House of Lords
Parliament

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At question time in the Lords, Labour's Baroness Kennedy of Cradley asks what action is being taken to stop children being recruited into gangs.

She says in the government's new serious violence strategy, the section on county lines is "limited" with "few new commitments" and asks why there's no representation from the anti-trafficking sector on the serious violence taskforce.

Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford responds that the strategy prioritises early intervention and recognises that county lines gangs are "all about exploiting vulnerability".

She highlights a national communication exercise to educate children on how to avoid becoming involved in gangs.

Crossbencher and former president of the family court division Baroness Butler-Sloss draws attention to "patchy communication" between local authorities, meaning children too often end up in county courts rather than being treated as victims.

The minister agrees "unity of effort is what's needed here".

House of Commons
Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

The Leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom is outlining future business in the Commons.

Highlights include:

• Monday: Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Bill, external
• Tuesday: Rating and Council Tax Bill, external
• Wednesday: Opposition Day debates to be announced
• Thursday: A backbench business day, motions on plastic bottles and coffee cups and the international day against homophobia, transphobia

Following week:

• Monday: Tenant Fees Bill, external

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative Sir Desmond Swayne, who used to be a whip, says he knows exactly how "inconvenient and unhelpful the happy thoughts of private members bills can be," but he says the right way to oppose a bill is to vote against it, not to deny a money resolution.

Ms Leadsom says she will continue to make announcements on money resolutions during the business statement in the usual way.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael says that Ms Leadsom has forgotten that the purpose of bringing forward a money resolution is to give effect to the will of Parliament.

Ms Leadsom says that money resolutions will be brought forward by the government on a case-by-case basis.

She adds the government has a manifesto commitment to wait for the outcome of the Boundary Review.

House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP business spokesperson Pete Wishart says the actions of the government in this case demonstrates their "massive disrespect" for the democratic arrangements of the House of Commons.

Mr Wishart brands it an tactic to "thwart the democratic progress" of bills and says it should be an automatic function that bills receive a money resolution.

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom says Mr Wishart is "disregarding" the functions of the House of Commons.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow leader of the House, Valerie Vaz, says that other bills in the queue for money resolutions have been approved before this bill, and she calls the situation "unprecedented".

She says that the bill allows the Boundary Commission to use the most recent data for elections in boundary reviews and elector data, rather than other, less recent data.

Ms Leadsom says "the government has very much listened" and brought forward debates on opposition matters.

The same is true of private members' bills, she adds, the current situation is not "unprecedented".

She says it is right to allow the Boundary Commission to report its recommendations before proceeding on this bill.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative Sir Christopher Chope says that he agrees with Mr Khan, calling the current situation "deeply undemocratic" and he adds that the government should not be using its power in the way it is at the moment.

Ms Leadsom says there are a number of bills going through committee at the moment, "and it is very important that the government using its good offices to bring forward money resolutions in a case-by-case basis".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Afzal Khan says the actions of the government are "deeply undemocratic" and attempt to "block the bill by procedure".

"I don't deny my bill is controversial, but it is also reasonable," he says.

He asks for a reconsideration of the government's approach.

Ms Leadsom reasserts that the government look at the bills which require money resolutions on a "case by case basis".

Image source, HoC

House of Commons
Parliament

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Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom says she has "been clear about the government's general approach to money resolutions" and she adds that discussions are continuing through "the usual channels".

The government considers these on a case by case basis, she states.

She says, in reference to Mr Khan's specific bill, the Boundary Commission is due to report on the boundary review later on this year.

Because of that ongoing review, it would not be appropriate for his bill to progress until the review is complete, she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour’s Afzal Khan is asking an urgent question on the use of money resolutions by the government on private members’ bills.

This is something which has drawn criticism from the Opposition, who say that the government is refusing to bring forward money resolutions on some bills, most notably, Mr Khan’s own Parliamentary Constituencies Bill, external.

Money resolutions must be passed if a new bill requires spending of money which hasn’t previously been authorised by an Act of Parliament.

Money Resolutions are normally put to the House for agreement immediately after the bill has passed its second reading in the Commons.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour’s Liz McInnes asks what discussions have been had with the Crown Prosecution Service on its effectiveness in prosecuting cases involving domestic violence.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright says the number of domestic violence convictions have risen. In the last 10 years, from 2007-2017, there has been a 61% rise in convictions, he adds, there was a highest ever level of 75.7% last year.

Ms McInnes asks what is being done to ensure consistency across the country, as results vary by region.

Mr Wright says there is variation in referral rates to the CPS by police forces. He says it is important to understand the reasons for these variations, adding that the CPS is working closely with police forces to make sure that happens.

House of Commons
Parliament

At the start of business today, Labour moved the writ for the Lewisham East by-election.

The sitting MP, Heidi Alexander is standing down from the Commons to work for the London Mayor Sadiq Khan - she's to become the deputy mayor for transport.

Labour won the Lewisham East seat by more than 20,000 votes in last year's general election.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative Damian Collins asks what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to improve the rate of prosecution for knife crime.

Solicitor General Robert Buckland says that the Serious Violence Strategy was published last month and the government continues to legislate to "tighten the law" in this area.

Mr Collins asks if he agrees that criminal gangs would in fact be much more dangerous if they were armed with guns, referencing recent comments by the US President.

Mr Buckland says that it is important to tackle the "underlying reasons for knife crime".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative Peter Heaton-Jones asks what is being done to improve broadband and mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock says the government hit their target of 95% mobile phone coverage by last year. The broadband universal service obligation will be in place by 2020, he adds.

Mr Heaton-Jones says that in small areas, businesses based in people's homes "often form the backbone of the economy". It is "vital" that we provide these homes with good 4G and broadband, he states.

Mr Hancock replies that he agrees "incredibly strongly" and that Mr Heaton-Jones' constituency of North Devon has only 85% coverage, but internet speeds have improved in the area.