Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland
(2) the Prime Minister
2Public body ethnicity data (inclusion of Jewish and Sikh categories): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide that, where a public body collects data about ethnicity for the purpose of delivering public services, it must include specific 'Sikh' and 'Jewish' categories as options for a person’s ethnic group; and for connected purposes;
That Preet Kaur Gill, Ben Coleman, Jas Athwal, Jon Pearce, David Pinto-Duschinsky, Joani Reid and Alex Sobel present the Bill.
Preet Kaur Gill accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 7 March 2025, and to be printed (Bill 142).
3Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (4th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) UK farming and Inheritance Tax
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House regrets that the Government has undone its promises to farmers, and is seeking to punish them with Inheritance Tax bills of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of pounds by cutting Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief; further regrets that the Government has provided conflicting information on the number of farms that will be affected, and has not conducted an impact assessment of this approach; notes that figures from the National Farmers’ Union suggest that some three quarters of farms will be affected; further notes that farmers tend to be asset-rich but cash-poor and that figures from the Country Land and Business Association suggest the average arable farm will have to sell 20% of its land to pay the Inheritance Tax bill that this policy will cause; notes that the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers anticipates that this will affect 75,000 owners of farming businesses over a generation; notes also that this land is not guaranteed to be used for food production if sold; and calls on the Government not to impose the cuts to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief set out in the Budget that will lead to the end of family farming as it has been known for many generations in the UK.—(Victoria Atkins.)
Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out from 'House' to the end of the Question and add 'thanks farmers for their immense contribution to the UK economy and the nation’s food security; welcomes the Government’s commitment of £5 billion to the farming budget over the next two years, the biggest budget for sustainable food production and nature recovery in UK history; acknowledges that the Government is having to make difficult decisions to protect farms and farmers in the context of the £22 billion fiscal blackhole left by the previous Government; recognises that the Government is seeking to target Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief to make them fairer whilst also fixing the public services that everyone relies on; and notes that under the changes announced in the Budget around three quarters of claims for Agricultural Property Relief, including those that also claim Business Property Relief, are expected to not pay more Inheritance Tax.'.—(James Murray.)
Question proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Simon Hoare claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).
Question put, That the Question be now put.
Question agreed to.
Question accordingly put, That the original words stand part of the Question.
The House divided.
Division No. 55
Ayes: 181 (Tellers: Nick Timothy, James Wild)
Noes: 339 (Tellers: Kate Dearden, Martin McCluskey)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31(2)), That the proposed words be there added.
Question agreed to.
The Deputy Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order
No. 31(2)).
Resolved, That this House thanks farmers for their immense contribution to the UK economy and the nation’s food security; welcomes the Government’s commitment of £5 billion to the farming budget over the next two years, the biggest budget for sustainable food production and nature recovery in UK history; acknowledges that the Government is having to make difficult decisions to protect farms and farmers in the context of the £22 billion fiscal blackhole left by the previous Government; recognises that the Government is seeking to target Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief to make them fairer whilst also fixing the public services that everyone relies on; and notes that under the changes announced in the Budget around three quarters of claims for Agricultural Property Relief, including those that also claim Business Property Relief, are expected to not pay more Inheritance Tax.
(2) Increase in employers' National Insurance contributions
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House regrets that increasing the rate of employers' National Insurance contributions (NICs) to 15%, and reducing the per-employee threshold at which employers become liable to pay NICs on employees’ earnings to £5,000, will lead to increased costs for businesses and lower wages for employees, including in particular young people; will force companies to cut employment, leading to some 130,000 job losses according to Bloomberg Economics; will increase costs for retailers by £2.3 billion according to the British Retail Consortium, leading to higher prices for consumers; will create an annual additional bill of £1.4 billion for charitable service providers according to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, so they will struggle to maintain support for vulnerable people; and will increase childcare costs for families; further regrets that the Government has not published its complete assessment of the effect this policy will have on the public and private sector, or indeed any impact assessment; and regrets also that, as a result of the Government’s economic policies, GDP forecasts are down, inflation is up and business confidence is down.—(Mel Stride.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 56
Ayes: 165 (Tellers: Nick Timothy, David Simmonds)
Noes: 334 (Tellers: Kate Dearden, Martin McCluskey)
Question negatived.
4Liaison Committee: Membership
Ordered, That—
(1) With effect for the current Parliament, notwithstanding Standing Order No. 121 (Nomination of select committees), the Members elected by the House or otherwise chosen to be chairs of each of the select committees listed in paragraph (2) shall each be a member of the Liaison Committee;
(2) The committees to which paragraph (1) applies are: Administration; Backbench Business; Business and Trade; Culture, Media and Sport; Defence; Education; Energy Security and Net Zero; Environmental Audit; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Finance; Foreign Affairs; Health and Social Care; Home Affairs; Housing, Communities and Local Government; Human Rights (Joint Committee) (the chair being a Member of this House); International Development; Justice; Northern Ireland Affairs; Petitions; Privileges (the chair not being the chair of the Committee on Standards); Procedure; Public Accounts; Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs; Science, Innovation and Technology; Scottish Affairs; Selection; Standards; Statutory Instruments; Transport; Treasury; Welsh Affairs; Women and Equalities; and Work and Pensions.—(Chris Elmore.)
Resolved, That—
(1) in pursuance of section 1(2)(d) of the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978, Steve Barclay be appointed to the House of Commons Commission in place of Sharon Hodgson, and
(2) in pursuance of section 1(2B) of that Act, the appointment of Catherine Ward as an external member of the Commission be extended to 31 December 2025.—(Chris Elmore.)
6Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Protection and Disclosure of Information and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 31 October, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 28 October, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Movement of Goods (Northern Ireland to Great Britain) (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health etc.) (Transitory Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 28 October, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision on the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until Wednesday 11 December (Standing Order No. 41A).
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 8 October, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
7Deputy Speaker's Statement: Sub judice waiver relevant to the statement on Northern Ireland: Legacy
8Statement: Northern Ireland: Legacy (Secretary Hilary Benn)
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Neath and Swansea East relating to pimping websites and paying for sex was presented and read by Carolyn Harris.
Subject: End of the Radio Teleswitch Service in rural areas (Dave Doogan)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gerald Jones.)
Adjourned at 8.24 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
11Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
David Mundell (Chair) reported the draft Home Detention Curfew and Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods (Amendment) Order 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).
12Armed Forces Commissioner Bill Committee
Members: Luke Akehurst, Juliet Campbell, Pam Cox, Kate Dearden, Graeme Downie, Mr Mark Francois, Paul Holmes, Rachel Hopkins, Terry Jermy, Lincoln Jopp, Helen Maguire, Amanda Martin, Mike Martin, Luke Pollard, Andrew Ranger, David Reed and Michelle Scrogham
13Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill Committee
Members: Ms Polly Billington, Mrs Sureena Brackenridge, Lewis Cocking, Deirdre Costigan, Harriet Cross, Jayne Kirkham, Gen Kitchen, Jim McMahon, Navendu Mishra, Mark Sewards, David Simmonds, Vikki Slade, Patrick Spencer, Adam Thompson, Chris Vince, Michelle Welsh and Martin Wrigley
14First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Addition of Relevant Enactments) Regulations 2024)
Members: Mr Calvin Bailey, Julia Buckley, Lizzi Collinge, Daisy Cooper, Mark Garnier, Clive Jones, Lincoln Jopp, Connor Naismith, Charlotte Nichols, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Tulip Siddiq, John Slinger, Euan Stainbank, Blake Stephenson, Christian Wakeford, Imogen Walker and James Wild
15Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Building Societies Act 1986 (Modifications) Order 2024)
Members: Dan Aldridge, Sarah Bool, Daisy Cooper, Josh Dean, Mark Garnier, Anna Gelderd, Jodie Gosling, Clive Jones, Sojan Joseph, Matthew Patrick, Tim Roca, Tulip Siddiq, Blake Stephenson, Christian Wakeford, Imogen Walker, Nadia Whittome and James Wild
16Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Ecuador) Order 2024)
Members: Daisy Cooper, Steve Darling, Anna Dixon, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Richard Fuller, Sonia Kumar, Keir Mather, Mr Gagan Mohindra, Perran Moon, James Murray, Dr Simon Opher, Jack Rankin, Martin Rhodes, Joe Robertson, Alistair Strathern, Alison Taylor and Steve Witherden
17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Environmental Permitting (Electricity Generating Stations) (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Chris Bloore, Andrew Bowie, Neil Coyle, Ms Stella Creasy, Cat Eccles, Tim Farron, Alison Griffiths, Tom Hayes, Pippa Heylings, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Sarah Jones, Chris McDonald, Joy Morrissey, Yasmin Qureshi, Will Stone, Bradley Thomas and Anna Turley
18Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Home Detention Curfew and Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods (Amendment) Order 2024)
Members: Chris Curtis, Dan Tomlinson and Mike Wood discharged and David Baines, David Simmonds and Tim Roca nominated in substitution.
19Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) (Northern Ireland) Order 2024)
Members: Lewis Atkinson, Paula Barker, Danny Beales, Sarah Bool, Jade Botterill, Julia Buckley, Dan Jarvis, Laura Kyrke-Smith, Katie Lam, Clive Lewis, Keir Mather, Dr Al Pinkerton, Joani Reid, Lisa Smart, Robin Swann, Matt Vickers and Rosie Wrighting
20Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Ivory Act 2018 (Meaning of "Ivory" and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024)
Members: Aphra Brandreth, Bambos Charalambous, John Cooper, Mary Creagh, Torcuil Crichton, Maya Ellis, Tim Farron, Sir Ashley Fox, Dr Neil Hudson, Patrick Hurley, Natasha Irons, Jayne Kirkham, Tessa Munt, Kanishka Narayan, Kate Osborne, Lee Pitcher and Jeff Smith
21Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Road Transport (International Passenger Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Jess Asato, Dawn Butler, Kate Dearden, Tim Farron, Lilian Greenwood, Terry Jermy, Kim Johnson, Warinder Juss, Mr Paul Kohler, Blair McDougall, Jerome Mayhew, Ms Julie Minns, Melanie Onn, Joe Powell, Shivani Raja, Greg Smith and Mike Wood
Select Committees: Reports
Correspondence with the Secretary of State and the Minister for Skills relating to the review of post-16 qualification reforms at level 3 and below: Written evidence, to be published (Helen Hayes).
23Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
Retrofitting homes for net zero: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 453) (Bill Esterson).
24Environmental Audit Committee
(1) The role of natural capital in the green economy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 501);
(2) Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury relating to Government proposals for a carbon border: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to the previous Committee’s recommendation on post-legislative scrutiny of the Environment Act 2021: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) National Planning Policy Framework reforms and the environment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 458)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
25Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
Sir Desmond Swayne reported, That Lord Alton of Liverpool had been chosen as Chair of the Committee.
Work of the Leader of the House: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 509) (Cat Smith).
27Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
The work of the Cabinet Office: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 463) (Simon Hoare).
Salmon farming: growth and sustainability: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 442) (Kirsteen Sullivan).
29Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Eighth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291–viii) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
Driving test availability: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 437) (Ruth Cadbury).
Acceptance of cash: Oral evidence and part of the written evidence, to be published (HC 324) (Dame Meg Hillier).
Energy in Wales: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 479) (Ruth Jones).
33Women and Equalities Committee
Women’s reproductive health conditions: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 337) (Sarah Owen).
Defined benefit pension schemes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 519) (Debbie Abrahams).
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))
Resolved, That this House has considered biosecurity.—(Ben Goldsborough.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.46 am and 11 am.
2Government support for the hospitality sector in Eastleigh
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for the hospitality sector in Eastleigh.—(Liz Jarvis.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.25 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
The sitting was suspended between 2.30 pm and 4 pm.
3Support for and identification of the children of prisoners
Resolved, That this House has considered support for and identification of the children of prisoners.—(Mr Richard Holden.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.26 pm and 4.30 pm.
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the future of farming.—(Carla Lockhart.)
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)).
The sitting was suspended between 4.57 pm and 5.15 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
At 5.48 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.48 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025, with an accompanying Report under section 105B(9) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (by Act), and an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jim McMahon)
Draft Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements etc.) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Tuberculosis (Non-bovine animals) Slaughter and Compensation (England) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1279), dated 3 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
International Waste Shipments (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1281), dated 3 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
(1) Greater London Authority (Consolidated Council Tax Requirement Procedure) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1276), dated 3 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jim McMahon)
(2) Voter Identification (Principal Area, Parish and Greater London Authority Elections) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1271), dated 3 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Rushanara Ali)
Branded Health Service Medicines (Costs) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1277), dated 3 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Karin Smyth)
Improving planning performance: Criteria for designation (updated 2024) (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Angela Rayner)
Other papers
Proposal for the Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2024 (by Act) (Secretary Hilary Benn)
Parliamentary Elections and Recall Petition (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1273), dated 3 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Rushanara Ali)
Withdrawn papers
Draft Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2024 and the Explanatory Memorandum (laid 26 November)
CORRECTION
Wednesday 13 November 2024
Item 33 (Select Committees: Reports) should have read:
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland: Government Response: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 413);
(2) Northern Ireland Office 2024–25 Main Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Renewable energy and net zero in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 524)
(Tonia Antoniazzi).