House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Sir Desmond Swayne asks how MPs will spend their time if the Speaker decides not to accept the "ridiculous and impertinent amendments" to the bill triggering Article 50.

David Lidington replies that the Speaker will be spared this task as it is the role of the Chairman of Ways and Means, Lindsay Hoyle to select amendments.

Another significant upgrading of the growth forecasts suggests that Brexit is only one factor affecting the UK - but the Bank still believes the economy faces significant risks.

Image source, Getty Images

As analysts were expecting, the Bank of England has decided to keep interest rates on hold following a meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee.

It said that the rate would remain at 0.25% - the level to which it was cut last August in a bid to avert a slowdown in the economy after the Brexit vote.

August's cut from 0.5% was the first time the bank had changed interest rates since 2009, in the midst of the financial crisis.

Image source, Getty Images

The Bank of England says it expects UK GDP to grow at 2% in 2017 - up from a previous estimate in November of 1.4%. 

The change suggests Britain's decision to leave the EU could affect the economy less severely than many economists thought. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Leader of the House David Lidington announces the business in the Commons for the next few weeks.

He tells MPs that on Monday 20 February there will be a debate in Westminster Hall on petitions relating to a state visit by Donald Trump. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Baroness McIntosh of Pickering asks a final Brexit question, on whether a free trade agreement, single market membership or customs union membership is best for the UK.

Lord Bridges says the government seeks "the greatest possible barrier-free trade with the European Union" but adds: "We are not going to publish anything that might harm our negotiating position."

Two contrasting views of the future follow, as Baroness Kramer of the Liberal Democrats argues that no deal with United States will make up for leaving the single market.

But UKIP's Lord Pearson of Rannoch claims the single market has been of no benefit to the UK and other EU nations "need our free trade much more than we need theirs".

Read more on the possible different trade relationships here.

BBC News Channel

Senior Labour MP Louise Ellman says she did what she thought was right by defying the party whip to vote against the Brexit bill.

The Liverpool Riverside MP, who chairs the Commons transport committee, was among 47 Labour rebels to oppose the European Union Bill last night.

She told the BBC:

Asked whether she believed Labour MPs who defied the party's leadership should be sacked, Mrs Ellman commented that was a matter for Jeremy Corbyn.

But she added that the Labour leader had a track record of voting against the party whip "about 400 times" and saw this as "a badge of honour".

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Lord Spicer asks what date Article 50 will be invoked, beginning the process of leaving the EU.

Brexit minister Lord Bridges reminds peers that the government has set a target of triggering Article 50 by the end of March and "we remain committed to that timetable".

Perhaps trying to head off any attempts to amend or frustrate the Article 50 bill once it arrives from the Commons, Lord Spicer asks: "Is there very much left for this House to do except give the bill safe passage?"

Lord Bridges thinks there is "a considerable amount for this House to do".

Last night, MPs voted by a majority of 384 to allow Theresa May to get Brexit negotiations under way. The bill faces further Commons debate before peers get to consider it.

Another Conservative, Lord Forsyth, suggests that MPs who put their personal views aside to back the bill in line with the referendum result are "an example to us all".

House of Commons
Parliament

Transport Committee Chair and Labour MP Louise Ellman welcomes the statement but asks if it is really possible to increase air travel whilst tackling air pollution problems.

Chris Grayling argues that expansion is possible within air quality rules.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP for Twickenham Tania Mathias accuses the government of "doing its work backwards",

How can the consultation end without any legal plans to address "critical air and noise pollution levels"? she asks.

Chris Grayling replies that it is impossible to take a decision such as this without there being "impacts". 

He tries to assure her that the government will seek to minimise adverse consequences. 

House of Commons
Parliament

The decision is also welcomed by the SNP's transport spokesman Drew Hendy.

However he says a new runway will "be meaningless" unless the UK maintains membership of the Open Skies agreement.

The agreement removes restrictions over which airlines are allowed to fly transatlantic routes, as well as allowing US airlines to fly between EU airports and allowing EU airlines to fly from the US to non-EU countries.

Chris Grayling says this will be a subject for negotiation but adds that UK planes flew to Europe before the EU existed. 

Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Mandelson has been awarded France's higest honour at French ambassador Sylvie Bermann’s official residence in London.

The French embassy tweeted a picture of the pro-EU former trade commissioner last night with the Legion d’Honneur medal pinned to his double-breasted suit, posing with the ambassador in front of French and EU flags.

The Daily Mail reports, external that Lord Mandelson declined to say why he was given the accolade, adding it was "a matter for the French embassy". However, he said the citation was "six pages long".

The honour, the paper says, is usually reserved for those who have given great service to further the interests of the French.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald is pleased that a decision has been made "after years of dither and delay".

He says it is a "tough decision" but that the "benefits are huge".

However, he notes that there are outstanding issues including how the UK can meet his climate change objectives and mitigate local noise.

He also urges the government to make maintaining membership of the European aviation agency "an absolute priority".

House of Commons
Parliament

Chris Grayling welcomes the "supportive comments" of his opposite number.

On the European aviation agency, he says the government has not reached a "definitive position" yet.

On the UK's climate change obligations, he says that one of the benefits of Heathrow will be a reduction in the number of planes "stacking" over the south of England "using up more fuel".

According to Politics Home, Labour veteran Diane Abbott will not return to work this week after a migraine attack caused her to miss last night's crunch Article 50 vote.

Critics have suggested the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP may have decided to deliberately avoid the vote.  

But a spokesman for Ms Abbott told Politics Home the shadow home secretary was ill, and would not be returning to work until next week.

House of Commons
Parliament

Chris Grayling also announces that there will be a second consultation on UK airspace policy.

The consultation on this and the Heathrow expansion will last for 16 weeks.

He tells MPs that Parliament will be able to scrutinise the draft airports national policy statement and that there will be an opportunity to vote for the final statement in winter 2017/18.

House of Commons
Parliament

Over the last 70 years the UK has failed to build the airport capacity needed, Chris Grayling tells MPs.

He warns that unless action is taken, every airport in London will be entirely full by 2050. Not expanding is not a choice, he says. 

He argues that a new runway will create new global connections, thousands of jobs, and reduced fares for passengers. 

He says that £2.6bn will be used to mitigate the effects of expansion on the local communities.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, NATS

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling now begins his statement on airport capacity.

The government is today publishing details about the proposed expansion of Heathrow.

A 16-week consultation setting out planning and infrastructure proposals is being launched.

In October 2016 the government announced that building a third runway at Heathrow was its preferred option for expanding airport capacity.

Victoria Derbyshire

A lot of people are waiting to hear more about Labour shadow home secretary Diane Abbott's decision not to vote for the Brexit Bill, BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith says.

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP - one of Jeremy Corbyn's closest political allies and part of his inner sanctum - failed to attend last night's vote, with colleagues saying "she was ill, she had a migraine, she went home", he said.

Norman says her non-attendance at the vote matters and if it was a decision "to defy her leader" would "suggest a split" reaching into Jeremy Corbyn's inner circle".

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was not in parliament when MPs voted to allow the PM to trigger Article 50 and begin the Brexit process. 

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told the Today programme "she wasn't very well" but that her absence was not down to "Brexit flu".