Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
2Urgent Question: Labour Together and APCO Worldwide (Darren Jones)
3Statement: Lord Mandelson: Government response to humble Address (Darren Jones)
4Deputy Speaker’s Statement: Government policy announcements
5Statements: (1) Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving (Secretary Bridget Phillipson)
(2) Local government reorganisation (Secretary Steve Reed)
6Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 15 December 2025).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 (Financial assistance for exports and overseas investment: commitment limits)
Amendment 1 proposed.—(Sir Iain Duncan Smith.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 429
Ayes: 161 (Tellers: Gregory Stafford, Rebecca Paul)
Noes: 272 (Tellers: Mark Ferguson, Imogen Walker)
Question negatived.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Clause 3 agreed to.
New Clause NC2—(Dame Harriett Baldwin)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 430
Ayes: 156 (Tellers: Gregory Stafford, Rebecca Paul)
Noes: 273 (Tellers: Mark Ferguson, Imogen Walker)
Question negatived.
New Clause NC3—(Mr Joshua Reynolds)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 431
Ayes: 77 (Tellers: Charlotte Cane, Tessa Munt)
Noes: 280 (Tellers: Mark Ferguson, Imogen Walker)
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.
7Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed.
8Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 3 February).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clauses 2 and 3 agreed to.
New Clause NC3—(Charlie Maynard)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 432
Ayes: 73 (Tellers: Charlotte Cane, Kirsty Blackman)
Noes: 286 (Tellers: Imogen Walker, Mark Ferguson)
Question negatived.
Bill to be reported.
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Lilian Greenwood reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
9Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
Motion made and Question put, That the Bill be now read the third time.
The House divided.
Division No. 433
Ayes: 361 (Tellers: Mark Ferguson, Imogen Walker)
Noes: 84 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Gregory Stafford)
Question agreed to and Bill passed.
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to coastal erosion in Start Bay was presented and read by Caroline Voaden.
Subject: Kinship carer identification (Tom Collins)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Lilian Greenwood.)
Adjourned at 11.25 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
12State-related Deaths (National Oversight Mechanism) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 27 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 20 March.
13Road Traffic (Horse and Rider Safety) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 27 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 April.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 27 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 March.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 27 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 March.
16Short-term Lets (Planning Permission) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 27 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 March.
17Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 27 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 March.
18Planning and Development (Community Infrastructure) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 27 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 27 March.
General Committees: Reports
19First Delegated Legislation Committee
Christine Jardine (Chair) reported the draft Caribbean Development Bank (Eleventh Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) 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).
20First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Caribbean Development Bank (Eleventh Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) Order 2026)
Members: Paula Barker, Cat Eccles, Sarah Hall and Susan Murray discharged and Sam Carling, Brian Mathew, Charlotte Nichols and Dr Simon Opher nominated in substitution.
21Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2026)
Members: Sarah Bool and Katrina Murray discharged and Maureen Burke and Charlie Dewhirst nominated in substitution.
22Fifth 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: Linsey Farnsworth discharged and Dave Robertson nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports relating to orders for printing made during the adjournment under Standing Order No. 137
Friday 13 February
23Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Animal and plant health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 611);
(2) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2025–26 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Fairness in the food supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 589);
(4) Fisheries and the marine environment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 680);
(5) Ofwat 2025–26 Supplementary Estimate Memorandum: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Preventing waste and enabling a circular economy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 929);
(7) The future of farming: Written evidence, to be published (HC 527);
(8) Work of the Department and its arm's-length bodies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 415)
(Clerk of the House).
Correspondence with the Lord Chancellor relating to criminal courts reform: Written evidence, to be published (Clerk of the House).
25Public Accounts (Committee of)
Civil service pensions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 888) (Clerk of the House).
Monday 16 February
26Business and Trade Committee
Correspondence with Royal Mail relating to Royal Mail deliveries: Written evidence, to be published (Clerk of the House).
Wednesday 18 February
Reform of the Criminal Court: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1602) (Clerk of the House).
Select Committees: Reports made on Monday 23 February
28Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1681) (Florence Eshalomi).
29National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on)
Defending democracy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 720) (Matt Western).
30Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Whole of Government Accounts 2023–24: Sixty-ninth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1243);
(2) Analysis of the asylum system: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1635);
(3) Civil service pensions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 888);
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services relating to the consultation on criminal legal aid fees for solicitors: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office relating to the interim arrangements for the role of the Cabinet Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary to the Department for Business and Trade relating to the DRIVE35 automotive programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary to the Department for Education relating to proposals for consolidated academy financial reporting: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Costs of clinical negligence: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1234);
(9) Environmental regulation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1687);
(10) Faulty energy efficiency installations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1229);
(11) Increasing police productivity: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1239);
(12) UK Research and Innovation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 826);
(13) Work of Ofwat: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1636)
(Mr Clive Betts).
Correspondence relating to cross-border education between England and Wales: Written evidence, to be published (Ruth Jones).
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 4.30 pm.
Debate on an e-petition (Standing Orders No. 10(1)(a) and No. 145A(7))
1Section 1 and 2 firearms licensing
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 750236 relating to section 1 and 2 firearms licensing.—(Ben Goldsborough.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 7.27 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to
Tuesday 24 February 2026.
Tuesday 17 February
Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) (Revocation) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 142), dated 17 February 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Thursday 19 February
Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 144), dated 19 February 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Lisa Nandy)
Other papers
Tuesday 17 February
Convention, done at London on 20 February 2025, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Principality of Andorra for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance (by Command) (CP 1517) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Wednesday 18 February
Explanatory Memorandum to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (Amendment) Rules 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 114) (by Command) (Secretary David Lammy)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 106) (by Command) (Secretary David Lammy)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Train Driving Licences and Certificates (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (by Act) (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement, done at Geelong on 26 July 2025, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Australia (by Command) (CP 1518) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Tribunal Procedure and Employment Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 115) (by Command) (Secretary David Lammy)
Thursday 19 February
Supplement to the Forty-Seventh Report of the Review Body on Senior Salaries 2026: Report No. 99 (by Command) (CP 1506) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
10Statutory Instruments (Notification)
Communication declaring that the undermentioned Statutory Instrument had come into operation before copies were laid before Parliament, and explaining why such copies had not been so laid before the Instrument came into operation: Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 144) (by Standing Order) (The Speaker)
Withdrawn papers
Wednesday 18 February
Explanatory Memorandum to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (Amendment) Rules 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 114) (laid 9 February)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 106) (laid 6 February)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Train Driving Licences and Certificates (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (by Act) (laid 10 February)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Tribunal Procedure and Employment Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 115) (laid 9 February)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 23 February
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Energy Prices Act 2022 (Extension of Time Limit) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Martin McCluskey)
Draft Major Sporting Events (Income Tax Exemption) (Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Utilities Act 2000 (Amendment of Section 105) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 149), dated 19 February 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
18North Macedonia No. 1 (2026)
Decision No. 1/2026 of the United Kingdom-North Macedonia Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Council of 26 January 2026, done at Skopje on 26 January 2026, amending Protocol 4 concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation to the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of North Macedonia (by Command) (CP 1520), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Decision No. 1/2025 of the United Kingdom-Serbia Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Council of 23 December 2025, done at Belgrade on 23 December 2025, amending Protocol 3 concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation to the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Serbia (by Command) (CP 1519), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Other papers
20Budget Responsibility and National Audit
Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn 2025 (by Act) (Torsten Bell)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 99) (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
(1) Every Child Achieving and Thriving; and the 6,500 additional teachers delivery plan (by Command) (CP 1508) (Secretary Bridget Phillipson)
(2) SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First: Government Consultation (by Command) (CP 1509) (Secretary Bridget Phillipson)
Strategy of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Group from March 2026 (by Act) (Secretary Ed Miliband)
24Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (by Act) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 99) (laid 10 February)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATES
MONEY BILL
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill
The Speaker has certified that the Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911.
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill
The Speaker has certified that the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911.
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Becky Gittins |
3 September 2025 |
12 May |
Sir Mark Tami (23 February to 13 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Claire Hughes |
31 October 2025 |
28 February |
Sir Mark Tami (23 February to 13 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Alison Hume |
30 January |
13 March |
Sir Mark Tami (23 February to 13 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Satvir Kaur |
4 September 2025 |
28 February |
Sir Mark Tami (23 February to 13 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Alice Macdonald |
23 February |
9 September |
Sir Mark Tami (23 February to 13 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Dan Norris |
16 May 2025 |
15 July |
Sir Mark Tami (23 February to 13 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Saqib Bhatti |
23 February |
19 August |
Mr Gagan Mohindra |