House of Commons
Parliament

That's it for our live text coverage of Parliament today.

The day started with trade questions before Sports Minister Tracey Crouch came to the House to update MPs on the government's decision to lower stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals.

Then Housing Secretary James Brokenshire made a statement on Dame Judith Hackitt's review of building safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, announcing that he would launch a consultation on banning flammable cladding even though Dame Judith did not make that recommendation.

Labour urged him to go even further, with frontbencher John Healey saying: "Don't consult on it - do it."

There were backbench business debates this afternoon on plastics and on tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

The Commons will return on Monday.

The government announces a consultation on a ban, despite a review not recommending such a move.

Select Committee
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Image source, HoC

Dame Judith says the country needs to "get on the front foot" in terms of building regulations and fire safety, and needs a system in place capable of flagging up concerns before they occur rather than responding to another tragedy like Grenfell.

We'll be leaving our coverage there, with Dame Judith likely to be called again by the Housing, Communities and Local Government after they have fully considered her final report.

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Asked why the report does not call for a ban of dangerous materials as well as improved systems for enforcing regulations, Dame Judith says it is because she hoped this would mean any issues that get past any banning would still be picked up.

"Making progress on this does not have to wait for regulation," she insists.

House of Commons
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Equalities Minister Victoria Atkins says "it's worth reflecting on how far we have come" since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

The UK is a "world leader" on LGBT rights but we should not be complacent, she argues.

She tells the House the response to the government's national LGBT survey was "unprecedented" and it will be published in the next few weeks.

On the Gender Recognition Act, she says many trans people are "clear the process is not working for them" and "we are expecting to launch the consultation before the summer recess".

Image source, HoC

Dame Judith says the whole system for testing products such as cladding "has flaws" and that the tests "do not reflect real life duties".

It is "for the people who design the test to address", she says.

"Unless we all recognise that there are many flaws in many parts of this system and we need to fix them all, then we aren't going to change things.

"I'm sorry but simply fixing cladding is not the only solution that we need to this problem."

House of Commons
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Shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler urges the government to launch its promised consultation on amending the Gender Recognition Act and stop "kicking the can down the road".

She claims the delay is creating a "hostile environment" for trans people in the UK.

She also calls on the government to publish the results of its national LGBT survey so "we can work together to move things forward".

House of Commons
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The SNP's Hannah Bardell says comments across the chamber this afternoon demonstrate why we still need dedicated awareness-raising days.

She tells MPs that many LGBT young people suffer mental health problems "as a result of being discriminated against" and trans teenagers are at a higher risk of self-harming.

She recalls that the introduction of same-sex marriage "helped me move forward" and goes on to say that "coming out has helped me tackle my anxiety".

Select Committee
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Dame Judith defends herself from a suggestion by Conservative Kevin Hollinrake that she has "jumped to a conclusion" about building regulations, rather than examining the specifics.

She says that her conclusion that the regulations themselves are not the issue, but that they do not reach intended outcomes because of enforcement, is based on evidence that she has taken as part of the review.

The review was not intended to examine just the regulations, but the whole regulatory system, she says.

Select Committee
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Defending her decision not to call for a ban of flammable cladding in her report, Dame Judith says her role in carrying out the review was to look at the system as a whole.

"I'm pleased to see that the secretary of state has announced he's going to consult on whether combustible materials should be banned," she says.

"I think that is complementary to this review, I think it's the right thing to do, but on its own it will be insufficient... simply banning something is no guarantee of compliance.

"It is not the regulations themselves that are the principle problem, but the way in which those regulations are applied and the lack of proper enforcement."

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Conservative Bob Stewart stands up to say he voted against same-sex marriage and now realises he was wrong to do so, having seen the "joy" it brings to people.

He adds that he now believes that the Church of England should make changes so it can marry gay couples.

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Conservative MP Justine Greening speaks briefly about her own experience of coming out.

"I needed to be part of the solution," she says.

"I realised I could be a step on the road to give other people confidence to be clear about who they are...I felt it was important."

She concludes: "You can't be at your best if you can't be yourself."

Select Committee
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In an opening statement to the committee, Dame Judith says her final report following review is "about making what should already be happening happen".

She acknowledges the report "will not be sufficient" in dealing with some concerns, such as cladding, arguing that these issues can and should be addressed in parallel with the framework her report suggests.

The voice of residents, including those formerly of Grenfell Tower, has been vital in her review, she adds, and says any new system needs to include residents' views and keep them informed.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee session with Dame Judith Hackitt has began, with chair Clive Betts expressing "disappointment" that members were not given access to an embargoed copy of the report beforehand, meaning they have been unable to read it before the session.

The committee is hearing from Dame Judith after the release of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety final report.

The report has surprised some by not recommending a ban on flammable cladding, although the government has said today it will open a consultation on whether a ban should be introduced.

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Image source, HoC

Labour's Peter Kyle opens a debate marking the international day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, stressing than when it comes to this type of discrimination "you don't stand by quietly".

He observes that while advances towards equality have been "profound", "we have not reached the destination".

He says he's never experienced homophobia in Parliament and he hopes the time will come when the same is true for trans people in the workplace.

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You can watch the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee session with Dame Judith Hackitt here, external.

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee session is starting now. On the committee are:

• Clive Betts (Chair) - Labour
• Mike Amesbury - Labour
• Bob Blackman - Conservative
• Helen Hayes - Labour
• Kevin Hollinrake - Conservative
• Andrew Lewer - Conservative
• Jo Platt - Labour (Co-op)
• Mark Prisk - Conservative
• Mary Robinson - Conservative
• Liz Twist - Labour
• Matt Western - Labour

You can find out more about the committee and its work here, external.

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Image source, HoC

Environment Minister George Eustice draws attention to the government's ambition to be the "first generation to leave a natural environment in a better state than we found it".

He says there's been a "huge rise in public consciousness" about this matter, and pays tribute to the BBC documentary Blue Planet.

He tells MPs the government wants to improve the rate of recycling, reduce the number of plastics in use, and make recycling easier to understand.

He also highlights plans to ban plastic straws and cotton buds, and to consider a levy on disposable cups.