Session 2006-2007

Commons Journal 263

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Alphabetical Index - Part I
Alphabetical Index - Part II


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Page 452            2006-2007      Volume 263      

[No. 116.]

Monday 2nd July 2007.

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

PRAYERS.

1Message from the Lords,—A Message was brought from the Lords, as follows:

The Lords agree to certain of the Amendments made by this House to the Mental Health Bill [Lords], with Amendments, to which they desire the agreement of this House; they have made consequential Amendments to the Bill to which they desire the agreement of this House; they agree to an Amendment made by this House with an Amendment in lieu of the words so left out of the Bill, to which they desire the agreement of this House; and they agree without Amendment to the remaining Amendments made by this House.

2Mental Health Bill [Lords],—Lords Amendments in lieu of, consequential on, or to certain Commons Amendments to be considered to-morrow; and to be printed [Bill 139].

3Statistics and Registration Service Bill (Programme) (No. 3),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), That the following provisions shall apply to the Statistics and Registration Service Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Orders of 8th January and 13th March 2007 (Statistics and Registration Service Bill (Programme)) and Statistics and Registration Service Bill (Programme) (No. 2 )):

Consideration of Lords Amendments

1. Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours 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—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

4Statistics and Registration Service Bill,—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Lords Amendments to the Statistics and Registration Service Bill.

Lords Amendments Nos. 1 to 9 disagreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 10.

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

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Alan Campbell, Alison Seabeck: 297.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Angela Watkinson: 172.

So the Question was agreed to.

The Lords Amendment was accordingly disagreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 11.

An Amendment ((a)) was proposed to the Lords Amendment, in line 1, at the end to insert the words ‘and insert “Official”’.—(Mrs Theresa Villiers.)

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

Lords Amendment agreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 12 to 15 disagreed to.

Amendments ((a) and (b)) made to the words restored to the Bill by disagreement to Lords Amendment No. 15.

Lords Amendments Nos. 16 to 19 agreed to.

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Lords Amendments Nos. 20 to 30 disagreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 31 to 39 agreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 40 to 64 disagreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 65 agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 66 disagreed to.

Amendments ((a) to (qqq)) made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendments Nos. 1 to 9, 21 to 30, 40 to 64 and 66 disagreed to.

Lords Amendments Nos. 67 to 70 disagreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 71 agreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 72 disagreed to.

Lords Amendment No. 73 agreed to.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments Nos. 10, 12 to 15, 20, 67 to 70 and 72.

That Dr Vincent Cable, Angela Eagle, Mr Michael Foster, Siobhain McDonagh and Mrs Theresa Villiers be members of the Committee.

That Angela Eagle be the Chairman of the Committee.

That three be the Quorum of the Committee.

That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Mr Alan Campbell.)

5Statistics and Registration Service Bill,—Angela Eagle reported from the Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to certain of their Amendments to the Statistics and Registration Service Bill, That it had drawn up the following Reasons, which it had directed her to report to the House:

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 10 for the following Reason:

Because the Statistics Board can in any event monitor the arrangements for the release of official statistics and access to official statistics in their final form prior to publication.

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendments Nos. 12, 13, 15, 20, 67 to 70 and 72 for the following Reason:

Because the rules and principles relating to pre-release access are more appropriately provided for by order made by Ministers or the devolved administrations, subject to scrutiny by affirmative resolution procedure, than by the Statistics Board.

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 14 for the following Reason:

Because it is for the Statistics Board to decide whether to include rules and practices relating to the release of official statistics and, if so, what those rules and practices should be.

The Reasons were agreed to.

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

6Police,—Resolved, That the draft Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2007, which was laid before this House on 6th June, be approved.—(Paul Goggins.)

7European Global Navigation Satellite System,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 7828/07 and Addendum 1, Commission Communication, GALILEO at a cross-road—the implementation of the European GNSS programmes; and endorses the Government’s approach to discussions on this document.—(Ms Rosie Winterton);

And it being one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents);

And the Deputy Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question being challenged, the Division was deferred till Wednesday 4th July, pursuant to Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions).

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8Estimates,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 145 (Liaison Committee), That this House agrees with the Report [28th June] of the Liaison Committee—(Mr Frank Roy):—It was agreed to.

9Science and Technology,—Ordered, That Mr Brooks Newmark be discharged from the Science and Technology Committee and Mrs Nadine Dorries be added.—(Rosemary McKenna, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.)

10Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Frank Roy.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twelve minutes past Eleven o’clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 11.12 p.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1Constitutional Law,—Draft Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Amendment) Order 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Des Browne].

2Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism,—Draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

3Agriculture,—Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1871), dated 27th June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

4Seeds,—Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1872), dated 26th June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

Other Papers:

5Government Resources and Accounts,—Resource Accounts of the Department for Transport for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 766] [Jane Kennedy].

6National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Improving services and support for people with dementia [by Act]; to be printed [No. 604] [Clerk of the House].

7National Health Service,—Summarised Accounts of Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts in England, of the National Blood Authority, NHS Logistics and NHS Professionals for 2005–06, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 742] [Clerk of the House].

8Public Petitions,—Observations by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the Petition [23rd May] from residents of Orchard Park Housing Estate, Kingston upon Hull for the redevelopment of the Orchard Park Shopping Centre [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1Serious Crime Bill [Lords],—The Committee of Selection has discharged Nick Herbert, Siobhain McDonagh, Gerry Sutcliffe and Mr Iain Wright from the Serious Crime Bill [Lords] Committee and nominated in substitution James Brokenshire, Maria Eagle, Chris Ruane and Lynda Waltho.

2Draft Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007,—The Speaker has appointed Sir John Butterfill Chairman of the Second Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the draft Regulations in place of Miss Anne Begg.

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APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Education and Skills,—The work of Ofsted:

(1) Sixth Report from the Education and Skills Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 13th December 2006 and 9th May 2007 [No. 165]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Barry Sheerman].

2Science and Technology,—Improving research conduct and preventing scientific fraud:

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Science and Technology Committee; to be printed [No. 747-i]; and

(2) Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Phil Willis].

3Trade and Industry,—Europe moves East: the impact of the ‘new’ EU Member States on UK business: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Trade and Industry Committee; to be printed [No. 592-iv] [Mr Peter Luff].


[No. 117.]

Tuesday 3rd July 2007.

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

PRAYERS.

1Whitehaven Harbour Bill [Lords],—The Whitehaven Harbour Bill [Lords] was read the third time, and passed.

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

The Lords have agreed to the Rating (Empty Properties) Bill, without Amendment.

3Pre-Nuptial Agreements,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the enforceability of pre-nuptial agreements; and for connected purposes—(Mr Quentin Davies);

And the Motion being opposed, after permitting a short explanatory statement from the Member who made the Motion and from a Member who opposed it, the Deputy Speaker put the Question, pursuant to Standing Order No. 23 (Motions for leave to bring in bills and nomination of select committees at commencement of public business):—It was agreed to.

Ordered, That Mr Quentin Davies, John Bercow, Chris Bryant, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Paul Farrelly, Mr Edward Garnier, Dr Julian Lewis, Ian Lucas, Rob Marris, Mr Michael Moore, Mr Robert Syms and Keith Vaz do prepare and bring in the Bill.

4Pre-Nuptial Agreements Bill,—Mr Quentin Davies accordingly presented a Bill to provide for the enforceability of pre-nuptial agreements; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 19th October and to be printed [Bill 137].

5Opposition Day [15th 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 NHS Services,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House reaffirms its commitment to equitable access to high-quality NHS care, based on need not ability to pay; regards local access to NHS services as an important aspect of quality of care; urges the development of practice-based commissioning to incentivise primary care access and the integration of GP services, out-of-hours care, urgent care and NHS Direct services; calls on the Government to publish its review of walk-in centres and patient access survey results; notes the continuing threat to community hospitals, local accident and emergency and maternity services; calls for the preparation of evidence-based service models which seek to maintain local access to accident and emergency services, and to maintain community-based treatment and diagnosis and maternal choice; and further calls on the Government to ensure the fair

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allocation of resources, relative to burden of disease, to secure equitable access to NHS services—(Mr Andrew Lansley);

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 ‘supports the Government’s trebling of investment in the NHS by 2008 and welcomes the recent confirmation of an extra £8 billion for 2007–08; congratulates the staff and the medical professions for their hard work and commitment in helping progress towards this Government’s historic maximum 18 week wait from GP referral to treatment; welcomes the extra choice available to patients with new services more convenient for their lives including around 90 NHS walk-in centres and the £750 million programme for developing community facilities providing care closer to home; recognises the achievement of the NHS in delivering a wide range of quality personal services convenient for patients including NHS Direct, 23 new independent sector treatment centres increasing choice; further welcomes the 280,000 extra staff working for the NHS since 1997 including 80,000 more nurses and 35,000 more doctors; further welcomes the fact that over 85 per cent. of all GP practices have used Choose and Book to refer their patients to hospital and that over three million Choose and Book appointments have been made so far, allowing patients to choose appointments that are at convenient times to fit in with their lives; and recognises the need to ensure that the views of NHS staff and patients are paramount and that Government must engage fully in a dialogue with them about the future of the NHS’, instead thereof.—(Secretary Alan Johnson.)

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

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr David Evennett, Mr Mark Lancaster: 193.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Sadiq Khan, Mr Dave Watts: 292.

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 supports the Government’s trebling of investment in the NHS by 2008 and welcomes the recent confirmation of an extra £8 billion for 2007–08; congratulates the staff and the medical professions for their hard work and commitment in helping progress towards this Government’s historic maximum 18 week wait from GP referral to treatment; welcomes the extra choice available to patients with new services more convenient for their lives including around 90 NHS walk-in centres and the £750 million programme for developing community facilities providing care closer to home; recognises the achievement of the NHS in delivering a wide range of quality personal services convenient for patients including NHS Direct, 23 new independent sector treatment centres increasing choice; further welcomes the 280,000 extra staff working for the NHS since 1997 including 80,000 more nurses and 35,000 more doctors; further welcomes the fact that over 85 per cent. of all GP practices have used Choose and Book to refer their patients to hospital and that over three million Choose and Book appointments have been made so far, allowing patients to choose appointments that are at convenient times to fit in with their lives; and recognises the need to ensure that the views of NHS staff and patients are paramount and that Government must engage fully in a dialogue with them about the future of the NHS.

Pensions policy,—A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House notes the loss of public trust in the UK pension system caused by the continuing £5 billion per year stealth tax raid on pension funds, the winding up of 60,000 occupational pension schemes since 1997, the closure of two-thirds of remaining final salary pension schemes to new members and the acceleration of closures to new accruals by existing members; further notes the loss by 125,000 workers whose pension schemes have failed of some or all of their pensions and the poor performance of the Financial Assistance Scheme in supporting them and the growing concern about the disparity between pension expectations in the public and private sectors as well as the size of the unfunded public sector occupational pension liabilities faced by future taxpayers; and calls on the new Prime Minister to acknowledge his role in the pensions crisis and to take personal responsibility for the urgent task of restoring to millions of hard-working families the confidence to save for retirement—(Chris Grayling);

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 policies of this Government to tackle pensioner poverty which have lifted two million pensioners out of absolute poverty and one million out of relative poverty, the action to tackle the legacy of pensions mis-selling, support occupational pensions through a Pension Protection Fund set up for the first time and a new Pensions Regulator, further support for 125,000 people through the Financial Assistance Scheme whose occupational pensions were

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affected by employer insolvency, set out the long-term framework for pensions through the new Pensions Bill, including re-linking the basic State Pension to average earnings, introduce a new scheme of low cost personal accounts and stakeholder pensions of which over three million have been created, remove the dividend tax credit, make reductions in corporation tax which have contributed to the 50 per cent. rise in business investment, broker public sector pension agreements which ensure a fair deal for today’s and tomorrow’s public sector workers and introduce free television licences and the Pension Credit to provide an additional framework of support for today’s pensioners’, instead thereof.—(Mr Secretary Hain.)

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

Mr Patrick McLoughlin 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 David Evennett, Mr Mark Lancaster: 197.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Alan Campbell, Ms Diana R. Johnson: 297.

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);

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Alan Campbell, Ms Diana R. Johnson: 291.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr David Evennett, Mr Mark Lancaster: 191.

So the Question was agreed to.

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

Resolved, That this House welcomes the policies of this Government to tackle pensioner poverty which have lifted two million pensioners out of absolute poverty and one million out of relative poverty, the action to tackle the legacy of pensions mis-selling, support occupational pensions through a Pension Protection Fund set up for the first time and a new Pensions Regulator, further support for 125,000 people through the Financial Assistance Scheme whose occupational pensions were affected by employer insolvency, set out the long-term framework for pensions through the new Pensions Bill, including re-linking the basic State Pension to average earnings, introduce a new scheme of low cost personal accounts and stakeholder pensions of which over three million have been created, remove the dividend tax credit, make reductions in corporation tax which have contributed to the 50 per cent. rise in business investment, broker public sector pension agreements which ensure a fair deal for today’s and tomorrow’s public sector workers and introduce free television licences and the Pension Credit to provide an additional framework of support for today’s pensioners.

6Regulatory Reform,—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft regulatory reform orders), That the draft Regulatory Reform (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) Order 2007, which was laid before this House on 24th May, be approved—(Mr Frank Roy):—It was agreed to.

7Public Petition,—A Public Petition from David Cain, Philip Redl and others for free postage from families and friends to members of HM Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

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

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

[Adjourned at 10.58 p.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1Civil Aviation,—Civil Aviation (Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1895), dated 3rd July 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

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2Police,—Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1892), dated 29th June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

3Social Security,—Social Security (Claims and Payments) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1866), dated 27th June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hain].

4Town and Country Planning,—Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Amendment) (England) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1844), dated 26th June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears].

5Wildlife,—(1) Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1843), dated 22nd June 2007; and

(2) Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1842), dated 24th June 2007

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

Other Papers:

6Broadcasting,—Report and Accounts of the British Broadcasting Corporation for 2006–07 [by Command] [Secretary James Purnell].

7Foreign Affairs,—Government Response to the Fourth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2006–07, on South Asia [by Command] [Cm. 7142] [Secretary David Miliband].

8Government Resources and Accounts,—Resource Accounts of—

(1) the Office of Rail Regulation; and

(2) the Privy Council Office

for 2006–07, with the Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [Nos. 748 and 656] [Jane Kennedy].

9Government Trading Funds,—Report and Accounts of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 507] [Clerk of the House].

10Justice,—Paper, entitled The Governance of Britain [by Command] [Cm. 7170] [Secretary Jack Straw].

11Miscellaneous (No. 5, 2007),—Convention, done at Paris on 20th October 2005, on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Cm. 7165] [Secretary David Miliband].

12National Audit,—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Revenue and Customs: Accuracy in processing Income Tax [by Act]; to be printed [No. 605] [Clerk of the House].

13Public Petitions,—Observations by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the Petition [1st May] from residents of Chelsworth Drive and Tuam Drive in the London Borough of Greenwich for legislation to require the clearance of Japanese knotweed [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].

Papers withdrawn:

14Children and Young Persons,—Draft Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) Regulations 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [laid 25th June].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

Draft Official Secrets Act 1989 (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Dr Doug Naysmith and Mr Gerry Sutcliffe from the First Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Maria Eagle and Mr Sadiq Khan.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Communities and Local Government,—Ordnance Survey: Memorandum laid before the Communities and Local Government Committee; to be published [Dr Phyllis Starkey].

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2Constitutional Affairs,—Towards Effective Sentencing: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Constitutional Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 621-iv] [Mr Alan Beith].

3Culture, Media and Sport,—(1) Self-regulation of the press: Seventh Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 375]; and

(2) BBC Annual Report for 2006–07: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 820]

[Mr John Whittingdale].

4Defence,—(1) Ministry of Defence Main Estimates 2007–08: Twelfth Report from the Defence Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 835]; and

(2) UK operations in Afghanistan: Thirteenth Report from the Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 24th April and 22nd May [No. 408]

[Mr James Arbuthnot].

5Environmental Audit,—(1) The Voluntary Carbon Offset Market: Sixth Report from the Environmental Audit Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 20th February [No. 331];

(2) The UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, Session 2006–07: Sixth Special Report from the Committee; to be printed [No. 848];

(3) Regulatory Impact Assessments and Policy Appraisal: Government Response to the Third Report from the Committee, Session 2006–07: Seventh Special Report from the Committee; to be printed [No. 849]; and

(4) The Structure and Operation of Government and the Challenge of Climate Change: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 740-iii]

[Mr Tim Yeo].

6Trade and Industry,—(1) Better Skills for Manufacturing: Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Committee, Session 2006–07: Fourth Special Report from the Trade and Industry Committee; to be printed [No. 845]; and

(2) Europe moves East: the impact of the ‘new’ EU Member States on UK business: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 592-v]

[Mr Peter Luff].

7Treasury,—Private equity: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury Committee; to be printed [No. 567-iii] [John McFall].

8Welsh Affairs,—Globalisation and its impact on Wales:

(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Welsh Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 281-xv]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Dr Hywel Francis].


[No. 117; WH, No. 71]

Tuesday 3rd July 2007.

The House sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at half-past Nine o’clock.

Adjournment,—Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Michael Foster.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 1.57 p.m.


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[No. 118.]

Wednesday 4th July 2007.

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

PRAYERS.

1Selection,—Ordered, That Mr Bob Ainsworth and Mr John Heppell be discharged from the Committee of Selection and Mr Nicholas Brown and Liz Blackman be added to the Committee.—(Mr Nicholas Brown.)

2First Delegated Legislation Committee,—Dr William McCrea reported from the First Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Official Secrets Act 1989 (Prescription) (Amendment) Order 2007.

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

3Infrastructure Audit (Housing Development) Bill,—Ordered, That the Infrastructure Audit (Housing Development) Bill be read a second time on Friday 19th October.

4Palliative Care,—Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for palliative care for persons who are suffering from a terminal illness; and for connected purposes: And that Mr Lindsay Hoyle, David Taylor, Jim Dobbin, Mr David Crausby, Geraldine Smith, Mr David Amess, Mr Julian Brazier, Mr Ben Wallace, Mr Nigel Evans, Simon Hughes, Dr Brian Iddon and Mr Bob Laxton do prepare and bring it in.

5Palliative Care (No. 2) Bill,—Mr Lindsay Hoyle accordingly presented a Bill to make provision for palliative care for persons who are suffering from a terminal illness; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time on Friday 19th October and to be printed [Bill 138].

6Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the Bill be now read a second time;

7 Deferred Divisions,—The Deputy Speaker announced the results of the Division which had been deferred to this day, pursuant to Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions):

European Global Navigation Satellite System,—That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 7828/07 and Addendum 1, Commission Communication, GALILEO at a cross-road—the implementation of the European GNSS programmes; and endorses the Government’s approach to discussions on this document.

Ayes: 318.

Noes: 141.

So the Question was agreed to.

8Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill,—The Question being again proposed, That the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill be now read a second time;

And the Question being put:—It was agreed to.

The Bill was accordingly read a second time.

9Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill (Programme),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), That the following provisions shall apply to the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill:

Committal

1. The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Proceedings in Public Bill Committee

2. Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 16th October 2007.

3. The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on which it meets.

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Consideration and Third Reading

4. Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.

5. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

6. Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to proceedings on consideration and Third Reading.

Other proceedings

7. Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments or on any further messages from the Lords) may be programmed—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

10Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill (Carry-over),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 80A (Carry-over of bills), That if, at the conclusion of this Session of Parliament, proceedings on the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill have not been completed, they shall be resumed in the next Session—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

11Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill [Money],—Her Majesty’s Recommendation having been signified to the proposed Motion relating to Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill [Money];

A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, it is expedient to authorise—

(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of—

(a) any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State or a government department in consequence of the Act, and

(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment, and

(2) the extinguishing in consequence of the Act of liabilities owed to the Crown under the Child Support Act 1991—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

12Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill [Ways and Means],—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills), That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, it is expedient to authorise—

(1) the charging of fees by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in connection with the exercise of its functions, and

(2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

13Mental Health Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 3),—A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), That the following provisions shall apply to the Mental Health Bill [Lords] for the purpose of supplementing the Orders of 16th April and 18th June 2007 (Mental Health Bill [Lords] (Programme) and Mental Health Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 2))—

Consideration of Lords Message

1. Any Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.

2. Proceedings on that Message shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement at this day’s sitting.

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Subsequent stages

3. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.

4. 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—(Mr Dave Watts):—It was agreed to.

14Mental Health Bill [Lords],—The House, according to order, proceeded to consider the Lords Message [2nd July], relating to the Mental Health Bill [Lords].

Lords Amendments Nos. 1A, 4A, 32A, 32B, 41A, 41B, 41C and 41D were agreed to.

15Regulatory Reform (Standing Orders and Related Provisions),—Ordered, That the following repeals of Standing Orders, new Standing Orders, amendments to Standing Orders, and related provisions be made—

(A) Standing Order No. 18 (Consideration of draft regulatory reform orders) shall be repealed and the following Standing Order made—

Consideration of draft legislative reform orders

18.—(1) If the Regulatory Reform Committee has recommended under paragraphs (4) or (6) of Standing Order No. 141 (Regulatory Reform Committee) that a draft order subject to the affirmative or super-affirmative procedure, laid before the House under Part 1 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, should be approved, and a motion is made by a Minister of the Crown to that effect, the question thereon shall—

(a) if the committee’s recommendation was agreed without a division, be put forthwith; and

(b) if the committee’s recommendation was agreed after a division, be put not later than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion.

(2) If the committee has recommended under paragraphs (4) or (6) of Standing Order No. 141 that a draft order subject to the affirmative or super-affirmative procedure be not approved, no motion to approve the draft order shall be made unless the House has previously resolved to disagree with the committee’s report; the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the motion for such a resolution shall be put not later than three hours after their commencement; and the question on any motion thereafter made by a Minister of the Crown that the draft order be approved shall be put forthwith.

(3) If the committee has recommended under paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 141 that a draft order subject to the negative resolution procedure should not be made (and that the recommendation is not intended to operate section 16(4) of the Act), that recommendation shall be deemed to constitute notice of a motion under sub-paragraph (4)(a) of Standing order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees).

(4) Motions under paragraphs (1) or (2) of this order may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.

(B) Standing Order No. 141 (Regulatory Reform Committee) shall be repealed and the following Standing Order made—

Regulatory Reform Committee

141.—(1) There shall be a select committee, called the Regulatory Reform Committee, to examine and report on—

(i) every draft order laid before the House under sections 14 or 18 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (‘the Act’);

(ii) any subordinate provisions order or draft of such an order made or proposed to be made under sections 1 and 4 of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 (except those not made by a Minister of the Crown);

(iii) any matter arising from its consideration of such orders or draft orders; and

(iv) matters relating to regulatory reform.

(2) In the case of every draft order referred to in paragraph (1)(i) above the committee shall consider the Minister’s recommendation under section 15(1) of the Act as to the procedure which should apply to it and shall report to the House any recommendation under the Act that a different procedure should apply.

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(3) In its consideration of draft orders under Part 1 of the Act the committee shall include in each case, in addition to such other matters as it deems appropriate, whether provision in the draft order—

(a) appears to make an inappropriate use of delegated legislation;

(b) serves the purpose of removing or reducing a burden, or the overall burdens, resulting directly or indirectly for any person from any legislation (in respect of a draft order under section 1 of the Act);

(c) serves the purpose of securing that regulatory functions are exercised so as to comply with the regulatory principles, as set out in section 2(3) of the Act (in respect of a draft order under section 2 of the Act);

(d) secures a policy objective which could not be satisfactorily secured by non-legislative means;

(e) has an effect which is proportionate to the policy objective;

(f) strikes a fair balance between the public interest and the interests of any person adversely affected by it;

(g) does not remove any necessary protection;

(h) does not prevent any person from continuing to exercise any right or freedom which that person might reasonably expect to continue to exercise;

(i) is not of constitutional significance;

(j) makes the law more accessible or more easily understood (in the case of provisions restating enactments);

(k) has been the subject of, and takes appropriate account of, adequate consultation;

(l) gives rise to an issue under such criteria for consideration of statutory instruments laid down in paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 151 (Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)) as are relevant;

(m) appears to be incompatible with any obligation resulting from membership of the European Union:

Provided that in the case of draft orders under section 20 of the Act, those criteria which are not relevant to provisions made pursuant to section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 need not be taken into consideration in relation to those provisions.

(4) In relation to every draft order laid under section 14 of the Act subject to the negative or affirmative procedure under sections 16 or 17 of the Act, the committee shall report its recommendation whether the draft order should be made (in the case of the negative procedure) or approved (in the case of the affirmative procedure), indicating in the case of the latter whether the recommendation was agreed without a division.

(5) In relation to every draft order laid under section 14 of the Act subject to the super-affirmative procedure under section 18 of the Act, the committee shall report its recommendation as to whether—

(a) the draft order should be proceeded with unamended under section 18(3) of the Act; or

(b) a revised draft order should be laid under section 18(7) of the Act; or

(c) no statement under section 18(3) or revised draft order under section 18(7) should be laid.

(6) In relation to every draft order or revised draft order subject to the super-affirmative procedure being proceeded with under section 18(3) or 18(7) of the Act, the committee shall report its recommendation whether the draft order or revised draft order should be approved, indicating in the case of draft orders which it recommends should be approved whether its recommendation was agreed without a division; and in respect of such draft orders or revised draft orders the committee shall consider in each case all such matters set out in paragraph (3) of this order as are relevant and the extent to which the Minister concerned has had regard to any resolution or report of the committee or to any other representations made during the period for parliamentary consideration.

(7) It shall be an instruction to the committee considering draft orders being proceeded with under section 18(3) or 18(7) that it report not more than fifteen sitting days (in the case of an order under section 18(3)) or twenty-five sitting days (in the case of an order under section 18(7)) after the relevant statement is laid.

(8) In relation to every draft order or revised draft order, the committee shall report any recommendation under section 16(4) of the Act that the draft order be not made, or

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under sections 17(3), 18(5) or 18(9) of the Act that no further proceedings be taken in relation to the draft order.

(9) In its consideration of any subordinate provisions order under paragraph (1)(ii) of this order, the committee shall in each case consider whether the special attention of the House should be drawn to it on any of the grounds laid down in paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 151 (Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)); and if the committee is of the opinion that any such order or draft order should be annulled, or, as the case may be, should not be approved, they shall report that opinion to the House.

(10) The committee shall consist of fourteen members; and, unless the House otherwise orders, each Member nominated to the committee shall continue to be a member of it for the remainder of the Parliament.

(11) The committee shall have power—

(a) to send for persons, papers and records, to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, to adjourn from place to place, and to report from time to time;

(b) to appoint specialist advisers either to supply information which is not readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity within the committee’s order of reference; and

(c) to appoint a sub-committee, of which the quorum shall be two, which shall have power to send for persons, papers and records, to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, and to adjourn from place to place.

(12) The committee and the sub-committee shall have the assistance of the Counsel to the Speaker.

(13) The committee and the sub-committee shall have power to invite Members of the House who are not members of the committee to attend meetings at which witnesses are being examined in relation to matters within paragraphs (1) (i) to (iii) and such Members may, at the discretion of the chairman, ask questions of those witnesses; but no Member not being a member of the committee shall otherwise take part in the proceedings of the committee or sub-committee, or be counted in the quorum.

(14) It shall be an instruction to the committee that before reporting on a draft order it shall afford to any government department concerned an opportunity of furnishing orally or in writing to it or to the sub-committee appointed by it such explanations as the department thinks fit, except to the extent that the committee considers that it is not reasonably practicable to do so without risking the opportunity for effective exercise of a function conferred on it under section 15, 16, 17 or 18 of the Act.

(C) Standing Orders No. 98 (Scottish Grand Committee (delegated legislation)), No. 115 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (delegated legislation)), and No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees) shall be amended by leaving out the words ‘regulatory reform order’ and inserting the words ‘legislative reform order’; and Standing Order No. 151 (Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)) shall be amended by leaving out the words from ‘under’ in line 21 to ‘and’ in line 24 and inserting the words ‘Part 1 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, or any subordinate provisions order made or proposed to be made under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001,’.

(D) Any draft regulatory reform orders laid under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 which are currently before the House shall be considered by the Regulatory Reform Committee appointed under this order and by the House as if they were draft orders, subject to the super-affirmative procedure, laid under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006.

(E) Notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 121 (Nomination of select committees), those Members of this House who were members of the Regulatory Reform Committee before the passing of this order shall be the members of the Regulatory Reform Committee appointed under paragraph (B) above; and for the purposes of Standing Order No. 122A (Term limits for chairmen of select committees), the Regulatory Reform Committee established under paragraph (B) shall be the same committee as that established before the passing of this order.—(Tony Cunningham.)

16Public Petition,—A Public Petition from residents of Christchurch, Dorset against the closure of the Jobcentre Plus office in Christchurch was presented and read; and ordered to lie upon the Table and to be printed.

17Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Tony Cunningham.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till twenty-two minutes to Seven o’clock, adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 6.38 p.m.

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APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1Children and Young Persons,—Draft Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) Regulations 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2Competition,—Competition Act 1998 (Public Policy Exclusion) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1896), dated 2nd July 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

3Education,—(1) Cumbria Institute of the Arts Higher Education Corporation (Dissolution) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1848), dated 27th June 2007;

(2) Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in English) (England) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1841), dated 25th June 2007; and

(3) Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early Learning Goals) (England) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1836), dated 25th June 2007

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

4Health Care and Associated Professions,—(1) Medical Act 1983 Amendments (Transitional Provisions Relating to Postgraduate Training) Order of Council 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1886), dated 25th June 2007 [by Act];

(2) Nursing and Midwifery Council (Fees) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1885), dated 25th June 2007 [by Statutory Instrument]; and

(3) Nursing and Midwifery Council (Midwives) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1887), dated 25th June 2007 [by Statutory Instrument],

with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

5Mental Capacity,—(1) Court of Protection Rules 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1744), dated 25th June 2007;

(2) Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Transfer of Proceedings) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1899), dated 25th June 2007; and

(3) Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1898), dated 22nd June 2007

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Jack Straw].

Other Papers:

6Children, Schools and Families,—Department for Children, Schools and Families Minute concerning a contingent liability arising out of a school within a PFI contract becoming an Academy [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

7Constitutional Reform,—Report and Accounts of the Judicial Appointments Commission for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 632] [Secretary Jack Straw].

8European Communities,—Report by the Department of Trade and Industry on Miscellaneous Duty Reliefs for 2006–07 [by Act]; to be printed [No. 703] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

9Home Office,—Home Office Minute concerning a contingent liability in respect of indemnity for members of the inquiry into the disturbances at the Harmondsworth and Campsfield Immigration Removal Centres [by Command] [Secretary Jacqui Smith].

10Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development,—Report and Financial Statements of English Partnerships (including the Commission for the New Towns and the Urban Regeneration Agency) for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 587] [Secretary Hazel Blears].

11Miscellaneous (No. 6, 2007),—The Antarctic Treaty: Measures adopted at the Twenty-eighth Consultative Meeting held at Stockholm 6th to 17th June 2005 [by Command] [Cm. 7166] [Secretary David Miliband].

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12Miscellaneous (No. 7, 2007),—The Antarctic Treaty: Measures adopted at the Twenty-ninth Consultative Meeting held at Edinburgh 12th to 23rd June 2006 [by Command] [Cm. 7167] [Secretary David Miliband].

13Public Accounts,—Treasury Minutes on the Twenty-first, Twenty-second and Twenty-fourth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2006–07 [by Command] [Cm. 7151] [Jane Kennedy].

14Treaty Series (No. 34, 2006),—Fourth Supplementary List of Ratifications, Accessions, Withdrawals, etc., for 2006 [by Command] [Cm. 7159] [Secretary David Miliband].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill,—The Committee of Selection has nominated sixteen Members to serve on the Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill Committee: John Austin, Norman Baker, Mr Henry Bellingham, Mr Peter Bone, Annette Brooke, Ms Karen Buck, Mr Christopher Chope, Philip Davies, Mr Andrew Dismore, Mr Sadiq Khan, Mr Greg Knight, Mr Andrew Love, Shona McIsaac, Gillian Merron, Andrew Miller and Mr Andy Slaughter.

2Draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft order to the First Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Roger Gale Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Adam Afriyie, Ms Karen Buck, Mr David Curry, Mr Ian Davidson, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Justine Greening, Mr David Hanson, Mr David Heath, Nick Herbert, David Howarth, Dr Brian Iddon, Mr Sadiq Khan, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Mark Lazarowicz, Emily Thornberry, Keith Vaz and Lynda Waltho.

3Draft Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Bridget Prentice and Mr Michael Foster from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mr Michael Wills and Mr Sadiq Khan.

4Draft Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Macedonia) Order 2007 and the draft International Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft orders to the Second Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Bill Olner Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Liz Blackman, Dr Vincent Cable, Colin Challen, Mr David Clelland, Ann Coffey, Mr David Evennett, Paul Farrelly, Mr David Gauke, Julia Goldsworthy, Mr Oliver Heald, Mr Douglas Hogg, Mr Brian Jenkins, Jane Kennedy, Andrew Mackinlay, Mr Chris Mullin, John Penrose and Mr Dennis Skinner.

5Draft Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft order to the Third Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr John Cummings Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-one Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Graham Allen, John Austin, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Mr Michael Clapham, Mr Tom Clarke, Rosie Cooper, Mr Michael Foster (Worcester), Paul Goggins, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Mr Mark Lancaster, Mr Eddie McGrady, Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews, Mr Michael Mates, Mr Michael Meacher, Mr Owen Paterson, Mr Peter Robinson, Mr Anthony Steen, Mr Gary Streeter, Mr Hugo Swire, Dr Rudi Vis and Dr Tony Wright.

6Draft Housing Benefit (Loss of Benefit) (Pilot Scheme) Regulations 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Eric Martlew Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Danny Alexander, Mr Clive Betts, Mr Ian Cawsey, Jon Cruddas, Mr Wayne David, Glenda Jackson, Mr Mark Lancaster, Shona McIsaac, Julie Morgan, Mr James Plaskitt, Paul Rowen, Andrew Selous, Geraldine Smith, Sir Peter Tapsell, David Tredinnick, Jon Trickett and Mr Robert Walter.

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7Draft Gambling Act 2005 (Horserace Betting Levy) Order 2007, the draft Gambling Act 2005 (Horserace Totalisator Board) Order 2007 and the draft Gambling Act 2005 (Amendment of Schedule 6) Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft orders to the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Martyn Jones Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Gordon Banks, Mr Douglas Carswell, Mr Don Foster, Nigel Griffith, Mr Mike Hall, Mr John Heppell, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Mr Mark Lancaster, David Lepper, Anne Milton, Mr Geoffrey Robinson, Ms Gisela Stuart, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Claire Ward, Mr John Whittingdale, Mr Tim Yeo and Richard Younger-Ross.

8Draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Amendment of Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006) Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft order to the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Christopher Chope Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Chris Bryant, Richard Burden, Mr David Burrowes, Mr Stephen Byers, Mr Wayne David, Jim Dowd, Huw Irranca-Davies, Mr David Jones, Mrs Madeleine Moon, Jessica Morden, Adam Price, Mr Don Touhig, Mr Andrew Tyrie, Peter Viggers, Angela Watkinson, Mark Williams and Mike Wood.

9Draft Limited Liability Partnerships (Amendment) Regulations 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Dr William McCrea Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr David S. Borrow, Lorely Burt, Ben Chapman, Mr Stephen Crabb, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Mr Stephen Dorrell, James Duddridge, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Kate Hoey, Ann McKechin, Mr Alan Milburn, Lembit O­pik, Dr Nick Palmer, Alison Seabeck, Mr Stephen Timms, Mr Mark Todd and Mrs Betty Williams.

10Draft Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Ann Winterton Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Bob Blizzard, Mrs Nadine Dorries, Clive Efford, Mr Mark Field, Mr Christopher Fraser, Mr Robert Goodwill, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Chris Huhne, Tom Levitt, Chris McCafferty, Rob Marris, Jonathan Shaw, Mr Sio¤n Simon, Mr Andrew Smith, Dr Desmond Turner, Bill Wiggin and Mr Roger Williams.

11Draft Community Order (Review by Specified Courts) Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft order to the Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Edward O’Hara Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Frank Dobson, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Michael Jabez Foster, Mr James Gray, Mr Greg Hands, Mr David Hanson, Mr David Heath, Nick Herbert, David Heyes, David Howarth, Mr Nick Hurd, Mr Sadiq Khan, Mr Andrew Love, Mr Jim McGovern, Mr Khalid Mahmood, Mr Ken Purchase and Lynda Waltho.

12Draft Companies (Political Expenditure Exemption) Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft order to the Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr David Marshall Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Lorely Burt, Mr Ronnie Campbell, Mr Quentin Davies, Mr Alan Duncan, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Barry Gardiner, Mr Neil Gerrard, Linda Gilroy, Mr Stewart Jackson, Mr Bernard Jenkin, Daniel Kawczynski, Mr Bob Laxton, Lembit O­pik, Sandra Osborne, Dr Nick Palmer, Alison Seabeck and Mr Stephen Timms.

13Draft Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft Regulations to the Eleventh Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr Mike Hancock Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Mr Crispin Blunt, Mr Jeremy Browne, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr Brian H. Donohoe, Tim Farron, Mr Edward Garnier, Nia Griffith, Meg Hillier, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Alan Keen, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Mr Greg Knight, Mr Edward Leigh, John McDonnell, Chris Mole, Mr John Spellar and Dr Howard Stoate.

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14Draft Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2007:

(1) The Speaker has allocated the draft order to the Twelfth Delegated Legislation Committee and has appointed Mr David Wilshire Chairman; and

(2) the Committee of Selection has nominated twenty-one Members to serve on the Committee: Liz Blackman, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Mr David Chaytor, Mr Charles Clarke, Rosie Cooper, Mark Durkan, Jeff Ennis, Paul Goggins, Mr Kevan Jones, Mr Mark Lancaster, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, Mr Peter Lilley, Anne Main, Mr Michael Mates, Mr Elliot Morley, Mr Owen Paterson, Mr Peter Robinson, Mr Marsha Singh, Helen Southworth, Joan Walley and Dr Alan Whitehead.

European Standing Committees

15The Speaker has appointed Mrs Janet Dean Chairman of the European Standing Committee in respect of the Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 6th June 2007, submitted by HM Treasury, relating to the Preliminary Draft Budget 2008.

16European Union Documents No. 6801/07, No. 6802/07, No. 6803/07, No. 6804/07, No. 6805/07, No. 6806/07, No. 6807/07, No. 6808/07, No. 6809/07, No. 6812/07, No. 6813/07, No. 6814/07, No. 6815/07, No. 6816/07, No. 6817/07, No. 6818/07, No. 6819/07 and Corrigendum 1, No. 6820/07, No. 6821/07, No. 6823/07, No. 7863/07, No. 7864/07, No. 7865/07, No. 7866/07 and No. 7867/07, relating to Stability and Convergence Programmes,—The Committee of Selection has nominated thirteen Members to serve on the European Standing Committee nominated in respect of the Documents: Charlotte Atkins, Dr Vincent Cable, Ann Coffey, Tony Cunningham, Mr Jim Devine, Mr David Evennett, Dr Ian Gibson, Julia Goldsworthy, Mr Mark Hoban, Mr Humfrey Malins, Mr Malcolm Moss, John Smith and Kitty Ussher.

17European Union Documents No. 9773/07 and No. 9776/07, relating to Migration,—The Committee of Selection has nominated thirteen Members to serve on the European Standing Committee nominated in respect of the Documents: Mr Crispin Blunt, Mrs Ann Cryer, Tony Cunningham, David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden), Mr David Drew, Tim Farron, Mr David Heath, Meg Hillier, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Helen Jones, Mr Andrew Pelling, Mark Pritchard and Jim Sheridan.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Education and Skills,—(1) Higher Education: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education and Skills Committee; to be printed [No. 285-viii];

(2) Prison Education: Follow-up: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be printed, with Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 18th December [No. 170-ii];

(3) Creative Partnerships and the Curriculum: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published;

(4) Special Educational Needs: separation of assessment of need from funding of provision: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published; and

(5) Testing and Assessment: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Mr Barry Sheerman].

2Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,—Implementation of the Environmental Liability Directive: Sixth Report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, with Memoranda; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 694] [Mr Michael Jack].

3European Scrutiny,—(1) Twenty-eighth Report from the European Scrutiny Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report [No. 41-xxviii];

(2) The European Commission’s Annual Policy Strategy for 2008: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 519-ii];

(3) The outcome of the European Council: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 862-i]; and

(4) Ministerial Correspondence: Memoranda laid before the Committee; to be published

[Michael Connarty].

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4Foreign Affairs,—Global Security: Iran: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 496-iii] [Mike Gapes].

5International Development,—(1) Sanitation and Water: Government Response to the Sixth Report from the Committee, Session 2006–07: Seventh Special Report from the International Development Committee; to be printed [No. 854];

(2) Prospects for a sustainable peace in Uganda:

(i) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 853-i]; and

(ii) Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published; and

(3) DFID Assistance to Burmese Internally Displaced People and Refugees on the Thai-Burma Border: Memorandum laid before the Committee; to be published

[Malcolm Bruce].

6Northern Ireland Affairs,—The Northern Ireland Prison Service: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; to be printed [No. 520-vi] [Sir Patrick Cormack].

7Science and Technology,—(1) 2007: A Space Policy: Seventh Report from the Science and Technology Committee; to be printed, with the Minutes of Proceedings of the Committee relating to the Report, and Memoranda reported and ordered to be published on 6th December and 30th January [No. 66-I and -II]; and

(2) Investigating the Oceans: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee; to be printed [No. 470-iv]

[Mr Phil Willis].

8Statutory Instruments,—Twenty-second Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, with a Memorandum; to be printed [No. 82-xxii] [David Maclean].


[No. 118; WH, No. 72]

Wednesday 4th July 2007.

The House sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at half-past Nine o’clock.

Adjournment,—Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Alan Campbell.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till to-morrow.

[Adjourned at 4.59 p.m.


[No. 119.]

Thursday 5th July 2007.

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

PRAYERS.

1Second Delegated Legislation Committee,—Sir John Butterfill reported from the Second Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2007.

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

2Third Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr David Amess reported from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007.

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

3Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee,—Mr Martyn Jones reported from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee the draft Categories of Gaming Machine Regulations 2007, draft Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007 and draft Gambling (Lottery Machine Interval) Order 2007.

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 Amendments made by this House to the Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [Lords], without Amendment.

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5Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [Lords],—The House, according to Order, proceeded to consider the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [Lords], as amended in the Public Bill Committee.

A Clause (NC1) (Amendment of definition of ‘estate agency work’)—(Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown)—brought up and read the first time.

Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Angela Watkinson, Michael Fabricant: 126.

Tellers for the Noes, Mark Tami, Claire Ward: 242.

Another Clause (NC2) (Standards of competence)—(Susan Kramer)—brought up and read the first time.

Question put, That the Clause be read a second time.

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr Roger Williams, Lorely Burt: 27.

Tellers for the Noes, Claire Ward, Mark Tami: 240.

Amendment (No. 1) made to the Bill.

Another Amendment (No. 8) proposed to the Bill, in page 16, line 43, to leave out subsection (4).—(Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.)

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

Another Amendment (No. 9) proposed to the Bill, in page 26, line 33, at the end, to insert the words—

‘(10) When making regulations under this section the regulator must have regard to—

(a) the needs of both domestic and non-domestic consumers; and

(b) such principles as—

(i) in the opinion of the regulator constitute generally accepted principles of best practice in relation to handling of consumer complaints, and

(ii) it is reasonable to regard as applicable to these regulations.’.—(Lorely Burt.)

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

Other Amendments (Nos. 2 and 3) made to the Bill.

The Bill was read the third time, and passed, with Amendments.

6Public Petitions,—Public Petitions from—

(1) residents of the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and others against the closure of Wormholt Tenants and Residents Community Centre, Hemlock Road;

(2) residents of the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and others against the closure of College Park Community Centre; and

(3) residents of the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and others against the proposed disposal by Hammersmith and Fulham Council of 59 Goldophin Road

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

7Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mark Tami.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till half-past Four o’clock, adjourned till Monday 9th July.

[Adjourned at 4.30 p.m.


APPENDIX I

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1Regulatory Reform,—Draft Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order 2007 with a statement by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform [by Act] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2Disabled Persons,—Disability Discrimination (General Qualifications Bodies) (Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1764), dated 23rd June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

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3Education,—(1) Education (Special Educational Needs) (England) (Consolidation) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1860), dated 25th June 2007;

(2) Further Education (Principals’ Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1864), dated 25th June 2007; and

(3) Student Fees (Amounts) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1865), dated 27th June 2007

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Secretary Ed Balls].

4Housing,—Stonebridge Housing Action Trust (Dissolution) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1862), dated 22nd June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hazel Blears].

5Plant Health,—Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1893), dated 26th June 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Hilary Benn].

6Road Traffic,—Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of North Yorkshire) (Borough of Scarborough) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1902), dated 4th July 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Ruth Kelly].

Other Papers:

7Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons,—Report on Research and Development Work Relating to Assistive Technology for 2006–07 [by Act] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

8Government Resources and Accounts,—(1) Consolidated Resource Accounts of the Food Standards Agency for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 737] [Jane Kennedy];

(2) Report and Accounts of the People, Pay and Pensions Agency for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 734] [Secretary Des Browne];

(3) Report and Accounts of the Youth Justice Agency of Northern Ireland for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 634] [Mr Secretary Woodward];

(4) Resource Accounts of the Charity Commission for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 669] [Jane Kennedy]; and

(5) Resource Accounts of the Food Standards Agency Westminster for 2006–07, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 736] [Jane Kennedy].

9Health and Social Care,—Report and Accounts of—

(1) Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for 2006–07; and

(2) Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 1st August 2006 to 31st March 2007

[by Act] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

10Justice (Northern Ireland),—Report and Accounts of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission for 2005–06, with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed [No. 706] [Secretary Jack Straw].

11Regulatory Reform,—Regulatory Reform (Collaboration etc. between Ombudsmen) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 1889), dated 27th June 2007 [by Act] [Edward Miliband].

APPENDIX II

General Committees

1Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill,—The Speaker has appointed Mrs Joan Humble Chairman of the Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill Committee.

2Draft Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr John Heppell from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations) and nominated in substitution Mr Wayne David.

3Draft Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Alistair Carmichael from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Order) and nominated in substitution Mr Alan Reid.

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4Draft Categories of Gaming Machine Regulations 2007, draft Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007 and draft Gambling (Lottery Machine Interval) Order 2007,—The Committee of Selection has discharged Mr Richard Caborn, Mr David Chaytor, Mr Frank Field, Huw Irranca-Davies, John Mann and Mr Geoffrey Robinson from the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (nominated in respect of the draft Regulations and draft Order) and nominated in substitution Gordon Banks, Ann Coffey, Mr Jim Devine, Natascha Engel, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe and Claire Ward.

APPENDIX III

Reports from Select Committees

1Draft Climate Change Bill,—(1) Minutes of Evidence taken before the Joint Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill; to be printed [No. 542-viii]; and

(2) Memoranda laid before the Joint Committee; to be published

[Dr Des Turner].

2Public Administration,—Third Sector Commissioning: Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on Public Administration; to be printed [No. 540-iii] [Dr Tony Wright].


[No. 119; WH, No. 73]

Thursday 5th July 2007.

The House sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at nine minutes to Three o’clock.

Adjournment (Development Assistance and the Occupied Palestinian Territories—Fourth Report from the International Development Committee and the Government’s response thereto),—Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Frank Roy.)

And accordingly the sitting was adjourned till Tuesday 10th July.

[Adjourned at 5.21 p.m.



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