Summary

  • MPs continue debate on the government’s Brexit deal

  • They will vote on whether to approve the deal next Tuesday

  • MPs usually debate private members' bills on a Friday

  1. 'Secretary of state knows changes need to be made' - SNPpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Universal Credit Urgent Question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Neil GrayImage source, HoC

    SNP spokesperson for social justice Neil Gray says he is disappointed the work and pensions secretary is not answering questions.

    "We now know that there are no plans to make changes to Universal Credit which is what everyone is really interested in," he says, noting that "the secretary of state knows that changes need to be made".

    "It isn't just her credibility on the line," he adds, noting it is also the quality of claimants' lives.

    He calls for greater discussion of Universal Credit in Parliament.

    Employment Minister Alok Sharma says Amber Rudd is not in the chamber as she is in Cabinet, but says she cannot be accused of not caring about claimants.

    "This is all about making a difference and helping the most vulnerable in our society, something the Opposition should be welcoming," he concludes.

  2. Brexit deal vote scheduled for 15 Januarypublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

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  3. Roll-out of UC will be debated - Sharmapublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Universal Credit urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Work and Pensions Minister Alok Sharma replies to say the government has committed to a debate on managed migration, which will take place "as and when Parliamentary time allows".

    He says that the government are ensuring that there are "protections in place" for vulnerable people being moved to UC, as well as working with voluntary organisations to help claimants.

    He adds that UC has been rolled out "across the country" and adds that Ms Greenwood has previously voted against extending further support for UC claimants.

  4. 'Real fears' that vulnerable people will fall out of the systempublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Universal Credit Managed Migration Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Margaret GreenwoodImage source, HoC

    Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood says over the weekend it was widely reported that the government will ask Parliament to vote on transferring just 10,000 people to the new benefits system.

    "There are very real fears that vulnerable people will be put at risk of falling out of the security system altogether with this move," she says.

    Ms Greenwood says that the change in the managed migration plan should have been brought to Parliament before being announced in the press.

    She asks for clarifications about the pilot, and for the work and pensions secretary to confirm that disabled benefit claimants will receive additional protections.

    "The government has chosen to shift the burden of social responsibility onto the claimants," Ms Greenwood adds.

  5. 'No plan' to slow roll-out of UCpublished at 12:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Universal Credit urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Alok SharmaImage source, HoC

    Work and Pensions Minister Alok Sharma says Universal Credit is a "vital reform" over the "legacy system that trapped people out of work".

    All new claimants receive UC, he says, and existing claimants are being moved over as part of "managed migration".

    There is "no plan" to change the timetable of UC migration completion by 2023, he finishes.

  6. MPs debate Universal Credit rolloutpublished at 12:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Job CentreImage source, Getty Images

    Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood is now asking her urgent question on government plans for the managed migration of legacy benefit claimants to Universal Credit.

    MPs were due to vote on whether to move three million benefit claimants onto Universal Credit in the next few weeks, but yesterday the government pushed this vote back.

    Parliament will instead be asked to vote on transferring just 10,000 people to the new benefits system, although the government says all nearly 7 million claimants will be on Universal Credit by 2023.

    Labour have called on ministers to halt the rollout "as a matter of urgency".

    Universal Credit works by merging six different benefits, external for working age people into one monthly payment.

    The single payment is paid directly into claimants' bank accounts, covering the benefits for which they are eligible.

    Supporters of the policy say it simplifies the benefits system, however some people have claimed Universal Credit has forced them into destitution.

  7. Speaker addresses concerns regarding threatening behaviour outside Parliamentpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Point of Order

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    John BercowImage source, HoC

    Speaker John Bercow says he wishes to make some comments about the concerns raised yesterday regarding aggressive, threatening and intimidating behaviour by demonstrators between Parliament and Abingdon Green, in Westminster.

    He adds that he was "extremely concerned" to learn about the developments yesterday, and that it was clear that there was an intensity of feeling on the matter which was across the House.

    Noting that many MPs have written to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick, John Bercow says he has done so also "seeking a review of policy".

    "We respect the operational freedom of the police and they have difficult judgements to make in balancing the right of peaceful protest on the one hand and the rights of MPs and journalists to go about their lawful business unimpeded on the other," he says.

    "As things stand, the balance is not right."

    The Speaker says it is "intolerable" for MPs and journalists go about their business in fear and "this situation cannot stand".

    He adds that he will do his best to ensure that the concerns are properly addressed without delay.

    “It is a type of fascism” and women and ethnic minorities are being deliberately and disproportionately targeted, he concludes.

  8. What can the UK do if countries don't follow Paris Climate Accord?published at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Business Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Virendra SharmaImage source, HoC

    Labour's Virendra Sharma asks what assessment has been made of the rulebook agreed at the Paris Climate Accord in preventing further temperature rises of two degrees celsius.

    Business Minister Claire Perry says that the government wants to use its "leadership in this place" and that's why the UK is hosting the Climate Accord meeting in 2020.

    Mr Sharma asks what the UK can do if other countries are not meeting their targets.

    Ms Perry says that the UK cannot sanction other countries under current UN rules, but the UK continues to "lead by example" in this space.

  9. Government commits further £92m to support space industrypublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Business Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris SkidmoreImage source, HoC

    Conservative Mark Garnier asks what the UK is doing to support the UK space industry.

    Business Minister Chris Skidmore says the UK plays a vital role in space exploration, and the government has committed a further £92m to support the space industry.

    He adds that many of the critical infrastructure for transport and communications depend on space and that for these reasons it is crucial that the UK continues to invest in this industry.

    Labour MP Barry Sheerman says the UK's aerospace industry "faces ruin under the chaos of this government".

    Mr Skidmore says the best way to support increased investment in the UK space industry is to support the prime minister's Brexit deal next week.

    He adds that around 13,500 people work in the UK space industry, and that the government is committed to ensuring this increases by 10% in the next few years.

  10. 'No deal should not be contemplated' - Clarkpublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Business Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Greg ClarkImage source, HoC

    Responding to a question from shadow business minister Chi Onwurah, Business Secretary Greg Clark says that "no deal should not be contemplated".

    Ms Onwurah states that "millions of jobs" rely on supply chains and asks for the secretary of state to "rule out a no deal now".

    Mr Clark says: “It is essential that we should be able to continue to trade. It’s why I’ve always been clear, representing very strongly the views of small business and large business that no deal should not be contemplated.”

    He urges MPs to back the prime minister's negotiated deal in order to avoid no-deal.

  11. Business Secretary: 'No deal should not be contemplated'published at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

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  12. Cross-border supply chains questionedpublished at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Business Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jamie StoneImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat Jamie Stone asks what the department is doing to ensure cross-border supply chains remain after 29 March 2019.

    Business Secretary Greg Clark says supply chains between the UK and EU are "vitally important". The negotiated deal with the EU will "protect supply chains" in the UK, he adds.

    Mr Stone says a business in his constituency will face "ruin" if an extra half day of delay is added to products being shipped.

    Dr Clark says there has been "consistent support" from the NFU in Scotland and the Scotch Whisky Association to back the negotiated deal.

  13. Amendment to the Finance Bill is selectedpublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

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  14. Today in the Commonspublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Our coverage of the Commons will begin shortly with Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy questions, before the two urgent questions granted today.

    Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood will ask a question about plans for the managed migration of legacy benefit claimants to Universal Credit, before fellow Labour MP Andy McDonald questions the decision to award a contact to Seaborne Freight as part of no deal contingency planning.

    Labour MP Dame Louise Ellman will then table her International Development Assistance Bill (Palestinian National Authority Schools) Bill as a ten minute rule motion.

    The bill would prohibit funding to schools operated by the Palestinian National Authority that do not promote values endorsed by the UNESCO.

    The main legislation is the report and third reading of the Finance (No. 3) Bill.

    A key amendment to the Finance Bill headed by Home Affairs Committee Chair Yvette Cooper and backed by numerous senior backbenchers aims to prevent the government implementing a "no deal" Brexit without the explicit consent of Parliament.

    It would only allow powers to amend the tax code to deal with the ramifications of the leaving the EU to come into effect in certain circumstances:

    • If the Commons has approved a negotiated withdrawal agreement and a framework for the future relationship
    • If the government has sought an extension of the Article 50 period
    • Or if MPs had approved a no-deal Brexit

    Conservative MP Robert Courts will close proceedings with his adjournment debate on congestion on the A40 in West Oxfordshire.

  15. Good morningpublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 January 2019

    Welcome to our coverage of today's events in Westminster. The Commons gets going at 11.30am, with questions to Business Secretary Greg Clark.

  16. That's it from us!published at 22:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 January 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    We'll be leaving our coverage of the Commons there for today.

    It's been a busy first day back for MPs with urgent questions on Brexit and the ongoing imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran, as well as three ministerial statements on the NHS 10 year plan, migrant crossings over the Channel and drone regulation.

    Tomorrow kicks off tomorrow at 11.30am with Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy questions , before Labour MP Dame Louise Ellman tables her International Development Assistance (Palestinian National Authority Schools) Bill as a ten minute rule motion.

    The day's main business is the report stage and third reading of the Finance (No. 3) Bill, with an amendment tabled by Home Affairs Committee Chair Yvette Cooper likely to cause stress for the government.

    Conservative MP Robert Courts will close proceedings with his adjournment debate on congestion on the A40 in West Oxfordshire.

  17. MPs approve standards committee recommendationspublished at 22:15 Greenwich Mean Time 7 January 2019

    Committee on Standards Report

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs then divide to vote on the motion.

    However, as there were 'no' tellers, the vote was called off and the motion passes.

    As a result, the recommendations of the the committee are approved, with the major change allowing lay members of the standards committee to vote on recommendations on whether and how MPs should be disciplined.

    Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne raises a point of order, arguing that there should not have been a vote without a closure motion.

    Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing responds that she "took the decision this evening that there were 10 seconds left before 10pm and that "that is the point at which I ought to put the question. I took the decision that the question ought to be put as it was the moment for the question to be put."

    MPs now turn to the adjournment debate, which tonight focuses on the UN special rapporteurs report on extreme poverty and human rights in the UK.

    The debate is led by Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck.

  18. Standards Committee Chair: 'These changes are an indication of intent'published at 22:06 Greenwich Mean Time 7 January 2019

    Committee on Standards Report

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kate GreenImage source, HoC

    Chair of the Committee on Standards Kate Green says the Cox Report was "an absolute wake up call for this government to act".

    Ms Green says Cox "requires us to go further - not to just have a system that is independent, fair and transparent, but to be seen as this by the outside".

    "These changes are a step on that journey and an indication of intent," she adds.

    "The public must no longer think we are marking our own homework," she adds, noting that action must be taken in the Committee now to ensure that the public sees "we are serious about dealing with these issues."

  19. Women and Equalities Chair: Parliament a 'dysfunctional and unaccountable organisation'published at 22:04 Greenwich Mean Time 7 January 2019

    Committee on Standards Report

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee Maria Miller says anybody attempting to talk out the changes proposed today "risks undermining trust" in Parliament, which she says is a "dysfunctional and unaccountable organisation".

    MPs must "end this piecemeal approach to reform in this place", she adds, raising concerns about the role of the Speaker, along with the provision of baby leave for MPs.

  20. 'Independence must be predominant feature of standards system' - SNPpublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 7 January 2019

    Committee on Standards Report

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Pete WishartImage source, HoC

    SNP's Commons Business Spokesperson Pete Wishart says he is "pleased" progress is being made in this area.

    The most important thing is that independence is brought into the system "as a predominant feature", he says.

    "There can be no question of members of government marking their own homework when it comes to assessing claims made by individual members of Parliament," he says.

    Mr Wishart applauds the Standards Commissioner's ability to look into cases from up to seven years ago without the Committee's permission.

    "We must ensure that what we do set an example to the rest of our community and our society," he adds, "I'm sure we'll be able to secure that type of success."