House of Commons
Oral questions
Wales Prime minister’s question timeKicking the can down the road?
Written by Charlie Clegg, senior associate
Edited by Scott Reid, associate partner, and Kevin Pringle, partner
17 November 2021
Good morning,
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At least one person has been killed by a massive storm in the Pacific North West of North America. In Canada, 250 people have been airlifted, while road and rail links to Vancouver, including Canada’s largest port, has been cut off from the rest of the country.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has claimed Emad Al Swealmeen, the man killed on Sunday in Liverpool by a bomb suspected to be his own, had exploited Britain’s “dysfunctional” asylum system. Meanwhile, the Refugee Council has claimed two-thirds of migrants crossing the channel illicitly would be eligible for asylum.
The prime minister will face questions from MPs into his plans to reform rules on MPs’ second jobs, including an end to paid directorships for MPs. Boris Johnson will face prime minister’s questions at noon, followed by the Liaison Committee at 15.30. He is expected to meet Conservative MPs too, some of whom are unhappy about the extent of the changes. Labour has accused the government of attempting to dilute reforms.
Business and economy
UK employment has continued to rise sharply despite the end of the furlough scheme. Employers added 160,000 more workers to their payrolls in October, taking the total to 29.3m. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.3%, albeit still above a pre-pandemic rate of four per cent.
Lidl has announced plans to become the UK’s highest-paying supermarket. From March, the chain will increase hourly wages to £10.10 for staff outside London, with a rate of £11.40 for more experienced staff.
Netflix has unveiled a chart of viewing figures for the first time in its history. The step represents a major change in policy for the streaming giant, which has been accused of “cherry picking” statistics in past releases. The first weekly chart, released yesterday, shows that Red Notice was the most popular film and Narcos: Mexico the most popular television show by hours watched. (£)
Columns of note
Germany has no nuclear weapons of its own. What, then, would be the problem if it joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons? That move is being considered by the country’s incoming social democrat/green government. In the Financial Times, Constanze Stelzenmüller looks at how an anti-nuclear German government could have a major impact on US nuclear weapons based in Germany. It also risks Nato’s overall weapons policy at a time of rising east-west tensions. (£)
In Scotland, SQA workers and the Royal College of Nursing are now threatening strikes on the back of industrial action by other groups. Is the country facing a “winter of discontent”? That’s the question Chris Deerin asks in the New Statesman. As he sees it, the SNP, so long able to position itself in opposition to the UK government, now risks being seen as “just another government” by voters. (£)
What happened yesterday?
US retail statistics have shown that shoppers are accepting higher inflation, even if a question mark remains over how long the country’s Federal Reserve can keep interest rates low. In response, the S&P 500 gained 0.3% while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.3% in a reflection of optimism about US-Chinese relations. In Europe, the Stoxx 600 index rose 0.2% while London’s FTSE 100 dipped 0.3%.
The pound was trading at 1.34 dollars and at 1.19 euros.
What’s happening today?
Finals
Sage Group
Interims
Cmc Mkts
Experian
Speedy Hire
SSE
Tatton Asset M.
Workspace
AGMs
Amte Power
Berkeley Eng
Bmo Real Est
Celtic
Hend.euro.
Ncondezi Enrg
Pacific Horizon
Picton Prop
Rainbow Rare Earths
Q3 results
Bank Of Georgia Group
Trading announcements
Safestore
UK Economic Announcements
(07:00) Producer Price Index
(07:00) Retail Price Index
(07:00) Consumer Price Index
Int Economic Announcements
(12:00) MBA Mortgage Applications (US)
(13:30) Building Permits (US)
(13:30) Housing Starts (US)
(15:30) Crude Oil Inventories (US)
Parliamentary highlights
House of Commons
Oral questions
Wales
Prime minister’s question time
House of Lords
Legislation
Professional Qualifications Bill [HL] – third reading
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – committee stage (day 9)
Oral questions
Various
Scottish parliament
Portfolio questions
Net Zero, Energy and Transport
Covid-19 Recovery and Parliamentary Business
Ministerial statement
Towards a circular economy
Scottish Conservative and Unionist party debate
Delivering Promised Road Infrastructure Across Scotland
Removing the Cap on Funded Places for Frontline Medical Students
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