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Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday 29 March 2023

Read the agenda for business in the House of Commons chamber, Westminster Hall and Commons Committees.

Find out more about the Votes and Proceedings

Contents

Chamber business

The House met at 11.30 am.

1The Speaker’s Absence

The Clerk at the Table informed the House of the absence of Mr Speaker from this day’s sitting, pursuant to leave given on 27 March.

Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table.

Prayers

2Deputy Speaker in the Chair

Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, took the Chair as Deputy Speaker (Standing Order No. 3).

3Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland

(2) the Prime Minister

4Statement: Illegal migration (Robert Jenrick)

5Non-Domestic Rating Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Secretary Michael Gove, supported by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Kemi Badenoch, Oliver Dowden, Jeremy Quin, Victoria Atkins and Lee Rowley, presented a Bill to make provision about non-domestic rating.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 285), with Explanatory Notes (Bill 285–EN).

6Victims and Prisoners Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Secretary Dominic Raab, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Suella Braverman, Secretary Mark Harper, the Attorney General, Edward Argar and Miss Sarah Dines, presented a Bill to make provision about victims of criminal conduct and others affected by criminal conduct; about the appointment and functions of individuals to act as independent public advocates for victims of major incidents; about the release of prisoners; about the membership and functions of the Parole Board; to prohibit certain prisoners from forming a marriage or civil partnership; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 286), with Explanatory Notes (Bill 286–EN).

7Elections (Voter Identification Requirements) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Helen Morgan, supported by Layla Moran, Richard Foord, Munira Wilson, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Jamie Stone, Sarah Green, Wera Hobhouse, Sarah Olney, Daisy Cooper, Christine Jardine and Ed Davey, presented a Bill to remove the requirement for voters to show an identity document in order to vote; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 November, and to be printed (Bill 287).

8Local Electricity (No. 2) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

David Johnston, supported by Peter Aldous, Hilary Benn, Sir Graham Brady, Alan Brown, Simon Fell, Wera Hobhouse, Ben Lake, Clive Lewis, Selaine Saxby, Mick Whitley and Sir Jeremy Wright, presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to establish an export guarantee scheme for small generators of low carbon electricity; to set a tariff, based on market rates, for the sale of electricity under the export guarantee scheme; to make provision to enable small generators of low carbon electricity to sell electricity directly to local people; to place certain duties on the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 November, and to be printed (Bill 288).

9Co-operatives (Permanent Shares): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable co-operatives to issue permanent shares; and for connected purposes;

That Gareth Thomas, Anna McMorrin, Sir Mark Hendrick, Clive Efford, Seema Malhotra, Rachael Maskell, Ms Lyn Brown, Kerry McCarthy, Ms Karen Buck, Alex Sobel, Kate Osamor and Mr Virendra Sharma present the Bill.

Gareth Thomas accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 November, and to be printed (Bill 289).

10Finance (No. 2) Bill: Second Reading

Motion made and Question proposed, That the Finance (No. 2) Bill be now read a second time.

Amendment moved, in line 1, to leave out from “That” to the end of the Question and add “ this House declines to give the Finance Bill a second reading because, notwithstanding the introduction of the multinational top-up tax and electricity generator levy, it fails to introduce a targeted scheme to address pension issues affecting NHS doctors, instead making blanket changes to tax-free pensions allowances which, as they will cost around £1 billion a year and benefit only those with the biggest pension pots, should not be the priority, and because it derives from a Budget which failed to set out an ambitious plan for growing the economy.”.—(James Murray.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Division No. 208

Ayes: 211 (Tellers: Liz Twist, Colleen Fletcher)

Noes: 289 (Tellers: Mike Wood, Julie Marson)

Question accordingly negatived.

Question, That the Bill be now read a second time, put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)).

Question agreed to and Bill accordingly read a second time.

11Finance (No. 2) Bill: Programme

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Finance (No. 2) Bill:

Committal

(1) The following shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House—

(a) Clauses 5 and 6 (corporation tax charge and rates);

(b) Clauses 7 to 9 (capital allowances);

(c) Clauses 10 to 15 and Schedule 1 (other reliefs relating to businesses);

(d) Clauses 18 to 25 (pensions);

(e) Clause 27 (power to clarify tax treatment of devolved social security benefits);

(f) Clauses 47, 48 and 50 to 60 and Schedules 7 to 9 (alcohol duty: charge, rates and reliefs);

(g) Clauses 121 to 264 and Schedules 14 to 17 (multinational top-up tax);

(h) Clauses 265 to 277 and Schedule 18 (domestic top-up tax);

(i) Clauses 278 to 312 (electricity generator levy);

(j) any new Clauses or new Schedules relating to the subject matter of the Clauses and Schedules mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (i).

(2) The remainder of the Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Proceedings in Committee of the whole House

(3) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House shall be completed in two days.

(4) The proceedings—

(a) shall be taken on each of those days in the order shown in the first column of the following Table, and

(b) shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the times specified in the second column of the Table.

TABLE

Proceedings

Time for conclusion of proceedings

First day

Clauses 5 and 6; Clauses 7 to 9; Clause 10 and Schedule 1; Clauses 11 to 15; Clauses 121 to 125 and Schedule 14; Clauses 126 and 127 and Schedule 15; Clauses 128 to 260 and Schedule 16; Clause 261 and Schedule 17; Clauses 262 to 264; Clauses 265 to 275 and Schedule 18; Clauses 276 and 277; any new Clauses or new Schedules relating to the subject matter of those Clauses and those Schedules

six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Bill on the first day.

Second day

Clauses 18 to 25; any new Clauses or new Schedules relating to the subject matter of those Clauses

two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Bill on the second day.

Clauses 278 to 312; any new Clauses or new Schedules relating to the subject matter of those Clauses

four hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Bill on the second day.

Clause 27; Clauses 47 and 48 and Schedule 7; Clause 50 and Schedule 8; Clauses 51 to 54 and Schedule 9; Clauses 55 to 60; any new Clauses or new Schedules relating to the subject matter of those Clauses and those Schedules

six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Bill on the second day.


Proceedings in Public Bill Committee etc

(5) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 23 May.

(6) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.

(7) When the provisions of the Bill considered, respectively, by the Committee of the whole House and by the Public Bill Committee have been reported to the House, the Bill shall be proceeded with as if it had been reported as a whole to the House from the Public Bill Committee.

Proceedings on Consideration and on Third Reading

(8) 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.

(9) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

Programming committee

(10) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings in Committee of the whole House, to proceedings on Consideration or to proceedings on Third Reading.—(Joy Morrissey.)

Question agreed to.

12Public petitions

(1) A public petition from residents of Heston relating to pedestrian safety at the junction of the A4 and Jersey Road was presented and read by Seema Malhotra.

(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Dover and Deal relating to children’s centres was presented and read by Natalie Elphicke.

13Adjournment

Subject: Funding and support for classical music (Bambos Charalambous)

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Joy Morrissey.)

At 7.00 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Joy Morrissey.)

Adjourned at 7.19 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

Lords Messages

14Public Order Bill

The Lords do not insist on certain Amendments to the Public Order Bill to which the Commons have disagreed, but propose Amendments in lieu to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

Printing of Lords Amendments

15Public Order Bill

Lords Message in relation to the Public Order Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 270).

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).

16First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023)

Members: Caroline Ansell, Miriam Cates, Jo Churchill, Marsha De Cordova, David Duguid, Barry Gardiner, Lilian Greenwood, Andrew Lewer, Clive Lewis, Jerome Mayhew, Anne Marie Morris, Kate Osborne, Rebecca Pow, Alex Sobel, Maggie Throup, Edward Timpson and Mohammad Yasin

Select Committees: Reports

17Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

(1) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business and Trade: Written evidence, to be published;

(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero relating to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme: Written evidence, to be published

(Darren Jones).

18Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and Justice Committee

Prepayment meters: warrants and forced installations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1209) (Sir Robert Neill).

19Environmental Audit Committee

(1) Sustainable timber and deforestation: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 637);

(2) The financial sector and the UK’s net zero transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 309)

(Philip Dunne).

20European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Sixteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 119-xiv);

(2) The UK’s EU representation: what has changed and how is it working?: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 123);

(3) Ministerial correspondence: Written evidence, to be published (HC 119)

(Sir William Cash).

21Foreign Affairs Committee

(1) Correspondence from the UK Working Group on Arms/Control Arms UK relating to a stand-alone Select Committee on Arms Export Controls: Written evidence, to be published;

(2) Strategic Export Controls and Russia: Written evidence, to be published (HC 927);

(3) UK arms exports in 2019: Written evidence, to be published (HC 282)

(Neil Coyle).

22Human Rights (Joint Committee on) 

(1) Legislative Scrutiny: Illegal Migration Bill: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1241);

(2) Correspondence from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury relating to the Finance (No. 2) Bill: Written evidence, to be published

(Joanna Cherry).

23Justice Committee

(1) The role of adult custodial remand in the criminal justice system: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report: Tenth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1244);

(2) The prison operational workforce: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 917);

(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice relating to the consultation on supporting earlier resolution of private family law arrangements: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) The work of the Lord Chancellor: Written evidence, to be published (HC 883)

(Sir Robert Neill).

24Science and Technology Committee

(1) The role of hydrogen in achieving Net zero: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 1257);

(2) UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 1258);

(3) Governance of artificial intelligence: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 645);

(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Business and Trade and Minister for the Investment Security Unit relating to scrutiny of the Investment Security Unit: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to UK participation in EU programmes on science and space: Written evidence, to be published

(Greg Clark).

25Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Thirty-second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 4-xxxii) (Jessica Morden).

26Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)

Fifteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 5-xv) (Jessica Morden).

27Treasury Committee

(1) Budget 2023: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1217);

(2) Correspondence from the Bank of England relating to its Register of Interests: Written evidence, to be published

(Harriett Baldwin).

28Transport Committee

(1) Strategic road investment: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 904);

(2) E-scooters: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1077)

(Iain Stewart).

29Women and Equalities Committee

(1) Black Maternal Health: Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 94);

(2) National Disability Strategy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 241);

(3) Black Maternal Health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 94);

(4) So-called honour-based abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 831)

(Caroline Nokes).

30Work and Pensions Committee

*This item has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Tuesday 18 April 2023

(1) Health assessments for benefits: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 128);

(2) Universal Credit and childcare costs: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1266);

(3) Correspondence with the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work relating to the Personal Independence Payment administrative exercise: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Correspondence with the Minister for Employment relating to Move to Universal Credit: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Correspondence with Minister for Employment relating to UC deductions and Healthy Start: Written evidence, to be published;

(6) Plan for Jobs and employment support: Written evidence, to be published (HC 600);

(7) State Pension Age Review: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1125)

(Sir Stephen Timms).

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))

1Human trafficking and modern slavery

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of human trafficking and modern slavery.—(Mr Peter Bone.)

The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 47(1)).

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of human trafficking and modern slavery.

2Cost of fuel and rural households and communities

Resolved, That this House has considered the cost of fuel and rural households and communities.—(Angela Crawley.)

The sitting was suspended between 11.19 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).

3Spring Budget and Wales

Resolved, That this House has considered the Spring Budget and Wales.—(Ruth Jones.)

4Electricity technology skills in North Lancashire

Resolved, That this House has considered electricity technology skills in North Lancashire.—(David Morris.)

5Use of unpaid work trials

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of the use of unpaid work trials.—(Stewart Malcolm McDonald.)

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 Affirmative Resolution

1Armorial Bearings, Ensigns and Flags

Draft Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (by Statutory Instrument), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris)

2Financial Services and Markets

Draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Commodity Derivatives and Emission Allowances) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

3Value Added Tax

(1) Value Added Tax (Installation of Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 376), dated 28 March 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)

(2) Value Added Tax Act 1994 (Schedule 9) (Exemptions: Health and Welfare) (Amendment) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 388), dated 28 March 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)

Other papers

4Air Force (Constitution)

(1) Air Publication 3376 Volume 1 (Fifteenth Edition) - Terms and Conditions of Service for Enlisted Aviators of the Royal Air Force (by Act) (James Heappey)

(2) Air Publication 3392 Volume 7 Part 1 (Fifth Edition) - Regulations for the Reserve Air Forces (by Act) (James Heappey)

(3) Air Publication 3393 Volume 1 (Twenty-sixth Edition) - Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers of the Royal Air Force (by Act) (James Heappey)

5Animal Health

Return of expenditure incurred and prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981 and incidences of disease in imported animals for the year 2022 (by Act) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)

6Climate Change

Report by the Climate Change Committee on progress in adapting to climate change (by Act) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

7Culture, Media & Sport

Draft Media Bill (by Command) (CP 822) (Secretary Lucy Frazer)

8Fisheries

Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (by Act) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)

9Higher Education and Research

Office for Students: Fee information for new entrants in 2023–24 (by Act) (Robert Halfon)

10National Audit

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Treasury and Cabinet Office: Tackling fraud and corruption against government (by Act), to be printed (HC 1199) (Clerk of the House)

11Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts

Statutory Guidance: Offensive Weapons Homicide Reviews (by Act) (Secretary Suella Braverman)

12Reserve Forces

Report under section 56(1B) and (3) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 on the renewal of call-out orders for various standing call-out orders, operations in Mali, operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and operations to counter the threat of Daesh (by Act) (James Heappey)

13Science, Innovation & Technology

A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation (by Command) (CP 815) (Secretary Michelle Donelan)

14Sovereign Grant

Sovereign Grant Act 2011: Report of the Royal Trustees on the Sovereign Grant 2023–24 (by Act) (The Chancellor of the Exchequer)

Withdrawn papers

15Higher Education and Research

Office for Students: Fee information for new entrants in 2023–24 (laid 9 February)

16Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (laid 23 December 2022)

SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATES

VOTING BY PROXY

1New proxy voting arrangement

The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Feryal Clark is eligible to have a proxy vote cast on her behalf, starting from 17 April 2023 and finishing on 16 October 2023. The nominated proxy is Chris Elmore.

CORRECTION

Tuesday 28 March 2023

The following item should have appeared in Other Proceedings:

Public petitions

(1) A public petition from Dick Lucien Chitolie relating to Sunday trading was presented.

(2) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to uprisings in Iran was presented.

(3) A public petition from residents of Suffolk Coastal and the wider Suffolk area relating to onshore energy connections along the Suffolk coast was presented.