Summary

  • Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers take questions from MPs

  • Leader of the House outlines upcoming business

  • Backbench business debates on Kashmir and Holocaust Memorial Day 2017

  • Peers meet at 11am for oral questions

  • Lords then debate impact of Brexit on the creative industries sector

  • Peers also debate populism and nationalism around the world

  1. 'You didn't call me on my birthday'published at 10:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Commissioners' questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris Bryant

    Labour MP Chris Bryant, when putting a question to Lib Dem MP Tom Brake from the House of Commons Commission, also wishes the Speaker a happy birthday.

    However, something is needling him: "You didn't wish me a happy birthday nor even call me on my birthday last week."

    By "call me", we assume Mr Bryant means being called by Mr Speaker to make a speech or ask a question, rather than a personal phone call.

    "Inexplicably, I was not aware of that great matter at that time," Speaker John Bercow says.

  2. What is happening in the House of Lords?published at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Peers begin at 11am with oral questions which today cover housing for migrants, the letting fees ban, children’s mental health and the Israel-Palestine peace conference. 

    Following that are two debates – the first is on the impact of Brexit on the creative industries.

    The second is on the challenges to the liberal international order posed by the development of populism and nationalism.

    Finally peers will be asked to approve a statutory instrument making changes to interpretation services and the retention of DNA profiles. 

  3. Question for the chairman of the Public Accounts Commissionpublished at 10:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Commissioners' questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Edward Leigh

    Also answering questions today is Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh, who chairs the Public Accounts Commission.

    The commission scrutinises reports by the public spending watchdog, the National Audit Office (NAO).

  4. The Church and social mediapublished at 10:33 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Commissioners' questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds says the use of social media is an "opportunity to promote interfaith tolerance".

    Dame Caroline Spelman agrees, arguing that communication through social media enables people to "become aware of those who are suffering for their faith". 

  5. Questions to the Church Commissionerspublished at 10:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dame Caroline Spelman

    Conservative MP Dame Caroline Spelman answers questions on behalf of the Church Commissioners., external

    The commissioners are responsible for the Church of England's estates, investments and charitable giving. 

    Dame Caroline holds the position of Second Church Estates Commissioner and answers questions in the Commons on behalf of the established Church. 

  6. UKIP MP calls for 'rewilding' of countrysidepublished at 10:22 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Environment, food and rural affairs questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Douglas Carswell

    UKIP's Douglas Carswell says leaving the Common Agricultural Policy can provide an opportunity for "rewilding" the countryside. 

    Mr Carswell calls for "the restoration of the environment rather than its conservation" and notes that this policy has also been proposed by author George Monbiot.

    Minister George Eustice says that government must consider "the whole farmed environment" and will aim to "improve soil management and water quality". 

  7. 'A very quick deal is not the same as a very good deal' - SNP MPpublished at 10:16 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Environment, food and rural affairs questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Donald TrumpImage source, The Times
    Image caption,

    President-elect Donald Trump praised the UK's Brexit vote during an interview with Michael Gove for The Times.

    SNP MP Patricia Gibson is concerned that US President-elect Donald Trump's promise of a quick trade deal with a post-Brexit UK could involve "harsh compromises" on animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety.

    "A very quick deal is not necessarily the same as a very good deal," she says.

    Environment Minister George Eustice says the government has "made a commitment to maintain animal welfare standards in trade negotiations". 

  8. Government to consider level of farm support after 2020published at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Environment, food and rural affairs questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The SNP's rural affairs spokesman, Calum Kerr, calls for assurances that payments to Scottish farmers "will not go down after 2020".

    Andrea Leadsom tells him that the government will be "looking at the facts" and then deciding what level of support is needed. 

    Ministers have said they will maintain the level of direct payments to farmers until 2020. 

  9. Lib Dem leader says farmers have been waiting since 2015 for paymentspublished at 10:02 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Environment, food and rural affairs questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Andrea Leadsom

    Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron asks whether the environment secretary "would tolerate waiting 13 and a half months for her salary cheque to arrive".

    He says that 50 hill farmers have been waiting since 2015 for payments.

    Andrea Leadsom tells him "there are very, very few" waiting for payments from 2015 and the Rural Payments Agency "has really, really, strived" to settle all outstanding claims.

    Mr Farron looks unconvinced, however. 

    Tim Farron
  10. Labour MP's concerns about 'a flood of cheap New Zealand lamb'published at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Environment, food and rural affairs questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    In response to a question from Labour MP Helen Goodman on the potential effect on hill farmers of the UK leaving the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom says the government is committed to maintain "the levels of current support" until 2020. 

    Ms Goodman is concerned about "a flood of cheap New Zealand lamb that will put them out of business". 

  11. Also in the Commons todaypublished at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    This morning's question session includes questions to Conservative MP Dame Caroline Spelman, who represents the Church Commissioners. 

    MPs will also question Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake in his capacity as representative of the House of Commons Commission, which is responsible for the administration and services of the House. 

    After 10:30am, Leader of the House David Lidington will announce forthcoming Commons business and take questions. 

  12. Labour MP accuses government of 'punitive welfare policies'published at 09:42 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Environment, food and rural affairs questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Emma Lewell-Buck

    Labour's Emma Lewell-Buck puts the first question, asking ministers if they are measuring household food insecurity. 

    Household food insecurity is defined as the inability to provide enough food for all members of a household to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  

    Ms Lewell-Buck says families are in this situation because of the government's "punitive welfare policies". 

    But Environment Minister George Eustice insists that "the best way to tackle poverty is to get people off benefits and into work". 

  13. 'Hope you have a good 'un!'published at 09:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Environment, food and rural affairs questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck opens environment questions by noting it is Speaker John Bercow's birthday today. 

    "Happy birthday Mr Speaker - hope you have a good 'un!" she says. 

  14. Today in the Commonspublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Welcome to our live coverage of today's events in Westminster.

    The House of Commons sits from 9:30am and the day begins with questions to Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom. 

    The main business consists of two backbench business debates.

    The first is on Kashmir, which has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan for over 50 years. Currently a boundary - the Line of Control - divides the region in two, with one part administered by India and one by Pakistan.

    The second debate marks Holocaust Memorial Day 2017.

    Finally, SNP MP Patricia Gibson leads a short adjournment debate on the Ayrshire Growth Deal, which aims to secure UK and Scottish government funding to grow the local economy.