Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
Ordered, That Tom Morrison be discharged from the Committee of Selection and Charlie Maynard be added.—(Mark Tami.)
2Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
3Urgent Question: Community engagement principles and definitions of extremist organisations (Alex Norris)
4Speaker's Statement: Waiver of sub judice rule (Southport attack)
5Statement: Southport attack (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
6Arms Trade (Inquiry and Suspension) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Zarah Sultana presented a Bill to make provision for an inquiry into the end use of arms sold to foreign states to determine whether they have been used in violation of international law; to immediately suspend the sale of arms to foreign states where it cannot be demonstrated that arms sold will not be used in violation of international law; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 14 March, and to be printed (Bill 164).
7Marine Protected Areas (bottom trawling) (England): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit the practice of bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas in England; and for connected purposes;
That Katie White, Anna Gelderd, Mr Toby Perkins, Ms Polly Billington, Alistair Strathern, Luke Murphy, Sarah Champion, Aphra Brandreth, Mr Andrew Mitchell, Wera Hobhouse and Carla Denyer present the Bill.
Katie White accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 20 June, and to be printed (Bill 165).
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 59(2)), That the Arbitration Bill [Lords] shall no longer stand referred to a second reading committee.—(Martin McCluskey.)
Question agreed to.
9Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Consideration of the Bill, not amended in the Public Bill Committee
New Clause NC1—(Helen Maguire)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendment 9 proposed.—(Mr Mark Francois.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 87
Ayes: 192 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Andrew Snowden)
Noes: 338 (Tellers: Gerald Jones, Kate Dearden)
Question negatived.
Amendment 10 proposed.—(Mr Mark Francois.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 88
Ayes: 191 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Andrew Snowden)
Noes: 338 (Tellers: Gerald Jones, Kate Dearden)
Question negatived.
Amendment 2 proposed.—(Helen Maguire.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 89
Ayes: 76 (Tellers: Charlie Maynard, Bobby Dean)
Noes: 349 (Tellers: Gerald Jones, Kate Dearden)
Question negatived.
Consideration completed.
10Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time and passed.
Motion made and Question proposed, That the draft Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 25 November 2024, be approved.—(Mary Creagh.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 90
Ayes: 352 (Tellers: Kate Dearden, Gerald Jones)
Noes: 75 (Tellers: Rebecca Smith, Andrew Snowden)
Question agreed to.
Resolved, That the draft Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 25 November 2024, be approved.
12Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 7 October 2024, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Free-Range Egg Marketing Standards (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 21 November 2024, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited Compensation Scheme Order 2024, which was laid before this House on 6 November 2024, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
13House of Commons Members’ Fund
Resolved, That Sir Marcus Jones and Craig Whittaker be removed as Trustees of the House of Commons Members’ Fund and Mrs Sharon Hodgson and Mike Wood be appointed as Trustees in pursuance of section 2 of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 2016.—(Lucy Powell)
(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Leyton and Wanstead relating to W12 and W14 bus service in north east London was presented and read by Mr Calvin Bailey.
(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of South Norfolk relating to Haddiscoe gravel pit application was presented and read by Ben Goldsborough.
Subject: Potential merits of a Stourport relief road fund (Mark Garnier)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gerald Jones.)
Adjourned at 7.36 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
16Building Regulations (Minimum Standards) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 16 May.
General Committees: Reports
17Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Committee
Sir Edward Leigh (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.
18Tobacco and Vapes Bill Committee
*This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Thursday 23 January 2025 and Monday 27 January 2025.
Peter Dowd (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.
19Second Delegated Legislation Committee
David Mundell (Chair) reported the draft Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2024, the draft Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025, the draft Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 and the draft Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2024.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 21 January, to be published (Nick Smith).
21Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 21 January, to be published (Bob Blackman).
22Business and Trade Committee
(1) Export led growth: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 649);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Make work pay: Employment Rights Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 370);
(4) UK arms exports to Israel: Written evidence, to be published (HC 548)
(Liam Byrne).
23Culture, Media and Sport Committee
The work of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 330) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Defence in the Grey Zone: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 405);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to Harland and Wolff: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
(1) Children’s social care: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 430);
(2) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary and from the Chief Executive, Student Loans Company relating to the Disabled Students’ Allowance: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Permanent Secretary relating to the impact of industrial action on university students: Written evidence, to be published
(Helen Hayes).
26Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Reforming the water sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 588);
(2) The future of farming: Written evidence, to be published (HC 527);
(3) Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 415)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).
Implementation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 616) (Dame Karen Bradley).
28Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) Children in temporary accommodation: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 338);
(2) Rough sleeping: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 339);
(3) The work of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Written evidence, to be published (HC 409)
(Florence Eshalomi).
Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published (Jamie Stone).
30Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Review of the 2024 general election: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 487);
(2) Correspondence from the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary relating to update on multiple areas of Cabinet Office business: Written evidence, to be published
(Simon Hoare).
31Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Innovation showcase: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 523);
(2) Social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 441);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Innovation and eradicating diseases: Written evidence, to be published (HC 537)
(Chi Onwurah).
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))
1Provision of auditory verbal therapy
Resolved, That this House has considered the provision of auditory verbal therapy.—(Mrs Sharon Hodgson.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.45 am and 11 am.
2Effectiveness of Northern Ireland’s political institutions
Resolved, That this House has considered the effectiveness of Northern Ireland’s political institutions.—(Sorcha Eastwood.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Prevention of knife crime in the West Midlands
Resolved, That this House has considered the prevention of knife crime in the West Midlands.—(Sarah Coombes.)
Resolved, That this House has considered the welfare of doctors.—(Peter Prinsley.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.24 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Re-opening hotels for asylum seeker accommodation
The sitting was suspended between 4.30 pm and 5.05 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of re-opening hotels for asylum seeker accommodation.—(Jack Rankin.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 6.05 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
(1) Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
(2) Draft Immigration (Biometric Information etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
Other papers
2Government Resources and Accounts
Report and Accounts of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 321) (James Murray)
Report by the Independent Expert Panel: Appeal by Bob Stewart (by Standing Order), to be printed (HC 663) (Clerk of the House)
4Science, Innovation and Technology
(1) A blueprint for modern digital government (by Command) (CP 1252) (Secretary Peter Kyle)
(2) State of digital government review (by Command) (CP 1251) (Secretary Peter Kyle)
Withdrawn papers
Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (laid 16 January)
CORRECTION
Thursday 16 January 2025
Item 10 (General Committees: Reports) should have read:
Employment Rights Bill Committee
Sir Christopher Chope (Chair) reported:
(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and
(2) the Bill, as amended.
Written evidence to be published.
Title amended as follows: A bill to make provision to amend the law relating to employment rights; to make provision about procedure for handling redundancies; to make provision about the treatment of workers involved in the supply of services under certain public contracts; to provide for duties to be imposed on employers in relation to equality; to provide for the establishment of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body and the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body; to amend the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023; to make provision for the implementation of international agreements relating to maritime employment; to make provision about trade unions, industrial action, employers’ associations and the functions of the Certification Officer; to make provision about the enforcement of legislation relating to the labour market; and for connected purposes.
Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 163).