Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
2Urgent Questions: (1) The situation in Israel and Gaza (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
(2) The war in Ukraine (James Cartlidge)
3Deputy Speaker's Statement: Ministerial statements and the Ministerial Code
4Ministerial Statement: Long-Term Plan for Housing (Lee Rowley)
5Miners’ Strike (Pardons): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to pardon miners convicted of certain offences committed during the 1984–85 miners' strike;
That Owen Thompson, Martyn Day, Alan Brown, Marion Fellows, Ben Lake, Patricia Gibson, Douglas Chapman, John McNally, Alison Thewliss, Hannah Bardell and Steven Bonnar present the Bill.
Owen Thompson accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 19 January 2024, and to be printed (Bill 143).
6Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill: Allocation of Time
Ordered, That the following provisions shall apply to the proceedings on the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation 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 three 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 four 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) proceedings on the Bill shall stand postponed while the Question is put, in accordance with Standing Order No. 52(1) (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), on any financial resolution relating to the Bill;
(c) on the conclusion of proceedings on any financial resolution relating to the Bill, proceedings on the Bill shall be resumed and 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, new Clause or new Schedule selected by the Chair or Speaker for separate decision;
(d) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown;
(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 (11)(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)(d) 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.
Other proceedings
(8) Provision may be made for the taking and bringing to a conclusion of any other proceedings on the Bill.
Miscellaneous
(9) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on the Bill.
(10) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings to which this Order applies.
(11) (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.
(12) (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.
(13) (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 in respect of any such debate.
(14) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.
(15) (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.—(Scott Mann.)
7Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time and committed to a Committee of the Whole House (Order, today).
8Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill: Money
King’s Recommendation signified.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State under, or in connection with, schemes or other arrangements—
(1) to compensate persons affected by previous versions of the computer system known as Horizon (and sometimes referred to as Legacy Horizon, Horizon Online or HNG-X) used by Post Office Limited;
(2) to compensate persons in respect of other matters identified in High Court judgments given in proceedings relating to the Horizon system.—(Aaron Bell.)
Question agreed to.
9Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Order, today).
(in the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 agreed to.
New Clause NC1—(Mr Kevan Jones)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Order, today).
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Aaron Bell reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
10Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed.
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to local government funding and food voucher provision was presented and read by Zarah Sultana.
Subject: Transport infrastructure in Cullompton (Richard Foord)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mike Wood.)
Adjourned at 5.38 pm until Monday 8 January 2024 (Order, 12 July, in the last Session of Parliament).
Other Proceedings
Select Committees: Reports
13Business and Trade Committee
(1) Private equity and the retail sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 416);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Industry and Economic Security and the Minister for International Trade relating to trade agreements with Canada and Switzerland: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Industry and Economic Security relating to the Office of Trade Sanctions: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence relating to Royal Mail: Written evidence, to be published
(Liam Byrne).
14Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of the BBC Board: Written evidence, to be published (HC 383) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Correspondence from the Minister for the School System and Student Finance relating to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC): Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Ofsted’s work with schools: Written evidence, to be published (HC 117)
(Mr Robin Walker).
(1) Correspondence from the Minister for the Indo-Pacific relating to the announcement of the new human rights sanctions package: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the situation in Gaza: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to Afghanistan: Written evidence, to be published
(Alicia Kearns).
17Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Social care: changes to legal migration measures: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 411);
(2) Correspondence from NHS England: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Professional Standards Authority: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Future cancer: Written evidence, to be published (HC 138)
(Steve Brine).
(1) Correspondence from the Chair of the Legal Services Board relating to Internal Governance Rules: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services relating to the publication of the Chief Coroner’s Annual Report: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Prisons and Probation: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Sentencing relating to the Murder Sentencing Consultation: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to Criminal Justice Bill Amendments: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Robert Neill).
19International Development Committee
Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to his appointment: Written evidence, to be published (Sarah Champion).
(1) Evidence from the Prime Minister: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 419);
(2) Correspondence from the Home Secretary relating to facilitating effective select committee scrutiny: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Senior Deputy Speaker, House of Lords, relating to scrutiny of financial services: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Bernard Jenkin).
21Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Correspondence from the Commissioner for Public Appointments relating to the Commissioner for Public Appointments Annual Report 2022–23: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government relating to the final Draft Electoral Commission Strategy and Policy Statement: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations relating to English devolution: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Transforming the UK’s evidence base: Written evidence, to be published (HC 197)
(Mr William Wragg).
Correspondence with HM Revenue & Customs, relating to the Self-Assessment helpline: Written evidence, to be published (Harriett Baldwin).
Correspondence relating to the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill: Written evidence, to be published (Sir Stephen Timms).
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.30 am.
Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))
1Christmas, Christianity and communities
Resolved, That this House has considered Christmas, Christianity and communities.—(Nick Fletcher.)
2Transitioning to the Sustainable Farming Initiative
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of transitioning to the Sustainable Farming Initiative.—(Tim Farron.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.26 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Adequacy of service accommodation
Resolved, That this House has considered the adequacy of service accommodation.—(Alistair Strathern.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.44 pm and 4.00pm.
4Mid Devon Council financial settlement
Resolved, That this House has considered the Mid Devon Council financial settlement.—(Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger.)
5Coastal erosion in Suffolk and Norfolk
Resolved, That this House has considered coastal erosion in Suffolk and Norfolk.—(Peter Aldous.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.30 pm until Tuesday 9 January 2024 (Order, 12 July, in the last Session of Parliament).
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Pension Scheme Amendment) Regulations 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Claire Coutinho)
2Church of England (General Synod) (Measures)
(1) Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, entitled Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure (HC 341) (Clerk of the House)
(2) Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, entitled Church of England Pensions (Application of Capital Funds) Measure (HC 342) (Clerk of the House)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Register of Overseas Entities (Verification and Exceptions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1416), dated 18 December 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kevin Hollinrake)
Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) (England and Wales) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1407), dated 19 December 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(1) Draft Dudley (Electoral Changes) Order 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)
(2) Draft North Northamptonshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1404), dated 18 December 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Helen Whately)
Other papers
7Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons
Report on progress in Government-funded research and development work relating to assistive technology for 2022–2023 (by Act) (Andrew Stephenson)
8Church of England (General Synod) (Measures)
Report by the Ecclesiastical Committee on the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) and Church of England Pensions (Application of Capital Funds) Measures (by Act), to be printed (HC 340) (Clerk of the House)
Report of the Chief Coroner to the Lord Chancellor for 2021 and 2022 (by Act) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market Scheme Update 2023 (by Act), to be printed (HC 392) (Secretary Claire Coutinho)
11Government Resources and Accounts
(1) Report and Accounts of Civil Superannuation for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 366) (Nigel Huddleston)
(2) Report and Accounts of Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 433) (Nigel Huddleston)
(3) Report and Accounts of the Geffrye Museum Trust for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 430) (Sir John Whittingdale)
Report and Accounts of NHS Business Services Authority for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 375) (Andrew Stephenson)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATE
The Speaker has certified that the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911.
CORRECTIONS
(1) 22 November 2023
Items 10 (1) to (5) (Papers Laid) should have appeared under the following heading:
Papers laid pursuant to section 9(8) of the Planning Act 2008
Item 16 in Papers Laid should have read as follows:
Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation)
Draft Code of Practice on requests for flexible working (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kemi Badenoch)
(3) 18 December 2023
The following should have appeared:
MEMORANDUM
PANEL OF CHAIRS
In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 4 (Panel of Chairs), the Speaker has discharged Steve McCabe from the Panel of Chairs.