Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker's Statement: Fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine
2Questions to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
3Online Services (Age Restrictions) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Munira Wilson, supported by Victoria Collins, Ed Davey and Wendy Chamberlain, presented a Bill to make provision to restrict access to online services, including social media, by children in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Monday 9 March, and to be printed (Bill 391).
4Food labelling (halal and kosher meat): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to introduce compulsory labelling of halal and kosher meat and products containing halal and kosher meat; and for connected purposes;
That Esther McVey, Sir Roger Gale, Alberto Costa, Dame Karen Bradley, Sir Edward Leigh, Graham Stringer, Rupert Lowe, Sammy Wilson, Jim Allister, Lee Anderson and Sarah Pochin present the Bill.
Esther McVey accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 10 July, and to be printed (Bill 386).
5Opposition Day: Leader of the second largest opposition party (18th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the Government to lay before this House all papers relating to the creation of the role of Special Representative for Trade and Investment and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment to that role, including but not confined to any documents held by UK Trade and Investment, British Trade International (BTI) and its successors, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister’s Office containing or relating to advice from, or provided to, the Group Chief Executive of BTI, Peter Mandelson, the Cabinet Office and the Prime Minister regarding the suitability of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for the appointment, due diligence and vetting conducted in relation to the appointment, and minutes of meetings and electronic communications regarding the due diligence and vetting.—(Ed Davey.)
(2) Protections for children from online harms
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House makes provision as set out in this Order:
(1) On Monday 9 March 2026:
(a) Standing Order No. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that Order) shall not apply.
(b) any proceedings governed by this Order may be proceeded with until any hour, though opposed, and shall not be interrupted.
(c) the Speaker may not propose the question on the previous question, and may not put any question under Standing Order No. 36 (Closure of debate) or Standing Order No. 163 (Motion to sit in private).
(d) at 6.00pm, the Speaker shall interrupt any business prior to the business governed by this Order and, notwithstanding the practice of this House as regards to proceeding on a Bill without notice, call the leader of the second largest opposition party or another Member on their behalf to move the order of the day that the Online Services (Age Restrictions) Bill be now read a second time.
(e) in respect of that Bill, notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time.
(f) any proceedings interrupted or superseded by this Order may be resumed or (as the case may be) entered upon and proceeded with after the moment of interruption.
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (19) of this Order shall apply to and in connection with the proceedings on the Online Services (Age Restrictions) Bill in the present Session of Parliament.
Timetable for the Bill on Monday 9 March 2026
(3)(a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be taken at the sitting on Monday 9 March 2026 in accordance with this Order.
(b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 8.00pm.
(c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 10.00pm.
Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put on Monday 9 March 2026
(4) When the Bill has been read a second time:
(a) it shall, notwithstanding Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme Order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put;
(b) the Speaker shall leave the Chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given.
(5)(a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chairman shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.
(b) If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put.
(6) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (3), the Chairman or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions in the same order as they would fall to be put if this Order did not apply—
(a) any Question already proposed from the Chair.
(b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed.
(c) the Question on any amendment, new clause or new schedule selected by The Chairman or Speaker for separate decision.
(d) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a designated Member.
(e) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded; and shall not put any other Questions, other than the Question on any motion described in paragraph (15) of this Order.
(7) On a Motion made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chairman or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.
Consideration of Lords Amendments and Messages on a subsequent day
(8) If on any future sitting day any message on the Bill (other than a Message that the House of Lords agrees with the Bill without amendment or agrees with any message from this House) is expected from the House of Lords, this House shall not adjourn until that message has been received and any proceedings under paragraph (9) have been concluded.
(9) On any day on which such a message is received, if a designated Member indicates to the Speaker an intention to proceed to consider that Message—
(a) notwithstanding Standing Order No. 14(1) any Lords Amendments to the Bill or any further Message from the Lords on the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments or on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under subparagraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(c) the Speaker may not propose the question on the previous question, and may not put any question under Standing Order No. 36 (Closure of debate) or Standing Order No. 163 (Motion to sit in private) in the course of those proceedings.
(10) Paragraphs (2) to (7) of Standing Order No. 83F (Programme Orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments to a conclusion as if:
(a) any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member;
(b) after paragraph (4)(a) there is inserted—
“(aa) the question on any amendment or motion selected by the Speaker for separate decision;”.
(11) Paragraphs (2) to (5) of Standing Order No. 83G (Programme Orders: conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings on consideration of a Lords Message to a conclusion as if any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member.
Reasons Committee
(12) Paragraphs (2) to (6) of Standing Order No. 83H (Programme Orders: reasons committee) apply in relation to any committee to be appointed to draw up reasons after proceedings have been brought to a conclusion in accordance with this Order as if any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member.
Miscellaneous
(13) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings on the Bill to which this Order applies.
(14)(a) No Motion shall be made, except by a designated Member, to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken, to recommit the Bill or to vary or supplement the provisions of this Order.
(b) No notice shall be required of such a Motion.
(c) Such a Motion may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(d) The Question on such a Motion shall be put forthwith; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (c) shall thereupon be resumed.
(e) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on such a Motion.
(15)(a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings on the Bill to which this Order applies except by a designated Member.
(b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.
(16) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.
(17) No private business may be considered at any sitting to which the provisions of this Order apply.
(18)(a) The start of any debate under Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) to be held on a day on which proceedings to which this Order applies are to take place shall be postponed until the conclusion of any proceedings to which this Order applies.
(b) Standing Order 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply in respect of any such debate.
(19) In this Order, “a designated Member” means—
(a) the leader of the second largest opposition party; and
(b) any other Member acting on behalf of the leader of the second largest opposition party.—(Munira Wilson.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 434
Ayes: 69 (Tellers: Tessa Munt, Bobby Dean)
Noes: 279 (Tellers: Nesil Caliskan, Taiwo Owatemi)
Question negatived.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 41A(3)), That, at this day’s sitting, Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the Motion in the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to Charter for Budget Responsibility.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Question agreed to.
7Charter for Budget Responsibility
Resolved, That the Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn 2025, which was laid before this House on 23 February, be approved.—(Torsten Bell.)
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme relating to College Fields in Madeley was presented and read by Adam Jogee.
Subject: Potential implications of the judgment in the case of Advocate General for Scotland v Mr Charles Milroy (Gavin Robinson)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Adjourned at 8 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
10Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill
Esther McVey (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 385).
11Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Desmond Swayne (Chair) reported the draft Merchant Shipping (General Lighthouse Authorities) (Increase of Borrowing Limit) Order 2026.
12Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Wera Hobhouse (Chair) reported the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) 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).
13Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2026)
Members: Stephen Morgan and Katie Lam discharged and Gen Kitchen and Rebecca Paul nominated in substitution.
14Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026)
Members: Jeff Smith and Graham Stuart discharged and Edward Argar and Catherine West nominated in substitution.
15Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Conferral of Functions) Regulations 2026 and draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026)
Members: John Whitby and Yuan Yang discharged and Dr Simon Opher and Jenny Riddell-Carpenter 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 24 February, to be published
(Nick Smith).
17Armed Forces Bill (Select Committee on)
Armed Forces Bill 2026: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1712) (Clive Efford).
18Backbench Business Committee
Bob Blackman reported,
(1) Estimates Days: That the Backbench Business Committee recommendation for the allocation of time for the consideration of Estimates on the fourth allotted day in the present Session (Order of 10 February and Standing Order No. 152J as amended by the Order of 2 February) is as follows:
That a day not later than 18 March be allotted for the consideration of the following Estimates for financial year 2025–26:
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (on the applications of Sarah Champion and Emily Thornberry);
Ministry of Defence (on the application of Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi); and
Department for Business and Trade (on the application of Liam Byrne)
(2) Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 24 February, to be published.
19Business and Trade Committee
(1) Post Office Horizon scandal: Justice for sub-postmasters:
(i) Sixteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1589);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1589);
(2) Appointment of the Chair of the Competition and Markets Authority: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1723);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Digital Economy relating to the mobile markets review call for evidence and the laying of the draft statement of strategic priorities for telecoms, radio and postal services: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection relating to the Hospitality Support Scheme: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Trade relating to the export licence granted to Cygnet Texkimp: Written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published;
(6) The UK’s trade sanctions regime: Written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 1724);
(7) UK trade with the US, India and EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 996)
(Liam Byrne).
(1) AUKUS: Written evidence, to be published (HC 841);
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry relating to a six-monthly update on the Army’s major programmes: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
(1) Historical forced adoption: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1713);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Children and Families relating to the PHSO’s safeguarding and whistleblowing procedural changes: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel into the death of baby Victoria Marten: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the public consultation on proposed changes to keeping children safe in education 2026 statutory guidance: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Chief Executive, Ofcom relating to Grok AI and protection of women and children online: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Early years: Improving support for children and families: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1264);
(7) Reading for pleasure: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1528)
(Helen Hayes).
22Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Mr Alistair Carmichael reported:
That the Committee had agreed that the negative procedure should apply, as proposed, to the instrument titled:
Plant Varieties Act (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
Record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on 24 February, to be published (Steve Barclay).
(1) From a Common Understanding to Common Ground: Building a UK-EU Strategic Partnership fit for the future: Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 857);
(2) Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 703);
(3) Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 385)
(Emily Thornberry).
(1) Combatting new forms of extremism: Written evidence, to be published (HC 903);
(2) Correspondence from the Independent Office of Police Complaints relating to implementation of the Cabinet Office review of the IOPC: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Policing and Crime: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Home Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Harnessing the potential of new digital forms of identification: Written evidence, to be published (HC 986)
(Dame Karen Bradley).
26International Development Committee
(1) The situation in Sudan: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 438);
(2) Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to Israeli restrictions on UNRWA and humanitarian organisations: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The UK’s International Climate Finance: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1561);
(4) Women, peace and security: Written evidence, to be published (HC 782)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Access to justice: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1247);
(2) Correspondence from the interim Chair of the Legal Services Board relating to the appointment of the Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State (Sarah Sackman KC MP) relating to Courtsdesk: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Alex Davies-Jones MP) relating to the Government’s violence against women and girls strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Serious Fraud Office 2025–26 Supplementary Estimates Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published
(Andy Slaughter).
(1) Correspondence with the Minister for Nature: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) List of closed e-petitions presented to the House, to be published;
(3) Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published;
(Jamie Stone).
29Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Propriety, ethics and the wider standards landscape in the UK: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 899);
(2) Cabinet Office 2025–26 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Civil Superannuation 2025–26 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Interim Chair, UK Statistics Authority relating to the Review of Board Effectiveness report: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Ombudsman and Chair, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman relating to the decision in response to PHSO women’s State Pension age investigation report: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary, Office for National Statistics relating to Office for National Statistics progress and plans: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman 2025–26 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme 2025–26 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published;
(9) UK Statistics Authority 2025–26 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published
(Lauren Edwards).
(1) Correspondence from the Minister of State relating to lowering the minimum age of train drivers: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to judicial review claim on noise emissions at Gatwick: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Supercharging the EV transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1583)
(Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Bank of England Monetary Policy Reports: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 419);
(2) Correspondence from the Bank of England relating to quantitative tightening: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The OBR: 15 years on: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1583);
(4) Work of HM Treasury: Written evidence, to be published (HC 687)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
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 the healthcare system in Gaza
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for the healthcare system in Gaza.—(Dr Simon Opher.)
2Foster care recruitment and retention
Resolved, That this House has considered foster care recruitment and retention.—(Rebecca Smith.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.29 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Impact of planning developments on local transport
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of planning developments on local transport.—(Victoria Collins.)
4Banking hubs in rural and post-industrial communities
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered banking hubs in rural and post-industrial communities.—(Ann Davies.)
At 4.30 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
5Impact of the 2016 EU membership referendum on the UK
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the impact of the 2016 EU membership referendum on the UK.—(Stephen Gethins.)
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)).
At 5.30 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.30 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
(1) Draft Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
(2) Draft Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sir Stephen Timms)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 155), dated 23 February 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 154), dated 23 February 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Papers laid under paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023
Proposal for an instrument titled Trafficking People for Exploitation (Amendment) Regulations 2026, with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Other papers
Direction to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in respect of the Hunterston B AGR Station Site (by Act) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
Report of the Press Recognition Panel on the Recognition System (by Command) (Secretary David Lammy)
Report on the number of unexplained wealth orders made by the High Court in England and Wales, and applications made to that Court for such orders, for the period May 2024 to May 2025 (by Act) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
CORRECTION
Monday 23 February 2026
The following item should have appeared before item 1 (Papers Laid):
Friday 13 February
Wildlife
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 132), dated 12 February 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)