Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 9.30 am.
Prayers
1Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Answer to Address)
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household reported to the House, That the Address of 17 July, 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 31 July 2028, was presented to His Majesty, who was graciously pleased to comply with the request.
2Electoral Commission (Answer to Address)
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household reported to the House, That the Address of 11 September, praying that His Majesty will re-appoint Dame Susan Bruce as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from 1 January 2024 for the period ending 31 December 2026; appoint Sheila Ritchie as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from 1 February 2024 for the period ending 31 January 2027; and appoint Carole Mills as an Electoral Commissioner with effect from 1 January 2024 for the period ending 31 December 2027, was presented to His Majesty, who was graciously pleased to comply with the request.
3Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
Ordered, That, further to the Orders of 30 January and 23 February 2023, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Order of 19 December 2022 relating to the appointment of Sir Roger Gale as Deputy Speaker and to the exercise of the functions of the Chairman of Ways and Means shall continue to have effect up to and including 31 March 2024.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Menopause
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of the menopause.—(Peter Dowd.)
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to Southbourne Crossroads Car Park, Bournemouth, was presented and read by Mr Tobias Ellwood.
Subject: Provision of osteoporosis treatment and support (Judith Cummins)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Julie Marson.)
The Speaker suspended the sitting (Order, 24 October).
9Message to attend the Lords Commissioners
A Message from the Lords Commissioners was delivered by the Lady Usher of the Black Rod:
Mr Speaker,
The Lords, authorised by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, for declaring His Royal Assent to Acts agreed upon by both Houses, and for proroguing the present Parliament, desire the immediate attendance of this Honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the Commission read.
Accordingly the Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers, where a Commission was read, giving, declaring and notifying the Royal Assent to the following Acts, and for proroguing this present Parliament.
Online Safety Act 2023
Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023
Energy Act 2023
Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023
Procurement Act 2023
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
And afterwards His Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal, in pursuance of His Majesty’s Command, as follows:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
My thoughts turn first to My beloved Mother, the late Queen. I wish to thank you for the sympathy and support that have been extended to my family and myself from across both Houses of Parliament, the nation and beyond. My Mother set an example of selfless dedication and devotion to the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth during her long reign; an example to which I re-dedicated my own life of public service at my Accession a little over a year ago. I remain deeply grateful for the expressions of loyalty which were offered at that time.
My Government has taken action to bring down inflation, deliver better paid jobs and reduce the national debt burden on taxpayers. As households have faced rising prices in the aftermath of the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, my Ministers have made energy price support available to every household and provided cost of living support to the most vulnerable in society.
Legislation was passed to drive forward growth and create a more open and dynamic economy. My Government brought forward legislation to enable a more sustainable and technologically advanced financial services sector, and introduced measures to encourage innovation, competition and productivity in digital markets, while protecting consumers.
Legislation inherited from the European Union can now be more easily amended so that regulation can be better tailored to the needs of businesses. Unnecessary retained legislation will be revoked at the end of this year, and the public sector procurement regime has been simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses and to safeguard national security.
Legislation was passed to deliver greater resilience in the economy. Laws were passed to advance the transition to cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy. Measures have been brought forward to encourage agricultural and scientific innovation at home, unlocking landmark innovations in food production to improve food security.
My Government has implemented free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. It also strengthened ties with some of the most dynamic economies in the world through reaching agreement to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Laws were passed to streamline inefficient import controls to ensure that future trade is faster, simpler and more sustainable.
My Government has delivered legislation to tackle dangerous and illegal Channel crossings, and to break the business model of criminal gangs. The Police have been empowered to make streets safer and protect the public from serious disruption caused by protesters. New measures have been brought forward to ensure victims are better supported as they engage with the criminal justice system. My Government took action to reduce economic crime, tackle illicit finance and help businesses grow.
Legislation has ensured that the police and security services have the powers they need to respond to new and evolving state threats to the United Kingdom, including from overseas investment in critical national infrastructure. This builds on previous measures to ensure investments in critical national infrastructure and other sensitive parts of the economy do not harm national security.
My Government continues its steadfast military and humanitarian support of Ukraine in response to Russia’s illegal invasion and has demonstrated the United Kingdom’s continued commitment to the NATO alliance. My Ministers have made record investment in defence in support of our gallant Armed Forces and updated the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy to reflect the new challenges posed by growing volatility on the global stage. New initiatives have been launched to ensure that veterans are supported as they transition out of the armed forces.
The Queen and I were pleased to welcome His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa last November. We were also delighted to visit Germany and France.
My Ministers have invested in public services and have set out a long-term workforce plan for the NHS in England. This will ensure that more doctors and nurses are trained, responding to the healthcare challenges faced by this generation and those to come. Legislation was delivered to make it quicker for those nearing the end of their lives to get the support that they need.
Laws were passed to protect freedom of speech and strengthen academic freedom in universities. My Government took action to make online platforms safer for children, whilst protecting freedom of expression. My Ministers ensured that the public can access essential public services, keeping people safe and reducing disruption. Measures have been brought forward to enable minimum service levels to be maintained in key areas, including rail services, ambulances and border security.
Legislation was passed to fulfil the commitment to level up opportunity in all parts of the country and empower local leaders to deliver for the communities they represent. My Government took action to ensure that those living in unsafe social housing will be better supported by the regulator, delivering better quality, safer homes for those who need them.
My Ministers have progressed domestic reforms to protect the economic and national security of the United Kingdom, strengthen ties across the union and give greater decision-making powers to cities. Legislation has been passed to address the legacy of the troubles in Northern Ireland and provide better outcomes for victims and survivors. My Government continues to work to encourage the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland and ensure public services continue to function.
Members of the House of Commons
I thank you for the provisions which you have made for the work and dignity of the Crown and for the public services.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
After which the Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal said:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, by virtue of His Majesty’s Commission which has now been read, we do, in His Majesty’s name, and in obedience to His Majesty’s Commands, prorogue this Parliament to the seventh day of November, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday, the seventh day of November.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
10Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill
The Lords do not insist on their disagreement to the Commons Amendments to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill and they do not insist on their Amendments to which the Commons have disagreed.
11Petitions presented informally
Public petitions
A public petition from residents of Stowmarket and nearby villages relating to Stowmarket railway station ticket office was presented.
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (Substitution of Cut-off Date Relating to Rights of Way) (England) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1126), dated 25 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
(1) Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (SR (NI), 2023, No. 182), dated 26 October 2023 (by Statutory Instrument), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Felicity Buchan)
(2) Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) and Persons Subject to Immigration Control (Housing Authority Accommodation and Homelessness) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1142), dated 26 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Felicity Buchan)
(1) Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services and Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1135), dated 25 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
(2) Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1140), dated 26 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Official Controls (Plant Health) (Prior Notification) and Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1131), dated 24 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Thresholds) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1117), dated 24 October 2023 (by Statutory Instrument), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Alex Burghart)
Private Crossings (Signs and Barriers) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1112), dated 23 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
European University Institute Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1118), dated 24 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Robert Halfon)
(1) Child Benefit and Tax Credits (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1139), dated 26 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (John Glen)
(2) Social Security (Habitual Residence and Past Presence, and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1144), dated 26 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mims Davies)
Other papers
Statement by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport concerning the appointment of a Member to the Board of the British Library, under the British Library Act 1972 (by Act) (Secretary Lucy Frazer)
(1) Government Response to the Report by the Climate Change Committee on Progress in adapting to climate change (by Act), to be printed (HC 1943) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
(2) Responding to the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) Annual Progress Report 2023 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1919) (Secretary Claire Coutinho)
Report of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner: The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change (by Act) (Clerk of the House)
Report and Accounts of the Environment Agency for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1879) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
14Government Resources and Accounts
Report and Accounts of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1872) (Victoria Atkins)
HMG Counter-Terrorism Disruptive Powers Report 2022 (by Command) (CP 954) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
Human Fertilisation and Embryology
16Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Code of Practice: Ninth edition (version 4), revised October 2023 (by Act) (Maria Caulfield)
Report and Accounts of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1905) (The Attorney General)
(1) Account of the National Loans Fund for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1882) (Clerk of the House)
(2) Accounts relating to issues from the National Loans Fund for 2014–18, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1946) (Clerk of the House)
(3) Consolidated Fund Account for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1881) (Clerk of the House)
(1) Account of Arts Council of Wales Lottery Distribution for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1925) (Clerk of the House)
(2) Annual Report and Accounts of Sports Council for Wales Lottery Distribution for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1887) (Clerk of the House)
20Representation of the People
Parliamentary Elections and Recall Petition (Welsh Forms) (Amendment) (Order) 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1137), dated 25 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jacob Young)
Report and Financial Statements of DfT OLR Holdings Limited 2022-23 (by Command) (CP 943) (Secretary Mark Harper)