Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker’s Statement: Intimidation of Members of Parliament and language in the Chamber
2Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
3Statement: Elective recovery update (Secretary Sajid Javid)
4Motor Vehicle Tests (Diesel Particulate Filters): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to set standards as to the emissions particulate sensing technology to be used in roadworthiness tests for diesel vehicles; and for connected purposes;
That Mr Barry Sheerman, Clive Efford, Christine Jardine, Geraint Davies, Kim Leadbeater, Dr Philippa Whitford, Huw Merriman and Sir Robert Goodwill present the Bill.
Mr Barry Sheerman accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 18 March, and to be printed (Bill 252).
5Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (12th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) Cost of living and food insecurity
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House is concerned that households are bracing themselves for the biggest drop in living standards in thirty years; notes that the cost of living crisis includes steep price increases in everyday and essential food items, making the situation worse for the 4.7 million adults and 2.5 million children already living in food insecurity and risking more people experiencing food insecurity; regrets that the Government is making the cost of living crisis worse through tax hikes, low growth, falling real wages, and a failure to tackle the energy crisis despite a decade of Conservative-led governments leaving Britain uniquely exposed to a global gas crisis, compounded by a lack of opportunities for skilled work and skyrocketing household costs; and calls upon the Government to set out a national strategy for food including how it intends to ensure access to high quality, sustainable, affordable food for all and meet the United Nations goal to end hunger by 2030.—(Jim McMahon.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
The Deputy Speaker reported that the Queen had signified Royal Assent to the following Acts under the Royal Assent Act 1967:
Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections, and Petitions of Concern) Act 2022
7Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (12th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14)) (resumed)
(1) Cost of living and food insecurity
The House resumed the debate.
Resolved, That this House is concerned that households are bracing themselves for the biggest drop in living standards in thirty years; notes that the cost of living crisis includes steep price increases in everyday and essential food items, making the situation worse for the 4.7 million adults and 2.5 million children already living in food insecurity and risking more people experiencing food insecurity; regrets that the Government is making the cost of living crisis worse through tax hikes, low growth, falling real wages, and a failure to tackle the energy crisis despite a decade of Conservative-led governments leaving Britain uniquely exposed to a global gas crisis, compounded by a lack of opportunities for skilled work and skyrocketing household costs; and calls upon the Government to set out a national strategy for food including how it intends to ensure access to high quality, sustainable, affordable food for all and meet the United Nations goal to end hunger by 2030.
(2) Children’s mental health
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House recognises the importance of Children's Mental Health Week; is concerned about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of young people and that there has been a 77% rise in the number of children needing treatment for severe mental health issues since 2019; calls on the Government to guarantee mental health treatment within a month for all who need it and to provide specialist mental health support in every school, including a full-time mental health professional in every secondary school and a part-time professional in every primary school; and further calls for the Government to establish open access mental health hubs for children and young people in every community to ensure the best start to life for future generations.—(Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question again proposed.
Sir Alan Campbell claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).
Question put, That the Question be now put.
Question agreed to and Main Question accordingly put.
Resolved, That this House recognises the importance of Children's Mental Health Week; is concerned about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of young people and that there has been a 77% rise in the number of children needing treatment for severe mental health issues since 2019; calls on the Government to guarantee mental health treatment within a month for all who need it and to provide specialist mental health support in every school, including a full-time mental health professional in every secondary school and a part-time professional in every primary school; and further calls for the Government to establish open access mental health hubs for children and young people in every community to ensure the best start to life for future generations.
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Representation of the People (Proxy Vote Applications) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 10 January, be approved.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 6 January, be approved.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until tomorrow (Standing Order No. 41A).
9Changes to membership of select committees
(1) Ordered, That Nadia Whittome be discharged from the Environmental Audit Committee and Clive Lewis be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(2) Ordered, That Paula Barker be added to the Home Affairs Committee.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(3) Ordered, That Rachel Hopkins be discharged from the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee and Kate Hollern be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(4) Ordered, That Barry Gardiner be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts and Kate Green be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(5) Ordered, That Alex Davies-Jones be discharged from the Women and Equalities Committee and Carolyn Harris be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
Subject: Rail connectivity between Leicester, Coventry and Nottingham (Claudia Webbe)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Adjourned at 7.24 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills
11Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 18 March, and to be printed (Bill 253).
General Committees: Reports
12Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Peter Dowd (Chair) reported the draft Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022.
General Committees: Appointments
The Speaker appoints the Chair of General Committees and members of Programming Sub-Committees, and allocates Statutory Instruments to Delegated Legislation Committees.
The Committee of Selection nominates Members to serve on General Committees (and certain Members to serve on Grand Committees).
13Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Waste and Agriculture (Legislative Functions) Regulations 2022)
Members: Theo Clarke and David Duguid discharged and Andy Carter and Andrew Lewer nominated in substitution.
14Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2022)
Members: Paul Bristow discharged and Greg Smith nominated in substitution.
Reports from Select Committees
15Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 8 February to be published (Ian Mearns).
16Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
(1) Post Office and Horizon:
(i) Interim Report: Eighth Report, to be printed with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1129);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 106);
(2) Energy pricing and the future of the energy market: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1130);
(3) Correspondence with the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets relating to the issues at Royal Mail: Written evidence, to be published
(4) Decarbonising heat in homes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 110);
(5) Pre-appointment hearing: Chair of the Financial Reporting Council: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1029);
(6) The impact of coronavirus on business and workers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 105)
(Darren Jones).
(1) Russia-Ukraine crisis: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1064);
(2) The role of the military in countering migrant crossings (Operation Isotrope): Written evidence, to be published (HC 1069)
(Tobias Ellwood).
18Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Sport governance: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 855);
(2) Correspondence from the Charity Commission for England and Wales: Written evidence, to be published
(Julian Knight).
(1) Mental health and wellbeing: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1114);
(2) Correspondence from the Minster of State for School Standards on the publication of advance information of 2022 A levels and GCSEs: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Educational challenges facing children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds: Written evidence, to be published (HC 963);
(4) Ofsted Supplementary Estimates Memorandum for 2021–22: Written evidence, to be published
(Robert Halfon).
20Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Australia FTA: Food and Agriculture: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 870);
(2) Labour shortages in the food and farming sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 713)
(Neil Parish).
(1) Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary relating to the Government Response to the Committee's Twenty First of Session 2017–19: The FCO’s defence of an endangered liberty: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Implementing the Integrated Review in Nigeria: Written evidence, to be published (HC 202)
(Tom Tugendhat).
(1) Human Rights Act reform: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1087);
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Deputy Director, Head of Insights & Analysis, HM Courts and Tribunal Service: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences: Written evidence, to be published (HC 678)
(Sir Robert Neill).
Correspondence relating to Chairs' staff attendance at private committee meetings: Written evidence, to be published (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
24Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
New Decade, New Approach: two years on: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1070) (Simon Hoare).
25Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) The Elections Bill: Government’s response to the Committee’s Fifth report of Session 2021–22: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1133);
(2) The Scrutiny of international treaties and other international agreements in the 21st century: Oral evidence to be published (HC 485);
(3) Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to COVID-19 polling: Written evidence to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, relating to the Levelling up White Paper: Written evidence to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office, relating to the Office of the Prime Minister: Written evidence to be published;
(6) The Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Clearing House: Written evidence to be published (HC 505)
(Jackie Doyle-Price).
(1) All-Party Parliamentary Groups: Written evidence, to be published (HC 717);
(2) Code of Conduct consultation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 954)
(Chris Bryant).
(1) Correspondence from the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency Chief Executive relating to licence applications: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Fuelling the future: motive power and connectivity: Written evidence, to be published (HC 973);
(3) Integrated rail plan: Written evidence, to be published (HC 974);
(4) Road freight supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 828)
(Huw Merriman).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.30 am.
Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))
Resolved, That this House has considered the Yazidi genocide.—(Brendan O’Hara.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.39 am and 11.00 am.
Resolved, That this House has considered the provision of grit bins.—(Robert Largan.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.24 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Potential merits of reopening the Leamside Line
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of reopening the Leamside Line.—(Sharon Hodgson.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.56 pm and 4.00 pm.
4Requests for military aid to civil authorities during the COVID-19 outbreak
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of requests for military aid to civil authorities during the COVID-19 outbreak.—(Chris Loder.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.26 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Funding of local authorities on Merseyside
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the funding of local authorities on Merseyside.—(Margaret Greenwood.)
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 41(1)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the funding of local authorities on Merseyside.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.29 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 114), dated 8 February 2022 (by Statutory Instrument), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary George Eustice)
Other papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (by Command) (Kemi Badenoch)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (laid 24 January)