I was a member of the Committee scrutinising the draft Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes A, B, C, D and H and New Code I) Order 2023 on 30 November 2023 bringing into force revised codes of practice issued under section 66 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE).

Updates to Code A cover the statutory powers of stop and search and requirements to record public encounters by police officers and staff.

Code B covers the police powers to search premises and to seize and retain property found on premises and persons and to seize and retain property found on premises and persons, to reflect the search and seizure powers contained in Schedule 2 of the National Security Act (NS Act).

An addition to Code C covers the requirements for the detention, treatment and questioning of suspects, to make clear that Code does not apply to a detained person arrested under section 27 of the NS Act, which will instead be covered by new Code 1.

Code D set out the methods used by the police to identify people in connection with the investigation of offences and the keeping of accurate and reliable criminal records.

Code H covers the requirements for the detention, treatment, and questioning of suspects related to terrorism in police custody by police officers, to reflect that any time a person has spent in detention under separate powers will be accounted for when calculating the maximum period of detention following an arrest under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. 

The House debated and voted on the 3rd Reading of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill on Wednesday 29 November 2023 with the Report stage on the same day. The Bill is intended to update and simplify the UK’s data protection framework with a view to reducing burdens on organisations while maintaining high data protection standards. there were 5 votes.

The first amendment voted on was one which called for the Bill to be re-committed to a Public Bill Committee for reconsideration. I voted for the motion but this was defeated by a vote of Ayes 209 to Noes 275.

Amendment 11, ensured that special category data, such as that relating to a person’s health, is adequately protected in workplace settings. The Bill could allow employers to share an employee’s personal data within their organisation without a justifiable reason. I voted in favour of the amendment but this was defeated by a vote of Ayes 199 to Noes 274.

Amendment 5, was intended to strike a better balance by extending the safeguarding provisions to include significant decisions that are based both partly and solely on automated processing. That means greater safeguards for anybody subject to an automated decision-making process, however that decision is made. I voted in favour of the amendment but this was defeated by a vote of Ayes 195 to Noes 273.

Amendment 1 was tabled to retain a statutory definition of high-risk processing as recommended by the Information Commissioner's Office in his response to the Bill.  I voted in favour of the amendment but this was defeated by a vote of Ayes 198 to Noes 275.

Amendment 218 removes clauses 87 and 88, which gives the Secretary of State the power to make exceptions to the privacy and electronic communications regulations direct marketing provisions on communications sent for the purposes of democratic engagement. I voted in favour of Amendment 218 but this was defeated by a vote of Ayes 194 to Noes 275.

As a member of the Chair's Panel,  I chaired the Committee scrutinising the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 on Wednesday 29 November 2023.

The Regulations make amendments that are needed in consequence of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (“REUL Act”). This instrument removes references to retained EU law (“REUL”) throughout primary legislation and replaces the term with “assimilated law”, so that the text of primary legislation is amended. This reflects section 5 of the REUL Act, which provides that REUL (and related terms, such as “retained EU case law”) that remains in force will be known as “assimilated law” (and related terms, such as “assimilated EU case law”) at all times after the end of 2023.

 

The House debated the  Code of Practice on Reasonable Steps to be taken by a Trade Union (Minimum Service Levels) and Strikes Regulations on Tuesday 28 November 2023. 

The Code of Practice was laid before the House on 13 November 2023. I voted against the motion which was passed Ayes: 280 : Noes 199

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Border Security) Regulations 2023 laid before the House on 7 November 2023. I voted against the motion:  Ayes 285 to Noes 203

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Passenger Railway Services) Regulations 2023 were laid before the House on 7 November 2023. I voted against the regulations which was lost: Ayes 281 to Noes 201.

As the 7pm time limit was reached, division on the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: NHS Ambulance Services and the NHS Patient Transport Service) Regulations 2023  was deferred.  I voted against the regulations which passed by a vote of Ayes 297 : Noes 166.