House of Commons
Parliament

Asked about 'no deal' preparations, Andrea Leadsom says they are "far advanced".

"I've just come from the Cabinet meeting looking at no deal preparations...the government is preparing for all eventualities but it remains our expectation and intention to get a good deal with the European Union that works for the United Kingdom and for our friends and neighbours in the EU."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow leader of the House Valerie Vaz criticises the drip feed of Commons business, suggesting "we are back to a week and a day" information. She asks when the Trade Bill and customs bill will be debated.

Ms Leadsom says the customs bill awaits Royal Assent, while the Trade Bill is still in the Lords.

Ms Vaz says the House is still waiting for the Fisheries Bill, as well as the Immigration Bill and other Brexit legislation. She says there are over 800 statutory instruments relating to Brexit to deal with, and requests a statement on when they will be considered.

She continues, saying the boundaries review is a "blatant power grab", which overpowers the executive and weakens Parliament.

The Leader of the House responds that seven pieces of Brexit legislation have been introduced, and the government will be bringing forward remaining bills later in the year "when the final deal is negotiated".

She criticises Labour for making "only three contributions" in a recent general debate on legislating for Brexit.

On concerns raised over a 'no-deal' Brexit, she says "planes flew before we joined the EU" and she can't believe people are concerned about that.

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Commenting on conditions since the Bank of England voted to raise the interest rate by 0.25% in August, the Monetary Policy Committee said in the minutes from its two-day meeting: "The MPC continues to recognise that the economic outlook could be influenced significantly by the response of households, businesses and financial markets to developments related to the process of EU withdrawal.

"Since the committee’s previous meeting, there have been indications, most prominently in financial markets, of greater uncertainty about future developments in the withdrawal process."

House of Lords
Parliament

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Next, the Lords move on to a general debate on the Transparency in Lobbying, Non-Party Campainging and Trade Union Administration Act 2014, and its effect on third party election campaigning.

Lord Harries introduces the debate. He calls on Lord Hodgson's recommendations to be made to the Lobbying Act, and for legislation to be brought in front of the House as soon as possible.

Lord Hodgson's review of the Lobbying Act, which was commissioned by the government and published its recommedations last year, calls for:

• Reducing the regulated campaign period to four months before an election
• Changes to the rules on joint campaigning.
• That the scope of the lobbying act be reduced to include only activity intended to influence how members of the public vote.

Lord Harries says charities are greatly effected, as they face censure for carrying ordinary campaigning during election period.

He says that despite Brexit being the priority at present, these amendments must be securely in place before the next election.

Lord Hodgson says the evidence included in his review was overwhelmingly in favour of an up to date framework, and he calls for a repeal of the framework of part two of the Lobbying Act.

He says the language of the current Lobbying Act is vague, and amendments should be made at a time when the public are "switched on" to electoral reform.

Lord Hodgson says he is disappointed that government support has "ebbed away", and that these amendments are crucial to ensure the country has a fair electoral system fit for the modern age.

House of Commons
Parliament

Andrea Leadsom is giving the business statement, laying out business for when the Commons returns after conference season.

On the Tuesday back (9 October), there will a general debate on baby loss awareness, and another on children's social care. The next day will see the Agriculture Bill be debated, followed by a general debate on the Victims Strategy on the Thursday.

The next Monday (15 October) the Offensive Weapons Bill will provisionally be the focus.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Barry Sheerman questions the fishing method used and says "it may be deeply damaging" to the marine environment. He asks whether it is time to reconsider at the methods used.

The minister George Eustice says there are already some restrictions over what gear can be used, "it can be a damaging method of fishing... but it's also the main method that we use for species such as scallops."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Andrew Murrison asks about the potential for "other issues of this sort arising elsewhere". The minister agrees there are other places where there could be disagreements, but tensions have never resulted in this sort of actions.

Lib Dem Alistair Carmichael says fishing is the most "hazardous peacetime occupation", which makes recent events even more shocking. He asks for assurances that the French government will respond properly.

Mr Eustice says the French goverment agrees, and have increased their efforts to "enforce lawful fishing activity" as a result.

Tory Philip Hollobone asks why the Royal Navy can't accompany fishing fleets. Mr Eustice says "it is absolutely the responsibility of the French authorities" to protect those fishing in French waters.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour's shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman says fishing is "essential for coastal communities", and "livelihoods are being hurt" every day that British boats are unable to go fishing.

Ms Hayman asks the government to assure future protests do not descend into violence and for compensation to be given to British fisherman who have had their boats damaged.

"Our fishermen need defending," she says.

Minister George Eustice says that he spoke to his opposite number in the French government immediately after the first clashes in the Bay of Seine and was assured that the French were increasing a police presence in the waters.

"The UK government is doing everything it can to support the fishing industry."

In the wake of the breakdown in talks, Mr Eustice says the government continue to ensure the British right to fish in the area is enforced.

Image source, EVN/FRANCE TÉLÉVISION

French and British fishermen have been clashing in the English Channel in an escalating battle over scallops.

In August, about 35 French boats tried to stop five larger British boats from fishing 12 nautical miles (22km) off the Normandy coast, in the Bay of Seine.

Fishing boats collided and stones were thrown, but no-one was injured.

UK boats are entitled to fish in the scallop-rich area, but their presence has angered the French, who accuse the British of depleting shellfish stocks.

Fishing leaders have said talks between the UK and France to end the dispute have collapsed without agreement.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister George Eustice is now giving a statement on scallop fishing. French and British fishermen clashed last month over the issue.

Mr Eustice says "any violence is unacceptable" and that talks to resolve the problems have "not resulted in an agreement".

He says the dispute comes down to different legislation protecting scallops, with French fishermen restricted in when they can trawl for them.

The existing agreement over fishing broke down earlier this year due to French desires to make changes, he says. The French industry has remained unwilling to reintroduce this agreement.

The "altercations" between fishing fleets were a result of "continued frustration" on the French side, he says, adding that it "must be stressed that UK fishers were not contravening any French or UK law."

British fishermen had "voluntarily" stayed away from the area while discussions where on-going he says, and the government has been "proactive in supporting the industry and trying to secure an agreement that works for both sides".

The compensation sought by British negotiators "was significantly different to the proposals made by the French industry," he says - explaining this is why talks have broken down.

"In the meantime we stand by ready to offer what assistance the French government may wish to consider," he concludes.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Liberal Democrat Lord Lee of Trafford asks what assessment the government have made of the current major Russian military exercises.

In response, Defence Minister Baroness Goldie says Russia is increasing its military presence and the UK will be observing the exercises closely.

She says the modernising defence programme will help to track Russian military exercises, and assures peers that funding for this defence programme will not be carried over from the aid budget.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Liberal Democrat Baroness Thornhill asks, following the announcement of a Housing Delivery Test, external in the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 24 July, what measures the government will take to stop developments which do not comply with plans agreed at a local government level.

Minister Lord Bourne says the revised framework gives greater certainty to areas delivering developments in line with the plan.

He says the test will hold local authorities to account for their role in delivering the homes they need.

The minister says local authorities are recognising that creating more homes is a priority.

Labour peer Baroness Andrews asks the minister if he will allow local authorities to borrow more to build.

The minister says the government says the framework will provide a clearer idea of the number of houses that need to be built, and the rate they need to be built at.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Liberal Democrat Lord Clement-Jones asks about Certificates of Sponsorship, in particular those affecting artists visiting the United Kingdom for music festivals.

Any non European Union artists performing in the UK and, crucially, any member of their travelling party involved in the performance, require work authorisation in the form of a Creative Certificate of Sponsorship. These can only be processed by a UK sponsor licensed by the UK Border Agency.

In response, Home Office Minister Baroness Williams says the UK welcomes artists wanting to come to the UK to perform at music festivals. She says while no changes have been made to the documentation process, the government are recognising and listening to concerns and are working with artists to make this easier.

Lord Clement-Jones asks if festivals will be bare if the same rules of entry to the UK apply to EU artists post-Brexit.

The minister says the process is not hostile, but necessary. She says form of entry clearance must be taken seriously, and work is underway to ensure it is easier for artists to enter the UK, and assures Lord Clement-Jones that the issue is not EU and Brexit related.

Conservative peer Lord Geedes says the government are in danger of damaging the UK arts and cultural hub, as well as the economic situation in the UK if nothing is done to make this documentation process easier.

The minister says she recognises the economic value the arts and entertainment industry also brings to the UK.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon says there has been a "continual and unchecked" decline in standards at Bedford Prison over the last decade.

"This is the fourth jail to be issued an urgent notice within 12 months," he says.

Mr Burgon calls on the government to commit to an emergency plan with "new Treasury funds" additional funding to "end overcrowding and understaffing" across the prison estate.

Prisons Minister Rory Stewart says the government agrees with his concerns and those made by the chief inspector of prisons Peter Clarke.

Mr Stewart says the government will prepare a "carefully considered" plan for Bedford prison within 28 days.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Mohammad Yasin says he been raising concerns about the prison in his constituency ever since he was elected. He says "officers are going in every day facing serious assault, and it is getting worse, not better."

He says he has visited the prison, and it is holding more than 420 men, when it was only designed to hold 300. The building isn't fit for purpose, he says, and asks how rehabilitating serious offenders can happen if "we can't provide decency".

Mr Stewart suggests that during the last Labour government the number of people in prison "nearly doubled". He says the government inherited a situation where "we have an enormous number of people in prison".

A third of the prison estate are Victorian prisons, he says, with a "clear relationship" between this and problem prisons. The government has committed to creating 10,000 new modern prison places.

Nationally there are more prison officers in place than previously, he says, and the government is investing in training more and "making them stay".

House of Lords
Parliament

Today we begin our coverage of the Lords at 11am with oral questions, which will be followed by a series of balloted debates.

First up is Lord Harries' debate on the the transparency of the Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014, and the effect it has had on third-party election campaigning.

Next there will be a topical short debate on the impact of anti-Semitism in the UK, followed by the second balloted debate on the 40th anniversary of first IVF conception, led by the former chair of the Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the crossbencher, Baroness Deech.

Last business is a short debate on international declarations of genocide or crimes against humanity.

The prison was placed in "special measures" by the government in May due to safety concerns.

Image source, Google

An official warning about conditions at Bedford Prison has been submitted to the justice secretary, the BBC understands.

In May 2018, the publicly-run prison was placed in "special measures" by the government because of safety concerns.

Chief inspector of prisons Peter Clarke is understood to have sent a letter to Justice Secretary David Gauke.

The letter triggers a process which means Mr Gauke will have to publish a response and plan of action for the prison within 28 days.

The Category B prison holds more than 500 male prisoners, although capacity is thought to only be about 320.

House of Commons
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Prisons Minister Rory Stewart is now responding to an urgent question from Labour MP for Bedford Mohammad Yasin about HMP Bedford, where an official warning about conditions has been submitted to the justice secretary.

"A number of local prisons have now come in front of the House in the last six months with significant challenges, of which Bedford is now the latest," he begins.

"Prisons are challenging places to run at the best of times... Although there are many challenges in prisons... some things are getting better."

Mr Stewart says there are some "very significant challenges in Bedford", listing problems around "decency and conditions", drugs and violence - "particularly assaults against prison officers in Bedford".

He says that this is familiar with other experiences, but "there are prisons around the country with very similar problems which are already showing that you can tackle these issues."

"We put the prison into special measure some months ago, we are seeing some improvements.

"Only by restoring order and control in these prisons are we able to address the many other issues."