House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Mr Javid claims the situation reached a "nadir" during the last Labour government when, in one year, work only began on 95,000 homes.

That comment is met with jeers from the Labour benches. 

House of Commons
Parliament

The main problem in the housing market is relatively simple, Mr Javid tells MPs, and that is for "too long we have not built enough houses". 

Housebuilding levels, in relation to population size, have been the lowest in western Europe for three decades. 

Nicola Sturgeon tells the NFU Scotland conference that it is "vital" that powers over farming are held at Holyrood.

The organisers of the Washington Women's March against Donald Trump are planning to hold a women's strike.

Sajid Javid starts with a joke about the Bercow-Trump row, saying he hoped that the White Paper would dominate the morning's headlines but, addressing the Speaker, says "someone else seems to have beaten me to it".

The Speaker responds in kind, remarking at least that he made his announcement about the US President to Parliament first - a reference to the numerous leaks of the White Paper and Mr Javid's appearance on media outlets this morning.

The exchange ends with Mr Bercow expressing satisfaction that Mr Javid is in "such fine fettle" and Mr Javid responding by saying "touche". 

House of Commons
Parliament

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Communities Secretary Sajid Javid gets to his feet to make a statement on the government’s housing strategy.

The government has promised a new emphasis on people who rent their homes and plans for minimum tenancies.

Ministers say the proposals seek to encourage more investment in building homes for affordable rent.

Proposals also includes forcing councils to plan for their local housing needs and giving them powers to pressure developers to start building on land they own.  

Former minister Nick Boles, who is currently receiving treatment for cancer, has said he will be in the Commons on Tuesday to show his support for the government over the Article 50 bill on beginning the Brexit process. 

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Select Committee
Parliament

At the trade committee, Lord Marland points out that he is hosting the "first ever" meeting of trade ministers from Commonwealth countries next month.

Asked whether the Commonwealth might be able to create a free trade area of its own, he suggests this could be rather difficult because of the different interests and economic status of the 52 countries.

However, he says there is a great opportunity for the UK government to spearhead closer trade co-operation across the organisation and, to begin with, to "rebuild" its alliance with countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Dr Mohammed Razzaque, Head of International Trade Policy at the Commonwealth Secretariat, says there is a major obstacle to a Commonwealth free trade area and that is that Malta and Cyprus are both members of the Commonwealth and the EU - and are already bound by the latter's rules. 

Just a reminder that we are expecting Communities Secretary Sajid Javid to set out the government's new housing strategy in the Commons from 12:30 GMT.

You'll be able to watch the statement - and questions that follow - live on this page as well as follow text commentary and reaction.

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A fintech trade body says Brexit uncertainty has led to a "dramatic decrease" in venture capital investment.

It is only appropriate that AMs express their view on the triggering of Article 50 by the UK government, Plaid Cymru's Steffan Lewis says.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, House of Commons

There is a changing of the guard at the International Trade Committee.

The MPs have finished their questions for Lord Jones and the other witnesses and the focus now moves onto UK trade relations with the Commonwealth.

Among those now giving evidence is Conservative peer Lord Marland, chair of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, who was also David Cameron's trade envoy during the coalition government. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, House of Commons

Business should have been consulted more before government embarked on the Brexit process, Lesley Batchelor from the Institute of Export and International Trade tells MPs.

There is a need for more "rational" thinking in Whitehall, she suggests.