House of Commons
Parliament

Defence Minister Mark Lancaster begins his speech with praise for the government's policies on the economy.

"Taxes are low and employment is high," he says, going on to argue that soldiers have seen significant annual pay increases.

Labour MP and former defence minister Kevan Jones intervenes to criticise Mr Lancaster for conflating pay progression, as a member of the armed forces gains experience or promotion, with an annual pay increase.

"I don't think they're going to care too much whether that's pay progression or an annual increase in their pay," Mr Lancaster says.

"It's money in their pocket."

The defence minister claims that pay is not "a primary reason" why people join the armed forces - or why they leave.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Nia Griffith concludes her speech with a call to Conservative MPs to support the opposition motion for a "fair pay rise" for armed forces personnel.

"There's no point in pretending that you want to see their pay improve if you're not prepared to vote for it," the shadow defence secretary says.

"These are men and women who work tirelessly to keep us safe," she adds.

"The fact is, you can't do security on the cheap."

Lisa Nandy reminded MPs how she warned the future prime minister about whips using evidence of sexual harassment "to demand loyalty" from MPs three years ago.

The Labour MP said: "On three occasions, I asked her act and on three occasions, she did not."

Mrs May said she would look back at the previous questions, and added it was "not appropriate" for such claims to be handled by whips, and "people should go to the police."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

During Prime Minister's Questions, Labour's Alison McGovern raised a report by Bishop James Jones commissioned by Theresa May in the wake of the unlawful killing verdicts at last year's Hillsborough inquest.

She said, with reference to the Grenfell Tower fire: "I worry that the pain and suffering of the Hillsborough families is already being repeated."

She called on the government to introduce a duty of candour for all public officials and an end to public bodies spending "limitless sums" representing themselves.

Theresa May welcomed the report, saying the recommendations will need to be looked at carefully.

She said she has "always been very clear the experience of Hillsborough families should not be repeated", pointing out she tried to ensure "fair" legal representation for them.

"We will not forget their experience, we will ensure we learn from that," she pledged.

House of Commons
Parliament

The first of today's Opposition Day debates begins.

The Labour motion calls on the government to end the 1% annual public sector pay cap for the armed forces.

"When it comes to their pay, our armed forces personnel have not been treated with the fairness and decency that their service deserves," says shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith, opening the debate.

They have received a "real-terms pay cut" since Labour left office, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Richard Benyon begins his speech in support of his Armed Forces (Statute of Limitations) Bill.

Mr Benyon, who served in Northern Ireland, claims there is a culture of "retributive politics" from people with what he sees as an "extreme nationalist" position.

He rejects the "argument that there is some kind of equivalence" between paramilitaries and the security forces, arguing that the Good Friday Agreement "effectively gives terrorists a statute of limitations".

He pays tribute to people in Northern Ireland for "moving on" from violence.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Tracy Brabin raises the cause of shared parental leave for self-employed people, which is not currently available.

Theresa May says she's happy to look at this matter but points out that as minister for equalities, "I ensured shared parental leave was introduced".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Following PMQs, Tory MP Richard Benyon will introduce a private members' bill to require a statute of limitations on criminal charges against former members of the armed forces.

The bill's aim is to protect soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles from prosecution.

His Conservative colleague Mark Francois tells the prime minister that, while a restoration of power-sharing in Northern Ireland is desirable, "we cannot do that at the price of pandering to Sinn Fein" by conducting what he sees as a "witch hunt" against former British soldiers.

"We all want to see a Northern Ireland executive restored," Theresa May tells the House.

She calls for any investigations related to the Troubles to be carried out "in a fair and proportionate way, because our soldiers did serve bravely".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, PA

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw raises an Electoral Commission investigation into ex-UKIP donor Arron Banks, whom he calls "the main financial backer of Brexit".

The probe will look at whether the Leave.EU chairman broke the rules over donations or loans made to campaigners.

Mr Bradshaw says this is happening alongside investigations into alleged Russian meddling in the US election, by special counsel Robert Mueller.

He asked whether the UK government is "co-operating fully with the Mueller investigation".

Theresa May says she takes allegations of Russian interference "very seriously" and will work with the US "when required".

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Jack Lopresti asks if the PM will offer support to the Kurds, "to whom we owe so much" for their part in battling so-called Islamic State.

Theresa May welcomes the erosion of IS's hold in the region and tells MPs any political process towards the independence of Kurdistan must be agreed with the government of Iraq.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Chris Davies marks the farmhouse fire in Llangammarch Wells which claimed the lives of a father and five young children, and which has had a devastating effect on the community.

He sends sympathy to the community and praises the work of the emergency services.

Theresa May says he has raised a tragic case and she says she commends the work of the emergency services.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Lib Dem Sir Vince Cable asks the PM to "adjudicate" between the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, who suggested the need for more borrowing to support house-building, and the chancellor, who said we could not afford it.

Theresa May says there's no need to adjudicate as "we're clear it's necessary to build more homes across this country" and £2bn extra has been allocated for affordable housing.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Labour's Lisa Nandy claims she "brought evidence" to Theresa May three years ago that that party whips had used evidence of sexual harassment or assault "to demand loyalty" from MPs.

She adds that she warned that "unless real action was taken we risked repeating those injustices" - and alleges that Mrs May did not take action on the three occasions she brought allegations to her.

The prime minister - who was home secretary three years ago - says she will "look back" at the questions Ms Nandy put to her.

Theresa May adds that it is "not appropriate" for party whips to deal with allegations of sexual harassment or assault, which should go to the police.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Kevin Hollinrake asks the PM to confirm a rebalancing of infrastructure spending across different regions.

Theresa May says they will be doing so as part of the industrial strategy.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, Hoc

Labour MP Bridget Phillipson says the prime minister will be aware that four million children are growing up in poverty and two thirds of those are from working families.

Does she think the introduction of universal credit will bring that number down? Ms Phillipson asks.

The prime minister says the government is looking carefully at the implementation of universal credit but it helps people to get into workplace and keep more of the money that they earn.