The House debated and voted on the Draft Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023 on Monday 4 December 2023.  The statutory instrument provides the car-making industry with certainty as it invests in the transition to zero-emission vehicles ahead of the Government’s commitment to end the sale of new non-zero-emission vehicles, cars and vans in 2035. The draft order will be made using powers under the Climate Change Act 2008 to create trading schemes that apply to Great Britain, and to preserve an appropriately scaled version of the current regulations for Northern Ireland. 

I voted in favour of the statutory instrument which passed:  Ayes 381: Noes 36. Twenty-six Conservative MPs voted against the Government on the statutory instrument which was the largest Government rebellion of Rishi Sunak's premiership to date. 

 

On Monday 4 December 2023, the House debated and voted on the New Clause 27 of the Victims and Prisoners Bill which would require the Government to establish a body to administer compensation to victims and affected partners of the Infected Blood Scandal within 3 months of the Bill becoming law.   

I signed the amendment, New Clause 27 which was tabled by Dame Diana Johnson MP relating to the compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal. 

The scandal unfolded in the late 1970s and early 80s when around 4,800 people with blood-clotting disorder haemophilia were given blood donated - or sold - by people infected with HIV and hepatitis C. There is an ongoing public statutory inquiry into how the blood was administered.

For many years I have been part of the campaign calling for compensation to be made available to victims of the Scandal. It is vital victims are able toi obtain interim compensation. 

The Bill goes to the Lords.

I voted in favour of New Clause 27 and this was added to the Bill by a vote Ayes 246 : Noes 242, a Government defeat of 4 votes.

The Victims and Prisoners Bill had its Report stage and 3rd Reading debated on Monday 4 December 2023 following its 1st and 2nd Reading on 8 November 2023. 

The Bill makes provisions about victims of criminal conduct and others affected by criminal conduct; about the appointment and functions of individuals to act as independent public advocates for victims of major incidents; about the release of prisoners; about the membership and functions of the Parole Board; to prohibit certain prisoners from forming a marriage or civil partnership; and for connected purposes.

1.  New Clause 14, tabled by the Opposition, would compel organisations to face public scrutiny with honesty, especially during inquiries into state-related deaths. It would maintain a duty of candour, which is crucial for public servants to perform their roles with integrity and to call out harmful practices that endanger lives.

I voted in favour of New Clause 14 but this was defeated.  Ayes 193 : Noes 279. 

2.  Amendment 33, tabled by the Opposition, seeks to rectify the Government's oversight of individuals plagued by the menace of persistent antisocial behaviour, who are often living in fear in their own homes, by ensuring that the definition of “victim” includes those tormented by antisocial behaviour such that they meet the threshold for an antisocial behaviour case review. 

I voted in favour of the amendment but this was defeated:  Ayes 190 : Noes 277.

The Bill will now go to the House of Lords.

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.