Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
The Clerk Assistant at the Table informed the House of the absence of Mr. Speaker from this day’s sitting, pursuant to leave given on 15 January.
Dame Eleanor Laing, 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).
3Suspension of sitting: Audio fault in external broadcast feed
The Deputy Speaker suspended the sitting.
4Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
5Statement: Business (Leader of the House)
6Unpaid Trial Work Periods (Prohibition) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Stewart Malcolm McDonald, supported by Kirsten Oswald, Ms Anum Qaisar, David Linden, Deidre Brock, Patricia Gibson, Alison Thewliss, Allan Dorans, Stuart C McDonald, Dr Philippa Whitford, Alyn Smith and Ian Blackford, presented a Bill to prohibit unpaid trial work periods; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 15 March, and to be printed (Bill 144).
7Military Action (Parliamentary Approval) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Richard Foord presented a Bill to require parliamentary approval for the deployment of UK armed forces for armed conflict; to provide for exemptions from that requirement in cases of emergency or in respect of compliance with treaty obligations; to make provision for retrospective parliamentary approval in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 26 January, and to be printed (Bill 146).
8Scotland (Self-Determination): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Motion made and Question proposed, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Scotland Act 1998 to transfer the power to legislate for a Scottish independence referendum to the Scottish Parliament; to provide that that power may only be exercised where the Scottish public has demonstrated its support for the holding of such a referendum; to provide that no such referendum may be held sooner than seven years after the previous such referendum; and for connected purposes.—(Neale Hanvey.)
Motion opposed (Standing Order No. 23(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 45
Ayes: 48 (Tellers: Jonathan Edwards, Carol Monaghan)
Noes: 228 (Tellers: Mr William Wragg, Sir Robert Buckland)
Question negatived.
9Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: Committee of the whole House (first day)
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 12 December 2023).
(In the Committee)
Clause 2 (Safety of the Republic of Rwanda)
Amendment 45 proposed.—(Alison Thewliss.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 46
Ayes: 66 (Tellers: Peter Grant, Gavin Newlands)
Noes: 337 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Robert Largan)
Question negatived.
Amendment 10 proposed.—(Sir William Cash.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 47
Ayes: 68 (Tellers: Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Miriam Cates)
Noes: 529 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Robert Largan)
Question negatived.
Question put, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 48
Ayes: 331 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Robert Largan)
Noes: 262 (Tellers: Peter Grant, Gavin Newlands)
Question agreed to.
Clause 2 accordingly agreed to.
Clause 4 (Decisions based on particular individual circumstances)
Amendment 19 proposed.— (Robert Jenrick.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 49
Ayes: 58 (Tellers: Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Miriam Cates)
Noes: 525 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Robert Largan)
Question negatived.
Question put, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 50
Ayes: 330 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Robert Largan)
Noes: 55 (Tellers: Peter Grant, Gavin Newlands)
Question agreed to.
Clause 4 accordingly agreed to.
New Clause NC6—(Stephen Kinnock)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 51
Ayes: 262 (Tellers: Tonia Antoniazzi, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 336 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Robert Largan)
Question negatived.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report progress.
________________
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Ruth Edwards reported, That the Committee had made progress in the Bill, and moved, That the Committee may have leave to sit again.
Committee again tomorrow.
10Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Immigration Act 2014 (Residential Accommodation) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 15 November 2023, be approved.—(Ruth Edwards.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision on the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until tomorrow (Standing Order No. 41A).
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) (Amendment) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 15 November 2023, be approved.—(Ruth Edwards.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision on the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until tomorrow (Standing Order No. 41A).
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 11 December 2023, be approved.—(Ruth Edwards.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Linlithgow and East Falkirk relating to buy now, pay later products was presented and read by Martyn Day.
(2) A public petition from residents of Axe Valley in the Tiverton & Honiton constituency relating to community hospitals was presented and read by Richard Foord.
(3) A public petition from residents of the constituency of North Ayrshire and Arran relating to the Defence Equipment and Support site in Beith was presented and read by Patricia Gibson.
Subject: Pensioners and the cost of living (Wendy Chamberlain)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Ruth Edwards.)
Adjourned at 7.37 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
13Universal Credit Sanctions (Zero Hours Contracts) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 19 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 26 January.
General Committees: Reports
14Criminal Justice Bill Committee
Mrs Pauline Latham (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
Ian Paisley (Chair) reported:
(1) That the Committee had come to the following Resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication;
(2) written evidence; and
(3) the Bill (except Clauses 1 and 2, Schedule 1, Clause 21, Schedule 12, Clauses 25, 27 and 31 to 34 and Schedule 13) without Amendment.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, not amended, to be considered tomorrow.
16Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair) reported:
(1) That the Committee had come to the following Resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and
(2) written evidence.
Written evidence to be published.
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Dame Maria Miller (Chair) reported the draft Medical Devices (In Vitro Diagnostic Devices etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Julie Elliott (Chair) reported the draft Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (Composition of Tribunal) Regulations 2023.
19Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mrs Pauline Latham (Chair) reported the draft Child Support (Management of Payments and Arrears and Fees) (Amendment) 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).
20Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Child Support (Management of Payments and Arrears and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Marion Fellows discharged and Stuart C McDonald nominated in substitution.
21Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2023, draft Securitisation Regulations 2023, draft Financial Services Act 2021 (Overseas Funds Regime and Recognition of Parts of Schemes) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2024 and draft Data Reporting Services Regulations 2023)
Members: Jerome Mayhew discharged and Paul Howell nominated in substitution.
22Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Wine (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024)
Members: Giles Watling discharged and Stephen Metcalfe nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
23Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 16 January to be published (Ian Mearns).
24Business and Trade Committee
(1) Post Office and Horizon – Compensation: follow-up: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 477);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Trade Policy: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Trade Remedies Authority relating to imports of SPVC from the USA: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence relating to Royal Mail: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) NSI Act 2021: Annual Report 2022–2023: Written evidence, to be published (HC 365);
(6) Private equity and the retail sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 416)
(Liam Byrne).
25Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Football governance follow-up: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 471);
(2) Correspondence with the Gambling Commission: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Army Recruiting Contract: Part of the oral evidence, to be published (HC 480);
(2) Correspondence with the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Business and Trade Committee and International Development Committee, relating to the scrutiny of strategic export controls: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Service Accommodation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 55)
(John Spellar).
(1) Ofsted’s work with schools:
(i) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 117);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 117);
(2) Teacher recruitment, training and retention: Written evidence, to be published (HC 119)
(Mr Robin Walker).
28Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Education and careers in land-based sectors: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 165);
(2) Correspondence from Pennon Group relating to the acquisition of Sutton and East Surrey Water: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Fisheries negotiations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 491)
(Sir Robert Goodwill).
(1) Scrutiny of Strategic Export Controls: First Joint Special Report from Business and Trade Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee and International Development Committee, being the First Special Report from the Business and Trade Committee, the Second Special Report of the International Development Committee and the First Special Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 436);
(2) Countries at Crossroads: UK Engagement in Central Asia: Government Response to the Committee's Tenth Report of Session 2022–23: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 488);
(3) The UK’s international counter-terrorism policy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 330);
(4) Correspondence with the Chair of the Procedure Committee relating to scrutiny of Secretaries of State in the House of Lords: Written evidence, to be published
(Royston Smith).
Record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on 16 January, to be published (Mrs Sharon Hodgson).
31Holocaust Memorial Bill (Select Committee on the)
(1) Petitioning against the Holocaust Memorial Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 121);
(2) Correspondence from the Promoter relating to the approach taken by the Bill and Witnesses for the Promoter: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with Richard Buxton relating to forthcoming select committee hearings: Written evidence, to be published
(John Stevenson).
32International Development Committee
*This item has been corrected since publication. See Votes and Proceedings relating to Wednesday 17 January 2024.
(1) Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) Synthesis Review: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 474);
(2) FCDO Annual Report and Accounts 2022–23: Written evidence, to be published (HC 346)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published;
(2) List of closed e-petitions presented to the House, to be published
(Cat Smith).
34Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Civil Service People Survey: Government Response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2022–23: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 462);
(2) Devolution Capability in Whitehall: Oral evidence to be published (HC 200);
(3) Correspondence from NHS England relating to the response to PHSO patient safety report Broken trust: Making patient safety more than just a promise: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office relating to the delay in publishing the review of the UK Statistics Authority: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr William Wragg).
Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 153) (Pete Wishart).
House of Commons standards landscape: Written evidence, to be published (HC 247) (Ms Harriet Harman).
(1) Future of transport data: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 83);
(2) Accessible transport: legal obligations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 82);
(3) Work of the Secretary of State for Transport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 86)
(Iain Stewart).
(1) Debt advice provision: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 478);
(2) Correspondence with the Bank of England relating to the reappointment of John Taylor to the Prudential Regulation Committee: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Sexism in the City: Written evidence, to be published (HC 240)
(Harriett Baldwin).
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))
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered trends in excess deaths.—(Andrew Bridgen.)
At 11 am, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
2Protection of heritage assets in Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency
Resolved, That this House has considered the protection of heritage assets in Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.—(Steve Tuckwell.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.27 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Preventing misinformation and disinformation in online filter bubbles
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of preventing misinformation and disinformation in online filter bubbles.—(John Penrose.)
At 4 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
4Child poverty in Greater Manchester
Resolved, That this House has considered child poverty in Greater Manchester.—(Afzal Khan.)
5Use and sale of illegal vapes
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of the use and sale of illegal vapes.—(Peter Gibson.)
At 5.30 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.30 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Other papers
Government Response to the Report by the Office for Environmental Protection on progress in improving the natural environment in England (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Education and Office for Students: Investigation into student finance for study at franchised higher education providers (by Act), to be printed (HC 387) (Clerk of the House)
Report and Accounts of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 448) (Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris)
MEMORANDUM
POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS ACT 2000
Pursuant to section 2(3) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Prime Minister has appointed Simon Hoare to serve on the committee known as the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, established by section 2(1) of the Act.
CORRECTION
Monday 11 December 2023
Item 60 (Chamber) should have read:
Universal Credit Sanctions (Zero Hours Contracts) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Chris Stephens presented a Bill to amend the Welfare Reform Act 2012 to provide that a Universal Credit claimant may not be sanctioned for refusing work on a zero hours contract; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 19 January 2024, and to be printed (Bill 102).