HOUSE OF COMMONS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

taken before the

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE

on the

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL BILL

Monday 26 June 2023

Before:

Rt Hon. Dame Rosie Winterton MP, First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Chair)

Mrs Natalie Elphicke  MP

Jo Gideon MP

Jessica Morden MP

Lia Nici MP

Andrew Percy MP

Richard Thomson MP

Liz Twist  MP

Justin Leslie, Counsel for Domestic Legislation, in attendance

ROBBIE OWEN, of the DEPARTMENT FOR LEVELLING UP, HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES, appeared as Parliamentary Agent for the Bill.

1.                 CHAIR: Order. Would any Members like to declare a particular interest in the Bill? If not, I would like to welcome Robbie Owen, the parliamentary agent of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Mr Owen, could I ask you to talk us through how you have met the conditions previously attached by the Committee with regard to the dispensation of Standing Order No. 10?
2.                 ROBBIE OWEN: Thank you, Madam Chair. Good afternoon to you and the Committee.
3.                 The Committee met on 13 June and agreed to dispense with the private business Standing Orders in question, subject to the condition in relation to the publication of the local newspaper notice. By way of background, Standing Order Nos. 4 and 10 require a publication in each of two successive weeks, with six clear days between publications of a notice in local newspapers.
4.                 When I appeared before the Committee on 13 June, we were planning to publish the second notice on Friday 16 June, the first publication having been on Friday 9 June. I can confirm that on 16 June, the second notice was published in two papers circulating in the area—Westminster Extra and the London Evening Standard—the same papers as had been used on 9 June. I can produce for the Committee hard copies of those notices and the two publications if that would assist.
5.                 CHAIR:  Let us distribute those now.
6.                 ROBBIE OWEN: I would invite the Committee to conclude as a result that the condition has now been discharged, given that the notice was published for the second time six clear days after the publication of the notice for the first time on 9 June.
7.                 CHAIR:  Thank you. While these are being circulated, I should just say that, as agreed last time, we wrote to the Secretary of State to say that it had been raised that consultation might be slightly improved—let’s put it that way. It was not that we were taking a view on that, but we had agreed to pass on that some of the petitioners felt that that would smooth things over rather.
8.                 Do any Members have any questions for Mr Owen? No. Then thank you, Mr Owen. I believe that we are content that you have demonstrated compliance with Standing Order No. 10 and met the conditions imposed by the Committee at its last meeting. The Committee has therefore resolved that Standing Order No. 10 ought to be dispensed with and that the promoter be allowed to proceed with the Bill.
9.                 ROBBIE OWEN: Thank you, Madam Chair.
10.             CHAIR:  Order, order.