Skip to main content

Votes and Proceedings
Thursday 17 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 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office

2Business Question (Leader of the House)

3Statements: (1) COVID-19 update (Secretary Matt Hancock)

(2) Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement (Secretary Robert Jenrick)

4Adjournment (Christmas)

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 25), That this House, at its rising this day, do adjourn until Tuesday 5 January 2021.—(Tom Pursglove.)

Question agreed to.

5Telecommunications (Security) Bill (No.2): Programme

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the Order of 30 November 2020 (Telecommunications (Security) Bill: Programme) be varied as follows:

In paragraph (2) of the Order (conclusion of proceedings in Public Bill Committee), for “Tuesday 19 January” substitute “Thursday 28 January”.—(Tom Pursglove.)

Question agreed to.

6Business of the House (Today)

Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until he has notified the Royal Assent to any Act agreed upon by both Houses.—(Tom Pursglove.)

7Matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment.—(Tom Pursglove.)

8Royal Assent

The Deputy Speaker reported that the Queen had signified Royal Assent to the following Acts under the Royal Assent Act 1967: 

Taxation (Post-transition Period) Act 2020

United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020

Trade (Disclosure of Information) Act 2020

9Matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment (resumed)

Question again proposed, That this House has considered matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment.

Question put and agreed to.

10Public petitions

A public petition from residents of the constituency of Coventry South relating to preserving Piles Coppice Wood was presented and read by Zarah Sultana.

11Adjournment

Subject: Distribution of free sanitary products to schools (Ruth Cadbury)

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Eddie Hughes.) 

Adjourned at 5.27 pm until Tuesday 5 January 2021 (Resolution, today).

Other Proceedings

Lords Messages

12Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill

The Lords agree to the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill without amendment.

Changes to Notices Given

13Conveyancing Standards Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 22 January 2021, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 12 March 2021.

14Problem Drug Use Bill

Order for Second Reading on Friday 15 January 2021, read and discharged.

Bill to be read a second time on Friday 5 March 2021.

Public petitions

15A public petition from a resident of Twickenham relating to an extension to the transition period for UK exit of the EU was presented by Munira Wilson.

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).

16First Delegated Legislation Committee (Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation and Linked Households) (England) Regulations 2020 (England) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1518) and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1533))

Chair: Clive Efford

17Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Extension of the Relevant Period) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1483))

Members: Christina Rees discharged and Neil Coyle nominated in substitution.

18Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Extension of the Relevant Period) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1483))

Chair: Christina Rees

19Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Tax Credits Reviews and Appeals (Amendment) Order 2020)

Chair: Sir Graham Brady

20Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Airports Slot Allocation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021)

Chair: Ms Angela Eagle

21Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2020)

Chair: Ian Paisley

Reports from Select Committees

22Backbench Business Committee   

Determination of business to be taken on Thursday 7 January 2021 in the Chamber and Thursday 7 and Tuesday 12 January 2021 in Westminster Hall (Ian Mearns).

23Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee   

(1) Broadband and the road to 5G: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 153);
(2) Anti-vaccination disinformation: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1049); 

(3) The future of public service broadcasting: Written evidence, to be published (HC 156);

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

(Julian Knight).

24Education Committee

(1) Appointment of the Children's Commissioner for England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1030);

(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to 2020 and 2021 exams: Written evidence, to be published 

(Robert Halfon).

25Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

(1) The UK’s new immigration policy and the food supply chain:

(i) Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 231);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 231);

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

(3) Common framework on food and feed safety and hygiene: Written evidence, to be published (HC 990);

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

(Neil Parish).

26Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (Joint Committee on)

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

27Future Relationship with the European Union (Committee on the)

(1) Preparing for the end of the Transition Period: Third Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1093);

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

(Hilary Benn).

28Home Affairs Committee

(1) UK-EU security co-operation: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1087);

(2) Correspondence with the Home Secretary: Written evidence, to be published

(Yvette Cooper).

29Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

(1) The impact of Covid-19 on homelessness and the private rented sector: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 309);

(2) Hazardous Substances (Planning) Common Framework: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1053)

(Mr Clive Betts).

30Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

Legislative scrutiny: Espionage legislation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 183) (Ms Harriet Harman).

31Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol: Written evidence, to be published (HC 767) (Simon Hoare).

32Public Accounts (Committee of)

(1) COVID-19: Free schools meals voucher scheme: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 689);

(2) Correspondence from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport relating to Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) borrowing as a result of COVID-19: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence from the Home Office relating to the funding for coronavirus enforcement: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Correspondence relating to the Committee’s previous Reports: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Lessons from major projects and programmes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 694);

(6) Managing colleges’ financial sustainability: Written evidence, to be published (HC 692);

(7) UK Border 2020: Preparedness: Written evidence, to be published (HC 691);

(8) Whole of Government Accounts 201819: Written evidence, to be published (HC 655)

(Meg Hillier).

33Science and Technology Committee

The UK response to covid-19: use of scientific advice: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 136) (Greg Clark).

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))

1Future of fairs and showgrounds

Resolved, That this House has considered the future of fairs and showgrounds.—(David Linden.)

2UK hydrogen economy

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the UK hydrogen economy.—(Alexander Stafford.)

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

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

Adjourned at 4.30 pm until Tuesday 5 January 2021 (Resolution, today).

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution

1Community Infrastructure Levy

Draft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

2Exiting the European Union (Customs)

Draft International Waste Shipments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary George Eustice)

3Local Government

Draft West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Functions) Order 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) and an accompanying report (by Act) (Luke Hall)

4Public Health

Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1572), dated 17 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Helen Whately)

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

5Civil Aviation

Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1555), dated 16 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

6Climate Change

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1557), dated 16 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Kwasi Kwarteng)

7Defence

Maritime Enforcement Powers (Specification of the Royal Navy Police) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1554), dated 16 December 2020 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ben Wallace)

8Ecclesiastical Law

(1) Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1539), dated 27 October 2020 (by Measure) (Clerk of the House)

(2) Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1543), dated 30 November 2020 (by Measure) (Clerk of the House)

(3) National Ministry Register (Clergy) Regulations 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1538), dated 11 December 2020 (by Measure) (Clerk of the House)

9Miscellaneous Series No. 9 (2020)

Economic Partnership Agreement, done at London on 8 December 2020, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the one part, and the Republic of Kenya, a Member of the East African Community, of the other part (CP 339) (by Command), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Act) (Secretary Dominic Raab)

Other papers

10Banking

(1) Banking Act 2009: Special resolution regime code of practice (by Act) (John Glen)

(2) Report under section 231 of the Banking Act 2009: 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020 (by Act) (John Glen)

11Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Transboundary Radioactive Contamination (England) Direction 2020 (by Command) (Secretary Alok Sharma)

12Cabinet Office

2025 UK Border Strategy (CP 352) (by Command) (Michael Gove)

13Climate Change

State of the Estate in 2019–20 (by Act) (Julia Lopez)

14Energy

(1) Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market Scheme Update 2020 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1010) (Secretary Alok Sharma)

(2) Statutory Security of Supply Report for 2020, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1009) (Secretary Alok Sharma)

15European Union (Financial Services)

Benchmarks Regulation Equivalence (No. 2) Directions (by Statutory Instrument) (John Glen)

16Export Control

Statutory guidance on the criteria to be taken into consideration when making a decision about whether or not to grant an export licence (by Act) (Secretary Oliver Dowden)

17Financial Services

(1) Financial Conduct Authority's response to the Report of the Independent Investigation into the Financial Conduct Authority's Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc (by Act) (John Glen)

(2) Report of the Independent Investigation into the Financial Conduct Authority's Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc (by Act) (John Glen)

(3) Statement of Reasons, under section 82(7) of the Financial Services Act 2012, in respect of the decision of withholding part of the material from the Report of the Independent Investigation into the Financial Conduct Authority's Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc (by Act) (John Glen)

18Government Resources and Accounts

(1) Report and Accounts of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1016) (Jesse Norman)

(2) Report and Accounts of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 816) (Jesse Norman)

19Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Non-profit making Companies)

(1) Report and Accounts of Phone-paid Services Authority Limited for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 1110) (Matt Warman)

(2) Report and Accounts of The Geffrye Museum Trust for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Statutory Instrument), to be printed (HC 736) (Caroline Dinenage)

20Higher Education and Research

Office for Students: Fee information for new entrants in 2021-22 (by Act) (Michelle Donelan)

21Local Government Planning and Land

Report and Accounts of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1090) (Secretary Robert Jenrick)

22Merchant Shipping

Merchant Shipping (Home Office Ships) Order 2020 (SI, 2020, No. 1551), dated 16 December 2020 (by Statutory Instrument), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Chris Philp)

23Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer)

National risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing (by Statutory Instrument) (John Glen)

24National Heritage

Report and Accounts of Historic England for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 994) (Nigel Huddleston)

25National Lottery etc.

(1) Report and Accounts of the English Sports Council: Grant-in-Aid and National Lottery Distribution Fund for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1080) (Nigel Huddleston)

(2) Report and Accounts of the United Kingdom Sports Council: Grant-in-Aid and Lottery Distribution Fund for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 483) (Nigel Huddleston)

(3) Report and Financial Statements of British Film Institute Group and National Lottery for 2019–20, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (by Act), to be printed (HC 1086) (Caroline Dinenage)

26Political Parties, Elections and Referendums

Sixth Report in 2020 from the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, on the Appointment of a nominated Electoral Commissioner (by Act), to be printed (HC 1102) (The Speaker)

27Wales

(1) Sixth Annual Report by Welsh Ministers on the Implementation and Operation of Part 2 (Finance) of the Wales Act 2014 (by Act) (Secretary Simon Hart)

(2) Sixth Annual Report on the Implementation and Operation of Part 2 (Finance) of the Wales Act 2014 (by Act) (Secretary Simon Hart)

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

Sir Alan Campbell

18 December 2020

Chris Elmore

David Duguid

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Stephen Morgan

18 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Rishi Sunak

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Owen Thompson

18 December 2020

Patrick Grady

Felicity Buchan

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Elliot Colburn

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Sir Graham Brady

18 December 2020

Sir Charles Walker

Anneliese Dodds

18 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Richard Graham

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Jason McCartney

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Siobhain McDonagh

18 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Lee Rowley

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Fiona Bruce

18 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Steve McCabe

18 December 2020

Chris Elmore

Sally-Ann Hart

21 December 2020

Stuart Andrew

Matt Western

24 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 Member has given notice that they wish to amend their proxy voting arrangement.

From Monday 21 December 2020 the nominated proxy for Beth Winter will be Chris Elmore instead of Rachel Hopkins.

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 House rises on the dates specified below: 

Member

From

Mark Jenkinson

17 December 2020

Anthony Higginbotham

17 December 2020

Dr Jamie Wallis

17 December 2020

Ben Everitt

17 December 2020

Wera Hobhouse

17 December 2020

Jack Lopresti

17 December 2020

Peter Dowd

17 December 2020