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Votes and Proceedings
Wednesday 12 May 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

1Speaker’s Statements: (1) 80th anniversary of the destruction of the House of Commons Chamber 

(2) Nominations for Chair of the Backbench Business Committee

2Chesham and Amersham Writ

Ordered, That the Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new Writ for the electing of a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the County Constituency of Chesham and Amersham in the room of Dame Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan, deceased.—(Mark Spencer.) 

3Urgent Question: Violence in Israel and Palestine (James Cleverly)

4Statement: COVID-19 update (The Prime Minister)

5Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill: Presentation (Standing Orders No. 57 and No. 80A)

Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, supported by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Matt Hancock, Secretary Oliver Dowden, Secretary Ben Wallace, Secretary Grant Shapps and Amanda Solloway, presented a Bill to make provision for and in connection with the establishment of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency.

Bill read the first and second time without Question put (Standing Order No. 80A and Order, 23 March); to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 1) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 1–EN).

6Armed Forces Bill: Presentation (Standing Orders No. 57 and No. 80A)

Secretary Ben Wallace, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Priti Patel, Secretary Brandon Lewis, Secretary Alister Jack, Secretary Simon Hart and the Attorney General, presented a Bill to continue the Armed Forces Act 2006; to amend that Act and other enactments relating to the armed forces; to make provision about service in the reserve forces; to make provision about pardons for certain abolished service offences; to make provision about war pensions; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first and second time without Question put, and re-committed to the Committee of the whole House (Standing Order No. 80A and Order, 8 February); and to be printed (Bill 2) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 2–EN).

7Environment Bill: Presentation (Standing Orders No. 57 and No. 80A, and Order, 26 January)

Secretary George Eustice, supported by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Michael Gove, Alok Sharma, Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary Robert Jenrick, Secretary Grant Shapps, Secretary Brandon Lewis, Secretary Alister Jack, Secretary Simon Hart and Rebecca Pow, presented a Bill to make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment; for statements and reports about environmental protection; for the Office for Environmental Protection; about waste and resource efficiency; about air quality; for the recall of products that fail to meet environmental standards; about water; about nature and biodiversity; for conservation covenants; about the regulation of chemicals; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first and second time without Question put (Standing Order No. 80A and Order, 26 January); to be further considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 3) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 3–EN).

8Finance Bill: Presentation (Standing Orders No. 57 and No. 80B)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by the Chairman of Ways and Means, the Prime Minister, Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary Thérèse Coffey, Secretary Robert Jenrick, Secretary Oliver Dowden, Steve Barclay, Jesse Norman, John Glen and Kemi Badenoch, presented a Bill to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the national debt and the public revenue, and to make further provision in connection with finance.

Bill read the first and second time without Question put (Standing Order No. 80B and Order, 13 April); to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 4) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 4–EN).

9Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Presentation (Standing Orders No. 57 and No. 80A)

Secretary Robert Buckland, supported by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Priti Patel, Secretary Grant Shapps, Secretary Oliver Dowden, the Attorney General, Victoria Atkins and Chris Philp, presented a Bill to make provision about the police and other emergency workers; to make provision about collaboration between authorities to prevent and reduce serious violence; to make provision about offensive weapons homicide reviews; to make provision for new offences and for the modification of existing offences; to make provision about the powers of the police and other authorities for the purposes of preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting crime or investigating other matters; to make provision about the maintenance of public order; to make provision about the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles; to make provision in connection with driving offences; to make provision about cautions; to make provision about bail and remand; to make provision about sentencing, detention, release, management and rehabilitation of offenders; to make provision about secure 16 to 19 Academies; to make provision for and in connection with procedures before courts and tribunals; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first and second time without Question put, and committed to a public bill committee (Standing Order No. 80A and Order, 16 March); and to be printed (Bill 5) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 5–EN).

10Telecommunications (Security) Bill: Presentation (Standing Orders No. 57 and No. 80A)

Matt Warman, supported by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Dominic Raab, Secretary Priti Patel, Michael Gove and Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, presented a Bill to make provision about the security of public electronic communications networks and public electronic communications services.

Bill read the first and second time without Question put (Standing Order No. 80A and Order, 30 November 2020); to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 6) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 6–EN).

11Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Secretary Brandon Lewis, supported by the Prime Minister, Michael Gove, Secretary Alister Jack, Secretary Simon Hart and Robin Walker, presented a Bill to make provision about Ministerial appointments, extraordinary Assembly elections, the Ministerial Code of Conduct and petitions of concern in Northern Ireland.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 7) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 7–EN).

12Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Michael Gove, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Robert Buckland, Steve Barclay, Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg, Mark Spencer, the Attorney General and Chloe Smith, presented a Bill to make provision about the dissolution and calling of Parliament, including provision for the repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 8) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 8–EN).

13Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

John Glen, supported by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Thérèse Coffey, Guy Opperman, Steve Barclay, Jesse Norman and Kemi Badenoch, presented a Bill to provide for the payment out of money provided by Parliament of expenditure incurred by the Treasury for, or in connection with, the payment of compensation to customers of London Capital & Finance plc; provide for the making of loans to the Board of the Pension Protection Fund for the purposes of its fraud compensation functions; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 9) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 9–EN).

14National Insurance Contributions Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by the Prime Minister, Secretary Ben Wallace, Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary Elizabeth Truss, Steve Barclay, Jesse Norman, John Glen and Kemi Badenoch, presented a Bill to make provision in relation to national insurance contributions.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 10) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 10–EN).

15Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Secretary Robert Jenrick, supported by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Michael Gove, Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Jesse Norman, Paul Scully and Luke Hall, presented a Bill to make provision about matters attributable to coronavirus that may not be taken account of in making certain determinations for the purposes of non-domestic rating; and to make provision in connection with the disqualification of directors of companies that are dissolved without becoming insolvent.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 11) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 11–EN).

16Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57)

Secretary Gavin Williamson, supported by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Dominic Raab, Secretary Priti Patel, Michael Gove, Secretary Robert Buckland, Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary Oliver Dowden and Michelle Donelan, presented a Bill to make provision in relation to freedom of speech and academic freedom in higher education institutions and in students’ unions; and for connected purposes.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 12) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 12–EN).

17Queen's Speech (Motion for an Address) (second day)

Debate resumed (Order, 11 May).

Question again proposed, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as follows:

Most Gracious Sovereign, We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

Subject: Better jobs and a fair deal at work

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

Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned.—(David T C Davies.)

Debate to be resumed tomorrow. 

18Adjournment

Subject: Support for grassroots football in Feltham and Heston (Seema Malhotra)

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(David T C Davies.) 

Adjourned at 7.26 pm until tomorrow.

Other Proceedings

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).

19Panel of Chairs (Parliament Act 1911)

Sir Roger Gale and Mr Clive Betts to be the two Members whom the Speaker shall consult, if practicable, before certifying a Bill to be a Money Bill.

20Panel of Chairs (Standing Order No. 83J(8)(a), No. 83P(4) and No. 83U(6))

Sir Roger Gale and Mr Clive Betts to be the two Members whom the Speaker may consult under Standing Order No. 83J(8)(a), No. 83P(4) and No. 83U(6) in deciding whether to certify, in relation to territorial application and devolved legislative competence, (a) a bill, clause of schedule, under Standing Order No. 83J, (b) an instrument, under Standing Order No. 83P and (c) a motion upon which a Finance Bill is to be brought in, under Standing Order No. 83U.

21Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill Committee

Members: Lee Anderson, Victoria Atkins, Siobhan Baillie, Sarah Champion, Bambos Charalambous, Chris Clarkson, Alex Cunningham, Allan Dorans, Mr Robert Goodwill, Antony Higginbotham, Sarah Jones, Peter Kyle, Ian Levy, Chris Philp, Tom Pursglove, Mrs Heather Wheeler and Hywel Williams

22First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Plant Health etc. (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 and the draft Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021)

Members: Maria Caulfield, Mary Glindon, Rebecca Harris, Fay Jones, Tony Lloyd, John McDonnell, Alan Mak, James Morris, Kate Osamor, Victoria Prentis, Tom Pursglove, David Rutley, Mr Barry Sheerman, Maggie Throup, Michael Tomlinson, Jon Trickett and Daniel Zeichner

23Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Caribbean Development Bank (Tenth Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) Order 2021 and the draft Asian Development Bank (Twelfth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 2021)

Members: Nigel Adams, Maria Caulfield, Ms Harriet Harman, Rebecca Harris, Sir Mark Hendrick, Barbara Keeley, Alan Mak, Scott Mann, James Morris, Joy Morrissey, Yasmin Qureshi, Ms Marie Rimmer, David Rutley, Mr Virendra Sharma, Richard Thomson, Maggie Throup and Michael Tomlinson

24Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Electricity Trading (Development of Technical Procedures) (Day-Ahead Market Timeframe) Regulations 2021)

Members: Maria Caulfield, Peter Dowd, Mark Fletcher, Yvonne Fovargue, Gill Furniss, Andrew Gwynne, Rebecca Harris, Alan Mak, Scott Mann, James Morris, Christina Rees, David Rutley, Richard Thomson, Maggie Throup, Michael Tomlinson, Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Dr Alan Whitehead

25Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021)

Members: Mike Amesbury, Kevin Brennan, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Maria Caulfield, John Cryer, Geraint Davies, Rebecca Harris, Eddie Hughes, Alan Mak, Scott Mann, James Morris, Tom Pursglove, Ms Marie Rimmer, David Rutley, Michael Tomlinson and Jacob Young

26Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (Temporary Modifications) Regulations 2021)

Members: Mr Clive Betts, Dawn Butler, Liam Byrne, Maria Caulfield, Rosie Cooper, Mark Fletcher, Gill Furniss, Rebecca Harris, Alan Mak, Scott Mann, James Morris, David Rutley, Richard Thomson, Maggie Throup, Michael Tomlinson, Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Dr Alan Whitehead

Reports from Select Committees

27Environmental Audit Committee

(1) Energy efficiency of existing homes: Government Response to the Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2019-21: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 135);

(2) Green jobs and the just transition: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 75);

(3) Next steps for deposit return schemes: Written evidence, to be published (HC 137)

(Philip Dunne).

28European Scrutiny Committee

(1) First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 121-i);

(2) Ministerial correspondence: Written evidence, to be published (HC 121)

(Sir William Cash).

29Home Affairs Committee

(1) Police conduct and complaints: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 140);

(2) The Macpherson Report: twenty-one years on: Written evidence, to be published (HC 139);

(3) Violence against women and girls: Written evidence, to be published (HC 138);

(4) Violence and abuse towards retail workers: Written evidence, to be published (HC 141)

(Yvette Cooper).

30Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

(1) Mothers in prison: The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: First Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 90);

(2) Correspondence from the Minister for Future Borders and Immigration relating to asylum accommodation: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Freedom of expression: Written evidence, to be published (HC 88);

(4) The Government’s Independent Human Rights Act Review: Written evidence, to be published (HC 89)

(Ms Harriet Harman).

31International Trade Committee

(1) UK Export Finance: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 126);

(2) Correspondence from the Chair-Designate of the Trade Remedies Authority relating to the launch of transition reviews into steel products: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to carbon border adjustments: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to the UK’s continuity agreement with Cameroon: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) Digital trade and data: Written evidence, to be published (HC 123);

(6) Inward Foreign Direct Investment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 124);

(7) UK trade negotiations: Written evidence, to be published (HC 127)

(Angus Brendan MacNeil).

32Justice Committee

(1) Correspondence with HM Chief Inspector of Prisons: Written evidence, to be published;

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

(3) Correspondence with the Permanent Secretary: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) COVID-19 and the criminal law: Written evidence, to be published (HC 71)

(Sir Robert Neill).

33Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

* This item has been corrected since publication.

(1) Citizenship and passport processes in Northern Ireland: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 158);

(2) Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol: Written evidence, to be published (HC 157);

(3) Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions relating to compensation for GB victims of historical institutional abuse: Written evidence, to be published

(Simon Hoare).

34Science and Technology Committee

The role of hydrogen in achieving Net Zero: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 97) (Greg Clark).

35Selection (Committee of)

Bill Wiggin reported, the following Resolutions:

(i) that, after a Bill has been under consideration in a Public Bill Committee, no application for changes in the composition of that Committee in respect of that Bill will be entertained by this Committee except where a Member is incapacitated from attendance by illness, or where he or she has been appointed or ceased to be a Member of the Government or Opposition frontbench, or has changed his or her office for another, or has acquired other duties, or ceased to hold or changed such duties;

(ii) that Motions to alter the membership of select committees may be tabled on behalf of the Committee of Selection only if previously approved at a meeting of the Committee of Selection;

(iii) that if no replacement is identified for a Member wishing to resign from a select committee within six weeks of the receipt by the Chair of the Committee of Selection of a letter from the Member, the Committee shall table a motion to discharge the resigning Member, and shall table a motion to appoint a replacement once he or she has been elected by the political parties concerned; and

(iv) that, when nominating Members to a European Committee, the Committee of Selection will, where practicable, include at least two Members from the European Scrutiny Committee and the relevant Select Committee.

36Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

First Report, to be printed (HC 56-i) (Jessica Morden).

37Statutory Instruments (Select Committee on)

First Report, to be printed (HC 57-i) (Jessica Morden).

38Transport Committee

Major transport infrastructure projects: appraisal and delivery: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 24) (Huw Merriman).

39Treasury Committee

(1) Work of the Financial Conduct Authority: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 146);

(2) Correspondence from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and the Minister of State, Home Office, relating to the Economic Crime Plan: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Government Actuary’s Department Main Estimate Memorandum 2021–22: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) HM Treasury Main Estimate Memorandum 2021–22: Written evidence, to be published;

(5) National Savings & Investments Main Estimate Memorandum 2021–22: Written evidence, to be published

(Mel Stride).

40Women and Equalities Committee

Reform of the Gender Recognition Act: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 129) (Caroline Nokes).

41Work and Pensions Committee

(1) Children in poverty: Measurement and targets: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 188);

(2) Correspondence from the Chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility relating to the Universal Credit managed migration pilot: Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Correspondence with the Minister for Welfare Delivery relating to a Court of Appeal judgment: Written evidence, to be published;

(4) Disability employment gap: Written evidence, to be published (HC 189);

(5) Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment: Written evidence, to be published (HC 190)

(Stephen Timms).

Lindsay Hoyle

Speaker

Papers Laid

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution

1Electricity

Draft Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng)

2Exiting the European Union (Consumer Protection)

Draft Conformity Assessment (Mutual Recognition Agreements) and Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng)

Papers subject to Negative Resolution

3Exiting the European Union (Education)

European Union (European Schools) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 560), dated 10 May 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Nick Gibb)

4Financial Services and Markets

Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) (Amendment) Order 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 566), dated 7 May 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (John Glen)

5Landlord and Tenant

(1) Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms) (England) (Amendment) and Suspension (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 562), dated 11 May 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Christopher Pincher)

(2) Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 564), dated 11 May 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Christopher Pincher)

6Local Government

Accounts and Audit (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 565), dated 10 May 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Luke Hall)

7Public Health

Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 571), dated 11 May 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)

8Public Procurement

Public Procurement (Agreement on Government Procurement) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 573), dated 12 May 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Julia Lopez)

Other papers

9Cabinet Office

Government Response to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Fixed-term Parliaments Act (by Command) (CP 430) (Michael Gove)

10Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Draft Online Safety Bill (by Command) (CP 405) (Caroline Dinenage)

11Statutory Instruments (Notification)

Communication declaring that the undermentioned Statutory Instrument had come into operation before copies were laid before Parliament, and explaining why such copies had not been so laid before the Instrument came into operation:

Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 571) (by Standing Order) (The Speaker)

12Supply Estimates 2021–22

National Audit Office: Main Supply Estimate for 2021–22 (by Act), to be printed (HC 15) (Mr Richard Bacon)

13Treasury

Treasury Minutes Progress Report on the Government responses to the Committee of Public Accounts on Sessions: 2010–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–19, 2019 and 2019–21 (by Command) (CP 424) (Kemi Badenoch)

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 Member listed in the table below is eligible to have a proxy vote cast on their behalf by the nominated proxy 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

Mr Nicholas Brown

13 May 

Chris Elmore

2. 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 Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

13 May 

James Morris

17 May