Clear the Lobby: What laws are MPs voting on this week (w/c 22nd March)

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!

Click here to join more than 5,000 people and get this in your email inbox for free every Sunday. Click here for daily updates on Twitter.

Hey team.

Before we start, a little request from me. I’m trying to learn more about you so I can make Clear the Lobby more relevant. Would you mind answering the question below? It’s totally anonymous, I’m just interested in the split.

Do you work in politics in some capacity?
Yes.  No.

It’s the last week before recess.

Lots of government bills are back from the Lords. Watch for any compromises on the changes made to them in the upper house.

In the Trade Bill, the issue is still the amendment which stops the UK from trading with countries accused of genocide. The Fire Safety Bill amendment is about stopping the owners of buildings from passing on the costs of making them safe to leaseholders or tenants.

Then there’s a bill to create the UK’s answer to DARPA in the US.

This was a pet project of former Johnson advisor Dominic Cummings. Funding for the high-risk research body was announced way back in the 2020 Budget.

And it’s that time of year again.

The emergency coronavirus powers are up for renewal. MPs face a straight yes/no vote on whether to extend them for another six months.

Expect some noise from the COVID Recovery Group of Tory backbenchers, who want restrictions lifted ASAP. The government’s counter-argument is that the powers need to be extended because furlough is running for another six months.

A final note on last week’s policing bill.

It looks like the government is putting the brakes on it. The bill won’t be back in the Commons until after 24 June, which is after both the May elections and the expected state opening of Parliament the same month. Out of sight, out of mind?

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

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

MONDAY 22 MARCH

Trade Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Creates the framework for post-Brexit trade policy. Allows the UK to be part of the WTO’s Agreement on Government Procurement in its own right, rather than as a member of the EU. (This means British businesses are still able to bid for overseas government procurement opportunities covered by the GPA after the end of the transition period.)Establishes a new body, the Trade Remedies Authority, to combat unfair trading practices. Implements the trade deals with countries like South Korea that the UK had as a member of the EU but wants to keep.
Draft bill / Commons Library briefing

Fire Safety Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Wales
Requires owners and managers of multi-occupied residential buildings to inspect cladding and fire doors (the law is currently unclear on what parts of such buildings fire safety regulation applies to). Gives fire and rescue services the power to hold those owners or managers to account. Allows the government to implement the recommendations from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, like new requirements for signage and evacuation plans.
Draft bill / Commons Library briefing

Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
A wide-ranging law that strengthens the approach taken to terrorists. Introduces the Serious Terrorism Sentence for the most dangerous offenders, which carries a minimum of 14 years in custody with an extended licence period of up to 25 years. Removes the possibility of early release from custody for serious offenders who receive an extended sentence.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (part)
This bill broadly does three things: (1) gives the government powers to ensure airports take part in an ongoing modernisation of the UK’s flightpaths (participation is currently voluntary); (2) updates the regulatory framework for air traffic licensing, following a 2016 consultation that found the current system needed revamping; and (3) gives police powers to tackle unmanned aircraft (e.g. drones), including downing them and issuing fines for certain offences. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Lords Library briefing

TUESDAY 23 MARCH

First-Aid (Mental Health) Bill
Makes mental health first aid part of first-aid training requirements. Ten minute rule motion presented by Dean Russell. More info here.

Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Establishes the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), an independent research body for carrying out “high risk, high reward” scientific research. The aim is to allow researchers to work quickly and flexibly on so-called “moonshot” projects in the hope of making breakthrough discoveries.
Draft bill (PDF)

WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH

Gaming Hardware (Automated Purchase and Resale) Bill
Bans automated hardware “scalping”, where people use software to buy games consoles or other computer equipment and sell them on at a much higher price. Ten minute rule motion presented by Douglas Chapman.

THURSDAY 25 MARCH

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 26 MARCH

No votes scheduled

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

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – goes to committee stage
• Goods and Services of UK Origin Bill – goes to 2nd reading
• Education Employment (Accompaniment to Hearings) Bill – goes to 2nd reading

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