House of Commons
Parliament

The day in Westminster begins in the Commons today with Northern Ireland questions, before Theresa May takes that stand for PMQs.

After that, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry will ask an urgent question on the government's funding of the Institute for Statecraft’s ‘Integrity Initiative’.

The Foreign Office has accused Russian state media of trying to discredit a government-funded body that works to counter Kremlin disinformation, after Scotland's Sunday Mail newspaper reported, external the agency had shared social media posts attacking Jeremy Corbyn.

Tory MP James Cleverly then tables his International Trade and Development Agency Bill as a ten minute rule bill, before MPs consider the remaining stages of the Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill.

The Commons day ends with Conservative George Howarth's adjournment debate, but Tory MPs will vote on Theresa May's future as party leader shortly after.

Select Committee
Parliament

After some final questions, the committee session comes to an end.

MPs are now heading over to the Commons Chamber for the start of business at 11:30am, and PMQs at noon.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Conservative Eddie Hughes asks if the communication from government on what the GEO does is adequate.

Ms Mordaunt replies to say it isn't, as traditionally it has always been "a nomadic department".

Mr Hughes says this all feels "a bit sad" for the department as it seems to be "one step forward and two steps back".

There will be "continuity" for the department under the new move, Ms Mordaunt replies.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Labour's Tonia Antoniazzi says that the programme budget for the GEO is £14.5m, she asks for progress in each of the areas it works in.

Ms McCaffrey replies to say that the department is half way through its work on employers reporting their gender pay gaps, and employers are now publishing their action plans.

The department continues to work with the Women's Business Council to help women in the workplace, she adds.

There are also education packages for schools, she states, as well as work to help those who have been caring for a relative to get back in to the world of work.

All the unhappiness about the prime minister's leadership that have crystallised around the conundrum of Brexit have finally come to a head.

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Jess Phillips asks if there will be "actual practical changes" on the horizon for the move to the Cabinet Office for the GEO.

Ms Mordaunt says that having a minister in the cabinet without a "hub" it becomes "difficult" to make changes in policy.

Labour's Tonia Antoniazzi asks what the next steps are.

There has been a process of "talking to other government departments" for the GEO, Ms Mordaunt replies, in order to see how other areas can contribute to its work.

Select Committee
Parliament

Mrs Maria Miller , external(Chair) Conservative

Tonia Antoniazzi , externalLabour

Sarah Champion , externalLabour

Angela Crawley , externalScottish National Party

Philip Davies , externalConservative

Vicky Ford , externalConservative

Eddie Hughes , externalConservative

J, externaless Phillips , externalLabour

Mr Gavin Shuker , externalLabour (Co-op)

Tulip Siddiq , externalLabour

Anna Soubry , externalConservative

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Women and Equalities Committee is speaking to the Women and Equalities Minister, Penny Mourdaunt, and the Deputy Head of the Government Equalities Office, Elysia McCaffrey.

The committee has recommended that the long term future of the GEO should be within the Cabinet Office.

Throughout its existence, the GEO has generally had its controlling department decided by whichever minister was in charge of it. For instance, when Amber Rudd was Equalities Minister she was also home secretary, so the GEO came under the remit of the Home Office. At the moment, Penny Mourdaunt is the Equalities Minister, so the GEO is technically under the Department for International Development.

In April 2019, it is planned that the GEO will move to a new position under the Cabinet Office.

The committee have also said that the “part time” role of the Equalities Minister risks “instability” for government policymaking, and could show that it is an “afterthought”.

Welcome to our coverage of Parliament today, as all eyes turn to the Conservative party leadership challenge.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May will face a vote of confidence in her leadership later today.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Mrs May said: "I will contest that vote with everything I have got."

We're covering the Women and Equalities Committee this morning, as Penny Mordaunt is questioned about the work of the Government Equalities Office.

House of Commons
Parliament

That's it from our coverage of the Commons today.

Treasury questions kicked things off, before Labour MP Yvette Cooper asked an urgent question on what happens if no deal is reached with the EU by January 2019.

MPs then voted to reject Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb's private members bill on cannabis legalisation, before an emergency debate was held on the government's delay to the meaningful vote.

The Ivory Bill then passed back through the Commons, with all Lords amendments accepted, and will now receive royal assent.

Join us tomorrow at 11.30am for Northern Ireland questions before PMQs at midday.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Minister Claire Perry says "you would think listening to this debate that there has been no progress on fuel poverty whatsoever."

Ms Perry says the number of households in fuel poverty is 7% lower than it was under the last Labour government.

"We know we've got more to do, but let's focus on what has been delivered," she adds.

She says she hopes one day there will be cross party support on a fuel poverty programme.

Business now turns to the adjournment debate which tonight concerns private parking enforcement at commercial ports and trading estates, and is led by Tory MP Dan Poulter.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow energy minister Gill Furniss says fuel poverty puts further pressure on an already stressed NHS, and the government has a duty to ensure everyone in the UK is living in a "warm, dry home".

The government has failed to provide this, she says, and "it is failing the people of Britain".

House of Commons
Parliament

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas says the government is set to miss its clean energy target by 60 years, as a result of complacency.

"Tackling fuel poverty by investing in energy efficiency would be a real win-win", she says, with energy efficiency absolutely vital in tackling climate change.

The government has "scrapped or shelved" many of the measures that could have helped tackle fuel poverty, she says, with support for home insulation reduced to just 5% of 2012 levels.

House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP spokesperson for business, energy and industrial strategy Drew Hendry says "low incomes and fuel prices" are driving the number of people living in fuel poverty.

He says the government's austerity measures and universal credit "are causing these problems", with the numbers of those living in fuel poverty "are on the rise" over the past five years.

"The benefit freeze is going to cost families £210," he says, and calls on more government grants for insulation and for more investment in "new energy based industries and technologies".

Consumers are "struggling to pay their bills" under the current system and "it is time the UK government took some responsibility for this and took action to alleviate the pain that people suffer on fuel poverty."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Tory MP James Heappey says the key to solving fuel poverty is reducing the price of energy and encouraging consumers to use less of it.

The costs of the energy system are growing too much, he says, with too many "comfortable monopolistic companies" that perhaps government could "screw down on a little".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow business, energy and industrial strategy secretary Rebecca Long Bailey says fuel poverty "is a great misery that has been inflicted on people unnecessarily".

The number of households in fuel poverty are increasing year on year, she says: "not only is fuel poverty persisting, it is getting worse".

"This is not a fact of life, this is a political choice," she says.

Ms Long Bailey says "at least 10,000 premature deaths are caused by people not being able to heat their home properly," and that in her constituency of Salford and Eccles, more than a quarter of single-parent households are unable to heat their homes.

47% of people in fuel poverty are in full or part time work, she adds.

"Wanting to end fuel poverty is not enough, rather we must be willing to deploy the resources that are available," she concludes.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

MPs are now beginning a general debate on fuel poverty.

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Minister Richard Harrington is opening the debate.

The government is committed to tackling the issue, he says, which is a cross-party concern and is reflected annually in debate.

The fuel poverty strategy will be updated for 2019 he says, and is under continual review, as it is an ever changing concern. The strategy is paired with a "holistic plan" to ensure people get the greatest support properly.

"This is an issue that transends party lines and affects us all...no one deserves to live in a cold home".