House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says the government's handling of Brexit has been "costly, shambolic and deliberately evasive".

He says that nothing "symbolises that more" than the contract with Seaborne Freight. He asks "what went wrong?"

Mrs May says that three contractors were appointed, 90% of which went to DFDS and Brittany Ferries.

"Due dilligence was carried out on all of these contracts," she says, adding that "it is important in a no-deal situation" that shipping continues.

House of Commons
Parliament

The first question comes from Tory MP Helen Whately about FGM. She brings up the first prosecution of a mother who was found guilty of mutilating her three-year-old daughter.

You can read the story here:

FGM: Mother guilty of genital mutilation of daughter - BBC News

Ms Whately asks the PM to fast-track legislation to combat the practice.

Theresa May says the government will provide time to deliver a bill.

House of Commons
Parliament

Theresa May is on her feet at the dispatch box, for the start of PMQs.

The prime minister pays tribute to Sir David Natzler, the clerk of the Commons, who is retiring.

House of Commons
Parliament

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House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow international development secretary Dan Carden asks why anyone should "trust a government" which has pushed 14m into poverty to stand up for the world's poorest people.

He says that any Conservative minister can launch a leadership bid by criticising spending on foreign aid.

Ms Mordaunt says that people should trust her as she is a former foreign aid worker.

House of Commons
Parliament

Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson asks what discussions the international development secretary has had with the international trade secretary on the effect on the economies of developing countries of the UK leaving the EU.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt says the government is ensuring the same level of market access "to about 70 countries" after Brexit.

Ms Swinson says Ms Mordaunt is in competition with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox over who can do the worst job.

She asks Ms Mordaunt if she can assure MPs that they will be able to fully debate the environmental and human rights impacts of any new trade deals.

Ms Mordaunt says the government is committed to focusing on ensuring that future trade deals uphold the UK's strong commitment to human rights.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Ellie Reeves asks what recent assessment the government has made of the level of humanitarian assistance required in Yemen.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt says that the UN is due to launch a new £4bn appeal for this year.

Ms Reeves says that three million people have been internally displaced and thousands have been killed in Yemen. She asks when the government will stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia.

Mr Burt says that the "fragile ceasefire" agreed in Stockholm and the redeployment of forces are continuing. The problems in Yemen were caused by Houthi rebels, not the Saudis, he adds.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

I imagine the name Olly Robbins might just come up today.

ITN’s bar room eavesdropping of his conversation has produced a scoop which could do serious damage to the PM.

Less than a day after assuring MPs that she was not “running down the clock” to confront MPs with a stark late-March choice between her deal and no-deal, her chief Brexit negotiator was apparently overheard saying that was exactly the strategy.

And since this was Jeremy Corbyn’s central accusation in the Commons yesterday, he seems bound to demand an explanation today. It is a predictable question, to be sure, but it is never a comfortable thing for a prime minister to have to deny bad faith.

More corrosive still is the second part of the reported remarks - that the Northern Ireland backstop is a precursor to entering “a” customs union with the EU - an anathema to many Brexiteers, who believe such an arrangement would close off important world trade opportunities for Britain.

So while Jeremy Corbyn might tee off with the “running down the clock” accusation, Conservative Brexiteers will have what, in internal party terms, is an even more toxic accusation to make.

Tomorrow's Brexit motion

And there’s also a third front, which but for Mr Robbins might have been the main line of Brexiteer attack; the prime minister’s Brexit motion for debate tomorrow is not quite as neutral as billed.

Crucially, it supports the motion approved by MPs on 29 January, which includes the additional wording of the “Spelman-Dromey amendment” ruling out a no-deal departure from the EU. This is problematic for those Brexiteers who favour a “managed no-deal”.

Again, they scent betrayal of their ideal Brexit.

Looking at the cast of characters listed for today’s session, the key Tory Brexiteer questioners would be Henry Smith, or possibly Tom Pursglove (who has gone a bit quiet since resigning to vote against the govrnment in January).

The day’s final questioner is the former minister Robert Halfon, who is a big backer of a “Norway Option” customs union Brexit - but as chair of the Education Committee and an intensive constituency campaigner, he might well ask about an education or a local issue.

The other theme to watch for is the reception for the SNP’s Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford, fresh from offering a tepid apology for calling the PM a liar in the Chamber on Tuesday.

Expect a glacial PM, and derisive Conservative heckling - and maybe in the light of the Robbins story, a careful doubling down from Mr Blackford?

House of Commons
Parliament

International development questions are underway in the Commons, with International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt ready to answer question from MPs at the dispatch box.

House of Commons
Parliament

Our coverage of business in the Commons today begins shortly with international development questions, before PMQs at midday.

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner will then ask the first of the day's two urgent questions on the replication of trade agreements.

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Tony Lloyd will then ask an urgent question on restoring devolution in Northern Ireland.

Labour MP Matt Western will then introduce his Bus Drivers (Working Hours on Local Routes) Bill which seeks to limit the driving hours worked by bus drivers on local routes. Mr Western says that bus drivers are working unsafe hours which is leaving members of the public at risk.

MPs will then deliver their tributes to Sir David Natzler, the Clerk of the Commons, who is retiring after serving as the top advisor to the Speaker and MPs on constitutional and procedural issues.

The main legislative action is a debate on the Securitisation Regulations 2018, external. This is about the new EU regulations on pooling different types of debt such as residential or commercial mortgages, car loans or credit card debt obligations and selling the resulting cash flows as securities.

And after that there's a general debate on connecting communities by supporting families and volunteers.

Conservative MP Rachel Maclean will conclude today's proceedings with her adjournment debate on the health service and the menopause.

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee asks their final questions to the Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom. The session comes to a close in time for the start of business in the House of Commons.

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative Sir Edward Leigh is concerned about the appointments of parliamentary member to the sponsor board. He hopes that is will not be in the gift of the whips' offices deciding "to buy off a sacked minister"

"Not that, that would ever happen, of course," says the Conservative MP.

"Obviously," replies the Leader of the House.

She adds that she is "a big fan of transparency" and praises the election of members to select committees.

The issue is the individual having the "will and knowledge".

Select Committee
Parliament

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Conservative Lord Brabazon of Tara says that without ministerial leadership, the parliamentary members of the response board will become the figurehead as the media will "demand" one.

Andrea Leadsom says it is envisaged that the House Commission spokesperson will answer questions in both Houses of Parliament until the response board is set up.

It would be then up to them to decide who is accountable, she says.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Crossbench peer Baroness Prashar asks about the "most important part of the project: money" and why government has no authoritative role.

The Leader of the House replies that the project is for Parliament and a decision was taken by the two Houses.

"You want it to endure beyond one government," she adds.

The Treasury will have the opportunity to provide feedback if taxpayers' money is not being spent in "a good way".

Chair of the Public Account Committee Meg Hellier asks if there is a risk that future governments may not consider the restoration their problem.

Ms Leadsom says "it is the exact opposite" and the way the bill is written, it is not for the "government simply to turn the tap off".

The House of Lords is to debate Brexit again this afternoon and the Labour leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon, has put down this motion.

The Labour whips Twitter account explains that the motion highlights the Lords' role in the Brexit process:

Select Committee
Parliament

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Conservative MP Caroline Spelman says that bill allows for "significant changes" but it is not defined, and she asks how Ms Leadsom would define it.

Ms Leadsom replies that the planning is "incredibly" important and will take years. She adds that there is problem with asbestos, wiring, plumbing and sewage.

"It is unbelievable what is down in the basement," she adds.

She says significant change could be not having any of these facilities under the palace and moving them elsewhere.

Andrea Leadsom says restoration "by definition" means keeping the Grade I listed aspects untouched and expects the committee room, for example, to remain unchanged.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Labour peer Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe asks if political interference is a factor in the restoration.

Andrea Leadsom says the work has been need since the end of World War II and says it is a "great tragedy" that successive governments have failed to tackle the problem of restoration.

The Conservative MP says it is a world Unesco heritage site and "one of the most famous buildings in the world".

"We have to leave it fit for the 21st century," she adds, and says that it could be the 2030s before the project is finished.