Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
2Speaker's Statement: Waiver of sub judice rule (HMP Parc)
3Urgent Question: HMP Parc update (Edward Argar)
Resolved, That the draft Procurement Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 25 March, be approved.—(Alex Burghart.)
Resolved, That the draft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 16 April, be approved.—(Sir Mark Spencer.)
Motion made and Question proposed, That:
(1) this House approves the Report from the House of Commons Commission, A risk-based exclusion policy for the House of Commons – updated proposals, HC 386, save that the threshold for risk-based exclusion should be when a Member has been charged with a relevant offence;
(2) the following Standing Order be made:
'Risk-based exclusion policy
(1) When the Clerk of the House is informed by the police that a Member is charged with a violent or sexual offence a risk assessment will take place.
(2) The risk assessment will be carried out by a Risk Assessment Panel, appointed by Mr Speaker.
(3) In carrying out a risk assessment the Panel will have regard to-
(a) the nature of the alleged misconduct;
(b) whether there is any safeguarding concern;
(c) the risk to the Parliamentary community, or a particular individual, group or groups within it;
(d) information from the police; and
(e) any undertaking that the Member in question is subject to an existing voluntary agreement not to attend the Estate.
(4) The Panel shall have the assistance of the Counsel to the Speaker, the Director of Parliamentary Security and such other members of the House administration as it thinks fit.
(5) The Panel will decide on appropriate measures to mitigate any risk, and such mitigation may include one or more of the following-
(a) exclusion from the Parliamentary estate;
(b) exclusion from domestic travel funded in whole or in part through the House of Commons Estimate; and
(c) exclusion from foreign travel funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, through the House of Commons Estimate.
(6) Members must not lobby the Panel in a manner calculated to influence the outcome of a risk assessment process.
(7) A Member subject to exclusion from the Parliamentary estate may apply for a proxy vote.
(8) If the Panel considers a Member should be subject to exclusion it shall inform the Speaker, and the Speaker shall authorise the House administration to take such measures as are necessary to ensure the Panel’s decision is implemented.
(9) The Panel may review its risk assessment in the light of new information, and as a consequence of that review may recommend ending any exclusion, varying any existing risk mitigation measures, or introducing further measures as a result of its review.
(10) The decisions of the Panel in relation to a particular case and actions taken thereafter shall not be made public and shall be kept confidential (except insofar as is reasonably necessary to ensure the decision is effected).
(11) A Member’s exclusion will end if-
(a) the Panel so decides and informs the Speaker accordingly;
(b) the Speaker and the Panel are informed by the police or another competent person that the police have concluded their investigations and the charge has been withdrawn; or
(c) a criminal trial has been concluded.'
(3) the operation of Standing Order (Risk-based exclusion policy) be reviewed by a panel appointed by Mr Speaker, and the report of that panel shall be laid before the House no later than six months after the date of this Order; and
(4) Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by Proxy) be amended as follows:
(1) In paragraph (2)(d) after 'injury' insert
'() risk-based exclusion from the Parliamentary estate'; and
(2) After paragraph 5(b) insert
'() The Speaker shall not specify the reason for which a proxy vote has been given in any such certificate.'.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Amendment (o) proposed, in paragraph (1), line 2, to leave out ‘, save that the threshold for risk-based exclusion should be when a Member has been charged with a relevant offence’.—(Wendy Chamberlain.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 150
Ayes: 170 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Andrew Western)
Noes: 169 (Tellers: Mike Wood, Mr Gagan Mohindra)
Question agreed to.
As it was more than two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to dispose of the Motion (Order, 8 May).
(1) Another Amendment (h) proposed, in paragraph (1) of the proposed Standing Order, line 1, to leave out ‘is charged with’ and insert ‘has been arrested on suspicion of committing’.—(Wendy Chamberlain.)
Question put and agreed to.
(2) Another Amendment (n) proposed, after paragraph (2) of the proposed Standing Order to insert—
‘() The Panel shall have power to meet notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, in person or by electronic means.’.—(Penny Mordaunt.)
Question put and agreed to.
(3) Another Amendment (p) proposed, after paragraph (2) of the proposed Standing Order to insert—
‘() The Panel will not be given the name of the Member being risk assessed.’.—(Wendy Chamberlain.)
Question put and agreed to.
(4) Another Amendment (q) proposed, in paragraph (11)(b) of the proposed Standing Order, line 2, to leave out ‘the charge has been withdrawn’ and insert ‘no charge has been made’.—(Wendy Chamberlain.)
Question put and agreed to.
(5) Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.
Resolved, That
(1) this House approves the Report from the House of Commons Commission, A risk-based exclusion policy for the House of Commons – updated proposals, HC 386;
(2) the following Standing Order be made:
'Risk-based exclusion policy
(1) When the Clerk of the House is informed by the police that a Member has been arrested on suspicion of committing a violent or sexual offence a risk assessment will take place.
(2) The risk assessment will be carried out by a Risk Assessment Panel, appointed by Mr Speaker.
(3) The Panel shall have power to meet notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, in person or by electronic means.
(4) The Panel will not be given the name of the Member being risk assessed.
(5) In carrying out a risk assessment the Panel will have regard to-
(a) the nature of the alleged misconduct;
(b) whether there is any safeguarding concern;
(c) the risk to the Parliamentary community, or a particular individual, group or groups within it;
(d) information from the police; and
(e) any undertaking that the Member in question is subject to an existing voluntary agreement not to attend the Estate.
(6) The Panel shall have the assistance of the Counsel to the Speaker, the Director of Parliamentary Security and such other members of the House administration as it thinks fit.
(7) The Panel will decide on appropriate measures to mitigate any risk, and such mitigation may include one or more of the following-
(a) exclusion from the Parliamentary estate;
(b) exclusion from domestic travel funded in whole or in part through the House of Commons Estimate; and
(c) exclusion from foreign travel funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, through the House of Commons Estimate.
(8) Members must not lobby the Panel in a manner calculated to influence the outcome of a risk assessment process.
(9) A Member subject to exclusion from the Parliamentary estate may apply for a proxy vote.
(10) If the Panel considers a Member should be subject to exclusion it shall inform the Speaker, and the Speaker shall authorise the House administration to take such measures as are necessary to ensure the Panel’s decision is implemented.
(11) The Panel may review its risk assessment in the light of new information, and as a consequence of that review may recommend ending any exclusion, varying any existing risk mitigation measures, or introducing further measures as a result of its review.
(12) The decisions of the Panel in relation to a particular case and actions taken thereafter shall not be made public and shall be kept confidential (except insofar as is reasonably necessary to ensure the decision is effected).
(13) A Member’s exclusion will end if-
(a) the Panel so decides and informs the Speaker accordingly;
(b) the Speaker and the Panel are informed by the police or another competent person that the police have concluded their investigations and no charge has been made; or
(c) a criminal trial has been concluded.'
(3) the operation of Standing Order (Risk-based exclusion policy) be reviewed by a panel appointed by Mr Speaker, and the report of that panel shall be laid before the House no later than six months after the date of this Order; and
(4) Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by Proxy) be amended as follows:
(1) In paragraph (2)(d) after 'injury' insert
'() risk-based exclusion from the Parliamentary estate'; and
(2) After paragraph 5(b) insert
'() The Speaker shall not specify the reason for which a proxy vote has been given in any such certificate.'.
Subject: Tackling substandard housing (George Galloway)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mike Wood.)
Adjourned at 9.09 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
8Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to amend the law relating to workplace information and consultation, employment protection and trade union rights to provide safeguards for workers against dismissal and re-engagement on inferior terms and conditions; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
9Alternative Investment Fund Designation Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to amend the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 to remove Listed Investment Companies from Alternative Investment Fund designation; to make related changes to other relevant legislation; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
10Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision for the regulation of artificial intelligence; and for connected purposes, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Changes to Notices Given
11Public Sector Websites (Data Charges) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 14 June.
12Disposal of Waste (Advertising and Penalty Provision) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
13Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
14Benefit Sanctions (Warnings) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
15Workers (Rights and Definition) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
16Health and Safety at Work Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
17Asylum Seekers (Accommodation Eviction Procedures) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
18Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (Powers) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
19Asylum Seekers (Permission to Work) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
21Deductions from Universal Credit (Report) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
22Evictions (Universal Credit) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
24Under-Occupancy Penalty (Report) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
25Devolution (Employment) (Scotland) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
26Social Security Benefits (Healthy Eating) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
27Universal Credit Sanctions (Zero Hours Contracts) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 7 June.
28Government of Wales (Referendum on Devolution) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 14 June.
29Immigration and Nationality Fees (Exemption for NHS Clinical Staff) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 17 May, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 14 June.
General Committees: Reports
30First Delegated Legislation Committee
Philip Hollobone reported the draft Carbon Capture Revenue Support (Directions, Eligibility and Counterparty) Regulations 2024 and the draft Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage Revenue Support (Directions and Counterparty) Regulations 2024.
31Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Christina Rees (Chair) reported the draft Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
32Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Graham Brady (Chair) reported the draft International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) 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).
33Courts (Remote Hearings) Bill Committee
Members: Laura Farris, Jane Hunt and Dr Caroline Johnson discharged and Gareth Bacon, Karl McCartney and Mary Robinson nominated in substitution.
34First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Carbon Capture Revenue Support (Directions, Eligibility and Counterparty) Regulations 2024 and draft Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage Revenue Support (Directions and Counterparty) Regulations 2024)
Members: Richard Drax and Alexander Stafford discharged and George Freeman and Peter Gibson nominated in substitution.
35Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Royston Smith and Vicky Ford discharged and Will Quince and Nigel Mills nominated in substitution.
36Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Securitisation (Amendment) Regulations 2024)
Members: Trudy Harrison discharged and Simon Fell nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports relating to orders for printing made during the adjournment under Standing Order No. 137
Friday 10 May
37Women and Equalities Committee
Non-consensual intimate image abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 664) (Clerk of the House).
Select Committees: Reports made on Monday 13 May
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 13 May, to be published (Sir Charles Walker).
Defence in the grey zone: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 50) (Sir Jeremy Quin).
40Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
(1) Improving the home buying and selling process: Oral evidence and written evidence, to be published (HC 678);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Chair of the District Councils’ Network relating to implementation of the Government’s Simpler Recycling Plan: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Council Tax collection: Written evidence, to be published (HC 57);
(5) Financial distress in local authorities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 56);
(7) Financial reporting and audit in local authorities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 59);
(8) The Office for Local Government: Written evidence, to be published (HC 64)
(Mr Clive Betts).
41Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) Investigation into the UKHSA’s health security campus programme: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 651);
(2) Correspondence from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to the Bulb Energy Limited Energy Supply Company Special Administration Regime: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Ministry of Justice relating to accounting officer assessments: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence relating to the Committee’s previous Reports: Written evidence, to be published
(5) HS2 and Euston: Written evidence, to be published (HC 67);
(6) Rail reform: the rail transformation programme: Written evidence, to be published (HC 652);
(7) Reducing the harm from illegal drugs: Written evidence, to be published (HC 72)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) Scotland’s space sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 150);
(2) City Region and Growth Deals: Written evidence, to be published (HC 644)
(Pete Wishart).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 4.30 pm.
Debate on an e-petition (Standing Orders No. 10(1)(a) and No. 145A(7))
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 648577 relating to a visa scheme for Palestinians.—(Cat Smith.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 7.29 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on Friday 10 May under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Prohibition of Cross-Examination in Person (Fees of Court-Appointed Qualified Legal Representatives) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 624), dated 8 May 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
(1) Insolvency (England and Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 622), dated 8 May 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kevin Hollinrake)
(2) Insolvency Proceedings (Monetary Limits) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 626), dated 9 May 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kevin Hollinrake)
Insolvency Proceedings (Monetary Limits) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 626), dated 9 May 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kevin Hollinrake)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Monday 13 May
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Energy Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Claire Coutinho)
Draft Magistrates' Courts Fees (Amendment) Order 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alex Chalk)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
(1) Armed Forces (Appeals Against Review of Sentence) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 619), dated 7 May 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dr Andrew Murrison)
(2) Armed Forces (Civilians Subject to Service Discipline) (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 614), dated 7 May 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Dr Andrew Murrison)
National Procurement Policy Statement (by Act) (Alex Burghart)
Other papers
Report and Accounts of the General Chiropractic Council for 2023 (by Act) (Secretary Victoria Atkins)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Revenue and Customs: Customer service for 2024 (by Act), to be printed (HC 726) (Clerk of the House)
Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System: Going Further (by Command) (CP 1072) (Secretary Mel Stride)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
David Duguid |
22 April |
14 June |
Mr Marcus Jones |
|
Helen Grant |
22 April |
22 May |
Mr Marcus Jones |
|
John Howell |
11 December 2023 |
10 July |
Mr Marcus Jones |
|
Stuart Anderson |
10 April |
22 May |
Mr Marcus Jones |
|
Jon Trickett |
11 March |
22 May |
Ian Lavery |
|
Karin Smyth |
28 March |
12 June |
Gerald Jones |
|
Layla Moran |
13 May |
14 June |
Wendy Chamberlain |
|
Ms Harriet Harman |
13 May |
10 June |
Chris Elmore |
CORRECTION
Tuesday 9 April 2024
The following item should have appeared after item 12 (Papers Laid):
Consumer Protection
Explanatory Memorandum to the Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations (SI, 2024, No. 455) (Kevin Hollinrake)