Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Questions to the Home Secretary
2Statement: Official Secrets Act (Dan Jarvis)
3Application for emergency debate (Standing Order No. 24)
David Davis proposed that the House should debate the appointment process and the circumstances leading to the dismissal of the former United Kingdom Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson (Standing Order No. 24).
The Speaker put the application to the House.
Leave given.
Debate to take place at the commencement of public business tomorrow for up to three hours.
4Road Traffic (Horse and Rider Safety) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr Lee Dillon, supported by Sarah Dyke, Liz Jarvis, James MacCleary, Edward Morello, Martin Wrigley and Andrew George, presented a Bill to make provision about the required speed and distance for passing horses in a moving vehicle; to provide for the inclusion of equestrian safety in driving theory tests; to make provision about the teaching of equestrian safety in driving education; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 17 October, and to be printed (Bill 305).
5Employment Rights Bill: Programme (No. 3)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Employment Rights Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 21 October 2024 (Employment Rights Bill: Programme), as varied by the Order of 11 March 2025 (Employment Rights Bill: Programme (No. 2)):
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(1) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion five hours after their commencement.
(2) The Lords Amendments shall be considered in the following order: 22, 1, 7, 8, 21, 23, 106 to 120, 46 to 49, 60 to 62, 72, 121, 2 to 6, 9 to 20, 24 to 45, 50 to 59, 63 to 71, 73 to 105 and 122 to 169.
Subsequent stages
(3) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(4) Proceedings on the first of any further Messages from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after their commencement.
(5) Proceedings on any subsequent Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.—(Gen Kitchen.)
Question agreed to.
6Employment Rights Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments
The Deputy Speaker announced that Lords Amendments 66, 88, 90, 91 and 101 engaged financial privilege.
Lords Amendment 22
Amendment (a) made.
Amendment (b) made.
Lords Amendment 22, as amended, agreed to.
Lords Amendment 1
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 1.—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 293
Ayes: 326 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Deirdre Costigan)
Noes: 160 (Tellers: David Simmonds, Mike Wood)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 1 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 7
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 7.—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 294
Ayes: 330 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Deirdre Costigan)
Noes: 158 (Tellers: David Simmonds, Mike Wood)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 7 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 8
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 8.—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 295
Ayes: 316 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Deirdre Costigan)
Noes: 172 (Tellers: David Simmonds, Mike Wood)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 8 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 21 disagreed to.
Amendments (a) and (b) made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendment 21 disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 23
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 23.—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 296
Ayes: 329 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Deirdre Costigan)
Noes: 163 (Tellers: Mike Wood, David Simmonds)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 23 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 106 disagreed to.
Amendment (a) made to the words restored to the Bill by the disagreement to Lords Amendment 106.
Lords Amendments 107 to 120 disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 46
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 46.—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 297
Ayes: 314 (Tellers: Deirdre Costigan, Gregor Poynton)
Noes: 178 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 46 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 47
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 47.—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 298
Ayes: 327 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Deirdre Costigan)
Noes: 164 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 47 accordingly disagreed to.
As it was five hours after the commencement of consideration of Lords Amendments, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Lords Amendments to a conclusion (Programme Order, today).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).
(1) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 48 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 299
Ayes: 328 (Tellers: Claire Hughes, Mark Ferguson)
Noes: 160 (Tellers: Mike Wood, David Simmonds)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 48 accordingly disagreed to.
(2) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 49 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 300
Ayes: 332 (Tellers: Claire Hughes, Mark Ferguson)
Noes: 160 (Tellers: Mike Wood, David Simmonds)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 49 accordingly disagreed to.
(3) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 60 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 301
Ayes: 318 (Tellers: Claire Hughes, Mark Ferguson)
Noes: 170 (Tellers: Mike Wood, David Simmonds)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 60 accordingly disagreed to.
(4) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 61 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 302
Ayes: 330 (Tellers: Claire Hughes, Mark Ferguson)
Noes: 161 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 61 accordingly disagreed to.
(5) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 62 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 303
Ayes: 330 (Tellers: Claire Hughes, Mark Ferguson)
Noes: 161 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 62 accordingly disagreed to.
(6) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 72 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 72 accordingly disagreed to.
(7) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 121 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Secretary Peter Kyle.)
The House divided.
Division No. 304
Ayes: 316 (Tellers: Claire Hughes, Mark Ferguson)
Noes: 161 (Tellers: Mr Andrew Snowden, Rebecca Paul)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 121 accordingly disagreed to.
(8) That Lords Amendments 2 to 6, 9 to 20, 24 to 45, 50 to 59, 63 to 71, 73 to 105 and 122 to 169 be agreed to (Single Question to agree with all remaining Lords Amendments).
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendments 2 to 6, 9 to 20, 24 to 45, 50 to 59, 63 to 71, 73 to 105 and 122 to 169 accordingly agreed to, with Commons privilege waived in respect of Lords Amendments 66, 88, 90, 91 and 101.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H(2)), That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 1, 7, 8, 23, 107 to 120, 46 to 49, 60 to 62, 72 and 121;
That Andrew Griffith, Gen Kitchen, Secretary Peter Kyle, Anneliese Midgley, Sarah Olney, Dr Marie Tidball and Michael Wheeler be members of the Committee;
That Secretary Peter Kyle be the Chair of the Committee;
That three be the quorum of the Committee;
That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Deirdre Costigan.)
Question agreed to.
7Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port Examination Codes of Practice) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 9 July, be approved.—(Deirdre Costigan.)
Question agreed to.
8Changes to membership of select committees
(1) Ordered, That Joy Morrissey be discharged from the Modernisation Committee and John Lamont be added.—(Deirdre Costigan.)
(2) Ordered, That Pippa Heylings be discharged from the Environmental Audit Committee and Dr Roz Savage be added.—(Jessica Morden, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(3) Ordered, That Joy Morrissey be discharged from the Procedure Committee and John Lamont be added.—(Jessica Morden, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to the proposed expansion of Plymouth City Council into the South Hams was presented and read by Rebecca Smith.
Subject: Provision of council housing (Chris Hinchliff)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Deirdre Costigan.)
Adjourned at 11.29 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
11A34 Slip Road Safety (East Ilsley and Beedon) Bill
Bill withdrawn.
Reasons Committees: Reports
12Employment Rights Bill: Reasons Committee
Secretary Peter Kyle (Chair) reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reasons:
Lords Amendment 1
Because it is appropriate for workers who meet the qualifying criteria to receive a guaranteed hours offer without having to make a request for one.
Lords Amendment 7
Because it is unnecessary; the Bill already produces the effect provided for by the Amendment.
Lords Amendment 8
Because defining ‘short notice’ in the Bill would pre-empt consultation and limit the Government’s discretion.
Lords Amendments 23 and 107 to 120
Because it is appropriate for protection from unfair dismissal to apply from the beginning of a person’s employment.
Lords Amendment 46
Because it is inappropriate to make changes in the manner proposed to the protections for workers who make protected disclosures and to the duties of employers in relation to such disclosures.
Lords Amendment 47
Because requiring employers to permit workers to be accompanied at disciplinary or grievance hearings by persons other than trade union officials or other workers would likely lead to an increase in the cost, complexity and length of such hearings.
Lords Amendment 48
Because the amendment is unnecessary.
Lords Amendment 49
Because the amendment is unnecessary.
Lords Amendment 60
Because the existing legal framework does not prevent children from carrying out suitable voluntary work on heritage railways and tramways.
Lords Amendments 61 and 72
Because it is appropriate to remove the requirement for members of a trade union to opt in to contributing to the political fund of the union.
Lords Amendment 62
Because it is appropriate to remove the provision that industrial action is regarded as having the support of a ballot only if at least 50% of those eligible to vote in the ballot did so.
Lords Amendment 121
Because the Bill already enables employers to offer terms and conditions of employment that are more favourable than those determined by the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.
General Committees: Reports
13First Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Desmond Swayne (Chair) reported the draft Building Safety Levy (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).
14English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill Committee
Members: Gen Kitchen and Joe Powell discharged and Sam Carling and Deirdre Costigan nominated in substitution.
15First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025)
Members: Jerome Mayhew, Jess Asato, Harpreet Uppal and Mr Connor Rand discharged and Nick Timothy, Laura Kyrke-Smith, Chris Vince and Sean Woodcock nominated in substitution.
16Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Lizzi Collinge, Peter Prinsley and Dr Marie Tidball discharged and Matt Bishop, Peter Lamb and Sarah Smith nominated in substitution.
17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025)
Members: Mark Pritchard discharged and Bradley Thomas nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports relating to orders for printing made during the adjournment under Standing Order No. 137
Friday 12 September
18Business and Trade Committee
Correspondence from Asda relating to Wagestream: Written evidence, to be published (Clerk of the House).
The Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 385) (Clerk of the House).
Select Committees: Reports made on Monday 15 September
20Business and Trade Committee
Arms exports to Israel: Oral and written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 1307) (Liam Byrne).
21Environmental Audit Committee
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Tuesday 16 September 2025.
(1) Flood resilience in England: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 550);
(2) Progress on climate change mitigation and adaptation: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1320);
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office relating to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to the environmental impact of departmental spending bids: Written evidence, to be published
(5) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Toby Perkins).
22National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on)
Subsea telecommunications cables: resilience and crisis preparedness: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 723) (Matt Western).
23Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024–25: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1230);
(2) Correspondence from the UK Health Security Agency relating to the appointment of Susan Hopkins as Chief Executive Officer: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Jobcentres: Written evidence, to be published (HC 823);
(4) The cost of the tax system: Written evidence, to be published (HC 645);
(5) The remediation of dangerous cladding: Written evidence, to be published (HC 362)
(Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown).
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 4.30 pm.
Debate on an e-petition (Standing Orders No. 10(1)(a) and No. 145A(7))
1Assessments and support for children with SEND
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered e-petition 711021 relating to assessments and support for children with SEND.—(Dr Roz Savage.)
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)).
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 711021 relating to assessments and support for children with SEND.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 7.29 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 12 September under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1005), dated 11 September 2025 (by Measure) (Clerk of the House)
Other papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Advertising (Less Healthy Food and Drink) (Brand Advertising Exemption) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1011) (by Command) (Ashley Dalton)
Agreement, done at Davos on 25 January 2019, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Direct Insurance other than Life Assurance; and Decision by the contracting parties concerning the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Direct Insurance other than Life Assurance (by Command) (CP 1410) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Agreement, done at The Hague on 10 July 2020, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning Border Controls on Rail Traffic between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom using the Channel Fixed Link (by Command) (CP 1411) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Advertising (Less Healthy Food and Drink) (Brand Advertising Exemption) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1011) (laid 10 September)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 15 September
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1017), dated 15 September 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Samantha Dixon)
Other papers
8Government Resources and Accounts
(1) Report and Accounts of Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1274) (James Murray)
(2) Report and Accounts of the Department for Business and Trade for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1278) (James Murray)
(3) Report of the Government Property Agency for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1269) (Nick Thomas-Symonds)
Report and Accounts of the Royal Mint Trading Fund for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1016) (Clerk of the House)
Accounts of Insolvency Services and the Insolvency Services Investment for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1171) (Clerk of the House)
Report of the Law Commission on Disabled Children's Social Care (by Act), to be printed (HC 1287) (Secretary David Lammy)
(1) Report and Accounts of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(2) Report and Accounts of Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(3) Report and Accounts of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(4) Report and Accounts of Medway NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(5) Report and Accounts of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(6) Report and Accounts of Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(7) Report and Accounts of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(8) Report and Accounts of South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(9) Report and Accounts of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(10) Report and Accounts of St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
Report and Accounts of the National Lottery Distribution Fund for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1126) (Secretary Lisa Nandy)
14Self-Regulation of the Press
Report and Financial Statements of the Press Recognition Panel for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Command), to be printed (HC 1285) (Secretary David Lammy)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Layla Moran |
7 May |
6 October |
Wendy Chamberlain (16 September); Zöe Franklin (thereafter) |
|
Ms Diane Abbott |
2 September |
31 March 2026 |
Ian Byrne (15–19 September); Bell Ribeiro-Addy (thereafter) |
|
Nadia Whittome |
21 July |
30 September |
Ian Byrne (15–19 September); Bell Ribeiro-Addy (thereafter) |
|
Alicia Kearns |
10 December 2024 |
30 November |
Mr Gagan Mohindra (15–16 September); Joy Morrissey (thereafter) |
|
Patrick Spencer |
15 May |
14 December |
Mr Gagan Mohindra (15–16 September); Joy Morrissey (thereafter) |
|
Ben Lake |
1 September |
17 October |
Liz Saville Roberts (15 September); Llinos Medi (thereafter) |
|
Anna Dixon |
2 September |
17 September |
Sir Mark Tami (16 September); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Becky Gittins |
3 September |
23 November |
Sir Mark Tami (16 September); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Andrew Gwynne |
1 April |
1 December |
Sir Mark Tami (16 September); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Satvir Kaur |
4 September |
28 February 2026 |
Sir Mark Tami (16 September); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Dan Norris |
16 May |
16 December |
Sir Mark Tami (16 September); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Matthew Patrick |
1 September |
10 October |
Sir Mark Tami (16 September); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Naz Shah |
8 September |
13 October |
Sir Mark Tami (16 September); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |