Commons Journal 265

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[No. 93 Wednesday 17 June 2009 ]

The house met at 11.30 am.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland

(2) the Prime Minister

2 Application for emergency debate

Mr Angus MacNeil proposed that the House should debate job losses at the missile-testing base run by QinetiQ Range Hebrides (Standing Order No. 24).

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The Speaker declined to put the application to the House.

3 Programming of Bills (Suspension): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23).

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the suspension or restriction of programming of Bills when the House of Commons is scheduled to meet for fewer than a prescribed number of days in any specified period; and for connected purposes;

That Mr Peter Lilley, Anne Main, Sir Patrick Cormack, Mr Christopher Chope, Philip Davies, Mark Fisher, Mr John Gummer, Dr Evan Harris, Mr Elfyn Llwyd, Mr Chris Mullin and Mr Charles Walker present the Bill.

Mr Peter Lilley accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 3 July, and to be printed (Bill 113).

4 Speaker's Valedictory Statement

Mr Speaker addressed the House, as follows:

One of the pleasant side effects of a Speaker moving on is that his signature becomes a collector's item. I can inform the House that in the past few weeks I've signed several hundred bottles of Speaker Martin's Malt. The Chancellor will be pleased to know that some bottles are fetching as much as #150 on eBay. I wanted to help the Chancellor in stimulating the economy, but as a lifelong teetotaller, I'm surprised I could do so in such a way.

I pay special tribute to my staff in Speaker's House: Angus Sinclair, Speaker's Secretary; Peter Barratt, Assistant Secretary; Ian Davis, my Trainbearer; Chris Michael, Diary Secretary; Eve Griffith-Okai, Katherine McCarthy and Abdulaye Balogun. In Speaker's House Mrs Gloria Hawkes, Housekeeper, has always been there for us; a good friend. No Speaker could ask for a better or more dedicated staff. My three Deputies, Sir Alan Haselhurst, Sylvia Heal and Sir Michael Lord, have shown me first-class support, both inside and outside the Chamber where their expertise is plain to see. I also thank the members of the Chairmen's Panel for their dedication in working day and night.

I must say `thank you' to the work-force in the Palace of Westminster. It is plain for Members to observe the Police, Security Officers, Doorkeepers and Badge Messengers going about their duties and their courtesy is renowned. We have a library so highly regarded by every democracy and especially in the Commonwealth. It has adapted so well to electronic change.

The Speaker's Chaplain, Canon Robert Wright, has given me invaluable spiritual guidance. The Legal Services Office under Speaker's Counsel does much that is un-sung. And the Clerks_men and women who are excellent procedural experts_advising at our side every day we are in session. They go out of their way to help and research. Their advice to emerging democracies in Eastern Europe and beyond is invaluable and they are held in the highest regard. Hansard_whose powers of concentration and accuracy are first class. And the CPA and IPU do so much for us.

I must make special mention to those men and women who run our catering outlets and those associated with Facilities who are behind the scenes, cleaning, maintaining and quietly working hard in support and so often without much recognition. And the same goes for those in the Fees Office_Resources_as it is now called.

Some of these men and women we do not often see or don't know by name. I have taken every opportunity to ask them to Speaker's House when I can to thank them for their hard-work on your behalf. As testimony to their dedication I recall that on 7 July 2005_7/7_many walked home or walked to work when their transport had stopped and they made sure they were at work the next day. In that snowstorm that stopped London last year many made that huge effort to walk in and do their work: they are a credit to this House.

When I found out that the Palace of Westminster with its Pugin craftsmanship did not have apprentices I proposed an apprenticeship scheme. All the trades of the House, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, upholsterers and the chefs embarked on a work experience and apprenticeship scheme which has allowed local boys and girls to be trained to a very high skill making them employable here in the House or outside in all parts of London. By the summer break some of the apprentices will be receiving the final trades certificates. I am grateful to all those who are giving so many young people a good start in life.

When you charged me with the responsibility of caring for Speaker's House, my wife Mary and I resolved to make this place of world heritage also a place of welcome. So many fellow Members and Members of the Other Place honoured us with their presence. It was a pleasure to receive leaders and speakers from democracies throughout the world over the past eight years. I will leave Speaker's House in the knowledge that I have opened the House to so many charities who have either wanted to promote their work or celebrate a special anniversary or occasion. It was always a joy to receive regular visits from the little children from LATCH, the leukaemia charity of Wales.

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We welcomed many voluntary, professional and veterans associations including: The Royal College of Midwives, World War II veterans some from HMS Speaker, Marie Curie, which has a hospice in my constituency, the homeless charities, and the Huntingdon's Disease Association.

As a man of Christian faith I have been able to welcome other faith groups and was so pleased to initiate the annual Jewish celebration of Hanukah taking place in Speaker's House bringing members of staff, Members of the House and others of this ancient faith together.

I want to mention a few recent issues which have troubled me greatly.

The Police search of the Hon Member for Ashford's office led to my Statement of 3 December last year and which I affirm today. I am pleased that the Government Chief Whip has assured me that an all-party inquiry of eight senior Members, with a member of the Opposition in the Chair and with no Government majority will enquire into this matter and establish the truth of those events in full transparency, and allow all the lessons to be learned. I will give evidence to any depth required by the House.

Let me turn now to Members' expenses and allowances. This subject has caused an understandable loss of public trust and confidence in us all. In my 30 years in this House I have seen nothing like it.

Let me say again to the men and women of this country that I am sorry.

But I also remind the House that it passed up an opportunity of dealing with this emotive issue less than a year ago.

In January 2008, I was tasked by the House with reviewing Members' allowances. I pay tribute to my colleagues_the Hon Member for Middlesbrough, the Rt Hon Member for Penrith & the Border and the Hon Member for North Devon on the Members' Estimates Committee, who worked very hard to produce detailed and thorough proposals.

They took a wide range of evidence and produced a report that was blunt and straightforward, whose 18 separate recommendations were presented to the House on 3 July 2008.

In a letter to me, on 30 June last year, Sir Christopher Kelly, Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, commented that they were pleased to see the proposals for a more robust system of audit and assurance, based for the most part on claims backed by receipts, and by the implied acceptance of complete transparency about what is claimed. Taken together, these seem to us to be significant steps towards the establishment of the robust regime that MPs and the taxpayer have the right to expect".

The response of the House was deeply disappointing. Half of the Members did not attend to vote. And more than half of those who did vote rejected the proposals.

I regretted that then and I deeply regret it now. And I expect that many Members of the House now share that regret.

Of course, the recommendations would not have solved every difficulty. But they would have ended many practices for which Members have been attacked in recent weeks.

Some proposals have since been seized upon by Party Leaders, who have come up with their own solutions. But, by and large those solutions were in my Committee's 18 recommendations. They would have stopped claims for furniture and household goods, ended Outer London Members claiming for the cost of second homes, introduced a robust new system of internal_and crucially_external audit and reduced the receipt level to zero.

I wish with all my heart, that those recommendations had won the confidence of the House last July. And I wish that Party Leaders could have shown then, some of the leadership which they have shown now.

Tradition has it that such votes are not whipped. But this does not remove the responsibility of Leaders to speak up for common sense and for the obvious wishes of the country in seeking necessary reform. We should have done that last year.

As to the legal challenges made to the Freedom of Information Act as Speaker I could see that some Members wanted complete and total transparency, others strongly argued that the information should only be to a certain degree. The representation to me came from every party and at every level of those parties.

I listened to these representations but I was also aware that in an important area of law such as this the decision of a very new Information Tribunal, to publish details for 14 Members of Parliament had to be tested in a higher court because its decision would affect all 646 Members.

What we now know is that Transparency will be our best safeguard.

On 4 May 1979 the people of Glasgow Springburn, now Glasgow North East, entrusted me with the greatest honour of my life when I was returned as their Member of Parliament.

This is the place where I served my apprenticeship as a young metal worker and where I joined the Trade Union of which I am still a member.

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This is also where I married my wife Mary and we raised our family. My thoughts go to the fact that every member of my family including son Paul and daughter Mary_have been cared for so well in Stobhill Hospital which over the years I have campaigned for on the floor of this House.

Of the many issues affecting my constituency, housing has been a fundamental problem. So it has been exciting and rewarding that I have been able to engage in the early years of the new community based housing associations. In 30 years their growing strength has brought dignity ands comfort to many men, women and children who would otherwise have faced damp and inadequate dwellings. Furthermore, they have spurred the growth of excellent local institutions, community halls and sheltered housing for the elderly.

As the House will appreciate, I took pride throughout my time as a back bencher and as Speaker in holding surgeries and taking up matters that were important to individuals, organisation and all the people of my constituency.

I must record and give thanks for the strong support of my agent, Councillor Gerry Leonard and my constituency assistant, Mrs Georgie Rainey and my life-long friend Mr Barry Reamsbottom who helps me here in London. They have always shown unfailing support in the constituency and I am honoured to have worked with them.

The constituency will always be home in every sense. For me, there can be no greater honour than bringing to this House the richness of that experience; the privilege of representing friends and neighbours; and the values of family and community that I hold dear.

To all those good people of Glasgow North East and Glasgow Springburn before it, let me say this: I will forever be in your debt for giving me your friendship, support and trust.

I have enjoyed every day of coming into this House. It was a great honour to be invited by Speaker Weatherill to be on his panel. That took me to the Chairmanship of the Scottish Grand Committee, travelling the length and breadth of Scotland bringing Parliament to the people. And then to be chairman of the Administration Committee and then as Deputy Speaker.

In the year 2000 you entrusted me with the Great Office of Speaker, I have been so happy to serve you and represent the House at home and abroad. I was honoured to be the first Speaker to pay an official visit to Poland, a country I always hoped and prayed would be free of Communism.

Because of my political neutrality a Speaker must withdraw from the natural comradeship of this place and be a little isolated in Speaker's House. I raise this point because I would like to thank my wife Mary for coming to London each week when her natural instinct was to remain in her beloved Glasgow. Without intruding in my business she has always been there in support and she has done so much to make Speaker's House a place of welcome; planning and working on official and unofficial events.

Though this Parliament is at its lowest ebb, I can testify to the goodness of the vast majority of members of this House. I have had the privilege, often late at night, during Adjournment Debates to witness Members from every party, including minority parties, raising the problem of one, sole constituent, perhaps experiencing a health or social security problem. Those Members were using their right to question government ministers. Most strikingly when working miners suffered the cruel effects of industrial diseases. There was no shortage of Members to make demands on government ministers to give these good, hard-working people compensation.

Members regularly act as a group, showing tenacity when campaigning on behalf of those they represent and those who have been denied human rights in countries abroad.

Let us not forget that it was this Parliament that achieved what seemed impossible. All the political parties of Northern Ireland took huge risks in setting aside their long-held differences and in doing so they worked with all the political parties in this House, achieving a peace which has brought harmony to Northern Ireland.

It was a proud moment for me when I welcomed the Irish Taoiseach on behalf of this House and his welcome was that given to a friend. That was this Parliament at its very best.

There are those who will remind us of our unworthy moments but, when I am asked I will tell of the goodness that exists in this House. I will leave this House with fond and moving memories. One of those memories is of meeting a Holocaust survivor called Rosa. She came to this country in 1946 after she had endured the horrors of Auschwitz and a long, forced march back to Germany. She raised her family in Britain and she would say about parliament: that building gave me my freedom."

Rosa held this House in high regard for perfectly justifiable reasons and the House must work tirelessly to restore the high esteem that she saw in it.

In knowing you all personally, I know you will do this so that the people of the United Kingdom will have, once again, a parliamentary democracy they can regard as the best in the world.

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In the work ahead you will be criticised strongly, particularly for this sad period. When scorned, take as comfort the words that Robert Burns wrote to those he described as The Rigidly Righteous:

Then gently scan your brother man,
Still gentler sister woman:
Tho' they may go a little wrong,
To step aside is human."

5 Tribute to Mr Speaker

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That this House records its warm appreciation of the manner in which the Right Honourable Michael Martin has occupied the office of Speaker; expresses its thanks for the humanity and good humour with which he has presided over the affairs of the House at a most challenging time; congratulates him on the kindness and openness he has shown to all Members and for establishing a Speaker's conference to examine engagement of Parliament with an increasingly diverse society; and accordingly unites in sending him its wishes for a long and happy retirement upon his departure from the Chair._(The Prime Minister.)

6 Business Rate Supplements Bill (Programme) (No. 3)

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Business Rate Supplements Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Orders of 12 January and 11 March (Business Rate Supplements Bill (Programme) and Business Rate Supplements 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 at the moment of interruption 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._(Mary Creagh.)

Question agreed to.

7 Business Rate Supplements Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments

Lords Amendment 1.

Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with Lords Amendment 1._(Sarah McCarthy-Fry.)

The House divided.

Division No. 152.

Ayes: 267 (Tellers: Steve McCabe, Mr Dave Watts).

Noes: 219 (Tellers: Bill Wiggin, Mr Stephen Crabb).

Lords Amendment accordingly disagreed to.

Lords Amendments 2 to 6 disagreed to.

Lords Amendment 7.

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House agrees with Lords Amendment 7.

8 Deferred Divisions

The Deputy Speaker announced the results of the Division which had been deferred to this day (Standing Order No. 41A).

External Service

That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 5289/09, Commission Communication on the Development and Consolidation of the External Service: Implementation of Measures for 2008; and endorses the Government's policy of support for the developments to the European Commission's external service in 2009.

Division No. 151.

Ayes: 305.

Noes: 160.

Question accordingly agreed to.

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9 Business Rate Supplements Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments (resumed)

Question again proposed, That this House agrees with Lords Amendment 7.

Question put and agreed to, with Commons privileges waived in respect of the Lords Amendment.

Lords Amendments 8 to 10 agreed to, with Commons privileges waived in respect of Lords Amendments 8 and 10.

Lords Amendment 11.

Motion made and Question put, That this House disagrees with Lords Amendment 11.

The House divided.

Division No. 153.

Ayes: 258 (Tellers: Mr John Heppell, Mrs Sharon Hodgson).

Noes: 227 (Tellers: Bill Wiggin, Mr Stephen Crabb).

Lords Amendment accordingly disagreed to.

Lords Amendments 12 to 14 disagreed to.

Amendment made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendments 1 to 6, 13 and 14 disagreed to.

Lords Amendment 15 agreed to, with Commons privileges waived in respect of the Lords Amendment.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 11 and 12.

That Lyn Brown, Natascha Engel, Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Robert Neill and Dan Rogerson be members of the Committee.

That Sarah McCarthy-Fry be Chairman of the Committee.

That three be the Quorum of the Committee.

That the Committee do withdraw immediately._(Mr Bob Blizzard).

Question agreed to.

10 Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill (Money)

Queen's Recommendation signified.

Ordered, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill, it is expedient to authorise_

(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred by virtue of the Act by the Secretary of State, and

(2) the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of that Fund._(Mr David Kidney.)

11 Statutory Instruments: Motion for Approval

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Work and Families (Increase of Maximum Amount) Order 2009, which was laid before this House on 4 June, be approved._(Mr Bob Blizzard.)

Question agreed to.

12 Genetically Modified Maize

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 119(11)), That this House takes note of the two unnumbered explanatory memoranda from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs dated 6 May 2009 concerning the placing on the market, in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of maize products (Zea mays L., line Bt11 and Zea mays L., line 1507) genetically modified for resistance to certain lepidopteran pests; and supports the Government's view that all the requirements of the Directive have been met in relation to these products and that their proposed authorisation for cultivation should be granted._(Mr Bob Blizzard.)

Question agreed to.

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13 Business Rate Supplements Bill: Reasons Committee

Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Chairman) reported that the Committee had agreed the following Reasons:

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 11 for the following Reason:

Because it would affect the levy of local revenue, and the Commons do not offer any further Reason, trusting that this Reason may be deemed sufficient.

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 12 for the following Reason:

Because it would affect the levy of local revenue, and the Commons do not offer any further Reason, trusting that this Reason may be deemed sufficient.

The Reasons were agreed to.

14 Adjournment

Subject: NHS funding and services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Andrew George).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn._(Mr Bob Blizzard.)

[Adjourned at 6.47 pm until tomorrow. ]

Other proceedings

Lords Messages

15 Bank of England (Amendment) Bill [Lords]

The Lords have passed a Bill to amend the objectives of the Bank of England in relation to monetary policy; to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

16 Saving Gateway Accounts Bill

The Lords agree to the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill, with Amendments, to which they desire the agreement of the Commons.

Printing of Lords Amendments

17 Saving Gateway Accounts Bill

Lords Amendments to the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill to be considered tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 118) with Explanatory Notes (Bill 118^EN).

General Committees: Reports

18 Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Bill Committee

Mr David Wilshire reported the Bill with Amendments.

Bill, as amended, to be considered on Friday 26 June; and to be printed (Bill 117).

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).

19 Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill Committee

(1) Chairman: Dr William McCrea

(2) Members: Mr Peter Ainsworth, Colin Challen, Mr Andrew Dismore, Mr David Drew, Charles Hendry, Martin Horwood, David Howarth, Mr Lindsay Hoyle, Mr Nick Hurd, Mike Penning, Joan Ruddock, Alan Simpson, Emily Thornberry, Joan Walley, Dr Alan Whitehead and Bill Wiggin.

20 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mr David Amess

(2) Members: Mr Graham Allen, John Battle, Sir Paul Beresford, Ms Patricia Hewitt, Mr Douglas Hogg, Mr Geoffrey Hoon, Martin Horwood, Mr John Hutton, Dr Ashok Kumar, Miss Anne McIntosh, Dan Norris, Mr Geoffrey Robinson, Mr Hugo Swire, Angela Watkinson, Mr Roger Williams and David Wright.

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21 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Child Support Collection and Enforcement (Deduction Orders) (Amendment) Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mr Martyn Jones

(2) Members: Mr John Baron, Hazel Blears, Philip Davies, Frank Dobson, Helen Goodman, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Mrs Sia®n C. James, Mrs Anne McGuire, Fiona Mactaggart, Patrick Mercer, Richard Ottaway, Paul Rowen, Andrew Selous, Mr Virendra Sharma, Mr Don Touhig and Steve Webb.

22 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Sir Nicholas Winterton

(2) Members: Chris Bryant, Mr Stephen Byers, Harry Cohen, Mr Edward Davey, Mr Nigel Evans, Mr Mark Francois, Beverley Hughes, Dr Brian Iddon, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Mr Malcolm Moss, Mr Brooks Newmark, Martin Salter, Jacqui Smith, Mr John Spellar, Jo Swinson and Paddy Tipping.

23 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1342))

Members: Anne Main discharged and Mr David Gauke nominated in substitution.

24 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mrs Joan Humble

(2) Members: Ms Karen Buck, Lorely Burt, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Frank Field, Mr John Gummer, Mr John Heppell, Mr Adam Ingram, Ian Lucas, Andrew Mackinlay, Mr Paul Murphy, James Purnell, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Mr Richard Shepherd, Mr Andrew Smith, John Thurso and Jeremy Wright.

25 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Transfer of Functions of the Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal Order 2009, the draft Transfer of Functions (Estate Agents Appeals and Additional Scheduled Tribunal) Order 2009 and the draft Transfer of Functions (Transport Tribunal and Appeal Panel) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Joan Walley

(2) Members: Mr Henry Bellingham, Des Browne, Mr Tom Clarke, Mr Mark Field, Caroline Flint, Mr John Greenway, Stephen Hesford, Paul Holmes, David Howarth, Helen Jones, Mr Tony McNulty, Bridget Prentice, Mr Neil Turner, Derek Twigg, Mr Robert Walter and Jeremy Wright.

26 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Armed Forces (Enlistment) Regulations 2009, the draft Armed Forces (Part 5 of the Armed Forces Act 2006) Regulations 2009 and the draft Armed Forces, Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Christopher Fraser

(2) Members: Mr Michael Ancram, Mr John Baron, David Cairns, Jon Cruddas, Mr Bernard Jenkin, Mr Kevan Jones, Eric Joyce, Ms Sally Keeble, Mr Alan Milburn, Meg Munn, Dr Andrew Murrison, Mr John Redwood, Willie Rennie, Mr Frank Roy, Bob Russell and Helen Southworth.

27 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (Designation of Participating Countries) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Hywel Williams

(2) Members: Mr Graham Brady, James Brokenshire, Mr Simon Burns, Mark Fisher, Chris Huhne, Glenda Jackson, Daniel Kawczynski, Mr Fraser Kemp, Martin Linton, Steve McCabe, Mrs Madeleine Moon, Joan Ryan, Jenny Willott, Mr Phil Woolas, Mr Anthony Wright and Mr Tim Yeo.

28 Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Companies House Trading Fund (Amendment) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mrs Janet Dean

(2) Members: Lorely Burt, Mr Ian Cawsey, David T. C. Davies (Monmouth), Mr Fabian Hamilton, Mr John Heppell, Sir Gerald Kaufman, Mr Edward Leigh, Ian Lucas, Mr Gordon Marsden, Mr Gordon Prentice, Mr Laurence Robertson, Dr Howard Stoate, John Thurso, David Tredinnick, Malcolm Wicks and Jeremy Wright.

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29 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Transfer of Functions of the Charity Tribunal Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mr Clive Betts

(2) Members: Mr David Clelland, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Nadine Dorries, Stephen Hesford, Mr Philip Hollobone, Paul Holmes, David Howarth, Helen Jones, Alun Michael, Mr Austin Mitchell, Julie Morgan, Bridget Prentice, Graham Stringer, Mr Andrew Tyrie, Mr David Winnick and Jeremy Wright.

30 European Committee B in respect of European Union Documents No. 7084/09 and Addendum and No. 10511/09 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to Economic Recovery

Members: Mr David S. Borrow, Mr Jeremy Browne, Dr Vincent Cable, Jim Cousins, Mr David Crausby, James Duddridge, Mr Michael Fallon, Mr David Gauke, Mr David Heathcoat-Amory, Mr Stephen Hepburn, Mr George Howarth, Mr John Spellar and Kitty Ussher.

European Union Documents Referred

31 European Committee B

Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 11 June 2009 submitted by HM Treasury, relating to the Preliminary Draft Budget 2010.

32 European Committee C

European Union Document No. 17367/08 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to Waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Reports from Select Committees

33 Children, Schools and Families Committee

Allegations against school staff: Evidence, to be printed (HC 695-i) (Mr Barry Sheerman).

34 Draft Bribery Bill (Joint Committee on)

(1) Evidence, to be printed (HC 430-vii);

(2) Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Bruce George).

35 Energy and Climate Change Committee

(1) UK offshore oil and gas: First Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report, and written evidence reported and ordered to be published on 11 and 19 March and 20 May (HC 341-I and-II);

(2) The Future of Britain's Electricity Networks: Evidence, to be printed (HC 388-vi);

(3) Low carbon technologies in a green economy: Written evidence, to be published

(Paddy Tipping).

36 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

(1) Ofwat Price Review 2009: Evidence taken before the Sub-Committee, to be printed (HC 554-vi);

(2) Draft Flood and Water Management Bill: Evidence taken before the Sub-Committee, to be printed (HC 555-vii)

(Mr Michael Jack).

37 European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Twenty-second Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 19-xx);

(2) Ministerial Correspondence: Written evidence, to be published

(Michael Connarty).

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38 Foreign Affairs Committee

(1) Developments in the European Union: Evidence to be printed (HC 79-iii);

(2) Human Rights: Written evidence, to be published

(Mike Gapes).

39 Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee

Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Evidence, to be printed (HC 717-i) (Mr Phil Willis).

40 Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

A Human Rights Bill for Northern Ireland: Written evidence, to be published (Sir Patrick Cormack).

41 Public Accounts (Committee of)

(1) Planning for Homes: Speeding up planning applications for major housing developments in England: Thirty-third Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 236);

(2) Defra: Natural England's role in improving Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Thirty-fourth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 244);

(3) The administration of the Crown Court: Thirty-fifth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 357);

(4) The health of livestock and honeybees in England: Thirty-sixth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 366);

(5) Building the Capacity of the Third Sector: Thirty-seventh Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 436);

(6) National Offender Management Service: Maintenance of the prison estate in England and Wales: Evidence, to be printed (HC 722-i);

(Mr Edward Leigh).

42 Scottish Affairs Committee

Work of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Scotland: Third Report, with written evidence, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 176) (Mr Mohammad Sarwar).

43 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

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

44 Transport Committee

(1) The future of aviation: Evidence, to be printed (HC 499-iii);

(2) Rail fares and franchises: Evidence, to be printed (HC 233-iii)

(Mrs Louise Ellman).

45 Work and Pensions Committee

Child Poverty: Evidence, to be printed (HC 702-i) (Mr Terry Rooney).

[WH, No. 59]  

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Subjects:

Regional aviation policy (Phil Wilson).

Pemberton homicide review (Anne Snelgrove).

Future of the island of St Helena (Ann Winterton).

Ambulance services in Nantwich and Crewe (Mr Edward Timpson).

Rail services to Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac).

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Resolved, That the sitting be now adjourned._(Mr Dave Watts.)

[Adjourned at 5.21 pm until tomorrow. ]

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Draft Legislative Reform Order:

1 Regulatory Reform

Draft Legislative Reform (Dangerous Wild Animals) (Licensing) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Document recommending the affirmative resolution procedure (Secretary Hilary Benn).

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

2 Capital Gains Tax

(1) Draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Guernsey) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Stephen Timms);

(2) draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Jersey) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Stephen Timms); and

(3) draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Virgin Islands) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Stephen Timms).

3 Children and Young Persons

Draft Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Regulated Activity, Miscellaneous and Transitional Provisions and Commencement No. 5) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ed Balls).

4 Companies

(1) Draft Community Interest Company (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr Pat McFadden);

(2) draft Companies (Share Capital and Acquisition by Company of its Own Shares) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Mr Pat McFadden);

(3) draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) (Uncertificated Securities) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Kitty Ussher); and

(4) draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr Pat McFadden).

5 Human Fertilisation and Embryology

Draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Andy Burnham).

6 International Development

Draft Caribbean Development Bank (Seventh Replenishment of the Unified Special Development Fund) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Mr Secretary Alexander).

7 Statistics Board

Draft Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (Disclosure of Higher Education Student Information) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Tessa Jowell).

8 Taxes

Draft Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) (Taxes and National Insurance) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Stephen Timms).

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Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

9 Criminal Law

Burma/Myanmar (Financial Restrictions) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1495), dated 17 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Kitty Ussher).

10 European Parliament

European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1485), dated 12 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Ms Harriet Harman).

11 Judicature, Northern Ireland

Court Funds (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. (N.I.), 2009, No. 232), dated 15 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw).

12 Social Security

(1) National Insurance Contribution Credits (Transfer of Functions) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1377), dated 10 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Yvette Cooper); and

(2) Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1488), dated 9 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Yvette Cooper).

13 Sports Grounds and Sporting Events

Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No. 3) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1501), dated 17 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Ben Bradshaw).

Other Papers:

14 Caribbean and North Atlantic Territories

Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1379), dated 10 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary David Miliband).

15 European Communities

European Communities (Designation) (No. 3) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1381), dated 10 June 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary David Miliband).

16 Juries

Guidance for summoning officers when considering deferral and excusal applications (by Act) (Secretary Jack Straw).

17 Terrorism

(1) Government Reply to the Report by Lord Carlile on the Operation in 2008 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and of Part 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (by Command) (Cm. 7651) (Secretary Alan Johnson); and

(2) Report by Lord Carlile on the Operation in 2008 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and of Part 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (by Act) (Secretary Alan Johnson).

18 Trade Union and Labour Relations

Explanatory Memorandum to the draft ACAS Code of Practice: Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities (by Command) (Mr Pat McFadden).

Withdrawn Papers:

19 Hallmark

Draft Hallmarking Act 1973 (Application to Palladium) Order 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (laid 16 June 2009).

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20 Human Fertilisation and Embryology

Draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (laid 8 June 2009).

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