Summary

  • Minister resigns over 'delays' to maximum stake for fixed-odds betting machines

  • MPs debated an urgent question on the matter this morning

  • MPs concluded debate on 2018 Budget during afternoon

  • They later approved series of motions authorising government spending plans

  • Legislation implementing Budget expected to be published next week

  • Lords debated social mobility and problem gambling

  1. Russia hasn't been 'paying its dues'published at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Chris BryantImage source, HoC

    Labour's Chris Bryant asks about concerns that Russia may pull out of the Council of Europe.

    Mr Hunt says that Russia hasn't been "paying its dues" as part of the Council. Russia seems to want to destabilise the national order, he adds, and the country seems to be unwilling to come back to the international order.

    He adds that the response to the Salisbury poisoning was one of the "great successes" of British diplomacy this year.

    Mr Bryant says that Russia is destabilising the European Union, and the British government refuses to investigate Russian interference in the Brexit referendum.

    Mr Hunt says that Russia is not winning "hands down," and there has been a redrawing of a red line on use of chemical weapons by Russia, he says.

  2. Peers discuss plans to make UK a global green finance centrepublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Oral Questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord BatesImage source, HoL

    Liberal Democrat peer Lord Teverson kicks off oral questions in the Lords this afternoon, asking what action the government will take to support the United Kingdom as a global green finance centre.

    Treasury Minister Lord Bates says the government places a high priority on green finance and will be publishing a green finance strategy in Spring 2019.

    Lord Teverson says that "a great opportunity was lost this week in the Budget when the government did not announce that the UK would be implementing a new green sovereign bond."

    Lord Bates says "the prospect of green finance is very exciting and London is at the forefront of this movement internationally" but "the government should support the plans, not partake in them."

    Labour peer Lord Davies says the independent committee on climate change indicated "the UK must act now", and that the UK has slipped from first place to third.

    "The picture is more depressing than he is portraying," he says.

    Lord Bates says he doesn't "accept the picture Lord Davies is painting", and that "the government are focusing on leading the agenda with regards to being a global green finance centre."

  3. Labour MP: Investment in A&E mental health units 'not enough'published at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Kevan Jones says "austerity hasn't finished in local government," noting that Durham County Council has had £200m worth of cuts over the last eight years and "is going to lose another £14m next year as the revenue support grant has not been changed".

    "The idea that austerity has finished in this country is complete nonsense," he says.

    The investment in mental health units is the wrong way of going about things, he says.

    "There is a crisis in mental health professionals and we need to address that, we need to hard-wire mental health into government policy," he says, "the announcement in the budget is not enough."

    Mr Jones says "you only need to look at the neglect of the North East to see that the government's Budget is predominantly investing in areas where the Conservatives have the most support."

    "The Budget is a missed opportunity," he says.

  4. DfID is respected 'around the world' - Huntpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Jeremy HuntImage source, HoC

    Conservative Andrew Rosindell asks Jeremy Hunt if International Development should be integrated once again with the Foreign Office.

    Mr Hunt says that DfID is respected "around the world" and seen as the best development agency.

    He says that originally the work was "very different," and now the work is "direct competition" between the UK and China in Africa for development opportunities.

    He says the British taxpayer is doing an "enormous amount" in eradicating Polio around the world. He adds that the UK has very good soft power because of the development budget.

  5. 'Surgery, not plasters, needed on business rates system'published at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Rachael Maskell urges the Chancellor to "address the real problem of business rates".

    "We saw plasters last year, bandages this year, but what we need is surgery."

    She suggests the government is doing no more than "crisis management" and is making it difficult for high street businesses to think long term. She says the government is only "providing relief for corporate greed", which risks creating a bubble on highstreets and could collapse.

    "Money is going to the wrong places," she says, and "only a radical Labour government" will address the change that needs to happen.

  6. Today in the Lordspublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Today in the Lords there's a question on the safety implications for consumers of the sale of weedkillers, and one on tenants' payment histories being taken into account by credit service providers.

    After this, the Chairman of the EU Select Committee Lord Boswell will ask a private notice question on what steps the government is taking to ensure that select committees are able to consider and report on the final text of any UK-EU withdrawal agreement in time to inform the parliamentary debates required under Section 13(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

    After this, peers will debate the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill in the second day of its committee stage.

    The bill closes gaps in existing counter-terrorism legislation to ensure that it is fit for the digital age and enables persons at ports and borders to be questioned for national security.

    Labour peer Lord Morris of Aberavon will then introduce a short debate on the provision of new technologies, such as flash glucose monitoring systems, for Type 1 diabetes patients.

  7. 'A lot to praise in this Budget'published at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Nigel HuddlestonImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston says "there is a lot to praise in this Budget", adding that he is particularly pleased at the freeze on beer and spirit duty considering he has more pubs that average in his constituency.

    He says constituents have been telling him "for years" that they'd be happy to pay more tax if there was a need, but he's pleased that spending increases were announced without the need to raise tax levels.

    Social mobility is key, with schools central to this, he says.

    "It is no accident that the top funded places in the country, mainly in London, also have the highest social mobility." He says he's glad the government is introducing a fairer funding formula to address this.

  8. What is Jeremy Hunt doing differently to Boris Johnson?published at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Royston SmithImage source, HoC

    Conservative Royston Smith asks what Jeremy Hunt is doing differently to his predecessor, Boris Johnson.

    Mr Hunt says Mr Johnson had a "pretty distinct style" and that he is "pretty different". He says Mr Johnson also spoke a lot of "global Britain," while he sees his job as putting "flesh on the bone" of this policy.

    He says the rise of China as a global superpower is also something he considers in his work.

    He adds that the British diplomatic service has the same reach as the French, with around 25% less budget.

  9. Long term plan 'needed to demonstrate opportunities of Brexit'published at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Priti PatelImage source, HoC

    Conservative Priti Patel says there is an opportunity for economic liberalisation in the UK and calls for a move away from centrally made funding decisions, so that regional bodies are given "the ability to deliver for people, communities and businesses".

    Deficit reduction must remain central, she says, but a long term plan is also needed to demonstrate the opportunities for development after Brexit.

    "We need to focus not just on the short term, but the long term policies which allow for the potential in this country to thrive."

  10. Who are the witnesses?published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

  11. Who is on the committee?published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Tom Tugendhat, external (Chair) Conservative

    Ian Austin , externalLabour

    Chris Bryant, external Labour

    Ann Clwyd , externalLabour

    Mike Gapes , externalLabour (Co-op)

    Stephen Gethins , externalScottish National Party

    Ian Murray , externalLabour

    Priti Patel , externalConservative

    Andrew Rosindell , externalConservative

    Mr Bob Seely , externalConservative

    Royston Smith , externalConservative

  12. Why is the Foreign Affairs Committee speaking to Jeremy Hunt?published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Jeremy Hunt

    These committee sessions are standard for any Secretary of State to take part in, they examine and scrutinise the work of the Cabinet member. They usually take place twice a year.

    Usually, topical discussions take place. Expect conversations on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the war in Yemen and Asia Bibi.

  13. Labour: Police funding 'needs to be reconsidered'published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    David HansonImage source, HoC

    Labour MP David Hanson says "It's clear from the red book that austerity is not over."

    "At a time when violence is up 13% and sexual assault crimes are up 46% alongside other offences, further police cuts are absurd."

    He says the fact that there was no mention of more money for the police in the Budget "needs to be reconsidered".

    Mr Hanson says more money should have been allocated to Wales in the Budget, as the area "needs more support for the future".

  14. Tory MP urges government 'to look again at schools budget'published at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Michael FallonImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Sir Michael Fallon says "this Budget makes us match fit for Brexit".

    "Consecutive governments have been ludicrously slow is giving us the road infrastructure we need," he says, "and this must be a priority."

    He says schools have been strained with an increasing number of pupils and urges the government to "look again at the schools budget".

    He says this Budget was "more than a holding operation, and a skillful set of choices", but outside the European Union "it requires more ambition from the government to improve the number of exports and the quality and quantity of our spending on skills."

  15. SNP: Budget not 'end of austerity' but 'a rebranding exercise'published at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Drew HendryImage source, HoC

    SNP spokesperson for business, energy and industry Drew Hendry says that "the way the government is playing its hand is making the case of Scottish independence for us".

    Mr Hendry says: "The prime minister promised an end to austerity but this Budget is yet another rebranding exercise."

    He says £53m is missing in the budget for the NHS, along with £175m not being refunded to Scotland's emergency services through VAT.

    The SNP's Alison Thewliss intervenes to say "there is a political influence on the Budget", as Belfast received £2m for a fire fund, and Glasgow "has got nothing despite two major fires".

    "Westminster has failed to end wage discrimination and give young people the living wage, but young people are used to being failed by this government," Mr Hendry says. "The government must stop bucking its responsibilities for fair pay."

    He calls for Scotland to have "the power to provide fair pay themselves" if the government will not do so.

    "The one massive problem with the Budget this week was Universal Credit," he says. "It's about time the government took responsibility and sorted it out."

  16. David Davis: Increased funding for Universal Credit 'most important part of Budget'published at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    David DavisImage source, HoC

    Former Brexit secretary Conservative MP David Davis says: "It would be a disaster to have a Labour government as they would ignore taxes and inflation and create a social crisis."

    "The Budget is about improving people's lives and developing the best outcome for the nation," he says.

    Mr Davis says "for decades the British welfare system has been a nightmare of complexity," but "Universal Credit is a significant step in the right direction".

    "Benefits should seek to aid people's return to work, not to trap them in unemployment," he says. "Tax credits under Gordon Brown often trapped people in a cycle of dependency and unemployment."

    David Davis says the most important part of the Chancellor's Budget was the increased investment into Universal Credit.

    Mr Davis says the policy of student loans "has failed"; and he calls for the immediate scrapping of the Help to Buy scheme, and for more homes to be built.

    "This should be a government that delivers on social mobility," he says.

  17. What's the latest on the Brexit deal talks?published at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Once the Budget's out of the way, we'll be back to talking about Brexit - but what is there to say?

    Read More
  18. Labour: 'Small giveaways don't cut the sides of public service cuts'published at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chi OnwurahImage source, HoC

    Shadow industrial strategy minister Chi Onwurah says the opposition are "disappointed" by the Budget which is "a broken promises Budget".

    Ms Onwurah says: "Austerity is certainly not over, the small giveaways don't even begin to cut the sides of the public service cuts and it is an insult to our intelligence for the secretary of state to say this."

    "The Conservatives ideology has held back our economy," she says, "and now they are using Labour's policies, but It would be churlish of me to demand our policies back."

    Ms Onwurah says: "The party opposite initiated and promoted the reckless deregulation of our financial sector and failed to create significant growth."

    "The UK remains the most regionally unequal country in the whole of Europe," she continues.

    Ms Onwurah says "retail is facing a unique crisis" and "proactive policies are needed".

    "It seems the government's plan to save our high streets is to turn them into non high streets," she says.

    She says one in five people earn less than they need to get by, which is "disgraceful".

  19. Prime Minister's Questions: The verdictpublished at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Theresa May clashed with Jeremy Corbyn over the Budget - here are the key bits.

    Read More
  20. 'Our industrial strategy will transform the UK'published at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 31 October 2018

    Budget debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Greg ClarkImage source, HoC

    Business Secretary Greg Clark says "public finances have been transformed with borrowing down from 10% to 1.9% - our industrial strategy will transform every part of the UK."

    "This is one of the most exciting times in the history of business, technology and science," he says, adding that "British businesses, scientists, designers, inventors and workers" can lead the world.

    He says the Budget was an important one for small businesses and the government has given opportunities for businesses to expand.

    Investment is vital, he adds, but it is businesses, not government, that create jobs and fund public services. There is no society anywhere in the world that is not based on successful businesses, he says, but suggests Labour see "business as the enemy".