House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Shailesh Vara asks about mental health support for veterans, saying it is "important to appreciate the vast majority are all the better for having served".

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood agrees, telling MPs it is time to "bury these myths" that Armed Forces personnel are more likely to suffer mental health problems.

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour peer Lord Morris of Aberavon asks whether the government would consider amending the Armed Forces Bill 2006 to deal with serious crimes committed by members of the armed forces.

He thinks the court martial system should be brought into line with civil courts for the most serious crimes, and that military personnel could be tried in front of a jury, rather than the board system currently used by the military. Unlike civilian courts, where a jury must rule at least 10-2 in favour of a conviction, servicemen and women can be found guilty by a simple majority of the three to seven person board.

For the government Baroness Goldie says the military justice system is "capable" of dealing with the most serious cases, and is compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights. But she says they're reviewing the military justice system and majority verdicts will be part of this review.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Keith Simpson raises Foreign Office Minister Rory Stewart's comments that UK fighters for so-called Islamic State should be killed, asking: "Is that now government policy?"

The Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon says it's clear these individuals are committing criminal offences.

"They have made their choice and we need to ensure they do not pose a threat to security," he tells MPs.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Crossbencher Baroness Meacher says the roll-out of universal credit is leading to "unprecedented" levels of debt because of an average wait of seven or eight weeks for their first payment. She says that some people "are resorting to burglary in order to pay their debts".

Minister Lord Bates says there is "no need for people to engage in those sort of activities...help is there" including an advance loan now taken by 50% of UC claimants. He adds that universal credit was "brought in with cross party support" to stop "perverse incentives" where people could work more hours but be worse off.

House of Lords
Parliament

The first question of the week is on what the government is doing to address concerns raised by the Financial Conduct Authority about the level of consumer debt in the UK.

Lib Dem peer Lord Sharkey asks how the government expects people to survive amid a decline in wages and a rise in living costs.

Government spokesperson Lord Bates says the government has a duty to ensure that lending is sustainable but it's also important that the government maintains a "strong and viable economy". He says losing a job is the thing that's most likely to get someone into debt trouble.

Labour's Lord Kinnock says personal debt is now above £200bn in the UK. Amid these "perilous circumstances" he asks the minister to urge the Bank of England not to raise interest rates.

Lord Bates says it's "impossible" for him to comment on interest rates, which are set by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour's Stephen Morgan says "uncertainty" around long-term investment is putting BAE jobs at risk including those in his Portsmouth constituency.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon responds that "if members were really concerned about BAE Systems jobs they should get behind our export campaigns for Typhoon and Hawk aircraft and not undermine them by criticising potential customers".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The first question is from the SNP's Gavin Newlands on defence co-operation after the UK leaves the EU.

He points out that the EU is providing funding for procurement as well as research and development. He wonders if the UK will retain access to that after Brexit.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon replies that we are "unconditionally committed to European security" and will continue to take part in joint projects.

House of Lords
Parliament

Sir Theodore Agnew is being introduced as a peer to the House of Lords.

He will sit as Lord Agnew of Oulton, Last month he was appointed Minister for the School System. Until last month he was chair of the Inspiration Trust academy chain.

Image source, HoL

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, AFP/Getty

Peers start their day at 2.30pm with questions on:

• the level of consumer and personal debt in the UK
• making the UK the best place for life sciences businesses to grow
• serious offences committed by members of the armed forces
• banks and building societies' ability to undertake immigration checks.

The main business is the final day of report-stage debate on the Space Industry Bill, external, which aims to create a regulatory framework enabling commercial spaceflight activities to be carried out from spaceports in the UK.

Peers will also hear a repeat of Theresa May's Commons statement on the EU summit, and debate plans for making science and innovation strategy an effective part of the government's industrial strategy.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are starting at 2.30pm with defence questions, after which Theresa May will make a statement on her recent trip to Brussels for the EU summit.

Then shadow work and pensions secretary, Labour's Debbie Abrahams will apply for an emergency debate on the government's response to the recent opposition day vote on pausing universal credit.

The main business is second reading of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill, which aims to specify who is liable for damages following accidents caused by automated vehicles and improve the network of charging points for electric vehicles.

Today's adjournment debate is on the provision of healthcare in North Staffordshire.

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

MPs gets down to work in the chamber at 230pm with questions to ministers from the Ministry of Defence. An hour later, the Prime Minister Theresa May will be in the Commons chamber to brief MPs about the EU summit in Brussels last week.

We'll also be following question-time in the House of Lords and a debate in Westminster Hall on eligibility for mortgages.