House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Mary Creagh asks what the policy is on the treatment of children whose parents are under immigration detention.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes says that the government does all it can "to keep families together"; while "detention is used sparingly for the purposes of public protection" or for "removal".

Ms Creagh says that the Home Office continues to separate children in an "arbitrary and cruel manner". She asks her to "get a grip on the situation" and to release figures on how many children are affected.

Ms Nokes says that the Home Office has "acknowledged its mistakes and indeed paid compensation". She says that the latest figures show that 44 children were in immigration centres, rather than 1,000 in 2009.

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

A government source has said that the government is to accept all four amendments tabled by Tory Brexiteers, who belong to the European Research Group, to the Customs Bill.

They insist this does not meant that any of the government's policies have to change.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Helen Whately asks what steps are being taken to ensure that the immigration system facilitates the hiring of sufficient skilled migrants that the UK needs.

Mr Javid says that the government is committed to an immigration system which serves the UK, since 6 July, the government has lifted restrictions on doctors and nurses visas.

Ms Whately asks about farmers who need more seasonal workers.

Mr Javid says that the future immigration system, currently being redesigned, should take into account the needs of the hospitality and agriculture sector. The department has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to advise on the new immigration system, he adds.

The Taxation (Cross Border Trade) Bill - aka the Customs bill - is back in the Commons later today.

Brexit-backing MPs have tabled four amendments for a new customs regime after the UK leaves.

One could stop the UK from collecting tariffs for the EU, part of the prime minister's Chequers plan for future relations with the bloc.

So far, the BBC understands ministers may back three of them, on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit status, the UK being out of the EU's VAT regime and Commons powers.

But what's going to happen on the most controversial amendment - a call for the UK not to collect tariffs on goods bound for the EU unless there are reciprocal arrangements in place across the continent?

That's a key part of Theresa May's proposal for a free trade zone for goods moving between the UK and the EU, underpinned by a "common rule book", after the UK leaves.

This negotiating position, agreed by the cabinet at Chequers, has angered many Tory MPs.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Rosie Cooper asks what assessment has been made of the performance of UK Visas and Immigration against its target times for responses to members of the public. She says a constituent of hers made an application last year and has heard nothing since.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes says there's no set standard for response times, as often cases are complex.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says delays in responding is a massive issue for MPs trying to help their constituents, giving an example of her constituent who has been waiting 15 years for a response.

Ms Nokes says responding to members of the public is of the highest priority, and adds that the current system was introduced under a previous Labour government.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Liberal Democrat Tim Farron asks what assessment has been made of trends in the level of fees charged for registering children as British citizens.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid says that the fees reflect costs which ensure that those applying make a "substantial contribution" to the cost of processing these claims which is "reducing the burden on the UK taxpayer".

Mr Farron says that the Home Office charges over £1,000 for children to register as British citizens, he asks if this is "profiteering" from children seeking to make their futures in the UK. He asks for an end to "excessive charges".

Mr Javid says that "there is a balance" between costs from individuals and the taxpayer. If costs were to be changed, it's right that "Parliament would make that decision".

House of Commons
Parliament

The day kicks off at 2:30pm with Home Office questions, to be followed by two statements. The first is on the Nato Brussels summit, held last week. The second is on UK trade policy.

There will then be an application for an emergency debate from the SNP's constitution spokesperson, Pete Wishart, on section 9.5 of the ministerial code.

This section deals with how ministerial statements are made available to other parties shortly before being given to the House. Thursday saw a statement given for the first time by the new Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, without it being available beforehand to other MPs. The Commons was briefly suspended by the Speaker while the white paper was given to MPs.

When the Commons came back, Chair of the Liaison Committee Dr Sarah Wollaston asked that the Commons be suspended further to allow MPs to read more before scrutinising Mr Raab, this request was not granted by the Speaker.

And then, MPs will get onto the main business of the day - debate on the remaining stages of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill, external.

Welcome to our coverage of this week in Westminster - and it promises to be a busy one.

Today's business kicks off with Home Office questions at 2.30pm; and the House of Lords will be questioning ministers too.

If you want to know more about what's happening this week in Parliament, take a look at our parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy's blog on the week ahead in Westminster.