This week in the Commons: 12-16 October 2020

Prime Minister’s 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:

• Listen on SoundCloud
• Read in Hansard
• Watch on YouTube
• Watch in British Sign Language

Urgent questions and statements

This week there were two statements and one urgent question.

Statements

Ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the House.

This week the Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a statement providing an update on Covid-19.

• Watch: Covid-19 update, 12 October
• Read in Hansard: Covid-19 update, 12 October

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also made a statement on Covid-19.

• Watch: Covid-19, 15 October
• Read in Hansard: Covid-19, 15 October

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.

This week there was one urgent question from Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds MP on economic support in areas subject to additional public health restrictions.

• Watch: Urgent Question on Economic Support in Areas Subject to Additional Public Health Restrictions, 13 October
• Read in Hansard: Urgent Question on Economic Support in Areas Subject to Additional Public Health Restrictions, 13 October

Bills and legislation

A Bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law that is presented for debate before Parliament.

• Passage of a Bill
• Bills before Parliament

This week MPs debated the following Bills:

Agriculture Bill

Amendments were proposed by the House of Lords to the Agriculture Bill. All of these amendments were rejected in the Commons this week.

• Watch the debate: Agriculture Bill
• Read in Hansard: Agriculture Bill
• Commons Library briefing paper: Agriculture Bill

Fisheries Bill

The remaining stages of the Fisheries Bill were approved.

• Watch the debate: Fisheries Bill
• Read in Hansard: Fisheries Bill
• Commons Library briefing paper: Fisheries Bill

Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

The remaining stages of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill were approved.

• Watch the debate: Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill
• Read in Hansard: Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill
• Commons Library briefing paper: Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

Friday Sitting

This week was a sitting Friday, with MPs debating Private Members' Bills. The House generally only sits on thirteen Fridays in a session.

• Watch: Friday Sitting, 16 October 2020
• Read in Hansard: Friday Sitting, 16 October 2020

Westminster Hall debates

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 12 October

Tuesday

• See which Westminster Hall debates took place on Tuesday 13 October

Wednesday

• See which Westminster Hall debates took place on Wednesday 14 October

Thursday

• See which Westminster Hall debates took place on Thursday 15 October

Image credit: ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor