Summary

  • MPs debated government efforts to roll over EU trade deals

  • They debated Holocaust Memorial Day and treating ME in afternoon

  • Prisons minister made statement on report about sexual offenders

  • Andrea Leadsom announced future parliamentary timetable

  • House of Lords debated threats from climate change

  1. Call for 'soft power' push from governmentpublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Foreign Office Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Nicholas SoamesImage source, HoC

    Conservative Sir Nicholas Soames asks what steps are being taken to co-ordinate the use of soft power in British foreign policy.

    Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says that according to the Portland Soft Power Index, external, the UK is the "leading" soft power.

    Sir Nicholas asks for assurances that there will be a greater co-ordination of soft power across "all government departments".

    Mr Hunt says that he is in charge of a "joint government task force to make sure we do everything we can".

  2. Labour MP calls for 'broader and more robust' approach in Yemenpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Foreign Office Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Liz TwistImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Liz Twist asks what recent diplomatic steps the foreign secretary has taken to help secure a resolution to the conflict in Yemen.

    Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the UN passed a resolution last Wednesday which consists of a six month management of the ceasefire in Hudaydah "and we wish it every success".

    Ms Twist asks the foreign secretary to consider if it is time for "a broader and more robust" resolution.

    Mr Hunt says the government wanted to establish a ceasefire and this is the first time that this has happened in four years of conflict.

    "Broadly the ceasefire is holding," he says, noting that the next step is to open the road between Hudaydah and Sanaa so that emergency supplies including food can get to those who need it.

  3. Hunt on why ministers won't rule out no-dealpublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    BBC tweets

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  4. Why are MPs putting forward amendments?published at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    MPs are rushing to put their own changes forward to Theresa May's Brexit plan.

    Read More
  5. Shadow foreign secretary calls for no-deal to be taken off tablepublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Foreign Office Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Emily ThornberryImage source, HoC

    Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry asks Jeremy Hunt why he no longer believes in trusting the British public to decide if they want the prime minister's deal.

    Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he will "take criticisms on Brexit policy on the chin the moment that Labour has its own Brexit policy".

    "To play politics with Brexit in a hung parliament is a betrayal of the voters," he adds.

    Ms Thornberry says Jeremy Hunt has previously said the people did not vote for the terms of a departure, and warned of the dangers of no deal.

    She asks if, even if Mr Hunt believes the public should no longer have a say on the deal, he can at least "ensure that no-deal will not be an option at all".

    Jeremy Hunt asks why Jeremy Corbyn is not working with the government to get a deal which is "the simple way forwards".

    "They want a crisis," he says.

  6. How will Brexit affect diplomatic co-operation?published at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Foreign Office Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Drew HendryImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Drew Hendry asks what effect the UK leaving the EU will have on diplomatic co-operation with the EU27.

    Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says that diplomatic co-operation with the EU is "excellent" and "will continue to be post-Brexit".

    Mr Hendry says that a "major European car factory" in his constituency is being affected by EU diplomatic changes, as journalists are less able to easily visit and stay hosted in hotels even before the UK has left. He says this is because the EU is less willing to cover costs for journalist visits to the UK.

    Mr Hunt says that Mr Hendry should vote for the deal that the prime minister has negotiated.

  7. Labour raises concerns about Zimbabwe violencepublished at 11:53 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Foreign Office Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Liz McInnesImage source, HoC

    Shadow Foreign Office minister Liz McInnes says she is concerned that the violence in Zimbabwe is "just a taste of things to come".

    Ms McInnes says it is time to revive the security council resolution of 2008, external, and asks if the UK will be pushing to ensure this happens.

    The security resolution, if passed, would have deemed that the situation in Zimbabwe posed a threat to international peace and security in the region, and would have demanded that the country’s government immediately cease attacks against and intimidation of opposition members and supporters.

    Foreign Office Minister Mark Field says the government is "concerned" by the reaction of security forces in Zimbabwe, who this week, it was reported, were attacking families in their homes.

    He says the government will take up the issue of the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe will fellow members of the UN.

  8. Report into online abuse of disabled people publishedpublished at 11:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Petitions Committee tweets

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  9. Safety of human rights defenders questionedpublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Foreign Office Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen TimmsImage source, HoC

    Labour's Stephen Timms asks what recent assessment has been made of the safety and security of human rights defenders around the world.

    Foreign Office Minister Mark Field says that the UK is "committed to the promotion and protection" of human rights worldwide. Human rights defenders have faced "unprecedented attack" in many parts of the world during 2018, he says.

    Mr Timms says there has been a "surge" of oppression of human rights around the world. He asks when there will be a publication from the government on guidelines for human rights, which he says has been announced by FCO Minister Lord Ahmad.

    Mr Field says that the government "raises human rights issues" with "all" of the UK's foreign counterparts.

  10. Coming up in the Commonspublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Our coverage of the House of Commons will begin shortly with Foreign Office questions.

    Shadow housing secretary John Healey will then ask the first of today's two urgent questions on tower blocks with dangerous cladding.

    Following this, Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson will ask an urgent question on proxy voting.

    After a ten minute rule bill from the SNP MP Alan Brown, MPs will begin their main legislative role of the day, the consideration of Lords amendments to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill.

    The bill aims to amend certain terrorism offences for the digital age, increase the maximum penalty for certain terrorism offences and strengthen the powers of the police to prevent and investigate terrorist offences.

    When the Lords amendments have been considered, the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill will receive royal assent.

    Conservative MP Chris Green will close proceedings with his adjournment debate on the funding of pupil referral units

  11. Recap: How Monday's Brexit statement unfoldedpublished at 20:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

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

    The day’s main event was a statement from Theresa May on the future of the government’s Brexit strategy, before Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley gave a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

    We’ll be back with the Commons at 11.30am tomorrow for Foreign Office questions, before SNP MP Alan Brown delivers his ten minute rule bill.

    MPs will then consider Lords amendments to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, before Conservative MP Chris Green brings proceedings to a close with his adjournment debate on the funding of pupil referral units.

  12. Labour amendment allows MPs to consider putting Brexit deal to publicpublished at 19:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    BBC political correspondent tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  13. Yvette Cooper's bill to extend Article 50 publishedpublished at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Executive Editor, Politics, HuffPost UK tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  14. Second Labour amendment rejectedpublished at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Following a division, MPs have rejected Labour's Amendment 1 to the bill.

    298 voted to reject the amendment, with 261 supporting it.

    MPs now begin the third reading of the bill.

  15. Labour amendment rejectedpublished at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs have voted to reject Labour's New Clause 1 amendment to the Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill.

    260 voted in favour, but 295 voted against.

    They now to divide to vote on Labour's other amendment, which would make all regulations issued under the Bill subject to the affirmative procedure and require approval from Parliament before they become law.

  16. MPs divide over New Clause 1published at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs are now voting on whether Labour's amendment to the bill, New Clause 1, be made.

    The amendment calls for the government to provide an annual report on the cost of healthcare arrangements.

  17. Will the EHIC card work under this bill?published at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    EHICImage source, Unknown - via internet

    One of the big questions for holidaymakers since the UK voted to leave the EU was what would happen to the existing European Health Insurance Card.

    The EHIC allows anyone to travel to another EU country and receive state healthcare from the country they are in, free of charge.

    This Bill, according to the House of Commons Library briefing, would allow the EHIC scheme to continue to work for UK visitors to the EU.

    However, this is subject to an agreement with the EU.

  18. Government oppose Labour amendmentspublished at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill.

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen HammondImage source, HoC

    Health minister Stephen Hammond says he recognised Labour's amendment, because it is a "device that Oppositions always use".

    The government is committed to openness, he says, but the clause puts a requirement on future governments and could only be determined once reciprocal health arrangements have been agreed with other EU countries. Currently, the clause goes against existing data laws.

    The government also recognises the need for parliamentary scrutiny, he says, but they oppose Labour's other amendment because the appropriate resolution procedure is already included. This provides the appropriate flexibility for the government in future.

    The regulations introduced would not contain anything new, he says, and are merely administrations. Accepting the amendment would lead to an inappropriate use of parliamentary time, as MPs could be forced to consider minor aspects such as a change of forms.

  19. 'Must ensure current healthcare arrangements remain' - SNPpublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Martyn DayImage source, HoC

    SNP MP Martyn Day says the bill "will not give better reciprocal arrangements than that which are already in place today".

    He adds that the bill's impact assessment stresses that in a no-deal scenario, people in Scotland "may face additional costs or difficulty accessing services".

    British insurance companies have given an estimate that insurance to travel to EU countries could increase by up to 20%, he adds, noting this could restrict travel restrictions for some.

    Mr Day notes that there are concerns for healthcare under Theresa May's deal too, as it may limit the number of EU trained doctors able to come and work in this country.

    He says the current healthcare arrangements must remain in place no matter what Brexit route is taken, and that this "should be the bottom line".

  20. Shadow health minister speaks for Labour amendmentspublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justin MaddersImage source, HoC

    Shadow health minister Justin Madders is speaking for Labour's amendments, which require an annual report on the cost of healthcare arrangements, as well as making all regulations issued subject to affirmative procedure and require approval from Parliament before they become law.

    He says that whilst this procedure may appear unnecessary currently, it is always worthwhile to be cautious, with the government unable to provide adequate explanation for why the Bill provides such power during committee stage.

    These elements give health secretary "martini powers - any time, anyplace, anywhere", whilst they can also be used to link trade to access to health, he says.

    There is a risk of elements of healthcare being opened up to privatisation through the bill.

    Whilst this may not be the government's intention, they cannot speak for any future governments and there therefore needs to be necessary scrutiny, he explains.