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Votes and Proceedings
Thursday 3 December 2020

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

Find out more about the Votes and Proceedings

Contents

Chamber business

The House met at 9.30 am.

Prayers

1Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

2Statements: (1) Arrangements for exams and accountability in 2021 (Secretary Gavin Williamson)

(2) Business (Leader of the House)

(3) Courts and Tribunals recovery update (Secretary Robert Buckland)

3Backbench Business

(1) Future of coal in the UK

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the future of coal in the UK.—(Mr Richard Holden.)

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

Question put and agreed to.

(2) Digital infrastructure, connectivity and accessibility

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House notes that over one million households do not have an internet connection in the UK and 5.3 million people do not access the internet at all; further notes that repeated lockdowns as a measure against the spread of COVID-19 have highlighted the urgency of achieving nationwide digital inclusion; notes that the Government’s decision to change its manifesto pledge from delivering world-class gigabit-capable broadband in 100 per cent of homes and businesses across the UK by 2025 to only 85 per cent will damage the economy and the levelling-up agenda; notes that any investment in superfast broadband without addressing the digital divide will damage social mobility; notes that digital exclusion has the biggest effect on lower-income households, increases the cost of living and widens health inequalities; believes that digital infrastructure is not a luxury resource but an essential requirement; and calls on the Government to invest in a digital catch-up scheme to support the post-COVID economy, level up opportunity and lead to a fairer economy, stronger society and better lives.—(Esther McVey.)

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

At 5.00 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)).

4Public petitions

A public petition from residents of the constituency of Glasgow East relating to reversing cuts to the aid budget was presented and read by David Linden.

5Adjournment

Subject: Closures of the Orwell Bridge during high winds (Tom Hunt)

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Leo Docherty.) 

Adjourned at 5.20 pm until Monday 7 December.

Other Proceedings

Lords Messages

6United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

The Lords agree to the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

Printing of Lords Amendments

7United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed pursuant to Standing Order Nos. 78 and 57A (Bill 224) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 224-EN).

General Committees: Reports

8Financial Services Bill Committee

Dr Rupa Huq (Chair) reported:

(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and

(2) the Bill as amended.

Written evidence to be published.

Bill, as amended, to be considered on Monday 7 December; and to be printed (Bill 225).

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).

9First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Social Security Co-ordination (Revocation of Retained Direct EU Legislation and Related Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020)

Members: Florence Eshalomi, Dr Luke Evans and Patrick Grady discharged and Feryal Clark, Mark Fletcher and Gavin Newlands nominated in substitution.

10Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Tobacco Products Duty (Alteration of Rates) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1256))

Members: Scott Benton and Alexander Stafford discharged and Andy Carter and Miss Sarah Dines nominated in substitution.

11Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Motion in the name of Nadhim Zahawi relating to Financial Assistance to Industry)

Members: Jo Gideon discharged and Mark Fletcher nominated in substitution.

12Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Conflict Minerals (Compliance) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020)

Members: Andrew Lewer discharged and Mr Gagan Mohindra nominated in substitution.

13Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1309))

Members: Owen Thompson discharged and Stuart C McDonald nominated in substitution.

14Fourteenth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Customs Safety and Security Procedures (EU Exit) Regulations 2020)

Members: Jack Brereton discharged and Holly Mumby-Croft nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

15Backbench Business Committee

Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 5 and Thursday 17 December in Westminster Hall (Ian Mearns). 

16Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

(1) Business preparedness for Brexit: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1001);

(2) Post-pandemic economic growth: Industrial Strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 674);

(3) The impact of coronavirus on businesses and workers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 219)

(Darren Jones).

17Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Sport in our communities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 869) (Julian Knight).

18Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Flooding: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 170) (Neil Parish).

19Environmental Audit Committee

(1) Greening the post-COVID recovery: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 347);

(2) Technological innovations and Climate Change: heat pumps: Written evidence, to be published (HC 896)

(Philip Dunne).

20European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Thirty-first Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 229-xxvii);

(2) Ministerial correspondence: Written evidence, to be published (HC 229)

(Sir William Cash).

21Public Accounts (Committee of)

(1) Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 927);

(2) Correspondence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to rough sleeping and the ‘Everyone In’ initiative: Written evidence, to be published

(Meg Hillier).

22Welsh Affairs Committee

Broadband and mobile connectivity in Wales: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1005) (Stephen Crabb).

Lindsay Hoyle

Speaker

Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 1.30 pm.

Business determined by the Backbench Business Committee (Standing Orders Nos. 10(7) and 14(4))

1Access to and acceptance of cash during the COVID-19 outbreak

Resolved, That this House has considered access to and acceptance of cash during the COVID-19 outbreak.—(Paul Maynard.)

2Future of nurseries and early years settings

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the future of nurseries and early years settings.—(Steve Brine.)

At 4.30 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(14)).

Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Orders No. 10(7) and No. 14(4)).

Adjourned at 4.30 pm until Monday 7 December.

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

1Agriculture

Food and Feed Hygiene and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1410), dated 2 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Edward Argar)

2Exiting the European Union (Excise)

Travellers’ Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1412), dated 3 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jesse Norman)

3Exiting the European Union (Sanctions)

Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 5) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1397), dated 1 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nigel Adams)

4Local Government

Draft Reading (Electoral Changes) Order 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (The Speaker)

5National Health Service

National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Personal Medical Services Agreements) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1415), dated 2 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jo Churchill)

6Public Health

Vaccine Damage Payments (Specified Disease) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1411), dated 2 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Jo Churchill)

7Rating and Valuation

Non-Domestic Rating (Compilation and Alteration of Lists) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1403), dated 2 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Luke Hall)

8Social Security

(1) State Pension Debits and Credits (Revaluation) (No. 2) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1391), dated 1 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Guy Opperman)

(2) State Pension Revaluation for Transitional Pensions (No. 2) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1392), dated 1 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Guy Opperman)

9Town and Country Planning

Town and Country Planning (Local Planning, Development Management Procedure, Listed Buildings etc.) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1398), dated 1 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Luke Hall)

10Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (Hospitality and Tourism) (Extension of Time Period) (Coronavirus) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1413), dated 3 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jesse Norman)

Other papers

11Banking

Report of the Bank of England's supervision of financial market infrastructures for the period 15 February 2019 to 3 December 2020 (by Act) (John Glen)

12Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Plan of the Competition and Markets Authority for 2021–22: consultation (by Act) (Secretary Alok Sharma)

13Government Resources and Accounts

(1) Report and Accounts of NHS Pension Scheme for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1018) (Jesse Norman)

(2) Report and Accounts of the Vehicle Certification Agency for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 985) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

(3) Report of the Financial Reporting Advisory Board for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 984) (Steve Barclay)

14Law Commissions

Report of the Law Commission on Misconduct in public office (by Act), to be printed (HC 1027) (Secretary Robert Buckland)

SPEAKER'S CERTIFICATES

Voting by proxy

1. New pandemic proxy voting arrangements

The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), as amended by the temporary Orders of 23 September 2020 (Proxy voting during the pandemic) and 3 November 2020 (Proxy voting during the pandemic (No. 2)) and extended by the Order of 22 October 2020, that 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 30 March 2021, unless the arrangement is ended or the House otherwise orders. 

Member

From

Proxy

Sajid Javid

7 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

7 December 2020

Gavin Robinson

Henry Smith

7 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Stewart Hosie

7 December 2020

Patrick Grady

 2. Ending pandemic proxy voting arrangements

The Speaker has certified, under the terms of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), as amended by the temporary Orders of 23 September 2020 (Proxy voting during the pandemic) and 3 November 2020 (Proxy voting during the pandemic (No. 2)) and extended by the Order of 22 October 2020, that 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

Claire Hanna

7 December 2020

Christine Jardine

7 December 2020

Scott Mann

7 December 2020

Chris Bryant

7 December 2020

Julie Elliott

7 December 2020

Rushanara Ali

7 December 2020

Liz Saville Roberts

7 December 2020