Participation in proceedings

– in the House of Commons at 3:36 pm on 2 June 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Votes in this debate

  • Division number 51
    A majority of MPs voted to end the procedure enabling MPs to vote remotely, online, which had been introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to require members to be physically present on the Parliamentary estate to vote.
  • Division number 52
    A majority of MPs voted to end the procedure enabling MPs to vote remotely, online, which had been introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to require members to be physically present on the Parliamentary estate to vote and to empower the Speaker to limit the number of Members present in the Chamber at any one time.

(1) The Speaker may limit the number of Members present in the Chamber at any one time.

(2) Standing Order No. 7 (Seats not to be taken before prayers), No. 8 (Seats secured at prayers) and Nos. Standing Orders Nos. 83J to 83X shall not have effect.

(3) The provisions of Standing Orders No. 6 (Time for taking the oath), No. 23 (Motions for leave to bring in bills etc), No. 57 (Presentation and first reading of public bills) and No. 154 (Time and manner of presenting petitions) shall have effect so far as the Speaker determines them to be consistent with the relevant public health guidance; and the Speaker may order the practice of the House in respect of those orders to be varied to ensure compliance with the relevant guidance.

(4) Standing Order No. 24 (1) (Emergency debates) shall have effect with the omission of the words “the assent of not fewer than forty Members who shall thereupon rise in their places to support the motion, or, if fewer than forty Members and not fewer than ten shall thereupon rise in their places.”.—(Karen Bradley.)

Photo of Lindsay Hoyle Lindsay Hoyle Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, House of Commons Commission, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

I am about to put the Question, That amendment (d) be made. My expectation is that this will give rise to a Division. When I have put the Question, if my decision is challenged, I will announce that the Division period has started. All hon. Members other than the Front Benchers and Tellers should leave the Chamber by the doors behind the Chair. I will not give the instruction to lock the doors earlier than 28 minutes after I call the Division.

Once the Division period has started, I will put the Question again almost immediately thereafter and name the Tellers. I ask a Teller from each side to inform me who is telling for this Division and then to position themselves in the Officials Box and the Under Gallery, but I have now got the names.

The process whereby Members state their names and say “Aye” or “No” at the relevant Dispatch Box is a proceeding and, like swearing in, will be broadcast. Members should not say anything else, and Members near the front of the queue should be aware that what they say may be picked up on the microphones.

I will not allow points of order to be raised while the voting and counting is in progress, as they will delay the Division. When a Division is complete, I will ask one of the Tellers from the winning side to announce the result from the ministerial Dispatch Box. If the second Division is expected immediately after the first, I will suspend the House for five minutes. Finally, I urge all hon. Members to be patient during the process and, in particular, to observe the requirements of social distancing.

Question put, That the amendment be made.

Division number 51 Proceedings During the Pandemic

A majority of MPs voted to end the procedure enabling MPs to vote remotely, online, which had been introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to require members to be physically present on the Parliamentary estate to vote.

Aye: 184 MPs

No: 240 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

Absent: 222 MPs

Absent: A-Z by last name

The House divided: Ayes 185, Noes 242.

Question accordingly negatived.

Main Question put.

Division number 52 Proceedings during the Pandemic

A majority of MPs voted to end the procedure enabling MPs to vote remotely, online, which had been introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to require members to be physically present on the Parliamentary estate to vote and to empower the Speaker to limit the number of Members present in the Chamber at any one time.

Aye: 257 MPs

No: 164 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

Absent: 225 MPs

Absent: A-Z by last name

The House divided: Ayes 261, Noes 163.

Question accordingly agreed to.

Resolved,

That the resolution of the House of 21 April (Proceedings during the pandemic) be rescinded and the following orders be made and have effect until 7 July 2020:

(1) That the following order have effect in place of Standing Order No. 38 (Procedure on divisions):

(a) If the opinion of the Speaker or the chair as to the decision on a question is challenged, the Speaker or the chair shall declare that a division shall be held.

(b) Divisions shall be conducted under arrangements made by the Speaker provided that:

(i) Members may only participate physically within the Parliamentary estate; and

(ii) the arrangements adhere to the guidance issued by Public Health England.

(2) Standing Order No. 40 (Division unnecessarily claimed) shall not apply.

(3) In Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions):

(a) At the end of paragraph (5)(a), insert “, provided that (i) Members may only participate physically within the Parliamentary estate; and (ii) the arrangements adhere to the guidance issued by Public Health England”.

(b) In paragraph (5)(b) delete “two and a half hours” and insert “at least two and a half hours”.

(c) In paragraph (5)(c) delete “after the expiry of the period mentioned in subparagraph (b) above”.

(4) The Speaker or chair may limit the number of Members present in the Chamber at any one time and Standing Orders Nos. 7 (Seats not to be taken before prayers) and 8 (Seats secured at prayers) shall not apply.

(5) Standing Orders Nos. 83J to 83X (Certification according to territorial application etc) shall not apply.