Commons Sets Climate Course, Acts on Maternity Failings

High-Level Summary

The Commons addressed long-term strategy and immediate measures across multiple policy areas. Ministers launched a 25‑year Farming Road Map, answered an Urgent Question on a media Green Paper (prominence, listed events, and a managed TV switchover), and secured House approval for the UK’s Seventh Carbon Budget to 2040 (including international aviation and shipping). The House agreed tax measures to support motorists and hauliers and to increase the Electricity Generator Levy as part of a forthcoming Bill. A major statement on the Nottingham maternity review announced actions on accountability, mortuary standards, and a national plan by year‑end; regular business included Women and Equalities questions, Prime Minister’s Questions, delegated legislation, petitions, and an adjournment debate on a school rebuild.

Detailed Summary

Oral Questions: Women and Equalities

Context: Departmental oral questions covered trans equality, antisemitism, violence against women and girls (VAWG), conversion practices, child poverty and topical issues. Participants included Ministers Olivia Bailey, Seema Malhotra, Catherine Atkinson and Bridget Phillipson, alongside backbenchers.

• Trans equality: The Minister affirmed legal protections and parliamentary scrutiny of the draft Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) code: “Let me be clear that trans people’s rights against discrimination and harassment are protected in law”; “The draft code of practice is before the House for scrutiny”.
• Antisemitism: Ministers cited stronger policing, protective security funding, and online measures: “The rise in antisemitism is unacceptable… strengthening policing, and investing in record protective security funding”; “the Online Safety Act 2023 has robust provisions to protect people from online abuse”.
• VAWG: The Government reiterated its goal “to halve violence against women and girls within a decade”, highlighted measures on domestic abuse and criminalised deepfakes: “We have criminalised the creation of non-consensual deepfakes and are banning nudification tools”. On alleged abuses linked to Harrods/al‑Fayed, the Minister said she would “continue to work with campaigners to ensure that they get justice”.
• Conversion practices: Ministers committed to legislation: “Conversion practices are an abhorrent… form of abuse… This Government will ban that abuse”, with a draft Bill “very soon”.
• Child poverty: The Government cited scrapping the two-child limit and expanding childcare and meals: “Our child poverty strategy will deliver the largest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament”.
• Topicals: The Government reaffirmed the Equality Act and said the socioeconomic duty will be commenced, and on puberty blockers referenced Dr Cass’s review, noting a trial was “necessary to take forward”. Next steps: Publication of the conversion practices draft Bill; continuing scrutiny of the EHRC code; delivery of VAWG and child poverty plans.

Prime Minister’s Questions

Context: PMQs opened with condolences on the Bedford rail collision and the Edinburgh attack, and thanks to emergency services. Participants included the Prime Minister and Opposition leaders and backbenchers.

• The Prime Minister said, “I send my deepest sympathies” and praised responders who acted “with outstanding bravery and professionalism”. He promoted the national cancer plan and local progress on waiting lists, and promised support on brain tumour research access.
• On defence, he said the Government had delivered “the biggest sustained boost to defence spending since the 1980s—£270 billion over this Parliament” and would publish a defence investment plan “before the NATO summit”. On the economy, he cited recent performance: “in the first quarter of this year, the UK had the fastest growing economy in the G7”.
• Other topics included measures against antisemitism (“new powers to ban repeated protests… new plans to root antisemitism out of our schools, universities and the health service”); relations with Europe (“we have reset our relationship with the EU and we are bringing it closer”); and heatwave resilience (modernising building rules, new reservoirs, flood defences). Next steps: Defence investment plan publication before the NATO summit; continued delivery of cancer and resilience measures.

Urgent Question: Media Green Paper (“Watch this Space”)

Context: In response to an Urgent Question, the Culture Secretary outlined a Green Paper setting a new strategic direction for media. Participants included the Secretary of State and MPs from across the House.

• Proposals: (1) digital prominence so public service media and trusted news are highly visible and easy to discover; (2) a managed transition from terrestrial to internet TV in 2034 or 2044; (3) extending listed sporting events to on‑demand/streaming. On defining “trusted” news, she said it is a consultation question: “who decides what is trustworthy… is one of the most challenging aspects… and that is precisely why we have asked the question”. She defended the BBC as “still the most trustworthy source of news… across the world”, urged Ofcom to “act decisively and quickly”, and said no household would be left behind in any switchover. Responding to claims of state‑determined trust lists, she called that “absolute nonsense” and agreed to keep “a genuinely open mind on this consultation” and evidence of costs and bureaucracy. Outcome/next steps: No decisions taken; consultation and the BBC charter review proceed in tandem.

Statement: Nottingham Maternity and Neonatal Services (Ockenden review)

Context: Following Donna Ockenden’s report on Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, the Health Secretary made a statement detailing failings and actions. Cross-party contributions followed.

• Findings: He described “the nature and sheer scale of the failings” as “horrific”, with women “not listened to”, staff shortages, bullying and a “culture of cover-up”. Gravely disturbing mortuary practices included a baby “disposed of as clinical waste” and a baby kept “in a domestic fridge in a bereavement room”.
• Actions announced: Expand Martha’s Rule to all maternity and neonatal settings; a national maternity and neonatal taskforce action plan covering all national recommendations by year‑end; extend the Care Quality Commission’s time limit to initiate proceedings from three to five years; apply the Hillsborough law duty of candour to compel evidence in upcoming reviews (Leeds and Sussex); and require all mortuaries to review 10 years of incidents and report by 16 October.
• Opposition response: Constructive tests were set on listening, culture and delivery; the Government confirmed a published plan by end‑year. On funding and estates, the Government cited £25 million for causes of maternal death and £145 million for estates safety. Outcome/next steps: Cross‑party support for accountability; taskforce plan due by the end of the year; mortuary reviews to report by 16 October.

Statement: Farming Road Map and Profitability Review

Context: The Environment Secretary launched a 25‑year farming plan shaped by Baroness Batters’ profitability review, aiming to back profitability, food security and environmental outcomes. MPs raised issues including supply chains, labelling, planning and SPS arrangements.

• Key commitments: Three outcomes—(1) profitable/productive farming (task‑and‑finish group to unlock private finance; sector growth plans); (2) sustainable farming via Environmental Land Management schemes with £11.8 billion this Parliament, reopening the Sustainable Farming Incentive next week with a £240 million budget and a small‑farm first window; (3) resilience, with £53 million additional for the Farming Innovation Programme (total £123 million) and focus on skills, tenants and uplands.
• Supply chain fairness: The Secretary of State said the Groceries Code Adjudicator will move to DEFRA and that the Government is working to improve fairness, including via co‑operatives. Outcome/next steps: Further sector growth plans, consultations (including SPS implementation timelines), and delivery of SFI window 1 next week.

Taxation (Energy and Vehicles): Resolutions and Bill

Context: The Treasury brought forward measures responding to energy price shocks and transport costs, with cross‑bench contributions.

• Measures: Increase the Electricity Generator Levy rate to 55%; uprate the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles from 2026‑27; and grant a 12‑month VED holiday for most HGVs, reducing duty to £1 from 1 July 2026. Ministers framed support for key workers such as care staff: the uprating is “the first… in 15 years” and will save “over £120 a year for a worker doing 6,000 business miles”.
• Outcomes/next steps: The House resolved the mileage and HGV VED motions and ordered introduction of the Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill, which was presented for First Reading. The EGL rate rise forms part of the Ways and Means package for the Bill.

Climate Change: Seventh Carbon Budget and related Orders

Context: The Climate Minister introduced the draft orders during an extreme heatwave, setting a science‑led pathway for 2038‑42 including international aviation and shipping (IAS). The debate featured wide‑ranging arguments about costs, certainty and leadership.

• Case made: “today is the hottest June day ever” and the budget will “reduce emissions by around 87% between 2038 and 2042… including in international aviation and shipping”. She argued for investment certainty, reporting “we have officially secured £100 billion of private investment in clean energy since taking office”.
• Outcomes: The House approved the Carbon Budget Order (Ayes 332, Noes 94); the IAS Regulations (Ayes 329, Noes 94); and the Credit Limit Order (Ayes 330, Noes 93). Next steps: Implementation of CB7, inclusion of IAS in budgets from CB6, and continued delivery/future plans to meet the trajectory.

Other Business: Delegated Legislation, Petitions, and Adjournment Debate

Context: The House considered further delegated legislation, received petitions and held an adjournment debate on a school rebuild.

• Delegated legislation: The House approved the Climate Change Agreements (Administration, Energy‑intensive Installations and Eligible Facilities) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026, and deferred divisions on two Employment Tribunal instruments to 1 July.
• Petitions: Members presented petitions on rural support and on a proposed green belt development.
• Adjournment: On Bramhall High School (Stockport), the Education Minister committed to a substantial rebuild and RAAC removal timetable: “By 2029, every school… will be RAAC‑free”, with “spades in the ground later this year” and “90% of the school will be rebuilt”. Next steps: Proceed with the Bramhall rebuild and wider RAAC programme.