UK Parliament to return on 21 April The UK's Parliament wil

UK Parliament to return on 21 April

The UK's Parliament will re-open for business as planned on 21 April, the leader of the House of Commons has confirmed.

MPs at Westminster have been on an extended Easter recess since 26 March, amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Officials are working to set-up a "virtual Parliament" to allow MPs to hold debates and question ministers remotely, with further details to emerge next week.

In a statement, House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said: "Parliament will return on 21 April to fulfil its essential constitutional functions of conducting scrutiny, authorising spending and making laws.

“In these unprecedented times, technological solutions have already been implemented for select committees, and options are being prepared for the Speaker, the government and other parties to consider next week.

“It is important that we have a comprehensive solution that does not inadvertently exclude any members."

Peers demand £323 daily allowance to log in to virtual parliamentary proceedings from home

Peers are demanding to receive their £323 daily allowance while attending virtual parliamentary proceedings on Zoom, The Telegraph has learned.

Although the video conferencing set-up means they will not have to physically attend the House of Lords, insiders say some are already kicking up a fuss about whether they will receive the stipend, which amounts to an annual tax-free income of more than £48,000 for a member attending the 150 days the upper chamber typically sits each year.

The average age of the House of Lords is 70 so many peers are having to self-isolate in accordance with the official Government guidance on coronavirus.

MPs to sit in virtual Parliament

Tomorrow MPs are due to approve a plan to allow some parliamentary business to take place virtually.

The House of Commons Commission said ministers would be quizzed via Zoom for the first time in the House's 700-year history.

This "unprecedented step" will "keep democracy going" during the coronavirus crisis, it said.

MPs advised to stay at home as Parliament resumes

UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has urged MPs to “stay at home” as Parliament returns following the Easter recess.

New working arrangements have been put in place including reduced hours and virtual committee meetings.

Sir Lindsay told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “My advice is please stay at home, let’s do it remotely.

“Those that insist on coming – we can have up to 50, I’m not expecting 50 members in at once, far from it, I’m hoping that number is much reduced.”

MPs agree to allow voting from home during pandemic

The House of Commons has agreed that MPs will be able to vote from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

A new digital voting system has been developed but there are concerns that it is not yet robust enough.

Some MPs expressed concern about the ability to verify who is voting and the alerts letting MPs know when it's time to vote.

The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, insisted the arrangements would be temporary.

He also agreed not to hold any votes until after the Procedure Committee has reported on the system.