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67. Relief for shipbuilders (abolition)

Resolved,

That provision (including provision having retrospective effect) may be made ending the availability of relief under section 2 of the Finance Act 1966.

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68. Relief from tax (incidental and consequential charges)

Resolved,

That it is expedient to authorise any incidental or consequential charges to any duty or tax (including charges having retrospective effect) that may arise from provisions designed in general to afford relief from taxation.

PROCEDURE (AMOUNTS DEDUCTED FROM PAYMENTS TO SUB-CONTRACTORS)

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the practice of the House relating to the matters that may be included in Finance Bills, any Finance Bill of the present Session may include provision authorising sums—


(a) deducted from payments to or for sub-contractors in the construction industry, and
(b) paid to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue,
to be treated as paid in respect of, or on account of, liabilities of the sub-contractor other than liabilities in respect of income tax or corporation tax.

PROCEDURE (SAVINGS INCOME)

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the practice of the House relating to the matters that may be included in Finance Bills, any Finance Bill of the present Session may contain provision for implementing—


(a) Article 14 of Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3rd June 2003 on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, or
(b) any corresponding provision of arrangements made in relation to a territory other than a member State.

PROCEDURE (MINIMUM CONTRIBUTIONS TO PERSONAL PENSION SCHEMES)

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the practice of the House relating to the matters that may be included in Finance Bills, any Finance Bill of the present Session may make provision for the payment of sums out of the National Insurance Fund or the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund in connection with provisions relating to the payment of minimum contributions under section 43 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 or section 39 of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993.

PROCEDURE (MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTION WITH CUSTOMS UNION WITH ANDORRA)

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the practice of the House relating to the matters that may be included in Finance Bills, any Finance Bill of the present Session may include provision to give effect to arrangements concerning mutual assistance made for the purposes of the Customs Union between the European Community and the Principality of Andorra.

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PROCEDURE (FUTURE TAXATION)

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the practice of the House relating to the matters that may be included in Finance Bills, any Finance Bill of the present Session may contain the following provisions taking effect in a future year—


(a) provision for corporation tax to be charged for the financial year 2005;
(b) provision about childcare or childcare vouchers provided for an employee;
(c) provision amending Parts 3 and 4 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 in relation to vans;
(d) provision about the enjoyment by an individual of property which is or represents property in which he previously owned an interest;
(e) provision about Lloyd's underwriters;
(f) provision in relation to pension schemes and similar schemes under which benefits are provided to or in respect of employees or former employees.

FINANCE (MONEY)

Queen's recommendation having been signified—

Resolved,

That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session relating to finance ("the Act"), it is expedient to authorise—


(a) the deduction of sums from the gross revenues of the department of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the purpose of paying amounts in the implementation of—
(i) Article 14 of Council Directive 2003/48/EC of 3rd June 2003 on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments, or
(ii) any corresponding provision of arrangements made in relation to a territory other than a member State;
(b) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums paid out of the National Insurance Fund and the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund under the Pension Schemes Act 1993 and the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993;
(c) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of sums required by the Treasury and the Director of Savings to meet expenditure incurred with a view to securing—
(i) that the Treasury would be able to exercise their functions under sections 12 to 20A of (and Schedule 5A to) the National Loans Act 1968, and
(ii) that the Director of Savings would be able to exercise his functions,
if the United Kingdom were to adopt the single currency in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Communities.

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Bill ordered to be brought in upon the foregoing resolutions: And that the Chairman of Ways and Means, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Prescott, Mr. Secretary Blunkett, Mr. Secretary Reid, Mr. Secretary Smith, Ms Secretary Hewitt, Mr. Secretary Clarke, Mr. Paul Boateng, Ruth Kelly, John Healey and Dawn Primarolo.

Finance Bill

Dawn Primarolo accordingly presented a Bill to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the National Debt and the Public Revenue, and to make further provision in connection with Finance: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time tomorrow, and to be printed [Bill 79].

DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Madam Deputy Speaker (Sylvia Heal): With the leave of the House I will take the motions on delegated legislation together.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation),

Animals

That the Mink Keeping (Prohibition) (England) Order 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 100), dated 19th January 2004, a copy of which was laid before this House on 20th January, be approved.

Electricity

That the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 24th February, be approved.

Employment

That the draft Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2004, which were laid before this House on 9th February, be approved.

Social Security

That the draft Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Weekly Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, which were laid before this House on 9th February, be approved.


That the draft Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 4th February, be approved.


That the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 23rd February, be approved.

Social Security (Northern Ireland)

That the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 23rd February, be approved.

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Tax Credits

That the draft Tax Credits Up-rating Regulations 2004, which were laid before this House on 23rd February, be approved.

Supreme Court of England and Wales

That the draft Courts Boards Areas Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 26th February, be approved.


That the draft Courts Boards (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations 2004, which were laid before this House on 26th February, be approved.

Constitutional Law

That the draft Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 25th February, be approved.


That the draft Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (Destination of Fixed Penalties in Scotland) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 25th February, be approved.

Government Trading Funds

That the draft Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Trading Fund Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 25th February, be approved.

Northern Ireland

That the draft Agricultural Statistics (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 12th February, be approved.—[Mr. Heppell.]

Question agreed to.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DOCUMENTS

Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 119(9) (European Standing Committees),

Fisheries: Catch Quotas and Effort Limitation

That this House takes note of European Union Document No.15388/03, draft Regulation fixing for 2004 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required; and notes that the Government was successful in negotiating Total Allowance Catches which take full account of scientific advice while securing the best possible fishing opportunities for United Kingdom fishermen.—[Mr. Heppell.]

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