Clear the Lobby: What laws are MPs voting on this week (w/c 5th October)

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.

A lot of big government bills this week.

Despite Boris Johnson looking fallible after a few backbench rebellions recently, he’s making the most out of his majority to push through legislation. It includes a law on the extent to which police and security services can break the law while working undercover.

But watch what MPs have to say about virus regulations.

They were promised more of a say after last week’s uprising. As part of that, they’ll retrospectively debate the “rule of six” on Tuesday. The tone of that will offer an insight into just how placated Tory backbenchers are.

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

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

MONDAY 5 OCTOBER

Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Allows police or intelligence services who have infiltrated a group to undertake criminal acts to establish their credibility.
Draft bill (PDF)

TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill
Criminalises marriage or civil partnerships for people under of 18. Revokes the ability for parents to permit marriages of children aged 16-18 by giving their consent. Ten minute rule motion presented by Pauline Latham.

Prisoners (Disclosure of Information about Victims) Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England and Wales
If an offender refuses to reveal the location of a victim’s remains, or the identity of a child in indecent images, the Parole Board must take that into account when deciding if they should be released from prison. Follows the release of murderer Ian Simms, who since 1988 has refused to disclose the whereabouts of Helen McCourt. The Lords also added an amendment requiring the Parole Board to maintain a database of victims’ families and give them information about an offender’s parole application.
Draft bill / Commons Library briefing

Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill – comittee stage, report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Implements three international agreements (the 1996, 2005 and 2007 Hague Conventions) into domestic law so they’ll still apply after the Brexit transition period ends. Gives the government powers to implement future international agreements on private international law without primary legislation. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Lords Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER

Conveyancing Standards Bill
Establishes minimum standards for searches and assessments of risk for solicitors and licenced conveyancers acting on behalf of people buying residential properties. Ten minute rule motion presented by Marco Longhi. Intended to protect buyers from hidden costs like uncapped increases in maintenance charges.

Pension Schemes Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England (part), Wales (part), Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Sets out the legal framework for a new type of pension, a “collective defined contribution” scheme, where members pool their money together into one pot to reduce risk. Also gives the Pensions Regulator more powers to tackle abuse, and lays the groundwork for online “pensions dashboards” to show people their savings in one place, among other things. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

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

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Problem Drug Use Bill – goes to 2nd reading
• United Kingdom Internal Market Bill – goes to Lords
• Business Standards Bill – goes to 2nd reading
• Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No.2) Bill – goes to report stage
• Sentencing Bill – goes for Royal Assent
• Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill – goes to Lords

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