Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Speaker’s Statement: The Right honourable the Baroness Boothroyd
The Speaker made the following communication to the House:
I have the sad duty to inform the House of the death of Baroness Boothroyd, Speaker of the House from 1992 to 2000. I know all Members will wish to join me in expressing our deep sadness at the loss of a ground-breaking parliamentarian, who was a dedicated and illustrious servant of this House. We send our condolences to her family and to her many friends. Not only was Betty Boothroyd an inspiring woman, but she was also an inspirational politician, and someone I was proud to call my friend.
When she was first elected as the Member for West Bromwich in 1973, there were fewer than 30 women MPs in this House. When she was elected Speaker 19 years later, women made up less than 10 per cent of the total of all MPs. To be the first woman Speaker was truly ground-breaking and Betty certainly broke that glass ceiling with panache.
She was from Yorkshire, and I am from Lancashire—so there was always that friendly rivalry between us. But from my point of view, it was heartening to hear a Northern voice speaking from the Chair. She stuck by the rules, had a no-nonsense style, but any reprimands she did issue were done with good humour and charm. Betty was one of a kind. A sharp, witty and formidable woman—and I will miss her.
I know other Members will wish to pay tribute to her and there will be an opportunity to do so tomorrow.
2Observation of a period of silence
The House observed a minute’s silence in memory of Baroness Boothroyd.
3Questions to the Secretary of State for Education
4Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Jonathan Gullis, supported by Priti Patel, Sir Robert Buckland, Mr Simon Clarke, Brandon Lewis and Brendan Clarke-Smith, presented a Bill to make provision about the extension of pensions automatic enrolment to jobholders under the age of 22; to make provision about the lower qualifying earnings threshold for automatic enrolment; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 3 March, and to be printed (Bill 255).
5Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time.
6Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Bill—
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.
Proceedings in Public Bill Committee
(2) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 28 March 2023.
(3) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.
Proceedings on Consideration and on Third Reading
(4) Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.
(5) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
(6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
7Powers of Attorney Bill: Money
King's Recommendation signified.
Resolved, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Powers of Attorney Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under or by virtue of any other Act out of money so provided.—(Mike Freer.)
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 23 January, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 17 January, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
9Statement: Northern Ireland Protocol (The Prime Minister)
Subject: Government support for boxing clubs and social mobility (James Daly)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jacob Young.)
Adjourned at 9.33 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
11Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Edward Leigh (Chair) reported the draft Electricity Supplier Obligations (Green Excluded Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
12Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Stewart Hosie (Chair) reported the draft Non-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention: Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023.
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).
13Child Support (Enforcement) Bill Committee
Chair: Hannah Bardell
14Powers of Attorney Bill Committee
Chair: Mrs Sheryll Murray
15Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electricity Supplier Obligations (Green Excluded Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Chair: Sir Edward Leigh
Members: Jessica Morden and Graham Stuart discharged and Andrew Bowie and Lilian Greenwood nominated in substitution.
16Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Non-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention: Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023)
Chair: Stewart Hosie
Members: Karl McCartney discharged and Mark Eastwood nominated in substitution.
17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements) Regulations 2023)
Chair: James Gray
Members: Mr Simon Clarke and Dr Dan Poulter discharged and Peter Aldous and Mark Jenkinson nominated in substitution.
18Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2023 and draft Agriculture (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Chair: Mr Philip Hollobone
Members: Crispin Blunt, Antony Higginbotham, Mark Jenkinson and Edward Timpson discharged and Mr Simon Clarke, Sir James Duddridge, Jerome Mayhew and Jill Mortimer nominated in substitution.
19Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) (Amendment) Rules 2023)
Chair: Sir Robert Syms
Members: Shaun Bailey discharged and James Sunderland nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports*
* This section has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Wednesday 15 March 2023.
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 27 February, to be published (Sir Charles Walker).
21Backbench Business Committee
Recommendation to the Liaison Committee on subjects for Estimates Day debates and transcript of representations made on Monday 27 February (Ian Mearns).
22High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill (Select Committee on the)
High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1136) (Andrew Percy).
23Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
(1) Council tax collection: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 20);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness relating to the Rental Mediation Service Post-Implementation Review: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local Government and Building Safety relating to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Reform Action Plan: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary relating to the holocaust memorial: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Committee’s report on Permitted Development Rights: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Supplementary Estimate 2022–23: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Clive Betts).
Estimates Days: Sir Bernard Jenkin reported, That, following the recommendation of the Backbench Business Committee on applications considered at its meeting of 27 February, the Liaison Committee recommendation for the allocation of time for the consideration of Estimates on the third allotted day in the present session (Standing Order No. 145) is as follows:
That a day not later than 18 March be allotted for the consideration of the following Estimates for financial year 2022–23—
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Local Government, insofar as it relates to adult social care (on the application of Clive Betts); and
Department for Education, insofar as it relates to childcare and early years (on the application of Mr Robin Walker).
25National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on)
(1) Readiness for storms ahead? Critical national infrastructure in an age of climate change: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2022–23: First Special Report, to be published (HC 1181);
(2) The work of the National Security Adviser: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1191);
(3) Correspondence with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to climate adaptation and resilience: Written evidence, to be published
(Margaret Beckett).
Public engagement on e-petitions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 73) (Catherine McKinnell).
27Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Energy bills support: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1074);
(2) BEIS Annual Report and Accounts: Written evidence, to be published (HC 59);
(3) Developing workforce skills for a strong economy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 685);
(4) DLUHC recall: Homes data, local economic growth, local government funding settlement: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1053);
(5) Driving licence backlog at the DVLA: Written evidence, to be published (HC 735)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Tuesday 28 February 2023.
(1) Public broadcasting in Scotland:
(i) Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1048);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1048);
(2) Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 982);
(3) Correspondence with the First Minister of Scotland relating to an invitation to give oral evidence: Written evidence, to be published
(Pete Wishart).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 4.30 pm.
Debate on an e-petition (Standing Orders No. 10(1)(a) and No. 145A(7))
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 619615, relating to the open season for woodcock.—(Jonathan Gullis.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.49 pm until tomorrow.
Rosie Winterton
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
1Economic Crime (Anti-Money Laundering) Levy
Draft Economic Crime (Anti-Money Laundering) Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Police Pensions (Contributions and Pensionable Earnings) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 213), dated 27 February 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Other papers
3Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons
Report on progress in Government-funded research and development work relating to assistive technology 2021–22 (by Act) (Will Quince)
The Windsor Framework: a new way forward (by Command) (CP 806) (The Prime Minister)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Medical Devices and Blood Safety and Quality (Fees Amendment) Regulations 2023 (by Command) (Will Quince)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Decarbonising the Power Sector (by Act), to be printed (HC 1131) (Clerk of the House)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Medical Devices and Blood Safety and Quality (Fees Amendment) Regulations 2023 (laid 6 February)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY
1Variation of proxy voting arrangements
(1) The Speaker has certified, further to the certificates of 20 January and 31 January, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Tony Lloyd has given notice that he wishes to vary his proxy vote arrangement. His period of proxy voting will now end on 30 April.
(2) The Speaker has certified, further to the certificate of 12 December 2022, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Matt Warman has given notice that he wishes to end his proxy vote arrangement. He will vote in person from 28 February.