The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1 Private Bills [Lords] (No Standing Order not previously inquired into applicable),-The Speaker laid upon the Table a Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, originating in the Lords and referred after the First Reading thereof, no Standing Order not previously inquired into is applicable thereto:
London Local Authorities Bill [Lords]
Bill to be read a second time.
2 Transas Group Bill,-The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Transas Group Bill;
Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Wednesday 7th May.
3 Fireworks Bill,-Mr Joe Benton reported from Standing Committee C, That it had gone through the Fireworks Bill, and made Amendments thereunto.
Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee, to be considered on Friday 16th May; and to be printed [Bill 100].
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to be printed [No. 675].
4 European Union (Accessions) Bill,-Mr Secretary Straw, supported by the Prime Minister, Mr Secretary Prescott, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Blunkett, Secretary Margaret Beckett, Mr Secretary Hoon and Ms Secretary Hewitt, presented a Bill to make provision consequential on the treaty concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union, signed at Athens on 16th April 2003; and to make provision in relation to the entitlement of nationals of certain acceding States to enter or reside in the United Kingdom as workers: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 98].
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the European Union (Accessions) Bill be printed [Bill 98-EN].
5 Park Home Reform,-Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to Park Homes in order to introduce transparency and consistency into their acquisition and disposal; to amend the model standards relating to Park Homes residents to bring them into line with the standards practised in local authority and housing association property; to give statutory recognition to Park Homes Residents Associations; and to make provision in respect of the accounts of the parks and the homes sited thereon: And that Mrs Angela Browning, Mr David Atkinson, Mr Christopher Chope, Sir Patrick Cormack, Mr Hilton Dawson, Mrs Cheryl Gillan, Mr Philip Hammond, Mr Michael Jack, Mrs Eleanor Laing, Mr Mark Prisk, Mr Martin Salter and Angela Watkinson do prepare and bring it in.
6 Park Home Reform Bill,-Mrs Angela Browning accordingly presented a Bill to amend the law relating to Park Homes in order to introduce transparency and consistency into their acquisition and disposal; to amend the model standards relating to Park Homes residents to bring them into line with the standards practised in local authority and housing association property; to give statutory recognition to Park Homes Residents Associations; and to make provision in respect of the accounts of the parks and the homes sited thereon: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 11th July and to be printed [Bill 99].
7 Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill [Money] (No. 2),-Her Majesty's Recommendation having been signified to the proposed Motion relating to Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill [Money] (No. 2);
Resolved, That, for the purpose of any Act resulting from the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure of a Minister of the Crown in connection with a referendum held about proposals for the reorganisation of local government.-(Dan Norris.)
8 Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill (Programme) (No. 4),-A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Orders [28th June 2001 and 29th October 2002], That the following provisions shall apply to the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 26th November 2002:
Consideration of Lords Amendments
1. Proceedings on Consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after their commencement.
2. Any Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question put.
3. The proceedings on any Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement-(Dan Norris):-It was agreed to.
9 Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill,-The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Amendments to the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill.
Lords Amendments Nos. 1 to 35 were agreed to, the Commons being willing to waive their privileges in respect of Lords Amendments Nos. 3, 17, 18 and 34.
10 Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (Programme) (No. 2),-A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Orders [28th June 2001 and 29th October 2002], That the following provisions shall apply to the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 27th January 2003-
Consideration of Lords Amendments
1. Proceedings on Consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.
2. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question put and proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement-(Mr Phil Woolas):-It was agreed to.
11 Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill,-The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Amendments to the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
Lords Amendments Nos. 1 to 3 were agreed to.
12 Modernisation of the House of Commons,-Ordered, That Mr Robin Cook and Lorna Fitzsimons be discharged from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons and Dr John Reid and Caroline Flint be added.-(Mr Ivor Caplin.)
13 Public Petitions,-A Public Petition from residents from the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency against the unrestricted opening of pharmacies able to dispense NHS prescriptions was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
14 Public Petitions,-A Public Petition from residents of Lilbourne, Northamptonshire, for measures by the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to proposals for a freight railway and marshalling yard near Lilbourne was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.
15 Adjournment,-Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Mr John Heppell.)
And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till twenty minutes to Seven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 6.40 p.m.
Michael J. Martin
Speaker
Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Eleven o'clock.
APPENDIX I
Papers presented or laid upon the Table:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
1 Financial Services and Markets,-Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) (Designated Countries and Territories) Order 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 1181), dated 29th April 2003 [by Act] [Ruth Kelly].
2 Terms and Conditions of Employment,-(1) Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) (Administration) Regulations 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 1192), dated 23rd April 2003,
(2) Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) (No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 1194), dated 29th April 2003, and
(3) Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 1193), dated 28th April 2003,
[by Act] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].
Other Papers:
3 European Community Finances,-Paper, entitled Statement on the 2003 EC Budget and measures to counter fraud and financial mismanagement [by Command] [Cm. 5800] [Ruth Kelly].
4 Law Commission,-Report of the Law Commission on Children: Their Non-accidental Death or Serious Injury (Criminal Trials) [by Act]; to be printed [No. 650] [Yvette Cooper].
5 Transport,-Report of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee 2002 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].
APPENDIX II
Standing Committees
1 Female Genital Mutilation Bill:
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee C; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Hilary Benn, Mrs Anne Campbell, Paul Clark, Ann Clwyd, Mrs Ann Cryer, Sandra Gidley, Mr Robert Key, Mrs Jackie Lawrence, Mr Peter Luff, Chris McCafferty, Miss Anne McIntosh, Alice Mahon, Julie Morgan, Dr Jenny Tonge, Angela Watkinson and Mrs Betty Williams.
2 Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Bill:
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Bill to Standing Committee C; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Richard Allan, Hugh Bayley, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Roger Casale, Mr Tony Colman, Sir Patrick Cormack, Ross Cranston, Mr Edward Garnier, Dr Kim Howells, Mr Jon Owen Jones, Mr Robert Key, Martin Linton, Tim Loughton, Shona McIsaac, Mr Edward O'Hara and Brian White.
3 Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 120) (House of Commons Paper No. 578) on Grants for local authorities classed as 'excellent' under the comprehensive assessment framework:
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Report to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: John Austin, Sir Paul Beresford, Ms Karen Buck, Mr Christopher Chope, Mr Edward Davey, Linda Gilroy, Matthew Green, Mr Philip Hammond, Mr David Kidney, Mr Christopher Leslie, Mr Eric Martlew, Mr James Plaskitt, Mr Marsha Singh, Mr Clive Soley, Mr Desmond Swayne and Mr Phil Woolas.
4 Draft Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2003, the draft Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Rights of Access of Comptroller and Auditor General) Order 2003 and the draft Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Health Service Bodies) Order 2003:
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Orders to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Richard Bacon, Mr John Baron, Mr David Chaytor, Paul Farrelly, Mr Howard Flight, John Healey, Norman Lamb, Mr David Laws, Estelle Morris, Linda Perham, Mr Chris Pond, Mr Martin Salter, Rachel Squire, Dr Gavin Strang, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe and Mr David Wilshire.
5 Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 498):
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Order to the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Hugh Bayley, Sir Paul Beresford, Mr Christopher Chope, Tony Cunningham, Mr Edward Davey, Mr Parmjit Dhanda, Angela Eagle, Matthew Green, Mr Philip Hammond, Mr Ivan Henderson, Dr Brian Iddon, Mr Brian Jenkins, Mr Tony McNulty, Mr Desmond Swayne, Paddy Tipping and Mr Phil Woolas.
6 Value Added Tax (Supply of Services) (Amendment) Order 2003 (S.I., 2003, No. 1055):
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Order to the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Virginia Bottomley, Kevin Brennan, Mr Chris Bryant, Mr John Burnett, Mr Jim Cunningham, Valerie Davey, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Frank Dobson, Mr Derek Foster, John Healey, Mr David Laws, Mr Stephen O'Brien, Mr Chris Pond, Christine Russell, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe and Mr David Wilshire.
7 Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 118) on Special Grant for Local Authorities Rated Excellent and 3* Education Performers and the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 119) on Special Grant for the Excellence in Cities and Excellence Cluster Programmes:
(1) The Speaker has allocated the Reports to the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation; and
(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Graham Brady, Mr Ian Cawsey, Tom Cox, Mr Nick Gibb, Dr Ian Gibson, Mr Khalid Mahmood, Mr David Miliband, Mr Archie Norman, Mr Greg Pope, Dr John Pugh, Mr Laurence Robertson, Geraldine Smith, Mr Gerry Steinberg, Mr Paul Stinchcombe, Derek Twigg and Mr Phil Willis.
European Standing Committees
8 European Union Document No. 15829/02, relating to the identification of sheep and goats, has been referred to European Standing Committee A.
APPENDIX III
Reports from Select Committees
1 Environmental Audit,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee [The Budget 2003 and Aviation]; to be printed [No. 672-i] [Mr John Horam].
2 European Scrutiny,-Nineteenth Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 63-xix] [Mr Jimmy Hood].
3 Northern Ireland Affairs,-(1) Fourth Special Report from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee [Government's Response to the Fourth Report of the Committee, the Control of Firearms in Northern Ireland and the draft Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2002]; to be printed [No. 677]; and
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Phase II]; to be printed [No. 653-ii]
4 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions,-(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee [Reducing Regional Disparities in Prosperity]; to be printed [No. 492-vi]; and
(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee [Living Places: Cleaner, Safer, Greener]; to be printed [No. 673-II]
5 Public Accounts,-(1) Eighteenth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts [Reaping the Rewards of Agricultural Research]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 414]; and
(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Modernising procurement in the Prison Service]; to be printed [No. 676-i]
6 Science and Technology,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee [The Work of the Natural Environment Research Council]; to be printed [No. 674-i] [Dr Ian Gibson].
7 Transport,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Transport Committee [Aviation]; to be printed [No. 454-v] [Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].
8 Treasury,-Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee [The 2003 Budget]; to be printed [No. 652-iii] [Mr John McFall].
[W.H., No. 53]
Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall
The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.
Adjournment,-Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Joan Ryan.)
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 4.26 p.m.
Sir Alan Haselhurst
Deputy Speaker
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