Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities
(2) the Prime Minister
2Urgent Questions: (1) Appointment of an Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests and enforcement of the Ministerial Code (Alex Burghart)
(2) Energy Bill Support Scheme Payment for Northern Ireland (Graham Stuart)
3Statement: Prison capacity (Damian Hinds)
4Roadworks (Regulation): 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 the regulation of roadworks; and for connected purposes;
That Mr Mark Francois, Sir James Duddridge, Stephen Metcalfe, Sir John Whittingdale, Vicky Ford, Richard Drax, Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck, Mr Marcus Fysh, Mr David Jones, Mr Laurence Robertson, Priti Patel and Craig Mackinlay present the Bill.
Mr Mark Francois accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 20 January 2023, and to be printed (Bill 203).
5Finance Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a committee (Programme Order, 28 November).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clauses 2 to 4 agreed to.
Clause 5 (Basic rate limit and personal allowance for tax years 2026–27 and 2027–28)
Amendment 2 proposed.—(Helen Morgan.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 102
Ayes: 55 (Tellers: Wendy Chamberlain, Mr Alistair Carmichael)
Noes: 285 (Tellers: Robert Largan, Andrew Stephenson)
Question accordingly negatived.
Question put, That Clause 5 stand part of the Bill.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 103
Ayes: 285 (Tellers: Andrew Stephenson, Robert Largan)
Noes: 210 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Question accordingly agreed to.
Clauses 6 to 12 agreed to.
New Clause NC2—(James Murray)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
Question put.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 104
Ayes: 212 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 292 (Tellers: Robert Largan, Andrew Stephenson)
Question accordingly negatived.
New Clause NC3—(James Murray)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
Question put.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 105
Ayes: 212 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 290 (Tellers: Robert Largan, Andrew Stephenson)
Question accordingly negatived.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Programme Order, 28 November).
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Fay Jones reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
Motion made and Question put, That the Bill be now read the third time.
The House divided.
Division No. 106
Ayes: 280 (Tellers: Andrew Stephenson, Robert Largan)
Noes: 205 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Gerald Jones)
Question accordingly agreed to and Bill passed.
7Adjournment (Christmas and February Recess)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 25), That this House, at its rising on Tuesday 20 December 2022, do adjourn until Monday 9 January 2023; and, at its rising on Thursday 9 February 2023, do adjourn until Monday 20 February 2023.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
Question agreed to.
8Standing Orders etc. (Liaison Committee power to travel)
Ordered, That Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee) be amended as follows: in paragraph (4), after “House,” insert “to adjourn from place to place,”.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
9Standing Orders etc. (National Planning Policy Statements Committees)
Ordered, That the Environmental Audit Committee and the Science and Technology Committee be added to the list of Committees in paragraph (2)(a) of Standing Order No. 152H (Planning: national policy statements).—(Penny Mordaunt.)
10Statutory Instruments: Motion for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Social Security (Class 2 National Insurance Contributions Increase of Threshold) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 7 November, be approved.—(Fay Jones.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Awareness and diagnosis of pulmonary embolisms (Helen Hayes)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Fay Jones.)
Adjourned at 4.54 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Explanatory Notes to Bills
12Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 16–EN).
13Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Payments Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 45–EN).
14Illegal Immigration (Offences) Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 104–EN).
General Committees: Reports
15Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill Committee
David Mundell (Chair) reported the Bill as amended.
Title amended as follows: A Bill to make provision to permit the capital surplus of co-operatives, mutuals and friendly societies to be non-distributable; and for connected purposes.
Bill, as amended, to be considered on Friday 24 February 2023; and to be printed (Bill 207).
16Third Delegated Legislation Committee
James Gray (Chair) reported the draft Prescribed Persons (Reports on Disclosures of Information) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Martin Vickers (Chair) reported the draft Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022.
18Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Derek Twigg (Chair) reported the draft Agricultural Holdings (Fee) Regulations 2022.
19Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mrs Sheryll Murray (Chair) reported the draft Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2022, the draft Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and the draft Police and Crime Commissioner Elections and Welsh Forms (Amendment) Order 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).
20Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill Committee
Members: Crispin Blunt, Dr Lisa Cameron, Rehman Chishti, Dr Luke Evans, Gill Furniss, Kevin Hollinrake, Rachael Maskell, David Morris, Sir Robert Neill, Yasmin Qureshi, Dean Russell, Selaine Saxby, Tulip Siddiq, Chris Stephens, Iain Stewart, Beth Winter and Mr William Wragg
21First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Animals and Animal Health, Feed and Food, Plants and Plant Health (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and draft Trade in Animals and Related Products (Amendment and Legislative Functions) Regulations 2022)
Members: Debbie Abrahams, Peter Aldous, Steven Bonnar, Jack Brereton, Dan Carden, Tracey Crouch, Barry Gardiner, Mary Glindon, Trudy Harrison, Paul Holmes, Fay Jones, Jerome Mayhew, Dr Kieran Mullan, Derek Twigg, Shailesh Vara, Sir Jeremy Wright and Daniel Zeichner
22Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (High-Risk Countries) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022, No. 1183))
Members: Brendan Clarke-Smith, Damian Collins, Ronnie Cowan, Virginia Crosbie, John Cryer, Andrew Griffith, Mrs Paulette Hamilton, Paul Howell, Danny Kruger, Dr Julian Lewis, Charlotte Nichols, Kate Osamor, Tulip Siddiq, Julian Smith, Andrew Stephenson, Sir Desmond Swayne and Liz Twist
23Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Prescribed Persons (Reports on Disclosures of Information) (Amendment) Regulations 2022)
Members: Jane Stevenson discharged and Dr Luke Evans nominated in substitution.
24Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Dentists, Dental Care Professionals, Nurses, Nursing Associates and Midwives (International Registrations) Order 2022)
Members: Duncan Baker, Feryal Clark, James Daly, Mrs Flick Drummond, Marion Fellows, Richard Fuller, Kate Hollern, Eddie Hughes, Andrew Jones, Chris Loder, John McDonnell, Taiwo Owatemi, Will Quince, Mr Barry Sheerman, Chris Skidmore, Amanda Solloway and Liz Twist
25Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Architects Act 1997 (Amendment) Regulations 2022)
Members: Gareth Bacon, Mr John Baron, Sara Britcliffe, Sir Geoffrey Cox, Colleen Fletcher, Mary Kelly Foy, Mr Marcus Fysh, Patricia Gibson, John Howell, Jane Hunt, Rebecca Long Bailey, Sarah Owen, Tom Randall, Lee Rowley, Cat Smith, Jon Trickett and Jacob Young
26Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Agricultural Holdings (Fee) Regulations 2022)
Members: Mark Logan and Iain Stewart discharged and Nigel Mills and Tom Randall nominated in substitution.
27Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022)
Members: Nickie Aiken, Simon Baynes, Saqib Bhatti, Martin Docherty-Hughes, Margaret Greenwood, Kevin Hollinrake, Daniel Kawczynski, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, Alan Mak, Seema Malhotra, Jessica Morden, Grahame Morris, Joy Morrissey, Holly Mumby-Croft, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Jane Stevenson and Zarah Sultana
28Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2022, draft Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and draft Police and Crime Commissioner Elections and Welsh Forms (Amendment) Order 2022)
Members: Andrea Jenkyns discharged and Lee Anderson nominated in substitution.
29Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Extraterritorial US Legislation (Sanctions against Cuba, Iran and Libya) (Protection of Trading Interests) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022)
Members: Kevin Brennan, Chris Clarkson, Rosie Duffield, Michael Ellis, Dame Nia Griffith, Emma Hardy, Darren Henry, Dame Meg Hillier, Nigel Huddleston, Kate Kniveton, Mr Khalid Mahmood, Paul Maynard, Dr Matthew Offord, John Penrose, Alexander Stafford, Christian Wakeford and Mike Wood
30Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Internal Market Information System Regulation (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021)
Members: Dr Kieran Mullan and James Sunderland discharged and Shaun Bailey and Andrew Percy nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
31Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Progress in implementing UK REACH: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 860);
(2) Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 109)
(Philip Dunne).
(1) Regulating after Brexit: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 125);
(2) The UK’s new relationship with the EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 120)
(Sir William Cash).
33Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee
Coronavirus: lessons learnt: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 908) (Greg Clark).
(1) Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 916);
(2) Correspondence from the Home Secretary relating to the introduction of a criminal offence for spiking: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the National Fire Chiefs’ Council relating to training and exercising: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Home Secretary relating to channel crossings and conditions at Manston asylum facility: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Minister for Immigration relating to channel crossings and conditions at Manston asylum facility: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Home Secretary relating to the Temporary Protection Directive: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Drugs: Part of the written evidence, to be published (HC 198)
(Dame Diana Johnson).
35Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
Draft Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2022:
(i) Eighth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 834);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 834)
(Joanna Cherry).
36International Trade Committee
(1) The work of the Department for International Trade: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 16);
(2) Correspondence from the Chair of the Trade Remedies Authority relating to a review of cast iron articles: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published
(Angus Brendan MacNeil).
37Science and Technology Committee
(1) Diversity and inclusion in STEM: Written evidence, to be published (HC 95);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation relating to R&D and EU Programmes: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation relating to UK Earth Observation: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) UK Science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks: Written evidence, to be published (HC 96)
(Greg Clark).
38Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Nineteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 4-xix) (Jessica Morden).
(1) Jobs, growth and productivity after coronavirus: Government response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 861);
(2) The work of HMRC: Oral evidence, to published (HC 783);
(3) Autumn 2022 Fiscal Events: Written evidence, to be published (HC 740)
(Harriett Baldwin).
(1) One-off session with the First Minister of Wales: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 858);
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations: Written evidence, to be published
(Stephen Crabb).
41Women and Equalities Committee
(1) The work of the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 852);
(2) Gender Sensitive Parliament: Written evidence, to be published (HC 287)
(Caroline Nokes).
(1) The work of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 549);
(2) Correspondence with the National Audit Office relating to exempt accommodation and housing benefit: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the cost of living payment: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Defined benefit pensions with liability driven investments: Written evidence, to be published (HC 826)
(Sir 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))
Resolved, That this House has considered the avian influenza outbreak.—(Sir John Whittingdale.)
Resolved, That this House has considered accountability in the NHS.—(Sir Mike Penning.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Greening the financial system
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of greening the financial system.—(Olivia Blake.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.24 pm and 4.14 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
The sitting was suspended between 4.22 pm and 4.29 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of greening the financial system.
4Government policy on a further independence referendum for Scotland
Resolved, That this House has considered Government policy on a further independence referendum for Scotland.—(Neale Hanvey.)
5Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review
Resolved, That this House has considered the Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review.—(Rachel Maclean.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.47 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Civil Legal Aid (Housing and Asylum Accommodation) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Dominic Raab)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1235), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Religious Character of 16 to 19 Academies (Designation Procedure) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1237), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Gillian Keegan)
(1) Central Counterparties (Transitional Provision) (Extension and Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1244), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)
(2) Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Qualifying Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1252), dated 29 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)
Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1232), dated 25 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Stephenson)
National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1253), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Will Quince)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1236), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Mitchell)
8Terms and Conditions of Employment
Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 1249), dated 28 November 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Paul Scully)
Other papers
Commissioners of HM Revenue and Customs in Account with the Government of the Isle of Man for 2021–22, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 777) (Victoria Atkins)
(1) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Investigation into the UNBOXED festival for 2022–23 (by Act), to be printed (HC 938) (Clerk of the House)
(2) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Restart scheme for long-term unemployed people for 2022–23 (by Act), to be printed (HC 936) (Clerk of the House)
Report and Accounts of sportscotland National Lottery Distribution Fund for 2021–22, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 876) (Secretary Alister Jack)
Agreement, done at Bucharest on 27 and 30 March 2022, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Romania on Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Romania for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments Done at London on 13 July 1995 and the Extending Exchange of Notes (by Command) (CP 767) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Withdrawn papers
Draft Civil Legal Aid (Housing and Asylum Accommodation) Order 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (laid 17 October)
MEMORANDUM
POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS ACT 2000
The Prime Minister has appointed to the committee known as the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, established by section 2(1) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, Lee Rowley to serve on the committee pursuant to section 2(3) of the Act, and Felicity Buchan to carry out concurrently the functions of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the committee pursuant to section 2(2A)(b) of the Act.