Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
2Statement: National cancer plan (Andrew Gwynne)
3Statutory Adoption Pay (Report on Extension to the Self-Employed) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Lisa Smart presented a Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of extending eligibility for statutory adoption pay to persons who are self-employed or contractors; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 7 March, and to be printed (Bill 175).
4Road traffic (unlicensed drivers): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide that an unlicensed driver who has never held a valid driving licence and who causes the death of another person by driving commits the offence of careless driving under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and for connected purposes;
That Will Stone, Mr Bayo Alaba, Dan Aldridge, Alex McIntyre, Luke Myer, Chris Vince, Alex Ballinger, Tom Hayes, Henry Tufnell, Dr Roz Savage, Deirdre Costigan and Frank McNally present the Bill.
Will Stone accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 13 June, and to be printed (Bill 174).
5Business of the House (Today)
Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on —
(a) the Motions (i) in the name of Sir Stephen Timms relating to the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025, and (ii) in the name of Torsten Bell relating to the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2025, not later than three hours after the start of proceedings on the Motion for this Order; and
(b) the Motions (i) in the name of James Murray relating to the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Rates, Limits and Thresholds Amendments, National Insurance Funds Payments and Extension of Veteran's Relief) Regulations 2025, and (ii) in the name of Darren Jones relating to the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2025, not later than three hours after the start of proceedings on the first such Motion;
proceedings may continue, though opposed, until any hour, and may be entered upon after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Keir Mather.)
(1) Resolved, That the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 15 January, be approved.—(Sir Stephen Timms.)
(2) Resolved, That the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 16 January, be approved.—(Martin McCluskey.)
(1) Resolved, That the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Rates, Limits and Thresholds Amendments, National Insurance Funds Payments and Extension of Veteran’s Relief) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 15 January, be approved.—(James Murray.)
(2) Resolved, That the draft Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 15 January, be approved.—(James Murray.)
8Business of the House (5 February)
Ordered, That at the sitting on Wednesday 5 February, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on —
(1) the Motion in the name of Secretary Yvette Cooper relating to Police Grant Report not later than three hours after the start of proceedings on that Motion, and
(2) the Motions in the name of Secretary Angela Rayner relating to Local Government Finance not later than three hours after the start of proceedings on the first such Motion or six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion relating to Police Grant Report, whichever is the later;
proceedings on those Motions may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Lucy Powell.)
9Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which were laid before this House on 12 December 2024, be approved.—(Martin McCluskey.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Space Industry (Licence Exemption for Military Activities of Allies) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 12 December 2024, be approved.—(Martin McCluskey.)
Question agreed to.
10Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission
Resolved, That Ms Nusrat Ghani and Nick Smith be confirmed as members of the Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission under Schedule 3 to the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019.—(Lucy Powell.)
Subject: Birth certification for bereaved parents (Caroline Voaden)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Martin McCluskey.)
Adjourned at 4.11 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
12Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Committee
Sir Edward Leigh (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
13Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Christopher Chope (Chair) reported the draft Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025.
14Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Derek Twigg (Chair) reported the draft Electricity Capacity (Amendment) 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).
15Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Online Safety Act 2023 (Category 1, Category 2A and Category 2B Threshold Conditions) Regulations 2025)
Chair: Sir Christopher Chope in place of Graham Stringer
16Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Procurement Act 2023 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025)
Members: Mike Tapp discharged and Mike Reader nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings relating to Thursday 13 February 2025.
17Business and Trade Committee
(1) Priorities of the Business and Trade Committee: Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 423);
(2) Rip-off Britain: Dynamic pricing and consumer protection: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 700);
(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Employment, Competition and Markets: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Post Office relating to branches in WHSmith stores: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with Bidfood relating to collective bargaining: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Make work pay: Employment Rights Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 370);
(7) The work of the Department for Business and Trade: Written evidence, to be published (HC 450)
(Liam Byrne).
18Culture, Media and Sport Committee and Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
AI and copyright: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 695) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Armed Forces Covenant: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 572);
(2) The UK contribution to European security: Written evidence, to be published (HC 520);
(2) The work of the Service Complaints Ombudsman: Written evidence, to be published (HC 626)
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
(1) Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 665);
(2) Children’s social care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 430);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to school accountability reform school profiles, improvement and intervention: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the Spending Review: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) The work of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted): Written evidence, to be published (HC 539)
(Helen Hayes).
21Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Animal and plant health: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 611);
(2) Correspondence from the Tyre Recovery Association: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Reforming the water sector: Written evidence, to be published (HC 588);
(4) The future of farming: Written evidence, to be published (HC 527)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).
Record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on 4 February, to be published (Mr Steve Barclay).
The UK’s sanctions strategy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 699) (Emily Thornberry).
(1) The work of the Home Office: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 505);
(2) Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary relating to the National Audit Office report — Tackling violence against women and girls: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Karen Bradley).
25Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) Electoral policy and reform: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 673);
(2) Children in temporary accommodation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 338);
(3) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution relating to local government audit: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the spending review: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Housing associations: Development and finances: Written evidence, to be published (HC 599)
(Florence Eshalomi).
26International Development Committee
(1) The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 515);
(2) The FCDO's approach to value for money: Written evidence, to be published (HC 422)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Rehabilitation and resettlement: reducing the cycle of reoffending: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 469);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Courts and Legal Services: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with HM Chief Inspector at HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate relating to the proposed long list of inspection topics for the 2025–26 inspection programme: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending: Written evidence, to be published
(Andy Slaughter).
28Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on request for R&D expenditure: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Innovation, growth and the regions: Written evidence, to be published (HC 538)
(Chi Onwurah).
(1) Buses connecting communities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 494);
(2) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary relating to aviation security notices: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Driving tests availability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 437);
(4) Managing the impact of street works: Written evidence, to be published (HC 522)
(Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Economic statistics: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 682);
(2) Work of the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 418)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
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))
1Value of apprenticeships and National Apprenticeships Week
Resolved, That this House has considered the value of apprenticeships and National Apprenticeships Week.—(Andrew Pakes.)
2Potential merits of free-to-view access for the Six Nations Rugby Championship in 2026 and beyond
Resolved, That this House has considered the potential merits of free-to-view access for the Six Nations Rugby Championship in 2026 and beyond.—(Charlie Dewhirst.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.25 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the UK-US bilateral relationship.—(John Cooper.)
4Government policy on children in care
Resolved, That this House has considered Government policy on children in care.—(John Whitby.)
5Accessibility of radiotherapy
Resolved, That this House has considered the accessibility of radiotherapy.—(Tim Farron.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.28 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
1Terms and Conditions of Employment
Draft National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Jonathan Reynolds)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
2Financial Services and Markets
Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency (Scotland) (Amendment) Rules 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 110), dated 3 February 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Emma Reynolds)
Other papers
Statement by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the remuneration package of a Member of the Board of the British Library, under the British Library Act 1972 (by Act) (Secretary Lisa Nandy)
National Minimum Wage: Low Pay Commission Report 2024 (by Command) (CP 1245) (Secretary Jonathan Reynolds)
5Government Resources and Accounts
Report and Accounts of the Housing Ombudsman for 2023–24, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 635) (Secretary Angela Rayner)
Explanatory Memorandum to the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 94) (by Command) (Catherine McKinnell)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 94) (by Command) (laid 30 January)