House of Lords
Parliament

Labour peer Lord Allen of Kensington asks what plans the government has to increase current penalties for animal welfare offences in England and Wales to bring them into line with European averages.

Defra Minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble says the government has recently announced that it intends to increase the maximum penalty for animal welfare offences from six months to five years. He says the European average is two years.

Image source, HoL

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

SNP spokesman Neil Gray objects to government abstaining in last week's vote and, in his view, "refusing to concede an inch in order to try to win the vote".

He claims the government has "accepted" universal credit needs to change and is now trying to "deflect, defer and delay".

"It tried to wriggle its way out of an embarrassing defeat by abstaining," he continues.

"Universal credit is as it stands, failing those it should be helping."

Select Committee
Parliament

Chair Yvette Cooper asks Sara Thornton which types of policing she is pouring resources into.

Chief Constable Thornton says that there are four main areas; counter-terrorism, cyber crime, economic crime and neighbourhood policing, which she adds is "under great strain".

Select Committee
Parliament

The Home Affairs Committee is chaired by Labour MP Yvette Cooper.

The other members of the committee are:

Rehman Chishti, external Conservative

Mr Christopher Chope, external Conservative

Stephen Doughty, external Labour (Co-op)

Preet Kaur Gill, external Labour (Co-op)

Sarah Jones, external Labour

Tim Loughton, external Conservative

Stuart C. McDonald, external Scottish National Party

Esther McVey, external Conservative

Will Quince, external Conservative

Naz Shah, external Labour

Select Committee
Parliament

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Sara Thornton says that the biggest challenge police face is dealing with rising crime demand and the threat from terrorism.

She points to recent statistics, showing a 13% increase in recorded crime.

The chief constable also says she's concerned about the levels of stress and strain on her officers.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Rona Fairhead is being introduced as a peer to the House of Lords. She was previously Chair of the now defunct BBC Trust and before that chief executive of the Financial Times Group.

She was also chair of the bank HSBC's audit committee when it received a record $1.9bn fine from US authorities over money laundering at its Mexican branches.

Baroness Fairhead was appointed a minister in the Department of International Trade last month.

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee is just getting underway. The first set of witnesses are:

• Dee Collins, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police
• Gareth Morgan, Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police
• Dave Thompson, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police and National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Finance
• Sara Thornton, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council

Later, MPs will hear from Mark Rowley, who is the national lead for counter-terrorism policing.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Work and Pensions Minister Damian Hinds addresses his party's abstention on last week's vote, saying: "The decision on whether to vote is a matter for MPs and their parties - it's legitimate not to vote."

He goes on to say "we continue to evolve and improve the system".

He points out there are already planned pauses in the roll-out rather than the alternative 'big bang' approach.

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers begin the day at 2:30pm, with the introduction to the House of a new peer, Baroness Fairhead.

Following that will be questions to ministers, who will be quizzed on animal rights, plans to reduce the number of MPs, Brexit and the devolved administrations and the murdered Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The main business of the day is the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill.

Select Committee
Parliament

The Home Affairs Committee will shortly begin an evidence session as part of its policing for the future inquiry. The inquiry was originally launched in January 2017, but had to be paused because of the general election.

Committee members will be exploring the current and future challenges of modern policing.

You can also expect the committee to question witnesses on police funding levels, the changing demands on police resources, the funding and structure of counter-terrorism policing, and the development of counter-terrorism policy.

Mark Lobel
BBC political reporter

A decision on whether MPs and peers will have to vacate the parliamentary estate during urgent repairs works has been delayed for around 18 months.

The Leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadson, told the BBC Radio 4's World at One more work is needed on the costings of three different proposals in the interim.

She said a motion will be debated in the Commons and the Lords “before the end of the year” that will recommend the establishment of an Olympic-style Sponsor board and Delivery body of experts and MPs to examine the costings for three different options before MPs and peers have the final say in a free vote by mid-2019.

The three different proposals to be considered are a full decant – a total move out, a partial decant - staying in one chamber or the other and “a parliamentary foothold” - keeping parts of the Palace open to visitors or to accommodate state openings or the swearing in of MPs.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams is opening an emergency debate she secured yesterday on the government's response to the decision of the House on pausing the universal credit roll-out.

Ms Abrahams says "we've heard nothing on what they plan to do" and laments that it is a junior minister not the secretary of state representing the government.

She argues that government is setting a "dangerous" precedent of ignoring Parliament outside legislation or motions of no confidence.

The opposition motion calling for the new benefits system to be halted and overhauled was carried by 299 to 0 last week in a complex bit of parliamentary manoeuvring which saw Conservative MPs abstain.

The Speaker and several backbench Conservative MPs - as well as Labour - expressed concern about the tactic, but Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom insisted it should not be seen as a precedent and the government is in listening.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative Christopher Chope is introducing a Ten Minute Rule Bill on affordable home ownership.

The bill aims to require the inclusion of rent-to-buy homes in the definition of affordable housing, to ensure a minimum proportion of new affordable housing is available on affordable rent-to-buy terms, and to provide relief from stamp duty when an affordable rent-to-buy home is purchased.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat says recent events in Raqqa "gives a lie to Russia's claim that it was in anyway supporting the fight against Daesh".

Alistair Burt says Russia's primary role has been to support Assad's regime, but talks on stabilisation will inevitable include Russia, which "has a responsibility" to do its bit now.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry hails the liberation of a Raqqa as a "vital blow" against so-called Islamic State's "death cult".

She asks for details of the UK's ongoing military strategy in Syria, adding "the very last thing the Middle East needs right now is another vacuum".

The minister responds that we will remain engaged as long as there is a need for us to be there

"It's premature to say anything about a disbandment," he says.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Labour's Julie Elliott says she was "relieved" to hear that privatisation of the broadcaster is off the agenda, and says that she's not a fan of moving Channel 4 outside of London.

She asks how the broadcaster can increase the numbers of independent companies it works with, particularly in under-represented parts of the country.

David Abraham highlights Gogglebox as doing a "remarkable job of reflecting the whole country back to itself".

He also says that Hollyoaks has given hundreds of people their break in television, which is something that should be celebrated.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's John Woodcock pays tribute to the RAF's contribution to efforts to defeat so-called Islamic State, and asks how the UK will engage in attempting to end the civil war in Syria and in reconstruction.

He claims the government has shown a "lack of respect" for Parliament by not proactively updating the House.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt responds that there have been "a range of statements" but it was right to raise an urgent question on Raqqa.

UK troops have trained tens of thousands of troops, he says, which "says much" about the potential for building a sustainable peace.

"We've stepped up our humanitarian support," he adds, which will help bolster healthcare and clear landmines.