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The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,-Miss Ann Widdecombe reported from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Increase of Endowment) Order 2003.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
2 Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill,-Ms Secretary Hewitt, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Secretary Prescott, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary Margaret Beckett, Mr Secretary Smith, Mrs Secretary Liddell and Mr Brian Wilson, presented (under Standing Order No. 50 (Procedure upon Bills whose main object is to create a charge upon the public revenue)) a Bill to make provision in connection with the provision of financial assistance to, or the acquisition of any securities of or any part of the undertaking or assets of, British Energy p.l.c. or any of its subsidiaries; to provide for the repeal of Part 2 of the Electricity Act 1989; to amend Schedule 12 to that Act and to make provision for undertakings to make grants under that Schedule to be disregarded for tax purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Monday 13th January and to be printed [Bill 39].
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill be printed [Bill 39-EN].
3 Health (Wales) Bill,-The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Health (Wales) Bill, not amended in the Standing Committee.
A Clause (Reciprocity for Patients' Forums)-(Mr Nigel Evans)-brought up and read the first time.
Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:-Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendment (No. 2) proposed to the Bill, in page 2, line 13, at the end, to insert the words-
'( ) The Special Health Authority for England and Wales responsible for the functions of the Health Protection Agency shall have a place on the Board of the Wales Centre for Health.'.-(Chris Grayling.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Laurence Robertson, Mr Desmond Swayne: 78.
Tellers for the Noes, Joan Ryan, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 305.
Another Amendment (No. 1) proposed to the Bill, in page 2, line 21, at the end, to insert the words 'provided that it shall not use media channels widely accessible in any area outside Wales for the communication of such information unless that information is communicated jointly with those public information bodies responsible for the communication of health information in that area;'.-(Mr Nigel Evans.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Laurence Robertson, Mr Desmond Swayne: 78.
Tellers for the Noes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: 326.
The Bill was read the third time, and passed.
4 Business of the House,-Ordered, That, at the sitting on Thursday 16th January, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motion relating to Fisheries at Six o'clock, or three hours after their commencement, whichever is the later and the Orders of the House of 28th June 2001 and 29th October 2002 relating to deferred Divisions shall not apply.-(Mr Ivor Caplin.)
5 Bills, &c., brought from the Lords,-Ordered, That-
(1) Standing Order No. 57 (Presentation and first reading) be amended, by leaving out paragraph (3);
(2) The following Standing Order (Bills brought from the Lords) be made:
'57A.-(1) If a Member informs the Clerks at the Table of his intention to take charge of a bill which has been brought from the Lords, the bill shall be deemed to have been read the first time on the day on which the Member so informs the Clerks, and to have been ordered to be read a second time on such day as he shall appoint, and shall be recorded in the Journal of the House as having been read the first time and ordered to be read a second time on the day so appointed, and shall be ordered to be printed.
(2) If a public bill is passed by the Lords and carried to the office of the Clerk of the House at a time when this House is not sitting, then, provided that a Member shall have notified the Clerks at the Table, in writing, of his intention to take charge of the bill-
(a) the Clerk of the House shall arrange for the printing and circulation of copies of the bill, and
(b) the bill shall be recorded in the Journal of the House as having been read the first time on the next sitting day and as having been ordered to be printed pursuant to this standing order and to be read a second time on such day as the Member shall have appointed.'; and
(3) Standing Order No. 78 (Lords amendments) be amended as follows:
Line 1, after 'bills', insert 'and Lords reasons';
Line 3, at end insert 'and the provisions of S.O. No. 57A (Bills brought from the Lords) shall apply to the appointment of consideration and the printing of Lords amendments and reasons as they apply to the appointment of second reading and the printing of bills brought from the House of Lords'; and
Line 5, after 'bills', insert 'or Lords reasons'.-(Mr Ivor Caplin.)
6 Environmental Audit,-Ordered, That Mr Mark Simmonds be discharged from the Environmental Audit Committee and Mr Peter Ainsworth be added.-(Mr Phil Woolas.)
7 European Scrutiny,-Ordered, That Angela Watkinson be discharged from the European Scrutiny Committee and Mr Richard Bacon be added.-(Mr Phil Woolas.)
8 Regulatory Reform,-Ordered, That Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas be discharged from the Regulatory Reform Committee and Mr John MacDougall be added.-(Mr Phil Woolas.)
9 Public Petitions,-A Public Petition from 'Consumers for Health Choice' and others against restrictions on the availability of natural health products was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
10 Public Petitions,-Public Petitions from 'Consumers for Health Choice' and others against restrictions on the availability of natural health products were presented [two Petitions]; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
11 Adjournment,-Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Mr Phil Woolas.)
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till fourteen minutes to Five o'clock, adjourned till Monday 13th January.
[Adjourned at 4.46 p.m.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday next.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
1 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions),-(1) Draft Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Cattle, and
(2) draft Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Pigs
[by Act] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].
2 Animals,-Draft Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 [by Act], with Explanatory Memorandum thereon [by Command] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].
3 Family Law,-Draft Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2003 [by Act], with Explanatory Memorandum thereon [by Command] [Mr Secretary Smith].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
4 Income Tax,-Friendly Societies (Modification of the Corporation Tax Acts) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 23), dated 9th January 2003 [by Act] [Ruth Kelly].
5 River,-Prohibition of Keeping or Release of Live Fish (Specified Species) (Amendment) (England) Order 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 25), dated 9th January 2003 [by Act] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].
6 Value Added Tax,-Value Added Tax (Health and Welfare) Order 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 24), dated 9th January 2003 [by Act] [John Healey].
Other Papers:
7 Local Government,-Proposal for a draft Community Care Plans (Disapplication) (England) Order 2003, with a statement by the Secretary of State for Health [by Act] [Mr Secretary Milburn].
8 Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism,-Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (Designation of Countries) Order 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 6), dated 7th January 2003 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
9 Public Petitions,-(1) Observations by the Secretary of State for Health on the Petition [10th December] from citizens of the United Kingdom for legislation to prohibit euthanasia by the withdrawal of food and fluid, and
(2) Observations by the Secretary of State for Defence on the Petition [3rd December] from residents of Dumfries and Galloway against the closure of West Freugh Airfield;
[by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
1 Draft National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Increase of Endowment) Order 2003 -The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Fraser Kemp from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Phil Woolas.
2 Communications Bill,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Bill O'Brien as a Chairman of Standing Committee E in respect of the Communications Bill, in place of Mr Jimmy Hood.
3 Draft Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003-The Speaker has appointed Mr Bill Olner Chairman of the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,-Second Report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee [Annual Report of the Committee], together with an Appendix; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 269] [Mr David Curry].
2 Health,-(1) First Report from the Health Committee [The Work of the Health Committee, 2002]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 261], and
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Sexual Health]; to be printed [No. 69-iv]
3 Northern Ireland Affairs,-Second Report from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee [Annual Report 2002]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 271] [Mr Michael Mates].
4 Public Administration,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [Public Service Targets]; to be printed [No. 62-vi] [Tony Wright].
5 Treasury,-(1) First Report from the Treasury Committee [National Statistics: The Classification of Network Rail], together with the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee; to be printed together with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee and of the Sub-committee relating to the Report [No. 154];
(2) Second Report from the Committee [The 2002 Pre-Budget Report], together with the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No.159]
[W.H., No. 15]
Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall
The sitting commenced at twenty-five minutes to Three o'clock.
Adjournment (Housing Benefit reform),-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Joan Ryan.)
And the sitting having continued for three hours, it was adjourned without Question put, till Tuesday 14th January.
[Adjourned at 5.50 p.m.
Sir Alan Haselhurst
Deputy Speaker
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