Clear the Lobby: What Laws are MPs voting on this week? W/C 24th April 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,

The Illegal Migration Bill comes under close scrutiny this week.

Things feel relatively stable on the Conservative backbenhes, but the really difficult bit will be when it goes to the Lords.

That comes against the backdrop of Dominic Raab’s resignation.

Let’s see how opposition parties seize the moment to make political hay.

And the new Energy Security and Net Zero Committee needs a chair.

Because of the way committee chairs are divided up, it has to be someone from the SNP. So far the contenders are Angus Brendan McNeil, Kirsty Blackman, and Stewart Malcolm McDonald.

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

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

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MONDAY 24 APRIL

Non-Domestic Rating Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Northern Ireland (part)
Reforms business rates (a tax on most non-domestic properties like offices, shops, and pubs). Changes include valuations on properties moving to every three years from five, and tax relief to encourage investment.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Public Order Bill – consideration of Lords message
Applies to: England, Wales
Creates a range of new criminal offences to crack down on groups like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain. The offences include “locking on” (causing disruption by chaining or gluing yourself to something), which is punishable by up to six months in prison. Also extends police stop and search powers, and introduces a court order to ban repeat offenders from going to certain places, meeting certain people, or doing certain things.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 25 APRIL

Universal Jurisdiction (Extension) Bill
Allows offences of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes to be tried in the UK regardless of where the offender is from or where they live. Ten minute rule motion presented by Brendan O’Hara.

WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL

Carers and Care Workers Bill
Requires the government to publish and implement a Care Workers Employment Strategy, with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of care workers, among other things. Ten minute rule motion presented by Helen Morgan.

Illegal Migration Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Denies adults arriving in the UK on small boats the right to claim asylum, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF)

THURSDAY 27 APRIL

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 28 APRIL

No votes scheduled

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill – goes to committee stage
• Public Office (Child Sexual Abuse) Bill – goes to second reading
• Finance (No. 2) Bill – goes to committee stage
• Dartmoor National Park (Access) Bill – goes to second reading

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