House of Commons
Parliament

Speaking for the SNP, Pete Wishart says Scotland did not want Brexit but Scotland "will be taken out of the European Union against our own collective will."

He states that in 2014 Scotland was told the only way it could stay in the EU was to remain a part of the UK.

As for the scheduled business after the Easter recess, he comments: "This is general debate central".

Parliament has now "gone to make its maker", he continues, and is a "zombie Parliament".

Ms Leadsom jokingly responds that she appreciates the Monty Python references in his speech.

She also picks up on his joke about the prime minister's planned walking holiday in Wales, advising Mrs May to get some rest and relaxation during the Easter recess.

House of Commons
Parliament

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom says discussions on debates are still held through the usual channels.

Ms Leadsom states that the usual channels are still open for the government to table debates where important and necessary to have.

On Cambridge Analytica, she says the Information Commissioner's powers will be strengthened.

House of Commons
Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow leader of the House, Valerie Vaz, wearily repeats her weekly query about when report stages will be announced for the Trade Bill, Customs Bill and Sanctions and Anti-Laundering Money Bill.

She goes on to highlight the four hours of evidence given by Cambridge Analytica to the culture committee on Tuesday about possible breaches of electoral law.

She seeks assurances that if the electoral commissioner requires further resources to investigate, she will get receive them.

As for "half time" in the Brexit process, she says Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland are "still anxious" about what it will mean to them.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom. is announcing future business in the House of Commons. Highlights include:

Monday: Laser Misuse Bill, external and a general debate on housing

Tuesday: a general debate on anti-semitism followed by another general debate on banking misconduct

Wednesday: remaining stages of the Laser Misuse Bill, external, a general debate on industrial strategy

Thursday: surgical mesh and cancer treatment backbench debates

Provisional business for the 23rd April is the second reading of the Empty Dwellings Bill, external

Ms Leadsom finishes by wishing everyone, of all faiths and none, a happy and peaceful Easter.

House of Lords
Parliament

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At the start of a Brexit-themed question time marking one year to go, Lib Dem Baroness Ludford claims the government is pursuing "Brexit in name only" and is set to become "a vassal state".

In light of this she asks, "what is the point?" and "why won't they agree to let the people have a say?"

Brexit Minister Lord Callanan replies that the point is to "implement the referendum" and "people have already had a say - in the referendum and the subsequent election, neither of which went very well for the Liberal Democrats".

House of Commons
Parliament

Responding to calls for an apology from the government by shadow deputy leader of the House, Cat Smith, Cabinet Office Minister Chloe Smith says she is "sorry for any concern that has been caused".

Earlier, a letter was sent to some victims of the contaminated blood inquiry telling them they wouldn't be afforded legal funding to speak to the inquiry.

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's Stuart C McDonald is also concerned about the letter to victims from the Cabinet Office, calling it "contemptuous and insulting".

He thinks it is time for a review of legal aid, he adds.

The minister replies that the issue they are discussing today does not relate to legal aid.

House of Commons
Parliament

Minister Chloe Smith pays tribute to the work Diana Johnson has undertaken on the contaminated blood scandal.

She states that ministers share her and are keen to start the inquiry as soon as possible.

She says that under the Inquiries Act, it is for ministers to make decisions on whether an inquiry is exceptional and therefore requires additional funding.

That is what the government has done today, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Replying to the minister, Labour MP Diana Johnson says: "I wish that decision had been made earlier."

She says that the victims of the blood scandal have "battled for many many years".

And she explains that they were upset by a letter from the Cabinet Office on 23rd March "suggesting that Grenfell was somehow more deserving" than the contaminated blood scandal of legal funding.

She goes on to say that a further 70 people have died since the public inquiry was announced.

And in conclusion, she says: "I'm really pleased that the minister and government have accepted the arguments that individuals should also have access to legal advice and guidance."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Cabinet Office Minister Chloe Smith says that the government is going to ensure the inquiry has all the funding it needs to be completed quickly and fully.

She states that the government is going to ensure that all those who want to speak to the inquiry can do so, saying that the government is not denying funding for legal representation during the inquiry.

The money will be available as soon as the inquiry is up and running, she adds.

Claims for reasonable compensation will be available, she tells MPs, but will be determined by the solicitor to the inquiry.

She reassures MPs that the inquiry chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, a former High Court Judge. wants to make sure everyone who wants to contribute to the inquiry can do so.

Labour MP Diana Johnson is asking an urgent question about the contaminated blood scandal and why legal funding has been denied to victims to prepare for a public inquiry.

Last July, it was annuonced that there would be a UK-wide inquiry into the scandal that left at least 2,400 people dead.

Thousands of NHS patients were given blood products from abroad that were infected with hepatitis C and HIV.

It's been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.

Many of those affected and their families believe they were not told of the risks involved and there was a cover-up.

Mrs May said: "They deserve answers, and the inquiry that I have announced today will give them those answers, so they will know why this happened, how it happened.

"This was an appalling tragedy and it should never have happened."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow women and equalities minister Carolyn Harris says that many victims of domestic abuse are suffering as a result of Universal Credit being paid into a single bank account.

She asks if the government considered the circumstances of these women.

The minister Kit Malthouse says that consideration was given, which is why there is an alternative payment method.

The government is tackling the problem of domestic abuse, he states, and there is no evidence as yet, he says, that in areas where UC has been rolled out it is exacerbating the situation.

House of Commons
Parliament

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First question comes from Conservative Kevin Foster, who asks about the trends in women choosing STEM degree courses such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Minister for Women and Equalities, Amber Rudd, says that there is "good progress, more to do," on this. She says the latest data from e University College Admissions Service (UCAS) shows there's been a 25% increase in the number of women accepted on to full-time undergraduate STEM courses since 2010.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour's David Hanson asks what assurances have been received from US trade officials that tariffs on UK steel will not be applied for national security reasons.

Liam Fox says the government welcomes the fact that EU exports have been temporarily exempted from new US tariffs on steel and aluminium.

He adds that tariffs are not the best way to deal with concerns about the overcapacity of steel worldwide.

Mr Hanson says 15% of UK steel goes to the United States, and that a "pause" on tariffs is "not good enough". He asks if Liam Fox is working to make the reprieve permanent.

Liam Fox says the UK is working with the EU to ensure a permanent exemption.

He adds that UK steel only makes up 1% of American steel imports, and that it is of a higher quality than that manufactured by American firms.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine asks how the department will allow Parliament to scrutinise future trade arrangements.

Greg Hands says that the government believes strongly that Parliament should scrutinise future agreements, adding that future trade policy is currently being designed.

Ms Jardine says that the European Parliament can veto EU trade deals - whilst all Westminster can do is delay ratification by 21 days.

She references a Commons research document which says the UK may see "diminishing democratic accountability" for UK trade treaties.

Mr Hands says he will "take no lessons," from Ms Jardine, who he says voted against the second reading of the Trade Bill which allowed the UK to transition existing trade agreements into UK law.

He says that those agreements have already had extensive scrutiny.