Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(2) the Prime Minister
2Urgent Question: Bonuses for Post Office executives (Kevin Hollinrake)
3Climate and Ecology: 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 United Kingdom to achieve climate and nature targets; to give the Secretary of State a duty to implement a strategy to achieve those targets; to establish a Climate and Nature Assembly to advise the Secretary of State in creating that strategy; to give duties to the Committee on Climate Change and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee regarding the strategy and targets; and for connected purposes;
That Olivia Blake, Geraint Davies, Caroline Lucas, Colum Eastwood, Ed Davey, Wera Hobhouse, Liz Saville Roberts, Stephen Farry, Sir Peter Bottomley, Derek Thomas, Alan Brown and Brendan O’Hara present the Bill.
Olivia Blake accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 November, and to be printed (Bill 304).
4Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill: Allocation of Time
Ordered, That the following provisions shall apply to the proceedings on the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill:
Timetable
(1) (a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken at today’s sitting in accordance with this Order.
(b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
(c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put
(2) When the Bill has been read a second time:
(a) it shall, despite Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put;
(b) the Speaker shall leave the chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given.
(3) (a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chair shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.
(b) If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put.
(4) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (1), the Chair or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions in the same order as they would fall to be put if this Order did not apply:
(a) any Question already proposed from the chair;
(b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed;
(c) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown;
(d) the question on any amendment, new Clause or new Schedule selected by the Chair or Speaker for separate decision;
(e) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded; and shall not put any other questions, other than the question on any motion described in paragraph (15)(a) of this Order.
(5) On a Motion so made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chair or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.
(6) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (4)(c) on successive amendments moved or Motions made by a Minister of the Crown, the Chair or Speaker shall instead put a single Question in relation to those amendments or Motions.
(7) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (4)(e) in relation to successive provisions of the Bill, the Chair shall instead put a single Question in relation to those provisions, except that the Question shall be put separately on any Clause of or Schedule to the Bill which a Minister of the Crown has signified an intention to leave out.
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(8) (a) Any Lords Amendments to the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(9) Paragraphs (2) to (7) of Standing Order No. 83F (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (8) of this Order.
Subsequent stages
(10) (a) Any further Message from the Lords on the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) 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; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(11) Paragraphs (2) to (5) of Standing Order No. 83G (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (10) of this Order.
Reasons Committee
(12) Paragraphs (2) to (6) of Standing Order No. 83H (Programme orders: reasons committee) apply in relation to any committee to be appointed to draw up reasons after proceedings have been brought to conclusion in accordance with this Order.
Miscellaneous
(13) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on the Bill.
(14) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings to which this Order applies.
(15) (a) No Motion shall be made, except by a Minister of the Crown, to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken, to recommit the Bill or to vary or supplement the provisions of this Order.
(b) No notice shall be required of such a Motion.
(c) Such a Motion may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(d) The Question on such a Motion shall be put forthwith; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (c) shall thereupon be resumed.
(e) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on such a Motion.
(16) (a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings to which this Order applies except by a Minister of the Crown.
(b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.
(17) (a) The start of any debate under Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) to be held on a day on which the Bill has been set down to be taken as an Order of the Day shall be postponed until the conclusion of any proceedings on that day to which this Order applies.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings in respect of such a debate.
(18) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.
(19) (a) Any private business which has been set down for consideration at a time falling after the commencement of proceedings on this Order or on the Bill on a day on which the Bill has been set down to be taken as an Order of the Day shall, instead of being considered as provided by Standing Orders or by any Order of the House, be considered at the conclusion of the proceedings on the Bill on that day.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to the private business so far as necessary for the purpose of securing that the business may be considered for a period of three hours.—(Mr Steve Baker.)
5Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House (Order, today).
6Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Order, today).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 (Period during which functions may be exercised in the absence of Ministers)
Amendment 6 proposed.—(Claire Hanna.)
Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause agreed to.
Clauses 2 to 7 agreed to.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Order, today).
Bill to be reported, without amendment.
________________
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Fay Jones reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
7Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time, and passed.
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Insider Dealing (Securities and Regulated Markets) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 17 April, be approved.—(Fay Jones.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Extraction of Information from Electronic Devices) (Amendment of Schedule 3) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 17 April, be approved.—(Fay Jones.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Protections for urban trees (Catherine West)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Fay Jones.)
Adjourned at 5.00 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
10Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill
The Lords agree to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
11Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill
Lords Amendments to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 305) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 305–EN).
Changes to Notices Given
12Immigration and Nationality Fees (Exemption for NHS Clinical Staff) Bill
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 24 November.
13Caravan Site Licensing (Exemptions of Motor Homes) Bill
Order for resuming on Friday 12 May the adjourned debate on the Question proposed on 3 February, That the Bill be now read a second time, read and discharged.
Debate to be resumed on Friday 14 July.
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).
14Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee
Members: Victoria Atkins, Shaun Bailey, Simon Baynes, Aaron Bell, Kirsty Blackman, Rob Butler, Douglas Chapman, Ashley Dalton, Gareth Davies, Samantha Dixon, Dame Angela Eagle, Peter Gibson, Emma Hardy, Mark Jenkinson, Anthony Mangnall, Robbie Moore, James Murray, Abena Oppong-Asare, Andrew Stephenson, Kelly Tolhurst, Liz Twist, Valerie Vaz, Matt Vickers and Craig Whittaker
15First Delegated Legislation Committee (Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment Application Scheme Pass-through Requirement Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 428))
Members: Debbie Abrahams, Mr John Baron, Hilary Benn, Olivia Blake, Anthony Browne, Liam Byrne, Miriam Cates, Ronnie Cowan, Ben Everitt, Mr Jonathan Lord, Joy Morrissey, Taiwo Owatemi, Bob Seely, Amanda Solloway, Jane Stevenson, Maggie Throup and Dr Alan Whitehead
16Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 440))
Members: Sir Robert Buckland, Rob Butler, Andy Carter, Wayne David, Leo Docherty, Chris Elmore, Barry Gardiner, Mrs Helen Grant, Margaret Greenwood, Rebecca Harris, Cherilyn Mackrory, Tommy Sheppard, Sir Desmond Swayne, Derek Thomas, Giles Watling, Catherine West and Beth Winter
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Strategic Highways Company (Name Change and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2023)
Members: Mr Simon Clarke, Mrs Flick Drummond, Michael Fabricant, Colleen Fletcher, Mary Kelly Foy, Gill Furniss, Mr Richard Holden, Adam Holloway, Dr Neil Hudson, Dr Caroline Johnson, Kim Johnson, Andrew Lewer, Clive Lewis, John McDonnell, Dr Kieran Mullan, Mohammad Yasin and Jacob Young
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023)
Members: Sir David Evennett, Royston Smith and Jacob Young discharged and Siobhan Baillie, Robert Courts and Mike Wood nominated in substitution.
19Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Caroline Ansell, Kevin Brennan, Richard Burgon, Dan Carden, Jo Churchill, Stella Creasy, Jon Cruddas, Sir David Evennett, Mary Glindon, Luke Hall, Ruth Jones, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, Chris Loder, John Penrose, Rebecca Pow, Mary Robinson and Dean Russell
20Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft International Criminal Police Organisation (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2023)
Members: Jack Brereton, Martin Docherty-Hughes, Jackie Doyle-Price, Sir James Duddridge, Chris Elmore, Mr Louie French, Stephen Hammond, Rebecca Harris, Sir Oliver Heald, Kate Hollern, Gareth Johnson, Nick Smith, Edward Timpson, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Karl Turner, Catherine West and Andrew Western
21Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023)
Members: Tonia Antoniazzi, Edward Argar, Aaron Bell, Alberto Costa, Michael Ellis, Vicky Ford, Anna McMorrin, Scott Mann, Jill Mortimer, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Selaine Saxby, Cat Smith, Greg Smith, Sam Tarry, Jon Trickett, Shailesh Vara and Nadia Whittome
General Committees: Reports
22Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill Committee
Mr Philip Hollobone (Chair) reported:
(1) That the Committee had come to the following resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and
(2) written evidence.
Written evidence to be published.
23Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Clive Efford (Chair) reported the draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (Asylum-Seeker Accommodation) (England) Regulations 2023.
Select Committees: Reports
24Environmental Audit Committee
Sustainable timber and deforestation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 637) (Philip Dunne).
(1) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Immigration relating to the European Union’s ‘Entry/Exit system’: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland relating to the list of EU law applicable in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir William Cash).
(1) Human trafficking: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1142);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Security relating to the publication of the Government’s Fraud Strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Security relating to the publication of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Draft Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence relating to legislative changes to improve Fire and Rescue Service integrity: Written evidence, to be published
(5) Drugs: Written evidence, to be published (HC 198);
(6) Policing priorities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 635);
(Dame Diana Johnson).
27Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 781);
(2) The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1165)
(Simon Hoare).
Public engagement on e-petitions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 73) (Catherine McKinnell).
29Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) The scrutiny of international treaties and other international agreements in the 21st Century: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 214);
(2) Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Main Estimate Memorandum 2023–24: Written evidence to be published;
(3) The status of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21st Century: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1294)
(Mr William Wragg).
30Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Governance of artificial intelligence (AI): Oral evidence, to be published (HC 645);
(2) Correspondence relating to funding for mathematical sciences and the Prime Minister’s ambitions for maths: Written evidence, to be published
(Greg Clark).
31Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Thirty-sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 4 -xxxvi) (Jessica Morden).
Our future transport: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1061) (Iain Stewart).
(1) Regulating Crypto: Fifteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 615);
(2) Cliff edges in the tax and benefits system: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1301);
(3) Retail banks: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1117);
(4) The work of the Financial Ombudsman Service: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1219)
(Harriett Baldwin).
(1) Broadcasting in Wales: Oral and Written evidence, to be published (HC 620);
(2) Nuclear Energy in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 240);
(3) Water Quality in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1113);
(4) Correspondence from Universities UK relating to university research funding: Written evidence, to be published
(Stephen Crabb).
35Women and Equalities Committee
(1) RSHE Review: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1309) (Kate Osborne);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Schools relating to the RSHE Review: Written evidence, to be published.
(Kate Osborne).
(1) The effectiveness of sanctions: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1308);
(2) The work of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 549)
(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))
1Railway infrastructure in Wales
Resolved, That this House has considered railway infrastructure in Wales.—(Christina Rees.)
2Pension age of prison officers
Resolved, That this House has considered the pension age of prison officers.—(Gordon Henderson.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.27 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3The future of small and medium-sized housebuilders
Resolved, That this House has considered the future of small and medium-sized housebuilders.—(Andrew Lewer.)
4Funding for the East Coast Main Line
Resolved, That this House has considered funding for the East Coast Main Line.—(Catherine McKinnell.)
Resolved, That this House has considered centre assessed grades.—(Caroline Ansell.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.11 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Building Safety Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments etc.) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lee Rowley)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
National Health Service (Performers Lists) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 525), dated 10 May 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Neil O'Brien)
Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) (Amendment) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 524), dated 2 May 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Other papers
4Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
The Antarctic Treaty: Measures adopted at the Forty-fourth Consultative Meeting held at Berlin, Germany, 23 May to 2 June 2022 (by Command) (CP 841) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Ministry of Justice, HM Prison & Probation Service: Improving resettlement support for prison leavers to reduce reoffending (by Act), to be printed (HC 1282) (Clerk of the House)
Report under section 56(1B) and (3) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 on the renewal of a call-out order in respect of countering state threats (by Act) (James Heappey)