Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
2Statements: (1) Police conduct in the light of the case of David Carrick (Secretary Suella
Braverman)
(2) Exercise of Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 with regard to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Secretary Alister Jack)
3Application for emergency debate (Standing Order No. 24)
Stephen Flynn proposed that the House should debate the Government’s decision to use Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 with regard to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Standing Order No. 24).
The Speaker put the application to the House.
Leave given.
Debate to take place immediately following the Motion under Standing Order No. 23 and to last for a maximum of two hours.
4Markets and market traders (review of support): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the support available to markets and market traders and of the options for improving that support; and for connected purposes;
That Simon Baynes, Sarah Atherton, Paul Bristow, James Daly, Sally-Ann Hart, Mr David Jones, Ben Lake, Robin Millar, Robbie Moore, Helen Morgan, Jim Shannon and Matt Vickers present the Bill.
Simon Baynes accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 February, and to be printed (Bill 228).
5Emergency Debate (Standing Order No. 24)
The Government’s decision to use Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 with regard to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the Government’s decision to use Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 with regard to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.—(Stephen Flynn.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 143
Ayes: 318 (Tellers: Stuart Anderson, Mike Wood)
Noes: 71 (Tellers: Peter Grant, Steven Bonnar)
Question accordingly agreed to.
6Online Safety Bill: Consideration of the Bill, as amended, on re-committal, in the Public Bill Committee
New Clause NC1—(Alex Davies-Jones)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
At 8.13 pm, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Consideration to a conclusion (Programme Order, 5 December 2022 and Standing Order No. 24(7)).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83E).
(1) That New Clause NC4 be added to the Bill (Question on new Clause selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Alex Davies-Jones.)
The House divided.
Division No. 144
Ayes: 242 (Tellers: Jessica Morden, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 310 (Tellers: Stuart Anderson, Mike Wood)
Question accordingly negatived.
(2) That Amendments 1 to 4 be made (single Question on Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Paul Scully.)
Question agreed to.
(3) That Amendment 43 be made (Amendment selected by the Speaker for separate decision).—(Kirsty Blackman.)
The House divided.
Division No. 145
Ayes: 237 (Tellers: Peter Grant, Steven Bonnar)
Noes: 316 (Tellers: Stuart Anderson, Mike Wood)
Question accordingly negatived.
(4) That Amendments 5 to 42 be made (single Question on Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Paul Scully.)
Question agreed to.
Consideration completed.
7Online Safety Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed.
8Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Resolved, That Mrs Heather Wheeler be appointed to the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, until the end of the present Parliament, in pursuance of paragraph 1(d) of Schedule 3 to the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, as amended.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to pre-payment meter energy customers and self-disconnection was presented and read by Anne McLaughlin.
Subject: Cost of energy and the ceramics sector (Jonathan Gullis)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Scott Mann.)
Adjourned at 9.29 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 March.
12Workers (Rights and Definition) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
14Asylum Seekers (Accommodation Eviction Procedures) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
15Disability Benefit Assessments (Recording) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
16Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (Powers) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
17Under-Occupancy Penalty (Report) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
18Social Security Benefits (Healthy Eating) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
20Asylum Seekers (Permission to Work) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
21Housing Standards (Refugees and Asylum Seekers) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 20 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 3 February.
General Committees: Reports
22Seafarers’ Wages Bill Committee
Carolyn Harris (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 229).
23Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Mrs Pauline Latham (Chair) reported the draft Health and Social Care Information Centre (Transfer of Functions, Abolition and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023.
24Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Robert Syms (Chair) reported the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) 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).
25Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Order 2022)
Members: Damian Collins discharged and Mark Garnier nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
26Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 17 January to be published (Ian Mearns).
27Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
(1) Royal Mail and the Post Office: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1045);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Energy and Climate relating to an energy bills support scheme in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Decarbonisation of the power sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 283);
(5) The work of the BEIS Department: Written evidence, to be published (HC 529)
(Darren Jones).
(1) UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 183);
(2) Aviation procurement: Written evidence, to be published (HC 178);
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to F-35 update: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) US, UK and NATO: Written evidence, to be published (HC 184);
(5) Women in the Armed Forces: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 726)
(Tobias Ellwood).
29Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) The sustainability of local journalism: Seventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 153);
(2) Connected tech: smart or sinister?: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 157)
(Damian Green).
(1) Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 943);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The future of post-16 qualifications: Written evidence, to be published (HC 55)
(Mr Robin Walker).
31Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Fisheries negotiations: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1032);
(2) Food security: Written evidence, to be published (HC 622);
(3) Sealife mortality off the north east coast: Written evidence, to be published (HC 796)
(Mrs Sheryll Murray).
32Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Follow up on the IMMDS report and the Government’s response:
(i) Sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 689);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 689);
(2) Integrated Care Systems: autonomy and accountability: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 587);
(3) Coronavirus: lessons learnt: Written evidence, to be published (HC 908);
(4) Correspondence with the Alzheimer’s Assocation relating to system readiness for disease-modifying treatments for dementia: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the workforce plan: Written evidence, to be published
(Steve Brine).
33International Development Committee
(1) From Srebrenica to a safer tomorrow: Preventing future mass atrocities around the world: Government Response to the Third Report of the Committee: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 992);
(2) Racism in the aid sector: Government Response to the First Report of the Committee, Session 2022–23: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 956);
(3) UK aid for refugee host countries: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 426);
(4) Aid spending in the UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 898);
(5) Future of UK aid: Written evidence, to be published (HC 148);
(6) ICAI’s review on tackling fraud in UK aid through multilateral organisations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 151)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Victims Bill: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report: Eighth Special Report, to be printed (HC 932);
(2) The future of legal aid: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 665);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Prisons and Probation relating to the publication of Youth Offender Institution separation data: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Justice relating to recommissioning the Rape and Sexual Abuse Fund: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice relating to warrants to install pre-payment meters: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury relating to funding for the Crown Prosecution Service: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) The prison operational workforce: Written evidence, to be published (HC 917)
(Sir Robert Neill).
(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
(Catherine McKinnell).
36Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) The Work of the Electoral Commission: Government response to the Committee's Second Report of Session 2022–23: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1065);
(2) The role of Non-Executive Directors in Government: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 318);
(3) Lobbying and influence: post-legislative scrutiny of the Lobbying Act 2014 and related matters: Written evidence, to be published (HC 638)
(Mr William Wragg).
Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Written evidence, to be published (Iain Stewart).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.30 am.
Business appointed by the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6) and Order, 19 December 2022)
1Potential merits of training additional doctors
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the potential merits of training additional doctors.—(Anthony Browne.)
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of training additional doctors.
2Performance of South East Water
Resolved, That this House has considered the performance of South East Water.—(Greg Clark.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.29 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Potential improvements to child maintenance services
Resolved, That this House has considered potential improvements to child maintenance services.—(Jamie Stone.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.49 pm and 4.00 pm.
4BBC's role in promoting locally-based radio reporting
Resolved, That this House has considered the BBC’s role in promoting locally-based radio reporting.—(Mr Gregory Campbell.)
5Sudden unexplained death in childhood
Resolved, That this House has considered sudden unexplained death in childhood.—(Kwasi Kwarteng.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.25 pm until tomorrow.
Rosie Winterton
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kevin Hollinrake)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Prohibition on Submission for Royal Assent) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 41), dated 17 January 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Alister Jack)
Energy Act 2004 (Assistance for Areas with High Distribution Costs) (Amendment) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 43), dated 15 January 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)
International Tax Enforcement (Disclosable Arrangements) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 38), dated 16 January 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
Other papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the draft Authority to Carry Scheme and Civil Penalties Regulations 2023 (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the draft Authority to Carry Scheme and Civil Penalties Regulations 2023 (laid 9 January 2023)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY
1Variation of proxy voting arrangement
(1) The Speaker has certified, further to the certificates of 22 October 2022 and 7 December 2022, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Amy Callaghan has given notice that she wishes to vary her proxy vote arrangement. Her nominated proxy will be Brendan O'Hara with effect from 17 January.
(2) The Speaker has certified, further to the certificates of 7 November 2022 and 7 December 2022, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Allan Dorans has given notice that he wishes to vary his proxy vote arrangement. His nominated proxy will be Brendan O'Hara with effect from 17 January.
(3) The Speaker has certified, further to the certificates of 22 November 2022 and 7 December 2022, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that John Nicolson has given notice that he wishes to vary his proxy vote arrangement. His nominated proxy will be Brendan O'Hara with effect from 17 January.