Hillsborough Law Passes as UK Strikes Swiss FTA

High-Level Summary

The Commons day covered Health and Social Care oral questions on children’s health, maternity services, social prescribing, workforce, digital infrastructure, GP models, estates resilience and NHS dentistry, with Ministers outlining funding programmes and planned reforms. A Business statement replaced an Opposition Day with a general debate on Iran and a national security statutory instrument, provoking extensive procedural exchanges but no votes. The Government presented a statement on concluding a services‑focused UK–Switzerland Enhanced Free Trade Agreement. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill (“Hillsborough law”) completed Report and Third Reading, with national security handling clarified and expanded legal aid agreed, and the Bill passed. Lords amendments to the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill were agreed without division; several petitions were presented; and an adjournment debate examined options for Thames Water, including special administration.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers: Health and Social Care

Questions spanned children’s health, maternity, social prescribing, workforce sickness, digital investment, GP models, estates heat resilience, bereavement support, NHS accountability and dentistry. Ministers set out aims and funding, including a pledge to make “this generation of children the healthiest ever” via a 10‑year plan and family hubs, and £21.5 million since 2025‑26 for supervised tooth‑brushing in deprived areas, citing that tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for 5‑ to 9‑year‑olds. On maternity, a national action plan will be produced “by the end of the year”, with families “at the heart of the taskforce” shaping it. On social prescribing, £3 million was confirmed for the National Academy for Social Prescribing, with commissioning led locally by integrated care boards.

Workforce remarks reiterated an ambition to reduce sickness absence towards the NHS’s lowest recorded level (about 4.1%) and to roll out staff treatment hubs from 2027. Digital priorities included up to £10 billion for technology and transformation and a single patient record enabled by the Health Bill. Ministers reaffirmed, “We remain absolutely committed to the GP partnership model”, and again later stressed outcomes over models. On resilience to extreme heat, the Government cited investing £6.75 billion to address serious safety risks including cooling and ventilation, alongside design standards and UKHSA guidance. Bereavement support included £25 million for facilities in maternity and neonatal services. On accountability, the Government said the Health Bill would “abolish NHS England” to restore clear lines to Ministers and empower local leaders. On dentistry, Ministers reported being “on track to deliver 2.5 million additional treatments” and promised fundamental reform within the Parliament. Further topics included health inequalities measures such as the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, and protocols to follow up incidental findings in the lung cancer screening programme. No decisions were taken; these were ministerial answers and commitments.

Business Statement: change to allow debate on Iran

The Leader of the House announced that the following day’s business would be a general debate on Iran, followed by a national security statutory instrument, replacing an Opposition Day, to allow discussion of “the escalating and fast‑moving situation in the middle east”. Opposition Members protested that scrutiny of the incoming Prime Minister was being avoided, reading their planned motion to delay recess by a day so the new PM could make a statement. Asked about proscribing the IRGC, the Leader replied, “I hope to be able to confirm that in due course … not far off”. There were no divisions; exchanges were procedural and rhetorical.

UK–Switzerland Enhanced Free Trade Agreement: ministerial statement

The Trade Minister announced conclusion of an enhanced, services‑led FTA with Switzerland, describing it as “the most significant trade agreement for services that the UK has concluded so far”. He highlighted digital trade commitments, permanent rights for UK lawyers to advise on foreign and international law, services mobility (including for Gibraltar from day one), and moves towards e‑gate access at Swiss airports, with an estimated long‑run boost of “£5.2 billion annually” to UK services exports to Switzerland. On pharmaceuticals, he said the deal “safeguards the NHS’s access to affordable generic medicines”. In exchanges, pressed whether the deal was only possible post‑Brexit, the Minister said, “It is factually accurate that we would not have been able to have had these negotiations if we were still in the European Union”. The Select Committee Chair asked about NHS prices; the Minister said it would “do no harm to the NHS”. No vote was taken.

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Amendment): Ten Minute Rule

Siân Berry sought leave to introduce a Bill to omit section 37 FOIA and designate the Sovereign, Royal Family, Royal Household, Royal Archives and the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster as public authorities. She argued the current carve‑out creates “one arbitrary and absurd rule for the rich and powerful and another for the rest of us”. Leave was granted.

Public Office (Accountability) Bill (“Hillsborough law”): Report and Third Reading

Opening Report, the Minister said the Bill aims to ensure that when public bodies fail, the response is “candour, not cover‑up”. Government amendments clarified how the duty of candour applies in national security contexts by routing sensitive disclosures via the head of the relevant authority with existing legal safeguards and practices (e.g. PII and restriction orders). She also announced “the largest expansion of legal aid in a generation” for bereaved families at inquests where a public authority is an interested person, and introduced a records‑holding exemption for archivists (new clause 8).

Key divisions defeated: a whistleblowing amendment (Ayes 93, Noes 323); a national security consent amendment requiring heads of services to approve disclosures (Ayes 102, Noes 409); and Attorney General consent for prosecutions for misleading the public (Ayes 104, Noes 412). New clause 9 abolished the common law offence of misconduct in public office in Northern Ireland. At Third Reading, the Prime Minister said, “This is a law that will always carry their name: the Hillsborough law”. The Bill passed, and a separate Order extended carry‑over time for its proceedings to 29 January 2027.

Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Lords amendments agreed

The Minister said the amendments strengthen the Bill to secure a strategically vital industry, including limiting any extension of the sunset power “only by increments of two years”, requiring Ministers to consider likely costs before exercising transfer powers, upgrading parliamentary scrutiny of continuity obligations, and mandating an independent valuer with regard to environmental and health & safety liabilities. The Shadow supported the amendments but warned that “a blank cheque is not a plan” and criticised wider energy policy. All Lords amendments were agreed without division.

Petitions presented

Members presented petitions including: creating a West Bridgford town council to strengthen local representation; banning housing developers’ political donations; banning political donors from receiving public contracts from Governments they funded; and supporting the transformation of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Petitions were formally recorded; no decisions were taken.

Adjournment Debate: Future of Thames Water

The initiating Member argued that Thames Water’s high debt costs were unsustainable—“Thames Water paid £338 million just in interest expenses in the six months to September 2025”—and proposed a special administration regime (SAR) to enable a debt write‑down and potential mutualisation. The Minister outlined Government actions since taking office and stressed regulatory due process, noting the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 was introduced “within six weeks of entering government”, and that “there is a high bar for the imposition of a special administration regime” which must satisfy the courts. She said the Government stand ready for all eventualities while Ofwat assesses any recapitalisation proposal. No vote was sought.

Other public business

Three Presentation Bills were introduced: Data Publication and Quality (Immigration, Nationality and Country of Birth); Neurodivergence (Screening and Teacher Training); and Short‑term Let Accommodation. A programme motion set time limits for considering Lords amendments to the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill.