Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Report of the Independent Review into Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics
Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, That he will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a Return of the Report, dated 25 March 2026, entitled The Rycroft Review: Report of the Independent Review into Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics.—(Jade Botterill.)
2Speaker’s Statement: Retirement of Liam Laurence Smyth CB
3Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(2) the Prime Minister
4Statement: Report of the Independent Review into Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics (Secretary Steve Reed)
5Amenity Land (Purchase by Local Authorities) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Daisy Cooper, supported by Ms Polly Billington, presented a Bill to make provision for the compulsory purchase of amenity land by local authorities for a nominal sum in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 29 May, and to be printed (Bill 411).
6General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules (Amendment) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Daisy Cooper, supported by Helen Morgan and Marie Goldman, presented a Bill to provide that an allegation concerning a medical practitioner’s fitness to practise may be considered by the General Medical Council irrespective of when the most recent events giving rise to the allegation occurred; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 29 May, and to be printed (Bill 412).
7Marine Mammals (Protection) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Andrew George, supported by Kerry McCarthy, Sir Roger Gale, Ben Lake, Dr Neil Hudson and Ben Maguire, presented a Bill to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of the protection of pinnipeds and cetaceans; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 17 April, and to be printed (Bill 413).
8Victims and Courts Bill: Programme (No. 2)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Victims and Courts Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 20 May 2025 (Victims and Courts Bill: Programme):
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(1) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after their commencement.
Subsequent stages
(2) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(3) Proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
Question agreed to.
9Victims and Courts Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments
The Deputy Speaker announced that Lords Amendments 4 and 7 engaged financial privilege.
Lords Amendment 1
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 1.—(Alex Davies-Jones.)
The House divided.
Division No. 461
Ayes: 291 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Jade Botterill)
Noes: 158 (Tellers: Gregory Stafford, David Reed)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 1 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 2
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 2.—(Alex Davies-Jones.)
The House divided.
Division No. 462
Ayes: 295 (Tellers: Jade Botterill, Gregor Poynton)
Noes: 162 (Tellers: Gregory Stafford, David Reed)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 2 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 3
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 3.—(Alex Davies-Jones.)
The House divided.
Division No. 463
Ayes: 286 (Tellers: Jade Botterill, Gregor Poynton)
Noes: 163 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Gregory Stafford)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 3 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 4
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 4.—(Alex Davies-Jones.)
The House divided.
Division No. 464
Ayes: 300 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Jade Botterill)
Noes: 149 (Tellers: Harriet Cross, Rebecca Paul)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 4 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 5
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 5.—(Alex Davies-Jones.)
The House divided.
Division No. 465
Ayes: 292 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Jade Botterill)
Noes: 162 (Tellers: Harriet Cross, Rebecca Paul)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 5 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 6
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 6.—(Alex Davies-Jones.)
The House divided.
Division No. 466
Ayes: 290 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Jade Botterill)
Noes: 163 (Tellers: David Reed, Harriet Cross)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 6 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 7 disagreed to.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H(2)), That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 1 to 7;
That Phil Brickell, Alex Davies-Jones, Zöe Franklin, Joe Powell, Jake Richards, Nick Timothy and Melanie Ward be members of the Committee;
That Alex Davies-Jones be the Chair of the Committee;
That three be the quorum of the Committee;
That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Mark Ferguson.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to road safety of horses and riders was presented and read by Mr Lee Dillon.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Rushcliffe relating to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was presented and read by James Naish.
(3) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to Britain's role in African chattel enslavement and colonialism was presented and read by Bell Ribeiro-Addy.
(4) A public petition from residents of Derwent Avenue, Thurne View and Eden Court in Ladygrove in the constituency of Didcot and Wantage relating to flooding in Ladygrove, Didcot was presented and read by Olly Glover.
(5) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Lichfield relating to Walsall Road, Lichfield was presented and read by Dave Robertson.
Subject: Nuclear test veterans (Rebecca Long Bailey)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mark Ferguson.)
Adjourned at 4.55 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Reasons Committees: Reports
12Victims and Courts Bill: Reasons Committee
Alex Davies-Jones reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reasons:
Lords Amendments 1 and 3
Because these Amendments would impose undue pressure on the resources of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the Judicial Office.
Lords Amendment 2
Because the Commons consider that the obligations to which Lords Amendment 2 would give rise are unworkable.
Lords Amendments 4 and 7
Because the Lords Amendment 4 would alter the financial arrangements made by the Commons, and Lords Amendment 7 is consequential on that Amendment, and the Commons do not offer any further Reason, trusting that this Reason may be deemed sufficient.
Lords Amendment 5
Because this Amendment gives rise to legal uncertainty.
Lords Amendment 6
Because the Victims’ Code already stipulates that victims will be informed of the unduly lenient sentence scheme.
General Committees: Reports
13Courts and Tribunals Bill Committee
Dawn Butler (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.
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).
14Courts and Tribunals Bill (Programming Sub-Committee)
Members: Amanda Hack, Mr Paul Kohler, Alex McIntyre, Stephen Morgan, Rebecca Paul, Sarah Sackman and John Slinger
15First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Building Safety (Responsible Actors Scheme and Prohibitions) (Amendments) Regulations 2026)
Members: Tahir Ali, Mr Gideon Amos, Gareth Bacon, Steve Barclay, Lewis Cocking, Deirdre Costigan, Chris Curtis, Marsha De Cordova, Samantha Dixon, Maya Ellis, Kim Johnson, Ian Lavery, Justin Madders, Dr Al Pinkerton, David Simmonds, Harpreet Uppal and Jo White
16Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Energy Prices Act 2022 (Extension of Time Limit) Regulations 2026)
Members: Rachel Blake, Harriet Cross, Jim Dickson, Louise Haigh, Pippa Heylings, Martin McCluskey, Darren Paffey, Gregor Poynton, Martin Rhodes, Mark Sewards, Greg Smith, Jeff Smith, Peter Swallow, Bradley Thomas, Sir John Whittingdale, Mohammad Yasin and Claire Young
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2026)
Members: Phil Brickell, Maureen Burke, Dawn Butler, Liam Conlon, Olly Glover, Lilian Greenwood, Peter Lamb, Andy MacNae, Keir Mather, Jerome Mayhew, Sir Andrew Mitchell, Joe Robertson, Greg Smith, Sarah Smith, Will Stone, David Taylor and Luke Taylor
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Buckinghamshire Council (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2026, draft Surrey County Council (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2026 and draft Warwickshire County Council (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2026)
Members: Dr Scott Arthur, Johanna Baxter, Sam Carling, John Cooper, Janet Daby, Mr Will Forster, Sir Ashley Fox, Damian Hinds, Afzal Khan, Charlotte Nichols, Taiwo Owatemi, Manuela Perteghella, David Pinto-Duschinsky, Michelle Welsh, Andrew Western, James Wild and Daniel Zeichner
19Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026)
Members: Dr Zubir Ahmed, Lorraine Beavers, Alison Bennett, Sir Jeremy Hunt, Terry Jermy, Dr Caroline Johnson, Mike Kane, Kerry McCarthy, Helen Maguire, Stephen Morgan, Joe Morris, Andrew Ranger, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Tulip Siddiq, Josh Simons, Gareth Snell and Gregory Stafford
20Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2026)
Members: Mr Peter Bedford, Torsten Bell, Sureena Brackenridge, Aphra Brandreth, Tom Collins, Daisy Cooper, Steve Darling, Sir Oliver Dowden, Maria Eagle, Natalie Fleet, Alison Hume, Alicia Kearns, Anneliese Midgley, Josh Newbury, Taiwo Owatemi, Naz Shah and Steve Witherden
21Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements (Amendment) Regulations 2026)
Members: James Asser, Julia Buckley, Nesil Caliskan, Mr Luke Charters, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Daisy Cooper, Jen Craft, Gareth Davies, Kate Dearden, Barry Gardiner, Alison Griffiths, Natasha Irons, Sonia Kumar, Charlie Maynard, Rebecca Paul, Tony Vaughan and Michael Wheeler
Select Committees: Reports
Pre-appointment hearing for the Armed Forces Commissioner:
(i) Seventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1428);
(ii) Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1428)
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
23Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) Energy resilience: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1804);
(2) Correspondence from UKIFDA relating to heating oil: Written evidence, to be published
(Bill Esterson).
24Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Addressing the risks from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Written evidence, to be published (HC 852);
(2) Air pollution in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1656);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Development and Africa relating to the publication of FCDO’s Multi-Year ODA Allocations policy: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Peatlands: natural and environmental benefits and impacts: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1731)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 385) (Emily Thornberry).
(1) Combatting new forms of extremism: Seventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 903);
(2) Correspondence from the Acting Permanent Secretary relating to the Home Office’s Supplementary Estimates 2025–26: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Migration and Citizenship: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Policing and Crime relating to the Government’s response to the call for evidence on crossbow controls: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Home Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Metropolitan Police relating to the disclosure of sources: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Karen Bradley).
Appointment of the Chair of the Legal Services Board:
(i) Ninth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1771)
(ii) Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1771)
(Andy Slaughter).
28Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Policing and security in Northern Ireland: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1341) (Tonia Antoniazzi).
29Public Accounts (Committee of)
Civil Service Pensions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 888) (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown).
(1) Call lists: Government Response: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1814);
(2) Sub judice resolution in the House of Commons: Written evidence, to be published (HC 933)
(Cat Smith).
(1) Connectivity in Scotland: Digital connectivity: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1461);
(2) GB Energy and the net zero transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 459);
(3) The work of the BBC in Scotland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 443);
(4) The work of the Department: Written evidence, to be published (HC 410)
(Patricia Ferguson).
Supercharging the EV transition: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1593) (Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Financial Inclusion Strategy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1552);
(2) Correspondence from Lloyds Banking Group relating to IT incident: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) The Future of HMP Parc: Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 702);
(2) Correspondence with the Home Office relating to the withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and opportunities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 785);
(4) The work of the Secretary of State for Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 597)
(Ruth Jones).
35Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Effectiveness of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1760);
(2) Correspondence from the Ministry of Justice relating to the national rollout of the Child Focused Model in family courts: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Ministry of Justice relating to women in the criminal justice system: Written evidence, to be published
(Sarah Owen).
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 voluntary groups and community centres
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for voluntary groups and community centres.—(Ben Coleman.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.48 am and 10.58 am.
Resolved, That this House has considered NHS continuing healthcare.—(Ayoub Khan.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.23 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Proposed visitor levy in England
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the proposed visitor levy in England.—(Damian Hinds.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.02 pm and 4.10 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the proposed visitor levy in England.
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of waste crime in Knowsley.—(Anneliese Midgley.)
5Impact of public baths and lidos on local communities
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of public baths and lidos on local communities.—(Andrew Pakes.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 6.31 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Vaping Duty Stamps (Requirements, Reviews and Appeals) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 338), dated 23 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
Draft Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Lucy Rigby)
Draft Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
4Animals (Scientific Procedures)
Code of Practice for the Care and Accommodation of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
5Betting, Gaming and Lotteries
Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 334), dated 23 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Ian Murray)
Vaping Products (Production, Duty Stamps and Commencement) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 331), dated 23 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Elected Member Pensions) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 346), dated 24 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Alison McGovern)
(1) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 343), dated 24 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
(2) Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (Modification of Section 4A) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 340), dated 24 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
(3) Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (Modification of Section 4A) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 341), dated 24 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dan Tomlinson)
Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 345), dated 24 March 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Matthew Pennycook)
Other papers
Return of expenditure incurred and prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981 and incidences of disease in imported animals for the year 2025 (by Act) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Government Response to the Report of the Animal Sentience Committee on XL Bullies and the Dangerous Dogs Act (by Act) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Government Response to the Module 2 Report of the Covid-19 Inquiry (by Command) (CP 1534) (Darren Jones)
Report on grants awarded under section 70 of the Charities Act 2006 for year ended 31 March 2025 (by Act) (Secretary Lisa Nandy)
14Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration
Fifty-fourth Report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (by Command) (CP 1544) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
Government Response to the outcome of the consultation on the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill: mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting (by Command) (CP 1542) (Seema Malhotra)
Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (by Act) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
17Housing, Communities and Local Government
Return to an Address to His Majesty for a Return of the Report, dated 25 March 2026, of The Rycroft Review: Report of the Independent Review into Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics (pursuant to Resolution), to be printed (HC 1787) (Secretary Steve Reed)
(1) Financial directions to NHS England for 2026–27 (by Act) (Karin Smyth)
(2) Revised financial directions to NHS England for 2025–26 (by Act) (Karin Smyth)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 272) (by Command) (Louise Sandher-Jones)
Agreement, done at Paris on 17 September 2021, on defence export controls (by Command) (CP 1553) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Withdrawn papers
21Explanatory Memorandum to the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 272) (laid 18 March)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATES
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 (25 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Claire Hughes |
31 October 2025 |
28 March |
Sir Mark Tami (25 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Alison Hume |
17 March |
30 March |
Sir Mark Tami (25 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Alice Macdonald |
23 February |
9 September |
Sir Mark Tami (25 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Dan Norris |
16 May 2025 |
15 July |
Sir Mark Tami (25 March); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |