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Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and his treasury ministers take their places on the front benches as treasury questions begin.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Robert Jenrick answers the first question on plans to allocate additional funding for infrastructure.

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Good morning and welcome to our coverage of today's business in the House of Commons.

The day will begin shortly with treasury questions, before Conservative MP Philip Davies introduces his Hereditary Titles (Female Succession) Bill which calls for the abolition of male primogeniture for hereditary titles.

Under current law, first born daughters are discriminated against in favour of younger brothers and therefore women are, with a tiny number of exceptions, not entitled to stand in the by-elections for the 92 hereditary seats in the House of Lords.

The bill has cross-party support including from Maria Miller, the Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee.

Then MPs will turn to the Northern Ireland Budget (Anticipation and Adjustment) (No. 2) Bill - a measure to set government spending in Northern Ireland, in the absence of an Assembly or devolved executive.

The adjournment debate, led by the SNP's Drew Hendry, is on the families of Commonwealth soldiers.

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That concludes our coverage of the Commons today.

The day began with housing, communities and local government questions before three urgent questions on knife crime, the privatisation of the probation service and the government’s payment to Eurotunnel.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock surprised MPs by subbing in for Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to respond to the urgent question on Eurotunnel.

Mr Grayling faced backlash from numerous Labour MPs for his absence and “incompetence” as transport secretary.

The urgent questions were followed by two ministerial statements: Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire on the Stronger Towns Fund, and Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride on tax evasion.

Tomorrow’s proceedings begin at 11.30am with Treasury questions, before the main business of the day, the Northern Ireland Budget (Anticipation and Adjustment) (No. 2) Bill.

The bill is a measure to set government spending in Northern Ireland, in the absence of an Assembly or devolved executive.

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Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood says under this government payments aren't lifting people out of poverty.

"The social security freeze is a key reason for this," she says.

Ms Greenwood says the government's austerity policies have led to "devastating cuts", and a job now no longer guarantees a person will not be in poverty.

Universal Credit is not working and is a "senseless policy", she adds, asking why the government has failed to tackle this issue.

Ms Greenwood says she is pleased the triple lock on state pensions is being stuck to, but asks for the government to do more for the WASPI women which campaign for women born in the UK in the 1950s who have been affected by changes to the retirement age proposed by the 1995/2011 Pensions Act.

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Work and Pensions Minister Justin Tomlinson says the government is giving a commitment to "triple lock" the social security benefits uprating.

MPs have raised concerns that the "triple lock" cannot be sustained for ever and have questioned the government's long-term intentions.

Labour MP Alison McGovern says the numbers "do not add up" and that children in poverty are worse off under this government.

The government proposes to spend an extra £3.7bn in 2019/2020 on increasing benefits and welfare rights, Mr Tomlinson concludes.

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MPs are now moving on to the annual motion on Social Security Benefits Uprating - some benefits are uprated in line with inflation, and others in line with average earnings.

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Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who has long campaigned for more transparency over who owns assets in the UK and its dependencies, led the group of MPs behind the amendment which was tabled to the Financial Services Bill.

Dame Margaret says the government "finds it difficult to listen to anybody and to accept the will of Parliament if it doesn't like what it says - it now has form on the issue".

It is "utterly shameful" for the government to ignore legislation that was enacted only last year, she says, adding that if the government is serious on tackling tax avoidance, evasion and money-laundering, "it must be moving forwards with legislation and not avoiding the will of Parliament".

On Crown dependencies, Dame Margaret says "I cannot for the life of me understand the minister's ill-thought through reasons of it causing constitutional ramifications."

Transparency is utterly vital in fighting this crime, she says adding, "all we want is that transparency across the family".

She says that it would be better for the government to answer concerns now "rather than battling limply to defeat later".

Mr Stride says it is important that the government has time "to make sure we get things right".

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Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride says more time is needed to digest amendments that have been tabled to the Financial Services Bill.

He adds that the amendment requiring public registers in Crown dependencies has "large constitutional ramifications", and is an issue not just for the Treasury.

"It is only right we have time to consider these very important matters," he says.

Concerning when the bill will return, Mr Stride says "this is a matter for the usual channels".

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Shadow economic secretary to the treasury Jonathan Reynolds says the opposition came to Parliament today prepared to discuss the Financial Services Bill which was dropped from the order of business by the government earlier today.

He says the bill has been pulled for one reason: "The government thought it was going to lose."

"This is a poor attempt to put up something that the government can hide behind," says Mr Reynolds adding, "it is woeful and embarrassing."

Referring to the amendment to the Financial Services Bill - which required the UK to help all overseas territories and Crown dependencies set up a publicly accessible register by the end of 2020 - Mr Reynolds says "the public want to see action after the Panama papers."

He adds that a majority of people in the UK want public registers for the crown dependencies and ask if and when the bill will be proceeding.

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Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride says everybody should pay the tax that is properly due.

"The government recognises its duty to a compliant majority to build a fair and sustainable system and to ensure that those who evade and avoid tax payments are held accountable," Mr Stride says.

He argues that the system "is working", and that he is "proud" of the government's success.

"We want a tax system that is simple and clear to use," he adds, noting that the government are continuing to make progressive steps to ensure this is the case.

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Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride is now delivering the final ministerial statement on tax avoidance, evasion and compliance.

Earlier the government dropped today’s main business, the Financial Services Bill, ahead of a likely defeat.

More than 40 MPs had hoped to amend the bill to force greater tax transparency in Britain’s Crown dependencies.

Under their plans, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man would have had to create public registers of beneficial ownership.

The islands said the efforts were "contrary" to established constitutional relationships.

Labour MP Margaret Hodge, who has long campaigned for more transparency over who owns assets in the UK and its dependencies, said public registers “are the next big step for tackling money laundering and tax evasion" but the government had "taken the outrageous step to pull the bill from today's business".

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Labour MP Chris Bryant says he is "furious" the Tories have suddenly discovered the magic money tree Theresa May had said did not exist.

Setting out how his constituency was "one of the poorest in the land", he said: "I simply cannot remember a statement that has angered me more."

Mr Bryant questions how much money Wales will receive.

Mr Brokenshire says he is "sorry to have angered and disappointed" Mr Bryant, adding "I promise to him to come back to this House to be able to provide the details in relation to Wales and therefore I hope see him in slightly better humour on that occasion."

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Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts says the Stronger Towns Fund is about need - "not about the needs of towns but the need for the prime minister to tap for votes on her Brexit deal".

Conservative MP Stephen Kerr asks how the government will make sure Scottish towns benefit from this fund which only applies to England.

Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire says the government will set out details of the funding methods for Scotland as soon as possible, but that the positive effects of the Stronger Towns Fund will be felt by people across the UK.

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Shadow communities and local government secretary Andrew Gwynne says at a time when the government should be reinvesting in deprived areas, they are cutting budgets even harder.

"The Conservative Party are showing themselves to be the party of the few, not the many," Mr Gwynne adds.

He says Blackpool, the most deprived area in England, has seen a cut in spending power of over £45 million this decade and that "the new funding announcement is a drop in the ocean."

"The government's fund is £5.7bn short of the cuts they've already inflicted," Mr Gwynne adds.

The announcement is "inadequate and confused", he concludes.

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Housing, Local Government and Communities Secretary James Brokenshire says he knows there is "more to do" which is why the government is speaking to authorities across the UK. The Stronger Towns Fund will ensure opportunity is spread more widely, he adds.

More than half of the money, which will be spread over seven years, will go to the north of England and the Midlands, Mr Brokenshire adds.

The plans of individual towns should be joined up so the overall strategy is greater than the sum of its parts, he says.

"Today we extend our approach to devolution and allow towns to set their own futures."

"All parts of our country must play their part and nowhere must be left behind," he concludes.

Image source, Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire is now delivering the first of the day’s two ministerial statements on the Stronger Towns Fund.

Today the government announced the launch of a £1.6bn fund to boost less well-off towns in England after Brexit.

The pot is split into £1bn, divided in England using a needs-based formula, and £600m which communities can bid for.

More than half of the money, to be spread over seven years, will go to the north of England and the Midlands.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the fund "smacks of desperation from a government reduced to bribing MPs to vote for their damaging flagship Brexit legislation".

The government said there will be additional announcements "in due course" for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald says this is the second time that he has asked Transport Secretary Chris Grayling an urgent question and the second time he has not turned up.

"We are told Grayling is busy - presumably busy pouring more money down the drain," he says.

Mr McDonald asks the Speaker how he can ensure Mr Grayling's attendance, and get Mr Hancock to correct the record about the settlement being nothing to do with the Seaborne Freight case.

The Speaker John Bercow says it is "relatively unusual" for the secretary of state of the department questioned not to appear, but that the "enthusiasm and stoicism" of the Health Secretary Matt Hancock is welcomed.

"He has batted at the wicket of the governmental team," the Speaker says, noting that Mr Hancock's version of events was "somewhat quirky".

"I was under the impression that the settlement was to do with the contract with Seaborne Freight. It may be that my view was eccentric - but I don't think so," the Speaker concludes.

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Labour MP Barry Sheerman says "this almost seems to be an abuse in of the House - Grayling is a symptom of this government’s total chaos."

Fellow Labour MP and chair of the Transport Committee Lilian Greenwood says "the transport secretary has ducked today’s questions but my committee will still be seeking his answers."

"What happened on Friday was nothing to do with the supply of medicines: It is not for a contract, it was an out-of-court settlement," SNP MP Joanna Cherry says.

Labour MP Diana Johnson adds that she believes it is a first in the history of parliament for a secretary of state to have two urgent questions from different departments asked against them.

Labour MP Jo Stevens questions where Chris Grayling is. Mr Hancock says he is "working hard on improving the transport system".

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Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald says Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has shown "a disregard for taxpayers".

He has bypassed procurement rules and Eurotunnel had the government over a barrel, he adds.

Mr McDonald questions what the total cost has been to taxpayers, and says the government has reached 'the golden age of ministerial incompetence."

He adds that Mr Grayling has left a "trail of destruction" and has been ridiculed in the New York Times today.

"The PM is the only person in the country who retains confidence in this transport secretary," he notes, "the public deserves to know how many more calamities there could be."

"This country cannot afford this transport secretary, he should be sacked without delay," he concludes.

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the settlement reached with Eurotunnel will help to deliver the supply of medical devices and medicines in the case of a no-deal Brexit, which is why he is answering this urgent question and not Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

Anyone in the House who cares about the unhindered supply of medicines should vote for the deal, Mr Hancock says, but that it is "vital" that contingency plans are in place for any given scenario.

Because of the legal risks of the court case, it became clear without the settlement the UK could no longer guarantee the supply of medicines, he says "we could not accept that risk."

"The government has a duty to keep people safe," he says, noting that with this settlement "we can be confident in the supply of medicines".

Under the settlement, Eurotunnel have to spend the money to improve resilience, security and traffic flow at the border, he adds.

"The best way to reduce all of these risks is to support the deal in the days to come," Mr Hancock concludes.