Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Speaker's Statement: Arrangements for the election of the Chair of the Defence Committee
2Questions to the Home Secretary
3Urgent Question: High Speed Rail 2 (Richard Holden)
4Statements (1) Tata Steel: Port Talbot Transformation (Ms Nusrat Ghani)
(2) Post Office Horizon Compensation (Kevin Hollinrake)
5Business of the House (Today)
Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motion in the name of Penny Mordaunt relating to Private Members' Bills not later than one hour after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; the business may be proceeded with, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Steve Double.)
Motion made and Question proposed, That—
(1) notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 14(8), Private Members’ Bills shall have precedence over government business on Friday 20 October 2023;
(2) such Bills shall be arranged on the order paper in accordance with Standing Order No. 14(9);
(3) Bills set down for second reading shall be arranged as follows—
(a) the Order for Second Reading of any Bill set down for Friday 20 October 2023 is read and discharged;
(b) notwithstanding the practice of the House, Bills set down for second reading on a day later than Friday 20 October 2023 may be set down for that date, provided that the Bill has been printed by today;
(c) a Member may give notice in relation to no more than one Bill for Friday 20 October 2023 to the Public Bill Office only by email from their parliamentary account between 10 and 10.30am on Tuesday 19 September 2023;
(d) after 10.30am on Tuesday 19 September, the Public Bill Office may accept any further notices relating to Private Members’ Bills;
(e) valid notices given in accordance with sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) will be arranged according to the order in which they are received.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
Manuscript amendment moved, to leave out paragraphs (2) and (3).—(Sir Christopher Chope.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
Question agreed to.
Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.
Ordered, That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 14(8), Private Members’ Bills shall have precedence over government business on Friday 20 October 2023.
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the UK automotive industry.—(Ms Nusrat Ghani.)
The Deputy Speaker reported that the King had signified Royal Assent to the following Acts under the Royal Assent Act 1967:
Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Act 2023
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023
Powers of Attorney Act 2023
Northern Ireland Budget (No. 2) Act 2023
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023
Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023
Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023
Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Act 2023
Firearms Act 2023
9UK automotive industry (resumed)
The House resumed the debate.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, this House has considered the UK automotive industry.
Resolved, That this House has considered UK export performance.—(Nigel Huddleston.)
11Changes to membership of select committees
Ordered, That Deidre Brock and Dr Philippa Whitford be discharged from the Scottish Affairs Committee and Alan Brown and Ms Anum Qaisar be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
A public petition from Elaine Lynch relating to NICE Enhertu cancer treatment was presented and read by Saqib Bhatti.
Subject: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Derek Thomas)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Fay Jones.)
Adjourned at 9.30 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
14Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill
The Lords agree to the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill without amendment.
15Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill
The Lords agree to the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill without amendment.
16Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill
The Lords agree to the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill without amendment.
17Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill
The Lords agree to the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill without amendment.
18Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Bill
The Lords agree to the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Bill without amendment.
The Lords agree to the Firearms Bill without amendment.
20Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to confer powers upon Bishop's Stortford Town Council to extinguish rights of burial and disturb human remains in Bishop’s Stortford New Cemetery and Old Cemetery for the purpose of increasing the space for interments; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Private Business
21Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; and referred to the Examiners for Private Bills.
Changes to Notices Given
22Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 November, read and discharged.
Bill withdrawn.
General Committees: Reports
23First Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported the draft Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Revocation and Sunset Disapplication) Regulations 2023.
24Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Dame Angela Eagle (Chair) reported the draft Courts (Prescribed Recordings) Order 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).
25First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Revocation and Sunset Disapplication) Regulations 2023)
Members: James Sunderland and Craig Whittaker discharged and Scott Benton and Anthony Browne nominated in substitution.
26Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Courts (Prescribed Recordings) Order 2023)
Members: Alex Cunningham discharged and Ruth Cadbury nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 18 September, to be published (Dame Maria Miller).
28Backbench Business Committee
Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 19 September in the Chamber (Ian Mearns).
29Environmental Audit Committee
Heat resilience and sustainable cooling: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1671) (Philip Dunne).
30High 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).
31Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
(1) The Appointment of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England:
(i) Eighth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1819);
(ii) Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1819);
(2) The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities response times to the Committee’s reports: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 1813);
(3) Correspondence from the Electoral Commission relating to a cyber-attack on the Electoral Commission’s systems: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local Government and Building Safety relating to building safety remediation: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State relating to non-party campaigner code of practice: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence relating to local authorities in financial distress: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Social Care, Department for Health and Social Care, relating to long-term funding of adult social care: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(9) Electoral Registration: Written evidence, to be published (HC 841)
(Mr Clive Betts).
32Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Department for Work and Pensions Annual Report and Accounts 2022–23: Oral and part of written evidence, to be published (HC 1339);
(2) Condition of school buildings: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1338);
(3) Correspondence from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to the UK’s association to EU programmes: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities relating to a contingent liability: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office relating to the proposed extension of an existing financial guarantee to the Government of Gibraltar: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Meg Hillier).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 15 September under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1004), dated 14 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
2Judicial Appointments and Discipline
Judicial Discipline (Prescribed Procedures) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1005), dated 13 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 18 September
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
(1) Draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Amendment) (Equal Treatment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Laura Trott)
(2) Draft Pensions (Pension Protection Fund Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Laura Trott)
(3) Draft Pensions Act 2004 (Amendment) (Pension Protection Fund Compensation) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Laura Trott)
(4) Draft Pensions Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) (Equal Treatment by Occupational Pension Schemes) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Laura Trott)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Customs (Safety and Security Procedures) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1011), dated 15 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
Immigration (Notices) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1008), dated 14 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Registered Pension Schemes (Authorised Member Payments) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1012), dated 15 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)
Post Office Horizon Shortfall Scheme and Group Litigation Order Compensation Payments (Inheritance Tax Relief) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1009), dated 14 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
Value Added Tax (Drugs and Medicines) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1006), dated 14 September 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
Other papers
Farming and Countryside Programme Annual Report 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
10Government Resources and Accounts
(1) Report and Accounts of the Home Office for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1355) (Victoria Atkins)
(2) Report and Accounts of the Northern Ireland Office for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1490) (Victoria Atkins)
(3) Report and Accounts of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (England and Wales) for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1474) (Victoria Atkins)
Nuffield Council on Bioethics: Independent review: disagreements in the care of critically ill children (by Act) (Maria Caulfield)
(1) Report and Accounts of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(2) Report and Accounts of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(3) Report and Accounts of Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(4) Reports and Accounts of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Report under Section 362IA of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (by Act) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Free Trade Agreement, done at London on 28 February 2022, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and New Zealand (by Command) (CP 937) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Free Trade Agreement, done at London on 16 December and Adelaide on 17 December 2021, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Australia (by Command) (CP 936) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Withdrawn papers
Draft Stockton-on-Tees (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2023 (laid 11 July)
CORRECTIONS
Monday 4 September
The following item should have appeared under Other Proceedings:
Disqualification of a Member
Disqualification of a Member
Notification, laid upon the Table by the Speaker, That Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer had on 29 August appointed Nadine Vanessa Dorries, Member for Mid Bedfordshire, to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.
Thursday 7 September
(1) The following item should have appeared under Other Proceedings:
Disqualification of a Member
Disqualification of a Member
Notification, laid upon the Table by the Speaker, That Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer had on 7 September appointed Christopher John Pincher, Member for Tamworth, to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
(2) Item 18 (Other Proceedings) should have included:
() Correspondence from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office relating to the UK Loan Guarantee to the Government of Gibraltar: Written evidence, to be published;
() Revising health assessments for disability benefits: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1337);
Wednesday 13 September
This item should have appeared after item 23 (Other Proceedings):
Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Human rights at work: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1161);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Justice relating to the Victims and Prisoners Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1629)
(Ms Harriet Harman).