Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Speaker’s Statement: Resignation of the Chair of the Defence Committee and arrangements for the election of a successor
2Questions to the Minister for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
3Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Dame Maria Miller, supported by Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, Chris Elmore, Steve Brine, Julie Elliott, Harriett Baldwin, Bob Blackman, Layla Moran, Taiwo Owatemi and Sir James Duddridge, presented a Bill to make provision about the status of, and privileges and immunities in connection with, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Committee of the Red Cross; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 19 January 2024, and to be printed (Bill 140).
4Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (Sentencing Guidelines) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Dame Maria Miller presented a Bill to require the Sentencing Council to issue sentencing guidelines in respect of sections 58 and 59 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 19 January 2024, and to be printed (Bill 141).
5Public Transport (Rural Areas) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Sarah Dyke presented a Bill to set minimum service levels for the provision of public transport in rural areas, including for access to sites of employment and education; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 26 January 2024, and to be printed (Bill 51).
6Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill be now read a second time.
Amendment moved, to leave out from ‘That’ to the end of the Question and add ‘That this House, while affirming support for securing the UK’s borders, reforming the broken asylum system and ending dangerous small boat crossings, declines to give a Second Reading to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill because the Bill will not work to tackle people smuggling gangs, end small boat crossings or achieve the core purposes of the Bill, will lead to substantial costs to the UK taxpayer every year whilst applying to less than one per cent of those who claim asylum in the UK, threatens the UK’s compliance with international law, further undermines the potential to establish security and returns agreements with other countries and does not prevent the return of relocated individuals who commit serious crimes in Rwanda back to the UK.’.—(Yvette Cooper.)
Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 26
Ayes: 269 (Tellers: Jeff Smith, Colleen Fletcher)
Noes: 337 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Amanda Solloway)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), That the Bill be now read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 27
Ayes: 313 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Amanda Solloway)
Noes: 269 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Jeff Smith)
Question agreed to and Bill read a second time.
7Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House.
Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, on Consideration and on Third Reading
(2) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be completed either in two days or in three days, in accordance with the following provisions of this Order.
(3) Proceedings in Committee—
(a) shall be taken on each of the first and second days in the order shown in the first column of the following Table, and
(b) shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the times specified in the second column of the Table.
TABLE
|
Proceedings |
Time for conclusion of proceedings |
|
First day |
|
|
Clauses 2 and 4; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to the subject matter of those Clauses |
Six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Bill on the first day. |
|
Second day |
|
|
Clauses 3 and 5 to 10; remaining new Clauses and new Schedules; Clause 1; remaining proceedings on the Bill
|
Six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Bill on the second day. |
(4) If there are no proceedings on Consideration, proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken on the second day, and shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.
(5) If there are proceedings on Consideration—
(a) those proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the third day, and
(b) proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
Programming committee
(6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings in Committee of the whole House, to any proceedings on Consideration or to proceedings on Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Mike Wood.)
The House divided.
Division No. 28
Ayes: 332 (Tellers: Mark Fletcher, Amanda Solloway)
Noes: 61 (Tellers: Gavin Newlands, Peter Grant)
Question agreed to.
8Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Representation of the People (Overseas Electors etc.) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 23 October, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until tomorrow (Standing Order No. 41A).
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Judicial Pensions (Remediable Service etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 13 November, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Major Sporting Events (Income Tax Exemption) (World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 23 October, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 7 November, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until tomorrow (Standing Order No. 41A).
(5) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Hydrogen Production Revenue Support (Directions, Eligibility and Counterparty) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 8 November, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
(6) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes A, B, C, D and H and New Code I) Order 2023, which was laid before this House on 16 October, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
(7) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Agriculture (Delinked Payments and Consequential Provisions) (England) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 7 November, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
(8) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Representation of the People (Overseas Electors etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 23 October, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mike Wood.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until tomorrow (Standing Order No. 41A).
Ordered, That notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee in respect of the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before it has been read a second time.—(Mike Wood.)
(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Linlithgow and East Falkirk relating to frozen British pensions was presented and read by Martyn Day.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Blackpool South relating to Public Service Obligation routes was presented and read by Scott Benton.
(3) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Twickenham relating to the Teddington Direct River Abstraction project was presented and read by Munira Wilson.
Subject: Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week (Hannah Bardell)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mike Wood.)
Adjourned at 8.14 pm until tomorrow.
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
12Dangerous Dogs (Licensing) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June 2024.
13Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June 2024.
14Arm’s-length Bodies (Accountability to Parliament) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 17 May 2024.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 17 May 2024.
16Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (Amendment) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 26 April 2024.
17BBC Licence Fee Non-Payment (Decriminalisation for Over-75s) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 26 April 2024.
18Public Sector Exit Payments (Limitation) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April 2024.
19Green Belt (Protection) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 23 February 2024, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April 2024.
General Committees: Reports
20Criminal Justice Bill Committee
Hannah Bardell (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.
Martin Vickers (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 139).
22Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Stewart Hosie (Chair) reported the draft York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023.
23Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
James Gray (Chair) reported the draft Hydrogen Production Revenue Support (Directions, Eligibility and Counterparty) 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).
24Criminal Justice Bill Committee
Members: Stephen Hammond discharged and Stephen Metcalfe nominated in substitution.
25Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023)
Members: Damian Green discharged and Aaron Bell nominated in substitution.
26Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Hydrogen Production Revenue Support (Directions, Eligibility and Counterparty) Regulations 2023)
Members: Stephen Metcalfe discharged and Paul Howell nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
27Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 12 December to be published (Ian Mearns).
28Business and Trade Committee
(1) National Security and Investment Act 2021: Annual Report 2022–23: Oral evidence taken before the Sub-Committee on National Security and Investment, to be published (HC 365);
(2) Correspondence from Companies House relating to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and tackling economic crime: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Employment at McDonald’s franchises: Written evidence, to be published (HC 195);
(4) Private equity and the retail sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 416);
(5) The collapse of Wilko: Written evidence, to be published (HC 316);
(6) The performance of investment zones and freeports in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 272)
(Liam Byrne).
29Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Safety at major sporting events: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 174);
(2) Creator remuneration: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 156);
(3) British film and high-end television: Written evidence, to be published (HC 157);
(4) Gambling regulation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 176);
(5) Women’s sport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 177);
(6) Work of Channel 4: Written evidence, to be published (HC 159);
(7) Work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 407)
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) MOD Annual Report and Accounts 2022–23: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 54);
(2) Service accommodation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 55);
(3) Women in the Armed Forces: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 49)
(John Spellar).
(1) Teacher recruitment, training and retention: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 119);
(2) Ofsted’s work with schools: Written evidence, to be published (HC 117)
(Mr Robin Walker).
32Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Thames Water finances: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 402);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries relating to fisheries negotiations: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association relating to the import of live animals: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Orca, and OceanCare relating to marine mammals: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Education and careers in land-based sectors: Written evidence, to be published (HC 165);
(6) Fairness in the food supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 160);
(7) Pet welfare and abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 161);
(8) Work of the Department: Written evidence, to be published (HC 163)
(Sir Robert Goodwill).
33Holocaust Memorial Bill (Select Committee on)
John Stevenson reported, That he had been chosen as Chair of the Committee.
(1) Policing of protests: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 369);
(2) Correspondence with the Permanent Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Permanent Secretary, relating to the UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Diana Johnson).
35Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
Chair's briefing paper: Safety of Rwanda (Asylum & Immigration Bill): Written evidence, to be published (Harriet Harman).
(1) Appointment of HM Chief Inspector of Probation:
(i) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 397);
(ii) Oral evidence, to be published (HC 397);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services relating to the 2019 consultation on coronial investigation of stillbirths: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Safeguarding relating to the qualified legal representative scheme: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State relating to legal aid provisions in the Illegal Migration Act 2023: Written evidence, published;
(5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Government Response to Bishop James’ Report: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Minister for Courts and Legal Services relating to probate registry performance: Written evidence to be published;
(7) Regulation of the legal professions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 266);
(8) The use of pre-recorded cross-examination under section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999: Written evidence, to be published (HC 267);
(9) Work of the County Court: Written evidence, to be published (HC 414)
(Sir Robert Neill).
37Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) PSNI data breaches: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1791);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 46)
(Sir Robert Buckland).
(1) Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published;
(2) List of closed e-petitions presented to the House, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries relating to e-petition 643216: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Written evidence, to be published
(Cat Smith).
39Public Accounts (Committee of)
UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership: Written evidence, to be published (HC 410) (Dame Meg Hillier).
Work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 363) (Ms Harriet Harman).
Correspondence from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport relating to the Rapid Charging Fund: Written evidence, to be published (Iain Stewart).
(1) Work of the Financial Conduct Authority: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 210);
(2) Correspondence relating to Fractional shares and Individual Saving Accounts (ISAs): Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Infrastructure: Written evidence, to be published (HC 250)
(Harriett Baldwin).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.34 am.
1Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))
2Provision of auditory verbal therapy
Resolved, That this House has considered the provision of auditory verbal therapy.—(Sally-Ann Hart.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.07 am and 11 am.
Resolved, That this House has considered the future of Middlewick Ranges.—(Will Quince.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.23 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
4Arms export licences for sales to Israel
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of arms export licences for sales to Israel.—(Zarah Sultana.)
At 4 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No.10(6)).
Resolved, That this House has considered Welsh devolution.—(Mr Rob Roberts.)
6Public sector food procurement and healthy eating
Resolved, That this House has considered public sector food procurement and healthy eating.—(Anthony Mangnall.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.25 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Sea Fisheries (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
(1) Draft North Tyneside (Electoral Changes) Order 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)
(2) Draft Tandridge (Electoral Changes) Order 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)
(3) Local Government and Greater London Authority Elections (Amendment) Rules 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1334), dated 7 December 2023 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Simon Hoare)
Other papers
A profession we can all be proud of: Reforming our Fire and Rescue Service: Government Consultation Response (by Command) (CP 993) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Report of the Law Commission for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 301) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Report and Accounts of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Victoria Atkins)
Report and Accounts of Creative Scotland National Lottery Distribution Fund 2023 (by Act) (Secretary Alister Jack)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations in existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Dawn Butler |
12 December |
11 January 2024 |
Florence Eshalomi |
|
Taiwo Owatemi |
12 December |
17 June 2024 |
Chris Elmore |
|
Dr Philippa Whitford |
7 November |
1 May 2024 |
Marion Fellows |
|
Angela Crawley |
12 December |
20 July 2024 |
Owen Thompson (from 12 December) |
|
Dr Kieran Mullan |
17 October |
12 December |
Mr Marcus Jones |