The House met to debate and vote on the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill on Monday 25 November.

This Bill, introduced to the House on 13 November 2024, amends the non-domestic rating system in England to enable the introduction of new tax rates, introducing powers to create new lower tax rates for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure properties, higher tax rates for the high value properties, and removes the eligibility of private schools that are charities for charitable business rates relief.

An amendment was moved to block a second reading based on objections to the measures aimed at private schools, and the result was: Ayes: 173, Noes: 335. The House then voted on the second reading, with the result: Ayes: 334, Noes: 174.

The Bill will now be scrutinised in a Public Bill Committee.

On Wednesday 13 November 2024, I chaired the Delegated Legislation Committee, to consider the Draft Local Loans (Increase of Limit) Order 2024. The motion was moved by Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

The order increases the aggregate limit on local loans through His Majesty’s Treasury’s Public Works Loan Board lending facility from the current level of £115 billion to £135 billion, ensuring that local authorities can continue to access lending from the Public Works Loan Board to support their capital investment plans and treasury management.

It will now be approved by Parliament at a later date.

On 12 November 2024 the House voted at Committee Stage on several amendments to the bill, which would see the removal of all hereditary peers.

Amendment 25: Provides that the Bill would only come into effect after the report of a joint committee on wider reforms of the composition of the House of Lords has been approved by a resolution of the House of Commons.    Ayes: 98 Noes: 376

New clause 1: This new clause provides that bishops of the Church of England will no longer be entitled to membership of the House of Lords.  Ayes: 41 Noes: 378

New clause 7: Imposes a duty on Ministers to take forward proposals to secure a democratic mandate for the House of Lords through introduction of directly elected members. Ayes: 93 Noes: 355

New clause 20: This new clause describes the purpose of the Bill. Ayes: 98 Noes: 375

Finally, it was put to the House that the Bill be read a third time, and this motion passed with Ayes: 435 and Noes: 73. The Bill will now move to the report stage.

On Tuesday 12 November 2024 I attended a reception held by Lush to raise awareness of the issue of animal testing in the cosmetics industry.

I was pleased to meet and spoke to Hilary Jones (pictured), Global Ethics Director at Lush, who spoke to me about the issues and the Lush Prize.

As well as leading the industry in creating ethical cosmetic products, Lush campaign for an overall transition away from animal testing, calling for the appointment of a Minister for Human Relevant Science to oversee this.

Founded in 2012, it awards £250,000 annually to initiatives across science and campaigning that work to end or replace animal testing, particularly in the area of toxicology research.

Lush were founded as an ethical company and should be supported following the pandemic.

It was a pleasure to meet the author Richard Osman at the Publishers' Association Winter Gathering at the Terrace Pavilion on Tuesday 12 November 2024.

As Co-Chair of the APPG on Publishing, we heard from our other chair Baroness Gail Rebuck who stressed the importance of reading. There is a worrying decline in children's reading. We were asked support this.

The Chair Perminder Mann of Bonnier Books said publishing is the heartbeat of the industry, books inspire films and films bring new readers.

Richard Osman said the world wants our stories. He also said we need to be wary of unchecked AI.

It was good to celebrate this vital industry.