Select Committee
Parliament

The chair of the committee, Dr Andrew Murrison, asks the Northern Ireland Secretary about the Executive.

NI Secretary Karen Bradley says it's been 18 months since there was an executive functioning in Northern Ireland, and there were talks at the beginning of the year which ended without an agreement..

She says it is still "extremely frustrating" the government has not been able to establish a meaningful talks process or dialogue at "leadership level".

Select Committee
Parliament

Who sits on the committee?

• Dr Andrew Murrision (Chair)- Conservative
• Mr Gregory Campbell - Democratic Unionist Party
• Mr Robert Goodwill- Conservative
• John Grogan- Labour
• Mr Stephen Hepburn-Labour
• Lady Hermon- Independent
• Kate Hoey- Labour
• Jack Lopresti- Conservative
• Conor McGinn- Labour
• Nigel Mills- Conservative
• Ian Paisley- Democratic Unionist Party
• Jim Shannon- Democratic Unionist Party
• Bob Stewart- Conservative

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

Select Committee
Parliament

The Northern Ireland Committee is taking evidence from the Northern Ireland Secretary, discussing the work of the secretary of state.

Karen Bradley has been the Northern Ireland Secretary since January 2017.

The previous incumbent James Brokenshire resigned for health reasons before taking over as the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary.

The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January 2017 leaving Northern Ireland without a devolved government.

Sinn Fein is an Irish republican political party that withdrew from the power sharing arrangement with the DUP amid a row over a renewable energy scheme and legacy issues.

Talks between the two parties came to an impasse over several issues including an Irish Language Act.

Welcome to another busy day in Westminster, with PMQs to come later today.

But first, we're covering a session with the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, who are questioning Secretary of State Karen Bradley.

Thanks for joining us...

House of Commons
Parliament

A quiet day in the Commons, as opposition MPs from came into sharp disagreement with Conservatives on the final day of estimates debates for government spending.

For Labour, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Peter Dowd criticised the government's "slash and burn" approach to public spending.

Ministers insisted that the economy was still growing and that employment levels are at their highest in many years.

The ONS has said that the number of people in work has reached a record high of 32.3m.

Later, Labour called for the removal of the rail franchise from Govia Thameslink railway during an urgent question on the matter.

Transport Minister Jo Johnson said that the government had left no options off the table in dealing with the company.

The Commons returns at 11:30am tomorrow with international development questions, followed by Prime Minister's Questions at noon.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs approve main estimates for government spending for 2018-19, by 175 votes to 33.

With that, the Commons adjourns.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs vote to approve the estimates motion on education spending by 297 votes to 33.

They now move on to vote on estimates for Treasury spending.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs vote 307 to 33 in favour of estimates for health and social care, as well as housing, communities and local government.

The Commons divides to vote on estimates for education.

House of Commons
Parliament

The motion on estimates for justice has been approved.

Ayes: 312

Noes: 32

Majority: 280

The Commons now divides to vote on estimates for health, social care, housing and communities and local government.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss says there have been "lamentable results in English and maths" which has meant that Scottish schoolchildren are being let down. She says that the Scottish government is "inflating the cost of government" while increasing taxes for people.

She says she will be looking at the issues across government to make sure that projects deliver "real value for the local communities".

She adds that it is "very important" that the UK gets "maximum benefit" from every pound that is spent by the government.

She states it is "absolutely standard practice that we do fund outside the Barnett formula where it is valid", referring to the confidence and supply agreement the government has with the DUP.

With that, the Commons divides on the estimates for justice, debated yesterday.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Peter Dowd says that these estimates come at the eight year anniversary of the first cuts by the Conservative government, and there has been "an absolute decimation of the public realm" which has had "devastating social consequences".

He adds that the OBR has said that wages will stagnate for another two decades.

Local authorities will have had £16bn in cuts made to their budgets by the end of the decade, he says.

He accuses Conservative backbenchers of having voted to institute cuts, before then complaining about poor services in their constituencies.

He says the cuts contributed to the vote to leave the EU, and he accuses the government of having said there's no money during the election campaign, but then paying £1bn to remain in power.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Patrick Grady asks how the increases in funding for the NHS will be paid for, and he raises concerns that if other government departments have cuts in funding to pay for it, then this will have Barnett formula consequences.

He says that too much government spending on infrastructure and major projects is pushed to London and the south east, rather than things which will benefit Scottish citizens.

He adds that if he was the DUP he'd be feeling "a little bit aggrieved" as to whether or not the money is "going to show" for Northern Ireland.

He accuses the government of ignoring the Barnett formula.

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's Kirsty Blackman criticises the government for giving money to the DUP under the confidence and supply agreement, while not finding more money for Scotland and Wales.

She thanks the government for funding additional policing for President Trump's visit to Scotland. She is asked if she welcomes Mr Trump due to his investment in Scotland.

"I do not give a stuff" about this investment, she says, adding that she cares much more about the separation of families at the US border.

She lists the achievements of the Scottish government where it has spent more than the UK government including on social rent.

On right-to-buy she says "we are trying to deal with the legacy of Margaret Thatcher".

The PM's compromise proposal is taking shape but will she hold her nerve and will her colleagues cause trouble?

The chairman of Parliament's ethics committee says an MP's "fundamental job is to actually be an MP".

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee's chair asks if sexual abuse of staff is higher in the aid sector than others.

Ms Mordaunt says it is "hard to make a judgement" but highlights the effects of the physical and mental strain that staff work under, and argues this could make them more vulnerable.

In response to a question about whether predatory individuals are attracted to the aid sector, she says there is evidence that Dfid's safeguarding work has persuaded some individuals to leave.

"If you are a predatory individual in the aid sector, the time to move on is now," she says.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Ms Mordaunt acknowledges that sometimes action cannot be taken because this would criminalise the victim; for example, in countries where rape victims are criminalised.

But, with regards to not reporting abuse to some national authorities, "there is a difference between protecting the victim and protecting fundraising".

She says she is looking for organisations to explain decisions not to report, and will accept this when victims are being protected.

Select Committee
Parliament

Ms Mordaunt says her department is "sending a message to predatory individuals" that they should not be working in aid.

In a response to questions about standards within Dfid itself, she says her staff's response to the Oxfam scandal has been "exemplary" and her department has everything in place to protect aid beneficiaries.

She says these issues are complex because of local laws and customs, but "you can apply common sense".

"We cannot separate the aid our nation gives from the values our nations have," she says.

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee is now hearing from International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Peter Taylor, head of the Safeguarding Unit at the Department for International Development.

Ms Mordaunt says her department is putting women and girls "at the heart" of its work.

She speaks of the importance of hearing the stories of victims of abuse.

The scandal of what happened at Oxfam has given charities the chance to reprioritise safeguarding, she says.