Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Wales
(2) the Prime Minister
2Urgent Questions: (1) OBR: Resignation of Chair (James Murray)
(2) Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Act (Dan Jarvis)
(3) Venezuela: US military (Mr Hamish Falconer)
3Fireworks (noise control etc): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about the maximum noise levels of fireworks which may be sold to the public; to require that specified information about noise levels is included on labelling and in sales information for fireworks; to require the Secretary of State to review the impact of firework noise on the welfare of veterans, neurodivergent people, people with certain medical conditions, and animals; to provide local authorities with power to regulate the use of fireworks in certain circumstances, and to enforce such regulation; and for connected purposes;
That Yasmin Qureshi, Jim McMahon, Sarah Champion, Debbie Abrahams, Liz Saville Roberts, Emma Lewell, Jamie Stone, Nadia Whittome, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Chris Law, Imran Hussain and Alex Sobel present the Bill.
Yasmin Qureshi accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Monday 26 January 2026, and to be printed (Bill 343).
4Pension Schemes Bill: Consideration of the Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee
New Clause NC30—(Torsten Bell)—brought up, read the first and second time and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC31—(Torsten Bell)—brought up, read the first and second time and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC32—(Torsten Bell)—brought up, read the first and second time and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC33—(Torsten Bell)—brought up, read the first and second time and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC34—(Torsten Bell)—brought up, read the first and second time and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC35—(Torsten Bell)—brought up, read the first and second time and added to the Bill.
New Clause NC3—(Manuela Perteghella)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 377
Ayes: 87 (Tellers: Susan Murray, Claire Young)
Noes: 299 (Tellers: Jade Botterill, Stephen Morgan)
Question negatived.
New Clause NC26—(Steve Darling)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 378
Ayes: 77 (Tellers: Susan Murray, Claire Young)
Noes: 298 (Tellers: Jade Botterill, Stephen Morgan)
Question negatived.
Amendments 20 to 49 made.
Amendment 16 proposed.—(James Wild.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 379
Ayes: 143 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Katie Lam)
Noes: 304 (Tellers: Jade Botterill, Stephen Morgan)
Question negatived.
Amendment 15 proposed.—(James Wild.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The House divided.
Division No. 380
Ayes: 154 (Tellers: Rebecca Paul, Katie Lam)
Noes: 303 (Tellers: Jade Botterill, Stephen Morgan)
Question negatived.
Amendments 50 to 89 made.
Consideration completed.
5Pension Schemes Bill: Third Reading
Sir Stephen Timms signified King's consent, as far as His Majesty's interest is concerned.
Bill read the third time and passed.
6Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Prudential Regulation of Credit Institutions) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 20 October, be approved.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (ESG Ratings) Order 2025, which was laid before this House on 27 October, be approved.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Heat Networks (Market Framework) (Great Britain) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which were laid before this House on 30 October, be approved.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Question agreed to.
7Church of England (General Synod) (Measures): Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure (HC 1454), passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, which was laid before this House on 11 November, be presented to His Majesty for his Royal Assent in the form in which it was laid before Parliament.—(Marsha De Cordova.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Abuse Redress Measure (HC 1455), passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, which was laid before this House on 11 November, be presented to His Majesty for his Royal Assent in the form in which it was laid before Parliament.—(Marsha De Cordova.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Washington and Gateshead South relating to pornography and violence against women was presented and read by Mrs Sharon Hodgson.
(2) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to Sunday rail services in Congleton was presented and read by Sarah Russell.
Subject: Potential merits of Government support for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme (Charlotte Cane)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Gregor Poynton.)
Adjourned at 6.40 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
10Plant Protection Products (Prohibition on Public Sector Use) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 24 April 2026, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 1 May 2026.
General Committees: Reports
11Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee
Dr Andrew Murrison (Chair) reported the draft Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (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).
12First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Peru) Order 2025, draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Romania) Order 2025, draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Andorra) Order 2025 and draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Portuguese Republic) Order 2025)
Chair: Sir Desmond Swayne
13Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Judicial Appointments Commission (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Chair: Sir John Hayes
14Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure (HC 1454) and Abuse Redress Measure (HC 1455))
Chair: David Mundell
15Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Heat Networks (Market Framework) (Great Britain) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Chair: Sir Alec Shelbrooke
16Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Prudential Regulation of Credit Institutions) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 and draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (ESG Ratings) Order 2025)
Chair: Carolyn Harris
17Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Chair: Dr Andrew Murrison
18First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft International Development Association (Twenty-First Replenishment) Order 2025)
Members: Dr Scott Arthur, Catherine Atkinson, Mr Jonathan Brash, Lewis Cocking, Dr Beccy Cooper, Chris Elmore, Monica Harding, Terry Jermy, Lincoln Jopp, Brian Mathew, Wendy Morton, Katrina Murray, Melanie Onn, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Dave Robertson, Mr Andrew Snowden and Imogen Walker
19Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Customs Tariff (Establishment) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1199))
Members: Mr Bayo Alaba, Daisy Cooper, Cat Eccles, Mark Ferguson, Paul Holmes, Kim Leadbeater, Charlie Maynard, Josh Newbury, Charlotte Nichols, Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Sam Rushworth, Blake Stephenson, Alistair Strathern, Bradley Thomas, Dan Tomlinson, James Wild and Mohammad Yasin
20Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) (No. 2) Regulations 2025)
Members: Jack Abbott, Antonia Bance, Richard Burgon, Victoria Collins, Sir Nicholas Dakin, Peter Fortune, Mr Louie French, Fabian Hamilton, Kim Johnson, Jayne Kirkham, Justin Madders, Stephanie Peacock, David Reed, Joe Robertson, Anna Sabine, Kenneth Stevenson and Nadia Whittome
21Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2025)
Members: Jess Asato, Aphra Brandreth, Janet Daby, Sarah Dyke, Dame Angela Eagle, Linsey Farnsworth, Tim Farron, Sir Ashley Fox, Dame Nia Griffith, Louise Haigh, Dr Neil Hudson, Sonia Kumar, Andrew Pakes, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Sarah Smith, Imogen Walker and Sean Woodcock
22Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Building Safety Regulator (Establishment of New Body and Transfer of Functions etc.) Regulations 2026)
Members: Mr Gideon Amos, Edward Argar, James Asser, Gareth Bacon, Lewis Cocking, Ben Coleman, Deirdre Costigan, Samantha Dixon, Zöe Franklin, Mary Glindon, Jodie Gosling, Sarah Hall, Tom Hayes, Natasha Irons, Mike Kane, Douglas McAllister and David Simmonds
Select Committees: Reports
23Business and Trade Committee
(1) UK trade with the US, India and EU: Oral evidence taken on Tuesday 2 December, and written evidence, to be published (HC 996);
(2) Arms exports to Israel: Written evidence received by the Sub-Committee, to be published (HC 1307);
(3) Correspondence from Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation relating to call for evidence on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence relating to arms exports to UAE: Written evidence to be published;
(5) Financing the real economy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1220);
(6) The work of the Department for Business and Trade: Written evidence, to be published (HC 450)
(Liam Byrne).
24Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of the Charity Commission: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1340) (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
25Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
(1) Building support for the energy transition: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 734);
(2) Correspondence from Ofgem relating to debt relief: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) The cost of energy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 736);
(5) Unlocking community energy at scale: Written evidence, to be published (HC 394)
(Bill Esterson).
26Environmental Audit Committee
(1) The Seventh Carbon Budget: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1327);
(2) International Climate Negotiations: COP30: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1427);
(3) National Highways and environmental sustainability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1284)
(Mr Toby Perkins).
27Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Food and weight management: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1181);
(2) The work of NHS England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 563)
(Layla Moran).
28Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025: Second Report: Ninth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1438);
(2) Work of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International at the Ministry of Justice (Jake Richards MP): Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1549);
(3) Correspondence from Baroness Falkner relating to the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor relating to the Sentencing Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Minister for Children and Families relating to the rights of Ukrainian children in the UK: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Independent Public Advocate relating to the new office of the Independent Public Advocate: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Desmond Swayne).
Correspondence from the Chair of the Bar Council: Written evidence, to be
published (Andy Slaughter).
(1) Sub judice resolution in the House of Commons: Oral evidence, to be
published (HC 933);
(2) Call lists: Written evidence, to be published (HC 536)
(Cat Smith).
31Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
(1) Work of the Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1543);
(2) Correspondence from the Department: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Digital Centre of Government: Written evidence, to be published (HC 790)
(Dame Chi Onwurah).
(1) Scotland’s wood panelling industry: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1550);
(2) Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1308);
(3) The work of the Department: Written evidence, to be published (HC 410)
(Patricia Ferguson).
33Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)
Forty-first Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 291-xli) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
Budget 2025: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1349) (Dame Meg Hillier).
Prisons, probation and rehabilitation in Wales: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 702) (Ruth Jones).
36Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Reproductive health conditions: girls and young women: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1265);
(2) Community cohesion: Written evidence, to be published (HC 340)
(Sarah Owen).
(1) Correspondence from the Minister for Skills: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Employment support for disabled people: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1227)
(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 future of local media.—(Peter Fortune.)
2Supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland
Resolved, That this House has considered the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.—(Robin Swann.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.29 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor
Resolved, That this House has considered the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.—(Daniel Zeichner.)
4Government support for the advanced ceramics industry in north Staffordshire
Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for the advanced ceramics industry in north Staffordshire.—(Dr Allison Gardner.)
5Mental health support for people with terminal illnesses
Resolved, That this House has considered mental health support for people with terminal illnesses.—(Mr Connor Rand.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.14 pm until tomorrow.
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Inspection Outcomes) (England) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1261), dated 1 December 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Georgia Gould)
(1) Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Counselling Services) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1259), dated 2 December 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
(2) Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Victim Information Requests: Code of Practice) Regulations 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 1260), dated 2 December 2025 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Shabana Mahmood)
Other papers
Office for Environmental Protection: A review of implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England (by Act) (Clerk of the House)
4Government Resources and Accounts
(1) Report and Accounts of the Northern Ireland Office for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1431) (James Murray)
(2) Report and Accounts of Oak National Academy Limited for 2024–25, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1457) (Georgia Gould)
Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England: Primary and community healthcare support for people living with frailty (by Act), to be printed (HC 1518) (Clerk of the House)