Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker’s Statement: Sixth anniversary of the death of PC Keith Palmer
2Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(2) the Prime Minister
3Water Quality (Sewage Discharge) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Jim McMahon presented a Bill to make provision about the monitoring of water quality; to set a target for the reduction of sewage discharges; to provide for financial penalties in relation to sewage discharges and breaches of monitoring requirements; to require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for the reduction of sewage discharges from storm overflows, including an economic impact assessment; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 21 April, and to be printed (Bill 278).
4Employment Equality (Insurance etc): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010 to prohibit age discrimination by employers in relation to the provision of insurance or a related financial service; and for connected purposes;
That Mrs Natalie Elphicke, Caroline Nokes, Dame Diana Johnson, David Linden, Jim Shannon, Bob Blackman, Rachael Maskell, Marion Fellows, Henry Smith, Tony Lloyd and Marco Longhi present the Bill.
Mrs Natalie Elphicke accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 November, and to be printed (Bill 277).
Motion made and Question proposed, That the draft Windsor Framework (Democratic Scrutiny) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 20 March, be approved.—(Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 197
Ayes: 515 (Tellers: Andrew Stephenson, Steve Double)
Noes: 29 (Tellers: Ian Paisley, Paul Girvan)
Question accordingly agreed to.
6Public Order Bill: Consideration of Lords Message
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E and 6F.—(Chris Philp.)
The Deputy Speaker announced the result of the Division which had been deferred to this day (Standing Order No. 41A).
Criminal Law
That the draft Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Home Detention Curfew) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 8 February, be approved.
Division No. 196
Ayes: 290
Noes: 14
Question accordingly agreed to.
8Public Order Bill: Consideration of Lords Message (resumed)
The House resumed the debate.
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 198
Ayes: 296 (Tellers: Steve Double, Andrew Stephenson)
Noes: 229 (Tellers: Navendu Mishra, Gerald Jones)
Question accordingly agreed to.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H(2)), That a Committee be appointed to draw up a Reason to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E and 6F;
That Aaron Bell, Gerald Jones, Sarah Jones, Stuart C McDonald, Scott Mann and James Sunderland be members of the Committee;
That Chris Philp be the Chair of the Committee;
That three be the quorum of the Committee;
That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
9Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill: Programme (No. 4)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill: for the purpose of supplementing the Orders of 6 September 2022 (Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill: Programme), 22 September 2022 (Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill: Programme (No. 2)) and 12 December 2022 (Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill: Programme (No. 3)):
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(1) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.
Subsequent stages
(2) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(3) The 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.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
10Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments
Lords Amendment 1 agreed to.
11UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [Lords]: Programme (No. 3)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [Lords] for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 1 November 2022 (UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [Lords]: Programme), as varied by the Order of 1 February 2023 (UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [Lords]: Programme (No. 2)):
Consideration of Lords Message
(1) Proceedings on the Lords Message shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.
Subsequent stages
(2) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(3) The 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.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
12UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [Lords]: Consideration of Lords Message
Lords Amendment 3B agreed to.
13Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Economic Crime (Anti-Money Laundering) Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 27 February, be approved.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Service Police (Complaints etc.) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 23 February, be approved.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Small businesses in railway arches (Helen Hayes)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jacob Young.)
Adjourned at 4.19 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
15Seafarers’ Wages Bill [Lords]
The Lords agree without amendment to the Amendments made by the Commons to the Seafarers’ Wages Bill [Lords].
16Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill
The Lords do not insist on their Amendment to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill to which the Commons have disagreed, but propose Amendments to the words so restored to the Bill to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
17Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill
Lords Message to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 279).
Reasons Committees: Reports
18Public Order Bill: Reasons Committee
Chris Philp reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reason:
Lords Amendments 6B to 6F
Because it is not necessary to amend the stop and search powers contained in Clause 11.
Changes to Notices Given
19Bowel Conditions (Assessment) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 12 May.
20Terminal Illness (Support and Rights) Bill
Order for resuming on Friday 24 March the adjourned debate on the Question proposed on 18 November, That the Bill be now read a second time, read and discharged.
Debate to be resumed on Friday 24 November.
21Benefit Cap (Report on Abolition) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
22Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries (Amendment) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
23Trade (Australia and New Zealand) (Parliamentary Approval) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
26Evictions (Universal Credit) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
27Benefit Sanctions (Warnings) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
28Universal Credit Sanctions (Zero Hours Contracts) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
29Devolution (Employment) (Scotland) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
30Health and Safety at Work Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
31Workers (Rights and Definition) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
33Asylum Seekers (Accommodation Eviction Procedures) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
34Disability Benefit Assessments (Recording) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
35Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (Powers) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
36Under-Occupancy Penalty (Report) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
37Social Security Benefits (Healthy Eating) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
39Asylum Seekers (Permission to Work) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
40Housing Standards (Refugees and Asylum Seekers) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
41Immigration and Nationality Fees (Exemption for NHS Clinical Staff) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 5 May.
General Committees: Reports
42Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Martin Vickers (Chair) reported the draft Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (Corporate Joint Committees) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2023.
43Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mrs Sheryll Murray (Chair) reported the draft Major Sporting Events (Income Tax Exemption) (Women’s Finalissima Football Match) Regulations 2023.
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).
44First Delegated Legislation Committee (Amendments of the Law (Resolution of Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 319))
(1) Chair: Mr Philip Hollobone
(2) Members: Lee Anderson, Hilary Benn, Olivia Blake, Mr Ben Bradshaw, Alun Cairns, Mrs Natalie Elphicke, Barry Gardiner, Mrs Helen Grant, Andrew Griffith, Paul Holmes, Stewart Hosie, Anthony Mangnall, Stephen Metcalfe, Tulip Siddiq, Andrew Stephenson, Liz Twist and Craig Whittaker
45Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Building (Public Bodies and Higher-Risk Building Work) (England) Regulations 2023)
(1) Chair: Sir Edward Leigh
(2) Members: Ian Byrne, Michael Fabricant, Colleen Fletcher, Mr Louie French, Mr Marcus Fysh, Margaret Greenwood, Jane Hunt, Dr Caroline Johnson, Kate Kniveton, Mr Khalid Mahmood, Holly Mumby-Croft, Matthew Pennycook, Lee Rowley, Cat Smith, Chloe Smith, Mohammad Yasin and Jacob Young
46Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 2023)
(1) Chair: Carolyn Harris
(2) Members: Kevin Brennan, Sara Britcliffe, Sir Robert Buckland, Alberto Costa, Jon Cruddas, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Ben Everitt, Colleen Fletcher, Mr Richard Holden, Mike Kane, Dr Kieran Mullan, Kate Osamor, Selaine Saxby, Mr Barry Sheerman, Chris Skidmore, Valerie Vaz and Jacob Young
47Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Licensing Act 2003 (Coronation Licensing Hours) Order 2023)
(1) Chair: Graham Stringer
(2) Members: Shaun Bailey, Wayne David, Miss Sarah Dines, Sir James Duddridge, Simon Fell, Gerald Jones, Sarah Jones, Ian Lavery, Scott Mann, David Morris, Jill Mortimer, Wendy Morton, Dr Matthew Offord, Kate Osborne, Mary Robinson, Jon Trickett and Andrew Western
48Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Major Sporting Events (Income Tax Exemption) (Women’s Finalissima Football Match) Regulations 2023)
Members: Gareth Bacon and Andrew Stephenson discharged and Paul Howell and Fay Jones nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
(1) Aviation procurement: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 178);
(2) Correspondence with the Director of Service Prosecutions and the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to the consultation on concurrent jurisdiction: Written evidence, to be published
(Tobias Ellwood).
50Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies: Government and Regulator Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1221);
(2) Environmental change and food security: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 880);
(3) Environmental compliance and enforcement: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1092);
(4) Sustainable timber and deforestation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 637)
(Philip Dunne).
Government Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1101) (Sir William Cash).
(1) Policing priorities: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 635);
(2) Prevent review: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1223);
(3) Correspondence relating to asylum seekers and immigration detention: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister for Immigration relating to passport fees: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Diana Johnson).
53Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Human Rights Ombudsperson: Eleventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 222);
(2) Legislative Scrutiny: Illegal Migration Bill: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1241)
(Joanna Cherry).
Public engagement on e-petitions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 73) (Catherine McKinnell).
Matter referred on 21 April 2022: Conduct of Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 564) (Ms Harriet Harman).
56Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
The Work of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1213) (Mr William Wragg).
57Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Thirty-first Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 4-xxxi) (Jessica Morden).
58Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)
Fourteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 5-xiv) (Jessica Morden).
Minimum service levels for rail: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1153) (Iain Stewart).
(1) Budget 2023: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1217);
(2) Silicon Valley Bank UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1226)
(Harriett Baldwin).
61Women and Equalities Committee
* This section has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Thursday 29 June 2023.
(1) Menopause and the workplace: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 91);
(2) Attitudes towards women and girls in educational settings: Written evidence to be published (HC 331);
(3) Correspondence with Lord Bellamy relating to the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Equality and the UK asylum process: Written evidence, to be published (HC 93);
(5) National Disability Strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 241);
(6) So-called honour-based abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 831)
(Caroline Nokes).
(1) Defined benefit pensions with Liability Driven Investments: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 826);
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work relating to Personal Independence Payments and reassessments: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the publication of the Disability White Paper: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Defined benefit pensions with Liability Driven Investments: Written evidence, to be published (HC 826);
(5) State Pension Age Review: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1125)
(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))
1Specialist workforce for children with special educational needs and disabilities
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered a specialist workforce for children with special educational needs and disabilities.—(Geraint Davies.)
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 the specialist workforce for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of solar rooftop installations.—(Caroline Lucas.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.34 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Support for parents affected by international child abduction
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of support for parents affected by international child abduction.—(David Simmonds.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.15 pm and 3.27 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, that this House has considered the matter of support for parents affected by international child abduction.
The sitting was suspended between 4.12 pm and 4.30 pm.
4Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service and family court reform
Resolved, That this House has considered the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service and family court reform.—(Taiwo Owatemi.)
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 Negative Resolution
(1) Immigration (Offshore Worker Notification and Exemption from Control (Amendment)) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 346), dated 21 March 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
(2) Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 349), dated 21 March 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Other papers
2Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
The UK’s International Technology Strategy (by Command) (CP 810) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Government Response to the Ninth Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights on Legislative Scrutiny: Bill of Rights Bill (by Command) (CP 819) (Secretary Dominic Raab)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury: COVID-19 business grant schemes (by Act), to be printed (HC 1200) (Clerk of the House)
Agreement, done at Madrid on 21 January 2019, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of Spain on the Participation in Certain Elections of Nationals of Each Country Resident in the Territory of the Other (by Command) (CP 817) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Convention, done at London on 15 April 2013, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on Extradition (by Command) (CP 818) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Report of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (by Act) (Secretary Suella Braverman)