House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour spokesperson Baroness Sherlock begins her speech by detailing what she sees as the "upside" of things that were left out of the Queen's Speech, including the absence of new grammar schools and plans to end free school lunches.

But she says there's "no vision for education" and no concrete plan to ensure schools are properly funded.

She makes a similar criticism on social care and pensions, saying the Queen's Speech is not offering anything specific.

House of Commons
Parliament

Karen Bradley says Ofcom is publishing its "fit and proper assessment" of the merged company today under its powers to decide who is fit and proper to hold a broadcast licence.

The secretary of state says her decision in this area are "made on a quasi-judicial basis" - which she says means she is "tightly bound" and must take a decision on evidence relevant to a specified public interest and cannot be influenced by opinion or conjecture.

She must set aside wider political implications and be scrupulously fair and impartial.

House of Commons
Parliament

Culture, Media and Sport Secretary is now on her feet making a statement on the government's decision regarding Fox's Sky takeover bid.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Peers have resumed their debate on the Queen's Speech, with today's session focusing on education, health, welfare, pensions and culture.

Opening for the government, Culture Minister Lord Ashton of Hyde tells peers that he is mindful of "financial pressures" on schools.

"Pupils with the same needs are getting markedly different funding" at different schools, he acknowledges.

In setting out a new funding formula the government will develop "proposals that can command a consensus" and which will ensure "no school has its budget cut".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Kerry McCarthy asks the Leader of the House about rumours that Tory MPs are urging her to challenge for the Conservative Party leadership, and says she hopes this doesn't distract her from her current duties.

Of these duties, Ms McCarthy asks for changes to private members' bills proceedings, saying that it is important MPs with bills get a fair chance to air those issues "without being subjected to the juvenile filibustering tactics of a few Tory backbenchers".

Ms Leadsom says she is absolutely committed to Theresa May remaining leader of the country "for as long as she wishes to do so".

On the issue of private members' bills she says she is sympathetic to the view that members should get a fair hearing.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Conservative Lord Lexden asks the government to "press their new allies to reconsider" their attitude to same-sex marriage.

His view is echoed by Labour's Lord Cashman, who asks: "Does the minister find it acceptable that people in Northern Ireland are denied the equalities available elsewhere in the UK?"

Baroness Vere tells peers: "It is a devolved matter - we must respect the democratic decision of the Northern Ireland government."

She adds that "at the moment that is the way which it will stay", but "we can all apply our own pressure in our own way".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Mims Davies praises the bravery of her colleague Sheryll Murray for raising the issue of personal abuse against MPs during the election campaign.

She asks for a debate on this issue so that Parliament can express its disgust at the abuse so that it does not put off the female leaders of the future.

Andrea Leadsom says this was "a total disgrace" during the general election and says that the "appalling and disgusting" behaviour left many colleagues "genuinely afraid".

She says it is an "appalling indictment" of our society that this has happened and was allowed to happen.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Lib Dem Baroness Burt of Solihull asks how the government is going to uphold equality in the light of its confidence and supply arrangement with the DUP.

She points out that the Conservatives have awarded money in an arrangement with "a party which denies rights to LGBT communities and women".

Government spokesperson Baroness Vere of Norbiton insists their commitment to equality is "as strong today as it ever has been - there will be no backsliding and no impact on equality issues".

She confirms health is a transferred matter and Northern Irish women who seek abortions in England, Wales or Scotland "must make private arrangements".

House of Commons
Parliament

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House of Commons
Parliament

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The Conservative chair of the Women and Equalities Committee in the last Parliament Maria Miller asks when the government will make a statement on access to abortions for women in Northern Ireland.

"It is wrong that women in Northern Ireland don't have the same access to abortion as women in the rest of the UK," she says.

"When will there be a statement on how this wrong will be put right?"

Andrea Leadsom says this is an "incredibly sensitive and important issue" before telling MPs that in her personal view "every woman should have the right to decide what happens to her own body".

The Leader of the House goes on to say that the question of women from Northern Ireland accessing abortions in England is a question of devolution as health is a devolved matter and the issue is therefore about who will pay for it.

She says that the Department for Equalities and the Department of Health are looking "very closely" at this issue today.

House of Commons
Parliament

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The erstwhile chair of the influential Backbench Business Committee Ian Mearns (who is expected to be re-elected as chair for the new Parliament in the forthcoming elections) raises concerns about the allocation of backbench time in this two year session.

He says he is "concerned" that discussions seem to be arranged "through the usual channels" - that is via the party whips.

Mr Mearns says that the Backbench Business Committee was created to circumvent the usual channels, and asks for direct talks with the committee on this topic once it reconvenes.

Ms Leadsom says she is "very sympathetic" to his concerns and wants to bring backbench business debates forward from the last parliament.

House of Commons
Parliament

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The SNP's Pete Wishart says that from his scanning of the upcoming business "it looks like there will be no votes at all" in the next week, and adds:

"This is already a zombie government inhabiting a minority wasteland."

Mr Wishart says that the issue of Barnett formula funding needs to be debated, and accuses the new Scottish Conservative MPs of being "nothing more than apologists for this chaotic government".

Andrea Leadsom says the SNP are intent on walking away from Barnett formula funding with its pursuit of independence.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Speaker has announced the amendments he has selected for today's debate and final vote on the government's legislative agenda in the Queen's Speech.

Unsurprisingly, the traditional opposition amendment has been selected. That's amendment l.

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More interestingly, Labour MP Stella Creasy's Amendment d has been selected, which refers to the inequality in treatment of women from Northern Ireland with regard to provisions of abortions - as under current laws such women have to pay for the procedure in England and Wales as it is banned in Northern Ireland.

In the debates on the Queen's Speech this week, several Tory MPs have expressed their own problems with this arrangement, and this may very well test that working government majority of just 13 votes.

Labour's Chuka Umunna has also had his amendment g selected which seeks to set out proposals to remain within the customs union and single market and ensure the rights of EU nationals currently in the UK.

Read the amendments on the order paper here., external

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MPs Diana Johnson and Jo Stevens ask about the government's plans to introduce an independent advocate to act for families after a public disaster.

Solicitor General Robert Buckland says that it is of paramount importance that bereaved families and injured victims are properly supported following a disaster and says the new position is designed to "ensure that involvement and provide that support".

Diana Johnson asks if the new advocate will be able to act for those affected by the infected blood scandal and whether a publicly funded lawyer will be available for each family affected.

Mr Buckland says this will depend "very much" on how parliament can pass the legislation and that each case will depend on its merit.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Attorney General Jeremy Wright is now answering questions from MPs.

Labour's Paul Blomfield asks about the future status of the UK as a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Mr Wright responds that the government is committed to remain a signatory for duration of the Parliament.

Mr Blomfield warns the government against playing politics with human rights.

The Attorney General says he does not agree with this description, and adds that human rights are a balance and that the government will "make sure that balance continues to be struck correctly".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley asks ministers when MPs will have the opportunity of bringing the stake at fixed odds betting terminals down to £2, and the SNP's David Linden also calls for action - saying his Glasgow East constituency is "awash" with bookmakers.

Minister Tracey Crouch says she "shares the frustration" on the issue but tells MPs that although the government launched its review on this in October 2016; purdah interrupted the final stages of consideration and the subsequent cross-government process of approval and sign-off.

She says that ministers now have to start the 12 week process again and that she does not expect any announcement on this until October at the earliest.