Found: Report, Session 2021–22, HL Paper 142), para 124; Constitution Committee, Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: the former Government sought to push through an anti-boycott bill, the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Research Briefing: Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill 2022-23 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Found: This is part of a wider trend, evidenced by the failed Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: The “Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters)” bill, proposed by the previous government

Found: vote of no confidence in the government or a minister 155 Scrap the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: vote of no confidence in the government or a minister 155 Scrap the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Government Response to the 4th Report - Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill Government

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 38374 on Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, what assessment her Department made of the potential impact of the divestment policy adopted by Cumberland Council in August 2025 on integration and community cohesion.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

MHCLG does not conduct assessments of individual council divestment policies. The Cabinet Office has published guidance to public authorities prohibiting procurement boycotts against Israeli firms and firms which trade with Israel.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 38374 on Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, whether her Department has a policy on (a) grant recipients of funding and (b) local authorities (i) boycotting and (ii) divesting in (A) investments and (B) contracts with (1) Israel and (2) firms which trade with Israel.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The UK government is committed to promoting our trade and business ties with Israel and strongly opposes boycotts. The government has published guidance to public authorities prohibiting procurement boycotts against Israeli firms or firms which trade with Israel.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 38374 on Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, what estimate her Department has made of the number of local authorities which now have boycott or divestment policies against Israel.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Government has consistently opposed both the BDS Movement and calls to boycott the State of Israel by public authorities including local authorities. It is not government’s business to monitor the number of debates or motions on any matter provided councils are compliant with the law.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 38374 on Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the resolution of Oxford City Council of 24 March 2025 to boycott and divest from Israel on community cohesion and integration in Oxfordshire.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Government has consistently opposed both the BDS Movement and calls to boycott the State of Israel by public authorities including local authorities. It is not government’s business to monitor the number of debates or motions on any matter provided councils are compliant with the law.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to re-introduce the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The government will not be reintroducing the Bill.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether, for the purposes of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, there is a lower limit to (1) the amount or proportion of public funding received by a public body, and (2) the size of such a body using any other metric.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)

The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill applies to public authorities, as defined in section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998. There is no universal test to determine whether an authority is bound by section 6 of the Human Rights Act and therefore in scope of the Bill. However, indicative factors that have been identified by judges as relevant include: the authority receiving a significant amount of public funding; the authority carrying out acts in exercise of statutory powers; and the authority exercising a task which is in the public interest. Although there is no lower limit to the size of a public authority, nor the amount of public funding that a public authority can receive, judges have already clarified that receiving public funding does not, on its own, mean a body is a public authority under section 6, nor exercising public functions. Ultimately, the courts would decide on individual cases depending on the particular circumstances.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether, for the purposes of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, the definition of a "public body" may apply to a single individual person.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)

The Bill applies to public authorities as defined in section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

This means that the Bill will only apply to public authorities and not to individuals in their private capacities. When an individual is acting on behalf of a public authority, they will not be held personally liable for a breach of the ban. Only public authorities can breach the ban.

Cases where this definition may apply to a single individual will be limited to where that individual is themselves a public authority. An example of such a case would be a Secretary of State. In this example, the Secretary of State would only be in scope of the Bill when acting as Secretary of State – and not when acting in their personal capacity.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their definition of "public body" for the purposes of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill; and whether this definition includes arts organisations.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)

The Bill applies to a broad range of public bodies to protect community cohesion and ensure a consistent approach to foreign policy. Specifically, the Bill applies to public authorities, as defined in section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998. Bodies should already be aware if they are bound by section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 as this legislation has been on the statute book for 25 years and places wide-ranging obligations on them.

The definition may include some arts organisations such as some museums and galleries in receipt of significant public funding when they are undertaking certain public functions. As with any general definition in legislation, there are instances where the application of a definition depends on the specific facts of a case and it is ultimately for the courts to decide.

Found: (FCDO) 1.10 UK in the world 10 January 2024 743 cc386 -411 Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Contracting authorities should note that the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: considerations, as discussed during the Committee stage (second day) of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Darlington regarding issues raised during the Committee Stage (first day) of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Saltaire regarding issues raised during the Committee stage (first day) of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Corporate T ransparency Bill •Data Protection and Digital Information Bill •Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Consent Memorandums (LCMs)— •Data Protection and Digital Information Bill •Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Consent Memorandums (LCMs)— •Data Protection and Digital Information Bill •Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: decisions, subject to certain exceptions; and for connected purposes” - Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: lead UKG Cabinet Minister for the Bill, Mr Gove is likely to raise the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: • RG asked for an update on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill (formerly

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact of the UK Government’s Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill on the ability of Scottish Enterprise and other public bodies in Scotland to conduct human rights reputational risk management and other similar checks on prospective recipients of grants and other support.

Answered by Lochhead, Richard - Minister for Business and Employment

The UK Government’s Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill is currently at House of Lords Committee stage, and is therefore still subject to change. As it stands, it is clear that this disproportionate and unnecessary legislation is likely to significantly affect the ways in which public bodies can take human rights concerns into account when making certain decisions. We will make a full assessment of the Bill, its coverage and its impact on public bodies in Scotland when it is in its final form, and will make any necessary adjustments to our Human Rights Due Diligence guidance, and any other relevant guidance, accordingly.

Found: Planning and Infrastructure Bill. xxiii For example, in relation to the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: considered 0 Legislative Consent Memorandums 8 Electronic Trade Documents Bill; Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: considered 0 Legislative Consent Memorandums 8 Electronic Trade Documents Bill; Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Agreement for T rans-Pacific Partnership) Bill 20 February 2024 granted Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: report on the Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: 1 LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Committee The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Welsh Government to the report of the Legislative Consent Memorandum on Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: ▪ Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – On 27 February 2024, the Senedd voted

Found: report on the Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: of those — the Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill, the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: On 27 February 2024, the Senedd voted to withhold consent to the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Found: covered by GoWA during scrutiny of the Illegal Migration Bill and the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill