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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.
The most interesting thing this week isn’t a new law, per se.
It’s the vote on extending emergency virus powers.
The motion itself isn’t contentious, but lots of MPs are getting annoyed about the government using secondary legislation to make virus laws. To remedy that, Sir Graham Brady has put forward an amendment to give Parliament a say before any further measures come into force.
The Speaker isn’t guaranteed to select the amendment, but it has cross-party backing from more than 40 MPs, so we could be looking at a government defeat if there’s no climbdown.
Meanwhile the Internal Market Bill goes to report stage and third reading.
If it makes it through, it’s off to the House of Lords. As I’ve said before, peers are likely to give it a rough ride. At the same time, the government could halt debate on the bill while EU trade talks play out, and press on if things go awry.
Until next week. In the meantime, feel free to tweet me, or just reply to this email.
Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)
MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
No votes scheduled
TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
Problem Drug Use Bill
Requires the government to declare problem drug use a public health emergency and review the effects of pausing or reducing benefits payments on drug users. Also decriminalises the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use and makes the Department for Health the lead department for drugs policy, among other things. Ten minute rule motion presented by Tommy Sheppard.
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
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
WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
Business Standards Bill
Creates an accreditation scheme for businesses that meet certain standards on paying taxes, workers’ rights and environmental performance. Ten minute rule motion presented by John McDonnell. The aim is to deny COVID aid for companies that don’t comply. More information here.
Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No.2) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Postpones the next evaluation of business rates by one year, to 1 April 2023. Before the pandemic, the government had been planning to bring the revaluation forward to 2021.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
Sentencing Bill – all stages
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Consolidation bill to tidy up sentencing law (doesn’t change the law, just brings a number of existing ones together under one act). Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
THURSDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill – all stages
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland
Annual review of benefit and pensions rates to make sure they’re in line with average wages and inflation.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
FRIDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
No votes scheduled
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 report stage
- Planning (Proper Maintenance of Land) – goes to 2nd reading
- Pets (Microchips) Bill – goes to 2nd reading
- Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill – goes to committee stage
Click here to read details of the bills in last week’s newsletter.
Click here to get this in your email inbox every Sunday. Additionally, you can follow this update on Twitter. Read all the past updates here.
