Summary

  • Commons started with questions to the culture secretary followed by the attorney general

  • Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom set out future business

  • Two statements on a parliamentary complaints policy and supported housing

  • Debate on Russian interference in UK politics

  • Peers take part in debates on climate change and ivory trade

  1. Just needed to turn to BBC Parliament...published at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Lib Dem MP tweets

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  2. 'Putin is manipulating this debate'published at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Russian interference debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Bernard Jenkin argues that his debate is what Russia wants.

    Russia, he says, wants to be seen have influence and to be "tweaking the face of the west".

    "President Putin is manipulating this debate," he tells MPs.

  3. Leigh: Left is using Russia as an excuse for electoral failurepublished at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Russian interference debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Edward LeighImage source, HoC

    "Let's keep a sense of proportion," suggests Conservative Sir Edward Leigh.

    He cites a study by the Oxford Internet Institute that found that Russian Twitter accounts contributed "relatively little" to the Brexit conversation.

    "If this is the best Russia can do we can probably rest," he says.

    He argues that the left has to find an excuse as to why the workers are "abandoning their ideology" and that Russia provides a convenient explanation.

  4. A tale of Christmas past from the Today in Parliament archives.published at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    In January 2002, the late Lord St John of Fawsley, the Conservative former cabinet minister, Norman St John Stevas, complained about the state of the Christmas cards produced by the House of Lords. From the archives of BBC Radio 4's Today in Parliament.

  5. Labour MP's questions for the governmentpublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Russian interference debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ben BradshawImage source, HoC

    Labour's Ben Bradshaw says that when he first started asking questions about this a year ago, he was treated "as a bit of a crank".

    He says that there are now multiple independent or Parliamentary bodies investigating Russian interference, but he wants to know why the government investigating this themselves, rather than leaving it to Parliament.

    He says that Russia is classified as a Tier 1 threat, but it appears that the intelligence services do not appear to be pursuing them.

    He wants to know how much support is being given to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee by the government in their inquiry.

    "Russia is a nasty, nationalistic, ultra-Conservative corrupt kleptocracy, it's racist, it's homophobic, and it makes no secret of wanting to undermine our democracy," he says.

  6. Optimistic or pessimistic about 2018?published at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Does 2018 promise to be as eventful and unpredictable as the outgoing year in terms of politics?

    Read More
  7. Committee chair criticises social media companiespublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Russian interference debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Damian CollinsImage source, HoC

    Damian Collins, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, says that their first committee session on Russian interference was held earlier this week.

    He says that a Russian bot account replied to his tweet about the committee hearing to say "that we should be careful because we can all be wiped out in a single stroke".

    He says that on a previous occasion when he tweeted a link of a discussion between him and Hugo Rifkind about Russian interference in the US, the Russian Embassy in London Twitter account "compared me to Joseph Goebbels".

    He says there has been a deletion of 30,000 fake accounts which could have been used to cause instability in the West.

    He says Russian accounts all support the separatist cause in Catalonia.

    He criticises the social media companies, and says he doesn't believe that people understand how they can be targeted by hyper-partisan and propaganda content by Russian bots.

  8. 'Russia is a clear and present danger' to the UK - Lib Dempublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Russian interference debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tom BrakeImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat Tom Brake is opening the Backbench Business debate on Russian interference in UK politics and society.

    He says that "Russia is a clear and present danger" to UK democracy.

    It is not a case of one smoking gun, but it is a case of joining up the dots, he says.

    He says that the Scottish independence referendum was a case of Russia trying to discredit the outcome; general interference happened in the United States, and he believes it happened in the EU referendum.

    He is not attacking Russians, he is attacking the Russian government, he adds.

    He says that Russia would have only interfered in the EU referendum if it could damage the UK.

    Mr Brake says that the channel RT is being used as a "tool for destabilisation from the Kremlin," but he says that Ofcom does not always enforce sanctions against the broadcaster.

    He is not advocating shutting down RT, but he wants to see RT to follow Ofcom rules, he says.

    He says that the Electoral Commission has only been asked to investigate Russian adverts on Twitter and Facebook, but not the use of bots.

  9. Missing it much?published at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

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  10. A long-term sustainable planpublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Supported housing statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tom BrakeImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat Tom Brake asks if the minister will commit to an annual review to make sure the investment "does in fact come," and if the government has a long term sustainable plan for the sector.

    Mr Jones says the government is putting in place a long-term sustainable plan for the sector and working with the sector very closely.

  11. Guarantee of 'no penny pinching' sought from SNPpublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Supported housing statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Deirdre BrockImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Deirdre Brock asks for a guarantee "that there will be no penny pinching"; and that extra care housing costs will be met in full by central government, "without quibble or caveat".

    She says the responsibilities for the government cannot be handed over to charities, housing associations or local government.

    Mr Jones says that sheltered rent will cover extra care housing as well.

    He says "this is not at all about penny pinching".

    He says that the government is working with the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales on their funding for this area.

  12. Government 'protecting the most vulnerable' - ministerpublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Supported housing statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Marcus Jones says that short term accommodation beyond 2020 will be covered by a transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions, to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

    He says the government is clear on how future provision will be assessed.

    Tenants will have the help and support they need when the changes come in to effect, he says.

    There are deficiencies in the current system, he adds.

    He says the government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable, and by working with the sector they can get this right, he adds.

  13. 'Folly' and 'flaws' - Labourpublished at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Supported housing statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    John HealeyImage source, HoC

    Shadow housing secretary John Healey says he fails "to see anything fresh in this statement" but welcomes it.

    He says the Commons has played a "big part" in getting the government to reverse its plans on supported housing. Charities and housing associations, as well as MPs, have spoken strongly on this to warn of the "folly and the flaws" of the changes, he adds.

    He says the joint committee report has led the basis for the change in the government's thinking.

    He does, however, say that the statement today "does nothing" to clear up concerns.

    He says the commitment up to 2020 is because the Treasury Red Book shows that the government "has inked in cuts of half a billion pounds in 2021-2022".

    He says grant funding decisions in the future, taking decisions from ministers, will "no longer be needs-led".

  14. Changes to funding to be applied a year laterpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Supported housing statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Marcus JonesImage source, HoC

    Communities and Local Government Minister Marcus Jones is giving a statement on supported housing.

    He says the government is determined to ensure that the funding "protects and boosts" the level of this type of housing.

    Mr Jones says that funding changes will now be applied in April 2020, rather than April 2019.

    He says the government will work in the rented sector to provide better cost control for tenants with long term disabilities or mental health conditions.

    "There are real advantages to this new approach," he says, adding that the government is giving the security that the sector needs. The sector has now given the go-ahead for £50m in investment since the announcement, he says.

    He says women's refuges will now receive the same level of funding they currently receive until 2020.

  15. 'Important that we make more progress' - Lib Demspublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Complaints and grievances statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jo SwinsonImage source, HoC

    Deputy Lib Dem Leader Jo Swinson says it is "important that we make more progress".

    She says many members of the Working Group are "disappointed that we are not further forward". She asks if she agrees that vested interests "not least, whips' offices reluctant to give up their power," must not be allowed to "derail" progress on harassment.

    Ms Leadsom says she has spoken to whips "on all sides of the house" and "all are very keen to see resolution of this matter".

    She says she believes there will be fast progress in the new year.

  16. Get this dealt with 'as quickly as possible' - SNPpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Complaints and grievances statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Pete WishartImage source, HoC

    SNP Commons Business Spokesperson Pete Wishart commends the Leader of the House for the progress that has been made so far.

    It is "profoundly disappointing" that the group has not managed to produce a report before Christmas, he says. By failing to deliver the report, he says that they have "let everyone down in the House".

    "This is far too an important issue to be lost in party political machinery," he says. He asks to get people around the table "as quickly as possible," "so we can start protecting the people of this House".

    Ms Leadsom shares his enthusiasm for further work and speedy progress She says, "we do need to make fast progress."

  17. Labour's stance 'misrepresented'published at 11:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Complaints and grievances statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Valerie VazImage source, HoC

    Shadow Leader of the House Valerie Vaz thanks Andrea Leadsom for her leadership of the group.

    Ms Vaz says that the position of the Labour Party in response to the report was "misrepresented" in the press at the weekend.

    She says it is valuable that people who may not have been consulted get their voices heard.

    Jeremy Corbyn wants a separate independent sexual harassment advisor and support, she says.

    Longer term, there should be mandatory equalities training for all, she says. She suggests it could be included along with fire safety and cyber security training.

    "This is too important an issue," she says and adds that there needs to be an independent team.

  18. Leader of the House outlines new complaints procedurespublished at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Complaints and grievances statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Andrea LeadsomImage source, HoC

    Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom, is giving a statement on an independent complaints and grievance policy for the Houses of Parliament.

    She says a fuller report will be made in the new year following continued consultation. The Parliamentary Working Group features members from all parties represented in the Commons as well as three union leaders.

    The group has also heard from staff in the Parliamentary Estate, as well as business leaders and other significant figures.

    The group accepts that complaints must be held separately from political channels, and that there must be separate ways of handling complaints from staff.

    Andrea Leadsom says there must be an HR service for staff in Parliament, with an interim service introduced in the new year, in lieu of a fuller service to follow.

    A new behaviour code is being consulted on, which will sit alongside the standard code of conduct.

    Sanctions will differ according to the severity of the grievance. Lower level complaints may include training or an apology. In serious cases, further work needs to be carried out in order to make sure that new rules can be enforced.

    The work of the group is "ongoing for the time being," "excellent progress has been made in a short space of time," she concludes.

  19. Report into HMP Liverpool to be published in Januarypublished at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Lords questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    HMP LiverpoolImage source, Press Association

    Labour's Lord Beecham has the final question today, he wants to know if or when the government will publish the recent report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons on HMP Liverpool.

    Justice Minister Lord Keen of Elie notes that "not a pound" has been spent on cell accommodation at the prison since 1994.

    He describes the situation as "deeply troubling" and says the report will be published on 19 January.

  20. Equalities and Brexit?published at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017

    Lords questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Pregnant woman in an officeImage source, Press Association

    Liberal Democrat Baroness Hussein-Ece asks the government what equalities impact assessment they have undertaken into the implications of Brexit.

    Exiting the EU Minister Lord Callanan says the UK does not need to be a part of the EU to have strong equalities protection.

    He adds that UK law already goes beyond EU law. "She need not fear," he says.