Summary

  • This morning: MPs questioned environment ministers

  • Followed by: Urgent question on sickness benefit underpayments

  • Exchanges over 'meaningful' Brexit vote for MPs dominate business statement

  • Later: Debates on supermarket supply chains and World Menopause Day

  • House of Lords debated cyber security and music education

  1. Minister's honeymoon choice questionedpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

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  2. Minister: prison courses give additional skillspublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Oral Questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord KeenImage source, HoL

    The Lord Bishop of London asks the government how it plans to ensure that every prisoner can participate in purposeful activity during their sentence.

    Justice Minister Lord Keen says a range of courses are carried out in prisons to ensure that prisoners have additional skills when they leave the prison.

    Labour peer Lord Harris draws attention to data which says that the average prisoner in the UK is locked up for 23 hours a day, and asks how prisoners can be participating in purposeful activity. He questions why the amount of time prisoners are spending in their cells is not tracked.

    Lord Keen says "there are more pressing issues in prisons in this country at the moment".

    Liberal Democrat peer Lord German suggests the government "should put more effort in" with regards to ensuring prisoners can complete purposeful activity during their sentence.

    The minister says "courses carried out in prisons are constantly being monitored" to ensure that they benefit prisoners on their release.

  3. Scotland's first minister on Brexit progresspublished at 15:09 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

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  4. Labour: 'Step back from the brink' on Universal Creditpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Work and Pensions questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Margaret GreenwoodImage source, HoC

    Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood says contrasting statements by the government suggesting many claimants may receive less support has caused great confusion for vulnerable people.

    "If austerity is really over, will the government make sure that nobody loses out?" she asks.

    Esther McVey says benefit spending changes were "difficult decisions" needed to be taken get public finances on a sustainable footing. She says there's transitional protections in place to support those changing onto Universal Credit.

    Ms Greenwood says "almost 30% of Universal Credit claims started are not completed" and suggests that the government doesn't care about those that are left out by the system.

    She calls for the government to "step back from the brink and stop the roll out of Universal Credit." Ms McVey responds that "this is the worst scaremongering I've ever heard".

  5. Education minister: University Technical Colleges 'vital'published at 15:03 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Oral Questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord AgnewImage source, HoL

    Labour peer Lord Haskel asks what steps the government are taking to adapt education and training to address the needs of the changing economy.

    In response, Education Minister Lord Agnew says the government are implementing T Levels to encourage more technical programmes designed by employers.

    In addition, he says, more specialist national colleges will be set up.

    "University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are a vital part of the skills network, and the entry age should be adjusted so they are not in conflict with schools," the minister says.

    Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Garden asks if careers education is going to be reformed to ensure young adults are being set up well for the changing economy.

    Lord Agnew says the government has established the careers enterprise company to ensure that there are enough trained individuals in each skills to deliver effective education in this area, and have created the institution of technology to ensure that STEM skills are being given priority.

  6. What is Universal Credit?published at 14:50 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Universal Credit is the government's new benefits system, which is slowly being phased in across the country - with all benefit claimants to be moved onto it by next year.

    The government says it makes the benefits system simpler and more flexible, as well as encouraging more people into work.

    However, it's been suggested people could be left worse off, with it reported that two in five households in receipt of benefits would lose an average of £52 a week. There's also been concerns about delays to payments, how they're distributed and the impact the changes could have on the most vulnerable.

    MPs from across the political spectrum have expressed concern about the system, including Tory Heidi Allen this weekend. Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, the system's architect, says it needs a further £2bn cash injection to enable it to work properly.

    You can read BBC Reality Check's closer look at the system here.

  7. Universal Credit roll-out raised in Commonspublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Work and Pensions questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael asks about the government's preparedness for the roll-out of Universal Credit to people in receipt of working tax credits. He says that the founding principle of work always being preferred to being on benefits is being "fundamentally undermined".

    He calls for work allowances to be restored to the levies as was originally planned.

    Ms McVey says she'll be having discussions with the Chancellor regarding funding ahead of the budget.

    Chair of the Work & Pensions Committee Frank Field says the system isn't being rolled out as successfully as is suggested by the government. He says women in his constituency have been forced to resort to prostitution as a result of the changes.

    Ms McVey says there are systems to support those affected and helping them get into work, such as charities and job coaches, adding that there are many job vacancies open.

    Asked whether she has requested more funding for Universal Credit so it is able to be introduced properly, the work and pensions secretary says "I don't let people know what happens in private meetings", but adds that she is "championing UC".

    "We all agree on the founding principles," she says.

  8. Labour peer Baroness Hollis dies aged 77published at 14:48 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Patricia HollisImage source, PA

    The day in the Lords begins with the news that Labour Peer, Patricia Hollis, Baroness Hollis of Heigham has died, aged 77, following a long illness.

    She died peacefully at home, surrounded by members of her family, a statement said.

    Her partner Lord Alan Howarth, a fellow Labour Peer, said on behalf of the family: "We are hugely proud of Patricia, both as a person and as a politician. Her commitment to serving the interests of the poor and disadvantaged was unwavering and powerfully effective."

    Labour’s leader in the House of Lords, Baroness Angela Smith said: “Patricia was fearless in her pursuit of fairness. Facts were her weapons and her deep personal commitment to tackle discrimination and poverty gained wider public attention with her incredible speech on plans to cut tax credits."

  9. Asylum application assessors to undergo new course in 2019published at 14:46 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Oral Questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness WilliamsImage source, HoL

    Proceedings begin in the Lords with the announcement that Labour Peer Baroness Hollis has died aged 77.

    Conservative peer Baroness Berridge asks the first oral question of the day in the Lords about improving Home Office assessments of asylum applications on the grounds of religious or belief-based persecution.

    Home Office Minister Baroness Williams says there will be a new specialist course for the Home Office to follow when carrying out assessments of asylum applications which is expected to be rolled out in early 2019.

    "Appeals are also regularly analysed to ensure the right decisions are being made," she says.

    Labour peer Baroness Bakewell asks what steps the government are taking to ensure Home Office assessors are better educated on non-religious asylum seekers.

    Baroness Williams confirms that ensuring more education of non-religious and humanist beliefs will be included in the new course.

  10. Questions to Work and Pensions ministers beginspublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Work and Pensions questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Esther McVeyImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Rachel Maclean gets the Commons day started with a question about the government's work with disabled entrepreneurs.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey says disabled people are more likely than others to be self employed, and the government has teams to help them, through Access to Work and other support groups.

    She says "there is more we can do", but adds, "We have never spent more supporting people with disabilities and health conditions."

  11. What's on today?published at 14:33 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    In the Commons and Lords

    Work and Pensions questions is first on the agenda today for MPs, followed by a statement from the prime minister about Brexit negotiations.

    There are two further statements - one from Minister Claire Perry on Green GB Week and clean growth; and the second from Minsiter Tracey Crouch on the loneliness strategy.

    Later today, MPs will turn their attention to the Offensives Weapons Bill at remaining stages.

    And in the Lords, following questions to government ministers, peers will be examining the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill.

    There will also be a private notice question - that the Lords' equivalent of an urgent question - about concerns over the level of toxins found at the Grenfell Tower site.

  12. Good afternoonpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Welcome to our coverage of the week in Westminster.

    Today promises plenty of interest, with Work and Pensions questions in the Commons from 2.30pm, then a statement from the Prime Minister, Theresa May, later this afternoon on Brexit negotiations.

    We'll be covering events in the Commons and Lords chambers here - and if you want to find out more about what's on this week, pay a visit to our parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy's blog here.