House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The debate concludes and the motion is put to the House.

As with the earlier debate there are no objections so the motion passes without being voted on.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner makes a point of order to ask how she can secure an undertaking from the secretary of state that "she will immediately give effect to the will of this House and reverse the rise in tuition fees."

She adds that there is a "constitutional crisis" because "this government is running scared and not allowing votes in this House".

Deputy Speaker Rosie Winterton says it is up to the education secretary how she proceeds.

House of Lords
Parliament

Crossbencher and former Supreme Court Justice Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood defends the rule changes, saying they "take full account" of European Court of Justice rulings on the Aarhus Convention.

He specifies they went through an "impeccable" consultation process and he does "not accept meritorious claimants will be deterred".

House of Commons
Parliament

Universities Minister Jo Johnson tells MPs that the government's policy provides a fair deal for students while ensuring universities are properly financed.

He attacks Jeremy Corbyn for stating that the number of disadvantaged students going to university was falling.

"That was outrageous and false", he says.

He says disadvantaged 18-year-olds are 43% more likely to go to university than in 2009.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow education minister Gordon Marsden tells the House that if today's motion is passed it would be "unthinkable that the government would refuse to honour it."

He launches into an attack on Conservatives, whom he says have "no narrative and no strategy, except cobbling together a minority government."

Looking at government ministers, he tells MPs that he is reminded of Disraeli's description of Gladstone's ministers: "a range of extinct volcanoes".

He argues that is Labour who has "set the vision" and are "acting anew", and urges MPs to support the motion.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Lib Dem Lord Marks of Henley-of-Thames is introducing a motion to regret on new rules which change the conditions for bringing an environmental case under the Aarhus Convention.

The Aarhus Convention is designed to protect people's rights to know and live in a healthy environment by providing increased opportunities for citizens to access environmental information and environmental justice.

Lord Marks objects to the following aspects of the new rules proposed by the government:

• when a person applies for a protective costs order they will have to disclose their resources
• in the case of multiple applicants, each person would be liable for the amount under the cost-capping limit, rather than that limit being split between the applicants
• the court can remove the costs protection at any stage of the case.

He says this is "invidious, offends against privacy and will deter potential claimants" and "drives a coach and horses through costs protection in environmental cases".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Alan Mak argues that raising tuition fees brought two benefits to the higher education sector.

Firstly, he says it meant universities "got the resources they need" to maintain "their world-class standing".

Secondly he suggests that the fees meant universities could lift the cap on student numbers.

Labour's policy would "choke" universities of funding, he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour's Preet Gill now makes her maiden speech.

Paying tribute to her predecessor Gisela Stuart, she tells MPs that during the general election campaign every door she knocked on had a story about how Gisela had helped them.

As the first female Sikh MP, she says she will be asked to raise issues on behalf of Sikhs - including UK involvement in the 1984 Sikh genocide.

She celebrates her constituency of Edgbaston which is home to the two towers that inspired JRR Tolkein to write Lord of the Rings, and "a world famous cricket ground".

She tells MPs that, as a bus driver, her father worked hard to build a platform for his children to succeed. She says it is that spirit that she will bring to her role.

"I will be restless in working for every single one of my constituents", she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

On interest rates, chair of the Education Committee Robert Halfon argues that the current level of 6.1% is too high and should be lowered.

He also expresses concern about the impact of tuition fees on part-time learners.

He says that extra rises in tuition fees should be linked to evidence of strong outcomes for graduates.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Chair Neil Parish asks: "Have we got the expertise?" when it comes to negotiating with countries the UK hasn't had bilateral agreements with for years such as China.

Michael Gove assures him he's "very impressed" with the staff at Defra, pointing out that senior analysts from elsewhere in Whitehall have transferable skills.

He also rejects the idea that the UK is starting from scratch with China, saying "we've significantly increased exports to China" particularly in pork products.

Shortly after this, the evidence session draws to a close.

House of Commons
Parliament

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"It's a pleasure to follow the secretary of state's myth spinning about Scottish universities," begins the SNP's Carol Monaghan.

She tells the House that since 2007 there has been a 12% increase in the number of Scottish-domiciled students going to university.

"We have the most educated population in Europe," she adds.

She attacks the government for bringing in "sweeping changes" to tuition fees "by stealth as a statutory instrument".

Simon Jones
Today in Parliament

MPs backed a Labour motion without a vote calling on the government to end the pay cap for workers in the NHS and to give them a "fair pay rise".

At the end of a Labour-led debate its call was not opposed by the government, with Conservative MPs remaining silent.

The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said the Conservatives did not call a vote because "they knew they would lose" after the DUP indicated it would support Labour's call.

The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, told MPs that before making any decisions he would take advice from the independent pay review body.

The motion passed by the Commons is not binding on the government.

Science committee chairman Norman Lamb wrote to parties after only men came forward.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative John Baron worries that the Conservatives are "losing the PR war on this".

He says this government has done more for disadvantaged students than many previous governments.

Justine Greening agrees and cites a Sutton Trust report that found that the gap between the number of advantaged and disadvantaged students going to university was the highest in Scotland.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Education Secretary Justine Greening accuses Labour of "putting rhetoric ahead of results, spin ahead of substance and self interest ahead of students".

She says that Labour's policy is to have no tuition fees.

She argues that tuition fees would mean "fewer students at worse universities".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner attacks the government's record on support for students.

"They abolished nursing bursaries, scrapped maintenance grants and imposed interest rates of 6.1% on loans."

"Shame on this government," she says "They don't care about social mobility."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, PA

The next item of business is the debate on tuition fees.

The Labour motion calls for the scrapping of the regulations that allow the latest rise in university tuition fees.

Labour claims a vote on today's motion would be binding - an assertion rejected by the government.

This year University tuition fees in England rose to £9,250 per year.

House of Commons
Parliament

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The debate concludes and Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle puts the motion to the House.

No one objects and so the (non-binding) motion is passed.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth makes a point of order to suggest that the government did not push the motion to a vote "because they knew they would lose".

House of Commons
Parliament

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss responds to the debate.

She says that there are challenges in the NHS and that the government needs to look at improving flexibility for staff and reexamining the pay bands in the services.

However she says the government also need to "look at fairness for the people who pay for our public services."

She accuses Labour of making "reckless pledges".

Select Committee
Parliament

Chair Neil Parish asks Michael Gove if he'd hold up the whole trade deal with US over chlorine-washed chicken if that were the only sticking point.

Mr Gove answers: "Yes."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow chief secretary to the treasury Peter Dowd asks what the Conservatives provide to NHS staff.

He answers his own question: "huge amounts of patronising clap-trap".

"They don't need our tributes," he says "they need our action".