Last week in the Commons: 14-18 December
18 December 2020
The House adjourned for Christmas recess on Thursday 17 December. Ministers made statements on Coronavirus, the Online Harms Consultation, the Energy White Paper and more.
Prime Ministers Questions
The Prime Minister answers questions from MPs in the House of Commons every sitting Wednesday from 12.00pm until the end of Question Time at 12.30pm.
To catch up on this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions:
Urgent questions and statements
This week there were five statements and two urgent questions.
Statements
Ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the House.
On Monday, there were two statements:
- Health Secretary, Matt Hancock MP on Covid-19.
- Business, Energy and Clean Growth Secretary, Alok Sharma MP on Energy White Paper
On Tuesday, Digitial, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Oliver Dowden MP made a statement on the full Government response to Online Harms Consultation.
On Thursday, there were two statements:
- Health Secretary, Matt Hancock MP on Covid-19.
- Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP on Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.
Urgent questions
If an urgent or important matter arises which an MP believes requires an immediate answer from a government minister, they may apply to the Speaker to ask an urgent question.
On Wednesday, there were two urgent questions:
- Caroline Nokes MP on the effect of recent changes to the Immigration Rules on numbers of asylum seekers in supported accommodation
-
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP on the Government response to evidence of the Chinese Government’s use of Uyghur slave labour in Xinjiang.
Bills and legislation
On Tuesday, MPs approved the remaining stages of the Taxation (Post-Transition Period) Bill.
- Watch: Debate on the Taxation (Post-Transition Period) Bill: Remaining stages
- Read: Debate on the Taxation (Post-Transition Period) Bill: Remaining stages
On Wednesday, MPs passed the second reading and remaining stages of the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill
- Watch: Debate on the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill
- Read: Debate on the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill
On Tuesday and Wednesday, MPs approved House of Lords amendments to United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.
- Watch: Debate on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Lords amendments (Day 1)
- Read: Debate on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Lords amendments (Day 1)
- Watch: Debate on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Lords amendments (Day 2)
- Read: Debate on the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill: Lords amendments (Day 2)
The Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 17 December.
Debates
On Monday, the House held a general debate on Covid-19.
On Thursday, MPs held a general debate on matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment.
Before the House rises for recess (break during the parliamentary session), MPs hold a general debate on 'matters to be considered before the forthcoming adjournment'.
This gives MPs the opportunity to raise any issues that they want, particularly those which have not been debated during the normal business of the House.
- Watch here: Matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment
- Read here: Matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment
Select Committees
Catch up on this week's Select Committee evidence sessions, reports, news and more:
Westminster Hall
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister.
Debates take place in Westminster Hall on Mondays if agreed by the Petitions Committee, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Monday: See which Westminster Hall debates took place on Monday 14 December
- Tuesday: See which Westminster Hall debates took place on Tuesday 15 December
- Wednesday: See which Westminster Hall debates took place on Wednesday 16 December
- Thursday: See which Westminster Hall debates took place on Thursday 17 December