Image source, PA

A year ago large parts of southern England were under water as the worst floods for decades engulfed communities. A committee of MPs has now questioned how the government will fund a six-year programme to upgrade the UK's flood defences. In a new report, it queries whether £600m can be raised from councils and the private sector to supplement £2.3bn of planned government expenditure.

Emma Bishop
Political reporter, BBC Analysis and Research

MPs will decide this evening whether to pass a revised version of the government's counter-terrorism bill, which will give new powers to UK security services.

Following pressure from Lib Dem peers, the bill now says judges will have to agree to the use of temporary exclusion orders, and that the powers of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation will be extended. Cross-party pressure also means that universities will have to consider freedom of expression when complying with the new statutory duty to combat extremism.

Here on the Politics Live page we'll be bringing you everything political from inside and outside SW1, including the key moments from the Commons and Lords. But for the minute-by-minute lowdown on select committees, questions to ministers, and constituency woes, you'll need to head over to the BBC's Westminster Live page - and why not? It's just one more browser tab to keep you distracted.

Mark Easton
Home editor

tweets:, external Half the staff at @MoJGovUK say change is being managed badly & 39% think it unsafe to speak up, external.

For those of you that want to take part in May's general election, don't forget to register to vote. You can do so by clicking here, external. It takes about five minutes.

The Spectator

The Spectator's Isabel Hardman says, external that articulating Labour's "positive" vision for business has been left today to Ed Balls and Chuka Umunna - which is "much-needed after a week of Miliband defining himself through battles".

BBC News Channel

Chuka Umunna also told the BBC: "The pro/anti business debate is beside the point because it's businesses that will create wealth in our country and, if we want to close the gap between the rich and the poor, reduce the end levels of poverty and ensure that Britain can pay its way in the world, it's the guys who are here at this conference centre, our businesses, who are going to grow our economy, which is why having an agenda which helps foster them starting up but then growing is absolutely crucial."

tweets, external: If Head of HRMC told Treasury Select Committee on 12 September 2011 that whole nation knew about disc did anyone think to ask Trade minister

BBC News Channel

Labour's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna tells BBC News from outside the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) conference: "I think it would be absolutely disastrous for British business if we left the European Union." He said the country would be in a "much better position" politically and economically if it helped to drive the agenda for change in a reformed Europe.

Chancellor George Osborne wasn't able to attend today's British Chambers of Commerce conference, because he is at a meeting of G20 finance ministers. But he did send a video message, in which he said: "Our ambition should be to make Britain the best place to invest, the best place to grow a business, the best place to start a business, the best place to live out your economic opportunities. I think we have it within our grasp to make Britain the most prosperous major economy in the world in the coming generation. We can only do that if we're backing business, and with your help, I think we will reach that goal."

Tweets, external: In 2011 HMRC boss Dave Hartnett said "whole nation" probably knew, external it had HSBC data

Image source, Reuters

At the New Statesman's May2015.com election website, Harry Lambert says "the Conservatives have inadvertently leaked that they are not targeting 102 constituencies in the forthcoming general election". He focuses on five key marginal seats where he says David Cameron's party, external appear to have unofficially hoisted the white flag already - including Rochester and Strood, seat of Mark Reckless.

Proposals that would see drivers who commit offences in another EU country pursued for fines in their home country are expected to be passed by the European Parliament on Wednesday. The plans are backed by both the UK's Conservative and Labour groups in Strasbourg and would take effect in the UK by May 2017.

The World at One BBC Radio 4

As we've been reporting, Ed Balls has been talking about those HSBC tax claims and Labour's general relations with business. You can hear the whole interview here.

The World at One BBC Radio 4

Liam Fox has been speaking about the need for Nato to take action on the World at One. He said the West needed to "wake up" to the threat Russia poses. Listen to his full interview.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Jonathan Djanogly asks about wealthy Russian citizens who live in the UK.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says some Russians in the UK "live in fear of the long arm of the Russian regime" and MPs "should not tar them with the same brush". "We do not have a long-term disagreement with the people of Russia," he adds.

That brings the Ukraine statement to an end. You can follow everything going on in Parliament on our Westminster Live page.

The World at One BBC Radio 4

On the apparent "diary clash" which stopped Ed Miliband speaking to the British Chambers of Commerce, Ed Balls says presenter Shaun Ley is "scraping the barrel". He lists the business groups Mr Miliband has spoken to, and says he (Balls) has had the BCC event in his diary for months.

The World at One BBC Radio 4

Labour's Ed Balls says no allegations about HSBC being involved in advising people to evade tax were put to him or any other ministers during the last Labour government. He says the first time it was raised was when the whistleblower handed over the papers in 2010. He says it was "staggering" Lord Green could be appointed to government without anyone discussing whether it was appropriate given the ongoing allegations.

The Guardian

Responding to David Cameron's call for businesses to give staff a pay rise, Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins says the PM should have the "courage of his economic conviction" and do the same for the public sector, external. He suggests printing money and giving it to people rather than banks, as has happened under the quantitative easing programme.

The World at One BBC Radio 4

Business minister Matthew Hancock says it is "entirely appropriate" for ministers not to know the details of the tax affairs of individuals or individual firms, after the No 10 statement earlier that ministers did not know details about HSBC tax evasion claims.