| Session 2006-2007 |
| Commons Journal 263
Chronological Index
Page 333 2006-2007 Volume 263 [No. 86.] Tuesday 8th May 2007. The House met at half-past Two o’clock. PRAYERS.
London Local Authorities Bill [Lords]. Bill to be read a second time.
Memoranda to lie upon the Table and to be published.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 7124/07 and Addendum 1, Commission Communication, EU Code of Conduct on Division of Labour in Development Policy; and welcomes proposals to lower the transaction costs for developing countries and increase the effectiveness of providing aid. Resolution to lie upon the Table. Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
The Lords communicate that they have appointed a Committee of nine Lords to join with the Committee appointed by this House to consider and report on any draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill presented to both Houses by a Minister of the Crown, and to report on the draft Bill by 25th July 2007; They have ordered that the Committee have power to agree with the Committee appointed by this House in the appointment of a Chairman; That the Committee have leave to report from time to time notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; That the Committee have power to appoint specialist advisers; That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place; That the quorum of the Committee be two; and That the reports of the Committee from time to time shall be printed, notwithstanding any adjournment of the House.
Action on Climate Change,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House calls on the Government to set targets for carbon emissions informed by science and not political convenience which will help to hold global warming to within two degrees of pre-industrial levels; recognises that the best current estimate is that this requires stabilisation at between 400 and 450 parts per million of carbon dioxide equivalent in the atmosphere; and urges Ministers to inject a new sense of urgency into efforts at home by setting out an annual action plan to curb the UK’s own carbon emissions, establishing a climate change committee of the Cabinet to ensure joined up government, tackling quickly the most rapidly growing emissions in the transport sector by a more steeply graduated vehicle excise duty and a rebasing of air passenger duty onto the emissions of each flight, offset by other tax cuts, speeding up the effort to curb the waste of energy and the high emissions from buildings not just by raising thermal efficiency requirements in new homes but also by renovating existing homes, changing Page 334 Tuesday 8th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top the incentives on energy companies so that they make more money by saving and not selling more energy, providing comprehensive insulation packages funded mainly by energy mortgages repayable through utility bills and setting an example by ensuring that all future buildings on the Government’s own estate are built to the highest energy efficiency standards—(Chris Huhne); 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 ‘welcomes publication of the draft Climate Change Bill, which will make the UK the first country in the world to establish a long term legal framework for managing the transition to a low carbon economy, setting ambitious binding targets to cut carbon emissions by 26 to 32 per cent. from the 1990 level by 2020 and at least 60 per cent. by 2050, which can be revised in light of significant developments in international policy and climate science, and establishing an independent Committee on Climate Change to advise on setting statutory five year carbon budgets and to report to Parliament annually on progress; further welcomes the Government’s comprehensive approach to reducing emissions from all sectors of the economy and the proposals in the energy review to cut carbon emissions by up to a further 25 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020; recognises that home energy use for heating, lighting and appliances accounts for more than a quarter of domestic UK carbon emissions; applauds the Government’s proposals to improve building standards so that from 2016 all new housing developments must be zero carbon; recognises the Government’s commitment to improving the energy efficiency of existing homes and tackling fuel poverty through Warm Front and the Energy Efficiency Commitment; welcomes the Budget 2007 report statement that by the end of the next decade all householders will have been offered help to introduce energy efficiency measures; and looks forward to further development of policies in this area’, instead thereof.—(Ian Pearson.) And the Question being put, That the original words stand part of the Question; The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Jeremy Browne, Mr Roger Williams: 59. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Ian Cawsey, Mr Dave Watts: 298. 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 welcomes publication of the draft Climate Change Bill, which will make the UK the first country in the world to establish a long term legal framework for managing the transition to a low carbon economy, setting ambitious binding targets to cut carbon emissions by 26 to 32 per cent. from the 1990 level by 2020 and at least 60 per cent. by 2050, which can be revised in light of significant developments in international policy and climate science, and establishing an independent Committee on Climate Change to advise on setting statutory five year carbon budgets and to report to Parliament annually on progress; further welcomes the Government’s comprehensive approach to reducing emissions from all sectors of the economy and the proposals in the energy review to cut carbon emissions by up to a further 25 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020; recognises that home energy use for heating, lighting and appliances accounts for more than a quarter of domestic UK carbon emissions; applauds the Government’s proposals to improve building standards so that from 2016 all new housing developments must be zero carbon; recognises the Government’s commitment to improving the energy efficiency of existing homes and tackling fuel poverty through Warm Front and the Energy Efficiency Commitment; welcomes the Budget 2007 report statement that by the end of the next decade all householders will have been offered help to introduce energy efficiency measures; and looks forward to further development of policies in this area. Mental Health Services,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House is concerned that despite mental illness affecting one in six adults in the UK the proportion of NHS spending allocated to mental health has decreased in the last 10 years, despite the growing burden on the disability benefit system and criminal justice system of dealing with mental illness; recognises that historic under-funding of mental health services has been exacerbated by the Government’s top-slicing of budgets in order to bring the NHS out of deficit; notes the damaging impact that this has had on providing access to mental health services, with particular regard to the unacceptably poor state of many acute mental health wards in providing appropriate settings for the treatment of children and young people, addressing the race inequalities in the mental health system and improving patient safety through, for example, the eradication of mixed sex wards; further notes the warning in last year’s Health Select Committee Report on NHS deficits that cuts in mental health services are simply unacceptable; calls on the Government to Page 335 Tuesday 8th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top deliver on its promise to ensure that trusts whose budgets were top-sliced in the last financial year will get their money back this year and to take active steps to ensure that within each health economy mental health trusts receive their fair allocation of funding; and further urges the Government to accelerate its implementation of Lord Layard’s report, which says that expanding therapy services could be paid for by the savings this would create for expenditure on benefits—(Norman Lamb); 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 ‘welcomes the extra £1.65 billion spent on mental health services since 2001; supports the record number of staff working in mental health since 1997 including almost 9,400 more psychiatric nurses and over 1,300 more consultant psychiatrists; further welcomes the lowest suicide rates since records began; recognises the work of the 700 new mental health teams in the community; notes the national patient survey, which shows that 77 per cent. of community patients rate their care as good, very good or excellent; recognises that between 2001 and 2005 £1.6 billion capital was spent by mental health trusts on improvements to mental health wards; further welcomes the Government’s commitment to expanding access to psychological therapies; and further welcomes the Government’s Mental Health Bill, which will update the legislation to reflect advances in knowledge and new ways of treating people, particularly in the community’, instead thereof.—(Ms Rosie Winterton.) And the Question being proposed, That the original words stand part of the Question; Mr Jeremy Browne 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, Mr Jeremy Browne, Mr Dan Rogerson: 86. Tellers for the Noes, Steve McCabe, Huw Irranca-Davies: 290. 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 welcomes the extra £1.65 billion spent on mental health services since 2001; supports the record number of staff working in mental health since 1997 including almost 9,400 more psychiatric nurses and over 1,300 more consultant psychiatrists; further welcomes the lowest suicide rates since records began; recognises the work of the 700 new mental health teams in the community; notes the national patient survey, which shows that 77 per cent. of community patients rate their care as good, very good or excellent; recognises that between 2001 and 2005 £1.6 billion capital was spent by mental health trusts on improvements to mental health wards; further welcomes the Government’s commitment to expanding access to psychological therapies; and further welcomes the Government’s Mental Health Bill, which will update the legislation to reflect advances in knowledge and new ways of treating people, particularly in the community.
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till seventeen minutes to Eleven o’clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 10.43 p.m. Page 336 Tuesday 8th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers presented by Her Majesty’s Command and delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned date during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 158 (Presentation of command papers): Friday 4th May 2007
Papers delivered to the Votes and Proceedings Office on the undermentioned date during the adjournment pursuant to Standing Order No. 159 (Presentation of statutory instruments): Papers subject to Negative Resolution: Friday 4th May 2007
(2) School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1289); and (3) School Organisation (Transitional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1355), dated 26th April 2007, with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [Secretary Alan Johnson]. Papers presented or laid upon the Table on Tuesday 8th May 2007: Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Paper subject to Negative Resolution:
Other Papers:
APPENDIX II General Committees
European Standing Committees
Page 337 Tuesday 8th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(2) Record of the Committee’s discussions at its meeting on 8th May; to be published [Mr Frank Doran].
(2) Main Estimates 2007–08: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Dr Phyllis Starkey].
(2) The work of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the funding of defence research: Government Response to the Eighth Report from the Committee, Session 2006–07: Tenth Special Report from the Committee; to be printed [No. 512]; and (3) UK operations in Afghanistan: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 408-iv] [Mr James Arbuthnot].
(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee; to be printed [No. 460-iv]; and (2) Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be printed [No. 460] [Mr Tim Yeo].
[No. 86; WH, No. 50] Tuesday 8th May 2007. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting began at half-past Nine o’clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 1.57 p.m. Page 338 Tuesday 8th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top [No. 87.] Wednesday 9th May 2007. The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock. PRAYERS.
Bill, as amended in the Committee, to lie upon the Table.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
A Clause (NC9) (Search for evidence of nationality: other premises)—(Joan Ryan)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Another Clause (NC10) (Police civilians)—(Joan Ryan)—brought up, read the first and second time, and added to the Bill. Another Clause (NC1) (Deportation orders: provision of information)—(Mr David Kidney)—brought up, and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time:—Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Another Clause (NC2) (Immigration service: welfare of children)—(Damian Green)—brought up and read the first time. Question put, That the Clause be read a second time. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Andrew Rosindell, Mr Crispin Blunt: 226. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Frank Roy, Tony Cunningham: 294. Another Clause (NC5) (Verification of identity)—(Philip Davies)—brought up and read the first time. Question proposed, That the Clause be read a second time. And it being Six o’clock, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Order [5th February]:—It was negatived. The Deputy Speaker then put forthwith the Question on an Amendment moved by a Minister of the Crown. Amendment (No. 16) made to the Bill. The Deputy Speaker then put forthwith the Question on an Amendment selected for separate decision. Another Amendment (No. 34) proposed to the Bill, in page 16, line 6, to leave out from the word ‘whom’ to the end of the line and insert the words ‘the condition under subsection (2) applies.’, instead thereof.—(Paul Rowen.) Page 339 Wednesday 9th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top Question put, That the Amendment be made. The House divided. Tellers for the Ayes, Jenny Willott, Mr Dan Rogerson: 59. Tellers for the Noes, Mr Frank Roy, Tony Cunningham: 466. The Deputy Speaker then put forthwith the Question on the remaining Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown. Other Amendments (Nos. 17 to 27) made to the Bill. A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read the third time; And it being Seven o’clock, the Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Order [5th February]:—It was agreed to. The Bill was accordingly read the third time, and passed.
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-nine minutes past Seven o’clock, adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 7.29 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:
Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
(2) School Travel (Piloting of Schemes) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1366); and (3) School Travel (Pupils with Dual Registration) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1367), dated 27th April 2007 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Alan Johnson].
Page 340 Wednesday 9th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top Other Papers:
APPENDIX II General Committees
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Order to the First Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Derek Conway Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Vera Baird, Tony Baldry, Mr Henry Bellingham, Liz Blackman, Mr David Chaytor, Frank Dobson, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Mr Mark Field, Patrick Hall, Mr David Heath, Mr Doug Henderson, Mr Philip Hollobone, Simon Hughes, Helen Jones, Martin Linton, Mr Geoffrey Robinson and Ms Gisela Stuart.
(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Second Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Eric Martlew Chairman; and (2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-one Members to serve on the Committee: Colin Burgon, Rosie Cooper, Mark Durkan, Maria Eagle, Mr Frank Field, Mr Michael Foster (Worcester), Mr Roger Godsiff, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Mr Brian Jenkins, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Mr Mark Lancaster, Mr Gordon Marsden, Robert Neill, Mr Brooks Newmark, Lembit Opik, Mr Laurence Robertson, Martin Salter, Geraldine Smith, Mr Graham Stuart, Mr Charles Walker and Sammy Wilson.
European Standing Committees
APPENDIX III Reports from Select Committees
(2) The Work of Ofsted: (i) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 165-ii]; and (ii) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published [Mr Barry Sheerman].
Page 341 Wednesday 9th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top (2) Climate change: “the citizen’s agenda”: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 88-ix]; and (3) Correspondence with Defra: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Mr Michael Jack].
(2) European Commission Annual Policy Strategy 2008: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 519-i]; and (3) Ministerial Correspondence: Memoranda laid before the Committee: to be published [Michael Connarty].
(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee; to be printed [No. 472-i]; and (2) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published [Mr Phil Willis].
(2) Globalisation and its impact on Wales: (i) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Welsh Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 281-viii]; and (ii) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published [Dr Hywel Francis]. Page 342 Wednesday 9th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top [No. 87; WH, No. 51] Wednesday 9th May 2007. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting began at half-past Nine o’clock.
And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow. [Adjourned at 4.59 p.m. [No. 88.] Thursday 10th May 2007. The House met at half-past Ten o’clock. PRAYERS.
Memoranda to lie upon the Table and to be published.
Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee to lie upon the Table.
Serious Crime Bill [Lords],—The Lords have passed a Bill to make provision about serious crime prevention orders; to create offences in respect of the encouragement or assistance of crime; to enable information to be shared or processed to prevent fraud; to enable data matching to be conducted both in relation to fraud and for other purposes; to transfer functions of the Director of the Assets Recovery Agency to the Serious Organised Crime Agency and other persons and to make further provision in connection with the abolition of the Agency and the office of Director; to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in relation to certain investigations and in relation to accredited financial investigators and search warrants; to make amendments relating to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in connection with the regulation of investigatory powers; and for connected purposes; to which the Lords desire the concurrence of this House. Draft Human Tissues and Embryos Bill,—The Lords communicate that they have come to the following Resolution in respect of the Committee appointed to join with the Committee appointed by this House to consider and report on any draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill: That the evidence taken by the Committee shall, if the Committee thinks fit, be published; and That the Committee do meet with the Committee appointed by the Commons on Tuesday 15th May at Two o’clock.
So much of the Lords Message considered accordingly. Ordered, That the Committee appointed by this House do meet the Lords Committee as proposed by their Lordships. Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Serious Crime Bill [Lords] be printed [Bill 103–EN].
Page 343 Thursday 10th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top Consideration of Lords Amendments 1. Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement at this day’s sitting. Subsequent stages 2. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put. 3. The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement—(Steve McCabe):—It was agreed to.
Lords Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 were agreed to. Lords Amendment No. 3 was disagreed to. Amendment (a) was made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendment No. 3 disagreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 4 to 8 were agreed to.
Ordered, That a Bill be brought in on the foregoing Resolution: And that the Prime Minister, Mr Secretary Prescott, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Secretary Darling, Mr Secretary Hain, Secretary Ruth Kelly, Mr Stephen Timms, John Healey, Mr Phil Woolas, Ed Balls and Angela E. Smith do prepare and bring it in.
Ordered, That the Explanatory Notes relating to the Rating (Empty Properties) Bill be printed [Bill 102–EN].
And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-one minutes to Five o’clock, adjourned till Monday 14th May. [Adjourned at 4.39 p.m. APPENDIX I Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:
(2) Value Added Tax (Payments on Account) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1420), dated 10th May 2007 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [John Healey]. Papers subject to Negative Resolution:
Page 344 Thursday 10th May 2007 2006-2007 Volume 263 Back to top
(2) Value Added Tax (Section 55A) (Specified Goods and Excepted Supplies) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1417), dated 10th May 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [John Healey]. Other Papers:
(1) the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland [by Command] [Cm. 7109] [Mr Secretary Alexander]; and (2) the Wales Office [by Command] [Cm. 7110] [Mr Secretary Hain].
APPENDIX II Reports from Select Committees
(2) Public services: putting people first: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 251-vii]; and (3) The Work of the Cabinet Office: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published [Dr Tony Wright]. [No. 88; WH, No. 52] Thursday 10th May 2007. The House sitting in Westminster Hall The sitting began at half-past Two o’clock.
And the sitting having continued for three hours, it was adjourned without Question put, till Tuesday 15th May. [Adjourned at 5.30 p.m.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
