Summary

  • Brexit Committee questions David Davis

  • MPs in Commons chamber question Northern Ireland ministers

  • PMQs is at noon

  • MPs consider amendments to Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill

  • Peers meet at 3pm for questions

  • Main business in Lords is Higher Education and Research Bill

  1. Dinenage: same legal protections apply as beforepublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Headscarves ruling question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    DinenageImage source, HoC

    Education Minister Caroline Dinenage says that the "same legal protections apply as before the ruling". 

    The Equality Act, which protects anyone from discrimination based on the grounds of sex, religion or race, is still in place. 

    She says that the principles still remain, but national courts will refer to the ruling in the future and the government will watch the outcome of any cases closely.

  2. Urgent question on headscarves in the workplace startspublished at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Headscarves ruling question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative chair of the Women and Equalities Committee Maria Miller rises to ask her urgent question on the European Court of Justice ruling on headscarves in the workplace. 

    On Tuesday, the European Court of Justice, the EU's top court, ruled that a Belgium firm was within its rights to dismiss an employee who began wearing an Islamic headscarf to work on the grounds that the head covering was against company rules on appearance in a public-facing role.

    Workplace bans on the wearing of "any political, philosophical or religious sign" such as headscarves need not constitute direct discrimination, the court ruled.

    But the ban must be based on internal company rules requiring all employees to "dress neutrally",  said the European Court of Justice (ECJ), external .

    The court ruled in favour of the company because it had an "image neutrality" policy prohibiting the wearing of any religious clothing or symbols. Furthermore, the policy was, in the court's view, "genuinely pursued in a consistent and systematic manner".

  3. Disability chair criticises PIP assessmentpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Personal Independence Payments question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dr Lisa CameronImage source, HoC

    SNP's Lisa Cameron, and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Disability, says that there has been confusion in the description of what counts as mental illness, with some easier to measure than other. 

    This does not necessarily mean they are less worthy, she says. 

    Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green replies that this is not the case and that a variety of mental health issues "are covered fairly by PIP".

  4. Damian Green promises updated PIP assessment guidepublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Personal Independence Payments question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The SNP's Margaret Ferrier claims there's "confusion regarding policy intent" and calls for assessment guidelines to be clarified. 

    The secretary of state says the guide is freely available and a new version will be published "in a couple of months". 

  5. BBC political editor's verdict on PMQspublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

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  6. No UK nations meet before Brexit triggerpublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    A forum bringing together UK and devolved ministers may not meet again before the formal Brexit process is triggered.

    Read More
  7. Reality Check: Is a £3.7bn cut in disabled funding planned?published at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Reality Check

    McDonnell

    The claim: The government is planning to cut £3.7bn in funding for disabled people.

    Reality Check verdict: The government is not proposing a £3.7bn cut to disability benefits but it is trying to overturn a ruling that more people should be eligible. This will not affect the claims of current claimants.

    Read more.

  8. Labour MP attacks Budget u-turnpublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

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  9. Conservative MP calls PIPs system 'flawed'published at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Personal Independence Payments question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Allen

    Conservative Heidi Allen says there are "still flaws" in how PIPs are awarded to those with mental health conditions and the court ruling should be a "catalyst to look at the whole process from the beginning".

    Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green responds that the government is continuously looking to make improvements. 

  10. Brexit dominates PMQspublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

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  11. Work and pensions secretary admits 'complexity' of benefit system published at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Personal Independence Payments question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Field

    Labour MP - and chair of the Work and Pensions Committee - Frank Field tells MPs "those with other disadvantages [than physical disabilities] find it difficult to qualify" for PIPs.

    Damian Green agrees it is a situation of "complexity" and points out there is a review going on of this issue. 

  12. 'Screeching embarrassing u-turn'published at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

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  13. Tusk warns UK against 'no deal threat'published at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    The UK and Europe can remain "close friends in the future" the European Council president says.

    Read More
  14. Labour accused of causing 'unnecessary distress' over PIPspublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Personal Independence Payments question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Damian Green

    Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green insists: "No one will see a reduction in what they were awarded by the DWP." 

    He says it causes "unnecessary distress" to claim that PIPs are "not fair to people with mental health conditions" as Labour has done. 

  15. PM's approach to Brexitpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

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  16. Labour says PIP changes sideline mental health conditionspublished at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Personal Independence Payments question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Abrahams

    Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams says the new PIP regulations were laid down "without consultation" and MPs have not had a chance to debate or vote on them.

    She argues it's a "clear example of the way people with mental health conditions" are overlooked.

  17. Brexit bill - when's Royal Assent?published at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

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  18. Government quizzed on PIPspublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Personal Independence Payments question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Now we have an urgent question from shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams on new regulations concerning Personal Independence Payments (PIPs), the disability benefit replacing the Disability Living Allowance.

    The government wants to reverse the effects of a court ruling which expands the number of people who can claim Personal Independence Payments.

  19. PMQs wraps uppublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Prime minister's questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    LeavingImage source, Hoc

    That's all folks! 

    Prime Minister's Questions draws to a close for another week. 

  20. MoD will offer support to Marine Alexander Blackmanpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Prime minister's questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The prime minister assures the House the Ministry of Defence has offered support at every stage and will continue to do so after Marine Alexander Blackman's conviction was reduced to manslaughter .