This week in the Commons: 19 July 2019
19 July 2019
This week in the House of Commons MPs debated censuses, HS2, domestic abuse and more.
Legislation: Government Bills
High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill: Commons remaining stages
After more than a year of scrutiny by a Bill Select Committee, which has undertaken visits and heard petitions, this Bill would authorise the next stage of the HS2 rail project.
It passed its remaining stages in the House of Commons and is now with the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill [Lords]: second reading
The Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill establishes a new Online Procedure Rules framework which enables parties to civil, family or tribunal proceedings to use an online procedure.
It passed its Second Reading without division and will now be considered in committee stage.
- Parliament news: Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill
- Parliament news: Have your say on the Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill
Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Bill [Lords]: second reading
The Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Bill would make questions on sexual orientation and gender identity voluntary in England and Wales and Northern Ireland censuses by removing the criminal penalty for not responding to questions
The Bill passed its second reading in the Commons on Wednesday 17 July without division.
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill: consideration of Lords amendments
MPs debated Lords Amendments to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill, including an amendment to the Lords Amendment 1, which would make it more difficult for the Government to prorogue Parliament in the run up to October 31, the day on which the UK is scheduled to leave the EU.
The Commons passed the amended amendment and the Bill will be considered by the House of Lords on 22 July 2019.
Legislation: Private Members Bills
Two Private Members Bills were introduced to the House following Ten Minute Rule Motions this week:
Urgent questions and ministerial statements
This week five urgent questions were asked:
- Government pressed for overdue update on detainee mistreatment inquiry
- MP questions Government on content of relationship education lessons
- Ministers questioned about police surveillance of journalists
- Urgent question on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
- Urgent question on immigration detention victims
There were three oral ministerial statements this week.
- Government launches consultation on raising National Lottery age limit
- Government announce 'landmark' Domestic Abuse Bill in statement
- Government statement on detention
Prime Minister's Questions
On Wednesday 18 July MPs asked the Prime minister questions climate change, poverty in the school holidays, racism and more.
Watch PMQs from this week:
General debates
The Gemma White Report
MPs considered the Gemma White Report on Bullying and harassment of MPs' Parliamentary staff on Wednesday 19 July.
- Read Commons Hansard: Gemma White Report debate
- Find out what the House of Commons is doing to ensure good conduct on the Parliamentary Estate
E-petitions debates
On Monday 15 July 2019, in the Westminster Hall Chamber, MPs debated e-petitions relating to the BBC.
Backbench business debates
This week, MPs took part in three debates which had been scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
- General debate on a motion on the Inter-Ministerial Group
- General debate on review on persecution of Christians overseas
- General debate on non-invasive precision therapies for cancer
Westminster Hall debates
Debates on a variety of different subjects also took place in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 October. 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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