Sarah Mann looks at what to expect over the next fortnight.

MPs are breaking new ground in the last week before recess, with today seeing the first ever live broadcast hearing of a House of Commons Select Committee outside of the United Kingdom. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, in Washington DC as part of their Fake News Inquiry, will be grilling representatives of YouTube, Twitter and Facebook on their role in this very 21st Century threat to democracy. The latter two are certain to be feeling edgy, having been threatened with sanctions by the Committee’s Chair, Damian Collins MP at the end of last year for failing to relinquish information he requested about the use of their platforms to facilitate alleged Russian interference in the EU Referendum.

Which leads us nicely to the issue that never seems to be off the agenda. Brexit talks resumed in earnest this week - both with the EU and within Government itself - as the Brexit “war Cabinet” convenes to settle its position on the UK's future relationship with Europe. Theresa May is presumably feeling a renewed sense of urgency to develop a consistent UK line on the negotiations, as her struggle to control ministerial rifts on the dreaded customs union question has led to renewed criticism of her leadership. The rancour over the issue culminated in a statement from Number 10 on Monday, insisting that it is not the Government's policy to be in "the" or "a" customs union. A joint press conference is expected tomorrow, with David Davis and EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier giving an update on the week’s progress. However, with a senior Whitehall official suggesting that the Cabinet may not even confirm the UK’s negotiating position until later this month, it seems unlikely that Friday’s announcements will contain anything too concrete.

Back in Westminster, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington will be first back in the despatch box on 21 February. It’s unlikely that the fallout from the collapse of Carillion will have moved off the political agenda, and Lidington will be expecting questions on the Government’s plans to support the contractor's supply chain, as well as wider issues around the private sector's involvement in delivering public services.