Iain Watson
Political correspondent

The prime minister has tonight sought to reassure some Conservative MPs who oppose any plans to allow the creation of new grammar schools in England.

Addressing a meeting of Conservative MPs, Theresa May made it clear that she would not “turn the clock back” to an era when children up and down the country were separated aged 11 on the basis of academic ability.

But she also pointed out that selection still exists in the system - not just in areas such as Kent and Trafford in Greater Manchester which still have grammar schools -  and, as she put it, there's selection by house price where people often pay more to live in areas with outstanding schools.

Supporters of grammar schools were pleased that she seemed to be signalling that there could be an expansion in areas where there is a demand for them and that a prohibition on new schools might well be lifted.

But opponents were also satisfied that she wasn’t advocating a radical policy of a grammar school in every town, or imposing them where they weren't wanted.

Here's a recap of what's been making the news in politics today:

• Theresa May said the UK could become "the global leader in free trade" as she faced calls to clarify the government's post-Brexit vision
• Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn focused on housing costs as he took on Theresa May in the first Prime Minister's Questions since the summer recess
• Bank of England Governor Mark Carney claims the chances of a UK recession have receded due to its actions
• The Lib Dems say the British public should have a chance to vote on government plans for the UK to leave the EU
• The UK should stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia while Saudi actions in neighbouring Yemen are investigated, a draft report by MPs has said.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, Getty Images

A little earlier in today's debate, Conservative MP for Wells James Heappey praised the government's commitment to ratifying the Paris Agreement but said there were areas in which its policy was "not quite so clear".

He described new nuclear as the only form of energy which can "meet our base-load needs".

"We have to take a decision now," he urged, "and put Hinkey forward at the first possible opportunity."

Plans to build the first new UK nuclear plant in 20 years were unexpectedly delayed after the government postponed a final decision until the early autumn.  

Sean Curran
Parliamentary correspondent

Labour sources have made it clear that Jeremy Corbyn thinks the UK's Brexit negotiations should aim to secure "full access to the single market" in goods and services.

But a spokesman for the Labour leader said Mr Corbyn had campaigned against aspects of the single market and would oppose a deal that included "aspects of the existing architecture" that were damaging to working people and public services.

Asked if Jeremy Corbyn wanted the UK to remain a full member of the EU single market the spokesman said there was a question about what "membership of the single market" actually meant.  

Select Committee
Parliament

Poland's foreign and interior ministers have visited the UK to raise concerns over racism against Polish nationals in the wake of the EU referendum, the home secretary says.

Image source, HoC

Responding to a question from Labour's David Winnick about hate crime incidents, Amber Rudd said she and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnston met the Polish ministers this week.

She adds that they were reassured that the government is taking the matter seriously.

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's David Winnick has the final question and asks about incidents of hate crimes since the EU referendum.

Amber Rudd confirms that there was a spike after the vote but that levels have now returned to levels comparable to last year.

And with that Tim Loughton adjourns the sitting.

Select Committee
Parliament

Tim Loughton says the final line of questioning will focus on prostitution and notes that there are no declarations of interest.

David Burrowes asks what the home secretary's views are on buying sex from prostitutes.

She replies that it is a complicated issue and would like to consider it further before giving a full answer.

She adds she does have concerns about the current legislation.

House of Lords
Parliament

The committee stage is when a lot of the legislative leg work is done in the House of Lords.

A bill is put through detailed line-by-line examination and scrutiny. For major and complex legislation is considered in a committee of the whole House – like today.

All proposed amendments can be considered, and debate on amendments is unrestricted. 

Amendments are rarely put to a vote as there as still two more legislative stages to go before the bill completes its journey through the Lords.

If the bill is passed at committee stage the legislation moves on to report stage, where similar detailed scrutiny also takes place.

Image source, AFP

Theresa May is set to use a breakfast meeting on Thursday with European Council President Donald Tusk to stress that Britain will play a full role in the EU until it leaves.

It will be Mrs May's first meeting with Mr Tusk since she became prime minister - the pair met before at a summit in Valletta, when she was home secretary.

But this meeting at Downing Street is being billed as an attempt for them to get to know each other ahead of negotiations over Brexit.

Mrs May and Mr Tusk will discuss the agenda of the next summit in October, along with migration, Russian sanctions, the Ukraine and trade.

The PM will chair the cabinet sub committee on Brexit later that day focusing on trade.

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative James Berry asks if "something is amiss" when hundreds of police officers are scouring the internet for extremist material whilst social media sites make money from providing the platform.

Amber Rudd says such companies should do more and that she would like to see an industry regulated board similar to one established on child exploitation.

Mr Berry tells her that his suggestion that social media sites should pay for police time did not go down very well.

Select Committee
Parliament

Prevent is part of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, aimed at stopping people from being drawn into or supporting terrorism.

It includes measures to stop "apologists for terrorism" coming to the UK, supporting community campaigns that oppose extremism and provide mentoring for individuals "at risk" of becoming involved in terrorist activity.

Image source, Reuters

The strategy covers "all forms" of terrorism, including far-right extremism.

But it has been heavily criticised, including by the Muslim Council of Britain, which said it had "really failed", particularly on engaging with young Muslims.

Labour's Chuka Umunna, chair of Vote Leave Watch, says working people "benefit enormously" from Britain's place in the European Single Market, through rights to equal pay, regular rest breaks and equal treatment for agency workers.

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers now move to the day's main legislating - the penultimate day of committee stage scrutiny on the Investigatory Powers Bill.

This is the latest bill aimed at giving the security services and the police up-to-date powers to monitor activity on the internet.

The bill aims to secure and update the powers contained in the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIPA), which only made it through Parliament after a clause was added to make it expire at the end of December.

The bill has to be passed before the DRIPA expires otherwise the legal authority for the existing powers will lapse - although there's always the option, in extremis, of passing an emergency mini-bill to continue the existing powers for a couple of months.

House of Lords
Parliament

Former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling criticises the campaign to Leave the EU for not putting forward any plans for what should happen after Brexit.

The Labour peer warns the UK is "never going to get anywhere" until the government sets out its plans for Brexit.

He calls on the government to give a date by which it will "set out its stall" so "we can have the proper debate in this country that we missed out on two months ago".

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park reiterates Theresa May's comment that the government "will not be giving a running commentary", adding it would be "inappropriate to set out timelines". 

"We want the best deal, not the quickest one."