Read the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's statement in full here, external.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Clive Efford says the health secretary needs to "change his attitude" in order to resolve the dispute with junior doctors.

Jeremy Hunt responds that "my attitude is very straight forward", adding he wants to make patients safe and that the government has been reasonable. 

The Conservative Party has announced changes to the inquiry into allegations that a youth organiser bullied a young activist who apparently took his own life.

The inquiry will now be conducted by law firm Clifford Chance LLP. In a statement following a meeting of the party's board to discuss the allegations, a party spokesman said:

Following the earlier pressure on Conservative chairman Lord Feldman, the party said "no party officials will be involved in this process, other than as witnesses" and crossbench peer Lord Pannick QC "has agreed to review the investigative process and to certify that it is objective, appropriate and comprehensive".

The statement also expressed the Board's "profound regret at the tragic death of Elliott Johnson and sends its deepest condolences to his family and friends".

Claims of bullying have centred around Mark Clarke, who denies any wrongdoing.

House of Commons
Parliament

Speaking to the Commons about the impending strike action of junior doctors, Jeremy Hunt says he has asked the BMA to help provide cover in emergency areas if they cannot find an alternative. He says they have not heard back yet, but hope an answer will come soon.

House of Commons
Parliament

Jeremy Hunt says he didn't rule out talks with Acas, rather he spoke privately with the head of the BMA to see if there was "enough common ground" and gave it time to "bear fruit". 

He says imposing a contract is only on hold during the period of negotiations, he says it has not been agreed permanently. He says the government has to balance the needs of patients, doctors and taxpayers and could not give a veto to one group.

He quotes Nye Bevan - the architect of the NHS - saying "being intemperate and unreasonable" is a quality he shares with other health ministers defending his actions.

He criticises his Labour shadow Heidi Alexander (above) for not speaking out against strikes, not supporting a seven day services and picking holes in mortality data. 

A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn has issued a statement following this afternoon's meeting of the Labour shadow cabinet.

The spokesman says the shadow cabinet "agreed to back Jeremy Corbyn's recommendation of a free vote" on bombing in Syria, as well as calls for David Cameron "to step back from the rush to war and hold a full two day debate in the House of Commons on such a crucial national decision". The spokesman adds:

House of Commons
Parliament

In response to Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander says she "welcomes" the health secretary's announcement.

She asks why it took so long for the health secretary to agree to talks with Acas which she says she proposed. She also asks what he is doing to stop "brain drain" as doctors leave the UK. 

She says "you cannot keep asking the NHS to do more for less" and criticises his handling of the issue.

She says she is prepared to work with him to "eradicate the weekend effect".

House of Commons
Parliament

Outlining contingency plans Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the planned strike action means 20,000 people may have planned operations cancelled including, cataracts, hip, gall bladder operations to name but a few. 

He says there would be a withdrawal of elective care and urgent and emergency care in order to free up consultants and beds. 

He says the BMA has not been "willing to provide assurances" to ask members to provide emergency cover in areas where patients are at risk.

He hopes the strike will be called off so talks can resume, but says it is "regrettable" strike action was called before the BMA saw the government's offer.

Vicki Young
Chief Political Correspondent

BBC chief political correspondent Vicki Young says she has been told that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did try to force the policy of opposition to air strikes in Syria but was forced to back down by shadow cabinet.

She's been told Jeremy Corbyn got a "thorough kicking".

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Shadow employment minister Emily Thornberry says she's not against the idea of extending bombing to Syria, but she is "not convinced" by David Cameron's plans and therefore cannot support them.

"I'm not a pacifist but I'm a pragmatist," she told BBC chief political correspondent Vicki Young, adding that the proposals put forward by the PM will "not work".

Commenting on the free vote that Labour MPs will be given, she says it's important that individuals MPs "should be allowed to follow their own consciences".

House of Commons
Parliament

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has just updated MPs on the contingency plans for tomorrow's junior doctors' strike over contract disagreements.

He said there is a "potential agreement" between the British Medical Association and the government, under the guidance of Acas.

After working "through the weekend" it was potentially agreed to resume negotiations, he says. The BMA would suspend strike action and the government would not proceed will implementing a contract. 

He says the BMA will decide later today whether they agree with the proposal. However strikes are currently still planned to start at midnight. 

Labour will offer its MPs a free vote. And senior sources have told BBC the party will not take an official position on opposing the bombing. The party's policy remains the resolution that was passed at conference.

Labour whip Conor McGinn has said he is "minded to support" air strikes following a briefing from Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.

He and two other Labour MPs requested the private briefing and he said he would encourage all MPs, particularly those from his party, to do the same.

He said the briefing had been "compelling" and "illustrative".

Image source, Reuters

Jeremy Corbyn is expected to grant Labour MPs a free vote on extending UK air strikes against so-called Islamic State into Syria, the BBC understands.

But the Labour leader is believed to want his party to take a position of opposition to military action.

Mr Corbyn has been meeting his shadow cabinet team, many of whom are likely to support air strikes.

It comes as David Cameron continues to try to build support for the extension of strikes from Iraq to Syria.

More here.