Summary

  • Urgent question on Capita shares collapse

  • Commons debate on baby leave for MPs

  • Commons debate on hospital car parking charges

  • Questions to Brexit ministers

  1. The leaked report is raised againpublished at 10:36 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hillary BennImage source, HoC

    Chair of the Brexit Committee, Hillary Benn, asks why the leaked document, which he hopes will be handed over soon to his committee, only looked at models which the government says it does not want.

    Minister Steve Baker says the government "cannot control the timing of leaks," and that the document was not complete.

  2. Labour tries to find out when leaked modelling took placepublished at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's Sir Keir Starmer is asking about the Brexit modelling, following the leaked government document this week. He asks when David Davis knew that modelling was taking place..

    Mr Davis replies that when he appeared before the Brexi Committee on December 6th last year, he told MPs the government was carrying out modelling work.

    Sir Keir wants to take the issue further, saying that in December the Brexit Secretary knew the modelling was going on but, he wonders, when did he FIRST know modelling was taking place.

    Mr Davis says the outcome is "a work in progress" adding that modelling is "incredibly difficult" and every forecast about the period post-Brexit has been wrong.

  3. What affects will the EU Withdrawal Bill have on rights and protections?published at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Afzal KhanImage source, HoC

    Labour's Afzal Khan asks what assessment the government has made of the potential affect of the EU Withdrawal Bill on the protection of fundamental rights.

    Minister Steven Baker says there is a memorandum on how rights will be protected in domestic law after the UK leaves the EU.

    Mr Khan says the leaked papers earlier this week suggests that environment and employment law will be deregulated.

  4. Will the government accept phase 2 negotiation guidelines?published at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ged KillenImage source, HoC

    Labour's Ged Killen asks if the government plans to accept the EU's guidelines for phase 2 negotiations.

    Mr Davis says that it is not for the UK to accept or reject the premise for negotiations, as it is their mandate for negotiations. He says the UK has been holding "technical" conversations on such issues over recent months.

    Mr Killen asks what arrangements the government will make for the fisheries and hospitality industries, in which overseas workers do no qualify as "tier 2" skilled staff under UK regulations.

    Mr Davis says the government will not do anything to undermine the UK economy.

  5. Bryant: UK turning into 'vassal state'published at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris BryantImage source, HoC

    Labour's Chris Bryant says the UK will be subject to ECJ jurisdiction during the proposed transition period running after it leaves the EU.

    He says if British businesses want to "continue doing trade" with the rest of the single market then they will have to abide by all its rules, but British citizens will have fewer rights than now.

    He adds that the government is turning the UK from a "proud partner" with European countries into a "vassal state". He asks if the UK will "hand over some Danegeld as well?"

    Mr Davis says this is the first time he's seen Mr Bryant "in alliance with my Right Honourable Friend, the Member for the 19th century, over there," referring to Jacob Rees-Mogg.

    Mr Bryant quickly replies: "17th century".

  6. Tory MP asks for OBR to model Brexit outcomespublished at 09:57 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Antoinette SandbachImage source, HoC

    Conservative Antoinette Sandbach asks what different plans the government is taking for different outcomes in leaving the EU.

    Minister Steve Baker says across government all scenarios are being prepared for.

    He adds that the success and speed of first-stage negotiations means that the UK can now go on to negotiate a trade deal and future relationship.

    Ms Sandbach asks if ministers will commission the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to model the four departure options, "given the DExEU's propensity to rubbish the government's own research".

    Mr Baker says the responsibilities of the OBR are set out in legislation; he adds that he would like to table a debate on the European Free Trade Association to hear MPs' concerns on leaving EFTA.

  7. Labour MP warns on customs union exitpublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Emma Lewell-BuckImage source, HoC

    Second question comes from Labour's Emma Lewell-Buck, she wants to know what effect leaving the EU's customs union will have on the UK economy.

    Brexit Minister Suella Fernandes says leaving the EU "liberates" the UK to make "new and fruitful trade deals with the rest of the world".

    Ms Lewell-Buck says that the North East's retail and manufacturing sectors are going to be hardest hit, adding that 200,000 workers in her area are facing "grim futures because of this government's inability to get its act together".

    Ms Fernandes replies that outside the customs union Britain "can be a champion of global free trade again". She says free trade has brought prosperity, productivity, innovation, growth and choice.

  8. Commons gets underway with Brexit questionspublished at 09:41 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2018

    Exiting the EU Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Alister JackImage source, HoC

    Today's first Brexit question comes from Conservative Alister Jack, who wants to know whether the government will assess the potential benefits of "regulatory equivalence" with the EU.

    Minister Robin Walker says the UK's future partnership with the EU will be underpinned by a "common sense" approach to regulation.

    Mr Jack says that regulatory equivalence should be a red line in negotiations with the EU if the UK wants to trade with the world.

    Mr Walker says the UK is proposing an "ambitious" trade deal which will help the UK trade both with the EU and countries outside it.

  9. A day of drama and decisionspublished at 22:32 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    It was a day of drama in Parliament as the BBC journalist Carrie Gracie gave powerful testimony to the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee about her campaign for equal pay.

    In a session lasting nearly five hours, the committee also questioned BBC bosses about pay at the corporation.

    Meanwhile, there was some unexpected drama in the House of Lords when a minister, Lord Bates, announced that he was resigning after missing his slot to answer questions in the Lords.

    Later in the day, peers gave a second reading to the EU Withdrawal Bill. It will now proceed to the committee stage for further detailed scrutiny.

    There were some big decisions in the Commons too, as MPs voted to move out of Parliament while renovation works take place.

  10. Bill clears first hurdle in the Lordspublished at 22:30 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour's Lord Adonis withdraws his amendment on a second referendum and peers agree to give the EU Withdrawal Bill a second reading without a vote.

  11. Delegated powers strike balance between scrutiny and speed - ministerpublished at 22:28 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Exiting the EU Minister Lord Callanan is the 190th speaker of this two-day debate.

    Peers laugh - perhaps with relief - when he says he doesn't have time to respond to each speaker individually.

    Responding to criticism of the powers which the bill will give to ministers to make regulations, he insists: "The government does not approach delegated powers lightly."

    With such a large amount of EU law to transpose into UK law, "we want to strike the right balance between scrutiny and speed", he tells the House.

    He tells Labour's Lord Adonis that the referendum result was clear and quotes Conservative peer Lord Hague's warning of "a referendum merry-go-round".

    He also argues that a second referendum would "actively undermine" negotiations by incentivising other EU members to offer "the worst possible deal" in the hope the UK would vote to stay.

    Finally, the minister says a consensus has emerged that "the bill is not perfect" and invites peers to "improve" it.

  12. Labour peer warns government not to 'decry' peers' expertisepublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness Hayter at the despatch box

    "This has been the most extraordinary debate has it not?" says Labour Brexit spokeswoman Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town.

    She says peers offer "not final decision-making but years of experience and public service".

    She warns ministers: "Decry their expertise and government risks losing both credibility and help."

    Baroness Hayter calls on "our country's so-called leaders to get a grip" over Brexit negotiations.

    However, she says the Labour front bench "can't support" Lord Adonis' call for a vote on the final terms of Brexit, arguing it is for the House of Commons to make that decision.

  13. 'We have our work cut out'published at 21:55 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    Baroness Ludford

    Liberal Democrat Europe spokeswoman Baroness Ludford replies to the debate for her party.

    Since the referendum result, she says. "it is the so-called winning side that is blowing a fuse".

    The former MEP observes that the EU can achieve a common position among the other 27 member states, yet the UK government cannot manage agreement between 27 ministers.

    She argues that "it is ministers, rather than Parliament, who are taking back control" with this bill, which threatens to ravish the constitutional and legal framework of the UK".

    She tells peers: "We have our work cut out."

  14. Plaid Cymru peer may oppose the bill at third readingpublished at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Plaid Cymru peer Lord Wigley says he believes Brexit is "a political disaster" but accepts that "the people of Wales, for diverse reasons, voted to leave the EU".

    He says he will not oppose the bill at second reading but reserves the right at third reading - the final stage of debate - depending on how the bill has been amended in the meantime.

  15. Peers in Brexit Bill warningspublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    Peers have called for major changes to the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill to make it "fit for purpose".

    Those demands came on the second day of debate in the House of Lords on the legislation which will transfer all European Union law into UK domestic law on the day after Brexit.

    And as Simon Jones reports opinions were sharply divided over calls for a second referendum on any final departure agreement with the EU.

    There is more from Today in Parliament on BBC Radio Four at 2330.

  16. 'Reluctant remainer' changes his mindpublished at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour peer and former home secretary Lord Reid of Cardowan says he had been a "reluctant remainer" but has changed his view having witnessed the Brexit negotiations.

    "I'm no longer reluctant," he tells the House.

    "I'm now a very strong remainer."

    "We are heading towards disaster," Lord Reid declares.

    He argues that the government won't set out clear objectives in Brexit talks because "it will split the governing party".

    He adds that there is "no constitutional reason" why another referendum should not be an option.

  17. Tory peer happy to see 'blue moon'published at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    The 'super blue blood moon' photographed in MadridImage source, MEHDI AMAR

    Conservative peer and former cabinet minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean says he is searching for something new to say, so late in the debate.

    "There is a blue moon tonight," he says, to laughter.

    He adds that this is "not a reference to the Tory party" but to the rare "super blue blood moon" which has been visible around the world.

    He jokes that, when Labour peer Lord Adonis proposed four days for second reading of the bill and an amendment calling for a second referendum, he wondered whether he had been subject to "the lunar effect".

    However, he does say of Lord Adonis: "I admire his courage and his consistency."

  18. Labour peer backs 'giving the public the final say'published at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour peer Lord Hunt of Kings Heath says that if Singapore is "promoted as the vision", it shows that Tory Brexit supporters in the House want a country in which "deregulation abounds and protections are limited".

    "Surely we shouldn't close off the prospect of the public having the final say" on the terms of a final Brexit deal, he says.

    His fellow Labour peer, Lord Adonis, who has called for a referendum on a final Brexit deal, nods in agreement.

  19. PM rejects lord's lateness resignationpublished at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    Lord Bates told fellow peers he intended to resign after the "discourtesy" of arriving late to a session.

    Read More
  20. 'Nonsense' to say the UK can stay in the single marketpublished at 20:53 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Blencathra and fellow Brexiteers
    Image caption,

    Lord Blencathra and fellow Brexiteers

    Tory peer Lord Blencathra says it is "nonsense" to say that a vote to leave the EU was not a vote to leave the single market and customs union.

    He tells the House that "a government-funded propaganda sheet" sent to households before the referendum indicated that it would mean just that.

    Lord Blencathra also says that remain supporters have said leave supporters want to imitate Singapore in "a race to the bottom" on regulations and standards.

    Telling the House that Singapore has a GDP per capita of $53,000 and high living standards, he suggests that if that is the bottom, he wants to race there.