Session 2001-2002

Commons Journal 258

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[No. 194.]

Monday 28th October 2002.

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

PRAYERS.

1Selection,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed [16th October], That Mr John Hayes be discharged from the Committee of Selection and Mr Peter Luff be added to the Committee;

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

2First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mr Eric Illsley reported from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (The United States of America) Order 2002 and the draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Lithuania) Order 2002.

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

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

The Lords have agreed to the Enterprise Bill, with Amendments; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

4Enterprise Bill,—Lords Amendments to the Enterprise Bill to be considered to-morrow; and to be printed [Bill 197].

5Opposition Day [20th allotted day],—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.

Access to Facilities of the House,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes the serious breaches by Sinn Fein/IRA of their obligations under the Belfast Agreement and the ceasefire, which have been recognised by the Government in the decision to suspend the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland; believes that good faith has not been observed by Sinn Fein/IRA; and, unless Sinn Fein honourable Members commit themselves to a public statement that all terrorist organisations, including the IRA, should renounce violence, resolves to rescind the Resolution of 18th December 2001 granting facilities and other support to Sinn Fein honourable Members who have chosen not to take their seats—(Mr Quentin Davies);

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word ‘House' to the end of the Question and add the words ‘recognises the fundamental need for the affairs of Northern Ireland to be settled on an exclusively peaceful, democratic and inclusive basis; and does not believe that expelling any party to the peace process from the parliamentary precincts is likely to encourage them to renounce violence and to pursue a political settlement within that process', instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Murphy.)

And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Desmond Swayne, Chris Grayling: 140.

Tellers for the Noes, Charlotte Atkins, Derek Twigg: 336.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments):—It was agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.

Resolved, That this House recognises the fundamental need for the affairs of Northern Ireland to be settled on an exclusively peaceful, democratic and inclusive basis; and does not believe that expelling any party to the peace process from the parliamentary precincts is likely to encourage them to renounce violence and to pursue a political settlement within that process.

Implications of the Human Rights Act 1998,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes with concern the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights on the sentencing powers of the Home Secretary and in other respects; further notes that the Government has not so far made any defining statement about its intentions relating to the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights; and calls upon the Government to work with all political parties which are represented in the House in order to construct a lasting settlement that can bring the

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Human Rights Act 1998 into conformity with the democratic will of the people and the concepts of liberty that have served this country so well for so long—(Mr Dominic Grieve);

An Amendment was proposed to the Question, in line 2, to leave out from the word ‘House' to the end of the Question and add the words ‘notes that the Human Rights Act 1998 is fully in conformity with parliamentary sovereignty, which enables Parliament to reflect the democratic will of the people; and further notes that the Human Rights Act enshrines the concepts of liberty that have served this country so well for so long', instead thereof.—(Beverley Hughes.)

And the Question being proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question;

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;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Chris Grayling, Mr Desmond Swayne: 133.

Tellers for the Noes, Dan Norris, Joan Ryan: 350.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Question, That the proposed words be there added, being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments):—It was agreed to.

The Speaker forthwith declared the Main Question, as amended, to be agreed to.

Resolved, That this House notes that the Human Rights Act 1998 is fully in conformity with parliamentary sovereignty, which enables Parliament to reflect the democratic will of the people; and further notes that the Human Rights Act enshrines the concepts of liberty that have served this country so well for so long.

6European Communities,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) Order 2002, which was laid before this House on 17th July, be approved—(Jim Fitzpatrick):—It was agreed to.

7Northern 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 Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Modification of Enactments) Order 2002, which was laid before this House on 18th July, be approved—(Jim Fitzpatrick):—It was agreed to.

8Countryside,—Ordered, That the Local Access Forums (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 1836) dated 15th July 2002, be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.—(Jim Fitzpatrick.)

9Utilities,—Ordered, That Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation) shall apply to the Social and Environmental Guidance to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, a draft of which was laid before this House on 20th June, as if it were a draft instrument to which that Order applies, and that the draft Guidance be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.—(Jim Fitzpatrick.)

10Sittings in Westminster Hall,—Ordered, That, on Thursday 7th November, there shall be no sitting in Westminster Hall.—(Jim Fitzpatrick.)

11Catering,—Ordered, That Mrs Jacqui Lait be discharged from the Catering Committee and Mr Peter Atkinson be added to the Committee.—(Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

12Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) ‘Consumers for Health Choice' and others against restrictions on the availability of natural health products [two Petitions], and

(2) Mrs Susan Penney and others for legislation to prohibit the use of mobile telephones by drivers

were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

13Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jim Fitzpatrick.)

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till eleven minutes to Eleven o'clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 10.49 p.m.

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APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1Contracting Out,—Draft Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Applications for Patents) Order 2002 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

2Northern Ireland,—Draft Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Murphy].

3Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism,—Draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2002 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

4Electricity,—Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2665), dated 24th October 2002 [by Act] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

5Telecommunications,—(1) Public Telecommunications Systems Designation (Econet Satellite Services Limited) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2657), and

(2) Public Telecommunications Systems Designation (Gamma Telecommunications Limited) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2658),

dated 21st October 2002 [by Act] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

Other Papers:

6Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Development and Trade and Industry,—Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Defence Committee, the Eighth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Fourth Report from the International Development Committee and the Fourth Report from the Trade and Industry Committee, Session 2001–02, on Strategic Export Controls: Annual Report for 2000, Licensing Policy and Prior Parliamentary Scrutiny [by Command] [Cm. 5629] [Mr Secretary Straw].

7Honours, Decorations and Medals,—Paper, entitled The Royal Ulster Constabulary Service Medal [by Command] [Cm. 5591] [Mr Secretary Murphy].

8National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Ministry of Defence: Building an Air Manoeuvre Capability: The Introduction of the Apache Helicopter [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1246] [Clerk of the House].

9National Lottery,—Accounts of—

(1) the Arts Council of England Lottery Distribution, and

(2) the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Distribution

for 2001–02, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 1265 and 1193] [Clerk of the House].

10Science and Technology,—Accounts of the Natural Environment Research Council for 2001–02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1264] [Clerk of the House].

11Telecommunications,—Licences granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to—

(1) Econet Satellite Services Limited, and

(2) Gamma Telecommunications Limited

[by Act] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

12Utilities,—Accounts of the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council (Energywatch) for the seventeen months to 31st March 2002, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1266] [Clerk of the House].

13Wildlife and Countryside,—Report and Accounts of the Countryside Agency for 2001–02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1263] [Clerk of the House].

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APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (The United States of America) Order 2002 and the draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Lithuania) Order 2002,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Rachel Squire from the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Orders); and nominated in substitution Andy Burnham.

2Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2587) and the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2574),—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Jim Murphy from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the Orders); and nominated in substitution Gillian Merron.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Education and Skills,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Skills Committee [Qualifications and Curriculum Authority]; to be printed [No. 862-ii] [Mr Barry Sheerman].

2Foreign Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee [Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism]; to be printed [No. 1196-iii] [Donald Anderson].

3Human Rights,—Twenty-fourth Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights [Adoption and Children Bill: as amended by the House of Lords]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 979] [Jean Corston].

4Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Urban Affairs Sub-Committee of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee [The Effectiveness of Government Regeneration Initiatives]; to be printed [No. 1207-i] [Andrew Bennett].

5Public Accounts,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee of Public Accounts [Office for National Statistics: Outsourcing the 2001 Census]; to be printed [No. 1267-i]; and

(2) part of the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee on 11th March; to be printed [No. 690-ii]

[Mr Edward Leigh].


[No. 195.]

Tuesday 29th October 2002.

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

PRAYERS.

1Selection,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed [16th October], That Mr John Hayes be discharged from the Committee of Selection and Mr Peter Luff be added to the Committee;

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

2Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mr Roger Gale reported from the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Maximum Number of Judges Order 2002.

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

3Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mr George Stevenson reported from the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the Access to the Countryside (Provisional and Conclusive Maps) (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 1710).

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

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4Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mr Nigel Beard reported from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2574) and the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2587).

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

5Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords have agreed to the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill, without Amendment.

Private Bills (Suspension),—The Lords concur with the Commons in their Message [24th October] relating to the Mersey Tunnels Bill.

The Lords communicate that they have come to the following Resolutions in respect of the London Development Agency Bill, to which they desire the concurrence of this House:

That the promoters of the bill have leave to suspend any further proceedings thereon in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that notice of their intention to do so is lodged in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments not later than 12 noon on Wednesday 6th November and that all fees due on or before that day have been paid;

That if the bill is brought from the House of Commons in the next Session the agent for the bill deposit in the Private Bill Office a declaration signed by them stating that the bill is the same in every respect as the bill which was brought from the Commons in the present Session;

That the proceedings on the bill in the next Session of Parliament be pro forma in regard to every stage through which the bill has passed in the present Session, and that no new fees be charged to those stages; and

That the Private Business Standing Orders apply to the bill in the next Session only in regard to any stage through which the bill has not passed during the present Session.

6Air Weapons,—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Firearms Act 1968 to restrict the acquisition and possession of air weapons; and for connected purposes: And that Jonathan Shaw, Mr Vernon Coaker, Mr Chris Mullin, Bridget Prentice, Julia Drown, John Austin, Paul Holmes, Jeff Ennis, Michael Fabricant, Mr Roger Gale, Derek Conway and Mr David Amess do prepare and bring it in.

7Air Weapons Bill,—Jonathan Shaw accordingly presented a Bill to amend the Firearms Act 1968 to restrict the acquisition and possession of air weapons; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday 7th November and to be printed [Bill 198].

8Business of the House,—Ordered, That, at this day's sitting, the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on any Motions in the name of Mr Robin Cook relating to Modernisation of the House of Commons, Parliamentary Questions, and Amendments to Standing Orders not later than Ten o'clock, and such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; the Questions may be decided, though opposed, after the expiration of the time for opposed business and the Order of 28th June 2001 relating to deferred Divisions shall not apply to them.—(Jim Fitzpatrick.)

9Modernisation of the House of Commons,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House approves the Second Report from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, and endorses its proposals, in particular for more effective law making by more routine publication of bills in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny, for consultation with Opposition parties on the broad shape of the legislative year and more flexibility in programming, for an annual House of Commons calendar which would allow honourable Members to plan work in their constituencies more effectively and provide sittings in September balanced by an earlier recess in July, for more effective use of the Chamber including more regular use of time limits on speeches, and a Parliament that is more accessible to the public that it serves—(Mr Robin Cook);

And it being Ten o'clock, the Speaker put the Questions which he was required to put at that hour, pursuant to Order [this day].

An Amendment ((e)) was proposed to the Question, in line 9, to leave out the words ‘including more regular use of time limits on speeches'.—(Mr Eric Forth.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Joan Ryan: 150.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Nick Ainger: 394.

So the Question was negatived.

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Another Amendment ((d)) was proposed to the Question, in line 10, at the end, to add the words ‘but is of the opinion that the House should meet at half-past Two o'clock on Mondays, and half-past Nine o'clock on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with a suspension of the sitting between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and the moment of interruption of business falling at Seven o'clock on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Six o'clock on Thursdays.'.—(Mr Greg Knight.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Joan Ryan: 94.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Nick Ainger: 441.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Main Question being put;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Joan Ryan: 411.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Nick Ainger: 47.

So the Question was agreed to.

Resolved, That this House approves the Second Report from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, and endorses its proposals, in particular for more effective law making by more routine publication of bills in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny, for consultation with Opposition parties on the broad shape of the legislative year and more flexibility in programming, for an annual House of Commons calendar which would allow honourable Members to plan work in their constituencies more effectively and provide sittings in September balanced by an earlier recess in July, for more effective use of the Chamber including more regular use of time limits on speeches, and a Parliament that is more accessible to the public that it serves.

10Parliamentary Questions,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House takes note of the Third Report from the Procedure Committee, Session 2001–02, on Parliamentary Questions, House of Commons Paper No. 622, and the Government Response thereto, Cm. 5628, and approves the proposals in both for a quota on named day questions, a reduction in the daily quota of questions per department, the introduction of electronic tabling subject to safeguards to ensure the authenticity of questions and the power of the Speaker to modify or halt the system if it appears it is being abused, and the timing and printing of answers to written questions and written ministerial statements—(Mr Phil Woolas);

An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Question, in line 8, to leave out the words ‘and written ministerial statements'.—(Mr Greg Knight.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Joan Ryan: 144.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Nick Ainger: 386.

So the Question was negatived.

Another Amendment ((b)) was proposed to the Question, in line 8, at the end, to add the words ‘; and approves the proposals in the Procedure Committee's Report for the introduction of a 30-minute session of questions on a single topical subject on Tuesdays and Thursdays.'.—(Sir Nicholas Winterton.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Joan Ryan: 256.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Nick Ainger: 283.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Main Question being put;

Resolved, That this House takes note of the Third Report from the Procedure Committee, Session 2001–02, on Parliamentary Questions, House of Commons Paper No. 622, and the Government Response thereto, Cm. 5628, and approves the proposals in both for a quota on named day questions, a reduction in the daily quota of questions per department, the introduction of electronic tabling subject to safeguards to ensure the authenticity of questions and the power of the Speaker to modify or halt the system if it appears it is being abused, and the timing and printing of answers to written questions and written ministerial statements.

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11Questions (Amendments to Standing Orders),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [this day], That—

(1) the following Standing Order (Written statements by ministers) be made:

‘A Minister of the Crown, being a Member of the House, may give notice of his intention to make a ministerial statement in written form on a specified day not later than five sitting days after the day on which notice was given: and such statements shall be printed in the Official Report.'

(2) with effect from 1st January 2003, the following amendments to Standing Orders be made:

(a) Standing Order No. 21 (Time for taking questions) be amended as follows:

Line 13, by leaving out the words ‘on the order paper' and inserting the words ‘in the Questions Book'.

(b) Standing Order No. 22 (Notices of questions, motions and amendments) be amended as follows:

Line 2, at end insert ‘in a form determined by the Speaker'

Line 17, leave out from ‘that' to end of line 34 and insert—

‘(a) notice has appeared at latest on the notice paper circulated two days (excluding Saturday and Sunday) before that on which an answer is desired; and

(b) a Member may not table more than five such questions on any one day.

(5) Notice of a question for oral answer may be given only for answer on the next day on which the Member to whom it is addressed is due to give oral answers; and in respect of each such day the Speaker shall specify the latest date and time at which notice may be given and how many questions are to be printed for each Member answering; and only that number of notices of questions (selected at random from those received in a manner to be prescribed by the Speaker) shall be treated as valid notices received on the day concerned;

Provided that the latest date and time specified by the Speaker shall be such as to enable the notices selected to be printed and circulated—

(a) in the case of questions to the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales at least four days (excluding Friday, Saturday and Sunday) before the question is to be answered or

(b) in the case of questions to other Ministers, at least two days (excluding Friday, Saturday and Sunday) before the question is to be answered'.

Line 38, leave out from ‘paragraphs' to end of paragraph and add ‘(4) and (5) of this order and specifying the arrangements for tabling questions during the adjournment'—(Mr Phil Woolas):—It was agreed to.

12New Provision for Earlier Sittings on Wednesdays, and for Thursdays and Fridays,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That, with effect from 1st January 2003 until the end of the Parliament, the Standing Orders and practice of the House shall have effect subject to the following modifications:

(1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Order and to paragraph (14)(a) of Standing Order No. 1B (Election of Speaker by secret ballot), the House shall meet on Wednesdays at half-past Eleven o'clock and—

(a) the moment of interruption shall be at Seven o'clock;

(b) in their application to such sittings, reference to a specified time in the Standing Orders shall be interpreted as reference to a time three hours earlier, except that reference to Twelve o'clock in Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) shall be read as reference to half-past Ten o'clock, and that references to One o'clock, a quarter past One o'clock and half-past Three o'clock in Standing Order No. 88 (Meetings of standing committees) shall be read as references to twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, twenty minutes to Twelve o'clock and Two o'clock respectively; and

(c) divisions deferred under the provisions of the Order (Deferred Divisions) shall be held at half-past Twelve o'clock.

(2) On Wednesdays the sitting in Westminster Hall shall begin at half-past Nine o'clock, shall be suspended from half-past Eleven o'clock until Two o'clock and may then continue for up to a further two and a half hours (and in calculating that period no account shall be taken of any period during which the sitting may be suspended owing to a division being called in the House or a Committee of the whole House).

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Order shall not apply to a Wednesday sitting which immediately follows a periodic adjournment of more than two days or is the first day of a Session, and in the former case the sitting in Westminster Hall shall begin at half-past Nine o'clock and conclude at Two o'clock.

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(4) On Thursdays the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Order shall apply (and the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not apply), except that the moment of interruption shall be at Six o'clock and—

(a) opposed private business under Standing Order No. 20 (Time for taking private business), urgent debates set down for the same day by direction of the Speaker under Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration), opposition half-day debates under paragraph (2)(c)(ii) of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business) and half-day Estimates debates under paragraph (3)(b) of Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates) shall begin at Three o'clock;

(b) opposition half-day debates under paragraph (2)(c)(i) of Standing Order No. 14 and half-day Estimates debates under paragraph (3)(a) of Standing Order No. 54 shall lapse, or be interrupted, as the case may be, at Four o'clock; and

(c) references to Eleven o'clock and half-past Eleven o'clock in Standing Orders No. 15 (Exempted business) and No. 17 (Delegated Legislation (negative procedure)) shall be read as references to Seven o'clock and half-past Seven o'clock respectively.

(5) Unless the House otherwise orders, the House shall not sit on any Friday other than those on which private Members' bills have precedence and—

(a) when the House is not sitting on a Friday it shall, at its rising on the previous Thursday, stand adjourned till the following Monday without any question being put, unless it shall have resolved otherwise; and

(b) paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 12 (House not to sit on certain Fridays) shall apply to any Friday on which the House does not sit by virtue of this Order, with the addition of notices of motions relating to proceedings on bills committed to a standing committee to the notices which may be received by the Public Bill Office under subparagraph (b) of that paragraph—(Mr Phil Woolas);

An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Question, in line 5, to leave out paragraphs (1) to (3).—(Mr Chris Mullin.)

And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Charlotte Atkins, Mr John Heppell: 265.

Tellers for the Noes, Dan Norris, Derek Twigg: 288.

So the Question was negatived.

And the Main Question being put;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Charlotte Atkins, Mr John Heppell: 311.

Tellers for the Noes, Dan Norris, Derek Twigg: 234.

So the Question was agreed to.

13New Provision for Earlier Sittings on Tuesdays,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [this day], That, with effect from 1st January 2003 until the end of the Parliament, the Standing Orders and practice of the House shall have effect subject to the following modifications:

(1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this Order and to paragraph (14)(a) of Standing Order No. 1B (Election of Speaker by secret ballot), the House shall meet on Tuesdays at half-past Eleven o'clock and—

(a) the moment of interruption shall be at Seven o'clock; and

(b) in their application to such sittings, reference to a specified time in the Standing Orders shall be interpreted as reference to a time three hours earlier, except that reference to Twelve o'clock in Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) shall be read as reference to half-past Ten o'clock, and that references to One o'clock, a quarter past One o'clock and half-past Three o'clock in Standing Order No. 88 (Meetings of standing committees)shall be read as references to twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, twenty minutes to Twelve o'clock and Two o'clock respectively.

(2) On Tuesdays the sitting in Westminster Hall shall begin at half-past Nine o'clock, shall be suspended from half-past Eleven o'clock until Two o'clock and may then continue for up to a further two and a half hours (and in calculating that period no account shall be taken of any period during which the sitting may be suspended owing to a division being called in the House or a Committee of the whole House).

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Order shall not apply to a Tuesday sitting which immediately follows a periodic adjournment of more than two days or is the first day of a Session, and in the former case the sitting in Westminster Hall shall begin at half-past Nine o'clock and conclude at Two o'clock—(Mr Phil Woolas);

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The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Charlotte Atkins, Mr John Heppell: 274.

Tellers for the Noes, Dan Norris, Derek Twigg: 267.

So the Question was agreed to.

14Carry-over of Bills,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [this day], That in the current Parliament the following Order shall have effect:

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this order, a Minister of the Crown may give notice of a motion (a ‘carry-over motion') that proceedings on a public bill not completed before the end of the Session shall be resumed in the next Session of Parliament; and the Speaker shall put any question necessary to dispose of proceedings on such a motion—

(a) forthwith if the motion is made on the day the bill is read a second time; or

(b) not more than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion if the motion is made at any other time.

(2) A carry-over motion may be proceeded with, though opposed, after the moment of interruption.

(3) A carry-over motion shall not be made in respect of more than one bill.

(4) A carry-over motion shall not be made in respect of a bill carried over from a previous Session of Parliament.

(5) Paragraphs (6) to (9) of this order shall apply to any bill ordered to be carried over to the next Session of Parliament in pursuance of a carry-over motion.

(6) If proceedings in Committee on the bill are begun but not completed before the end of the first Session, the Chairman shall report the bill to the House as so far amended and the bill shall be ordered to lie upon the Table.

(7) In any other case, proceedings on the bill shall be suspended at the conclusion of the Session in which the bill was first introduced.

(8) If a bill is presented in the next Session in the same terms as the bill reported to the House under paragraph (6) or as it stood when proceedings were suspended under paragraph (7), the bill shall be read the first and second time without question put, shall be ordered to be printed, and—

(a) in the case of a bill reported from a standing committee under paragraph (6), shall stand committed in respect of those clauses and schedules not ordered to stand part of the bill in the first Session, to a standing committee of the same Members as the Members of the standing committee on the bill in the first Session;

(b) in the case of a bill reported from a Committee of the whole House under paragraph (6), shall stand committed to a Committee of the whole House in respect of those clauses and schedules not ordered to stand part of the bill in the first Session;

(c) in the case of a bill committed to a Standing Committee but on which proceedings on the bill were not begun, shall again stand committed to a Standing Committee,

(d) otherwise shall be set down as an order of the day for (as the case may be) committee, consideration, further consideration or third reading.

(9) Notices of amendments, new clauses and new schedules given in respect of parts of a bill not disposed of in the first Session shall be reprinted as notices in respect of the bill as presented and proceeded with under paragraph (8).

(10) Proceedings on a bill ordered to be carried over to the next Session of Parliament shall lapse on the expiry of the period of twelve months from the date of its first reading in this House and the bill shall be laid aside unless the House shall order, in pursuance of a motion under paragraph (11), that proceedings on the bill be extended for a specified period.

(11) A motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown to extend for a specified period proceedings on a bill which would otherwise lapse under paragraph (10), and any such motion

(a) may contain provisions amending or supplementing a programme order in respect of the bill;

(b) may be proceeded with, though opposed, after the moment of interruption;

and the Speaker shall put any question necessary to dispose of proceedings on any such motion not later than one and a half hours after the commencement of those proceedings—(Mr Phil Woolas);

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Charlotte Atkins, Mr John Heppell: 365.

Tellers for the Noes, Dan Norris, Derek Twigg: 147.

So the Question was agreed to.

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15Permanent Arrangements for Westminster Hall, Thursday Sittings and Standing Committees,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [this day], That, with effect from the beginning of the next Session of Parliament

(1) Standing Order No. 10 (Wednesday sittings) be repealed;

(2) the following Standing Order (Sittings in Westminster Hall) be made:

‘(1) On days on which the House shall sit after an address has been agreed to in answer to Her Majesty's Speech there shall be a sitting in Westminster Hall—

(a) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between half-past Nine o'clock and Two o'clock; and

(b) on Thursdays beginning at half-past Two o'clock and continuing for up to three hours (and in calculating that period no account shall be taken of any period during which the sitting may be suspended owing to a division being called in the House or a Committee of the whole House).

(2) Any Member of the House may take part in a sitting in Westminster Hall.

(3) Subject to paragraph (13) below, the business taken at any sitting in Westminster Hall shall be such as the Chairman of Ways and Means shall appoint and may include oral answers to questions under arrangements to be made by him.

(4) The Chairman of Ways and Means or a Deputy Chairman shall take the chair in Westminster Hall as Deputy Speaker; and the House may appoint not more than four other members of the Chairmen's Panel to sit in Westminster Hall as Deputy Speaker.

(5) Any member of the Chairmen's Panel may also take the chair at a sitting in Westminster Hall when so requested by the Chairman of Ways and Means, with the duties and powers conferred on additional Deputy Speakers; and Members so appointed shall be addressed by name.

(6) Any order made or resolution come to at a sitting in Westminster Hall (other than a resolution to adjourn) shall be reported to the House by the Deputy Speaker and shall be deemed to be an order or resolution of the House.

(7) If a motion be made by a Minister of the Crown that an order of the day be proceeded with at a sitting in Westminster Hall, the question thereon shall be put forthwith, but such motion may be made only with the leave of the House and may not be made on a Friday.

(8) The quorum at a sitting in Westminster Hall shall be three.

(9) If at a sitting in Westminster Hall the opinion of the Deputy Speaker as to the decision of a question (other than a question for adjournment) is challenged, that question shall not be decided, and the Deputy Speaker shall report to the House accordingly; and any such question shall be put forthwith upon a motion being made in the House.

(10) If any business other than a motion for adjournment is under consideration at a sitting in Westminster Hall, and not fewer than six Members rise in their places and signify their objection to further proceedings, that business shall not be further proceeded with in Westminster Hall, and the Deputy Speaker shall report to the House accordingly, and any order under paragraph (7) above relating thereto shall be discharged.

(11) At the end of each sitting in Westminster Hall, unless a question for adjournment has previously been agreed to, the Deputy Speaker shall adjourn the sitting without putting any question; and proceedings on any business which has been entered upon but not disposed of shall lapse.

(12) The provisions of Standing Orders No. 29 (Powers of chair to propose question), No. 36 (Closure of debate), No. 37 (Majority for closure or proposal of question), No. 38 (Procedure on divisions), No. 39 (Voting), No. 40 (Division unnecessarily claimed), No. 41 (Quorum), No. 43 (Disorderly conduct), No. 44 (Order in debate), No. 45 (Members suspended, &c., to withdraw from precincts), No. 45A (Suspension of salary of Members suspended) and No. 163 (Motions to sit in private) shall not apply to sittings in Westminster Hall.

(13) In each Session, the Speaker shall appoint not more than six Thursdays on which the business to be taken in Westminster Hall should be debates on select committee reports chosen by the Liaison Committee.'; and

(3) the following Amendments to Standing Orders be made:

Standing Order No. 1B (Election of Speaker by secret ballot)

Line 90, leave out ‘10 (Wednesday sittings)' and insert ‘9 (Sittings of the House)'

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Standing Order No. 9 (Sittings of the House)

Line 2, leave out ‘and Thursdays at half-past two' and insert ‘and Wednesdays at half-past two o'clock and Thursdays at half-past eleven'

Line 6, after ‘Tuesday' insert ‘Wednesday'

Line 15, after ‘Tuesdays' insert ‘and'

Line 16, after ‘and' insert ‘at seven o'clock on'

Line 16, after ‘Thursdays', insert ‘(the “moment of interruption”)'

Line 43, leave out ‘ten o'clock' and insert ‘the moment of interruption'

Line 52, leave out ‘ten o'clock in the evening' and insert ‘the moment of interruption'

Standing Order No. 11 (Friday sittings)

leave out lines 9 to 11 and insert—

‘(b) the insertion of references to half-past two o'clock as the moment of interruption; and'

Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of Public Business)

Lines 20 and 23, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or four o'clock on Thursday'

Line 29, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘or four o'clock'

Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business)

Lines 4, 42, 93 and 96, leave out ‘ten o'clock' and insert ‘the moment of interruption'

Line 24, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or eight o'clock on Thursday'

Standing Order No. 17 (Delegated legislation (negative procedure))

Lines 3 and 5, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or half-past eight o'clock on Thursday'

Line 18, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or eight o'clock on Thursday'

Standing Order No. 20 (Time for taking private business)

Line 3, leave out ‘to three o'clock' and insert ‘of an hour after the House sits'

Line 28, leave out ‘Wednesday or Thursday' and insert ‘or Wednesday or Four o'clock on any specified Thursday'

Line 38, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘or four o'clock'

Standing Order No. 21 (Time for taking questions)

Line 5, leave out ‘after half-past three o'clock' and insert ‘more than one hour after the House sits'

Standing Order No. 22 (Notices of questions, motions and amendments)

Line 6, leave out ‘after half past ten o'clock in the evening' and insert ‘later than half an hour after the moment of interruption'

Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration)

Line 24, at end insert ‘if it is a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or four o'clock if it is a Thursday'

Line 27, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or half-past Ten o'clock on a Thursday'

Line 52, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘or four o'clock'

Line 59, leave out ‘seven o'clock' and insert ‘the time when they were postponed'

Standing Order No. 54 (Consideration of estimates)

Lines 11 and 40, leave out ‘ten o'clock' and insert ‘the moment of interruption'

Lines 18 and 22, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or four o'clock on Thursday'

Line 25, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘or four o'clock'

Standing Order No. 55 (Questions on voting of estimates, &c.)

Line 3, leave out ‘ten o'clock' and insert ‘the moment of interruption'

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Standing Order No. 88 (Meetings of standing committees)

Line 8, leave out ‘(being days on which the House sits)' and insert ‘and at such times'

Line 9, leave out from ‘committee' to end of line 10

Line 11, after ‘sit' insert ‘at Westminster, on a day on which the House sits,'

Line 13, after ‘afternoon' insert ‘on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays or between the hours of twenty-five minutes past eleven o'clock in the morning and two o'clock in the afternoon on Thursdays'

Line 14, after ‘committee' insert ‘to which the proviso to paragraph (1) of this order applies'

Line 16, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘or twenty-five minutes past eleven o'clock as the case may be'

Line 25, leave out ‘until a quarter past one o'clock' and insert ‘for a quarter of an hour'

Line 34, at end add—

‘(3) Any standing committee may sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House.'

Standing Order No. 99 (Scottish Grand Committee (substantive motions for the adjournment))

Line 34, leave out ‘at or after half-past three o'clock' and insert ‘five hours or more after the commencement of the sitting'

Standing Order No. 100 (Scottish Grand Committee (sittings))

Leave out line 9 and insert ‘such hours as may be specified'

Line 45, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and at twenty-five minutes past eleven o'clock on Thursdays'

Standing Order No. 108 (Welsh Grand Committee (sittings))

Leave out lines 9 and 10 and insert ‘such hours as may be specified'

Line 45, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and at twenty-five minutes past eleven o'clock on Thursdays'

Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings))

Line 57, after ‘o'clock' insert ‘on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and at twenty-five minutes past eleven o'clock on Thursdays'

Standing Order No. 117 (Standing Committee on Regional Affairs)

Line 37, leave out ‘at ten o'clock'

Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee)

Line 10, leave out ‘Wednesdays' and insert ‘days'

Line 11, leave out ‘(4) of Standing Order No. 10 (Wednesday sittings)' and insert ‘(13) of Standing Order (Sittings in Westminster Hall)'

Standing Order No. 154 (Time and manner of presenting petitions)

Line 22, leave out ‘ten o'clock or at half-past two o'clock respectively' and insert ‘the moment of interruption'

Standing Order No. 155 (Petition as to present personal grievance)

Line 7, leave out ‘shall not be interrupted at ten o'clock and'—(Mr Phil Woolas):—It was agreed to.

16Deferred Divisions,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [this day],That the Order relating to Deferred Divisions, made by the House on 28th June 2001, shall continue to have effect in the next Session of Parliament—(Mr Phil Woolas);

The House proceeded to a Division.

Wednesday 30th October 2002

Tellers for the Ayes, Dan Norris, Derek Twigg: 313.

Tellers for the Noes, Charlotte Atkins, Mr John Heppell: 153.

So the Question was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Order relating to Deferred Divisions, made by the House on 28th June 2001, shall continue to have effect in the next Session of Parliament.

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17Programming,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [yesterday], That Orders A to I relating to the Programming of Bills, made by the House on 28th June 2001, shall continue to have effect in the next Session of Parliament—(Mr Phil Woolas);

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Ivor Caplin, Mr Jim Murphy: 309.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Nick Ainger, Jim Fitzpatrick: 153.

So the Question was agreed to.

Ordered, That Orders A to I relating to the Programming of Bills, made by the House on 28th June 2001, shall continue to have effect in the next Session of Parliament.

18Leave of Absence for the Speaker,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [yesterday],That Standing Order No. 3 (Deputy Speaker) be amended as follows—

Line 7, after ‘Speaker' insert ‘or where paragraph (2A) of this order applies'

Line 19, at end add

‘(2A) For the purpose of paragraph (2) of this order, the Speaker shall have leave of absence, if he thinks fit, on any Friday on which the House sits.'—(Mr Phil Woolas):—It was agreed to.

19Short Speeches,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [yesterday], That, with effect from the beginning of the next Session of Parliament, Standing Order No. 47 (Short speeches) be amended as follows:

Line 8, leave out ‘may' and insert ‘shall, subject to paragraph (2)'.

Leave out lines 14 and 15 and insert—

‘(2) In relation to any speech, the Speaker shall add to any period specified in paragraph (1) of this order—

(a) one minute if one intervention is accepted, plus the time taken by that intervention;

(b) two minutes if two or more interventions are accepted, plus the time taken by the first two such interventions.'—(Mr Phil Woolas):—It was agreed to.

20Sittings of the House,—Ordered, That—

(i) at the sittings on Wednesday 30th October, Thursday 31st October, Monday 4th November, Tuesday 5th November, Wednesday 6th November and Thursday 7th November, the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until any Messages from the Lords shall have been received;

(ii) at the sittings on Monday 4th November, Tuesday 5th November, Wednesday 6th November and Thursday 7th November, the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until any Committee to draw up Reasons which has been appointed at that sitting has reported; and

(iii) at the sitting on Thursday 7th November, the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until a Message is received from the Lords Commissioners.—(Mr Phil Woolas.)

21Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Phil Woolas.)

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till thirteen minutes to One o'clock on Wednesday morning, adjourned till this day.

[Adjourned at 12.47 a.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1Customs and Excise,—Excise Duties (Personal Reliefs) (Revocation) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2691), dated 28th October 2002 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ruth Kelly].

2Prisons,—Draft Release of Short-Term Prisoners on Licence (Amendment of Requisite Period) Order 2002 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

3Channel Tunnel,—Channel Tunnel (Alcoholic Liquor and Tobacco Products) (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2693), dated 28th October 2002 [by Act] [Ruth Kelly].

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4Customs and Excise,—Excise Goods, Beer and Tobacco Products (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2692), dated 28th October 2002 [by Act] [Ruth Kelly].

5Financial Services and Markets,—(1) Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Fourth Motor Insurance Directive) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2706), and

(2) Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Variation of Threshold Conditions) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2707),

dated 28th October 2002 [by Act] [Ruth Kelly].

6Insolvency,—(1) Insolvency (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2712),

(2) Insolvency Practitioners (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2710),

(3) Insolvency (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2709), and

(4) Insolvent Partnerships (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2708),

dated 29th October 2002 [by Act] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

7Race Relations,—Draft Code of Practice on the duty to promote race equality in Scotland [by Act] [Mr Secretary Blunkett].

Other Papers:

8Communications,—Government Response to the Report from the Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Bill [by Command] [Cm. 5646] [Secretary Tessa Jowell].

9European Communities,—Report by the Department of Trade and Industry on the exercise of powers conferred by certain sections of the European Communities Act 1972 and of the Customs and Excise Duties (General Reliefs) Act 1979, for 2001–02 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1183] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

Draft Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected Representatives) Order 2002,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr William Cash from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Nick Hawkins.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy Sub-Committee of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee [Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy]; to be printed [No. 1252-ii] [Mr Colin Breed]; and

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Mid-term Review of the CAP Sub-Committee of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee [Mid-term Review of the CAP]; to be printed [No. 1282-i] [Mr David Curry].

2Home Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Home Affairs Committee [Draft Extradition Bill]; to be printed [No. 1268-i] [Mr Chris Mullin].

3International Development,—(1) Third Special Report from the International Development Committee [Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Committee, on Financing for Development: Finding the Money to Eliminate World Poverty]; to be printed [No. 1269];

(2) Fourth Special Report from the Committee [Government Response to the Third Report from the Committee, on Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development]; to be printed [No. 1270]; and

(3) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [The Humanitarian Crisis in Southern Africa]; to be printed [No. 1271-i]

[Tony Baldry].

4Northern Ireland Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee [Control of Firearms in Northern Ireland and the Draft Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2002]; to be printed [No. 1119-ii] [Mr Michael Mates].

5Regulatory Reform,—Third Special Report from the Regulatory Reform Committee [Handling of Regulatory Reform Orders (III)]; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 1272] [Mr Peter Pike].

6Statutory Instruments,—Thirty-ninth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, together with Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 135-xxxix] [Mr David Tredinnick].

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7Trade and Industry,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Trade and Industry Committee [The Company Law White Paper; Manufacturing Strategy]; to be printed [Nos. 1283-i and ii and 1284-i] [Mr Martin O'Neill].

8Treasury,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee [Split Capital Investment Trusts]; to be printed [No. 1089-iii] [Mr John McFall].


[No. 195; WH, No. 115.]

Tuesday 29th October 2002.

The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 20th November 2000].

The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.

Adjournment,—Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Derek Twigg.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 1.59 p.m.


[No. 196.]

Wednesday 30th October 2002.

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

PRAYERS.

1Selection,—The Order of the day being read, for resuming the adjourned Debate on the Question proposed [16th October], That Mr John Hayes be discharged from the Committee of Selection and Mr Peter Luff be added to the Committee;

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed to-morrow.

2Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Mrs Marion Roe reported from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected Representatives) Order 2002.

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

3Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation,—Miss Anne Begg reported from the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation the draft Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2002.

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

4Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords have agreed to the Adoption and Children Bill, with Amendments; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

5Adoption and Children Bill,—Lords Amendments to the Adoption and Children Bill to be considered to-morrow and to be printed [Bill 201].

6Borough Freedom (Family Succession) Bill [Lords],—The Borough Freedom (Family Succession) Bill [Lords] was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday 7th November and to be printed [Bill 200].

7Patient Choice,—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to reinstate a patient's right to choose the hospital in which to receive treatment within the National Health Service: And that Mr Peter Lilley, Sir Patrick Cormack, Mr Frank Field, Alistair Burt, Mr Christopher Chope, Mr Michael Portillo, Mr Andrew Tyrie, Gregory Barker, Mr David Cameron, Mr George Osborne, Mr Mark Prisk and Mr Andrew Turner do prepare and bring it in.

8Patient Choice Bill,—Mr Peter Lilley accordingly presented a Bill to reinstate a patient's right to choose the hospital in which to receive treatment within the National Health Service: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday 7th November and to be printed [Bill 199].

9Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism,—Resolved, That the draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2002, which was laid before this House on 28th October, be approved.—(Mr Secretary Blunkett.)

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10Income Tax,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (The United States of America) Order 2002 be made in the form of the draft laid before this House on 22nd July—(Joan Ryan):—It was agreed to.

Address to be presented to Her Majesty by such Members of the House as are of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council or of Her Majesty's Household.

11Income Tax,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Lithuania) Order 2002 be made in the form of the draft laid before this House on 23rd July—(Joan Ryan):—It was agreed to.

Address to be presented to Her Majesty by such Members of the House as are of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council or of Her Majesty's Household.

12Enterprise Bill (Programme) (No. 4),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Order [28th June 2001], That the following provisions shall apply to the Enterprise Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 10th April—

Consideration of Lords Amendments

1. Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Bill shall be completed at this day's sitting and shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion—

(a) four hours after their commencement, or

(b) at Ten o'clock,

whichever is later.

Subsequent stages

2. The proceedings on any further message from the Lords on the Bill shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement—(Joan Ryan):—It was agreed to.

13Enterprise Bill,—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Amendments to the Enterprise Bill.

Lords Amendment No. 1.

A Motion was made, and the Question being put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Charlotte Atkins, Jim Fitzpatrick: 325.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Mark Hoban, Mr Mark Francois: 181.

So the Question was agreed to.

The Lords Amendment was accordingly disagreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 2.

An Amendment ((a)) was made to the Lords Amendment.

The Lords Amendment, as amended, was agreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 3 to 6 were agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 7 was disagreed to.

An Amendment ((a)) was made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendment No. 7 disagreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 8 to 19 were agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 20.

An Amendment was made to the Lords Amendment, in line 1, by leaving out the words ‘,100 million' and inserting the words ‘,70 million', instead thereof.

The Lords Amendment, as amended, was agreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 21 to 52 were agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 53.

An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 23, after the word ‘consideration', to insert the words ‘, or a matter relating to the legitimate interests of the balanced distribution of industry and employment,'.—(Mr Harry Barnes.)

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And the Question being put, That the Amendment be made to the Lords Amendment;

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Tom Brake, Mr Kelvin Hopkins: 48.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Fraser Kemp, Mr John Heppell: 283.

So the Question was negatived.

The Lords Amendment was agreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 54 to 175 were agreed to, the Commons being willing to waive their privileges in respect of Lords Amendments Nos. 54 and 77.

Lords Amendment Nos. 176 to 186 were disagreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 187 to 208 were agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 209 was disagreed to.

An Amendment ((a)) was made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendment No. 209 disagreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 210 to 326 were agreed to, the Commons being willing to waive their privileges in respect of Lords Amendments Nos. 279, 281, 282, 286, 294, 296, 297, 299 to 301, 305, 306 and 308.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments Nos. 1 and 176 to 186.

That Mrs Anne Campbell, Mr Mark Hoban, Miss Melanie Johnson, Mr Jim Murphy and Mr Andrew Robathan be members of the Committee.

That Miss Melanie Johnson be the Chairman of the Committee.

That three be the Quorum of the Committee.

That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Mr Phil Woolas.)

14Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2574), dated 14th October 2002, a copy of which was laid before this House on 15th October, be approved—(Mr Phil Woolas):—It was agreed to.

15Northern Ireland,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation), That the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2587), dated 14th October 2002, a copy of which was laid before this House on 15th October, be approved—(Mr Phil Woolas):—It was agreed to.

16Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) ‘Consumers for Health Choice' and others against restrictions on the availability of natural health products; and

(2) residents of Tewkesbury and others for doorstep recycling schemes in all local authority areas

were presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

17Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from ‘Consumers for Health Choice' and others against restrictions on the availability of natural health products was presented; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

18Enterprise Bill,—Miss Melanie Johnson reported from the Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to certain of their Amendments to the Enterprise Bill, That it had drawn up the following Reason, which it had directed her to report to the House:

The Commons disagree to Amendments Nos. 1 and 176 to 186 made by the Lords, for the following Reason:

Because it is inappropriate to make express provision about the chief executive of the Office of Fair Trading.

The Reason was agreed to.

Message to the Lords to communicate the said Reason, with the Bill and Amendments.

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19Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Jim Fitzpatrick);

And the Motion having been made after Ten o'clock, and the Debate having continued for half an hour, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order, it being then twenty-five minutes to Eleven o'clock, till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 10.35 p.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1Income Tax,—(1) Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (South Africa) Order 2002, and

(2) draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Taiwan) Order 2002,

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Dawn Primarolo].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2Road Traffic,—Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Dorset) (Borough of Weymouth and Portland) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2705), dated 28th October 2002 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Darling].

Other Papers:

3Defence Executive Agencies,—Report and Accounts of the Defence Transport and Movements Agency for 2001–02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1214] [Mr Secretary Hoon].

4Judicial Appointments,—Report by the Lord Chancellor on Judicial Appointments for 2001–02 [by Command] [Cm. 5606] [Ms Rosie Winterton].

5National Lottery,—(1) Review of the Arts Council of England for 2002, incorporating Reports and Accounts of the Grant in Aid and of the Lottery Distribution for 2001–02, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon, and

(2) Report of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts for 2002

[by Act] [Secretary Tessa Jowell].

6Public Accounts,—(1) Response of the House of Commons Commission to the Sixty-third Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2001–02 (House of Commons Paper No. 861) and to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (House of Commons Paper No. 750), on the Construction of Portcullis House: The New Parliamentary Building; to be printed [No. 1261] [The Speaker]; and

(2) Treasury Minutes on the Fiftieth to the Fifty-second, the Fifty-fourth, the Fifty-sixth to the Fifty-seventh and the Fifty-ninth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2001–02 [by Command] [Cm. 5636] [Ruth Kelly].

7Resource Accounts, 2001–02,—Resource Accounts of—

(1) the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, and

(2) the Crown Prosecution Service

for 2001–02, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 1198 and 1239] [Ruth Kelly].

8Transport, Local Government and Regional Affairs,—Government Response to the Eleventh Report from the Transport, Local Government and Regional Affairs Committee, Session 2001–02, on Air Transport Industry [by Command] [Cm. 5623] [Mr Secretary Darling].

9Treaty Series (No. 44, 2002),—Agreement, done at Luxembourg on 21st June 1999, between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the Free Movement of Persons [by Command] [Cm. 5639] [Mr Secretary Straw].

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APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

1Local Access Forums (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 1836):

(1) The Speaker has allocated the Regulations to the First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mrs Irene Adams Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Nick Ainger, Mr David Borrow, Peter Bradley, Jeremy Corbyn, Valerie Davey, Angela Eagle, Paul Farrelly, Mr Mark Field, Andrew George, Mr James Gray, Chris Grayling, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Alun Michael, James Purnell, Mr Paul Stinchcombe and Mr Roger Williams.

2Draft Maternity and Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2002, the draft Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 and the draft Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Weekly Rates) Regulations 2002:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Joe Benton Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Ms Candy Atherton, Mr Henry Bellingham, Mr Russell Brown, Dr Vincent Cable, Mr Colin Challen, Brian Cotter, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Mark Hoban, Kate Hoey, Alan Johnson, Mr Bob Laxton, Siobhain McDonagh, Mr Jim Murphy, Diana Organ, Dr Nick Palmer and Mr Mark Simmonds.

3Draft Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected Representatives) Order 2002,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Ross Cranston from the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Tom Watson.

4Trunk Road Charging Scheme (Bridges and Tunnels) (England) Procedure Regulations 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 2303),—The Speaker has appointed Mr George Stevenson Chairman of the Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the Regulations.

5Road User Charging (Enforcement and Adjudication) (London) Regulations 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 2313) and Road User Charging (Charges and Penalty Charges) (London) Regulations 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 2285),—The Speaker has appointed Mr Mike Hancock Chairman of the Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in respect of the Regulations.

6Draft Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr Peter Atkinson Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Tony Banks, Mrs Patsy Calton, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Paul Flynn, Patrick Hall, Jane Kennedy, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Shona McIsaac, Alice Mahon, Gillian Merron, Dr Doug Naysmith, Mr John Smith, Mr Hugo Swire, Mr John Taylor, Mr Andrew Turner and Mr David Wilshire.

7Draft Social and Environmental Guidance to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Guidance to the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, and has appointed Mr David Amess Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-one Members to serve on the Committee: Gregory Barker, Mr Henry Bellingham, Dr Vincent Cable, Jeff Ennis, Mr Mark Fisher, Mr Roger Godsiff, Mr Mark Hoban, Mr John Horam, Mr Kevin Hughes, Mr Michael Jack, Mr David Kidney, Chris Mole, Mr Jim Murphy, Albert Owen, Syd Rapson, Mr Marsha Singh, Ian Stewart, Dr Gavin Strang, Mr Andrew Stunell, Mr Simon Thomas and Mr Brian Wilson.

8Draft Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2002,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Ernie Ross and Mr Mohammad Sarwar from the Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Mr Tom Harris and Mr Mark Lazarowicz.

European Standing Committees

9European Union document No. 12839/02 and Addenda 1–13, relating to European Commission strategy paper on enlargement and reports on progress by applicant countries, has been referred to European Standing Committee B.

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APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Education and Skills,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Skills Committee [Work of OFSTED]; to be printed [No. 1286-i] [Mr Barry Sheerman].

2Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee [The Water Framework Directive]; to be printed [No. 1237-ii] [Mr David Curry].

3European Scrutiny,—Fortieth Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 152-xl] [Mr Michael Connarty].

4Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee [Affordable Housing]; to be printed [No. 1206-iii] [Andrew Bennett].

5Science and Technology,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee [Towards a Non-Carbon Fuel Economy: Research, Development and Demonstration]; to be printed [No. 1240-ii] [Dr Ian Gibson].

6Scottish Affairs,—(1) Second Special Report from the Scottish Affairs Committee [Government Response to the Fourth Report from the Committee, on Customs Services in Scotland]; to be printed [No. 1287]; and

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [The Work of the Scottish Consumer Council]; to be printed [No. 1199-i]

[Mrs Irene Adams].

7Transport,—(1) Second Special Report from the Transport Committee [Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Committee, on The European Transport White Paper]; to be printed [No. 1285]; and

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Urban Charging Schemes]; to be printed [No. 1258-ii]

[Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody].

8Treasury,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-Committee of the Treasury Committee [Office for National Statistics Annual Report and Accounts, 2001–02, and Related Matters]; to be printed [No. 1289-i] [Mr John McFall].

9Work and Pensions,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Work and Pensions Committee [Departmental Report]; to be printed [No. 1254-i] [Mr Archy Kirkwood].


[No. 196; WH, No. 116.]

Wednesday 30th October 2002.

The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 20th November 2000].

The sitting commenced at half-past Nine o'clock.

Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned—(Mr John Heppell);

And it being Two o'clock, the sitting was adjourned without Question put, till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 2 p.m.


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[No. 197.]

Thursday 31st October 2002.

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

PRAYERS.

1London Development Agency Bill,—Ordered, That so much of the Lords Message [29th October] as relates to the London Development Agency Bill be now considered.

That the promoters of the London Development Agency Bill shall have leave to suspend proceedings thereon in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that notice of their intention to do so is lodged in the Private Bill Office not later than the day before the close of the present Session and that all fees due up to that date have been paid;

That on the fifth sitting day in the next Session the bill shall be presented to the House by deposit in the Private Bill Office;

That a declaration signed by the agent shall be annexed to the bill, stating that it is the same in every respect as the bill at the last stage of its proceedings in this House in the present Session;

That on the next sitting day following presentation, the Clerk in the Private Bill Office shall lay the bill on the Table of the House and, when so laid, the bill shall be read the first, second and third time and shall be recorded in the Journal of the House as having been so read;

That no further fees shall be charged to such stages.—(The First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means.)

Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.

2Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords communicate that they have come to the following Resolutions in respect of the London Local Authorities Bill [Lords], to which they desire the concurrence of this House:

That the promoters of the bill have leave to suspend any further proceedings thereon in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that notice of their intention to do so is lodged in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments not later than 12 noon on Wednesday 6th November and that all fees due on or before that day have been paid;

That the bill be deposited in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments not later than noon on the second sitting day in the next Session with a declaration annexed, signed by the agent, stating that the bill is the same in every respect as the bill at the last stage of the proceedings thereon in this House in the present Session;

That the proceedings on the bill in the next Session of Parliament be pro forma in regard to every stage through which the bill has passed in the present Session, and that no new fees be charged to such stages;

That the Private Business Standing Orders apply to such bill in the next Session only in regard to any stage through which the bill has not passed during the present Session.

The Lords communicate that they have come to the following Resolutions in respect of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Bill [Lords], to which they desire the concurrence of this House:

That the promoters of the bill have leave to suspend any further proceedings thereon in order to proceed with it, if they think fit, in the next Session of Parliament, provided that notice of their intention to do so is lodged in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments not later than 12 noon on Wednesday 6th November and that all fees due on or before that day have been paid;

That the bill be deposited in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments not later than noon on the second sitting day in the next Session with a declaration annexed, signed by the agent, stating that the bill is the same in every respect as the bill at the last stage of the proceedings thereon in this House in the present Session;

That the proceedings on the bill in the next Session of Parliament be pro forma in regard to every stage through which the bill has passed in the present Session, and that no new fees be charged to such stages;

That the Private Business Standing Orders apply to such bill in the next Session only in regard to any stage through which the bill has not passed during the present Session.

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3Adjournment (Defence in the UK),—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Mr Fraser Kemp);

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

4Public 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.

5Public Petitions,—A Public Petition from ‘Consumers for Health Choice' and others against restrictions on the availability of natural health products was presented; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

6Adjournment,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House do now adjourn—(Jim Fitzpatrick);

The Deputy Speaker suspended the sitting until a Message was received from the Lords, pursuant to Order [29th October].

Friday 1st November 2002

7Message from the Lords,—A Message was received from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords have agreed to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, with Amendments; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House.

8Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill,—Lords Amendments to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill to be considered on Monday 4th November; and to be printed [Bill 202].

9Adjournment,—The Question being again proposed, That this House do now adjourn;

And the Question being put;

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.

And accordingly the House, having continued to sit till thirteen minutes past Twelve o'clock on Friday morning, adjourned till Monday 4th November.

[Adjourned at 12.13 a.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1Education,—Education (Funding for Teacher Training) Designation (No. 2) Order 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2713), dated 30th October 2002 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Clarke].

2Health and Safety,—(1) Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2675),

(2) Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2676), and

(3) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (S.I., 2002, No. 2677),

dated 24th October 2002 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Smith].

Other Papers:

3Education and Skills,—Department for Education and Skills Minute, dated 31st October 2002, concerning a contingent liability in respect of a contract with the Centre for British Teaching (CfBT) for the provision of services relating to the Government's drive to raise standards through the primary and Key Stage 3 strategies [by Command] [Mr Secretary Clarke].

4Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Executive Agencies,—Report and Resource Accounts of the Rural Payments Agency for 2001–02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1197] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].

5Foreign Affairs,—Government Response to the Ninth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2001–02, on Private Military Companies [by Command] [Cm. 5642] [Mr Secretary Straw].

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6Health and Safety,—Report and Accounts of the Health and Safety Commission, and Accounts of the Health and Safety Executive, for 2001–02, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1202] [Clerk of the House].

7National Lottery,—Report and Financial Statements of the sportscotland Lottery Fund for 2001–02 [by Act] [Mrs Secretary Liddell].

8Northern Ireland,—Report of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for 2001–02 [by Act] [Mr Secretary Murphy].

9Regulation of Investigatory Powers,—Reports of—

(1) the Intelligence Services Commissioner, and

(2) the Interception of Communications Commissioner

for 2001 [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 1244 and 1243] [The Prime Minister].

10Resource Accounts, 2001–02,—Resource Accounts of the Office of the Rail Regulator for 2001–02, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 1201] [Ruth Kelly].

APPENDIX II

Standing Committees

Draft Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Gillian Merron from the Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation (nominated in respect of the draft Order); and nominated in substitution Jim Fitzpatrick.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy Sub-Committee of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee [Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy]; to be printed [No. 1252-iii] [Mr Colin Breed].

2European Scrutiny,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the European Scrutiny Committee [Commission's Annual Work Programme]; to be printed [No. 1290] [Mr Michael Connarty].

3Public Administration,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration [Public Service Targets]; to be printed [No. 1259-i]; and

(2) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee [Public Appointments and Patronage]; to be printed [No. 686-x]

[Tony Wright].

4Trade and Industry,—Minutes of Evidence taken before the Trade and Industry Committee [The Company Law White Paper]; to be printed [Nos. 1283-iii and -iv] [Mr Martin O'Neill].


[No. 197; WH, No. 117.]

Thursday 31st October 2002.

The House sitting in Westminster Hall [pursuant to Order of 20th November 2000].

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

Adjournment (Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism—Seventh Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2001–02, and the Government's response thereto),—Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Phil Woolas.)

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

[Adjourned at 5.30 p.m.



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