Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland
(2) the Prime Minister
2Healthcare (Delayed Discharges): 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 about expediting the transfer of patients who are medically fit for discharge from acute hospitals to homely settings in the community;
That Dr Andrew Murrison, Tracey Crouch, Nick Gibb, Dr Luke Evans, Steve Brine and Dr Caroline Johnson present the Bill.
Dr Andrew Murrison accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 6 May, and to be printed (Bill 283).
3Opposition Day: Leader of the second largest opposition party (16th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) Refugees from Ukraine
Resolved, That this House once more condemns President Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the war crimes being perpetrated by the Russian state there; reiterates the House’s solidarity with Ukrainians in their resistance to Russia’s invasion of their sovereign state; recognises that Europe is now seeing the largest movement of refugees since the Second World War, for whom the UK shares responsibility; warmly welcomes the significant and widespread offers of support for those fleeing the invasion from people and organisations across the UK; supports expansion of the family visa scheme and Homes for Ukraine scheme; and calls on the Government to go further and faster in its response, including waiving requirements for Ukrainians to apply for visas in advance of their arrival in the UK so as to facilitate speedy access to international protection here, working with international partners to ensure vulnerable people can be resettled here and providing full and sustained funding and safeguarding to support people to rebuild their lives.—(Stuart C McDonald.)
4Statement: Iran detainees (Secretary Elizabeth Truss)
5Opposition Day: Leader of the second largest opposition party (16th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14)) (resumed)
(2) Increases in the cost of living
Resolved, That this House warns that households will soon be suffering the worst income squeeze since the 1970s; notes the Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis that households are on course to be £800 worse off; calls on the Government to scrap VAT on energy bills, implement a windfall tax on companies which are benefitting from significantly increased profits as a result of impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic or the current international situation, and to scrap the energy bill rebate scheme and introduce immediate emergency cash payments for households.—(Stephen Flynn.)
6House of Commons Members’ Fund
Resolved, That Stuart Andrew be removed as a Trustee of the House of Commons Members’ Fund and Christopher Pincher be appointed as a Trustee in pursuance of section 2 of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 2016.—(Gareth Johnson.)
7Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Agriculture (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 1 February, be approved.—(Gareth Johnson.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 3 February, be approved.—(Gareth Johnson.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Agriculture (Lump Sum Payment) (England) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 10 February, be approved.—(Gareth Johnson.)
Question agreed to.
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Commissioner for Patient Safety (Appointment and Operation) (England) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 7 February, be approved.—(Gareth Johnson.)
Question agreed to.
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to periodontal disease and diabetes was presented and read by Wera Hobhouse.
Subject: Bank branch closures (Ms Anum Qaisar)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gareth Johnson.)
Adjourned at 7.31 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
10Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill
The Lords agree to the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
11Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill
Lords Amendments to the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 284) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 284–EN).
Changes to Notices Given
12Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
13Official Development Assistance Equalities Impact Assessment (Women and Girls) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
14State Pension Underpayments (Divorced Women) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
16Surgical Mesh (Support) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
17Planning (Women’s Safety) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
18Miscarriage and Stillbirth (Black and Asian Women) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
19Rape (Conviction Rates) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
20Child Criminal Exploitation Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
21Schools and Educational Settings (Essential Infrastructure and Opening During Emergencies) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
22House of Lords (Retirement Age) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
25United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Pension Transfers (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Investigation) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
27Energy Company Obligation (Cavity Wall Insulation) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
28Parliamentary Elections (Optional Preferential Vote) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
29Ministerial Competence (External Review) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
30Charities (Income Source Statements) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
31Local Welfare Assistance (Statements) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
32House of Lords (Elected Senate) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
33Institutes of Technology (Royal Charter) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
34Education (Environment and Sustainable Citizenship) Bill [Lords]
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
36Employment (Caring Leave) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
37Company Transparency (Carbon in Supply Chains) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
38Benefit Cap (Report on Abolition) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
39Public Houses (Electrical Safety) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 18 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
General Committees: Reports
40Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Yvonne Fovargue (Chair) reported the draft Electricity Supplier Payments (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
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).
41First Delegated Legislation Committee (Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2022, (SI, 2022, No. 203), Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2022, (SI, 2022, No. 205) and Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 241))
Members: Nickie Aiken, Rushanara Ali, Simon Baynes, Mr Clive Betts, Felicity Buchan, James Cleverly, Sir Geoffrey Cox, Stephen Doughty, Damian Green, Stephen Hammond, Rebecca Harris, Gerald Jones, Dr Andrew Murrison, Kate Osamor, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Dean Russell and Alyn Smith
42Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electricity Supplier Payments (Amendment) Regulations 2022)
Members: Mark Eastwood discharged and Nick Fletcher nominated in substitution.
Reports from Select Committees
43Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Spring Statement and Energy Supply Strategy: Written evidence, to be published (Darren Jones).
44Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Correspondence with Robin Smith relating to Yorkshire County Cricket Club: Written evidence, to be published (Julian Knight).
(1) Home Office policy on Ukrainian refugees: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1193);
(2) Drugs: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1128);
(3) Investigation and prosecution of rape: Written evidence, to be published (HC 193);
(4) Spiking: Written evidence, to be published (HC 967);
(5) Work of the Home Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1168)
(Dame Diana Johnson).
46Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Legislative Scrutiny: Nationality and Borders Bill: Government Responses to the Committee’s Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh and Twelfth Reports: Tenth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1028);
(2) Human Rights and the Government’s response to Covid-19: Digital Contact Tracing: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2019–21: Ninth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1198);
(3) The right to family life: adoption of children of unmarried women 1949–76: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 748);
(4) Protecting human rights in care settings: Written evidence, to be published (HC 714)
(Ms Harriet Harman).
47Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Investment in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 792) (Simon Hoare).
(1) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities relating to e-petition 604509: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Impact of COVID-19 on new parents: one year on: Written evidence, to be published (HC 479)
(Catherine McKinnell).
49Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Government preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk: Forty-sixth Report, to be printed, with formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 952):
(2) Academies Sector Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20: Forty-seventh Report, to be printed, with formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 994);
(3) Child Maintenance: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1056)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
50Science and Technology Committee
(1) Diversity and inclusion in STEM: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 903);
(2) UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks: Written evidence, to be published (HC 136);
(3) UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure: Written evidence, to be published (HC 98)
(Greg Clark).
51Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Twenty-eighth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 56-xxviii) (Jessica Morden).
Fuelling the future: motive power and connectivity: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 973) (Huw Merriman).
(1) The Swift Review: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1166);
(2) Correspondence with the Payment Systems Regulator relating to card payment fees: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Angela Eagle).
Grid capacity in Wales: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1092) (Ben Lake).
55Women and Equalities Committee
Menopause and the workplace: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 115) (Kate Osborne).
(1) Health assessments for benefits: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 604);
(2) Correspondence with the Prime Minister relating to the Online Safety Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management: Written evidence, to be published (HC 560)
(Stephen Timms).
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))
1Maintenance of peace and stability in the Balkans
Resolved, That this House has considered the maintenance of peace and stability in the Balkans.—(Wayne David.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.46 am and 11.00 am.
2Proposed South East Strategic Reservoir Option
Resolved, That this House has considered the proposed South East Strategic Reservoir Option.—(Layla Moran.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.26 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered in-work poverty.—(Grahame Morris.)
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)).
Resolved, That this House has considered in-work poverty.
Resolved, That this House has considered the future of soft power.—(Mr John Baron.)
5Status of Local Enterprise Partnerships
Resolved, That this House has considered the status of Local Enterprise Partnerships.—(Sally-Ann Hart.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.17 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Alex Burghart)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 301), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Michelle Donelan)
Finance Act 2021 (Modification of Section 26) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 275), dated 14 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 303), dated 14 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)
(1) National Insurance Contributions Act 2022 (Application of Part 1) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 307), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
(2) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 300), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
(3) Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating) Consequential Amendment Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 306), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
(4) Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 298), dated 14 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Chloe Smith)
(5) Social Security Contributions (Disregarded Payments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 276), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
(6) Social Security Contributions (Freeports) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 313), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
Ivory Prohibition (Civil Sanctions) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 311), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary George Eustice)
Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 312), dated 15 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Dominic Raab)
Other papers
8Harbours, Docks, Piers and Ferries
Explanatory Memorandum to the Saint Mawes Pier and Harbour Revision Order 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 228) (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 8) (by Command) (Chloe Smith)
Report by the Comptroller Auditor General on Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Investigation into the British Steel Pension Scheme (by Act), to be printed (HC 1145) (Clerk of the House)
Withdrawn papers
11Harbours, Docks, Piers and Ferries
Explanatory Memorandum to the Saint Mawes Pier and Harbour Revision Order 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 228) (laid 8 March)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 8) (laid 12 January)