House of Commons

Session 2010-11

House of Commons Votes and Proceedings
Tuesday
15th February 2011

No. 118

The House met at 2.30 pm.

PRAYERS.

1 Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

2 Urgent Question: Armed Forces (Redundancies) (Secretary Liam Fox)

3 Application for emergency debate (Standing Order No. 24)

Toby Perkins proposed that the House should debate the future of Auto Windscreens.

The Speaker declined to put the application to the House.

4 Master’s Degrees (Minimum Standards): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

Motion made and Question proposed, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit universities awarding Master’s degrees unless certain standards of study and assessment are met; and for connected purposes.-(Chris Leslie.)

Motion opposed (Standing Order No. 23(1)).

Question put, and agreed to.

Ordered, That Chris Leslie, Nic Dakin, Kerry McCarthy, Helen Jones, Cathy Jamieson, Bob Russell, Mr Mike Hancock, Philip Davies, John Cryer and Mr Dennis Skinner present the Bill.

Chris Leslie accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the first time; to be read a second time on Friday 18 March, and to be printed (Bill 148).

5 Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill (Money) (No. 2)

Queen’s Recommendation signified.

Resolved, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of charges payable to the Chief Counting Officer in connection with the referendum on the voting system for parliamentary elections.-(Mr Mark Harper.)

6 Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill (Programme) (No. 5)

Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 6 September 2010 (Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill (Programme)):

Consideration of Lords Amendments

1. Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion four hours after their commencement at this day’s sitting.

2. The proceedings shall be taken in the order shown in the first column of the following Table and shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the times shown in the second column.

TABLE

Subsequent stages

3. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.

4. 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.-(Mr Mark Harper.)

The House divided.

Division No. 201.

Ayes: 312 (Tellers: Miss Chloe Smith, Mr Shailesh Vara).

Noes: 240 (Tellers: Angela Smith, Lilian Greenwood).

Question accordingly agreed to.

7 Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments

Lords Amendment 2

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendment 2.-(Mr Mark Harper.)

One hour after the commencement of proceedings, the debate was interrupted (Programme Order, today).

The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).

(1) That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendment 2 (Question already proposed from the Chair (Standing Order No. 83F(2)).-(Mr Mark Harper.)

Question agreed to.

Lords Amendment 2 accordingly agreed to.

(2) That this House agrees with the Lords in their Amendments 3 to 7, 9 to 15, 18 and 21 to 104 (Single Question to agree with all remaining Lords Amendments (Standing Order No. 83F(6)).

Question agreed to.

Lords Amendments 3 to 7, 9 to 15, 18 and 21 to 104 accordingly agreed to, with Commons financial privilege waived in respect of Lords Amendment 31.

Lords Amendment 16

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 16.-(Mr Mark Harper.)

Two hours after the commencement of the proceedings, the debate was interrupted (Programme Order, today).

The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).

(1) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 16 (Question already proposed from the Chair (Standing Order No. 83F(2)).-(Mr Mark Harper.)

The House divided.

Division No. 202.

Ayes: 317 (Tellers: James Duddridge, Norman Lamb).

Noes: 250 (Tellers: Mr David Hamilton, Lilian Greenwood).

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendment 16 accordingly disagreed to.

(2) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 19 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment (Standing Order No. 83F(5)).-(Mr Mark Harper.)

The House divided.

Division No. 203.

Ayes: 320 (Tellers: Miss Chloe Smith, Mr Shailesh Vara).

Noes: 249 (Tellers: Mr David Hamilton, Lilian Greenwood).

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendment 19 accordingly disagreed to.

Lords Amendment 17

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 17.-(Mr Mark Harper.)

Three hours after the commencement of the proceedings, the debate was interrupted (Programme Order, today).

The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).

(1) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 17 (Question already proposed from the Chair (Standing Order No. 83F(2)).

Question agreed to.

Lords Amendment 17 accordingly disagreed to.

(2) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 20 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment (Standing Order No. 83F(5)).-(Mr Mark Harper.)

The House divided.

Division No. 204.

Ayes: 311 (Tellers: James Duddridge, Norman Lamb).

Noes: 244 (Tellers: Mr David Hamilton, Graham Jones).

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendment 20 accordingly disagreed to.

(3) That Amendments (a) to (e) be made to the Bill in lieu of Lords Amendments 17 and 20 disagreed to (Question on any consequential Amendment moved by a Minister of the Crown (Standing Order No. 83F(7)).-(Mr Mark Harper.)

The House divided.

Division No. 205.

Ayes: 318 (Tellers: James Duddridge, Stephen Crabb).

Noes: 233 (Tellers: Mr David Hamilton, Graham Jones).

Question accordingly agreed to.

Amendments (a) to (e) in lieu accordingly made.

Lords Amendment 1

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 1.-(Mr Mark Harper.)

Four hours after the commencement of the proceedings, the debate was interrupted (Programme Order, today).

The following Questions were put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83F).

(1) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 1 (Question already proposed from the Chair (Standing Order No. 83F(2)) .-(Mr Mark Harper.)

The House divided.

Division No. 206.

Ayes: 317 (Tellers: Norman Lamb, Mr Shailesh Vara).

Noes: 247 (Tellers: Mr David Hamilton, Graham Jones).

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords Amendment 1 accordingly disagreed to.

(2) That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 8 (Question on any Motion moved by a Minister of the Crown to disagree with a Lords Amendment (Standing Order No. 83F(5)).-(Mr Mark Harper.)

Question agreed to.

Lords Amendment 8 accordingly disagreed to.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments 16, 19, 1 and 8.

That Chris Bryant, Mr Philip Dunne, Mr Mark Harper, Jonathan Reynolds and Stephen Williams be members of the Committee.

That Mark Harper be the Chair of the Committee.

That three be the quorum of the Committee.

That the Committee do withdraw immediately.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

8 Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill (Money)

Queen’s Recommendation signified.

Resolved, That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred in consequence of this Act by a Minister of the Crown, government department or other public authority.-(Mr Nick Hurd.)

9 Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2010 (S.I., 2010, No. 3038), dated 23 December 2010, a copy of which was laid before this House on 23 December, be approved.-(James Duddridge.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No. 3) 2010 (S.R. (N.I.), 2010, No. 430), dated 23 December 2010, a copy of which was laid before this House on 23 December, be approved.-(James Duddridge.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Control of Donations and Regulation of Loans etc. (Extension of the Prescribed Period) (Northern Ireland) Order 2011, which was laid before this House on 17 January, be approved.-(James Duddridge.)

Question agreed to.

10 Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill (Reasons Committee)

Mr Mark Harper (Chair) reported from the Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their Amendments to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, That it had drawn up the following Reasons, which it had directed him to report to the House:

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendments Nos. 16 and 19 for the following Reason:

Because the amendments would produce too much variation in the electorate of constituencies and would result in a system that was unduly difficult to operate.

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment Nos. 1 and 8 for the following Reason:

Because the outcome of the referendum should be determined by those who vote in it and should not depend on how many do not vote.

The Reasons were agreed to.

Message to the Lords to communicate the said Reasons, with the Bill and Amendments.

11 Adjournment

Subject: Economic development in the North East (Mr Nicholas Brown).

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.-(James Duddridge.)

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

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.-(Miss Chloe Smith.)

Adjourned at 10.29 pm until tomorrow.

_________________

Other proceedings

General Committees: Reports

12 Health and Social Care Bill Committee

Mr Mike Hancock (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.

Written evidence to be published.

13 Localism Bill Committee

Mr David Amess (Chair) reported written evidence submitted to the Committee.

Written evidence to be published.

14 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 15285/10 and Addendum, relating to the Commission Communication: The EU Budget Review

Mr David Crausby (Chair) reported the following Resolution:

That the Committee takes note of European Union Document No. 15285/10 and Addendum, relating to the EU Budget Review; supports the Government’s efforts to reduce the size of the EU budget and deliver savings and value for money for taxpayers, including a substantial reduction in spending on the Common Agricultural Policy; and further supports its efforts to reprioritise expenditure to support growth and competitiveness and tackle climate change and global poverty and to protect the UK’s abatement, which remains fully justified due to distortions in EU spending.

General Committees: Appointments

The Speaker appoints the Chair 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).

15 First Delegated Legislation Committee (Draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2011)

Members: Lynne Featherstone discharged and Dr Julian Huppert nominated in substitution.

16 European Committee B in respect of European Union Document No. 15285/10 and Addendum, relating to the Commission Communication: The EU Budget Review

Members: John Cryer discharged and Rosie Cooper nominated in substitution.

Reports from Select Committees

17 Backbench Business Committee

Determination of business to be taken on 28 February and on future days, with Annex containing a transcript of representations made on 15 February, to be published (Natascha Engel).

18 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee

(1) The new Local Enterprise Partnerships: an initial assessment: Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, Session 2010–11: First Special Report, to be printed (HC 809);

(2) Rebalancing the Economy: Trade and Investment: Evidence, to be printed (HC 735-v)

(Mr Adrian Bailey).

19 Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Football Governance:

(1) Evidence, to be printed (HC 792-ii);

(2) Written evidence, to be published

(Mr John Whittingdale).

20 Energy and Climate Change Committee

(1) Emissions Performance Standards: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2010–11: Fourth Special Report, to be printed (HC 807);

(2) Electricity Market Reform:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 742-v);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(3) Department of Energy and Climate Change: Spring Supplementary Estimate 2010–11: Written evidence, to be published

(Mr Tim Yeo).

21 Health Committee

Complaints and Litigation: Evidence, to be printed (HC 786-ii) (Mr Stephen Dorrell).

22 Home Affairs Committee

(1) Police use of Tasers: Fifth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 646);

(2) Police Finances: Sixth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 695);

(3) Implications for the Justice and Home Affairs area of accession of Turkey to the European Union: Evidence, to be printed (HC 789-i)

(Keith Vaz).

23 Human Rights (Joint Committee on)

(1) The Human Rights Implications of UK Extradition Policy:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 767-ii);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

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

(3) Legislative scrutiny: Written evidence, to be published

(Dr Hywel Francis).

24 International Development Committee

(1) The World Bank: Fourth 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 9 November 2010 (HC 605);

(2)The future of CDC: Fifth 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 30 November 2010 (HC 607)

(Malcolm Bruce).

25 Liaison Committee

Estimates Day: Recommendation for the allocation of time for the consideration of Estimates on the second allotted day in the present session (Standing Order No 145) as follows:

That a day not later than 18 March be allotted for the consideration of the following Supplementary Estimates for financial year 2011–12:

Education, insofar as it relates to Sure Start Children’s Centres

HM Revenue and Customs

Sir Alan Beith

26 Public Accounts (Committee of)

(1) The Major Projects Report 2010: Twenty-third Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 687);

(2) Delivering the Cancer Reform Strategy: Twenty-fourth Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 667);

(3) BBC Digital media initiative: Evidence, to be printed (HC 808-i)

(Margaret Hodge).

27 Standards and Privileges (Committee on)

Anthony Wright: Written evidence, to be published (Mr Kevin Barron).

28 Transport Committee

(1) Transport and the economy:

(i) Third Report, to be printed, with the Formal Minutes relating to the Report (HC 473);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published;

(2) Impact on transport of recent adverse weather conditions:

(i) Evidence, to be printed (HC 794-i);

(ii) Written evidence, to be published

(Mrs Louise Ellman).

John Bercow

Speaker

The Speaker will take the Chair at 11.30 am.

Sitting in Westminster Hall

No. 74

The sitting began at 9.30 am.

Adjournment

Subjects:

Fuel duty stabiliser and rebate for remote rural areas (Miss Anne McIntosh).

Housing needs in London (Jeremy Corbyn).

Government policy on the pupil premium and pupils with English as an additional language (Mr Stewart Jackson).

Proposed changes to the rating system for holiday accommodation (Mr Mike Weir).

Funding for technology innovation in wave power (George Eustice).

Motion made and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.-(Mr Philip Dunne.)

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

Adjourned at 2.00 pm until tomorrow.

Lindsay Hoyle

Deputy Speaker

APPENDIX

Papers presented or laid upon the Table:

Papers subject to Affirmative Resolution:

1 Social Security

(1) Draft Guardian’s Allowance Up-Rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justine Greening); and

(2) draft Guardian’s Allowance Up-Rating Order 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justine Greening).

2 Tax Credits

Draft Tax Credits Up-Rating Regulations 2011 (by Act), with an Explanatory Memorandum (by Command) (Justine Greening).

Other Papers:

3 British Library

Statement of Appointment and Remuneration of David Barclay, Dr Michael Lynch, and Dr Stephen Page as Part-Time Members of the British Library Board for four years from 26 January 2011 (by Act) (Secretary Jeremy Hunt).

4 Environmental Pollution

Twenty-ninth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on Demographic Change and the Environment (by Command) (Cm. 8001) (Secretary Kenneth Clarke).

5 National Audit

(1) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Cross-government: Information and Communications Technology in government: Landscape Review (by Act); to be printed (HC 757) (Clerk of the House); and

(2) Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Delivering regulatory reform (by Act); to be printed (HC 758) (Clerk of the House).

6 Public Accounts

Treasury Minutes on the Third to Thirteenth Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2010–11 (by Command) (Cm. 8014) (Justine Greening).

7 Revenue and Customs

(1) Annual Report from the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs to the Treasury on Tax Credits under Section 40 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 (Justine Greening); and

(2) Annual Review of Certain Tax Credits Monetary Amounts Under Section 41 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 (Justine Greening).