House of Commons
Parliament

Theresa May says she pledged for the UK to fight for 12 years of quality education to be provided to all girls in every country.

On climate change, she says that "the UK is leading the way and will continue to pursue this agenda."

"Nineteen [countries] recommitted to the Paris Agreement, but it remains a disappointment that the USA will miss out," she says.

House of Commons
Parliament

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The prime minister now takes to the stand to deliver her ministerial statement on this weekend's G20 Summit.

Theresa May says the summit was the first visit to Buenos Aires by a UK prime minister and showed "the leading role the UK will continue to play in addressing shared global challenges".

"I have always been clear that Braitain will play a full and active role as trading nation, and will remain steadfast in our determination," she says, and that at the summit she "called for greater action in the fight against climate change and slavery".

The prime minister says there was a clear message: "Britain is open for business and is open to trade agreements - once we leave the EU can and will strike ambitious trade deals."

She says there will be a new trade envoy, and discussions were had over trade deals with Argentina, Canada and Chile and Japan, with the hope that the UK and Japan can "work quickly to a new agreement".

The prime minister says she reiterated "urgent and ambitious" reform of the World Trade Organisation, and that there was a "significant breakthrough" in the form of agreed reforms to boost the effectiveness of the WTO.

Select Committee
Parliament

The prime minister is "talking up" the "possibility that Brexit might not happen", says the SNP's Peter Grant, "presumably to scare off the ERG (European Research Group) and their fellow travellers".

He asks whether - if the Commons rejects Theresa May's deal - there be a no deal exit or no Brexit.

Brexit Secreary Stephen Barclay says it is not government policy to have a second referendum or to extend Article 50.

"I think the government's made it's position...very clear," he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Home Secretary Sajid Javid announces that travelers from Singapore and South Korea can use e-passport gates at British airports from next summer.

He further says a violence draft bill will be brought forward “shortly”.

Select Committee
Parliament

An immigration white paper will not come before the vote, says Wera Hobhouse.

The Liberal Democrat asks if the government has had discussions with the Irish government about the common travel area and if the Republic will be introducing a skills-based migration system or ending the free movement of people.

She "assumes not" and wonders where the immigration border will be for EU citizens travelling from Dublin to Belfast and then on to the rest of the UK.

Oliver Robbins, the Prime Minister's Europe Adviser, explains that immigration control will not be exercised on EU citizens at the border but in country.

Ms Hobhouse reiterates there will be a "divergence" of policy with the Republic of Ireland.

The white paper will "set out the details", says the Brexit secretary.

House of Lords
Parliament

The final oral question is from Tory Baroness Rawlings, who asks which properties have been discussed as possible relocation sites as part of Parliament's Restoration and Renewal programme.

Government spokesman Lord Young of Cookham says Richmond House and the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre have been considered, but the final decision will be one for the Commons.

Baroness Rawlings asks for an assurance that the grade II listed Richmond House will not be "substantially or partly demolished" for a temporary House of Commons chamber.

Lord Young says the relevant authorities are looking at the "re-configuring", adding that any changes will be subject to planning permission and historic building consent.

He says the building itself was previously re-configured before it was the headquarters of the Department of Health.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Mike Kane asks whether the government plans to offer Asia Bibi asylum.

Mr Kane calls for the government to "seriously consider" an asylum claim.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid says he "cannot comment" on individual cases, but the priority is ensuring that Asia Bibi and her family are safe.

"We are working with other countries to make sure that our prime aim, the safety and security of Asia Bibi and her family, are what is provided for."

SNP MP Carol Monaghan says there are many individuals on death row in Pakistan because of blasphemy offences and asks that all cases are given as much attention as that of Asia Bibi.

Mr Javid says the government are monitoring all cases, and says Ms Monaghan is right to say the number of individuals on death row because of blasphemy offences has increased in the last few years.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Tory MP Stephen Metcalfe asks what plans the home secretary has for the UK’s future immigration system.

Chair of the Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper asks if the immigration white paper will be published in December as was previously stated, and if this will be before or after the meaningful vote.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid says the white paper on immigration "will be published soon" and asks MPs to remember that "this is the biggest change to immigration policy in four decades so it is important to get it right."

SNP home affairs spokesperson Joanna Cherry asks for more consultation about regional variation to the immigration white paper plan.

"The immigration system will be a national one but we will accept the need for regional variation and requirements," Mr Javid adds, and gives an assurance to Ms Cherry that Scotland will be "consulted thoroughly".

"Whether there's a deal or no deal, there will be an end to free movement and a new immigration system," he says.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Crossbench peer Baroness Campbell of Surbiton asks what's being done to encourage airports to provide appropriate facilities for disabled people, particularly the provision of both self-propelled and non-self-propelled wheelchairs.

Transport Minister Baroness Sugg says existing regulations require assistance and equipment to be provided to suit disabled people's needs, although they do not specify what equipment in particular. The forthcoming Aviation Strategy Green Paper will include measures to improve the experience of disabled people.

Baroness Campbell says the regulations do not work and a survey by the aviation authorities revealed that last year half a million disabled people were unhappy with their experience.

Liberal Democrat Baroness Brinton says she herself was left in tears recently after being "dumped" by airline staff trying to find her wheelchair. She says this is not an unusual occurrence, "this happens every single day".

"Charters butter no parsnips," she says, "When will the regulations be enforced and stop air travel being a ghetto for disable people?"

Baroness Sugg accepts that change is very much needed.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Peter Kyle asks what steps the department is taking to tackle web platforms that publish advertisements offering to provide rent-free accommodation in return for sex.

Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins says offering rent-free accommodation in return for sex is illegal and can incur a penalty of seven years in prison.

She says the government is working to ensure that conversations are started with Craigslist and other technology companies to deal with this.

Mr Kyle says Craigslist is profiting from sexual exploitation through sex for rent advertisements. "They are acting like pimps, why aren't we treating them like pimps?" Mr Kyle says.

Shadow women and equalities minister Carolyn Harris says "those adveritisng are not landowners, they are criminals" and asks what more the government will do to ensure these companies are penalised and to "stop this sickening exploitation".

Ms Atkins says the fact that "extremely vulnerably people are being exploited by their landlords" is worrying and is something the government is working to detect and reduce.

Select Committee
Parliament

Peter Bone asks when the policy over the implementation period changed.

"It's not time limited is it?" the Conservative MP says.

Mr Barclay says it is time limited to the end of 2020 with an option to extend for one year or two years.

Olly Robbins, the Prime Minister's Europe Adviser, replies in the "closing weeks" of negotiations, ministers felt it was "prudent" to allow for an extension. "It is no more than a possibility," Mr Robbins says.

Labour's Pat McFadden asks if there are any circumstance where Theresa Ma will pull the meaningful vote before Tuesday after looking at the "likely numbers".

"I expect the vote on Tuesday Mr McFadden," replies Stephen Barclay.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Debbie Abrahams asks what recent assessment the home secretary has made of the adequacy of the level of police funding.

Ms Abrahams says Greater Manchester's police budget has been cut by £215m since 2010, and that it is "unfair" that the police are being pressured to become the default providers of mental health services due to cuts in this area too.

Home Office Minister Nick Hurd says the government has invested more in mental health services, and the police funding settlement "is imminent".

Numerous MPs call for Mr Hurd to accept responsibility that the government is making it harder for police officers to do their jobs and keep the public safe.

Tory MP Andrew Selous says the role of the police needs to be "refocused to bread and butter issues" to ensure they move away from mental health issues and missing children, and asks how the minister aims to get officers back on his side.

Mr Hurd says the government "have debated the issue of pension costs" which will be outlined in the police funding review.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says "all bodies have sounded the alarm about inadequate central government" and asks when the Home Office will "stop blurring the facts and ensure our police get the money they need".

Mr Hurd says "if we want more investment, and we do, then we have to pay."

House of Lords
Parliament

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Liberal Democrat Baroness Barker is up next, requesting an assessment of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, external. She asks about government plans for the sixth replenishment of funds period next year.

International Development Minister Lord Bates says 27 million lives have been saved since 2002, but despite impressive progress more than "business as usual" is needed to ensure 2030 targets are reached.

The government intends the UK to continue its relationship of "leadership and commitment" because the fund is working, he says, and they will be encouraging other countries to "step up and put more funds on the table".

"We have the technology," he says. "We need people to step up with the resources."

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Conor McGinn asks what assessment the government has made of the November 2018 Office for National Statistics report on domestic abuse in England and Wales.

Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins says the government is committed to ensuring that the number of domestic abuse victims in the UK falls, "but we are pleased that more victims are trusting the system to be able to come forward to report incidents".

"The purpose of the draft domestic abuse bill is so that everyone knows about domestic abuse and how we should tackle it," she says.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Tory MP Stephen Kerr asks what support the government is providing to EU citizens applying to the EU Settlement Scheme, which allows resident EU citizens and their family members to obtain their UK immigration status.

Home Office Minister Caroline Nokes says EU citizens applying to the EU Settlement Scheme will be aided by a new customer contact centre, and digital support.

Mr Kerr asks Ms Nokes to send a message of reassurance to EU citizens living in the UK "not only to let them know they can stay, but they want them to stay".

Ms Nokes says she is "pleased" to offer this reassurance.

"It is important we make sure that all groups are aided in their applications to the EU Settlement Scheme which is why this government has committed £9m of funding," she adds.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Green Party peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb asks a question on linking agricultural subsidies with the creation of farmland and river 'buffer zones' to reduce pollution and encourage wildlife corridors.

Environment minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble says ministers recognise that such zones can protect the environment and are working with farmers on a management policy.

Baroness Jones says his response sounds "very optimistic".

Tory Lord Robathan says existing rules are very complex and bureaucratic, to which Lord Gardiner agrees, adding that the government hopes to overcome these issues.

Labour's Baroness Jones of Whitchurch asks about enforcement. Lord Gardiner says "the 'polluter pays' principle is very current", adding that everyone working to reduce pollution is really important.

Select Committee
Parliament

"Temporary in EU terms can be quite a long time", Jacob Rees-Mogg tells the Brexit secretary.

Stephen Barclay replies that the EU would not be "comfortable" under the backstop, as it would lose fishing rights and businesses would have access to the single market without membership payments or freedom of movement.

Mr Rees-Mogg says that if the EU raises tariffs under the backstop, it will be "taxation without representation, a fundamental constitution principal".

The Brexit secretary replies he "does not accept that at all".

"You don't seem to know about it", says Mr Rees-Mogg.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP James Duddrige opens questions to Home Office ministers, asking what steps the government is taking to tackle child grooming online.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid says tackling online grooming is "one of the government's highest priorities".

He adds that he recently co-hosted an event in the US, where tech firms developed a piece of software capable of detecting online grooming, which will be made available "licence free" worldwide.

Labour MP Chris Elmore asks what the government is doing to ensure young people feel able to come forward with concerns about their treatment online, and how many cases have been made this year.

Sajid Javid says there has been a 28% increase in sexual offences since 2015, with 400 arrests made and 500 children safeguarded since then.

He adds there is a "a role for parents" in ensuring their children are aware of dangers online.