This week in the Commons: Friday 21 December 2018
21 December 2018
In the last sitting week of 2018, the House of Commons MPs continued to debate Brexit, the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill passed its second reading and Backbench Business debates focused the Chamber's attention on disability support and the Ronhingya refugee crisis.
Legislation
Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill received its second reading in the Commons on Tuesday 18 December. The Bill aims to amend the 2005 Mental Capacity Act. It would reform the process for the authorisation of care and treatments which deprive a person of their liberty in cases where those persons lack the capacity to give their consent.
The Opposition's reasoned amendment to the Bill was rejected after a division, 304 to 229, after which the second reading passed without division.
The Bill will now proceed to committee stages, and submission of evidence is open.
- Have your say on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
- Parliament News: Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
- Watch Parliament TV: second reading of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: second reading of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
Statutory Instruments (SIs)
The Commons debated three SIs related to pornography, subsequent to the Digital Economy Act of 2017. All three were approved without division.
Legislation: Private Members Bills
Two Private Members Bills were brought to the house. Geraint Davies presented his Bill on the revocation of Article 50 and Maria Caulfield presented her 10 Minute Rule Motion on defibrillators to the Chamber.
- European Withdrawal (Revocation of Notification of Withdrawal) Bill
- Ten Minute Rule: Defibrillators (Availability)
Emergency debates
This week there were two successful applications for an emergency debate, both relating to Brexit.
- Parliament News: Emergency Debate on EU Withdrawal Agreement
- Parliament TV: Emergency Debate on No Deal Brexit
Urgent questions and ministerial statements
This week in the Commons there were five ministerial statements and two urgent questions.
Statements
- Parliament news: statement from Prime Minister on December European Council
- Parliament news: statement on the Good Work Plan
- Parliament news: statement on Modernising Defence Programme
- Parliament news: statement on future immigration
- Parliament news: statement on Yemen
Urgent questions
- Urgent question: ONS decision on the treatment of student tuition fees
- Urgent question: statistics relating to the deaths of homeless people.
Prime Minister's Questions
On Wednesday 19 December MPs asked the Prime Minister questions on no deal Brexit preparations, homelessness and more.
Watch PMQs from this week:
Backbench business debates
On December 19 and 20, MPs took part in two general debates in the commons chamber which were scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
Westminster Hall debates
Debates on a variety of different subjects also took place in Westminster Hall on Monday 10, Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 December. See the Parliamentary calendar to find out what subjects were debated.
Select Committees
News from Parliamentary Select Committees, including the publication of reports and details of inquiries and evidence sessions are also available online.
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