House of Commons
Parliament

As the King and Queen of Spain begin a three day visit to the UK, Tory MP Andrew Rosindell calls on the government to remind them "that Gibraltar is British".

Damian Green says the UK government will respect the status of Gibraltar and "the primacy of the wishes of its inhabitants".

And that brings an end to the session, which lasted about 41 minutes this week. Next week we have one final Theresa May v Jeremy Corbyn session, before the summer break.

House of Commons
Parliament

Damian Green wishes the outgoing leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, well.

With 74-year-old Sir Vince Cable tipped to succeed Mr Farron, Mr Green then jokes that the Lib Dems are following "the government's Fuller Working Lives policy," and providing "jobs for older workers".

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

The government will set out its policy on whether the UK remains part of Euratom - the pan European nuclear regulator - tomorrow.

It will publish a position paper on the future of the organisation.

The government is facing a likely revolt by some Tory MPs if the UK seeks to leave Euratom.

Ministers insist the UK must quit Euratom because it comes under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

The government has accused the media of publishing "alarmist stories" about risks of leaving Euratom.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Toby Perkins says Theresa May is absent from the Commons as she marks one year in power - and adds that her image has disappeared from the front page of the Conservative Party website.

He jokes that Mrs May has changed from "the next Iron Lady to The Lady Vanishes".

Damian Green replies that Mr Perkins, a critic of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, should "make peace with his own front bench" before attacking the Conservatives.

Brian Wheeler

The plan to abolish student debt was not in Labour's manifesto - that document committed to abolishing fees rather than clearing up debts already accrued.

So Damian Green's claim that there is a £100bn "black hole" in the party's student finance policy is not strictly true.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner - who was shouting across the chamber at Mr Green - has said it is her party's "ambition" to wipe student debt, although she said Labour would only do when it was affordable.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Rupa Huq says the government should follow Labour's manifesto commitment and abolish university tuition fees in England.

Damian Green alleges that there is a "£100bn black hole" in Labour's policy.

"Labour in this area were particularly incredible in the general election," he claims, adding that "misleading" students is a risky move.

"Just ask the Liberal Democrats," he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Dan Jarvis calls for a change in the law in England to provide for "presumed consent" on organ donations.

This would mean that deceased people's organs would be used for transplant unless they opt out, rather than opting in as is the case at present.

Damian Green says that he is pleased that over 23m people are on the organ donor register.

He adds that the Department of Health is considering "improvements" but does not commit to a presumed consent model.

House of Commons
Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford calls for confirmation that the government's Repeal Bill will not mean "a diminution of powers" for the devolved administrations.

Damian Green says that the UK government wants "to devolve more powers".

Mr Blackford says this should include powers repatriated from Brussels as a result of Brexit.

"I can only keep repeating the assurances that we've already given," Mr Green says, accusing the SNP of wanting London to give powers to Edinburgh, "so they can give them back to Brussels".

House of Commons
Parliament

Damian Green gets the final word, as is customary, and he uses it to remind Labour that the Tories got the most votes and the most seats and "won the election".

House of Commons
Parliament

Emily Thornberry says with 20 months to go to Brexit the government has to "get a grip" - and, she adds, "if the party opposite hasn't got the strength for the task then we have got to get rid of them".

Mr Green says he thinks there was a question somewhere in there. He says the government is being "practical and pragmatic," in contrast to Labour's shifiting position on Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

Tory MPs are "wasting their vocal chords' by trying to shout down Emily Thornberry, says the Speaker. She is undaunted saying that she knows Mr Green is "new to this" but she asks the questions.

David Davis, who seems to be enjoying the session as much as the stand-in Labour leader, is in fits of laughter of this.

Image source, HoC

House of Commons
Parliament

Damian Green says there will be a deal on Brexit because the government is approaching the talks in a positive frame of mind - and says it was in everyone's interests to get one.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Image source, HoC

"The Brexit secretary might be laughing but I'm turning to him next," jokes Emily Thornberry, at a tittering David Davis (above) as she lists the various viewpoints given by ministers recently on the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.

"Is there a contingency plan for no deal or isn't there?," she asks Damian Green.

A report from the OBR on fiscal risks is due to tomorrow, says Mr Green, who notes Ms Thornberry doesn't want to talk about falling unemployment.