MPs approved two significant changes to the Northern Ireland bill - intended to make it harder for a new prime minister to prorogue Parliament and force through a no-deal Brexit.

They endorsed last night's Lords amendment, to ensure Parliament sits for a fortnightly debate - on government updates on the restoration of power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

And they backed the Burt-Benn amendment by 315 to 274 votes, to ensure that debates and ministerial statements on this topic go ahead, even if Parliament has been suspended.

The Leader of the House of Commons set out the business for next week, saying:

Next week will also include any necessary consideration of Lords amendments, and a debate on Tuesday 22 July on on body image and mental health. Mr Stride said that, at the conclusion of business on Thursday 25 July, Parliament would rise for the summer recess and return on Tuesday 3 September.

If you want to know more about the day's events, tune into Today in Parliament on BBC Radio 4, at 11:30pm.

The measure aims to stop a future PM bypassing Parliament to push through a no-deal Brexit.

The vote would make it harder for Parliament to be suspended in order to force through a no-deal.

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Labour's Grahame Morris and the Lib Dem Tim Farron are leading a debate in which they are calling for £250m up-front investment in UK radiotherapy services, plus an additional £100m a year.

They argue the current commissioning system for radiotherapy is "suboptimal" and discourages NHS trusts from implementing advanced, modern, effective treatments, such as proton-beam therapy.

They say the UK spends approximately 5% of its overall cancer budget on radiotherapy, which "compares badly with most other advanced economies, where the percentage varies from 9% to 11%".

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Nick Watt says Margot James has also told him a lot of like-minded colleagues are prepared to serve Jeremy Hunt. But if Boris Johnson wins, "quite a number of people... will leave the government and will be doing everything they can... to make sure we leave with a deal".

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Parliament

The Commons considers a motion deploring the persecution of Christians overseas, and supporting the freedom of religion or belief in all countries throughout the world.

It calls on the government to use diplomatic and other tools more forcefully, to encourage countries that tolerate or encourage persecution, to end the practice.

Four cabinet ministers abstained on the vote to ensure that Parliament continues to sit - even if a new prime minister suspends it in an attempt to force through a no-deal Brexit.

Seventeen Tory MPs rebelled, including the Digital Minister, Margot James, who has resigned.

Strength of rebellion suggests trouble if the next PM tries to prorogue Parliament.

Downing Street confirmed that Margot James has resigned as the digital minister after voting against the government this afternoon.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The prime minister is obviously disappointed that a number of ministers failed to vote in this afternoon’s division.

"No doubt her successor will take this into account when forming their government.”

In addition to the 17 Conservative MPs who rebelled against the government, four Cabinet ministers abstained - Greg Clark, David Gauke, Philip Hammond and Rory Stewart.

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Parliament

During a point of order, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Tony Lloyd raises concerns the Northern Ireland Bill will be withdrawn by the government.

He asks Speaker John Bercow to "confirm that would be unacceptable".

Northern Ireland Minister John Penrose tells MPs there is no intention to pull the bill.

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Parliament

MPs have approved the remaining Lords amendments - 325 votes to 65 votes.

The bill will now return to the House of Lords for its approval.