Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
2Urgent Question: Arrest and assault of Edward Lawrence by Chinese authorities (David Rutley)
3Statement: Energy security (Secretary Grant Shapps)
4Elections (Proportional Representation) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Cat Smith presented a Bill to introduce a system of proportional representation for Parliamentary elections, for elections for directly-elected mayors in England, for local authority elections in England and for police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2023, and to be printed (Bill 201).
5National Eye Health Strategy: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish a national eye health strategy for England; and to require that strategy to include measures for improving eye health outcomes, for reducing waiting times for eye health care, for improving patient experiences of eye health care, for ensuring that providers of eye health care work together in an efficient way, for increasing the capacity and skills of the eye health care workforce, and for making more effective use of research and innovation in eye health care;
That Marsha De Cordova, Kate Osamor, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Sir Stephen Timms, Rosie Duffield, Janet Daby, Kim Johnson, Ian Byrne, John McDonnell, Clive Lewis, Dr Rupa Huq and Jim Shannon present the Bill.
Marsha De Cordova accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 3 March 2023, and to be printed (Bill 202).
Motion made and Question put, That the matter of the actions and subsequent conduct of the hon Member for Ochil and South Perthshire in relation to correspondence from the Speaker on a matter of privilege be referred to the Committee of Privileges.—(Mr David Davis.)
The House divided.
Division No. 101
Ayes: 371 (Tellers: Robert Largan, Andrew Stephenson)
Noes: 16 (Tellers: Pete Wishart, Hannah Bardell)
Question accordingly agreed to.
Resolved, That the matter of the actions and subsequent conduct of the hon Member for Ochil and South Perthshire in relation to correspondence from the Speaker on a matter of privilege be referred to the Committee of Privileges.
7Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill: Allocation of Time
Resolved, That the following provisions shall apply to the proceedings on the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill:
Timetable
(1) (a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken at today’s sitting in accordance with this Order.
(b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
(c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put
(2) When the Bill has been read a second time:
(a) it shall, despite Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put;
(b) the Speaker shall leave the Chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given.
(3) (a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chair shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.
(b) If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put.
(4) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (1), the Chair or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions in the same order as they would fall to be put if this Order did not apply:
(a) any Question already proposed from the Chair;
(b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed;
(c) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown;
(d) the Question on any amendment, new Clause or new Schedule selected by the Chair or Speaker for separate decision;
(e) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded; and shall not put any other questions, other than the question on any motion described in paragraph (15)(a) of this Order.
(5) On a Motion so made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chair or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.
(6) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (4)(c) on successive amendments moved or Motions made by a Minister of the Crown, the Chair or Speaker shall instead put a single Question in relation to those amendments or Motions.
(7) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (4)(e) in relation to successive provisions of the Bill, the Chair shall instead put a single Question in relation to those provisions, except that the Question shall be put separately on any Clause of or Schedule to the Bill which a Minister of the Crown has signified an intention to leave out.
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(8) (a) Any Lords Amendments to the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(9) Paragraphs (2) to (7) of Standing Order No. 83F (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (8) of this Order.
Subsequent stages
(10) (a) Any further Message from the Lords on the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) Proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(11) Paragraphs (2) to (5) of Standing Order No. 83G (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (10) of this Order.
Reasons Committee
(12) Paragraphs (2) to (6) of Standing Order No. 83H (Programme orders: reasons committee) apply in relation to any committee to be appointed to draw up reasons after proceedings have been brought to a conclusion in accordance with this Order.
Miscellaneous
(13) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on the Bill.
(14) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings to which this Order applies.
(15) (a) No Motion shall be made, except by a Minister of the Crown, to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken, to recommit the Bill or to vary or supplement the provisions of this Order.
(b) No notice shall be required of such a Motion.
(c) Such a Motion may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(d) The Question on such a Motion shall be put forthwith; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (c) shall thereupon be resumed.
(e) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on such a Motion.
(16) (a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings to which this Order applies except by a Minister of the Crown.
(b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.
(17) (a) The start of any debate under Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) to be held on a day on which the Bill has been set down to be taken as an Order of the Day shall be postponed until the conclusion of any proceedings on that day to which this Order applies.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings in respect of such a debate.
(18) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.
(19) (a) Any private business which has been set down for consideration at a time falling after the commencement of proceedings on this Order or on the Bill on a day on which the Bill has been set down to be taken as an Order of the Day shall, instead of being considered as provided by Standing Orders or by any Order of the House, be considered at the conclusion of the proceedings on the Bill on that day.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to the private business so far as necessary for the purpose of securing that the business may be considered for a period of three hours.—(Chris Heaton-Harris.)
8Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time.
9Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Order, today).
(In the Committee)
Clauses 1 agreed to.
Clauses 2 to 15 agreed to.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Order, today).
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Scott Mann reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
10Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill: Third Reading
Chris Heaton-Harris signified King’s consent, as far as His Majesty’s prerogative is concerned.
Bill read the third time and passed.
11Statutory Instruments: Motion for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 24 October, be approved.—(Scott Mann.)
Question agreed to.
12Changes to membership of select committees
(1) Ordered, That Tonia Antoniazzi be discharged from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and Ian Lavery be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(2) Ordered, That Angela Richardson be discharged from the Education Committee and Nick Fletcher be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(3) Ordered, That Saqib Bhatti be added to the Foreign Affairs Committee.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(4) Ordered, That Dr Luke Evans be discharged from the Health and Social Care Committee and Paul Bristow be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(5) Ordered, That Ms Diane Abbott and Laura Farris be discharged from the Justice Committee and Janet Daby and Edward Timpson be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(6) Ordered, That Florence Eshalomi be discharged from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and Bell Ribeiro-Addy be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(7) Ordered, That Florence Eshalomi be discharged from the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee and Nadia Whittome be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(8) Ordered, That Stephanie Peacock be discharged from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and Tony Lloyd be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(9) Ordered, That James Wild be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(10) Ordered, That Zarah Sultana be discharged from the Science and Technology Committee and Christian Wakeford be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(11) Ordered, That Theo Clarke and Phillip Davies be discharged from the Women and Equalities Committee and Dr Jamie Wallis and Mark Jenkinson be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to rural bus routes in South Northamptonshire was presented and read by Andrea Leadsom.
Subject: Illegal money lending (Paul Maynard)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Amanda Solloway.)
Adjourned at 6.32 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
15War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Public Inquiry) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 2 December, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2023.
16Ministerial Code (Enforcement) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 2 December, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2023.
17Ministerial Interests (Public Appointments) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 2 December, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2023.
General Committees: Reports
18Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill Committee
Mr Laurence Robertson (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill, as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 205).
19Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill
Sir Gary Streeter (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence; and
(2) the Bill, as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 204).
20Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords] Committee
Sir Edward Leigh (Chair) reported:
(1) That the Committee had come to the following Resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication;
(2) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(3) the Bill, as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 206).
21Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Judith Cummins (Chair) reported the draft Social Security (Class 2 National Insurance Contributions Increase of Threshold) 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).
22Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2022, draft Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and draft Police and Crime Commissioner Elections and Welsh Forms (Amendment) Order 2022)
Members: James Daly, Danny Kruger and Jerome Mayhew discharged and James Grundy, Marco Longhi and Dean Russell nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
23Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 29 November to be published (Ian Mearns).
24Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
(1) Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 306);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business relating to the Post Office compensation scheme: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister for Energy and Climate relating to energy support schemes: Written evidence, to be published
(Darren Jones).
(1) Aviation procurement: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 178);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship contract award to Team Resolute: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Work of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs: Written evidence, to be published (HC 185)
(John Spellar).
26Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Misinformation and trusted voices: Oral evidence taken before the Sub-Committee on Online Harms and Disinformation, to be published (HC 597);
(2) Economics of music streaming: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 874);
(3) Safety at major sporting events: Written evidence, to be published (HC 596)
(Julian Knight).
Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 54) (Mr Robin Walker).
28Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Avian influenza: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 890) (Sir Robert Goodwill).
29International Development Committee
(1) Ukraine: Humanitarian assistance: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 891);
(2) Debt relief in low-income countries: Written evidence, to be published (HC 146)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Public opinion and understanding of sentencing: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 305);
(2) Correspondence from the Chief Executive of HM Courts and Tribunals Service relating to the HMCTS Estates Strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State relating to intimate image abuse: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Justice relating to the consultation on amending tribunal fees to support the implementation of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Justice relating to the Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Justice relating to the recruitment of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice relating to the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Correspondence with the Chairman of the Sentencing Council relating to the consultation on sentencing guidelines for motoring offences: Written evidence, to be published;
(9) The role of adult custodial remand in the criminal justice system: Written evidence, to be published (HC 264)
(Sir Robert Neill).
(1) Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published;
(2) List of closed e-petitions presented to the House, to be published
(Catherine McKinnell).
32Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Propriety of governance in light of Greensill: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 888);
(2) Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021–22: Oral evidence to be published (HC 745);
(3) Correspondence from the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, relating to Office for Statistics Regulation reports: Written evidence to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service relating to the reappointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, relating to his appointment to the role: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Leader of True and Fair Party, relating to the House of Lords reform inquiry: Written evidence to be published
(Mr William Wragg).
Responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 219) (Stephen Crabb).
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))
1The potential merits of the devolution of justice to Wales
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of the devolution of justice to Wales.—(Liz Saville-Roberts.)
Resolved, That this House has considered the Ministerial Code.—(Chris Bryant.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)) and between 2.30 pm and 2.39 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
3Economic impact of covid-19 lockdowns
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the economic impact of covid-19 lockdowns.—(Esther McVey.)
At 4.09 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
Resolved, That this House has considered Blackpool and levelling up.—(Scott Benton.)
5The environmental impact of vapes
Resolved, That this House has considered the environmental impact of vapes.—(Kirsten Oswald.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.27 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
1Exiting the European Union (Electricity)
Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources and High-efficiency Cogeneration (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1247), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Graham Stuart)
Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1243), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
(1) State Pension Debits and Credits (Revaluation) Order 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1250), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Laura Trott)
(2) State Pension Revaluation for Transitional Pensions Order 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1251), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Laura Trott)
4Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
Statute, dated 21 July 2022, made by the Governing Body of St John’s College, in the University of Cambridge, revising the Statutes of the College (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Gillian Keegan)
Other papers
Report and Accounts of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner for 2021–22, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 531) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Report and Accounts of the Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032 (by Act), to be printed (HC 907) (Clerk of the House)