Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
(2) the Prime Minister
2Quantitative easing (prohibition): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit quantitative easing; to prohibit the Government from indemnifying any losses that may result from quantitative easing; and for connected purposes;
That Rupert Lowe, Richard Tice, Jim Allister, James McMurdock and Lee Anderson present the Bill.
Rupert Lowe accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 24 January, and to be printed (Bill 155).
3Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill be now read a second time.
Amendment proposed, to leave out from ‘That’ to the end of the Question and add ‘this House, while welcoming measures to improve child protection and safeguarding, declines to give a Second Reading to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill because it undermines the long-standing combination of school freedom and accountability that has led to educational standards rising in England, effectively abolishes academy freedoms which have been integral to that success and is regressive in approach, leading to worse outcomes for pupils; because it ends freedom over teacher pay and conditions, making it harder to attract and retain good teachers; because it ends freedom over Qualified Teacher Status, making teacher recruitment harder; because it removes school freedoms over the curriculum, leading to less innovation; because repealing the requirements for failing schools to become academies and for all new schools to be academies will undermine school improvement and remove the competition which has led to rising standards; because the Bill will make it harder for good schools to expand, reducing parental choice and access to a good education; and calls upon the Government to develop new legislative proposals for children’s wellbeing including establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, focused on grooming gangs.’.—(Laura Trott.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 74
Ayes: 111 (Tellers: James Wild, Mr Andrew Snowden)
Noes: 364 (Tellers: Kate Dearden, Taiwo Owatemi)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), That the Bill be now read a second time.
Question agreed to and Bill read a second time.
4Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.
Proceedings in Public Bill Committee
(2) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 11 February.
(3) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.
Consideration and Third Reading
(4) Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.
(5) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
(6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Christian Wakeford.)
Question agreed to.
5Children's Wellbeing and Schools 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 Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of:
(1) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the Act by the Secretary of State or by a government department, and
(2) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under or by virtue of any other Act out of money so provided.—(Christian Wakeford.)
Question agreed to.
6Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Ring-fenced Bodies, Core Activities, Excluded Activities and Prohibitions) (Amendment) Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 11 November 2024, be approved.—(Christian Wakeford.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 11 November 2024, be approved.—(Christian Wakeford.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Short Selling Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 11 November 2024, be approved.—(Christian Wakeford.)
Question agreed to.
(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Electricity Capacity Mechanism (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 18 November 2024, be approved.—(Christian Wakeford.)
The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision on the Question was challenged.
Division deferred until Wednesday 15 January (Standing Order No. 41A).
(5) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 11 November 2024, be approved.—(Christian Wakeford.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of Shipston-on-Stour and surrounding villages relating to Ellen Badger Hospital in-patient beds was presented and read by Manuela Perteghella.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes relating to Grimsby Post Office was presented and read by Melanie Onn.
Subject: Role of expert witnesses and the trial of Lucy Letby (David Davis)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Christian Wakeford.)
Adjourned at 7.51 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
9Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Carolyn Harris (Chair) reported the draft Official Controls (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
10Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee
Derek Twigg (Chair) reported the draft Combined Authorities (Borrowing) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (Borrowing and Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
11Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee
David Mundell (Chair) reported the draft National Security Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment of Primary Legislation) Regulations 2025 and the draft Police Act 1997 (Authorisations to Interfere with Property: Relevant Offence) Regulations 2025.
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).
12Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords] (Programming Sub-Committee)
Members: Dan Aldridge, Emma Hardy, Claire Hazelgrove, Jerome Mayhew, Charlie Maynard, Andrew Pakes and Jeff Smith
13First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Registrar (Identity Verification and Authorised Corporate Service Providers) Regulations 2024 and draft Unique Identifiers (Application of Company Law) Regulations 2024)
Members: Mr Bayo Alaba, Jacob Collier, Daisy Cooper, Steve Darling, Emily Darlington, John Glen, Sarah Hall, Claire Hughes, Anna McMorrin, Justin Madders, Rachael Maskell, Gregor Poynton, Mr Richard Quigley, David Reed, Mrs Sarah Russell, Greg Smith and Mr Andrew Snowden
14Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Clean Heat Market Mechanism Regulations 2024)
Members: Andrew Bowie, David Burton-Sampson, Tom Collins, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Natalie Fleet, Mary Glindon, Pippa Heylings, Chris McDonald, Abtisam Mohamed, Joy Morrissey, Michael Payne, Sarah Smith, Bradley Thomas, Nick Timothy, Anna Turley, Jo White and Claire Young
15Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024)
Members: Dame Harriett Baldwin, Mrs Sureena Brackenridge, Juliet Campbell, Dan Carden, Daisy Cooper, John Cooper, Dr Allison Gardner, Lloyd Hatton, Damian Hinds, Clive Jones, Preet Kaur Gill, Afzal Khan, Brian Leishman, Anna McMorrin, Ben Obese-Jecty, Martin Rhodes and Gareth Thomas
16Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Free-Range Egg Marketing Standards (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024)
Members: James Asser, Lorraine Beavers, Deirdre Costigan, Pam Cox, Tim Farron, Peter Fortune, Mr Paul Foster, Sir Ashley Fox, George Freeman, Rachel Gilmour, Dr Neil Hudson, Kanishka Narayan, Jake Richards, Jeff Smith, Tony Vaughan, Yuan Yang and Daniel Zeichner
Select Committees: Reports
17Business and Trade Committee
Correspondence from Companies House relating to directorships held by Yang Tengbo: Written evidence, to be published (Liam Byrne).
18Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) Work of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 396);
(2) Retrofitting homes for net zero: Written evidence, to be published (HC 453)
(Bill Esterson).
19Environmental Audit Committee
Governing the marine environment: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 551) (Mr Toby Perkins).
20Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Pharmacy: Government Response First Special Report, to be printed (HC 602);
(2) Adult social care reform: The cost of inaction: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 368);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister for Care: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) The 10 Year Health Plan: Written evidence, to be printed (HC 386)
(Layla Moran).
21Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) Funding and delivery of public services: Follow up: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 477);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Industry for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade relating to the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems: Written evidence to be published;
(3) The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 586)
(Tonia Antoniazzi).
Written parliamentary questions: Departmental performance in Session 2023–24:
(i) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 461);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 461)
(Cat Smith).
(1) The work of the BBC in Scotland: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 443);
(2) The financing of the Scottish Government: Written evidence, to be published (HC 456)
(Patricia Ferguson).
(1) Correspondence with the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade: Written evidence, to be published
(Ruth Jones).
25Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Equality at work: Miscarriage and bereavement leave:
(i) Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 335);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 335);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Women and Equalities relating to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Chair recruitment campaign: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Tackling non-consensual intimate image abuse: Written evidence, to be published (HC 336)
(Sarah Owen).
Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 402) (Debbie Abrahams).
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))
1Social housing tenants and antisocial behaviour
Resolved, That this House has considered social housing tenants and antisocial behaviour.—(Lee Anderson.)
2Decarbonising homes and heat batteries
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered decarbonising homes and heat batteries.—(Deirdre Costigan.)
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)).
3Transport links between Scotland and the rest of the UK
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered transport links between Scotland and the rest of the UK.—(John Lamont.)
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 transport links between Scotland and the rest of the UK.
4Welfare for children and young people with cancer
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the matter of welfare for children and young people with cancer.—(Clive Jones.)
At 4.30 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
5Provision of playgrounds by local authorities
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the provision of playgrounds by local authorities.—(Tom Hayes.)
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 provision of playgrounds by local authorities.
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 Negative Resolution
Council Tax (Demand Notices and Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 8), dated 7 January 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jim McMahon)
Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 5), dated 6 January 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sir Stephen Timms)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Financial Recognition Scheme (Income Tax Exemption) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 12), dated 7 January 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement, done at Washington on 13 September 2023 (by Command) (CP 1225), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary David Lammy)
Official Controls (Plant Health) and Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 13), dated 7 January 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Steve Reed)
6Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
Statute, dated 19 June 2024, made by the Governing Body of Newnham College in the University of Cambridge, revising the existing Statutes of the College (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Bridget Phillipson)
Other papers
Report of Healthwatch England for 2023–24 (by Act) (Andrew Gwynne)
Exchange of Letters, done at Santiago on 9 and 10 December 2024, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Chile on the Termination of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Chile for the Promotion and Protection of Investments with Protocol, done at Santiago, 8 January 1996 (by Command) (CP 1237) (Secretary David Lammy)
Decision No. 1/2024, done in Bern and London on 17 December 2024, of the Joint Switzerland-United Kingdom Committee on Agriculture of 17 December 2024 on modification of Annex 9 to the Incorporated Agriculture Agreement (by Command) (CP 1238) (Secretary David Lammy)
Convention, done at Quito on 6 August 2024, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance (by Command) (CP 1239) (Secretary David Lammy)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATE
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing proxy voting arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Tom Morrison |
9 January |
23 February |
Mr Will Forster |
CORRECTION
Tuesday 7 January 2025
Item 36 (Select Committees: Reports) should have read:
Work and Pensions Committee
(1) Correspondence from the National Audit Office relating to Carer’s Allowance: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Written evidence, to be published (HC 402)
(Debbie Abrahams).