House of Commons
Parliament

Following interventions from HS2 critics on his own benches, including Buckinghamshire MP Cheryl Gillan, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says he understands there are "people for whom this project is bad news".

He urges MPs to bring their concerns to him, promising that "where an injustice is being done" ministers will "do everything in our power to try and sort it out".

This includes "mitigation compensation" in some cases, he adds.

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Lib Dem former leader Lord Steel of Aikwood focuses on the bill's implications for devolution, which he says "sweeps up the entirety of EU law and puts it beyond the control" of devolved institutions.

He says it "cuts across the principle" that powers should be devolved to Scotland unless they are specifically reserved.

He describes the bill as it stands as "unsatisfactory".

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Former Labour Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer says it is not for peers to "thwart Brexit" but they should be willing to "amend this bill extensively".

Although he says the bill is necessary to ensure an orderly exit from the EU, he says it denies Parliament a "meaningful vote" on the final deal and gives "unnecessarily wide" powers to ministers.

He places "particular importance" on ensuring a "meaningful vote" for the Commons on the final agreement, he adds.

For him, this means a vote to "mandate the direction of the negotiations" before a deal is finalised.

This includes giving the Commons the power to instruct the government to pursue a "Norway-style deal" even if ministers prefer a "Canada-style" relationship, he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

A lot of the debate so far has centred on delegated powers created by the bill.

The government plans to enact its "corrections" to the statute book using what are known as Henry VIII powers, after the Statute of Proclamations 1539 which gave him the power to legislate by proclamation.

These do not involve the usual parliamentary scrutiny process, which has prompted opposition parties to protest that ministers are being handed "sweeping powers" to make hasty, ill thought-out legislation.

Ministers have attempted to reassure critics by saying such measures will be time-limited and not used to make policy changes.

In total, the government estimates that 800 to 1,000 measures called statutory instruments will be required to make sure the bill functions properly.

Read more.

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Second reading of the EU Withdrawal Bill, external resumes with a speech from Lord Bridges of Headley, until recently a Brexit minister.

The bill repeals the European Communities Act and writes EU law into UK law.

Second reading is a chance for peers to debate the general principles of a bill.

He says peers' concerns about the bill "can be boiled down to two words - parliamentary sovereignty".

He confesses as a minister he "struggled" with some aspects of the bill, saying he's convinced the delegated powers should be limited and have a sunset clause.

He then launches into a direct critique of how the government is conducting negotiations, saying the last four months have brought "no clear answers to critical questions" and we are looking at "a gang plank into thin air".

"All we hear are conflicting confusing voices" and if this goes on "how can the prime minister negotiate clear heads of terms?" he asks.

Image source, HS2

The government is planning a new high-speed rail network, from London to Birmingham and to Manchester and Leeds, known as HS2.

Ministers say it will improve the transport network and boost the economy, but there has been controversy about the exact route of the line and its effect on those living near it.

Here are the key points that we know so far.

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Parliament

MPs are now getting stuck into the second reading debate on the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill.

As the title suggests, the bill contains legal powers and provisions to construct and maintain a high speed rail line between the West Midlands and Crewe, to form part of the HS2 project.

Phase One of HS2 involves the construction of a line between London and the West Midlands and this bill will allow for Phase 2.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says the bill brings the government "a step closer to delivering a brand new high speed line all the way to Manchester".

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Liberal Democrat Baroness Hussein-Ece asks what steps the government are taking to protect women who work in the events industry, following reports of harassment at the now defunct Presidents Club charity dinner.

Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford says the government takes all forms of sexual harassment seriously, which are illegal under the Equality Act 2010.

The government is looking at all aspects of the events which are alleged to have taken place at the dinner, she adds, and the Charity Commission is looking at how fundraising events are conducted.

Baroness Hussein-Ece says that women were required to "sign away" their rights to discuss sexual misconduct at the charity dinner. She asks how these women can be made aware of their rights.

Baroness Williams says that non-disclosure agreements may sometimes form a legitimate part of a contract of employment but these are used for trade secrets, and cannot be used against cases of sexual harassment under the Equality Act.

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Image source, RBG KEW

In the Commons, the Conservative Zac Goldsmith turns everyone's attention to the natural world.

He introduces a bill to expand the government's powers over the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, to "include the power to grant a lease in respect of land for a period of up to 150 years".

The MP for RIchmond Park describes Kew Gardens as a "priceless asset".

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It's Brexit again on the second question with the Liberal Democrat Baroness Walmsley asking who is negotiating leaving the EU and who they are reporting back to.

Brexit Minister Lord Callanan replies that negotiations are being undertaken by the Brexit Secretary David Davis and his team.

But Baroness Walmsley says the Prime Minister has shifted negotiations away from David Davis to a "competent" civil servant. She asks how the government will achieve controls but avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland.

Lord Callanan says the Secretary of State and Prime Minister are doing an excellent job and that the government will avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland.

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Like its predecessor, Disability Living Allowance, the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has two components: a daily living component and a mobility component.

Labour MP Clive Betts asks whether the review of PIP will consider whether people in receipt of only one component might be entitled to both components, and whether people on the lower rate could be intitled to the higher rate.

Work and Pensions Minister Sarah Newton says the government intends to "fully implement the findings" of the court and will be looking at all 1.6m claimants.

Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Stephen Lloyd says: "The attempt by the government to prevent those with mental health issues receiving the higher mobility rate was nothing but a shoddy attempt by the government to save money."

He asks Ms Newton if she is "proud" of the government's role. The minister asks why the Lib Dem MP is not proud of welfare reforms undertaken by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government.

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UKIP's Lord Pearson of Rannoch is asking about the BBC's coverage of Brexit against its charter and guidelines.

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Minister Lord Ashton of Hyde says the BBC is operationally and editorially independent of government, and is subject to the Ofcom broadcasting code to make sure news is unbiased.

Lord Pearson quotes the Brexit Secretary David Davis as saying that the BBC's reporting is undermining his work in negotiations in Brussels. He asks if the BBC will consider a programme on the benefits of Brexit.

Lord Ashton says the Royal Charter has made the BBC independent, and that it is important that ministers do not get involved in the conduct and independence of the BBC.

There is a complaints procedure for the BBC and he advises Lord Pearson to look into it.

House of Lords
Parliament

The House of Lords is up and running again for question-time. The first is on the BBC's coverage of Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

DUP MP Ian Paisley says a medical centre in his North Antrim constituency has described the PIP system as "deeply flawed".

As Northern Ireland's devolved Executive is currently suspended, he asks the minister to meet him and his fellow Northern Ireland MPs.

Sarah Newton agrees to the request.

On big parliamentary occasions, you can expect a few references to major political and cultural figures.

During the debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill Lord Adonis name-checked George Orwell and his essay, "Politics and the English Language".

And there have been references to Edmund Burke, Oliver Cromwell, Robespierre and of course, Margaret Thatcher.

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"It is shameful and depressing that it took a court case to drag this government back to the edge of decency," says SNP spokeswoman Deidre Brock.

She calls for Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey to apologise "to the victims of the government's actions" and to "the families of those who have taken their own lives as a result of government's benefits policies".

Work and Pensions Minister Sarah Newton accuses Ms Brock of making "appalling and unsubstantiated claims", which gets an angry reaction from the SNP benches.

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Marsha de Cordova says she is pleased that ministers have "finally seen sense".

She asks when the PIP assessment guide will be changed and tells MPs: "This mess is one of the government's own making."

Minister Sarah Newton replies that more people are being recruited by the Department for Work and Pensions to conduct the review of PIP cases.

The government is considering "the best way" to organise an appeals process, she adds.

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The urgent question comes after the DWP decided not to challenge a court ruling that said changes to PIP were unfair to people with mental health conditions.

Work and Pensions Minister Sarah Newton says the current "PIP caseload of some 1.6m people" will be screened.

She expects up to 220,000 people to be affected by the judgement and they will be subject to a detailed review and backdated payments.

"There will be no face-to-face reassessments," she pledges.

House of Commons
Parliament

Next up there’s an urgent question from Labour's shadow disabilities minister Marsha de Cordova on back payments to those receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

It comes after the Department of Work and Pensions said the cases of every person receiving the payments will be reviewed.

1.6 million of the main disability benefit claims will be reviewed, with around 220,000 people expected to receive more money.

The DWP recently decided not to challenge a court ruling that said changes to PIP were unfair to people with mental health conditions.

House of Lords
Parliament

After 22 speakers, the House of Lords is taking a break. According to a rough calculation the average length of the speeches so far is seven minutes - over the advisory time of six minutes per person.

Peers will return at 2.30pm for question-time. After that, they'll resume the debate on the EU withdrawal bill. First up is former Brexit Minister, Lord Bridges.

A total of 173 speakers to go...