 House of Commons |
Session 2009 - 10 Publications on the internet |
13 January 2010 |
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No. 23
The House met at 11.30 am. PRAYERS. 1 Private Business: London Local Authorities Bill [Lords]: Second Reading Motion made, That the London Local Authorities Bill [Lords] be now read a second time. Objection taken (Standing Order No. 20(2)). Bill to be read a second time on Wednesday 20 January. 2 Questions to (1) the Secretary of State for Scotland (2) the Prime Minister 3 Privilege The Speaker announced his decision to give precedence to a complaint made by John Hemming, Member for Birmingham, Yardley, of an email received by him from Withers LLP. Motion to be given precedence at the commencement of public business tomorrow. 4 Urgent Question: Haiti (Mr Secretary Alexander) 5 United Kingdom Parliamentary Sovereignty Bill: Presentation (Standing Order No. 57) Mr William Cash, supported by Mr John Redwood, Mr Peter Lilley, Mr David Heathcoat-Amory, Mr Edward Leigh, Mr Bernard Jenkin, Mr Graham Brady, Sir Peter Tapsell, Mr Richard Shepherd, Mr Christopher Chope, Mr John Whittingdale and Mr Brian Binley, presented a Bill to reaffirm the sovereignty of the United Kingdom Parliament; and for connected purposes. Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 23 April, and to be printed (Bill 48). 6 Veterans' Welfare: Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23). Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a a Bill to require the Secretary of State to review and report to Parliament annually on the support provided to armed forces veterans across the United Kingdom in respect of access to health services, access to welfare schemes and access to other support; and for connected purposes; That Mr Michael Moore, Nick Harvey, Willie Rennie, Bob Russell, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Mr Paul Burstow, Julia Goldsworthy, Malcolm Bruce, Danny Alexander, Sir Robert Smith, John Mason and David Cairns present the Bill. Mr Michael Moore accordingly presented the Bill. Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 5 February, and to be printed (Bill 47). 7 Opposition Day: Leader of the Opposition (2nd allotted day (Standing Order No. 14)) (1) Education, Training and Skills for Young People in the Recession Motion made and Question proposed, That this House notes with concern the increase in the number of young people not in employment, education or training and the fall in the number of apprenticeship starts; further notes that there will be a shortage of university places in 2010 and that the continuing problems with the Student Loans Company will impact on those students beginning their studies this year; calls on the Government to clarify its position on university places after the annual Higher Education and Funding Council for England grant letter and on imposing fines on those higher education institutions that take on more students to meet the 50 per cent. participation target; further calls on the Government to consider proposals for the rapid expansion of apprenticeships and to free further education colleges from stifling bureaucracy so they may meet the needs of young people; and urges the Government to offer 10,000 additional university places in order to build aspiration, opportunity and a competitive economy.—(Mr David Willetts.) Amendment moved, in line 1, to leave out from 'House' to the end of the Question and add 'recognises the Government's commitment to maintaining investment in apprenticeships, higher education and skills and its commitment not to repeat the mistakes of past recessions, and to ensure that young people are not trapped in long-term unemployment; notes that since 1997 there have been 339,000 extra students in higher education, more than ever before, and that public funding has increased by over 25 per cent. in real terms creating the world-class higher education sector enjoyed today; further notes the Government's commitment to managed growth in higher education to sustain quality and success in widening access, creating the most diverse student population ever; commends the Government's commitment to helping graduates through the downturn; further notes that investment in apprenticeships today is over £1 billion in 2009-10, and that in 1997 there were only 65,000 starts compared to 240,000 in 2008-09; further notes the success of Train to Gain in supporting over 1.4 million course starts; commends the September Guarantee offering all 16 and 17-year olds an apprenticeship, school, college or training place; and acknowledges the Government's investment of £1.2 billion in the Future Jobs Fund to guarantee a job, training or work experience for every young person unemployed for 12 months, and the graduate guarantee giving graduates unemployed for six months a guarantee of a high-quality internship or training, or help to become self-employed.'.—(Mr David Lammy.) Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 31(2)). The House divided. Division No. 37.
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 Government's commitment to maintaining investment in apprenticeships, higher education and skills and its commitment not to repeat the mistakes of past recessions, and to ensure that young people are not trapped in long-term unemployment; notes that since 1997 there have been 339,000 extra students in higher education, more than ever before, and that public funding has increased by over 25 per cent. in real terms creating the world-class higher education sector enjoyed today; further notes the Government's commitment to managed growth in higher education to sustain quality and success in widening access, creating the most diverse student population ever; commends the Government's commitment to helping graduates through the downturn; further notes that investment in apprenticeships today is over £1 billion in 2009-10, and that in 1997 there were only 65,000 starts compared to 240,000 in 2008-09; further notes the success of Train to Gain in supporting over 1.4 million course starts; commends the September Guarantee offering all 16 and 17-year olds an apprenticeship, school, college or training place; and acknowledges the Government's investment of £1.2 billion in the Future Jobs Fund to guarantee a job, training or work experience for every young person unemployed for 12 months, and the graduate guarantee giving graduates unemployed for six months a guarantee of a high-quality internship or training, or help to become self-employed. (2) Energy Security Motion made and Question proposed, That this House notes the impending retirement of over 20 gigawatts of UK generating capacity, the ongoing depletion of North Sea oil and gas reserves and the nation's growing dependency on imported fossil fuels; further notes the high and volatile prices of those imports and the threats to the constancy and adequacy of their supply; regrets that British energy policy has failed to change with these circumstances and that, consequently, the nation's energy security has been compromised, as exemplified by the low levels of UK gas storage capacity; acknowledges that fundamental reforms to the energy policy framework are required in order to attract the investment required to guarantee reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supplies; calls upon the Government to take immediate action to ensure diversity in new electricity generating capacity and adequate levels of natural gas storage; and, recognising that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective means of meeting Britain's energy needs, further calls upon the Government to implement policies capable of accelerating the deployment of efficiency improvements to millions of domestic and non-domestic buildings, in particular to the homes of the growing number of fuel-poor households.—(Greg Clark.) Amendment moved, in line 1, to leave out from 'House' to the end of the Question and add 'notes that around 20 gigawatts of new power generation is either under construction or has been consented to; believes that during a time of historically low temperatures and the highest ever gas demand in recent days, the country's energy infrastructure has shown resilience; further notes the increase in gas import capacity by 500 per cent. in the last decade, and the increase in the diversity of sources of gas, including liquefied natural gas and gas imports through interconnectors with Norway and continental Europe; commends the Planning Act 2008, which has created the circumstances for greater onshore gas storage as well as for new nuclear power stations and other low carbon energy infrastructure, and the Energy Act 2008 which has created the circumstances for greater offshore gas storage; backs the development of the grid to make it ready for a low-carbon energy mix; supports the Government's drive towards greater energy efficiency in homes through programmes such as Warm Front, the Carbon Emissions Reductions Target and Community Energy Savings Programme, all of which contribute to fighting fuel poverty, and in businesses through programmes such as the forthcoming Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Schemes; commends the Government's wider plans to embark on the Great British Refurb, where up to seven million homes will have whole house makeovers by 2020; and further supports an approach based on strategic government and dynamic markets that maintains the country's energy security as well as developing more diverse energy supplies, including clean coal, renewable and nuclear energy.'.—(Secretary Ed Miliband.) Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question (Standing Order No. 31(2)). The House divided. Division No. 38.
Question accordingly negatived. Question, That the proposed words be there added, put forthwith (Standing Order No. 31). The House divided. Division No. 39.
Question accordingly agreed to. The Speaker declared the Main Question, as amended, agreed to (Standing Order No. 31(2)). Resolved, That this House notes that around 20 gigawatts of new power generation is either under construction or has been consented to; believes that during a time of historically low temperatures and the highest ever gas demand in recent days, the country's energy infrastructure has shown resilience; further notes the increase in gas import capacity by 500 per cent. in the last decade, and the increase in the diversity of sources of gas, including liquefied natural gas and gas imports through interconnectors with Norway and continental Europe; commends the Planning Act 2008, which has created the circumstances for greater onshore gas storage as well as for new nuclear power stations and other low carbon energy infrastructure, and the Energy Act 2008 which has created the circumstances for greater offshore gas storage; backs the development of the grid to make it ready for a low-carbon energy mix; supports the Government's drive towards greater energy efficiency in homes through programmes such as Warm Front, the Carbon Emissions Reductions Target and Community Energy Savings Programme, all of which contribute to fighting fuel poverty, and in businesses through programmes such as the forthcoming Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Schemes; commends the Government's wider plans to embark on the Great British Refurb, where up to seven million homes will have whole house makeovers by 2020; and further supports an approach based on strategic government and dynamic markets that maintains the country's energy security as well as developing more diverse energy supplies, including clean coal, renewable and nuclear energy. 8 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval (1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No.118(6)), That the draft Community Radio (Amendment) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 23 November, be approved.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.) Question agreed to. (2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2009, which was laid before this House on 24 November, be approved.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.) Question agreed to. (3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Mandatory Life Sentence: Determination of Minimum Term) Order 2009, which was laid before this House on 25 November, be approved.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.) Question agreed to. 9 Section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993 Motion made, That, for the purposes of its approval under section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993, the Government's assessment as set out in the Pre-Budget Report 2009 shall be treated as if it were an instrument subject to the provisions of Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees).—(Mr Bob Blizzard.) Objection taken (Standing Order No. 9(6)). 10 National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) Ordered, That—
11 National Security Strategy Ordered, That Mr James Arbuthnot, Margaret Beckett, Sir Alan Beith, Des Browne, Malcolm Bruce, Mike Gapes, Dr Kim Howells, Peter Luff, Mr Paul Murphy, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Paddy Tipping and Keith Vaz be members of the Select Committee appointed to join with a Committee of the Lords as the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.) 12 Adjournment (February) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 25), That this House, at its rising on Wednesday 10 February 2010, do adjourn till Monday 22 February 2010.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.) The Speaker's opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged. Division deferred until Wednesday 20 January (Standing Order No. 41A). 13 Public Petitions A Public Petition from persons resident in the Reading East parliamentary constituency relating to Badman Report (Reading East) was presented and read by Mr Rob Wilson. A Public Petition from residents of Gloucester and surrounding areas, and others relating to Incinerator (Gloucester) was presented and read by Mr Parmjit Dhanda. A Public Petition from persons resident in the Solihull East parliamentary constituency and others, relating to Badman Report (Solihull) was presented. A Public Petition from persons resident in the Richmond (Yorks) parliamentary constituency, relating to Badman Report (Richmond (Yorks)) was presented 14 Adjournment Subject: Sovereignty of Parliament (Mr William Cash). Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr Bob Blizzard.) House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 9(7)). Adjourned at 8.05 pm until tomorrow. _________________ Other proceedings Disqualification of a Member 15 Disqualification of a Member Notification, laid upon the Table by the Speaker, That Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer had today appointed Mrs Iris Robinson, Member for Strangford, to the office of Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern. General Committees: Reports 16 Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee Mr Clive Betts (Chairman) reported the draft Pharmacy Order 2010. 17 Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee Dr William McCrea (Chairman) reported the draft State Pension Credit (Disclosure of Information) (Electricity Suppliers) Regulations 2010. General Committees: Appointments The Speaker appoints the Chairman of General Committees and members of Programming Sub-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). 18 Children, Schools and Families Bill Committee (1) Chairmen: Mr David Amess and Janet Anderson (2) Members: Annette Brooke, Mr Vernon Coaker, Mrs Ann Cryer, Mr Nick Gibb, Andrew Gwynne, Ms Diana R. Johnson, Mr David Laws, Martin Linton, Tim Loughton, Kerry McCarthy, Bridget Prentice, Mr Ken Purchase, Mr Graham Stuart, Mr Edward Timpson, Lynda Waltho and Bill Wiggin. 19 Children, Schools and Families Bill (Programming Sub-Committee) Members: Annette Brooke, Mr Vernon Coaker, Mr Nick Gibb, Andrew Gwynne, Kerry McCarthy, Mr Ken Purchase and Bill Wiggin. 20 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Enactment of Extra-Statutory Concessions (No. 2) Order 2009) (1) Chairman: Hywel Williams (2) Members: Mr Colin Breed, Dr Vincent Cable, Ann Clwyd, James Duddridge, Mr Mark Field, Mr David Gauke, Mr John Greenway, Glenda Jackson, Siobhain McDonagh, John McDonnell, Mr George Mudie, Stephen Pound, Mr Stephen Timms, Mr Neil Turner, Mr Andrew Tyrie and Dr Rudi Vis. 21 Second Delegated Legislation Committee (Major Accident Off-Site Emergency Plan (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1927)) (1) Chairman: Bob Russell (2) Members: John Austin, David T. C. Davies, Frank Dobson, Tim Farron, Mr Neil Gerrard, Dr Ashok Kumar, Miss Anne McIntosh, Patrick Mercer, Dan Norris, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Joan Ryan, Martin Salter, Angela Watkinson, Mr Tom Watson, Mr Roger Williams and David Wright. 22 Third Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Fees) Order 2010) (1) Chairman: Robert Key (2) Members: Mr Michael Ancram, Kevin Brennan, Mr Parmjit Dhanda, James Duddridge, Mr James Gray, John Hemming, Mr John Heppell, Mr Mark Hoban, Ms Sally Keeble, Mr Jim McGovern, Dr Doug Naysmith, Mr Virendra Sharma, Mr Marsha Singh, Geraldine Smith, Mr Ian Taylor and John Thurso. 23 Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Environment) Order 2010) (1) Chairman: Mr Martin Caton (2) Members: Mr Richard Bacon, Mr Tom Clarke, Mr David Clelland, Mr Wayne David, Mr Philip Dunne, Mr Michael Jack, Mr David Jones, Alun Michael, Sandra Osborne, Albert Owen, Ian Stewart, Mr Robert Syms, Mark Tami, Mr Don Touhig, Hywel Williams and Mark Williams. 24 Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Charities Act 2006 (Changes in Exempt Charities) Order 2009 and the draft Charities Act 2006 (Principal Regulators of Exempt Charities) Regulations 2009) (1) Chairman: Ann Winterton (2) Members: Nick Ainger, Mr William Bain, Tony Baldry, Mr Bob Blizzard, Ben Chapman, Mr David Curry, Mr Stephen Dorrell, Michael Fabricant, Mr Fabian Hamilton, Martin Horwood, Mr Nick Hurd, Tom Levitt, Lindsay Roy, Angela E. Smith, Jenny Willott and Mike Wood. 25 Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2010) (1) Chairman: Mr George Howarth (2) Members: Mr Stephen Crabb, Jim Dobbin, Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson, Paul Farrelly, Caroline Flint, Paul Goggins, Jane Kennedy, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, Mr Peter Lilley, Kerry McCarthy, Mr Eddie McGrady, Rob Marris, James Purnell, Mr Alan Reid, Mr Laurence Robertson and Lindsay Roy. 26 Seventh Delegated Legislation Committee (Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Conditional Cautions: Financial Penalties) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 2773)) (1) Chairman: Joan Walley (2) Members: Mr Peter Ainsworth, Charlotte Atkins, Mr Henry Bellingham, Keith Hill, Paul Holmes, David Howarth, Mr Adam Ingram, Helen Jones, Anne Main, Mr Austin Mitchell, Alison Seabeck, Jacqui Smith, Mr Mark Todd, David Tredinnick, Claire Ward and Jeremy Wright. 27 Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Pharmacy Order 2010) Members: Mr Tom Harris discharged and Phil Wilson nominated in substitution. 28 European Committee A in respect of European Union Documents No. 12289/09 and Addendum and No. 14270/09, relating to the Dairy Market Situation Members: Mr Geoffrey Cox, Tim Farron, Jim Fitzpatrick, Mr David Heathcoat-Amory, Kelvin Hopkins, Lynne Jones, Dr Ashok Kumar, Mr James Paice, Sir Peter Soulsby, Mr John Spellar, Ian Stewart, Angela Watkinson and Mr Roger Williams. 29 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 14513/09, relating to Commission Communication: Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2009-2010 Chairman: Mr George Howarth. 30 European Committee B in respect of the Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 2 November 2009, relating to the Establishment of the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan Chairman: Mr Nigel Evans. European Union Documents Referred 31 European Committee B European Union Documents No. 9494/09 and Addenda 1 and 2, and No. 15162/09 relating to a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Alternative Investment Fund Managers. 32 European Committee B European Union Document No. 17588/09, relating to the Commission Report on the follow-up to 2007 Discharge Decisions, has been referred to European Committee B together with European Union Document No. 12139/09 and Addenda 1 and 2, Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 18 August 2009, European Union Documents No. 12668/09 and Addendum, and No. 14998/09 and Addendum, Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 2 December 2009, Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 3 December 2009, and European Union Document No. 16632/09, relating to Financial Management, already referred to the Committee on 14 October 2009. Reports from Select Committees 33 Children, Schools and Families Committee Sure Start Children's Centres: Evidence, to be printed (HC 130-iv) (Mr Barry Sheerman). 34 Energy and Climate Change Committee The Proposals for National Policy Statements on Energy: Evidence, to be printed (HC 231-ii and -iii) (Dr Alan Whitehead). 35 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Defra's Food Strategy: Evidence taken before the Sub-Committee, to be printed (HC 270-i) (Mr Michael Jack). 36 European Scrutiny Committee (1) Seventh Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 5-vi); (2) Ministerial Correspondence: Written evidence, to be published (Michael Connarty). 37 Foreign Affairs Committee (1) Global Security: Afghanistan and Pakistan: Written evidence, to be published; (2) Global Security: Middle East: Written evidence, to be published; (3) Global Security: Non-Proliferation: Written evidence, to be published; and (4) Previously unpublished Memoranda submitted to the Committee: Written evidence, to be published (Mike Gapes). 38 Public Accounts (Committee of) Venture capital support to small businesses: Evidence, to be printed (HC 271-i) (Mr Edward Leigh). 39 Science and Technology Committee The Regulation of Geoengineering: Evidence taken before the Sub-committee, to be printed (HC 221-i) (Mr Phil Willis). 40 Scottish Affairs Committee (1) Banking in Scotland: Evidence, to be printed (HC 70-iv) (2) The Scotland Office White Paper and the recommendations of the Calman Commission: Evidence, to be printed (HC 255-i) (Mr Mohammad Sarwar) 41 Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee on) Fourth Report, to be printed (HC 3-iv) (David Maclean). 42 Transport Committee (1) Work of the Committee in 2008-09: Second Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 262); (2) The proposal for a National Policy Statement on Ports: Evidence, to be printed (HC 217-i) (Mrs Louise Ellman). 43 Work and Pensions Committee Local Housing Allowance: Evidence, to be printed (HC 235-i) (Mr Terry Rooney). John Bercow Speaker The Speaker will take the Chair at 10.30 am. Sitting in Westminster Hall No. 13 The sitting began at 9.30 am. Adjournment Subjects:
Motion made and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Helen Jones.) Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order No. 10(11)). Adjourned at 5.19 pm until tomorrow. Alan Haselhurst Deputy Speaker APPENDIX Papers presented or laid upon the Table: Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution: 1 Animal Welfare Draft Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (Secretary Hilary Benn). Other Papers: 2 National Audit Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on HM Revenue & Customs handling telephone enquiries (by Act); to be printed (HC 211) (Clerk of the House). 3 Reinsurance (Acts of Terrorism) Treasury Memorandum, dated 30 December 2009 in respect of amended Retrocession Agreement between HM Treasury and Pool Reinsurance Company Limited (by Act) (Sarah McCarthy-Fry). Withdrawn Papers: 4 Animal Welfare Draft Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment (by Command) (laid 14 December 2009).
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