House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, Getty Images

The Commons is hearing an urgent questioned tabled by shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth.

The government is planning new measures, which would limit unhealthy snack displays in supermarkets, junk food adverts and restaurant menus.

Under the new proposals, sweets and fatty snacks will be banned at the checkouts, shop entrances and in buy one get one free deals.

The rules would also affect the advertising of junk food online before 9pm, as well as introducing calorie information on restaurant menus.

Lord Pearson urges the government to use "which" rather than "that" when drafting legislation.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Chris Leslie says he heard Boris Johnson apply "four letter words" to Airbus's announcement while at a Foreign Office event.

He says he could think of many such words for Brexit, and asks which four letter word Mr Clark would apply to the foreign secretary.

"Jobs," replies Mr Clark. "We are determined" to guarantee them, he says.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Lib Dem MP Layla Moran asks about doing lines and its effect on countering behavior in children.

HM Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman tells the committee that she never said it was effective. She says that schools who decide that they need a strong behavioral policy should not come "under fire" or be "undermined".

The Liberal Democrat MP then asks Matthew Coffey about bringing inspectors in house, adding that problems with numbers was "entirely predictable".

Ofsted's Chief Operating Officer replies that Ofsted were planning fewer inspections and are in a "luxurious" position to choice the best.

He tells the committee he is now "fully resourced" and that initial problems were to do with not having the inspectors in the right areas.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Liberal Democrat exiting the EU spokesperson Tom Brake asks which position the health secretary was asking the chief executive of Airbus to get behind: whether it's the customs partnership, maximum facilitation or the customs arrangement.

Mr Clark says Airbus has given a "very forensic analysis" of what the company needs.

The business says it needs to avoid frictions and tariffs, he says, and this is what the government has committed to.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Chair of the Exiting the EU Committee Hilary Benn says that businesses are in "despair" at the lack of government announcements on leaving the EU two years on from the vote.

Mr Clark says the negotiations are now moving to the future economic partnership with the European Union.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Drew Hendry says that the UK government's "disastrous plans" to leave the single market will damage 80,000 jobs in Scotland by 2030.

He asks if any policy changes will be made in light of these predictions.

Mr Clark says the government is still "negotiating the terms" of the UK's exit.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Iain Duncan Smith asks if Mr Clark recognises the irony that Siemens is investing in the UK because "that is where the talent lies".

He also suggests there would be irony if Airbus moves its production to China, citing Brexit, as China is not in the EU.

Mr Clark agrees and welcomes the Siemens announcement. He says Britain is a great place to invest.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The committee is now questioning representatives from Ofsted and the Department of Education.

Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown asks about T-Level courses, a new technical qualification.

Jonathan Slater replies that courses will begin in September 2020.

The Conservative MP asks about the industrial placements of 45 days that will be involved.

The permanent secretary answers that the department are piloting the placements around the country.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow industrial strategy minister Chi Onwurah says that "businesses are told to shut up when they call for clarity" by the government, and Labour MPs are accused of scaremongering.

She says that the government needs to abandon its "red lines" and that the single market "is in all our interests".

Mr Clark says that the government "listens" to the voice of business "large and small across the country," which have raised the importance of having an implementation period.

"Business recognises that this government does listen," he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Father of the House Ken Clarke asks the business secretary to explain to some in the Cabinet that you cannot have EU trade without also expecting EU rules to apply.

If the UK introduces customs checks then "it is perfectly obvious" that businesses will leave "with long lasting damage to our economy".

Mr Clark says that he is "more optimistic than he [Mr Clarke] is".

BMW warns ministers on Brexit after Airbus says it could be forced to leave the UK if there is no transition deal with the EU.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Business Secretary Greg Clark says 93% of work from the aerospace sector is exported around the world.

He says the report was published by the company on Friday, and any company or industry which supports people in the UK is "entitled to be listened to with respect" by the government.

He says that what Airbus wants is what the prime minister has said she wants in negotiations.

Labour's Mark Tami asks who the business secretary supports: the health secretary, the foreign secretary or the trade secretary over this.

He asks why businesses have been "shouted down" by some in the Cabinet over their concerns. He urges the government to focus on this rather than "Tory infighting".

Mr Clark says that across the House many MPs have constituents who work at Airbus.

He says what has been said by Airbus is "consistent" with what has been said before by the company to the European Commission and member states of the EU.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Labour's Mark Tami is asking an urgent question on Airbus, which announced at the weekend that a "no-deal" Brexit could see it leave the UK.

Airbus employs 14,000 people at 25 sites around the UK, and around half of them are employed in Wales.

The UK government has said it is confident it can get a good deal for all industries, but the Welsh government has said the announcement is "extremely worrying".

The company has around 4,000 suppliers in the UK.

The EU's Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has said that both customs arrangements proposed by the UK are unrealistic.

Later on Friday, BMW UK issued a similar warning.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The committee has started to question its first panel made up of education representatives. Committee Chair, Meg Hillier, begins by asking what are the best and the worst parts of Ofsted?

Matthew Shanks, Executive Principal from Education South West, says the short inspection are the best thing about Ofsted. He says there was an over-reliance on data prior to inspection and that they were inconsistent. He adds the public perception as a result was not "fair".

Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary from the National Education Union, says survey reports are "valuable" but the accountability system was "driving" teachers from the profession. She tells the committee the costs of Ofsted are "huge" and that 52% of teachers leave within 10 years.

Nick Brook, Deputy General Secretary from the National Association of Head Teachers says we are seeing "much less evidence" of a "positive impact overall". He says that 96% of schools are good or better but the approach of inspection hasn't changed.

It is impressive scaffolding - but tourists were hoping for a picture of London's iconic clock.

Select Committee
Parliament

You can watch the Public Accounts Committee session about Ofsted here., external

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee session is starting now. On the committee are:

• Meg Hillier (Chair) – Labour (Co-op)
• Bim Afolami – Conservative
• ·Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown – Conservative
• Martyn Day – Scottish Nationalist Party
• Chris Evans – Labour (Co-op)
• Caroline Flint – Labour
• Luke Graham – Conservative
• Robert Jenrick – Conservative
• Gillian Keegan – Conservative
• Shabana Mahmood – Labour
• Layla Moran – Labour
• Stephen Morgan – Labour
• Anne Marie Morris – Conservative
• Bridget Marie Morris – Conservative
• Bridget Phillipson – Labour
• Lee Rowley – Conservative
• Gareth Snell – Labour

You can find out more about the committee and its work here., external