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Votes and Proceedings
Thursday 10 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

1Maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a Return of a Paper, entitled Emerging Findings and Recommendations from the Independent Review of Maternity Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, dated 10 December 2020.—(Ms Nadine Dorries.)

2Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

(2) the Attorney General

3Urgent Question: Progress of negotiations on the UK's future relationship with the EU and preparations for the end of the transition period (Penny Mordaunt)

4Business Question (Leader of the House)

5Statement: Publication of the Ockenden Review: Emerging Findings and Recommendations from the Independent Review of Maternity Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (Ms Nadine Dorries)

6United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Consideration of Lords Message

The House proceeded to consider the Lords Message received today relating to the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill (Order, 14 September).

The Deputy Speaker announced that Lords Amendments 48B and 48C engaged financial privilege.

Lords Amendments 1B, 1C and 1D

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 1B, 1C and 1D.—(Paul Scully.)

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

Question put.

The House divided.

Division No. 184

Ayes: 356 (Tellers: David Duguid, Maggie Throup)

Noes: 259 (Tellers: Jeff Smith, Jessica Morden)

Question agreed to.

Lords Amendments 1B, 1C and 1D accordingly disagreed to.

As it was more than one hour after commencement of proceedings on the Message, the Deputy Speaker put the Questions necessary to bring proceedings on the Lords Message to a conclusion (Programme Order, 12 September).

The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83G).

(1) That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendments 8B, 8C, 8D, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J and 8K, but disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment No. 8L, insists on its disagreement with the Lords in their Amendments 13 and 56, and proposes Amendment (a) to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendments 8L, 13 and 56 (Question on any motion made by a Minister on or relevant to any of the remaining items in the Lords Message).—(David Duguid.)

Question put.

The House divided.

Division No. 185

Ayes: 357 (Tellers: David Duguid, Maggie Throup)

Noes: 259 (Tellers: Jeff Smith, Jessica Morden)

Question agreed to.

Accordingly Lords Amendments 8B, 8C, 8D, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J and 8K agreed to, Lords Amendment 8L disagreed to, disagreement to Lords Amendments 13 and 56 insisted upon and Amendment (a) made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendments 8L, 13 and 56.

(2) That this House insists on its disagreement with the Lords in their Amendments 14 and 52 to 54 but does not insist on its disagreement with the Lords in their Amendment 55. (Question on any motion made by a Minister on or relevant to any of the remaining items in the Lords Message).—(Mike Freer.)

Question put and agreed to.

Disagreement to Lords Amendments 14 and 52 to 54 insisted upon and Lords Amendment 55 agreed to.

(3) That this House does not insist on its disagreement with the Lords in their Amendment 44 (Question on any motion made by a Minister on or relevant to any of the remaining items in the Lords Message).—(David Duguid.)

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment 44 accordingly agreed to.

(4) That this House does not insist on its disagreement with the Lords in their Amendment 45, and proposes the amendment (a) instead of the words left out by the Lords Amendment (Question on any motion made by a Minister on or relevant to any of the remaining items in the Lords Message).—(David Duguid.)

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment 45 accordingly agreed to and Amendment (a) made to the Bill instead of the words left out by the Lords Amendment.

(5) That this House does not insist on its disagreement with the Lords in their Amendment 47, and proposes the Amendment (a) to the Bill consequential upon the Lords Amendment (Question on any motion made by a Minister on or relevant to any of the remaining items in the Lords Message).—(David Duguid.)

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment 47 accordingly agreed to and consequential Amendment (a) made to the Bill.

(6) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 48B and 48C (Question on any motion made by a Minister on or relevant to any of the remaining items in the Lords Message).—(David Duguid.)

Question put.

The House divided.

Division No. 186

Ayes: 358 (Tellers: David Duguid, Maggie Throup)

Noes: 260 (Tellers: Richard Thomson, Drew Hendry)

Question agreed to.

Lords Amendments 48B and 48C accordingly disagreed to.

(7) That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendment 50B, but disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 50C (Question on any motion made by a Minister on or relevant to any of the remaining items in the Lords Message).—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question put and agreed to.

Accordingly Lords Amendment 50B agreed to and Lords Amendment 50C disagreed to.

(8) That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendment 51B (Question that this House agrees with the Lords in all of the remaining Lords proposals)

Question put and agreed to.

Lords Amendment 51B accordingly agreed to.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H(2)), That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 1B, 1C and 1D; insisting on the Commons disagreement with the Lords in their Amendments 14, 52, 53 and 54; and disagreeing with the Lords in their Amendments 48B, 48C and 50C to the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.

That Mark Fletcher, Gill Furniss, Jo Gideon, Drew Hendry, Eddie Hughes, Jessica Morden and Paul Scully be members of the Committee.

That Paul Scully be Chair of the Committee.

That three be the quorum of the Committee.

That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Rebecca Harris.)

Question agreed to.

7Future of the high street

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the future of the high street.—(Kelly Tolhurst.)

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

Resolved, That this House has considered the future of the high street.

8United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Reasons Committee

Paul Scully reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reasons: 

Lords Amendments 1B, 1C and 1D

Because the Lords Amendments will create legal uncertainty, which would be disruptive to business.

Lords Amendments 14 and 52 to 54

Because the Lords Amendments (together with Lords Amendment 55 which has been agreed by both Houses) were only made in consequence of the omission of Part 5 of the Bill by Lords Amendments 42 to 47 and so have become unnecessary following the Lords’ non-insistence on Lords Amendments 42, 43 and 46.

Lords Amendments 48B and 48C

Because the Lords Amendments would alter financial arrangements made by the Commons, and the Commons do not offer any further Reason, trusting that this Reason may be deemed sufficient.

Lords Amendment 50C

Because, while the Commons agree to Lords Amendment 50B, it is not appropriate to link the operation of the reservations proposed by clause 50 to Common Frameworks.

The Reasons were agreed to.

9Public petitions

A public petition from residents of Bath relating to redirecting traffic from Cleveland Bridge was presented and read by Wera Hobhouse.

10Adjournment

Subject: Encouragement of terrorism offences (Carla Lockhart)

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(James Morris.) 

Adjourned at 5.26 pm until Monday 14 December.

Other Proceedings

Lords Messages

11United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

The Lords insist on certain of their amendments to the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill to which the Commons have disagreed, for which insistence they assign their reasons; they do not insist on certain amendments to which the Commons have disagreed but propose amendments in lieu thereof and amendments to words so restored, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons; they do not insist on their remaining amendments to which the Commons have disagreed and agree to the amendments made by the Commons to words so restored to the Bill.

 

Printing of Lords Message

12United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, to be considered today, and to be printed pursuant to Standing Order No. 78 and No. 57A (Bill 229).

General Committees: Reports

13National Security and Investment Bill Committee

Sir Graham Brady (Chair) reported:

(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee, and

(2) the Bill without amendment.

Written evidence to be published.

Bill, not amended, to be considered tomorrow.

14Fourteenth Delegated Legislation Committee

Caroline Nokes (Chair) reported the draft Customs Safety and Security Procedures (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

15Fifteenth Delegated Legislation Committee

Christina Rees (Chair) reported the draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 and the draft Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) 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).

16Telecommunications (Security) Bill Committee

Members: Angela Richardson discharged and Sara Britcliffe nominated in substitution.

17Fifteenth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 and the draft Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) Regulations 2020)

Members: James Daly discharged and Angela Richardson nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

18Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (Joint Committee on)

Fixed-Term Parliaments Act: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1046) (John Spellar).

19Future Relationship with the European Union (Committee on the)

(1) Progress of the negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 203);

(2) The shape of future parliamentary scrutiny of UK-EU relations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 977)

(Hilary Benn).

20Public Accounts (Committee of) 

(1) COVID-19: Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Thirty-third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 687);

(2) COVID-19: Government procurement and supply of personal protective equipment: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 928);

(3) COVID-19: Support for jobs: Written evidence, to be published (HC 920)

(Meg Hillier).

21Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

(1) The work of the Cabinet Office: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 118);

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

(Mr William Wragg).

 

22Welsh Affairs Committee

(1) Wales and the Shared Prosperity Fund: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2019: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1083); 

(2) Youth employment and the Kickstart Scheme in Wales: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1006) 

(Stephen Crabb).

Lindsay Hoyle

Speaker

Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 1.30 pm.

Business determined by the Backbench Business Committee (Standing Orders No. 10(7) and No. 14(4))

1UK-Qatar relations

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered UK-Qatar relations.—(Mr Alistair Carmichael.)

The sitting was suspended between 2.33 pm and 3.08 pm for divisions in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).

Resolved, That this House has considered UK-Qatar relations.

 

2Coach industry

Resolved, That this House has considered the future of the coach industry.—(Grahame Morris.)

 

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

Adjourned at 4.50 pm until Monday 14 December.

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

1Canada No. 1 (2020)

Agreement, done at Ottawa on 9 December 2020, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Canada on Trade Continuity (CP 351) (by Command), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) and an accompanying report (by Command) (Secretary Dominic Raab)

2Exiting the European Union

(1) Challenges to Validity of EU Instruments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1503), dated 8 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Penny Mordaunt)

(2) Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1473), dated 7 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nigel Adams)

3Exiting the European Union (Civil Aviation)

Air Traffic Management (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1498), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

4Exiting the European Union (Civil Proceedings)

Civil, Criminal and Family Justice (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1493), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Robert Buckland)

5Exiting the European Union (Climate Change Levy)

Taxes (State Aid) (Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1499), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jesse Norman)

6Exiting the European Union (Consumer Protection)

Product Safety (Toys and Cosmetics) and Metrology (Measuring and Non-automatic Weighing Instruments) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1486), dated 8 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alok Sharma)

7Exiting the European Union (Customs)

(1) Customs Transit Procedures (Amendment, etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1491), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jesse Norman)

(2) Export Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1510), dated 10 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr Ranil Jayawardena)

8Exiting the European Union (Excise)

(1) Excise Duties (Transitional and Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1494), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kemi Badenoch)

(2) Tobacco Products (Traceability System and Security Features) (Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1496), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kemi Badenoch)

9Exiting the European Union (Road Traffic)

Motor Vehicle Tyres (Labelling) (Enforcement) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1509), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

10Exiting the European Union (Social Security)

Social Security, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1505), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jesse Norman)

11Exiting the European Union (Value Added Tax)

Value Added Tax (Miscellaneous and Transitional Provisions, Amendment and Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1495), dated 9 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jesse Norman)

12Immigration

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules  (HC 1043) (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)

13North Macedonia No. 1 (2020)

Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement, done at Skopje on 3 December 2020, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of North Macedonia (CP 348) (by Command), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) and an accompanying report (by Command) (Secretary Dominic Raab)

14Petroleum

Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1497), dated 8 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Alok Sharma)

Other papers

15Cabinet Office

The Northern Ireland Protocol (by Command) (CP 346) (Michael Gove)

16Environment

(1) Report and Financial Statements of the Environment Agency Active Pension Fund for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 713) (Secretary George Eustice)

(2) Report and Financial Statements of the Environment Agency Closed Pension Fund for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 714) (Secretary George Eustice)

17European Union (Withdrawal)

Report on the European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks for the period 26 June to 25 September 2020 (by Act) (Chloe Smith)

18Government Resources and Accounts

(1) Financial Statement of the Security and Intelligence Agencies for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1017) (Jesse Norman)

(2) Report and Accounts of the College of Policing Limited for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 987) (Secretary Priti Patel)

(3) Report and Accounts of the Food Standards Agency (Westminster) for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1014) (Jesse Norman)

(4) Report and Consolidated Accounts of the Food Standards Agency for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1015) (Jesse Norman)

19Health and Social Care

Return to an Address to Her Majesty for a Return of the Report, dated 10 December 2020, of the Emerging Findings and Recommendations from the Independent Review of Maternity Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (pursuant to Resolution today), to be printed (HC 1081) (Ms Nadine Dorries)

20Merchant Shipping

Report and Accounts of the General Lighthouse Fund for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1032) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

21National Health

Report and Accounts of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 997) (Helen Whately)

22National Lottery etc.

Report and Accounts of Creative Scotland National Lottery Distribution Fund for 2019–20 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1063) (Secretary Alister Jack)

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

Christian Wakeford

10 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Mark Spencer

10 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Andrew Rosindell

14 December 2020

Rebecca Harris

Dr Julian Lewis

14 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Mr Nicholas Brown

14 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Mike Hill

14 December 2020

Chris Elmore

2. Variation of existing 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 amend their proxy voting arrangements:

From 10 December 2020, the nominated proxy for Lee Anderson, Lucy Allan and Penny Mordaunt will be Stuart Andrew instead of Mark Spencer.

3. 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

Dr Ben Spencer

14 December 2020

Owen Thompson

14 December 2020