A run and into the Commons for a meeting that was cancelled at the last moment, the person having to pull out. Plenty to get on with until 1130 when I dropped down to the Chamber for PMQs. The Prime Minister, having accused the Greek prime minister of trying to "grandstand" over the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, was inevitably going to receive some ribbing from Starmer and so it turned out. It was not Mr Sunak's best outing at the Despatch Box, but it's very easy to criticise from the comfort of the Backbenches. It must be a nerve-racking experience for any PM. A lunch with colleagues from both Houses was severely disrupted by an unexpected vote at c1330, after which I had to go to CR 6 for another session of the European Scrutiny Committee. This one took further evidence on the EU's soon-to-be-introduced 'Entry/Exit System' (EES) for the Schengen Zone. Stakeholders in the UK, including the Port of Dover, Getlink and Eurostar, expressed concerns that EES would add significantly to the amount of time it currently takes to enter the EU, especially given that EES would require passengers to initially register for the system at the border. The situation at the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel (Getlink and Eurostar) is further complicated by the existence
of juxtaposed border controls: whereby EU checks take place before ferry/train boarding. We heard from representatives for the Port of Dover, Getlink and Eurostar in July this year. At today's very interesting session, we took evidence from two witnesses: Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs, ABTA. ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry; and Phil Smith, UK Coach Manager, CPT. CPT (Confederation of Passenger Transport) represents UK-based enterprises that operate buses and coaches. It has around 900 members. The session can be seen on Parliament TV. Abroad, international mediators were pushing to extend the truce in Gaza, encouraging Hamas to continue freeing hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as the agreed ceasefire enters its final hours. In the UK, Nottingham City Council declared itself effectively bankrupt after issuing a section 114 notice. And an inquest heard how four teenagers drowned after their car overturned on a camping trip in north Wales.