Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker’s Statement: Speaker’s Chaplain
2Private Bills: Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time and committed.
3Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
4Urgent Question: Iran (Mr Hamish Falconer)
5Statement: Separation Centres Review (Secretary David Lammy)
6British-made bricks (proposals): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for measures to increase the use of British-made bricks in construction projects in the United Kingdom, including specific measures relating to the building of new homes; and for connected purposes;
That Adam Jogee, Henry Tufnell, Elaine Stewart, Dr Allison Gardner, Gareth Snell, Jacob Collier, Leigh Ingham, Samantha Niblett, Amanda Hack, Martin Vickers, Rachel Gilmour and Robin Swann present the Bill.
Adam Jogee accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 27 February, and to be printed (Bill 378).
7Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time.
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 424
Ayes: 458 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Deirdre Costigan)
Noes: 104 (Tellers: Mr Andrew Snowden, Alicia Kearns)
Question agreed to and Bill read a second time.
8Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House.
Proceedings in Committee, on Consideration and on Third Reading
(2) Proceedings in Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after their commencement.
(3) Any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after the commencement of proceedings in Committee of the whole House.
(4) 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
(5) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Jade Botterill.)
Question agreed to.
9Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Money
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 Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase in sums payable by virtue of any other Act out of money so provided that is attributable to the repeal of section 10(1A) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.—(Jade Botterill.)
Question agreed to.
10Statutory Instruments (Motions for Approval)
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2026, which were laid before this House on 7 January, be approved.—(Jade Botterill.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Calculation of Non-Domestic Rating High-Value Multiplier) (England) Regulations 2026, which were laid before this House on 7 January, be approved.—(Jade Botterill.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Impact of Government policy on the fish and chip sector (John Cooper)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jade Botterill.)
Adjourned at 7.48 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
12Meat (Information About Method of Killing) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 6 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 February.
13British Broadcasting Corporation (Privatisation) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 6 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 February.
General Committees: Reports
14Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Committee
Dr Andrew Murrison (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.
Wera Hobhouse (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
16Finance (No. 2) Bill (except Clauses 1 to 10, 62 to 69 and 83 to 86 and Schedules 1, 2, 12 and 13) Committee
Carolyn Harris (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 377).
17Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Jeremy Wright (Chair) reported the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026.
Select Committees: Reports
18Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 3 February, to be published (Bob Blackman).
19Business and Trade Committee
(1) Toward a new doctrine for economic security: Government Response: Fourteenth Report, with an Appendix, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1666);
(2) Small business strategy: Fifteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1057);
(3) Consumer protection: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1667);
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Small Businesses and Economic Transformation relating to audit reform legislation: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Export led growth: Written evidence, to be published (HC 649);
(6) Post Office Horizon scandal: Justice for sub-postmasters: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1589);
(7) UK trade with the US, India and EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 996)
(Liam Byrne).
20Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) State of Play: Performing arts touring in the EU: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1627);
(2) Correspondence with HM Treasury: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Protecting built heritage: Written evidence, to be published (HC 594);
(4) The work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 330)
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) One-off session on the future of warfare: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1682);
(2) AUKUS: Written evidence, to be published (HC 841)
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
(1) Foundations of Learning: replacing RAAC and securing school buildings: Seventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report, (HC 1399);
(2) Reading for pleasure: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1528);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Skills relating to Further Education ITE reform: Written evidence, to be published
(Helen Hayes).
(1) What can we learn from Venezuela?: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1686);
(2) Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 703)
(Emily Thornberry).
Routes to settlement: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1409) (Dame Karen Bradley).
25Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) Housing conditions in England:
(i) Housing conditions in the social rented sector: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1154);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1154);
(2) Property management companies: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 980);
(3) Affordability of home ownership: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1208);
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness relating to support for Thurrock and Woking Councils: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy relating to the Building Safety Regulator: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the postponement of local elections: Written evidence, to be published
(Florence Eshalomi).
26International Development Committee
(1) Future of UK aid and development assistance: interim report: Ninth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1330);
(2) Assessing Value, Ensuring Impact: The FCDO's Approach to Value for Money in Official Development Assistance: Government Response: Eighth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1669);
(3) Correspondence with the Minister of State for International Development and Africa relating to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean relating to the UK-Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) The UK’s International Climate Finance: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1561)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Minister of State (Sarah Sackman KC MP) relating to the Civil Justice Council review of litigation funding: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jake Richards MP) relating to the 2025 Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: Written evidence, to be published
(Andy Slaughter).
(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
(Irene Campbell).
29Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Propriety, ethics and the wider standards landscape in the UK: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 899);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions relating to the Government response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's investigation on State Pension age communications: Written evidence, to be published
(Simon Hoare).
30Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Innovation showcase: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 523);
(2) Work of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1673);
(3) Correspondence from Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear relating to UK-US life sciences deal: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Home Secretary relating to mobile phone theft: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence to the Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, relating to Iran internet access: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) The science and regulation of hair and beauty products and treatments: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1478)
(Dame Chi Onwurah).
(1) Financial Inclusion Strategy: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1552);
(2) Correspondence from the Department for Work and Pensions relating to State Pension age communications: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury relating to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Meg Hillier).
Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and opportunities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 785) (Ruth Jones).
33Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Reproductive health conditions: girls and young women: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1265);
(2) Egg donation and freezing: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1503)
(Christine Jardine).
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))
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered town and city centre safety.—(Baggy Shanker.)
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 town and city centre safety.
2Impact of taxation on small and medium-sized enterprises
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of taxation on small and medium-sized enterprises.—(Gregory Stafford.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
Resolved, That this House has considered transport in the South East.—(Jess Brown-Fuller.)
4Educational outcomes for disadvantaged boys and young men
Resolved, That this House has considered educational outcomes for disadvantaged boys and young men.—(Alistair Strathern.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.26 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report 2024
Resolved, That this House has considered the Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report 2024.—(Seamus Logan.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.21 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Forestry Act 1967 (Consent to Renewable Electricity Development) (England) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 89), dated 2 February 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Other papers
Government Response to the Report of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation on the Independent Review of Separation Centres (by Command) (CP 1504) (Secretary David Lammy)
Agreement, done at Vilnius on 18 May and 1 July 2021, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Lithuania on Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania for the Promotion and Protection of Investments done at Vilnius on 17 May 1993 (by Command) (CP 1505) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)