2022 March 01

The National Insurance Contributions Bill amends National Insurance legislation in relation to employers taking on employees in one of the Government’s new ‘Freeports’, employers hiring armed forces veterans during their first year after leaving the forces, and self-employed people who have received covid-19 Test and Trace Support Payments. It also allows for changes to the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes regime. On Tuesday 1 March 2022 the Bill returned to the House of Commons to consider the amendments made by the Lords. The Government motions were to disagree with the Lords Amendment in question. As such, an ‘Aye’ vote is to remove the amendment, and a ‘No’ vote is to retain the amendment.

The NHS Race and Health Observatory is an independent expert body, established by the NHS to examine the health inequalities experienced by Black and minority ethnic communities in England. Last month the Observatory released a report titled “Ethnic Inequalities in Healthcare: A Rapid Evidence Review”, which considered areas such as mental healthcare, maternal and neonatal healthcare and the experience of NHS workforce. This was a damning report. In his foreword, the Director of the Observatory Dr Habib Naqvi described the “overwhelming case for radical action on race inequity in our health service”. The report set out that “Ethnic inequalities in health outcomes are evident at every stage throughout the life course, from birth to death”, with “widespread” inequalities in areas such as mental health, maternity care and the experience of the NHS workforce. 

On 1 March 2022 I signed the Ukraine Book of Solidarity, in the House of Commons Library. This Book will be sent to Mr Ruslan Stefanchuk. As Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, Mr Stefanchuk is the counterpart of the Speaker of the House of Commons.  I hope that the Book will convey to members of the parliament of Ukraine the depth of support they have within our own Parliament. The Ukrainian people have shown extraordinary courage in response to the Russian invasion, including acts which are being investigated by the International Criminal Court as possible war crimes.

Amendments made by the House of Lords to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Monday 28 February 2022. The Bill includes appalling attempts by the Government to restrict our democratic right to protest. Votes were held until shortly before 1 o’clock in the morning. The Government motions were to remove the Lords Amendment in question. As such, an ‘Aye’ vote is to remove the amendment, and a ‘No’ vote is a vote to retain the amendment. LA 72 would add sex or gender to hate crime legislation, sometimes referred to by campaigners as ‘making misogyny a hate crime’. I voted against the motion, which was passed,  Ayes: 314 and Noes: 190.