Clear the Lobby: What laws are MPs voting on this week (w/c 21st September)?

Welcome to our weekly feature courtesy of Sebastian Salek, the brains behind Clear the Lobby, working to bring you all the laws MPs are voting on this week, and explained in plain English!

Hey team.

Sometimes it’s what’s not on the order paper that turns out to be most significant.

Keep a watch out for ministerial statements on COVID.

There’s nothing scheduled, but at the rate things are moving you’d imagine someone would update MPs on the situation.

Separately, lots of news outlets are reporting Boris Johnson could hold a televised press conference as early as Tuesday setting out the next steps.

Then the controversial UK Internal Market Bill gets another airing in the Commons.

It should get a relatively easy ride, after the government buckled under pressure from Tory backbenchers and allowed an amendment to give Parliament a veto before breaking international law.

The real challenge is in the Lords. Several peers have spoken out against the Bill, and their delaying powers could be particularly significant given the end-of-year deadline for striking an EU free trade deal. We spoke with one of them on Bloomberg Westminster this week.

And on Friday you’ve got another round of private members’ bills.

As usual, only the first few will actually get debated.

Until next week. In the meantime, feel free to tweet me, or just reply to this email.

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill – committee stage day 3
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Sets out the new legal framework for trade between the UK’s four nations after Brexit.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

Planning (Proper Maintenance of Land) Bill
Increases the fine for failing to maintain land properly under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Ten minute rule motion presented by Jonathan Gullis.

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill – committee stage day 4
See above.

WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

Pets (Microchips) Bill
Requires vets to scan a microchip before euthanising healthy animals to check the person requesting it has the authority to do so. Also ensures dead pets can’t be cremated before being checked for a microchip. Ten minute rule motion presented by James Daly. Also known as Tuk’s Law.

Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England (part), Wales (part), Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Creates a “triple lock” for prosecution decisions about historic military offences, among other things. They are: a) “presumption against prosecution” for alleged crimes committed overseas more than five years ago, b) prosecutors required to give particular weight to certain issues, and c) Attorney General must consent before prosecution can proceed.
Draft bill

THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

Forensic Science Regulator and Biometrics Strategy Bill – 2nd reading
Estalishes the (existing) role of Forensic Science Regulator in law. Requires the government to publish an annual strategy on biometric technologies, and limit their use when the strategy recommends it. Private members’ bill presented by Darren Jones.

Public Interest Disclosure (Protection) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland
Repeals the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and creates new whistleblowing laws, including criminal sanctions for harming whistleblowers or failing to act on their disclosures, and the creation of an independent body to enforce better whistleblowing governance. Private members’ bill presented by Philippa Whitford.
Draft bill (PDF)

Illegal Immigration (Offences) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland
Creates new offences for people who have entered the UK illegally, or have overstayed their visas. Private members’ bill presented by Christopher Chope.

Border Control Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland
Toughens rules over illegal immigration into the UK. Introduces sanctions including deportation of illegal immigrants. Private members’ bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

Foreign Nationals (Criminal Offender and Prisoner Removal) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires foreign criminals and prisoners to be deported from the UK. Private members’ bill presented by Christopher Chope.

National Health Service (Co-Funding and Co-Payment) Bill – 2nd reading
Allows GPs to charge patients for appointments. Private members’ bill presented by Christopher Chope.

Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill – 2nd reading
Reclassifies assaults on retail offenders as aggravated offences, which makes them liable for tougher sentencing. Private members’ bill presented by Alex Norris.

Desecration of War Memorials Bill – 2nd reading
Makes it an offence to desecrate a war memorial. Private members’ bill presented by Jonathan Gullis.

Demonstrations (Abortion Clinics) Bill – 2nd reading
Restricts demonstrations near abortion clinics. Private members’ bill presented by Rupa Huq.

Domestic Properties (Minimum Energy Performance) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to ensure that domestic properties have a minimum energy performance rating of C on an Energy Performance Certificate. Private members’ bill presented by Sir David Amess.

Internet Access (Children Eligible for Free School Meals) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Requires the government to ensure that all children eligible for free school meals have a broadband connection and facilities to access the internet at home. Private members’ bill presented by Siobhain McDonagh.
Draft bill (PDF)

Unpaid Work Experience (Prohibition) (No. 2) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Bans unpaid work experience of more than four weeks. Private members’ bill presented by Alex Cunningham.
Draft bill

Hospitals (Parking Charges and Business Rates) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Bans NHS hospitals from charging patients and visitors for car parking. Makes NHS hospitals exempt from business rates. Private members’ bill presented by Peter Bone.
Draft bill

Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill – 2nd Reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Scraps the plan to cut the number of MPs to 600, from 650 (N.B. the government has already ditched this plan). Private members’ bill presented by Peter Bone.
Draft bill

Pedicabs (London) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Regulates pedicabs to the same degree as taxis and private hire services. Requires drivers to have a licence from Transport for London to operate, and gives TfL the power to regulate prices and vehicles used. Private members’ bill presented by Nickie Aiken.
Draft bill (PDF)

Magistrates (Retirement Age) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Raises the mandatory retirement age for magistrates to 75, from 70. Private members’ bill presented by Edward Timpson.
Draft bill (PDF)

Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings (Motion) Bill
Requires the Leader of the House of Commons to propose a motion that states all MPs have the same right to take part in proceedings, and establishes a way for MPs who can’t come to Westminster to participate and vote remotely. Private members’ bill presented by Dawn Butler.

Want more?
Check your MP’s voting record and read the day’s debates at TheyWorkForYou.

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• United Kingdom Internal Market Bill – goes to committee stage
• Digitally Altered Body Images Bill – goes to 2nd reading
• Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings (Motion) Bill – goes to 2nd reading

Click here to read details of the bills in last week’s newsletter.

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