Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
2Urgent Question: National Crime Agency’s investigation into Mr Javad Marandi (Chris Philp)
3Children not in school (register): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to place a duty on local authorities to maintain a register of children who are not in school; and for connected purposes;
That Mrs Flick Drummond, Ms Marie Rimmer, Andrea Jenkyns, Andrew Selous, Lia Nici, Jonathan Gullis, Dr Caroline Johnson, Edward Timpson, Sally-Ann Hart, Mr Robin Walker, Sir Gavin Williamson and Kim Johnson present the Bill.
Mrs Flick Drummond accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 November, and to be printed (Bill 307).
4Opposition Day: Leader of the second largest opposition party (15th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) Cost of living
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House regrets that both the Government and the Official Opposition support a damaging Brexit which the Office for Budget Responsibility predicts will lead to a four per cent drop in GDP; further regrets that the price for this continued economic mismanagement falls on ordinary households, with inflation remaining close to its highest level in 40 years and food prices soaring; therefore calls on the Government to follow the lead of the Scottish Government and introduce measures aimed at protecting the most vulnerable households from the crisis through measures similar to the Scottish Child Payment; also calls on the Government to reinstate the £25 a week uplift to Universal Credit, end the unfair benefit cap and the two child limit, follow the action of other European countries in tackling food inflation and put pressure on major retailers to pass on falling wholesale prices to consumers; calls on the Government to initiate an investigation into soaring supermarket prices and profiteering in the context of soaring inflation; and finally calls on the Competition and Markets Authority to utilise its full powers and impose maximum fines where evidence of price gouging is found.—(Mhairi Black.)
Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out from ‘House’ to the end of the Question and add ‘welcomes the Government’s action to halve inflation, grow the economy and reduce debt; further welcomes the Government’s action to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Brexit, including the passage of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act which will boost UK food security; supports the Government’s extensive efforts to support families up and down the country with the cost of living through significant support to help with rising prices, worth an average of £3,300 per household including direct cash payments of at least £900 to the eight million most vulnerable households; and notes that the SNP and Labour would fail to grip inflation or boost economic growth with their plans for the economy, which would simply lead to unfunded spending, higher debt and uncontrolled migration’.—(John Glen.)
Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
The House divided.
Division No. 231
Ayes: 45 (Tellers: Marion Fellows, Peter Grant)
Noes: 287 (Tellers: Fay Jones, Mike Wood)
Question accordingly negatived.
Question, That the proposed words be there added, put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
The House divided.
Division No. 232
Ayes: 283 (Tellers: Fay Jones, Mike Wood)
Noes: 47 (Tellers: Peter Grant, David Linden)
Question accordingly agreed to.
The Deputy Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
Resolved, That this House welcomes the Government’s action to halve inflation, grow the economy and reduce debt; further welcomes the Government’s action to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Brexit, including the passage of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act which will boost UK food security; supports the Government’s extensive efforts to support families up and down the country with the cost of living through significant support to help with rising prices, worth an average of £3,300 per household including direct cash payments of at least £900 to the eight million most vulnerable households; and notes that the SNP and Labour would fail to grip inflation or boost economic growth with their plans for the economy, which would simply lead to unfunded spending, higher debt and uncontrolled migration.
(2) Repeal of the Public Order Act 2023
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House believes that the Public Order Act constitutes a serious infringement on the rights of the people to protest; and makes provision as set out in this Order:
(1) On Tuesday 23 May 2023:
(a) Standing Order No. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that Order) shall not apply;
(b) any proceedings governed by this Order may be proceeded with until any hour, though opposed, and shall not be interrupted;
(c) the Speaker may not propose the question on the previous question, and may not put any question under Standing Order No. 36 (Closure of debate) or Standing Order No. 163 (Motion to sit in private);
(d) at 12.30 pm, the Speaker shall interrupt any business prior to the business governed by this Order and call the Leader of the Scottish National Party Westminster Group or another Member on his behalf to present a Bill concerning the repeal of the Public Order Act 2023 of which notice of presentation has been given and immediately thereafter (notwithstanding the practice of the House) call a Member to move the motion that the Bill be now read a second time as if it were an order of the House;
(e) in respect of that Bill, notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time;
(f) any proceedings interrupted or superseded by this Order may be resumed or (as the case may be) entered upon and proceeded with after the moment of interruption.
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (18) of this Order shall apply to and in connection with the proceedings on the Bill in the present Session of Parliament.
Timetable for the Bill on Tuesday 23 May 2023
(3)(a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be taken at the sitting on Tuesday 23 May 2023 in accordance with this Order.
(b) Proceedings on Second Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 4.00 pm.
(c) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings up to and including Third Reading shall be brought to a conclusion (so far as not previously concluded) at 7.00 pm.
Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put on Tuesday 23 May 2023
(4) When the Bill has been read a second time:
(a) it shall, notwithstanding 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.
(5)(a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chairman 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.
(6) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (3), the Chairman 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, new clause or new schedule selected by the Chairman or Speaker for separate decision;
(d) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a designated Member;
(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) of this Order.
(7) On a Motion made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chairman or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.
Consideration of Lords Amendments and Messages on a subsequent day
(8) If on any future sitting day any message on the Bill (other than a message that the House of Lords agrees with the Bill without amendment or agrees with any message from this House) is expected from the House of Lords, this House shall not adjourn until that message has been received and any proceedings under paragraph (9) have been concluded.
(9) On any day on which such a message is received, if a designated Member indicates to the Speaker an intention to proceed to consider that message—
(a) notwithstanding Standing Order No. 14(1) any Lords Amendments to the Bill or 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 consideration of Lords Amendments or 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 subparagraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed;
(c) the Speaker may not propose the question on the previous question, and may not put any question under Standing Order No. 36 (Closure of debate) or Standing Order No. 163 (Motion to sit in private) in the course of those proceedings.
(10) 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 on consideration of Lords Amendments to a conclusion as if:
(a) any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member;
(b) after paragraph (4)(a) there is inserted—
“(aa) the question on any amendment or motion selected by the Speaker for separate decision;”.
(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 on consideration of a Lords Message to a conclusion as if any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member.
Reasons Committee
(12)(a) 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 a conclusion in accordance with this Order as if any reference to a Minister of the Crown were a reference to a designated Member.
(b) The composition of the committee shall (notwithstanding the practice of the House) have three members from the government, three members from the largest opposition party and one member from the second largest opposition party.
Miscellaneous
(13) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings on the Bill to which this Order applies.
(14)(a) No Motion shall be made, except by a designated Member, 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.
(15)(a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings on the Bill to which this Order applies except by a designated Member.
(b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.
(16) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.
(17) No private business may be considered at any sitting to which the provisions of this Order apply.
(18)(a) The start of any debate under Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) to be held on a day on which proceedings to which this Order applies are to take place shall be postponed until the conclusion of any proceedings to which this Order applies.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply in respect of any such debate.
(19) In this Order, “a designated Member” means—
(a) the Leader of the Scottish National Party in this House; and
(b) any other Member acting on behalf of the Leader of the Scottish National Party in this House.—(Alison Thewliss.)
Brendan O’Hara claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).
Question put, That the Question be now put.
Question agreed to and Main Question accordingly put.
The House divided.
Division No. 233
Ayes: 57 (Tellers: Marion Fellows, Peter Grant)
Noes: 278 (Tellers: Fay Jones, Mike Wood)
Question accordingly negatived.
5Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment Application Scheme Pass-through Requirement Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 428), dated 14 April 2023, a copy of which was laid before this House on 17 April, be approved.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 440), dated 18 April 2023, a copy of which was laid before this House on 20 April, be approved.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow relating to traffic calming measures in Westwood Hill was presented and read by Dr Lisa Cameron.
Subject: Approval of houses in multiple occupation (Darren Henry)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jacob Young.)
Adjourned at 7.38 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
8Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill
Mr Philip Hollobone (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
9Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee
Esther McVey (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.
10Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Laurence Robertson (Chair) reported the draft Strategic Highways Company (Name Change and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2023.
11Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Graham Brady (Chair) reported the draft REACH (Amendment) 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).
12Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Strategic Highways Company (Name Change and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2023)
Members: Dr Kieran Mullan discharged and Sara Britcliffe nominated in substitution.
13Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Mary Glindon and Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger discharged and Lilian Greenwood and Dr Kieran Mullan nominated in substitution.
14Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft International Criminal Police Organisation (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2023)
Members: Chris Elmore discharged and Lilian Greenwood nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
15Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 16 May, to be published (Ian Mearns).
16Business and Trade Committee
(1) The work of the Competition and Markets Authority: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1369);
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State relating to Post Office accounts: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Comptroller and Auditor General relating to Teesside Freeport: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to fuel pricing: Written evidence, to be published
(Darren Jones).
17Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) The sustainability of local journalism: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report: Ninth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1378);
(2) Gambling regulation: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1010);
(3) Minority languages: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1206);
(4) Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the blockchain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 598);
(5) Sport governance: Written evidence, to be published (HC 812)
(Damian Green).
Persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 970) (Mr Robin Walker).
(1) Recovery in Ukraine: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1381);
(2) The UK’s engagement in Central Asia: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1158)
(Alicia Kearns).
20Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Assisted dying/assisted suicide: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 711);
(2) Food Standards Agency Estimate Memorandum 2023–24: Written evidence, to be published
(Steve Brine).
21International Development Committee
(1) Aid spending in the UK: Government Response to the Sixth Report of the Committee, Session 2022–23: Seventh Special Report, to be printed (HC 1367);
(2) Sudan: Humanitarian crisis: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1174)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Victims and Prisoners Bill: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1340);
(2) Constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1388);
(3) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of Courts and Legal Services relating to the publication of the Open Justice Call for Evidence: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice relating to the Urgent Notification at HMPYOI Cookham Wood: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Crown Prosecution Service Main Estimate Memorandum 2023–24: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor Main Estimate Memorandum 2023–24: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Robert Neill).
(1) Record of the Committee’s decision relating to e-petitions, to be published;
(2) List of closed e-petitions presented to the House, to be published;
(3) A statutory duty of care for higher education students: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1343);
(4) Public engagement on e-petitions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 73)
(Catherine McKinnell).
Accessible transport: Legal obligations: Part of written evidence, to be published (HC 580) (Iain Stewart)
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.37 am.
Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))
1Cost of living for people with disabilities
Resolved, That this House has considered the cost of living for people with disabilities.—(Marion Fellows.)
2Adequacy of investigations into abuse and sexual assaults in the NHS
Resolved, That this House has considered the adequacy of investigations into abuse and sexual assaults in the NHS.—(Daisy Cooper.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.26 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Dental services in the East of England
Resolved, That this House has considered dental services in the East of England.—(Mr Richard Bacon.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.50 pm and 4.00 pm.
4Farmers, supermarkets and food supply chains
Resolved, That this House has considered farmers, supermarkets and food supply chains.—(Gordon Henderson.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.25 pm and 4.50 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
5Levels of corporate profit and inflation
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered levels of corporate profit and inflation.—(Richard Burgon.)
At 5.50 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.50 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Digital Trade Agreement, done at London and Kyiv on 20 March, 5 and 11 May 2023, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ukraine (CP 837) (by Command), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Other papers
Agreement, done at Rome and Florence on 9 May 2023, regarding the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European University Institute (by Command) (CP 849) (Secretary James Cleverly)