Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
2Statements: (1) China espionage and government security response (Dan Jarvis)
(2) Gaza and Sudan (Secretary Yvette Cooper)
3Access to finance for women in business: 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 prepare and publish a report on access to finance for women in business; to make provision about the publication of data relating to access to finance for women in business; and for connected purposes;
That Sonia Kumar, Liam Byrne, Sarah Edwards, John Cooper, Dan Aldridge, Gurinder Singh Josan, John Slinger, James Asser, Rachel Taylor, Matt Western and Ms Polly Billington present the Bill.
Sonia Kumar accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 28 November, and to be printed (Bill 330).
4Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Second Reading
Motion made and Question proposed, That the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill be now read a second time.
Amendment proposed, to leave out from ‘That’ to the end of the Question and add ‘this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill because, by removing the conditional immunity scheme introduced by the last Government in the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, and reintroducing inquests and restoring civil claims for Troubles-related incidents halted by that Act, the Bill will lead to veterans once again being dragged before the courts facing potential prosecution for incidents that happened decades ago, while former paramilitaries are largely untouched; because the Government’s published list of so-called protections for veterans remains unclear and not fulfilled by this Bill; because the Government has not confirmed which of these protections will also apply to former paramilitaries; because the Bill does not prevent former paramilitaries holding key roles associated with the Legacy Commission; and because the Bill risks undermining the morale of, as well as both recruitment to and retention within, the armed forces at a time of significantly heightened international tensions and threats to the national security of the UK.’.—(Alex Burghart.)
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. 358
Ayes: 165 (Tellers: Nick Timothy, David Simmonds)
Noes: 327 (Tellers: Imogen Walker, Jade Botterill)
Question negatived.
Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 62(2)), That the Bill be now read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 359
Ayes: 320 (Tellers: Imogen Walker, Jade Botterill)
Noes: 105 (Tellers: Nick Timothy, David Simmonds)
Question agreed to and Bill read a second time.
5Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House.
Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, on Consideration and on Third Reading
(2) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House, any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken in two days in accordance with the following provisions of this Order.
(3) Proceedings in Committee of the whole House shall be taken on the first day and shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on the first day.
(4) Any proceedings on Consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be taken on the second day.
(5) Any proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the second day.
(6) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on the second day.
(7) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings in Committee of the whole House, to any proceedings on Consideration or to proceedings on Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(8) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Nesil Caliskan.)
Question agreed to.
6Northern Ireland Troubles 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 Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, it is expedient to authorise:
(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of:
(a) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the Act by the Secretary of State or any other public authority, and
(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under or by virtue of any other Act out of money so provided, and
(2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund.—(Nesil Caliskan.)
Question agreed to.
7Statement: ExxonMobil Mossmorran (Chris McDonald)
(1) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to Vale View Day Centre, Lancaster was presented and read by Cat Smith.
(2) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to Vale View Day Centre, Lancaster was presented and read by Lizzi Collinge.
Subject: Warm Homes Plan (Dr Ellie Chowns)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Adjourned at 8.59 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
The Lords insist on certain Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to which the Commons have disagreed, for which insistence they assign their Reasons; they insist on certain Lords Amendments and disagree to certain Commons Amendments in lieu; they agree with the Commons in certain Amendments in lieu of Lords Amendments; they do not insist on certain Lords Amendments, disagree to a Commons Amendment in lieu but propose Amendments in lieu to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Messages
Lords Message in relation to the Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 333).
General Committees: Reports
12First Delegated Legislation Committee
Dawn Butler (Chair) reported the draft Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025.
13Second Delegated Legislation Committee
Martin Vickers (Chair) reported the draft Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (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).
14Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Chris Hinchliff discharged and Chris Bloore nominated in substitution.
Select Committees: Reports
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on Tuesday 18 November, to be published (Nick Smith).
16Backbench Business Committee
Transcript of representations made on Tuesday 18 November, to be published (Bob Blackman).
17Business and Trade Committee
(1) Financing the real economy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1220);
(2) Correspondence from Citizens Advice relating to postal Universal Service Obligation: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from Minister of State for Trade relating to Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to Sizewell C Revenue Commencement: Written evidence, to be published
(Liam Byrne).
18Culture, Media and Sport Committee
State of Play: Elite deaf athletes and the Deaflympics: Written evidence, to be published (HC 845) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
(1) Correspondence with the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry relating to the Fleet Solid Support Ships: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Veterans and People relating to the Armed Forces Sexualised Behaviour and Sexual Harassment Survey 2025: Written evidence, to be published
(Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi).
(1) Correspondence from the Centre for Young Lives relating to the publication of Best Start: A Fresh Start for Children and Family Support: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Children and Families relating to the PHSO’s investigation into the Department for Education: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1264)
(Helen Hayes).
21Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
(1) UK-EU trade: towards a resilient border strategy: Government Response: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1496);
(2) Climate and weather resilience: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1317);
(3) Animal and plant health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 611);
(4) The future of farming: Written evidence, to be published (HC 527);
(5) Work of the department and its arm's-length bodies: Written evidence, to be published (HC 415)
(Mr Alistair Carmichael).
(1) Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 703);
(2) Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 385)
(Richard Foord).
23Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
(1) Affordability of home ownership: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1208);
(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Grenfell and building safety: Written evidence, to be published (HC 780);
(4) Housing conditions in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1154)
(Florence Eshalomi).
24International Development Committee
(1) Women, peace and security: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 782);
(2) The situation in Sudan: Written evidence, to be published (HC 438)
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Work of the Law Commission: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1072);
(2) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor relating to releases in error: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jake Richards MP) relating to amendments to the Sentencing Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Chair of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Chief Executive of HM Courts and Tribunals Service relating to data assurance work in Civil, Family and Tribunals jurisdictions: Written evidence, to be published
(Andy Slaughter).
Access to the House of Commons and its Procedures:
(i) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 755);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 755)
(Sir Alan Campbell).
(1) Record of the Committee’s decisions relating to e-petitions, to be published;
(2) List of closed e-petitions presented to the House, to be published
(Jamie Stone).
Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to A Railway fit for Britain’s future consultation: Written evidence, to be published (Ruth Cadbury).
(1) Cryptocurrency: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1500);
(2) AI in financial services: Written evidence, to be published (HC 684);
(3) Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to Megan Greene’s reappointment to the Monetary Policy Committee: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Office for National Statistics relating to the labour market statistics: Written evidence, to be published
(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))
180th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Resolved, That this House has considered the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).—(Jonathan Davies.)
2Impact of infrastructure on development in Cramlington and Killingworth constituency
Resolved, That this House has considered impact of infrastructure on development in Cramlington and Killingworth constituency.—(Emma Foody.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Impact of land use change on food security
Resolved, That this House has considered the impact of land use change on food security.—(Wendy Morton.)
4Reconsideration Mechanism and the Parole Board Rules
Resolved, That this House has considered the Reconsideration Mechanism and the Parole Board Rules.—(Alberto Costa.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.21 pm and 4.30 pm.
5Flood risk and flood defence infrastructure in the North West
Resolved, That this House has considered flood risk and flood defence infrastructure in the North West.—(Sarah Hall.)
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
Social Security (Residence in an EEA State or Switzerland) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1198), dated 17 November 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sir Stephen Timms)
Other papers
Contingency Plan for Exotic Notifiable Diseases of Animals in England (by Act) (Secretary Emma Reynolds)
Consolidated Financial Statements of the National Army Museum for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1418) (Clerk of the House)