Clear the Lobby: The week ahead in Parliament

The Northern Ireland budget is probably the most interesting thing happening in parliament this week, as Theresa May and her top brass thrash out their Brexit plan. This is the second budget that’s been set by Westminster, rather than Stormont, since the government in Belfast collapsed in January 2017. But it’s the first where the UK government has had to make spending decisions. Here’s your rundown of the week.

Monday 9 July

Northern Ireland Budget (No.2) Bill – all stages
Authorises spending for the Northern Ireland government until March 2019. Usually this would be done by the local government in Belfast, but it collapsed in January 2017 and the leading parties haven’t managed to negotiate a new one, so Westminster is stepping in. The bill had its first reading a couple of weeks ago, but because it’s emergency legislation, all other stages will be debated here.

Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill – money resolution
Allows heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships, creates a proper registration system for stillborn babies and permits coroners to investigate the deaths, and allows a mother’s details to be included on marriage certificates.

Tuesday 10 July

Bathing Waters Bill
Gives the Environment Agency new powers over sewer overflows to protect beaches. Ten minute rule motion presented by Scott Mann.

Non-Domestic Rating (Nursery Grounds) Bill – committee stage, report stage and 3rd reading
Exempts buildings used as plant nurseries from non-domestic business rates. This was the case until a court ruling last year. The government is trying to change the law back again, and do it retrospectively to exempt any nurseries that have been assessed since 2015.

Wednesday 11 July

National Health Service Bill
Aims to end private finance initiatives in the NHS, and to exclude the NHS from international trade agreements. Ten minute rule motion presented by Eleanor Smith.

Thursday 12 July

No votes scheduled.

Friday 13 July

No votes scheduled.

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