The Prison Governors Association has called on the government to set up an independent public inquiry into the state of prisons in England and Wales.

It follows what the association describes as an "unprecedented" rise in violence and suicides in prisons.

The association's members voted unanimously for a public inquiry at the body's annual conference in Derby.

Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss last week promised an extra £14m to recruit more prison officers.

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Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Gavin Shuker is quizzing Mr Corbyn about measures for tackling intimidation or harassment of women in the party.

Mr Corbyn says such abuse and trolling is "disgusting" and he's "determined" to tackle it. 

Reuters

According to Reuters, Prime Minister Theresa May always wanted Parliament to play "an important role" in Britain's departure from the European Union - and her agreement to demands for a "full and transparent" debate in the chamber reflects that, her spokeswoman said.

Coverage of Wednesday at the Northern Ireland Assembly, as Minister Peter Weir briefs Education Committee Stormont's Public Accounts Committee on pre-school special schools and post-primary transfer.

Select Committee
Parliament

Jess Phillips accuses the Conservatives of having no strategy to boost female representation.

Party chair Sir Patrick McLoughlin says the prime minister takes "a very direct interest" and the party board is looking at research on different seats with the 1922 committee, external. 

"The strategy is to get women into winnable seats," he adds. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Jess Phillips refers to the number of female MPs her party stands to lose under the boundary review and expresses concern "we will be going backwards". 

There's a sharp exchange as Jeremy Corbyn talks about objections to the review and Ms Phillips says: "Let's assume it's going ahead." 

He tells her he's open to the idea of all-women shortlists. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn begins with a challenge to the committee, saying he hopes it will take evidence from women as well, as it seems strange to have "four white men" being interviewed. 

Conservative chair of the committee Maria Miller shoots back: "With respect, that's your fault not ours." 

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative Flick Drummond asks why progress is so slow on ensuring the representation of women in Parliament. 

Chair of the Conservatives Sir Patrick McLoughlin agrees progress has been slow but says changing sitting hours may be making a difference.

Select Committee
Parliament

The Women and Equalities Committee will shortly start taking evidence as part of its inquiryinto women in the House of Commons after the 2020 election

The witnesses today are:

• Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats
• Sir Patrick McLoughlin, chair of the Conservative Party
• Angus Robertson, leader of the SNP at Westminster 
• Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party

Here's Labour's motion on Brexit in full...

Signed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and new shadow chief whip Nick Brown, among others, it states: "That this House recognises that leaving the EU is the defining issue facing the UK; believes that there should be a full and transparent debate on the Government's plan for leaving the EU; and calls on the prime minister to ensure that this House is able properly to scrutinise that plan for leaving the EU before Article 50 is invoked."

An amendment has been tabled by SNP MPs, including former leader Alex Salmond, which says: "At end add 'and that any scrutiny also involves all of the devolved administrations which will see a significant effect on their areas of competence.'"

A further amendment in the name of the prime minister, chancellor, home secretary and foreign secretary, among others, states: "At end add '; and believes that the process should be undertaken in such a way that respects the decision of the people of the UK when they voted to leave the EU on 23 June and does not undermine the negotiating position of the Government as negotiations are entered into which will take place after Article 50 has been triggered.'"

Image source, PA

Weak pay growth in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU is set to reduce the increase to the National Living Wage by 10p, the Resolution Foundation forecasts.

The think tank now expects the rate to rise to £7.50 an hour next year.

That would still mean an annual pay rise of up to £600 for full-time staff.

The National Living Wage, which was introduced in April, currently stands at £7.20 per hour for workers aged 25 and over.

About 4.5 million workers are expected to benefit from the increase - with the amount dependent on how many hours they work.

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Victoria Derbyshire

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith has expanded on the government's reasons for allowing the Labour-initiated debate on Brexit today.

He said in normal times "the government would put a thick red pen through the Labour motion", but instead it has accepted it but with the proviso that there should be nothing that compromises its negotiations.

Norman says ministers are trying to avoid the possibility of a revolt by some of its own MPs. 

He says the issue is the first real tension over Brexit "and it's over the role of Parliament and whether MPs should have a vote" on the decision for the UK to leave the EU.

Lord Heseltine says the UK's skills shortage is a serious problem - and if it was up to him he would start industrial strategy in primary schools.

He told MPs the UK would never be a world-beating economy unless young people were better educated.

And he called for "much bigger devolution to the people who know where the [failing] schools are".

On improving literacy and numeracy, he added: "We need it across the country and we need it yesterday."

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Image source, Heatherwick Studio

David Cameron personally intervened to approve extra taxpayer funding for London's controversial Garden Bridge project, it has emerged.

The former prime minister did so against advice from officials, an investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) found.

The NAO said nearly £23m of taxpayer money was now at risk of being lost.

Transport Minister Lord Ahmad said the government remained supportive of the project.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has ordered a full review of the proposals for the Thames river crossing.

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