lewis is concerned about spending falling below the "2% limit" specified by Nato.
Post update
@Jos21
NHS campaigner Jos Bell tweets: it seems that @nick_clegg has lost any residual grip on reality.... non answers and made up stats in all areas @cawalsh @GwynneMP #PMQs
Post update
@Thatcherite
Tory supporter Tom Hulme tweets: I never thought I'd say this, but @nick_clegg is actually doing...really really well #PMQs
Post update
@JoeMurphyLondon
London Evening Standards' Joe Murphy tweets: Interesting that George Osborne has turned up for Clegg's QT. William Hague, M Gove & P Hammond also there. Can't see T May though
Palestinian protest death
House of Commons
Parliament
Conservative MP Alan Duncan asks if Mr Clegg will condemn "what appears to be the killing by the Israeli Defence Forces" of Palestinian official Ziad Abu Ein in the West Bank.
A Reuters news agency photographer said Ziad Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, was hit and shoved by soldiers near the village of Turmusiya.
But Palestinian medics told the BBC that he died as a result of suffocation from tear gas that was fired.
Mr Clegg says he wants to see an end of "Israeli settlement activity" but also an end to violence against Israeli civilians.
Post update
@bbcnickrobinson
Nick Robinson
Political editor
Just as @nick_clegg tries to distance his party from Tories @HarrietHarman boxes him into sounding like one & Tory MPs cheer him on #PMQs
Post update
@BBCPeterH
BBC's Peter Henley tweets: Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton calls for more money for mental health - Clegg says NHS mandate will give equality #PMQs
BBCCopyright: BBC
Smith Commission
House of Commons
Parliament
Answering Labour MP Gordon Banks' question on the Smith Commission proposals for more powers for the Scottish Parliament, Mr Clegg insists the government will stick to its timetable on further devolution.
Migrants
House of Commons
Parliament
The Conservative MP for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, says other EU states need to take more responsibility over migrants.
Mr Clegg says it is "a problem shared" and that is why he supports "cross-border co-operation".
'No trust'
House of Commons
Parliament
BBCCopyright: BBC
People will never trust Nick Clegg or his party again, Harriet Harman says during her question session at PMQsImage caption: People will never trust Nick Clegg or his party again, Harriet Harman says during her question session at PMQs
Post update
@SkyAnushka
Sky's Anushka Asthana tweets: .@nick_clegg says his pension reforms help huge nos of women, and he cares more about those women than any around the cabinet table..
Post update
@ShippersUnbound
Sunday Times's Tim Shipman tweets: When Harman cares about a subject and understands what she is talking about she is rather good. Signs of how she has survived so long today.
'Millionaires' tax cut'
House of Commons
Parliament
Harriet Harman says: "85% of those who benefit from the millionaires' tax cut are men."
Nick Clegg says the Labour party has forgotten its own record in power.
Post update
@DavidWooding
Sun on Sunday's David Wooding tweets: Great line from Harriet Harman against Nick Clegg: 'Normally when he's asked about numbers of women he's quite forthcoming' #PMQs
Women in employment
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Harriet Harman, standing in for Ed Miliband, criticises Mr Clegg over a lack of female appointments to the Cabinet, and employment for women in general.
Female unemployment rose under Labour, Mr Clegg retorts.
Over the despatch box
House of Commons
Parliament
BBCCopyright: BBC
Nick Clegg is answering questions during PMQs today; he is facing Labour's deputy leader and shadow deputy PM Harriet HarmanImage caption: Nick Clegg is answering questions during PMQs today; he is facing Labour's deputy leader and shadow deputy PM Harriet Harman
Autumn statement
House of Commons
Parliament
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is taking questions.
Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds asks which part of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement he objected to the most, following criticism from the Lib Dem leader of some Conservative spending plans.
Mr Clegg says the coalition has been "clearing up the mess" that Labour created.
Filling up
House of Commons
Parliament
The Chamber is beginning to fill with MPs, coming in to hear Nick Clegg standing in for PM David Cameron at PMQs this week. Chancellor George Osborne is sitting next to Mr Clegg on the front bench.
Post update
@BenPBradshaw
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw tweets: After none for years 2 #PMQs in a month. Hoping to ask Clegg about rationing of healthcare in Devon & worst #NHS post code lottery ever.
Corporation tax
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Chris Evans asks the minister to guarantee that devolution of corporation tax to Northern Ireland would have no impact on the block grant it receives from the UK government.
Andrew Murrison says the government cannot give that guarantee.
Chancellor George Osborne has said devolving the powers would depend on the outcome of Northern Ireland talks.
'Increased threats'
House of Commons
Parliament
The independent MP for North Down, Sylvia Hermon, asks if protection is available for donors to political parties as next year's general election approaches.
Security services are "aware of increased threats", Andrew Murrison tells her.
Police numbers
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Northern Ireland minister Ivan Lewis asks about the impact of budget cuts on "police numbers and public protection" in Northern Ireland.
'Vital period'
House of Commons
Parliament
SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell says that talks on Northern Ireland's future "enter a vital period this week".
It is essential to address "the wounds of violence and brutality in the past", he adds.
Mr Murrison says: "If this process fails, I'm afraid the future will not look good."
'Offensive' language
House of Commons
Parliament
DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds accuses Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams of using "deeply offensive" language at a recent meeting in Enniskillen.
Mr Adams talked of "using equality to break unionists", Mr Dodds says.
"Sinn Fein needs to be very careful about the language it uses," Andrew Murrison replies.
Mr Adams has apologised for using an "offensive" term at the public meeting.
Post update
@LibDemPress
Lib Dem Press Office tweets: Tune into @daily_politics on BBC2 to catch @tessamunt
Political talks
House of Commons
Parliament
As questions begin, minister Andrew Murrison tells the House that Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers is absent chairing talks on Northern Ireland's future.
The talks on disputes including flags, parades, the past and welfare reform have entered their ninth week.
Post update
@nick_clegg
Deputy PM Nick Clegg tweets: Just hot-footed from my son's nativity play at his school to the House of Commons ready to take #PMQs this week.
Northern Ireland questions
House of Commons
Parliament
Northern Ireland questions are about to begin.
Topics today include: tackling youth unemployment in Northern Ireland, strengthening the economy, and the potential effect of introducing a devolved rate of corporation tax.
Post update
@tobyperkinsmp
Labour MP Toby Perkins tweets: Expect to be asking a question of Nick Clegg as he stands in for #pmq's . Let's see if he answers it.
Main business
House of Commons
Parliament
And then on to the day's main business: the second reading of the Stamp Duty and Land Tax Bill, which enacts changes to stamp duty announced by the Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement.
MPs will also consider Lords amendments for the Wales Bill, which extends the powers devolved to the Welsh Assembly, before Labour MP John McDonnell leads an adjournment debate on work-related stress and prison officers.
Urgent question and statement
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has tabled an urgent question on Syrian refugees, which will be followed by a statement from the education secretary on preparing young people for the world of work.
It comes as Ofsted issues a warning that too many secondary schools in England are not making sufficient progress, with almost a third judged not to be good enough.
Good morning
House of Commons
Parliament
Welcome to our live coverage of the House of Commons.
A packed day for MPs will begin shortly with questions to Northern Ireland office ministers.
Then Deputy PM Nick Clegg will stand in for David Cameron at prime minister's questions.
Live Reporting
Aiden James and Sam Francis
All times stated are UK
BBCCopyright: BBC Home Office Minister Lord Bates is now responding to the debate for the government .Image caption: Home Office Minister Lord Bates is now responding to the debate for the government . 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC Lord Rosser tells peers that the NRM is not as well known or used as it should be in its "non mandatory" form.Image caption: Lord Rosser tells peers that the NRM is not as well known or used as it should be in its "non mandatory" form. 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
- resisting further extensions of UK opt-ins to a European corpus juris
- strengthening the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- the Nobel Peace Prize given to Malala Yousafzai for her contribution to girls' education
- the roll out of Universal Credit.
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC People will never trust Nick Clegg or his party again, Harriet Harman says during her question session at PMQsImage caption: People will never trust Nick Clegg or his party again, Harriet Harman says during her question session at PMQs 
BBCCopyright: BBC Nick Clegg is answering questions during PMQs today; he is facing Labour's deputy leader and shadow deputy PM Harriet HarmanImage caption: Nick Clegg is answering questions during PMQs today; he is facing Labour's deputy leader and shadow deputy PM Harriet Harman 
Latest PostGoodnight
House of Lords
Parliament
Lord Bates promises post legislative scrutiny of the bill will take place, but the government believe the normal process of scrutiny being carried out by parliamentary committees is preferable to "ad hoc and potentially inconsistent specific statutory requirements in individual bills."
Given Lord Bates assurance's that post legislative scrutiny will take place, Lord Alton withdraws his amendment.
Which brings business in the House of Lords to a close. Peers will be back tomorrow from 11.00 GMT where the main business will be two balloted debates: firstly, on the case for enabling economic leadership for cities; and secondly, on the case for new global development goals in 2015.
Debate cancelled
House of Lords
Parliament
It's just been announced that this evening's short debate on the report of the Communications Committee on media plurality led by the Committee chair, Lord Inglewood, will be suspended until a later date. So things will be concluding after this amendment.
'Motherhood and apple pie'
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers turn to their final amendment of the evening, which would require the Home Secretary to provide a report on the bill's implementation within five years after it becomes law.
Tabling the amendment Lord Alton says post legislative reviews of legislation, like this, are like "motherhood and apple pie, in that everyone appears to be in favour of it, but unlike motherhood and apple pie, it's not much in evidence".
This amendment would ensure "vital" post legislative scrutiny took place he says.
'Long term strategy'
House of Lords
Parliament
Lord Bates says Lord Alton's objective is part of the government's "long term strategy" but warns there are many stages to go through first.
He agrees to meet with the peers who supported Lord Alton's amendment between now and report stage to discuss the issue further, and Lord Alton agrees to withdraw the amendment.
Public reports needed
House of Lords
Parliament
Crossbench peer Lord Alton of Liverpool tables an amendment which would force big businesses to publicise statements on the action they have taken to ensure their supply chains are slavery free, that the Modern Slavery Bill would require them to produce.
He says in the bill as its currently drafted, neither "the content of what is reported, nor the location of the report" are likely to produce the "meaningful, accessible and comparable information that's so essential to take a proper view of what companies are doing to tackle slavery in their supply chain."
Amendment withdrawn
House of Lords
Parliament
Shadow home office minister Lord Rosser says that current requirements on companies included in the bill do not "go far enough" but withdraws his amendment.
Government response
House of Lords
Parliament
Slavery in the supply chain
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers are now debating a series of amendments aimed at tackling slavery in supply chains by improving transparency - requiring companies selling products or services in the UK to demonstrate that they have been seeking to ensure slave labour has not been involved in their supply process.
'Overwhelming' risk
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to the debate, Baroness Garden of Frognal says that the GLA is already equipped to tackle slavery. She tells peers that while it is natural to want to extend the body's remit quickly, rushed measures could undermine the body's "good work".
The GLA is a small body that "performs a targeted role in an effective way" she says, which plays a role in the broader tackling of slavery.
She argues that sweeping changes run the risk of overwhelming the organisation.
Baroness Butler-Sloss withdraws her amendment, which, she says, she knew the government wouldn't accept, but says she hopes the government will think about the issues raised during the debate.
More on the GLA
House of Lords
Parliament
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is the regulating body for workers in the shell fish, agriculture, food, and food packaging labour markets.
The GLA was established after the result of the 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster to prevent the exploitation of workers in the food production sector.
Gangmasters Licensing Authority
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers are now debating a series of amendments aimed at extending the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to fight slavery.
Tabling an amendment to allow the government the option to look into extending the authority's powers, former high court judge Baroness Butler-Sloss says thereare huge concerns over the use of slave labour in the construction industry and hospitality industry.
Scale 'underestimated'
House of Lords
Parliament
Baroness Cox says that ministers "totally underestimate" the scale of the problem and the vulnerability of the workers.
She says the government is not offering "very reassuring alternatives" to her amendment but she agrees to withdraw it, suggesting she may table a similar amendment at a later date if changes to the bill are not made.
Protection for overseas workers
House of Lords
Parliament
Government spokeswoman Baroness Garden of Frognal says current visa regulations already provide protection to overseas workers living in slavery.
If overseas workers leaving their employment to seek police or government assistance, "that is not considered an abuse of their visa", she tells peers. Such workers would be treated as victims and given appropriate support.
Those bringing overseas workers in to the country must prove to immigration officials they have had a pre-existing working relationship and provide evidence that workers have agreed to the terms of their employment - a system which also allows officials to check for a bonded labour relationship.
Meanwhile, those trafficked into the UK are protected under trafficking legislation, the National Referral Mechanism and provisions in this bill, she says.
Goodnight from MPs
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs have raced through a packed agenda to reach an early end to business in the Commons.
Join us tomorrow from 9.30 GMT for debates on the fishing industry, and Ukraine and UK relations with Russia.
And Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has an adjournment debate on NHS services in Devon, which follows the announcement that smokers and the morbidly obese could be denied routine surgery unless they quit smoking or lose weight.
It follows his question on the subject during PMQs today.
We still have plenty more debate left in the House of Lords though, so stay with us as peers scrutinise the Modern Slavery Bill at committee stage.
'One hand tied behind their back'
House of Lords
Parliament
Conservative peer Baroness Hanham says that overseas workers are becoming "hidden victims" of slavery and the current visa system is forcing them to fight "with one hand tied behind their back".
Many of the victims are from foreign countries, with little grasp of the English langue and so can't access protections currently offered to them, she says.
"People don't know they're there, they can't get out, they can't get attention and they are abused.
"We can't really just ignore it," she adds.
Recruitment
House of Commons
Parliament
Justice Minister Andrew Selous, responding to the debate on stress among prison officers, says the National Offender Management Service is "on target" to recruit further officers to help reduce pressures on existing staff.
Visa regulations
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers are debating an amendment to reintroduce the UK's pre-2012 visa regulations to protect overseas domestic workers from slavery, including the right to change employers. Many overseas workers are tied to one employer by their visa.
Baroness Cox, the founder of the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, tells peers that the bill as it stands "unintentionally strengthened the hand of the slave master against the victim of slavery" which completely undermines the intentions of the bill.
She describes the current situation, in which overseas worker are tied to a single employee, as "bonded labour". Without the freedom to resign, workers cannot "challenge or question anything their employers choose to do to them", she says.
Prison overcrowding
House of Commons
Parliament
Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd raises the subject of overcrowding in prisons.
The risk of violence increases with overcrowding, he argues, which means a greater risk for prison officers.
Slavery cases referred
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers agree to a series of government amendments to require suspected slavery cases to be referred to the home secretary, who can pass them to a specialist unit for investigating potential cases of slavery, rather than the National Crime Agency.
Work-related stress
House of Commons
Parliament
A survey by the Prison Officers Association on work-related stress and wellbeing was published in November.
The key findings of the survey revealed 84% of respondents felt under pressure to come into work when they felt unwell.
According to the survey, none of the Health and Safety Executive's standards for work-related stress have been met.
The report revealed that work-related stress and "failure to cope" is very stigmatised in the sector and is unsupported.
Amendment withdrawn
House of Lords
Parliament
Home Office Minister Lord Bates warns that any process to put something on a statutory footing can make it inflexible and "unresponsive to changing demands" due to the requirement for further legislation to make changes.
Quoting the findings of the review of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) led by senior civil servant Jeremy Oppenheim, which has been quoted by several peers in the debate, Lord Bates says that "putting the NRM on a statuary framework will not change the UK's commitment and obligations".
The most important thing is to make sure "victims are spotted and protected in the first place, and we can only help victims quickly and effectively" he says.
Lord Rosser withdraws his amendment on the understanding that there should be further discussions on finding the right balance between "flexibility" and giving the NRM greater weight.
Adjournment debate
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs agree to the Lords amendments which would allow the Welsh Assembly to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote in an income tax referendum.
And that ends the debate on the Wales Bill and MPs move swiftly on to the adjournment debate.
Labour MP John McDonnell is leading a debate on work-related stress and prison officers.
Great concern
House of Lords
Parliament
Conservative peer Lord James of Blackheath says the amendment "greatly causes him concern", and says referral networks aren't enough.
Instead "every child put into a migration situation" needs to be given legal status in the UK and "forced transportation" needs to be outlawed, he says.
Turnout worries
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour's Geraint Davies says he is broadly a supporter of votes at 16, but is concerned that introducing them via a "very technical" referendum on income tax powers could lead to an "extremely low" turnout of young people.
Greater understanding
House of Lords
Parliament
The Labour amendment would put the National Referral Mechanism on a statutory footing rather than its current "non-mandatory" basis.
Shadow home office minster Lord Rosser says the current scheme is not well known, and so is not being used enough. Placing it into primary legislation will give "greater transparency", create greater awareness of the scheme and would "provide an opportunity to establish a clear review and appeal process", he says.
'Supporter'
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Wales minister Nia Griffith tells MPs she has "long been a supporter of votes at 16".
National Referral Mechanism
House of Lords
Parliament
ECPAT - a global network of organisations aimed at eliminating child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children - has produced a handy guide on how the human trafficking National Referral Mechanism works.
'No consensus' on voting age
House of Commons
Parliament
Alun Cairns says the government backs a voting age of 16 in a Welsh referendum but argues there is "no consensus" on a lower voting age for elections.
Voting age
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs are now considering allowing the Welsh Assembly to let 16-year-olds to vote in an income tax referendum.
Minister Alun Cairns pays tribute to the political engagement of 16 and 17-year-olds in the Scottish independence referendum.
Labour MP Chris Ruane says too few young people are registered to vote and urges ministers to work to raise the numbers.
The minimum voting age for local and general elections is 18, but voters aged 16 and 17 were allowed to take part in Scotland's referendum.
Main business
House of Lords
Parliament
Peers now turn to the main business in the House of Lords today: the committee stage of the Modern Slavery Bill.
First: a Labour tabled amendment to put the framework for identifying and assisting victims of slavery and human trafficking- known as a National Referral Mechanism - on a statutory footing.
Amendments approved
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs agree Lords amendments which would allow the Welsh Assembly to set separate Welsh income tax rates.
Supply and demand
House of Lords
Parliament
Crossbench peer Lord Ramsbotham asks whether a census will be made of "skills needs and skills shortages" in the working world, which can be referred to by teachers and careers advisors.
Lord Nash says he will pass this idea on to the new company.
Trade union involvement
House of Lords
Parliament
Labour peer Baroness Turner of Camden asks what role trade unions can have in the provision of careers advice. Trade unions can be very important in "encouraging children who would otherwise miss out on education earlier in their careers" she says.
Lord Nash says the involvement of trade unions is extremely important and will be considered.
'Westminster establishment'
House of Commons
Parliament
Plaid Cymru's Jonathan Edwards tells MPs that his party "will not allow our country to be treated as a second class nation by the Westminster establishment".
Careers body
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to the statement, shadow education minister Baroness Jones of Whitchurch welcomes the announcement of a new careers body but asks "what took you so long?", claiming careers services deteriorated under the watch of this government.
The provision of careers advice is "only one part of the challenges exist" in the sector she says, claiming children are "crying out for one-to-one careers advice".
The new plan has "all the hallmarks of a policy scrambled together to plug a hole", she says,
Income tax devolution
House of Commons
Parliament
In the debate on the Wales Bill, Conservative MP Glyn Davies accuses Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones of trying to find reasons not to have a referendum on devolving income tax.
"Welsh Labour in Cardiff are desperate to avoid financial accountability," he claims.
Mr Davies says he has accepted that the bill will allow for a referendum but thinks one is not necessary.
The issue could be decided at a general election, he believes.
Education statement
House of Lords
Parliament
Education Minister Lord Nash is now repeating a statement made by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan earlier in the House of Commons on preparing young people for the world of work.
Important government statements made in the House of Commons will sometimes be repeated in the Lords at an appropriate time to fit in with the main business.
Once the statement has been repeated, peers have an opportunity to quiz a government minister on the content of the statement, as in the House of Commons.
Position shifted?
House of Lords
Parliament
Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Falkner of Margravine accuses the government of shifting its position and suggesting that Lord Ashton had ruled out any conversations with parts of the Assad regime to allow them to continue to rule, even in a transitional government.
Lord Ashton says he will not give out Foreign Office policy today, but will write to Baroness Falkner.
Migration figures
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to Lord Rosser's comments, government spokesman Lord Ashton says he doesn't accept the current Vulnerable Person refugee scheme - which has taken in 90 people - "isn't working".
The programme is on track to deal with "several hundred victims over three years", which is in addition to 3,400 people taken in under normal asylum rules.
The government will not change the net migration calculation as it is currently based on a UN definition of migration, and accounts for those figures in a way all countries internationally recognise.
Syrian refugees
House of Lords
Parliament
Responding to the statement Shadow Home Office Minister Lord Rosser tells peers that Labour thinks refugees should be taken out of the government's immigration target as it is clouding their consciences over helping vulnerable people.
Lord Rosser tells peers the Syrian refugee crisis is the worst since World War II, calls on the government to increase the numbers being allowed into the country, and sign up to the United Nations programme to give asylum to the most vulnerable Syrian refugees.
According to the Press Association, the government has only accepted 90 refugees, the government must "do more", he says.
Syrian refugees
House of Lords
Parliament
Lord Ashton of Hyde is now repeating an answer made by James Brokenshire to an urgent question on Syrian refugees.
New peers
House of Lords
Parliament
We're getting two new hereditary peers.
Clerk of the Parliaments David Beamish announces that, following a by-election on the crossbenches, the 19th Duke of Somerset, Lord Seymour, and Lord Russell of Liverpool will be joining the House of Lords.
Welsh Politician of the Year
House of Commons
Parliament
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb topped the list of honours at the annual Welsh Political Awards.
Chair of the judges Dr Denis Balsom said Mr Crabb had "revitalised the political debate in Wales".
Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd was named Welsh MP of the Year, with Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams named AM of the year.
There was also a Lifetime Achievement Award for Labour peer Lord Morgan.
Size of the state
House of Lords
Parliament
Labour peer Lord Clinton-Davis tells peers that both the OBR and the IFS forecast that the policy of the government is reducing the size of the state - relative to GDP - to its lowest levels since the 1930s.
He tells peers this is "utter madness" and claims it is contrary to the government's claims about the benefits Universal Credit will have for those most in need.
Work and Pensions Minister Lord Freud says that Universal Credit - which he describes as "on track" - directs funding more efficiently "to those who need support", and provides "economic benefits of £7bn every year at a investment cost of £1.8 bn".
Shadow minister responds
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith opens for Labour by congratulating his counterpart Stephen Crabb for winning Welsh Politician of the Year.
Mr Smith says Mr Crabb who once "described devolution as constitutional vandalism" is now a supporter.
He jokes that Mr Crabb "deserves to have his political footwork duly recognised".
Protect Malala
House of Lords
Parliament
Former Chief of Naval Staff, Lord West of Spithead, asks the government to confirm that Malala Yousafzai is being properly protected from the threat of "jihadists" in this country.
Baroness Northover says she can't go into detail, but confirms the government are protecting her.
Pakistan teachers
House of Lords
Parliament
Conservative peer Baroness Berridge calls on the government to set up a scholarship for professional development of teachers or an award to teachers in Pakistan in honour of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
Department for International Development Minister Baroness Northover congratulates Malala Yousafzai who she calls "an extraordinary young women".
DfiD is committing significant resources to education in Pakistan, she tells peers. "The most important thing is to sustain that," she says.
More on the Wales Bill
House of Commons
Parliament
Stephen Crabb, Secretary of State for Wales, is opening for the government.
His predecessor David Jones described the legislation as a "major milestone in Welsh devolution".
The bill would also give the Assembly greater borrowing powers, including for capital expenditure.
It also allows for a referendum on devolving some income tax.
The bill follows reports from independent commissions: the Holtham Commission and the Silk Commission.
Ukraine fears
House of Lords
Parliament
Crossbench peer Lord Hylton argues that Russia's violations of the ceasefire in Ukraine, the presence of Russian military equipment and personnel in disputed areas, "the devastation of areas and the onset of winter" all make the case for strengthening the Organisation for Security and Co-operation's (OSC) mandate and personnel in the field.
Foreign Office Minster Lord Wallace of Saltaire says at the Basel meeting of the OSC last week only Belarus argued against such increases.
Wales Bill
House of Commons
Parliament
And that's it for a very brisk debate on the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill.
MPs move on to consider Lords amendments to the Wales Bill, which is the latest in a series of adjustments to devolution in Wales.
The bill aims to introduce important new powers which expand the competence of the Assembly into financial matters.
The bill will devolve stamp duty, land tax and landfill tax.
UKIP's approach
House of Lords
Parliament
Former UKIP leader Lord Pearson says the government's opting back into EU crime and justice measures, which he describes as "ceding to the corrupt and profligate octopus in Europe", is the reasons for rising support of UKIP.
Home Office Lord Bates says UKIP's approach toward Europe would make people in the UK less safe and make the government less able to secure its borders.
"That's ideology, this is pragmatism," he says.
Losing UK law?
House of Lords
Parliament
Former Conservative MP and chairman of the 1922 committee, Lord Spicer, begins debate in the House of Lords by warning against what he sees as a slide towards a single EU-wide body of law, jurisdiction or court through opting in to EU crime and policing measures.
With the 35 opt ins to EU criminal law now in place and with the "powers of the European court to make law", Lord Spicer warns the UK is "in very real danger of losing the presumption of innocence, the jury system, case law and Habeas Corpus".
Home Office Minister Lord Bates says there is no move towards a so called European corpus juris, he says he recognisees the point but says the prime minister is actively fighting against such encroachment.
Minister responds
House of Commons
Parliament
Exchequer Secretary Priti Patel, replying for the government, says: "This has been an efficient debate."
It has certainly been quick, mainly due to no major objections to the legislation from the opposition.
'Hated' slab tax
House of Commons
Parliament
Conservative MP Anne Main calls for the new graduated stamp duty to apply to commercial as well as residential premises.
The existing system has often been criticised as a "slab tax".
Ms Main argues that "if the slab system is hated, it is hated", adding it has been "roundly denounced by all parties".
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax
House of Commons
Parliament
From April next year, stamp duty in Scotland is being replaced by the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
The new stamp duty rates will apply to Scotland until they are replaced by the Scottish government's new tax on 1 April.
The rates for LBTT in Scotland will be lower than the equivalent stamp duty in England and Wales.
Scottish purchasers will start paying tax at £135,000, whereas buyers elsewhere in the UK will pay from £125,000.
Labour support
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Treasury minister Shabana Mahmood is opening for the opposition, indicating that Labour supports the proposed changes to stamp duty.
The new rates of stamp duty will only apply to the amount of the purchase price that falls within the duty band.
Someone buying a house for £200,000 will pay nothing on the first £125,000, and then 2% of the next £75,000.
Previously someone buying a house for £200,000 would have paid 1% on the total purchase price.
On average, someone buying a home in England and Wales will now pay £4,500 less in stamp duty.
Oral question session
House of Lords
Parliament
But before all that peers start the day with their daily question session with government minister's. Today's topics will include:
Final business
House of Lords
Parliament
Today's final business will be a short debate on the report of the Communications Committee on media plurality led by the Committee chair, Lord Inglewood.
Main work of the day
House of Lords
Parliament
Today's main legislation will be the final day of committee stage scrutiny of the Modern Slavery Bill.
The section being dealt with today covers transparency in supply chains - requiring companies selling products or services in the UK to demonstrate that they have been seeking to ensure slave labour has not been involved in their supply process.
Rules on gang-masters should also be covered.
Peers' day
House of Lords
Parliament
Our live coverage of the House of Lords is about to begin.
Today's statement by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and the response to Yvette Cooper's urgent question will be repeated in the House of Lords to allow peers to have their say.
Government Whip Lord Ashton of Hyde will repeat Immigration Minister James Brokenshire's comments on Syrian refugees at around 15.40 GMT.
Education minister and former adviser to Michael Gove, Lord Nash, will repeat the statement on preparing young people for the world of work at 16.00 GMT.
Who's affected?
House of Commons
Parliament
Financial Secretary David Gauke is outlining the changes to stamp duty, as MPs debate the bill at second reading.
In his Autumn Statement, George Osborne said 98% of homeowners in England and Wales would pay less after the changes to stamp duty. He said that, in fact, only people who buy homes worth more than £937,000 will pay more in tax.
Stamp duty change
House of Commons
Parliament
MPs now turn their attention to the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill at second reading.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, announced changes to stamp duty in his annual Autumn Statement.
Stamp Duty Land Tax is paid when property is bought or transferred - and this bill amends the existing legislation which prescribes the method of calculating the amount due.
A new table of rates and bands applying to residential property transactions will be implemented by the bill.
More on ten minute rule bills
House of Commons
Parliament
Ten minute rule bills are introduced by backbench MPs and are a type of private members' bill.
The MP introducing the bill can give a ten minute speech when proposing it to the House.
A ten minute rule bill may be opposed and MPs can vote on whether to give the bill a second reading.
Ten minute rule bill
House of Commons
Parliament
Statements are over and the next item of business is a ten minute rule bill on planning consent applications from Conservative MP Nigel Evans.
The bill would require applicants for planning consent to enter into a contract with the relevant planning authority.
The contract would set out certain undertakings relating to the application for planning consent.
Failure to meet the undertakings that the contract stipulates would result in planning consent being withdrawn.
Public sector employers
House of Commons
Parliament
Lib Dem Simon Wright asks how the public sector will be represented on the planned careers and enterprise company.
"We are intending that various large public sector employers will have a role on the advisory board," Nicky Morgan responds.
This could include the NHS and the armed forces, she adds.
Post update
@SarahChampionMP
Labour MP Sarah Champion tweets: @BillEstersonMP tells SoS the select committee for Education felt the Govs proposal for career guidance was "nothing short of a train wreck"
'Employer-led'
House of Commons
Parliament
Ms Morgan says the new careers company will be "employer-led" and Parliament will be able to scrutinise how government money is spent on it.
'End-of-term initiative'
House of Commons
Parliament
Mr Hunt calls Ms Morgan's statement "a poorly thought through, end-of-term initiative".
Ms Morgan accuses Labour of having "no plan for young people".
'Dismantling of careers advice'
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt claims that "it is the dismantling of careers advice that stands amongst this government's greatest crimes".
He adds: "You get more careers advice as a prisoner than as a school pupil under this government."
He calls for universal work experience to be available in schools.
Chambers of Commerce survey
House of Commons
Parliament
A British Chambers of Commerce survey of 3,000 firms found nine out of 10 said school leavers were not ready for employment.
Three-quarters of the companies surveyed put the situation down to a lack of work experience.
Out of the companies surveyed, half said they did not offer work experience placements themselves.
The British Chambers of Commerce called for universal work experience in all secondary schools.
Post update
@grahamstuart
Chairman of Education Committee Graham Stuart MP tweets: Nicky Morgan is giving a statement in Parliament on careers advice and guidance. Welcome recognition of the issue.
'Break down barriers'
House of Commons
Parliament
Nicky Morgan says the new careers and enterprise company would work to "break down barriers between employers and schools".
Careers support
House of Commons
Parliament
Nicky Morgan says she wants young people "to make a compelling pitch for a job and I want them to be able to bounce back if things don't work out".
She adds that careers support is inadequate in many schools and announces "a new careers and enterprise company for schools".
'Preparing for the world of work'
House of Commons
Parliament
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is making a statement on preparing children for the world of work.
She tells MPs she wants "every young person" to have the skills and knowledge to succeed in life.
Asylum numbers
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour's Paul Flynn says areas including Rochdale and Cardiff take far more asylum seekers than Mr Brokenshire's outer London constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup, or Home Secretary Theresa May's constituency of Maidenhead in Berkshire.
The Home Office minister insists that the government works with local authorities on distributing asylum support.
'Shame'
House of Commons
Parliament
SNP MP Angus MacNeil says Amnesty International has commented that the numbers of Syrian refugees the UK has taken in "should cause heads to hang in shame".
He adds that "the SNP Scottish government wants to help".
Mr Brokenshire says the UK government is "working with local authorities and others".
Post update
@AlanDuncanMP
Conservative MP Alan Duncan tweets: Just raised in PMQs the death today of Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein, who died while protesting in his own land against its occupation.
'Lack of leadership'
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Barry Sheerman claims there has been a "lack of leadership and drift" from the prime minister on the Syrian refugee crisis.
James Brokenshire argues that David Cameron and the government are showing "very direct leadership".
Post update
@julianhuppert
Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert tweets: Still in the Chamber hoping to speak about why the UK should take more of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees #fb
'More refugees'
House of Commons
Parliament
Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather says Turkey has taken in more refugees in the last three days "than are resident in the whole of Europe altogether".
Mr Brokenshire says she is right to draw attention to the impact on Syria's neighbours.
'Human beings'
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman says there is nothing the UK can do to end the Syrian conflict and it is more important to help "the human beings" involved rather than spending on aid in the region.
"It's about time that it had a heart," he says of the Home Office.
'Shadow of Mr Farage'
House of Commons
Parliament
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell says: "I hope we're not allowing the shadow of Mr Farage to obscure our humanitarian responsibilities."
James Brokenshire responds with a firm "no".
'Less than 100'
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Keith Vaz, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Committee, criticises the admission of "less than 100" under a scheme to provide refuge for vulnerable persons, when there are many foreign criminals in the UK.
Minister rejects claim
House of Commons
Parliament
James Brokenshire rejects any suggestion that the government's "decisions are being clouded by a focus on the net migration figures".
He repeats that the UK has taken in 3,400 refugees.
"This country should be proud of the role it is playing," he adds.
Immigration cap
House of Commons
Parliament
Yvette Cooper asks that refugees be taken out of the government's cap on immigration.
Post update
@Oxfam
Oxfam International tweets: Rich nations pledged to take 100,000 of #Syria's refugees, but they could do a lot more #SanctuaryforSyrians
UK 'did nothing'
House of Commons
Parliament
Yvette Cooper welcomes the "UK's largest-ever humanitarian response".
She says while the "vast majority" of refugees "should stay in the region" some need more help.
She says that the UK did "nothing" when "asked for more help yesterday".
She says the recent placing of 90 refugees is much lower than the numbers settled by some other European countries.
Syria's war and refugees
Most refugees from Syria - around three million - are in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.
Up until now only about 62,000 have been allowed into Western countries.
Almost 200,000 Syrians have lost their lives in the escalating conflict between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule.
'Humanitarian crisis'
House of Commons
Parliament
Home Office Minister James Brokenshire tells the House that the UK has spent "£700m in response to the humanitarian crisis" to help refugees.
This makes the UK the second-largest donor after the United States, he says.
Ninety people have been granted protection in the UK between March and October, he adds, and 3,400 in total have been granted asylum or other leave.
Syrian refugees
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has tabled this urgent question on the resettlement of vulnerable Syrian refugees.
There are around 3.2m refugees displaced by the ongoing civil war in Syria.
Western countries have promised to increase the number of refugees they will accept for resettlement to 100,000 - well short of the amount of resettlement places the UN and aid agencies wanted.
Clegg claims
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MPs are using points of order to attack Mr Clegg over claims made during PMQs.
Andy Burnham rejects Mr Clegg's claim that Labour privatised Hitchinbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon.
"The contract was signed under the coalition," Mr Burnham claims.
The Speaker says it is up to a minister to "correct the record" if he or she feels it necessary.
Post update
@GregHands
Conservative MP (and whip) Greg Hands tweets: A very unusual set of Points of Order at the end of question time. Usually come after Statements.
Devon hospitals
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour's Ben Bradshaw says hospitals in Devon would deny treatment to Mr Clegg "because he smokes" and to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles "because of his size".
Mr Clegg says that is "a bit harsh" and defends the government's investment in the NHS.
Smokers and the morbidly obese in Devon will be denied routine surgery unless they quit smoking or lose weight.
The NHS in Devon has a £14.5m deficit and says the cuts are needed to help it meet waiting list targets.
Post update
Vicki Young
Political correspondent, BBC News
Clegg unsure how to describe colleague Vince Cable. After prompting manages to utter word "friend". Couldn't see if he rolled his eyes #pmqs
Defence spending
House of Commons
Parliament
Conservative MP Julian Lewis asks about the position of defence in the UK's spending priorities.
"Our defence budget is the highest in the EU and the second highest in Nato," Mr Clegg says.
Mr Lewis is concerned about spending falling below the "2% limit" specified by Nato.
Post update
@Jos21
NHS campaigner Jos Bell tweets: it seems that @nick_clegg has lost any residual grip on reality.... non answers and made up stats in all areas @cawalsh @GwynneMP #PMQs
Post update
@Thatcherite
Tory supporter Tom Hulme tweets: I never thought I'd say this, but @nick_clegg is actually doing...really really well #PMQs
Post update
@JoeMurphyLondon
London Evening Standards' Joe Murphy tweets: Interesting that George Osborne has turned up for Clegg's QT. William Hague, M Gove & P Hammond also there. Can't see T May though
Palestinian protest death
House of Commons
Parliament
Conservative MP Alan Duncan asks if Mr Clegg will condemn "what appears to be the killing by the Israeli Defence Forces" of Palestinian official Ziad Abu Ein in the West Bank.
A Reuters news agency photographer said Ziad Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, was hit and shoved by soldiers near the village of Turmusiya.
But Palestinian medics told the BBC that he died as a result of suffocation from tear gas that was fired.
Mr Clegg says he wants to see an end of "Israeli settlement activity" but also an end to violence against Israeli civilians.
Post update
@bbcnickrobinson
Nick Robinson
Political editor
Just as @nick_clegg tries to distance his party from Tories @HarrietHarman boxes him into sounding like one & Tory MPs cheer him on #PMQs
Post update
@BBCPeterH
BBC's Peter Henley tweets: Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton calls for more money for mental health - Clegg says NHS mandate will give equality #PMQs
Smith Commission
House of Commons
Parliament
Answering Labour MP Gordon Banks' question on the Smith Commission proposals for more powers for the Scottish Parliament, Mr Clegg insists the government will stick to its timetable on further devolution.
Migrants
House of Commons
Parliament
The Conservative MP for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, says other EU states need to take more responsibility over migrants.
Mr Clegg says it is "a problem shared" and that is why he supports "cross-border co-operation".
'No trust'
House of Commons
Parliament
Post update
@SkyAnushka
Sky's Anushka Asthana tweets: .@nick_clegg says his pension reforms help huge nos of women, and he cares more about those women than any around the cabinet table..
Post update
@ShippersUnbound
Sunday Times's Tim Shipman tweets: When Harman cares about a subject and understands what she is talking about she is rather good. Signs of how she has survived so long today.
'Millionaires' tax cut'
House of Commons
Parliament
Harriet Harman says: "85% of those who benefit from the millionaires' tax cut are men."
Nick Clegg says the Labour party has forgotten its own record in power.
Post update
@DavidWooding
Sun on Sunday's David Wooding tweets: Great line from Harriet Harman against Nick Clegg: 'Normally when he's asked about numbers of women he's quite forthcoming' #PMQs
Women in employment
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Harriet Harman, standing in for Ed Miliband, criticises Mr Clegg over a lack of female appointments to the Cabinet, and employment for women in general.
Female unemployment rose under Labour, Mr Clegg retorts.
Over the despatch box
House of Commons
Parliament
Autumn statement
House of Commons
Parliament
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is taking questions.
Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds asks which part of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement he objected to the most, following criticism from the Lib Dem leader of some Conservative spending plans.
Mr Clegg says the coalition has been "clearing up the mess" that Labour created.
Filling up
House of Commons
Parliament
The Chamber is beginning to fill with MPs, coming in to hear Nick Clegg standing in for PM David Cameron at PMQs this week. Chancellor George Osborne is sitting next to Mr Clegg on the front bench.
Post update
@BenPBradshaw
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw tweets: After none for years 2 #PMQs in a month. Hoping to ask Clegg about rationing of healthcare in Devon & worst #NHS post code lottery ever.
Corporation tax
House of Commons
Parliament
Labour MP Chris Evans asks the minister to guarantee that devolution of corporation tax to Northern Ireland would have no impact on the block grant it receives from the UK government.
Andrew Murrison says the government cannot give that guarantee.
Chancellor George Osborne has said devolving the powers would depend on the outcome of Northern Ireland talks.
'Increased threats'
House of Commons
Parliament
The independent MP for North Down, Sylvia Hermon, asks if protection is available for donors to political parties as next year's general election approaches.
Security services are "aware of increased threats", Andrew Murrison tells her.
Police numbers
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow Northern Ireland minister Ivan Lewis asks about the impact of budget cuts on "police numbers and public protection" in Northern Ireland.
'Vital period'
House of Commons
Parliament
SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell says that talks on Northern Ireland's future "enter a vital period this week".
It is essential to address "the wounds of violence and brutality in the past", he adds.
Mr Murrison says: "If this process fails, I'm afraid the future will not look good."
'Offensive' language
House of Commons
Parliament
DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds accuses Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams of using "deeply offensive" language at a recent meeting in Enniskillen.
Mr Adams talked of "using equality to break unionists", Mr Dodds says.
"Sinn Fein needs to be very careful about the language it uses," Andrew Murrison replies.
Mr Adams has apologised for using an "offensive" term at the public meeting.
Post update
@LibDemPress
Lib Dem Press Office tweets: Tune into @daily_politics on BBC2 to catch @tessamunt
Political talks
House of Commons
Parliament
As questions begin, minister Andrew Murrison tells the House that Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers is absent chairing talks on Northern Ireland's future.
The talks on disputes including flags, parades, the past and welfare reform have entered their ninth week.
Post update
@nick_clegg
Deputy PM Nick Clegg tweets: Just hot-footed from my son's nativity play at his school to the House of Commons ready to take #PMQs this week.
Northern Ireland questions
House of Commons
Parliament
Northern Ireland questions are about to begin.
Topics today include: tackling youth unemployment in Northern Ireland, strengthening the economy, and the potential effect of introducing a devolved rate of corporation tax.
Post update
@tobyperkinsmp
Labour MP Toby Perkins tweets: Expect to be asking a question of Nick Clegg as he stands in for #pmq's . Let's see if he answers it.
Main business
House of Commons
Parliament
And then on to the day's main business: the second reading of the Stamp Duty and Land Tax Bill, which enacts changes to stamp duty announced by the Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement.
MPs will also consider Lords amendments for the Wales Bill, which extends the powers devolved to the Welsh Assembly, before Labour MP John McDonnell leads an adjournment debate on work-related stress and prison officers.
Urgent question and statement
House of Commons
Parliament
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has tabled an urgent question on Syrian refugees, which will be followed by a statement from the education secretary on preparing young people for the world of work.
It comes as Ofsted issues a warning that too many secondary schools in England are not making sufficient progress, with almost a third judged not to be good enough.
Good morning
House of Commons
Parliament
Welcome to our live coverage of the House of Commons.
A packed day for MPs will begin shortly with questions to Northern Ireland office ministers.
Then Deputy PM Nick Clegg will stand in for David Cameron at prime minister's questions.