House of Commons
Parliament

Scottish Labour MP Danielle Rowley asks what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the government's EU settlement scheme.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid says EU migrants "make huge contributions to our economy and society and we want them to stay."

He says the the scheme provides a simple and streamlined procedure and is supporting all those that want to stay, "whether there's a deal or no deal, they will still be welcome".

Lib Dem Sir Ed Davey asks for the government to agree a citizens' rights agreement with the EU in case of no deal. Mr Javid says whether deal or no deal, all in the UK will be welcome to stay.

Shadow home office minister Afzal Khan says the scheme is "the biggest task the Home Office has ever undertaken" and, referring to the Windrush scandal, says it should be a question of "if, not when" another scandal will break.

He asks if the review of processes in the Home Office will be independent and if it will now roll back the hostile environment.

Mr Javid says Labour ministers were the first to talk of a hostile environment on immigration. He says the government acknowledges that the settlement scheme is "ambitious and large scale", but "we're confident it can be delivered". He adds that 95% of those so far to have taken part have been satisfied with the scheme.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Wallace asks whether sufficient personnel will be trained and equipment will be ready to take full control of the United Kingdom’s borders by the end of March 2019.

Home Office Minister Baroness Williams says: "We will always ensure we have the resources needed to keep the border secured."

She says an additional 600 border force officers are being recruited before the deadline.

Lord Wallace says "1,000 border force officers need to be recruited for a deal scenario, and 2,000 for a no deal scenario", and "it will take 12 months for them to be trained".

Labour peer Lord West of Spithead says "we really need to do more to look after our territorial seas" and that the current "inadequate" plan "makes me feel depressed".

Baroness Williams says the EU exiting recruitment strategy is "being taken forward in phases leading up to Brexit".

Plaid Cymru peer Lord Wigley says the Welsh ports have "very few" staff members managing the borders and that "something must be done as a matter of urgency".

Baroness Williams says "it is vitally important that we have the right number of staff to protect our borders as we leave the EU."

Unlike any other ministers at any other time, the Chancellor can choose to drink alcohol while delivering the Budget.

The last Chancellor to do this was Kenneth Clarke, who drank a whisky at the box. From 1997 and the arrival of Gordon Brown, Chancellors have sipped nothing more than mineral water.

Geoffrey Howe had a gin and tonic, while Nigel Lawson had a white wine spritzer.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative MP James Cartlidge asks what steps are being taken to reduce modern slavery.

Minister Victoria Atkins says tackling modern slavery both at home and overseas is a priority for the government. She says they have strengthened law enforcement and are "transforming" support for victims, and she adds that they will continue to work internationally.

Mr Cartlidge says vigilance is needed to ensure modern slavery is tackled through the UK's tougher immigration controls after the UK leaves the EU.

The minister says the government's commitment to ending modern slavery is "unaltered", and the UK will continue to work internationally with the EU and further abroad to do this. The government is introducing a new "seasonal workers pilot" and will "work to ensure migrant workers are protected against modern slavery".

Shadow equalities minister Carolyn Harris calls for specialist support for trafficked children and asks for a commitment from the government on this, as she suggests there is a risk of children being retrafficked if not supported sufficiently.

Ms Atkins says the government is committed to resolving this issue, introducing "child trafficking advocates" - which a third of local authorities will have by next year.

She adds that "it is noted" that this type of crime is evolving and the government recognises the need to do more.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Liberal Democrat Baroness Randerson asks what steps the government is taking to modernise rail fares.

Transport Minister Baroness Sugg says the government is taking steps including making smart ticketing available for most journeys by the end of this year.

"We welcome the industry's plan to roll out the 26-30 railcard to ensure that costs are kept down for young people," she says.

Baroness Randerson says the government should abandon the RPI related hike in regulated fares "which comes as an unwelcome New Year's gift".

"If the Chancellor can freeze fuel duty, he can freeze fair fares," she says.

Baroness Sugg says "we are looking at how we can make fares fairer", but says "this is why price hikes are linked to RPI."

She says the government are looking at relating ticket price increases to CPI instead of RPI.

Today's Budget day - but who holds the record for the longest speech?

The longest continuous Budget speech was by William Gladstone on 18 April 1853, lasting four hours and 45 minutes.

Benjamin Disraeli's speech in 1852 lasted five hours but it included a break.

Benjamin Disraeli’s 1867 Budget speech lasted only 45 minutes.

With twelve Budget speeches, Gladstone holds the record for delivering more Budget speeches than any other Chancellor of the Exchequer.

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

UKIP's Lord Pearson asks the first question in the Lords today on the government's plans to offer continuing free trade, residence and security to EU citizens before agreeing any financial settlement in the Brexit negotiations.

Minister for Exiting the EU Lord Callanan says the government remains on target with the plan to leave the EU in 2019, and "this is the deadline that is still being worked towards".

Lord Pearson says the government "should recognise the UK's superior hand over Brussels", and suggests that Article 50 is "holding the UK back" from leaving the EU.

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Ludford asks if any progress has been made on the reviewing of procedures "to ensure individuals such as the racist and homophobic Tommy Robinson is not invited here for lunch".

She asks when Tommy Robinson will be banned from the House.

Lord Callanan says "the government has no capacity on the dining companions of Lord Pearson."

Last week, pictures were published showing the EDL founder Tommy Robinson eating with Lord Pearson in a Parliamentary restaurant.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Commons week begins with questions to Home Secretary Sajid Javid and his team of ministers, and Labour MP Virendra Sharma asks the first question. He asks whether the government will extend support for English classes to include newly arrived asylum seekers.

Sajid Javid says the government is committed to supporting integration through English language lessons, but these are only available to those asylum seekers that have been granted refugee status.

He says this is for those who are in a need of protection.

Mr Sharma asks if sufficient funding will be assigned to English language lessons, as the home secretary is particularly committed to it.

Mr Javid says language is a vital part of encouraging integration, and that "there is a good budget in this area."

House of Lords
Parliament

We begin our coverage of the Lords at 2.30pm with oral questions, which will be followed by Conservative peer Lord Polak's Private Notice Question on what action the government are taking to protect and reassure the Jewish community in the UK following the killing of 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

After this, peers will begin to debate the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill on the first day of its committee stage.

The bill follows the government’s reviews of its counter-terrorism strategy.

Part 1 of the bill would make it an offence to express a belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, would criminalize the publication of certain images, and strengthens the existing offence of downloading terrorist material.

Part 2 of the bill is in response to the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury on 4 March 2018 with a nerve agent, and brings in powers to stop, question, search and detain people at ports and borders to determine whether they appear to be or have been engaged in hostile activity.

Labour peer Lord Adonis will introduce a short debate on whether there is any conflict of interest between the duties of the chair and former deputy chair of Ofcom as impartial regulators of the BBC and their parliamentary duties including their voting record on Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

The day begins today with Home Office questions, before Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond gives the Budget statement around 3.30pm.

It's the last budget the chancellor will give before the UK leaves the EU in March next year, and Philip Hammond will be looking to balance between preparing for potential future financial uncertainty and the prime minister's recent promise of the 'end of austerity'.

Following that, MPs will give their response in the first of this week's budget debates, before today's adjournment debate, led by Lib Dem Christine Jardine and focusing on flight paths at Edinburgh airport, concludes the day.

Don't forget, you can find out what's coming up in the week ahead on the blog from our parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy here.

And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @BBCParliament.

Welcome to our coverage of the week's events in Westminster.

Today's proceedings in the House of Commons starts with Home Office questions - and then moves onto Philip Hammond's 2018 Budget. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will be outlining the government's spending plans from 3.30pm.

We'll be covering the Budget debate for the rest of the day here.

And we'll take a look at what their lordships are up to this afternoon - the committee stage consideration of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill.

Thanks for joining us.