Erasmus+ Return and NICs Reform Lead Commons

High-Level Summary

The Commons day combined departmental questions to Science, Innovation and Technology ministers with Prime Minister’s Questions and three statements on UK–EU relations (including Erasmus+), local government finance, and support for INEOS’s Grangemouth site. Two urgent questions examined the Northern Ireland Troubles remedial order and a clinical trial on puberty suppressants. The National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill passed Second Reading after a division. The day closed with an adjournment debate on workplace safety in the window cleaning industry following a severe electrocution case.

Detailed Summary

Science, Innovation and Technology Questions

Ministers highlighted R&D investment and sector allocations, online safety enforcement, supply chain resilience, AI skills, and digital ID. The Secretary of State said the Government is making the “biggest ever investment into research and development… including a record £38.6 billion for UK Research and Innovation” [ref: b891.6/2], adding that “UKRI will publish the level of direct support to be given to each of the industrial strategy sectors” later that day [ref: b892.1/1]. On online harms, it was stressed that “animal cruelty is a priority offence” under the Online Safety Act [ref: b893.3/1] and that Government had written to Ofcom to “accelerate the final phase of implementation” [ref: b894.2/1]. On supply chains, ministers cited a “£13 million wider package… to support making UK supply chains more resilient” [ref: b895.4/1]. On skills, they announced TechFirst for 1 million pupils and plans to “upskill 7.5 million workers in AI skills over the course of the next five years” [ref: b897.0/1]. On digital ID, the scheme was described as “inclusive, secure and effective… backed by £11.7 million” with a “public consultation” due in the new year [ref: b897.6/1; b898.0/1].

Prime Minister’s Questions (Engagements)

The Prime Minister condemned antisemitic terror and pledged support: “We will use all our powers to make sure that Jewish communities are safe” [ref: b901.0/1]. On Gaza scholarships he said, “we are considering solutions… I want them to be able to take up their places” [ref: b901.2/1]. He listed recent actions including “rejoining the Erasmus scheme from 2027” [ref: b902.3/1], stated “there are 350,000 more people in work this year” [ref: b902.5/1], and explained that after covid relief ended the Government introduced “a £4 billion transitional relief” for business rates [ref: b903.1/1]. On strikes, he called the doctors’ action “dangerous and utterly irresponsible” while urging them to work with Government [ref: b903.3/1]. He announced a licence to transfer “£2.5 billion… from the sale of Chelsea football club” to support Ukrainians [ref: b904.2/1], and outlined measures to tackle antisemitism, including “increasing the funding for Jewish security up to £28 million” and a review of protest and hate crime laws [ref: b905.0/1].

Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation (Remedial Order) – Urgent Question

The Secretary of State said the draft remedial order removes the provisions “on immunity from prosecution and the bar on troubles-related civil cases” following the Dillon judgment [ref: b913.3/1], noting the Joint Committee on Human Rights recommended approval [ref: b913.3/2; b913.3/3]. He confirmed “the Government formally abandoned their appeal” on the immunity declaration in July 2024 [ref: b914.1/1; b914.1/3], and said “immunity was never commenced” [ref: b919.6/1]. In response to concerns about veterans, he pointed to protections in forthcoming legislation, including “protection from repeated investigation” and other safeguards [ref: b917.2/1]. He stated the order “will be voted on in both Houses in the new year” [ref: b923.7/1].

Pathways puberty suppressants clinical trial – Urgent Question

The Health Secretary confirmed he upheld and then made permanent the ban on routine puberty blockers while proceeding with a tightly regulated clinical trial within the Cass pathways study: he “made the temporary ban… a permanent one” [ref: b927.2/2], and one study element is “the clinical trial to study the effects of puberty-suppressing hormones” [ref: b927.2/3]. Participation requires parental consent and the young person’s assent: “Children cannot consent… [places] will require parental consent, as well as the assent of young people” [ref: b927.2/4]. He said at least 226 participants are needed for statistical power but “This is not a target” [ref: b928.1/5], emphasised he is “following clinical advice” [ref: b928.1/4], and that participants can withdraw without losing wider NHS care [ref: b933.1/2]. He also highlighted expanded regional youth gender services in the north-west, London and Bristol, with further roll-out planned [ref: b931.0/2].

UK–EU Common Understanding Negotiations (Erasmus+, energy and SPS) – Statement

The Paymaster General announced that the UK and European Commission have “concluded negotiations for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ from 2027” [ref: b944.1/4], with a “30% discount in 2027” compared with default terms [ref: b944.1/7] and a UK national agency to administer the programme. He also set out closer energy cooperation, including intent to negotiate a UK–EU electricity agreement, and progress toward linking emissions trading systems and a food and drink (SPS) agreement, while confirming “no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement” [ref: b944.1/13]. He said the UK is “aiming to conclude negotiations on the youth experience scheme” alongside ETS linkage and the SPS deal by the next summit [ref: b949.0/1], and that the SPS agreement is intended to be implemented “in the first half of 2027” [ref: b954.1/1].

Local Government Finance Settlement – Statement

The Minister presented the provisional multi‑year settlement and launched a formal consultation. She said allocations are “derived using the very latest data from the 2025 index of multiple deprivation” to restore the link with need [ref: b963.1/3], and confirmed it is “the first multi-year settlement in a decade” [ref: b963.1/4]. Core spending power is projected to reach “over £84.6 billion by ’28-29—equivalent to a 15% cash-terms increase” from ’25-26 [ref: b963.1/6]. Measures include maintaining the £600 million recovery grant, resetting business rates retention, and plans to “lift referendum principles in ’27-28 and ’28-29 for Wandsworth, Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, City of London, Kensington and Chelsea and Windsor and Maidenhead” to improve fairness where bills are lowest [ref: b963.1/13]. On SEND pressures, she said that “in future, special educational needs provision will be funded by central Government… once the statutory override ends in March 2028” [ref: b963.1/10].

INEOS Chemicals: Grangemouth – Statement

The Industry Minister announced a Government support package “of over £120 million”, within “a wider £150 million investment”, to keep the Grangemouth ethylene cracker commercially viable [ref: b986.1/3]. The agreement aims to “protect 500 jobs in Grangemouth” [ref: b986.1/4]. He linked the deal to longer‑term industrial plans, noting “up to £200 million of investment from our national wealth fund will support new opportunities in Grangemouth” [ref: b986.1/9], and said INEOS “has committed to giving those impacted [Mossmorran] workers a guaranteed interview for available roles” [ref: b986.1/10].

Youth Services (Ten Minute Rule Bill)

Natasha Irons introduced a Bill “to make provision about the delivery of youth services by local authorities” and to strengthen statutory expectations, targets and consultation [ref: b1005.2/2]. The House gave leave; the Bill was read a First time and scheduled “to be read a Second time on Friday 16 January 2026” [ref: b1005.2/22].

National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill – Second Reading

The Bill empowers Ministers to “apply national insurance contributions to salary sacrifice pension contributions above £2,000 a year from April 2029” [ref: b1008.2/2]. The Government said NICs relief was “on course to almost treble… to £8 billion a year” without reform [ref: b1008.4/3], and argued that a long lead time and a £2,000 cap mean the “majority” of users—particularly lower earners—will be unaffected, with “95%… earning £30,000 or less… entirely unaffected” [ref: b1010.1/3]. After debate, the House divided and agreed the Bill’s Second Reading: “Ayes 312, Noes 165” [ref: b1024.2/1; b1024.2/3]. A programme motion committed the Bill to a Committee of the whole House, with up to four hours for Committee and five hours in total to Third Reading [ref: b1028.1/6; b1028.1/7].

Window Cleaning Industry: Workplace Safety – Adjournment Debate

Andrew Murrison raised safety after a window cleaner suffered severe electrocution when electricity arced “33,000 V… to Jason’s telescopic water-fed cleaning pole” [ref: b1031.2/4]. He highlighted that there is “no mandatory British standard governing the electrical insulation of telescopic cleaning poles” and called for updated standards [ref: b1031.2/7]. Responding, Minister Stephen Timms set out the existing legal framework (including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974) and noted that a BSI committee “concluded that the standard on tools for live working is just not suitable for water-fed cleaning”, but he would follow developments as BSI considers other avenues [ref: b1034.0/17; b1034.0/19].