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Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday 8 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 11.30 am.

Prayers

1Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

2Urgent Question: COVID-19 vaccine roll-out (Secretary Matt Hancock)

3Statement: Gambling and lotteries: update (Nigel Huddleston)

4BBC (Transparency): 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 BBC to publish specified information including all invoices over £500, expenditure by region, details of staff remuneration and exit payments, payments to personal service companies and other contractors, and the outside earnings of staff; and for connected purposes; 

That Alun Cairns, Julian Knight, Mr William Wragg, Mrs Heather Wheeler, Sir Bernard Jenkin, Dame Cheryl Gillan, Mel Stride, Jeremy Wright, Karen Bradley, Jackie Doyle-Price, Robert Halfon and Andrew Bowie present the Bill.

Alun Cairns accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 15 January 2021, and to be printed (Bill 226).

5Business of the House (Today)

Ordered, That, at today’s sitting, the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to bring to a conclusion proceedings on the first Ways and Means resolution relating to Taxation (Post-transition Period) at 7.00 pm, if not previously concluded.—(David Rutley.)

6Taxation (Post-transition Period) (Ways and Means)

1. Northern Ireland (Ways and Means)

Motion made and Question proposed, That provision (including provision imposing and regulating new duties of customs) may be made in connection with goods in Northern Ireland and their movement into and out of Northern Ireland (whether the movement begins or ends in Great Britain or elsewhere).—(Jesse Norman.)

Amendment moved, in line 3, at end to add “; but any such provision must not place the United Kingdom in breach of its obligations under the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community which entered into force on 1 February 2020, and specifically its obligations under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland of that Agreement.”.—(Bridget Phillipson.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Division No. 180

Ayes: 264 (Tellers: Gill Furniss, Jeff Smith)

Noes: 360 (Tellers: Maggie Throup, David Rutley)

Question accordingly negatived.

Main Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That provision (including provision imposing and regulating new duties of customs) may be made in connection with goods in Northern Ireland and their movement into and out of Northern Ireland (whether the movement begins or ends in Great Britain or elsewhere).

The Deputy Speaker then put forthwith the Questions necessary to dispose of the further Motions which were made by Rebecca Harris (Standing Order No. 51(3)).

2. Value added tax (ERICs etc) (Ways and Means)

Resolved, That provision may be made—

(a) about European Research Infrastructure Consortia in connection with value added tax,

(b) amending section 9A of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and Part 3 of the Value Added Tax (Place of Supply of Goods) Order 2004 (supplies of gas, electricity, heating and cooling),

(c) for and in connection with the repeal of Schedule 4B to that Act (call-off stock arrangements),

(d) amending section 18A of that Act (fiscal warehousing), and

(e) amending paragraph 114(2) of Schedule 8 to the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018. 

3. Rate of fuel duty on aviation gasoline (Ways and Means)

Resolved, That provision may be made amending section 6(1A)(aa) of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979. 

4. Value added tax (online sales by overseas persons and
low value importations) (Ways and Means)

Resolved, That provision may be made for the purposes of value added tax in cases involving—

(a) supplies of goods by persons established outside the United Kingdom that are facilitated by online marketplaces, or

(b) the importation into the United Kingdom of goods of a low value.

5. Insurance premium tax (liability of insured) (Ways and Means)

Resolved, That provision may be made amending section 65 of the Finance Act 1994.

6. Controlled foreign companies (recovery of unlawful state aid) (Ways and Means)

Resolved, That provision may be made in connection with Commission Decision (EU) 2019/1352 of 2 April 2019 on the State aid SA.44896 implemented by the United Kingdom concerning the CFC Group Financing Exemption.

7Taxation (Post-transition Period) Bill

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the foregoing resolutions; And that the Chairman of Ways and Means, the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Alok Sharma, Michael Gove, Steve Barclay, Jesse Norman, John Glen and Kemi Badenoch present the Bill.

Jesse Norman accordingly presented a Bill to make provision (including the imposition and regulation of new duties of customs) in connection with goods in Northern Ireland and their movement into or out of Northern Ireland; to make provision amending certain enactments relating to value added tax, excise duty or insurance premium tax; to make provision in connection with the recovery of unlawful state aid in relation to controlled foreign companies; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 227), with Explanatory Notes (Bill 227–EN).

8Business of the House

Ordered, That notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee in respect of the Taxation (Post-transition Period) Bill may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before it has been read a second time.—(Rebecca Harris.)

9Financial Assistance to Industry

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6) and Order, 26 November), That this House authorises the Secretary of State to undertake to pay, and to pay by way of financial assistance under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, sums exceeding £30 million and up to a total of £300 million in respect of compensation for indirect costs of the UK Emissions Trading System or the Carbon Emissions Tax and Carbon Price Support mechanism in each case to British Steel Ltd; Celsa Manufacturing (UK) Ltd; CF Fertilisers UK Ltd; DS Smith Paper Ltd; INEOS Chemical Grangemouth Ltd; INEOS ChlorVinyls Ltd; Kimberly Clark Ltd; Outokumpu Stainless Ltd; Palm Paper Ltd; Runcorn MCP Ltd; SABIC UK Petrochemicals Ltd; Tata Steel UK Ltd; and UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd.—(Rebecca Harris.)

The House divided.

Division No. 181

Ayes: 360 (Tellers: Maggie Throup, David Rutley)

Noes: 16 (Tellers: Sarah Olney, Mr Alistair Carmichael)

Question accordingly agreed to.

10Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Social Security Co-ordination (Revocation of Retained Direct EU Legislation and Related Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, which were laid before this House on 16 November, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Tobacco Products Duty (Alteration of Rates) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1256), dated 12 November 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 12 November, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Public Health (Coronavirus) (Protection from Eviction and Taking Control of Goods) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1290), dated 13 November 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 16 November, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question agreed to.

11Public petitions

(1) A public petition from residents of the constituency of South Dorset relating to a proposed waste incinerator on Portland was presented and read by Richard Drax.

(2) A public petition from residents of the constituency of Henley relating to drainage works in Shiplake was presented and read by John Howell.

12Adjournment

Subject: Arrest of Egyptian human rights advocates (Rushanara Ali)

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

Adjourned at 6.19 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

General Committees: Reports

13National Security and Investment Bill Committee

Sir Graham Brady (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.

Written evidence to be published.

14Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Philip Hollobone (Chair) reported the draft Conflict Minerals (Compliance) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

15Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mrs Maria Miller (Chair) reported the draft Export Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

16Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee

Mrs Sheryll Murray (Chair) reported the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1309).

17Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Laurence Robertson (Chair) reported the draft Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2020.

18Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee

Sir Charles Walker (Chair) reported the draft REACH etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, the draft Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, the draft Detergents (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 and the draft Waste and Environmental Permitting etc. (Legislative Functions and Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) 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).

19Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft REACH etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, the draft Control of Mercury (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, the draft Detergents (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 and the draft Waste and Environmental Permitting etc. (Legislative Functions and Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020)

Members: Mr Richard Holden discharged and Robert Largan nominated in substitution.

20Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2020)

Members: Robert Largan discharged and Mr Richard Holden nominated in substitution.

21Thirteenth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Animal Welfare and Invasive Non-native Species (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020)

Members: Joy Morrissey discharged and Gareth Johnson nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

22Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

Business preparedness for Brexit: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1001) (Darren Jones).

23Defence Committee

Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2019–20: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1051) (Mr Tobias Ellwood).

24Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

(1) Economics of music streaming: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 868);

(2) The work of the BBC: Written evidence, to be published (HC 99)

(Julian Knight).

25Education Committee

(1) Exams 2021: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1068);

(2) Accountability hearings: Written evidence, to be published (HC 262);

(3) Home education: Written evidence, to be published (HC 839);

(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for School Standards relating to the National Tutoring Programme: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport relating to the Youth Investment Fund: Written evidence, to be published;

(6) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to a request for papers on the cancellation of exams in 2020: Written evidence, to be published

(Robert Halfon).

26Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

(1) The work of DEFRA: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 261);

(2) Air quality: Written evidence, to be published (HC 468);

(3) Flooding: Written evidence, to be published (HC 170);

(4) Public sector procurement of food: Written evidence, to be published (HC 469);

(5) Tree planting and woodlands: Written evidence, to be published (HC 814)

(Neil Parish).

27European Statutory Instruments Committee

(1) Fifteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 788);

(2) Ministerial correspondence: Written evidence, to be published (HC 787)

(Andrew Jones).

28Finance Committee

Record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on 8 December, to be published (Lilian Greenwood).

29Foreign Affairs Committee

(1) No prosperity without justice: The UK’s relationship with Iran: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 415);

(2) The UK’s role in strengthening multilateral organisations: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 513);

(3) Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) The FCO’s role in blocking foreign asset stripping in the UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 296)

(Tom Tugendhat).

30Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

(1) Black people, racism and human rights: Written evidence, to be published (HC 559);

(2) Legislative scrutiny: Building Safety Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 190);

(3) Legislative scrutiny: Environment Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 196);

(4) Legislative scrutiny: Fire Safety Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 191);

(5) Legislative scrutiny: Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 179);

(6) Legislative scrutiny: Mental Health Act reform: Written evidence, to be published (HC 185);

(7) Legislative scrutiny: Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 187);

(8) Legislative scrutiny: Police Powers and Protections Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 192);

(9) Legislative scrutiny: Renters' Reform Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 189)

(Ms Harriet Harman).

31International Development Committee

(1) Future of UK aid: reductions to the aid budget: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1040);

(2) Correspondence with the Leader of the House of Commons relating to the future of UK aid scrutiny: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Humanitarian crises monitoring: coronavirus in developing countries: secondary impacts: Written evidence, to be published (HC 292);

(4) Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps: Written evidence, to be published (HC 605)

(Sarah Champion).

32Justice Committee

(1) The future of the Probation Service: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 285);

(2) Pre-appointment of the Chair of the Independent Monitoring Authority: Written evidence, to be published (HC 954)

(Sir Robert Neill).

33Petitions Committee

(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;

(3) Black history and cultural diversity in the curriculum: Written evidence, to be published (HC 893);

(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions relating to e-petition 554276: Written evidence, to be published

(Catherine McKinnell).

34Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

(1) Parliamentary Scrutiny of the Government’s handling of COVID-19: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1078);

(2) The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011: Government Response to the Committee’s Sixth Report: Sixth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1082);

(3) The Government's Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 829);

(4) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Efficiency and Transformation relating to reforms to Government procurement of public works: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Correspondence from the Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure and Projects Authority relating to the National Infrastructure Strategy: Written evidence, to be published;

(6) Data transparency and accountability: COVID-19: Written evidence, to be published (HC 803);

(7) The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011: Written evidence, to be published (HC 167);

(8) The work of the Electoral Commission: Written evidence, to be published (HC 488)

(Mr William Wragg).

35Science and Technology Committee

(1) Correspondence from the Prime Minister relating to enforcement of contact tracking and tracing: Written evidence, to be published;

(2) UK telecommunications infrastructure and the UK’s domestic capability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 450)

(Greg Clark).

36Standards (Committee on)

Code of Conduct: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 671) (Chris Bryant).

37Transport Committee

(1) E-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation?: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 1085);

(2) Coronavirus: implications for transport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 268);

(3) Trains fit for the future?: Written evidence, to be published (HC 876);

(4) Young and novice drivers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 169)

(Huw Merriman).

38Welsh Affairs Committee

Brexit and trade: implications for Wales: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 176) (Stephen Crabb).

39Women and Equalities Committee

(1) Unequal Impact? Coronavirus and BAME people: Third Report, with an Appendix, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 384);

(2) Appointment of the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Written evidence, to be published (HC 966);

(3) Reform of the Gender Recognition Act: Written evidence, to be published (HC 884);

(4) Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: Written evidence, to be published (HC 386)

(Caroline Nokes).

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))

1The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s role in tackling global malnutrition

Resolved, That this House has considered the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s role in tackling global malnutrition.—(David Linden.)

2Effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on music education

Resolved, That this House has considered the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on music education—(Andrew Lewer.) 

The sitting was suspended between 11.28 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).

3The future of pensions policy

Resolved, That this House has considered the future of pensions policy.—(Rob Roberts.)

4Government support for the commercial roll-out of marine renewables 

Resolved, That this House has considered Government support for the commercial roll-out of marine renewables.—(Mr Alistair Carmichael.)

5Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.—(Tim Loughton.)

The sitting was suspended between 5.23 pm and 5.36 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).

Resolved, That this House has considered the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).

Adjourned at 5.41 pm until tomorrow.

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

1Environmental Protection

International Waste Shipments (Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1455), dated 7 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary George Eustice)

2Exiting the European Union

European Institutions and Consular Protection (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1464), dated 3 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Dominic Raab)

3Mexico No. 1 (2020)

Agreement, done at Mexico City on 30 November 2020, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Mexican States on the mutual recognition and protection of designations for spirit drinks (by Command) (CP 345), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Dominic Raab)

4National Lottery

National Lottery (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1475), dated 8 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nigel Huddleston)

5Plant Health

Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1466), dated 7 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary George Eustice)

Other papers

6Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Government Response to the Report from the House of Lords Gambling Industry Committee on Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry (by Command) (CP 326) (Secretary Oliver Dowden)

7Health and Social Care

Department of Health and Social Care Minute, dated 8 December 2020, concerning the notification of a contingent liability arising from a contract with Pfizer/BioNTech for a COVID-19 vaccine (by Command) (Nadhim Zahawi)

8UK Borders

Report of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: Inspection of Country of Origin Information: Thematic Report, September 2020 (by Act) (Secretary Priti Patel)

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

Antony Higginbotham

9 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Claire Hanna

9 December 2020

Liz Saville Roberts

Jeremy Wright

9 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Paul Maynard

9 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Bridget Phillipson

9 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Jonathan Reynolds

9 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Chris Loder

10 December 2020

Robbie Moore

Charlotte Nichols

10 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Seema Malhotra

10 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Julie Elliott

14 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Damien Moore

14 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Chi Onwurah

14 December 2020

Chris Elmore

 

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 Member has given notice that she wishes to end her proxy voting arrangement with effect from when the Speaker takes the Chair on the date specified below:

Member

From

 Jessica Morden

 9 December 2020