Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker’s Statement: Waiver of sub judice rule (SEND provision and VAT on private schools)
2Questions to (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities
(2) the Prime Minister
3Urgent Question: Chagos Islands (Stephen Doughty)
4Statements: (1) English devolution and local government (Secretary Angela Rayner)
(2) Southport (Dan Jarvis)
5Water safety: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about the installation and maintenance of, and access to, safety equipment at reservoirs; to create an offence of damaging or destroying safety equipment near bodies of water; to make provision about the teaching of water safety in schools; and for connected purposes;
That Lee Pitcher, Calum Miller, Sorcha Eastwood, Sally Jameson, Sarah Champion, Dr Roz Savage, Jim Shannon, Ben Coleman and Andy Slaughter present the Bill.
Lee Pitcher accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 20 June, and to be printed (Bill 178).
Resolved, That the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2025–26 (HC 621), which was laid before this House on 30 January, be approved.—(Dame Diana Johnson.)
7Local Government Finance (England)
(1) Resolved, That the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2025–26 (HC 623), which was laid before this House on 3 February, be approved.—(Jim McMahon.)
(2) Resolved, That the Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2025–26 (HC 624), which was laid before this House on 3 February, be approved.—(Jim McMahon.)
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 16 December 2024, be approved.—(Jeff Smith.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision on the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until Wednesday 12 February (Standing Order No. 41A).
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Electricity Capacity (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 16 December 2024, be approved.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Hazel Grove relating to communications infrastructure in Hazel Grove was presented and read by Lisa Smart.
Subject: Children's social care in the North East (Mark Ferguson)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jeff Smith.)
Adjourned at 9.22 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
11Breast Cancer Screening (Review) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 7 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 11 July.
General Committees: Reports
12Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Community Radio Order 2025)
Mrs Christine Jardine (Chair) reported the draft Community Radio Order 2025.
13Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025)
David Mundell (Chair) reported the draft Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) 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).
14Crown Estate Bill [Lords] (Programming Sub-Committee)
Members: Pippa Heylings, Adam Jogee, Jayne Kirkham, James Murray, Alistair Strathern, Mr Andrew Snowden and Christian Wakeford
15First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025)
Members: Jack Abbott, Alex Baker, Lee Barron, Maureen Burke, Daisy Cooper, Helena Dollimore, Peter Fortune, John Grady, Claire Hughes, Clive Jones, John Lamont, Anna McMorrin, Justin Madders, Jerome Mayhew, Kate Osamor, Greg Smith and Kenneth Stevenson
16Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Steve Barclay, Alison Bennett, Ms Polly Billington, Jess Brown-Fuller, Bambos Charalambous, Chris Curtis, Ashley Dalton, Dr Luke Evans, Andrew Gwynne, Jonathan Hinder, Leigh Ingham, Amanda Martin, Taiwo Owatemi, Baggy Shanker, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Gregory Stafford and Fred Thomas
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Miatta Fahnbulleh, Tim Farron, Pippa Heylings, Warinder Juss, Chris McDonald, Lola McEvoy, Joy Morrissey, David Mundell, Andrew Pakes, Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Ms Marie Rimmer, Sam Rushworth, John Slinger, Alex Sobel, Bradley Thomas, Nick Timothy and Anna Turley
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Olivia Bailey, Mr Peter Bedford, Irene Campbell, Daisy Cooper, Jen Craft, Steve Darling, Sarah Edwards, Gerald Jones, Naushabah Khan, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, David Simmonds, Rebecca Smith, Euan Stainbank, Mike Tapp, Dr Marie Tidball, Sir Stephen Timms and David Williams
Select Committees: Reports
19Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 4 February, to be published (Bob Blackman).
20Energy 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) Unlocking community energy at scale: Written evidence, to be published (HC 394);
(4) Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure energy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 393)
(Bill Esterson).
21Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Net zero and UK shipping: Government Response: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 705);
(2) Environmental sustainability and housing growth: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 439);
(3) Governing the marine environment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 551)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
22Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Adult Social Care reform: the cost of inaction: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 368);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to NHS Planning Guidance: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The work of NHS England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 563)
(Layla Moran).
23Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Transnational repression: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 681);
(2) Accountability for Daesh crimes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 612);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Border Security and Asylum relating to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Mental Health Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 601)
(Sir Desmond Swayne).
24Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) The surveillance of journalists and press freedoms in NI: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 650);
(2) The funding and delivery of public services: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 477);
(3) The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 586)
(Tonia Antoniazzi).
(1) Scotland’s space sector follow-up: launch: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 671);
(2) GB Energy and the net zero transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 459);
(3) Scottish Affairs Committee visit to Faslane, Glasgow and Lewis and Harris: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) The financing of the Scottish Government: Written evidence, to be published (HC 456);
(5) The work of the BBC in Scotland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 443)
(Patricia Ferguson).
Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections: Part of the oral evidence, to be published (HC 570) (The Speaker).
27Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Thirteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291–xiii) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
28Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)
Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 294–v) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
29Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Community cohesion: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 340);
(2) Equality at work: paternity and shared parental leave: Written evidence, to be published (HC 502)
(Sarah Owen).
(1) Health and Safety Executive: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 689);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Employment and Minister for Social Security and Disability relating to the Get Britain Working white paper: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Spending Review: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Pensioner Poverty: challenges and mitigations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 465);
(5) Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Written evidence, to be published (HC 402)
(Debbie Abrahams).
(1) The impact of the closure of Holyhead port: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 658);
(2) Correspondence from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers relating to the proposed reductions in agricultural property relief and business property relief: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Spending Review: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) The work of the Secretary of State for Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 597)
(Ruth Jones).
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))
1Closure of high street services in rural areas
Resolved, That this House has considered the closure of high street services in rural areas.—(Jamie Stone.)
Resolved, That this House has considered maternal mental health.—(Laura Kyrke-Smith.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered gambling harms.—(Alex Ballinger.)
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 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
4Government support for high street retailers
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for high street retailers.—(Mr Gregory Campbell.)
5Tax transparency in the Overseas Territories
Resolved, That this House has considered tax transparency in the Overseas Territories.—(Joe Powell.)
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 Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Janet Daby)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Designation of Special Tax Sites (East Midlands Investment Zone) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 111), dated 4 February 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
Other papers
Report and Accounts of the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 610) (James Murray)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATE
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Sarah Gibson |
16 January |
17 March |
Anna Sabine |