Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker's Statement: Retirement of Colin Lee
2Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
3Public Office (Accountability) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Secretary David Lammy, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Pat McFadden, Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Secretary Peter Kyle, Secretary Lisa Nandy, James Murray, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Alex Davies-Jones, Josh Simons, Anna Turley and Chris Ward, presented a Bill to impose a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness; to make provision for the enforcement of that duty in their dealings with inquiries and investigations; to require public authorities to promote and take steps to maintain ethical conduct within all parts of the authority; to create an offence in relation to public authorities and public officials who mislead the public; to create further offences in relation to the misconduct of persons who hold public office and to abolish the common law offence of misconduct in public office; to make provision enabling persons to participate at inquiries and investigations where the conduct of public authorities may be in issue; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Monday 13 October, and to be printed (Bill 306) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 306–EN).
4Emergency Debate (Standing Order No. 24)
Appointment process and the circumstances leading to the dismissal of the former United Kingdom Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the appointment process and the circumstances leading to the dismissal of the former United Kingdom Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson.—(David Davis.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put and agreed to.
5Child poverty strategy (removal of two child limit): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Motion made and Question proposed, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish a child poverty strategy which includes proposals for removing the limit on the number of children or qualifying young persons included in the calculation of an award of Universal Credit; and for connected purposes.—(Kirsty Blackman.)
Motion opposed (Standing Order No. 23(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 305
Ayes: 89 (Tellers: Kirsty Blackman, Graham Leadbitter)
Noes: 79 (Tellers: James Wild, Lincoln Jopp)
Question agreed to.
Ordered, That Kirsty Blackman, Brian Leishman, Jim Shannon, Claire Hanna, Siân Berry, Liz Saville Roberts, Jeremy Corbyn, Sorcha Eastwood, Stephen Flynn, Pete Wishart, Brendan O’Hara and John Milne present the Bill.
Kirsty Blackman accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 7 November, and to be printed (Bill 307).
6Sentencing Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the Sentencing Bill be now read a second time.
Amendment proposed, to leave out from ‘That’ to the end of the Question and add ‘That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Sentencing Bill, despite supporting measures to better identify domestic abusers on sentencing, because the Bill will lead to an increase in the number of dangerous criminals on the streets, putting the public, particularly women and girls, at risk, and this is compounded by HM Inspectorate of Probation’s finding that HM Prison and Probation Service ‘requires improvement’ meaning it is not equipped to deal with the further pressures imposed by this Bill; because the Bill will undermine public confidence, particularly victims’ confidence, in the criminal justice system by enabling serious violent and sexual offenders to be released from prison early, and repealing measures to ensure law-enforcement and victims’ perspectives are secured in parole decisions; and will cause further loss of public trust in the criminal justice system because it will not end the scandal of identity-based sentencing.’.—(Robert Jenrick.)
At 7 pm the debate was interrupted.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 15(2)), That, at this day’s sitting, Second Reading of the Sentencing Bill may be proceeded with, though opposed, until 9 pm.—(Nesil Caliskan.)
Question agreed to.
8Sentencing Bill: Second Reading (resumed)
The House resumed the debate.
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 306
Ayes: 78 (Tellers: James Wild, Lincoln Jopp)
Noes: 292 (Tellers: Christian Wakeford, Deirdre Costigan)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), That the Bill be now read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 307
Ayes: 340 (Tellers: Christian Wakeford, Deirdre Costigan)
Noes: 77 (Tellers: James Wild, Lincoln Jopp)
Question agreed to and Bill read a second time.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Sentencing Bill:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House.
Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, on Consideration and on Third Reading
(2) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken in two days in accordance with the following provisions of this Order.
(3) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House shall be taken on the first day and shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on the first day.
(4) Any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken on the second day.
(5) Any proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the second day.
(6) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on the second day.
(7) 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
(8) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Claire Hughes.)
Question agreed to.
King’s Recommendation signified.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Sentencing Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of:
(1) expenditure incurred in connection with the deportation of foreign criminals;
(2) expenditure incurred in connection with the processing of information about foreign criminals.—(Claire Hughes.)
Question agreed to.
11Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 10 July, be approved.—(Claire Hughes.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North constituency relating to Plan for Neighbourhoods funding was presented and read by Liam Byrne.
(2) A public petition from residents of the Suffolk Coastal constituency relating to road safety near primary schools in Suffolk Coastal was presented and read by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter.
(3) A public petition from residents of Tatton relating to peatland protection was presented and read by Esther McVey.
Subject: Professional standards in the police (Ben Maguire)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Claire Hughes.)
Adjourned at 8.41 pm until Monday 13 October (Order, 8 July).
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
14English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill Committee
Valerie Vaz (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.
15Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Clive Efford (Chair) reported the draft Aviation Safety (Amendment) 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).
16English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Programming Sub-Committee)
Members: Sam Carling, Deirdre Costigan, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Paul Holmes, Manuela Perteghella, Mike Reader, Harpreet Uppal
17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025)
Members: Bradley Thomas discharged and Sir John Hayes nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on Tuesday 16 September, to be published (Nick Smith).
19Backbench Business Committee
Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 14 October and Tuesday 21 October in Westminster Hall (Bob Blackman).
20Business and Trade Committee
(1) Export led growth: Trade with the Asia-Pacific Region: Government Response: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1324);
(2) Small business strategy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1057);
(3) Arms exports to Israel: Written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 1307);
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets relating to the Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Make Work Pay: Employment Rights Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 370);
(6) The role of regulators: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1219)
(Liam Byrne).
(1) Further Education and Skills:
(i) Sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 666);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 666);
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Homelessness and Democracy relating to Disabled Facilities Grant: Consultation on Funding Allocation Formula: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Higher Education and funding: Threat of insolvency and international students: Written evidence, to be published (HC 807)
(Helen Hayes).
(1) Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 703);
(2) Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 385)
(Emily Thornberry).
23International Development Committee
Correspondence with the Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean relating to global debt reform: Written evidence, to be published (Sarah Champion).
24International Development Committee
(1) Aid for community-led energy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 849);
(2) Women, peace and security: Written evidence, to be published (HC 782)
(Brian Mathew).
(1) Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published;
(2) List of closed e-petitions presented to the House, to be published
(Jamie Stone).
26Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Life sciences investment: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1331) (Dame Chi Onwurah).
Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections: Written evidence, to be published (HC 570) (The Speaker).
Ruth Cadbury reported:
(1) That the Committee had agreed that the negative procedure should apply, as proposed, to the instrument titled:
The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025
(2) National Policy Statement for Ports: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1028);
(3) Delivering major infrastructure: learning from HS2: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1139);
(4) Licensing taxis and private hire vehicles: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1224).
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))
1International Day of Democracy
Resolved, That this House has considered the International Day of Democracy.—(Rachel Blake.)
2Coordination of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects for energy on the Suffolk coast
Resolved, That this House has considered the coordination of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects for energy on the Suffolk coast.—(Jenny Riddell-Carpenter.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Cultural contribution of London Fashion Week
Resolved, That this House has considered the cultural contribution of London Fashion Week.—(Rosie Wrighting.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.25 pm and 4 pm.
4Provision of religious crematoria
Resolved, That this House has considered the provision of religious crematoria.—(Susan Murray.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.17 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Impact of employment rights on businesses
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of employment rights on businesses.—(Lincoln Jopp.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.27 pm until Monday 13 October (Order, 8 July).
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) (England) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Draft Trade Act 2021 (Power to Implement International Trade Agreements) (Extension to Expiry) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Peter Kyle)
Other papers
Department for Business and Trade Minute, dated 16 September 2025, concerning the revised notification of a contingent liability relating to the extension of the British Business Bank Enable Guarantee Programme (by Command) (Blair McDougall)
4Financial Services and Markets
Report of the Financial Conduct Authority Cost Benefit Analysis Panel for the period May 2024 to March 2025 (by Act) (Lucy Rigby)
Statement of Strategic Priorities to Great British Energy (by Act) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
(1) Report and Accounts of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(2) Report and Accounts of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(3) Report and Accounts of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(4) Report and Accounts of Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(5) Report and Accounts of The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
Report and Accounts of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1322) (Nick Thomas-Symonds)
MEMORANDUM
RISK-BASED EXCLUSION POLICY
Pursuant to paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 164 (Risk-based exclusion policy), The Speaker has appointed Caroline Nokes and Graham Stringer to serve on the Risk Assessment Panel.
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Ben Lake |
1 September |
17 October |
Llinos Medi (16 September); Liz Saville Roberts (thereafter) |
|
Chris Vince |
13 October |
27 October |
Sir Nicholas Dakin |
CORRECTIONS
(1) Thursday 4 September 2025
The following item should have appeared in the list of Other Papers laid:
() Royal Albert Hall Bill [Lords]
Report by the Attorney General on the Royal Albert Hall Bill [Lords] (by Standing Order) (The Solicitor General)
(2) Wednesday 10 September 2025
Item 12 (Papers Laid) should not have appeared.
(3) Monday 15 September 2025
The following item should have appeared after item 21 (Select Committees: Reports):
() Foreign Affairs Committee
(1) The UK at the United Nations Security Council: Second Report, to be printed with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 930);
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Seema Malhotra) relating to the Biodiversity Beyond Jurisdiction Bill: Written evidence, to be published
(Emily Thornberry).