House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons move on to debating the remaining stages of the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill, external.

The bill imposes a temporary price cap on standard and standard and variable electricity and gas tariffs.

Tariff caps already apply to those who get their energy through pre-paid meters. Ofgem can exempt companies from the cap if they produce renewable energy.

The bill also grants the power to Ofgem to review the price cap every six months.

The price cap will apply in England, Wales and Scotland, as Northern Ireland have their own energy system. The government hopes that the Bill will be enacted in time for winter 2018/19.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the government's defeat, calling it "a hugely significant moment in the fight to ensure Parliament has a proper role in the Brexit negotiations".

He said: "Labour won the argument at the end of last year for Parliament to be given a meaningful vote on the terms of our withdrawal from the EU. And we are clear that it must be just that: a meaningful vote.

"If Parliament votes down the Article 50 deal, then Parliament must decide what happens next. Under no circumstances can the prime minister be given a blank cheque to crash the UK out of the EU without a deal.

“I would urge the prime minister to accept this cross-party amendment and recognise that there is no majority in Parliament or the country for a no deal Brexit.”

Brexit Minister Steve Baker responded to the earlier defeat in the Lords, saying the amendment would weaken the government's negotiating position and was intended to stop Brexit altogether.

"It hands unprecedented constitutional powers to parliament to direct the government in these negotiations and to direct the government to do anything - even keeping the UK in the EU indefinitely.

"What this does is put parliament in a position of directing the government in this international negotiation. That is unprecedented. We do not want our hand weakened in this way.

"I am clear that what this amendment is seeking to do is to give parliament the power to stop Brexit all together. I hope the Commons will be persuaded to take this amendment out."

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Bill Grant asks Penny Mordaunt to set out the support offered to Syria's neighboring countries.

She replies that the government has announced a conference with Jordan - "an amazing country, with a huge amount to offer" - to help them grow their economy, which she says will allow them to continue with the "tremendous generosity" they've given to refugees.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Stewart McDonald says the Syrian conflict is extremely complex, but queries what new sanctions will do to the country. He asks if she will "seek to address the large imbalance between the number of sanctions from the UK and EU against those from the US treasury"; the UK has only around 30 sanctions against Syria, vs America's 300.

He asks to strengthen the OPCW and other international organisations.

Ms Mordaunt says "whether it is financial levers" or "other options" the UK needs to be able to "do more" in the future in situations like this.

She says the government will look at ways of getting water, power and aid to people who need it.

She adds that "there are huge efforts" being made by the British team working at the United Nations in New York by keeping up pressure on Russia and Iran.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Dr Julian Lewis, chair of the Defence Committee, says he is disappointed that Ms Mordaunt has said "nothing" of the "maniacs" that make up the Syrian opposition. He asks what happens to the aid supplied to various territories within Syria.

Ms Mordaunt says "the way we distribute aid is based on need" and that the government has protections to make sure "it is distributed as it should be". It is not being given to terrorist groups, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow International Development Secretary Kate Osamor says that "for all our differences, we are united in this House in our desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Syrian people" to help end suffering.

She welcomes the pledge last week from the UK government of £250m for the Syrian crisis, but the UN has warned that there is a continuing £5bn shortfall is forcing the United Nations to have to make "hard choices".

The Lebanese prime minister has warned that the country is becoming "a big refugee camp", she adds.

The UK is taking "just 4% of the refugees received by Germany", she states.

Ms Mordaunt says the government are doing "many things" to help alleviate the "immense suffering" of those caught up in the Syrian conflict.

She says she is working with the president of the World Bank and with Bill Gates to make sure that funding goes into countries which are helping refugees from other nations.

"We have chosen to support millions in the region, we are taking refugees into the UK", she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Liberal Democrat Tom Brake asks if the government will expand the family reunion scheme and increase the number of Syrian refugees accepted by the government.

Ms Mordaunt says the UK is trying to protect individuals in Idlib by distributing sandbags and personal protection equipment. She adds that the government is trying to help people in the region.

"Our priority is to try and protect those individuals who can protect others," she says.

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers are currently debating a Lib Dem-led amendment that would give Parliament the option to hold a referendum after negotiations with Brussels have concluded.

You can see all the amendments that have been proposed here, external.

Image source, UK Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

International Development Secretary Penny Mourdant says she is "keenly aware" of the level of concern for the suffering of millions of Syrians.

"The Syrian regime appears to have no intention of ending the suffering of its own people," she says.

She says this is why the UK and French and American allies worked to alleviate humanitarian suffering.

"We will defend the global rules based system that keeps us all safe," she adds.

The government will continue to work with the UN and OPCW to create a new "independent mechanism" for examining a site after a strike, she says.

There must be an immediate ceasefire and spaces for aid workers and doctors to work safely, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt is giving an update on the situation in Syria to the Commons.

On 21 April, chemical weapons inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were finally allowed to visit the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma.

You can read more on the ongoing story of Syria on the BBC News website.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Leader of the Lib Dems in the Lords, Lord Newby, is introducing an amendment providing for a referendum on whether the UK should accept the outcome of the negotiations between the government and the EU or seek to remain in the EU by revoking Article 50.

"It's a view which is very widely shared," he claims, and "to deny people a vote would be even more divisive".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Stella Creasy says it is "deeds not words" that the government will be judged on in these cases. She says she has had three families from the Windrush generation in her constituency office last weekend who have had family members deported.

Mr Javid says that there are 50 staff working on the cases at the Home Office and that if anyone has concerns they should get in contact.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Peers vote 335 to 244 for Viscount Hailsham's amendment.

The amendment attaches extra conditions to parliamentary approval for the deal reached between the EU and the UK, including allowing Parliament to determine the government’s course of action if:

• the final deal is rejected by House of Commons
• the Act that is required to pass before exit is not passed into law
• the deal with the EU is not finalised by 28th Feb 2019

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Chuka Umunna says the home secretary "has a golden opportunity" to turn around debate on immigration in the UK. He says the UK should make more effort to integrate immigrants rather than to deter them.

Mr Javid says, given more time, he will "set out what I am going to do".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Green Leader Caroline Lucas asks for the end of "brutal mass deportations" using "secretive charter flights". She says it is "almost impossible for people to appeal from abroad".

Mr Javid says he commits to making sure the UK's immigation system "is fair and is humane".

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Viscount Hailsham is not persuaded and forces his amendment to a vote.

His amendment attaches extra conditions to parliamentary approval for the deal reached between the EU and the UK, including allowing Parliament to determine the government’s course of action in the event that:

• The final deal is rejected by House of Commons
• The Act that is required to pass before exit is not passed into law
• The deal with the EU is not finalised by 28th Feb 2019

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Anna Soubry says: "We have a default position where the computer says no," and she asks for a radical reform of the immigration system where the onus is shifted back on the state.

Mr Javid says the government wants to make sure that the immigration system "behaves more humanely" and in a fairer way and takes into account "the obvious facts" rather than just a "piece of paper".

House of Lords
Parliament

A handy reminder of the amendment peers are currently voting on.

You can see all amendments that have been proposed to the bill here., external

Image source, UK Parliament