The Petitions Committee has announced its latest
e-petitions sessions to discuss petitions relating to stamp duty
land tax relief, and on arrangements for UK Musicians in the EU,
following the suspension of Westminster Hall debates.
The sessions come as sittings in Westminster Hall, the
traditional debating Chamber for e-petitions, are
suspended and the Government has said it currently has no
plans to enable virtual participation. These sessions will allow
petitioners’ concerns to be debated by MPs, including those who
are shielding, and will be broadcast live on Parliament TV. The
Committee held two similar sessions during the closure of
Westminster Hall last year.
Ahead of each session, the Petitions Committee will engage with
the creators of each petition to better understand their
concerns.
In the first session, scheduled to take place at 16:30 on Monday
1 February, MPs will discuss a petition relating to stamp duty
land tax relief during the Covid-19 outbreak. The petition,
titled ‘Extend the Stamp Duty
Holiday for an additional 6 months after 31st March 2021’,
has more than 124,000 signatures. , member of the Petitions Committee, will lead the
session. Rt Hon MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, will respond.
On Monday 8 February, MPs will discuss a petition relating to
arrangements for UK Musicians in the EU from 16:30. The petition,
titled ‘Seek Europe-wide Visa-free
work permit for Touring professionals and Artists’, has more
than 279,000 signatures. Catherine McKinnell, Chair of the
Petitions Committee, will open the session. , Minister for Digital and Culture, will respond.
,
Chair of the Commons Petitions Committee said:
“I’m delighted we have been able to schedule two e-petition
sessions, where Members from across the House, including those
self-isolating and shielding, will be able to scrutinise the
Government directly on issues raised by petitioners.
“As was the case when Westminster Hall was closed due to
Covid-19 last year, we have had to innovate to find ways to hold
the Government to account, and crucially to voice the concerns of
petitioners in the House of Commons, while our usual debates
cannot be held.
“As these petitions demonstrate, there are important issues
affecting hundreds of thousands of people that are being missed.
Their calls for help and support must be heard.”
The 90 minute virtual sessions will be open to Members from
across the House, including those who are self-isolating or
shielding. The sessions will be broadcast live on
parliamentlive.tv and on YouTube, and a transcript of each
session will be published.
The petitions session will be available to watch live
on Parliament
TV and Parliament’s YouTube
channel.
