Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 9.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
(2) the hon. Member representing the Church Commissioners, the hon. Member representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board and the Right hon. Member representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
2Business Question (Leader of the House)
The Speaker reported that the King had signified Royal Assent to the following Acts and Measures under the Royal Assent Act 1967:
Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Act 2025
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Act 2025
Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025
Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025
Church Funds Investment Measure 2025
4Statement: UK-US trade and tariffs (Secretary Jonathan Reynolds)
5Select Committee Statement on the First Report of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, England’s Homeless Children: The crisis in temporary accommodation, HC 338 (Florence Eshalomi)
(1) Impact of digital platforms on UK democracy
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the impact of digital platforms on UK democracy.—(Sorcha Eastwood.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put and agreed to.
(2) Access to sport and PE in schools
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered access to sport and PE in schools.—(Leigh Ingham.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put and agreed to.
Subject: Adoption breakdown (Tom Gordon)
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gerald Jones.)
At 5 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gerald Jones.)
Adjourned at 5.29 pm until Monday 7 April.
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
8Crime and Policing Bill Committee
Sir Roger Gale (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
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).
9Planning and Infrastructure Bill Committee
Chairs: Wera Hobhouse, Dr Rupa Huq, Christine Jardine and Derek Twigg
10First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Ecosystem for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025)
Chair: Dr Rupa Huq
11First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025)
Members: Ms Polly Billington discharged and Dr Allison Gardner nominated in substitution.
12Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025)
Chair: Wera Hobhouse
13Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025)
Members: David Baines discharged and Patrick Hurley nominated in substitution.
14Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Cornwall Council (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025, draft East Midlands Combined County Authority (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025, and draft York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (Adult Education Functions) Order 2025)
Chair: Esther McVey
Select Committees: Reports
15Backbench Business Committee
Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 29 April, Tuesday 6 May and Thursday 8 May in Westminster Hall (Bob Blackman).
16Business and Trade Committee
Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the UK’s response to US tariffs: Written evidence, to be published (Liam Byrne).
17 Culture, Media and Sport Committee
AI and copyright: Written evidence, to be published (HC 695) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Promoting national strategy: How select committee scrutiny can improve strategic thinking in Whitehall: Government Response: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 846);
(2) Correspondence from the Prime Minister: Written evidence, to be published
(Dame Meg Hillier).
Correspondence with the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls relating to the Modern Slavery Act: Ten-year review: Written evidence, to be published (Dame Karen Bradley).
20Public Accounts (Committee of)
Local government financial sustainability: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 647) (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown).
Correspondence with HMP Parc and G4S relating to HMP Parc: Written evidence, to be published (Ruth Jones).
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 1.30 pm.
Business determined by the Backbench Business Committee (Standing Orders No. 10(7) and No. 14(4))
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered waste incinerators.—(Baggy Shanker.)
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)).
At 3 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
2Government support for Thames Water
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for Thames Water.—(Luke Taylor.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 4.26 pm until Tuesday 8 April.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Medical Devices and Blood Safety and Quality (Fees Amendment) Regulations 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Karin Smyth)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals (Tax Exemptions and Relief) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 434), dated 2 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
Student Accommodation (Codes of Management Practice and Specified Educational Establishments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 431), dated 1 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Matthew Pennycook)
Public Service Pension Schemes (Rectification of Unlawful Discrimination) (Tax) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 419), dated 1 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Torsten Bell)
(1) Companies (Directors' Remuneration and Audit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 439), dated 31 March 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justin Madders)
(2) Companies Act 2006 (Recognition of Third Country Qualifications and Practical Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 444), dated 3 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justin Madders)
Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 429), dated 2 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (James Murray)
(1) Town and Country Planning (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 412), dated 2 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Matthew Pennycook)
(2) Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Procedure and Written Representations) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 409), dated 2 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Matthew Pennycook)
(3) Town and Country Planning (Crown Development) (Urgent Applications) (Procedure) (England) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 411), dated 2 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Matthew Pennycook)
Town and Country Planning (Crown Development Applications) (Hearings and Inquiries) Rules 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 410), dated 3 April 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Other papers
Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (by Act) (Secretary Steve Reed)
10Higher Education and Research
Office for Students: Fee information for new entrants in 2025–26 (by Act) (Janet Daby)
The Electoral Commission: Main Supply Estimate 2025–26 (by Act), to be printed (HC 839) (The Speaker)
Treasury Minutes on Government Responses to the First to the Fourth and the Sixth to the Ninth reports of the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2024–25 (by Command) (CP 1306) (James Murray)
Withdrawn papers
Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (laid 30 January)
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMITTEE
In pursuance of section 2(2) of the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Speaker has nominated Melanie Ward to serve, for the duration of the present Parliament, on the Ecclesiastical Committee in place of Patricia Ferguson.
CORRECTION
Tuesday 1 April 2025
The following item should have appeared after item 31 (Select Committees: Reports):
Public Accounts (Committee of)
DCMS management of COVID-19 loans: Written evidence, to be published (HC 364) (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown).