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

1    The Speaker's Absence,—The House being met, and the Speaker having leave of absence pursuant to paragraph (3) of Standing Order No. 3 (Deputy Speaker), Sylvia Heal, the First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table.

2    The First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means took the Chair as Deputy Speaker.

3    Motion to sit in private,—Mark Lazarowicz moved, That this House do sit in private.

The Deputy Speaker put the Question forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 163 (Motions to sit in private).

The House divided.

Tellers for the Ayes, Ms Angela C. Smith, Mark Lazarowicz: 0.

Tellers for the Noes, Mr Jim McGovern, Mr Russell Brown: 32.

And it appearing on the report of the Division that fewer than forty Members had taken part in the Division, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was not decided.

4    House of Commons (Participation) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the House of Commons (Participation) Bill;

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

And it being half-past Two o'clock, the Debate stood adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate be resumed on Friday 19th October.

5    Criminal Law (Amendment) (Protection of Property) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Protection of Property) Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 23rd March.

6    Streetscape and Highways Design Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Streetscape and Highways Design Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 23rd March.

7    Age-Related Macular Degeneration Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Age-Related Macular Degeneration Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 19th October.

8    Infrastructure Audit (Housing Development) Bill,—The Order of the day being read, for the Second Reading of the Infrastructure Audit (Housing Development) Bill;

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time on Friday 23rd March.

9    Adjournment,—Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Jonathan Shaw.)

And accordingly, the House, having continued to sit till one minute to Three o'clock, adjourned till Monday 12th March.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Deputy Speaker

Mr Speaker will take the Chair at half-past Two o'clock on Monday next.

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Paper subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1    Constitutional Law,—Draft Government of Wales Act 2006 (Consequential Modifications and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hain].

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

2    British Nationality,—British Citizenship (Designated Service) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 744), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary John Reid].

3    Children and Young Persons,—Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children's Homes etc.) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 694), dated 5th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Alan Johnson].

4    Constitutional Law,—(1) Government of Wales Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions) (Finance) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 726), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hain]; and

(2) Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (Business Improvement Districts Levy) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 772), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Alexander].

5    Corporation Tax,—Transfer of the Northern Ireland Water Service (Tax) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 766), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Dawn Primarolo].

6    Criminal Law,—Discharge of Fines by Unpaid Work (Pilot Schemes) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 773), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ms Harriet Harman].

7    Education,—(1) Blackburn with Darwen (Maintained Nursery School Governance) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 676), dated 4th March 2007; and

(2) Education (Provision of Information About Young Children) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 712), dated 6th March 2007

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

8    Environmental Protection,—Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 713), dated 6th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary David Miliband].

9    Family Proceedings,—Children (Allocation of Proceedings) (Amendment) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 774), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ms Harriet Harman].

10    Financial Services and Markets,—Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Markets in Financial Instruments) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 763), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ed Balls].

11    Food,—(1) Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 453), dated 14th February 2007; and

(2) Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 505), dated 20th February 2007

[by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

12    Legal Aid and Advice,—Legal Aid in Family Proceedings (Remuneration) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 742), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Bridget Prentice].

13    National Health Service,—National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Remuneration for Persons providing Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 674), dated 5th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Ms Secretary Hewitt].

14    National Lottery,—National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (Amendment of Section 23) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 743), dated 7th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary Tessa Jowell].

15    Pensions,—Pension Protection Fund (Waiver of Pension Protection Levy and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 771), dated 9th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

16    Police,—Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 700), dated 6th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary John Reid].

17    Scientific Research,—Research Councils (Transfer of Property etc) Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 770), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Mr Secretary Darling].

18    Social Security,—(1) Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Order 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 731); and

(2) Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 719),

dated 7th March 2007 [by Act], with Explanatory Memoranda thereon [by Command] [Mr Secretary Hutton].

19    Value Added Tax,—Value Added Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 768), dated 8th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Dawn Primarolo].

20    Water,—Water Resources Management Plan Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 727), dated 7th March 2007 [by Act], with an Explanatory Memorandum [by Command] [Secretary David Miliband].

Other Papers:

21    Public Petitions,—Observations by the Home Secretary on the Petition [16th January] from residents of Werrington, Peterborough and others for a more visible police presence in the Werrington Centre, Peterborough [by Standing Order]; to be printed [Clerk of the House].

22    Stamp Duty,—Explanatory Memorandum to the Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (Extension of Exceptions relating to Recognised Exchanges) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 458) [by Command] [Dawn Primarolo].

23    Treaty Series (No. 4, 2007),—Convention, done at Brussels on 26th March 1997, drawn up on the basis of Article K.3(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union on the Fight against Corruption Involving Officials of the European Communities or Officials of Member States of the European Union [by Command] [Cm. 7053] [Secretary Margaret Beckett].

Papers withdrawn:

24    Road Traffic,—Draft Community Drivers' Hours and Recording Equipment Regulations 2007, with an Explanatory Memorandum [laid 8th March].

25    Stamp Duty,—Explanatory Memorandum to the Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (Extension of Exceptions relating to Recognised Exchanges) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 458) [laid 20th February].