Image source, HoC

SNP transport spokesman Alan Brown asks how employees who "face losing their jobs rather quickly" will be supported by the government.

Business Minister Richard Harrington says the government's support for Bombardier and the aerospace sector generally is "unmatched at any time in history".

He adds: "it is not the government making redundancies."

He says "the government has invested £1.9bn in aerospace", with money from this going to Bombardier in recent years.

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Tory peer Lord Lexden asks about guidance to local authorities (LAs) about support for children with special needs, and the cost to LAs of appeals against their decisions.

Education minister Viscount Younger of Leckie says detailed guidance is set out in the Special Education Needs Code of Practice and other DfE materials, and the cost of appeals will vary depending on circumstance.

Lord Lexden says the high cost of tribunals means many families are unable to challenge unfair decisions about special educational needs.

He says the government needs to do more to help children go to independent schools that can properly support them.

Viscount Younger says the majority of decisions are reached without the need to resort to tribunals, whilst parents are "absolutely right" to request access to independent schools.

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Labour peer Lord Campbell-Savours asks what plans there are to reform the Inquiries Act 2005 to make special provision for the conduct of inquiries into child sexual abuse.

Baroness Vere says the government does not see a need to make special provision for conducting inquires in this area.

Liberal Democrat Baroness Walmsley says whistleblowers should be treated better and protected, not hounded out of jobs, to which Baroness Vere agrees.

The UUP's Lord Empey says nothing has been done to help victims in Northern Ireland, as was recommended by the Hart inquiry. Baroness Vere says she will look into it.

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In response, Business Minister Richard Harrington says "this is not something we take lightly" as the impact of the job losses in Belfast is "serious".

Mr Harrington adds that the announcement "is not very good news at all", but says that Bombardier's main concern is making sure the firm is "efficient" in a "very competitive international market".

He says that he is committed to supporting the company and its employees during these times, and to "support the aerospace industry".

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Bombardier's presence in Northern Ireland is "vital to the economy" and for the government to say it has no role in the decision is "not good enough", says shadow Business secretary Barry Gardiner.

Mr Gardiner calls the announcement from Bombardier a "devastating blow" which will affect families in the run-up to Christmas.

The manufacturer employs about 4,000 people across several locations in Northern Ireland.

Image source, Reuters

May 2015: The firm announced a cut of at least 220 jobs due to a fall in demand for business jets.

February 2016: It said it would lose about 20% of its NI workforce, with 580 jobs to go in 2016 and 500 in 2017.

April 2016: Job cuts revised - from 580 to 630.

September 2017:Another 95 redundancies announced.

October 2017: Plan to cut another 280 jobs revealed.

November 2018: The firm announces a further 490 job losses from its Northern Ireland operations.

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Image source, HoC

Business Minister Richard Harrington says the government will have conversations with Bombardier's chief executive this afternoon

He says a 90-day employee consultation period has now been triggered, and that during this time, "the Bombardier team will work to minimize redundancies."

"The government understands the harm this will cause families in the area, but Bombardier is a private company and the government has no role in its commercial decisions," he adds.

He says Bombardier's decision is part of "a long-term strategy designed to increase the competitiveness of the company".

He pledges that ministers will work with Bombardier to help prepare families for the uncertainty, and will work with unions to ensure aerospace remains "a key industry" in Northern Ireland.

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Labour's Lord Harrison asks what plans there are to enable humanist marriage ceremonies in England and Wales (they are currently accepted in Scotland and Northern Ireland).

Government spokesperson Baroness Vere of Norbiton says marriage law is complex and requires systematic review to ensure any reform proposals are delivered fairly and consistently.

The government is working with the Law Commission to draw up terms of review for marriage ceremonies, she adds.

Baroness Vere says the government has commissioned a wider review, adding: "it is absolutely critical we do not embark on piecemeal reform which may lead to inconsistencies between groups."

"Everyone loves a good wedding - I've had two", she says.

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Labour peer Baroness Thornton begins business in the Lords with a question on how much of the mental health budget goes towards intervention on domestic and sexual violence and abuse.

Health minister Lord O'Shaughnessy says it's not possible to provide a precise figure as expenditure is not identified by cause of health condition.

Patients receive treatment based on clinical need, rather than the cause of condition, he says.

However, he says psychiatric training is being expanded across A&Es and sexual assault referral centres then provide health support for victims.

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Industry Minister Richard Harrington has now joined MPs to update them on job losses at Bombardier in Northern Ireland.

Yesterday, the aerospace firm announced it was cutting 490 job losses from its Northern Ireland operations.

The Canadian manufacturer said it had to reduce its workforce after reviewing its "manpower requirements" in Belfast.

This statement will take the place of an urgent question on the matter granted earlier today to DUP MP Jim Shannon.

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Conservative MP Paul Masterton asks what can be done to give people confidence in the wake of the "appalling" decision last week not to suspend Lord Lester from the House of Lords.

The Lords committee that oversees members' behaviour had written a report recommending that Lord Lester of Herne Hill be immediately suspended.

But the issue was debated by peers last week, and they voted to send the case back to the committee to look at it again.

A report by the Privileges and Conduct Committee , externalupheld a complaint received in November 2017 of sexual harassment against the former Liberal Democrat peer.

Lord Lester denies all allegations.

Andrea Leadsom says she is "personally disgusted" by the decision not to suspend him, and "it is not right that this matter should be allowed to rest".

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Conservative MP Michael Tomlinson cites a report by the Procedure Committee recommending that a Business of the House motion be published 5 sitting days in advance of a debate on the Brexit deal in the Commons.

If the debate on the 'meaningful vote' is to start on the 3rd December, he says, the "motion should have been published yesterday".

Ms Leadsom says the government's goal is to "secure certainty and clarity" for the public, and it will be up to Parliament to determine "the procedure that will apply".

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The Lord Speaker has accepted a request for a private notice question from crossbencher Lord Waverly on Matthew Hedges, a British citizen sentenced to life in prison in the United Arab Emirates.

The question will follow oral questions.

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SNP spokesman Pete Wishart says ministers "don't even give the impression of being in office, far less in power".

"Three cheers for zombie government", he says, adding that the SNP got two amendments to the Finance Bill accepted this week, "more than we've achieved in twenty years".

He asks for confirmation that the "devil or the deep blue sea option" of MPs choosing between the PM's Brexit deal or no deal at all is over.

Andrea Leadsom says she's "delighted" to hear that the only thing the SNP have achieved in twenty years is two amendments, but she's "not sure the people of Scotland will think they're worth the effort".

She says that she "absolutely agrees with the prime minister" that the UK will be leaving the EU on the 29th of March 2019, adding that the government intends to get a deal that Parliament can support.

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Andrea Leadsom announces that Theresa May will make a statement to MPs "later" today.

It comes after the European Council announced the Brexit political declaration - outlining how trade, security and other issues will work - has been "agreed in principle".

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Shadow Leader of the House Valerie Vaz enquires when MPs will get their vote on the Brexit deal.

Andrea Leadsom confirms that Parliament will have the "ultimate role" in "delivering the will of the people" but declines to announce a date of when this might be.

"It is important we end up with a straightforward approval of the deal", she adds.

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Andrea Leadsom says next Wednesday will see debate on the remaining stages of the Offensive Weapons Bill.

The legislation seeks to make it an offence to possess a corrosive substance in a public place, to sell harmful corrosive products to under-18s and reclassifies certain firearms as "prohibited weapons".

Discussions of the bill were twice postponed last month.

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The day in the Lords begins at 11am with oral questions, with the use of mental health budgets, humanist marriage ceremonies, child sexual abuse and support for children with special needs all covered.

After that, a debate will take place on the integration of the UN's sustainable development goals into government domestic policy, followed by another on efforts to support children displaced from their homes internationally.

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Transport questions comes to an end, and Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom joins MPs to announce forthcoming business in the House of Commons.

This announcement, which takes place every Thursday, is known as the business statement.