Summary

  • Culture questions in the Commons

  • Attorney general questions follow

  • Urgent question on Defence, fire and rescue contract

  • Business statement outlines week ahead

  • Government statements on universal credit, and on citizens' rights

  • Debates on refugee family reunions and Erasmus+ and successor schemes

  • Peers meet for questions

  • Debates on carers; and armed forces reserves

  1. 'We are the High Court of Parliament'published at 16:52 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

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  2. I'm introducing 'Grieve Two' - Viscount Hailshampublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Viscount HailshamImage source, HoL

    Conservative Viscount Hailsham is now speaking to his new amendment, F3, which he is referring to as "Grieve Two," to muted laughter from the Chamber.

    This new amendment moves provisions which Mr Grieve thought he had secured from the government during last week's Commons debate, he says.

    He says the original amendment from Dominic Grieve was never put to a vote. The prime minister met with Mr Grieve last week and reportedly assured him on the matter.

    He says he has known Dominic Grieve for years, and adds "the attacks on Mr Grieve in last week's press, especially in The Daily Mail, were disgraceful," he adds, to agreement from the Chamber.

    Mr Grieve was sure that a sensible outcome could be reached until last Thursday in the afternoon, he adds.

    "The government's amendment not only fails to deliver" a meaningful vote, but it "seeks to make the meaningful vote impossible," he says, "deliberately removing the possibility of a meaningful vote".

  3. 'Pants protest' against Commons row MPpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Sir Christopher Chope's office is targeted - as No 10 says it will act to criminalise "upskirting".

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  4. Maclean: an unfortunate minority do not support billpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Backbench Conservative Rachel Maclean says there is almost unanimous support for the upskirting bill, "barring an unfortunate minority".

    The minister, Lucy Frazer, says she is not aware of anyone on the government's benches who disapproves of the substance of the bill.

    This suggests that any opposition has been on procedural grounds - as Sir Christopher Chope has said, in explaining his objection on Friday.

  5. MP explains reasons for objecting to Friday's 'upskirting' billpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

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  6. Minister: Upskirting legislation to be introduced on Thursdaypublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justice Minister Lucy Frazer responds to an urgent question on upskirting, stating that the government will ensure that the activity becomes a criminal offence and expressing disappointment it did not last Friday.

    Legislation will be bought to the House in government time on Thursday, she says, with a second reading before recess.

    The question comes after Sir Christopher Chope, a Conservative MP, objected to the passing of a bill to make upskirting a criminal offence.

    He objected on the grounds that the bill had not been properly debated, but maintains that he supports its content. His objection means the private member's bill's progress has been significantly delayed, despite having government support.

    Upskirting is the action of taking a photograph up a person's skirt without their knowledge or consent.

  7. Lords debates 'meaningful vote' for Parliament on Brexitpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness Evans of Bowes ParkImage source, HoL

    The Lords now move on to their consideration of Motion F, which is on a "meaningful vote" for Parliament at the end of the negotiations.

    Leader of the Lords, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park says this amendment is "totally impractical" and would change the conventions on which part of government handles international negotiations.

    "Such a provision would be a constitutional absurdity," she says, quoting Professor Vernon Bogdanor.

    She outlines concessions that the government has now made on making statements to the Commons and Lords in the event of talks breaking down and no agreement being reached.

    She adds that the government is "confident" in achieving a good deal.

  8. MP: We will get Alfie drugs he needspublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Mike Penning raises a point of order, responding to suggestions by the minister that MPs should not look to obtain medicinal cannabis for those in need illegally.

    He states that if Alfie Dingley does not gain access to the drugs he needs by Wednesday, "a delegation from this House to go across and get those drugs for him".

  9. Lords consider amendments on ministerial powerspublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Motion D is agreed to without division.

    Justice Minister Lord Keen of Elie is now speaking to Motion E, saying that the Commons has rejected the proposals being debated four times.

    This amendment was originally tabled by Lord Lisvane, and was on the power balance between Parliament and the executive, meaning that powers could only be bestowed to ministers for changing laws where "necessary" rather than "appropriate".

    Labour's Lord Goldsmith says that Lords have supported this amendment because of concerns on the power balance between Parliament and the executive.

    He says he hopes that ministers will "carefully realise" that Parliamentarians will keep an eye on them.

    Motion E is agreed to without division.

  10. Focus on clinical advicepublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    In response to many questions, including on the reclassification of cannabis so it can be regulated as a medicine instead of a recreational drug, the minister Nick Hurd has emphasised that he is seeking advice.

    He has set up a review led by Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer.

  11. Minister: Parliament's role is to challenge the rulespublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Green Party MP Caroline Lucas says it is "unfathomable" that medicinal opiates of the same family as heroin can be prescribed for medical use, but medicinal cannabis cannot despite strong evidence that it should be.

    She asks what evidence base is informing the government's position on the issue.

    The minister says the position comes from official advice from the advisory council and others, with the government forced to work within rules that have been set for a while under successive governments.

    If now is the time to challenge the rules, he adds, then that is the role of a parliamentary democracy.

  12. Lords moves on to debate on Charter of Fundamental Rightspublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Keen of ElieImage source, HoL

    The Lords now moves on to Motion D, which is on the Charter of Fundamental Rights, external.

    Justice Minister Lord Keen of Elie says the Commons has made it clear three times that the UK does not want to be under the same obligations as it currently is under the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

    The Charter did not make any new rights, he says, adding that it reaffirmed rights that had already been given under EU law.

    "Other sources of rights will continue to exist and operate under UK law," he adds.

  13. Hurd: Field 'should not be a law-breaker'published at 16:12 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Frank FieldImage source, HoC

    Labour's Frank Field asks for permission to go through border control with the medicine needed by Alfie Dingley, who had 30 seizures on Saturday.

    Mr Hurd says that would be unnecessary and adds: "He is a law-maker, and should not be a law-breaker."

  14. MP speaks out about cannabis oill treatmentpublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

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  15. Amendment could be 'confusing'published at 16:05 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    The Lords moves on to their debate of enhanced protections for certain areas of EU law.

    Lord Callanan says the amendment proposed by the Lords originally would confuse which areas of law deal with citizens.

    It would, for example, be difficult to decide whether or not financial products are regulated by consumer law or the Financial Conduct Authority, he says.

    He says he hopes the government amendments on this matter are agreed to.

    Labour's Lord Goldsmith says he looks forward to seeing how these assurances from the government "work out in practice".

    Motion C is agreed to without division.

  16. Minister challenged on cannabis lawspublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Iain Duncan Smith says he is no fan of recreational cannabis, but raises the case of a constituent who used cannabis-based medicine to manage the pain - and eventually shrink - a brain tumour.

    He asks why research into the medical use of cannabis is being neglected.

    The minister says this research is being persued.

    Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says the British public is dismayed by the current regime, which denies people significant pain relief. She says Labour would create a legislative framework for medical cannabis.

  17. MP: Government must 'get a grip' on medicinal cannabispublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi responds to the minister's remarks, praising the issuing of a temporary medical cannabis license for Billy Caldwell but asking when more will be made available for others in need.

    She names two children in her own constituency who would also benefit from access to medicinal cannabis and asks when the department will "get a grip" and make the medicine more widely available.

    She warns that as the issue drags on people will continue to illegally access cannabis "not suited to their need".

    Mr Hurd responds, saying he is pushing as hard as he can to improve the situation for others.

  18. Environmental protections in this bill are a 'minimum' - Labourpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Shadow environment spokesperson Baroness Jones of Whitchurch says she is pleased that opposition speeches on this have made a difference, but there is still more to be done, she adds.

    Labour is trying to ensure that the UK has the same protections on exit day, something which replicates the role of the EU Commission as it currently does in being able to take action against ministers.

    "I do hope the minister is able to address our ongoing concerns," she says, adding that in the current bill this is a "minimum".

    "We are not going away," she adds.

    Exiting the EU Minister Lord Callanan says that the government will work closely with devolved bodies on environmental protections after the UK leaves. This presents an option to "strengthen and enhance" protections, he adds.

    Motion B is agreed to without division.

  19. Lords debates environmental protections after Brexitpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord CallananImage source, HoL

    Motion A on customs arrangements is agreed to without division.

    Exiting the EU Minister Lord Callanan is now speaking to Amendment B, which has been tabled by Sir Oliver Letwin and deals with environmental protections.

    The government is consulting with stakeholders on how best to implement environmental protections, he says.

    The government now has a "unique" opportunity to introduce environmental protections which are best at working specifically for the UK, he adds.

  20. Case of young boy with epilepsy raised as cannabis-based medicines debatedpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Billy Caldwell is kissed by his motherImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Billy Caldwell has life-threatening seizures which are controlled by a cannabis-based medicine.

    Home Office Minister Nick Hurd is asked to speak on the licensing of cannabis-based medicines for children with epilepsy.

    He says more work needs to be done, and he has appointed clinical experts to advise the government on the licensing of these medicines.

    On Friday, the Home Office issued an emergency temporary license for the medicine needed by Billy Caldwell, a young boy who has frequent epileptic seizures.

    His seizures had been controlled by a cannabis-based medicine, but his next prescription was seized when his mother bought it in to the country from Canada.

    Billy was then hospitalised, but has since been discharged having been treated with the medicine.