Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 9.30 am.
The Clerk at the Table informed the House of the absence of the Speaker from this day’s sitting, pursuant to leave given on 5 September.
Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table.
Prayers
Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, took the Chair as Deputy Speaker (Standing Order No. 3).
3Deputy Speaker’s Statement: Resignation of the Chair of the Standards Committee and arrangements for the election of a successor
4Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
5Business Question (Leader of the House)
6Statements: (1) HM Prison and Probation Service update (Escape from HMP Wandsworth) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
(2) Independent Review of Prevent six-month progress update (Secretary Suella Braverman)
(3) EU programmes update (Horizon) (Secretary Michelle Donelan)
(1) Hormone pregnancy tests
Resolved, That this House notes that children were born with serious deformities due to the hormone pregnancy test drug Primodos, which was taken by expectant mothers between 1953 and 1975; further notes that official warnings were not issued about Primodos until eight years after the first reports indicated possible dangers; observes that the report by the Commission on Human Medicines’ Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests in 2017 was inconsistent with other academic reports; notes that the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First do no harm, found that Primodos caused avoidable harm; further notes that the Government has refused to acknowledge the recommendations by the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review relating to Primodos families; and calls on the Government to fully implement the recommendations in the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review and to set up a redress fund for families affected by Primodos.—(Yasmin Qureshi.)
(2) Funding for the prevention of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva
Resolved, That this House has considered funding for the prevention of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.—(Sir Mike Penning.)
Subject: Skills provision for new cell and gene therapies (Liz Twist)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Joy Morrissey.)
At 5.00 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Joy Morrissey.)
Adjourned at 5.02 pm until Monday 11 September.
Other Proceedings
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Monday 18 September 2023.
Lords Messages
The Lords agree to the Online Safety Bill with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
Lords Amendments to the Online Safety Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 362) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 362–EN).
Changes to Notices Given
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 November, read and discharged.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 8 September, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 October.
General Committees: Reports
13Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill Committee
Sir George Howarth (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
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).
14First Delegated Legislation Committee (Northern Ireland (Ministerial Appointment Functions) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 776))
Members: Dr Caroline Johnson discharged and Chris Green nominated in substitution.
15Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023)
Members: Kevin Foster and Peter Kyle discharged and Wendy Morton and Chi Onwurah nominated in substitution.
16Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Windsor Framework (Enforcement etc.) Regulations 2023)
Members: Mrs Heather Wheeler discharged and Nigel Mills nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
17Backbench Business Committee
Determination of business to be taken on Thursday 14 September in the Chamber and Thursday 19 October in Westminster Hall (Ian Mearns).
18Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Digital transformation in government: addressing the barriers to efficiency: Seventieth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1229);
(2) Resetting government programmes: Seventy-first Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1233);
(3) New Hospital Programme: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1754);
(4) Access to urgent and emergency care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1336);
(5) Active travel in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1335);
(6) Asylum Transformation Programme: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1334);
(7) Correspondence from Building Digital UK relating to its Corporate Plan 2023–26: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Correspondence from the Department for Business and Trade: Written evidence, to be published;
(9) Correspondence from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority relating to its Annual Report 2022–23: Written evidence, to be published;
(10) Correspondence relating to its Committee’s previous Reports: Written evidence, to be published;
(11) Correspondence relating to the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry: Written evidence, to be published;
(12) Correspondence with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office relating to proposed financial guarantees to the Government of Ukraine: Written evidence to be published;
(13) Correspondence with the Ministry of Defence relating to gift of Camp Bagnold: Written evidence, to be published;
(14) Defence digital strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 727);
(15) Electronic monitoring programme: Written evidence, to be published (HC 34);
(16) Energy bills support: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1074);
(17) Grassroots participation in sport and physical activity: Written evidence, to be published (HC 46);
(18) HMRC Standard Report 2022–23: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1759);
(19) Improving resettlement support for prison leavers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1329);
(20) Introducing integrated care systems: Written evidence, to be published (HC 47);
(21) MoD Equipment Plan 2022–32: Written evidence, to be published (HC 731);
(22) NHS backlogs and waiting times: Written evidence, to be published (HC 729);
(23) Secure training centres and secure schools: Written evidence, to be published (HC 30);
(24) Timeliness of local auditor reporting: Written evidence, to be published (HC 995);
(25) Update on the rollout of smart meters: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1332)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
Mr Marcus Fysh:
(i) Thirteenth Report, with an Appendix, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1811);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1811)
(Sir Bernard Jenkin).
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 1.30 pm.
Business determined by the Backbench Business Committee (Standing Orders No. 10(7) and No. 14(4))
1UK’s relationship with Mexico
Resolved, That this House has considered the UK’s relationship with Mexico.—(Dan Carden.)
The sitting was suspended between 2.53 pm and 3.00 pm.
2Tax-free shopping for international visitors
Resolved, That this House has considered tax-free shopping for international visitors.—(Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 4.15 pm until Monday 11 September.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
1Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism
Draft Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Risk of Being Drawn into Terrorism) (Revised Guidance) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
(1) Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 980), dated 6 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
(2) Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (by Act), to be printed (HC 1780) with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Other papers
A Sustainable Future – Reforming Club Football Governance: Consultation Response (by Command) (CP 922) (Secretary Lucy Frazer)
(1) Report and Accounts of Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(2) Report and Accounts of Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(3) Report and Accounts of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(4) Report and Accounts of North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(5) Report and Accounts of North East London NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(6) Report and Accounts of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(7) Report and Accounts of The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Report of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: An inspection of Border Force insider threat: January–March 2023 (by Act) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY
Variation of proxy voting arrangement
(1) The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Helen Grant has given notice that she wishes to vary her proxy vote arrangement. Her period of proxy voting will now end on 5 February 2024.
(2) The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Dr Kieran Mullen has given notice that he wishes to vary his proxy vote arrangement. His period of proxy voting will now end on 3 October.
(3) The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Jane Hunt has given notice that she wishes to vary her proxy vote arrangement. Her period of proxy voting will now end on 6 December.
(4) The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Allan Dorans has given notice that he wishes to vary his proxy vote arrangement. His period of proxy voting will now end on 10 April 2024.
(5) The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that John Nicolson has given notice that he wishes to vary his proxy vote arrangement. His period of proxy voting will now end on 10 April 2024.
(6) The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that David Morris has given notice that he wishes to vary his proxy vote arrangement. His period of proxy voting will now end on 15 September.
CORRECTIONS
5 June 2023
(1) Item 20(1) (Select Committees: Reports) should have read:
Long-term funding of adult social care: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 19);
6 September 2023
(2) The following item should have appeared before item 16 (Select Committees: Reports):
Education Committee
Appointment of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills: Sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1800) (Mr Robin Walker).
(3) The following item should have appeared after item 26 (Select Committees: Reports):
Welsh Affairs Committee
(1) Broadcasting in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 620);
(2) Welsh Fiscal Framework: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1565).
(Stephen Crabb).