House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour's Baroness Cohen of Pimlico worries that the lack of a sharia funding system is particularly damaging for women.

She says it is often the case, ("it is in my own family") that men get "first crack at money and the women follow".

"We can do Sharia-compliant finance," she says telling MPs that she was involved in such schemes "20 years ago in the City".

She says it is "staggering" that the problem in student funding has not been solved.

House of Commons
Parliament

Asked to comment on the benefits of Scotland remaining part of the UK, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon tells MPs: "Scotland plays a huge part in the defence of the United Kingdom." 

He points to defence investment in Scotland, for example at Lossiemouth and the new base at Lucas. 

House of Lords
Parliament

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Conservative Lord Sheikh says many are forced to choose between their education and their faith.

This, he argues, gets in the way of social cohesion as less Muslims end up going to University.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Lib Dem Lord Sharkey begins the debate by speaking to his amendment which requires the government to produce a report on the introduction of Sharia-compliant student finance.

Under Sharia law, Muslims are unable to take out loans on which they would be charged interest.

Lord Sharkey says this prevents many Muslims from attending university - a problem that he argues has become more acute since the increase of tuition fees in 2012.

House of Lords
Parliament

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The bill did not get the warmest of welcomes in the House of Lords with Conservative peer, and the Chancellor of Oxford Lord Patten calling the measures “hamfisted”.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson however argued that the bill removes a regulatory system "from a bygone era".

The passage of the bill through the Lords has so far seen the government defeated six times.

The government was defeated on amendments which:

• Change the circumstances under which a decision to revoke degree awarding powers can be appealed
• Set a standard providers will have to meet before being given degree awarding powers
• Replace the proposed rating system with a scheme offering students information on the quality of education and teaching provided by an institution
• Require universities to provide students with information about registering to vote
• Prevent the rating system from being linked to course fees
• Define universities as autonomous institutions

Today, potentially contentious amendments include introducing a sharia-compliant student finance scheme, preventing any changes relating to the repayment of a student loan and ensuring that free speech is protected in universities. 

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith calls for a new medal to recognise armed forces personnel involved in Operation Shader, the name given to the British participation in the ongoing military intervention against so-called Islamic State.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon says the suggestion is under review and an announcement will be made shortly. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers now turn their attention to the Higher Education and Research Bill, external .

The bill:

• Makes it easier for new providers to award degrees and secure university status
• Implements a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) to judge teaching in universities
• Allows universities to charge higher tuition fees if they achieve high TEF scores
• Establishes the Office for Students to regulate higher education institutions
• Establishes the United Kingdom Research and Innovate to fund research

House of Lords
Parliament

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Lord Harris notes that recently dog walkers on the Suffolk coast came across packages of cocaine weighing 360kg - that is "three times my body weight" he says.

Is the government being complacent? he asks. 

The government takes the issue very seriously, replies Baroness Williams replies.

She notes that a recent operation seized 800 potential lethal weapons and 80kg of illegal drugs. 

She adds that she does not know how much that is in Lord Harrises.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour’s Lord Harris of Haringey has the final question and asks if there are plans to increase the resources available to tackle the import of firearms and drugs.

Illegal smuggling to the UK is tackled by the Border Force, the Coastguard, the National Crime Agency, and police forces.

Drug trafficking to the UK is estimated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to cost £10.7bn per year.

Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford replies that resources are effecitvely utilised in line with pressures.

"I interpret that as meaning there is no plant to increase resources," says Lord Harris.

A man is being questioned over a tweet calling for someone to "Jo Cox" a Remain-supporting Conservative MP.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Now Labour’s Lord Kennedy of Southwark asks for the government’s assessment of the role of council housing in addressing housing issues.

Earlier this year the government produced a white paper entitled Fixing our broken housing market, external which proposed more investment in building homes for affordable rent.

Lord Kennedy argues that the government should be looking at increasing sheltered housing for the elderly, freeing up council houses for families

Lord Bourne replies that the government is currently working towards bespoke deals with councils.

House of Lords
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Labour spokesman Lord Mendelsohn says the chances of success will be enhanced if the UK treats the Commonwealth as a collection of free nations "rather than a British possession".

Lib Dem Lord Purvis of Tweed worries that reverting to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules would drive up tariffs and damage the possibility of good trade relationships with Commonwealth countries.

Ukip's Lord Pearson is more optimistic arguing that the EU is in "irreversible decline" whereas some of the "growing economies of the future" are in the Commonwealth.

House of Commons
Parliament

Defence Minister Mark Lancaster announces a new deal with broadband providers, meaning that forces families who move to a new base will be able to cancel their subscriptions without fees if their provider doesn't operate in the area they are posted to.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Conservative Baroness Berridge now asks what will happen to trade and migration from Commonwealth countries following Brexit.

In 2014, the UK exported goods and services to the Commonwealth worth £47.8bn .

In the same year the UK exported £88bn to the US and £228.9bn to the EU.

International Trade Minister Lord Price replies that the government is committed to strengthening the UK's relationship with the Commonwealth.

He notes that at the inaugural meeting between Commonwealth trade ministers there was agreement on "the need to have the very best movement of the brightest between Commonwealth countries".

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow defence minister Wayne David says problems with accommodation for service personnel identified by the National Audit Office are "affecting morale, recruitment and retention". 

"Warm words and tinkering are not enough," he adds. 

Defence Minister Mark Lancaster invites him to visit some new-build housing for soldiers rather than "constantly carping" from the Commons.