Summary

  • MPs question international trade and then women and equalities ministers

  • Urgent question on data roaming charges

  • MPs also debated motions on compensation relating to two lung conditions

  • After Andrea Leadsom outlined forthcoming business

  • Statement on review of legal aid and then one on Venezuela

  • House of Lords holds question session for ministers

  1. Nissan 'will have to submit application' to receive £61m grantpublished at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Statement on Nissan Sunderland plant

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Greg ClarkImage source, HoC

    Business Secretary Greg Clark says in 2016 Nissan were awarded £61m over nine years as an investment for training, environmental improvements, and research and development.

    Mr Clark says Nissan announced that the X-Trail would be built in Sunderland as well as Japan in October 2016, but that yesterday they said the new model will instead be made in Japan.

    He adds that the decision will have "no implications for existing jobs at the plant", but that the additional 741 jobs proposed alongside the decision to manufacture the new car model in Sunderland "will not take place".

    Mr Clark says in 2016 Nissan said the "risk of a no-deal Brexit is a source of damaging uncertainty".

    He adds that the UK £61m grant to Nissan was based on the fact that the new SUV was to be manufactured in Sunderland.

    "If the company wishes to compete in these industry funding schemes, as I hope and expect it will, it will have to submit an application and undergo an independent assessment," Mr Clark says.

    He concludes that Nissan's decision was made on "broader business grounds", but that Nissan commented "on the need for us to come together and to resolve the question of how to continue trading with the EU".

  2. £60m deal for Nissan plant 'still stands'published at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Business minister Richard Harrington conceded the decision was "a disaster" and that Brexit was partly to blame.

    Read More
  3. MPs hear statement on future of Nissan's Sunderland plantpublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Statement on Nissan Sunderland plant

    Nissan plant in SunderlandImage source, Getty Images

    Business Secretary Greg Clark is now giving a statement on Nissan's Sunderland plant.

    Yesterday, car manufacturer Nissan confirmed that the new X-Trail model originally planned for its Sunderland plant will instead be made in Japan.

    In a letter to workers, it said continued Brexit uncertainty is not helping firms to "plan for the future".

    The government said Nissan's decision was "a blow to the sector" but that no jobs would go as a result.

    Earlier this afternoon, Business Minister Richard Harrington said the decision by Nissan was "a disaster" and that Brexit was partly to blame. However, he added that the £61m support package for the Nissan plant in Sunderland "still stands" despite the company's announcement.

    However, a letter from the government to Nissan, written in 2016, revealed that the Japanese car maker would only get the money if they made the X-Trail SUV in Sunderland, leading to suggestions that Nissan will be forced to reapply for the £61m of taxpayer support after backtracking on its promise.

    After a meeting with Nissan bosses, the Unite union said it had "received firm assurances" that future production of the Juke and Qashqai models in Sunderland was unaffected.

  4. 'We want to see the back of nuclear weapons forever'published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Urgent Question on the INF Treaty

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen GethinsImage source, HoC

    SNP international affairs spokesperson Stephen Gethins says the US withdrawal could do more harm than good, and asks how the weapons can be removed altogether.

    "We want to see the back of nuclear weapons forever," he says.

    Foreign Office Minister Mark Field says the government has monitored Russia's progress "very carefully" and they have "been in violation for some considerable time".

    "There is a collective position on this issue," he adds, and says Russia's actions undermines its own claim that it is a responsible international partner holding a rules-based system.

    Mr Field says it is in no one's interest to see another arms race, but equally it is unacceptable to allow Russia to carry on like this.

    "There is still time for Russia to come back to the table and I hope they do so," he concludes.

  5. 'We are seeing the beginning of maybe a new arms race'published at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Urgent Question on the INF Treaty

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Fabian HamiltonImage source, HoC

    Shadow Foreign Office minister Fabian Hamilton says the suspension of the INF treaty is a "sure sign of a dangerous break down on trust between the two countries with the vast majority of the world's warheads", and notes there could be "serious consequences".

    "I believe we are seeing now the beginning of maybe a new arms race more dangerous than that in the Cold War," he adds.

    He asks Mr Field what assurances he has been given by US allies that this is not the beginning of a new arms race, and if there is a chance that a multilateral framework could replace the INF treaty.

    Foreign Office Minister Mark Field says the UK will continue to work closely with the US on a range of multinational issues but that the current situation is unsustainable due to Russia's inability to abide by its obligations "which is why we and the other allies will not support it".

  6. 'Russia's fault alone that we have arrived at this point'published at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Urgent Question on the INF Treaty

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mark FieldImage source, HoC

    Foreign Office Minister Mark Field says the INF treaty has played an important role in supporting security over the last three decades.

    "Here in the UK we wish for the treaty to continue," Mr Field says.

    However for this to happen, obligations have to be fulfilled "and sadly, this has not been the case".

    Mr Field says the Russian 9M729 missiles can reach European cities, and therefore breach the INF treaty.

    Russia was given a chance to address the concerns in December, Mr Field adds, "but Russia did not take that opportunity, nor have they offered a credible response".

    He says the UK and all NATO allies support the US decision to suspend its participation in the INF treaty and activate the withdrawal process, and notes that "it is Russia's fault alone that we have arrived at this point".

    "Even at this late stage we urge Russia to change course," Mr Field adds, noting that the INF treaty's six month withdrawal process gives Russia time to destroy the missiles that breach the agreement.

  7. MPs debate US withdrawal from nuclear peace treatiespublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Urgent Question on US withdrawal from nuclear treaties

    Last week, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Russia that the US was suspending its participation in the important Cold War-era disarmament agreement - the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, as of 2 February.

    Russia, the US insists, has long been in breach of this agreement. If Russia does not return to compliance within six months, the US say they will walk away from the INF Treaty altogether.

    This 1987 agreement with the ex-Soviet Union removed a whole category of land-based nuclear missiles with ranges of between 500 and 5,500km (310 and 3,400 miles).

    The Trump administration says that a new Russian missile, designated the 9M729 and known to Nato as the SSC-8, breaches the INF Treaty.

    Back in December, Mr Pompeo gave Russian President Vladimir Putin 60 days to return to compliance or the US would also cease to honour its terms.

    Russia insists that it is abiding by the agreement, and raises concerns about America's own adherence to the deal.

    Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan sign the INF treaty in December 1987Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan sign the INF treaty in December 1987

  8. MP: Constituents notice 'absent' police and youth workerspublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Knife crime urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stella CreseyImage source, HoC

    Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy says that "on Saturday another young man almost lost his life in my constituency" to knife crime, and that her constituents will notice the "absent" home secretary, the "absent" police on our streets and the dwindling number of youth workers.

    She says her constituents are "asking me who cares about this?"

    Minister Victoria Atkins says "we would argue it isn't just about police funding, although that is important" but says that if Ms Creasy feels strongly about the issue, she'll support a police funding settlement due to be voted on in the Commons tomorrow where the Metropolitan Police will get an extra £172m.

  9. Abbott: Authorities lack capacity to deal with knife crimepublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Knife crime urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott says the rise in knife crime is "as much about capacity as the law", meaning the capacity of the police and youth workers to deal with the problem. She says cuts to the number of police officers and youth workers mean the authorities don't have the capacity to deal with the problems.

    She says that the knife crime orders themselves won't solve the problem alone, that Labour believes "prevention and intervention is the key".

    She adds that Labour will look at the orders with an open mind when the legislation needed for them reaches the Commons.

    Diane AbbottImage source, HoC
  10. Knife crime 'a national emergency' - Labour MPpublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Knife Crime Urgent Question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Vernon CoakerImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Vernon Coaker says the British public will find it "incredible" that the home secretary can appear on television but cannot appear in the Commons to discuss a policy initiative as important as knife crime prevention measures.

    "Children are being slaughtered on the streets and the home secretary has vanished," he adds.

    Mr Coaker calls on Home Office ministers to "support the police and exisiting laws" rather than introducing new ones, and says increased investment in the police and youth services would be a better way of tackling the crisis.

    He questions how Knife Crime Prevention Orders will deal with preventing and reducing knife crime, and calls for the home secretary to be chairing Cobra as "this is a national emergency".

    In response, Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins says the police have asked for a preventative order to get to a small cohort of children who have not been convicted of offences but that they have received intelligence.

    "We want to allow the state to wrap its arms around that child," she concludes.

  11. Minister: Knife crime orders to reach users 'before they've committed an offence'published at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Urgent question on Knife Crime Prevention Orders

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Victoria AtkinsImage source, HoC

    Junior Home Office minister Victoria Atkins apologises for Sajid Javid's absence and says the home secretary doesn't mean any "discourtesy". She says she hopes she can give answers that MPs will find enlightening.

    She goes on to say that knife crime is "devastating" and the government is working with "partners across civil society" and running a series of programs to show young people that there are "alternatives to carrying knives".

    She says Knife Crime Prevention Orders are designed to reach young people "before they have committed an offence" as well as "habitual knife carriers of any age".

    She says the orders include requirements like curfews and geographical restrictions on known knife carriers as well as encouragement to take part in social programs aimed at stopping knife crime.

    She says she expects the "full support" of MPs when the measures appear before the Commons.

  12. Speaker hits out at home secretary's absencepublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Speaker's Statement

    John BercowImage source, HoC

    Before Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins addresses Labour MP Vernon Coaker's urgent question on Knife Crime Prevention Orders, the Speaker John Bercow addresses the fact that Home Secretary Sajid Javid will not be answering the question this afternoon.

    "For him to fail to be in the chamber on Thursday to make a statement about his new anti-knife crime initiative was at best ill-judged and at worst outright discourteous to the House of Commons," Mr Bercow says.

    "He managed to scuffle off to do a radio interview and to pop up on the Andrew Marr show," he adds, "if he aspires to something a little more elevated than a functionary of the executive branch he has to develop antennae and a respect for the House of Commons."

    Mr Bercow says it is "both ill-judged and rude" of Sajid Javid to send Victoria Atkins in his place today.

    "In procedural terms, it really is time that he ups his game," he concludes.

  13. What are Knife Crime Prevention Orders?published at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Urgent Question on Knife Crime Prevention Orders

    KnifeImage source, AFP

    Last week, Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced the introduction of Knife Crime Prevention Orders as part of the government's new plans to tackle knife crime.

    The new Knife Crime Prevention Orders could be issued by police to anyone aged 12 or over who is believed to often carry a blade.

    Sajid Javid said the ASBO-style orders would give police more power to impose curfews, send young people caught with knives to educational courses and in some cases restrict their social media use to prevent rival disputes escalating rapidly.

    When Mr Javid first announced plans for the orders last November, Justice Secretary David Gauke said they could "accelerate the criminalisation of young people".

    The new powers come as it emerged a fifth of offences for possession or threatening with a knife in the year to June involved 10 to 17-year-olds.

    Hospital figures reveal that 813 people under 18 were treated for a sharp injury wound in the year to April 2018 - up 80% since March 2015.

  14. Lords turn attention to Trade Billpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Trade Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    The Lords have now moved to their fourth and final day of the Trade Bill at committee stage.

    The bill has been controversial during committee stage, with peers passing an amendment requiring the government to bring forward solid trade policy before the bill can proceed further.

  15. Education Secretary announces schools mental health trialpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Education Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Education Secretary Damian Hinds says that as it is Children's Mental Health Week, he would like to take the opportunity to announce that the government will conduct "a major trial" on how to support children’s mental health in schools.

    Mr Hinds says the trial will take place in 370 schools across the UK and will be one of the most wide ranging trials in the world on the subject matter.

    He says the trial is part of the government's aim to integrate education and mental health support.

  16. Lords may cancel long weekend during February recesspublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Business of the House

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord TaylorImage source, HoL

    Government Chief Whip Lord Taylor of Holbeach says that following the decision of the Commons last week to sit during the February recess, the Lords will now no longer have a "long weekend" during recess.

    Leader of the Oppisition, Baroness Smith, says that the Lords "stand ready" to debate Brexit bills, but she criticises the government for still not bringing forward the Agriculture Bill and Fisheries Bill. "The Commons has been rather tardy" at bringing forward necessary legislation, she states.

    The Lords agrees to using Thursdays for government legislation, rather than debates.

  17. Attainment gap for disadvantaged children 'closing'published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Education Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Damian HindsImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP George Freeman asks what progress the department has made in closing the attainment gap for disadvantaged children.

    Education Secretary Damian Hinds says the attainment gap for disadvantaged children is down by 13% and the government is committed to closing the gap further.

    Independent MP John Woodcock says only 15% of the students in his constitutiency of Furness go on to higher education, the lowest in the UK.

    He calls on the government to do more as the attainment gap for disadvantaged children is "clearly" still prevalent.

    Mr Hinds says the government are working to ensure that a range of further education opportunities are available for all.

  18. Questions raised over proposed Shared Prosperity Fundpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Shared Prosperity Fund Private Notice Question

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness HayterImage source, HoL

    Labour's Baroness Hayter asks what progress the government has made on the implementation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the light of reports that the PM may want to give extra money to certain UK former industrial towns, external.

    Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Lord Bourne says that the consultation on this fund will start shortly.

    Baroness Hayter asks if the fund is new money, and states that the money may be needed in seven weeks' time.

    Lord Bourne says that the EU will continue to supply funds to the UK for some regional development programmes up until 2020.

    Lib Dem Lord Fox says that the decision from the PM to give money to certain constituencies is in breach of the Bribery Act.

    Lord Bourne says that Lords should not "believe everything that they see in the newspapers". He says that the Shared Prosperity Fund will tackle inequality in the areas where it is rolled out.

  19. Shadow education secretary calls for no-deal to be taken off tablepublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Education Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Angela RaynerImage source, HoC

    Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner calls for the education secretary to rule out a no-deal Brexit which would greatly damage the opportunities of students and the UK's higher education institutions.

    Ms Rayner says many universities and colleges are "concerned" about the recruitment of teaching staff after Brexit, as many academics teaching in UK institutions are from further afield.

    Education Minister Chris Skidmore says there are guarantees for EU nationals and students "irrespective of the EU outcome" that they will be supported, and calls for Ms Rayner to support Theresa May's deal which is the best scenario for the education sector.

    He says the government is working to establish student protection plans to ensure that European students studying in the UK, and UK students studying in Europe "will not be harmed" by Brexit.

  20. How can public service TV be advertised better?published at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2019

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness BenjaminImage source, HoL

    Liberal Democrat Baroness Benjamin asks how the government is ensuring that public sector TV content is easily visible across all viewing platforms.

    Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Minister Lord Ashton says Ofcom has consulted on changes to Electronic Programme Guides on television. The government is awaiting Ofcom's findings and will act on them, he adds.

    Baroness Benjamin says "public service broadcasting plays an important role" in supplying a "safe, trusted space" away from social media. She warns that it is "so difficult" to find public service channels as they are on different numbers on every provider.

    Lord Ashton says that 83% of people think that children's public service TV is important. Any further changes to the recommendations from Ofcom is a matter for the regulator, he adds.