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Senior Conservative Ken Clark says the debate on passports has had a "childlike" and "jingoistic element" from the start.

He notes that De La Rue, the firm that did not secure the contract, is a "very successful British company" that wins international contracts and "earns a great deal printing other people currencies".

He says it is totally ridiculous to "bend" the principles of international competition.

The minister, Caroline Nokes, says he is right to point out that the UK wishes to be a "global outwards trading nation".

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Home Office Minister Caroline Nokes replies that Liz Twist is right to "champion the excellent staff in her own constituency" and adds that the new contract will comply with the UK security policy framework and international security standards.

It was important that the government abided by World Trade Organisation, UK and EU law on procurement, she adds.

There was "a great deal of financial due dilligence" in all the companies which were considered for the contract, she says.

The UK is "determined" to have a passport which has all the most up to date security features, she states, and it will mean that the UK passport "is at the forefront of travel security globally".

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Responding to Caroline Nokes, Labour MP Liz Twist asks what the "security implications" are of having British passports printed overseas.

She asks if ministers have assessed the "delivery and reliability" of the successful bid by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto.

She says that Theresa May opened the new headquarters of French company Thalys, which she says took over Gemalto during the procurement process.

She calls on ministers to specify whether Gemalto's bid was discussed during the visit.

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Home Office Minister Caroline Nokes says her department is opening the contract for making UK passports in a "rigorous and open competition".

She notes "security is paramount" but production abroad "presents no security concerns" and there's "no reason why overseas production should not continue".

She cites value for money as one factor in the decision but says she can't confirm details of the bid due to commercial and legal sensitivities.

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An urgent question on the decision to award a contract for the new UK post-Brexit passport to a French firm is under way in the House of Commons.

MPs were up in arms about it last week with the pro-Brexit former cabinet minister Priti Patel calling the decision to hand the new contract to a foreign firm "disgraceful" and "perverse".

It seems that anger over the move has not let up, prompting the Labour MP Liz Twist to secure an urgent question in the House of Commons.

House of Lords
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The House of Lords embarks on day ten of committee-stage debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill, external, which repeals the European Communities Act 1972 and writes EU law into UK law ahead of Brexit.

Committee stage is when peers carry out detailed line-by-line scrutiny of legislation, but amendments are not normally forced to a vote – this happens at report stage.

Lib Dem Lord Tyler introduces an amendment which would limit the scope of delegated powers as they relate to retained EU restrictions in devolution legislation.

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Conservative Marcus Fysh asks what is being done to ban cold calling about pension fund transfers and what the Work and Pensions Department can do to give people up-to-date information on pensions.

Work and Pensions Minister Guy Opperman says the government is committed to ensuring that people have access to pensions advice and guidance.

He adds that the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill, external is to be debated in the Commons tomorrow and he advises Mr Fysh to come along.

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Conservative Baroness Altmann asks, in the light of the recent decision to offer HPV vaccinations to gay men, whether there are plans to provide HPV vaccinations to all boys.

Men who have sex with men are to be offered the (human papilloma virus) HPV vaccination in England from April.

The programme for men aged 45 or younger will start to protect them from some cancers caused by HPV as well as genital warts.

She says oral cancers are among the fastest-growing types of cancer and the only way to protect men directly is to vaccinate them before they become sexually active.

Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy agrees "there are wider health benefits" to vaccinating against HPV but there is an expert group reviewing whether it should be extended to adolescent boys and we should await the outcome of that.

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Labour's Matt Western asks what assessment the department has made of the potential merits of legally requiring parents paying child maintenance to report increases in their income.

Work and Pensions Minister Kit Malthouse says "such an obligation already exists".

Mr Western goes on to ask about how long individuals have to make a declaration after their income changes.

Mr Malthouse says differences must be declared immediately if they vary by 25% of the previously declared level. He adds that every parent is subject to an annual review.

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Conservative Richard Graham asks what assessment has been made of the roll-out of Universal Credit.

Ms McVey replies that three separate independent assessments have found that Universal Credit is having a "positive effect on employer outcomes".

Mr Graham states that "things are moving smoothly ahead" after Labour predicted disaster for the Universal Credit roll-out over Christmas.

Ms McVey says that the "trusted partner" status for landlords working with tenants receiving Universal Credit has been beneficial.

And she accuses the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of giving out "false information" at Prime Minister's Questions by saying one in eight people on UC face eviction over Christmas.

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Baroness Cox, a crossbench peer in the UK's House of Lords, has asked for an assessment of recent developments in Nigeria, with particular reference to attacks on civilians by Boko Haram and Fulani herders.

She highlighted the "murder of hundreds of Christians in recent months" and asked the UK government to step up its representations to Nigeria.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon welcomed the news that some of the girls captured by Boko Haram have been released and stressed these attacks are "abhorrent and must stop".

He said the actions of some Fulani herders have had a "devastating impact" and welcomed President Buhari's promise to help the communities affected.

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The first question comes from Labour's Eleanor Smith, who wants to know what the government is doing to support former Carillion employees.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey says there are 12 defined benefit schemes for former Carillion employees. The Pension Protection Fund is working with the government, she says, to establish if their pensions can be paid at or above PPF benefit levels. Where that cannot be done, PPF will take over responsibility for the pension.

Eleanor Smith says that these workers should not suffer any detriment to their pensions. She asks if the government will consider drawing back bonuses paid to Carillion executives and put the money back into the pension funds.

Ms McVey says the government has produced a white paper on extending regulatory powers for the pensions regulator.

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House of Commons
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The Commons kicks off today at 2.30pm, when MPs will be putting questions to ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions.

After this, there's an urgent question from Labour MP Liz Twist on the awarding of the contract to produce the new UK passports.

There was uproar when it emerged that the new UK passports after Brexit will be manufactured by a French firm.

Theresa May will then make a statement about last week’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels, at which they signed off the details for a post-Brexit transition period.

Leaders also concluded it was "highly likely" that Russia was responsible for the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal earlier this month.

The Liberal Democrat Tom Brake will be making the case for an emergency debate on funding for the Vote Leave campaign.

MPs will then return to security matters with a general debate on relations with Russia.

The day will finish with an adjournment debate on cable standards and fire safety.

Image source, BBC Alex Hunt

Welcome to our live coverage of Monday in Parliament.

It's the last sitting week before Parliament wraps up for the Easter break on Thursday. But there's no sign of the Commons and Lords winding down.

This afternoon in the Commons there's an urgent question on the controversy over UK passports being produced by a French firm. That's followed by a statement from Theresa May on her Brexit discussions with EU leaders last week.

Then, the Commons gets down to a debate on national security and Russia.

Meanwhile, the House of Lords reaches the final furlong on the committee-stage of the EU Withdrawal Bill. Today is Day 10 - one more day to go on Wednesday.

There'll be live updates here on BBC Parliament online for the rest of the day.