Questions to Alok Sharma on the COP26 climate summit are now over, and after a quick swapping of seats, Boris Johnson is now on his feet for this week's PMQs.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

It’s the first PMQs since Boris Johnson unveiled his roadmap out of lockdown.

There is uneasiness amongst some Conservative backbenchers – not about the direction, but the speed, of travel.

So far, any criticism has been rather restrained.

Concerns have been expressed in private meetings and communicated through the prime minister’s parliamentary aides.

So it will be interesting to see if any of the sceptics will ask some pointed questions publicly.

Even if Conservative sceptics bite their tongues at PMQs, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is likely to try to find a way to drive a wedge between the PM and some of his own MPs.

It’s also a week before the Budget.

Sir Keir may try to be counter-intuitive, arguing against tax rises on businesses, at least at this stage.

Indeed, with the expected extension of furlough not yet confirmed, he may press the government for more support for business owners, employees, and those who have to self isolate.

But there is uneasiness, too, amongst a minority of Labour MPs, who’d like to see their leader create a more glaring gap between government and opposition

The Labour MP Darren Jones asks about access to vaccines in developing countries.

He asks Alok Sharma to set out what steps are being taken to ensure all countries can participate fully in November's COP26 summit in Glasgow?

Mr Sharma says this is "an incredibly important point" and he wants this to be the "most inclusive" summit ever.

He adds that the UK has pledged to send the majority of any future surplus vaccines to developing countries.

Labour MP, Imran Hussain, asks what is being done to promote greater use of public transport? He says rail services in the north of England are "woefully outdated".

Will Mr Sharma back calls to ensure the northern powerhouse rail scheme is supported in full in order to tackle the climate crisis, he asks.

Mr Sharma says people should be encouraged to take public transport wherever possible.

He says he regularly gets the train to work in Westminster.

Roger Harrabin
BBC environment analyst

Image source, Getty Images

Over 40 Conservative MPs signed a letter in support of plans to open the UK's first new deep coal mine in 30 years. The plans are being reviewed by Cumbria County Council following controversy about the proposal.

Supporters say it will create hundreds of jobs and produce coal needed for UK steel. But the government's climate advisers say the mine is bad for the planet.

Read Roger's full analysis of the Cumbrian mine here.

What is the case for the mine, and why do environmentalists oppose it?

Shadow business minister Matthew Pennycook questions the government's decision to open a coal mine in Whitehaven. He asks why in "such a critical year" the government is prepared to open such a mine.

Alok Sharma says the UK has made "significant progress" in reducing coal use in the energy mix, down from 40% to 2%.

He says that Cumbria county council are currently reviewing the application, and the government awaits their decision. He says it is a "local issue".

Alok Sharma seems to have a bit of a frog in his throat has he begins answering MPs' questions on the COP26 climate summit

He starts by saying the government is determined to build back better and greener after Covid-19.

Conservative MP Mark Menzies asks what step are being taken to promote the UK based nuclear energy to help support jobs in the north west of England.

Mr Sharma says the government believes nuclear has an important part to play in the clean energy mix of options going forward.

Image source, HoC

Commons speaker has called "President Sharma" to the despatch box for the first COP26 question time.

We'll bring you the highlights here.

Image source, Whitehaven coal mine

Alok Sharma's first weeks in his job haven't gone as smoothly as he may have wished.

He was still business secretary when he first took on the COP26 responsibilities but after criticism that he was "overloaded" with the day job of running a government department, he was appointed full-time to the UN summit role.

And recently there were calls for him to resign after ministers approved the development of a new coal mine in Cumbria.

Read more here from our environment analyst Roger Harrabin.

Image source, Reuters

Boris Johnson chaired a session of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.

The prime minister told world leaders at the virtual event: "Climate change is a threat to our security".

It is the first time a British PM has chaired such a meeting since 1992.

Mr Johnson said some would argue "all this green stuff from a bunch of tree-hugging tofu-munchers" is not a suitable subject for a UN meeting.

"I couldn't disagree more profoundly," he said adding that the council need to act to protect "peace, security and stability" around the world.

Read more here

Image source, EPA

As we mentioned earlier, MPs have their first chance to ask questions about preparations for the COP26 climate conference.

The UN summit is being held in Glasgow in November, and is expected to be the biggest summit the UK has ever hosted.

In January, Alok Sharma left his previous position as business secretary to focus full-time on his role as president of COP26.

In a speech earlier this month Mr Sharma said: “I have one very clear aim: and that’s to put the world on track to make the Paris Agreement a reality.”

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change, which aims to limit global warming.

BBC Politics

Welcome to our live coverage from the House of Commons.

We’re joining you a little earlier than usual today to bring you some highlights from the first question time for Alok Sharma, in his newish full-time role as president of the UN COP26 climate conference.

Those questions kick off at 11:30 GMT, then we’ll move seamlessly into our regular coverage of this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions at 12:00 GMT.

Thanks for following along with us.