House of Commons
Parliament

Lib Dem Wera Hobhouse asks for an example of a country outside the customs union bordering an EU country with no hard border.

Theresa May says if she's alluding to the Irish border, "we've already set out some ways in which it could be done".

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

The House of Lords is now also picking over the outcome of the EU summit.

Shadow Leader of the House, Baroness Smith of Basildon, says the past couple of weeks have been eventful for the government. She says the Prime Minister has now travelled to the continent three times to secure a deal.

She think cabinet unity on Brexit was short-lived, with the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and the Environment Secretary Michael Gove suggesting different ideas.

She says the cabinet must stop "freelancing" on ideas.

She asks if the government can confirm the terms which will be granted over the transition period.

Image source, HoC

The Speaker firmly slaps down a Conservative Nigel Evans for attempting to ask a question about Labour's policy on Brexit.

Mr Evans comments that it changes "depending on who I am listening to".

The Speaker cuts him off, reminding him that questions about the opposition are "not a matter for the government"

When Mr Evans - a former deputy speaker - remonstrates, Mr Bercow bellows: "Don't shake your head at me, Mr Evans."

He adds that Mr Evans "ought to know" the rules "after his long experience".

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Committee chair Clive Betts asks what the situation will be in 12 months time.

Judith Hackitt says there will be a "shift in culture and numerous different practices" but adds that "we will be waiting for formal enactment of legislation".

And that is where the committee ends.

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour’s Mike Amesbury asks if the construction industry is competent.

"I am confident they can be," replies Judith Hackitt.

She points to “the massive culture change” in the way construction companies looked after the safety of their own employees – leading to one of the “safest ever” Olympic Games building sites.

She says the construction industry now “needs to repeat that” but with a focus on the people who are going to live in their buildings.

House of Commons
Parliament

Following a question from Conservative Sir Desmond Swayne, Theresa May rules out extending the Article 50 notification period.

She says "progress needs to be accelerated" in negotiations to prepare for Brexit on 29 March 2019.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg warns that the UK could be "no more than a vassal state, a serf of the EU" during the transition period due to the "hostile" negotiating terms.

Theresa May points out a negotiation requires two partners and the UK will be "very clear" on the future relationship it wants on trade and security matters.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

DUP leader at Westminster Nigel Dodds says the Opposition has a confusing stance on a second referendum. He asks if she agrees that a second referendum is the "surest way" to make the European Commission and the EU give their "hardest deal" for the UK.

Mrs May says that in the space of one day over the weekend, the Shadow Home Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party disagreed over a second referendum. She says she believes that a second referendum would "betray the British people".

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Picking up on Dame Judith's comments about the impact of complex ownership models on fire safety, Labour's Fiona Onasanya says that "surely ensuring that the building is safe is the responsibility of the owner?"

"I wish it were that simple," replies Dame Judith.

She says that owners can be based offshore and that "pinning down" the owner can be "quite difficult".

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

A quick look at the Communities Committee again, ahead of the Commons statement later this afternoon on building regulations.

A Conservative Kevin Hollinrake summarises Dame Judith's interim findings: "The rules are unclear, roles are unclear, the assessment of competencies is inadequate, compliance is weak."

"It seems incredible that we are in this position," says the MP asking: "How did we end up here?"

Dame Judith replies that a reduction in the number of deaths in fires may have led to complacency.

She also suggests that "complex ownership models" covering residents associations, housing associations and landlords may have contributed.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Chris Leslie urges the Prime Minister to ignore calls for a "sketch of a framework" for a future arrangement at exit day and to try and have the fullest agreement possible when the UK leaves. He says a half-baked arrangement would be "unacceptable".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative John Redwood asks if there will be no binding agreement on "divorce" payments to the EU until there is an agreement which Parliament accepts. He adds that he cannot see how else the UK could proceed.

Mrs May says the Joint Progress Report which was published by the UK and the EU before the December Council "made absolutely clear that the settlement within that was in the context of going forward and having agreement on the future relationship".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Yvette Cooper asks for the prime minister's response to the government defeat on the EU Withdrawal Bill last week, which she says sought to ensure "power is not too heavily concentrated in the hands of executive".

Theresa May tells her "the will of Parliament overall has been to deliver the vote of the British people" and it was "always clear there would be a meaningful vote" on the withdrawal agreement.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Hilary Benn, Chair of the Brexit Committee, asks the Prime Minister if she will respect all agreements made in the phase one deal and if they will be translated into legal terms as quickly as possible.

Mrs May says there will now be a process of putting the withdrawal agreement to the Commons and that the government has always been clear that there would be a meaningful vote.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Anna Soubry says "what business really wants is certainty" and asks when a transition period will be announced.

Mrs May says EU leaders "accepted there should be such a transition period" and talks on its terms should be concluded in first quarter of 2018.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, says he welcomes the advancement to phase two adds that Donald Tusk "was not kidding" when he said phase two would be much more difficult. And he welcomes decisions on education and culture.

Mrs May says the UK has committed to remain part of Erasmus for the current budget period but future relationships are subject to the next agreements reached.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Iain Duncan Smith asks if Theresa May can confirm the government has not agreed with Michel Barnier's statement that the UK cannot have a bespoke trade deal.

Theresa May stresses that the UK has yet to start negotiations on that but notes that an official has "made very clear the UK can have its own bespoke agreement".

House of Commons
Parliament

Theresa May says the agreement on phase 1 is the result of detailed work over a number of months and that citizens' rights will be respected.

The financial settlement, she says, is subject to approval and a final deal being reached.

The UK will leave the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy, she adds.

Turning her fire on Labour, she says the party voted against a bill which would have protected EU workers' rights in the UK.