House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Nigel Evans says businesses in the UK focus on the Chinese market "for obvious reasons".

However, he says, Taiwan has a "vibrant economy" and adds that British business who ignore Taiwan "are missing a trick". 

Minister Greg Hands agrees and say the government is "working hard" to remove "the remaining few barriers" to trade

House of Commons
Parliament

Has the minister heard of "Canzuk"? asks Conservative Michael Fabricant.

He explains that it is a proposed trade partnership between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

International Trade Minister Greg Hands replies that the government is "enthusiastic" for UK trade with Canada.

He also questions the Labour frontbench's opposition to CETA - the proposed trade deal between the EU and Canada. 

Despite the frontbench's opposition, Labour MPs voted 85 votes to 68 to support the deal.

Labour's John Spellar asks the minister if we can't do a deal with Canada "who the hell can we do a deal with?"

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, PA

Chair of the Culture Committee Damian Collins asks how the government will tackle football clubs who do not meet accessibility standards.

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch replies that the government cannot take legal action against such clubs.

She says that is the responsibility of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. 

She adds that if they wanted to take legal actions they would have the government's full support.

On the subject of football, there's a debate in the Commons later on today, on the governance of the FA.

Victoria Derbyshire

Victoria Derbyshire

Former refugee Lord Dubs has accused the government of going "back on their word" by closing a key route into the UK for children caught up in Europe's migrant crisis.

In a written ministerial statement, the Home Office said it would stop receiving children via the so-called Dubs amendment at the end of March.

The law, designed by peer and former refugee Lord Dubs, aimed to help some of the estimated 90,000 unaccompanied migrant children across Europe.

Lord Dubs told BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "I'm bitterly, bitterly disappointed - there's absolutely no need for this.

"The government have gone back on their word."

The peer said the measure has been "stopped for very poor reasons", with claims that local authorities are not able, not willing or haven't got the money to find foster parents to look after these children.

But Lord Dubs claimed he had received emails from foster parents willing to take in child refugees.

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's culture spokesman John Nicholson tells MPs that some companies in the creative industries have workforces made up of 40% EU nationals. 

He says they are now in limbo and asks what reassurances she can give to such companies.

Karen Bradley replies that the government wants to get an early settlement on the rights of EU nationals. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow culture secretary Tom Watson praises the "stylish men and women on the frontbench" and suggests they could all be models for London Fashion Week.

Except the member for Reading, he adds.

That's MP Rob Wilson, by the way, who didn't take the slur to heart...

Mr Watson goes on to ask how the intellectual property rights of fashion designers will be protected when the UK leaves the EU.

Karen Bradley replies that these rights will be protected under the Great Repeal Bill.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Chris Matheson asks when the government will make an announcement on the future of Channel 4.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley replies that she wants Channel 4 to have "a strong and secure future" and adds that the government is considering "a broad range of options" through a government review. 

Chris Matheson urges her to put the review "out of its misery" and declare that "Channel 4 works well and will not be privatised".

Conservative David Nuttall however argues that Channel 4 undermines competition and calls on the government to sell it off.

"We need to make sure we get this right," says Karen Bradley.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, PA

After yesterday's historic vote, its a slightly calmer day for MPs.

We start with questions to the Culture Secretary Karen Bradley and then to International Trade Secretary Liam Fox. 

Home Affairs Committee Chair Yvette Cooper will then ask an urgent question on the closure of the Dubs programme for unaccompanied child refugees.

At approximately 11:30am, Leader of the House David Lidington will set out the business for the next few weeks.

The afternoon will be taken up with two backbenchers' debates. The first is on Isareli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, the second concerns the governance of the Football Association

Victoria Derbyshire

Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis' decision to quit the Labour front bench over Brexit "has led people to think Jeremy Corbyn is vunerable", BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith has said.

He claims there is "considerable disquiet in the party" about Mr Corbyn's handling of the Brexit debate.

"A lot of Labour folk believe that Mr Corbyn has taken the wrong approach to Brexit by backing Mrs May's bill," he said.

And he pointed to a tweet by Labour life peer Stewart Smith, which appeared to mock the Labour leader's claim that the "real fight starts now".

House of Commons
Parliament

09:30 - Culture Questions 

10:30 - Urgent question by Labour's Yvette Cooper on the closure of the programme to welcome child refugees under the Dubs Amendment 

11:15 approx - Business Questions 

12:00 approx - Debates on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, then Governance of the Football Association.

Victoria Derbyshire

Government circles are toning down suggestions that the House of Lords could be abolished if peers try to block the Brexit bill, BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith has said.

He said last night's vote to trigger Article 50, which was approved by 494 votes to 122 in the Commons, had given Theresa May a "stonking great majority" which should make the bill's passage through the Lords easier.

But he said claims that peers would be signing their own death warrant if they seek to oppose the bill risked "fueling opposition" in the House of Lords.

Instead the message is the government understands that peers have a legitimate right to debate the issue.

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump's state visit to the UK, which could take place in June, is likely to cost millions of pounds to police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said.

Speaking on LBC, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner said there were already "some concerns" about potential protests, but that assessments were continuing.

The resignation of shadow business secretary Clive Lewis to vote against the Brexit bill was "not a disaster", Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said.

The party backed the government in Wednesday's vote, but 52 MPs rebelled.

Mr Lewis quit, saying he could not "in all conscience" support triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, getting talks with the EU under way.

But Mr Corbyn told the BBC Labour had been right to "respect" the result of last year's EU referendum.

And he added that Donald Trump "should not be coming to the UK", after it was announced recently that the US president had been invited to make a state visit later this year.

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Wales needs to keep borrowing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) after Brexit, the finance Secretary will say.