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Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday 28 April 2021

Read the agenda for business in the House of Commons chamber, Westminster Hall and Commons Committees.

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Contents

Chamber business

The House met at 11.30 am.

Prayers

1Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland

(2) the Prime Minister

2Urgent Question: Government support for India (Nigel Adams)

3Environment (Regulation): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to establish an independent regulatory body to monitor and enforce the compliance of public bodies with climate and environmental requirements and targets; to make provision for associated sanctions; to require the regulatory body to assess the environmental effects of potential trade agreements; to make provision about environmental standards, including in relation to animal welfare; and for connected purposes; 

That Tim Farron, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Wendy Chamberlain, Daisy Cooper, Ed Davey, Stephen Farry, Wera Hobhouse, Christine Jardine, Layla Moran, Sarah Olney, Jamie Stone and Munira Wilson present the Bill.

Tim Farron accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 297).

4Fire Safety Bill: Consideration of Lords Message

The House proceeded to consider the Lords Message received on 27 April relating to the Fire Safety Bill (Programme Order, 24 February).

Lords Amendment 4L

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

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

Question put.

The House divided.

Division No. 281

Ayes: 322 (Tellers: David Rutley, James Morris)

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

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendment 4L 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 4L 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.—(Alan Mak.)

Question agreed to.

5Capital Gains Tax

(1) Resolved, That the draft Double Taxation Relief (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 2021, which was laid before this House on 15 March, be approved.—(Jesse Norman.)

(2) Resolved, That the draft Double Taxation Relief (Sweden) Order 2021, which was laid before this House on 15 March, be approved.—(Jesse Norman.)

6Insolvency

Resolved, That the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Extension of the Relevant Period) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 375), dated 22 March 2021, a copy of which was laid before this House on 24 March, be approved.—(Paul Scully.)

7Business of the House (Today)

Ordered, That, at this day's sitting, the Speaker shall put the Question on the Motion in the name of Keir Starmer relating to the Immigration (Guidance on detention of vulnerable persons) Regulations (SI, 2021, No. 184) not later than 90 minutes after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order; the business on that Motion may be proceeded with at any hour, though opposed; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Scott Mann.)

8Immigration

Motion made and Question put, That the Immigration (Guidance on Detention of Vulnerable Persons) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 184), dated 23 February 2021, a copy of which was laid before this House on 25 February 2021, be revoked.—(Holly Lynch.)

The House divided.

Division No. 282

Ayes: 270 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Bambos Charalambous)

Noes: 358 (Tellers: David Rutley, James Morris)

Question accordingly negatived.

9National Security and Investment Bill: Consideration of Lords Message

The House proceeded to consider the Lords Message received today relating to the National Security and Investment Bill (Programme Order, 26 April).

Lords Amendments 11B and 11C

Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 11B and 11C.—(Paul Scully.)

The House divided. 

Division No. 283

Ayes: 358 (Tellers: David Rutley, James Morris)

Noes: 269 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Bambos Charalambous)

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendments 11B and 11C 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 11B and 11C to the National Security and Investment Bill.

That Stephen Flynn, Jo Gideon, 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.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

10Business of the House (Today) (No. 2)

Ordered, That, at this day's sitting, the Speaker shall put the Questions on the Motion in the name of Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg relating to Amendments to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme not later than one hour after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments to the Motions selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; the business on that Motion may be proceeded with at any hour, though opposed; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Scott Mann.)

11Amendments to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme

Resolved, That this House endorses the report of the House of Commons Commission entitled Amendments to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, HC 1384, laid on Thursday 22 April; and approves the revised bullying and harassment policy and outline procedure, and sexual misconduct policy and outline procedure, set out in Annexes 1 to 4 of that report.—(Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg.)

12Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Air Quality (Legislative Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, which were laid before this House on 22 March, be approved.—(James Morris.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Civil Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2021, which was laid before this House on 8 March, be approved.—(James Morris.)

Question agreed to.

13Fire Safety Bill: Reasons Committee

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

Lords Amendment 4L

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

The Reason was agreed to.

14National Security and Investment Bill: Reasons Committee 

Paul Scully (Chair) reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reason:

Lords Amendments 11B and 11C

Because it is appropriate and sufficient for oversight and scrutiny of decisions made by the Secretary of State for BEIS to be conducted by their departmental select committee.

The Reason was agreed to.

15Public petitions

A public petition from residents of the constituency of Rother Valley relating to the Levelling Up Fund was presented and read by Alexander Stafford.

16Adjournment

Subject: National Minimum Wage enforcement (Andrew Selous)

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

Adjourned at 6.27 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

Lords Messages

17Fire Safety Bill

The Lords do not insist on their Amendment to the Fire Safety Bill to which the Commons have disagreed but propose an Amendment in lieu thereof, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

18Highgate Cemetery Bill [Lords]

The Lords communicate that they have considered the Commons message of 26 April in respect of the Highgate Cemetery Bill [Lords] and have come to the following resolution in respect of the said Bill— 

That the promoters of the Highgate Cemetery Bill which was originally introduced in this House in this Session on 22 January 2020 should have leave to suspend any further proceedings on the bill in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament according to the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 150A (Suspension of bills). 

19Monken Hadley Common Bill

The Lords agree with the Order in respect of the Monken Hadley Common Bill made by the Commons set out in their Message of 26 April.

20Prisons (Substance Testing) Bill 

The Lords agree to the Prisons (Substance Testing) Bill without amendment. 

21Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill

The Lords agree to the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill without amendment.

22Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill 

The Lords agree to the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill without amendment. 

23Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill 

The Lords agree to the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill without amendment. 

24National Security and Investment Bill

The Lords do not insist on their Amendments to the National Security and Investment Bill to which the Commons have disagreed but propose Amendments in lieu thereof, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

25Financial Services Bill

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

Printing of Lords Amendments

26Fire Safety Bill

Lords Message relating to the Fire Safety Bill to be considered today, and to be printed pursuant to Standing Orders No. 78 and No. 57A (Bill 296).

27National Security and Investment Bill 

Lords Message relating to the National Security and Investment Bill to be considered today, and to be printed (Bill 298).

General Committees: Reports

28Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee

Caroline Nokes (Chair) reported the draft Food and Drink (Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Food and Wine Composition, Information and Labelling) Regulations 2021.

29Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee

Philip Davies (Chair) reported the draft Employment Rights Act 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order 2021.

30Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Philip Hollobone (Chair) reported the draft Civil Liability Act 2018 (Financial Conduct Authority) (Whiplash) Regulations 2021 and the draft Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.

Reports from Select Committees

31Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee

(1) Correspondence with the Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth relating to the Radioactive Substances Common Framework: Written evidence, to be published;

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

(3) Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1331);

(4) OneWeb: Written evidence, to be published (HC 806);

(5) Post Office and Horizon: Written evidence, to be published (HC 143)

(Darren Jones).

32Environmental Audit Committee

(1) Fixing fashion: follow-up: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 874);

(2) Preparation for COP26: Written evidence, to be published (HC 222);

(3) Technological innovations and climate change: tidal power: Written evidence, to be published (HC 982)

(Philip Dunne).

* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings from 5 November 2020 for details.

33Health and Social Care Committee

Treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1195) (Jeremy Hunt).

34Home Affairs Committee

(1) The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong: Part of the oral and part of the written evidence, to be published (HC 1123); 

(2) Violence and abuse towards retail workers: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1147);

(3) Home Office preparedness for COVID-19 (coronavirus): Part of the written evidence, to be published (HC 232);

(4) Police conduct and complaints: Part of the written evidence, to be published (HC 706);

(5) Post-transition management of the border: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1124)

(Yvette Cooper).

35Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

(1) The Government's response to COVID-19: care home visiting: Fifteenth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1375);

(2) Legislative scrutiny: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1324);

(3) The Government's response to COVID-19: human rights implications of long lockdown: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1004)

(Ms Harriet Harman).

36International Trade Committee

(1) UK Export Finance: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 700);             

(2) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to a future trade agreement with Australia: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) UK Export Finance Main Estimate 2021–22: Written evidence, to be published

(Angus Brendan MacNeil).

37National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on the) 

National security machinery: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1122) (Margaret Beckett).

38Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

(1) Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 767);

(2) Citizenship and Passport Processes in Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1111)

(Simon Hoare).

39Procedure Committee

Back to the future? Procedure after coronavirus restrictions: Government Response to the Committee's Eighth Report: Fifth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1389) (Karen Bradley).

40Science and Technology Committee

UK science, research and technology capability and influence in global disease outbreaks: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 136) (Greg Clark).

41Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Forty-eighth Report, to be printed (HC 75-xlviii) (Jessica Morden).

42Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)

Fortieth Report, to be printed (HC 73 xl) (Jessica Morden).

43Transport Committee

Zero emission vehicles and road pricing: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1106) (Huw Merriman).

44Treasury Committee

(1) Lessons from Greensill Capital: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1376);

(2) Future of Financial Services: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1158)

(Mel Stride).

45Women and Equalities Committee

Changing cultures underpinning male violence against women: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1335) (Caroline Nokes).

46Work and Pensions Committee

(1) Disability employment gap: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 957);

(2) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to rent arrears: Written evidence, to be published

(Stephen Timms).

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))

1Proposed closure of GKN Automotive plant in Birmingham

Resolved, That this House has considered the proposed closure of GKN Automotive plant in Birmingham.—(Jack Dromey.)

The sitting was suspended between 10.33 am and 11.00 am.

2Extending redundancy protection for women and new parents

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of extending redundancy protection for women and new parents.—(Kirsten Oswald.)

The sitting was suspended between 11.26 am and 2.30 pm (Standing Order No. 10(1)(b)).

3British meat and dairy products

The sitting was suspended between 2.37 pm and 2.45 pm for a division in the House (Standing Order No. 10(3)). 

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered British meat and dairy products.—(Selaine Saxby.)

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 British meat and dairy products.

4Protecting consumers from online scams

Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of protecting consumers from online scams.—(Ruth Edwards.)

The sitting was suspended between 4.34 pm and 4.50 pm (Order, 25 February).

5District heat networks

Resolved, That this House has considered district heat networks.—(Elliot Colburn.)

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

Adjourned at 5.44 pm.

Eleanor Laing

Chairman of Ways and Means

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution

1Energy Conservation

Draft Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and Impact Assessments (by Command) (Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng)

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

2Climate Change

Recognised Auction Platforms and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Auctioning (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 513), dated 27 April 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kemi Badenoch)

3Electricity

Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) (Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm) Order 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 510), dated 27 April 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng)

4Exiting The European Union (Climate Change)

Climate and Energy (Revocation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 519), dated 28 April 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng)

Other papers

5Port of London

Report and Accounts of Port of London Authority for 2020 (by Act) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

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

Maria Caulfield

29 April 

Stuart Andrew

James Morris

29 April 

Stuart Andrew

Michael Tomlinson

29 April

Stuart Andrew

Sir Edward Leigh

29 April

Stuart Andrew

Steve Brine

29 April 

Stuart Andrew

Antony Higginbotham

29 April 

Stuart Andrew

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

From 29 April the nominated proxy for Andrew Percy will be Stuart Andrew instead of Antony Higginbotham.

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

Johnny Mercer

29 April 

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

29 April