Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities
(2) the Prime Minister
2Urgent Question: Negotiations on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory (Stephen Doughty)
3Statements: (1) Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement (Jim McMahon)
(2) Winter preparedness (Karin Smyth)
(3) Consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (Chris Bryant)
(4) Post Office: Redress and funding (Gareth Thomas)
4Public Procurement (British Goods and Services) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Sarah Champion presented a Bill to make provision about public procurement in respect of British goods and services; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 January 2025, and to be printed (Bill 153).
5Office of the Whistleblower: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish an independent Office of the Whistleblower to protect whistleblowers and whistleblowing; to make provision for the Office of the Whistleblower to set, monitor and enforce standards for the management of whistleblowing cases, to provide disclosure and advice services, to direct whistleblowing investigations and to order redress of detriment suffered by whistleblowers; and for connected purposes;
That Gareth Snell, Liam Byrne, Robin Swann, Richard Foord, Sarah Champion, Mr Jonathan Brash, Tonia Antoniazzi, Dr Allison Gardner, Mr Alex Barros-Curtis, Jim Shannon, Jodie Gosling and Will Stone present the Bill.
Gareth Snell accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 25 April 2025, and to be printed (Bill 152).
6Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [Lords]: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 14 November).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Bill to be reported.
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Kate Dearden reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
7Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [Lords]: Third Reading
Nick Thomas-Symonds signified King’s consent, as far as His Majesty’s prerogative is concerned.
Bill read the third time and passed without amendment.
8Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 20 November).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Bill to be reported.
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Jeff Smith reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
9Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed.
10Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [Lords]: Programme (No. 2)
Ordered, That the Order of 22 October 2024 (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [Lords] (Programme)) be varied as follows:
(1) Paragraphs (4) and (5) of the Order shall be omitted.
(2) Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
(3) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.—(Stephen Doughty.)
11Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [Lords]: Consideration of the Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee
No amendments on consideration.
12Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [Lords]: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed with an Amendment.
13Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Local Digital Television Programme Services (Amendment) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 5 November, be approved.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Internet service providers and dangerous online suicide-related content (Richard Burgon)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
At 7 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Adjourned at 7.04 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills
15Listed Investment Companies (Classification etc) Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 17 January 2025, and to be printed (Bill 156).
Private Business
16Examination of petitions for bills (Standing Order 70)
Report from the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills laid upon the Table by the Speaker, That, in the case of the petitions for the following bills, the Private Business Standing Orders have been complied with:
City of London (Markets) Bill
General Cemetery Bill
Malvern Hills Bill
Norwich Livestock Market Bill
17Division of bills between the two Houses (Standing Order 81)
Report from the Counsel to the Speaker laid upon the Table by the Speaker, That the following bill should originate in the House of Commons:
City of London (Markets) Bill
and That the following bills should originate in the House of Lords:
General Cemetery Bill
Malvern Hills Bill
Norwich Livestock Market Bill
Changes to Notices Given
18Water (Agricultural Pollution) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 14 March 2025, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 11 July 2025.
Speaker's Committee: Appointments
Chairman: Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Vice-Chairmen: Jessica Morden, Sir Jeremy Wright
Members: Lee Anderson, Mr Clive Betts, Kirsty Blackman, Samantha Dixon, Zöe Franklin, Dr Rupa Huq, Leigh Ingham, Ben Obese-Jecty, Rebecca Paul, John Slinger, Mark Tami, Sammy Wilson
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).
20Tobacco and Vapes Bill Committee
Members: Dr Zubir Ahmed, Mr Alex Barros-Curtis, Sarah Bool, Phil Brickell, Dr Danny Chambers, Dr Beccy Cooper, Jim Dickson, Andrew Gwynne, Liz Jarvis, Dr Caroline Johnson, Mary Kelly Foy, Tristan Osborne, Taiwo Owatemi, Jack Rankin, Gregory Stafford, Euan Stainbank and Rosie Wrighting
21Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords] Committee
Members: Dan Aldridge, Aphra Brandreth, Helena Dollimore, Tim Farron, Catherine Fookes, Amanda Hack, Emma Hardy, Tom Hayes, Claire Hazelgrove, Dr Neil Hudson, Jayne Kirkham, Jerome Mayhew, Charlie Maynard, Darren Paffey, Andrew Pakes, Adrian Ramsay and Jeff Smith
22First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Ring-fenced Bodies, Core Activities, Excluded Activities and Prohibitions) (Amendment) Order 2024, draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2024 and draft Short Selling Regulations 2024)
Members: Johanna Baxter, Daisy Cooper, Jen Craft, Gareth Davies, Mark Ferguson, Gill German, Clive Jones, Laura Kyrke-Smith, Alice Macdonald, Dr Andrew Murrison, Dan Norris, Tulip Siddiq, Blake Stephenson, Alistair Strathern, Christian Wakeford, James Wild and David Williams
23Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electricity Capacity Mechanism (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Ms Polly Billington, Andrew Bowie, Maureen Burke, Tim Farron, John Grady, Pippa Heylings, Jonathan Hinder, Chris McDonald, Katrina Murray, Rebecca Paul, Jo Platt, Ms Marie Rimmer, Michael Shanks, Gurinder Singh Josan, Bradley Thomas, Anna Turley and Sir Jeremy Wright
24Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Fleur Anderson, Alex Burghart, Charlie Dewhirst, Paul Holmes, Naushabah Khan, James Naish, Samantha Niblett, Alex Norris, Sarah Olney, Dr Al Pinkerton, Matt Rodda, Michelle Scrogham, Mark Sewards, Jeff Smith, Kenneth Stevenson, Robin Swann and Michelle Welsh
25Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Catherine Atkinson, Rachel Blake, Aphra Brandreth, Sam Carling, John Cooper, Chris Curtis, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Sarah Edwards, Tim Farron, Sir Ashley Fox, Claire Hazelgrove, Amanda Martin, Robbie Moore, Jeff Smith, Gareth Snell, Caroline Voaden and Daniel Zeichner
26Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Combined Authorities (Borrowing) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (Borrowing and Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Kevin Bonavia, Irene Campbell, Lewis Cocking, Lauren Edwards, Dr Luke Evans, Paulette Hamilton, Paul Holmes, Gen Kitchen, Peter Lamb, Alison McGovern, Jim McMahon, Kate Osamor, Manuela Perteghella, David Simmonds, David Taylor, Harpreet Uppal and Caroline Voaden
27Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft National Security Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment of Primary Legislation) Regulations 2025 and draft Police Act 1997 (Authorisations to Interfere with Property: Relevant Offence) Regulations 2025)
Members: Antonia Bance, Sarah Bool, Linsey Farnsworth, Louise Haigh, Damian Hinds, Dan Jarvis, Louise Jones, Katie Lam, Keir Mather, Brian Mathew, Margaret Mullane, David Pinto-Duschinsky, Dr Jeevun Sandher, Lisa Smart, Henry Tufnell, Matt Vickers and John Whitby
Select Committees: Reports
28Business and Trade Committee
Correspondence with the Chief Executive of Companies House relating to directorships held by Yang Tengbo: Written evidence, to be published (Liam Byrne).
29Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) Work of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 396);
(2) Correspondence from the Department: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Retrofitting homes for net zero: Written evidence, to be published (HC 453)
(Bill Esterson).
30Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Enabling sustainable electrification of the economy: Government Response: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 564);
(2) The role of natural capital in the green economy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 501);
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to a decision notice issued by the Office for Environmental Protection: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Toby Perkins).
31Health and Social Care Committee
(1) The work of the Department: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 387);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Health and Secondary Care relating to the Utilisation of the NHS Estate: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published
(Layla Moran).
32Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Correspondence from the Department for Business and Trade: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence with The Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent relating to legacy issues in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Investigatory Powers Unit relating to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (Remedial) Order 2024: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Desmond Swayne).
Written parliamentary questions: Departmental performance in Session 2023–24: Written evidence, to be published (HC 461) (Cat Smith).
34Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Tenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291–x) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
(1) Flooding in Wales: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 549);
(2) The environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past: Written evidence, to be published (HC 560)
(Ruth Jones).
(1) Pensioner poverty: Challenges and mitigations: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 465);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Social Security and Disability relating to the Terms of Reference for the Independent Review of Carers’ Allowance overpayments: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to an oral statement on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's investigation on State Pension age communications: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Pension Protection Fund relating to the indexation of compensation relating to pre-1997 benefits: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Written evidence, to be published (HC 402)
(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))
1Employment rights of people with a terminal illness
Resolved, That this House has considered the employment rights of people with a terminal illness.—(Lee Barron.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.52 am and 11 am.
2Potential impact of the Gatwick airspace modernisation review on local communities
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential impact of the Gatwick airspace modernisation review on local communities.—(John Milne.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.26 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the future funding of the BBC.—(Sir John Whittingdale.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.53 pm and 4 pm.
4Immigration and nationality statistics
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered immigration and nationality statistics.—(Nick Timothy.)
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)).
At 4.30 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered creative arts education.—(Jess Brown-Fuller.)
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 Monday 6 January (Order, 9 October).
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jonathan Reynolds)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Agreement, done at Zagreb on 9 and 10 December 2024, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the Promotion and Protection of Investments, done at London on 11 March 1997 (by Command) (CP 1230), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary David Lammy)
3Health Care and Associated Professions
(1) General Medical Council (Applications for General Practice and Specialist Registration) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1352), dated 16 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(2) General Medical Council (Registration Appeals Panels Procedure) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1351), dated 16 December 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
Agreement, done at Ljubljana on 6 and 12 December 2024, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Slovenia on the Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for the Promotion and Protection of Investments, done at Ljubljana on 3 July 1996 (by Command) (CP 1231), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary David Lammy)
Other papers
Report on Local Authority Smallholdings in England for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Report on the Armed Forces Covenant 2024 (by Act) (Secretary John Healey)
Report on the Bank of England’s supervision of financial market infrastructures for the period 16 December 2023 to 17 December 2024 (by Act) (Tulip Siddiq)
Report by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the use of powers under Section 70 of the Charities Act 2006, for 2022–23 and 2023–24 (by Act) (Stephanie Peacock)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Companies (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1303) (laid 9 December) (Justin Madders)
10Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise)
Report of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies for 2023–24 (by Act) (Justin Madders)
11Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency
Report on the government review on introducing costs protections in civil recovery proceedings in the High Court under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
12Financial Services and Markets
Memorandum of Understanding between the Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England (by Act) (Tulip Siddiq)
13Government Resources and Accounts
(1) Report and Accounts of East West Railway Company Limited for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 510) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
(2) Report and Accounts of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 314) (James Murray)
(3) Report and Accounts of the Northern Ireland Office for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 480) (James Murray)
(4) Report and Accounts of United Kingdom Anti-Doping Limited for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 411) (Stephanie Peacock)
Monitoring places of detention: Fifteenth Annual Report of the United Kingdom’s National Preventive Mechanism for 2023–24 (by Command) (CP 1290) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
15Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders
Report of the Director of Legal Aid Casework for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 431) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Report on the Marine Protected Areas Network for 2019–24 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Reed)
(1) Account of Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Distribution for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 490) (Clerk of the House)
(2) Report and Financial Statements of the British Film Institute Group and National Lottery for the year ended 31 March 2024, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 452) (Chris Bryant)
(1) Report and Consolidated Financial Statements of Post Office Limited for 2023–24 (by Act) (Secretary Jonathan Reynolds)
(2) Report of Royal Mail Group Limited on Postal Heritage for 2022–23 (by Act) (Justin Madders)
(3) Report of the Post Office Network for 2024 (by Act) (Secretary Jonathan Reynolds)
(4) Report of Royal Mail Group Limited on Postal Heritage for 2021–22 (by Act) (Justin Madders)
(1) Report of the Appointed Person for England and Wales for 2023–24 (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
(2) Report on the number of unexplained wealth orders made by the High Court in England and Wales, and applications made to that Court for such orders, for the period May 2023 to May 2024 (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Companies (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1303) (laid 9 December)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATE
The Speaker has certified that the Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911.