Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Questions to the Home Secretary
2Statements: (1) G7 Summit (The Prime Minister)
(2) Government’s response to the Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Secretary Suella Braverman)
3Non-Domestic Rating Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Programme Order, 24 April).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 (Local rating: liability and mandatory reliefs for occupied hereditaments)
Amendment 4 proposed.—(Peter Aldous.)
Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clauses 2 to 12 agreed to.
Clause 13 (Requirements for ratepayers etc to provide information)
Amendment 20 proposed.—(Helen Morgan.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
Division No. 234
Ayes: 168 (Tellers: Mr Alistair Carmichael, Wendy Chamberlain)
Noes: 282 (Tellers: Steve Double, Scott Mann)
Question accordingly negatived.
Clause 13 agreed to.
Clauses 14 to 20 agreed to.
Schedule (Consequential provision)
Amendments 21 to 24 made.
Schedule, as amended, agreed to.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Programme Order, 24 April).
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Mike Wood reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made Amendments.
4Non-Domestic Rating Bill: Consideration
No amendments on consideration.
5Non-Domestic Rating Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed.
6Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Programme (No. 2)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 16 January 2023 (Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Programme):
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(1) Proceedings on Consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after their commencement.
(2) The Lords Amendments shall be considered in the following order: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 3.
Subsequent stages
(3) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(4) 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.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
7Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments
Lords Amendment 1
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 1.—(Kevin Hollinrake.)
The House divided.
Division No. 235
Ayes: 288 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Steve Double)
Noes: 227 (Tellers: Navendu Mishra, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 1 accordingly disagreed to.
Lords Amendment 2
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 2.—(Kevin Hollinrake.)
The House divided.
Division No. 236
Ayes: 286 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Steve Double)
Noes: 231 (Tellers: Navendu Mishra, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 2 accordingly disagreed to.
As it was two hours after the commencement of consideration of Lords Amendments, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Lords Amendments to a conclusion (Programme Order, today).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).
(1) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 4 (Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with the Lords in a Lords Amendment).—(Rebecca Harris.)
The House divided.
Division No. 237
Ayes: 286 (Tellers: Steve Double, Scott Mann)
Noes: 232 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Navendu Mishra)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 4 accordingly disagreed to.
(2) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 5 (Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with the Lords in a Lords Amendment).—(Kevin Hollinrake.)
The House divided.
Division No. 238
Ayes: 287 (Tellers: Scott Mann, Steve Double)
Noes: 232 (Tellers: Navendu Mishra, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 5 accordingly disagreed to.
(3) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 6 (Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with the Lords in a Lords Amendment).—(Rebecca Harris.)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 6 accordingly disagreed to.
(4) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 7 (Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with the Lords in a Lords Amendment).—(Kevin Hollinrake.)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 7 accordingly disagreed to.
(5) That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendment 3 (Question to agree with the remaining Lords Amendment).
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 3 accordingly agreed to.
Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H(2)), That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 1, 2 and 4 to 7;
That Alan Brown, Kevin Hollinrake, Imran Hussain, Navendu Mishra, Alexander Stafford, Jane Stevenson and Mike Wood be members of the Committee;
That Kevin Hollinrake 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.
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Criminal Police Organisation (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 20 April, be approved.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 24 April, be approved.—(Jacob Young.)
Question agreed to.
9Changes to membership of select committees
(1) Ordered, That John Lamont be discharged from the Scottish Affairs Committee and Mark Menzies be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(2) Ordered, That Rachel Maclean be discharged from the Women and Equalities Committee and Jackie Doyle-Price be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
Subject: National AI Strategy and UNESCO AI Ethics Framework (Darren Jones)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jacob Young.)
Adjourned at 9.34 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision for the delivery of healthy homes and neighbourhoods; to set out the principles that define a “healthy home”; to establish the office of the Healthy Homes Commissioner; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
12Government of Wales (Devolved Powers) Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to provide that powers devolved to Senedd Cymru must not be amended or withdrawn without a super-majority vote of its elected members; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
13Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill
The Lords agree to the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill without amendment.
The Lords agree to the Carer’s Leave Bill without amendment.
15Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill
The Lords agree to the Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill without amendment.
16Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill
The Lords agree to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
17Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill
Lords Amendments to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 311) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 311–EN).
Reasons Committees: Reports
18Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Reasons Committee
Kevin Hollinrake reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reasons:
Lords Amendment 1:
Because it is not appropriate to restrict application of the Bill to England only.
Lords Amendment 2:
Because the Bill already contains adequate consultation requirements.
Lords Amendment 4:
Because in order for the legislation to be effective, it is necessary for there to be consequences for an employee who fails to comply with a work notice.
Lords Amendment 5:
Because the amendment would remove the requirement for a union to take reasonable steps to ensure that members comply with a work notice in order for strike action to be protected, and this would reduce the impact of the legislation.
Lords Amendment 6:
Because it is consequential on Lords Amendment 5 to which the Commons disagree.
Lords Amendment 7:
Because it is consequential on Lords Amendment 5 to which the Commons disagree.
General Committees: Reports
19Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported:
(1) Written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill (except Clauses 5 and 6; Clauses 7 to 9; Clauses 10 to 15 and Schedule 1; Clauses 18 to 25; Clause 27; Clauses 47, 48 and 50 to 60 and Schedules 7 to 9; Clauses 121 to 264 and Schedules 14 to 17; Clauses 265 to 277 and Schedule 18; Clauses 278 to 312) as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 310).
20First Delegated Legislation Committee
Dame Angela Eagle (Chair) reported the draft Register of Overseas Entities (Penalties and Northern Ireland Dispositions) Regulations 2023.
21Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Mrs Pauline Latham (Chair) reported the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 453), the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 454), the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Non-Standard Cases) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 464), the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Pass-Through Requirement Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 463) and the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Pass-through Requirement (Heat Suppliers) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 455).
22Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported the draft Medical Devices (Amendment) (Great Britain) Regulations 2023.
General Committees: Appointments
* This section has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Tuesday 23 22 May 2023.
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).
23Energy Bill [Lords] Committee
Members: Debbie Abrahams and Nadia Whittome discharged and Charlotte Nichols and Andrew Western nominated in substitution.
24Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Energy Bills Discount Scheme Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 453) and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 454) and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Non-Standard Cases) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 464) and Energy Bills Discount Scheme Pass-Through Requirement Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 463) and Energy Bills Discount Scheme Pass-through Requirement (Heat Suppliers) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 455))
Members: Joy Morrissey discharged and Andrew Stephenson nominated in substitution.
25Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Medical Devices (Amendment) (Great Britain) Regulations 2023)
Members: Marion Fellows discharged and Patrick Grady nominated in substitution.
26Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2023)
Members: Mr David Jones and Chris Skidmore discharged and Virginia Crosbie and Luke Hall nominated in substitution.
27Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Kevin Foster discharged and Mrs Flick Drummond nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
* This section has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Tuesday 23 22 May 2023.
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 22 May, to be published (Dame Maria Miller).
29Business and Trade Committee
(1) Correspondence with the National Audit Office relating to Teesside Freeport: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities relating to the National Audit Office and Teesside Freeport: Written evidence, to be published
(Darren Jones).
30High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill (Select Committee on the)
(1) High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1136);
(2) Correspondence from High Speed Two Limited relating to the wellbeing impact study of HS2: Written evidence, to be published
(Andrew Percy).
31National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on)
Conflict, stability and security fund: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1389) (Margaret Beckett).
32Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Education recovery in schools in England: Fifty-fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 998);
(2) Supporting investment into the UK: Fifty-sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 996);
(3) Seventh Annual Report of the Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 1055);
(4) Digital transformation in government: Barriers to lasting efficiency: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1229);
(5) Correspondence from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to targeted interventions to deliver on environmental ambitions: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities relating to Renters (Reform) Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Correspondence relating to the Committee’s previous Reports: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank: Written evidence, to be published (HC 45);
(9) Emergency services network: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1006);
(10) Environmental protection: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1306);
(11) HMRC Annual Report and Accounts for 2021–22: Written evidence, to be published (HC 686);
(12) Local authority administered COVID grant schemes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1234);
(13) Managing NHS backlogs & waiting times: Written evidence, to be published (HC 729);
(14) Rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine programme: Written evidence, to be published (HC 258)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) Secretary of State for Scotland: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1278);
(2) Promoting Scotland internationally: Written evidence, to be published (HC 625);
(3) Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland Main Estimate Memorandum 2023–24: Written evidence, to be published
(Pete Wishart).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 4.30 pm.
Debate on an e-petition (Standing Orders No. 10(1)(a) and No. 145A(7))
1Cost of living and financial support for disabled people
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered e-petitions 610300 and 617425, relating to the cost of living and financial support for disabled people.—(Marsha De Cordova.)
The sitting was suspended between 6.10 pm and 6.25 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petitions 610300 and 617425, relating to the cost of living and financial support for disabled people.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 7.10 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 19 May under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Social Security (Disability Additional Payment Day) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 547), dated 17 May 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mims Davies)
Other papers
2Science, Innovation and Technology
National Semiconductor Strategy (by Command) (CP 838) (Secretary Chloe Smith)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 22 May
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
(1) Draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Brazil) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
(2) Draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (San Marino) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
Draft Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dr Andrew Murrison)
Draft African Development Fund (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Exotic Equine Diseases (Compensation) (England) (No. 2) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 565), dated 19 May 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
Sentencing Act 2020 (Special Procedures for Community and Suspended Sentence Orders) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 559), dated 16 May 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Other papers
Government Response to the Final Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (by Command) (CP 844) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Report by the Independent Expert Panel: Appeal by Margaret Ferrier MP (by Standing Order), to be printed (HC 1400) (Clerk of the House)
Strategic Plan of the General Pharmaceutical Council 2020–25: year four (by Statutory Instrument) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
11Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts
Report of the Police Covenant for 2023 (by Act) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Reserve Land Forces Regulations 2016 Amendment No. 9 (by Act) (James Heappey)
Seventh Annual Report on the Implementation of the Scotland Act 2016 (by Command) (CP 846) (Secretary Alister Jack)
CORRECTIONS
(1) Wednesday 17 May 2023
The following item should have appeared under item 16 (General Committees: Reports):
Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Edward Leigh (Chair) reported the draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023.
(2) Thursday 18 May 2023
Item 5 (Private business) should have read:
Holocaust Memorial Bill
Mr Speaker laid upon the Table a Report from the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, pursuant to Order (23 February 2023), That, in the case of the Holocaust Memorial Bill, Standing Orders 4, 4A, 10, 11, 38, 39 are applicable and have not been complied with.
Report referred to the Standing Orders Committee and ordered to be printed (HC 1403).