Summary

  • At 9.30am: MPs question transport ministers

  • Then: Urgent question on student loan debt

  • Followed by: Urgent question on death penalty for foreign fighters

  • Then: Forthcoming parliamentary business announced

  • Statement on government review of railways

  • Later: Debate on support for victims of crime

  • Lords debate impact of Brexit on Good Friday Agreement and the arts

  1. What's on in Westminster Hall today?published at 09:44 British Summer Time 10 October 2018

    Commons tweets

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  2. Questions on statutory instruments raisedpublished at 09:43 British Summer Time 10 October 2018

    Exiting the EU Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Seema MalhotraImage source, HoC

    Labour's Seema Malhotra asks if the timeline for the 800 statutory instruments which need to be introduced to Parliament is realistic. She says the Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom, has said that there is still enough time.

    Sir Amyas says it is possible that the House may need to accommodate its sittings so that these SIs can be made.

    Ms Malhotra replies that the Leader has said that there would be no changes to sitting timetables over SIs.

    Emergency pressure has the "extraordinary effect" of making "people think differently sometimes", Sir Amyas replies.

  3. Who is on the Exiting the EU Committee?published at 09:41 British Summer Time 10 October 2018

    Exiting the EU Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Hilary Benn , external(Chair) Labour

    Mr Peter Bone , externalConservative

    Joanna Cherry , externalScottish National Party

    Sir Christopher Chope , externalConservative

    Stephen Crabb , externalConservative

    Jonathan Djanogly , externalConservative

    Richard Graham , externalConservative

    Peter Grant , externalScottish National Party

    Wera Hobhouse , externalLiberal Democrat

    Andrea Jenkyns , externalConservative

    Stephen Kinnock , externalLabour

    Jeremy Lefroy , externalConservative

    Pat McFadden , externalLabour

    Craig Mackinlay , externalConservative

    Seema Malhotra , externalLabour (Co-op)

    Jacob Rees-Mogg , externalConservative

    Emma Reynolds , externalLabour

    Stephen Timms , externalLabour

    John Whittingdale , externalConservative

    Hywel Williams , externalPlaid Cymru

    Sammy Wilson , externalDemocratic Unionist Party

  4. DfT may be seeing Brexit 'as less risky than it actually is'published at 09:40 British Summer Time 10 October 2018

    Exiting the EU Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Jeremy LefroyImage source, HoC

    Conservative Jeremy Lefroy says that the Department for Transport is likely to see the biggest problems if risks are not addressed.

    Sir Amyas says the department is "quite confident of getting everything done". He says he has "some concerns" that DfT may have convinced themselves that it is "less risky than it actually is".

    He adds there is more risk than is being said by the department itself, but the team are approaching it with "considerable expertise".

    He states that there is a "great deal" of legislation that needs to be passed and the original timeline has not been followed.

  5. There needs to be prioritisation - Morsepublished at 09:30 British Summer Time 10 October 2018

    Exiting the EU Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Sir Amyas MorseImage source, HoC

    Hilary Benn asks Sir Amyas Morse about government preparations for Brexit. Sir Amyas tells the committee that before there was already a “heavily loaded” programme for government before Brexit took place.

    Mr Benn asks if there hasn’t been prioritisation between issues.

    Sir Amyas says that some departments have done this more than others, but some departments have not reprioritised anything, such as Department for Transport.

    He adds that the he is most concerned about the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Transport and HMRC.

  6. MPs questioning NAO Comptrollerpublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 10 October 2018

    Exiting the EU Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    MPs are meeting this morning to discuss the progress of negotiations for Brexit.

    Large parts of the UK’s departure from the EU has been agreed between the UK and the bloc. There are, however, still significant areas outstanding, including how to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

    Both sides were keen for an agreement to be reached by mid October, allowing enough time for European countries to approve the deal, but yesterday Dominic Raab said he was confident the deal was likely to be achieved in November.

    The EU and British parliaments must also ratify any final withdrawal treaty before other EU countries get to vote on and approve it.

  7. Good morningpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 10 October 2018

    Welcome to a busy day in Westminster, with the first PMQs after conference recess on the agenda.

    But first, we're covering the Exiting the EU Committee, who are questioning Sir Amyas Morse, the Comptroller and Auditor General of the National Audit Office.

    The National Audit Office (NAO) scrutinises public spending for Parliament.

    Sir Amyas Morse leads the NAO and is an officer of the House of Commons. He and the staff of the NAO (about 800 people) are independent of government.

    They are not civil servants and do not report to a minister.

  8. Raab: confident of deal in autumnpublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Brexit secretary makes statement to Commons

    Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs the UK and EU were "closing in on workable solutions" on key issues, and stressed the need to "hold our nerve" and "stay resolute" in order to secure a good deal.

    In a statement in the Commons today, he said that on avoiding new border checks in Northern Ireland, the government would not accept anything that threatened the "constitutional and economic integrity of the UK".

    And he said the sort of free trade agreement being demanded by some Tory Brexiteers was a "shortcut to no deal" because it would not solve the Irish border question.

    Labour said rather than Mr Raab, Mrs May should be answering questions on "what went wrong" at the recent summit in Salzburg.

    The Democratic Unionist Party's Nigel Dodds said his party would not accept anything that "separates" Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

  9. What happened today in the Lords?published at 22:05 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    That's it from the Lords today.

    The session began with oral questions which included an update on the forthcoming National Accident Prevention strategy, and an update on the plans for the UK to achieve the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

    These were followed by a question about the proportion of goods sorted for recycling by households in England that eventually ends up in landfill and a question on type 2 diabetes.

    These oral questions were followed by the second reading of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, which has now passed on to committee stage.

  10. 'Individuals harming our society will not be tolerated'published at 22:01 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Counter-terrorism bill

    Baroness WilliamsImage source, HoL

    Home Office Minister Baroness Williams says she'd like to echo the tributes to the police and emergency services for their quick reactions to recent terror attacks.

    She says she welcomes the messages of support on the bill from the opposition front bench, and says she agrees that more debate is needed and that she looks forward to an exciting committee stage.

    Baroness Williams says "any groups or individuals that cause harm to our society or cause hatred and division will not be tolerated."

    "Counter terrorism policing must have the resources to deal with the threat we face, and that is why their funding has gone up," she says.

    "The range of threat posed to the UK is wide ranging, and as such the definition of terror threat must be broad."

    Baroness Williams says a comprehensive safety strategy on the use of internet to inspire terror is needed, and a white paper will be published later this session for new online safety laws.

    The bill passes its second reading and will be reviewed by a committee of the whole house.

  11. Labour peer: 'this bill still needs proper scrutiny'published at 21:39 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Counter-terrorism bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord KennedyImage source, HoL

    Labour spokesperson for home affairs, Lord Kennedy, says "we have seen terrorism on our streets too many times".

    He says we should be thankful that numerous terror plots have been foiled.

    Lord Kennedy says he supports the bill and will always work to aid those who strive to protect us from danger.

    "More scrutiny of the amendment regarding viewing information on the internet is needed," he says, and notes there are contradictions in this bill which need to be reviewed further.

    "The proposals need proper scrutiny which they have not received so far."

    He says the use of the internet to incite hate crime needs to be considered in a separate bill.

    "This is an important bill with many serious issues for the House to consider."

  12. Lib Dem peer: 'Parts of this bill could make us less safe'published at 21:29 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Counter-terrorism bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord PaddickImage source, HoL

    Summing up, Liberal Democrat peer and former police officer Lord Paddick says despite the tragic events the UK has seen in recent years, the police and security services have effectively combated numerous threats of terrorism.

    "We will support any necessary and proportionate measure to make the UK safer and to defeat terror, but we will not support motions that are counterproductive", he says.

    "Large parts of this bill are disproportionate, unreasonable and could leave us less safe."

    Lord Paddick says the bill would make it an offence to click on a website on the internet which has information which may be useful to incite terrorism, and this needs tightening up as just one click for innocent research could leave a person in custody.

    "Offences should carry a punishment that deters further terror attacks" but "overcrowding should be monitored" as "terrorist extremism can become endemic".

  13. What's been going on in the Commons today?published at 21:20 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    It's been a busy day back in the Commons for MPs, beginning with questions to the Justice secretary and his ministerial team. After that, there were three urgent questions - the first of which from Labour MP Melanie Onn regarding food labeling and allergy related deaths.

    Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth then requested a statement on the accumulation of human body parts and the disposal of dangerous NHS waste, and Labour's Kate Osamor asked a question on overseas aid funding. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab then gave a statement updating the House on negotiations over Britain leaving the European Union, which received responses from a number of MPs.

    Labour MP Alex Norris introduced his Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill as a ten minute rule motion, calling for tougher sentencing on those that assault retail staff, before the House progressed to the emotional backbench business debate marking Baby Loss Awareness Week.

    Time restrictions saw the planned debate on children's social care in England cancelled.

    Join us tomorrow from 11.30am for International Development questions and of course PMQs, before MPs debate the Agriculture Bill at second reading.

  14. Former police chief: 'There should always be room in prisons for terrorists'published at 21:18 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Counter-terrorism bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Hogan-HoweImage source, HoL

    Former head of the Metropolitan Police, Lord Hogan-Howe says he agrees that cohesion and integration are vital elements of preventing terrorism in the future.

    Lord Hogan-Howe says "we have a serious terrorist threat now and the numbers are concerning, we have to respond in a proportionate way".

    "We always need to keep the majority of society, and importantly minority communities, on side.

    "We always need to be able to find prison space for terrorist offenders if they're a significant threat," he says.

    On the criticism that this bill could capture those committing accidental online activity, Lord Hogan-Howe says the three point test where terrorism has to be proven on the sufficiency of evidence, public interest, and has to overcome any reasonable excuse, means that innocent parties will not be prosecuted.

    "Putting a question of why an individual went to a certain place, who chooses to travel to a war zone, is not unreasonable", he says.

  15. 'Work to be done, but much to celebrate'published at 21:05 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Baby Loss Awareness Week Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Antoinette SandbachImage source, HoC

    Antoinette Sandbach brings the debate to a close, admitting that she didn't go to sleep last night "because of the feelings stirred... but we have achieved so much in recent years."

    "So many people have suffered in silence... We are breaking that taboo, we are breaking that silence," she says.

    "It's the why, why has this happened, and the desire to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else that drives you forward... There is work to be done, but much to celebrate."

    The House now proceeds to the adjournment debate on business rates, led by Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

  16. Minister: 'this is an issue that unites the House'published at 20:55 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Baby Loss Awareness Week Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen BarclayImage source, HoC

    Health and Social Care Minister Stephen Barclay is now responding on behalf of the government.

    The government has set out "a clear ambition" to reduce baby loss, he says, suggesting the UK currently has the lowest stillbirth rate on record.

    He acknowledges that there is still work to do; baby loss is more likely to occur among ethnic minority groups and the government will "continue to work on policies to tackle these inequalities".

    "The government is actively listening to concerns on this issue, this is an issue that unites the House."

  17. Quick fire: MP explains what his bill is all aboutpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Commons tweets

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  18. PM warned of 'voter backlash' over Brexitpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Theresa May is told the Tories face "dire electoral consequences" if she does not rethink her approach.

    Read More
  19. Shadow health minister: 'government must tackle regional disparities'published at 20:44 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Baby Loss Awareness Week Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justin MaddersImage source, HoC

    Shadow health minister Justin Madders says he is "moved" to be wrapping up on behalf of the opposition in tonight's debate, which has "shown Parliament at its best".

    He pays tribute to the work of the all-party parliamentary group on baby loss, "there is something in the order of 680 APPGs...few have had as much success."

    "We're all connected in some way to someone who has suffered a loss," he says.

    "The silence that we talk about is beginning to end... having now spoken out we must continue to talk about what we need to do to improve outcomes.

    "The neonatal fatality rate has sadly increased two years in a row... 80% of which could have been avoided."

    He says the government needs to "tackle regional disparities".

  20. Former prisons inspector 'worried by scope of bill'published at 20:43 British Summer Time 9 October 2018

    Counter-terrorism bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord RamsbothamImage source, HoC

    Lord Ramsbotham, a former British Army officer who became the Chief Inspector of Prisons, says that while he recognises the importance of the bill in keeping people safe, he is also worried by its scope.

    He says that previously the law was so lax that arrests could not be made at funerals for IRA members where inflammatory speeches were being made.

    He asks how border officials will identify individuals who are working on behalf of another state, and he says he is worried about the lack of any threshold for holding people for questioning in such cases.

    He says he has heard concerns from people in the field as to how intelligence officers in counter-terrorism are moving abroad to Europe because of Brexit.

    He further raises concerns at the increased sentencing for those caught under this bill, especially as he says prisons are overcrowded and understaffed.