Clear the Lobby: What Laws are MPs voting on this week? W/C 31st 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.

This was supposed to be the week we got the government’s fiscal plan.

But with the arrival of a new prime minister, Jeremy Hunt’s financial package has been delayed until 17 November. Expect big cuts and tax rises. The figure being talked about is £50 billion.

Instead, there’s plenty of lawmaking to be done.

One government bill making its Commons debut would create a publicly-owned infrastructure bank to invest in projects that tackle the climate emergency or address regional inequality.

And reshuffles have created a number of select committee chair vacancies.

Health, Treasury, Education, and Transport are all up for grabs. Select committee chair positions are divided between the parties, and all four of these have to be Tories.

So far, Steve Brine and Anne Marie Morris have been nominated for health, and John Baron and Harriett Baldwin for Treasury.

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

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

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MONDAY 31 OCTOBER

Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Allows the sale of gene-edited food. Potential mooted uses are to crops more drought-resilient or resistent to diseases. Gene editing differs from genetically modifying in that it’s a small, controlled tweak to a living organism’s existing DNA rather than the introduction of a new, foreign gene. Both are de-facto banned in the EU so this is a major post-Brexit divergence from EU law.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Introduces regulation to make smart devices (like smart TVs and speakers) more secure against cyber attacks. Aims to speed up the rollout of mobile, full-fibre and gigabit-capable networks across the UK.
Draft bill (PDF)

TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER

Internet Access (Children Eligible for Free School Meals) Bill
Requires the government to ensure that all children eligible for free school meals have a broadband connection and facilities to access the internet at home. Ten minute rule motion presented by Siobhain McDonagh.

UK Infrastructure Bank Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Completes the setup of the UK Infrastructure Bank, a state-owned but operationally independent bank that invests in projects to tackle climate change and support regional economic growth. Gives the bank the power to lend directly to local authorities and the Northern Ireland Executive. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Lords Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER

Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill
Requires manufacturers to fit microplastic-catching filters to new domestic and commercial washing machines, among other things. Ten minute rule motion presented by Alberto Costa.

THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER

No votes scheduled

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

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Supply and Appropriation (Adjustments) Bill – becomes law
• Stamp Duty Land Tax (Reduction) Bill – goes to committee stage
• Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill – goes to committee stage
• Consumer Telephone Service Standards Bill – goes to second reading
• Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill – becomes law
• Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill – goes to committee stage
• Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill – goes to committee stage
• Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Bill – goes to committee stage

Not passed

• NHS Prescriptions (Drug Tariff Labelling) Bill

Postponed

• All other private members’ bills

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