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Peers are now scrutinising the Space Industry Bill in detail at committee stage.

The bill aims to make the UK a centre of commercial space activity. At the publication of the bill Science minister Jo Johnson said the government wanted to make the UK the "most attractive place in Europe" for commercial space launches.

The bill creates new powers to license the launch of both rockets and space planes, a regulatory framework and powers to ensure space launch facilities remain secure.

Recent years have seen private commercial operators like Space X join state space agencies in launching rockets and payloads into space.

As there are currently no space ports in Western Europe proponents of the bill believe it will enable Britain to have "first mover advantage".

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's Chris Law asks about the number of international students who are admitted to the UK, accusing the government of a "confused" approach which is damaging Scotland's reputation as an attractive place to study.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott asks ministers to "listen to all sides of this House" and remove international students from net migration statistics.

Home Office minister Brandon Lewis replies that the definition is set out by the Office for National Statistics.

He says: "We have been very clear we want good, genuine international students."

House of Lords
Parliament

Lib Dem Lord Wallace of Saltaire asks what steps the government is taking towards devolution in Yorkshire.

The most recent attempt to devolve power to Yorkshire was the Sheffield City Deal, which stalled last month when two of the four councils involved voted against it. Barnsley and Doncaster councils said they wanted a Yorkshire-wide deal.

Minister Lord Bourne says the government is ready to progress the deal whenever the councils are ready.

As a follow up Lord Wallace asks why the Conservatives won't support a "one Yorkshire" deal.

Lord Bourne says the Sheffield deal is still on the table but the government would "of course" look at any proposal for a Yorkshire deal "excluding Sheffield".

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A Conservative, Sir Mike Penning, has been given a knighthood by Theresa May.

But in his first Commons outing since receiving the honour, the Speaker John Bercow omits to use the appropriate form of address - "Sir" - when calling him to speak.

A few minutes later, Mr Bercow reveals that he has just been informed "of this important fact".

"I warmly congratulate the honourable gentleman, who is evidently absolutely delighted with the status conferred upon him," he states.

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Baroness Kennedy of Cradley asks about the effectiveness of slavery and human trafficking statements in reducing slavery in supply chains.

The statements - introduced under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 - require organisations to set out the steps they taken to ensure there's no slavery in their supply chains.

Baroness Kennedy says that compliance is currently "low" and companies who do comply with the law produce statements of "varying quality". She says that while the Co-op wrote nine pages for their slavery statement, Halfords wrote just nine sentences.

Minister Baroness Vere replies that it's "too early" to assess the impact of the statements but says that the government has written to companies to remind them of their obligations.

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Parliament

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Labour chair of the home affairs committee Yvette Cooper says the current arrangements for taking in refugee children are "restrictive and difficult".

She adds that 280 council places for unaccompanied refugee children remain unfilled and asks for them to be taken up by Christmas.

Home Office minister Brandon Lewis tells MPs: "We are working with authorities to make sure more children can come over."

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour's Lord Hunt of King's Heath asks what estimates the government has made for the number of people currently in hospital who are waiting to be discharged into a care home when a place becomes available.

Health minister Lord O'Shaughnessy replies that on an average day in August this year 1,574 hospital beds were occupied by people awaiting a care place. But he says that delayed transfers were down year on year to August because of increased funding and accountability.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour's Baroness Prosser asks what assessment has been made of the process for recent appointments to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Minister Baroness Vere tells her that recent appointments have been carried out in line with guidelines and recent additions to the Commission were "appointed on merit".

But Baroness Prosser says one recent appointee to the EHRC's board of commissioners (who she doesn't name) was not recommended by the interview panel and is refusing to turn up to board meetings "until certain of his demands are met".

Baroness Vere replies: "I think she's referring to my noble friend Lord Shinkwin", who sits on the Conservative benches.

Lord Shinkwin, who is disabled, campaigns for disability rights.

The Minister says the government believes he does have the requisite knowledge for the role.

House of Commons
Parliament

Lib Dem Sir Ed Davey asks the home secretary about reports that the Met Police has said not all crime can be investigated.

Amber Rudd says that - having spoken to the Met - there is "no change to their operating model" and she will ensure they have "the right resources to address" the challenges in front of them.

House of Commons
Parliament

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The first question is from Labour's Stephanie Peacock on the potential connection between crime levels and changes in the level of neighbourhood policing.

She says forces in her area are "genuinely worried" about future cuts.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd assures her there are "no plans" for further reductions.

House of Lords
Parliament

Today's business in the House of Lords begins at 2:30pm with question-time.

Peers will ask ministers about appointments to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, care home places, human trafficking and devolution to Yorkshire.

The main business of the day is the Space Industry Bill, which aims to enable small satellites to the launched from the UK.

House of Commons
Parliament

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MPs start the day at 2.30pm with Home Office questions, followed by two urgent questions - on the international nuclear deal with Iran and on job losses at Vauxhall.

Then MPs will take part in second reading of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill, external, which makes provision for nuclear safeguards after the UK leaves the EU-wide body Euratom.

Today's adjournment debate is on consumer protection for new housebuyers.

Welcome to our coverage of events in Parliament this afternoon and into the evening.

The Commons gets down to work at 2.30pm with questions to ministers from the Home Office. Police funding is set to be a theme at question-time with several MPs seeking to raise the issue.

The Lords also kicks off at 2.30pm with question-time covering, as usual, a wide range of subjects from human trafficking to devolution in Yorkshire.