Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities
(2) the Prime Minister
2Local Government Reorganisation (Requirement for Referendum) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr Peter Bedford presented a Bill to provide that any reorganisation of local government in England involving changes to electoral boundaries, the establishment of combined authorities, or other specified changes may not be undertaken unless such reorganisation has been approved by a simple majority of residents of any affected local government area voting in a referendum; to make provision about the organisation of such referendums; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 374).
3Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pension Scheme (Report) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Josh Babarinde, supported by James MacCleary, presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the potential merits of disregarding compensation received under the War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for the purpose of calculating entitlement to Pension Credit and to other means-tested benefits for which such payments are not disregarded in full; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 375).
4Flooding: 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 responsibilities and duties of certain authorities and agencies in respect of inland flood prevention; to make provision about the powers of local flood authorities and Internal Drainage Boards; to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the funding of local flood authorities and Internal Drainage Boards; to provide for the designation of Internal Drainage Board pumps as critical national infrastructure; to require the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a report on the potential merits of establishing a Flood Compensation Fund to support homeowners whose primary residence has become unsaleable as a direct result of flooding; to make provision about flood reinsurance schemes; to make provision about the responsibilities of developers and water companies in respect of the provision of drainage for new housing developments; to make water companies statutory consultees for certain planning applications; to place a duty on fire and rescue services to respond to flood events; to make provision about national and local digital mapping of flood incidence and risk; and for connected purposes;
That George Freeman, Nick Timothy, Jerome Mayhew, James Wild, Lee Pitcher, Helen Morgan, Dr Roz Savage, Steff Aquarone, Adrian Ramsay, Blake Stephenson and Dr Ben Spencer present the Bill.
George Freeman accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 10 July, and to be printed (Bill 368).
5Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (16th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) British Indian Ocean Territory
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House is opposed to the United Kingdom ceding sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory; believes that the United Kingdom should not give £34.7 billion to Mauritius when that money could be spent on the armed forces; further believes that the Diego Garcia British Military Base and Indian Ocean Territory Bill breaches the Exchange of notes constituting an agreement concerning the availability for defence purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory, London, 30 December 1966 with the United States, as does the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, and therefore that the Government should not proceed with the Bill; and also believes that Parliament must approve any changes to the 1966 Exchange of notes through the process set out under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.—(Priti Patel.)
The Deputy Speaker announced the results of the Division which had been deferred to this day (Standing Order No. 41A).
Medical Devices
That the draft Medical Devices (Fees Amendment) Regulations 2026, which were laid before this House on 16 December 2025, be approved.
Division No. 421
Ayes: 294
Noes: 108
Question agreed to.
7Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (16th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14)) (resumed)
(1) British Indian Ocean Territory
The House resumed the debate.
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 422
Ayes: 103 (Tellers: Paul Holmes, David Simmonds)
Noes: 284 (Tellers: Deirdre Costigan, Mark Ferguson)
Question negatived.
(2) Youth unemployment
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House regrets that both youth unemployment and the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training are rising as a result of the Government’s policies, such as increasing the rate of employer’s National Insurance contributions, reducing business rates relief for 2025–26 for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, and passing the Employment Rights Act 2025; notes that these policies have heavily impacted the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors where young people often have their first job; further regrets that the Government’s inability to reform the welfare system will mean that young people struggling to find work are more likely to become trapped in welfare benefits dependency; and calls on the Government to back business, scrap business rates for pubs and high street shops, and back job opportunities for young people.—(Helen Whately.)
Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out from “House” to the end of the Question and add “welcomes the Government’s commitment to invest in young people’s futures; notes that the UK has the second highest youth employment rate in the G7; recognises that the Government announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, consisting of £820 million of funding for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy; further welcomes that the expanded Youth Guarantee will reach almost 900,000 young people, including through Youth Hubs in every area in Great Britain and a new Youth Guarantee Gateway; further notes that this investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training; and further recognises that, as part of the Youth Guarantee, the Government is breaking the cycle of unemployment by guaranteeing paid work to around 55,000 young people aged 18 to 21 who have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months.”.—(Dame Diana Johnson.)
Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
The House divided.
Division No. 423
Ayes: 91 (Tellers: Paul Holmes, David Simmonds)
Noes: 287 (Tellers: Deirdre Costigan, Mark Ferguson)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31(2)), That the proposed words be there added.
Question agreed to.
The Deputy Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
Resolved, That this House welcomes the Government’s commitment to invest in young people’s futures; notes that the UK has the second highest youth employment rate in the G7; recognises that the Government announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, consisting of £820 million of funding for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy; further welcomes that the expanded Youth Guarantee will reach almost 900,000 young people, including through Youth Hubs in every area in Great Britain and a new Youth Guarantee Gateway; further notes that this investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training; and further recognises that, as part of the Youth Guarantee, the Government is breaking the cycle of unemployment by guaranteeing paid work to around 55,000 young people aged 18 to 21 who have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months.
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 16 December 2025, be approved.—(Nesil Caliskan.)
The Deputy Speaker's opinion as to the decision on the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until Wednesday 4 February (Standing Order No. 41A).
Subject: Distribution of education funding (Pippa Heylings)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Nesil Caliskan.)
Adjourned at 7.40 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills
10Crown Estate (Wales) Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 April, and to be printed (Bill 376).
General Committees: Reports
11Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Dr Rupa Huq (Chair) reported the draft Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Order 2026 and the draft Cumbria Combined Authority Order 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).
12First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2026 and draft Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Calculation of Non-Domestic Rating High-Value Multiplier) (England) Regulations 2026)
Members: Lewis Atkinson, Dame Karen Bradley, Kirith Entwistle, Mark Ferguson, Zöe Franklin, Natasha Irons, Sarah Olney, David Reed, Jeff Smith, Blake Stephenson, Will Stone, Adam Thompson, Dan Tomlinson, Laurence Turner, Michelle Welsh, Michael Wheeler and James Wild
13Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026)
Members: Andrew Bowie, Harriet Cross, Lauren Edwards, Tim Farron, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Anna Gelderd, Pippa Heylings, Kim Leadbeater, Chris McDonald, Navendu Mishra, Dr Simon Opher, Gregor Poynton, Joani Reid, Sir Julian Smith, Bradley Thomas, John Whitby and Steve Yemm
14Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2026)
Members: Fleur Anderson, Bambos Charalambous, Mr Luke Charters, Ben Coleman, Lizzi Collinge, Harriet Cross, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Tim Farron, Vicky Foxcroft, Pippa Heylings, Gerald Jones, Afzal Khan, Chris McDonald, Gregor Poynton, Greg Smith, Gareth Snell and Bradley Thomas
Select Committees: Reports
15Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Game on: Community and school sport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 593);
(2) Protecting built heritage: Written evidence, to be published (HC 594);
(3) State of play: Performing arts touring in the EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1627);
(4) The work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 330);
(5) Correspondence with ukactive: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
16Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) Unlocking community energy at scale: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 394);
(2) Managing the future of oil and gas: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1448);
(3) Work of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Written evidence, to be published (HC 396);
(4) Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure energy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 393)
(Bill Esterson).
17Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) UK-EU Agri-Trade: Making an SPS Agreement work: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1661);
(2) Fisheries and the marine environment: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 680);
(3) Reforming the water sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 588);
(4) Future of farming: Written evidence, to be published (HC 527)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).
18Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Office for Environmental Protection annual evidence session: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1622);
(2) Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Written evidence, to be published (HC 852);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Nature, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regarding the interim chair for the Office for Environmental Protection: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to the Water Reform Bill and white paper: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Revised Environmental Improvement Plan: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1622);
(6) The Seventh Carbon Budget: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1327)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
19Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Food and weight management: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1181);
(2) Correspondence from the Advertising Standards Authority: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Professional Standards Authority: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) NHS pilots: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1612);
(5) Palliative care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 632)
(Layla Moran).
Dame Karen Bradley reported:
(1) That the Committee had agreed that the negative procedure should apply, as proposed, to the instrument titled:
Firearms (Revocation, Consequential Amendment and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026;
(2) Harnessing the potential of new digital forms of identification: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 986);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Migration and Citizenship relating to changes to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Policing and Crime relating to neighbourhood policing management information: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Football policing: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1553).
21Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Legislative scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1437);
(2) Crime and Policing Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 830);
(3) The role of the Independent Public Advocate: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1614)
(Sir Desmond Swayne).
(1) Call lists: Fourth Report, with an Appendix, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 536);
(2) Electronic voting: Written evidence, to be published (HC 710);
(3) Written parliamentary questions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1526)
(Cat Smith).
23Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
The work of the Cabinet Office: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 463) (Simon Hoare).
24Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Forty-sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291-xlvi) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
Joined-up journeys: achieving and measuring transport integration: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1222) (Rebecca Smith).
(1) Mutuals: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1649);
(2) Financial Inclusion Strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1552);
(3) Work of HM Treasury: Written evidence, to be published (HC 687);
(4) Work of the Financial Conduct Authority: Written evidence, to be published (HC 417)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) Prisons, probation and rehabilitation in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 702);
(2) Promoting Wales for inward investment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 444);
(3) The environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past: Written evidence, to be published (HC 560);
(4) The future of rugby in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1440)
(Ruth Jones).
28Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Tackling HIV transmission: Government Response: Ninth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1663);
(2) Egg donation and freezing: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1503);
(3) Black homelessness: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1505);
(4) Community cohesion: Written evidence, to be published (HC 340);
(5) Tackling non-consensual intimate image abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 336)
(Sarah Owen).
(1) Transition to State Pension age: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1482);
(2) Employment support for disabled people: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1227)
(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))
1Children's services in local authorities
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered children’s services in local authorities.—(Mr Will Forster.)
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 children's services in local authorities.
2Non-compliance animal testing incidents in laboratories
Resolved, That this House has considered non-compliance animal testing incidents in laboratories.—(Michael Wheeler.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.25 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Impact of environmental, social and governance requirements on the defence industry
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of environmental, social and governance requirements on the defence industry.—(Jack Rankin.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.54 pm and 4 pm.
4Restoration of the Ivanhoe Line
The sitting was suspended between 4 pm and 4.06 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered restoration of the Ivanhoe Line.—(Amanda Hack.)
5Potential merits of mandatory medical markers for firearm license holders
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of mandatory medical markers for firearm license holders.—(Helen Maguire.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.31 pm until tomorrow
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Grants to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Ian Murray)
Police Grant Report (England and Wales) for 2026–27 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1638) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Other papers
Report and Accounts of the Office of the Small Business Commissioner for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1060) (Blair McDougall)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Ministry of Defence: The Ministry of Defence’s management of its losses from fraud and other economic crime (by Act), to be printed (HC 1596) (Clerk of the House)