Votes and Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 2003 - 04
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House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Thursday 3rd March 2005

The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock.
PRAYERS.
1    Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

Parliamentary Commissioner (Amendment) Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to amend the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 so as to enable the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to investigate complaints received directly from members of the public; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

2    Consumer Credit Bill,—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Consumer Credit Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee.

A Clause (NC1) (Disapplication of section 101 of the 1974 Act)—(Mr Gerry Sutcliffe)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill.

Another Clause (NC2) (Maximum levels of interest and other charges)—(Adam Price)—brought up, and read the first time.

Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendments (Nos. 1 to 7) made to the Bill.

Another Amendment (No. 21) proposed to the Bill, in page 13, line 19, at the end, to insert the words—

'(2A) For the purposes of this section, an agreement shall be automatically unfair if the court determines that—

(a) at the time of making the agreement the debtor could not reasonably have been expected to maintain the level of payments required under the agreement; or

(b) the lender made inadequate attempts to determine the financial circumstances of the borrower at the time of entering into an agreement.'.—(Malcolm Bruce.)

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made:—Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Other Amendments (Nos. 8 to 13, 19, 14 to 18 and 20) made to the Bill.

The Bill was read the third time, and passed.

3    Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Company Directors Disqualification (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, which was laid before this House on 20th January, be approved—(Bridget Prentice):—It was agreed to.

4    Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, which was laid before this House on 24th January, be approved—(Bridget Prentice):—It was agreed to.

5    Data Protection,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft Data Protection (Subject Access Modification) (Social Work) (Amendment) Order 2005, which was laid before this House on 26th January, be approved—(Bridget Prentice):—It was agreed to.

6    Audit Commission,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the Code of Audit Practice for local government bodies (2005), a copy of which was laid before this House on 27th January, be approved—(Bridget Prentice):—It was agreed to.

7    Audit Commission,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the Code of Audit Practice for local NHS bodies (2005), which was laid before this House on 27th January, be approved—(Bridget Prentice):—It was agreed to.

8    Town and Country Planning,—Ordered, That the Town and Country Planning (Temporary Stop Notice) (England) Regulations 2005, (S.I., 2005, No.206), dated 3rd February 2005, be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.—(Bridget Prentice.)

9    Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Bridget Prentice.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till fourteen minutes to Six o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.
[Adjourned at 5.46 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 Negative Resolution:

1    Agriculture,—Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 432), dated 1st March 2005 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].

2    Countryside,—New Forest National Park Authority (Establishment) Order 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 421), dated 2nd March 2005 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].

3    Employment Tribunals,—Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 435), dated 22nd February 2005 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

Other Papers:

4    Hong Kong,—Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong, July-December 2004 [by Command] [Cm. 6484] [Mr Secretary Straw].

Papers withdrawn:

5    Regulatory Reform,—Draft Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 [laid 21st February].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1    Criminal Law (Amendment) (Householder Protection) Bill,—The Speaker has appointed Frank Cook Chairman of Standing Committee C in respect of the Bill.

2    Draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005,—The Speaker has appointed David Taylor Chairman of the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Regulations.

3    Draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-Rating Order 2005, draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-Rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 and draft Tax Credits Up-Rating Regulations 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Pike Chairman of the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders and Regulations.

4    Draft Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (Relaxation of Restriction on Disclosure) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Derek Conway Chairman of the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order 2005.

5    Draft Immigration (Application Fees) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Eric Forth Chairman of the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

6    Draft Public Processions (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Roger Gale Chairman of the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

7    Draft Social Security (Inherited SERPS) (Amendment) Regulations 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Nigel Beard Chairman of the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Regulations.

8    Draft Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Miss Anne Begg Chairman of the Seventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order 2005.

9    Draft Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Nigel Beard Chairman of the Eighth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Regulations 2005.

10    Draft New Opportunities Fund (Specification of Initiative) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Edward O'Hara Chairman of the Ninth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

11    Draft Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Alan Hurst Chairman of the Tenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

12    Draft Pension Protection Fund (PPF Ombudsman) Order 2005, draft Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order 2005 and draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) Regulations 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Bill O'Brien Chairman of the Eleventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Orders and Regulations.

13    Draft Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (Amendment) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Miss Anne Begg Chairman of the Twelfth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order 2005.

14    Draft Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Roger Gale Chairman of the Thirteenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Regulations.

15    Draft District Policing Partnerships (Northern Ireland) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Edward O'Hara Chairman of the Fourteenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

16    Draft Renewables Obligation Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Frank Cook Chairman of the Fifteenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

17    Draft Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Frank Cook Chairman of the Sixteenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

18    Draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Modification of Pension Protection Provisions) Regulations 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Pike Chairman of the Seventeenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Regulations.

19    Draft Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2005,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Eric Forth Chairman of the Eighteenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the draft Order.

    Grand Committees

20    The Speaker has appointed Mr David Amess Chairman of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee in respect of its meeting on 8th March.

    European Standing Committees

21    The Speaker has appointed Mr John Cummings Chairman of European Standing Committee A in respect of European Union Document Nos. 15237/04 and 15390/04 on Fishing Opportunities for Certain Fish Stocks in 2005 and 2006.

22    The Speaker has appointed Mr David Chidgey Chairman of European Standing Committee A in respect of European Union Document Nos. (7170/04), (7147/04), (7172/04), (7149/04), (7148/04) and (7150/04) on Third Railway Package.

23    The Speaker has appointed Mr Martin Caton Chairman of European Standing Committee C in respect of European Union Document No. (13931/04) on Generalised System of Preferences from 2005.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1    Defence,—(1) Second Report from the Defence Committee [Tri-Service Armed Forces Bill]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 64];

(2) Third Report from the Committee [Duty of Care]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 63]; and

(3) Fourth Report from the Committee [Future Capabilities]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 45]

[Mr Bruce George].

2    Draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Joint Committee on the Draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill; to be printed [Nos. 400-iii and -iv] [Mr Clive Soley].

3    Health,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Health Committee [The use of New Medical Technologies within the NHS]; to be printed [No. 398-i] [Mr David Hinchliffe].

4    Liaison,—First Report from the Liaison Committee [Annual Report for 2004], together with the Appendices; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 419] [Mr Alan Williams].

5    Public Administration,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [Civil Service Effectiveness]; to be printed [No. 307-iii] [Tony Wright].

[W.H., No. 28]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at half-past Two o'clock.
Adjournment (Decent Homes—Fifth Report of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee, Session 2003-04, and the Government's response thereto),—Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Paul Clark.)
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 8th March.

[Adjourned at 5.12 p.m.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker