Commons Defeats PM Privileges Move, Clears Pensions and Devolution

High-Level Summary

The Commons focused on Treasury questions spanning the cost of living, housing, global trade and defence industrial policy, before taking first readings of two presentation bills and granting leave for a Ten Minute Rule Bill on local area energy plans. The House then held a lengthy debate on a motion to refer the Prime Minister to the Committee of Privileges and defeated it on division. Ping‑pong concluded on the Pension Schemes Bill (agreeing a tightly constrained reserve power on asset allocation) and on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (with Government concessions on ministerial direction and brownfield priority). MPs approved several statutory instruments (two on division), agreed updates to Backbench Business and select committee election procedures, and finished with an adjournment debate on the regulation and impact of HMOs.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers to Treasury Questions: cost of living, housing, trade, defence and taxation

Ministers outlined measures on poverty, housing costs and bills. Torsten Bell said the Government is “committed to ending the mass dependence on emergency food parcels” and that Britain is “on course for the biggest reduction in child poverty of any Parliament on record”. He added that the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 would come into force “just next week” and “allow tenants to appeal excessive, above-market rents”. The Chancellor linked cost of living support to foreign policy, stating, “This is not a war that we started, and it is not a war that we joined… we are working to de-escalate” and cited “£117 on average off energy bills… £53 million to help with the cost of heating oil, and freezing both rail fares and prescription charges”.

On trade, Lucy Rigby said the Government had “secured new trade deals with India, South Korea, the EU and the US” to back exporters. On defence industry, James Murray said “over a thousand” contracts had been signed since the general election and that investment would rise “to 2.6% of GDP by next April”. Ministers said fuel duty remains frozen, noting it is “lower today, in cash terms, than it has been in any year since 2009” and, in real terms, “lower than it has been at any point since 1993”. Dan Tomlinson highlighted a £4.3bn support package on business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure. Rachel Reeves said procurement reform aims to “buy more that is made in this country”.

Bills Presented and Ten Minute Rule: Newhaven West Beach; Defence Bonds; Local Area Energy Plans

Two Presentation Bills were introduced: to provide a public right of access on foot to Newhaven West Beach (Second Reading set for Friday 8 May), and to require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for issuing defence bonds (Second Reading set for Friday 8 May). Under the Ten Minute Rule, leave was given for a Local Area Energy Plans Bill to place a duty on local authorities in England to produce and maintain such plans. The promoter argued for “mandatory local area energy plans”, with four core measures including targets to be met through local siting, mandatory data-sharing by distribution network operators and giving plans legal weight in planning and network investment cases. The Bill was read the First time and set for Second Reading on Friday 8 May.

Privileges motion: proposed referral of the Prime Minister to the Committee of Privileges (defeated)

The Speaker clarified that the question was whether to refer, not whether a contempt had been committed. Moving the motion, the Leader of the Opposition contrasted the Prime Minister’s statement that “No pressure existed whatsoever” with evidence cited from former officials. Supporters argued that “honesty, integrity and telling the truth matter in our politics”, while opponents contended referral was premature given parallel processes and that due process had been followed in the appointment stages cited. After extensive debate the motion was defeated on division: Ayes 223, Noes 335.

Pension Schemes Bill (Consideration of Lords Message): constrained reserve power on asset allocation agreed

Ministers asked the Commons to insist on its position and added further limits to the reserve power intended to underpin the Mansion House accord, expressly ruling out targeting specific assets. New safeguards require regulators to assess barriers to private‑asset investment and for the Secretary of State to “have regard” to that assessment; the power cannot be exercised before 2028. The ‘savers’ interests’ test was strengthened so trustees’ or providers’ judgments of what is in members’ best interests prevail, with regulators ensuring those assessments are “reasonable”. The Opposition argued, “Pensions belong to the people who earn them, not Government Ministers”. The House agreed the Government’s motion on division: Ayes 335, Noes 158.

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Consideration of Lords Message): Government concessions and passage

Presenting the Bill as “the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall to our regions and communities in a generation”, Ministers announced concessions: removing all powers to direct the establishment of strategic authorities; committing not to use the remaining power to add an area to an existing authority for four years after Royal Assent; and requiring strategic planning authorities, via regulations, to have regard to “the desirability of prioritising” brownfield land. On governance, councils currently moving to a leader‑and‑cabinet model may receive a one‑year extension in certain cases. The Opposition emphasised prioritising brownfield land to protect green spaces while meeting housing need. The Commons agreed the motions (Resolved).

Delegated Legislation: approvals including asylum regulations

The House approved a series of statutory instruments. Two passed on division: the Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (Ayes 308, Noes 81), and the Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Accommodation to Failed Asylum‑Seekers) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (Ayes 304, Noes 28). Other instruments agreed without division covered: income tax exemptions for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games; chemicals regulation; offshore wind habitats; and financial services market risk and definitions.

House Business: Backbench Business and select committee procedure changes agreed

The Commons extended the window for Select Committee statements from five to ten sitting days. It aligned the Backbench Business Committee Chair election with other select committees—“at the start of the Parliament”—and provided that its members serve for the remainder of a Parliament. The House also adopted formal rules for Select Committee Chair elections, including bans on printed campaign material beyond the official booklet and on mass electronic campaign communications, recognising chairs as “vitally important roles in our parliamentary democracy”.

Public Petitions

Members presented petitions seeking: greater enforcement powers and police coordination to tackle illegal activities in shops; adequate compensation for businesses following South East Water outages; and retention of green belt land near M6 Junction 16 in Newcastle‑under‑Lyme.

Adjournment Debate: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

The Member for Ashfield raised extensive local concerns about HMOs and argued for tighter management, licensing and tenant checks, saying some HMOs were “turning some of our areas into ghettos” and calling to “stop placing illegal migrants in HMOs”. The Minister noted larger HMOs require planning consent and that councils can use article 4 directions to require permission for smaller HMOs “where there is sufficient evidence”. He said about 75 councils have such directions, highlighted HMO licensing and enforcement powers and additional funding, and reported hotel use for asylum seekers had fallen “to 190”. He concluded that local authorities “already have powers to limit the proliferation of HMOs” and that regulation will be kept under review.