Brexit - as it happened: Theresa May must understand 'Britain is not the EU's equal', Leo Varadkar says

Almost 200 women have had to declare they are rape victims to qualify for additional child tax credits since a controversial welfare reform was introduced, MPs have heard.

The SNP's Neil Gray said the benefit changes had a "devastating" impact on women, as he urged ministers to review the "abhorrent and disgusting" policy.

Mr Gray, speaking during Women and Equalities questions, said a report into the benefit reforms - which limit families to claiming tax credits for their first two children - showed that 190 women have been forced to declare they are rape survivors.

One of the exemptions to the policy is the so-called "rape clause", which requires women to prove a child was conceived through rape or during an abusive relationship to qualify for the benefit.

He told MPs: "Just this morning the government has published its report into the first year of the two-child policy restriction and rape clause to child tax credits, and, as we predicted, the impact on women has been devastating.

"Three thousand families denied and 190 women have had to declare the fact that they are survivors of rape in order to obtain support.

"How can this Government continue to defend this abhorrent and disgusting policy, and will they finally review it?"

Work and Pensions Minister Kit Malthouse said no-one needs to make a "specific declaration".

He replied: "As I have said in the past, we keep all our policies under constant review, but I would just say to him that one of the fundamental tenets of welfare reform is that the world of welfare should reflect the world of work and that the people on welfare should have to take the same decisions as those that are in work, and that includes making decisions about the number of children that they may or may not have."

He went on: "At the moment no-one needs to make a specific declaration - we can signpost and assist with people getting the support they need in those circumstances and we are obviously very keen to hear from third-party organisations who have been working with those women who are subject to that appalling situation to make sure they get the support that they need."

Jack Straw has responded to a parliamentary committee report that found it was "beyond doubt" UK intelligence agencies knew the US had mistreated terror suspects.

The former foreign secretary said: 

"Although I was formally responsible for both SIS and GCHQ during my period as Foreign Secretary (June 2001 to May 2006) I have today learnt much about the activities and the approach of these agencies of which I was not aware before."

He insisted he had  "consistently sought to ensure that the United Kingdom did act in accordance with its long-stated policies, and international norms" and added:

"I made repeated representations about the British detainees in Guantanamo Bay, which in the end were successful in securing their release.

"Many lessons, including about the operation of the agencies and their relationship with ministers and their officials have since been learnt; there are more which should follow this report."

Ireland’s prime minister has warned Theresa May that “time is running out” to reach a Brexit agreement and stop the UK crashing out of the EU.

Speaking in the Dáil ahead of a European Council summit in Brussels Leo Varakdar said the lack of progress had been “very disappointing” and that Ms May was risking losing her transition period.

Latest here: 

Leaders are beginning to arrive for the European Council summit in Brussels. Theresa May should arrive shortly.

Key Brexit legislation appears "stuck in a logjam" as the government failed to confirm the dates for two vital bills to return to parliament, Labour said.

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom did not confirm when the Trade Bill and the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Bill - also referred to as the Customs Bill - will come before MPs as she updated them on future business.

Minister may suffer further defeats when the trade legislation returns to the House for further scrutiny, particularly with Tory MPs threatening to rebel over seeking a customs union with the EU post-Brexit.

Pressed for detail by shadow commons leader Valerie Vaz, Ms Leadsom said: "She asks about the legislative programme and she claims there is no progress being made.

"What I can say to her again, as I often do, is 36 very important Bills have been produced so far this session.

"That is absolutely in line with other parliamentary sessions. Nineteen Bills have already been sent for royal assent, hundreds of statutory instruments have been passed by each House and seven draft Bills have been published."

MPs from the influential Public Accounts and Treasury committees have written to MPs highlighting concerns about the true costs of Brexit.

It comes after the PAC published a critical report, saying the Brexit divorce bill could hit £50bn, as the government has underestimated the full costs.

Read their letter here:

Theresa May has arrived in Brussels and she spoke to reporters on her way into the summit.

The PM praised the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons result as an example of strong cooperation between the EU and the UK.

On Brexit, she said: "I look forward to talking with fellow leaders about the very good progress we've made on the withdrawal agreement and looking forward to securing our strong future partnership which I believe is in the interests of the EU and the UK.

"I think both sides are keen to continue that work at a faster pace than we have done up until now, and certainly we would welcome that."

Asked about her cabinet disagreements on Brexit, Ms May said: "We have been setting out throughout these negotiations, our position and of course at every stage, last December and in March, we have come to agreement with the EU on the issues that we had discussed and agreed we would be talking about."

She said there would be a white paper setting out more detail on the future partnership after the cabinet away day to Chequers next week.

The PM added: "That is a partnership which I believe is not just about the interests of the UK, it's about the wider interests of the European Union as well.

"That's why I'm confident we can sit down and discuss that at pace and ensure that we can achieve what we want, which is that continuing partnership with the European Union on economic and security matters."

A little more from Theresa May here, as she arrived at the European Council summit.

She said: "We've already seen and been able to encourage and get flexibility from the European Union on matters.

"I will be setting out our position for the future and what I want to be able to do - what I'm sure leaders will want to be able to do - is ensure that we can sit down together, that we can negotiate this for the future.

"Because this isn't just about the United Kingdom. It's about ensuring that we have a partnership that works for us and I believe a partnership that works for us will work for the EU as well."