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Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday 23 October 2024

Read the agenda for business in the House of Commons chamber, Westminster Hall and Commons Committees.

Find out more about the Votes and Proceedings

Contents

Chamber business

The House met at 11.30 am.

Prayers

1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

(2) the Prime Minister

2Statements: (1) Independent Water Commission (Secretary Steve Reed)

(2) Speaker's Statement: waiver of sub judice rule (Death of Chris Kaba)

(3) Police accountability system (Secretary Yvette Cooper)

3Rough Sleeping (Decriminalisation) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Layla Moran presented a Bill to decriminalise rough sleeping; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 11 July 2025, and to be printed (Bill 111).

4Non-Disclosure Agreements Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Layla Moran presented a Bill to make provision about the content and use of non-disclosure agreements; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 11 July 2025, and to be printed (Bill 112).

5Palestine Statehood (Recognition) (No. 3) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Layla Moran, supported by Alex Sobel, Kit Malthouse, Calum Miller, Andy McDonald, Ellie Chowns, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Tom Morrison and Andy Slaughter, presented a Bill to make provision in connection with the recognition of the State of Palestine.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 11 July 2025, and to be printed (Bill 113).

6Business of the House (Today)

Ordered, That, at today’s sitting:

(i) notwithstanding Standing Order No.16, proceedings on the Motion in the name of Nick Thomas-Symonds relating to Payment Scheme may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply; and the Speaker shall put the Question necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motion not later than three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order;

(ii) the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motion in the name of Lucy Powell relating to Independent Expert Panel not later than one hour after the commencement of proceedings on that Motion; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; proceedings on that Motion may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply; and

(iii) the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motion in the name of Lucy Powell relating to Voting by proxy (Serious long-term illness or injury) not later than one hour after the commencement of proceedings on that Motion; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; proceedings on that Motion may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Lucy Powell.)

7Payment Scheme

Resolved, That the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 872), dated 22 August 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 23 August, be approved.—(Nick Thomas-Symonds.)

8Sanctions

Resolved, That the Iran (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 944), dated 11 September 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 12 September, be approved.—(Stephen Doughty.)

9Independent Expert Panel

Resolved, That, in accordance with Standing Order No. 150C (Appointment of Independent Expert Panel Chair and Members) and for a period of 6 years from 25 November 2024:

(1) Sir Adrian Fulford be appointed as Chair of the Independent Expert Panel; and

(2) Lyndsey de Mestre, Andrew Hoyle and Wendy Williams CBE be appointed as members of the Independent Expert Panel.—(Lucy Powell.)

10Voting by proxy (Serious long-term illness or injury)

Ordered, That, for the remainder of the current session of Parliament, the following amendment to Standing Order No. 39A shall have effect:

In paragraph (2), insert “(d) serious long-term illness or injury;”.—(Lucy Powell.)

11Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 15 May, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.—(Andrew Gwynne.)

Question agreed to.

12 Public petitions

A public petition from residents of the constituency of Edmonton and Winchmore Hill relating to NatWest bank closure in Edmonton was presented and read by Kate Osamor.

13Adjournment

Subject: Anti-social behaviour in Leyton and Wanstead constituency (Mr Calvin Bailey)

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Vicky Foxcroft.)

Adjourned at 6.50 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

Lords Messages

14Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [Lords]

The Lords have passed a Bill to extend the period within which vacancies among the Lords Spiritual are to be filled by bishops who are women, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills

15Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [Lords]

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 110), with Explanatory Notes (Bill 110–EN)

General Committees: Reports

16Second Delegated Legislation Committee

Derek Twigg (Chair) reported the draft European Forest Institute (Immunities and Privileges) 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).

17Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill Committee

Members: Matt Bishop, Kirith Entwistle, Linsey Farnsworth, Dan Jarvis, Louise Jones, Sonia Kumar, Katie Lam, Ben Maguire, Keir Mather, Mr Gagan Mohindra, Chris Murray, Mr Connor Rand, David Reed, Tim Roca, Lisa Smart, Tom Tugendhat and Paul Waugh

18First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) (Amendment) Regulations 2024)

Members: Lee Barron, Mr Peter Bedford, Kevin Bonavia, Nesil Caliskan, Liam Conlon, Kate Dearden, Charlie Dewhirst, Lilian Greenwood, Amanda Hack, Mary Kelly Foy, James MacCleary, Edward Morello, Dr Kieran Mullan, Dave Robertson, Tom Rutland, Greg Smith and Adam Thompson

19Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2024)

Members: Lewis Atkinson, Liam Conlon, Kate Dearden, Mike Kane, Helen Maguire, Peter Prinsley, David Reed, Joani Reid, Ms Marie Rimmer, Joe Robertson, Oliver Ryan, Dr Jeevun Sandher, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, John Slinger, Greg Smith, Henry Tufnell and Freddie van Mierlo

20Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2024)

Members: Josh Babarinde, Paula Barker, Mr Alex Barros-Curtis, Jade Botterill, Paul Holmes, Katie Lam, Alice Macdonald, Seema Malhotra, Keir Mather, Ms Julie Minns, Priti Patel, Mr Richard Quigley, Jake Richards, Baggy Shanker, Josh Simons, Lisa Smart and Mr Andrew Snowden.

21Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Scotland Act 1998 (Specification of Devolved Tax) (Building Safety) Order 2024)

Members: Luke Akehurst, John Cooper, Jen Craft, Harriet Cross, Lauren Edwards, Paulette Hamilton, Christine Jardine, John Lamont, Brian Leishman, Martin McCluskey, Mr Angus MacDonald, Jerome Mayhew, Margaret Mullane, David Smith, Jeff Smith, Kirsteen Sullivan and Melanie Ward

22Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Merchant Shipping (General Lighthouse Authorities) (Increase of Borrowing Limit) Order 2024)

Members: Richard Baker, Liam Conlon, Kate Dearden, Alison Hume, Dr Rupa Huq, Mike Kane, Helen Maguire, Mark Pritchard, Dr Roz Savage, Gurinder Singh Josan, Greg Smith, Patrick Spencer, Elaine Stewart, Alison Taylor, Fred Thomas, Tony Vaughan and Helen Whately

Select Committees: Reports

23Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC  291-ii) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).

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))

1Tackling rough sleeping

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of tackling rough sleeping.—(Deirdre Costigan.)

2Regulation of holiday and second homes in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered regulation of holiday and second homes in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.—(Andrew George.)

At 11.30 am, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).

The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).

3Regulation and financial stability of water companies

Resolved, That this House has considered regulation and financial stability of water companies.—(Tim Farron.)

The sitting was suspended between 3.56 pm and 4 pm.

4Future of fusion energy

Resolved, That this House has considered the future of fusion energy.—(Jo White.)

The sitting was suspended between 4.23 pm and 4.30 pm.

5Paternity leave and pay

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered paternity leave and pay.—(Shaun Davies.)

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 paternity leave and pay.

Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).

Adjourned at 5.29 pm until tomorrow.

Ms Nusrat Ghani

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution

1Environmental Protection

Draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)

2Retained EU Law Reform

Draft Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Louise Haigh)

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

3Child Trust Funds

Explanatory Memorandum to the Child Trust Funds (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1023) (by Command) (Tulip Siddiq)

4Income Tax

Explanatory Memorandum to the Individual Savings Account (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1022) (by Command) (Tulip Siddiq)

5Prices

Price Marking (Amendment) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1055), dated 21 October 2024 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Justin Madders)

Other papers

6Health and Social Work Professions

Fitness to Practise Report of the Health and Care Professions Council for 2023–24 (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 270) (Secretary Wes Streeting)

7Health Professions

Report and Accounts of the Health and Care Professions Council for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 279) (Secretary Wes Streeting)

8International Accounting Standards and European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit)

Report on the carrying out of functions designated under the International Accounting Standards (Delegation of Functions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (by Statutory Instrument) (Justin Madders)

9National Heritage

Acceptance-in-Lieu Scheme: Statement to Parliament listing items accepted in lieu of inheritance tax during the financial year 2023–24 (by Act) (Sir Chris Bryant)

10Treaty Series No. 79 (2024)

Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement, done at Pristina on 3 December 2019, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Kosovo (by Command) (CP 1180) (Secretary David Lammy)

11Treaty Series No. 80 (2024)

Agreement, done at Rome on 23 December 2022, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Italian Republic on the Mutual Recognition of Driving Licences for the Purposes of Exchange (by Command) (CP 1181) (Secretary David Lammy)

12Treaty Series No. 81 (2024)

Agreement, done at Bern on 25 February 2019, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Citizens’ Rights following the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the Free Movement of Persons Agreement (by Command) (CP 1182) (Secretary David Lammy)

Withdrawn papers

13Explanatory Memorandum to the Child Trust Funds (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2024 (laid 14 October)

14Explanatory Memorandum to the Individual Savings Account (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2024 (laid 14 October)