Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
(2) the Prime Minister
2Urgent Question: Processed Russian oil products: Sanctions (Chris Bryant)
3King's Speech: Motion for an Address (last day)
Debate resumed (Order, 19 May).
Question again proposed, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, as follows:
Most Gracious Sovereign,
We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
Subject: Defence readiness
Amendment proposed, at the end of the Question, to add ‘but respectfully regret the absence of a Defence Readiness Bill from the Gracious Speech, and the 10 month delay to the publication of the Defence Investment Plan; call on the Government to bring forward both as a matter of urgency; further call on the Government to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by the end of this Parliament; further regret that the Gracious Speech commits to re-starting inquests into Northern Ireland veterans; and also call on the Government not to progress with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025 to protect veterans and improve the morale of all who serve in the armed forces.’.—(James Cartlidge.)
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. 2
Ayes: 104 (Tellers: Rebecca Smith, Lincoln Jopp)
Noes: 317 (Tellers: Stephen Morgan, Gregor Poynton)
Question negatived.
Another Amendment proposed, at the end of the Question, to add ‘but respectfully regret that the Gracious Speech fails to outline proposals to negotiate a UK-EU Customs Union; and call on the Government to open negotiations with the EU on creating a UK-EU Customs Union, to start fixing the damage done to the British economy by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.’.—(James MacCleary.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made (Standing Order No. 33).
The House divided.
Division No. 3
Ayes: 78 (Tellers: Mr Will Forster, Tessa Munt)
Noes: 408 (Tellers: Stephen Morgan, Gregor Poynton)
Question negatived.
Another Amendment proposed, at the end of the Question, to add ‘but respectfully regret that the Gracious Speech does not include a commitment to grant new oil and gas exploration licenses in the North Sea which would boost energy security, and instead restricts the UK to existing drilling operations; believe that it fails to defend the right to trial by jury, which is a cornerstone of justice with origins stretching back to the Magna Carta; further regret that it includes proposals for digital identification; also regret that there are no protections for brave British veterans who served for Queen and country in Northern Ireland; further believe it fails to protect small businesses from rising energy costs and business rates, and fails to attract new investment in high streets; regret that it allows for greater alignment with the EU which betrays the democratic result of the referendum in 2016 and betrays the fishing industry and the agricultural sector; and note that it does not explicitly include SEND provisions to preserve access to an appropriate range of placements to support families and schools whilst ensuring parental oversight.’.—(Richard Tice.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made (Standing Order No. 33).
The House divided.
Division No. 4
Ayes: 104 (Tellers: James McMurdock, Sarah Pochin)
Noes: 316 (Tellers: Stephen Morgan, Gregor Poynton)
Question negatived.
Main Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 5
Ayes: 307 (Tellers: Gregor Poynton, Stephen Morgan)
Noes: 171 (Tellers: Lincoln Jopp, Rebecca Smith)
Question agreed to.
Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, as follows:
Most Gracious Sovereign,
We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
Address to be presented to His Majesty by Members of this House who are Privy Counsellors or Members of His Majesty’s Household.
4Statutory Instruments: Motions for approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026, which were laid before this House on 26 February, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mark Ferguson.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (Amendment) Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 26 February, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mark Ferguson.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2026, which were laid before this House on 2 March, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mark Ferguson.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of England and Wales relating to Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway was presented and read by Julia Buckley.
(2) A public petition from residents of East Yorkshire relating to Bridlington Care Unit was presented and read by Charlie Dewhirst.
Subject: Criteria for establishing banking hubs (Graham Leadbitter)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mark Ferguson.)
Adjourned at 8.12 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Private Business
7City of London (Markets) Bill: Reintroduction of a suspended bill (Standing Order 188A)
A Bill to make provision for the repeal of legislation relating to Billingsgate Market and the London Central Markets; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first and second time and committed (Order, 22 April, in the last Session of Parliament).
8City of London (Markets) Bill: Declaration by agent (Standing Order 188A)
Report by the Clerk in the Private Bill Office, That, in respect of the City of London (Markets) Bill, the Agent for the promoter of the Bill has deposited in the Private Bill Office a declaration signed by them, stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as at the last stage of the proceedings on it in this House in the last Session.
9Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill: Reintroduction of a suspended bill (Standing Order 188A)
A Bill to make provision for the repeal of section 83 of the Cheltenham Improvement Act 1852; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first, second and third time and passed (Order, 27 April, in the last Session of Parliament).
10Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill: Declaration by agent (Standing Order 188A)
Report by the Clerk in the Private Bill Office, That, in respect of the Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill, the Agent for the promoter of the Bill has deposited in the Private Bill Office a declaration signed by them, stating that the Bill is the same, in every respect, as at the last stage of the proceedings on it in this House in the last Session.
General Committees: Reports
11Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stuart (Chair) reported the draft Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority 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).
12First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026)
Chair: Sir Desmond Swayne
Members: Luke Akehurst, Richard Baker, Ms Polly Billington, Aphra Brandreth, Maureen Burke, Sarah Dyke, Dame Angela Eagle, Tim Farron, Amanda Hack, Terry Jermy, Kevin McKenna, Robbie Moore, Andrew Pakes, David Reed, Elaine Stewart, Imogen Walker and Sir Gavin Williamson
13Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Energy Prices Act 2022 (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026)
Chair: Sir Alec Shelbrooke
Members: Lee Barron, Andrew Bowie, Harriet Cross, Josh Dean, Chris Evans, Anna Gelderd, Pippa Heylings, Naushabah Khan, Sonia Kumar, Martin McCluskey, Esther McVey, Tristan Osborne, Gregor Poynton, Bradley Thomas, Chris Webb, Catherine West and Claire Young
14Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026)
Chair: Carolyn Harris
Members: Chris Bloore, Irene Campbell, Chris Curtis, Stephen Doughty, Ben Goldsborough, Monica Harding, Damian Hinds, Patrick Hurley, Lincoln Jopp, Andy MacNae, Wendy Morton, Dr Al Pinkerton, Ms Marie Rimmer, Mr Andrew Snowden, Jessica Toale, Imogen Walker and Michelle Welsh
15Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026)
Chair: Christine Jardine
Members: Fleur Anderson, Mr Alex Barros-Curtis, Sureena Brackenridge, Aphra Brandreth, Feryal Clark, Mary Creagh, Sarah Dyke, Tim Farron, John Grady, Dr Neil Hudson, Natasha Irons, Lincoln Jopp, Jayne Kirkham, Douglas McAllister, David Mundell, Andrew Ranger and Imogen Walker
16Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2026)
Chair: Mr Clive Betts
Members: Dan Aldridge, Johanna Baxter, Rachel Blake, Daisy Cooper, Kirith Entwistle, Mark Ferguson, Daniel Francis, Mark Garnier, Uma Kumaran, Abtisam Mohamed, Sarah Olney, Gareth Snell, Blake Stephenson, Will Stone, Tom Tugendhat, James Wild and David Williams
17Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 2026)
Chair: Derek Twigg
Members: Lewis Atkinson, Mrs Elsie Blundell, Sarah Bool, Sarah Coombes, Jodie Gosling, Jonathan Hinder, Sarah Jones, Stephen Morgan, Luke Murphy, Dr Andrew Murrison, Josh Newbury, David Simmonds, Dr Lauren Sullivan, Luke Taylor, Matt Vickers, Michael Wheeler and Max Wilkinson
Select Committees: Reports
18Business and Trade Committee
(1) Critical minerals: Oral evidence taken before the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 132);
(2) Industrial strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 121)
(Liam Byrne).
19Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Air pollution in England: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 21);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Climate relating to the Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipping) Regulations 2026: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to the Department's environmental protection policies: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Risks and opportunities to the sustainability of data centres in the UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 22)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
20Health and Social Care Committee
(1) The work of NHS England: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 235);
(2) Children and young people’s mental health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 239);
(3) Correspondence from the Department: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the General Pharmaceutical Council: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Food and weight management: Written evidence, to be published (HC 223)
(Layla Moran).
21Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 40) (Florence Eshalomi).
22Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Correspondence from the Minister for Policing and Crime relating to facial recognition technology: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Women and Equalities relating to the appointment of new EHRC Commissioners: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office relating to ‘visa brake’: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Ministry for Justice relating to implementation of the SW v UK Remedial Order: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Desmond Swayne).
23Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) Policing and security in Northern Ireland:
(i) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 184);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 184);
(2) Correspondence with the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance relating to the publication of the open-book exercise: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Peter May Review of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery: Written evidence, to be published (HC 227)
(Tonia Antoniazzi).
(1) Written parliamentary questions: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 49);
(2) Electronic voting: Written evidence, to be published (HC 188);
(3) Written parliamentary questions: Departmental performance in Session 2024–26: Written evidence, to be published (HC 48)
(Cat Smith).
25Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Rewiring the state: Delivering digital government: First Report, to be published, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 61);
(2) Pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of Ofcom:
(i) Second Report, to be published, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 55);
(ii) Oral evidence, to be published (HC 55)
(Dame Chi Onwurah).
(1) Connectivity in Scotland: Fixed links: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 167);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Digital Economy, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Securing Scotland’s future: Defence skills and jobs: Written evidence, to be published (HC 165)
(Patricia Ferguson).
27Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 172-i) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
HS2: Progress update: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 78) (Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Bank of England Monetary Policy Reports: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 7);
(2) Correspondence with the Financial Conduct Authority relating to motor finance: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Student loans and taxation of graduates: Written evidence, to be published (HC 14)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Thursday 21 May 2026.
Promoting Wales for inward investment:
(i) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 136);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 136)
(Ruth Jones).
(1) Employment support for disabled people: Connect to Work: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 77);
(2) Youth employment, education and training: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 180)
(Debbie Abrahams).
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (Establishment of Schools) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Georgia Gould)
Draft Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Draft Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements) Regulations 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Heidi Alexander)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Armed Forces Pension (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 523), dated 14 May 2026 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Louise Sandher-Jones)
Other papers
5Housing, Communities and Local Government
Developing a New College of Fire and Rescue (by Command) (CP 1591) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Education: Strengthening relations with local delivery bodies (by Act), to be printed (HC 34) (Clerk of the House)
Government Indemnity Scheme: Statement to Parliament on the level of outstanding liabilities under the Scheme for the six-month period ending 31 March 2026 (by Act) (Ian Murray)
Report and Accounts of the Parliamentary Works Grant for 2025–26, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, to be printed (HC 119) (Clerk of the House)
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 |
23 May |
Sir Mark Tami (21 May); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Alice Macdonald |
23 February |
9 September |
Sir Mark Tami (21 May); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Dan Norris |
16 May 2025 |
15 July |
Sir Mark Tami (21 May); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |
|
Olivia Blake |
22 May 2025 |
2 June |
Sir Mark Tami (21 May); Sir Nicholas Dakin (thereafter) |