House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP James Cartlidge asks whether there is a danger that this bill could be seen as an attack on the many small landlord and agency businesses who are operating fairly in this country.

Shadow housing minister, Melanie Onn, says the legislation has to have some teeth to work, and the joint party commitment to provide more rights to tenants should be paramount.

"There is no sanction to do away with the private rental sector, but the balance has been too far in favour of a private rental section that has grown and left tenants in a very tenuous situation for many years."

Select Committee
Parliament

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SNP Dr Philippa Whitford says that changes to the EU customs bill affect the facilitated customs arrangement and has a "significant impact" on the white paper. She refers to an amendment that prevents HMRC collecting customs duties unless it is a mutual agreement with the EU.

The Brexit secretary says he does not accept the changes made are "inconsistent" White Paper proposals. He says the government would not have accepted the amendments if it "undercut" the process.

He tells the committee that there will be a "reciprocally agreed tariff revenue formula".

Dr Whitford asks if the UK is expecting the EU 27 to collect tariffs on the country's behalf.

Mr Raab replies that is not his understanding.

The SNP MP says that amendments seem to drive a "coach and horses" through the facilitated customs arrangement.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Melanie Onn, shadow housing minister, says the current situation where most tenants pay four weeks worth of rent as a deposit is feasible, and allowing landlords or agents to charge up to six weeks is likely to price many renters out.

Ms Onn welcomes the amendment enabling tenants to choose how any unlawful payments they may have made to landlords or agents are reimbursed.

She calls for landlords to provide an invoice to allow tenants to account for what they are being charged, and to more easily dispute any charges they disagree with.

"The bill as it stands allows a loop hole for scrupulous landlords to charge more in other ways to make up for their losses in fees."

House of Commons
Parliament

Rishi Sunak, Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister, says he agrees with the amendment proposed that when a tenant has paid an unlawful fee, they should be given a say in how they are reimbursed.

He says this amendment is a worthwhile addition, and that landlords and agents must seek consent from tenants if they wish to offset the fee a tenant is owed against a rent payment or a deposit.

Mr Sunak warns that if this procedure is not followed, landlords will be liable for a penalty fee for each individual breach of the ban they commit. A second breach could incur a fine of £30,000.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Labour MP Kate Hoey asks Oliver Robbins if he has visited the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

He replies that he has not in his current role and confirms that he has not been to Belfast in the last five years. He tells the committee he has been to Dublin on several occasions.

Ms Hoey says the border issue has been "ridiculously over-hyped" and asks if the secretary of state can understand why there is confusion as to why it is a "big issue".

Dominic Raab the government does not want to see any extra "substantive" infrastructure at the border. He says there are some in the EU who see the border as a "political pressure point".

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are currently debating the Tenant Fees Bill in the House of Commons.

• The bill aims to abolish upfront fees for tenants in England and cap security deposits at the equivalent of six weeks’ rent.
• These upfront fees may include reference checks, agency fees, and unreasonable cleaning fees at the end of a tenancy.
• The proposal to ban upfront fees was mentioned as part of the Conservative government's Autumn Statement in 2016, and was included in their 2017 party manifesto.
• There is currently no cap on the level of fees that letting agents can charge in England, although consumer protection legislation might apply in certain circumstances.
• In November 2012 the Scottish government clarified the law so that all tenant charges, other than rent and a refundable deposit, have been illegal.

Select Committee
Parliament

Oliver Robbins is asked if he believes leaving the EU is a good thing.

The prime minister's European advisor replies that he is "right behind" the policy of the government and adds "there is no part of my personal views" that will ever "play a role in how I serve the government of the day".

Select Committee
Parliament

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Conservative MP David Jones says the UK government has made "significant concessions" to the EU, including on the role of the European Court of Justice and the continued payment of money.

Dominic Raab replies that there is no deal until there is a "whole" agreement, and there is a "clear linkage" between the future relationship and withdrawal agreements.

Mr Jones says the concessions were "substantial" and asks if he can name a concession on a similar scale made by the EU.

The Brexit Secretary says there are areas in the negotiations that have been "very difficult for the EU". He adds that the difficult areas for the UK have "come early".

"So the balance has yet to be revealed", replies David Jones.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now debating the remaining stages, starting with report stage, of the Tenant Fees Bill. The bill looks to ban letting fees charged by landlords on tenants in the private rented sector, as well as capping tenancy deposits in England.

Tabling the motion, Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak says members across the House agree that tenants should not being paying fees that should instead concern the landlord.

A number of Labour MPs intervene to express concern at the lengths to which the bill goes, with Labour's Debbie Abrahams suggesting the bill doesn't sufficiently monitor default fees and asks if the government will resolve this.

Mr Sunak says it wouldn't be appropriate for government to do this, but rules on landlords will be "black and white" so they cannot charge additional fees that were not agreed with the tenant.

Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, who is a landlord, says there should be a right for landlords to expect properties be left in reasonable condition and highlights the need for redress schemes.

The government minister expresses his support for Mr Hollinrake's view.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Chair of the committee and Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash begins by criticising the prime minister for her attempt to prevent her Europe advisor from appearing in front of the committee.

He referes to Olly Robbins as the "architect" of Chequers.

Sir Bill Cash then refers to Michel Barnier's comments where he stated that proposals were "insane" and broke European law.

He asks if Mr Robbins will advice the PM to put the Chequers proposal "out of its misery"

Mr Robbins replies that he wouldn't and that would be for ministers collectively. He respectfully disagrees with the EU's chief negotiator and says proposal are "creditable and sensible" for a "pragmatic relationship" with EU.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab interjects and tells the chair he missed out some of the "good bits" from Mr Barnier's comments, namely where he said that 80% of the agreement was negotiated and that the parties were close to their goal.

Bill Cash replies that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

Theresa May clashed with Jeremy Corbyn over the PM's Brexit proposals - here are the key bits.

House of Commons
Parliament

Tory MP Kevin Foster is speaking against Ms Latham's bill - but says he does not want to divide the house.

He expresses a variety of concerns, "if we put the age of marriage to 18, do we also put the age of sexual consent to 18?"

"It's obvious that there is a point made... but this is a long standing legal age."

He questions whether it is right that things like this should be covered by a private members' bill, "this is a much more significant change".

He says it is "such a significant change to a long-standing law", and that it isn't right that only he and Ms Latham be able to speak on the issue.

The house does not divide, and the bill passes to the next stage.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Pauline Latham is introducing her Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill as a ten minute rule motion.

The bill looks to set 18 as the minimum age for marriage, as she says it is an anomaly to outlaw forced marriages while continuing to allow children of 16 to be married with the consent of their parents.

She argues that current rules "open the doors for forced marriage".

She says the current system is outdated, and that at 16 people are still children.

Ms Latham points out that someone could still be at school, but married at 16 - arguing that it would be difficult to handle a successful marriage whilst under the pressures of school.

"It should be our priority to protect children, and that may mean from themselves."

Select Committee
Parliament

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

• Sir William Cash (Chair) - Conservative
• Geraint Davies - Labour (Co-op)
• Martyn Day - Scottish National Party
• Steve Double - Conservative
• Richard Drax - Conservative
• Mr Marcus Fysh - Conservative
• Kate Green - Labour
• Kate Hoey - Labour
• Kelvin Hopkins - Independent
• Darren Jones - Labour
• Mr David Jones - Conservative
• Stephen Kinnock - Labour
• Andrew Lewer - Conservative
• Michael Tomlinson - Conservative
• David Warburton - Conservative
• Dr Philippa Whitford - Scottish National Party

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

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP's Patricia Gibson says she raised concerns about co-habitation when legislation was debated, and asks if the government will now apologise for the upset caused.

The government spokesman says it "isn't straightforward", but they are working as quickly as possible.

Ms Gibson's SNP colleague Alison Thewliss asks if the government has ruled out appealing the court's decision.

Mr Tomlinson repeats that the government will continue to review the issue and update the House in due course.

Select Committee
Parliament

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The European Scrutiny Committee is to hear evidence from Exiting the EU Secretary Dominic Raab and the Prime Minister’s Europe adviser Oliver Robbins as part of its inquiry on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

The Brexit secretary has said the government received "positive and constructive feedback" from the rest of the EU on its Chequers proposals in negotiations.

Mr Raab said the Chequers plan had proved "challenging" for some in Brussels but that European counterparts were "engaging seriously".

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said he "strongly" opposes parts of the plan and that a "common rulebook" for goods but not services were not in the EU's interests.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Mike Penning says he is no fan of the European Courts and is a supporter of marriage, but that "we need to live in the real world".

He says government needs to show "compassion and sympathy" in the benefits system.

Mr Tomlinson agrees, and repeats that the government is looking closely at how best to respond.

Chair of the Work and Pensions committee Frank Field says it's disappointing more progress was not being made.

He says there was no doubt that "this was a stable union", and that clearly "fairness was not operating".

Mr Tomlinson says "fairness is the key", and says that it's important time was allowed for a proper response.