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Last week at the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), the Defence Secretary called on European partners to do more and increase their defence spending to the NATO 2% commitment, meaning they are better positioned to tackle the new and emerging threats to European security.

We were also asked to provide an indicative rate for the National Living Wage from April 2018. This is inevitably uncertain because pay forecasts are likely to change, but using those available in October we project that the on-course rate will lie in a range of £7.80-£7.91. Using its forecasts published today, the OBR estimates a figure of £7.90. For 2020, the LPC’s projected rate for 60 per cent of median earnings is £8.61, within a range of £8.50 to £8.73. Using its forecasts published today, the OBR estimates a slightly higher figure, of £8.80.

£102 million will go to more than 100 projects supporting armed forces personnel, their families and veterans; emergency service personnel; children’s hospitals, air ambulances and emergency responders; and museums and memorials, over the next 4 years.

This government recognises that for too long, economic growth in our country has been too concentrated in London and the south east.

The weather will continue to improve this week, but people should avoid walking near swollen rivers and should not risk driving or walking through flood water. Strong winds and large waves will also ease around the coast today, but people should take care when walking by the sea. Information about flood warnings and alerts is updated every 15 minutes on GOV.UK and people can check their postcodes and sign up to receive free flood warnings.