Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
2Urgent Questions: (1) Clonoe inquest (Secretary Hilary Benn)
(2) US steel import tariffs (Mr Douglas Alexander)
3Nurse (use of title): 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 use of the title of nurse; and for connected purposes;
That Dawn Butler, Paulette Hamilton, Tulip Siddiq, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Barry Gardiner, Juliet Campbell and Clive Lewis present the Bill.
Dawn Butler accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 28 March, and to be printed (Bill 182).
4Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]: Programme (No. 2)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords] for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 16 December 2024 (Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]: Programme):
Consideration of Lords Message
(1) Proceedings on the Lords Message shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after their commencement.
Subsequent stages
(2) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(3) The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.—(Jeff Smith.)
Question agreed to.
5Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords]: Consideration of Lords Message
Lords Amendment 1B
Motion made and Question put, That this House insists on its Amendment 1 to which the Lords have disagreed, disagrees to Lords Amendment 1B to the words restored to the Bill by the Lords’ disagreement to its Amendment 1, and proposes Amendments (a) and (b) to the Bill in lieu of the words left out by its Amendment 1.—(Emma Hardy.)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 1B accordingly disagreed to and Amendments (a) and (b) accordingly made to the Bill.
Lords Reason 2A
Motion made and Question put, That this House insists on its Amendment 2 to which the Lords have disagreed, and proposes Amendment (a) to the Bill in lieu of the words so left out.—(Keir Mather.)
The House divided.
Division No. 99
Ayes: 331 (Tellers: Kate Dearden, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 65 (Tellers: Wendy Chamberlain, Zöe Franklin)
Question agreed to.
Lords Reason 2A accordingly disagreed to and Amendment (a) accordingly made to the Bill.
6Arbitration Bill [Lords]: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 29 January).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clauses 2 to 18 agreed to.
Bill to be reported.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Programme Order, 29 January).
______________________
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Anna Turley reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
7Arbitration Bill [Lords]: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed without amendment.
8Business of the House (Today)
Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting:
(a) notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions in the name of Secretary Jonathan Reynolds relating to Terms and Conditions of Employment not later than two hours after the start of proceedings on the Motion for this Order;
(b) the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motion in the name of Lucy Powell relating to Scrutiny of European Statutory Instruments not later than one hour after the start of proceedings on that Motion; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved;
proceedings on these motions may continue, though opposed, until any hour, and may be entered upon after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Anna Turley.)
9Terms and Conditions of Employment
(1) Resolved, That the draft Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 20 January, be approved.—(Justin Madders.)
(2) Resolved, That the draft Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (General) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 20 January, be approved.—(Justin Madders.)
10Scrutiny of European Statutory Instruments
Ordered, That the following Standing Order shall be made:
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 17 of Schedule 7 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 the committee charged with considering draft instruments and related documents shall be the committee appointed under Standing Order No. 152 to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department laying the draft instrument or, in respect of an instrument or document laid by a Minister in the Cabinet Office, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
(2) A committee considering such a draft instrument or related document shall have the assistance of the Counsel to the Speaker.
(3) In its consideration of an instrument referred to in paragraph (1) the committee shall consider, in addition to such other matters as it deems appropriate, whether the draft instrument—
(a) contains any provision of the type specified in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 7 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to which the Act requires that a draft of the instrument must be laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament (the affirmative procedure);
(b) contains any provision of the type specified in paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 5 to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 in relation to which the Act requires that a draft of the instrument must be laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament (the affirmative procedure);
(c) otherwise appears to make an inappropriate use of the negative procedure;
and shall report to the House if it is of the opinion that the negative procedure should not apply.
(4) This Standing Order shall lapse—
(a) in so far as it relates to documents laid in accordance with paragraph 17(3)(b) of Schedule 7 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (and matters arising from the consideration of such documents), at the end of the period after which no more regulations may be made under section 23(1) of that Act;
(b) in so far as it relates to documents laid in accordance with paragraph 6(3)(b) of Schedule 5 to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (and matters arising from the consideration of such documents), at the end of the period after which no more regulations may be made under Sections 11, 12, or 14 of that Act.—(Lucy Powell.)
11Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 18 December 2024, be approved.—(Anna Turley.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 6 January, be approved.—(Anna Turley.)
Question agreed to.
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to the potential closure of the Gidea Park Library was presented and read by Andrew Rosindell.
Subject: Potential impact of US global public health policy on the UK and international health cooperation (Dr Danny Chambers)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Anna Turley.)
Adjourned at 4.41 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
14Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill Committee
Christine Jardine (Chair) reported:
(1) That the Committee had come to the following Resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and
(2) the Bill as amended.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 180).
15Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Committee
Mr Clive Betts (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 177).
16Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee
Esther McVey (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported the draft Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) 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).
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: Dr Marie Tidball discharged and Mark Ferguson nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Thursday 13 February 2025.
19Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 11 February, to be published (Bob Blackman).
20Business and Trade Committee
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Thursday 8 May 2025.
(1) Industrial strategy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 727);
(2) Correspondence from Bidfood relating to collective bargaining agreements: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Make Work Pay: Employment Rights Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 370);
(4) Rip-off Britain: Dynamic pricing and consumer protection: Written evidence, to be published (HC 700);
(5) UK arms exports to Israel: Written evidence, to be published (HC 548);
(6) UK Export Finance 2024–25 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published
(Liam Byrne).
21Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) British film and high-end television 2: Written evidence, to be published (HC 328);
(2) The work of the Department: Written evidence, to be published (HC 330)
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
Correspondence with the Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry relating to Harland and Wolff: Written evidence, to be published (Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
Children’s Social Care: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 430) (Helen Hayes).
24Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Animal and plant health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 611);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero regarding the Nuclear Energy Regulation Review and National Policy Statement: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The future of farming: Written evidence, to be published (HC 527);
(4) Reforming the water sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 588)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).
(1) Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 703);
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State relating to the selection of the UK candidate for the regular International Court of Justice election in 2026: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Written evidence, to be published (HC 488)
(Sir John Whittingdale).
(1) Pre-appointment hearing: Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration:
(i) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 713);
(ii) Oral evidence, to be published (HC 713);
(2) Correspondence with the Home Secretary relating to the Spending Review 2025: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Karen Bradley).
27Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) The funding and sustainability of Local Government Finance: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 514);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution relating to the Local Government Finance Settlement: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Rough sleeping: Written evidence, to be published (HC 339)
(Florence Eshalomi).
28International Development Committee
(1) The FCDO's approach to value for money: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 422);
(2) Correspondence with the Chief Executive Officer of British International Investment relating to BII funding of private healthcare providers: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Humanitarian access and adherence to international humanitarian law: Written evidence, to be published (HC 526);
(4) The FCDO's approach to displaced people: Written evidence, to be published (HC 525)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Family Justice and Marriage and Divorce relating to cohabitation and humanist weddings: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending relating to HMP Buckley Hall: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Spending Review 2025: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Rehabilitation and resettlement: Reducing the cycle of reoffending: Written evidence, to be published (HC 469);
(6) Tackling drugs in prison: Written evidence, to be published (HC 557);
(7) Work of the County Court: Written evidence, to be published (HC 677)
(Andy Slaughter).
(1) Memorandum relating to the Committee’s next steps: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) The work of the Committee: Written evidence, to be published
(Lucy Powell).
Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published (Jamie Stone).
32Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) The work of the Cabinet Office: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 463);
(2) Correspondence from the Ombudsman and Chair of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Review of the 2024 general election: Written evidence, to be published (HC 487)
(Simon Hoare).
33Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Work of the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 718);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Innovation, growth and the regions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 538)
(Chi Onwurah).
Outside employment and interests: Written evidence, to be published (HC 620) (Alberto Costa).
Shadow Great British Railways: Written evidence, to be published (HC 554) (Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Work of the Financial Ombudsman Service: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 685);
(2) Correspondence with the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to digital gilt: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) HM Revenue and Customs 2024–25 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: 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))
Resolved, That this House has considered the cost of energy.—(Wera Hobhouse.)
2Regulation of the bailiff sector
Resolved, That this House has considered the regulation of the bailiff sector.—(Mr Luke Charters.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.21 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Government advice on risks of carbon monoxide poisoning when travelling
The sitting was suspended between 2.33 pm and 2.46 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered Government advice on risks of carbon monoxide poisoning when travelling.—(Dr Al Pinkerton.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.28 pm and 4 pm.
4Access to universal and targeted youth provision
Resolved, That this House has considered access to universal and targeted youth provision.—(Harpreet Uppal.)
5Impact of planned changes to employer National Insurance contributions on police forces
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of planned changes to employer National Insurance contributions on police forces.—(Esther McVey.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.21 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ian Murray)
Draft Electronic Communications (Networks and Services) (Designated Vendor Directions) (Penalties) Order 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Chris Bryant)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 137), dated 10 February 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jim McMahon)
Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 134), dated 10 February 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 144), dated 10 February 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
Other papers
Department for Business and Trade Minute, dated 11 February 2025, concerning the notification of the parameters and contingent liability arising from the Green Growth Guarantee Scheme pilot (by Command) (Gareth Thomas)
Estimates of the maximum numbers of personnel to be maintained for service with the Armed Forces for the year ending 31 March 2026 (by Act), to be printed (HC 638) (Secretary John Healey)
Civil legal aid: Towards a sustainable future (by Command) (CP 1268) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Central Government Supply Estimates: Supplementary Estimates 2024–25 (by Command), to be printed (HC 655) (Darren Jones)
(1) Estimates for which a Vote on Account is required for Central Government Supply Estimates 2025–26 (by Command), to be printed (HC 656) (Darren Jones)
(2) Estimates for which a Vote on Account is required for the Electoral Commission for 2025–26 (by Act), to be printed (HC 706) (The Speaker)
Amendments, adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties, Geneva, 6–17 June 2022, to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (by Command) (CP 1272) (Secretary David Lammy)
Agreement, done at Brussels on 10 November 2023, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Belgium on the Gainful Occupation of Certain Family Members of the Personnel of the Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts (by Command) (CP 1273) (Secretary David Lammy)
Amending Agreement No. 2, done at Tbilisi on 2 and 14 December 2022, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Georgia Amending the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Georgia (by Command) (CP 1274) (Secretary David Lammy)
Explanatory Memorandum to the draft Immigration (Biometric Information etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (by Command) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Withdrawn papers
Civil legal aid: Towards a sustainable future (by Command) (CP 1243) (laid 24 January)
Explanatory Memorandum to the draft Immigration (Biometric Information etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (laid 21 January)