A shake-up of the asylum appeals system lands on Monday.
MPs debate the Immigration and Asylum Bill, and there's already some disagreement about it on the Labour benches.
It's the last week before recess.
MPs leave Westminster for the summer at the end of Thursday. They return on 1 September.
That means this is Keir Starmer's final PMQs.
Wednesday marks his last outing at the despatch box. Barring any major upsets, Andy Burnham will be named Labour leader on Friday, and becomes prime minister three days later.
MONDAY 13 JULY
Immigration and Asylum Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: the whole of the UK
Creates a new body, the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority, to decide immigration appeals. Currently, judges make those decisions but the new adjudicators won't need legal qualifications. Makes it harder for migrants to use human rights laws to avoid deportation. Replaces refugee status and humanitarian protection with a single 'protection status', and lets the Home Secretary claw back some of the accommodation and support costs from refugees who can afford to repay them. Overhauls modern slavery law, giving police wider powers over people thought to pose a trafficking risk and extending supply chain transparency rules to public sector organisations.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
TUESDAY 14 JULY
Representation of the People Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Lowers the voting age to 16 for all UK elections. Introduces automatic electoral registration, so eligible voters are added to the register without having to apply. Expands the list of accepted voter ID to include bank cards. Also tightens rules on political donations.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill – consideration of Lords amendments
Applies to: the whole of the UK
Gives the government powers to nationalise steel companies. Follows the government’s emergency intervention in April 2025, when it used special measures to keep British Steel’s Scunthorpe blast furnaces running after owner Jingye announced plans to close them.
Draft bill (PDF) / Lords Library briefing
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Amendment) Bill
Removes the blanket exemption that currently shields the King, the wider Royal Family, the Royal Household and the Royal Archives from Freedom of Information requests. Brings the monarchy and the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster within scope of the Act, meaning the public could request information about how they use public money and assets. Ten minute rule motion presented by Siân Berry.
WEDNESDAY 15 JULY
Registration of Stillbirths (England and Wales) Bill
Allows parents to register a stillbirth remotely, rather than having to attend a register office in person, easing the process for grieving families at an already difficult time. Ten minute rule motion presented by Jim McMahon.
THURSDAY 16 JULY
Health Bill – committee stage
Applies to: England (some measures apply UK-wide)
Abolishes NHS England and folds its functions back into the Department of Health and Social Care, in a bid to cut bureaucracy and speed up decision-making. Also reforms the structure of integrated care boards and foundation trusts, and introduces a single patient record shared across the health service.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing
FRIDAY 17 JULY
No votes scheduled
PREVIOUS WEEK'S VOTES
Passed
- National Security (State Threats) Bill – became law
- Outdoor Education Bill – goes to second reading
- Mental Capacity (Duty to Assess) Bill – goes to second reading
Click here to read details of the bills in last week's newsletter.
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