Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland
(2) the Prime Minister
2Urgent Question: Extreme weather events: resilience (Alex Burghart)
3Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Oliver Dowden, Secretary Michael Gove, Secretary Alister Jack, Secretary David T C Davies, and Mr Steve Baker, presented a Bill to make provision to extend the period following the Northern Ireland Assembly election of 5 May 2022 during which Ministers may be appointed.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time today, and to be printed (Bill 150) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 150–EN).
4Whistleblowing Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Mary Robinson presented a Bill to establish an independent Office of the Whistleblower to protect whistleblowers and whistleblowing in accordance with the public interest; to make provision for the Office of the Whistleblower to set, monitor and enforce standards for the management of whistleblowing cases, to provide disclosure and advice services, to direct whistleblowing investigations and to order redress of detriment suffered by whistleblowers; to create offences relating to the treatment of whistleblowers and the handling of whistleblowing cases; to repeal the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 2 February, and to be printed (Bill 151).
5Road traffic and street works: 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 about speeding offences on roads to which a 20mph limit applies; to make provision about the enforcement of moving traffic offences; to require 24 hour staffing of works on specified public roads; and for connected purposes;
That Kit Malthouse, Royston Smith, Will Quince, Nickie Aiken, Sir Desmond Swayne, Philip Davies, Mark Menzies, Shailesh Vara, Julie Marson and Steve Tuckwell present the Bill.
Kit Malthouse accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 19 April, and to be printed (Bill 152).
6Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill: Business of the House Motion
Ordered, That the following provisions shall apply to the proceedings on the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill:
Timetable
(1) (a) Proceedings on Second Reading and in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken at today’s sitting in accordance with this Order.
(b) Notices of Amendments, new Clauses or new Schedules to be moved in Committee of the whole House may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bill has been read a second time.
(c) Proceedings on Second Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
(d) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.
Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put
(2) As soon as the proceedings on the Motion for this Order have been concluded, the Order for the Second Reading of the Bill shall be read.
(3) When the Bill has been read a second time:
(a) it shall, despite Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order), stand committed to a Committee of the whole House without any Question being put;
(b) the Speaker shall leave the chair whether or not notice of an Instruction has been given.
(4) (a) On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee of the whole House, the Chair shall report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.
(b) If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put.
(5) For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (1), the Chair or Speaker shall forthwith put the following Questions in the same order as they would fall to be put if this Order did not apply:
(a) any Question already proposed from the chair;
(b) any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so proposed;
(c) the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a Minister of the Crown;
(d) the Question on any amendment, new Clause or new Schedule selected by the Chair or Speaker for separate decision;
(e) any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded; and shall not put any other questions, other than the Question on any motion described in paragraph (16)(a) of this Order.
(6) On a Motion so made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chair or Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to the Bill.
(7) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (5)(c) on successive amendments moved or Motions made by a Minister of the Crown, the Chair or Speaker shall instead put a single Question in relation to those amendments or Motions.
(8) If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph (5)(e) in relation to successive provisions of the Bill, the Chair shall instead put a single Question in relation to those provisions, except that the Question shall be put separately on any Clause of or Schedule to the Bill which a Minister of the Crown has signified an intention to leave out. Consideration of Lords Amendments
(9) (a) Any Lords Amendments to the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(10) Paragraphs (2) to (7) of Standing Order No. 83F (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (9) of this Order.
Subsequent stages
(11) (a) Any further Message from the Lords on the Bill may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(b) Proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (a) shall thereupon be resumed.
(12) Paragraphs (2) to (5) of Standing Order No. 83G (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords) apply for the purposes of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph (11) of this Order.
Reasons Committee
(13) Paragraphs (2) to (6) of Standing Order No. 83H (Programme orders: reasons committee) apply in relation to any committee to be appointed to draw up reasons after proceedings have been brought to a conclusion in accordance with this Order.
Miscellaneous
(14) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on the Bill.
(15) Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to any proceedings to which this Order applies.
(16) (a) No Motion shall be made, except by a Minister of the Crown, to alter the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken, to recommit the Bill or to vary or supplement the provisions of this Order.
(b) No notice shall be required of such a Motion.
(c) Such a Motion may be considered forthwith without any Question being put; and any proceedings interrupted for that purpose shall be suspended accordingly.
(d) The Question on such a Motion shall be put forthwith; and any proceedings suspended under sub-paragraph (c) shall thereupon be resumed.
(e) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings on such a Motion.
(17) (a) No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings to which this Order applies except by a Minister of the Crown.
(b) The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.
(18) (a) The start of any debate under Standing Order No. 24 (Emergency debates) to be held on a day on which the Bill has been set down to be taken as an Order of the Day shall be postponed until the conclusion of any proceedings on that day to which this Order applies.
(b) Standing Order No. 15(1) (Exempted business) shall apply to proceedings in respect of such a debate.
(19) Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.—(Aaron Bell.)
7Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House (Order, today).
8Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill: Committee of the whole House
The House resolved itself into a Committee (Order, today).
(In the Committee)
Clause 1 agreed to.
Clause 2 agreed to.
The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report the Bill (Order, today).
The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.
Suzanne Webb reported, That the Committee had gone through the Bill and made no amendment.
9Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed.
Resolved, That this House has considered the situation in the Red Sea.—(Secretary Grant Shapps.)
11Church of England (General Synod) (Measures): Motions for approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure (HC 341), passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to His Majesty for his Royal Assent in the form in which it was laid before Parliament.—(Andrew Selous.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Church of England Pensions (Application of Capital Funds) Measure (HC 342), passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to His Majesty for his Royal Assent in the form in which it was laid before Parliament.—(Andrew Selous.)
Question agreed to.
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Manchester Gorton relating to a ceasefire in Gaza was presented and read by Afzal Khan.
Subject: Parliamentary scrutiny of nuclear defence infrastructure (Martin Docherty-Hughes)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Joy Morrissey.)
Adjourned at 7.25 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
14Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to enable the implementation of, and the making of other provision in connection with, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills
15Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 153) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 153-EN).
Explanatory Notes to Bills
16High Streets (Designation, Review and Improvement Plan) Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 25–EN).
17Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 45–EN).
18School Attendance (Duties of Local Authorities and Proprietors of Schools) Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 64–EN).
19Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 135–EN).
20British Citizenship (Northern Ireland) Bill
Explanatory Notes to the Bill to be printed (Bill 33–EN).
General Committees: Reports
21Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee
Sheryll Murray (Chair) reported the draft Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2023.
22Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Virendra Sharma (Chair) reported the draft Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulator) Order 2023.
23Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Philip Hollobone (Chair) reported the draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2024.
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).
24Pet Abduction Bill Committee
Members: Sir Robert Buckland, Sarah Champion, Dr Thérèse Coffey, James Daly, Peter Dowd, Rosie Duffield, Mrs Natalie Elphicke, Anna Firth, George Freeman, Peter Gibson, Paul Girvan, Chris Loder, Keir Mather, Jim Shannon, Mark Spencer, Jane Stevenson and Karl Turner
25First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2024)
Members: Bim Afolami, Tonia Antoniazzi, Jack Brereton, Richard Burgon, Michael Fabricant, Peter Grant, Rachel Hopkins, Paul Howell, Kwasi Kwarteng, Robert Largan, Ian Lavery, Julie Marson, Ian Mearns, Jill Mortimer, Dean Russell, Tulip Siddiq and Kelly Tolhurst
26Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1397))
Members: Elliot Colburn, Alex Cunningham, Mary Kelly Foy, Mike Freer, Jonathan Gullis, Trudy Harrison, Gerald Jones, Scott Mann, Mark Menzies, Navendu Mishra, Anne Marie Morris, Wendy Morton, Kate Osborne, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, David Simmonds and Sir Stephen Timms
27Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Coronavirus and Influenza) (England and Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2024)
Members: Sarah Atherton, Siobhan Baillie, Duncan Baker, Alun Cairns, Maria Caulfield, Ruth Edwards, Jo Gideon, Kate Hollern, Imran Hussain, Robert Jenrick, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, John McDonnell, Abena Oppong-Asare, Yasmin Qureshi, Sam Tarry, Christian Wakeford and Mrs Heather Wheeler
28Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2023)
Members: Ben Bradley, Alex Burghart, Sir Simon Clarke, Dr Thérèse Coffey, Neil Coyle, Virginia Crosbie, Richard Drax, Katherine Fletcher, Mark Fletcher, Mary Glindon, Dame Nia Griffith, Mrs Paulette Hamilton, Darren Henry, Afzal Khan, Keir Mather, Sir Mike Penning and Chris Stephens
29Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and draft Combined Authorities (Mayors) Filling of Vacancies Order 2017 (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Paul Blomfield, Sir Robert Buckland, Liam Byrne, Steve Double, Mary Glindon, Margaret Greenwood, Fabian Hamilton, Sally-Ann Hart, Dr Caroline Johnson, Mr David Jones, Ian Levy, Rebecca Long Bailey, Jim McMahon, Alan Mak, Mr Gagan Mohindra, Dr Matthew Offord and Lee Rowley
30Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2023)
Members: Kevin Foster discharged and Tom Randall nominated in substitution.
31Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2023)
Members: Tahir Ali, Dawn Butler, Ruth Edwards, Colleen Fletcher, Chris Grayling, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Kim Johnson, Chris Loder, Lia Nici, John Penrose, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Mary Robinson, Mark Spencer, Julian Sturdy, Steve Tuckwell, Beth Winter and Daniel Zeichner
32Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulator) Order 2023)
Members: Sir Michael Ellis, Mr Marcus Fysh and Mr Ben Wallace discharged and George Eustice, Sir Liam Fox and Andrew Lewer nominated in substitution.
33Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2024)
Members: Gordon Henderson discharged and Ruth Edwards nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
34Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Correspondence with Britannia Hotels: Written evidence, to be published (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Future aviation capabilities: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 51);
(2) Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK defence: Written evidence, to be published (HC 429)
(Sir Jeremy Quin).
Correspondence with the Secretary State for Education and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on launching a campaign on parents managing kids’ illness: Written evidence, to be published (Mr Robin Walker).
37Energy and Net Zero Committee
(1) Keeping the power on: Our future energy technology mix: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 116);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Heating our homes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 115);
(4) Securing the domestic supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 298)
(Mark Garnier).
38Environmental Audit Committee
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Friday 26 January 2024.
(1) Heat resilience and sustainable cooling: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 279);
(2) The role of natural capital in the green economy: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 280)
(Philip Dunne).
(1) Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 166-iv);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Europe relating to a quarterly summary of Withdrawal Agreement Specialised Committee activity: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Europe relating to a summary of activities undertaken by the Partnership Council, Trade Partnership Committee and Specialised Committees under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries relating to UK/EU fisheries negotiations: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) EU Entry/Exit and the UK border: Written evidence, to be published (HC 169);
(6) Ministerial correspondence: Written evidence, to be published (HC 166);
(7) Retained EU law: the progress and mechanics of reform: Written evidence, to be published (HC 376)
(Sir William Cash).
40Holocaust Memorial Bill (Select Committee on the)
Petitioning against the Holocaust Memorial Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 121) (John Stevenson).
(1) UK-Rwanda treaty: Provision for an asylum partnership: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 499);
(2) Correspondence from INQUEST: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Fraud: Written evidence, to be published (HC 123);
(4) Migration and asylum: Written evidence, to be published (HC 408);
(5) Policing of protests: Written evidence, to be published (HC 369)
(Dame Diana Johnson).
42Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Legislative scrutiny: Safety of Rwanda (Asylum & Immigration) Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 435);
(2) Human Rights of Asylum Seekers in the UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 182)
(Joanna Cherry).
43Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
Children, young people and the built environment: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 94) (Clive Betts).
44Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) The effect of paramilitary activity and organised crime on society in Northern Ireland: Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 45);
(2) Integrated education: Written evidence, to be published (HC 373)
(Sir Robert Buckland).
45Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) HS2 and Euston: Tenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 67);
(2) Reducing the harm from illegal drugs: Eleventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 72);
(3) Reforming adult social care in England: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 427)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
46Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Emerging diseases and learnings from Covid-19: Oral evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for AI and Intellectual Property: Written evidence, to be published
(Greg Clark).
47Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Ninth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 36-ix) (Jessica Morden).
48Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)
Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 35-v) (Jessica Morden).
House of Commons standards landscape: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 247) (Ms Harriet Harman).
Work of National Highways: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 418) (Iain Stewart).
The work of the Treasury: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 206) (Harriett Baldwin).
(1) Impact of population change in Wales: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 103);
(2) Broadcasting in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 292);
(3) Defence industry in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 102);
(4) Responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 334);
(5) University research funding: Written evidence, to be published (HC 507)
(Stephen Crabb).
53Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Misogyny in music: Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 129);
(2) Prevalence of STIs among young people: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 463);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education relating to Disabled Students’ Allowance: Written evidence, to be published
(Caroline Nokes).
(1) Cost of living support payments: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 485);
(2) Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 146);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to Universal Credit childcare statistics: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Defined benefit pension schemes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 144);
(5) DWP’s Annual Report and Accounts 2022–23: Written evidence, to be published (HC 417)
(Sir Stephen Timms).
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))
1Legal protections for hedgerows
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of legal protections for hedgerows.—(Selaine Saxby.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.46 am and 11 am.
2Availability of books in primary schools
Resolved, That this House has considered the availability of books in primary schools.—(Gill Furniss.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3UK response to international human rights abuses
Resolved, That this House has considered the UK response to international human rights abuses.—(Sarah Owen.)
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of mentoring.—(Dr Lisa Cameron.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.24 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Implementation of the Shared Rural Network
Resolved, That this House has considered implementation of the Shared Rural Network.—(Helen Morgan.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.29 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Provision) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 80), dated 23 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kevin Hollinrake)
Other papers
Reports of the Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary James Cleverly)
CORRECTION
Tuesday 23 January 2024
The following item should have appeared after item 5 in Papers Laid:
Withdrawn papers
Criminal Law
Draft Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (Automatic Online Conviction and Standard Statutory Penalty) (Specification of Offences and Penalties) Regulations 2024, and the Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessment (laid 4 December 2023)