Select Committee
Parliament

Asked about the situation facing the Crown Prosecution Service, Mr Cox says it would be a "travesty" to describe it as a "failing organisation", as some "wholly exaggerated accounts" suggest.

However, he adds that neither CPS, nor the Serious Fraud Office, can cope with any further budget cuts and that he is meeting the Chancellor monthly discuss funding.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The law officers convention is a "crucial constitutional principle", Mr Cox says, and it is "vital" that the attorney general can give confidential advice to the PM, the Cabinet and the government.

The role of the attorney general must not be damaged as a result of the forced publication of Brexit legal advice, he says, as otherwise there is a risk that whoever is in the role in future may have to consider the reality that advice is going to "pulled apart in a 40 second context" on television.

There is more that can be done to explain the role of the attorney general to Parliament and the general public, he says, and a case for publishing more about how the system works.

However, Mr Cox has the "greatest of respect" for the judgement of the House of Commons, and felt that it was right to publish the advice after the government was found in contempt of Parliament.

"Suffice to say the government took the view, and I did not dissent, that in these unique circumstances the advice should be published but it sets no precedent for the future."

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Brexit has been the abiding preoccupation since becoming attorney general, Geoffrey Cox tells the Justice Committee.

This has been an "interesting challenge", he says, that "has tended to consume most of my time".

Coming straight into government from active practice has been a challenge as he attempts to adjust to "ministerial lore", Mr Cox says, but recent experience of having to make "rapid judgements" on law has also been an advantage.

Image source, HoC

Conservative MP for Torridge and West Devon since 2005, Geoffrey Cox was appointed to the role of attorney general in July 2018 following Jeremy Wright's move to Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

He came to the wider public's greater attention after appearing as a 'warm up act' ahead of the prime minister's speech during Tory party conference in the summer.

Since joining the Cabinet, he has played a vital role in the Brexit debate, with MPs forcing the publication of his legal advice on the Irish backstop.

Prior to becoming attorney general, Mr Cox continued to work as a QC alongside representing his constituency, which made him the MP with the highest outside earnings in Parliament.

Select Committee
Parliament

MPs on the Justice Committee are due to question Attorney General Geoffrey Cox about his role.

The session will start at 10am.

Theresa May is to meet the cabinet as Labour calls for a vote on options including another referendum.

House of Commons
Parliament

Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson introduced an urgent question on proxy voting.

The question was prompted by Labour MP Tulip Siddiq delaying her caeserean to take part in the meaningful vote last week.

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom announced that a motion on proxy voting in the case of maternity, paternity and adoption leave will be put before the House next week.

Proxy voting is a system where an absent MPs' wishes are recorded.

What else happened today?

MPs then considered Lords amendments to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, passing all amendments without division. The bill will now receive royal assent.

The Commons began this morning with Foreign Office questions, before the first of the day's two urgent questions on tower blocks with dangerous cladding was asked.

Shadow housing secretary John Healey criticised the governments efforts to remove dangerous cladding in the aftermath of Grenfell, and called for legislation to be imposed ensuring private building owners cannot pass the costs of cladding removal on to residents.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons votes to approve the creation of a customs union with the Isle of Man after Brexit.

Ayes: 304

Noes: 263

Majority: 41

The final vote on this section will be on a customs union with Jersey after Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons has approved the creation of a customs union with Guernsey after Brexit.

Ayes: 302

Noes: 263

Majority: 39

The Commons is now voting on a similar motion, which would create a customs union with the Isle of Man after Brexit.

Select Committee
Parliament

Committee chair Julian Lewis brings the session to an end.

He suggests it is "unlikely" the panel will be able to continue today, and says he hopes it can be continued - for the third time - at later date.

Image source, HoC

Labour MP Graham Jones raises the withdrawal of US troops from Syria and asks how that will affect UK efforts against the Islamic State group.

Mr Williamson says IS have been "defeated territorialy", but not ideologically, which means the the UK needs to remain "eyes wide open" to threats against the UK.

Mr Jones pushes back on the suggestion of territorial defeat - "they just blew up two American convoys" - suggesting US withdrawal has encouraged the group.

"We haven't defeated them, we've just turned the clock back," he argues.

The defence secretary says there has still been significant progress made, but "we will...continue to do what we can to ensure that Daesh does not pose a threat to the UK, and we will continue to work with Iraqi forces and the SDF."

Mr Jones says these are "empty words" and the reality is US withdrawal means the loss a superior partner: "Where's the substance in defeating Daesh?"

Mr Williamson says discussions are on-going with other partners, who recognise the need for continued action.

House of Commons
Parliament

Home Office Minister Ben Wallace says "there will be a code of practice" but until that is introduced then law enforcement will not be able to make any arrests under that schedule of the Bill.

He thanks the bill team and he jokes they have tolerated "the minister wanting to make changes far too much" to the bill.

Further Lords amendments are agreed by the Commons.

The Commons has now divided to vote on motion 4 on the order paper, which is to approve the Crown Dependencies Customs Union (Guernsey) (EU Exit) Order 2018 be approved.

This order would create a UK-Crown Dependencies customs union between the UK and Guernsey.

Select Committee
Parliament

SNP Martin Docherty-Hughes asks about Nato requirements.

Gavin Williamson says the UK is commiting a "common amount of forces" to what is expected, around 10% of the whole Nato force.

He has "great confidence" that the UK and Nato allies would be able to respond to seaborne threats in the North Atlantic, and "every confidence" in the ability to meet air-force commitments.

He says there is no truth in reports that a third of RAF planes, external were "sidelined".

Angus Lapsley, Director General Strategy and International at the Ministry of Defence, points to "routine maintenance" as a possible explanation for the numbers reported. Both say there was no risk as a result of this maintenance.

House of Commons
Parliament

Lords amendment 1 is agreed by the Commons, which allows journalists and humanitarian workers to visit areas controlled by terrorists.

Ben Wallace, the Home Office Minister, moves to agree with further Lords amendments.

These Lords amendments, 11, 13 and 16 are also approved by the Commons.

Speaking to further amendments, shadow solicitor general Nick Thomas-Symonds raises concerns that these may "be drawn too broadly" but he welcomes further amendments which limit the scope of what is considered "hostile activity".

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

In response to a question regarding recent disruption caused by drones at airports, Gavin Williamson says the MoD is conscious that drones could be an increased threat in military situations.

Gatwick and Heathrow have both demonstrated the UK has a capability to deal with the threat to airports, he says - there has "always been" a contingency plan for dealing with such a situation.

He says there is a need for commercial airports to invest in drone defence, rather than being reliant on military support. It's "disappointing" they hadn't already invested in this, he adds.

Committee chair Julian Lewis says the defence secretary seems to be putting the responsibility on others, rather than government introducing legislative requirements. Mr Williamson says the issue is being led by the DfT.

Labour MP Madeleine Moon asks whether there is a need to take drones into consideration in other situations. "Are we just focusing on critical national infrastructure?"

Mr Williamson says the Olympics was the first place drone threats were taken into account, but "we're very conscious of the fact that more is going to need to be done".

Katie Hope
BBC business reporter

The boss of one of the world's largest port operators has said it has extra capacity to handle cargo from Europe in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the group chairman and CEO of DP World, said it was in constant dialogue with the UK government and "was ready" in the event of a no deal.

He said both its UK ports - London Gateway and Southampton - currently had 30 to 40% spare capacity.

"The government knows what we can do. If they ask us we are able," he said.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoL

With a final question from Labour's Lord Judd on the government's approach to the scheme, which Mr Javid says will be "as straightforward and simple as possible," the committee session draws to a close.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Tory MP Mark Francois says Capita's performance running recruitment has been labelled "atrocious" by the defence secretary previously. He asks how many recruits have enlisted in the British army in 2018/19.

Lt General Richard Nugee says 5,600 are expected, which meets around 60% of the target.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson says numbers aren't being hit, but computer systems have been updated, and the government has given Capita more time on the understanding that they will be investing more on making necessary improvements.

Mr Francois says the committee is always told things will get better but the reality is they rarely do, suggesting Mr Williamson is a "rabbit in the head lights" when it comes to the Capita contract.

They are falling further and further short of targets, he says, "what are you going to do about it?"

Mr Williamson says there have been improvements recently, and if those improvements continue that is positive. If not, "we will have to look at different options".