This week in the Commons: 5-9 October

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 was one statement and two urgent questions.

Statements

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

This week the following statement was made:

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock made a statement on a Covid-19 update.

• Watch: Covid-19 update, 5 October
• Read in Hansard: Covid-19 update, 5 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 ask an urgent question.

This week the following urgent question were asked:

Urgent question from Kevan Jones MP on the 44 Post Office prosecutions overturned by the CCRC.

• Watch: Urgent question on the 44 Post Office prosecutions overturned by the CCRC, 5 October
• Read in Hansard: Urgent question on the 44 Post Office prosecutions overturned by the CCRC, 5 October

Urgent question from  Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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, 6 October
• Read in Hansard: Urgent question on economic support in areas subject to additional public health restrictions, 6 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 scrutinised the following Bills:

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill passed its second reading on Monday 5 October.

• 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

MPs considered Lords amendments to the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill.

• Watch the debate: Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill
• Read in Hansard: Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill
• Commons Library briefing paper: Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill

The Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill [HL] passed its remaining stages in the Commons.

• Watch the debate: Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill [HL]
• Read in Hansard: the Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill [HL]
• Commons Library briefing paper: the Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill [HL]

The Pension Schemes Bill [HL] passed its second reading in the Commons.

• Watch the debate: Pension Schemes Bill [HL]
• Read in Hansard: Pension Schemes Bill [HL]
• Commons Library briefing paper: Pension Schemes Bill [HL]

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 what Westminster Hall debates took place on Monday 5 October
• Read in Hansard:Westminster Hall debates, 5 October

Tuesday

• See what Westminster Hall debates took place on Tuesday 6 October
• Read in Hansard:Westminster Hall debates, 6 October

Wednesday

• See what Westminster Hall debates took place on Wednesday 7 October
• Read in Hansard: Westminster Hall debates, 7 October

Thursday

• See what Westminster Hall debates took place on Thursday 8 October
• Read in Hansard:Westminster Hall debates, 8 October

The House did not sit on Friday 9 October.

Image credit: ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor