Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
Resolved, That an humble address be presented to His Majesty, That he will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a Return of the Report from the Right Honourable Sir Alan Moses, Chairman of the Spoliation Advisory Panel, dated 18 March 2024, in respect of three oil sketches by Sir Peter Paul Rubens now in the possession of the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.—(Aaron Bell.)
2Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
3Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill: Second and Third Reading (Standing Order No. 56)
Motion made and Question put forthwith, That the Bill be now read a second time.
Question agreed to and Bill accordingly read a second time.
Motion made and Question put forthwith, That the Bill be now read the third time.
Question agreed to and Bill accordingly read the third time and passed.
4Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: Programme (No. 2)
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 for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 12 December 2023 (Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: Programme):
Consideration of Lords Amendments
(1) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 8.00pm at today’s sitting.
Subsequent stages
(2) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.
(3) Proceedings on the first of any further Messages from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion two hours after their commencement.
(4) Proceedings on any subsequent Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.—(Aaron Bell.)
Question agreed to.
5Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 1.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 98
Ayes: 328 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Noes: 250 (Tellers: Tonia Antoniazzi, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 1 accordingly disagreed to.
As it was after 8 pm, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on the consideration of Lords Amendments to a conclusion (Programme Order, today).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).
(1) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 2 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 99
Ayes: 324 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Noes: 253 (Tellers: Tonia Antoniazzi, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 2 accordingly disagreed to.
(2) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 3 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 100
Ayes: 324 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Noes: 253 (Tellers: Tonia Antoniazzi, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 3 accordingly disagreed to.
(3) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 4 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 101
Ayes: 321 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Noes: 252 (Tellers: Tonia Antoniazzi, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 4 accordingly disagreed to.
(4) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 5 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 102
Ayes: 322 (Tellers: Ruth Edwards, Dame Amanda Milling)
Noes: 249 (Tellers: Tonia Antoniazzi, Colleen Fletcher)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 5 accordingly disagreed to.
(5) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 6 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 103
Ayes: 324 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mark Jenkinson)
Noes: 251 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Kim Leadbeater)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 6 accordingly disagreed to.
(6) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 7 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 104
Ayes: 320 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mark Jenkinson)
Noes: 250 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Kim Leadbeater)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 7 accordingly disagreed to.
(7) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 8 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 105
Ayes: 318 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mark Jenkinson)
Noes: 255 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Kim Leadbeater)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 8 accordingly disagreed to.
(8) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 9 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 106
Ayes: 320 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mark Jenkinson)
Noes: 251 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Kim Leadbeater)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 9 accordingly disagreed to.
(9) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 10 (Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment).—(Michael Tomlinson.)
The House divided.
Division No. 107
Ayes: 312 (Tellers: Joy Morrissey, Mark Jenkinson)
Noes: 255 (Tellers: Mary Glindon, Kim Leadbeater)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendment 10 accordingly disagreed to.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H(2)), That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 1 to 10.
That Anna Firth, Colleen Fletcher, Stephen Kinnock, Scott Mann, Dr Kieran Mullan, Alison Thewliss and Michael Tomlinson be members of the Committee;
That Michael Tomlinson be the Chair of the Committee;
That three be the quorum of the Committee;
That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
6Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 19 February, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 22 January, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Funding and Investment Strategy and Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 26 February, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Electricity Supplier Obligations (Excluded Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 22 January, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(5) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) (Energy Intensive Industries) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 23 January, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(6) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Electricity Capacity (Supplier Payment etc.) (Amendment and Excluded Electricity) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 22 January, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(7) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Energy-Intensive Industry Electricity Support Payments and Levy Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 22 January, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(8) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Consequential, Supplementary and Incidental Provisions) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 1 February, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(9) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (Financial Penalty) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 19 February, be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
(10) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 218), dated 26 February, a copy of which was laid before this House on 28 February , be approved.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Question agreed to.
7Changes to membership of select committees
Ordered, That Sir Jeremy Quin be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts and Matt Warman be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Lancaster and Fleetwood relating to the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry was presented and read by Cat Smith.
Subject: Cadet Expansion Programme (James Sunderland)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Suzanne Webb.)
Adjourned at 10.32 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
10Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (Sentencing Guidelines) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 14 June.
11Asylum Seekers (Accommodation Eviction Procedures) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
12Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (Powers) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
13Asylum Seekers (Permission to Work) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
15Deductions from Universal Credit (Report) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
16Evictions (Universal Credit) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
18Under-Occupancy Penalty (Report) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
19Devolution (Employment) (Scotland) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
20Social Security Benefits (Healthy Eating) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
21Universal Credit Sanctions (Zero Hours Contracts) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 19 April.
22Telecommunications Infrastructure (Consultation) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 21 June.
Reasons Committees: Reports
23Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: Reasons Committee
Michael Tomlinson reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reasons:
Lords Amendment 1
Because the Commons consider that the provisions of the Bill are compliant with domestic and international obligations, and that it is therefore not necessary to provide expressly that this is the case when setting out the purpose of the Bill.
Lords Amendments 2 and 3
Because the Commons consider that it is not necessary to refer expressly to the arrangements in the Rwanda Treaty being, and continuing to be, implemented and adhered to; the Bill is clear that it comes into force on the day on which the Rwanda Treaty enters into force and it is not appropriate for the Bill to legislate for Rwanda adhering to its obligations under the Treaty as Rwanda’s ongoing adherence to its Treaty obligations will be subject to the monitoring provisions set out in the Treaty.
Lords Amendments 4 and 5
Because the Commons consider that it is not necessary or appropriate to amend the provisions in the Bill that require decision-makers to treat Rwanda as a safe country.
Lords Amendment 6
Because the Commons consider that it is not appropriate to leave out Clause 4 of the Bill and insert the new clause in the Amendment, as the Bill allows decision-makers to consider claims that Rwanda is unsafe for an individual due to their particular circumstances.
Lords Amendment 7
Because the Commons consider that is it not appropriate to disapply the age assessment provisions of existing legislation.
Lords Amendment 8
Because the Commons consider that it is not necessary to impose the operational reporting obligations mentioned in the Amendment.
Lords Amendment 9
Because the Commons consider that it is not necessary to include the modern slavery provisions mentioned in the Amendment as provisions for modern slavery and human trafficking victims are set out in existing legislation.
Lords Amendment 10
Because the Commons consider that it is not necessary as the only way individuals should come to the UK is through safe and legal routes.
General Committees: Reports
24First Delegated Legislation Committee
Mark Pritchard (Chair) reported the motion in the name of Ms Nusrat Ghani relating to Financial Assistance to Industry.
25Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported the draft Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
26Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Stewart Hosie (Chair) reported the draft National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 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).
27Automated Vehicles Bill [Lords] (Programming Sub-Committee)
Members: Anthony Browne, Andy Carter, Bill Esterson, Trudy Harrison, Mr Gagan Mohindra, Gavin Newlands and Andrew Western
28Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill Committee
Members: Rebecca Harris, Mark Jenkinson, Joy Morrissey and Suzanne Webb discharged and Theo Clarke, Tracey Crouch, Sally-Ann Hart and Jane Hunt nominated in substitution.
29First Delegated Legislation Committee (motion in the name of Ms Nusrat Ghani relating to Financial Assistance to Industry)
Members: Alexander Stafford discharged and Steve Tuckwell nominated in substitution.
30Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Priti Patel, Alexander Stafford and Derek Thomas discharged and Nigel Mills, Steve Tuckwell and Mrs Heather Wheeler nominated in substitution.
31Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Strategy and Policy Statement for Energy Policy in Great Britain)
Chair: Christina Rees in place of Derek Twigg.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 18 March, to be published (Sir Charles Walker).
33Environmental Audit Committee
The UK and the Antarctic environment: Oral evidence taken before the Sub-Committee on Polar Research, to be published (HC 381) (James Gray).
34Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
(1) Children, young people and the built environment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 94);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Legal Migration and the Border and the Minister for Housing and Homelessness relating to the move-on period for asylum seekers: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to parliamentary scrutiny of institutions with devolved powers: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Disabled people in the housing sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 63)
(Mr Clive Betts)
35National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on)
(1) Defending Democracy: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 539);
(2) Correspondence from Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State relating to the UK Integrated Security Fund: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The UK’s economic security: Written evidence, to be published (HC 538)
(Dame Margaret Beckett).
36Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Non-executive director appointments: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 460);
(2) Correspondence from the Ministry of Defence: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence relating to the Committee’s previous Reports: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the British Museum relating to the British Museum Energy Centre Programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Investigation into student loans issued to those studying at franchised higher education providers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 455);
(6) Value for money from legal aid: Written evidence, to be published (HC 481)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) Scotland’s space sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 150);
(2) Secretary of State for Scotland 11 December 2023: Written evidence, to be published (HC 154)
(Pete Wishart).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 4.30 pm.
Debate on e-petitions (Standing Orders No. 10(1)(a) and No. 145A(7))
1LGBT content in relationships education
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petitions 630932 and 631529 relating to LGBT content in relationships education.—(Elliot Colburn.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 6.14 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Countryside Stewardship (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 391), dated 18 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
(1) Designation of Special Tax Sites (Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 380), dated 14 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nigel Huddleston)
(2) Designation of Special Tax Sites (Liverpool City Region, West Midlands and North East Investment Zones) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 383), dated 14 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nigel Huddleston)
Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 386), dated 15 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jo Churchill)
4Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
Statute, dated 27 November 2023, made by the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge amending the existing Statutes of the University (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Gillian Keegan)
Other papers
Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (by Act) (Secretary Steve Barclay)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Home Office: Investigation into asylum accommodation (by Act), to be printed (HC 635) (Clerk of the House)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 218) (by Command) (Anne-Marie Trevelyan)
Return to an Address to His Majesty for a Return of the Report from the Rt Hon. Sir Alan Moses, Chairman of the Spoliation Advisory Panel, dated 18 March 2024, in respect of three Rubens paintings now in the possession of the Courtauld Institute of Art, London (pursuant to Resolution today), to be printed (HC 269) (Julia Lopez)
Withdrawn papers
9Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (laid 22 December 2023)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 218) (laid 28 February)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATE
MONEY BILL
11Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill
The Speaker has certified that the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911.