Commons Marks Jo Cox, Passes Cyber Bill, Pressures Thames Water

High-Level Summary

The Commons marked the 10th anniversary of Jo Cox’s murder before a wide‑ranging Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office questions session on Tibet’s environment, the UK‑US relationship, West Bank settler violence, Russia sanctions, disinformation, Ebola, the Strait of Hormuz and violence against women and girls. The Environment Secretary set out concerns about Thames Water’s proposed recapitalisation, saying customers should not bear undue costs and that the Government stands ready for all eventualities. The House considered the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill at Report Stage, rejected several Opposition new clauses, and passed the Bill at Third Reading. Members also approved several statutory instruments, received petitions, and concluded with an Adjournment debate on the discharge of Isle of Wight dementia patients to mainland care homes.

Detailed Summary

Speaker’s Statement: 10th anniversary of Jo Cox

The Speaker invited Members to reflect on Jo Cox’s maiden speech, quoting, “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us”, and added, “Our thoughts are with Jo’s family and friends on this day”. Tributes were echoed throughout subsequent proceedings.

FCDO Oral Questions: Tibet, UK‑US relations, West Bank, Russia sanctions, disinformation, Ebola, the Strait of Hormuz, and VAWG

On Tibet, Ministers said rivers from the plateau sustain “1.8 billion people” and outlined UK‑supported regional climate resilience work. Concerns were also raised that UN special rapporteurs had reported that “large‑scale environmental projects in Tibet risk the forced displacement of Tibetans from their ancestral villages”. On the UK‑US relationship, the Foreign Secretary called the US “our deepest security and intelligence ally” and “our biggest trading partner”, stressing it was “crucial that we ensure” Russia does not benefit economically from conflict. On the West Bank, she described settlements as “a flagrant breach of international law” and condemned rising violence, announcing a further package of sanctions on extremist settlers. She later said some acts constitute “settler terrorism” and confirmed support for Palestinian services, including paying teachers’ salaries. Asked about the marketing of settlement property in the UK, she said the Government had asked the Advertising Standards Authority to “urgently look into the matter”. On Russia sanctions and oil, Ministers announced designations including “20 shadow fleet vessels”, and clarified that a temporary licence review was “never an indefinite waiver” and now has end dates. On disinformation, the Government warned of “an industrial‑scale attack … every day through social media” and said 96 actors had been sanctioned since October 2024, with a further 56 in May linked to undermining Ukraine. On Ebola in DRC, the UK has allocated “£26.9 million” and is working with WHO and Africa CDC. A Minister later said, “the UK is leading the global response on Ebola and was one of the first countries to respond with funding”. On the Strait of Hormuz, following the US‑Iran memorandum of understanding, the UK said the closure “has hit the global economy” and noted the UK “took a very different view from that of the US and Israel at the start of this conflict” while supporting further negotiations and a maritime mission. On violence against women and girls, the Foreign Secretary said she had made it a priority and launched an international coalition, adding that by 2030 “at least 90% of UK bilateral aid will support issues relating to women and girls”. In Topical Questions, she welcomed the US‑Iran agreement as “an important diplomatic breakthrough”, and set out implementation aims, including restoring “toll‑free freedom of navigation”.

Statement: Thames Water recapitalisation and sector reform

The Environment Secretary said Ofwat is evaluating a creditor consortium proposal and that she had written to Ofwat as she “do[es] not believe that the current proposal goes far enough to protect customers and the environment”. She highlighted concerns about undue costs for customers and delays to infrastructure and environmental improvements, adding, “We will stand ready for all eventualities”. She trailed a clean water Bill to “create a single powerful water regulator” and strengthen financial resilience. In exchanges, the Shadow described “nothing new in this statement… and still no certainty for billpayers”. The Secretary of State distinguished “nationalisation” from a “special administration regime”, confirmed “It is now for Ofwat to decide what to do next”, reiterated readiness for a SAR if needed, and said she does “not want customers to pick up the bill”. She underlined that the Environment Agency would continue enforcement “including the imposition of fines”, and that in any SAR “the Government would obviously be financing a special administrator to run the company” to ensure continuity of service.

Personal Statements: former Defence Secretary and former Armed Forces Minister

John Healey said threats are increasing and urged higher defence spending, stating, “NATO has now said that we must prepare for war with Russia within the next five years” and “Britain must set the headmark of spending 3% on defence in 2030 and a clear path to 3.5% in 2035”. He said current plans are “falling well short of what is required”. Alistair Carns cited battlefield lessons and rapid change in warfare, noting a Ukrainian town saw “12,000 drones in the air in one day… 90% of all casualties are from drones”. He added the plan was not “adequately funded” and raised concerns over veterans’ treatment in Northern Ireland.

Point of Order: Government response to a Select Committee report

Sarah Owen noted that the Department of Health and Social Care’s response to a Women and Equalities Committee report on cosmetic procedures “is now two months overdue”. The Deputy Speaker cited the two‑month convention for responses and advised on further avenues to pursue, noting she could not compel a Department to respond.

Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill: Report Stage and Third Reading

Debate covered the Bill’s scope (e.g. retail, local government and food supply), digital sovereignty, foreign state threats, fair‑trial safeguards on data sharing, AI/data‑centre emergencies, and cellular internet‑of‑things (IOT) modules. Proponents highlighted costs and threats—“cyber‑attacks cost UK businesses an estimated £64 billion annually”—and some urged “last‑resort” powers to shut down data centres or AI systems in emergencies. Sir Iain Duncan Smith argued against information‑sharing with regimes lacking fair trials, invoking the UK tradition of “habeas corpus”. Ministers defended a risk‑based scope focused on essential services where disruption poses an imminent threat to life, saying the food sector has “no single point of failure” and that “more proportionate levers” exist. On a proposed register of hostile foreign powers, the Minister said the use of national security direction powers “will always be underpinned by robust intelligence”. He opposed a fair‑trial disclosure amendment as it “risks creating undue uncertainty in law”. Outcomes: New Clause 13 (Digital Sovereignty Strategy) was defeated (Ayes 77, Noes 255). New Clause 14 (Register of foreign powers) was defeated (Ayes 151, Noes 258). Amendment 3 (fair‑trial disclosure exemption) was defeated (Ayes 162, Noes 246). A suite of Government technical amendments (7–27) was agreed. The Bill was read a Third time and passed.

Delegated Legislation approvals

The House approved several instruments. The Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were agreed (Ayes 262, Noes 86). The Scotland Act 1998 (Increase of Borrowing Limits) Order 2026 was agreed without division. The Food Supplements Purity Criteria (Magnesium L‑threonate monohydrate) (England) Regulations 2026 were approved. The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were approved.

Petitions presented

Wetheral: A petition sought “traffic calming measures in Wetheral, specifically the implementation of a 20 mph speed limit through the village”. National Strategy for Motor Neurone Disease: petitioners called for a national strategy led by experts and patients, with a taskforce, better access to trials and improvements in diagnosis and care. Tring planning: a petition asked for communities to be “better protected from inappropriate over‑development” and for a stronger local voice in planning and infrastructure.

Adjournment Debate: Isle of Wight dementia patients discharged to mainland care homes

Richard Quigley raised cases of dementia patients being placed off‑island due to capacity constraints, including a family “terrified that her uncle will die … alone, confused and feeling that no one cares” if sent 70 miles away. He warned that distance and ferry costs can isolate families, saying this “borders on forced isolation”. The Minister said people should be discharged “safely, promptly and with appropriate care and support”, that local authorities must plan capacity, and highlighted “more than £9 billion” via the Better Care Fund to integrate health and social care. She signalled work on a “modern service framework for frailty and dementia”, and said every effort should be made to provide care “as close to home as possible”.