Government Defeats BIOT Motion, Welcomes Youth Employment Measures

High-Level Summary

The Commons sat for Women and Equalities questions, Prime Minister’s Questions (answered by the Deputy Prime Minister), a Ten Minute Rule Bill on flooding, and two Opposition Day debates on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and on youth unemployment. Two Presentation Bills received their First Readings. The House defeated an Opposition motion on BIOT and later approved a Government‑tabled amendment welcoming youth employment measures. A deferred division approved medical devices regulations, while a further vote on emissions trading was deferred. The day concluded with an Adjournment debate on school funding distribution focused on SEND pressures and local authority deficits.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers: Women and Equalities

Ministers outlined current policy across LGBTQ+ rights, workplace NDAs, race equality, women’s health, disability employment, and child poverty. On LGBTQ+ rights, Olivia Bailey said the Government are “improving LGBT+ healthcare, equalising hate crime laws and banning abusive conversion practices”, and confirmed that “trans people are protected in law from discrimination and harassment,” with an updated Equality and Human Rights Commission code under review to guide service providers.

Seema Malhotra said the Employment Rights Act 2025 will “void any provision… that prevents a worker from speaking out about harassment or discrimination” with secondary legislation to follow consultation. She also reaffirmed the commitment to make “the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority people” and to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for large employers. On women’s health, Karin Smyth referred to a “10‑year health plan” and renewing the women’s health strategy, addressed concerns about sodium valproate cases, and said black women’s voices would be central to maternity work. Stephen Timms highlighted disability employment measures, noting “Connect to Work employment support will be nationwide by April”. On child poverty, Bridget Phillipson announced a “historic child poverty strategy” including “scrapping the two‑child limit” and “expanding free school meals”. No decisions were taken; these were ministerial responses to questions.

Prime Minister’s Questions (Deputy Prime Minister answering)

David Lammy opened by marking Holocaust Memorial Day and committing to build a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre next to Parliament: “We will build a national Holocaust memorial and learning centre next to this Parliament”. He agreed to work with an MP and relevant agencies on a local waste dump issue, calling the situation “unacceptable”.

On support for hospitality and high streets, he said “business rates for pubs and music venues will be cut by 15% this year and frozen for the next two years”. He defended minimum wage rises—“it changes lives”—and stated that “500,000 more people are in work than a year ago”. He set out the Government’s China approach—“We will co‑operate where we can… and we will challenge in areas where we disagree”—and reported NHS progress: “waiting lists have fallen by over 300,000 since the election”. On the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he reiterated the position of not commenting on specific proscription considerations. No votes or formal outcomes resulted from PMQs.

Bills Presented: First Readings

Two Presentation Bills were introduced without division. The Local Government Reorganisation (Requirement for Referendum) Bill would require local referendums before specified reorganisations; it was read the First time and set “to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February”. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pension Scheme (Report) Bill would require a report to Parliament on disregarding certain compensation for means‑tested benefits; it too was read the First time and set “to be read a Second time on Friday 27 February”.

Flooding (Ten Minute Rule Bill)

George Freeman sought and obtained leave to bring in a Bill addressing inland flood prevention, including clarifying responsibilities, strengthening local flood authorities and Internal Drainage Boards, designating certain pumps as critical national infrastructure, reviewing funding, considering a Flood Compensation Fund, adjusting planning and drainage obligations, placing a flood‑response duty on fire services, and improving digital flood mapping. He highlighted overlooked surface water flooding in Mid Norfolk and linked issues to housing growth and infrastructure shortfalls.

Leave was granted; the Bill was ordered to be printed and scheduled “to be read a Second time on Friday 10 July”. No division was recorded on the motion for leave.

Opposition Day: British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)

Priti Patel moved a motion opposing ceding sovereignty over BIOT and criticising the proposed treaty’s costs, calling it “Labour’s £35 billion Chagos surrender deal”. She cited the 1966 UK‑US exchange of notes that the Territory “shall remain under United Kingdom sovereignty”, and questioned whether the UK could proceed without US agreement, alongside concerns about the Pelindaba Treaty and nuclear weapons stationing.

Minister Seema Malhotra opposed the motion, stating, “The treaty guarantees full UK operational control of Diego Garcia”, and that before ratification the UK‑US exchange of notes would be updated. She added, “We are confident that nothing in this treaty conflicts with our abilities to uphold international law, and to continue to operate the base as we do today”, and described claims about cost as “wildly exaggerated”, noting the Government’s figures were verified by the Government Actuary’s Department, the OBR and others. After debate, the House divided: Ayes 103, Noes 284, so the motion was defeated.

Delegated Legislation and Deferred Divisions

On the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026, the question was put but the Division was deferred until 4 February. Separately, the House took a deferred Division on the draft Medical Devices (Fees Amendment) Regulations 2026 and approved it: “The Ayes were 294 and the Noes were 108”. Earlier, the same result had been announced to the House.

Opposition Day: Youth Unemployment

Helen Whately moved a motion criticising Government policy for rising youth unemployment, stating “Over 700,000 young people are unemployed… Nearly 1 million young people are not in education, employment or training”, and arguing that higher employer national insurance was a “jobs tax”.

Responding, Diana R. Johnson moved a Government amendment welcoming investment in a Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy: “more than £1.5 billion… £820 million of funding for the Youth Guarantee… and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy”, with the Youth Guarantee to “reach almost 900,000 young people” and to guarantee paid work to around 55,000 18–21‑year‑olds on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. The House divided: the original motion was negatived and the Government amendment agreed to. The main Question, as amended, was then agreed (Ayes 287, Noes 91).

Adjournment Debate: Education Funding Distribution (SEND)

Pippa Heylings highlighted historic funding disparities and high needs pressures, noting “Cambridgeshire remains in the bottom quartile nationally” for schools and high needs funding, with the high needs deficit forecast “to rise to about £94 million by March 2026, and potentially to £200 million by April 2028”. She sought clarity on SEND reforms, growth funding, and treatment of Dedicated Schools Grant deficits when the statutory override ends.

Minister Georgia Gould acknowledged systemic pressures and set out intentions to reform with earlier intervention and additional investment. She said the Government will “bring forward arrangements to assist” councils on DSG deficits and that “SEND pressures will be absorbed within the overall Government… budget for 2028‑29, such that the Government will not expect local authorities to need to fund SEND costs from general funds”. The House then adjourned.