Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 11.30 am.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
2Personal Statement (Chris Bryant)
3Business Statement (Leader of the House)
4Statement: Full Government response to the Online Harms consultation (Secretary Oliver Dowden)
5Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)
Secretary Elizabeth Truss, supported by the Prime Minister, Michael Gove, Secretary Alok Sharma, Secretary George Eustice, Secretary Alister Jack, Secretary Simon Hart and Secretary Brandon Lewis, presented a Bill to make provision about the disclosure of information relating to trade.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 232) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 232–EN).
6Virginity Testing (Prohibition): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit virginity testing procedures; to make associated provision about education; and for connected purposes;
That Mr Richard Holden, Mrs Maria Miller, Ms Nusrat Ghani, Meg Hillier, Sarah Champion, Sara Britcliffe, Nicola Richards, Fay Jones, Siobhan Baillie, Joy Morrissey, Dehenna Davison and Jeremy Hunt present the Bill.
Mr Richard Holden accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 8 January 2021, and to be printed (Bill 233).
7United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Consideration of Lords Message
The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Message received on 14 December relating to the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.
Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 1F, 1G, 1H, 1J, 1K, 1L and 8M.—(Paul Scully.)
The House divided.
Division No. 187
Ayes: 362 (Tellers: Michael Tomlinson, David Rutley)
Noes: 262 (Tellers: Jeff Smith, Bambos Charalambous)
Question agreed to.
Lords Amendments 1F, 1G, 1H, 1J, 1K, 1L and 8M accordingly disagreed to.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H(2)), That a Committee be appointed to draw up a Reason to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 1F, 1G, 1H, 1J, 1K, 1L and 8M.
That Mark Fletcher, Gill Furniss, Jo Gideon, Drew Hendry, Lucy Powell, Paul Scully and Michael Tomlinson be members of the Committee.
That Paul Scully be the Chair of the Committee.
That three be the quorum of the Committee.
That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Maria Caulfield.)
Question agreed to.
8Taxation (Post-transition Period) Bill: Consideration of the Bill, not amended in Committee
The House proceeded to consider the Bill (Order, 9 December).
New Clause NC1—(Sir William Cash)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time.
Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
New Clause NC3—(Pat McFadden)—brought up, and read the first time.
Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.
The House divided.
Division No. 188
Ayes: 263 (Tellers: Jeff Smith, Matt Western)
Noes: 364 (Tellers: David Rutley, Michael Tomlinson)
Question accordingly negatived.
9Taxation (Post-transition Period) Bill: Third Reading
Bill read the third time, and passed.
10United Kingdom Internal Market Bill (Reasons Committee)
Paul Scully reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reason:
Lords Amendments 1F, 1G, 1H, 1J, 1K, 1L and 8M
Because the Lords Amendments would be detrimental to the clarity, simplicity and certainty of the United Kingdom internal market regime to be established by the Bill.
The Reason was agreed to.
11Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Antique Firearms Regulations 2020, which were laid before this House on 25 November, be approved.—(Maria Caulfield.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Liability for Wrongful Trading and Extension of the Relevant Period) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1349), dated 24 November 2020, a copy of which was laid before this House on 25 November, be approved.—(Maria Caulfield.)
Question agreed to.
Ordered, That notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee in respect of the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before it has been read a second time.—(Maria Caulfield.)
A public petition from residents of the constituency of Glasgow North relating to an inquiry into Government COVID-19 contracts was presented and read by Patrick Grady.
Subject: 125th anniversary of the National Trust (Derek Thomas)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Maria Caulfield.)
Adjourned at 6.02 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
15High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill
The Lords agree to the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill with Amendments to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
Printing of Lords Amendments
16High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill
Lords Amendments to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 231).
Reports from Select Committees
17Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
(1) Post-pandemic economic growth: industrial strategy: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 674);
(2) Business preparedness for Brexit: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1001);
(3) Correspondence from Centrica relating to restructuring and trade union negotiations: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence from the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee of the Scottish Parliament relating to that Committee's inquiry into BiFab, the offshore wind sector and Scottish supply chain: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to Arcadia: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Net Zero and UN Climate Summits: Written evidence, to be published (HC 144);
(7) The impact of coronavirus on businesses and workers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 219);
(8) UK Emissions Trading System Common Framework: Written evidence, to be published (HC 890)
(Darren Jones).
The Security of 5G: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1091) (Mr Tobias Ellwood).
19Defence Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, International Development Committee and International Trade Committee
(1) Arms export controls: initial review: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 965);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister for International Trade relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol and export control legislation: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for International Trade relating to export licence decisions: Written evidence, to be published
(Mark Garnier).
20Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(1) The future of public service broadcasting: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 156);
(2) Broadband and the road to 5G: Written evidence, to be published (HC 153)
(Julian Knight).
(1) Appointment of the Children's Commissioner for England:
(i) Second Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1030);
(ii) Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1030);
(2) Exams 2021: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1068);
(3) Home education: Written evidence, to be published (HC 839);
(4) The impact of COVID-19 on education and children’s services: Written evidence, to be published (HC 254)
(Robert Halfon).
(1) Xinjiang detention camps: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 800);
(2) The FCO’s role in blocking foreign asset stripping in the UK: Written evidence, to be published (HC 296)
(Tom Tugendhat).
23Health and Social Care Committee
(1) Safety of maternity services in England: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 677);
(2) Coronavirus: lessons learnt: Written evidence, to be published (HC 877);
(3) Correspondence with the Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Care: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the NHS Chief People Officer: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Correspondence with the Secretary of State: Written evidence, to be published;
(7) Coronavirus: lessons learnt: Written evidence, to be published (HC 877);
(8) Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond: Written evidence, to be published (HC 320);
(9) Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 703)
(Jeremy Hunt).
(1) Pre-appointment hearing: Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1024);
(2) Channel crossings, migration and asylum-seeking routes through the EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 705);
(3) UK-EU security co-operation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1087)
(Yvette Cooper).
25International Development Committee
(1) Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries:
(i) Seventh Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 605);
(ii) Written evidence; to be published (HC 605);
(2) Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary: Written evidence, to be published
(Sarah Champion).
(1) Coronavirus (COVID-19): The impact on prisons: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Eighth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1065);
(2) Correspondence from the Attorney General: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Justice: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice: Written evidence, to be published
(Sir Robert Neill).
(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
(Catherine McKinnell)
(1) Coronavirus: implications for transport: Written evidence, to be published (HC 268);
(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the Spending Review 2020: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) The work of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1002)
(Huw Merriman).
29Women and Equalities Committee
(1) Unequal Impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 386);
(2) Correspondence with the Minister for Women and Equalities relating to the Common Framework on equal treatment legislation: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Reform of the Gender Recognition Act: Written evidence, to be published (HC 884);
(4) Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact: Written evidence, to be published (HC 385)
(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))
1Provision of healthcare support services in the period between conception and age two
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered provision of healthcare support services in the period between conception and age two.—(Andrea Leadsom.)
At 11.00 am, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
2Commonwealth War Graves Commission staff
Resolved, That this House has considered Commonwealth War Graves Commission staff.—(Rachel Hopkins.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.22 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).
3Planning for the Future White Paper
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the Planning for the Future White Paper.—(Sarah Olney.)
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 47(1)).
The sitting was suspended between 3.07 pm and 3.19 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the Planning for the Future White Paper.
4Welsh food and protected status
Resolved, That this House has considered Welsh food and protected status.—(Virginia Crosbie.)
5Effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on people with learning disabilities
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on people with learning disabilities.—(Christian Matheson.)
The sitting was suspended between 4.57 pm and 5.02 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
The Chair announced a time limit on backbench speeches (under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means and Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Resolved, That this House has considered the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on people with learning disabilities.
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 5.37 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Free Trade Agreement, done at Singapore on 10 December 2020, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Singapore (by Command) (CP 356), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) and an accompanying report (by Command) (Secretary Dominic Raab)
Social Security Contributions (Disregarded Payments) (Coronavirus) (Scotland and Wales) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1532), dated 14 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Jesse Norman)
Other papers
Report on the Armed Forces Covenant for 2020 (by Act) (Secretary Ben Wallace)
Paper, entitled Transforming Public Procurement (by Command) (CP 353) (Julia Lopez)
5Constitutional Reform and Governance
Report on Special Advisers for 2020 (by Act) (Chloe Smith)
6Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Online Harms White Paper: Full Government Response to the consultation (by Command) (CP 354) (Secretary Oliver Dowden)
Report and Accounts of the Environment Agency for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1012) (Secretary George Eustice)
Report and Accounts of the Sea Fish Industry Authority for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1092) (Secretary George Eustice)
9Government Resources and Accounts
Report and Accounts of the Insolvency Service for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 739) (Secretary Alok Sharma)
10Government Resources and Accounts (Audit of Public Bodies)
Trustees' Report and Consolidated Financial Statements of the National Museum of the Royal Navy for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 1011) (Secretary Ben Wallace)
Report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner for 2019 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1039) (The Prime Minister)
Reserve Naval and Marine Forces (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (by Act) (James Heappey)
Report and Accounts of the Medical Research Council for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1023) (Secretary Alok Sharma)
Withdrawn papers
Report on the Armed Forces Covenant for 2020 (laid 7 December)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATES
Taxation (Post-transition Period) Bill
The Speaker has certified that the Taxation (Post-transition Period) Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act 1911.
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 |
|
Nick Thomas-Symonds |
16 December 2020 |
Chris Elmore |
|
Robert Courts |
16 December 2020 |
Stuart Andrew |
|
Dan Carden |
16 December 2020 |
Chris Elmore |
|
Mick Whitley |
16 December 2020 |
Chris Elmore |
|
Paula Barker |
16 December 2020 |
Chris Elmore |
|
Shaun Bailey |
16 December2020 |
Stuart Andrew |
|
Dehenna Davison |
16 December 2020 |
Tom Hunt |
|
Wera Hobhouse |
16 December 2020 |
Wendy Chamberlain |
|
Ben Lake |
16 December 2020 |
Liz Saville Roberts |
|
Colleen Fletcher |
17 December 2020 |
Chris Elmore |
|
Simon Jupp |
17 December 2020 |
Stuart Andrew |
|
Gill Furniss |
17 December 2020 |
Chris Elmore |
|
Luke Pollard |
17 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 arrangement:
From 16 December 2020 the nominated proxy for Kim Johnson will be Chris Elmore instead of Paula Barker.
From 16 December 2020 the nominated proxy for Hywel Williams will be Liz Saville Roberts instead of Ben Lake.
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 |
|
Christine Jardine |
16 December 2020 |
|
Mark Tami |
16 December 2020 |