Contents
Chamber business
The House met at 9.30 am.
The Clerk at the Table informed the House of the absence of the Speaker from this day’s sitting, pursuant to leave given on 23 May.
Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table.
Prayers
Dame Eleanor Laing, the Chairman of Ways and Means, took the Chair as Deputy Speaker (Standing Order No. 3).
3Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
(2) the Attorney General
4Urgent Question: Evacuations from Afghanistan (James Cleverly)
5Business Question (Leader of the House)
6Statement: Economic update (Chancellor of the Exchequer)
7Address to Her Majesty (Platinum Jubilee)
The Deputy Speaker read a statement from the Speaker as follows:
"The House will be aware that I am absent as I am travelling to the Falkland Islands for a long-planned visit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the war there.
I had hoped – and passed on my hope to the Government – that the debate on the Humble Address might have been scheduled for an earlier day, so as to avoid the clash, but for reasons I do not fully understand that has not been possible.
Therefore, I hope the House will understand that I want to put on record that no disrespect is intended by my absence – indeed, I look forward to celebrating the Jubilee in the Falkland Islands where, in the words of the Chair of the Legislative Assembly "our distance only serves to strengthen the feelings of gratitude, love and respect, that we have for Her Majesty The Queen".
I would like to give my own short tribute to Her Majesty, the Duke of Lancaster. Most Gracious Sovereign: we, your faithful House of Commons, offer our heartfelt congratulations on the completion of 70 years of your reign. We too are pleased to have contributed to the Jubilee lamps in New Palace Yard to symbolise the enduring and guiding light you have been to our nation and indeed, the whole world.
Not only has Your Majesty been a constant presence in the lives of most of your subjects, but you are also the third-longest serving monarch in world history – and the first in this country to achieve a Platinum Jubilee – which is an incredible feat.
Your long and distinguished reign has seen extraordinary changes at home and in the wider world. The United Kingdom of 1952 would be unrecognisable today. Back then, the country was making tentative steps towards rebuilding and recovering from the ravages of the Second World War – while today, we are grateful to our NHS for leading us through the pandemic, and look warily upon the war in Ukraine and the shockwaves it has delivered across the globe.
We have moved at lightning speed from rationing through to the jet age, to the space age, to the digital age. The nature of society has changed dramatically too, as today we are richly multicultural and multi-faith, celebrating diversity and equality – making this country not only a vibrant and exciting place to live, but one that is proud its people can be true to themselves.
Our place in the world has also changed during this time. Seventy years ago, this Parliament was at the heart of an Empire. Today we are one of 54 independent members of the Commonwealth, of which you are head. We are no longer members of the European Union, and we have chosen to delegate powers to the devolved Parliaments of Scotland and Wales as well as the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The House of Commons today looks rather different from 1952 too. We have 13 times as many women Members – from 17 female MPs in 1951, to 225 in 2022 – and it is also a younger House.
Without doubt your lengthy reign and experience, your sage advice and your devotion to the UK, the British Overseas’ Territories, and the Commonwealth of Nations, has been of particular benefit to all 14 prime ministers who have served you over the years.
Platinum is the appropriate epithet for this jubilee. It is one of the purest of the precious metals, it is rare, durable and enormously valued. For 70 years, Your Majesty has profoundly demonstrated all these qualities. On behalf of all the Members of the House of Commons, may I thank you wholeheartedly for all that you have done, are doing and will do for the good of our country."
Resolved, nemine contradicente, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty to offer the heartfelt good wishes and loyal devotion of the House on the occasion of the Seventieth Anniversary of Her Accession to the Throne, expressing its deep gratitude for Her Majesty’s lifelong unstinting service, leadership and commitment to the United Kingdom, Dependencies and Territories, Her other Realms, and the Commonwealth.—(The Prime Minister.)
Subject: Government proposals to introduce a deposit return scheme (Mr Philip Hollobone)
Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Miss Sarah Dines.)
Adjourned at 4.41 pm until Monday 6 June (Resolution, 1 December 2021, in the last Session of Parliament).
Other Proceedings
General Committees: Reports
Sir Roger Gale (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.
Written evidence to be published.
10Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
Judith Cummins (Chair) reported the draft Passport (Fees) Regulations 2022.
Select Committees: Reports
11Backbench Business Committee
Determination of business to be taken on Thursday 9 June in the Chamber and Thursday 9 and Tuesday 14 June in Westminster Hall (Ian Mearns).
12Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(1) Correspondence from the Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East relating to support for British nationals who are victims of rape and sexual assault abroad: Written evidence, to be published;
(2) Correspondence from the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office relating to Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours Competition: Written evidence, to be published;
(3) Correspondence with the Lord Chancellor relating to Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of a ‘Bill of Rights’: Written evidence, to be published;
(4) The Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Clearing House: Written evidence, to be published (HC 262)
(Mr William Wragg).
Lindsay Hoyle
Speaker
Westminster Hall
The sitting began at 1.30 pm.
Business determined by the Backbench Business Committee (Standing Orders No. 10(7) and No. 14(4))
1Anti-social behaviour and off-road bikes
Resolved, That this House has considered anti-social behaviour and off-road bikes.—(Grahame Morris.)
The sitting was suspended between 2.18 pm and 3.00 pm.
Resolved, That this House has considered the funeral plan industry.—(Lucy Allan.)
Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(14)).
Adjourned at 4.11 pm until Monday 6 June (Resolution, 1 December 2021, in the last Session of Parliament).
Eleanor Laing
Chairman of Ways and Means
Papers Laid
Papers subject to Negative Resolution
Sentencing Act 2020 (Surcharge) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 584), dated 25 May 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) and an Impact Assessment (Secretary Dominic Raab)
(1) Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 581), dated 25 May 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)
(2) Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 571), dated 23 May 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Priti Patel)
Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) (Business Lease Notices) Regulations 2022 (SI, 2022, No. 578), dated 24 May 2022 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Eddie Hughes)
Other papers
4Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
(1) An Agreement between Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the British Broadcasting Corporation (by Command) (CP 682) (Secretary Nadine Dorries)
(2) Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Minute, dated 26 May 2022, concerning notification of a contingent liability in relation to a Government underwrite to support the delivery of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (by Command) (Nigel Huddleston)
Election for Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Result (The Speaker)
Victims Funding Strategy (by Command) (CP 684) (Secretary Dominic Raab)