Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2Urgent Question: Proposed sale of the Daily Telegraph and the Spectator to RedBird IMI (Julia Lopez)
3Autism (early identification): 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 the training of teachers in relation to the early identification of autism; and for connected purposes;
That Duncan Baker, Sir Robert Buckland, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Sir Liam Fox, Mr Robin Walker, Edward Timpson, Jim Shannon, Marion Fellows, Peter Gibson, James Sunderland, Elliot Colburn and Steve Tuckwell present the Bill.
Duncan Baker accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 19 April, and to be printed (Bill 154).
4Media Bill: Consideration of the Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee
New Clause NC3—(George Eustice)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
New Clause NC13—(Thangam Debbonaire)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 65
Ayes: 194 (Tellers: Christian Wakeford, Samantha Dixon)
Noes: 294 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Question negatived.
New Clause NC16—(Gavin Newlands)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 66
Ayes: 193 (Tellers: Peter Grant, Steven Bonnar)
Noes: 295 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Question negatived.
Amendments 19 to 40 made.
Amendment 88 proposed.—(Jamie Stone.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 67
Ayes: 20 (Tellers: Wendy Chamberlain, Richard Foord)
Noes: 288 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Question negatived.
Amendments 41 to 59 made.
Amendment 2 proposed.—(George Eustice.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 68
Ayes: 195 (Tellers: Christian Wakeford, Samantha Dixon)
Noes: 284 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Question negatived.
Amendments 60 to 77 made.
Consideration completed.
Bill read the third time and passed.
6Statutory Instruments: Motions for approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 18 December 2023, be approved.—(Robert Largan.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2023 (SI, 2023, No. 1397), dated 14 December 2023, a copy of which was laid before this House on 18 December 2023, be approved.—(Robert Largan.)
Question agreed to.
7Adjournment (February, Easter, May Bank Holiday and Whitsun Recesses)
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 25), That this House, at its rising on Thursday 8 February 2024, do adjourn until Monday 19 February 2024; at its rising on Tuesday 26 March 2024, do adjourn until Monday 15 April 2024; at its rising on Thursday 2 May 2024, do adjourn until Tuesday 7 May 2024; and, at its rising on Thursday 23 May 2024, do adjourn until Monday 3 June 2024.—(Mr Marcus Jones.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Manchester Gorton relating to Household Support Fund beyond April 2024 was presented and read by Afzal Khan.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Linlithgow and East Falkirk relating to food insecurity was presented and read by Martyn Day.
(3) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Glasgow North relating to a ceasefire and the State of Palestine was presented and read by Patrick Grady.
Subject: Fossil fuels and political lobbying (Caroline Lucas)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Robert Largan.)
Adjourned at 6.35 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
10Devolution (Employment) (Scotland) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 2 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 23 February.
11Social Security Benefits (Healthy Eating) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 2 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 23 February.
12Universal Credit Sanctions (Zero Hours Contracts) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 2 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 23 February.
General Committees: Reports
Sir Graham Brady (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 155).
14Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
Sir Edward Leigh (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill as amended.
Title amended as follows: A Bill to amend the rights of tenants under long residential leases to acquire the freeholds of their houses, to extend the leases of their houses or flats, and to collectively enfranchise or manage the buildings containing their flats, to give such tenants the right to reduce the rent payable under their leases to a peppercorn, to regulate the relationship between residential landlords and tenants, to regulate residential estate management and to regulate rentcharges.
Written evidence to be published.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 158).
15Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Dame Maria Miller (Chair) reported the draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Coronavirus and Influenza) (England and Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2024.
16Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Ian Paisley (Chair) reported the draft Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) 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).
17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2023)
Members: Mary Glindon discharged and Tonia Antoniazzi nominated in substitution.
18Fifth 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: Sir Robert Buckland, Steve Double and David Jones discharged and Simon Baynes, Eddie Hughes and Joy Morrissey nominated in substitution.
19Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2023)
Members: Dame Andrea Jenkyns discharged and Chris Green nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
20Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 30 January to be published (Ian Mearns).
21Business and Trade Committee
(1) Correspondence from Ofcom relating to the future of the universal postal service: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Private equity and the retail sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 416);
(4) UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership: Written evidence, to be published (HC 483)
(Liam Byrne).
(1) Ready for War?: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 26);
(2) Future aviation capabilities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 51);
(3) UK amphibious capabilities and the Royal Marines: Written evidence, to be published (HC 519);
(4) Women in the Armed Forces: follow-up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 49)
(Sir Jeremy Quin).
(1) Financial education: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 265);
(2) Impact of industrial action on university students: Written evidence, to be published (HC 327)
(Mr Robin Walker).
24Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Urban green spaces: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 164);
(2) Correspondence from Ofwat relating to its consultation on its forward programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries relating to spring barley seed supply: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to sanitary and phytosanitary import checks: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Pet welfare and abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 161)
(Sir Robert Goodwill).
(1) The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North Africa: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 300);
(2) Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 325)
(Alicia Kearns).
26International Development Committee
The UK Government’s work on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 112) (Sarah Champion).
(1) The Coroner Service: follow-up: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 490);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State relating to the private family law early resolution consultation: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published
(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).
29Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Correspondence with the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office relating to the delay in publishing the review of the UK Statistics Authority: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Transforming the UK’s evidence base: Written evidence, to be published (HC 197)
(Mr William Wragg).
HS2: progress update: Written evidence, to be published (HC 85) (Iain Stewart).
(1) Work of the Sub-Committee on Financial Services Regulations: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 496);
(2) The Digital Pound: A solution in search of a problem?: Government and Bank of England Response to the Committee's First Report: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 535);
(3) The work of the Payment Systems Regulator: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 212);
(4) Work of the Financial Conduct Authority: Written evidence, to be published (HC 210)
(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))
1Victims of road traffic offences and the criminal justice system
Resolved, That this House has considered victims of road traffic offences and the criminal justice system.—(Selaine Saxby.)
Resolved, That this House has considered the future of UK capital markets.—(Alun Cairns.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.24 am and 2.31 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Children's Mental Health Week 2024
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered Children’s Mental Health Week 2024.—(Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.)
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Resolved, That this House has considered Children’s Mental Health Week 2024.
4Availability of drugs to treat type 2 diabetes
Resolved, That this House has has considered the availability of drugs to treat type 2 diabetes.—(Christine Jardine.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.24 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Funding and governance of Somerset Council
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the funding and governance of Somerset Council.—(Mr Marcus Fysh.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.46 pm and 5.32 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No.10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the funding and governance of Somerset Council.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 6.15 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 103), dated 30 January 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Lucy Frazer)
Other papers
Report and Accounts of the Valuation Tribunal Service for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 449) (Clerk of the House)
Report and Accounts of the Independent Office for Police Conduct for 2022–23, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 518) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Decision 1/2023, done at London and Mexico City on 1 November 2023, of the UK-Mexico Joint Committee of 1 November 2023: Extension of the Application of the Existing Cumulation Arrangements under the UK-Mexico Trade Continuity Agreement (by Command) (CP 998) (David Rutley)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO.39A)
(Variations to existing proxy voting arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Craig Mackinlay |
14 November 2023 |
13 June 2024 |
John Redwood |
|
Jane Hunt |
4 December 2023 |
30 January 2024 |
Mr Marcus Jones |
|
Anne McLaughlin |
31 January 2024 |
29 June 2024 |
Marion Fellows |