Government Prevails as NHS Training Boost and Conversion Ban Pledged

High-Level Summary

The Commons sat for Women and Equalities Questions, Prime Minister’s Questions, an Opposition Day debate on seasonal work, a debate on the Chancellor’s conduct, delegated legislation, and a Health statement on resident doctors. Ministers reiterated their commitment to a trans‑inclusive ban on conversion practices and set out wider action on violence against women and girls. At PMQs the Prime Minister paid tribute to Lance Corporal George Hooley and fielded questions on living costs, public services and relations with Europe. The Government’s amendment prevailed in the seasonal work debate, a motion criticising the Chancellor was defeated, and regulations were approved. The Health Secretary announced 4,000 extra specialty training places and urgent legislation to prioritise UK graduates, urging the BMA to postpone strikes while members are surveyed.

Detailed Summary

Women and Equalities Questions: Conversion Practices Ban

Manuela Perteghella and Alex Barros‑Curtis sought a timeline for banning conversion practices. The Minister, Olivia Bailey, confirmed intent: “We will bring our comprehensive, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices before the House as soon as possible” [ref: c293.6/1], and reiterated that “conversion practices are abusive and we will ban them” [ref: c293.8/1]. She condemned historic abuses, saying “being gay or trans is not an illness that needs to be cured” [ref: c293.10/1], and agreed to meet MPs. In response to concerns about puberty‑blocker trials, she cited the Cass Review and evidence‑building: “We are now setting up clinical trials, as recommended by Baroness Cass” [ref: c294.1/1]. Asked about scrutiny and community involvement, she said the Government remained “committed to delivering the trans-inclusive ban… as soon as possible” [ref: c294.4/1]. No timetable was given (not stated in the transcript).

Women and Equalities: “Break Down Barriers to Opportunity”

Bridget Phillipson set out measures to tackle disadvantage, including expanding Best Start family hubs, breakfast clubs, childcare, and “scrapping the two-child limit” to create “a fairer Britain” [ref: c294.7/1]. She later listed actions such as “expanding free school meals, lifting the two-child benefit limit, introducing a new youth guarantee and bringing in maintenance grants for disadvantaged students” [ref: c295.0/1]. On making care experience a protected characteristic, she highlighted cross‑government work and said she led that with the Deputy Prime Minister [ref: c295.2/1]. In discussion on women’s rights on campus, she endorsed safe spaces and noted ongoing challenges on violence against women and girls [ref: c295.5/1].

Women and Equalities: Transgender People – Safe Spaces and the EHRC draft code

On ensuring safe provision for trans people under the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s draft code, Bridget Phillipson affirmed: “We are absolutely committed to upholding the protections in the Equality Act 2010… and [are] carefully considering the EHRC’s draft updated code” [ref: c296.2/1]. Asked when guidance would be available, she said providers should follow the Supreme Court ruling and that the code is lengthy: “We are working through it—it is a lengthy document” [ref: c296.6/1]. No publication date was given (not stated in the transcript).

Women and Equalities: Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

Alex Davies‑Jones outlined cross‑government work, citing domestic abuse protection orders and a forthcoming strategy: “Our transformative cross-Government approach will be underpinned by a new strategy, which we will publish as soon as possible” [ref: c297.0/1]. On online harms, she said, “It is this Government who are outlawing depictions of strangulation in pornography” and referenced Online Safety Act duties on platforms [ref: c297.2/1]. She said the cross‑government VAWG strategy would be published “imminently” with a specific focus on tech‑facilitated abuse [ref: c298.0/1], and encouraged local initiatives [ref: c298.5/1].

Women and Equalities: Unfair Dismissal and Protected Characteristics

Seema Malhotra said tribunal data would continue to be collected and emphasised that “Employees already have day one protections against discrimination” [ref: c299.2/1]. Asked to monitor dismissals in the first six months, she pointed to the Ministry of Justice’s data role [ref: c299.4/1] and affirmed, “everybody should feel able to work without fear of discrimination” [ref: c299.6/1]. No new monitoring commitment beyond current processes was announced (not stated in the transcript).

Women and Equalities: Women’s Economic Empowerment

Seema Malhotra argued gender equality boosts growth, outlining support for women in work and business, flexible working and childcare [ref: c299.10/1]. She praised local women‑led enterprises and cited the venture capital unit’s female founder cohort, the Women’s Business Council, FTSE Women Leaders and the Invest in Women taskforce [ref: c300.1/1]. On workplace harassment, she said employers must take reasonable steps to prevent it, with the Employment Rights Bill strengthening that duty [ref: c300.3/1]. On single‑sex spaces, she referenced the Supreme Court judgment and said providers should follow it [ref: c300.5/1].

Women and Equalities: Topical Questions

Bridget Phillipson marked Disability History Month and the Disability Discrimination Act’s anniversary, committing to a plan to “remove barriers faced by disabled people” [ref: c301.2/1]. On rural domestic abuse, she said the VAWG strategy had heard from victims in rural areas [ref: c301.4/1; c301.6/1]. She agreed to meet a nurse facing alleged injustice [ref: c302.0/1], confirmed the PATHWAYS puberty suppression trial had “all regulatory and ethical approvals” [ref: c302.2/1], and outlined childcare support for PhD students’ families via universal 15 hours for three and four‑year‑olds [ref: c302.4/1].

Prime Minister’s Questions

The Prime Minister began by paying tribute to Lance Corporal George Hooley, whose “life was full of courage and determination” [ref: c302.9/1], and recommitted to supporting Ukraine [ref: c302.9/2]. Exchanges with the Leader of the Opposition covered energy bills, education, policing and NHS capacity. The Prime Minister said the Government is “taking £150 off energy bills” [ref: c304.6/1], claimed there are “More [teachers] than when the Conservatives left office” [ref: c305.1/1], and said the Health Secretary had delivered “5 million extra appointments” [ref: c306.0/1]. On Europe, he sought a closer relationship while maintaining manifesto commitments on the single market, customs union and freedom of movement, noting trade deals “including the US and India” [ref: c307.5/1]. Other questions ranged from estate adoptions (consultation under way) [ref: c307.0/1] and SEND to trade, youth services and digital ID: “Digital ID has huge benefits” [ref: c311.2/1].

Points of Order

The Chair reminded Members to notify constituency MPs before visits: “Every Member should always be informed of somebody coming into their constituency” [ref: c313.2/1]. He criticised delayed ministerial correspondence as “totally unacceptable” and called for timely replies [ref: c313.4/1]. On funding settlements, he said a Written Ministerial Statement is “not the answer on matters so serious” and urged Ministers to come to the House first [ref: c314.2/1].

Bill Presented: Reindeer (Licensing for Exhibition) Bill

Sarah Dyke presented a Bill to clarify licensing for domesticated reindeer under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. The Bill was read a First time and scheduled for Second Reading on Friday 16 January 2026 [ref: c314.5/3].

Ten Minute Rule Bill: Data Publication and Quality (Immigration, Nationality and Country of Birth)

Katie Lam sought powers to improve collection and annual publication of immigration‑related data. She argued debate is hampered by “shockingly poor data” [ref: c315.2/4–c315.2/5], set out multiple areas where “we do not know” key flows and stocks [ref: c315.2/7–c315.2/11], and said there is “no credible estimate of the number of people who are in this country illegally” [ref: c315.2/12]. The House agreed to let the Bill be brought in; it received First Reading with Second Reading set for 16 January 2026 [ref: c315.2/18–c315.2/22].

Opposition Day (14th Allotted): Seasonal Work

Nigel Huddleston moved a motion regretting Government policies affecting seasonal, flexible and part‑time work, citing higher business rates and provisions in the Employment Rights Bill on guaranteed hours and late notice cancellation of shifts [ref: c319.3/2–c319.3/3]. Blair McDougall moved the Government amendment, arguing strong support for SMEs and stating the Employment Rights Bill “will help seasonal workers”, alongside tougher late‑payment rules and measures to cut energy bills for SMEs [ref: c329.4/2]. He said the smallest properties would have “the lowest business rate since 1991… [a] permanent tax cut… benefiting more than 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties” [ref: c332.2/2]. Outcome: the original motion was defeated (Ayes 98, Noes 325) [ref: c386.2/1–c386.2/3] and the Government amendment agreed (Ayes 320, Noes 98) [ref: c389.1/1–c389.1/3], so the House resolved to back the Government’s approach [ref: c389.1/4–c389.1/5].

Conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Mel Stride moved a motion calling for the Chancellor to apologise for misleading the country about the public finances and for pre‑Budget briefings. He cited rising unemployment, inflation and borrowing costs [ref: c394.4/2], and argued briefings and leaks caused consumers and businesses to “hunker down” [ref: c403.4/2]. Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray rejected the accusations, saying the Budget “cut the cost of living, cut NHS waiting lists and cut Government borrowing” [ref: c404.0/1], and defended the 4 November speech as setting priorities to build “resilient public finances” [ref: c407.2/2]. Outcome: the motion was defeated (Ayes 90, Noes 297) [ref: c424.7/1–c424.7/2].

Delegated Legislation

The House approved without division the Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 [ref: c428.4/2] and the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 [ref: c428.6/2].

Statement: Resident Doctors’ Industrial Action

Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned of acute winter pressures and set out an offer to the BMA resident doctors committee: 4,000 extra specialty training places, starting with an additional 1,000 this year [ref: c429.1/7]; urgent primary legislation to prioritise UK medical graduates for specialty training [ref: c429.1/8–c429.1/9]; reimbursement of royal college portfolio, membership and exam fees (with exam fees backdated), and a 50% increase in the less‑than‑full‑time allowance [ref: c429.1/10]. He noted residents had received a “28.9% pay rise” [ref: c429.1/3], said the BMA had declined his offer to extend its strike mandate to postpone strikes over Christmas—“the BMA’s leadership said no” [ref: c429.1/12]—and urged doctors to accept the deal as a “chance for a fresh start” [ref: c429.1/14]. Next steps: the BMA will survey members; the Government intends to introduce legislation in the new year if the offer is accepted (further timings not stated in the transcript).

Petitions

A petition urged extending offline safeguards to online pornography, requiring age and consent verification and allowing performers to withdraw consent for publication [ref: c446.2/3]. A separate petition opposed closure of the Lloyds bank branch in Penzance, citing impacts on vulnerable people, businesses and charities [ref: c447.1/3–c447.1/6].

Adjournment Debate: Cammell Laird Workers’ Imprisonment – Call for Public Inquiry

Kim Johnson MP called for a public inquiry into the 1984 imprisonment of 37 Cammell Laird workers and release of all relevant papers, arguing, “Jobs, not jail, must remain the guiding principle” [ref: c450.1/14]. Justice Minister Jake Richards expressed sympathy, explained inquiry criteria, and undertook to re‑check records: “tomorrow morning I will go back to my Department to make sure that those searches are done again” [ref: c453.2/9]. He cautioned that inquiries do not determine liability or compensation and noted appeal/Criminal Cases Review Commission routes [ref: c456.1/2].