House of Commons
Parliament

Mr Davis describes the bill as one of the most "significant" to come before Parliament and says he "stands ready to listen" to the views of others.

Several MPs intervene to object to the number of powers handed to the executive by the bill, but he insists he has not changed his view "one jot" on championing backbenchers.

Labour's Stephen Timms draws attention to an Evening Standard column accusing ministers of "rule by decree".

Mr Davis rejoins: "I don't read the Standard," and "I won't take lectures on rule by decree from editor of Evening Standard."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Brexit Secretary David Davis begins his opening statement on the first day of second reading of the EU Withdrawal Bill, external, a chance for MPs to debate its general principles.

He says it is "the next step in the historic process of honouring that decision" made in the EU referendum and will ensure that "on the day we leave businesses know where they stand".

The bill is designed to end the supremacy of EU law in the UK dating back more than 40 years and transpose all existing EU laws into domestic ones.

The second day of second reading takes place on Monday, when Labour is expected to vote against the bill.

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's international development spokesman, Chris Law, raises the "increased prevalence of hurricanes" and the question of climate change.

He asks the government to "step up actions" on fighting climate change and challenge the US to do more in this area.

Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan acknowledges "we're facing a greater instance of severe weather" but he wants to "confine myself to the urgent response to those in desperate need".

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow Foreign Office minister Liz McInnes extends sympathies on behalf of Labour to those affected by the hurricane.

She asks for an update on how many people have requested consular assistance and whether the government will assist with reconstruction efforts.

The minister tells her the UK has not yet had any direct individual requests, but further down the line there will be cases that require "our urgent personal response".

Sir Alan says there is £12m available for a rapid response to the humanitarian disaster, and in the long term "we will meet our full legal obligations" to overseas territories.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Oral questions concludes and peers move on to a debate on overcrowding in prisons to be led by crossbencher Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood.

Crowding is measured as the number of prisoners held in a cell where it exceeds the uncrowded capacity. This means that two prisoners held in a single occupancy cell are said to be crowded.

On 30 June 2017, 75 out of 116 prisons (65%) were operating with crowded conditions based on this measurement.

The prison population has approximately doubled since 1980.

House of Lords
Parliament

Former Lib Dem leader Lord Campbell worries that the actions of Bell Pottinger have damaged the UK's reputation in South Africa and will have an impact on diplomatic relations.

"This has had a very damaging impact on our reputation in South Africa," replies Lord Young but seeks to stress that the British government were "in no way involved".

He advises Bell Pottinger to donate some of its profits to a charity in South Africa.

Labour's Baroness Mcintosh of Hudnall suggests that there should be a mechanism to remove Bell Pottinger from the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists.

Lord Young says that at the moment this can only happen when a company stops acting as a lobbyist.

He recalls a private member's bill being introduced to change this but adds that the government has no plans to legislate.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan is giving a statement on Hurricane Irma, which has caused widespread destruction across the Caribbean, reducing buildings to rubble and leaving at least nine people dead.

He says the Foreign Office crisis centre and Department for International Development planners have "been on the highest state of readiness" in order to provide "as full consular support as possible".

A ship from the Royal Auxiliary fleet is being sent to the region to assist, he says.

The UK tried and failed to reach the British Virgin Islands premier last night, but has been in touch with the governor.

A Cobra meeting will take place this afternoon, Mr Duncan tells MPs.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, Reuters

Labour’s Lord Hain asks what action the government intends to take following the expulsion of Bell Pottinger from the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA).

The UK's public relations trade body, the PRCA has expelled Bell Pottinger over the allegations that it sought to stir up racial tensions in South Africa on behalf of clients.

Lord Hain argues that following the "pernicious and poisonously racist campaign" any work being done by the company for British public bodies should be reviewed.

There are no contracts between the government and Bell Pottinger, replies Lord Young and describes their behaviour as "completely unacceptable".

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Lord Forsyth predicts that every time the government reports back to Parliament on the negotiations "we will hear the same speeches by the same people still fighting the referendum campaign."

Baroness Anelay agrees adding that "when democracy makes a decision, you accept it and move on."

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

The third question comes from Conservative Lord Spicer who asks when the government will next report to Parliament on the progress of negotiations with the European Union with regard to Brexit.

Brexit Minister Baroness Anelay says the government will give an update after each round of negotiations

Shadow Leader of the House Baroness Smith of Basildon notes that the Brexit secretary did not have time to report back to the Lords' EU Committee but had time to be a guest of Alex Salmond's at the Edinburgh Festival.

"Its a question of priorities," she says and accuses David Davis of having "more respect for the comedy fringe than for Parliament".

"Government has not ignored Parliament," replies Baroness Anelay

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Pauline Latham asks for debate on Big Ben bongs being silenced - "is it beyond the wit of man for workers to wear silencer headphones?"

Andrea Leadsom acknowledges there are "strong views" and alternatives are under consideration.

Labour's Ann Clwyd says she was prevented from voting last night because she got stuck in a lift on the parliamentary estate.

House of Lords
Parliament

Lib Dem Baroness Falkner of Margravine now asks about the affordability and sustainability of the university pension schemes.

It was reported in July that the deficit of the universities' pension fund had risen to £17.5bn - the largest deficit on record.

Baroness Falkner suggests that in order to fill the deficit universities will either make students pay for it, cut research budgets or cut senior salaries.

"Which does he favour?" she asks.

Lord Younger says the government cannot intervene.

Conservative Lord Cormack asks that if the government cannot intervene "why are they making statements about how much vice chancellors should be paid?"

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, PA

Conservative Lord Lexden has the first question and asks if there are plans to enable more children in care to obtain places in state and independent boarding schools.

Lord Lexden argues that children in care could benefit greatly from a boarding education.

Education Minister Lord Nash agrees and says the government has launched the Boarding Schools Partnership scheme to support vulnerable children to go to to boarding school.

However crossbench peer Lord Laming warns that in the past children placed in boarding school were considered "out of sight and out of mind" and consequently had "terrible experiences".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Ann Clwyd says she was prevented from voting last night because she got stuck in a lift on the parliamentary estate, and asks what is going to be done to maintain the estate more thoroughly.

The Commons leader assures her she will look into the situation.

John Bercow notes he's surprised the lift dared to defy Ms Clwyd.

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's Pete Wishart raises concern over "two days to debate this unprecedented power grab" in the EU Withdrawal Bill.

He contrasts eight days at committee stage with 41 days on the Maastricht Treaty, which he says is "almost beyond a joke".

Mrs Leadsom points out "eight hours are protected every day" that the bill is debated, and there will be "a large number of subsequent bills, many opportunities for views to be taken into account".