Commons Journal 265

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[No. 127 Wednesday 28 October 2009 ]

The house met at 11.30 am.

PRAYERS.

1 Nimrod Review

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House a Return of the Report, dated 28 October 2009, of the Independent Review into the broader issues surrounding the loss of the RAF Nimrod MR2 Aircraft XV230 in Afghanistan in 2006._(Mr Bob Blizzard.)

2 Questions to (1) the Minister for the Cabinet Office

(2) the Prime Minister

3 Statement: Nimrod Review (Secretary Bob Ainsworth)

4 Rentcharges (Notification): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require rentcharge companies to notify annually residents subject to chief rent of their statutory right to redeem their charge under the Rentcharges Act 1977; and for connected purposes;

That Andrew Gwynne, David Heyes, Ann Coffey, James Purnell, Sir Gerald Kaufman, Tony Lloyd, Graham Stringer, Mr Graham Brady, Mark Hunter, Andrew Stunell, Mr John Leech and Jim Dobbin present the Bill.

Andrew Gwynne accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 30 October, and to be printed (Bill 154).

5 Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (20th allotted day (Standing Order No. 14))

(1) Local Spending Reports

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House welcomes the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 requiring the publication of local spending reports; believes that people have a right to know how their money is spent by public bodies; especially welcomes the assurances given by the then Minister for Local Government, the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth, that the local spending reports would include all public agencies; further welcomes the Minister's assurance that the purpose was to achieve a report that identified how much would be spent in each area by the authorities; is therefore very concerned by the limited information available in the local spending reports produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government; believes them to be a contravention of the expressed assurances of the Minister; and calls for proper local spending reports to be published, which will give effect to those assurances._(Mrs Caroline Spelman.)

Amendment moved, in line 1, to leave out from `House' to the end of the Question and add `recognises the role of strong, accountable local government in delivering high quality local services and entitlements to services whilst ensuring value for money; welcomes Government investment, through local councils, in providing real help now to families; reiterates the importance of providing information about local spending and service quality to ensuring effective scrutiny and value for money; further welcomes the passage of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 and the Government's commitment to work with the Selector on its implementation, and believes that the first local spending reports published in April 2009 marked an important initial step in making local public spending more transparent; further welcomes responses to the consultation confirming the desire to see more data published; welcomes the Government's intention to extend local spending reports to cover all local public spending which can be readily provided in this format at reasonable cost; further welcomes the Government's proposals to extend local authorities' scrutiny of all local public service spending in their area; further welcomes the Total Place pilots mapping in detail all public spending in key services in 13 areas; further welcomes Sir Tim Berners-Lee's work advising Government on how best to make non-personal public data as widely available as possible; believes that these developments will enhance the Government's ability to provide local spending information in the most effective manner; and asks Ministers to report back to the House before the end of December 2009 on the next stages in developing local spending reports.'._(Secretary John Denham.)

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

The House divided.

Division No. 232.

Ayes: 234 (Tellers: Bill Wiggin, Mr Stephen Crabb).

Noes: 289 (Tellers: David Wright, Kerry McCarthy).

Question accordingly negatived.

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

Question agreed to.

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

Resolved, That this House recognises the role of strong, accountable local government in delivering high quality local services and entitlements to services whilst ensuring value for money; welcomes Government investment, through local councils, in providing real help now to families; reiterates the importance of providing information about local spending and service quality to ensuring effective scrutiny and value for money; further welcomes the passage of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 and the Government's commitment to work with the Selector on its implementation, and believes that the first local spending reports published in April 2009 marked an important initial step in making local public spending more transparent; further welcomes responses to the consultation confirming the desire to see more data published; welcomes the Government's intention to extend local spending reports to cover all local public spending which can be readily provided in this format at reasonable cost; further welcomes the Government's proposals to extend local authorities' scrutiny of all local public service spending in their area; further welcomes the Total Place pilots mapping in detail all public spending in key services in 13 areas; further welcomes Sir Tim Berners-Lee's work advising Government on how best to make non-personal public data as widely available as possible; believes that these developments will enhance the Government's ability to provide local spending information in the most effective manner; and asks Ministers to report back to the House before the end of December 2009 on the next stages in developing local spending reports.

(2) Future of the Territorial Army

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House expresses its continued support for the role of the Territorial Army (TA); notes that the reserve forces have contributed some 20,000 personnel to operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans since 2002, most of them from the Territorial Army, and that 14 Territorials have died on those operations; deplores the decision made to freeze TA training, contrary to the recommendations of the Cottam Report, of which all seven strategic recommendations were accepted by the Government in April 2009; further notes the adverse impact the decision would have had on the TA's war fighting capability and its ability to respond to natural disasters and other contingencies in the United Kingdom; considers that there will be an enduring threat to TA morale, recruitment and retention as a result of the Government's lack of support; notes the leadership displayed by the Leader of the Opposition in opposing the cuts to the TA; and calls on the Government urgently to take steps to mend the damaged morale of the TA._(Dr Liam Fox.)

Amendment moved, in line 4, to leave out from `operations;' to the end of the Question and add `welcomes the Government's additional #20 million ring-fenced by the Treasury for Territorial Army training; and further welcomes the Government's policy to ensure that TA members deployed to Afghanistan are fully and properly trained for their role and to ensure that, for all TA members, normal training will take place in the evening and at weekends.'._(Secretary Bob Ainsworth.)

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

The House divided.

Division No. 233.

Ayes: 213 (Tellers: Bill Wiggin, Mr Stephen Crabb).

Noes: 293 (Tellers: Steve McCabe, Mr Bob Blizzard).

Question accordingly negatived.

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

Question agreed to.

Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.

Resolved, That this House expresses its continued support for the role of the Territorial Army (TA); notes that the reserve forces have contributed some 20,000 personnel to operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans since 2002, most of them from the Territorial Army, and that 14 Territorials have died on those operations; welcomes the Government's additional #20 million ring-fenced by the Treasury for Territorial Army training; and further welcomes the Government's policy to ensure that TA members deployed to Afghanistan are fully and properly trained for their role and to ensure that, for all TA members, normal training will take place in the evening and at weekends.

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6 Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Ordered, That Sir Stuart Bell, Liz Blackman, Nick Harvey, Mr Don Touhig and Sir George Young be appointed under Schedule 3 to the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 as members of the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority until the end of the present Parliament._(Barbara Keeley.)

7 Statutory Instruments: Motion for Approval

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Offshore Funds (Tax) Regulations 2009, which were laid before this House on 13 October, be approved._(Mr Dave Watts.)

Question agreed to.

8 Committee on Issue of Privilege Relating to Police Searches on the Parliamentary Estate and Internal Processes of the House Administration for Granting Permission for Such Action

Ordered, That the Order of the House of 13 July 2009 relating to the Committee on issue of privilege relating to police searches on the Parliamentary Estate and internal processes of the House Administration for granting permission for such action be amended in line 16 by leaving out `31 December 2009' and inserting `31 March 2010'._(Mr Dave Watts.)

9 Changes to membership of select committees

(1) Motion made, That Mrs Janet Dean be a member of the West Midlands Regional Select Committee._(Mr Dave Watts.)

Objection taken (Standing Order No. 9(6)).

(2) Motion made, That Dr Richard Taylor be a member of the West Midlands Regional Select Committee._(Mr Dave Watts.)

Objection taken (Standing Order No. 9(6)).

(3) Motion made, That Mary Creagh be discharged from the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Select Committee and Mr Austin Mitchell be added._(Mr Dave Watts.)

Objection taken (Standing Order No. 9(6)).

(4) Motion made, That Linda Gilroy be discharged from the South West Regional Select Committee and Roger Berry be added._(Mr Dave Watts.)

Objection taken (Standing Order No. 9(6)).

10 Adjournment

Subject: Support for UK inventors (Mr David Heath).

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn._(Mr Dave Watts.)

[Adjourned at 8.40 pm until tomorrow. ]

Other proceedings

First Reading and Printing of Lords Bills

11 Companies' Remuneration Reports Bill [Lords]

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 6 November, and to be printed (Bill 156).

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Changes to Notices Given

12 Government of Cornwall Bill

Bill to be read a second time on Wednesday 11 November.

General Committees: Reports

13 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee

Mr Jim Hood (Chairman) reported the Financial Restrictions (Iran) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2725).

14 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee

Sir Nicholas Winterton (Chairman) reported the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2615) and the draft Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Public Authorities) Regulations 2009.

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 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Value Added Tax (Buildings and Land) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1966))

(1) Chairman: Mr David Amess

(2) Members: Mr Graham Allen, Mr Jeremy Browne, Dr Vincent Cable, Ann Clwyd, James Duddridge, Mr Greg Hands, Stephen Hesford, Mr Douglas Hogg, Mr John Horam, Ruth Kelly, Alun Michael, Mr Alan Milburn, Mr George Mudie, Martin Salter, Mr Stephen Timms and Mr John Whittingdale.

16 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Legislative and Regulatory Reform (Regulatory Functions) (Amendment) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: David Taylor

(2) Members: Mr Peter Ainsworth, Margaret Beckett, Mr Richard Caborn, Mr Neil Gerrard, Nigel Griffiths, John Hemming, Mr John Heppell, Mr John Hutton, Mr Adam Ingram, Ian Lucas, John Penrose, Mr Lee Scott, John Thurso, Mr Andrew Turner, Mr Neil Turner and Jeremy Wright.

17 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Joan Walley

(2) Members: Mr Adrian Bailey, Mr Simon Burns, Mr Alan Campbell, Mr Geoffrey Cox, Frank Dobson, Mr Oliver Heald, Chris Huhne, Jane Kennedy, David Lepper, Steve McCabe, Mr Khalid Mahmood, Mark Pritchard, Mrs Linda Riordan, Mr David Ruffley, Kitty Ussher and Phil Willis.

18 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Provision of Services Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mr Christopher Chope

(2) Members: Richard Burden, Lorely Burt, Mr Douglas Carswell, Harry Cohen, Mr Michael Fallon, Mr John Heppell, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Mr Edward Leigh, Ian Lucas, Mr Michael Meacher, John Penrose, Mr James Plaskitt, Mr Andy Slaughter, John Thurso, Dr Rudi Vis and Jeremy Wright.

19 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2615) and the draft Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Public Authorities) Regulations 2009)

Members: Andrew Mackinlay discharged and Mr Gordon Prentice nominated in substitution.

20 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009 and the draft Government of Wales Act 2006 (Consequential Modifications, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Frank Cook

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(2) Members: Mr David Clelland, Mrs Ann Cryer, Mr Wayne David, Mr Philip Dunne, Mr Mark Field, Paul Flynn, Mr David Jones, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, Jessica Morden, Mr Malcolm Moss, Albert Owen, Mark Tami, Mr Edward Timpson, Mrs Betty Williams, Hywel Williams and Mark Williams.

21 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Saving Gateway Accounts Regulations 2009 and the draft Saving Gateway Accounts (No. 2) Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: David Taylor

(2) Members: Ms Diane Abbott, Ms Celia Barlow, Mr Jeremy Browne, Dr Vincent Cable, Mr Ronnie Campbell, James Duddridge, Mr John Gummer, Keith Hill, Mr Mark Hoban, John Howell, Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Mr George Mudie, Mr Richard Shepherd, Sir Peter Soulsby, Helen Southworth and Ms Gisela Stuart.

22 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2009 and the draft Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Amendments to Schedule 2) Order 2009)

(1) Chairman: Dr William McCrea

(2) Members: Mr David Blunkett, Ben Chapman, Mr Stephen Crabb, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Paul Goggins, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Peter Luff, Kerry McCarthy, Mr Eddie McGrady, Rob Marris, Laura Moffatt, Mr Alan Reid, Mr Laurence Robertson, Alan Simpson, Ian Stewart and Derek Twigg.

23 Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Scottish and Northern Ireland Banknote Regulations 2009)

(1) Chairman: Mr Gary Streeter

(2) Members: Charlotte Atkins, Ms Celia Barlow, Mr Jeremy Browne, David T. C. Davies (Monmouth), James Duddridge, Mark Durkan, Mr Greg Hands, Ms Sally Keeble, Mr Jim McGovern, John Mann, Mr George Mudie, Ian Pearson, Lindsay Roy, Mr Mark Todd, Sammy Wilson and Mr Tim Yeo.

24 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee (Financial Assistance for Industry Motion (UK Innovation Fund) and the Financial Assistance for Industry Motion (Car Scrappage Scheme))

(1) Chairman: Hywel Williams

(2) Members: Mr Peter Bone, Lorely Burt, Mr Michael Clapham, Mr Charles Clarke, Jeremy Corbyn, Jim Cousins, Nadine Dorries, Mr John Grogan, Mr John Heppell, Ian Lucas, Anne Main, Mr Mark Prisk, Geraldine Smith, John Thurso, Mr David Winnick and Jeremy Wright.

25 European Committee A in respect of European Union Document No. 8977/09, relating to Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy

Chairman: Bob Russell.

26 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 13732/09, relating to An Operational Framework for the EU to Promote Aid Effectiveness

Members: Mr David S. Borrow, Mr James Clappison, Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Mr Stephen Crabb, Mark Fisher, Mr Michael Foster (Worcester), Sir Gerald Kaufman, Daniel Kawczynski, Mr Michael Moore, Mr Virendra Sharma, Mr John Spellar, Andrew Stunell and Dr Desmond Turner.

European Union Documents Referred

27 European Committee A

European Union Document No. 12289/09 and Addendum, relating to the Dairy market situation 2009.

Reports from Select Committees

28 Children, Schools and Families Committee

Early years funding formula: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1065-i) (Mr Barry Sheerman).

29 East Midlands Regional Select Committee

(1) East Midlands Development Agency and the Regional Economic Strategy: Government and East Midlands Development Agency Responses to the East Midlands Regional Committee's First Report of Session 2008^09: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 1067);

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(2) Share of Funding: Written evidence, to be published

(Paddy Tipping).

30 East of England Regional Select Committee

The Impact of the Government's response to the Global Economic Downturn in the East of England Region: Written evidence, to be published (Mr Charles Clarke).

31 Energy and Climate Change Committee

(1) Department of Energy and Climate Change Annual Report and Resource Accounts: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1073-i);

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

(Paddy Tipping).

32 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Dairy Farmers of Britain:

(1) Evidence, to be printed (HC 971-iv);

(2) Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Michael Jack).

33 European Scrutiny Committee

(1) Thirty-first Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 19-xxix);

(2) Scrutiny related issues and future developments in the European Union: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1076);

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

(Michael Connarty).

34 Procedure Committee

Election of the Deputy Speakers: Principles: Fourth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 1080) (Mr Greg Knight).

35 Public Accounts (Committee of)

Department for Work and Pensions: Management of Benefit Overpayment Debt: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1077-i) (Mr Edward Leigh).

36 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on)

Twenty-third Report, to be printed (HC 3-xxiii) (David Maclean).

37 Transport Committee

(1) The enforcement activities of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA): Government response to the Committee's Seventh Report of Session 2008^09: Eighth Special Report, to be printed (HC 1057);

(2) Priorities for investment in the railways: Evidence, to be printed (HC 1056-i)

(Mrs Louise Ellman).

38 Treasury Committee

Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor's departments, 2008^09: Evidence taken before the Sub-Committee, to be printed (HC 1046-ii) (John McFall).

[WH, No. 81]  

Sitting in Westminster Hall

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Subjects:

Government policy on the global abolition of the death penalty (Mr Alistair Carmichael).

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Pedestrian crossing at Wareham railway station (Annette Brooke).

Detention of civilians in internally displaced persons camps in Sri Lanka (Joan Ryan).

Transport in Pudsey (Mr Paul Truswell).

Dartford river crossing (James Brokenshire).

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

[Adjourned at 5.12 pm until tomorrow. ]

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Environmental Protection

Draft Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Hilary Benn).

2 Legal Services Commission

(1) Draft Criminal Defence Service (Contribution Orders) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw);

(2) draft Criminal Defence Service (Representation Orders) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw); and

(3) draft Criminal Defence Service (Representation Orders: Appeals etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw).

Papers subject to Negative Resolution:

3 Dogs

Controls on Dogs (Non-application to Designated Land) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2829), dated 23 October 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Hilary Benn).

4 Financial Services and Markets

Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2877), dated 27 October 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sarah McCarthy-Fry).

5 Income Tax

(1) Employer-Financed Retirement Benefits (Excluded Benefits for Tax Purposes) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2886), dated 28 October 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sarah McCarthy-Fry); and

(2) Lloyd's Underwriters (Tax) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2889), dated 28 October 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Sarah McCarthy-Fry).

6 Legal Services Commission

(1) Criminal Defence Service (Financial Eligibility) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2878), dated 27 October 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw);

(2) Criminal Defence Service (General) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2876), dated 27 October 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw); and

(3) Criminal Defence Service (Interests of Justice) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2875), dated 27 October 2009 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Secretary Jack Straw).

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Other Papers:

7 National Audit

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for International Development: Aid to Malawi (by Act); to be printed (HC 964) (Clerk of the House).

8 Nimrod Review

Return to an Address to Her Majesty for a Return of the Report, dated 28 October 2009, of the Independent Review into the broader issues surrounding the loss of the RAF Nimrod MR2 Aircraft XV230 in Afghanistan in 2006 (pursuant to Resolution this day); to be printed (HC 1025) (Secretary Bob Ainsworth).

9 Osteopaths

Report and Accounts of the General Osteopathic Council for 2008^09 (by Act) (Secretary Jack Straw).

10 Public Accounts

Treasury Minutes on the Twenty-fourth to the Thirtieth, the Thirty-second to the Thirty-ninth, the Forty-fifth, and the Forty-seventh to the Forty-eighth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2008^09 (by Command) (Cm. 7717) (Sarah McCarthy-Fry).

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