The Daily Politics

Matt Hancock is quizzed by presenter Andrew Neil over how big are the surpluses in Sweden and Canada - two countries cited by the minister as examples of where the fiscal rule is already in place. "You tell me," comes his reply. Defending the policy, he says both countries were better prepared for the 2008 crash than the UK.

The Daily Politics

Ahead of George Osborne's speech at the annual Mansion House dinner in the City of London later, Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock is asked about the chancellor's proposal to require government to maintain a budget surplus when the economy is growing,

Mr Hancock says it will be an "overall surplus" in the British budget, which is "important" to make sure the country's finances are secure.

The Daily Politics

Asked about his views on e-cigs, government minister Matt Hancock says "we've got to look at the evidence of what works", and points out that public health England is looking into it.

Robert Peston
Economics editor

Image source, PA

George Osborne's move to enshrine in law the rule that governments would generate surpluses in all so-called "normal times" represents a significant shift to small "c" conservatism in the stewardship of the public finances, compared with the consensus of the last 70 years.

Typically governments have either had no such statutory rules at all, or have been subject to looser constraints. Read the full blog here.

The Daily Politics

Asked about the Welsh Government's plan to ban e-cigarette use in enclosed public places, Labour's Owen Smith says it "wouldn't be the first thing I'd do as health minister", but adds that he supports the "emphasis" on tackling public health issues. Would Labour look to do it in England, too? "We should look at whether further regulation is needed," he says, adding: "It's a reasonable question to ask."

House of Commons
Parliament

David Mundell opens the question session by paying tribute to Charles Kennedy saying he was a regular participant at Scottish Questions and he sends his personal condolences to Mr Kennedy's family.

SNP MP Roger Mullin asks whether there have been discussions with the chancellor about the effects of the next Budget on Scotland and follows up by asking about RBS branch closures.

Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell says he will take up Mr Mullin's concerns with RBS.

The Daily Politics

Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham got heckled at a hustings with union members yesterday over his failure to give a 'yes or no' answer to whether he supported the government's benefit cap.

Shadow Wales secretary Owen Smith is asked on Daily Politics whether Labour supports it or not? Yes, he says, it's "reasonable". But he goes on to brand it a "political stunt".

Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock says the suggestion it is a political tool is absurd, saying it's about fairness and making sure the welfare system is "affordable". Is £23,000 the limit until 2020? It's our policy "for the time being".

House of Commons
Parliament

The first session of Scotland Office questions of the new parliament is just starting in the Commons. 

With the SNP now boasting 56 MPs we can expect it to be a different affair to previous sessions. 

Today’s question topics include the impact of the next Budget on Scotland and the potential effect on Scotland of full fiscal autonomy.

Carole Walker
Political correspondent

Labour is demanding new changes to the government's EU Referendum Bill. They would require the government to publish independent assessments from the Office of Budget Responsibility and the Bank of England on the consequences of the UK leaving the EU, at least 10 weeks before the referendum is held.

The Labour Party has put down fresh amendments to the EU Bill, which will be considered at later stages as the bill proceeds through the House.

A party spokesman said it was important that independent views were set out for the public.

Labour is also demanding that 16 and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote and that the EU referendum is not held on the same date as other elections.

BBC News Channel

Shadow chancellor Chris Leslie gives his reaction to George Osborne's new fiscal rule proposal. In principle he's OK with it, saying "no-one" would disagree with achieving a surplus "if the economic circumstances allow".

But he claims it's a "distraction technique" by the chancellor, pointing out that there a £74bn deficit remains for him to deal with. What is he going to cut and how can he explain the "unfunded promises" made during the election, he asks.

Victoria Derbyshire

Back to his interview earlier, the most recent Home Affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz was asked why migrants were trying to come to the UK. He says they want to "work illegally" as "they find us the most attractive place to work". He says it's "too late" to deal with the problem in Calais, arguing that the Italian and Spanish governments need to better control their borders to stop people getting into the EU first of all.

Image source, PA

There will be no immediate response to the final report of the commission looking at airport expansion, government sources say.

The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, is expected to publish its final report this summer.

It has shortlisted three options: a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow or building a second runway at Gatwick.

The Financial Times, external reports there will be no decision until Christmas.

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said government sources had told him ministers would take "some time" to consider Sir Howard's findings.

Read more

The Daily Politics

Conservative MP and former deputy Speaker Nigel Evans was arrested in 2013 on suspicion of rape and sexual assault. He denied the charges and was found not guilty at trial, but his experiences have led him to campaign for anonymity for those accused of rape. 

In a personal film, the MP lists other famous names who faced publicity after being named in connection with alleged sex crimes, but were later released without charge. 

He said: "There is no absolutely no appreciation at all for the awful trauma the accused faces." 

Mr Evans will debate this film on Wednesday's Daily Politics, after PMQs, with fellow MPs Matt Hancock and Owen Smith.

Victoria Derbyshire

Labour MP Keith Vaz - who chaired the Home Affairs Committee in the last Parliament - says he has "huge sympathy" with British lorry drivers having to deal with migrants trying to get to Britain from Calais.

"It shows that this problem happens outside our borders, in the EU, and the way to tackle it is to work with the French and Frontex to make sure they do their jobs effectively."

He acknowledges that the UK government has spent £12m on security in Calais. But he says more needs to be done in Europe.

Brian Wheeler

Image source, Science Photo Library

Unemployment is being "rebranded" by the government as a psychological disorder, a new study claims.

Those that do not exhibit a "positive" outlook must undergo "reprogramming" or face having their benefits cut, says the Wellcome Trust-backed report, external.

This can be "humiliating" for job seekers and does not help them find suitable work, the researchers say.

But the Department for Work and Pensions said there was no evidence to back up the "highly misleading" claims. Read more here.

Victoria Derbyshire

What did jail teach you? That a lot of people are in there for non-violent crimes "that don't need to be in there", MacShane says.

On the proposed 10% pay rise for MPs, MacShane says he "doesn't really want to go there" but pressed further he appears to indicate they should take it. He also recommends a retirement age of 65 for MPs.

MacShane, 65, was a Labour MP for 18 years and served as Europe minister under Tony Blair between 2002 and 2005.