Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Questions to the Home Secretary
2Urgent Question: Road fuel prices (Graham Stuart)
3Statement: NHS long-term workforce plan (Secretary Steve Barclay)
4Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill be now read a second time.
Amendment moved, to leave out from ‘That’ to the end of the Question and add ‘this House, while opposing any discrimination or prejudice in the economic activities of public bodies, believing that all such bodies must act without bias or selectivity when making ethical decisions on procurement and investment and recognising the impact selective and biased campaigns have had on the Jewish community in particular, declines to give a Second Reading to the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, because the Bill risks significantly undermining support for groups around the world facing persecution, for example the Uyghur, who are currently victims of grave and systemic human rights abuses, is incompatible with international law and the due diligence of public bodies, undermines the UK’s long-standing cross-party position in respect of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Golan Heights by conflating these with the State of Israel and running counter to UN Security Council Resolutions, singles out the State of Israel in effect creating the issue it intends to solve, seeks to enforce its provisions by giving unprecedented powers to the Secretary of State beyond those enjoyed by the police and the security services, places unprecedented restrictions on the ability of public bodies, many of them directly elected, to express a view on policy, current, proposed and desired, has potential widespread and negative impacts on local government pension funds, limits freedom of speech and is likely to be subject to repeated and extended legal challenge by reason of its conflict with established legal principles; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward alternative proposals.’.—(Lisa Nandy.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 277
Ayes: 212 (Tellers: Tonia Antoniazzi, Mary Glindon)
Noes: 272 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mike Wood)
Question accordingly negatived.
Question, That the Bill be now read a second time, put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)).
The House divided.
Division No. 278
Ayes: 268 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mike Wood)
Noes: 70 (Tellers: Marion Fellows, Peter Grant)
Question accordingly agreed to and Bill read a second time.
5Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill—
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.
Proceedings in Public Bill Committee
(2) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 14 September 2023.
(3) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.
Consideration and Third Reading
(4) Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.
(5) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
(6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Scott Mann.)
Question agreed to.
6Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: Money
King’s Recommendation signified.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of—
(a) any expenditure incurred under the Act by the Secretary of State or by the Treasury; and
(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under or by virtue of any other Act out of money so provided.—(Scott Mann.)
Question agreed to.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 41A(3)), That, at this day’s sitting, Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the Motion in the name of Secretary Michael Gove relating to Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: Carry-over.—(Scott Mann.)
Question agreed to.
8Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: Carry-over
Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 80A(1)(a)), That if, at the conclusion of this Session of Parliament, proceedings on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill have not been completed, they shall be resumed in the next Session.—(Scott Mann.)
Question agreed to.
9Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Healthcare (International Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 5 June, be approved.—(Scott Mann.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Atomic Energy Agency (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 5 June, be approved.—(Scott Mann.)
Question agreed to.
Subject: Crime and antisocial behaviour in west London (Ruth Cadbury)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Scott Mann.)
Adjourned at 10.35 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
11First Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Laurence Robertson (Chair) reported the Draft Pensions Dashboards (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
12Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Peter Dowd (Chair) reported the draft Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2023.
13Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Martin Vickers (Chair) reported the draft African Development Fund (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2023 and the draft African Development Bank (Sixteenth Replenishment of the African Development Fund) Order 2023.
14Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Stewart Hosie (Chair) reported the draft Business and Planning Act 2020 (Pavement Licences) (Coronavirus) (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).
15First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Pensions Dashboards (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Dame Andrea Jenkyns discharged and Gareth Bacon nominated in substitution.
16Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2023)
Members: Sara Britcliffe, Dr Matthew Offord, Taiwo Owatemi and Graham Stuart discharged and Andrew Bowie, Chris Clarkson, Jack Lopresti and Christian Wakeford nominated in substitution.
17Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft African Development Fund (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2023 and draft African Development Bank (Sixteenth Replenishment of the African Development Fund) Order 2023).
Chair: Martin Vickers in place of Mrs Pauline Latham.
Members: Theresa Villiers discharged and Nicola Richards nominated in substitution.
18Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Business and Planning Act 2020 (Pavement Licences) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Lee Anderson, Saqib Bhatti, Kit Malthouse and Andrew Percy discharged and Alun Cairns, Stephen Metcalfe, Jill Mortimer and Maggie Throup nominated in substitution.
19Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Environmental Protection (Plastic Plates etc. and Polystyrene Containers etc.) (England) Regulations 2023)
Members: Miriam Cates and Jill Mortimer discharged and Robin Millar and Matt Vickers nominated in substitution.
20Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Consumer Rights Act 2015 (Enforcement) (Amendment) Order 2023)
Members: Alun Cairns discharged and Kit Malthouse nominated in substitution.
21Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Commonwealth Development Corporation (Limit on Government Assistance) Regulations 2023)
Members: Mrs Helen Grant and Gareth Johnson discharged and Gareth Bacon and Gordon Henderson nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 3 July, to be published (Sir Charles Walker).
23Business and Trade Committee
Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to a report by the Competition and Markets Authority on fuel pricing: Written evidence, to be published (Darren Jones).
(1) The work of the Director of Public Prosecutions: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 662);
(2) Bill of Rights Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 562);
(3) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Prisons and Probation relating to the Youth Rehabilitation Order with intensive supervision and surveillance pilot: Written evidence, to be published
(5) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary relating to the Ministry of Justice Main Estimate Memorandum 2023–24: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Bob Neill).
25Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
(1) Electoral registration: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 841);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Housing and Homelessness relating to expressions of interest for sponsors of the Homes for Ukraine scheme: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Clive Betts).
26Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) HS2 Euston: Sixty-third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1004);
(2) Access to urgent and emergency care: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1336);
(3) BBC Digital: Written evidence, to be published (HC 736);
(4) Correspondence from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office relating to Government plans to support the economic stability of Ukraine: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence relating to the Committee’s previous Reports: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) COVID employment support schemes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 810);
(7) Investigation into the management of backlogs in driving licence applications: Written evidence, to be published (HC 735);
(8) Managing NHS backlogs and waiting times in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 729);
(9) Progress with making tax digital: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1333);
(10) Restoration & Renewal of the Palace of Westminster: 2023 Recall: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1021);
(11) The Creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank: Written evidence, to be published (HC 45)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland: Government response to the Committee’s Third Report: Eighth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1701);
(2) The cost on living: Impact of rural communities in Scotland: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 982);
(3) Coronavirus and Scotland follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1394);
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities relating to Investment Zones: Written evidence, to be published
(Pete Wishart).
Correspondence relating to the interest rates on instant access savings accounts: Written evidence, to be published (Harriett Baldwin).
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))
1Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 600966, relating to the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate.—(Elliot Colburn.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.53 until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 30 June under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Aviation Security (Air Cargo Agents) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 727), dated 27 June 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Other papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Healthcare (International Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2023 (by Command) (Will Quince)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Healthcare (International Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2023 (laid 5 June)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 3 July
Other papers
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Treasury: Managing government borrowing (by Act), to be printed (HC 1658) (Clerk of the House)
(1) Report and Accounts of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(2) Report and Accounts of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(3) Report and Accounts of West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(4) Report and Accounts of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2023–2024 (by Command) (CP 884) (Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATE
VOTING BY PROXY
The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), that Gareth Davies is eligible to have a proxy vote cast on his behalf, starting from 4 July and finishing on 3 September. The nominated proxy is Gareth Bacon.