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. Lords can be 'quietly proud' of changes made to bill - Cormackpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord CormackImage source, HoL

    Conservative Lord Cormack says it is "perfectly possible" to be a patriot while also being "concerned" at the process of leaving the UK is now going through.

    We have not been seeking to frustrate Brexit, he says, but the Lords have been seeking to "improve a bill" which needs to go on the statute books "fairly expeditiously".

    The Lords can be "quietly proud" of the achievements they have made in their attempts to change the bill, he says.

  2. The EU is not democratic - Lord Spicerpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord SpicerImage source, HoL

    Conservative Lord Spicer, who set up the influential hard-Brexit backing European Research Group, says that an independent nation state is the best way for people to receive democracy.

    "It is about the nation state being a basic unit of democracy," he says, adding that he does not believe the European Union is democratic as you can never choose which government rules citizens.

  3. We absolutely have to pass this bill - Lord Grocottpublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord GrocottImage source, HoL

    Labour's Lord Grocott says he is "not averse" to the idea that people should be educated more in Parliamentary ping pong and other procedures.

    "But this bill isn't like any other bill, because this bill is the direct and unavoidable consequence" of the referendum. The Lords voted unopposed for the EU referendum, he adds.

    Both Houses have voted in favour of triggering Article 50, he states.

    "We absolutely have to pass this bill," because otherwise "there will be a...legal cliff edge" if the bill is not passed "in good time".

    "We need to expedite this," he says, adding that he does not want to delay the bill any further.

  4. 'This bill came to us deeply flawed and divisive' - Labour Lordspublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness Smith of BasildonImage source, HoL

    Time for the Lords to consider Commons amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

    Exiting the EU Minister Lord Callanan reminds the Lords that "the UK, in its entirety, is leaving the European Union," while summing up the Commons changes made to the EU Withdrawal Bill last week.

    Leader of the Opposition Baroness Smith of Basildon says "this is the same procedure" for every bill which comes through the Lords.

    "This bill came to us, deeply flawed and divisive," she adds, saying that a provision for a minister to change the provision of the bill using a Statutory Instrument was something that she had "never seen before" in a bill, and has now been removed.

    She adds that there is "poor judgement" in calls for the Lords to be abolished because of disagreements over a specific bill.

    Lib Dem Lords Leader Lord Newby says that consideration on this bill has been "completely in line" with other bills.

    He asks for the government to invite journalists to explain to them how Parliamentary "ping pong" works.

  5. Ping pong continues: but what is it?published at 15:09 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Lords tweets

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  6. What is the government doing to encourage oil and gas exploration?published at 15:03 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Oil rigImage source, Press Association

    Liberal Democrat Lord Bruce of Bennachie asks what steps the government is taking to promote more exploration of oil and gas on the UK's continental shelf.

    Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Minister Lord Henley says most recently the government has funded £45m in seismic surveys, and this will help the next round of licensing for production, he adds.

    Lord Bruce says "not enough exploration development" is taking place, and asks for enough incentive to be given for companies.

    Lord Henley says this is important for energy security, the provision of funding for seismic surveys "will help," he adds.

  7. More regulation for private burial grounds?published at 14:58 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Highgate cemetery
    Image caption,

    The Circle of Lebanon at Highgate Cemetery

    Liberal Democrat Baroness Hussein-Ece asks what plans the government has to bring rules for private burial grounds in line with cemeteries and burial grounds regulated by statute.

    Justice Minister Lord Keen of Elie says the government has agreed that there should be updates to "modernise" this area of UK law.

    Baroness Hussein-Ece says that these private burial grounds are often held to lower standards and to unscrupulous practices. She calls on the minister to "end this scandal".

    Lord Keen says the Law Commission will be given a project on this matter. The current set of laws for private grounds were set up between 1852 and 1857, so have little use today, he adds.

  8. Call for Grenfell debatepublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Oral questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mr Brokenshire comes in for criticism on how the government has tested dangerous cladding on high rise buildings. He is accused of only testing a very limited types of cladding and of not forcing landlords and councils to take action.

    He says that since becoming secretary of state he has provided an additional £400m to fund remedial work to make high rise buildings safe.

    The MP for Kensington, Emma Dent Coad, who represents the constituency where Grenfell sits, asks for a backbench debate on all Grenfell issues. She is advised to speak to members of the Backbench Business Committee as the secretary of state cannot make this decision.

  9. How is immigration being improved at the Home Office?published at 14:53 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    UK BorderImage source, Getty Images

    Liberal Democrat Lord Roberts of Llandudno asks what steps are being taken by the Home Office to improve performance on immigration matters.

    Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford says the home secretary has stated he is committed to a "fair and humane" immigration system. The government is seeking to "improve" its performance and reflects "best practice", she adds.

    Lord Roberts asks if she is ashamed that three Eritrean teenagers committed suicide because of the Home Office, and that over 40% of decisions are overturned by on appeal.

    Baroness Williams says the case is "very sad" but she can't comment on individual cases; and 94% of normal asylum claims are dealt with "within normal service standard," she adds.

  10. More tributes to Grenfellpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Oral questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs are asking questions of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire.

    Labour's Stella Creasy invites Mr Brokenshire to visit a homelessness shelter in her constituency. He reiterates the government's commitment to reduce rough sleeping.

    The next question comes from Labour MP Grahame Morris, who asks what recent estimate Mr Brokenshire has made of the number of high-rise residential buildings that have had dangerous cladding removed and replaced since the Grenfell Tower fire.

    Mr Brokenshire responds that work has been completed on 10 buildings. He is asked to clarify when works will be completed on the other buildings, and says the government is working with local authorities to ensure buildings are made safe as quickly as possible.

    He says the government is aware of the need to make progress, and pays tribute to the Grenfell community for their commemorations of last week's anniversary of the deadly fire.

  11. What about hospices after NHS pay increases?published at 14:43 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    NHS nurseImage source, Press Association

    The day in the Lords begins with questions to ministers, and Liberal Democrat Lord Goddard of Stockport asks what representations have been received by hospices about the proposed increases in NHS pay, and whether voluntary hospices will be able to access additional funding being set aside to fund proposed NHS pay increases.

    Health and Social Care Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy says the government has received "a number" of responses on the NHS's Agenda for Change pay deal. The UK will consider these responses "carefully", he says.

    Lord Goddard asks if ringfenced funding would help employers address recruitment and retention problems in hospices.

    Lord O'Shaughnessy says it is important that the NHS does not "cannibalise" one workforce for another and is considering options.

  12. Today in the Lordspublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Coming up...

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    The Lords begin their consideration of Commons changes to the EU Withdrawal Bill last week shortly.

    Last week, the Commons rejected most of the Lords amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, while accepting some and bringing some of its own amendments in as a replacement.

    The Lords must now consider whether or not to table new amendments or push ones which were removed during last week.

    The Lords is expected to adjourn around 10pm.

  13. What time will the main vote be?published at 11:39 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Labour Lords tweets

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  14. Welcomepublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 18 June 2018

    Another busy week ahead for MPs and peers, as the EU Withdrawal Bill continues its passage through Parliament.

    Today, we'll be focusing on the House of Lords, where peers will be examining the Commons amendments to the bill.

    Will peers reverse MPs' decisions, particularly when it comes to the amendment concerning the "meaningful vote"?

    Former attorney general Dominic Grieve, and fellow Conservative MPs who oppose a "hard Brexit", thought they had a deal with the prime minister on the issue.

    They had drawn back from rebelling last week on the promise of a compromise - but then discovered that the government was not offering them what they thought had been conceded.

    Essentially the issue is about what happens if the divorce talks with the EU run out of time, or fail to deliver a deal, or if MPs reject the proposed deal.

    There's much more on this - and on the rest of the week ahead in Parliament - on our parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy's blog.