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Chair of the Education Committee Robert Halfon says since 2014 the number of children who have been excluded has risen by 67%.

He adds that every school week 4,253 children with special educational needs are permanently or temporarily excluded.

He calls this issue a "burning social injustice" asks for an update on the Timson review.

The prime minister replies we all recognise that "good discipline" is "essential" but exclusion should be "lawful, reasonable and fair".

Ms May says that guidance sets out that headteachers should avoid excluding those with special educational needs.

The Timson review is ongoing but the government will look seriously at the recommendations, she says.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

A straight bat response to Brexiteer Henry Smith – which doesn’t quite give him the answer he wants.

Asked to rule out a Customs Union, the PM restates current policy.

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Labour's Stephen McCabe says that the PM has previously said she would put an end to rip off energy prices.

He says that the announcement by E.On yesterday of a 10% price increase goes against this promise she made. He says the number of households in fuel poverty has increased by 2.5 million.

Mrs May says that it is the current government that has introduced the energy price cap. Energy suppliers will no longer be able to "rip off" those on standard variable tariffs, and will save consumers £1bn, she adds.

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Conservative MP Gareth Thomas says the number of people stopped by police as part of the stop and search procedure has fallen by two thirds, whilst at the same time the number of stabbings has increased by a third.

"Stop and search is an effective part in the battle against knife crime," Mr Thomas says, asking the prime minister if she agrees.

Theresa May says stop and search is an effective tool for police forces.

She says the government recognise the rising crime issue, and on the issue of stop and search, the police must use it "properly and lawfully".

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Labour MP Luke Pollard asks the PM to unblock funding to improve the trainline in Dawlish.

He worries the government is sitting on announcements due to Brexit.

The rail line in Dawlish was damaged in storms in 2014.

Theresa May replies the department is reviewing the proposals on the Dawlish line and there will be an update on funding "in due course".

The work on a sea wall began in November, part of a £15m investment to make Dawlish more resilient to extreme weather.

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Conservative Henry Smith asks for the PM to rule out a future customs arrangement with the EU so the UK can have its own trade policy.

Mrs May says "we believe it is important" that the UK has an independent trade policy.

"We want to leave with a deal and that is what we are working for," she finishes.

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Labour MP Chris Evans says he welcomes Instagram's agreement to crackdown on suicide and self harm images posted on its site.

However, there are still online communities which glamorise, encourage and normalise eating disorders, "preying on vulnerable people who are going through private battles", he adds.

He asks Theresa May and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ministers if they will meet with him to discuss how to tackle this issue.

Theresa Mays says she is pleased the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Wright is prioritising work in this area.

She adds that she wants to see social media companies doing more to ensure they are not promoting harmful products.

"We want to keep people safe in terms of the sort of images they are looking at," the prime minister adds.

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The SNP's Westminster Leader Ian Blackford asks the prime minister to rule out bringing forward a meaningful vote with less than two weeks before the UK is due to leave the EU.

Mrs May says she outlined yesterday, what the timetable was for brining motions to the Commons.

Mr Blackford says that the prime minister "must stop playing fast and loose" and adds that businesses "are begging for certainty". He says that the PM "has come to the end of the road" and asks for an extension to Article 50.

Mrs May says that businesses can be given certainty by voting for a deal. Independence for Scotland would have meant leaving the EU with no deal, she finishes.

Tellingly, the PM has come prepared for a full-on assault on the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling.

And she counter attacks with an accusation that no-one knows where Jeremy Corbyn stands on key Brexit issues. The line about how he used to be seen as a conviction politician delighted her side.

For once, both players at PMQs seem to be on good form at the same time.

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Jeremy Corbyn says the prime minister should follow the advice of the House and take no deal off the table and negotiate seriously with the EU.

He adds that the local taxpayer is footing bill for the incompetence of the government.

Mr Corbyn attacks Mr Grayling on Carillion, the new rail timetables, fares and rail punctuality, and he asks how the prime minister can have confidence in the transport secretary.

Theresa May replies that rail investment is at its highest since the Victorian era and that is 20% higher every year on average than under Labour.

The prime minister says there is a still a number of issues on Brexit that we don't know Jeremy Corbyn's answers to.

Mrs May says he prefers "ambiguity" and "playing politics".

People no longer say he is a "conviction politician", she concludes.

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Jeremy Corbyn says the Seaborne contract was "secretive and flawed" and taxpayers now face a legal bill of nearly £1m.

The awarding of the Seaborne contract has increased the budget of Thanet Council, the owners of Ramsgate Port, by nearly £2m, he adds.

He asks the prime minister to confirm to the people of Thanet that they will not "pick up the bill for the failure of this contract".

The prime minister says the government is in discussions with Thanet Council.

Theresa May says the Department of Transport has taken these actions in relation to ferry capacity as it is "important to be able to ensure in a no-deal situation to guarantee that medicines can be brought into this country".

Jeremy Corbyn does not seem to be interested to ensure that in a no-deal situation people can access the medicines they need, she adds.

The prime minister says the government's actions are "sensible".

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Jeremy Corbyn says "it appears" that advisors were not at fault, as they were asked to judge the bid off the basis of a single presentation.

He says that the transport secretary "bypassed" the rules which allows normal scrutiny of a deal. He says this is a "very clear breach of those rules".

Mrs May says the contract was handed out following individual assessments by consultants. No money has been paid to Seaborne Freight, she adds.

She says that it is "entirely right and proper" to make sure that the government is preparing for no-deal.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

A surprise (to me, anyway) that Jeremy Corbyn hasn’t asked about the Olly Robbins comments; but his cross-examination about the Seabourne Freight saga has been searching and effective.

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The Leader of the Opposition says he is "impressed" the prime minister "can keep a straight face".

He says that the external advisers told the secretary of state that Seaborne was a start-up and "high risk".

He asks why the transport secretary proceeded.

Theresa May replies the Labour leader is implying that the government should never look at start ups or new companies.

She adds "it is entirely right" that the majority of the contracts went to established companies to "ensure the ferry capacity is there for a no-deal Brexit".

The prime minister says if Mr Corbyn wants to avoid no deal, he has got support a deal.

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Jeremy Corbyn says the government said the decision to award the contract to Seaborne Freight "had no cost to the taxpayer".

However, the National Audit Office found that £800,000 had been spent on external consultants to assess the bid, he notes.

Mr Corbyn asks the prime minister "to correct the record".

Theresa May says Jeremy Corbyn is "late to the party" on this question as it was asked by a member of the SNP yesterday.

She adds that when these contracts were all let, "proper due diligence was carried out including third party assessment of the companies that were bidding for the contract".