The week ahead in Westminster

Pressure is mounting on the Government to pull a rabbit out of the hat to help businesses affected by the steep hike in business rates.

But the Treasury is also facing calls to cough up the cash to bridge the estimated £1.3bn funding gap in the social care sector.

This is all set against a backdrop of departments being asked to make an additional 3-6% in efficiency savings - reportedly posing a threat to previously ring-fenced areas.

Monday March 6

This week's business kicks off at 2.30pm with departmental questions to the Home Secretary. Unsurprisingly, given last week's Brexit defeat in the House of Lords, the rights of EU and UK citizens once Britain leave the European Union is top of the agenda. But there are also questions about the Government's decision to suspend its programme to accept unaccompanied child refugees, as well as the issue of police funding.

This will be followed by the second reading of the Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill, which among other things aims to update British transport laws to pave the way for the introduction of driverless cars.

Meanwhile over in Westminster Hall, MPs will debate a petition calling for the Government to make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work. This is in response to the furore over reports that a PwC worker was sent home without pay after refusing to wear a pair of heels to work.

And in select committees, the Work and Pensions committee will be taking evidence on personal independence payments in wake of the Government's controversial decision to overturn the decision of independent tribunals to extend the scheme.

Tuesday March 7

MPs gather in the Commons at 11.30am for departmental questions to the Justice Secretary Liz Truss. This could see MPs grill the minister over plans to increase compensation payouts for personal injury cases, which is set to cost the NHS £1 billion a year.

This is followed by a private members bill introduced under ten minute rule by the Tory MP for Romford Andrew Rosindell. His motion calls for the creation of a national public holiday to mark the Queen's Sapphire Jubilee.

Outside the chamber, Kevin Hollinrake will be leading a Westminster Hall debate about antibiotic resistance, while the Work and Pensions and Community and Local Government committees will be taking evidence on the threat posed to the future of supported housing by the Government's plans to cap housing benefits.

But all eyes are likely to be on the House of Lords where the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill to trigger Article 50 reaches report stage. Peers are expected to vote on an amendment calling for a second referendum on the final deal with the EU, and a separate motion calling for Parliament to have a "meaningful" vote on this deal. There are claims that the latter amendment could have enough support to bring about a second defeat for the Government.

Wednesday March 8

The day begins at 11.30am with departmental questions to the Secretary of State for Wales. This is followed by PMQs.

However, the main spectacle of the day is the Spring Budget - the first of two "major fiscal events" this year as Chancellor Philip Hammond looks to move to a system of Spring Statements and Autumn Budgets.

This is the first Budget since Britain voted to leave the EU, and Mr Hammond has already warned that there will be no "spending sprees" as he looks to create an economic buffer in anticipation of any Brexit-related turbulence. However, he has announced plans for a £500m overhaul of technical education and is reportedly prepared to find an extra £1.3bn for health and social care.

As MPs pick apart the details of the Chancellor's figures, over in Westminster Hall Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin will lead a debate on compensation for individuals suffering adverse side-effects from the Pandemrix vaccine, which was used to treat the 2009/10 swine flu outbreak.

And the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will be grilling farming minster George Eustice over the implications of Brexit for the UK's agricultural and fishing industries.

Thursday March 9

Business kick-off at 9.30am with departmental questions to the Secretary of State for Leaving the EU, David Davis. With Tuesday's House of Lords vote on the Brexit Bill threatening to bring a second defeat for the Government, MPs will no doubt be pressing ministers about their plans for successful amendments once the ping-pong process beings next week.

This is followed by questions to Leader of the House David Lidington, before focus returns to the details of Wednesday's Budget.

Meanwhile, outside the Commons, a group of cross-party MPs will lead a Westminster Hall debate on human rights and the political situation in Turkey. Recent weeks have seen international leaders express growing concern about the country's crack-down on basic rights in response to last year's attempted coup.

And over in the Lords, peers will lead a special debate to mark International Women's Day.

Friday March 10

The Commons is not sitting today. However, in the House of Lords the Lib Dem peer Lord Tyler will finally get a second reading for his Bill to change the laws around political party funding. The former MP has been highly critical of Government plans to change rules around trade union contributions - which he described as an attempt to "manipulate" the system - and has been calling for more comprehensive reforms.