Commons Scrutinises EU Reset, Resilience; Unites on Food Security

High-Level Summary

The Commons scrutinised Cabinet Office Ministers on resilience to Storm Goretti, Erasmus+ associate membership from 2027, UK‑EU relations (including a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement), digital identity plans, transparency, cyber‑crime, insourcing, procurement, infected blood compensation, and emergency preparedness. The Leader of the House outlined forthcoming business and wider Government initiatives. The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee Chair presented the Government’s response to its report on the energy cost crisis. Backbench debates examined support for the fishing industry (including spatial pressures, funding design, landing rules and international access) and aligning agricultural import standards with UK animal welfare and trade policy; both motions were agreed without division. An adjournment debate on Surrey’s local government finances highlighted pressures from reorganisation and Woking’s debt; the Government cited increased multi‑year core spending power and ongoing work on debt support.

Detailed Summary

Oral Questions to the Cabinet Office: Emergencies in Rural and Coastal Areas

Responding to questions after Storm Goretti, Dan Jarvis said the Government “issued two emergency alerts reaching approximately 500,000 people” and were strengthening local resilience through a resilience action plan. He pointed households to the Prepare website and said the Government is “considering both regulatory and non-regulatory options to integrate the vital work of the voluntary, community and faith sectors” with statutory responders. MPs highlighted fragile connectivity and BT’s analogue switch‑off; Jarvis replied, “I will look carefully at what he has to say and come back to him”, and undertook to ensure lessons from Goretti are learned across Government and with Members.

Oral Questions: Erasmus+ Programme

Chris Ward announced associate membership of Erasmus+ from 2027, which “could open up opportunities for more than 100,000 young people” across universities, further education, apprenticeships and youth work. On costs, he said, “It is a one-year agreement… we have negotiated a 30% discount… [and] will be reviewed after 10 months”, and confirmed the programme is UK‑wide with engagement of devolved Governments.

Oral Questions: UK‑EU Relations

Nick Thomas‑Symonds highlighted a new strategic partnership and an SPS agreement that “removes export health certificates and routine border checks… [saving] up to £200 per shipment”. He described a pragmatic approach to alignment and divergence—“We choose to align… Where it makes sense to diverge, we will also continue to do so”—reiterated that rejoining the single market or customs union is not in the Government’s mandate, and said there would be “no access fees” for ETS linkage or the food and drink agreement. He welcomed full parliamentary scrutiny of an EU reset Bill.

Oral Questions: Digital Identity Scheme

Josh Simons said a new, inclusive and secure digital identity will support joined‑up public services, and that “by the end of this Parliament, every UK citizen who wants a digital ID will be able to get one free of charge,” alongside “a huge digital inclusion drive”. Responding to claims of a U‑turn, he said, “It has not been,” linking digitised right‑to‑work checks to tougher illegal working enforcement. He also stressed data quality: “Bad data management produces bad public services”.

Oral Questions: Government Decision Making and Transparency

Nick Thomas‑Symonds said the independent ethics adviser can initiate investigations, and emphasised balancing secrecy with oversight in national security‑related cases. On Lord Mandelson, he explained that revoking a peerage “requires a bespoke piece of primary legislation” and that Lord Mandelson is on a leave of absence.

Oral Questions: Cyber‑crime

Dan Jarvis previewed a national cyber action plan and measures in the Crime and Policing Bill to “empower police to suspend IP addresses and domains being used for serious criminality”. He cited £187 million for the TechFirst programme to reach 1 million students by 2026 and provide scholarships to build capability.

Oral Questions: Government Insourcing and Procurement

Chris Ward committed to “the largest wave of insourcing in a generation” and to consulting on a public interest test before further outsourcing. He said “Britain should be Britain’s best customer,” signalling reforms to strengthen social value and support UK firms; he also undertook to hold Capita to account over civil service pensions administration and provide further updates.

Oral Questions: Local Authorities and Business Investment

The Government said the House had approved measures “to reserve around £1 billion of contracts a year for local businesses in the UK”. Ward endorsed opening procurement further to social enterprises and SMEs, and offered to follow up on specific local disruption issues.

Oral Questions: Infected Blood Compensation Scheme

Nick Thomas‑Symonds confirmed the consultation was closing and reported that “as of 13 January, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority has made over £2.4 billion in compensation offers”. He agreed to write with precise figures on interim payments to estates.

Oral Questions: Government Use of Technology and AI

Darren Jones set out a “digital first” approach, including expanding the No. 10 innovation fellowship to build in‑house digital solutions. On AI fairness, he said, “These AI solutions are only as good as their ability to serve the public fairly; equality should be built in at the start,” highlighting the role of the AI Safety Institute and DSIT.

Oral Questions: Emergency Preparedness

Dan Jarvis highlighted the Prepare website and a downloadable household plan, said he would consider international examples and local resilience concerns, and reiterated suggested household supply lists and support for vulnerable people during crises.

Topical Questions to the Cabinet Office

Darren Jones said, “Labour will build public services anew”, and agreed to look at FOI/Parliamentary Question practice across Departments. On the proposed Chinese embassy, Dan Jarvis would not detail mitigations but noted a letter from agency heads pointing to “clear security advantages” and a reduction in the diplomatic footprint. On fisheries, Nick Thomas‑Symonds said, “We are not returning to the common fisheries policy”, and confirmed willingness to appear before Committees once legal texts are finalised.

Business of the House (Future Parliamentary Business)

Alan Campbell announced business for the week commencing 26 January, including the Second Reading of the Armed Forces Bill and an Opposition Day, and provisional business for the following week. He also noted consultations on further online child safety, publication of the water White Paper, and the warm homes plan.

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee: Tackling the Energy Cost Crisis (Select Committee statement)

Chair Bill Esterson summarised the Government’s response to the Committee’s report and the warm homes plan, noting that “bills are too high” and solutions are not easy. He welcomed insulation and clean‑heating support, but said the Government “rejected our call for better targeting of the warm home discount and for a social tariff,” and for fairer cold weather payments. He pressed for faster smart‑meter roll‑out and queried using network “excess profits” to relieve consumer debt.

Backbench Debate: Government Support for the Fishing Industry

Alistair Carmichael framed fisheries as part of food security—“food security is national security”—and stressed the role of well‑managed seas in supplying “good quality protein”. He criticised the Barnett approach to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund—“we receive only 8.3% of the fund” in Scotland—and warned the ‘spatial squeeze’ could cause the sector to “soon risk losing its critical mass”. He urged revisiting Norwegian access by lowering reciprocal caps. Minister Angela Eagle said the fund’s design would reflect industry priorities and that recent negotiations delivered more bass opportunities, a commercially viable Irish Sea herring TAC, increased pollack opportunities, and “a significant increase in the UK bluefin tuna quota from 63 tonnes to 231 tonnes”. She added, “We are working at pace towards a new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU”, and said UK‑Norway arrangements are “fair and balanced” but kept under review. The House agreed the motion without division.

Backbench Debate: Agricultural Sector – Import Standards

Sam Carling argued that raising UK animal welfare must not “export[] cruelty overseas,” pointing to sow stalls and battery cages still used in some exporting countries. He called for consistency so “all agricultural products sold in the UK… adhere to British welfare and quality standards”. Ministers responded that the UK will maintain high standards while trading—“We will not sacrifice British standards on the altar of trade deals”—noting that in talks with India tariffs were kept on pork, chicken and eggs. They highlighted plans for an SPS agreement with the EU to “slash red tape”. The motion was agreed without division.

Royal Assent

Royal Assent was signified for three Acts: “Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026; Sentencing Act 2026; Holocaust Memorial Act 2026”.

Public Petition: Safety of the A525 near Meadows Primary School

Adam Jogee presented a petition urging safety measures on the A525 outside Meadows Primary School and at the Crewe Road junction, citing a parent’s injury and “many more near misses”. The petition asked for traffic‑calming measures, including lights, speed cameras, a reduced speed zone or a roundabout modification.

Adjournment Debate: Local Government Finances in Surrey

Ben Spencer warned of reduced funding for Surrey and unresolved Woking debt amid reorganisation: “Surrey county council’s budget is being reduced by over £50 million for the next financial year” and a new west Surrey unitary “will be bankrupt from day one” if debt is unaddressed. Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said Surrey’s core spending power would rise by 7.3% by 2028‑29 and that Government will work with councils on Woking’s position, having already committed in principle to repay £500 million in 2026‑27: “an increase… of 7.3% compared with 2024-25”; “we will continue to explore what further debt support is required”. She confirmed Surrey’s move to two unitary councils and said devolution would proceed via establishing a strategic authority before any mayoral model.