Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
2Urgent Questions: (1) Gaza (Catherine West)
(2) Bounties on Hong Kong democracy activists resident in the UK (Dan Jarvis)
3Statements: (1) Iranian state threats (Dan Jarvis)
(2) Plan for neighbourhoods (Alex Norris)
4Housing estates: 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 for a right to manage for freeholders on unadopted private or mixed-use housing estates; to set minimum standards for public amenities on new housing estates; to make provision about the enforcement of those standards; to make provision about the adoption by local authorities of public amenities on new housing estates; and for connected purposes;
That Alistair Strathern, Emma Foody, Abtisam Mohamed, Yuan Yang, Connor Naismith, Amanda Hack, Ben Coleman, Tom Rutland, Callum Anderson, Mr James Frith, Luke Murphy and Mrs Sarah Russell present the Bill.
Alistair Strathern accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 13 June, and to be printed (Bill 190).
5Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: Allocation of Time
Ordered, That the following provisions shall apply to the proceedings on the Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill:
Timetable
(1)(a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken at today’s sitting in accordance with this Order.
(b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
(c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion five hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put
(2) When the Bill has been read a second time:
(a) it shall, despite Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put;
(b) the Speaker shall leave the Chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given.
(3)(a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chair shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.
(b) If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put.
(4) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (1), the Chair or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions in the same order as they would fall to be put if this Order did not apply:
(a) any Question already proposed from the Chair;
(b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed;
(c) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown;
(d) the Question on any amendment, new Clause or new Schedule selected by the Chair or Speaker for separate decision;
(e) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded;and shall not put any other questions, other than the question on any motion described inparagraph (15)(a) of this Order.
(5) On a Motion so made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chair or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.
(6) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (4)(c) on successive amendments moved or Motions made by a Minister of the Crown, the Chair or Speaker shall instead put a single Question in relation to those amendments or Motions.
(7) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (4)(e) in relation to successive provisions of the Bill, the Chair shall instead put a single Question in relation to those provisions, except that the Question shall be put separately on any Clause of or Schedule to the Bill which a Minister of the Crown has signified an intention to leave out.
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(8)(a) Any Lords Amendments to the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(9) Paragraphs (2) to (7) of Standing Order No. 83F (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (8) of this Order.
Subsequent stages
(10)(a) Any further Message from the Lords on the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) 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; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(11) Paragraphs (2) to (5) of Standing Order No. 83G (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (10) of this Order.
Reasons Committee
(12) Paragraphs (2) to (6) of Standing Order No. 83H (Programme orders: reasons committee) apply in relation to any committee to be appointed to draw up reasons after proceedings have been brought to a conclusion in accordance with this Order.
Miscellaneous
(13) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on the Bill.
(14) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings to which this Order applies.
(15)(a) No Motion shall be made, except by a Minister of the Crown, to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken, to recommit the Bill or to vary or supplement the provisions of this Order.
(b) No notice shall be required of such a Motion.
(c) Such a Motion may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(d) The Question on such a Motion shall be put forthwith; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (c) shall thereupon be resumed.
(e) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on such a Motion.
(16)(a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings to which this Order applies except by a Minister of the Crown.
(b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.
(17)(a) The start of any debate under Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) to be held on a day on which the Bill has been set down to be taken as an Order of the Day shall be postponed until the conclusion of any proceedings on that day to which this Order applies.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings in respect of such a debate.
(18) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.
(19)(a) Any private business which has been set down for consideration at a time falling after the commencement of proceedings on this Order or on the Bill on a day on which the Bill has been set down to be taken as an Order of the Day shall, instead of being considered as provided by Standing Orders or by any Order of the House, be considered at the conclusion of the proceedings on the Bill on that day.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to the private business so far as necessary for the purpose of securing that the business may be considered for a period of three hours.—(Vicky Foxcroft.)
6Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House (Order, today).
7Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Order, today).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 agreed to.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Order, today).
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Taiwo Owatemi reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
8Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: Third Reading
Pat McFadden signified King’s consent, as far as His Majesty’s prerogative and interest are concerned.
Bill read the third time and passed.
9Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Non-Domestic Rating (Levy and Safety Net) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 6 February, be approved.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Immigration (Biometric Information etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 21 January, be approved.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 21 January, be approved.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Question agreed to.
Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that His Majesty will re-appoint Dame Elan Closs Stephens as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from 13 March 2025 for the period ending on 12 March 2027.—(Lucy Powell.)
11House of Commons Members’ Fund
Resolved, That—
(1) the sum to be deducted from the salaries of Members of the House of Commons in pursuance of section 4(1) and (2) of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 2016 shall be 0.03% of the salary of each Member of the House of Commons; and
(2) that sum shall be deducted from the beginning of the financial year starting on 1 April 2025 and for each subsequent financial year thereafter (subject to any further resolution of the House of Commons under section 4(2) of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 2016).—(Chris Elmore.)
12Changes to membership of select committees
Ordered, That Mike Amesbury be discharged from the Modernisation Committee and Chris Vince be added.—(Lucy Powell.)
Subject: Trade diversion and Windsor Framework Article 16 (Jim Allister)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Adjourned at 6.03 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
14Vehicle Registration Offences (Review) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 7 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 13 June.
15Women, Peace and Security Bill [Lords]
Order for Second Reading on Friday 7 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 June.
16Public Procurement (British Goods and Services) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 7 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 June.
17Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 7 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 June.
General Committees: Reports
18Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill Committee
Graham Stuart (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
19Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords] Committee
Wera Hobhouse (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) written evidence.
Written evidence to be published.
20Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill Committee
Sir Desmond Swayne (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
21Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee
Peter Dowd (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
22Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir John Hayes (Chair) reported the draft Food and Feed (Regulated Products) (Amendment, Revocation, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025.
23Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Dr Rupa Huq (Chair) reported the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Belarus) (Revocation) Order 2025 and the draft Double Taxation Relief (Russian Federation) (Revocation) Order 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).
24Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords] (Programming Sub-Committee)
Members: Callum Anderson, Danny Beales, Chris Bryant, Victoria Collins, Kate Dearden, Sonia Kumar and Ben Obese-Jecty
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 4 March, to be published (Nick Smith).
26Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 4 March, to be published (Bob Blackman).
27Business and Trade Committee
(1) Industrial strategy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 727);
(2) Make work pay: Employment Rights Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 370)
(Liam Byrne).
28Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) The work of the BBC: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 331);
(2) State of play: Written evidence, to be published (HC 777);
(3) The future of the BBC World Service: Written evidence, to be published (HC 529)
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) The UK contribution to European Security: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 520);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to transparency: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
(1) Appointment of Professor Edward Peck CBE as Chair of the Office for Students (OfS):
(i) Third Report, with Appendices, together with the formal minutes relating to the Report, to be printed (HC 731);
(ii) Oral evidence to be published (HC 731);
(2) Children’s social care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 430);
(3) Solving the SEND crisis: Written evidence, to be published (HC 492)
(Helen Hayes).
31Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Animal and plant health: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 611);
(2) EFRA Committee strategy document: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Fairness in the food supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 589);
(4) Reforming the water sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 588)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).
Record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on 4 March, to be published (Mr Steve Barclay).
(1) The future of the BBC World Service: Written evidence, to be published (HC 384);
(2) The work of the British Council: Written evidence, to be published (HC 609)
(Emily Thornberry).
34Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) Disabled People in the Housing Sector: Government Response: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 761);
(2) The Finances and Sustainability of the Social Housing Sector: Government Response: Third Special Report, to be Printed (HC 762);
(3) Capacity of the construction sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 747);
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution relating to Bradford Council: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) The work of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Written evidence, to be published (HC 409)
(Florence Eshalomi).
35International Development Committee
(1) The FCDO's approach to displaced people: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 525);
(2) Correspondence with the Chief Executive Officer, British International Investment relating to BII funding of private healthcare providers: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Development and the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office relating to the future of the Integrated Security Fund: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Prime Minister relating to reductions to the ODA budget: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Humanitarian access and adherence to international humanitarian law: Written evidence, to be published (HC 526);
(6) The FCDO's approach to value for money: Written evidence, to be published (HC 422)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Work of the Ministry of Justice: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 750);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Sentencing relating to the Youth Remand Concordat and funding arrangements: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls relating to the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Chief Executive of HMCTS relating to the HMCTS Reform Programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to the National Audit Office’s report: Tackling violence against women and girls: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Correspondence with the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Work of the County Court: Written evidence, to be published (HC 677)
(Andy Slaughter).
37Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base: Government, UK Statistics Authority, Office for National Statistics and Office for Statistics Regulation Responses: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 757);
(2) Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations relating to cancellation of the campaign to appoint a new Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Review of the 2024 general election: Written evidence, to be published (HC 487)
(Simon Hoare).
(1) Access denied: rights versus reality in disabled people’s access to transport: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 770);
(2) Airports and economic growth: Written evidence, to be published (HC 709);
(3) Driving tests availability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 437);
(4) Rail investment pipelines: ending boom and bust: Written evidence, to be published (HC 575)
(Ruth Cadbury).
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))
1Cultural heritage of market towns
Resolved, That this House has considered the cultural heritage of market towns.—(Mr Bayo Alaba.)
Resolved, That this House has considered community sport facilities.—(Andy McNae.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.27 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Government support for Palestinian rights
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for Palestinian rights.—(Sir Edward Leigh.)
4Energy cost support for the ceramics industry in North Staffordshire
Resolved, That this House has considered energy cost support for the ceramics industry in North Staffordshire.—(David Williams.)
Resolved, That this House has considered bathing water regulations.—(Gideon Amos.)
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 Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 252), dated 3 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Darren Jones)
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 249), dated 3 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Papers laid under paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023
Proposal for an instrument titled Companies (Directors' Remuneration and Audit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Justin Madders)
Report and Accounts of Great British Nuclear for the year ending 31 March 2024 (by Act) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
Other papers
Report of His Majesty's Chief Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services on the Policing Inspection Programme and Framework for 2025–29 (by Act), to be printed (HC 664) (Clerk of the House)
Making Work Pay: Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay: Government Response to the consultation on the percentage rate for those earning below the current rate of Statutory Sick Pay (by Command) (CP 1275) (Secretary Liz Kendall)