Business of the House

The Leader of the House, Lucy Powell, opened the debate by outlining the government's upcoming business for the next few weeks. She highlighted several key pieces of legislation, including the Renters' Rights Bill and the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill. Powell also noted the government's efforts to reset the relationship with the Scottish Government and work constructively with them. In response, the shadow Leader of the House, Chris Philp, criticised the government's light legislative agenda, arguing that only 13 bills had been introduced in the first 70 days, compared to 31 under the previous government. Philp raised concerns about the government's decision to strip pensioners of the winter fuel allowance, calling for the publication of the impact assessment. He also pressed the government on the management of the early release scheme for prisoners, claiming that serious violent offenders were being released contrary to previous assurances. The debate that followed covered a wide range of topics. Several members raised issues related to their local constituencies, such as the closure of a minor injuries unit in Altrincham, the impact of Royal Mail delays in rural areas, and concerns about antisocial behaviour. Other members discussed national issues, such as the need for more support for special educational needs funding, the importance of investigative journalism, and the gender bias in the school curriculum. The Leader of the House responded to these points, promising to raise them with the relevant ministers and consider requests for further debates on these matters. The debate highlighted the government's focus on delivering its manifesto commitments, such as the Renters' Rights Bill and the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, while the opposition pressed the government on issues of transparency, public services, and the management of the criminal justice system. The wide range of topics discussed demonstrated the breadth of concerns raised by members across the House.