Summary

  • Commons started at 9:30am with International Trade and International Development questions

  • Business Statement

  • General debate on response to Grenfell Tower fire

  • Debate on a Motion on Mortgage Prisoners and Vulture Funds

  • Commons closed with a debate on Eden Project benefits to Morecombe and the North West

  1. EU citizens' form 'not a new requirement'published at 16:08 British Summer Time 4 June 2019

    Kevin FosterImage source, HoC

    Cabinet Office Minister Kevin Foster says the government took "all legal steps" required to prepare for the elections last month.

    He says the requirement for EU citizens to fill in a UC1 form is “not a new requirement” and something required by EU law.

    He says the Electoral Commission encourages electoral registration offices to raise awareness of the forms, including on social media.

    The form was also made available on the websites of Electoral Commission, local authority and the 'Your Vote Matters' websites.

  2. MPs debate EU citizens denied votepublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 4 June 2019

    Polling station signImage source, AFP

    Questions to ministers at the Justice Department have now finished.

    Next, Labour’s Cat Smith will ask an urgent question on EU citizens living in the UK who were unable to vote in last month’s European elections.

    EU citizens can vote in the country they live in by registering to vote and completing a UC1 form – but many complained of receiving it late and of it not being processed in time.

    The Electoral Commission said the "very short notice" from the government about the UK's participation in the elections had an impact on the process.

  3. Gauke: I tried out new GPS tagpublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 4 June 2019

    David GaukeImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Alex Chalk asks about the new generation of GPS tags for tracking criminals serving community sentences, which he says could be a "powerful tool" for the courts.

    In his reply, Justice Secretary David Gauke reveals that he wore one himself "for a couple of days" as part of a demonstration - and it was able to track "all my movements".

    "Thankfully, I had not been up to no good," he adds.

    He says he believes the new tags have "considerable potential" to reassure people about prisoners who are serving community sentences.

  4. Labour asks for review into violence at private prisonspublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 4 June 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Richard BurgonImage source, HoC

    Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon says there is evidence that levels of violence in privately-run prisons is higher than those run by the public sector.

    He asks for an "independent review" into safety at private prisons, to "ensure corners aren't being cut to maximise profits".

    In reply, Justice Secretary David Gauke says it is hard to compare violence levels on a "like for like basis".

    He says that he rejects Mr Burgon's analysis, adding there are "many successful private prisons" where levels of violence are lower than average.

  5. New prisons minister does not repeat resignation pledgepublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 4 June 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Robert BucklandImage source, HoC

    Prisons Minister Robert Buckland is at the despatch box to answer questions from MPs for the first time in his new role since being appointed last month.

    Conservative MP Philip Hollobone asks him whether - like his predecessor Rory Stewart - he will make a promise to resign if violence in prisons does not significantly reduce.

    Mr Stewart made the pledge to step down after 12 months if violence at target prisons did not go down in August last year - he has since become International Development Secretary.

    "I'm going to do it my way," says Robert Buckland in reply.

  6. Tuesday in the Commonspublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 4 June 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hello and welcome to our coverage of Westminster, as MPs return from their Whitsun recess.

    President Trump’s state visit is dominating the political agenda today, but it’s also a very busy day for MPs on their first day back.

    After questions to justice ministers, there will be an urgent question on EU citizens living in the UK who say they were unable to vote in last month’s European elections.

    This will be followed by further urgent questions on Channel migrant crossings and the government scheme to name firms not paying the minimum wage to staff.

    Later there will be two ministerial statements: the first on last week’s Augur review into higher education, the second on talks to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

    Their main legislating will come later, when they debate Wild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill – which would prohibit the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.