Select Committee
Parliament

Chair of the Liaison committee Andrew Tyrie welcomes the prime minister and begins by asking her is she intends to come before the committee three times a year.

She agrees she will and he requests they push the next meeting date to the end of March because of "big events" happening.

Theresa May makes an opening statement about the "appalling news that has come in from Berlin and Ankara". She mentions the "very vivid images" which have appeared, and expressed condolences.

Mrs May goes on to describe how the government is putting in work to make sure the UK's exit is as "smooth and orderly as possible". She restates her intention not to "give a running comentary to everyone".

Mrs May says the Brexit negotiations will be "challenging" and says she will be making a speech early in new year about her plans.

Select Committee
Parliament

Before today's hearing with Theresa May, the chair of the committee, Andrew Tyrie wrote to her to advise her about the topics that would be covered. 

This includes indications in the press about the possible publication of outline 'Brexit plans for financial services and other key sectors of the UK economy within weeks'. 

Mr Tyrie has asked Mrs May to confirm the plans today if they are correct. you can read the full letter here:

House of Lords
Parliament

The House of Lords begin their penultimate day before the Christmas break at 2:30pm.

Today's oral questions cover the gender pay gap, Prevent - the deradicalisation strategy, Cyprian unification renegotiations and Transport for London.

Lib Dem Lord Roberts of Llandudno has also asked a private notice question on assisting the inhabitants of Aleppo.

There will be a repeat of the urgent question asked in the Commons on Fox's bid to take over Sky.

The rest of the afternoon and evening will be taken up with two debates - the first on social mobility, the second on press regulation. 

Image source, AP

As parliament draws to a close before Christmas, MPs have one last gift for us in store. The Liaison Committee - which is made up of the chairs of each of the select committees - will question the prime minister at 2pm.

Theresa May will be questioned on the following topics:

• Exiting the European Union 
• Health and social care spending

House of Commons
Parliament

Jim Fitzpatrick says that this subject affects millions of homeowners and warns that up to £1.4bn could be being overcharged each year on leaseholders in the UK.

He warns that there are far too many "bullies, crooks, and cowboys" in the industry which requires better regulation, protection and advice - but also legislation.

Mr Fitzpatrick says that millions of citizens are looking to politicians to end their distress.

The two newest MPs - Sarah Olney for Richmond Park, and Caroline Johnson for Sleaford and North Hykeham - look ahead to politics in 2017.

They joined Daily Politics presenter Jo Coburn and her guests Zoe Williams and Kelvin MacKenzie.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Jim Fitzpatrick is now leading a debate on leasehold and commonhold reform.

In England and Wales most flats are owned on a long leasehold basis (ie with a term in excess of 21 years when first granted). It is also possible to own a house on a long lease. 

Essentially, long leaseholders buy a right to live in their property for a period of time. In blocks of flats, the management and maintenance is usually retained by the freeholder. The cost of carrying out this work is recoverable from long leaseholders in the form of a service charge, which is provided for in the lease. 

This tenure generates a good deal of dissatisfaction from residents concerning matters such as the level of service charges and the standard of services provided. Despite a good deal of legislative activity in this area, dissatisfaction remains.  

The full House of Commons Library briefing on this debate can be found here., external

House of Commons
Parliament

The bill seeks to establish a Rail Ombudsman to scrutinise performance and complaints and represent the interests of passengers; and to allow the ombudsman to levy fines on train operating companies for late running and cancellation of trains.

Tim Loughton says it is extraordinary that there is not such an ombudsman already in place. 

House of Commons
Parliament

The Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton is now presenting his ten minute rule bill which seeks to introduce a Rail Ombudsman.

He begins by saying "oh for those happy days of some sort of normality in the southern region" - a reference to the long running chaos on Southern Trains which serves his constituency. 

House of Commons
Parliament

A number of MPs on the opposition benches are vocal in their anger that Karen Bradley is refusing to answer the questions being asked by MPs around the subject of the takeover bid because of her quasi-judicial role in the process.

Labour's Angela Eagle tells Ms Bradley not to hide behind that answer, and some MPs can be heard shouting "disgrace" and that the secretary of state is "making a mockery of parliament". 

Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg and Philip Davies both express their support for the bid during the question session.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow culture, media and sport secretary Tom Watson says that Christmas is a time for TV repeats, "but this one wasn't a hit the first time round and is no more popular now". 

He says that the reasons for concerns about the proposed merger are the same as what caused the first bid to be abandoned in 2011.

Mr Watson also says it would be "outrageous" if this bid was pushed through over the Christmas holidays when Parliament is not sitting.

He asks if Ms Bradley is not "even slightly embarrassed" that on one hand she is shelving part two of Leveson inquiry that he says looks at management failings in Murdoch empire; and on other hand is being asked to rule on whether that empire should be expanded.

Ms Bradley said she would not be making any further comments on the bid.

House of Commons
Parliament

Karen Bradley says that as she must ensure the integrity of her quasi-judicial role in the process, she will be making no further comments on the merits of the bid at this stage. 

Former Culture, Media and Sport Secretary John Whittingdale says that MPs should recognise that this is a £12bn investment into a British company and is a "vote of confidence" in the UK following Brexit.

Ms Bradley responds that she cannot make any further comments at this time.

House of Commons
Parliament

Ed Miliband says that by even seeking this takeover the Murdochs are seeking to turn the judgement of the House, the regulator, and the country "on its head". 

He says that in 2011 the Commons unanimously urged the withdrawal of a previous bid for Sky and that Ofcom published a "damning report" in 2012 into the behaviour of James Murdoch in the running of News International.

Mr Miliband also accuses the government of trying to "ditch" the second part of the Leveson Inquiry recommendations.

House of Commons
Parliament

Karen Bradley responds to the question by saying that she recognises that this is an issue of significant interest to the public and to parliament.

She says that her role in any merger is a "quasi-judicial" one and that she is able to intervene in media mergers on public interest grounds.

Ms Bradley says that she can make an initial decision on a media merger within 10 working days of a formal notification. "No such formal notification has yet been made," she says.

"Unless and until a formal notification has been made I will not be taking a position on the bid," she says.

The secretary of state says that her most important concern is that integrity of the process is upheld and remains "scrupulously fair and impartial".  

Broadcaster Sky and 21st Century Fox have reached agreement on the terms of a takeover deal.

Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox will pay £11.7bn for the 61% stake it does not already own.

Sky shareholders will receive £10.75 in cash for each share, valuing the entire company at £18.5bn.

The deal comes amid concerns that Rupert Murdoch, who also owns the Sun and the Times newspapers, will have excessive influence over UK media.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, EPA

Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Karen Bradley is now responding to an urgent question tabled by the former leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband on 21st Century Fox's bid to takeover Sky.

Broadcaster Sky and 21st Century Fox have reached agreement on the terms of a takeover deal in which Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox will pay £11.7bn for the 61% stake it does not already own.

Read more here.

House of Commons
Parliament

Health Minister Nicola Blackwood responds to a question about adverts for unhealthy foods aimed at children and the placement of unhealthy food in supermarkets.  

The SNP's Margaret Ferrier urges the minister to push retailers to exercise more responsibility in this area. 

The minister says that she agrees with helping people make healthier choices and tells MPs that she believes the "penny has dropped" on this matter for retailers and that a push towards healthier food is the direction of travel in the industry. 

Conservative MP Philip Davies urges the government not to pursue what he calls "this ridiculous nanny-state route". 

Nicola Blackwood says the government has an obesity plan that balances the need to cut the sugar in young people's diets to ensure they are getting a healthy diet.  

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth asks about reports that some hospitals have been told to close operating theatres for elective surgeries over Christmas.  

"Is this what he means by a seven day NHS?" he asks.

Jeremy Hunt responds that despite the shadow health secretary's rhetoric, "Santa has been quite generous to him", saying that his local NHS authority in Leicester has 254 more nurses and 306 more doctors than in 2010.

He goes on to say that the government does need to ensure there is sufficient bed capacity in hospitals over winter.

Mr Ashworth says he is "delighted" to hear that Mr Hunt has done his research on Leicester but says the broader plan to close operating theatres is a "short-term fix" and says that when the pause ends, patients will be left with a simple choice to either get stuck on a waiting list or risk going in to a hospital at full capacity. 

Jeremy Hunt warns Mr Ashworth to be careful with his rhetoric and says that operating theatres are not going to be closed for a month over Christmas.