Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
2Statement: Digital ID: Public consultation (Darren Jones)
3Domestic abuse (pets): 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 for the application of non-molestation orders and occupation orders to behaviour relating to pets; to amend definitions of controlling or coercive behaviour and economic abuse to include behaviour relating to pets; to extend the application of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to pets; and for connected purposes;
That Ruth Jones, Irene Campbell, Sir Roger Gale, Kerry McCarthy, Rachael Maskell, Adam Jogee, Sir Desmond Swayne, Ann Davies, Dr Neil Hudson and Robin Swann present the Bill.
Ruth Jones accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 17 April, and to be printed (Bill 402).
4Courts and Tribunals Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the Courts and Tribunals Bill be now read a second time.
Amendment proposed, to leave out from 'That' to the end of the Question and add 'this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Courts and Tribunals Bill because trial by jury is a fundamental part of the United Kingdom’s constitution and democracy; it is wrong to remove defendants’ right to elect for trial in the Crown Court for all triable either-way offences; extending magistrates courts’ sentencing powers, and restricting the right to appeal against sentences and convictions in the magistrates courts, compounds the fundamental injustice at the heart of the Bill; reducing public participation in the justice system will undermine confidence in it; eroding the right to trial by jury will not make a meaningful impact, if any, on the backlog of court cases; and it calls on the Government to instead tackle the court backlog by improving case management and encouraging earlier pleas, increasing sitting days in the Crown Court, and increasing the hours per day that courts are able to sit by improving the use of technology and the efficiency of prisoner transport.'—(Nick Timothy.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 444
Ayes: 203 (Tellers: David Reed, Lincoln Jopp)
Noes: 311 (Tellers: Imogen Walker, Stephen Morgan)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), That the Bill be now read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 445
Ayes: 304 (Tellers: Imogen Walker, Stephen Morgan)
Noes: 203 (Tellers: David Reed, Lincoln Jopp)
Question agreed to and Bill read a second time.
5Courts and Tribunals Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Courts and Tribunals Bill:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.
Proceedings in Public Bill Committee
(2) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
(3) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.
Consideration and Third Reading
(4) Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.
(5) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
(6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Gen Kitchen.)
Question agreed to.
6Courts and Tribunals 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 Courts and Tribunals Bill, it is expedient to authorise:
(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the Act by a Minister of the Crown, and
(2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund.—(Gen Kitchen.)
Question agreed to.
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 Secretary David Lammy relating to Courts and Tribunals Bill: Carry-over.—(Gen Kitchen.)
Question agreed to.
8Courts and Tribunals Bill: Carry-over
Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 80A(1)(a)), That if, at the conclusion of this Session of Parliament, proceedings on the Courts and Tribunals Bill have not been completed, they shall be resumed in the next Session.—(Gen Kitchen.)
Question agreed to.
9Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Procurement Act 2023 (Specified International Agreements and Saving Provision) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which were laid before this House on 19 January, be approved.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup relating to houses in multiple occupation was presented and read by Mr Louie French.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Manchester Rusholme relating to UN International Day to Combat Islamophobia was presented and read by Afzal Khan.
Subject: National resilience in extreme climate and weather events (Jayne Kirkham)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 9(7)).
Adjourned at 7.54 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
The Lords agree to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill with Amendments, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
Lords Amendments to the Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 405) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 405–EN).
Changes to Notices Given
14State-related Deaths (National Oversight Mechanism) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 17 April.
General Committees: Reports
15Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Alec Shelbrooke (Chair) reported the draft Goods Vehicles (Testing, Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
16Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir John Hayes (Chair) reported the draft Higher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stuart (Chair) reported the draft Employment Rights Act 2025 (Investigatory Powers) (Consequential Amendments) 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).
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Employment Rights Act 2025 (Investigatory Powers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026)
Members: Linsey Farnsworth discharged and Peter Lamb nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on Tuesday 10 March, to be published (Nick Smith).
20Armed Forces Bill (Select Committee on)
Armed Forces Bill 2026: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1712) (Clive Efford).
21Backbench Business Committee
Determination of business to be taken on Thursday 10 March in Westminster Hall (Bob Blackman).
22Business and Trade Committee
(1) Appointment of Doug Gurr as Chair of the Competition and Markets Authority: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1723);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation relating to UK Sustainability Reporting Standards: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Trade relating to Cumulation Provisions with Trade Partners: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Post Office relating to the Government response to the Future of the Post Office Green Paper: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Make Work Pay: Employment Rights Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 370);
(6) Post Office Horizon scandal: Justice for sub-postmasters: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1589);
(7) The UK’s trade sanctions regime: Written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 1724);
(8) UK trade with the US, India and EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 996)
(Liam Byrne).
23Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Children’s TV and video content: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1338);
(2) Protecting built heritage: Written evidence, to be published (HC 594);
(3) The work of Ofcom: Written evidence, to be published (HC 595)
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Historical forced adoption: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1713);
(2) Correspondence from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, relating to the launch of a new Government consultation on AI and child online safety: Written evidence to be published;
(3) Early years: Improving support for children and families: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1264)
(Helen Hayes).
25Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities: Sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1317);
(2) Fisheries and the marine environment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 680);
(3) Reforming the water sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 588)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).
26Environmental Audit Committee
Environmental protection policies of DEFRA: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1749) (Mr Toby Perkins).
Correspondence with the Minister of State (Europe, North America and Overseas Territories) relating to the draft UK/EU Agreement on Gibraltar: Written evidence, to be published (Emily Thornberry).
(1) Routes to Settlement:
(i) Sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1409);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1409);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Border Security and Asylum: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Migration and Citizenship: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Harnessing the potential of new digital forms of identification: Written evidence, to be published (HC 986)
(Dame Karen Bradley).
29Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1681);
(2) Affordability of home ownership: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1208);
(3) Correspondence from the CEO of Post Office Limited relating to the future of the post office: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness relating to the Slough Commissioners’ report: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Housing conditions in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1154)
(Florence Eshalomi).
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Monday 23 March 2026.
House of Commons Administration Response to Modernisation Committee's Report into Access to the House of Commons and its Procedures: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 1726) (Jesse Norman).
(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;
(Jamie Stone).
32Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Public Bodies: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 553);
(2) Correspondence from the Convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, Scottish Parliament, relating to implementation monitoring of public inquiry recommendations: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Inquiry into the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry (Stage 1): Written evidence, to be published (HC 1566);
(4) The work and performance of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1657)
(Simon Hoare).
Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State regarding the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Written evidence, to be published (Patricia Ferguson).
(1) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary relating to updating the Estimates structure: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Supercharging the EV transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1593)
(Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Spring Statement 2026: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1756);
(2) Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to the appointment of Katharine Braddick: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Financial Inclusion Strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1552);
(4) Work of the Payment Systems Regulator: Written evidence, to be published (HC 686)
(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))
1Import and sale of fur and related products
Resolved, That this House has considered the import and sale of fur and related products.—(Ruth Jones.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.46 am and 10.57 am.
2National service specification for adult cerebral palsy in the NHS
Resolved, That this House has considered the national service specification for adult cerebral palsy in the NHS.—(Daniel Francis.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.22 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Impact of local government reorganisation in the South East
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of local government reorganisation in the South East.—(Dr Al Pinkerton.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.56 pm and 4 pm.
4Government support for English rugby
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for English rugby.—(Edward Morello.)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered technology sovereignty.—(Dame Chi Onwurah.)
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
Draft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Child Trust Funds (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 250), dated 9 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Rigby)
Relief for Creative Industries (Additional Information Requirements and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 249), dated 9 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 253), dated 9 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
On-demand Programme Services (Tier 1 Services) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 235), dated 6 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Ian Murray)
National Savings (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 266), dated 9 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Rigby)
Individual Savings Account (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 248), dated 9 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Rigby)
Seafarers’ Wages (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 244), dated 4 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
2022 Headquarters Agreement, done at London on 23 March 2022, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund 1992 (by Command) (CP 1536), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
2022 Headquarters Agreement, done at London on 23 March 2022, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary Fund 2003 (by Command) (CP 1537), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
National Health Service (Primary Dental Services and Dental Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 265), dated 9 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Stephen Kinnock)
Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 247), dated 9 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
13Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court Fees (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 241), dated 5 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary David Lammy)
Other papers
Making public services work for you with your digital identity (by Command) (CP 1498) (Darren Jones)
Report and Accounts of the Wallace Collection for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1312) (Ian Murray)
Report on updates to member contribution rates for the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2014 (by Act) (Samantha Dixon)