Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Education
2Statement: Higher Education reform (Secretary Gillian Keegan)
3Illegal Migration Bill: Consideration of Lords Message
Lords Amendments 1B, 7B and 90D
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 1B, 7B and 90D.—(Robert Jenrick.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 298
Ayes: 298 (Tellers: Jacob Young, Julie Marson)
Noes: 213 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 1B, 7B and 90D accordingly disagreed to.
As it was more than two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Lords Message, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on consideration of the Lords Message to a conclusion (Programme Order, 11 July).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83G).
(1) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 9B (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 299
Ayes: 307 (Tellers: Julie Marson, Jacob Young)
Noes: 208 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 9B accordingly disagreed to.
(2) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 23B (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 300
Ayes: 300 (Tellers: Julie Marson, Jacob Young)
Noes: 212 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 23B accordingly disagreed to.
(3) That this House insists on its Amendments 36A and 36B and disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 36C and 36D (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 301
Ayes: 289 (Tellers: Julie Marson, Jacob Young)
Noes: 220 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Commons Amendments 36A and 36B accordingly insisted upon and Lords Amendments 36C and 36D accordingly disagreed to.
(4) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 33B (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 302
Ayes: 300 (Tellers: Jacob Young, Julie Marson)
Noes: 208 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 33B accordingly disagreed to.
(5) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 56B (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 303
Ayes: 282 (Tellers: Steve Double, Ruth Edwards)
Noes: 227 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 56B accordingly disagreed to.
(6) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 102B (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 304
Ayes: 284 (Tellers: Steve Double, Ruth Edwards)
Noes: 226 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 102B disagreed to.
(7) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 103B (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 305
Ayes: 297 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Steve Double)
Noes: 214 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 103B accordingly disagreed to.
(8) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 107B and 107C (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown relevant to the Lords Message).—(Robert Jenrick.)
Division No. 306
Ayes: 292 (Tellers: Steve Double, Ruth Edwards)
Noes: 215 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendments 107B and 107C accordingly disagreed 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 1B, 7B and 90D, 9B, 23B, 33B, 56B, 102B, 103B and 107B and 107C.
That Shaun Bailey, Patrick Grady, Robert Jenrick, Gerald Jones, Stephen Kinnock, Scott Mann and James Sunderland be members of the Committee;
That Robert Jenrick be the Chair of the Committee;
That three be the quorum of the Committee;
That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Stuart Anderson.)
Question agreed to.
4Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords] (No. 2): Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords] for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 7 November 2022 (Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords]: Programme):
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.—(Fay Jones.)
Question agreed to.
5Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [Lords]: Consideration of Lords Message
Lords Amendment 13B
Resolved, That this House does not insist on its Amendment 13 to which the Lords have disagreed, and agrees with the Lords in their Amendment 13B in lieu.—(Dehenna Davison.)
Lords Amendment 13B accordingly agreed to.
6Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Consideration of Lords Message
Lords Amendment 2D
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment.—(Kevin Hollinrake.)
The House divided.
Division No. 307
Ayes: 302 (Tellers: Steve Double, Ruth Edwards)
Noes: 205 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Mary Glindon)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 2D accordingly disagreed 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 Amendment 2D.
That Alan Brown, Kevin Hollinrake, Justin Madders, Alexander Stafford, Jane Stevenson, Christian Wakeford 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.—(Stuart Anderson.)
Question agreed to.
7Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 6 June, be approved.—(Stuart Anderson.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 7 June, be approved.—(Stuart Anderson.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 6 June, be approved.—(Stuart Anderson.)
Question agreed to.
8Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that His Majesty will appoint Dame Laura Cox to the office of ordinary member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority with effect from 1 August 2023 for the period ending on 31 July 2028.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
Ordered, That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 145, the Liaison Committee shall have power to appoint specialist advisers in relation to its inquiry on Strategic thinking in Government.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
10Changes to membership of select committees
Ordered, That Chris Loder be discharged from the Transport Committee and Sara Britcliffe be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
Subject: Fiscal policies and the covid-19 pandemic (Mary Kelly Foy)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mike Wood.)
At 10.00 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mike Wood.)
Adjourned at 10.13 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
12Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill
The Lords agree to the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill without amendment.
13Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill
The Lords agree to the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill without amendment.
14Child Support (Enforcement) Bill
The Lords agree to the Child Support (Enforcement) Bill without amendment.
15Women, Peace and Security Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to support women in UK sponsored and supported conflict prevention, peace processes, mediation and diplomatic delegations; to ensure systematic gender consideration and responsiveness in UK foreign and defence policy; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Reasons Committees: Reports
16Illegal Migration Bill: Reasons Committee
Robert Jenrick reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reasons:
Lords Amendments 1B, 7B and 90D
Because Amendment 1B is unnecessary, as the courts should have regard to the UK’s international legal obligations in interpreting legislation; because Amendment 7B is inappropriate because the Bill already provides for two classes of suspensive claims with a right of appeal to the Upper Tribunal, so an application for judicial review should not provide an additional route for suspending removal; and because Amendment 90D is contrary to the purpose of the Bill to prevent and deter unlawful migration.
Lords Amendment 9B
Because the Amendment is contrary to the purpose of the Bill to prevent and deter unlawful migration.
Lords Amendment 23B
Because the Amendment is unnecessary as an LGBT person who is a national of a country specified in the Amendment and who makes a protection claim will not be returned to their home country and can make a serious harm suspensive claim in the event that it is proposed to remove them to a safe third country, and because removal of any person to any country will only be done where the arrangements to do this are lawful.
Lords Amendment 33B
Because the Amendment is contrary to the purpose of the Bill to prevent and deter unlawful migration.
Lords Amendment 56B
Because the Bill already makes sufficient provision to enable a potential victim of modern slavery to remain in the UK where the Secretary of State considers it necessary for the person to do so for the purpose of cooperating with a public authority which is investigating their exploitation.
Lords Amendment 102B
Because the Amendment is unnecessary as the Government has already committed to implement additional safe and legal routes as proposed in the report to be published under clause 59 as soon as practicable and in any event by the end of 2024.
Lords Amendment 103B
Because the Amendment is unnecessary as section 1 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 already provides for the National Crime Agency to have functions (including duties to publish information) in relation to combating organised crime; this function encompasses organised immigration crime.
Lords Amendments 107B and 107C
Because the Amendments are unnecessary as the Government already works in collaboration with the UN High Commission for Refugees and others in response to refugee crises and in tackling human trafficking.
17Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: Reasons Committee
Kevin Hollinrake reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reason:
Lords Amendment 2D
Because the Bill already contains adequate provision for consultation and parliamentary control of regulations made under it.
General Committees: Reports
18First Delegated Legislation Committee
Mrs Sheryll Murray (Chair) reported the draft Building Safety (Leaseholder Protections etc.) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
19Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Mark Pritchard (Chair) reported the draft Postal Packets (Miscellaneous Amendments) 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).
20First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Building Safety (Leaseholder Protections etc.) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: David Johnston and Jacob Young discharged and Paul Holmes and Fay Jones nominated in substitution.
21Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Postal Packets (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023)
Members: Adam Afriyie, Mr Richard Bacon, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Sir James Duddridge, Nick Fletcher, Danny Kruger and Marco Longhi discharged and Bim Afolami, Sara Britcliffe, Nickie Aiken, Siobhan Baillie, Chris Clarkson, Simon Jupp and Dame Amanda Milling nominated in substitution.
22Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electricity Capacity (Amendment) Regulations 2023)
Members: Giles Watling and Dr Alan Whitehead discharged and Vicky Ford and Kerry McCarthy nominated in substitution.
23Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Official Statistics Order 2023)
Chair: Clive Efford in place of Dame Angela Eagle.
24Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (Amendment) Order 2023)
Members: John Stevenson discharged and Dr Matthew Offord nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
(1) Communications and engagement services provided by the House of Commons Administration: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1392);
(2) Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 17 July, to be published
(Sir Charles Walker).
26Environmental Audit Committee
The UK and the Arctic environment: Oral and written evidence taken before the Sub-Committee on Polar Research, to be published (HC 1141) (James Gray).
27Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
(1) Financial reporting and audit in local authorities: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1196);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Council Tax collection: Written evidence, to be published (HC 20);
(4) Electoral Registration: Written evidence, to be published (HC 841);
(5) Finances and sustainability of the social housing sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1268)
(Mr Clive Betts).
Speaker’s Conference on the employment conditions of Members’ staff:
(i) Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1714);
(ii) Oral and part of written evidence, to be published (HC 692)
(The Speaker).
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))
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 620264 relating to pay for teaching assistants.—(Tonia Antoniazzi.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.19 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 14 July 2023 under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 788), dated 11 July 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Transport and Works (Applications, Objections and Inquiries Procedure) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Rules 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 795), dated 12 July 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 17 July 2023
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
3Senior Courts of England and Wales
Draft Courts (Prescribed Recordings) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Home Loss Payments (Prescribed Amounts) (England) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 803), dated 13 July 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dehenna Davison)
Higher Education (Assessment Fees) (England) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 801), dated 13 July 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Robert Halfon)
Alcoholic Products (Excise Duty) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 806), dated 14 July 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Gareth Davies)
Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
M621 Motorway (off side lane prohibition disapplication) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 802), dated 11 July 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Other papers
Contingency Plan for Exotic Notifiable Diseases of Animals in England (by Act) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
Informational Copy of the UK Accession Protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and associated documents, including the Impact Assessment and draft Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kemi Badenoch)
Transforming Public Procurement: Part 2 Consultation on draft regulations to implement the Procurement Bill (by Command) (CP 890) (Alex Burghart)
Report and Accounts of the Children’s Commissioner for England for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1612) (Claire Coutinho)
The Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) and the Fourth Strategy for Climate Adaptation Reporting (by Act), to be printed (HC 1649) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
Report and Accounts of the British Tourist Authority for 2022-23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1538) (Sir John Whittingdale)
Report of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner: The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change (by Act) (Clerk of the House)
Higher Education Policy Statement and Reform: Government consultation response (by Command) (CP 876) (Robert Halfon)
17Government Resources and Accounts
(1) Report and Accounts of HM Revenue and Customs for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1466) (Victoria Atkins)
(2) Report and Accounts of the Competition and Markets Authority for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1460) (Victoria Atkins)
(3) Report and Accounts of the Education and Skills Funding Agency for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1483) (Nick Gibb)
(4) Report and Accounts of the Government Property Agency for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1724) (Alex Burghart)
(5) Report and Accounts of the Oil and Gas Authority for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 1449) (Secretary Grant Shapps)
Report and Accounts of the Crown Commercial Service for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1627) (Clerk of the House)
First Interim Report of The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Compensation (by Act), to be printed (HC 1748) (Secretary Kemi Badenoch)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Control of Explosives Precursors and Poisons (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 810) (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Report and Accounts of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1465) (Victoria Atkins)
22International Development (Official Development Assistance Target)
Statement to Parliament regarding International Development – 0.7% of GNI on ODA target 2022 (by Act) (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
Defence Minute, dated Monday 17 July 2023, concerning the gifting of Camp Bagnold to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Gao, Mali (by Command) (Secretary Ben Wallace)
(1) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Cabinet Office: Lessons learned: Competition in public procurement (by Act), to be printed (HC 1664) (Clerk of the House)
(2) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Funding of Coventry City of Culture Trust (by Act), to be printed (HC 1663) (Clerk of the House)
(1) Report and Accounts of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(2) Report and Accounts of Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(3) Report and Accounts of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(4) Report and Accounts of James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(5) Report and Accounts of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(6) Report and Accounts of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(7) Report and Accounts of Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(8) Report and Accounts of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(9) Report and Accounts of The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(10) Report and Accounts of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Report and Accounts of the National Heritage Memorial Fund for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1568) (Sir John Whittingdale)
Report and Accounts of the National Lottery Heritage Fund for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1567) (Sir John Whittingdale)
Report and Accounts of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1581) (Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris)
(1) Fitness to Practise Report of the Nursing and Midwifery Council 2022–23 (by Statutory Instrument) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(2) Report and Accounts of the Nursing and Midwifery Council for 2022–23 and Strategic Plan for 2023–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 1360) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
30Public Libraries and Museums
Report under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 for 2022–23 (by Act) (Sir John Whittingdale)
Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for 2022–23 (by Standing Order), to be printed (HC 1519) (Clerk of the House)
Treasury Minutes on the Forty-eighth to the Fifty-fourth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2022–23 (by Command) (CP 902) (Gareth Davies)
Withdrawn papers
33Public Libraries and Museums
Report under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 for 2022–23 (by Act) (laid 13 July)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Control of Explosives Precursors and Poisons Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 63) (laid 23 January)
CORRECTION
Item 17 should have read:
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Pet Welfare and Abuse: Oral evidence to be published (HC 1123) (Dr Neil Hudson).