MPs debate lots of late-stage bills this week.

They’ll consider draft laws on banning tobacco products, salary sacrifice pension contributions, and reforming the justice system have come back from the Lords.

Tuesday is an Opposition Day.

It’s a chance for the Tories to set the agenda. Their topic for debate is still TBC.

And this is the last week before Easter recess.

MPs head back to their constituencies on Friday and return on 14 April.

MONDAY 23 MARCH

Tobacco and Vapes Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Aims to create a smoke-free generation while restricting how vapes are marketed and sold to children. Bans the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. Gives the government powers to restrict the packaging, contents, and flavouring of vaping and nicotine products, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Introduces a £2,000 annual cap on employer pension contributions made through salary sacrifice that are exempt from National Insurance. Salary sacrifice is where an employee takes a lower salary in exchange for their employer paying the difference directly into their pension – currently the contributions attract no NI at all. The government suffered five defeats in the Lords, and MPs will decide this week whether to accept, reject, or replace those amendments.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 24 MARCH

Personal Protective Equipment (Inclusive Standards) Bill
Requires all PPE procured or provided by public bodies to meet the new British Standard 30417:2025, ensuring it fits all workers, regardless of gender, disability or cultural needs. Most PPE is still designed around the male body. Ten minute rule motion presented by Kirsteen Sullivan.

WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH

Victims and Courts Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
A broad set of measures that aim to restore faith in the justice system. Allows judges to require offenders to attend sentencing, restricts parental rights for child abusers, and expands access to the Victim Contact Scheme so more victims can stay updated about offenders’ cases, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

THURSDAY 26 MARCH

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 27 MARCH

No votes scheduled

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Grenfell Tower Memorial (Expenditure) Bill – goes to the Lords
• Clinical Negligence Bill – goes to second reading
• Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Bill – goes to the Lords
• Menstrual and Gynaecological Health Bill – goes to second reading

Click here to read details of the bills in last week’s newsletter.