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. Labour: Will PM speak to BBC about cutting free TV licenses for pensioners?published at 12:29 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Ian C Lucas says pensioners over 75 face having to find an extra £150.50 every year if current proposals to take away free TV licenses come to fruition.

    He asks if the prime minister will take responsibility for this policy, speak to the BBC and find a solution that doesn't pickpocket pensioners.

    In response, the prime minister says the arrangements of the free license change were part of the latest BBC settlement.

    "The money is being made available to the BBC and they will take decisions about how they operate," she says.

  2. Government to consider social insurance policy for social carepublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, who is also a member of the Public Accounts Committee, asks whether the prime minister will back the committee's social insurance policy suggestion to fund social care, "as is so successful in Germany".

    Theresa May says it's important the government gets social care "on a sustainable footing".

    She says there is a green paper to be released later this year setting out proposals for reform, which will "certainly consider those put forward by the committee".

    Analysis from Mark D'Arcy

    The Health and Local Government committees have suggested a way forward for the funding of social care – it’s an example of select committees pushing a policy agenda while the government grapples with Brexit.

  3. Tory MP asks for seasonal workers scheme for hospitality sectorpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Steve DoubleImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Steve Double says he welcomes the announcement last month of a new seasonal workers scheme for farm workers after Brexit.

    He asks the prime minister whether a similar scheme will also be made available to firms in the tourism and hospitality sectors, which he says also rely on seasonal workers.

    Theresa May says ministers will asses how the scheme has worked first, with "further details" on new rules announced as part of the new immigration system post-Brexit.

    However she pledges that the "needs of the British economy" will be borne in mind.

  4. Labour MP asks about diabetes managementpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's Stephen McCabe says even the prime minister's "fiercest critics must be full of admiration" for the way she manages her diabetes and holds down such a "demanding job".

    He adds that Ms May benefits from a freestyle libre glucose monitoring system asks "wouldn't it be nice" if it was available on the NHS.

    Theresa May admits that she does use the monitoring system and says it is available on the NHS. She adds other means of managing diabetes are also available.

  5. Careful phrasing in answers to Brexit questionspublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    The SNP’s Ian Blackford repeats the appeal made by Ken Clarke last week, for a cross party Brexit deal to keep Britain in “a” customs union with the EU.

    And former Cabinet Minister Sir Patrick McLoughlin asks a rather coded question about maintaining inward investment in the UK, post Brexit.

    The PM parries both with her now characteristic careful phrasing.

  6. SNP: We must stay in the customs union for Brexit bill to pass through Commonspublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ian BlackfordImage source, HOC

    SNP Ian Blackford says it is in all our interests that the prime minister comes back from Brussels with the right deal.

    He draws attention to former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major's comments yesterday that Brexit was a "colossal misjudgment" which would leave the UK a "poorer country".

    He asks whether the prime minister agrees with Sir John Major's statements.

    The prime minister says "the plan that the government have put forward with the EU is one that protects jobs and livelihoods. It enables the UK to keep good trading relationships with the EU and elsewhere in the world as well."

    Ian Blackford says peoples jobs are at risk and that nobody should negotiate a deal that threatens jobs.

    He calls for the prime minister to "go to Brussels and act in the interest of citizens across the EU, negotiate for us to stay in the single market".

    "Staying in the single market and the customs union is the only deal that will get through this House," he says.

    Theresa May says the proposal the government have put forward delivers on the public vote and will protect jobs and livelihoods of those in the United Kingdom.

    "He should join with us in acknowledging the importance of leaving the Common Fisheries Policy," the prime minister says.

  7. PM: Brexit will 'attract further investment' in UKpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory Sir Patrick McLoughlin says the British people support the PM in Brexit negotiations and asks whether she will ensure that the outcome "will ensure that we still continue to get the levels of inward investment that we have attracted in this country".

    Theresa May says the inward investment is vital for the UK and jobs, and she says the country will "remain an attractive place for that" after Brexit, while the government is keen to encourage further investment into the UK through free trade deals.

    She says leaving the EU allows the UK to forge more free trade agreements, which will attract further investment.

  8. Call for PM to back civil partnerships private members billpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tim LoughtonImage source, hoc

    Conservative MP Tim Loughton says the PM will be aware of his campaign to extend civil partnerships, and asks if she will support his private member's bill next week on the issue, "as the quickest way to make equal civil partnerships possible".

    The prime minister says there are some issues with the bill, but the government will be working with his on his private members bill.

    Mr Lorton shakes his head at Mrs May's response.

    Analysis from Mark D'Arcy

    A slightly snippy question from ex-minister Tim Loughton – but was that a suggestion that, with a few changes, the government might back his Civil Partnerships Bill? It’s due back in the Commons a week on Friday….

  9. Corbyn 'playing piano with boxing gloves'published at 12:16 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    The Sun's Political Editor tweets:

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  10. Watch: May says UK will 'honour obligations' over Brexit billpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

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  11. May says 'Labour can play politics'published at 12:16 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy Corbyn says the NHS is woefully unprepared.

    He says the Conservatives have spent two years arguing with themselves and not negotiationing with the EU. He adds that days before deadline they are still "bickering".

    The Labour leader says the Conservatives are "too weak and divided" to protect jobs or the economy or ensure there is no hard border in Northern Ireland.

    The prime minister replies that the Opposition does not mention the unemployment figures that came out this week.

    She says the government is scrapping council borrowing cap to build more homes, ending austerity, freezing fuel duty, has delivered the lowest unemployment figures for 40 years, halved youth unemployment and delivered the fastest wage growth in a decade.

    Ms May concludes "Labour can play politics" and the Conservatives "deliver for the people".

  12. Effective performance from Labour leaderpublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    This is the most effective PMQs performance I can remember from Jeremy Corbyn.

    Theresa May’s responses have to be very carefully and precisely phrased, which limits her ability to respond to his points about Brexit.

  13. Corbyn: Can PM assure plans to safeguard supply of medicines?published at 12:14 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy Corbyn says last week the Public Accounts Committee said that the Department of Health could not assure its plans to safeguard the supply of medicines after the UK's departure from the European Union.

    He asks the prime minister what plans are in place to ensure that vital supplies are available to the people of this country after Brexit.

    The prime minister says the Department of Health are working, as other departments are, to ensure that plans are in place for a no deal scenario. She says this includes health supplies.

    "We want a deal that delivers on the Brexit vote and benefits the people of the United Kingdom," she says.

  14. Watch: Corbyn asks PM whether 'Chequers' plan is deadpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

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  15. Call for PM to commit to a customs unionpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    PMQSImage source, hoc

    Jeremy Corbyn says his question was that the prime minister had signed an agreement that had no time limits attached to it, and whether she stood by it or not?

    He says the car industry is clear that it needs a new customs union in order to secure investment in British manufacturers. He says jobs are at risk and asks why the prime minister won't work to establish a customs union with the EU, which he "suspects" a majority of MPs support.

    Theresa May says other industries have said that they want frictionless trade across the borders, which is at the heart of the proposals put forward.

    She says Labour now want a second referendum, "there will be no second referendum, the people voted and the government will deliver Brexit," she says.

  16. PM 'clear' on the backstop arrangementpublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Theresa MayImage source, hoc

    The Leader of the Opposition says last week 63 Conservative MPs signed a letter to say the Treasury forecast was too negative.

    Mr Corbyn tells the House the prime minister signed an agreement in September that means in absence of an agreement the UK will retain full alignment the EU.

    Theresa May replies the government have made "good progress".

    She adds she was "clear then" and "clear now" that the backstop is to bridge the gap between the end of transition period and the implementation of the future relationship agreement.

  17. 'Grimaces on Tory backbenchers'published at 12:09 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

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  18. Corbyn: Will UK pay £36bn divorce bill in no deal scenario?published at 12:08 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn says that despite the prime minister saying the Chequers plan is not dead, both her international development secretary and work and pensions secretary have refused to say they back this plan.

    Jeremy Corbyn asks the prime minister to confirm the Treasury legal advice given to Cabinet that even in the event of no deal, the country would still have to pay the EU a divorce bill of £36bn.

    Prime Minister Theresa May says this is a country that "honours its legal obligations".

    "We have been very clear, as have the EU, that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed," the prime minister says.

  19. Corbyn: Is PM's Brexit plan dead?published at 12:07 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, HOc

    Jeremy Corbyn begins his first question in paying tribute to to Baroness Hollis, the Labour peer who died this week.

    He asks that as the PM did not mention Chequers plan (the prime minister's proposed agreement with the EU) in her conference speech or her statement on Monday, "is the Chequers plan is now dead?"

    The prime minister echoes tributes to Baroness Hollis. In response to Mr Corbyn's question, "the answer is no".

    Analysis from Mark D'Arcy

    Brexit proves to be too inviting a target for Jeremy Corbyn – who launches into a well-targeted attack highlighting Tory divisions.

  20. PM: 'Not practical or sensible' to publish Brexit modelling nowpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 17 October 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The first question comes from Conservative MP Sheryll Murray, who asks whether the government will publish its Brexit modelling papers "in full".

    In reply Theresa May says that Parliament will get "appropriate analysis to make an informed decision" before the vote on the final deal.

    However she adds that it would not be "practical or sensible" to set out this analysis whilst the negotiations are still ongoing.