Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker’s Statement: Deaths of Ronnie Campbell and Lord Cormack
2Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
3Urgent Question: International supplies of military equipment and ammunition to Ukraine (James Cartlidge)
4Statement: Israel and Gaza update (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
5Higher Education (Student Finance and Skills Shortages): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for a scheme in which graduates of specified university courses may be exempt from requirements to repay a student loan, in full or in part, provided that they are employed in the United Kingdom in a relevant sector for a minimum time period; and for connected purposes;
That Lia Nici, Sally-Ann Hart, Tom Hunt, Miriam Cates and Martin Vickers present the Bill.
Lia Nici accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 19 April, and to be printed (Bill 168).
6Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill: Consideration of the Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee
New Clause NC26—(Lee Rowley)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
As it was one hour before the moment of interruption, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Consideration to a conclusion (Programme Order, 11 December 2023).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83E).
(1) That New Clause NC26 be read a second time (Question already proposed from the Chair).
Question agreed to.
(2) That New Clause NC26 be added to the Bill (Question necessary to bring to a decision a question already proposed from the Chair).
Question agreed to.
(3) That New Clauses NC27 to NC35 and NC42 to NC66 be added to the Bill (single Question on new clauses moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Lee Rowley.)
Question agreed to.
(4) That New Clause NC1 be added to the Bill (Question on any new clause selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Helen Morgan.)
The House divided.
Division No. 80
Ayes: 14 (Tellers: Mr Alistair Carmichael, Jamie Stone)
Noes: 304 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Mark Fletcher)
Question negatived.
(5) That New Clause NC5 be added to the Bill (Question on any new clause selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Matthew Pennycook.)
The House divided.
Division No. 81
Ayes: 169 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 306 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Mark Fletcher)
Question negatived.
(6) That New Clause NC39 be added to the Bill (Question on any new clause selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Mr Clive Betts.)
The House divided.
Division No. 82
Ayes: 179 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 294 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Mark Fletcher)
Question negatived.
(7) That Amendments 24 to 48, 85 and 49 be made (single Question on any amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Lee Rowley.)
Question agreed to.
(8) That New Schedules NS1, NS2 and NS3 be added to the Bill (single Question on new schedules moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Lee Rowley.)
Question agreed to.
(9) That Amendments 50 to 53 be made (single Question on any amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Lee Rowley.)
Question agreed to.
(10) That Amendment 4 be made (Question on any amendment selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Matthew Pennycook.)
The House divided.
Division No. 83
Ayes: 171 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 300 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Mark Fletcher)
Question negatived.
(11) That Amendments 54 to 67 be made (single Question on any amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Lee Rowley.)
Question agreed to.
(12) That Amendment 8 be made (Question on any amendment selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Matthew Pennycook.)
The House divided.
Division No. 84
Ayes: 170 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 299 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Mark Fletcher)
Question negatived.
(13) That Amendments 68 to 82, 84 and 23 be made (single Question on any amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Lee Rowley.)
Question agreed to.
Title accordingly amended, as follows: A Bill to prohibit the grant or assignment of certain new long residential leases of houses, to amend the rights of tenants under long residential leases to acquire the freeholds of their houses, to extend the leases of their houses or flats, and to collectively enfranchise or manage the buildings containing their flats, to give such tenants the right to reduce the rent payable under their leases to a peppercorn, to regulate the relationship between residential landlords and tenants, to regulate residential estate management, to regulate rentcharges and to amend the Building Safety Act 2022 in connection with the remediation of building defects and the insolvency of persons who have repairing obligations relating to certain kinds of buildings.
Consideration completed.
7Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill: Third Reading
Mr Marcus Jones signified King’s consent, as far as His Majesty’s interest is concerned.
Mr Marcus Jones signified Prince of Wales’s consent, as far as his interest is concerned.
As it was after the moment of interruption, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Third Reading to a conclusion (Order, 11 December 2023).
Motion made and Question put forthwith, That the Bill be now read the third time.
Question agreed to and Bill read the third time and passed
Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the Motion in the name of Penny Mordaunt relating to the Committee on Standards.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 149(14)), That this House—
(1) approves the Second Report of the Committee on Standards, HC 413;
(2) endorses the recommendation in paragraph 64; and
(3) accordingly suspends Scott Benton from the service of the House for a period of 35 days, beginning on Wednesday 28 February 2024.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
10Statutory Instruments: Motions for approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 10 January, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Representation of the People (Postal Vote Handling etc.) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 10 January, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Carer's Leave Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 11 December 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave and Shared Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 11 December 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(5) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft West Midlands Combined Authority (Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 7 February, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(6) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024 which were laid before this House on 18 December 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(7) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Service Address (Rectification of Register) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 18 December 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(8) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Principal Office Address (Rectification of Register) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 18 December 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(9) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Registered Office Address (Rectification of Register) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 18 December 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
11Changes to membership of select committees
Ordered, That Robert Courts be discharged from the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy and Sir Jeremy Quin be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Manchester Gorton relating to family visa minimum income thresholds was presented and read by Afzal Khan.
Subject: Road safety in North Yorkshire (Keir Mather)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Adjourned at 7.36 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
14Domestic Energy (Value Added Tax) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Wednesday 6 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 15 March.
General Committees: Reports
15Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Stewart Hosie (Chair) reported the draft Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
16Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Carolyn Harris (Chair) reported the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (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).
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Selaine Saxby discharged and Cherilyn Mackrory nominated in substitution.
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Richard Drax discharged and Danny Kruger nominated in substitution.
19Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Data Protection Act 2018 (Amendment of Schedule 2 Exemptions) Regulations 2024)
Members: Sir Simon Clarke and Dr Thérèse Coffey discharged and Chloe Smith and Maggie Throup nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
20Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 27 February to be published (Ian Mearns).
21Business 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: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Trade Remedies Authority relating to steel safeguard measure: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023: Written evidence, to be published (HC 522)
(Liam Byrne).
(1) Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK defence: Oral evidence taken before the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 429);
(2) Service accommodation: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 55)
(Sir Jeremy Quin).
Children’s social care: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 372) (Mr Robin Walker).
24Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) UK trade policy: food and agriculture: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 162);
(2) Correspondence from the Animal Sentience Committee relating to the Animals (Low Welfare) Activities Abroad Act: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare relating to sanitary and phytosanitary import checks: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation relating to animal-testing policy announcements: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Flooding: Written evidence, to be published (HC 546)
(Sir Robert Goodwill).
(1) A rock and a hard place: building critical mineral resilience: Government Response to the Committee's First Report: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 583);
(2) The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 300)
(Alicia Kearns).
The former Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 596) (Dame Diana Johnson).
27International Development Committee
(1) Humanitarian situation in Gaza: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 110);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories relating to the Supplementary Estimate Memorandum 2023–24: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Development and Africa: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Climate Environment and Energy relating to the Blue Planet Fund: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) FCDO and disability-inclusive development: Written evidence, to be published (HC 107);
(6) FCDO Annual Report and Accounts 2022–23: Written evidence, to be published (HC 346);
(7) The UK Government’s work on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger: Written evidence, to be published (HC 112);
(8) UK Small Island Developing States strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 476)
(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;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to the debate on e-petitions 633591 and 645885 on animal testing and non-animal research methods: Written evidence, to be published
(Cat Smith).
29Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2022–23: Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 198);
(2) The work of the Cabinet Office: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 607);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government relating to the Electoral Commission strategy and policy statement: 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).
House of Commons standards landscape: Written evidence, to be published (HC 247) (Ms Harriet Harman).
(1) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State relating to the Seafarers' Wages Act: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Draft Rail Reform Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 584);
(3) Strategic transport objectives: Written evidence, to be published (HC 84)
(Iain Stewart).
(1) The work of the Financial Ombudsman Service: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 223);
(2) Small and Medium Enterprise finance: Written evidence, to be published (HC 27);
(3) Work of UK Government Investments: Written evidence, to be published (HC 494)
(Harriett Baldwin).
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))
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the Child Maintenance Service.—(Sir Stephen Timms.)
At 11 am, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
2Governance at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Resolved, That this House has considered governance at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.—(Alex Cunningham.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.26 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Government's role in upholding the impartiality of BBC news coverage
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the Government's role in upholding the impartiality of BBC news coverage.—(Sir Michael Ellis.)
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the Government’s role in upholding the impartiality of BBC news coverage.
4Potential merits of Government support for timebanking
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of Government support for timebanking.—(Deidre Brock.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.26 pm and 4.30 pm.
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of tackling obesity.—(Sir David Evennett.)
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of tackling obesity.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.27 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Water Industry (Special Administration) (England and Wales) Rules 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 229), dated 26 February 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Personal Injuries (NHS Charges) (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 220), dated 26 February 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Stephenson)
Other papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Strategy and Policy Statement for Energy Policy in Great Britain (by Command) (Secretary Claire Coutinho)
Government Response to the Annual Report from the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation on the Operation of the Terrorism Acts in 2021 (by Command) (CP 1022) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on UK Health Security Agency: Investigation into the UK Health Security Agency’s health security campus programme (by Act), to be printed (HC 553) (Clerk of the House)
Report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for 2021–22 (by Act), to be printed (HC 557) (Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris)
(1) Supplementary Estimate for the House of Commons Administration for 2023–24 (by Act), to be printed (HC 587) (The Speaker)
(2) Central Government Supply Estimates: Supplementary Estimates 2023–24 (by Command), to be printed (HC 500) (Laura Trott)
(3) Electoral Commission: Supplementary Estimate 2023–24 (by Act), to be printed (HC 531) (The Speaker)
(1) Estimates for which a Vote on Account is required for the Electoral Commission for 2024–25 (by Act), to be printed (HC 574) (The Speaker)
(2) Estimates for which a Vote on Account is required for Central Government for 2024–25 (by Command), to be printed (HC 501) (Laura Trott)
(3) Estimates for which a Vote on Account is required for the House of Commons Administration for 2024–25 (by Act), to be printed (HC 586) (The Speaker)