Clear the Lobby: What Laws are MPs voting on this week? W/C 10th October 2022

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,

What a start to autumn it’s been.

Summer recess ended up running for longer than planned because ordinary business was suspended following the death of the Queen.

That pretty much took us up to the conference recess period, which is why this is only the second newsletter you’ve had since July.

Tory unity will really be tested now.

Liz Truss has taken a pasting in the last few weeks, including from several members of her own party. But are her Tory critics all talk? Now Parliament is in session and votes are happening, we’ll find out just how rebellious they can be.

But Project Truss continues this week.

She was elected on a promise to cut taxes, and she’s continuing to stand by that.

One of the more eye-catching bills would reverse the planned 1.25 percentage-point National Insurance hike brought in under Johnson. It was introduced to pay for social care. Truss says she’ll find the money from general taxation instead.

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

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

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MONDAY 10 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER

Sale of Property (Sealed Bids) Bill
Bans the sale of property by sealed bids (where potential buyers submit their offer in a sealed envelope and no one knows how much the other participants have bid). Ten minute rule motion presented by Bill Wiggin.

Bowel Conditions (Assessment) Bill
Requires the government to publish an assessment of incidences of bowel conditions and diseases, including geographical and socioeconomic trends. Ten minute rule motion presented by Chi Onwurah. She’s previously talked about a “hidden epidemic of bowel disease” in the North West.

Health and Social Care Levy (Repeal) Bill – all stages
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Reverses Boris Johnson’s plan for a 1.25 percentage-point increase to National Insurance to fund social care.
Draft bill (PDF)

WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER

Marine Activities (Licensing) Bill
Transfers responsibility for marine licensing from the Marine Management Organisation to local authorities. Marine licenses are required for all sorts of activities, including laying cables in the sea, dredging, and using explosives. Ten minute rule motion presented by Giles Watling. Follows a delay in licensing in his constituency.

Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: Northern Ireland
Gives the Irish language official recognition in Northern Ireland, and requires an Irish Language Commissioner to promote its use by public authorities. Creates a second commissioner role to promote Ulster Scots language and culture, among other things. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Forms the second part of the govenrment’s efforts to crack down on economic crime, following on from the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022. Reforms the Registrar of Companies to prevent criminals and terrorists from using companies for malicious purposes, and allows law enforcement to seize cryptoassets, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF)

FRIDAY 14 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

• Criminal Appeal (Amendment) Bill – goes to second reading
• Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill – goes to committee stage
• Lithium-Ion Battery Storage (Fire Safety and Environmental Permits) Bill – goes to second reading
• Financial Services and Markets Bill – goes to committee stage

Postponed

• Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
• Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill
• Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill – goes to second reading
• Carer’s Leave Bill – goes to second reading
• Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010) Bill
• Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill

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