Two-Child Limit Repeal Clears Commons amid Housing, SEND Reforms

High-Level Summary

The House examined housing, planning and tenants’ rights at Oral Questions, took a high‑profile Urgent Question on a Cabinet Office review into alleged media‑related intimidation, and received statements on the Government’s response to a Humble Address and on major school and SEND reforms. A statement also set out changes to local government reorganisation plans and funding. Two Government bills progressed: the Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill completed Committee and Third Reading without amendment after several divisions, and the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill passed, with review amendments defeated. A petition on coastal erosion in South Devon was presented, and the day concluded with an adjournment debate on a national kinship carer identification system.

Detailed Summary

Oral Questions: Leasehold reform and service charges

Opening Housing questions, the Secretary of State said the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill “mark[ed] the beginning of the end for the feudal leasehold system,” with commonhold reinvigorated and ground rents capped. He highlighted a consultation to increase transparency of service charges and to scrap the presumption that leaseholders pay landlords’ legal costs, and pledged to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 “as quickly as possible”.

Members raised poor practice by managing agents and ‘fleecehold’. The Secretary of State referenced consultation on mandatory qualifications for managing agents, adding it was “not the final step in the regulation of agents”. On building safety‑related costs he said “unfair costs should not fall on leaseholders”, and he affirmed commitment to end fleecehold. He confirmed future ground rent caps and reiterated that Act provisions would be commenced “as soon as possible”.

Oral Questions: Antisemitism and community cohesion

The Minister said “antisemitic incidents are on the rise,” outlining work with police, the Jewish community and an antisemitism working group. She stressed a shared responsibility to tackle hate: “All of us in politics and public life have a huge responsibility to…stamp out this hate and division”.

On interfaith relations, Ministers said such work is “key” and will be supported. Addressing broader religious hatred, the Government stated: “Religious hatred has no place in our society,” and thanked the Community Security Trust for its role.

Oral Questions: Planning, housing delivery and the Building Safety Regulator

On the Oxford‑Cambridge corridor, Ministers cited “significant progress,” including updated East West Rail proposals and next steps following a development corporation consultation. On ‘grey‑belt’ land, they said local authorities determine whether exceptional circumstances justify release, and noted that recent NPPF changes were judged by the OBR to have led to “the biggest increase in house building in the past 40 years”. They also pointed to strengthened policy on brownfield and a new homes accelerator to unblock stalled sites.

On the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), the Government described its move to arm’s‑length status as a step towards “a single construction regulator,” with new applications being approved “near the 12‑week target”. Acknowledging delays up to 40 weeks as “unacceptable,” they cited a dedicated external remediation team and a batching model to speed decisions. When challenged on London approvals, Ministers responded: “In the last 12 weeks, 11,962 new‑build homes have been approved”.

Oral Questions: Private rented sector and high streets

Ministers confirmed the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will take effect on 1 May, abolishing section 21 no‑fault evictions, prohibiting rental bidding wars and banning large rent advances. They said a new decent homes standard for the private rented sector should be implemented by 2035, urging landlords not to wait to improve properties.

On high streets, the Government cited interventions including “high street rental auctions,” £5.8 billion of Pride in Place funding, and at least £150 million for a high street strategy.

Topical Questions: Pride in Place, electoral reform, housebuilding and rent policy

The Government announced 40 more places joining Pride in Place, with up to £20 million each over 10 years and decisions made locally. On electoral reform, Ministers said there were no plans to change the voting system, noting the previous referendum result and the constituency link under first past the post.

On housing supply and skills, the Government said they “remain fully committed” to the 1.5 million homes target and are investing £600 million in vocational skills. On London, they highlighted a new affordable homes bidding round and that London would receive “more than £11 billion” (30%) of the programme. Asked about rent controls, Ministers replied: “we do not support rent controls,” pointing instead to Renters’ Rights Act measures to empower tenants.

Urgent Question: Cabinet Office review into Labour Together and APCO Worldwide

The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister said the Cabinet Office fact‑finding had concluded and “the matter should now be referred to the independent adviser on ministerial standards,” which the Prime Minister had done. He explained Ministers are not suspended during such inquiries because the adviser “can investigate Ministers only while they are in office”.

He stressed the allegations concern a think‑tank, not the Government: “The accusations being made are not against the Labour party or the Government, but against the think‑tank Labour Together”. He underlined the adviser’s independence and said advice should be available “in the coming days”.

Statement: Government response to Humble Address (Lord Mandelson)

The Government outlined work to identify and publish material requested by the House, with publication in tranches and the first expected in early March. Some documents will be withheld initially due to an ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation, including “correspondence between No. 10 and Lord Peter Mandelson”. Material engaging national security or international relations will be reviewed by the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Ministers reiterated collaboration with the police and the ISC, and committed to updates: “we will release this further material… and we will continue to keep Members updated”. Separately, they noted they were “not ruling out action in respect of the line of succession” following a high‑profile arrest, pending police investigations. In exchanges, a Minister later said, “I believe the documents will show that the Prime Minister was lied to by Peter Mandelson”.

Statement: Schools White Paper – Every Child Achieving and Thriving (including SEND reform)

The Education Secretary set out reforms to combine high standards with inclusion, aiming to halve the disadvantage gap and strengthen reading, including a Year 8 reading test. For SEND, she announced over £1.6 billion to strengthen mainstream inclusion, statutory individual support plans, and a new national “Experts at Hand” initiative backed by £1.8 billion; every secondary school will have an inclusion base. Trusts will face Ofsted inspection and new trust standards.

Members queried EHCP eligibility, funding and transition. The Secretary of State said the reforms are “not about cutting costs, saving money,” but “better support and better outcomes”, and confirmed the current system remains until 2029 with a careful transition from 2030. She later confirmed children in specialist provision with an EHCP can remain unless parents decide otherwise.

Statement: Local Government Reorganisation and council elections

The Secretary of State explained that, after further legal advice, the proposal to postpone local elections in areas undergoing reorganisation was withdrawn, and elections “will now go ahead in May 2026 in full”. He announced up to £63 million in new capacity funding, in addition to £7.6 million previously.

Responding to criticism over process and motives, the Government relied on the convention of not publishing legal advice, reiterated the rationale for reorganisation (eliminating duplication and improving services), and said mayoral election postponements were on “different legislation and in different circumstances”.

Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill – Committee and Third Reading

Clause 1 increases the Industrial Development Act 1982 selective financial assistance limit to £20 billion and the incremental increase to £1.5 billion. Clause 2 raises the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 commitment limit “from £84 billion to £160 billion” with scope for further increments.

Key amendments were defeated: a modern slavery bar on UKEF support (Ayes 161; Noes 272); steel industry reporting (Ayes 156; Noes 273); and GDP/SME/EU trade reporting (Ayes 77; Noes 280). The Bill was reported without amendment and passed Third Reading. Ministers cited existing OECD/Equator due‑diligence frameworks and statutory reporting, while opponents pressed for stronger safeguards and transparency.

Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill – Committee and Third Reading

The Government said the Bill “removes the universal credit two-child limit…from April this year” and will “lift 450,000 children out of poverty”. Northern Ireland provisions mirror Great Britain’s approach at the Executive’s request. New clauses seeking additional impact reviews—including on the benefit cap—were defeated (e.g. Ayes 73; Noes 286).

At Third Reading, Ministers called the change “an investment in the future of children,” saying “Two million children will benefit from this Bill”. The Bill passed (Ayes 361; Noes 84). Opponents argued around fairness and work incentives: the original cap was introduced “for one simple reason: fairness”.

Petition: Coastal erosion in Start Bay (South Devon)

A petition (over 39,000 signatures) highlighted accelerated erosion impacting Torcross, Beesands and Hallsands, and the partial destruction of the A379 Slapton Line, seeking Government support for short‑ and long‑term mitigation. As per House procedures, petitions are formally recorded and referred; no decision was taken during presentation.

Adjournment: Kinship Carer Identification

An MP proposed a national kinship carer ID (and app) to prove parental responsibility quickly in hospitals, schools and other services, citing delays in treatment pending verification. He asked Ministers to convene departments and charities to deliver cards by 2028 and NHS integration by 2035.

The Minister praised kinship carers, outlined wider reforms (including requiring family group decision‑making and a forthcoming trial of allowances equal to the foster care national minimum allowance), and committed: “I am committed to having conversations…to explore the best way to ensure” recognition and timely support, involving DHSC, MoJ and local authorities.