House of Lords
Parliament

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The Conservative former MEP, president of the European Parliament and leader of the NFU Lord Plumb is making his valedictory speech in the Lords before he retires aged 92.

He argues for close attention to be paid to agriculture as the UK leaves the EU, in particular to ensure "the rural environment does not become overly industrialised".

He warns that when it comes to trade, it's "not obvious that all the countries that are meant to be queuing up to do a deal with us are motivated by sentiment".

And he concludes by observing his instinct is that "the future direction of Britain and Europe will favour reconvergence".

House of Commons
Parliament

Liberal Democrat spokesman Alistair Carmichael asks whether ministers will consider a proposal by Lib Dem peer Lord Alderdice - a former leader of Northern Ireland's cross-community Alliance Party.

He proposes that, although the devolved executive is suspended, "the Assembly itself could be reconvened" so that UK ministers could consult it while making decisions.

James Brokenshire argues that "our focus must lie on how we can get that agreement" to restore devolution in full.

The Democratic Unionist Party is the only Northern Ireland party sitting in the House of Commons.

Sinn Féin won seven Commons seats in the general election but its MPs have always refused to sit in Parliament at Westminster, though its members have taken part in devolved government at Stormont.

Sinn Féin said it was prepared to resume negotiations. Its Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said her party had tried to be "flexible", but "endless talks without conclusion are not sustainable".

Sinn Féin's demand for legislation to give official status to the Irish language has become one of the main stumbling blocks in negotiations to restore the executive.

Party president Gerry Adams has said the DUP has not engaged in a serious way about his party's desire to see an Irish language act and provision for same-sex marriage.

House of Commons
Parliament

Nigel Dodds, the DUP's Westminster leader, blames Sinn Fein for the failure of talks.

He says Sinn Fein and the DUP had reached agreement "as recently as December" but now accuses the other party of now "setting new preconditions for the formation of the government".

He insists: "We would set the government up tomorrow. Sinn Fein are blocking it."

Mr Dodds adds that it is right for Westminster to set a budget while the devolved government is suspended.

House of Commons
Parliament

The people of Northern Ireland have "every right to be disappointed in the politicians", says SNP spokeswoman Deidre Brock.

"It is essential that control is returned to Belfast as soon as is politically possible," she says, asking "exactly what the insurmountable issues are".

James Brokenshire says it is for Northern Ireland's parties to "find that agreement that has not yet been found".

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith says Theresa May should take a more active role in the talks.

"The prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland could get stuck into this problem," he tells MPs.

Mr Smith claims that Mrs May only visited Northern Ireland once "for a 15 minute photo call" during the election campaign, and has not attended a session of the negotiations between the parties.

Labour will support a budget bill in Westminster because "public services need investment, not cuts".

House of Commons
Parliament

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire makes a statement to the House, after the latest cross-party talks broke up without a deal.

He says Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government for nine months since power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein collapsed.

Mr Brokenshire says the UK government will introduce a budget bill to Parliament after the November recess in order to protect the delivery of public services in Northern Ireland.

It will cover the current financial year only and not contain spending decisions made by him or other UK ministers, he adds.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Conservative former chancellor Lord Lawson of Blaby asserts the row over the documents is "nonsense" since it has been shown the Treasury "hasn't a clue" on Brexit's short-term economic impact.

Since the policies in each sector has not yet been decided, the request for analysis of them is a "complete farce" designed to embarrass the government, he tells the House.

The minister responds that the opposition is entitled to ask for any documents they wish.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's motion yesterday - and whether it is binding - has led to calls for parliamentary procedure guide Erskine May, external to made available online.

Labour MP Chris Bryant says that it is not available on the internet but on Parliament's internal intranet, "in a 1000 page PDF which expressly says it is not for the public".

Mr Bryant jokes that people "are demanding that Erskine May be available to them" without having to buy a copy of the book.

"Everybody in their living room is clamouring for their online copy of Erskine-May," Andrea Leadsom jokes - but indicates that she will look into making it more widely available.

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Labour's Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall says she's "intrigued" by the minister's stipulation that the documents do not exist in the form requested, asking: "What are we talking about then?"

Brexit Minister Lord Callanan says the Labour motion carried in the Commons referred to impact assessments but they are in fact sectoral analyses - "there's a big difference".

House of Commons
Parliament

Following ministerial statements on Northern Ireland and sentencing, MPs will take part in two debates on topics chosen by the Backbench Business Committee.

The first concerns unaccompanied child refugees in Europe. The motion calls on the government to ensure they have "safe and legal means to reunite with family and relatives in the EU" after Brexit.

The second debate is on sexual harassment and violence in schools.

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Parliament

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Lib Dem leader in the Lords, Lord Newby, asks: "If the documents are factual assessments how could that conceivably undermine negotiations?

"Surely it just helps the country to understand?"

The Brexit minister replies that the government "wants to be as open as possible" but "we must be careful not to prejudice" talks with the EU.

He observes the EU has not released any similar assessments.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour's Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town is asking the Lords equivalent of an urgent question on the disclosure of the government’s Brexit sectoral impact assessments to the House of Lords European Union Select Committee.

Last night in the Commons, Labour used an unusual piece of procedure to pass a motion to apply fresh pressure to release a series of Brexit impact studies.

She asks for confirmation the handover will be soon, and in a non-redacted form.

Brexit Minister Lord Callanan says the "government has to reflect" on last night's events and discussions will take place between his department and the relevant committees.

He adds the documents do not exist in the form requested.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Philip Hollobone says that British members of so-called Islamic State should be "put on trial for treason" if they return to the UK.

"If they are not safe to be allowed within our society, then the appropriate steps will be taken," Commons leader Andrea Leadsom tells him.

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Chief Whip Gavin Williamson has been appointed as the new defence secretary after Sir Michael Fallon's resignation.

Theresa May has moved quickly to replace Sir Michael, who quit on Wednesday over allegations about his past behaviour.

Announcing his resignation, Sir Michael said his conduct had "fallen short" of the required standards.

Mr Williamson has been replaced as chief whip by his former deputy, Julian Smith.

In the role Mr Smith will be in charge of enforcing party discipline in the Commons, and his deputy will be Tatton MP - and former GMTV presenter - Esther McVey.

Read more.

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Conservative Baroness Gardner of Parkes calls on the government to support the return of residential properties, presently let on a short-term basis, to the long-term housing rental market, particularly in London.

Her comments are echoed by Lib Dem Lord Tope, who highlights a survey suggesting a 75% increase in Airbnb multi-listings over the last year, while London "desperately needs" long-term letting.

Government spokesman Lord Young of Cookham tells peers that his administration "supports the sharing economy" and has no plans to reduce the number of properties available for short-term lets.

He stresses that in London short-term lets can only be made for under 90 days, and the city needs to "compete with other tourist destinations".

House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP spokesman Pete Wishart says it is 50 years to the day since Winnie Ewing was elected as the Scottish National Party's first MP.

He adds that the MP for Hamilton famously said: "Stop the world, Scotland wants to get on."

Turning to measures to address sexual harassment and abuse, Mr Wishart says he hopes it will be an opportunity to "tackle the inbuilt, patriarchal hierarchy" at Westminster.

And he attacks attempts to reform the House Lords, via plans announced by the Lords itself to cut its numbers.

Mr Wishart likens this to "asking the vampire community to reform the local bloodbank" and calls the chamber "an unelected embarrassment".

"The honourable gentleman never holds back in speaking his mind," observes leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom.