Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
2Schools (Mental Health Professionals): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision to require every school to have access to a qualified mental health professional; and for connected purposes;
That Munira Wilson, Ed Davey, Daisy Cooper, Helen Morgan, Layla Moran, Sarah Dyke, Richard Foord, Sarah Green, Sarah Olney, Tim Farron and Wera Hobhouse present the Bill.
Munira Wilson accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 21 June 2024, and to be printed (Bill 75).
3Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (2nd allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) NHS dentistry
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House recognises that NHS dentistry is in crisis, with eight in 10 dentists in England not taking on new NHS patients and vast parts of the country considered so-called dental deserts, where no dentists are available; regrets that this has led to people resorting to DIY dentistry or attending A&E to access urgent care; is concerned that tooth decay is the most common reason children aged six to 10 are admitted to hospital; and therefore calls on the Government to provide an extra 700,000 urgent appointments a year, introduce an incentive scheme to recruit new dentists to the areas most in need and a targeted supervised toothbrushing scheme for three to five year-olds to promote good oral health and reform the dental contract to rebuild the service in the long-run.—(Wes Streeting.)
Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out from 'House' to the end of the Question and add 'recognises the impact of a once-in-a-generation pandemic on NHS dental services, with 7 million fewer patients seen in England across 2020 and 2021; notes these challenges were reflected in both Scotland and Wales; acknowledges the steps already taken to recover services in England including the introduction of a minimum rate and increased payments for complex dental activity to better reward dentists for their work; welcomes the publication of the Long Term Workforce Plan which committed to expanding dental training places by 40 per cent; and supports the upcoming publication of the Government’s plan to further recover and reform NHS dentistry and promote good oral health throughout life.'—(Victoria Atkins.)
Question proposed, That the original words of the Question stand part of the Question (Standing Order No 31(2)).
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 34
Ayes: 191 (Tellers: Samantha Dixon, Tonia Antoniazzi)
Noes: 299 (Tellers: Mike Wood, Suzanne Webb)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31(2)), That the proposed words be there added.
Question agreed to.
The Deputy Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order No. 31(2)).
Resolved, That this House recognises the impact of a once-in-a-generation pandemic on NHS dental services, with 7 million fewer patients seen in England across 2020 and 2021; notes these challenges were reflected in both Scotland and Wales; acknowledges the steps already taken to recover services in England including the introduction of a minimum rate and increased payments for complex dental activity to better reward dentists for their work; welcomes the publication of the Long Term Workforce Plan which committed to expanding dental training places by 40 per cent; and supports the upcoming publication of the Government’s plan to further recover and reform NHS dentistry and promote good oral health throughout life.
(2) The cost of the Government’s Rwanda plan and administration of the asylum system
Motion made and Question proposed, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that he will be graciously pleased to give direction to the Home Secretary that, no later than 16 January 2024, there be laid before this House:
(a) a list of all payments, either already made or scheduled, to the Government of Rwanda under the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund, including the cost of the fourth- and fifth-year payments due to the Government of Rwanda under the fund;
(b) any document provided by his Department to HM Treasury relating to the per person cost of relocating individuals to Rwanda under the Agreement for the Provision of an Asylum Partnership Agreement to Strengthen Shared International Commitments on the Protection of Refugees and Migrants (CP 994);
(c) an unredacted copy of the confidential memorandum of understanding referred to in response to question 20 at the Public Accounts Committee meeting on 11 December 2023;
(d) any paper setting out the cost per person of relocating individuals to Rwanda and the Government’s assumptions about the number of asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda per year shared with or provided by HM Treasury between March and July 2022; and
(e) his Department’s internal breakdown of the 35,119 non-substantive asylum decisions made between 1 January and 28 December 2023 showing the number of such decisions that were classified as withdrawn asylum applications and the number further sub-classified as either:
(i) non-substantiated withdrawals
(ii) other withdrawals.—(Yvette Cooper.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 35
Ayes: 228 (Tellers: Samantha Dixon, Tonia Antoniazzi)
Noes: 304 (Tellers: Mike Wood, Suzanne Webb)
Question negatived.
4Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (High-Risk Countries) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1306), a copy of which was laid before this House on 4 December 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Biodiversity Gain Site Register (Financial Penalties and Fees) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 30 November 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Biodiversity Gain (Town and Country Planning) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 30 November 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) (Identity Verification Services) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 19 September 2023, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(5) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023, which were laid before this House on 9 November 2023, be approved.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Kingston upon Hull North relating to Boots Pharmacy closures in Hull North was presented and read by Dame Diana Johnson.
(2) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to NHS dental appointments in rural areas was presented and read by Tim Farron.
Subject: Grangemouth oil refinery and energy security (Kenny MacAskill)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Gagan Mohindra.)
Adjourned at 7.45 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
7Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (Sentencing Guidelines) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 19 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 26 January.
General Committees: Reports
8Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Clive Betts (Chair) reported the draft Online Safety (List of Overseas Regulators) Regulations 2024.
9Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Carolyn Harris (Chair) reported the draft National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023.
Select Committees: Reports
10Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 9 January to be published (Ian Mearns).
11Business and Trade Committee
(1) Private equity and the retail sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 416);
(2) Correspondence from the Information Commissioner’s Office relating to the Royal Mail’s use of personal digital assistants: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Industry and Economic Security relating to the UK’s access to Canada’s WTO cheese tariff rate quota: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the rules of origin for electric vehicles: Written evidence, to be published;
(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).
12Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) Connected tech: AI and creative technology: Government Response to the Committee’s Eleventh Report of Session 2022–23: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 441);
(2) NFTs and the Blockchain: the risks to sport and culture: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourteenth Report of Session 2022–23: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 461);
(3) Women’s sport: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 177)
(Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) UK Defence and the Indo-Pacific: Government Response to the Committee’s Eleventh Report of Session 2022–23: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 465);
(2) Future aviation capabilities: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 51);
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Defence relating to the Government Response to the Committee’s Report on Defence Diplomacy: A softer side of UK Defence: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Service accommodation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 55)
(John Spellar).
(1) Screen time: Impacts on education and wellbeing: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 118);
(2) Teacher recruitment, training and retention: Written evidence, to be published (HC 119)
(Mr Robin Walker).
15Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Fairness in the food supply chain: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 160);
(2) Correspondence from FOUR PAWS UK, Humane Society International/UK, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and RSPCA relating to DEFRA’s call for evidence on the fur trade: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Food Standards Agency relating to 3-NOP: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Rt Hon Sir Oliver Heald KC MP relating to the fourth plenary session of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Thames Water finances: Written evidence, to be published (HC 402);
(6) Urban green spaces: Written evidence, to be published (HC 164)
(Sir Robert Goodwill).
Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 325) (Alicia Kearns).
17Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Future cancer: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 138);
(2) Correspondence from the Care Quality Commission: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Men’s health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 139)
(Steve Brine).
18Holocaust Memorial Bill (Select Committee on the)
(1) Correspondence from Richard Buxton relating to forthcoming select committee hearings: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the promoter relating to their approach to petitioners, scope of the Committee and number of hearings: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Rt Hon the Lord Blencathra PC relating to scope: Written evidence, to be published
(John Stevenson).
19International Development Committee
(1) FCDO’s approach to sexual and reproductive health: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 108);
(2) Humanitarian situation in Gaza: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 110);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Development and Africa: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister for Climate Environment and Energy relating to the Blue Planet Fund: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Minister for Development and Africa relating to clarification on BII funding eligibility for overseas territories: Written evidence, to be published
(6) UK Small Island Developing States Strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 476)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Future prison population and estate capacity: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 29);
(2) Constitutional relationship with the Crown Dependencies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 30);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the independent investigation into the HMP Wandsworth alleged escape: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Regulation of the legal professions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 266);
(6) 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)
(Sir Robert Neill).
(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
(Cat Smith).
22Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Membership of the House of Lords: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 199);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Housing and Homelessness relating to the publication of the Intergovernmental Relations Q3 Transparency Report: July–September 2023: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Devolution capability in Whitehall: Written evidence, to be published (HC 200);
(4) Transforming the UK’s evidence base: Written evidence, to be published (HC 197)
(Mr William Wragg).
(1) Accessible transport: legal obligations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 82);
(2) Air traffic control disruption: Written evidence, to be published (HC 242);
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Transport: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) HS2: progress update: Written evidence, to be published (HC 85);
(6) Work of the Secretary of State for Transport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 86)
(Iain Stewart).
(1) Appointment of Nathanaël Benjamin to the Financial Policy Committee:
(i) Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 443);
(ii) Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 443);
(2) Autumn Statement 2023: Written evidence, to be published (HC 286);
(3) Correspondence with the Payment Systems Regulator relating to card fees: Written evidence recieved by the Sub-Committee on Financial Services Regulations, to be published;
(4) Quantitative tightening: Written evidence, to be published (HC 219)
(Harriett Baldwin).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 9.30 am.
Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))
1Role of the UK in ending malaria and neglected tropical diseases
Resolved, That this House has considered the role of the UK in ending malaria and neglected tropical diseases.—(Patrick Grady.)
2Consumer market for financial advice and guidance
Resolved, That this House has considered the consumer market for financial advice and guidance.—(Harriett Baldwin.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.22 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Increases in anti-Semitic offences
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of increases in anti-Semitic offences.—(Nicola Richards.)
Resolved, That this House has considered the cost of living in Scotland.—(David Linden.)
5Future of the Great Western Main Line
The sitting was suspended between 4.32 pm and 4.50 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the future of the Great Western Main Line.—(Richard Graham.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.44 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 20), dated 9 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Ship’s Report, Importation and Exportation by Sea (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 9), dated 8 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nigel Huddleston)
Taxation (Cross-border Trade) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 12), dated 8 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nigel Huddleston)
Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 11), dated 8 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mel Stride)
(1) Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny)(Amendment and Saving Provision) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 16), dated 8 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Stephenson)
(2) National Health Service (Notifiable Reconfigurations and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 15), dated 8 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Andrew Stephenson)
Other papers
(1) Report under section 231 of the Banking Act 2009 for the period 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 (by Act) (Bim Afolami)
(2) Report under section 231 of the Banking Act 2009 for the period 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 (by Act) (Bim Afolami)
Withdrawn papers
Draft Waste Enforcement (Fixed Penalty Receipts) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023, with an Explanatory Memorandum (laid 6 December)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATE
VOTING BY PROXY
(Variations in existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Craig Whittaker |
15 January |
4 March |
Marcus Jones |
CORRECTION
Thursday 26 October 2023
The following item should have appeared under item 21 (Papers Laid):
Withdrawn Papers
22 Domestic Abuse
Report of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner: The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change (laid 17 July)