Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Jeremy Corbyn’s habit of talking about bread and butter services tends to be dismissed in Westminster – but it touches on real concern outside the bubble. And it tends to catch the PM unawares when he targets something like the buses.

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House of Commons
Parliament

Jeremy Corbyn says it's a shame the government is more interested in cutting money to local authorities.

He says bus services are in crisis, with elderly people isolated, and causing environmental damage.

Will the PM end the cuts to bus budgets, he asks.

Theresa May says it's the Conservatives who are pushing forward the devolution agenda and giving powers to regions.

House of Commons
Parliament

Mr Corbyn says it will be a Labour government "which saves the bus industry" and gives free fares to those under 26. He says that since deregulation private buses have run services in their own interests.

Bus companies have made profits of £3.3bn since 2010, he says. He asks when more powers can be given to local authorities on bus services.

Mrs May says that more powers have been given to the metro mayors for bus services.

She adds that the government is investing more in roads and infrastructure across the north.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

When Sadiq Khan ran for Mayor, he promised to freeze fares - and that's what he's done, Mr Corbyn says.

The Labour leader says routes have been wiped out in the north, under her government.

Does she think the deregulation of the industry has been a success, he asks.

She says the number of people using buses in London has gone down - and she points to Andy Street in the West Midlands, who has extended fares to apprentices and students.

House of Commons
Parliament

MR Corbyn says that bus fares have risen three times faster than people's pay. He adds that bus service users tend to be those on lower incomes. He says that lower passenger numbers have left many people "isolated" and "lonely".

He asks if bus services are a public responsibility or "just something you leave to the market".

Mrs May says it is important that the government considers those on low incomes, which is why the government has introduced and risen the living wage, as well as raising the thresholds for income tax.

House of Commons
Parliament

Jeremy Corbyn says his question was about buses...and he says that there's been 46% cut from bus budgets in England; while passenger numbers are falling.

The government has committed to a free bus pass for the elderly - but a bus pass isn't much use if there isn't a bus, he says.

Does she think it's fair fares have risen by 13% more than inflation since 2010?

Theresa May says she has answered the question about buses - and says it's right that the government made its commitment in relation to bus passes.

She says buses are something the government works with local authorities on - and she suggests he asks them.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn says he spent the weekend celebrating the NHS' 70th birthday in Nye Bevan's birthplace. He says the message was "the NHS is great" and "let's fund it properly".

He congratulates the England team and wishes them well on Saturday, as well as paying tribute to those working on the fire in Staffordshire.

He says that fares are rising, passenger numbers are falling, he asks if she accepts failure on "another public service, the buses".

Mrs May pays tribute to the firefighters and troops at Staffordshire. She adds that local authorities have responsibilities for buses.

At the last election, Labour said that giving the NHS 2.2% a year would "make it the envy of the world," she says. She adds that the government is giving it an extra 3.4%. She asks which statement should be believed from him.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Rachel Maclean asks about the BAE contract.

British defence giant BAE Systems has won a multi-billion pound contract from the Australian government to build nine new warships, marking a significant victory for British military exports.

Theresa May says it demonstrates what can be achieved by UK industry and government working hand in hand.

House of Commons
Parliament

PMQs gets under way and Tommy Sheppard, the SNP MP, has the first question.

The prime minister marks the 70th anniversary of the NHS and pays tribute to the hard work of staff across the country.

And she mentions the England football team's success in their World Cup match against Colombia. She sends congratulations to manager Gareth Southgate and the team - and wishes them good luck...

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Hold onto your hats – tensions in the Westminster cauldron are bubbling furiously, with a sinister brew of Brexit angst, football fever and anti-SNP feeling.

This triple toxicity could make for a rowdy edition of PMQs, although the main players are so plodding that they might sooth the troops into a fitful slumber.

The likely subjects du jour are Brexit (with the supposedly crunch ministerial summit at Chequers looming on Friday) and the NHS (where the anniversary celebrations will doubtless see the parties vying to seek ownership of the Health Service).

The Labour leader may be tempted to take in Sir Amyas Morse's startling rebuke in a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, about statements on Universal Credit.

And amidst what will doubtless be a fusillade of World Cup references, there will also be a bout of SNP bashing, after they forced divisions during the England Columbia game last night.

This was an act of vengeance for the way debate on devolution-related amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill was curtailed a couple of weeks ago – and as with vendettas through the ages, each act of revenge leads to a new cycle of counter-revenge.

Camera angles permitting, keep an eye on the Tory whips, who’ve developed a habit of standing close to the SNP benches, at the Bar of the House, where they can heckle directly into the ears of their targets. SNP Leader Ian Blackford will be right in their sights, I suspect.

On the serious stuff (there should be some…) watch out for Tory backbenchers attempting to extract some assurances or commitments about the critical issue of post-Brexit customs policy (and maybe Labour arch-Brexiteer Kate Hoey, too; she’s no 12 on the list of questioners, with pro-Remain SNP MP and chair of the International Trade Committee, Angus Brendan McNeil, also featuring).

The PM is under huge pressure from all sides, and will doubtless have suitable forms of words prepared to shield her from her inquisitors, but we are, allegedly, approaching a crunch point at which a decision will have to be taken, and any crumbs of information or even forms of words Theresa May uses will be analysed to death within minutes.

Other backbench subjects will include football (an open goal…) domestic violence, armed forces day, and threats to the High Street. One to watch in the list of questioners is Conservative newcomer Gillian Keegan, who is already a heavy hitter on the powerful Public Accounts Committee, and is tipped by sages and elders on the Tory backbenches for future greatness.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Vicky Ford asks what steps are being taken to promote the development of technology in developing countries.

Minister Harriett Baldwin says investments from the aid budget in technologies is "saving and changing lives all over the world". Half of the research budget this year is for new technologies, she adds, and this will help areas such as health, agriculture and clean energy.

Ms Ford says her local Rotary club is working to eradicate polio, and she asks about the government's plans to combat the disease.

Ms Baldwin says that Rotarians around the world have been working to stop the disease, and so far research has stopped around 99% of cases.

The government continues to work on the final one percent, she adds.

Select Committee
Parliament

The chair of the committee asks the Northern Ireland secretary "what do we do now, if we assume there is no immediate restoration of the institution?"

Karen Bradley says that ministers will take decisions in Westminster "as and when we need to take them".

However, she says, she is "extraordinary reluctant" to move to a situation where the government gives up on the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Dr Andrew Murrison adds that no one is "giving up" on the institution, but that decisions that need to be made are not being made, and with "every week that goes by, that list is getting longer and longer" and it is impacting the people of Northern Ireland.

House of Commons
Parliament

International Development questions will be followed by PMQs at noon. After that, there'll be an urgent question on the demolition of Khan al-Amar in the West Bank.

Following this there will be a statement on sustainable fisheries for the UK, by the Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

Later on this afternoon there'll be the remaining stages of the Ivory Bill, followed by an SNP Opposition Day debate.

Select Committee
Parliament

Karen Bradley says she continues to press the case to get the parties back in to some form of dialogue. She says she is looking at alternative ways that might re-engage parties to get trust re-established.

The Northern Ireland secretary says that lack of trust is the big problem and it "simply is not there" at the moment.

The chair Dr Andrew Murrison responds that is a "pretty downbeat" assessment of the immediate future.

The NI secretary says that she is simply being realistic and she doesn't want the committee to think that next week there will be a functioning devolved government.

Select Committee
Parliament

NI Secretary Karen Bradley says "there is no alternative that is sustainable for Northern Ireland except for returning devolved government" to Stormont.

She goes on to say that a devolved government is the "best thing for NI" and the "best thing for the Union".

Ms Bradley says as a unionist she wants to see a functioning Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom, with decisions being taken at a devolved level.

It's PMQs at noon - so who's asking the prime minister questions? First is Tommy Sheppard, the SNP MP - and, of course, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will get six questions to put to Theresa May.