TuesdayUpcoming
19 May 2026 — 19 items
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee: Innovation and global food security
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will hear oral evidence on how innovation can help secure global food supplies. The inquiry examines the role of new technologies—such as precision agriculture, plant breeding, and digital farming systems—in boosting crop yields, reducing waste, and building resilience to climate shocks. The focus is whether UK research and industry can lead in developing and exporting these solutions.
First Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026
Parliament will examine two pieces of secondary legislation intended to strengthen drug law enforcement. The draft Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) Regulations update rules around chemical precursors used in illegal drug production, while the Criminal Justice Act amendment order updates international co-operation powers. These are technical regulatory amendments designed to close loopholes and improve the government's ability to intercept precursor chemicals before they reach clandestine drug labs.
Culture, Media and Sport Committee: BBC Royal Charter Review
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hear oral evidence on the BBC Royal Charter Review, the statutory process by which the BBC's operating licence is renewed. The review examines the corporation's mission, independence, funding model, and governance to determine whether the current Royal Charter framework remains fit for purpose in a changed media landscape. This session will gather expert testimony to inform the committee's assessment of how the BBC should be regulated and funded beyond its current charter period.
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee: Modernising Elections
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee will take oral evidence on how to modernise elections in the UK. This inquiry examines reforms to the electoral system—covering everything from voting procedures and ballot design to candidate eligibility and election administration—with the goal of updating practices that have remained largely unchanged for decades. The committee will hear from experts, electoral officials, and stakeholders on what changes would make voting more accessible, secure, and efficient.
Treasury Committee: The OBR: 15 years on
The Treasury Committee will hold oral evidence sessions to assess the Office for Budget Responsibility's performance and relevance 15 years after its creation. The OBR is the independent forecaster that produces economic projections and scrutinises government spending plans; this inquiry examines whether it remains fit for purpose, how well it has predicted economic outcomes, and what reforms might strengthen its role in holding ministers to account.
Education Committee: Reading for Pleasure
The Education Committee will take oral evidence on reading for pleasure—the practice of voluntary, recreational reading among young people. The inquiry examines what drives children to read for enjoyment, what barriers prevent them from doing so, and what role schools, libraries, and policy can play in encouraging a reading culture. This follows concerns about declining literacy levels and reduced leisure reading among pupils post-pandemic.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Fairness in the food supply chain
A private meeting of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The committee will discuss matters within its remit, which covers environmental policy, food systems, and rural affairs. As a private session, the specific agenda items are not publicly listed, but the committee typically scrutinises government policy on farming, land use, water, pesticides, animal welfare, and rural economic development.
Defence Committee: Afghan Data Breach and Resettlement Schemes
The Defence Committee will take oral evidence on a data breach affecting Afghan resettlement schemes and the security implications of handling sensitive personal information from Afghan relocations. The inquiry examines how the breach occurred, what data was exposed, and whether the government's resettlement programmes have adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable refugees.
Modernisation Committee: Backbench Business Committee and Petitions Committee Debates
The Modernisation Committee is a select committee that examines and recommends improvements to the procedures and working practices of the House of Commons. This private meeting will discuss potential reforms to parliamentary process and operations to make the Commons function more effectively.
Health and Social Care (including Topical Questions)
This is a weekly oral questions session in the House of Commons where MPs quiz the Health and Social Care Secretary on departmental policy, service delivery, and current issues. Topical questions allow MPs to raise urgent, timely matters affecting the NHS and social care sector without advance notice, enabling Parliament to hold the government accountable on pressing health concerns.
Justice (including Topical Questions)
Oral questions to the Justice Secretary covering the department's work on courts, prisons, criminal justice, and related policy. Topical questions allow MPs to raise urgent or current issues within the Justice portfolio, which typically includes sentencing policy, prison conditions, victim support, and court reform. This session provides an opportunity for scrutiny of the government's delivery on justice priorities and emerging problems in the criminal justice system.
Health and Social Care Committee: Food and Weight Management
The Health and Social Care Committee is holding oral evidence sessions on food and weight management. This inquiry examines how diet and obesity affect public health outcomes, healthcare system demand, and social care provision. The committee will question witnesses to understand current policy gaps, intervention effectiveness, and what role government, the NHS, and social care services should play in addressing weight-related health problems.
Business and Trade Committee: China and the UK economy
A private meeting of the Business and Trade Committee scheduled for 19 May 2026. The committee oversees UK trade policy, business regulation, and industrial strategy. Without a published agenda, the specific topics under discussion are not yet public, but the committee typically examines trade negotiations, competitiveness, investment, and sectoral issues affecting British business.
Justice Committee: Rehabilitation and resettlement: ending the cycle of reoffending
The Justice Committee is holding oral evidence sessions to investigate how to break the cycle of reoffending through better rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners. The inquiry examines what works to help offenders reintegrate into society, reduce reoffending rates, and ease pressure on the prison system.
Home Affairs Committee: The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
The Home Affairs Committee will take oral evidence on the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, examining the findings and recommendations of this major public inquiry into organised child sexual exploitation. The session will scrutinise how gangs operated across multiple locations, how institutions and authorities failed to protect children, and what changes are needed to prevent future abuse.
Second Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2026
Parliament will scrutinise draft regulations that implement international port state control standards for merchant shipping. These regulations set out how UK ports inspect foreign vessels to verify compliance with international maritime safety, pollution prevention, and labour standards. The debate will examine whether the draft rules effectively transpose international maritime conventions into UK law and strike the right balance between regulatory rigour and operational practicality for port authorities and shipping operators.
Energy Security and Net Zero Committee: International climate policy
The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee will hear oral evidence on international climate policy. This session examines how UK climate commitments interact with global negotiations, other countries' net-zero strategies, and the diplomatic framework governing emissions reduction. The committee is gathering expert testimony to inform scrutiny of the government's approach to international climate agreements and their domestic implementation.
Impact of HS2 on communities
Conservative MP Joy Morrissey raises concerns about the impact of the HS2 high-speed rail project on communities, particularly in her Beaconsfield constituency. An adjournment debate allows her to press the government on how it is mitigating disruption, property impacts, and economic effects on affected areas during the construction and operation phases.
Continuation of the debate on the King’s Speech on energy security
MPs will continue debating energy security as part of the formal response to the King's Speech. This is a set-piece debate allowing the House to examine the government's energy policy priorities, which may cover renewable energy transition, grid resilience, energy costs, and industrial strategy. The continuation suggests the first day's debate did not exhaust all contributions, allowing further backbench and opposition scrutiny.