The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill was a proposed Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, on 19 June 2023 in the 2022-23 Session of Parliament and carried-over to the 2023-24 Session.
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| Long title | A Bill to make provision to prevent public bodies from being influenced by political or moral disapproval of foreign states when taking certain economic decisions, subject to certain exceptions; and for connected purposes. |
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| Introduced by | Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Commons) The Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office (Lords) |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
It was part of a response to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement by the UK Government to promote community cohesion and to ban public bodies from boycotting foreign countries.[1] It was a manifesto commitment of the Conservative Party in their 2019 election manifesto.[2]
Parliamentary passage
editThe Bill passed the House of Commons on 10 January 2024 and was introduced by the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, to the House of Lords on 11 January 2024.
The Bill was lost in the wash-up period for the 2024 general election, but was at Committee Stage in the Lords at this time.[3]
References
edit- ^ "UK public bodies banned from imposing their own boycotts against foreign countries". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "Conservative Party Manifesto 2019". www.conservatives.com. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "General Election 2024: Bills saved and lost during 'Wash Up'". British Retail Consortium. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.