Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.25 am.
Prayers
1Message to attend His Majesty
Message from His Majesty delivered by the Lady Usher of the Black Rod:
Mr Speaker, The King commands this Honourable House to attend His Majesty immediately, in the House of Peers.
The Speaker, with the House, went up to attend His Majesty. When the Speaker and the House returned, the House was suspended.
The Speaker resumed the Chair at 2.30 pm.
2Speaker’s Statement: Duties and responsibilities of honourable Members
A Bill for the more effectual preventing Clandestine Outlawries was read the first time and ordered to be read a second time.
The Speaker reported His Majesty's Speech and directed that it be entered in the Journal, as follows:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
It is mindful of the legacy of service and devotion to this country set by my beloved mother, the late Queen, that I deliver this, the first King’s Speech in over 70 years.
The impact of Covid and the war in Ukraine have created significant long-term challenges for the United Kingdom. That is why my Government’s priority is to make the difficult but necessary long-term decisions to change this country for the better.
My Ministers’ focus is on increasing economic growth and safeguarding the health and security of the British people for generations to come.
My Government will continue to take action to bring down inflation, to ease the cost of living for families and help businesses fund new jobs and investment.
My Ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to target by taking responsible decisions on spending and borrowing. These decisions will help household finances, reduce public sector debt, and safeguard the financial security of the country.
Legislation will be introduced to strengthen the United Kingdom’s energy security, and reduce reliance on volatile international energy markets and hostile foreign regimes. This bill will support the future licensing of new oil and gas fields, helping the country to transition to net zero by 2050 without adding undue burdens on households.
Alongside this, my Ministers will seek to attract record levels of investment in renewable energy sources and reform grid connections, building on the United Kingdom’s track-record of decarbonising faster than other G7 economies.
My Government will invest in Network North to deliver faster and more reliable journeys between, and within, the cities and towns of the North and Midlands, prioritising improving the journeys that people make most often.
My Ministers will strengthen education for the long term. Steps will be taken to ensure young people have the knowledge and skills to succeed, through the introduction of the Advanced British Standard that will bring technical and academic routes into a single qualification. Proposals will be implemented to reduce the number of young people studying poor quality university degrees and increase the number undertaking high quality apprenticeships.
My Ministers will take steps to make the economy more competitive, taking advantage of freedoms afforded by the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. A bill will be brought forward to promote trade and investment with economies in the fastest growing region in the world. My Ministers will continue to negotiate trade agreements with dynamic economies, delivering jobs and growth in the United Kingdom.
My Ministers will introduce new legal frameworks to support the safe commercial development of emerging industries, such as self-driving vehicles, introduce new competition rules for digital markets, and encourage innovation in technologies such as machine learning. Legislation will be brought forward to support the creative industries and protect public interest journalism. Proposals will be published to reform welfare and support more people into work.
My Government will promote the integrity of the Union and strengthen the social fabric of the United Kingdom.
Working with NHS England, my Government will deliver its plans to cut waiting lists and transform the long-term workforce of the National Health Service. This will include delivering on the NHS workforce plan, the first long-term plan to train the doctors and nurses the country needs, and minimum service levels to prevent strikes from undermining patient safety. Record levels of investment are expanding and transforming mental health services to ensure more people can access the support they need. My Government will introduce legislation to create a smokefree generation by restricting the sale of tobacco so that children currently aged fourteen or younger can never be sold cigarettes, and restricting the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes to children.
My Ministers will bring forward a bill to reform the housing market by making it cheaper and easier for leaseholders to purchase their freehold and tackling the exploitation of millions of homeowners through punitive service charges. Renters will benefit from stronger security of tenure and better value, while landlords will benefit from reforms to provide certainty that they can regain their properties when needed.
My Government will deliver a long-term plan to regenerate towns and put local people in control of their future. Legislation will be brought forward to safeguard the future of football clubs for the benefit of communities and fans. A bill will be introduced to deal with the scourge of unlicensed pedicabs in London.
My Government is committed to tackling antisemitism and ensuring that the Holocaust is never forgotten. A bill will progress the construction of a national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens.
My Government will act to keep communities safe from crime, anti-social behaviour, terrorism and illegal migration.
A bill will be brought forward to ensure tougher sentences for the most serious offenders and increase the confidence of victims. My Ministers will introduce legislation to empower police forces and the criminal justice system to prevent new or complex crimes, such as digital-enabled crime and child sexual abuse, including grooming.
At a time when threats to national security are changing rapidly due to new technology, my Ministers will give the security and intelligence services the powers they need and will strengthen independent judicial oversight. Legislation will be introduced to protect public premises from terrorism in light of the Manchester Arena attack.
My Government will deliver on the Illegal Migration Act passed earlier this year and on international agreements, to stop dangerous and illegal Channel crossings and ensure it is the Government, not criminal gangs, who decides who comes to this country.
My Government will continue to champion security around the world, to invest in our gallant Armed Forces and to support veterans to whom so much is owed. My Ministers will work closely with international partners to support Ukraine, strengthen NATO and address the most pressing security challenges. This includes the consequences of the barbaric acts of terrorism against the people of Israel, facilitating humanitarian support into Gaza and supporting the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East.
My Government will continue to lead action on tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, support developing countries with their energy transition, and hold other countries to their environmental commitments.
The United Kingdom will continue to lead international discussions to ensure that Artificial Intelligence is developed safely.
My Government will host the Global Investment Summit, the European Political Community, and the Energy Conference, leading global conversations on the United Kingdom’s most pressing challenges.
I look forward to welcoming His Excellency the President of the Republic of Korea and Mrs. Kim Keon Hee for a State Visit later this month.
My Government will, in all respects, seek to make long-term decisions in the interests of future generations. My Ministers will address inflation and the drivers of low growth over demands for greater spending or borrowing. My Ministers will put the security of communities and the nation ahead of the rights of those who endanger it. By taking these long-term decisions, my Government will change this country and build a better future.
Members of the House of Commons
Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
Other measures will be laid before you.
I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
5King’s Speech (Motion for an Address)
Motion made and Question proposed, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, as follows:
Most Gracious Sovereign,
We, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.—(Sir Robert Goodwill.)
Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned.—(Fay Jones.)
Debate to be resumed tomorrow.
Subject: Dangerous driving and the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme (James Wild)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Fay Jones.)
Adjourned at 9.25 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Select Committees: Formal Minutes
7Select Committees (publication of formal minutes)
Ordered, That, in this Session of Parliament, the formal minutes of any select committee, together with the formal minutes of any sub-committee which they may appoint, may be published from time to time.
Select Committees: Reports
(1) Defence and Climate Change: Government Response to the Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2022–23: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 32);
(2) Aviation Procurement: Winging It? Government Response to the Committee’s Tenth Report of Session 2022–23: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 178);
(3) Armed Forces readiness: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 26);
(4) Future aviation capabilities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 51);
(5) Women in the Armed Forces: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 49)
(Robert Courts).
(1) Constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 30);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Sentencing relating to the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Future prison population and estate capacity: Written evidence, to be published (HC 29)
(Sir Robert Neill).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the Prorogation of Parliament under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Friday 27 October 2023
Income Tax (Tax Treatment of Carer Support Payment and Exemption of Social Security Benefits) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1148), dated 26 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Victoria Atkins)
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1164), dated 31 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
Care Quality Commission (Additional Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1163), dated 30 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Maria Caulfield)
Wednesday 1 November 2023
(1) Armed Forces (Disposal of Property) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1152), dated 26 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dr Andrew Murrison)
(2) Armed Forces (Minor Punishments and Limitation on Power to Reduce in Rank) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1151), dated 26 October 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dr Andrew Murrison)
Friday 3 November 2023
Childcare (Childminder Agencies) (Cancellation etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1167), dated 1 November 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (David Johnston)
Monday 6 November 2023
Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services and Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1177), dated 25 October (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Other papers
Thursday 2 November 2023
7Science, Innovation and Technology
Introducing the AI Safety Institute (by Command) (CP 960) (Secretary Michelle Donelan)
Friday 3 November 2023
8Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Government Response to the 5th Report of the House of Lords Liaison Committee on the Future of Seaside Towns (by Command) (CP 967) (Secretary Michael Gove)
Withdrawn papers
Monday 6 November 2023
Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services and Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1135) (laid 26 October 2023)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Tuesday 7 November 2023
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Agriculture (Delinked Payments and Consequential Provisions) (England) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
11Financial Services and Markets
(1) Draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)
(2) Draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Benchmarks and Capital Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)
(3) Draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Griffith)
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the correction in the Votes and Proceedings relating to Wednesday 8 November 2023.
Draft York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jacob Young)
(1) Draft Data Protection (Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sir John Whittingdale)
(2) Draft Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessments (by Command) (Secretary Kemi Badenoch)
(3) Draft Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kemi Badenoch)
(1) Draft Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Border Security) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Suella Braverman)
(2) Draft Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: NHS Ambulance Services and the NHS Patient Transport Service) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Will Quince)
(3) Draft Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Passenger Railway Services) Regulations 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Direct Payments to Farmers (Reconsideration and Appeal) (Modification) (England) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1181), dated 7 November 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Thérèse Coffey)
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1182), dated 7 November 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Claire Coutinho)
Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1169), dated 1 November 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Alex Burghart)
Other papers
18Small Business, Enterprise and Employment
Statutory Review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator 2019–22 (by Act) (Kevin Hollinrake)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY
(Variations in existing arrangements appear in bold.)
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
Helen Whatley |
23 October 2023 |
17 November 2023 |
Marcus Jones |
Dr Philippa Whitford |
07 November 2023 |
13 December 2023 |
Marion Fellows |