Select Committee
Parliament

"I do not think no deal is a significant probability at all. I think the massively higher probability is a deal," says Mr Davis, under further questioning from Seema Malhotra.

He says that "nobody wants that, no other country wants that".

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Labour's Seema Malhotra asks David Davis to clarify further that the withdrawal agreement text brought to parliament in October will be "the final text".

It will be the text we will have negotiated at the time," replies the Brexit secretary.

Ms Malhotra asks whether it will be amendable by MPs.

"The House will not be able to directly amend the agreement. The agreement will be in the form of an international treaty," replies Mr Davis.

She asks what will happen if the House of Lords does not pass the withdrawal agreement. Mr Davis has said peers have promised to "defer to the Commons".

"The Commons is the critical vote."

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay asks about what reciprocal arrangements have been agreed for UK citizens in other EU countries.

"Not at this stage, no I don't. At least I don't," says David Davis, adding that it's an issue that needs to be returned to.

He adds that the "practicalities" of onward movement also still need to be addressed - "but we haven't got to that point yet".

Select Committee
Parliament

Hilary Benn asks David Davis whether the government will change its policy if the Commons votes to remain in the customs union.

"I expect the government's policy to be upheld," Mr Davis replies.

But if it isn't, you're going to have to respect it, aren't you? presses Mr Benn.

"The government always respects Parliament, but I expect the government's policy to be upheld, for good reason," the Brexit secretary tells him.

Select Committee
Parliament

"If the political declaration covering our future relationship is all we're likely to get as part of the withdrawal agreement, then inevitability negotiations on a treaty are likely to spill over into the transition period, isn't that correct?" says Mr Benn.

"It is not our intention that it will," says David Davis. He says that "various important players" have made it plain that they want the substantive future partnership to be "very detailed".

He says there's no reason why it can't be turned into a treaty before the end of the Article 50 period.

Select Committee
Parliament

Mr Benn continues by asking whether the government's motion on the EU withdrawal agreement will be amendable.

"I think so", says David Davis.

Mr Benn presses the Brexit Secretary for assurances that the government will treat the vote as "binding".

"If the House rejects the proposed negotiation, the negotiation will fall," David Davis replies.

Select Committee
Parliament

Committee chair, Labour's Hilary Benn begins by asking by asking about the "meaningful vote on the withdrawal agreement".

"How long will parliament have to scrutinise it before we get to vote on it?" he asks.

Mr Davis says that there will be "several votes on the outcome of this negotiation".

He promises that the meaningful vote "will come before the European Parliament does it".

Select Committee
Parliament

Brexit Secretary David Davis is in his seat and the committee's session can begin. He tells Hilary Benn that he only has 90 minutes, before heading off to his next meeting, which is "very important to me".

Mr Benn says that this "isn't satisfactory".

A packed day today in the House of Commons and Lords.

We're kicking off this morning with a committee session - Brexit Secretary David Davis appears before the Brexit committee to answer questions about his role and the negotiations as the UK leaves the EU.

That starts at 9.15am.

The other highlights today include PMQs at noon, of course, and then we'll turn to the House of Lords at 3pm, when peers start their day's business.

After questions, it's time for more debate on the EU WIthdrawal Bill - take a look just below at our story about what the government's doing to address peers' concerns. Will we see any more government defeats?

Join us throughout the day...

The academic at the centre of the Facebook data scandal has said the social network is in full-on "PR crisis mode", as he gave evidence to the DCMS Committee.

Aleksandr Kogan's remarks came as he faced a grilling over his role from MPs, and he said the social network was fully aware that its platform "was being mined by thousands of others".

He also rubbished Cambridge Analytica boss Alexander Nix's initial claims that it had not received data from him.

"That is a fabrication," he said.

Read more about how the story unfolded throughout the day.

Esther Webber
BBC News

The EU Withdrawal Bill, external returns to the Lords on Wednesday for a third day of report stage debate, which is when all the voting action happens.

The government appears to have decided what it will do to address peers' unhappiness with two key aspects of the bill - the use of Henry VIII powers, and the bill's effect on powers which are currently devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Henry VIII powers can be used by ministers to legislate without being fully scrutinised by Parliament, and the government has faced complaints since the bill's inception that its use of them is too broad.

Now, Brexit Minister Lord Callanan has taken the unusual step of proposing to delete Clause 8 completely - which creates Henry VIII powers relating to international obligations - and of signing a backbenchers' amendment which prevents the bill itself being modified through secondary legislation.

On devolution, an argument has been raging for months about how powers repatriated from Brussels are handed back (or not) to the legislatures in Edinburgh and Cardiff. You can read more about the background to the row here.

The government's final offer is an amendment "normally" requiring the consent of the devolved legislatures for changes to powers held in Westminster, and that those powers will be held in Westminster for no more than seven years.

The Welsh government has accepted this plan, but the Scottish government has rejected it.

In both instances, it seems unlikely that these last-minute offers are enough to avoid defeats for the government - but stay with our coverage of the bill on Wednesday to find out.

House of Commons
Parliament

With two urgent questions and a statement, it was a busy day for the Commons.

The government once again reiterated its support for a political solution to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen during an urgent question tabled by the chair of the International Development Committee, Stephen Twigg.

Many on the opposition benches called on the government to stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia, who have been leading the bombing campaign in the country.

A second urgent question came from former business secretary - now Lib Dem leader - Sir Vince Cable on Capita.

The government assured the House that Capita is very different to Carillion, another government outsourcing giant which collapsed.

Finally, during a statement on GKN, the government faced criticism from Labour, who said it had not done enough to protect the company once it has been taken over by Melrose.

The government insisted it has sought enough assurances from the new owners for the next five years.

Legislation, in the form of the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill, passed through the Commons, with the opposition benches seeking assurances that their ideas for amendments would be enacted under government enforcement of the Act. The government says it is sticking to manifesto commitments to provide a "breathing space" for those in hospital on debt collection from creditors.

The Commons sits at 11:30am for Scotland Office questions with the usual PMQs at noon. There are two opposition day debates from Labour on schools and social care on the agenda.

House of Commons
Parliament

Onto the last bits of business of the day- and something that happens regularly in Parliament: presenting petitions about local issues.

The SNP's Patricia Gibson presents a petition on the closure of the Kilbirnie branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Her petition has just over 500 signatures, she says.

Conservative Maria Miller presents her petition, with over 3,000 signatures opposing two separate motorway service station areas in Basingstoke. She says there would be four service station areas within a 23 mile stretch along the M3.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons debate is about a money resolution for the bill, which allows for money to be spent on the rules and regulations set out in the bill.

The bill makes provisions for the appropriate levels of use of force to be used for people in mental health units and similar institutions.

The bill makes allowances for the use of body cameras by police when dealing with people in mental health units.

The resolution is approved by MPs.

House of Commons
Parliament

With that, the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill passes third reading in the Commons.

The Commons moves to the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill Money Resolution.

Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price moves that the bill will be paid for in the event of funds needed for actions taken under the Act.

The bill seeks to reduce the use of force by those in mental health units and will increase oversight in the event that things go wrong, she says.

Labour's Steve Reed stands briefly to say "it is a great pleasure and slight relief" to have this debated in the chamber. He says he hopes the bill will help those across the country suffering from mental ill health.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow minister for pensions Jack Dromey says the bill will help end scams and make sure that these bad companies have no place in the marketplace.

"It is deeply welcome that the government has listened to the strong representations made across this House on breathing space," he says.

The bill will help people plan their own finances for the future and for their retirement, he says.

He says "the time has come to stop all cold calling for commercial purposes by claims management companies", he says, "the sooner we can get there, the better".

The leading Tory Brexiteer also accuses the prime minister of lacking "enthusiasm" for Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

With that, the bill moves to third reading, with Esther McVey introducing the bill.

She says "the bill has delivered on what we said it would" but now also includes bans on pensions cold calling and claims management services if prior consent has not been given.

She says the government have listened to what MPs have said on pensions guidance and on debt respite in the event of hospital admissions and other medical work.

This bill shows that the government "is on the side of the public", she says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Johnny Mercer says he supports the amendment which has been raised by Luciana Berger, which he himself has signed.

He says it was a manifesto commitment for the government to introduce a "breathing space scheme".

He says that some people receive payments for bills when they have had mental health treatment, some have had bailiffs appear at their front door the day they are released from hospital, and others have attempted suicide after receiving more bills from companies, he adds.

With assurances from the minister to work on this, the amendment is withdrawn by Luciana Berger.