Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
2Urgent Questions: (1) War in Ukraine (Catherine West)
(2) Parliamentary elections in Georgia (Catherine West)
(3) UK supermarket supply chains and Uyghur forced labour (Mr Douglas Alexander)
3Deputy Speaker’s Statement: Policy announcements outside the House
4Statement: Tackling stalking (Jess Phillips)
5Elections (proportional representation): 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 introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England; and for connected purposes.—(Sarah Olney.)
Motion opposed (Standing Order No. 23(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 52
Ayes: 138 (Tellers: Tom Morrison, Jamie Stone)
Noes: 136 (Tellers: Sir Julian Lewis, Blake Stephenson)
Question agreed to.
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to introduce a system of proportional representation for parliamentary elections and for local government elections in England; and for connected purposes;
That Sarah Olney, Wendy Chamberlain, David Chadwick, Sorcha Eastwood, Marie Goldman, Richard Foord, Tim Farron, Ed Davey, Christine Jardine, Dr Al Pinkerton and Daisy Cooper present the Bill.
Sarah Olney accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 January 2025, and to be printed (Bill 138).
6National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill be now read a second time.
Amendment proposed, to leave out from ‘That’ to the end of the Question and add ‘this House declines to give a Second Reading to the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill because it breaks the manifesto commitment of the Labour Party not to increase National Insurance; and will lead to lower growth, lower wages for working people, fewer jobs and the closure of businesses.’.—(Richard Fuller.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 53
Ayes: 186 (Tellers: Harriet Cross, David Simmonds)
Noes: 330 (Tellers: Christian Wakeford, Gerald Jones)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), That the Bill be now read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 54
Ayes: 332 (Tellers: Christian Wakeford, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 189 (Tellers: Harriet Cross, David Simmonds)
Question agreed to and Bill read a second time.
7National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House.
Proceedings in Committee, on Consideration and on Third Reading
(2) Proceedings in Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after their commencement.
(3) Any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion five hours after the commencement of proceedings in Committee of the whole House.
(4) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings in Committee of the whole House, to any proceedings on Consideration or to proceedings on Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(5) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
8National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) 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 National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided that is attributable to—
(a) increasing the employment allowance for a tax year to an amount not exceeding £10,500, and
(b) the repeal of subsections (4B) to (4G) of section 2 of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2014.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
9Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Human Medicines (Amendment) (Modular Manufacture and Point of Care) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 21 October, be approved.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Information Sharing (Disclosure by the Registrar) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 22 May 2024, in the last Parliament, be approved.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 24 October, be approved.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Scottish Rates of Income Tax (Consequential Amendments) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 14 October, be approved.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to pimping websites and paying for sex was presented and read by Kirsteen Sullivan.
Subject: International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Debbie Abrahams)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jeff Smith.)
Adjourned at 7.39 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
12Employment Rights Bill Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
13Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Clive Efford (Chair) reported the draft Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Protection and Disclosure of Information and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024.
14Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported the draft Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024.
15Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Derek Twigg (Chair) reported the draft Movement of Goods (Northern Ireland to Great Britain) (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Transitory Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) 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).
16Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Protection and Disclosure of Information and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024)
Members: Bambos Charalambous discharged and Luke Murphy nominated in substitution.
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024)
Members: Mike Martin and Katie White discharged and Pippa Heylings and Chris McDonald nominated in substitution.
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Movement of Goods (Northern Ireland to Great Britain) (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Transitory Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024)
Members: Chris Bloore discharged and Dave Robertson nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on Tuesday 3 December, to be published (Nick Smith).
20Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 3 December, to be published (Bob Blackman).
(1) Service Accommodation: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 406);
(2) One-off session on the Strategic Defence Review: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 484)
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
(1) Reform of level 3 qualifications: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 428);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Get Britain Working White Paper: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and the Minister for Early Education relating to the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill: Written evidence, to be published
(Helen Hayes).
23Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 415) (Mr Alistair Carmichael).
Steve Barclay reported:
(1) that he had been chosen as Chair of the Committee; and
(2) the record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on Tuesday 3 December, to be published.
(1) The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 488);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories relating to the Prime Minister’s attendance at the European Political Community summit in Budapest: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The future of the BBC World Service: Written evidence, to be published (HC 384)
(Emily Thornberry).
Correspondence with the Minister for Migration and Citizenship: Written evidence, to be published (Dame Karen Bradley).
27Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution relating to the Local Government Pension Scheme: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety relating to the Remediation Acceleration Plan: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Rough Sleeping: Written evidence, to be published (HC 339)
(Florence Eshalomi).
28International Development Committee
(1) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Development relating to the humanitarian situation in Gaza: Written evidence, to be published
(2) Correspondence with the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to setting the current percentage of GNI for Official Development Assistance: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the situation in Sudan: Written evidence, to be published
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Work of the Director of Public Prosecutions: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 449);
(2) Correspondence from the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to the CPS Racial Disproportionality Report and Action Plan: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Violence against Women and Girls and the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls relating to Domestic Abuse Protection Orders and Notices: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published
(Andy Slaughter).
Correspondence relating to outside interests and employment: Written evidence, to be published (Lucy Powell).
Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published (Jamie Stone).
32Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Governance of artificial intelligence: Government response: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 591);
(2) Work of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 504);
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published
(Chi Onwurah).
Work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 508) (Alberto Costa).
Driving test availability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 437) (Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Work of the Financial Conduct Authority: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 417);
(2) Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to the Getting Britain Working White Paper: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Office for National Statistics relating to the Labour Force Survey: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Meg Hillier).
Sir 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))
1Domestic production of critical minerals
Resolved, That this House has considered the domestic production of critical minerals.—(Perran Moon.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.48 am and 11 am.
2Leisure services in West Lancashire
Resolved, That this House has considered leisure services in West Lancashire.—(Ashley Dalton.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.17 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
The sitting was suspended between 2.51 pm and 3.05 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered family farming in Devon.—(Sir Geoffrey Cox.)
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of freight crime.—(Rachel Taylor.)
5Statutory framework for home-to-school transport for children with SEND
Resolved, That this House has considered the statutory framework for home-to-school transport for children with SEND.—(Jen Craft.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.38 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Monday 12 December 2024.
Draft Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Advertising (Less Healthy Food Definitions and Exemptions) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1266), dated 2 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Gwynne)
Customs (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1265), dated 2 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
Markets in Financial Instruments (Equivalence) (Singapore) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1267), dated 2 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Tulip Siddiq)
Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1270), dated 3 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Other papers
(1) Explanatory Memorandum to the Competition Act 1998 (Determination of Turnover for Penalties) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1235) (by Command) (Justin Madders)
(2) Explanatory Memorandum to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (Amendment) Rules 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1233) (by Command) (Justin Madders)
(3) Explanatory Memorandum to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and Consumer Rights Act 2015 (Turnover and Control) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1243) (by Command) (Justin Madders)
(4) Explanatory Memorandum to the Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers and Market Investigations) (Determination of Control and Turnover for Penalties) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1236) (by Command) (Justin Madders)
Report and Accounts of the Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 436) (Sir Chris Bryant)
Withdrawn papers
(1) Explanatory Memorandum to the Competition Act 1998 (Determination of Turnover for Penalties) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1235) (laid 29 November)
(2) Explanatory Memorandum to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (Amendment) Rules 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1233) (laid 29 November)
(3) Explanatory Memorandum to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and Consumer Rights Act 2015 (Turnover and Control) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1243) (laid 29 November)
(4) Explanatory Memorandum to the Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers and Market Investigations) (Determination of Control and Turnover for Penalties) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1236) (laid 29 November)
Draft Separation of Waste (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 and Explanatory Memorandum (laid 22 May 2024, in the last Parliament)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATE
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Olivia Blake |
4 December |
5 January 2025 |
Chris Elmore |