Clear the Lobby: What Laws are MPs voting on this week? W/C 6th September 2021

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.

Another reminder about something new we’ll be trying over the next few months. It’s a subreddit where you can share your idea for a new bill, build support from other users, and get help to pass it in Parliament. With enough people taking part, we hope to build a platform that can create real, positive change. Click here to join, and we’ll start when we hit 1,000 subscribers. Any questions, just reply to this email.

Welcome back, hope you’ve had a great summer.

MPs return to Westminster this week after recess.

Of course they’ve already come back once, to debate Afghanistan after Kabul fell to the Taliban. Now MPs face a full week of lawmaking, with the Elections Bill as the highlight.

Another theme is Universal Credit.

The temporary £20 uplift is set to expire on 6 October.

Wednesday is an Opposition Day, so expect Labour to use that as an opportunity to pressure the government into performing a U-turn.

And private members’ bills return after a pandemic pause.

Remember, only a few of the private members’ bills listed below will be debated because of time constraints, and only the ones with government backing tend to pass. That’s the case for Mark Jenkinson’s bill, which extends careers guidance to children in year 7.

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

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

We’re on Patreon!
Will you help us make UK politics more accessible?
Support us on Patreon so we can do even more!
Become a patron on Patreon

MONDAY 6 SEPTEMBER

National Insurance Contributions Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Introduces tax relief for employers taking on employees in a freeport, or hiring veterans who have left the armed forces within the last year. Also exempts the self-employed from paying National Insurance on £500 self-isolation support payments, bringing them in line with employees (applies retroactively to the 2020/21 tax year).
Draft bill / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

Transport (Disabled Passenger Charter) Bill
Establishes a passenger charter for disabled public transport passengers setting out their rights, the legal obligations of transport operators, complaints procedures, passenger assistance schemes and accessibility requirements. Aims to give disabled passengers the information needed on how to complain when travel goes wrong. Ten minute rule motion presented by Charlotte Nichols.

Elections Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Introduces new measures aimed at strengthening the integrity of the electoral process, including requiring voters to show ID in General Elections. Scraps the 15-year limit on voting for UK citizens living overseas. Lays out new rules for EU citizens standing and voting in UK elections. Requires digital campaign materials to show details of the promoter of the materials (as is the case for printed materials).
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

Multi-Academy Trusts (OFSTED Inspection) Bill
Allows Ofsted to inspect the governing bodies of Multi-Academy Trusts. Ten minute rule motion presented by Jonathan Gullis.

THURSDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

The Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Scotland (part), Wales, Northern Ireland (part)
Clarifies that altering the use of a building because of the pandemic (e.g. requirements to close or enforce social distancing) doesn’t count as a “material change of circumstances” for business rates purposes. Many business owners had argued this because it can lower their building’s assumed rental value, potentially reducing business rates in the future. Also closes a legal loophole by giving the Insolvency Service powers to investigate the directors of dissolved companies. Previously, some directors had fraudulently avoided repaying government-backed coronavirus loans by closing down their businesses.
Draft bill / Commons Library briefing

FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Requires state schools to provide careers guidance for children throughout their secondary education. Currently, guidance does not have to be provided until year 8. Private members’ bill presented by Mark Jenkinson.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Requires taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities to share information with each other to prevent unsuitable people from becoming licensed. Private members’ bill presented by Peter Gibson.
Draft bill (PDF)

Cultural Objects (Protection from Seizure) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Currently, foreign cultural objects on loan to UK museums are protected from seizure or forfeiture for 12 months. This bill would allow that to be extended by a further three months. It’s intended to alleviate concerns from museums and international lenders that cultural objects may be left unprotected if there are travel disruptions, e.g. those caused by the pandemic. Private members’ bill presented by Mel Stride.
Draft bill (PDF)

Miniature Mobile Phones (Prohibition of Sale) Bill – 2nd reading
Bans the sale of mini mobile phones designed to be smuggled into prisons. Private members’ bill presented by Sarah Atherton.

Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to establish an independent review of disabilities caused by Covid-19 vaccinations, and the adequacy of the compensation offered to people affected. Private members’ bill presented by Christopher Chope.

Employment Bill – 2nd reading
Creates a single employment status for workers and employees for the purpose of employment rights, among other things. Private members’ bill presented by Martin Docherty-Hughes.
Draft bill (PDF)

Public Advocate Bill – 2nd reading
Creates the role of public advocate to give advice to families of people killed in major incidents. Seeks to avoid a repeat of the lengthy process after the Hillsborough disaster. Private members’ bill presented by Maria Eagle. More information here.

Wellbeing of Future Generations (No. 2) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Among other things: Requires a public consultation to inform a set of national wellbeing goals, and requires public bodies to act in pursuit of the UK’s environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing by meeting wellbeing objectives. Private members’ bill presented by Simon Fell.
Draft bill (PDF)

Climate and Ecology Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Requires the prime minister to declare a climate emergency and commit to meeting certain targets. Requires the government to create a strategy for meeting those targets, with help from a citizens’ assembly. Private members’ bill presented by Caroline Lucas.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Tips Bill – 2nd reading
Bans employers from keeping tips intended for staff. Private members’ bill presented by Dean Russell.

Hospitals (Parking Charges and Business Rates) Bill – 2nd reading
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.

Voter Registration Bill – 2nd reading
Bans people from registering to vote in parliamentary elections in more than one constituency. Private members’ bill presented by Peter Bone.

Asylum Seekers (Return to Safe Countries) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK from a safe country to be returned immediately to that country. Private members’ bill presented by Peter Bone.

Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill – 2nd reading
Changes retained EU laws in relation to compulsory vehicle insurance. No more detail available at this time. Private members’ bill presented by Peter Bone.

Workers (Employment Security and Definition) Bill – 2nd reading
Gives all workers the right to fixed and regular weekly hours, among other things. Private members’ bill presented by Martin Docherty-Hughes.
Draft bill (PDF)

Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Requires the installation of automated external defibrillators in public buildings, sports facilities, schools, higher education establishments, and facilities that provide care to vulnerable people. Private members’ bill presented by Jim Shannon.
Draft bill (PDF)

Fire and Building Safety (Public Inquiry) Bill – 2nd reading
Establishes an independent public inquiry into the government’s response to concerns about fire and building safety following the Grenfell Tower disaster. Private members’ bill presented by Daisy Cooper.

Israel Arms Trade (Prohibition) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Bans the trading of arms with Israel, among other things. Private members’ bill presented by Richard Burgon.
Draft bill (PDF)

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Bill
Requires dog owners to pay full compensation to farmers if livestock are killed in dog attacks. Currently a convicted dog owner can only be fined £1,000. Also requires police to record dog attacks on livestock, and allows them to obtain DNA from suspect dogs. Private members’ bill presented by Virginia Crosbie.

Button Batteries (Safety) Bill – 2nd reading
Sets a minimum safety standard for products containing button (flat) batteries. Follows the death of a child from swallowing such a battery. More information here. Private members’ bill presented by Jo Gideon.

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

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Nationality and Borders Bill – goes to committee stage
• Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Bill – goes to second reading
• United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Pension Transfers (Parliamentary And Health Service Ombudsman Investigation) Bill – goes to second reading
• Building Safety Bill – goes to committee stage

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