Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Wales
(2) the Prime Minister
2Statement: Growing the UK economy (Darren Jones)
3Pavement parking: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to parking on verges and footways in England outside of Greater London and in Wales;
That Marsha De Cordova, Kate Osamor, Steve Darling, Jim Shannon, Daniel Francis, Shockat Adam, Martin Vickers, Dr Scott Arthur, Jen Craft, Florence Eshalomi, Rosie Duffield and Dr Rosena Allin-Khan present the Bill.
Marsha De Cordova accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 16 May, and to be printed (Bill 170).
4Arbitration Bill [Lords]: Second Reading
Bill read a second time.
5Arbitration Bill [Lords]: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Arbitration Bill [Lords]:
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 two 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 three 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.—(Keir Mather.)
Question agreed to.
6Business of the House (Today)
Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on:
(1) the Motion in the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, relating to the Charter for Budget Responsibility, not later than 90 minutes after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order; and
(2) the Motions (i) in the name of Secretary Liz Kendall, relating to the Welfare Cap and (ii) in the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, relating to the Welfare Cap, not later than 90 minutes after the commencement of proceedings on the first of those Motions;
such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; the business may be proceeded with, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Lucy Powell.)
7Charter for Budget Responsibility
Resolved, That the Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn 2024, which was laid before this House on 22 January, be approved.—(Darren Jones.)
(1) Motion made and Question proposed, That, pursuant to the Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn 2022 update, which was approved by this House on 6 February 2023 under section 1 of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011, this House agrees that the forecast breach of the welfare cap in 2024–25 due to higher forecast expenditure on Universal Credit and disability benefits is justified and that no further debate will be required in relation to this specific breach.—(Alison McGovern.)
As it was 90 minutes after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion, the debate was interrupted (Order, today). The Deputy Speaker put the Question necessary to bring proceedings to a conclusion (Order, today).
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Order, today), That the level of the welfare cap, as specified in the Autumn Budget 2024, which was laid before this House on 30 October 2024, be approved.—(Alison McGovern.)
Question agreed to.
9Statutory Instruments: Motion for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Armed Forces (Court Martial) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024, which were laid before this House on 5 December 2024, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Replacement of the A432 Badminton Road M4 overbridge (Claire Young)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gerald Jones.)
Adjourned at 6.08 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
11Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee
Peter Dowd (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
12Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Derek Twigg (Chair) reported the draft Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and draft Gambling Levy Regulations 2025.
13Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Desmond Swayne (Chair) reported the draft Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
14Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee
Gill Furniss (Chair) reported the draft Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025.
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).
15Crown Estate Bill [Lords] Committee
Members: Mr Luke Charters, Zöe Franklin, Pippa Heylings, Adam Jogee, Lincoln Jopp, Jayne Kirkham, Noah Law, Llinos Medi, Perran Moon, James Murray, Melanie Onn, Steve Race, Dave Robertson, Mr Andrew Snowden, Alistair Strathern, Christian Wakeford and James Wild
16Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill [Lords] Committee
Members: Phil Brickell, Lewis Cocking, Chris Coghlan, Mark Garnier, John Grady, Clive Jones, Charlotte Nichols, Ben Obese-Jecty, Jon Pearce, Emma Reynolds, Oliver Ryan, Dr Jeevun Sandher, Blake Stephenson, Dan Tomlinson, Christian Wakeford, Imogen Walker and Michael Wheeler
17First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Alex Baker, Aphra Brandreth, Jess Brown-Fuller, Ashley Dalton, Maya Ellis, Andrew Gwynne, Dr Caroline Johnson, Helen Morgan, Connor Naismith, Dr Simon Opher, Taiwo Owatemi, Lee Pitcher, Ms Marie Rimmer, Naz Shah, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Gregory Stafford and Michelle Welsh
18Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Space Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025)
Members: Johanna Baxter, Mr Peter Bedford, Al Carns, Neil Coyle, Kirith Entwistle, Rachel Hopkins, Gen Kitchen, Mr Paul Kohler, Alice Macdonald, Blair McDougall, Kevin McKenna, Helen Maguire, Joy Morrissey, Jo Platt, David Reed, Gurinder Singh Josan and Greg Smith
19Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025)
Members: Callum Anderson, Dr Danny Chambers, Bambos Charalambous, Feryal Clark, Torcuil Crichton, Peter Fortune, Sir Ashley Fox, Amanda Hack, Leigh Ingham, Warinder Juss, Laura Kyrke-Smith, Alex Mayer, Ben Obese-Jecty, Taiwo Owatemi, Robin Swann, Chris Vince and Martin Wrigley
20Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and draft Gambling Levy Regulations 2025)
Members: Paul Holmes discharged and Markus Campbell-Savours nominated in substitution.
21Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electricity Capacity (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Ms Polly Billington, Andrew Bowie, Barry Gardiner, Pippa Heylings, Uma Kumaran, Graham Leadbitter, Chris McDonald, Joe Powell, Baggy Shanker, Michael Shanks, Kirsteen Sullivan, Bradley Thomas, Nick Timothy, Anna Turley, Matt Turmaine, Steve Yemm and Claire Young
22Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Paul Holmes discharged and Jerome Mayhew nominated in substitution.
23Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Community Radio Order 2025)
Members: Sarah Bool, Alex Brewer, Julia Buckley, Maureen Burke, Vicky Foxcroft, Mr Louie French, Lillian Jones, Andrew Lewin, Clive Lewis, Frank McNally, Ben Obese-Jecty, Matthew Patrick, Stephanie Peacock, Joe Robertson, Dr Lauren Sullivan, Fred Thomas and Max Wilkinson
24Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025)
Members: Charlie Dewhirst, Cat Eccles, Mr Will Forster, Daniel Francis, Gill German, Georgia Gould, Mr Richard Holden, Satvir Kaur, Martin McCluskey, Wendy Morton, Katrina Murray, Sarah Olney, John Slinger, Rebecca Smith, Mike Tapp, Rachel Taylor and Chris Webb
Select Committees: Reports
25Business and Trade Committee
Ripoff Britain: Dynamic pricing and consumer protection: Written evidence, to be published (HC 700) (Liam Byrne).
26Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) Correspondence from the Minister for Energy Consumers relating to Energy Company Obligation 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Ofgem Supplementary Estimate Memorandum 2024–25: Written evidence, to be published
(Bill Esterson).
27Environmental Audit Committee
Governing the marine environment: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 551) (Mr Toby Perkins).
28Health and Social Care Committee
(1) The work of NHS England: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 563);
(2) Adult social care reform: The cost of inaction: Written evidence, to be published (HC 368);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the New Hospitals Programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with integrated care systems relating to the provision of care and equipment for children with complex needs and disabilities: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Progress in preventing cardiovascular disease: Written evidence, to be published (HC 561)
(Layla Moran).
29Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Mental Health Bill: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 601);
(2) Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury relating to the removal of the VAT exemption for private school fees: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Northern Ireland Legacy Remedial Order: Written evidence, to be published (HC 569)
(Sir Desmond Swayne).
30Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) Conduct of elections in Northern Ireland: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 584);
(2) Operation of the Windsor Framework: Written evidence, to be published (HC 491);
(3) The funding and delivery of public services: Follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 477);
(4) The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 586)
(Tonia Antoniazzi).
Public engagement on e-petitions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 587) (Jamie Stone).
The financing of the Scottish Government: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 456) (Patricia Ferguson).
Work of Active Travel England: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 555) (Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Bank of England Financial Stability Reports: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 674);
(2) National Savings and Investments Supplementary Estimate Memorandum 2024–25: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The Government Actuary’s Department Supplementary Estimate Memorandum 2024–25: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) DWP's Annual Report and Accounts 2023–24: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 688);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Written evidence, to be published (HC 402);
(4) The work of the Department for Work and Pensions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 344)
(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))
1Outsourcing by Government departments
Resolved, That this House has considered outsourcing by Government departments.—(Andy McDonald.)
2Potential merits of a youth mobility scheme between the EU and the UK
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of a youth mobility scheme between the EU and the UK.—(Sarah Olney.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Housing targets in rural areas
Resolved, That this House has considered housing targets in rural areas.—(Damian Hinds.)
Resolved, That this House has considered the role of cadet forces.—(Peter Swallow.)
Resolved, That this House has considered road safety around schools.—(Aphra Brandreth.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.29 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Online Procedure Rules (Specified Proceedings) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Draft Food and Feed (Regulated Products) (Amendment, Revocation, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Gwynne)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Sea Fisheries (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 92), dated 28 January 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Other papers
Report on the number of notices served, directions given and enforcement notices served under the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 during 2024 (by Statutory Instrument) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Impact Assessment to the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (by Command) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Home Office: Tackling violence against women and girls (by Act), to be printed (HC 547) (Clerk of the House)
7Statutory Instruments (Notification)
Communication declaring that the undermentioned Statutory Instrument had come into operation before copies were laid before Parliament, and explaining why such copies had not been so laid before the Instrument came into operation: Parliamentary Elections and Recall Petition (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1273) (by Standing Order) (The Speaker)
Withdrawn papers
Impact Assessment to the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (laid 21 January 2025)
MEMORANDUM
PANEL OF CHAIRS
The Speaker has nominated Dawn Butler, Wera Hobhouse and Graham Stuart to the Panel of Chairs during this Parliament (Standing Order No. 4(1)).