Data (Use and Access) Bill CCLM: motion to disagree Lords Amendment 43B

What happened: The House of Commons voted on 14 May 2025 to reject Lords Amendment 43B to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, restoring the government's original position on data use and access policy. The motion passed by 304 votes to 68, with the government's approach upheld by a substantial majority.

Why it matters: This vote is part of the parliamentary process known as "ping-pong," in which the Commons and Lords exchange amendments until both chambers agree on a final text. By rejecting Lords Amendment 43B, the Commons declined to accept changes the upper chamber had made to how data can be used and accessed under the Bill. The Data (Use and Access) Bill sets out a broad framework governing how personal and public data can be shared, processed, and used across public services and the wider economy, meaning the outcome affects citizens, public bodies, businesses, and anyone whose personal information is held in digital form.

The politics: The vote followed sharp party lines. Labour MPs, including those sitting under the Labour and Co-operative Party label, voted overwhelmingly in favour of the government's position, contributing 298 of the 304 ayes. The Liberal Democrats provided the largest bloc of opposition, with 54 of their MPs voting no, alongside the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party. The Conservatives, despite holding 116 seats, were entirely absent from the division. One Labour MP voted against the government's position, representing a rare but isolated act of dissent. This vote was one of several ping-pong divisions on the same day and in the weeks that followed, with related divisions on Lords Amendments 49B and 32 also taking place on 14 May, and further votes on Amendment 49 continuing into June 2025.