Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 2.30 pm.
Prayers
1Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
2Urgent Question: Report relating to the Metropolitan Police's handling of the strip search of a schoolgirl (Kit Malthouse)
3Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (17th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))
(1) P&O Ferries and employment rights
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House condemns the decision of P&O Ferries to fire 800 staff without notice and demands their immediate reinstatement; notes that DP World, the owner of P&O Ferries, received millions of pounds of taxpayers' money during the coronavirus pandemic; calls on the Government to suspend the contracts and licences of DP World and remove them from the Government's Transport Advisory Group; and further calls on the Government to bring forward a Bill urgently to outlaw fire and rehire and strengthen workers' rights.—(Louise Haigh.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put.
The House divided.
Division No. 217
Ayes: 211 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Navendu Mishra)
Noes: 0 (Tellers: Lilian Greenwood, Mark Tami)
Question accordingly agreed to.
Resolved, That this House condemns the decision of P&O Ferries to fire 800 staff without notice and demands their immediate reinstatement; notes that DP World, the owner of P&O Ferries, received millions of pounds of taxpayers' money during the coronavirus pandemic; calls on the Government to suspend the contracts and licences of DP World and remove them from the Government's Transport Advisory Group; and further calls on the Government to bring forward a Bill urgently to outlaw fire and rehire and strengthen workers' rights.
(2) The impact of cost of living increases on pensioners
Motion made and Question proposed, That this House is concerned that older people and pensioners risk being at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis as a result of spiralling inflation, a lack of Government action on household energy bills, a poorly thought-through tax rise on older people in work and a real-terms reduction to the state pension; notes that the state pension is being cut in real-terms by hundreds of pounds a year and that working pensioners will begin paying the Health and Social Care Levy from next year; regrets that levels of pensioner poverty and pensioner debt have risen over the last decade even before the current cost of living crisis with almost one in five pensioners now living in poverty; and calls upon the Government to cut home energy bills, halt the planned tax rise on working pensioners and ensure older people are protected from the cost of living crisis.—(Jonathan Ashworth.)
The Deputy Speaker announced a time limit on backbench speeches (Standing Order No. 47(1)).
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House is concerned that older people and pensioners risk being at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis as a result of spiralling inflation, a lack of Government action on household energy bills, a poorly thought-through tax rise on older people in work and a real-terms reduction to the state pension; notes that the state pension is being cut in real-terms by hundreds of pounds a year and that working pensioners will begin paying the Health and Social Care Levy from next year; regrets that levels of pensioner poverty and pensioner debt have risen over the last decade even before the current cost of living crisis with almost one in five pensioners now living in poverty; and calls upon the Government to cut home energy bills, halt the planned tax rise on working pensioners and ensure older people are protected from the cost of living crisis.
4Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval
(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Electricity Supplier Payments (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 7 February, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)
Question agreed to.
(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Food and Feed Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022, which were laid before this House on 21 February, be approved.—(Rebecca Harris.)
Question agreed to.
(1) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to the Bannerman High School anti-racism charter was presented and read by David Linden.
(2) A public petition from residents of the United Kingdom relating to the National Insurance increase was presented and read by Richard Burgon.
Subject: Gambling Act Review and coroner's inquest into the death of Jack Ritchie (Paul Blomfield)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Rebecca Harris.)
Adjourned at 10.31 pm until tomorrow.
Other Proceedings
Lords Messages
7Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom to be granted to the family members of refugees and of people granted humanitarian protection; and to provide for legal aid to be made available in such cases, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision about planning applications for onshore wind installations, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
9Cigarette Stick Health Warnings Bill [Lords]
The Lords have passed a Bill to require tobacco manufacturers to print health warnings on individual cigarette sticks and cigarette rolling papers, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.
First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills
10Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 6 May, and to be printed (Bill 286).
11Cigarette Stick Health Warnings Bill [Lords]
Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 6 May, and to be printed (Bill 287).
Changes to Notices Given
Bill to be read a second time on Friday 6 May.
General Committees: Reports
13First Delegated Legislation Committee
Derek Twigg (Chair) reported the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 203), the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 205), and the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 241).
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).
14First Delegated Legislation Committee (Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 203), Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 205) and Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 241))
Members: Sir Geoffrey Cox and Dr Andrew Murrison discharged and Saqib Bhatti and Ian Levy nominated in substitution.
Reports from Select Committees
Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 21 March, to be published (Sir Charles Walker).
(1) Government policy on Afghanistan: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 685);
(2) Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary relating to dual nationals and International Military Services (IMS) debt: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Use of strategic lawsuits against public participation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1196);
(4) Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written evidence, to be published (HC 518)
(Tom Tugendhat).
17Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee
* This item has been corrected since publication. See the Votes and Proceedings from Tuesday 10 May 2022 for details.
(1) Appointment of the Chair of the Regulator of Social Housing:
(i) Eighth Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1207);
(ii) Oral evidence, to be published (HC 1207);
(2) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Equalities relating to the Government's response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities' report: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence relating to support for Ukrainian refugees: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Association of British Insurers relating to buildings insurance premiums and pay-outs: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Exempt accommodation: Written evidence, to be published (HC 959);
(6) The regulation of social housing: Written evidence, to be published (HC 874)
(Mr Clive Betts).
18National Security Strategy (Joint Committee on)
(1) Critical national infrastructure and climate adaptation: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 985);
(2) Correspondence with the Paymaster General relating to the UK Biological Security Strategy: Written evidence, to be published
(Margaret Beckett).
19Public Accounts (Committee of)
(1) HMRC’s management of tax debt: Forty-eighth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 953);
(2) Financial sustainability of the higher education sector in England: Oral and written evidence, to be published (HC 1057);
(3) Correspondence with HM Treasury relating to the Subsidy Control Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Correspondence with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport relating to the National Lottery: Written evidence, to be published;
(5) Correspondence with the Department of Health and Social Care relating to a contingent liability—the Ockenden Review: Written evidence, to be published;
(6) Department of Health and Social Care Annual Reports and Accounts 2020–21: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1115);
(7) High Speed 2: Progress at summer 2021: Written evidence, to be published (HC 329)
(Dame Meg Hillier).
(1) Defence in Scotland: Oral evidence, to be published (HC 611);
(2) Hydrogen and carbon capture in Scotland: Written evidence, to be published (HC 1022);
(3) Labour shortages: Written evidence, to be published (HC 879)
(Pete Wishart).
(1) Defeating Putin: the development, implementation and impact of economic sanctions on Russia: Twelfth Report, to be printed, with the formal minutes relating to the Report (HC 1186);
(2) Correspondence from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury relating to the Independent Panel on Ring-fencing and Proprietary Trading: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury relating to the Subsidy Control Bill: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) Future of financial services: Written evidence, to be published (HC 147)
(Mel Stride).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 4.30 pm.
Debate on e-petitions (Standing Orders No. 10(1)(a) and No. 145A(7))
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 333693, relating to badger culling.—(Nick Fletcher.)
The sitting was suspended between 5.39 pm and 6.00 pm.
2Support for new adoptive parents
Resolved, That this House has considered e-petition 601323, relating to support for new adoptive parents.—(Elliot Colburn.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 7.00 pm until tomorrow.
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution
Draft Licensing Act 2003 (Platinum Jubilee Licensing Hours) Order 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 128), dated 18 March 2022 (by Order), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Eddie Hughes)
Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) and Persons subject to Immigration Control (Housing Authority Accommodation and Homelessness) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 339), dated 18 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Eddie Hughes)
Occupational Pensions Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Modifications and Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 337), dated 17 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Guy Opperman)
Police and Firefighters Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 336), dated 16 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)
(1) Child Benefit and Tax Credits (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 346), dated 21 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr Simon Clarke)
(2) Social Security (Habitual Residence and Past Presence) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 344), dated 21 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (David Rutley)
(3) Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 342), dated 17 March 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (David Rutley)
Other papers
7Statutory Instruments (Notification)
(1) Notification to Parliament of a published draft instrument pursuant to Paragraph 14 of Schedule 8 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018: Merchant Shipping (Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers) Regulations (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)
(2) Notification to Parliament of a published draft instrument pursuant to Paragraph 14 of Schedule 8 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018: Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (by Command) (Secretary Grant Shapps)