House of Commons
Parliament

The adjournment debate comes to an end and that finishes off the day's business in the House of Commons. 

MPs will return for their last day of term tomorrow at 11.30am with questions to health ministers.

But until then, good night. 

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Parliament

Ms Cummins finishes by saying that Rugby League is a sport that has never lost contact with its roots and deserves better than what has happened to the Bradford Bulls.

Minister Tracey Crouch says that despite being a soft southerner "I am a huge fan of Rugby League". 

She says that the future of the Bulls and the sport more generally needs to be based on a sustainable business model, and that the league needs to support clubs in doing this.

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Parliament

Labour MP Judith Cummins is now leading the day's adjournment debate on the future of the Bradford Bulls rugby league team. 

In November 2016, championship rugby league club Bradford Bulls were put in administration for a third time. 

The Bulls, four-time Super League Grand Final winners, were relegated from the top flight of rugby league in 2014. 

The joint administrators of Bradford Bulls extended the deadline to buy the club to Monday 19 December. 

Bradford Bulls' membership of the Rugby Football League was terminated after entering administration for a third time. 

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Parliament

Exiting the EU minister Robin Walker now replies to the debate for the government.

Mr Walker says the UK's global status as a science and research superpower is "fundamental" to its wider economic competitiveness and says that he wants the UK to be the "go to place" for innovators across the world. 

The minister says that the government will ensure that the UK's "world beating" science and research base maintains global research excellence, is innovative in business, and supports strong local economies across the UK. 

He says that the Treasury will guarantee some academic funding awards given before the UK leaves the EU if there is strong value for money evidence and the projects are in line with UK strategic priorities.

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Shadow Exiting the EU minister Paul Blomfield responds to the debate for Labour.

He says that the government will use the cumulative hours of these general debates on leaving the EU to claim that this represents "some sort of involvement" for parliament in the process. 

But this misses the point he says, arguing that MPs have "not been illuminated much" on the government's thinking and its plans to leave the EU.

"Which perhaps naively I thought would be something to do with these general debates" he says.

Speaking about international students, researchers and academics from EU countries, Mr Blomfield tells the minister that these are "highly mobile people" who do not have to stay here if they have other offers. 

"These people are not a drain they are an asset" he says.

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Parliament

UUP MP Danny Kinahan says that Northern Ireland universities need to know that science and research funding from central government is ring fenced so that it isn't lost in the Barnett formula.

He says that as Northern Ireland is an "island off an island" it is "absolutely key" that the country keeps its trade and keeps its movement of people.

Mr Kinahan warns that Northern Ireland institutions are already losing out as people seek collaborations elsewhere. 

He says that the government must make sure that institutions can keep staff from the EU.

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Parliament

The researchers in the House of Commons Library have put together a debate pack to accompany today's debate.

The full research briefing can be found here, external.

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Parliament

Labour's Judith Cummins says that many people who work in science and research are worried about the "fine print of Brexit" and that this area is one of the many "concerning and complex" challenges that the vote to leave the EU has thrown up.

She says that universities are engines for "so much" in the economy and society as they create jobs, drive innovation, and support growth.

Ms Cummins says collaborative working with EU institutions "makes an enormous contribution" to Britain. 

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Parliament

The Conservative MP for Loughborough Nicky Morgan speaks about the importance of EU funding and collaboration in the science and research sector in the UK, and praises the government for delivering on promises to protect the science budget. 

Nicky Morgan says that science and research funding was not at the forefront of the referendum campaign but that the vote will have an impact on UK innovation and on Britain's place in the world. 

She says the government must negotiate a new relationship with the EU that enables UK institutions to have access to collaboration and funding. 

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Tory MP David Rutley says Brexit is not something that the UK should fear - saying "the fundamentals of our economy are good". 

He tells the MPs that the UK should navigate forwards from Brexit "with confidence" and use it as a "spur and a call to action" in areas where the UK has not performed well in the past. 

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Parliament

Labour MP John Mann tells the government to "get on with it" regarding Brexit negotiations - saying that "it is uncertainty that causes problems" and that the Article 50 vote should have taken place in July.

He also urges the minister to make the proposed great repeal bill simple and to simply transfer every piece of EU law into UK law.

The MP for Bassetlaw also says that the consensus on Brexit is "far greater" in the country than people in parliament are prepared to admit. 

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Sarah Olney is making her maiden speech as the new Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park after beating the incumbent Zac Goldsmith in a by-election.

The election was triggered by his decision to leave the Conservative Party after the government's decision to back Heathrow airport expansion. 

Ms Olney thanks Mr Goldsmith for his "excellent" constituency work - in particular in fighting to stop the third runway at Heathrow; saying that this is a cause "I now take up willingly". 

She says that the country has been "split asunder" by the decision to leave the EU, but tells MPs that she believes parliament can be a positive force in bringing together the two sides in the debate.

The new MP says there must be "no question" of people being "silenced and sneered at" for their beliefs.

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Parliament

It's an early bath for peers as the House of Lords adjourns a little after 7:00pm.

Peers return at 2:30pm tomorrow for oral questions followed by debates on social mobility and press regulation.

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The SNP's Carol Monaghan says that leaving the EU presents major challenges to science and research in the UK and tells the minister that the sector must have a voice in the negotiations. 

She says that Brexit goes against all normal rules of the science community and "threatens the very creativity" that is essential to the work in the sector.

Ms Monaghan warns that some of the best scientists and researchers in the UK are being used as bargaining chips, and asks "which one of us would hang about where we are not wanted".

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Stephen Metcalfe concludes his remarks with a feast of festive puns.

He says that it is the season of goodwill and that Christmas is coming.

"The chancellor has given us some gold, we now need some frankness, some sense and a sustainable, sensible, and suitable im-Myrh-gration policy" he says, causing groans across the chamber.

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The new chair of the Science and Technology Committee Stephen Metcalfe says that Brexit was not about science; saying it was one of the casualties that got caught up in a "much bigger argument".

He says the that exiting the EU gives the government a chance to set out a "truly ambitious" vision for science that sends a message that Britain's position as a science superpower is going to "grow and grow". 

"Being open for business means nothing if you have no customers" he says.

Mr Metcalfe also calls for the government to protect the position of EU scientists and researchers in relation to immigration targets.

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Parliament

Lord Keen tells peers that there are a number of factors involved in prison disturbances including increased use of psychoactive substances, the availability of mobile phones and retention of staff.

He says the government is trying to address these issues through its white paper.

On Lord Beith's question about G4S staff numbers Lord Keen does not have the specific figures but says he will write with the information.

He does however insist that the government "robustly monitors" all contractors and notes that there is "no obvious" difference in performance between public and private prisons. 

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Lib Dem Lord Beith says he has two questions for the government. 

Firstly he asks if G4S had fallen short of its contracted staff numbers at Birmingham. 

Secondly he asks the government to accept that there are offenders in prisons who could be better dealt with by community service sentences.

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Shadow Business, Energy and Industry Minister Chi Onwurah is asking why science funding is not at the heart of the government's Brexit plans. 

Ms Onwurah says if the government pursues ending the existing freedom of movement arrangements with the EU it will lead to loss of funding. She says when Switzerland chose to end the arrangement, following a referendum, it led to them being blocked from Horizon 2020, external which provides research funding from the EU commission.

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Image source, PA

Government spokesperson Lord Keen of Elie now repeats a statement made earlier today in the Commons on the riots at HMP Birmingham. 

Labour Justice spoksperson Lord Beecham responds to the statement - "Another week, another crisis for our understaffed, underfunded prison service."

He asks Lord Keen to confirm that the justice secretary was warned of problems at Birmingham.

He urges the government to reduce prison numbers, recruit more staff, invest in probation services and cease to rely "so heavily" on the "vacuous, ineptitude" of G4S.