Two government bills at committee of the whole House this week.
Usually a small group of MPs will scrutinise a bill at this stage, but for legislation of constitutional or ethical importance it’s often open to everyone.
The Lib Dems could pressure the government.
It’s thought they’ll use Wednesday’s Opposition Day to table a humble address forcing the prime minister to publish the legal advice behind his decision to reverse the cancellation of some local elections.
And other than that we have a couple of ten minute rule motions.
One on labelling halal and kosher meat, the other on nominating our chalk streams as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill – committee of the whole House, report stage, 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Increases the government’s spending limits for two existing forms of business support. First, raises the amount the government can give to UK companies (e.g. grants and loans). Second, nearly doubles the guarantees that UK Export Finance can give to overseas buyers to convince them to work with British businesses. Allows both of these caps to be increased by a certain amount in future without needing to pass another law.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
Universal Credit (Removal of two Child Limit) Bill – committee of the whole House, report stage, 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Removes the two-child limit on the child element of Universal Credit (the two-child benefit cap), as announced in the November 2025 Budget.
Draft bill (PDF)
TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY
Food labelling (Halal and Kosher Meat)
Introduces compulsory labelling of products containing halal and kosher meat. Ten minute rule motion presented by Esther McVey.
WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY
Chalk Streams (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) Bill
Requires the government to nominate the UK’s chalk streams as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Ten minute rule motion presented by Pippa Heylings.
THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY
No votes scheduled
FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY
No votes scheduled
LAST WEEK’S VOTES
Passed
- Eating Disorders (Training) Bill – goes to second reading
- Short-Term Let Accommodation (Data Sharing Requirements) Bill – goes to second reading
Click here to read details of the bills in last week’s newsletter.