Skip to main content

Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday 5 December 2023

Read the agenda for business in the House of Commons chamber, Westminster Hall and Commons Committees.

Find out more about the Votes and Proceedings

Contents

Chamber business

The House met at 11.30 am.

1The Speaker’s Absence

The Clerk at the Table informed the House of the unavoidable absence, through illness, of the Speaker from this day’s sitting.

Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table.

Prayers

2Deputy Speaker in the Chair

Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, took the Chair as Deputy Speaker (Standing Order No. 3).

3Questions to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

4Urgent Question: UK military deployment to the Middle East (Secretary Grant Shapps)

5Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (1st allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))

(1) Keeping town centres safe

Resolved, That this House condemns the Government's failure to tackle town centre crime; is concerned that shoplifting has reached record levels, with a 25% rise over the past year and 1,000 offences per day, while the detection rate for shoplifters has fallen; believes that immediate action must be taken to stop the increasing number of unacceptable incidents of violence and abuse faced by shop workers; notes that the number of neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers has been reduced by 10,000 since 2015; and calls on the Government to back Labour's community policing guarantee, which includes scrapping the £200 limit on crown court prosecutions for shoplifting in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, creating a new specific offence of violence against shop workers, rolling out town centre policing plans and putting 13,000 extra police and community support officers back in town centres to crack down on antisocial behaviour.—(Alex Norris.)

(2) Bonuses for water company executives

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House regrets that 13 years of successive Conservative Governments have broken the water industry and its regulatory framework; is deeply concerned about the scale of the sewage crisis and the devastating impact it is having on the UK's rivers, lakes and seas; believes it is indefensible that executives at UK water companies were paid over £14 million in bonuses between 2020 and 2021 despite inflicting significant environmental and human damage; condemns the Government for being too weak to tackle the crisis and hold water company bosses to account; calls on the Government to empower Ofwat to ban the payment of bonuses to water company executives whose companies are discharging significant levels of raw sewage into the UK’s seas and waterways; and further calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to make a statement to this House by 31 January 2024 on the Government's progress in implementing this ban.—(Steve Reed.)

The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).

Sir Alan Campbell claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).

Question put, That the Question be now put.

Question agreed to and Main Question accordingly put.

Resolved, That this House regrets that 13 years of successive Conservative Governments have broken the water industry and its regulatory framework; is deeply concerned about the scale of the sewage crisis and the devastating impact it is having on the UK's rivers, lakes and seas; believes it is indefensible that executives at UK water companies were paid over £14 million in bonuses between 2020 and 2021 despite inflicting significant environmental and human damage; condemns the Government for being too weak to tackle the crisis and hold water company bosses to account; calls on the Government to empower Ofwat to ban the payment of bonuses to water company executives whose companies are discharging significant levels of raw sewage into the UK’s seas and waterways; and further calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to make a statement to this House by 31 January 2024 on the Government's progress in implementing this ban.

6Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Wine (Revocation and Consequential Provision) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 25 October, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mark Jenkinson.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Data Protection (Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 7 November, be approved.—(Mark Jenkinson.)

Question agreed to.

7Changes to membership of select committees

(1) Ordered, That Mr Ben Bradshaw be discharged from the Holocaust Memorial Bill (Select Committee) and Karl Turner be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

(2) Ordered, That Angela Richardson be discharged from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and Jill Mortimer be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

(3) Ordered, That Janet Daby be discharged from the Justice Committee and Rachel Hopkins be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

(4) Ordered, That Dame Angela Eagle be discharged from the Procedure Committee and Samantha Dixon be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

8Public petitions

(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Linlithgow and East Falkirk relating to unpaid carers was presented and read by Martyn Day.

(2) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to on-call doctor provision at Westmorland General Hospital was presented and read by Tim Farron.

9Adjournment

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mark Jenkinson.)

Adjourned at 7.04 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

General Committees: Reports

10Media Bill Committee

Judith Cummins (Chair) reported:

(1) That the Committee had come to the following Resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and

(2) written evidence.

Written evidence to be published.

11Third Delegated Legislation Committee

Philip Davies (Chair) reported the draft Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023.

12Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee

Clive Efford (Chair) reported the draft Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023.

13Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee

Peter Dowd (Chair) reported the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023, the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Benchmarks and Capital Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, and the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Consequential 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).

14Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023)

Members: James Grundy discharged and Mark Logan nominated in substitution.

15Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023, draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Benchmarks and Capital Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 and draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2023)

Members: Fiona Bruce and Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown discharged and Dame Amanda Milling and Sir Desmond Swayne nominated in substitution.

16Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulations 2023)

Members: Stuart Andrew, Robin Millar and Jane Stevenson discharged and Maria Caulfield, Chris Clarkson and Alicia Kearns nominated in substitution.

17Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Representation of the People (Overseas Electors etc.) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 and draft Representation of the People (Overseas Electors etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023)

Members: Paul Holmes and Mr Kevan Jones discharged and Chris Clarkson and Navendu Mishra nominated in substitution.

Select Committees: Reports

18Backbench Business Committee

Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 5 December to be published (Ian Mearns).

19Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

(1) Urban green spaces: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 164);

(2) Correspondence from Thames Water relating to their finances: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence from Veterinary Medicines Directorate relating to sheep vaccines: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Education and careers in land-based sectors: Written evidence, to be published (HC 165);

(5) Fairness in the food supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 160);

(6) UK trade policy: food and agriculture: Written evidence, to be published (HC 162)

(Sir Robert Goodwill).

20Finance Committee

Record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on 5 December, to be published (Mrs Sharon Hodgson).

21Foreign Affairs Committee

(1) A rock and a hard place: building critical mineral resilience: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 371);

(2) The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 300)

(Alicia Kearns).

22Health and Social Care Committee

(1) Men’s health: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 139);

(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy): Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Pharmacy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 140);

(5) Prevention in health and social care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 141)

(Steve Brine).

23International Development Committee

(1) Investment for development: The UK’s strategy towards development finance institutions: Government Response to the Ninth Report of the Committee of Session 2022–23: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 367);

(2) FCDO Annual Report and Accounts 202223: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 346);

(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the humanitarian situation in Gaza: Written evidence, to be published

(Sarah Champion).

24Justice Committee

(1) Regulation of the legal professions: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 266);

(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to recruitment of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to murder sentencing consultation: Written evidence, to be published

(Sir Robert Neill).

25Liaison Committee

Scrutiny of strategic thinking in Government: Written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 31) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).

26Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

(1) Transforming the UK’s evidence base: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 197);

(2) Correspondence from the Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission relating to the appointment of Lord Cameron as Foreign Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence from the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests relating to the appointment of Lord Cameron as Foreign Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government relating to the implementation of voter identification: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) The status of the UK’s Overseas Territories in the 21st Century: Written evidence, to be published (HC 202)

(Mr David Jones).

27Treasury Committee

Edinburgh Reforms One Year On: Has Anything Changed?: Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 221) (Harriett Baldwin).

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))

1Road humps and 20mph speed limits

Resolved, That this House has considered road humps and 20mph speed limits.—(Sir Iain Duncan Smith.)

2Zero emission buses and air quality in Sheffield

Resolved, That this House has considered zero emission buses and air quality in Sheffield.—(Paul Blomfield.)

The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).

3Sri Lankan Tamils and human rights

Resolved, That this House has considered Sri Lankan Tamils and human rights.—(Martyn Day.)

4Powers to search digital devices at the UK border

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of powers to search digital devices at the UK border.—(Mrs Pauline Latham.)

The sitting was suspended between 4.18 pm and 4.30 pm.

5Violence and abuse towards the retail workforce

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of violence and abuse towards the retail workforce.—(Liz Twist.)

Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).

Adjourned at 5.27 pm until tomorrow.

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

1Charities

Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Notification Requirements: Social Housing) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1311), dated 4 December 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jacob Young)

2Universities of Oxford and Cambridge

Statute, dated 18 September 2023, made by the Governing Body of Peterhouse in the University of Cambridge, amending the existing Statutes of the College (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Gillian Keegan)

Other papers

3Health and Social Care

Government Response to the consultation on visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices (by Command) (CP 983) (Helen Whately)

4Justice and Security

(1) Report by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament on International Partnerships (by Act), to be printed (HC 288) (Clerk of the House)

(2) Report of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 287) (Clerk of the House)

5Northern Ireland (Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan)

Sixth Report of the Independent Reporting Commission (by Act), to be printed (HC  285) (Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris)

CORRECTIONS

(1) Thursday 30 November 2023

Item 19 (General Committee: Appointments) should be corrected as follows:

Members: Jeremy Quin discharged and Dr Caroline Johnson nominated in substitution.

(2) Monday 4 December 2023

The following item should have appeared under Item 1 (Papers Laid):

Other papers

Statutory Instruments (Notification)

Communication declaring that the undermentioned Statutory Instrument had come into operation before copies were laid before Parliament, and explaining why such copies were not laid before the Instrument came into operation: Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Ltd) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1300), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Standing Order) (The Speaker)