The House met at half-past Ten o'clock.

1    Welfare Reform Bill,—Mr Jimmy Hood reported from the Welfare Reform Bill Committee, That it had gone through the Bill, and made Amendments thereunto.

Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee, to be considered on Monday 4th December; and to be printed [Bill 13].

Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.

2    Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Bill Olner reported from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (Cm 6918).

Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.

3    Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

Consolidation etc. Bills,—The Lords communicate that they have appointed a Committee of twelve Lords to join with a Committee of this House as the Joint Committee on Consolidation etc. Bills;

Human Rights,—The Lords communicate that they have appointed a Select Committee of six Lords to join with the Committee appointed by this House as the Joint Committee on Human Rights to consider:

(a) matters relating to human rights in the United Kingdom (but excluding consideration of individual cases);

(b) proposals for remedial orders, draft remedial orders and remedial orders made under section 10 of and laid under Schedule 2 to the Human Rights Act 1998; and

(c) in respect of draft remedial orders and remedial orders, whether the special attention of the House of Lords should be drawn to them on any of the grounds specified in House of Lords Standing Order 73 (Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments);

To report to the House of Lords:

(a) in relation to any document containing proposals laid before the House of Lords under paragraph 3 of the said Schedule 2, its recommendation whether a draft order in the same terms as the proposals should be laid before the House; or

(b) in relation to any draft order laid under paragraph 2 of the said Schedule 2, its recommendation whether the draft Order should be approved;

and to have power to report to the House of Lords on any matter arising from its consideration of the said proposals or draft orders; and

To report to the House of Lords in respect of any original order laid under paragraph 4 of the said Schedule 2, its recommendation whether:

(a) the order should be approved in the form in which it was originally laid before Parliament; or

(b) that the order should be replaced by a new order modifying the provisions of the original order; or

(c) that the order should not be approved,

and to have power to report to the House on any matter arising from its consideration of the said order or any replacement order.

They have ordered that the Committee have power to agree with the Committee appointed by this House in the appointment of a Chairman;

That the quorum of the Committee shall be two;

That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place;

That the Committee have leave to report from time to time;

That the Committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;

That the evidence taken before the Human Rights Committee in the last Parliament be referred to the Committee; and that the evidence taken by the Committee shall, if the Committee so wishes, be printed.

4    Implementing the Hague Programme,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That this House takes note of European Union Documents Nos. 11222/06, Commission Communication: Implementing the Hague Programme: the way forward, and 11228/06 and Addenda 1-2, Commission Report on the implementation of the Hague Programme for 2005; and takes note that the discussions at the Tampere Justice and Home Affairs Informal Council showed that there was little support amongst Member States for the proposed use of the Article 42 passerelle; and furthermore supports the Government's position that this is not the right time to focus on institutional change, and that the European Union's priority for Justice and Home Affairs should instead be on developing practical co-operation to combat the transnational challenges of terrorism, organised crime and migration—(Joan Ryan);

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Ian Cawsey, Mr Dave Watts: 275.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Robert Goodwill, Mr Tobias Ellwood: 130.

5    House of Commons Members' Fund (Discretionary Payments),—Resolved, That, pursuant to section 4(4) of the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1948 and section 1(4) of the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1957, in the year commencing 1st October 2006 there be appropriated for the purposes of section 4 of the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1948:

(1) the whole of the sums deducted or set aside in that year under section 1(3) of the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1939 from the salaries of Members of the House of Commons; and

(2) the whole of the Treasury contribution to the Fund.—(Mr Peter Lilley.)

6    Adjournment (Rail performance),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mr Tom Harris);

And it being Six o'clock, the Motion for the adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.

7    Estimates,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee), That this House agrees with the Report [28th November] of the Liaison Committee—(Mr Frank Roy):—It was agreed to.

8    Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Frank Roy.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-nine minutes past Six o'clock, adjourned till Monday 4th December.

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:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1    Northern Ireland,—Draft District Electoral Areas Commissioner (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2006 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hain].

Paper subject to Negative Resolution:

2    Dangerous Drugs,—Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006 (S.I., 2006, No. 3148), dated 21st November 2006 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

Other Paper:

3    Northern Ireland,—Report and Accounts of the Labour Relations Agency for Northern Ireland for 2005-06, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland thereon [by Statutory Instrument]; to be printed [No. 28] [Mr Secretary Hain].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1    Draft Association of Law Costs Draftsmen Order 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Derek Conway Chairman of the First Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Order.

2    Draft Compensation Act 2006 (Contribution for Mesothelioma Claims) Regulations 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Mr David Wilshire Chairman of the Second Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Regulations.

3    Draft Compensation (Claims Management Services) Regulations 2006, draft Compensation (Regulated Claims Management Services) Order 2006 and draft Compensation (Specification of Benefits) Order 2006;—The Speaker has appointed Mr Martyn Jones Chairman of the Third Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Orders.

4    Draft Taxation of Securitisation Companies Regulations 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Sir John Butterfill Chairman of the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Regulations.

5    Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (Cm. 6918),—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mrs Sharon Hodgson and Ms Dari Taylor from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the Rules) and nominated in substitution Mr George Howarth and Mr Jamie Reed.

6    Draft Oil Taxation (Market Value of Oil) Regulations 2006 and draft Petroleum Revenue Tax (Attribution of Blended Crude Oil) Regulations 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Eric Martlew Chairman of the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Regulations.

7    Draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment No. 2) (England and Wales) Order 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Dr William McCrea Chairman of the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Order.

8    Draft Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Janet Anderson Chairman of the Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Regulations.

9    Draft Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (Consequential Provisions) (England and Wales) Order 2006 and draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) (No. 3) Order 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Hugh Bayley Chairman of the Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Orders.

10    Draft National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2006,—The Speaker has appointed John Cummings Chairman of the Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Order.

11    Draft Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Mr Peter Atkinson Chairman of the Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Order.

12    Draft Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) Order 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Hywel Williams Chairman of the Eleventh Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Order.

13    Draft Housing (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Janet Anderson Chairman of the Twelfth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Order.

14    Draft Asylum (First List of Safe Countries) (Amendment) Order 2006 and draft Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006,—The Speaker has appointed Ann Winterton Chairman of the Thirteenth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Orders.

    European Standing Committee

15    The Speaker has appointed Mr David Wilshire Chairman of the European Standing Committee in respect of European Union Document Nos. 5047/06 and Addendum 1, and 5050/06 and Addendum 1 on Waste Prevention and Recycling.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

16    International Development,—Water and Sanitation: Minutes of Evidence taken before the International Development Committee; to be printed [No. 126-i] [Malcolm Bruce].

17    Public Administration,—Skills for Government: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration; to be printed [No. 93-i] [Dr Tony Wright].

18    Treasury,—(1) The Bank of England November 2006 Inflation Report: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee, together with Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 89-i]

(2) Globalisation: its impact on the real economy: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 90-i]

[Mr John McFall].

MEMORANDUM

[W.H., No. 3]

Minutes of Proceedings of the Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at half-past Two o'clock.

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 5th December.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker