Key Facts

• Amendment proposed to leave out paragraph (a) in clause 3, page 3, line 10.
• The amendment removes the existing stipulation regarding Israel's exemption from section 1.
• Another amendment proposes removing paragraphs (b) and (c), which relate to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Occupied Golan Heights.
• Amendments 5 and 6 would remove references to Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the occupied Golan Heights from the Bill.
• Leicester City Council passed a motion boycotting produce originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank in 2014.
• A UN special rapporteur urged local government pensions scheme committee chairs to divest from companies conducting business in Israeli settlements in 2021.
• Amendment 14 adds genocide as an exemption to section 1.
• Amendments 19 and 20 relate to preventing financial rewards for parties engaging in the crime of genocide.
• Amendment 21 addresses the crime of apartheid under international law.
• Amendment 18 would allow public authorities to avoid procurement from companies involved in breaching international law.
• Amendments 14, 19, 20 and 21 propose exemptions for considerations relating to genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid.
• The Procurement Bill includes provisions regarding labour market misconduct, including modern slavery.
• Amendment proposed: 24, in clause 4, page 3, line 24.
• Ensures that the 'gagging clause' does not conflict with Article 10 (right to freedom of expression) and Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the ECHR as incorporated by the Human Rights Act 1998.
• The SNP will not support Clause 4.
• Amendment 24 aims to ensure the clause does not conflict with the Human Rights Act 1998, particularly articles 10 (freedom of expression) and 9 (freedom of thought, conscience, and religion).
• Amnesty International states that the Bill risks breaching article 10 of the ECHR.
• Universities UK calls for Clause 4 to be scrapped entirely due to its contradiction with academic freedom.
• Clause 4 of the Bill is referred to as a 'gagging clause'.
• The clause aims to protect community cohesion but might have an opposite effect by giving license to be abusive and offensive within legal limits.
• The speaker supports the Minister's overall objectives on the Bill.
• Clause 4 prohibits public bodies from making statements they would breach another part of the Bill due to moral or political disapproval.
• The MP argues this clause is part of a broader effort by the Government to restrict freedom of expression.
• The clause has been described as a 'gagging clause' and a significant sticking point in the legislative process.
• The Bill could restrict freedom of expression as covered by the European convention on human rights.
• Clause 4 is referred to as the 'thought police clause' due to its potential to criminalize intent rather than action.
• Witnesses supporting the bill also had difficulties with how clause 4 could be enacted and enforced.
• Amendment 24 seeks to ensure clause 4 does not conflict with the Human Rights Act 1998.
• Clause 4 prohibits public bodies from publishing statements indicating their intent to engage in activity prohibited by the bill.
• Examples of declarations made by public bodies that are restricted include anti-Israel boycotts declared by Leicester, Swansea, and Gwynedd councils.
• Amendment 8 changes the enforcement authority for local authorities to the Office for Local Government.
• Amendment 9 removes the provision allowing the Secretary of State or Minister for the Cabinet Office to amend the enforcement authority provisions.
• Amendment 8 proposes the Office for Local Government (Oflog) as the enforcement authority in relation to local authorities.
• Amendment 9 seeks to remove the power given to the Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet Office to change enforcement authorities.
• The Pensions Regulator is an existing enforcement authority for the local government pension scheme.
• Trades Union Congress (TUC).
• Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM).
• British Palestinian Committee (BPC).
• Omar Mofeed.
• Palestinian Forum in Britain.
• Melanie Phillips.
• UNISON (supplementary submission).
• Palestinian BDS National Committee.
• Yachad (supplementary submission).