Summary

  • It's private members' bill day in the Commons

  • First bill is Stalking Protection Bill - Tory MP Sarah Wollaston's bill

  • MPs also debate Parking Bill

  1. What is being debated?published at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Philip Hammond MPImage source, AFP

    Each year the Chancellor of the Exchequer presents the Budget, which contains all the tax measures for the year ahead.

    MPs are now debating the Finance Bill, which enacts the changes set out in the Budget at committee stage.

    Committee stage is where detailed examination of the bill takes place, and it is taking place over two days - today and tomorrow.

    Read a summary of the Budget here.

  2. 'We've been denied chance to properly debate issues in bill' - Labourpublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Peter DowdImage source, HoC

    Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Peter Dowd moves Labour's new clauses 1, 2 and 3.

    He says Labour had asked to properly debate the issues the bill presents and be able to make proper amendments, but were denied, so are forced to appeal for reports and impact assessments on issues.

    "This government wouldn't know progress if it stared them in the face," he says, and this is why the opposition is forced to take the measures they are taking.

    Labour won't stand in the way of any change that "will put additional income into the pockets" of those on low and middle incomes, he says, but they think the richest should be paying more.

    Infant mortality has risen for the first time since the 1990s, he says, when the Conservatives were last in government, whilst there are 4.5 million children living in poverty. "At least have the guts to admit that your policies have got us into this situation," he says.

    He says the government are in denial about the impact of their policies and "have lost all credibility to manage the affairs of this country".

    "If we are unable to change the course, we will challenge the bill every step of the way."

  3. Home ownership 'highest in a decade' - Tory MPpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Julian Knight MPImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Julian Knight says the Conservative government has been able to put a great amount of money "in the pockets of ordinary people" each year since taking office, despite the "difficult decisions" they have had to make.

    Home ownership amongst first time buyers is now the "highest it's been" in the last decade, he says, praising the changes to stamp duty for first-time buyers.

    Chancellor Philip Hammond announced in the Budget that stamp duty would be abolished for first-time buyers of shared ownership properties - when someone buys between 25% and 75% of a home and then rents the rest of it.

    Mr Knight says the Finance Bill lays out a "fairer tax system, predicated towards a better society".

  4. SNP: Currently no incentive to work when employed people remain in povertypublished at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kirsty BlackmanImage source, HoC

    SNP economy spokesperson Kirsty Blackman begins to speak for her party's amendments, as well as expressing support for three Labour amendments.

    Her party wants to end age discrimination in relation to the minimum wage, she says, pointing out that younger people's minimum wage has risen far more slowly than that for those aged over 25.

    She says the SNP also have concerns over the levels of personal allowance and want to raise the proposed income tax threshold from £12,500 to £12,750.

    "It is no incentive to work if you know that when you work you will not be able to get out of poverty," she says.

    A number of the SNP amendments call for reports on the impact of the Finance Bill and she explains that experts have suggested that correction measures being made would not been needed if the government had properly consulted on issues beforehand.

    "If the government is intending to take back control," she says, it needs to ensure that control is in the hands of MPs adequately advised and informed by stakeholders and experts.

    "This is not a sensible way to run anything, never mind a country."

  5. MPs begin scrutinising Finance Billpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs are now discussing the Finance Bill in the first day of its committee stage.

    This is the bill to enact the changes announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, last month.

    Labour MP Chuka Umunna and Conservative MP Anna Soubry have tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill which would force the government to publish an economic impact assessment comparing Theresa May's draft withdrawal agreement with the UK's current position as an EU member states.

    This amendment has the support of over 70 MPs, including 11 Conservatives.

    In another amendment, the SNP are seeking to raise the personal allowance by £250.

  6. SNP MP: Peers' blocking of Lord Lester suspension 'appalling'published at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Point of Order

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Pete WishartImage source, HoC

    SNP MP Pete Wishart issues a point of order on the decision by peers to overturn the ruling of a Lords committee that Lord Lester of Herne Hill should be suspended from the Lords, following accusations of sexual harassment.

    Last week, peers blocked the decision and Lord Lester will not be suspended from sitting in the House.

    Mr Wishart says he is "greatly concerned" by the events which "sends an appalling message that these houses are not serious about sexual harassment".

    He asks what MPs can do to ensure that it is "robustly and effectively investigated".

    The Speaker John Bercow says "these are serious matters and I am aware there are strong views".

    He says he is "not endorsing or criticising" the decision which "is important and will be considered elsewhere".

  7. Questions asked over concern shown for staff pensionspublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Urgent Question on Johnston Press

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chair of the Business Committee Labour MP Rachel Reeves says the DCMS secretary is wrong to suggest pensions won't be affected, as they'll be up-rated in line with CPI inflation, rather than RPI inflation.

    "If someone is expected to carry on taking a pension for say 20 years they will lose out of thousands of pounds."

    She asks for confirmation that they will actually lose out as a result of changes.

    Mr Wright says there a good reasons why he must be cautious in what he says.

    "This business was having significant difficulty before the transaction was carried out...were these businesses to have been liquidated there would have been very severe consequences for all concerned."

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  8. Labour MP raises fears about pension dutiespublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Urgent Question on Johnston Press

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Frank FieldImage source, HoC

    Independent MP Frank Field asks if the secretary of state is "happy" with companies "running up big debts, dissolving themselves and rebranding whilst at the same time relieving themselves from pension duties".

    Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Wright says "I am not happy with this", and says that more will be done to ensure the companies are not able to do this in the future.

    Labour MP Diana Johnson says that online journalism is threatening local newspapers.

    Mr Wright says "many local newspapers are realising that many people get their news online now and they need to adapt to this."

  9. Media secretary rejects criticism of government's support for local newspublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Urgent Question on Johnston Press

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy Wright says the issue of local papers is a long term problem which requires serious solutions, pointing out that "in 2005, it wasn't my party in government...it was his".

    It won't do to make the issue political point scoring, he says, and those who are affected by these changes would like to hear something more constructive from Labour.

    Pensioners will not be affected, he explains, the changes will be affecting those currently in employment.

    Local news problems have been apparent for a long time, he says, and they are structural, that's why the right approach is for an independent review on the issue, which will be completed shortly.

    Whilst Mr Wright respects Tom Watson's support for it, he says it's wrong for him to accuse the government of not doing enough for local papers when Labour would take action that profoundly damage them.

  10. Labour: Wake up and stop sleeping on the jobpublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Urgent Question on Johnston Press

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tom WatsonImage source, HoC

    Tom Watson says the buy out seems to avert the imminent closure of publications but there are bigger, long term global strategic questions about how local democracy be preserved through quality local journalism.

    Around 200 local newspapers have closed since 2005, he says, and after eight years in government all the response to the issue is the Cairncross review. In this time, tech companies have secured their advantage in the media market, despite questionable tax records and criminal data breaches on their platforms, he says.

    "Even Rupert Murdoch showed greater respect for our democratic institutions" than Mark Zuckerburg, he says, who has refused to appear before the DCMS committee of MPs.

    He asks for confirmation that no one receiving pensions from the company will miss out.

    Since Jeremy Wright became secretary of state, he has overseen a resignation of a respected minister and made a "humiliating" climb down over FOBTs, Tom Watson says.

    Mr Wright should have come to give a statement to MPs, he adds, "not have to be dragged here to give a woeful answer to an urgent question".

    "Wake up and stop sleeping on the job," he says.

  11. SNP: Transition of Johnston Press into JPI Media 'strange'published at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Urgent Question on Johnston Press

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hannah BardellImage source, HoC

    SNP MP Hannah Bardell says the National Union of Journalists has noted that journalists have "expressed concern" about the motivations of the new owners and their plans for "asset stripping".

    "We all find it stange that it has closed down, shifted some of its debts, and popped up with a shiny new name." She adds: "We must ensure workers rights are protected."

    Ms Bardell says a Norwegian investor has been "shut out" with his "shares made valueless" and questions the morality of the transition of this company.

    Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Wright says "this is a matter for the company, but as the headquarters of Johnston Press are in Edinburgh, we must work with the Scottish government on this."

  12. Shadow DCMS secretary introduces urgent question on Johnston Presspublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Urgent Question on Johnston Press

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy WrightImage source, HoC

    Shadow digital, culture, media and sport secretary Tom Watson now introduces his urgent question on Johnston Press going into administration.

    Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Wright says Johnson Press has a £220m debt.

    "JPI media have said the operations of their papers will continue, and that the debt will be reduced to £85m to be paid off by 2023," he says.

    "The new owners say they will inject £5m into the business to keep it operating now."

    He says the company are still "working out what this will mean for around 250 members of staff" whose pensions may become insolvent.

    Mr Wright says he's spoken to the chief executive of JPI Media and he has stressed this is "the best form of action" with the only alternative being "liquidation and redundancies".

    He says Johnston Press produced 200 titles and had 2,000 staff, and was "committed to free press".

    "Its future sustainability is very important to us all," he adds, adding his sympathies for those "facing uncertainty as a result of these changes".

    Mr Wright says this is "an example of the challenges faced by the media industry more broadly, and in particularly local papers", and that the government are "working to ensure local newspapers sustainability".

    "A press than can hold powerful members to count remains an essential part of our democracy," he concludes.

  13. What did the UN Special Rapporteur say about Universal Credit?published at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Newly appointed Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd condemned Philip Aston's "wholy inappropriate language".

    Read more from the BBC: Poverty causing 'misery' in UK, and ministers are in denial, says UN official - BBC News

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  14. Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill passes third readingpublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    The Lords now give the Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill a third reading.

    The bill is a private member's bill introduced by crossbencher Lord Berkeley of Knighton and makes changes to existing legislation to enable courts to make interim care orders child cases relating to FGM.

    The bill is widely supported and passed second reading without debate. The third reading is equally as brief and the proceeds without debate.

    It will now be considered by MPs in the Commons.

  15. Former work and pensions secretary wishes Amber Rudd successpublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Work and Pensions Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Esther McVeyImage source, HoC

    Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey says she welcomes Amber Rudd to the position and "wishes her every success" in the role.

    She asks Amber Rudd to confirm that "this is the party of opportunity and working people".

    Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd once more thanks Esther McVey for her "great contributions" as work and pensions secretary, and says she completely agrees that "the Conservative party is the party of opportunity and ensuring people are getting back into work".

    Labour MP Dan Carden calls for Amber Rudd to "not go into auto pilot, and to make a break with the past".

    Ms Rudd says "overall Universal Credit is being successful and the number of workers are at a good level" but says this is not failing to acknowledge that "some things need to be addressed".

    "This policy offers a more personal welfare system than that in the past," she says.

  16. Teaching Excellence Framework Review due to report in summer 2019published at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Oral Questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Viscount Younger of LeckieImage source, HoL

    Labour peer Lord Stevenson of Balmacara asks when the review of the Teaching Excellence Framework, external is due to report and whether it will include recommendations concerning university degree classifications.

    Government spokesman Viscount Younger of Leckie says the head of the review has been announced today as Dame Shirley Pearce, with a report expected in summer 2019.

    The report will be a "wide ranging and independent", with the findings not possible to be "prejudged".

  17. Amber Rudd: 'I know there are problems with Universal Credit'published at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Work and Pensions Questions

    Amber RuddImage source, HoC

    New Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd says "I know there are problems with Universal Credit, I've seen them for myself and I will be listening and learning.

    "I know it can be better and I will make it my role to have discussions with the Department of Work and Pensions and the Treasury," she says.

    Ms Rudd says the UN rapporteur does no credit to his report for the language he used about former Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey.

    "Despite the tremendous good it does, I know there are problems with Universal Credit and we will be fixing them," she says.

    She says she wants a "fair, compassionate and efficient" welfare system.

  18. Government 'will support' applications for Universal Credit split payments for domestic abuse victimspublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Oral Questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness Williams of TraffordImage source, HoL

    Labour peer Lord Bassam of Brighton asks whether new domestic abuse legislation will be introduced and if so, when. The government consulted on the issue earlier this year, but have not yet published the response.

    Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford says the government is committed to transforming the response to domestic abuse, and will be introducing it's findings and a draft domestic abuse bill "before the end of this session".

    Lord Bassam asks for the assurance that the Domestic Violence Commissioner is given sufficient resources and power, as well as ensuring that women with uncertain immigration status get proper access to support independent of abusing partners.

    Baroness Williams says tackling abuse is "an absolute first priority" for the prime minister and the government, and can assure the Labour peer that both of his concerns will be addressed.

    The Victims Commissioner, Tory peer Baroness Newlove, says two women a week are killed by an abusive partner and asks what progress has been made in defining the role of Domestic Violence Commissioner, as well as for the assurance that she will be "offered the opportunity to import into the deliberations".

    Baroness Williams confirms the government will engage extensively with her.

    Labour's Baroness Lister of Burtersett asks about the links between "so-called welfare reform policies" by the government and increased vulnerability of domestic abuse victims.

    Baroness Williams says changes in benefit system will not cause a reduction in support levels for domestic violence victims. On split payments, she says if an individual is suffering domestic abuse the DWP will support them in their application for split payment.

  19. Number of people in full-time work 'at record high'published at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Work and Pensions Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sarah NewtonImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh asks what estimate the government has made of the number of jobs created since 2010.

    Work and Pensions Minister Sarah Newton says employed has reached a record high and this government is committed to getting more people into work.

    Mr Leigh says these jobs must "have strong workers rights" and be "high quality jobs".

    Ms Newton says the number of full-time jobs is up 82,000 on the quarter, and almost 2.7 million since 2010 which is "a record high".

    Conservative MP Michael Tomlinson asks about how the youth unemployment figures compare with those in Europe.

    "The overall level of youth unemployment has nearly halved in recent years, and the UK's youth unemployment levels are below that of France, Spain and Italy," Ms Newton says.

  20. 71% of appealed Universal Credit decisions revisedpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Work and Pensions Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Toby Perkins asks about the number of appeals for Universal Credit and what assessment has been made of the implications for the policies of those appeals having been successful.

    Work and Pensions Minister Sarah Newton says in the first six months of 2018, 71% of appeals were successfully revised, but the government are "committed to ensuring we get it right first time".

    Mr Perkins says the figures show "the great level of revision that needs to be carried out with this policy".