Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
Helen Margaret Lilian Morgan, Member for North Shropshire, was sworn.
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 Borough Constituency of Southend West in the room of David Anthony Andrew Amess, deceased.—(Mark Spencer.)
3Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Wales
(2) the Prime Minister
4Statements: (1) COVID-19 (The Prime Minister)
(2) January return to education (Secretary Nadhim Zahawi)
(3) UK-Australia free trade agreement (Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan)
5Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to extend pensions automatic enrolment to all jobholders aged at least 18; to remove the lower qualifying earnings threshold for automatic enrolment; and for connected purposes;
That Mr Richard Holden, Matt Vickers, Simon Fell, Gary Sambrook, Dehenna Davison, Paul Howell, Mark Jenkinson, Duncan Baker, Sally-Ann Hart, Antony Higginbotham, Dr Jamie Wallis and Mrs Natalie Elphicke present the Bill.
Mr Richard Holden accordingly presented the Bill.
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 25 February, and to be printed (Bill 221).
6Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]: Second Reading
Bill read a second time.
7Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]: Programme
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]:
Committal
(1) The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.
Proceedings in Public Bill Committee
(2) Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 1 February 2022.
(3) The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.
Proceedings on Consideration and on Third Reading
(4) Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.
(5) Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.
(6) Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading.
Other proceedings
(7) Any other proceedings on the Bill may be programmed.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Question agreed to.
8Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]: Money
Queen’s Recommendation signified.
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise:
(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of:
(a) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the Act by a Minister of the Crown or a government department; and
(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under or by virtue of any other Act out of money so provided; and
(2) the charging on, and paying out of, the Consolidated Fund of any sum payable under or by virtue of the Act to or in respect of the judiciary.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Question agreed to.
9Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords]: Ways and Means
Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise:
(1) the making of provision under the Act in relation to income tax, capital gains tax, corporation tax, inheritance tax, stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax or stamp duty land tax in connection with—
(a) pension schemes established under provision made under the Act for persons who are or have been members of occupational pension schemes of bodies that were brought into public ownership under the Banking (Special Provisions) Act 2008, or
(b) the transfer under provision made under the Act of any property, rights or liabilities of any such occupational pension scheme or any such body; and
(2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Question agreed to.
10Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Companies (Strategic Report) (Climate-related Financial Disclosure) Regulations 2021, which were laid before this House on 28 October 2021, be approved.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Order 2022, which was laid before this House on 4 November 2021, be approved.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Question agreed to.
(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 and Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2022, which was laid before this House on 16 November 2021, be approved.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Question agreed to.
11Changes to membership of select committees
(1) Ordered, That Judith Cummins and Sarah Owen be discharged from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and Tonia Antoniazzi and Andy McDonald be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(2) Ordered, That Martin Docherty-Hughes be discharged from the Defence Committee and Dave Doogan be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(3) Ordered, That Dan Carden be discharged from the Environmental Audit Committee and Valerie Vaz be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(4) Ordered, That Dave Doogan be discharged from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee and Kirsty Blackman be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(5) Ordered, That Claudia Webbe be discharged from the Foreign Affairs Committee and Liam Byrne be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(6) Ordered, That Ms Anum Qaisar be discharged from the Health and Social Care Committee and Martyn Day be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(7) Ordered, That Janet Daby be discharged from the Justice Committee and Ms Diane Abbott be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(8) Ordered, That Kirsty Blackman be discharged from the Procedure Committee and Patrick Grady be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(9) Ordered, That Lilian Greenwood be discharged from the Transport Committee and Navendu Mishra be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
(10) Ordered, That Anne McLaughlin be discharged from the Women and Equalities Committee and Ms Anum Qaisar be added.—(Sir Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)
Subject: Award of public contracts to private companies during the COVID-19 outbreak (Neale Hanvey)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Michael Tomlinson.)
Adjourned at 9.44 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Changes to Notices Given
13Peerage Nominations (Disqualification of Party Donors) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 4 February, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 18 March.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 14 January, read and discharged.
Bill withdrawn.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 28 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 18 March.
16House of Lords (Elected Senate) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 14 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 25 February.
17Planning (Proper Maintenance of Land) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 14 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 18 March.
18Multi-Academy Trusts (Ofsted Inspection) Bill
Order for Second Reading on Friday 28 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 18 March.
Order for Second Reading on Friday 14 January, read and discharged.
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 18 March.
General Committees: Reports
20Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee
Dame Angela Eagle (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
21Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill Committee
Rushanara Ali (Chair) reported the Bill without Amendment.
Bill, not amended, to be considered on Friday 28 January.
22First Delegated Legislation Committee
Mr Virendra Sharma (Chair) reported the draft Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.
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).
23Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill Committee
Members: Trudy Harrison discharged and Wendy Morton nominated in substitution.
24Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill Committee
Members: Dr Lisa Cameron, Sarah Champion, Philip Davies, Peter Gibson, Mr Richard Holden, Mrs Pauline Latham, Carla Lockhart, Tim Loughton, Julie Marson, Rachael Maskell, Navendu Mishra, Mrs Sheryll Murray, Kate Osamor, Tom Pursglove, Mr Virendra Sharma, Henry Smith and Dr Ben Spencer
25First Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and Pubs Code etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2021)
Members: Siobhan Baillie, Harriett Baldwin, Mr John Baron, Chris Bryant, Felicity Buchan, Dr James Davies, David Duguid, Colleen Fletcher, Richard Fuller, Mark Garnier, Barbara Keeley, Seema Malhotra, Kate Osamor, Paul Scully, Mr Barry Sheerman, Craig Whittaker and Beth Winter
26Second Delegated Legislation Committee (draft International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (Legal Capacities) Order 2022)
Members: Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger and Nicola Richards discharged and Mr Gagan Mohindra and Angela Richardson nominated in substitution.
27Third Delegated Legislation Committee (draft Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 (Airspace Change Directions) (Determination of Turnover for Penalties) Regulations 2022)
Members: Ms Diane Abbott, Mr Richard Bacon, Jake Berry, Crispin Blunt, Andrew Bridgen, Steve Brine, Dan Carden, Robert Courts, Richard Graham, Lilian Greenwood, Dame Meg Hillier, Dan Jarvis, Mike Kane, Sir Greg Knight, Gavin Newlands, Nicola Richards and Amanda Solloway
Reports from Select Committees relating to orders for printing made during the adjournment under Standing Order No. 137
Friday 17 December
28International Trade Committee
UK trade negotiations: Agreement with Australia: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1002) (Clerk of the House).
Monday 20 December
29Human Rights (Joint Committee on)
(1) Protecting human rights in care settings: Written evidence, to be published (HC 714);
(2) Legislative scrutiny: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Written evidence, to be published (HC 91)
(Clerk of the House).
Tuesday 21 December
Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to support for businesses: Written evidence, to be published (Clerk of the House).
Thursday 24 December
Correspondence from the Money and Pensions Service relating to advice on debt: Written evidence, to be published (Clerk of the House).
Reports from Select Committees made on Monday 5 January
32Environmental Audit Committee
(1) Water quality in rivers:
(i) Fourth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 74);
(ii) Written evidence, to be published (HC 74);
(2) Green jobs and the just transition: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1010);
(3) Technological innovations and climate change: negative emissions technologies: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 738)
(Philip Dunne).
Correspondence from the Prime Minister relating to his appearance before the Committee on 17 November 2021: Written evidence, to be published (HC 835) (Sir Bernard Jenkin).
34Women and Equalities Committee
(1) The rights of cohabiting partners: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 130);
(2) Correspondence from the Chair of the EHRC relating to Equality Impact assessment and pay gap reporting: Written evidence, to be published
(Caroline Nokes).
(1) Plan for Jobs and employment support: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 971);
(2) Correspondence with the Permanent Secretary relating to DWP’s communications with customers about debt and fraud: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to the Consumer Council for Water’s Affordability Review: Written evidence, to be published
(Stephen Timms).
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))
1Role of developers, housebuilders and management companies in new homes
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered the role of developers, housebuilders and management companies in new homes.—(David Johnston.)
At 11.00 am, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
2Historical allegations of sexual abuse and the justice system
Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of historical allegations of sexual abuse and the justice system.—(Stephen Timms.)
The sitting was suspended between 11.24 am and 11.30 am.
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House has considered deforestation in the Amazon.—(Chris Grayling.)
At 1.00 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).
4Housing in Sittingbourne and Sheppey
Resolved, That this House has considered housing in Sittingbourne and Sheppey.—(Gordon Henderson.)
5Immigration requirements for non-UK armed forces personnel
Resolved, That this House has considered immigration requirements for non-UK armed forces personnel.—(Dan Jarvis.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 2.29 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers presented and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned dates during the adjournment under Standing Orders No. 158 and No. 159:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
17 December 2021
Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) (No. 26) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1463), dated 16 December 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Sajid Javid)
20 December 2021
Transfer of Functions (Vaccine Damage Payments) Order 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1469), dated 15 December 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Maria Caulfield)
Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1464), dated 16 December 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Christopher Pincher)
29 December 2021
Customs (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1489), dated 29 December 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
4 January 2022
Official Controls (Temporary Measures) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1491), dated 30 December 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary George Eustice)
Other papers
17 December 2021
Informational Copy of the UK - Australia Free Trade Agreement and associated documents, including the Impact Assessment and draft Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan)
7Statutory 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 and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) (No. 25) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1449) (by Standing Order) (The Speaker)
29 December 2021
8Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats (by Command) (CP 585) (Secretary George Eustice)
Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Wednesday 5 January
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Prison and Young Offender Institution (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 4), dated 4 January 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Dominic Raab)
(1) Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Funding of Employers’ Liabilities) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 5), dated 5 January 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
(2) Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Funding of Employers’ Liabilities) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 9), dated 5 January 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)
Other papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Data Protection Act 2018 (Amendment of Schedule 2 Exemptions) Regulations 2022 (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)
Department of Health and Social Care Minute, dated 5 January 2022, concerning a contingent liability relating to the COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Programme (by Command) (Secretary Sajid Javid)
Charter for Budget Responsibility: autumn 2021 update (by Act) (The Chancellor of the Exchequer)
14Statutory 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: Official Controls (Temporary Measures) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1491) (by Standing Order) (The Speaker)
Withdrawn papers
Explanatory Memorandum to the Draft Data Protection Act 2018 (Amendment of Schedule 2 Exemptions) Regulations 2022 (by Command) (laid 10 December 2021)
CORRECTION
Wednesday 15 December 2021
The following item should have appeared after item 6 in Papers Laid:
Exiting the European Union (Customs)
Customs Importation (Miscellaneous Provisions and Amendment) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI, 2021, No. 1442), dated 15 December 2021 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Lucy Frazer)