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Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday 23 September 2020

Read the agenda for business in the House of Commons chamber, Westminster Hall and Commons Committees.

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Contents

Chamber business

The House met at 11.30 am.

Prayers

1Questions to (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities

(2) the Prime Minister

2Urgent Question: End of the eviction moratorium (Christopher Pincher)

3Statement: Preparation for the end of the transition period (Secretary Michael Gove)

4Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Secretary Thérèse Coffey, supported by The Prime Minister, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Amanda Milling, Steve Barclay and Guy Opperman, presented a Bill to make provision relating to the up-rating of certain social security benefits.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 186) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 186–EN).

5Pets (Microchips): 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 regarding pets with microchips; and for connected purposes;

That James Daly, Anthony Mangnall, Andrew Griffith, Antony Higginbotham, James Sunderland, Joy Morrisey, Sara Britcliffe, Mark Logan, Mark Eastwood, Sir Graham Brady, Chris Loder and Andy Carter present the Bill.

James Daly accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 29 January 2021, and to be printed (Bill 187).

6Public Health

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Leicester) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 824), dated 31 July 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 3 August, be approved.—(David Duguid.)

Question agreed to.

7Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill: Second Reading

Motion made and Question proposed, That the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill be now read a second time.—(Secretary Ben Wallace.)

The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).

Question put.

The House divided.

Division No. 112

Ayes: 331 (Tellers: Leo Docherty, Tom Pursglove)

Noes: 77 (Tellers: David Linden, Owen Thompson)

Question accordingly agreed to, and Bill read a second time.

8Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill: Programme

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill:

Committal

(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Proceedings in Public Bill Committee

(2) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 22 October 2020.

(3) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.

Proceedings on Consideration and up to and including Third Reading

(4) Proceedings on Consideration and any proceedings in legislative grand committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which proceedings on Consideration are commenced.

(5) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

(6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on Consideration and up to and including Third Reading.

Other proceedings

(7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question agreed to.

9Deferred Divisions

The Deputy Speaker announced the results of the Divisions which had been deferred to this day, (Standing Order No. 41A).

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 839), dated 6 August 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 7 August, be approved.

Division No. 105

Ayes: 337

Noes: 6

Question accordingly agreed to.

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 863), dated 14 August 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 14 August, be approved.

Division No. 106

Ayes: 340

Noes: 1

Question accordingly agreed to.

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 882), dated 20 August 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 21 August, be approved.

Division No. 107

Ayes: 335

Noes: 6

Question accordingly agreed to.

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Blackburn with Darwen and Bradford) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 898), dated 25 August 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 25 August, be approved.

Division No. 108

Ayes: 335

Noes: 1

Question accordingly agreed to.

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place and on Public Transport) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 906), dated 26 August 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 27 August, be approved.

Division No. 109

Ayes: 334

Noes: 6

Question accordingly agreed to.

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions on Holding of Gatherings and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 907), dated 26 August 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 27 August, be approved.

Division No. 110

Ayes: 332

Noes: 5

Question accordingly agreed to.

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Blackburn with Darwen and Bradford) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 930), dated 2 September 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 2 September, be approved.

Division No. 111

Ayes: 332

Noes: 1

Question accordingly agreed to.

10Business of the House

Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting the motion in the name of Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg relating to the Business of the House (Today) may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) will not apply.—(Rebecca Harris.)

11Business of the House (Today)

Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of the motions in the name of Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg relating to proxy voting not later than one hour after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; proceedings may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Rebecca Harris.)

12Voting by Proxy

Resolved, That:

(1) (a) the Resolution of 28 January 2019 (Proxy Voting (Implementation)), as amended on 16 January and 20 July 2020,

(b) the Resolution of 4 June 2020 (Proxy Voting (Extension)), as amended on 10 June 2020, be rescinded. 

(2) That the following Standing Order be made: Voting By Proxy (1) A Member eligible under paragraph (2) may arrange for their vote to be cast by one other Member acting as a proxy (a proxy vote) under a scheme drawn up by the Speaker in accordance with this order and published by him. (2) A Member is eligible for a proxy vote by reason of absence from the precincts of the House for childbirth or care of an infant or newly adopted child, subject to the conditions set out in the scheme published under paragraph (1) of this order.

(3) A proxy vote may be cast:

(a) in any division, including a deferred division, in the House, in Committee of the whole House, or in any legislative grand committee, save as provided in paragraph (4) below; and

(b) in a ballot cast in an election under Standing Order No. 1B (Election of Speaker by secret ballot), Standing Order No. 2A (Election of the Deputy Speakers), Standing Order No. 122B (Election of select committee chairs) and Standing Order No. 122D (Election of Chair of the Backbench Business Committee).

(4) No proxy vote shall be reckoned in the numbers participating in a division for the purposes of

(a) Standing Order No. 41(1) (Quorum), and

(b) Standing Order No. 37 (Majority for closure or for proposal of question).

(5) (a) A proxy vote may be cast only if the Speaker has certified that the Member for whom the vote is to be cast is eligible under the terms of this order.

(b) The Speaker shall cause that certificate, including the name of the Member nominated as a proxy, to be entered in the Votes and Proceedings no later than the sitting day on which it takes effect.

(6) A vote cast by a proxy shall be clearly indicated as such in the division lists published under the authority of the House.

(7) A Member is also eligible for a proxy vote by reason of absence from the precincts of the House in circumstances where there have been complications relating to childbirth; and the Speaker may make appropriate provision for the exercise of a proxy vote in such circumstances in the scheme drawn up under paragraph (1) above.—(Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg.)

13Proxy Voting during the pandemic

Resolved, That the following amendments be made to the Standing Order (Voting by Proxy) and have effect until 3 November 2020:

(1) In paragraph (2) after “child” insert “, or for medical or public health reasons related to the pandemic”.

(2) After paragraph (5) insert –

(5A) The Speaker may certify that a Member’s eligibility for a proxy vote for medical or public health reasons related to the pandemic should take effect before the certificate is published in the Votes and Proceedings ,or that a certificate already granted should be varied, if satisfied there are urgent and unforeseeable circumstances to justify this.—(Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg.)

14Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission

Resolved, That Lilian Greenwood and Dame Eleanor Laing be confirmed as members of the Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission under Schedule 3 to the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019.—(Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg.)

15Sittings in Westminster Hall (Resumption)

Ordered, That:

(1) sittings in Westminster Hall shall resume in accordance with Standing Order No. 10 on Monday 5 October; and

(2) the Chair in Westminster Hall may limit the number of Members there present at any one time for as long as paragraph (4) of the Order of 2 June 2020 (Proceedings during the pandemic (No. 2)) remains in effect.—(Rebecca Harris.)

16Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Services of Lawyers and Lawyer’s Practice (Revocation etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, which were laid before this House on 21 July, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Monetary Fund (Limit on Lending) Order 2020, which was laid before this House on 1 July, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2020, which was laid before this House on 21 July, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)

The Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.

Division deferred until Wednesday 30 September (Standing Order No. 41A).

17Public petitions

A public petition from the residents from the constituency of Loughborough relating to removing classification of prescription only medicine from injectable vitamin B12 was presented and read by Jane Hunt.

18Adjournment

Subject: Secondary school provision in Lyde Green (Chris Skidmore)

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Rebecca Harris.) 

Adjourned at 8.40 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

Changes to Notices Given

19Hospitals (Parking Charges and Business Rates) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 25 September, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 16 October.

20Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 25 September, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 16 October.

21Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings (Motion) Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 25 September, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 16 October.

General Committees: Reports

22Eleventh Delegated Legislation Committee 

Julie Elliott (Chair) reported the draft Surrender of Offensive Weapons (Compensation) Regulations 2020.

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).

23British Library Board (Power to Borrow) Bill Committee

Chair: Mr Laurence Robertson

Members: Bim Afolami, Saqib Bhatti, Tracy Brabin, Kevin Brennan, Chris Bryant, Elliot Colburn, Gareth Davies, Caroline Dinenage, Laura Farris, Stephen Hammond, Fay Jones, John Lamont, Ian Paisley, Nicola Richards, Liz Saville Roberts, Nick Smith and John Spellar

24First Delegated Legislation Committee (Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Blackburn with Darwen and Bradford, Leicester, and North of England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 954));

Chair: Peter Dowd

Members: Harriett Baldwin, Virginia Crosbie, Dr James Davies, Miss Sarah Dines, Ms Nadine Dorries, Rosie Duffield, Julie Elliott, Laura Farris, Simon Jupp, Justin Madders, Joy Morrissey, Angela Richardson, John Spellar, Maggie Throup, Matt Western, Mick Whitley and Nadia Whittome

25Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Prevention of Trade Diversion (Key Medicines) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020)

Chair: Mr Philip Hollobone

Members: Lucy Allan, Andy Carter, Maria Caulfield, Alberto Costa, Dehenna Davison, Clive Efford, Colleen Fletcher, Greg Hands, Dr Caroline Johnson, Robert Largan, Charlotte Nichols, Nicola Richards, Zarah Sultana, Gareth Thomas, Owen Thompson, Derek Twigg and Suzanne Webb

26Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Bolton) Regulations 2020 (S.I., 2020, No. 974))

Chair: Caroline Nokes

Members: Mr Clive Betts, Andrew Bowie, Kevin Brennan, Chris Bryant, Jo Churchill, Claire Coutinho, Virginia Crosbie, Gareth Davies, Jane Hunt, Mrs Maria Miller, Alex Norris, Neil O’Brien, Maggie Throup, Matt Western, Nadia Whittome, Mike Wood and Mohammad Yasin

27Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Insolvency (Moratorium) (Special Administration for Energy Licensees) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 943)

Chair: Philip Davies

Members: Debbie Abrahams, Rushanara Ali, Shaun Bailey, Paul Bristow, Anthony Browne, Mark Fletcher, Nick Fletcher, Gill Furniss, Mark Garnier, Kwasi Kwarteng, John Lamont, Siobhain McDonagh, Damien Moore, Chi Onwurah, Sam Tarry, Owen Thompson and Michael Tomlinson

28Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Apprenticeships (Alternative English Completion Conditions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020)

Chair: Julie Elliott

Members: Sara Britcliffe, Virginia Crosbie, Maria Eagle, Mr Robert Goodwill, Richard Graham, Jonathan Gullis, Dan Jarvis, Andrew Jones, Gillian Keegan, John Penrose, Toby Perkins, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Angela Richardson, Stephen Timms, Michael Tomlinson, Liz Twist and Claudia Webbe

Reports from Select Committees

29Future Relationship with the European Union (Committee on the)

Progress of the negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 203) (Hilary Benn).

30Home Affairs Committee

Counter-extremism and counter-terrorism: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 784) (Yvette Cooper).

31International Trade Committee

UK trade negotiations: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 233) (Angus Brendan MacNeil).

32Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

(1) Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 767);

(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs relating to the Government’s response to the report by Mr William Shawcross: Written evidence, to be published

(Simon Hoare).

33Procedure Committee

Proxy Voting: review of pilot arrangements: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 836) (Karen Bradley).

34Science and Technology Committee

A new UK research funding agency: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 778) (Greg Clark).

35Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Twenty-Third Report, to be printed (HC 75-xxiii) (Jessica Morden).

36Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)

Nineteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 73-xix) (Jessica Morden).

37Treasury Committee

(1) Infrastructure: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 798);

(2) Correspondence relating to the release of the FinCEN papers: Written evidence, to be published

(Mel Stride).

38Work and Pensions Committee

(1) DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 358);

(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work relating to ATOS Independent Assessment Services: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work relating to updated PIP guidance: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Correspondence with the Chief Executive of The Pensions Regulator relating to pensions auto-enrolment: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Correspondence with the Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion relating to state pension underpayments: Written evidence, to be published;

(6) Correspondence with the Permanent Secretary relating to the Health and Safety Executive’s report on DWP’s offices in Leeds: Written evidence, to be published;

(7) Protecting pension savers—five years on from the pension freedoms: Pension scams: Written evidence, to be published (HC 648)

(Stephen Timms).

39Women and Equalities Committee

Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 274) (Caroline Nokes).

Lindsay Hoyle

Speaker

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution

1Armorial Bearings, Ensigns and Flags

Draft Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (by Statutory Instrument), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Brandon Lewis)

2Public Health

Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place and on Public Transport) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1026), dated 23 September 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Matt Hancock)

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

3Education

School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (England) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1020), dated 21 September 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nick Gibb)

Other papers

4Air Force (Constitution)

Air Publication 3393 Volume 1 (Twenty-third Edition) - Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers of the Royal Air Force (by Act) (James Heappey)

5Broadcasting

Report and Statement of Accounts of S4C for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 833) (Secretary Oliver Dowden)

6Health and Social Care

The Coronavirus Act Analysis (by Command) (CP 295) (Secretary Matt Hancock)

7National Health Service

Report and Accounts of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for 2019–20 (by Act) (Secretary Matt Hancock)

8Reserve Forces

Reserve Land Forces Regulations 2016 Amendment No. 5 (by Act) (James Heappey)

9Statutory Instruments (Notification)

Communication declaring that the undermentioned Statutory Instrument had come into operation before copies were laid before Parliament, and explaining why such copies had not been so laid before the Instrument came into operation: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Protected Areas and Linked Childcare Households) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI., 2020, No. 1019) (by Standing Order) (The Speaker)

SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATES

Proxy Voting during the pandemic (continued eligibility)

I certify, under the terms of the Standing Order of 23 September 2020 (Voting by proxy), as amended by the temporary Order (Proxy voting during the pandemic) of the same date, that the eligibility for a proxy vote under the rescinded Resolutions of 28 January 2019 (Proxy Voting (Implementation)) and 4 June 2020 (Proxy Voting (Extension)), as amended, continues in effect as provided below.

1 – Voting by proxy (Standing Order of 23 September 2020)

Siobhan Baillie is eligible to have a proxy vote cast on her behalf until 31 October 2020. The nominated proxy is Stuart Andrew.

2 – Proxy voting during the pandemic (temporary Order of 23 September 2020)

Each Member with a proxy vote in operation for medical or public health reasons connected with the pandemic on 23 September 2020 is eligible to have a proxy vote cast on their behalf by the Member nominated to do so until 3 November 2020, unless the proxy voting arrangement is ended or the House otherwise orders.

Proxy Voting during the pandemic

1 - New proxy voting arrangements

I certify that, under the terms of the Standing Order (Voting by proxy), as amended by the temporary Order of 23 September 2020 (Proxy voting during the pandemic), the Members listed in the table below are eligible to have a proxy vote cast on their behalf by the nominated proxies listed in the table below, starting on the dates specified below and ending on Tuesday 3 November 2020, unless the arrangement is ended or the House otherwise orders.

Member

From

Proxy

Steve Double

28 September 2020

Stuart Andrew

Dame Margaret Hodge

28 September 2020

Chris Elmore

 

2 - Ending proxy voting arrangements

I certify that, under the terms of the Standing Order (Voting by proxy), as amended by the temporary Order of 23 September 2020 (Proxy voting during the pandemic), the following Members have given notice that they wish to end their proxy voting arrangement with effect from when the Speaker takes the Chair on the dates specified below: 

 

Member 

From 

Ms Lyn Brown 

24 September 2020 

Ms Nadine Dorries 

24 September 2020 

Barbara Keeley 

24 September 2020 

Julian Knight 

24 September 2020 

Ellie Reeves 

24 September 2020