Commons Journal 265

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[No. 53 Wednesday 25 March 2009 ]

The house met at 11.30 am.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for International Development

(2) the Prime Minister

2 Speaker's Statement: Availability of Government papers to Members

3 Cohabitation: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide certain protections for persons who live together as a couple or have lived together as a couple; and for connected purposes;

That Mary Creagh, Hilary Armstrong, Liz Blackman, Natascha Engel, Ms Sally Keeble, Fiona Mactaggart, Lynda Waltho, Mr Andy Slaughter, Dr Evan Harris, John Bercow and Mr Gordon Marsden present the Bill.

Mary Creagh accordingly presented the Bill (Cohabitation (No. 2) Bill).

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 3 July, and to be printed (Bill 81).

4 Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (9th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))

(1) Inquiry on the war in Iraq

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's announcement of 18 December 2008 that a fundamental change in the British forces' mission in Iraq will occur by 31 May 2009 at the latest and that at that point the rapid withdrawal of the British troops will take place, taking the total from just under 4,100 to under 400 by 31 July 2009; notes that following this announcement there remains no reasonable impediment to announcing an inquiry on the war in Iraq; and calls for such an inquiry to be conducted by an independent committee of privy counsellors, and to review the way in which the responsibilities of Government were discharged in relation to Iraq, and all matters relevant thereto, in the period leading up to military action in that country in March 2003 and its aftermath, and to make recommendations on lessons to be drawn for the future._(Mr William Hague.)

Amendment moved, in line 1, to leave out from `House' to the end of the Question and add `notes the Resolutions of this House of 31 October 2006, 11 June 2007 and 25 March 2008 on an Iraq inquiry; recognises the heroic efforts of the British armed forces in Iraq who have a continuing role which this House should be careful not to undermine; further recognises that a time will come when an inquiry is appropriate, but declines to make a proposal for a further inquiry at this time, whilst important operations are under way in Iraq to support the people and government of Iraq.'._(Secretary David Miliband.)

Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 31(2)).

The House divided.

Division No. 88.

Ayes: 265 (Tellers: Mr Stephen Crabb, Jeremy Wright).

Noes: 303 (Tellers: Steve McCabe, Chris Mole).

Question accordingly negatived.

Question, That the proposed words be there added, put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31).

The House divided.

Division No. 89.

Ayes: 301 (Tellers: Steve McCabe, Chris Mole).

Noes: 265 (Tellers: Mr Stephen Crabb, Jeremy Wright).

Question accordingly agreed to.

The Deputy Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order No. 31(2)).

Resolved, That this House notes the Resolutions of this House of 31 October 2006, 11 June 2007 and 25 March 2008 on an Iraq inquiry; recognises the heroic efforts of the British armed forces in Iraq who have a continuing role which this House should be careful not to undermine; further recognises that a time will come when an inquiry is appropriate, but declines to make a proposal for a further inquiry at this time, whilst important operations are under way in Iraq to support the people and government of Iraq.

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(2) Implications of business rates and the recession for businesses

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House notes with concern that the effect of the five per cent. rise in business rates and the end of transitional rate relief will mean soaring bills at a time of deflation and recession; notes the poor take-up of small business rate relief and calls for entitlement to be made automatic in England, as it is in Wales; believes the complex and shrinking Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme should be replaced with genuine incentives for local authorities to promote business growth; further calls for local authorities to have the power to apply local business rate discounts; expresses concern about the effect of the 2010 rates re-valuation on retail premises and urges a review of the re-valuation plans; cautions that local firms will suffer as a result of the Government's business rate rises on empty property, new supplementary rates being imposed with no business say, and retrospective increases in rates on business by ports; and asserts that the Government's policies on business rates are harming local firms during the recession._(Robert Neill.)

Amendment moved, in line 1, to leave out from `House' to the end of the Question and add `notes that the Government has recognised the problems that many businesses face and is committed to do all it can to help them through these testing times; recognises the action the Government has taken to give targeted support to businesses including a #20 billion working capital scheme, an aim to pay Government suppliers within 10 days, a cut in the main rate of value added tax to 15 per cent., a deferral in the increase in the small companies' rate of corporation tax, free business health checks, more than #100 million towards debt advice, the HM Revenue and Customs Time to Pay scheme benefiting 93,000 firms by deferring #1.6 billion in tax, and extension of Empty Property Relief; believes the Government's commitment to the annual Retail Price Index cap means that there has been no real terms increase in business rates since 1990; welcomes the Small Business Rate Relief scheme benefiting 392,000 businesses by #260 million in 2007^08; recognises that funding of almost #1 billion since 2005^06 has been provided through the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme; further supports fairness in the system that ensures that properties are revalued every five years with transitional relief to phase in significant increases in bills from revaluation; and acknowledges help provided for businesses, including in ports, receiving unexpected and significant backdated rates bills by introducing an unprecedented eight years to pay, as part of a package of measures that ensures through the rates system there is certainty, fairness and appropriate relief for businesses.'._(John Healey.)

Mr Patrick McLoughlin claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).

Question put, That the Question be now put.

Question agreed to.

Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 31(2)).

The House divided.

Division No. 90.

Ayes: 220 (Tellers: Mr Stephen Crabb, Jeremy Wright).

Noes: 297 (Tellers: Helen Goodman, Ms Diana R. Johnson).

Question accordingly negatived.

Question, That the proposed words be there added, put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31).

Question agreed to.

The Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order No. 31(2)).

Resolved, That this House notes that the Government has recognised the problems that many businesses face and is committed to do all it can to help them through these testing times; recognises the action the Government has taken to give targeted support to businesses including a #20 billion working capital scheme, an aim to pay Government suppliers within 10 days, a cut in the main rate of value added tax to 15 per cent., a deferral in the increase in the small companies' rate of corporation tax, free business health checks, more than #100 million towards debt advice, the HM Revenue and Customs Time to Pay scheme benefiting 93,000 firms by deferring #1.6 billion in tax, and extension of Empty Property Relief; believes the Government's commitment to the annual Retail Price Index cap means that there has been no real terms increase in business rates since 1990; welcomes the Small Business Rate Relief scheme benefiting 392,000 businesses by #260 million in 2007^08; recognises that funding of almost #1 billion since 2005^06 has been provided through the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme; further supports fairness in the system that ensures that properties are revalued every five years with transitional relief to phase in significant increases in bills from revaluation; and acknowledges help provided for businesses, including in ports, receiving unexpected and significant backdated rates bills by introducing an unprecedented eight years to pay, as part of a package of measures that ensures through the rates system there is certainty, fairness and appropriate relief for businesses.

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5 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Tax Credits Up-rating Regulations 2009, which were laid before this House on 9 February, be approved._(Ian Lucas.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Guardian's Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2009, which was laid before this House on 9 February, be approved._(Ian Lucas.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2009, which was laid before this House on 9 February, be approved._(Ian Lucas.)

Question agreed to.

6 Church of England Measures: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Church of England Pensions (Amendment) Measure (HC 268), passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for Her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament._(Sir Stuart Bell.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure (HC 270), passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for Her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament._(Sir Stuart Bell.)

The Speaker's opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.

Division deferred until Wednesday 1 April (Standing Order No. 41A).

7 Adjournment (May Day)

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 25), That this House, at its rising on Thursday 30 April 2009, do adjourn till Tuesday 5 May 2009._(Ian Lucas.)

The Speaker's opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.

Division deferred until Wednesday 1 April (Standing Order No. 41A).

8 Banks and Banking

Ordered, That the Bradford & Bingley plc Transfer of Securities and Property etc. (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 320), dated 19 February 2009, be referred to a Delegated Legislation Committee._(Ian Lucas.)

9 Public Petition

A Public Petition from tenants of the London Borough of Sutton, and others relating to Council Housing (London Borough of Sutton) was presented and read by Mr Paul Burstow.

10 Adjournment

Subject: Reducing unplanned teenage pregnancy rates in Nottingham (Mr Graham Allen).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn._(Ian Lucas.)

[Adjourned at 7.47 pm until tomorrow. ]

Other proceedings

General Committees: Reports

11 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr John Cummings (Chairman) reported the draft Access to Justice Act 1999 (Destination of Appeals) (Family Proceedings) Order 2009.

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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).

12 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) (Amendment) Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: Martin Caton

(2) Members: Mr John Baron, Ms Karen Buck, Mr David Clelland, Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Nigel Evans, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Helen Jones, Daniel Kawczynski, Mr David Kidney, Martin Linton, Anne Main, Mr James Plaskitt, Paul Rowen, Mr Nigel Waterson, Steve Webb and Ms Rosie Winterton.

13 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mr David Amess

(2) Members: Mr Graham Allen, Mr Michael Ancram, Mr Ben Bradshaw, Colin Burgon, Rosie Cooper, Barry Gardiner, Mr John Gummer, Kate Hoey, Mr Bernard Jenkin, Ms Diana R. Johnson, Norman Lamb, Anne Milton, Greg Mulholland, Mr Denis Murphy, Derek Twigg and Mr Rob Wilson.

14 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Categories of Gaming Machine (Amendment) Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mr Greg Pope

(2) Members: Mr David Chaytor, Mary Creagh, Frank Dobson, Mr Tobias Ellwood, Michael Fabricant, Mr Don Foster, Michael Jabez Foster (Hastings and Rye), Mr John Grogan, Mr Doug Henderson, Siobhain McDonagh, Mark Pritchard, Mr Gerry Sutcliffe, Mr Hugo Swire, Mr Andrew Tyrie, Claire Ward and Richard Younger-Ross.

15 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Health in Pregnancy Grant (Entitlement and Amount) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3108) and the Health in Pregnancy Grant (Administration) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 3109))

(1) Chairman: Ann Winterton

(2) Members: Mr Bob Blizzard, Mr Colin Breed, Mr Stephen Dorrell, James Duddridge, Mr David Gauke, Mrs Sia®n C. James, Norman Lamb, Mr Peter Lilley, Fiona Mactaggart, Margaret Moran, Stephen Pound, Mr John Redwood, Mr Virendra Sharma, Mr Marsha Singh, Ian Stewart and Mr Stephen Timms.

16 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. COM(08) 763, relating to EU and the Arctic Region:

Members: Mr Stephen Byers, Ben Chapman, Mr Edward Davey, Helen Goodman, Mr Greg Hands, Kelvin Hopkins, Gillian Merron, Meg Munn, Mr Brooks Newmark, Mr Keith Simpson, Sir John Stanley, Ms Gisela Stuart and Jo Swinson.

17 European Committee B in respect of European Union Documents No. 16686/08 and No. >17104/08,> relating to European Security and Defence Policy

Chairman: Mr Eric Illsley.

European Documents referred

18 European Committee B

European Union Document No. 16162/09, relating to Free movement of EU workers.

19 European Committee B

European Union Document No. 7084/09 and Addendum, relating to Economic recovery.

Reports from Select Committees

20 Children, Schools and Families Committee

The Protection of Children in England: Lord Laming's Progress Report: Evidence, to be printed (HC 379-i) (Mr Barry Sheerman).

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21 East of England Regional Select Committee

Margaret Moran reported from the East of England Regional Select Committee, That she had been chosen as Chairman of the Committee.

22 Energy and Climate Change Committee

UK offshore oil and gas: Evidence, to be printed (HC 341-iii) (Mr Elliot Morley).

23 European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Thirteenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 19-xii);

(2) Free Movement of EU Workers: Fouteenth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 324); and

(3) Ministerial Correspondence: Written Evidence to be published (Michael Connarty).

24 Foreign Affairs Committee

Global Security: Afghanistan: Evidence, to be printed (HC 302-ii) (Mike Gapes).

25 Home Affairs Committee

Violent Crime and Drugs: Evidence, to be printed (HC 382-i) (Keith Vaz).

26 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

DIUS's Departmental Report 2008: Government Response to the Third Report from the Committee: Third Special Report, to be printed (HC 383) (Mr Phil Willis).

27 Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Omagh Bombing: Evidence, to be printed (HC 359-ii) (Sir Patrick Cormack).

28 Procedure Committee

Interleaving of Bills and Explanatory Notes: First Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 377) (Mr Greg Knight).

29 Scottish Affairs Committee

Enforcement of the National Minimum Wage in Scotland: Evidence, to be printed (HC 380-i) (Mr Mohammad Sarwar).

30 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Tenth Report, with written evidence, to be printed (HC 3-x) (David Maclean).

[WH, No. 32]  

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Subjects:

Protection of Ashraf residents under the Geneva Convention (Andrew Mackinlay).

Hajj pilgrims and UK tour operators (Mr Roger Godsiff).

Building Colleges for the Future programme (Dr John Pugh).

Asbestos in schools (Paul Rowen).

Livestock industry and its effect on climate change (Kerry McCarthy).

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

Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(11)).

[Adjourned at 5.27 pm until tomorrow. ]

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APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

1 European Communities

European Communities (Designation) (No. 2) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 707), dated 18 March 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary David Miliband).

2 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge

Statute, dated 14 May 2008 and 17 September 2008, made by the Governing Body of Somerville College in the University of Oxford, revising the existing Statutes of the College (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw).

Other Papers:

3 Caribbean and North Atlantic Territories

Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 701), dated 18 March 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary David Miliband).

4 Disability Discrimination

Report on Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations Exemption Orders for 2008 (by Act) (Secretary Geoff Hoon).

5 Justice

Bribery: Draft Legislation (by Command) (Cm. 7570) (Secretary Jack Straw).

6 Pensions

Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 706), dated 18 March 2009 (by Act) (Mr Secretary Hutton).

7 Public Accounts

Treasury Minutes on the First to the Third Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2008^09 (by Command) (Cm. 7568) (Angela Eagle).

8 Treaty Series (No. 5, 2009)

Exchange of Notes, done at Tokyo on 5th February 2008, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Japan concerning the Supply of Logistic Support to the United Kingdom Armed Forces (by Command) (Cm. 7578) (Secretary David Miliband).

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