House of Commons
Parliament

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Jeremy Corbyn says the government has two plans for customs arrangements with the EU after Brexit, adding that "neither of which is workable".

He adds that the UK's former ambassador to the EU, Ivan Rogers, described finding a techonological solution to avoiding a hard Irish border as a "fantasy island" idea.

In reply, Theresa May repeats that the UK will be leaving the EU Customs Union.

Remaining within a Customs Union with the EU as Labour wishes, she says, would leave the UK with "no say over trade policy".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asks the prime minister to explain why the Cabinet "wasted weeks" working up proposals that the EU said were "unworkable".

Mr Corbyn quotes the Business Secretary Greg Clark's comments as saying "jobs would be at risk if we don't sort out a comprehensive customs deal". This clashes with Boris Johnson's comments about a "crazy customs union".

Prime Minister Theresa May responds by saying the business secretary said it was "absolutely right" that we should be leaving the Customs Union.

Ms May finishes by saying there has been record employment under the Conservatives.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Jeremy Corbyn having fun with Cabinet splits on a post Brexit customs deal.

Carefully impassive faces on the government frontbench as the PM defaults to her holding position.

But this looks like a further clear signal that Labour will whip its MPs to vote for a customs union – and the PM may not have the votes to prevent it.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn asks if the prime minister agrees with the foreign secretary that the plans for a customs partnership are "crazy".

Prime Minister Theresa May says that the UK is leaving the European Union and the Customs Union, but "for our future trade arrangements" the UK "will need to agree customs arrangements", which means that the UK can have no hard border in the island of Ireland.

House of Commons
Parliament

Theresa May begins PMQs with condolences to the family of former Speaker Michael Martin.

Mr Speaker, John Bercow, is attending the funeral today.

The SNP's Drew Hendry says Highland businesses rely on EU nationals to operate businesses and he asks the prime minister whether she will rule out immigration skills charges after the UK leaves the EU.

Theresa May says that after the UK leaves, the government recognises EU nationals will want to come to work in the UK.

But she doesn't rule out a charge...

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

There are more sub-plots to PMQs than you can shake a stick at. Brexit. Iran. Windrush. Leveson. Cabinet splits. Party factions. Local elections. Even a beleaguered Speaker. So, Commons kremlinologists, don your best anoraks and gather round……

First up, watch the man in the Chair. Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle will preside today, in the absence of John Bercow, who is attending the funeral of his predecessor, Michael Martin. Will he be welcomed with a cheer from Bercow-bashing Tories? Will he let PMQs run on for the Bercow-normal period of 45 minutes, or limit questioning to the official half hour?

Will he administer Bercow-style dressings-down to rowdy MPs, or attempt a kinder, gentler method of rebuking them? And will he try and limit the front-bench joust, so it doesn’t crowd out the backbenchers?

Mr Hoyle is the front runner to succeed, should Mr Bercow depart, and this is an important audition – a chance to show his potential voters how he would approach the highest profile part of the job he covets. I will attempt to award marks for artistic impression and technical merit afterwards.

As noted above there are plenty of possible subjects for Jeremy Corbyn to raise with the PM – the fact that Boris Johnson is delivering a statement on Iran immediately afterwards probably limits the opportunities presented by that subject – but the Labour Leader might like to try and pin Theresa May to Donald Trump.

The visible cabinet divisions over Brexit and the customs arrangements after Britain leaves must present a tempting target, but it is also a dangerous one, given Labour’s own divisions on the subject – as demonstrated by last night’s rebellion by Labour peers, who successfully defied their party line.

After some weeks of highlighting cuts to local services, in the run up to the local elections, Mr Corbyn might switch to another subject, and the government’s Windrush woes could tempt him.

The list of backbench questioners also contains some interesting possibilities. For the second week running, it is heavy with SNP MPs – Drew Hendry, Deirdre Brock and Hannah Bardell form the top three.

Lurking further down the batting order is Labour’s shadow Brexit Minister Matthew Pennycook, who has built a reputation as a smart Commons operator as a front bencher.

Another dangerous customer still further down the list is the Lib Dem Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael…

The Conservative Jeremy Quin chairs the Commons All Party Group on credit unions and is a member of the government’s financial inclusion commission – so it is a fair bet that he will ask something in that sphere.

But the most dangerous questions may come from members of the Tory Brexit factions, both well organised and increasingly impatient with their leader.

With apparent deadlock on crucial Brexit issues in a key cabinet committee, their members will seek to tempt the PM to take a side.

House of Commons
Parliament

Nearly time for the weekly question session - and there's a difference this week.

Speaker John Bercow is absent, and in his place is Lindsay Hoyle, the deputy speaker.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee, Andrew Murrison, says that there is a "very real danger" of the Stormont "agreement institutions" working against the interests of servicemen and former members of the security services, and giving "an unfair advantage to former paramilitaries".

"Without checks and balances, those institutions may create a form of historical revisionism which cast members of the security services in an unfairly poor light," he adds.

Ms Bradley says that the "status quo" "sees a disproportionate emphasis on the actions of the military" and police forces, rather than terrorists "who were responsible for 90% of the killings during the Troubles".

She says she wants to see a consultation so that "we can address those concerns".

It's been reported there are Cabinet division over plans for a new unit to investigate Troubles-era killings in Northern Ireland, with some ministers expressing concerns that veterans could be unfairly pursued.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Northern Ireland questions gets underway - and Labour's Stella Creasy asks what steps are being taken to support equality and human rights in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley says that the government has a "strong track record" of promoting human rights across the UK.

Ms Creasy says that the UN has described the treatment of women in Northern Ireland as "cruel, inhumane and degrading". She asks why there is a free vote in the Commons on same sex marriage, but not for abortions.

Ms Bradley says that "abortion is a very sensitive issue" but is a "devolved matter". "It is not right for the UK government to try to undermine the devolution settlement in Northern Ireland," she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

The day kicks off with Northern Ireland questions at 11:30am, and Prime Minister's Questions at noon.

Then, there'll be a statement from the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, on the Iran Nuclear Deal.

The Commons will move to their legislation of the day, with the remaining stages of the Data Protection Bill, external to be debated. This could become contentious, with Labour requesting a new inquiry, just like the Leveson inquiry into the media, to be included as part of the bill, after Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said in March that there would not be a follow up to the inquiry.

The final business of the day is a Labour motion to annul a Statutory Instrument on student support.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Conservative MP David Jones raises concerns that large-scale government suppliers are becoming "increasingly unprofitable".

Civil Service Chief Executive John Manzoni acknowledges the concerns, and says government business doesn't need to "make people ridiculously rich" but does need to provide a "fair price" for the risk that is being "shouldered by the private sector".

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Select Committee
Parliament

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Committee chair Bernard Jenkin asks the witnesses what the "main advantages" of outsourcing are.

Minister David Lidington cites the fact that "one company can service many clients" as a key benefit of government outsourcing of public services.

Mr Lidington says outsourcing public governments gives governments access to "specialist knowledge".

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In January, construction giant Carillion went into liquidation after huge financial troubles.

The UK's second-largest construction company buckled under the weight of a £1.5bn debt pile.

Despite discussions between Carillion, its lenders and the government, no deal could be reached to save the company.

The big concern is over the disruption this might cause, given Carillion holds so many government contracts - from building hospitals to managing schools.

The company had 43,000 staff worldwide - 20,000 in the UK.

You can read more about what happened here.

Select Committee
Parliament

This morning, MPs on the Public Administration committee will hear evidence on the lessons learned from the collapse of Carillion.

The witnesses will be:

• David Lidington MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office
• Gareth Rhys Williams, Government Chief Commercial Officer
• John Manzoni, Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office

The session will focus on how the government makes decisions about how to source the delivery of public services.

Image source, AFP

Welcome to our coverage of today's events in Westminster. We'll be crossing over to a committee room shortly, for a session with Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington.

But it's another packed day in the Commons and the Lords, with PMQs at noon and debate on the Data Protection Bill to come.

Thanks for joining us.

House of Lords
Parliament

Peers accept an amendment from the government requiring ministers to make statements on the appropriateness of any relevant sub-delegation.

Shortly after that, the Lords conclude debate on the bill at report stage.

The government suffered four defeats today, on:

• future interaction with the law and agencies of the EU
• removing the Brexit date from the bill
• continued participation in the EEA
• giving the Lords the power to refer statutory instruments to the Commons.

So, the Lords has finished report stage consideration of the bill - third reading is scheduled for Wednesday 16 May.

House of Commons
Parliament

A last minute attempt by Labour to reverse legal aid cuts was defeated in the Commons.

There were two urgent questions, one on the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review, which was published on Friday. The other related to an announcement on Friday by the government to briefly extend the contract for two years for G4S to continue running Gatwick's immigration removal centres. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said this undermined the calls for a "humane" immigration system, while the government said it was necessary while they review the situation.

The Commons voted on whether or not to agree with the Lords on their amendment to keep the UK in Euratom until a suitable replacement body is created as part of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill. The government has created its own amendment on this, which'll go back to the Lords for further debate.

The Secure Tenancies Bill, for victims of domestic violence, passed, with concerns from Labour front and backbenchers that it does not go far enough.

The Commons resumes at 11:30am tomorrow with Northern Ireland questions and then Prime Minister's Questions at midday. The Commons will debate the remaining stages of the Data Protection Bill later on in the day.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Government spokesperson Baroness Goldie presents an amendment which would mean, before a statutory instrument is laid, the relevant minister must make a statement as to why there are good reasons for it and why a statutory instrument is a reasonable course of action.

She says this demonstrates their "commitment to transparency", and the move receives cross-party backing.