Jury Reforms Clear Commons as Digital ID Consultation Opens

High-Level Summary

The Commons focused on the economy and living costs, digital public services, justice reform and climate resilience. During Treasury questions, Ministers addressed mileage rates, business rates support, fuel and heating oil prices, food insecurity, pensions and youth employment, with the Chancellor condemning price gouging and linking fuel volatility to tensions in the Middle East. A ministerial statement launched a public consultation on a voluntary digital ID for accessing services via the gov.uk app. The House then debated the Courts and Tribunals Bill; a reasoned amendment was defeated and the Bill received a Second Reading. A Ten Minute Rule Bill on protecting pets in domestic abuse cases was introduced, and the Adjournment debate examined lessons from Storm Goretti and national resilience to extreme weather.

Detailed Summary

Treasury Oral Questions

Members questioned Treasury Ministers on living costs, support for workers and business, and public finances. On HMRC mileage rates, the Chancellor said any change would be taken forward through a fiscal event: “We are, therefore, looking at the issue and will consider the matter further in the usual way”, adding that “keeping all taxes under review” is standard policy. On fuel duty and prices, she highlighted volatility and the Government’s focus on de‑escalation in the Middle East: “oil prices today are 24% lower than they were yesterday… the most important thing we can do… is to de‑escalate the conflict in the middle east”.

On high street support, Dan Tomlinson said there is “a support package for all businesses worth £4.3 billion over the next three years”, with permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, and “every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new bill from April”; a high streets strategy will come later this year. He resisted an emergency VAT cut—“VAT is a broad‑based tax that raises a significant amount of revenue”—and said relations with the EU are being reset, including sanitary and phytosanitary talks and work on energy. He also said the forthcoming high streets strategy would look “in the round” at cumulative impacts.

On community ownership, James Murray announced a new community right to buy alongside Pride in Place funding “up to £5.8 billion over 10 years… enabling local people to choose to fund… community assets”. On the cost of living, the Chancellor listed money off energy bills and frozen prescription charges and train fares, and warned, “This Government will not tolerate price gouging”, adding she would meet petrol retailers. She pointed to housing and poverty measures, including “getting rid of the two‑child limit”. On heating oil spikes, she said all MPs were invited to meet the Financial Secretary and that “we have asked the Competition and Markets Authority to look at the issues around heating oil”.

On public finances, James Murray said, “we are increasing spending by £50 billion a year by 2028‑29 compared with the previous Government’s plans”, and affirmed, “Those fiscal rules are ironclad”. On food banks, Lucy Rigby said the Government is “committed to ending mass dependence on food parcels”, citing free school meals expansion and removing the two‑child limit. On pensions, Torsten Bell confirmed payments “will increase by 4.8% in April… boosting pensioners’ incomes by up to £575 a year”, and restated the Government’s commitment to the triple lock. He defended reforms to salary sacrifice reliefs: “any responsible Government should look at the effectiveness of all tax reliefs”.

On Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector, Ministers declined a VAT cut, citing complexity and Exchequer cost, and again highlighted CMA engagement on heating oil. On youth employment, Torsten Bell cited “£820 million for the youth guarantee” and a focus on apprenticeships, and confirmed there is “no change in Government policy” on minimum wage alignment, which remains guided by the Low Pay Commission. In Topical Questions, the Chancellor linked de‑escalation in the Middle East to cost pressures, set out fuel duty decisions and promoted the “cheaper fuel finder”, confirmed MOD access to the special reserve, and reiterated CMA scrutiny of potential price gouging for heating oil.

Digital ID: Public Consultation (Ministerial Statement)

The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister launched a national conversation on a voluntary digital ID for accessing services via the gov.uk app, built on three principles: “useful… secure… for everyone”. He stressed it is not “one giant Government IT system”, that departmental services would be linked via the app and that “the NHS app and citizens’ health data will always remain separate”. A representative “people’s panel” will deliberate key questions as part of the consultation.

Digital inclusion support would be provided through community venues such as post offices, libraries and jobcentres, with traditional routes retained for those who do not wish to use the app. He confirmed that right‑to‑work checks will be conducted digitally by the end of the Parliament, with employees able to choose between their Government digital ID, a passport, e‑visa or other methods. Responding to concerns, he said the scheme will not be mandatory and expects that to be “on the face of the Bill”; it will be built as a UK sovereign capability and “will not be outsourced to a foreign company”. On costs, he said Government does not yet know the final figures and would update after the consultation.

Points of Order

Members raised matters of House practice and clarity of statements. The Speaker reiterated the convention that Members (including Ministers and shadow Ministers) must notify the local MP before visiting their constituency: “you must let the Member know before you get to their constituency”. He also noted that Government is responsible for statement titles, which should be clear and not misleading.

Domestic Abuse (Pets) Ten Minute Rule Bill (First Reading)

Ruth Jones introduced “Ruby’s law” to extend family and domestic abuse protections to pets. The Bill would bring pets within the scope of non‑molestation and occupation orders, recognise pet‑related coercive control and facilitate custody transfers. She argued that “pets do not receive any meaningful legal protection or consideration in domestic abuse cases”, citing evidence that “97% of domestic abuse professionals have dealt with cases where pets are harmed as part of coercive control”. The House agreed leave; the Bill was read a First time and scheduled for Second Reading on Friday 17 April (Bill 402).

Courts and Tribunals Bill: Second Reading

Opening for the Government, the Lord Chancellor said the Bill modernises a system facing severe backlogs. It creates a Crown Court bench division for cases with a likely custodial sentence of up to three years, to be tried by a judge sitting alone, freeing jury time for the most serious offences: the change is predicted to “reduce trial times by at least 20%”. He said, “juries are a cornerstone of our system” and argued that “juries will remain the cornerstone… Far from diminishing juries, the Bill protects them”. The Bill also tightens rules on sexual history evidence and strengthens special measures for victims, and repeals the presumption of parental involvement in the family courts; the Lord Chancellor paid tribute to Claire Throssell. He announced a full independent review to assess impacts on particular groups and whether justice is being delivered.

Moving a reasoned amendment to block Second Reading, the shadow Lord Chancellor argued that restricting jury trials undermines a fundamental safeguard and would make only a marginal difference to the backlog, calling the Government’s figures “fiction masquerading as science”. Members proposed alternatives such as pilots or a sunset clause, while others defended jury trial as an institutional protection. Outcome: the reasoned amendment was defeated (Ayes 203, Noes 311), and the Bill was read a Second time (Ayes 304, Noes 203). Programme, money and carry‑over motions were agreed, committing the Bill to a Public Bill Committee to conclude by 28 April 2026.

Other Business (Delegated Legislation and Petitions)

The House approved the draft Procurement Act 2023 (Specified International Agreements and Saving Provision) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. Petitions were presented on pressures from Houses in Multiple Occupation in Old Bexley and Sidcup, and on marking the UN International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Adjournment Debate: Extreme Climate and Weather Events—National Resilience

Jayne Kirkham (Truro and Falmouth) highlighted Cornwall’s exposure to climate impacts and lessons from Storm Goretti, with severe winds, outages and blocked roads. She said, “we are a people on the edge” and “often at the sharp edge of climate change”, noting that “2025 was the warmest year on record” with more frequent extremes. She called for better telecoms resilience, community emergency plans and investment in flood and coastal defences.

Responding, Dan Jarvis outlined national action, including a Met Office red warning and emergency alerts during Goretti, and committed to a cross‑Government lessons‑learned review. He cited long‑term measures: “a record £10.5 billion investment in flood defences to protect 900,000 properties”, progress on reservoirs and water security, and telecoms back‑up power co‑ordination, noting “over two thirds of lines across the UK already having been migrated” to digital. The House then adjourned.