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Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday 27 April 2021

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 Chancellor of the Exchequer

2Urgent Question: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (James Cleverly)

3Statement: Post Office Court of Appeal judgment (Paul Scully)

4Tool Theft (Prevention): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require persons selling second hand tools online to show the serial numbers of those tools in searchable advertisement text; and for connected purposes;

That Greg Smith, Paul Bristow, Nick Fletcher, Andrew Griffith, Jane Hunt, Dean Russell, Jim Shannon and Alexander Stafford present the Bill.

Greg Smith accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 294).

5Fire Safety Bill: Consideration of Lords Message

The House proceeded to consider the Lords Message received on 20 April relating to the Fire Safety Bill (Programme Order, 24 February).

Lords Amendment 4J

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 4J.—(Christopher Pincher.)

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

Question put.

The House divided.

Division No. 278

Ayes: 320 (Tellers: Tom Pursglove, Maggie Throup)

Noes: 256 (Tellers: Bambos Charalambous, Colleen Fletcher)

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendment 4J 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 Amendment 4J to the Fire Safety Bill. 

That Chris Elmore, Scott Mann, Christopher Pincher and Tom Pursglove be members of the Committee. 

That Christopher Pincher be the Chair of the Committee. 

That three be the quorum of the Committee. 

That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Maggie Throup.)

Question agreed to.

6Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill: Consideration of Lords Message

The House proceeded to consider the Lords Message received on 21 April relating to the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill (Programme Order, 26 April).

Lords Amendments 1R, 1S, 1T and 1U

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendment 1R, does not insist on its Amendments Nos. 1H, 1L and 1P in lieu and disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 1S, 1T and 1U.—(Leo Docherty.)

Question agreed to.

Lords Amendment 1R accordingly agreed to and Lords Amendments 1S, 1T and 1U accordingly disagreed to.

Amendments (a) to (c) made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendments 1S, 1T and 1U.—(Leo Docherty.)

Consequential amendments (d) and (e) made to the Bill.—(Leo Docherty.)

Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 5B.—(Leo Docherty.)

The House divided.

Division No. 279

Ayes: 357 (Tellers: Maria Caulfield, Tom Pursglove)

Noes: 267 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Bambos Charalambous)

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendment 5B 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 Amendment 5B to the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill.

That David T C Davies, Leo Docherty, John Healey, Alan Mak and Carol Monaghan be members of the Committee.

That Leo Docherty be the Chair of the Committee.

That three be the quorum of the Committee.

That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Scott Mann.) 

Question agreed to.

7Electricity

Resolved, That the draft Warm Home Discount (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2021, which were laid before this House on 3 March, be approved.—(Anne-Marie Trevelyan.)

8Exiting the European Union (Animals)

Resolved, That the Trade and Official Controls (Transitional Arrangements for Prior Notifications) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 429), dated 30 March 2021, a copy of which was laid before this House on 31 March, be approved.—(Victoria Prentis.)

9Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps and Local Authority Enforcement Powers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 455), dated 9 April 2021, a copy of which was laid before this House on 9 April, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.) 

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 365), dated 22 March 2021, a copy of which was laid before this House on 23 March, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.) 

The House divided.

Division No. 280

Ayes: 431 (Tellers: James Morris, Maria Caulfield)

Noes: 89 (Tellers: Chris Green, Jim Shannon)

Question accordingly agreed to.

10Fire Safety Bill: Reasons Committee

Christopher Pincher (Chair) reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reason:

Lords Amendment 4J

Because the issue of remediation costs is too complex to be dealt with in the manner proposed.

The Reason was agreed to.

11Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill: Reasons Committee

Leo Docherty (Chair) reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reason:

Lords Amendment 5B

Because it is not necessary, and would not be practicable, to define a legally binding standard of care in relation to the matters referred to in the Lords Amendment.

The Reason was agreed to.

12Public petitions

A public petition from Emma Gambrill relating to dog attacks was presented and read by Feryal Clark.

13Adjournment

Subject: Labelling of alcohol products (Dan Carden)

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

Adjourned at 6.47 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

Lords Messages

14Domestic Abuse Bill

The Lords do not insist on certain of their Amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill to which the Commons have disagreed, and they agree without amendment to the Amendments proposed by the Commons in lieu thereof; and they do not insist on their remaining Amendment to which the Commons have disagreed.

General Committees: Reports

15Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee

Dame Angela Eagle (Chair) reported:

(1) written evidence submitted to the Committee; and

(2) the Bill (except Clauses 1 to 5; Clauses 6 to 14 and Schedule 1; Clauses 24 to 26; Clause 28; Clause 30 and Schedule 6; Clauses 31 to 33; Clause 36 and Schedule 7; Clause 40; Clause 41; Clause 86; Clauses 87 to 89 and Schedules 16 and 17; Clauses 90 and 91; Clauses 92 to 96 and Schedule 18; Clause 97 and Schedule 19; Clauses 109 to 111 and Schedules 21 and 22; Clause 115 and Schedule 27; Clauses 117 to 121 and Schedules 29 to 32; Clauses 128 to 130; any new Clauses or new Schedules relating to: the impact of any provision on the financial resources of families or to the subject matter of Clauses 1 to 5, 24 to 26, 28, 31 to 33, 40 and 86; the subject matter of Clauses 6 to 14 and Schedule 1; the impact of any provision on regional economic development; tax avoidance or evasion; the subject matter of Clauses 87 to 89 and Schedules 16 and 17 and Clauses 90 and 91; the subject matter of Clauses 92 to 96 and Schedule 18, Clause 97 and Schedule 19 and Clauses 128 to 130) as amended.

Written evidence to be published.

Bill, as amended, to be considered tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 295).

16Third Delegated Legislation Committee

Dr Rupa Huq (Chair) reported the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 158).

17Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee

Sir Christopher Chope (Chair) reported the draft Air Quality (Legislative Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

Reports from Select Committees

18Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

(1) Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme:

(i) Sixth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1346);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 1331);

(2) Net Zero and UN climate summits: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 144);

(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to scrutiny of the Investment Security Unit by the Committee: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Correspondence relating to the acquisition of ARM Limited by NVIDIA: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Decarbonising heat in homes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 851);

(6) Forced labour in UK value chains: Written evidence, to be published (HC 810);

(7) Pre-appointment hearing: Chair of the Regulatory Policy Committee: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1270);

(8) Work of the Department and Government’s response to coronavirus: Written evidence, to be published (HC 301)

(Darren Jones).

19Defence Committee

(1) Women in the Armed Forces: from recruitment to civilian life: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1047);

(2) Foreign involvement in the defence supply chain: Written evidence, to be published (HC 699)

(Mr Tobias Ellwood).

20Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee

(1) Concussion in sport: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1177);

(2) The future of UK music festivals: Written evidence, to be published (HC 886)

(Julian Knight).

21Education Committee

(1) Accountability hearings: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 262);

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

(3) Prison education: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1007);

(4) Regional Schools Commissioners: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1330);

(5) The impact of COVID-19 on education and children’s services: Written evidence, to be published (HC 254)

(Robert Halfon).

22Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

(1) Flooding: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report: Eighth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1385);

(2) Trade and Agriculture Commission: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1347);

(3) Environmental land management and the agricultural transition: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1064);

(4) Seafood and meat exports to the EU: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1189)

(Neil Parish).

23European Statutory Instruments Committee

Twenty-fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1220) (Andrew Jones).

24Finance Committee

Record of the Committee’s decisions taken at its meeting on 27 April, to be published (Lilian Greenwood).

25Foreign Affairs Committee

Xinjiang detention camps: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 800) (Tom Tugendhat).

26Health and Social Care Committee

(1) Treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1195);

(2) Children and young people’s mental health: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1194);

(3) Department’s White Paper on health and social care: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1274);

(4) Safety of maternity services in England: Written evidence, to be published (HC 677)

(Jeremy Hunt).

27Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee

Coronavirus: lessons learnt: Written evidence, to be published (HC 877) (Jeremy Hunt).

28International Development Committee

(1) The humanitarian situation in Tigray: Tenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1289);

(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs relating to the FCDO ODA budget for 2021–22: Written evidence, to be published

(Sarah Champion).

29Justice Committee

(1) COVID-19 and the criminal law: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1316);

(2) Correspondence with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Court Capacity: Written evidence, to be published (HC 284)

(Sir Robert Neill).

30Petitions 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) Brain tumour and childhood cancer research: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1349);

(5) The Government’s response to coronavirus: Written evidence, to be published (HC 252)

(Catherine McKinnell).

31Privileges (Committee of)

Select committees and contempts: clarifying and strengthening powers to send for persons, papers and records:

(i) First Report, with annexes, to be printed, with formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 350);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 350) (Chris Bryant)

32Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

The work of the Electoral Commission: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 488) (Mr William Wragg).

33Science and Technology Committee

(1) 5G market diversification and wider lessons for critical and emerging technologies: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1377);

(2) The role of Hydrogen in achieving Net Zero: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1066)

(Greg Clark).

34Transport Committee

(1) Correspondence from Baroness Vere of Norbiton relating to the protocol agreement between Department for Transport and Highways England on historic railways estate: Written evidence, to be published;

(2) National Bus Strategy: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1344);

(3) The roll-out and safety of smart motorways: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1275)

(Huw Merriman).

35Women and Equalities Committee

Reform of the Gender Recognition Act: Written evidence, to be published (HC 884) (Caroline Nokes).

Lindsay Hoyle

Speaker

Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.25 am (Order, 25 February).

Business appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means (Standing Order No. 10(6))

1Effectiveness of asylum accommodation and the dispersal scheme in providing support for asylum seekers

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the effectiveness of asylum accommodation and the dispersal scheme in providing support for asylum seekers.—(Neil Coyle.)

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 effectiveness of asylum accommodation and the dispersal scheme in providing support for asylum seekers.

2Enabling access to nature to support mental health

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of enabling access to nature to support mental health.—(Tracey Crouch.) 

The sitting was suspended between 11.21 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).

3Fire and rehire practices

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered fire and rehire practices.—(Kate Osborne.)

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)).

At 4.00 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).

4Effect of immigration detention on potential victims of trafficking

Resolved, That this House has considered the effect of immigration detention on potential victims of trafficking.—(Richard Fuller.)

The sitting was suspended between 4.30 pm and 4.50 pm (Order, 25 February).

5Air pollution in London

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered air pollution in London.—(Munira Wilson.)

At 5.50 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(14)).

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

Adjourned at 5.50 pm until tomorrow.

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution

1Immigration

(1) Draft Immigration (Collection, Use and Retention of Biometric Information and Related Amendments) Regulations 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)

(2) Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

2Income Tax

Pension (Non-Taxable Payments Following Death) (Real Time Information) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 506), dated 26 April 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (John Glen)

3Public Health

Vaccine Damage Payments (Specified Disease) (Amendment) Order 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 508), dated 26 April 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Nadhim Zahawi)

Other papers

4Supply Estimates 2021–22

(1) Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body: Main Supply Estimate for 2021–22 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1381) (Dame Eleanor Laing)

(2) Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body: Main Supply Estimate: comments from the Estimates Commission and the Treasury for 2021–22 (by Act), to be printed (HC 1382) (Dame Eleanor Laing)

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 Orders of 22 October 2020 and 25 March 2021, 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 21 June 2021, unless the arrangement is ended or the House otherwise orders. 

Member

From

Proxy

Carla Lockhart

28 April

Jim Shannon

Ben Everitt

28 April

Stuart Andrew

Mr Steve Baker

29 April

Stuart Andrew

Jeff Smith

28 April

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 Orders of 22 October 2020 and 25 March 2021, that the following Members have given notice that they wish to amend their proxy voting arrangement:

From 28 April:

the nominated proxy for Sammy Wilson, Gregory Campbell, Gavin Robinson, Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson, Ian Paisley and Paul Girvan will be Jim Shannon instead of Carla Lockhart.

the nominated proxy for Dehenna Davison will be Stuart Andrew instead of Ben Everitt.

From 11 May 2021 the nominated proxy for Mrs Pauline Latham will be Stuart Andrew instead of Mr William Wragg.

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 Orders of 22 October 2020 and 25 March 2021, 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

Sir Edward Leigh

28 April

John Spellar

11 May