Finance Bill Passes as al‑Quds Marches Curbed, Mail Pressured

High-Level Summary

The Commons day opened with Women and Equalities questions covering support for women with endometriosis at work, child poverty, and tackling violence against women and girls, followed by Prime Minister’s Questions dominated by fuel duty and the Middle East. An Urgent Question on Royal Mail exposed widespread delivery failures; Ministers met Ofcom that day and promised continued pressure. The Home Secretary announced a month‑long prohibition on al‑Quds Day‑related processions under section 13 of the Public Order Act, while static protests may proceed with conditions. The Government published an initial tranche of documents on Peter Mandelson’s appointment and dismissal, with further releases withheld pending a Metropolitan Police investigation. The Finance (No. 2) Bill completed Report Stage, key opposition amendments were defeated, and it passed Third Reading before an Adjournment debate marking Commonwealth Day.

Detailed Summary

Women and Equalities Oral Questions

Endometriosis and workplace support: Seema Malhotra said the Government is acting so women receive earlier medical support and that the Employment Rights Act 2025 will help women manage the condition at work. She highlighted new employer action plans: “we are improving access to flexible working, making changes to statutory sick pay and opening up conversations about women’s health through the employer action plans”. On wider workplace guidance, she linked action to closing gender pay gaps and menopause support: “we are looking for action to tackle gender pay gaps and a strategy for supporting women with the menopause”.

Child poverty and equality: Bridget Phillipson called tackling child poverty the Government’s “moral mission”, citing expanded Best Start family hubs, childcare, breakfast clubs, free school meals and ending the two‑child limit, with a strategy to deliver “the biggest ever reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament”. She said £200 million would ensure a dedicated SEND practitioner in every Best Start hub and a plan “to lift over half a million children out of poverty”. On promoting equality, she set ambitions to halve the disadvantage gap and expand free school meals, and said Alan Milburn is reviewing support for NEETs alongside investment in FE and apprenticeships.

International Women’s Day/VAWG: Malhotra highlighted work to halve VAWG and launch employer action plans. On allegations from the Epstein files, she said multiple forces are assessing them and a national co‑ordination group with a senior investigator is in place: “Multiple police forces are assessing allegations arising from the Epstein files”. On single‑sex services, she said the Government is working through the EHRC code and that “any suggestions of delay are completely wrong”. Jess Phillips set out the cross‑Government “Freedom from Violence and Abuse” strategy to prevent violence, pursue perpetrators and support victims, stressing prevention with schools and parents. She said it includes action on sexual harassment in the NHS and referenced £13.1 million for a policing centre doing work on suicides following domestic abuse.

Topical questions: Phillipson announced guidance urging firms to publish plans to tackle gender pay gaps, said the renewed women’s health strategy will speed diagnosis and treatment including endometriosis, and defended action against anti‑Muslim hatred consistent with free speech: “It is right that we take action against anti-Muslim hatred… but that is not in conflict with… freedom of speech”. On the draft race and disability Bill, she said the Government response would be published “as soon as we can”.

Prime Minister’s Questions (Engagements)

The Prime Minister praised RAF defensive operations in the Middle East and linked a £1 billion helicopter investment to supply‑chain jobs, saying defence is “an engine for growth and jobs”. Exchanges with the Leader of the Opposition centred on fuel duty and Iran; the Prime Minister repeatedly stated, “Fuel duty is frozen. It is going to remain frozen until September”, and later, “There has not been a rise. Fuel duty is frozen. It is frozen until September”.

Edward Davey raised Dunblane and firearms law; the Prime Minister agreed on closing loopholes, saying, “We must never forget the horror of Dunblane”. Stephen Flynn challenged UK actions over Iran; the Prime Minister said they were to protect UK nationals: “We have 300,000 UK nationals… in the region”. Other questions covered industrial energy support for ceramics, SEND reforms and hubs, and rising fuel prices’ impact on rural areas, with the PM restating the freeze until September. No decisions or divisions arose from PMQs.

Urgent Question: Royal Mail Universal Service Obligation

Answering Ian Lavery’s UQ, Blair McDougall said Royal Mail’s service “has not been good enough,” noting Ofcom’s £21 million fine in October, continued monitoring and a requirement for a “credible plan” for improvement; he was meeting Ofcom later that day. He and the Secretary of State had met Royal Mail leadership and EP Group’s chair Daniel Křetínský, and stressed “the current situation is simply not good enough”.

Members cited missed medical letters, alleged parcel‑first practices and staff pressures. McDougall emphasised that criticisms were “in no way a critique of the work of our heroic posties”, referenced an undertaking preventing value extraction “until service improved”, and undertook to raise parcel prioritisation with Ofcom. On elections, he said reassurances had been sought so postal voting would not be impacted. No decisions were taken; next steps included his Ofcom meeting, continued regulatory pressure, convening management and unions, and addressing constituency cases directly.

Statement: Protest Policing (al‑Quds Day)

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood consented to the Metropolitan Police’s request under section 13 of the Public Order Act to prohibit al‑Quds Day‑related processions for one month, “which will come into effect today and end on 11 April”, on the basis that the legal test to prevent serious public disorder was met. She stressed the order “bans marches, but not static demonstrations,” for which police can impose conditions on “location and timing”. A further extension would require a fresh submission from the Commissioner.

Responding, Chris Philp said he “fully support[ed] a ban” and queried IRGC proscription and Prevent’s focus. Mahmood said the Government does not comment on proscription but had accepted Jonathan Hall KC’s recommendations and would legislate “at the earliest available opportunity”. On rights compliance, she said ECHR Articles 9‑11 are qualified rights, the statutory bar for a ban is high, and she was “satisfied that that high bar has been met”.

Statement: Response to Humble Address on Lord Mandelson

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones announced publication of a first tranche of documents on Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States and his dismissal, with further tranches to come; some documents are withheld at the Metropolitan Police’s request to avoid prejudicing a live investigation. The Intelligence and Security Committee agreed to a limited national security redaction in one document. Jones said the Prime Minister “regrets believing Peter Mandelson’s lies” and explained that severance was agreed to avoid higher tribunal costs, approved under Treasury rules with “a non‑disclosure agreement… not allowed”.

He outlined reforms taken since: the Ethics and Integrity Commission; strengthened vetting for politically appointed diplomatic roles; stricter ministerial code rules and independent adviser powers; and work with the Lords on discipline and lobbying rules. Next steps are to publish remaining documents once the Met confirms publication will not prejudice its investigation, with the PACAC Chair given controlled sight of withheld papers in the meantime.

Finance (No. 2) Bill: Report Stage and Third Reading

Government new clauses on offshore income gains and pensions (abolition of the lifetime allowance charge) were agreed, along with technical amendments. Opposition proposals to uprate agricultural property relief annually (New Clause 11) were defeated (Ayes 174, Noes 292). An amendment to remove the freeze in income tax thresholds (Clause 10) was defeated (Ayes 172, Noes 283), and an amendment to remove changes to agricultural and business property relief (Clause 62) was defeated (Ayes 175, Noes 292). The Bill passed Third Reading (Ayes 292, Noes 161).

In debate, Stella Creasy urged action against online “tax influencers”. The Minister confirmed clauses 156‑162 “apply equally… including on social media”, and that guidance will make clear the intention “to capture anyone who is promoting tax avoidance… including social media influencers”. On the carbon border adjustment mechanism, Ministers said they are considering the feasibility of including refined petroleum products, given energy security and industrial impacts.

Adjournment Debate: Commonwealth Day 2026

Adam Jogee celebrated Commonwealth Day, highlighting shared values, cultural links and historic service (including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), and urged a “Commonwealth‑first” approach to trade and development. Minister Hamish Falconer affirmed UK support, calling the Commonwealth a “family of nations”, noted that the UK is “the largest financial contributor” to its institutions, and pointed to priorities for CHOGM in Antigua on growth, democracy and climate. On economic growth he said the UK would work to reduce trade barriers, deepen digital trade, strengthen supply chains and expand the Commonwealth investment network.