Clear the Lobby: What Laws are MPs voting on this week? W/C 23rd January 2023

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,

Economic crime is the big theme this week.

The government bill on the topic is back in the Commons. Senior backbench Tories are likely to put pressure on the government as they push for even tougher laws.

The Westminster government is also setting the Northern Ireland budget.

Usually this is done by members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, but there’s been no assembly since February 2022 and parties haven’t been able to form a government since.

And we have backbench bills on defamation and mental health first aid.

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

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

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MONDAY 23 JANUARY

Northern Ireland Budget Bill – all stages
Applies to: Northern Ireland
Sets a Budget for Northern Ireland. This would normally be done by the Northern Ireland Assembly but the government there collapsed in February 2022 so it’s being done by the Westminster government.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 24 JANUARY

Defamation, Privacy, Freedom of Expression, Data Protection, Legal Services and Private Investigators Bill
A bill about limiting strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) – bringing lawsuits for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, and financially and psychologically exhausting an opponent. Ten minute rule motion presented by Bob Seely. More information not yet available.

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill – report stage and 3rd 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)

WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARY

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.

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Continued from Tuesday.

THURSDAY 26 JANUARY

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 27 JANUARY

No votes scheduled

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LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Strikes (Minimum Service Level) Bill – goes to committee
• Markets and Market Traders (Review of Support) Bill – goes to second reading
• Online Safety Bill – goes to Lords
• Fertility Treatment (Transparency) Bill – goes to second reading
• Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill – goes to Lords
• Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill – goes to Lords
• Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill – goes to Lords
• Pensions Dashboards (Prohibition of Indemnification) Bill – goes to Lords
• Shark Fins Bill – goes to Lords

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