Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
2Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (2nd allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) VAT on independent schools
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House regrets that the Government has decided to impose VAT on independent school fees; believes that educational provision should not be taxed; regrets that the Government is rushing to implement this change part-way through an academic year; calls on the Government to exempt from the VAT charge fees paid in respect of children of military and diplomatic families, all children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan, or who are in the process of applying for one, all children on SEN support, Centres for Advanced Training and schools in the Music and Dance Scheme, all children at schools whose fees are lower than the average per capita funding for a state school place, and children at religious schools of denominations for whom there is no faith school provision in the state sector; further calls on the Government to postpone imposition of the VAT charge for schools in areas where state schools in the relevant key stage are already on average over 95% full; also calls on the Government to postpone imposition of the VAT charge for fees paid in respect of children who have started a public examination course, to September 2025 for pupils currently in Year 11 or Year 13, and to September 2026 for pupils currently in Year 10 or Year 12; and calls on the Government to publish a full impact assessment of the effects of this policy on independent schools and the state sector ahead of the Budget.—(Damian Hinds.)
The Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 16
Ayes: 190 (Tellers: Mr Louie French, Mike Wood)
Noes: 363 (Tellers: Gen Kitchen, Keir Mather)
Question negatived.
(2) Farming and food security
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House recognises the real and immediate challenges faced by British farmers as a result of wet weather and rising costs; notes the importance of food security as an essential component of national security in an increasingly uncertain world; regrets that the £50 million extension of the Farming Recovery Fund is yet to be paid out; is concerned that reports suggest the farming budget is to be cut by £100 million; calls on the Government to confirm that the full £50 million of additional Farming Recovery Fund support for those flooded, £75 million for Internal Drainage Boards to protect agricultural land from floods and storms, and £220 million allocated to technology and productivity schemes announced earlier this year will be used in full and without delay, that no reduction to the farming budget will be made and that any underspends will be rolled forward as in previous years, and to keep farming and food production high on the agenda by committing to continue to host the annual Farm to Fork Summit in Downing Street, continuing to publish the annual food security index, and appointing a Tenant Farming Commissioner; and further calls on the Government to secure the long-term future of domestic food production by ensuring the best agricultural land is protected from inappropriate development, including large solar developments, by tackling rural crime, and by ensuring that the next generation can get into farming by protecting Agricultural Property Relief.—(Steve Barclay.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 17
Ayes: 187 (Tellers: Mr Louie French, Mike Wood)
Noes: 359 (Tellers: Keir Mather, Gen Kitchen)
Question negatived.
A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to the Darwin Oak was presented and read by Julia Buckley.
Subject: Health services in Bridlington (Charlie Dewhirst)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Anna McMorrin.)
Adjourned at 7.36 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
5Great British Energy Bill Committee
Sir Roger Gale (Chair) reported:
(1) That the Committee had come to the following Resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and
(2) written evidence.
Written evidence to be published.
6First Delegated Legislation Committee
Martin Vickers (Chair) reported the draft Government of Wales Act 2006 (Devolved Welsh Authorities) (Amendment) Order 2024.
7Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Graham Stringer (Chair) reported the draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Juxtaposed Controls) (Amendment) Order 2024.
Sir 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))
1Removal of VAT and business rates exemptions for independent schools
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the removal of VAT and business rate exemptions for independent schools.—(Bradley Thomas.)
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)).
At 11 am, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
2Support for creative industries in Stoke-on-Trent
Resolved, That this House has considered support for creative industries in Stoke-on-Trent.—(Gareth Snell.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3SEND provision in the East of England
Resolved, That this House has considered SEND provision in the East of England.—(Jess Asato.)
4Tackling sewage discharges in chalk streams
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of tackling sewage discharges in chalk streams.—(Victoria Collins.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.15 pm and 4.31 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of tackling sewage discharge in chalk streams.
5Cultural and economic contribution of the Edinburgh festivals
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the cultural and economic contribution of the Edinburgh festivals.—(Chris Murray.)
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 the cultural and economic contribution of the Edinburgh festivals.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.45 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings and Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1007), dated 7 October 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jim McMahon)
Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1005), dated 7 October 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
(1) Draft Gateshead (Electoral Changes) Order 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)
(2) Draft Sefton (Electoral Changes) Order 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)
Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) and Plant Health (Frequency of Checks) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1001), dated 7 October 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
Other papers
Report and Accounts of AWE for 2023–24 (by Command) (CP 1165) (Secretary John Healey)
Our Food 2023: An annual review of food standards across the UK (by Act), to be printed (HC 243) (Clerk of the House)
(1) Report and Accounts of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 2023–24 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(2) Report and Accounts of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust for 2023–24 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
(3) Report and Accounts of The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 2023–24 (by Act) (Secretary Wes Streeting)
9Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal)
Progress Report of Restoration and Renewal for 2024 (by Act), to be printed (HC 228) (Clerk of the House)