Summary

  • We joined MPs after PMQs and statements, for the opposition day debates on the gender pay gap and tax credits.

  • The adjournment debate today was on the effect of corruption on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Peers began their day at 3pm and after oral questions, they examined the Childcare Bill at committee stage.

  • The short debate, proposed by Lord Cormack and Lord Gardiner of Kimble, was on reducing litter.

  1. Goodnightpublished at 22:10

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Peers didn't quite make it to the end of the list of amendments today but have adjourned nonetheless. 

    They'll be back tomorrow at 11am for questions, but join us at the earlier time of 9.30am for live coverage of the House of Commons.

    Goodnight.

    The mace is removed from the Lords chamber
  2. 'Pull plug' on Iraq reportpublished at 21:57

    Lord Morris

    In the House of Lords earlier peers pressed the government on the delay in the publishing of the Chilcot report.

    Former attorney general Lord Morris told peers the panel led by Sir John Chilcot seemed "incapable" of delivering its report into the 2003 conflict and should be discharged.

    Other peers, including Baroness Williams and Lord Trimble, also called for changes to the constitution of future inquiries. to give politicians more say over their timetable.

    Read the full story here.

  3. Inclusion of disabled childrenpublished at 21:46

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Peers are considering an amendment tabled by Labour on the inclusion of disabled children in the provisions of the bill.

    Amendment 12 requires the secretary of state to review how the bill supports the inclusion of disabled children and those with special educational needs.

    Education Minister Lord Nash says he will be happy to have an ongoing dialogue with the Opposition on the issue outside of the chamber. 

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch accepts the option to continue dialogue on the issue but tells Lord Nash that parents of disabled children need to be sought out for consultation in a targeted way to ensure their specific views are heard.

  4. Peers are right behind youpublished at 21:35

    Labour peer tweets:

    House of Lords
    Parliament

  5. Extend free childcare to younger childrenpublished at 21:19

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Peers have resumed consideration of the Childcare Bill and Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Baroness Pinnock is moving amendment 10 which extends free childcare coverage to children aged 1 and 2 years.

    She says she is aware that it would cost money, but that it is "a question of priorities". 

    Education Minister Lord Nash tells peers the amendment would take considerable public investment and that these are "difficult economic times".

    Baroness Pinnock says the government ought to be able to extend free childcare to disadvantaged households because it helps the rest of society. She adds that she hopes it may be considered further at report stage but in the meantime will withdraw her amendment.

    Baroness Pinnock
  6. What to wear in the chamberpublished at 21:17

    As everyone got hot and bothered in today's heatwave, journalists were given permission by the Speaker to sit in the press gallery without jackets and ties, while MPs were seen jacket-less in the chamber.

    Magazine Monitor gives you the lowdown on what is allowed according to the parliamentary dress code.

    Carline Lucas in a "No more page three" t-shirt
  7. There in spiritpublished at 20:55

    Conservative peer tweets:

  8. Child poverty definition to be changedpublished at 20:54

    Earlier today in the commons the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith announced a new way of measuring child poverty.

    Mr Duncan Smith said the new system would focus on the "root causes" of poverty and make a "meaningful change to children's life chances".

    It will include factors such as educational achievement and living in workless households as well as income.

    It follows a report claiming child poverty levels were "unacceptably high" across the UK.

    Read more of the details here.

    Child's swingImage source, Getty Images
  9. Litter backgroundpublished at 20:46

    Fast food litter and fly-tipping in England increased by 20% in a year, according to a report, external by the Communities and Local Government Committee published in March.

    The report suggested litter levels had not reduced for 12 years and that dealing with the problem costs around £850m a year. The committee proposed measures including anti-litter warnings on fast food wrappers.

    The report said chewing gum and smoking materials are the biggest litter problems while fly-tipping levels have risen by around 20%.

    RubbishImage source, Science Photo Library
  10. 'Selfish and antisocial'published at 20:35

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Summing up for the government Lord Gardiner says littering is "selfish and antisocial", that it harms human health and wildlife, and can damage farming and tourism.

    He tells peers that on 21st March Defra sponsored the first official England wide community clear up day. He refers to something several peers have discussed this evening - "the sense of community and doing something together which is so valuable". 

    Lord Gardiner
  11. A better deterrentpublished at 20:29

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord whitty

    Speaking for the Opposition Lord Whitty says there is a maximum fine for littering of £2500 which, he says, would deter him. However he says in the courts it is only £140 and a fixed penalty is £75. 

    He tells peers that a hefty fixed penalty or one that is enforced by the courts would be a better deterrent.

  12. Feelings run highpublished at 20:14

    BBC Parliament reporter tweets:

  13. Westminster after hours...published at 20:10

    Labour MP tweets:

  14. Commons adjourns for the nightpublished at 19:57

    House of Commons

    The adjournment debate wraps up and the deputy speaker adjourns the House of Commons for the evening.

    Join us tomorrow for more live coverage of the House of Commons.

    Keep following our feed tonight as the House of Lords debate litter and the Childcare Bill at committee stage.

  15. Litter debatepublished at 19:56

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Litter at GlastonburyImage source, AFP/Getty
    Image caption,

    Litter in front of the Pyramid stage at the end of Glastonbury music festival 2015.

    Peers have taken a break from the Childcare Bill to hold a short debate on tackling litter.

    Conservative peer Lord Cormack is telling the House: "Those of you who know me will know that I'm not a natural for Glastonbury, at least not for the festival." 

    Lord Cormack says he has been told that people who go to the music festival "care about the planet" but, he says, when he saw the enormous piles of rubbish "we judge people by what they leave behind".

  16. DfID's 'crucial role'published at 19:52

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Speaking about the Department for International Development's (DfID) "crucial role" in tackling corruption, Stephen Phillips asks the frontbench "what steps is the minister taking in this area, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is essential for our own security." 

    He asks what structural reforms are being made to ensure that British aid is being used to help tackle endemic corruption in sub-Saharan Africa, rather than fund it.

    Stephen PhillipsImage source, bbc
  17. Heathrow expansionpublished at 19:39

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Earlier today Patrick McLoughlin made a statement in the Commons on the Davies Commission report and David Cameron answered questions on it at PMQs.

    Mr Cameron said the government will make a decision on airport expansion by the end of the year. 

    Read more on today's news that the Airports Commission, external recommended a third runway at Heathrow as its chosen solution.

    AeroplaceImage source, APP/Getty
  18. Earlier today...published at 19:26

    Labour MP tweet:

  19. Amendment 11published at 19:19

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    In the Lords, Labour's Baroness Jones is moving amendment 11 which defines what a "working parent" means:

    (a) parents who work a minimum of 8 hours a week each,

    (b) a single parent who works 8 hours a week,

    (c) a parent who is not in work but is receiving work-related training,

    (d) a parent who is the main carer for a family member,

    (e) a parent on a flexible working contract of an equivalent of 8 hours per week,

    (f) a parent whose contract has unexpectedly ended through no fault of their own,

    (g) a parent who engages regularly in voluntary work.”

    Baroness Jones says she is trying to be "helpful" since the government's consultation, which will produce more detailed criteria, has not yet happened so the Opposition are making some "suggestions" on this basis.

  20. Division resultpublished at 19:17

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Opposition motion calling for the use of pay transparency from the Equality Act 2010 to make "real progress" to close the gender pay gap has been defeated by 312 votes to 261, a majority of 51.

    Business in the chamber now moves on to Stephen Phillips' adjournment debate on the effect of corruption on economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

    House of Commons