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Hey team.

Two government bills reach the Commons for the first time.

The Mental Health Bill, which updates when and how someone can be sectioned, arrives from the Lords on Monday. Then on Tuesday MPs debate the wide-ranging Victims and Courts bill, which reforms the justice system in various ways.

Wednesday is an Opposition Day.

The Tories have a chance to decide the parliamentary agenda. The subject will be announced before then.

And after this week it's Whitsun recess.

MPs head back to their constituencies for a week, and return on 2 June.

Until then. In the meantime, feel free to tweet me, or just reply to this email.

Sebastian (@sebastiansalek)

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MONDAY 19 MAY

Mental Health Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Updates the Mental Health Act 1983 to change when and how people can be sectioned (detained in hospital without their consent). Narrows the criteria for detention, gives patients more rights to challenge their detention, and stops the Act being used to detain people with autism or learning disabilities unless they also have a mental illness, among other things. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 20 MAY

Reasonable Adjustments (Duty on Employers to Respond) Bill
Introduces a four-week deadline for employers to respond to requests for reasonable adjustments from disabled employees (e.g. special equipment or working from home more often). Ten minute rule motion presented by Deirdre Costigan.

Victims and Courts Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
A broad set of measures that aim to restore faith in the justice system. Allows judges to require offenders to attend sentencing, restricts parental rights for child abusers, and expands access to the Victim Contact Scheme so more victims can stay updated about offenders' cases, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 21 MAY

Regulation of Bailiffs (Assessment and Report) Bill
Requires the government to publish an assessment of how effective current rules are for debt collectors, and report on whether stricter regulation is needed. Ten minute rule motion presented by Luke Charters.

THURSDAY 22 MAY

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 23 MAY

No votes scheduled

LAST WEEK'S VOTES

Passed

• Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill – goes to Lords
• A34 Slip Road Safety (East Ilsley and Beedon) Bill – goes to second reading
• Equitable Life Policyholders (Compensation) Bill – goes to second reading
• Great British Energy Bill – becomes law
• Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – report stage continues

Postponed

• All other private members' bills

Click here to read details of the bills in last week's newsletter.

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