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Hey team.
MPs scrutinise more late-stage bills this week.
We're at that point in the parliamentary session – it's been almost nine months since the new government came in, and more of its bills are now reaching Royal Assent. Here's a running list of the bills that have made it across the finish line.
With Easter approaching, there's surprisingly little time to legislate.
A rough count shows that when you strip out recess dates, there are only about 13 full weeks between now and September when Parliament is sitting.
This week's big bill is about product safety rules.
But in a sense the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is really about Brexit, because it'd allow the UK to align its product regulations with EU law. Here's a dive into more detail than we have space for in this newsletter.
Until next week. In the meantime, feel free to tweet me, or just reply to this email.
Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)
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MONDAY 31 MARCH
Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill – consideration of Lords message
Applies to: England
Aims to rebalance business rates by cutting taxes for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties worth under £500,000 from 2026, and increasing them for those worth more than £500,000. These are the top 1% of properties which include large distribution warehouses used by online giants like Amazon. Until 2026, RHL properties will get 40% off business rates bills up to £110,000. Scraps existing business rates discounts of up to 80% for private schools with charitable status.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Abolishes the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), and transfers its powers to the Department for Education. IfATE works with employers to develop and approve apprenticeships and technical qualifications. Those powers will then be delegated to Skills England, a new body set up to meet the skills needs of the next decade. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Lords Library briefing
TUESDAY 1 APRIL
Transport (Duty to Cooperate) Bill
Requires transport authorities to work together to reduce disruption and ensure effective operation of transport networks. Also requires them to publish assessments of expected transport disruption as a result of maintenance, construction, and other works. Ten minute rule motion presented by Ben Spencer.
Product Regulation and Metrology Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Creates a new framework that allows the government to make changes to the UK's product safety and compliance framework. Gives ministers powers to update product regulations so they can respond quickly to present-day risks like AI. Allows the government to choose whether to recognise EU product requirements, mirroring them in domestic law. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL
Co-operative Housing Tenure Bill
Recognises the co-operative housing model in law (where the residents collectively own and manage the property). Sets rules for it works, including the rights and responsibilities of both the co-operative and its members. Ten minute rule motion presented by Andrew Pakes.
THURSDAY 3 APRIL
No votes scheduled
FRIDAY 4 APRIL
No votes scheduled
LAST WEEK'S VOTES
Passed
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill – 2nd reading
- Regulators (Growth Objective) Bill
- Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
- Great British Energy Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
- Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
- Cornish Language and Heritage (Education and Recognition) Bill
- Tobacco and Vapes Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Postponed
- Water Bill – ran out of time
- Looked After Children (Distance Placements) Bill – ran out of time
- All other private members' bills
Click here to read details of the bills in last week's newsletter.
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