Katie Gleeson looks at what to expect over the next fortnight.

MPs returned from recess this week in the midst of the Oxfam scandal that unfurled during Parliament's half term break. The International Development Committee held an oral evidence session on sexual exploitation in the aid sector, hearing from representatives of major organisations including Oxfam and Save the Children, whilst in the Lords, Peers asked oral questions on improving the regulation of charities and voluntary organisations.  Next Wednesday (28 February) will see ministers from the Department for International Development questioned in the Commons, when we can expect the scandal to continue its stint at front and centre stage.

As always, however, Brexit remains at the top of the agenda, with the EU Withdrawal Bill going into days two and three of Committee Stage in the House of Lords. The Lords are expected to come into their own, with intense scrutiny during the course of least 10 day-long debates lending itself to significant amendment of the Bill. The pro-remain Liberal Democrats have a considerable bloc in the Lords and could lead the way in securing government defeats alongside members of the Constitution Committee when the votes take place three weeks after Easter.

The Prime Minister is to chair a meeting of the Brexit ‘war cabinet’ today (22 February) at an away day to the PM's country retreat, where ministers will thrash out details of the final terms of the UK’s trade demands - before the Government’s position is set out in a major speech touted for 1 March. There are reports that both the UK and EU hope to reach a transition deal in time for EU leaders to endorse it at a Brussels summit in late March, but the negotiating team's track record casts doubt over whether an agreement will be made by the deadline. Only time will tell if the UK has learnt its lesson from the first phase of negotiations and can form a united front by the time of the summit.