Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Wales
(2) the Prime Minister
2Statements: (1) Warm Homes Plan (Secretary Ed Miliband)
(2) Water White Paper (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
3Rail Passengers’ Charter: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish a Rail Passengers’ Charter, setting out certain guarantees and targets in relation to the provision of passenger rail services; to make provision for penalties for failures to comply with the Charter; and for connected purposes;
That Olly Glover, Edward Morello, Mr Will Forster, Helen Morgan, Steff Aquarone, Helen Maguire, Zöe Franklin, Daisy Cooper, Ian Roome, Martin Wrigley, Charlotte Cane and Liz Jarvis present the Bill.
Olly Glover accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 370).
4National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 17 December 2025).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 (Employer pensions contributions pursuant to optional remuneration arrangements: Great Britain)
Amendment 5 proposed.—(Mark Garnier.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 414
Ayes: 191 (Tellers: Katie Lam, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Noes: 326 (Tellers: Nesil Caliskan, Mark Ferguson)
Question negatived.
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clauses 2 and 3 agreed to.
New Clause NC5—(Charlie Maynard)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 415
Ayes: 195 (Tellers: Zöe Franklin, Susan Murray)
Noes: 317 (Tellers: Nesil Caliskan, Mark Ferguson)
Question negatived.
Bill to be reported.
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Nesil Caliskan reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
5National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Third Reading
Motion made and Question put, That the Bill be read the third time.
The House divided.
Division No. 416
Ayes: 316 (Tellers: Mark Ferguson, Nesil Caliskan)
Noes: 194 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Question agreed to and Bill passed.
6Business of the House (Today)
Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 16(1) (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), proceedings on the motion in the name of Secretary Hilary Benn relating to Northern Ireland shall be brought to a conclusion no later than three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order; the Speaker shall then put the Question necessary to dispose of proceedings on that motion; such proceedings may be entered upon and may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Sir Alan Campbell.)
Motion made and Question proposed, That the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 14 October 2025, be approved.—(Secretary Hilary Benn.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 417
Ayes: 373 (Tellers: Nesil Caliskan, Mark Ferguson)
Noes: 106 (Tellers: James Wild, Harriet Cross)
Question agreed to.
Resolved, That the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 14 October 2025, be approved.
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Carer’s Assistance) (Consequential Modifications) Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 8 December 2025, be approved.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 15 December 2025, be approved.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Anti-social behaviour on canals and rivers in Bath (Wera Hobhouse)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Adjourned at 7.55 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
10Crown Estate (Wales) Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to transfer responsibility for the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Changes to Notices Given
11Exemption from Value Added Tax (Public Electric Vehicle Charging Points) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 February.
12Children’s Clothing (Value Added Tax) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 February.
13Public Sector Exit Payments (Limitation) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 30 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 February.
14Highways Act 1980 (Amendment) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 30 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 February.
General Committees: Reports
15Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Karl Turner (Chair) reported the draft Non-Domestic Rating (Chargeable Amounts) (England) Regulations 2026.
16Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Christine Jardine (Chair) reported the draft Medical Devices (Fees Amendment) 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).
17Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Committee
Members: Dan Aldridge, David Chadwick, Andrew Cooper, Emily Darlington, Dr Allison Gardner, Alison Griffiths, Lincoln Jopp, Preet Kaur Gill, Kanishka Narayan, Taiwo Owatemi, Mike Reader, Dave Robertson, Dr Ben Spencer, Bradley Thomas, Matt Turmaine, Freddie van Mierlo and Chris Vince
18First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026)
Members: Sadik Alhassan, Rachel Blake, Claire Coutinho, Harriet Cross, Tim Farron, Mary Glindon, Amanda Hack, Paulette Hamilton, Pippa Heylings, Kim Leadbeater, Chris McDonald, Perran Moon, Gregor Poynton, Gareth Snell, Graham Stuart, Bradley Thomas and Yuan Yang
19Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Order 2026 and draft Cumbria Combined Authority Order 2026)
Members: Lewis Cocking, Deirdre Costigan, Chris Curtis, Emily Darlington, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Tim Farron, Zöe Franklin, Jodie Gosling, Noah Law, Kerry McCarthy, Esther McVey, Dr Simon Opher, David Reed, David Simmonds, John Slinger, Harpreet Uppal and Jo White
20Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Non-Domestic Rating (Chargeable Amounts) (England) Regulations 2026)
Members: Marsha de Cordova and Jonathan Hinder discharged and Oliver Ryan and Sean Woodcock nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
Correspondence with the Minister for the Armed Forces relating to the Armed Forces Bill: Written evidence, to be published (Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
22Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
The cost of energy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 736) (Bill Esterson).
23Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Revised Environmental Improvement Plan: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1622);
(2) Airport expansion and climate and nature targets: Written evidence, to be published (HC 831)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
24Health and Social Care Committee
(1) The Work of the General Medical Council: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1611);
(2) Correspondence from the Department: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Food and weight management: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1181);
(4) Healthy ageing: physical activity in an ageing society: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1180)
(Layla Moran).
Routes to settlement: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1409) (Dame Karen Bradley).
26Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Human rights and the regulation of Artificial Intelligence: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1262);
(2) Human rights of children in the social care system in England: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1218);
(3) Correspondence from the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner relating to the consultation on the legal framework: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Hanson of Flint) relating to the Crime and Policing Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Security Minister relating to the proscription of Palestine Action: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025: Second Report: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1438);
(7) Legislative scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1437);
(8) Work of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International at Ministry of Justice: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1549)
(Sir Desmond Swayne).
27Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) Policing and security in Northern Ireland: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1341);
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities relating to the Local Regeneration Fund: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Local growth fund: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1415)
(Simon Hoare).
(1) Sub judice resolution in the House of Commons: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 933);
(2) Correspondence from the Leader of the House relating to Estimates day debates: Written evidence, to be published
(Cat Smith).
(1) The work of the Committee in 2024–25, and Industrial transition in Scotland: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1651);
(2) Draft Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026: Sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1652);
(3) The future of Scotland’s high streets: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1489);
(4) GB Energy and the net zero transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 459)
(Patricia Ferguson).
30Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Forty-fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291-xlv) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
Ruth Cadbury reported:
1) That the Committee has agreed that the negative procedure should apply, as proposed, to the instrument titled:
The Heavy Goods Vehicles (Charging for the Use of Certain Infrastructure on the Trans-European Road Network) (Revocation and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026.
2) Engine for growth: securing skills for transport manufacturing: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1223);
3) Correspondence from the Chair of the Office of Rail and Road relating to the December 2025 rail timetable: Written evidence, to be published;
4) Correspondence from the Minister of State relating to Access for All: Written evidence, to be published;
5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Chair of Network Rail: Written evidence, to be published;
6) Driving tests availability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 437);
7) Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1224);
8) Railways Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1472)
Work of the Prudential Regulation Authority: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 862) (Dame Meg Hillier).
The future of rugby for Wales: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1440) (Ruth Jones).
34Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Discrimination, harassment and abuse of Muslim women: Tenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 571);
(2) Female entrepreneurship: Government Response: Eighth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1640);
(3) Reproductive health conditions: girls and young women: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1265);
(4) Egg donation and freezing: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1503);
(5) Tackling non-consensual intimate image abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 336)
(Sarah Owen).
(1) DWP’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1654);
(2) Transition to State Pension age: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1482)
(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))
1Animal welfare strategy for England
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the animal welfare strategy for England.—(Samantha Niblett.)
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 the animal welfare strategy for England.
2Dementia support in Hampshire
Resolved, That this House has considered dementia support in Hampshire.—(Liz Jarvis.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Potential merits of referendums on local government re-organisation
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the potential merits of referendums on local government re-organisation.—(Mr Peter Bedford.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.36 pm and 3.55 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
The debate was resumed.
The sitting was suspended between 4.02 pm and 4.11 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of referendums on local government re-organisation.
Resolved, That this House has considered the UK wine industry.—(Tristan Osborne.)
5Government support for waste collection in Birmingham and the West Midlands
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for waste collection in Birmingham and the West Midlands.—(Wendy Morton.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 6.07 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Higher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Josh MacAlister)
Draft Merchant Shipping (General Lighthouse Authorities) (Increase of Borrowing Limit) Order 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Treatment of Conformity Assessment Bodies (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of India) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 40), dated 19 January 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Chris Bryant)
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, done in Buckinghamshire on 24 July 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of India (CP 1496) (by Command), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Draft Essex (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)
Employment Rights Act 2025 (Minimum Service Levels) (Consequential Revocation) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 42), dated 19 January 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kate Dearden)
Papers laid under paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023
Proposal for an instrument titled Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2026, with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Other papers
8Energy, Security and Net Zero
(1) The Fuel Poverty Strategy for England (by Command) (CP 1497) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
(2) Warm Homes Plan (by Command) (CP 1470) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
9Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Draft Plan of the Competition and Markets Authority for 2026–27 (by Act) (Kate Dearden)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Revenue and Customs: Administration of Welsh rates of income tax for 2024–25 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1598) (Clerk of the House)