Image source, HoC

SNP MP Neil Gray asks the Leader of the House about reform of procedures and improving how democracy functions.

Andrea Leadsom replies that procedures are a matter for both House and not contingent on restoration. She gives the example of proxy voting.

However, she adds, in devising a temporary chamber it may facilitate experimentation in procedure.

Labour's Lord Blunkett asks if there is scope for more public consultation within the bill.

Ms Leadsom agrees with the outcome but she worries that including that within the bill could actually limit who can be consulted.

Lord Blunkett says he would not be "as specific as that" but would merely include a requirement.

The Leader of the House agrees.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom says the palace is "under the weather" and she is taking account of health and safety. She adds that she has her "eye on the public purse".

Ms Leadsom, wants to see Elizabeth Tower remain open to the public during the restoration and Westminster Hall debates to continue in the grand committee room.

(Debates which are not scheduled for the main chamber take place in a second debating chamber, just off the medieval Westminster Hall.)

She says that all members can agree that access should be improved, for those with particular needs and by introducing more virtual streaming.

She wants to introduce a media suite, to improve the physical safety for journalists and MPs, who often use College Green, across from Parliament, for interviews.

She concludes her introductory remarks, stating "we just need to get on with it, urgently".

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, GETTY IMAGES

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Draft Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill is taking evidence from the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom.

This draft bill seeks to establish the statutory bodies that will be responsible for the restoration and renewal works within the parliamentary estate.

Work on a three-year business plan for the comprehensive refit is under way and should be completed by mid-2021. Andrea Leadsom has said it is still the plan for the site to be largely vacated by the mid-2020s.

MPs have voted to leave the historic site, home to both Houses of Parliament, for a "significant" period of time to make way for the restoration and renewal programme.

Theresa May has promised MPs a final, decisive vote on her Brexit deal with the EU - but not until she has secured changes to the Irish backstop clause.

The PM said she needed "some time" to get the changes she believes MPs want.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused her of "running down the clock" in an effort to "blackmail" MPs into backing her deal.

What next?

Mrs May promised to update MPs again on 26 February and, if she had not got a new deal by then, to give them a say on the next steps in non-binding votes.

The announcement and then more votes on 27 February - if she has still not got a final deal - meant this Thursday's expected "high noon" for the prime minister had probably been postponed, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said.

MPs are still expected to debate and vote on amendments to the Brexit deal on Thursday, however, although it will not be known until later what those amendments are likely to be.

The signs are the PM will go to the wire on Brexit - piling pressure on former Remainers to make a move.

House of Commons
Parliament

That concludes the remaining stages of the Mental Capacity (Amendment Bill), with the bill passing by 299 votes to 241.

Labour MP Owen Smith is now introducing his adjournment debate on the licensing of medical devices.

We'll be back tomorrow with international development questions at 11.30am.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons approves the bill at third reading.

Ayes: 299

Noes: 241

Majority: 58

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now dividing to vote on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill at third reading.

The result is expected at 19.15.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow health minister Barbara Keeley says it is "appalling" that the Commons has only had two hours for report stage and two hours for second reading on a matter of human rights.

She warns that this system "is more flawed" than the current situation. "It is simply wrong that a business with a financial stake" in caring for people "can have their recommendation rubber-stamped by the local council".

"The government could and should have removed the reliance on a best interest test," she adds.

The situation could see people be detained for three years without a review of their case, she warns.

"It is clear from the start" that the bill was provided to shift the responsibility of those detained from the government to local care providers, she says, "letting the backlog build up was a political choice and this bill is not the solution."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Health and Social Care Minister Caroline Dinenage stands to introduce the third reading of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill.

She says changes have been made in the bill in both houses to ensure rights and liberties of individuals are protected.

Ms Dinenage adds that the current system is failing, and more broadly the government will set out a green paper on adult social care shortly.

This bill will ensure that less restrictive practices are used, she says, noting that the government want to ensure this bill means that the system will work better for individuals, their families and individuals working in healthcare.

House of Commons
Parliament

Speaker John Bercow says that a consent motion is required for the bill to proceed, which is supplied by the government.

The consent motion is agreed to and the third reading of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill begins.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs vote to reject amendment 51 by 300 votes to 249.

Ayes: 249

Noes: 300

Majority: 51

With the completion of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill's report stage, the Speaker has suspended the House for 5 minutes while he decides on the certification of the bill.

After this, the bill's third reading will take place.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs vote to reject amendment 50:

Ayes: 249

Noes: 301

Majority: 52

The Commons now divides to vote on amendment 51, which ensures that advocates are provided as a default, unless the recipient indicates that they do not want one.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs have voted to reject amendment 49 of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill, with 252 MPs voting in favour of the amendment and 303 voting against.

Ayes: 252

Noes: 303

Majority: 51

MPs are now dividing on amendment 50 which relates to the reviewing of cases where arrangements have been made on the basis of a statement from a care home manager.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs have divided to vote on amendment 49.

This amendment requires the responsible body providing care to carry out consultations in all cases.

The result is expected at 6.15pm.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Debbie Abrahams says the Law Society and charities "say the bill we have before us is not fit for purpose".

Labour MP Alex Cunningham says this is "a bad bill which fails society".

Speaking to his amendment, Mr Cunningham says there is a concern that particularly elderly people will be charged for a care assessment being carried out.

There is nothing in the bill or in the NHS charging regulations to stop this happening, he says, noting that "it is already occurring around the UK."

Because the sector is struggling in terms of resources it is seen appropriate by the government to take advantage of those in need, Mr Cunningham adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour's Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi warns that the bill is "deeply flawed" and he calls for delays to be made to the bill to make sure that there is enough time for debate.

The bill may affect "the very [personal] liberties that this Parliament has stood for centuries to defend".

"We have a sorry and shameful history" of incarceration for those with mental health difficulties, he adds.

"We have vulnerable people waiting for months" and families "at the end of their tethers" in the current system "because of a lack of funding".

"This cannot be done on the cheap," he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Norman Lamb says that the time allowed for this debate, which deals with human rights, is "absolutely outrageous".

He says that organisations are "very clear" that this bill could weaken processes designed to protect those in care.

Over 100 organisations say that reform "should not be at the cost of the human rights of people who rely on essential social services", he states.

"Serious conflicts of interest will be placed upon care managers who will be in control of key information" about patients, he adds.