House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Vicky Ford asks what steps are being taken to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the marine environment.

Environment Minister Therese Coffey says that the government has taken nine billion carrier bags out of circulation due to the carrier bag charge, and the government is also working on banning plastic stirrers, straws and plastic stem cotton buds.

The government is working on a Commonwealth alliance to tackle plastic waste in the marine environment, she adds.

Ms Ford says she welcomes the news that supermarkets have announced that all plastics will be made recyclable within seven years in their products. She asks if there can be Department for International Development spending on preventing developing countries from producing so much plastic waste, as they currently do.

Ms Coffey says such a programme is already under way, and there is the newly announced £6m Commonwealth litter programme.

It's just a debate...but the customs union clash in the Commons will highlight an interesting question: can Parliament influence ministers in the Brexit negotiations?

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP’s Peter Grant asks what recent discussions have been had on the future of the food and drink industry after the UK leaves the EU.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove says there are regular discussions on the benefits of leaving the EU, as well as exporting to further markets. He says he is discussing a sector deal for agriculture as part of the government's industrial strategy.

Mr Grant says the chief executive of the National Farmers Union has warned against selling off agriculture for political ideology.

Mr Gove replies that the appetite for Scottish salmon and whisky, is growing faster outside the EU than in it.

David Shukman
Science editor, BBC News

More than 40 companies have signed up to a pact to cut plastic pollution over the next seven years.

The firms, which include Coca-Cola and Asda, have promised to honour a number of pledges such as eliminating single-use packaging through better design.

They have joined the government, trade associations and campaigners to form the UK Plastics Pact.

The signatories are responsible for more than 80% of plastic packaging on products sold through UK supermarkets.

Read more here.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour’s Chris Matheson asks the first environment question today. He wants to know what assessment has been made of the use of PET-plastic for single use plastic bottles.

Environment Minister Therese Coffey says that PET is readily recycled and is "universally collected" for recycling but the government continues to work on increasing the percentage of recycled materials in PET plastic bottles.

Mr Matheson says one of his constituents has demonstrated to him how plant based plastics could operate just as effectively as current standard plastic bottles.

He asks when this could be rolled out.

Ms Coffey says that the UK government and EU funded research have not yet found conclusive evidence in favour of using plant based plastics. The government continues to invest in research and development on this.

House of Commons
Parliament

We start with Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions, this is then followed by Public Accounts, House of Commons, Electoral and Church Commissioners questions.

At 10:30am, there’ll be an urgent question asked by shadow home secretary Diane Abbott on the use of removal targets at the Home Office.

At 11:30 we move to the Business Statement, where Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom will set out the upcoming business in the Commons next week.

There are two statements tabled by ministers today, one from Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Minister Margot James on an Artificial Intelligence Sector Deal, and a second from Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride on the Stamp Duty Land Tax.

This is followed by two debates - the first is on customs and borders, tabled by Home Affairs Committee Chair Yvette Cooper, and the second is on plastic bottles and coffee cups, tabled by Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Mary Creagh.

Welcome to our coverage of today in Westminster - a busy day ahead.

We'll be crossing over to the Commons soon - and there's a session from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on fake news at 10.30am, as well as a packed Commons day.

Thanks for joining us...

House of Lords
Parliament

That's it from the Lords for today, after the government was defeated in a vote on an amendment in the EU Withdrawal Bill, proposing stricter requirements for using Henry VIII powers.

There was one other vote - on requiring ministers to have regard to animal sentience - which the government won.

The bill returns on Monday.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Government spokesperson Baroness Goldie assures peers ministers are "considering carefully all potential implications" of Brexit including transport connectivity.

She says again that the details will be a matter for negotiation.

Lord Whitty agrees to withdraw his amendment without a vote.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Labour's Lord Whitty introduces tonight's last amendment, requiring the government to provide a report on the manner in which continuity and safety of transport is to be maintained following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

"I would like a little hope that we get some clarity" on these "vital" transport agencies, he says.

House of Lords
Parliament

For the government, Baroness Goldie tells peers that altering taxes through delegated powers will be subject to the affirmative procedure - that is, extra scrutiny - and it is "not a power to raise general taxation".

She also explains why the government has taken the unusual step of removing an entire clause - which allowed the use of delegated powers to ensure the UK complies with international obligations.

She says it accepts there are "better and more effective ways" of ensuring compliance.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Crossbencher Lord Kerr of Kinlochard introduces an amendment to prevent delegated powers created in the bill being used to impose taxation.

"Is it right for the government to confer on themselves the power to levy taxes against what is usually thought to be a fairly fundamental principle of parliamentary control?" he asks.

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers vote 211 to 169 against an amendment requiring ministers and the devolved administrations to pay due regard to the welfare requirements of animals as sentient beings.

House of Lords
Parliament

Lord Trees is not convinced by the minister's assurances and pushes his amendment to a vote.

The amendment requires ministers and the devolved administrations to pay due regard to the welfare requirements of animals as sentient beings.

House of Lords
Parliament

Brexit Minister Lord Callanan outlines that "we already have some of the highest animal welfare standards" and the government wants to enhance them further.

He says Animal Welfare Act already provides protection and the environment secretary, Michael Gove, has vowed to make "any necessary changes" to improve animal welfare.

He tells peers they should be "in no doubt" about the government's determination to legislate on this.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Labour spokesperson Baroness Jones of Whitchurch says it's apparent the "rushed [draft] Animal Welfare Bill wasn't really fit for purpose".

She argues that as it hasn't been put before Parliament and the EU Treaty covering animal sentience will soon not apply, "we're left in the worst of all worlds".

"The reality is any animal sentience legislation would have to take its place in a queue behind other bills," she warns.

House of Commons
Parliament

PMQs today was dominated by the stories of Windrush migrants who have been contacted by the Home Office asking for proofs of residency.

The SNP asked questions on devolution; and questions on how the Scottish Parliament might be overruled, both during Scotland Office questions and PMQs.

There were no urgent questions or statements, and the Commons moved straight onto two motions tabled by Labour as Opposition Day motions, both passed.

The first motion called on the government to make sure the national funding formula for schools would not lead to budget cuts. The second, on social care, asked the government to fill the £1.3bn funding gap in social care in England.

As is customary, the government should now make a ministerial statement responding to these motions within 12 weeks.

The Commons will return at 9:30am tomorrow morning, with Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions, the Business statement and then two backbench business motions on the customs union; and plastic bottles and coffee cups.

Image source, Getty Images

London and Brussels are at an early stage of discussions about how financial services will operate across the English Channel after Brexit, Chancellor Philip Hammond says.

Mr Hammond told the Treasury Select Committee that Britain and the rest of the European Union had only recently struck a deal to keep their overall trade relationship unchanged for 21 months after Brexit in March next year.

"We have not yet begun the substantive discussions on the future partnership, but we are in the preliminary foothills of exploring what might be possible in financial services," he said.