House of Commons
Parliament

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Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt says he "can't give the political answer that I know some colleagues believe would simply end it all".

The Saudi decision to respond positively to requests to intervene in Yemen was right, the minister says.

"One of the reasons we believe it is right" to continue arms sales "to an ally under attack", he explains, is because of "efforts being made to avoid the tragedy which led to the death of children on the bus". This, he says, is "deeply unusual in the context of the Middle East."

"We have done all we can to express the concern expressed by the House," he adds. The government does not believe international law has not been breached by Saudi Arabia, he says, because of the efforts to prevent such tragedies from happen.

It's "vital" Saudi Arabia is given time to investigate its own actions.

He says attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthis, the alleged atrocities on both sides, are often forgotten.

"There is nothing in this situation that is good... we must continue to do all we can do de-scale the conflict," he says.

"The peace process through the UN has not ended. That is why the United Kingdom will not set up its own peace process."

"I wish there was a simple answer, but there isn't."

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour's Lord Grantchester says the business community needs certainty and that more is needed than a technical bill at this stage.

He notes that Japan and Chile have both said that they are unhappy to roll over their trade agreements, which is a huge worry.

Lord Grantchester says that one of the most disappointing parts of the bill is that it attempts to restrict trade policy almost entirely to the UK government, ignoring the devolved authorities and failing to offer accountability and opportunities to nations, regions and cities.

He says the greatest missed opportunity is the chance to settle the question of where the UK will negotiate a new custom's union.

"Surely we can trust businesses to know what is best for them."

Lord Grantchester says the customs union could allow for frictionless trade with the EU and offers the best possible basis for dealing successfully with the Irish border issue.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Next, International Trade Minister Baroness Fairhead introduces the Trade Bill to the Lords for its second reading.

In her opening speech, Baroness Fairhead says the bill is about continuity and certainty, and is crucial in keeping some of the agreements that the UK has regarding trade before the UK has left the EU.

Reflecting on the amendments made by the Commons which have increased the scrutiny role, and given certainty that the new trade's authority will be up and running by day one of the UK's exit, she says that this has provided certainty

On the purpose of the bill, the minister says it seeks the power to ensure the UK can implement existing trading agreements, become an independent member of the WTO's agreement on government procurement, and lets the UK gain and share more information on trade.

Baroness Fairhead says being in the GPA, external means the UK has guaranteed reciprocal access which means our own businesses can sell into the largest procurement markets. She adds that the UK will continue to decide which services to open up to competition, and that the GPA will allow the UK to make necessary changes to our domestic legislation.

She says that HMRC will also collect data on exports and will be able to pass this information to the independent trade remedies authority to give it evidence that it needs for its investigations, and will be subject to strict controls.This is one of the two 'Henry VIII powers' included in the bill.

The minister finishes her speech by telling the Lords that this bill is not about the details of future trade agreements, whether or how we leave the EU, and is not aiming to curtail the powers of Parliament.

In terms of devolution, Baroness Fairhead notes that the bill provides devolved ministers with the powers they need to implement existing trade agreements, respecting their competence in these areas.

"This bill puts in place a firm foundation for future trade policy."

Select Committee
Parliament

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Conservative MP Tim Loughton asks about detention centre time limits.

Stephen Shaw says he is not opposed to time limits in detention centres but adds "I don't know anywhere in Europe that has a policy of 28-days".

Mr Shaw says the 28-day limit is "too reliant on slogan than evidence".

There is a 28-day limit on people being kept on police bail in England and Wales.

House of Commons
Parliament

Former chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Crispin Blunt says "the legitimate government of the Yemen has been progressively usurped by the Houthis".

He says if the Houthis continue to refuse to work towards finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, the UK's only option is to continue to support the legitimate Saudi government's action. "The international community has no choice."

He argues instead that "the failure to support the coalition is continuing the conflict".

Select Committee
Parliament

Chair Yvette Cooper welcomes Stephen Shaw and asks if he is satisfied in the Home Office's response to his report.

Mr Shaw said he "welcomed the tone" from the Home Secretary Sajid Javid's in his statement to Parliament , externalin July 2018.

Mr Shaw says he would like to see policy surrounding adult detainees who are at risk being elaborated further and vulnerable adults should be "swiftly given the support they need".

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House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP MP Alison Thewliss begins her speech by stating that 18 children would have died in Yemen in the time that MPs have debating the conflict today. "The children dying in Yemen could sadly fill this chamber in no time at all."

She is "shocked by suggestions that UK involvement is making this war less bad... this is not a good war... this a dirty, dirty war".

How many mistakes is the government willing to accept, she asks, before the UK will stop putting profit before the lives of civilians. "There has been mistake after mistake."

"What depths will have to be reached before the UK will stop being complicit?" she asks.

Between 2015 and 2017, she says the value of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia was eighteen times the value of UK aid to sent to the region. There is no way the conflict will come to an end while countries continue to supply arms to Saudi forces, she says.

All other action has had "absolutely no impact".

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Lord Cormack asks whether, following recent developments regarding the Salisbury incident, the government will ensure that the UK is able fully to contribute to Europol after 29 March next year.

In response, Home Department Minister Baroness Williams says the UK will continue to participate in Europol and other EU and Home Affairs agencies post Brexit.

Labour peer Lord Soley asks about the European Arrest Warrant not being available to the UK after Brexit, concerning those wanted for serious crimes.

The minister replies that Michel Barnier has recognised the progress of discussions on security.

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Lord Robathan asks whether the government's policy towards withdrawal from the European Union remains that no deal is better than a bad deal.

In response, the Minister for Exiting the EU, Lord Callanan, reminds the Lords that the government does not want or expect a no deal scenario. He says significant progress has been made in the negotiations, and that a mutually advantageous deal will be achieved with the EU.

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Ludford asks if the government can still envisage a no deal potentially taking place.

The minister says the government is preparing for a no deal for practicality reasons by issuing the implementation notices.

Liberal Democrat Baroness Hussein-Ece asks the Minister how he can expect the public to have confidence when there is no firm plan.

Lord Callanan replies that the public can see that the government are working hard to negotiate a good deal.

Labour's Lord Campbell-Savours asks how the minister inteprets Michel Barnier's comments yesterday that a deal could be achieved in six weeks.

The minister says Michel Barnier's comments are welcomed but they need to be followed up by action.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Leo Docherty says the Houthi rebels practice a form of extremism that not only threatens Saudi Arabia, but the UK's own security as well.

"We need to be very clear of the true nature... we must be very clear that they are not some sort of civic uprising seeking to better represent civilians."

He says MPs can be very proud of the UK's humanitarian role, but insists they must support allies "to fight their way out of this war better than they would otherwise do."

"Our influence helps the Saudis fight this war better.

"We must recognise that unless the Houthis are compelled to attend [peace talks] through military pressure", they will not occur, he concludes.

Select Committee
Parliament

This afternoon, the Home Affairs Committee will hear evidence from Stephen Shaw.

The former Prisons Ombudsman published an independent report in 2016 for the Home Office on the welfare in detention of vulnerable persons. His report followed concerns about conditions at Yarl's Wood immigration centre.

The committee will look at the government’s progress in implementing the recommendations his report.

You can read the Shaw Review and its recommendations here., external

Westminster Hall

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Conservative MP Sir David Amess says there is "very little consumer scrutiny" of the funeral industry and attributes this to the reluctance of "vulnerable" people to shop around in the wake of the death of a loved one.

The funeral industry had an annual growth of 3% between 2011-16, he says.

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative peer Lord Black asks what plans the government have to commemorate the 75th anniversaries of D Day and the Battle of Arnhem in 2019.

In response, Defence Minister Baroness Goldie says that the celebrations will be marked both at home and abroad, with veterans at the forefront of their planning.

Liberal Democrat Lord Campbell asks Baroness Goldie whether she thinks a British national memorial bringing together all the names of those that fell will bear an important message to future generations.

Baroness Goldie replies that this is an appropriate way to commemorate those lost fighting, and she will be feeding all plans back to the defence department to ensure celebrations are carried out in the most appropriate manner.

House of Lords
Parliament

The Lord Speaker begins proceedings by announcing the death of Lord Vincent of Coleshill, who died on 8 September.

The Conservative peer Lord Balfe opens today's oral questions, asking whether the financial settlement agreed with the European Union will be justiciable, external, in part or whole, in EU national or international legal systems, if the UK renounces the agreement.

In response, Brexit Minister Lord Callanan says the financial settlement honours the commitments of the UK's membership and an estimate of the settlement is £35bn-£39bn and has been put forwards within the context of an overall agreement under Article 50.

House of Commons
Parliament

Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine says that "in the final days" of the Lib-Dem/Conservative coalition government, "it was agreed that weapons, bombs, could be licensed and sold to Saudi Arabia", on condition that British military personnel were there to oversee their use.

"Is that oversight taking place?" she asks, "and if not, why not?"

The time has come for the UK to act, she says.

Westminster Hall

Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck opens the debate by saying few things are certain in this world but almost everybody will have to go through the "unbearable, gut-wrenching pain" of losing a loved-one and planning a funeral.

Ms Buck says there is a general acceptance that funeral poverty exists as a reality for so many and therefore their ability to give a proper funeral to a loved one is "out of reach".

The Justgiving website, an online social platform for giving, shows a 400% increase in pages dedicated to crowdfunding for funerals, she says.

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House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Victoria Prentis expresses concern at "a lost generation" in Yemen.

Save the Children have told her that "at least one child dies of preventable causes every ten minutes in Yemen", she says, adding that they fear it could be more.

She says the government has been "robust" in its humanitarian response, but this has been restricted by Houthi forces. She says finding a peaceful conclusion to the conflict is vital.

"Until an agreement is found the children of Yemen will continue to pay the heaviest price."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Keither Vaz, who was born in Yemen and chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the country, says the group has recommended the UK cease its sale of arms to Saudi Arabia until the UN has released its report on the conflict.

"The UK holds the pens on Yemen," he says, "but we seem very reluctant to to use them." He calls for a immediate meeting of the UN, pointing out the UK were able to call one last week on the Salisbury attack.

"We parliamentarians are not going to stand by and wait for governments," he says, explaining that parliamentarians from across Europe and the United States will meet for a "parliamentary coalition of peace" in November.

He says he never expected Donald Trump to sit down with North Korea, so there is no reason why the UK cannot bring both sides of the conflict together to establish peace.

"Britain's task as a leader in world affairs is to convene these peace talks."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Chair of the Foreign Affairs Tom Tugendhat says he wants to "move away from the emotional" in his remarks, and instead focus on the strategic.

He urges for the approach of Saudi armed forces "to change tone... I have seen the effects of so-called collateral damage...the death of civilians".

He calls for the government "to talk to our allies and speak very clearly, that this is not in your interest... you are beginning to lose support".

Mr Tugendhat rejects suggestions that the sale of arms should end.

"I do not question Saudi’s right to self defence, I question their tactics," he says, adding that there must be an international investigation into events.

The fundamental point, he says, is that the war must end, and until it does "it must be conducted legitimately".

Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in early 2015, when Houthi rebels seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad.

Alarmed by the rise of a group they saw as an Iranian proxy, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and seven other Arab states intervened in an attempt to restore the government. They have received logistical and intelligence support from the US, UK and France.

At least 6,660 civilians have been killed and 10,563 injured in the fighting, according to the UN. Thousands more civilians have died from preventable causes, including malnutrition, disease and poor health.

The fighting and a partial blockade by the coalition has also left 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid, created the world's largest food security emergency, and led to a cholera outbreak that is thought to have affected 1.1 million people.