Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities
(2) the Prime Minister
2Reindeer (Licensing for Exhibition) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Sarah Dyke presented a Bill to provide that, for the purposes of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, domesticated reindeer are not wild animals; to make further provision about licensing in respect of the keeping or training of reindeer for exhibition; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 16 January 2026, and to be printed (Bill 347).
3Data publication and quality (immigration, nationality and country of birth): 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 collection and publication of data on immigration status, nationality and country of birth of certain persons, including relating to users of certain public services, claimants of certain benefits, the prison population, and arrests; to require that such data is published at least once per calendar year; to require the Secretary of State to review the quality and consistency of any such data collected and published; and for connected purposes;
That Katie Lam, Neil O'Brien, Chris Philp, Claire Coutinho, Matt Vickers, Sarah Bool, Lewis Cocking, Jack Rankin, Harriet Cross, Mr Peter Bedford, Mr Andrew Snowden and Bradley Thomas present the Bill.
Katie Lam accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 16 January 2026, and to be printed (Bill 348).
4Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (14th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) Seasonal work
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House regrets Government policies that are making seasonal, flexible and part-time work more difficult; notes that these policies particularly impact young people who are likely to start their first job in the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors, and specifically regrets Government policy to increase business rates on the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors; further regrets the Employment Rights Bill, with its provisions on guaranteed hours, and late notice cancellation of shifts, which will effectively destroy seasonal, flexible and part-time work; also regrets raising the rate of employer National Insurance contributions; regrets that 84,000 jobs in the hospitality sector have therefore been lost; and calls on the Government to cut public expenditure in order to abolish business rates for thousands of high street businesses, and not to proceed with the Employment Rights Bill so that it is easier for young people to get their first job, and easier for people to move from receiving welfare into work.—(Nigel Huddleston.)
Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out from ‘House’ to the end of the Question and add ‘notes the Government’s strong support for small and medium-sized businesses, including those employing seasonal workers; further notes that the Government’s Employment Rights Bill will help seasonal workers by bringing the UK’s outdated employment laws into the 21st century; welcomes the policy paper entitled Backing your business: our plan for small and medium sized businesses, which sets out a comprehensive vision for productivity and success; further welcomes action to tackle late payments through the introduction of the toughest laws in the G7, helping SMEs maintain cash flow during peak periods; supports measures to cut energy bills for SMEs through investment in clean power and reducing levies; commends investment in high streets via the Pride in Place fund, boosting footfall for seasonal trade; also notes consultations to reduce burdens on hospitality businesses; and further commends targeted support through the Business Growth Service to help SMEs access skills, finance and growth opportunities.’.—(Blair McDougall.)
Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 32(2)).
The House divided.
Division No. 389
Ayes: 98 (Tellers: Gregory Stafford, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Noes: 325 (Tellers: Taiwo Owatemi, Mark Ferguson)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31(2)), That the proposed words be there added.
The House divided.
Division No. 390
Ayes: 320 (Tellers: Mark Ferguson, Taiwo Owatemi)
Noes: 98 (Tellers: Mr Andrew Snowden, Gregory Stafford)
Question agreed to.
The Deputy Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
Resolved, That this House notes the Government’s strong support for small and medium-sized businesses, including those employing seasonal workers; further notes that the Government’s Employment Rights Bill will help seasonal workers by bringing the UK’s outdated employment laws into the 21st century; welcomes the policy paper entitled Backing your business: our plan for small and medium sized businesses, which sets out a comprehensive vision for productivity and success; further welcomes action to tackle late payments through the introduction of the toughest laws in the G7, helping SMEs maintain cash flow during peak periods; supports measures to cut energy bills for SMEs through investment in clean power and reducing levies; commends investment in high streets via the Pride in Place fund, boosting footfall for seasonal trade; also notes consultations to reduce burdens on hospitality businesses; and further commends targeted support through the Business Growth Service to help SMEs access skills, finance and growth opportunities.
(2) Conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Motion made and Question put, That this House calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to apologise for misleading the country about the state of the public finances, rolling the pitch for raising taxes, breaking her promises and increasing welfare spending, including her claim on 4 November 2025 that the OBR would be downgrading their productivity forecast which, as the Chancellor said, had ‘consequences for the public finances too, in lower tax receipts’, when in fact on 31 October 2025 the OBR had submitted its forecast to the Chancellor that showed tax receipts would be £16 billion higher than previously thought, resulting in the Government’s current balance target being met by a margin of £4.2 billion; further calls on the Chancellor to apologise for breaching the trust of the OBR, whose forecasts are shared in strict confidence until the Chancellor has given her Budget Statement; also calls on the Chancellor to apologise for the misleading briefings and leaks from HM Treasury in advance of the Budget Statement which caused uncertainty for families, businesses and investors; and calls on the Chancellor to apologise for breaking her promise after the last Budget that the Government was not going to raise taxes again, instead raising taxes in the 2025 Budget by £26 billion.—(Sir Mel Stride.)
The House divided.
Division No. 391
Ayes: 90 (Tellers: Jerome Mayhew, Gregory Stafford)
Noes: 297 (Tellers: Mark Ferguson, Taiwo Owatemi)
Question negatived.
5Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 30 October, be approved.—(Stephen Morgan.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 3 November, be approved.—(Stephen Morgan.)
Question agreed to.
6Statement: Resident doctors: Industrial action (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(1) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to pornography and violence against women was presented and read by Jess Asato.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of St Ives relating to a bank closure in Penzance was presented and read by Andrew George.
Subject: Potential merits of a public inquiry into Cammell Laird workers imprisoned in 1984 (Kim Johnson)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Stephen Morgan.)
Adjourned at 8.50 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
Order for Second Reading on Friday 12 December, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 March 2026.
General Committees: Reports
10Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Valerie Vaz (Chair) reported the draft Building Safety Regulator (Establishment of New Body and Transfer of Functions etc.) Regulations 2026.
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).
11First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2025)
Members: Danny Beales, Ms Polly Billington, Jade Botterill, Jess Brown-Fuller, Neil Coyle, Mr Will Forster, Mr James Frith, Paul Holmes, Patrick Hurley, Dr Kieran Mullan, Ben Obese-Jecty, Jake Richards, Baggy Shanker, Sarah Smith, Peter Swallow, Tom Tugendhat and Sean Woodcock
12Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Oil and Gas Authority (Carbon Storage and Offshore Petroleum) (Specified Periods for Disclosure of Protected Material) Regulations 2026)
Members: Andrew Bowie, Irene Campbell, Ben Coleman, Torcuil Crichton, Harriet Cross, Tim Farron, George Freeman, Gill German, Louise Haigh, Pippa Heylings, Adam Jogee, Rebecca Long Bailey, Gregor Poynton, Mr Connor Rand, Martin Rhodes, Michael Shanks and Bradley Thomas
13Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025)
Members: Sadik Al-Hassan, Mr Alex Barros-Curtis, Sarah Bool, Jess Brown-Fuller, Richard Burgon, Sam Carling, Amanda Hack, Sally Jameson, Sarah Jones, Sonia Kumar, Katie Lam, Alan Mak, Stephen Morgan, Luke Myer, Matt Vickers, Max Wilkinson and David Williams
14Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Building Safety Regulator (Establishment of New Body and Transfer of Functions etc.) Regulations 2026)
Members: Sarah Hall discharged and Josh Dean nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
15Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) The cost of energy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 736);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Unlocking community energy at scale: Written evidence, to be published (HC 394)
(Bill Esterson).
16Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Oral evidence, to be published (HC 852);
(2) Correspondence from the Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Department for Transport, relating to aviation decarbonisation and aviation’s non-CO2 climate impacts: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The UK and the Antarctic environment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 499)
(Barry Gardiner).
17Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Healthy ageing: Physical activity in an ageing society: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1180);
(2) Correspondence from the Care Quality Commission: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Department: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) The first 1000 days: A renewed focus: Written evidence, to be published (HC 802)
(Layla Moran).
18Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
Human rights of children in the social care system in England: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1218) (Sir Desmond Swayne).
19Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) Policing and security in Northern Ireland: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1341);
(2) The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 586)
(Tonia Antoniazzi).
(1) Work of the Leader of the House: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 509);
(2) Call lists: Written evidence, to be published (HC 536);
(3) Written parliamentary questions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1526)
(Cat Smith).
21Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Forty-second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291-xlii) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
(1) Railways Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1472);
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lilian Greenwood MP) relating to bus funding: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Simon Lightwood MP) relating to the Automated Vehicles Act: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence relating to electric vehicle charging bays: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to electric vehicles: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1224);
(7) Work of the Secretary of State for Transport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 346)
(Ruth Cadbury).
Budget 2025: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1349) (Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) Promoting Wales for inward investment: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 444);
(2) The environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 560)
(Ruth Jones).
25Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Work of the Social Mobility Commission: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1373);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls relating to the Angiolini Inquiry: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls on the tackling violence against women and girls strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Female entrepreneurship: Written evidence, to be published (HC 711);
(5) Tackling HIV transmission: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1249)
(Sarah Owen).
(1) Transition to State Pension age: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1482);
(2) The work of the Department for Work and Pensions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 344)
(Debbie Abrahams).
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))
1Government support for self-determination in Kashmir
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered Government support for self-determination in Kashmir.—(Imran Hussain.)
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 Government support for self-determination in Kashmir.
2Potential merits of banning small-scale fracking operations
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of banning small-scale fracking operations.—(Alison Hume.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.24 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10 (1)(b)).
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered AI safety.—(Iqbal Mohamed.)
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Resolved, That this House has considered AI safety.
Resolved, That this House has considered village schools.—(Manuela Perteghella.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.22 pm and 4.29 pm.
5International Human Rights Day 2025
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered International Human Rights Day 2025.—(Markus Campbell-Savours.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.48 pm and 5.11 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered International Human Rights Day 2025.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.46 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1287), dated 9 December 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Olivia Bailey)
Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1289), dated 9 December 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
Other papers
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Bank of England: Real Time Gross Settlement system renewal programme (by Act), to be printed (HC 1546) (Clerk of the House)
Report, Fitness to Practise Report and Financial Statements of the General Optical Council for 2024–25 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1359) (Secretary Wes Streeting)