Clear the Lobby: What Laws are MPs voting on this week? W/C 12th December 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!

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.

It’s the last full week before Christmas.

Plenty to do before MPs get a break, though. They’ll be going through the meaty Levelling Up Bill on Tuesday.

Still no sign of some other major bills.

The government had big plans to crack down on industrial action, including a law that requires trade unions to ensure a minimum service during transport strikes.

We’re halfway through the parliamentary year now.

So expect the government to step up efforts to get through that backlog of legislation in the new year.

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 12 DECEMBER

Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Writes the post-Brexit trade deals with Australia and New Zealand into law.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 13 DECEMBER

Free School Meals (Primary Schools) Bill
Entitles all children in state primary schools to free school meals. Currently children have to be in reception, year 1, year 2, or eligible for certain benefits. Ten minute rule motion presented by Zarah Sultana.

Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Writes the government’s levelling up plans into law. Among other things: requires the government to report annually on progress; commits to offering every part of England a devolution deal by 2030; and allows local authorities to auction off rentals of empty commercial properties in town centres and high streets.
Draft bill (PDF)

WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER

Asylum Seekers (Removal to Safe Countries) Bill
Stipulates that the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has effect even if it’s incompatible with international or domestic law. Requires the government to continue regardless of any international court finding it illegal. Ten minute rule motion presented by Jonathan Gullis.

THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 16 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

• Online Safety Bill – goes back to committee stage
• Employment Bill – goes to second reading
• Local Authority Boundaries Bill – goes to second reading
• Financial Services and Markets Bill – goes to second reading
• Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill – goes to committee stage
• Child Support (Enforcement) Bill – goes to committee stage
• Powers of Attorney Bill – goes to committee stage

Postponed

• Short-Term and Holiday-Let Accommodation (Licensing) Bill
• All other private members’ bills

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