Clear the Lobby: What Laws are MPs voting on this week? W/C 13th December 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!

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Hey team,

It’s the last week before recess.

MPs head back to their constituencies from Thursday until the new year.

But it’s going to be a rough one for the prime minister.

On top of dealing with questions about rule-breaking Christmas parties and the cost of his Downing Street flat refurbishment, he faces a potentially significant backlash when his Plan B Covid restrictions go to a vote on Tuesday.

He’s not expected to be defeated, but a hefty rebellion isn’t a good look, especially now.

And ping pong continues on the Armed Forces Bill.

The sticking point between the Commons and the Lords is whether service personnel accused of very serious crimes (e.g. rape, manslaughter and murder) should be tried in a civilian court or by court martial.

The bill has to be sorted by the end of the month, so expect a government compromise.

Thank you all for reading this year. Have a lovely Christmas, and we’ll pick this up in 2022. In the meantime, feel free to tweet me, or just reply to this email.

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

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MONDAY 13 DECEMBER
Armed Forces Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part), Isle of Man (part), British overseas territories except Gibraltar (part)
Renews the Armed Forces Act 2006, which provides the legal basis for the existence of the Armed Forces, and expires at the end of this year. Makes some changes to the service justice system (the Army’s disciplinary code). Creates a new independent body to oversee complaints about the Service Police. Further incorporates the Armed Forces Covenant (an understanding that those serving will be treated fairly) into law.
Draft bill / Commons Library briefing

Subsidy Control Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland (part)
Creates a legal framework to allow public authorities, including devolved administrations and local councils, to deliver subsidies to businesses. Aims to give them more flexibility meet local needs around levelling up, achieving net-zero carbon, and supporting economic recovery from the pandemic. This replaces EU state aid rules.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER
Cold Climate Allowance Bill
Requires the government to report on providing higher state pensions and social security benefits to people living in colder parts of the country, to reflect the extra heating costs. Ten minute rule motion presented by Neale Hanvey.

WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER
Child Criminal Exploitation Bill
Makes involvement in child criminal exploitation an aggravating factor in sentencing for drug supply, production, importation and money laundering offences, meaning a stricter sentence is likely. Also makes being a victim of child criminal exploitation a mitigating factor in sentencing for these offences. Ten minute rule motion presented by Lyn Brown.

Professional Qualifications Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Sets out a new system for how professional qualifications gained abroad are recognised in the UK. Allows regulators in the UK and overseas to mutually recognise qualifications, replacing the current method which comes from EU law and gives preferential treatment to European qualifications. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

THURSDAY 16 DECEMBER
No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER
No votes scheduled

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

LAST WEEK’S VOTES
Passed

Armed Forces Bill – went back to Lords, back in Commons on Monday
Dormant Assets Bill – goes to committee stage
Dyslexia Screening Bill – goes to second reading
Nationality and Borders Bill – goes to Lords
Community Wealth Fund Bill – goes to second reading
Postponed

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