Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities
(2) the Prime Minister
2Urgent Question: HMRC self-assessment helpline (Nigel Huddleston)
The Speaker reported that the King had signified Royal Assent to the following Acts under the Royal Assent Act 1967:
Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2024
National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Act 2024
Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Act 2024
Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Act 2024
4Urgent Question: Hong Kong: security legislation (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
5Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Secretary Victoria Atkins, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Oliver Dowden, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary James Cleverly, Secretary Gillian Keegan, Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary Alister Jack, Secretary David T C Davies, Michael Tomlinson, Andrea Leadsom and Gareth Davies, presented a Bill to make provision about the supply of tobacco, vapes and other products, including provision prohibiting the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009; and to enable product requirements to be imposed in connection with tobacco, vapes and other products.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 189) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 189–EN).
6Private Parking (Regulator) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Emma Hardy presented a Bill to establish a regulator of privately-owned car parks; to make provision about the powers and duties of that regulator; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 14 June, and to be printed (Bill 185).
7Standards in public life (codes of conduct): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for a statutory code of conduct for Ministers of the Crown; for a statutory code of conduct for Members of the House of Commons and Members of the House of Lords; for a statutory code of conduct for councillors in England; and for connected purposes;
That Debbie Abrahams, Kim Leadbeater, Caroline Lucas, Layla Moran and Dr Dan Poulter present the Bill.
Debbie Abrahams accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 26 April, and to be printed (Bill 188).
8Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill: Second Reading
Bill read a second time.
9Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences 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 one day or in two days, in accordance with the following provisions of this Order.
(3) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion five hours after their commencement.
(4) If there are no proceedings on Consideration, proceedings on Third Reading—
(a) shall be taken on the day on which proceedings in Committee commenced, and
(b) shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after the commencement of proceedings on Third Reading.
(5) If there are proceedings on Consideration—
(a) those proceedings shall be taken on the second day, and shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on that 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.)
Question agreed to.
10Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill: Money
King’s Recommendation signified.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State by virtue of the Act.—(Mike Wood.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to the proposed Mallard Pass solar plant was presented and read by Alicia Kearns.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Stoke-on-Trent North relating to Sharlotte's Law was presented and read by Jonathan Gullis.
(3) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Glasgow South West relating to the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry was presented and read by Chris Stephens.
(4) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Denton and Reddish relating to the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry was presented and read by Andrew Gwynne.
(5) A public petition from residents of the constituency of York Central relating to the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry was presented and read by Rachael Maskell.
(6) A public petition from residents of Suffolk Coastal and the wider Suffolk area relating to the Barclays Bank closure in Suffolk was presented and read by Dr Thérèse Coffey.
(7) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to access to GP appointments was presented and read by Fleur Anderson.
Subject: Scrutiny of Secretaries of State in the House of Lords (Patrick Grady)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mike Wood.)
Adjourned at 6.15 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 26 April.
General Committees: Reports
14Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill (changed to Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill) Committee
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Monday 15 April 2024.
Ian Paisley (Chair) reported the Bill as amended.
Title amended as follows: A Bill to make provision about paternity leave in cases where a mother, or a person with whom a child is placed or expected to be placed for adoption, dies.
Bill, as amended, to be considered on Friday 26 April; and to be printed (Bill 191).
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).
15Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill Committee
Members: Sally-Ann Hart discharged and Joy Morrissey nominated in substitution.
16British Citizenship (Northern Ireland) Bill Committee
Members: Fleur Anderson, Tonia Antoniazzi, Dame Karen Bradley, Jack Brereton, Fiona Bruce, Chris Elmore, Mr Mark Francois, Claire Hanna, Mr Kevan Jones, Tom Pursglove, Mr Laurence Robertson, Gavin Robinson, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Julian Smith, John Spellar, James Sunderland and Shailesh Vara
17First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-Engagement)
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Monday 15 April 2024.
Members: Tahir Ali, Ben Bradley, Alberto Costa, Samantha Dixon, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Kevin Hollinrake, Gen Kitchen, Justin Madders, Gavin Newlands, Neil O’Brien, Ms Marie Rimmer, Dean Russell, Selaine Saxby, Cat Smith, Chloe Smith, Alexander Stafford and Mike Wood
18Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Disapplication or Modification of Financial Regulator Rules in Individual Cases) Regulations 2024)
Members: Bim Afolami, Adam Afriyie, Tonia Antoniazzi, Paula Barker, Sir Jake Berry, Dr Lisa Cameron, Paul Howell, Robert Largan, Clive Lewis, Rachel Maclean, James Murray, Kate Osborne, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Gary Sambrook, John Stevenson, Matt Warman and Mohammad Yasin
19Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigative Powers of Prosecutors: Code of Practice) Order 2024, draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Recovery of Cryptoassets and Investigations: Codes of Practice) Regulations 2024, draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Terrorism Act 2000 (Certain Information Orders: Code of Practice) Regulations 2024 and draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice for Authorised Officers) Order 2024)
Members: Philip Dunne, Colleen Fletcher, Nick Fletcher, Jack Lopresti, John McDonnell, Mr Khalid Mahmood, Scott Mann, Julie Marson, Charlotte Nichols, Jesse Norman, Alex Norris, Sarah Owen, Chris Philp, Yasmin Qureshi, James Sunderland, Theresa Villiers and Sir John Whittingdale
20Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Official Controls (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and draft Plant Health (Fees) (England) and Official Controls (Frequency of Checks) (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Steven Bonnar, Ruth Edwards, Sir Michael Ellis, Colleen Fletcher, Jo Gideon, Ian Lavery, Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck, Chris Loder, Mr Jonathan Lord, Jill Mortimer, Sir Mike Penning, Mr Toby Perkins, Paul Scully, Mark Spencer, Julian Sturdy, Zarah Sultana and Mick Whitley
21Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Major Sporting Events (Income Tax Exemption) (2024 UEFA Champions League Final) Regulations 2024)
Members: Tonia Antoniazzi, Mr Richard Bacon, Fiona Bruce, Neil Coyle, Tracey Crouch, Sir Liam Fox, Damian Green, Gordon Henderson, Dame Meg Hillier, Paul Howell, Nigel Huddleston, Sir Bernard Jenkin, Robert Largan, Navendu Mishra, James Murray, Andy Slaughter and Alistair Strathern
22Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2024)
Members: Sarah Atherton, Anthony Browne, Dawn Butler, Ian Byrne, Dan Carden, Andy Carter, Sir Simon Clarke, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Richard Drax, Nick Gibb, Kate Hollern, Simon Lightwood, Mr Gagan Mohindra, Gavin Newlands, Will Quince, Jane Stevenson and Christian Wakeford
23Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Post Office Network Subsidy Scheme (Amendment) Order 2024)
Members: Rushanara Ali, Sarah Champion, Dr Thérèse Coffey, Samantha Dixon, George Eustice, Ben Everitt, Kevin Hollinrake, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Rachael Maskell, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Royston Smith, Alex Sobel, Alexander Stafford, Richard Thomson, Craig Tracey, Shailesh Vara and Mike Wood
Select Committees: Reports
24Culture, Media and Sport Committee
The work of the BBC: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 472) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
25Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) A flexible grid for the future: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 113);
(2) Keeping the power on: our future energy technology mix: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 116);
(3) Correspondence from the National Infrastructure Commission: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published
(Angus Brendan MacNeil).
26Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Environmental change and food security: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 646);
(2) The UK’s contribution to tackling global deforestation: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 669);
(3) Net zero and the UK aviation sector: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report: Sixth Special Report, to be printed (HC 622);
(4) The role of natural capital in the green economy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 280);
(5) Correspondence with the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to environmental net gain in trade deals: Written evidence, to be published
(Philip Dunne).
(1) Fire and Rescue Service: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 505);
(2) Asylum decision-making and conversion to Christianity: Written evidence, to be published (HC 595);
(3) Correspondence from the Home Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Legal Migration and the Border: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Fraud: Written evidence, to be published (HC 125);
(6) Non-contact sexual offences: Written evidence, to be published (HC 504)
(Dame Diana Johnson).
28Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Government proposals on extremism: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 645);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade relating to the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Human rights at work: Written evidence, to be published (HC 181);
(4) Sentencing Bill 2023: Written evidence, to be published (HC 395)
(Joanna Cherry).
29Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland: Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 46);
(2) Defence spending in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 524);
(3) Integrated education: Written evidence, to be published (HC 373)
(Sir Robert Buckland).
Correspondence with the Leader of the House of Commons relating proxy voting for Members called for jury service: Written evidence, to be published (Dame Karen Bradley).
31Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) NHS Supply Chain and efficiencies in procurement: Twenty-fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 453);
(2) Lessons learned: Delivering value from government investment in major programmes: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 456)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
32Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Commercialising quantum technologies: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 270);
(2) Correspondence from the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero relating to the Government response to the consultation on proposed amendments to the boiler upgrade scheme: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency relating to the authorisation of clinical trial research: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Harnessing the power of fungi: Written evidence, to be published (HC 544);
(5) The UK and CERN: Written evidence, to be published (HC 608)
(Greg Clark).
33Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Sixteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 36-xvi) (Jessica Morden).
34Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)
Eighth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 35-viii) (Jessica Morden).
Volumetric concrete mixers: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 643) (Iain Stewart).
(1) Retail banks: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 220);
(2) The work of HMRC: Written evidence, to be published (HC 217)
(Harriett Baldwin).
(1) Impact of population change in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 103);
(2) Prisons in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 101);
(3) Water quality in Wales: Written evidence, to be published (HC 104)
(Stephen Crabb).
38Women and Equalities Committee
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Monday 15 April 2024.
(1) Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in young people and other high-risk groups: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 463);
(2) The escalation of violence against women and girls: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 131);
(3) Correspondence from the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission relating to the Istanbul Convention: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Minister for Women relating to the Women-Led High-Growth Enterprise Taskforce Report: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Impact of the rising cost of living on women: Written evidence, to be published (HC 128);
(6) Sexism and inequalities in sport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 130)
(Caroline Nokes).
(1) Defined benefit pension schemes:
(i) Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 144);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 144);
(2) Statutory Sick Pay: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 148);
(3) Norton pension schemes and the Fraud Compensation Fund: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 145);
(4) Carer’s Allowance: Written evidence, to be published (HC 592);
(5) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State relating to asbestos: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with The Pensions Regulator relating to the West Midlands Pension Fund: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Plan for Jobs and employment support: Written evidence, to be published;
(8) Fiduciary duties: Written evidence, to be published (HC 486);
(9) Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Written evidence to be published (HC 146)
(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))
Resolved, That this House has considered access to migraine treatment.—(Dehenna Davison.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.53 am and 11 am.
Resolved, That this House has considered the conduct of elections.—(Wendy Chamberlain.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
Resolved, That this House has considered human rights in Sri Lanka.—(Elliot Colburn.)
The sitting was suspended between 3.31 pm and 4 pm.
4Public access to defibrillators
Resolved, That this House has considered public access to defibrillators.—(Jonathan Gullis.)
5Lessons learned from the Terance Radford Prevention of Future Deaths Report
Resolved, That this House has considered lessons learned from the Terance Radford Prevention of Future Deaths Report.—(Lee Anderson.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.11 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
(1) Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 384), dated 13 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
(2) Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) (Environmental Standards) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 378), dated 13 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Mark Harper)
Investment Allowance and Cluster Area Allowance (Investment Expenditure) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 395), dated 18 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Gareth Davies)
Immigration, Nationality and Passport (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 398), dated 19 March 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary James Cleverly)
Other papers
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on NHS England's Modelling for the Long Term Workforce Plan for 2023–24, to be printed (HC 636) (Clerk of the House)
Report and Accounts of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2022–23 (by Act) (Secretary Victoria Atkins)
6United Kingdom Internal Market
Report on the operation of the UK Internal Market for 2023–24 (by Act) (Secretary Kemi Badenoch)