Commons Journal 265

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[No. 16 ]

Tuesday 20 January 2009

The house met at 2.30 pm.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

2 Financial Crisis

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 14938/08, Commission Communication: From financial crisis to recovery: A European framework for action and No. 16097/08, Commission Communication: A European economic recovery plan, and endorses the Government's approach to discussions with European partners on these issues._(Mr Stephen Timms.)

One and a half hours after the start of proceedings on the Motion, the Deputy Speaker put the Question (Standing Order No. 16).

The House divided.

Division No. 14.

Ayes: 330 (Tellers: Chris Mole, Ian Lucas).

Noes: 156 (Tellers: Bill Wiggin, Jeremy Wright).

Question accordingly agreed to.

3 Financial Management

Motion made and Question put, That this House takes note of an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum from HM Treasury dated 4 December 2008, European Court of Auditors 2007 Annual Report, an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum from the Department for International Development dated 8 January 2009, European Court of Auditors Annual Report on the activities funded by the seventh, eighth and ninth European Development Funds, European Union Documents No. 12156/08 and Addenda 1 and 2: Protection of the financial interests of the Communities: Fight against fraud, No. 12471/08 and Addendum: Annual report to the discharge authority on internal audits carried out in 2007, and No. 12472/08: Report on the progress at 31 March 2008 on the modernisation of the accounting system, an unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum from HM Treasury dated 16 October 2008, European Anti-Fraud Office: eighth activity report for the period 1 January to 31 December 2007, and European Union Documents No. 14480/08 and Addendum: Commission Report to the Council on the follow-up to 2006 Discharge Decisions (Summary)_Council recommendations, and No. 14481/08 and Addendum: Commission Report to the European Parliament on the follow-up to 2006 Discharge Decisions (Summary)_European Parliament Resolutions; and supports the Government's promotion of measures to improve the level of assurance given on the Community budget._(Ian Pearson.)

The House divided.

Division No. 15.

Ayes: 287 (Tellers: Claire Ward, Ms Diana R Johnson).

Noes: 213 (Tellers: James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright).

Question accordingly agreed to.

4 EU-Russia Relations

Motion made and Question put, That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 15299/08, Commission Communication Review of EU-Russia Relations and No. 15300/08, Commission Staff Working Document accompanying the Commission Communication Review of EU-Russia Relations; and supports the Government's policy on the future of the relationship in view of recent developments._(Caroline Flint.)

The House divided.

Division No. 16.

Ayes: 325 (Tellers: Claire Ward, Ms Diana R Johnson).

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Noes: 152 (Tellers: James Duddridge, Jeremy Wright).

Question accordingly agreed to.

5 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Taxes on Income and Capital) (Isle of Man) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 13 November, in the previous Session of Parliament, be approved._(Mr Frank Roy.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Taxes on Income and Capital) (Netherlands) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 13 November, in the previous Session of Parliament, be approved._(Mr Frank Roy.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Taxes on Income and Capital) (France) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 13 November, in the previous Session of Parliament, be approved._(Mr Frank Roy.)

Question agreed to.

6 Safety of Toys

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119(11)), That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 5938/08 and Addenda 1 and 2, draft Directive on the safety of toys; and welcomes the Government's actions in support of European measures aimed at securing an appropriate level of safety for toys available on the internal market and a strengthened internal market mechanism without imposing a disproportionate burden on the UK toy industry._(Mr Frank Roy.)

Question agreed to.

7 Public Petitions

A Public Petition from small shareholders and supporters of Northern Rock of the Blyth Valley constituency in the North East of England relating to Northern Rock was presented and read by Mr Ronnie Campbell.

A Public Petition from small shareholders and supporters of Northern Rock of the Sunderland South constituency in the North East of England relating to Northern Rock was presented and read by Mr Chris Mullin.

8 Adjournment

Subject: Rail fare increases in the South East (Gregory Barker).

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn._(Mr Dave Watts.)

At 10.00 pm, the Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(7)).

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn._(Mr Dave Watts.)

House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 9(7)).

[Adjourned at 10.30 pm until tomorrow. ]

Other proceedings

General Committees: Reports

9 Business Rate Supplements Bill Committee

Mr Peter Atkinson (Chairman) reported:

(1) That the Committee had come to the following Resolution, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication; and

(2) Written evidence.

Written evidence to be published.

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10 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee

John Bercow (Chairman) reported the draft Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) (Amendment) Regulations 2009.

11 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mrs Joan Humble (Chairman) reported the draft Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (Disclosure of Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2009.

12 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Edward O'Hara (Chairman) reported the draft European Union Military Staff (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2008, the draft Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) (Amendment) Order 2008 and the draft International Headquarters and Defence Organisations (Designation and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2008.

13 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr David Amess (Chairman) reported the Government's assessment as set out in the pre-Budget report for the purposes of Section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993.

14 European Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 13195/08, relating to Food distribution to the most deprived persons in the community.

Miss Anne Begg (Chairman) reported the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 13195/08: Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 1290/2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy and Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 establishing a common organization of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) as regards food distribution to the most deprived persons in the Community; and supports the Government's concern about the appropriateness of the proposal as the EU should only act where there are clear additional benefits from collective efforts as compared with action by Member States, either individually or collectively.

General Committees: Appointments

The Speaker appoints the Chairman of General Committees and allocates Statutory Instruments to Delegated Legislation Committees.

The Committee of Selection nominates Members to serve on General Committees (and certain Members to serve on Grand Committees).

15 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) (Amendment) Regulations 2009)

Members: Mr Clive Betts, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Sir Gerald Kaufman and Mr Don Touhig discharged and Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Mr Andrew Slaughter, Anne Snelgrove and Derek Wyatt nominated in substitution.

16 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (Disclosure of Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2009)

Members: Mr Doug Henderson and Mr Tom Harris discharged and Mr Ian Davidson and Chris Ruane nominated in substitution.

17 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft European Union Military Staff (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2008, the draft Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) (Amendment) Order 2008 and the draft International Headquarters and Defence Organisations (Designation and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2008)

Members: Mr Michael Ancram discharged and Anne Main nominated in substitution.

18 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee (Government's assessment as set out in the pre-Budget report for the purposes of Section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993)

Members: Hilary Armstrong, Mr Jeremy Browne, Justine Greening, Kate Hoey, Dennis Skinner and Dr Alan Whitehead discharged and Mr Adrian Bailey, Mr Richard Caborn, Mr David Hamilton, Mr Greg Hands, Andrew Miller and Dr John Pugh nominated in substitution.

19 Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Companies (Trading Disclosures) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 and the draft Companies (Disclosure of Address) Regulations 2008)

Members: Lorely Burt discharged and Lembit O­pik nominated in substitution.

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20 Twelfth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Postponement of Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2009)

Members: Mr Angus MacNeil discharged and Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson nominated in substitution.

21 European Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 13195/08 relating to Food distribution to the most deprived persons in the community

Members: Bill Wiggin and Mr Anthony Wright discharged and Mr James Paice and Mr Don Touhig nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

22 Business and Enterprise Committee

(1) Work of the Committee in 2007^08: Third Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 175);

(2) Independent review of the UK postal services sector: Evidence, to be printed (HC 172-i)

(Peter Luff).

23 Culture, Media and Sport Committee

(1) The work of the Committee in Session 2007^08: Second Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 188);

(2) Channel 4 Annual Report: Third Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 189);

(3) BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2007^08: Fourth Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 190).

(Mr John Whittingdale).

24 Defence Committee

Defence Support Group: Evidence, to be printed (HC 120-i) (Mr James Arbuthnot).

25 Home Affairs Committee

(1) Knife Crime: Evidence, to be printed (HC 112-ii);

(2) Policing Process of Home Office Leak Inquiries: Evidence, to be printed (HC 157-i)

(Keith Vaz).

26 Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

A UK Bill of Rights and the work of the Human Rights Minister: Evidence, to be printed (HC 174-i) (Mr Andrew Dismore).

27 Justice Committee

(1) Coroners and Justice Bill: Second Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 185);

(2) The Work of the Crown Prosecution Service: Evidence, to be printed (HC 186-i)

(Sir Alan Beith).

28 Regulatory Reform Committee

(1) Draft Legislative Reform (Insolvency) (Advertising Requirements) Order 2009: First Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report, and written evidence (HC 181);

(2) the following Resolution:

That the draft Legislative Reform (Insolvency) (Advertising Requirements) Order 2009 which was laid before this House on 4 December 2008, should not be approved.

The Committee came to this Resolution without a Division.

(Andrew Miller).

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29 Speaker's Conference on Parliamentary Representation

Speaker's Conference on Parliamentary Representation: Evidence, to be printed (HC 167-i) (The Speaker).

30 Standards and Privileges (Committee on)

(1) Mr Jack Straw: First Report, with an Appendix, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 182);

(2) Mr Peter Hain: Second Report, with an Appendix, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 183)

(Sir George Young).

31 Treasury Committee

Pre-Budget Report 2008: Second Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 27) (John McFall).

[WH, No. 7]  

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Subjects:

Agriculture in the South West (Mr David Heath).

Future of local press (Dr Ashok Kumar).

Military vehicle design (Ann Winterton).

Grooming of children for prostitution (Mr Barry Sheerman).

Death of Simon Slade at Gidea Park railway station (Mr Iain Duncan Smith).

Motion made and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned._(Jane Kennedy.)

Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 9(7)).

[Adjourned at 2.00 pm until tomorrow. ]

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Criminal Law

Draft Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (Amendment) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw).

2 National Election Expenditure

Draft European Parliamentary Elections (Loans and Related Transactions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw).

Other Papers:

3 Health

Further Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Health Committee, Session 2007^08, on Dental Services (by Command) (Cm. 7532) (Secretary Alan Johnson).

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Withdrawn Papers:

4 National Election Expenditure

Draft European Parliamentary Elections (Loans and Related Transactions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (laid 13 January 2009).

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