House of Commons — sitting of 15 September 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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House of Commons

15 September 2026

Contents updated on 15 Sept 2026

Cluster of Justice oral questions and subsequent ministerial statement plus Urgent Questions on the local visitor levy and the Houthi attack, allowing comparison of government positions on criminal justice, local taxation powers and UK energy security under parliamentary scrutiny.

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Ministerial accountability — oral and Urgent Questions

34:06

Justice oral questions — criminal justice and prisons

34:06

Justice Questions opening and criminal justice reform

34:06

Opening and Courts and Tribunals Bill – backlog and jury trial

34:06

Opening of Justice Questions and Courts Bill context

34:06

Q1 – MPs press on jury trial restrictions in Courts and Tribunals Bill

34:32

Q1 follow‑up – Human rights and racial discrimination concerns

37:58

Criminal justice system reform, Royal Commission and public protection

39:44

Q2 – Calls for a Royal Commission on the criminal justice system

39:44

Q4 – Foreign national offender deportations and international cooperation

43:41

Q5 – Probation workforce capacity, pay and public protection

46:18

Q3 — Onley Park Estate water main and resident impacts

42:23

Q3 – Onley Park Estate water main replacement

42:23

Online abuse, prisons capacity and reducing reoffending

49:22

Q6 & Q8 — AI‑generated intimate image abuse and online misogyny

49:22

Q6 & Q8 – AI‑generated intimate image abuse and online misogyny

49:22

Q7–Q12 — Prisons, reoffending and coroners

54:24

Q7 – Rapid Deployment Cells Programme and unused prison capacity

54:24

Q9 – Coroner delays, inquest reforms and bereaved families

57:44

Q10 – Digital technology, AI tools and prison modernisation

01:00:15

Q11 & Q20 – Reoffending programmes, staffing and housing

01:02:29

Reoffending – Intensive supervision courts, prison education, restorative justice, respect orders

01:04:52

Sentencing, IPP reform, prisons and victims

01:08:24

Q13–Q15 — Family courts, IPP reform and youth justice

01:08:24

Q12 – Unregulated child contact centres and affordability concerns

01:08:24

Q13 – Ending IPP sentences, mental health impacts and public protection

01:09:43

Q14 & Q15 – Youth offending, early intervention and online harms

01:13:08

Early release legality, IPP sentences and VAWG commitments

01:21:44

Topical Q – Early release scheme changes and secondary legislation

01:21:44

Topical Q – IPP abolition and public protection concerns

01:22:58

Topical Qs – Halving VAWG and locked child trust funds

01:24:17

Victim support, prisons estate and high‑risk prisoner management

01:29:31

Topical Qs – Victim support measures and Grendon mega‑prison construction

01:29:31

Topical Qs – Family court delays and prisoner placement casework

01:31:25

Topical Qs – Children of prisoners and IPP support needs

01:32:31

Justice oral questions – courts, legal sector, prisons

01:17:00

Courts backlog, jury reforms and probation housing

01:17:00

Q16 – Croydon Crown Court backlogs and jury trial policy

01:17:00

Q17 – Probation early release accommodation and HMOs

01:18:41

Topical opening – Courts and Tribunals Bill and Milton Keynes justice quarter

01:20:01

Legal sector finances, prison workforce and regional access to justice

01:26:04

Topical Qs – High street solicitors and prison officer pensions

01:26:04

Topical Qs – Regional court backlogs and rural legal aid

01:27:44

Justice portfolio – final questions and ministerial accountability

01:34:17

Final justice topical questions – animal welfare, True’s Law and joint enterprise

01:34:17

Point of order – ministerial correspondence and respect for scrutiny

01:37:39

Local visitor levy — proposal, design and Urgent Question

01:39:31

Ministerial announcement and initial political challenge

01:39:31

Ministerial statement — design and purpose of visitor levy

01:39:31

Urgent Question – government statement on overnight visitor levy

01:39:31

Opposition challenge — ‘holiday tax’ impact on tourism and households

01:41:43

Opposition critique – ‘holiday tax’ and tourism job losses

01:41:43

Visitor levy — sector fears and Lib Dem conditions

01:45:42

Tourism hotspots — exemptions, ring‑fencing and growth rationale

01:48:39

Visitor levy design — scope, models and fiscal powers

01:51:25

Policy design details — international models, scope and revenue use

01:51:25

International practice and percentage‑based levy design

01:51:25

Hospitality pressures, Airbnb inclusion and borough share of revenues

01:52:47

Local hypothecation disputes and regional benefit sharing

01:57:35

Visitor levy — local tax status and devolution

01:59:56

Visitor levy principle — national tax fears vs local accountability

01:59:56

Devolution, fiscal powers and local retention of revenues

02:00:57

Visitor levy UQ — local powers, sector concerns and exemptions

02:04:32

Economic impact, sector consultation and rural tourism risks

02:04:32

Consultation with tourism sector and emerging evidence from Edinburgh

02:04:32

Rural hospitality, international practice and levy design

02:08:52

Visitor levy UQ — devolution, exemptions and sector impact

02:11:53

London governance, domestic affordability and flexibility of use

02:11:53

Visitor levy – youth groups, devolution and local regeneration

02:15:40

Visitor levy – sector opposition, medical and NI concerns, and close of UQ

02:22:19

Urgent Question — Houthi attack and UK energy security

02:26:57

Urgent Question — Houthi attack and UK energy security

02:26:57

Urgent Question – Saudi pipeline, UK energy security and initial ministerial stance

02:26:57

Urgent Question – Saudi East‑West pipeline closure and UK energy security

02:26:57

Minister outlines Saudi talks, heating oil support and Warm Homes Plan

02:31:17

Energy security and North Sea fields – Bowie vs Minister

02:34:37

Reducing reliance on international fossil fuels and managing North Sea decline

02:37:52

Supply‑side strategy – North Sea projects, nuclear siting and security context

02:40:30

Site choices, EN6 nuclear locations and Conservative pressure to approve Jackdaw/Rosebank

02:40:30

Domestic oil and gas vs renewables – ideological exchanges in the Commons

02:43:59

Middle East security, UK naval assets and Houthi proscription

02:48:33

Energy prices, rural fuel costs and security

02:42:34

Heating oil price cap demands and CMA market review

02:42:34

Electricity bills, VAT cuts and decoupling prices from gas

02:47:19

Rural Welsh fuel prices and support schemes

02:50:10

North Sea drilling, renewables investment and winter security

02:51:39

Houthi attacks, Gulf security and close of Saudi pipeline UQ

02:53:48

Government statements and committee-led scrutiny

02:55:30

English whisky GI — ministerial statement and scrutiny

02:55:30

English whisky GI — ministerial statement and scrutiny

02:55:30

Government statement and initial challenges on English whisky GI

02:55:30

Ministerial statement – English whisky GI and single malt definition

02:55:30

APPG chair challenges English single malt definition and timing

02:58:59

Minister reassurances on GI decision and government whisky trade record

03:01:25

English whisky GI — regulatory standards and rural impact

03:07:45

Shadow Minister: regulatory consistency, costs and hostile business climate

03:07:45

Appeal period, production standards and benefits for English distilleries and farmers

03:12:33

Thirlwall Inquiry — government statement and scrutiny

03:17:25

Thirlwall Inquiry statement — government response

03:17:25

Procedural suspension and Government Thirlwall statement

03:17:25

Health Secretary – Thirlwall Inquiry findings and systemic failures

03:32:28

Health Secretary – safeguarding reforms and maternity/neonatal actions

03:38:54

Thirlwall Inquiry — opposition questions and safeguards

03:45:14

Thirlwall Inquiry — NHS safety, whistleblowing and oversight

03:45:14

Shadow Health Secretary – whistleblowing, HSIB and inquiry oversight

03:45:14

Chester MP – call for cross‑government oversight mechanism for inquiries

03:56:34

Lib Dem spokesperson – HSIB, whistleblowing and Health Bill changes

04:00:40

Final Thirlwall exchange – implementation timeline and safety culture

04:05:42

Parliamentary scrutiny of financial redress and student loans

04:10:26

Student loan system concerns and review bill

04:10:26

Treasury Committee — student loan system concerns

04:10:26

Treasury Committee statement – inquiry into student loans

04:10:26

Student loans – state vs graduate contribution and transparency reforms

04:13:38

Student loans – FCA consumer duty, RPI interest and threshold freeze

04:16:17

Student loans Q&A – threshold freeze, mis‑selling and systemic reform

04:19:23

Ten Minute Rule – Student Finances Review Bill

04:51:04

Ten Minute Rule – Student Finances Review Bill: mis‑selling and graduate debt burden

04:51:04

Student loans – intergenerational squeeze and cross‑party reform appeal

04:57:11

Leave granted for Student Finances Review Bill and scheduling

05:00:35

Government compensation schemes and House procedural issues

04:30:30

Public Accounts Committee – government compensation schemes

04:30:30

Public Accounts Committee statement on government compensation schemes

04:30:30

Government compensation schemes – design flaws, delays and victim access

04:39:43

Points of order – business rates, lobby conduct, Church appointments

04:48:04

Points of order – VOA business rates shock, trans lobby treatment and Church Appointments Bill

04:48:04

Fracking ban — parliamentary debate and government stance

05:02:16

Fracking ban — legal definition and ministerial position

05:02:16

Fracking definition loopholes and call for legal ban

05:02:16

Debate opening and low‑volume fracking loophole

05:02:16

Opening of fracking debate – moratorium vs full ban

05:02:16

Burniston case and Labour call to close low‑volume fracking loophole

05:11:51

Opposition MPs – case for a permanent fracking ban

05:17:20

Lib Dems – call for permanent legal ban on all fracking

05:17:20

Labour MP – constituency experience and clean‑energy alternatives to fracking

05:22:53

Fracking ban debate — shale gas positions and ministerial decision

05:29:05

Shale gas advocacy vs green industrial strategy

05:29:05

Reform UK – Richard Tice advocates shale gas and opposes fracking ban

05:29:05

Labour MP – Grangemouth green industrial revolution vs fracking

05:45:24

Opposition MPs – arguments for a comprehensive fracking ban

05:51:35

Green MP – full statutory fracking ban and fossil fuels in the ground

05:51:35

Lib Dem frontbench – closing fracking loopholes and backing renewables

05:58:15

Fracking ban debate – ministerial response and decision

06:06:43

Conservative backbencher – defending gas production and opposing full fracking ban

06:06:43

Energy Minister – three‑part policy on fracking and shale gas ban

06:15:47

Energy Minister – low‑volume hydraulic fracturing, Burniston and energy security

06:21:04

Chloe Young – winding up fracking debate and House decision

06:28:04

Sepsis debate — policy framework and ministerial response

06:30:21

Sepsis debate — burden, framework and ministerial response

06:30:21

Debate opening and sepsis policy context

06:30:21

Debate opening — sepsis burden and risk factors

06:30:21

World Sepsis Awareness Month – first main chamber debate and UK burden

06:30:21

Sepsis – MP’s personal ICU experience and community risk factors

06:33:55

Clinical lessons and system priorities for sepsis care

06:39:56

Clinical lessons from COVID, post‑sepsis syndrome and four priority actions

06:39:56

NHS Sepsis Modern Service Framework – delivery timelines, funding and prevention asks

06:42:39

Sepsis framework debate — cases and government response

06:49:23

Constituency sepsis cases and gaps in post‑infection support

06:49:23

Sepsis case study – Dartford quadruple amputation and post‑ICU support gaps

06:49:23

Constituents’ sepsis experiences, older people’s risk and modern service framework goals

06:57:06

Opposition and Lib Dem frontbench – gaps in sepsis framework and cancer strategy

07:02:07

Lib Dem frontbench – rapid diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance and cancer strategy omission

07:02:07

Shadow Health Minister – funding, workforce and vaccination gaps in sepsis plan

07:07:26

Sepsis Modern Service Framework – ministerial response and motion agreed

07:17:53

Health Minister – implementing the Sepsis Modern Service Framework and data strategy

07:17:53

Sepsis framework – awareness, NEWS2 and diagnostics

07:24:28

Escalation routes and rollout of Martha’s Rule

07:26:54

Sepsis prevention, vaccination, AMR balance and funding model

07:28:57

Conclusion of sepsis debate and adoption of motion

07:31:47

Petitions and adjournment debate overview

07:37:49

Public petitions and adjournment debate context

07:37:49

Public petitions and adjournment debate

07:37:49

Public petitions – young carers and NHS dentistry

07:37:49

Petitions – young carers champions and coastal NHS dentistry

07:37:49

Adjournment debate – George Low murder case and UK action

07:40:37

Adjournment debate opened – George Low murder case overview

07:40:37

FCDO Minister – consular support, Cyprus–Turkey barriers and next steps

07:49:32

Live capture

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House of Commons

15 September 2026

Tue, 15 Sept 2026 Actual start 11:00 House of Commons

Follow its sittings

34:06 - 34:07

Order, order.

34:07 - 34:12

Speaker 2

We start with questions to the Secretary of State for Justice. Dr. Neil Shastri-Hurst.

34:12 - 34:13

Question number one, Mr. Speaker.

34:13 - 34:15

Speaker 1

Welcome.

34:15 - 34:32

Speaker 3

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, the Leader announced that the Courts and Tribunals Bill will return to this House on the 13th of October. I've been clear that my priority is to reduce the Crown Court waiting list and enable victims to have their day in court more quickly. I look forward to working with experts in this House and beyond to deliver that.

34:32 - 34:33

Dr. Neil Shastri-Hurst.

34:33 - 35:01

Speaker 4

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There are reports that the government is considering tabling an amendment to the Courts and Tribunals Bill, whereby in either-way offences, a judge will decide whether a defendant faces a jury or is heard by a single judge sitting alone. The legal profession has quite properly highlighted that this will lead to satellite litigation with repeated appeals and slow down the legal process.

Will the government start to finally listen to the legal profession, or will they carry on and plough on regardless?

35:01 - 35:27

Speaker 3

Well, I would always caution the honorable gentleman around reports. When there are things to be said, they'll be said from this dispatch box. He will know, though, that both, and I think he would expect that myself as a new Lord Chancellor, my right honorable friend the Prime Minister as a new Prime Minister, of course look at every aspect of Ministry of Justice business to make sure that it's the best for delivering for victims and for the public at large. So he knows the legislation is coming back, and I look forward to discussing it in its fullness when it does.

35:27 - 35:30

Speaker 5

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds.

Ask anything about this video — I analyse its transcript to answer.

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