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The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,-Miss Ann Widdecombe reported from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the Kava-Kava in Food (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 3169).
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
2 Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,-Mr Alan Hurst reported from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and the draft Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
3 Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,-Mr John Cummings reported from the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 3211) and the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 3214).
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
4 Message from the Lords,-A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:
Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Bill [Lords],-The Lords have passed a Bill to make further provision relating to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe signed in Paris on 19th November 1990; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.
National Minimum Wage (Enforcement Notices) Bill [Lords],-The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision enabling an enforcement notice under section 19 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to impose a requirement under subsection (2) of that section in relation to a person, whether or not a requirement under subsection (1) of that section is, or may be, imposed in relation to that or any other person; and to limit the pay reference periods in respect of which a requirement under subsection (2) of that section may be imposed; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.
Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords],-The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision about policing in Northern Ireland and the exercise of police powers in Northern Ireland by persons who are not police officers; and to amend the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.
5 Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Bill [Lords],-The Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 50].
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 50-EN].
6 National Minimum Wage (Enforcement Notices) Bill [Lords],-The National Minimum Wage (Enforcement Notices) Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 51].
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the National Minimum Wage (Enforcement Notices) Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 51-EN].
7 Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords],-The Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 52].
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 52-EN].
8 Opposition Day [4th allotted day: first part],-It being an allotted day at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition in pursuance of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business), the House proceeded to consider Opposition business.
Humanitarian Contingency Plans for Iraq,-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House observes the dire humanitarian situation in Iraq resulting from Saddam Hussein's misrule and Iraqi obstruction of humanitarian agencies; notes that more than ten per cent. of all Iraqi children die before their fifth birthday, and that a quarter of children under five are chronically malnourished; further notes the high dependency of Iraqis on Oil for Food programmes; deplores the continued Iraqi disruption of the Oil for Food programme; recognises the serious threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction; understands that military action may follow Iraq's continued violation of its international obligation to disarm and destroy those weapons of mass destruction, contrary to UN Resolution 1441; urges the Secretary of State for International Development to work with the international community urgently to draw up a comprehensive humanitarian strategy for assisting the people of Iraq in the event of war; further urges Her Majesty's Government to ensure that there is close co-operation between the military campaign and the aid effort; and calls on the Secretary of State for International Development to keep Parliament fully informed of the humanitarian situation in Iraq-(Mrs Caroline Spelman);
David Maclean rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put.
And the Question being put, That the Question be now put:-It was agreed to.
And the Question being accordingly put;
Resolved, That this House observes the dire humanitarian situation in Iraq resulting from Saddam Hussein's misrule and Iraqi obstruction of humanitarian agencies; notes that more than ten per cent. of all Iraqi children die before their fifth birthday, and that a quarter of children under five are chronically malnourished; further notes the high dependency of Iraqis on Oil for Food programmes; deplores the continued Iraqi disruption of the Oil for Food programme; recognises the serious threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction; understands that military action may follow Iraq's continued violation of its international obligation to disarm and destroy those weapons of mass destruction, contrary to UN Resolution 1441; urges the Secretary of State for International Development to work with the international community urgently to draw up a comprehensive humanitarian strategy for assisting the people of Iraq in the event of war; further urges Her Majesty's Government to ensure that there is close co-operation between the military campaign and the aid effort; and calls on the Secretary of State for International Development to keep Parliament fully informed of the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
9 Regulatory Reform,-A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft regulatory reform orders), That the draft Regulatory Reform (Credit Unions) Order 2002, which was laid before this House on 16th December, be approved-(Mr Nick Ainger):-It was agreed to.
10 Regulatory Reform,-A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft regulatory reform orders), That the draft Regulatory Reform (Assured Periodic Tenancies) (Rent Increases) Order 2003, which was laid before this House on 13th January, be approved-(Mr Nick Ainger):-It was agreed to.
11 Northern Ireland Grand Committee,-A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Orders No. 115 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (delegated legislation)) and No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings)), That-
(1) the draft Budget (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee; and
(2) the Committee shall consider the instrument referred to it under paragraph (1) above at its meeting on Thursday 6th February-(Mr Nick Ainger):-It was agreed to.
12 Business of the House,-Ordered, That, at the sitting on Tuesday 4th February, the Speaker shall put the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions in the name of Mr Robin Cook relating to the options on the composition of the House of Lords not later than Five o'clock; pursuant to the recommendation of the Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform in its First Report (House of Commons Paper No. 171), Questions on later Motions may be put notwithstanding any decision of the House on earlier Motions; the Questions may be decided after the moment of interruption, and the Orders of the House of 28th June 2001 and 29th October 2002 relating to deferred Divisions shall not apply.-(Mr Nick Ainger.)
13 Public Petitions,-Public Petitions from-
(1) Robert Wrigley and other residents of Sittingbourne, Kent, against using the Coniston Hotel as a centre for asylum seekers, and
(2) Amnesty International, Reading Group, for measures to bring an end to human rights violations in Chechnya
were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
14 Adjournment,-Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Mr Nick Ainger.)
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty-eight minutes to Seven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 6.32 p.m.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Nine o'clock.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
1 Constitutional Law,-Draft National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 2003 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Peter Hain].
2 Industrial Development,-Draft Financial Assistance for Industry (Increase of Limit) Order 2003 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].
3 Police,-Draft Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Codes B to E) Order 2003 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
4 Children and Young Persons,-Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Regulations 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 118), dated 26th January 2003 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Milburn].
5 Legal Aid and Advice (Northern Ireland),-Legal Aid (Remuneration of Solicitors and Counsel in County Court Proceedings) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. (N.I.) 2003, No. 43), dated 25th January 2003 [by Statutory Instrument] [Ms Rosie Winterton].
6 Police,-Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.I., 2002, No. 137), dated 29th January 2003 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
Other Papers:
7 Aviation and Maritime Security,-Report for 2002 by the Secretary of State for Transport under section 44 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 on the number of notices served by him under section 19 of the 1990 Act, the number of directions given by him under sections 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the Act and the number of enforcement notices served by authorised persons under the Act [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
8 Aviation Security,-Report for 2002 by the Secretary of State for Transport under section 23 of the Aviation Security Act 1982 as amended by the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 and the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 on the number of notices served by him under section 11 of the 1982 Act as amended and the number of directions given by him under sections 12, 13, 13A and 14 of the amended Act [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
9 Cabinet Office,-Report and Resource Accounts of the Cabinet Office for 2001-02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 356] [Ruth Kelly].
10 Channel Tunnel Security,-Report for 2002 by the Secretary of State for Transport under Article 35 of the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 on the number of notices served by him under Article 11 of the 1994 Order and the number of directions given by him under Articles 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the Order [by Statutory Instrument] [Mr Secretary Darling].
11 Defence Executive Agencies,-Report and Accounts of-
(1) Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency, and
(2) The Queen Victoria School
for 2001-02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 317 and 236] [Mr Secretary Hoon].
12 Highways Agency,-Report and Accounts of the Highways Agency for 2001-02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 326] [Mr Secretary Darling].
13 Northern Ireland,-Draft Code of Practice under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 8) for Video Recording with Sound [by Act] [Mr Secretary Murphy].
14 Police,-Report by the Police Complaints Authority: Review of shootings by police in England and Wales from 1998 to 2001 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 313] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].
15 Resource Accounts, 2001-02,-Resource Accounts for 2001-02 of:
(1) Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation,
(2) Central Office of Information,
(4) Department for Education and Skills,
(5) Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
(6) Department of Health,
(8) NHS Pension Scheme and NHS Compensation for Premature Retirement Scheme,
(9) Northern Ireland Office,
(10) Northern Ireland Court Service,
(11) Office of Fair Trading,
(12) Privy Council Office,
(13) Postal Services Commission,
(14) Registry of Friendly Societies,
(15) Royal Mint (Wider Commercial Operations),
(16) Security and Intelligence Agencies,
(17) Serious Fraud Office,
(18) Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions,
(19) Teachers' Pension Scheme (England and Wales), and
(20) Department for Work and Pensions
with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 355, 294, 360, 316, 324, 363, 365, 319, 279, 358, 301, 325, 354, 282, 366, 368, 367, 341, 315 and 146] [Ruth Kelly].
16 Resource Accounts 2001-02 (Notification),-(1) Communication from Customs and Excise stating that the Customs and Excise Resource Accounts for 2001-02 were laid on 11th December 2002 under section 6(20) of the Government Resource and Accounts 2000, contained within the Customs and Excise Report and Accounts, 2001-02, [Cm. 5671], and
(2) Communication from the Office for National Statistics stating that the Office for National Statistics Resource Accounts for 2001-02 were laid on 22nd July 2002, in the last Session of Parliament, under section 6(20) of the Government Resource and Accounts 2000, contained within the Office for National Statistics Report and Accounts, 2001-02 [House of Commons Paper No. 1110]
[by Command] [Ruth Kelly].
Papers withdrawn:
17 Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism,-Draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice on Video Recording of Interviews) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 [laid 23rd January].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
1 Railways and Transport Safety Bill,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Jimmy Hood and Mr Alan Hurst Chairmen of Standing Committee D in respect of the Bill.
2 Draft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Board) Order 2003 and the draft Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Board) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Bill Olner Chairman of the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders.
3 Draft Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003, the draft Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Cattle and the draft Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Pigs,-The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr John Hayes from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations and draft Codes); and nominated in substitution Mr Jonathan Sayeed.
4 Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 110) (HC 320) 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr David Amess Chairman of the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the Report.
5 Draft Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Bill O'Brien Chairman of the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.
6 Draft Planning (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Bill O'Brien Chairmen of the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order, in place of Mr John Cummings.
7 Draft Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and the draft Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003,-The Committee of Selection has discharged Joan Ruddock from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Orders); and nominated in substitution Mr Frank Doran.
8 Draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Disclosure of Information) Order 2003, the draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Exemptions and Civil Recovery) Order 2003, and the draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Code of Practice) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Pike Chairman of the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders.
9 Draft Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Miss Anne Begg Chairman of the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order, in place of Mr Bill O'Brien.
10 Draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Continuance of Part VII) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr David Amess Chairman of the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.
11 National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 3211) and the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 3214),-The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Piara S Khabra from the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Regulations); and nominated in substitution Mr Geoffrey Robinson.
12 Draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice on Video Recording of Interviews) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Pike Chairman of the Eighth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.
13 Draft Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003,-The Speaker has appointed Mr Bill Olner Chairman of the Ninth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.
Grand Committees
14 The Speaker has appointed Mrs Irene Adams Chairman of the Scottish Grand Committee in respect of its meeting on Wednesday 12th February.
15 The Speaker has appointed Mr Joe Benton Chairman of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee in respect of its meeting on Tuesday 4th February.
European Standing Committees
16 The Speaker has appointed Mr John Cummings Chairman of European Standing Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 13789/02 on quality of bathing water.
17 The Speaker has appointed Mr Joe Benton Chairman of European Standing Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 15301/02 on safety at sea, in place of Mr David Taylor.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1 Education and Skills,-Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Skills Committee on 30th October in the last Session of Parliament [The Work of Ofsted]; to be printed [No. 388] [Mr Barry Sheerman].
2 Public Administration,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [Public Service Targets]; to be printed [No. 62-ix] [Tony Wright].
3 Treasury,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee [The UK and the Euro]; to be printed [No. 187-vi] [Mr John McFall].
[W.H., No. 24]
Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall
The sitting commenced at half-past Two o'clock.
Adjournment (Democracy and Accountability in the EU and the Role of National Parliaments-Thirty-third Report from the European Scrutiny Committee and the Government's response thereto),-A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned-(Mr Ivor Caplin);
And the sitting having continued for three hours, it was adjourned without Question put, till Tuesday 4th February.
[Adjourned at 5.30 p.m.
Sir Alan Haselhurst
Deputy Speaker
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