Commons Backs GBR Overhaul As Kenova Findings, Grooming Inquiry Dominate

High-Level Summary

The Commons day covered Treasury Questions on support for low‑income households, Brexit’s economic impact, frozen tax thresholds, financial inclusion, business rates and costs, commuter fares, entrepreneurship, regional industry, NHS funding and rural growth, followed by Topical Questions. An Urgent Question on Operation Kenova saw the Northern Ireland Secretary outline findings, including no evidence of high‑level collusion with loyalist paramilitaries and the importance of the “neither confirm nor deny” policy pending a Supreme Court ruling. The Home Secretary announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs, naming the chair and panel, setting a three‑year timetable and complementary reforms. MPs then considered Al Pinkerton’s Ten Minute Rule Bill on a UK‑EU customs union (tied division; Speaker’s casting vote allowed introduction) and gave the Railways Bill a Second Reading to establish Great British Railways; the Opposition’s reasoned amendment was defeated. Petitions and delegated legislation were taken, and an adjournment debate addressed illegal migrants’ whereabouts and enforcement.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers to Treasury Questions

Low‑income households: The Chancellor said the Budget would support low‑income households by “taking an average of £150 off people’s energy bills” and that measures including removing the two‑child limit and expanding free school meals “will also lift about 550,000 children out of poverty” [ref: a143.5/1]. She later added that jobs had increased by 329,000 this year: “The number of jobs has increased by 329,000 this year” [ref: a144.0/1].

Brexit and growth: The Treasury cited the Office for Budget Responsibility’s estimate that productivity would be “4% lower than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU” [ref: a144.7/1]. Pressed about a customs union to reduce red tape, the Chancellor pointed to a reset relationship with the EU covering “food and farming” and “electricity and energy trading” as well as youth schemes [ref: a145.5/1].

Income tax and NI thresholds: Ministers argued the bulk of the impact from freezing thresholds reflected past decisions, saying, “75% of the impact… is the result of decisions made by the previous Government” [ref: a146.3/1]. Asked about pensioners on the state pension alone, the Minister replied, “Yes” when asked to confirm they “will not be taxed during this Parliament” [ref: a146.7/1].

Financial inclusion and banking access: Ministers highlighted the financial inclusion strategy and plans to roll out “350 banking hubs right across the UK” with “Over 240 hubs… announced so far and more than 190 are already open” [ref: a148.3/1].

SMEs, hospitality and business rates: The Government cited £4 billion of support and a cap so that businesses with a rateable value below £100,000 will not see bills rise by more than “either 15% or £800” this year [ref: a150.1/1]. For pubs, Ministers said bills would otherwise have risen by 45% but will now increase by “4%” due to intervention [ref: a151.4/1].

Commuter costs: The Government announced it would “freeze all regulated rail fares in England for one year from March 2026” [ref: a152.3/1], with an example saving of £285 for a Stevenage season ticket [ref: a152.7/1].

Entrepreneurship and capital markets: Measures included a three‑year listing tax relief and expanded enterprise reliefs; the Government said, “The UK raised more equity capital in 2024 than was raised in the next three European exchanges combined” [ref: a153.6/1].

Regional industry, NHS and rural growth: The Government referenced investment at Grangemouth alongside a National Wealth Fund [ref: a154.7/1]; said NHS waiting lists were down by 230,000 with 5.2 million extra appointments [ref: a155.5/1]; and set out rural funding for farming, transport and connectivity [ref: a157.2/1].

Topical Questions: On covid fraud, the Chancellor said losses were £10.9 billion and an independent commissioner had been appointed; “We have already got back around £400 million” [ref: a158.4/1]. Asked whether she authorised any Budget leaks, she replied, “No” [ref: a159.0/1].

Urgent Question: Northern Ireland Troubles – Operation Kenova

The Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) reported Operation Kenova’s final publication, covering the alleged agent “Stakeknife” and linked investigations. He commended Kenova’s victim‑centred approach and noted that agent handling is now under “strict regulation” overseen by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and Tribunal [ref: a167.3/4]. On naming the alleged agent, he cited ongoing litigation (the Thompson Supreme Court appeal) and the duty “to protect national security” [ref: a167.3/5-7].

On findings, he observed that Kenova/Denton did “not find any evidence of high‑level collusion” between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries, while describing individual cases of collusion as “shocking” [ref: a168.1/2; a167.3/8]. On disclosure, he said Kenova reported MI5 later found further files, and under the legacy framework the commission can see “all information” including closed material [ref: a169.2/1-2]. He pointed to Irish Government commitments to “the fullest possible co‑operation” with the reformed legacy commission and to supporting the Omagh inquiry [ref: a168.1/3]. He reaffirmed the importance of the “neither confirm nor deny” policy and said he would update the House after the Thompson judgment [ref: a172.2/2; a171.0/3]. The Government will respond to the full Denton report when published [ref: a167.3/8-9].

Statement: Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs

The Home Secretary (Shabana Mahmood) announced a national inquiry chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, with Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panellists [ref: a179.2/10]. The inquiry will conclude within three years with a £65 million budget and will run local investigations overseen nationally; “No area will be able to resist a local investigation” [ref: a179.2/11]. Draft terms (to be confirmed by March) include examining offenders’ “ethnicity and religion” and whether authorities failed due to cohesion concerns, and referring new criminality to law enforcement [ref: a179.2/12-14].

The Government accepted wider recommendations: commissioning UKRI research on perpetrators’ backgrounds and legislating to mandate ethnicity data collection [ref: a179.2/15]; creating a legal duty for safeguarding data‑sharing and a unique child identifier [ref: a179.2/16]; clarifying in law that children cannot consent when raped by adults [ref: a179.2/17]; supporting wrongly criminalised survivors [ref: a179.2/18]; tightening taxi licensing [ref: a179.2/19]; and launching Operation Beaconport, which has “already flagged more than 1,200 cases for potential reinvestigation, more than 200 of which are high‑priority cases of rape” [ref: a179.2/20]. Mahmood emphasised a victim‑centred process and confirmed the timeline to publish the final report by March 2029 [ref: a179.2/14; a183.0/5].

Ten Minute Rule Bill: UK–EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate)

Al Pinkerton sought to require negotiations on a UK‑EU customs union, arguing Brexit was an “abject economic failure” and citing GDP and fiscal impacts [ref: a198.2/3; a198.2/6-7]. Simon Hoare opposed, calling the proposal ideological and saying the EU has “neither interest in nor appetite” for such a change [ref: a200.1/12]. Outcome: the House divided 100–100; the Chair cast the deciding vote Aye “to allow further debate” and the Bill was read a First time, with Second Reading set for 16 January 2026 [ref: a202.1/1; a204.0/1-2; a204.0/6].

Second Reading: Railways Bill

The Transport Secretary (Heidi Alexander) presented the Bill to create Great British Railways (GBR), integrate track and train, and simplify the system—“the biggest shake‑up of our railways in a generation… a railway owned by the public for the public” [ref: a205.3/2-3]. Immediate actions cited included a one‑year regulated fares freeze from March 2026 [ref: a207.1/4], expansion of pay‑as‑you‑go ticketing [ref: a207.1/5], and integrated leadership teams [ref: a207.1/6]. The Bill creates a new passenger watchdog to “set tough standards” and investigate persistent issues [ref: a210.5/1]; requires a rail freight growth target [ref: a212.0/1]; gives GBR responsibility for network access with appeal to the ORR [ref: a212.0/3]; and commits to an accessibility road map [ref: a212.0/4-5].

The Opposition’s reasoned amendment attacked the plan as 1970s‑style “state control” lacking guarantees on growth and fares, and described the watchdog as “a dog that can barely bite” [ref: a213.2/1-4; a215.3/2]. Liberal Democrats welcomed simplification but warned against centralisation and risks to open access and freight [ref: a221.2/1-2; a221.2/7-10]. The reasoned amendment was defeated (Ayes 170, Noes 332) and the Bill received a Second Reading (Ayes 329, Noes 173) [ref: a272.1/1-3; a275.1/1-3]. It was committed to Public Bill Committee (to conclude by 12 February 2026) and carry‑over was authorised [ref: a279.5/1-2; a280.7/1-3].

Delegated Legislation and Petitions

The House approved the draft International Development Association (Twenty‑First Replenishment) Order 2025 and the Customs Tariff (Establishment) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 [ref: a280.12/1; a280.14/1-2]. Petitions included opposition to proposed local government reorganisation in Rushcliffe [ref: a281.1/1-6], stronger safeguards on online pornography [ref: a281.3/1-9; a282.0/3-6], and action on illegal waste dumping near Kidlington to protect the River Cherwell [ref: a282.2/7-11].

Adjournment Debate: Illegal Migrants – Unknown Whereabouts

Rupert Lowe alleged the Home Office was concealing data on absconders and foreign national offenders, citing figures he said came from a whistleblower, and asked “Where are they now?” [ref: a287.2/1]. The Minister replied that the Home Office “does not lie” [ref: a288.0/1], highlighted returns and enforcement (“Almost 50,000 people have been returned since July 2024”), and said, “we do not comment on unverified leaks” [ref: a288.0/3; a290.1/1]. He outlined tracing and enforcement processes and said absconder definitions are being clarified in guidance [ref: a290.1/2-5]. There was no vote; the Minister reiterated commitments to removals and public safety (further specifics on the alleged figures were not provided).