House of Commons
Parliament

"If the principle of disclosure is agreed, then we are open for discussion as to exactly how that works," Sir Keir tells ministers.

He argues that releasing the Brexit impact assessments to the Commons Committee on Exiting the EU, as Labour's motion says, is an obvious method.

And he asks: "Who is making the decision that these reports can't be disclosed?

"It cannot be the relevant cabinet members, because they have not read the reports."

He asks whether Brexit Secretary David Davis has made the decision - and whether a record exists of who has made the decision for each report.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

There's a brief question from Nusrat Ghani on serving English sparkling wine at embassies overseas, which Mr Johnson says they do serve.

Ms Ghani asks Mr Johnson to write to the committee on this. Sir Simon McDonald points out that "English sparkling wines are not necessarily the most competitively priced".

With that, the committee draws to a close.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer opens the next Opposition Day debate, on a motion calling for the release of a series of Brexit impact studies.

The government has confirmed that 58 reports looking at different sectors of the economy have been prepared but it is resisting calls to publish them, saying to do so would undermine the UK's negotiating position.

Normally, Opposition Day motions are not binding on the government but, in this case, Labour has tabled a motion that "an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty" requiring that the reports "be laid before this House and that the impact assessments arising from those analyses be provided to the Committee on Exiting the European Union".

If the motion is passed, it becomes a resolution of the House and it is for the government to decide how to respond.

The same procedure was used at the beginning of today's Commons session to enable a report on Hillsborough to be laid before the House - but its use as an Opposition Day tactic is almost unheard of.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Boris Johnson is asked if Turkey should be made a human rights priority.

Mr Johnson says that we have a risk where we could "push Turkey further away," and "we encourage Turkey further down what we would say would be the wrong path."

Labour MP Ian Murray asks if human rights or trade take priority with Turkey.

Mr Johnson says the government raises human rights violations frequently.

Mr Johnson says that if Turkey has greater economic growth, then the higher chance Turks will have at beating radicalisation amongst their younger people.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Lib Dem Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted is concerned that the government's bill will mean that regulations on money laundering will be brought in through "unamendable legislation".

She says these regulations are something which "impinges on the life of everyone opening a bank account".

"It's a very strange way to take back control," she notes, arguing that whatever the problems with the EU "at least there was a parliamentary process".

Reality Check

During PMQs the prime minister said: “The top 1% of earners in this country are paying 28% of the tax burden. That is the highest percentage ever of any government.”

Theresa May was answering a question from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who claimed: “The amount of tax paid by the super-rich in income tax has fallen from £4.4bn to £3.5bn since 2009.”

Whilst Mrs May is correct in using the 28% figure (it’s estimated to be 27.7% for 2017/18), she’s wrong to say it represents the highest percentage ever.

In fact, according to HM Revenue and Customs, the income tax burden for the highest earners was slightly higher in 2015/16 when it reached 28.9%.

It should, however, be pointed out that the figures from 2015 onwards are estimates and could be revised.

Also, the broad trend since 1999 has been a rising tax burden for the very richest.

My Corbyn’s claim about the amount of tax paid by the super-rich is backed up by a National Audit Officereport, external published last November.

However the report only covers up to the year 2014/15.

Image source, HMRC

House of Commons
Parliament

The motion, calling on the government "to end the public sector pay cap for the armed forces and give armed forces personnel a fair pay rise" is agreed without a vote.

This has become a common feature of Opposition Day debates since the government lost its Commons majority in June, with the government side abstaining rather than voting against.

The motion is not binding on the government, so ministers do not have to take action in response to it.

House of Commons
Parliament

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood replies to the debate on behalf of the government, arguing that the call for a pay rise for the armed forces has to be looked at in the context of "fiscal responsibility".

"We inherited a deficit of almost £150bn," Mr Ellwood says, adding that the UK pays debt interest of £50bn a year.

"We cannot simply take money if it does not exist," he tells the House, adding that armed forces personnel benefit from subsidised accommodation, food and free medical and dental care.

He adds that the government is undertaking a capability to review to determine the various roles of the armed forces, and consequently their size and the equipment they need.

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Chris Bryant is allowed to ask two brief questions, he starts on any potential interference from Russia in British politics.

Mr Johnson says he has seen no information about this topic.

Mr Bryant asks if Foreign Office officials are helping with Robert Mueller's investigation.

Mr Johnson says he doesn't think they've "had any requests thus far."

House of Commons
Parliament

More personnel are leaving the Army than are joining, says shadow armed forces minister Wayne David.

"Members of the armed forces feel their pay has been constrained," he adds.

Turning to Labour's tax and spending priorities, he says: "We will demand that the super rich actually pay a little bit more, rather than enjoying the largesse that this government has given them."

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Labour's Mike Gapes turns to Syria.

He says that Russia, Iran and Turkey and frequently meet in Astana, Kazakhstan, and they "seem to have a clear, joint approach".

Mr Johnson says that most of "operational Syria" is in the hands of Assad and the regime.

There are still parts of Syria which are not under Assad's control, he adds. The Americans are being "much tougher", he says, which he says means there are chips on the board for political negotiation.

There are parts of Syria which Assad still doesn't have power in, which could lead to a conversation, Mr Johnson says.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Peers move on to second reading of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, external, which is designed to ensure that when the UK leaves the EU, it can continue to impose, update, and lift sanctions and anti-money laundering regimes.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon says the UK has played a "leading role" in tackling money laundering, and these measures are "increasingly important in this globalised world".

He explains the UK has some domestic powers to impose sanctions, but they will not be sufficient after the UK ceases to be part of EU-wide measures.

"I'm very keen we get a deal with the EU but I am not afraid of not getting a deal," says Liam Fox.

House of Commons
Parliament

"It's not just pay," says Labour MP Vernon Coaker, accepting some of the comments from Conservatives about issues such as accommodation.

But he adds that there are problems with recruitment and retention in the armed forces today.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Royston Smith is asking questions on Kurdistan and the Kurdish independence referendum.

Mr Johnson says the UK government was very active in trying to stop the referendum from going ahead.

He says he cannot envisage an independent Kurdistan. He says is a great admirer of the Kurdish people and their ambitions.

He says an independent Kurdistan "could be very different from other places in that vicinity, it could be democratic, it could be liberal, it could be pluralist."

He pays tribute to Ann Clwyd for her work with the Kurds over the years.

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Lord Haskel asks for a response to the recent review of mental health and employers, Thriving at Work, external.

He asks for it to become part of the inspection regime for public services, including education and prisons.

Government spokesperson Baroness Buscombe says she's pleased to say ministers accept the report in full and intend to implement it across the civil service.

She agrees it's something that needs to be taken seriously.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Kevan Jones gets involved in another argument with a Conservative MP when Johnny Mercer attacks Labour's record on defence.

Mr Jones, a former defence minister, angrily denies that the last Labour government cut support for veterans.

Having criticised the party opposite, Mr Mercer then says: "This should not be a partisan issue."

He adds that "we do need to work harder" on care for veterans, including mental health.

He insists he is not a "lackey" of the government on defence matters, but argues that of the many matters that need to be dealt with, "pay is not one of them".

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Labour leader in the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon asks about waiting times for patients using the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

She asks the government to step in to ensure proper funding and decent management.

Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy acknowledges it's "not a good enough level of service" but "some progress has been made", including £500,000 of special measures funding.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Alex Chalk says the UK has the second largest defence budget in Nato and the largest in the EU.

He accuses Labour of wanting "more borrowing, more debt, more tax".

He argues that this means "there are people born today" who will be denied the support of public services in 30 years, because of "the cupboard being bare".

Labour's Kevan Jones intervenes to say that "the government can find £1bn out of thin air" for Northern Ireland to secure the support of the DUP in Parliament.

"That is an argument that has been made with, respectfully, tedious regularity," Mr Chalk retorts.

The Conservatives secured a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to back Theresa May's minority government following the election in June.

There will be £1.5bn in funding - consisting of £1bn of new money and £500m of previously announced funds - over the next two years for infrastructure, health and education in Northern Ireland.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

"Does the UK have any direct links with Hamas?" asks Mr Tugendhat.

"We obviously, talk to, a wide range of people across the world," Mr Johnson says, "I wouldn't want to rule out, or mislead the committee on this matter, I wouldn't want to exclude the possibility of our talking to Hamas."

"That's not a yes or a no," says committee chair Tom Tugendhat.

"In the end, good diplomacy involves talking to all sorts of people," Mr Johnson says.