Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
2Urgent Question: Changes to UK immigration rules and the security of the UK’s borders (Tom Pursglove)
3Broadcasting (Listed Sporting Events) (Scotland): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to expand the list of sporting events that must be made available for broadcast by free-to-air television channels to include all qualifying matches played by the Scotland men’s and women’s national football teams in the World Cup and the UEFA European Football Championship; and for connected purposes;
That Kenny MacAskill, Neale Hanvey, Angus Brendan MacNeil, Douglas Chapman, Martyn Day, Carol Monaghan and Jamie Stone present the Bill.
Kenny MacAskill accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 21 June, and to be printed (Bill 166).
4Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 22 January)
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 (Duty to invite applications for offshore licences)
Amendment 12 proposed.—(Sir Alok Sharma.)
Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendment 10 proposed.—(Dave Doogan.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 75
Ayes: 44 (Tellers: Peter Grant, Kirsty Blackman)
Noes: 285 (Tellers: Amanda Solloway, Mr Gagan Mohindra)
Question negatived.
Amendment 17 proposed.—(Dr Alan Whitehead.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 76
Ayes: 226 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Tonia Antoniazzi)
Noes: 287 (Tellers: Amanda Solloway, Mr Gagan Mohindra)
Question negatived.
Clause agreed to.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Bill to be reported, without amendment.
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Mark Jenkinson reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
5Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill: Third Reading
Motion made and Question put, That the Bill be now read the third time.
The House divided.
Division No. 77
Ayes: 286 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mr Gagan Mohindra)
Noes: 221 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Bill read the third time and passed.
6Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 11 January, be approved.—(Aaron Bell.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Specified Diseases and Prescribed Occupations) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 14 December 2023, be approved.—(Aaron Bell.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 11 January, be approved.—(Aaron Bell.)
Question agreed to.
7Changes to membership of select committees
Ordered, That Rob Butler be discharged from the Justice Committee. —(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
Subject: Government support for walking and cycling (Trudy Harrison)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Aaron Bell.)
Adjourned at 6.22 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
9Automated Vehicles Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to regulate the use of automated vehicles on roads and in other public places; and to make other provision in relation to vehicle automation, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills
10Automated Vehicles Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 167), with Explanatory Notes (Bill 167-EN).
Private Business
11Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill [Lords]
The First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means reported from the Committee on Unopposed Bills, That it had examined the allegations contained in the Preamble to the Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill [Lords] and found the same to be true; and had gone through the Bill and had made Amendments.
Bill, as amended in the Committee, to lie upon the Table.
Changes to Notices Given
12Water Quality Monitoring Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February, read and discharged.
Bill withdrawn.
General Committees: Reports
13Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [Lords] Committee
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to 21 February 2024.
Dr Rupa Huq (Chair) reported the Bill without Amendment.
Bill, not amended, to be considered tomorrow.
14Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Dame Maria Miller (Chair) reported the draft Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Pension Scheme Amendment) Regulations 2024.
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).
15Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (Pension Scheme Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Dehenna Davison, Peter Gibson, Dr Caroline Johnson and John Stevenson discharged and Philip Dunne, Paul Holmes, Greg Smith and Steve Tuckwell nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
16Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 20 February to be published (Ian Mearns).
17Business and Trade Committee
(1) Industrial policy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 440);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Trade Policy: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Trade Remedies Authority relating to safeguard reviews on Hot Rolled Flat and Coil steel: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence relating to a UK-Canada free trade agreement: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Competition and Markets Authority relating to the Vodafone Three merger: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Employment at McDonald’s Franchises: Written evidence, to be published (HC 195);
(7) Post Office and Horizon – Compensation: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 477);
(8) The performance of investment zones and freeports in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 272);
(9) UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Written evidence, to be published (HC 483)
(Liam Byrne).
18Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Cricket follow-up: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 526) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK Defence: Oral and written evidence taken before the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 429);
(2) Army recruiting contract: Written evidence, to be published (HC 480);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Transport relating to Chinese registered vessels in the Red Sea: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Future aviation capabilities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 51);
(5) Service acommodation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 55);
(6) Women in the Armed Forces: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 49)
(Sir Jeremy Quin).
(1) Screen Time: Impacts on education and wellbeing: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 118);
(2) Children’s social care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 372);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Education relating to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in education settings: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Financial education: Written evidence, to be published (HC 265);
(5) Impact of industrial action on university students: Written evidence, to be published (HC 327)
(Mr Robin Walker).
21Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Flooding: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 546);
(2) Correspondence from Mars Food and Nutrition relating to the delivery of Better Food Today, A Better World Tomorrow: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Animal Sentience Committee relating to the Renters (Reform) Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries relating to supply of spring barley seed: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary relating to Defra Post Implementation Reviews: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence to Ofwat relating to its 2024–25 Forward Programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Education and careers in land-based sectors: Written evidence, to be published (HC 165);
(8) Fisheries negotiations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 491);
(9) Pet welfare and abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 161);
(Sir Robert Goodwill).
The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa: Written evidence, to be published (HC 300) (Alicia Kearns).
23Health and Social Care Committee
Assisted dying/assisted suicide: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 321) (Steve Brine).
(1) The Coroner Service: follow-up: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 490);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Safeguarding relating to manslaughter: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Future prison population and estate capacity: Written evidence, to be published
(HC 29);
(7) Probate: Written evidence, to be published (HC 520);
(8) The use of pre-recorded cross-examination under Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999: Written evidence, to be published (HC 267)
(Sir Robert Neill).
25Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 588);
(2) Work of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 44);
(3) Integrated education: Written evidence, to be published (HC 373);
(4) Renewable energy and net zero in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 428);
(5) Renewable Heat Incentive - recent developments: Written evidence, to be published (HC 48);
(6) Victims’ Payments Board: Written evidence, to be published (HC 308)
(Sir Robert Buckland).
(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;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Education relating to LGBT content in relationships education: Written evidence, to be published
(Cat Smith).
Intergovernmental relations: 25 years since the Scotland Act 1998: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 149) (Pete Wishart).
(1) Edinburgh Reforms One Year On: Has anything changed?: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 585);
(2) Bank of England Monetary Policy Reports: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 211);
(3) Bank of England Financial Stability Reports: Written evidence, to be published (HC 208);
(4) Sexism in the City: Written evidence, to be published (HC 240);
(5) The work of the Treasury: Written evidence, to be published (HC 206)
(Harriett Baldwin).
(1) Accessible transport: legal obligations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 82);
(2) Future transport data: Written evidence, to be published (HC 83);
(3) HS2: progress update: Written evidence, to be published (HC 85);
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Transport: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Strategic transport objectives: Written evidence, to be published (HC 84);
(6) Work of the Driver Vehicles and Standards Agency: Written evidence, to be published (HC 88)
(Iain Stewart).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.30 am.
Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))
1Potential merits of a register of not-in-school children
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of a register of not-in-school children.—(Mrs Flick Drummond.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.49 am and 11 am.
2Human rights in Balochistan, Pakistan
Resolved, That this House has considered human rights in Balochistan, Pakistan.—(John McDonnell.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.29 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
Resolved, That this House has considered tackling off-road biking.—(Peter Gibson.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.35 pm and 4.05 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
4Robbery and theft in Carshalton and Wallington constituency
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of robbery and theft in Carshalton and Wallington.—(Elliot Colburn.)
5Government support for young drivers
Motion made and the Question proposed, That this House has considered Government support for young drivers.—(Carla Lockhart.)
The sitting was suspended between 5.12 pm and 5.21 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for young drivers.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.41 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Non-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention: Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Simon Hoare)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
2Country Series Denmark No. 1 (2024)
Agreement, done at Copenhagen on 8 February, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the Participation in Certain Elections of Nationals of Each Country Resident in the Territory of the Other (by Command) (CP 1028), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (David Rutley)
Electricity (Criteria for Relevant Electricity Projects) (Transmission) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 168), dated 20 February 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Claire Coutinho)
Nutrition and Health Claims (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 165), dated 19 February 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrea Leadsom)
Other papers
Report by the Independent Expert Panel: Appeal by Scott Benton MP (by Standing Order), to be printed (HC 580) (Clerk of the House)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Supporting Mobile Connectivity for 2023–24 (by Act), to be printed (HC 555) (Clerk of the House)
The Plan for Rail: A Consultation on Legislation to Implement Rail Transformation: Government Response (by Command) (CP 1015) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Withdrawn papers
Draft Non-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention: Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024, with an Explanatory Memorandum (laid 19 February 2024)