Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
2Tributes to Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
3Statements: (1) Middle East update and UK-India relations (The Prime Minister)
(2) Northern Ireland Troubles (Secretary Hilary Benn)
4Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Secretary Hilary Benn, supported by Secretary John Healey and Secretary David Lammy, presented a Bill to make new provision to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 310) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 310–EN).
5Hospices and Palliative Care Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Alison Bennett supported by Helen Morgan, Helen Maguire, Dr Danny Chambers, Ian Sollom, Pippa Heylings and Charlotte Cane, presented a Bill to place a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure the availability of hospice services for all people at the end of life; to require the Secretary of State to report annually to Parliament on the adequacy of funding for children’s and adult hospice services, including an assessment of whether any funding increases are necessary to maintain such services; to require the Secretary of State to publish a five year plan for hospice funding; to make provision about the availability of specialist palliative care in emergency care services in hospitals; to make provision about supporting patients receiving palliative care in the community in certain circumstances; to require the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a workforce plan for hospice services; to require palliative care advice to be available through non-emergency NHS advice services; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 31 October, and to be printed (Bill 311).
6Young Carers (Educational and Employment Support) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Liz Jarvis supported by Daisy Cooper, Alison Bennett, Rachael Maskell, Mr Will Forster, Sorcha Eastwood, Dr Ellie Chowns, Cameron Thomas, Alex Brewer, Sarah Dyke, Siân Berry and Tessa Munt, presented a Bill to require schools to maintain a record of pupils with caring responsibilities; to make provision about support in schools for pupils with caring responsibilities, including requiring schools to designate a member of staff as having responsibility for supporting young carers; to require schools to provide specified academic and other support to pupils with caring responsibilities, including support in relation to public examinations and provision of counselling; to make provision about support for future employment for pupils with caring responsibilities, including through mentoring and a programme of skills development; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 31 October, and to be printed (Bill 308).
7Registration of births, deaths and marriages (Welsh language provision): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require that any birth, death or marriage certificate issued in Wales be issued bilingually in English and Welsh; to make provision for the issuance in England of birth certificates bilingually in English and Welsh where either parent named on the certificate is a Welsh speaker; to make provision for the issuance in England of death certificates bilingually in English and Welsh where the deceased person lived in Wales or was a Welsh speaker; and for connected purposes;
That Mr Alex Barros-Curtis, Tonia Antoniazzi, Gill German, Andrew Ranger, Carolyn Harris, Dame Nia Griffith, Liz Saville Roberts, Ben Lake, Ann Davies and Henry Tufnell present the Bill.
Mr Alex Barros-Curtis accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 31 October, and to be printed (Bill 309).
8Mental Health Bill [Lords]: Consideration of the Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee
New Clause NC2—(Zöe Franklin)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Deputy Speaker announced a time-limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47).
Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
New Clause NC 26—(Dr Danny Chambers)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 308
Ayes: 78 (Tellers: Tom Morrison, Zöe Franklin)
Noes: 327 (Tellers: Taiwo Owatemi, Gregor Poynton)
Question negatived.
As it was after 6pm, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Consideration to a conclusion (Programme Order, 19 May).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83E):
(1) That Amendment 40 be made (Question on any Amendment selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Dr Luke Evans.)
The House divided.
Division No. 309
Ayes: 163 (Tellers: Nick Timothy, Rebecca Smith)
Noes: 339 (Tellers: Taiwo Owatemi, Gregor Poynton)
Question negatived.
(2) That Amendments 34 and 35 be made (single Question on Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Stephen Kinnock.)
Amendments 34 and 35 made.
(3) That Amendment 41 be made (Question on any Amendment selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Dr Luke Evans.)
The House divided.
Division No. 310
Ayes: 164 (Tellers: Nick Timothy, Rebecca Smith)
Noes: 333 (Tellers: Taiwo Owatemi, Gregor Poynton)
Question negatived.
Consideration completed.
9Mental Health Bill [Lords]: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed, with Amendments.
10Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 902), dated 21 July 2025, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 July, be approved.—(Jade Botterill.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 17 July, be approved.—(Jade Botterill.)
Question agreed to.
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme relating to the safety of the A500 Audley slip road was presented and read by Adam Jogee.
Subject: Impact of the energy profits levy on north east Scotland (Harriet Cross)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jade Botterill.)
At 7 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jade Botterill.)
Adjourned at 7.28 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 October, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 31 October.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 October, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 29 May 2026.
General Committees: Reports
15English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill Committee
Sir John Hayes (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
16Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported the draft Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) 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).
17Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) Order 2025)
Members: Dan Jarvis discharged and Alex Norris nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
(1) Health and Wellbeing: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 937).
(2) Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on Tuesday 14 October, to be published
(Nick Smith).
19Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 14 October, to be published (Bob Blackman).
20Business and Trade Committee
(1) Financing the real economy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1220);
(2) Correspondence with Government Chief Commercial Officer relating to Fujitsu contracts: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Export led growth: Written evidence, to be published (HC 649);
(4) Post Office Horizon scandal: fast and fair redress: Written evidence, to be published (HC 341);
(5) Pricing, competition and consumer protection: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1073);
(6) UK economic security: Written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 835);
(7) UK trade with the US, India and EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 996)
(Sarah Edwards).
21Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) State of play: Elite deaf athletes and the Deaflympics: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 845);
(2) State of play: Live comedy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 844)
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Children’s social care: Government Response: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1350);
(2) The work of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted): Oral evidence, to be published (HC 539);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Children and Families relating to the cross-government response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report entitled Victims in their own right? Babies, children and young people’s experience of domestic abuse: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to disadvantage funding and free school meals: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Higher education and funding: Written evidence, to be published (HC 807)
(Helen Hayes).
23Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) Building support for the energy transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 734);
(2) Correspondence from the Department: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Planning for nuclear energy generation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1212);
(4) Unlocking community energy at scale: Written evidence, to be published (HC 394)
(Bill Esterson).
(1) The Home Office’s management of asylum accommodation: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 580);
(2) Tackling violence against women and girls: Funding: Government Response: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 1352);
(3) Combatting new forms of extremism: Written evidence, to be published (HC 903);
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Migration and Citizenship relating to the appointment of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls relating to the violence against women and girls strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Policing and Crime relating to the use of Taser 10 by police forces: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to the announcement of a national digital identity programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Correspondence with the Minister for Border Security and Asylum relating to asylum accommodation: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Karen Bradley).
25Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) The Funding and Sustainability of Local Government Finance: Government Response: Fifth Special Report, to be published (HC 1355);
(2) Housing conditions in England: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1154);
(3) Affordability of home ownership: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1208);
(4) Grenfell and building safety: Written evidence, to be published (HC 780);
(5) Property management companies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 980)
(Florence Eshalomi).
26International Development Committee
(1) Assessing Value, Ensuring Impact: The FCDO's Approach to Value for Money in Official Development Assistance: Seventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 422);
(2) Women, peace and security: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 782);
(3) Correspondence with the Chair of the APPG on Sudan and South Sudan relating to the humanitarian situation in Sudan: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister of State for International Development and Africa relating to the FCDO’s response to the Committee’s Report on The Government’s efforts to achieve SDG2: Zero Hunger: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Global Health Challenges and the UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1185);
(6) The UK’s development partnership with Nigeria: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1225)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Work of the County Court: Government Response: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 1387);
(2) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending relating to the prison probation, youth justice and court custody scrutiny bodies landscape: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Baroness Levitt) relating to wedding reform: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Section 28: Pre-recorded cross-examination: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1280)
(Andy Slaughter).
28National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on)
(1) National Security Strategy: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1045);
(2) Defending Democracy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 720);
(3) Ransomware: Written evidence, to be published (HC 721)
(Matt Western).
(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).
30Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Review of the 2024 general election: Government and the Electoral Commission Responses: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 1348);
(2) The work of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists: Oral evidence to be published (HC 1346);
(3) Correspondence from Darren Tierney, Permanent Secretary, Office for National Statistics, relating to an update on the Office for National Statistics: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for the Cabinet Office and HM Paymaster General relating to the appointment of the new Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, Royal Economic Society, Royal Statistical Society and Sense about Science relating to the independence of the UK’s statistical system: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster relating to Cabinet Office vetting of Lord Mandelson: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Propriety, ethics and the wider standards landscape in the UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 899);
(8) Public Bodies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 553);
(9) The work of the UK Statistics Authority: Written evidence, to be published (HC 847)
(Simon Hoare).
31Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms: Government Response: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 1397);
(2) Digital centre of government: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 790);
(3) Innovation showcase: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 523);
(4) Correspondence with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on insect decline and food security: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Department: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Chi Onwurah).
(1) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Gatwick Airport Development Consent Order decision: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Driving test availability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 437);
(3) Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles: Part of written evidence, to be published (HC 1224);
(4) Skills for transport manufacturing: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1223)
(Ruth Cadbury)
(1) Budget 2025: Tax: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1349);
(2) Bank of England Monetary Policy Reports: Written evidence, to be published (HC 419);
(3) Correspondence from the Rt Hon Gordon Brown relating to gambling taxation consultation: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Work of the Financial Conduct Authority: Written evidence, to be published (HC 417)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
34Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Female entrepreneurship: Eighth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 711);
(2) Access to British Sign Language: Written evidence, to be published (HC 987);
(3) Female genital mutilation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 714);
(4) Gendered Islamophobia: Written evidence, to be published (HC 571);
(5) Health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures: Written evidence, to be published (HC 869);
(6) Misogyny: the manosphere and online content: Written evidence, to be published (HC 867);
(7) Reproductive health conditions: girls and young women: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1267)
(Sarah Owen).
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))
1Potential merits of returning international rail services to Ashford
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of returning international rail services to Ashford.—(Helena Dollimore.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.52 am and 11.00 am.
2Support for people with postural tachycardia syndrome
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of support for people with postural tachycardia.—(Cat Smith.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.29 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 1
Resolved, That this House has considered the Independent Review of Criminal Courts: Part 1.—(Sir Jeremy Wright.)
4Potential merits of a child risk disclosure scheme
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the potential merits of a child risk disclosure scheme.—(Liz Twist.)
At 4.30 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
5COP30 and global food system transformation
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered COP30 and the global food system transformation.—(Pippa Heylings.)
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 COP30 and the global food system transformation.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.29 pm until tomorrow.
Judith Cummins
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Hilary Benn)
Draft Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Draft Modifications to the Standard Conditions of Gas and Electricity Supply Licences, the Smart Energy Code and the Conditions of the Smart Meter Communication Licences (Smart Meters No. 3 of 2025), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
4Financial Services and Markets
Public Offers and Admissions to Trading (Amendment and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1076), dated 13 October 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Rigby)
(1) Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1067), dated 9 October 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
(2) Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1068), dated 9 October 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
(3) Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command), to be printed (HC 1333) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1077), dated 13 October 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sir Stephen Timms)
Other papers
7Cities and Local Government Devolution
Report by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on English Devolution for 2024–25 (by Act) (Miatta Fahnbulleh)
Government Response to the First Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights: Proposal for a Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2003 (Remedial) Order 2024 (by Act) (Secretary Hilary Benn)
Report and Accounts of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
Withdrawn papers
Report and Accounts of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust for 2024–25 (by Act) (laid 3 September)