Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Wales
(2) the Prime Minister
2Statement: Sustainable Farming Incentive (Daniel Zeichner)
3Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme (report): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the potential merits of disregarding payments received under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme operated by the government of Ireland for the purposes of taxation, means-tested social security payments and social care capital limits; and for connected purposes;
That Liam Conlon, Claire Hanna, Colum Eastwood, Deirdre Costigan, Lola McEvoy, Damien Egan, Uma Kumaran, Sarah Coombes, Helena Dollimore, Florence Eshalomi, Tom Rutland and Rachel Hopkins present the Bill.
Liam Conlon accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 28 March, and to be printed (Bill 198).
4Employment Rights Bill: Further consideration of the Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee (second day)
New Clause NC39—(Justin Madders)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 118
Ayes: 337 (Tellers: Anna Turley, Kate Dearden)
Noes: 98 (Tellers: Paul Holmes, Jerome Mayhew)
Question agreed to.
New Clause NC39 added to the Bill.
New Clause NC40—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC41—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC42—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC43—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC44—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC45—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC46—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC47—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC48—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC49—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC50—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC51—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC52—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC53—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC54—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC55—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC56—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC57—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC58—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC59—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC60—(Justin Madders)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC110—(Daisy Cooper)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 119
Ayes: 168 (Tellers: Zöe Franklin, Charlie Maynard)
Noes: 314 (Tellers: Anna Turley, Kate Dearden)
Question negatived.
Amendments 162 to 185 made.
Amendment 291 proposed.—(Greg Smith.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 120
Ayes: 164 (Tellers: Paul Holmes, Jerome Mayhew)
Noes: 324 (Tellers: Anna Turley, Kate Dearden)
Question negatived.
Amendments 186 to 201 made.
Amendment 297 proposed.—(Greg Smith.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 121
Ayes: 167 (Tellers: Paul Holmes, Jerome Mayhew)
Noes: 328 (Tellers: Anna Turley, Kate Dearden)
Question negatived.
As it was more than five hours after the commencement of proceedings, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on Consideration of new clauses, new schedules relating to the subject matter of, and amendments to, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 of the Employment Rights Bill to a conclusion (Programme Order, 11 March).
The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83E).
(1) That Amendments 202 to 239 be made (single Question on any amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Justin Madders.)
Question agreed to.
(2) That New Schedule NS2 be added to the Bill (Question on any new schedule moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Justin Madders.)
The House divided.
Division No. 122
Ayes: 333 (Tellers: Anna Turley, Kate Dearden)
Noes: 100 (Tellers: Paul Holmes, Jerome Mayhew)
Question agreed to.
(3) That Amendments 246 to 263 be made (single Question on any amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown).—(Justin Madders.)
Question agreed to.
Title accordingly 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 amend the definition of “employment business” in the Employment Agencies Act 1973; to provide for the establishment of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body and the Social Care Negotiating Bodies; 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.
Consideration completed.
5Employment Rights Bill: Third Reading
Secretary Angela Rayner signified King’s consent, as far as His Majesty’s interest is concerned.
Motion made and Question put, That the Bill be now read the third time.
The House divided.
Division No. 123
Ayes: 333 (Tellers: Kate Dearden, Anna Turley)
Noes: 100 (Tellers: Paul Holmes, Jerome Mayhew)
Question agreed to and Bill passed.
6Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry Training Board) Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 5 February, be approved.—(Gerald Jones.)
Question agreed to.
Ordered, That the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 137), a copy of which was laid before this House on 11 February, be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee.—(Lucy Powell.)
8Delegated Legislation (Church of England (General Synod) (Measures))
(1) Ordered, That the Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, entitled Church Funds Investment Measure (HC 772), a copy of which was laid before this House on 11 March, be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee.—(Lucy Powell.)
(2) Ordered, That the Measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, entitled Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure (HC 773), a copy of which was laid before this House on 11 March, be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee.—(Lucy Powell.)
Subject: 40th anniversary of the Swann Report into racism in education (Kim Johnson)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gerald Jones.)
Adjourned at 7.58 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
10Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
The Lords agree to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
11Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
Lords Amendments to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 200) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 200–EN).
Changes to Notices Given
12Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 14 March, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 25 April.
General Committees: Reports
13Third Delegated Legislation Committee
Sir Edward Leigh (Chair) reported the draft Civil Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Fees (Amendment) Order 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).
14Crime and Policing Bill Committee
Chairs: Sir Roger Gale, Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck and Mark Pritchard
15Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords] (Programming Sub-Committee)
Members: Janet Daby, Vicky Foxcroft, Melanie Onn, Ian Sollom, Rebecca Paul, Alan Strickland and Laurence Turner
16First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Online Procedure Rules (Specified Proceedings) Regulations 2025)
Chair: Karl Turner
Members: Josh Babarinde, Antonia Bance, Mrs Sureena Brackenridge, Kate Dearden, Catherine Fookes, George Freeman, Sarah Hall, Sally Jameson, Noah Law, Andy McDonald, Dr Kieran Mullan, Jack Rankin, Sarah Sackman, Lisa Smart, Steve Witherden, Mike Wood and Sean Woodcock
17Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2025)
Chair: Sir John Hayes
Members: Luke Akehurst, Matt Bishop, Rachel Blake, Wendy Chamberlain, John Cooper, Harriet Cross, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Christine Jardine, Martin McCluskey, Kirsty McNeill, Anneliese Midgley, Dr Andrew Murrison, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Dr Jeevun Sandher, Rebecca Smith, Melanie Ward and Chris Webb
18Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electronic Communications (Networks and Services) (Designated Vendor Directions) (Penalties) Order 2025)
Chair: Sir Jeremy Wright
Members: Catherine Atkinson, Chris Bryant, Peter Fortune, Olly Glover, Chris Hinchliff, Edward Morello, Luke Myer, Ben Obese-Jecty, Darren Paffey, Matthew Patrick, Michelle Scrogham, Dr Ben Spencer, Will Stone, Henry Tufnell, Anna Turley, Sir John Whittingdale and Nadia Whittome
Select Committees: Reports
19Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Flood resilience in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 550);
(2) Net zero and UK shipping: Written evidence, to be published (HC 705)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
20Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Reforming the water sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 588) (Mr Alistair Carmichael).
21Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Community mental health services: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 566);
(2) Adult social care reform: the cost of inaction: Written evidence, to be published (HC 368);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published
(Layla Moran).
22Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
Transnational repression in the UK: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 681) (Sir Desmond Swayne).
23Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
(1) The operation of the Windsor Framework: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 491);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Migration relating to the Common Travel Area: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Defence spending in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 524);
(4) Funding and delivery of public services: follow up: Written evidence, to be published (HC 477);
(5) The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 586)
(Tonia Antoniazzi).
(1) Written Parliamentary Questions: Departmental performance in Session 2023–24: Government Response: Second Special Report, to be printed (HC 793);
(2) Call lists: Written evidence, to be published (HC 536);
(3) Electronic voting: Written evidence, to be published (HC 710);
(4) Proxy Voting: Review of arrangements introduced in the 2024–25 Session: Written evidence, to be published (HC 489)
(Cat Smith).
Buses connecting communities: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 494) (Ruth Cadbury).
Work of the Payment Systems Regulator: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 686) (Dame Meg Hillier).
Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections: Part of the oral evidence and written evidence, to be published (HC 570) (Sir Jeremy Wright).
28Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Seventeenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291-xvii) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
Promoting Wales for inward investment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 444) (Ruth Jones).
(1) Statutory Sick Pay: Government Response: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 787);
(2) Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 653);
(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Secretary of State for Education relating to the Child Poverty Strategy: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Safeguarding vulnerable claimants: Written 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))
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of the use of stop and search.—(Saqib Bhatti.)
The sitting was suspended between 10.36 am and 11 am.
2Government support for community theatre
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for community theatre.—(Bobby Dean.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3The role of water companies in new housing development planning
Resolved, That this House has considered the role of water companies in new housing development planning.—(Helen Morgan.)
4Government support for human rights and peace in Kashmir
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for human rights and peace in Kashmir.—(Tahir Ali.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.25 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Government support for rural communities
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered Government support for rural communities.—(Caroline Voaden.)
At 5.30 pm the Motion lapsed.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.30 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
(1) Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 320), dated 7 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
(2) Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command), to be printed (HC 733) (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
(1) Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 294), dated 7 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
(2) Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 326), dated 3 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
Help-to-Save Accounts Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 327), dated 11 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Emma Reynolds)
(1) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 321), dated 10 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
(2) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 325), dated 11 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Torsten Bell)
(3) Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 328), dated 3 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
Papers laid under paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023
Proposal for an instrument titled Companies Act 2006 (Recognition of Third Country Qualifications and Practical Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Justin Madders)
Other papers
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Cross-government: Lessons learned: Governance and decision making on mega-projects (by Act), to be printed (HC 545) (Clerk of the House)
Teachers’ Pension Scheme Member Contribution Tiers Report, under Section 22 of the Public Services Pensions Act 2013: The Teachers’ Pensions Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (by Act) (Catherine McKinnell)
Explanatory Memorandum to the Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 207) (by Command) (James Murray)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 207) (laid 25 February)
SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES
VOTING BY PROXY (STANDING ORDER NO. 39A)
(Variations to existing arrangements appear in bold.)
|
Member |
From |
To |
Proxy |
|
Shivani Raja |
21 January |
23 March |
Mr Gagan Mohindra |
|
Apsana Begum |
12 February |
8 April |
Zarah Sultana |
|
Henry Tufnell |
7 April |
6 June |
Adam Jogee |
CORRECTION
Tuesday 11 March 2025
Item 22 should have read:
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) Reforming the water sector: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 588);
(2) Animal and plant health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 611);
(3) Fairness in the food supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 589);
(4) Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 415)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).