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MPs are on to today's debate on the Budget.

Business Secretary Greg Clark is opening the debate, which is themed on business and the economy.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

The predictable Budget knockabout around the Budget became rather uncomfortable for Jeremy Corbyn, as the PM pushed back on Labour’s response to the tax cuts promised in the Budget.

Theresa May was visibly stung by the charge that the Budget broke her promise of an end to austerity, an attack pressed by Labour backbenchers as well as by their leader.

But she also seemed more energised than she had been at any PMQs, probably since the last election, and she targeted Labour’s discomfort over not opposing the tax cuts, to some effect – forcing the Labour leader onto the defensive, at least to the extent that he had to stop attacking and explain his position.

You can over-analyse the cut and thrust of these exchanges, and over-estimate the extent to which anyone outside the Westminster bubble even notices, but inside the bubble, this was the first time for a while when Tory backbench cheers for their leader had a ring of authenticity, rather than fake enthusiasm.

The Brexit questions posed no danger – from Peter Bone’s satirical adulation for the Chancellor, to Julian Lewis’s swiftly granted request for reassurance that there would be no postponement of Brexit.

Only Amber Rudd’s deftly-phrased question highlighting business worries about access to the EU Single Market carried even a hint of danger, and it was shrugged off with no difficulty.

Questions about the war in Yemen and the need for support for victims groups around the Child Abuse Inquiry were all competently and courteously handled, so the PM could take her lunch with some satisfaction.

So does it mark the moment when the Tories perked up after a long spell of gloom?

Perhaps the key achievement of the Budget was to end the sense of drift and offer the troops something resembling a vote winning message – but if the “jam tomorrow” promised by the Chancellor turns out to be thinly spread, the PM’s good few minutes at the dispatch box will not be remembered for long.

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Conservative MP Luke Graham is now introducing his ten minute rule bill on banking and post office services in rural areas and small communities.

The bill would require banks to provide certain services, and for greater broadband connection to be provided to rural areas.

Mr Graham says: "No regard has been given for the impact of the closure of postal services for people in rural communities."

"The least affluent third of the population bare a third of the brunt of the closures," he says, "at a time when social mobility is more important than ever, these services are crucial."

Mr Graham says the situation "is simply not good enough" and calls for legislation.

His bill calls for reform to banking standards with special considerations given to rural areas, and will make a requirement for rural post offices to have banking facilities where a bank has closed.

"There should be an £100,000 fine for each closure of a bank branch that has had government funding," he says, "public funding comes with public responsibility."

Mr Graham calls for post offices to have more support when banks have closed in an area and "the post offices are having to pick up the pieces".

"No community should be left behind," he says.

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Conservative MP Simon Hoare raises a point of order.

He asks about the case of a parliamentary pass holder "who has been found guilty of drugs-related crime" and, "in order to preserve public confidence in this place", what role the commission or other House authorities play over who it issues passes to.

Speaker John Bercow says "it's got absolutely nothing whatsoever with the House of Commons Commission. The matter is a matter for me."

He says if the matter is brought to his attention, "ideally be bought forward privately", he will "discharge my responsibilities of the subject".

It's been reported that the son of Labour MP Kate Osamor, who has been convicted of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, is currently listed as being employed in his mother's parliamentary office.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

There was a cautious, carefully-worded Brexit question from former Home Secretary Amber Rudd – but no disguising her concern over singe market access after Brexit.

She got a careful and not very informative answer, but the question hit a nerve.

Brexiteer Julian Lewis follows up with a question about not postponing Brexit Day – and gets the answer he wanted; the PM will not countenance any postponement.

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Conservative Philip Davies asks if it is right that government spending needs to be increased at a faster rate on overseas aid, than for fire services, school and policing in the UK. He says the "vast majority of the British people" think this priority is "crazy crackers".

Mrs May says she believes it is important that the UK continues to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on international aid. She adds that this aid helps the most vulnerable people around the world. She says it is "right" to help "the poorest people across the world".

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Labour MP Louise Haigh says last week the prime minister "misled the House in a response over police pensions".

She says the National Police Chiefs Council has taken the unprecedented step to threaten legal action against the government "over its £165m raid" on pensions.

Ms Haigh says "under her leadership, relations with the police have been destroyed so considerably that they have risked public safety".

The prime minister says the Labour MP is wrong.

"The issue with pensions is one that has been known for a number of years, and this government are committed to public service pensions that are fair to public workers, but also fair to the taxpayer," she says.

Theresa May says: "The Budget has made clear that there is £4.5bn available to support public services next year in managing increased pensions costs."

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Labour MP Chuka Umunna says the Black Cultural Archive is the only national heritage center "dedicated to preserving and celebrating the histories of black people in this country".

He says that unlike other national institutions like the National Gallery and the British Museum, who receive over 40% of their funding from central government, the BCA receives nothing and is at risk of closing.

He asks the PM to explain and to ensure that, durin g"the Windrush year", if she will ensure "it gets the funding it desperately needs".

The prime minister says there is a different of approach taken between the museums, but she recognises the importance of the BCA and will ask a DCMS minister to look at the issue.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Former armed forces minister Mark Francois attacks what he calls “the legal scapegoating” of ex-service personnel in historic investigations from the Northern Ireland troubles.

The PM sticks to the formula she has used in previous iterations of this question from Conservatives like Johnny Mercer, that there is a disproportionate focus on the ex-service personnel….

This remains uncomfortable territory for a Conservative government.

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Labour MP Sir David Crausby says "up to £20bn sits in pension funds unclaimed by pensioners" and says the pensions dashboard, which helps people make sense of their pensions, "is a good and necessary idea".

He asks why the government is backtracking on delivering the dashboard by putting the responsibility on the pensions industry, and says they are "not best suited" for the job.

Theresa May says: "It is important that people understand their pensions and what they are entitled to."

"The Department of Work and Pensions is working with the pensions industry on this issue, and the government have put money into this project to ensure that information is available to people," she says.

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Tory Julian Lewis asks for an assurance from the PM that "under no circumstances" will "any alteration in the exit day from the European Union" by considered.

The prime minister says she is "happy to give that reassurance, we're leaving the European Union on the 29th of March 2019".

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Former home secretary Amber Rudd says the chief executive of a local company in her constituency is holding off further investment because of the UK's place in the single market.

Mrs May says the government wants to see the "business friendly customs model" that the government has proposed. The UK is "working towards that good deal", she adds.

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Conservative Mark Francois raises the cases of legacy prosecutions in Northern Ireland.

He says it would be fitting to end another burning injustice, namely the "the legal scapegoating of brave army veterans by others for political or financial gain" - and he mentions the letter that was sent to the prime minister calling on her to "defend those who defend us".

He asks whether the prime minister is with them.

Theresa May says she recognises the passion the issue raises.

We are committed to making sure all outstanding deaths in Northern Ireland are investigated in a way that is fair and proportionate, she says, which is not currently happening.

Philip Hammond is questioned over his one-off £400m injection for schools

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Labour's Paula Sherriff says a primary school has contacted her to say that the £400m for "little extras" does not cover the fact that the school is otherwise under-resourced.

She asks "what use is a whiteboard if there is no teacher to use it?"

Mrs May says the government is putting an additional £1.4bn into schools this year, and £1.2bn next year. Per pupil funding is being protected, she adds.

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Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat asks if the prime minister will join him next Sunday "in paying tribute to not only our war dead, but the three million who came from the Commonwealth to serve in the cause of freedom."

He asks if the prime minister will wear a cotton poppy which specifically pays tribute to the Indian soldiers who contributed to the WW1 effort.

The prime minister says the vital contribitions made from soldiers around the Commonwealth should be remembered, and she will wear a cotton poppy.

"We must never forget that over 74,000 soldiers came from India and lost their lives, and 11 won the Victoria Cross for their outstanding bravery," she says.