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The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 Scottish Grand Committee,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Scottish Grand Committee be printed [No. 1274].
2 Welsh Grand Committee,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Welsh Grand Committee be printed [No. 1275].
3 Northern Ireland Grand Committee,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee be printed [No. 1276].
4 Standing Committee on Regional Affairs,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs be printed [No. 1277].
5 European Standing Committee A,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of European Standing Committee A be printed [No. 1278].
6 European Standing Committee B,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of European Standing Committee B be printed [No. 1279].
7 European Standing Committee C,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of European Standing Committee C be printed [No. 1280].
8 Standing Committee on the Convention,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Standing Committee on the Convention be printed [No. 1281].
9 Accommodation and Works,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Accommodation and Works Committee be printed [No. 1309].
10 Administration,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Administration Committee be printed [No. 1310].
11 Broadcasting,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Select Committee on Broadcasting be printed [No. 1311].
12 Catering,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Catering Committee be printed [No. 1312].
13 Culture, Media and Sport,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee be printed [No. 1313].
14 Defence,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Defence Committee be printed [No. 1314].
15 Education and Skills,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Education and Skills Committee be printed [No. 1315].
16 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee be printed, together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Radioactive Waste Sub-committee, Disposal of Refrigerators Sub-committee, Genetically Modified Organisms Sub-Committee, Hazardous Waste Sub-Committee, Illegal Meat Imports Sub-committee, the Reform of the CFP Sub-Committee and the Mid-term Review of the CAP Sub-Committee [No. 1316].
17 Environmental Audit,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Environmental Audit Committee be printed [No. 1317].
18 European Scrutiny,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the European Scrutiny Committee be printed [No. 1318].
19 Finance and Services,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Finance and Services Committee be printed [No. 1319].
20 Foreign Affairs,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Foreign Affairs Committee be printed [No. 1320].
21 Health,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Health Committee be printed [No. 1321].
22 Home Affairs,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Home Affairs Committee be printed [No. 1322].
23 Human Rights,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Select Committee appointed to join with a Committee of the House of Lords as the Joint Committee on Human Rights be printed [No. 1323].
24 Information,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Information Committee be printed [No. 1325].
25 International Development,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the International Development Committee on 4th November be printed [No. 1326].
26 Liaison,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Liaison Committee be printed [No. 1327].
27 Modernisation of the House of Commons,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons be printed [No. 1328].
28 Northern Ireland Affairs,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee be printed [No. 1329].
29 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee be printed, together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Urban Affairs Sub-Committee [No. 1344].
30 Procedure,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Procedure Committee be printed [No. 1330].
31 Public Accounts,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee of Public Accounts be printed [No. 1331].
32 Public Administration,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Select Committee on Public Administration be printed [No. 1332].
33 Regulatory Reform,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Select Committee on Regulatory Reform be printed [No. 1333].
34 Science and Technology,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Science and Technology Committee be printed [No. 1334].
35 Scottish Affairs,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Scottish Affairs Committee be printed [No. 1335].
36 Standards and Privileges,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee on Standards and Privileges be printed [No. 1336].
37 Statutory Instruments,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments be printed [No. 1337].
38 Statutory Instruments,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Select Committee appointed to join with a Committee of the House of Lords as the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments be printed [No. 1338].
39 Trade and Industry,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Trade and Industry Committee be printed [No. 1339].
40 Transport,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Transport Committee be printed [No. 1345].
41 Transport, Local Government and the Regions,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Committee be printed, together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Transport Sub-Committee and of the Urban Affairs Sub-Committee [No. 1346].
42 Treasury,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Treasury Committee be printed, together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Treasury Sub-Committee [No. 1340].
43 Welsh Affairs,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Welsh Affairs Committee be printed [No. 1341].
44 Work and Pensions,-Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Work and Pensions Committee be printed [No. 1342].
45 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill,-The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Amendment in lieu of an Amendment to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill to which the Commons have disagreed.
A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment-(Mr Secretary Blunkett);
And it being one hour after the commencement of proceedings on the Lords Amendment, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Order [5th November].
Tellers for the Ayes, Joan Ryan, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 248.
Tellers for the Noes, Tom Brake, Annette Brooke: 38.
So the Question was agreed to.
The Lords Amendment was accordingly disagreed to.
The Deputy Speaker then put the remaining Question which she was required to put at that hour.
A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That Amendments (a) and (b) be made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendment No. 17B disagreed to-(Beverley Hughes);
Tellers for the Ayes, Joan Ryan, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 251.
Tellers for the Noes, Tom Brake, Annette Brooke: 37.
So the Question was agreed to.
46 Message from the Lords,-A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:
The Lords have disagreed to the Amendments proposed by this House to certain Lords Amendments to the Animal Health Bill, for which disagreement they assign Reasons; they do not insist on one of their Amendments to which this House has disagreed; and they have agreed to the Amendments made by this House to the remaining Lords Amendments.
Lords Reasons for disagreeing to Commons Amendments to Lords Amendments to the Animal Health Bill to be printed [Bill 209].
47 Animal Health Bill,-The House proceeded to consider the Lords Reasons for disagreeing to Commons Amendments to Lords Amendments to the Animal Health Bill, pursuant to Order [yesterday].
Resolved, That this House insists on its Amendment (No. 14A) to Lords Amendment No. 14, to which the Lords have disagreed.-(Mr Elliot Morley.)
An Amendment ((a)) was made to the Bill in lieu of the words left out of the Lords Amendment.
Resolved, That this House insists on its Amendment (No. 22A) to Lords Amendment No. 22, to which the Lords have disagreed.-(Mr Elliot Morley.)
An Amendment ((a)) was made to the Bill in lieu of the words left out of the Lords Amendment.
Resolved, That this House insists on its Amendment (No. 35A) to Lords Amendment No. 35, to which the Lords have disagreed.-(Mr Elliot Morley.)
An Amendment ((a)) was made to the Bill in lieu of the words left out of the Lords Amendment.
Resolved, That this House insists on its Amendment (No. 65A) to Lords Amendment No. 65, to which the Lords have disagreed.-(Mr Elliot Morley.)
An Amendment ((a)) was made to the Bill in lieu of the words left out of the Lords Amendment.
48 Public Petitions,-A Public Petition from 'Consumers for Health Choice' and others against restrictions on the availability of natural health products was presented; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
49 Message from the Lords,-A Message was received from the Lords, as follows:
The Lords do not insist on their Amendment to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill to which this House has disagreed, and they agree to the Amendments made by this House to the Bill in lieu of the Lords Amendment.
The Lords do not insist on their disagreement to the Amendments made by this House to the Lords Amendments to the Animal Health Bill, and they agree to the Amendments made by this House in lieu of the words left out of the Lords Amendments.
50 Message to attend the Lords Commissioners,-A Message from the Lords Commissioners was delivered by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.
The Lords, authorised by virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, for declaring Her Royal Assent to several Acts agreed upon by both Houses and for proroguing the present Parliament, desire the immediate attendance of this Honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the Commission read.
Accordingly the Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers, where a Commission was read, giving, declaring and notifying the Royal Assent to several Acts, and for proroguing this present Parliament.
The Royal Assent was given to the following Acts:-
Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002
Employee Share Schemes Act 2002
Public Trustee (Liability and Fees) Act 2002
Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002
Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc.) Act 2002
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
HSBC Investment Banking Act 2002
Barclays Group Reorganisation Act 2002
Milford Haven Port Authority Act 2002
City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002.
And afterwards Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord High Chancellor (in pursuance of Her Majesty's Command), as follows:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
My Government has taken action in support of economic stability and sound public finances, and has continued to increase investment in public services and tackle child poverty.
Education is my Government's top priority. An Act has been passed to promote diversity, choice, innovation and higher standards in schools. The Act provides new opportunities for school partnerships, improved support for teachers, more options for tackling weak and failing schools and greater freedom for successful headteachers and governors.
Legislation has been passed to reform health services and strengthen regulation of the health professions.
An Act has been passed to increase powers against money laundering, establish a Criminal Assets Recovery Agency and make it easier to recover the proceeds of crime and drugs.
Legislation has been passed to modernise and reform the police service and to establish a new complaints system.
Legislation has been passed to reform and streamline the system for dealing with immigration and applications for asylum.
Legislation has been passed to reform employment dispute resolution procedures and to introduce new employment rights, including measures to balance work and parental life.
Legislation was also passed which introduced a new system of tax credits and a new pension credit for pensioners.
An Act was passed to improve productivity and enterprise through reform of the competition, insolvency and consumer protection regimes.
Draft legislation has been brought forward on a number of matters including on Communications, Local Government and Extradition.
Members of the House of Commons,
I thank you for the provision you have made for the work and dignity of the Crown and for the public service.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
In Northern Ireland, my Government continued to work closely with the political parties and the Irish Government to secure the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
Acts have been passed to maintain the arrangements on decommissioning and to reform the criminal justice system, both part of the Belfast Agreement. Provision has been made for new measures to combat electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.
My Government has continued to co-operate with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the interests of all of the people of the United Kingdom. A White Paper was published outlining proposals for devolution to the English regions.
My Government invited Parliament to set up a joint committee of both Houses to enable Parliament to reach a view on the second phase of House of Lords reform.
Legislation was passed to allow political parties to make positive moves to increase the representation of women in public life.
An Act was passed to reform the system of land registration. Legislation was also passed reforming residential leasehold law and improving leaseholders' rights and to create commonhold.
My Government brought forward legislation to make the age of entitlement for concessionary fares the same for men as it is for women.
An Act has been passed to reform adoption law to make children's welfare paramount, encourage more adoption and strengthen regulation of overseas adoptions.
Other important measures have been enacted.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
The Duke of Edinburgh and I were pleased to receive the state visit of the King and Queen of Jordan last November.
We recall with pleasure our visits to Jamaica and New Zealand in February and our subsequent visit to Australia on the occasion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The Duke of Edinburgh and I were also delighted to pay a visit to Canada in October.
Following the shocking events of 11th September, my Government has taken decisive action to help combat terrorism around the world and support the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
My Government has continued to play a leading role in efforts to improve the competitiveness of Europe's economies and bring the European Union closer to its people. Legislation has been enacted enabling the United Kingdom to ratify the Treaty of Nice and implement decisions on the Union's future funding.
My Government has played a key role in agreeing a timetable for enlargement of the European Union and in identifying practical ways to strengthen the Union's foreign and security policy, particularly its support for peace building in the Balkans.
My Government has worked to strengthen NATO, equip it for the challenges of the future and develop its growing partnership with Russia.
My Government has worked for a more effective global effort to reduce poverty, including initiatives on debt relief and HIV/AIDS, and has enacted legislation to strengthen the poverty focus to Britain's development work.
My Government ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change along with other EU partners, as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
In the United Nations, the Commonwealth and other fora my Government has been active in promoting human rights and tackling the causes of conflict, including support for UN efforts in newly independent East Timor.
My Government enacted legislation to grant British citizenship to British Overseas Territories citizens in qualifying territories.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend you.
After which the Lord Chancellor said:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
By virtue of Her Majesty's Commission which has now been read we do, in Her Majesty's name, and in obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Wednesday the thirteenth day of this instant November, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday the thirteenth day of November.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
1 European Communities,-Draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation Between the European Community and its Member States and the Republic of South Africa) Order 2002 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Straw].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
2 Agriculture,-Olive Oil (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2761), dated 6th November 2002 [by Act] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].
3 Immigration,-(1) Immigration and Asylum Appeals (One-Stop Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2731), dated 6th November 2002 [by Act]; and
(2) Immigration (Transit Visa) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002, No. 2758), dated 6th November 2002 [by Act]; and
(3) Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1301]
4 National Health Service,-National Health Service Act 1977 and National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2759), dated 7th November 2002 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Milburn].
Other Papers:
5 National Audit,-Eleventh Report of the Public Accounts Commission [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1251] [Mr Alan Williams].
6 Parliamentary Papers,-Alphabetical index to the Bills, House of Commons Papers and Command Papers in the House of Commons set of parliamentary papers with notes on the volume arrangement and summary of legislation, Session 2001-02, Fifty-third Parliament, First Session, 50th and 51th Elizabeth II, 13th June 2001 to 7th November 2002; to be printed [No. 1348] [The Speaker].
7 Police and Criminal Evidence,-Draft Code of Practice for the Exercise by Police Officers of Statutory Powers of Stop and Search [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
8 Public Petitions,-(1) Observations by the Deputy Prime Minister on the Petition [24th September] from residents of the area surrounding Betton Abbots landfill site for an alternative location for the site;
(2) Observations by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the Petition [23rd October] from striking workers of Friction Dynamics, Caernarfon for removal of the eight-week limit on protection for striking workers; and
(3) Observations by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Adult Learning and Skills on the Petition [2nd July] from the Bedford College Branch of the East Anglia Regions of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education for a review of the Government's policy on the funding of further education
[by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].
9 Transport, Local Government and the Regions,-The Government's Response to the Nineteenth Report from the Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Session 2001-02, on The New Towns: their Problems and Future [by Command] [Cm. 5685] [Mr Secretary Prescott].
APPENDIX II
Reports from Select Committees
Trade and Industry,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Trade and Industry Committee [Biotechnology]; to be printed [No. 1035-v] [Mr Martin O'Neill].
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