House of Commons
Parliament

"Any new process must put complainants at the heart of it," says shadow leader of House Valerie Vaz ,and the House cannot "impose" a solution to the problem of sexual harassment.

She commits to cross-party co-operation to tackle harassment and abuse, telling her her Conservative opposite number: "The Labour Party will be sending you our policies today."

Ms Vaz also proposes that "every employee should go on an equality training course" to change the culture in Westminster.

House of Lords
Parliament

The first question today in the Lords is from Labour's Baroness McDonagh on how how the £5m public fund celebrating the centenary of women acquiring the vote has been allocated.

She claims some charities haven't heard yet whether their applications for funding have been approved.

Equalities Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford points to plans for a statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square and a small grants fund.

She says charities should hear more "soon".

House of Commons
Parliament

Next week's business will include a debate on UK membership of the European Economic Area, a trading agreement under which some non-EU states have access to the single market.

During the following week, committee stage of the EU Withdrawal Bill will begin, Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom adds.

"This has been a difficult week for Parliament," she says - but it has been "even harder" for those who have come forward with allegations of harassment or abuse.

"A cross-party solution is the only solution," she adds, thanking representatives of other parties who have met with her to discuss ways of tackling sexual harassment in Westminster.

House of Commons
Parliament

SNP Europe spokesman Peter Grant says the UK government should recognise "the right of people to determine their own future".

He adds: "The actions of Gandhi, Mandela and many others were illegal and unconstitutional."

Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan says: "We should not draw parallels between quite different situations."

Image source, EPA/GETTY IMAGE

It is the biggest political crisis in Spain for 40 years and a major challenge for the European Union.

After years of mutual hostility, independence supporters have proclaimed Catalonia a republic - and Spain has responded by imposing direct rule on the autonomous region.

So how could events unfold in Catalonia now?

Read more.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HOC

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry says the people of Catalonia have been forced into a "binary choice" between a unilateral declaration of independence or direct rule by Madrid.

Neither of those choices are satisfactory, she argues, adding: "The longer we are stuck with this false binary choice, the deeper those divisions will become."

Ms Thornberry calls scenes of police violence "horrific" and calls on the UK government to encourage moves towards "peace, dialogue and an end to division".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Conservative MP Julian Lewis says that, regardless of which side members were on in the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, the UK can look on it as a "cause of satisfaction and an example to others".

Sir Alan Duncan says that the scenes of Spanish police trying to prevent voting in the referendum in Catalonia are "not the sort of this we want to see" but insists that the vote was illegal.

"No two situations are alike," he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan answers the urgent question on Catalonia.

It follows a declaration of independence by the Catalonia's parliament, after a referendum which Madrid declared illegitimate.

Sir Alan says the referendum was "illegal" and the UK government "does not, and will not, recognise this declaration of independence".

The government wants to see "Spanish unity preserved".

Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams, who tabled the question, calls on all parties "to enter into talks".

Gavin Williamson has been appointed Defence Secretary, Downing Street has announced.

Mr Williamson is the former chief whip.

Ruth Davidson says culture of overwhelmingly male-dominated professions has got to stop

House of Commons
Parliament

Ministers are taking topical questions from MPs and Labour MP Stella Creasy asks about funding allocated for Brexit contingency planning.

Ms Creasy says her constituents want to know: "How much is all of this going to cost us?"

Different government departments are giving different information, she adds, with some departments "expecting the Treasury to pick up the tab" and others not spending any money because they anticipate a successful Brexit deal.

David Davis tells her: "The Treasury is putting aside £250m for contingency planning this year and a total of £500m overall."

Where that is spent will depend on the progress of the negotiations, he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Philip Hollobone asks what powers the European Parliament has "to block a UK-EU withdrawal agreement".

Brexit Secretary David Davis says MEPs are "entitled to a straight yes or no vote" on a final Brexit deal.

The European Parliament "does not have the power to amend the withdrawal agreement", he adds, insisting that UK negotiators are "expecting success" in Brexit negotiations.

But Mr Hollobone says that "crazed Europhile" politicians will seek to block a Brexit deal in the European Parliament and the UK should "redouble our efforts to prepare for a no deal situation".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Jeff Smith asks about the potential effect on the UK of exiting the EU without a deal.

Minister Robin Walker says it would be irresponsible of the government not to prepare for all possible outcomes.

Mr Smith accuses ministers of "hiding" the full effects of Brexit by not publishing impact assessments and asks how businesses and others can make plans if they do not have access to the information.

Conservative MP David Jones, however, thinks the potential impact of Brexit will be good and the EU wants to "panic" the UK "into handing over large sums of money".

House of Commons
Parliament

Last night the government accepted a Labour motion calling for the release of a series of Brexit impact studies, following a Commons debate.

The government had resisted publication, arguing that the information could harm the UK's negotiating position.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, who tabled the motion calling for the reports to be given to the Brexit Select Committee, asks when this will happen.

Brexit Minister Robin Walker says the government "will respond appropriately... as soon as conceivable".

Sir Keir retorts: "As soon as conceivable, I would hope, means the end of the week."

He adds that the committee should see the full reports, "not redacted copies".

House of Commons
Parliament

Questions to the Exiting the EU department begin with a question on maintaining the rights of non-UK EU nationals resident in the UK after Brexit, from Conservative MP Luke Graham.

Fellow Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown says that UK citizens living elsewhere in the the EU also "need rapid reassurance of their status".

Brexit Minister Robin Walker claims that the UK and EU are "within touching distance of reaching an agreement" on residents' rights.

House of Commons
Parliament

The day in the Commons kicks off with questions to Brexit Secretary David Davis and his team of ministers.

An urgent question follows at 10:30am, when Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams asks for a statement on the political situation in Catalonia.

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom will announce the forthcoming Commons business and take questions, before two more ministerial statements.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire will update the House after talks to restore power-sharing broke up without a deal.

Justice Secretary David Lidington will then make a statement on sentencing.